French | Creole Reunion Island, France

zoreille

Expression USED Very frequently BY Everyone

(n.) • (ears) • In Reunion Island, France, a tourist (usually from the continent) is called a "zoreille", which is Reunion Creole for "oreilles" (ears), because tourists tend to put their hand to their ear to mean they don't understand the Creole language.

"C'est les vacances, il y à des zoreilles partout sur l'île."

"Here come the holidays, zoreilles are everywhere on the island."

French France

En avant, Guingamp

Expression USED Frequently BY Adults

(interj.) • (Go on, Guingamp ) • Guingamp is a French town and famous football team. Their motto is "en avant, Guingamp!". We use it in French as a way of encouraging to get going.

"On fait quoi ce soir?" "Ça te dit de se faire un resto?" "Bah ouais, pourquoi pas." "Allez, en avant Guingamp!"

"What shall we do this evening?" "What about a restaurant?" "Hell, why not." "Go on, Guingamp!"

French France

C'est pas mon délire

Expression USED On Occasion BY Mostly young people

(It is not my excitation) • It is used to mean that something is not your taste, not your cup of tea or not what you usually like.

"Tu viens regarder le match avec nous ce soir ?" "Non merci, le foot, c'est pas mon délire."

"Are you coming to see the match with us tonight?" "No, thank you. Football is not my excitation."

French France

prendre l'air

Expression USED Very frequently BY Everyone

(to take the air) • To go somewhere else.

"Cet été, on va prendre l'air en Grèce."

"This summer, we're taking the air in Greece."

French Poitou-Charentes, Normandy, France

barrer

Word USED Very frequently BY Most people

(v.) • To lock a door. It comes from the time you used a bar to keep a door closed.

"T'as barré la porte ?"

"Did you lock the door?"

French North of France, France

il drache

Standard Phrase USED On Occasion BY Some People

(it's pouring) • Used when it rains heavily.

"Il vaut mieux rester à l'intérieur vu qu'il drache dehors."

"It's better to stay inside since it's pouring outside."

French France

pleuvoir comme vache qui pisse

Expression USED On Occasion BY Adults

(to rain like a pissing cow) • When there is heavy rain.

"Regarde dehors, il pleut comme vache qui pisse!"

"Look outside, it's raining like a pissing cow!"

French Québec, Canada

tire-toi une bûche

Expression USED Frequently BY Almost Everyone

(pull yourself a log) • Used to tell someone to take a seat. Usually informal and used with people you are somewhat familiar with.

"Reste pas debout, tire-toi une bûche!"

"Don't just stand there, pull yourself a log!"

French France

il pleut des cordes

Idiom USED Frequently BY Everyone

(it's raining ropes) • Used to describe heavy rainfall.

"Oh non, il pleut des cordes et je dois rentrer à pied !"

"Oh no, it's raining ropes and I have to go back home on foot!"

French French speaking countries

Défonce tout !

Expression USED Very frequently BY Young adults and adults

(Destroy everything!) • Used to wish good luck to someone, for instance for a job interview or an important exam.

"Vas-y, tu vas tout défoncer à ton contrôle !"

"Go ahead, you'll destroy everything for your test!"

French France

s'envoyer en l'air

Expression USED Frequently BY Everyone

(to send oneself to the air) • To have sex, to get laid.

"Mon voisin passe son temps à s'envoyer en l'air, et il n'est pas discret."

"My neighbour spends his time sending himself to the air, and he is not discreet."

French French speaking countries

Ce n’est pas de la tarte

Idiom USED On Occasion BY Almost Everyone

(It's not a tart) • Used to say that something is not easy to do.

"Ce n’est pas de la tarte ce jeu!"

"This game is not easy!"

French France

lourd

Word USED Frequently BY youngsters and former teens

(adj.) • (heavy) • Cool or awesome. Can be used alone to succinctly express approval.

"Je me suis acheté une nouvelle paire de pompes, elles sont confortables et stylées." "Lourd."

"I just bought a new pair of shoes, they're comfy and classy." "Cool."

French French speaking countries

avoir les boules

Expression USED Frequently BY Almost Everyone

(to have the balls) • Used to say you're pissed off.

"J'ai vraiment les boules qu'il m'ai menti!"

"I'm really pissed that he lied to me."

French French speaking countries

boulot

Slang USED Very frequently BY Everyone

(n.) • Job or work.

"Tu as fait du bon boulot!"

"You did a good job!"

French France

bobo

Slang USED Frequently BY Parents, children

(n.) • A cute name used by children or their parents to refer to a slight physical injury (scratch, cut, etc.).

"Je me suis fait un bobo au genou."

"I got a bobo on my knee."

French French speaking countries

wesh

Interjection USED Frequently BY Young People

(interj.) • Used to greet a friend or to draw attention.

"Wesh les potos. Bien ou bien ?"

"Hey guys. How ya doing?"

French France

être rond comme une queue de pelle

Expression USED Frequently BY People Over 40

(round as the end of the shovel) • Used to say that someone is drunk.

"Maurice et Thierry ont passé la journée à boire avec Hervé. Ils sont ronds comme des queues de pelle."

"Maurice and Thierry spent the day drinking with Hervé. They're as round as the end of a shovel."

French French speaking countries

péter plus haut que son cul

Slang USED Frequently BY Mostly everyone

(to fart higher than your ass) • Used to refer to someone getting above themself, acting like they’re smarter than they are.

"Je suis contente qu’il ait reçu sa promotion, mais ce n’est pas une raison pour péter plus haut que son cul pendant les réunions."

"I’m happy that he got his promotion, but it’s not a reason for him to fart higher than his ass during meetings."

French France

fdp

Acronym USED Frequently BY Teens, young adults

Short for "fils de pute", literally "son of a bitch". It is most often used as an insult, but sometimes, young adults can use it at the end of a sentence, when they are annoyed and want to exaggerate. It's mainly used when texting, but you can also hear it spoken. Caution: "fdp" is also a short for "frais de port" (shipping costs).

"Rends-moi mon argent fdp."

"Give me back my money you son of a bitch."