Etymoleon - Word History, the etymology podcast.

Etymoleon - Word History, the etymology podcast.

Word History is a podcast for people who enjoy words and history.


Each episode takes a small set of words linked to a theme. You'll hear what they mean, where they come from and which familiar words share the same linguistic roots, along with stories from the past related to their use.


Listen for words that sharpen expression, and brief histories that show how ideas and practices, as well as language, took shape. Across an archive of more than a hundred episodes, you'll find explanations of word, name and phrase origins.


The majority of etymologies featured return to Old English, Ancient Greek, Latin and Old French, providing a look into languages of the past that underpin English.


New episodes on Sundays.


Play the daily word game Derivety: https://derivety.com


Get in touch: https://etymoleon.com

Episoder(118)

118. Work | History Daily: Henry Ford's Five-Day Week

118. Work | History Daily: Henry Ford's Five-Day Week

This podcast returns on May 10th 2026. A musician discovered Uranus, a Hollywood actress developed military technology, and a statesman invented bifocal glasses. Names such as Spencer, Marshall and St...

26 Apr 29min

117. Murder

117. Murder

To burke is to kill by strangulation, a word taken from the name of a 19th century murderer. In Anglo-Saxon England, a killing could be settled with payment through the wergild, a sum paid by the offe...

19 Apr 15min

116. Bizarre

116. Bizarre

This episode investigates obscure words for conversations about bizarre histories, considering their origins and familiar words from the same root. Words explored include diluvial, nundination, expeti...

12 Apr 16min

115. Chance

115. Chance

This podcast returns on April 12th 2026. This episode explores unusual words for conversations about chance, examining their origins and recognisable words from the same root. Words covered include in...

29 Mar 14min

114. Fixity

114. Fixity

This episode examines uncommon words for conversations about fixity, exploring their origins and familiar words from the same root. Words featured include intransigent, obdurate, adamantine, indelible...

22 Mar 15min

113. Reputation

113. Reputation

This episode explores lesser known words that are useful in conversations about reputation, considering their origins and recognisable words from the same root. Words highlighted include perfidious, c...

15 Mar 14min

112. Error

112. Error

This episode investigates obscure words for discussions about error, tracing their origins and familiar words from the same root. Words examined include solecism, lapsus calami, amphibology, defalcati...

8 Mar 16min

111. Happiness

111. Happiness

This episode considers unusual words for conversations about happiness, examining their origins and recognisable words from the same root. Words featured include gaiety, delectation, sangfroid, equani...

1 Mar 14min

Populært innen Historie

med-egne-oyne
rss-dette-ma-aldri-skje-igjen
historier-som-endret-norge
henrettelsespodden
rss-benadet
sektledere
rss-nadelose-nordmenn-gestapo
aftenposten-historie
historier-som-endret-verden
rss-strid-de-norske-borgerkrigene
rss-katastrofe
rss-bisarr-historie
rss-gamle-greier
rss-frontkjemperne
liberal-halvtime
rss-historiske-romanser-svik-drap-og-kjarlighet
historiepodden
historiepodden-ww2
rss-historiepodden-ww2
vare-historier