Words Unravelled with RobWords and Jess Zafarris

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Latest Episodes:

What is the 'Nocebo Effect'? | MEDICAL TERMS EXPLAINED Jan 07, 2026

Show notes

Rob and Jess are taking a surgical look at words from the world of medicine.
💊 What is the Nocebo Effect?
🩺 Are doctors named after leeches (or the other way round)?
🚑 What does "ambulance" literally mean?
These questions answered, and many more, in another wordy nerdy episode of Words Unravelled.

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What does 'chupacabra' literally mean? | CRYPTIDS & MYTHICAL BEASTS Dec 17, 2025

Show notes

Jess and Rob are exploring the etymological origins of mythical beasts and cryptids.
🐺 What does "Chupacabra" mean?
🦑 Why are we getting the name "Kraken" wrong?
🐉 What animal was the original "dragon"?
These questions answered – and many more besides – in another Words Unravelled.
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Why do we say 'bury the hatchet'? | SAYINGS EXPLAINED Dec 10, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, Rob and Jess explore the stories behind a host of common sayings.
🪓 Does anyone actually 'bury the hatchet'?
😈 Was there ever a 'devil's advocate'?
🔫 What is a 'son of a gun'?
🪶 Why would you have a 'feather in your cap'?
These questions answered – and many more – in another idioms episode of Words Unravelled.
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WATCH THIS EPISODE: https://youtu.be/d2q4bBjWmtI

Vulgar language and criminal slang Dec 03, 2025

Show notes

This episode of Words Unravelled is not for the easily offended, as Rob and Jess explore dictionaries dedicated to underground slang.
Focusing first on Francis Grose's 'Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue', our hosts pick out some of the rudest, meanest and funniest words recorded in 18th century London.
They also discuss other attempts to document the everyday talk of the criminal classes, and take a special look at London's 20th century 'gay language', Polari.
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Is English a Germanic language? Nov 26, 2025

Show notes

It's sometimes said that English has taken on so many Latin and French words that it is now a Romance language. Rob and Jess believe this is false, and in this episode they explain why.
Join them as they explain just how similar English is to its siblings Dutch and German and its cousins Swedish, Danish and Norwegian. Learn about the many words borrowed from other Germanic languages. And discover why English has Germanic DNA.
Enjoy another wordy, nerdy episode of Words Unravelled.
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Getting quizzed on the quirks of English (with Joshua Blackburn) Nov 19, 2025

Show notes

What is the Baader-Meinhof effect? How many quotes are wrongly attributed to Churchill? What's Jess's funniest linguistics joke?
These questions answered, and many more, in a special episode of Words Unravelled featuring League of the Lexicon founder Joshua Blackburn.
You can find out more about his board game and accompanying book, The Language-Lover's Lexipedia, here: https://www.leagueofthelexicon.com/
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Which was the original 'football'? | SPORTS WORDS Nov 12, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, Jess and Rob get sporty as they trace the origins of the words behind our favourite games.
⚾️ What is the word "sport" short for?
🏉 Why does American "football" barely involve your feet?
🏏 What do Brits mean when they say something "isn't cricket"?
Expect Victorian public schools, Indigenous ball games, and a few linguistic own goals in another Words Unravelled.
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What does your name mean? | FIRST NAMES EXPLAINED Nov 05, 2025

Show notes

Rob and Jess are exploring the origins of first names.
👩 Are all MARYS actually MIRIAMS?
🕵️‍♀️ How can JAMES, IAGO and JACOB be the same?
💡 What do ROBERT and JESSICA mean?
These questions answered – and many more – in this nominally fascinating etymological exploration of why we're called what we're called. It's time for Words Unravelled!
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Are pets called 'pets' because we pet them? | PET WORDS Oct 29, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, Rob and Jess dig into the origins of the words we use for our furry, feathered, and occasionally scaly companions.
🐕 Where does the word 'dog' come from?
🐈 What does 'cat' literally mean?
🐹 Are guinea pigs even from Guinea?
These questions answered, and many more, in this edition of Words Unravelled dedicated to our beloved pets.
WATCH THIS EPISODE: https://youtu.be/_r2HMeiDhKA
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Can a hill be taller than a mountain? | GEOGRAPHY WORDS Oct 22, 2025

Show notes

From mountain high to valley low, Rob Watts and Jess Zafarris are exploring the origins of geography words.
🐻‍❄️ Why are the poles called 'poles'?
🗻 What is the difference between a hill and a mountain?
🧭 What do the points of the compass literally mean?
These questions answered – and many more – in another worldly, wordy and nerdy episode of Words Unravelled.
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