Podcasts about Vocabulary

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 8, 2026 is: gumbo • GUM-boh • noun Gumbo refers to a soup thickened with okra pods or filé and containing meat or seafoods and usually vegetables. The word is also used figuratively to refer to a mixture or blend of something. // The reputation of the family's gumbo guaranteed them an invitation to any and all neighborhood potlucks. // She draws her artistic inspiration from the city's rich gumbo of musical styles. See the entry > Examples: “Gram and Aunt Rachel got a big bucket of gumbo on the way home ... and we ate it out of the container with plastic spoons in front of the clubhouse TV, watching episode after episode of Jeopardy!, none of us wagering any answers. Gull sat in my lap and picked out the okra.” — Tennessee Hill, Girls with Long Shadows: A Novel, 2025 Did you know? Gumbo refers to an aromatic soup of the Creole cuisine of Louisiana, combining African, Indigenous North American, and European elements. It takes its name from the American French word gombo, which in turn is of Bantu origin and related to the Umbundu word ochinggômbo, meaning “okra.” Okra usually plays a starring role in gumbo as a thickener (unless the soup is thickened by filé, powdered young sassafras leaves) alongside the holy trinity of celery, onion, and bell pepper, and any number of additional ingredients, from seafood (shrimp, crab, or oysters) to meat (chicken, sausage, duck, or game) to leafy greens. The variety of ingredients and ways to prepare the dish eventually led to the figurative sense of gumbo referring to a variety, mixture, or mélange of things, as in “a gumbo of ideas.”

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 7, 2026 is: eminently • EM-uh-nunt-lee • adverb Eminently is used as a synonym of very and means "to a high degree." // Our team came up with an eminently sensible plan to reduce waste. See the entry > Examples: "This was jazz of the highest order—challenging, yet accessible, eminently entertaining and arrestingly beautiful. Goosebumps were felt." — T'Cha Dunlevy, The Gazette (Montreal, Canada), 8 July 2025 Did you know? When British physician Tobias Venner wrote in 1620 of houses "somewhat eminently situated," he meant that the houses were located at an elevated site—they were literally in a high place. That use has since slipped into obsolescence, as has the word's use to mean "conspicuously"—a sense that reflects its Latin root, ēminēre, which means "to stick out" or "protrude." All three meanings date to the 17th century, but today's figurative sense of "notably" or "very" is the only one now regularly encountered.

Get Daily Vocabulary Words - http://dailyenglishvocabulary.com/Do you ever recognize a word instantly when reading but can't seem to pull it from your brain when speaking? You're not alone—and you're not broken. In this eye-opening lesson, you'll discover the scientific reason behind this frustrating gap and learn exactly how to fix it.Most English learners have been training the wrong skill for years. Traditional study methods—flashcards, tests, reading—build your ability to recognize words, but they don't train your brain to produce them in real conversations. The result? A warehouse full of vocabulary with a rusty exit door.This lesson breaks down the two vocabulary systems your brain uses, explains why one is strong and the other is weak, and gives you a clear path to transform your passive knowledge into active fluency.What You'll Learn:The two vocabulary systems – Why recognition and production are completely different skills (and why school only trained one)The warehouse analogy – How your vocabulary is stored and why the output door is stuckThe science of retrieval pathways – What happens in your brain when you try to recall a word under pressureWhy cramming fails – How massed practice builds recognition but leaves production pathways weakThe phone contacts metaphor – A simple comparison that makes the recognition vs. production gap instantly clearThe engineering fix – Exactly how to train the output side through daily, low-pressure retrieval practiceThis isn't about learning more words—it's about unlocking the thousands you already know. Stop letting your vocabulary stay asleep. Watch this lesson now and finally close the gap between what you know and what you can use.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 6, 2026 is: loll • LAHL • verb Loll most often means “to droop or hang loosely.” It can also mean “to act or move in a relaxed or lazy manner.” // We're counting down the days until the weather will be warm enough again to laze and loll by the pool. See the entry > Examples: “Just across the highway at Año Nuevo State Park, elephant seals loll lazily on the beach.” — Scott Clark, quoted in Saveur, 3 Apr. 2025 Did you know? Despite appearances, loll isn't an exaggerated version of the abbreviation LOL. It isn't even related to laughing. Instead, it is about hanging out, both literally and figuratively. Like another relaxing verb, lull (“to cause to rest or sleep”), it probably originated as an imitation of the soft sounds people make when resting or trying to soothe someone else to sleep. In addition to meaning “to hang loosely,” as in “a dog with its tongue lolling out,” loll shares meaning with a number of l verbs that are all about taking it easy, including loaf, lounge, and laze.

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Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 5, 2026 is: marginalia • mahr-juh-NAY-lee-uh • noun Marginalia is a plural noun that refers to notes or other marks written in the margins of a text, and also to nonessential matters or items. // I loved flipping through my literature textbooks to find the marginalia left behind by former students. // She found the documentary's treatment of not only the major events but also the marginalia of Scandinavian history fascinating. See the entry > Examples: “Marginalia have a long history: Leonardo da Vinci famously scribbled thoughts about gravity years before Galileo Galilei published his magnum opus on the subject; the discovery was waiting under our noses in the margins of Leonardo's Codex Arundel.” — Brianne Kane, Scientific American, 19 Sept. 2025 Did you know? In the introduction to his essay titled “Marginalia,” Edgar Allan Poe wrote: “In getting my books, I have always been solicitous of an ample margin; this not so much through any love of the thing in itself, however agreeable, as for the facility it affords me of penciling suggested thoughts, agreements and differences of opinion, or brief critical comments in general.” At the time the essay was first published in 1844, marginalia was only a few decades old despite describing something—notes in the margin of a text—that had existed for centuries. An older word, apostille (or apostil), refers to a single annotation made in a margin, but that word is rarely used today. Even if you are not, like Poe, simply ravenous for scribbling in your own books, you likely know marginalia as a telltale sign that someone has read a particular volume before you.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 4, 2026 is: titanic • tye-TAN-ik • adjective Something described as titanic is very great in size, force, or power. // The batter saved the game in the bottom of the ninth inning by hitting a titanic home run right out of the park. See the entry > Examples: “Absurdly, though, if you were standing on a Rodinian beach [on the ancient supercontinent of Rodinia] you might not have even noticed the seas rising at all. This is because, as the land bounced back from underneath the weight of the now-vanished ice sheets, and the gravitational pull of these titanic ice sheets on the oceans disappeared, the seas might have appeared to some Rodinian beachgoers to instead retreat from the coast, and even drop by over three hundred feet—despite the unthinkable rise in sea level globally.” — Peter Brannan, The Story of CO2 Is the Story of Everything: How Carbon Dioxide Made Our World, 2025 Did you know? Before becoming the name of the most famous ship in history, titanic described that which resembled or was related to the Titans, the family of giant gods and goddesses in Greek mythology who were believed to have once ruled the earth. They were subsequently overpowered and replaced by the younger Olympian gods under the leadership of Zeus. The size and power of the Titans is memorialized in the adjective titanic and in the noun titanium, a chemical element of exceptional strength that is used especially in the production of steel.

