Precisely how long is a 'moment'? | TIME WORDS
Jess and Rob present a brief history of time words in an episode filled with chronological etymology. ⌚️ How did "seconds" get their name? 🕰️ What does "clock" literally mean? 🇫🇷 How did France's decimal calendar work? These questions answered – and so many more – in this timely episode of Words Unravelled. Our mythology episode: https://youtu.be/b8s2uxWrMhQ?si=G--tQQwAj9mKHk-S 👕 OUR MERCH ...
41m Jun 18, 2025
41m
What was the original "blockbuster"? | MOVIE WORDS
Lights, camera, action! Rob and Jess are discussing movie and TV terms in this filmic episode of Words Unravelled. 🎥 Why do Brits call movies "films"? 🤷🏼‍♂️ Why has Allen Smithee directed so many terrible movies? 🙀 Why is there a "dead cat" on every Hollywood set? These questions answered, and many more, in this episode crammed with film and television etymology. 👕 OUR MERCH 👚 US SHOP: https:/...
46m Jun 11, 2025
46m
How can you tell a bug from a beetle? | ENTOMOLOGY ETYMOLOGY
Time for some entomology etymology! Rob and Jess will have you in bits as they explore the literal meaning of "insect" and all manner of other term for creepy crawly. 🕷️ Why do spiders spin "cobwebs"? 🦋 Was a butterfly ever a "flutterby"? 🐞 Which is older, "ladybug" or "ladybird"? These questions answered, and many more, a critter-crammed episode of Words Unravelled. 👕 OUR MERCH 👚 US SHOP: h...
42m Jun 04, 2025
42m
Why is the Pope "the daddy"? | HOLY WORDS
Holy heck! Rob and Jess are back with an episode of biblical proportions. Join them as they get to the gospel truth about the origins of religious words. ⛪️ What was kept in the very first chapel? 🦛 Which animal was the original behemoth? 🗝️ Where does the word "conclave" come from? These questions answered – and many more – in another Words Unravelled. 👕 OUR MERCH 👚 US SHOP: https://wordsunra...
40m May 28, 2025
40m
Why do Brits think 'pants' are underwear? | CLOTHING WORDS
Jess and Rob are unravelling the origins of our words for fabric and clothing in this highly fashionable episode of Words Unravelled. 🩲 Why do 'pants' mean different things in the UK and US? 👖 Which city are your jeans named after? 🪶 What's flappy about a 'flapper girl'? ✈️ Is 'nylon' really named after New York and London? These questions answered, and many more, in our most unravelly episod...
39m May 21, 2025
39m
Why is there an N in "passenger"? | TRANSPORTATION
It's time to hit the road with Rob and Jess as they journey through the origins of words from road and rail. 🚃 Why do Brits say "transport" and Americans "transportation"? 🚊 What's the difference between a train and a locomotive? 🚙 How do you actually pronounce Hyundai? These questions answered – and many more – in this transport[ation] special of Words Unravelled. 👕 OUR MERCH 👚 US SHOP: https...
43m May 14, 2025
43m
Why were hatters mad? | IDIOM ORIGINS
Rob and Jess "pull out all the stops" in this episode explaining idiom origins. ✈️ Why do we say "balls to the wall" and "push the envelope"? 🐘 What's so useless about a "white elephant"? 👕 Where were the original "whole nine yards"? These questions answered and many more in this common sayings special of Words Unravelled. Here's our other idioms episode: https://pod.fo/e/2a54ba And the video ...
50m May 07, 2025
50m
Is it a restroom or a loo? | UK v. US English
Let's explore British English and American English. In another transatlantic war of words, Rob (a Brit) and Jess (an American) debate the differing words for the same things either side of the pond. For our new Channel Memberships click "Join" just below the video. Our previous 🇺🇸 vs. 🇬🇧 episode 📺 https://youtu.be/o6KlBd7TPFI?si=EHmBIMV3PatoSQi9 🔊 https://pod.fo/e/240f60 👕 OUR MERCH 👚 US SHO...
