An Oxford English Dictionary (OED) page that introduces "dalgona" / Captured from OED website By Lee Gyu-lee 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. 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.
