Spanish ‘palabra’ and Portuguese ‘palavra’ have the same origin as French ‘parole’ and Italian ‘parola’, but there’s a big difference: the R and L were swapped.
This type of linguistic change is called metathesis.
Zoom in on my infographic to see more examples of metathesis in 5 Romance languages:
This type of linguistic change is called metathesis.
Zoom in on my infographic to see more examples of metathesis in 5 Romance languages:
January 8, 2026 at 6:10 PM
Spanish ‘palabra’ and Portuguese ‘palavra’ have the same origin as French ‘parole’ and Italian ‘parola’, but there’s a big difference: the R and L were swapped.
This type of linguistic change is called metathesis.
Zoom in on my infographic to see more examples of metathesis in 5 Romance languages:
This type of linguistic change is called metathesis.
Zoom in on my infographic to see more examples of metathesis in 5 Romance languages:
Make Halloween even scarier with one metathesis
good morning from the FACE CRAVING PUMKINS ($5.99) at my local market
October 7, 2024 at 1:41 PM
Make Halloween even scarier with one metathesis
WORD FACT
“Metathesis” occurs when letters switch places in a word as it evolves. Examples of r←→i metathesis in English include:
Bird → formerly bridd
Dirt → formerly drit
Third → formerly þridda
“Metathesis” occurs when letters switch places in a word as it evolves. Examples of r←→i metathesis in English include:
Bird → formerly bridd
Dirt → formerly drit
Third → formerly þridda
April 9, 2026 at 6:35 AM
WORD FACT
“Metathesis” occurs when letters switch places in a word as it evolves. Examples of r←→i metathesis in English include:
Bird → formerly bridd
Dirt → formerly drit
Third → formerly þridda
“Metathesis” occurs when letters switch places in a word as it evolves. Examples of r←→i metathesis in English include:
Bird → formerly bridd
Dirt → formerly drit
Third → formerly þridda
4/
German 'Kurste' should be 'Kruste'. 😖
I was so into metathesis that I metathesised it myself.
German 'Kurste' should be 'Kruste'. 😖
I was so into metathesis that I metathesised it myself.
January 6, 2026 at 6:53 PM
4/
German 'Kurste' should be 'Kruste'. 😖
I was so into metathesis that I metathesised it myself.
German 'Kurste' should be 'Kruste'. 😖
I was so into metathesis that I metathesised it myself.
I will not choose my favourite metathesis catalyst based on the name.
I will not choose my favourite metathesis catalyst based on the name.
I will not choose my fa
I will not choose my favourite metathesis catalyst based on the name.
I will not choose my fa
July 19, 2025 at 12:18 PM
I will not choose my favourite metathesis catalyst based on the name.
I will not choose my favourite metathesis catalyst based on the name.
I will not choose my fa
I will not choose my favourite metathesis catalyst based on the name.
I will not choose my fa
New metathesis dropped.
Overheard a guy say "cockular implant" instead of "cochlear implant "
Overheard a guy say "cockular implant" instead of "cochlear implant "
August 25, 2025 at 1:51 PM
New metathesis dropped.
Overheard a guy say "cockular implant" instead of "cochlear implant "
Overheard a guy say "cockular implant" instead of "cochlear implant "
🥳 congrats Keyu for your fantastic work on metathesis ! 👏👏 We (@rmelot.bsky.social) are very proud of you 🤩🤩🤩 Thanks to Fabien for DFT calculations 😊 @icn-cnrs.bsky.social @univcotedazur.bsky.social @cnrscotedazur.bsky.social @pacascf.bsky.social
pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...
pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...
Ruthenium-Catalyzed Enyne Metathesis: An Entry to Functionalized Azaborine Heterocycles
An unprecedented and green synthetic route for the preparation of functionalized polycyclic azaborine skeletons via a ruthenium-mediated ring-closing enyne metathesis transformation of alkynyl B-anthr...
pubs.acs.org
March 18, 2025 at 5:50 AM
🥳 congrats Keyu for your fantastic work on metathesis ! 👏👏 We (@rmelot.bsky.social) are very proud of you 🤩🤩🤩 Thanks to Fabien for DFT calculations 😊 @icn-cnrs.bsky.social @univcotedazur.bsky.social @cnrscotedazur.bsky.social @pacascf.bsky.social
pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...
pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...
This metathesis pissed me off
September 29, 2025 at 3:44 PM
This metathesis pissed me off
This fails to fully capture how great the Spanish word is. It isn't "little blind mouse," that would be the now archaic "murciegalo." The modern "murcielago" is like "little mlind bouse" — it literally changed to the wrong way because so many people said it wrong (phonetic metathesis).
April 21, 2025 at 8:19 PM
This fails to fully capture how great the Spanish word is. It isn't "little blind mouse," that would be the now archaic "murciegalo." The modern "murcielago" is like "little mlind bouse" — it literally changed to the wrong way because so many people said it wrong (phonetic metathesis).
i recently learned that 'axe' preceded 'ask' in usage. so 'ask' went through metathesis once.
did 'axe' undergo metathesis twice, or zero times? is it continuous with the old form, or derived from 'ask'?
did 'axe' undergo metathesis twice, or zero times? is it continuous with the old form, or derived from 'ask'?
