Latest articles by Arika Okrent
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The Pig Latins of 11 other languages
feature English speakers aren't the only ones who can make a pseudo-language
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Why does 'terrible' mean bad and 'terrific' mean good?
feature These crossover words often require a bit of ironic slang in order to evolve
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How to write the sound of a kiss
feature Muah!
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Why is Y sometimes a vowel?
feature In "yes," Y is representing a consonant, and in "gym" it is representing a vowel
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Where did the phrase 'come out of the closet' come from?
feature This expression for revealing one's homosexuality may seem natural. But it's actually a relatively new thing.
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The true origin story of the football huddle
feature It was first invented by deaf players
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Where did the expression 'OK' come from?
feature It's amazing that we ever got along without it at all. But we did until 1839
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50 actual shades of gray
feature A 1912 book by Robert Ridgway named 1,115 colors, including dozens of shades of gray
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Why are pound and ounce abbreviated as 'lb' and 'oz'?
feature Abbreviations are usually self-explanatory. How come these two aren't?
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9 words created by spelling other words backwards
feature Fancy some "semordnilaps"?
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What most people get wrong about 'o' vs 'oh'
feature O reader, we're here to help!
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11 naughty sounding scientific names (and what they really mean)
feature From Turdus Maximus to Pinus Rigida
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11 words and phrases popularized by World War I
feature Camouflage, shell shock, and more
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17 old proverbs we should use more often
feature We dare you to say "Many a little makes a mickle" without smiling
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Learn Klingon in 6 steps
feature It's the only honorable thing to do
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15 words plagued by unusual silent letters
feature Damn you, tricky consonant clusters
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11 amazing facts about the Iditarod
feature There's even a Jamaican dog sled team
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15 awesome 19th-century street gang names
feature Do not mess with the Plug Uglies or Dead Rabbits
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What's the correct pronunciation of February?
feature Hint: There's more than one answer
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8 fun facts about the Irish language
feature Happy St. Patrick's Day!
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20 towns named for other towns but pronounced differently
feature In Illinois and Kentucky, don't call the cities of Athens, ATH-ens. They're pronounced EIGHTH-ens, apparently.
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29 adorable slang terms for sex (from the last 600 years)
feature When it comes to the ol' houghmagandy, a little mystery goes a long way
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How many languages is it possible to know?
feature It depends on whom you ask
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5 pairs of countries that Americans confuse
feature Newsflash: The Czech Republic is not the same as the Russia region of Chechnya
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