Arika Okrent

The words we use for family members in English are specific about some things, but vague about others. These words will help fill in the gaps.

Stand out from all the Noras and the Liams out there by choosing a medieval name like Hainfroy or Queniva.

The lyric “Vamos a la playa, todos con sombrero / El viento radiactivo, despeina los cabellos” translates to “Let’s go to the beach, everyone in a sombrero / The radioactive wind, messes up the hair.”

Here are some word endings that have become productive to varying degrees.

Word is a word. Noun is a noun. Autological words are a self-centered, self-referential bunch.

Lots of languages have distinct plural forms for ‘you.’ Wouldn’t it be useful if English had one too? Spoiler alert: It does. Several, in fact.

‘Radíidin’ means “a time allegedly a holiday but actually so much a burden because of work and preparations that it is a dreaded occasion.” ‘Thehena’ is a word for “Joy despite negative circumstances.”

Not even the strictest sticklers seem to care about how we use words like ‘abhorrent’ and ‘sodden’ anymore.