19 Words and Expressions You Should Learn Before Traveling To Louisiana
- “Pinch the tail and suck the head.” A tawdry-sounding phrase, but it’s actually how you eat crawfish.
- “Pass a good time”
- “Dressed”
- “Laissez les bon temps rouler.”
- “Fais-do-do”
- “Throw me somethin’, Mister!”
- “Neutral ground”
- “Holy Trinity”
In this post
How do you talk like a Louisiana?
How to Talk Like a Local in Louisiana
- Pinch the Tail and Suck the Head – It’s all about the crawfish, people!
- Pass a Good Time – Which is pretty much what we do every day here.
- Dressed – Do you want your poboy with lettuce, tomatoes, pickles and mayo?
- Laissez le Bon Temps Rouler – Let the good times roll, baby!
What do Cajuns say?
Joie de vivre (Jhwa da veev): Joy of living. Lache pas la patate (Losh pa la pa tot): Don’t let go of the potato or don’t give up (a testament to the enduring spirit of the Cajun people). Lagniappe (Lahn yop): Something extra. Laissez les bons temps rouler (Lay say lay bohn tohn roo lay): Let the good times roll.
What are Cajun words?
Here are a few Cajun words and sayings you may hear when visiting Louisiana.
- Allons [Ah-loh(n)]: Let’s go.
- Ça c’est bon (Sa say boh(n)): That’s good.
- Ça va (Sa va): How are you?
- C’est tout (Say too): That’s all.
- Cher [sha]: A term of endearment usually used with women, similar to ‘dear’ or ‘sweetheart.
What is New Orleans slang?
Here’s a crash-course of 15 phrases and words that’ll help you learn how to talk that NOLA talk.
- “Pass a good time”
- “Lagniappe”
- “Who dat?”
- “Creole”
- “Cajun”
- “Pinch the tail and suck the head”
- “Krewe”
- “Fais do-do”
What is the Cajun word for crazy?
The definition of a Couyon: Cajun French term for a foolish or crazy person.
How do Louisiana people say baby?
Everyone in New Orleans is “baby” or “dawlin’.” Male or female, young or old, it doesn’t matter.
How do you say hi in Cajun?
It’s not going well.
Basic Vocabulary.
| Cajun French | English |
|---|---|
| Bonjour | Hello |
| Comment ça va? | How’s it going? |
| Comment les affaires? | How are things? |
| Comment c’est? | How is it? |
How do you say baby in Cajun?
bébé (n.m.) 1. baby.
What do Cajuns call a party?
Fais do-do (fay doe-doe): The name for a party where traditional Cajun dance is performed. This phrase literally means “to make sleep,” although the parties are the liveliest of occasions with food, music and dancing.
What does Baw mean in Cajun?
Everywhere Else: Boy – In Cajun Country: BAW
“Baw” has taken on a life of its own here in Acadiana. It can be used to describe a male human being.
Why do Cajuns put T in front of names?
T: used in front of any name; “T” means petit (little); T-Sam, etc. What do now?: what do you want me to do now? What time it is?: What time is it? What you was doing last night?: What were you doing last night?
What are some Southern slang words?
These Are All the Slang Terms You’ll Only Hear in the South
- Buggy.
- Fixin’
- Druthers.
- High cotton.
- Bubba and Sissy.
- Hoecake.
- Catawampus.
- Piddling.
What does Lil dip mean?
boyfriend, girlfriend or significant other
Social/ Cultural context: Used by New Orleans youth to mean boyfriend, girlfriend or significant other.
Why do Cajuns say Sha?
Sha: Louisiana Cajun and Creole slang, derived from the French cher. Term of affection meaning darling, dear, or sweetheart. It could also be a reference to something that is cute.
What does Papa mean in Cajun?
Dear Father, or Cher Papa as we say over here.
How do Cajuns say goodbye?
So it will be more like “Au re’oir”, or as some will say “À re’oir”.
Louisiana French/Goodbyes.
| Cajun French | English |
|---|---|
| Au revoir | Good-Bye |
| Bye-bye | Bye-bye |
| À plus tard | Later |
| À demain | See you tomorrow |
What is a Louisiana accent?
Cajun English, or Cajun Vernacular English, is the dialect of English spoken by Cajuns living in Southern Louisiana.
How do New Orleans say hello?
Y’at. You’ll hear this one a lot, since it is the most common greeting around New Orleans. Usually posed as a question — “Where y’at?” — the phrase really means “Hi, how are you?” and not “Where are you?” as most outsiders might think.
Does New Orleans smell like pee?
Depending on where you are (or “where y’at,” rather) and what time of year it is, New Orleans might smell like horse manure, cigarettes, urine, dead fish, marijuana, vomit, diesel fumes, fried chicken, Confederate jasmine, old wood, coffee, Angel’s Trumpet flowers, mown grass, mossy trees, and sweet olive.
How do Cajuns say good morning?
Cajun French – Bon matin! (Good morning!) | Facebook.