Words Unravelled

@UC8R3ZnESMdsuTevq4ib9CvA - 141K subscribers

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 Zafarris in exploring the wonders of the English language.

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Why don't we have words for these things?

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Why don't we have words for these things? Words Unravelled and RobWords

182.6K views - 6 days ago

Could tensions 'escalate' before the escalator was invented?

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Could tensions 'escalate' before the escalator was invented? Words Unravelled and RobWords

80K views - 1 week ago

How cities got their names

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How cities got their names Words Unravelled and RobWords

168.1K views - 2 weeks ago

What does 'espionage' actually mean?

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What does 'espionage' actually mean? Words Unravelled and RobWords

71.6K views - 3 weeks ago

The ancient origins of Sci-fi and tech words

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The ancient origins of Sci-fi and tech words Words Unravelled and RobWords

126.7K views - 1 month ago

What was the original 'ambulance'?

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What was the original 'ambulance'? Words Unravelled and RobWords

80.8K views - 1 month ago

What did 'dragon' originally mean?

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What did 'dragon' originally mean? Words Unravelled and RobWords

149.8K views - 2 months ago

Why do we say 'bury the hatchet'?

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Why do we say 'bury the hatchet'? Words Unravelled and RobWords

253.2K views - 2 months ago

Vulgar language and criminal slang

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Vulgar language and criminal slang Words Unravelled and RobWords

137.3K views - 2 months ago

Is English really a Germanic language?

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Is English really a Germanic language? Words Unravelled and RobWords

136.9K views - 2 months ago

The strangest quirks of the English language

The strangest quirks of the English language Words Unravelled

99.1K views - 2 months ago

Which was the original 'football'? | SPORTS WORDS

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Which was the original 'football'? | SPORTS WORDS Words Unravelled and RobWords

99.1K views - 3 months ago

Where do first names come from?

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Where do first names come from? Words Unravelled and RobWords

272.2K views - 3 months ago

Are pets called 'pets' because we pet them?

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Are pets called 'pets' because we pet them? Words Unravelled and RobWords

145.4K views - 3 months ago

What did North, South, East & West originally mean?

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What did North, South, East & West originally mean? Words Unravelled and RobWords

193.3K views - 3 months ago

100 Quick-fire Word Facts

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100 Quick-fire Word Facts Words Unravelled and RobWords

186.9K views - 4 months ago

Who was the first to 'spill the beans'? | SAYINGS EXPLAINED

Who was the first to 'spill the beans'? | SAYINGS EXPLAINED Words Unravelled

253.7K views - 5 months ago

Why are we saying 'Caesar' wrong? | TITLES & POWER

Why are we saying 'Caesar' wrong? | TITLES & POWER Words Unravelled

253K views - 5 months ago

What does 'dinosaur' literally mean? | DINOSAURS

What does 'dinosaur' literally mean? | DINOSAURS Words Unravelled

82K views - 5 months ago

What is the 'Eng' in 'England'? | COUNTRY NAME ORIGINS

What is the 'Eng' in 'England'? | COUNTRY NAME ORIGINS Words Unravelled

371.8K views - 5 months ago

Why do news anchors all sound the same? | NEWS WORDS

Why do news anchors all sound the same? | NEWS WORDS Words Unravelled

134.6K views - 5 months ago

How could one man write a dictionary? | SAMUEL JOHNSON

How could one man write a dictionary? | SAMUEL JOHNSON Words Unravelled

89.8K views - 6 months ago

Why is it called a 'cockpit'? | AVIATION WORDS

Why is it called a 'cockpit'? | AVIATION WORDS Words Unravelled

231.4K views - 6 months ago

How did currencies get their names? | MONEY WORD ORIGINS

How did currencies get their names? | MONEY WORD ORIGINS Words Unravelled

285K views - 6 months ago

Does English use the wrong word for clouds? | WEATHER WORDS

Does English use the wrong word for clouds? | WEATHER WORDS Words Unravelled

151.5K views - 6 months ago

Exposing grammar myths and mistakes with Grammar Girl

Exposing grammar myths and mistakes with Grammar Girl Words Unravelled

202.7K views - 7 months ago

Why is English full of French words?

Why is English full of French words? Words Unravelled

112K views - 7 months ago

Precisely how long is a 'moment'? | TIME WORDS

Precisely how long is a 'moment'? | TIME WORDS Words Unravelled

165.9K views - 7 months ago

What was the original "blockbuster"? | MOVIE WORDS

What was the original "blockbuster"? | MOVIE WORDS Words Unravelled

106.4K views - 8 months ago

Why is there a cat in "caterpillar"? | BUG WORDS

Why is there a cat in "caterpillar"? | BUG WORDS Words Unravelled

86.3K views - 8 months ago

Why is the Pope "the daddy"?

