New Words Added to Cambridge Dictionary 2025: 6,000 New Words, Including Gen Z Slang

From ‘Skibidi’ to ‘Delulu’: Cambridge Dictionary Adds 6,000+ New Words Influenced by Gen Z and Internet Culture

The English language just got a little more skibidi.

The Cambridge Dictionary has added more than 6,000 new words, phrases, and meanings to its entries this year — and some of them are straight out of TikTok, YouTube, and Gen Z slang.

Among the standout additions? Skibidi, tradwife, and delulu. Yep, words you probably heard in your group chat or scrolled past on social media are now officially part of the English language.

Internet Slang Becomes Mainstream

Colin McIntosh, lexical program manager at Cambridge Dictionary, said the additions aren’t just about jumping on trends — they reflect long-term linguistic shifts.

“We only add words where we think they’ll have staying power,” McIntosh explained. Internet culture, he added, is reshaping the way we speak, and it’s “fascinating” to watch it play out in real time.

Translation? If a word like delulu made it into the dictionary, it’s because experts think it’s going to stick around for a while.

The Rise of “Skibidi”

One of the quirkiest new entries is skibidi, a word that doesn’t always have a fixed meaning. Depending on the context, it can mean cool, bad, or — sometimes — nothing at all. Think of it as a flexible filler word, like in the meme-worthy phrase: “What the skibidi are you doing?”

The term blew up thanks to the bizarrely viral YouTube series Skibidi Toilet, where human heads pop out of toilets (yes, you read that right).

It also got a boost from Russian band Little Big, whose 2018 hit Skibidi racked up more than 700 million views. Even celebrities joined the trend — reality star Kim Kardashian was spotted showing off a necklace engraved with Skibidi Toilet on Instagram.

It’s the kind of surreal internet culture that makes zero sense and perfect sense all at once — and now, it’s dictionary official.

The ‘Tradwife’ Trend

Another buzzworthy addition is tradwife, short for “traditional wife.” It refers to socially conservative women who embrace homemaking and domestic life, often sharing it online. Think 1950s-style cooking, cleaning, and child-rearing, posted with a modern influencer polish.

The Cambridge Dictionary defines it as a wife who embraces traditional roles, “especially one who posts on social media.” Critics argue the trend reinforces regressive gender stereotypes, while fans see it as a lifestyle choice.

The term became especially visible thanks to influencers like Hannah Neeleman of @ballerinafarm, who popularized the aesthetic on Instagram and TikTok.

“Delulu” Culture

If you’ve been on TikTok, you’ve probably seen delulu. Short for delusional, the slang originally mocked obsessive K-pop fans but has since morphed into a catchall for wishful thinking. The phrase “delulu is the solulu” — meaning delusion is the solution — has gone viral as a kind of half-joking, half-serious life mantra.

It’s gone beyond fan culture, too. Earlier this year, Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese even used the word in parliament, accusing his opponents of being “delulu with no solulu.” When world leaders start using TikTok slang, you know it’s here to stay.

Other New Additions

The Cambridge Dictionary’s 6,212 new entries also reflect broader cultural shifts — from post-pandemic work life to tech culture. Here are some highlights:

• Mouse jiggler: A device or software that simulates mouse movement so you look active at work. (Work-from-home hack, anyone?)

• Work spouse: A close but platonic workplace relationship.

• Broligarchy: A blend of “bro” and “oligarchy,” describing powerful male tech billionaires like Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg.

• Snackable: Content designed to be consumed quickly, in small bites — a nod to shrinking attention spans.

• Lewk: A playful take on “look,” meaning a distinctive outfit or style, especially one that’s bold or eye-catching.

And yes, Gen Alpha — the term for kids born between 2010 and 2024 — also made the list.

Why it Matters

McIntosh summed it up best: “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.”

From TikTok memes to post-pandemic office hacks, the words we casually toss around online are shaping the dictionary of tomorrow. And while some parents may still be trying to figure out rizz and sus, Gen Z and Gen Alpha are already pushing the boundaries of what English sounds like in the 2020s.

Love it or hate it, the future of language is a little more skibidi — and maybe a little delulu, too.