48m Apr 30, 2025
48m
Did Shakespeare write all his plays? | THE BARD
We're back for a new 🇬🇧series/🇺🇸season of Words Unravelled. In this episode, transatlantic word nerds Rob and Jess tackle the truth and lies surrounding Williams Shakespeare. ✍️ Did the Bard really invent 1,700 words? 🤬 Which insults did Willy give us? 🎭 Could he actually have written all of those plays? These questions answered and many more, just As You Like It. 👕 OUR MERCH 👚 US SHOP: https:...
33m Apr 23, 2025
33m
How do you pronounce lieutenant? | MILITARY WORDS
There's fightin' talk in this episode of Words Unravelled, in which Jess and Rob discuss words of warcraft. 🔫 Which woman are all guns named after? 🪖 Where does the word "war" come from? 👮 Is lieutenant pronounced loo-tenant or lef-tenant? These questions answered – and many more – in this military etymology special of Words Unravelled. 👕 OUR MERCH 👚 US SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspre...
41m Apr 02, 2025
41m
Why do we mind our Ps and Qs? | PRINTING TERMS
In this printing special of Words Unravelled, Jess proves herself a font of knowledge on names for typefaces and Rob makes a bit impression with the history of the printing press. 🆎 What's the difference between a font and a typeface? 😈 Who was the printer's devil? 📖 How did the printing press ruin English spelling? These questions answered — and many more — in this cliché-free episode of Wor...
40m Mar 26, 2025
40m
Where the f*** do swear words come from?
It's here: the much-requested swearing episode of Words Unravelled. Join Rob and Jess as they explore the origins of all manner of profanity. #️⃣ Where did the F word come from? 📍 Which place names originally contained swear words? 📺 What are the worst words you can say on TV? These questions answered, and many more, in this NSFW edition of Words Unravelled. 👕WORDY NERDY MERCH👚 Our EU and US...
51m Mar 19, 2025
51m
Which flower makes you wet the bed? | FLOWER NAME ORIGINS
Welcome to another bloomin' wonderful episode of Words Unravelled. This time, Rob and Jess are discussing the origins of all manner of flower name. 🌻Which flower makes you wet the bed? 👁️Which flower's name means "day's eye"? 🌹What is the origin of the word rose? 🥒What did Jess name her cucumber plant? These questions answered - and many more - in this anthology of horticultural etymologies. 🎥...
44m Mar 12, 2025
44m
Is this a rhetorical question? | RHETORIC & LITERARY DEVICES
Who wants to learn how to talk pretty? In this episode, Rob and Jess explore the clever tricks used by poets, novelists and speechwriters to surprise, move and persuade us. Join them as they discuss rhetoric and literary devices. 😉 What are the three types of irony? ❓Do you now an anaphora from an epistrophe? 🤷🏼‍♀️ Why is tmesis so un-flippin'-believable? These questions answered and many mor...
39m Mar 05, 2025
39m
How did our naughty bits get their names? | BODY ETYMOLOGY
Let's discuss the etymology of the body from "head" to "toe". Join Rob and Jess on an adventure through anatomical word origins. 👅 Why is tongue spelt that way? 🍎 What did we originally call our Adam's apple? 🍆 How did our naughty bits get their names? These questions answered and many more in a body-positive episode of Words Unravelled. 👕 OUR NEW MERCH 👚 US SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.m...
45m Feb 26, 2025
45m
What's the difference between a violin and a fiddle? | MUSIC WORDS
Let this episode be music to your ears as Rob Watts and Jess Zafarris explore the melodic origins of all manner of musical words. 👦 Which instrument used to be called a "ho boy"? 🎤 What does "karaoke" literally mean? 🎷 Who is the saxophone named after? 🎶 How good is Rob's theremin impression? These questions answered, and many more in another Words Unravelled. WATCH THIS EPISODE: https://you...
