What is the Baader-Meinhof effect? How many quotes are wrongly attributed to Churchill? What's Jess's funniest linguistics joke?

These questions answered, and many more, in a special episode of Words Unravelled featuring League of the Lexicon founder Joshua Blackburn.

You can find out more about his board game and accompanying book, The Language-Lover's Lexipedia, here: https://www.leagueofthelexicon.com/

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US SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.com/

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WATCH THIS EPISODE: https://youtu.be/TFMaxYzWvJc

In this episode, Jess and Rob get sporty as they trace the origins of the words behind our favourite games. 

⚾️ What is the word "sport" short for?

🏉 Why does American "football" barely involve your feet?

🏏 What do Brits mean when they say something "isn't cricket"?

Expect Victorian public schools, Indigenous ball games, and a few linguistic own goals in another Words Unravelled.

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👀WATCH THIS EPISODE: https://youtu.be/ClRqFWMR15Y

Rob and Jess are exploring the origins of first names. 

👩 Are all MARYS actually MIRIAMS?

🕵️‍♀️ How can JAMES, IAGO and JACOB be the same?

💡 What do ROBERT and JESSICA mean?

These questions answered – and many more – in this nominally fascinating etymological exploration of why we're called what we're called. It's time for Words Unravelled!

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WATCH THIS EPISODE: https://youtu.be/P7OrRqykwWc

In this episode, Rob and Jess dig into the origins of the words we use for our furry, feathered, and occasionally scaly companions. 

🐕 Where does the word 'dog' come from?

🐈 What does 'cat' literally mean?

🐹 Are guinea pigs even from Guinea?

These questions answered, and many more, in this edition of Words Unravelled dedicated to our beloved pets.

WATCH THIS EPISODE: https://youtu.be/_r2HMeiDhKA

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From mountain high to valley low, Rob Watts and Jess Zafarris are exploring the origins of geography words.

🐻‍❄️ Why are the poles called 'poles'?

🗻 What is the difference between a hill and a mountain?

🧭 What do the points of the compass literally mean?

These questions answered – and many more – in another worldly, wordy and nerdy episode of Words Unravelled.

🎥 WATCH THIS EPISODE: https://youtu.be/0TTPpHUVL3Y

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Internet word nerds RobWords and Jess Zafarris share 100 word facts. They met in person for the first time after Words Unravelled reached 100,000 subscribers on YouTube. Prepare for 49 minutes of pure linguistic geekery.

🎥 WATCH THIS EPISODE: https://youtu.be/uPfbuo6iP6Y

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👂LISTEN: https://podfollow.com/words-unravelled-with-robwords-and-jess-zafarris

or search for "Words Unravelled" wherever you get your podcasts.

==LINKS==

Rob's YouTube channel: youtube.com/robwords

Jess' Useless Etymology blog: https://uselessetymology.com/

Rob on X: x.com/robwordsyt

Jess on TikTok: tiktok.com/@jesszafarris

In this episode, Jess and Rob 'spill the beans' about all manner of food-related idioms.

🍌 Why does 'going bananas' mean going mad?

☕️ Who is the Joe in a 'cup of Joe'?

🍏 What did we compare apples to before oranges?

🧅 What does it really mean to 'know your onions'?

Answers to these questions and many more as we explore the origins of commons sayings in Words Unravelled.

OTHER IDIOM EPISODES

https://youtu.be/Fkf61-j8VmQ?si=3GWneox_uAN1NsXI

https://youtu.be/ca3lz3dXgW8?si=9D_DE4-MiJ9jV5IK

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🎥 WATCH THIS EPISODE: https://youtu.be/6Rr6qfIIapY

==LINKS==

Rob's YouTube channel: youtube.com/robwords

Jess' Useless Etymology blog: https://uselessetymology.com/

Rob on X: x.com/robwordsyt

Jess on TikTok: tiktok.com/@jesszafarris

In this episode, Rob and Jess take a right royal romp through the etymologies of eminent titles. They discuss the origins of words like "lord", "emperor", "queen" and a whole host of others:

🏛️ How did Caesar become a title all over Europe?

𓁏 What did 'pharaoh' mean to the ancient Egyptians?

👑  What is the etymology of the word 'king'?

🗳️ What is a 'timocracy' or a 'kakistocracy?

These questions answered – and many more – in another Words Unravelled.

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🎥 WATCH THIS EPISODE: https://youtu.be/MrsqUCgXGBk

We’re digging into prehistoric word origins. In this episode, Jess and Rob unearth the literal meanings behind the names of the dinosaurs.

🦖 What does Tyrannosaurus rex really mean?

🦕 Why is Stegosaurus called the “roof lizard”?

🐦 Are dinosaurs birds or lizards?

🦴 Are dinosaur names Latin or Greek?

These questions answered – and many more – in another monstrous episode of Words Unravelled.

🌐 LINKS 🌐

Charlie the Unicorn: https://youtu.be/CsGYh8AacgY?si=s0AwwpXqwB_1_GhX

Rob's dinosaur video: https://youtu.be/7FOamlJf-28?si=sKbN6Bjw0s7LukG7

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US SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.com/

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🎥 WATCH THIS EPISODE: https://youtu.be/y0Bv7Rt2L54

We're taking a world tour of word origins. In this episode, Jess and Rob discuss how a multitude of countries got their names.

🇺🇸 Where was the original "America"?

🇬🇧 Why is Britain called "Great"?

🇨🇦 What does "Canada" mean?

🇩🇪 Why do the Germans call themselves "Dutch"?

These questions answered – and many more – in another worldly wise episode of Words Unravelled.

🌐 LINKS 🌐

Rob's UK country names video: https://youtu.be/aXAjMlTO7Dc?si=DpZ8oZlH8h6iVX0O

Rob's European countries video: https://youtu.be/2Pcv2ySMi40?si=4YQMmeUL4FcPBOn7

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US SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.com/

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WATCH THIS EPISODE: https://youtu.be/HJVrBYFf4Ps