
Jess Zafarris and Rob Watts unravel the stories behind everyday words. Want to watch our episodes too? Subscribe to our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/channel/UC8R3ZnESMdsuTevq4ib9CvA
| Publishes | Weekly | Episodes | 84 | Founded | 2 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | Self-ImprovementSociety & CultureEducation | |||

Rob and Jess are touring the world and translating the names of popular foods.
🍝 What does "chow mein" mean?
👅 Which pasta is "little tongues"?
🌭 What is a Frankfurter called in Frankfurt?
These curious culinary questions answered, and many more, ... more
Rob and Jess explore the origins of common sayings in another episode dedicated to the stories behind idioms.
🐟 What was the first "red herring"?
🪿 Is there a goose in a "wild goose chase"?
👮 Why is prison called "up the river"?
Find the answers t... more
What's in a names? Jess and Rob are exploring why major cities are called what they're called and what their names literally mean.
🇩🇪 Why does BERLIN mean 'swamp'?
🇯🇵 Why are KYOTO and TOKYO anagrams?
🇿🇦 Who is the Johannes of Johannesburg?
T... more
Rob and Jess are engaged in another transatlantic war of words, pitting their British and American accents against one another.
🍽️ Why do Brits eat their entrees first?
👰🏽 Why do Americans pronounce "merry", "marry" and "Mary" the same?
🚿 Why can... more
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A comforting joy. It's like hearing very kind and smart friends chat over coffee (or tea).
Maybe it’s just the recent topics, but you seem to be injecting much more “politically correct” commentary than you used to = makes the show less entertaining
Like lake chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg (45 letters long) or hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia (38 letters long) or pseudopseudohypoparathyroidism (29 or 30 something letters) but this overall is the one of the best podcasts I have heard
This podcast is soo fun, I love learning about words! I was wondering about the word Zenzizenzizenzic it describes a number to the 8th power. Where did it come from and why don’t we use it anymore?
Thank you for helping rewrite my wee dyslexic brain, the English language is at it. All the best! - Sorry for the bad grammar, I’m working on it. x
Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.
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Apple Podcasts | #181 | |
Apple Podcasts | #230 |
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A thoughtful exploration of words, their origins, and how language shapes culture. Hosts Rob Watts and Jess Zafarris unravel etymology, branding, and linguistic quirks across a wide range of topics—from brand-name origins and city names to medical terms and idioms—often weaving humor with accessible explanations. Listeners can expect playful debates, deep dives into word histories, and plenty of practical takeaways for writers, marketers, educators, and curious word-lovers who enjoy learning why language evolves the way it does. A distinctive trait is the friendly dynamic between hosts and their cross-disciplinary angles, which makes complex terms feel approachable without sacrificing depth or wit.
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These podcasts share a similar audience with Words Unravelled:
1. Lateral with Tom Scott
2. A Problem Squared
3. No Such Thing As A Fish
4. The Numberphile Podcast
5. A Way with Words - language, linguistics, and callers from all over
Words Unravelled launched 2 years ago and published 84 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.
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Recent guests on Words Unravelled include:
1. John McWhorter
2. Joshua Blackburn
3. Mignon Fogarty
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