LANGUAGE

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

Birds and bees get all the action—and Samuel Taylor Coleridge was jealous. Here are the possible origins of the euphemistic phrase.

Beware of "paper vampires" and "ghost breath"! There‘s a lot that can be lost—and found—in translation.

If you have a hard time pronouncing croissant, you‘re not alone.

Forget what you’ve heard about a dog—here’s the real story behind the origins of the name ‘pickleball.’

Our Amazing Facts 2026 calendar features fun facts from all areas, while the Word Nerd 2026 calendar is especially for language lovers.

Nickname origins can be tricky—but this one is actually pretty straightforward. (And it doesn't involve pegs.)

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

From the Vatican’s “Lesus” medal to Beanie Babies to the Civil War coins that declare “shoot him on the spoot.”

The tool name that’s long been the laughingstock of adolescents has a perfectly sensible explanation.

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

Let’s explore the origins of America's most disrespected lettuce.

And how do chauvinism and jingoism factor in?

Despite what the name suggests, most modern ginger ales lack both real ginger and ale.

The original meaning of ‘the full monty’ may involve a hearty breakfast or a three-piece suit.

Plus, a map of the state names that are hardest to spell.

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

What it is, why it’s called that, and how to say it correctly.

The Arnold Schwarzenegger–starring Netflix series takes its title from World War II military slang. Here’s what 'fubar' means.

The words we use for family members in English are specific about some things, but vague about others. These words will help fill in the gaps.

Here’s the invisible etymology that turned Johns into Jacks.

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

Lemonade kickstarted the trend. But there’s more to the story than that.

We know brownie points are something we can earn with spouses or superiors. But where did the term come from?