I wouldn't normally touch this kind of opportunity with a bargepole, but the personal touch has got me tempted.

It's worrying that I just allowed this man to feed me. The perils of filming at a Berlin market. From my new video about contronyms, here: youtu.be/wopcJoJIoJE?...

On Words Unravelled, @jesszafarris.com and I discussed the origins of "to beat around the bush". It relates to the practice of shaking a bush in order to scare animals out into the open (in order to shoot them), and I've just stumbled across this vivid reference of the process from 1672.

Today we shall make much ado of the anniversary of the birth of a true giant of the English language; measure for measure, one of the greatest ever to wield the pen. Happy Birthday @jesszafarris.com. I hope you have a day just as you like it.

Dærick's beautiful (and occasionally hilarious) artwork was essential.

The first ever RobWords Live shows were an absolute blast. Thank you so much if you were among the hundreds of word nerds who made me feel so welcome in London.

I doubt I'll find anything better suited to my ears than @susiedentwords.bsky.social on @footballcliches.bsky.social Click below to enjoy a bit of both. pod.fo/e/3c0889

As of today, RobWords is now on the streaming platform Nebula! Subscribers can access ad-free versions of my videos and other goodies, as well as those of hundreds of other creators. My fancy link gives a big old discount, too: go.nebula.tv/robwords

We have the linguistic titan that is John McWhorter on Words Unravelled this week. We discussed profanities, slurs and taboos. Don't be a $^£%#! Give it a watch: youtu.be/6JYqGa_-UZE

The Old English word for 'grapes' was adorable. My latest newsletter: open.substack.com/pub/robwords...

Dærick was already a top-level human, but now he's a fashionable one.

Just read "evergreen" used as a verb. Nope.

English is crawling with goats. My latest newsletter: substack.com/@robwords/no...

Why is “passenger”, not “passager”? Why can you you “overwhelmed” but not “whelmed”? Why did William the Conqueror spell his first name with a P? Just some of the clever viewer questions I’ve attempted to answer in my latest video: youtu.be/RPgY-jA05YA

Unfortunate frame from my next video.

Do I know any illustrators on here who might like to help me draw something a bit silly?

New Podcast! FATE OF THE ARTS, Episode 3 It was great to meet @robwords.bsky.social and discuss all manner of word nerdery — as well as the ins and outs of running a successful YouTube channel and what the future of the platform holds. Listen here: anthonyetherin.substack.com/p/fate-of-th...

I'm not above shaming someone for a 400-year-old typo. The editor of the English edition of Mercator's first "Atlas" really should have picked this one up.

The Greene Door Project is back! We are delighted to be reopening our Greene Door mentoring scheme for writers from underrepresented backgrounds. Closing 27th March 2026 📗🚪 More details on how to apply can be found on our website: greeneheaton.co.uk/the-greene-d...

I still have no idea 🤷

Blimey! We've had to add another performance to RobWords Live. If you can be in London on April 11th, do come and join me for a couple of hours of etymology and word nerdery. Tickets here: www.ucl.ac.uk/bloomsbury-t...

Could not have plugged it better myself, Josh. Great to be back!

What accent would a talking monkey have? That's one question answered in my latest video exploring the language of the animal kingdom. Do please give it a watch: youtu.be/pjLmIpOGNXA?...

If you’re looking for some gentle Christmas viewing, here’s @jesszafarris.bsky.social and me going through some festive word origins: youtu.be/9A0hAxeFyo4

I am tremendously excited about this. Join me for evening of word-nerdery at London's Bloomsbury Theatre. Tickets just went on sale here: www.ucl.ac.uk/bloomsbury-t...

Some very literal German names for animals. From my latest newsletter: open.substack.com/pub/robwords...

Wait, what? From 1586.

@colmoregan.bsky.social Colm! I'm excitedly awaiting a copy of Galivanting with Words, but are there any plans for an audiobook? I fear the dorky English voice in my head is going to make a hash of the words.

