If your attention span for poetry only extends to the length of time it takes to read a limerick, you may find yourself challenged if you try to read the Mahābhārata. Advertisements
Take a Quick 6.5 Hours to Read the World’s Longest Poem
A 700-Year Tradition Of Unfriending
Venture for long in the world of social media and you will learn what it means to “unfriend.” You will realize a former social media follower has chosen to turn his or […]
Big, Fat, Hairy Word Origin
When Thomas Savage attempted to develop the first scientific classification of the large primate we know as the gorilla, he reached back over 2,000 years and found a word in a long-filed […]
There’s a Name for That
We’ve all done it, and we’ve all had it done to us. Tapping someone on the opposite shoulder from behind so as to trick that person to turn around and see no […]
Are You Suffering from Politikerleden?
Have you ever found yourself so fed up with politics and everything about it that you find yourself unable to express yourself? If so, you may wish to borrow a word from […]
When the French Have a Problem, it’s REALLY a Problem
When Apollo 13 astronaut Jim Lovell said the famous line, “Houston, we have a problem,” the words triggered alarm throughout NASA and around the world. If Apollo 13 had been manned by […]
Don’t Judge a Product by its Name
In marketing, deciding product’s name is the first big step to letting the world know why it needs that particular item. Unfortunately, the language barrier sometimes presents its own obstacles and sends […]
A Word for the Next Time You Drive
Have you ever been at a loss for words because of the bad driving skills of another motorist? The Germans have come to the rescue with deppenfahrerbeaugung. It literally translates as “moron […]
Back When Tigers Used to Smoke
English fairy tales traditionally start with the words “Once upon a time,” but Korean stories start with, “Back when tigers used to smoke.” source
Meet the Moon Diamond Cat
The Siamese cat originated in Siam — modern day Thailand. In the Thai language, that most-easily recognizable breed is known by another name: Wichien Maat. It translates as “Moon Diamond.”
Did One Wrong Word Cause the Hiroshima Bombing?
Readers of Commonplace will not be surprised to learn that one little mistranslation from one language to another can be embarrassing. Whether it is one misplaced letter when cheering General Douglas MacArthur, an incompetent […]
Don’t be a Flipperförälder
We’ve all seen them. They tend to show up at supermarkets, airports, and movie theaters, and they make life miserable for everyone else. I’m speaking, of course, of the parents who do […]
Rhymes With Orange
It is commonly said that no word in the English language rhymes with orange. This amuses the people in Wales who live near the hill named Blorenge.
Learn This Word Before Your Next Visit to a Pet Store
Have you ever been at a loss to describe your feelings when you see an utterly adorable kitten or a supremely-cuddly puppy? If you lived in the Philippines, you wouldn’t struggle. In […]
Do You Confess to Being a Macroverbumsciolist?
If you were accused of being a macroverbumsciolist, how would you plead? If you answered without knowing what the word means, you probably should have pleaded guilty. A macroverbumsciolist is a person […]
