Word of the Year 2027: 160+ Words to Inspire Your Year
Choosing a word of the year is a simple way to give the year ahead a theme. Instead of making a long list of resolutions, you choose one word that represents how you want to feel, what you want to prioritize, or the kind of life you want to create in 2027.
Maybe you want more confidence, balance, adventure, connection, financial security, creativity, or simply more joy in your everyday life. Your word does not have to describe one huge accomplishment. It can act as a reminder of what matters to you as the year unfolds.
If you are already planning the year ahead, explore our 2027 Vision Board Ideas for more inspiration or browse our 2027 Goals Guide for goal ideas across career, money, wellness, relationships, travel, confidence, home and personal growth. If you are turning your goals into a physical board, our Vision Board Pictures guide can also help you decide what images and themes to include.
Below are more than 160 Word of the Year ideas for 2027, organized by the kind of year you want to create.
Keep Your 2027 Word Somewhere You’ll See It
Choose an affirmation that reflects the mindset you want to carry into the year and display it alongside your Word of the Year, on your desk or on your vision board.
What Is a Word of the Year?
A Word of the Year is one word you choose to represent an intention, feeling, priority or theme for the year ahead.
Unlike a traditional New Year's resolution, it does not have to focus on one measurable achievement.
Someone choosing "balance" might want to create healthier boundaries between work and personal life.
Someone choosing "adventure" might want to try new things, travel more or stop postponing experiences they have always wanted to have.
Someone choosing "focus" may want to spend less time trying to do everything and give more attention to the goals that matter most.
Your word acts more like a reminder than a rule.
Throughout the year, you can return to it and ask yourself whether the decisions you are making still reflect what you wanted 2027 to represent.
160+ Word of the Year Ideas for 2027
Confidence and Courage Words
If you want 2027 to be a year of trusting yourself, taking chances or becoming more comfortable speaking up, consider:
Brave
Bold
Courage
Confident
Capable
Fearless
Daring
Assertive
Resilient
Believe
Unstoppable
Worthy
Voice
Rise
Powerful
Audacious
A confidence-focused word does not mean you need to feel fearless every day.
"Brave" might mean finally applying for something you have been afraid to pursue.
"Voice" could represent speaking up more often and expressing what you actually think.
"Capable" can remind you that you do not need to know exactly how everything will work before taking the first step.
If confidence is one of your priorities this year, our Affirmation Cards can also give you positive reminders to display on your desk, wall or vision board throughout 2027.
Growth and Change Words
Maybe 2027 feels like a year for learning, changing direction or becoming a new version of yourself.
Consider:
Grow
Evolve
Expand
Transform
Progress
Bloom
Learn
Become
Reinvent
Develop
Change
Forward
Curiosity
Discover
Possibility
Begin
These words work particularly well if you know you are ready for change but do not yet know exactly what that change will look like.
"Bloom" can represent giving yourself permission to grow at your own pace.
"Evolve" might fit a year when you are allowing yourself to change your mind.
"Begin" can remind you that you do not have to feel completely ready before starting something new.
For more ideas about turning personal growth into specific plans, browse our 2027 Goals List and choose the goals that actually fit the season of life you are in.
Peace and Balance Words
Not every year needs to be about doing more.
If you want 2027 to feel calmer, slower or more sustainable, consider:
Peace
Calm
Balance
Ease
Rest
Grounded
Stillness
Simplicity
Slow
Gentle
Steady
Centered
Harmony
Clarity
Unhurried
Breathe
Maybe your goal is not to add another twenty things to your schedule.
Maybe you want more room to rest, enjoy your home, spend time with people you love or stop feeling as though every day needs to be productive.
"Ease" can remind you to question whether everything really needs to be difficult.
"Grounded" might help you prioritize the routines, places and relationships that make you feel secure.
"Unhurried" could represent a year when you stop treating every day like something you need to race through.
Success and Ambition Words
If you have a major career, school, business or personal goal for 2027, you may want a word that keeps you connected to it.
Consider:
Focus
Achieve
Discipline
Driven
Consistency
Momentum
Purpose
Ambition
Action
Commit
Build
Lead
Create
Accomplish
Excel
Finish
"Focus" might be the right word if your biggest challenge is trying to pursue too many things at once.
"Consistency" works well when you want steady progress instead of relying on short bursts of motivation.
"Finish" can be surprisingly powerful if 2027 is the year you want to finally complete something you have already started.
If you want to write specific goals rather than relying only on inspirational images and quotes, our Goal Setting Vision Board Cards give you space to add your own goals directly to your vision board.
Self-Love and Self-Worth Words
If you want your relationship with yourself to be an important part of 2027, consider:
Enough
Radiant
Authentic
Empowered
Kindness
Acceptance
Compassion
Respect
Celebrate
Honour
Deserving
Whole
Cherish
Softness
Grace
Unapologetic
Your word can remind you how you want to treat yourself, especially during difficult moments.
"Enough" might remind you that your value is not dependent on accomplishing more.