29m Feb 19, 2025
29m
Who invented zero? | MATH & NUMBERS
Join Rob and Jess as they explore the origins of a myriad of mathematical terms and innumerable number words. 💯 What number was the original "hundred"? ♾️ What is the infinity symbol called? 🕚 Why does English have weird words for 11 and 12? These questions answered - and numerous others - in an incalculably fun episode of Words Unravelled. WATCH THIS EPISODE: https://youtu.be/ey38pmqPBnM
33m Feb 12, 2025
33m
Who was the original "goodfella"? | CRIME WORDS
Rob and Jess are on the wrong side of the law in this criminal episode of Words Unravelled. Join them as they discuss the origins of all manner of words for felony, misdemeanour and malfeasance. 🏴‍☠️ What is so black about blackmail? 🏚️ What is the "burg" in burglary? 💰 What's the difference between "robbery" and "theft"? 🎩 What Victorian prison slang are we still using today? Those questions a...
48m Feb 05, 2025
48m
Who was the first to "paint the town red"? | IDIOM ORIGINS
In this episode, Rob and Jess debunk some myths about the origins of common sayings, and prevent the even more fascinating true stories behind the idioms we use day-to-day. 🔴 Who was the first to "paint the town red"? 🌩️ How can someone's "thunder" be "stolen"? 🐕 What's the (horrible) origin of "to screw the pooch"? 🥃 Where did the phrase "on the wagon" come from? These questions answered and m...
48m Jan 29, 2025
48m
Is he Santa Claus or Father Christmas? | FESTIVE ETYMOLOGY
Join Rob and Jess for a festive feast of Christmas etymology. 🎅🏼 Is Santa Claus an Americanism? 🎩 Who was Sir Christmas? 🦌 How did the Santa's reindeer get their names? 🎶 Is it "four calling birds" or "four colly birds"? These questions answered and many more as we deck the halls with linguistic intrigue in another episode of Words Unravelled. 👀WATCH THIS EPISODE 👀 https://youtu.be/9A0hAxeFyo4
38m Dec 18, 2024
38m
What did a "sin-eater" do? | JOB ETYMOLOGY
Let's explore our words for jobs, professions and trades. 🪵What did carpenters originally make? 🐐Which animal did butchers originally butcher? 💩Where did a "gong farmer" actually farm? 🛒What is so gross about a grocer? These questions answered and many more in another Words Unravelled with RobWords and Jess Zafarris. 👀WATCH THIS EPISODE👀 https://youtu.be/L8QXVs2DNFk
47m Dec 11, 2024
47m
Is it a 'full stop' or a 'period'? | PUNCTUATION
Join Rob and Jess for a period as they get straight to the point about punctuation. 🏛️ Which punctuation mark came first? 💀 How can you punctuate sarcasm? ❓ Why does a question mark look like that? These questions answered - and many more - in another punctilious episode of Words Unravelled. 👀WATCH THIS EPISODE👀 https://youtu.be/DLBBiY5w8qM
43m Dec 04, 2024
43m
Is corporate jargon a synergistic value-add? | JARGON
Time to bust some jargon in another Words Unravelled. In this episode, Rob and Jess wade their way through the sea of business speak and legalese. 🦍Which joke created the "800-pound gorilla" 🪶Is all jargon a modern invention? 🏛️What do legal Latin phrases literally mean? These questions answered and many more in another wordy nerdy episode of Words Unravelled. 🎥 WATCH THIS EPISODE 🎥 https://...
41m Nov 27, 2024
41m
Who is the Jack in a deck of cards? | GAME WORDS
In this playful episode of Words Unravelled, Rob and Jess dive into the fascinating world of fun and games. Ever wondered why we call it "chess" or how "poker" got its name? From the origins of classic card games to the strategic world of board games, our hosts uncover the surprising stories behind the words we use for play. ♠️ Who is the Jack in a pack of cards? ♟️ What exactly is a pawn? 🌍 Ho...
