Phrases like “That’s so 9-10,” evolved after the 9-11 attacks to describe something rather old fashioned or passe. These days of Corona, I’ve noted new words with different meanings than they’ve had before. And so, I’ve compiled this dictionary of terms. Pre-Covid to Covid Translation.

Antibodies (n)- Pre-Covid: a blood protein produced in response to and counteracting a specific antigen. Antibodies form when the body recognizes bacteria or viruses, and any foreign substances in the blood.

Covid: a word signifying a superpower of sorts, as in “I have antibodies, I was tested and came back positive, so I feel very safe.” Or – a word signifying uncertainty, as in, ‘You think you can’t get infected by COVID-19 again just because you have antibodies? Think again.”

Asymptomatic (adj) – Pre-Covid – a condition or person producing or showing no symptoms.

Covid – a condition or person producing or showing no symptoms, and having the potential to emit germs and virus onto another person including children, who can then show symptoms, and become sick.

Bubble (n) – Pre-Covid – (also known as pod or quaranteam) used to refer to a good or fortunate situation that is separated from reality or unlikely to last.

Covid– used to refer to a groups of people who agree to have contact with each other only, and practice social distancing with everyone else, as in, “Sorry, I can’t come to your meeting in person because you’re outside my bubble.”

Corona (n) – Pre-Covid – the name of an area in California, and a street name in various cities; a possible word to rhyme with balogna when writing poetry.

Covid- the word used by children to explain any reason they can’t do something that they wish to do, as in “Mommy, we can’t visit Grandma because of Corona?” Also used as a word to lump in with all complaints, “Oh this Corona stuff is driving me crazy,” or “When is Corona going to be over?”

Coronacoaster (n) – Covid pantemanteau -“the feeling of uncertainty, anxiety, and helplessness surveying news and information concerning humankind’s possible demise from COVID-19” (urban dictionary); also, the ups and downs of human emotions during COVID-19, one minute enjoying the simple life, and the next minute having a mini nervous breakdown.

Coronavirus (n) Pre-Covid – a type of virus that caused various respiratory illnesses such as MERS and SARS.

Covid- the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, for Corona Virus Disease of 2019, newly identified coronavirus, that caused worldwide pandemic of respiratory illness.

Covidiots (n) – Covid pantemanteau (Covid – idiot); refers to those people who behave wrongly during time of COVID-19. The behavior can vary and span the spectrum from wearing masks too much to not wearing masks at all. The one who assigns the name to the other is usually on the opposite end of the spectrum in his or her behavior and so declares said person a Covidiot. Ex: “He is such a covidiot; he never wears a mask and thinks he’s immune.” Or “She’s a bonafide covidiot; she thinks wearing masks will protect her.”

Covid-moment – (n) – Covid pantemanteau or neologism – a moment of forgetfulness or craziness as experienced suddenly and intermittently by adults during their day, previously referred to as “senior-moment” for those in their middle or advanced ages, but now relegated to any human who is stressed during Covid times.

Drive-through, Drive-thru, Drive-by (adj) Pre-Covid- a type of movie or car wash, where one stays in one’s car and enjoys a movie, restaurant or car wash for the duration of said movie, restaurant order or car wash.

Covid- a type of engagement party, wedding, bar mitzvah, graduation, testing for COVID, or any event nowadays, where attendees stay in their cars and participate in the event by merely rolling down the windows when the car reaches the front of the line, to wish congratulations or to have one’s COVID test taken. In some cases, the car occupants get out of the car to take pictures when event organizers allow that.

Essential (adj) – Pre-Covid – absolutely necessary, important, as in “We had only the bare essentials in the way of gear.”

Covid – any service that is deemed necessary or needed during the time of COVID, as assessed and prescribed by said service or worker, and executed by said owner of store, as in “I am opening my dry cleaners because we are essential workers and people need their suits dry cleaned while in quarantine,” or “Barbers and hairstylists are not essential workers and therefore, they must be closed during quarantine.”

Flatten the Curve (v) Pre-Covid – referring to flattening the curve of one’s stomach when doing exercise or flattening the curve of a graph in Trigonometry class.

Covid – referring to slowing the growth of the coronavirus through efforts to contain the pandemic responsible for infecting hundreds of thousands of people in 130 countries with the Coronavirus. As in “Let’s keep everyone indoors, safer at home, so that we can flatten the curve, slow the growth of increasing illness and keep things stable so that hospitals can avoid overflow.”

Germphobic (adj) – Pre-Covid –Describing someone who is fearful of germs, as evidenced by frequent washing of hands, avoidance of handshaking, refusing food cooked by someone other than their own family. Usually used as a derogatory term.

