Words Unravelled with RobWords and Jess Zafarris podcast

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] (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8R3ZnESMdsuTevq4ib9CvA)

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] (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8R3ZnESMdsuTevq4ib9CvA)

 

#69

Why do we say 'bury the hatchet'? | SAYINGS EXPLAINED

In this episode, Rob and Jess explore the stories behind a host of common sayings. 🪓 Does... more

10 Dec 2025

43 MINS

43:18

10 Dec 2025


#68

Vulgar language and criminal slang

This episode of Words Unravelled is not for the easily offended, as Rob and Jess explore d... more

03 Dec 2025

42 MINS

42:17

03 Dec 2025


#67

Is English a Germanic language?

It's sometimes said that English has taken on so many Latin and French words that it is no... more

26 Nov 2025

47 MINS

47:01

26 Nov 2025


#66

Getting quizzed on the quirks of English (with Joshua Blackburn)

What is the Baader-Meinhof effect? How many quotes are wrongly attributed to Churchill? Wh... more

19 Nov 2025

39 MINS

39:32

19 Nov 2025


#65

Which was the original 'football'? | SPORTS WORDS

In this episode, Jess and Rob get sporty as they trace the origins of the words behind our... more

12 Nov 2025

40 MINS

40:56

12 Nov 2025


#64

What does your name mean? | FIRST NAMES EXPLAINED

Rob and Jess are exploring the origins of first names.  👩 Are all MARYS actually MIRIAMS?... more

05 Nov 2025

42 MINS

42:32

05 Nov 2025


#63

Are pets called 'pets' because we pet them? | PET WORDS

In this episode, Rob and Jess dig into the origins of the words we use for our furry, feat... more

29 Oct 2025

44 MINS

44:34

29 Oct 2025


#62

Can a hill be taller than a mountain? | GEOGRAPHY WORDS

From mountain high to valley low, Rob Watts and Jess Zafarris are exploring the origins of... more

22 Oct 2025

39 MINS

39:54

22 Oct 2025


#61

100 Word Facts... and Rob & Jess meet!

Internet word nerds RobWords and Jess Zafarris share 100 word facts. They met in person fo... more

15 Oct 2025

49 MINS

49:03

15 Oct 2025


#60

Who was the first to 'spill the beans'? | IDIOM ORIGINS

In this episode, Jess and Rob 'spill the beans' about all manner of food-related idioms. �... more

17 Sep 2025

44 MINS

44:25

17 Sep 2025


#59

Why are we saying 'Caesar' wrong? | TITLES & POWER

In this episode, Rob and Jess take a right royal romp through the etymologies of eminent t... more

10 Sep 2025

43 MINS

43:17

10 Sep 2025


#58

What does 'stegosaurus' literally mean? | DINOSAUR NAMES

We’re digging into prehistoric word origins. In this episode, Jess and Rob unearth the lit... more

03 Sep 2025

41 MINS

41:43

03 Sep 2025


#57

Why is England called 'England'? | COUNTRY NAME ORIGINS

We're taking a world tour of word origins. In this episode, Jess and Rob discuss how a mul... more

27 Aug 2025

42 MINS

42:51

27 Aug 2025


#56

Why do news anchors talk like that? | JOURNALESE

BREAKING: Rob and Jess uncover news clichés and weird journalistic words.  📺 Why do TV ne... more

20 Aug 2025

45 MINS

45:43

20 Aug 2025


#55

How could one man write a dictionary? | SAMUEL JOHNSON

Samuel Johnson's 1755 dictionary was one heck of an achievement. But it is also far from p... more

13 Aug 2025

43 MINS

43:05

13 Aug 2025


#54

Why do pilots sit in a 'cockpit'? | AVIATION WORDS

Welcome aboard flight WU321 bound for Etymology Island. In this episode, Rob and Jess take... more

06 Aug 2025

47 MINS

47:23

06 Aug 2025


#53

How did currencies get their names? | MONEY WORDS

In for a penny, in for a pound: Rob and Jess discuss money word origins in this episode of... more

30 Jul 2025

50 MINS

50:31

30 Jul 2025


#52

Does English use the wrong word for clouds? | WEATHER WORDS

Jess and Rob have got their heads in the clouds, exploring the origins of our words for we... more

23 Jul 2025

43 MINS

43:10

23 Jul 2025


#51

Exposing grammar myths and mistakes with Grammar Girl

Is it "on accident" or "by accident"? Should "red, white, and blue" have that second comma... more

16 Jul 2025

45 MINS

45:25

16 Jul 2025


#50

Why is English full of French words?

Bienvenue dans cet épisode de "Mot Décortiqué"! Rob and Jess are exploring the enormous in... more

25 Jun 2025

48 MINS

48:46

25 Jun 2025


#49

Precisely how long is a 'moment'? | TIME WORDS

Jess and Rob present a brief history of time words in an episode filled with chronological... more

18 Jun 2025

41 MINS

41:26

18 Jun 2025


#48

What was the original "blockbuster"? | MOVIE WORDS

Lights, camera, action! Rob and Jess are discussing movie and TV terms in this filmic epis... more

11 Jun 2025

46 MINS

46:28

11 Jun 2025


#47

How can you tell a bug from a beetle? | ENTOMOLOGY ETYMOLOGY

Time for some entomology etymology! Rob and Jess will have you in bits as they explore the... more

04 Jun 2025

41 MINS

41:59

04 Jun 2025


#46

Why is the Pope "the daddy"? | HOLY WORDS

Holy heck! Rob and Jess are back with an episode of biblical proportions. Join them as the... more

28 May 2025

39 MINS

39:52

28 May 2025


#45

Why do Brits think 'pants' are underwear? | CLOTHING WORDS

Jess and Rob are unravelling the origins of our words for fabric and clothing in this high... more

21 May 2025

39 MINS

39:03

21 May 2025


#44

Why is there an N in "passenger"? | TRANSPORTATION

It's time to hit the road with Rob and Jess as they journey through the origins of words f... more

14 May 2025

43 MINS

43:26

14 May 2025


#43

Why were hatters mad? | IDIOM ORIGINS

Rob and Jess "pull out all the stops" in this episode explaining idiom origins.  ✈️ Why do... more

07 May 2025

50 MINS

50:01

07 May 2025


#42

Is it a restroom or a loo? | UK v. US English

Let's explore British English and American English. In another transatlantic war of words,... more

30 Apr 2025

47 MINS

47:51

30 Apr 2025


#41

Did Shakespeare write all his plays? | THE BARD

We're back for a new 🇬🇧series/🇺🇸season of Words Unravelled. In this episode, transatla... more

23 Apr 2025

33 MINS

33:25

23 Apr 2025