Do you speak Gobblefunk? Gobblefunk is the language comprised of silly words that Roald Dahl created in his book The BFG to give the title character his unique voice.
You didn’t really think a giant who is 24-feet tall with enormous ears and a keen sense of smell talked like you, did you? Of course not! But we can talk like him! Check out this Gobblefunk Glossary.
Chatbags – Chatterbox
Chidlers – Children
Delumtious – Delicious
Earbursting – Loud
Figglers – Fingers
Giggler – Little Girls
Golden Phizzwizard – A wonderful dream
Hioppodumplings – Hippopotamus
Human Beans – Human Beings
Humplehammers – Something that is very big
Jabbeling – Babbling
Jiggyraffes – Giraffes
Majester – Majesty
Murderful – Muerderous
Phizzwizards – Happy dreams
Rummytot – Nonsense
Rumpledumpus – Rumpus
Scrumdiddlyumptious – Scrumptious
Scuddling – Scurrying
Skumping – Worries
Sloshfunking – Like godforsaken
Snozzcumber – a grueseome vegetable only found in Giant Country
Splitzwiggled – Caught
Swalloped – Swallowed
Swigpill – Swill
Swizzfiggling – Deceiving
Telly-telly Bunkum Box – Television
Trogglehumper – A horrible nightmare
Whiffling – Going off to somewhere
Whizzpopper – Fart
Whopse – Adjuective similar to little, or trifling
Legendary director Steven Spielberg brings the classic book to the big screen and it arrives in theaters everywhere on July 1, 2016 – which is the 100th anniversary of Dahl’s birth. Gobbelfunk will also likely be spoken everywhere, too.
At first, filmmakers were hesitant that the language would be confusing, but actor Mark Rylance, who plays the BFG, quickly allayed their fears. “After hearing how Mark Rylance spoke it, we all wanted more,” says Executive producer Kathleen Kennedy.
“The BFG has words that he uses for certain things and he repeats them in his life,” Rylance explains.
Hear what it sounds like here:
You can bring more Gobblefunk into your life by following The BFG on Facebook, and slip in a few word into your everyday conversations – see if people notice, and let me know their reactions if they do!
Media courtesy of Walt Disney Pictures.
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Kypho says
Because the movie had Spielberg’s name attached to the project, I think people were expected to be “blown away” by the movie. To me, I actually liked it. Rylance was excellent as The BFG and so was Barnhill as Sophie. The visuals were impressive and the other giants look great (at least they look like more human-like than the cartoon version). All in all, while not as dark as Dahl’s other adaptations, The BFG was entertaining to watch.
Shannan Younger says
So glad that you liked it!
Natalie says
There is a word to it is Frumkin we say pumpkin you will find out in the BFG book
BaddboyyLovesTIKTOK! says
you forgot about frobscottle the fizzy drink with upside down bubbles
Felicia B says
My husband and I are senior citizens and mostly drawn to children’s movies. They are better than half the junk on TV these days.
We found BFG to be one of the sweetest, most entertaining movies we’ve seen in recent years!! It will go into our annual rotation of our favorites like Neverending Story, Labyrinth, UP, Goonies, Ernest Saves Christmas and other silly, entertaining, graphics rich & Pixar type films.
BFG gets 11 thumbs up from us!!