Have you pondered questions such as where did the expression "OK" came from, or what the longest word in the English language is? Ponder no more, because one of the world authorities on the English language, the Oxford Dictionary, has released a series of videos that give some fascinating insight. Take a look:
1. Where did the expression "OK" come from?
2. What is the longest word in the English language?
3. Exactly how many is a billion?
4. Is the letter Y a vowel, a consonant, or both?
5. The Origins of "Nicotine", "Silhouette" and "Leotard"
When GH Says F: Why Does This Occur?
We're meeting up on the corner of history and linguistics to learn why GH is pronounced as F.
Funny: When Words Sound Alike With Different Meanings
Homophones are words that sound exactly the same, but aren't spelled the same and mean something different. Here are 20 that are the wordiest of words.
13 Palindromes That’ll Make You Laugh
People have been enjoying palindromes for centuries - here are 13 funny examples that are sure to make crack you up.
8 Ordinary English Words With Surprisingly Spicy Origins
The origins of all these 8 seemingly innocent words - e.g. gymnasium, avocado, and nice - are not for the faint of heart, as they're quite naughty!
5:02
Where Did The R in Mrs. Come From?
Learn a little language history and also, where did the R in Mrs. Come from?
English Vocab History: Few Can Pass This Vocabulary Quiz?
These 14 words have really strayed away from their original meaning, can you guess what words like 'girl' and 'clue' used to mean?
3:34
Inspiring: 80-Year-Old Holds Guinness Record for Planking!
Meet Annie Judis, the 80-year-old who became the oldest person to hold an abdominal plank earlier this year.
When an Ancient Egyptian Tomb Was Opened, This Was Inside
Finding Tutankhamun's tomb was one of the most significant archaeological discoveries in history. These recolored photos capture those incredible days.
Work Safety? Never Heard of It!
The people involved in these construction fails and work safety violations have never heard of the phrase “Safety First!”
5 Strange Lesser Known Stories About the British Monarchy
Some of these lesser-known rumors about the British Royal Family are funny, some are mysterious, and some are just plain odd...
These Words Wouldn’t Exist Without These 10 Famous Authors
Learn of 10 commonly-used English words that were coined by famous authors and philosophers.
12:48
The Most Unbelievable Land Boom in US History
Miami Beach started as a swampy island, and that is just one bit of Florida's fascinating history.
9:37
What Did the Future Mean to 1958 High Schoolers?
Peep into a high school debate from 1958 about the teenager's future. Are their arguments still relevant today?
12:39
WATCH: 110-Year-Old Supercentenarian Talks of Life
Born in 1906, and having served in the South Pacific during WWII, Richard Overton is the US' oldest living veteran. Watch this video about his remarkable life.
2:39
How a Principal Inspired Students With a Dance Routine
To make his students do more exercise, a Chinese principal asked them to dance…
Hilarious: When Words Sound Alike But Mean Different...
Homophones are words that sound exactly the same, but aren't spelled the same and mean something different. Here are 15 that are the wordiest of words.
7:19
Palm Oil Is the Cheapest Plant Oil on the Planet, But Why?
A major reason why palm oil is so ubiquitous is that it's so cheap. Why is there so much controversy around this oil, then, and how is it related to its cost?
13:02
Were You Aware of These English Language Mistakes?
Learn how to avoid some common English language mistakes by understanding some little-known truths.
5:57
Irena Sendler - The Woman Who Saved Over 2000 Lives
Get to know the amazing story of Irena Sendler, a social worker who saved the lives of over 2000 Jewish children During World War II
25:05
It Took This Man a Year to Replicate Coca-Cola's Secrets
What if one person could crack one of the world's most guarded secrets using pure science?
12:19
How Roman Engineers Shaped the World We Know Today
These engineering marvels made Rome an enduring symbol of innovation and ambition.
What Toll Does a Bad Economy Take on Our Psyche?
This article examines how a bad economy affects our mental health, including common psychological responses like anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances, and heightened financial stress.
Instead of Plastic, These People Used Smart Alternatives
Check out 14 excellent examples of people and companies fighting the global plastic problem.
