How to speak woke: a glossary of the modern Left.
Your essential guide to all today’s hottest progressive buzzwords
This is everything you need to know Credit: Martin Pope/Getty Images
Have you ever wanted to be a Labour MP, Left-wing pundit or progressive activist? If so, you’ll need to learn the language first. Because, as I’m sure you’ve noticed, such roles entail the use of all manner of fascinating jargon.
Here, then, is your essential guide to the modern Left’s favourite words and phrases – and what they really mean.
Culture warrior. Anyone who attempts to resist, or even to question, Left-wing efforts to impose radical change on our culture. As in: “I’m sick of Right-wing culture warriors trying to claim that convicted rapists should not be placed in women’s prisons just because they’ve put on a pair of pink leggings and some lipstick.”
Diversity. Conformity. As in: “Here in the arts world, we think it’s vital to promote diversity. And that’s why all of us, regardless of our ethnicity, faith, sexual orientation or gender identity, hold identical opinions about every political issue.”
Divisive rhetoric. Any statement which is factually true but politically inconvenient. As in: “By informing the public that Afghan men are over 20 times more likely to commit sex crimes than British men, the Tories are engaging in the most appallingly divisive rhetoric.”
Dog whistle. Any mention of a subject that the Left a) doesn’t want to talk about, and b) thinks no one else should be allowed to talk about. As in: “Drawing attention to the rape of thousands of working-class girls in dozens of towns across Britain is a racist dog whistle.”
Genocide. Fighting back when someone starts a war with you. As in: “Israel is committing genocide. Just like the Allies committed genocide in the Second World War, by bombing Germany.”
Marginalised. Celebrated. As in: “Trans people are one of the country’s most marginalised groups. As you can tell from the fact that an LGBTQIA+ Pride festival is held somewhere in Britain almost every single weekend between February and November.”
Our communities. All communities except the British. As in: “The sight of a British person flying the British flag in a British town can be extremely distressing to our communities.”
Satire. Topical comedy which fearlessly holds the Government’s critics to account. As in: “Led By Donkeys produce the most brilliantly coruscating satire. It’s about time someone was brave enough to make fun of Liz Truss.”
Weaponising. The use of any fact which undermines the Left’s position. As in: “Nigel Farage is weaponising the murder of Henry Nowak by shamefully letting the public know that, in March 2025, the National Police Chiefs’ Council published a Police Anti-Racism Commitment which said officers should not treat everyone ‘the same’ or be ‘colour-blind’.”
Woman. Man.
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