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| ‘Skibidi’ became popular thanks to Skibidi Toilet – a viral animated video that began on YouTube featuring human heads protruding from lavatories. Photograph: DaFuq!?Boom! |
Internet Slang Hits the Dictionary: How 'Skibidi,' 'Delulu,' and 'Tradwife' Wrestled Their Way into the Cambridge English Lexicon
Language is alive, and nowhere is it more animated than where social media and generational creativity collide. This year, the Cambridge Dictionary made headlines by adding over 6,000 new words, a testament to how cultural trends—especially those born from TikTok and YouTube—shape the English language. Among the additions that have sparked the most buzz are "skibidi," "delulu," and "tradwife," slang terms once dismissed as fleeting internet jargon now formally recognized by one of the world’s most respected dictionaries.
The Words That Defined an Era
“Skibidi” may sound like a random exclamation, but it’s anything but meaningless online. Originating from a surreal YouTube animation called Skibidi Toilet, the term has become a multipurpose slang—sometimes meaning “cool,” sometimes “bad,” and often wielded as a humorous filler with no specific definition. Imagine a teen firing off, “What the skibidi are you doing?”—funny, chaotic, and undeniably of the digital age.
Then there's “delulu,” a clipped version of “delusional,” widely used to describe someone in denial—sometimes ironically, sometimes with a wink. Its roots lie in K-pop fandom, where obsessive hopes that idols will reciprocate affection were playfully labeled “delulu.” It even gained enough mainstream traction to appear in a speech by Australia’s Prime Minister as “delulu with no solulu.”
“Tradwife” paints a different, more controversial picture. It blends “traditional” and “wife,” describing women—typically on social media—embracing homemaking, traditional gender roles, and child-rearing, often in nostalgic styles. From the 1950s aesthetic to viral TikToks, “tradwife” has become a polarizing emblem of lifestyle choice and cultural commentary.
But these terms aren’t alone. The dictionary also embraces digital culture’s broader lexicon: “mouse jiggler”, for keeping computers active; “forever chemical”, for environmental pollutants; “broligarchy”, a jab at tech elites; “work spouse”, acknowledging workplace bonds; and even “snackable” and “15-minute city”, revealing evolving urban and content trends.
Why These Slang Terms Matter (and
Stick Around)
The inclusion of such slang in the Cambridge Dictionary isn’t a fluke. Lexical programme manager Colin McIntosh explains that words are chosen not for novelty, but because they demonstrate widespread, sustained usage. That means these aren’t passing fads—they’re here to stay.
This moment isn’t just linguistic—it’s generational. These terms reveal how social media has become a language lab where new words are minted, spread, and normalized. Younger generations craft shorthand for identity, humor, and belonging in digital contexts, and the dictionary now mirrors that living reality.
Yet, not everyone is amused. On X (formerly Twitter), users quipped, “English is no longer a language—it’s a TikTok comment section,” lamenting the formalization of slang they find absurd. Others mock the inclusion of words like “skibidi,” calling it “gibberish.” But even critics underscore the impact of digital culture on mainstream language.
What This Says About Language—and
Generations
Look closer, and these words reveal societal shifts. “Delulu” reflects how parasocial media relationships have become culturally acknowledged, even satirized. "Tradwife" sparks debates on gender norms, autonomy, and nostalgia. "Skibidi" is emblematic of meme culture’s surreal humor—purposeless yet expressive.
Other entries like “mouse jiggler” and “forever chemical” root the lexicon in the post-pandemic and eco-conscious era, demonstrating that language grows with technology, politics, and values.
Cambridge Dictionary relies on its massive Cambridge English Corpus (over two billion words) to monitor usage, context, and frequency—ensuring that only words with staying power are added. So, “skibidi” isn’t just quoted by meme accounts; it’s embedded in real language use.
While Oxford, Merriam-Webster, and others play catch-up, Cambridge’s list is a vibrant snapshot of now—where internet-born slang meets institutional recognition.
So yes—it might feel surreal when your kid proudly uses “skibidi” in a sentence, or when “delulu” becomes political banter. Yet, look around: these words are bridges connecting generations, powered by humor, identity, and the ever-shrinking digital world. The dictionary is no longer a historical vault; it’s a cultural mirror—one that reflects the memes, dreams, and trending terms of today.
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