As 2024 draws to a close, we've witnessed several catastrophic weather events around the world. From the devastating floods in Brazil and Dubai to the recent flooding that struck Valencia, Spain, our Word of the Year reflects the increasing impact of extreme weather events. With that being said, let's reveal Yabla's Spanish Word of the Year 2024.

"Inundación": The Spanish Word of the Year 2024

The word inundación (flood) is our Spanish Word of the Year 2024. Throughout history, floods have shaped societies and transformed landscapes. The following clip shows how the Netherlands learned to respect the power of water after a devastating flood:

El agua, que está muy presente en la vida de los holandeses, les da riqueza, pero a la vez le tienen un gran respeto. Y no es para menos, después de lo que vivieron el treinta y uno de enero del año mil novecientos cincuenta y tres, cuando ocurrió una gran inundación que sumergió el ocho por ciento del país

Water, which is very present in the life of the Dutch, gives them wealth, but at the same time, they have great respect for it. And it's no wonder after what they experienced on January thirty-first of the year nineteen fifty-three, when a great flood occurred that submerged eight percent of the country,

Captions 39-45, Viajando con Fermín Ámsterdam - Part 4

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It's worth noting that the word inundación (flood) comes from the verb inundar (to flood). Let's see how José Miguel uses this verb in the preterite tense:

un temporal que inundó muchos locales y calles de la parte vieja de la ciudad

a storm that flooded many shops and streets in the old part of the city

Captions 42-43, San Sebastián El rompeolas

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While the verb's primary meaning relates to flooding, it can also be used figuratively to mean "to fill" or "to overwhelm":

Durante unos minutos, la brisa de la primavera Árabe inundó el hemiciclo del Parlamento Europeo

For a few minutes, the breeze of the Arab Spring filled the hemicycle of the European Parliament

Captions 1-2, Europa Abierta Premio Sakharov

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The Impact of Inundación

The increasing frequency of flooding events worldwide has made inundación a particularly relevant term in 2024. In Spanish, the word can be used in various contexts:

Natural disasters:

- Inundación repentina (flash flood)
- Zona de inundación (flood zone)
- Riesgo de inundación (flood risk)

Figurative uses:

- Inundación de mensajes (flood of messages)
- Inundación de solicitudes (flood of requests)
- Mercado inundado (flooded market)

That's it for today. What do you think about our choice for the Spanish Word of the Year 2024? Can you think of other words that could have been chosen? Please feel free to share your comments and suggestions with us.

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