Exploring French Text Slang: Understanding Modern French Communication

French text slang, also known as texting slang, has become an integral part of digital communication, especially among young people on social media and messaging apps. These slang terms are often idiomatic and playful, using abbreviations, acronyms, and phonetic spellings to convey messages efficiently.

Common French Text Slangs

Here are some popular examples of French text slangs to help you decipher modern French communications:

Mdr, Lool, and Ptdr

Mdr: Short for “mort de rire,” which means “laughing so much it could kill you.” Lool: Short for “tant mieux,” which means “much better” or “things are okay.” Ptdr: Short for “péter de rire,” similar to “Mdr,” indicating extreme laughter.

Other Everyday Slangs

Lut lu: Less common slang for “salut” (hi). Lol: Short for “c’est la vie,” often used to express indifference or a casual response similar to “lol” in English. Chui: A phonetic spelling of “Bof,” often used to express indifference, similar to “meh” or “whatever” in English.

Challenges and Context

The usage of French slang varies depending on the region and age group. For example, Renaud’s songs feature older slang that is still understandable but may not be current. Similarly, the book “Zazie dans le métro” uses old slang that can be challenging to understand, but it offers a fun read for those with advanced French skills. Modern slang is more prevalent in rap songs.

Reading Resources for French Slang

To dive deeper into understanding French slang, consider the following resources:

Novels by Alphonse Boudard: “L’Hopital” or “La Cerise,” both of which contain substantial amounts of genuine French slang and are available on Amazon France. “La Méthode à Mimile”: Contains lessons and exercises focused on learning French slang.

Patterns for Understanding French Internet Slang

French slang follows similar logic to English slang, making it relatively easy to understand with a few patterns in mind:

Short and Easy to Type: Often, accents are removed unless they are crucial. Phonetic Substitutes: Sounds are replaced by letters or numbers that phonetically match, like “b1” for “bien.” Reducing Words: Only main letters are used, like “bjr” for “bonjour.” Keyboard-Friendly Letters: Certain letters are preferred for ease of typing on a French keyboard, such as “twa” for “toi.” Deleting Silent Letters: Final “e” or “h” can be removed, such as “contr” for “contre.”

Practice Exercises

The following sentences are designed to test your understanding of French texting slang:

Translation:

cc sa va Mwa
Chui tro fatigué
G fé bcp d spor auj

Translation: Hey, how are you? Mwah, I am so tired. I did a lot of sports today.

Translation:

Le langage sms c mal

Translation: SMS language is bad.

Translation:

nn c pa vré il é ouf

Translation: No, it’s not true, he is crazy.

By understanding these patterns and resources, you can communicate like a native and appreciate the nuances of digital French conversations.