Podcasts about Vocabulary

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 30, 2025 is: doppelgänger • DAH-pul-gang-er • noun A doppelgänger is someone who looks very much like another person. In literary use, doppelgänger refers to a ghost that closely resembles a living person. // I saw your doppelgänger at the movies yesterday and almost waved hello before I realized they weren't you. // In one of the creepiest parts of the story, the main character is haunted by a doppelgänger. See the entry > Examples: “When [Timothée] Chalamet himself briefly appeared at his own [celebrity look-alike] contest, popping up between two of his doppelgängers, the crowd was thrilled, but the contestants were somewhat diminished, all of the discrepancies emphasized between his face and their own.” — Amanda Hess, The New York Times, 22 Nov. 2024 Did you know? According to German folklore, all living creatures have an identical, but invisible, spirit double. These second selves are distinct from ghosts, which appear only after death, and are sometimes described as the spiritual opposite or negative of their living counterparts. English speakers borrowed both the concept of the doppelgänger and the German word for it (from doppel-, meaning “double,” and -gänger, meaning “goer”) in the mid-1800s, but today the English word typically has a more quotidian use, referring simply to a living person who closely resembles another living person.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 29, 2025 is: quibble • KWIB-ul • verb To quibble is to argue or complain about small, unimportant things. Quibble can also mean "to evade the point of an argument by making trivial or frivolous objections." // Why are you quibbling over such a small amount of money? // People ignored the main point of the speech and quibbled about its length. See the entry > Examples: "In 'Louisa, Please Come Home,' one of Jackson's most deeply affecting stories, a girl on the cusp of womanhood runs away from home and disappears into a new life in a new city, where she finds a room in a boarding house and a job in a stationery store. Jackson's agent, who judged it 'a powerful and brilliant horror story,' quibbled with her decision to leave the character's motive unexplained, but it's clear that Louisa doesn't need a reason to run away. She wants simply to disappear …" — Ruth Franklin, introduction to The Lottery and Other Dark Tales by Shirley Jackson, 2025 Did you know? There's not much to quibble about when it comes to the origins of the verb quibble: it followed the noun quibble, meaning "an evasion of or shift from the point" and "a minor objection or criticism," into the language in the mid-17th century. That word is likely a diminutive of a now-obsolete noun quib, also referring to an evasion of or shift from the point. Quib, in turn, likely comes from a form of Latin qui, meaning "who," that is also a distant relation of our word who.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 28, 2025 is: facile • FASS-ul • adjective Facile is a formal adjective that is used disapprovingly to describe something that is too simple, or that doesn't show enough thought or effort. Facile can also be used for something done or achieved in a way that is considered too easy or that is easily accomplished or attained. It is sometimes used approvingly, however, for someone or something that works, moves, or performs well and very easily. // This problem requires more than just a facile solution. // After winning a facile victory over their archrivals, the team became the easy favorite to secure the championship. // The local author has received numerous plaudits for being a wonderfully facile writer. See the entry > Examples: “For a relatively straightforward hike, there's a lot to hold your interest here. The trail passes an archery range in its second half, at which point the colorful, mounted targets are visible through the trees, as are archers wielding bow and arrow. Walking under the great arches of the 1922 San Rafael Bridge and the 1914 La Loma Bridge adds a touch of drama to an otherwise facile and peaceful hike.” — Deborah Vankin, The Los Angeles Times, 23 June 2024 Did you know? If you've been fretting over how to use the word facile properly, we're here to put your mind at ease. The word's origins provide a major clue and are quite easy to trace: facile glided into English (via Anglo-French) from the Latin adjective facilis, meaning “easy, accommodating, nimble,” ultimately from facere, “to make, bring about, perform, do.” And indeed, facile can be used as a synonym for easy in some situations, though it is more formal and usually carries with it something extra—namely, excess. Something described as facile, such as an argument, is too easily made or done, as in “offered only facile answers to complex questions,” implying undue haste or shallowness. And facile tears are too easily produced by the person shedding them, suggesting they are lacking in sincerity. But although facile often bears a whiff of tut-tutting judgment, such is not always the case: it can be used positively to describe someone who is poised and assured, with an easy grace, as in “a facile lecturer.” Similarly, a writer whose words flow easily and fluidly on the page may be said to pen “facile prose.”

This episode is all about choices we have to make relating to technology in our everyday lives. I'll be discussing contemporary tech-related issues such as privacy vs. convenience, data sharing, digital, detox, online behaviour, digital legacy, tech addiction, tech for children. It includes loads of vocabulary and will give you the chance not only to listen to me talking, but also to practise your speaking on this subject too. PDF available. Part 1 of 2.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 27, 2025 is: brouhaha • BROO-hah-hah • noun Brouhaha is a synonym of both uproar and hubbub that refers to great excitement or concern about something. // A brouhaha erupted over the bill, even though the opposing party stood to gain just as much from its passage. See the entry > Examples: “Ultimately, like much of the population, [mountain lion] P-22 seemed to be making do with what he had. His crawl-space sit-in, which dominated the local news media for a couple of days, felt like a moment of accommodation. In the face of feeble attempts to get him to move—lights were flashed, sticks were waved, a tennis-ball cannon was deployed—P-22 stared out with an imperturbable expression that members of cat households recognized instantly. It said, ‘What?' At night, once the brouhaha had died down, P-22 slipped back into the park.” — Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 3 Apr. 2023 Did you know? The English language borrowed brouhaha directly from French in the late 19th century, but its origins beyond that are uncertain—not the subject of a noisy brouhaha but perhaps a little modest debate. What's less arguable is that brouhaha is fun to say, as are many of its synonyms, including hubbub, williwaw, hullabaloo, bobbery, and kerfuffle. Many of these, like brouhaha, tend to suggest a certain judgment that the reason for all the foofaraw is a bit silly, or at least not worth getting all worked up about. A dad joke, for example, might cause a brouhaha, even though it's really no reason for an uproar to brew. Haha!

