French Language Blog

The 2013 Édition of the worldwide famous French dictionary Le Petit Robert surprised many this year with its handful -or make that a “mouthful”- of nouveaux mots (new words.)

Today, we’ve selected -just for you- the Top Five of such words that officially made it into French language.

Here is the Top 5 New French Dictionary Words (2013):

• Numéro 5 (Number 5): “PSYCHOTER“:

Yes, it sounds like the English “to be psyched (about something)”, but it’s more like “to freak out (about something)”, “to be paranoid“, etc.

Example: “Arrête de psychoter comme ça, tout va bien se passer” (“Stop freaking out like this, everything is going to be just fine.”)

• Numéro 4 (Number 4): “CLASHER“:

If you thought that this officially new French word sounds just like the English verb “to clash” (with someone), then guess what?

You are right.

It’s usually meant in the sense of having a strong or harsh argument with someone.

Example: “T’as raté un beau spectacle hier, notre prof a clashé avec le directeur” (“You missed a pretty good show yesterday, our teacher clashed with the principal.”)

• Numéro 3 (Number 3): “BOMBASSE“:

That would be a “super hotty“, a girl you’d rate a 12 on the scale of 10 (plus taxes.)

You probably get the picture, no example needed.

• Numéro 2 (Number 2): “CHOUPINET“:

This word has been around for quite a while, but it only now got recognition by the Le Petit Robert.

It stands for anything that’s considered to be “cute“, or a “cutie” if you prefer.

In short, anything that women would find “just adorable.”

Its female counterpart is “choupinette.”

• Numéro UN (Number ONE): “VIRALITÉ“:

I know what you’re thinking by now: Is there at least one word that is relatively “serious” among these newly introduced terms?

The answer is, Dieu soit loué (thank God), there is one: it’s “viralité.”

And to whom should we extend a grand merci for that?

I’d hate to say, but it’s most likely Facebook.

For example: “Regardez, mon dernier article a été d’une viralité assez incroyable” (“Look, the virality of my last post was pretty incredible.”).

In this context, a synonym of “viralité” would be “une tuerie“, literally meaning “a killing“ or “a massacre“, which -perhaps fittingly enough- is yet another word that made it into Le Petit Robert this year!

Of course, the question that remains is this one: Whatever happened to expressions such as “un franc succès” (“a great success”)?

Did they fall victim to deadly viruses (yes, “virality” comes from the word “virus”) and other linguistic “tueries“?

Don’t ask me, ask le petit Rob’.

Imagine if you woke up one day, only to find yourself speaking “wiz a verry strrong French accent“?

Assuming that you are not a native French speaker, or a person who lived long enough in a French-speaking country, that would seem just impossible?

Well, pas vraiment (not really.)

According to many neurologists, this condition, albeit a rare one, has occurred many times throughout history, and in different parts of the world.

It is known in French as “Syndrome de l’accent étranger“, or “Foreign Accent Syndrome” (FAS) in English, and was first discovered by a French scientist in the early 20th century.

Take the modern case of this lady, Leanne Rowe, who lives as far as it gets from France: Tasmania.

Before experiencing a serious car crash, Leanne spoke English just like any other born and raised Tasmanian.

Unfortunately, this condition left a deep impact upon her life.

Now, the accidental French-accented Tasmanian lady says that she lives as a recluse, preferring to go out only at night time.

Other people who suffered a similar experience seem to cope slightly better with this rather odd condition.

Cindylou Romberg has never left Port Angeles, Washington. Yet, after sustaining a head injury, she woke up speaking with un accent étranger that can easily be mistaken for Russian, Swedish, or even German.

Of course, many people who meet FAS victims for the first time may be tempted to think that they are simply faking it, since this condition is usually unheard of.

Now, the question is for you, mes amis:

What if for one reason or another -and preferably not because of an accident- you woke up one day speaking with un accent étranger (a foreign accent), what would be your reaction?

What if you could somehow select the foreign accent in question, which one would you choose, assuming you could not retrieve your normal accent?

Would speaking with a strong French accent be such a terrible thing for you?

To go back to Leanne, who is understandably upset about losing her original accent, one is tempted to say that there are far worse things that could have happened to her than just speaking with a thick French accent.

After all, she could have lost her ability to speak altogether.

In that sense, the lady a eu de la chance (was lucky.)

“Bolos“, sometimes spelled “boloss“, is a brand new word on the French Slang scene.

It was virtually unknown just a decade ago!

Don't be so "naive" about "evian"

What does it mean?

Everyone seems to agree that it designates a person who’s way too gullible.

Call it in English a “boob“, a “patsy“, a “pigeon“, a “stooge“, etc.

In short, it’s a person who’s utterly naive, who can easily be conned or tricked.

Now, the question is for you, ladies: Who amongst you wants to have a “un bolos” in her life?

Zahø, for one, wants no “boloss” in her life

Je veux pas de boloss dans ma life

I want no boloss in my life

Mon cœur, un bijoux si je l’offrais

My heart, a jewell if I offered it

Tu n’auras le code de son coffret

You won’t have the code of its safety vault

Que si ton amour est vrai

Only if you love is true

Tu me fais la cour, t’es frais

You’re courting me, you’re fresh

J’aime pas ton discours navrée

I don’t like your sorry speech

Ne fais pas le sourd à mes frais

Don’t pretend to be deaf at my own expense

Sors tes billets

Take out your bills

Dès que j’arrive, ça claque

As soon as I arrive, they’re spent

Vaut mieux reculer d’un pas

Better take a step back

Ton baratin ne passe pas

Your smooth talk won’t work

Les boulets ne font pas le poids

Your fireballs ain’t good enough

Je veux pas de boloss dans ma life

I want no boloss in my life

Mais seras-tu de taille ?

But would you measure up?

Je veux pas de boloss dans ma life

I want no boloss in my life

Que de vrais bonhommes

Only real men

Ne gaspille pas ta salive

Save your saliva

Car j’arrive à te lire comme un livre

Because I can read you like a book

Ebahis, tes yeux t’ont trahis

Dumbstruck, your eyes betrayed you

Fin du chapitre

End of the chapter

Je n’ai pas de type favori

I don’t have a favorite type

Je dirai welcome dans ma vie

I’d say welcome in my life

Si t’arrives à tenir le pari

If you’re up for the challenge

Paris, Paris

Paris, Paris

(…)

Je veux pas de boloss dans ma life

I want no boloss in my life