The Oxford English Dictionary tracks 600,000+ words
It adds hundreds of new words a year -- from 'doomscrolling' to 'touch grass' -- a living record of how we speak.
Today's briefing: a few timeless things worth knowing about words, language, AI, and puzzles. (Archive edition.)
It adds hundreds of new words a year -- from 'doomscrolling' to 'touch grass' -- a living record of how we speak.
AI translation now captures tone and idiom far better than the word-for-word tools of a decade ago.
Its winning words send students deep into Latin, Greek, and the long history of English spelling.
Spanish 'embarazada' looks like 'embarrassed' but actually means 'pregnant' -- a classic false friend for learners.
A rebus uses images and letters to stand in for words and phrases -- an ancient idea that is still good fun today.
With an implied 'you,' a single word forms a full command -- English at its most efficient.