French slang words or argot, is a fun, informal way of speaking that you’ll hear in everyday conversations, especially among younger people. It includes playful words, verlan (words spelled backward), and expressions that add flavor and personality to the language.
You’ll hear words like:“Ouf” (crazy) – from “fou” in verlan
“Meuf” (girl) – from “femme”
“Thune” (money), “Bagnole” (car), and “Flic” (cop)
These expressions help you sound more natural, casual, and in-the-know when chatting in French. Whether you’re texting, joking, or just vibing with friends, slang makes it more real.
What is a Slang word?
A slang word is an informal, often playful or creative word or phrase that’s used in casual conversation, especially among specific groups (like teens, friends, or people from a certain region or culture). Slang is not usually used in formal writing or speaking. It often changes with time and can be different in each place or group.
| Language | Slang Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| English | “Cool” | Awesome, nice |
| French | “Ouf” | Crazy (verlan of “fou”) |
| Spanish | “Guay” | Cool / awesome |
| Arabic | “Habibi” | My love / bro (used casually too) |
So when someone uses slang, they’re speaking in a more relaxed, natural way. Want examples in a certain language or vibe?
Common Slang Words with Meanings
Here’s a list of common slang words in English with their meanings — perfect for casual convo, texting, or just sounding chill 😎
Common Slang Words & What They Mean:
| Slang Word | Meaning | Example Use |
|---|---|---|
| Cool | Awesome, good | “That movie was cool!” |
| Lit | Amazing, exciting | “The party was lit 🔥” |
| Bae | Boyfriend/girlfriend (Before Anyone Else) | “That’s my bae 💕” |
| Savage | Bold, brutally honest | “She clapped back like a savage.” |
| GOAT | Greatest Of All Time | “Ronaldo is the GOAT 🐐” |
| Flex | Show off | “He’s flexing his new shoes.” |
| Lowkey | On the down-low / secretly | “I lowkey like that song.” |
| Highkey | Not hiding it / definitely | “I highkey want pizza rn.” |
| Mood | Something relatable | [posts sleepy cat] “Mood.” |
| Salty | Bitter, annoyed | “He’s salty about losing.” |
| Ghost | Ignore someone suddenly | “She ghosted me after our date.” |
| Vibe | Feeling / atmosphere | “This café has good vibes.” |
| No cap | No lie / for real | “That was the best game, no cap.” |
| Bet | Okay / Deal / For sure | “Wanna hang later?” – “Bet!” |
Everyday used Slang Words and their Meanings
| Slang Word | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Hey | Hi / Hello | “Hey, what’s up?” |
| What’s up? | What’s going on? / How are you? | “Hey! What’s up?” |
| Y’all | You all (plural “you”) | “Are y’all coming tonight?” |
| Gonna | Going to | “I’m gonna call you later.” |
| Wanna | Want to | “I wanna eat something.” |
| Chill | Relax / calm down | “Let’s just chill today.” |
| Hang out | Spend time together | “Do you wanna hang out?” |
| No worries | It’s okay / Don’t worry | “No worries, I got you!” |
| Cool | Nice / okay / great | “Cool, see you then!” |
| Dude | Friend / guy | “Dude, that was awesome!” |
| Bro | Brother / close friend | “Bro, you serious?” |
| OMG | Oh my God | “OMG that’s hilarious!” |
| LOL | Laughing out loud | “LOL I can’t stop laughing!” |
| FYI | For your information | “FYI, the meeting is at 5.” |
| IDK | I don’t know | “IDK what to do today.” |
| TBH | To be honest | “TBH, I didn’t like the ending.” |
Essential French Slang Words & Their Meanings
| Slang Word | Meaning (English) | Notes / Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Ouf | Crazy / amazing | Verlan of fou (reversed syllables) |
| Meuf | Girl / chick | Verlan of femme |
| Mec | Guy / dude | Like “bro” or “guy” |
| Boulot | Job / work | Informal for travail |
