French Slang

French slang is the informal, everyday language French speakers use with friends, family, and online. 

It includes casual words like fric (money), verlan (words flipped backward) like meuf (woman), and borrowed terms like wesh from Arabic. It is friendly and relaxed, but it can sound rude or out of place in formal settings.

Key Takeaways

• Slang is casual French used with people you know, in texts, in songs, and online.
• Many words come from old argot, from flipped syllables (verlan), and from Arabic and English.
• Common examples include fric (money), mdr (LOL), wesh (hey), and ouf (wild).
• Most slang is friendly, but words like ta gueule are rude.
• Meanings change by age, region, and group, so the same word can land differently.
• Skip it in school work, job emails, and formal conversations.

You open a French group chat and see “wesh, mdr, t’as vu ?” Your school French doesn’t help. That gap is exactly why people search for French slang. Textbooks teach polite French. Real life runs on shortcuts, flipped words, and borrowed terms.

You will hear this casual language in rap, on TikTok, in Netflix shows, in YouTube comments, and in everyday texts. And yes, it is very much alive. New words appear every year, and older ones fade or come back.

This guide covers what it means, where it comes from, and how to use it without embarrassing yourself. 

You will learn how to say hi, bye, sorry, and shut up. Along the way, you’ll pick up words for money, cool things, and friends. The guide also includes real example chats, texts, and captions.

One note first. Slang is a mood, not a rulebook. Words differ by region, age, and friend group. Paris slang is not the same as Quebec or Belgian slang. 

This guide flags what is rude, dated, or risky. By the end, you should understand most casual French you meet online and know when to keep it to yourself.

What Does French Slang Mean?

It means the relaxed, informal side of French that people use with friends instead of in class or at work. French speakers call this le langage familier (casual speech) or l’argot (slang).

French slang falls into a few groups. Some words are old and traditional, like bouffe (food). Some are flipped, like meuf (from femme, woman). Others are borrowed, like wesh from Arabic or mon bad from English. Then there is text shorthand, like mdr and tkt.

Here is how the main terms differ.

Term	Meaning	Key Difference
Argot	Traditional slang	Often began as a group’s private code
Verlan	Words with flipped syllables	A method, not a single word list
Franglais	French mixed with English	Borrows English words and grammar habits
Langage familier	Casual everyday French	Wider and milder than slang

Quick Meaning Box

Meaning	Simple Explanation
Informal French	Casual words for friends, not for formal use
Verlan	Syllables flipped: femme becomes meuf
Borrowed words	Terms taken from Arabic, English, and other languages
Text shorthand	Short forms like mdr, jsp, and tkt

Pronunciation

Most slang is easy to say once you hear it. These are rough English guides, not exact sounds.

• Wesh: “wesh”
• MDR: “em-day-air” (each letter)
• Fric: “freek”
• Meuf: “muhf”
• Ouf: “oof”
• Kiffer: “kee-fay”

Where Does French Slang Come From?

There is no single source. The exact origin of the whole thing is unclear. It grew from several streams over many centuries.

The oldest stream is argot, which began as the private speech of certain trades and criminal groups. Verlan is another stream. 

The name itself is l’envers (the reverse) flipped around. A third stream is borrowing. Arabic words entered casual French, especially in cities, through migration from North Africa. English words arrived through music, film, and the internet.

History of the Term

Slang in French goes back at least to the Middle Ages. The poet François Villon is linked to poems written in a criminals’ jargon in the 1400s.

In the 1800s, argot reached the page. Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables (1862) includes a long section on it. In the 20th century, flipped words spread through city neighborhoods and youth culture. Rap and, later, texting pushed new words into the mainstream. Today, social media moves slang fast. A word can go from a small friend group to millions of screens in months.

How People Use It Today

It shows up wherever French speakers type or talk casually. That means WhatsApp groups, Snapchat, Instagram comments, TikTok captions, Discord servers, and rap lyrics.

