MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

“Vuvuzela” has been voted the word of the World Cup

The colourful plastic horn that hummed throughout all matches in South Africa

Vuvuzela” has been voted the word of the World Cup by global linguists who said Monday the tournament will be best remember for the name of South Africa's deafening trumpet.

Virtually unknown a few weeks ago the word defines the tuneless but colourful plastic horn blown by fans at the World Cup which makes a noise described as the bellow of elephants or the humming of bees. Experts have warned it can damage hearing.

“Long after individual matches and goals are forgotten, this will be remembered as the Vuvuzela World Cup,” said Jurga Zilinskiene, managing director of London-based firm Today Translations.

“Vuvuzela” was chosen by 75% of more than 320 linguists from over 60 countries, who were asked to choose the word with the biggest impact on the tournament.

“Thanks to the World Cup, vuvuzela has the entered the shared language of the world and joined the ranks of words that need no translation,” said Zilinskiene.

The plastic vuvuzela managed 75% of the vote, well ahead of the official hymn “Waka-Waka” interpreted by Colombian singer Shakira with 12%. The much-debated official Jabulani ball, mascot Zakumi and the Bafana Bafana national South African team each won 4% of the votes.

In the previous world cup played in Germany the word chosen was WAGs (Women and girl friends of the English team players), but is was basically a term created by the English yellow press.

“The big difference is that vuvuzela is distinctly global”, said Zilinskiene.