More than three years ago, Oregon Chai, the company that spearheaded the phenomenal growth of the chai tea category, launched a campaign to get the word chai in the dictionary. The company is proud to announce that chai has found its way from ancient times, through the Himalayas, into American coffee shops, and onto page 204 of the Eleventh Edition of Merriam-Websters Collegiate Dictionary, just released in November.

“As the leader in the chai tea category, Oregon Chai has played a central role in getting the word out about chai. It’s only appropriate that we help get the word chai into the dictionary,” said Ted Wentzel, director of marketing for Oregon Chai. “The inclusion further proves that chai is finding its way into more and more cups and conversations across America.”

During the campaign chai fans were able to make their voices heard by either filling out a postcard found at their favorite coffee shops in select cities or logging onto www.oregonchai.com. Chai drinkers chimed in from every US state, the District of Columbia, Canada, Chile, China, Germany, India, Ireland, Japan, Korea, Mexico and The United Kingdom. Oregon Chai also compiled information to support the campaign including facts about chai sales and the number of times the word appeared in print publications.

James G. Lowe, senior editor at Merriam-Webster, responded to the campaign in writing, “We are greatly impressed by the amount of information you sent us regarding the use of the word chai” He continued, “The information you sent contains more than enough evidence of its assimilation into English. We thank you and all your customers who responded so encouragingly for calling the word chai to our attention.”

The Eleventh Edition of Merriam-Websters Collegiate Dictionary features chai slotted in between the words chagrin and chain and defined as “a beverage that is a blend of black tea, honey, spices and milk.” This entry is fairly close to the definition on Oregon Chai’s website, “A blend of black tea, honey, vanilla, spices and milk, prepared like a latte.” Other drink-related words that were inducted into this edition of the dictionary along with chai include: brain freeze, barista and mai tai.

Mispronunciation of Oregon Chai may result in derisive snickering.

Oregon \or-y-gun\ Chai \eye with a ch in front

Duniway Elementary School was named the winner in the Oregon Chai Create-A-Word contest, submitting over 100 words including the top three winning words. Oregon Chai, the company that successfully campaigned to get the word chai in the dictionary, staged a contest among Portland Public Schools third graders. The students were invited to make up a word they thought should be included in the next edition of the dictionary.

“This is one of the best activities for our students. Everyone participated. Everyone had a wonderful time. We are all now extremely ‘experticious’ at thinking up new words!” said Janet Muller, one of Duniway’s third grade teachers. “Our teachers, students and their parents are so very, very grateful to Oregon Chai for organizing this contest and donating these dictionaries. What a wonderful way to end our year.” For their winning entries, each Duniway third grader received a free Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary.

Oregon Chai will recognize three students at Duniway school with the most creative suggestion for new words, as scored by a panel of judges. These are the winning words, their definitions, and names of the inventive students:

In total, Oregon Chai has donated more than 275 copies of the newest edition of the Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary to Portland Public Schools, a donation valued at more than $6000. In addition to the 72 Duniway third graders, every third grade classroom and elementary school library received a copy. District-wide more than 21 classrooms took part in the contest inventing more 397 new words.

Oregon Chai, the company that successfully campaigned to get the word chai in the dictionary, is celebrating this momentous occasion by donating more than 250 copies of the newest edition of the Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary to Portland Public Schools. Every third grade classroom and elementary school library will receive a copy this month.

The company is also staging a contest among Portland Public Schools third graders where students are invited to make up a word they think should be included in the next edition of the dictionary.

“Championing the inclusion of the word chai in the dictionary has been a powerful lesson about language,” said Ted Wentzel, director of marketing for Oregon Chai. “We thought sharing evidence of our efforts with Portland youth and showing them how language is shaped by the people who speak it would be a good way to drink to our success.”

Edith Fuller, librarian in the district’s Professional Library, said, “The donation by Oregon Chai of the new edition of Merriam-Webster’s dictionary gives our students an up-to-date resource for their use as they continue learning the information literacy skills they will use for the rest of their lives.”