No single platform owns it. Teens often lead new trends, but adults use words like boulot (job) and bouffe (food) daily. Texting adds its own layer of short forms. If you read French comments online, you will meet this slang within minutes.

French Slang Words

The most common slang words cover daily life. Think boulot (job), bouffe (food), bagnole (car), fringues (clothes), mec (guy), and meuf (woman).

You will hear these in almost any casual chat. Most are neutral and friendly. A few depend on tone. Flic (cop) can sound disrespectful, while bosser (to work) is just relaxed. When in doubt, listen to how native speakers around you use a word first.

French Slang for Cool

The simplest way to say cool is cool, which French speakers use all the time. For more flavor, try stylé (stylish), top (great), trop bien (so good), or ça déchire (that rocks).

Ouf is verlan for fou (unbelievable). C’est ouf means “that’s wild,” and it can be good or bad. To say you love something, use kiffer, as in je kiffe (I love it). Kiffer is linked to an Arabic word for pleasure.

French Slang for Money

The most common slang word for money is fric. You will also hear thune, blé, oseille, pognon, and flouze.

Some come from plants. Blé literally means wheat, and oseille means sorrel. The origins of fric and thune are unclear. To say you’re broke, use je suis fauché or j’ai plus une thune. For something pricey, ça coûte un bras (it costs an arm) works like the English phrase.

French Slang for Bro

Use mec (guy), pote (buddy), or frérot (little brother) for a friend. Mon pote is the safest option for learners.

Reuf is verlan for frère (brother), and gros (literally “big”) works like “dude.” You might hear wesh gros in city speech. These words suit close friends. Calling a stranger gros can feel too familiar, so match the vibe of the people around you.

Wesh French Slang

Wesh is a casual greeting that means “hey” or “what’s up.” It also works as a surprised “what?!” depending on tone.

Most sources trace it to a North African Arabic word meaning “what.” It spread through youth speech in French cities and is often tied to rap and street culture. Among friends, it sounds relaxed. Some people link it to stereotypes, and learners can sound forced using it. Spellings vary, including wesh, wech, and ouech.

MDR French Slang

MDR stands for mort de rire, “dying of laughter,” and it is the French version of LOL. People say it letter by letter: em-day-air.

It grew with texting and chat in the early internet era, though the first use is unclear. A stronger form is ptdr (pété de rire), which is very informal. You can write it in lowercase with no punctuation. English lol is also common, so French chats often mix both.

How Are You in French Slang

The most common casual phrase is ça va ?, which also works as the reply.

For more flavor, try quoi de neuf ? (what’s new), ça roule ? (going well?), ça dit quoi ? (what’s up?), or la forme ? (feeling good?). Common answers include tranquille (chill), nickel (perfect), pas mal (not bad), and bof (meh). Use tu with friends. With strangers or older people, switch to comment allez-vous ?

Shut Up in French Slang

The mild way to say it is tais-toi or chut. Casual options include la ferme, ferme-la, and boucle-la.

All of these are blunt. Ta gueule is very rude and should be avoided unless you are joking with close friends who use it themselves. Between friends, a laughing ferme-la ! can be playful. In any serious situation, it will sound angry.

Bye in French Slang

The most popular casual goodbye is salut or à plus. À plus means “see you later,” and in texts it is often written a+.

You can also say ciao, tchao, à la prochaine (until next time), or à demain (see you tomorrow). For close friends and family, bisous (kisses) is warm and common. If you need to leave quickly, je file (I’m off) or je me casse (I’m out, quite casual) will do the job.

Sorry in French Slang

The everyday word is désolé (or désolée for a woman). Pardon works for small bumps, like squeezing past someone.

Casual options include oups (oops), excuse-moi, and mon bad, which borrows from English. In texts, you will see dsl. For serious mistakes, slang can sound careless. Use a full je suis vraiment désolé instead.

