Ben Zimmer
@benzimmer.bsky.social
Linguist, lexicographer, language commentator, all-around word nut.
https://linktr.ee/benzimmer
https://linktr.ee/benzimmer
Bzz, bzz, bzz... I have today's buzzy puzzle for @puzzmo.com!
Puzzmo - Cross|word
Play Cross|word on Puzzmo, Take a hint.
www.puzzmo.com
January 30, 2026 at 3:34 PM
Bzz, bzz, bzz... I have today's buzzy puzzle for @puzzmo.com!
Reposted by Ben Zimmer
FTA: @benzimmer.bsky.social is going to verb the taboo term out of this one stronglang.wordpress.com/2016/02/11/i...
“I agreed the fuck out of it”
Last year, in my post on the line from The Martian, “I’m going to have to science the shit out of this,” I took a look at the more general pattern of “VERB the TABOO TERM ou…
stronglang.wordpress.com
January 30, 2026 at 2:11 PM
FTA: @benzimmer.bsky.social is going to verb the taboo term out of this one stronglang.wordpress.com/2016/02/11/i...
Reposted by Ben Zimmer
This week, it's the highlight of any FMI Season, because Ben Zimmer joins Ryan and Brian to discuss the 2025 Word of the Year! There's still plenty of the same slop there's always been, but skip to the 31-minute mark if you're here for The Barnacle. #woty #crossword #podcast bemoresmarter.com/fmi
January 27, 2026 at 12:01 PM
This week, it's the highlight of any FMI Season, because Ben Zimmer joins Ryan and Brian to discuss the 2025 Word of the Year! There's still plenty of the same slop there's always been, but skip to the 31-minute mark if you're here for The Barnacle. #woty #crossword #podcast bemoresmarter.com/fmi
January 26, 2026 at 6:00 PM
I've got today's Saturday Stumper in Newsday!
brainsonly.com/global/netwo...
brainsonly.com/global/netwo...
January 18, 2026 at 4:30 AM
I've got today's Saturday Stumper in Newsday!
brainsonly.com/global/netwo...
brainsonly.com/global/netwo...
Reposted by Ben Zimmer
Yesterday was jam-packed with exciting moments! From -slop being named the ADS Word of the Year, to the insightful Five-Minute Linguist session, to vibrant networking in the poster session & exhibit hall—there truly was something for everyone. We can’t wait to see what today has in store! #LSA2026
January 10, 2026 at 3:15 PM
Yesterday was jam-packed with exciting moments! From -slop being named the ADS Word of the Year, to the insightful Five-Minute Linguist session, to vibrant networking in the poster session & exhibit hall—there truly was something for everyone. We can’t wait to see what today has in store! #LSA2026
Reposted by Ben Zimmer
The 2025 Word of the Year is "slop," both as a noun for low-quality AI-generated content and as a combining form for anything of little value. Read the full press release. #WOTY2025 #ADS2026 #LSA2026
americandialect.org/2025-word-of...
americandialect.org/2025-word-of...
2025 Word of the Year Is “Slop”
New Orleans Marriott–Jan. 9—The American Dialect Society, in its 36th annual words-of-the-year vote, selected slop as the Word of the Year for 2025. More than three hundred attendees took part in the…
americandialect.org
January 10, 2026 at 8:18 AM
The 2025 Word of the Year is "slop," both as a noun for low-quality AI-generated content and as a combining form for anything of little value. Read the full press release. #WOTY2025 #ADS2026 #LSA2026
americandialect.org/2025-word-of...
americandialect.org/2025-word-of...
Reposted by Ben Zimmer
Now posted: The full list of nominees for ADS Word of the Year 2025. The final vote will be held this evening at 6:45 pm CST at the New Orleans Marriott. #WOTY2025 #ADS2026 #LSA2026
americandialect.org/nominations-...
americandialect.org/nominations-...
Nominations for Words of the Year 2025
Nominations for Words of the Year 2025 follow below. The final selection will be held at 6:45 pm CST on Friday, Jan. 9 (Carondelet, 3rd floor, New Orleans Marriott). American Dialect Society 2025…
americandialect.org
January 9, 2026 at 3:38 PM
Now posted: The full list of nominees for ADS Word of the Year 2025. The final vote will be held this evening at 6:45 pm CST at the New Orleans Marriott. #WOTY2025 #ADS2026 #LSA2026
americandialect.org/nominations-...
americandialect.org/nominations-...
Reposted by Ben Zimmer
On @thebrianlehrershow.bsky.social,’ linguist @benzimmer.bsky.social breaks down the words that encapsulate 2025 from ‘parasocial’ to ‘rage bait.’ Listen here: harkaudio.com/year-words-2...
December 29, 2025 at 6:44 PM
On @thebrianlehrershow.bsky.social,’ linguist @benzimmer.bsky.social breaks down the words that encapsulate 2025 from ‘parasocial’ to ‘rage bait.’ Listen here: harkaudio.com/year-words-2...
