Pre-reading Questions:
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- What is a new word you have learned recently, in English or your own language?
- How do you feel when people use new slang words that you do not know?
Vocabulary:
I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.
- nonsense /NON-sens/
[noun] – words or ideas that have no meaning or make no sense
The children laughed at the nonsense words in the funny storybook. - influence /IN-floo-uhns/
[verb] – to affect or change the way someone thinks, behaves, or develops
Teachers often influence how students choose their future jobs. - database /DEY-tuh-beys/
[noun] – a large collection of information that is stored and organized so it can be easily used
The hospital keeps a database of patient records for doctors to check. - substance /SUHB-stuhns/
[noun] – a type of material or matter with a particular quality
The factory was fined for releasing a dangerous substance into the river. - vibrancy /VAHY-bruhn-see/
[noun] – the quality of being full of energy, life, or activity
The vibrancy of local traditions can be seen in the city’s festivals.
Article Reading:
Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.
The Cambridge Dictionary announced in 2025 that more than 6,000 new words and phrases have been included to show the fast development of modern English. One of the most discussed additions is skibidi, a nonsense word from a popular animated YouTube series. It can mean “cool,” “bad,” or simply serve as a playful filler without clear meaning. Other new words include tradwife, short for “traditional wife,” describing a married woman who takes domestic roles and shares them online, and delulu, from “delusional,” which refers to holding unrealistic beliefs. Linguists explained that many of these words come from social media platforms such as TikTok, which strongly influence how young people communicate.
The dictionary stated that new entries are selected through study of the Cambridge English Corpus, a database with billions of examples of written and spoken English. This tool helps experts measure how often new words appear and how they are used. Some recent entries reflect social and environmental concerns, including mouse jiggler, a device that makes it appear someone is working during remote tasks, and forever chemical, a harmful substance that stays in the environment for long periods. Specialists highlighted that the dictionary records language as it is used, not as it should be used. Colin McIntosh, lexical program manager, stressed that only words with clear staying power are chosen, showing the vibrancy and volatility of today’s English.
The dictionary stated that new entries are selected through study of the Cambridge English Corpus, a database with billions of examples of written and spoken English. This tool helps experts measure how often new words appear and how they are used. Some recent entries reflect social and environmental concerns, including mouse jiggler, a device that makes it appear someone is working during remote tasks, and forever chemical, a harmful substance that stays in the environment for long periods. Specialists highlighted that the dictionary records language as it is used, not as it should be used. Colin McIntosh, lexical program manager, stressed that only words with clear staying power are chosen, showing the vibrancy and volatility of today’s English.
Comprehension Questions:
I will read each question. Then, please answer them based on the article.
- How many new words and phrases were added to the dictionary?
- What is skibidi and where did it come from?
- What meanings can skibidi have?
- What database is used by the Cambridge Dictionary to study new words?
- What is a forever chemical?
Discussion Questions:
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- Have you ever used a slang word from social media? If so, what word did you use, and what did it mean? If not, where do you usually hear new words?
- Have you ever learned a new English word from a video, song, or online post? If so, how did you start using it in daily life? If not, where do you usually learn new English words?
- Do you agree that slang words should be included in official dictionaries?
- What could be good effects of adding internet words to a dictionary?
- What problems might happen if too many temporary words are added to dictionaries?