Mental Floss

WORDS

A woman on her phone in the streets of Paris

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

William Shakespeare.

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.

A robot at Italian Tech Week 2025

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

She looks like she's in the pink.

The phrase has a surprisingly long, convoluted history.

Lots of stories in here.

It's time to level with you on why we refer to floors as narrative spaces.

Wednesday is viewed as the halfway point to the weekend.

The phrase may seem recent, but it’s been around for a surprisingly long time.

With no word for ‘please,’ how do you keep it civil when traveling in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, and Finland?

The saying stuck around for a while.

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

A line of hogs.

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.

Kiwi at the Wellington Zoo.

The answer involves World War I soldiers and a cute bird.

Grab your magnifying glass.

We give you an obscure word with four definitions—one correct, three made up. Can you identify the correct one?

Bussers are an important part of restaurants.

What do the terms “busser” and “busing a table” have to do with public transportation? Nothing, it turns out.

If linguistics is any indicator, it would appear that everybody in the spirit realm speaks Scots English.

Grab your magnifying glass.

We give you an obscure word with four definitions—one correct, three made up. Can you identify the correct one?

Grab your magnifying glass.

We give you an obscure word with four definitions—one correct, three made up. Can you identify the correct one?

Turns out, Americans tend to mispronounce the name of the food above.

Americans have a tough time figuring out how to correctly pronounce these words, from ‘açai’ to ‘tzatziki’ and beyond.

'Visitation' by Raphael, circa 1517.

Here are 10 fun historical alternatives to boring old ‘pregnant.’

These names are popular among dogs and cats.

Is your new pet’s name on this list?

These words trip up people the most.

Get the 411 on six-seven.

Know the origins of the names of your favorite fall foods.

Fall is here, and you’re getting hungry. Feast on this cornucopia of etymologies for seasonal veggies straight from the garden.

Grab your magnifying glass.

We give you an obscure word with four definitions—one correct, three made up. Can you identify the correct one?

Tzatziki sauce is delicious and simple to make.

Ever wonder how to pronounce that creamy, tangy sauce on your gyro? Turns out, there‘s more than one way.

Eminem is known for his lyrics.

Which musicians are a language learner‘s best friend?