Word of 2024 in Russia Recognized as "Vibe"

By Alimat Aliyeva

The word "vibe" has been named the Word of 2024 in Russia, according to the portal Gramota.ru, with "skuf" and "arrival" also making it to the top three, Azernews reports.

Linguists at Gramota explain that while "vibe" first entered the Russian language several years ago, it was in 2024 that the term experienced a significant surge in popularity. This year, its use expanded beyond just younger generations. In Russian, "vibe" refers to the mood or atmosphere emanating from a person, object, place, or situation, much like its usage in English.

As with previous years, the "Word of the Year" will be included in the Meta-dictionary of Letters, which compiles words recognized for their linguistic significance based on public usage and expert evaluation.

The term "skuf" has been defined as describing an untidy man over 35 years old, who holds conservative views and is involved in unpromising or stagnant activities. Meanwhile, "arrival" is a word used in the context of geopolitical tensions, particularly referring to the heightened sense of instability or significant changes in the political landscape.

Last year, "neural network" was named the Word of the Year, a choice made based on big data analysis, the frequency of searches on the portal, and expert assessments.

Meanwhile, in the UK, Collins Dictionary has named the word "brat" as the Word of 2024. Derived from the title of an album by English singer Charli XCX, "brat" refers to a confident, independent, and daring person with a hedonistic attitude toward life.