Rob Watts (RobWords)
@robwords.bsky.social
YouTube word nerd. Happy host of RobWords and the podcast Words Unravelled.
https://www.youtube.com/robwords
https://www.youtube.com/@wordsunravelled
https://www.youtube.com/robwords
https://www.youtube.com/@wordsunravelled
This handsome pair interrupted filming this afternoon.
The theme of the video? The origin of the word 'dog'.
The theme of the video? The origin of the word 'dog'.
November 18, 2025 at 5:08 PM
This handsome pair interrupted filming this afternoon.
The theme of the video? The origin of the word 'dog'.
The theme of the video? The origin of the word 'dog'.
Who's on Substack?
I've just started publishing my wordy nerdy newsletter and other bits and bobs over there. There are 10 editions for you to read already.
Come join me: substack.com/@robwords
I've just started publishing my wordy nerdy newsletter and other bits and bobs over there. There are 10 editions for you to read already.
Come join me: substack.com/@robwords
RobWords | Substack
Internet word nerd.
substack.com
November 12, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Who's on Substack?
I've just started publishing my wordy nerdy newsletter and other bits and bobs over there. There are 10 editions for you to read already.
Come join me: substack.com/@robwords
I've just started publishing my wordy nerdy newsletter and other bits and bobs over there. There are 10 editions for you to read already.
Come join me: substack.com/@robwords
Give me 10 seconds of your time and I'll tell you the origins of our days of the week.
youtube.com/shorts/JVQfU...
youtube.com/shorts/JVQfU...
The origins of the days of the week in 10 seconds.
YouTube video by RobWords
youtube.com
November 11, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Give me 10 seconds of your time and I'll tell you the origins of our days of the week.
youtube.com/shorts/JVQfU...
youtube.com/shorts/JVQfU...
Did you know that "noon" never used to be at 12? Or that a "second" is actually the second of something?
These are just a couple of the revelations in my latest wordy nerdy video.
Do please give it a watch:
youtu.be/TK-8gfqmFNo?...
These are just a couple of the revelations in my latest wordy nerdy video.
Do please give it a watch:
youtu.be/TK-8gfqmFNo?...
Time words don't mean what you think
YouTube video by RobWords
youtu.be
November 10, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Did you know that "noon" never used to be at 12? Or that a "second" is actually the second of something?
These are just a couple of the revelations in my latest wordy nerdy video.
Do please give it a watch:
youtu.be/TK-8gfqmFNo?...
These are just a couple of the revelations in my latest wordy nerdy video.
Do please give it a watch:
youtu.be/TK-8gfqmFNo?...
Picked up something special on my way through London. Courtesy of @jayforeman.bsky.social & @markcooperjones.bsky.social
November 2, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Picked up something special on my way through London. Courtesy of @jayforeman.bsky.social & @markcooperjones.bsky.social
3 years ago, I shook the military establishment to its core by rearranging its ranks by literal meaning.
It was great news for captains ("heads") but miserable for field marshals ("horse servants").
Now @jonnelledge.bsky.social has taken on the subject:
open.substack.com/pub/jonn/p/h...
It was great news for captains ("heads") but miserable for field marshals ("horse servants").
Now @jonnelledge.bsky.social has taken on the subject:
open.substack.com/pub/jonn/p/h...
How the army got its ranks
Basically, 271 different ways of saying “head”.
jonn.substack.com
October 26, 2025 at 11:56 AM
3 years ago, I shook the military establishment to its core by rearranging its ranks by literal meaning.
It was great news for captains ("heads") but miserable for field marshals ("horse servants").
Now @jonnelledge.bsky.social has taken on the subject:
open.substack.com/pub/jonn/p/h...
It was great news for captains ("heads") but miserable for field marshals ("horse servants").
Now @jonnelledge.bsky.social has taken on the subject:
open.substack.com/pub/jonn/p/h...
Reposted by Rob Watts (RobWords)
On today's episode of Words Unravelled, @robwords.bsky.social and I celebrated 100K YouTube subscribers ✨ in person ✨ with 100 quick-fire word facts.
Thank you to everyone who tunes in each week, and major thanks to our editor @martynmnw.bsky.social.
Check it out: www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPfb...
Thank you to everyone who tunes in each week, and major thanks to our editor @martynmnw.bsky.social.
Check it out: www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPfb...
