...bagblurter, fizzwiggler, spitzwargler, spitzwoggler, buzzbunger...

The birth of Gobblefunk

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In 1982, The BFG was published—a magical and wildly successful children’s book in which a Big Friendly Giant blows pleasant dreams through the windows of young children. As he was planning the story, renowned author Roald Dahl set about creating a new vocabulary for the enormous protagonist: a 238-word language that he ultimately named, “Gobblefunk”. Words that made the cut included, “humplecrimp”, “swallomp”, “crumpscoddle” and, most memorably, “snozzcumber”. The list you see here was written by Dahl as he brainstormed, and offers a snapshot of “Gobblefunk” in its infancy.

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The Fleshlumpeating Giant

a notmucher, a sqeakpip.

cronky
crinky
corky
blivver(ing)
stoching
protching
mickering (aww)
manhugging giant
fizzlecump
bottle wart
gumplewink
swigfiddle
squiffsquiddle
flushbuckling
whopsy-waddling
pongswizzler
scumscrewer
bagblurter
fizzwiggler
spitzwargler
spitzwoggler
buzzbunger
bizzfizz
buzzfuzz
baghangar
bophanger
wash-hinger
spongewiggler
codswallop
muckfrumping
splatchwinkling
crodscollop
shardlelly
spatchwinkle
swishfiggler
swogglewop
gunzleswipe
pifflemutter
troggypaggle
pibbling
dibbling
ristling
blunketing
pranky
filking
pilching
scoddling
slidger
squiggling
squibbling
squinkling
squeakling
scumping
scuddling
swiddling
squiffling
slunging
grobbled
squiffly-jumpsy
rag-rasper
rotrasper
scrumplet
squifflersludge
pong-ping-pong
jumpsy
dropsy
swipsy
kicksey
fruggler
grobswitch
crodswitch
kickswitch
grobby
lickswitch
dissible
sliggy
bunkledoodle
grob fatch
grobswitch
wimplesquiffer
snipply
grilky
gronky
grouty
cream puffnut
snog winker
ring beller
phizz-whizz
chidler or tottle = child
schweinwein
squinky
scud
squeakpip

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Copyright © RDNL. Reprinted with the permission of David Higham Associates, Ltd., on behalf of The Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre.

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