43m Nov 20, 2024
43m
Which cocktail's name means "moist little thing"? | BOOZY WORDS
❗️HEADS UP❗️ This episode includes much alcohol talk 🍻 Rob and Jess are getting a round in at the bar in this episode crammed with boozy etymology. Let's explore the origins of our words for beers, wines and spirits, and delve into the stories behind the names of cocktails. 🍺 Where does the word "beer" come from? 🍹 How did the "negroni" get its name? 🥴 How many words for "drunk" to Brits actua...
44m Nov 13, 2024
44m
How can "tree" and "truth" be related? | WOODLAND WORDS
In this episode of Words Unravelled, Rob and Jess explore woodland words. Join us to to uncover the extraordinary origins of names for forest flora and fauna. 📕 Which trees are books named after? 🦔 Which animal is the "hedgehog of the sea"? 🦡 What does it actually mean to be "badgered"? These questions answered, and many more, in another Words Unravelled. 🎥 WATCH THIS EPISODE: https://youtu.be...
58m Nov 06, 2024
58m
What's the true meaning of 'happiness'? | EMOTION ETYMOLOGY
🤔 Where do our emotions come from? In this episode of Words Unravelled, Rob and Jess dive deep into the fascinating origins of the words we use to express how we feel! From the familiar words like "sad," "mad," and "glad," to the more complex emotions of feeling "mortified" or "envious," we explore the linguistic history that shaped these terms and how their meanings evolved over time. Join us...
49m Oct 30, 2024
49m
What's the 'were' in werewolf? | SPOOKY ETYMOLOGY
In this episode of Words Unravelled, Rob and Jess dig into the spooky origins of Halloween words. From 'ghosts' and 'ghouls' to 'warlocks' and 'witches', they uncover the hauntingly fascinating roots of supernatural lingo. 🐺 What is the 'were' in werewolf? 🧌 Why is there a 'monster' in 'demonstrate'? 🦇 What does 'vampire' literally mean? These creepy questions answered and many more. Join us......
50m Oct 23, 2024
50m
Why does oxygen have the wrong name? | ELEMENTS
In this episode of Words Unravelled, Rob and Jess explore the fascinating stories behind the names of the elements of the periodic table. From gods and mythological creatures to places and famous scientists, discover how history, language, and culture have shaped the names we use in chemistry today. 💨Why does oxygen have the wrong name? 🧌Which element is named after a mischievous mythological ...
47m Sep 18, 2024
47m
What does antidisestablishmentarianism mean? | LONG WORDS
In this pulchritudinous episode of Words Unravelled, Rob and Jess discuss the longest words in English and beyond: from antidisestablishmentarianism to opado­temacho­selacho­galeo­kranio­leipsano­drim­hypo­trimmato­silphio­karabo­melito­katakechy­meno­kichl­epi­kossypho­phatto­perister­alektryon­opte­kephallio­kigklo­peleio­lagoio­siraio­baphe­tragano­pterygon. ❓What does floccinaucinihilipili...
40m Sep 11, 2024
40m
Why are you such a nincompoop? | INSULTS
In this episode, Jess and Rob sling some mud as they explore the etymology of insults. 🐳 Does "dork" mean what people say it means? 🤬 Which was Shakespeare's rudest character? 🍆 What exactly is a "plonker"? These dastardly questions answered - and many more - in another Words Unravelled! 🎥WATCH THIS EPISODE: https://youtu.be/60VKgSd3wM0 📕JESS'S BOOK: https://tr.ee/Ghw8DYkqBh 👕 ROB'S MERCH: htt...
35m Sep 04, 2024
35m
Do geese see god? | PALINDROMES
In this episode, Rob and Jess dive headfirst into the topsy-turvy world of palindromes: words, phrases, and numbers that read the same backward and forward. From the humble "wow" to a mind-boggling 1,300-word monster, we've got the subject covered from top to bottom (and back to front). 🔁 What's the longest known palindrome? 🔁 What's the oldest we've ever found? 🔁 Who were the winners at this ...