In this episode of "Speak English With Tiffani," we explore how to naturally improve your English fluency by discussing friendship dynamics. You'll learn:Essential English expressions related to friendships like "team up," "stick to," "keep the spark alive," and "see eye to eye"How to construct natural-sounding paragraphs using the 5W framework (Who, What, When, Where, Why)Real-life applications of idioms in three friendship scenarios:Exercise partnerships and maintaining healthy habitsOrganizing surprise birthday celebrationsVolunteering together for community serviceWhether you're an intermediate or advanced English learner, this episode will help you express friendship concepts fluently while mastering practical idioms that native speakers use every day. Join Tiffani as she shares personal stories and practical exercises to elevate your English speaking confidence.

learn hellos and goodbyes

Welcome to the First Presbyterian Church, New Bern Podcast! Join us weekly for our Sermon and Benediction. The full service can be found on our Youtube channel (link below). See more on our website!First Presbyterian Church, New Bern, North Carolina, established in 1817. A Congregation of the Presbyterian Church (USA). Building community, transforming lives, engaging the world.See more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.firstpresnb.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on social media at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/firstpresnb⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch our streaming service each week at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/channel/UCKw0GnheJfOUlVv_g5bBrEw⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Permission to podcast/stream live music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE, License A-701790 and CCLI 3202763. All rights reserved. Permission to podcast/stream recorded music from artist.io.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 26, 2025 is: embellish • im-BELL-ish • verb To embellish something is to make it more appealing or attractive with fanciful or decorative details. // The gift shop had cowboy shirts and hats embellished with beads and stitching. // As they grew older, the children realized their grandfather had embellished the stories of his travels abroad. See the entry > Examples: "Shell art isn't a new genre; it's been with us for centuries. The Victorians often framed their family photos with shells. ... The medium also came to the fore in the 1970s when everything was embellished with shells, from photo frames and mirrors to trinket boxes and even furniture." — Stephen Crafti, The Sydney Morning Herald, 4 June 2025 Did you know? Embellish came to English, by way of Anglo-French, from the Latin word bellus, meaning "beautiful." It's in good company: modern language is adorned with bellus descendants. Examples include such classics as beauty, belle, and beau. And the beauty of bellus reaches beyond English: its influence is seen in the French bel, a word meaning "beautiful" that is directly related to the English embellish. And in Spanish, bellus is evidenced in the word bello, also meaning "beautiful."

Welcome back to Podgap! In this episode, Hanieh and Mohsen dive into one of the most powerful nonverbal forms of communication: eye contact.You'll discover how Persian uses dozens of unique words and expressions to describe different types of looks—whether it's a warm glance, a cold stare, a flirty gaze, or even a sharp glare.Explore how the Persian language reflects emotion, culture, and meaning—all through the eyes. Plus, learn idiomatic expressions that will make your Persian sound more natural and expressive.For transcripts, vocabulary lists, and learning materials, visit patreon.com/podgap. Let your eyes do the talking—Persian style!f Podgap helps you with learning the Persian language, share it with your friends. That would mean a lot to us. We can be in touch by podgapp@gmail.com

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 25, 2025 is: sui generis • soo-eye-JEN-uh-ris • adjective Sui generis is a formal adjective used to describe someone or something in a class or group of its own, or in other words, unlike anyone or anything else. // As a scholar, she is sui generis, head and shoulders above everyone else in her field. See the entry > Examples: “TV on the Radio, the celebrated group whose experimental amalgam of rock, post-punk, electronic, and soul made it sui generis in the 2000s New York scene, knew it was time for a break. It was 2019, and after nearly 20 years and five albums together, the nonstop demands of recording and touring had taken its creative and physical toll.” — Jason Newman, Rolling Stone, 16 Apr. 2025 Did you know? Many English words ultimately trace back to the Latin forms gener- or genus (which are variously translated as “birth,” “race,” “kind,” and “class”). Offspring of those roots include general, generate, generous, generic, and gender. But sui generis is truly a one-of-a-kind genus descendant that English speakers have used to describe singular things since the late 1600s. Its earliest uses were in scientific contexts, but where it once mostly characterized substances, principles, diseases, and even rocks thought to be the only representative of their class or group, its use expanded by the early 1900s, and it is now used more generally for anything that stands alone.

