Words Unravelled with RobWords and Jess Zafarris

Rob and Jess are celebrating 100 episodes of Words Unravelled by sharing their top 100 wordy nerdy facts. 🎥 WATCH THIS EPISODE: https://youtu.be/1PM_iwxAyb8 👕 OUR MERCH 👚 US SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.com/ EU/UK SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.net/

Willkommen! Jess and Rob are exploring the German words in English. In this Zeitgeisty episode, discover: 👻 What doppelgänger literally means, 📏 The longest German word, 🤧 And why Americans say "Gesundheit!" when they sneeze. Satisfy your linguistic wanderlust in another wunderbar edition of Words Unravelled. 👕 OUR MERCH 👚 US SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.com/ EU/UK SHOP: ht...

You speak more Latin than you think. Not only are the many French words in English derived from Latin, but almost 30% of our vocabulary comes directly from the language of the Romans. In this episode, Rob and Jess explore how those words got there, what they literally mean, and whether we are using them correctly. 👕 OUR MERCH 👚 US SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.com/ EU/UK SHOP:...

Rob and Jess are taking the deepest of dives into the origins of words from the ocean. 🐟 Are many fish 'fish' or 'fishes'? 🦈 Why is there a mystery around sharks? 🐠 What is a sarcastic fringehead? These questions answered, and many more, in this subaquatic special of Words Unravelled. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 ROB EDINBURGH TICKETS: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/robwords-live 👕 OUR MERCH 👚 US SHOP:...

Take a pinch of witchcraft, add a touch of sorcery, and "Hey presto!" you have a wordy nerdy episode about magical terms. 🧙 Can only women be witches? 🔒 What did a warlock originally do? 🪄 What is the literal meaning of 'Alakazam'? These questions answered – and many more – in another enchanting episode of Words Unravelled. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 ROB'S EDINBURGH SHOW: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats...

We're exploring the origins of common sayings relating to numbers in this episode. 🥉 Why is the third time a charm? ⛅️ What's so great about "seventh heaven"? 🙃 Why do we say "at sixes and sevens"? Rob and Jess explore these numerical idioms – and many more – in this magnificently mathematical edition of Words Unravelled. 👕 OUR MERCH 👚 US SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.com/ E...

What did the Vikings do for us? Rob and Jess are exploring the words left behind by the Scandinavian invaders. 🪓 How much of English is Old Norse? 🗺️ Which place names are inherited from "the Danes"? 📝 How did the Norsemen change English grammar? These questions answered, and many more, in another Words Unravelled. 👕 OUR MERCH 👚 US SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.com/ EU/UK SH...

Why do Americans and Brits have the accents they have? Sociolinguist, professor and author Valerie Fridland joins Rob and Jess this week to discuss why we talk funny. 🍮 Does 'caramel' have one or two syllables? 🪶 Do Americans sound more like Shakespeare than Brits? 🎩 Why do some accents sound 'posher' than others? These questions answered, an many more, in another gloriously nerdy episode of ...

How does an artist use a 'donkey'? What does 'Mona Lisa' actually mean? Who is the "dada" in Dadaism? Rob and Jess are explaining word origins from the art world in the latest Words Unravelled, exploring artists, artworks and art supplies. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿ROB'S EDINBURGH SHOW🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Tickets: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/robwords-live 👕 OUR MERCH 👚 US SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.mysp...

Rob and Jess are exploring deceptive words in other languages, like French, German and Spanish. So-called 'false friends' look familiar to English speakers but mean something very different. Watch this episode to avoid any sticky situations when you're next abroad. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 ROB'S EDINBURGH SHOW 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Tickets: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/robwords-live 👕 OUR MERCH 👚 US SHOP: http...

Why is it called "Rock and Roll"? Who came up with "The Beatles"? Which bands took their names from literature? Rob and Jess are answering all manner of musical etymological question in this off-beat episode of Words Unravelled. 👕 OUR MERCH 👚 US SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.com/ EU/UK SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.net/ WATCH THIS EPISODE: https://youtu.be/Jl...

¡Hablas más español de lo que crees! You speak more Spanish than you think! In this episode, Rob and Jess are exploring the Spanish words that have entered English both sides of the Atlantic. 🤠 Which words entered English in the old West? 🐴 Which animals are surprisingly Spanish? 🇪🇸 Why do people in Spain sound like they have a lisp? These questions answered – and many more – in another Words...

Let's explore the mysteries of our weird alphabet. Rob and Jess are joined by Danny Bate, author of Why Q Needs U, to discuss where our letters came from and why they make the noises they make. 🅰️ How was A originally an ox? 𝑄 Why does Q always appear with U? 🦓 Is it ZEE or ZED? These questions answered and so many more in an alphabetically astounding episode of Words Unravelled. 📖 Buy Danny's...

