‘Gigil’ Joins the Dictionary to Capture That Too-Cute-to-Handle Feeling

Have you ever been so overwhelmed by cuteness—whether from a baby, a pet, or an adorable Instagram clip—that you just wanted to squeeze it? There’s now a word for that intense feeling: gigil .

This Filipino term is among the latest "untranslatable" words—those without direct English equivalents—added to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED). Pronounced ghee-gill, gigil describes the irresistible urge to clench your fists, grit your teeth, or even pinch something unbearably cute.

Another newcomer is alamak, a Singaporean and Malaysian exclamation expressing shock or frustration. The OED highlighted how such words fill gaps in English, saying, "Wouldn’t it be useful to have a word for sunlight filtering through leaves... or for sitting outside enjoying a beer?"

When English lacks a term, speakers often borrow from other languages. With enough use, these words become part of everyday vocabulary. This is evident in the latest OED update, which includes several food-related terms from Singapore and Malaysia, reflecting their culinary passion.

New entries include:

• Kaya toast – A breakfast staple of toasted bread spread with sweet coconut-egg jam.
• Fish head curry – A fusion dish with Chinese and South Indian flavors, featuring a fish head simmered in tangy tamarind curry.
• Steamboat – A hotpot meal where thinly sliced meats and veggies cook in a simmering broth.

The OED even joked, "All this food talk might make you crave a takeaway—or should we say, a tapau?" Tapau, borrowed from Mandarin and Cantonese, means to pack food to-go.

From the Philippines, other additions include:

• Videoke – The local version of karaoke, complete with a scoring system.
• Salakot – A lightweight, wide-brimmed hat often worn by farmers.
• Terror – A slang term for a strict or demanding teacher.

With over 600,000 words, the OED remains one of the most extensive English dictionaries. Its editors review thousands of potential additions yearly, sourced from reading, public suggestions, and language databases.

So next time you feel gigil or grab a kaya toast, remember—these words are now officially part of the English lexicon!