English Vocab History: Few Can Pass This Vocabulary Quiz?
These 14 words have really strayed away from their original meaning, can you guess what words like 'girl' and 'clue' used to mean?
You’d Be Shocked at How These Common Words Were Pronounced
English has changed so dramatically over the years, that texts from the medieval era are barely legible for modern English speakers. Why?
QUIZ: Can You Guess What These Words Used to Mean?
How Far Back in Time Could You Go and Still Understand English?
Languages are born, change, and die. English, we presume, is no exception. So how far back in time could you go and still understand anything...?
When GH Says F: Why Does This Occur?
We're meeting up on the corner of history and linguistics to learn why GH is pronounced as F.
10 Words We Use Every Day That Shakespeare Made Popular
Shakespeare is believed to have invented 1,700 words, but these 10 should be taken off the list, as he didn't invent, but popularized them.
I Can’t Believe These Ordinary Words Used to Mean That...
Let’s take a short journey back in time and trace the origins of 11 seemingly-ordinary words that have exceptionally-interesting histories.
Learn All About the History of the English Language
Ever wondered where the English language came from and how it evolved over time? If so, then this is the perfect video for you!
10 Popular “Contemporary” Words Coined by Shakespeare
Shakespeare’s impact on the language we speak is far greater than most of us realize. These surprising words are just a few of hundreds attributed to the Bard.
Fascinating - the Evolution of the Alphabet
Have you wondered how the letters we now identify with English came to be? Where did they come from?
The Extraordinary Origins of 10 Common English Words
In this article, we uncover the extraordinary etymology of 10 common English words, including ‘daisy’, ‘eavesdropper’, and ‘vaccine’.
Is It Soda or Pop? 12 Fun and Interesting Regional Words
How are these objects called? It depends on who you ask! Every part of the US has its own fun and fascinating set of regional words
8 Ordinary English Words With Surprisingly Spicy Origins
The origins of all these 8 seemingly innocent words - e.g. gymnasium, avocado, and nice - are not for the faint of heart, as they're quite naughty!
You Won’t Believe These 11 Phrases Are Over a Century Old
These 11 words and phrases seem like they're a recent invention in English, but they're actually at least a century old...
Everyone Needs to Know These 17 Online Slang Words
We see these 17 online slang words everywhere nowadays, do you know what these words mean?
From Salt to Salary: Surprising Origins of Ordinary Words
Did you know that the word 'muscle' stems from the Latin word for little mouse? Here is a collection of words with peculiar etymologies
10 Common French Loanwords You’re Probably Mispronouncing
French loanwords that are pronounced differently or mean something else entirely in French
How 10 Ordinary English Idioms and Phrases Began...
Many English phrases and idioms have fascinating histories behind them, here is a selection of 10 astounding examples.
I Never Knew the Origin of These Common Words!
These regular words have very exotic origins.
Spelling Test: Are You Good Enough to Pass?
With mobile phones and spell checkers all the rage, they say spelling standards are dipping. Can you buck the trend by passing this spelling quiz?
Test Yourself: Which English Word Should You Use?
Sheep or sheeps? Definitely or definately? Do YOU know which English word to use?
The Origins of these 10 Olympic Words is Fascinating
You use these popular sports words all the time. But do you know where they come from?
These Words Wouldn’t Exist Without These 10 Famous Authors
Learn of 10 commonly-used English words that were coined by famous authors and philosophers.
These Bygone Terms for ‘Happy’ Need to Be Brought Back
There were some really cool ways to describe happiness back in the day.
14 Obsolete English Terms We Wish Were Brought Back!
Over the centuries, so many eloquent and useful English words fell out of use. We wish these 14 clever (but sadly obsolete) terms were used more often.
How Did European Countries Get Their Names?
Did you know that the word Spain, the name of the country, is translated from Phoenician as "the land of rabbits?"
13 Funny Palindromes That Will Make You Giggle
People have been enjoying palindromes for centuries - here are 13 funny examples that are sure to make crack you up.
Using These French Phrases in English Elevates Your Speech
Even if English is the only language you speak, we’re more than convinced that you’re quite familiar with a bunch of French words...
What's Portmanteau? Surprising Etymologies of Common Words
If If you have ever said the words brunch, sitcom or spam, you have used portmanteaus. This is the fascinating origins story of many common words...
Choose a Word, and I’ll Tell You Where You’re From
Let’s do a quick test: in your mind, count the number of syllables in the word ‘caramel’, and let us reveal where you’re from. Click here to find the answer.
You Know These 10 Foreign Words Without Even Realizing It
We’re willing to bet that you know more foreign words than you think, even if English is the only language you speak. Here’s why...
Explained: The Fascinating Origins of Human Language
Have you ever wondered how did human language come into existence? Find out the origins of language in this video.
Can You Believe These Words Didn’t Exist Before the 1970s?
When a new words spreads it seems it's been around forever. But in reality, many of the words we use everyday are quite new. These didn't exist before the 1970s.
