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Glite Dictionary
🍽️ An oval dumpling ✋ A defiant gesture
quenelle

quenelle

1 9.9
An arm gesture used to show defiance that many people see as offensive to Jewish people
  • noun
  • Slur
: quenelle (gesto antisemita)
  • He was banned from the event after performing a quenelle in front of the audience.
  • made the quenelle

Examples

  • Many organizations have condemned the use of the quenelle for its offensive connotations.

  • The footballer sparked controversy by making a quenelle during the televised match.

  • He made a quenelle during the protest.

  • The quenelle has sparked much debate in France.

  • During the protest, the group defiantly posed for a photo while making the quenelle to express their solidarity with the controversial movement.

  • The film sparked debate after a character was seen making the quenelle as a gesture of defiance against authority.

  • As they marched through the streets, many demonstrators raised their arms to make the quenelle, drawing both outrage and support.

Surface Forms

quenelle singular
quenelles plural

Etymology

The word quenelle for the arm gesture was created by French comedian Dieudonné and named after the small food quenelle. He used it as a sign of defiance, and many people see it as an antisemitic provocation.