Learning French well means knowing slang. It’s a big deal. Slang helps you sound like you’re from France, not just someone who studied French in a classroom. We’re going to dive into 75 excellent French slang words and phrases. They’ll spice up your talks and show you the actual French people use every day. What’s the deal with these expressions? They make your French sound natural and connect you with French culture.
75 French Slang Words and Phrases
Exploring French slang words and phrases is a great way to understand everyday French as locals speak it. These expressions make your conversations more lively and helps you connect better with native speakers. Here’s a simple guide to some everyday slang:
No. | French Slang | English Translation/Meaning |
1 | Bagnole | Car |
2 | Boulot | Job/Work |
3 | Bouffer | To eat |
4 | Fric | Money |
5 | Mec | Guy/Dude |
6 | Nana | Girl/Chick |
7 | Ouf | Crazy (verlan for fou) |
8 | Relou | Annoying/Heavy (verlan for lourd) |
9 | Teuf | Party (verlan for fête) |
10 | Blé | Dough/Money |
11 | Baraque | House |
12 | Boîte | Nightclub/Company |
13 | Flipper | To freak out |
14 | Kiffer | To like/Enjoy |
15 | Péter les plombs | To lose it/Go crazy |
16 | Flic | Cop |
17 | Clopes | Cigarettes |
18 | Potes | Friends/Buddies |
19 | Chouette | Cool/Great |
20 | Meuf | Girl/Woman (verlan for femme) |
21 | Naïf | Gullible/Naive |
22 | Gosses | Kids |
23 | Baraque | Pad/House |
24 | Bobo | Bohemian bourgeois (hipster) |
25 | Chouette | Cool/Nice |
26 | Degueulasse | Disgusting/Gross |
27 | Taper la discute | To chat |
28 | Chialer | To cry/Whine |
29 | Crever | To die (informal) |
30 | Piquer | To steal |
31 | Choper | To catch/To pick up (a person) |
32 | Fringues | Clothes |
33 | Tocard | Loser/Idiot |
34 | Zonard | Slacker/Low-life |
35 | Grave | Totally/Seriously |
36 | Bosser | To work |
37 | Bouquin | Book |
38 | Tronche | Face |
39 | Balancer | To snitch/To throw |
40 | Beur | Arab (verlan for arabe) |
41 | Tif | Hair |
42 | Débile | Stupid/Idiot |
43 | Bidon | Fake/Bogus |
44 | Baraqué | Muscular/Buff |
45 | Nickeler | To clean |
46 | Cailler | To freeze |
47 | Radin | Cheap/Scrooge |
48 | Taré | Crazy/Nuts |
49 | Pif | Nose |
50 | Taffe | Job/Work |
51 | Pécho | To hook up with/To score (verlan for choper) |
52 | Dodo | Sleep/Nap |
53 | Frimeur | Show-off/Bragger |
54 | Blague | Joke |
55 | Reum | Mom (verlan for mère) |
56 | Foireux | Lame/Risky |
57 | Flouze | Money |
58 | Moche | Ugly |
59 | Baraque | Buff/Stocky |
60 | Se taper | To sleep with/To eat |
61 | S’arracher | To leave/To split |
62 | Caillera | Thug |
63 | Goujat | Boor |
64 | Laisse béton | Forget it/Let it be (verlan for laisse tomber) |
65 | Poteau | Friend/Buddy |
66 | Radiner | To show up |
67 | Ringard | Outdated/Old-fashioned |
68 | Taper | To hit/To ask for money |
69 | Zonard | Low-life |
70 | Caisse | Car |
71 | Boire un coup | To have a drink |
72 | Se marrer | To laugh |
73 | Tarte | Slap/Pie |
74 | Draguer | To hit on/To flirt |
75 | Se casser | To leave/To split |
Why Learn French Slang?
Connect with locals
Getting to know French slang can help you connect with the locals. It makes your chats more natural and fun. When you pick up slang, you’re not just learning words. You’re getting a peek into how people live and think, which shows you respect their way of life. This makes your interactions richer and more genuine.
So, what are the perks?
- Better Cultural Fit: Slang opens a direct line to the core of a culture. It reveals what people value and how they joke and relate to each other.
- Smoother Social Moments: Slang eases the mood and can help form quick connections.
- More Fun and Genuineness: Using slang makes your conversations lively and real, enhancing overall communication.
Sound like a native speaker
Learning French slang can help you fit in and sound like a local. It’s not just about picking up new words; it’s about getting the feel of everyday language you don’t usually learn in class.
When you use slang, you show that you get the language. It makes chatting with native speakers more natural and genuine. Plus, knowing slang helps you catch jokes and cultural hints that you might miss otherwise.
Enhance fluency
Learning slang can boost your fluency in French. It makes your conversations flow better and feel more natural. Slang isn’t just casual talk; it’s a key part of daily language and changes how people chat. By getting good at slang, you can:
- Understand Better: You’ll get what native speakers say more clearly, including the jokes and subtle points you might miss with more formal language.
- Speak Naturally: You’ll share your thoughts and feelings more clearly and sound like a native speaker.
- Fit In Better: You’ll connect more with French speakers, whether hanging out casually or networking professionally.
Conclusion
In short, if you want to speak French like a native, you need to know the slang. These 75 slang words and phrases will help you understand and express yourself in everyday French situations. It bridges the cultural and language divide. Knowing slang improves how well you speak French and makes you feel more connected to French culture. This makes conversations more fun and real. So, go ahead and start using these colloquial expressions to appreciate the French language’s richness fully.