North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un had Twitter users rushing to dictionaries as he revived a centuries-old insult.

Kim had some choice words for President Donald Trump during a speech on Friday, accusing him of "mentally deranged behavior," CNN reported.

But it was Kim's use of the word "dotard" that sent the Twitterverse to dictionary websites. While not generally used, the insult has been used in medieval literature from the ninth century.

Kim basically called Trump old and senile, but while Kim did not actually say the word "dotard," it was translated that way, Mashable reported. The dated word choice might come from how Kim's statement was translated by state news agency KCNA, CNN reported. The actual translated quote: "I will surely and definitely tame the mentally deranged U.S. dotard with fire." In Korean it was written as "늙다리미치광이" ("neulg-dali-michigwang-i"), which literally translates as "old lunatic."

Later in the KCNA translation of Kim's address, the North Korean leader advises Trump to "exercise prudence in selecting words," CNN reported.

President Donald Trump tweeted Friday morning that Kim “was obviously a madman” and “will be tested like never before.”

About the Author

Keep Reading

Plant Scherer, a Georgia Power plant, is seen from the air using a drone on Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2021, near Juliette. (Elijah Nouvelage for the AJC)

Credit: Elijah Nouvelage

Featured

An email circulating through Georgia Tech told students and faculty to delete DEI terms from the school's website, but administrators said the email contained "misinformation." (Miguel Martinez/AJC 2024)

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez