infos versus nouvelles

Question

All through the piece "news" is translated as "infos" except in the last sentence when it is "nouvelles".  Any special reason for this, beyond some idiosyncrasy  of language?

Accepted Answer

Hi Kathleen, 
In the last sentence, we are not talking about 'les infos' or 'les actualités' ( media news )  but more what's new.
...pour entendre les dernières nouvelles à la machine à café 
Hope this helps!

Answer

Les nouvelles is the most French expression for "the news". Increasingly, though, English doublets are sprouting up. Les nouvelles - les infos is such a twin. They mean the same thing, the latter is just a bit more hip and modern.

In daily life, if you want to refer to the news on, e.g., the TV, you'd say les infos. If you want to get the news about, e.g., your friend, you'd use "les nouvelles".