noun General Slang

Rebeu

/ʀəbø/ · noun · slang

Double-verlan of 'arabe' (via 'beur') — a French person of North African/Arab descent.

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Definitions

1

Used as a self-identifier within the community, expressing a French-born North African identity.

“La culture rebeu a marque le rap francais. = North African culture shaped French rap.”
by community
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2

Tone depends heavily on the speaker: in-group it is identity and pride; from outsiders it can be loaded, so context matters.

“Fier d'etre rebeu. = Proud to be of North African heritage.”
by community
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3

Ultimately from 'arabe' (Arab). Verlan first produced 'beur', which was then re-verlanised to 'rebeu'. It refers to a French person of North African / Maghrebi descent.

“C'est un rebeu de la cite d'a cote. = He's a North African guy from the next estate.”
by community
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Rebeu In A Sentence

La cuisine rebeu, y'a rien de meilleur.
Beaucoup de rappeurs francais sont rebeus.
Il se revendique rebeu et fier.

Origin & Usage

A documented case of double verlan: 'arabe' to 'beur' (which itself named the 1980s 'beur' generation and movement) and then 'beur' to 'rebeu'. A heritage and identity term, best framed as culture and history, not novelty; tone shifts sharply between in-group and outsider use.

Variants beur
Tags #verlan#french#argot#identity#banlieue

People Also Ask

What does rebeu mean?

It refers to a French person of North African / Arab descent; it comes from verlan-ising 'arabe' twice (arabe to beur to rebeu).

Is rebeu offensive?

Within the community it's an identity term and often a point of pride; from outsiders it can be loaded, so context and speaker matter a lot.

Where did rebeu come from?

From double verlan of 'arabe', building on the 1980s 'beur' generation and its movement.

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