As someone who finds the Winter Olympics much more entertaining than the Summer Games, I’m excited to plop down and spend the next two weeks watching endless hours of ice hockey and curling. But unless you participate in these winter sports yourself, you may find certain terms to be unfamiliar or confusing. Here’s a look at words and phrases that you should know while you watch the 2026 Winter Olympic Games.

You’re most likely to hear the term “salchow” while watching figure skating. It refers to a jump where a skater leaps into the air using the back inside edge of one skate, performs one or more full turns in the air, and then lands on the back outside edge of the opposite skate. The jump is called a double, triple, or quadruple salchow based on how many full revolutions are completed.

The term was coined by 1921 and is named for Ulrich Salchow, a Swedish figure skater who, in 1908, won the first Olympic gold awarded in men’s figure skating. It is one of many common figure skating jumps named for preeminent figures in the sport’s history. For instance, “axel” comes from Norwegian figure skater Axel Paulsen, and“lutz” is believed to be in honor of Swiss American figure skater Gustave Lussi.

Since the 1948 Winter Olympics, slalom has been an individual skiing event. The word “slalom” can refer generally to zigzagging movement or more specifically to a timed race in which athletes zigzag around a series of markers (e.g., flags). The word made its way into the English language in the early 1920s, and it’s derived from the Norwegian slalam, which literally translates to “sloping track.”

Another hurdle that Olympians may encounter on the slopes are moguls. In this context, they’re not titans of industry; they’re bumpy, elevated piles of snow. “Mogul” is derived from the Norwegian mugje, meaning “heap” or “mound.”

While we’re on the topic of skiing, we’d be remiss not to mention “piste” — a term that refers to a hard-packed ski trail. The word originated in French by 1696, though it comes from the Old Italian pista, which is derived from the verb pistare, meaning “to trample down.” Today, it accurately describes the downhill ski trails used by Olympians.

When you hear the term “skeleton” on a Winter Olympic broadcast, the announcers are probably referring to small sleds ridden by single riders lying headfirst in a prone position. “Skeleton” also names the sport, which has existed since 1882. The name may be derived from the appearance of early sleds that resembled human skeletons, though an alternative theory suggests it’s a mistranslation of the Norwegian kjelke, meaning “sled.”

The term “bonspiel” refers to a match or tournament in the sport of curling. Its earliest use dates to around 1772, though its precise etymological origins aren’t certain. One theory is that it comes from the Dutch bond (meaning “league”) and spel (“game”), even though the sport itself was invented in Scotland. 

As for why the sport is called “curling,” the name refers to the fact that in curling games, the stones spin in a curved trajectory as they travel down the ice, curling inward toward a more central target.

“Hat trick” is a term in ice hockey referring to when a single player scores three goals in one game. But long before it applied to hockey, the phrase originated in another sport — British cricket. If a bowler retired three batsmen with three consecutive balls, the team would buy that bowler a new hat to commemorate their impressive feat. You might also hear the term “hat trick” in Olympics broadcasts if a certain athlete earns three medals.

In the world of Olympic snowboarding (and other board sports such as skateboarding), athletes have either a “regular” or “goofy” stance. This refers to whichever foot they put forward on the board — a regular stance involves putting the left foot forward, while a goofy one is putting the right foot forward. It’s important to clarify that “regular” and “goofy” aren’t meant to be synonymous with “correct” and “incorrect.” Instead, the origin of the word “goofy” can be traced to the 1937 Disney cartoon “Hawaiian Holiday,” in which the character Goofy rides on a surfboard with his right foot forward.

There are several ways to refer to someone who cheats at card games, many of which are too profane to use in polite company. But there are two terms we can discuss — “card sharp” and “card shark.” Along with similar spellings, these terms have similar definitions, as both refer to a skilled card player who often makes money by cheating at card games.

Each term, while primarily applied to card cheats, has a secondary usage of “someone who is skilled at card games.” An onlooker might admiringly call a player a card shark after a string of wins, while an opponent might use one of the terms to call out the winner for suspected cheating. 

You might assume that one of these phrases is an eggcorn, referring to new terms that are sometimes created when a person mishears or misinterprets a word that previously exists. That may be true — after all, “card sharp” appeared in print in the 1840 Henry Downes Miles novel Claude du Val, while “card shark” didn’t appear until almost four decades later in an 1877 edition of the Sandusky Daily Register. However, it’s impossible to say for sure if the second term is an eggcorn.

Another theory suggests the terms were coined independently, though both were likely derived from 17th-century British slang. At the time, Brits used “sharping” as a noun to refer to swindling, and “sharking” as an adjective for any underhanded cheating. Thus, tricksters in general were sometimes referred to as “sharps” or “sharks,” and it’s safe to assume that those terms were specifically applied to fraudsters who cheated at card games. 

Today, “card shark” (sometimes “cardshark”) tends to be the more popular terminology in the U.S., and those in the United Kingdom use “card sharp” (sometimes “cardsharper”). But no matter where you’re located in the English-speaking world, the terms are largely synonymous and can be used interchangeably.

Personality is nuanced: A simple “nice” or “mean” very rarely suffices to capture someone’s essence. Consider some of the most beloved literary and film characters of all time. Is James Bond merely calm, or is the famous secret agent imperturbable? Is Gandalf wise, or is a better description “sagacious”? Adjectives bring depth to characters and their personalities, allowing us to describe them more accurately. Let’s explore a curated selection of uncommon vocabulary terms you can use to paint a more vivid picture with your words.

