#21 What Is Verlan in French?｜French Language Column

In France, you may sometimes hear distinctive expressions created by rearranging the sounds of ordinary words in everyday conversation. For example, “femme” meaning “woman” becomes “meuf,” while “fou,” meaning “crazy” or “amazing,” becomes ”ouf.”

These expressions are not simply distorted pronunciations. They belong to a form of French slang known as verlan.

Verlan is commonly used in conversations among young people, as well as in music, films, and social media. It is therefore difficult to ignore if you want to understand spoken French. At the same time, verlan words can look and sound very different from standard French, making their meanings difficult for learners to guess.

In this article, I will explain how verlan is formed, how it developed, how it is used, and some of its most common expressions.

Characteristics of Verlan

Verlan is a form of French slang created by reversing units of sound within a word and, when necessary, modifying or omitting certain sounds.

It originally developed as a form of wordplay and coded language used among members of the same social group. Today, however, it has become widely known through films, music, and social media, and you may also hear it in everyday conversation.

The word verlan itself was created by reversing the sounds of the French expression “l’envers,” meaning “the reverse” or “backwards.”

As the following examples show, verlan words can look very different from their original forms:

• femme (woman) → meuf
• bizarre (strange) → zarbi
• fou (“crazy” or “amazing”) → ouf

Using verlan can express a sense of belonging to a group or add playfulness to a conversation. For this reason, verlan is known not only as a form of slang but also as one of the linguistic symbols of French youth and urban culture.

Common Verlan Words

There are many verlan expressions, but some of the best-known examples include the following:

Verlan is used in everyday French, particularly in casual conversations among younger speakers. You may also encounter these expressions in films, YouTube videos, and social media posts.

However, not every verlan word is used with the same frequency. Popular expressions vary according to trends, generations, and regions. Verlan is also generally avoided in official documents and business settings.

How Is Verlan Formed?

Verlan is not created simply by spelling a word backwards. Instead, it is generally formed by reversing the sound units that make up a word.

For example, when the two main sound units in “français” are reversed, the result is “céfran.”

However, vowels or consonants may also change to make the new word easier to pronounce, and certain sounds may be omitted. As a result, there is no single rule that can be applied to every verlan expression.

Verlan also developed naturally through spoken language, so the words used can differ according to the period, region, and generation.

For this reason, rather than trying to memorize its formation as though it were a grammatical rule, I recommend gradually learning the expressions that are commonly used in films, television series, music, and other forms of popular culture.

Why Did Verlan Develop?

Verlan became widespread among young people during the second half of the 20th century. It was particularly common among young people living in the suburbs around Paris, where it functioned as a language understood primarily within their own social groups.

At first, it also served as a form of coded language that allowed young people to distance themselves from adults and authority figures while expressing a sense of group identity.

It later spread through interactions among people from diverse cultural backgrounds, including those connected with urban youth culture and immigrant communities. From the 1980s onward, it became widely known through music, films, and television.

Today, many verlan expressions are familiar to people across a wide range of generations, and some are used quite naturally in everyday conversation.

In this sense, verlan is one of the linguistic cultures that represents modern French. It emerged from the cultural diversity of French society and the creativity of younger speakers.

Understanding Verlan Makes French More Interesting

Verlan is not an essential part of learning French. When you are a beginner, it is more important to establish a strong foundation in standard French.

However, as your French improves, you are likely to encounter verlan more frequently in films, television series, music, YouTube videos, and social media. Once you can recognize that a word is verlan, its original form may provide a clue to the meaning of an unfamiliar expression.

Learning about verlan can also introduce you to French youth culture, trends, and humour. It therefore offers an opportunity to discover the living French that is rarely taught in textbooks.

Of course, verlan must be used in the appropriate context. It is common in conversations among friends, but standard French should generally be used in business and official situations.

For this reason, rather than trying to use verlan actively, I recommend first aiming to understand it when you hear it.

Summary

Verlan is a distinctive form of French slang created by rearranging the syllables or sound units of words.

Its main characteristics can be summarized as follows:

Verlan is one aspect of French linguistic culture that reveals the language’s flexibility and playfulness.

Although you may not often study it in textbooks, knowing that it exists can help you enjoy French films, television series, and music more deeply.