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Every year, publishing houses mobilize to update the entries in their dictionaries. And so, the publishing house Zanichelli introduces 1000 new words into its Italian language vocabulary, the Zingarelli. Let’s take a look together at some of the Italian neologisms introduced for 2024.
‘Bro’, ‘eco-ansia’, ‘dissing’ ‘Balaclava’, and ‘putiniano’ are just a few of the new words that have become part of our daily lives.
Why, though? The first concept necessary to better understand these linguistic changes lies in the very nature of all natural languages, which is that they are in a constant state of evolution.
The causes of this perpetual change are manifold, ranging from the influence exerted by social and cultural shifts, both national and international, to technological progress, from new discoveries to geopolitical dynamics.
A tangible demonstration of this evolution is precisely the introduction of these and other neologisms, understood as new words or new meanings attributed to existing and commonly used words. Capable of faithfully reflecting the real usage of the language by speakers.
These can be created to describe new concepts and adopt terminologies from emerging scientific or technological fields, as well as to express new nuances of thought and common sensibility. They can also stem from word mergers, adaptations of linguistic loans from other languages, or abbreviations that have become common in everyday use.
The introduction of neologisms into dictionaries is essential to keep the representation of spoken and written language up to date. The entries in these volumes must reflect the current and authentic use of the language.
Dictionary editors must, therefore, pay attention to the evolution of language and be ready to recognize and incorporate neologisms that gain significant diffusion and stability in usage, overlooking new terms considered ‘ephemeral.’
The Italian Neologisms of 2024
With this necessary preamble concluded, let’s now review some of the Italian neologisms included in the Zingarelli Dictionary for the year 2024.
Adultismo: [from ‘adulto’ with the suffix ‘-ismo,’ following the model of the English term ‘adultism’; 1959] n. 1 Discriminatory attitude towards younger individuals, deemed, due to lack of experience, incapable of acceptable opinions and behaviors. 2 In pedagogy, treating a child or adolescent as if they were an adult, imposing behaviors and interests inappropriate for their age. Adultism.
Agrivoltaico or Agrovoltaico: [composed of ‘agri-‘ (or ‘agro-‘) and ‘voltaico’; 2012] A adj. (pl. m. -ci) Describing the use of energy produced by photovoltaic systems in agriculture. B n. The related technological sector. Agrivoltaic.
Eco-ansia or Ecoansia: [composed of ‘eco-‘ and ‘ansia’; 2015] n. (feminine) Anxiety arising from the fear of possible consequences of environmental disasters related to the climate emergency. Eco-anxiety.
Gamificare: [composed of the English term ‘game’ (V.) and the suffix ‘-ficare’; 2011] v. tr. (I gamify, you gamify) To apply rules and dynamics typical of games and video games in non-gaming contexts (e.g., in education, in communication, etc.). Gamify.
Malamovida: [composed of ‘mala’, feminine form of malo, meaning ‘bad, ugly,’ and ‘movida’; 2013] n. (feminine) (pl. invariable) The set of negative phenomena (loud noises and other disturbances, illegal trade, drug dealing, intoxication, etc.) that often characterize the nightlife, especially in a large city.
Putiniano: [2000] A adj. * relating to Vladimir Putin (1952-), President of the Russian Federation. B adj.; also n. (f. -a) Supporter of V. Putin and his policies. Putinian.
Varista: [from VAR; 2018] n. (m. and f.) (pl. m. -i) In football, a referee assigned to VAR (Video Assistant Referee).
For a more extensive list, we refer you to the Italian article on Il Post.
Foto di Karolina Grabowska da Pexels
