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
Episodes
September 17, 2025 โข 44 mins
In this episode, Jess and Rob 'spill the beans' about all manner of food-related idioms.
๐ Why does 'going bananas' mean going mad?
โ๏ธ Who is the Joe in a 'cup of Joe'?
๐ What did we compare apples to before oranges?
๐ง 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 EP...
๐ Why does 'going bananas' mean going mad?
โ๏ธ Who is the Joe in a 'cup of Joe'?
๐ What did we compare apples to before oranges?
๐ง 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 EP...
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September 10, 2025 โข 43 mins
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:
๐๏ธ How did Caesar become a title all over Europe?
๐ What did 'pharaoh' mean to the ancient Egyptians?
๐ย What is the etymology of the word 'king'?
๐ณ๏ธ What is a 'timocracy' or a 'kakistocracy?
These questio...
๐๏ธ How did Caesar become a title all over Europe?
๐ What did 'pharaoh' mean to the ancient Egyptians?
๐ย What is the etymology of the word 'king'?
๐ณ๏ธ What is a 'timocracy' or a 'kakistocracy?
These questio...
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September 3, 2025 โข 41 mins
Weโre digging into prehistoric word origins. In this episode, Jess and Rob unearth the literal meanings behind the names of the dinosaurs.
๐ฆ What does Tyrannosaurus rex really mean?
๐ฆ Why is Stegosaurus called the โroof lizardโ?
๐ฆ Are dinosaurs birds or lizards?
๐ฆด Are dinosaur names Latin or Greek?
These questions answered โ and many more โ in another monstrous episode of Words Unravelled.
...
๐ฆ What does Tyrannosaurus rex really mean?
๐ฆ Why is Stegosaurus called the โroof lizardโ?
๐ฆ Are dinosaurs birds or lizards?
๐ฆด Are dinosaur names Latin or Greek?
These questions answered โ and many more โ in another monstrous episode of Words Unravelled.
...
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August 27, 2025 โข 42 mins
We're taking a world tour of word origins. In this episode, Jess and Rob discuss how a multitude of countries got their names.
๐บ๐ธ Where was the original "America"?
๐ฌ๐ง Why is Britain called "Great"?
๐จ๐ฆ What does "Canada" mean?
๐ฉ๐ช Why do the Germans call themselves "Dutch"?
These questions answered โ and many more โ in another worldly wise episode of Words Unravelled.
๐ LINKS ๐
๐บ๐ธ Where was the original "America"?
๐ฌ๐ง Why is Britain called "Great"?
๐จ๐ฆ What does "Canada" mean?
๐ฉ๐ช Why do the Germans call themselves "Dutch"?
These questions answered โ and many more โ in another worldly wise episode of Words Unravelled.
๐ LINKS ๐
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August 20, 2025 โข 45 mins
BREAKING: Rob and Jess uncover news clichรฉs and weird journalistic words.ย
๐บ Why do TV news anchors talk in that strange way?
๐๏ธ Why do newspaper journalists spell lead as "lede"?
๐ค Why do journalists use clichรฉs like "on the rise"?
๐ What is a "knobbly monster"?
These questions answered โ and many more โ in another hot-off-the-press episode of Words Unravelled.
๐ OUR MERCH ๐
US...
๐บ Why do TV news anchors talk in that strange way?
๐๏ธ Why do newspaper journalists spell lead as "lede"?
๐ค Why do journalists use clichรฉs like "on the rise"?
๐ What is a "knobbly monster"?
These questions answered โ and many more โ in another hot-off-the-press episode of Words Unravelled.
๐ OUR MERCH ๐
US...
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August 13, 2025 โข 43 mins
Samuel Johnson's 1755 dictionary was one heck of an achievement. But it is also far from perfect. In this episode, Jess and Rob discuss some of the more amusing entries within its pages, and even the words that landed dear Samuel in hot water. Enjoy this cover-to-cover exploration of English's most important dictionary and the extraordinary man who wrote it.
๐ OUR MERCH ๐
US SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.mys...
๐ OUR MERCH ๐
US SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.mys...
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August 6, 2025 โข 47 mins
Welcome aboard flight WU321 bound for Etymology Island. In this episode, Rob and Jess take to the skies and soar through the word origins of a multitude of aviation terms.
โ๏ธ Is it an 'airplane' or an 'aeroplane'?
๐ Why do pilots sit in a 'cockpit'?
๐ฉ๏ธ Why is English the language of aviation?
๐ How did the NATO alphabet come to be?
These questions answered โ and many more โ in a high-flying epi...
โ๏ธ Is it an 'airplane' or an 'aeroplane'?
๐ Why do pilots sit in a 'cockpit'?
๐ฉ๏ธ Why is English the language of aviation?
๐ How did the NATO alphabet come to be?
These questions answered โ and many more โ in a high-flying epi...
