The Brief

It may conjure images of Family Matters' bespectacled, suspenders-clad Steve Urkel. Or the theoretical physicist Sheldon Cooper from The Big Bang Theory. Or Scooby-Doo's Velma.
Or you may self-identify as a nerd due to your keen interest in a certain hobby or subject, like movies or grammar or whimsical parade floats.
Nerd has been part of our lexicon for at least three-quarters of a century, its geeky meaning embodied by some of the most recognizable characters in film and TV history. Still, how exactly it got into our vocabulary remains a bit murky.
"I've been making videos as the Etymology Nerd for a while, and so it's my job to know what the etymology of 'nerd' is," said Adam Aleksic, a linguist, content creator, and author of the book Algospeak. "But the problem is that it's a little bit obscure. It's a very complicated story."
For NPR's Word of the Week, let's nerd out on some word history.

It may have started with a nonsense word

The leading theory about the origin of nerd is that it likely first appeared in print in the 1950 children's book If I Ran the Zoo, written by Dr. Seuss, the pen name of Theodor Seuss Geisel. (Read more about the controversy surrounding that book here.)
In the book, Seuss' young narrator says:

According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, nerd became a midcentury slang term used by U.S. students. It potentially developed from the 1940s word "nert," an alteration of the word "nut" that meant a "stupid or crazy person," the dictionary says.

This screenshot shows the page in the Dr. Seuss book "If I Ran the Zoo" that is possibly the earliest published mention of the word "nerd."

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Internet Archive

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Screenshot by NPR

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If Seuss did have a hand in creating nerd, Aleksic said it would be what linguists call a nonce formation, meaning a word that's made for one purpose then gets reused.
"So if Dr. Seuss did coin the word 'nerd,' he's probably going off other words like nert — which was around — or nuts," Aleksic said. "And then he goes with it. And then other people are like, 'Yeah, that sounds like a nerd. Let's go with it.'"
One year after its use by Seuss, nerd popped up in a 1951 Newsweek article describing modern slang.

"In Detroit," the author wrote, "someone who once would be called a drip or a square is now, regrettably, a nerd, or in a less severe case, a scurve."

Merriam-Webster recounts some other popular theories for the word's genesis, including the possibility that it evolved from the backward spelling of "drunk," implying that nerds would "rather study than party." Or that it was lifted from the name of a ventriloquist's dummy, Mortimer Snerd, created by radio performer Edgar Bergen. The dictionary says there's no evidence for either theory.

Nerds were outsiders. Then they became cool?

It didn't take long for nerds to take their place in pop culture.

Jerry Lewis portrayed a hapless scientist in 1963's The Nutty Professor. By the 1970s, Happy Days cool guy Arthur "Fonzie" Fonzarelli was lobbing nerd around as an insult, saying in one episode that there are two types of people: "cool and nerds."

The following decade solidified the stereotype. In 1984, the cult classic Revenge of the Nerds was released, pitting a group of outcast college students against their jock tormentors.
But around the end of the 20th century, nerd culture assumed a more respected spot in American culture. The computing revolution made Bill Gates and Steve Jobs — and later internet startup CEOs — household names. Rock bands like Weezer sported thick-rimmed glasses. And you've seen the Star Wars movies, right?
Mathew Klickstein, a pop culture historian, author, and filmmaker, said the '90s independent film movement and indie rock trends started making "the weirdos, the misfits, the outsiders, the nerds, the geeks cool." He noted that it even spawned "nerdy geek chic" fashion styles and more.

"There's questions now about, has the tail wagged the dog at this point," Klickstein said. "Are there people who are claiming they're nerdy, claiming they're geeky, who really just are vaunting or emulating the style without really understanding the substance?"

The nerd goes mainstream

In recent decades, artforms that once may have been considered the realm of nerds — comic books, science fiction, video games — have exploded in popularity across the U.S.

As Parks and Recreation's Ben Wyatt once said in a moment slightly lacking in self-awareness: "You know, nerd culture is mainstream now, so when you use the word 'nerd' derogatorily, it means you're the one that's out of the zeitgeist."
The popularization of nerd culture also has dovetailed with an expanded definition of the word itself.

