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The “L” word game

Here is a game that I played on the Maxim Radio show a few weeks back.. but thought I’d bring to the YouTube audience as well.

It’s the origin of the “L” word.. which, if you don’t know what that stands for… then watch the video :-)

Marina

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245 Comments and 28 threads

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  1. leonard says: 132

    Ok…John is here…

    randomJust in terms of allocation of time resources, religion is not very efficient. There’s a lot more I could be doing on a Sunday morning.
    Bill Gates, Time Magazine, January 13, 1996

    …L*O*V*E will carry my GREEK BOOKS… :???:

  2. I’ll go with either origin #2, or that it was coined by a dyslexic who knew a gay lebanese girl.

  3. the second one IS the correct one

  4. hamburgler says: 126

    im sure that is the 3rd one who is correct

  5. leonard says: 125

    I know it is all of the above for the answer for the “L” word game. Do you think that you tube watched this whole video with the sex scenes?…since sometimes they censor…..censure….census…centaur..

  6. leonard says: 124

    My random lesson—I read where the G-spot theory was developed during the 1940’s, from the nation of Germany. Humble the being! Word Request (DEVIATE) Hope your puppy, Gorby, is fine. “L” word LEISURE in the Ley. :wink:

  7. I believe that it is the second answer.

  8. tedt says: 119

    perpulcher this video :mrgreen:

    Duh, this Microsoft update I got today corupted my whole PC, couldn´t study, I hope you forgive me my teacher !!

    Can you explain the word mitochondrion (and some more about it, please)

  9. Marina,

    The little out-take when your bangs fall and you say “Ow!” is adorable, really.

    lostforwords.

  10. brianslost says: 115

    My vote is for the “Lesbos” answer. I’m pretty sure I heard that somewhere before. Hope I’m remembering right.

  11. you guys are really gay man piitbull is the best fuck the rest bitch thats a cool word Bitch!! :twisted: bitch

  12. sxymarina says: 109

    Heyaa Marina :)
    I have 2 words that I’m curious about;
    “Codswallop” and “holiday”
    I was wondering if you could make a video on the origin of either 1 of these words, for instance as a title for holiday you could have “Hot Holidays”.
    If you should decide to look further into 1 of those words, my YouTube-account name is ‘Rangerweij3′.

    byee <3

  13. the corret option is number 2, safo lived in lesbos and had much influence that the word lesbian was acepted for define the relation betewn two womens. How do I for to be the teacher’s pet? and what win with that?

  14. hutchiee says: 107

    It always comes down to Greek origins, it has to be #2 :)

  15. Hello my dear teacher …. I must admit that I have skipped class for a while but are catching up now, but there are no way to rate your videos now!! You now I always give you as high as it gets, but now I can´t give you a thing!? :(

    By the way, the homework about the L-word I think it comes from the Island Lesbos…
    from your dear student / Swedehunter

  16. i don’t believe in you, bitch.

  17. It’s number 2, I thought that was common knowledge.

  18. livewire- says: 103

    Hi Marina,..
    gonna go witt again number 2! :oops:

    ¡noʎ sʞuɐɥʇ puɐ puodsǝɹ ǝsɐǝld ɯd ɐ noʎ ʇuǝs ı

    Livewire- :P

  19. capman911 says: 102

    Hi Marina
    I hate to change the subject but everyone go to Marina’s home page and vote for The seven million dollar man. He is doing a tremendious act of kindness. We all need to support him.

    Mike

  20. cometarrow says: 101

    Hi Marina!

    Me and some friends got into an argument on where the word : Latin American came from. We thought that Latins would be people from Italy/Greece… so why Latin Americans? There is even the town of Latina in Italy. If you could solve this mystery for us, we would be eternally grateful :) Ciao ciao!

  21. dgiulian says: 100

    Hello marina I was wondering what is the origin of the words trifecta, and geek.
    Thanks :D

  22. titanpa says: 99

    Origin #3

    Marina I would like to know the origin of Quarentine.

    In Spanish and French….Doesnt something that start with Qua….mean 4? So why would you want to keep something away from 4 of something? Help me out here.

  23. tkh1989 says: 98

    what is the origin of the phrase (ball park) as in ball park estimate?

  24. kcarney says: 97

    I know this one.

    The answer is #2. In ancient greece, a female poet who lived on the island of Lesbos wrote love poems to other women. Much later in Europe (over 1,000 years or more later), some of her poems were re-published and the name of her island (being from the island of Lesbos, she was a Lesbian) became the name of her sexual orientation.