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/bizpod/360.107-Habits-1.mp3 Welcome back to the Business English Skills 360 podcast as we look at how to develop good habits for success at work. The start of a new year feels like the right time to make big resolutions, or promises to yourself. You're going to call people back promptly. You're going to keep a tidy desktop. You're going to stop reading new emails as soon as they come in. You're going to manage your time better. It sure feels great to make these resolutions. But what doesn't feel great is the realization in February that you haven't made good on any of your promises. In most cases, the problem is that people intuitively believe that setting a goal or making a resolution is enough. But it's not. Setting a goal without looking at the systems that support specific habits or behaviors is useless. Intention isn't enough. You need to break down what happens around habits, both good and bad, and create the right conditions for the right behaviors. Members: Lesson Module | Quiz & Vocab | PDF Transcript Download: Podcast MP3>>> The post Skills 360 – Developing Good Habits (1) first appeared on Business English Pod :: Learn Business English Online.

Are you tired of freezing up or feeling anxious every time you need to speak English? In this powerful lesson, you'll discover exactly how to overcome nervousness and speak with confidence—even in high-pressure situations.Whether you're preparing for a presentation, a job interview, or simply want to feel more comfortable in everyday conversations, this lesson gives you five proven methods to eliminate hesitation and boost your fluency.What You'll Learn:Practice speaking in short, simple sentences first – Reduce pressure and speak smoothly without overthinkingThink in English, not your native language – Train your brain to form ideas directly in English so you stop pausing to translateUse "chunking" (memorized phrases) instead of single words – Speak in natural phrases to boost fluency and reduce hesitationPrepare 3 "go-to responses" for common questions – Have ready-made answers that eliminate pressure in real conversationsBuild vocabulary around topics you talk about often – Familiar vocabulary reduces blank moments and increases confidencePlus, don't miss the personal storytime where I share an embarrassing moment from my own experience with nervousness—and the valuable lesson I learned from it!Stop letting fear hold you back. Watch this lesson now and start speaking English with the confidence you deserve.If you want to sign up for the free English email newsletter, go to https://speakenglishwithtiffani.com/newsletter

This week's episode is sponsored by italki.com. Follow the link below, sign up for free and book your first class. Use the promotional code "INGLES1" when you pay for your first lesson and you'll get a €5 discount on your first class of at least €10. https://go.italki.com/ingles1  Happy New Year to you and your loved-ones! In today's podcast, you'll learn vocabulary and expressions with the word 'new'. What better way to start a New Year than to learn some new words in English. Show notes and more podcasts to improve your English at: http://www.inglespodcast.com/   Las notas del episodio y más podcasts para mejorar tu ingles están en: http://www.inglespodcast.com/  

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 3, 2026 is: senescence • sih-NESS-unss • noun Senescence is a formal and technical word that refers to the state of being old or the process of becoming old. // Our grandparents, now in their senescence, are enjoying spending more time with family and going on new adventures together. See the entry > Examples: “Pilates provides improvements in core strength, flexibility and balance, even when done just once a week. It can help with stress relief, as well as anxiety and depression. Among those 60 years of age and older, Pilates has even been shown to slow the process of senescence.” — Leah Asmelash, CNN, 7 Sept. 2025 Did you know? Senescence can be traced back to Latin senex, meaning “old.” Can you guess which other English words come from senex? Senile might (correctly) come to mind, as well as senior. But another one might surprise you: senate. This word for a legislative assembly dates back to ancient Rome, where the Senatus was originally a council of elders composed of the heads of patrician families. There's also the much rarer senectitude, which, like senescence, refers to the state of being old (specifically, to the final stage of the normal life span).

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 2, 2026 is: febrile • FEB-ryle • adjective Febrile is a medical term meaning "marked or caused by fever; feverish." It is sometimes used figuratively, as in "a febrile political climate." // I'm finally back on my feet after recovering from a febrile illness. // The actor delivered the monologue with a febrile intensity. See the entry > Examples: "Peppered with exclamation marks, breathless and febrile, this is an utterly mesmeric account of how one man's crimes can affect an entire community." — Laura Wilson, The Guardian (London), 20 June 2025 Did you know? The English language has had the word fever for as long as the language has existed (that is, about a thousand years); the related adjective feverish has been around since the 14th century. But that didn't stop the 17th-century medical reformer Noah Biggs from admonishing physicians to care for their "febrile patients" properly. Biggs apparently thought his medical writing required a word that clearly nodded to a Latin heritage, and called upon the Latin adjective febrilis, from febris, meaning "fever." It's a tradition that English has long kept: look to Latin for words that sound technical or elevated. But fever too comes from febris. It first appeared (albeit with a different spelling) in an Old English translation of a book about the medicinal qualities of various plants. By Biggs's time it had shed all obvious hallmarks of its Latin ancestry. Febrile, meanwhile, continues to be used in medicine in a variety of ways, including in references to such things as "febrile seizures" and "the febrile phase" of an illness. The word has also developed figurative applications matching those of feverish, as in "a febrile atmosphere."

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 1, 2026 is: amortize • AM-er-tyze • verb To amortize something, such as a mortgage, is to pay for it by making regular payments over a long period of time. // If you apply extra payments directly to your loan balance as a principal reduction, your loan can be amortized sooner. See the entry > Examples: “As part of some of the league's commercial deals—where companies pay the league for rights of some sort—the NFL has received equity or warrants. … The warrants are priced at fair market value on the date of vesting and amortized over 10 years.” — Jacob Feldman and Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico, 5 Aug. 2025 Did you know? When you amortize a loan, you figuratively “kill it off” by paying it down in installments, an idea reflected in the etymology of amortize. The word comes ultimately from a Latin word meaning “to kill” that was formed in part from the Latin noun mors, meaning “death”; it is related both to murder and a word naming a kind of loan that is usually amortized: mortgage. The original use of amortize dates to the 14th century, when amortizing was about transferring ownership of a property to a corporation, and especially to an ecclesiastical corporation—that is, a corporation consisting wholly of clergy. Such land was said to be in mortmain, which under the feudal system meant that the property was permanently exempt from a lord's usual payment collections. Mortmain is of course another mors word. Its second syllable comes from Latin manus, meaning “hand,” the implication being that the property was held in the dead hand of a corporation—a hand incapable of paying out.

