Rob Watts (RobWords)
@robwords.bsky.social
YouTube word nerd. Happy host of RobWords and the podcast Words Unravelled.
https://www.youtube.com/robwords
https://www.youtube.com/@wordsunravelled
https://www.youtube.com/robwords
https://www.youtube.com/@wordsunravelled
I've just published another newsletter brimming with wordy nerdy curiosities.
Did you know there's a word for "shaped like a turnip"?
Read the whole thing for free below.
Did you know there's a word for "shaped like a turnip"?
Read the whole thing for free below.
What is the 'haps' in 'perhaps'?
The RobWords Newsletter
robwords.substack.com
November 27, 2025 at 10:26 AM
I've just published another newsletter brimming with wordy nerdy curiosities.
Did you know there's a word for "shaped like a turnip"?
Read the whole thing for free below.
Did you know there's a word for "shaped like a turnip"?
Read the whole thing for free below.
Reposted by Rob Watts (RobWords)
What’s turkey got to do with the country of Turkey?
Why doesn’t the bird have a Native American name since it’s indigenous to the Americas?
@robwords.bsky.social has your answers in this deep dive into the etymology of the word “turkey”.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJJs...
Why doesn’t the bird have a Native American name since it’s indigenous to the Americas?
@robwords.bsky.social has your answers in this deep dive into the etymology of the word “turkey”.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJJs...
Why is a turkey called a turkey?
YouTube video by RobWords
www.youtube.com
November 26, 2025 at 1:42 AM
What’s turkey got to do with the country of Turkey?
Why doesn’t the bird have a Native American name since it’s indigenous to the Americas?
@robwords.bsky.social has your answers in this deep dive into the etymology of the word “turkey”.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJJs...
Why doesn’t the bird have a Native American name since it’s indigenous to the Americas?
@robwords.bsky.social has your answers in this deep dive into the etymology of the word “turkey”.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJJs...
English has Germanic DNA, but with most of its words having been pilfered from French and Latin, is it still technically a Germanic language?
@jesszafarris.bsky.social and I put that question to bed in the latest episode of Words Unravelled.
youtu.be/DSD_kMu1INk?...
@jesszafarris.bsky.social and I put that question to bed in the latest episode of Words Unravelled.
youtu.be/DSD_kMu1INk?...
Is English really a Germanic language?
YouTube video by Words Unravelled
youtu.be
November 26, 2025 at 12:13 PM
English has Germanic DNA, but with most of its words having been pilfered from French and Latin, is it still technically a Germanic language?
@jesszafarris.bsky.social and I put that question to bed in the latest episode of Words Unravelled.
youtu.be/DSD_kMu1INk?...
@jesszafarris.bsky.social and I put that question to bed in the latest episode of Words Unravelled.
youtu.be/DSD_kMu1INk?...
Watching James Lewis pick up charming bits and bobs at a French market is immensely relaxing.
youtu.be/YT-dNGbH0lA?...
youtu.be/YT-dNGbH0lA?...
French CHOCOLATE box makes a SWEET sum at AUCTION!
YouTube video by James Lewis Antiques
youtu.be
November 25, 2025 at 7:59 AM
Watching James Lewis pick up charming bits and bobs at a French market is immensely relaxing.
youtu.be/YT-dNGbH0lA?...
youtu.be/YT-dNGbH0lA?...
And Mr. Hieber's newsletter is a must for updates and thoughtful commentary from the world of linguistics. I never miss it. Here:
LinguisticDiscovery.Substack.com
LinguisticDiscovery.Substack.com
November 20, 2025 at 8:57 PM
And Mr. Hieber's newsletter is a must for updates and thoughtful commentary from the world of linguistics. I never miss it. Here:
LinguisticDiscovery.Substack.com
LinguisticDiscovery.Substack.com
The first 'satellite' was neither an orbiting space gizmo nor a hunk of cosmic rock.
It was a person.
Read about it in my latest newsletter:
It was a person.
Read about it in my latest newsletter:
Words from space
The RobWords Newsletter
open.substack.com
November 20, 2025 at 3:25 PM
The first 'satellite' was neither an orbiting space gizmo nor a hunk of cosmic rock.
It was a person.
Read about it in my latest newsletter:
It was a person.
Read about it in my latest newsletter:
This handsome pair interrupted filming this afternoon.
The theme of the video? The origin of the word 'dog'.
