The triumph of the word "Wesh", North African slang that is shaking up the French language

The term is no longer used solely to greet in working-class neighborhoods, it now intrigues the entire French-speaking world. The publisher of Le Robert announces that "wesh" is among the ten definitions whose consultation has increased the most this year. This success validates the rooting of this multi-purpose expression, used to ask questions or say hello, and which has its direct roots in the dialects of North Africa.

This breakthrough is part of a massive volume of 50 million page views on the free dictionary website between January and December. Internet users are looking to understand the terms that punctuate social debates or daily life, placing slang on the same level as complex political or religious concepts.

The ranking reflects a dense current events. The term "masculinism" tops the increases with an 800% increase, fueled by social networks and the Netflix series "Adolescence". The word "conclave" also recorded an exceptional peak of interest, linked to two major events: the pension reform in France and the appointment of a new pope in Rome following the death of Francis on April 21.