MANILA — The unique Filipino term gigil, describing the intense feeling of wanting to pinch or squeeze something irresistibly cute, is now officially recognized in the Oxford English Dictionary.
The word, which has no direct translation in other languages, captures the emotional reaction of seeing something or someone so adorable that it triggers an overwhelming urge to physically react—whether it’s pinching a baby’s chubby cheeks or cuddling a fluffy puppy. According to the dictionary, gigil is “a feeling so intense that it gives us the irresistible urge to tightly clench our hands, grit our teeth, and pinch or squeeze whomever or whatever it is we find so adorable.”
In addition to being used as a noun, the word can also function as an adjective to describe someone experiencing this overwhelming emotion. For example, a Filipino saying “I’m gigil” is simply expressing that they are overcome with positive feelings.
International recognition of the word gigil has also been bolstered by high-profile mentions, such as by BTS member Jin, who uttered the phrase “Gigil niyo si ako” during the group’s Wings concert in Manila in 2017.
This addition of gigil is part of the latest update to the Oxford English Dictionary, which also includes several other Philippine English words, such as CR (comfort room), kababayan (fellow countryman), lumpia (spring roll), Pinoy (Filipino), salakot (traditional hat), sando (T-shirt), Thomasite (early American teachers in the Philippines), and videoke (a portmanteau of “video” and “karaoke”).
With these new entries, the Oxford English Dictionary continues to acknowledge the rich and diverse linguistic contributions from around the world.
