# How would one go about addinga word to the English (or any other) language? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 25, 2009, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-one-go-about-addinga-word-to-the-english-or-any-other-language/504258 "2009-07-25T22:53:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bisected8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a4c791/32.png) [@Bisected8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bisected8)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-one-go-about-addinga-word-to-the-english-or-any-other-language/504258/1 "2009-07-25T22:53:48Z")
As the title said, how (if it is indeed possible) would one add a neologism, created on the spot, to an existing language? Could it be done by using it, spreading it around, and hoping it catches on? Is there a better way? Could bribing the various dictionary publishers help (what are the chances of a word catching on just because it’s in the dictionary)? For explanation’s sake, I’ve come up with the following word from (badly used) Greek root words; > [@](#): > > **aphiosichromodermophilia** _n_, a fetish for unnaturally coloured skin (i.e. that which could not be achieved by the presence of melanin alone), e.g. tattoos, body-paint, cyanosis. > > aphiosik - Unnatural > chromo - Colour > dermo - Skin > philia - to Love ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-one-go-about-addinga-word-to-the-english-or-any-other-language/504258/2 "2009-07-25T23:04:44Z")
> [@Bisected8](#): > > As the title said, how (if it is indeed possible) would one add a neologism, created on the spot, to an existing language? In English, it’s impossible. Words are accepted by the leading authorities by virtue of common and sustained use. If you can get people to start using your word - and, in this case, you won’t - then it will eventually become an accepted word. There’s no other way. ---
**Author:** ![Bisected8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a4c791/32.png) [@Bisected8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bisected8)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-one-go-about-addinga-word-to-the-english-or-any-other-language/504258/3 "2009-07-25T23:09:30Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > If you can get people to start using your word - and, in this case, you won’t - then it will eventually become an accepted word. There’s no other way. Read the line that immediatly follows that one? ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-one-go-about-addinga-word-to-the-english-or-any-other-language/504258/4 "2009-07-25T23:13:42Z")
I think you would have more luck with the word “addinga”. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-one-go-about-addinga-word-to-the-english-or-any-other-language/504258/5 "2009-07-25T23:15:16Z")
**Bisected8** , “fetch” is not happening. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-one-go-about-addinga-word-to-the-english-or-any-other-language/504258/6 "2009-07-25T23:20:35Z")
You could submit it to the Urban Dictionary. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-one-go-about-addinga-word-to-the-english-or-any-other-language/504258/7 "2009-07-25T23:21:52Z")
1. Log on to [urbandictionary.com](http://urbandictionary.com) 2. post your word 3. let the masses decide by either giving it a thumbs up or thumbs down. If you get enough thumbs up, you win, and it’s a word. ---
**Author:** ![Bisected8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a4c791/32.png) [@Bisected8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bisected8)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2009, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-one-go-about-addinga-word-to-the-english-or-any-other-language/504258/8 "2009-07-26T00:15:24Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > You could submit it to the Urban Dictionary. > [@Rigamarole](#): > > 1. Log on to [urbandictionary.com](http://urbandictionary.com) > > 2. post your word > > 3. let the masses decide by either giving it a thumbs up or thumbs down. If you get enough thumbs up, you win, and it’s a word. To be honest I’d rather gnaw off my own hand and stick the bloody stump in the toilet than visit Urban Dictionary again.. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2009, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-one-go-about-addinga-word-to-the-english-or-any-other-language/504258/9 "2009-07-26T00:28:21Z")
> [@Bisected8](#): > > To be honest I’d rather gnaw off my own hand and stick the bloody stump in the toilet than visit Urban Dictionary again.. That’s an awfully violent reaction for just visiting a website. It’s a pretty useful tool actually. What’s your beef with them? ---
