With over 800 new words having recently been added to the Oxford Dictionary, it’s safe to say that language is now as varied as it’s ever been. Thanks to the influence of the pop culture landscape, you may be surprised to know that quite a lot of these words are slang-orientated.
As part of their new Slang Index, the team at Preply have taken a trip down memory lane, to reveal the surprising slang words that have been added to the Oxford Dictionary over the years.
Phablet - Added in 2013
Firstly, taking a trip back to ten years ago, we have the word ‘phablet’. Even though this slang term is now not as commonly used, back in the day it referred to oversized smartphones.
Hangry - Added in 2015
Travelling back 8 years, we had the iconic ‘hangry’ being introduced for the first time to the Oxford dictionary. A familiar feeling for most of us, to be ‘hangry’ is to simultaneously feel the combination of both anger and hunger.
Bants - Added in 2015
Being the shortened version of ‘banter’, ‘bants’ or ‘bantz’ means to playfully tease or mock another person or group of people.
Chirpse - Added in 2019
Long gone are the days where you used to flirt with someone, now it’s all about chirpsing with them… In the modern-day dating dictionary, to ‘chirpse’ with someone is to talk to them in a way that shows you are sexually attracted to them.
Simples - Added in 2019
As popularised by Alexander the Meerkat in the famous Compare The Meerkat advert, ‘simples’ is a millennial term to convey that something is very straightforward - simple as.
Whatevs - Added in 2019
It seems like 2019 was the year when the letter ‘s’ was added to the end of words. An example of such a word is ‘whatevs’ - which is again a more informal way of saying the original ‘whatever’.
Zaddy - Added in 2021
You’ve heard of daddy, but have you heard of ‘zaddy?’ Added to the Oxford Dictionary in 2021, a ‘zaddy’ is used to describe a handsome, sexy and well put-together man who possesses stylish confidence.
Sus - Added in 2022
A recent addition to the Oxford Dictionary, ‘sus’ is used as a synonym of suspicious or suspect, to give the impression that someone is acting questionable or dishonest. In other words, a person who is acting ‘sus’ should in no way be trusted.
Yeet - Added in 2022
Another new addition to the Oxford Dictionary last year, ‘yeet’ means to throw something very hard and very fast, and with a lack of concern for whatever is being thrown. Whether it’s a photograph of you and your toxic ex or a can of coke you just finished, the temptation to ‘yeet’ is just too high sometimes.
Lewk - Added in 2022
Also recently added to the Oxford Dictionary is ‘lewk’, which takes the whole concept of ‘look’ to another level. As seen on RuPaul’s Drag Race, ‘lewk’ is another slightly more heightened variation of ‘look’. It can be defined as being a signature physical trait, or a carefully crafted outfit or appearance.
