Israelis pick ‘homecoming’ as Hebrew word of the year

8 January 2026, 10:34 am

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Israelis have chosen the Hebrew word for “homecoming” as the word of the year, the Academy of the Hebrew Language announces.

The Academy asked the public for suggestions for words that summarize the past year, and chose 10 candidate words. The public then voted on those words, with “Habaita,” which means homecoming or going home, coming in first.

The word symbolizes the return of almost all hostages from Gaza, as well as the return home of some residents of towns near the Gaza and Lebanon border that were ravaged or otherwise evacuated amid the multifront war, and hope for the return of the rest, the Academy says in a Facebook post.

In second place was “artificial intelligence,” while “hope” came third.