“Non -translatable” words, Philippines and Malaysians added to the English dictionary of Oxford

New words From all over the world they have been added to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) for the first time, since his creators say that their use has become so trivial in the language.

These are different “non -translatable words” that the Oed says they have been imported into English by speaking to fill a “lexical gap”.

“Sometimes, they do it with a sufficient frequency that the word borrowed in the end becomes part of the vocabulary of their variety of English”, Danica Salazar, Oed The executive publisher said.

These words come from several different continentswith additions from South -est Asia, South AfricaAnd Ireland. New Oed dictionaries will present these words in the future, while the literary resource continues to expand.

Here are only some of the new words that have made the cut:

‘Class’ – Ireland

Many English native speakers probably know and use the word “class” as a general term approval. The use of the word as an adjective dates back only to 1981, the Oed finds, originating in Ireland.

Salazar said: “The class” is how the main character Erin describes his hometown of Derry, Northern Ireland In an episode of the first season of the popular sitcom Derry Girls. “

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Several other words from Ireland also made the list, including “Spice Bag”.

“This is a takeaway meal in general consisting of chips, fried chicken in pieces, fried onions, red and green peppers, pepper peppers and jalapeño peppers, put together in a bag with various spices and often served with curry sauce to immerse yourself,” said Oed.

The delicacy was invented in a Chinese takeaway restaurant in Dublin called Sunflower around 2006. Appropriately, the first quote in the OED for the entrance was a post on the 2012 social media of someone from someone who considered a trip to the headquarters to get one.

Yoh! – South Africa

Some words from South Africa also appeared in updating, such as the “Yoh” imitative energy. This word is a “crying or exclamation” that is used to express various emotions or reactions, such as surprise, wonder, admiration, shock or anguish, “said Salazar.

Another new word from South Africa includes “Sharp-Sharp”, which has a couple of different meanings. The first is to use it as a random way to greet or farewell, with this use dating back to 1991.

The second is to use it as a way to complete someone’s style or simply to comment on how excellent or fantastic are generally excellent, which has been in use since 2018.

Gigil – The Philippines

“Gigil” is one of the best known “non -translatable words” used in the Filipine to describe a very specific feeling, Salazar said.

It describes the intense feeling that a person comes when he sees something nice and get the “irresistible need to tighten their hands closely, tighten the teeth and pinch or squeeze (it)”.

The Dictionary publisher described Gigil as a “Pithy name for such a strange and paradoxical emotion”. It can be used either as a noun or as an adjective to describe a person who lives it.

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Another item in English Filippino includes “Lumia”, the name of any of the various types of east and south spring centers –st Asian. These are typically made up of a “very thin pancake full of ground meat, seafood or vegetables, rolled up in a cylinder, sometimes fried and served with immersion sauce”.

Ohamak – Malaysia and Singapore

The last countries with words that made the list are Malaysia and Singapore. One of these is “Alamak”, an exclamation that is used to transmit surprise, shock, dismay or indignation.

Several foods of the two countries also make the list, including “Ketupat”, a small boiled rice cake in a custody of woven palm leaves. There is also “Otak-Otak”, a dish from Southeast Asia composed of ground fish or other seafood mixed with spices and coconut milk and “Nasi Lemak”, a Malay dish of rice cooked in coconut milk and flavored with pandan leaf.

Complete list of worldwide English additions in the OED March 2025 update

Irish English

Malaysian and English English by Singapore

Filipino English

English South African