Lenthousiasme

Lenthousiasme is a contemporary neologism used in French-language online discourse to describe a communication style characterized by sustained energy and enthusiasm presented through lengthy text. It is not part of standard dictionaries and is primarily encountered in informal contexts.

The word appears to be a playful construction, often explained as a phonetic contraction of l'enthousiasme (the enthusiasm) when apostrophes are omitted in casual typing, yielding lenthousiasme. Some discussions treat it as a deliberate stylistic blend of enthusiasme with a sense of length or prolixity.

In practice, lenthousiasme denotes content that maintains high affect and positivity across extended passages—posts, comments, or speeches intended to energize readers. It can be used affectionately to praise animated but lengthy writing, or critically to indicate burnout from excessive longueur.

As a nonstandard term, its meaning is context-dependent. It appears mainly in memes, blogs, and social media threads. Linguists generally regard it as an example of online wordplay and sociolinguistic creativity rather than a formal linguistic category.

Related terms include l'enthousiasme, neologisms, internet linguistics, and French slang.