French is perhaps the most sophisticated language in the world. Despite this, it does have slang. To sound like a native, you’ll need to use some French slang words. These are the best!
With that, French is also one of the most spoken languages, being spoken in 29 countries by 275 million people. Many people find it hard to comprehend that French does indeed have slang due to these facts!
15. Mec – Dude
When it comes to the most common French slang words, mec is probably the most common, at least at schools it is. Although it is technically supposed to be used to describe guys, it can also be used for girls as well!
Mec actually has two slang meanings, usually depending on who is using it. If a close friend is using the term, mec is used to “dude” or “bro”, sometimes as a greeting. Occasionally, it is used in the same way as “guy” is in English.
The other way mec is commonly used is when a girlfriend uses it. Whilst she could use the proper way to say “boyfriend”- petit ami, she could also use mec to convey the same message!
Depending on the circumstances (and how well you know the people in the group!) you may also be able to greet a groups of people as mecs. This is the equivalent of “guys” which has become a favorite of French teachers in recent years.
14. Chiant(e) – Ass
In almost every language, people often use slang to insult those who they don’t like. French is no different. One of the most commonly used slang terms is chiant(e), which isn’t quite a swear word, although isn’t far off…
Technically, chiant(e) isn’t a a slang word, however, in recent years, it has been adapted by French teenagers to have a slightly different meaning. Literally, chiant(e) translates as boring, however, is stronger than barbant or ennuyeux.
French teenagers have taken the term chiant(e) and have used it to describe someone as a bit more boring. You remember that really smart kid who felt the need to make you look dumb? He/she is chiant(e)– an ass.
The spelling of chiant(e) differs depending on who/what you are describing. If the person/thing you are describing is masculine, you’d use chiant, or chiante for someone/something that is feminine.
13. Sans déc – No sh!t
If you were alive in the 1990’s, you’ll probably remember a time when the slang term duh entered common vernacular. In France, they have sans déc to mean just about the same thing!
As with duh, sans déc is used as a retort when someone says something very obvious. For instance, if someone says “Cars have four wheels” or something else that’s obvious, you’d retort with duh or no sh!t very sarcastically.
Depending on the context, if someone says something that genuinely surprises you, you can also use sans déc to show your surprise. Almost in the same context as you’d use “Wow! Really?” in English.
You may also see the full version of the phrase, sans déconner is some contexts. Usually this is used by slightly older generations, whereas under thirties tend to use sans déc!
12. Wech! – Yo!
Wech, otherwise spelled as wesh is one of the newest slang terms in French. It is most common in the suburbs of Paris, although has become widely understood throughout France, due to French TV shows.
Originally, wech was used by rappers in Paris when they were greeting their “gang” or “crew”. Since then it has become a somewhat ironic way of greeting your friends, similar to the modern slang term of yo!
It is usually used on group chats via apps like Whatsapp, Facebook and Instagram, which French teenagers use a lot. If used in real life, it is commonly used between only a handful of friends, rather than a big group.
Despite being well known throughout France, and indeed in other French speaking countries like Canada, almost no one uses it. So you’ll probably want to be careful when using it, if you use it at all.
11. Flasher sur quelqu’un – To have a crush (on someone)
In almost every language, either in slang or not, there is some way for teenagers to say that they like someone romantically, but in secret. In French, it is the rather long winded flasher sur quelqu’un.
Literally, flasher sur quelqu’un translates as “to flash at someone”, which sounds rather weird. However, it is generally used in the sense that you have a romantic interest in someone.
If you were looking to say “I have a crush on [insert name]” you would say je flashe sur quelqu’un [insert name]. To say it in the you form, it is tu flashes sur quelqu’un [insert name].
Naturally, this is most commonly used in the school playground or in groups of friends. However, some parents will tease their child by telling them that they like someone else, even if they don’t.
10. Laisse tomber – Never Mind
At some point in time, we’ve all said something that somebody else hasn’t understood what you’re on about. Instead of explaining it to them, you’d just tell them that it isn’t vital for them to know.
Where in English, you’d use “Never mind”, the French say laisse tomber. Literally, laisse tomber means “Let it fall”. On the surface of it, it may seem as though it is akin to the English phrase “Drop it”.
Although, “Drop it” is usually seen as a bit more forceful than laisse tomber. In a modern setting, it is more like the phrase “Never mind”. However, it can also be used as somewhat of an insult.
If used sarcastically, it is akin to saying something like “You aren’t smart enough to understand it anyway”. However, this is rarely used, and if it is, it is usually used between people who’ve known each other for a long time.
9. Bobo – Injury
In the 1990’s, the term bobo entered English twice, both with different meanings, both times coming from French. Depending on where you hang out, you might have heard it used in both meanings, or just one.
The first time, bobo was introduced to English, it was used in the same context that a champagne socialist is used. A materialistic person who espouses views contrary to that, usually in front of other materialistic people.
Bobo actually originates from babies. Just as with other words, many babies struggle to say the word une blessure to describe an injury. Instead, they say bobo to mean the same thing, and has just stuck!
For many English children, when they cut or bruise themselves, they have a bobo, although they soon grow out of saying that at about 10 years old. In much of high society in Britain, bobo has replaced “champagne socialist“.