"Authentic" could represent making choices that feel more like you instead of constantly thinking about what other people expect.
"Grace" might remind you to leave room for mistakes, changing plans and imperfect days.
You can also explore our Self-Love Vision Board Cards if self-confidence, self-worth or taking better care of yourself is a major theme for your 2027 board.
Relationship and Connection Words
If relationships are one of your biggest priorities this year, your word might reflect how you want to connect with other people.
Consider:
Connection
Belonging
Community
Together
Friendship
Family
Partnership
Support
Listen
Openness
Reciprocity
Warmth
Nurture
Home
Loyalty
Togetherness
Your word does not have to mean meeting more people.
"Connection" might mean being more present with the people already in your life.
"Community" could represent getting more involved where you live.
"Reciprocity" might remind you to invest your time in relationships where care and effort go both ways.
If you want to make goal setting something you do together, you can also turn it into a social activity with friends. Our Guide to Hosting a Vision Board Party includes ideas for planning the evening, gathering supplies and creating your boards together.
Adventure and Experience Words
Want 2027 to contain more memories, experiences and things you have never tried before?
Consider:
Adventure
Explore
Wander
Play
Experience
Travel
Spontaneous
Try
Yes
Wonder
Journey
New
Memories
Alive
Seek
Roam
You do not need to travel around the world for "adventure" to be your word.
It could mean taking more day trips, trying restaurants you have saved for months, attending seasonal events, signing up for a class, travelling somewhere alone or simply saying yes more often when something sounds fun.
If travel is a major part of what you want for the year, our Travel Vision Board Cards can help you add destinations, experiences and travel inspiration to your board.
Wellness and Energy Words
Your word of the year can also represent the way you want to care for your body and mind.
Consider:
Nourish
Energy
Restore
Healthy
Movement
Vitality
Wellness
Heal
Renew
Thrive
Vibrant
Replenish
Active
Recovery
Mindful
Energize
Try thinking about how you want to feel rather than choosing a word based only on appearance.
"Energy" might represent wanting to feel less exhausted.
"Nourish" could apply to food, sleep, relationships and mental health.
"Restore" may feel right if you are coming out of a particularly demanding period and want the coming year to feel different.
Money and Abundance Words
If financial stability, career growth or greater freedom is important to you in 2027, consider:
Abundance
Prosperity
Wealth
Security
Freedom
Save
Invest
Stable
Resourceful
Earn
Plenty
Stewardship
Independence
Opportunity
Generosity
Flourish
You do not have to choose "wealth" simply because money is one of your goals.
Maybe "security" better reflects your goal of building an emergency fund.
Maybe "freedom" represents having enough savings to make different choices.
Or perhaps "abundance" represents appreciating what you already have while still creating space for more.
Our Goal Setting Vision Board Cards can be especially helpful here because you can turn a broad word such as "security" or "abundance" into a specific goal that is personal to you.
Joy and Everyday Life Words
Your year does not have to revolve around becoming more productive.
Sometimes the intention is simply to enjoy your life more.
Consider:
Joy
Fun
Delight
Celebrate
Gratitude
Light
Laughter
Pleasure
Magic
Beauty
Cozy
Enjoy
Savour
Happy
Playful
Wonder
If you spent the last year constantly moving from one responsibility to the next, a word like "joy" or "play" can be surprisingly meaningful.
"Savour" might remind you to stop rushing through experiences you once looked forward to.
"Celebrate" could encourage you to acknowledge small wins instead of waiting for major milestones.
"Delight" might simply mean noticing more of the little things that make an ordinary day better.
How to Choose Your Word of the Year for 2027
If ten different words stood out to you, you do not have to choose immediately.
Start by thinking about the year you are leaving behind.
Ask yourself:
- What did I need more of?
- What did I have too much of?
- What do I want to protect?
- What am I ready to change?
- What would I like everyday life to feel like?
- What am I hoping to accomplish?
- What am I tired of carrying into another year?
Then imagine yourself at the end of December 2027.
If you looked back and genuinely felt happy with the year you had lived, what would need to be true?
Maybe you would feel proud because you took more risks.
Your word might be "brave."
Maybe you finally learned to stop filling every minute of your schedule.
Your word might be "balance."
Maybe you travelled, tried new things and created memories.
Your word might be "adventure."
Maybe nothing especially dramatic happened, but you felt happier during ordinary days.
Your word might simply be "joy."
If you are still figuring out what you want from the year, browse our 2027 Goals article for more than 130 ideas across different areas of life.
Try the Sentence Test
One easy way to narrow down your options is to put each word into a sentence:
"In 2027, I want more _____ in my life."
Or:
"I want 2027 to be the year I choose _____."
Try this with three or four words you are considering.
You may notice that one immediately feels more natural than the others.
Choose a Word That Can Guide Your Decisions
Your word becomes much more useful when you can actually apply it.
If your word is "connection," perhaps it reminds you to make plans with someone you keep saying you miss.
If your word is "focus," maybe it helps you stop adding new projects until you finish something already in progress.