“Anne, I was doing fine at A2… and now at B1 I feel stuck.”.Grammar suddenly gets heavier.Vocabulary explodes.And progress feels slower, even though you're actually learning regularly.In Part 1 (Episode 98), we talked about why B1 feels like such a climb: the famous intermediate plateau.And if that's where you are right now: you're not failing. You're exactly where you should be.Here's the good news

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 31, 2025 is: retrospective • reh-truh-SPEK-tiv • adjective Retrospective describes something that relates to the past or to something that happened in the past. // The museum has curated a retrospective exhibit of the artist's early works. See the entry > Examples: "Our retrospective sense of time hinges on memory: Periods rich in novel, significant experiences feel longer, while routine collapses duration ..." — Marc Wittmann, Psychology Today, 16 Nov. 2025 Did you know? At the year's end, both introspection and retrospection are common. While introspection involves looking inward and taking stock of oneself, retrospection is all about recollecting and contemplating things that happened in the past. A look back at the history of the related adjective retrospective reveals that it retains a strong connection to its past: its Latin source is retrospicere, meaning "to look back at." Retrospective can also be used as a noun referring to an exhibition that "looks back" at an artist's work created over a span of years. Once you have retrospective and retrospection behind you, you can also add their kin retrospect (most familiar in the phrase in retrospect to describe thinking about the past or something that happened in the past) and retro (usually meaning "fashionably nostalgic or old-fashioned") to your vocabulary, too.

In this episode you'll hear us planning our New Year's Eve. We'll give you some related vocabulary and talk about various customs and traditions we have in Greece on that day.E: Τι λες να κάνουμε φέτος για Πρωτοχρονιά; /What do you think we should do this year for New Year's Eve?D: Σκεφτόμουν να μαζευόμασταν όπως κάθε χρόνο σε κάποιο σπίτι και να κάναμε μαζί αλλαγή χρονιάς. Είχες κάτι άλλο στο μυαλό σου; /I was thinking we could get together like every year at someone's place and welcome the New Year together. Did you have something else in mind?E: Αυτό σκεφτόμουν κι εγώ αλλά έλεγα μήπως θέλατε να βγαίναμε κιόλας μετά την αλλαγή. /That's what I was thinking too, but I wondered whether you might want to go out after the New Year comes in.D: Λες; Πού να πάμε όμως; Θα έχει πάρα πολύ κόσμο έξω. Α σε που δεν θα βρίσκουμε να κάτσουμε κάπου, θα έπρεπε να έχουμε ήδη κλείσει κάποιο τραπέζι. /You think so? But where would we go? It'll be incredibly crowded outside. Plus, we won't be able to find anywhere to sit, and we'd have needed to book a table already.E: Έχεις δίκιο. Ας κάτσουμε σπίτι. Μπορούμε να βγούμε το μεσημέρι της παραμονής που θα έχει διάφορα πάρτυ στο κέντρο. /You're right. Let's stay home. We can go out during the day on New Year's Eve—there are various parties downtown then.D: Καλή ιδέα αυτή. Άρα να έχουμε ετοιμάσει από πριν τα φαγητά όμως./That's a good idea. So we should have the food prepared beforehand, though.E: Εννοείται. Έτσι κι αλλιώς τα παιδιά μάλλον θα βγουν και την Πρωτοχρονιά για κάλαντα, οπότε μπορούμε μετά να βγούμε και να γυρίσουμε νωρίς το απόγευμα. Να έχουμε χρόνο να ετοιμαστούμε. /Of course. Besides, the kids will probably go out on New Year's Day to sing carols, so afterward we can go out too and be back early in the afternoon. That way we'll have time to get ready.D: Ωραία! Θα κάνεις πάλι το τέλειο μοσχαράκι σου; /Great! Will you make your perfect veal stew again?E: Φυσικά! Λέω φέτος να το κάνω με ρύζι, για αλλαγή. /Of course! This year I'm thinking of making it with rice, for a change.D: Τέλεια! Αναλαμβάνω την βασιλόπιτα και καμία σαλάτα. /Perfect! I'll take care of the vasilopita and a couple of salads.Ε: Την σαμπάνια να μην ξεχάσουμε να έχουμε έτοιμη στην αντίστροφη μέτρηση! /Let's not forget to have the champagne ready for the countdown!D: Τι δώρο λες να βάλουμε για το φλουρί; /What kind of gift do you think we should put for the lucky coin?E: Κανένα γούρι με ρόδι, για το καλό! /Some kind of good-luck charm with a pomegranate, for good fortune!D: Ωραία, ωραία, θα πάω να πάρω αύριο. Ψωνίσατε όλα σας τα δώρα για την ανταλλαγή; /Nice, nice—I'll go buy it tomorrow. Have you bought all your gifts for the exchange?E: Σχεδόν! Μας μένουν δύο, έχουμε βρει τι θα πάρουμε αλλά δεν είχαμε χρόνο ακόμα. Μέσα στη βδομάδα θα πάμε όμως γιατί θα έρθει και ο Άι Βασίλης και πρέπει να είμαστε έτοιμοι και γι'αυτό! /Almost! We still have two left—we know what we're getting, but we haven't had time yet. We'll go during the week, though, because Santa will be coming too and we need to be ready for that!D: Σωστά, σωστά! Σε εσάς έρχεται ακόμα ο Άγιος Βασίλης. /Right, right! Santa still comes to your place.E: Ακριβώς! Λοιπόν, σε αφήνω να ετοιμάσω τη λίστα για το σούπερ μάρκετ! Θα τα πούμε αύριο!/ Exactly! Well, I'll leave you now to make the supermarket list! Talk to you tomorrow!D: Εντάξει, φιλάκια! /Okay, kisses!Ε: Α! Φλουρί μην ξεχάσεις να βάλεις στην βασιλόπιτα! /Oh! Don't forget to put the lucky coin in the vasilopita!D: Σωστή! /You're right!Check out our Instagram @greek_lang_experts or visit our website for our upcoming⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Greek classes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!If you enjoyed this episode please rate our podcast and leave a comment!

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 30, 2025 is: charisma • kuh-RIZ-muh • noun Charisma refers to a special magnetic charm or appeal that causes people to feel attracted and excited by someone. A person with charisma is captivating and often admired. // The young singer has the kind of charisma that turns a performer into a star. See the entry > Examples: "Sports and showbiz have gone hand in hand since newsreels in the 1920s showcased the skills and charisma of Babe Ruth." — Carole Horst, Variety, 16 July 2025 Did you know? The Greek word charisma means "favor" or "gift." It comes from the verb charizesthai ("to favor"), which in turn comes from the noun charis, meaning "grace." In English, charisma was originally used in Christian contexts to refer to a gift or power bestowed upon an individual by the Holy Spirit for the good of the Church—a sense that is now very rare. These days, we use the word to refer to social, rather than divine, grace. For instance, a leader with charisma may easily gain popular support, and a job applicant with charisma may shine in an interview.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 29, 2025 is: nefarious • nih-FAIR-ee-us • adjective Nefarious is a formal word that describes something as evil or immoral. // Authorities suspect that the recovered materials were going to be used for nefarious purposes. See the entry > Examples: “Introducing characters like Gorilla Grodd on DC Crime would help familiarize audiences with these figures before they potentially receive an expanded role in another project. Perhaps each season could focus on a different villain, highlighting their nefarious actions.” — Chris Agar, comicbook.com, 16 Nov. 2025 Did you know? If you need a fancy word to describe someone who's up to no good, nefarious has got you (and them) covered. It's also handy for characterizing the “no good” such a dastardly devil gets up to, as in “a nefarious business/plot/deed.” Nefarious is most often used for someone or something that is flagrantly wicked or corrupt—it's more applicable to the mustache-twirling supervillain than the morally gray antihero. In other words, there's no question that a nefarious scheme, or schemer, is not right. Etymologically, this makes perfect sense: nefarious can be traced back to the Latin noun nefas, meaning “crime,” which in turn combines ne- (“not”) and fas, meaning “right” or “divine law.” It is one of very few English words with this root, accompanied only by the likes of nefariousness and the thoroughly obscure nefast (“wicked”).

