The Cambridge University Press has announced the addition of 6,000 new words to the Cambridge online dictionary in the past year, including popular Gen Z and Gen Alpha terms like "skibidi," "delulu," and "tradwife."
Colin McIntosh, Manager of the Cambridge Dictionary's lexical program, said that "It's not every day you get to see words like skibidi and delulu make their way into the Cambridge Dictionary. We only add words where we think they'll have staying power. Internet culture is changing the English language and the effect is fascinating to observe and capture in the Dictionary."
Gen Z refers to individuals born approximately between 1997 and 2012, while Gen Alpha includes those born from around 2010 to 2024.
According to the Cambridge University Press, one of the newly added terms, "tradwife," combines "traditional wife" and refers to a controversial trend on platforms like Instagram and TikTok. This movement promotes a return to traditional gender roles for women.
"Skibidi" originates from the YouTube animation series "Skibidi Toilet" and is associated with "brain rot" content popular on social media. The term carries multiple meanings, including "cool," "terrible," or sometimes no specific meaning at all.
"Delulu," a slang term derived from "delusional," describes someone overly optimistic, living in a fantasy world, or holding unrealistic expectations.
Other entries include:
- Lewk: A unique fashion style popularized by the reality TV show RuPaul's Drag Race.
- Inspo: A shortened form of "inspiration."
- Mouse jiggler: A device or piece of software used to make it seem as though you are working when you are not.
- Forever chemical: Refers to man-made chemicals that persist in the environment, gaining attention due to concerns about their irreversible effects on human and ecological health.
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