CAMBRIDGE DICTIONARY ADDS GENZ SLANGS LIKE SKIBIDI, DELULU AND TRADWIFE AMONG OVER 6,000 NEW WORD

CAMBRIDGE DICTIONARY ADDS GENZ SLANGS LIKE SKIBIDI, DELULU AND TRADWIFE AMONG OVER 6,000 NEW WORD

Skibidi, delulu, tradwife and broligarchy are among thousands of new English words, phrases and meanings that have been added to the Cambridge Dictionary, the world’s most popular online dictionary for learners of English, in the last 12 months.

The words, which have grown in use across social and mainstream media, are linked to celebrities and influencers such as Kim Kardashian (skibidi), Hannah Neeleman of @ballerinafarm (tradwife), and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (delulu with no solulu).

What the skibidi?!

According to Colin McIntosh, Lexical Programme Manager at Cambridge Dictionary, “Internet culture is changing the English language…”

The slang term skibidi, which can mean “cool” or “bad,” or be used with no real meaning as a joke, was coined by the creator of the viral animated video series Skibidi Toilet on YouTube. It has since entered mainstream usage through phrases like “What the skibidi are you doing?” and “That wasn’t very skibidi rizz of you.”

In October 2024, Kim Kardashian posted a video on social media showing a necklace her daughter had given her engraved with the phrase Skibidi Toilet, fueling its popularity. The word is especially common among Gen Alpha—another new dictionary addition—referring to people born in the 2010s.

More new words

• delulu: a play on “delusional,” meaning “believing things that are not real or true, usually because you choose to.” In March 2025, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese used the Gen Z phrase “delulu with no solulu” in parliament.

• lewk: a variation of “look,” meaning a particular style, fashion, or outfit, especially one unusual and impressive. Popularised by RuPaul’s Drag Race and fashion journalism.

• tradwife: short for “traditional wife,” describing a married woman, often on social media, who stays at home cooking, cleaning, and raising children. The trend, embraced by Hannah Neeleman of Ballerina Farm, has stirred debate on gender roles. Actress Millie Bobby Brown was also labelled a tradwife after marrying early and adopting a rural lifestyle.

• broligarchy: a blend of “bro” and “oligarchy,” referring to a small group of extremely wealthy, powerful men in tech who seek political influence. The term was used to describe Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, and Mark Zuckerberg at President Trump’s inauguration in January 2025.

• inspo: short for “inspiration,” often used online to describe something that sparks ideas, especially in fitness, fashion, or lifestyle. Actress Alaya F, for example, shared a fitness inspo recommending a headstand on a paddleboard in a river.

A growing dictionary

With 6,212 new words, phrases and meanings added, alongside revisions and an expanding range of bilingual dictionaries, the Cambridge Dictionary is now one of the fastest-growing dictionaries in the world.

“It’s not every day you get to see words like skibidi and delulu make their way into the Cambridge Dictionary. We only add words where we think they’ll have staying power. Internet culture is changing the English language and the effect is fascinating to observe and capture in the Dictionary,” McIntosh said.