nouvelles
LowFormal/Literary
Definition
Meaning
The French word for 'news', used in English primarily to refer to a short literary narrative or to French news itself.
In English contexts, it can also refer to a specific French genre of short stories or to tidings/updates in a somewhat affected or stylistic way. It is sometimes used in phrases like 'les nouvelles' to mean 'the latest news' from a French source.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
It is a direct borrowing from French. In English, it is not a direct synonym for the common noun 'news' but is used in specific cultural or literary contexts. The plural form is standard, though English speakers might mistakenly treat it as singular.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Slightly more likely to be encountered in British English due to historical and educational ties to French literature and language. American usage is rarer and often limited to academic or highbrow contexts.
Connotations
Both dialects perceive it as sophisticated, literary, or pretentious depending on context. In Britain, it may have a slightly stronger association with studied French culture.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both. British corpus data might show marginally higher occurrences in literary criticism.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
the nouvelles from Parisa nouvelle by de Maupassantto publish a nouvelleVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Pas de nouvelles, bonnes nouvelles. (No news is good news.)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Virtually never used, except possibly in the name of a Franco-centric business newsletter.
Academic
Used in comparative literature or French studies to discuss the specific short story genre.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Might be used humorously or affectedly to mean 'news' (e.g., 'What are the nouvelles from the office?').
Technical
Not applicable.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- We heard the nouvelles from our friends in France.
- The book contained several amusing nouvelles by a French author.
- Her thesis analysed the structure of 19th-century French nouvelles, comparing them to the English short story.
- Affecting a cosmopolitan air, he inquired, 'Any *nouvelles* from the Parisian front?' to the amused assembly.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'NOU-VELLES' sounding like 'new bells' – new bells ringing to tell you the news from France.
Conceptual Metaphor
NEWS IS A FRENCH DELICACY (something to be consumed with sophistication).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with the Russian 'новелла' (novella), which is a distinct, longer literary form.
- Do not directly translate as 'новости' for general news in English; use 'news' instead.
Common Mistakes
- Treating 'nouvelles' as a singular noun (e.g., 'a nouvelles').
- Using it as a general synonym for 'news' in non-stylised English.
- Mispronouncing as /ˈnʌvəlz/ (like 'novels').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the English use of 'nouvelles' most appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While it is the French word for 'news', in English it is a loanword used primarily in literary contexts to refer to a type of short story or used stylistically for French news.
The accepted anglicised pronunciation is /nuːˈvɛl/, approximating the French but without the final /z/ sound being strongly voiced.
It would sound very affected or deliberately humorous. For everyday 'news', use the English word 'news'.
In English usage, 'nouvelle' specifically denotes a French short story, often implying a particular tradition or style. 'Short story' is the general, neutral term.