The theme of the video? The origin of the word 'dog'.
November 18, 2025 at 5:08 PM
This handsome pair interrupted filming this afternoon.
The theme of the video? The origin of the word 'dog'.
The theme of the video? The origin of the word 'dog'.
Who's on Substack?
I've just started publishing my wordy nerdy newsletter and other bits and bobs over there. There are 10 editions for you to read already.
Come join me: substack.com/@robwords
I've just started publishing my wordy nerdy newsletter and other bits and bobs over there. There are 10 editions for you to read already.
Come join me: substack.com/@robwords
RobWords | Substack
Internet word nerd.
substack.com
November 12, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Who's on Substack?
I've just started publishing my wordy nerdy newsletter and other bits and bobs over there. There are 10 editions for you to read already.
Come join me: substack.com/@robwords
I've just started publishing my wordy nerdy newsletter and other bits and bobs over there. There are 10 editions for you to read already.
Come join me: substack.com/@robwords
Give me 10 seconds of your time and I'll tell you the origins of our days of the week.
youtube.com/shorts/JVQfU...
youtube.com/shorts/JVQfU...
The origins of the days of the week in 10 seconds.
YouTube video by RobWords
youtube.com
November 11, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Give me 10 seconds of your time and I'll tell you the origins of our days of the week.
youtube.com/shorts/JVQfU...
youtube.com/shorts/JVQfU...
Did you know that "noon" never used to be at 12? Or that a "second" is actually the second of something?
These are just a couple of the revelations in my latest wordy nerdy video.
Do please give it a watch:
youtu.be/TK-8gfqmFNo?...
These are just a couple of the revelations in my latest wordy nerdy video.
Do please give it a watch:
youtu.be/TK-8gfqmFNo?...
Time words don't mean what you think
YouTube video by RobWords
youtu.be
November 10, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Did you know that "noon" never used to be at 12? Or that a "second" is actually the second of something?
These are just a couple of the revelations in my latest wordy nerdy video.
Do please give it a watch:
youtu.be/TK-8gfqmFNo?...
These are just a couple of the revelations in my latest wordy nerdy video.
Do please give it a watch:
youtu.be/TK-8gfqmFNo?...
Picked up something special on my way through London. Courtesy of @jayforeman.bsky.social & @markcooperjones.bsky.social
November 2, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Picked up something special on my way through London. Courtesy of @jayforeman.bsky.social & @markcooperjones.bsky.social
3 years ago, I shook the military establishment to its core by rearranging its ranks by literal meaning.
It was great news for captains ("heads") but miserable for field marshals ("horse servants").
Now @jonnelledge.bsky.social has taken on the subject:
open.substack.com/pub/jonn/p/h...
It was great news for captains ("heads") but miserable for field marshals ("horse servants").
Now @jonnelledge.bsky.social has taken on the subject:
open.substack.com/pub/jonn/p/h...
How the army got its ranks
Basically, 271 different ways of saying “head”.
jonn.substack.com
October 26, 2025 at 11:56 AM
3 years ago, I shook the military establishment to its core by rearranging its ranks by literal meaning.
It was great news for captains ("heads") but miserable for field marshals ("horse servants").
Now @jonnelledge.bsky.social has taken on the subject:
open.substack.com/pub/jonn/p/h...
It was great news for captains ("heads") but miserable for field marshals ("horse servants").
Now @jonnelledge.bsky.social has taken on the subject:
open.substack.com/pub/jonn/p/h...
Reposted by Rob Watts (RobWords)
On today's episode of Words Unravelled, @robwords.bsky.social and I celebrated 100K YouTube subscribers ✨ in person ✨ with 100 quick-fire word facts.
Thank you to everyone who tunes in each week, and major thanks to our editor @martynmnw.bsky.social.
Check it out: www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPfb...
Thank you to everyone who tunes in each week, and major thanks to our editor @martynmnw.bsky.social.
Check it out: www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPfb...
100 quick-fire word facts
YouTube video by Words Unravelled with RobWords and Jess Zafarris
www.youtube.com
October 15, 2025 at 2:57 PM
On today's episode of Words Unravelled, @robwords.bsky.social and I celebrated 100K YouTube subscribers ✨ in person ✨ with 100 quick-fire word facts.
Thank you to everyone who tunes in each week, and major thanks to our editor @martynmnw.bsky.social.
Check it out: www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPfb...
