Texting in French can be tricky, especially when abbreviations and slang come into play. Just like in English, French speakers use shortcuts to type faster and communicate more casually. This guide will walk you through some of the most common French texting abbreviations you’ll see in text messages, social media, and casual online chats.
1. Bjr (Bonjour – Hello)
The most common greeting in French, bonjour (“hello”), gets shortened to bjr. You’ll see this used frequently at the beginning of a message. It’s informal but not overly casual, making it appropriate in most texting situations.
- Example: “Bjr, comment ça va ?” (Hello, how’s it going?)
2. Slt (Salut – Hi/Bye)
If bjr still seems too formal for your texting, go with slt. It stands for salut, which can mean both “hi” and “bye” in French. It’s the perfect friendly, casual greeting or farewell for close friends.
- Example: “Slt, tu fais quoi ce soir ?” (Hi, what are you doing tonight?)
3. Stp / Svp (S’il te plaît / S’il vous plaît – Please)
To keep it polite while texting, stp and svp are essential. Stp is the informal version of “please” (used with people you know well), while svp is for formal situations or when you’re addressing someone respectfully.
- Example (informal): “Peux-tu m’aider stp ?” (Can you help me, please?)
- Example (formal): “Répondez-moi svp.” (Please respond to me.)
4. Dsl (Désolé – Sorry)
Sometimes, we need to apologize quickly in a text. That’s where dsl comes in, short for désolé (“sorry”). You’ll see this abbreviation used in informal apologies.
- Example: “Dsl, je suis en retard.” (Sorry, I’m late.)
5. Mdr (Mort de rire – LOL)
French speakers don’t use “LOL” as much as English speakers. Instead, they use mdr, which stands for mort de rire (literally: “dying of laughter”). It’s the go-to way to show something is funny in a message.
- Example: “Ton histoire mdr!” (Your story is hilarious!)
6. Ptdr (Pété de rire – ROFL)
If something is even funnier than just mdr, you’ll see ptdr. This stands for pété de rire, which translates to “burst out laughing.” It’s similar to ROFL in English, used when you find something incredibly funny.
- Example: “Ptdr, t’as vu la vidéo ?” (ROFL, did you see the video?)
7. Bcp (Beaucoup – A lot)
Why type the whole word beaucoup when you can shorten it to bcp? French texters often use this abbreviation when expressing quantity or frequency.
- Example: “Merci bcp !” (Thanks a lot!)
8. Rdv (Rendez-vous – Meeting)
In the world of texting, rdv is a quick way to arrange a meeting or a date. Short for rendez-vous, it’s commonly used to set plans with someone.
- Example: “On se voit à 18h pour le rdv ?” (Shall we meet at 6 pm for the meeting?)
9. Pk (Pourquoi – Why)
When you need to ask why, just use pk. This abbreviation is incredibly popular and saves time in texting conversations.
- Example: “Pk tu ne viens pas ?” (Why aren’t you coming?)
10. A+ (À plus – See you later)
Looking for a quick way to say goodbye? A+ is shorthand for à plus (“see you later”). It’s a casual and friendly way to wrap up a conversation, similar to “see ya” in English.
- Example: “A+! On se parle plus tard.” (See you later! We’ll talk later.)
11. Tkt (T’inquiète – Don’t worry)
If you want to reassure someone not to worry, use tkt, short for t’inquiète. It’s a friendly and casual way to say “don’t worry” in French texting.
- Example: “Tkt, tout va bien se passer.” (Don’t worry, everything will be fine.)
12. 6né (Ciné – Cinema)
This is one of those fun abbreviations that relies on phonetics. 6né sounds like ciné, which is short for cinéma (cinema or movie). It’s a common abbreviation when you’re discussing movies or plans to go to the cinema.
- Example: “Tu veux aller au 6né ce soir ?” (Do you want to go to the cinema tonight?)
13. Dac (D’accord – OK)
Instead of typing out d’accord, which means “okay” or “agreed,” French texters simply use dac. It’s the equivalent of texting “ok” or “cool” in English.
