Illustration of a panini on a blue plate.
Graphic by Maggie Chirdo.

So We’re in a “Panini” Now?

50 words you can use in place of the term “pandemic.”

January 29, 2021

Ever since the rapper Gunna called the pandemic a “panoramic” last October, people on the internet have been substituting the term pandemic with absurd words that start with “pan” or any word starting with the letter P.

It’s become Gen Z’s way of coping with the endless trauma we’ve endured. By referring to the pandemic as a “panini,” people can make the circumstance sound even more ridiculous than it already is.

To freshen your vocabulary, I thought I’d contribute 50 words you can use instead of “pandemic.” Have fun, and remember to wear your mask in this parallelogram:

Pandemonium

Pan Dulce

Panna Cotta

Pantographic

Pantyhose

Pajama

Pan Fryer

Panatela

Pantheon

Pap Smear

Pandora

Panini

Papa John’s

Paranormal Activity 3

Paddle Board

Parallelogram

Pasturelands

Panda Express

Paintbrush

Palindrome

Parmigiana

Paraplegia

Pasquinade

Paw Patrol

The Parent Trap

Papoose

Parador

Pon de Replay

Panhandle

Pangea

Paddywack

Pancake

Papyrus

Parachute

Perry the Platypus

Patchouli

Pasta Dish

Pistachio

Pancreatitis

Pangolin

Polar Express

Poltergeist

Panera Bread

Panzerotto

Periodic Table

Panty Liner

George Papadopoulos

Panasonic

Pandora’s Box

The Penguins of Madagascar

Do you have a favorite substitute word? Or do you think this trend is disrespectful and dumb? Let us know in the comments below, on Twitter, or Instagram!

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