hit "Laisse béton" by singer Renaud ( is verlan for and the phrase means "drop it"). Verlan is popular as a form of expression in French hip-hop. Artists claim that it fits well with the musical medium because "form ranks way over substance". The stage name of Belgian pop artist and songwriter Stromae (real name Paul Van Haver) is verlan for . Voltaire, the nom-de-plume of François-Marie Arouet, is possibly a verlan word for Airvault. See also Back slang Language game Louchébem Lunfardo, which has some reverse words Pig Latin Podaná Rhyming slang Šatrovački (in Serbo-Croatian) Shelta Totoiana (in Romanian) Tougo (in Japanese) Vesre (in Spanish) References External links French slang Language games Cant languages Hip hop terminology