The three Gen Z terms that have just been added to the dictionary that millennials might have never heard
Three more Gen Z slang terms have been added to the dictionary - and reading them will have you feeling very old.
Adding viral internet phrases to the dictionary isn't a new phenomena, with phrases such as 'bae' and even 'rizz' have made the cut in the past couple of years - reminding us that English is a constantly evolving language.
However the introduction of social media has allowed language and communication to develop faster than ever - meaning that phrases such as 'YOLO', 'game' and 'on point' have long been banished to the slang graveyard.
To celebrate the ever-changing nature of the language here are the three very Gen Z new additions, ready to remind millennials they're no longer the younger and cooler generation.
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The Ick
Starting with the by far the most commonly used of the three, 'the ick' is a way to signal your sudden disinterest or aversion to someone during the early days of dating.
No one can quite agree on what causes 'the ick', and it's often very different from person to person, but we all now that getting it is the death-knell for any budding relationship.
Frequently reported examples of people getting the ick include: being rude to restaurant/bar staff, noisy chewing sounds and talking in a baby voice - which can actually be a good thing for your dating life.
Boop
Taking a swift U-turn from the ick brings us to the next addition - boop.
More of an action than a phrase, boop or booping, refers to a gentle tap onto someone's nose or head as a way of showing affection.
The Cambridge dictionary used of a video where a Golden Retriever received 'boops on his nose' as an example of the term.
Chef's Kiss
Last up is Chef's Kiss, which is another way to show your approval towards something or someone you are talking about is simply perfect.
Again, both an expression and a phrase, a Chef's Kiss will see either someone pinch their thumb and fingers together, kissing them and then dramatically moving the hand away from the lips, say the phrase or do both.
An example written in the Cambridge Dictionary is: 'She tasted the sauce and gave it a chef's kiss'.
Other words which have been added include IYKYK (an abbreviation for 'if you know you know') as well as gaming phrases such as speed run and side quest.
Explaining the reason these particular words were selected over the thousands of new words being created daily, Wendalyn Nichols, Cambridge Dictionary's publishing manager said that he believed these words had more 'staying power' in the English language.
Let's just hope no one decides to start putting brain rot phrases in the dictionary.
Brenna Cooper