Summary
You know those people who walk around staring at their smartphones - even if it puts them and others in danger? Well, there's a word for them – it comes from German, but people are now starting to use it in English. Join Neil and Feifei as she walks into a door to teach you this cutting-edge word..
Transcript
Neil
Hello and welcome to The English We Speak. I'm Neil and joining me today is…
Feifei
Argh! Ouch!
Neil
…Feifei… who's just walked right into a door.
Feifei
Hi. I was just catching up on some messages on my phone and I sort of lost track of where I was.
Neil
Hmm, yes, you were walking around like a zombie – a smartphone zombie. A 'smombie' is a person who walks around with their head bowed down, writing messages or playing games on their phone and not paying any attention to the world around them!
Feifei
Even if they're in a situation which might be dangerous – like crossing a road.
Neil
Or walking into a radio studio door! How's your nose?
Feifei
OK, OK, Neil. You've made your point. Let's hear some examples.
Examples
- I'm too terrified to drive past the college these days. You never know when a smombie's going step into the road in front of the car!
- I was knocked flying the other day by a smombie as I was trying to get a bus. I don't even think she knew she'd bumped into me!
- People don't know how to communicate with each other face-to-face any more. They are such smombies!
Feifei
This is The English We Speak from BBC Learning English and in this programme we're learning a really new word which is made up of two words – 'smartphone' and 'zombie'.
Neil
The word is 'smombie'. It's actually from German and has won Germany's 'Youth Word of the Year' competition.
Feifei
But people are now starting to use it in English too. It describes people who walk around totally absorbed by their smartphones.
Neil
You know, the kind of people who walk into the road without looking at the traffic… Or into studio doors.
Feifei
Enough now Neil!
Neil
Bye!
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