The Cambridge Dictionary has sparked curiosity — and maybe a little disbelief — after adding a slew of words that feel like they’ve jumped straight off TikTok. In its latest update, the dictionary expanded the English lexicon by 6,000 words, including fresh slang fueled by social media culture.
Words like delulu, tradwife, lewk, and skibidi have graduated from online chatter to “official” English, marking the influence of Gen Z and Gen Alpha on modern vocabulary.
Tradwife, short for “traditional wife,” describes a social media trend where some women embrace conventional domestic roles, sparking discussions on gender norms. Skibidi, popularized by the YouTube series Skibidi Toilet, carries multiple interpretations — from “cool” to “bad” or, in some cases, no fixed meaning at all. Even Kim Kardashian helped popularize it after her daughter North West gifted her a necklace featuring the term.
Meanwhile, delulu, short for delusional, is defined as “believing things that are not real or true, usually because you choose to.” The Cambridge Dictionary cites a 2025 speech by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in which he used the phrase “delulu with no solulu” in Parliament.
Other additions include lewk, a stylized spelling of “look” for standout outfits, popularized by RuPaul’s Drag Race, and broligarchy, blending “bro” and “oligarchy” to describe a small, powerful, male-dominated tech elite with political influence.
Practical terms also made the cut. Mouse jiggler refers to a device or software that keeps a computer active to prevent it from going idle, particularly handy for remote workers. Inspo, shorthand for inspiration, and forever chemical, describing long-lasting man-made substances linked to environmental and health risks, were also added.
Colin McIntosh, Lexical Programme Manager at Cambridge Dictionary, explained, “Internet culture is changing the English language, and the effect is fascinating to observe and capture in the dictionary. Words like ‘skibidi’ and ‘delulu’ are added because we believe they’ll have staying power.”
These additions highlight just how much digital culture is shaping the language we speak, read, and write today.
