From Chelou to BG: The Ultimate Gen Z French Slang Guide

Pécho the Best French Slang: A Gen Z Dictionary

Alright, fam, let's talk about something important – Gen Z French Slang. Whether you’re planning a trip to France, bingeing French TikTok, or just wanna flex on Duolingo, it’s time to level up your vocab. Gen Z French slang is on a whole new level. Spoiler alert: it’s not just “bonjour” and “croissant” anymore.

So, buckle up! We’re about to take you on a wild ride through the streets of Paris, Lyon, and the French internet to help you sound like you were born and raised in the land of baguettes and berets.

1. "Wesh"

Let’s start with the French equivalent of “what’s up”—wesh. It’s casual, cool, and you’ll hear it everywhere. It originally came from North African slang but has been fully adopted by French Gen Z. Think of it as the French version of “yo” or “hey.”

• Pronunciation: It’s pronounced like “wesh” (rhymes with "fresh").
• How to use it: “Wesh, ça va?” (What’s up, how are you?)

Perfect for when you’re greeting your crew, or sliding into those DMs with confidence.

2. "Bébou"

Got a bestie you can’t live without? Or maybe a bae? Then say bébou. It’s an affectionate way to refer to someone close to you. A cross between "baby" and "boo"—yup, sounds like Gen Z, right?

• Pronunciation: Say it like “bay-boo” (sounds just like it looks!).
• How to use it: “T’es mon bébou, t’es le sang.” (You’re my bestie, you’re like blood to me.)

Use it for that ride-or-die friend or your crush, depending on the vibe.

3. "La daronne" / "Le daron"

This one’s all about parents. La daronne means “mom” and le daron means “dad.” But unlike “maman” and “papa,” this is way more chill and casual. French Gen Z basically treats these words like they’re calling their parents by a nickname.

• Pronunciation: “Da-ron” for both versions, but “daronne” has an extra "nuh" sound at the end.
• How to use it: “Ma daronne va me tuer si je rate le bus.” (My mom's gonna kill me if I miss the bus.)

Pro tip: It sounds way cooler when you're talking about your parents in front of your friends.

4. "Zin"

This one comes from the Arabic word for “friend” and is super popular in the French suburbs. Zin is used like "bro" or "dude." You’ll definitely wanna pull this out when you’re talking to your squad or meeting new people in France who are vibing with you.

• Pronunciation: “Zin” (rhymes with "win").
• How to use it: “Vas-y, zin, on sort ce soir?” (Let’s go out tonight, bro?)

Simple, straight to the point, and instant street cred.

5. "Tarpin"

Need a word to hype things up? Tarpin is your go-to. It means “a lot” or “really,” and you can use it to describe anything you’re super into. Whether you’re talking about your fave artist or how you’re feeling, tarpin’s got your back.

• Pronunciation: Say it like “tar-pawn”, with the "r" sound rolled lightly like they do in French.
• How to use it: “Cette soirée était tarpin cool.” (That party was really cool.)

When something is lit, you say tarpin.

6. "Avoir le seum"

This phrase literally means “to have the seum”—which sounds kinda weird, right? But what it actually means is you’re super mad or annoyed about something. It's like saying you’ve got “the feels” but the angry version.

• Pronunciation: Say “seum” like “suhm”, kind of like "sum."
• How to use it: “J’ai trop le seum, ils ont annulé le concert.” (I’m so mad, they canceled the concert.)

Next time your plans get wrecked, drop this one to perfectly capture the frustration.

7. "BG"

Short for “beau gosse”, which translates to “good-looking guy”, but it's used gender-neutrally now, kind of like calling someone a "hottie" or "baddie." If someone’s looking good, they’re a BG, simple as that.

• Pronunciation: It’s just like it looks: “bay-jay”.
• How to use it: “T’es trop un BG dans cette photo.” (You look like a hottie in that pic.)

Flex on your Insta or hype up your friends with this one.

8. "Pécho"

If you’re trying to flirt, pécho is the word. It’s “choper” (to catch) spelled backward, and it means to hook up or flirt with someone. French Gen Z loves a good backward word, and this is one you’ll hear in all the juicy convos.

• Pronunciation: Say it like “pay-show”.
• How to use it: “Il a pécho à la fête.” (He hooked up at the party.)

Slide it in next time your friend spills the tea on their dating life.

9. "Je suis dead"

No, this doesn’t mean you’re actually dead. Je suis dead is French Gen Z’s way of saying “I’m dead”, like when something’s so funny you’re metaphorically gone. It’s the French version of “I’m dying” or “I can’t.”

• Pronunciation: “Dead” is literally pronounced just like in English.
• How to use it: “OMG, je suis dead après cette vidéo.” (OMG, I’m dead after that video.)

Next time you’re cracking up in a group chat, this is the perfect reaction.

10. "Boloss"

Calling someone a boloss is basically calling them a loser. It’s the ultimate roast when someone’s being lame or embarrassing themselves. French TikTok and Twitter are full of this word when people get called out for doing something dumb.

• Pronunciation: “Bo-loss” (rhymes with "boss").
• How to use it: “Arrête de faire le boloss.” (Stop acting like a loser.)

Keep it in your back pocket for when someone’s being cringey or extra.

Talk the Talk, Walk the Walk

Gen Z French slang isn’t just about sounding cool; it’s about vibing with a culture that’s all about creativity, flipping words, and keeping things casual. So next time you’re in France or scrolling through French TikTok, drop a few of these phrases and watch your street cred soar.

Stay in the loop with more epic cultural insights and tips from your Gen Z fam right here at Woke Waves Magazine. À bientôt!

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