    In fact, I heard on the news a few weeks ago that the leader (Mayor, Governor, whatever) of Lesbos has submitted some form a petition or lawsuit to some organization to have them drop the name Lesbian from their title as they want the word Lesbian reserved for referring to people from Lesbos.

  25. Hello Marina.
    The thing is that i would love to know the origin of the word “Cucumber”.
    I just think it sound pretty funny and hopefully you’ll help me.
    Love Eric

  26. vondoch says: 95

    What is the origin of the acronym M.I.L.F?

  27. vondoch says: 94

    Well… Its a quite difficult arguement to determine the origin of the word Lesbian… but I would have to agree with Choice # Dva or number 2 in english. :lol:

  28. aww. this one’s a piece of cake- it’s #2, the Isle of Lesbos- a Greek island in the NE Aegean sea (actually just off the coast of Turkey).

  29. nbeltran says: 92

    #2

    this one is tough.

    Again, directed to Marina;

    What’s the origin of the word, “player?”

    lol

    Nelson

  30. ronjeremygt says: 91

    I’m going to guess #2 as the origin, and kindly request that you do the origin for “monkey wrench” at some point. Thanks.

  31. ibtree says: 90

    Hi Marina, disheveled is a word. Where did it come from. Is sheveled a word? Mwa, ibtree

  32. HELLO,I WASNT SURE IF YOU RECEIVED MY REQUEST,ARE YOU ABLE TO LET ME KNOW IF YOU RECEIVED IT?YOU CAN LET ME KNOW THROUGH EMAIL.

    • Marina says: 89.1

      What request johngparkpolice2, mechanical? You can request as many words as you. I can’t guarantee to get to all of them.. as they have to have an interesting story behind them. But request as many as you’d like :-)

  33. 2hot4words says: 88

    The word lesbian comes from the Greek Island of Lesbos, where the poet Sappho lived in 600 B.C. Sappho was an intellectual and poet who wrote many love poems to other women. Although much of her poetry has been destroyed by religious fundamentalists, the few poems of Sappho that remain speak clearly to her love and infatuation with women.

    It is unclear when the word “lesbian” was first used to describe women who love other women, but the first usage can be traced back to the 1800s. It came into popular use in the lesbian feminist era of the 1960s and 1970s.

  34. wyo550 says: 87

    The answer is Women who lived in PENTHOUSES on the Island of LESBOS The women unfairly got a bad rap- “LESBIANS”_ for living above the heads of men who were always JUST INTERESTED in staring at their BOOBIES!

    Preoccupation with LESBIAN BREASTS.
    It just shows, nothing’s changed (of course, since the male brain is incapable of change, hard-wired to Mommy’s titties)

    Thank you Dear Teacher for BURNING THE MIDNIGHT OIL again!
    (you and your girlfriends of course :-)

  35. Nick says: 86

    The island of Lesbos is the answer.

  36. I would like to know the origin of the word Thespian.

  37. radio725 says: 83

    I have a request. My word is CHOCOLATE
    THANKS

  38. acsabi44 says: 82

    I’d like to request the word “punk”- If I am correct it has to do something with indians but I really don’t know the origin and I’d like you to find out:)

  39. radio725 says: 81

    Easy. :grin: Of course it’s Number 2. Sappho and Lesbos.

  40. Warren says: 80

    Ow? What happened?
    Where’s the new penthouse?

    #2

  41. voluminous – voluptuous
    Do the route of these words have anything in common :?: ? :?:

    Kind regards TongueTwisler

  42. stokesjrj1 says: 77

    Morning already, have to get ready for work now :grin:

  43. stokesjrj1 says: 76

    I Like that quote of the day.
    “When I am working on a problem I never think about beauty. I only think about how to solve the problem. But when I have finished, if the solution is not beautiful, I know it is wrong.” – Buckminster Fuller 1895-1983
    OK Roger Wilco

  44. johnwords2 says: 75

    2 seems to make the most sense :shock:

  45. nighteye says: 73

    Origin #2, it is also the origin of the word “Sapphic”.

