{"id":2901,"date":"2019-01-16T12:30:56","date_gmt":"2019-01-16T17:30:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/online.frenchlanguagesalon.com\/?p=2901"},"modified":"2020-01-21T20:12:59","modified_gmt":"2020-01-21T20:12:59","slug":"pardon-my-french","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/frenchlanguagesalon.com\/french-language\/pardon-my-french\/","title":{"rendered":"Pardon my French!"},"content":{"rendered":"

At school, in group classes<\/a><\/u> or private lessons<\/a><\/u>, we learn proper French, the French of\u00a0Moli\u00e8re<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0Victor Hugo<\/strong>.
\nBut the French people don’t always speak such a romantic French. If you plan on spending time with locals during your next vacation in Paris or on the French Riviera<\/a><\/u>, maybe you will need to learn a bit more.<\/p>\n

Here are a few examples of the most common slang used\u00a0 by French people today.<\/p>\n

Words:<\/h4>\n
    \n
  • Salut<\/strong> = hi<\/li>\n
  • c’est un mec <\/strong>bien = He’s a good guy<\/span> \/ C’est mon mec = He is my boyfriend<\/span><\/li>\n
  • une meuf<\/strong> = a girl\u00a0<\/span> \/\u00a0 C’est ma meuf<\/strong> = She is my girlfriend<\/span><\/li>\n
  • acheter de la bouffe<\/strong> =\u00a0 to get food<\/span>.\u00a0 \/\u00a0 On va bouffer<\/strong> o\u00f9 ? = Where do we eat<\/span>?<\/li>\n
  • avoir du\u00a0fric<\/strong> \/ du\u00a0pognon<\/strong> \/ du\u00a0\u00a0bl\u00e9<\/strong>. = to have\u00a0money<\/span>.<\/li>\n
  • aller au taff<\/strong> = to go to my work\u00a0<\/span> \/\u00a0 \u00a0taffer =\u00a0\u00a0to work<\/span><\/li>\n
  • une caisse<\/strong> ?\u00a0 =\u00a0 a car<\/span>?<\/li>\n
  • un con<\/strong> = a stupid person<\/span> (as an insult)<\/li>\n
  • Je kiffe<\/strong> cette chanson = I love<\/span> that song<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Expressions:<\/h4>\n
      \n
    • J’ai la dalle<\/strong> = I’m hungry<\/span><\/li>\n
    • on va boire un coup<\/strong>? = Let’s get a drink<\/span>?\u00a0 \/\u00a0 Je te paye un coup<\/strong> = I’ll buy you a drink<\/span><\/li>\n
    • avoir\u00a0la cr\u00e8ve<\/strong> = to be\u00a0sick<\/span><\/li>\n
    • y’a moyen de<\/strong>\u00a0me pr\u00eater 5 euros? = Can you<\/span> lend me 5 euros?<\/li>\n
    • Pas de soucis<\/strong> = No problem<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Ce film est trop long, genre<\/strong> 3h20… = This movie is too long, like<\/span> 3h20m.<\/li>\n
    • C’est mort<\/strong> = No way.<\/span><\/li>\n
    • C’est cool<\/strong> = That’s cool,<\/span> or that’s fun<\/span><\/li>\n
    • \u00c7a marche<\/strong> = Ok<\/span>, let’s do it.<\/li>\n
    • \u00c7a craint<\/strong> = it sucks<\/span>.<\/li>\n
    • T’as une clope<\/strong> (cigarette) = Do you have a cigaret<\/span>?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      The Verlan<\/h4>\n

      (This is a special kind of slang created by switching the order of the syllables in a word.)<\/p>\n

        \n
      • C’est chelou<\/strong> (louche) = It’s weird<\/span><\/li>\n
      • C’est relou<\/strong> (lourd) = It’s annoying<\/span><\/li>\n
      • C’est ouf<\/strong> (fou) = It is crazy<\/span><\/li>\n
      • Il est un peu teu-b\u00e9<\/strong> = He is a bit dumb<\/span>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        With that short glossary, you should be able to understand the French people at late night parties. With that said, even if it is interesting to know those words, we do not recommend using them… It’s better to stay with your old fashion, basic French.<\/p>\n

        Of course we can’t make a complete list, that would be too long (and not so useful<\/em>). But, if you hear or read some slang that you don’t understand, share it with us, we will try to explain what it means!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