Now, you don't have to wear a pocket protector and be into computers to qualify as a nerd. Nerds are simply people who are really into a certain thing.

Merriam-Webster defines a nerd as "an unstylish or socially awkward person." But the first definition on its website characterizes a nerd as "a person devoted to intellectual, academic, or technical pursuits or interests" or "a person preoccupied with or devoted to a particular activity or field of interest."
According to Omar Holmon, an author, content creator, and co-founder of the website Black Nerd Problems, "It could be a fan for a spectrum of things and that spectrum being literally anything. It's whatever you are passionate about."

Holmon said nerds strive to spread their enthusiasm to others. "How can I get you to care about this thing that you don't know about, that I know about? And hopefully, you'll be as passionate about it as I am."

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MEXICO CITY — Mateo Chávez and Julián Quiñones scored in a six-minute span early in the second half, and Mexico beat the Czech Republic 3-0 on Wednesday night to win all three of its World Cup group-stage matches for the first time.

The 22-year-old Chávez, in his first World Cup, opened the scoring in the 55th minute and Quiñones scored his second goal of the tournament in the 61st. Alvaro Fidalgo added a goal in second-half stoppage time.

Mexico’s previous best group-stage performance was two wins and one draw, done in 1986 and 2002 and both featuring Javier Aguirre, the first as a midfielder and the second as El Tri’s coach. Aguirre is back as coach this year, his third stint leading the team.

Already the winner of Group A, Mexico will play again at Estadio Azteca on Tuesday in a round-of-32 match against an opponent to be determined.

Mexico is undefeated at nine World Cup matches at the massive stadium, which was packed with 80,824 fans on Wednesday. El Tri has only two losses at Azteca, most recently in World Cup qualifying against Honduras on Sept. 6, 2013.

The match included nods to Mexico’s past and future. Gilberto Mora, at age 17, became the youngest Mexico player to start in a World Cup. And 40-year-old goalkeeper Guillermo “Memo” Ochoa entered in the 77th minute, joining Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo as the only players to appear in six World Cups.

Mexico’s triumph was marred, however, by the return of a homophobic chant by fans that has previously led to fines and other sanctions against its soccer federation. The chant, a one-word slur that literally means male prostitute in Spanish, was heard near the end of the first half when Czech goalkeeper Matej Kovar took a goal kick.

The Czech Republic was eliminated, finishing with one point in three games.

Mexico is unbeaten in 11 games dating to a friendly loss against Panama last November. And Aguirre has made the most of his roster, using 25 of 26 players in the tournament. Chávez was one of five starters Wednesday who did not start last Thursday’s 1-0 win over South Korea.

Ochoa makes history in his likely farewell

Ochoa, who wears No. 13, played the last 13 minutes, plus stoppage time, in what’s likely to be his final appearance for Mexico. He turns 41 on July 13 and has said he plans to retire from international competition after the World Cup.

He was a substitute in the 2006 and 2010 tournaments and started for Mexico in 2014, 2018 and 2022.

Raúl Rangel is the starter this year, stepping in for the injured Luis Ángel Malagón, who helped Mexico win the CONCACAF Nations League and Gold Cup last year. Malagón’s injury opened the door for Ochoa’s return.

Ochoa became the oldest Mexican to play in the World Cup. The previous record holder was Cuauhtémoc Blanco, who was 37 when he played in South Africa in 2014.

L.A. County health officials Wednesday confirmed the county's seventh measles case this year — a traveler who passed through Hollywood Burbank Airport on the morning of June 17.

They're warning people who may have come in contact with the person of possible exposure to the highly contagious virus.

What you should know: Public health officials say the infected traveler arrived on Southwest Airlines Flight 4245 Gate A4 on June 17 at the Hollywood Burbank Airport. Anyone who was at that gate between 8:45 to 9:45 a.m. may have been exposed.

Officials also noted that people who were at the Thrifty Rental Car Service on June 17 from 9:20 to 10:20 a.m. and on June 18 from 10:25 to 11:25 a.m. may have been exposed. That's located at 2627 N. Hollywood Way in Burbank.

