Lots of buttons in a pile.
How do dictionaries define colors? And why are some color definitions so confusing, like “stronger than carmine” and “bluer than fiesta”? Cross the liminal space and find that and lots more in a brand-new episode: https://waywordradio.org/buttons-on-ice-cream/
"The Curiosity Desk"
Catch your "A Way with Words" co-hosts live on WGBH Boston's "Curiosity Desk" tomorrow, 3/30, 1–2 p.m. Eastern Time, answering listener language questions. Video stream on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9lxT-R1Lx8 or audio stream: https://wgbh-live.streamguys1.com/wgbh
A white heron in front of a reflected wetlands.
When will you listen to this new episode? When the crow turns white? When the heron turns black? When the loach lay eggs in the banyan trees? On St. Never's Day? Get ahead of the curve (not curb) and do it now: https://waywordradio.org/tip-of-the-iceberg/
Foamy coffee being stirred in a bowl.
Color me surprised — it's a new episode of "A Way with Words" with the meaning of happiness. https://waywordradio.org/color-me-surprised/ Obligatory other listening: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oxu3pq319r0
A scattered stack of American dimes on a table.
If they're eating you out of house and home, call on Chef Mike and his meals à la ding! https://waywordradio.org/turn-on-a-dime/ Tons of cool sayings and expressions in this brand-new episode!
Close-up of two pairs of boxing gloves, one blue and one red, resting on a wooden surface and angled toward each other against a dark background.
Cracking foxy and solving word games on a strange planet — light up your heartspoon with our brand-new episode: https://waywordradio.org/sweet-science/
The Wikipedia entry en.wiktionary.org/wiki/compers... is pretty solid for "compersion," although note the references to the Kerista Commune credited as coiner of the term all trace to versions of this document: kerista.com/kerdocs/glos... We're always suspicious when there's a sole source.
A group of zebras standing together in a grassy field, showcasing their distinctive black and white striped patterns against a clear blue sky.
Hurry and scurry and flurry and worry until you're feeling poosly, or don't do that — instead listen to the new "A Way with Words" episode: https://waywordradio.org/use-your-noodle/
The Dutch equivalent of "hip hip hooray" is "hieperdepiep* hoera"
*pronounced "heeper de peep"
As ever, do with this information what you will
Welcome to new stations and listeners via WESA FM in Pittsburgh, KTRL FM at Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas, and Radio IQ in Roanoke and central and western Virginia! https://www.wesa.fm/ https://www.tarleton.edu/ktrl/ https://www.wvtf.org/
Dictionary of our times: If a "party boob" is a breast unexpectedly visible while the other stays covered, and a "party foul" is when something accidently breaks or spills at a gathering, then “party politics” is a bunch of boobs making a mess that nobody wants to clean up.
Logos de trois universités canadiennes : McMaster, Université de Moncton, et Université Laurentienne. Logos of McMaster University, Université de Moncton, and Laurentian University, each with their respective emblems and text.
If you are a Canadian francophone, there's a survey on French swearing researchers are running! Si vous êtes un Canadien francophone, des chercheurs mènent un sondage sur les jurons en français! run.pavlovia.org/pavlovia/survey-2024.2.0...
A surfer braves the waves at Imperial Beach, California.
We are stoked by sick rides with you! conta.cc/4pYNYGP
A handsome young man plays a guitar sometime in the 1950s or 1960s.
You dropped your pocket! Your epidermis is showing! Your sock is untied! waywordradio.org/safe-as-hous... You'll go gunnybags over this new episode — it's gooder ’n snuff ’n’ not near as dusty.
a big pile of sweet potatoes
You dont have grob on some back-alley website nor go around the Wrekin nor trek out where God lost his galoshes — here is the new episode of "A Way with Words": waywordradio.org/potatoes-and...
Image of Marblehead MA lighthouse by rabesphoto used under a Creative Commons license. https://www.flickr.com/photos/94325819@N00/54249466662
"Down bucket!" "Up for air!" It's another online-only bonus minicast from "A Way with Words": waywordradio.org/minicast-bon...
Click the donut to donate to A Way with Words! https://waywordradio.org/donate
Mia says donate! She's part of the "A Way with Words" family, living with our producer, Stefanie Levine. Mia says a gift worth a half-dozen long johns or eclairs would help keep new episodes coming in 2026. waywordradio.org/donate PS: Mia's health is 100% now!
Thanks to new "A Way with Words" sponsor Ellipsus! ellipsus.app/WORDS Ellipsus makes it easy for anyone to write together. Focus on creativity, collaboration, and community. Proudly pro-human. (No AI, ever.) And it's free for everyone!
Picketwire Canyon south of La Junta, Colorado. Landscapes, river, and mud.
Bonus minicast! How place names change as they pass through languages, with "Picketwire" as our key example. https://waywordradio.org/minicast-bonus-picketwire/
A young cow in a green field.
If you're feeling Weltschmerz or you have the botts, the only solution is to listen to the latest new episode! https://waywordradio.org/drop-in-the-bucket/ We know it's only one hair from nine oxen but add oil! Maybe it won't turn off cold this week!
A goat head peers through a gap in a fence.
Whippoorwills, bob whites, and chickadees. How do we decide the names of birds and what to call their calls? https://waywordradio.org/no-bones/ And lots more in the latest new episode.
If you want the inside scoop to Bad Bunny's lingo, there is a book! Grant says it's excellent. los40.us/2025/cant-ke...
Nighttime photo of a curving road under a bright full moon, with long red and yellow light trails from a passing vehicle.
Wuzzle, fuzzle, gnurr, oosse, squatcho and more in the latest new episode! https://waywordradio.org/cat-bristle/
Rows of wooden barrels lying on their sides.
New emoji, including "face with bags under its eyes," plus the bug that gives us crimson color: https://waywordradio.org/good-egg-bad-apple/ And tons more in this latest new episode!
Martha Barnette of A Way with Words signs copies of her new book at the Warwick's enclosure.
Grant Barrett and Martha Barnette of A Way with Words speak on the main stage at the KPBS San Diego Book Festival at the University of San Diego.
We had a blast at the KPBS San Diego Book Festival yesterday at the University of San Diego! Thanks to everyone who came out to hear and see us, and to the organizers for such a fulfilling event.
KPBS San Diego Book Festival presented by the University of San Diego, Saturday, August 23, 2025, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., University of San Diego campus, with book icons in the background.
Hi! Martha and Grant will speak at the KPBS San Diego Book Festival presented by the University of San Diego, Saturday, August 23, University of San Diego campus. Come join the Wayword word nerds and book nerds and RSVP at https://kpbs.org/sdbookfestival @UofSanDiego #KPBSBookFestival
Martha lays out the story behind "lorem ipsum" and other fun word origins: www.writersdigest.com/7-fun-word-o...
A great egret stands in shallow water near the edge of a marsh, surrounded by patches of green grass, dry reeds, and muddy terrain. In the background, numerous waterfowl dot the surface of the wetland under a soft, overcast sky. Bare trees line the horizon, reflecting a winter landscape.
The thousand-year-old love poem — "delight in you is breath together with life" — and more in the latest new episode. https://waywordradio.org/mox-nix/
We're having a live episode with Martha Barnette @marthabarnette.bsky.social of @waywordradio.org.
She's the author of "Friends With Words", which is full of ripping tales of word histories.
All patrons are invited, even free ones, so click here to find out when.
www.patreon.com/posts/134667...