The German Language Society's jury has selected “Krisenmodus,” meaning “crisis mode,” as Germany’s 2023 word of the year, per a media source.
While crises are not a new phenomenon, in 2023, they appear more severe and impactful on the country and its citizens, as observed by a community of linguists.
The selection of "Krisenmodus" reflects Germany’s current economic struggles and fiscal difficulties under German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's watch.
During a 2023 debate on the coronavirus pandemic, a German politician acknowledged, “Crisis mode is a permanent state.”
In the broader linguistic landscape of 2023, various words have gained prominence. The Oxford English Dictionary highlighted "Rizz" - short for charisma - as its word of the year, while the Collins Dictionary in Britain chose "AI" (artificial intelligence) for its top spot. Earlier, the Cambridge Dictionary selected the AI-related verb "Hallucinate."