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🇫🇷 French · Fluency Level 3

PART 3 · LESSON 28 OF 30 · 30 MINUTES

Explaining the Verlan to Her Mother

Explain a backwards word to your English mother, in French, with three generations of French at one table and one tart.

Audio instruction: English

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THE STORY

Mamie's kitchen with Susan over from Bristol, Leo on his second slice, and a word Susan has never heard.

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The words and phrases of this lesson, one card each. Best after you’ve listened.

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Words and phrases

The lesson is for your ears. Open this afterwards, to see what you learned.
Mamie Jeanne, ta tarte, elle est ouf.mah-mee zhahn, tah tahrt, ehl eh OOFMamie Jeanne, your tart, it's crazy good. To a friend.
C'est ouf.seh TOOFIt's crazy good.
Ouf ? Comme « ouf, c'est fini » ?oof, kom oof, seh fee-NEEOuf? Like "phew, it's over"?
Non, maman. Ouf, c'est fou à l'envers. Du verlan. Ça veut dire génial.noh(n), mah-mah(n), oof, seh foo ah lah(n)-vehr, dew vehr-lah(n), sah vuh deer zhay-NYAHLNo, Mum. Ouf is fou backwards. Verlan. It means great.
À l'envers.ah lah(n)-VEHRBackwards.
Les Français parlent à l'envers ?lay frah(n)-seh pahrl ah lah(n)-VEHRThe French speak backwards?
Les jeunes. Mamie dit « épatant ». Moi, je dis « génial ». Léo dit « ouf ».lay zhuhn, mah-mee dee ay-pah-tah(n), mwah, zhuh dee zhay-nyahl, lay-oh dee OOFThe young. Mamie says "epatant". Me, I say "genial". Leo says "ouf".
Trois mots pour la même tarte.trwah moh poor lah mehm TAHRTThree words for the same tart.
Et moi, je dis quoi ?ay mwah, zhuh dee KWAHAnd me, what do I say?
Toi, tu dis « encore une part ». Ça marche dans toutes les générations.twah, tew dee ah(n)-kor ewn pahr, sah mahrsh dah(n) toot lay zhay-nay-rah-SYOH(N)You, you say "another slice". That works in every generation. To a friend.

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