A word of ancient English continues to depopulate on Tiktok

For months that the “Lore” is everywhere. On social media, in particular on Tiktok, but also in articles, discussions and within the most varied and varied online conversations. It is a word from ancient English, present in the candidate rose to the word of the year of Oxford University Press, who has close ties with ‘Folklore’, much more known and widespread lexeme in our spoken vocabulary.

‘Lore’ identifies all that set of stories, plots and theories that bring a simple story to a higher level by transforming it into a real complex and stratified world. Usually it appears in contexts linked to the fantasy world, to that of science fiction and, in general, to what the world of entertainment and celebrities touches. Today, however, it touches anyone who wants to open up, tell more about himself and his past. “That’s my lore”in fact. And, from the end of 2022, it is one of the most loved terms by Gen Z.

Its use, explains the Wall Street Journal, had a new surge during the weeks of ‘ban’ risk that Tiktok crossed in the United States at the beginning of 2025, with the influencers and content creators who wanted, before the possible oblivion , show their community sides of their existence still unknown. The mechanism behind this form of expression, in fact, is very simple and is based on the attempt to pass the message for which every life has hidden, sometimes mysterious, sometimes painful facets. In a lighter sense, and fun, ‘Lore’ is instead used for shock revelations, such as those relating to the discoveries of children on dark sides of their parents’ lives, in details of the fathers.

The most arcane meaning, Oxford reports, dates back to a thousand years ago and revolves more around the context of ‘being educated’ on a certain fact or on a certain person to have full understanding of a specific topic that emerged during a discussion. It would seem to derive from ancient English, “tradition, what is taught, doctrine”. In short, the will to be fully informed about a question to summarize everything in a brutal way.

If we go back to the world of fantasy stories, from novels to video games, we understand how the ‘lore’ has a central and lasting importance. The characters who tell, or reveal, fragments of their past or present, create profound connections and during those who read or play, contributing to the success of a product. Just think of the “lord of the rings ‘a’ dunes”, a ‘Harry Potter’, to the ‘Final Fantasy’ saga. But also to group play activities such as ‘Dungeon & Dragons’.

An ancient word that finds new life to fulfill the oldest of desires: to tell stories. Whether they are real or imagination, who know how to upset or surprise, whether they are demolitions or revealing, it doesn’t matter. The important thing is to give people the opportunity to express themselves, to discover unexpected sides of self, to contribute to the construction of increasingly tied communities.