Word for Wednesday: Pareidolia

blog home

While it’s unlikely that you’ll have come across this unusual word before, it describes something we have all experienced.

Pareidolia, ponounced ‘par-eye-doe-lee-ya’, is the mental phenomenon of assigning significance to inanimate objects or images – in other words, seeing faces in things.

Much like learning a new word, once you know about it, you’ll notice pareidolia everywhere!

There are countless examples of pareidolia on the web but a particularly good gallery to check out is where James Plafke has compiled a list of ‘50 Things That Look Like Faces’

Can you spot any this week?

Tweet your pareidolia pictures @Spellzone!

Hugh MacDermott


08 Apr 2015
blog home

"Spellzone really is an incredibly simple, engaging and cost effective resource - it makes a big difference to literacy levels."

Millthorpe School, York

read more...