Youth Word of the Year: Which terms are conquering the book fair?

Youth Word of the Year: Which terms are conquering the book fair?

Today, October 18, 2025, the time has finally come: the youth word of the year will be announced at the Frankfurt Book Fair. The big announcement starts at 2 p.m. and, as every year, the nominations are an exciting topic. Langenscheidt-Verlag, which has been organizing this election since 2008, has reduced the list of nominated terms to three favorites, all of which are deeply rooted in current youth language. The nominations have been decided: “Checkst du”, “Das crazy” and “Goonen”. Each of these terms has its own interesting meaning and is a reflection of today's youth culture.

“Are you checking” is often used at the end of a sentence to ensure that the other person is actually following along. “Das crazy,” on the other hand, is an all-purpose phrase that expresses speechlessness or disinterest – a kind of modern “Aha.” And then there's "gooning," a slang term originally used for excessive masturbation that shows how openly and directly teens talk about intimate topics.

The choice of the youth word

The vote for the youth word of the year is extremely popular: almost two million votes have already been cast since the campaign began at the beginning of May. It is important to emphasize that only votes from 11 to 20 year olds are included in the rating. As Langenscheidt-Verlag reports, the election takes place in several steps: First, everyone can submit suggestions online. A jury then filters the entries and selects the best ten terms, excluding offensive or discriminatory terms. The public then determines the top three, which are ultimately chosen.

This choice takes into account the aim of reflecting the changing language and cultural expressions of Generations Z and Alpha. The result will be shared on social media and beyond, further amplifying the impact of this election. Last year's winner was the word "Aura", which stands for special charisma and charisma.

The role of youth language

Youth language is often the focus of public discussions and is often perceived as controversial. While on the one hand it can cause communication problems between generations, on the other hand it is considered a fascinating element of our linguistic development. An article on PoliticsCulture highlights that youth language is viewed as a spectrum of subcultural language styles. This language is dynamic and is shaped by cultural change processes and media influences.

In many areas, such as families or schools, there is a great need for information on how to deal with this creative type of communication. Research has shown that prejudices about youth language, such as the image of language decline or inability to dialogue, do not hold. Young people consciously use their own language and play with meanings, which is important both for their identification and for differentiating themselves from other groups.

In summary, feedback on youth language is long overdue and it should be taken seriously as part of our culture. Today, when the Youth Word of the Year 2025 is announced, is not only a milestone for the young people who are actively participating in the election, but also an opportunity for society as a whole to learn more about the intellectual and cultural changes in our language.