Did you know that the English dictionary is updated every year? Its publishers add words that are frequently used in the media and in everyday life. Let's learn some of the new English words for 2018.
LIFE HACK (a clever way or innovative trick to make your life easier).
A life hack is a clever way or innovative trick to make some simple, everyday task easier. Many life hacks involve using common household items for new purposes or doing something in a more convenient and efficient way.
TIME SUCK (time waster).
'Time suck' is used for any activity that takes up a lot of time when that time could be spent on other, more productive goals. Social media and video games can be a time suck for many people.
BANDWIDTH (radio frequency; mental/emotional capacity).
The word bandwidth already existed in the dictionary and refers to radio frequencies. But in 2018, the word bandwidth in the dictionary gained a new definition – the mental/emotional capacity to deal with things. If you have many activities and responsibilities, and someone asks you to take on a new task, you could refuse with a sentence like: 'Sorry, I just don't have the bandwidth to take that on right now.' This means that your mind and consciousness are already so filled with worries that you cannot take on more.
RANDO (random).
This is slang for a random person, but it's often used with a negative meaning to describe a strange or unwanted person. For example: 'My sister has been afraid of going to bars ever since some rando followed her home from a bar.'
HANGRY (angry from hunger).
This is a combination of the words 'hungry' and 'angry' – and describes someone who is unusually irritable because they are hungry.
MOCKTAIL (mocktail).
To understand the word 'mocktail', we first need to look at the word 'cocktail'. It refers to a drink made with alcohol and other flavors/ingredients. For example, a 'Margarita' is made from tequila, orange liqueur, and lemon juice. A mocktail is a mixed drink similar to a cocktail, but without alcohol.
TENT CITY (tent city).
When there is a large number of tents pitched in a given area to provide temporary shelter for homeless people or refugees or for political protest, it becomes known as a 'tent city'.
GLAMPING ('glamping' or luxury camping).
This word is a combination of the words 'glamorous' and 'camping'. It refers to camping in nature, but with added extras that you wouldn't have with normal camping. For example, regular camping involves sleeping on the ground and building a fire for cooking. With glamping, you might have a soft bed in your fantastic custom tent, as well as access to electricity, internet, and so on.
MANSPLAIN (to mansplain).
Another combination of words: 'man' + 'explain' = mansplain. This means when a man explains something to a woman in an arrogant way, speaks to her as if she is stupid or has no knowledge.
DUMPSTER FIRE (disaster, complete catastrophe).
This expression refers to a situation that is a complete disaster – especially one that is caused by poor planning or poor execution. Say you plan a surprise birthday party, but half the guests don't show up, you accidentally drop the cake on the floor, and the birthday person actually hates surprises. Such a party is a dumpster fire!
UNICORN (unicorn).
A unicorn is a mythical animal – a horse with a horn in the middle of its forehead. This term is now also used for a startup company whose value is over one billion dollars. Such companies are very rare.
CO-PARENTING (co-parents).
When a married couple with children separates or divorces, they can become co-parents – which means sharing the responsibilities of raising the children, even though they are no longer married.
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