In today's episode, you will learn a series of vocabulary words that are connected to a specific topic. This lesson will help you improve your ability to speak English fluently about a specific topic. It will also help you feel more confident in your English abilities.5 Vocabulary WordsFair Trade (Noun/Adjective): A movement that advocates for equitable trade practices, ensuring fair wages and working conditions for producers in developing countries.Example Sentences:Fair trade products often cost more, but they support ethical sourcing.Many consumers choose fair trade coffee to support farmers and their communities.The fair-trade certification guarantees that farmers receive a fair price for their goods.Soil Fertility (Noun): The ability of soil to provide essential nutrients to plants, affecting their growth and productivity.Example Sentences:Practices like composting help improve soil fertility and health.Crop rotation contributes to maintaining soil fertility over time.Testing soil fertility can guide farmers in selecting appropriate fertilizers.Traceability (Noun): The ability to track the origin and journey of food products from production to consumption.Example Sentences:Traceability is essential for ensuring food safety and quality.Consumers increasingly demand traceability in their food supply chains.Technology can enhance traceability, allowing buyers to verify the source of their food.Agribusiness (Noun): The business sector encompassing the production, processing, and distribution of agricultural products.Example Sentences:Agribusiness plays a vital role in the global economy and food supply chain.Sustainable practices in agribusiness can lead to better environmental outcomes.Many startups are innovating within the agribusiness sector to promote sustainability.Food Security (Noun): The state of having reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable and nutritious food.Example Sentences:Ensuring food security is a critical challenge in many developing countries.Local food systems can enhance food security by reducing dependence on imports.Programs aimed at improving food security often focus on education and access.A Paragraph using the 5 vocabulary wordsSustainable food practices aim to ensure food security, promote environmental sustainability, and support social equity. They encompass a wide range of initiatives, from agribusiness practices that prioritize soil fertility and biodiversity to consumer choices that emphasize traceability and ethical sourcing. Sustainable food systems also prioritize fair trade practices, which ensure that farmers and producers receive a just compensation for their labor. By understanding the principles of sustainable food, individuals can make informed choices about their diet and contribute to a more resilient and equitable food system.If you want to sign up for the free daily English vocabulary newsletter, go towww.dailyenglishvocabulary.com

Welcome to episode #62! In this episode of The Real Life English with Gabby Podcast, you'll be learning useful vocabulary about home organization and decluttering. You'll learn real-life phrasal verbs, slang, and idioms like pack up, nesting, minimalist, purge, and lighten the load. The goal is to teach you real American English that native speakers actually use all the time. These expressions will help you talk about cleaning, moving, and getting rid of things in a natural and confident way. Whether you're organizing your home or just want to sound more like a native speaker, this episode is packed with helpful tips!Also grab the FREE Study Guide PDF that has over 10 pages of study materials! It is full of bonuses that will help you learn everything you hear, including the transcript, story, definitions, example sentences AND practice activities. To get the Study Guide, click  >> HERE

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 24, 2025 is: panacea • pan-uh-SEE-uh • noun A panacea is something that is regarded as a cure-all—that is, something that will make everything about a situation better. // The new program should help with the city's housing crisis, but it's no panacea. See the entry > Examples: “It was a mistake to regard and romanticize information as a panacea for the world's problems. For they are completely different things: information, knowledge and wisdom. Every day we are bombarded with thousands of snippets of information, but there is very little knowledge, and no time to slow down to gain knowledge, much less wisdom.” — Elif Shafak, 1984: 75th Anniversary Edition by George Orwell, 2024 Did you know? The maxim “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” isn't true, but belief in a miraculous botanical “cure for whatever ails ya” has existed for millennia and is at the root of the word panacea. In current use, panacea most often refers to a remedy—medical or otherwise—that inevitably falls far short of what some claim or hope it can do, but the word's Latin and Greek forebears referred to plants with legit healing properties, including mints and yarrows. Both the Latin word panacēa and its Greek antecedent panákeia (from the word panakēs, meaning “all-healing”) were applied especially to flowering herbs (genus Opopanax) of the carrot family used to treat various ailments.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 23, 2025 is: logy • LOH-ghee • adjective Like sluggish and groggy, logy describes a person who is not able to think or move normally because of being tired, sick, etc., or something that moves slowly and ploddingly. // The heavy meal left me feeling logy and in need of a nap. See the entry > Examples: "The picture moves at a stately pace that one supposes was considered period-appropriate but feels merely logy at times." — Glenn Kenny, The New York Times, 15 May 2025 Did you know? The origins of the word logy (sometimes spelled loggy) likely lie in the Dutch word log, meaning "heavy," a relation of the ancient German adjective luggich, meaning "lazy." The word shares no history with the log of campfires, which is centuries older and has probable Scandinavian roots. Likewise, it has no etymological connection to groggy, which describes someone weak and unsteady on the feet or in action. That word ultimately comes from the nickname of an English admiral: "Old Grog," concerned with the health of his crew, served diluted rum to his sailors, who returned the favor by dubbing the rum mixture grog. (Modern grog is typically rum, or another liquor, cut with water and served warm, sweetened, and with lemon.)

Are you diligently learning Japanese words with Anki or flashcards, only to find them disappear when you try to speak? You're not alone! Many learners struggle with the gap between knowing words and actually using them. Ready to turn those passively known words into actively used ones? Pick one tip and start today!Sign up with my Newsletter. Join our brain-friendly community.