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July 30, 2025 โข 50 mins
In for a penny, in for a pound: Rob and Jess discuss money word origins in this episode of Words Unravelled.
๐ฐ Where did the dollar sign come from?
๐ท What is the British currency a pound of?
๐ค Which goddess is all money named after?
These questions answered โ and many more โ in another financially sound episode of Words Unravelled.
๐ VOTE FOR US ๐
The British Podcast Awards listeners...
๐ฐ Where did the dollar sign come from?
๐ท What is the British currency a pound of?
๐ค Which goddess is all money named after?
These questions answered โ and many more โ in another financially sound episode of Words Unravelled.
๐ VOTE FOR US ๐
The British Podcast Awards listeners...
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July 23, 2025 โข 43 mins
Jess and Rob have got their heads in the clouds, exploring the origins of our words for weather.
โ๏ธ Why don't meteorologists deal with meteors?
โ๏ธ How are we using the wrong word for 'cloud'?
โ๏ธ What was the original 'raincheck'?
๐คฌ Why does Jess hate the word 'petrichor'?
These questions answered, and many more, in this etymological meteorological episode of Words Unravelled.
๐ LINKS ๐...
โ๏ธ Why don't meteorologists deal with meteors?
โ๏ธ How are we using the wrong word for 'cloud'?
โ๏ธ What was the original 'raincheck'?
๐คฌ Why does Jess hate the word 'petrichor'?
These questions answered, and many more, in this etymological meteorological episode of Words Unravelled.
๐ LINKS ๐...
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July 16, 2025 โข 45 mins
Is it "on accident" or "by accident"? Should "red, white, and blue" have that second comma? Is "10 items or less" okay? Jess and Rob are joined by the internet's Grammar Girl, Mignon Fogarty, to examine some common grammatical myths and mistakes.
๐ฅณ Is it wrong to use "fun" as an adjective?
๐๏ธ Is "drive SLOW" bad grammar? (or just a flat adverb?)
๐ฅ Why does "tonic and gin" sound weird?
These questio...
๐ฅณ Is it wrong to use "fun" as an adjective?
๐๏ธ Is "drive SLOW" bad grammar? (or just a flat adverb?)
๐ฅ Why does "tonic and gin" sound weird?
These questio...
Mark as Played
June 25, 2025 โข 48 mins
Bienvenue dans cet รฉpisode de "Mot Dรฉcortiquรฉ"! Rob and Jess are exploring the enormous influence French has had on the English language.ย
๐What proportion of English words are French?
๐ฅฉWhy do our meats have French names?
๐ซ๐ทWhich words have we borrowed from French twice?
These questions answered and many, many more in another merveilleux, fabuleux Words Unravelled.
๐ OUR MERCH ๐
US SHOP: http...
๐What proportion of English words are French?
๐ฅฉWhy do our meats have French names?
๐ซ๐ทWhich words have we borrowed from French twice?
These questions answered and many, many more in another merveilleux, fabuleux Words Unravelled.
๐ OUR MERCH ๐
US SHOP: http...
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June 18, 2025 โข 41 mins
Jess and Rob present a brief history of time words in an episode filled with chronological etymology.
โ๏ธ How did "seconds" get their name?
๐ฐ๏ธ What does "clock" literally mean?
๐ซ๐ท How did France's decimal calendar work?
These questions answered โ and so many more โ in this timely episode of Words Unravelled.
Our mythology episode: https://youtu.be/b8s2uxWrMhQ?si=G--tQQwAj9mKHk-S
๐...
โ๏ธ How did "seconds" get their name?
๐ฐ๏ธ What does "clock" literally mean?
๐ซ๐ท How did France's decimal calendar work?
These questions answered โ and so many more โ in this timely episode of Words Unravelled.
Our mythology episode: https://youtu.be/b8s2uxWrMhQ?si=G--tQQwAj9mKHk-S
๐...
Mark as Played
June 11, 2025 โข 46 mins
Lights, camera, action! Rob and Jess are discussing movie and TV terms in this filmic episode of Words Unravelled.
๐ฅ Why do Brits call movies "films"?
๐คท๐ผโโ๏ธ Why has Allen Smithee directed so many terrible movies?
๐ Why is there a "dead cat" on every Hollywood set?
These questions answered, and many more, in this episode crammed with film and television etymology.
๐ OUR MERCH ๐
US SHOP: https:...
๐ฅ Why do Brits call movies "films"?
๐คท๐ผโโ๏ธ Why has Allen Smithee directed so many terrible movies?
๐ Why is there a "dead cat" on every Hollywood set?
These questions answered, and many more, in this episode crammed with film and television etymology.
๐ OUR MERCH ๐
US SHOP: https:...