For me, and I think for many people, this last week of the year is a supremely hopeful one. The rush to get ready for Christmas is behind us and the promise of a new year is finally in focus. We're faced with possibilities for a change, instead of pressure. I realize, of course, that for many of us those possibilities for the new year include uncertainty, worry and fear which are beyond any assistance I could give on this podcast. I can merely offer prayers that the universe grants us all the courage and resources we need to face the circumstances before us. And I will stick to what I know best, how to help you find more meaning, joy and fulfillment in your harp playing, It has become a fairly wide-spread practice at the beginning of the year to choose a word or a phrase to be your touchpoint throughout the year, to inspire you, motivate you and keep you focused. As I was thinking through my word for 2026, I realized that many of the words I have been using frequently in my teaching and in my own practice are words that carry too much weight. They have a charge, a negative charge like a negative ion. Some of those words didn't start out that way in my vocabulary. In fact, more than one of them I intentionally chose to use to reduce the negative connotation of another word. Still, it's the right time to rethink them. Words shape our thinking. They can create boxes that limit us, that hold us back from achieving what we want in any area of life, including our harp playing. Or they can free us to love what we do and to find new energy for doing it. I'll tell you my word - it's actually two words - for 2026, but before I do that I want to share the words that I am rethinking for the coming year. My goal is to be more mindful of my language in my teaching, and that includes my teaching you on this podcast. These are words I use all the time so it will be an adventure for me, for sure, but if my 2026 vocabulary words help you reduce any negative charge that is impacting your harp playing, it will have been more than worth the effort.  Links to things I think you might be interested in that were mentioned in the podcast episode:  Time is running out to join us at the Getaway Retreat. Register today. Make your harp dreams come true this year - work with a Harp Mastery® Certified Coach. Harpmastery.com Get involved in the show! Send your questions and suggestions for future podcast episodes to me at podcast@harpmastery.com Looking for a transcript for this episode? Did you know that if you subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts you will have access to their transcripts of each episode? LINKS NOT WORKING FOR YOU? FInd all the show resources here: https://www.harpmastery.com/blog/Episode-242  

How many words does the German language have? We'll get to the bottom of this question in the second episode of our podcast series. The German language owes its almost inexhaustible wealth to a creative phenomenon that is notorious: compositing. Our guest today is Elisabeth Höbartner, teacher at the German School Melbourne. - Wie viele Wörter hat die deutsche Sprache? Dieser Frage gehen wir in der zweiten Folge unserer Podcastreihe auf den Grund. Ihren schier unerschöpflichen Reichtum verdankt die deutsche Sprache einem kreativen Phänomen, das berühmt-berüchtigt ist: dem Kompositum. Unser Gast ist heute Elisabeth Höbartner, Lehrerin an der Deutschen Schule Melbourne.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 28, 2025 is: yen • YEN • noun A yen is a strong desire, urge, or craving for something. // After dinner, the family went out for ice cream to satisfy their yen for something sweet. // Students with a yen to travel should consider studying abroad. See the entry > Examples: “If you've got a yen for succulent, right-off-the-boat Maine sea scallops, now is the time to get them.” — Stephen Rappaport, The Bangor Daily News, 26 Mar. 2025 Did you know? Although yen suggests no more than a strong desire these days (as in “a yen for a beach vacation”), at one time someone with a yen was in deep trouble: the first meaning of yen, used in the late 19th century, was an intense craving for opium. The word comes from yīn-yáhn, a combination of yīn, meaning “opium,” and yáhn, “craving,” in the Chinese language used in the province of Guangdong. In English, the Chinese syllables were translated as yen-yen, and eventually shortened to yen.

In this powerful 2.5-hour Idioms Masterclass, Teacher Tiffani breaks down the most common and confusing idioms used by native speakers. You'll finally understand expressions like barking up the wrong tree, bite the bullet, butterflies in your stomach, bury the hatchet, cut corners, bend over backwards, and more. Each idiom is explained with clear examples, real-life context, and pronunciation practice to help you use them naturally. Whether you're in America, Australia, or anywhere in the world, this lesson will help you express yourself fluently, confidently, and naturally every time you speak English.If you want to sign up for the free English email newsletter, go to https://speakenglishwithtiffani.com/newsletter

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 27, 2025 is: apropos • ap-ruh-POH • preposition Apropos is used as a preposition to mean "with regard to." It is frequently used in the phrase "apropos of." // Sean interrupted our conversation about politics and, apropos of nothing, asked who we thought would win the basketball game. As an adjective, apropos describes something that is suitable or appropriate, as in "an apropos nickname." See the entry > Examples: "Once, at the height of COVID, I dropped off a book at the home of Werner Herzog. I was an editor at the time and was trying to assign him a review, so I drove up to his gate in Laurel Canyon, and we had the briefest of masked conversations. Within 30 seconds, it turned strange. 'Do you have a dog? A little dog?' he asked me, staring out at the hills of Los Angeles, apropos of nothing. He didn't wait for an answer. 'Then be careful of the coyotes,' Herzog said." — Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 8 Jan. 2025 Did you know? Apropos wears its ancestry like a badge—or perhaps more fittingly a beret. From the French phrase à propos, meaning "to the purpose," the word's emphasis lands on its last syllable, which ends in a silent "s": ap-ruh-POH. Apropos typically functions as an adjective describing what is suitable or appropriate ("an apropos comment"), or as a preposition (with or without of) meaning "with regard to," as in "apropos (of) the decision, implementation will take some time." The phrase "apropos of nothing" is used to signal that what follows does not relate to any previous topic.

