Mission: decode verlan and slang in films and songs
Recognising slang. Understand verlan and everyday slang when you hear it; you don't need to use it.
FrenchB2 · Sounding naturalAbout 8 min: 3 reading, 5 practiceUpdated
- Explain how verlan works
- Recognise common verlan words (chelou, ouf, meuf, teuf, relou, zarbi)
- Recognise everyday slang (truc, bouffer, boulot, mec, nana, kiffer, c'est chaud)
- Give a neutral equivalent for each
Sounding natural: lesson 4 of 4
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Level Level B2 (around the DELF B2 exam). Real French: following the dialogue of a French film or the lyrics of a song.
What it is
Your mission: you are watching a French film with your friend Samir, and the teenagers on screen say things like « Ce mec est trop chelou » and « Il kiffe sa meuf ». Samir will check whether you can decode what they say. Your goal is recognition only.
You don't need to use this vocabulary. It is useful to understand it, but many of these words sound too casual, out of place or even rude coming from a learner, depending on who is listening. Stay with standard French in your own speech, and recognise slang when you hear it.
How verlan works. Verlan is itself a verlan word: à l'envers (backwards) became verlan. The idea is to reverse the syllables of a word, following the sound rather than the spelling:
| Standard | Verlan | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| louche | chelou | weird, dodgy |
| fou | ouf | crazy, incredible |
| femme | meuf | woman, girl, girlfriend |
| fête | teuf | party |
| lourd | relou | annoying |
| bizarre | zarbi | odd |
| mère | reum | mum |
Verlan is alive and new forms appear, but speakers decide which ones catch on. As a learner, stick to established words. Many are slang today and some (ouf, chelou) are very widespread; some are mostly heard in songs and films.
Everyday slang that isn't verlan:
| Slang | Neutral French | Note |
|---|---|---|
| un truc | une chose | very frequent, harmless |
| bouffer / la bouffe | manger / la nourriture | casual |
| le boulot | le travail | very frequent, casual |
| un mec | un homme, un garçon | casual |
| une nana | une fille, une femme | casual |
| kiffer | adorer, aimer beaucoup | casual |
| c'est chaud | c'est difficile, risqué | depends on context |
- Je kiffe cette chanson. = I love this song.
- C'est ouf ! = It's crazy / incredible!
- C'est chaud pour demain. = Tomorrow looks difficult.
- Il est relou. = He's annoying.
Quick check
Tap an answer to check it.
What does « C'est chelou » mean?
- Nothing to do with price
- It is not a compliment
Show answer
It's weird or dodgy. chelou = verlan of louche, weird or suspicious.
Why it matters
Films, series, songs and conversations between young people use these words all the time. If you don't know them, a good part of the dialogue disappears. Knowing them also helps you understand tone: mon boulot often signals a more relaxed tone than mon travail.
Worked example
Samir and you after the film.
- Samir: Alors, tu as compris ? Le mec qui kiffe sa meuf, il trouve son collègue chelou.
- You: Oui : il aime beaucoup sa copine et trouve son collègue bizarre.
- Samir: Et « c'est chaud » ?
- You: Ça veut dire que c'est difficile ou risqué, non ?
- Samir: Oui. Et son boulot ?
- You: Son travail.
Careful: sa meuf (his girlfriend) can sound disrespectful or crude depending on who says it and to whom. Understand it in dialogue; avoid it yourself and say sa copine or sa petite amie.
Real French: you'll see these words in subtitles in French, in songs and in comics. You'll sometimes hear them from adults too, but not in formal situations. When in doubt, listen first.
Common mistake
Trying to invent verlan by reversing any word: wrong: maison → sonmai. It may not be understood: speakers decide which forms catch on. Use only words you have heard people use, and don't create new ones.
A second trap: using a casual word in a formal setting (wrong: Je cherche un boulot, Monsieur in an interview). Recognise it, but use un travail or un emploi.
Quick check
Tap an answer to check it.
Can you make a verlan word by reversing the syllables of "maison"?
- Speakers decide which forms catch on, so a made-up one may mean nothing
- Verbs and adjectives have verlan forms too, and the real point is use
Show answer
No: use only words you've heard people use. new verlan forms appear, but speakers decide which ones catch on.
