An Oxford English Dictionary (OED) page that introduces "dalgona" / Captured from OED website

As the presence of Korean culture continues to grow worldwide — from chart-topping K-pop to binge-worthy K-dramas — Korean words are increasingly becoming part of the global lexicon.

Reflecting this phenomenon, the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) welcomed eight Korean words as new entries in its recent update, including "dalgona," which garnered global attention in 2021 after it was featured in the smash-hit Korean Netflix series "Squid Game."

According to the website, Tuesday, the dictionary's latest addition from December 2024 includes eight words of Korean origin: dalgona, dalgona coffee, "hyung," "noraebang," "maknae," "jjigae," "tteokbokki" and "pansori."

The dictionary defines dalgona as "a Korean confection made by adding baking soda to melted sugar, typically sold by street vendors in the form of a flat disc with a simple shape such as a heart, star, etc., carved on its surface."

Dalgona coffee, which went viral on social media during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, earned its own entry, separate from dalgona. It is a sweet, frothy coffee made by stirring instant coffee, sugar and hot water.

"Dalgona," inspired by the popularity of Netflix's "Squid Game," is on display during the Korean Week event in Sesto San Giovanni, Italy, in this 2021 file photo. The Korean confection, made by adding baking soda to melted sugar, entered the Oxford English Dictionary in December 2024. Courtesy of Consulate General of Korea in Milan

Jjigae and tteokbokki are also names of Korean dishes, with jjigae referring to broth-based stews, and tteokbokki meaning rice cakes cooked in a spicy sauce.

Words such as hyung and maknae, originally used to refer to family members or acquaintances, have taken on expanded meanings within the K-pop world. Maknae, for instance, which originally means the youngest sibling, now also denotes "the youngest member of a K-pop group."

Formerly used unanimously as karaoke, the dictionary recognized the Korean term noraebang as a separate entry to refer to "a private room which can be hired by a person or group to perform karaoke." It cited a quote from the 2013 novel, "Bleeding Edge," by Thomas Pynchon, sharing the usage of the word.

This is the first time in three years that the dictionary has added words originating from Korean culture. In September 2021, it added 26 words, such as K-drama, a noun for Korean soap opera series; "hallyu," a noun for international interest in K-culture; "mukbang," a noun for a video of a person eating; and "daebak," an interjection expressing enthusiastic approval.

"We are all riding the crest of the Korean wave and this can be felt not only in film, music, or fashion but also in our language, as evidenced by some of the words and phrases of Korean origin included in the latest update of the Oxford English Dictionary," the dictionary said in the release as it introduced the words at the time.

First published in 1884, OED is one of the leading dictionaries among English speakers. It currently operates on an online platform and is updated quarterly. The updates include new additions of words or senses and revision of existing entries.

The dictionary contains about 500,000 words and phrases used in past and present English, along with their etymology, meanings and examples of sentences used in novels, academic papers, news articles and social media posts.