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Cambridge has now officially added words like "skibidi" and "delulu," which has opened a flood of reactions on the internet. For many, this update reflects a shift in the gravity with which we take the language of the meme and TikTok trends.
The moment the news came out, the internet weighed in with its take. One reaction summed up the mood in one word:
"2023 kids finally earned their legacy"
To some, it was a tongue-in-cheek nod to the fact that Gen Z's bizarre internet lingo has been cemented into history. To others, the news left them scratching their heads, wondering what this means for the future of English.
The word "skibidi" and why it went viral
The term "skibidi" exploded into the mainstream last year via viral clips, with the most notable being the surreal and meme-saturated Skibidi Toilet series that took over TikTok and YouTube. It started off as an internet joke but was soon employed as shorthand for anything absurd, crazy, or simply funny. By the close of 2023, "skibidi" was not just a meme but a cultural marker for an entire generation of internet humor.
When Cambridge announced that slang like “skibidi” and “delulu” was being added to its dictionary, it didn’t take long for the internet to light up. People were divided between amusement, disbelief, and even concern about what this means for language.
One user reacted with confusion:
“what does skibidi mean in a formal sentence.”
Their comment captured what many people were thinking: how exactly does a meme word fit into everyday, professional communication?
Another user kept it blunt:
“Why? It genuinely has no meaning....”
For them, the move seemed like a stretch, raising the bigger question of whether dictionaries should reflect cultural moments or stick strictly to words with long-established definitions.
Meanwhile, others leaned into the chaos with humor. A commenter joked:
“We are doomed.”
Another added:
“The kids of the next generation are gonna be absolutely COOKED.”
These lighthearted takes underline the generational divide. While younger internet users celebrate their slang making history, older ones aren’t sure if the dictionary should be playing along.
And then there were those who embraced the spirit of the word itself. As one user simply put it: “That’s some real skibidi.”
To them, the inclusion was not a crisis; it was proof that the randomness of online culture has fully infiltrated mainstream recognition.
Reactions aside, the transition highlights a broader trend: dictionaries are changing more rapidly than ever in order to keep up with the way people are talking on the internet. Slang once dismissed as fleeting is now gaining serious consideration because of its cultural weight and ubiquity of usage. Whether you see this as progress or as the dumbing down of language, there's no arguing that words like "delulu" describe the world we live in today.
It also shows the extent to which internet culture has influence over mainstream institutions. What was dismissed as "just memes" is now being parsed, saved, and defined by credible sources such as Cambridge. It's recognition that our online lives are shaping not only the way we communicate but also the way language evolves.
Love it or hate it, the term has made its mark. Its inclusion in the Cambridge Dictionary is more than the recognition of a viral trend; it's proof that online slang is no longer the domain of comment sections and TikTok videos. It's becoming part of our everyday language.
For others, it's a sign that the future of language will be a little more haphazard than they would like. But one thing is for sure: if 2023 kids actually "sealed their legacy," it's going to be remembered in the most skibidi fashion possible.
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