LANGUAGE

Online Dictionary Uses Simple Analogies to Decode Tech Jargon

Learn why internet cookies are like a barista with a good memory.

Why Do We Use the Same Voice to Talk to Babies and Dogs?

Nope, it's not because they're equally adorable.

10 Pointy Pieces of Slayer Slang from Buffy the Vampire Slayer

From sitch to five by five, here are just a few of our Buffy the Vampire Slayer slang terms in honor of the 20th anniversary of the show's debut.

11 Words Coined 100 Years Ago

"O.M.G." made its first documented appearance a century ago—in a letter to Winston Churchill.

'Fake' Etymology: The Story Behind One of the Dictionary’s Most Intriguing Words

The story behind one of today's big buzzwords goes all the way back to the secret slang of early 19th century criminals.

12 Words For The Insufferably Vain

Please use these words next time you have to describe a self-obsessed huff-snuff.

6 Idioms That Came From Film And Theater

Chances are, you’ve probably used an idiom from film or theater in an everyday context—maybe without even knowing it.

What's the Difference Between "Jr." and "II"?

Robert Downey Jr. and Sammy Davis Jr. are arguably two of the biggest celebrities ever to rock nominal suffixes—but why aren't they Robert Downey II and Sammy Davis II?

7 Très Interesting Facts about Canadian French

Most Americans don’t need to fly across an ocean to immerse themselves in the French language. There are millions of French speakers just to our north in Canada.

15 Words With Origins So Obvious You Never Noticed Them

The origins of these words are hiding right under your nose.

6 Finnish Terms You'll Want to Use in English, in Emoji Form

One of them quite literally means "underwear drunk."

14 Terms of Affection from Across the U.S.

Looking for a way to spice up your love language? Snuggle up with these 14 idioms, slang terms, and sayings from the Dictionary of American Regional English (DARE) on how to get it on all over the United States.

30 Little-Used Loanwords To Add Some Je Ne Sais Quoi To Your Vocabulary

30 of the New Words Added to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary

'Binge-watch,' 'humblebrag,' and 'Seussian' were all included in the more than 1000 new entries.

How Were Hieroglyphics Deciphered?

It was a tricky task!

13 Ways to Say You're "Mad as Hell" Across the U.S.

These regional idioms—from the Big Easy and New England to the Appalachians and Hawaii—will help you liven up your livid language.

6 French and German Dialects That Are 100 Percent American (And What They Sound Like)

The history of the United States is multilingual, and many non-English speaking communities have managed to maintain their languages, sometimes for hundreds of years. These dialects of French and German that go back a long way.