Examples in Everyday Conversation

• Wesh, ça dit quoi ? — Rien de spécial, et toi ? (Hey, what’s up? — Nothing much, you?)
• T’as de la thune ? — Non, je suis fauché ce mois-ci. (Got any cash? — No, I’m broke this month.)
• Ce film, c’est ouf ! — Grave, j’ai kiffé. (That movie is wild! — Totally, I loved it.)
• Tu viens à la teuf samedi ? — Carrément. (Coming to the party Saturday? — Definitely.)
• Je suis relou, désolé. — Mais non, t’inquiète. (I’m being annoying, sorry. — No, don’t worry.)
• Tu bosses demain ? — Ouais, mais je finis tôt. (Working tomorrow? — Yeah, but I finish early.)
• Cette appli est trop chelou. — Ouais, je l’ai supprimée. (This app is so sketchy. — Yeah, I deleted it.)
• J’ai la dalle. On mange quoi ? — Pizza ? (I’m starving. What do we eat? — Pizza?)
• Allez, je me casse. À plus ! — Salut, bonne soirée ! (Alright, I’m off. Later! — Bye, have a good night!)
• Mon reuf arrive dans cinq minutes. — Cool, on l’attend. (My bro arrives in five minutes. — Cool, we’ll wait.)

Text Message Examples

• mdr t’as vu sa tête (lol did you see his face)
• tkt, je gère (don’t worry, I’ve got it)
• jsp, peut-être (dunno, maybe)
• slt, ça va ? (hi, how are you?)
• bcp de choses à te dire (so much to tell you)
• a+ (see you later)
• dsl, j’arrive en retard (sorry, I’m running late)
• stp réponds (please answer)
• pk t’es pas venu ? (why didn’t you come?)
• cc, tu fais quoi ce soir ? (hey, what are you up to tonight?)

Social Media Caption Examples

1. Instagram: Week-end ouf avec les potes (Wild weekend with friends)
2. TikTok: POV : tu rentres du boulot et t’as la dalle (POV: you get home from work starving)
3. X: Métro en retard, encore. Relou. (Metro late again. Annoying.)
4. Threads: Des bons plans resto pas chers ? Je suis fauché. (Cheap restaurant tips? I’m broke.)
5. Facebook: Merci pour les messages, vous êtes top. (Thanks for the messages, you’re the best.)
6. Instagram: Ça déchire, ce coucher de soleil. (This sunset rocks.)
7. TikTok: Mdr, mon chat contre le canapé (LOL, my cat versus the couch)
8. X: Je kiffe ce son, en boucle depuis ce matin. (Loving this track, on repeat since this morning.)
9. Threads: Café, playlist, zéro stress. Tranquille. (Coffee, playlist, zero stress. Chill.)
10. Facebook: Soirée pizza avec les gars, grosse ambiance. (Pizza night with the guys, great vibe.)

Is It Positive or Negative?

Most slang is neutral or friendly, but tone and audience decide everything. Wesh and mon pote feel warm among friends. Ta gueule and flic can sound rude or disrespectful.

Words like ouf and relou depend on context, since “wild” can be praise or complaint. Misunderstandings happen when learners copy a word without its tone. If you are unsure, pick the milder option.

Who Uses This Slang?

Almost everyone uses some of it. Teens and young adults use the newest words. Adults still say boulot, bouffe, and mec. Rap fans, gamers, and heavy social media users pick up trends fastest.

Region matters too. Quebec French uses char for car and chum for boyfriend, which would confuse a Parisian. Belgium, Switzerland, and Africa have their own habits as well.

Similar Slang Words

Slang	Meaning
Kiffer	To love or enjoy something
Bosser	To work
Bouffer	To eat
Ouf	Wild, outrageous
Relou	Annoying (from lourd)
Chelou	Weird or shady (from louche)
Galère	A hassle or hard situation
Ça craint	That’s bad, that sucks

Opposite Words

The opposite of slang is formal French, called langage soutenu. These pairs show the difference.

• Bonjour instead of wesh, for a polite greeting.
• Argent instead of fric, for money in writing.
• Travail instead of boulot, for work in formal settings.
• Veuillez m’excuser instead of mon bad, for a serious apology.
• Vous instead of tu, for strangers, bosses, and older people.

