Many sentiments are universal. Many words are not. As 2023 ends, The Associated Press reached out to colleagues around the world for terms that emerged this year and seized or crystalized the popular mood.
The kanji character “zei,” or taxes is displayed Dec. 12 as the kanji letter of this year, at Kiyomizu temple in Kyoto, Japan. The kanji character “zei,” or taxes, was chosen as one that best represents 2023 amid growing speculation of a future tax increase to fund Japan’s ongoing drastic military buildup.
People are also reading…
Pastor Paul Mackenzie, accused of leading a doomsday cult that led to the deaths of more than 400 people, appears at court May 2 in Malindi, Kenya. He said Kitawaramba, which means in kiSwahili, "It will come back to haunt you," as people confronted him.
Electricity pylons from Kusile coal-fired power plant are seen May 22 near Emalahleni, South Africa. The word kuningi, "it's a lot," gained popularity among South Africans to express frustration over multiple controversies, such as record electricity outages and the government's close relationship with Russia.
A group of Brazilian tourists hold hands standing in a circle July 19 at the heart of a stone labyrinth in the Pueblo Encanto spiritual theme park in Capilla del Monte, Argentina. There and across the world, many have renounced faith and joined the growing ranks of the religiously unaffiliated, known as the “nones.”
Taiwanese workers hold signs reading "Flunking governing. Labor ledger," as they protest May 1 during a May Day rally in Taipei, Taiwan. The term 山道猴子 (shan dao hou zi), "mountain roadmonkey," became popular shorthand for young people's economic pressures.
Indian national flags fly in the stands June 11 ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy match between India and South Africa in London. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government replaced India with the Sanskrit word 'Bharat' in dinner invitations sent for the Group of 20 summit, in a move that echoes his Hindu nationalist party's efforts to scrub away what it sees as colonial-era names.
2023's word of the year: AI or these far-flung contenders?
The kanji character “zei,” or taxes is displayed as the kanji letter of this year, at Kiyomizu temple in Kyoto, Japan, Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023. The kanji character “zei,” or taxes, was chosen as one that best represents 2023 amid growing speculation of a future tax increase to fund Japan’s ongoing drastic military buildup. The top Buddhist monk at the Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto, using a brush, wrote the letter on the temple balcony during Tuesday’s closely watched annual event. (Kyodo News via AP)
FILE - Preacher Paul Mackenzie who was accused of leading a starvation doomsday cult that led to the deaths of more than 400 people, appears at a court in Malindi, Kenya Tuesday, May 2, 2023. He said Kitawaramba, which means in kiSwahili, "It will come back to haunt you," as people confronted him while he waited to be driven to court. The unfamiliar word appeared to be a threat, and it quickly took on a life of its own. Kenyans used it to warn others that something bad may happen to them for their actions.(AP Photo, File)
FILE - Nertil Marcelin, leader of a community group, and members of the community strike machetes against the ground as they support the "Bwa Kale" movement, an initiative to fight gangs seeking to take control of their neighborhood in the Delmas district of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Sunday, May 28, 2023. (AP Photo/Odelyn Joseph, File)
FILE - A high altitude balloon floats over Billings, Mont., on Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2023. Perhaps no other term than spy balloon this year defined the growing wariness between the world's two largest economies. China rejected allegations of surveillance and insisted that balloon and others were purely for civilian purposes. (Larry Mayer/The Billings Gazette via AP, File)
FILE - Medical personnel shout slogans as they protest on the street to ask for increasing labor welfare during a May Day rally in Taipei, Taiwan, Monday, May 1, 2023. The term 山道猴子 (shan dao hou zi), "mountain roadmonkey," became popular shorthand for young people's economic pressures in August, when a YouTube user dropped a 20-minute film called the "Life of a Mountain Roadmonkey." His story touched off a discussion about the low wages and long hours for many in Taiwan, where housing and traditional "success" are often out of reach. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)
FILE - Kenya's new president William Ruto arrives to be sworn into office at a ceremony held at Kasarani stadium in Nairobi, Kenya Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022. With every new economic policy by President William Ruto's administration, some Kenyans say that electing him has come back to haunt them.(AP Photo/Brian Inganga, File)
