keuf

cop, police officer

noun KUF Rare

Origin: Verlan (back-slang) of 'flic'

Usage Note

Keuf is verlan — the French back-slang that reverses syllables — derived from flic (cop). It is strongly informal and associated with urban youth slang; its use in formal or written French would be jarring. Although it can refer to a female officer, the noun is grammatically masculine (un keuf, plural keufs).

Examples

"Les keufs sont arrivés cinq minutes plus tard."

Natural Translation

The cops arrived five minutes later.

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