General
beton
What does beton mean?
In the set phrase 'laisse beton', 'beton' is verlan for 'tomber' (to drop/fall), reshaped from tom-ber to be-ton. The whole phrase means 'drop it' or 'forget it'.
"Laisse beton, c'est pas grave. = Forget it, it's no big deal."
Origin
Verlan from 'tomber', made famous nationwide by Renaud's 1977 hit song 'Laisse beton'. The song is one of the earliest pop-culture moments to put verlan in front of a mass French audience, well before the 1990s rap wave.
Frequently asked questions
What does 'laisse beton' mean?
It means 'drop it' or 'forget it'; 'beton' is verlan for 'tomber' (to drop).
Isn't beton just the word for concrete?
Yes, that's a coincidence — in this phrase 'beton' is the verlan of 'tomber', though the double meaning is often played with.
Where did 'laisse beton' come from?
From verlan, popularised by Renaud's 1977 song 'Laisse beton', an early mainstream airing of the slang.
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