Rob and Jess are guffawing their way through a world of comedic words. 🎭 What does 'comedy' literally mean? 🤡 Who should you hit with a 'slapstick'? 🥄 What was a spoof? (It's not a type of spoon) These questions answered, and many many more, in this hilarious edition of Words Unravelled. 👀 WATCH THIS EPISODE: https://youtu.be/56YLffYfQ7M 👕 OUR MERCH 👚 US SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.my...

Rob and Jess are exploring the Arabic words hiding in English. 🛜 Who was the original ‘algorithm’ named after? 🥷 How did ‘assassins’ get their name? 🔢 Why does English use Arabic numerals? These questions answered, and many more, in another Words Unravelled. 👕 OUR MERCH 👚 US SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.com/ EU/UK SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.net/ WATCH T...

This episode is all in the mind, as Rob and Jess explore the origins of psychological terms. 💕 What did Oedipus doe to his mother? 🛋️ What did Sigmund Freud actually believe? 😳 What is "catagelaphobia"? 🥼 Why has "therapy speak" become such a problem? These questions answered, and many more, in this psychoanalytical edition of Words Unravelled that is sure to make you think. 👀 WATCH THIS EPI...

Rob and Jess are touring the world and translating the names of popular foods. 🍝 What does "chow mein" mean? 👅 Which pasta is "little tongues"? 🌭 What is a Frankfurter called in Frankfurt? These curious culinary questions answered, and many more, in another deliciously nerdy episode of Words Unravelled. 👕 OUR MERCH 👚 US SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.com/ EU/UK SHOP: https://wo...

Rob and Jess explore the origins of common sayings in another episode dedicated to the stories behind idioms. 🐟 What was the first "red herring"? 🪿 Is there a goose in a "wild goose chase"? 👮 Why is prison called "up the river"? Find the answers to these questions and many more in another wordy nerdy episode of Words Unravelled. WATCH THIS EPISODE: https://youtu.be/tRR-DHzD7mw 👕 OUR MERCH 👚 U...

What's in a names? Jess and Rob are exploring why major cities are called what they're called and what their names literally mean. 🇩🇪 Why does BERLIN mean 'swamp'? 🇯🇵 Why are KYOTO and TOKYO anagrams? 🇿🇦 Who is the Johannes of Johannesburg? These questions answered, and many more, in a globe-trotting episode of Words Unravelled. 👕 OUR MERCH 👚 US SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop...

Rob and Jess are engaged in another transatlantic war of words, pitting their British and American accents against one another. 🍽️ Why do Brits eat their entrees first? 👰🏽 Why do Americans pronounce "merry", "marry" and "Mary" the same? 🚿 Why can't we agree on whether to "have" or "take" a shower? These questions answered, and many more, in another Words Unravelled. Evan Edinger: https://www.y...

Rob and Jess are joined by the brilliant John McWhorter to discuss words you're not allowed to use. Professor McWhorter has written extensively about taboos, slurs and profanities and brings his unparalleled expertise on the English language. 🤬 Is "the R word" becoming even more taboo? 🤐 Are we "unaliving" our way to a new era of self-censorship? 🔄 Can a slur ever be truly "reclaimed"? These ...

What does IKEA mean? What language is Häagen-Dasz? Who came up with the name Adidas? Why is Danone spelled Dannon in the US? These questions answered, and many more, as Jess and Rob explore the origins of brand names. Enjoy some more trademark word nerdery in this episode of Words Unravelled exploring Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Lego, Shell, ExxonMobil, Aldi and other famous product names. 👕 OUR MERCH ...

Jess and Rob are digging into the origins of the words behind some of history’s biggest ideas – from stoicism and cynicism to logic, ethics, and metaphysics. Along the way, they trace how ancient Greek schools of thought shaped the language we still use to argue, reason, and disagree today. Enjoy this particularly pensive episode of Words Unravelled. 👕 OUR MERCH 👚 US SHOP: https://wordsunravel...

Jess and Rob are discussing "the shaking of the sheets". Join them to explore the origins of words for 'doing it' and a host of historic terms for firkytoodling, quiffing and dancing Moll Peatley's Jig. Welcome to a very sex episode of Words Unravelled. 👕 OUR MERCH 👚 US SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.com/ EU/UK SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.net/ WATCH THIS EPI...

Why doesn't English have a word for someone who is alive? Or a general term for your aunties and uncles? Should we bring back the word 'uhtceare' from Old English or steal 'Torschlusspanik' from German? Rob and Jess answer these questions and more as they investigate the words that English has forgotten to invent. Join them to explore silly sniglets, outrageous orphaned negatives and untransla...

Is necessity the mother of invention? NO! Latin is, etymologically speaking. That's just one of many revelations as Jess and Rob investigates words for innovations. 🛗 Could you 'escalate' something before the escalator? 🍞 When was sliced bread actually invented? 🩹 What connects zippers, band aids and aspirin? These questions answered – and many more – in another inventive episode of Words Unr...

