Our guide to 6 trending words that shaped 2024 will introduce you to the terms that captured the mood, habits, and cultural shifts of the year.

Language is constantly evolving to match our changing society, 2024 was no exception, and trending words that helped shape 2024 reflect how we process these changes. Technology was an ever more present factor, an overdependence on it, an overindulgence in it and an, often, overwhelming reaction. As culture and society shift, so do the words we use to describe our experiences, emotions, and behaviors.

Here are 6 trending words that shaped 2024 we’ve handpicked that define the past year, from online buzzwords to real-world trends. 

1. Bed Rotting

No, it’s not about sleeping or moldy mattresses. Bed rotting is lounging in bed for hours on end, with a packet of cookies or chips scrolling social media, binge-watching shows, or just zoning out. Considered relaxing or a stress relief tactic. It’s the opposite of productivity yet Mental health experts warn it could overload the brain, especially when paired with doomscrolling (you know, endlessly swiping through bad news). 

2. Manifest 

This is where dreams meet reality. Manifestation is all about turning your dreams into reality through visualizing or believing in them, positive thinking, and action. Whether it’s making a vision board, or simply stating your dreams out loud, the idea is that staying positive and focused helps make things happen. It’s the “ask and you shall receive” mindset, but with a bit more effort behind it. 

3. Ick

The ick is a strong, instant feeling of disgust or repulsion toward someone, often triggered by something tiny or seemingly harmless. Maybe it’s the way they chew or the way they talk. Once you catch the ick, there’s no going back. You just can’t unsee it, suddenly, you’re just… turned off. “Did you see how they held their fork? It gave me the biggest Ick!”. 

4. Girl Dinner 

A Girl Dinner is a quick and easy meal; it’s about keeping things simple. Think crackers, cheese, or an egg on toast. It’s a bit of a joke in the online world but also just a make do attitude when the fridge is nearly empty in real life. While some debate that this could promote negative connotations to how “girls” can’t do complicated things or unhealthy eating habits, others see it as a creative way to make the best of a situation. Sometimes, you just don’t need a fancy dinner to get by. 

5. Demure

This 700-year-old word  made a comeback in 2024 thanks to fashion trends like Trad Wife and the coquette look, which lean into modesty and old-school femininity. It’s mostly used to describe women who dress modestly and who are polite or shy. But just like with Girl Dinner, some argue that it can put too much pressure on women to fit a certain stereotypical image.

6. Brainrot

 Oxford’s 2024 Word of the Year, Brain rot was actually coined years ago. In Thoreau’s Walden it describes the state of society’s general mental and intellectual decay caused by mindless tasks and distractions. A moving away from complex thinking. Today’s over consumption of mindless, trivial online contents has revitalized the term fit our new mind-numbing habits and state of mind. 

As we move through 2025 stay connected with language trends and keep up with our fast-changing world. Maka English courses are here to help you stay ahead of the conversation and sharpen your communication skills.