quoi de neuf, frérot
quoi de neuf, frérot is the French way to say "sup bro".
This phrase is an informal greeting used to ask a male friend how he is doing or what is new. While quoi de neuf is a common way to ask "what's up", adding frérot specifically targets a male friend in a very casual, slangy manner.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase quoi de neuf, frérot is composed of two parts: quoi de neuf which literally means "what of new" and frérot, a diminutive of frère (brother) that literally means "little brother".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
quoi de neuf, frérot is highly informal and should only be used with close friends or peers.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Quebec, Canada, you might use the informal greeting Salut mon chum, where chum is the local slang equivalent for "bro".
When do people say it?
When someone asks quoi de neuf, a common natural response is Pas grand-chose, which means "not much".
Did you know?
- While frérot is used for friends, using the standard frère as a greeting in some French urban slang can actually be more aggressive or assertive.
- The word neuf in quoi de neuf is a homonym that can mean either 'new' or the number 'nine'.
- The English 'what' and the French quoi are distant cousins, both descending from the same Proto-Indo-European root, though they sound different due to historical sound shifts.
Examples in context
- Alors, quoi de neuf, frérot ?So, what's new, bro?
Example conversation
Emma meets her brother Nathan in the kitchen.
- EmmaCoucou Nathan ! Quoi de neuf, frérot ?Hey Nathan! Sup bro?
- NathanPas grand-chose, et toi ?Not much, and you?
- EmmaTout va bien, merci.Everything is fine, thanks.
- NathanTant mieux !That's good!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries de, frérot, neuf, quoi, CC BY-SA 4.0.
