G20 has been named South Africa’s (SA) Word of the Year for 2025.
The announcement was made by the Pan SA Language Board (PanSALB), in partnership with media research company Focal Points, following an extensive review of words and expressions that shaped public discourse over the past year.
The selection comes after SA held the G20 Presidency in 2025, a term that concluded last month with the Leaders’ Summit hosted at Nasrec, south of Johannesburg, in Gauteng. It was the first time the G20 summit was held on African soil, placing the country firmly at the centre of global political and economic discussions.
PanSALB, a constitutional body mandated to promote multilingualism and advance previously marginalised languages, says the prominence of “G20” across mainstream and social media made it a clear frontrunner.
Spokesperson Ntombentle Huluhulu explains that the term dominated headlines throughout the year, outperforming other notable contenders such as Government of National Unity, tariffs, femicide and the Matlab Commission in the mainstream media category. On social media, popular slang terms were also considered, including “aokhonale”, which is commonly used to express approval or validation.
Huluhulu adds that the board’s selection process is grounded in evidence-based language use. Focal Points tracked keywords over a 12-month period, from January to December 2025, analysing how frequently they appeared across reputable print, broadcast and online platforms.
She says for any word or expression to qualify, its usage must show a significant increase over the year and reflect broad public engagement.
In addition to spoken and written language, SA Sign Language was also recognised. The Sign of the Year for 2025 was awarded to the sign for “I Love You”, a symbol PanSALB says reflects connection, resilience and shared humanity amid the country’s political and social challenges.
PanSALB says the final list of words and signs captures SA’s defining moments in 2025, highlighting its political milestones, social realities and vibrant youth culture.
–ChannelAfrica–
