Etymology

The Logic of Back-Formation: From ‘Editor’ to ‘Edit’

Which came first: the editor or the edit? The answer reveals a fascinating linguistic process called back-formation, where we reverse-engineer…

6 hours ago

Grammatical Viruses: The Spread of ‘-gate’

The suffix '-gate' has become a linguistic shorthand for scandal, but where did it come from? We trace its journey…

6 hours ago

The Uralic Enigma: A Lost Siberian Homeland

Ever wondered why Finnish and Hungarian sound nothing like their European neighbors? These languages are part of the Uralic family,…

1 week ago

Linguistic Landmines: The World of Contronyms

Have you ever noticed that a single word can mean its own opposite? These linguistic curiosities, called contronyms, are words…

1 week ago

The Surprising Slavic Words in English

Did you know that when you talk about 'vampires' or 'robots', you're actually speaking Slavic? English is full of surprising…

1 week ago

Silent Letters: English’s Most Annoying Feature

Ever wondered why there's a 'k' in 'knife' or a 'b' in 'doubt'? These aren't mistakes; they're echoes of linguistic…

1 week ago

Why Is English Spelling So Crazy?

Why do 'through', 'tough', and 'though' sound so different? The answer isn't random chaos but a journey through history, from…

1 week ago

How Shakespeare Changed the English Language

Ever used the word 'fashionable' or found yourself 'in a pickle'? You have William Shakespeare to thank. This post explores…

1 week ago

The 10 Hardest English Words to Pronounce

Ever stumbled over 'Worcestershire' or 'anemone'? This guide breaks down 10 of the hardest English words to pronounce, offering simple…

1 week ago

You’re Already Speaking Japanese! 15 Loanwords

** Did you know that when you talk about a business 'tycoon' or ask for 'just a skosh' more, you're…

1 week ago

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