Curious about which words were first recorded in English the year you were born?
There’s a tool that can help you find out.
The Merriam-Webster Time Traveler records which words were first used in print all the way until before the 12th century. Explore the webpage to see which words came into print the year you were born – and the findings might surprise you.
Some words might evoke nostalgia or remind you of different zeitgeist eras, others might make you laugh. Here’s a shortened selection of words that were first recorded in English from 1960 through 2022. Click here to view the full Time Traveler tool.
Get a weekly recap of the latest San Francisco Bay Area housing news. Sign up for NBC Bay Area’s Housing Deconstructed newsletter.
1960
- Acid reflux
- Bossa nova
- Fast-food
- Poo
- Theme park
1961
- Black Friday
- Computer…
