If you are learning French you’ll know there are not just regional dialects, formal terms and acronyms – there is of course, slang! This ‘everyday language’ is perhaps one of the most challenging to learn. A mix of informal abbreviations and symbols used in email, text messaging (SMS), social media and chatrooms – the terms and phrases are changing all the time!
In this article we take a quick look at understanding French – SMS style!
Basic principles
Short and simple
The idea of texting is to use as few characters as possible. Importantly, you’ll need to have a basic understanding of French phonetics, because many abbreviations are based on the ‘sound’ of the words, rather than how they are written. For example:
1 → un, en, in
2 → de
C → c’est, sais, s’est
É → ai, aie, ais, ait
G → j’ai
K → qu, ca
O → au, aux, eau, o
T → t’es, tes
Back to front
Yes, unfortunately for those of us trying to learn it forwards, some French do actually reverse their words as well! This is known as ‘Verlan’ (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verlan) – a form of slang commonly used in everyday conversations. It inverses syllables in a word, ie ‘l’envers’, becomes ‘verlan’! Confusing? Oui !
Basic text forms
In summary, there are three basic methods used in French texting – (and it really doesn’t matter whether the letters are upper or lowercase, or a mixture of both) :
- Abbreviate words using just their first letter (ie CPG for C’est pas grave)
- Use a mix of letters and numbers that are pronounced like the words (ie 12C4 for un de ces quatre)
- Drop silent letters, especially at the end of a word, (ie pa for pas)
Here are just a few of the terms you may come across!
French SMS Terms & Translations
| French SMS | French | English |
|---|---|---|
| 12c4 | un de ces quatre | one of these days |
| 1possibl | impossible | impossible |
| 22 | les flics | the cops |
| 2ri1 | de rien | you're welcome |
| 2van | devant | in front, facing |
| 5pa | sympa | nice |
| 6né | ciné | cinema |
| @2m1 | à demain | see you tomorrow |
| a+ / apls | à plus (tard) | see you later |
| alp | à la prochaine | see you next time |
| ama | à mon avis | in my opinion |
| askip | à ce qu'il paraît | apparently |
| att | à tout de suite | see you soon |
| auj | aujourd'hui | today |
| b1 | bien | good |
| b1sur | bien sûr | of course |
| bal | boite aux lettres | mailbox |
| bap | bon après-midi | good afternoon |
| bcp | beaucoup | a lot |
| bg | belle/beau gosse | good looking |
| bi1to | bientôt | soon |
| biz | bises | kisses |
| bjr | bonjour | hello |
| bsr | bonsoir | good evening |
| c1blag | c'est une blague | it's a joke |
| cad | c'est à dire | that is to say, meaning |
| cc | coucou | hi! |
| c ca | c'est ça | that's it |
| cpg | c'est pas grave | nevermind |
| ct | c'était | it was |
| dac | d'accord | OK |
| ddd | demande de discussion | we need to talk |
| dqp | dès que possible | as soon as possible |
| dfl | désolé | sorry |
| entk | en tout cas | anyway |
| fds | fin de semaine | weekend |
| gt | j'étais | I was |
| jms | jamais | never |
| jtm | je t'aime | I love you |
| jpp | je n'en peux plus | I can't take it anymore |
| kdo | cadeau | gift |
| mdr | mort de rire | dying of laughter |
| nimp/nptk | n'importe quoi | nevermind |
| peh | pour être honnête | to be honest |
| qdn | quoi de neuf ? | what's new? |
| qq1 | quelqu'un | someone |
| qqc | quelque chose | something |
| raf | rien à faire | don't care/nothing to do |
| rdv | rendez-vous | meeting |
| rstp | réponds s'il te plaît | please reply |
| slt | salut | hi |
| tkt | (ne) t'inquiètes (pas) | don't worry |
| tjs | toujours | always |
| tlm | tout le monde | everybody |
| tof | photo | picture |
| tmts/tmtc | toi même tu sais | as you well know |
| tt | tout | all |
| vnr | Vénère (enerver en Verlan !) | annoyed |
And after all that, if you still can’t figure out the text, read and say the letters and numbers out loud – or ask for the words in normal French!
Annette is Renestance’s 'go to' girl for all things marketing and social media. Bilingual and originally from Surrey in the UK, Annette has lived in France since 2008. In addition to her web design and marketing consultancy, Annette is the founder of Languedoc Jelly (a network of free events across the region for anyone working from home) and also Urban Sketchers Languedoc (part of a global community of people that like to draw or paint on location). A fan of all things French and Franglaise, she also has a Citroen 2CV called Beryl.
All articles by: Annette Morris
