2010 German Word of the Year

Language is alive!  It's always changing, never stagnant and taking it's cues from the people who rely on it to communicate their feelings and ideas.  Each year I look forward to the Society for the German Language (GfdS) (Yes, in true German form, there really is a society that focuses on these things)releasing the top 10 words of the year and this year was no exception.  

This year's top word was Wütburger.  Like so many German words, it's a compoud of Wüt (anger) and Burger (citizen) and means "enraged citizen".  As the GfsD explains on their website, "The word documents a great desire among citizens to have a right to have a say in societal and political projects, beyond their vote." 

Other words that made the list this year were, Wikileaks, and Cyberkrieg/"Cyberwar".  These words aren't necessarily the most commonly used words in the language, just words that this committee feels are representative of the events of the year.  

My personal favorites are:  

Aschewolke/"ash cloud"

As in "The Aschewolke hanging over Germany threatened to keep us from flying there this summer. 

and  
Vuvuzela 

 the horn that was blown before, during and after every match of this summer's World Cup. 
This word will be forever etched in my mind because I will never forget the excitement of my students living the excitement of the World Cup that was Germany 2010. 
One even came home with his own Vuvuzela!