French slang words include un mec (guy), une meuf (lady), le fric and la thune (money) and le flic (cop). The French word for slang is “l’argot”. These are all indispensable words need for survival in France. Keep reading to learn more argot français and truly sound like a native!
Knowing French slang has lots of advantages including: 1) Discovering the richness of the language and not just being stuck using boring textbook French; 2) Dramatically improving listening comprehension being able to understand French TV shows and movies; 3) Being able to impress native speakers when you can throw out a few slang words in conversations.
French slang for daily survival in France
On this page we’ve broken down French slang into multiple several categories including people (les gens), family (la famille), money (l’argent), food (la nourriture), the body (le corps), social status (le statut social), professions (les metiers) and verbs.
Let’s now take a close look at some of of our favorite words!
People (les gens)
The French love using slang words for family. Make sure you master all of these terms as you’ll here them all the time in everyday conversation. These are all totally acceptable in social settings besides the last term in this category.
Un mec
Meaning: a guy
Un mec, which translates to “a guy” is one of the most useful French slang words. It’s used in all sorts of situations. Je n’aime pas ce mec. I don’t like this guy.
Un type
Meaning: a guy
Another word for guy. C’est qui ce type? Who is this guy?
Un gars
Meaning: a guy
A third slang word for guy. Pourquoi tu as embauché ce gars? Why did you hire this guy?
Une meuf
Menaing: a woman, chick
This slang word is from from ‘femme’ comes from Verlan, a Parisian street slang where words are pronounced backwards.
Une nana, une gonzesse
Meaning: chick
Two slang words for young woman or girl. C’est qui cette gonzesse? Elle est canon! Who’s that chick? She’s hot!
Mon pote, ma potte
Meaning: my pal
These words translate to my buddy. Je vous présente mon pote, Martin. This is my buddy, Martin.
Mon keum
Meaning: my boyfriend
This is another Verlan word based on the word mec. Mon keum est tellement mignon! My boy friend is so cute!
Un gamin, une gamine, un/une gosse
Meaning: child, kid
You can use all these words for kids. Regarde-moi ce sale gosse! Look at that brat!
Un boudin
Meaning: overweight person
Horribly impolite term mostly used to describe females. Ce qui ce boudin? Who’s this fat chick?
Family (La Famille)
The French also use lots of slang terms to refer to family members. The following terms are very informal and not 100% socially acceptable.
Ma reum
Meaning: my mom
This term is based on Verlan and is mère pronounced backwards. Ma reum m’a téléphoné hier. My mom called me yesterday.
Mon reup
Meaning: my dad
Same as the previous term. Mon reup is Verlan for mon père.
Mon frangin, ma frangine
Meaning: My brother, my sister
Very common French slang and can be used in all sorts of settings. Je connais bien mon frangin. C’est un mec très intelligent. I know my brother very well. He’s a very smart guy.
Une belle-doche, une belle-muche
Meaning: mother-in-law
Elle me rend fou ma belle-douche! My mother-in-law drives me nuts!
Un fiston
Meaning: son
This word is based on un fils, a son. Il est beau mon fiston, non? My son is handsome, isn’t he?
Un tonton, une tatie
Meaning: uncle and aunt
These terms are used very often and are terms of endearment. Tanton Philippe arrive demain! Uncle Philippe is coming tomorrow!
Money & Money Matters (L’argent)
All languages have lots of slang words for money and French is no exception. Here goes with the list:
le fric
Meaning: money
Il est bourré de fric, ce mec! That guy’s loaded/filthy rich!
Le pognon
Meaning: money
J’ai pas assez de pognon pour acheter cette chemise. I don’t have enough money to buy this shirt.
L’oseille (f)
Meaning: money
Tu peux me preter un peu d’oseille? Can you lend me some money?
La thune
Meaning: money
T’as de la thune sur toi? Do you have any money on you?
Une balle
Meaning: buck, quid
Use this term the way you’d use bucks in English. Ça coute trente balles. It costs thirty bucks.
Reuch
Meaning: expensive
This is a Verlan term based on cher (expensive). Elle est reuch, cette bagnole. This car is expensive.
Une brique
Meaning: 10,000 francs
Somewhat outdated but worth knowing. La maison a coute dix briques. The house cost 100,000 francs.
Être fauché, raide, à sec
Meaning: to be broke
You can use all three of these terms to express being broke. Je ne peux pas y aller ce week-end. Je suis fauché. I can’t go this weekend. I’m broke.
Un radin, une radine, un/une pingre
Meaning: cheapskate, skinflint
M. Dupont est un radin et il n’achète rien pour sa famille. Mr. Dupont is a cheapskate and doesn’t buy anything for his family.
Food (La Nourriture)
It will be very likely that you’ll meet people and enjoy meals the French on your trip. Here are some fun and useful slang words for food.
Bon ap’ short for bon appétit – Use this at the table and you’ll get lots of smiles!
