The Most Beautiful Words, According to Our Editors

Beauty is highly subjective, whether you’re talking about physical appearance, emotional resonance, or in this case, the world of linguistics. We’ve previously touched on the most beautiful English words according to linguists, but we wanted to ask the members of our editorial staff for their picks, too. Based on their replies, there are many traits that play a role in elevating a word’s beauty, but there’s a shared characteristic that seems to connect each word: the letter “l.” Here’s what our editorial team had to say.

Interesting Facts editor Brooke Robinson was the first to point out that all of our team’s answers included a lilting “l” sound. Her choice was the word “soliloquy,” defined as “the act of talking to oneself.” Soliloquies are often used in dramatic productions — they are similar to monologues, although other characters cannot hear the contents of a soliloquy. “I think the ‘l’ sound is the most beautiful one in the alphabet,” Robinson said of her choice. “It rolls off the tongue so nicely, and I’m also a big fan of theater and literature, so it evokes a lot of images I’m fond of anyway.”

As the editor of Better Report, Erin McCarthy knows what makes articles flow smoothly. So it’s no surprise that her choice for the most beautiful word is “mellifluous,” meaning “having a smooth rich flow.” As McCarthy said, “It’s fun to say and, even better, it sounds like what it means.”

Assistant photo editor Rachel Callahan selected the term “lyrical” as one that stands out from the pack for its pleasing nature. In fact, this word’s pulchritude is baked right into its definition: “having an artistically beautiful or expressive quality suggestive of song.” Callahan concurred, saying that it “invokes music, song, and art, and I find it pleasing to say!”

From family treasures to juicy tomatoes, the word “heirloom” can be used in a variety of ways. Movie Brief editor Michael Nordine finds it beautiful in any context: “It has an ethereal quality that likewise speaks to its meaning.” As for its definition, it can mean “something of special value handed down from one generation to another,” or alternatively, “a variety of plant that has originated under cultivation and that has survived for several generations.”

Word Smarts editor Jennifer Freeman selected the word “lustrous” as her choice, saying, “The sounds match the soft glow it evokes.” It’s defined as “radiant in character or reputation,” or “reflecting light evenly and efficiently without glitter or sparkle.” You may use the term “lustrous” to describe freshly polished metal, a varnished table, or an elegant satin gown whose beauty is enhanced by the light bouncing off of it.

House Outlook editor Kelsey Morrison turned to a trusted muse: “Did I look to Taylor Swift lyrics for inspiration for this prompt? Yes, I did.” Morrison chose the word “clandestine” (used in the lyrics of the song “Illicit Affairs” from Swift’s Folklore album). This term means “marked by, held in, or conducted with secrecy.” Coincidentally, Morrison noted that she thinks “illicit” (meaning “not permitted”) is another beautiful word.

Having seen each one of my colleagues choose a word with the letter “l,” I didn’t want to feel like the odd one out. So I embraced “ephemeral” — a term that means “lasting a very short time.” I find the word to flow off the tongue quite nicely and enjoy how the “ph” makes that soft “f” sound at the start. This term could describe fleeting memories of days gone by, beautiful plants that blossom for merely a brief period each year, or morning dew that dissolves from the grass as the sun rises.