Else Beekman
The Spanish Foundation for Urgent Spanish (FundéuRAE) has crowned “dana” as its Word of the Year for 2024. The term, derived from the acronym DANA (Depresión Aislada en Niveles Altos), refers to a meteorological phenomenon known for causing heavy rainfall and flooding. Its selection reflects the growing impact of extreme weather events on society and language alike.
The announcement follows a year marked by devastating floods in eastern and southern Spain. This has brought the term to the forefront of media coverage. The decision also coincides with “dana” being added as a lexicalised noun in the Diccionario de la lengua española during its December update.
A meteorological term turned household name
“Dana” was first shortlisted as Word of the Year in 2019 but failed to clinch the title. Since then, the recurrence and intensity of these atmospheric depressions have ensured their ubiquity in public discourse. According to FundéuRAE, while the acronym DANA is written in uppercase, its transition into common usage as “dana”—a lowercase noun—reflects its integration into everyday language.
The language foundation defines the term DANA as a “high-altitude depression that moves independently of general atmospheric circulation and can cause severe disturbances with intense rainfall.” Consequently, the term is now widely recognised in Spain and beyond. FundéuRAE clarified that the plural form is “las DANA” when treated as an acronym but remains “las danas” when used as a common noun.
A linguistic reflection of social issues
FundéuRAE’s has chosen the Word of the Year based on two criteria. First a term has to be dominant in media and social media debates over the past year. Additionally, marking its integration into general language. “Dana” joins a roster of past winners like “confinamiento” (lockdown, 2020) and “inteligencia artificial” (artificial intelligence, 2022). These words highlight issues of societal significance.
This year’s shortlist included twelve contenders, many tied to themes of housing, technology, tourism, and the environment. Candidates ranged from “turistificación” (touristification) to “gordofobia” (fatphobia) and “reduflación” (shrinkflation). Ultimately, “dana” stood out for its intersection of climate awareness and language evolution.