Dirty French: Everyday Slang from

Dirty Languages

by Adrien Clautrier, Henry Rowe

GET D!RTY

Next time you’re traveling or just chattin’ in French with your friends, drop the textbook formality and bust out with expressions they never teach you in school,

•Cool slang
•Funny insults
•Explicit sex terms
•Raw swear words

Dirty French teaches the casual expressions heard every day on the streets of

•What's up?
Ça va?

•He's totally hot.
Il est un gravure de mode.

•That brie smells funky.
Ce brie sent putain de drôle.

•I'm gonna get ripped!
Je vais me fracasser!

•I gotta piss.
Je dois pisser.

•The ref is fucking asshole.
L'arbitre est un gros enaelé!

•Wanna try doggy-style?
Veux-tu faire l'amour en levrette?

Genres: France, Language, Reference, Nonfiction, Linguistics

160 pages, Paperback

First published August 5, 2008

Reviews

[Manybooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I have in fact enjoyed Adrien Clautrier's Dirty French considerably more than Daniel Chaffey's at times rather massively vulgar and quite personally annoying Dirty German (as the text, as the presented expressions of everyday French vernacular, of run of the mill French slang are definitely considerably more informative, entertaining and engaging than the latter was and remains to and for me), and I while do oh so very much appreciate that in Dirty French, the author has definitely and fortunately put an increased emphasis on expressive French vernacular that does not need by nature and necessity have to be disgusting and obscene in order to be included, I still started to become frustratingly if not actually pretty massively bored rather quickly (and while this might indeed be quite the nature of the proverbial beast with slang and discourse dictionaries like Dirty French, Dirty German etc., I do offer my caveat of potential tedium and boredom, especially if one is attempting to peruse these books from cover to cover). Still, I most probably would be ranking Dirty French with four stars instead of the three stars I am now considering, if there were an index included at the back of the book (the lack of which really does render Dirty French more than a bit annoyingly, frustratingly user unfriendly for easy and quick reference), and more importantly (at least for me), if Lindsay Mack's accompanying black and white illustrations were a trifle less "chesty" in appearance (for while there are thankfully not nearly as many exaggeratingly bosomed depicted females represented in Dirty French as in Dirty German, I do still find it a trifle offensive and visually, aesthetically unpleasing that ALL of the illustrated female figures do somehow manage to appear as though they had just undergone some very heavy-duty breast enhancements and enlargements).

[ALLEN · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not bad, but not great either: this is the kind of guide that treats slang, vulgar and obscene words and phrases in a "Berlitz guide" manner; that is, it tries to convert English to French expressions and that's that (with a few exceptions).

There are two problems with this: (1) slang, even dirty slang, can evolve rapidly; and (2) what translates is not as important as what you mean to say in what context, how much offense to give (or not give) and other considerations outside of strict translation. That's why I prefer that "golden" if salacious oldie, Merde!: The Real French You Were Never Taught at School by Geneviève, which makes you think first, but also allows you to shape your impactful utterances not only situationally, but grammatically too.

[George Ant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Πιθανόν πιο χρήσιμο από τα βιβλία του φροντιστηρίου :-p

[Roxy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was definitely amusing and had some fun sayings, but as slang is ever evolving and editions have not been updated, it is ever so slightly out of date. This is definitely for someone who is at least high-beginner, because the translations are not so much literal as they are the mimic the vibe of the American/English phrase counterpart. It's all about context.

My biggest problem was how ridiculously male-centric it was. All of the sayings and jokes and situational examples were from the hetero, male perspective; as if women or gay men have no interest in learning french colloquialisms and slang. Most if not all of the cultural information were things that were only really applicable to straight men. 10 bucks for a book that had outdated information that only half of the population can use.

[Ksenia · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot of outdated and outmoded expressions. Also, on the chapter of sex the authors got really perverted, imho. Overall, nothing special.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

L'autre livre de ce duo m'a déjà appris beaucoup de ces phrases et a l'air plus joli, mais celui-ci tient mieux dans votre poche.

The other book by this duo already taught me many of these phrases and looks nicer, but this one fits in your pocket better.

[Mahmoud Abdel samie · Rating 4 out of 5]

U can know alot about france and it's culture by reading this book .. i loved how the author wrote it .. he is a bold badass

[Kristina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hysterical

[Kaisa Mettille · Rating 4 out of 5]

good refrence material.

[Florina Mois · Rating 5 out of 5]

feecking awesome!!!!!!!!!!

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learnt many things from this book, even some I need to know.