根據對4萬名海外投票者和英國文化協會在世界各地英語中心的學習者的調查顯示，「母親」(Mother) 是英語當中最優美的單詞。此項調查為慶祝英國文化協會成立70 週年而舉辦。
英國文化協會在華作為英國大使館文化教育處開展工作。為開展上述調查工作，英國文化協會徵求了46個國家7000多名英語學習者對英語中最優美單詞的意見。此外，英國文化協會還通過自己的網站在網上徵求了非英語國家的意見。非英語國家中35000多人參加了投票，其中包括3500份來自中國的選票。
根據投票的結果，排在前70名的最優美的英語單詞為：
MUM’S THE WORD!
British Council Announces Results of 70 Most Beautiful Words Survey
British Council wanted a creative and fun way to celebrate our 70th anniversary. British Council teachers in centres worldwide organised classroom activities with over 7000 learners of English to choose what they considered to be the 70 most beautiful words in the English language.
We also ran an online poll in all non-English speaking country websites in order to rank these 70 words and find the top ten. Over 35,000 visitors to our websites worldwide cast their votes.
Mother is the most beautiful word in the English language, according to a survey of 42,000 learners of English round the world.
The top ten are interesting, if a little short on surprises – the more unexpected entries come further down the ranking. Who for instance, could have predicted such entries as whoops in 56th place or zing at 68?
Meanwhile, take a look at the full results bellow.
31. butterfly 蝴蝶
32. galaxy 銀河
33. hilarious 歡鬧的
34. moment 瞬間
35. extravaganza 娛樂表演
36. aqua 水
37. sentiment 柔懦情感
38. cosmopolitan 四海為家的人
39. bubble 氣泡
40. pumpkin 南瓜
41. banana 香蕉
42. lollipop 棒棒糖
43. if 如果
44. bumblebee 大黃蜂
45. giggle 咯咯笑
46. paradox 似非而是的論點
47. delicacy 精美
48. peek-a-boo 躲貓貓
49. umbrella 雨傘
50. kangaroo 袋鼠