Why is the Pope "the daddy"? Words Unravelled

81.5K views - 8 months ago

Why do Brits think 'pants' are underwear? | CLOTHING WORDS

Why do Brits think 'pants' are underwear? | CLOTHING WORDS Words Unravelled

120.5K views - 8 months ago

Why is there an N in "passenger"?

Why is there an N in "passenger"? Words Unravelled

115.2K views - 9 months ago

Why do we say "as mad as a hatter"? | IDIOM ORIGINS

Why do we say "as mad as a hatter"? | IDIOM ORIGINS Words Unravelled

143.2K views - 9 months ago

Is it a restroom or a loo?

Is it a restroom or a loo? Words Unravelled

185.5K views - 9 months ago

Did Shakespeare write all his plays?

Did Shakespeare write all his plays? Words Unravelled

95.8K views - 9 months ago

How do you pronounce lieutenant? | MILITARY WORDS

How do you pronounce lieutenant? | MILITARY WORDS Words Unravelled

247.7K views - 10 months ago

Why do we mind our Ps and Qs? | PRINTING TERMS

Why do we mind our Ps and Qs? | PRINTING TERMS Words Unravelled

102.4K views - 10 months ago

Where do swear words come from?

Where do swear words come from? Words Unravelled

1.4M views - 10 months ago

Which flower makes you wet the bed? | FLOWER NAME ORIGINS

Which flower makes you wet the bed? | FLOWER NAME ORIGINS Words Unravelled

118.9K views - 11 months ago

Is this a rhetorical question? | RHETORIC & LITERARY DEVICES

Is this a rhetorical question? | RHETORIC & LITERARY DEVICES Words Unravelled

95.2K views - 11 months ago

How did our naughty bits get their names? | BODY ETYMOLOGY

How did our naughty bits get their names? | BODY ETYMOLOGY Words Unravelled

267.8K views - 11 months ago

What's the difference between a violin and a fiddle? | MUSIC WORDS

What's the difference between a violin and a fiddle? | MUSIC WORDS Words Unravelled

119.7K views - 11 months ago

Who invented zero? | MATH & NUMBERS

Who invented zero? | MATH & NUMBERS Words Unravelled

122.7K views - 1 year ago

Who was the original "goodfella"? | CRIME WORDS

Who was the original "goodfella"? | CRIME WORDS Words Unravelled

152.7K views - 1 year ago

Who was the first to "paint the town red"? | IDIOM ORIGINS

Who was the first to "paint the town red"? | IDIOM ORIGINS Words Unravelled

612.1K views - 1 year ago

Is he Santa Claus or Father Christmas? | FESTIVE WORD ORIGINS

Is he Santa Claus or Father Christmas? | FESTIVE WORD ORIGINS Words Unravelled

144.3K views - 1 year ago

What did a "sin-eater" do? | JOB ETYMOLOGY

What did a "sin-eater" do? | JOB ETYMOLOGY Words Unravelled

139.9K views - 1 year ago

Is it a 'full stop' or a 'period'? | PUNCTUATION

Is it a 'full stop' or a 'period'? | PUNCTUATION Words Unravelled

112.2K views - 1 year ago

Is corporate jargon "a value add"? | JARGON ETYMOLOGY

Is corporate jargon "a value add"? | JARGON ETYMOLOGY Words Unravelled

102.1K views - 1 year ago

Who is the Jack in a deck of cards? | GAME WORDS

Who is the Jack in a deck of cards? | GAME WORDS Words Unravelled

258K views - 1 year ago

Which cocktail means "moist little thing"? | BOOZY WORDS

Which cocktail means "moist little thing"? | BOOZY WORDS Words Unravelled

152.3K views - 1 year ago

How can "tree" and "truth" be related? | WOODLAND WORDS

How can "tree" and "truth" be related? | WOODLAND WORDS Words Unravelled

160.5K views - 1 year ago

How are people using "mortified" wrongly? | EMOTION ETYMOLOGY

How are people using "mortified" wrongly? | EMOTION ETYMOLOGY Words Unravelled

155.8K views - 1 year ago

What's the 'were' in werewolf? | SPOOKY ETYMOLOGY

What's the 'were' in werewolf? | SPOOKY ETYMOLOGY Words Unravelled

182.4K views - 1 year ago

Why does oxygen have the wrong name? | ELEMENTS

Why does oxygen have the wrong name? | ELEMENTS Words Unravelled

231.6K views - 1 year ago

What is antidisestablishmentarianism? | THE LONGEST WORDS

What is antidisestablishmentarianism? | THE LONGEST WORDS Words Unravelled

109.5K views - 1 year ago

Why are you a nincompoop? | INSULTS

Why are you a nincompoop? | INSULTS Words Unravelled

148.1K views - 1 year ago

Do geese see god? | PALINDROMES

Do geese see god? | PALINDROMES Words Unravelled

106.8K views - 1 year ago

Why is the word "dog" such a mystery? | ANIMAL WORDS

Why is the word "dog" such a mystery? | ANIMAL WORDS Words Unravelled

308.3K views - 1 year ago