Words

Keep a look out for the origins of this weird phrase.

Popular theories involve pirates—and police.

In Japanese, ‘ringo’ means both “apple” and “apples.”

Across the world’s languages, nouns are surprisingly chameleonic creatures, shape-shifting and category-hopping in ways that can make your head spin.

Here are a few words for ignorant people you might want to add to your lexicon, from ‘wantwit’ to ‘dorkmunder’ to ‘ninnyhammer.’

Making a beeline for the buffet table? You’re buying into some bee stereotypes.

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

No wild geese were harmed in the making of this idiom.

The meaning behind the money.

There's a fancy term for forgetting a word—'lethologica.'

Olympic sports like volleyball have their own delicious slang.

Here are 20 fun bits of Olympics slang, from diving’s ‘bingo’ to gymnastics’ ‘twisties.’

In Korean, ‘chikin’ means something pretty specific—and it’s not exactly what you think.

Korean is full of pseudo-anglicisms, colloquially called “Konglish.” Can you guess what the words that sound like ‘meeting’ or ‘skin’ refer to?

These languages have disappeared—but some of them are making a comeback.

Not all languages stick around forever. Some of these 11 tongues are extinct, some are dead or dormant, and some are finding new life.

'Stump Speaking' by George Caleb Bingham, 1853.

Some stumps were involved in the making of the stump speech.

The song may not actually have much to do with a weasel at all.

You may think you know the words to “Pop! Goes the Weasel.” The tune is everywhere from jack-in-the-box toys to Data and Riker’s first encounter in ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’. But it may not even be about a weasel at all.

The expression—which can be used for all things adorable—dates back to the early 20th century.

The words ‘galaxy’ and ‘lactose’ have a surprising connection.

The connections between words aren’t always as straightforward as the link between ‘run’ and ‘runner’; often, figuring them out requires the subtle unraveling of linguistic evolution, the kind of detective work that makes etymology so fascinating.

A few yards of clear air means the difference between a tornado and a funnel cloud.

People often confuse funnel clouds with tornadoes, but they're not the same. Learn how to tell the two apart.

Italian is the language of love—and delightfully creative insults.

Ian McKellen as Gandalf with Elijah Wood as Frodo in ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.’

Sure, ‘Frodo’ isn’t a type of coffee table—or is it?

The idiom for demanding payment doesn’t quite have the equine origins one would think.

Everyone here is someone's late someone.

There’s a historical reason, but there may be a social one as well.

You won’t bee-lieve how honeybees give directions.

Not everyone gives directions the way you do—in fact, the way people tell others how to get where they want to go can vary by city, town, and culture. Some of these directional systems might just change how you navigate the world.

You ‘aught’ to know the answer of this question.

Suggestions for what to call the period of time from 2000–2009 ranged from ‘the nillies’ and ‘the oh-ohs’ to ‘the double zeroes’ and ‘the noughties.’ So how’d we land on ‘the aughts’?

Next time you’re in the Hub, you can let your Masshole flag fly with these Boston slang terms that will have you sounding like a townie in no time.

This is what Amelia Bedelia would picture.

Eggs aren’t the only things you can devil.

Where Does the Expression ‘Keep Your Eyes Peeled’ Come From?

5 Ways Nouns Change in Different Languages

20 Old Words for Ignorant People

Why Do We Say “Make a Beeline”?

Definition Detective Quiz #1

What Exactly Is a ‘Wild Goose Chase’?

Why Do We Say “Cold, Hard Cash”?

What’s the Word for When You Can’t Remember a Word?

20 Colorful Slang Terms from Olympic Sports

14 Konglish Words That Aren’t What They Seem

11 Extinct, Dead, and Dormant U.S. Languages

The Reason Why Some Political Addresses Are Called “Stump Speeches”

‘Pop! Goes the Weasel’: The Real Meaning Behind the Nursery Rhyme

Why Do We Say Things Are “Cute as a Button”?

Linguistic Siblings: 14 Pairs of Words With Surprisingly Shared Etymologies

Tornado vs. Funnel Cloud: What's the Difference?

15 Impressive Italian Insults and Curses

IKEA Product or Middle-earth Character?

Why Do We Say “Pony Up” When We Want Money?

Why Does ‘Late’ Mean “Dead”?

5 of the World’s Most Interesting Directional Systems

Why Do We Call the 2000s “the Aughts”?

Boston Slang: 25 Wicked Good Terms You Should Know

Why Are They Called “Deviled Eggs” If There’s No Devil in Them?