Language aviary: a special group will deal with the inclusion of foreign words in dictionaries

The government Commission on the Russian Language has created a working group that will deal with the inclusion of new vocabulary in normative dictionaries, Izvestia found out. The reason for this decision was the appeals of entrepreneurs — they hope that if specific words get into dictionaries, this will avoid fines for their use on signage, on restaurant menus, on food packages, etc. According to linguists, the group will only be able to send suggestions to the dictionary authors, but not oblige them to do anything. However, if successful, businessmen will be able to avoid the additional costs associated with the new requirements of the law.

What does the working group do?

Russian Russian Language Institute told Izvestia that a special working group will deal with the issues of including new vocabulary in the normative dictionaries of the Russian language. Vinogradov Russian Academy of Sciences (IRA RAS). The need for this arose after the law on the protection of the Russian language from excessive use of borrowings came into force on March 1, 2026.

The decision to create a working group was made back in February at a meeting of the Government Commission on the Russian Language, the institute said. They stressed that when considering applications for the inclusion of new vocabulary in the normative dictionaries of the Russian language, the commission will take into account not only speech practice and the presence of words in other dictionaries, but also legal, professional, social and other justifications.

Natalia Karpovich, chairman of the Moscow Association of Large Families, who participates in its work, confirmed to Izvestia that the group is already considering the first appeals.

— At the moment, a number of words that are already in common use are being considered. A set of words is being added that allows you to express thoughts, meanings, and concepts clearly and clearly in Russian," she said. — The professional community is working on the acceptance of words, they can find the right solutions for Russians.

According to linguists, the group will only be able to send suggestions to the authors of dictionaries, but not oblige them to include any words there.

If the group's proposals are supported by the dictionary compilers, then new words will appear there within about a year, Karpovich believes.

Amendments to the law "On Consumer Rights Protection" came into force on March 1, 2026. Now the information intended for their acquaintance must be in Russian. An exception is made only for registered trademarks.

The changes also affected borrowed words, which have already taken root in everyday communication. For example, the words "coach" and "coaching". The coaching profession is included in the All-Russian Classifier of Professions, appears in educational programs and other documents. But there is no such word in the normative dictionaries, the IRA RAS said.

"The problem of reflecting lexical units included in official documents in normative dictionaries has not only a philological, but also a legal aspect," the institute emphasized.

The IRA RAS is currently receiving requests to add a particular word to the regulatory dictionary — in this case, businesses will definitely be able to use it in their activities. However, there is no legal practice of entering words into explanatory dictionaries based on appeals from individuals and organizations. The Working Group should solve this problem.

How to add a word to the dictionary

The issue of adding a word to the dictionary is quite complicated, said Irina Levontina, a leading researcher at the IRA RAS, a linguist.

— It is being studied to what extent the word has entered the language, how it is used, whether it has acquired any combinations of its own, its norms of use, - she said. — The Commission may compile a list of words and ask the authors of the dictionary to consider the possibility of adding such words to the dictionary.

And discussions about borrowed words are the norm, Irina Lewontina believes.

— In this struggle, the norm of the literary language is being formed. Borrowed words pass through the filter: the necessary and useful ones remain, others disappear, others remain, but radically change their meaning," she said.

Stronger attempts: manufacturers ask to add coffee terms to dictionaries

Starting from March 1, 2026, entrepreneurs will face fines for using foreign words.

Currently, in certain situations, entrepreneurs are restricted from using foreign words publicly that have analogues in Russian. At the same time, all words differ in some way, they have their own shades and meanings, the linguist emphasized.

— The Russian language does not live in isolation, it is developing, it is constantly introducing new words, including borrowed ones. At this stage, it is most often from English, although from other languages too," said Alexei Shmelev, a Russian scholar and Doctor of Philology. — A good dictionary should include words that actually exist in the language, and they should be described correctly.

According to him, dictionary compilers decide for themselves by which criteria to include words. However, there are some common ones.

— The word does not have to be commonly used, but it is desirable that it be well—known so that native speakers understand what is being discussed without special prompts, - said the linguist. — On the other hand, there are dictionaries of foreign words, which may include new borrowings that have not yet been fully mastered.

Why does a business need a dictionary

In Russia, there are two laws — on advertising and on consumer protection, which regulate the words used in business activities to one degree or another, Sergey Sorokin, a business consultant and senior associate at Solution LLC, told Izvestia.

— The legislator introduced a rule that all information that entrepreneurs convey to consumers must be in Russian with mandatory translation of foreign words. Exceptions: trademarks, brand names and words that have no alternative in Russian, such as Wi—Fi, GPS, Bluetooth," he said.

According to the lawyer, the words that the Ministry of Justice and RIA RAS have recognized as having no analogues in the Russian language can be used without risking sanctions.

Most likely, entrepreneurs are trying to include words in the regulatory dictionary that define their activities, services and goods, suggested Sergey Sorokin.

— It is more profitable for them. If the coffee chain makes sure that the name of their drink is included in the dictionary, then they will not be tormented for a non—dictionary entry on the menu," he explained. — There is only one motive: saving money.

Even if an entrepreneur manages to get the necessary words into the dictionary, it will take at least a year, said Sergey Sorokin. Meanwhile, they can be fined. At the same time, the fine is relatively small — up to 10 thousand rubles.

"The cost of printing a new menu for some restaurants may be several times higher than the fine," he said.

Violations can be recorded at least every day, but in practice complaints usually come from dissatisfied consumers, said Sergey Sorokin.

"As part of the basic monitoring, I have not seen a situation in my more than 20 years of practice where Rospotrebnadzor had the opportunity to check the same cafe at least several times a year," he said.

At the same time, foreign words on signage can be considered a violation of the law on advertising, the expert noted. And this is already the area of activity of the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) and fines of up to 500 thousand rubles.

Foreign words can be used if a trademark is registered even after the law comes into force, Sergei Sorokin noted.

"Entrepreneurs have been put at a great disadvantage by these innovations, even without taking into account the fact that the economic downturn is currently underway," said Sergey Sorokin.

It makes sense for entrepreneurs to try to add the necessary word to the dictionary, since during a possible trial the business will have a chance to rely on it, explained lawyer, partner of the law firm Liniya Prava, Vladimir Fokin.

— Language disputes are a very specific topic. These are not exact sciences where there are measurement systems. Any disputes we have end in court. What can be proven in court is what you need to count on. What we cannot prove should not be applied in business — there is a high degree of uncertainty," said Vladimir Fokin.

There are two ways to prove that a word has become firmly established in the Russian language: by using a dictionary and by expert research, he noted. During an expert study, a representative group of people will be asked what a particular word means. If the overwhelming majority can explain its meaning, then the word is in common use, the lawyer added. The dictionary is not the last resort, he stressed.

— Judicial practice will be developed for a year or two. A couple of disputes will reach the Supreme Court, and possibly the Constitutional Court," Vladimir Fokin believes.

The law is new, no one knows what the law enforcement practice will be, the expert notes.