- Example: “Dac, à demain alors.” (OK, see you tomorrow then.)
14. 2m1 (Demain – Tomorrow)
This is another phonetic abbreviation where 2m1 sounds like demain (“tomorrow”). It’s a common abbreviation when making plans for the following day.
- Example: “On se voit 2m1 ?” (Shall we meet tomorrow?)
15. Cc (Coucou – Hi/Hey)
For a friendly and cute greeting, French texters use cc to represent coucou, which is a playful way to say “hi” or “hey.” It’s often used between close friends or family members.
- Example: “Cc, tu vas bien ?” (Hey, how are you?)
16. Sns (Sans – Without)
Sns is shorthand for sans, which means “without.” This abbreviation is often used when discussing what is excluded or absent in a situation.
17. Cmt (Comment – How)
When you want to ask how someone is doing, you can shorten comment to cmt. This is a quick way to check in with friends.
- Example: “Cmt ça va ?” (How’s it going?)
18. Rien à cirer (RAC) – (I don’t care)
Rien à cirer translates to “I don’t care,” and it can be abbreviated to RAC. It’s often used in a dismissive context.
- Example: “Je RAC de ce qu’il dit.” (I don’t care what he says.)
19. Là (Laisse – Let it be)
When someone is urging you to stop worrying or to let things be, they might use the abbreviation là. It’s derived from laisse, meaning “let” or “leave.”
- Example: “Là, ça ne sert à rien.” (Let it be; it’s useless.)
20. B1 (Bien – Good)
This abbreviation is simply a phonetic way to say bien (“good”). It’s used in casual conversations to express approval.
- Example: “C’est b1, j’aime ça !” (That’s good, I like it!)
21. Wesh (Hey)
Wesh is a popular slang term often used among younger people as a casual greeting, similar to “hey” or “what’s up.”
- Example: “Wesh, t’as fait quoi aujourd’hui ?” (Hey, what did you do today?)
22. Félo (Félicitations – Congratulations)
When you want to congratulate someone, you can use the abbreviation félo, which stands for félicitations. It’s often used in friendly contexts.
- Example: “Félo pour ton diplôme !” (Congratulations on your diploma!)
23. Tmtc (Tu me comprends – You know what I mean)
Tmtc stands for tu me comprends, meaning “you know what I mean.” It’s often used to express understanding or shared feelings.
- Example: “C’était trop drôle, tmtc !” (It was so funny, you know what I mean!)
24. Quoi de 9 (Quoi de neuf – What’s new)
This is a casual way to ask someone what’s new or what’s happening in their life. It’s often used among friends.
- Example: “Quoi de 9 depuis la dernière fois ?” (What’s new since the last time?)
25. A2M1 (À demain – See you tomorrow)
Similar to 2m1 for “tomorrow,” this abbreviation is another playful way to say “see you tomorrow,” emphasizing the day ahead.
- Example: “A2M1 alors !” (See you tomorrow then!)
26. Cm (Comme – Like)
When comparing or explaining something, you can use cm as an abbreviation for comme (“like”). It’s used to draw comparisons.
- Example: “Elle danse cm une pro.” (She dances like a pro.)
27. Xoxo (Bisous – Kisses)
While xoxo is commonly used in English, it has made its way into French texting as a way to say goodbye affectionately, often used among friends or family.
- Example: “À bientôt, xoxo !” (See you soon, kisses!)
28. Pr (Pour – For)
This abbreviation is a quick way to say pour, which means “for.” It’s useful in many contexts, especially when making plans.
- Example: “Je le fais pr toi.” (I’m doing it for you.)
29. B1N (Bienvenu – Welcome)
In some texts, B1N is used as a phonetic shortcut for bienvenu, which means “welcome.” It’s often used when greeting someone.
- Example: “B1N à ma fête !” (Welcome to my party!)
30. C c (C’est ça – That’s it)
You can use C c as an abbreviation for c’est ça, meaning “that’s it” or “exactly.” It’s often used to confirm something.
- Example: “Tu as compris ? – C c !” (Did you understand? – That’s it!)
