From ‚dalgona‘ to ‚hyung,‘ Oxford English Dictionary welcomes 8 new Korean words

An Oxford English Dictionary (OED) web page that introduces „dalgona“ / Captured from OED web site

Because the presence of Korean tradition continues to develop worldwide — from chart-topping Okay-pop to binge-worthy Okay-dramas — Korean phrases are more and more turning into a part of the worldwide lexicon.

Reflecting this phenomenon, the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) welcomed eight Korean phrases as new entries in its current replace, together with „dalgona,“ which garnered world consideration in 2021 after it was featured within the smash-hit Korean Netflix collection “Squid Recreation.”

In response to the web site, Tuesday, the dictionary’s newest addition from December 2024 consists of eight phrases of Korean origin: dalgona, dalgona espresso, „hyung,“ „noraebang,“ „maknae,“ „jjigae,“ „tteokbokki“ and „pansori.“

The dictionary defines dalgona as „a Korean confection made by including baking soda to melted sugar, usually offered by road distributors within the type of a flat disc with a easy form resembling a coronary heart, star, and so on., carved on its floor.“

Dalgona espresso, which went viral on social media through the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, earned its personal entry, separate from dalgona. It’s a candy, frothy espresso made by stirring prompt espresso, sugar and scorching water.

„Dalgona,“ impressed by the recognition of Netflix’s „Squid Recreation,“ is on show through the Korean Week occasion in Sesto San Giovanni, Italy, on this 2021 file photograph. The Korean confection, made by including baking soda to melted sugar, entered the Oxford English Dictionary in December 2024. Courtesy of Consulate Normal of Korea in Milan

Jjigae and tteokbokki are additionally names of Korean dishes, with jjigae referring to broth-based stews, and tteokbokki that means rice truffles cooked in a spicy sauce.

Phrases resembling hyung and maknae, initially used to confer with members of the family or acquaintances, have taken on expanded meanings throughout the Okay-pop world. Maknae, as an illustration, which initially means the youngest sibling, now additionally denotes „the youngest member of a Okay-pop group.“

Previously used unanimously as karaoke, the dictionary acknowledged the Korean time period noraebang as a separate entry to confer with “a personal room which will be employed by an individual or group to carry out karaoke.” It cited a quote from the 2013 novel, “Bleeding Edge,” by Thomas Pynchon, sharing the utilization of the phrase.

That is the primary time in three years that the dictionary has added phrases originating from Korean tradition. In September 2021, it added 26 phrases, resembling Okay-drama, a noun for Korean cleaning soap opera collection; „hallyu,“ a noun for worldwide curiosity in Okay-culture; „mukbang,“ a noun for a video of an individual consuming; and „daebak,“ an interjection expressing enthusiastic approval.

“We’re all using the crest of the Korean wave and this may be felt not solely in movie, music, or style but additionally in our language, as evidenced by a number of the phrases and phrases of Korean origin included within the newest replace of the Oxford English Dictionary,” the dictionary stated within the launch because it launched the phrases on the time.

First revealed in 1884, OED is without doubt one of the main dictionaries amongst English audio system. It at the moment operates on a web based platform and is up to date quarterly. The updates embody new additions of phrases or senses and revision of present entries.

The dictionary comprises about 500,000 phrases and phrases utilized in previous and current English, together with their etymology, meanings and examples of sentences utilized in novels, tutorial papers, information articles and social media posts.