Key terms
- le verlan
- slang that reverses the syllables of a word
- chelou
- weird, dodgy (from louche)
- ouf
- crazy, incredible (from fou)
- meuf
- woman, girl (from femme)
- teuf
- party (from fête)
- relou
- annoying (from lourd)
- un truc
- a thing
- bouffer
- to eat (casual)
- le boulot
- work
- un mec / une nana
- a guy / a girl (casual)
- kiffer
- to love, enjoy
- c'est chaud
- it's tricky or risky
Practise the key terms
Tap a card to turn it over. 12 cards.
| Front | Back |
|---|---|
| le verlan | slang that reverses the syllables of a word |
| chelou | weird, dodgy (from louche) |
| ouf | crazy, incredible (from fou) |
| meuf | woman, girl (from femme) |
| teuf | party (from fête) |
| relou | annoying (from lourd) |
| un truc | a thing |
| bouffer | to eat (casual) |
| le boulot | work |
| un mec / une nana | a guy / a girl (casual) |
| kiffer | to love, enjoy |
| c'est chaud | it's tricky or risky |
Practice
Quick quiz
Tap an answer to check it.
Your friend says « Je kiffe ce film ». He means:
- Kiffer is positive
- Kiffer is not about fear
Show answer
I love this film. kiffer = to love.
Which pair is a verlan pair?
- Slang, but not reversed
- Slang, but not reversed
Show answer
femme → meuf. meuf comes from femme by reversing the sounds.
« Ce mec est trop relou. » What does the speaker think?
- Relou is negative
- Nothing about money
Show answer
He is annoying. relou = annoying (from lourd).
Sort it
Verlan or other slang?
chelou
louche reversedShow answer
Verlan. louche reversed
meuf
femme reversedShow answer
Verlan. femme reversed
ouf
fou reversedShow answer
Verlan. fou reversed
relou
lourd reversedShow answer
Verlan. lourd reversed
boulot
not reversedShow answer
Other slang. not reversed
bouffer
not reversedShow answer
Other slang. not reversed
kiffer
not reversedShow answer
Other slang. not reversed
truc
not reversedShow answer
Other slang. not reversed
Recognition drill
Pick the right answer, as fast as you can.
All pairs
Tap a card to turn it over. 7 cards.
| Front | Back |
|---|---|
| truc | chose |
| bouffer | manger |
| boulot | travail |
| meuf | femme |
| kiffer | adorer |
| chelou | bizarre |
| relou | pénible |
Build the sentence
Build "That guy is really weird."
Show answer
Ce mec est vraiment chelou.. Ce + noun + est + adverb + adjective.
Practise speaking
Studyfern has no voice tools of its own. To practise out loud, copy this prompt into a voice-capable AI assistant and talk with it.
Mission role-play. You are Samir, my friend, with whom I have just watched a French film. Speak naturally but clearly, at level B2, using tu. Start with « Alors, tu as aimé le film ? ». Say a short line the way the characters would, using one slang or verlan word from this lesson (truc, bouffer, boulot, mec, nana, meuf, kiffer, ouf, relou, chelou, c'est chaud), one line at a time, and ask me what it means in standard French. Correct me in English when I misunderstand a word, and tell me when a word would sound too casual from a learner, so that I only recognise it. The mission is complete when I have decoded six different words: then say « Mission accomplie ! » and give me one tip. Keep every reply under 3 sentences.
Listen too. Listen to native speakers before and after: see the free listening and shadowing links.
Good to know. AI feedback on pronunciation is hit and miss, so check yourself against native recordings. Many assistants turn your speech into text first, so a vowel or liaison you got wrong may be silently “heard” as the right word. Don't share personal details: use a made-up name and town.
New to this? Read Practising speaking with an AI.
In short
- Slang is for recognising, not for copying: some words sound too casual or out of place from a learner.
- Verlan reverses the sounds of a word: louche → chelou, fou → ouf, femme → meuf, fête → teuf.
- Only established verlan words exist: don't invent your own.
- Everyday slang: un truc, bouffer, le boulot, un mec, une nana, kiffer, c'est chaud.
- For each slang word, know a neutral equivalent and keep that one for formal situations.
Mastery check
Answer without looking back. Score 80% or more and the lesson is marked done. Your result is kept only in this browser.
Check yourself
Answer in your head first, then open the answer. Nothing is saved.
What is the verlan of "fou"?
Show answer
Ouf.
What is the neutral word for « boulot » ?
Show answer
Travail.
Should a learner try to use slang to sound natural?
Show answer
Not necessarily: it is enough to recognise it, and some words sound too casual or out of place.
Further reading
- TV5MONDE, Apprendre le français, free exercises built on real TV clips, good for hearing everyday French.
- RFI, Journal en français facile, a free daily news bulletin in simple French.
Finished? Mark it done to fill in your leaf on the French map.