Let’s Thank Cinema For These 10 English Words and Phrases
Films and TV shows have invented and popularized countless words we use in everyday speech today. Here are just 10 surprising examples you’ll want to know
These Slang Words Are Sure to Tickle Your Funny Bone
We’ve collected 11 silly-sounding slang words starting from Victorian times all the way to the present day so that all of us could have a good laugh!
These Clever Pictures Illustrate Common GRAMMAR Conundrums
The world of English grammar is a confusing place where words that mean different things may be spelled or pronounced the same... Here are 15 examples
10 English Words That Come From Native American Languages
Some seemingly ordinary English words, such as barbecue, raccoon, and even squash, actually come from Native American languages and it's fascinating!
10 Quirky British Slang Phrases to Add to Your Vocabulary
British English often seems like a whole different language. Learn all about 10 common and certainly fun and quirky British slang words in this article!
Newly-Added Words to the Dictionary You Should Know
Learn about some of the newest words that have been added to the dictionary in recent times. We must say, all of these are pretty interesting!
10 Difficult Words in English Everyone Should Know
English has many difficult words with meanings that are nearly impossible to guess, which makes them super tough to remember. Here are 10 such words
How Come Humans are The Only Species To Have Language?
Language allows us to express an unlimited number of things, and humans are the only species capable of it. How did all came to be?
8 Unique Facts You Didn't Know About The Thesaurus
How much do you know about the thesaurus? Here we list some fascinating and lesser-known facts about the word-finding tool.
10 Words That Entered the Dictionary This Decade
The English dictionary has included countless popular and modern words in its lexicon in the last decade. Here is a list of 10 of them.
Smart Synonyms for 16 Words That Will Elevate Your Speech
Sound smarter and enrich your lexicon with these 16 clever alternatives to ordinary English words
Do You Know What Speakers of Old English Called a Snake?
Kennings are a unique feature of English that goes all the way back to old Anglo Saxon epics and poems.
1950’s Slang Is a Blast! Learn 10 Essential Terms
These 10 words and phrases are the essentials of 1950’s slang, some of which we still use today...
It’s a Shame We Stopped Using These 17 Old English Words
These 17 old words are definitely missing in our modern vocabularies and deserve to be brought back into day-to-day speech
We Challenge You to Put These Words Back Together!
Can you find the words from the letter jumble? Then take this quiz and see if you can score 10 out of 10!
Language Quiz: Which English Word Should You Use?
QUIZ: Can You Guess What These Fancy English Words Mean?
It's time to find out just how fancy your range of vocabulary really is! Good luck...
Only Masters of English Know What These Old Words Mean...
How well do you think you'd do when trying to decipher the English that our great-grandparents used? Take this language quiz and find out!
Can You Pass This Rock Hard Spelling Test?
Hilarious: English is a Seriously ODD Language...
If you thought English is a clear-cut and tidy language, you better read this.
30 Essential Medical Terms For Bodily Functions
The next time you hear a doctor utter something in Latin, pay close attention, as after reading this article, you may understand what it means.
The MOST Shocking False Etymologies in English
If a word's history sounds too good, it probably is.
16 Confusing Words That Even Intellectuals Get Wrong
Find out the difference between these difficult word pairs, and don’t let them confuse you ever again.
These Age-Old Idioms Date Back to the Renaissance!
The expressions listed here all sound contemporary, but they're almost half a millennium old.
Always Wanted to Sound Like You're British? Try This!
Always wanted to "try on" that coveted British pronunciation? Here's how to sound as British as the Queen herself!
Where Did the Language of Hebrew Come From?
This video will explain the surprising and fascinating origin of this ancient language.
11 Clever Contronyms - Same Word, Opposite Meanings
Have you ever heard of contronyms? Here’s a hint - these are words that contradict themselves.
QUIZ: Can You Find All the Antonyms?
This English challenge is all about the antonyms - those words that mean the OPPOSITE of the word in question. Can you find all 15 antonyms in this quiz?
Funny: When Words Sound Alike With Different Meanings
Homophones are words that sound exactly the same, but aren't spelled the same and mean something different. Here are 20 that are the wordiest of words.
Think You Know How to Spell? It's Time to Find Out!
Do you think you're smarter than the average 4th-grader? If so, then give this English spelling test a shot!
Take Our Quiz: Can You Tell These Homophones Apart?
English has lots of words that sound the same but are spelled differently, they are called homophones. Can you tell them apart? Take our quiz to test yourself!
Is Your English Is Perfect? You'll Find Out Soon Enough!
Do you think that you know the plurals of some of the trickiest words that the English language has to offer? Give this quiz a shot and find out!
Language vs Dialect - How Are They Different?
You've surely heard about the term "dialect" before. But have you ever considered how a language and a dialect differ?
Can You Distinguish Between British & US English?
A lot of people find it hard to distinguish between American English and British English when reading and writing. Are you one of them?
Language Test: Can You Spell These 22 US Cities Correctly?
