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French is a global language, with a variety of dialects spoken around the world. When you’re first learning French, learning expressions beyond standard vocabulary is a good idea so that you can communicate with ease. Recognizing a variety of French slang can open up tons of opportunities to enjoy French movies and television, songs, social media posts, and conversations in real life.
Genre and other French slang for everyday conversations
Like any casual and spontaneous speech, spoken French is riddled with filler sounds and words similar to “like” or “um” in English. Though perhaps looked down upon in formal public speaking, these words serve to maintain the listener’s attention while the speaker is hesitating to search for a word or complete a thought. You can sound more French if you include some of these words!
The word genre (“like”) is a common filler word, similar to the English “like.” It can also be used alone to mean “I don’t believe you!”
- Ça coute cher, genre quinze dollars. = It’s expensive, like 15 dollars.
| French Slang | English Meaning |
| bon/ben (good) | A filler word to help fill the silence when you’re hesitating, such as “er” or “uh.” |
| euh (uh/um) | A filler sound similar to “um.” |
| ouais/ouaip (yeah/yep) | Similar to saying “yeah” or “yep” instead of “yes.” French speakers don’t always use the formal oui (yes) in casual speech. |
| quoi (what) | Used frequently as a filler word or tag at the end of a statement. Similar to “you know,” “eh,” or “innit.” It doesn’t convey an important change in meaning. |
| une fois (once) | Used as a filler word in Belgian French, stemming from Dutch. |
Pote and other slang for friends
While un ami/une amie (a friend) is the standard French word for “friend,” you’re likely to hear other French slang words in casual speech or television, such as pote (friend, mate, buddy, pal) and its variations.
- Voici ma pote, Camille. = This is my friend Camille.
Most of these words have a masculine form and a feminine form so that they follow French gender rules.
| French Slang | English Meaning |
| une blonde | a girlfriend (in Québec) |
| un chum | a boyfriend (in Québec); a pal |
| un copain/une copine | could be used for a friend or a boyfriend/girlfriend |
| mon frère | literally “my brother,” but can be used like the term “bro/brother” or “bruv” for a friend. |
| mon gars | “my guy” |
| mon grand/ma grande | literally “my tall/big one” and can be used affectionately from parent to child or between good friends, like “my dear.” It does not refer to their appearance. |
| un mec | a “guy.” |
| une meuf | a “chick” (girl) |
| un pote/une pote | friend, buddy, mate, pal |
| poteau/poto | friend, buddy, mate, pal |
| mon vieux/ma vieille | literally means “my old” – used in familiar contexts as “my good friend” or to refer to one’s parent, as in “my old man.” It does not refer to their age. |
Ça roule and other greetings
While a polite, standard Comment ça va ? (How is it going?) could work in nearly any situation, it’s fun to mix up your greetings, especially with friends. Here are some greetings you may hear in more casual speech like some French slang phrases. Like French idioms, they aren’t translated word for word. Many could translate to something like “What’s up?”
- Eh, salut ! Ça roule ? = Hey, hi. How’s it going?
- Ça roule ! = It’s going!
| French Slang | English Meaning |
| Ça baigne ?/ Ça baigne ! | All good?/It’s all good! |
| Ça gaze ?/Ça gaze ! | It’s going?/It’s going! |
| Ça roule ?/Ça roule ! | It’s all good?/All good! |
| Coucou | Informal “hi” that means something like “hey there!” |
| Nickel ! | Could be an answer to any “What’s up?” question, meaning everything’s perfect. |
| Qu’est-ce que tu racontes ? | What do you tell me?/What’s up? |
| Quoi de neuf ? | What’s new? |
| Wesh | Used for “what’s up?” or as a filler word among young people |
Bouffer and other slang verbs for everyday actions
One of the most common French verbs beginners learn is manger (to eat), but in many contexts the slang term bouffer (to eat/to stuff oneself) may pop up. The more common an activity, the more likely there is to be a variety of French slang words to express it.
- À quelle heure on bouffe ? = What time are we eating?
- J’sais pas, mais j’ai un creux ! = I dunno, but I’m feeling peckish.
Here are a few French slang verbs to recognize and connect to the essential French words you already know.
