WORDS

Our languages vary, but we may not be that different after all. From the word “huh” to how we come up with the names of colors, here are five speech quirks that are nearly universal.

The English language is bursting with colorful expressions that come from strange and surprising places—and many of them once had literal meanings that the general public has long since forgotten. 

’Tis the season to learn how to say “Merry Christmas” in many languages.

The history behind “no worries” and why the phrase became a favorite for millennials and Gen Z.

No, “gaudy” did not come from a famous architect with a similar-sounding name.

You might’ve heard it from your children or as Dictionary.com’s Word of the Year.

You know "LOL" and "FML," but what about other social media and text abbreviations? Here are the 10 that stump people the most.

No one did it like The Bard, so it’s no surprise that some myths about him and his writing have seeped into our culture over time. Let’s debunk some of the biggest ones.

The words these authors have come up with to create their worlds have transcended fiction.

Jefferson’s tale of an encounter with a stranger sparked a saying that became pretty popular in the 19th century.

A little piglet named Billy Ray might have had something to do with it.

Start sprinkling bumfuzzle, taradiddle, and collywobbles into everyday conversation—but maybe let quomodocunquizing rest in obsolescent peace where it belongs.