Cambridge Dictionary Adds “Skibidi,” Sparking Backlash From Language Purists
The Cambridge Dictionary has recorded 6000 new words – including the controversial term “Skibidi” from a viral YouTube series. While the recording shows the influence of the Alpha generation on language, it causes violent criticism for many.
Skibidi conquers the Cambridge Dictionary
The Cambridge Dictionary, which can be described roughly as an English Duden equivalent, has included 6,000 new words into its online edition in the past twelve months, including the controversial term “Skibidi”. Depending on the context, the word can have different meanings such as “cool” or “bad” or can be used as a joke without real meaning.
The term comes from the viral YouTube series “Skibidi Toilet”, which has been popular with the Alpha generation since February 2023. The series was created by the Georgian animator Alexey Gerasimov (also known as DaFuq! The 76-part series has so far generated 17 billion views and shows surreal battles between singing toilets and cameramen. How The Guardian reports, the decision of the Cambridge Dictionary encounters considerable resistance. However, the admission of Skibidi causes massive displeasure among language purists.
Violent criticism
Users of social media criticize the admission sharply: “Congratulations, English is no longer a language, but a tictok comment area,” wrote one user to X. Another added: “Usually I agree that language develops and the dictionary should keep up, but does not add the gibberish word Skibidi to the dictionary”. The US author Lee Escobedo has already critically commented on the phenomenon: “Skibidi brainrot embodies a generation that is fluent in irony, but is hungry for importance.”
View on YouTube
In addition to “Skibidi”, the dictionary took up further contemporary terms. “Tradwife” refers to influencers who glorify the traditional housewife role, while “Delulu” is an abbreviation for “delusional” and describes people who deliberately believe. The term “Delulu” was created a decade ago as a criticism of obsessive K-pop fans, but became a mainstream by the Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese when he used it in parliament in March. Other newcomers include “Brat” (confident and rebellious), “Yapping” (endless speech) and “Bussin” (exceptionally good).
These terms reflect the speed at which internet language develops and merges into the mainstream. There are also similar discussions in German, but mostly these affect the nominations and the curve of the (youth) word of the year. Colin Mcintosh, Lexical Program Manager of the Cambridge Dictionary, defended the decision: “We only add words that we believe that they have existence. Internet culture changes the English language and the effect is fascinating to observe”. The dictionary pursues strict criteria: new terms must be used consistently over a longer period of time and are of clear importance.
Cultural change
The target group of “Skibidi Toilet” is mainly the generation of Alpha, i.e. people who have been born since the early 2010s. Many publications compared the series to the Slender Man-phenomenon of the previous generation. The series shows how a 27-year-old Georgian was able to get from YouTube videos to a Hollywood deal within two years-Gerasimov is now working with Transformers director Michael Bay and the former paramount president Adam Goodman on a film and TV series. The inclusion of “Skibidi” in the Cambridge Dictionary clearly shows how the language changes through digital media.
