LANGUAGE

‘Rizz,’ ‘Girlboss,’ and 23 Other Terms Merriam-Webster Just Added to the Dictionary

Knowing the meaning of ‘rizz’ can help you connect with the Gen Zers in your life.

Where Did the Term ‘Up to Snuff’ Originate?

Are you not up to snuff when it comes to knowing the origin of ‘up to snuff’? We can help you with that.

Why Are Unidentified People Called John or Jane Doe?

From the courts to the morgue, if the government doesn't know someone's name or wants to withhold it, they give them one of these as a placeholder. Why?

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

20 Fall Harvest Words and Their Origins

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

Why Is Sneakily Leaving Called an “Irish” Goodbye or Exit?

What is an Irish goodbye—and why is it called that?

Charles Dickens gifted us with plenty of new words and phrases—including ‘not to put too fine a point on it.’

The Origins of 8 Literary Clichés

Clichés are viewed as a sign of lazy writing, but they didn’t develop that reputation over night.

11 Nouns That Only Have a Plural Form

Some nouns only have a plural form, regardless of how we think of them. They are known as ‘pluralia tantum,’ Latin for “plural only.”

‘Fuksheet’ is another word for a sail on the foremast of a ship.

50 Words That Sound Dirty But Actually Aren’t

To paraphrase Krusty the Clown, comedy isn’t dirty words—it’s words that sound dirty. Here are 50 of them.

The origins and history of the word ‘cakewalk’ may make you want to reconsider using it.

The Racist Origins of 7 Common Phrases

From ‘cakewalk’ to ‘no can do,’ the origins of these common idioms and sayings are surprisingly dark.

The Reason Why Americans Refer to Autumn as ‘Fall’

The words ‘fall’ and ‘autumn’ appeared around the same time in Great Britain, but only one of the seasonal names is still used there today.

Incorporate these words into your conversations this fall.

11 Delightful Words From Washington Irving’s Autumn Stories

Try spicing your fall with a few of these rustic charmers, drawn from the pages of Washington Irving.

Benjamin Franklin’s Long List of Synonyms for ’Drunk‘

“The Drinkers Dictionary,” published by Franklin in the ‘Pennsylvania Gazette’ in January 1737, features terms like ‘nimptopsical’ and ‘cherubimical’ as synonyms for ‘drunk.’

Whatever you do, don’t mess up the meanings of ‘punter.’

30 British Slang Terms You Should Know

You’ll be chuffed after you read this peng British slang list, with bare terms that will keep you from looking like a pillock.

Here are all the new jawns in the dictionary.

Jawns and Shower Oranges: See 30 of Dictionary.com’s Newly Added Terms

Non-Philadelphians can finally look up the meaning of ‘jawn’ in the dictionary.

13 Weird Old Words for Witches and Warlocks

Stick these terms in your cauldron and pass them around your coven.

“Who, me?” This goat, hearing about the word ‘scapegoat.’

The Reason We Call People Blamed for Things “Scapegoats”

History is filled with figures who were single-handedly—yet often undeservedly—held responsible for epic societal failures. But what do goats have to do with it?

77 Delightful Victorian Slang Terms You Should Be Using

We don’t know how these Victorian slang terms ever fell out of fashion, but we propose bringing them back, as soon as possible.

Speech Bubble: How Scientists Working in Antarctica Inadvertently Developed a New Accent

A 2019 study of scientists over-wintering in Antarctica revealed subtle but measurable changes in the participants’ speech.

Technically this exact phrasing wasn't in play until the 20th century.

The Origins of 6 Classic Curse Words

Many bad words come and go, but these six have withstood the tests of time. Here’s how they came to be.

7 Sentences That Sound Bizarre But Are Still Grammatical

These sentences are sure to make you scratch your head.

Are these two kaylied up, or are they merely drinking dog’s water?

20 Delightful Slang Terms From the 1930s

These terms are sure to blow your wig.

British vs. English: What’s the Difference?

First, you have to understand the difference between England and Britain (and the UK, while we’re at it).

TV has slowly eased restrictions on strong language.

Bleep This: A Brief History of Profanity on Television

Whether scripted or spontaneous, expletives have been making their way on to the air for decades.

(Left to right) Oscar Isaac, Camila Cabello, and Gael García Bernal.

20 Spanish Names You’re Probably Mispronouncing

Here’s how to avoid bungling 20 commonly mispronounced Spanish names.