French Slang You Won’t Find in Textbooks

Textbooks teach correct grammar and polite phrases, but real French is full of colorful expressions and slang that you won’t see in your classroom dialogues.

1. “Se prendre un râteau” – To get rejected

Literally: “to take a rake.”Used when someone fails at flirting or gets turned down.

• J’ai essayé de parler à Marie… je me suis pris un râteau.(I tried talking to Marie… and got rejected.)

  
  

2. “Pécho” – To hook up / To catch

Very informal, used mostly by young people. Comes from choper (to catch).

• Il a pécho quelqu’un hier soir.(He hooked up with someone last night.)

  
  

3. “Filer un plan” – To give a tip / a heads-up

Not what you’d see in textbooks, but common in spoken French.

• Tu veux que je te file un plan pour le resto ?(Do you want me to give you a tip about the restaurant?)

  
  

4. “Être à l’ouest” – To be out of it / spaced out

Used when someone is lost, distracted, or not with it.

• Aujourd’hui, je suis complètement à l’ouest.(Today, I’m totally out of it.)

  
  

5. “Avoir le seum” – To be annoyed / frustrated

Modern slang that’s widely used among young people.

• J’ai le seum, mon train est encore en retard.(I’m frustrated, my train is late again.)

  
  

6. “Un bouffon / une bouffonne” – A clown / idiot

Used to tease or mock someone, but lightheartedly.

• Arrête, tu fais le bouffon !(Stop it, you’re acting like a clown!)

  
  

7. “Zarbi” – Weird / strange

French slang that comes from bizarre reversed in pronunciation.

• Ce film était complètement zarbi.(That movie was totally weird.)

  
  

8. “Ça craint” – That sucks / That’s risky

Less common than c’est nul, and slightly more casual.

• Ce quartier la nuit ? Ça craint.(That neighborhood at night? Not safe / That sucks.)

  
  

Pro Tip

Start by listening for these expressions in French content (YouTube, series, podcasts). Once you understand them, sprinkle them into your own speech. It’s a small step that makes your French sound alive and real.