Skip to content
How to use "kiffer", "relou" and "ouf" in sentences visualisation

How to use "kiffer", "relou" and "ouf" in sentences

French Slang Secrets: Speak Like a True Parisian!: How to use "kiffer", "relou" and "ouf" in sentences
Learn with Comprenders App Join Telegram Courses About Comprenders

Here are explanations and examples for using the French slang words “kiffer,” “relou,” and “ouf” in sentences:

Kiffer

  • Meaning: To like, love, or enjoy something intensely. It is casual and youthful slang, often stronger than just “like.”
  • Usage: It can be used with people, things, activities, or concepts.
  • Examples:
    • Tu kiffes ton prof de français ? – Ouais ! Il est sympa ! (You like your French teacher? Yeah, he’s cool!)
    • Je kiffe cette chanson. (I love this song.)
    • C’était une bonne fête. J’ai kiffé. (It was a good party. I enjoyed myself.)
    • Je te kiffe. (I like/love you, slang for “je t’adore.”) 1 2 3 4

Relou

  • Meaning: Annoying or bothersome. It is Verlan slang, which reverses syllables; “relou” comes from “lourd” meaning heavy (figuratively heavy or annoying).
  • Usage: To describe a person or situation that is a nuisance.
  • Examples:
    • Ce mec est trop relou. (That guy is so annoying.)
    • Cette situation est vraiment relou. (This situation is really annoying.) 4 5

Ouf

  • Meaning: Crazy or amazing. Another Verlan word, “ouf” is reversed from “fou” (crazy).
  • Usage: Used to describe something mind-blowing, impressive, or extreme.
  • Examples:
    • Ce concert était ouf ! (That concert was crazy/amazing!)
    • Le film était ouf, j’ai adoré ! (The movie was crazy, I loved it!) 4

These words are common in informal speech among young French speakers and are best used in casual contexts.

How the three words behave in real French

Kiffer is a verb, so it works like a regular action word: je kiffe, tu kiffes, il/elle kiffe, nous kiffons in more playful writing, though the slang form is usually heard in everyday spoken French. Relou and ouf are adjectives, so they usually sit next to a noun or after être: un prof relou, c’est relou, une ambiance ouf, c’est ouf. That difference matters because kiffer expresses a feeling, while relou and ouf describe the thing that causes the feeling.

A useful way to remember them is:

  • kiffer = to really like
  • relou = annoying
  • ouf = crazy, intense, impressive

Sentence patterns that sound natural

With kiffer

  • Je kiffe + noun: Je kiffe ce groupe.
  • Je kiffe + infinitive: Je kiffe voyager.
  • J’ai kiffé + noun / event: J’ai kiffé le concert.
  • Je te kiffe: very familiar, affectionate, and potentially romantic

The tone of kiffer is upbeat and direct. It often sounds more expressive than aimer, but less formal and less polished. In spoken French, it is common in music, casual conversation, and social media.

With relou

  • C’est relou: C’est relou de faire la queue.
  • C’est trop relou: Les retards sont trop relous.
  • Quelqu’un est relou: Mon voisin est relou.

Relou often carries a slightly exasperated tone. It can mean “annoying,” “a pain,” or “such a hassle,” depending on context. Because it comes from verlan, it feels distinctly slangy and informal.

With ouf

  • C’est ouf: Le trafic aujourd’hui, c’est ouf.
  • Un/une + noun + ouf: Une soirée ouf, un bruit ouf
  • Verbs of reaction: J’ai trouvé ça ouf.

Ouf can be positive or negative. A “crazy” situation can mean exciting, extreme, chaotic, or unbelievable. Context and tone decide whether it sounds admiring or critical.

Common mistakes

  • Using them in formal writing: These words are not appropriate in emails to a professor, official documents, or job applications.
  • Treating relou and ouf like verbs: They do not conjugate. Je relou and je ouf are incorrect.
  • Overusing je te kiffe: It can sound intimate or flirtatious. In neutral conversation, j’aime bien is safer.
  • Assuming ouf always means good: It may also mean shocking, wild, or excessive.

Quick comparison

  • Je kiffe ce film. = I really like this movie.
  • Ce film est relou. = This movie is annoying.
  • Ce film est ouf. = This movie is crazy/amazing.

The three words are all informal, but they do different jobs. Kiffer expresses liking; relou complains; ouf reacts with surprise or admiration. In everyday spoken French, hearing the stress and emotion around the words is often as important as the dictionary meaning, and active conversation practice helps those nuances become automatic.

Pronunciation notes

  • kiffer: roughly kee-FEHR
  • relou: roughly ruh-LOO
  • ouf: roughly oof

In fast speech, relou and ouf are short and punchy, which helps them sound natural in casual conversation.

References