Gigil gigil

· from Tagalog

What does gigil mean?

Gigil is the Tagalog urge to squeeze or pinch something unbearably cute, also used for trembling frustration.

It is what you feel looking at a chubby baby's cheeks. Psychologists call the general phenomenon cute aggression. Gigil can also express irritation, depending on context.

Examples

Nanggigigil ako sa baby! (the baby is so cute I want to squeeze it!); gigil na gigil (extremely worked up)

Kungfucius says: Gigil: when something is so cute you get slightly violent.