When AI Lies: “Hallucineren” Crowned Dutch Word of the Year 2025
Utrecht – It used to mean seeing pink elephants. Now, it means your chatbot is making things up. The authoritative Dutch dictionary Van Dale has officially selected “Hallucineren” (Hallucinating) as the Word of the Year for 2025.
The choice reflects a massive societal shift: Artificial Intelligence is no longer just a tool; it is a confused companion that sometimes speaks nonsense with total confidence.
Table of Contents
- The Definition: What is AI Hallucination?
- Why This Word? The Editor’s Choice
- A Trip Down Memory Lane: Previous Winners
- What Does This Say About Us?
- Key Takeaways
- Dutch Learning Corner
- Community CTA
The Definition: What is AI Hallucination?
In the past, “hallucinating” was a medical term. Today, Van Dale has added a new, modern definition.
New Context:
It refers to the phenomenon where Generative AI (like ChatGPT, Gemini, or Claude) produces information that is factually incorrect, misleading, or entirely fabricated—but presents it as absolute truth.
“The term captures the deceptive quality of these outputs,” linguistic experts note. “It’s not just an error; it’s a believable fiction. The AI isn’t lying on purpose; it’s ‘dreaming’ up facts.”
Why This Word? The Editor’s Choice
For the second year in a row, Van Dale abandoned its public voting system (which was prone to manipulation by internet trolls) in favor of an expert jury.
The editors noted that the usage of “hallucineren” spiked in 2025 as AI tools became integrated into workplaces and schools.
“We saw a clear correlation,” the jury stated. “As more people relied on AI for answers, more people encountered these ‘digital delusions’. The word perfectly encapsulates the mix of wonder and distrust we feel towards this technology.”
A Trip Down Memory Lane: Previous Winners
The “Word of the Year” is always a mirror of Dutch society. Looking back, you can see exactly what the Netherlands was worrying about:
- 2024: Polarisatie (Polarization) – A divided society.
- 2023: Graaiflatie (Greedflation) – Rising prices and corporate greed.
- 2022: Klimaatklever (Climate Sticker) – Activism.
- 2021: Prikspijt (Vaccine Regret) – The pandemic aftermath.
- 2020: Anderhalvemetersamenleving (1.5-meter society) – COVID-19.
Now, in 2025, the focus has shifted from the virus and the economy to the mind of the machine.
What Does This Say About Us?
Selecting “Hallucineren” is a warning sign.
“This isn’t just about technology; it’s about truth,” researchers at the University of Amsterdam explain. “The fact that a dictionary has adopted this term shows how deeply AI is infiltrating our reality. We are entering an era where we must constantly question: Is this real, or is the machine hallucinating?”
It signals that critical thinking and fact-checking are now essential survival skills in the digital age.
Key Takeaways
- The Winner: “Hallucineren” is Van Dale’s Word of the Year 2025.
- The Meaning: When AI confidently invents false facts.
- The Trend: Reflects the mainstream adoption (and distrust) of Generative AI.
- The Lesson: Trust, but verify everything your chatbot tells you.
Dutch Learning Corner
| Word | Pronun. (Eng) | Meaning | Context (NL + EN) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🏆 Het Woord van het Jaar | Het Vord van het Yar | Word of the Year | Elk jaar kiest Van Dale het woord van het jaar. (Every year Van Dale chooses the word of the year.) |
| 😵 Hallucineren | Hal-lu-see-neh-ren | To Hallucinate | Deze chatbot is aan het hallucineren. (This chatbot is hallucinating.) |
| 🤖 De Kunstmatige Intelligentie | De Kunst-mah-ti-ghe… | Artificial Intelligence | KI verandert onze taal. (AI is changing our language.) |
| 🤥 De Onwaarheid | De On-wahr-heyt | Untruth / Falsehood | Het is moeilijk om onwaarheid te herkennen. (It is difficult to recognize falsehood.) |
Have You Been Fooled?
Has ChatGPT ever told you a convincing lie? Share your funniest or most frustrating “AI hallucination” story in the comments. Let’s see who has the wildest example!
Source / Culture: Van Dale Woordenboek & NOS.