FILE- Indian national flags fly in the stands ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy match between India and South Africa in London, Sunday, June 11, 2017. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has replaced India with the Sanskrit word 'Bharat' in dinner invitations sent for the Group of 20 summit, in a move that echoes his Hindu nationalist party's efforts to scrub away what it sees as colonial-era names. Politics over India versus Bharat has gained ground since the opposition parties in July announced a new alliance — called INDIA. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)
FILE - Taiwanese workers hold signs reading "Flunking governing. Labor ledger," as they protest on the street to ask for increasing labor welfare during a May Day rally in Taipei, Taiwan, Monday, May 1, 2023. The term 山道猴子 (shan dao hou zi), "mountain roadmonkey," became popular shorthand for young people's economic pressures in August, when a YouTube user dropped a 20-minute film called the "Life of a Mountain Roadmonkey." His story touched off a discussion about the low wages and long hours for many in Taiwan, where housing and traditional "success" are often out of reach. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying, File)
FILE - A fighter jet flies near the remnants of a large balloon after it was struck by a missile over the Atlantic Ocean, just off the coast of South Carolina near Myrtle Beach, Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023. Perhaps no other term than spy balloon this year defined the growing wariness between the world's two largest economies. China rejected allegations of surveillance and insisted that balloon and others were purely for civilian purposes. (Chad Fish via AP, File)
FILE - President of the Republic of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa, left, and Russian President Vladimir Putin shake hands in St. Petersburg, Russia, Thursday, July 27, 2023. This word kuningi, "it's a lot," gained popularity among South Africans to express frustration over multiple controversies, such as record electricity outages and the government's close relationship with Russia. (Sergei Bobylev/TASS Host Photo Agency Pool Photo via AP, File)
FILE - A group of Brazilian tourists hold hands standing in a circle at the heart of a stone labyrinth in the Pueblo Encanto spiritual theme park in Capilla del Monte, Argentina, Wednesday, July 19, 2023. In the pope's homeland of Argentina, Catholics have been renouncing the faith and joining the growing ranks of the religiously unaffiliated. Commonly known as the "nones," they describe themselves as atheists, agnostics, spiritual but not religious, or simply: "nothing in particular." (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko, File)
FILE - Electricity pylons from Kusile coal-fired power plant near Emalahleni, South Africa, Monday, May 22, 2023. The word kuningi, "it's a lot," gained popularity among South Africans to express frustration over multiple controversies, such as record electricity outages and the government's close relationship with Russia. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe, File)
FILE - Nertil Marcelin, leader of a community group, distributes machetes to residents in an initiative to resist gangs seeking to take control of their neighborhood, in the Delmas district of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Saturday, May 13, 2023. (AP Photo/Odelyn Joseph, File)
FILE - The Notre Dame de la Garde Basilica is seen on a top of the hill during a sunset in Marseille, France, Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023. This word "Quoicoubeh!," became super popular this year with French teenagers who used it to annoy their elders and it doesn't have a real meaning. It's simple: A teen says something inaudible, hoping that parents or teachers will answer "Quoi?" or "What?" The response : "Quoicoubeh!" (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin, File)
FILE - The Eiffel Tower is reflected in a puddle as people walk past at the Trocadero square, in Paris, France, Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023. The word "Quoicoubeh!," became super popular this year with French teenagers who used it to annoy their elders, though it doesn't have a real meaning. It's simple: A teen says something inaudible, hoping that parents or teachers will answer "Quoi?" or "What?" The response : "Quoicoubeh!"(AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin, File)
FILE - Children cross Avenue du Prado with the David Statue in the background in Marseille, France, Monday, Sept. 11, 2023. The word "Quoicoubeh!," became super popular this year with French teenagers who used it to annoy their elders, though it doesn't have a real meaning. It's simple: A teen says something inaudible, hoping that parents or teachers will answer "Quoi?" or "What?" The response : "Quoicoubeh!" (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin, File)
FILE - Jorge Hector Roldan, better known as Larry, stands with his arms spread out, facing the Uritorco mountains in Capilla del Monte, Cordoba, Argentina, Tuesday, July 18, 2023. In the pope's homeland of Argentina, Catholics have been renouncing the faith and joining the growing ranks of the religiously unaffiliated. Commonly known as the "nones," they describe themselves as atheists, agnostics, spiritual but not religious, or simply: "nothing in particular." (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko, File)