April 1, 2025 at 1:17 PM
i recently learned that 'axe' preceded 'ask' in usage. so 'ask' went through metathesis once.
did 'axe' undergo metathesis twice, or zero times? is it continuous with the old form, or derived from 'ask'?
did 'axe' undergo metathesis twice, or zero times? is it continuous with the old form, or derived from 'ask'?
Some people demean ‘to ax’ as a variant of ‘to ask’, but it’s at least 1200 years old.
It stems from Old English ‘ācsian’ with /ks/, a variant of ‘āscian’ with /sk/. Later, Chaucer used both ‘axen’ and ‘asken’.
Swapping two sounds is called metathesis.
More examples from English and its sisters:
It stems from Old English ‘ācsian’ with /ks/, a variant of ‘āscian’ with /sk/. Later, Chaucer used both ‘axen’ and ‘asken’.
Swapping two sounds is called metathesis.
More examples from English and its sisters:
January 6, 2026 at 6:41 PM
Some people demean ‘to ax’ as a variant of ‘to ask’, but it’s at least 1200 years old.
It stems from Old English ‘ācsian’ with /ks/, a variant of ‘āscian’ with /sk/. Later, Chaucer used both ‘axen’ and ‘asken’.
Swapping two sounds is called metathesis.
More examples from English and its sisters:
It stems from Old English ‘ācsian’ with /ks/, a variant of ‘āscian’ with /sk/. Later, Chaucer used both ‘axen’ and ‘asken’.
Swapping two sounds is called metathesis.
More examples from English and its sisters:
Also the most general word for "die" has a wild etymology:
PIE tep "be warm"
> PA tpē "to cool" ("rebuilt analogically" per Wiktionary)
> Pre-A. ptof (metathesis #1)
> mod. A. ftoh
> ftof (alternative form for funsies)
> stof (alternative of that alternative)
> cof /t͡sɔf/ "die" (metathesis #2)
PIE tep "be warm"
> PA tpē "to cool" ("rebuilt analogically" per Wiktionary)
> Pre-A. ptof (metathesis #1)
> mod. A. ftoh
> ftof (alternative form for funsies)
> stof (alternative of that alternative)
> cof /t͡sɔf/ "die" (metathesis #2)
cof - Wiktionary, the free dictionary
en.wiktionary.org
October 27, 2025 at 10:02 PM
Also the most general word for "die" has a wild etymology:
PIE tep "be warm"
> PA tpē "to cool" ("rebuilt analogically" per Wiktionary)
> Pre-A. ptof (metathesis #1)
> mod. A. ftoh
> ftof (alternative form for funsies)
> stof (alternative of that alternative)
> cof /t͡sɔf/ "die" (metathesis #2)
PIE tep "be warm"
> PA tpē "to cool" ("rebuilt analogically" per Wiktionary)
> Pre-A. ptof (metathesis #1)
> mod. A. ftoh
> ftof (alternative form for funsies)
> stof (alternative of that alternative)
> cof /t͡sɔf/ "die" (metathesis #2)
1/N Our review on carbonyl–olefin (COM) and carbonyl–alkyne metathesis (CAM) is now published in ChemistryEurope @chemistryeurope.bsky.social.
We summarise recent experimental and computational advances in both fields.
doi.org/10.1002/ceur...
We summarise recent experimental and computational advances in both fields.
doi.org/10.1002/ceur...
Recent Advances in Carbonyl–Olefin and Carbonyl–Alkyne Metathesis Reactions
Carbonyl–olefin and carbonyl–alkyne metathesis enable atom-economic C–C bond formation beyond classical olefin metathesis. This review highlights recent advances in photochemical, Lewis-acid, Brønste...
doi.org
May 14, 2026 at 6:26 PM
1/N Our review on carbonyl–olefin (COM) and carbonyl–alkyne metathesis (CAM) is now published in ChemistryEurope @chemistryeurope.bsky.social.
We summarise recent experimental and computational advances in both fields.
doi.org/10.1002/ceur...
We summarise recent experimental and computational advances in both fields.
doi.org/10.1002/ceur...
Following Wiktionary, descendants of PIE *wóbʰseh₂ underwent metathesis independently in three separate subfamilies:
In SW Iranian wabz > bawz
In English waps > wasp
In Proto-Italic wopsā > wospā
In SW Iranian wabz > bawz
In English waps > wasp
In Proto-Italic wopsā > wospā
June 20, 2026 at 3:35 PM
Following Wiktionary, descendants of PIE *wóbʰseh₂ underwent metathesis independently in three separate subfamilies:
In SW Iranian wabz > bawz
In English waps > wasp
In Proto-Italic wopsā > wospā
In SW Iranian wabz > bawz
In English waps > wasp
In Proto-Italic wopsā > wospā
holy carp
R-metathesis again!
R-metathesis again!
learning that Oprah's real name is Orpah is one of those wedge factoids that will permanently destroy your ability to speak normally about her ever again. it alters your brain chemistry. "Do you mean Orpah?" you'll say, every time. if you're reading this it's already too late
March 9, 2024 at 1:22 AM
holy carp
R-metathesis again!
