LANGUAGE

Even a pair of siblings might not really know the difference.

Eldest vs. Oldest: What’s the Difference?

We often use ‘eldest’ and ‘oldest’ interchangeably, but the words shouldn’t be swapped out so easily. Here's how to use each.

A 4000-year-old dog walks into a 4000-year-old bar ... / AevanStock, Master1307, and saoirse2013, via Shutterstock

9 of the World’s Oldest Jokes and Brainteasers

In the latest episode of The List Show, host and Mental Floss editor-in-chief Erin McCarthy shares 9 jokes and brainteasers from history, including puzzling riddles and puns that transcend time.

Confused as to why ‘will not’ gets shortened to ‘won’t’? Blame Old English.

Why Does ‘Will Not’ Become ‘Won’t’?

Most contractions in English are pretty straightforward. Put it together, and shorten it up. But that isn't the case for ‘will not.’

Officials emptying barrels of beer during Prohibition.

15 Words and Phrases Popularized During Prohibition

With Prohibition—which ran from January 17, 1920, to December 5, 1933—came language to describe everything from drinking establishments to the people who made booze to booze itself.

Oxford University Press Names 'Rizz' Word of the Year

Social media is changing language again.

10 Ways to Say “Merry Christmas” Around the World

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

Cold weather words were way more colorful in days gone by.

19 Old Cold Weather Words to Get You Through Winter

There are only so many ways to say “it’s cold outside,” which is why it’s time to supplement your vocabulary with these vintage words and phrases related to winter.

What ‘Sic’ Means—And How To Use It Correctly

The literal meaning of ‘sic’ is ‘so’ or ‘thus.’ But the way writers use it is a little more nuanced.

What constitutes ‘upstate’ is a little controversial.

15 Upstate New York Slang Terms You Should Know

You might know everything there is to know about New York City slang, but the moment you leave the city, fuhgeddaboudit. Upstate New York has its own set of regional colloquialisms, often depending on which area of the state you’re in.

Why Do We Only Say “Merry” for Christmas?

Americans favor 'Merry Christmas,' while Brits opt for 'Happy Christmas.' Here's how we got here.

How Do You Stress the Word: THANKSgiving or ThanksGIVing?

Here’s something else to stress about for Thanksgiving.

In German, the word for ‘gloves’ translates as “hand shoes.”

20 Super Literal German Compound Words

Germany is the land of Oktoberfest, Christmas markets, and super literal compound words like Glühbirne (“glow pear,” a.k.a. “lightbulb”) and Baumwolle (“tree wool,” otherwise known as cotton).

What Does the Phrase ‘Talk Turkey’ Mean—And Where Did it Come From?

Before you talk turkey this Thanksgiving, find out what we know about the phrase’s meaning and origins.

Anthony Burgess had difficulty creating his slang dictionary.

When ‘Clockwork Orange’ Author Anthony Burgess Wrote a Slang Dictionary

Penguin Books commissioned the work in 1965, but the "A Clockwork Orange" author only completed several hundred entries before discarding the project.

T-Glottalization: The Reason Some People Drop Their ‘T’s When Speaking

Dropping that ‘t’ sound is an example of what linguists call glottalization, or replacing a sound with a pause in the vocal cords.

25 of the Most Confusing Acronyms and Initialisms

You’re not the only person who has Googled “NPC meaning” of late.

‘Tableclothwise,’ ‘Parrotwise,’ and 10 Other ‘-Wise’ Words That Never Caught On

You think you’ve seen every category of words … then you find this batch, including such oddities as tableclothwise and rabbitwise.

Here’s How Super-Long German Words Are Made

German is known for its extremely long compound words—Mark Twain once complained that some were “so long they have a perspective.” This quick video demonstrates how those words are constructed.

There’s no doubt about it—rotting food is gross.

How Did ‘Gross’ Become a Term of Disgust?

The word ‘gross,’ which came to English from French, took on a variety of senses in English related to size. But the ‘gross of today is different from the ‘gross’ of the past thanks to teens.

You Bull’s Pizzle! Breaking Down 10 Iconic Shakespeare Insults

Here’s how to pepper your next argument with Shakespearean insults.

What’s the Difference Between Yams and Sweet Potatoes?

Ever wondered if yams and sweet potatoes are the same thing? Read this before sitting down to Thanksgiving dinner.

The face that launched a thousand memes.

Where Does the Word ’Meme’ Come From?

The word predates social media.

35 Old-Timey Slang Terms for Informants

We’ve used the term ‘rat’ to refer to an informer since approximately 1910. But criminals have had many more names for snitches over the years.

Some words are bound to make you laugh—but why?

From Farts to Floozy: The Funniest Words in English, According to Science

“Wriggly, Squiffy, Lummox, and Boobs: What Makes Some Words Funny?” analyzed an existing list of 4997 funny words and recruited 800 survey participants to whittle down the collection to the 200 words the people found funniest.