"Gasoline" and "drones" top shortlist for Russia's annual lexicon award

A panel of cultural and linguistic experts in Russia has unveiled a 40-word shortlist for the country's annual "Word of the Year" competition, capturing a mix of technical jargon, internet slang, geopolitical terms, and enduring human values.

The shortlist features prominent contenders such as "six-seven," "UAV," "Kolobok," "gasoline," and "blocking," according to representatives of the Lingua publishing imprint speaking to the media outlet "Ostorozhno, Novosti".

The selection reflects emerging digital trends and modern societal shifts, incorporating terms like "niche," "vibecoding," "slop," "brainrot," "fluff-sucker" (a widely known meme), "prime era," and the colloquial interjection "gas." Industry terms and digital platforms also featured prominently, including the MAX messaging application, e-commerce giant "Wildberries," "allowlists," and "cancellation."

Societal pressures and wartime infrastructure concerns are similarly represented on the list through words such as "burnout," "anxiety," "negotiations," "drone," and "oil refinery." Alongside these modern terms, traditional concepts emphasising resilience were included, notably the words "peace," "hope," and "life."

The final contenders were compiled by an expert panel composed of over 80 linguists, philologists, journalists, and film directors. Organisers stated that the selection committee evaluated candidate words based on their contemporary relevance, public usage, and broader impact on culture and the evolving lexicon.

By Tamilla Hasanova