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Words Unravelled with RobWords and Jess Zafarris

Words Unravelled with RobWords and Jess Zafarris

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

society & culture self-improvement

All Episodes

39:03

Why do Brits think 'pants' are underwear? | CLOTHING...

Words Unravelled with RobWords and Jess Zafarris ·

2025/05/21

Jess and Rob are unravelling the origins of our words for fabric and clothing in this highly fashionable episode of Words Unravelled.🩲 Why do 'pants' mean different things in the UK and US? 👖 Which city are your jeans named after? 🪶 What's flappy about a 'flapper girl'? ✈️ Is 'nylon' really named after New York and London? These questions answered, and many more, in our most unravelly episode of Words Unravelled. 👕 OUR MERCH 👚 US SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.com/ EU/UK

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43:26

Why is there an N in "passenger"? | TRANSPORTATION

Words Unravelled with RobWords and Jess Zafarris ·

2025/05/14

It's time to hit the road with Rob and Jess as they journey through the origins of words from road and rail.🚃 Why do Brits say "transport" and Americans "transportation"? 🚊 What's the difference between a train and a locomotive? 🚙 How do you actually pronounce Hyundai? These questions answered – and many more – in this transport[ation] special of Words Unravelled. 👕 OUR MERCH 👚 US SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.com/ EU/UK SHOP:

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50:01

Why were hatters mad? | IDIOM ORIGINS

Words Unravelled with RobWords and Jess Zafarris ·

2025/05/07

Rob and Jess "pull out all the stops" in this episode explaining idiom origins. ✈️ Why do we say "balls to the wall" and "push the envelope"? 🐘 What's so useless about a "white elephant"? 👕 Where were the original "whole nine yards"? These questions answered and many more in this common sayings special of Words Unravelled. Here's our other idioms episode: https://pod.fo/e/2a54ba And the video version of this one: https://youtu.be/ca3lz3dXgW8 👕 OUR MERCH 👚 US SHOP:

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47:51

Is it a restroom or a loo? | UK v. US English

Words Unravelled with RobWords and Jess Zafarris ·

2025/04/30

Let's explore British English and American English. In another transatlantic war of words, Rob (a Brit) and Jess (an American) debate the differing words for the same things either side of the pond.For our new Channel Memberships click "Join" just below the video. Our previous 🇺🇸 vs. 🇬🇧 episode 📺 https://youtu.be/o6KlBd7TPFI?si=EHmBIMV3PatoSQi9 🔊 https://pod.fo/e/240f60 👕 OUR MERCH 👚 US SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.com/ EU/UK SHOP:

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33:25

Did Shakespeare write all his plays? | THE BARD

Words Unravelled with RobWords and Jess Zafarris ·

2025/04/23

We're back for a new 🇬🇧series/🇺🇸season of Words Unravelled. In this episode, transatlantic word nerds Rob and Jess tackle the truth and lies surrounding Williams Shakespeare.✍️ Did the Bard really invent 1,700 words? 🤬 Which insults did Willy give us? 🎭 Could he actually have written all of those plays? These questions answered and many more, just As You Like It. 👕 OUR MERCH 👚 US SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.com/ EU/UK SHOP:

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41:07

How do you pronounce lieutenant? | MILITARY WORDS

Words Unravelled with RobWords and Jess Zafarris ·

2025/04/02

There's fightin' talk in this episode of Words Unravelled, in which Jess and Rob discuss words of warcraft.🔫 Which woman are all guns named after? 🪖 Where does the word "war" come from? 👮 Is lieutenant pronounced loo-tenant or lef-tenant? These questions answered – and many more – in this military etymology special of Words Unravelled. 👕 OUR MERCH 👚 US SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.com/ EU/UK SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.net/ 🎥 WATCH THIS EPISODE:

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40:29

Why do we mind our Ps and Qs? | PRINTING TERMS

Words Unravelled with RobWords and Jess Zafarris ·

2025/03/26

In this printing special of Words Unravelled, Jess proves herself a font of knowledge on names for typefaces and Rob makes a bit impression with the history of the printing press.🆎 What's the difference between a font and a typeface? 😈 Who was the printer's devil? 📖 How did the printing press ruin English spelling? These questions answered — and many more — in this cliché-free episode of Words Unravelled. 👕 OUR MERCH 👚 🇺🇸 US SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.com/ 🇬🇧 EU/UK

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50:51

Where the f*** do swear words come from?

