Largonji / Loucherbem / Louchébème

Largonji, also called loucherbem or louchébème, is a form of French slang that consists of playing around with syllables, much like pig Latin. It is a secret language that was invented by the butchers of la Villette in Paris.

Largonji is even more similar to pig Latin than verlan, as you can see by its formation. In largonji, the first letter of the word is moved to the end and one of a wide variety of suffixes is attached:

• -é
• -em
• -gue
• -i
• -ic
• -iche
• -oque
• -ot
• -qué
• -uche

An L is then placed at the beginning of the word, thus all largonji words start with L.

For example, let's start with the word jargon, which can mean jargon, lingo, or gibberish. Take the J and put it at the end of the word, then add a suffix - in this case, we'll use -i. Put an L at the beginning of the word and voilà.

   jargon... argonj... argonji... largonji

Thus, you have the secret word largonji - the name of this language (jargon in largonji).

Let's try another example: boucher... oucherb... oucherbem... loucherbem - the other name for this language, after the butchers who invented and used it.

Largonji is not an exact science. Letters may be dropped, changed, or added. Some single-syllable words may or may not have a suffix added (fou = louf or loufoque). Largonji is no longer commonly used, although you might hear a word here and there.


Essential Largonji / Loucherbem / Louchébème

Here are some common largonji terms that you might run across. You'll notice that many of the terms have to do with numbers and money - the butchers obviously liked to talk about prices in secret.

Largonji	French origin	English: literal, figurative
à loilpé, à loilpuche	à poil	naked
un lacsé	sac	bag, 10 france
un lageopem	pageot	bed
une lamefé	femme	woman/wife
larantequé, laranque, larante	quarante	forty, forty francs
largonji	jargon	jargon/gibberish
un larteaumic	marteau	hammer, crazy person
un lateaubèm	bateau	boat
latqué	quatre	four, 20-centime piece
un latrompèm	patron	boss
laubé, laubiche	beau	handsome
lerche, lerchot, lerchèm	cher	expensive
leude	deux	two, two francs
le leurrebèm	beurre	butter, money
lidré	dix	ten, ten francs
lincsé	cinq	five, five francs
un linspré	prince	prince
un linvé	vingt	twenty, twenty francs
un listrobèm	bistrot	bistro
un loinqué	coin	corner
un lopé	peu	little/bit
un loubé	bout	end
en loucedoc	en douce	quietly
un loucherbèm	boucher	butcher
louf, loufoque, loutingue, loffe	fou	crazy