Only 1% Of FRIENDS Fans Know The Correct Meanings To These Words

by Chris Flynn
– on Nov 22nd
in Movies and TV

David Crane and Marta Kauffman likely had no idea what successful monster they were creating when they pitched their idea for a television show to NBC. Ten years and 236 episodes later, Friends is heralded as one of the most popular and most followed sitcoms in television history. Quirky characters and hilarious plots were revealed on a weekly basis between 1994 and 2004. The show generated millions of diehard fans who watch reruns over and over to this very day.

One of the things that this show did was to introduce several new words and phrases to our vocabulary. Much like the hit comedy Seinfeld did for words and phrases such as “shrinkage,” “spongeworthy,” and “...not that there’s anything wrong with that,” the Friends gang added several new words and phrases that are wildly popular and used quite a bit today. You might never have seen an episode of Friends, but you'll be very familiar with the meanings of many of these invented terms anyway. Of course, the biggest fans that have seen each episode multiple times will surely be familiar with most if not all of them. Only 1% of Diehard Friends fans know the correct meanings to each of these words. Give it a shot to see how much this iconic show enhanced your vocabulary.

Let’s get it going!!

Question 1

Lobster

Your one true love. A bad guitar player. A crabby landlord. An ex.

Most of us know lobsters to be crustaceans that are delicious when their tender meat is cooked and dipped in garlic butter. Friends fans were introduced to the term "lobster," but they weren’t referring to the tasty sea creatures. According to the Friends gang, what's the meaning of the word lobster?

Question 2

Transponster

An instrument that Rachel thinks is used in aviation. What Rachel thinks is the title of a movie that Joey is in. A transsexual monster. What Rachel believes Chandler’s job title to be.

This is a word that you've almost certainly never heard of unless you're a true fan of the television show Friends. You won’t find this word in the dictionary because it doesn’t exist outside of the Friendsverse. It was Rachel who came up with this new addition to our language. What's a “transponster”?

Question 3

Thursday

The third day of the week. The first day of the week. The last day of the week. The middle of the week.

Depending on whether you begin to count the days of the week on a Sunday or a Monday, Thursday is usually either the fourth or fifth day of the week. Not on Friends it isn’t. At least it isn’t as far as Joey's concerned. What's Thursday according to the often dimwitted Joey?

Question 4

Unagi

Preparing for danger. Meditating. Eating lemons in the morning. Exercising.

Believe it or not, unagi is a real word. It's the Japanese word for a freshwater eel. Of course, when this word was used on Friends, it had nothing to do with any type of creature. Rather, it was used to describe a state of awareness that could only be reached by doing which of the following?

Question 5

Phalange

A smoothie. A plane. The human brain. A guitar.

If the word “phalange” sounds like a real world, it’s because it actually is. A phalange can relate to bones in your fingers or toes, and it's also used as a plural of the word “phalanx.” If you ask Phoebe what her definition of the word is, she might give you two meanings. According to her, Phalange can be used as a last name, and it's also an integral part of what?

Question 6

Amanda

An almond. A type of fish. An African dictator. A man, duh!!

Amanda is usually associated with a woman’s name. Actually, it’s about the only thing that it could be associated with unless you happen to be Rachel who has an entirely different interpretation of the word. What did Rachel mean when she used the word "Amanda" during one of her many enlightening conversations?

Question 7

Moo Point

A very tender cut of beef. A position in basketball. A bull’s horns. A cow’s opinion.

There aren’t too many ways that you can use the word “moo” unless you're referring to the sound that a cow makes. Leave it to Joey to misinterpret a regularly used phrase such as “moot point.” To him, the phrase is actually pronounced “moo point,” and to him, it doesn’t mean what most of us know this phrase to mean. According to Joey, what's a “moo point”?

Question 8

Crapweasel

Mr. Heckles Chandler Marcel the monkey. Paolo

As one might expect, the term “crapweasel” isn't loaded with positive connotations. It refers to one who's sneaky, untrustworthy, or insincere. The term gained a bit of steam when it was applied to politics in the early 2000s. The word “crapweasel” was also used in Friends by Ross who called this character by the unflattering moniker.

Question 9

Seven

The number of erogenous zones that a woman has. Chandler’s apartment unit number. The number of toes that Phoebe has on her right foot. The number of pounds that Monica wants to lose.

Seven usually refers to a number, but it's also the name of a great movie starring Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman, and it was also the name of that forgettable kid that appeared in season seven of Married...With Children. To the diehard fans of Friends, the word seven has another meaning. What is it?

Question 10

Gleba

A member of the band Gleba. A scientist. An accountant. A mushroom farmer.

The dictionary defines the word “gleba” as a solid mass of spores found in certain fungi like puffballs and stinkhorns. When Rachel heard Emma use this as her very first spoken word, she excitedly told Ross about it. After debating the authenticity of gleba as an actual word, Rachel looked up the meaning. This prompted Ross to declare that Emma would one day be what?

Question 11

Vein

Part of her right foot. The back of her hand. Her belly button. A part of her forehead.

Not to be confused with the similarly pronounced word “vain,” a vein can be used to describe a tiny tube that moves blood through our bodies, and it can also be a layer of minerals or ore that's found in the cracks of rocks. Monica has her own definition of "vein." What part of her body that nobody wants to ever see does Monica refer to as her vein?

Question 12

Armadillo

A superhero. Ross’s alter ego. Santa’s Tex-Mex friend. The NY Giants’ mascot.

