Textbook French teaches you how to order coffee politely. This list hands you the words your Parisian friends actually use when they’re teasing each other, groaning about the métro, or just hanging out. Slang is where the language lives – and if you’re stuck sounding like a walking dictionary, these ~200 terms will finally loosen things up.
We’ve rounded up everyday French slang that real people use, not the dusty expressions from your high school workbook. Every entry gives you a clear meaning and a natural example sentence, so you can see how the slang behaves in a real conversation – no guessing required.
This isn’t a curated list of ‘safe’ words. You’ll find casual insults, exclamations, and the kind of vocabulary that pops up in group chats, Netflix shows, and street banter. Use it to understand what’s being said around you – and maybe drop a phrase or two when you’re feeling brave.
Ready to sound a little more like a local and a little less like a textbook? Scroll to the bottom of the article for the free printable common French slang vocabulary list PDF and the free downloadable printable common French slang flashcards.
Use this list as a starting point, then keep going in the Yak Yacker French section for more words, phrases, and study-friendly reference pages.
Quick Quiz
Think you can already drop slang like a local? The quick quiz below will test how many of these French expressions you’ve actually memorised – no stress, just a friendly nudge toward the ones that need a second look.
Browse the Full List
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 1er | 1st |
| 2e | 2nd |
| 3e | 3rd |
| 4e | 4th |
| 5e | 5th |
| ado | teen |
| anguille | eel |
| arche | arch |
| ARI | SCBA |
| Asie | Asia |
| autobus | bus |
| avoine | oat |
| bah | bah |
| bec | beak |
| bélier | ram |
| ben | behn |
| bocal | jar |
| bof | bawf |
| bosser | boh-say |
| bouffer | boo-fay |
| bouquin | book |
| brebis | ewe |
| brick | brig |
| bronzer | tan |
| ça baigne | sah beny |
Free Common French Slang Vocabulary List and Flashcard PDFs
Grab the purple vocab-list button for the common French slang vocabulary list and the teal flashcards button for the common French slang flashcards. Both downloads are 100% free and require no signup.



