There are three new language pages on Omniglot this week: Tukang Besi, a Celebic language spoken mainly in the Tukangbesi Islands in Wakatobi district of Southeast Sulawesi Province in central Indonesia. Chittagonian (চিটাইঙ্গা), an Eastern Bengali-Assamese language spoken in the Chittagong Division in southeast Bangladesh. Wolio, a Celebic language spoken in the province of Southeast […]

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Omniglot News (17/10/21)

In today’s Adventure in Etymology we are looking at the origins of the word word [wɜːd/wɝd]. A word is: a unit of language, consisting of one or more spoken sounds or their written representation, that functions as a principal carrier of meaning. [source] It comes from the Middle English word [wurd/wɔrd] (word), from the Old […]

Words and Verbs

There are four new language pages on Omniglot this week: Mori Atas and Mori Bawah, closely related Celebic languages spoken in the southeast of Sulawesi in Indonesia. Kulisusu (Pogau Kolinsusu), a Celebic language spoken on Buton Island in Southeast Sulawesi Province of Indonesia. Red Karen or West Kayah (ꤊꤢꤛꤢꤟ), a Karen language spoken in eastern […]

Omniglot News (10/10/21)

In today’s Adventure in Etymology we’re finding out what walls, whelks and helicopters have in common. A wall [wɔːl/wɔl/wɑl] is: a vertical construction made of stone, brick, wood, etc, with a length and height much greater than its thickness, used to enclose, divide, or support a structure or rampart built to protect and surround a […]

Walls, Whelks and Helicopters

There are three new languages on Omniglot this week: Kusunda (मिहाक / कुसान्डा), a language isolate spoken in the southern Rolpa District of Lumbini province in west-central Nepal. Kodeoha, a Celebic language spoken in Southeast Sulawesi province of Indonesia. Bungku, a Celebic language spoken in the provinces of Central Sulawesi and Southeast Sulawesi in Indonesia. […]

Omniglot News (03/08/21)

As quite a bit of wet stuff has been falling out of the sky this week, and it’s raining as I write this, I thought I’d look into the the origins of the word rain [ɹeɪn]. Definition: condensed water falling from a cloud any matter moving or falling, usually through air [source] It comes from […]

Adventures in Etymology 28 – Rain

Today we are looking at the origins and use of emoji, those little symbols that appear in text messages, emails and other electronic communications. An emoji is a pictogram, logogram, ideogram or smiley used in electronic messages and web pages. Emoji are used to fill in emotional cues otherwise missing from typed conversations. They include […]

Episode 47 – Emoji (?️✍️)

There are three new languages on Omniglot this week: Kambera (hilu Humba), a Sumba-Flores language spoken mainly in the east of Sumba Island in the Lesser Sunda Islands in East Nusa Tenggara province of Indonesia. Mentawai (Behase Mentawei), a Malayo-Polynesian language spoken in the Mentawai Islands in West Sumatra province of Indonesia. Gayo (Basa Gayo), […]

Omniglot News (26/09/21)

As I got to know some of my neighbours better this week I thought I’d look into the the origins of the word neighbour [ˈneɪbə] / neighbor [ˈneɪbɚ]. Definition: a person who lives near or next to another a person or thing near or next to another to be or live close (to a person […]

Adventures in Etymology 28 – Neighbour

There is a new writing system on Omniglot this week: The Global Alphabet, which was devised in 1944 by Robert Latham Owen as an alternative way to write English and other languages. There’s a new adapted script: Türk Uygur Alfabesi, which is a way to write Turkish using the Uyghur version of the Arabic alphabet […]

Omniglot News (19/09/21)

Today we’re looking into the the origins of the word bucket [ˈbʌkɪt/ˈbə-kət]. Definition: a container made of rigid material, often with a handle, used to carry liquids or small items. a part of a piece of machinery that resembles a bucket [source] It comes from the Middle English buket/boket [ˈbukɛt] (bucket), partly from the Old […]

Adventures in Etymology 27 – Bucket

This week I added details of Xiǎo’érjīng (小兒錦 / ثِیَوْعَرڭٍ۟), which is a way to write Mandarin Chinese (普通话) and Dungan (Хуэйзў йүян) with the Arabic alphabet that’s sometimes used by Muslims in China. There are two new constucted scripts: Elithnah and IKON. Elithnah was created by Richard Orbeck, and is used in his novel […]

Omniglot News (12/09/21)

Today we’re getting elemental and delving into the origins of the word iron [ˈaɪ.ən/ˈaɪ.ɚn]. Definition: an element which usually takes the form of a hard, dark-grey metal that can be used to make steel. an electrical device with a flat metal base that heats up and is used to remove creases from clothes. [source] It […]

Adventures in Etymology 26 – Iron

This week on Omniglot there are details of several new languages from southern Mexico, thanks to Wolfram Siegel: Acazulco Otomi (Ndöö́ngüǘ yühǘ) is an Eastern Otomian language spoken in the town of San Jerónimo Acazulco in the state of Mexico. Sierra Otomi (Yųhų / Ñųhų) is another Eastern Otomian language spoken in the states of […]

Omniglot News (05/09/21)

Today we’re spinning a yarn and telling a tale about the origins of the word yarn [jɑːn/jɑɹn]. Definition: a continuous strand of twisted threads of natural or synthetic fibers, such as wool or nylon, used in weaving or knitting. A long, often elaborate narrative of real or fictitious adventures; an entertaining tale. [source] It comes […]

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