Nouvelles

Nouvelles is a French word with two common meanings. In journalism and everyday usage, les nouvelles means the news—current events reported by media such as newspapers, radio, television, and online outlets. In literature, une nouvelle denotes a short narrative that is shorter than a novel but longer than a typical short story. Context usually clarifies which sense is intended.

Originating in Old French as nouvelle, the term ultimately derives from Latin novella, meaning "a small new thing." The noun has parallel senses in French: the news in public life, and a narrative form. The spelling is the same, but the pronunciation and context distinguish the senses.

In journalism, les nouvelles may appear as a news section in a newspaper or as a broadcast segment. They are typically organized to present essential facts quickly, addressing who did what, when, where, and why, with sources noted. The plural form is common when referring to multiple items of news or to a news program.

In literature, une nouvelle is defined by its conciseness and its focus on a single incident, dilemma, or twist. It tends to be shorter than a novel and longer than a standard short story, though definitions vary by tradition. French authors such as Guy de Maupassant popularized the form in the 19th century, and other literary traditions have produced comparable works described as nouvelles.

Today, the term remains common in French-language media and literature, reflecting both current events and the enduring appeal of compact prose storytelling.