9 episodes

Jess Zafarris and Rob Watts unravel the stories behind everyday words.

Want to watch our episodes too? Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8R3ZnESMdsuTevq4ib9CvA

Words Unravelled with RobWords and Jess Zafarris Words Unravelled with RobWords and Jess Zafarris

    • Society & Culture

Jess Zafarris and Rob Watts unravel the stories behind everyday words.

Want to watch our episodes too? Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8R3ZnESMdsuTevq4ib9CvA

    American vs. British English: A transatlantic war of words

    American vs. British English: A transatlantic war of words

    For centuries, British English and American English have been locked in a battle for supremacy. In this edition of Words Unravelled, Rob and Jess expose the linguistic differences either side of 'the pond' and try to understand why they exist.

    Watch this episode here: https://youtu.be/o6KlBd7TPFI

    • 36 min
    Was an orange ever a "norange"? | WORD MASH-UPS

    Was an orange ever a "norange"? | WORD MASH-UPS

    Hello and welcome (or should that be hellcome?) to another Words Unravelled. In this episode, Rob and Jess discuss word mash-ups.
    - 🍊Was an orange ever a norange?
    - 🍔 Why do cheeseburgers make no sense?
    - ❓Is it okay to "aks" instead of "ask"?
    These questions answered and many more as we explore portmanteaus, rebracketing and metathesis.

    WATCH this episode here: https://youtu.be/L3Qepv4F5Yc

    • 36 min
    What's poopy about a poop deck? | NAUTICAL ETYMOLOGY

    What's poopy about a poop deck? | NAUTICAL ETYMOLOGY

    Welcome, me hearties, to another episode of Words Unravelled. In this edition, Rob and Jess discuss nautical terms and pirate slang.

    💩 What's so poopy about a poop deck?
    🏴‍☠️ What does it mean to "shiver" someone's timbers?
    ⚓️ Which English idioms come from the high seas?

    Find out in Words Unravelled!

    Watch this episode here: https://youtu.be/QPcOx29fVPA

    • 33 min
    Can you be gormful, wistless or ert? | UNPAIRED WORDS

    Can you be gormful, wistless or ert? | UNPAIRED WORDS

    Join word nerds Jess and Rob as they uncover English's lost positives and orphaned negatives. Why can you be "nonchalant" but not "chalant"? If something perfect is "immaculate", what does it mean to be "maculate"? And if you're no longer "exasperated" are you therefore "asperated"? Find out in this edition of Words Unravelled.

    Watch this episode here: https://youtu.be/6EnIqXnW5Kw

    • 26 min
    Why is it a "murder" of crows? | COLLECTIVE NOUNS

    Why is it a "murder" of crows? | COLLECTIVE NOUNS

    Join Jess and Rob to collectively explore the weird world of collective nouns.

    Watch this episode here: https://youtu.be/K2MaE9tn1rk
    Read the Book of St Albans here: https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/The_Boke_of_Saint_Albans/855KAQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PP130&printsec=frontcover&dq=sleuth

    • 29 min
    Is "posh" really an acronym? | WORD MYTHS

    Is "posh" really an acronym? | WORD MYTHS

    Jess Zafarris and Rob Watts (aka RobWords) bust some etymology myths:
    💰 Does "tip" mean To Insure Promptness?
    🤬 Is the F word an acronym?
    🦋 Was a butterfly ever a "flutterby"?

    Find out in Words Unravelled.

    WATCH THIS EPISODE: https://youtu.be/FcP3Orn_rjs

    • 36 min

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