1. A Single Piece of Confetti is Known as a “Confetto”

A fascinating little fact that adds a bit of charm to any festive occasion!

2. “Schoolmaster” is an Anagram of “The Classroom”

Anagrams can be delightful brain teasers. Here are a few other favorites:

Listen = Silent
Astronomer = Moon starer
The eyes = They see

3. The Day Before Yesterday

Ever struggled to describe the day before yesterday? There’s actually a word for that: “nudiustertian.” While it might save some syllables, you might spend that saved time explaining what it means!

4. The Origin of “Quarantine”

“Quarantine” originates from the Italian term quarantina giorni, meaning “space of 40 days.” This term dates back to the 14th century when ships were isolated for 40 days to prevent disease spread.

5. The English Word with the Most Meanings

“Set” holds the record for the most meanings in English, boasting 430 different uses listed in the Oxford English Dictionary’s second edition. Its dictionary entry is a staggering 60,000 words long!

6. “Dumbbell” Refers to Silence, Not Intelligence

Ever wondered why workout weights are called “dumbbells”? Historically, “dumb” meant “mute,” and these exercise tools were named for silent metal bells attached to ropes.

7. “Goodbye” is Rooted in Religion

“Goodbye” derives from “godbwye,” a 16th-century English contraction of “God be with ye.” It’s a historically rich farewell we use every day.

8. “Tl;dr” has Earned its Place in the Dictionary

Merriam-Webster recognized “tl;dr,” short for “too long; didn’t read,” as an official word in 2018, joining the ranks of “LOL,” “FYI,” and “OMG.”

9. The Tip of a Shoelace has a Name

The little plastic or metal tip at the end of a shoelace is known as an “aglet,” a term with French origins linked to the word for “needle” (aguillette).

10. The Shortest Complete Sentence in English

In English, “I am” holds the distinction of being the shortest complete sentence, making it elegantly concise.

11. There’s a Word Longer than “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious”

While “supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” is famously lengthy, it’s outdone by “pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis,” a lung disease caused by inhaling fine ash and dust.

12. The Shortest, Oldest, and Most Commonly Used Word

“I” is not only one of the oldest words in English but also one of the most frequently used. Humans love to talk about themselves!

13. A New Word Enters the Dictionary Every Two Hours

Between now and your next meal, a new word will be added into the dictionary. The English language is ever-evolving, with approximately 4,000 new words added to the dictionary annually.

14. “Swims” Remains the Same Even Upside Down

The word “swims” is an ambigram, which means it looks the same even when flipped upside down. Try it and see for yourself!

15. All Flying is Done in English

In an interesting global standard, all pilots are required to speak English, regardless of their origin. This ensures clear communication in the skies worldwide.

Want to keep strengthening your vocabulary?

Check out our daily word puzzle below 👇

Daily Wordshake