LINGUISTICS

The Dark History Behind the Phrase ‘Canary in the Coal Mine’

Any early warning sign can be a canary in a coal mine. But the original meaning was more specific.

11 Suffixes That Gave Us New (And Often Terrible) Words

Here are some word endings that have become productive to varying degrees.

How Did Latin America Get Its Name?

Latin isn’t widely spoken in Latin America, so why is it called that?

Besides Connections, The New York Times has The Crossword and The Mini Crossword.

The 10 Hardest Connections Puzzles of 2024

Learn which Connections puzzles had players searching for hints most often in 2024.

Where did this weather-related idiom come from?

Why Do We Say “Right as Rain”?

Where did this curious expression come from, and what’s so right about rain, anyway?

“Gaslighting“ is the most commonly searched term in the U.S.

The Word Definitions Each Country Looks Up the Most, Mapped

If you’ve ever looked up the definition of “gaslighting,” you’re not alone.

A wooden tablet covered in still-undeciphered Rongorongo script.

8 Ancient Writing Systems That Haven’t Been Deciphered Yet

Without a Rosetta Stone for these centuries-old writing systems, the meaning of the texts may never be known.

Is your bread presliced, your oven preheated, and your car pre-owned?

To Pre or Not to Pre: The Reason We Add ‘Pre’ Before So Many Words

The prefix ‘pre-’ often seems redundant—but it’s actually working hard to serve its purpose.

Find out which languages people in the U.S. care about learning the most.

The 10 Languages Americans Want to Learn the Most

Thinking about learning a new language? Here‘s a look at the most popular choices in the U.S. right now.

Why Do We Say “Jinx”?

If you’ve ever been jinxed into owing someone a soda, you should know why.

Be honest—how many words did you already know?

The 10 Most-Searched Slang Terms in 2024

Are all these new slang terms confusing you? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.

6 Weird Ways the English Language Is Redundant

From phrasal verbs to loanwords, here's how English speakers repeat themselves without realizing it.

Merriam-Webster Adds ‘Beach Read,’ ‘IDGAF,’ and 24 More New Words to the Dictionary

Here are some highlights from Merriam-Webster’s latest slate of additions.

Definition Detective Quiz #8

We give you an obscure word with four definitions—one correct, three made up. Can you identify the correct one?

What’s the Origin of the Jack-O’-Lantern?

The first jack-o'-lanterns were made with turnips, not pumpkins.

The Surprising Origins of 5 Spooky Sayings

From ‘skeletons in the closet’ to ‘graveyard shift,’ here’s how five eerie idioms came to be.

The Not-So-Nice Origins of ‘Bookworm’

‘Bookworm,’ which now implies someone is well-read, once meant that you were a total loser.

These things are pretty weird when you think about them.

Positively Negative: 5 Surprising Ways We Say “No” Without Really Meaning It

From polite offers to emphatic exclamations, English speakers have cleverly twisted negative expressions to mean something rather different.

Why Do We Say “Make a Beeline”?

Making a beeline for the buffet table? You’re buying into some bee stereotypes.

Why Do We Say “Cold, Hard Cash”?

The meaning behind the money.

What’s the Word for When You Can’t Remember a Word?

There's a fancy term for forgetting a word—'lethologica.'

The words ‘galaxy’ and ‘lactose’ have a surprising connection.

Linguistic Siblings: 14 Pairs of Words With Surprisingly Shared Etymologies

The connections between words aren’t always as straightforward as the link between ‘run’ and ‘runner’; often, figuring them out requires the subtle unraveling of linguistic evolution, the kind of detective work that makes etymology so fascinating.

Everyone here is someone's late someone.

Why Does ‘Late’ Mean “Dead”?

There’s a historical reason, but there may be a social one as well.

What Is Code-Switching—And Why Do We Do It?

Code-switching goes beyond language—here's what it means and why it happens.