(Adjective) Enjoying the company of others; marked by or showing a liking for companionship.

Those with a gregarious personality are social butterflies — think of Lydia Bennet (Pride and Prejudice) or Anne Shirley (Anne of Green Gables). Both vibrant, talkative, and friendly, these characters often form new connections and easily win people over. Nowadays, most social media personalities and reality television stars are best described as gregarious.

This term appeared in English during the 17th century, but at the time, it referred to groups of animals. It derives from the Latin gregarius, meaning “pertaining to a flock; of the herd, of the common sort, common.” It’s still used today to describe animals that live in groups. The definition of the word “starling,” for instance, is “dark gregarious oscine birds.”

(Adjective) Characterized by rapid and unpredictable changeableness of mood.

A mercurial personality is characterized by rapid shifts in mood, thought, actions, or all of the above. It also means “very lively and quick” or “changing often” as in, “Springtime brings mercurial weather.” As for personality types, famous literary figures such as Jay Gatsby (The Great Gatsby) and Hamlet are known for their mercurial tendencies. From Gatsby’s passionate yet unpredictable nature to Hamlet’s rapidly shifting emotions (grief, anger, melancholy, etc.), these characters embody the personality type.

This word also has a lesser-known definition that points to its origin: “Having qualities (as of eloquence, ingenuity, or thievishness) attributed to the god Mercury or in astrology to the influence of the planet Mercury.” Mercury was the messenger of the Roman gods, characterized by his swiftness. The Romans named the fastest-moving planet, Mercury, after him. During the mid-17th century, English speakers began using “mercurial” as an adjective to describe those whose moods shift quickly between extremes, laying the groundwork for the modern definition we use today.

(Adjective) Generally pleasing and engaging often because of a childlike charm and innocence.

Alice (from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland) has a winsome personality. Author Lewis Carroll relies on his character’s profound curiosity to create charm and whimsy, capturing the hearts of audiences who root for her in Wonderland.

While some may use this adjective as synonymous with a winning (meaning “tending to please or delight”) personality, it is not etymologically related to the word “win.” Instead, it derives from the Old English wynsum, from the noun wynn, meaning “joy” or “pleasure.” Though popular in Old English, it was all but extinct until the 18th century, when it experienced a revival as Scottish poets Robert Burns and William Hamilton used it to mean “pleasing or attractive in appearance.”

(Adjective) Marked by extreme calm, impassivity, and steadiness.

An imperturbable person doesn’t crack under pressure. Think of the Unsinkable Molly Brown in the Titanic film. Based on Margaret Brown — a real survivor of the sinking of the RMS Titanic — the character in the movie is unflappable. During one instance, she insists that her lifeboat turn back to search for survivors, maintaining her composure amid widespread panic. Another cool, calm, and collected character is James Bond, a suave secret agent who always remains poised.

“Imperturbable” is a French loanword that entered English during the 15th century. It stems from the Latin verb perturbare, meaning “to agitate, trouble, or throw into confusion.” Its base word, “perturb” — meaning “to cause to be worried or upset” —  is commonly used in English today.

(Adjective) Temperamentally disinclined to talk.

The opposite of a yapper is someone who is taciturn: quiet and reserved. One of America’s favorite superheroes fits the description — Batman, Gotham City’s stoic defender, is taciturn, offering few words but being known for his actions. Plenty of other famous characters are taciturn, too, though for various reasons. Mr. Darcy (Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice) is taciturn, but at first he seems arrogant. His habit of remaining quiet stems not from arrogance but from pride and social anxiety.

“Taciturn” comes from the Latin verb tacēre, meaning “to be silent” — an apt origin. It was first adopted into French as taciturne during the 15th century, and was later borrowed into English sometime in the mid-17th or early 18th century.

(Adjective) Having or showing an ability to understand difficult ideas and situations and to make good decisions; marked by keen and farsighted understanding and judgment.

A wise person who shows good judgment is sagacious. This type of wisdom conjures images of profound literary guides, from Gandalf (Lord of the Rings) to Atticus Finch (To Kill a Mockingbird). But it can also describe a highly logical person with a keen intellect and strong observational skills. You might consider your professor, a parent, or a mentor “sagacious.”

“Sagacious” comes from sagire, a Latin verb meaning “to perceive keenly.” It’s been used in English since the 17th century, though at first, it referred to sensory perception, especially smell, sight, and taste. By the mid-17th century, its usage to describe someone “skilled at discovering truths” emerged.

(Adjective) Sharply or bitingly critical, sarcastic, or ironic in temper, mood, or tone.

While “acerbic” may sound like a negative personality trait, it doesn’t always have to be. When combined with other qualities, it can bring humor and even charm. Sherlock Holmes, for instance, is famous for his acerbic dry wit and frequently shows his distinctive personality when clues he deems “obvious” are missed, especially by Dr. Watson.

The adjective “acerb” first appeared in English during the 17th century, though it was generally used to describe foods with a sour taste. It stems from Latin acerbus, meaning “harsh to the taste, sharp, bitter, sour.” During the 19th century, English speakers added the suffix “-ic,” forming the modern adjective we use today to describe people.