Word Origins

Some of our English words have very unique and surprising origins. Find out where some of your favorite words came from.

Speak of the Devil! 15 Infernal Names for The Evil One

Words Coined In Each Decade Of The Last 100 Years

Nine Words With Surprising Connections To Fashion

Hobbies & Passions

Where Did The Phrase “The Dog Ate My Homework” Come...

French Words You Should Incorporate Into Your Vocabulary

Will These Words From The 1920s Come Back In 2020?

These Words Came From The Irish Language

Why Is The Language Of The Sioux In Danger?

These Words Originated From Native American Languages

What Are The Differences Between “Nerds,” “Geeks,” And “Dorks”?

Seven Essential Words Of Fall

What Did The Word “Nice” Use To Mean?

Thank Your Babushka For These 8 Russian Loanwords In English

Language Stories

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Featured

Where Does The Name "Saturday" Come From?

Got the fever to know more about how Saturday got its name? This article has everything you need to know about the merriest day of the week.

Discover the origin here.

Discover The Origins Of These Cooking Tool Names

Don't let scrumptious food pass you by—learn the names and origins of these frequently used cooking tools and dishes.

Savor these word origins now!

English Words That Came From Hindi And Urdu

If you're reading this in your pajamas, you have the Hindi and Urdu languages to thank for that word, and for many more than you realize.

Drink up these words!