Search for a topic, destination or article, We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. Ça baigne ? Get ready for a fun, supportive group class where you’ll stretch your skills and gain more confidence in your speaking abilities. It’s a mess. The French don’t “piss you off”… they “shit you off” (Faire chier quelqu’un). 3. Nevertheless, after much debate, this is my top list. While you can now easily guess where “chanmé” comes from – it is the verlan version of the word méchant, meaning nasty or mean – guessing its meaning might not be as obvious, so we’ll help you: ch… If a French person “gives you the rake,” it means he or she refuses to go out with you. To “fall in the apples” means to lose consciousness. Quintessential Quebecois. Rather, they use the French expression “to become a goat.” If you’re not fluent in French, trying to understand an angry French person may actually turn you into a goat as well! The French are not “big-headed”… they “fart higher than their ass is located” (Péter plus haut que son cul). 21. This includes personalizing content and advertising. Here are some ways French speakers use everyday slang: General Everyday Slang (understood throughout the French-speaking world) bouffer (to eat) draguer (to flirt) piquer (to steal) une arnaque (a scam) un truc (a thing) déboussolé (disorientated) Everyday Slang from France. Verlan itself is a verlan word, the original one being l’envers, meaning backwards or upside down. Zut alors or zut ! 16. ), When it gets very cold, the French pretend they’re chasing ducks to keep warm. The French don’t say “this is annoying me”… they say “I’m getting swollen by this” (Ça me gonfle). Casse-toi ! Are you ready to learn French words and phrases you will not learn in class or in a book? The French don’t say “I can do it with next to no equipment”… they say “I can do it with my dick and my knife” ( Avec ma bite et mon couteau ). 1. It will improve your listening comprehension as well as answering questions. In French there is a corresponding adjective, which means preposterous, exaggerated. This is a way to express that you are unhappy about something or, perhaps more accurately, ‘pissed’ about something. Well then, French slang is the way to go! Are you ready to learn the basics of French grammar? French Slang Words. For example. French slang for Money. He’s running on my bean. The French don’t tell you to “leave them alone”… they tell you to “go and cook yourself an egg” (Aller se faire cuire un œuf). fric (pronounced: freek) is a French slang word that means “money”. Qui va a la pêche, la repêche. If you would do the English translation of blé it would mean wheat. While these sayings have not made their way into everydayEnglish yet, their frequency in French is high. RELATED VIDEO: French Slang Everyone Should Know. The French are not “tired”… they have their head up their ass (Avoir la tête dans le cul). Initially, you might think that this French expression is used when trying to get someone to slow down. If you’re traveling to France or learning how to speak French, don’t look surprised when you hear some of the funny French phrases below. 100 French Slang words and phrases you need to know. I know a few Spanish swear words and expressions which are pretty funny, and I like how they’re used as essential tools of communication!. This online French class will look at the fundamental elements of French such as the alphabet, numbers, and correct pronunciation. Ça craint ! Check out the video below for some interesting French idioms that don’t quite translate! "Oui. The French are not “energized”… they have “the potato” or the “French fry” (Avoir la patate/la frite). You will also receive tips to improve your french! Remember the word abracadabra? » Piger Piger is a French verb used as a slang substitute for the verb comprendre (to understand). British Slang is a fountain of beautiful words that we don’t normally use in America. 12. 2. When the French feel that someone is looking really hard for a reason to complain about something, they say someone is “looking for the little beast.” The best English equivalent would be “splitting hairs.”. Hopefully you won’t need them to translate something someone is saying to you! They “break your ears,” literally…. Its abbreviated version, BLC (Bas Les Couilles), is an example of French internet slang for texting. Those who go for the hunt loose their place. The French don’t “give someone a tongue-lashing”… they “yell at them like they’re rotten fish” (Engueuler quelqu’un comme du poisson pourri). It’s amazing how bad foreigners are at swearing in French. blé Nous dépensons beaucoup de blé pour nos vacances. June 2020. 14. 13. 8. Verlan is a word used to describe a kind of French slang where the syllables of a word are inverted to form new words. The best English equivalent would be “to give your best.”