Which new words have made it into the latest french dictionary?

THE 2024 EDITION OF THE PETIT ROBERT DICTIONARY HAS INTRODUCED 150 NEW WORDS INTO THE FRENCH LEXICON The newest edition of one of France’s premier dictionaries will hit shelves on Thursday

(May 11) and formally introduce 150 new words into the French lexicon. The Petit Robert’s 2024 update includes a number of anglicisms, as well as words that have entered metropolitan French

via Belgian and Quebecois variations. New additions included are also based on prevalent topics in today’s society - particularly for younger people - including online dating and ecological

fears. The additions "are a mirror held up to society", said Géraldine Moinard, editorial director of the dictionary, explaining they reflect the tendencies of current French

speakers. Read also: Understand French better with these 14 slang phrases ANGLICISMS TAKE CENTRE-STAGE With English remaining as the world’s ‘lingua franca’, a number of words derived from

our own language can be found amongst the additions. Words and expressions like _FLEX OFFICE_(a workplace with no defined office space, allowing workers to work both at home and in

temporarily rented spaces), _SPOILER_, and _CRUSH_will be familiar to most of our readers. Additions that may make English speakers scratch their heads include _INSTAGRAMMABLE_ (something

that looks good enough to post on the photo-sharing app Instagram), or _GHOSTER_(to ghost - when you start to ignore a potential romantic partner after a date). _Larousse_, a dictionary

competitor of the_ Petit Robert_, highlight some anglicisms as “discouraged” in their own new version, with suitable French equivalents suggested. This is due to “a general reaction of

weariness with regard to anglicisms,” said their scientific advisor Bernard Cerquiglini, reflecting the desire of bodies like the _Academie Française_ to keep anglicisms out of the language.

It is not only English words entering the dictionary this year, however - French’s status as a global language spoken across continents also helps bring new words from other Francophone

cultures to those in metropolitan France. The Belgian word _GAYOLLE_ (or _gayole_), which can either mean a small cage for an animal, a goal in football, or a prison has been included,

alongside the Quebecois _INFONUAGIQUE_(the cloud). Read also: French language defenders sue Notre-Dame over English translations ADDITIONS ARE A REFLECTION OF OUR ANXIETIES AND NATURE Many

additions this year were words relating to the ecological landscape - most often in negative terms. _GREENWASHING, DETTE CLIMATIQUE_ (climate debt), _MICROPLASTIQUE_ all point towards

anxieties over the future state of the planet. “We need vocabulary to express these fears,” said Ms Moinard, highlighting other new inclusions relating to recent political events such as

mégabassine and zone à faible émission (ZFE, or low-emission zone) as examples of French’s need to adapt to new situations. A host of words relating to technological advancements were also

introduced, many again deriving from English – _MÉTAVERS_ (metaverse), _MINAGE DE CRYPTOMONNAIE_ (cryptocurrency mining), _CRYPTOART, LE MOISSONNAGE DE DONNÉES_ (data harvesting). Lastly,

words popular with young people in France have been included – even if some older people would not know the meaning of the words. See if your French neighbours would know the meaning of

_BADER_ (to feel sad about something), or ÊTRE EN PLS* (to be disappointed/fed up/distraught about something or at the end of your tether). *PLS = _position latérale de sécurité_, in this

context signifies that you are lying on the floor because of the emotions you are feeling. RELATED ARTICLES TRY THESE 17 FRENCH EXPRESSIONS TO HELP IMPROVE YOUR LANGUAGE SKILLS SEVEN

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