Ever felt an overwhelming urge to squeeze or pinch something adorable, like a chubby baby or a fluffy puppy? There’s finally a word for that feeling—gigil.
This word, borrowed from the Tagalog language of the Philippines, describes that uncontrollable excitement when something is just too cute to handle. It’s now officially added to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), alongside other unique words from different cultures.
English often borrows words from other languages to fill gaps in expression. For example, Singaporean and Malaysian slang alamak, used to express shock or surprise, also made it to the dictionary.
Food lovers will be happy to know that many newly added words come from popular dishes in Singapore and Malaysia. Kaya toast, a sweet coconut-egg jam spread on toast, fish head curry, a flavorful dish with South Indian and Chinese influences, and steamboat, a meal where meat and vegetables are cooked in a hot pot, are now part of the English lexicon.
The Philippines also contributed other words like videoke, a local karaoke version with a scoring system, and salakot, a traditional wide-brimmed hat. Some words have taken on new meanings, like terror, which in Philippine slang refers to a strict or intimidating teacher.
The OED, which houses over 600,000 words, constantly evolves by adding words from cultures worldwide. With language changing daily, who knows what word will be next?
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