Hello and welcome back to PadGap!In today's episode, Hanieh and Mohsen dive into a very simple yet incredibly powerful Persian word—one you'll hear everywhere. It's a true magic word: short, polite, and surprisingly flexible.Through short, everyday dialogues—from cafés and homes to classrooms, shops, phone calls, and friendly conversations—you'll learn eight different real-life uses of this essential word and how tone can completely change its meaning. If you want to sound more natural and confident in Persian, this episode is a must-listen. Let's get started! If Podgap makes your Persian learning journey easier and more enjoyable, share it with your friends — it truly means the world to us!We'd also love to hear from you: drop us a message anytime at podgapp@gmail.comWant to dive deeper? By joining us on Patreon.com/podgapFull Persian transcriptions of every episodeA glossary & worksheets to practice withPlus extra learning goodies like Persian news, proverbs, vocabulary challenges, videos, and more!Let's keep learning and growing together — one word at a time

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 26, 2025 is: grandiose • gran-dee-OHSS • adjective Grandiose is usually used disapprovingly to describe something that seems impressive or is intended to be impressive, but that is either not possible or practical. // The long-vacant historic building has finally been purchased, and the developer has announced grandiose plans to make it the center of a new theater district. See the entry > Examples: “Henry [VIII] was a leader known for his grandiose presentation, a love of dramatic rhetoric and self-promotion, and a fondness for blaming others. He carefully curated his image, issuing official portraits and closely managing public appearances. His reign concentrated power in one man and his obsessions.” — Philippa Gregory, LitHub.com, 29 Oct. 2025 Did you know? When it comes to bigness, there's grand and then there's grandiose. Both words can be used to describe something impressive in size, scope, or effect, but while grand may lend its noun a bit of dignity (i.e., “we had a grand time”), grandiose often implies a whiff of pretension. The difference between a grand plan for the city park and a grandiose one, for example, might be the difference between a tasteful fountain and a garden full of topiaries cut in the shapes of 19th century literary figures. So if you're choosing between the two, a helpful mnemonic might be that the extra letters in grandiose suggest that one's ideas, claims, promises, schemes, dreams—you get the idea—are a bit extra.

One of the greatest statements in the Bible is Romans 3:25: "God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement".

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 25, 2025 is: noel • noh-EL • noun When capitalized, Noel refers to Christmas or the Christmas season. Uncapitalized, noel refers to a Christmas carol. // We were greeted at the door by a group of carolers singing noels. // Every year we send our family Christmas cards with our photo enclosed wishing everyone a joyous Noel. See the entry > Examples: “The meeting began with a touch of holiday spirit as members of the Woodland Park High School Madrigals sang three selections. The first was a Noel song with a medieval/renaissance feel that was well matched to their festive costumes. They followed with the popular ‘Carol of the Bells' and ‘We Wish You a Merry Christmas.'” — Doug Fitzgerald, The Pikes Peak (Colorado) Courier, 9 Dec. 2024 Did you know? English speakers borrowed noel from the French word noël, which is also used for both the Christmas holiday and a Christmas carol. It can be traced further back to the Latin word natalis, which can mean “birthday” as a noun or “of or relating to birth” as an adjective. (The English adjective natal has the same meaning and is also an offspring of natalis.) Noels were being sung in Latin and French for centuries before English-speakers started using the word to refer to Christmas carols in the 18th century. An early use of noel (spelled Nowel) to mean “Christmas” can be found in the text of the late 14th-century Arthurian legend Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.

discover effective strategies and tips for learning Czech

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 24, 2025 is: hark back • HAHRK-BAK • verb Harking back can be about turning back to an earlier topic or circumstance, as in "a storyteller harking back to his youth," or it can be about going back to something as an origin or source, as in "a style that harks back to the turn of the previous century." // The dinner conversation harked back to the lunch debate over what counts as a traditional holiday meal. // The diner's interior decor harks back to the 1950s. See the entry > Examples: "The single harks back to Chenier's heyday when his music was produced on 45s and put into jukeboxes, says [Maureen] Loughran." — Alicia Ault, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 June 2025 Did you know? Hark, a very old word meaning "to listen," was used as a cry in hunting. The master of the hunt might cry "Hark! Forward!" or "Hark! Back!" The cries became set phrases, both as nouns and verbs. Thus, a "hark back" was a retracing of a route by dogs and hunters, and to "hark back" was to turn back along the path. From its use in hunting, the verb acquired its current figurative meanings concerned with returning to the past. The variants hearken and harken (also very old words meaning "to listen") are also used, with and without back, as synonyms of hark back.

The vocabulary of acting is strangling the talent of actors. The need to use the right words is cutting off the actor's talent.

The road trip season has pushed us back a day but here we are squeezing in a show between Chanukah and Christmas. Vocabulary lessons this week include Competitive Balance Tax, because the Luxury Tax isn't just for Monopoly anymore, and Prospect Promotion Incentive (PPI). Just because it's the holidays it doesn't mean you can slack on learning. Our boyfriends this week are from BAL, where Patti leans into the once and forever boyfriend and Pottymouth goes Westy, and the Hammers, where Pottymouth picks a player with a wacky Tennessee claim to fame and Patti goes right to ROY. The Police Blotter features the return of Wander Franco's case to the courts, and the end of the Tyler Skagg's courtroom drama. The International Baseball update includes almost baffling chaos around the Serie del Caribe and the Serie de las Americas but the takeaway is absolutely please stop blowing up Venezuelan boats. We're both on yet more road trips and we wish you safe travels if you are too, and happy holidays if you celebrate.  See you a day late again next week!We say, “A glass half full of Santa's Butt,” “There was some hockey, there was some smarts,” and “Donny was the youngest Osmond that had any juice.” Fight the man, send your game balls to Meredith, get boosted, and find us on Bluesky @ncibpodcast, on Facebook @nocryinginbball, Instagram @nocryinginbball and on the Interweb at nocryinginbball.com. Please take a moment to subscribe to the show, and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to NCiB. Become a supporter at Patreon to help us keep doing what we do. We now have episode transcripts available!  They are available for free at our Patreon site. Say goodnight, Pottymouth. 

