Words Unravelled with RobWords and Jess Zafarris
Words Unravelled with RobWords and Jess Zafarris
Show overview
Words Unravelled with RobWords and Jess Zafarris has been publishing since 2024, and across the 2 years since has built a catalogue of 91 episodes, alongside 1 trailer or bonus episode. That works out to roughly 65 hours of audio in total. Releases follow a fortnightly cadence.
Episodes typically run thirty-five to sixty minutes — most land between 39 min and 47 min — and the run-time is fairly consistent across the catalogue. None of the episodes are flagged explicit by the publisher. It is catalogued as a EN-language Society & Culture show.
The show is actively publishing — the most recent episode landed 1 months ago, with 21 episodes already out so far this year.
From the publisher
Jess Zafarris and Rob Watts unravel the stories behind everyday words. Want to watch our episodes too? Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8R3ZnESMdsuTevq4ib9CvA
Latest Episodes
View all 91 episodesFalse Friends: Dangerous words in other languages
How did The Beatles get their name? | ROCK 'N' ROLL
Spanish words hiding in English
The origins of the alphabet
Who should you hit with a 'slapstick'? | COMEDY WORDS
The Arabic words hiding in English
What was so "complex" about Oedipus? | PSYCHOLOGY TERMS
The literal meaning of 'tiramisu' | WORLD FOODS
Why is a false clue a "red herring"? | IDIOM ORIGINS
Ep 81Why does Berlin mean 'swamp'? | CITY NAME ORIGINS
What's in a names? Jess and Rob are exploring why major cities are called what they're called and what their names literally mean.🇩🇪 Why does BERLIN mean 'swamp'?🇯🇵 Why are KYOTO and TOKYO anagrams?🇿🇦 Who is the Johannes of Johannesburg?These questions answered, and many more, in a globe-trotting episode of Words Unravelled.👕 OUR MERCH 👚US SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.com/EU/UK SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.net/👀 WATCH THIS EPISODEhttps://youtu.be/p4bB1fOPtXI
Ep 80Why do Brits eat their entrees first? ? UK v US ENGLISH
Rob and Jess are engaged in another transatlantic war of words, pitting their British and American accents against one another.🍽️ Why do Brits eat their entrees first?👰🏽 Why do Americans pronounce "merry", "marry" and "Mary" the same?🚿 Why can't we agree on whether to "have" or "take" a shower?These questions answered, and many more, in another Words Unravelled.Evan Edinger: https://www.youtube.com/evanLost in the Pond: https://www.youtube.com/lostinthepond👕 OUR MERCH 👚US SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.com/EU/UK SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.net/👀 WATCH THIS EPISODE: https://youtu.be/IvWUmPs12UU==LINKS==Rob's YouTube channel: youtube.com/robwordsJess' Useless Etymology blog: https://uselessetymology.com/Rob on X: x.com/robwordsytJess on TikTok: tiktok.com/@jesszafarris
Ep 79Slurs and taboos with Professor John McWhorter
Rob and Jess are joined by the brilliant John McWhorter to discuss words you're not allowed to use. Professor McWhorter has written extensively about taboos, slurs and profanities and brings his unparalleled expertise on the English language. 🤬 Is "the R word" becoming even more taboo?🤐 Are we "unaliving" our way to a new era of self-censorship?🔄 Can a slur ever be truly "reclaimed"?These questions answered, and many more, in a fascinatingly frank episode of Words Unravelled.More about John: https://johnmcwhorter.org/📕 Nine Nasty Words: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/624619/nine-nasty-words-by-john-mcwhorter/👕 OUR MERCH 👚US SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.com/EU/UK SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.net/Watch this episode: https://youtu.be/6JYqGa_-UZE
Ep 78What was Pepsi originally called? | BRAND NAME ORIGINS
What does IKEA mean? What language is Häagen-Dasz? Who came up with the name Adidas? Why is Danone spelled Dannon in the US? These questions answered, and many more, as Jess and Rob explore the origins of brand names.Enjoy some more trademark word nerdery in this episode of Words Unravelled exploring Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Lego, Shell, ExxonMobil, Aldi and other famous product names.👕 OUR MERCH 👚US SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.com/EU/UK SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.net/WATCH THIS EPISODE: https://youtu.be/7jPjtgg06L0
