Top 9 Global Buzzwords of 2014: E-Cigarette Makes the List

As 2014 comes to a close, everyone is busy reflecting on the gains and losses of the year. On December 30, Yahoo compiled a list of the 9 global buzzwords of 2014 along with their meanings. Some of these words are newly coined, some are acronyms, and some have even become part of everyday vocabulary. Let's take a look back at the most notable, annoying, and thought-provoking words of the year.

Vape: One of the words listed as the word of the year by the Oxford Dictionary. As the name suggests, this refers to a cigarette, but specifically, an electronic cigarette. This peculiar device allows you to enjoy the sensation of smoking without the harm of nicotine and tar. Many vape shops not only sell e-cigarettes and e-juices but also offer a chance to enjoy a strong cup of coffee, allowing you to relive the old tradition of smoking while sipping coffee.

Bae: A term of endearment, a shorthand for "baby" or "babe," referring to someone very important to you. The Urban Dictionary suggests it means "above all others." In Danish, however, "bae" actually means poop.

HealthGoth: Goths who like to burn fat to achieve a particularly pale complexion. Goth athletes are often encouraged to wear black clothing in hot weather, as they do not advocate for large body sizes, aiming instead for balanced muscle growth to maintain their goth appearance rather than looking like athletes. The Health Goth Bible promotes "working out to death." To achieve a Health Goth workout, just apply black lipstick, though we are unsure if working out with makeup is advisable.

Alphet: A lazy way of saying "outfit." When you upload a selfie in a cute outfit to Instagram, this word works just like a hashtag. The usage of this term has surged on the menswear blog FourPins, which describes it as "a symbol of an indescribable feeling: when you stand in front of the mirror and see yourself, you feel like you've been reborn, your self-esteem swelling from deep within your heart, spreading through your muscles, radiating to every part of your body, seeping from your pores, every damn detail laid bare before you." That is alphet. The description of #alphet as "so hot" is the highest praise for this term.

Basic: Refers to behavior or clothing that is very mundane and obviously trendy. "Basic bitches" and "basic dudes" are often seen sipping large pumpkin lattes while watching reruns of "Saved By the Bell," dressed in "Lululemon."

Normcore: This term is in many ways a complement to "basic." It refers to basic fashion trends that originated in the early 90s, such as Patagonia sweaters, skinny jeans, and baggy sweatpants, which were the mainstay of hippies' wardrobes during that era. The term Normcore was introduced to the public by The New Yorker in early 2014 and has since risen from an internet buzzword to a significant fashion trend, influencing runway shows for brands like Prada, Joseph, Otuzala, and Celine.

Fleek: According to historians at Complexmag.com, this word can be traced back to the early 19th century. Fleek is another way of saying sleek. Well-groomed eyebrows can be described as "on fleek." However, this phrase can be used to describe any expression that conveys an "OK gesture." For example, "That alphet is on fleek."

Turn Up, Turn Down: Turn up means to attend a wild party, while turn down means to back out or come to your senses. In December 2013, a line from the new single by Snakes and Lil Jon included the phrase "turndownforwhat?" implying that since we are having so much fun, why stop?

FTW: An abbreviation for For The Win, usually indicating that you have won a small competition, such as correctly answering a trivia question on Twitter or cleaning out all the food at a buffet.