Ooh la la! We often think of French as the beautiful and romantic language of poetry and literature. While it is all of that (and more!) it’s also important to be familiar with the colloquialisms and slang that can help us in our everyday communication. Here are six expressions that we’re confident will serve you well in one of your next French conversations:
1. Crevé(e)
If you want to express how exhausted you are, say, “Je suis crevé.” This comes from the verb crever, meaning “to die”. Think of it as saying, “I’m dead tired.” For example, “Je ne veux rien faire aujourd’hui, je suis complètement crevé(e).” (“I don’t want to do anything today, I’m completely exhausted.”)
2. Top
As in any language, you’ll want to know how to show your enthusiasm! Top means that something is great or very nice. For instance, “Tu as déjà vu ce film?” “Ah oui, il est top!” (“Have you seen this film?” “Ah yes, it’s great!”)
3. Kiffer
Whether you’re describing a cute jacket or a cute person, kiffer is a verb that will serve you well. You can use it to describe things or people that you really like or are really into. To illustrate, you might say, “Je pense que tu vas kiffer ce resto.” (“I think that you’ll like this restaurant.”) Want to earn some bonus language points? Resto is slang for restaurant.
4. Laisse tomber
Literally meaning “let fall”, this phrase means “let it go” or “drop it”. Picture this: You say, “Elle m’a beaucoup énervé!” Your friend says, “Oui je comprends, mais laisse tomber.” (“She really annoyed me!” “Yes, I understand, but let it go.”)
5. Bouffer
This is a casual way of saying “to eat” (manger). You can also refer to food as “la bouffe”. For example, “Après cette réunion, on peut aller bouffer quelque chose?” (“After this meeting, can we go get something to eat?”)
6. Faire gaffe
Watch out! Use faire gaffe to let someone know they need to be careful, pay attention, or watch out. You could say, “Fais gaffe quand tu descends les escaliers.” (“Pay attention when you go down the stairs.”)
Bon courage (good luck) using these French expressions next time you are speaking to a French-speaking colleague or friend! 🇫🇷
