PODCAST

Radio Omniglot

Simon Ager

Podcasts about languages and words

education language learning

All Episodes

2:22

Omniglot News (06/04/25)

Radio Omniglot ·

2025/04/06

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New language pages: Bembe (kiBeembe), a Bantu language spoken in the south of the Republic of the Congo. Kwambi (Oshikwambi), a Southwest Bantu language spoken mainly in northern Namibia. Luyana (Esiluyana), a Bantu language spoken in mainly the Western Province of Zambia. Yeyi (Shiyeyi), a Bantu […]

en-GB

1:21

Adventures in Etymology – Ridiculous

Radio Omniglot ·

2025/04/05

In this Adventure in Etymology, we’re risking ridicule and getting rather ridiculously ridiculous. Ridiculous [ɹɪˈdɪkjələs/ɹɪˈdɪkjʊləs] means deserving or ridicule, foolish, absurd, astonishing, extreme or unbelievable. It comes from Latin rīdiculus [riːˈd̪ɪkʊɫ̪ʊs̠] (laughable, funny, amusing, silly, absurd, ridiculous), from rīdeō (to laugh (at), ridicule, mock), the origins of which are not known [source]. Words from the […]

en-GB

4:47

Omniglot News (30/03/25)

Radio Omniglot ·

2025/03/30

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New writing system: Hurûf-ı munfasıla, a script based on the Ottoman Turkish alphabet with the letters written separately and all the vowels written devised by Enver Pasha in 1914. New adapted script: Hengul (헨규얘 아얘푸벹), an alternative way to write English with the Korean Hangeul alphabet […]

en-GB

1:53

Celtic Pathways – Windy Braying

Radio Omniglot ·

2025/03/29

In this episode we discover the flatulent Celtic roots of words for to bray and related things in English, French and other languages. The Proto-Celtic word *bragyeti means to fart or flatulate and comes from Proto-Celtic *braxsman (fart), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰreHg- (to stink, smell, have a strong odour) [source]. Related words in the modern Celtic […]

en-GB

2:24

Omniglot News (23/03/25)

Radio Omniglot ·

2025/03/23

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New writing system: Tai Noi, a script used to write Lao and Isan in Laos and northern Thailand. New constructed system: Aramikatavah (ארמיכתבה), an alternative way to write Hebrew, Aramaic and Arabic created by Mina McVinnie. New language pages: Degema (Dẹgẹma), an Edoid language spoken in […]

en-GB

1:51

Adventures in Etymology – Haywire

Radio Omniglot ·

2025/03/22

Haywire is wire used to bind bales of hay, and can also refer to something that’s roughly-made, erratic or uncontrollable. How are these meanings related? Let’s find out in this Adventure in Etymology. As a noun, haywire [ˈheɪ.waɪ.ə(ɹ) / ˈheɪ.waɪɚ] means wire used for binding bales of hay, straw or grass, and is also known […]

en-GB

2:40

Omniglot News (16/03/25)

Radio Omniglot ·

2025/03/16

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New language pages: Saxwe (saxwɛgbe), a Gbe language spoken in the Atlantique, Couffo and Mono departments in the southwest of Benin. Ekpeye (Ẹkpeye), an Igboid language spoken in Rivers and Bayelsa states in southern Nigeria. Gun (Gungbe), an Eastern Gbe language spoken in southeastern Benin and […]

en-GB

1:38

Celtic Pathways – Sooty Soot

Radio Omniglot ·

2025/03/15

In this episode we discover the possible Celtic roots of words for soot in English, French and various other languages. The Proto-Celtic word *sūdyā means soot and comes from Proto-Indo-European *suh₃d- (soot [?]), or from sed- (to sit) [source]. Related words in the modern Celtic languages include: súiche [ˈsˠuːçɪ] = soot in Irish sùith [suːj] […]

en-GB

2:31

Omniglot News (09/03/25)

Radio Omniglot ·

2025/03/09

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New language pages: Mpiemo (Mbimu), a Bantu language spoken in the Central African Republic, Cameroon and the Republic of the Congo. Ebira (èbìrà), a Volta-Niger language spoken mainly in Kogi State in central Nigeria. Gun (Gungbe), an Eastern Gbe language spoken in southeastern Benin and southwestern […]

en-GB

2:29

Adventures in Etymology – Cash

Radio Omniglot ·

2025/03/08

In this Adventure in Etymology, we are grasping the cash box as we look into the origins of the word cash. Cash [kæʃ] is: Money in the form of notes or bills and coins Liquid assets, money that can be traded quickly, as distinct from assets that are invested and cannot be easily exchanged. Money. […]

en-GB

2:53

Omniglot News (02/03/25)