In this English lesson, you'll learn 25 real phrases that people are using to talk about a viral video involving a CEO caught on camera. These words and expressions will help you understand news stories, online gossip, and social media posts. Don't miss your chance to improve your English and join the conversation!✅ I can be your speaking partner https://brentspeak.as.me/

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 22, 2025 is: jettison • JET-uh-sun • verb When you jettison something, you get rid of it either because it is not needed or because it is impeding your progress or otherwise weighing you down. // Now that the purchase of the building has been finalized, we'll revamp what we want to keep and jettison the rest. // The approach of the storm forced them to jettison their vacation plans. See the entry > Examples: “A 2017 study found that participants who wrote a to-do list before bed instead of journaling about their accomplishments fell asleep ‘significantly faster.' … ‘The more specifically participants wrote their to-do list, the faster they subsequently fell asleep, whereas the opposite trend was observed when participants wrote about completed activities,' the study authors wrote in the Journal of Experimental Psychology. They speculated that writing down tasks lets you jettison your worries, so you don't need to think about them while trying to sleep.” — Tracy Swartz, The New York Post, 20 Jan. 2025 Did you know? Jettison comes from the Anglo-French noun geteson (literally “action of throwing”), and ultimately from the Latin verb jactare, meaning “to throw.” The noun jettison refers to a voluntary sacrifice of cargo to lighten a ship's load in time of distress, and is the source of the word jetsam, the word for goods that are so jettisoned; that word is often paired with flotsam (“floating wreckage”). These days you don't have to be on a sinking ship to jettison something: the verb also means simply “to get rid of.”

Join us in this episode of the Learn Polish Podcast as we dive into the vocabulary surrounding hair in Polish. Marta provides insightful lessons on terms related to different hairstyles, including buns, ponytails, braids, and more. Whether you have long locks or keep it short, this episode will enrich your Polish language skills with everyday hair talk. Tune in for tips on pronunciation and usage, while enjoying a peek into the cultural angle of these expressions, as we also discuss popular Polish names for fairy tales like Rapunzel.   --------- All about Roy / Brain Gym & Virtual Assistants at ⁠https://roycoughlan.com/⁠  ___________________

Get your estimated IELTS Band Score now with our free 2-minute quiz. Want to get a guaranteed score increase on your next IELTS Exam? Check out our 3 Keys IELTS Online course. Check out our other podcasts: All Ears English Podcast: We focus on Connection NOT Perfection when it comes to learning English. This podcast is perfect for listeners at the intermediate or advanced level. This is an award-winning podcast with more 4 million monthly downloads. Business English Podcast: Improve your Business English with 3 episodes per week, featuring Lindsay, Michelle, and Aubrey Visit our website here or https://lnk.to/website-sn Send your English question or episode topic idea to support@allearsenglish.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 21, 2025 is: hubris • HYOO-bris • noun Hubris is a formal and literary word that refers to a great or foolish amount of pride or confidence. // The project's failure was predictable, given the inexperience and unbridled hubris of those leading the effort. See the entry > Examples: "The film was billed to me as an attempt to capture the real power and bumbling hubris of a bunch of arrogant and wealthy men ... who try to rewire the world and find themselves in way over their heads." — Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 30 May 2025 Did you know? English picked up both the concept of hubris and the term for that particular brand of cockiness from the ancient Greeks, who considered hubris a dangerous character flaw capable of provoking the wrath of the gods. In classical Greek tragedy, hubris was often a fatal shortcoming that brought about the fall of the tragic hero. Typically, overconfidence led the hero to attempt to overstep the boundaries of human limitations and assume a godlike status; in response, the gods inevitably humbled the offender with a sharp reminder of human mortality. Take, for example, the story of Phaethon, a mortal son of the sun god Helios. In his hubris, Phaethon drives his father's sun chariot into the heavens but loses control of its horses. The chariot begins to scorch the earth, and Zeus strikes Phaethon down with a thunderbolt.

learn how to talk about the weather

Do your kids struggle to express their feelings in a healthy way? Dr. Roger Smith explains why teaching emotional vocabulary is key to helping children understand and manage their emotions. Discover a valuable resource for expanding your child's "soul words" and fostering emotional intelligence. Visit me at: https://rogersmithmd.com/ This has been a production of ThePodcastUpload.com 

review the vocabulary that is useful when talking about basic weather conditions

◆ In this episode, I am talking about hot springs in Japan including the oldest one, using vocabulary and grammar from GENKI 1. (GENKI 1 is a Japanese textbook meant for beginners at JLPT N5 / CEFR A1 level.)   ◆ This story was originally released as Ep.20 on May the 21st, 2024. I just re-recorded it and created a listening comprehension exercise, answer key, vocabulary list and transcript for it for Patreon members, which was not available when it was first released.   ◆ You will need to be a subscriber to my Patreon monthly membership to listen to it. The sample audio file is available on my Patreon site.   ◆ Patreon Here are the benefits for my Patreon members : (Note : The benefits you get vary based on the tier you select.) - Podcast episodes  - Vocabulary lists with English translation - Transcripts - Listening comprehension exercises (These are all in Kanji with Furigana.) - Answer keys for the exercises - Photos related to the episodes with captions  - Extra information & fun facts related to the episodes Check out  my Patreon page for more information : patreon.com/JapanesewithMeg   ◆ You are cordially invited to... - leave me a review on Apple Podcast - rate my podcast on Spotify

