Jess Zafarris
@jesszafarris.bsky.social
Author of USELESS ETYMOLOGY, WORDS FROM HELL, and ONCE UPON A WORD. Podcaster/cohost, Words Unravelled. Editor-at-Large, Ragan + PR Daily. Adjunct prof at Emerson. Speaker, content director, social pro, ad world wordsmith. https://linktr.ee/JessZafarris
Pinned
Jess Zafarris
@jesszafarris.bsky.social
· Jul 30
Something special arrived today!
Useless Etymology will head out into the larger world on October 7th, but in the meantime here’s a little unbox and a reflection on its reason for being.
Useless Etymology will head out into the larger world on October 7th, but in the meantime here’s a little unbox and a reflection on its reason for being.
Looks like the Kindle edition of Useless Etymology is 90% off right now! Grab it for $1.99.
www.amazon.com/Useless-Etym...
www.amazon.com/Useless-Etym...
Useless Etymology: Offbeat Word Origins for Curious Minds
Useless Etymology: Offbeat Word Origins for Curious Minds - Kindle edition by Zafarris, Jess. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading Useless Etymology: Offbeat Word Origins for Curious Minds.
www.amazon.com
January 6, 2026 at 3:37 PM
Looks like the Kindle edition of Useless Etymology is 90% off right now! Grab it for $1.99.
www.amazon.com/Useless-Etym...
www.amazon.com/Useless-Etym...
Can’t figure out who sent me this lovely box of puppy toys, but they are a hit!
January 5, 2026 at 8:15 PM
Can’t figure out who sent me this lovely box of puppy toys, but they are a hit!
Reposted by Jess Zafarris
CBS didn't run the 60 Minutes segment on CECOT, but over here at @propublica.org we've been working on the story since March, including finding out who each and every man sent to that maximum security prison was.
You can see our reporting here: www.propublica.org/series/depor...
You can see our reporting here: www.propublica.org/series/depor...
Deported and Imprisoned Archives
A case-by-case investigation that examines the Trump administration’s claims that these immigrants are all “sick criminals” and “terrorists” and that shows what they suffered during months in one of t...
www.propublica.org
December 22, 2025 at 4:08 PM
CBS didn't run the 60 Minutes segment on CECOT, but over here at @propublica.org we've been working on the story since March, including finding out who each and every man sent to that maximum security prison was.
You can see our reporting here: www.propublica.org/series/depor...
You can see our reporting here: www.propublica.org/series/depor...
Reposted by Jess Zafarris
Holy %$##*%^&. A @newyorker.com essay by Louis Menand about my book
Is the Dictionary Done For?
The print edition of Merriam-Webster was once a touchstone of authority and stability. Then the internet brought about a revolution.
www.newyorker.com
December 22, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Holy %$##*%^&. A @newyorker.com essay by Louis Menand about my book
Reposted by Jess Zafarris
But wait — where’s Useless Etymology??
And I’ll close with word books because it was a fantastic year for word nerdy new releases.
📖 Proto by @laurainparis.bsky.social
📖 Unabridged by @stefanfatsis.bsky.social
📖 Why Q Needs U by @dannybate.bsky.social
📖 Friends with Words by @marthabarnette.bsky.social
📖 Proto by @laurainparis.bsky.social
📖 Unabridged by @stefanfatsis.bsky.social
📖 Why Q Needs U by @dannybate.bsky.social
📖 Friends with Words by @marthabarnette.bsky.social
January 5, 2026 at 1:23 AM
But wait — where’s Useless Etymology??
No one asked, but here's a thread of my favorite books I read in 2025. 📚
I'll present them in no particular order, except for one—one series, that is—and that is The Murderbot Diaries by @marthawells.com, which I finally read this year and enjoyed so much that I hope to read them again this year.
I'll present them in no particular order, except for one—one series, that is—and that is The Murderbot Diaries by @marthawells.com, which I finally read this year and enjoyed so much that I hope to read them again this year.
