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
Want to watch our episodes too? Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8R3ZnESMdsuTevq4ib9CvA
- Update frequency
- every 7 days
- Average duration
- 40 minutes
- Episodes
- 60
- Years Active
- 2024 - 2025
How do you pronounce lieutenant? | MILITARY WORDS
There's fightin' talk in this episode of Words Unravelled, in which Jess and Rob discuss words of warcraft.
🔫 Which woman are all guns named after?
🪖 Where does the word "war" come from?
👮 Is lieuten…
🔫 Which woman are all guns named after?
🪖 Where does the word "war" come from?
👮 Is lieuten…
00:41:07 |
Wed 02 Apr 2025
Why do we mind our Ps and Qs? | PRINTING TERMS
In this printing special of Words Unravelled, Jess proves herself a font of knowledge on names for typefaces and Rob makes a bit impression with the history of the printing press.
🆎 What's the diffe…
🆎 What's the diffe…
00:40:29 |
Wed 26 Mar 2025
Where the f*** do swear words come from?
It's here: the much-requested swearing episode of Words Unravelled. Join Rob and Jess as they explore the origins of all manner of profanity.
#️⃣ Where did the F word come from?
📍 Which place names …
#️⃣ Where did the F word come from?
📍 Which place names …
00:50:51 |
Wed 19 Mar 2025
Which flower makes you wet the bed? | FLOWER NAME ORIGINS
Welcome to another bloomin' wonderful episode of Words Unravelled. This time, Rob and Jess are discussing the origins of all manner of flower name.
🌻Which flower makes you wet the bed?
👁️Which flower…
🌻Which flower makes you wet the bed?
👁️Which flower…
00:44:19 |
Wed 12 Mar 2025
Is this a rhetorical question? | RHETORIC & LITERARY DEVICES
Who wants to learn how to talk pretty? In this episode, Rob and Jess explore the clever tricks used by poets, novelists and speechwriters to surprise, move and persuade us. Join them as they discuss …
00:39:13 |
Wed 05 Mar 2025
How did our naughty bits get their names? | BODY ETYMOLOGY
Let's discuss the etymology of the body from "head" to "toe". Join Rob and Jess on an adventure through anatomical word origins.
👅 Why is tongue spelt that way?
🍎 What did we originally call our Adam…
👅 Why is tongue spelt that way?
🍎 What did we originally call our Adam…
00:45:07 |
Wed 26 Feb 2025
What's the difference between a violin and a fiddle? | MUSIC WORDS
Let this episode be music to your ears as Rob Watts and Jess Zafarris explore the melodic origins of all manner of musical words.
👦 Which instrument used to be called a "ho boy"?
🎤 What does "karaok…
👦 Which instrument used to be called a "ho boy"?
🎤 What does "karaok…
00:29:28 |
Wed 19 Feb 2025
Who invented zero? | MATH & NUMBERS
Join Rob and Jess as they explore the origins of a myriad of mathematical terms and innumerable number words.
💯 What number was the original "hundred"?
♾️ What is the infinity symbol called?
🕚 Why do…
💯 What number was the original "hundred"?
♾️ What is the infinity symbol called?
🕚 Why do…
00:32:46 |
Wed 12 Feb 2025
Who was the original "goodfella"? | CRIME WORDS
Rob and Jess are on the wrong side of the law in this criminal episode of Words Unravelled. Join them as they discuss the origins of all manner of words for felony, misdemeanour and malfeasance.
🏴☠️…
🏴☠️…
00:48:01 |
Wed 05 Feb 2025
Who was the first to "paint the town red"? | IDIOM ORIGINS
In this episode, Rob and Jess debunk some myths about the origins of common sayings, and prevent the even more fascinating true stories behind the idioms we use day-to-day.
🔴 Who was the first to "pa…
🔴 Who was the first to "pa…
00:47:35 |
Wed 29 Jan 2025
Is he Santa Claus or Father Christmas? | FESTIVE ETYMOLOGY
Join Rob and Jess for a festive feast of Christmas etymology.
🎅🏼 Is Santa Claus an Americanism?
🎩 Who was Sir Christmas?
🦌 How did the Santa's reindeer get their names?
🎶 Is it "four calling birds" …
🎅🏼 Is Santa Claus an Americanism?
🎩 Who was Sir Christmas?
🦌 How did the Santa's reindeer get their names?
🎶 Is it "four calling birds" …
00:38:20 |
Wed 18 Dec 2024
What did a "sin-eater" do? | JOB ETYMOLOGY
Let's explore our words for jobs, professions and trades.
🪵What did carpenters originally make?
🐐Which animal did butchers originally butcher?
💩Where did a "gong farmer" actually farm?
🛒What is so g…
🪵What did carpenters originally make?
🐐Which animal did butchers originally butcher?
💩Where did a "gong farmer" actually farm?
🛒What is so g…
00:47:12 |
Wed 11 Dec 2024
Is it a 'full stop' or a 'period'? | PUNCTUATION
Join Rob and Jess for a period as they get straight to the point about punctuation.
🏛️ Which punctuation mark came first?
💀 How can you punctuate sarcasm?
❓ Why does a question mark look like that?
…
🏛️ Which punctuation mark came first?
💀 How can you punctuate sarcasm?
❓ Why does a question mark look like that?
…
00:43:07 |
Wed 04 Dec 2024
Is corporate jargon a synergistic value-add? | JARGON
Time to bust some jargon in another Words Unravelled. In this episode, Rob and Jess wade their way through the sea of business speak and legalese.
🦍Which joke created the "800-pound gorilla"
🪶Is all…
🦍Which joke created the "800-pound gorilla"
🪶Is all…
00:41:02 |
Wed 27 Nov 2024
Who is the Jack in a deck of cards? | GAME WORDS
In this playful episode of Words Unravelled, Rob and Jess dive into the fascinating world of fun and games. Ever wondered why we call it "chess" or how "poker" got its name? From the origins of class…
00:43:02 |
Wed 20 Nov 2024
Which cocktail's name means "moist little thing"? | BOOZY WORDS
❗️HEADS UP❗️ This episode includes much alcohol talk 🍻 Rob and Jess are getting a round in at the bar in this episode crammed with boozy etymology. Let's explore the origins of our words for beers, w…
00:44:05 |
Wed 13 Nov 2024
How can "tree" and "truth" be related? | WOODLAND WORDS
In this episode of Words Unravelled, Rob and Jess explore woodland words. Join us to to uncover the extraordinary origins of names for forest flora and fauna.
📕 Which trees are books named after?
🦔 W…
📕 Which trees are books named after?
🦔 W…
00:58:23 |
Wed 06 Nov 2024
What's the true meaning of 'happiness'? | EMOTION ETYMOLOGY
🤔 Where do our emotions come from? In this episode of Words Unravelled, Rob and Jess dive deep into the fascinating origins of the words we use to express how we feel! From the familiar words like "s…
00:48:45 |
Wed 30 Oct 2024
What's the 'were' in werewolf? | SPOOKY ETYMOLOGY
In this episode of Words Unravelled, Rob and Jess dig into the spooky origins of Halloween words. From 'ghosts' and 'ghouls' to 'warlocks' and 'witches', they uncover the hauntingly fascinating roots…
00:50:27 |
Wed 23 Oct 2024
Why does oxygen have the wrong name? | ELEMENTS
In this episode of Words Unravelled, Rob and Jess explore the fascinating stories behind the names of the elements of the periodic table. From gods and mythological creatures to places and famous sci…
00:46:57 |
Wed 18 Sep 2024
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