Thank you to everyone who tunes in each week, and major thanks to our editor @martynmnw.bsky.social.
Check it out: www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPfb...
The NATO Phonetic Alphabet (ALFA, BRAVO, CHARLIE etc.) is neither a phonetic alphabet, nor a product of NATO.
I've sifted through loads of old documents to find its true origins and, OSCAR MIKE GOLF, is it fascinating.
Check out my video here (2 million people already have!): youtu.be/UAT-eOzeY4M
I've sifted through loads of old documents to find its true origins and, OSCAR MIKE GOLF, is it fascinating.
Check out my video here (2 million people already have!): youtu.be/UAT-eOzeY4M
The genius logic of the NATO phonetic alphabet
YouTube video by RobWords
youtu.be
October 15, 2025 at 11:53 AM
The NATO Phonetic Alphabet (ALFA, BRAVO, CHARLIE etc.) is neither a phonetic alphabet, nor a product of NATO.
I've sifted through loads of old documents to find its true origins and, OSCAR MIKE GOLF, is it fascinating.
Check out my video here (2 million people already have!): youtu.be/UAT-eOzeY4M
I've sifted through loads of old documents to find its true origins and, OSCAR MIKE GOLF, is it fascinating.
Check out my video here (2 million people already have!): youtu.be/UAT-eOzeY4M
Reposted by Rob Watts (RobWords)
THE PRINTING PRESS (Palindrome)
Repaper:
I snap, my tone placid.
A rare vellum knits art,
no coil of fires....
Midst no felt tome,
we gape, we gage, we page,
we mottle fonts.
Dim serif,
folio,
contrast,
ink,
mull ever a radical pen....
O, tympans!
I repaper.
Repaper:
I snap, my tone placid.
A rare vellum knits art,
no coil of fires....
Midst no felt tome,
we gape, we gage, we page,
we mottle fonts.
Dim serif,
folio,
contrast,
ink,
mull ever a radical pen....
O, tympans!
I repaper.
October 8, 2025 at 6:34 AM
THE PRINTING PRESS (Palindrome)
Repaper:
I snap, my tone placid.
A rare vellum knits art,
no coil of fires....
Midst no felt tome,
we gape, we gage, we page,
we mottle fonts.
Dim serif,
folio,
contrast,
ink,
mull ever a radical pen....
O, tympans!
I repaper.
Repaper:
I snap, my tone placid.
A rare vellum knits art,
no coil of fires....
Midst no felt tome,
we gape, we gage, we page,
we mottle fonts.
Dim serif,
folio,
contrast,
ink,
mull ever a radical pen....
O, tympans!
I repaper.
"If you like, I will hot it."
I'm going to enjoy watching Daniel read this silly, silly book.
I'm going to enjoy watching Daniel read this silly, silly book.
@robwords.bsky.social Your amazing video about English as She Has Spoke has prompted me to do a reading of the whole thing. Here is my intro.
#books #booksky #history #language #words #audiobook #historysky
#books #booksky #history #language #words #audiobook #historysky
English as She is Spoke Introduction
YouTube video by Flying Squid Studios
www.youtube.com
September 24, 2025 at 12:45 PM
"If you like, I will hot it."
I'm going to enjoy watching Daniel read this silly, silly book.
I'm going to enjoy watching Daniel read this silly, silly book.
W[h]AT [p)SYC[h]O DESI[g]NED OUR TONG[ue]??
English has a major silent letter problem.
How did it end up this way?
Wa[t]ch my new video to find out: youtu.be/NXVqZpHY5R8
English has a major silent letter problem.
How did it end up this way?
Wa[t]ch my new video to find out: youtu.be/NXVqZpHY5R8
Why English is full of silent letters
YouTube video by RobWords
youtu.be
September 18, 2025 at 6:17 PM
W[h]AT [p)SYC[h]O DESI[g]NED OUR TONG[ue]??
English has a major silent letter problem.
How did it end up this way?
Wa[t]ch my new video to find out: youtu.be/NXVqZpHY5R8
English has a major silent letter problem.
How did it end up this way?
Wa[t]ch my new video to find out: youtu.be/NXVqZpHY5R8
SPOILER: Yours truly.
Guess who crossed a whole ocean to visit me this week?
September 12, 2025 at 1:48 AM
SPOILER: Yours truly.
Word Unravelled just hit 100k subscribers on YouTube!
For such a geeky little channel, that is fabulous. Thank you if you subscribed.