January 5, 2026 at 12:44 AM
No one asked, but here's a thread of my favorite books I read in 2025. 📚
I'll present them in no particular order, except for one—one series, that is—and that is The Murderbot Diaries by @marthawells.com, which I finally read this year and enjoyed so much that I hope to read them again this year.
I'll present them in no particular order, except for one—one series, that is—and that is The Murderbot Diaries by @marthawells.com, which I finally read this year and enjoyed so much that I hope to read them again this year.
the urge to fling your phone across the room while you struggle to log back into Outlook after break
January 4, 2026 at 1:55 PM
the urge to fling your phone across the room while you struggle to log back into Outlook after break
Reposted by Jess Zafarris
Reposted by Jess Zafarris
Strange! This did not turn up in my feed! So, I’m a bit late.
I am in an occupation where I come across a lot of different names. Do you have any idea how many Uniques and Messiahs there are?! Once, we had 3 different Uniques come in on the same day
@jesszafarris.bsky.social @robwords.bsky.social n
I am in an occupation where I come across a lot of different names. Do you have any idea how many Uniques and Messiahs there are?! Once, we had 3 different Uniques come in on the same day
@jesszafarris.bsky.social @robwords.bsky.social n
Where do first names come from?
YouTube video by Words Unravelled
youtu.be
January 2, 2026 at 12:10 AM
Strange! This did not turn up in my feed! So, I’m a bit late.
I am in an occupation where I come across a lot of different names. Do you have any idea how many Uniques and Messiahs there are?! Once, we had 3 different Uniques come in on the same day
@jesszafarris.bsky.social @robwords.bsky.social n
I am in an occupation where I come across a lot of different names. Do you have any idea how many Uniques and Messiahs there are?! Once, we had 3 different Uniques come in on the same day
@jesszafarris.bsky.social @robwords.bsky.social n
Having two puppies makes you very popular with people who have kids. In the past weeks, we have met basically every kid and their parents in the neighborhood.
One mom of four boys who was very obviously fed up with their omnipresence over winter break has voluntold told them to be our dog walkers.
One mom of four boys who was very obviously fed up with their omnipresence over winter break has voluntold told them to be our dog walkers.
January 1, 2026 at 7:52 PM
Having two puppies makes you very popular with people who have kids. In the past weeks, we have met basically every kid and their parents in the neighborhood.
One mom of four boys who was very obviously fed up with their omnipresence over winter break has voluntold told them to be our dog walkers.
One mom of four boys who was very obviously fed up with their omnipresence over winter break has voluntold told them to be our dog walkers.
New Year’s resolutions:
Pet puppies
Eat intriguing cheeses
Examine and assemble true and interesting and nonrobotic words in the quest for the future of knowledge and creativity
Pet puppies
Eat intriguing cheeses
Examine and assemble true and interesting and nonrobotic words in the quest for the future of knowledge and creativity
January 1, 2026 at 6:35 PM
New Year’s resolutions:
Pet puppies
Eat intriguing cheeses
Examine and assemble true and interesting and nonrobotic words in the quest for the future of knowledge and creativity
Pet puppies
Eat intriguing cheeses
Examine and assemble true and interesting and nonrobotic words in the quest for the future of knowledge and creativity
I love today’s Wordle solution! 😄
Wordle 1,657 4/6*
⬛⬛🟨🟨⬛
⬛🟨🟨⬛⬛
🟨🟨🟨⬛🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
Wordle 1,657 4/6*
⬛⬛🟨🟨⬛
⬛🟨🟨⬛⬛
🟨🟨🟨⬛🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
January 1, 2026 at 3:05 PM
I love today’s Wordle solution! 😄
Wordle 1,657 4/6*
⬛⬛🟨🟨⬛
⬛🟨🟨⬛⬛
🟨🟨🟨⬛🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
Wordle 1,657 4/6*
⬛⬛🟨🟨⬛
⬛🟨🟨⬛⬛
🟨🟨🟨⬛🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
Like any respectable DINKWAD, I got my dogs a baby pool and filled it with playground balls
December 31, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Like any respectable DINKWAD, I got my dogs a baby pool and filled it with playground balls
Reposted by Jess Zafarris
Great episode of Words Unravelled from @jesszafarris.bsky.social and @robwords.bsky.social - all about the etymological origins of mythical beasts and cryptids.
open.spotify.com/episode/2noJ...
open.spotify.com/episode/2noJ...
