Just for Fun

Memorial Day, or Decoration Day as it was originally called in the localities in which it was celebrated, began as an occasion for decorating the graves of soldiers who had died fighting in the U.S. Civil war. Declared a national holiday in 1966, it is traditionally observed by decorating fallen soldiers' graves, honoring them with parades, speeches, and concerts, and gathering for picnics and family gatherings. Celebrate Memorial Day with these words that help promote an understanding of the holiday's meaning. Then look for more meaning in the day by learning vocabulary from Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, and recite the famous memorial oration on this solemn day.

Mothers do so many things, which is why a good nap may be the best gift you can give your own mom on Mother's Day. Still, you might want to offer Mom a few words of appreciation, so here's a list of 13 verbs that get to the heart of what mothers do. Read more here: A Motherlode of Vocabulary for Mother's Day

Rejoice, Star Wars fans! May the 4th is National Star Wars Day! The epic film series launched plenty of words—like Jedi and Wookiee—but it also made use of existing words, giving them a new spin, and a new force, if you will. Our Star Wars lexicon will serve you well in any galaxy. Read the full article here.

Eid al-Fitr is a worldwide religious holiday that marks the end of Ramadan. Here is a link to the full article written by Wardah Abbas: How Do Muslims Celebrate Eid? The Beauty of Eid Explained.

Turn over a new lexical leaf and branch out with this list of arboreal vocabulary. Learning these words will really spruce up your language!

National Grilled Cheese Day is celebrated on April 12. To show our appreciation for this iconic sandwich, we present a metaphorical "grilled cheese" sandwich — synonyms for grill, as in "question strenuously," plus synonyms for cheesy, as in "tacky." (Tomato soup not included.)

You'd be a fool not to learn these words related to pranks, jokes, and deceit. For more on the history of these words, read The Cunning, Risible Holiday of April Fool's Day.

Rejoice! When it comes to expressing how people talk when they're happy, there are lots of cheerful choices to use instead of "said". So learn these words from the lexicon of laughter and good vibes, and you’ll be glad you did!

The Academy Awards are a spectacle of fashion, fame and — oh yeah — movies! Whether you’re writing a screenplay or a ransom note, your vocabulary can be blockbuster stuff. Here’s a list of terms you’re most likely to hear on Oscar night. And for more on Oscar Night words, read the full article here on our blog: We'd Like to Thank the Academy...

Attention, Holiday Shoppers! Stock up on these words related to consumer culture. They're a real bargain, and a great vocabulary never goes out of style. Read the full article: Attention, Shoppers! The Pricey Language of Consumerism.

We’ve all been advised to not talk with our mouths full. It makes you wonder why there are so many words related to hunger and the act of eating. Whether you are feasting or on a diet, here is some essential eating vocabulary. Feast on this related article: A Cornucopia of Words: Thanksgiving Lingo is Food for Thought

When you’ve painted yourself in a corner, stirred up a hornet’s nest, or put yourself between a rock and a hard place, perhaps the best thing to do is talk about it, and that’s why there are so many expressions for being in a pickle. Whether you're up a creek without a paddle or just want to be prepared for future predicaments, these words will have you covered. For a deeper dive into the barrel, check out: Celebrate National Pickle Day the Wordy Way

Whether you're making a special effort to practice kindness — or thanking someone else for a thoughtful gesture — these words will come in handy.

Veterans Day is observed on November 11th in the United States as a day to honor all military personnel, whether they served in times of war or peace. The official holiday began in 1919 as Armistice Day, a year after the date that marked the end of World War I. In 1954 President Eisenhower signed a law that changed the name of this national holiday to Veterans Day.

Is your vocabulary on autopilot? Learn these terms related to aviation, and you'll soar to new lexical heights. You might even get upgraded to first class!

Vote for vocabulary! Learn these words associated with elections.

From spring training and opening day right up through the World Series, baseball (a.k.a. our national pastime) is a sport with rabid fans. It's also known for having plenty of downtime, so why not practice the language of the game during the many hours it'll take to wrap up all nine innings?

Study these paleontology terms and bone up on dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals. You'll also unearth information about fossils, geology, and more.

You already know that dictionaries contain oodles of words that describe everything in the universe. But did you ever think about all the words that are used to describe dictionaries? Here some of the terms used by dictionary writers and dictionary readers, like you!

There’s more to language than what we say or write. The things we do physically can say a lot — even without words. And even though body language is word-less, there are lots of terms for describing the gestures, postures, and facial expressions we make when we want to say something without uttering a single word.

October 1 is National Hair Day (though it doesn't specify good or bad). Whatever length, color, or style you're rocking, this list will make your vocabulary a cut above. Comb on in and brush up on your tonsorial terms!

Learn these words that refer to the roles and relationships within a family.

These punctuation terms are good to know, period. Learn what an apostrophe’s purpose is; find out what a semicolon is for. Are you confused about question marks? Probably not (although you may be mystified by parentheses). This list is sure to make you as excited as an exclamation point!

International Talk Like A Pirate Day is celebrated on September 19. In the swashbuckling spirit, this list covers words every self-respecting pirate should know: parts of a ship, sailing jargon, terms for pirates, etc. With these words at your command, you can take the whole pirate thing way beyond "arrgh," eyepatches, and annoying birds that perch on your shoulder. For more, check out the full article: Buccaneer, Bilge and Booty: Words Every Self-respecting Pirate Should Know

Love of country is a powerful motivating force, leading us to vote, advocate, protest peacefully, and otherwise engage as citizens in an ongoing effort to improve our society. Learn this list and let your vocabulary flag fly!