Ep 77What does 'philosophy' even mean? | PHILOSOPHICAL WORDS
Jess and Rob are digging into the origins of the words behind some of history’s biggest ideas – from stoicism and cynicism to logic, ethics, and metaphysics. Along the way, they trace how ancient Greek schools of thought shaped the language we still use to argue, reason, and disagree today. Enjoy this particularly pensive episode of Words Unravelled.👕 OUR MERCH 👚US SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.com/EU/UK SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.net/👀 WATCH THIS EPISODE: https://youtu.be/6pya-WuePwo
Ep 76Why so many terms for 'doing it'? | SEX & LOVE
Jess and Rob are discussing "the shaking of the sheets". Join them to explore the origins of words for 'doing it' and a host of historic terms for firkytoodling, quiffing and dancing Moll Peatley's Jig. Welcome to a very sex episode of Words Unravelled.👕 OUR MERCH 👚US SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.com/EU/UK SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.net/WATCH THIS EPISODE: https://youtu.be/3bvK3bz_AlY
Ep 75The words English forgot to invent | LEXICAL GAPS
Why doesn't English have a word for someone who is alive? Or a general term for your aunties and uncles? Should we bring back the word 'uhtceare' from Old English or steal 'Torschlusspanik' from German?Rob and Jess answer these questions and more as they investigate the words that English has forgotten to invent. Join them to explore silly sniglets, outrageous orphaned negatives and untranslatable terms in another nerdy episode of Words Unravelled.👕 OUR MERCH 👚US SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.com/EU/UK SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.net/👀 WATCH THIS EPISODE: https://youtu.be/PH64PZAjK_s
Ep 74Could something 'escalate' before the escalator? INVENTIONS
Is necessity the mother of invention? NO! Latin is, etymologically speaking. That's just one of many revelations as Jess and Rob investigates words for innovations.🛗 Could you 'escalate' something before the escalator?🍞 When was sliced bread actually invented?🩹 What connects zippers, band aids and aspirin?These questions answered – and many more – in another inventive episode of Words Unravelled.👕 OUR MERCH 👚US SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.com/EU/UK SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.net/👀WATCH THIS EPISODE: https://youtu.be/qheviaPndXU
Ep 73Does anyone know what 'London' means? | CITY NAME ORIGINS
Rob and Jess are touring the US and the UK in search of the most interesting city name origin stories.💨 Does 'Chicago' have anything to do with wind?🗽 Is New York actually named after York?🚇 Does anyone know what 'London' means?🏹 And what was Nottingham's hilarious old name?Find out as we climb aboard the etymological city-hopper in another wordy, nerdy Words Unravelled.👕 OUR MERCH 👚US SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.com/EU/UK SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.net/WATCH THIS EPISODE: https://youtu.be/fR7IIZAy4Js
Ep 72What does 'espionage' actually mean? | SECRETS & SPIES
Rob and Jess are going deep undercover to unearth the origins of words from the word of espionage.🕵️♀️ What's the difference between a SPY, and ASSET, and an AGENT?🔍 What does ESPIONAGE literally mean?🇬🇧 Was there ever an MI4 as well MI5 and MI6?These questions answered – and many more – in a supremely secretive episode of Words Unravelled.🎥 Dr Geoff Lindsey's COVERT vid: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeHRN6GlNOs👕 OUR MERCH 👚US SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.com/EU/UK SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.net/
Ep 71What did the first internet troll write? | TECH WORDS
Rob and Jess are talking tech! In this episode, they explore the linguistic origins of terms from technology, Sci-fi and the internet.🧌 Who was the first internet troll?🤖 What does 'robot' literally mean?🔫 Does Jedi actually mean something?⌨️ Are we pronouncing 'meme' correctly?These questions answered, and a whole lot more, in an extra nerdy episode of Words Unravelled.🚨ROBWORDS LIVE🚨Ticket: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/bloomsbury-theatre/events/2026/apr/evening-etymology-rob-words👕 OUR MERCH 👚US SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.com/EU/UK SHOP: https://wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.net/🎥 WATCH THIS EPISODE: https://youtu.be/vrZwAuQ6X0c