30 Totally Bonkers Facts We’ve Learned In 2026 So Far That Feel Completely Made Up

As I’ve been saying since forever, the Merriam-Webster X account is easily one of the best follows on that God-forsaken platform. They’re constantly dropping fun facts that make you go, “Wait… whaaaaat?” Because we could all use a little more wisdom in our lives, here are 30 of the most mind-blowing facts they’ve shared so far in 2026 so far.

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Eleventh Edition, showcased on a shelf with features like print and CD-ROM options highlighted

Tim Boyle / Getty Images

1. Who “Caesar” of “Caesar salad” fame is:

Merriam-Webster tweet explaining that Caesar salad is named after restaurateur Caesar Cardini, not Julius Caesar

2. The fact that “J” is the baby of the alphabet:

Screenshot of a tweet by Merriam-Webster claiming 'J' is the most recent letter added to the alphabet, with a follow-up explaining its origins

3. The word “ballot” means little ball:

Merriam-Webster tweet explaining the origin of the word "ballot," derived from the Italian "ballotta" meaning "little ball."

Advertisement

Advertisement

4. Why it’s called a t-shirt:

Merriam-Webster tweet humorously explains that a shirt laid flat resembles a capital 'T' in response to a query about the "t" in "t-shirt"

Related: I Distracted Myself From The Horrors Of Being Alive In 2026 By Reading These 33 Threads Posts, Laughing At Them, Then Remembering Why I Was Distracting Myself, Then Scrolling More

5. Who “Luke” of “lukewarm” is:

Tweet by Merriam-Webster explaining that 'luke' means "warm" and why 'lukewarm' is redundant. Includes a user's question about the term

6. The word “hello” is waaay younger than you think:

Tweet listing words/phrases: "smoke and mirrors" (1979), "hashtag" (2007), "perfect storm" (1998), "hello" (1834)

7. “Hey” is actually the first of the bunch:

Merriam-Webster tweet humorously discusses the etymology and origins of "hey," "hi," and "hello."

Advertisement

Advertisement

8. The medieval origin of the word “freelance”:

Tweet from Merriam-Webster: "Underestimate freelancers at your own peril," with a humorous take on the history of the term "freelance."

9. Where “cancel” comes from:

Merriam-Webster tweet explaining the origin of "cancel," linking it to Latin and historical use of crosshatches to annul documents

10. Why we say “love” in tennis and why it’s a bit of a mystery:

Tweet from Merriam-Webster explaining that in tennis, "love" means a score of zero, likely from playing for "love of the game" despite losing

Related: Literally Just 43 Tweets That Made Me Forget Donald Trump Was President For A Few Minutes, Because I Was Too Busy Laughing

11. The word “umbrella” literally just means “shade”:

Tweet about the word "umbrella" tracing back to Latin "umbra," with lyrics from a famous song, and a humorous meme questioning the term "brella."

Advertisement

Advertisement

12. Why “cleave” is the most confusing word in the English language:

Screenshot of a Merriam-Webster tweet explaining how "cleave" means both to split apart and to unite, making it a "contronym."

13. That “hooligan” is a real person:

Merriam-Webster tweet explains the term "Hooligan" might originate from Irish ruffian Patrick Hooligan, who was notorious in 19th-century London

14. “It’s ‘jibe with,’ not ‘jive with'”:

Merriam-Webster tweet clarifying common language usage errors like "shoo-in" not "shoe-in" and others, highlighting correct phrases

15. Burpees, like the exercise, are named after a real person:

Merriam-Webster tweet: "The exercise called 'burpee' is named after Royal H. Burpee." In response to a prompt about true-sounding facts

Advertisement

Advertisement

16. A group of emus is called a “mob”:

Image of a tweet showing a reporter on a football field wearing a large fur coat, with a humorous caption about emus
Fox Sports/MerriamWebster/x.com

Related: “I Have Never Told My Mom That I Know”: 47 Massive Secrets People Uncovered About Their Families That Left Them Shocked

17. What a “retronym” is:

Merriam-Webster explains that 'acoustic guitars' were once just 'guitars' until electric ones caused the need for a retronym

18. A few more “retronyms” you definitely use every day:

Image showing a tweet listing examples of retronyms like "organic food" and "snail mail."

19. The word “decimates” deadly origin:

Tweet from Merriam-Webster explaining the evolution of the word 'decimate.' Originally, it meant "to kill every tenth man," now "to severely damage or destroy."

Advertisement

Advertisement

20. “O’clock” is actually just a short way of saying three specific words:

Screenshot of a Merriam-Webster tweet explaining the etymology of "o'clock," originating from Medieval Latin "clocca" meaning "bell."

