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"
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.
This 10-Minute Read Will Make You a Bourbon Expert
Are you unsure of the difference between whiskey, bourbon, and scotch? We are here to clarify.
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?
8:01
Why Did We Start Going to the Beach For Fun?
Did you know that going to the beach for recreation is a relatively new invention? For most of human history, the concept simply did not exist...
28:20
How Did European Countries Get Their Names?
Did you know that the word Spain, the name of the country, is translated from Phoenician as "the land of rabbits?"
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!
You Won’t Believe What These Old Buildings Once Were
Check out these cool pictures of some old buildings that have now been completely transformed.
These Foods Are Considered Bad Luck on New Year’s!
It's considered extremely unlucky to eat these foods before the New Year.
These Are the Most Overused Words in the English Language
Are you guilty of using these overused words in English? Find out!
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.
10:30
Time Travel Back to the 19th Century in This Vintage Video
This amazingly rare footage gives us a peek of different parts of the world from the 19th century.
These Photos Reveal the Clothes of 100 Years Past...
Millions of people in the US can trace their ancestry back to Ellis Island immigrants. Here are some portraits of some early 20th century arrivals.
29:45
Ancient Rome Had Different Kinds of Gladiators...
There’s much we don’t know about these amazing fighters and this documentary sheds some in-depth light on every known type of gladiator from Ancient Rome.
These Museum Items Give Us a Glimpse of a Fascinating Past
In these pictures, you will get to see some fascinating ancient artifacts that are well-preserved in museums.
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...
This Fascinating Tree Shows How Languages Are Connected
Most of the languages that we speak today can be placed into a couple of groups by their origin. Find out more here.
INTERACTIVE: Click on the Old Photos to Bring Them Alive
Although we imagine the world prior the 1950s in terms of black and white, new colorization techniques have changed everything. Enjoy this interactive post.
10:06
This Fascinating Video Explores the Origins of Mankind
This video will explain exactly what our prehistoric ancestors used to get up to. Fascinating!
18 Amazing Facts About Very Well-Known Brands
There are some really interesting and amazing facts about some of the world's most well-known brands, and you're about to learn 18 of them right now!
6 Short Stories to Help You Stay Motivated in Life
If you’re feeling down, rather than surf the internet for cat pictures or drowning your sorrows by reading junk, check out these inspirational and powerful Short Stories
10 Historical Facts That Are Really Hard to Believe
Here, we share 10 fascinating and unbelievable history facts and stories like the time when forks were sacrilegious and pineapples had a higher price than gold
15 Movie Facts That Will Make You Want to Watch Again...
hese facts can change the way you look at iconic moments, reveal unexpected connections, or show just how inventive filmmakers had to be.
These Famous Characters are Based On Real People...
Did you know that certain characters draw heavily on real-life people? Here are 10 iconic characters that were based on people that really existed.
10 Food Products You Should Never Freeze
Take note of this list of food products that should be kept far away from the freezer.
26:11
Watch This Man Trying Five Star Hotels... For DOGS
re these doggie hotels worth the price? Watch the video to find out.
1:40
The Man Who Saved 669 Children
Sir Nicholas Winton organised the rescue and passage to Britain of about 669, Czechoslovakian children, mostly Jewish, destined for the Nazi death camps before World War II in an operation known as the Czech Kindertransport. This video is the BBC Pro
Mysteries From Ancient History Science Still Can’t Explain
From buried treasures to undeciphered languages, this list contains 8 perplexing ancient mysteries.
How Many of These Facts About Common Items Do You Know?
Do you know about these facts for common products?
48:04
Documentary: Uncovering the Mystery Surrounding Pompeii
This fascinating documentary reveals the terrible truth of what happened to the people of Pompeii on that fated day...
Don’t Say These Words Abroad, You Might Be Misunderstood
These 15 words are all similar to English ones, but they mean something completely different in other languages
6:28
Discover Similarities Between Ancient & Modern Math
Did you know that the ancient Egyptians used the same system of math as the supercomputers of today do? Find out more in this informative video.
15:33
Does Regrowing Vegetables From Scraps Actually Work?
You're likely aware that you can regrow certain vegetables using scraps. But the real question is, does this method work for every type of vegetable?
5 Ancient Ruins Brought to Life Again With Modern Tech
Take a look at the digital remakes of five important world heritage sites and also learn about their fascinating history.
10:42
Meet the 10 Most Dangerous Creatures from the Greek Myths
Greek mythology is filled with some truly fascinating and terrifying creatures. Get to know more about a few of them.
These Photos Will Give You Some Eye Opening Perspective
It’s hard to wrap your mind around something until you take a step back and take a look at the bigger picture. These fascinating comparison images might help.
6 Ways to Be Liked According to Top FBI Secret Agent
No one knows more about how to gain friends and trust than a top FBI secret agent. Here he provides 6 amazing rules to help you be loved by all.
These 10 Habits Will Make You Look Younger & More Radiant
These 10 simple daily habits can help you feel and look more radiant and youthful
You Won't Believe These Stories of the White House
The White House stands as a glorious monument to American politics, and in its 200 years of history, has had quite a few interesting encounter!
12 Practical Infographics You’ll Want to Save For Later
You’ll surely enjoy this collection of charts. It’s a treasure trove of knowledge about our health, nature, and human society.
This Lost WWII Postcard is a Moving Glimpse Into History
Bill Caldwell's family was astonished to receive a postcard from him - sent in 1943!
You’ve Probably Been Mistaking These Foods for Each Other
In this article, we will look at a few food pairs that have commonly confused all of us.and help you tell the difference between them.
14 Famous Disappearances That Still Baffle Investigators
These fanous disappearances haunt our collective imagination.
The World Never Ceases to Amaze Us with Its Unusual Sights
This photo collection will take you on a tour through some of the most unbelievable sights around the world - something we all could enjoy these days!
Was There Ever a Real Uncle Sam?
Did you know the same man drew both Unce Sam and Santa Claus as we know them today?
What's Portmanteau? Surprising Etymologies of Common Words
If If you have ever said the words brunch, sitcom or spam, you have used portmanteaus. This is the fascinating origins story of many common words...
It’s a Shame We Stopped Using These 17 Old English Words
These 17 old words are definitely missing in our modern vocabularies and deserve to be brought back into day-to-day speech
The Real Bonnie and Clyde: 7 Facts About the Outlaw Couple
Media depicts them as glamourous, fearless outlaws. But what was behind the myth of Bonnie and Clyde? These 7 lesser-known facts tell their story.
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