In its annual end-of-year tradition, the Royal Spanish Academy (RAE) has unveiled the latest additions to its authoritative Diccionario de la lengua española. The digital update, known as version 23.8, brings a raft of new entries and revised meanings to reflect the ever-changing landscape of the Spanish language.
This year’s crop includes terms from technology, gastronomy, and culture, offering a linguistic mirror to contemporary society. The RAE, headquartered in Madrid, announced 4,074 modifications, including 609 new entries. Santiago Muñoz Machado, the Academy’s director, emphasised that these updates are not arbitrary but carefully considered evolutions of the lexicon.
Words that define our times
Among the new entries, espóiler finds its place as a nod to modern storytelling, defined as “the revelation of key plot details that diminishes the enjoyment of a fictional work.” Equally topical is teletrabajar, a reflection of pandemic-driven changes in work culture, meaning “to work remotely.”
The culinary world also gets a linguistic boost with the inclusion of tabulé, the Mediterranean dish of bulgur, tomatoes, and parsley—meanwhile, sérum debuts in the dictionary to describe a reparative or hydrating cosmetic liquid.
Environmental phenomena are not overlooked. The term dana, an acronym for depresión aislada en niveles altos (a meteorological phenomenon causing intense rainstorms), is now officially recognised.
Cultural and linguistic nuances
In addition to new words, existing terms received updates. For instance, chorreo has expanded to include meanings like “reprimand” or “scolding.” Popular phrases such as zona de confort (comfort zone) and voto de castigo (protest vote) also make their debut, underscoring the interplay between language and societal trends.
The inclusion of anglicisms like fitness and groupie—italicised in the dictionary to mark their foreign origin—highlights the global influences on Spanish. Similarly, rapear (to rap) and indie (referring to independent cinema or music) show the interconnection of cultural currents across borders.
A linguistic legacy in the making
Looking ahead, Muñoz Machado revealed plans for the 24th edition of the dictionary, set to launch in 2026. It promises to further embrace digital innovation while retaining its print heritage. For now, the updated web interface offers easier navigation and enhanced features, ensuring that the Spanish language remains accessible to its global audience.
Word of the Year 2024
Besides new words in the Spanish Dictionary the Fundación del Español Urgente (FundéuRAE) each year names a Word of the Year. Enmerdar is the Word of the Year 2024, reflecting the deliberate degradation of political and societal discourse. Borrowed from the term enshittification, coined by Canadian writer Cory Doctorow, it describes the decline of services, platforms, and debates due to profit-driven or strategic motives. From public services to human rights discussions, enmerdar captures a global pattern of deliberate erosion, resonating strongly in Spain and beyond.
Previous Words of the Year
Last Year the RAE selected polarización (polarisation) as the Word of the Year 2023, highlighting its growing use to describe divisions in politics, society, and digital platforms. Originally a scientific term from the 19th century, its meaning has expanded to reflect the tensions and contradictions defining the year. Previous winners include ‘escrache’ (2013), ‘selfi’ (2014), ‘refugiado’ (2015), ‘populismo’ (2016), ‘aporafobia’ (2017), ‘microplástico’ (2018), ’emojis’ (2019), ‘confinamiento’ (2020). ‘vacuna’ (2021) and ‘inteligencia artificial’ (2022).
Also read: 20 Spanish words that have no translation in English