Cambridge dictionary adds Skibidi, delulu, tradwife and broligarchy

Just how quickly internet culture is reshaping the English language. One stark reminder of that is Cambridge Dictionary adding over 6,000 new words, phrases, and meanings in the past year including internet vocabulary such as skibidi, delulu, tradwife, and broligarchy.

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Modern day dynamic shift in the English language is prompted by the age of memes, influencers, and viral trends. Cambridge Dictionary’s Lexical Programme Manager Colin McIntosh said, “It’s not every day you get to see words like skibidi and delulu make their way into the Cambridge Dictionary. Internet culture is changing the English language, and the effect is fascinating to observe and capture.

WHAT THE SKIBIDI…?

The term skibidi – which originated from the absurdist YouTube series Skibidi Toilet – is used to express anything from coolness to nonsense. It has become a catchphrase among Generation Alpha (children born in the 2010s).

Phrases like “What the skibidi are you doing?” and “That wasn’t very skibidi rizz of you” have moved from meme-speak into mainstream youth slang. Even Kim Kardashian joined the trend last October, sharing a birthday gift from her daughter: a necklace engraved with “Skibidi Toilet.”

The bizarre online trend has also sparked a wave of skibidi toilet-themed arts and crafts, especially among younger children.

ONLINE SLANG GOES OFFICIAL

Among the most talked-about additions is delulu, a Gen Z-coined twist on “delusional.” It refers to someone who clings to unrealistic beliefs, often by choice. The term made headlines when Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese joked in Parliament that the opposition was “delulu with no solulu” – another internet expression meaning “delusional with no solution.”

Also stirring conversation is tradwife – short for “traditional wife” – used to describe women who embrace conventional homemaking roles and share them online. The term has been propelled into popular discourse through figures like Hannah Neeleman of @ballerinafarm and actress Millie Bobby Brown, who has been dubbed a “tradwife” by fans for her back-to-basics lifestyle on a farm.

FASHION, TECH AND INSPO

The Dictionary also embraced fashion-forward slang with lewk – a stylized spelling of “look” used to describe bold or memorable outfits. Other entries include Broligarchy – a blend of “bro” and “oligarchy,” used to describe powerful male tech elites such as Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg. The term most likely originated after the trio was notably seen together at President Trump’s 2025 inauguration.

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Inspo – short for “inspiration,” is yet another new Cambridge dictionary addition, which captures anything from Pinterest boards to paddleboard yoga stunts, like a river headstand.

“Words make it into the dictionary not because they’re trendy, but because we see evidence they’re being used widely and will likely stick around,” McIntosh noted.

What word would you like to see added next?