The Tagalog word “gigil” has officially made its way into the Oxford English Dictionary’s list of words that are untranslatable in English. And let me just say, I love that this word exists, because it perfectly captures a feeling I know all too well. “Gigil” is that overwhelming urge you get when something is so cute you can barely stand it. You want to squeeze it, hug it, maybe even bite it (gently, of course)—that’s gigil.

I experience gigil every single day. Blessedly so, because I’ve got three dogs who excel at making me feel that surge of overwhelming cuteness. Whether it’s their big puppy eyes, their tiny paws, or the way they curl up into tiny furballs, I am constantly overcome by gigil. How lucky am I to feel that not once, but threefold, every single day? My dogs have turned my home into a gigil factory, and I couldn’t be more grateful for it.

And then there’s my son. Talk about gigil overload. From the moment he was born, I felt that irresistible urge to squeeze him and protect him. As he’s grown, that feeling has only deepened. There’s something about watching him become who he is, while still catching glimpses of that cute, innocent child, that stirs up that familiar wave of emotion. Gigil doesn’t go away as kids grow—it just evolves. 

Words like gigil are what make language so beautiful, so endlessly fascinating. I love collecting words, talking about words, and dissecting their meanings. When a single word can encapsulate an entire emotion that English doesn’t quite capture, it feels like a gift. We need more words like gigil—words that remind us of life’s little joys, of the moments when cuteness overwhelms us, when love and affection bubble up so strongly we can barely contain it.

So, I’ll treasure this one. And every time my dogs do something heart-melting, or my son flashes that grin of his, I’ll smile and think, “Ah, there’s that gigil again.” What a wonderful word for a wonderful feeling.