'Biryani', 'selfie' enter French dictionary for first time

London, May 19: The words 'biryani' and 'selfie' have been included in the latest edition of one of the most famous French dictionaries, Le Petit Larousse, for the first time.

As many as 150 new words will enter Le Petit Larousse's 2016 edition and the authors have developed new culinary and artistic tastes.

The authors of the dictionary define 'selfie' as "a photographic self portrait, generally taken with a smartphone and destined to be published on social media." Some of the other words included in the latest edition of the dictionary include 'focaccia', 'biryani', the mixed rice dish from the Indian subcontinent, 'goji' and 'vegan'.

The dictionary also includes famous people, things and organisations, 'The Telegraph' reported. New additions include French philosopher Bernard-Henri Levy, actor Michael Caine and Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani teenage child rights activist who last year won the Nobel Peace Prize. Rosetta space probe and Pixar studios have also been included in the dictionary.

New French terms for 2016 include 'un bolos' - a noun to describe someone who is timid, ridiculous and bordering on stupid – and 'tuto', an online video or pictorial guide to practical tasks such as decorating or cooking. The dictionary, a bastion of French linguistic tradition, is not known for moving with the times, the report said.

PTI