Language

9 Untranslatable Words for Comfort That Go Beyond Hygge

Why doesn't English have a word for the joy of watching bad weather from the confines of a warm house?

Speaking in a Foreign Language Can Impact Your Moral Judgment

Ethical integrity has more to do with language than you'd think.

Here's the Right Way to Pronounce Kitchenware Brand Le Creuset

If you were never quite sure how to pronounce the name of beloved French kitchenware brand Le Creuset, don't fret: For the longest time, southern chef, author, and PBS personality Vivian Howard wasn't sure either.

Adjwad Creative (speech bubble) // iStock via Getty Images Plus

25 Great Insults From 18th-Century British Slang

For history buffs and word nerds, "you jerk" just doesn't have the same ring as "you unlicked cub" and these other 18th-century insults.

Researchers Claim to Crack the Voynich Manuscript Using AI, But Experts Are Skeptical

The mysterious text has stumped codebreakers for decades.

The Magical—and Endangered—Whistling Language of Oaxaca

It's one of 42 documented examples of whistling languages across the world.

Love Hygge? Meet Lagom, Your New Favorite Scandinavian Philosophy

It's how Swedes live a more balanced life.

How Your Brain Turns Words Into Language

These parts of your brain do the most heavy lifting.

11 Words and Phrases Popularized by Teddy Roosevelt

Contrary to his well-known slogan “speak softly and carry a big stick,” Theodore Roosevelt was hardly one to speak softly.

The One Word You Should Never Use When Apologizing

How to not sabotage your own apology.

How 10 Edinburgh Neighborhoods Got Their Names

Some of these ancient etymologies might not be quite what you expect.

Designer Reimagines the Spanish Alphabet With Only 19 Letters

Nueva Qwerty makes language a little simpler.

Why Does Japan Have Blue Traffic Lights Instead of Green?

It’s a matter of language.

Using Words Like 'Really' A Lot Could Mean You're Really Stressed

Our speech patterns reveal more about us than we may realize.

The Origins of All 32 NFL Team Names

Here are the stories behind the nicknames of the NFL’s 32 teams—and what they were almost called. All photos via Getty Images.

As Big as a What? How Literary Size Comparisons Change Over Time

Authors have stopped turning to the natural world for size comparisons and started referring to sports.

4 Phonetic Alphabets That Didn't Survive

Long before "Alpha, Bravo, Charlie," there was "Amsterdam, Baltimore, Casablanca."

9 Spoonerisms (and Other Twists of the Tongue)

You know how sometimes when you're talking, your mouth is moving faster than your brain and you inevitably transpose the beginning parts of a couple of words? That's called a Spoonerism.

Want to Improve Your Foreign-Language Skills? Grab a Beer.

People get a little more fluent when they're tipsy, a new study found.

This Game About Soup Highlights How Tricky Language Is

Defining soup is harder than it sounds.

25 Words That Don’t Mean What They Used To

It’s to be expected that the words we use will change and develop over time. In some instances, these developments can lead to words gaining new meanings entirely different from their original implications.

25 Words That Don’t Mean What They Used To

It’s to be expected that the words we use will change and develop over time. In some instances, these developments can lead to words gaining new meanings entirely different from their original implications.

Ajwad Creative (Speech Bubble), Overearth (book) // iStock via Getty Images Plus

25 Smart Words You Should Be Using But Aren’t

There are countless words lying ignored in the murkier corners of the dictionary. Here's how to use them.

Today is a Holiday in Honor of the World’s Most Remarkable Alphabet

Happy Hangul Day!