Épisodes

  • Which was the original 'football'? | SPORTS WORDS

    Which was the original 'football'? | SPORTS WORDS
    Nov 12 2025
    In this episode, Jess and Rob get sporty as they trace the origins of the words behind our favourite games.
    ⚾️ What is the word "sport" short for?
    🏉 Why does American "football" barely involve your feet?
    🏏 What do Brits mean when they say something "isn't cricket"?
    Expect Victorian public schools, Indigenous ball games, and a few linguistic own goals in another Words Unravelled.

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    👀WATCH THIS EPISODE: https://youtu.be/ClRqFWMR15Y
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    41 min
  • What does your name mean? | FIRST NAMES EXPLAINED

    What does your name mean? | FIRST NAMES EXPLAINED
    Nov 5 2025
    Rob and Jess are exploring the origins of first names.
    👩 Are all MARYS actually MIRIAMS?
    🕵️‍♀️ How can JAMES, IAGO and JACOB be the same?
    💡 What do ROBERT and JESSICA mean?
    These questions answered – and many more – in this nominally fascinating etymological exploration of why we're called what we're called. It's time for Words Unravelled!

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    WATCH THIS EPISODE: https://youtu.be/P7OrRqykwWc
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    43 min
  • Are pets called 'pets' because we pet them? | PET WORDS

    Are pets called 'pets' because we pet them? | PET WORDS
    Oct 29 2025
    In this episode, Rob and Jess dig into the origins of the words we use for our furry, feathered, and occasionally scaly companions.

    🐕 Where does the word 'dog' come from?
    🐈 What does 'cat' literally mean?
    🐹 Are guinea pigs even from Guinea?

    These questions answered, and many more, in this edition of Words Unravelled dedicated to our beloved pets.

    WATCH THIS EPISODE: https://youtu.be/_r2HMeiDhKA

    👕 OUR MERCH 👚
    US SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.com/
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    45 min
  • Can a hill be taller than a mountain? | GEOGRAPHY WORDS

    Can a hill be taller than a mountain? | GEOGRAPHY WORDS
    Oct 22 2025
    From mountain high to valley low, Rob Watts and Jess Zafarris are exploring the origins of geography words.

    🐻‍❄️ Why are the poles called 'poles'?
    🗻 What is the difference between a hill and a mountain?
    🧭 What do the points of the compass literally mean?

    These questions answered – and many more – in another worldly, wordy and nerdy episode of Words Unravelled.

    🎥 WATCH THIS EPISODE: https://youtu.be/0TTPpHUVL3Y

    👕 OUR MERCH 👚
    US SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.com/
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    40 min
  • 100 Word Facts... and Rob & Jess meet!

    100 Word Facts... and Rob & Jess meet!
    Oct 15 2025
    Internet word nerds RobWords and Jess Zafarris share 100 word facts. They met in person for the first time after Words Unravelled reached 100,000 subscribers on YouTube. Prepare for 49 minutes of pure linguistic geekery.

    🎥 WATCH THIS EPISODE: https://youtu.be/uPfbuo6iP6Y

    👕 OUR MERCH 👚
    US SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.com/
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    👂LISTEN: https://podfollow.com/words-unravelled-with-robwords-and-jess-zafarris
    or search for "Words Unravelled" wherever you get your podcasts.

    ==LINKS==
    Rob's YouTube channel: youtube.com/robwords
    Jess' Useless Etymology blog: https://uselessetymology.com/
    Rob on X: x.com/robwordsyt
    Jess on TikTok: tiktok.com/@jesszafarris
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    49 min
  • Who was the first to 'spill the beans'? | IDIOM ORIGINS

    Who was the first to 'spill the beans'? | IDIOM ORIGINS
    Sep 17 2025
    In this episode, Jess and Rob 'spill the beans' about all manner of food-related idioms.

    🍌 Why does 'going bananas' mean going mad?
    ☕️ Who is the Joe in a 'cup of Joe'?
    🍏 What did we compare apples to before oranges?
    🧅 What does it really mean to 'know your onions'?

    Answers to these questions and many more as we explore the origins of commons sayings in Words Unravelled.

    OTHER IDIOM EPISODES
    https://youtu.be/Fkf61-j8VmQ?si=3GWneox_uAN1NsXI
    https://youtu.be/ca3lz3dXgW8?si=9D_DE4-MiJ9jV5IK

    👕 OUR MERCH 👚
    US SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.com/
    EU/UK SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.net/

    🎥 WATCH THIS EPISODE: https://youtu.be/6Rr6qfIIapY

    ==LINKS==
    Rob's YouTube channel: youtube.com/robwords
    Jess' Useless Etymology blog: https://uselessetymology.com/
    Rob on X: x.com/robwordsyt
    Jess on TikTok: tiktok.com/@jesszafarris
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    44 min
  • Why are we saying 'Caesar' wrong? | TITLES & POWER

    Why are we saying 'Caesar' wrong? | TITLES & POWER
    Sep 10 2025
    In this episode, Rob and Jess take a right royal romp through the etymologies of eminent titles. They discuss the origins of words like "lord", "emperor", "queen" and a whole host of others:

    🏛️ How did Caesar become a title all over Europe?
    𓁏 What did 'pharaoh' mean to the ancient Egyptians?
    👑 What is the etymology of the word 'king'?
    🗳️ What is a 'timocracy' or a 'kakistocracy?

    These questions answered – and many more – in another Words Unravelled.

    👕 OUR MERCH 👚
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    🎥 WATCH THIS EPISODE: https://youtu.be/MrsqUCgXGBk
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    43 min
  • What does 'stegosaurus' literally mean? | DINOSAUR NAMES

    What does 'stegosaurus' literally mean? | DINOSAUR NAMES
    Sep 3 2025
    We’re digging into prehistoric word origins. In this episode, Jess and Rob unearth the literal meanings behind the names of the dinosaurs.

    🦖 What does Tyrannosaurus rex really mean?
    🦕 Why is Stegosaurus called the “roof lizard”?
    🐦 Are dinosaurs birds or lizards?
    🦴 Are dinosaur names Latin or Greek?

    These questions answered – and many more – in another monstrous episode of Words Unravelled.

    🌐 LINKS 🌐
    Charlie the Unicorn: https://youtu.be/CsGYh8AacgY?si=s0AwwpXqwB_1_GhX
    Rob's dinosaur video: https://youtu.be/7FOamlJf-28?si=sKbN6Bjw0s7LukG7

    👕 OUR MERCH 👚
    US SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.com/
    EU/UK SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.net/

    🎥 WATCH THIS EPISODE: https://youtu.be/y0Bv7Rt2L54
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    42 min