FundéuRAE chooses "arancel" as the word of the year 2025

Published on January 05, 2026 | Translated from Spanish
FundéuRAE logo next to the word 'tariff' written in large letters on a graphic background with bars and flags of different countries that simulates an economic report.

FundéuRAE Chooses "Tariff" as Word of the Year 2025

The FundéuRAE has designated "tariff" as the word that best summarizes the year 2025. This choice underscores how an economic term has permeated public and media discourse, capturing the essence of a period marked by international trade disputes. 🏛️

What Defines a Tariff and Why Is It Relevant Now?

A tariff is a tax that governments impose on products crossing their borders. Its current prominence arises from growing tensions in global trade and debates over policies aimed at protecting national economies. The foundation highlights that its massive use in press and politics makes it a key concept for understanding the socioeconomic reality.

Key Criteria for Choosing the Word of the Year:
  • Analyze existing terms, not neologisms, that have marked the news agenda.
  • Evaluate their constant presence in media and their interest from a linguistic perspective.
  • Consider their ability to condense and define the most significant events of the period.
"Tariff prevailed over other finalist words that also reflected social, economic, or technological trends of the year."

The Process Behind the Selection

The foundation's team does not seek new words, but established terms that gain special weight. A group of candidates is examined for their media impact and value in narrating the year. In this edition, "tariff" surpassed other finalists, proving to be the term that best connects high economic policy with citizen conversation.

Implications of This Choice:
  • Link everyday complaints about prices with complex economic mechanisms, such as taxes on imports.
  • Offer the public a precise term to understand phenomena previously attributed only to inflation.
  • Demonstrate how language evolves to name the realities that most concern society.

A Term That Transcends Economics

The designation of "tariff" goes beyond linguistics. It points to a moment where trade geopolitics directly affects daily life. The next time the cost of a product is discussed, there will be a more precise concept, tariff, to frame the discussion, uniting technical language with common experience. 📈