Portmanteaus blend two words into one. Some sound awkward, but others, like brunch and smog, become so natural we stop noticing.

“Wash your hands of it” comes from the Bible. It began as a symbolic act and now means rejecting responsibility or involvement.

The English word chocolate came through Spanish from Nahuatl, the language spoken by the Aztecs in central Mexico.

Aural relates to hearing and sound. Oral relates to speaking or the mouth. Here is how to choose the right word every time.