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That's right, ‘GIF’ is Oxford English Dictionaries' word of the year

 

Tuesday 13 November 2012 09:48 GMT
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National Dictionary Day - and 'selfie' is the latest word to be added
National Dictionary Day - and 'selfie' is the latest word to be added (Getty Images)

It doesn't roll off the tongue - but this year's most fabulous word is, according to Oxford English Dictionaries, "GIF".

That's right, "GIF" as in the file extension. The 25-year-old format has found a new life and "never been trendier", says Oxford University Press' Katherine Martin. Perhaps it's never passed your lips, but tumblrs making use of GIF charms have surged as bloggers find funny clips (like this) and turn their discoveries into short , looped animations.

What Should We Call Me presents the art at its best.

Runners-up for this year's dictionary prize included "Super Pac", "Eurogeddon" and "superstorm", all of which have probably been GIFed somewhere.

Are you convinced? Was "Gif" a rightful winner?...

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