Switzerland’s Word of the Year
The Word of the Year embodies key social developments that are reflected in Swiss discourses. A team of researchers at the School of Applied Linguistics determines Switzerland’s Word of the Year in order to find out what is on the population’s mind – in all four national languages.
How is Switzerland’s Word of the Year chosen?
Switzerland’s Word of the Year is selected on a multilingual, research-oriented and interactive basis:
Multilingual
Between 2003 and 2016, the “Word of the Year Office” selected Switzerland’s Word of the Year in German. Since 2017, a team of researchers at the ZHAW School of Applied Linguistics has determined Switzerland’s Word of the Year in German and French, with Italian being added in 2018 and Romansh in 2019.
Research-based
For each language, the selection process encompasses three stages:
- The researchers initially analyse the ZHAW “Swiss-AL corpus” text database and identify 20 words that have been used more frequently in the current year than in the years before.
- A jury of language professionals then selects the three most striking words from this list and suggestions from the public as well as on the basis of their own experience.
- Finally, the researchers use word histories to show how these words have developed as part of language use in Switzerland during the past year and what social changes they represent.
Interactive
The ZHAW collects data on public discourse as well as suggestions that can be sent in via the following channels up to 3 December:
#WortdesJahresCH
wort-des-jahres.linguistik@zhaw.ch
#MotDeLAnnéeCH
mot-de-l-annee.linguistique@zhaw.ch
#ParolaDellAnnoCH
parola-dell-anno.linguistica@zhaw.ch
#pledrumantsch
pled-da-l-onn.linguistica@zhaw.ch
We provide you with regular news updates on this page and via our Twitter channel @ZHAWLinguistik.
Video, Slam, Rap
Video: Word of the Year
Slam: a word is worth more than 1,000 images
Previous Words of the Year
Year, Rank | German | French | Italian | Romansch |
---|---|---|---|---|
2021, 1. | Impfdurchbruch | iel | certificato | respect |
2021, 2. | Starkregen | précarité | urgenza | pazienza |
2021, 3. | entfreunden | variants | exploit | tgira |
2020, 1. | systemrelevant | coronagraben | pandemia | mascrina |
2020, 2. | Maskensünder | gestes barrières | responsabilità | extraordinari |
2020, 3. | stosslüften | luttes | distanza | positivitad |
2019, 1. | Klimajugend | vague verte | onda verde | luf |
2019, 2. | OK Boomer | féminicide | sciopero delle donne | diaspora |
2019, 3. | Flugscham | flygskam | 5G | unda verda |
2018, 1. | Doppeladler | charge mentale | gesto dell’aquila | 2019 |
2018, 2. | Rahmenabkommen | sécheresse | notte tropicale | - |
2018, 3. | 079 | infox | criptovalute | - |
2017, 1. | #metoo | harcèlement | ab 2018 | ab 2019 |
2017, 2. | weglachen | congé paternité | - | - |
2017, 3. | Influencer | influenceur / influenceuse | - | - |
Words of the Year up to 2016
Year | Word of the Year | Un-word of the Year | Sentence of the Year |
---|---|---|---|
2016 | Filterblase | Inländervorrang light | Vielleicht müssen wir die Granaten in Zukunft ohne Logo liefern, damit niemand weiss, woher sie stammen. (Andreas Glarner) |
2015 | Einkaufstourist | Asylchaos | Eine WM kann man nicht kaufen. (Sepp Blatter) |
2014 | # (Hashtag) | Dichtestress | Es bleibt unbeständig. (Metereologenspruch und gleichzeitig Einschätzung für die politische Grosswetterlage in der Schweiz) |
2013 | Stellwerkstörung | Systemrelevant | Aff (BR Ueli Maurer zu TV-Journalist) |
2012 | Shitstorm | Bio | Vada a bordo, cazzo! (Schiffslotse zum Kapitän des sinkenden Kreuzfahrtschiffes Costa Concordia) |
2011 | Euro-Rabatt | Technologieverbot | Das Leben ist kein Bonihof. (Protest-Tafeln bei linken Demos gegen das System) |
2010 | Ausschaffung | FIFA-Ethikkommission | Die Schweiz ist eine frustrierende Alpendemokratie. (US-Botschafter Peter Coneway) |
2009 | Minarettverbot | Ventilklausel | Ich bin nicht gut integriert in der Schweiz, ich bin Schweizer. (Granit Xhaka) |
2008 | Rettungspaket | Europhorie | Wir müssen nicht nur das Zuckerbrot benutzen, sondern auch die Peitsche. (D-Finanzminister Peer Steinbrück) |
2007 | Sterbetourismus | Klimakompensation | Das Rütli ist nur eine Wiese mit Kuhdreck. (SVP-Präsident Ueli Maurer) |
2006 | Rauchverbot | Erweiterter Selbstmord | «Ich kann das!» (Doris Leuthard als neue BR) |
2005 | Aldisierung | Erlebnisorientierte Fans | Deutschland, wir kommen! (Fussball-Nati an WM 2006 in D) |
2004 | Meh Dräck | Ökoterror | Switzerland - zero Points (Eurovision Song Contest) |
2003 | Konkordanz | Scheininvalide | Wählt Blocher! Er hat diese Strafe verdient. (Franz Hohler) |
Team
Strategic management and member of the German-language jury
Member of the French-language jury
Member of the Italian-language jury
Member of the Romansh-language jury
