Introduction to New Words in the French Language
Each year, the French language reference dictionary, Le Petit Robert, is enriched with new words that reflect the evolution of society, trends, and influences. In 2026, several terms of foreign origin will be added, including two well-known words from the Maghrebi culinary heritage in the Francophone world.
New Additions to the Dictionary
The first word is "zaatar", which refers to:
- A name given to several aromatic plants of the Lamiaceae family
- A mixture of spices and dried herbs, typically composed of zaatar, toasted sesame seeds, sumac, and salt, popular in Middle Eastern cuisine
The second word is "chakchouka", which refers to a culinary preparation of vegetables and eggs cooked in oil. This term does not describe a chaotic situation, although it is sometimes used in this sense in informal language.
The Evolution of the French Language
These two examples illustrate that the French language is far from being static. The influence of Arabic is well-documented, with estimates suggesting between 500 and 800 commonly used words having Arabic roots.
A Concerning Reality
However, behind the recent additions, a concerning reality emerges. Most of the newly integrated words are related to the fields of gastronomy, everyday life, or entertainment. In contrast, contributions in areas like science, technology, or innovation are rare. These sectors remain largely dominated by English, which has become the global language of technical and scientific advancements. This lexical imbalance is far from insignificant.
