Word of 2024: A bold new attitude in just four letters

Collins Dictionary has chosen the word “brat” as the word of 2024, noting it as a symbol of a modern cultural phenomenon. “Brat” has captured the attention of a wide audience, becoming not just a trend but also a kind of expression of the zeitgeist, especially among young people who are drawn to rebellion and self-expression, Kazinform News Agency reports.

Popularized by the album of the same name by British singer Charli XCX, the adjective represents freedom, audacity, and self-acceptance.

“Channelling self-acceptance as well as rebelliousness, it’s a fitting word for 2024, a year when hedonism and anxiety have combined to form an intoxicating brew,” Collins Dictionary noted.

It is also stated that the word “brat” itself is difficult to define precisely: “Brat is different things to different people; a spiky attitude, a garish aesthetic.”

The word has turned into an aesthetic, which has become so popular that Charlie CXC’s “Kamala is brat” tweet earned presidential candidate Kamala Harris $81 million in campaign contributions in a single day.

In addition to “brat,” the dictionary also identified the words delulu, which is an unrealistic belief about oneself or one’s idols; brainrot, which is a clouding of the mind caused by low-quality content; romantasy, which is a genre that combines “romance” and “fantasy”; era, which is an important stage in one’s life or career; rawdogging, which is a rejection of digital conveniences; lookmaxxing, which is a desire to improve one’s appearance; anti-tourism, which is a protest against mass tourism; supermajorities, which allow the government to act without opposition; and yapping, which is empty chatter.