You may pronounce mayonnaise at least a couple of different ways. Although it’s clear the word came into English via French, its origin is a matter of some dispute. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Pronouncing...
Contrary to what your dictionary might tell you, there’s no one right way to pronounce won. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Ways to Pronounce “Won”” Hello, you have A Way with Words. Hi, this is Jake...
There’s no difference in meaning between center and centre, but there is an interesting story behind the change in spelling. In the early 19th century, independence-minded lexicographer Noah Webster campaigned for a new American orthography...
Cumin, the earthy spice in many chili powders, has a dictionary pronunciation that surprises plenty of cooks: many dictionaries give a form that rhymes with comin’. Older spellings such as cummin help reinforce that, but everyday kitchen...
Open your kitchen cupboard or a cookbook, and chances are you’ll come across a lot of spices and peppers with recognizable names that you still can’t pronounce properly, like turmeric, cayenne, and habanero. We often give foreign...
“Hell’s Bells!”, an exclamation along the lines of “darn!”, is likely just variation of hellfire, and reinforced by its rhyme. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Origin of “Hell’s...