Radio Omniglot ·

2025/03/02

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New language pages: Mbuun (kiMbuun), a western Bantu language spoken in Kwilu Province in the west of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Aka, a Bantu language spoken the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Komo (Kikomo), a Bantu language spoken in […]

en-GB

2:07

Celtic Pathways – Quays

Radio Omniglot ·

2025/03/01

In this episode we discover the Celtic roots of words for quay, jetty, pier, etc. in English, French and other languages. Bangor Pier. Photo by Simon Ager The Proto-Celtic word *kagyom means pen or enclosure, and comes from the Proto-Indo-European *kagʰyóm (enclosure, hedge), from *kagʰ- (to keep, hold, close, enclose, fence, hedge, barrier, field, pasture) […]

en-GB

2:32

Omniglot News (23/02/25)

Radio Omniglot ·

2025/02/23

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New language pages: Maʼanyan, an East Barito language spoken in the provinces of Central Kalimantan and South Kalimantan in Indonesia. Nuaulu, an East Central Maluku language spoken on Seram Island in eastern Indonesia. Uma, a Celebic language spoken mainly in Central Sulawesi Province in central Indonesia. […]

en-GB

2:18

Adventures in Etymology – Accents

Radio Omniglot ·

2025/02/22

In this Adventure in Etymology, we find what the word accent has to do with singing. An accent [ˈak.sənt / ˈæk.sɛnt] is: The way in which people in a particular area, country, or social group pronounce words. A mark written or printed over a letter to show how to pronounce it. A special emphasis given […]

en-GB

2:49

Omniglot News (16/02/25)

Radio Omniglot ·

2025/02/16

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New writing system: Kodava Lipi, or Muthanna Script, was created in 1970 by Dr. I M Muthanna to write Kodava, a Dravidian language spoken in Karnataka in the southwest of India. It was chosen as the official script for Kodava in 2022. New language pages: Mbama […]

en-GB

2:14

Celtic Pathways – Gulls

Radio Omniglot ·

2025/02/15

In this episode we discover the possible Celtic roots of English and French words for seagull. The Proto-Celtic word *wailannā means seagull, and possibly comes from the Proto-Indo-European *wáy (oh! ah! woe! alas!), and maybe related to *waylos (howler, wolf) [source]. Related words in the modern Celtic languages include: faoileán = gull, seagull in Irish […]

en-GB

2:18

Omniglot News (09/02/25)

Radio Omniglot ·

2025/02/09

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New language pages: Bafaw-Balong (lèfɔ́’, bàlòŋ), a Bantu language (or two closely-related languages) spoken in the Southwest and Littoral regions of Cameroon. Dciriku (Gciriku), a Central Sudanic language spoken mainly in southwestern Chad, and also in Nigeria. Kako (Mkako), a Bantu language spoken in Cameroon, the […]

en-GB

2:26

Adventures in Etymology – Bottles, Boots and Butts

Radio Omniglot ·

2025/02/08

In this Adventure in Etymology, we find connections between words for bottle, boot and butt in various languages. Meanings of bottle [ˈbɔtɫ̩ / ˈbɑ.təl] include: A container, typically made of glass or plastic and having a tapered neck, used primarily for holding liquids. The contents of such a container. It comes from Middle English botel […]

en-GB

2:18

Omniglot News 02/02/25

Radio Omniglot ·

2025/02/02

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New language pages: Kabwa (Ekikabwa), a Northeast Bantu language spoken in the Mara Region in northern Tanzania. Bagirmi (tàrà ɓármà), a Central Sudanic language spoken mainly in southwestern Chad, and also in Nigeria. Naba (Tar Melbene), a Central Sudanic language spoken mainly in Batha-Est Prefecture in […]

en-GB

2:42

Omniglot News (26/01/25)

Radio Omniglot ·

2025/01/26

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New language pages: Waiwai, a Cariban language spoken mainly in northern Brazil, and also in Guyana and Suirname. Enawene Nawe (Enawenê-Nawê), a Southern Arawakan language spoken in State of Mato Grosso in western Brazil. Jah Hut, an Aslian language spoken mainly in Pahang state in the […]

en-GB

174 results

Radio Omniglot

All Episodes

Similar Podcasts

Science Talk

Albert Einstein College of Medicine

五分钟心理学

柠檬心理

Daily Facts

Amalia Dupray and Montgomery Jones.

Les dents et dodo

BFMTV

Veterinary Clinical Podcasts

The Royal Veterinary College