GIGIL

Gigil is a Filipino term from the Tagalog language that refers to the overwhelming urge to pinch or squeeze something because it is unbearably cute or adorable. It can also describe an intense feeling of excitement that manifests physically. The word has been part of Filipino culture for generations and doesn't have a direct one-word equivalent in English. Gigil began to gain international recognition in the 2010s, through social media sharing of Filipino culture and through articles about "untranslatable" words from around the world. It gained particular attention around 2013-2015, when various publications featured it in articles about unique words from different languages that describe specific emotions.

In Filipino culture, the expression "nanggigigil ako sa'yo" ("I feel gigil toward you") is commonly said to cute children or pets, often accompanied by gentle pinching or squeezing gestures. Gigil is used in English to describe a specific emotional experience that lacks a one-word English equivalent. In many cases, it is accompanied by an explanation of its meaning, as it is not a term that is universally recognized. For example:

"Gigil" is used in English as a borrowed word to describe a specific emotional experience that lacks a one-word English equivalent. It fills a lexical gap for a common experience. It is not yet a widely recognized English slang word, but rather a borrowed word that's gradually gaining recognition. Most English speakers would still need an explanation of what "gigil" means if they encountered it. English speakers typically use it as a noun ("I'm feeling gigil") rather than trying to conjugate it as a verb like in Tagalog. It's normally italicized or treated as a foreign term when written in more formal contexts, but increasingly appears without italics in casual writing as it becomes more integrated into English usage.