Skip to main content

Up Next

What's the Longest Word?

What's the Longest Word?

Season 1 Episode 2
6:59
Popular Words Invented by Authors

Popular Words Invented by Authors

Season 1 Episode 5
7:21
Otherwords Season 1

60 Euphemisms for Death!

Season 1 Episode 6
7:11
Is Swearing Good for Your Brain?

Is Swearing Good for Your Brain?

Season 2 Episode 1
6:08
How Do Clichés Evolve into Memes?

How Do Clichés Evolve into Memes?

Season 2 Episode 2
6:19
A Controversial Theory About Gossip

A Controversial Theory About Gossip

Season 2 Episode 5
7:24
Foreign Words We Need in English

Foreign Words We Need in English

Season 2 Episode 6
7:00
Is Bilingualism a Superpower?

Is Bilingualism a Superpower?

Season 2 Episode 7
9:41
Back to Show
Otherwords

The Unexpected Origins of the Word ‘Monster’

Season 1 Episode 1

Words don't pop up fully formed... they evolve over thousands of years. What can we learn about our relationship to monsters by tracking the word down into the distant past?

Support Provided By
Season
Is Bluey Giving Your Kid Australian Accent
6:21
Children are sponges for language acquisition. Which leads us to ask the question: how much does TV
Is English a Creole?
6:51
We already know that English borrows from everybody, but can it be considered a Creole language?
A Brief History of the Reading Wars?
8:35
How do you teach children to read? This question is at the heart of a decades-long battle.
Why Is English Awash in Sailors Jargon?
8:11
The English language is chock full of sailing jargon but why is that?
Is Body Language Really A Language?
8:58
How do we communicate without words? With our bodies. Body language!
How Cult Leaders Use Language
10:58
What is the best tool for cult leaders to control other people? It’s the power of language.
Why Do Some Names Fall Out of Fashion
7:14
Headlines have sprung up all over declaring that the Southern American dialect is on its way out.
Why Do We Use Cringey Words for Loved Ones?
9:11
Why do we use such unusual words for the people we love?
Is the Southern Accent Disappearing?
7:33
Let’s dig deep and find out why certain names simply fall out of fashion.
Why Do These Words Get Mispronounced So Much?
8:32
There are many words you say incorrectly but don’t know you are saying incorrectly.
How Language Nerds Solve Crimes
8:59
Linguists use language everyday to solve crimes. Let’s take a look the most famous ones!
The Most Extreme Place Names
7:11
Join us as we find out how certain places got their names.
Active loading indicator