Words Unravelled with RobWords and Jess Zafarris ·

2025/03/19

It's here: the much-requested swearing episode of Words Unravelled. Join Rob and Jess as they explore the origins of all manner of profanity.#️⃣ Where did the F word come from? 📍 Which place names originally contained swear words? 📺 What are the worst words you can say on TV? These questions answered, and many more, in this NSFW edition of Words Unravelled. 👕WORDY NERDY MERCH👚 Our EU and US shops cover most of the world between them: 🇪🇺🇬🇧:

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44:19

Which flower makes you wet the bed? | FLOWER NAME...

Words Unravelled with RobWords and Jess Zafarris ·

2025/03/12

Welcome to another bloomin' wonderful episode of Words Unravelled. This time, Rob and Jess are discussing the origins of all manner of flower name. 🌻Which flower makes you wet the bed? 👁️Which flower's name means "day's eye"? 🌹What is the origin of the word rose? 🥒What did Jess name her cucumber plant? These questions answered - and many more - in this anthology of horticultural etymologies. 🎥 Watch this episode: https://youtu.be/9Z2kjEJAscs 🤬 Merriam-Webster's flowers that sound like

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39:13

Is this a rhetorical question? | RHETORIC & LITERARY...

Words Unravelled with RobWords and Jess Zafarris ·

2025/03/05

Who wants to learn how to talk pretty? In this episode, Rob and Jess explore the clever tricks used by poets, novelists and speechwriters to surprise, move and persuade us. Join them as they discuss rhetoric and literary devices.😉 What are the three types of irony? ❓Do you now an anaphora from an epistrophe? 🤷🏼‍♀️ Why is tmesis so un-flippin'-believable? These questions answered and many more in another Words Unravelled. WATCH THIS EPISODE: https://youtu.be/sKcuTYOT0yY

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45:07

How did our naughty bits get their names? | BODY...

Words Unravelled with RobWords and Jess Zafarris ·

2025/02/26

Let's discuss the etymology of the body from "head" to "toe". Join Rob and Jess on an adventure through anatomical word origins.👅 Why is tongue spelt that way? 🍎 What did we originally call our Adam's apple? 🍆 How did our naughty bits get their names? These questions answered and many more in a body-positive episode of Words Unravelled. 👕 OUR NEW MERCH 👚 US SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.com/ EU/UK SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.net/ WATCH THIS EPISODE:

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29:28

What's the difference between a violin and a fiddle?...

Words Unravelled with RobWords and Jess Zafarris ·

2025/02/19

Let this episode be music to your ears as Rob Watts and Jess Zafarris explore the melodic origins of all manner of musical words. 👦 Which instrument used to be called a "ho boy"? 🎤 What does "karaoke" literally mean? 🎷 Who is the saxophone named after? 🎶 How good is Rob's theremin impression? These questions answered, and many more in another Words Unravelled. WATCH THIS EPISODE: https://youtu.be/Kbvsg8ZPstg

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32:46

Who invented zero? | MATH & NUMBERS

Words Unravelled with RobWords and Jess Zafarris ·

2025/02/12

Join Rob and Jess as they explore the origins of a myriad of mathematical terms and innumerable number words.💯 What number was the original "hundred"? ♾️ What is the infinity symbol called? 🕚 Why does English have weird words for 11 and 12? These questions answered - and numerous others - in an incalculably fun episode of Words Unravelled. WATCH THIS EPISODE: https://youtu.be/ey38pmqPBnM

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48:01

Who was the original "goodfella"? | CRIME WORDS

Words Unravelled with RobWords and Jess Zafarris ·

2025/02/05

Rob and Jess are on the wrong side of the law in this criminal episode of Words Unravelled. Join them as they discuss the origins of all manner of words for felony, misdemeanour and malfeasance.🏴‍☠️ What is so black about blackmail? 🏚️ What is the "burg" in burglary? 💰 What's the difference between "robbery" and "theft"? 🎩 What Victorian prison slang are we still using today? Those questions answered and many more in this episode filled with criminal etymology. WATCH THIS EPISODE:

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47:35

Who was the first to "paint the town red"? | IDIOM...

