"Le Verlan" Le Parler D'Jeunes
Half of the learning that I do consists of watching videos online. Lately,I have stumbled across several videos that mention "Le Verlan", which from my understanding is a prominent version of French in France originally created by the youth, which is now slowly becoming accepted into the French language. From what I've been told, Le Verlan is prominent enough that it is worth learning especially if you plan on living in France, especially, Paris. Is this true? What are your personal experiences with "Le Verlan"?
Just curious :-)
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Answers · 5
3
I don't think you need to learn it unless you want to sound like a riffraff in Parisian suburbs. ;)
Almost everybody uses standard French.
1
Just a bunch of words are actually used by people and only in informal talks.
Verlan is mainly used by young uneducated people and in French rap. It consist to pronounce the syllables of the word in a backward order. It works phonetically and some endings are dropped.
Some interesting words:
Femme -> Meuf (This slang word is so usual than a verlan version of the verlan word exists : Femeu) So a verlan version of a verlan word isn't the original word.
Flic (Slang for Policier) -> Keuf
Arabe -> Beur (->Rebeu)
Fou->Ouf (T'es ouf. Un truc de ouf.)
Fête->Teuf (Tu viens, il y a une teuf.)
With this list, you know already almost all the really necessary words.
1
Verlan is certainly not prominent and is not worth spending time on. The standard French you study in a regular textbook will make you understood anywhere in France and other French speaking countries.
1
Mmm.... not exactly true. You dont have to know them; though in every language slangs are used, nonetheless its not a must!
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