Rob and Jess are touring the US and the UK in search of the most interesting city name origin stories. 💨 Does 'Chicago' have anything to do with wind? 🗽 Is New York actually named after York? 🚇 Does anyone know what 'London' means? 🏹 And what was Nottingham's hilarious old name? Find out as we climb aboard the etymological city-hopper in another wordy, nerdy Words Unravelled. 👕 OUR MERCH 👚 U...

Rob and Jess are going deep undercover to unearth the origins of words from the word of espionage. 🕵️‍♀️ What's the difference between a SPY, and ASSET, and an AGENT? 🔍 What does ESPIONAGE literally mean? 🇬🇧 Was there ever an MI4 as well MI5 and MI6? These questions answered – and many more – in a supremely secretive episode of Words Unravelled. 🎥 Dr Geoff Lindsey's COVERT vid: https://www.you...

Rob and Jess are talking tech! In this episode, they explore the linguistic origins of terms from technology, Sci-fi and the internet. 🧌 Who was the first internet troll? 🤖 What does 'robot' literally mean? 🔫 Does Jedi actually mean something? ⌨️ Are we pronouncing 'meme' correctly? These questions answered, and a whole lot more, in an extra nerdy episode of Words Unravelled. 🚨ROBWORDS LIVE🚨 T...

Rob and Jess are taking a surgical look at words from the world of medicine. 💊 What is the Nocebo Effect? 🩺 Are doctors named after leeches (or the other way round)? 🚑 What does "ambulance" literally mean? These questions answered, and many more, in another wordy nerdy episode of Words Unravelled. 👕 OUR MERCH 👚 US SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.com/ EU/UK SHOP: https://wordsunr...

Jess and Rob are exploring the etymological origins of mythical beasts and cryptids. 🐺 What does "Chupacabra" mean? 🦑 Why are we getting the name "Kraken" wrong? 🐉 What animal was the original "dragon"? These questions answered – and many more besides – in another Words Unravelled. 👕 OUR MERCH 👚 US SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.com/ EU/UK SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.mysp...

In this episode, Rob and Jess explore the stories behind a host of common sayings. 🪓 Does anyone actually 'bury the hatchet'? 😈 Was there ever a 'devil's advocate'? 🔫 What is a 'son of a gun'? 🪶 Why would you have a 'feather in your cap'? These questions answered – and many more – in another idioms episode of Words Unravelled. 👕 OUR MERCH 👚 US SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.c...

This episode of Words Unravelled is not for the easily offended, as Rob and Jess explore dictionaries dedicated to underground slang. Focusing first on Francis Grose's 'Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue', our hosts pick out some of the rudest, meanest and funniest words recorded in 18th century London. They also discuss other attempts to document the everyday talk of the criminal clas...

It's sometimes said that English has taken on so many Latin and French words that it is now a Romance language. Rob and Jess believe this is false, and in this episode they explain why. Join them as they explain just how similar English is to its siblings Dutch and German and its cousins Swedish, Danish and Norwegian. Learn about the many words borrowed from other Germanic languages. And disco...

What is the Baader-Meinhof effect? How many quotes are wrongly attributed to Churchill? What's Jess's funniest linguistics joke? These questions answered, and many more, in a special episode of Words Unravelled featuring League of the Lexicon founder Joshua Blackburn. You can find out more about his board game and accompanying book, The Language-Lover's Lexipedia, here: https://www.leagueofth...

In this episode, Jess and Rob get sporty as they trace the origins of the words behind our favourite games. ⚾️ What is the word "sport" short for? 🏉 Why does American "football" barely involve your feet? 🏏 What do Brits mean when they say something "isn't cricket"? Expect Victorian public schools, Indigenous ball games, and a few linguistic own goals in another Words Unravelled. 👕 OUR MERCH 👚 ...

Rob and Jess are exploring the origins of first names. 👩 Are all MARYS actually MIRIAMS? 🕵️‍♀️ How can JAMES, IAGO and JACOB be the same? 💡 What do ROBERT and JESSICA mean? These questions answered – and many more – in this nominally fascinating etymological exploration of why we're called what we're called. It's time for Words Unravelled! 👕 OUR MERCH 👚 US SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.mys...

In this episode, Rob and Jess dig into the origins of the words we use for our furry, feathered, and occasionally scaly companions. 🐕 Where does the word 'dog' come from? 🐈 What does 'cat' literally mean? 🐹 Are guinea pigs even from Guinea? These questions answered, and many more, in this edition of Words Unravelled dedicated to our beloved pets. WATCH THIS EPISODE: https://youtu.be/_r2HMeiD...

