The Evolution of Language: 'Skibidi', 'Delulu', and 'Tradwife' Now Official Terms
The ever-growing influence of social media and TikTok trends on daily communication has resulted in the inclusion of words like 'skibidi', 'delulu', and 'tradwife' among 6,000 new additions to a prominent digital dictionary over the past year.
For people who are not active on the internet, understanding how these new words fit into sentences can be puzzling. Phrases like "that wasn't very skibidi rizz of you" or "As the younger generation says, I've entered my 'delulu era'" might sound like nonsense.
Breaking Down the New Words
So, what do these new words mean? The dictionary in question provides some clarity. It describes 'skibidi' as a term that can mean either 'cool' or 'bad' or can be utilized humorously without any particular meaning. The word 'delulu' is based on 'delusional' and signifies 'believing in things that are not real or true, often out of choice.'
These words have fascinating origins. 'Skibidi' was first used by the maker of "Skibidi Toilet," a popular, nonsensical animated series on YouTube featuring human heads popping out of toilets. On the other hand, 'delulu' started being used around ten years ago to chide overly obsessed fans of Korean pop music. Still, it has since evolved into a broader online synonym for 'delusional'.
Interestingly, 'delulu' gained offline popularity in March when an Australian Prime Minister used the phrase "they are delulu with no solulu" during a parliamentary speech, prompted by a dare from two podcast hosts.
Internet Culture's Impact on Language
An official from the dictionary commented, "It's not an everyday occurrence to see words like skibidi and delulu make it into the dictionary. We only incorporate words that we believe will have longevity. It's truly fascinating to observe and document the profound impact internet culture has on the English language."
Apart from these, the dictionary has also added words like 'tradwife', a shortened version of 'traditional wife' used to describe influencers who idealize that role, and 'broligarchy', a blend of 'bro' and 'oligarchy' referred to the tech leaders who attended a certain U.S President's inauguration in January.
The Changing Faces of Existing Words
Language evolution is not just about creating new words. Existing words and phrases often acquire new meanings, which are now reflected in the dictionary. For example, 'snackable', a term initially used to describe addictive food, can now also refer to online content that can be consumed in small, manageable chunks.
Similarly, phrases like 'red flag' and 'green flag', traditionally used in their literal sense, are now commonly used to indicate undesirable or desirable traits in a potential partner.
It's clear that the dynamism of language, particularly under the influence of internet culture, is ceaseless. As our world continues to evolve, so too does the way we communicate, with terms like 'skibidi', 'delulu', and 'tradwife' now officially part of our lexicon.