Broligarchy and Skibidi Added to Cambridge Dictionary
More than 6,212 words have been added to the Cambridge Dictionary, the primary resource for English-language learners. Students might enjoy an all-slang video, and the new business terms are interesting
The ones that made headlines—delulu, tradwife, and most popular, skibidi—are funny sounding and/or have ambiguous meanings. No one seems able to define skibidi except to say it’s an “all-purpose,” “dump” word.
Here are a few business- and tech-related words (from here and here):
snackable: content for limited attention spans
digital decay noun: process by which online content disappears or becomes inaccessible
fast tech: cheap products that lead to e-waste.
technofossil: plastic and other products that last forever.
vibecession: a period when people think the economy is doing worse than it is.
cardboard box index: a way to measure economic growth by the number of boxes shipped.
Dictionaries must evolve. As the Lexical Programme Manager of the Cambridge Dictionary Colin McIntosh says, "Internet culture is changing the English language, and the effect is fascinating to observe and capture in the dictionary.“ In addition, he explains, “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.”
A writer for The Times defends including slang words. Unlike the historian who criticizes dictionaries that have “surrendered to usage,” Oliver Kamm reminds us of a dictionary’s purpose:
Dictionaries record usage so we can learn the semantics, etymology and history of any given word. Sometimes these usages are slang, being the currency of particular demographic groups (especially but not only young people). I want to know what they mean; a dictionary that shuns them won’t help me.
In this fun video (start at 1:53), polyglot Arieh Smith (aka Xiaomanyc) delivers a speech entirely in “Gen Alpha” language. Students at Westtown High School in West Chester, Pennsylvania, go wild.