nouvelle
/nu.vɛl/feminine
The English phrase "short story" is translated into French as nouvelle. Wiktionary also lists conte and récit court.
Meaning: work of fiction (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| nouvelle | /nu.vɛl/ | feminine |
| conte | /kɔ̃t/ | masculine |
| récit court | masculine |
The term is used to describe a work of fiction. Depending on the context, the plural form nouvelles can refer to several short stories or to news.
Which one should you use?
The choice of word depends on the nature of the story. nouvelle is the standard term for a short story as a specific literary genre. récit court is a more literal, descriptive way to say "short narrative" and is used less as a formal designation for a literary genre.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word nouvelle is a feminine noun. The plural form nouvelles can mean "short stories" or "news" depending on how it is used in a sentence.
How do you pronounce it?
/nu.vɛl/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Be careful not to confuse the feminine noun nouvelle (a short story) with the adjective nouvelle (new) or the noun nouvelles (news).
Did you know?
- The term conte is etymologically linked to the act of 'counting' or 'recounting' a tale. This connects the storyteller to the mathematical verb compter, which means 'to count'.
- While a nouvelle is often modern and realistic, the word conte describes stories involving magic or folklore. If a story includes elements of the supernatural, calling it a nouvelle might strike a French reader as being too clinical or literal.
Examples in context
- Qui a écrit cette nouvelle ?Who wrote this short story?This sentence is useful for asking who wrote the nouvelle.Tatoeba #6692243 by felix63, translation #12985105 by rul
- Il essaya d'écrire une nouvelle.He tried writing a short story.This sentence is useful for describing the attempt to write a nouvelle.Tatoeba #827623 by sacredceltic, translation #298231 by CK
- C'est de loin la meilleure nouvelle qui a été publiée cette année.It's indisputably the best short story that has been published this year.This sentence is useful for noting that a particular nouvelle is the best published this year.Tatoeba #333330 by sysko, translation #12382157 by Miktsoanit
- J'ai écrit une nouvelle intéressante.I have written an interesting short story.
- Je vais te raconter une petite histoire amusante.I'm going to tell you a funny short story.
- As-tu lu cette histoire courte ? Elle est vraiment intéressante !Have you read this short story? It's really interesting!
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Manon and Hugo are at a bookstore.
- ManonTu as fini de lire ta nouvelle ?Did you finish reading your short story?
- HugoOui, elle était vraiment passionnante.Yes, it was really exciting.
- ManonEst-ce que je peux l'emprunter ?Can I borrow it?
- HugoBien sûr, Manon, prends-la.Of course, Manon, take it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “short story” translations and entries nouvelle, conte, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries conte, court, nouvelle, récit, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
