Malinger — from the French

Malinger /məˈliNGɡər/ verb; to pretend illness, especially in order to shirk one’s duty, avoid work, etc.

Date first recorded in English: 1810-1820.

Etymology: French, malingre, sickly, ailing; equivalent to mal– and Old French heingre, haggard

-Webster’s New Universal Unabridged Dictionary

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Leave it to the French to give us a word with a negative meaning but that is delicious to say. The best part of malinger, is that it comes in noun form: malingerer (love the double ‘r’). It just rolls of the tongue. So, toss malingerer to your kiddos when they feign sickness to avoid practicing piano or taking out the garbage.

It’s sure to impress them.