Covid – Describing most people nowadays; those who wash their hands frequently to the point of having seriously chapped hands, refuse cooked food from others, and avoid handshaking or hugs. Use as a complimentary term, as one who follows rules, and is patriotic

Lockdown (n) Pre-Covid – Referring to when schools or hospitals go on lockdown for a day, if there’s a shooting or other tragedy, while police contain the situation, and everyone stays indoors.

Covid – The ongoing situation where everyone stays in their homes for days and months on end due to a pandemic that seems to be going on forever.

Mask (n) – Pre-Covid – a face covering worn by mimes, actors, or clowns.

Covid – a face covering worn by almost everyone in the entire world, when going outside, and especially in stores and public places.

Maskne (n) – Covid pantemanteau or neologism for Mask and Acne — the acne and irritation sometimes developed on one’s face from wearing a mask. The portementeau is used often by skincare companies who are touting their product to assuage the skin condition.

New Normal (n) Pre-Covid – after a life changing trauma, someone adjusts to new ways of living.

Covid – After Covid, many do not adjust to new ways of living, while talking about or pretending to adjust to the new way of living, as in “They say that social distancing will be our new normal, but I really hope that’s not so, because I’m already having parties and don’t believe any of this corona stuff.”

NoseyCopter (n) – Covid Neologism – A person who takes it upon themself to notice and reprimand Mask rule-breakers, such as those whose masks cover their mouths but not their noses.

PPE- (n) Pre-Covid – Personal Protective Equipment worn by doctors and nurses in medical settings in order to protect from diseases. Medical personnel are trained in specific instructions on how to don and doff PPE, to prevent cross contamination. Gloves, masks, head gear, robes, and face shields are examples of PPE.

Covid – PPE consists loosely of masks and sometimes gloves worn by everyone and anybody to prevent the spread of germs from person to person.

Pandemic (n) – Pre-Covid – A plague that reaches an entire country or world, last heard about or read about in history books, most notably the one in 1917.

Covid -The current plague of the entire world – of 130 countries affected by the Coronavirus and millions of deaths.

Quarantine – (n) Pre-Covid – a state or period or place of isolation in which people or animals that have arrived from elsewhere or been exposed to infectious or contagious diseases are placed.

Covid – a period of isolation for 14 days – imposed by oneself when realizing that one has the Coronavirus illness, or has been exposed to the illness through contact with someone who has it.

Recovered (v)Pre-Covid – Return to normal state of health, mind, or strength. Usually implies person is free from disease. No need to wear PPE to protect others from oneself.

Covid – return to normal state, as in symptoms have resolved, or negative COVID test results have been received, but person still considered contagious and must wear PPE to protect others from one’s own germs, and/or protect oneself from others.

Self Isolating (v) Pre-Covid – the act of staying inside for extended periods of time, considered to be pathological or anti-social by others.

Covid – the act of following the rules and staying inside in order to prevent transmission of the virus.

Shelter-in-place (v) – Pre-Covid – staying in one place for a short period of time

Covid – shelter-in-place in your homes for an infinite amount of time, and only go out to take care of essential tasks, and to buy essential items.

Social Distancing (n) Pre-Covid – referring to those who stay apart from others, those who prefer solitude and those who may be loners, due to social preferences or religious practices.

Covid – refers to physical distancing of 6 feet or more of space between yourself and other people outside of your home bubble.

Spike, Surge (v) Pre-Covid – an uptick, or sudden rise in temperature or activity.

Covid – an uptick, or sudden rise in cases, deaths, illnesses, testing, or anything covid related.

Tele-Medicine (n) Pre-Covid – also known as tele-health or tele-therapy; the system of doctors providing healthcare remotely, hardly used, except in emergencies and when patients live very far from civilization.

Covid – the ubiquitous system of providing healthcare via Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meets, View Clix, FaceTime, Skype, or any app that supports remote interaction via screen time. Purpose is to avoid contact with patients and prevent transmission of Covid virus.

Unprecedented (adj) Pre-Covid – referring to something that has never happened before in the history of the world.

Covid – referring to anything Covid-related. Something new, unheard of, not known, mysterious, never seen or studied before. Confusing and usually scary.

Zoom (n) Pre-Covid – the act of coming close or far with a camera, as in zooming in and zooming out.

Covid – the platform used during the Covid period, by professionals and amateurs to communicate with others for meetings and family gatherings, celebrations, weddings, engagement parties. Also used as a verb as in “Are you going to Zoom the wedding for the family to watch?” Or as a noun, “We held the engagement party on Zoom, and most of our relatives were able to attend and wish mazel tov.” Or as an adjective, “I don’t really enjoy when people do Zoom parties, but I guess that’s the new normal these days.

Credit for Photo Image: Dimitry Ratushny from Unsplash

(Copyright 2020 Miriam Hendeles, bubbyjoysandoys)