11 fascinating facts about English

A woman sat on a sofa smiling reading a book
Reading time: 3 minutes

English is one of the most widely-spoken languages in the world, but how much do you know about the language? Here are 11 facts about English?that you might not know.

Facts about English
Play
Privacy and cookies

By watching, you agree ɫèAV can share your viewership data for marketing and analytics for one year, revocable by deleting your cookies.

1. English is the language of the skies

You might know that English is the language of many lands (its the official language of 67 countries) but did you know its the language of the skies, too? Thats right, English is spoken by all pilots to identify themselves on flights, regardless of where they are from C yet another way in which learning English improves employability.

2. You or me?

We use the words "you" and "me" all the time, but which of the two do you think is the most widely used? You might be surprised to learn that while "you" is the 18th most commonly-used word in the English language; "me" is way back at number 50. So what is the most used English word? Exactly that: the.

3. One in a billion

If you were to write out every number in order as words (that is, one, two, three, four) you wouldnt use the letter "b" until you reached one billion.

4. No repeats

"Subdermatoglyphic" is the longest English word that can be written without repeating any letters. It has 17 letters in it, and its the medical name for the layer of skin beneath the fingertips. Slightly easier to guess the meaning of is the word "uncopyrightable", which has 15 letters without any being repeated, and refers to something that cant be copyrighted or owned.

5. Shakespeare was an architect of the English language

The legendary playwright was responsible for many of the things we say and write today. These include the words "fashionable", "advertising" and "laughable", and the phrase "fight fire with fire", which means to respond to attack with a similar form of attack.

6. New arrivals to the dictionary

A new word is added to the every two hours. Some include "nerdjacking" (to hijack a conversation with detailed explanations), "undorse" (to reverse a policy) and "Mx" (a gender-neutral form of address instead of using "Mr" or "Ms").

7. Historic word, new meaning

You may know a "twerk" to be a popular, thrusting dance but in the 19th century "twirk" (spelt with an "i" not an "e") it refered to a twisting or jerking movement or twitch.?

8. The origins of English

English originates from Old English, which is its earliest historical form from the 5th century. There was no punctuation until the 15th century. The oldest Old English word still used today that has the same direct meaning is "town". Town has kept the same meaning as its original Old English word "tun" meaning area of dwelling.

9. Time to move

There is a debate about the shortest grammatically correct sentence in English. "Go!" is often mentioned because it has an understood subject "you" and the predicate?(the part of the sentence that tells what the subject does) is "go." However, some believe that "I am." is the shortest complete sentence because it includes both a subject and a predicate.

10. The enemies of poets

What do the words "month", "silver", "marathon" and "purple" have in common? They're just some of the words that don't have a "".

11. What's an "Aegilops"?

The longest word in English with its letters in alphabetical order is "Aegilops", which is a type of plant.

Read our blog posts 'Slang terms from across the UK' and 'Commonly misspelled English words'.

More blogs from ɫèAV

  • Expressing love around the world: Interesting facts and how to say "I love you" in different languages

    By Sam Colley
    Reading time: 5 minutes

    Love is a universal language that transcends borders, cultures and languages. For those learning another language, understanding how to express love in various tongues can be both fascinating and useful. Whether you're planning to travel, connect with friends from different backgrounds, or simply expand your linguistic repertoire, knowing how to say "I love you" in different languages as well as the cultural context, can be a beautiful way to show appreciation and affection. Let's take a look at some of the many ways to express this timeless sentiment and some interesting facts.

    1. Cultural nuances:

    In many cultures, the way you express love can carry different weights and meanings. For example, in Japanese, "ۤƤ" (aishiteru) is a very strong expression of love, often reserved for serious relationships, whereas "ä" (daisuki) is more commonly used among friends and family.
    However, French, often called the language of love, uses "je t'aime" to express love as a romantic phrase that can be used for both partners and close family members.

    2. Gender differences:

    Some languages have gender-specific ways of saying "I love you." For instance, in Arabic, "????" (a?ibbuka) is used when a woman says "I love you" to a man, and "????" (a?ibbuki) is used when a man says it to a woman. Similarly, in Hindi, men say "??? ????? ????? ???? ???" (main tumse pyaar karta hoon) and women say "??? ????? ????? ???? ???" (main tumse pyaar karti hoon).

    3. Formal vs. informal:

    Some languages have formal and informal ways of expressing love. In Spanish, "te amo" is more formal and used for romantic love, while "te quiero" is more casual and can be used for friends and family.
    ?

  • Understand your English level

    By Sam Colley
    Reading time: 4 minutes

    Learning English as a second language is a journey that can be fun and tough. A key part of this journey is knowing your current skill level. The Global Scale of English (GSE) helps learners check their skills. The GSE is a scale from 10 to 90 that measures English ability. It gives clear information about what learners can do at each level. In this blog, well look at how to find out your English level using GSE scores, levels, and "I can..." statements.

    Why understanding your English level matters

    You may wonder, Why is it important for me to know my language level? If you start studying without knowing your skill level, you might feel overwhelmed, frustrated, or find learning too easy and be put off or not make any learning progress.
    Knowing your English level helps you in many ways, such as to:

    1. Set realistic goals: Tailor your learning objectives to your current abilities.
    2. Choose appropriate materials: Select books, courses, and resources that match your proficiency.
    3. Track progress: Measure improvement over time and stay motivated.

    GSE levels and what they mean

    The GSE levels range from Starter to Expert, each with specific "I can..." statements that describe what you should be able to do at that level. Heres a breakdown of each level, along with some practical examples:

  • English is the language of AI - why teaching it matters

    By Sam Colley
    Reading time: 3 minutes

    In the rapidly evolving age of artificial intelligence (AI), language plays a critical role in shaping the future of technology. English, in particular, has emerged as the dominant language in the AI domain, driving innovations, collaboration and accessibility. As we delve deeper into the digital age, the importance of teaching English becomes increasingly evident. Here are some key points that underscore why English is essential in the realm of AI and why its teaching matters.

    Global collaboration and research

    AI is a field that thrives on collaboration and the sharing of knowledge. Researchers, developers and engineers worldwide contribute to the collective advancement of AI technologies. English is the common linguistic thread that binds this global community together, enabling seamless communication and collaboration among these diverse professionals.

    By teaching English, we empower individuals from various linguistic backgrounds to participate in global research projects, attend international conferences and publish their findings in widely accessible journals. This global exchange of ideas not only accelerates the pace of AI innovation but ensures that advancements are inclusive and representative of a wide array of perspectives.

    Access to educational resources and technical documentation

    Many AI research papers, educational materials, textbooks, online courses and technical documents are published in English. Leading AI platforms, libraries and frameworks, offer extensive documentation and support primarily in English.

    By equipping individuals with English language skills, we empower them to access these invaluable resources. This democratizes the learning process, allowing aspiring AI practitioners from non-English-speaking regions to acquire the knowledge and tools needed to contribute effectively to the field.

    Enhancing communication and language learning with AI systems

    As AI systems become more integrated into our daily lives, the ability to communicate effectively with these systems is paramount. Many AI-driven applications, from virtual assistants like Siri and Alexa to customer service chatbots, operate predominantly in English. Teaching English ensures that users can interact seamlessly with these technologies, maximizing their utility and enhancing user experience.

    Moreover, as continues to advance, proficiency in English allows individuals to better understand and contribute to the development of more sophisticated and intuitive AI communication interfaces.
    ?