Every Word Tells a Story cover art

Every Word Tells a Story

Preview

Get this deal Try Premium Plus free
Offer ends April 30, 2025 at 23:59 GMT.
Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible? Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for £7.99/mo after 3 months. Cancel monthly.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Every Word Tells a Story

By: Tom Read Wilson
Narrated by: Tom Read Wilson
Get this deal Try Premium Plus free

£7.99/mo after 3 months. Offer ends April 30, 2025 23:59 GMT. Cancel monthly.

£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Buy Now for £7.99

Buy Now for £7.99

Confirm Purchase
Pay using card ending in
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and authorise Audible to charge your designated card or any other card on file. Please see our Privacy Notice, Cookies Notice and Interest-based Ads Notice.
Cancel

About this listen

Tom Read Wilson is here to take us on a rip-roaring tour through some of the most astonishing and amusing words in the English language with Every Word Tells a Story.

See how the English language evolved in this extraordinary exploration of the origins of everyday words. Full of funny stories and fascinating facts, Tom Read Wilson knows even the most ordinary-sounding word can have the most surprising story behind it!

Did you know, for instance, that:

  • The word ‘bloomers’ comes from Amelia Bloomer, who was a women's rights activist and owner and editor of the first U.S. newspaper edited by and for women, who wanted to move more freely in her knickers?
  • Or that the word ‘daisy’ comes from the Old English dæges eage, meaning ‘day’s eye’, because the petals of a daisy open at dawn and close at dusk?
  • The word 'easel' comes from the Dutch word 'ezel', meaning donkey, because both are depenable and suitable for carrying a load?
  • Or that English nicknames for police officers, 'bobbies' and 'peelers', both come from the names of Sir Robert Peel, British prime minister in the 1800s and creator of the first modern police force?

Each fascinating word is explored through a quirky, amusing story alongside the etymology, word origin, and definition.

Every Word Tells a Story is a perfect book for young wordsmiths, encouraging kids and adults alike to have fun whilst learning about language.

©2022 Tom Read Wilson (P)2025 words & pictures
Chapter Books & Readers Education & Learning Literature & Fiction Reading & Writing Funny

Listeners also enjoyed...

Wonderful Words That Tell a Tale cover art
On the Tip of My Tongue cover art
The Word Collector cover art
The Body cover art
Boy from the Valleys cover art

Critic reviews

“An A-Z of etymological exploration. Full of funny stories and fascinating facts exploring the origins of everyday words and how the English Language evolved. Each word has a story, the origin and definition paired with humorous illustrations by Ian Morris.”The Bookseller

“Truly this a package of fun, and not just for little ones learning their words but for anyone interested in language.”—Armadillo Magazine

“Full of surprising facts and funny stories, this book shows you how words were born.”—The Week Junior

What listeners say about Every Word Tells a Story

Average customer ratings

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.