Big Books of 2026
Genres

Etymology


Etymology Books

The Etymologicon: A Circular Stroll through the Hidden Connections of the English Language
The Mother Tongue: English and How It Got That Way
The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary
The Horologicon: A Day's Jaunt Through the Lost Words of the English Language
Made in America: An Informal History of the English Language in the United States
The Story of English in 100 Words
Dictionary of Word Origins: Histories of More Than 8,000 English-Language Words
Word Perfect: Etymological Entertainment For Every Day of the Year
Word Origins ... and How We Know Them: Etymology for Everyone
Our Magnificent Bastard Tongue: The Untold History of English
Alphabet Juice: The Energies, Gists, and Spirits of Letters, Words, and Combinations Thereof; Their Roots, Bones, Innards, Piths, Pips, and Secret Parts, Tinctures, Tonics, and Essences; With Examples of Their Usage Foul and Savory
Babel
Because Internet: Understanding the New Rules of Language
Empires of the Word: A Language History of the World
The Elements of Eloquence: How to Turn the Perfect English Phrase
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Lists

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary by Merriam-WebsterThe Oxford English Dictionary by John Andrew SimpsonOxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary by A.S. HornbyEats, Shoots & Leaves by Lynne TrussThe Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr.
Dictionaries
386 books — 54 voters
Course in General Linguistics by Ferdinand de SaussureThe Language Instinct by Steven PinkerThe Study of Language by George YuleAn Introduction to Language by Victoria A. FromkinMetaphors We Live By by George Lakoff
Best Books about Linguistics
246 books — 221 voters

Just For You #1 by Maryam TabibzadehJust For You #2 by Mrs Maryam TabibzadehEats, Shoots & Leaves by Lynne TrussThe Mother Tongue by Bill BrysonThe Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester
Best Popular Language Books on Goodreads
176 books — 47 voters

Quotes Tagged “Etymology”

Emma Richler
“ He wonders aloud at the origins of valentining. 'You're right,' Rachel says. 'It is a verb. Can be. And birds valentine each other, make mating calls. And usually mate in mid-February. You see?' 'But why Valentine?' asks Zach. 'Why valentining?' 'There were many Saint Valentines,' offers Tasha. 'I don't know what the link is between their martyrdom and love letters.' Zach is not very interested in the old tradition or the archaic verb. He is not bothered by the mating calls of passerines or ...more ”
― Emma Richler, Be My Wolff
0 likes

Ashwin Sanghi
“ Omniscient, omnipotent, omnivorous and omnipresent all begin with Om. ”
― Ashwin Sanghi, The Krishna Key
21 likes

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Videos Tagged “Etymology”

The Pronunciation of Beson
The Pronunciation of Beson
The word “unbox” is WAY older than you think!
The word “unbox” is WAY older than you think!
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Groups Tagged "Etymology"

This is for anyone interested in linguistics and languages, as well as their histories and devel…more
11 members, last active 9 years ago
Angela B. Chrysler Fire and Lies Release Party and Takeover Event AUTHORS! I'm moving ALL the posts to my blog…more
107 members, last active 9 years ago
Underground Knowledge — A discussion group This global discussion group has been designed to encourage debates about important and underrep…more
24,332 members, last active 4 hours ago