| French Slang | Standard French | English Meaning |
| s’arracher | partir | to split/to scream/to leave |
| avoir un creux | avoir faim | to feel like eating/to be hungry |
| avoir la flemme | être paresseux/paresseuse | to feel lazy/to not feel like doing anything/not bothered |
| bachoter | étudier | to cram for a test |
| becter/becqueter | manger | to eat |
| bosser | travailler | to work |
| bouffer | manger | to eat |
| canner | mourir | to die/to croak/to kick the bucket |
| capter | recevoir une onde/comprendre | to pick up (a signal)/ to understand/ to “get” a concept |
| casser la croûte | manger | to snack, to have a bite to eat |
| chialer | pleurer très fort | to bawl/to blubber/to cry hard |
| claquer (du fric) | dépenser (de l’argent) | to blow money, to spend frivolously |
| dégueuler | vomir | to barf/to puke/to throw up |
| faire caca | déféquer | to poop/to poo |
| flipper | avoir peur | to freak out/to flip out/to worry |
| se fringuer | s’habiller | to dress oneself up |
| se goinfrer | manger beaucoup | to pig out/to stuff oneself |
| grailler | manger | to chow down/to munch/to eat |
| gueuler | crier ou chanter très fort | to scream/yell out/holler |
| jacter | parler | to talk/to jabber |
| kiffer | aimer | to like, to appreciate |
| laisser tomber | ne pas insister | to drop (a subject/an activity) |
| louper | échouer | to fail/to miss/to flunk/to mess up |
| paumer | perdre | to lose |
| peler (du froid) | avoir froid | to be very cold/to be freezing |
| picoler | boire trop d’alcool | to drink too much alcohol |
| piger | comprendre | to understand/to “get” something/to grasp a concept |
| pinter | boire trop d’alcool | to get drunk/drink too much |
| piquer | voler | to steal |
| pisser | uriner | to pee |
| raquer | payer | to fork out/to pay |
| roupiller | dormir | to sleep/to snooze |
| rater | échouer | to fail |
| taffer | travailler | to work |
Fric and other French slang words for money
A slang word for money in French is du fric. The standard term argent (money) came from the word for “silver” originally. Many of the slang terms for money and currency draw from historical names for coins or currencies as well. These French slang phrases can help you talk about money—or the lack thereof.
- Tu me prêtes dix balles ? Je n’ai pas un sou. = Can you lend me ten bucks? I don’t have a single penny.
- Moi non plus, j’suis fauché. = Me neither, I’m broke.
| French Slang | Standard French | English Meaning |
| des balles | des francs/des euros | another word for currency, similar to “bucks” in the US or “quid” in the UK |
| un biffeton | un billet | a bill/paper money |
| du blé | de l’argent | literally “wheat.” A slang term for money. |
| coûter les yeux de la tête | très cher | literally “to cost the eyes from the head,” but it means “to cost an arm and a leg” |
| du fric | de l’argent | money |
| être fauché/fauchée | ne pas avoir d’argent | to be broke |
| friqué/friquée | très riche | “loaded”/wealthy |
| l’oseille | de l’argent | money |
| plein aux as | très riche | “loaded”/literally “full of aces” |
| du pognon | de l’argent | money |
| un rond | une pièce de monnaie | a penny/a pence/a cent |
| un sou/des sous | des centimes/un peu d’argent | historical term for a coin, often used now for small quantity of money |
| de la thune | de l’argent | money (formerly slang for a 5 franc piece) |
Type and more slang for people
You can use the term type (guy) to casually refer to a “guy,” especially if you don’t know him.
- Il y avait un type dans mon siège. = There was a guy in my seat.
Some slang words for people come from terms of endearment or common professions. These are all French nouns since they refer to people.
| French Slang | Standard French | English Meaning |
| un chouchou | l’élève préféré | the teacher’s pet |
| un flic/une flic | un agent de police | a police officer/a “cop” |
| un frangin/une frangine | un frère/une soeur | a brother/a sister |
| un gosse/une gosse | un enfant | a kid (*but in other contexts could mean testicle) |
| un keuf | un agent de police | verlan slang for police officer/”cop” |
| Mamie | Grand-mère | grandma/nana/granny |
| une môme | une jeune fille | a young girl |
| une nana | une femme | a woman (old-fashioned slang) |
| un potache/une potache | un élève | a student/a schoolkid |
| un prof/une prof | un professeur/une professeure | a teacher |
| un taulier/une taulièreun tôlier/une tôlière | le patron/la patronne | the boss |
| un toubab | européen/blanc | Used in Sénégal, commonly used to refer to a foreigner who is white, without offensive context. |
| un toubib | un médecin | a doctor |
| un type | un homme | a man/a guy |
Rigolo and other French slang descriptions
Rigolo (fun/funny/amusing) is one of many Slang French adjectives and expressions that can help you describe and react in interesting ways.
- Il y avait beaucoup d’activités et objets rigolos dans le musée pour enfants. = There were lots of activities and funny things in the children’s museum.
These French slang words can help you be more expressive and dramatic.
| French Slang | Standard French | English Meaning |
| balaise/balèze | costaud génial | strong/awesome/ace/excellent |
| avoir le cafard | être déprimé | to feel a bit down or to have the blues |
| de la camelote | de mauvaise qualité | junk/trash/poor quality |
| canon | physiquement idéale | hot/gorgeous |
| chelou | bizarre | shady/dodgy/sketchy |
| crade/cradot/cradingue | sale/obscène | dirty/nasty/gross |
| déchiré | ivre | drunk/hammered/smashed |
| dégueulasse | sale/mauvais/abject | gross/revolting/disgusting |
| dingue | fou/folle/incroyable | crazy/mad/loony/unbelievable |
| galère | situation difficile | hellish/difficult |
| givré | fou/folle | nuts/crazy/bonkers |
| de l’intox | matraquage idéologique | fake news/propaganda |
| lourd | insistant/pas vif | unbearable/a drag/clumsy |
| marrant/marrante | drôle/étrange | funny/comical/strange/odd |
| mortel | excellent | wicked/sick/brilliant/amazing |
| à poil | nu | naked/nude |
| réglo | correct/honnête | on the level/honest/legit |
| rigolo | drôle/amusant | amusing/funny/fun |
| ringard/ringarde | démodé | old-fashioned/uncool |
| super | très bon | awesome |
| sympa | sympathique | nice |
Boulot and other nouns and ideas
You can use boulot (job/work/effort) to talk about your employment or the concept of working hard. Many day-to-day places, things, and ideas have a French slang word to spice up your conversation about regular life.