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 20, 2025 is: utmost • UT-mohst • adjective Utmost describes something that is the greatest or highest in degree, number, or amount. // The safety of employees is of utmost importance. // Olympians push themselves to the utmost limit when training. See the entry > Examples: “Only about 2,000 of the hybrid tea rose bushes, dubbed Barbra's Baby, are available so far. … Streisand politely declined to comment for this story, but Dan Bifano, a master rosarian and longtime gardener to Streisand, Oprah and other famous folk, believes a rose's name ‘is always of utmost importance; it makes the rose salable or unsalable, and anytime a rose is connected to a celebrity, it's going to pick up the sales.'” — Jeanette Marantos, The Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2025 Did you know? Utmost, which typically communicates that something is of the greatest or highest in degree, number, or amount, is commonly found modifying words like importance, concern, and respect. But utmost can also indicate that something is, literally or figuratively, farthest or most distant—that it is outmost, as in “the utmost point.” Utmost in fact traces back to the Old English word ūtmest, a superlative adjective formed from the adverb ūt, meaning “out.” Utmost can also function as a noun referring to the highest attainable point or degree, as in “the inn provides the utmost in comfort and luxury.” The noun also often occurs in phrases such as “we did our utmost to help” where it means “the highest, greatest, or best of one's abilities, powers, and resources.”

In this episode, we explore 7 powerful tips to help you speak English more clearly and concisely, boosting your fluency and confidence:Tip #1: Use signpost language - Learn how to guide listeners through your speech with clear verbal markers like "First," "Next," and transition phrases that show relationships between ideas.Tip #2: Implement the rule of three - Discover the power of organizing information in groups of three for maximum impact and memorability in your conversations and presentations.Tip #3: Practice active listening - Find out how becoming a better listener can dramatically improve your own speaking skills by observing and adapting techniques from effective speakers.Tip #4: Use the "bottom line up front" technique - Learn to state your main point first before providing supporting details, making your communication more direct and impactful.Tip #5: Practice chunking information - Master the art of grouping related ideas together with clear transitions and strategic pauses to make your speech easier to follow.Tip #6: Eliminate redundancy - Get practical advice on saying things once, clearly, and choosing precise words to avoid unnecessary repetition.Tip #7: Create a mental framework - Explore visualization techniques to organize and remember your speaking points, especially useful for important conversations or presentations.Plus, I'll share a heartwarming personal story about connecting with curious children in Korea that teaches us an important lesson about cultural education.Ready to transform your English speaking skills? Listen now!

learn some polite expressions

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 19, 2025 is: devise • dih-VYZE • verb To devise is to invent or plan something that is difficult or complicated in some way. // The siblings devised a plan to clean the house from top to bottom with hopes of getting their parents to let them go to the concert. See the entry > Examples: “The Timberwolves surprisingly advanced to the Western Conference finals last year before losing to the Mavericks. After a troublesome season, Minnesota returned before being thumped by the top-seeded Thunder. The series wasn't really close, and the Timberwolves ... will have to devise a way to compete in the Western Conference with the Lakers, Nuggets, Clippers, Spurs, Mavericks, and Warriors all chasing them.” — Gary Washburn, The Boston Globe, 1 June 2025 Did you know? There's something inventive about devise, a word that stems from Latin dividere, meaning “to divide.” By the time devise was being used in English, its Anglo-French forebear deviser had accumulated an array of senses, including “divide,” “distribute,” “arrange,” “order,” “plan,” “invent,” and “assign by will.” English adopted some of these and added new senses, such as “imagine” and “guess,” that have fallen out of use over time. Today devise is most commonly used as a synonym of invent or plot in situations where the objective is difficult or complicated. Note that devise is often confused with another dividere (and deviser) descendent: device refers to a technique, method, tool, or small machine or gadget. One way to help keep their spellings straight is to remember that ice, usually a noun, is found at the end of the noun device, not the verb devise.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 18, 2025 is: meritorious • mair-uh-TOR-ee-us • adjective Meritorious is a formal adjective used to describe something that is deserving of honor, praise, or esteem. // She was honored for her meritorious service to the city. See the entry > Examples: "The Air Medal is awarded to anyone who distinguishes themselves through meritorious achievement while flying." — Rick Mauch, The Fort Worth (Texas) Star-Telegram, 6 Mar. 2025 Did you know? People who demonstrate meritorious behavior certainly earn our respect, and you can use that fact to remember that meritorious has its roots in the Latin verb merēre, which means "to earn." (Merēre is also the source of the English noun and verb merit.) Nowadays, the rewards earned for meritorious acts are likely to be of an immaterial nature—gratitude, admiration, praise, etc.—but that wasn't always so. The history of meritorious recalls a reward more concrete in nature: cold, hard cash. In Latin, meritorious literally means "bringing in money."

