How Some Everyday Words Have Surprising Origins

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By Inioluwa Ige 

Have you ever said something so ordinary and wondered where those words actually came from or how it came to be? Probably not, right? Most of us throw words around like "confetti" every day without realizing that each one carries a long, sometimes hilarious, royal, or downright weird history.

Language is like a living time machine. Every word we speak today once had a story, maybe it was born from war, love, food, superstition, or pure laziness. Imagine your daily conversation being full of echoes from ancient Rome, medieval England, and even Greek myths. Amazing, right?

Travel back in time with me (no passport needed!) to uncover some fun, jaw-dropping origins of the words you use almost every day.

1. SALARY: When you say, “I can’t wait for my salary,” you probably mean your monthly bank alert. But if you were a Roman soldier centuries ago, you’d be waiting for a bag of salt!

The word salary comes from the Latin “salarium” meaning salt money. In ancient times, salt was as valuable as gold. It preserved food and symbolized purity. Soldiers were sometimes paid in salt or given money to buy it. That’s also where the saying “worth your salt” comes from. So yes, your salary has a salty history, literally!  

2. SANDWICH: Popularly known as The Lazy Earl’s Quick Fix. We owe one of the best inventions in human history to a lazy gambler. In the 18th century, John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich, was so obsessed with card games that he didn’t want to stop playing just to eat. So, he told his servant to bring him some meat between two slices of bread.

It became so convenient that others began saying, “I’ll have the same sandwich!” and that’s how your lunch got its name. Who knew laziness could lead to genius?

3. GIRL: Once upon a medieval time, the word “girl” didn’t mean female. It was actually used for any young person,male or female. The terms “knave girl” and “gay girl” distinguished boys from girls. It wasn’t until the late 14th century that “girl”became female-only. So technically, if you called a boy “girl” in 1300, you were still right. How interesting!

4. GOODBYE: Here’s a sweet one, “goodbye” started as a prayer. In the 1500s, people would part by saying 

“God be with ye.” Over time, it was shortened into “God b’wye,” and later transformed into “goodbye.”

So, when you say goodbye to your roommate or that special someone, you’re unknowingly giving them an old-fashioned blessing. Sweet, right?

5. CLUE: Before Sherlock Holmes or any detective novels, a “clue” (spelled clew) meant a ball of thread. In Greek mythology, the hero Theseus escaped the Minotaur’s labyrinth using a thread given to him by Ariadne. That story gave birth to the modern meaning of the word; something that helps you find your way. Next time you’re piecing together a mystery, remember: you’re following “a thread" just like Theseus did.

6. DISASTER: The word disaster has nothing to do with bad luck on earth, it literally means “bad star.” It comes from the Italian *disastro* (from dis = bad + astro = star). Ancient astrologers believed that misfortunes happened when the stars were in an unlucky alignment.

If your week feels chaotic, you can still say, “It’s not me, it’s the stars!” and still be right, historically.

7. MASCARA: This is for my makeup girlfriends! Mascara comes from the Italian “maschera”, meaning mask. It once referred to face paint used for disguise or beauty rituals. Over time, the meaning narrowed down to describe the dark substance used to mask or emphasize eyelashes as Mascara.

8. NICE: You might not believe this, but nice once meant stupid, ignorant, or foolish. It comes from the Latin “nescius” (not knowing). Over centuries, the word took on meanings like “timid,” “shy,” and eventually “pleasant.” So, being called nice used to be an insult but now it’s a compliment. Talk about a major personality turn around!

Every word you speak hides a story. They’ve traveled through wars, cultures, and centuries. From salt markets in Rome to beauty mirrors in modern hostels. Language isn’t just about communication,it’s a museum of human experience. Words don’t just speak, they remember.