Are you as annoyed by the word ‘vape’ as these netizens?

MANILA, Philippines – Move over “selfie.” A smokin’ new word is now on top. 

“Vape,” referring to the act of inhaling and exhaling from an e-cigarette, was tagged Word of the Year by the staff of the Oxford English Dictionary. It beat contenders such as “bae,” a romantic term of endearment; “normcore,” a fashion style highlighting boring, ordinary clothes; and “slacktivist,” a person who is only politically active online. 

Casper Grathwohl, president of Oxford’s dictionaries division, said the word “vape” is reflective of the current concerns about our health, our freedoms, and legislation. The World Health Organization (WHO), for instance, recommends banning the sale of e-cigarettes to minors, and New York City has even imposed such a ban on its citizens. 

Nonetheless, news of the word choice was met with ire and annoyance from some netizens. Below is a sampling of their reactions:

Do you vape? Why or why not? How do you feel about this year’s word choice? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below! – Rappler.com

Man vaping an electronic cigarette photo from Shutterstock