–Words of the year in 2023 around the world | Image by The Alphabet
Globally, linguistic organizations endeavored to summarize the entirety of 2023 into a single term. Their aim was to outline the year’s highlights and challenges in just a list of words of the year in 2023, ranging from significant strides in artificial intelligence to remarkable accomplishments in the sports arena.
Authentic
As of November 27, 2023, Merriam-Webster, headquartered in Springfield, MA, declared “authentic” as its Word of the Year. This term has gained immense traction, representing what’s at the forefront of people’s minds, writings, aspirations, and judgments more extensively than ever.
While “authentic” typically garners considerable attention annually, its popularity skyrocketed in 2023. This surge was fueled by widespread discussions and narratives around artificial intelligence, celebrity culture, identity, and the profound influence of social media on our lives.
“The rise of AI helped drive interest in the word,” says Peter Sokolowski, Merriam-Webster’s Editor at-large. “The line between ‘real’ and ‘fake’ has become increasingly blurred. As a result, in social media and marketing, authentic has become the gold standard for building trust—and authenticity, ironically, has become a performance.”
The term “authentic” holds a multifaceted meaning across various disciplines, encompassing diverse contexts such as philosophy, sociology, anthropology, psychology, and the arts. Its fundamental essence denotes a quality of genuineness, originality, or truthfulness, embodying a state or characteristic of being true to one’s origins, beliefs, experiences, or nature. In academic discourse, the term “authentic” is employed to signify a variety of nuanced concepts based on the field of study and context in which it is utilized.
In philosophical discussions, authenticity pertains to the alignment between an individual’s actions, values, and beliefs, emphasizing the importance of living in accordance with one’s true self or essence. Existentialist philosophers like Jean-Paul Sartre and Martin Heidegger delved into authenticity as the authentic realization of one’s existence, contrasting it with inauthenticity, which involves conforming to societal norms or adopting roles imposed by external forces.
In sociological and anthropological studies, authenticity often refers to the genuine representation of cultures, traditions, or practices, highlighting the degree to which a portrayal accurately reflects the essence and originality of a cultural phenomenon. This concept is frequently discussed in debates surrounding cultural appropriation, tourism, or commodification of indigenous practices, where the authenticity of experiences or representations is scrutinized.
Psychologically, authenticity can relate to an individual’s congruence between their outward behavior and inner feelings, highlighting the importance of being true to oneself and expressing genuine emotions rather than conforming to societal expectations or displaying superficial emotions.
Within the realm of the arts, authenticity addresses the originality, sincerity, or genuineness of creative expressions. It evaluates whether an artwork, performance, or piece of literature is a true representation of the artist’s intentions, emotions, or artistic vision.
The usage of “authentic” in academic discourse requires a contextual understanding of the specific domain and the intended connotation. It may denote the originality of research findings, the sincerity of personal narratives in qualitative studies, the accurate representation of historical events, or the genuine expression of emotions in psychological research.
In summary, the term “authentic” encompasses a broad spectrum of meanings, emphasizing the genuineness, truthfulness, originality, or congruence in various aspects of human existence, cultural representations, personal identity, and creative endeavors within academic discourse. Its usage varies across disciplines, demanding a nuanced interpretation and contextualization within specific scholarly discussions.
Hallucinate
The idea of hallucinating isn’t a recent one—it’s been a part of human experiences for centuries. This year, two dictionaries by and Dictionary.com, Cambridge Dictionary picked “hallucinate” as a notable term, emphasizing a newer context: computer-generated hallucinations. This specifically refers to the false information that AI tools sometimes generate and present as accurate. The attention surrounding hallucinations grew significantly this year as users of ChatGPT and similar chatbot tools encountered instances where the information provided was entirely incorrect.
The term “hallucinate” refers to the perceptual experience of seeing, hearing, feeling, tasting, or smelling something that does not exist or is not present in reality. It involves the perception of sensory stimuli without any external stimuli actually being present. Hallucinations can manifest in various forms, such as visual (seeing things), auditory (hearing sounds), olfactory (smelling odors), gustatory (tasting flavors), and tactile (feeling sensations).
These experiences can occur in a wide array of contexts, ranging from psychiatric disorders like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder to substance-induced states through drugs or alcohol. Additionally, certain medical conditions, such as neurological disorders, severe migraines, or sensory deprivation, may also lead to hallucinatory experiences.
In everyday language, “hallucinate” might be used more casually or metaphorically to describe a situation where someone perceives something that isn’t objectively present. For instance, an individual might say they are “hallucinating” if they misinterpret a situation or believe they see or hear something that others do not.
In sum, “hallucinate” serves as a pivotal term in both academic and lay discourse, denoting the perception of sensory stimuli in the absence of corresponding external stimuli. Its multifaceted usage spans psychiatric evaluations, scientific research, clinical diagnoses, and colloquial descriptions of experiences perceived as unreal or nonexistent.
Rizz
Crowned as the Word of the Year by the Oxford English Dictionary in 2023, “rizz” outshone contenders such as Swiftie, situationship, and de-influencing.
Oxford University Press(OUP), while announcing the winner, highlighted the selection criteria, which seeks to spotlight new terms or phrases capturing a particular moment in time, possibly holding lasting cultural significance or reflecting social history.