8. Oklm – Cool
Oklm is one of the newest French slang words, appearing in 2014. Since then, it has become a favorite of many French teenagers due to how “hip” or “cool” saying it is perceived to be.
In 2014, French rapper Booba phonetically spelled the term au calme as oklm. Literally au calme/oklm is used to mean “being quiet”, but in reality, it is usd to mean “cool” or “chill”.
Whilst it is commonly used in speech, it is hard to tell how they’re spelling it. As such, it is usually seen in social media captions, usually as #oklm or something similar.
In fact, before 2014, #oklm was used that often, normally as some “secret” code between a few friends. Today, it is regularly trending at over several million posts per day!
7. Mytho – Liar
We all hate liars. Seemingly, so do the French, so much that they’d take the time to develop a slang term that French people can use. This term, mytho is actually quite common in certain areas!
Technically speaking, mytho is a slang term. However, as with a lot of French slang, mytho is an abbreviation of the actual French term- mythomana, literally a compulsive liar.
Whilst this is commonly used to describe most liars, it is more commonly used to describe the worst type of liar- the egotistical kind. The type of liar who embellishes a story to make themselves look better.
Many French teenagers use it as both an insult and as an accusation. As you can imagine, once a French teenager gets a reputation as a mytho, it is hard to shake it, even after years of “telling the truth”.
6. Bordel – Mess
This is one you need to use with caution. If you use this wrong, or to someone who doesn’t understand French slang, you might convey a completely different message!
Literally, bordel translates as brothel. Many of these establishments still call themselves a bordel, so it is key to make sure that whoever you are speaking to understands the slang, otherwise, you’ll have a lot of explaining…
Despite that, many teenagers have reinvented the term. Instead of meaning brothel, bordel is used in the context of meaning a large mess, roughly equivalent to the American slang term clusterf*ck.
In some cases, bordel can also be translated as nightmare or disaster. However, you cannot describe a nightmare you had last night as a bordel (unless it was about a bordel… in either context!)
5. J’ai un petit creux – Peckish
France is well known for its cuisine and culinary prowess. As such, it stands to reason that at least some of that should have entered popular, everyday French slang as well!
Perhaps the most common is j’ai un petit creux, meaning to say that you are a little bit hungry. Literally, j’ai un petit creux means “I am a little hollow”, or that you are a little bit peckish- you would like a small snack.
If you want to say that you are really hungry in French slang, you could say something along the lines of j’ai une faim de loup (literally “I have the hunger of a wolf”) to say that you are so hungry.
Both phrases are very common at lunch time, which in French culture should be between 12 pm and 2 pm. You’ll often hear French schoolchildren say it as they are on the way to the school canteen.
4. Une clope- Cigarette
As well as being known for its food, France is also well known for being a chain smoking nation, it’s only fair to assume that this has influenced French slang too! Perhaps the most common is une clope!
Une clope is the French slang term for a cigarette. In many ways it is akin to fag is British slang (meaning cigarette… not a homophobic slur) or the more world recognized term cig.
If you plan on staying in France for a while, it’s quite likely that you’ll hear the phrase tu as une clope? or t’aurais pas une clope? both roughly translating as “Do you have a cigarette?”
Originally, when people smoked cigars, the term une clope was used to describe the end/the butt. However, today, with many people smoking cigarettes, it is used to describe the entire thing!
3. Une arnaque – A scam
When I was learning French, in particular French slang, une arnaque was my favorite French term. In many ways, it still is! I have absolutely no idea why I like it so much, I just do!
Technically speaking, une arnaque isn’t a slang term. If you were to pick up a French dictionary and look for arnaque, you’d find it and it would mean the exact same things!
It is generally considered a slang term, because up until a few years ago, une arnaque was used to describe those Nigerian Prince email scams and the like. However, it has taken somewhat of a different meaning.
If something isn’t going your way, or something feels like a bit of a ripoff, many French teenagers will describe it as une arnaque. Usually, shouting it very loudly and going on to explain why.
2. Parler comme une vache espagnole – Speak (a foreign language) not very well
Many in France speak multiple different languages. Sometimes, they speak the quite well, other times, not so much. To describe the latter, they might use say that they parler comme une vache espagnole.
Literally, parler comme une vache espagnole translates as “to speak like a Spanish cow”. However, it is generally used in the context of not having the right accent, and you knowing you don’t speak it very well!
If you think about it, a Spanish cow trying to speak another language would look incredibly stupid, which is the message that the French are trying to get across. This is most common among teenagers learning English at school.
Despite this, some Frenchmen may use it as an insult. Occasionally, they use it to insult Quebec French speakers, for their old timey accents and vocabulary. However, they’ll also use it to insult English people speaking French poorly!
1. Chanmé(e) – Awesome!
Use caution when using chanmé(e), if you use it out of context or in the wrong tone, people may believe you are insulting them, even when you are not.
In much of French slang, words are spelled backwards, usually incorrectly, with some having the same meaning, and others not so much. Chanmé(e) is proof of the latter.
Chanmé(e) is an anagram of méchant, meaning mean or horrible. Whilst chanmé(e) can be used in that context, it is more commonly used in the same context as wicked, awesome or amazing!
The spelling of chanmé(e) depends on who or what you are describing. If what you are describing is masculine, it’s chanmé, whereas, if it’s feminine, you’d use chanmée.
Which are your favorite French slang words? Tell me in the comments!