WORDS

Retro Pepsi-Cola logos from the mid-20th century.

Pop Star: How Pepsi Got Its Name

Pepsi-Cola was named for two ingredients that it doesn't (and possibly never did) contain.

5-Letter ‘A’ Words to Help You Improve Your Wordle Skills

Here are dozens of words starting with 'A' that have never been the Wordle solution (yet).

Who First Said ‘The Pen Is Mightier Than the Sword’?

Weirdly enough, it's the same guy who gave Snoopy the opening to his epically bad novel.

The 1960s gave us a lot of marvy slang still in use today.

25 Bits of Groovy ’60s Slang

Discover the most iconic slang from the 1960s and how it shaped modern language. From 'flower power' to 'groovy,' these terms are the linguistic legacy of the decade.

Times weren't as simple as they seemed for members of the Silent Generation.

Why Is It Called the Silent Generation?

The Silent Generation may not be as flashy a group as Millennials, but they wield a surprising amount of influence over our culture.

You might want to keep some of these slang terms for kids in your back pocket.

16 Funny Slang Terms for Children

Looking for new ways to describe the children in your life? From ankle-biters and saucepan lids to breadsnatchers and drape apes, these are funny slang terms for kids you’ll definitely want to use.

The Pretty, Pretty Good Origins of Larry David’s ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ Catchphrase

Larry David has been using your favorite ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ catchphrase since long before ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ first aired.

Decades after the footprints that popped up in northern California, they were alleged to be a hoax.

The Hoax That Led to the Word ‘Bigfoot’

When 16-inch-long tracks began popping up on northern California logging sites in 1958, workers dubbed the culprit ‘Big Foot’—but decades later, the whole thing was revealed to be a hoax.

The origins of Taco Tuesday are surprisingly complicated.

The Surprisingly Contentious Origins of Taco Tuesday

The phrase “Taco Tuesday” has finally entered the public domain (unless you’re in New Jersey).

‘Where There’s Smoke, There’s Fire’ by Russell Patterson.

1920s Slang: 35 Hotsy-Totsy Terms We Should Bring Back

From ‘alarm clock’ to ‘zozzled,’ these delightful 1920s terms will transport you back in time.

This person is literally feeling their oats—but is that where the phrase came from?

Where Does the Phrase ‘Feeling One’s Oats’ Come From?

The idiom has little to do with playing with our food and more to do with equine diets.

35 Awesome Australian Slang Terms You Should Know

Australian English is more than just an accent. From ‘arvo’ to ‘yakka,’ learn fun and fascinating Australian slang terms to help you speak like a true Aussie.

Why in tarnation do we think Yosemite Sam always said "tarnation"?

What in Tarnation Is ‘Tarnation’?

The origins and meaning of 'tarnation' are simple; its 'Looney Tunes' legacy is anything but.

What’s the Correct Pronunciation of ‘February’?

In the United States, the most common pronunciation is “FEB-yoo-air-ee.” Both Merriam-Webster and American Heritage dictionaries consider the common pronunciation correct, along with the less common, more traditional standard “FEB-roo-air-ee.”

The long-snouted fellow in the center is a very slithy tove.

‘Wug,’ ‘Gostak,’ and 8 Other Weird Old Nonce Words

Nonce words are only meant to serve one particular purpose—here are some of the best examples.

Why Is ‘February’ Spelled So Strangely?

Why is February spelled the way it is? Delve into the linguistic evolution of the month’s name and its journey from Latin to modern English.

In Gen X parlance, this dude totally rocks.

11 Words Gen Xers Made Popular

From yuppie to headbanger, we have Generation X to thank for these terms that became popular in the 1980s and ’90s.

Don’t call a gig at McDonald’s a “McJob.”

When McDonald's Went to War With the Dictionary

The fast food behemoth took issue with how The Oxford English Dictionary and Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary defined 'McJob.' It was not a flattering description.

Why go by the jellyfish’s English name when you could go with its more delightful French moniker instead?

15 Delightfully Descriptive French Animal Names

En français, the name for ‘jellyfish’ comes from a famous figure in Greek mythology—can you guess which one?

Where Does the Phrase ‘… And the Horse You Rode in On’ Come From?

Why are we still employing a kiss-off that references a near-obsolete form of transportation?

Residents of London’s East End, circa 1900.

13 Cockney Rhyming Slang Terms You Should Know

Grab your best china plate (a.k.a. mate) and feast your mince pies (otherwise known as your eyes) on these fascinating and delightful terms in this guide to Cockney rhyming slang.

Where Does the Word ‘Née’ Come From?

Née’s meaning is technically “born,” and we borrowed it from the same place we got the terms ‘déjà vu’ and ‘cul-de-sac.’

Emojis transcend language in a way that 'lmao' can't.

From ‘DWL’ to ‘MDR’: See How People Laugh Online in 46 Different Languages

Maybe you already know the meaning of 'jajaja.' But what about all these other expressions of online laughter?

(Left to right) Angela Merkel, Marlene Dietrich, and Beethoven.

20 German Names You’re Probably Mispronouncing

From ‘Angela’ to ‘Wolfgang,’ these German names are commonly mispronounced by English speakers.

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