As I explained in my blog on verlan, it is a form of colloquial which consists of the reversal of syllables in a word. For example, ‘verlan’ itself originally comes from the phrase ‘à l’envers’ meaning back to front. For a non-native speaker, verlan can be quite tricky to understand. For this reason, I have compiled a list of some of the most common verlan words and phrases. Hopefully next time you find yourself in the 'banlieues' in Paris or on the metro, you will be able to pick up bits of what young people they are saying!
NOUNS
La meuf -> la femme
Le keum -> le mec/homme
La reum -> la mère
Le reup -> le père
Le reuf -> le frère
Oim -> moi
Le céfran -> le français
Le kainri -> l’americain
Le flic -> keuf
La zonmé -> maison
La téci -> la cité
Le tromé -> le métro
La teuf -> la fête
La réssoi -> la soirée
VERBS
Énerver -> véner
Aller german -> aller manger
ADJECTIVES
Ouf -> fou
Méchant=cool -> chanmé
Lourd = embêtant -> relou
Zarbi -> bizarre
Chelou -> louche
OTHER
Cimer -> merci
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