Pretoria: 'G20' has been announced as the 2025 South African Word of the Year, the Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB) said on Tuesday. On 23 December 2025, PanSALB, in partnership with media research company Focal Points, declared "G20" the winner after considering various words and expressions. The term outpaced other contenders such as Government of National Unity, Tariffs, Femicide, and the Madlanga Commission.

According to South African Government News Agency, the selection process involved shortlisting candidates based on authentic language usage. Focal Points analyzed frequency data from 1 January to December 2025, reviewing keywords used extensively in reputable print, broadcast, and online media. "G20" emerged as the most prominent keyword, largely due to South Africa hosting the G20 summit in 2025. It was followed by "Government of National Unity (GNU)" and "Tariffs," capturing major events and issues that shaped the nation in 2025, including politics, international affairs, and social challenges.

Earlier this month, Cabinet joined President Cyril Ramaphosa in extending appreciation to all South Africans for their role in ensuring a successful G20 Presidency, culminating in the G20 Leaders' Summit in November 2025. President Ramaphosa praised South Africa's G20 Presidency as a significant diplomatic achievement and a celebration of national unity.

Meanwhile, "Valid" was selected as the 2025 SA Word of the Year for Social Media. "Valid," Gen Z slang for something deemed acceptable or worthy of approval, was chosen from a shortlist that included "Hao Khonahale," "Nonchalant," "Clock it," "Nodolozana," and "Ama1k." It signifies agreement or support, often validating someone's feelings or opinions.

The South African Sign Language Sign of the Year is the SASL Sign for 'I Love You,' which competed against signs for 'so lekker,' 'magnificent,' and 'Constitution.'

The SA Word of the Year reflects the preoccupations of South Africans for a given period and serves as an essential indicator of the nation's cultural and social landscape. The PanSALB is a constitutional body tasked with fostering multilingualism and developing previously marginalized languages in South Africa.