Big news in the world of words; Springfield, MA’s own Merriam-Webster has added 690 new words to their dictionary. On their website, they state that”
Signs of a healthy language include words being created, words being borrowed from other languages, and new meanings being given to existing words. Based on our most recent research, we are pleased to inform you that English is very (very!) healthy.
Merriam-Webster
I am happy to learn that English is advancing as a “healthy” language. When you use slang words or pick up specific words from where you live, you’d never think they’d end up in the dictionary. Well, I am here to debunk that theory because Merriam-Webster added words I never thought would see the pages of a dictionary! Let’s dive in.
Now here are some surprising slang words that made me laugh because I find them in my own vocabulary, and yet they have made it into a real dictionary.
bingo card (noun): a list of possible, expected, or likely scenarios
bussin’ (adj): extremely good, excellent, delicious
GOATED (adj): considered to be the greatest of all time
mid (adj): neither very good nor very bad; so-so
ngl (abbreviation): not gonna lie
padawan (noun): a young person, especially when regarded as naive, inexperienced
rizz (noun): romantic appeal or charm
simp (verb): to show excessive devotion to or longing for someone or something
TFW (abbreviation): that feeling when
TTYL (abbreviation): talk to you later
If that didn’t surprise you enough, here are some more you will find in this recent update.
beast mode (noun): an extremely aggressive or energetic style or manner that someone (such as an athlete) adopts temporarily (to overpower an opponent in a fight or competition)
Chef’s kiss (noun): a gesture of satisfaction or approval made by kissing the fingertips of one hand and then spreading the fingers with an outward motion –– often used interjectionally
edgelord (noun): someone who makes wildly dark and exaggerated statements (as on an internet forum) with the intent of shocking others
finsta (noun): a secret or incognito account on the Instagram photo-sharing service
forever chemical (noun): a toxic substance and especially a synthetic chemical (as of the per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances group) that persists and accumulates in the environment — not used technically
girlboss (noun): an ambitious and successful woman (especially a businesswoman or entrepreneur)
‘grammable (adj): suitable to be posted on the Instagram photo-sharing service (Instagrammable)
jollof rice (noun): a West African dish of rice cooked in a sauce of tomatoes and onions seasoned usually with garlic, thyme, hot pepper, and other spices and often accompanied by meat, fish, or vegetables
jorts (noun): shorts made of denim or jean
jump scare (noun): a scripted moment (as in a film or video game) intended to startle the audience
non-player character (noun): NPC; a: character in a video game that does not represent and cannot be manipulated by a player b: a character in a role-playing board game, card game, or life-action game that is controlled or performed by an organizer, facilitator, or supporting participant
smashburger (noun): 1: a hamburger patty that is pressed thin onto a heated pan or griddle at the start of cooking; also: a patty (as of beans or ground turkey) prepared similarly 2: a sandwich featuring one or more such patties
thirst trap (noun): a photograph (such as a selfie) or video shared for the purpose of attracting attention or desire; also: someone or something that attracts attention or strong desire
tiny house (noun): a small house or mobile home that typically has a floor plan of less than 500 square feet and this is usually designed for ergonomics and space efficiency
There are a lot more where those came from, so be sure to go to the Merriam-Webster website and check it out!
If you are interested in vocabulary, be sure to click here and here!