LANGUAGE

Why Do We Call a Dollar a “Buck”?

Everyone knows a buck means a dollar. But not everyone knows why.

Why Do Cowboys Say “Yee-Haw”?

Even though it’s a classic cowboy trope, you have to wonder: Did cowboys actually say that popular phrase?

23 Hipster Baby Name Ideas From the Dictionary of Medieval Names

Stand out from all the Noras and the Liams out there by choosing a medieval name like Hainfroy or Queniva.

What’s the Difference Between a Bull and a Bear Market?

The economic terms get tossed around a lot these days, but one market is clearly better for investors.

Definition Detective Quiz #33

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

11 Suffixes That Gave Us New (And Often Terrible) Words

Here are some word endings that have become productive to varying degrees.

The Peppy ’80s Song “Vamos a la Playa” Was Actually About Nuclear War

The lyric “Vamos a la playa, todos con sombrero / El viento radiactivo, despeina los cabellos” translates to “Let’s go to the beach, everyone in a sombrero / The radioactive wind, messes up the hair.”

Where Does the Phrase ‘Going to Hell in a Handbasket’ Come From?

A popular myth says that the phrase originated due to the use of the guillotine during French Revolution—but here’s the real deal.

15 Memorable Slang Terms From the Vietnam War

Military slang grew by leaps and bounds during the Vietnam War. Here are some terms worth knowing.

Passengers aren’t always referred to as passengers.

Why Do We Refer to Airplane and Ship Passengers as ‘Souls’?

Hearing the phrase ‘souls on board’ usually portends bad news. Why do we use it?

Real estate terminology can get confusing.

50 of the Most Common Real Estate Terms, Explained

Real estate has a language all its own. We’ve simplified it for you.

Definition Detective Quiz #32

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

Why Are Some Towns Called “Bedroom Communities”?

These planned communities became popular in the U.S. after World War II.

21 Alternative Words for ‘Fool’ (And Their Origins)

Show your friends you’re no oaf this April 1 with these 21 foolishly fun synonyms.

10 Viral Vietnamese Slang Terms

The Vietnamese word ‘cột sống’ technically means “spine”—but to the country’s Gen Zers, it’s slang for something else entirely.

Definition Detective Quiz #31

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

Who doesn’t love a rousing round of Crambo?

5 Old-Timey Word Games You Can Play Today

Tired of Wordle? Give these word games a try.

How Do Cars Get Their Names?

Naming a car is like naming a baby, only with a few hundred million dollars at stake.

16 Words that Describe Themselves

Word is a word. Noun is a noun. Autological words are a self-centered, self-referential bunch.

More people use American Sign Language than you may think.

This Smart Ring Translates Sign Language in Real Time

Cornell’s SpellRing could change the ASL translation game.

Inside ‘Inside Baseball’: How America’s Pastime Invented a Handy Metaphor

In the 19th century, 'inside baseball' only had one meaning—here's how it came to be.

Definition Detective Quiz #30

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

You might be familiar with a few of these.

From Y’all To Youse: 8 English Ways to Make ‘You’ Plural

Lots of languages have distinct plural forms for ‘you.’ Wouldn’t it be useful if English had one too? Spoiler alert: It does. Several, in fact.

St. Patty’s Day vs. St. Paddy’s Day: Which Is Correct?

You can always avoid the issue by spelling out “St. Patrick’s Day,” but here’s how to properly abbreviate it.

PREV NEXT