100 quick-fire word facts
YouTube video by Words Unravelled with RobWords and Jess Zafarris
www.youtube.com
October 15, 2025 at 2:57 PM
On today's episode of Words Unravelled, @robwords.bsky.social and I celebrated 100K YouTube subscribers ✨ in person ✨ with 100 quick-fire word facts.
Thank you to everyone who tunes in each week, and major thanks to our editor @martynmnw.bsky.social.
Check it out: www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPfb...
Thank you to everyone who tunes in each week, and major thanks to our editor @martynmnw.bsky.social.
Check it out: www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPfb...
The NATO Phonetic Alphabet (ALFA, BRAVO, CHARLIE etc.) is neither a phonetic alphabet, nor a product of NATO.
I've sifted through loads of old documents to find its true origins and, OSCAR MIKE GOLF, is it fascinating.
Check out my video here (2 million people already have!): youtu.be/UAT-eOzeY4M
I've sifted through loads of old documents to find its true origins and, OSCAR MIKE GOLF, is it fascinating.
Check out my video here (2 million people already have!): youtu.be/UAT-eOzeY4M
The genius logic of the NATO phonetic alphabet
YouTube video by RobWords
youtu.be
October 15, 2025 at 11:53 AM
The NATO Phonetic Alphabet (ALFA, BRAVO, CHARLIE etc.) is neither a phonetic alphabet, nor a product of NATO.
I've sifted through loads of old documents to find its true origins and, OSCAR MIKE GOLF, is it fascinating.
Check out my video here (2 million people already have!): youtu.be/UAT-eOzeY4M
I've sifted through loads of old documents to find its true origins and, OSCAR MIKE GOLF, is it fascinating.
Check out my video here (2 million people already have!): youtu.be/UAT-eOzeY4M
Reposted by Rob Watts (RobWords)
THE PRINTING PRESS (Palindrome)
Repaper:
I snap, my tone placid.
A rare vellum knits art,
no coil of fires....
Midst no felt tome,
we gape, we gage, we page,
we mottle fonts.
Dim serif,
folio,
contrast,
ink,
mull ever a radical pen....
O, tympans!
I repaper.
Repaper:
I snap, my tone placid.
A rare vellum knits art,
no coil of fires....
Midst no felt tome,
we gape, we gage, we page,
we mottle fonts.
Dim serif,
folio,
contrast,
ink,
mull ever a radical pen....
O, tympans!
I repaper.
October 8, 2025 at 6:34 AM
THE PRINTING PRESS (Palindrome)
Repaper:
I snap, my tone placid.
A rare vellum knits art,
no coil of fires....
Midst no felt tome,
we gape, we gage, we page,
we mottle fonts.
Dim serif,
folio,
contrast,
ink,
mull ever a radical pen....
O, tympans!
I repaper.
Repaper:
I snap, my tone placid.
A rare vellum knits art,
no coil of fires....
Midst no felt tome,
we gape, we gage, we page,
we mottle fonts.
Dim serif,
folio,
contrast,
ink,
mull ever a radical pen....
O, tympans!
I repaper.
"If you like, I will hot it."
I'm going to enjoy watching Daniel read this silly, silly book.
I'm going to enjoy watching Daniel read this silly, silly book.
@robwords.bsky.social Your amazing video about English as She Has Spoke has prompted me to do a reading of the whole thing. Here is my intro.
#books #booksky #history #language #words #audiobook #historysky
#books #booksky #history #language #words #audiobook #historysky
English as She is Spoke Introduction
YouTube video by Flying Squid Studios
www.youtube.com
September 24, 2025 at 12:45 PM
"If you like, I will hot it."
I'm going to enjoy watching Daniel read this silly, silly book.
I'm going to enjoy watching Daniel read this silly, silly book.
W[h]AT [p)SYC[h]O DESI[g]NED OUR TONG[ue]??
English has a major silent letter problem.
How did it end up this way?
Wa[t]ch my new video to find out: youtu.be/NXVqZpHY5R8
English has a major silent letter problem.
How did it end up this way?
Wa[t]ch my new video to find out: youtu.be/NXVqZpHY5R8
Why English is full of silent letters
YouTube video by RobWords
youtu.be
September 18, 2025 at 6:17 PM
W[h]AT [p)SYC[h]O DESI[g]NED OUR TONG[ue]??
English has a major silent letter problem.
How did it end up this way?
Wa[t]ch my new video to find out: youtu.be/NXVqZpHY5R8
English has a major silent letter problem.
How did it end up this way?