And thanks to @jesszafarris.bsky.social & @martynmnw.bsky.social for making it all so fun.
For such a geeky little channel, that is fabulous. Thank you if you subscribed.
And thanks to @jesszafarris.bsky.social & @martynmnw.bsky.social for making it all so fun.
September 4, 2025 at 6:30 AM
Word Unravelled just hit 100k subscribers on YouTube!
For such a geeky little channel, that is fabulous. Thank you if you subscribed.
And thanks to @jesszafarris.bsky.social & @martynmnw.bsky.social for making it all so fun.
For such a geeky little channel, that is fabulous. Thank you if you subscribed.
And thanks to @jesszafarris.bsky.social & @martynmnw.bsky.social for making it all so fun.
Reposted by Rob Watts (RobWords)
As of last week, Words Unravelled was BOTH a finalist for Best New Podcast in the British Podcast Awards AND ranked among the Top 10 for Listeners' Choice!
Big thanks to everyone who voted, and if you haven't, @robwords.bsky.social, @martynmnw.bsky.social and I would be mighty grateful if you did.
Big thanks to everyone who voted, and if you haven't, @robwords.bsky.social, @martynmnw.bsky.social and I would be mighty grateful if you did.
September 1, 2025 at 6:43 PM
As of last week, Words Unravelled was BOTH a finalist for Best New Podcast in the British Podcast Awards AND ranked among the Top 10 for Listeners' Choice!
Big thanks to everyone who voted, and if you haven't, @robwords.bsky.social, @martynmnw.bsky.social and I would be mighty grateful if you did.
Big thanks to everyone who voted, and if you haven't, @robwords.bsky.social, @martynmnw.bsky.social and I would be mighty grateful if you did.
This video has a million views now, which is just silly.
BEHOLD my latest video, in which a sweaty man tries to teach you hieroglyphs.
youtu.be/90An1dnvwyc
Please watch.
Cheers,
𓂋𓃀𓏏
Rebet
youtu.be/90An1dnvwyc
Please watch.
Cheers,
𓂋𓃀𓏏
Rebet
Hieroglyphs are easier than they look
YouTube video by RobWords
youtu.be
August 28, 2025 at 12:50 PM
This video has a million views now, which is just silly.
Reposted by Rob Watts (RobWords)
We’re doing another idiom-themed episode of Words Unravelled, and I would love suggestions for terms to research.
August 25, 2025 at 4:44 PM
We’re doing another idiom-themed episode of Words Unravelled, and I would love suggestions for terms to research.
Popular Word Origins That Are Totally WRONG. | Otherwords
YouTube video by Storied
youtu.be
August 25, 2025 at 5:52 AM
BEHOLD my latest video, in which a sweaty man tries to teach you hieroglyphs.
youtu.be/90An1dnvwyc
Please watch.
Cheers,
𓂋𓃀𓏏
Rebet
youtu.be/90An1dnvwyc
Please watch.
Cheers,
𓂋𓃀𓏏
Rebet
Hieroglyphs are easier than they look
YouTube video by RobWords
youtu.be
August 24, 2025 at 12:33 PM
BEHOLD my latest video, in which a sweaty man tries to teach you hieroglyphs.
youtu.be/90An1dnvwyc
Please watch.
Cheers,
𓂋𓃀𓏏
Rebet
youtu.be/90An1dnvwyc
Please watch.
Cheers,
𓂋𓃀𓏏
Rebet
New alleged podcast comes amid reports of knobbly monsters.
In latest episode of Words Unravelled, @robwords.bsky.social and I report on:
🗞️ News jargon and clichés
🐊 Crash blossoms and knobbly monsters
🖍️ Editorial shorthand
📓 The origins of magazine, gazette, and journal
Watch on YouTube or listen anywhere you get your podcasts:
youtu.be/Q_A1OtVd8RA?...
🗞️ News jargon and clichés
🐊 Crash blossoms and knobbly monsters
🖍️ Editorial shorthand
📓 The origins of magazine, gazette, and journal
Watch on YouTube or listen anywhere you get your podcasts:
youtu.be/Q_A1OtVd8RA?...
Why do news anchors all sound the same? | NEWS WORDS
YouTube video by Words Unravelled with RobWords and Jess Zafarris
youtu.be
August 21, 2025 at 10:48 AM
New alleged podcast comes amid reports of knobbly monsters.