Dictionaries find the mot juste to add to language

Online search engines are being used more often, but France鈥檚 leading dictionaries still give a snapshot of the current state of the language.

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Both Le Petit Larousse (鈧�29.90) and Le Petit Robert Illustr茅 (鈧�32.90) have lists of new words.

The VW scandal has inspired 诲茅诲颈茅蝉茅濒颈蝉补迟颈辞苍 for the switch from polluting fuels, the aftermath of the Syrian war and rising internet attacks bring fears of cyberdjihadisme, while new business methods have given 耻产茅谤颈蝉别谤 and coworking.

As in coworking, English words may be used as they are more concise than French, but 鈥渟poiler鈥� has now become the unwieldy 诲颈惫耻濒驳芒肠丑别谤 (from divulge and 驳芒肠丑别谤 to spoil).

New lifestyles give new words, with Ramen noodles, 产辞产辞茂蝉别谤 to gentrify an area, locavorisme for eating local food, and 尘辞苍辞颅谤辞耻别 for one-wheeled scooters.

And, as 60 is the new 40, adulescence is for those 蝉茅苍颈辞谤蝉 who behave like adolescents.

Although sales are slowing, dictionaries still sell hundreds of thousands of copies a year, with Petit Larousse number one.

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