The terms boyfriend and girlfriend came into common use in the late 1800’s. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Boyfriend and Girlfriend” Hello, you have A Way with Words. Hi, my name is Laura from Milwaukee...
When an older man and woman spend lots of time together, going to family gatherings and the like, but they’re not dating, what do you call that relationship? Best friends? Dear friends? This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of...
Our Quiz Guy John Chaneski sorts out the hosts with a puzzle about book categories on Amazon.com. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Book Categories Puzzle” You’re listening to A Way with Words, the show about...
A Little Rock, Arkansas, caller has been going out with a Chinese woman. Her English is pretty good, but he wonders about the most polite way to correct a minor grammar mistake without ruining a new relationship. This is part of a complete episode...
Dan in San Diego and friends were stumped after one friend jokingly called himself a woman’s mistress. There isn’t a crisp modern equivalent for an unmarried man involved with a married woman, partly because master and mistress once matched each...
Consuegro is the Spanish word Kathy from Imperial Beach misses from English when she wants to talk about the parents of her child’s spouse. English has the broad term in-laws, but no common, tidy word for that particular relationship between the two...