keuf
What does keuf mean? keuf is a French moderate that translates to “cop, pig, five-oh” in English.
Literal Translation
cop (verlan of flic)
Meaning & Usage
"cop, pig, five-oh"
Verlan for 'flic' (cop), itself already slang for 'policier.' It's the default word for police in youth slang — not inherently an insult, but the context in which it's used (banlieues, interactions with authority) gives it a hostile edge. 'Les keufs' is how a group of young people refers to approaching police.
Examples in the Wild
'Les keufs arrivent!' — the cops are coming! 'Fais gaffe aux keufs' — watch out for the cops.
Regional Variations
Neutral descriptor, default word for police
Implies anti-authority stance
When to Use It
Context
- Casual conversations with friends
- Informal settings where profanity is accepted
- Direct confrontation (use with caution)
Avoid
- Professional or formal settings
- Job interviews, meetings, or customer-facing situations
Cultural Context
Reflects the deep tension between French police and banlieue communities. Using 'keuf' instead of 'policier' is a social marker — it signals which side of the authority divide you stand on. French rap is saturated with the word. The progression flic → keuf mirrors how each generation needs its own anti-authority slang.
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“to get out, to bolt, to take off”
Another crude way to say 'to leave,' slightly less aggressive than 'se casser.' 'Barre-toi' is 'get out of here.' 'Je me barre' is 'I'm leaving.' The word implies leaving quickly, sometimes covertly — sneaking out of a boring party or fleeing a bad situation.
con / conne
“stupid / idiot / asshole (fem: bitch)”
Originally vulgar slang for female genitalia (cunt), now primarily means 'stupid' or 'idiot' in France. The feminine 'conne' is more offensive than 'con'.
crade
“gross, filthy, nasty”
Slang contraction of 'crasseux' (filthy) that became its own word. It describes anything disgustingly dirty — a room, a person, a habit. Less intense than 'dégueulasse' but covers the same territory. The extended form 'cradingue' adds emphasis through its playful suffix.
raclure
“scum, lowlife, bottom-feeder”
What you scrape off the bottom of a pot — the residue, the dregs. Applied to a person, it means they're the lowest of the low, the scum of society. It's a creative insult that paints a vivid picture of worthlessness.
nique
“fuck”
The raw verb form of 'niquer,' used on its own as a crude exclamation or command. Unlike 'baiser,' which has a polite meaning (to kiss) that was slowly corrupted, 'niquer' has always been purely vulgar — borrowed from Arabic and arriving in French already loaded.
chier
“to shit / to annoy”
To defecate; also used in expressions meaning 'to annoy' or 'bore'.
dégueulasse
“disgusting, gross, nasty”
The go-to French word for expressing physical or moral disgust. It covers everything from a filthy bathroom to a politician's corruption scandal. Shortened to 'dégueu' in casual speech, which somehow sounds even more disgusted despite being shorter.