Why an apron was once a napron
The English word apron once began with an n. People used to say a napron, but the boundary between the article and the noun gradually moved: a napron became an apron.
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Why does queue have four silent letters?
The word queue contains five letters but is pronounced exactly like the single letter Q: /kjuː/. The remaining four letters appear to be waiting quietly behind it, which is pleasingly appropriate for a queue.
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How “God be with ye” became goodbye
Goodbye feels like one of the most ordinary words in English, but it began as something much more elaborate: a blessing meaning “God be with you.”
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Eventually does not mean eventueel
Eventually and the Dutch word eventueel look temptingly similar. Unfortunately, they do not mean the same thing. This is a classic false friend, and it can change the message of an otherwise perfectly good sentence.
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Why is “colonel” pronounced like “kernel”?
Why does colonel sound like kernel? Discover how English kept an older pronunciation even after the spelling changed.
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