What is French for "cop"?

Factual Questions
1

I am curious to know if the French have a slang term for a policeman (gendarm sp?). Someone told me it was a word sounding like “flip”, IIRC. Is this correct? - Jinx

2

flic

3

The 1993 Burt Reynolds film “Cop and a Half” was released in France
as “Un Flic et Demi” I remember seeing the movie posters on every
kiosk down the Champs Elysées [shudder].

…sorry for the hijack:D

4

It’s “flic” , indeed. (pronounced “fleek”)

5

Hi Jacque…
The French Film ‘Les Ripoux’, Parisian backslang for ‘The Rotten’ was released over here as ‘Le Cop’.
Top film. Well worth watching.

I should change my name to ‘Carlos’…

6

There is also “keuf” (urban slang) and “feuk” if you want to be even more vulgar.

7

Wow, I knew the Verlan (sp?) ‘keuf’ - but it’s been reversed again to produce ‘feuk’ ?!

8

Anybody know the etymolgy of flic? No acronyms! :smiley:

9

There’s also perdreau (partridge) and poulet (chicken), but these have fallen out of favour.

10

DarrenS: yes, and it’s not the only example. See french.about.com.

11

If you can read French, there’s an article that talks about all the slang terms for “policeman”. It’s from the French ministry of defense. Wow.

As for the etymology of “flic”, I’ve found an article originally published in 1930 by a precursor of Cecil, on Gallica:

My translation:

The “Vidocq” mentioned was police chief until 1827 and wrote about crime and his life.

Hope that answers your question!