english language

A right royal affair! 12 regal words to add to your vocabulary

With the royal engagement of HRH Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, plus the latest season of The Crown now available on Netflix, the royal family is a popular topic of conversation. We’ve searched this noble kingdom for all the royal terminology you need to know, just in time for the… Read More

‘Tis the season to be… còsagach?

The Danes introduced us to the idea of hygge. The Germans are fond of a spot of Gemütlichkeit. And now that the nights have well and truly drawn in, Scots are getting well and truly… còsagach. Eh… còsagach? Say that again? This wee Scottish Gaelic word (pronounced “kaw-sa-goch”, to rhyme… Read More

Lost in Translation?

A perennial favourite topic among word bloggers is the host of fascinating foreign words that have no direct translation in English. This topic has been covered in posts like this one. And this one. And even this newspaper article. What makes… Read More
A bowl holding red chilli peppers

Language be the Food of Love

New scrabblicious words that can really give your game some bite… AFFOGATO (Italian) a dessert made by pouring espresso coffee over ice cream ROASTIES roast potatoes GUMMI a rubbery, flavoured candy… Read More
An illustration of vintage roses

The Lost World of Floriography

In honour of the world’s most prestigious Chelsea Flower Show coming up next week, Hazel Gaynor, author of A Memory of Violets, talks us through the language of flowers. While researching my novel A Memory of Violets I discovered the wonderful world of… Read More
A cross looking baby

Lucy Mangan’s New Year Rant

Right, 2015 – let’s get a few things out of the way before we begin properly next week. 1. No more “the bub” or “the bubba”, or “Bub” or “Bubba” to refer to your own or any other baby. It’s a baby. You aren’t. Enunciate. 2. And while… Read More
Group of young children playing in school uniform

Hands up! Do You Remember Your School Playground Slang?

Teacher’s pet, or constantly bunking off due to schoolitis? Some words and phrases have survived generations of schoolchildren, and will always remind us of the classroom. Which of the below are you familiar with, and can you add any more words to our list? All-nighterTo… Read More
A man with finger to his lips. shsh

14 untranslatable emotions that English can’t convey

The British are well known for their reserved politeness and ‘stiff upper lip’, and are often seen as less likely to express emotion than other nationalities. It may come as no surprise then that when it comes to emotions, the English language sometimes leaves something to be desired. Read More
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