RAE’s Official Incorporation of New Technological Terms
The Royal Spanish Academy (RAE) has formally added the terms “smartphone,” “logging in,” and “mailing” to the electronic version 23.8.1 of the Dictionary of the Spanish Language (DLE). This significant move highlights the increasing influence of technology and English on the everyday language of millions of Spanish speakers.
Annual Updates and the Next Edition
Annually, the RAE reviews its dictionary, and the latest updates were showcased on December 15, 2025, at the institution’s headquarters. While the 24th edition is scheduled for paper publication in 2026, users can already access the updated terms online.
The Growing List of New Features
The dictionary update introduces a total of 330 new features, encompassing new words, local expressions, and various meanings. Prominent additions in the technological domain include terms such as “gif,” “hashtag,” and “streaming,” emphasizing the evolving nature of language influenced by modern communication.
Integration of New Terms
Notably, the term “loguearse” has been adapted fully to fit the Spanish language. This term, meaning to link an identity and password to a digital platform, now stands alongside traditional equivalents in popularity.
The RAE specifies that terms like “smartphone,” “mailing,” and others will be classified as “crude foreign words.” These terms will maintain their original spelling and will be italicized in written form.
Definitions of New Terms
The newly incorporated definitions clarify:
- Smartphone: Defined straightforwardly as “a smartphone.”
- Streaming: Described as “the continuous transfer of data over the Internet,” permitting access to live or recorded broadcasts without needing to download the content.
- Mailing: Defined as “the generalized sending of information, propaganda, or advertising through the mail.”
Beyond technology, the update also includes scientific terms such as “graviton” (in physics) and “thermochemical” (in chemistry), along with regional vernacular like “morro” (in El Salvador and Mexico to refer to a child).
A Dynamic Language
RAE director Santiago Muñoz Machado emphasized that this update is a minor revision, leading up to a more extensive edition due for release in 2026. He stressed the need to recognize commonly used terms, even those outside traditional norms, reflecting the reality of language shaped by its speakers.
Conclusion: Language in Evolution
This latest revision underscores the RAE’s commitment to adapting the Spanish language to reflect contemporary realities. With terms such as “gif,” “hashtag,” “mailing,” and “streaming” now part of officially recognized Spanish, the RAE recognizes the impact of digital communication on linguistic evolution. The fully updated list can be explored on the official RAE website, offering insights into the contemporary dynamics of language as it adapts to new cultural and technological influences.