When I first joined French social media, I thought I understood everything—until someone replied “mdr ptdr jpp” to one of my posts. I stared at the screen like a confused yak trying to read binary. Was it laughter? Anger? A medical emergency? Later, a friend explained it meant something close to “LOL OMG I can’t even.”
That day, I learned a vital lesson: French internet slang is its own ecosystem. Once you speak it, you suddenly sound less like a textbook and more like an actual human who has touched Wi-Fi before.
Let’s decode the cryptic world of French abbreviations so you can navigate comments, texts, memes, and group chats without calling emergency services.
The Quick Primer
French online abbreviations come from three main sources:
1. French texting shortcuts (natural reductions)
2. Borrowed English abbreviations
3. Hyper-expressive laughter codes (French people LOVE these)
Most abbreviations drop vowels, smash words together, or imitate sounds.
Once you see the patterns, they make perfect sense.
The Big Ones You’ll See Everywhere
| Abbreviation | IPA (full phrase) | Meaning |
| mdr | /ɛm.de.ɛʁ/ → mort de rire | dying of laughter (LOL) |
| ptdr | /pe.te.de.ɛʁ/ → pété de rire | bursting with laughter |
| jpp | /ʒə pø ply/ → j’en peux plus | I can’t anymore (overwhelmed) |
| tkt | /t‿kɛt/ → t’inquiète | don’t worry |
| tqt | /t‿kɛt/ → t’inquiète (alt spelling) | don’t worry |
| jsp | /ʒe sɛ pa/ → je sais pas | I don’t know |
| wsh | /wɛʃ/ | hey / yo |
| bg | /be.ʒe/ → beau gosse | handsome guy |
| meuf | /mœf/ | girl / chick |
| lol | /lɔl/ | lol |
| omg | /ɔ.ɛm.ʒe/ | oh my god |
mdr is basically the French national laughing sound.
If you text someone haha, they know you’re not French.
Everyday Conversation Abbreviations
These pop up constantly in texting and DMs.
| French Abbrev | IPA (full phrase) | English Meaning |
| slt | /salyt/ → salut | hi |
| cc | /se.se/ → coucou | hey (very cute) |
| bjr | /bɔ̃.ʒuʁ/ → bonjour | hello |
| bsr | /bɔ̃.swaʁ/ → bonsoir | good evening |
| svp | /s‿v‿pe/ → s’il vous plaît | please (formal) |
| stp | /s‿tə/ → s’il te plaît | please (informal) |
| pk | /puʁ.kwa/ → pourquoi | why |
| pck | /paʁs.kə/ → parce que | because |
| rdv | /ʁɑ̃.de.vu/ | meeting / appointment |
| vrmt | /vʁa.mɑ̃/ → vraiment | really |
| tjs | /tu.ʒuʁ/ → toujours | always |
I once wrote “Bonjour” in full to a French friend. He replied,
“Wah t’es sérieux ? On est au Moyen Âge ?”
“Wow, serious? Are we in the Middle Ages?”
Point taken.
French Laughter Codes (Because One Isn’t Enough)
French people do not simply laugh.
They have tiers of laughter.
The Classics
| Code | Meaning |
| mdr | LOL |
| ptdr | dying of laughter |
| xptdr | EXTREMELY dying of laughter (the nuclear option) |
The Sound-Effects
| Code | Meaning |
| haha / hhh | soft laugh |
| hhhhhhh | chaotic evil laugh |
| ahah | cute laugh |
| frrr | snort laugh / emphasis word |
xptdr is so intense it should come with medical supervision.
Abbreviations From English
These are extremely common in French chats.
| Abbreviation | IPA | Meaning |
| lol | /lɔl/ | lol |
| omg | /ɔ.ɛm.ʒe/ | OMG |
| wtf | /dubəl.ju.t‿ɛf/ | what the f*** |
| asap | /a.zap/ | as soon as possible |
| idk | used but less common | I don’t know |
| btw | rare | by the way |
omg is now fully natural in French texting.
Relationship & Compliment Abbreviations
| French Abbrev | IPA (full phrase) | English |
| bg | /be.ʒe/ → beau gosse | handsome guy |
| bbg | /be.be.ʒe/ → belle gosse | pretty girl |
| bb | /be.be/ → bébé | baby (romantic) |
| pqv | /puʁ kwa twa vø/ → pourquoi tu veux ? | what do you want? (teasing) |
| mskn | /mɛs.kɛn/ → mesquin | poor thing |
bg is wildly common. If someone calls you bg, it’s a compliment.
