nouveau
/nu.vo/
In French, "new kid" is expressed as nouveau.
Note that nouveau typically means "newly arrived" or "different from the previous one," whereas the word neuf is used for something that is "brand new" or "unused."
How does it change in a sentence?
The form of the adjective changes based on the gender and number of the person you are describing. Use nouveau for a masculine singular noun. Use nouvelle when referring to a female kid or any feminine noun. For multiple male kids or a mixed group, use nouveaux. If you are referring to multiple female kids, use nouvelles. There is one important exception: use nouvel instead of nouveau if the following masculine noun begins with a vowel or a silent "h".
How do you pronounce it?
/nu.vo/
Did you know?
- While nouveau describes a 'new kid' in terms of arrival, if you accidentally use neuf to describe a person, you are jokingly implying they are 'brand new' and have never been used before.
- The word nouveau is used in the phrase nouveau riche, which describes people who have acquired wealth recently and lack the social graces of the old aristocracy.
- In a literary context, the feminine form nouvelle does not just mean 'new', it is the formal term for a 'short story'.
Examples in context
- Il y a un nouveau petit caïd dans le quartier.There's a new kid on the block.This sentence illustrates the use of nouveau in the context of a new person in a neighborhood.Tatoeba #13567536 by sacredceltic, translation #13567189 by sacredceltic
- Bonjour tout le monde! Je suis un nouvel élève ici.Hello everyone! I'm a new student here.
- Alors, voilà le nouveau gamin! Bienvenue parmi nous!Well, here's the new kid! Welcome to our group!
- C'est le nouveau de la classe.He is the new kid in class.
Example conversation
Lucas and Emma are talking about a classmate at school.
- LucasTu as vu le nouveau ?Did you see the new kid?
- EmmaOui, il est arrivé ce matin.Yes, he arrived this morning.
- LucasIl a l'air gentil.He looks kind.
- EmmaOui, c'est un nouveau très calme.Yes, he is a very calm new kid.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry nouveau, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
