The expression “faque,” a colloquial term from Quebec that originated as a contraction of “ça fait que,” has officially made its way into the Le Robert dictionary. This term, which is often used as an equivalent to “therefore,” will now stand alongside the French phrase “du coup.” Furthermore, the 2026 edition of the dictionary will also include the word “tintamarre,” reflecting the Canadian heritage associated with festive processions celebrating Acadian identity.
Significant New Entries in Le Robert Dictionary
The Quebec-born figure Jeanne Mance has also been added to the Petit Robert, more than 350 years after her death. Other contemporary Quebec authors included in the dictionary are Michel Rabagliati and Wajdi Mouawad. In addition, a Canadian edition of the Petit Robert Junior has been launched, featuring terms relevant to Indigenous Peoples and Canadian culture, such as cégep, maringouin, tuque, and rôties.
New Words and Expressions
In the coming 2027 edition of the Petit Larousse illustré, entries include the Quebecisms “claque,” which refers to a person who encourages players during a game, “bouquetière,” meaning a girl carrying a bouquet at weddings, and “réduflation,” a commercial strategy that reduces product quantities instead of prices.
Methodology for Word Selection
Géraldine Moinard, the editorial director at Robert, explains the criteria for including new words. The process utilizes automatic detection tools and advice from linguists. Key factors include the frequency of use, types of media references, and social media presence. This helps assess whether a word has gained significant traction in the French language.
Empowering Women in History
The addition of Jeanne Mance reflects a broader effort to recognize women’s contributions in history. Moinard points out that many women have been overlooked in history and in dictionary entries. This initiative aims to rectify that oversight and provide representation.
Recent Language Trends
Le Robert has also acknowledged several contemporary terms, including “aide à mourir” (assistance in dying) and “suicide forcé” (forced suicide). Other terms such as “manosphère” for male activist networks and “tourisme médical” (medical tourism) have been introduced. The Petit Larousse illustré includes emerging phrases like “créateur, trice de contenu” (content creator) and “infopreneur, euse,” referring to professionals monetizing their expertise.
Innovations in Language Resources
For the first time, Le Robert is incorporating artificial intelligence into its online dictionary platform. Users will be able to ask questions regarding language usage, with responses drawn from the dictionary’s extensive database, minimizing inaccuracies common in other AI tools. Moinard highlights research indicating that many generative AI tools produce erroneous content in 30% to 75% of their responses.
