elie-kakou

Top 10 words and expressions you can only hear in Marseille

undefined undefined 14 août 2023 undefined 14h50

undefined undefined 21 mars 2024 undefined 15h22

The Editor

Elie Kakou

It's not a new thing, in Marseille, we speak loudly and with accents! Despite what tourists may sometimes criticize about our intangible heritage (which they don't have!), this sing-song "talk" is maintained every day with our own words and expressions. People from Marseille, here is a selection that should make you smile.

In the introduction, we announced an accent and it's a reality, it is very present in Marseille. Caricatured by many humorists throughout the ages, the Marseille accent is punctuated with "inG", "tch", "gn" and let's be honest, with some big words of "punctuation".

Yes, yes, some big swear words as "punctuation marks," because Marseille people can easily drop a string of profanity without really being angry. It seems like it gives a rhythm to their sentence and doesn't offend (almost) anyone. It's all in the tone used, fadoli! But enough chattering, these beautiful intonations are just the tip of the iceberg. In the midst of this selection of typical words from our region, some will be familiar to you, especially if you chose the Provençal option in college!

Basic Vocabulary 

  • « Cafoutch » a kind of storage room where you can store anything and everything
  • « Kéké » a young man who struts around
  • « Guitou » a swindler, a smooth talker
  • « Tchio » a small glass of alcohol, usually pastis
- a small counter - "A Pastaga" or "A Jaune," a pastis - "Minot," a kid - "Cavaler," to run


  • «  Nobody » nobody
  • «  Tchitchou » unidentified little piece, a thing!
  • « Branquignolle » a person you can't trust
  • « Tête d'aï » (and not garlic). "Aï" meaning donkey in Provencal.
  • « Le Oaï » the mess
  • « Fada » Crazy
  • « Fadoli » affectionate form of the word "fada"

Common Expressions 

  • « Be careful, you'll stumble
  • Watch out, you're going to stub your toe on an obstacle
  • "Happy New Year" in Provençal is simply "Bonne année"
  • "I'm drunk like never before">" I drank one Ricard too many
  • "Oh my poor thing" It's unbelievable!
  • "A plain butter, no bread, no butter" This man is simply foolish.
  • “You haven't finished grumbling yet”—Stop murmuring your discontent
  • “She keeps complaining all the time”—This woman often grumbles
  • It's always crowded there It's crowded every day
  • "For long"—And so on.Time flies
  • « Oh he hits the blond » The sun is intense
    • «  Oh Fatche de con ! » Wow!
    • « Je vais me prendre un bain »  I'm going to enjoy a dip in the sea or the pool
    • « Il est complètement calu celui-là ! »This guy seems irrational
      • - "Talk to me better" - Watch your language - "He acted all tough, tried to steal my phone, that crazy guy, but I gave him a good telling off and he didn't understand anything" - He tried to play me and steal my phone, but I gave him a good scolding - "Oh relax" - It would be better if you calm down - "It's going off the rails / it's getting crazy" - Things are going wrong! - "Oh really" - Seriously?
      • « I'm completely sleepy from this heat wave » The sun makes me feel feverish
      • « Sweet-faced bread slice » This person has a unique appearance
      • « Oh my goodness, move over, we're too squished here! » Goodness, make some space, we are too cramped here.
      • « Are you good at playing boules? » Do you know how to play pétanque?