acolyte des illustres

French

Etymology

Literally, “acolyte of the illustrious”. Proposed by the Académie Française as a French equivalent of the loanword follower in 2020. Shortly after, people have started using this term to make fun of the institution.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /a.kɔ.lit dɛ.z‿i.jystʁ/ ~ /a.kɔ.lit de.z‿i.jystʁ/

• Audio:

  (file)

Noun

acolyte des illustres m or f (plural acolytes des illustres)

1. (humorous, uncommon) follower (someone who follows someone else on social media)

   Synonyms: follower, followeur, abonné

   • 2020 October 28, @christdjoko1, Twitter‎^[1]:

     De personne en particulier. Tous les « influenceurs » dont je suis l’acolyte des illustres ont très tôt pris position😁

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

   • 2021 July 27, @Yusei59159, Twitter‎^[2]:

     Tu devrais pas dire Twitter mais gazouiller mon cher acolyte des illustres

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

   • 2024 June 11, @clauderenard777, Twitter‎^[3]:

     Voyez-vous les coms des stylisticiennes dont je suis un acolyte des illustres ?

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)