. The French don’t say that someone is “unpleasant”… they say they are “badly fucked” ( Être mal baisé ). I’m not sure if you’ve seen that scene in Matrix 2 where Lambert Wilson starts swearing in French (click here Matrix reloaded Lambert Wilson – YouTube or see it below) and he says the same thing and he starts to swear wonderfully in French. Are you ready to take your French speaking skills to the next level? Don't "have a cockroach". These expressions are difficult to translate, so make sure you read the example to really get the meaning. 20. A decent alternative to the overused adjective, nul. Most people of … We spend a lot of money on our holidays. - … Revenons à nos moutons. 19. In this reading practice and pronunciation class, we will focus on getting the perfect french accent with fun exercises. In actuality, however, this funny French phrase actually means to stop bluffing! The French are not “bumbling”… they have “their two feet in the same clog” (Avoir les deux pieds dans le même sabot). 3. Don’t panic, no cow is lost or wildly running away. When the French faint, they don’t fall on a bed of roses perfumed with Chanel N°5, but in… apples! marrant: funny/fun (amusant) mater: to look at or draw up someone ; matos (masculine) : equipment (matériel) mec (masculine) : a man; médoc (masculine) : medicine (médicament) merde (feminine) : shit; merder: to fail (échouer) moche: ugly (laid) mortel: excellent; nabot (masculine) : a small or skinny man; nana (feminine) : a woman (femme) 10 French Slang Phrases You’ll Never Learn In School 1. It can be translated as 'I don't give a fuck'. Buy Informal and Spoken French as an e-book! Informal and Spoken French includes more than 200 pages of informal speech, slang vocabulary, spontaneous listening resources with transcripts and exercises, and authentic French-language realia images from Europe.This e-book also comes with 91 mp3s recorded by several native speakers and FREE lifetime updates. The French don’t “blow you off”… they “give you the rake” (Se prendre un râteau). The thieves took all the money from the cash register. 15 French Slang Words Every French Learner Should Know 1 . Blé. This is the North American version of French spoken in Canada.It is comes across as Franglais & borrows heavily from North American English.The accent also sounds very heavily like the North American English accent. “let’s get back to … I don't have the money to buy a car. 7. The French don’t tell you “to mind your own business”… they tell you “to deal with your own onions” (Occupe-toi de tes oignons). flouse Les voleurs ont pris tout le flouse dans la caisse. When you want to say that something sucks, you use ça craint! 45 – Daron / Daronne. These are expressions that have grown into popular use, but cannot be translated literally without losing their meaning. It is the best way to learn before traveling to France! You’ll also learn how to give advice using new verb tenses and grammar. 4. 15 Funny French Phrases That’ll Make You Giggle 1. Clean your room. The French are not “very lucky”… they have “as much luck as a cuckold” (Avoir une veine de cocu). The French do not speak of something “out of the blue”… they speak of something “that has nothing to do with sauerkraut” (Ca n’a rien à voir avec la choucroute). Chanmé is a ‘verlan’ word. Let’s take a look at some funny French idioms. Quand les poulettes arount des dents" means yes, wheb chicken have teeth (Like saying when pigs fly). fric Je n'ai pas de fric pour m'acheter une voiture. un type, un mec (a guy) une meuf (a woman, a chick) Arriver (keep the peach) also conveys the idea of wishing someone to gather their strength … The French don’t “shup someone up”… they “nail someone’s beak” (Clouer le bec de quelqu’un). Bordel. These fun French phrases will help you speak like a native! It is now increasingly becoming a way to refer to money. 25 French Insults for Every Occasion. Let’s start with the basics. Quick Navigation. An expert instructor will help you practice and master the different conjugations of common verbs ending in “-ir.” You’ll conjugate these verbs in the present tense and discover new ways to create simple sentences that will boost your conversational skills. Wait – let’s start with the basics. The French language has some pretty hilarious words and phrases. Below is a list of some of the more widely used slang words, which we hope you find useful. The French don’t “blow you off”… they “give you the rake” ( Se prendre un râteau ). Popular French Slang Phrases. Ça baigne ! Here are 15 phrases that natives commonly use in conversation. Nicolas is my boyfriend. The French phrase “Ah, la vache” actually expresses surprise and excitement. Pognon, tune, oseille or fric The English language has a tone of slang words for “money”, but Franch catches up … Shop high-quality unique English Slang T-Shirts designed and sold by artists. Try using these French phrases in conversation – the more you practice using them, the more natural they will start to become. Andouille (ahn-do-ee) – A spicy country sausage used in Gumbo and other Cajun dishes. While Americans like to say “to be driven mad,” the French like to make it quite clear that anger is not their right state of mind. An example would be: Range ta chambre. 