29m Aug 28, 2024
29m
Why is the word "dog" such a mystery? | ANIMAL WORDS
Take a walk on the wild side with Rob and Jess as they explore animal etymologies. 🐻Why were we too scared to give bears a proper name? 🐶Why don't we know where the word "dog" came from? 👻Which animal is the "ghost" of the jungle? These questions answered - and many more - in another Words Unravelled. THANKS to Martyn Williams for editing this episode. 🎥 WATCH THIS EPISODE: https://youtu.be/_...
48m Aug 21, 2024
48m
What mystery did the original "clue" solve? | MYTHOLOGY WORDS
In this episode of Words Unravelled, hosts Rob and Jess dive into the fascinating world of etymology, uncovering the surprising origins of everyday words rooted in ancient mythology. 🔍 Where did the first "clue" lead? ⚡ Which god literally inspires "panic"? 🎭 And what is the tragic tale behind "echo"? From the tales of Greek gods to Norse legends, discover how these mythical stories have shap...
30m Aug 14, 2024
30m
Can a word be its own opposite? | CONTRONYMS
How can "cleave" mean both to separate AND to join together? Find out in this episode about contronyms and all manner of other -onyms! Jess and Rob delve into demonyms, retronyms, allonyms, eponyms, aptonyms and caconyms. They explain what they are and why on earth they all exist. 🇬🇧 Why are some Londoners also called Cockneys? 🧔🏼‍♂️ Are sideburns really named after a man called Burnside? 🍔 Wh...
49m Aug 07, 2024
49m
Do "vegetables" technically exist? | FOOD WORDS
In this episode of Words Unravelled, Rob and Jess explore the delicious origins of our words for foods. They delve into the etymology of "dinner", "lunch" and all manner of mealtime, and ask whether "vegetables" technically even exist. As usual, there are one or two saucy stories to be told too (wait 'til you hear what "vanilla" actually means...). 🎥 WATCH THIS EPISODE: https://youtu.be/cpbX99...
36m Jul 31, 2024
36m
What exactly is a "petard" anyway? | FOSSIL WORDS
Discover the fascinating world of "fossil words" with Rob and Jess on Words Unravelled! 🌍📚 In this episode, our hosts delve into the history and evolution of words that have stood the test of time but are no longer in common use. ❓What is a "petard" and how can you be "hoist" by yours? ❓What does the shrift in "give short shrift" mean? ❓Who were the first people to "run amok"? Learn about their...
33m Jul 24, 2024
33m
Have you ever had the mulligrubs? | LOST WORDS
In this edition of Words Unravelled, Rob and Jess resurrect some long lost words. We promise not to leave you gremed, overmirthed, nor cursed with the mulligrubs as we explore a hubble-shubble of archaic and obsolete vocabulary from centuries past. 🎥 WATCH EPISODE: https://youtu.be/_tW9pfCqIgY ==LINKS== Rob's YouTube channel: youtube.com/robwords Jess' Useless Etymology blog: https://uselesse...
38m Jul 17, 2024
38m
How did the planets get their names? | SPACE WORDS
This episode of Words Unravelled is out of this world! Blast off with Rob and Jess as they explore the cosmic origins of space terms. 🌌 Where did the planets get their names? And how do you actually pronounce Uranus? What’s the difference between a meteor, a comet and an asteroid? And what’s so milky about the Milky Way? 🌠 From constellations that twinkle with mythology to the everyday words th...
37m Jun 12, 2024
37m
Did the Greeks have a word for blue? COLOR WORDS
Chase the blues away and be tickled pink by another episode of Words Unravelled. In this edition Rob and Jess explore the origins of a whole spectrum of color words (or as Rob calls them, "colour words"). 🌸Does pink really exist? 💙Did the Greeks have no word for blue? ⚫️Can black actually mean white? 🐘Which spelling of grey/gray is correct? These questions answered and many more in Words Unrave...