Wa[t]ch my new video to find out: youtu.be/NXVqZpHY5R8
SPOILER: Yours truly.
Guess who crossed a whole ocean to visit me this week?
September 12, 2025 at 1:48 AM
SPOILER: Yours truly.
Word Unravelled just hit 100k subscribers on YouTube!
For such a geeky little channel, that is fabulous. Thank you if you subscribed.
And thanks to @jesszafarris.bsky.social & @martynmnw.bsky.social for making it all so fun.
For such a geeky little channel, that is fabulous. Thank you if you subscribed.
And thanks to @jesszafarris.bsky.social & @martynmnw.bsky.social for making it all so fun.
September 4, 2025 at 6:30 AM
Word Unravelled just hit 100k subscribers on YouTube!
For such a geeky little channel, that is fabulous. Thank you if you subscribed.
And thanks to @jesszafarris.bsky.social & @martynmnw.bsky.social for making it all so fun.
For such a geeky little channel, that is fabulous. Thank you if you subscribed.
And thanks to @jesszafarris.bsky.social & @martynmnw.bsky.social for making it all so fun.
Reposted by Rob Watts (RobWords)
As of last week, Words Unravelled was BOTH a finalist for Best New Podcast in the British Podcast Awards AND ranked among the Top 10 for Listeners' Choice!
Big thanks to everyone who voted, and if you haven't, @robwords.bsky.social, @martynmnw.bsky.social and I would be mighty grateful if you did.
Big thanks to everyone who voted, and if you haven't, @robwords.bsky.social, @martynmnw.bsky.social and I would be mighty grateful if you did.
September 1, 2025 at 6:43 PM
As of last week, Words Unravelled was BOTH a finalist for Best New Podcast in the British Podcast Awards AND ranked among the Top 10 for Listeners' Choice!
Big thanks to everyone who voted, and if you haven't, @robwords.bsky.social, @martynmnw.bsky.social and I would be mighty grateful if you did.
Big thanks to everyone who voted, and if you haven't, @robwords.bsky.social, @martynmnw.bsky.social and I would be mighty grateful if you did.
This video has a million views now, which is just silly.
BEHOLD my latest video, in which a sweaty man tries to teach you hieroglyphs.
youtu.be/90An1dnvwyc
Please watch.
Cheers,
𓂋𓃀𓏏
Rebet
youtu.be/90An1dnvwyc
Please watch.
Cheers,
𓂋𓃀𓏏
Rebet
Hieroglyphs are easier than they look
YouTube video by RobWords
youtu.be
August 28, 2025 at 12:50 PM
This video has a million views now, which is just silly.
Reposted by Rob Watts (RobWords)
We’re doing another idiom-themed episode of Words Unravelled, and I would love suggestions for terms to research.
August 25, 2025 at 4:44 PM
We’re doing another idiom-themed episode of Words Unravelled, and I would love suggestions for terms to research.
Popular Word Origins That Are Totally WRONG. | Otherwords
YouTube video by Storied
youtu.be
August 25, 2025 at 5:52 AM
BEHOLD my latest video, in which a sweaty man tries to teach you hieroglyphs.
youtu.be/90An1dnvwyc
Please watch.
Cheers,
𓂋𓃀𓏏
Rebet
youtu.be/90An1dnvwyc
Please watch.
Cheers,
𓂋𓃀𓏏
Rebet
Hieroglyphs are easier than they look
YouTube video by RobWords
youtu.be
August 24, 2025 at 12:33 PM
BEHOLD my latest video, in which a sweaty man tries to teach you hieroglyphs.
youtu.be/90An1dnvwyc
Please watch.
Cheers,
𓂋𓃀𓏏
Rebet
youtu.be/90An1dnvwyc
Please watch.
Cheers,
𓂋𓃀𓏏
Rebet
New alleged podcast comes amid reports of knobbly monsters.
In latest episode of Words Unravelled, @robwords.bsky.social and I report on:
🗞️ News jargon and clichés
🐊 Crash blossoms and knobbly monsters
🖍️ Editorial shorthand
📓 The origins of magazine, gazette, and journal
Watch on YouTube or listen anywhere you get your podcasts:
youtu.be/Q_A1OtVd8RA?...
🗞️ News jargon and clichés
🐊 Crash blossoms and knobbly monsters
🖍️ Editorial shorthand
📓 The origins of magazine, gazette, and journal
Watch on YouTube or listen anywhere you get your podcasts:
youtu.be/Q_A1OtVd8RA?...