In today's episode, you will learn a series of vocabulary words that are connected to a specific topic. This lesson will help you improve your ability to speak English fluently about a specific topic. It will also help you feel more confident in your English abilities.5 Vocabulary WordsAccommodation (Noun): A place where travelers can stay, such as a hotel, hostel, or rental.Example Sentences:Finding affordable accommodation is key to sticking to your travel budget.The travel agent recommended various accommodations based on my preferences.Make sure to book your accommodation in advance during peak tourist season.Passport (Noun): An official document issued by a government, certifying the holder's identity and citizenship, allowing them to travel internationally.Example Sentences:Don't forget to check the expiration date on your passport before traveling abroad.He always keeps a digital copy of his passport in case it gets lost.You'll need a valid passport to enter most foreign countries.Packing (Noun/Verb): (Noun) The act of putting items into a suitcase or bag for travel; (Verb) to fill a suitcase with belongings.Example Sentences:Packing efficiently can save you time and space in your luggage.She started packing her bags a week in advance to avoid last-minute stress.Always check the weather before packing to ensure you have the right clothes.Transit (Noun): The act of passing through or across a place, often referring to the transportation of travelers or goods.Example Sentences:The city has an excellent transit system that makes getting around easy.Ensure you account for transit time between your arrival and departure locations.Public transit is a budget-friendly option for exploring urban areas.Budget (Noun/Verb): (Noun) A plan for managing finances; (Verb) to allocate resources or funds for specific purposes.Example Sentences:Sticking to a travel budget can help you avoid overspending during your trip.She budgeted for meals, activities, and souvenirs before her vacation.Creating a detailed budget will give you a clear picture of your travel expenses.A Paragraph using the 5 vocabulary wordsTraveling can be an exciting and enriching experience, but it's important to be prepared. One of the first things to consider is your budget, which will determine your transportation options, accommodation, and activities. When planning your trip, research public transit systems and consider using them to save money and experience local culture. Packing efficiently is key to comfortable travel, so make a list of essentials and pack light. Don't forget to check your passport expiration date and obtain any necessary visas well in advance of your trip. With a little planning and preparation, you can have a memorable and stress-free adventure.If you want to sign up for the free daily English vocabulary newsletter, go towww.dailyenglishvocabulary.com

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 17, 2025 is: fugitive • FYOO-juh-tiv • noun Fugitive refers to a person who runs away to avoid being captured or arrested. // The FBI regularly updates and circulates its list of most wanted fugitives, and asks communities where they might be seen to be careful and on the lookout. See the entry > Examples: “The automated plate readers, as they are known, enable authorities to track when vehicles of interest pass through certain intersections. The devices can also be mounted on police cars, allowing officers to sweep up troves of license plate data as they drive around. Police say the gadgets help investigate stolen cars, locate fugitives, and solve crimes by checking who came and went from a neighborhood on any given day.” — Libor Jany, The Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2025 Did you know? Fugitive entered English as both a noun and an adjective in the 14th century, coming ultimately from the Latin verb fugere, meaning “to flee.” As a noun, it originally referred, as it still does today, to someone who flees a country or location to escape persecution or danger, as from war, making it synonymous with another fugere descendent, refugee. The noun soon expanded beyond those fleeing peril to individuals (such as suspects, witnesses, or defendants) trying to elude law enforcement especially by fleeing the pertinent jurisdiction. The adjective fugitive describes those literally running away or intending flight, but also has multiple figurative uses, being applied to that which is elusive, of short duration, or of transient interest, among other things.

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While we're working on our next podcast series to help you improve your German, here's a short mini-lesson to keep your German fresh! In today's episode, we're joined by Thomas from the Coffee Break German team. We'll be exploring useful German vocabulary for talking about summer clothes, perfect for the sunny season! ☀️ We'll also look at key phrases to help you when shopping and describing what you are wearing. To continue improving your German skills, why not explore more content like this and subscribe to the Coffee Break German newsletter to receive regular free mini-lessons directly to your inbox? Simply visit coffeebreaklanguages.com/german/ and discover more.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 16, 2025 is: abject • AB-jekt • adjective Abject usually describes things that are extremely bad or severe. It can also describe something that feels or shows shame, or someone lacking courage or strength. // Happily, their attempts to derail the project ended in abject failure. // The defendants were contrite, offering abject apologies for their roles in the scandal that cost so many their life savings. // The author chose to cast all but the hero of the book as abject cowards. See the entry > Examples: “This moment ... points toward the book's core: a question of how to distinguish tenderness from frugality. Is ‘Homework' about a child who took a remarkably frictionless path, aided by a nation that had invested in civic institutions, from monetary hardship to the ivory tower? Merely technically. Is it a story of how members of a family, protected by a social safety net from abject desperation, developed different ideas about how to relate to material circumstance? We're getting there.” — Daniel Felsenthal, The Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2025 Did you know? We're sorry to say you must cast your eyes down to fully understand abject: in Middle English the word described those lowly ones who are rejected and cast out. By the 15th century, it was applied as it still is today to anything that has sunk to, or exists in, a low state or condition; in modern use it often comes before the words poverty, misery, and failure. Applied to words like surrender and apology, it connotes hopelessness and humility. The word's Latin source is the verb abicere, meaning “to throw away, throw down, overcome, or abandon.” Like reject, its ultimate root is the Latin verb jacere, meaning “to throw.” Subject is also from jacere, and we'll leave you with that word as a way to change the subject.

