The term "gigil," pronounced "ghee-gill," has been added to the Oxford English Dictionary, capturing a specific emotional response to cuteness. This Tagalog word expresses a feeling so intense that individuals may feel compelled to physically interact with something or someone perceived as cute, like a baby or a kitten. Recognized as both a noun and an adjective, the word highlights the richness of language and the untranslatable feelings that often exist. OED Executive Editor Danica Salazar emphasized how borrowed words from other languages can enrich English vocabulary.
"Gigil" refers to "a feeling we get when we see someone or something cute," according to the OED.
The word "gigil" – pronounced "ghee-gill" – can be used either as a noun to describe the emotion itself or as an adjective for the person experiencing it.
OED Executive Editor Danica Salazar stated that "untranslatable words" represent lexicalized concepts in one language not captured in another, emphasizing the flexibility of language.
The term "gigil" conveys a strange, paradoxical emotion that can lead to an irresistible urge to pinch or squeeze what's deemed adorable.
Collection
[
|
...
]