Gaming & Discord Abbreviations in French
| Abbrev | IPA (full phrase) | Meaning |
| gg | /ʒe.ʒe/ → good game | good game |
| gl hf | /ʒe.ɛl aʃ.ɛf/ | good luck, have fun |
| lagg | /lag/ | lag |
| afk | /a.ɛf.ka/ | away from keyboard |
| brb | /be.ɛʁ.be/ | be right back |
| troll | /tʁol/ | trolling |
| tryhard | /tʁi.aʁd/ | tryhard (no life grinding) |
tryhard is very, very French online.
Teen & Youth Internet Slang (Ultra Current)
| Abbrev | IPA (full phrase) | Meaning |
| oqp | /ɔ.ky.pe/ → occupé | busy |
| dsl | /de.zɛ.le/ → désolé | sorry |
| nrv | /ɛ̃.eʁ.ve/ → énervé | mad |
| y’a rr | /il‿j‿a ʁjɛ̃/ → il y a rien | there’s nothing |
| jsp | /ʒe sɛ pa/ | I don’t know |
| jtm | /ʒə tɛm/ | I love you ❤️ |
| jtdr | /ʒə ta.dɔʁ/ | I adore you |
| jpp | /ʒə pø ply/ | I can’t anymore |
jtm is extremely common among teens.
Abbreviations Based on Spoken French
These sound exactly like the way young people talk.
| French Abbrev | IPA (full phrase) | English |
| c | /se/ → c’est | it’s |
| g | /ʒe/ → j’ai | I have |
| t | /t‿ɛ/ → t’es | you are |
| ch | /ʃɔ/ → chaud | risky / spicy |
| jsp | /ʒe sɛ pa/ | I don’t know |
| jms | /ʒa.mɛ/ → jamais | never |
When I first saw someone text “t ou ?”, I thought it meant “tea or what?”
It actually means “Where are you?”
Abbreviations for Strong Reactions
| Abbrev | IPA (full phrase) | English |
| jpp | /ʒə pø ply/ → j’en peux plus | I’m done, I can’t |
| c mort | /se mɔʁ/ → c’est mort | not happening |
| c chaud | /se ʃo/ → c’est chaud | this is risky |
| osef | /o.zɛf/ → on s’en fout | who cares |
| jsp | /ʒe sɛ pa/ | I don’t know |
| nptk | /nɑ̃.pɔʁ.t‿ki/ → n’importe qui | anybody / whatever |
osef is pure chaos energy.
Region Notes
Québec:
More English influence. Lots of lol, lmao, wtf.
Also uses tsé (you know), skoi (c’est quoi), chu (je suis).
Belgium & Switzerland:
Mostly the same as France, but less chaotic spelling.
Belgians write more full words.
Mini Dialogues
Dialogue 1 — A Friend Sends You “mdr ptdr”
Tu as vu la vidéo ? mdr ptdr
/ty a vy la vi.de.o ɛm.de.ɛʁ pe.te.de.ɛʁ/
Did you see the video? lol omg
Jpp, elle m’a tué.
/ʒə pø ply ɛl ma tɥe/
I can’t, it killed me.
Dialogue 2 — Making Plans
T’es oqp ?
/t‿ɛ ɔ.ky.pe/
Are you busy?
Un peu. On fait ça ce soir ?
/ɛ̃ pø ɔ̃ fɛ sa sə swaʁ/
A bit. We do it tonight?
Dialogue 3 — Asking Why
Pk t’es comme ça ?
/puʁ.kwa t‿ɛ kɔm sa/
Why are you like this?
Jsp moi-même.
/ʒe sɛ pa mwa mɛm/
I don’t even know myself.
Quick Reference
| Type | Example | Meaning |
| Laughter | mdr, ptdr | LOL etc. |
| Basic texting | slt, bjr, stp | hi, hello, please |
| Emotion | jpp, nrv | I can’t, mad |
| Reaction | osef, c mort | who cares, not happening |
| Romance | jtm, jtdr | I love you, adore you |
Five-Minute Practice Plan
- Convert five full French sentences into texting abbreviations.
- Say mdr, ptdr, and xptdr aloud to memorize the differences.
- Rewrite Dialogue 2 using only full words.
- Write three messages using pk, pck, and jsp.
- Create one flirty message using bg, bbg, or jtm.
Sending a Yak-Sized “mdr” Before Logging Off
French internet slang looks wild at first, but once you crack the code, it becomes addictive. You suddenly text faster, sound more natural, and understand memes without summoning Google. And unlike my first week online in France, you won’t ask anyone if “ptdr” is a medical condition ever again.
