| A bon couer | To do something wholeheartedly. |
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| A chic | A cleverly disguised insult. |
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| Alohrs pas | of course not |
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| Amandine | pronounced “ar-man-deen” fish or seafood served with a lemon butter sauce and topped with toasted, slivered almonds |
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| Andouille | pronounced “ahn-doo-wee” A spicy country sausage used in Gumbo and other Cajun dishes. |
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| Arrete toi | stop, you |
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| Bayou | a slow moving river or stream |
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| Bebelle | doll |
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| Bebette | a little monster or critter |
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| Begailler | to stutter |
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| Beignet | pronounced “bin-yey” sweet square-shaped doughnut sprinkled with powdered sugar. |
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| Bigarno | snail or escargot |
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| Bisque | pronounced “bisk” A rich, thick creamy soup usually made with crawfish or shrimp. |
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| Blackened | a cooking method. To blacken fish or meat by coating it with spices and quickly searing in butter. |
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| Blanc | white |
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| Bleu | blue |
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| Bleu clair | light blue |
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| Bon Appetite! | enjoy! |
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| Bon rien | a good for nothing or lazy man |
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| Bonjour Mes Amis | Good day my friends. |
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| Bonne a rienne | a good for nothing or promiscuous woman |
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| Boo | a term of endearment such as sweetie, or darling |
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| Boscoyo | cypress knee |
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| Bouche | mouth |
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| Boude' | to be angry |
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| Boudin | pronounced “boo-dan” Spicy pork sausage made with onions, cooked rice and herbs. |
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| Boug | boy |
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| Bouillee | pudding |
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| Bourick | belly button |
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| Bourre' | pronounced boo-ray, A card game invented by Cajuns. |
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| Bracque | crazy |
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| Bram | eggplant |
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| Bread Pudding | a baked dessert made from French bread soaked in custard, and usually served with whiskey sauce. |
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| Ca c'est bon | That's good! |
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| Ca viens? | How is it coming? |
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| Cafe au Lait | pronounced “caf-ay-oh-ley” A half-and-half blend of strong chicory coffee and steamed milk. |
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| Cahbin | bathroom |
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| Caimon | alligator |
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| Caisse | The back of a truck. |
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| Cajun | pronounced "cay-jun" French-speaking people who migrated to Louisiana from Nova Scotia in the eighteenth century. |
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| Canaille | sly or sneaky |
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| Cane Syrup | A sweet syrup extracted from Sugar Cane. Used on French waffles, and in Pecan Pie. |
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| Capon | coward |
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| C'est magnifique | That is great! |
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| Chadron | thistles |
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| Chambre a bain | bathroom |
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| chambre a coucher | bedroom |
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| Chaoui | raccoon |
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| Chat | Get away cat! |
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| Chee wees | A Cheetos type snack made by the Elmers company in New Orleans. |
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| Cher | endearment used for someone you're fond of |
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| Chicory | An herb, the roots of which are dried, ground; roasted and used to flavor coffee. |
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| Cho! Co! | wow! |
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| chouchoot | a thingamajig |
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| Co faire? | why? |
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| Cocain | an adjective for large |
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| Commes les vieux | like the old people |
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| Coo-Wee | wow! look at that! |
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| Costeau | Male crab |
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| Couche-Couche | A cajun cornmeal cereal eaten with milk |
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| Court bouillion | tomato based soup with onion and bell pepper |
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| Couyon | An ignorant person |
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| Crapeau | a booger |
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| Crawfish | small freshwater crustaceans resembling lobsters |
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| Crème Brûlée | dessert made with rich custard and topped with a layer of hard caramel. |
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| Creole | People of mixed French, Spanish, Indian or Negro blood |
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| Creole Cuisine | Recipies derived from French, Spanish, Indian and African cooking techniques. Commonly using complex sauces and involved preparation. |
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| Creole Mustard | Spicy mustard made in South Louisiana using marinated mustard seeds. |
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| Cro-cros | big, old and clunky shoes |
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| Cunja | a spell put on someone |
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| Deep Fried Turkey | The Cajun way to cook turkey. The bird is deep fried by being totally immersed in a pot of cooking oil. |
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| Defan | a sainted (godly) dead person |
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| Defan Pauvre | dear departed Sainted Dad |
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| Defante | dear departed sainted woman |
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| De'pouille | anything or anyone who is a mess |
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| Des meurres | blackberries |
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| Dirty Rice | cooked rice that is sautéed with ground meat, green peppers, onion, and celery. |
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| Dit mon la verite'! | tell me the truth. Response when told something unbelievable. |
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| Domion | peeping Tom |
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| Dos Gris | a scalp |
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| Down the Bayou | South |
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| Dreegailles | junkor trinkets or little value |
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| Dressing | stuffing, or a side dish for a meal. |
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| Ech! | gross |
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| En bouts des dents | to eat something you find distasteful |
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| En colaire | angry |
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| En d'oeuille | to be in mourning |
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| Envie | a craving |
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| Etoufee | pronounced “ay-two-fay” A succulent, tangy tomato-based sauce usually made with chicken, crawfish or shrimp and then smothered with a vegetable and herb sauce. |
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| Fah-yuh | fire |
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| Faire des commissions | buy groceries, making grocery bill |
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| Fais do do | pronounced “fay-doe-doe” The name for a party where traditional Cajun dance is performed. Or to go to sleep. |
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| Fait pas une esquandal | Don't make so much noise |
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| Faut carot | large black Grasshopper |
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| Ferme | to close |
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| File' | dried, powdered sassafras leaves used as a thickening agent in Gumbo |
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| Freesons | goose bumps |
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| Fremeers | grossed out by something |
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| Fromis | ants |
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| Fuh shore | that's the truth |
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| Gaienne | girlfriend |
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| Ga-lee | to be excited, to or in awe. |
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| Gar ici | look here |
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| Garde Soleil | old fashioned sun bonnet |
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| Grand Beede' | Big clumsy man |
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| Gratin | food stuck at the bottom of the pot |
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| Grattons | pronounced “grah-tawns” cracklins or fried pork rind |
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| Grillades | pronounced “gree-yahds” beef or veal steak, browned, then simmered until tender in browned tomato sauce. |
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| Gris | grey |
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| Gris-gris | pronounced “gre-gre” An object used to ward off or inflict evil |
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| Gumbo | pronounced “gum-boe” A thick, soup based with a roux and sometimes thickened with okra or file. |
| He's got the cabris | He has a wedgie |
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| Honeychile | honey child, an endearment |
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| Hont | embarrassed |
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| Hose pipe | water hose |
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| Il mouille | It is raining |
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| J'ai gros couer | to feel like crying or I have a big heart |
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| Jambalaya | pronounced “jum-bo-lie-yah” A rice dish with chicken, smoked sausage, ham, or seafood, as well as celery, green peppers and often tomatoes and spices. |
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| Jaune | yellow |
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| Je vas te passe une calotte | to threaten to slap a person |
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| Joie de vivre | An attitude towards life. |
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| King Cake | A oval shaped pastry, sometimes stuffed with fillings and decorated with colored sugar in the traditional Mardi Gras colors. |
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| Lagniappe | pronounced “lan-yap” An unexpected nice surprise. like the extra donut in a baker's dozen. |
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| Laissez les bon temps roulet | pronounced “lay-zay lay bon ton rule-ay” Let the good times roll! |
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| Macaque | monkey |
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| Magazine | store |
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| Mais | well |
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| Mais, jamais d'la vie! | Well, never in my life! |
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| Make a bahbin | to pout |
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| Make the misere | to cause trouble or misery |
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| Make the veiller | spend the evening talking with friends |
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| Mal pris | stuck in a bad situation |
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| Mamere | Maw maw or Grandma |
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| Maque Choux | pronounced “mok shoo” dish made with corn, green bell pepper, tomatoes, and onion cooked with bacon grease, butter, or cream. |
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| Mardi Gras | pronounced “mardi graw” Fat Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday, the first day of the Roman Catholic season of Lent. |
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| Marinade | mixture of liquids and seasonings in which foods are soaked before cooking |
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| Marron | brown |
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| Mashwarohn | Catfish |
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| Maw Maw | Grandma |
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| Merci Beaucoup | Thank you very much. |
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| Mes pattes | my feet, literally my paws |
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| Mirliton | pronounced “mel-e-taun” A vegetable pear , it is cooked like squash and stuffed with spicy dressing. |
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| Mon cher | My dear. |
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| Moochon | a stump |
| Motier foux | half crazy |
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| Mouche a mielle | honey bee |
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| moustique | mosquito |
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| Muffuletta | pronounced “muff-a-lotta” Sandwich is made with Italian meats, cheeses, and a layer of olive salad. |
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| Muspeulus | Japanese Pear trees |
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| Nanan or Nanny | Godmother |
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| Neg | a term of endearment for a male cajun |
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| Negresse | a term of endearment for a female cajun |
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| Noir | black |
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| Nunie | pronounced “new-nee” a pacifier |
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| Oo ye yi! | that hurts or I am sad. |
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| Pain pee po | game or useless activity |
