For seven years now, the Secció Filològica (Catalan Language Academy) of the Institut d’Estudis Catalans and the Observatory of Neology at the Pompeu Fabra University have been promoting popular voting for the neologism of the year. In this edition, almost 10,000 people voted, which was a great success in terms of participation.

As could not be otherwise, the most relevant neologisms of 2020 were related to the COVID-19 pandemic that we have had to live with for a long time. And, predictably, the most voted neologism among the finalists was coronavirus. It is not the most innovative nor the most surprising one, but it has been the focus of society’s attention for many months now.

We hope that, with the vaccines and the honor of being the neologism of the year, it will behave during 2021 and leave us in peace.

Related links:

• Press release from the l’Institut d’Estudis Catalans
• Announcement of the election for neologism of the year