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June 4, 2025 โข 41 mins
Time for some entomology etymology! Rob and Jess will have you in bits as they explore the literal meaning of "insect" and all manner of other term for creepy crawly.
๐ท๏ธ Why do spiders spin "cobwebs"?
๐ฆ Was a butterfly ever a "flutterby"?
๐ Which is older, "ladybug" or "ladybird"?
These questions answered, and many more, a critter-crammed episode of Words Unravelled.
๐ OUR MERCH ๐
US...
๐ท๏ธ Why do spiders spin "cobwebs"?
๐ฆ Was a butterfly ever a "flutterby"?
๐ Which is older, "ladybug" or "ladybird"?
These questions answered, and many more, a critter-crammed episode of Words Unravelled.
๐ OUR MERCH ๐
US...
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May 28, 2025 โข 39 mins
Holy heck! Rob and Jess are back with an episode of biblical proportions. Join them as they get to the gospel truth about the origins of religious words.
โช๏ธ What was kept in the very first chapel?
๐ฆ Which animal was the original behemoth?
๐๏ธ Where does the word "conclave" come from?
These questions answered โ and many more โ in another Words Unravelled.
๐ OUR MERCH ๐
US SHOP: https://wordsunrav...
โช๏ธ What was kept in the very first chapel?
๐ฆ Which animal was the original behemoth?
๐๏ธ Where does the word "conclave" come from?
These questions answered โ and many more โ in another Words Unravelled.
๐ OUR MERCH ๐
US SHOP: https://wordsunrav...
Mark as Played
May 21, 2025 โข 39 mins
Jess and Rob are unravelling the origins of our words for fabric and clothing in this highly fashionable episode of Words Unravelled.
๐ฉฒ Why do 'pants' mean different things in the UK and US?
๐ Which city are your jeans named after?
๐ชถ What's flappy about a 'flapper girl'?
โ๏ธ Is 'nylon' really named after New York and London?
These questions answered, and many more, in our most unravelly episode ...
๐ฉฒ Why do 'pants' mean different things in the UK and US?
๐ Which city are your jeans named after?
๐ชถ What's flappy about a 'flapper girl'?
โ๏ธ Is 'nylon' really named after New York and London?
These questions answered, and many more, in our most unravelly episode ...
Mark as Played
May 14, 2025 โข 43 mins
It's time to hit the road with Rob and Jess as they journey through the origins of words from road and rail.
๐ Why do Brits say "transport" and Americans "transportation"?
๐ What's the difference between a train and a locomotive?
๐ How do you actually pronounce Hyundai?
These questions answered โ and many more โ in this transport[ation] special of Words Unravelled.
๐ OUR MERCH ๐
US SHOP: https...
๐ Why do Brits say "transport" and Americans "transportation"?
๐ What's the difference between a train and a locomotive?
๐ How do you actually pronounce Hyundai?
These questions answered โ and many more โ in this transport[ation] special of Words Unravelled.
๐ OUR MERCH ๐
US SHOP: https...
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May 7, 2025 โข 50 mins
Rob and Jess "pull out all the stops" in this episode explaining idiom origins.ย
โ๏ธ Why do we say "balls to the wall" and "push the envelope"?ย
๐ What's so useless about a "white elephant"?ย
๐ 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 ...
โ๏ธ Why do we say "balls to the wall" and "push the envelope"?ย
๐ What's so useless about a "white elephant"?ย
๐ 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 ...
Mark as Played
April 30, 2025 โข 47 mins
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.ย
Our previous ๐บ๐ธ vs. ๐ฌ๐ง episode
๐บ https://youtu.be/o6KlBd7TPFI?si=EHmBIMV3PatoSQi9
๐ https://pod.fo/e/240f60
๐ OUR MERCH ๏ฟฝ...
For our new Channel Memberships click "Join" just below the video.ย
Our previous ๐บ๐ธ vs. ๐ฌ๐ง episode
๐บ https://youtu.be/o6KlBd7TPFI?si=EHmBIMV3PatoSQi9
๐ https://pod.fo/e/240f60
๐ OUR MERCH ๏ฟฝ...
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April 23, 2025 โข 33 mins
We're back for a new ๐ฌ๐งseries/๐บ๐ธseason of Words Unravelled. In this episode, transatlantic word nerds Rob and Jess tackle the truth and lies surrounding Williams Shakespeare.
โ๏ธ Did the Bard really invent 1,700 words?
๐คฌ Which insults did Willy give us?
๐ญ Could he actually have written all of those plays?
These questions answered and many more, just As You Like It.
๐ OUR MERCH ๐
US SHOP: htt...
โ๏ธ Did the Bard really invent 1,700 words?
๐คฌ Which insults did Willy give us?
๐ญ Could he actually have written all of those plays?
These questions answered and many more, just As You Like It.
๐ OUR MERCH ๐
US SHOP: htt...
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