A win for Gen Z or dilution of literature? Popular social media slangs like ‘delulu’, ‘skibidi, and ‘broligrachy’ have been added to the plethora of words in the Cambridge Dictionary. With a plethora that hold more than 140,000 words has long been influenced by celebrities and social media trends. Being upheld with ‘linguistic power’, these social media slangs are here to stay.
Apart from ‘delulu’, ‘skibidi, and ‘broligrachy’, other words include, ‘tradwife’, ‘work wife/husband’, ‘inspo’ and ‘lewk’, among others. Commonly used in the 30-second video formats, these words have become hooks more than vocabulary, quickly transforming into trends. Made buzzwords by celebrities like Kim Kardashian, and even the Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, they are now officially a part of the English language.
From ‘skibidi’ to ‘tradwife’: What does it even mean?
‘Delulu’ – A short-form of ‘delusional’, this slang was even used by PM Albanese in the Parliament when he said,”delulu with no solulu [delusional with no solution]’. Popularised by the phrase ‘delulu is the solulu’, it is often used to give a positive spin on things and sometimes even manifest something delusional in your life.
What is ‘Skibidi’? – With a rather multi-purpose meaning, this term is used in place of cool, weird, bad or even good. Made famous by a viral animated YouTube series called Skibidi Toilet, it quickly became a viral audio used across formats. In fact, Kim Kardashian sported a necklace with the word, made by her daughter, North West.
Lewk – Commonly used in fashion videos, it is a variation of the word “look”. Often used to describe an outfit, a person is usually “serving lewks,” which directly means their outfit is looking good. The lingo doesn’t stop there; instead of “really good,” the Instagram generation would say the outfit was “giving!”
Broligarchy – What is Gen-Z if not using slang to refer to complex phenomena in a slang? A combination of “bro” and “oligarchy”, this term refers to a small group of men influencing the economy and politics of an area. Usually rich and powerful, this term has been popularly used to refer to Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg, who attended US President Donald Trump’s inauguration.
Tradwife – This is the internet’s shorthand for a woman who leans into old-school gender roles — think cooking, cleaning, and raising kids full-time. It’s a hotly debated TikTok and Instagram trend, with influencers proudly romanticising homemaking. Leading the charge? American creator Hannah Needleman, crowned online as the “queen of tradwifery,” with over 10 million followers watching her vintage-style domestic life.
Young creators in India even showcase vlogs on Instagram, titled “Day in the life of a 21-year-old married girl”, who is seen performing all the conventional duties expected of an Indian woman.
Work spouse- Often used to describe a person at your workplace you are especially close and care for each other.
Inspo – A popular search term on Pinterest, it is a shorter term for “inspiration”. Used for referencing, “inspo” is a popular word in fashion, design, and aesthetics.