For those puzzled by “rizz,” especially those not in sync with Gen Z, feeling lost is a shared experience. However, encountering rizz without fully comprehending its meaning isn’t uncommon. In the ever-evolving landscape of language, rizz has even taken on the role of a verb.
According to the Oxford University Press, “rizz” is a casual term that denotes style, charm, or allure, specifically in the context of attracting romantic or sexual partners.
Regarding its origins, OUP suggests it may have derived from the middle of the word “charisma,” akin to how “fridge” comes from “refrigerator.” However, this origin is a matter of contention, as explained below.
Individuals associated with this term span from actor Tom Holland to sports reporter Shams Charania. During the summer, Holland, who is widely recognized for his relationship with Zendaya, declared, “I have no rizz whatsoever,” igniting an online debate about his statement.
Matilda
In 2023, the Australian National University designated “Matilda” as the Word of the Year, attributing its selection to the immense popularity of the Australian women’s soccer team, the Matildas, during the Women’s FIFA World Cup.
The term “Matilda” has a multifaceted history in Australian English. Initially, in the 1880s, it referred to a bag of possessions carried by itinerant men seeking work. This association is commonly known through the iconic song “Waltzing Matilda.”
However, it wasn’t until the mid-1990s that the women’s soccer team adopted the name “Matildas.” Following this year’s World Cup, the term regained prominence, firmly embedding itself in the Australian lexicon.
Dr. Amanda Laugesen, the Director of the Australian National Dictionary Centre, highlighted the term’s evolution and its connection to the women’s soccer team, emphasizing its role in reflecting the growing interest in women’s team sports. The term “Matilda” holds historical significance, originally derived from the female name, with roots in the German meaning of strength in battle—a fitting name for a team that has been a source of inspiration, particularly for young women and girls across the nation.
振
On December 20, 2023, the National Language Resources Monitoring and Research Center and the Commercial Press announced “振 (zhèn)” as the character representing the year of China. “振” was chosen as it embodies inspiration, resilience, and rejuvenation, reflecting a renewed sense of motivation among people. It represents a vibrant life.
The organizers explained “振” as follows: objectively, it signifies progress and development; subjectively, it embodies a positive mindset and a determined attitude. Whether for a country or an individual, staying true to oneself during challenges, persevering through difficulties, and finding joy in progress embodies the spirit of “振.”
In recent years, the pandemic significantly affected many lives. However, as the situation improves, people are regaining their strength. They face life’s challenges actively, striving to achieve their dreams. This renewed energy isn’t just personal but also spreads positivity across society, inspiring progress in China.
Cozzie livs
If you’re seeking evidence of the prevailing challenges due to rising living expenses, here it is: the Macquarie dictionary committee has officially selected ‘cozzie livs’ as the Word of the Year for 2023.
For those not acquainted with the term, ‘cozzie livs’ is an informal shorthand for ‘cost of living.’ As defined by the Macquarie dictionary, it represents “the usual retail prices for essential items like food, clothing, and other necessities that individuals or families pay to maintain their typical standard of living.”
“In Australia, when something is very serious, we do love to make a colloquial term that [makes it] easy to discuss things in a more light-hearted manner,” Macquarie dictionary’s managing director, Victoria Morgan said.
税
The Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation recently announced that 税 (pronounced as zei or mitsugi), meaning “taxation,” has been chosen as the kanji of the year. This decision reflects the character’s significance in a year marked by the introduction of new tax reporting systems, increased taxes, and complex government measures aimed at easing the burden on taxpayers during economic instability.
The foundation collects votes from the public via its website, mail submissions, and ballot boxes in bookstores across the country. Voters provide reasons for their choices, shedding light on Japan’s linguistic landscape.
Many voters who selected 税 referred to the newly introduced “invoice system,” which has brought complexity and potential income reductions, particularly impacting self-employed individuals in Japan. Moreover, revisions to the furusato nōzei, the “hometown tax” system, garnered attention throughout 2023.
Krisenmodus
“Krisenmodus” (crisis mode) has been named the German Word of the Year by the German Language Society (GfdS), representing how 2023 was experienced in the federal republic—perilously close to the edge.
This word is chosen yearly by a panel of media experts and linguists to reflect Germany’s political, economic, and social atmosphere.
GfdS representative Andrea Ewels said, “Exceptional circumstances have become the norm. This triggers fear, uncertainty and a feeling of powerlessness within people. These feelings dominate the every day and one never knows what is going to come next.”
The choice of “Krisenmodus” as the Word of the Year wasn’t based solely on its frequency in the 1,800 texts reviewed by GfdS jurors. Instead, it was chosen to mirror the prevalent sentiment and popularity, encapsulating the essence of the challenges faced in 2023.
Germany faced significant challenges in 2023. There was a surge in support for the far-right AfD party, along with persistent high inflation and the most severe housing shortage in two decades. A critical shortage of workers affected schools, hospitals, and administrative bodies, reaching record levels. Additionally, ongoing budget crises and decreasing support for the ruling coalition added to the complexity, all amid the pressing climate crisis.
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