London: Ever been so overwhelmed by cuteness that you had the urge to clench your fists or pinch something? There’s now a word for that: gigil.
Recently added to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), gigil (pronounced ghee-gill) is a Tagalog word describing an intense feeling that compels someone to squeeze or pinch something irresistibly adorable. It is one of many “untranslatable” words—those lacking direct English equivalents—now officially recognized in the dictionary.
Another addition is alamak, a common exclamation in Singapore and Malaysia used to express shock or dismay.
The latest OED update highlights how speakers of English alongside other languages often borrow words to fill lexical gaps, eventually making them part of everyday vocabulary.
Many of the newly included terms from Singapore and Malaysia reflect the region’s deep-rooted food culture. Some notable entries include:
- Kaya toast – A breakfast dish of toasted bread with coconut jam, eggs, sugar, and pandan leaves.
- Fish head curry – A tamarind-based curry featuring a large fish head, blending Chinese and South Indian culinary influences.
- Steamboat – A communal dish where thinly sliced meat and vegetables are cooked in a simmering broth.
- Tapau – A term derived from Mandarin and Cantonese, meaning to pack food for takeaway.
From the Philippines, in addition to gigil, the OED has recognized:
- Videoke – A local twist on karaoke, featuring a built-in scoring system.
- Salakot – A traditional, wide-brimmed hat commonly worn by farmers.
- Terror – A repurposed English word used to describe a strict or demanding teacher.
The OED, one of the most comprehensive dictionaries in the English-speaking world with over 600,000 entries, evaluates thousands of word suggestions annually. These come from editorial research, language databases, and public submissions.
This latest update also includes words from South Africa and Ireland, further reflecting the dynamic and evolving nature of the English language.
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