Is MEUF a verlan?
Meuf is a verlan word, meaning that it is formed by inverting another word’s syllables (for more on verlan, check out our recent word of the day vénère and our more in-depth analysis of this French argot).
What is an example of verlan?
Sometimes verlan is straightforward, switching the order in which syllables in the original word are pronounced. For example, if you were speaking verlan, you might say céfran instead of français, dropping the final vowel sound after you invert the word.
Why do French use verlan?
Verlan was created because civilians wanted a way to communicate with each other without authority figures being able to understand them. Although it was originally used as a way to conceal illegal activity, verlan has become a permanent fixture of the French vernacular.
Do people actually use verlan?
“Verlan is still a French thing, some young people use it but not every young French person does. It’s a question of social class, location, age, context, and personal choice,” Chevalier-Karfis adds.
Is MEC a verlan?
You can also use verlan with other slang words, like “mec” (mec <=> keum), when talking about a boy or boyfriend. Verlan even works with very short words. For example, “fou” becomes “ouf” (fou <=> ouf). You can use this word to talk about a crazy situation or person.
Is verlan a slang?
Verlan (French pronunciation: [vɛʁlɑ̃]) is a type of argot in the French language, featuring inversion of syllables in a word, and is common in slang and youth language. It rests on a long French tradition of transposing syllables of individual words to create slang words.
What are verlan words?
Who invented verlan?
The first documented uses of Verlan date to the 19th century, when it was used as a code language among criminals, said the French scholar Louis-Jean Calvet.
What is Le verlan?
Le verlan (pronounced ver-lan) is a form of French argot (slang). Verlan first became used in the poor communities around Paris following the 2nd World War. Nowadays French youth and various genres of music utilize verlan, enhancing musical style and depicting certain cultural/social backgrounds.
Where did French verlan come from?
Verlan is a French language argot, which originated from the Parisian banlieue as a social protest. Allowing young people to speak amongst one another, and not be understood by authority figures; such as the police or keuf.
Is verlan a language?
The slang language essentially sees the sounds of a word’s syllables pronounced back-to-front. In fact, the word “verlan” itself is an example of Verlan, as it’s the French word “L’envers” (reverse) in reverse. The phenomenon, which some suggest took off after World World Two, is incredibly popular with younger people.
Where is verlan spoken?
France
Unlike pig Latin, however, verlan is actively spoken in France. Many verlan words have become so commonplace that they are used in everyday French. To “verlan” a word, simply separate it into syllables, reverse them, and put the word back together.