The Oxford Dictionary Just Got a Spanglish Glow-Up—‘Güey,’ ‘Barbacoa,’ ‘Perreo,’ & Many More Made the Cut
Spanish-language words just got a major shoutout from the Oxford English Dictionary. In its latest update, the OED officially added over 60 new entries of Spanish origin, highlighting how U.S. Hispanic communities are reshaping English in real-time. According to HOLA!, this is a “bilingual flavor” update focused on Spanglish and cultural crossover, especially from Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, and Cuban Americans.
This isn’t just a win for words. It’s a cultural validation moment for Latinos everywhere who grew up code-switching between English and Spanish.
Food is language too, and Oxford agrees
Language isn’t just spoken — it’s eaten, too. The OED added a long list of iconic food terms that most of us have been using forever, and it’s about time they were made official. The new additions include:
- Barbacoa
- Birria
- Frijoles negros
- Bizcochito
- Elote
- Tres leches
- Torta
- Cuchifritos
- Cotija
- Comal
- Cubano
- Frita
Talk about cultural cornerstones!
The Oxford list also honors Latino slang and tradition
Beyond food, the dictionary update dives into cultural slang and traditions that have lived in Latino communities for generations. According to Oxford Languages, new entries now include:
- Güey (originally an insult, now an affectionate “dude”)
- Chilango (someone from Mexico City)
- Boricua (someone from Puerto Rico)
- Charreada and Charrería (Mexican rodeo culture)
- Vejigante (a traditional masked figure in Puerto Rican carnival)
- Nueva trova, Timba, and Descarga (genres of Cuban music)
Each of these words represents something deeper: identity, history, community, and pride. They’re no longer just part of our homes and neighborhoods — they’re now part of the official English language.
Oxford now includes Spanish interjections, and yes, “Dios mío” made the cut
Some moments are too big for English alone. That’s why it feels so right that interjections like “¡Dios mío!”, “¡Órale!”, “Por favor” and “¿Qué pasa?” are finally recognized by the OED.
According to HOLA!, these additions reflect the way bilingual speakers naturally move between languages. Sometimes, nothing hits like a Spanish interjection — especially when you’re excited, annoyed, or hyping someone up.
Oxford isn’t new to Spanish, but this update hits different
The Oxford English Dictionary has included Spanish-origin words before — think piñata, coyote, and enchilada. But this update is different in scope and tone. This time, 66 new Hispanic English entries made the cut, reflecting how deep the influence of Spanish has become in U.S. English.
The OED acknowledges this “long history of contact and mutual influence” between English and Spanish. As language evolves, so does the dictionary. In this case, it’s catching up with how people actually speak—in kitchens, on sidewalks, on TikTok, and in daily life.