Things Have Changed So Much in the Last 110 Years
Cast your thoughts back to 1915, 100 years ago. You'll be amazed, when you contemplate the breathtaking changes that have taken place. Here 19 such changes.
3:25
Classic Comedy: This 1950's Ventriloquist Was a Genius...
This ventriloquist is renowned for his speed, skill and grace. Take a look:
You'd Best Think Twice Before Consuming These Delicacies!
Here are 10 dishes that can give you an adrenaline rush stronger than that from any roller-coaster, while testing your luck better than the lottery.
Valentine's Day: Get Lovely Backgrounds for Mobile and PC
we’ve prepared a diverse collection to suit every taste and turn your screen into a beautifully designed little love keepsake. Wishing you a happy Valentine's Day!
A Dying Father's Heart Moving Gesture...
A beautiful and touching gesture by a dying father.
26 Vintage Celebrity Photos Filled with Undeniable Charm
Let's take a look at 26 vintage photos filled with undeniable charm.
7:03
The 5 Tallest Skyscrapers Currently Under Construction
From the Central Park Tower in New York City to the skyscraper in Moscow, one of these five buildings may become the new tallest building in the world
Where Did These Common Sayings Come From? Fascinating!
You're probably aware of these common sayings, but where did they originate from? Fascinating!
10 Times You’ve Quoted Shakespeare Without Realizing It...
William Shakespeare had a huge impact on modern English, so much so that most of us are quoting the great bard every day without even realizing it!
3:59
Watch: Some Dogs Take to Fishing Like Ducks to Water
Some dogs take to fishing like ducks to water.
8 Mysterious Objects Found By Deep Sea Divers
The oceans are vast and mysterious, and they hide many strange and curious lost objects. Here are 8 such items, unearthed by deep-sea divers.
Magicians Beware! We're Exposing Your Greatest Tricks!
When watching a good magician in action, many great tricks seem to completely defy logic, but here we expose 8 of the most common ones!
14 Obsolete English Terms We Wish Were Brought Back!
Over the centuries, so many eloquent and useful English words fell out of use. We wish these 14 clever (but sadly obsolete) terms were used more often.
6 Creepy Mysteries the World Never Solved
There are some mysteries that, despite scientists’ best attempts, still remain unsolved to this day. Here are 6 such mysteries.
4:57
Watch This Hilarious Skit on the Treaty of Westphalia
Watch this hilarious sketch with actors Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry on the negotiation of the Treaty of Westphalia.
Do You Know About the Mysteries of These Famous Icons?
What do you know about these intriguing works of art? Discover their mysteries here.
45:39
These 5 Extraordinary People Really Are Superhumans!
This gripping documentary tells the stories of five exceptionally talented people with unique gifts.
The 12 Moonwalkers: The Men Who Touched The Lunar Surface
Here's a look at the only 12 men in history to have walked on the surface of the moon.
Do You Know What All These Acronyms Stand For?
There are many famous acronyms around, but do you know what they stand for? Here are 21 acronyms you've always wondered about.
The Fascinating Histories of 8 Everyday Hand Gestures
We hardly give gestures like thumbs up or crossed fingers a second thought, but these signs have backstories and origins, and they are quite fascinating!
This Could’ve Been the Worst Nuclear Catastrophe in the US
In 1961, the US avoided a major nuclear disaster thanks to sheer luck...
These Inventors Absolutely Hate Their Creations
These 7 inventions became world famous and even world changing... yet their inventors deeply regret them.
14:18
10 of the Longest Reigning Monarchs in World History
If you're judging a monarch's success by the number of years they reign, these 10 monarchs are the absolute best!
These 11 Quotes Don’t Belong to Those You Think They Do
Surprising quotations that were completely miscredited. Some have commonalities with the supposed authors, while others are completely off...
To enable your Ad-Free Subscription, please fill the fields below
Your subscription was successful, now you can enjoy an ad-free experience!! Note: To make sure you get no ads, please make sure to log in to your account. If you are logged in already, then refresh the page. The subscription can be cancelled at any time.