What does 'chupacabra' literally mean? | CRYPTIDS & MYTHICAL BEASTS
open.spotify.com
December 29, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Great episode of Words Unravelled from @jesszafarris.bsky.social and @robwords.bsky.social - all about the etymological origins of mythical beasts and cryptids.
open.spotify.com/episode/2noJ...
open.spotify.com/episode/2noJ...
Snow day activities for cultured adults: Build your own snow tube run
December 27, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Snow day activities for cultured adults: Build your own snow tube run
Fun with Fable in the snow!
December 27, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Fun with Fable in the snow!
Snow-mo puppies
December 27, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Snow-mo puppies
Reposted by Jess Zafarris
Reposted by Jess Zafarris
Merry Xmas! 🎄
…which is a historically accurate way to say Christmas. The “X” in Xmas comes from the Greek letter chi (Χ), which is the first letter of the Greek word Χριστός (Christós) — meaning Christ and -mas, from Old English /Latin mæsse, the church service.
…which is a historically accurate way to say Christmas. The “X” in Xmas comes from the Greek letter chi (Χ), which is the first letter of the Greek word Χριστός (Christós) — meaning Christ and -mas, from Old English /Latin mæsse, the church service.
Is he Santa Claus or Father Christmas? | FESTIVE WORD ORIGINS
YouTube video by Words Unravelled
youtu.be
December 26, 2025 at 1:45 AM
Merry Xmas! 🎄
…which is a historically accurate way to say Christmas. The “X” in Xmas comes from the Greek letter chi (Χ), which is the first letter of the Greek word Χριστός (Christós) — meaning Christ and -mas, from Old English /Latin mæsse, the church service.
…which is a historically accurate way to say Christmas. The “X” in Xmas comes from the Greek letter chi (Χ), which is the first letter of the Greek word Χριστός (Christós) — meaning Christ and -mas, from Old English /Latin mæsse, the church service.
I usually start the extended editions on new years, but I have other plans this year, so today it begins
December 26, 2025 at 12:02 AM
I usually start the extended editions on new years, but I have other plans this year, so today it begins
Mistletoe probably literally means “piss twig.”
The “toe” bit is from a Germanic root meaning “twig.”
Mistel/missel was the Middle/Old English word for the parasitic plant, perhaps from the Germanic root *mih-stu- “urine” on the logic that it is propagated via bird (thrush) poo.
Happy smooching!
The “toe” bit is from a Germanic root meaning “twig.”
Mistel/missel was the Middle/Old English word for the parasitic plant, perhaps from the Germanic root *mih-stu- “urine” on the logic that it is propagated via bird (thrush) poo.
Happy smooching!
December 25, 2025 at 8:25 PM
Mistletoe probably literally means “piss twig.”
The “toe” bit is from a Germanic root meaning “twig.”
Mistel/missel was the Middle/Old English word for the parasitic plant, perhaps from the Germanic root *mih-stu- “urine” on the logic that it is propagated via bird (thrush) poo.
Happy smooching!
The “toe” bit is from a Germanic root meaning “twig.”
Mistel/missel was the Middle/Old English word for the parasitic plant, perhaps from the Germanic root *mih-stu- “urine” on the logic that it is propagated via bird (thrush) poo.
Happy smooching!
Reposted by Jess Zafarris
well lookie here ...
December 25, 2025 at 7:25 PM
well lookie here ...
Merry Christmas from our family to yours! (This photo required many attempts to capture.)
December 25, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Merry Christmas from our family to yours! (This photo required many attempts to capture.)
Reposted by Jess Zafarris
Got me a little @jesszafarris.bsky.social for Christmas. Very much looking forward to reading it!
December 25, 2025 at 9:59 AM
Got me a little @jesszafarris.bsky.social for Christmas. Very much looking forward to reading it!