On October 10, 2026, Langenscheidt Publishing House revealed that 'Ragebait' had been chosen as the German Youth Word of the Year for 2026. The declaration took place at the Frankfurt Book Fair, the venue selected for the annual announcement.
'Ragebait' translates to 'Anger Bait' or the German 'Wutköder'.
The Youth Word of the Year has been awarded annually since 2008. Eligible voters are young people aged between 11 and 20. The selection process involves an online campaign where participants cast their ballots.
Close behind, 'Crashout'—used to describe a person losing control—gathered 29.
In the final online round, 'Ragebait' secured 36.5 percent of the total votes. This share was enough to edge out the two other contenders that had also attracted strong support.
The term 'Peak', which conveys the idea of the best of the best, received 33.8 percent of the votes. Close behind, 'Crashout'—used to describe a person losing control—gathered 29.7 percent of the vote.
The margin between the winner and the first runner‑up was only 2.7 percentage points, while the gap to the third place was 6.8 points.
Since the Youth Word campaign began, roughly one million young people have taken part in the voting process.
The award has been given annually since 2008. The immediate predecessor to 'Ragebait' was 'das crazy'.
Such posts aim to gain attention and increase reach.
With 'Ragebait' now holding the distinction for 2026, the term is recognized as the Youth Word of the Year. The term was chosen by young voters in the online campaign.