French abbreviations and texting messages

[PERCE_NEIGE]

This is a short list of messaging abbreviations, (and also some few official abbreviations), you can add your own in the comments.

• "A+" or "@+": for “A plus“ (= see you, "à plus" is the informal short for "à plus tard", see you later.)

• "b1": phonetic short for "good", "well". As "1" is pronounced "un" it makes the same sound in French that "bien".

• "b1sur": phonetic short for “Bien sûr“: Of course.

• "bcp": Official short for “Beaucoup“ (Very much) , as in “merci bcp” (thanks a lot).

• "bjr" Short for "Bonjour" (good day)

• "bsr": Short for "Bonsoir" (good evening)

• "slt": Short for "Salut" (Hello, hi)

• "c" (or "cé"): Approximative phonetic short for “C’est”, meaning “It’s” or “it is”. It's approximative phonetic, because normally "c" or "cé" and "c'est" doesn't have the same sound, one is é, and one is è.

• "c" (or "cé"): Approximative phonetic short for “sais"= know form the verb "savoir). J c= je sais (I know), Tu c = tu sais (you know)

• "c-a-d": official abbreviation “C’est-à-dire” (i.e)

• "c cho" for "c'est chaud", litterally "it's hot", slang to say for instance you could hardly do something, for instance by lack of time, but you have a strong obligation to do it, or you have a very important thing to say, but it's maybe to hard to achieve it. "c'est chaud" = It would be really difficult!

• "dac" or "ok", for "d'accord" (OK)

• "dsl" for “Désolé“ or "Désolée" (Sorry!)

• "DQP": Official acronym for “Dès que possible” (ASAP), not used for messaging, because too formal, not very used.

• "g" Approximative phonetic for “J’ai“ (I have). It's an approximation, because normally the letter "g" and the word "j'ai" doesn't have the same sound, one is é, and one is è. Example: "g f1" = "j'ai faim", (I'm hungry)

• "jms": "official" abbreviation for “Jamais” (Never), not only used for messaging.

• "jtm" for “Je t’aime” (I love you)

• "kan": Phonetic short for “quand“ (When)

• "qd" is the official abbreviation for "quand" (not used in chatroom, they prefer to write a phonetic French.)

• "kom": Phonetic short for "comme" (How). Normally "om" is a nasal sound, but it's assumed here you have "ko-mm"

• "ke": Phonetic short for "que" (That)

• "koid9" (may have other variants): for "Quoi de neuf?" (What’s up?), because "new" (neuf) in French sound like "neuf" the number nine in French.

• "mr6" for "merci" (thanks). I didn't see it very often.

• "ok1" for “Aucun“ (none, no one)

*"oklm" for "au calme" (cool, relaxed)

• "qqn": official abbreviation for “Quelqu’un" (Someone) the messaging and much more informal tequivalent for the official "qqn" is "qq1".

• "RAS": official abbreviation from the army: “Rien à signaler” ( “nothing to report”. Nothing new, basically.") Not only used for messaging.

• "re", abbreviation for "rebonjour" (Hello again)

• "tjs":“official" abbreviation for "Toujours" (Always). Not only used in texto.

• "tt": "official" abbreviation for “Tout” (All, Everything). Not only used in texto.

• "v1" for “Viens” (Come)

• "X moi" for "Crois-moi" (Belive me), because a cross is a "croix" in French, and it sounds like the verb "crois" (from "croire", to believe)

• "ya:" for “Il y a” (There is). "Ya" is very common orally too.

• "tlm" , official abbreviation for "Tout le monde" (Everybody). In messaging: slt tlm = "salut tout le monde"= hello everybody.

• "pkoi" or "pk" for "Pourquoi" (Why)

• "pq" for "Parce que" (Because)

• "stp" for "s'il te plaît" and "svp" for "s'il vous plaît", official abbreviations for "please", not only used in messaging. "stp" can be used orally too in informal speech, when you're begging with insistance.

• "mdr" or "lol" (both are used), "mdr" for "Mort de rire", litterally "death of laughing (too much)". "Lol" can be used orally too to mock someone.