- J’ai beaucoup de boulot cette semaine. = I have a lot of work this week.
Instead of trying to translate English to French slang words or phrases, where meaning might be completely lost, learn to recognize French slang in context and try them out when you’re confident of their meaning.
| French Slang | Standard French | English Meaning |
| une bagnole | la voiture | a car/a “ride” |
| le bahut | le collège/le lycée | Middle or High School |
| la bidoche | la viande | meat (general/lesser quality) |
| le boulot | le travail/l’emploi/l’effort | work/job/effort |
| un bouquin | un livre | a book |
| un cabot | un chien | a dog/mutt; can also be used to describe someone who shows off in a theatrical exaggerated way |
| une caisse | une voiture | a car/a ride |
| un caoua/un kawa | un café | a coffee/java/(cup of) joe |
| un char | une voiture | a car (used in Québec) |
| une clope | une cigarette | a cigarette |
| un costard | une costume | a suit |
| le fac | la faculté/l’université | uni/college/university |
| un flangue | une arme à feu | a gun/a firearm |
| un flop | un échec | a failure/a flop (similar to English) |
| le frigo | le réfrigérateur | the fridge (short for refrigerator) |
| des fringues | des vêtements | clothes/threads |
| un froc | un pantalon | pants/trousers |
| un futal | un pantalon | pants/trousers |
| des godasses | des chaussures | shoes |
| une loupiote | une lampe | a small lamp/light |
| un machin | une chose | a thingy (a great word to use when you don’t know the actual word for a random object without much importance) |
| un pépin | un problème | a glitch/a small mishap |
| une prune | une contravention | a traffic ticket |
| un rouge | un vin rouge | a red wine |
| des sapes | des vêtements | clothes |
| le taf | le travail/l’emploi/le travail à faire | work/jobwork to do |
| la taule/la tôle | la prison | jail/the slammer |
| un truc | une chose | a thingy/a thingamajig (a great word to use when you don’t know the actual word for a random object without importance) |
>>Learn specific vocabulary from French dialects around the world to fit in with the locals!
Levels and types of French slang
French vocabulary and phrases that are not considered standard or grammatically “correct” are abundant and fall into several categories. While some slang is simply considered familier (colloquial) and can be used without shame in casual speech, others can be vulgaire (vulgar/offensive).
When you translate English to French slang phrases, the impact of offensiveness and meaning can be lost. For example, in Canadian French, some of the strongest curse words translate to seemingly inoffensive religious words, such as “chalice” or “tabernacle.”
If you’re concerned about being appropriate but want to try out a slang word you’ve learned, consult a resource or a trusted French speaker. In a word list or dictionary such as Le Robert French dictionary, you may see a helpful description next to the word, such as familier (familiar) or vulgaire (vulgar). French speakers may use terms like gros mot (a “bad word”) or a juron (swear/cuss word) to explain that a word isn’t appropriate.
Since language can shift over time, some slang words become vieilli (old-fashioned) over time, and words that used to be tabou (taboo) can gradually become more accepted. It can be really helpful to have a trusted French-speaker as a friend who can explain a slang word or expression and guide you. Our French tutors at Rosetta Stone can help you integrate the use of French slang into your vocabulary successfully.
| French | English Meaning |
| argot/argotique | slang |
| un blasphème | blasphemous speech/rude against religious beliefs |
| familier | familiar/colloquial/impolite/over-familiar |
| grossier | rude, coarse, “bad word” |
| péjoratif/péjorative | pejorative/derogatory |
| populaire | informal (but frequent) |
| un juron | a swear word/a curse word/a cuss word/blasphemous speech/expletive |
| tabou | taboo |
| vieilli/vieillie | dated/old-fashioned |
| vulgaire | vulgar/rude/coarse/crude |
Speak French with confidence with support from Rosetta Stone
French slang reflects the language that people use in real life, so it’s important to be comfortable with learning new words and meanings. Slang differs from standard French in that it can vary between regions, time periods, and contexts. You’ll never be bored when you’re learning French.
Every exposure to real life language, including French slang words and phrases, will help you participate in French culture and conversations. When those doubts arise, such as whether a French slang word is appropriate to use, or whether it means what you think it means, you can safely return to the standard French you can learn with Rosetta Stone. Bring your questions to a live lesson or a tutor for additional help, and understanding French slang will be du gâteau (a piece of cake).