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Social media, which has become an integral part of both personal and collective experience, now plays a decisive role in the creation of new words. Instead of being archived in printed dictionaries, these words are increasingly stored in digital platforms, building a more accessible and extensive “memory of language.”
Recently, over 6,000 new words, including terms like “skibidi,” “delulu,” “broligarcy,” and “lewk” were added to the U.K.-based Cambridge Dictionary, reflecting how online culture is reshaping English.
These words, often born from sound play and linguistic creativity, sometimes lack deep meaning but serve as symbols of how internet trends are transforming language.
For instance:
Even politicians are adopting such language; Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese used the phrase “They are delulu with no solulu” in parliament, showing how Gen Z expressions are entering mainstream discourse.
Colin McIntosh, program manager at Cambridge Dictionary, emphasized that not every trending word makes it into the dictionary: “We only include terms we believe will last. Internet culture is changing English, and it’s fascinating to document this shift.”
This isn’t new: words that start in small communities often spread globally. The famous “OK” began in 19th-century Boston as a playful abbreviation (“all correct”) and gained traction through U.S. President Martin Van Buren’s campaign slogan, “Old Kinderhook.” Within a decade, “OK” became a global shorthand for approval.
Wendalyn Nichols, publishing manager at Cambridge, told Anadolu Agency that editors monitor the 2.74 billion annual searches on their website to identify words that are widely used but not yet defined. “Skibidi and delulu are perfect examples,” she said. Editors also track whether a word is current and whether its usage extends beyond a small community. For instance, “delulu,” which originated among K-pop fans, gradually gained wider circulation as more people adopted it.
Nichols noted that there is no guarantee a newly coined word will remain in common use, even if it is added to the dictionary. Referring to the historical influence of William Shakespeare on English vocabulary, she emphasized that the longevity of a word in the language is uncertain. Before the digital era, lexicographers often had to remove existing entries from printed dictionaries to make room for new ones. “Today, online dictionaries have the advantage of space, so most newly added words can remain permanently,” she said.
Some words are added quickly, like COVID-19, which entered the dictionary within just 37 days, while others take years to be included. The digital format allows Cambridge to keep new entries without sacrificing older ones, making it easier to capture the evolving landscape of English.
Dr. Christian Ilbury, a linguist at the University of Edinburgh, stressed that new words are a natural part of language evolution: “Delulu is a useful shorthand formed through a very standard word-building process. We’ve always created new words—it doesn’t threaten the structure of English.”
He added that even seemingly “shallow” words like skibidi still serve a purpose for those who use them: “If a word communicates meaning for a community, then it’s useful. Social media simply amplifies these words and increases their visibility.”
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