Radio Omniglot

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New language pages: Ha (Igiha), a Bantu language spoken in the Kigoma Region in the northwest of Tanzania. Fut (Bɨfɨɨ̀), an Eastern Grassfields language spoken in the Northwest Region of Cameroon. Maasina Fulfulde (مَاسِنَ ڢُلْڢُلْدٜ‎), a West Central Fula language spoken in Mali, Ivory Coast and […]

In this Adventure in Etymology we investigate the origins of the word nemesis. Nemesis [ˈnɛməsɪs] can mean: An enemy, especially an archenemy. A person or character who specifically brings about the downfall of another person or character, as an agent of that character’s fate or destiny, especially within a narrative. The personification of the “fatal […]

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New language pages: Bangolan (Bǎŋgulaŋ), an Eastern Grassfields language spoken in the Northwest Province of Cameroon. Chopi (Cicopi), a Southern Bantu language spoken mainly in Inhambane Province in southern Mozambique. Palembang (Baso Pelémbang / باسو ڤليمباڠ‎), a Malayic language spoken in Palembang in South Sumatra Province […]

In this Adventure in Etymology we search for the elemental origins of the word quintessence. Quintessence [kwɪnˈtɛs.əns] is: A thing that is the most perfect example of its type; the most perfect embodiment of something; epitome, prototype A pure substance. The essence of a thing in its purest and most concentrated form. (alchemy) The fifth […]

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New writing script: New Phonetic Character (上海土音字寫法), a script created by the Rev. Tarleton Perry Crawford in the 1850s to write Shanghainese. New constructed script: Evolved Alphabet, an experimental alphabet for a future form of English created by TheDankBoi69. New language pages: Kumam (Ikokolemu), a Southern […]

In this Adventure in Etymology we’re uncovering some facts about the words fact and fiction. Meanings of fact [fækt] include: Something actual as opposed to invented. Something which is real. Something concrete used as a basis for further interpretation. An objective consensus on a fundamental reality that has been agreed on by a substantial number […]

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New language pages: Baba (Supapyag), an Eastern Grassfields language spoken in the North West Region of Cameroon. Bamukumbit (Maŋkɔŋ), an Eastern Grassfields language spoken in the North West Region of Cameroon. Sawai, a South Halmahera language spoken on Halmahera island in North Maluku Province in Indonesia. […]

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New language pages: Ushoji (اُݜوجو), an Eastern Dardic language spoken mainly in the Swat District in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province in northwest Pakistan. Aer (آیر), a Western Indo-Aryan language spoken in Sindh in Pakistan and Gujarat in India. Dameli (دمیلی), a Dardic language spoken in the […]

In this Adventure in Etymology we fish for the origins of the word fish. Fish [fɪʃ] can refer to: A typically cold-blooded vertebrate animal that lives in water, moving with the help of fins and breathing with gills. Any animal (or any vertebrate) that lives exclusively in water. As a verb it can mean: To […]

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New language pages: Turu (Kιnyatυrυ, Kιrιmi), a Bantu language spoken in the Singida Region in central Tanzania. Pnar (Ka Ktien Pnar), a Khasi-Palaungic language spoken in northeastern India and northeastern Bangladesh. Wenzi (LiWenzi), a Bantu language spoken in the Kigoma Region in northwestern Tanzania. Dimasa (Grao-Dima), […]

In this episode we discover the Celtic roots of words for kingdom, rich and related things in Germanic, Romance and other languages. The Proto-Celtic word *rīgyom means kingdom, and comes from Proto-Indo-European *h₃rḗǵs (king). Related words in Proto-Celtic include *rīxs (king) and *rīganī (queen) [source] Related in the modern Celtic languages include: rí [ɾˠiː] = […]

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New language pages: Shambala (Kisambaa), a Bantu language spoken in the Tanga Region in northern Tanzania. Suabo (nidáibo), a Trans-New Guinea language spoken in Southwest Papua Province in eastern Indonesia. Tongwe (Sitongwe), a Bantu language spoken in the Kigoma Region in northwestern Tanzania. New numbers pages: […]

What does the word while have to do with resting? Let’s find out in this Adventure in Etymology on Radio Omniglot. While [waɪl / wæl] as a noun means an uncertain duration of time, a period of time, or an uncertain long (or short) period of time. As a conjunction it means during that same […]

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New language pages: Rangi (Kɨlaangi), a Bantu language spoken in the Kondoa District of the Dodoma Region in central Tanzania. Suabo (nidáibo), a Trans-New Guinea language spoken in Southwest Papua Province in eastern Indonesia. Oko (Ọ̀kọ), a Volta-Niger language spoken mainly in the Ogori-Magongo LGA in […]

In this episode we discover the Celtic roots of words for hostage in Germanic languages, and words related to engagement in Finnic languages. The Proto-Celtic word *geistlos means hostage or bail, and comes from Proto-Indo-European *gʰeydʰ- (to yearn for, to desire) [source] Descendents in the modern Celtic languages include: giall [ɟiəl̪ˠ] = hostage, pledge in […]

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New language pages: Inuinnaqtun (ᐃᓄᐃᓐᓇᖅᑐᓐ‎), an Inuit language spoken in Nunavut and the Northwest Territories in northern Canada. Pare (Kipare), a Northeast Coast Bantu language spoken the Kilimanjaro Region in northeastern Tanzania. Kwamera (Nɨninɨfe), a Southern Oceanic language spoken on Tanna Island in Tafea Province in […]

You can be unkempt, but can you be just kempt? Let’s find out in this Adventure in Etymology on Radio Omniglot. An unkempt llama Unkempt [ˌʌnˈkɛmpt] means uncombed or dishevelled (hair), disorderly, untidy, messy, rough or unpolished. It comes from unkemmed, from Middle English kembed (well-combed, neat), from kemben [ˈkɛm(b)ən] (to comb), from Old English […]

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New language pages: Naman, a Southern Oceanic language spoken on Malekula Island in central Vanuatu. Mbugu (kiMbugu) / Maʼa (kiMaʼa), a Bantu language spoken in the Lushoto District in the Tanga Region in the northeast of Tanzania. Mwerlap (N̄wërlap), a Southern Oceanic language spoken in the […]

In this episode we unearth the Celtic roots of words for birch (tree) in various languages. The Proto-Celtic word *betuyā means birch tree, and comes from Proto-Indo-European *gʷetu-yo-s, from *gʷet- (resin, gum) [source]. Descendents in the modern Celtic languages include: beith = birch (tree), letter B in Ogham (ᚁ) in Irish beithe [behə] birch, birch […]

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New language pages: Kwangali (Rukwangali), a Bantu language spoken in northern Namibia and southern Angola. Lega (Kilega), a Bantu language spoken in the west of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Lomwe (Elomwe / Emakhuwa), a Bantu language spoken in northern Mozambique and southern Malawi. New […]