Do you speak Verlan?
Words in Verlan are formed by switching the order in which syllables from the original word are pronounced.
An example is the word 'verlan' itself which come from '(à)l'envers' (backwards or upside-down).
In other words, learning to speak Verlan is to learn to speak backwards or to put the french language upside-down.
Verlan is very commonly spoken by French teenagers (especially around Paris) and the impressive number of new words they create each year shows that the French language is very much alive.
Here are some basic Verlan words:
| Verlan word | Original word | English meaning |
|---|---|---|
| à oilp / à oilpé | à poil | naked |
| chanmé | méchant | terrific, mean, bad |
| chelou | louche | strange, weird |
| une garo | une cigarette | a cigarette |
| guedin | dingue | crazy, mad |
| keuf | flic | cop |
| keum | mec | guy |
| Laisse béton ! | Laisse tomber ! | Forget it! |
| meuf / feumeu | femme | woman, girl |
| ouf | fou | crazy, mad |
| relou | lourd | annoying, thick |
| remps | parents | parents |
| renoi | noir | a black person |
| rebeu | beur | arab |
| reuch | cher | expensive |
| reuf | frère | brother |
| reum | mère | mother |
| reup | père | father |
| ripou | pourri | rotten, corrupted |
| teubé | bête | stupid |
| teuf | fête | party |
| véner | enervé | to be angry |
| zarbi | bizarre | strange, weird |
| zicmu | musique | music |
| zyva! | vas-y! | come on ! |