Babbel names Maori term “kaitiakitanga” world’s most beautiful word

Language‑learning platform Babbel conducted an international evaluation of words from 75 languages, analysing thousands of discussions on Reddit and TikTok. An expert jury of linguists, writers and cultural scholars shortlisted 223 words and selected the Maori term “kaitiakitanga” as the world’s most beautiful word, praising its unique sound, layered meaning and cultural significance. The word conveys stewardship of nature and responsibility to future generations, a concept Babbel highlighted as especially relevant amid climate concerns.

In the same ranking, the Turkish word “yakamoz”, describing the silvery reflection of moonlight on water, secured a place among the top 15. Babbel’s study also noted that many minority and endangered languages contain words that express ideas without direct equivalents in other tongues, underscoring the diversity of linguistic heritage worldwide.