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Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 15, 2025 is: tantalize • TAN-tuh-lyze • verb To tantalize someone is to cause them to feel interest or excitement about something that is very attractive, appealing, etc. // She was tantalized by the prospect of a big promotion. See the entry > Examples: "Craving a culinary adventure? Look no further than Manila Street Treats, nestled within the vibrant Tapatio Produce International Market and Shops building in Elkton. This hidden gem offers a diverse menu of Filipino and international flavors that will tantalize your taste buds." — Chester County Press (Oxford, Pennsylvania), 1 Apr. 2025 Did you know? Pity poor King Tantalus of Lydia. The mythic monarch offended the ancient Greek gods, and was sentenced, according to Homer's Odyssey, to suffer in Hades the following punishment: to stand neck-deep in water, beneath overhanging boughs of a tree heavily laden with ripe, juicy fruit. But though he was always hungry and thirsty, Tantalus could neither drink the water nor eat the fruit: anytime he moved to get them, they would retreat from his reach. Our word tantalize is taken from the name of the eternally tormented king.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 14, 2025 is: nuance • NOO-ahnss • noun A nuance is a very small difference in something, such as color, tone, meaning, etc. // Amy's musical ear makes it easy for her to detect the subtle nuances in sampled music. See the entry > Examples: “Whether it's historians, journalists, anthropologists or poets, those outside our community have attempted to narrate our experiences. But no matter how well intentioned, they cannot fully capture the depth and truth of our story. Why? Because only we can speak with the authority of lived memory, cultural nuance and ancestral knowing.” — Ka Vang, The Minnesota Star Tribune, 1 June 2025 Did you know? The history of nuance starts in Latin with the noun nūbēs, meaning “cloud.” Nūbēs floated into Middle French as nu, also meaning “cloud,” which eventually gave rise to nuer, meaning “to make shades of color.” (The association of a word for “cloud” with gradation of color apparently comes from the perception that an object's color is weakened when mist passes over it.) Nuer in turn produced nuance, which in Middle French meant “shade of color.” English borrowed nuance from French, with the meaning “a subtle distinction or variation,” in the late 18th century. That meaning persists today, but the word has also picked up a few nuances of its own. For example, nuance is sometimes used in a specific musical sense, designating a subtle, expressive variation in a musical performance (such as in tempo, dynamic intensity, or timbre) that is not indicated in the score.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 13, 2025 is: contrite • kun-TRYTE • adjective Contrite is a formal adjective used to describe someone who feels regret for their bad behavior, or something, such as an apology, that shows such regret. // Although the mayor appeared contrite about the most recent scandal plaguing city hall, many constituents remained unpersuaded. See the entry > Examples: “At the restaurant, late into the meal, ‘Honey, Honey,' from the ‘Mamma Mia' soundtrack began to play, with [Amanda] Seyfried's 22-year-old voice issuing through the restaurant's speakers. The waitress came over, contrite. The song was just part of the usual play list. ‘Listen, I love having a stake in pop culture,' Seyfried reassured her. ‘It's really nice.'” — Alexis Soloski, The New York Times, 11 Mar. 2025 Did you know? Props to Elton John: sorry really does seem to be the hardest word. But saying it (in something other than a nonapology, of course) is an important part of being contrite—that is, feeling or showing sorrow and remorse for one's bad behavior. Contrite traces back to the Latin verb conterere, meaning “to pound to pieces,” “to crush, “to wear out or down,” or “to exhaust mentally or physically.” In Medieval Latin—the Latin used in Medieval times especially for religious or literary purposes—conterere came to mean “to crush in spirit with a sense of one's sin,” or “to render contrite.” Anglo-French speakers borrowed a form of the verb conterere and made it the adjective contrit, which was in turn adopted into English in the 1300s.

In this episode, Tiffani breaks down the critical components that take your English from textbook-perfect to naturally fluent:Master Idiomatic Expressions: Learn authentic phrases that native speakers actually useDevelop Paraphrasing Skills: Express ideas in multiple ways to overcome vocabulary limitationsNavigate Conversations Smoothly: Transition between topics without awkward pausesExpand Receptive Skills: Understand fast, complex speech in real-world situationsBuild Functional Language: Master specific language for making requests, suggestions, and morePerfect Self-Correction: Identify and fix your own mistakes without teacher feedbackDevelop Strategic Competence: Create workarounds when facing language limitationsDeploy Contextual Vocabulary: Use appropriate language based on situation and audienceProcess English in Real-time: Think and respond without mental translationPlus, Tiffani shares a funny story about making requests at a West Indian roti shop.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 12, 2025 is: impunity • im-PYOO-nuh-tee • noun Impunity, usually used in the phrase "with impunity," refers to exemption or freedom from punishment, harm, or loss. // They mistakenly believe that they can break the camp's rules with impunity. See the entry > Examples: "For his part, [artist Adam] Leveille doesn't expect to see his painting again. ... Still, he feels compelled to speak out publicly about what happened and has asked on his Instagram account and on Reddit for anyone with information about the heist, or who might have seen his painting appear somewhere, to come forward. If anything, he just wants to let potential area art thieves know they can't steal from local artists with impunity." — Spencer Buell, The Boston Globe, 1 Feb. 2025 Did you know? Impunity, like the words pain, penal, and punish, traces to the Latin noun poena, meaning "punishment." Poena, in turn, came from the Greek poinē, meaning "payment" or "penalty." Impunity has been around since the 1500s; in 1660, Englishman Roger Coke wrote "This unlimited power of doing anything with impunity, will only beget a confidence in kings of doing what they [desire]." While royals may act with impunity more easily than others, the word impunity can be applied to beings great and small. Take, for example, this 2023 quote from the Sidmouth Herald in England: "The [yew tree] fruits are readily eaten by birds but they do not digest the seeds as they are poisonous. Only one bird, the rare and shy Hawfinch, is able to eat the seeds with impunity."