• "ptdr", same than "mdr" (but a bit stronger), for "pété de rire", slang, litterary "snapped of laughing (too much)". It's often very ironic.

• "gg" for the English "good game", as congratulations, is used a lot by gamers.

• "com dab" or "kom dab" (or any other phonetic variant). Used in text messaging and orally in informal speech.

• "t1kiet" (or any variant) for "t'inquiètes!", meaning informally "don't worry.

• "t'es", very common oral short for "tu es". In messaging message it's written "t" (an approximative transcription)

• "chui": oral deformation of “Je suis” (I am)

An interesting site here: http://www.francaisfacile.com/exercices/exercice-francais-2/exercice-francais-7196.php

[Darren_Mart]

Thanks for posting this list Perce_Neige, already added it to my bookmarks! But I admit that text-speak makes me sad, especially in a language as beautiful as French.

[SongbirdSandra]

C'est extrêmement intéressant !  Merci beaucoup pour le partage. :-)

[_splendor_]

that was awesome , mrc bcp (we say mrc instead of merci in our texting ;)

[PERCE_NEIGE]

Thanks Farnaz.

So, mr6 or mrc Farnaz ;-)

[Mundusfr]

Oh là là, vous êtes en train d'apprendre le langage SMS !!! :) Si au bureau, cela nous arrive d'utiliser quelques raccourcis comme A+, ou c-à-d ou encore cdlt pour cordialement, tout le reste vient du langage SMS, à bannir...

En tout cas, je ne les utilise pas. :)

[PERCE_NEIGE]

C'est bien le but de la page. Pouvoir comprendre quand quelqu'un te parle comme ça (par exemple sur un tchat), c'est utile, mais j'ai jamais dit que je cautionnais >:D

[Mundusfr]

Eh bien, je ne le lirai pas et je ne répondrai pas à l'auteur. Dans ma famille, une grande famille, par le nombre :), des cousins, des cousines, des oncles, des tantes et avec leurs enfants etc... ils sont tous prévenus que je ne lirai pas leurs messages s'ils utilisent le langage SMS.

Par conséquent, je ne leur répondrai pas non plus ! Du coup, ils sont obligés de m'écrire en langue française, en bonne et due forme :), pour que je daigne leur répondre ! :):):)

J'ai bien le droit, non ? Je vis dans un pays libre ! :)

PS : je tolère tout de même quelques mots comme lol, mdr ! Mdr. Mais seulement dans un forum de discussion...

[Meg_in_Canada]

Je suis comme ça en anglais. Si vous êtes trop paresseux de m'écrire en le VRAI anglais, je ne me sens pas d'obligation de vous répondre. "U" pour "You," ça me dérange!

[sigmacharding]

Merco bcp- C'est très útil

[seby1607]

Very interesting, have a lignot :). The "ke" instead of "que" is also used in Spanish, just in case you're interested :) .

Edit : I'm not sure if you have put as well "mdr" which means "mort de rire" (dead from laughing, or in English it would be "lol").

[PERCE_NEIGE]

Thanks. Yes, there's the famous mdr, but we use "lol" also.
It would be very useful if you make one with Spanish messaging language, because Spanish people use it more than French (or maybe it shocks me because I can't understand Spanish messaging, lol). As far, I've seen "q" for "que" in Spanish, rather than "ke".

[milly.sorit]

I'm a university teacher in Mexico, believe me "ke " is definitely used among teens, and it actually bothers me more than "q" because at least "q " starts with the right letter :D I think the real problem is when their texting world crosses over to their school world and I end up with their homework full of "k"s and "q"s.

[seby1607]

Haha, ok I'll do my best to do one in Spanish, promised :D ! Thanks for the idea!

[puppy7989]

I saw com DAB on a french friend's facebook page (a message on her wall from one of her friends) .Comme d'habitude fits the sentence so I assume that was the intention. I don't know how common it is though or whether it is a little joke between the two of them.

[PERCE_NEIGE]

Yes, I will add it, thanks! It's "come dab", or "kom dab", or any other phonetic spelling. Comme d'habitude = as usual. It's very common, in informal speech too.

[DatIsDaz]

Some english abreviation such as "LOL" can also be used in French (I think "LOL" is actually more used even though it has the same meaning as "MDR") when texting or on the internet.