| Fringues | Clothes | Casual, like “outfits” or “threads” |
| Thune | Money / cash | Also pognon, blé, oseille |
| Flic | Cop / police officer | Informal, sometimes negative |
| Pote | Friend / buddy | Gender-neutral slang for friend |
| Bagnole | Car | Like saying “ride” or “whip” |
| Relou | Annoying / lame | Verlan of lourd (heavy) |
| Chelou | Shady / weird | Verlan of louche |
| Kiffer | To love / enjoy | From Arabic, used like “I love it” |
| Se barrer | To bounce / leave | Casual way to say “I’m out” |
| Ça craint | That sucks / that’s bad | Negative situation |
| Grave | Totally / yeah for sure | To agree strongly |
Most Common French Slang Words & Meanings
| Slang Word | Meaning (English) | When/How It’s Used |
|---|---|---|
| Ouf | Crazy / awesome | Verlan (reversed) of fou |
| Meuf | Girl / woman | Verlan of femme |
| Mec | Guy / dude | Very casual for a man |
| Kiffer | To like / love | “Je kiffe ce film” = I love this movie |
| Boulot | Work / job | Informal for travail |
| Fringues | Clothes | “J’adore tes fringues” = I love your outfit |
| Thune | Money | Also: blé, pognon, oseille |
| Bagnole | Car | “Il a une nouvelle bagnole” = He got a new car |
| Flic | Cop / police | Informal, sometimes negative tone |
| Pote | Friend / buddy | Gender-neutral |
| Relou | Annoying / lame | Verlan of lourd |
| Chelou | Shady / suspicious | Verlan of louche |
| Vénère | Angry / pissed off | Verlan of énervé |
| Se casser | To bounce / leave | “Je me casse” = I’m outta here |
| Trop | Really / very | “Trop bien !” = So good! |
Common French Slang Words & Their Meanings
| French Slang | Meaning (English) | How It’s Used |
|---|---|---|
| Mec | Guy / dude | “C’est un mec sympa.” = He’s a nice guy. |
| Meuf | Girl / chick | Verlan of femme |
| Ouf | Crazy / awesome | Verlan of fou – “C’est ouf !” = That’s crazy! |
| Kiffer | To love / really like | “Je kiffe ce son.” = I love this song. |
| Fringues | Clothes | “Trop belles tes fringues !” = Love your clothes! |
| Thune | Money | “J’ai pas de thune.” = I’m broke. |
| Bagnole | Car | Informal term for a vehicle |
| Flic | Cop / police officer | Slightly negative tone |
| Pote | Friend / buddy | “C’est mon pote.” = That’s my buddy. |
| Relou | Annoying / lame | Verlan of lourd |
| Chelou | Shady / suspicious | Verlan of louche |
| Vénère | Angry / pissed off | Verlan of énervé |
| Se casser | To bounce / leave | “Je me casse.” = I’m outta here. |
| Bosser | To work | “Je dois bosser demain.” = I have to work tomorrow. |
| Ça craint | That sucks / that’s bad | “Ce film, ça craint.” = That movie sucks. |
| Trop | Really / super | “Trop bien !” = So good! |
FAQs:
What is common French slang?
Common French slang refers to informal words and expressions that French speakers use in everyday, casual conversations — especially among friends, young people, or in text messages. Just like in English, these slang terms aren’t always taught in school, but they’re very popular and widely used in real life.
How do you flirt in French slang?
Flirting in French with slang is all about being playful, charming, and a little cheeky — with a touch of humor! Here are some fun French slang phrases you can use when flirting.
Conclusion:
French slang, or argot, is a vibrant and evolving part of the French language that reflects the culture, creativity, and identity of its speakers. From traditional expressions like meuf and fringues to modern internet slang such as wesh and bg, slang offers insight into social trends, generational changes, and regional diversity. While it may challenge language learners, understanding slang deepens one’s appreciation of the language and facilitates more authentic communication. As French continues to evolve, so too will its slang—always playful, expressive, and uniquely French.