From reality TV to video games, Gen Z culture has influenced the English language.
of The BBC reported: More than 3,200 new words and phrases have been added to the Cambridge Dictionary this year, and although everyday language and slang change frequently, Wendalyn Nicholls, publishing manager for Cambridge Dictionaries, told the BBC that these new words and terms have “staying power”.
One of the newly entered terms “I’m comin'” The expression, which the BBC claims was popularized by the reality TV show Love Island, is defined in the Cambridge Dictionary as “a sudden dislike or lack of attraction to someone or something because of someone’s behaviour.” Examples of the word used in sentences include “I liked Kevin but when I saw him in that suit I felt sick” and “My pet rat makes me feel sick.”
Another term related to relationships with loved ones and pets It’s “boo.” It is a physical gesture described in the dictionary as “a gentle tap or touch on the nose or head of a person or animal to show affection or playfulness.” Examples include “In this viral video, a cute golden retriever is being tapped on the nose” and “She greeted me with a tap on the head.”
A bridge spanning the River Cam between Third Court and New Court, St John’s College, Cambridge. (To The Hanoi via Getty Images)
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Video game terminology has also been added. The word “speed run” It originally meant “to complete a computer game, or part of a computer game, as quickly as possible, especially by exploiting a glitch”. The term has since been applied to other activities undertaken with the greatest of expediency, such as “I tried to complete university by speed running, but it affected my mental health” or “He wakes up late, but always speed runs through his morning shower”.
“These game-inspired words are starting to influence how we talk about our offline lives,” Colin McIntosh, programme manager at Cambridge Dictionaries, told the BBC.
“Side Quest” This is another example of how what was once a niche video game term referring to carrying out optional adventures or objectives outside of the game’s main storyline can now be used to describe real life situations, such as “after doing the side quest of finding shoes, I continued on with the main task of shopping for a wedding dress.”
Other terms are of less clear origin. For example: “Chef’s kiss” This is a term used to describe a typical chef’s gesture, but has since come to be used to describe something that one considers perfect or excellent. Some might say about a television show that it was a chef’s kiss for the character to leave the series in that way.
Gamers play games at the Microsoft Xbox stand at the video game trade fair Gamescon, Wednesday, August 23, 2023 in Cologne, Germany. (Photo by Alex Kraus/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
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IYKYK or “If You Know, You Know” It’s commonly seen on social media and in text messages and is used to “show that you have a shared joke or common knowledge with the reader that others may not get.”
All the above words have been added, but the Cambridge Dictionary has a blog Other new terms to look out for “Some of them will no doubt be short-lived, but some will become popular and eventually find their way into the dictionary.”
For example, “pebbling” comes from the practice of penguins giving small rocks, but is now used by humans to describe “the act of giving small gifts or sending memes, photos or videos on social media to show affection.”
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Another word that pertains to loved ones, especially parents, is “airport dad,” which describes “the father of the family who is in charge of planning the vacations and who likes to arrive at the airport very early, or someone who behaves this way when traveling in a group.”
Another term with a more niche use is “Swiftonomics,” used to describe “the impact of singer Taylor Swift and her popularity on the economy of a city or country.”
