Content creators stick to the trends: rizz, sigma, and the latest Gen Z panache, but Adam Aleksic is determined to explain the mechanics behind this vast Internet language.
He's translated Cardi B's “WAP” into a click-based dolphin language, decoded Waluigi's distinctive sound into the International Phonetic Alphabet, and delivered a TED Talk at the University of Pennsylvania with this iconic quote:
“You're so skibidi. You're so fanum tax. I just wanna be your sigma. Freaking come here. Give me your Ohio.”

Courtesy of Aleksic
Aleksic, better known as Etymology Nerd, explained in an interview with The Teen Magazine, “I saw a niche. There wasn’t a big linguistics content-creating account out there. I was just making videos. I went viral when I made a dolphin language. And it spoke to a lot of people."
However, Aleksic didn’t see himself creating language-based content in the beginning. He got into linguistics after reading Etymologicon by Mark Forsyth in high school.
“It’s a circular stroll through the English language,” Aleksic said. “So, I read that, got really into it, and started an etymology blog.”
Then, his passion for etymology blossomed into an academic career at Harvard. Even amid the chaos of COVID and quarantine, Aleksic helmed a linguistics society, hosting figures like the FBI linguist who caught the Unabomber and the creator of the Game of Thrones languages. He also published research on how language policy affected Serbian and Croatian identities. However, he didn’t want to stay in academia. “I was good at storytelling. I wanted to focus on the public communication of linguistics, which we don't have enough of."
Aleksic's journey into content creation began on an uneasy whim.
“I was wondering — as all linguistics students do — what do I do with this degree? So, I started making online linguistics content. I’d had some experience producing written content, but it was scary to move to video, a whole new format," he said.
At first, he stuck to lighthearted videos, explaining Gen Z slang like “skibidi” and “gyatt.” It took Aleksic some time to shape his content for the algorithm.
As his following grew, Aleksic started focusing on more serious content. For instance, he released a series of election-related videos explaining how linguistics relates to politics. This came with a raft of challenges. He found himself being stitched for even the smallest misstep or for skipping over minor details.
“You’ll get negative comments; it’s inevitable, but it gets balanced out by the positive ones. I’ve had people tell me they got into linguistics because of me. You’ll never have 100% of people supporting you, but as long as you have supporters who matter, that’s what counts. I think 'nerd' is a respectable title — it’s fun, and if you find others who think it’s fun, that’s all that matters. There’s a community of linguists, and it’s cool to have that.”
Aleksic has also created a new community beyond the screen through his writing. The 23-year-old’s work has appeared in The Washington Post, and he’s started his own Substack. Essentially, he’s found an intersection between linguistics, content creation, writing, and sharing his passion with the world. I had to ask him, “Are you living your dream right now?”
He replied after some thought, “I don’t think I could have a job I enjoy more than this. It’s a lot of fun, and I feel a high intrinsic drive to do it. I’m a bit obsessed with what I’m doing.”
That obsession has fueled his latest project, a book titled Algospeak: How Social Media Is Transforming the Future of Language, published by Penguin Random House. It explores how Internet censorship and algorithms create new words and how language communities are evolving with labels like “cottagecore” and “coquette.”
“Niche communities on the Internet are coming up with their own words. K-pop stans came up with ‘delulu,’ and Swifties coined ‘era,’ and then algorithms blow these words up,” he explained.

Courtesy of Aleksic/Knopf
Aleksic believes that words are the same thing as metadata and memes. He continued, “Now that we're modifying our communication around what is going viral, we're getting a lot of new language.” And speaking of memes, a perk of this new book is “getting to talk about Skibidi Toilet.”
More broadly, Aleksic believes language reflects what’s happening in society. “Linguistics is so important," he said, "If you understand what's going on linguistically, you begin to see the patterns in our culture. The more you understand about etymology, the more you understand who we are as humans.”
When asked about his future plans, Aleksic shared that he wants to lean more into writing and perhaps shift toward making long-form YouTube videos, while continuing to create short-form content. The game plan, though, remains the same: to keep communicating linguistics to the broader public.
Let us slide into your dms 🥰
Get notified of top trending articles like this one every week! (we won't spam you)Fun Questions
This conversation has been lightly edited for clarity and length.
Shah: What's a word to describe how you're feeling today?
My favorite word ever is my only tattoo—it's a German word, umwelt, which means the world as it is perceived by a particular organism.
Aleksic points to the word ‘umwelt’ traced on his upper arm.
I like the idea that we're all out there perceiving uniquely and come with our backgrounds. It informs how we approach language.
Now, can you say umwelt in your dolphin language?
I don't have the dolphin language on tap—it's written down, so I have to go down and translate it.
I was just teasing.
Oh haha. I can do a couple of words on demand. The bird language, though, that's tough.
I don't have a perfect pitch, and it relies on the pitch. So, I'd have to practice for a few hours.
Wait, so how long did it take you to make those bird videos?!
For the 1-minute bird language videos, I had to practice for 3 or 4 hours. I really had nothing better to do.
If you could create another language, what would it be?
I think about this a lot. My first question is, what is the weirdest noise I can make with my mouth that seems fun? So, there are a few options.
I could make a beatboxing language. I've been drawing up some ideas. And also, it doesn't have to be with my mouth. What if it's a language based on dance? The point is—communication can be done in a lot of ways, and it's fun to goof around with how you build language.
Let's say a dolphin could understand your language. What's the first thing you'd say?
First of all, very valid question. I think because of the concept of umwelt, humans tend to project ideas that animals could use some kind of comparable thing in human language. I don't think we could ever decode how dolphins talk because they have a completely different worldview than us. I'd probably try to start communicating with the dolphin about its umwelt.
One of your Op-Eds was on tone tags and how we use emojis to convey humor and lightheartedness. How do you text as a linguist?
I will say my research has informed the way I text. I've gotten more casual. When I started texting, I was more formal; I used uppercase and periods.
But language is always about vibes, and the way I try to match your vibe when we're speaking is what I do over text. I use lowercase and more emojis. I understand their function better through research.
So, let's say someone sends you a funny video. How are you going to reply?
The funny reel send is a fascinating example because it's more of a social situation. There are different people you have different vibes with. Some people might send a reel, and you might just not respond.
Or you might have to be like, “ha ha.” Or you like it. I think communication is often contextual, and on social media, the best thing to do is to understand how the other person is as a communicator and match their level of communication.
Algospeak: How Social Media Is Transforming the Future of Language is available for pre-order.