The baby, was three weeks late, is rumoured to be named Dahlia, according to speculation on Twitter.

speculation: 推測

Earlier, Nicolas Sarkozy spent just half an hour with his wife in a Paris hospital. French media reported that the baby was born at 8pm local time, meaning that Mr Sarkozy missed the birth.

He rejoined mother and new baby at 11pm. Reports in France said Mrs Bruni-Sarkozy was doing well.

He rushed into the Clinique de La Muette in the 16th arrondissement after his wife was admitted yesterday, then dashed out again barely 30 minutes later, boarding a plane for Frankfurt.

arrondissement: 郡，法國的行政區(qū)

board a plane: 搭飛機

Europe 1 radio said the birth "went well" for Mrs Bruni-Sarkozy, a singer and former supermodel.

The baby is the first in modern history to be born to a French presidential couple in office. The president has three sons from two previous marriages, while his wife, 43, has a son from a previous relationship.On arrival in Germany, Mr Sarkozy refused to respond to any questions about his fourth child. He was due back in Paris last night, according to reports.

due：到期的；應(yīng)得的；應(yīng)付的；預(yù)期的

The president was in Frankfurt to attend a leaving ceremony for Jean-Claude Trichet, the departing head of the European Central Bank. It was hoped that informal meetings around the reception might break a deadlock to stem the eurozone’s debt crisis.

stem：阻止

Given that Mr Sarkozy has warned that “[the eurozone’s] fate will be played out over the next 10 days”, the chances of him taking the regulation two-week paternity leave are nil.

played out：結(jié)束；衰竭；失去作用

The birth ended sometimes breathless speculation about Mrs Bruni-Sarkozy's due date. Photographers staked out the clinic since early October, with a security detail limiting their access.

stake out：監(jiān)視

Mrs Bruni-Sarkozy has said that she was staying mum about the event because she's superstitious. The couple also decided not to find out the baby's sex in advance."You don't have a child for the gallery," Mrs Bruni-Sarkozy told French TV network TF1 earlier this month. "I will do everything to protect this child ... I will not show photos of this child, I will never expose this child."

stay mum：沉默的，閉口不言的

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