Do You Live In "Goblin Mode"? Oxford Word Of The Year 2022 Might Describe You Too

Oxford has once again put the people to vote on which word will be the word of the year. In 2022, it is clearly the phrase "goblin mode". The term refers to a type of behaviour that is unashamedly egotistical, lazy, or greedy, usually in a way that rejects societal norms or the expectations of others, writes The Guardian. 

More than 340,000 English-speaking people around the world took part in the vote. Finally, a column with the three most popular words was created, compiled by linguists from Oxford University Press. Despite the fact that we are talking about words, the column also contains phrases or hashtags.

Why goblin mode?

Given how difficult a year we've had, the phrase goblin mode describes all of us who are feeling overwhelmed at the moment. "It's okay to admit that we're not always the idealized, cultured selves that social networks like Instagram and Tiktok make us present. Evidence of this is the dramatic rise of platforms such as BeReal, where users share images of their unedited selves, often capturing goblin mode," adds Casper Grathwohl, president of Oxford Languages.

The word combination is derived from the word "goblin". It refers to a small, rebellious, angry and often mischievous elf from European medieval legends.

The winning expression first appeared on Twitter in 2009. It was only later, in February 2022, that it became viral on social media. This was after it was posted on Twitter in a mocking caption.

"Goblin mode points to the real, corrupted self," Guardian reporter Kari Paul wrote in March, attributing the rise in use of the term to the third year of the pandemic and the feared start of World War III.

The hashtag #goblinmode on Tiktok is also often used as a mockery of the "that girl" trend, which aims to be "the best version of yourself". This includes activities such as getting up early in the morning, exercising, getting procedures done, taking care of your skin, or drinking organic green smoothies. And, of course, sharing your best self on social media.

Oxford University Press reported that the use of "goblin mode" increased in the first half of 2022, as the measures linked to the coronavirus pandemic were relaxed in many countries. "The phrase seemed to capture the prevailing mood of individuals rejecting the idea of a return to 'normal life' or rebelling against the increasingly unattainable aesthetic standards and unsustainable lifestyles presented on social media," the OUP people said.

Goblin mode, metaverse and #IStandWith

Expressions that were placed on the lower rungs are also interesting. In second place you will find the word "metaverse" and closely followed by "#IStandWith". As many as 318,956 people chose the first, winning expression, which represents 93 percent of the total number of votes. Oxford Languages president Casper Grathwohl said that while he and his colleagues had hoped the public would participate in this year's vote, they were very surprised by the level of engagement.