verlan
Noun
Meaning
verlan (uncountable)
A type of backslang used in French, in which the order of the syllables or sounds of words is changed.
Anagrams
Examples
A form of slang very similar to verlan is occasionally used in Greek and is called "podaná", itself an inverted form of "anápoda" (i.e. backwards or "wrong way round"); it usually involves words that are already slang by themselves.
In particular, French words that end in a ⟨e⟩ muet (such as femme) and words that end in a pronounced consonant and which usually have an ⟨e⟩ muet added at the end (such as flic) retain the sound of the ⟨e⟩ muet in verlan.
Lefkowitz 1989, pp. 319 320. Some verlan words, which are now well incorporated in common French language, have taken on their own significance, or at least certain connotations that have changed their meaning.
Vocabulary Some verlan words, such as meuf, have become so commonplace that they have been included into the Petit Larousse See the Petit Larousse itself.
General characteristics and structure Word formation main Words in verlan are formed by switching the order in which syllables from the original word are pronounced.
In theory, any word can be translated into verlan, but only a few expressions are used in everyday speech.