  46. it is by Sapphos juice that I set my mind in motion…
    the juice stains the lips… the lips are a warning…
    - Mentat / Assassin Credo from “Dune”

    [eyes closed] #2 :mrgreen:

  47. Well I think everyone knew this one. I mean its no 2 right?

  48. dedixon says: 70

    I believe the answer is #2 :shock: :shock:

  49. (please make me the teachers pet :mrgreen: )

  50. I have to say I think the answer is origin 2 :!: ! :!:

  51. acsabi44 says: 67

    it’s no.2
    When I had to learn Latin, I actually read some of Sappho’s poems(in latin) and man, they are boring :grin:

  52. lostinhere says: 66

    Hey, I actually get to use one of my college electives, History of Mythology! :shock:

    According to Bulfinch’s Mythology (yes I still have the text book), it is answer #2.

    Now, where can I find a use for ‘Physics for Poets’? :lol:

  53. astaroth267 says: 65

    origin number 2 is the most believable one

  54. greenbush says: 63

    Dear HFW: The term lesbian came from the Greek Island Lesbos, = answer No. 2 in GTW game. I agree with bosdaH (I don’t know how to type in Russian), that the first 4 seconds of the video are the best. P.S. With firefox/mozilla browser, the “rate this video” did not show up. Five stars for me.

  55. ziomalkav says: 62

    Origin #2. The first one doesn’t give any etymology, and the third is a bit stupid :) This one’s too easy.

    I would like to request the word “spruce”.

  56. billyinc1 says: 61

    I shall go with the orgin # 1.

    Have a Good Week Marina.

  57. cammehh says: 60

    hey marina i was wondering where the origin of the phrase
    ‘frog in my throat’ came from cause since its winter in australia everyones getting colds etc and saying it
    that would be awesome
    thanks

  58. captainjack says: 59

    I don’t have a clue what the answer is so I’m going to guess #2 because I have a good friend in Athens, Greece. Did she tell me the correct answer? No… I just have a gut feeling on this one. It feels Greek to me. :smile:

  59. kaibanator says: 58

    Hey marina!

    would you believe as of this morning I found out that I will have to move to another place myself? That’s not until end of july though. I found that ironic as this bit of news was not long after your recent “Penthouse” video :lol:

    Anyways, I’m somewhat sure that the answer is origin #2, as I am pretty sure that there is an Island called Lesbos, and I think that this origin makes more sense to me :mrgreen:

    I also just thought of a word request …. “Spontaneous”

    Great video! 5 stars :D

  60. macaroni says: 57

    Your next word should be “aphrodite”

  61. superponz80 says: 56

    theory #2….too easy :cool:
    Bye :wink:

  62. pagedoll says: 55

    Does anyone know why the name changed on UT?

  63. The word Balogna has always been a strange word to me, not the actual word, just the spelling. Could you please make a video telling the origin of it?

  64. StylinAzn says: 53

    What is the origin of the word “Fetish” as in foot fetish or breast fetish??

    From Your Original Subscriber (OS).

  65. Hi Marina,
    Replies disappeared.

  66. augie says: 51

    i know the answer i heard tht show on maxum radio never miss one of ur shows yet and all ur videos just awsome

  67. svoboda says: 50

    I would have to agree that choice number 2 is the correct answer. I remember hearing something about this on the history channel a while back.
    How about the origin of faggot? I’m not talking about the slang term for cigarettes, or bundle of sticks, but the slang term for homosexuals. (I guess it could have its origins in the bundle of sticks, but how?)
    The video started a little rough, but not too bad all in all today.

  68. Although homosexuality was considered a mental illness until some time in the 1970’s (I’m not positive but I believe it was 1972), origin number three is incorrect.

    The correct answer is origin number two. The word lesbian comes from the Greek island of Lesbos.

  69. socaljr says: 48

    I say answer number two is the correct one. How come guys like to see beautiful lesbians together but are totally grossed out by two guys???

  70. Where did the phrase “bees knees” come from?

  71. djcad86 says: 46

    The correct origin is origin #2

  72. cenafan216 says: 45

    I would like to request the word Touchdown

  73. labbatt78 says: 44

    Most likely #2. Love the L game. Flash that tongue baby!I really got my eyes peeled.

  74. trikerskip says: 43

    The word comes from the latin word Lesbos!!!

  75. sniperskaya says: 42

    So if I’m a man living on the isle of Lesbos I’m a male Lesbian?
    Cool!
    I vote for number 2!

  76. dark knight says: 41

    Hi Marina,
    I think the answer is origin number 2.

  77. tomping61 says: 40

    the “L” word comes from greece.i love your videos.you are great marina.aren’t you writing a book ?and when will it be finished?plus i’d love to be teacher’s pet!

