This French 4 lesson explains French registers step by step, with examples in French and English. Then practise with the worksheet on French registers and check yourself with the quiz.
Quick answer: French has three main registers: soutenu (formal, for letters and ceremonies), courant (standard, for school, shops and daily life) and familier (casual, for friends and family). Choose the register from the person you are talking to and the situation. Slang such as verlan and texting abbreviations belongs only to the familier level.
Level: French 4 (high school, ACTFL Intermediate Mid) · Standards: ACTFL Intermediate Mid, WL 1.2 Interpretive, WL 1.3 Presentational, WL 4.1 Language Comparisons, WL 2.1 Cultural Practices
French registers: the lesson
What are the registers of French?
Definition
A register (un registre de langue) is the level of language you choose for a given audience. The same idea can be said in a formal way, a standard way or a casual way. Good speakers move easily between them.
How does the vocabulary change from one register to another?
| Idea | Soutenu | Courant | Familier |
|---|---|---|---|
| book | un ouvrage | un livre | un bouquin |
| car | une automobile | une voiture | une bagnole |
| job | un emploi | un travail | un boulot |
| to eat | se restaurer | manger | bouffer |
| friend | un ami | un copain | un pote |
What changes in grammar, verlan and texting?
Rule
In casual speech, ne disappears (Je sais pas), tu merges with the verb (T’as vu ?), and questions use intonation instead of inversion. In formal French, you keep ne … pas, use vous, and may invert: Avez-vous vu ce film ?
Examples
- Pourriez-vous m’indiquer la gare ? — Could you show me the station? (formal)
- Tu sais où est la gare ? — Do you know where the station is? (casual)
- Cette meuf est ouf ! — That girl is crazy! (verlan: femme, fou)
- Slt, tkt, a+ ! — Hi, don’t worry, see you later! (texting)
Common mistake
English speakers read familier as familiar, but it means casual or informal. And courant means standard, not current. A second trap is using slang with a teacher, a boss or an adult stranger: Salut, t’as vu mon dossier ? sounds rude in an email to a principal.
Culture note
Verlan comes from l’envers (the reverse). It has been popular among young people in France for decades, and some words, such as meuf and ouf, are now widely understood. Still, French adults expect polite, standard language in shops, offices and schools.
How do you choose the right register in real life?
Ask yourself three questions before you speak or write. Who is my reader or listener? How well do I know this person? What is the purpose of the message?
- With a teacher, a boss or a stranger: use vous, full negatives and polite formulas such as Je vous remercie.
- In a shop, a restaurant or a classroom discussion: use standard French, clear and friendly.
- With close friends, teammates or siblings: casual French is natural, and a little verlan or a texting shortcut adds color.
You can also play with registers on purpose: a joke between friends often borrows a formal phrase, such as Veuillez agréer mes salutations distinguées at the end of a silly text.
Zoé’s tip
When in doubt, choose courant and vous. Nobody is offended by polite standard French, but slang with the wrong person can close a door.
Key points to remember
- Soutenu = formal, courant = standard, familier = casual; argot and verlan are slang.
- Familier does not mean familiar: it means informal.
- Casual French drops ne in negatives and often uses on instead of nous.
- Verlan reverses syllables: femme becomes meuf, fou becomes ouf.
- Texting shortcuts like bcp, slt and mdr stay in messages to friends.
Formal, Casual and Slang: Choosing Your Register: frequently asked questions
What are the three levels of language in French?
They are soutenu (formal), courant (standard) and familier (casual). Slang (argot) and verlan are part of the familier level. Choose the one that fits your audience and the situation.
What is verlan?
Verlan is a kind of slang that reverses the syllables of a word, such as femme becoming meuf. The word verlan itself comes from l’envers. Use it only with friends.
Does familier mean familiar?
No. In French, familier means informal or casual. It is a false friend. Speakers use it for words like bouquin or bagnole, which are fine with friends but not in an essay.
Can I use texting abbreviations like tkt or slt at school?
Use them only in private messages with friends. In an email or a written assignment, write full words such as salut and ne t’inquiète pas.
How do I sound polite in French?
Use vous with adults you do not know, keep ne … pas, and choose polite phrases such as Pourriez-vous … ? or Je vous remercie. Avoid slang and abbreviations.