J’ai la dalle = J’ai tres faim – Slang term for I’m very hungry. Not very polite.
Une casse-dalle
Meaning: snack
The more formal term for snack is a une casse-croûte.
Le petit déj = le petit déjeuner
Meaning: breakfast
The French love to shorten words. Tu prends le petit déj avec moi? Want to have breakfast with me?
dégueu = dégueulasse
Meaning: disgusting
This is the shortening of the word for disgusting. Elles sont dégueu ces pâtes! This pasta is disgusting!
Miam miam! / beurk!
Yummy and yuck! These are kids’ words.
The Body (Le Corps)
French has lots of amusing slang words for the human body. All of the following words are very informal.
Le pif
Meaning: nose
This word equates to schnozz in Enlgish. Il a un gros pif, ce mec! That guy has a big schnozz!
Le bide, le bidon
Meaning: gut, big stomach
Il a gros bidon, ce mec! That guy has a big gut!
La tronche, la gueule
Meaning: face
You can use both of these word to describe somebody’s face. These words are considered vulgar. Il a une salle gueule, ce gars! That guy has an ugly face!
Les tifs
Meaning: hair
Je vais me faire couper les tifs. I’m going to get a haircut.
Les mirettes
Meaning: eyes
Ouvre tes mirettes et regarde ça! Open your eyes and look at that!
Social Status (Le Statut Social)
French has lots of fun slang words for describing various social standings.
Un richard
Meaning: rich jerk
Je n’aime pas ce richard! I don’t like that rich bastard!
Un aristo
Meaning: aristocrat
Seulement les aristos frequentent ce restaruant. Only aristocrats go to that restaurant.
BCBG = bon chic bon genre
Meaning: preppy, posh
Elle sort avec un mec BCBG depuis quelques mois. She’s been going out with a posh guy for a few months.
Un bourge
Meaning: rich person
Comes from the word bourgeois. Elle vient d’une famille bougeoiose. She’s from a middle-class family
Un prolo
Meaning: working class person
This term comes from the word prolétariat. Les prolos habitent dans ce quartier. Middle-class people live in this neighborhood.
Un smicard
Meaning: minimum wage earner
The acronym SMIC means minimum wage in French.
Un rmiste
Meaning: a person on welfare
Le RMI is the acronym for welfare in French.
Un clodo
Meaning: homeless person
This slang word is based on the word clochard, which means homeless person, bum or vagrant.
Professions (Les métiers)
French has lots of slang words for various professions. Let’s take a look.
Un flic
Meaning: cop
Rather than saying “la police”, use this fun slang term.Appelle les flics! Call the cops!
Un keuf
Meaning: cop
This is another slang word for policeman. Keuf is the Verlan word for flic.
Un gratte-papier
Meaning: paper pusher
This is a slang word for somebody who has a menial office position. Ce n’est qu’un gratte-papier! He’s just a paper pusher!
Un mécano
Meaning: mechanic
The word mécano comes from un mécanicien, or a mechanic. Le mécano répare la bagnole. The mechanic is fixing the car.
Un proprio
Meaning: landlord
This word is a shortened version of propriétaire. Mon proprio frappe à la porte! My landlord is knocking on the door!
Un politicard
Meaning: politician
This is a very pejorative word. Les politicards de ce pays sont tous corrompu. All this country’s politicians are corrupt.
Slang Verbs
The French love to use lots of slang verbs. Here we’ll take a quick look at some common verbs you will hear in everyday conversation.
Bosser
Meaning: to work
Je bosse depuis 8h00 et je suis très fatigué! I’ve been working since 8am and I’m very tired.
Bouffer
Meaning: to eat
Tu bouffes trop vite! You’re eating too fast!
Louper
Meaning: to miss
This very is synonymous with rater. Nous sommes arrivés à la gare trop tard et nous avons loupe le train. We arrived at the train station too late and we missed the train.
Chopper
Meaning: to catch
This very is synonymous with attraper. Je ne sais pas ou j’ai choppé ce rhume. I don’t know where I caught this cold.
Piquer
Meaning: to steal.
This very is synonymous with to steal. On m’a piqué le portable! My cell phone got stolen!
Mater
Meaning: to look at
This very is synonymous with regarder. Pourquoi est-ce que tu mates les filles comme ca? Why are you staring at the girls like that?
Balancer
Meaning: to throw out
Meaning: This verb equates to jeter. Je balance la laitue apres une semaine dans le frigo. I throw the lettuce out after one week in the fridge.
paumer
Meaning: to lose
Meaning: This verb equates to perdre. Zut! J’ai pommé mes clés. Shoot! I lost my keys!
Filer
Meaning: to lend
This very equates to prêter. File-moi ton portable, s’il te plaît. Lend me your cell phone, please.
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About David Issokson
Bonjour! My name is David Issokson. I'm based in Victor, Idaho (near Jackson, Wyoming) and have helped hundreds of students to learn French online since 2013.
