Let's take a look at the WORDS of 2024!

 

Which English words come to your mind to describe the year of 2024? It depends on what you see or focus on the most throughout this year. Some might think of “POLIRIZATION” among people while some other might say “RESILIENCE”. Let us go over a couple of frequently used or newly coined expressions that we came across in this past year.

 

    1.  demure

Since a famous American TikToker Jools used the phrase “very demure, very mindful” in her video postings, this word has gone viral. It means “modest, unassuming, shy, mindful of how you present yourself, considerate of others”  

 

    2.  brainrot (or brain rot)

the effects of spending too much time scrolling or consuming low-quality content on social media on your brain. In other words, it is supposed deterioration of a person’s mental or intellectual state, especially viewed as a result of overconsumption of material (now particularly online content) considered to be trivial or unchallenging.

 

    3.  slop

This is a derogatory term with pejorative connotations to describe low-quality artificial intelligence-generated content or media. Slop is the common name for household food scraps.

 

    4.  delulu

This expression can be used as a noun or an adjective with a negative connotation that means “someone who is out of touch with reality or delusional”. However, young ones put a positive spin on this expression by saying “Being delulu is the solulu. (Being a bit dreamy or hopeful can be the solution to life's challenges).” to encourage themselves to keep their heads up against all challenges in life.

 

    5.  Midwest nice

This expression originally refers to “courteous and agreeable manner, which is often involving self-deprecation, politeness, and avoidance of conflict”. It came to draw more attention than before in 2024 when Vice President Kamala Harris announced Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate, generating discussions about Walz’s pleasant personality.

 

    6.  Extreme weather

In 2024, the world has gone through record-breaking temperatures and unexpected or abnormal weather incidents. In this sense, “extreme weather” has become a part of everyday vocabulary rather than just a scientific term. Extreme weather is defined as “a period of weather or a weather event that is severe and unexpected or abnormal for the location or season in which it occurs.”

 

7. brat

This word originally describes a misbehaving child, but now embraces a broader image of somebody who is confidently rebellious, unapologetically defiant, independent, or hedonistic.   

    

8. enshittification

“The gradual deterioration of a service or product brought about by a reduction in the quality of service provided, especially of an online platform, and as a consequence of profit-seeking.”  Initially, platforms are good to their users; then they abuse their users to make things better for their business customers; finally, they abuse those business customers to claw back all the value for themselves.” Which is demoralizing and frustrating.

*source from dictionary.com and thehindu.com