Verlan

The French author Auguste Le Breton uses numerous examples of verlan, for instance in Du rififi chez les hommes.

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.

Widespread in the second half of the 20th century, beur and beurette (from arabe) refer to people of northern African descent who live in France.

The word rebeu (a double verlan) is much more recent, and evolved to refer more generally to people of Arab descent who live in France.

There is no such thing as a verlan grammar, so generally verbs are used in the infinitive, past participle or progressive form.

[3] Many verlan words refer either to sex or drugs, related to the original purpose of keeping communication secret from institutions of social control.

Lefkowitz claims that the best speakers of the language are often the worst students, those most needing to hide from authority.

[9] The stage name of Belgian pop artist and songwriter Stromae (real name Paul Van Haver) is verlan for maestro.

[11]: 314 The French language movie poster for the 2023 American film Barbie contains a line that has been interpreted as verlan: "Elle peut tout faire.

Warner Bros. refused to confirm or deny whether the profane double entendre was intentional but appreciated the added publicity that the poster generated.