In this Christmas themed episode, we'll talk about how we usually spend Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and the next one. We will also give you some related vocabulary so you can wish your friends and family Merry Christmas in Greek.D: Λοιπόν για να ανακεφαλαιώσουμε το πρόγραμμά μας για τα Χριστούγεννα! /So, let's recap our Christmas schedule!E: Ωραία, την παραμονή τα παιδιά μας θα πάνε μαζί για κάλαντα, οπότε αφού τελειώσουν μπορούμε να πάμε για έναν καφέ και ό,τι τελευταία ψώνια μάς έχουν μείνει. /Great. On Christmas Eve the kids will go caroling together, so once they're done we can go for a coffee and do any last-minute shopping we still have.D: Τέλεια αν και θα γίνεται χαμός στα μαγαζιά, αλλά όλο και κάτι μπορεί να έχουμε ξεχάσει. /Perfect, although the shops will be packed, surely there's something we've forgotten.E: Ε ναι. Ανήμερα, θα τα περάσουμε οικογενειακά, οπότε δεν έχουμε κάτι να κάνουμε για εκείνη τη μέρα. /Of course. On Christmas Day we'll spend it with family, so we don't have anything to plan for that day.D: Αχ ναι, ευτυχώς το έχουν αναλάβει οι γονείς μου εκείνο το τραπέζι. Για τη δεύτερη μέρα, που θα μαζευτούμε στο σπίτι μου λέω να κάνω χοιρινό λεμονάτο με πατάτες στο φούρνο για κυρίως. /Oh yes, thankfully my parents are taking care of that meal. For the second day, when we're getting together at my place, I'm thinking of making lemon pork with oven-roasted potatoes as the main dish.E: Τέλεια ιδέα! Να κρατήσουμε την παράδοση! Εγώ μπορώ να κάνω την σαλάτα. Βασικά έχω δύο στο μυαλό μου, μία με ρόκα και παρμεζάνα και μία πράσινη με φρούτα εποχής και ξηρούς καρπούς. Πώς σου φαίνεται αυτό; /Perfect idea! Let's keep the tradition! I can make the salad. Actually, I have two in mind: one with arugula and Parmesan, and one green salad with seasonal fruits and nuts. How does that sound?D: Ό,τι καλύτερο! Για ορεκτικά σκεφτόμουν τυροπιτάκια ή σπανακοπιτάκια ή και τα δύο. /Couldn't be better! For appetizers I was thinking cheese pies or spinach pies—or both.E: Καλά σε αυτό δεν μπορώ να πω όχι… Ξέρεις πόσο μου αρέσουν τα σπανακοπιτάκια! /Well, I can't say no to that… You know how much I love spinach pies!D: Ξέρω ξέρω, γι' αυτό τα έβαλα στο μενού! Για γλυκό έχω ήδη μελομακάρονα και κουραμπιέδες, δεν το συζητώ. /I know, I know. That's why I put them on the menu! For dessert I already have melomakarona and kourabiedes; that's non-negotiable.Ε: Ωραία. Έλεγα να δοκιμάσω να φτιάξω δίπλες φέτος. Δεν έχω ξαναφτιάξει. Τι λες; /Great. I was thinking of trying to make diples this year. I've never made them before. What do you think?D: Τολμηρή σε βρίσκω! Αλλά η αλήθεια είναι ότι μου αρέσουν πάρα πολύ, οπότε θα περιμένω να τις δοκιμάσω και από τα χεράκια σου! / I find you brave! But the truth is I really love them, so I'll be looking forward to tasting the ones made by your own hands!Ε: Τέλεια! Έτοιμες λοιπόν. /Perfect! Then we're all set.D: Ώπα! Περίμενε! Τι θα πιούμε; /Wait! Hold on! What will we drink?Ε: Ααα σωστά! Ε λευκό κρασί ταιριάζει με το χοιρινό. /Ahhh, right! Well, white wine goes well with pork.D: Ωραία. Λευκό κρασάκι οπότε και κανένα χυμό ή αναψυκτικό για τα παιδιά. /Great. So white wine, and maybe some juice or soft drinks for the kids.Ε: Τι ωραία! Ανυπομονώ! /How wonderful! I can't wait!Check out our Instagram @greek_lang_experts or visit our website for our upcoming⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Greek classes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!If you enjoyed this episode please rate our podcast and leave a comment!

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 23, 2025 is: bespoke • bih-SPOHK • adjective Bespoke describes something that is custom-made—that is, made to fit the needs or requirements of a particular person. // As a tailor, Lana specialized in crafting bespoke clothing for her clients, each piece unique and suited to their tastes. See the entry > Examples: “The vehicles are bespoke machines with every little detail thought of, from embroidered seats to custom floor mats to retro paint jobs.” — Charlie Berrey, SlashGear.com, 10 Nov. 2025 Did you know? In the English language of yore, the verb bespeak had various meanings, including “to speak,” “to accuse,” and “to complain.” In the 16th century, bespeak acquired another meaning: “to order.” It is from that sense that we get the adjective bespoke, referring to clothes and other things that are ordered before they are made. Bespoke has enjoyed a spike in usage in recent years, perhaps due to consumer trends that champion all things artisanal over those that are prefab.

We walk you through essential Christmas words and traditions in Mexico, from nacimientos and Christmas trees to poinsettias, piñatas, and festive street decorations. We also explore classic holiday food and drinks like tamales, ponche, rompope, and buñuelos, plus the music, posadas, and expressions you'll hear everywhere. Whether you're traveling, living in Mexico, or simply want to sound more confident during the holidays, this episode helps you connect language with real-life Christmas experiences.Key Takeaways:Master practical Spanish Christmas vocabulary used in real conversationsUnderstand the meaning behind Mexican holiday traditions and symbolsSpeak more naturally about Christmas while traveling or celebrating in SpanishRelevant Links And Additional Resources:036 – Las Posadas Navideñas Mexicanas | Mexican Christmas Parties037 – Diferencias Navideñas Entre México Y EEUU | Christmas Differences Between Mexico And The US141 – Villancicos Navideños | Christmas Carols142 – La Rama: El Árbol Navideño Mexicano | The Branch: The Mexican Christmas Tree195 – Ponche – El Olor De La Navidad En México | Ponche, The Smell Of Christmas In MexicoLevel up your Spanish with our Podcast MembershipGet the full transcript of each episode so you don't miss a wordListen to an extended breakdown section in English going over the most important words and phrasesTest your comprehension with a multiple choice quizSupport the show

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 22, 2025 is: temporize • TEM-puh-ryze • verb To temporize is to avoid making a decision or giving a definite answer in order to have more time. // Pressured by voters on both sides of the issue, the congressman temporized. See the entry > Examples: "The question is, Did you eat the last piece of pie? And the politician who ate the last piece of pie doesn't want to say yes, because they might get in trouble. Doesn't want to say no, because that's an outright lie. So they waver, they equivocate, they temporize, they put things in context, and they talk like a politician." — David Frum, The Atlantic (The David Frum Show podcast), 21 May 2025 Did you know? Temporize comes from the Middle French word temporiser, which in turn likely traces back via Medieval Latin temporizāre, "to delay," to the Latin noun tempus, meaning "time." Tempus is also the root of such words as tempo, contemporary, and temporal. If you need to buy some time, you might resort to temporizing, but you probably won't win admiration for doing so, as the word typically carries a negative connotation. For instance, a political leader faced with a difficult issue might temporize by talking vaguely about possible solutions without actually doing anything. The point of such temporizing is to avoid taking definitive—and possibly unpopular—action, in hopes that the problem will somehow go away.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 21, 2025 is: hibernaculum • hye-ber-NAK-yuh-lum • noun Hibernaculum (plural hibernacula) refers to a shelter occupied during the winter by a dormant animal, such as an insect, snake, bat, or marmot. // Local scientists are studying the longevity of bats who use bridges and other aboveground hibernacula versus that of bats who roost all winter in subterranean caves. See the entry > Examples: “Adult female bees begin looking for a hibernation location, or hibernaculum, in the fall. If the gardener is planning to deadhead any spent flowers from the summer, aim to prune stems at varying heights (8" to 24") as a nesting site for these bees. Many perennial flowers and shrubs have pithy stems that will serve as a good location. A few common Oklahoma garden plants that are good candidates include roses, purple coneflower, salvia, bee balm, and sunflowers.” — Sherry Clark, The Shawnee (Oklahoma) News-Star, 8 Oct. 2025 Did you know? If you're afraid of snakes or bats, you probably won't enjoy thinking about hibernacula, where hundreds, even thousands, of these creatures might be passing the wintry months. Other creatures also use hibernacula, though many of these tend to be less crowded. The word hibernaculum has been used for the burrow of a woodchuck, for instance, as well as for a cozy caterpillar cocoon attached to a wintry twig, and for the spot in which a frog has buried itself in mud. Hibernacula are all around us and have been around for a long, long time, but we have only called them such since the late 1700s, making hibernaculum only a few decades older than the more familiar verb hibernate. Both words come from the Latin verb hibernare, meaning “to pass the winter,” which in turn comes from hibernus, meaning “winter.”

