LanguaTalk Slow French: "Trop, chaud, grave and other cool words"

Host: Gaëlle
Podcast: LanguaTalk Slow French | Episode Date: March 17, 2022
Level: A2-B1 (Beginner to Lower Intermediate)
Language: 99% French, spoken slowly

Episode Overview

In this episode, Gaëlle introduces five essential French slang words: trop, grave, chaud, dingue, and clair. She explains their original meanings, how they’ve evolved in colloquial French, and provides relatable, real-life examples. The episode aims to help learners sound more authentic and comfortable in informal conversations with native speakers.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Trop

• Original Meaning: "Too much" (expresses excess).

• Colloquial Use: Functions as an intensifier, similar to "really" or "so" in English.

  • Examples:
    • “Ce gâteau est trop bon.” (This cake is really/so good.)
    • Expresses strong enthusiasm:
      • “Tu veux aller au cinéma ce soir ? — Oh mais trop !”
        (Do you want to go to the cinema tonight? — Hell yeah!/Totally!)

• Generational Divide:

  • Gaëlle shares a personal anecdote:
    • "Mon grand-père n’aimait pas du tout que je dise 'trop bon', il me corrigeait toujours: 'Ce n’est pas possible, ce gâteau n’est pas trop bon, il est très bon.'" (06:04)
    • Older generations see "trop" only as excess, never positive.

2. Grave

• Original Meanings:

  • "Serious" in context ("C’est grave.")
  • "Deep/low" as in voice ("Une voix grave.")

• Colloquial Use:

  • Agreement or enthusiasm, much like “totally” or “for sure” in English.
    • Examples:
      • “Tu veux aller au cinéma ce soir ? — Oh mais grave !” (Totally!)
      • Expresses full agreement:
        • “Pfff, il est nul ce film. — Grave !”
          (Ugh, this movie is bad. — Totally!)
    • Notable quote:
      • “Grave, ça ne veut pas du tout dire 'serious' dans ce contexte. C’est pour montrer qu’on est d’accord.” (09:10)

3. Chaud

• Original Meaning: “Hot”.

• Colloquial Uses:

  • “C’est chaud” – Difficult or tricky situation (“That’s tough/That’s rough”).

    • Example:
      • "Elle a perdu son travail et son petit ami. — Ouf, c’est chaud..."
        (She lost her job and her boyfriend. — Wow, that's rough...)
    • “C’est chaud, c’est pour exprimer que la situation est difficile, que c’est complexe.” (10:01)

  • “Qui est chaud ?” – "Who’s up for it?"

    • Used in group plans, e.g., "Qui est chaud pour un resto ce soir ?"
      (Who’s up for going to a restaurant tonight?)

4. Dingue

• Original Meaning: Crazy (mildly pejorative, mental health).

• Colloquial Use: Describes something amazing or unbelievable (like “crazy” in English).

  • Examples:
    • “Je suis allée au concert de Queen en 1985, c’était dingue.”
      (I went to the Queen concert in 1985, it was crazy/incredible.) (11:20)
    • "Les scientifiques ont fait un travail de dingue avec le vaccin."
      (The scientists did an amazing job with the vaccine.)

• “Dingue, c’est un synonyme du mot ‘fou’, ça veut dire ‘crazy’ ou ‘nuts’.” (11:10)

5. Clair

• Original Meanings:

  • "Light" (color), or "clear" (transparent/comprehensible).
    • Example: “Un beau marron clair.” (A nice light brown.)

• Colloquial Use:

  • Expressing agreement or obviousness: “C’est clair” (Totally! / For sure.)
    • Example:
      • “Tu préfères l’autre acteur, non ? — C’est clair !”
        (You prefer the other actor, right? — For sure!)

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• On generational language change:

  • “Mon grand-père... me corrigeait et me disait ‘ce n'est pas possible, ce gâteau n'est pas trop bon, il est très bon.’” (06:04)
    (My grandfather would always correct me and tell me: ‘It’s not possible, the cake is not too good, it’s very good.’)

• On enthusiasm with slang usage:

  • “Oh mais trop !” — Used like “Hell yeah!” (07:20)
  • “Oh mais grave !” — Like “Totally!” with strong agreement. (09:25)

• On empathy through slang:

  • “C’est chaud, c’est pour exprimer que la situation est difficile, que c’est complexe.” (10:01)

• On exciting experiences:

  • “C’était dingue, l’ambiance était incroyable.” (11:20)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:23] — Introduction and episode theme
• [01:30] — Explanation of “trop” and anecdotes
• [06:04] — Generational differences with “trop”
• [07:20] — “Trop” as an enthusiastic response
• [08:00] — “Grave” and its colloquial uses
• [09:10] — “Grave” to express agreement
• [10:00] — “Chaud” for tough situations
• [11:10] — “Dingue” for amazing events
• [11:50] — “Clair” to reinforce agreement
• [13:15] — Recap of all five words with examples

Summary Table: Slang Words at a Glance

| Word | Literal Meaning | Slang Meaning | Example (Colloquial Use) | |--------|------------------------|----------------------------------|---------------------------------------------| | trop | too much | really/so/very, totally | C’est trop bon. / Oh mais trop ! | | grave | serious, deep/low | totally, for sure, I agree | Pfff, grave ! | | chaud | hot | difficult, motivated/up for it | C’est chaud ! / Qui est chaud ? | | dingue | crazy (mental health) | crazy, nuts (amazing, wild) | C’était dingue ! | | clair | light, clear | totally (in agreement) | C’est clair ! |

Practical Takeaways

• These five words add authenticity and nuance to everyday French.
• Each word can be used in various situations to express enthusiasm, agreement, empathy, or amazement.
• Learning these usages helps bridge the gap between textbook French and real-life conversation.

Concluding Thought

"Voilà cinq nouveaux mots que vous pouvez utiliser pour parler avec des français et pour rendre votre discours, votre expression encore plus authentique.” (13:22)

Gaëlle encourages learners to adopt these words for a more natural style, ending with warm wishes for their week.

Replay tip: Read along with the interactive transcript on LanguaTalk.com/frenchpod for maximum benefit.

Next Episode Preview:
No spoilers! Gaëlle will be back with more language and culture tips next week.