Two of the internet's leading word nerds are here to unravel the stories behind everyday terms. Join YouTuber Rob Watts (aka RobWords) and author Jess Zafarr…
48:56107K views · 3d ago · 48:56
Curtain up! It's time for an episode about theatrical words and their origins. What's so green about a 'green room'? Do roles have anything to do with roles? What links a "hearse" with a "rehearsal"? These question answered, and many more, in an edition of Words Unravelled filled to rafters with dramatic revelations. Enjoy!
48:13183K views · 1w ago · 48:13
English is enriched with a plethora of words from Ancient Greek, whether they were pilfered straight from source, or absorbed via Latin, French or Arabic. In this episode, Rob and Jess investigate just how many there are.
44:39213K views · 2w ago · 44:39
Rob and Jess are investigating how some of the world's biggest brands got their names. Does KODAK mean anything? Which Wendy is Wendy's named after? Does Popeyes have anything do with Popeye the Sailor? What was the Big Mac nearly called? These questions answered – and many more – in another Words Unravelled.
46:45199K views · 3w ago · 46:45
Let's explore city names in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and beyond in another etymological journey around the world. Is Darwin really named after Charles? Is Ontario named after the lake or vice versa? Which Turkish city is just called "to the city"? What does the Māori name for Auckland mean? This questions answered, and many more, in another globe-trotting episode of Words Unravelled.
43:44173K views · 1mo ago · 43:44
Rob and Jess are exploring the writing systems of the ancient world. 𓀀 How do hieroglyphs work? When did writing first begin? And how did we solve the mystery of Linear B? For these answers, and many more, enjoy this gloriously outdated episode of Words Unravelled.
44:23390K views · 1mo ago · 44:23
Let's explore some funny sayings from around the world. In this episode, Rob and Jess discover other languages' equivalents of phrases like "raining cats and dogs", "cost an arm and a leg" and "one sandwich short of a picnic".
59:36196K views · 1mo ago · 59:36
Rob and Jess are celebrating 100 episodes of Words Unravelled by sharing their top 100 word facts. LISTEN or search for "Words Unravelled" wherever you get your podcasts. ==LINKS== Rob's YouTube channel Jess' Useless Etymology blog
51:59306K views · 2mo ago · 51:59
Willkommen! Jess and Rob are exploring the German words in English. In this Zeitgeisty episode, discover What doppelgänger literally means, The longest German word, And why Americans say "Gesundheit!" when they sneeze.
43:28129K views · 2mo ago · 43:28
You speak more Latin than you think. Not only are the many French words in English derived from Latin, but almost 30% of our vocabulary comes directly from the language of the Romans. In this episode, Rob and Jess explore how those words got there, what they literally mean, and whether we are using them correctly.
53:05125K views · 2mo ago · 53:05
Rob and Jess are taking the deepest of dives into the origins of words from the ocean. Are many fish 'fish' or 'fishes'? Why is there a mystery around sharks? What is a sarcastic fringehead? These questions answered, and many more, in this subaquatic special of Words Unravelled.
48:15163K views · 2mo ago · 48:15
Take a pinch of witchcraft, add a touch of sorcery, and "Hey presto!" you have a wordy nerdy episode about magical terms. Can only women be witches? What did a warlock originally do? What is the literal meaning of 'Alakazam'?
51:00176K views · 3mo ago · 51:00
We're exploring the origins of common sayings relating to numbers in this episode. Why is the third time a charm? What's so great about "seventh heaven"? Why do we say "at sixes and sevens"? Rob and Jess explore these numerical idioms – and many more – in this magnificently mathematical edition of Words Unravelled.
44:42203K views · 3mo ago · 44:42
What did the Vikings do for us? Rob and Jess are exploring the words left behind by the Scandinavian invaders. How much of English is Old Norse? Which place names are inherited from "the Danes"? How did the Norsemen change English grammar?
49:32131K views · 3mo ago · 49:32
Why do Americans and Brits have the accents they have? Sociolinguist, professor and author Valerie Fridland joins Rob and Jess this week to discuss why we talk funny. Does 'caramel' have one or two syllables? Do Americans sound more like Shakespeare than Brits? Why do some accents sound 'posher' than others?
47:0587K views · 3mo ago · 47:05
How does an artist use a 'donkey'? What does 'Mona Lisa' actually mean? Who is the "dada" in Dadaism? Rob and Jess are explaining word origins from the art world in the latest Words Unravelled, exploring artists, artworks and art supplies.
Showing the 15 most recent episodes. Everything plays right here on Pod Atlas.
Have thoughts about Words Unravelled? Share them with other listeners.
Discuss this podcast