Reading

Nouvelle or actualité? Read personal news, local news and a story

Read three short French texts to distinguish des nouvelles, l’actualité and une nouvelle. Includes vocabulary notes, pictures and four questions.

In short

Une nouvelle can be a piece of news or a short story. Des nouvelles de quelqu’un means news from or about someone. L’actualité means current affairs; les actualités means the news, for example in a broadcast.

Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learn

A man listening to a plain unmarked radio at a French breakfast table with coffee and a closed unmarked book, radio dial completely blank.
Les actualités can be heard on the radio. Illustration: Atelier

An update · a local report · a book

Trois lectures pour un samedi

1. Le message de Lina

Salut Marc ! Je te donne de mes nouvelles1 : j’ai commencé mon nouveau travail lundi. L’équipe est sympa et je rentre plus tôt le soir. J’ai aussi une bonne nouvelle à t’annoncer : je viens samedi ! Tu as des nouvelles de2 Nora ? Je lui ai écrit hier.

2. Le journal du quartier

Marc lit le journal pendant son petit-déjeuner. Il suit l’actualité locale3 pour savoir ce qui se passe près de chez lui. Aujourd’hui, un article annonce l’ouverture d’une bibliothèque. C’est une bonne nouvelle pour les habitants. Le soir, Marc écoutera aussi les actualités4 à la radio.

3. À la bibliothèque

L’après-midi, Marc cherche quelque chose à lire. Il choisit un recueil de nouvelles5. La première nouvelle raconte le voyage d’une femme qui retrouve une lettre dans une vieille maison. Le récit fait douze pages. Marc le termine avant de rentrer : il a envie de connaître la fin6 !

Read it in English

Lina’s message: Hi Marc! Here’s an update from me: I started my new job on Monday. The team is nice and I get home earlier in the evening. I also have some good news to tell you: I’m coming on Saturday! Have you heard from Nora? I wrote to her yesterday.

The neighbourhood newspaper: Marc reads the paper over breakfast. He follows local news to know what is happening near his home. Today, an article announces the opening of a library. It is good news for local residents. In the evening, Marc will also listen to the news on the radio.

At the library: In the afternoon, Marc looks for something to read. He chooses a collection of short stories. The first story tells of the journey of a woman who finds a letter in an old house. The story is twelve pages long. Marc finishes it before going home: he wants to know the ending!

Match the object to its reading or listening context

Keep the whole expression
FrenchMeaning
J’ai une bonne nouvelle.I have some good news.
Je te donnerai de mes nouvelles.I’ll let you know how I’m doing.
Cette question est d’actualité.This issue is topical.
Je lis une nouvelle.I’m reading a short story.

Nouvelle is also the feminine adjective “new”: une nouvelle adresse. In une nouvelle, it is the noun. English “news” is uncountable, but French can count individual items: deux bonnes nouvelles. For a collection of short stories, the clue is recueil.

Question 1No account needed
What does Lina ask about Nora?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Whether Marc has news from or about her.. Tu as des nouvelles de Nora ? asks about contact or information about Nora.

Question 2No account needed
What is the local good news?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

A library is opening.. The newspaper article announces l’ouverture d’une bibliothèque.

Question 3No account needed
In the third text, what does nouvelle mean?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

a short story. The collection, narrative and twelve-page length establish the literary meaning.

Question 4No account needed
Which expression means following current affairs?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

suivre l’actualité. Suivre l’actualité means keeping up with current events.