Common Mistakes

Many learners flip every word into verlan. Only some verlan words are established, so inventing new ones just sounds odd. Another mistake is using rude words as if they were casual. Ta gueule is not a friendly “be quiet.”

Spelling is also loose. Wesh appears as wech or ouech, so don’t treat variants as errors. Finally, don’t assume slang travels. A Quebec word may confuse someone in France.

When NOT to Use It

Skip slang in job emails, school essays, cover letters, and customer service chats. These settings expect polite, clear French, and slang can look careless. 

Avoid it when meeting a partner’s parents or older relatives, too, since vous and respectful words show care. Even among friends, drop it when the topic is serious, like an apology or bad news.

Fun Facts

• Verlan comes from l’envers, which means “the reverse.”
• Meuf is verlan for femme, and ouf is verlan for fou.
• Relou comes from lourd, and chelou from louche.
• Victor Hugo wrote about argot in Les Misérables.
• François Villon is linked to poems in criminals’ jargon from the 15th century.
• Wesh is traced to a North African Arabic word meaning “what.”
• Quebec French uses char for car.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “c’est une dinguerie” mean?

It means “that’s outrageous” or “that’s wild.” The word comes from dingue (unbelievable), and the -erie ending turns it into a thing or event. 

You can say it about something impressive, like a goal or a concert, or something shocking, like a unbelievable story. Tone and context tell you which. The exact origin of dingue is unclear. It is common in casual speech and social media, but it sounds out of place in formal settings.

Can you say “mon cœur” to a girl?

Yes. Mon cœur means “my heart,” and it is a sweet nickname. French speakers use it for partners, children, and very close friends, even though the word is grammatically masculine. If you barely know someone, it can feel too intimate or flirty. 

At work, skip it. Gentler alternatives include ma belle (my beautiful one) and ma chérie (my dear), while mon amour is stronger and mostly for couples.

What is a very French thing to say?

Small filler words sound the most French. Bof means “meh” and often comes with a shrug. Bah and ben open a sentence like “well.” Voilà means “there you go,” tant pis means “too bad,” and oh là là shows surprise or mild trouble. None of these are slang exactly. 

They are everyday habits that make speech sound natural. Use them sparingly, and you will blend in quickly.

How to flirt in French slang?

Keep it light and sincere. Tu me plais means “I like you,” and t’as de beaux yeux means “you have beautiful eyes.” T’es canon is slang for “you’re gorgeous.” 

The verb draguer means to flirt, and craquer pour means to fall for someone. Use tu with someone your age. Pay attention to their reaction, and back off if they seem uninterested. Flirting works best when it feels respectful and playful.

What does fou fou mean in French?

Fou means unbelievable, and doubling it makes it lighter and more playful. Fou fou describes someone silly, wacky, or a bit over-excited, or an idea that is a little wild. 

It is teasing, not a medical term, so avoid using it about real mental health. Friends can say it affectionately. With strangers, it may not land the same way, so read the room first.

What is Rizz in French?

Rizz is English slang for charm in flirting, and Oxford chose it as Word of the Year in 2023. Many French speakers simply say rizz online. 

There is no single standard French translation. Close options include avoir du charme or avoir du charisme (to have charm), avoir la cote (to be popular with people), and être bon en drague (to be good at flirting). The best choice depends on the situation.

Final Thoughts

Slang is the part of French that textbooks skip, and it is often the part you need most. It lets you read group chats, follow songs, and laugh at the right jokes. It also shows how language changes, as old argot, flipped words, and borrowed terms keep mixing together.

Start small. Learn a handful of safe words like pote, kiffer, à plus, and tranquille. Notice who says what and when. Treat rude words with care, and save casual speech for casual people. When you are unsure, plain French never hurts.

Language moves fast, and some of today’s slang will sound old in a few years. That is part of the fun. Keep listening, keep reading real French online, and enjoy picking up the new words as they arrive.