"Armadillo" is a Spanish word that means “little armored one.” Hence, those animals with bony plates and leathery shells that are found in North and South America are aptly named. In Friends, the word "armadillo" has another use. In season seven, we're introduced to one of Ross’s inventions when he creates the Holiday Armadillo. What is the Holiday Armadillo?

Question 13

Nubbin

His stubby thumb. His third nipple. His disfigured kneecap. His nose.

A nubbin is actually a small lump of bone or cartilage. It can also refer to a piece of undeveloped fruit, but don’t tell that to Friends fans. These people have an entirely different and comical definition of the word. The word “nubbin” was used to describe an anomaly on Chandler’s body. What was Chandler’s nubbin?

Question 14

Apothecary

A person who makes pottery. A table from Pottery Barn. The local drug dealer. A honey factory.

If your doctor gives you a prescription, then you'll likely see an apothecary. That's to say that an apothecary is someone who sells drugs or other compounds for medicinal purposes. We usually just call them pharmacists these days. When the word “apothecary” was used on Friends, what was it used to describe?

Question 15

Break

The worst fight in the world. Growing a mustache. A game of “cups.” Playing a guitar.

“Break” is another word that has many meanings and usages. You can break a rack of balls in a game of pool. You can break a glass, and you can break a bad habit. It's a word that was actually used in its proper context in Friends. It was said to be the one word that you should never say unless you were trying to continue what?

Question 16

Pivot

Make out with a girl. Drive in heavy traffic. Catch a cab during rush hour. Move any kind of furniture.

The word “pivot” normally means to turn or rotate, although it can be used in a variety of ways. The really hardcore fanbase of the television show Friends will likely remember the word "pivot" coming in handy during one particular activity. In fact, it's pretty much the only word you need to use when you're attempting to do what?

Question 17

Moist

She added extra mayonnaise. She added a slice of gravy-soaked bread in the middle. She added extra cranberries. She covered it in gravy.

The word “moist” might not be the most common word in our vocabularies, but we all should know to use it properly. It conjures up some unsavory images if it's not used correctly. Monica’s Moist Maker sandwich was one of Ross’s favorite foods. It was basically a turkey sandwich, but she did something special to make it truly moist. What was her secret?

Question 18

Koondis

A bug that embeds itself in the skin. A painful pimple. An ingrown hair. A mysterious skin condition.

OK. "Koondis" might be some obscure Estonian word, but it doesn’t really have a place in the English language. Well, at least it didn’t until the 71st episode of Friends was aired. In that episode, Ross was diagnosed as having koondis by Phoebe’s herbalist who removed it by catching it on his watch while gesturing his hands. What was koondis?

Question 19

Heckles

The man who lived below Monica and Rachel. Spots on a trout. A worker at Central Perk. A case of hiccups.

If you've ever seen a stand-up comedian or gone to a professional sporting event, then you're likely familiar with the word “heckles.” If you're a big fan of Friends, then you're also familiar with this term. However, the word “heckles” as used in Friends is quite different than it is when we associate it with the act of taunting or jeering. What does the gang use this word to describe?

Question 20

Mac and Cheese

The names of two ducks. Joey’s ill-fated television show. Ross and Monica’s nicknames. Chandler’s buddies.

One of life’s most satisfying comfort foods, macaroni and cheese, is enjoyed by people all over the world. It’s easy to make and tastes delicious. However, it wasn’t so well-liked in the Friendsverse. Mac and Cheese became a bit of a joke, although we’re not talking about the pasta treat. In the Friendsverse, Mac and Cheese was actually what?

Question 21

Banana Hammock

A hammock made of banana skins Part of Phoebe’s royal alias. A reference to Joey’s bathing suit. A fruit basket.

There aren’t too many things that a banana hammock could be. The only thing that these two words can combine to describe is a type of skimpy men’s underwear. However, leave it to Phoebe to make this term part of our everyday vocabulary. What does the phrase banana hammock mean to Phoebe?

Question 22

Cheesecake

Eat it with with a glass of white wine. Save for a special occasion. Sell it to Ross for big bucks. Eat it off the floor.

No. We’re not talking about the rich and delicious calorie-laden dessert with the custard-like texture that’s often topped with jam. Nor are we alluding to photos of scantily clad women. This is the Friendsverse where cheesecake is any kind of food that's so delicious that you'd steal it from an old lady and do what with it?

Question 23

Friend Zone

They'll never be more than friends. They're best friends forever. Two people in love but can’t admit it. They're a reliable hookup.

This phrase has been around for a while, but it was popularized in Friends. Joey tells Ross: “Never gonna happen...You and Rachel...You waited too long to make your move, and now you’re in the friend zone.” What does it mean when a person is stuck being in the “friend zone”?

Question 24

Frienaissance

Take a long drive. Fall in love. Rekindle a friendship. Move out of the friend zone.

It’s often fun to mash together a couple of words to come up with a newly invented one. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn’t. In one episode, Joey and Phoebe take a road trip from Las Vegas to New York in an attempt at a “frienaissance.” The word has now become popular in describing a way to do what?

Question 25

PBS

It’s a step below NBC. She only likes Fawlty Towers reruns. It’s a good-for-nothing organization. It’s run by commies.

There’s a pretty good chance that you've enjoyed a show or two that was broadcast on PBS. This is especially true when they ramp up the quality of their shows during their pledge drives. Phoebe doesn’t feel the same way as most others do when it comes to PBS. She was particularly upset that a letter that she wrote to Sesame Street went unanswered. What does Phoebe think of PBS?

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