If your word is "rest," perhaps you stop treating every free evening as an opportunity to catch up on work.
If your word is "adventure," maybe you finally book the weekend away you have been talking about for months.
You do not have to follow your word perfectly.
It is simply something you can return to when you need a reminder of what you wanted this year to represent.
Can You Have More Than One Word of the Year?
Absolutely.
Some people love choosing one clear word. Others find that two or three words better represent what they want from the year.
You might choose:
Peace + Progress
Confidence + Connection
Adventure + Joy
Focus + Balance
Abundance + Gratitude
You could also choose one main word with a few supporting words.
For example, if "growth" is your main theme, your supporting words might be courage, curiosity and consistency.
There is no rule saying you have to reduce everything you want from an entire year into one perfect word.
Turn Your Word of the Year Into 2027 Goals
Once you choose your word, ask yourself what it would actually look like in your life.
If your word is "connection," your goals might include planning one dinner with friends every month, calling family more often or joining a community group.
If your word is "wellness," you might create goals around sleep, movement, medical appointments or mental health.
If your word is "adventure," perhaps your goals include booking a trip, trying one new experience every month or exploring more places close to home.
If your word is "security," you could decide exactly how much you want to save and by when.
This is where a broad intention starts becoming something you can act on.
Our 2027 Goals Guide includes more than 130 ideas if you need inspiration, while our Goal Setting Vision Board Cards provide fill-in prompts for writing goals that are specific to your own life.
Add Your Word of the Year to Your 2027 Vision Board
A vision board is one of the easiest ways to keep your word somewhere visible.
You could place your Word of the Year near the centre of your board and surround it with images, goals, quotes and reminders of what that word means to you.
If your word is "adventure," add photographs of places you want to visit, experiences you want to try and people you want to make memories with.
If your word is "peace," your board might include a cozy home, books, nature, slow mornings, boundaries and restful routines.
If your word is "confidence," choose pictures and goals representing the situations where you want to trust yourself more.
Our 2027 Vision Board Ideas Guide includes more than 120 ideas, goals, themes and prompts to help you plan the rest of your board. You can also browse our Vision Board Pictures article if you need inspiration for the actual images you want to include.
What Do You Need to Make Your 2027 Vision Board?
You do not need a giant pile of craft supplies.
Depending on the type of vision board you want to make, you might use a display surface, pictures, quotes, handwritten goals, clips, glue, tape, pens and decorative pieces.
Our Vision Board Supplies Checklist walks through all of your options and helps you decide what you actually need before you start.
And if you do not have magazines sitting around at home, that is completely fine. Our guide to how to Make a Vision Board Without Magazines includes alternatives such as personal photos, printed images, handwritten goals and pre-cut cards.
If you would rather skip gathering everything individually, our Vision Board Kit provides an easy way to create and display a physical vision board using a rose-gold wire wall grid, pre-cut vision board cards, clips and a notepad.
Make Your Word Visible Throughout 2027
Your Word of the Year does not have to live only on your vision board.
You could:
- Write it at the beginning of your planner
- Put it on a note beside your computer
- Use it as your phone wallpaper
- Write it inside your journal
- Put it on your desk
- Include it in monthly reflections
- Pair it with an affirmation
- Add it to your vision board
- Write it somewhere you will see every morning
You could also choose an Affirmation Card that reflects the feeling or mindset behind your word and keep the two together somewhere visible.
The point is not to surround yourself with the word everywhere you look. It is simply to keep it present enough that you remember why you chose it after the excitement of the New Year passes.
Your Word of the Year Can Change
Choosing a word for 2027 does not mean you are stuck with it until December 31.
You are allowed to change.
Maybe "ambition" feels right in January, but by summer you realize what you really need is "balance."
Maybe you choose "healing," move through an important season in your life, and eventually feel ready for "adventure."
That does not mean you chose the wrong word.
It means your priorities changed.
That flexibility is actually part of the story behind Hopeful Romantic Art.
While completing my PhD, I created a vision board. Later, some of my goals changed and I wanted to update the board without having to take everything apart and start over. That experience eventually inspired my sister and me to create flexible vision board cards that could be rearranged, replaced and updated as life changed.
Your goals are allowed to evolve too.
Choose a Word That Feels Like Yours
The best Word of the Year is not necessarily the most impressive one.
It is the word that makes you think: "Yes. I want more of that."
Maybe 2027 is about courage.
Maybe it is about rest.
Maybe it is about money, travel, friendship, confidence, creativity, love, fun or simply enjoying your everyday life more.
Choose a word that reflects the life you genuinely want rather than the life you think you are supposed to want.
Then make it visible.
Write it down. Add it to your 2027 Vision Board. Turn it into personal goals with our Goal Setting Vision Board Cards, pair it with encouraging Affirmation Cards, or surround it with images that represent what the word means specifically to you.
And when you are ready to put everything together, explore our Vision Board Cards for an easy way to create a physical board that can continue changing with you throughout 2027.