French Slang — The Complete Guide to Informal French

Master verlan, argot, and the expressions real French speakers use every day

French slang is the informal side of the language that textbooks, classrooms, and even many language apps systematically ignore. It's also the part you'll hear constantly in real life. Verlan — the back-slang where syllables are reversed — has moved from French suburbs into mainstream everyday speech. Argot terms from different social groups and professional contexts add another layer. Modern borrowed words from English and Arabic, especially among younger speakers, add yet another. This guide covers all of it: the essential verlan you need ('chelou', 'ouf', 'meuf', 'laisse béton'), the argot that appears in films and novels, and the contemporary slang that marks you as genuinely connected to modern French culture. Slangy's exercises make these expressions stick through active practice, not passive reading.