Reposted by Ben Zimmer
The Internet Archive has a playable version of the NY Times Crossword Puzzle app from 1992. It ran on Windows 3.1 and included a few hundred puzzles. (Click on Game/Open to select a puzzle.) [archive.org]
The New York Times Crossword Puzzles (1992) : SWFTE International, Ltd.
The New York TimesCrossword Puzzles
archive.org
December 29, 2025 at 3:36 PM
The Internet Archive has a playable version of the NY Times Crossword Puzzle app from 1992. It ran on Windows 3.1 and included a few hundred puzzles. (Click on Game/Open to select a puzzle.) [archive.org]
Reposted by Ben Zimmer
WATCH: youtu.be/BX9FCGR-CaY?...
READ: grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/104...
LISTEN: pod.link/173429229
READ: grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/104...
LISTEN: pod.link/173429229
How a long-lost yearbook revealed the origin of 'hella,' with Ben Zimmer
YouTube video by Grammar Girl
youtu.be
December 26, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Reposted by Ben Zimmer
If you're traveling this weekend, download this interview with @benzimmer.bsky.social! He has DELIGHTFUL stories about:
— The origin of "hella"
— Run DMC and "drop"
— 1960s slang from cots in military barracks
— Stephen Colbert & "truthiness"
I promise you'll love it!
🎧 tinyurl.com/2d6qutrw
— The origin of "hella"
— Run DMC and "drop"
— 1960s slang from cots in military barracks
— Stephen Colbert & "truthiness"
I promise you'll love it!
🎧 tinyurl.com/2d6qutrw
December 26, 2025 at 6:10 PM
If you're traveling this weekend, download this interview with @benzimmer.bsky.social! He has DELIGHTFUL stories about:
— The origin of "hella"
— Run DMC and "drop"
— 1960s slang from cots in military barracks
— Stephen Colbert & "truthiness"
I promise you'll love it!
🎧 tinyurl.com/2d6qutrw
— The origin of "hella"
— Run DMC and "drop"
— 1960s slang from cots in military barracks
— Stephen Colbert & "truthiness"
I promise you'll love it!
🎧 tinyurl.com/2d6qutrw
A fun little Christmas bonus... @grammargirl.bsky.social has shared the subscriber-only podcast segment we recorded in October, in which I tell some stories about tracking down the history of words like "hella," "drop," "truthiness," and "toast." www.youtube.com/watch?v=BX9F...
How a long-lost yearbook revealed the origin of 'hella,' with Ben Zimmer
YouTube video by Grammar Girl
www.youtube.com
December 25, 2025 at 6:40 PM
A fun little Christmas bonus... @grammargirl.bsky.social has shared the subscriber-only podcast segment we recorded in October, in which I tell some stories about tracking down the history of words like "hella," "drop," "truthiness," and "toast." www.youtube.com/watch?v=BX9F...
Reposted by Ben Zimmer
I'll be on @wnyc.org @thebrianlehrershow.bsky.social at around 11:40 am ET talking about Word of the Year selections. www.wnyc.org/story/latest...
The Latest Battle Over the Fate of the ACA; Meet the Likely New Speaker; Why Employers Are Ghosting; 2025's Word(s) of the Year | The Brian Lehrer Show | WNYC
The Latest Battle Over the Fate of the ACA; Meet the Likely New Speaker; Why Employers Are Ghosting; 2025's Word(s) of the Year
www.wnyc.org
December 15, 2025 at 3:25 PM
I'll be on @wnyc.org @thebrianlehrershow.bsky.social at around 11:40 am ET talking about Word of the Year selections. www.wnyc.org/story/latest...
I'm quoted in here about Word of the Year selections.
www.cbc.ca/radio/67-wor...
www.cbc.ca/radio/67-wor...
'6-7' doesn't mean anything. Linguists say that's the point | CBC Radio
Dictionary.com named '6-7' as its word of the year for 2025, describing the term as 'meaningless, ubiquitous, and nonsensical.' But its perceived lack of meaning is perhaps the point, linguists say.
www.cbc.ca
December 14, 2025 at 3:22 PM
I'm quoted in here about Word of the Year selections.
www.cbc.ca/radio/67-wor...
www.cbc.ca/radio/67-wor...
I was on @fox5ny.bsky.social this evening talking about Word of the Year choices for 2025. www.fox5ny.com/video/1752579
Make sure to submit your own nominations for the @americandialect.org Word of the Year! americandialect.org/submit-2025-...
Make sure to submit your own nominations for the @americandialect.org Word of the Year! americandialect.org/submit-2025-...
