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Words

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From "NPC" to "SOB," these insults should be used with care.

From 'ghosting' to 'sneaky link,' these modern dating-related slang words might give you some clarity into your own relationships.

While the days of forcing left-handed children to use their right hands are mostly over, the bias against lefties continues in most languages around the world.

The "GPT" in ChatGPT stands for "generative pre-trained transformer"—three words that contain the keys to understanding how generative AI works.

Breaking down the origins of the name you’ll hear during this year’s Winter Olympics.

From death spiral to twizzle, you might not be familiar with these figure skating terms. Brush up on your sports jargon this Winter Olympics.

A journey through ancient calendars, astrology, and timeless traditions.

Learn what the idiom means, where it started, when to use it, and how to tell if your ducks are in a row.

Regency era society papers transformed drawing room whispers into widely read public news, similar to 'Bridgerton's' all-knowing Lady Whistledown.

The Gen Z slang term "touch grass" might have a deeper meaning.

How fast can you name all 26 words in the NATO Phonetic Alphabet? This quiz will put your knowledge and speed to the test.

From “dude” to “legit,” these terms and sayings date back much farther than you might realize.

There’s a two-part history to the origins of why we call pants a “pair” when it’s only one item of clothing. We explore the interesting background here.

Everything you need to know about where the term came from and how we use it today.

If you’ve been too embarrassed to ask the Gen Alpha kids in your life, here’s a rundown of what “skibidi” means and where it came from.

You’re not really wishing someone a good ‘bye.’ ‘Bye’ is just an abbreviation—and ‘good’ is sort of a mistake.

In case you aren’t caught up with the latest—or most classic—online lingo, here are 20 internet acronyms explained.

The history behind the popular acronym and what it really means to rsvp.

You’re far from the only one who does it, so why do we resort to weather when making small talk?

Everything you need to know about the Gen Z buzzword, including its origins and when to use it.

You might be surprised to learn that many words have origins from ancient Greek and Roman mythological creatures. Here are 12 examples.

More From the Language Section

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Ever wonder why we call someone a “crush”? Explore the surprising origins of this classic phrase and how it became part of modern love language.

From 'forced proximity' to 'MMC,' these slang terms will help you become fluent in the language of modern romance fiction.

Find out the story behind this viral phrase and how people are using it today.

Have you seen all seven before? These strange punctuation marks once served a purpose, and can again!

What is "fomo", and why do we all feel it? Dive into the term’s origins and the psychology behind the fear of missing out.

You’ll need to look back to Ancient Roman history to learn how the modern-day months got their names—and what they were called before.

Before we used the internet, these words meant something else entirely. Read on to learn the original meaning of 10 everyday internet terms.

Where the word “woke” came from and how it’s used today.

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