nouvelle de dernière minute
The English phrase 'breaking news' can be translated into French as nouvelle de dernière minute. If unsure, use nouvelle de dernière minute. Wiktionary also lists nouvelle de dernière heure and édition spéciale.
Meaning: news that just happened or is happening (noun)
Ways to say it
| French |
|---|
| nouvelle de dernière minute |
| nouvelle de dernière heure |
| édition spéciale |
This refers to news that has just occurred or is currently occurring. In a broadcasting context, a presenter might use the term flash spécial to signal a sudden, urgent interruption for breaking news.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase nouvelle de dernière minute literally translates to 'news of the last minute'.
Which one should you use?
While nouvelle de dernière minute and nouvelle de dernière heure are both used, édition spéciale is also used to describe a special news edition or broadcast.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Quebec, Canada, the term Dernière heure is frequently used as an equivalent of 'breaking news'.
Did you know?
- The French word for news, nouvelle, shares a root with the Italian 'novella'. In English, we see this same root in the word 'novel'.
- While nouvelle de dernière minute is used for news, the word nouvelle can also mean a 'short story' in a literary context.
- While 'breaking news' in English suggests a violent or sudden rupture, the French term dernière minute focuses on the temporal urgency of the event, implying it happened at the 'last minute'.
Examples in context
- Le journal vient de diffuser un flash info concernant l'attentat.The news channel just aired a breaking news report about the attack.
- Nous tenons à vous informer de la nouvelle de dernière heure concernant le tremblement de terre.We want to inform you about the breaking news regarding the earthquake.
- Nous venons d'apprendre cette nouvelle de dernière minute.We have just learned this breaking news.
Example conversation
Lucas and Emma are watching television in the living room.
- LucasEmma, regarde ! C'est une nouvelle de dernière minute.Emma, look! It's breaking news.
- EmmaDe quoi s'agit-il exactement ?What is it about exactly?
- LucasLe président arrive dans la ville maintenant.The president is arriving in the city now.
- EmmaC'est incroyable, je ne m'y attendais pas.That's incredible, I wasn't expecting that.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “breaking news” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries de, heure, minute, nouvelle, édition, CC BY-SA 4.0.