34m Jun 05, 2024
34m
American vs. British English: A transatlantic war of words
For centuries, British English and American English have been locked in a battle for supremacy. In this edition of Words Unravelled, Rob and Jess expose the linguistic differences either side of 'the pond' and try to understand why they exist. Watch this episode here: https://youtu.be/o6KlBd7TPFI
37m May 29, 2024
37m
Was an orange ever a "norange"? | WORD MASH-UPS
Hello and welcome (or should that be hellcome?) to another Words Unravelled. In this episode, Rob and Jess discuss word mash-ups. - 🍊Was an orange ever a norange? - 🍔 Why do cheeseburgers make no sense? - ❓Is it okay to "aks" instead of "ask"? These questions answered and many more as we explore portmanteaus, rebracketing and metathesis. WATCH this episode here: https://youtu.be/L3Qepv4F5Yc
36m May 22, 2024
36m
What's poopy about a poop deck? | NAUTICAL ETYMOLOGY
Welcome, me hearties, to another episode of Words Unravelled. In this edition, Rob and Jess discuss nautical terms and pirate slang. 💩 What's so poopy about a poop deck? 🏴‍☠️ What does it mean to "shiver" someone's timbers? ⚓️ Which English idioms come from the high seas? Find out in Words Unravelled! Watch this episode here: https://youtu.be/QPcOx29fVPA
34m May 15, 2024
34m
Can you be gormful, wistless or ert? | UNPAIRED WORDS
Join word nerds Jess and Rob as they uncover English's lost positives and orphaned negatives. Why can you be "nonchalant" but not "chalant"? If something perfect is "immaculate", what does it mean to be "maculate"? And if you're no longer "exasperated" are you therefore "asperated"? Find out in this edition of Words Unravelled. Watch this episode here: https://youtu.be/6EnIqXnW5Kw
27m May 08, 2024
27m
Why is it a "murder" of crows? | COLLECTIVE NOUNS
Join Jess and Rob to collectively explore the weird world of collective nouns. Watch this episode here: https://youtu.be/K2MaE9tn1rk Read the Book of St Albans here: https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/The_Boke_of_Saint_Albans/855KAQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PP130&printsec=frontcover&dq=sleuth
29m May 01, 2024
29m
Is "posh" really an acronym? | WORD MYTHS
Jess Zafarris and Rob Watts (aka RobWords) bust some etymology myths: 💰 Does "tip" mean To Insure Promptness? 🤬 Is the F word an acronym? 🦋 Was a butterfly ever a "flutterby"? Find out in Words Unravelled. WATCH THIS EPISODE: https://youtu.be/FcP3Orn_rjs
36m Apr 24, 2024
36m
Are you getting these wrong too? | EGGCORNS
Join word nerds Jess Zafarris and Rob Watts (aka RobWords) as they discuss the amusing mis-heard phrases known as "eggcorns". Watch this episode on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/Sucad437VDA Find us on X: Jess (https://twitter.com/jesszafarris) Rob (https://twitter.com/robwordsyt)
31m Apr 17, 2024
31m
Why do we say "hello"? | GREETINGS
Word nerds RobWords and Jess Zafarris welcome you to the first ever edition of Words Unravelled with an episode all about greetings: 👋Where does the word "hello" come from? 🇮🇹What's the surprising original meaning of "Ciao!"? 🇹🇭Why did Thailand officially change its national greeting? 🇫🇷What are the yucky origins of Ça va in French? These questions answered, and many more, in the first episod...
30m Apr 10, 2024
30m
Introducing Words Unravelled with RobWords and Jess Zafarris
Introducing Words Unravelled: a podcast by two of the internet's biggest word nerds. In each episode Rob Watts (aka RobWords) and Jess Zafarris unravel the stories behind everyday terms.
2m Mar 25, 2024
2m