The Cambridge Dictionary has added more than 6,000 new words and phrases to its online edition over the past year, with several entries drawn directly from the digital slang of Gen Z and Gen Alpha. Among the most eye-catching additions are “skibidi,” “delulu,” and “tradwife,” terms that have quickly spread through social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube.
Cambridge University Press, which publishes the dictionary, said the inclusion of tradwife — a blend of “traditional” and “wife” — reflected a growing and often controversial online trend. The word is commonly associated with content promoting traditional gender roles, particularly in viral Instagram and TikTok communities that celebrate domesticity.
Meanwhile, the gibberish-sounding skibidi has been defined as a flexible term used to mean “cool,” “bad,” or even nothing at all. Popularised by the surreal YouTube channel “Skibidi Toilet,” the word has become synonymous with the kind of “brain-rot” content consumed heavily by Gen Alpha, who are growing up in an overwhelmingly digital environment.
Another newly recognised entry is delulu, short for “delusional,” which the dictionary defines as believing in things that are not real or true, usually because one chooses to. The dictionary notes that even political leaders have embraced the slang: Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, in a 2025 speech, quipped that someone was “delulu with no solulu.”
Colin McIntosh, Lexical Programme Manager at the Cambridge Dictionary, said the updates highlight the way internet culture is reshaping language. “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,” he explained. “The effect of online culture on English is fascinating to observe and capture.”
Other notable additions include lewk (a standout fashion look), inspo (short for inspiration), and mouse jiggler (a device or software used to simulate activity during remote work). Beyond digital slang, new terms like forever chemical have also been added, reflecting growing environmental concerns about harmful man-made substances that persist for decades.
The additions underscore how English is rapidly evolving, with social media, digital lifestyles, and global challenges driving the creation — and adoption — of new vocabulary.
