Language Stories
Learn all about the English language, from fun word facts and trivia to etymologies, meanings, histories, and more.
A Smack of Jellyfish, a Zeal of Zebras, and Other Fun Animal Group Names
Puppy Love And Other Animal-inspired Phrases
Foxy, Catty, Fishy: Traits for Animals or Humans?
-
Fossil Words: Archaic Terms Preserved in Everyday Phrases
-
5 Penny Idioms to Salute an Iconic American Coin
-
Speak of the Devil! 15 Infernal Names for The Evil One
-
From “Witch” to “Ghoul,” Here’s How These Spooky Figures Got Their Names
-
“Prebiotics” vs. “Probiotics:” What’s the Difference?
-
Why Do We Say “Trick or Treat”?
-
’90s vs. Now: How These Words Have Evolved
-
Booyah — Dictionary.com Is 30! A Trip Back to 1995
-
The Rosetta Stone: Unlocking Ancient Egypt
-
Why Is Friday the 13th Unlucky?
-
Which Overachiever Is August Named For?
-
Words Popularized by Shakespeare That We Still Use
-
-
“Psychic” vs. “Medium”: Are These Synonyms?
-
8 Greek Words About Love That Will Make Your Heart Soar
-
What’s So “Good” About “Good Friday”?
-
Cheesy Names: Do You Know These Cheese Toponyms?
-
What Makes Holi the Most Colorful Event of the Year?
-
Do You Know The New Meaning Of “Preppy”? (Yes, It’s Changed!)
-
The Major Facts About The Month of Ramadan
-
“Commonwealth” vs. “State”: Which One Do You Reside In?
-
The Complexity Of African American Vernacular English
-
What Do Shrove Tuesday, Mardi Gras, Ash Wednesday, And Lent Mean?
-
Plant Cell vs. Animal Cell: What’s the Difference?
-
MLK’s “I Have a Dream” Speech: An Example of Anaphora
-
-
Apple Cider vs. Apple Juice: What’s The Difference?
-
Element vs. Compound: What Is the Difference?
-
Wassail, Sugarplum, and Other Unusual Christmas Words
-
Where Does the Name “Winter” Come From?
-
Espresso vs. Coffee vs. Cappuccino: We Spill the Beans
-
12 Names for Santa Claus From Around the World
-
Indica vs. Sativa: There Is a Difference
-
Hallowmas vs. All Saints’ Day: What’s The Day After Halloween Actually Called?
-
Terror vs. Horror: Which One Is Worse?
-
Scythe vs. Sickle: Cutting Away At Their Differences
-
“Autumn” vs. “Fall:” What Was the Season Called First?
-
English Could Really Use These 15 Wunderbar German Words
-
-
“Hispanic” vs. “Latino”: When To Use Each Term
-
Schadenfreude And 10 Other German Words So Good English Just Had to Borrow Them
-
In Spite Of vs. Despite: What’s The Difference?
-
Affective vs. Effective: Which Is Correct?
-
The Most Commonly Misspelled Words—With Spelling Tips for Each One
-
Resume vs. Résumé: A Brief Account Of Their Differences
-
What’s With “Oof,” “Meh,” and Other Popular Interjections?
-
White Tie vs. Black Tie: Which Is More Formal?
-
Tuxedo vs. Suit: Cracking the Dress Code
-
Why Do Americans Call Football “Soccer”?
-
Mixtape vs. Album: What’s The Difference?
-
Hip-Hop Vs. Rap: A Music, A Culture, And A Phenomenon
