Ramiter, bobo, PLS... Do you know the 150 new words of Larousse?

Thibaud Hue, edited by Yanis Darras / Photo credit: FRED DUFOUR / AFP 07:40, 09 May 2023

It is a vintage closely scrutinized every year, like a photograph of our company. Le Petit Larousse has just unveiled its selection of new words for its 2024 edition. Nearly 150 terms appear and 40 personalities join the pages of the precious book. But do the French really know the meaning of newcomers? Europe 1 went to ask them.

Among the newcomers, the word ramiter. "It designates a leaf," wonders Annick at the microphone of Europe 1. In reality, this new word that appears in the dictionary of the Petit Larousse means to become friends with someone again. And he's not alone in joining the 2024 edition of the dictionary.

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Anglicisms in spades...

Nutriscore, bobo, Bibimbap... The new words of the Larousse surprise this Parisian, who admits to knowing almost none. But others already have a little more knowledge, like Jean-Philippe, especially on the term PLS (Lateral Safety Position).

"We regularly hear in reality shows, the candidates say that they are in PLS, that is to say that they are shocked or that they do not feel well," he explains. And among the selection many anglicisms are appearing, such as flex office or webinar, even if the Petit Larousse advises against the use of some of them and offers alternatives in French.

... And many personalities

"It is the use that will decide," said Médéric Gasquet-Cyrus, a linguist at the University of Aix-Marseille. "It is not because the Larousse says that we should not use greenwashing" that this will be the case, he continues. "It's going to be very difficult to replace it with Eco bleaching. Same Escape-game, which is very rooted in language. So it's going to be very difficult to replace it with an 'escape game'.

And with these new words, 40 personalities make their entrance into the Larousse, such as the cook Gilles Goujon or the singer Stromae.