  78. bricotius says: 39

    Marina!!!! Today is my birthday and that makes me wonder….when did we start using the word birthday anyway? In other languages like french the word is annivasaire, which obviously is where the word anniversary comes from, which is just a more general term for a yearly celebration…but when did we get so specific? Oh, and is it number two? That sounds the most believable.

  79. saratoga says: 38

    I would vote for the second explanation. And thank you for visiting my blog and leaving the nice comment on my post about your two videos.

    -saratoga

  80. big-l says: 37

    Would you be able to tell me why people use that fraze ‘Poofter’ to describe a gay homosexuall :?: :?:
    Comment Back
    From The One and Only Liam Campbell

  81. I have played the first 4 seconds of the lesson 11 times. 12 times. 13…why am I doing this?

  82. capman911 says: 35

    Hi Marina,
    Why are the comments on your youtube channel have to be so graffic and dirty in their language towards you. This site and its members are alot more pleasent to talk to and to read.
    Lots of luck keep up the good sessions.
    Mike :smile:

    • Agreed. There’s absolutely no reason to go there to see Marina’s lessons. I tend to boycott it.
      Why settle for a least-common-denominator mentality level when here we can be ridiculed by the intelligentsia instead? If I do watch some videos there, I rarely read any comments. They’re just flat-out depressing in my view.

    • greenbush says: 35.3

      A-men, capman911. A few new bloggers post undesirable comments here towards Miss HFW, and usually us dear students reply to let them know that we treat her with respect. On a recent post by aLx, he mentioned “angry,” and Miss HFW agreed. I don’t know how to show “threads/rss”(?) regarding that video, but it is on youtube, “angry german kid”, where a child shows remarkable “I am the center of the universe,” skills. My son got a real good laugh out of it.

  83. Hello, Marina! My word request would be quite an obvious one. ;)
    “Manumission” – well, it is an act of freeing someone from something.. But I was wondering why “man” and why “mission?” How did these words get together to mean exactly that? Thank you, Teacher! :)

  84. elkadir says: 33

    Hey Marina. New member with a word request. Im interested in finding out the origin of the word “Phony” . Its kind of a weird word that i have absolutely no clue as to where it comes from. Hope u can help

    • Marina says: 33.1

      Good one elkadir, I’ll definitely do that one shortly. :-)

      • Also how come in America they say Baloney? It’s a sausage right? So how did it become a euphemism for lies or nonsense?

      • Hi Marina , that icon picture makes you look like that woman from Egypt, old whats her name, oh yea Mary of Egypt. Or maybe like a praying mantis ready to Wed her husband, now that a fear full thought poor guy didn’t live to see the next day, your hair with that green shirt like a daisy on a beautiful summer day .or a Venus flay trap ready to capture her pray with a sexual attraction or maybe even a Marlboro cigarette, or a granny smith apple pie baked the old fashion way, golden brown on top , or that piece of Mrs. Baird bread from which we got our penicillin shot i guess what I’m trying to say is your just my everything even a fading ringing from a ricocheting shot

      • Now that I think about it. Why do they say “full of bologna” when someone is lieing?

      • Привет Марина,
        I just took your lesson on the word “cute”. Great, and I think relates to “phony” in a sense.
        If your students should take this lesson, they will learn the origin of “cute”, and also learn something nice about Teacher.
        Красивое сообщение!

  85. capman911 says: 32

    I’ give you five stars and say it’s number 2. As always a great lesson. I never knew where the word originated. But I think I know now. :smile:

  86. jeenyice says: 31

    Я выбрать номер два.
    Translators are amazing!

  87. kevino says: 30

    Word request – okay since the Euro Cup 2008 is quickly approaching and over 1 BILLION people will be watching, I’ll give this word request one last try. Marina can you please explain the origins of (Football) hooligan ?

    • Is that an American BILLION or a Brit Billion? :wink:

      • Hi oysterfrond,

        I believe the US euphemism “baloney” is a comparison reference having to do with baloney (technically bologna I guess) being thought of as a substandard meat ’substitute’ made mostly with emulsified fillers and animal parts of unknown origin, as opposed to, say, a nice cut of steak or a pork chop which one can clearly see what it really is. Seeing its slang usage in old film and comedy from the 40s and earlier (when packing plant health inspection standards may have been less stringent as well as subject to high levels of corruption etc.) gives one reason to suspect that perhaps it earned some of its less-than-perfect reputation by including scraps of animal flesh no human in their right mind would wish to imagine ingesting, if you know what I mean and I think you probably do…See Upton Sinclair’s expose on meatpacking industry, “The Jungle.”

