'Tariff' is chosen as the word of the year 2025 by FundéuRAE on its 20th anniversary

 

La FundéuRAE It commemorated its twentieth anniversary at the headquarters of the Royal Spanish Academy, in an event presided over by HM the QueenDuring the ceremony, it was revealed that "tariff" It has been selected as the word of the year 2025, highlighting how the tensions of international trade And protectionist policies have dominated the public and media debate.

 

The impact of the global economy on language: why "tariff"

 

The choice of "tariff" This is not a coincidence in the current geopolitical context. According to the FundéuRAEThis noun, technically defined as the tariff imposed on imports, has transcended the exclusive realm of specialists in economics and law to become part of everyday social dialogue.

 

The prominence of this term is directly related to the news of the last twelve months, marked by the trade negotiations and impositions promoted, notably, by the president of United StatesThe flow of news about exports e imports has transformed a technical term, already included in the Dictionary of Authorities of 1726, into an omnipresent concept.

 

Category / Year	Key Terms
Word of the Year 2025	Tariff
Economics/Politics Finalists	Boycott, mass raid, rearmament, Trumpism
Technology/Society Finalists	Drone, Generation Z, Pope
Environment Finalists	Blackout, massive wildfire, prepper, rare earth elements
Previous Winner (2024)	Days

 

The 2025 winner beat eleven other candidates that also reflect global concerns, from resource management (rare earth, blackout) up to the geopolitical dynamics (rearmament, boycott).

 

20 years of alliance between journalism and linguistic norms

 

The celebration served to highlight the role of the Foundation, which was created in 2005 under the impetus of the Royal Spanish Academy (RAE) and EFE. HM Queen LetiziaThe honorary president has emphasized the continued relevance of the institution: "FundéuRAE continues to refine and sharpen those tools, which are words, to help us make reality more navigable.".

 

For its part, Santiago Munoz MachadoThe president of FundéuRAE and director of the RAE, has analyzed the reciprocal influence between journalism and academia. He highlighted how the media contribute to linguistic corpora and affect key works such as the Pan-Hispanic Dictionary of Doubts and New grammarMuñoz Machado emphasized that the Foundation is a fundamental instrument for strengthening the historical relationship between the Academy and communicators.

 

Miguel Angel Oliver, President of the EFE And vice president of the Foundation, defined the entity as an "untiring friend" for journalists, who must maintain the "good health of our common tool, the Spanish language", often working with the urgency imposed by current events.

 

Historical evolution and outstanding finalists

 

The journalist and employer Alex Grijelmo He recalled the institution's origins, conceived as a "command center" for rapid response to linguistic doubts arising in the internet age. Today, under the direction of Olivia PiqueroThe Foundation maintains that spirit of free public service, responding daily to inquiries through the web, social networks and direct lines.

 

In addition to the winner, "tariff"This year's finalist candidates offer a snapshot of current challenges:

 

• Energy and climate sector: Blackout, massive wildfire, prepper, and rare earth elements.
• Conflicts and society: Boycott, drone, Generation Z, mega-raid, rearmament, pope and Trumpism.

 

This is the thirteenth word chosen by the institution, following terms such as Artificial Intelligence (2022) vacuna (2021) o confinement (2020), which demonstrates the language's ability to adapt to changing realities, whether health-related, technological, or, as in 2025, purely economic.

 

Key points and frequently asked questions about the Word of the Year

 

Why was "tariff" chosen as the word of the year 2025?
The choice is due to its high presence in the media during the last twelve months, driven by international trade negotiations and protectionist policies, especially from the United States, moving the term from the technical field to common use.

 

Who promotes FundéuRAE?
The FundéuRAE (Urgent Spanish Foundation) is promoted by the Royal Spanish Academy (RAE) and EFEIts objective is to advise on the proper use of Spanish in the media.

 

What other words have been chosen in previous years?
Among the previous winners are terms that defined their era, such as on (2024) Polarization (2023) Artificial Intelligence (2022) and confinement (2020).