After studying political science, humanities and art history at the Sorbonne, Rey served in the 4th Regiment of the Tunisian Troops.

While stationed in Algeria in 1952, he replied to an advertisement placed by Paul Robert, who was compiling a new French dictionary and looking for linguists.

Between 1993 and 2006, he appeared daily on France Inter's morning radio show, Sept neuf trente, in a three-minute closing segment called Le mot de la fin ("The Last Word"), in which he presented an entertaining analysis of French vocabulary.

[citation needed] Rey's segment was retired in 2006 — a move that for some signalled France Inter's desire for new blood to capture a younger demographic.

Between 2004 and 2005, Rey also appeared after the 8 o'clock evening news on the channel France 2, in a segment entitled Démo des Mots, in which he explained the history of French financial jargon.

[1] On 14 July 2017 French YouTuber Squeezie made a song with two popular rappers called Bigflo & Oli.