Cambridge Dictionary Adds 'Skibidi,' 'Delulu,' and Other New Words to Lexicon
Cambridge Dictionary officially adds 'skibidi,' 'delulu,' 'tradwife,' and 'broligarchy' to its lexicon, recognizing their established use and reflecting evolving language and cultural trends.
What the skibidi?
The Spectator World
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Overview
- The Cambridge Dictionary has officially incorporated several new words, including "skibidi," "delulu," "tradwife," and "broligarchy," into its lexicon, recognizing their established contemporary usage.
- These additions reflect the ongoing evolution of language and cultural trends, signifying the dictionary's effort to capture terms that have gained significant traction in everyday communication.
- Colin McIntosh, the lexical program manager at Cambridge Dictionary, confirmed that new words are selected based on their perceived longevity and widespread use.
- This rigorous selection process ensures that only terms expected to remain relevant over time are included, maintaining the dictionary's authority and usefulness for future reference.
- The inclusion of these terms highlights the dynamic nature of language, validating their place in modern discourse and providing a valuable resource for understanding contemporary vocabulary.
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Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame this story by emphasizing the social and political dimensions of new dictionary additions. They use evaluative language, such as labeling "tradwife" as "controversial" and presenting "broligarchy" with a critical definition. This shapes a narrative where internet culture's influence on language is tied to broader societal trends and debates.
"The rise of words like skibidi and delulu shows how internet culture is reshaping the English language in lasting ways."
ABC News"Internet culture is changing the English language and the effect is fascinating to observe and capture in the dictionary."
Chicago Tribune"Internet culture is changing the English language and the effect is fascinating to observe and capture in the Dictionary."
CBS News"The dictionary has added more than 6,000 words over the last year, reflecting the dynamic nature of language influenced by internet culture."
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Center (4)
FAQ
Cambridge Dictionary selects new words based on their frequent use, widespread adoption, meaningful use, and perceived longevity to ensure they remain relevant over time.
'Skibidi' is a slang term whose usage has grown recently, 'tradwife' refers to a traditional wife role, 'delulu' is slang for delusional, and 'broligarchy' relates to male friend groups with power; these words reflect evolving cultural trends.
They use the Cambridge English Corpus, a database of over 2 billion written and spoken English words, to monitor how frequently and in what contexts new words are used by different communities.
Adding contemporary slang and new terms documents the dynamic nature of language, reflects cultural shifts, and provides an authoritative public record that helps users understand modern communication.
The lexical program manager oversees the selection of new words, ensuring they meet criteria of longevity and widespread use, helping maintain the dictionary's authority and relevance.
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