**Author:** ![Bisected8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a4c791/32.png) [@Bisected8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bisected8)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2009, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-one-go-about-addinga-word-to-the-english-or-any-other-language/504258/10 "2009-07-26T01:07:29Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > That’s an awfully violent reaction for just visiting a website. It’s a pretty useful tool actually. What’s your beef with them? I don’t have anything against them, it’s just that I know I’ll spend hour and hours reading through entries on it. I have enough of that with TV Tropes and wikipedia, ty. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2009, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-one-go-about-addinga-word-to-the-english-or-any-other-language/504258/11 "2009-07-26T01:45:27Z")
It’d be very easy if you got someone like Mr Obama or Oprah to use the word. Then everyone would start and within a year it’d be in the dictionary. Again it’s now _what_ you know but _who_ ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2009, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-one-go-about-addinga-word-to-the-english-or-any-other-language/504258/12 "2009-07-26T02:12:20Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > That’s an awfully violent reaction for just visiting a website. It’s a pretty useful tool actually. What’s your beef with them? I can understand it. I tend to come away from any visit to _Urban Dictionary_ feeling totally grossed out either by the disgusting sexual practices described, or the profound misogyny (or, usually, both). Useful sometimes, yes (though I think a lot less reliable than Wikipedia), but not pleasant. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2009, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-one-go-about-addinga-word-to-the-english-or-any-other-language/504258/13 "2009-07-26T05:20:57Z")
I once read that the word “quiz” was introduced into the language by a Dublin publican, on a bet that he introduce a new word overnight. He then spent the night chalking QUIZ in large letters on walls all over the city. The next day everyone was asking questions about it, and “quiz” came to mean… It probably isn’t true (and I may have remembered some of the details wrong), and even if it is, I doubt that it would work today, but it is kind of a nice story, that has stuck with me for many years. Does anyone else know anything about it? ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2009, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-one-go-about-addinga-word-to-the-english-or-any-other-language/504258/14 "2009-07-26T06:08:12Z")
In your case: 1. Get a PhD. in sociology. 2. Write an academic paper on the subject, which includes an explanation of the neologism. 3. Publish the paper in a respected peer-reviewed publication. 4. Have other academics quote your paper - and use your word - in \*their \*papers. 5. Wait a few years until it becomes the accepted term. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2009, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-one-go-about-addinga-word-to-the-english-or-any-other-language/504258/15 "2009-07-26T06:43:31Z")
If you can convince people that aren’t friends or family to use the word regularly (and when you’re not around), then I think you can safely say it’s become a cromulent neologism. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2009, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-one-go-about-addinga-word-to-the-english-or-any-other-language/504258/16 "2009-07-26T07:29:47Z")
Go to Dublin, hire all the street urchins in to chalk it on the walls all over the place overnight. In the morning everybody will be talking about it, asking each other “What does this new word mean?” ---
**Author:** ![J\_Cubed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@J\_Cubed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/J_Cubed)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2009, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-one-go-about-addinga-word-to-the-english-or-any-other-language/504258/17 "2009-07-27T18:56:44Z")
1. Create a popular book, movie, or television series that follows a young protagonist’s awakening of heretofore hidden powers and journey through a mysterious world just out of sight from what everyone else perceives. 2. Invent a word to describe people who are unaware of the world you hero inhabits, people who have powers similar to your hero, or just have your hero and friends use English morphological rules in unconventional ways. 3. Profit! ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2009, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-one-go-about-addinga-word-to-the-english-or-any-other-language/504258/18 "2009-07-28T01:02:03Z")
> [@J\_Cubed](#): > > 1. Create a popular book, movie, or television series that follows a young protagonist’s awakening of heretofore hidden powers and journey through a mysterious world just out of sight from what everyone else perceives. > 2. Invent a word to describe people who are unaware of the world you hero inhabits, people who have powers similar to your hero, or just have your hero and friends use English morphological rules in unconventional ways. > 3. Profit! I **grok** that only a **muggle** would come up with such a scheme. It would never ever occur to a **hobbit** , for example. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2009, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-one-go-about-addinga-word-to-the-english-or-any-other-language/504258/19 "2009-07-28T11:40:50Z")
> [@J\_Cubed](#): > > 1. Create a popular book, movie, or television series … What a perfectly cromulent idea! It embiggens\* my heart just contemplating it. (\*Technically not a neo- but more like a reneo-.) ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2009, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-one-go-about-addinga-word-to-the-english-or-any-other-language/504258/20 "2009-07-28T17:41:06Z")
Renovatude. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-one-go-about-addinga-word-to-the-english-or-any-other-language/504258.md?page=2)