Word Origins

Some of our English words have very unique and surprising origins. Find out where some of your favorite words came from.

145 results

Learn About

  • Education
  • Language Stories
  • Pop Culture
  • Trending Words

Featured Topics

  • Commonly Confused
  • Idioms
  • Word Origins
Filter

145 results

Learn About

  • Education
  • Language Stories
  • Pop Culture
  • Trending Words

Featured Topics

  • Commonly Confused
  • Idioms
  • Word Origins

What’s So “Good” About “Good Friday”?

What Makes Holi The Most Colorful Event Of The Year?

History

The Major Facts About The Month of Ramadan

History

Words That Women Have Coined

Word Origins

The Complexity Of African American Vernacular English

History

What Do Shrove Tuesday, Mardi Gras, Ash Wednesday, And Lent...

History

Where Does The Name “Winter” Come From?

Word Origins

12 Names For Santa Claus From Around The World

Holidays

Autumn vs. Fall: What Was The Season Called First?

Trending Words

Old English Words We Can Use Again

Word Origins

Why Do Babies Around The World Say “Mama”?

Trending Words

12 Mythic Words From Mythologies Around The World

Word Origins

17 English Words That Derive From Sanskrit

Language Stories
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Next Entries »

Featured

Where Does The Name "Saturday" Come From?

Got the fever to know more about how Saturday got its name? This article has everything you need to know about the merriest day of the week.

Discover the origin here.

Discover The Origins Of These Cooking Tool Names

Don't let scrumptious food pass you by—learn the names and origins of these frequently used cooking tools and dishes.

Savor these word origins now!

English Words That Came From Hindi And Urdu

If you're reading this in your pajamas, you have the Hindi and Urdu languages to thank for that word, and for many more than you realize.

Drink up these words!