I also think that "ASAP" is more used than "DQP". (It comes from the business world, which acquired a lot of english language)

[PERCE_NEIGE]

Yes, you're right "DQP" is too formal, and "ASAP" can be in use (but not when young people are chatting, I don't think they know this acronym.

There's another version for "lol", I don't add it, but it's "lawl", and "trololol", very inronic.

[DatIsDaz]

Right, and we can also let the english speaking world discover the amazing "mortdelol", built on the same way. ^^

[PERCE_NEIGE]

Lol. "Mordelol" I didn't know that one. Do you have an abbreviation for this? mdl? And it could be "mordemordelol" later?

[PERCE_NEIGE]

I think "trololol" and "trolololol" are English indeed (I didn't know that) http://cheezburger.com/4277099520

[juandenil]

ROFLMAO means 'rolling on the floor laughing my arse off ( but still managing to type )

[DatIsDaz]

And indeed, "Trolololo" is a reference to this vid of a russian singer which went viral
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oavMtUWDBTM

[DatIsDaz]

Duo should definitely teach some english lessons in Lolcatz speak :D

[DatIsDaz]

I don't think it has any abreviation but I'm sure I read it on the internet... mortdemortdelol. I definitely like it (it almost sounds like a recursive acronym ->) :D

[PERCE_NEIGE]

Wow, you posted the real mister lol. oO

But we have the same in France in Corsica and the tyrol songs in the Alps! Maybe even better!

It's a bit funny and unusual to talk in English with another French XD

[SpaceMichael]

I use these whenever I'm asking questions:

Pourquoi > Pq (Why)
Comment > Cmt (how?)

For when, instead of kan I do qd.

Also:
Non > nn (No)

Cool list btw!

[PERCE_NEIGE]

Yes, "qd" is the official (formal) abbreviation, teacher taught us to use them to write down the lessons faster. Official abbreviation are correct, but text messaging, is not.

Thanks, I add "qd", very good idea. For the other ones, I never saw "cmt" in a chat, they are more likely to say something like "koman" or "komen" (very phonetic silly French)

[coin-quin]

Please, don't use these... Translations are correct but 99% of them WILL make you look stupid if you use them. They are only used by children (no offense intended) who won't make an effort to spell properly. Yes, it is a plus to know what these mean but, as I said, don't use them if you want people to respect you (seriously) :)

[harryclark17]

I use them all the time, and I'm no child. It's just easier. I wouldn't use them in an email to my boss or anything, but to a friend sure.

[milly.sorit]

I guess, it's like in all languages, if it's faster or shorter to write it on the phone or chat, then that's what we do. I try really hard to always write the full "por que" in Spanish, but most of the times when I text "xq" just beats me to the punch, and I'm a university teacher LOL

[coin-quin]

Do you use things like "v1" "b1" "koid9" "kan" "kom" or "c cho" ? To me some are ok, like "c-a-d", "tjs", "comme d'hab", "qd"... Which are real abbreviations and not deformation or a mark of laziness

[harryclark17]

Why do I have to follow random rules? What's wrong with phonetic spelling? It's how I speak. It's easier. I know how to use both, but there's just no reason to use longer versions of words in a casual conversation.

[Meg_in_Canada]

I have a lot of francophone friends who are capable of writing well, but who often use abbreviations like this on facebook, for instance.

[FrenchAddict7]

Merci! I wish I had French friends to text though... :(

[PERCE_NEIGE]

What are your hobbies? Do you like internet games or anything else? And your age? The native here can help you to find a French communauty interested by the same thing than you, and same age than you, and you'll find a lot of friends, it's easy.

[FrenchAddict7]

Merci, I'm in the range of 9-13 (age). I don't play video games, only study French. I play sports and exercise a lot, too (basketball is the sport I play most).

[PERCE_NEIGE]

I was hoping you like games, because to play online games in French, is a very good way to learn informal French!

I don't have sites about basketball (what are your favorites teams?), but I will look.

