Oxford Dictionary Recognizes the Word “Gigil”
GIGIL – The Filipino word, has officially been added to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), one of the most respected dictionaries in the English language.
For Filipinos, gigil has two main meanings. The first refers to an overwhelming emotion that causes someone to clench their teeth or tremble, often due to frustration or irritation—such as saying, “Nanggigigil ako sa inis!” (“I’m so frustrated, I could grind my teeth!”). The second meaning refers to the strong urge to squeeze or pinch something adorable, like a baby’s chubby cheeks, leading to expressions like “Nakakagigil! Ang sarap pisilin ng pisngi!” (“So cute! I want to pinch those cheeks!”).
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, gigil as a noun is defined as “an intense feeling caused by anger, eagerness, or the pleasure of seeing someone or something cute or adorable, typically physically manifested by tightly clenching hands, gritting teeth, trembling, or pinching or squeezing the object of emotion.” When used as an adjective, it describes a person as “overwhelmed by an intense feeling caused by anger, eagerness, or the pleasure of seeing someone or something cute or adorable.”
The Oxford English Dictionary is one of the most comprehensive references for the English language. First published in 1884 by Oxford University Press, it currently contains approximately 600,000 words. Each year, a team of editors carefully selects new words from thousands of suggestions worldwide. These additions come from independent research, various publications, and even crowdsourcing. The inclusion of gigil reflects the growing recognition of Filipino words in the global linguistic landscape.
Several other Tagalog terms have also made their way into the Oxford English Dictionary, including bakya (wooden clogs), bongga (extravagant or fabulous), bagoong (fermented shrimp or fish paste), sala (living room), sorbetes (local ice cream), toyo (soy sauce, or moodiness in slang), trapo (traditional politician), turon (banana spring roll), and ube (purple yam). The recognition of these words highlights the richness of Filipino culture and language, reinforcing its influence on the global stage.