The word that received the most votes in this year's poll refers to an individual who doesn’t flaunt their uniqueness but instead follows their own set of principles.
As previously reported by Radio Poland, the term "Sigma" describes a confident, self-reliant person who doesn’t follow the crowd and is often referred to as a "lone wolf."
According to the head of the jury, Prof. Anna Więcek, the winning term can also be seen as reflecting young people's longing for an authority figure - someone who follows their own rules and doesn't blindly follow others.
Second place went to the word "azbest," which frequently appears in internet memes. It humorously references the idea of "pouring asbestos," often associated with low-quality, environmentally harmful development projects and a critique of overpriced, substandard buildings.
On the podium in third place was the term "czemó," a playful variation of the Polish word "czemu" ("why"), widely used by gamers and online communities, especially in TikTok videos, to express surprise or confusion.
The final gala of the 2024 competition on December 10 would not have been complete without one of the most prominent experts on the Polish language, Professor Jan Miodek from the University of Wrocław.
Prof. Jan Miodek, University of Wroclaw (photo: Leszek Szymański)
The full coverage of this year's Youth Word of the Year contest gala can be viewed on PWN Publishing's YouTube channel.
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Source: PAP/X/@PolskieRadio24
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