From mountain high to valley low, Rob Watts and Jess Zafarris are exploring the origins of geography words. 🐻‍❄️ Why are the poles called 'poles'? 🗻 What is the difference between a hill and a mountain? 🧭 What do the points of the compass literally mean? These questions answered – and many more – in another worldly, wordy and nerdy episode of Words Unravelled. 🎥 WATCH THIS EPISODE: https://y...

Internet word nerds RobWords and Jess Zafarris share 100 word facts. They met in person for the first time after Words Unravelled reached 100,000 subscribers on YouTube. Prepare for 49 minutes of pure linguistic geekery. 🎥 WATCH THIS EPISODE: https://youtu.be/uPfbuo6iP6Y 👕 OUR MERCH 👚 US SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.com/ EU/UK SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.n...

In this episode, Jess and Rob 'spill the beans' about all manner of food-related idioms. 🍌 Why does 'going bananas' mean going mad? ☕️ Who is the Joe in a 'cup of Joe'? 🍏 What did we compare apples to before oranges? 🧅 What does it really mean to 'know your onions'? Answers to these questions and many more as we explore the origins of commons sayings in Words Unravelled. OTHER IDIOM EPISODES...

In this episode, Rob and Jess take a right royal romp through the etymologies of eminent titles. They discuss the origins of words like "lord", "emperor", "queen" and a whole host of others: 🏛️ How did Caesar become a title all over Europe? 𓁏 What did 'pharaoh' mean to the ancient Egyptians? 👑  What is the etymology of the word 'king'? 🗳️ What is a 'timocracy' or a 'kakistocracy? These questi...

We’re digging into prehistoric word origins. In this episode, Jess and Rob unearth the literal meanings behind the names of the dinosaurs. 🦖 What does Tyrannosaurus rex really mean? 🦕 Why is Stegosaurus called the “roof lizard”? 🐦 Are dinosaurs birds or lizards? 🦴 Are dinosaur names Latin or Greek? These questions answered – and many more – in another monstrous episode of Words Unravelled. 🌐...

We're taking a world tour of word origins. In this episode, Jess and Rob discuss how a multitude of countries got their names. 🇺🇸 Where was the original "America"? 🇬🇧 Why is Britain called "Great"? 🇨🇦 What does "Canada" mean? 🇩🇪 Why do the Germans call themselves "Dutch"? These questions answered – and many more – in another worldly wise episode of Words Unravelled. 🌐 LINKS 🌐 Rob's UK countr...

BREAKING: Rob and Jess uncover news clichés and weird journalistic words. 📺 Why do TV news anchors talk in that strange way? 🗞️ Why do newspaper journalists spell lead as "lede"? 🎤 Why do journalists use clichés like "on the rise"? 🐊 What is a "knobbly monster"? These questions answered – and many more – in another hot-off-the-press episode of Words Unravelled. 👕 OUR MERCH 👚 US SHOP: https:/...

Samuel Johnson's 1755 dictionary was one heck of an achievement. But it is also far from perfect. In this episode, Jess and Rob discuss some of the more amusing entries within its pages, and even the words that landed dear Samuel in hot water. Enjoy this cover-to-cover exploration of English's most important dictionary and the extraordinary man who wrote it. 👕 OUR MERCH 👚 US SHOP: https://word...

Welcome aboard flight WU321 bound for Etymology Island. In this episode, Rob and Jess take to the skies and soar through the word origins of a multitude of aviation terms. ✈️ Is it an 'airplane' or an 'aeroplane'? 🐓 Why do pilots sit in a 'cockpit'? 🛩️ Why is English the language of aviation? 🔠 How did the NATO alphabet come to be? These questions answered – and many more – in a high-flying e...

In for a penny, in for a pound: Rob and Jess discuss money word origins in this episode of Words Unravelled. 💰 Where did the dollar sign come from? 💷 What is the British currency a pound of? 🤑 Which goddess is all money named after? These questions answered – and many more – in another financially sound episode of Words Unravelled. 🏆 VOTE FOR US 🏆 The British Podcast Awards listeners' choice...

Jess and Rob have got their heads in the clouds, exploring the origins of our words for weather. ☄️ Why don't meteorologists deal with meteors? ☁️ How are we using the wrong word for 'cloud'? ☔️ What was the original 'raincheck'? 🤬 Why does Jess hate the word 'petrichor'? These questions answered, and many more, in this etymological meteorological episode of Words Unravelled. 🌐 LINKS 🌐 Our g...

Is it "on accident" or "by accident"? Should "red, white, and blue" have that second comma? Is "10 items or less" okay? Jess and Rob are joined by the internet's Grammar Girl, Mignon Fogarty, to examine some common grammatical myths and mistakes. 🥳 Is it wrong to use "fun" as an adjective? 🏎️ Is "drive SLOW" bad grammar? (or just a flat adverb?) 🥃 Why does "tonic and gin" sound weird? These q...