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Word of the year

Every year, countries throughout Europe participate in the tradition of selecting a "word of the year." Here are the words from the previous year!

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Word of the year

Every year, countries throughout Europe participate in the tradition of selecting a "word of the year." This practice involves choosing a single word or phrase that reflects the social, cultural, or political trends and events of the year. The word of the year serves as a symbolic representation of the collective consciousness and prevailing themes within a society. It captures the zeitgeist and becomes a reflection of the shared experiences, concerns, and aspirations of the people.

 

Words of the year 2022

Germany

Zeitenwende

"turning point" or "epochal shift"

"Zeitenwende" is related to the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine and was taken up by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, among others. "The Russian invasion of Ukraine marks a turning point. It threatens our entire post-war order", he said end of February 2022.

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Austria

Inflation

Inflation

The price increases of 10% are a new and unfamiliar phenomenon caused by high energy prices and the Ukraine war. Inflation and rising costs are therefore a topic of daily conversation.

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Portugal

Guerra

War

The invasion of Ukraine by Russia initiated the largest military conflict in Europe since World War II.

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Switzerland

Strommangellage

"electricity shortage situation" or "power supply shortage"

Electricity, which seemed to always be available, could suddenly become scarce. The situation is uncertain. Switzerland is interconnected and involved in the European electricity market, but import quantities are currently not guaranteed. The war in Ukraine, the hesitant use of solar energy, and climate change further exacerbate the situation.

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Switzerland

Boycotter

boycott

In 2022, calls for boycotts multiplied in various fields. In sports, we witnessed boycotts of the Beijing Olympics and - at this very moment - the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. In politics, we heard people calling for boycotts of elections, deliberately using this term to replace that of abstention, which evokes resignation. Countries, projects, and of course, all kinds of products like meat, could also be boycotted.

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Spain

Inteligencia artificial

artificial intelligence

This is not a new concept, but it has resonated with particular strength in 2022 due to the multitude of applications of this technology: from creating illustrations, writing novels, and engaging in conversations to programming code at the same level as a human. However, this year has also sparked a broad debate about the ethical implications and the changes it may bring for certain professionals.

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France

Guerre

War

War is always with us, has always been with us, and is with us everywhere. But the fact that it now takes place in Europe, for the French, has become something very, very concrete", observes Médéric Gasquet-Cyrus, a linguist at the University of Aix-Marseille. He is referring to, of course, the war in Ukraine, triggered by the Russian Federation’s aggression of February 24, 2022.

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Norway

Krympflasjon

- - -

The word "krympflasjon" is used when the content or size of a product becomes smaller while the price remains the same or increases. "Krympflasjon" captures the occurrence of camouflaging the increase in price so that it appears smaller than it actually is. "The phenomenon is old, but the word is new. It is a so-called telescopic word that is made up of parts of other words." says Dagfinn Rødningen, senior advisor at the Language Council of Norway.

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United Kingdom

Permacrisis

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A Chinese proverb suggests the butterfly's flap can cause a distant hurricane. The war in Ukraine can be thought of as such since it profoundly impacts various sectors, leading to shortages in necessities essential goods: reduced gas exports from Russia, Ukrainian grain exports hindered by the Russian blockade, and extreme summer droughts causing energy concerns. The Swiss Federal Council even approved the Crisis Staff State in case of a gas or electricity shortage in Switzerland. This situation calls for increased awareness of the Earth’s finite resources and the need for an environment-nature relationship change.

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United Kingdom

Goblin mode

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Goblin mode' is a slang term describing unapologetically self-indulgent, lazy, or greedy behaviour that rejects social norms. It gained popularity on Twitter in 2009 and went viral on social media in February 2022, appearing in newspapers and magazines. As Covid lockdown restrictions eased, it resonated with those who rejected the idea of returning to 'normal life' and rebelled against unrealistic social media standards.

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