In this 4-hour Ultimate English Expressions Masterclass, Teacher Tiffani teaches hundreds of real-life expressions that will instantly upgrade your fluency. You'll master phrases like bend over backwards, cut to the chase, bring it up, backseat driver, believe it or not, couldn't care less, and more — all explained clearly with examples, tone, and pronunciation tips. Discover how native speakers actually use these expressions in everyday conversations across America and beyond. Whether you're learning English for work, school, or daily life, this masterclass will help you express yourself naturally and confidently in every situation.If you want to sign up for the free English email newsletter, go to https://speakenglishwithtiffani.com/newsletter

in this episode, you will learn colloquial Punjabi vocabulary. You will learn word like ਪਾਡੀ ਮਾਰਨਾ, ਹਵਾ ਕਰਨਾ, ਨਿੰਦਿਆ, ਚੁਗਲੀ etc. Dive into the world of conversational Punjabi and vibrant Punjabi culture! This podcast goes beyond textbook language, teaching you how Punjabi is spoken in real life—step by step. Learn not just the words but the traditions, stories, and regional nuances that make Punjabi so rich and unique. Whether you're a language enthusiast or curious about the Punjabi way of life, this podcast is your gateway to authentic learning and cultural exploration.If you want to learn more about colloquial Punjabi and Punjabi culture then subscribe/follow the podcast.If you wanna support my work or want 1 on 1 private class with me then check out my patreonSupport the podcast on Patreon⬇️ https://www.patreon.com/amrinder69 Get my free Punjabi pronouns ebook ⬇️https://mailchi.mp/40bd16240e52/untitled-pageSupport through PayPal⬇️https://www.paypal.me/amrinder69Check out The Amrinder Singh Podcast (Punjabi podcast)⬇️https://open.spotify.com/show/46YPbbiIk0BDhnO6QDSxVC?si=JBgiZf9rQMaWBnN0aM1LuA&dd=1Youtube ⬇️https://youtube.com/amrindermkInstagram ⬇️https://instagram.com/colloquial.punjabi?igshid=MDE2OWE1N2Q=Facebook⬇️https://www.facebook.com/amrinder.singh.mk Contact with me⬇️Email: amrinder.s.shergill@gmail.com Telegram : Amrinder_mkFacebook Group  ⬇️https://www.facebook.com/groups/2832332600381383/?ref=share#learnpunjabi 

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 20, 2025 is: decorous • DECK-er-us • adjective Decorous is a formal adjective used to describe an attitude or behavior characterized by propriety and good taste. // The ceremony was conducted with a decorous solemnity. See the entry > Examples: “... Elizabeth reveals, later, that she felt she never belonged to the decorous world of parties and corsets and curls and feathers on the head ...” — Ryan Lattanzio, Indie Wire, 13 Oct. 2025 Did you know? One of the earliest recorded uses of decorous appears in a book titled The Rules of Civility (1671): “It is not decorous to look in the glass, to comb, brush, or do any thing of that nature to ourselves, whilst the said person be in the Room.” This rule of thumb may be a bit outdated; like many behaviors once deemed unbecoming, public primping is unlikely to offend in modern times. Though mores shift, decorous lives on to describe timeless courtesies like polite speech, proper attire, and (ahem) covering one's cough.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 19, 2025 is: veracity • vuh-RASS-uh-tee • noun Veracity is a formal word that can refer to truth or accuracy, or to the quality of being truthful or honest. // The jury seemed not to doubt the veracity of the witness. See the entry > Examples: "Raise your hand if you've been questioning the veracity of real events, news stories and images posted on social media lately. It used to be we'd have to tiptoe around a minefield of hoaxes only once a year, on April 1. But thanks to the proliferation of misinformation spawned by artificial intelligence, every day on the internet is an exercise in judgment and media literacy." — Laura Yuen, The Hamilton (Ontario) Spectator, 9 Oct. 2025 Did you know? Veracity has been in use since the early 17th century, and we can honestly tell you that it comes from the Latin adjective vērāx, "truthful," which in turn comes from the earlier verus, "true." Verus also gives us the words verity ("the quality of being true"), verify ("to establish the truth of"), and verisimilitude ("the appearance of truth"), among other words. In addition, vērāx is the root of the word veraciousness, a somewhat rarer synonym and cousin of veracity.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 18, 2025 is: jaunty • JAWN-tee • adjective Something described as jaunty is lively in manner or appearance. Jaunty can also describe something, such as an article of clothing, that suggests a lively and confident quality. // The server whistled a jaunty tune as she wiped the tables and set out fresh flowers in preparation for the day's diners. See the entry > Examples: “He stood at the front of the room and announced that we would begin with a quiz, which we all failed because the quiz was over material that we were supposed to have covered during the last class. When he handed the quizzes back to us after the break, he did so in a frenetic, almost jaunty way, running up and down the aisles and announcing our grades—‘Zero, zero, zero'—loudly before tossing the quizzes down in front of us ...” — Lori Ostlund, Are You Happy?: Stories, 2025 Did you know? Does throwing on a jaunty hat make someone appear more genteel? Maybe, but something more definitive links the words: both jaunty and genteel come from the French word gentil, meaning “of aristocratic birth.” Genteel was borrowed first to describe things associated with aristocratic people. Jaunty joined the language just a few years later in the mid-17th century as a synonym of stylish and also as a synonym for genteel. While genteel has maintained its associations of propriety and high social class, jaunty has traipsed into less stuffy territory as a descriptor of tunes and hats and other things that suggest lively confidence.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 17, 2025 is: espouse • ih-SPOWZ • verb To espouse an ideology, belief, etc., is to take it up and support it as a cause. Espouse is usually encountered in formal speech and writing. // The article explores some of the lesser-known viewpoints espoused by the charismatic leader. See the entry > Examples: “Crammed into a tiny apartment in Greenwich Village, they [Yoko Ono and John Lennon] immersed themselves in the city's counterculture, absorbing progressive politics whenever they weren't glued to the television set. Lennon's celebrity secured the duo a large platform to espouse these ideas ...” — Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Pitchfork, 11 Oct. 2025 Did you know? As you might guess, the words espouse and spouse are hitched, both coming from the Latin verb spondēre, meaning “to promise” or “to betroth.” In fact, the two were once completely interchangeable, with each serving as a noun meaning “a newly married person” or “a partner in marriage” and also as a verb meaning “to marry.” Their semantic separation began when the noun espouse fell out of use. Nowadays, espouse is almost exclusively encountered as a verb used in the figuratively extended sense “to commit to and support as a cause.”