Words Unravelled with RobWords and Jess Zafarris ·

2025/01/29

In this episode, Rob and Jess debunk some myths about the origins of common sayings, and prevent the even more fascinating true stories behind the idioms we use day-to-day.🔴 Who was the first to "paint the town red"? 🌩️ How can someone's "thunder" be "stolen"? 🐕 What's the (horrible) origin of "to screw the pooch"? 🥃 Where did the phrase "on the wagon" come from? These questions answered and many more in another Words Unravelled. WATCH THIS EPISODE: https://youtu.be/Fkf61-j8VmQ

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38:20

Is he Santa Claus or Father Christmas? | FESTIVE...

Words Unravelled with RobWords and Jess Zafarris ·

2024/12/18

Join Rob and Jess for a festive feast of Christmas etymology.🎅🏼 Is Santa Claus an Americanism? 🎩 Who was Sir Christmas? 🦌 How did the Santa's reindeer get their names? 🎶 Is it "four calling birds" or "four colly birds"? These questions answered and many more as we deck the halls with linguistic intrigue in another episode of Words Unravelled. 👀WATCH THIS EPISODE 👀 https://youtu.be/9A0hAxeFyo4

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47:12

What did a "sin-eater" do? | JOB ETYMOLOGY

Words Unravelled with RobWords and Jess Zafarris ·

2024/12/11

Let's explore our words for jobs, professions and trades.🪵What did carpenters originally make? 🐐Which animal did butchers originally butcher? 💩Where did a "gong farmer" actually farm? 🛒What is so gross about a grocer? These questions answered and many more in another Words Unravelled with RobWords and Jess Zafarris. 👀WATCH THIS EPISODE👀 https://youtu.be/L8QXVs2DNFk

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43:07

Is it a 'full stop' or a 'period'? | PUNCTUATION

Words Unravelled with RobWords and Jess Zafarris ·

2024/12/04

Join Rob and Jess for a period as they get straight to the point about punctuation.🏛️ Which punctuation mark came first? 💀 How can you punctuate sarcasm? ❓ Why does a question mark look like that? These questions answered - and many more - in another punctilious episode of Words Unravelled. 👀WATCH THIS EPISODE👀 https://youtu.be/DLBBiY5w8qM

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41:02

Is corporate jargon a synergistic value-add? | JARGON

Words Unravelled with RobWords and Jess Zafarris ·

2024/11/27

Time to bust some jargon in another Words Unravelled. In this episode, Rob and Jess wade their way through the sea of business speak and legalese.🦍Which joke created the "800-pound gorilla" 🪶Is all jargon a modern invention? 🏛️What do legal Latin phrases literally mean? These questions answered and many more in another wordy nerdy episode of Words Unravelled. 🎥 WATCH THIS EPISODE 🎥 https://youtu.be/ZqBYXlunxds

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43:02

Who is the Jack in a deck of cards? | GAME WORDS

Words Unravelled with RobWords and Jess Zafarris ·

2024/11/20

In this playful episode of Words Unravelled, Rob and Jess dive into the fascinating world of fun and games. Ever wondered why we call it "chess" or how "poker" got its name? From the origins of classic card games to the strategic world of board games, our hosts uncover the surprising stories behind the words we use for play. ♠️ Who is the Jack in a pack of cards? ♟️ What exactly is a pawn? 🌍 How did Jenga get its name? 🅾 What's the best possible Scrabble word? These questions answered and more! ♖

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