RobWords

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-theatre/events/2026/apr/r…

2 weeks ago | [YT] | 694

RobWords

Hit me with your English history and etymology questions and I'll make a video answering a few of them.

1 month ago | [YT] | 613

RobWords

WORD NERDS ASSEMBLE! RobWords Live is happening.

Join me for an evening of etymology at London's Bloomsbury Theatre on 11th April, 2026.

I'm immensely excited about this.

TICKETS: www.ucl.ac.uk/bloomsbury-theatre/events/2026/apr/e…

1 month ago | [YT] | 841

RobWords

HELP ME OUT

I’m hunting for stories of English words that were born in a specific places. Do you live somewhere that lays claim to such a word?

I'm looking for stuff like:
- Words that passed into English from another local language
- Local slang that is now used across the English-speaking world
- Words from the names of local people/places/businesses
- Words that were coined for a specific local purpose

I'm particularly interested in stories from North America, but open to words from elsewhere too.

What have you got?

3 months ago | [YT] | 1,136

RobWords

HAVE YOU FALLEN VICTIM?

A bug on my website means a lot of signups to my wordy nerdy newsletter over the past couple of months didn't go through.

If you thought you'd subscribed, but haven't been getting your weekly email [crammed full of fabulous word facts and language fun], this is why.

I've fixed it now, so please do sign up again. It takes just a couple seconds: robwords.com/newsletter

5 months ago | [YT] | 728

RobWords

BOAST INCOMING – My wordy nerdy podcast with the brilliant Jess Zafarris, WORDS UNRAVELLED, has been nominated for the British Podcast Award for Best New Podcast!

We're also in the running for the Listeners' Choice Award, so if you fancy doing me a favour you can vote for us here: www.britishpodcastawards.com/voting

‼️NOTE: The voting site is... quirky. Search for 'Words Unravelled' or 'RobWords' and we'll come up. It only works if you use full words 🤷

Apparently we're somewhere in the top 20, so every vote helps!

Cheers,
Rob

5 months ago (edited) | [YT] | 306

RobWords

You can often swap the É at the start of a French word with an S and get closer to the English equivalent:

🇫🇷 État 🇬🇧 State
🇫🇷 Étude 🇬🇧 Study
🇫🇷 Étrange 🇬🇧 Strange
🇫🇷 Écoute 🇬🇧 Scout (seriously, they're related)
🇫🇷 Écureuil 🇬🇧 Squirrel (my favourite)
🇫🇷 Écume 🇬🇧 Scum (my least favourite)

Likewise, popping an S after a French letter with a circumflex (^) on it does the same.
🇫🇷 Forêt 🇬🇧 Forest
🇫🇷 Hôpital 🇬🇧 Hospital
🇫🇷 Bête 🇬🇧 Beast
🇫🇷 Côte 🇬🇧 Coast

If understanding the enormous French influence on English is your "sac" (...bag) check out my latest video with fellow word nerd Jess Zafarris on our ‪@WordsUnravelled‬ channel.

7 months ago | [YT] | 346

RobWords

My latest video was a labour of love, inspired by my own teeny tiny daughter.

I spoke to experts about how babies – and therefore all of us – learn to speak. The process is little short of miraculous, so please do give it a watch.

And why not share it with any new parents you know? I made it with them in mind.


Rob

7 months ago | [YT] | 511

RobWords

Has anyone ever told you what your first word was?

Can you remember the first words of your children?

If so, I'd be fascinated to hear from you – even if it was something apparently mundane like "mama" or "papa". Drop me a comment below.

Words in other languages are also welcome.

Cheers,
Rob

8 months ago | [YT] | 787

RobWords

THANK YOU

If you voted in my polls or suggested your own ugly and beautiful words, thank you.

Here's my video setting out the results.


If you made a suggestion, perhaps it gets a mention!

8 months ago | [YT] | 422