Rob Watts (RobWords)
@robwords.com
YouTube word nerd. Host of RobWords and Words Unravelled. LIVE AT THE EDINBURGH FRINGE: 6th-16th August 2026. Tickets: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/robwords-live
🌊 It's a new WU! @robwords.com and I take to the seas with the Vikings in this episode about Old Norse vocabulary and grammatical influence in English. Check it out on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=La3t... Or wherever your cast your pods: audioboom.com/channels/512...
You speak more Viking than you think
YouTube video by Words Unravelled
youtube.com
I've been having a lovely time in Orkney.
Lee Gordon@leegordon.bsky.social · 2w agoA nice surprise while watching #DigWatch from the @timeteam.bsky.social dig at the Ness of Brodgar in Scotland, when host @martynmnw.bsky.social opened a door and there was @robwords.com. The confluence of two of my favorite YouTube channels.
WUUU! It's a new Words Unravelled! This time, @robwords.com and I practically go dada over art supplies, movements, techniques, and even rare Crayon colors. 🎨 Watch on YouTube or listen anywhere you pod your casts. ▶️ www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xi1... 🎧 audioboom.com/channels/512...
Trying to work out which 17th century accent can excuse rhyming "America" with "day".
@shadycharacters.co.uk Hi Keith. I run a YouTube channel about language (youtube.com/robwords) and am working on a video about the interrobang. I'm sitting with my copy of Shady Characters thinking "Why not ask Keith for an interview‽" Might you be up for a quick chat in the coming days?
RobWords
Word facts and language fun: this is a channel dedicated to the quirks of the English language. It'll tell you where the words we use come from and why we say the things we say. I'm based in Berlin a...
youtube.com
New Words Unravelled! My mic decided not to show up to the program, but @robwords.com and I still sling some slang and have a fine old time. Give us our propers and take a peek: www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HuQ...
The origins of slang words
YouTube video by Words Unravelled
youtube.com
I think the meaning of "exciting" might have changed a bit since 1884.
The original Maverick wasn't actually a maverick. But his cow was. My latest newsletter, featuring some 'untranslatable' words, too: robwords.substack.com/p/maverick-w...
Maverick was a man... and a cow.
The RobWords Newsletter
robwords.substack.com
And we're back! The latest season (or series, if you prefer) of Words Unravelled has begun. In this episode: Words like empathy, magazine, and casino mean different things in other languages. @robwords.com and I discuss false friends and false cognates: www.youtube.com/watch?v=XA4d...
Dangerous words in other languages
YouTube video by Words Unravelled
youtube.com
I made Rob's Pretty Sauce for Cock 👀 (No wood, just the chicken thighs from Morrisons) This is *very* tasty, and it has that flavour I'd expect from a restaurant making old English food. The mace isn't as overpowering as I feared it'd be. Served with asparagus and triple-cooked new potato slices!
Rob Watts (RobWords)@robwords.com · 2mo agoNeed a pretty sauce for your woodcock? Here.
some of you never used a pilcrow for pre-wysiwyg markup word processing and it shows... Rob breaks down the symbols you take for granted today... @robwords.com youtu.be/cSsyG2pE-GY
The hidden logic behind these symbols
YouTube video by RobWords
youtu.be
Featuring @robwords.com!
The Europeans@europeanspod.bsky.social · 2mo ago🚨 NEW EPISODE 🚨 Think of this podcast as a kind of therapy session for non-native English-speakers. This week we're asking: Why is the English language so goddamn infuriating sometimes? We're also talking about Armenia's election, and Dua Lipa's wedding. www.europeanspodcast.com/all-episodes...
I've spent all day writing about marmelade and haven't once spelt it correctly.
I spent part of yesterday trying to draw a sexy verb. Please make my efforts worthwhile by reading today's newsletter, featuring the glamorous origins of "grammar". open.substack.com/pub/robwords...
HEFTY NEWS! I’m taking my wordy nerdy show to this year’s Edinburgh Fringe. I’ll be doing 10 nights at the Assembly George Square Studios from 6th to 16th August. I can barely ruddy believe it! I’d love to see you there. Tickets: assemblyfestival.com/whats-on/rob...
In his live show, @robwords.com talks about words that have been skunked, i.e., words definitions have become ambiguous or have multiple interpretations because of their usage. An interesting and relatively recent one is the use of "POV" in short-form videos. It's often used on videos that aren't …
We weedled the word out of him. Danny is fascinating. For goodness sake, give it a watch.
Dr Danny Bate@dannybate.com · 3mo agoYours truly was made very welcome on the multi-platform etymological phenomenon that is Words Unravelled with @jesszafarris.com and @robwords.com. It's the only interview to date in which I've said the word 'boobs'. youtu.be/EqaYS3vWKGY?...
I wouldn't normally touch this kind of opportunity with a bargepole, but the personal touch has got me tempted.
It's worrying that I just allowed this man to feed me. The perils of filming at a Berlin market. From my new video about contronyms, here: youtu.be/wopcJoJIoJE?...
On Words Unravelled, @jesszafarris.com and I discussed the origins of "to beat around the bush". It relates to the practice of shaking a bush in order to scare animals out into the open (in order to shoot them), and I've just stumbled across this vivid reference of the process from 1672.
Today we shall make much ado of the anniversary of the birth of a true giant of the English language; measure for measure, one of the greatest ever to wield the pen. Happy Birthday @jesszafarris.com. I hope you have a day just as you like it.
Dærick's beautiful (and occasionally hilarious) artwork was essential.
Dærick Gröss@daerickgross.com · 4mo agocongrats to @robwords.bsky.social on your live shows this past weekend! i'm very proud to have had a small touch in making it a fun event! (and thanks to @pippinkaninchen.bsky.social for pointing out the call for artists!) if you're not yet subscribed to www.youtube.com/@RobWords, go check it out!
The first ever RobWords Live shows were an absolute blast. Thank you so much if you were among the hundreds of word nerds who made me feel so welcome in London.
I doubt I'll find anything better suited to my ears than @susiedentwords.bsky.social on @footballcliches.bsky.social Click below to enjoy a bit of both. pod.fo/e/3c0889
New: Football Clichés: Football vs The Dictionary: Susie Dent on bus-parking & bouncebackability
The pod welcomes Susie Dent, the queen of Countdown's dictionary corner, to examine the language of football in the sort of detail we've always dreamed of.Susie takes us through the ironic death of...
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