In this mini episode, you will learn a strange (but very common) way to use the word “head.”
Episode 350 of the Everybody ESL podcast is a mini episode that teaches you a strange, but very common, way to use the word “head.” Send your questions about English and your comments and suggestions to EverybodyESL@gmail.com! (And let me know if you’d like to record the introduction to a future episode.)
Intro
“Hi! This is Roza, from Iran, Kurdistan Province. And you are listening to Everybody ESL.”
Welcome to episode 350 of Everybody ESL, the podcast for everybody who wants to improve their English, practice their English, or just learn more English. My name is Ben, and I have a mini episode for you today, where I am going to teach you about one English topic. You can subscribe to the Everybody ESL podcast at Apple podcasts and wherever you find your podcasts. If you like Everybody ESL, leave it a good review so other people can find out about it too. And if you have any questions, comments, or suggestions for me, please send an email to EverybodyESL@gmail.com. Okay! Let’s get on with this mini episode.
The episode
In this episode, I am going to teach you a surprising meaning of a common word. The word is head. Head. H-e-a-d.
Did you know that head can be a verb? It can, and I think you will often hear the verb form of head in casual conversation.
When we use head as a verb, it means “to go.” Or “to go in a certain direction.” Or “to go to a certain place.”
Let me give you a couple of examples that will show you how we use the verb head.
Imagine that somebody has been to a party at his friend’s apartment. And when it has gotten a little bit late, the person says to his friend, “Okay, I’m heading out now.” Okay, I’m heading out now.
In that example, this person uses the verb form of head and says, “I’m heading out.” What does that mean? Why would somebody use the word head in that way? Heading out means leaving. It means going out, or going to the outside. And, I think it also suggests the beginning of some kind of trip. In other words, I’m leaving now and going somewhere else. Maybe I’m leaving now and going home.
Here’s another example:
Imagine that somebody is in a new city. She doesn’t know the city very well, and she’s waiting for a bus that will take her downtown. A bus stops at the bus stop. The door opens, and she says to the driver, “Does this bus head downtown?” Does this bus head downtown?
There again, you see the verb head, and it means “to go in the direction of downtown,” or “to go to downtown.”
These two examples show you how we use the verb head to mean “to go in a certain direction” or “to go to a certain place.”
I think this surprising meaning of the word head is an important thing to know because you will often hear it in casual or informal conversations.
Outro
This is the end of episode 350 of Everybody ESL. Remember: if you have questions about English, or if you have comments for me, or if you would like to record an introduction that I can play at the beginning of future episodes—the same way Roza recorded the introduction you heard at the beginning of this episode—send an email to EverybodyESL@gmail.com. I’ll be back soon with a new episode. And until then, keep going, keep practicing, and keep learning. I’ll see you soon. Goodbye!