If you love the USA, then you're bound to be able to spell its most popular cities correctly, right? Take this quiz and find out for yourself!
Meet Jacques Bailly - the King of the Spelling Bee
Meet Jacques Bailly, the official pronouncer of the Scripps National Spelling Bee.
Test: Can You Translate These Latin Phrases?
This 15 question quiz will test your knowledge of Latin phrases still being used today.
TEST: Can We Guess What Part of the US You’re From?
Can we guess what part of the US you're from by your word choice and pronunciation?
Why Did We Start Going to the Beach For Fun?
Did you know that going to the beach for recreation is a relatively new invention? For most of human history, the concept simply did not exist...
There's a Word We Need to Stop Using...
This video shows how much better our language becomes when we stop using one simple word.
English Challenge: What Do These Old Words Mean?
For those of you who want to test their knowledge of Shakespearean English, we welcome you to try this quite challenging quiz.
10 Fascinating History Facts You Probably Didn’t Know
In this article, we collected 10 absolutely fascinating historical facts, many of which touch upon the unexpected origins of concepts like New Year's resolutions.
15 Common Texting Abbreviations You Should Know
You’re probably familiar with the common “LOL” and “OMG,” but what about ROFL or FWIW? Learn the meanings of 15 popular texting abbreviations here.
14 Uniquely Canadian Words and Phrases You Should Know
There are some Canadian words no American would understand. If you’re planning on visiting Canada, it’s quite useful to learn these 14 words and phrases.
We Challenge You to Figure Out What These Messages Mean
These ridiculously funny linguistic fails will make you laugh.
12 Unique and Beautiful Words That Charm and Delight
Take a look at this list of some weird and wonderful words that you are unlikely to have read in your language course in school.
The Fascinating World of British Accents
There's a multitude of fascinating accents on the British Isles! Here are 20 of the most interesting ones.
What Made the Merriam-Webster Dictionary Last So Long
How do new words get added do the dictionary? Watch the surprising history of the Merriam-Webster Dictionary to find out...
Eltz Castle - A Spectacular Medieval Treasure Trove
The spectacular Eltz castle has been owned by the Eltz family since 1157. This is the medieval structure's fascinating story.
The Fascinating Origins of 11 Lovely Flower Names
There is no better time than spring to dive headfirst into the fascinating world of flower name etymologies! Here are the origins of the names of 11 lovely flowers.
15 Essential Legal Terms That Sound Confusing to People
If you want to understand legal representatives better and simply enjoy your favorite legal TV show to the fullest, learn these 15 legal words and phrases.
Knowing These Latin Shortenings Is Super Useful Even Today
Knowing a little bit of Latin can be quite useful to all the English speakers out there, and these 7 short phrases we see all the time are proof of exactly that!
Is It Possible to Learn the Language of Another Species?
Scientists believe talking to dolphins is possible and are trying to learn how. Succeeding in this could open the door to communicating with thousands of species.
The 12 Words of Christmas: Funny Long Lost Phrases
If you think eggnog and wassail are funny-sounding, wait till you hear the Christmas words that didn't stand the test of time
The Wild Origins Story of Carnivorous Plants
Carnivorous plants are the creepiest and most fascinating inventions of mother nature. Get a glimpse at the origins story of the villains of the flower world.
9 ‘Current’ Words That Are Much Older Than You’d Guess
Hipster, Influencer and Dude - all these words sound so quintessentially modern, but you'd be surprised to learn how old they actually are.
Classic Poetry Illustrated: Jabberwocky by Lewis Carroll
This poem is one of the most outstanding and special in the entirety of the English language. Listen to a beautiful reading of it right now...
15 Latin Phrases We Use to This Day Without Even Realizing
As an English, speaker you likely know more Latin than you ever thought you did. Just look at these 15 Latin phrases and see if you know what they mean...
QUIZ: How Good Are You At Phrases? Find Out In This Test
Some phrases can be quite hard to pick up and memorize, and some people are better at it than others. How good are you at phrases? Find out here.
How About Learning Some Fun SLANG From Colonial Times?
Here are 14 fascinating words from Colonial times that sadly didn’t survive until the present days, but we certainly think they’re worth bringing back!
12 Oddly Specific and Often Funny Terms You Didn’t Know
Did you know the space between your eyebrows has a name? Or what a tittle is? Learn these oddly specific and quite funny terms in this article.
10 New Words That Emerged During the Covid-19 Pandemic
In this article, we'll discuss 10 new words and phrases in English that have emerged as a consequence of Covid-19.
Phrases We Use Without Realizing It’s a Shakespeare Quote
William Shakespeare had a huge impact on modern English, so much so that most of us are quoting the great bard every day without even realizing it!
QUIZ: Can You Complete the Sentences?
Complete all 15 sentences and questions correctly to ace this English quiz
Hilarious: If You Love English You'll Love These Puns!
We’ve collected 14 side-splitting jokes and puns that highlight common grammatical mistakes, contain clever twists on words, and more!