If you’ve been learning French from textbooks, you might be surprised: French people don’t always speak like that in real life. The French you hear on the street, in cafés, or among friends is often very different from what you learn at school. That’s why I strongly recommend focusing on oral French first, at least for the first 2–4 weeks of study, to get used to how people actually communicate
One of the easiest ways to sound natural is to learn French slang—the casual words and expressions that French people use every day. Here are some examples of common words and their slang alternatives.
1. Car – “la voiture”
While “la voiture” is technically correct, it’s mostly used in formal situations. In everyday French, people usually say:
- la caisse
- la bagnole
- la tire
So next time you talk about your car, you’ll sound more like a local using one of these casual alternatives.
2. Toilet – “les toilettes”
“Les toilettes” is correct but a bit formal. In daily life, the French often use:
- aller aux chiottes (casual, slightly rude)
- aller au petit coin (cute and playful)
Yes, there’s even a funny PDF dedicated to this simple but important expression! You can check it out in Formal to Slang – 3 Levels of Fluency in French.
3. Money – “l’argent”
While “l’argent” works in formal contexts, casual French has a huge list of alternatives:
- le fric
- le pognon
- la thune
- l’oseille
- le blé
Not surprising—money always gets people’s attention! Using these words in conversation instantly makes you sound more natural.
4. Children – “les enfants”
Instead of the formal “les enfants,” French people usually say:
- les gosses
- les gamins
- les mômes
Fun fact: “La Môme” (the famous Edith Piaf movie) comes from this slang for a child.
5. Work – “le travail”
Although French people work hard, they also love taking strikes and holidays! That might explain why “le travail” isn’t used that much in casual conversation. Slang alternatives include:
- le boulot
- le taf
- le job
These words are much more common when talking to friends or colleagues informally.
Learning French slang is a quick way to sound like a native, and it makes conversations more fun and natural. If you want to dive deeper, there’s a complete guide with tons of slang words and casual expressions available here: Formal to Slang – 3 Levels of Fluency in French.
Start speaking like a local today and leave the textbooks behind…at least for a while!