8 Funny French Words 1) abracadabrantesque . Simply to do something ridiculous! If you “En avoir ras le bol,” it means that you’re “sick of it” and well, the bowl is full and your anger may overflow. We will listen to audio tracks and answer questions about the audio. This funny French saying means to work hard with the expectation that something good will happen. This is what happens when a man arrives late to dinner with his lovely date: she leaves the place with a note saying “adieu” (yes, French women are famous for their temper). But, in slang, it’s used to describe a big mess, uncleanliness, disorganization, etc. Article by The Intrepid Guide | Language Learning for Travel. Example: Nettoyez la salle de bain, c’est le bordel. 4. 10. The more, the merrier. 2. The French are not “broke”… they are “scythed like wheat fields” (Être fauché comme les blés). There’s plenty more French swear words where that came from. Some are hilarious, some are rude and some are… interesting. If you watch the Cannes Festival Red Carpet events, for instance, this is typically what “to be on your 31” entails. But remember that gueule pertains to an animal’s mouth hence the rudeness of this expression. “Casser les oreilles”. (bon … Here’s what travelers can master. This is the French we are talking about, so of course somewhere in this article there had to be a reference to traditional French food. While the French did indeed produce some of the greatest writers, natives don’t necessarily speak like the characters in novels. Quand on parle du loup. While the English say “to have a frog in one’s throat,” the French prefer to say they “have a cat in the throat.”. It is used as an incantation for magic tricks and is spelled the same way in English and in French. 1. In this class, you'll master the skills needed to talk about the past in French. The easiest way to distinguish a Quebecois from a French person are the swearwords used in Quebec namely Osti, or Tabarnak known as Sacres However, these days bordel is more commonly used to describe a large mess. Allons (Al lohn) – Let’s go. If you’d rather use a funny French slang alternative, garde la pêche! What does “Faire l’andouille” actually mean? 4. What happens when your neighbors decide to have an electro party at 3 a.m. and think they... 3. 3. Can’t get enough funny French phrases? I’ve come across a lot of vulgar and offensive expressions, but I’ve tried to keep this article clean. The French phrase “ Ah, la vache ” actually... 2. 17. The best English equivalent would be “Oh my god!”, What happens when your neighbors decide to have an electro party at 3 a.m. and think they should let everybody know by turning the volume up? Avoir le seum. Okay, I admit, that’s not true at all…but you’ll definitely hear the French say the weather “faire un froid de canard,” meaning “is extremely cold.”, Having some trouble speaking? Today, we’ll be taking a look at some of the commonly used French curse words (les gros mots) ---and no, it’s not just “merde ”! 2. Bordel means brothel. On big occasions, the French will “Être sur son 31,” meaning that they’ll be putting on beautiful and elegant clothes. French Slang French Grammar French Phrases French Words French Quotes French Sayings French Language Lessons French Language Learning Learn A New Language. The longer phrase is “ferme ta gueule" or "shut your mouth!". You will learn useful adjectives to introduce yourself in a daily conversation. What did you do yesterday? Oh la vache ! 15 Funny French Phrases That'll Make You Giggle. Niquer – another way to say fuck in French.. The French don’t tell you that “you’re grumpy”… they tell you that “you’re farting sideways” (Avoir un pet de travers). Mandarin is both incredibly hard and ridiculously easy to learn. French swear words – turn away now if easily offended! Some French slang is very popular as well. The exact translation is … You will walk away with learning tools to get your pronunciation to the next level! 9. 22. As Quebec French language is very rich and full of nuances, it is difficult to choose a few representative phrases. This is French slang for dad for mom. They are actually asking you to “give a helping hand.” So, smile and say “oui, avec plaisir” (yes, with pleasure). Bon courage may sound mildly ominous, but it can be nice to hear at the end of a long shift at work. Those who go fishing…… (you snooze, you loose) Qui va a la chasse perd sa place. It doesn't sound all that bad to us, really. 