Language

Frauds, swindles, cons, scams, and deceptions are collectively known as hoaxes. But there's more than meets the eye.

Who knew two letters could spark so much conversation? This week, we're breaking down the many uses of "um" and why the word is so controversial.

How did a word that simply referred to a millennia-old beverage come to be the latest iteration of "what's up?"

Internet culture has infiltrated the English language. New additions to the Cambridge Dictionary this year include skibidi, delulu, tradwife and broligarchy.

Although "dog" is ubiquitous today to describe man's best friend, it remains a mystery where the word originally came from.

A new study finds that chimpanzee babies pick up communication styles from their mothers.

The word "dude" is often associated with the '80s and '90s. But its origin is rooted much, much farther back in American history and it took a long and winding road to reach the coast of California.

From Buenos Aires to Bangkok, Montreal to Moscow, nearly every taxi driver in the world understands "OK." It's a gift from American English that's spread across the globe in less than 200 years.

The word fills an important gap in our language, but it was once stigmatized. The story of "y'all" also includes powerful cultural forces, from hip-hop to ideas of welcoming inclusivity.

What was once another shortened way to call a friend "brother," the word "bruh" is now being used widely, especially by Gen Alpha kids, to address parents, express sadness, frustration, happiness and seemingly everything else under the sun.