I've just published another newsletter brimming with wordy nerdy curiosities. Did you know there's a word for "shaped like a turnip"? Read the whole thing for free below.

What’s turkey got to do with the country of Turkey? Why doesn’t the bird have a Native American name since it’s indigenous to the Americas? @robwords.bsky.social has your answers in this deep dive into the etymology of the word “turkey”. www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJJs...

English has Germanic DNA, but with most of its words having been pilfered from French and Latin, is it still technically a Germanic language? @jesszafarris.bsky.social and I put that question to bed in the latest episode of Words Unravelled. youtu.be/DSD_kMu1INk?...

Watching James Lewis pick up charming bits and bobs at a French market is immensely relaxing. youtu.be/YT-dNGbH0lA?...

And Mr. Hieber's newsletter is a must for updates and thoughtful commentary from the world of linguistics. I never miss it. Here: LinguisticDiscovery.Substack.com

The first 'satellite' was neither an orbiting space gizmo nor a hunk of cosmic rock. It was a person. Read about it in my latest newsletter:

This handsome pair interrupted filming this afternoon. The theme of the video? The origin of the word 'dog'.

Who's on Substack? I've just started publishing my wordy nerdy newsletter and other bits and bobs over there. There are 10 editions for you to read already. Come join me: substack.com/@robwords

Give me 10 seconds of your time and I'll tell you the origins of our days of the week. youtube.com/shorts/JVQfU...

Did you know that "noon" never used to be at 12? Or that a "second" is actually the second of something? These are just a couple of the revelations in my latest wordy nerdy video. Do please give it a watch: youtu.be/TK-8gfqmFNo?...

Picked up something special on my way through London. Courtesy of @jayforeman.bsky.social & @markcooperjones.bsky.social

3 years ago, I shook the military establishment to its core by rearranging its ranks by literal meaning. It was great news for captains ("heads") but miserable for field marshals ("horse servants"). Now @jonnelledge.bsky.social has taken on the subject: open.substack.com/pub/jonn/p/h...

On today's episode of Words Unravelled, @robwords.bsky.social and I celebrated 100K YouTube subscribers ✨ in person ✨ with 100 quick-fire word facts. Thank you to everyone who tunes in each week, and major thanks to our editor @martynmnw.bsky.social. Check it out: www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPfb...

The NATO Phonetic Alphabet (ALFA, BRAVO, CHARLIE etc.) is neither a phonetic alphabet, nor a product of NATO. I've sifted through loads of old documents to find its true origins and, OSCAR MIKE GOLF, is it fascinating. Check out my video here (2 million people already have!): youtu.be/UAT-eOzeY4M

THE PRINTING PRESS (Palindrome) Repaper: I snap, my tone placid. A rare vellum knits art, no coil of fires.... Midst no felt tome, we gape, we gage, we page, we mottle fonts. Dim serif, folio, contrast, ink, mull ever a radical pen.... O, tympans! I repaper.

"If you like, I will hot it." I'm going to enjoy watching Daniel read this silly, silly book.

W[h]AT [p)SYC[h]O DESI[g]NED OUR TONG[ue]?? English has a major silent letter problem. How did it end up this way? Wa[t]ch my new video to find out: youtu.be/NXVqZpHY5R8

SPOILER: Yours truly.

Word Unravelled just hit 100k subscribers on YouTube! For such a geeky little channel, that is fabulous. Thank you if you subscribed. And thanks to @jesszafarris.bsky.social & @martynmnw.bsky.social for making it all so fun.

As of last week, Words Unravelled was BOTH a finalist for Best New Podcast in the British Podcast Awards AND ranked among the Top 10 for Listeners' Choice! Big thanks to everyone who voted, and if you haven't, @robwords.bsky.social, @martynmnw.bsky.social and I would be mighty grateful if you did.

This video has a million views now, which is just silly.

We’re doing another idiom-themed episode of Words Unravelled, and I would love suggestions for terms to research.