R-metathesis again!
Redox
Ligand addition
Ligand substitution
Migration
Metathesis
Elimination
Ligand addition
Ligand substitution
Migration
Metathesis
Elimination
what are the Six Genders? wrong answers only
May 15, 2026 at 2:35 PM
Redox
Ligand addition
Ligand substitution
Migration
Metathesis
Elimination
Ligand addition
Ligand substitution
Migration
Metathesis
Elimination
🎉 Our latest paper on polyyne synthesis by alkyne metathesis is now out in Angewandte Chemie 📰: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
A fantastic collaboration with the groups of Marc Mauduit, Matthias Tamm and Rik Tykwinski! 🤝
@iscr-rennes.bsky.social
@tykwinskigroup.bsky.social
A fantastic collaboration with the groups of Marc Mauduit, Matthias Tamm and Rik Tykwinski! 🤝
@iscr-rennes.bsky.social
@tykwinskigroup.bsky.social
Synthesis of Conjugated Linear and Cyclic Polyynes by Selective Alkyne Metathesis
The formation of polyynes with an odd number of conjugated triple bonds is challenging, particularly for complex architectures since most established methods rely on irreversible C–C bond-forming rea...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
March 10, 2026 at 1:50 PM
🎉 Our latest paper on polyyne synthesis by alkyne metathesis is now out in Angewandte Chemie 📰: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
A fantastic collaboration with the groups of Marc Mauduit, Matthias Tamm and Rik Tykwinski! 🤝
@iscr-rennes.bsky.social
@tykwinskigroup.bsky.social
A fantastic collaboration with the groups of Marc Mauduit, Matthias Tamm and Rik Tykwinski! 🤝
@iscr-rennes.bsky.social
@tykwinskigroup.bsky.social
We split now for #parallel sessions #eucomc2025 with @fogglab.bsky.social as #keynote in session A on new horizons on water tolerant #olefinMetathesis for DNA-metathesis
July 7, 2025 at 8:54 AM
We split now for #parallel sessions #eucomc2025 with @fogglab.bsky.social as #keynote in session A on new horizons on water tolerant #olefinMetathesis for DNA-metathesis
Weekly Georgian Etymology: ნისლი nisli 'fog, mist', from Old Georgian ႬႨႱႪႨ nisli, from Georgian-Zan *nisɬ- fog, metathesis of Akkadian 𒈾𒀊𒋗 nalšum dew, deverbal noun of 𒈾𒆷𒀀𒋗 nalāšum fall as dew. Across languages, 'fog' words are often related to other weather phenomena.
October 15, 2025 at 10:38 AM
Weekly Georgian Etymology: ნისლი nisli 'fog, mist', from Old Georgian ႬႨႱႪႨ nisli, from Georgian-Zan *nisɬ- fog, metathesis of Akkadian 𒈾𒀊𒋗 nalšum dew, deverbal noun of 𒈾𒆷𒀀𒋗 nalāšum fall as dew. Across languages, 'fog' words are often related to other weather phenomena.
Starting the afternoon with #KeynoteLecture #eucomc2025 with #RobertTuba #UniversityOfPannonia on enhancing applicability and efficiency of #olefin #metathesis
July 7, 2025 at 12:46 PM
Starting the afternoon with #KeynoteLecture #eucomc2025 with #RobertTuba #UniversityOfPannonia on enhancing applicability and efficiency of #olefin #metathesis
Our recent work on #organoautocatalyzed transamination metathesis is featured on the #FrontCover of #AngewandteChemie! Congrats to Volker, Florian, Jonas!🎉 @nat.fau.de
#chemsky #organoautocatalysis #transamination
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
#chemsky #organoautocatalysis #transamination
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
June 26, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Our recent work on #organoautocatalyzed transamination metathesis is featured on the #FrontCover of #AngewandteChemie! Congrats to Volker, Florian, Jonas!🎉 @nat.fau.de
#chemsky #organoautocatalysis #transamination
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
#chemsky #organoautocatalysis #transamination
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Yesterday's lecture about olefin metathesis:
February 15, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Yesterday's lecture about olefin metathesis:
Trisulfide metathesis reaction - a new chemical reaction reported
#ChemSky
www.sciencealert.com/major-discov...
#ChemSky
www.sciencealert.com/major-discov...
'Major Discovery': After Years of Research, Scientists Found a New Chemical Reaction
A peculiar observation during laboratory experiments has led researchers to the breakthrough of a lifetime.
www.sciencealert.com
March 14, 2026 at 9:18 AM
Trisulfide metathesis reaction - a new chemical reaction reported
#ChemSky
www.sciencealert.com/major-discov...
#ChemSky
www.sciencealert.com/major-discov...
zanjabīl > janzabīl in Oman & UAE so the metathesis here definitely works
Just crazy that Swahili mshenzi (barbarian) might come from Arabic zanj (roughly, black people from the Swahili coast…)
April 4, 2025 at 3:43 AM
zanjabīl > janzabīl in Oman & UAE so the metathesis here definitely works