The 62 New Words from the RAE: What Do They Mean and Why Are They in the Dictionary?

The Royal Spanish Academy (RAE), the institution that has been safeguarding our language for nearly 300 years, never stops updating itself. Recently, it presented a new version of its online dictionary with 3,345 modifications! Among these novelties, 62 words stand out that are now officially part of the Spanish lexicon. Do you want to know which ones they are and what they mean? Let’s find out together.

Language is not static: it evolves with us

One very important thing we must understand is that language is not something frozen in time. No, no. Spanish changes, grows, and adapts to the real lives of those who speak it. The RAE knows this, and that is why it periodically updates its dictionary to include words that we already use but were not previously formally recognized. Think of “selfi,” for example. Before, it was just a buzzword, an Anglicism we used without fear. Now it is in the dictionary. The same happens with many other words that are born on the internet, in daily life, or that arrive from other languages and adapt to our own. That is why this latest update with 62 new words is a clear sign that Spanish is alive and kicking.

New words very much of our time

Among these new additions, there are words that come from the street, from the colloquial speech that we all understand and use sometimes without realizing it. For example:

• Postureo: That attitude of pretending to be something you are not, of showing an idealized image on social media or in real life, just to make an impression. If you have seen someone upload perfect photos just to gain “likes,” you surely know what “postureo” is about.
• Buenismo: A word that describes that attitude of being excessively good or tolerant, often in a naive or uncritical way. It is used to point out when someone defends ideas or causes without analyzing the negative details.
• Chusmear: Curious and very much our own, this word means to “gossip,” spy, or stick your nose into other people’s business. Surely we all have that friend who is a bit of a “chusmear.”

These words reflect our daily life, our customs, and how we communicate in the digital age and on social media.

“Imported” words that are already ours

Spanish is also a language very permeable to external influences, especially from English, which today dominates the digital, professional, and cultural world. The RAE has included some words that come from other languages but have been adapted and popularized in our daily use, such as:

• Container: Although in English it means a container, here it is used to refer to large metal boxes or containers for transport or storage.
• Ataché: From the French “attaché,” used to designate a diplomatic member or someone who accompanies an important person.
• Táper: That box or container for carrying food, which we used to call a “fiambrera” or “tupper” (with a “u”). Now “táper” is written according to Spanish phonetics and is officially recognized.

Additionally, words like fair play or cliquear also fall into this category. “Fair play” comes from English and is used in sports contexts to refer to clean play, while “cliquear” is the action of clicking with the mouse, a very technological term that has become part of our daily lives.

The RAE also corrects and updates definitions

It is not just about adding words, but also about reviewing how we define some expressions so that they better reflect the current social and cultural reality. For example, the expression “sexo débil” (weaker sex) has been subject to an important review. Previously, the dictionary indicated that “sexo débil” simply meant “group of women.” However, the RAE has now pointed out that, although it refers to women, this expression has a “derogatory or discriminatory intention,” meaning that it is used as a sexist and insulting term. With this correction, the Academy shows its commitment to more respectful and conscious language.

Some new words you already use (and perhaps didn’t know weren’t in the dictionary)

• Audiolibro: That wonder that allows you to listen to books instead of reading them. Perfect for travel, sports, or relaxing.
• Chakra: A word that comes from Sanskrit and refers to the energy centers in the body according to some spiritual and wellness traditions.
• Deportivamente: A word we already used to talk about doing something with a sporting or clean spirit.

Why do these words enter the dictionary?

Because the words that people use and understand must be in the official dictionary. The RAE has the goal of collecting the language as it is spoken and written in real life, not just what it “should” be. If millions of people use “postureo” or “táper,” why not recognize it officially? This also makes the dictionary a living document that reflects our culture, our customs, and our way of thinking and communicating.

What words would you like to see in the dictionary?

Surely there are many new expressions, acronyms, or words that you use daily in your group of friends, at school, or on social media that are not yet officially recognized. For example, do you know “cringe”? That English word we use to say that something gives us secondhand embarrassment or discomfort. Or “influencer,” “troll,” “hashtag”? These are words that define part of our online life, but not all of them are yet officially accepted in the dictionary.

Language belongs to everyone, and we all build it

The RAE is not a court that imposes strict rules, but an institution that listens and observes how millions of people speak and write all over the Spanish-speaking world. Because Spanish is a global language, with regional variations, idioms, and neologisms. Every time you use a new word, a modern expression, or an adapted Anglicism, you are participating in the evolution of the language. And although some words disappear or fall into disuse, new ones are constantly being born. So, beyond books and dictionaries, Spanish is the voice of its people. And the RAE is in charge of organizing it without stopping its growth.

To conclude: what do you think?

Do you think these new words well represent our time? Is there one you like or don’t understand? Are you surprised that some colloquial or internet words are already part of the official dictionary? Language is our most powerful tool, and knowing that it is alive and in constant change should encourage us to play with it, create, learn, and, above all, enjoy it. Next time you say “postureo” or “fair play,” remember that you are already using words recognized by the Royal Spanish Academy!