10 Facebook-coined terms that changed the English language

With Facebook’s 10th anniversary approaching, you’ll likely hear a lot about how the social network has changed the way we live. However, one aspect that many will overlook is its lasting effect on English vocabulary.

There’s no doubt that plenty of social networks have introduced words and phrases into the vernacular, and none more so than the 1.19 billion-strong Facebook, whose various slang terms have crossed digital borders and found their way into everyday life. We’re still not sure whether to thank them or hate them forever for it.

Below, we take a look back at the contributions that Facebook has made to our ever-growing lexicon.

Facebook Official

(adjective) The quality of solidifying one’s romantic relationship by putting it on Facebook.

•If you like it then you should put a ring on it. Making it Facebook official probably would’ve helped as well.

Friend

(verb) To add another Facebook user as a friend; to digitally befriend.

•I’m not going to friend Jerry, even though he’s my friend, because I don’t want him to see that I’m a fan of James Blunt.

Like

(verb) To show your appreciation with a thumbs up on Facebook.

•I liked your pic on Facebook. Well, I didn’t like it, but I like it. Hold on, I’ll go like it.

Poke

(verb) To alert another user that you exist by sending them a notification.

•My geology professor keeps poking me. I haven’t had him since freshman year.

Pro Pic

(noun) The photo that represents you on your public profile and when you leave comments.

•I think this is definitely pro pic material, but I’d rather you not post it because I have a feeling it could be admissible in a court of law.

Stalk

(verb) To look too deeply into another’s Facebook posts and pictures, regardless of familiarity with that person.

•Remember Deborah, from high school? I stalked her for like four hours last night. She’s a paleontologist now.

Tag

(verb) To add a link to another user’s profile through a photo, status or comment.

•Don’t tag me in that, I have family members that care about me on here.

Unfriend

(verb) To remove someone as a Facebook connection.

•I unfriended you because your frequent statuses about how you miss the beach upset me.

Unlike

(verb) To redact a formerly liked post by pressing the like button again.

•I’ve spent three hours unliking all of her profile pictures that I liked, so she knows I’m over it.

Wall

(noun) The public face of your profile, where your posts and others’ posts to you appear.

•Get your computer off the floor and step away from the window, check out what Todd just wrote on my wall.

—Mashable.com