LANGUAGE

15 Unique Illnesses You Can Only Come Down With in German

The German language is so perfectly suited for these syndromes, coming down with them in any other language just won’t do.

Believe it or not, unfriended isn't a product of the social media era.

16 Words That Are Much Older Than They Seem

Every generation likes to think it invented slang anew, but often the latest words are actually very old.

If ‘ji32k7au4a83’ is Your Online Password, You’re Not Alone—Here’s Why

To many of us, it might seem like a random jumble of letters and numbers. To Taiwanese people, it has a specific meaning.

4 Fake Grammar Rules You Don't Need to Worry About

People wave these rules around all the time. Set them straight—especially on National Grammar Day!

Why Do We Say 'Bless You' When Someone Sneezes?

Humans have been conditioned to say "bless you" after someone has sneezed for centuries. Why do we do it?

Street gangs in the mid-19th century had some pretty creative names.

14 Awesome 19th Century Street Gang Names

Here are 14 (mostly) New York street gangs you wouldn’t want to mess with, even if their names made you laugh.

11 Dothraki Words and Phrases Every Game of Thrones Fan Should Know

If you're a 'Game of Thrones' fan who wants to know how to ask "Where are my dragons?" or say "Happy birthday!" in Dothraki, this is the list for you.

100 Words Turning 100 This Year

Join editor-in-chief Erin McCarthy as she journeys into the past to dig up a whopping 100 words that are turning 100 this year in our all-new Mental Floss List Show.

What's the Difference Between Tequila and Mezcal?

Tequila is always mezcal, but mezcal isn't always tequila. (And only one of them can come with worms, although it isn't exactly encouraged.)

15 Animal Names That Can Be Used As Verbs

From turtles to tigers, you can drop any one of these 15 creatures into your everyday conversation.

7 Words That Came About From People Getting Them Wrong

Whether it's pea, newt, or nickname, these words started out as other words entirely. Can you guess their original versions?

15 Obscure Words Every Pet Owner Needs in Their Vocabulary

If you’re a dog or cat owner, these words are worthy of a place in your vocabulary.

The Oxford English Dictionary Wants You to Share Your Profession's Slang Terms

Whether you 'banana' or 'sweat the pipes' at your job, the OED wants to know about it.

11 Totally Redundant Place Names

Pendle Hill is really Hill Hill Hill. Here are 11 others like that.

Women at Australia's Flemington Racecourse—which gives us the phrase "Flemington Confetti"

12 Old-Timey Ways of Saying “Nonsense”

Gammon and spinach!

A bobolink, said to have been named for the call it makes

32 Animals Named After the Noises They Make

Onomatopoeia is responsible for a lot more words than you might think. Laugh might have been invented to sound like, well, a laugh. Owl, crow, and raven are all descended from Old English words (ule, crawe, hræfn) that were meant to imitate the owl’s hoot

10 Fascinating Facts About the Thesaurus for National Thesaurus Day

Writers often turn to a thesaurus to diversify their vocabulary and add nuance to their prose. But looking up synonyms and antonyms in a thesaurus can help anyone—writer or not—find the most vivid, incisive words to communicate thoughts and ideas.