This winter I added a new verb to my vocabulary … “penguin”. I might say, “When the sidewalk is icy, I penguin over the slippery parts.” Walking like a penguin makes me feel safer when traversing icy sidewalks or roads.
Verbing is the act of converting a noun into a verb. For example, the noun “friend” is now commonly used as a verb as in “she friended me on Facebook.” We also “google” to find information on the Internet. When we have an online meeting we “zoom” or “Skype” each other.
Verbing is not a new concept. In fact, it has been around for centuries. William Shakespeare was known for his use of verbing in his plays. He was famous for using nouns as verbs to create new and interesting phrases. For example, Iago says to Othello “do but cave yourself.”
Some verbing is so old we no longer recognize it as such. For example, using “rain” as a verb or “buttering” bread.
Here are some current examples of verbing:
– the chocolate was completely “liquefied” (from liquid)
– that horror movie “terrifies” me (from the noun terror)
– shall we “waltz”? (from the noun waltz)
– let’s “table” this topic until next week
– Ironically, the word “verbing” is itself an example of verbing.
The English language continues to change, absorbing words from other languages and inventing new words to accommodate cultural changes and emerging technology. Phrases such as “input/output” or “swipe left” are now used for activities that do not directly involve computers.
New words added to dictionaries in 2025 heavily feature Internet slang, social media trends, and artificial intelligence terminology.
Additions to the Cambridge dictionary in 2025 include:
– Skibidi, internet, slang for cool, bad or simply used in or as a joke.
– Delulu, short for delusional; believing things that are not real.
– Tradwife, a woman who embraces a traditional pre-feminist lifestyle.
– Broligarchy, a group of powerful men (often in tech) influencing politics.
– Lewk, a personalized, distinctive style or outfit.
– Mouse jiggler, a device that moves a computer mouse to make the user look active.
– Slop, low-quality content generated by artificial intelligence.
Some of these new words are just as unintelligible to me as Shakespeare’s sonnets were when I studied them in high school. However, I understand the desire to create new and exciting ways to communicate in a rapidly changing world.
The English language is a glorious stew, a goulash, a cassoulet. Let’s hope that artificial intelligence doesn’t render it into slop.