What if I was on the flight? Public health officials say passengers sitting next to the traveler will be notified by local health departments and should monitor for symptoms. Keep in mind those symptoms could appear up to three weeks after you were exposed.

Symptoms to look out for: Common symptoms include runny nose, fever cough, or a rash. It's also important if you develop these symptoms, don't just walk into a health care center without calling ahead first.

For people exposed on June 17, the last day to monitor for symptoms is July 8. For those exposed on June 18, the last day to monitor for symptoms is July 19.

How can I protect myself?: It's important to check if you are vaccinated against the measles. As health officials noted in the news release reporting the latest case: "The most effective way to protect yourself and your family is with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine."

The Los Angeles Unified Board voted unanimously to appoint Andres Chait, a longtime district administrator, as superintendent days after his predecessor resigned.

 “This board's decision reflects the confidence in Mr. Chait's leadership, his decades of service to Los Angeles Unified, and his demonstrated ability to guide the district during this period of transition,” said board President Scott Schmerelson.

The board met privately to discuss the district’s top job three days after Alberto Carvalho resigned. Carvalho wrote in a letter that he was leaving “because I believe our schools must remain focused on students and learning without distraction.”

The board placed Carvalho on paid administrative leave following FBI searches of his home and district office in February and appointed Chait acting superintendent. Carvalho has not been charged with a crime and has maintained his innocence.

Who is Andres Chait?

Chait rose through the ranks from teacher to administrator at LAUSD over nearly three decades. The responsibilities of his most recent role, chief of school operations, included overseeing school safety, athletics and the district’s office of emergency management.

Chait thanked the board, the community and his family after the announcement Wednesday and reflected on his first day as a kindergarten teacher 30 years ago. “ I was probably more nervous than the kids were, but I knew then that this was a place where I could make a positive difference in the lives of students and families,” Chait said. “I've always known that there is no greater accelerator of change and opportunity than the schoolhouse, and that is still true today.”

Under Chait's interim leadership, the district successfully negotiated new contracts with its largest labor unions — avoiding a massive strike by teachers, principals and staff — and passed a significant reduction-in-force plan and fiscal stabilization plan.

Chait is the first district staff member to be selected as full-time superintendent since Michelle King in 2016.

What is the superintendent responsible for?

LAUSD is the country’s second-largest school district, employs 83,000 people and enrolls more than 400,000 students across more than 1,000 schools. Despite recent gains in student test scores, the majority of students are not proficient in reading and math skills for their grade level. The district also faces looming financial challenges from declining enrollment — which is tied to state funding — and federal investigations into programs designed to help underserved students succeed.

A former state parks superintendent who oversaw Orange County beaches was charged Wednesday with secretly filming naked male lifeguards and other workers inside the locker room at Bolsa Chica State Beach. The former superintendent, Kevin Pearsall, is also accused of sending some of the images to two other men.

What charges does he face?

Pearsall, 59, of Long Beach, faces five felony counts of eavesdropping, 23 misdemeanor counts of secretly filming another and three misdemeanor counts of unlawful dissemination of private recordings. If convicted on all charges, he faces a maximum sentence of 18 years and eight months behind bars.

Scott C. Thomas, a defense attorney representing Pearsall, declined to comment in the wake of the charges being announced by the Orange County District Attorney's office. Pearsall is scheduled to be arraigned Aug. 6 and could enter a plea at that time.

Details of the investigation

In July 2025, a California State Parks officer discovered a USB stick with a hidden camera in the men's locker room at Bolsa Chica State Beach Lifeguard Headquarters. The officer contacted California Highway Patrol, which launched an investigation.

The investigation found Pearsall allegedly had recorded numerous secret videos in the locker room over an 11-month period beginning in August 2024, according to the DA's announcement. Pearsall retired from his job shortly after CHP served search warrants in the case. He turned himself in earlier this week.

State Parks reaction

Marty Greenstein, a spokesperson for California State Parks, told LAist the agency “takes these charges very seriously and has fully cooperated with law enforcement through every step of the investigation.” Greenstein declined to comment further, citing the active criminal investigation.