21. When to use “You and I” vs “You and me”:

Merriam-Webster explains correct usage of "you and I" vs. "you and me" with examples for subject and object contexts

22. Why “St. Paddy’s Day” is more correct than “St. Patty’s Day”:

Merriam-Webster tweet explains why "St. Paddy's Day" is preferred over "St. Patty's Day," detailing the origins of each abbreviation

23. German chocolate cake isn’t… actually… German:

Tweet by Merriam-Webster humorously clarifying that German chocolate cake isn't from Germany, linked to baker Samuel German; jest on devil's food cake origins

Advertisement

Advertisement

24. All of this:

Merriam-Webster tweet highlights English language quirks: "Monosyllabic" isn't, "Abbreviation" is long, "Thesaurus" lacks synonyms; humor noted

Related: These 46 Funny Tweets From The Week Have Me Genuinely Howling Like My Dog After Hearing A Squeaky Toy, And Trust Me, I Don’t Laugh At Just Anything

25. The word “gaslight” comes from a play and movie:

Merriam-Webster tweet explains "Gaslight" as a play and movie term where a man deceives his wife into thinking she's insane, assuring accuracy

26. The history of “taxi” vs. “cab”:

Merriam-Webster tweet explains that "cab" comes from "cabriolet," a light carriage, while "taxi" derives from "taximeter," a fare-calculating device

27. The word “irregardless” is way older than you think and it’s time to accept it:

Merriam-Webster tweet: "Irregardless" has been used since 1795

Advertisement

Advertisement

28. All of the $#!% word meanings:

Merriam-Webster tweet explaining slang terms for nonsense, cowardice, low quality, wild, and crazy, with approximate origin years

29. Where “howdy” comes from:

Tweet from Merriam-Webster: "'Howdy' is an alteration of 'how do ye.' Its first known use is 1712."

30. And lastly, that British people actually said “soccer” first:

Merriam-Webster tweet: "Soccer" was British slang for "association football." Dated Feb 8, 2026, with 179.2K views

Also in Internet Finds: 18 Non-Political Tweets That Made Me Laugh So Hard I Forgot The World Was Falling Apart

Also in Internet Finds: Just 18 Wholesome Posts From The Internet This Week That I Guarantee Will Improve Your Mood By 99.999%

Also in Internet Finds: Men Are Revealing The “Immediate No” Red Flags Women Need To Stop Doing On First Dates, And I’m Baffled

Read it on BuzzFeed.com

Source link

Visited 1 times, 1 visit(s) today

Related Article

��

‘WTF?’ Political World Erupts Over Report on Kristi Noem’s Crossdressing Husband

X/@KristiNoem & The Daily Mail Social media users were left in shock on Tuesday after a report accused former Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem’s husband Bryon Noem of living a double life as a crossdresser obsessed with wearing big fake breasts. Daily Mail chief investigate reporter Josh Boswell and senior reporter Ben Ashford astonished

A Kurdish woman in traditional dress holds a lit torch during Nowruz, the Persian New Year, on a hill overlooking the town of Akra in the autonomous Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Friday, March 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

Iran Remains a Stubborn Foe After Absorbing Massive US-Israeli Attacks

BEIRUT (AP) — Since the United States and Israel launched their war against Iran on Feb. 28, the Trump administration claims to have all but “obliterated” the Islamic Republic’s military capabilities. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth declared last week that “never in recorded history has a nation’s military been so quickly and so effectively neutralized.” But

A Kurdish woman in traditional dress holds a lit torch during Nowruz, the Persian New Year, on a hill overlooking the town of Akra in the autonomous Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Friday, March 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

Countries Need to Step up on Strait of Hormuz, Says Hegseth

WASHINGTON, March 31 (Reuters) – The United States has done ⁠the ⁠lion’s share of the work in making ⁠Iran less of a threat and other countries now need to step up to ​reopen the critical Strait of Hormuz waterway, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Tuesday. Hegseth cited President Donald Trump’s early morning exhortation to ‌other

A Kurdish woman in traditional dress holds a lit torch during Nowruz, the Persian New Year, on a hill overlooking the town of Akra in the autonomous Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Friday, March 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

Hungary Foreign Minister Discussed EU Sanctions With Russia in Leaked Audio

BUDAPEST, March 31 (Reuters) – Hungary’s foreign minister and his Russian counterpart discussed ⁠EU ⁠sanctions in an audio clip released by an ⁠investigative news outlet on Tuesday, days before an election that could determine whether Hungary sticks to its pro-Moscow ​course. The recording published by Warsaw-based Vsquare.org purports to capture an August 2024 phone call

A Kurdish woman in traditional dress holds a lit torch during Nowruz, the Persian New Year, on a hill overlooking the town of Akra in the autonomous Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Friday, March 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

Kremlin Responds Coolly to Zelenskiy Idea of Easter Energy Attack Truce

MOSCOW, March x (Reuters) – The Kremlin ⁠on ⁠Tuesday responded coolly ⁠to a proposal from Ukrainian President ​Volodymyr Zelenskiy for an Easter energy attack truce, saying ‌it had not seen ‌detailed proposals and favoured an overall ⁠peace ⁠deal instead. Zelenskiy, who said that some of Ukraine’s allies ​had sent Kyiv “signals” about the possibility of

