Photo: albany tim, CC BY 2.0
French Slang: Sound Less Like a Textbook
A lively, live hour of real spoken French for beginners who are tired of sounding like a textbook. You will learn how French people shorten words ("chais pas"), drop "ne", say "on" instead of "nous", use ouais, trop, grave and kiffer, decode verlan (meuf, relou, ouf, chelou) and sprinkle bah, du coup and genre into a sentence. We also explain the swear words you will hear everywhere, with clear warnings about when not to use them. Complete beginners welcome.
After this hour you can
- Recognise the spoken shortcuts: chais pas, chuis, t'es, y'a
- Speak more naturally by dropping "ne" and using "on" for "we"
- Use everyday casual words like ouais, trop, grave, carrément and kiffer
- Understand basic verlan: meuf, relou, ouf, chelou, vénère, teuf
- Use fillers like bah, du coup, genre and en fait in a sentence
- Know which swear words you will hear and when they are definitely not OK
- 0′–5′
Welcome
Know how the class works and the register rule for slang.
- 5′–11′
Warm-up: how French really sounds
Hear and say the most common spoken shortcuts.
Je ne sais pas → Chais pas
say zhuh nuh seh PAH → shay PAH
I don't know
Je suis → Chuis
say zhuh SWEE → SHWEE
I am
+ 5 more on your phrase sheet
- 11′–18′
Spoken grammar: no "ne", "on" for "we"
Make negatives and "we" sentences the way people actually say them.
Je sais pas.
say zhuh seh PAH (or shay PAH)
I don't know.
C'est pas grave.
say seh pah GRAHV
No worries / It doesn't matter.
+ 6 more on your phrase sheet
- 18′–26′
Everyday casual words
Use the casual words you will hear in every conversation among friends.
ouais
say WEH
yeah
trop
say TROH
so / really (spoken); too much (textbook)
+ 7 more on your phrase sheet
- 26′–33′
Verlan basics
Decode the most common verlan words and know where they come from.
le verlan
say luh vehr-LAHN
French "backwards" slang
une meuf
say ün MUHF
a woman / a girl; "ma meuf" = my girlfriend
+ 6 more on your phrase sheet
- 33′–40′
Filler words
Use a few fillers to sound natural and buy thinking time.
euh…
say uh (lips rounded)
um… / er…
bah / ben
say BAH / BAN (nasal)
well…
+ 7 more on your phrase sheet
- 40′–47′
Strong words: recognise, handle with care
Understand the swear words and complaints you will hear, and know which are safe.
Oh là là !
say oh lah LAH
Oh dear! / Oh no! / Wow!
Mince !
say MANSS (nasal)
Darn! / Oops!
+ 6 more on your phrase sheet
- 47′–57′
Practice: textbook to street
Turn textbook French into natural spoken French, then chat casually with a "pote".
- 57′–60′
Recap and this week
Remember the key words and know how to keep listening.
Spoken French and written French are almost two different registers. In conversation, people swallow the little "e" sounds, drop the "ne" of negatives, use "on" for "we" and pepper sentences with fillers, so textbook French can sound stiff and real French can be hard to follow at first. Slang changes quickly and depends on age and place; what we teach is widely used today in France, but always read the room: casual words are for friends, not for job interviews or your partner's grandmother.
- Zoom on a computer, tablet or phone
- A microphone; headphones with a mic are best
- Somewhere you are happy to speak out loud
- Pen and paper, if you like. No French needed.
Do I need to know any of the language already?
No. Every class is for complete beginners. We start from hello, and everything is explained in English. If you already know a little, it will be a good warm-up, but it will feel easy.
What happens in the hour?
A short welcome, then the sounds (or, for Japanese and Korean, a first look at the writing), greetings, introducing yourself, numbers to ten, ordering at a café and the phrases that get you out of trouble. Then you practise in small breakout rooms and we finish with a recap. Each class page shows the hour minute by minute.
Will I have to speak?
Yes, that is the point, but gently. Most of the time the whole class repeats together with microphones on, so nobody is singled out. Near the end you practise in breakout rooms of 2 or 3. Your camera is up to you.
How big are the classes?
At most 12 people, so everyone gets to speak and ask questions.
How much is a class?
One class is one payment, and you see the price before you pay. Nothing renews and there is no subscription.
Can I cancel or move my class?
Yes. Write to support@bunevents.com at least 24 hours before the start and we will refund you in full or move you to another time, whichever you prefer.
