Gigil
Etymology
Tagalog (Filipino). It names the trembling intensity of an emotion too strong to contain, most famously the urge to squeeze a cute baby or animal, though it can also describe seething frustration. In 2025 the Oxford English Dictionary added gigil among a batch of Philippine English words, noting that English has no direct equivalent.
noun · /GEE-gil/
The overwhelming urge to squeeze or pinch something unbearably cute.
What it names
That almost aggressive rush of tenderness — gritted teeth and clenched hands — at something adorable.
Example
The puppy was so fluffy I felt an overwhelming gigil and had to hug it.
Related idea
Psychologists call the impulse cute aggression, but gigil is the lived feeling itself, not the clinical label.
See also