A Kurdish woman in traditional dress holds a lit torch during Nowruz, the Persian New Year, on a hill overlooking the town of Akra in the autonomous Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Friday, March 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

Suspect in Attack on Russia’s Prague Cultural Centre Turns Himself In

PRAGUE, March 31 (Reuters) – ⁠A ⁠foreign national has ⁠turned himself in to ​Czech police, admitting that he threw ‌petrol bombs at the ‌building of a ⁠Russian ⁠culture centre in Prague last week, police ​said on Tuesday. Police did not further identify the suspect detained on ​Monday. “It is a foreigner who, according ⁠to his

Persian gulf producers are shutting-in millions of barrels of daily supply. (REUTERS)

Oil may hit $150-$200 if Strait of Hormuz closure drags on, supplies choke, says expert

Oil prices may surge to alarming $150 or $200 a barrel if the disruption in energy trade owing to the near-closure of Strait of Hormuz continues for another six to eight weeks, energy market consultancy FGE NexantECA said. Persian gulf producers are shutting-in millions of barrels of daily supply. (REUTERS) While the conflict between United

A Kurdish woman in traditional dress holds a lit torch during Nowruz, the Persian New Year, on a hill overlooking the town of Akra in the autonomous Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Friday, March 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

China Welcomes EU Lawmakers’ First Visit in 8 Years as Chance to Steady Strained Ties

BEIJING, March 31 (Reuters) – China on Tuesday welcomed a visit by a ⁠delegation ⁠of European Union lawmakers – the first in ⁠eight years – as a chance to further stabilise ties strained by trade policies and political mistrust. The ​group of European lawmakers overseeing market and consumer protection began their visit on Tuesday, Chinese

A Kurdish woman in traditional dress holds a lit torch during Nowruz, the Persian New Year, on a hill overlooking the town of Akra in the autonomous Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Friday, March 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

Wolf Bites Woman in a Shopping Area in Germany’s 2nd-Biggest City

BERLIN (AP) — A wolf bit a woman in a shopping area in Hamburg before it was pulled out of a lake in Germany’s second-biggest city, authorities said, in what is believed to be the first such attack since wolves returned to the country in 1998. The fire service said that the woman was taken

Gold is moving towards its weakest monthly performance in over 17 years. (Bloomberg/File Photo)

Why gold is heading toward its biggest monthly drop in over 17 years

Gold prices are set to record their sharpest monthly fall in more than 17 years, as investors shifted towards the US dollar as the preferred safe haven. Gold is generally viewed as a safeguard against inflation and global uncertainty. Gold is moving towards its weakest monthly performance in over 17 years. (Bloomberg/File Photo) Globally, bullion

A Kurdish woman in traditional dress holds a lit torch during Nowruz, the Persian New Year, on a hill overlooking the town of Akra in the autonomous Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Friday, March 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

Russia Goes After VPNs as ‘Great Crackdown’ Gathers Pace

MOSCOW, March 31 (Reuters) – Russia ⁠is ⁠going to further clamp ⁠down Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), which are used by ​millions of Russians to get around internet controls and censorship, Russia’s digital ‌minister said. In what has ‌been cast by diplomats as Russia’s “great crackdown”, the authorities have ⁠repeatedly blocked ⁠mobile internet and jammed major

The Albina bulk carrier sits anchored at Sultan Qaboos Port in Muscat, Oman, near the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump Tells Aides He’s Willing to End War Without Reopening Hormuz

WASHINGTON—President Trump told aides he’s willing to end the U.S. military campaign against Iran even if the Strait of Hormuz remains largely closed, administration officials said, likely extending Tehran’s firm grip on the waterway and leaving a complex operation to reopen it for a later date. The Albina bulk carrier sits anchored at Sultan Qaboos

A Kurdish woman in traditional dress holds a lit torch during Nowruz, the Persian New Year, on a hill overlooking the town of Akra in the autonomous Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Friday, March 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

European Diplomats Visit Ukraine on Anniversary of Russia’s Bucha Atrocities

A group of 12 European foreign ministers, as well as numerous lower-ranking officials, arrived by train in the Ukrainian capital where they were welcomed by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, who noted the “grim anniversary” of the shocking atrocities in Bucha. Russian troops quickly occupied Bucha after invading Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022. They stayed

Mr Netanyahu must hope his opposition remains even more fragmented than his own camp. (REUTERS)

Binyamin Netanyahu is down—but not out

Binyamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, has one clear advantage over his co-belligerent. Unlike Donald Trump, his public supports the conflict. According to a survey by the Israel Democracy Institute in the fourth week of the war, some 68% of Israelis think America and Israel should fight on. That number has fallen—it was 81% at the

0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x