Radio Omniglot

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New language pages: Nawdm (nawdm), a Gur language spoken in northern Togo and southern and eastern Ghana. Yom (Pila), a Gur language spoken in the Atacora, Borgou and Donga departments in the northwest of Benin. Akuapem, a variety of Akan spoken mainly in southern Ghana, and […]

This Adventure in Etymology is an assembly of words about the word thing, or something like that. Meanings of thing [θɪŋ] include: That which is considered to exist as a separate entity, object, quality or concept. A word, symbol, sign, or other referent that can be used to refer to any entity. An individual object […]

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New language pages: Bujeba (Bisio), a Bantu language spoken in the Litoral Province in the west of Equatorial Guinea. Gyele (gyɛ̀lì), a Bantu language spoken in the Océan Department in the South Province of Cameroon. Kwasio, a Bantu language spoken along the coast of south western […]

In this episode we discover the Celtic roots of words for cradle, crib and related things in Portuguese and other languages. The Proto-Celtic word *bereti means to carry or bear, and comes from Proto-Indo-European bʰéreti (to be carrying), from *bʰer- (to bear, carry) [source]. Related words in the modern Celtic languages include: beir [bʲɛɾʲ] = […]

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New language pages: Masalit (Masaraa / Masarak), a Maban language spoken in southeastern Chad and southwestern Sudan. Maba (buraa mabaŋ / بُرَا مَبَݝ‎), a Maban language spoken mainly in Ouaddaï Province in southwestern Chad. Guerrero Nahuatl (Mēxihcatlācatl), an Aztecan (Nahuan) language spoken in the state of […]

In this Adventure in Etymology, we find out where the word spring springs from. Spring blossom on my apple tree As a verb, spring [spɹɪŋ] can mean: To appear. To grow, to sprout. To arise, come into existence. To enliven. To move with great speed and energy. To leap over. It comes from Middle English […]

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New language pages: Eastern Huasteca Nahuatl, an Aztec / Nahuan language spoken in the state of Veracruz in southern Mexico. Ngwii (Engwíí), a Bantu language spoken in Kwilu Province in the Democratic Repubic of the Congo. Njebi (Yinzèbi), a Bantu language spoken in southern Gabon and […]

In this episode we unearth the possible Celtic roots of words for field and related things in Galician and other languages. The Proto-Celtic word *ɸlārom means floor and comes from Proto-Indo-European *pleh₂ros (to be flat, from *pleh₂- (flat) [source]. Related words in the modern Celtic languages include: lár [l̪ˠɑːɾˠ] = ground, floor, middle, centre in […]

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New language pages: Tai Yo (ไทญ้อ), a Southwestern Tai language spoken in Laos, Thailand and Vietnam. Vili (Civili), a Bantu language spoken mainly in the Republic of the Congo, and also in Gabon and Angola. New adapted script: Vietnamese Arabic Script (چىٰٖ جاوي تيٛەٖڭ ۏیٔەٖط), a […]

In this Adventure in Etymology, we find out what links the words theory and theatre. Theory [ˈθɪə.ɹi / ˈθɪ.ɹi] has a variety of meanings, including: A description of an event or system that is considered to be accurate. (sciences) A coherent statement or set of ideas that explains observed facts or phenomena and correctly predicts […]

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New language pages: Yaka (Yiyáká), a Bantu language spoken mainly in Kwango Province in the southwest of the DRC. Yansi (kiBeembe), a Bantu language spoken in the south of the Republic of the Congo. Shatt (Caning), an Eastern Sudanic language spoken in South Kordofan Province in […]

In this episode we unravel the Celtic roots of words for wheel, rim and related things in French, Spanish and other languages. The Proto-Celtic word *kambitā means rim and comes from Proto-Celtic *kambos (twisted, crooked, bent), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)ḱh₂embos (crooked), possibly from *(s)ḱamb- (bent, crooked) [source]. Related words in the modern Celtic languages include: camedd […]

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New language pages: Bembe (kiBeembe), a Bantu language spoken in the south of the Republic of the Congo. Kwambi (Oshikwambi), a Southwest Bantu language spoken mainly in northern Namibia. Luyana (Esiluyana), a Bantu language spoken in mainly the Western Province of Zambia. Yeyi (Shiyeyi), a Bantu […]

In this Adventure in Etymology, we’re risking ridicule and getting rather ridiculously ridiculous. Ridiculous [ɹɪˈdɪkjələs/ɹɪˈdɪkjʊləs] means deserving or ridicule, foolish, absurd, astonishing, extreme or unbelievable. It comes from Latin rīdiculus [riːˈd̪ɪkʊɫ̪ʊs̠] (laughable, funny, amusing, silly, absurd, ridiculous), from rīdeō (to laugh (at), ridicule, mock), the origins of which are not known [source]. Words from the […]

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New writing system: Hurûf-ı munfasıla, a script based on the Ottoman Turkish alphabet with the letters written separately and all the vowels written devised by Enver Pasha in 1914. New adapted script: Hengul (헨규얘 아얘푸벹), an alternative way to write English with the Korean Hangeul alphabet […]

In this episode we discover the flatulent Celtic roots of words for to bray and related things in English, French and other languages. The Proto-Celtic word *bragyeti means to fart or flatulate and comes from Proto-Celtic *braxsman (fart), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰreHg- (to stink, smell, have a strong odour) [source]. Related words in the modern Celtic […]

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New writing system: Tai Noi, a script used to write Lao and Isan in Laos and northern Thailand. New constructed system: Aramikatavah (ארמיכתבה), an alternative way to write Hebrew, Aramaic and Arabic created by Mina McVinnie. New language pages: Degema (Dẹgẹma), an Edoid language spoken in […]

Haywire is wire used to bind bales of hay, and can also refer to something that’s roughly-made, erratic or uncontrollable. How are these meanings related? Let’s find out in this Adventure in Etymology. As a noun, haywire [ˈheɪ.waɪ.ə(ɹ) / ˈheɪ.waɪɚ] means wire used for binding bales of hay, straw or grass, and is also known […]

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New language pages: Saxwe (saxwɛgbe), a Gbe language spoken in the Atlantique, Couffo and Mono departments in the southwest of Benin. Ekpeye (Ẹkpeye), an Igboid language spoken in Rivers and Bayelsa states in southern Nigeria. Gun (Gungbe), an Eastern Gbe language spoken in southeastern Benin and […]

In this episode we discover the possible Celtic roots of words for soot in English, French and various other languages. The Proto-Celtic word *sūdyā means soot and comes from Proto-Indo-European *suh₃d- (soot [?]), or from sed- (to sit) [source]. Related words in the modern Celtic languages include: súiche [ˈsˠuːçɪ] = soot in Irish sùith [suːj] […]