“Zeitenwende” is the word of the year 2022. The Society for the German Language in Wiesbaden announced the decision of a jury on Friday.
The word stands for the transition to a new era, and Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) used it in this sense: The Russian attack on Ukraine on February 24, 2022 marked a "turning point in the history of our continent".
Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier spoke of an "epoch break" in the same context.
The expression “war for peace” came in second place, and “gas price brake” in third place.
Significance and popularity crucial
With the Words of the Year campaign, the Society for the German Language has been honoring words and phrases since 1977 that have had a special linguistic impact on the political, economic and social life of a year.
A jury consisting of the main board of the company and the scientific staff selects ten words from several thousand pieces of evidence from the media and submissions that have dominated the public discussion and have had a significant impact on the year.
According to the Society for German Language, it is not the frequency of an expression that is decisive for the selection of the words of the year, but rather “its significance and popularity”.
The list should hit the linguistic nerve of the year and represent a contribution to contemporary history.
Last year, "Wellenbrecher" was the first word of the year.
It stood for the measures intended to break the corona wave.