‘Aura’ Crowned German Youth Word of the Year 2024

The term, which signifies charisma and personal energy, was selected by young people in an online vote organized by Langenscheidt Verlag.

The word 'aura' describes a person's charisma or energy and is used positively to denote coolness or good deeds.
'Aura' gained popularity in the sports world and was first highlighted in a 2020 New York Times article about footballer Virgil van Dijk.
Youth slang voting saw an 11% increase in participation this year, with over six figures of entries submitted.
Second place went to 'Talahon,' a term for young men in fake luxury clothes, which sparked debates on social media about race and youth culture.
The third-ranked term 'Schere' is used among gamers to admit mistakes or guilt, reflecting the influence of digital culture on language.