Words Unravelled with RobWords and Jess Zafarris

Latest Episodes:

Why do Brits eat their entrees first? ? UK v US ENGLISH Mar 31, 2026

Show notes

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't we agree on whether to "have" or "take" a shower?
These questions answered, and many more, in another Words Unravelled.

Evan Edinger: https://www.youtube.com/evan
Lost in the Pond: https://www.youtube.com/lostinthepond

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👀 WATCH THIS EPISODE: https://youtu.be/IvWUmPs12UU

==LINKS==
Rob's YouTube channel: youtube.com/robwords
Jess' Useless Etymology blog: https://uselessetymology.com/
Rob on X: x.com/robwordsyt
Jess on TikTok: tiktok.com/@jesszafarris

Slurs and taboos with Professor John McWhorter Mar 11, 2026

Show notes

Rob and Jess are joined by the brilliant John McWhorter to discuss words you're not allowed to use. Professor McWhorter has written extensively about taboos, slurs and profanities and brings his unparalleled expertise on the English language.

🤬 Is "the R word" becoming even more taboo?
🤐 Are we "unaliving" our way to a new era of self-censorship?
🔄 Can a slur ever be truly "reclaimed"?

These questions answered, and many more, in a fascinatingly frank episode of Words Unravelled.

More about John: https://johnmcwhorter.org/
📕 Nine Nasty Words: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/624619/nine-nasty-words-by-john-mcwhorter/

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Watch this episode: https://youtu.be/6JYqGa_-UZE

What was Pepsi originally called? | BRAND NAME ORIGINS Mar 04, 2026

Show notes

What does IKEA mean? What language is Häagen-Dasz? Who came up with the name Adidas? Why is Danone spelled Dannon in the US? These questions answered, and many more, as Jess and Rob explore the origins of brand names.

Enjoy some more trademark word nerdery in this episode of Words Unravelled exploring Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Lego, Shell, ExxonMobil, Aldi and other famous product names.

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WATCH THIS EPISODE: https://youtu.be/7jPjtgg06L0

What does 'philosophy' even mean? | PHILOSOPHICAL WORDS Feb 25, 2026

Show notes

Jess and Rob are digging into the origins of the words behind some of history’s biggest ideas – from stoicism and cynicism to logic, ethics, and metaphysics. Along the way, they trace how ancient Greek schools of thought shaped the language we still use to argue, reason, and disagree today. Enjoy this particularly pensive episode of Words Unravelled.

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Why so many terms for 'doing it'? | SEX & LOVE Feb 18, 2026

Show notes

Jess and Rob are discussing "the shaking of the sheets". Join them to explore the origins of words for 'doing it' and a host of historic terms for firkytoodling, quiffing and dancing Moll Peatley's Jig. Welcome to a very sex episode of Words Unravelled.

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The words English forgot to invent | LEXICAL GAPS Feb 11, 2026

Show notes

Why doesn't English have a word for someone who is alive? Or a general term for your aunties and uncles? Should we bring back the word 'uhtceare' from Old English or steal 'Torschlusspanik' from German?

Rob and Jess answer these questions and more as they investigate the words that English has forgotten to invent. Join them to explore silly sniglets, outrageous orphaned negatives and untranslatable terms in another nerdy episode of Words Unravelled.

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Could something 'escalate' before the escalator? INVENTIONS Feb 04, 2026

Show notes

Is necessity the mother of invention? NO! Latin is, etymologically speaking. That's just one of many revelations as Jess and Rob investigates words for innovations.

🛗 Could you 'escalate' something before the escalator?
🍞 When was sliced bread actually invented?
🩹 What connects zippers, band aids and aspirin?

These questions answered – and many more – in another inventive episode of Words Unravelled.

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Does anyone know what 'London' means? | CITY NAME ORIGINS Jan 28, 2026

Show notes

Rob and Jess are touring the US and the UK in search of the most interesting city name origin stories.

💨 Does 'Chicago' have anything to do with wind?
🗽 Is New York actually named after York?
🚇 Does anyone know what 'London' means?
🏹 And what was Nottingham's hilarious old name?

Find out as we climb aboard the etymological city-hopper in another wordy, nerdy Words Unravelled.

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What does 'espionage' actually mean? | SECRETS & SPIES Jan 21, 2026

Show notes

Rob and Jess are going deep undercover to unearth the origins of words from the word of espionage.
🕵️‍♀️ What's the difference between a SPY, and ASSET, and an AGENT?
🔍 What does ESPIONAGE literally mean?
🇬🇧 Was there ever an MI4 as well MI5 and MI6?
These questions answered – and many more – in a supremely secretive episode of Words Unravelled.

🎥 Dr Geoff Lindsey's COVERT vid: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeHRN6GlNOs

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What did the first internet troll write? | TECH WORDS Jan 14, 2026

Show notes

Rob and Jess are talking tech! In this episode, they explore the linguistic origins of terms from technology, Sci-fi and the internet.
🧌 Who was the first internet troll?
🤖 What does 'robot' literally mean?
🔫 Does Jedi actually mean something?
⌨️ Are we pronouncing 'meme' correctly?
These questions answered, and a whole lot more, in an extra nerdy episode of Words Unravelled.

🚨ROBWORDS LIVE🚨
Ticket: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/bloomsbury-theatre/events/2026/apr/evening-etymology-rob-words

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