“Skibidi”, “tradwife” and different slang phrases popularised on social media are amongst hundreds of recent phrases to be added to the Cambridge Dictionary this 12 months.
Skibidi is a gibberish time period coined by the creator of a viral animated video sequence on YouTube, whereas tradwife is a shortening of “conventional spouse” – a married mom who cooks, cleans and posts on social media.
Greater than 6,000 new phrases are included, together with people who relate to distant working and tech giants.
“Web tradition is altering the English language and the impact is fascinating to watch and seize within the dictionary,” mentioned lexical programme supervisor Colin McIntosh.
Skibidi is outlined within the dictionary as “a phrase that may have totally different meanings reminiscent of ‘cool’ or ‘dangerous’, or can be utilized with no actual that means as a joke”. An instance of its use is “What the skibidi are you doing?”
Actuality TV star Kim Kardashian revealed her familiarity with the phrase when she posted a video on Instagram exhibiting a necklace engraved with “skibidi bathroom” – the identify of the YouTube sequence.
In addition to new phrases, some shortened variations of current phrases have been added, together with “delulu” – a play on the phrase “delusional”, with the same definition: “believing issues that aren’t actual or true, normally since you select to”.
A rise in distant working because the pandemic has seen “mouse jiggler” – a tool or piece of software program used to make it appear as if you might be working when you’re not – acquire its place within the dictionary.
Some composite phrases reminiscent of “broligarchy” have additionally been added. Merging “bro” and “oligarchy”, it means “a small group of males, particularly males proudly owning or concerned in a know-how enterprise, who’re extraordinarily wealthy and highly effective, and who’ve or need political affect”.
It was used to explain tech leaders Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg attending Donald Trump’s inauguration in January.
