The Youth Word of the Year 2024 is "sigma," as decided by internet users. "Azbest" and "czemó" also made it to the podium. A total of 20 terms popular among young people were recognized in the final stage of the contest organized by PWN (PWN Scientific Publishing House).
"Sigma" was chosen the Youth Word of the Year 2024. The official announcement was made by Magda Gessler and Krzysztof Zalewski at an official gala. The winning word describes a person who is successful, confident, and exceptional, someone worthy of admiration.
"Sigma is a 'lone wolf,' convinced of their uniqueness but not flaunting it," PWN said on its website. The publisher notes that the word is also used in combinations that enhance its positive meaning, such as "skibidi sigma" or "sigma rizz."
In second place was "azbest," a humorously pejorative word with no clear semantic meaning. Third place went to "czemó," which means the same as "czemu" (why) but with a stronger tone of surprise.
Other notable entries in the final twenty included "yapping" and "womp womp." The former is a synonym for rambling or chattering. "Womp womp," on the other hand, signals negative emotions, often disinterest or a desire to end a conversation.
The term "brainrot" also gained recognition. It is used to describe the state induced by excessive exposure to low-quality online content or the content itself. This word was also acknowledged by the Oxford English Dictionary which named it Word of the Year.
In 2023, the winner of the PWN contest was "rel," a term synonymous with "I agree," "that's true," or "I feel the same." In 2022, "essa," an expression of joy, took first place. In 2021, the winner was "śpiulkolot," referring to a cozy sleeping place. The contest was not concluded in 2020.
Previous winners included "alternatywka," "dzban," "XD," and "sztos."
The Youth Word of the Year contest has been organized by the PWN Scientific Publishing House since 2016. Its goal is to identify the most popular words, expressions, or phrases among young people.
However, as the organizers clarify, the Youth Word of the Year does not need to be new, slang, or the most frequently used word of the year. More information about new words and trends can be found on the Youth Language and Culture Observatory's website.
Źródło: TVN24 News in English, TVN24
Źródło zdjęcia głównego: Mircea Moira / Shutterstock