LANGUAGE

13 St. Louis Slang Terms You Should Know

From purposeful mispronunciations and secret shorthand to one very oddball question, these are the slang terms you should know before setting foot in the STL.

How the Word ‘Vanilla’ Came to Mean ‘Boring’

Today, the word ‘vanilla’ conjures images of blandness. The history of vanilla, though, is quite the opposite.

This person has as many faces as a churchyard clock!

15 Old Words for the Duplicitous That We Should Bring Back

Consider reviving these words the next time you encounter anyone twistical.

These languages have disappeared—but some of them are making a comeback.

11 Extinct, Dead, and Dormant U.S. Languages

Not all languages stick around forever. Some of these 11 tongues are extinct, some are dead or dormant, and some are finding new life.

11 Words and Phrases You Didn’t Know Had Opposites

Some words and phrases have clear opposite forms, but they’re so rare or unfamiliar that they tend to remain forgotten. Here are a few examples.

18 Spooky Halloween Phrases From Around the U.S.

Is a jack-o'-lantern a 'poke of moonshine' to you? Use these terms from regions around the United States to confuse and delight your fellow trick or treaters.

10 Old Words For Winter Ailments

Winter is coming—and if the bad weather catches up with you, you might find these words indispensable.