un·e Arabe: an Arab or person of Arab heritage
un·e Beur: French resident whose parents immigrated to France from North Africa (Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia). The word comes from verlan (a kind of French slang that reverses syllables; see below): "beur" = "arabe" (a-rabe → be-ra → beur).
branchée: in the know; with it
*un·e camé·e: a drug addict
une cabine téléphonique: a phone booth
une carte téléphonique: a phone card
un chauffeur de taxi: a taxi driver
*un·e clando (=un·e clandestine): an illegal immigrant
une convocation: a summons
être convoqué au tribunal: to be summoned to court
une crise d’identité: an identity crisis
*décontract (=décontracté·e): relaxed
l’expulsion (f.): deportation
*un flic: a cop
gonflé·e: full of oneself.
Tu es gonflé!: You’ve got a lot of nerve!
un·e immigré·e: an immigrant
*un intello: an intellectual
un·e mythomane: a pathological liar
naïf · naive: naïve, innocent
*un pote: a pal, a friend
un quartier: a neighborhood
un répondeur: an answering machine
les skin (m./f.): skinheads
*un·e tordu·e: a sicko
*le blé: dough, cash (slang)
*un bled: a small town in nowheresville; may also be used to refer to Algeria as hicksville by Algerian immigrants or people of Algerian origin
*le chomdu (=le chômage): unemployment
la cité: a housing project, in this context
*cramé·e (=brûlé·e): burnt
*le fric: cash
un karaoké: a karaoke bar
le mal du pays: homesickness
un menteur · une menteuse: a liar
une mosquée: a mosque
une moto; une grosse moto: a (big) motorcycle
la nostalgie: nostalgia, homesickness
un pari: a bet
*la taule: the slammer, prison
*le trabendo (=la contrebande): contraband, illegal traffic of goods
*un tuyau: a tip (as in, a piece of useful information)
une valise: a suitcase (luggage)
*bosser (=travailler): to work
*bouffer (=manger): to eat (chow down)
cartonner: to be very successful
*clamser (=mourir): to die (kick the bucket / croak)
*se casser (=se tirer, se barrer, s’en aller): to go away
Casse-toi!: Buzz off / get lost!
se débrouiller: to manage
déposer quelqu’un: to drop someone off / give a ride
*se grouiller (=se dépêcher): to hurry
Grouille-toi!: Get a move on!
jouer: to gamble (in this context)
*piger (=comprendre): to understand
Tu ne piges pas!: You don’t get it!
*pioncer (=dormir): to sleep, to nap
se serrer les coudes: to stick together
*J’ai les boules. I’m upset, worried, OR annoyed.
Dégage! Get out of here!
Ça ne tourne pas rond dans sa tête. He’s crazy.
Arrête de faire du cinéma. Stop being so dramatic!
Il est spécial. He’s a little strange.
[Ne] T’inquiète pas. Don’t worry.
[Ne] T’énerve pas! Don’t get upset!
R.M.I. (=Revenu Minimum d’Insertion). A social welfare program provided by the French government.
*le verlan (=les mots à l’envers): a type of French slang in which syllables are phonetically inversed.
Click here to learn more about le verlan!
*un keuf (←un flic): a cop (a police officer)
*Laisse-béton! (←Laisse tomber): Drop it!
*une meuf (←une femme): a chick (a woman)
*un ripou (←une personne pourrie): a corrupt / dirty person