Latest articles by Arika Okrent
-
The Pig Latins of 11 other languagesfeature English speakers aren't the only ones who can make a pseudo-language
feature -
Why does 'terrible' mean bad and 'terrific' mean good?feature These crossover words often require a bit of ironic slang in order to evolve
feature -
How to write the sound of a kissfeature Muah!
feature -
Why is Y sometimes a vowel?feature In "yes," Y is representing a consonant, and in "gym" it is representing a vowel
feature -
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.
feature -
The true origin story of the football huddlefeature It was first invented by deaf players
feature -
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
feature -
50 actual shades of grayfeature A 1912 book by Robert Ridgway named 1,115 colors, including dozens of shades of gray
feature -
Why are pound and ounce abbreviated as 'lb' and 'oz'?feature Abbreviations are usually self-explanatory. How come these two aren't?
feature -
9 words created by spelling other words backwardsfeature Fancy some "semordnilaps"?
feature -
What most people get wrong about 'o' vs 'oh'feature O reader, we're here to help!
feature -
11 naughty sounding scientific names (and what they really mean)feature From Turdus Maximus to Pinus Rigida
feature -
11 words and phrases popularized by World War Ifeature Camouflage, shell shock, and more
feature -
17 old proverbs we should use more oftenfeature We dare you to say "Many a little makes a mickle" without smiling
feature -
Learn Klingon in 6 stepsfeature It's the only honorable thing to do
feature -
15 words plagued by unusual silent lettersfeature Damn you, tricky consonant clusters
feature -
11 amazing facts about the Iditarodfeature There's even a Jamaican dog sled team
feature -
15 awesome 19th-century street gang namesfeature Do not mess with the Plug Uglies or Dead Rabbits
feature -
What's the correct pronunciation of February?feature Hint: There's more than one answer
feature -
8 fun facts about the Irish languagefeature Happy St. Patrick's Day!
feature -
20 towns named for other towns but pronounced differentlyfeature In Illinois and Kentucky, don't call the cities of Athens, ATH-ens. They're pronounced EIGHTH-ens, apparently.
feature -
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
feature -
How many languages is it possible to know?feature It depends on whom you ask
feature -
5 pairs of countries that Americans confusefeature Newsflash: The Czech Republic is not the same as the Russia region of Chechnya
feature
