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Language is constantly evolving, reflecting the way we communicate, feel, and interact with the world around us. From expressing an uncontrollable urge to squeeze something adorable to venting about political discourse, the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) has introduced a fresh batch of words that perfectly capture these emotions.

In its latest update, the OED has embraced words from different cultures, expanding English vocabulary with terms that previously had no direct equivalent. Among them is gigil, a Tagalog word from the Philippines that describes an irresistible urge to pinch or squeeze someone or something overwhelmingly cute—whether it's a baby’s chubby cheeks or a fluffy puppy. On the other end of the emotional spectrum, words like wokery and chumocracy have been added to describe political and social trends, reflecting ongoing debates in modern society.

Gigil (pronounced ghee-gill) is among a list of "untranslatable" words—terms that lack a direct English equivalent—recently added to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED). Borrowed from the Tagalog language of the Philippines, gigil describes "a feeling so intense that it gives us the irresistible urge to tightly clench our hands, grit our teeth, and pinch or squeeze whomever or whatever we find so adorable."

The latest OED update, released in March, features a variety of loanwords from Southeast Asia, South Africa, and Ireland, reflecting the English language’s growing diversity.

Irish English Words Make the Cut

Among the Irish English words added to the dictionary are spice bag, ludraman, and class.

  • Ludraman, derived from the Irish words liúdramán or lúdramán, is defined as "a lazy, unproductive, or stupid person (especially a man)." The OED traces its earliest English usage to James Joyce’sUlysses.

  • Class, in Irish English, is commonly used as a term of approval, meaning “excellent, fantastic, or great.”

  • Spice bag, a popular Irish takeaway dish, also made it into the dictionary, emphasizing how food-related words continue to shape linguistic trends.

Words Reflecting Social and Political Trends

Several new words reflect contemporary social and political discussions.

  • Wokery and wokeism are defined as "progressive or left-wing attitudes or practices, especially those opposing social injustice or discrimination, that are viewed as doctrinaire, self-righteous, pernicious, or insincere." Another definition of wokery refers to a restaurant, food counter, or kitchen specializing in wok-based dishes.

  • Chumocracy, another politics-related term, describes a system characterized by "influential networks of close friends." The word has been used to critique political favoritism, particularly in British politics.

Other Interesting Additions

Beyond politics, the OED update also includes terms like:

  • Safe word – a pre-agreed word used to signal a desire to stop an activity.

  • Forever chemical – a term for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), known for their persistence in the environment and potential health risks.

  • Swear box – a container where people deposit money as a penalty for using profanity.