Do you feel overwhelmed by something very cute? Oxford now has a word for that

If you’ve ever felt an overwhelming urge to squeeze a baby’s chubby cheeks or tightly hug a fluffy puppy, there’s now a word for it in the Oxford English Dictionary: gigil.

Taken from the Philippines’ Tagalog language, gigil (pronounced ghee-gill) describes a “feeling so intense that it gives us the irresistible urge to tightly clench our hands, grit our teeth, and pinch or squeeze whomever or whatever it is we find so adorable”.

With its recent addition to the Oxford Dictionary, gigil joins a growing list of “untranslatable” foreign words that have found a place in the dictionary for the first time.

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But why is Oxford incorporating words from other languages into its dictionary? And which other words have made the cut? Here’s a closer look.

Reaching English & beyond

For the first time, words from languages around the world have been officially added to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), as their creators acknowledge that these terms have become commonly used in English.

“Wouldn’t it be useful for English speakers to have a specific word for sunlight dappling through leaves…Or a word for the action of sitting outside enjoying a beer?” the OED said in its latest update, highlighting the need for such linguistic borrowings.

The dictionary recognises that many of these additions are “untranslatable words”—terms without direct English equivalents—that have been adopted by speakers to fill a gap in the language.

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“Sometimes, they do this with enough frequency that the borrowed word eventually becomes part of the vocabulary of their variety of English,” Danica Salazar, OED executive editor, told The Independent.

These new words come from diverse regions, including Southeast Asia, South Africa, and Ireland, reflecting the global nature of language evolution. Moving forward, these terms will be featured in OED’s latest editions, as the dictionary continues to grow and adapt to cultures around the world.

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‘Kaya toast’, ‘Otak Otak’..Which other words were added by Oxford?

South Africa

The latest OED update features several words from South Africa, including the expressive exclamation ‘Yoh!’.

Described as an “imitative utterance,” Yoh! is a cry used to convey a range of emotions, from surprise and wonder to admiration, shock, or distress, said OED executive editor Danica Salazar.

Another South African addition is ‘sharp-sharp’, a versatile term with multiple meanings. First recorded in 1991, it is commonly used as a casual way to say hello or goodbye. More recently, since around 2018, the phrase has also been used to compliment someone’s style or to describe something as excellent or impressive.

Malaysia and Singapore

Malaysia and Singapore have also contributed new words to the OED, including ‘alamak’, an exclamation used to express surprise, shock, dismay, or outrage.

Several beloved Southeast Asian foods have also been added. These include ‘ketupat’, a small rice cake wrapped and boiled in woven palm leaves; ‘otak-otak’, a dish made of ground fish or seafood mixed with spices and coconut milk; and nasi lemak, a fragrant Malay rice dish cooked in coconut milk and pandan leaf.

Among them is ‘kaya toast’, a well-loved breakfast dish consisting of toasted bread spread with kaya—a jam made from coconut milk, eggs, sugar, and pandan leaves.

Philippines

Among the Philippine English entries is ’lumpia’, a type of spring roll popular across East and Southeast Asia. These rolls, filled with minced meat, seafood, or vegetables, are sometimes deep-fried and typically served with dipping sauce.

Other Filipino terms joining the dictionary include ‘videoke’—the localised version of karaoke, which features a scoring system—and salakot, a lightweight, wide-brimmed hat often worn by farmers.

The OED has also recognised unique Philippine uses of English words, such as ’terror’, which is sometimes used to describe a particularly strict or demanding teacher.

Mandarin Influence

Several popular Mandarin-influenced dishes have also been added to the OED. Such as the ‘fish head curry’, a fusion dish blending Chinese and South Indian influences, where a fish head is simmered in a tamarind-based curry, and steamboat, a communal dining experience where thinly sliced meat and vegetables are cooked in a simmering broth at the table.

With input from agencies