The words popularized by generation Z and the Alpha gene, including “skibidi”, “delulu” and “tradwife”, are among 6,000 new entries to the online edition of the Cambridge dictionary during the last year, his editor said on Monday.
Cambridge University Press said Trawife, a traditional wife, reflected “an increasing and controversial trend of Instagram and Tiktok that covers traditional gender roles.”
The dictionary also assumed the challenge of defining Skibidi, a word popularized in online memes, as a term that had “different meanings, such as cool or Bad, or can be used without real meaning.”
The word Gibberish was extended by a YouTube channel called “Skibidi Wathodi” and is associated with the “Brain-Rot” meaning content found in social networks and consumed by the overwhelmingly digital lifestyle of Gen Alpha.
The dictionary defined Delulu, derived from the delusional word, as “believers that are not real or true, generally because you choose.”
As an example, he cited a 2025 speech in Parliament where Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese used the phrase “Delulu without Solulu”.
“Not every day you can see words like Skibidi and Delulu in the Cambridge Dictionary,” said Colin Mcintosh, manager of lexical programs at the Cambridge Dictionary.
“We only add words where we believe they will have power of permanence. Internet culture is changing the English language, and the effect is fascinating to observe and capture in the dictionary.”
Other new phrases include “Lewk”, used to describe a unique fashion aspect and popular by Rupaul’s Drag Race, and “Inpoo”, abbreviation of inspiration.
The work of home culture has given rise to “mouse Jiggler”, referring to a way of pretending to work when it is not.
There are also “chemical products forever”, man -made chemicals that remain in the environment for years and have gained traction as concerns about the irreversible impact of climate change in the health of humans and the planet grow.
