Friday, July 8, 2011

11. The Relative Uselessness of Classroom French #2: SLANG

While numbers and question words will get you far in the world of restaurants and soldes, real French people do not actually use the vocabulary you learned in 101.  Many Americans proudly declare themselves to be the creators of improper grammar and words never seen in Merriam-Webster’s, but this is a misconception.  The French are just as talented at breaking rules and spouting vulgar expressions.
For some reason, this is not the français they teach you in school. Yes, you know three different ways to politely greet your grandmother, but are unprepared for when creepy European men whistle and call you a meuf or ask you for a clope.
A brief dictionary of words and phrases you will actually hear on the streets of Lyon:

d’ac: short for d’accord or okay
bobo: literally “bourgeois-bohème,” basically a hipster
baba: retro, hippie
bagnole / caisse: car
boire un verre / un coup / un pot: to have a drink
branché: cool, with it
ca craint/c'est nul : That sucks
casse-toi: Get lost (Sarkozy spouted this one on national television)
chaud: tipsy, buzzed
con/conne: idiot
claquer: to blow money
clope / sèche: cigarette
débile: pathetic, stupid
flic / keuf / poulet: cop
flipper: to go crazy, flip out
fric / blé: money
frimer: to show off
impec: great, terrific
je m'en fous / Je m'en fiche: I don't care
kiffer: to like
un mec bien foutu: a hottie/muscular guy
mec / type / bonhomme / keum: guy, man
nana / nénette / minette / gonzesse / meuf: woman, girl, chick
et patati et patata: blah blah blah
putain: an all-purpose swear word
pote: mate, friend (guy)
raté: loser
reum: Verlan for mother
reup: Verlan for father

And, when in doubt, forget every grammar rule you ever learned.