Amuse-bouche: Someone asked Duolingo, “Are there any words that all languages have in common?” Researchers at the language app looked into it and identified two words that sound remarkably similar across all languages. Can you identify those two words?

ANSWERS: coffee and chocolate. (Source)

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Today’s Wonderful Word: “terroir.”

Definition: Terroir refers to how the origin of the coffee, its soil, climate, and elevation all impart and impact the quality, flavor, and taste of the coffee.

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Coffee and chocolate. Some of the most traded goods in all of history. Any sociolinguistic experts out there? I’d like to hear about the ways the words for coffee and chocolate were birthed in all languages. Please.

What happens if you ask for “a coffee” in the US? You get black, drip coffee, AKA a cuppa Joe, from a lukewarm pot brewed at 5am. Pop it in the microwave, and it’s ready to go. (Just make sure it doesn’t have any metal on it like my special rock climbing mug shown above.)

What happens if you ask for “un café” in France? You get a shot of espresso. Odds are, it’s gonna come from the crusty machine in the back.

To all the Americans traveling to France, be aware of this distinction in the world’s second-most popular drink. Other tips for Americans traveling to France, be polite, use the French you’ve learned for “hello,” “goodbye,” “please,” and “thank you” in a calm inside voice, and always remember: C’est la vie.

Thanks to Coffee Bros for more than enough info on coffee vocab. Click the link to study more than 100 vocabulary words related to coffee.

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I’ll be sad if you weren’t able to guess the Saturday riddle because I gave you the answer!

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Answer to Saturday’s riddle:

A bike.