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 11, 2025 is: rescind • rih-SIND • verb To rescind something, such as a law, contract, agreement, etc., is to end it officially. Rescind can also mean “to take back; to cancel.” // Given the appeal court's recent decision, it is likely that the law will be rescinded. // The company later rescinded its offer. See the entry > Examples: “A state environmental oversight board voted unanimously to rescind a controversial proposal that would have permitted California municipal landfills to accept contaminated soil that is currently required to be dumped at sites specifically designated and approved for hazardous waste.” — Tony Briscoe, The Los Angeles Times, 16 May 2025 Did you know? Rescind and the lesser-known words exscind and prescind all come from the Latin verb scindere, which means “to split, cleave, separate.” Rescind was adapted from its Latin predecessor rescindere in the 16th century, and prescind (from praescindere) and exscind (from exscindere) followed in the next century. Exscind means “to cut off” or “to excise,” and prescind means “to withdraw one's attention,” but of the three borrowings, only rescind established itself as a common English term. Today, rescind is most often heard in contexts having to do with the withdrawal of an offer, award, or privilege, or with invalidation of a law or policy.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 10, 2025 is: boffo • BAH-foh • adjective Boffo is an informal word that describes things that are extremely good or successful. // The most recent film in the long-running franchise has done boffo business at the box office, a testament to the series' enduring popularity. See the entry > Examples: “A strong showing at the Senior Bowl was followed by a boffo performance at the NFL combine, where the 6-foot-4, 214-pound [Isaac] TeSlaa zoomed through the 40-yard dash in 4.43 seconds …” — Rainer Sabin, The Detroit Free Press, 27 Apr. 2025 Did you know? Boffo made its print debut as a noun referring to something great: a solid joke or a good punch line. It did so right around the same time—the 1930s, at the dawn of Hollywood's golden age—as boff, a noun with an identical meaning thought to perhaps come from “box office.” Within a few years, boffo began to be applied adjectivally to things that, like a good joke, were a big hit: performances, all-star casts, movies. To this day it is used mostly in the context of performing arts, spectator sports, and other entertainments.

This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/AMERICANENGLISH and get on your way to being your best self. In this immersive summer episode, you'll escape to the sun-drenched shores of an American beach and soak up advanced vocabulary, phrasal verbs, and collocations—all beach-themed and delivered in under 10 minutes (ish

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 9, 2025 is: simulacrum • sim-yuh-LAK-rum • noun A simulacrum is a superficial likeness of something, usually as an imitation, copy, or representation. The plural of simulacrum is either simulacrums or simulacra. // The surprise still succeeded, thanks to the simulacrum of confusion expressed by two guests when they were spotted before the big moment. See the entry > Examples: "Under the lid, there are no strings to move the air, but rather speakers that create an uncanny simulacrum of a grand piano." — Robert Ross, Robb Report, 17 July 2024 Did you know? There is more than a crumb of similarity between simulacrum and simulate: both words come from simulāre, a Latin verb meaning "to pretend, produce a fraudulent imitation of, imitate." At the root of simulāre is the Latin adjective similis, which means "having characteristics in common." Many "similar" words trace back to similis, hence the resemblance between simulacrum and familiar terms like simultaneous, simile, and of course similarity.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 8, 2025 is: exemplary • ig-ZEM-pluh-ree • adjective Something described as exemplary is extremely good and deserves to be admired and copied. // Our research team was awarded for our exemplary work on the project. See the entry > Examples: “[Director, Oliver] Hermanus again shows highly polished craftsmanship, adding the subtlest hint of sepia tones to evoke the period in the early sections, but never to the point where the characters compete with the settings. His direction of the actors is exemplary, even with characters seen only briefly ...” — David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 May 2025 Did you know? It's usually not a good thing if someone wants to make an example of you, unless, of course, it's because you happen to be exemplary. Imitation being the sincerest form of flattery, someone or something may be deemed exemplary if they, by their example, are worthy of imitation. Like a few other English words beginning with ex—such as exceptional and extraordinary—exemplary describes that which is a cut above the rest. But though exemplary, which comes from the Latin noun exemplum (“example”), describes something “excellent,” it almost always carries the further suggestion that the thing described is an excellent model to follow.

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