Most textbooks teach you important grammar and vocabulary, but they skip out on a lot of colloquial speech. French slang words and phrases are incredibly relevant, and necessary if you want to speak like a native. Learning slang in French will improve your speaking skills significantly, and make it easier for you to converse with native French people.
Like any other language, French slang is always changing. This list covers the most current French slang words and phrases. If you want to see French slang phrases used in practice, watching French bloggers is an awesome way to get that experience.
Continue reading to learn the most common French slang words and phrases.
Top French Slang words and Phrases
Ça baigne? Ça baigne!
Your immediate reaction to this phrase may be, “Wait, doesn’t baigner mean to bathe?” You would be correct. It may surprise you to learn that this French phrase essentially means “ça va,” or “How’s it going?”
Though it’s not known exactly where “Ça baigne,” comes from, it likely uses the word baigner to say “how is everything you’re bathing in?” It may sound a bit strange in English, but it is quite common when used in French.
Example sentence: “Ça baigne?”
Translation: How is everything going?
Arrête de te la péter.
Imagine you are at a dinner with friends, and one of them just keeps bragging about this and that. If you want to get them to stop, try saying “Arrête de te la péter.” It is a French slang phrase to tell someone they need to stop showing-off. It refers to an old French word, “pète.” This was used to describe the sound of a person’s suspenders snapping – which many people did when they wanted to show off.
The phrase comes from such an old word, that some do not realize the true meaning behind “pète.” This is one of the French slang words and phrases you should only say amongst friends. It’s not a bad word, but these days “péter,” translates to fart. You may not want to yell at someone to “stop farting,” at the family dinner table!
Example: Arrête de te la péter. Je ne peux pas supporter cette conversation!
Translation: Stop bragging. I can’t take this conversation anymore!
Je me casse.
As with most French slang words and phrases, “je me casse,” should be used with good friends. The phrase is a harsh way to say you are leaving a place. Maybe your friends are having a heated argument, and you just want to leave. You can use “je me casse,” in that kind of situation.
Just by changing the subject in the French phrase, you can completely change its phrase. If you say “on se casse?” Then it’s a way to say, “This sucks. Should we leave?” Or, if someone on the street is harassing you, give them a strong, “casse-toi,” to tell them to go away.
There are many ways you can use “je me casse,” but make sure to use it with close friends!
Example: Cette fête est nul, je me casse!
Translation: This party is horrible! I’m getting out of here!
Laisse tomber.
Laisse tomber’s colloquial meaning is quite similar to its direct translation, “let something fall.” When someone tells you to “laisse tomber,” they are saying something along the lines of “let it go,” or “nevermind.” You may use this French slang phrase when you are trying to explain something, but the other party just is just not getting it.
It is not as strong of a phrase as “let it go,” which is sometimes used in reference to bigger problems. Laisse tomber is more for light topics, like trying to explain a joke that your friend didn’t understand.
Example: Laisse tomber. Il ne comprend pas les maths!
Translation: Let it go, he doesn’t understand math well.
J’ai un petit creux.
Knowing how to say you’re hungry in another language is always important. One of the best French slang words and phrases to express this has to be “J’ai un petit creux.” When you are hanging out with some friends and are starting to get hungry, use this phrase to let them know – it’s time to pick a place to eat.
“J’ai un petit creux,” doesn’t mean you are so hungry you could eat a horse. But, it means you are peckish or a bit hungry. Some of us get hangry, so when hunger strikes you should keep this phrase ready! Hangry-ness is all about prevention!
Example: Doit-on manger? J’ai un petit creux.
Translation: Should we eat? I’m a bit hungry.
Être dans le coaltar
This unique French slang word may sound quite familiar to you. That is because it includes the English word “coal tar.” The blend of French and English makes it an easy slang phrase to remember for beginner learners.
“Être dans le coaltar,” literally translated to being in coal tar. When used in a colloquial setting, the French phrase refers to not thinking clearly. This could be for many reasons, but it usually means you feel sleepy or dazed and can’t think well. Your “thinking” is stuck in the tar, and you can’t seem to get it out.
The use of “coaltar” also refers to the powerful smells that come from tar. These strong smells can make you dizzy and unable to be fully aware of your surroundings. You may hear some French people say “être dans le pâté,” which has a similar meaning. If you are a beginner learner, this is one of the easiest French slang words and phrases to remember.
Example: Je n’ai pas bien dormi. Je suis dans le coaltar!
Translation: I didn’t sleep well. I feel like I’m half-asleep!
Summary
Learning grammar is important and necessary to understand a language. But, if you only learn from a textbook, your speaking skills could sound robotic. To truly speak like a native, learning French slang words and phrases is a must. Slang will help you speak better, and give you a better insight on French culture.
To learn and practice your French at home, read our post on The Top 5 Easy Ways to Practice French at Home in 2022. There are plenty of great tips that will accelerate your learning process.
