Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago

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What's in a names? Jess and Rob are exploring why major cities are called what they're called and what their names literally mean.
🇩🇪 Why does BERLIN mean 'swamp'?
🇯🇵 Why are KYOTO and TOKYO anagrams?
🇿🇦 Who is the Johannes of Johannesburg?
These questions answered, and many more, in a globe-trotting episode of Words Unravelled.

👕 OUR MERCH 👚
US SHOP: wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.com
EU/UK SHOP: wordsunravelledshop.myspreadshop.net

👂LISTEN: podfollow.com/words-unravelled-with-robwords-and-jess-zafarris
or search for "Words Unravelled" wherever you get your podcasts.

==LINKS==
Rob's YouTube channel: youtube.com/robwords
Jess' Useless Etymology blog: uselessetymology.com
Rob on X: x.com/robwordsyt
Jess on TikTok: tiktok.com/@jesszafarris

#etymology #wordfacts #English