The words of the year are unique choices made by autonomous English dictionary publishers.

Their own pool of experts and language scholars, with the use of numbers from their web dictionary data, assess what deserves to be the word of the year.

The criteria revolve around visibility, volume, and impact all throughout the year. 

We interviewed four young adults about this topic, and asked what for them is the closest approximation to a personal year-defining word. 

“My word of the year would be resilience. 

This year has tested my character, as well as the strength of those around me. 

Despite the challenges on both personal and social levels, I’ve come to appreciate how I’ve managed to stay headstrong and stable through it all.”

• Kristine San Agustin, 24
  Calamba, Laguna
  BA Communication Arts, UP Los Baños

“My personal word of the year is shiminet.

It is a wake up call for all Filipinos to reevaluate their morals and rethink their choices in life.”

• John Benedict Silla, 23
  Bacoor, Cavite
  BS Community Development, UP Diliman

“Chef's kiss is a term that I think perfectly encapsulates my optimism for the world. 

It is very rare that a compliment is repurposed and used widely these days. Amid all of the vitriol and disagreements, there is something about a praise entering the lexicon that is just full of hope. 

Finding new ways to boost someone's confidence or giving oneself a pat in the back became a tall task recently. 

I'm just glad that this new generation coined a term of positivity.”

• Jay Postrado, 22
  Naga City, Bicol Region
  Sports Editor, Fan Arch 

“My personal word of the year would be locked-in or lock-in. 

It personally gave me clarity as to what I had to feel during the times I needed to focus. 

I liked what it represented in my life during 2024 - times where I was productive, driven, and focused on achieving my goals.”

• Joshua Dita, 25
  Biñan, Laguna
  Sophomore, UP Law