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OK, bestie and twerk: Scrabble adds 300 words to its dictionary

Sep 25, 2018

The board game has been modernised with the addition of 300 words. Source: Getty.

It is one of those timeless family games that’s passed down through the generations, but now Scrabble has been given a new lease of life with a whopping 300 words added to the game’s official play dictionary.

From the likes of ‘zomboid’, which apparently means to resemble zombies, to ‘arancini’, which are a type of rice ball, there are now hundreds of extra word choices for players to score points with, as the sixth edition of Merriam-Webster’s Official Scrabble Players Dictionary has been released.

A handful of two-letter words have also been brought into play, including ‘ew’ and ‘OK’, which Scrabble fans will no doubt be happy to see.

“OK is something Scrabble players have been waiting for, for a long time,” Peter Sokolowski, from Merriam-Webster, told the ABC. “Basically two- and three-letter words are the lifeblood of the game.”

Read more: Scrabble ditches iconic green board for sleek, modern upgrade

The game’s creators said the changes have been made to ensure the game keeps up with modern language, and the addition of words that are derived from lexicon commonly used on the Internet may confuse many older players. Such words include ‘sheeple’, meaning people who are easily led, and ‘listicle’ which refers to an article presented in the form of a list.

Jonathan Berkowitz, President of Hasbro Brands, told CNN: “Additions like these will add a new layer of fun to game night, making game play even more entertaining and relevant. ‘Q’ words are always tough, especially those without a ‘u’ in them. Players can monetise with the word qapik, which is a unit of currency in Azerbaijan.

“Scrabble has been a game night staple for 70 years, and we’re excited to bring the game into its next decade.”

It’s not just the words that have been given an upgrade though, as last week it was also revealed that the iconic green chequered playing board has been refreshed too and will now have a much more modern appearance in black and gold.

The limited edition redesign was done in celebration of the board game’s 70th anniversary, and the board, tile pieces and letter stands have all been given a more updated look.

Some of the new words include:

Zomboid; resembles zombies
Bestie; refers to a best friend
Facepalm; to cover one’s face with the hand as an expression of embarrassment, dismay, or exasperation
Sheeple; docile people who are easily led
Twerk; to dance by shaking the buttocks while squatting
Ew; used to express disgust
Frowny; showing a frown
Beatdown; an overwhelming defeat
Arancini; balls of cooked rice
Bizjet; a small aeroplane used for business