French Slang You Have To Know To Fully Speak French
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

French Slang You Have To Know To Fully Speak French

Not just the bland version your teacher taught you.

239
French Slang You Have To Know To Fully Speak French
pmf.nyc

If you’re like me, you probably, at some point in your life, took a foreign language class, and if your foreign language class was anything like mine, you probably learned about grammar, conjugation, and other dull syntax rules. However, what your teacher didn't teach you is even if you can form a perfect sentence (and even if you speak like you’re straight out of the 19th century), you still end up looking weird.

But don’t worry! If you planned on coming to France and want to sound like any other young French, I wrote you a little list of expressions!

(Warning: this article contains swear words... in two languages!)


1. "You’re pissing me off."

“Tu me cassses les couilles” (which translates into “you’re breaking my testicles”) implies the person bothers you so much that it’s physically painful... Some of you may ask what the girls say, and while most of the time, we say the same thing, we sometimes also say, “Tu me cases les ovaires” or "You’re breaking my ovaries”.

2. "It’s boring."

“Il/Elle/C’est relou" or "He/She/It's boring."

This one comes from a particular slang, the verlan, in which you take words, and you say them backward. Therefore, “relou” comes from “lourd” which literally means “heavy”. However, it can all mean “it’s boring”, depending on the context.

3. "I don’t give a damn."

“Je m’en bat les couilles.”

This one is close to the first one, but it doesn’t mean “you’re breaking my testicles”. Instead, it means “I’m hitting my testicles”. (Why do we say that particular phrase? I don’t know.)

4. "I agree."

“J’avoue” or “I confess” in French.

(As if we're always interrogated by FBI agents, or if we all have something to be guilty about.)

5. "Shut up."

This one always comes in handy. We say, “Ta gueule”.“Gueule” is the word we use to talk about an animal’s mouth, so here, it just means “your mouth” or maybe “your muzzle”.

6. "I swear to God."

“Sur la tête de ma mère” or “On my mother’s head” in French.

This one implies if you’re lying, your mother will die, and thus, it shows you’re really serious and telling the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

7. "Screw you."

“Nique ta mère” literally means “go f**k your mother”. Obviously, this one is really rude, though most millennials use it between friends, so just make sure you’re close before you drop it.


Now, you have some basic phrases to talk to young French, but if you want more expressions, please say so in the comments!

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
​a woman sitting at a table having a coffee
nappy.co

I can't say "thank you" enough to express how grateful I am for you coming into my life. You have made such a huge impact on my life. I would not be the person I am today without you and I know that you will keep inspiring me to become an even better version of myself.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

83141
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

50256
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

983763
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments