Language

47 More Words That Sound Rude (But Actually Aren’t)

These words sound a lot more suspect than their fairly mundane meanings might suggest.

Sarcasm Is Good for Creativity

A new study finds that sarcasm promotes creative thinking for both the expresser and recipient. No, really?

Another victim of Murphy's Law (via iStock)

The Murphy Behind Murphy's Law

The Subtle Genius of Minion Language

12 Head-Scratching Terms Heard on Film Sets

Want to be a Hollywood insider? Then you’d better know the industry jargon.

11 Paraprosdokians That Will Make You Think Twice

These linguistic brain scramblers will make you rethink the entire line you just heard.

The Parrot That Kept A Language Alive

In 1800, one explorer discovered a parrot who was speaking a dead language.

Both flour and flower come from the same root word

15 Pairs of Words That Surprisingly Come From the Same Source

Sometimes words we might not expect to have anything in common historically do go back to the same source. They’re called etymological doublets—here are 15 of them.

6 Responses to Sneezes From Around the World

Go beyond “Gesundheit!"

In A Language With Only 123 Words, Less Is More

15 Phat Pieces of Clueless Slang

In honor of Clueless' 20th birthday (we know—we're totally buggin'!), we're exploring the origins of the movie's most memorable phrases.

How Did the Grapefruit Get Its Name?

As it turns out, it’s a relatively new designation.

What Does ‘Understand’ Have to do With Standing Under?

What’s With The New Yawk Accent?

The story of how department stores taught us about language and prestige.

15 Wonderful Regional Expressions for Describing Warm Weather

With the summer in full swing, you might be running out of ways to describe the sweltering heat.

10 of Voltaire's Favorite Bon Mots for Bastille Day

Celebrate Bastille Day by sprinkling a few of Voltaire's choicest bon mots into your conversations.

3 (Scientifically Proven) Ways to Learn a New Language

In 2014, Penn State researchers found that adults who successfully tackled a new language strengthened their neural pathways, benefiting overall brain function and slowing deterioration. We scoured some recent research for tips for mastering a second tong