‘Firkle’, ‘Gluschdich’ and more: 10 words we learned in 2024 that will expand your mind

Here are some of our favourite words and phrases that the BBC encountered during in our reporting this year that helped to unravel the changes taking place in world around us.

From words that capture a reindeer’s search for food in the Arctic, to new expressions that convey the nuances of climate change around the world, this year we’ve explored how languages can help our minds travel and take us deep into other cultures. We’ve learned about twins inventing secret languages, and researchers discovering long-lost scripts from ancient trade routes. We picked up an Amish word for subtle food cravings, and heard how Antarctic researchers develop their own slang during their long, dark months of isolation.
There are thousands of languages in the world, and new ones keep being discovered, including lost scripts from the ancient past. But according to the Living Tongues Institute for Endangered Languages, over 3,000 languages are now endangered and at risk of disappearing. Learning, speaking and enjoying them can, however, help to keep them alive for ourselves and future generations. Here are some of the most intriguing expressions we learned from languages around the world during our reporting in 2024. They are listed in alphabetical order – click on each word to read the full story behind it: