The Spanish language continues to evolve, and the Real Academia Española (RAE) has just unveiled 330 new Spanish words in the digital version 23.8.1 of the Diccionario de la lengua española (DLE). This update, presented in December 2025, offers a preview of the upcoming 24th printed edition scheduled for 2026. Let's explore some of the most interesting additions that reflect how Spanish adapts to modern life, technology, and cultural shifts.

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Technology Takes Over the Dictionary

The digital world has left a strong mark on this update. According to Elena Zamora, head of the Instituto de Lexicografía, technology has sparked "a small revolution of words" that significantly impacts the Spanish language.

Spanish-Adapted Tech Terms

The word loguearse (to log in) now officially joins the dictionary with a spelling fully adapted to Spanish orthography. This is a perfect example of how the RAE embraces foreign concepts while maintaining Spanish linguistic rules.

Foreign Words Enter as-is

Not all tech terms get the Spanish treatment. Words like gif, hashtag, mailing, and streaming have been incorporated as extranjerismos crudos (raw foreign words), keeping their original spelling.

Additionally, the dictionary has expanded definitions for existing words to accommodate new digital realities. The word etiqueta (tag) now includes its social media meaning (hashtag), and directo (live) has been updated to reflect live streaming on platforms. From journalism comes fotonoticia (photo news story).

la etiqueta "dudaRAE"

the "dudaRAE" [questionRAE] hashtag

Caption 39, Carlos explica Recursos para consultas del español - Part 4

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Arts, Entertainment, and Pop Culture

The performing arts contribute microteatro (micro-theater), a theatrical format that has gained popularity in Spanish-speaking countries. The entertainment world also adds alfombra roja (red carpet), acknowledging its importance in celebrity culture.

desfilar por la alfombra roja.

parading along the red carpet.

Caption 82, Viajando con Fermín Festival de Cine SSIFF - Part 1

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From the world of video games, comecocos (Pac-Man) makes its official appearance. And martial arts fans will be happy to see nunchaco (nunchucks) finally recognized in the dictionary.

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Everyday Expressions Get Official Status

Colloquial expressions have also found their place. Hacer un simpa (to dine and dash) is now officially recognized, along with its Argentine equivalent: hacer un pagadiós.

Social and Environmental Awareness

Reflecting growing ecological consciousness, the dictionary welcomes turismofobia (tourism phobia), a term for the growing resistance to mass tourism in certain areas. Related to environmental concerns, crudivorismo (raw food diet) appears alongside its derivatives: crudismo (raw foodism) and crudívoro (raw foodist).

The term milenial (millennial) also joins the dictionary, acknowledging the generation that has shaped much of contemporary culture and language.

Science and Medicine Expand Their Vocabulary

Science and medicine represent one of the largest semantic fields in this update. Medical terms like rosácea (rosacea), autovacuna (autovaccine), and gravitón (graviton) from physics have been added.

Even science fiction contributes with teletransportación cuántica (quantum teleportation).

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The Selection Process Behind RAE's New Spanish Words 2025

Santiago Muñoz Machado, director of the RAE and president of the Asociación de Academias de la Lengua Española (ASALE), emphasized that these additions are not arbitrary decisions. "None of these novelties is a whim of the academics," he stated, explaining the complex evaluation process.

Proposals come from institutions, individuals, and academics. The Instituto de Lexicografía evaluates each request, considering input from Spanish academies across the Americas before making final decisions.

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New Spanish Words Continue to Evolve: The 2026 Edition

This digital version serves as a preview of what Spanish speakers can expect in the comprehensive 24th edition coming in 2026. With over 330 updates including new words, revisions, and adjustments, the DLE continues to be the authoritative reference for millions of Spanish speakers and professionals worldwide.

The RAE's latest update reminds us that Spanish is a living, breathing language that adapts to technological advances, social changes, and cultural phenomena while maintaining its rich linguistic heritage. We'd love to hear your thoughts on these new additions—send us your comments and questions!