Editing Verlan (section)

== Vocabulary ==
Some verlan words, such as {{lang|fr|meuf}}, have become so commonplace that they have been included in the {{lang|fr|[[Petit Larousse]]}}.<ref>See the [[Petit Larousse]] itself. These words are also given on the Larousse website:  [http://www.larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais/keuf keuf] [http://www.larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais/meuf meuf] [http://www.larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais/ripou ripou]</ref> The purpose of verlan is to create a somewhat secret language that only its speakers can understand. Words becoming mainstream is counterproductive. As a result, such newly common words may be reversed a second time {{crossreference|(see {{format link|#Double verlan}})}}.

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.<ref name=LefkowitzReview/> For example, the word {{lang|fr|meuf}}, which can still be used to refer to any woman, also refers to the speaker's girlfriend when used in the possessive form ({{lang|fr|ma meuf}} → my girl); while the original word {{lang|fr|femme}} would refer to the speaker's wife when used in the same way ({{lang|fr|ma femme}} → my wife). Such words retain a cultural significance from the time at which they appeared in common language. Widespread in the second half of the 20th century, {{lang|fr|beur}} and {{lang|fr|beurette}} (from {{lang|fr|arabe}}) refer to people of northern African descent who live in France. The word {{lang|fr|rebeu}} (a double verlan) is much more recent, and evolved to refer more generally to people of Arab descent who live in France.

In theory, any word can be made into a verlan, but only a few expressions are used in everyday speech. Verbs translated into verlan cannot be conjugated easily. There is no such thing as a verlan grammar, so generally verbs are used in the infinitive, past participle or [[Imperfect|progressive]] form.  For example:
*''J'étais en train de pécho une bebon''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dictionnairedelazone.fr/dictionary/definition/bebon |title=Définition de bebon |work=dictionnairedelazone.fr |language=fr}} 
<br>
Here the words ''pécho'' and ''bebon'' are verlan for ''choper'' and ''bombe'', roughly translating to "hit on" and "hot chick" respectively.</ref> ("I was hitting on a hot chick") is said, but not {{lang|fr|je pécho[ais]}}.

Here are some examples of French words that have been made into a verlan and their English meanings:<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Davis|first=J.J.|date=Autumn 2004|title=Autumn, 2004, Vol. 29 Issue 3, p7, 2 p|journal=Verbatim|volume=29|pages=7}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! French
! Verlan
! English
|-
| bande
| deban
| group
|-
| bête
| teubé
| stupid
|-
| bizarre
| zarbi
| weird
|-
| black (Eng.)
| kebla
| dark-skinned, (African/black) person
|-
| bloqué
| kéblo
| blocked
|-
| bonjour
| jourbon
| hello
|-
| câble
| bleca
| fuse (as in "to blow a fuse")
|-
| classe
| secla
| class
|-
| clope
| peuclot
| cigarette
|-
| branché
| chébran
| trendy
|-
| monde
| demon
| crowd
|-
| disque
| skeud
| album
|-
| fais chier
| fais iech
| it makes one angry
|-
| femme
| meuf
| woman
|-
| flic
| keuf
| cop
|-
| fou
| ouf
| crazy
|-
|futur
|turfu
|future
|-
| français
| céfran
| French
|-
| jobard
| barjot
| crazy
|-
| l'envers
| verlan
| reverse
|-
| louche
| chelou
| shady or weird
|-
| lourd
| relou
| irritating or unbearable
|-
| merci
| cimer
| thanks 
|-
| mère
| reum
| mother
|-
| métro
| tromé
| subway
|-
| musique
| zicmu
| music
|-
| père
| reup
| father
|-
| piscine
| cinepi
| pool (swimming)
|-
| poulet
| lepou
| chicken (similar to "pig" in English; for police officer)
|-
| pourri
| ripou
| rotten (cop)
|-
| rap
| pera
| rap (music)
|-
| truc
| keutru
| stuff
|-
| vas-y
| zyva
| go for it
|-
| speed (Eng.)
| deuspi
| quick
|-
| moi
| oim / wam
| me 
|-
| laisse tomber
| laisse béton
| give up
|-
|}