        At school, in group classes or private lessons, we learn proper French, the French of\u00a0Moli\u00e8re\u00a0and\u00a0Victor Hugo. But the French people don’t always speak such a romantic French. If you plan on spending time with locals during your next vacation in Paris or on the French Riviera, maybe you will need to learn a bit more. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9117,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spay_email":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true},"categories":[47],"tags":[378,599,676],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/frenchlanguagesalon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/011519-slang.jpg?fit=2000%2C1038&ssl=1","jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p8kt18-KN","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":8768,"url":"https:\/\/frenchlanguagesalon.com\/french-culture-en\/how-to-speak-french-like-a-french-person\/","url_meta":{"origin":2901,"position":0},"title":"How to speak French like a French person","date":"September 4, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"The vocabulary and sayings that we are going to see here are to be used in a social context, with friends or family. When you are in a professional setting, we advise you to stay with your scholarly French and avoid any \"slang\" or improper language techniques. Speaking a language\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "French classes"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/frenchlanguagesalon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/092419-speakfrench.jpg?fit=1200%2C623&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2271,"url":"https:\/\/frenchlanguagesalon.com\/french-culture\/french-idioms-what-do-they-mean\/","url_meta":{"origin":2901,"position":1},"title":"French Idioms: What do they mean?","date":"March 21, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"French language is full of idioms that seem to be coming from nowhere. Indeed, we do love to embellish our way of speaking! Below is the origin of some common idioms: \u201cTo fall into the apples\u201d means to faint. This idiom is believed to be invented by George Sand, a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "French Culture"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/frenchlanguagesalon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/032118-idioms.jpg?fit=1200%2C623&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2442,"url":"https:\/\/frenchlanguagesalon.com\/art\/michel-sardou-the-final-show-of-an-iconic-french-singer\/","url_meta":{"origin":2901,"position":2},"title":"Michel Sardou : The final show of an iconic French singer","date":"May 9, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Following his last concert at La Cigale in Paris on April 12th, we proudly introduce you to Michel Sardou. Michel is one of the most\u00a0 iconic French singers, whose career spanned more than fifty years. In France, everybody knows at least one of his songs. The most famous include \"La\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "art"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/frenchlanguagesalon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/050918-finalconcert.jpg?fit=1200%2C623&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2370,"url":"https:\/\/frenchlanguagesalon.com\/arts-media\/do-you-know-that-many-objects-are-named-after-their-inventor\/","url_meta":{"origin":2901,"position":3},"title":"Do you know that many objects are named after their inventor? – Part 1","date":"April 26, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Here the two fold story of the French nouns that were originally the last name of the person who invented them: Part 1: \u201cUn Amphitryon\u201d can be used in a very formal language as \u201ca host who receives guests for diner\u201d. This name became popular after the success of a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Arts & Media"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/frenchlanguagesalon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/part1-1.jpg?fit=688%2C350&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1830,"url":"https:\/\/frenchlanguagesalon.com\/french-culture\/history-military-service-france\/","url_meta":{"origin":2901,"position":4},"title":"History of the Military Service in France","date":"November 11, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"The Military Service (Service Militaire) is the name of the Conscription in France, which means \"the compulsory enlistment of people in a national service, most often a military service.\u201d It dates back to the French Revolution (1789), at the time of the National Guard and the \u201cLev\u00e9e en masse\u201d (mass\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "French Culture"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/frenchlanguagesalon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/111117-frenchmilitary.jpg?fit=1200%2C623&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2619,"url":"https:\/\/frenchlanguagesalon.com\/french-culture-en\/french-of-france-v-french-of-quebec\/","url_meta":{"origin":2901,"position":5},"title":"French of France V. 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Listen closely to Celine Dion speaking French,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "French Culture"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/frenchlanguagesalon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/101018-frenchquebec.jpg?fit=1200%2C623&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/frenchlanguagesalon.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2901"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/frenchlanguagesalon.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/frenchlanguagesalon.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/frenchlanguagesalon.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/frenchlanguagesalon.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2901"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/frenchlanguagesalon.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2901\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9119,"href":"https:\/\/frenchlanguagesalon.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2901\/revisions\/9119"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/frenchlanguagesalon.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9117"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/frenchlanguagesalon.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2901"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/frenchlanguagesalon.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2901"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/frenchlanguagesalon.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2901"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}