Langenscheidt removes Merz-related term from youth word vote, sparking online outrage

May 2026 in Berlin: A participant in a demonstration against compulsory military service holds up a sign. Source: Sven Kaeuler/dpa

"Multi-purpose eggs" has become the center of debate surrounding the 2026 Youth Word of the Year. Langenscheidt Publishing excluded the term—which references Friedrich Merz—from the official vote, sparking criticism and comparisons to a past winner.

Background

On Tuesday, Langenscheidt Publishing put ten terms up for a vote to determine the youth word of 2026. However, one word was subsequently removed from the list and barred from the final vote: "Multi-purpose eggs."

The jury eliminated the suggestion after "intensive discussion," stating that the term is based on a personal insult. The publisher emphasized that attempts had been made, particularly via the online portal Reddit, to generate votes for the term.

Criticism of the Decision

The removal has been met with criticism on the platform. One user wrote: "So basically that makes it the real youth word of the year, if the old folks try to suppress it." Another commented: "I don't understand the problem. 'Merkeln' was also a youth word once, and that was meant negatively too."

Origin of the Term

"Multi-purpose eggs" is a variation of "Merz lick eggs"—a slogan that appeared on a protest sign at a demonstration against the reintroduction of compulsory military service. Police confiscated the sign at the time, and an accusation of defamation of the Chancellor was made. The slogan and its variation into "multi-purpose eggs" went viral online.

Publisher's Justification

According to Langenscheidt, the term fulfills "two central exclusion criteria": it stems from a campaign and is based on a personal insult. The publisher stated this in a post on Instagram.

Media Reaction

The taz criticized the decision, writing that the publisher "apparently only wants to adorn itself with pleasantly harmless youth culture." The publication argued that young people represent their reality with youth words, thereby shaping themselves and their own understanding of reality.

The Ten Terms in the Online Vote

The following terms are available for the official online vote:

• "Six-Seven"
• "Crashout"
• "Digga"
• "You are good enough"
• "Good cheese"
• "Macker"
• "Peak"
• "Ragebait"
• "Scissors"
• "Süper"

Click here for the online vote.