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Word of the year ideas for 2027

A word of the year is one word you come back to when a choice gets confusing, used in place of a list of resolutions. You can choose yours in one 10-minute journaling session: look back at the year, name the season you're heading into, shortlist 3 words and pick one. The ideas below are grouped by theme.

Want more? Generate a prompt.

All you need is a pen, any notebook and 10 minutes.

10 themes of word ideas18 journal promptsOne 10-minute session

Last updated: October 29, 2026

Guided sessions for the turn of the year

These programs are the closest fit when you want more structure than a prompt list. These are the closest guided fits we recommend right now.

Why it works

Word of the year ideas by theme

Skim the themes and circle any word that catches your eye. Borrow freely or swap in your own. A plain word you would use in a sentence about your week is easier to live with than a grand one.

  • Rest and slowing down, for a year after you ran on empty: rest, slow, pause, ease, gentle, unhurried, breathe, quiet, linger, savor, unplug, retreat, nest, soft, cozy.
  • Courage, for a year with a leap in it: brave, bold, leap, dare, risk, ask, begin, speak, voice, stand, try, venture, yes, jump, claim.
  • Growth and building, for a year of making something that lasts: build, grow, learn, practice, plant, cultivate, tend, layer, progress, foundation, apprentice, compound, rise, stretch, root.
  • Focus and simplicity, for a year when too much is pulling at you: focus, one, clear, less, simplify, essential, edit, prioritize, declutter, single, finish, intention, no, deep, protect.
  • Connection, for a year you want to spend with people: connect, gather, together, listen, invite, share, belong, reach, host, kin, neighbor, open, call, welcome, kindness, repair.
  • Fun and play, for a year you want to take a little less seriously: play, fun, silly, wonder, adventure, explore, dance, laugh, curious, sparkle, delight, wander, game, giggle, spontaneous, picnic.
  • Steadiness and calm, for a year when you want a more even pace: steady, calm, anchor, grounded, patient, rhythm, balance, settle, consistent, even, still, home, level, pace, routine.
  • Creativity, for a year with a project waiting: create, make, write, draw, imagine, color, compose, sketch, experiment, craft, story, design, invent, paint, notice.
  • Money and work, for a year of practical goals: plan, save, earn, invest, budget, lead, ship, organize, negotiate, steward, value, enough, provide, track, clarity.
  • Faith and meaning, for a year you want to center on your faith or your values: faith, meaning, purpose, hope, gratitude, grace, trust, believe, light, peace, mercy, prayer, reflect, awe, renew.

How to choose one word for the year

Set a timer for 10 minutes, open any notebook and work through four steps. If you can't decide at step 4, carry your 3 words for a week and notice which one you reach for.

  1. 01Look back at the year. Ask: which words kept showing up in my 2026? What do I want more of next year?
  2. 02Name the season you're entering. Ask: is 2027 a year for building, resting, starting over or holding steady?
  3. 03Shortlist 3 words. Pick from the ideas above or your own notes. Ask: which of these would I still choose on a hard day in March?
  4. 04Choose one. Ask: which word do I want to see every day? Write it at the top of a fresh page.

Word of the year journal prompts

Use these in three stages: when you choose your word, while you live with it, and when you look back on it in December. Each prompt ends with a short follow-up to keep you writing.

Choosing your word

For your 10-minute session in late December or early January.

  1. 1What do I want 2027 to feel like on an ordinary Tuesday? Name three details.
  2. 2Which word on my shortlist makes me sit up a little? Write why in one sentence.
  3. 3Which word would help me choose between two good options? Picture a real choice coming up.
  4. 4Which word am I tempted to pick because it sounds impressive? Write a plainer version.
  5. 5If my word were a habit, what would it look like on a weekday? List one small action.
  6. 6What is my word for 2027? Write it large, then add one sentence about why.

Living with your word

For January and every month after. Come back to one of these on the first of the month.

  1. 1Where did my word show up this month? Note one moment, however small.
  2. 2Where did I forget my word this month? Write what pulled me away.
  3. 3What would my word say about the decision in front of me? Write its answer in one line.
  4. 4Does my word still fit, or does it need a tweak? Try a related word for a week and compare.
  5. 5What has my word helped me say no to? Name one thing.
  6. 6What does my word look like in this season? Write how it has changed since January.

Reviewing your word in December

For the last weeks of the year, before you choose again.

  1. 1What did my word mean to me in January, and what does it mean now? Write both definitions.
  2. 2Which three moments this year best show my word? Describe one in detail.
  3. 3Where did my word not help? Write what I needed instead.
  4. 4What surprised me about living with one word? Note one thing I wish I had known last January.
  5. 5Do I keep this word, retire it or choose a new one for 2028? Write the reason in one sentence.
  6. 6What word is already showing up for next year? Start a shortlist of three.

Ways to keep your word visible

A word is easier to remember when you see it often. Pick one or two of these.

  • Inside cover: write the word inside the cover of this year's notebook, with one sentence on why you chose it.
  • A monthly check-in page: on the first of each month, give the word a page and answer one of the prompts above.
  • A sticky note: put it somewhere you look every day, like your mirror, laptop or fridge.

Start with a look back

Step 1 goes faster if you have already looked back at 2026. The end of year reflection questions walk through the wins, the hard parts and the lessons before you choose.

See end of year reflection questions

Live with it in January

The January journal prompts give you one prompt a day for the first month. Pair them with a Sunday note on where your word showed up that week.

See January journal prompts

Turn your word into goals

Want goals as well as a word? The goal setting prompts help you turn your word into next steps. If your word is build, a goal might be one finished project by June.

See goal setting prompts

Keep exploring

Use these paths when you want more examples, more trust context, or a nearby entry point.

End of year reflection questions

Look back at 2026 before you choose a word.

New year journal prompts

Questions to set up 2027, plus a one-hour ritual.

January journal prompts

One prompt a day while your word is new.

Goal setting journal prompts

Turn your word into goals with real next steps.

Prompt directory

Browse more journal prompt topics.

Next step

Choose your word in Journal Party

Start a session when you're ready to choose. You write in any notebook. Journal Party gives you the prompts, timer and music.

FAQ

Common Questions

A good word of the year is short, easy to remember and tied to a real choice you expect to face. It can be a verb like build or a quality like steady. If you can picture it helping you decide something on an ordinary weekday, it is probably a good fit.

Give it one 10-minute journaling session. Look back at the past year, name the season you're heading into, write a shortlist of 3 words and choose the one you would use on an ordinary day. If you can't decide, carry all 3 for a week and notice which one you reach for.

Keep it where you will see it, like the inside cover of your notebook or a sticky note. Once a month, write a short check-in: where did the word show up, and where did you forget it? In December, look back on what it meant and decide whether to keep it.

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