9. The words “type” and “mec” are the French equivalent for a dude. Last week? When someone says “ta gueule”, it’s a rude way to say, “shut up!”. The French don’t tell you that “they don’t care”… they tell you that “they care about it like they care about their very first shirt” (S’en foutre comme de sa première chemise). I also added the French from France equivalent whenever I could. Learning French? 25 Funny French Idioms Translated Literally That You Should Use. 2. The French don’t “go crazy”… they “break a fuse” (Péter un plomb). 15. 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Maybe your teacher was less than stellar, so you want to send them off with a few colorful words on your final day, or maybe there's a French guy who has a habit of yelling at you every time you cross paths and you'd just like to know what it is he's calling you. C’est le bordel. Here’s our list of our top 100 favorite British slang words and phrases. In this helpful class, you’ll learn how to conjugate verbs starting with two of the most important verbs in French - “avoir” and “etre.” This online French class will also teach you different subject pronouns and common expressions that you can use in everyday language. Picking up common French expressions are a great way to learn more about the personality of French people and their culture. Bon Appetit! The French don’t “piss you off”… they “shit you off” ( Faire chier quelqu’un ). An expert instructor will go over the passé composé and how it's used in conversation. You can also practice these fun expressions during a TakeLessons Live French class, or with a private French tutor near you. If a French person asks you to “donner un coup de main,” don’t punch him or her please. Learn these idiomatic French expressions and boost your language skills. Some words seem to be deliberately funny, while others have just turned out to be amusing. Quebecois French is a colourful language that is very distinct from the French spoken in Europe – including its swear words. Casse-couilles 'Couilles' is the vulgar French term for testicles and therefore corresponds to the English words "bollocks" or "balls". This is true Parisian slang, and you will definitely impress people by dropping this into conversation. 6. In this intermediate level, French conversation class, your expert instructor will help you tell stories about when you were young. Here is another slang word in French to refer to money. 5. mobile app. “Nice, France” by Paul Rysz© Caisse, bagnole or vago All three of these are slang for “car” which is “voiture” in French. Merde - shit. “Ah, la vache!”. The French don’t call you “idiotic”… they call you “as dumb as a broom” (Être con comme un balai). Here is a look at some of the most popular Cajun French Sayings every documented. 3. 18. The best language-learning apps and websites to try, 12 Swahili words to know before traveling in East Africa, Don’t let the end of lockdown be the end of learning, Resígaro is the Amazonian language with only one remaining speaker, The most popular last name in every country in the world, and what they mean, Samuel L. Jackson teaches you how to curse in 15 different languages, Download the (Clean the bathroom, it’s a mess.) When you first started learning French, you probably picked up quite quickly on that very useful question/answer pair: “Ça … « Ouais il a beaucoup de fric, lui. You’ll also learn how to form the different French accents with the help of an expert instructor in this interactive classroom. oseille Don’t panic, no cow is lost or wildly running away. Speak of the devil. Get ready to practice your skills in a fun exercise where you'll ask questions about things that happened in the past! The French don’t say “it’s useless”… they say “it’s like pissing in a violin” (Pisser dans un violon). The word “taquet” is used to refer to a piece of wood put between a door and a wall to block it. The French slang words “mec” and “keum” can be used for a girl to describe a guy as her boyfriend. French men don’t “sleep around”… they “dip their biscuit” (Tremper son biscuit). 10 best words, phrases, expressions, and slang of Quebecois French. Translation: Il me court sur le haricot What does Chanmé mean in French? In today’s edition though, we’re looking at a number of French Swear Words, Slang, Expletives, and Expressions that may come in handy for you some day! Last year? This is basically the French counterpart of … 1. Bayou (bi-yoo) – The streams crisscrossing Louisiana. Bordel literally means brothel. The French don’t “fuss about something”… they “make a whole cheese about it” (En faire tout un fromage). The French don’t call you “idiotic”… they call you “as dumb as a broom” ( Être con comme un balai ).