Beyoncé’s Name Is Now in the French Dictionary!

Did you know that Beyoncé’s name is now officially in the French dictionary? The iconic singer has made her mark not just in the music industry, but also in the world of language and culture. Her name being added definitely shows her global influence and impact, and now her cultural significance extends beyond her music and performances. But, how come it was added to the dictionary in the first place?

Beyoncé’s Name Was Added to the French Dictionary

Beyoncé Knowles-Carter is having a great year with the success of her album “Cowboy Carter” and the news that she will be included in the French encyclopedic dictionary Petit Larousse Illustré. She will be among 40 notable figures listed, with her entry describing her as an “American singer of R&B and pop.”

Larousse’s jury selects about 150 significant words and individuals in French annually for inclusion in its dictionary. The 2024 entries of the Larousse dictionary also include notable figures like Cate Blanchett, LeBron James, and Christopher Nolan, among others.

Why Was It Added?

Carine Girac-Marinie, Larousse’s head of dictionaries and encyclopedias, explained to French magazine Le Point that the new additions to the dictionary “reflect concerns, developments, or strong movements of the year.” Girac-Marinie added that the selected terms align with the “values of the Petit Larousse — excellence and promotion of French culture.” Additionally, this shows their interest in expanding people’s interest in France and French culture.

Moreover, if that is not enough to convince you, Beyoncé’s name has French origins as it comes from her mother’s family name, Tina Knowles, who has Louisiana Creole heritage.

Other Accomplishments

In 2004, the term ‘bootylicious’ was also added to the Oxford English Dictionary. This was thanks to the popularity of Destiny’s Child’s hit. Beyoncé, the most decorated singer in Grammy history, released her eighth studio album ‘Cowboy Carter’ on March 29. She initially announced the Act II project during a surprise Super Bowl commercial. Then, she was seen unveiling her first two singles, ’16 Carriages’ and ‘Texas Hold ‘Em’.

The release of Beyoncé’s singles “16 Carriages” and “Texas Hold ‘Em” took the internet by storm. And so did her full album “Cowboy Carter” upon its release. This adds to her list of accolades for the year.

What do you think of Beyoncé’s name being added to the French dictionary?

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