Words

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The English language is a mosaic of different languages and cultures, which allowed elements of Norse mythology to linger in the vocabulary we use every day.

Here's how the Sirens of the 'Odyssey' helped inspire the name of the modern siren, which was first invented around the turn of the 19th century.

You probably say these words every day without realizing they were born in the Middle Ages.

Nelson Mandela spent 27 years imprisoned, but his letters reveal a man who held on to hope, humor, and an unwavering belief in justice.

The name Satchmo will always be connected with Louis Armstrong's career and legacy, but its origins highlight his eagerness to commit to a good joke.

Why do we say "pardon my French" after dropping an F-bomb? Learn how Victorian polite etiquette turned into a cover for modern cuss words.

Did you know these everyday words can be traced back to Roman gods, legends, and ancient myths?

"'I Love Lucy' was never just a title," read Desi Arnaz's last written words to his ex-wife Lucille Ball. The two shared a tumultuous relationship, but stayed bonded until the very end.

The half-goat, half-man deity Pan was associated with springtime, fertility, hunting, farming, shepherds, flocks, meadows, the wilderness, and fear. Here's how Pan helped shape the word "panic."

The word traces back to a heartbreaking myth of unrequited love, loss, and a voice that could never truly be heard.

Greek mythology may not be as celebrated as it once was, but it has maintained a place in modern society through these 7 common phrases.

The word “clue” has a surprising origin story involving a ball of thread, Ancient Greece, and Theseus’ legendary battle with the Minotaur.

In order to explain where the word “tantalize” comes from, we have to look back at Tantalus’s story in Greek mythology.

More than 2,000 years ago, the myth of Narcissus gave us a word we still use today. Here’s the story behind “narcissist.”

The term 'gaslighting' dates back to a 1938 play. Here's what gaslighting means, what it's not how to recognize the signs, and what to do if you are being gaslit.

How did this awkwardly unwelcome "third" come to be referred to as a "wheel"?

The phrase "elephant in the room" wasn't always about awkward topics. Here's how the idiom evolved over the past two centuries.

The phrase sounds straightforward, but its history is filled with surprising twists and competing meanings.

There are 25 countries in the world that end with an 'N.' Think you can name every single one of them? Take our deceivingly difficult geography quiz to find out.

Ernest Hemingway is famous for his drinking, but he never said "write drunk, edit sober." Discover the true, surprising origin of this legendary literary myth.