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 16, 2025 is: conversant • kun-VER-sunt • adjective Conversant, usually used in the phrase "conversant with," describes someone who has knowledge of or experience with something. // The ideal candidate for the sommelier position will have expert knowledge of the various wines served in the restaurant and be conversant with the rich world of viniculture. See the entry > Examples: "The advantages of franchise expansion are obvious. These shows benefit from name recognition and a dedicated audience, as well as writers, producers and crew members already conversant with that audience's expectations." — Alexis Soloski, The New York Times, 6 July 2025 Did you know? The adjectives conversant and conversational both descend from the Latin verb conversari, meaning "to associate with." Conversant dates to the Middle Ages; an early meaning of the word was simply "having familiar association." One way to associate with others is to have a conversation with them—in other words, to talk. For a short time in the 19th century conversant could mean "relating to or suggesting conversation," but for the most part that meaning stayed with conversational while conversant went in a different direction. Today, conversant is sometimes used, especially in the United States, with the meaning "able to talk in a foreign language," as in "she is conversant in several languages," but it is more often associated with knowledge or familiarity, as in "conversant with the issues."

"Rage bait." "Parasocial." "6-7." Ben Zimmer, linguist, language columnist, and chair of the New Words Committee of the American Dialect Society, discusses what the words of the year chosen by various dictionaries like Oxford and Dictionary.com, and what the choices say about our language and culture. To submit your nomination for word of the year to the American Dialect Society, go to https://americandialect.org.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 15, 2025 is: dreidel • DRAY-dul • noun A dreidel is a 4-sided toy marked with Hebrew letters and spun like a top in a game of chance. The game, played by children especially at Hanukkah, is also called dreidel. // All the kids in the family look forward to playing dreidel together during Hanukkah. See the entry > Examples: “The Jewish tradition has always been syncretic, adapting and responding to the culture around it, he [Rabbi Steven Philp] said. Hanukkah is ‘a great example of this,' Philp said, noting that the holiday's traditions—like spinning the dreidel, eating latkes or potato pancakes, and munching on ... jelly-filled doughnuts—are customs that were borrowed from neighboring cultures over time.” — Kate Heather, The Chicago Sun-Times, 25 Dec. 2024 Did you know? If your dreidel is spinning beneath the glow of the menorah, it's probably the Jewish festival of lights known as Hanukkah. The holiday celebrates the miracle of a small amount of oil—enough for one day—burning for eight days in the Temple of Jerusalem. And though it's a toy, the dreidel's design is very much an homage: on each of its four sides is inscribed a Hebrew letter—nun, gimel, he, and shin—which together stand for Nes gadol haya sham, meaning “A great miracle happened there.” (In Israel, the letter pe, short for po, “here,” is often used instead of shin). In the game of dreidel, each letter bears its own significance: the dreidel is spun and depending on which letter is on top when it lands, the player's currency, or gelt, is added to or taken from the pot. Nun means the player does nothing; gimel means the player gets everything; he means the player gets half; and shin means the player adds to the pot. Wherever you land on holiday traditions, we wish you words of gimel: gratitude, grub, and, of course, gaiety.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 14, 2025 is: multitudinous • mul-tuh-TOO-duh-nus • adjective Multitudinous is a formal word with meanings that relate to multitudes. It can mean “existing in a great multitude”—that is, “very many”; or “including a multitude of individuals”; or “existing in or consisting of innumerable elements or aspects.” // The two old friends reminisced about the multitudinous ways in which their lives had changed. // The author's appearance is expected to attract a multitudinous gathering that will fill the auditorium. See the entry > Examples: “Launched as Holton's artistic inquiry into his own Chinese heritage, the project has evolved into a profound examination of family dynamics, migration, and cultural hybridity in contemporary New York, where the American identity is multitudinous.” — Natasha Gural, Forbes, 11 June 2025 Did you know? “I am large, I contain multitudes.” So wrote Walt Whitman in his most celebrated poem, “Song of Myself.” He was expressing his ability to hold within himself contradictory statements, facets, opinions, beliefs, etc. Another, if less poetic, way of saying “I contain multitudes” might be “I am multitudinous,” using the sense of that five-syllable word meaning “existing in or consisting of innumerable elements or aspects.” Multitudinous doesn't have a lot of meanings—three to be exact—but each one concerns, well, a lot. In addition to serving Whitmanesque purposes as noted above, multitudinous is the kind of highly expressive word that you can rely upon when you want something a little more emphatic than plain old numerous, as in “multitudinous possibilities.” Lastly, its original sense—still in use today—is a synonym of populous meaning “including a multitude of individuals,” as in “the multitudinous city.”

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 13, 2025 is: alleviate • uh-LEE-vee-ayt • verb To alleviate something is to make it less painful, difficult, or severe. Alleviate can also mean "to partially remove or correct." // There's no cure for the common cold, but there are various treatments that may alleviate some of the symptoms. // The new tunnel should alleviate traffic congestion on the bridge. See the entry > Examples: "The funds are meant to alleviate monetary barriers and enhance the fashion industry's talent pipeline." — Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 30 Oct. 2025 Did you know? Now for a bit of light reading. Alleviate comes from Latin levis, meaning "having little weight." (Levis also gave rise to the English adjective light as in "not heavy.") In its early days during the 16th century, alleviate could mean both "to cause (something) to have less weight" or "to make (something) more tolerable." The literal "make lighter" sense is no longer used, and today only the "relieve, lessen" sense remains. Incidentally, not only is alleviate a synonym of relieve, it's also a cousin: relieve comes from Latin levare ("to raise"), which in turn comes from levis.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 12, 2025 is: waggish • WAG-ish • adjective Waggish describes someone who is silly and playful, and especially someone who displays a mischievous sense of humor. The word can also describe things that such a person might do or possess. // He had a waggish disposition that could irk adults but typically delighted children. // She denied the prank but did so with a waggish smirk that didn't match her disavowal. See the entry > Examples: “[Patricia] Lockwood began her writing life quietly, as a poet. She found her first major audience on Twitter, posting self-proclaimed ‘absurdities' ... that quickly came to define the medium's zany, waggish ethos ...” — Alexandra Schwartz, The New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025 Did you know? One who is waggish acts like a wag. What, then, is a wag? It has nothing to do with a dog's tail; in this case a wag is a clever person prone to joking. Though light-hearted in its use and meaning, the probable source of this particular wag is grim: it is thought to be short for waghalter, an obsolete English word that translates as gallows bird, a gallows bird being someone thought to be deserving of hanging (wag being the familiar wag having to do with movement, and halter referring to a noose). Despite its gloomy origins, waggish is now often associated with humor and playfulness—a wag is a joker, and waggery is merriment or practical joking. Waggish can describe the prank itself as well as the prankster type; the class clown might be said to have a “waggish disposition” or be prone to “waggish antics.”