Published: December 17, 2025
Source: Språktidningen and Språkrådet
The New Words of 2025 Are Almost Here
Every December, just before the year takes its final bow, something special happens in the world of Swedish language lovers. It’s not a flashy award show or a dramatic countdown—it’s the release of the nyordslista, the annual list of new words that have captured Sweden’s mood, humor, and frustrations over the past twelve months.
This year’s list lands on December 29 at exactly 7:00 a.m., courtesy of Språktidningen and Språkrådet. And for anyone who follows language trends, that morning feels a bit like Christmas all over again.
A kind of linguistic yearbook
Think of the nyordslista as the language world’s version of a yearbook. Each entry is a snapshot of the times—a piece of proof that words, like people, evolve to keep up with whatever the world throws at them. The list doesn’t just document how we speak. It tells the story of what we’ve cared about, laughed at, and argued over throughout the year.
How new words are born
Despite the name, “new words” don’t always start from scratch. Sometimes they’re old favorites with fresh meanings. Other times they’re clever borrowings from other languages or inventive word mashups that suddenly make perfect sense.
The curators behind the list, Linnea Hanell from Språkrådet and Anders Svensson, editor‑in‑chief of Språktidningen, spend their year scanning headlines, social media feeds, and everyday conversations. Their mission? To find the expressions that people didn’t just invent but actually started to use—and that reveal something about our collective mindset.
Last year’s list reflected the big themes of 2024: the unstoppable rise of AI, growing environmental awareness, and the ongoing conversation about mental health. What will define 2025? Maybe more words born from internet culture. Maybe climate talk, workplace shifts, or our love–hate relationship with technology. We’ll find out soon enough.
Why these words matter
It’s easy to see the nyordslista as linguistic trivia—fun, fleeting, maybe even a little nerdy. But look closer, and you’ll realize it’s also a mirror of cultural change. Language reacts faster than policy or tradition; it bends and stretches to fit our new realities.
Remember when flygskam (flight shame) entered the conversation and made people rethink how they travel? Or when plogga reminded us that you can care for the planet while jogging? These weren’t just new words—they were signals of new priorities.
So when Språkrådet and Språktidningen pick their yearly batch, they’re not just cataloguing slang. They’re mapping how fast our society moves and what we notice along the way.
When and where to find the list
Set your alarms for 7:00 a.m. on Monday, December 29, when the full 2025 list goes live on:
Journalists looking for previews can reach out to:
- Anders Svensson, Editor-in-Chief, Språktidningen: anders@spraktidningen.se
- Linnea Hanell, New Words Editor, Språkrådet: linnea.hanell@isof.se
The living heartbeat of language
No matter what words make the cut this year, one thing never changes: language is alive. It adapts, resists, and reinvents itself constantly—just like the people who speak it.
So when the new list appears, don’t just scroll through it looking for your favorites. Read it as a story about us—our creativity, our anxieties, our humor, and our hopes for what comes next.
What do you think will be 2025’s most telling new word?