Try this one, is a community of game, but little games, (only one of them takes time, it's the RPG called "mush", all the other ones are played in 5 minutes), you can log in with your Google account, if you want, after registring.

http://twinoid.com/fr

[FrenchAddict7]

Oh, I would love to play online games in French! And thanks for helping me! Do you recommend any sites for games??

[PERCE_NEIGE]

Try the one I posted "twinoid" (also available in English, and if you log in with the English interface, you can still see the French speaking gamers.
Playsthe mini-games, and add friends randomly (you pick random names, checking on their profiles they're French), you will have their activity stream on your page (like the page "activity" here on Duo.
You can comment what they say. (Example: you have a message on your activity page that one of them won a game, even if you don't know him, post a "good game!, You're very good!", and the person will reply to you. You will see the reply of his/her friends too, and can add them too, they will probably add you too if they're friendly and English speakers. They will be very happy to practice their English. This communauty is very friendly, and their age is around 11-17.

[FrenchAddict7]

Merci!

[RobinHood10]

Si on sent l'envie d'écrire en abréviations en français, imaginez en arabe. :p

[JoeySlezak]

J'ai un seul ami qui parle français comme moi. Triste non?

[PERCE_NEIGE]

Ne te décourage pas. Les amis, ça se fait.
Il faut que tu trouves une communauté de gens qui te ressemblent, il y en a suffisamment sur le Net. Qu'est-ce que tu aimes faire?

[JoeySlezak]

évidement parle les langues étranger. :)

[PERCE_NEIGE]

Donc... tu es dans la meilleure des communautés en ce moment même :-D

[tonywangtj]

Interesting post! Merci bcp!!

[prky]

Mrc bcp !

[Meg_in_Canada]

I didn't see "jva," for "je vais." I see that one a lot in my facebook feed from francophone friends.

[PERCE_NEIGE]

Thanks. I didn't know this one!

[Meg_in_Canada]

Oh, and "pis" for "puis." Oral and in texts.

[Meg_in_Canada]

It may be pretty Québécois. I'm in a place that even the other Québécois joke about when it comes to language. Ici, ils parlent "la langue de bûcherons." :-D

[DizastaMusic]

C'est précis. Je les utilise tout le temps.

[robert.37]

I also got this one a lot
bvn > bienvenue

[Jenga_Jane]

Good to know English isn't the only language experiencing deterioration at the hands of technology. Still, super useful post. Thanks, Perce-Niege :-) bookmarking!

[PERCE_NEIGE]

Oh yes, it's sad because people don't only use it for messaging, but on the internet also :-((
Here is the Newspeak!

[Jenga_Jane]

Do any of these get reintegrated into to the spoken language? Many English speakers will now say things like "OMG" or "LOL" in actual spoken conversation.

[PERCE_NEIGE]

Yes, people say also "lol" in French, but never "mdr" orally (I will add it, good idea). "Stp" or "dac" can be said orally too, very informally. A lot of them are phonetics, so it doesn't make no change with oral. As French language is a language hard to spell, there are a lot of simplications (but they are not always intentional)

[AlexisLinguist]

Oh, no. Not LOL. Shaking my head.

[milly.sorit]

ha, ha, SMH

[Meg_in_Canada]

Admittedly I'm a looooooong way from Parisian French (I'm in a small region of Québec known for its bad accent), but "y" or "ya" are used very commonly à l'oral for "il y a."

[porquepuedo]

Good to know!

[milly.sorit]

Wow, Interesting... All languages are being somehow abbreviated, I'm not sure that's a good thing, but it is a global phenomenon

[NormanLG07]

Hahhaha Thanks for your abbreviations :D

[staceychoi]

Merci bcp.

[S0R0USH]

I wonder what the French equivalent of "Lyk dis if u cri evry tiem" is?

[SavannahFlower]

i love how you say all that.

[prky]

J'aime "pkoi" "pk" My intitals!

[mrnmibrc]

What does "tklment" mean ?
"ça a été hier tklment" ou "on rentre a la maison tklment"

[DirtyMess]

It is the short for "tranquillement" which means peacefully, quietly.

[HassanMoha653931]

Bonjour tout le monde dans le monde?

[AMBERSANDE16]

hi people whats u dong's

[chrisbrown441096]

thanks and a lingot