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.
16. cherish 珍愛
17. enthusiasm 狂熱
18. hope 希望
19. grace 優美
20. rainbow 彩虹
21. blue 藍色
22. sunflower 向日葵
23. twinkle 閃爍，閃耀
24. serendipity 意外新發現
25. bliss 福佑
26. lullaby 催眠曲
27. sophisticated 精細的
28. renaissance 復興
29. cute 可愛
30. cosy 舒適的
