Language bubble burst by an outbreak of viral words

This pandemic has changed so much about our lives.

We’ve isolated, self-quarantined and sheltered in place, like there was a tornado coming. In a way, there was.

Will we use the word “essential” for anything other than people again? Come to think of it, will our language ever be the same?

Merriam-Webster’s 2020 Word of the Year was “pandemic,” selected based on the increase of people looking up its meaning.

But that’s not the word we hate the most, according to a survey of 3,700 adults across the country by PRPioneer .com, a public relations and communications website.

The No. 1 most detested pandemicrelated word or phrase was “outbreak,” for 16 percent of those surveyed.

They also hated “bubble,” a lovely word evoking visions of pink gum and soapy baths until it defined the small group of people we could safely socialize with. Fifteen percent ranked it No. 2.

No. 3 was “flattening the curve,” with 13 percent.

Tied with 10 percent was “second wave,” which automatically amps our anxiety, and “The ’Rona,” what the cool kids call coronavirus.

Among Arizona respondents, 89 of them, “outbreak” also was first, with 34 percent never wanting to hear it again, followed by “flattening the curve” (21 percent) and “second wave” (15 percent).

Fourth was “unprecedented,” which 11 percent had heard enough of in the last year. (Everything about this pandemic has been unprecedented.) Eight percent hated “bubble,” ranking it No. 5.

As if all those words aren’t enough, we’ve come up with more, like “quarantini” for our cocktails consumed in isolation and “maskne” to explain why our faces are breaking out.

But the day will come when we won’t talk like this anymore. Except in the past tense.