Why do news anchors all sound the same? | NEWS WORDS
YouTube video by Words Unravelled with RobWords and Jess Zafarris
youtu.be
August 21, 2025 at 10:48 AM
New alleged podcast comes amid reports of knobbly monsters.
Reposted by Rob Watts (RobWords)
just voted for the show “Words Unravelled” featuring @jesszafarris.bsky.social & @robwords.bsky.social for www.britishpodcastawards.com/voting
it is sincerely a bright light in this dark world of ours. thanks for making the show 🙏❤️
it is sincerely a bright light in this dark world of ours. thanks for making the show 🙏❤️
August 12, 2025 at 12:44 AM
just voted for the show “Words Unravelled” featuring @jesszafarris.bsky.social & @robwords.bsky.social for www.britishpodcastawards.com/voting
it is sincerely a bright light in this dark world of ours. thanks for making the show 🙏❤️
it is sincerely a bright light in this dark world of ours. thanks for making the show 🙏❤️
Blimey, little old us? Thanks if you already voted.
If you haven't, please do as Zafarris says.
If you haven't, please do as Zafarris says.
Holy what!! The British Podcast Awards just told us that Words Unravelled is in the Top 20 for Listener's Choice.
If you dig the show and haven't voted yet, please go here and type in "Words Unravelled" to vote: www.britishpodcastawards.com/voting
CC @robwords.bsky.social + @martynmnw.bsky.social
If you dig the show and haven't voted yet, please go here and type in "Words Unravelled" to vote: www.britishpodcastawards.com/voting
CC @robwords.bsky.social + @martynmnw.bsky.social
August 11, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Blimey, little old us? Thanks if you already voted.
If you haven't, please do as Zafarris says.
If you haven't, please do as Zafarris says.
Reposted by Rob Watts (RobWords)
Avgeeks! I just thoroughly enjoyed watching "Aviation Words" on the Words Unravelled YouTube channel by @robwords.bsky.social & @jesszafarris.bsky.social.
If you are interested in learning about the word origins of your favourite aviation terminology, this is for you. 🛩️🔗
youtu.be/v2pWWECvdvc?...
If you are interested in learning about the word origins of your favourite aviation terminology, this is for you. 🛩️🔗
youtu.be/v2pWWECvdvc?...
Why is it called a 'cockpit'? | AVIATION WORDS
YouTube video by Words Unravelled with RobWords and Jess Zafarris
youtu.be
August 7, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Avgeeks! I just thoroughly enjoyed watching "Aviation Words" on the Words Unravelled YouTube channel by @robwords.bsky.social & @jesszafarris.bsky.social.
If you are interested in learning about the word origins of your favourite aviation terminology, this is for you. 🛩️🔗
youtu.be/v2pWWECvdvc?...
If you are interested in learning about the word origins of your favourite aviation terminology, this is for you. 🛩️🔗
youtu.be/v2pWWECvdvc?...
Reposted by Rob Watts (RobWords)
Entertaining episode of Robwords, in which @robwords.bsky.social explores the origin of units of measurement.
Furlongs, perches and barleycorns, anyone?
(I am so glad Australia dumped imperial measurements before I started high school physics!)
youtu.be/pM3c328VifA?...
Furlongs, perches and barleycorns, anyone?
(I am so glad Australia dumped imperial measurements before I started high school physics!)
youtu.be/pM3c328VifA?...
The curious origins of imperial and metric units
YouTube video by RobWords
youtu.be
August 7, 2025 at 6:54 AM
Entertaining episode of Robwords, in which @robwords.bsky.social explores the origin of units of measurement.
Furlongs, perches and barleycorns, anyone?
(I am so glad Australia dumped imperial measurements before I started high school physics!)
youtu.be/pM3c328VifA?...
Furlongs, perches and barleycorns, anyone?
(I am so glad Australia dumped imperial measurements before I started high school physics!)
youtu.be/pM3c328VifA?...
@ianbetteridge.com Hey Ian. In five hours I'm recording a podcast about journalistic language and your name is certain to come up. After over a decade of eponymy, how do you feel about your "Law"? Got a favourite example of a breach?
August 6, 2025 at 10:04 AM
@ianbetteridge.com Hey Ian. In five hours I'm recording a podcast about journalistic language and your name is certain to come up. After over a decade of eponymy, how do you feel about your "Law"? Got a favourite example of a breach?
August 6, 2025 at 6:01 AM