        Peace, bro.

    • pagedoll says: 30.2

      Sweet and Tender Hooligan- that was a good song by the SMITHS :razz:

  88. I’m going with #2. Great video, Marina. Keep up the good work.

  89. pagedoll says: 28

    I say #2 just because what you said makes the most sense. BUT, I’ll probably wrong again….Dang-it!

  90. cesdavis says: 26

    In German it is a yeast to cultivate chesse until it is wrapped. I do not know how it got confused with a egg salad sandwitch with islands with scammbled eggs in Rome there still probably tying to get the catsup out of the bottle. The shortest e-mail route is a lesbian. No drooling person was allowed at toothache in admittance of a food process after get their adut teeth unless it was a snare unto them at first; they probably call that Europe and then there is the thing again with the full catsup bottle agian. The person in the snare did not have the chance to write down a sexual preference. Thinking sappo gets the ketsup out of the bottle easier and the after effects of being let out of the snare. How did the snare perform work!

  91. inco says: 25

    I am leaving for Soci this summer do you want me to send you some pictures? Asked you about the word ‘pokey’. is nr#2

  92. NUMERO 2 IS THE ANSWER FOR YOU

  93. jrr2602 says: 23

    I believe that the answer is #3. Keep up the excellent work Marina, I am learning more now that I did in school a loooooooooong time ago. :lol:

  94. ah, Sappho…poet immortal…from Byron:

    And onward viewed the mount, not yet forgot,
    The lover’s refuge and the Lesbian’s grave.
    Dark Sappho! could not verse immortal save
    That breast imbued with such immortal fire?

    #2 is the correct answer… :smile:

  95. ichigo042 says: 21

    sounds like number 2 to me

  96. b3boy2 says: 20

    #2 is the right one. I’m 99.99% it’s 2. Can you do HONORIFICABILTUDINITATIBUS.

  97. Nathan says: 19

    Marina,

    First off I would like to request the origins for the names of the days of the week. Monday through Sunday.

    Secondly, would you be willing to share any stories where you found your mind not being taken seriously because of your looks?

    Keep up the good work.

    –Nathan

  98. gawdess559 says: 17

    The correct answer is number 2, infact the few poems of Sappho that remain speak clearly to her love and infatuation with women. Mmmmm lol also, PLEASE DO CHESTERFEILD

  99. I go for the Grecian formula. The others are harebrained schemes to confound us.

  100. jcovejero says: 13

    Hi! beautiful, smart and wonderful teacher, well dont belive me!, The correct answer is the number Two That man called Shappo Wrote about that,
    Well thank you for your videos, tell me about your hobbies.

  101. And in other news the dreaded Russkies just beat Canada 5-4 in OT to win the hockey world championship.
    We’ll get you next year Marina. You just wait.

  102. roadrunrnch says: 11

    TEACH, Are you getting tired of being thought of as a sex symbol?
    Just getting that from your interviews lately. (Big Boob-ed Blond being stupid) and what is the point of being smart? You do seem to be the the stand out for smart can be sexy. Go with it and don’t worry about what others think. f_ck’um. Greek Island of Lesbos, Weren’t Greek Men switch hitters too??

  103. orion_ss1 says: 9

    Number 2; but remember your Greek history:

    In the war between the Thespians and the Lesbians; the Thespians put on a good show, but the Lesbians licked them.

  104. fyshdoc says: 8

    hi marina,

    #2 it is.

    did you know the island of Lesbos has petrified forests? yes, there’s a lot “hard wood” over there. suprising seening it’s mostly gay women there. then again, a lot of us guys like to watch, if you know what i mean… ;-) i like watching you!

  105. kranium says: 6

    The answer is 2

    The word lesbian comes from the Greek Island of Lesbos, where the poet Sappho lived in 600 B.C. Sappho was an intellectual and poet who wrote many love poems to other women.

  106. neilmarkus says: 5

    Number 2

    Request: Origin of the word: Sexy

  107. alterrix says: 4

    of course it’s no.2.. I’m from greece..
    REQUEST: origin of the word: AUTOPSY

  108. elite_panda says: 3

    REQUEST: what’s the origin of the word NINJA.

  109. tryant says: 2

    well My slimline little beauty,You did it again! Mighty fine work.

    It’s #2.

  110. Bob says: 1

    Wow! First again?

Author: HotForWords