The Language-Lover's Lexipedia: An A-Z of Linguistic Curiosities

by Joshua Blackburn

Dreyer’s English meets Schott’s Original Miscellany in this delicious tour of the lesser-known wonders of the language world, perfect for language lovers, word nerds, and the incurably curious.

A delightful rollick through language unlike any you’ve ever experienced. As the inventor of the bestselling game about words, League of the Lexicon, Joshua Blackburn has created an A–Z that’s part-encyclopedia, part-treasure map, and an all-around joy for anyone interested in words and language. Meticulously researched, joyfully written, and beautifully designed, The Language-Lover’s Lexipedia dives into the quirky, the curious, and the unexpected to reveal a world of language you never knew existed.

Discover the biting humor of Scottish insults (you’re talking mince), the curious history of the Chinese typewriter, and the strange yet vivid color names of Elizabethan England—like “dead Spaniard” and “lusty gallant.” Whether it’s the dark history of the Index of Banned Books or the bewildering grammar of Yoda, each pithy entry is brimming with knowledge and wit. Illustrated with enchanting line art that evokes a 19th-century reference book, The Language-Lover’s Lexipedia is as visually delightful as it is intellectually captivating. It’s stuffed with quirky lists, surprising facts, and illuminating stories, making it the ultimate gift for any language lover. Want to uncover the secret of Ikea product names? Decode the euphemisms of Victorian England? Or understand why pedants are pedantic? This book has you covered—and then some.

Blackburn’s infectious enthusiasm turns linguistic oddities into pure entertainment and offers up endless rabbit holes to dive down, with each thoughtful entry promising to charm, educate, and tickle. From the linguistic history of marijuana to the origins of nonsense, The Language-Lover’s Lexipedia is a must-read for anyone who revels in the beauty, humor, and sheer weirdness of language.

Genres: Nonfiction, Humor, Language, History, Audiobook

240 pages, Hardcover

Published October 14, 2025

Reviews

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks so much to NetGalley for the free Kindle book. My review is voluntarily given, and my opinions are my own.

Having minored in English in college (and almost majored in it but changed my mind), I really enjoyed reading this. I could say it isn't for everyone, but that it true for every single book ever written. However, if you are the type of person who would even be looking at the reviews of this book because you think it sounds interesting, I am sure you will love it!

[Kailee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a really great time reading through The Language-Lover's Lexipedia at a slow pace, taking the time to enjoy each section. I particularly loved the -cide section, eggcorns, and the technobabble section as a sci-fi fan. There was relevancy to current issues, highlighted in the section about gender. I found a good balance of fun word play and explanation of terms and how they have impacted culture and history. There were silly entries, like the Simpsons coinage, and more serious topics like painful words with dark histories and racist origins. (The term louse-feeder though is one I could have gone my whole life without knowing!)

Can't wait for the release so I can buy a copy of this to keep around the house and flip through when I want to re-learn some fun word history! Thanks to Netgalley and Avid Reader Press for letting me check this out early!

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful cabinet of curiosities for language lovers.

This A-Z book includes bits of information about all different types of language, from specific words, to categories of words to linguistic phenomenon. You get a translator for the Jabberwocky with Victorian euphemisms for pregnancy.

This collection is really fun to wander through. You definitely get a taste of lots of different fun linguistic facts that will spark your interest. The library at the end gives you additional resources to dig into specific topics in more detail.

One of the pluses, but also something I struggled with a bit, is the A-Z organization. This means that you're often jumping around. For example, you go from IKEA product naming conventions to the Index of Forbidden Boks to the Inkhorn Controversy to an explanation of the interrobang. If you are hopping around this book as you are curious about specific topics, it's very fun. If you're reading back-to-back, it can be a bit difficult to stay engaged.

Overall, if you're a language lover, definitely give this book a try. It's a fun way to gain new linguistic trivia and curiosities of English to share with your friends.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avid Reader Press for providing an advanced copy of this book for review. All opinions are my own.

[Maine Colonial · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read a free advance digital review copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.

From Abracadabra to Zyzzyva, this is an alphabetically-ordered jaunt through some of the shocks, delights, and oddities of language. Each page is dense with information, yet this is no dry reference book. You’ll find plenty to chuckle over as well as ponder. For maximum enjoyment, keep the book around to dip into an entry or two at a time.

This would make an excellent give for the language maven in your life.

[Shelby Schmidt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Warning: I am a huge word nerd. Growing up, the PBS children's show, Wordgirl, was my favorite. It's about a superhero who fights supervillains and in the process teaches the viewers (and characters in the show) about vocabulary. That fact alone should tell you everything you need to know about me.

I found it fascinating that the author wasn't a professional linguist and wrote such a treasure trove of nonfiction. If a non-professional can write this book, why can't there be more? Because I'm a linguistic fanatic, I devoured my e-ARC from NetGalley.

[Tori · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a fun and quick read, especially for word lovers and trivia enthusiasts. The entries are short, engaging, and straight to the point, making it easy to pick up and enjoy in small doses. That said, if you're looking for deep dives into etymology or detailed histories behind each word, this may not be the right fit. But if you're after light, entertaining language trivia and a quick boost of knowledge, it's a great choice.

[KC Lemson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book on a whim and am not finished with it yet, but I can safely say it’s one of these types of books (almanac style, lots of little trivia) that is *totally* worth buying (and in physical form too - it’s fun to pick up when you only have a few minutes).

You don’t need to read every word to really enjoy it (I skimmed over some parts) but there’s something worth reading on every single page, and it quickly moves from topic to topic.

[Symone · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an almost exclusive fiction reader, I never expected to enjoy a non-fiction book this much. I love little language facts that will likely never come up again outside of trivia, and this was the book for that. My favourite entries were: British Place Names, God, IKEA Product Naming, and Letters, Old and New.

[♏ Gina☽ · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who greatly enjoys the written word I really loved this book! The title says it all! I would also like to thank the author and publisher for sending along another surprise that will be great fun. I so appreciate it ♥♥♥

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so interesting and so funny. I love it!! As someone who’s hyperlexic and loves language and loves learning the origin to words and also enjoys humor, this book was perfect for me. ♥️ I got it as a birthday gift and it couldn’t be more perfect. Highly recommend this one.

[ken · Rating 4 out of 5]

a fun book to read around your family especially if they're the type to enjoy trivia. wound up frustrating my siblings when i told them about diner speak.

[Nurlan Imangaliyev · Rating 5 out of 5]

Had fun of a lot I reading this book while...

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just fun.

[Coralie · Rating 3 out of 5]

edit 22/12/25 : note baissée à 3/5

i loved learning more about the linguistic curiosities of the English language! it was really interesting. however, while i'm used to reading in English and i think i can understand the modern language quite well, a lot of references flew right over my head.