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| Pain Perdu | pronounced “pan-per-doo” Cajun French toast the literal translation is "Lost Bread" |
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| Papere | Paw Paw or Grandpa |
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| Par en sous | sneaky or underneath |
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| Parran | Godfather |
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| Pass a mop | to mop |
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| Pass the vacuum | to vacuum |
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| Passe' | go away you dog |
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| Patate | potato |
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| Patrack | old run-down truck |
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| Paw-Paw | Grandpa |
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| Pecan | pronounced “peh-kawn” nuts that are common in Louisiana and used in pies and pralines. |
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| Peekon | thorn |
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| Peeshnick | to thump something with your finger |
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| Peeshwank | little girl |
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| Peunez | stinkbug |
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| Pirogue | small flat bottomed boat |
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| Pischouette | runt or little person |
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| Piss-au-lis | Goldenrods, it is a Cajun folktale that if one picks goldenrods, one will urinate in bed |
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| Pistaches | peanuts |
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| Pleurer | cry |
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| Pluie | rain |
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| Po-Boy | A sandwich made on French bread that began as an affordable lunch for poor boys. |
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| Podna | close friend or partner |
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| Pomee' | to loose ones breath while laughing or crying |
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| Poo-yi | Dat stinks! |
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| Pop chock | small brown bird |
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| Porro | wart |
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| porte monnaie | purse |
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| Possede' | a bad , mischievous, child. The literal translation is possessed. |
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| Pot d'chambre | chamber pot |
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| Poule D'eau | a coot |
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| Pouponer | to powder your face or to make yourself look nice |
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| Praline | pronounced “praw-leen” A candy patty made of sugar, cream and pecans. |
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| P'tit Boug | little boy |
| Quanne | the thick fat layer on cooked meat |
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| Qui C'est q'ca? | Who or what is that? |
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| Raconteur | someone who tells stories, a storyteller |
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| Rahdoht | boring, never-ending conversation |
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| Red Beans & Rice | The traditional Monday or wash day meal in New Orleans, red beans are cooked with ham or sausage and seasonings, and served over rice. |
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| Remoulade | pronounced “rem-oo-lard” A spicy sauce used with Shrimp and other seafood |
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| Rocachah | burr or stick in your socks |
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| Rodee' | to run the roads and never stay home |
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| Rose | pink |
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| Rouge | red |
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| Roux | pronounced “roo” a slow-cooked mixture of flour and oil. Used in Gumbo and other Cajun dishes. |
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| Rozoe | long thin reed often used to make a duck blind |
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| Saleau | Sloppy, dirty man |
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| Saloppe | Sloppy, dirty woman |
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| Sauce Piquante | A thick seasoned sauce made with roux, tomatoes, herbs and peppers. |
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| Schneille | fuzzy caterpillar that bites and causes fever |
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| Scisseaux | an insect that has pincers like scissors |
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| Seekahsah | wasp |
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| Skinny Mullet | a skinny person |
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| Tahyo | a big hungry dog |
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| Tasso | pronounced “tah-so” Thin cut highly seasoned smoke cured ham. |
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| To play Madame | to play house |
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| Toc-toc | pop corn or the sound corn makes when popping |
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| Tooloulou | Fiddler crab |
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| Traiteur | someone practicing folk medicine, a healer. |
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| Traversain | a pillow case |
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| Tremp | wet |
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| Trinity | slang in Louisiana cooking for celery, onions and bell pepper |
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| Turducken | a turkey, stuffed with a duck, stuffed with a chicken. |
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| Un champagne | unit of measure |
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| Un melon francais | canteloupe |
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| Un pain round | a round French Bread |
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| Un p'tit bec | a kiss or embrace |
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| Un transport | unable to sit still |
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| Une miche | a plump loaf of French bread |
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| Une piaster | a dollar |
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| Up the bayou | North |
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| Vert | green |
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| Vielle | elderly woman |
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| Vielle fille | old maid |
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| Vieux | elderly man |
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| Vieux Carre | pronounced “voo ca-ray” old quarter, usually referring to the French Quarter. |
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| Violet | purple |
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| Visite | pronounced “vee zeet” a visit |
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| Vomment ca vas? | How are you feeling? |
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| Wowaron | bullfrog |
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| Zeerahb | disgusting |
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| Zirondelle | dragonfly |
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| Zydeco | Pronounced “zi-de-co” a kind of Cajun dance music that is a combination of traditional Cajun music, mixed with R&B, and African blues. |
