WORDS

What's the Difference Between a Rabbit and a Hare?

They're both cute and fluffy with big ears, but that's where the similarities end. It gets even more complicated when bunnies and jackrabbits are thrown into the mix …

Rihanna attending a 2018 movie premiere with eyebrows on fleek

The Surprising Origins Behind 9 Modern Slang Expressions

Whether its FOMO, lit, or humblebrag, this will help you figure out if you should be thanking LL Cool J or an academic journal for your favorite new expression.

The slang of WWI is still being used today.

20 Slang Terms From World War I

Though it was more than 100 years ago—on April 6, 1917—that the United States entered the First World War, its effect on our language continues.

48 Things You Didn't Know Had Names

So that's what you call it! It turns out that thingy, that doohickey, that stuff, and that space between those two things probably all have names.

The 100 Most Popular Baby Names of 2019

According to Nameberry, the top trending names are Posie for girls and Milo for boys. Did your name happen to make the list?

The 10 Most Popular Puppy Names of 2019

Move over, Molly and Lola. Luna and Bella are taking over the puppy world, according to a new analysis.

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.

What Is a Bomb Cyclone?

The phrase bomb cyclone has re-entered the news. It seems appropriate for a strong storm to have bomb in its name, but the word actually refers to a meteorological phenomenon and not the cyclone's explosive intensity.

Alice Roosevelt—for whom Alice Blue is named—in 1902.

9 Colors Named After People

From Titian Red to Alice Blue to Scheele’s Green, this is where the history books meet the artist’s palette.

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.

What's the Difference Between a Button-Up and a Button-Down Shirt?

You'd be forgiven for thinking the two terms are interchangeable, but they actually refer to two different styles of shirt.

There's a Two-Letter Word You Should Never Use in Professional Correspondence—and Nope, It's Not No

The next time you feel tempted to write "OK" in a professional email, you may want to stop and rethink your phrasing. Here's why.

Why Are the Academy Awards Statuettes Called 'Oscars'?

In 2013, the Academy Awards were officially rebranded as simply The Oscars, after the famed statuette that winners receive.

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.

Harry Potter Scrabble Accepts Wizarding Words Like Hogwarts and Dobby

The words used in the Harry Potter books and movies are playable in a new version of Scrabble—and they can even earn you bonus points.

11 Lesser-Known Animal Phobias

He’s dealt with elaborate booby traps, KGB agents, and a face-melting artifact, but to Indiana Jones, nothing’s more unsettling than snakes. Lots of people can relate.

11 Words You Might Not Realize Come From “Love”

Whether it's bacteria, a city name, or a day of the week, love can be found in unexpected places—including our vocabulary.

PREV NEXT