PSG chant: The story of the "Paname" chant

When "Paname" is chanted, it's the affectionate nickname for Paris that resonates. "Paname" is the popular slang for the capital, transforming fandom into a celebration of popular Parisian identity.

Sung with pride, this Parisian chant, PSG, firmly establishes the club in Parisian popular culture. But where does this nickname come from, and how did it become a rallying cry? Discover the story of Paname, the Paris of Parisians.

The origin of the nickname "Paname"

The nickname "Paname" dates back to the beginning of the 20th century. Its precise origin remains debated, but the most widespread explanation refers to the Panama hat, which was very fashionable in Paris in the 1900s-1920s.

Another theory links Paname to the Panama Canal scandal that shook France in 1892. Whatever the case, "Paname" became popular slang for Paris, used affectionately by the Parisian working classes.

Paname, the popular Paris

"Paname" is not the Paris of tourists or postcards. It's the Paris of Parisians , the Paris of working-class neighborhoods, bistros, and Parisian wit. It's an authentic Paris, far removed from clichés.

By using "Paname," PSG supporters reclaim this popular identity. They don't support the club of the museum-city, but the club of Paname, the real, living, vibrant Paris of ordinary Parisians.

Lyrics evoking "Paname"

Listen to "Paname"

Paname in French culture

"Paname" permeates all of French popular culture. Songs, films, novels : the nickname appears everywhere as a marker of Parisian authenticity. Léo Ferré, Renaud, rappers: all have sung about Paname.

This cultural omnipresence makes "Paname" much more than a nickname: it's a symbol of popular Parisian identity. Using this term means connecting oneself to a long Parisian cultural tradition.

PSG as a Parisian club

By chanting "Allez Paname," the fans are affirming that PSG is the club of the real Paris , not the club of the elites or tourists. It is the club of the Parisian people, rooted in the working-class neighborhoods.

This popular appeal sets PSG apart from other clubs associated with the elite. Despite Qatari money, despite international stars, PSG remains the club of Paris, of authentic and working-class Paris.

Parisian wit

"Paname" also evokes Parisian wit : that rebellious humor, that biting irony, that characteristic verve of the Parisian working class. Parisian football fans share this wit.

At the Parc des Princes, the fans' humor, their jokes, their verbal provocations: all of this is part of traditional Parisian banter. "Paname" is not just a place, it's a state of mind, a way of being.

Resistance to gentrification

Using "Paname" today is also a symbolic way of resisting the gentrification of Paris. Faced with a capital that is becoming increasingly bourgeois and driving out the working classes, "Paname" reminds us that there is another Paris.

The Parc des Princes is becoming one of the last places where working-class Paris can still express itself en masse. When 47,000 voices shout "Allez Paname," it is working-class Paris affirming that it still exists.

The transmission of the nickname

For young fans, learning to say "Paname" rather than "Paris" is to get acquainted with Parisian slang , to enter into a popular linguistic tradition that dates back to the beginning of the 20th century.

This linguistic transmission keeps alive a vocabulary that could otherwise disappear. Football becomes a repository of Parisian slang, preserving words that future generations might otherwise forget.

Paris beyond football

"Paname" goes far beyond the realm of PSG. It's a general Parisian identity marker that Parisians proudly use in all contexts to affectionately refer to their city.

But in the Parc des Princes, "Paname" takes on a particular resonance. It's a declaration that Paris still belongs to its working-class inhabitants, not to property developers or international investors. The cry of Paname is a cry of cultural resistance.

FAQ – Paname

Where does the nickname "Paname" come from?

The nickname dates back to the early 20th century. The most common origin is linked to the Panama hat, which was very fashionable in Paris in the 1900s and 1920s. Another theory connects Paname to the Panama Canal scandal of 1892. "Paname" has become popular Parisian slang for the capital, used affectionately.

Which Paris represents "Paname"?

"Paname" isn't the Paris of tourists or postcards. It's the Paris of Parisians, the Paris of working-class neighborhoods, bistros, and Parisian wit. An authentic Paris far removed from clichés. By using "Paname," the fans are reclaiming this working-class identity.

What is Parisian swagger?

Parisian wit is that rebellious humor, that biting irony, that characteristic verve of the Parisian working class. At the Parc des Princes, the fans' humor, their jokes, their verbal provocations, all stem from this traditional wit. "Paname" isn't just a place, it's a state of mind.

Why is "Paname" resisting gentrification?

Using "Paname" today is a symbolic act of resistance against the gentrification of Paris. Faced with a capital that is becoming increasingly bourgeois, "Paname" reminds us that another Paris exists. The Parc des Princes is becoming one of the last places where working-class Paris can express itself en masse. When 47,000 voices shout "Allez Paname," it is working-class Paris affirming that it still exists.