noun General Slang

Keuf

/kœf/ · noun · slang

Verlan for 'flic' (cop) — the standard banlieue word for a police officer.

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Definitions

1

Used collectively for the police as an institution.

“Les keufs ont debarque a la teuf. = The cops showed up at the party.”
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2

Often carries a wary or hostile tone given its origins in communities with tense police relations.

“Fais gaffe, keuf en vue. = Watch out, cop in sight.”
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3

From the standard French 'flic' (cop, itself slang for police). Verlan inverts fli-c to keu-f, giving 'keuf'. It means a police officer.

“Y'a les keufs au coin de la rue. = The cops are on the corner.”
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Keuf In A Sentence

Cours, les keufs arrivent!
Il s'est fait controler par deux keufs.
Dans le clip, ils parlent que des keufs.

Origin & Usage

Banlieue verlan from 'flic', made nationally famous by 1990s rap (notably NTM, whose run-ins with police were legendary) and La Haine, a film centred on police violence. A loaded word reflecting real tensions, not a neutral one.

Variants keufs
Tags #verlan#french#argot#slang-terms#police

People Also Ask

What does keuf mean?

It's French slang for a police officer, formed by reversing the syllables of 'flic'.

Is keuf an insult?

It isn't a slur, but it is often used with suspicion or contempt given its roots in communities with strained police relations.

Where did keuf come from?

From verlan, the back-slang of the French banlieues, central to 1990s rap and the film La Haine.

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