Word of the Year: Pop culture meets linguistics
Columnist Ben Zimmer joins Arthur Chi'en to talk about the top words of the year and why they're catching on.
www.fox5ny.com
December 7, 2025 at 2:37 AM
I was on @fox5ny.bsky.social this evening talking about Word of the Year choices for 2025. www.fox5ny.com/video/1752579
Make sure to submit your own nominations for the @americandialect.org Word of the Year! americandialect.org/submit-2025-...
Make sure to submit your own nominations for the @americandialect.org Word of the Year! americandialect.org/submit-2025-...
New crossword for @slate.com! Couldn't pass up the Simpsons ref. slate.com/life/2025/12...
December 6, 2025 at 4:13 PM
New crossword for @slate.com! Couldn't pass up the Simpsons ref. slate.com/life/2025/12...
Still tickets available for this! Come join us!
Happy to join @natanlast.bsky.social and Wyna Liu for a fun crossword event sponsored by JASA in NYC on 12/7. Come one, come all! Your ticket includes a copy of Natan's new book ACROSS THE UNIVERSE and supports a great cause. jasa.org/events/cross...
December 6, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Still tickets available for this! Come join us!
Reposted by Ben Zimmer
Happy to join @natanlast.bsky.social and Wyna Liu for a fun crossword event sponsored by JASA in NYC on 12/7. Come one, come all! Your ticket includes a copy of Natan's new book ACROSS THE UNIVERSE and supports a great cause. jasa.org/events/cross...
December 1, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Happy to join @natanlast.bsky.social and Wyna Liu for a fun crossword event sponsored by JASA in NYC on 12/7. Come one, come all! Your ticket includes a copy of Natan's new book ACROSS THE UNIVERSE and supports a great cause. jasa.org/events/cross...
Happy to join @natanlast.bsky.social and Wyna Liu for a fun crossword event sponsored by JASA in NYC on 12/7. Come one, come all! Your ticket includes a copy of Natan's new book ACROSS THE UNIVERSE and supports a great cause. jasa.org/events/cross...
December 1, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Happy to join @natanlast.bsky.social and Wyna Liu for a fun crossword event sponsored by JASA in NYC on 12/7. Come one, come all! Your ticket includes a copy of Natan's new book ACROSS THE UNIVERSE and supports a great cause. jasa.org/events/cross...
Reposted by Ben Zimmer
Why the funnest etymologies are almost always wrong benyagoda.substack.com/p/where-posh...
Where 'Posh' Doesn't Come From
The funnest etymologies, alas, are almost always wrong.
benyagoda.substack.com
November 30, 2025 at 7:40 PM
Why the funnest etymologies are almost always wrong benyagoda.substack.com/p/where-posh...
Puzzmo - Cross|word
Play Cross|word on Puzzmo, Take a hint.
www.puzzmo.com
November 30, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Reposted by Ben Zimmer
November linkstack (linkducken?), stuffed with words of the year, wordy gifts, and more. | Ht @gretchenmcc.bsky.social @e-briannica.bsky.social @mikepope.com @grammargirl.bsky.social @stefanfatsis.bsky.social @babynames.bsky.social @kottke.org @nybooks.com fritinancy.substack.com/p/november-l...
November linkstack
My Black Friday gift to you: news about names, brands, language, and culture.
fritinancy.substack.com
November 28, 2025 at 3:28 PM
November linkstack (linkducken?), stuffed with words of the year, wordy gifts, and more. | Ht @gretchenmcc.bsky.social @e-briannica.bsky.social @mikepope.com @grammargirl.bsky.social @stefanfatsis.bsky.social @babynames.bsky.social @kottke.org @nybooks.com fritinancy.substack.com/p/november-l...
Reposted by Ben Zimmer
Your latest Workplace Word Origins roundup, aka LinkedIn leftovers, on the blog hits 'Black Friday,' 'boutique,' and 'chef.'
mashedradish.com/2025/11/28/w...
Credit to @benzimmer.bsky.social and @btaylorblake.bsky.social for work on 'Black Friday,' coverage of which was I felt due for a reheat.
mashedradish.com/2025/11/28/w...
Credit to @benzimmer.bsky.social and @btaylorblake.bsky.social for work on 'Black Friday,' coverage of which was I felt due for a reheat.
Workplace Word Origins: Black Friday, chef, boutique
Philadelphia traffic jams, Greek storehouses, and Latin heads.
mashedradish.com
November 28, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Your latest Workplace Word Origins roundup, aka LinkedIn leftovers, on the blog hits 'Black Friday,' 'boutique,' and 'chef.'
mashedradish.com/2025/11/28/w...
Credit to @benzimmer.bsky.social and @btaylorblake.bsky.social for work on 'Black Friday,' coverage of which was I felt due for a reheat.
mashedradish.com/2025/11/28/w...
Credit to @benzimmer.bsky.social and @btaylorblake.bsky.social for work on 'Black Friday,' coverage of which was I felt due for a reheat.