Wed 27 Aug 2008

GatorBites→ Cajun French Primer

by Dean Gardner

Cajun French is still spoken by many South Louisiana natives. Here are some common (and not-so-common) expressions you might hear when visiting Cajun Country:

Allons (Al lohn)— Let's go!

Andouille & Boudin (Ahn doo ee & Boo dan)— Two types of Cajun sausage made with pork; boudin with pork and rice.

Bayou (By you)— A sluggish stream, bigger than a creek and smaller than a river.

Bienvenue (Ben vin you)— Welcome.

Bigarno— Snail (what the French call escargot)

Boucherie (Boo sher ee)— Traditionally, a cooperative slaughtering with each member furnishing his share of the animals (usually pigs) and receiving his share of the meat. Now taken to mean a type of pig roast.

Ca c'est bon (Sa say bohn)— That's good!

Ca va (Sa va)— That's enough. Also— How are ya'?

Caimon— alligator

Canaille (Ka nie)— Mischievous, tricky, shrewd.

C'est la vie (Say la vee)— That's life.

C'est magnifique (Say mag ni feek)— That's magnificent!

C'est tout (Say too)— That's all.

Here meenoo, meenoo, meenoo, meenoo

Cher (Sha)— Dear (a term of endearment).

Chaoui— raccoon

Chat!— Go away, cat!

Cho! Co!— Wow!

co faire?— Why?

Cochon de lait (Koe shohn da lay)— A type of pig roast where the whole hog is slowly roasted over an open flame.

Envie (Ohn vee)— Your heart's desire or a very strong craving.

Étouffée (Ay too fay)— Stew made with meat or seafood and smothered in the Cajun "Holy Trinity" of vegetables (onions, garlic and bell pepper).

Fais do do (Fay doe doe)— A dance. Literally means "go to sleep," a phrase whispered by French-speaking Cajun mothers to their children so the parents could join in the dancing.

I got a peekon stuck in my foot!

file'— dried, powdered sassafras leaves

go play; go to bed— I don't believe you!

gumbo— okra

He's got the gumbo.— His pants are too big in the seat.

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)— A little something extra.

Laissez les bons temps rouler (Lay say lay bohn tohn roo lay)— Let the good times roll!

Macaque— Monkey

Mais— well (usually begins many English and French sentences)

Mais no— no

Mais weh— yes

Poo-ye-yi, that stinks, that.

Mamere(or Maw maw)— Grandma

Mashwarohn— Catfish

Meenoo, meenoo— Here, kitty!

Merci (Mare see)— Thank you.

Mon cher or ma chère— my dear.

moustique, maraguin— mosquito

My eye! OR My foot!— No way, Jose!

Nanan, Nanny— Godmother

Papere(or Paw Paw)— Grandpa

Parran— Godfather

Passe'— Go away, dog!

Well, that's a rahdot, yea

patate— potato

Peekon— thorn

poo-yee-yi— that stinks

rahdoht— boring, never-ending conversation

Roux (Roo)— Flour browned in fat and used for thickening gravies, gumbo, etc. (the basis for most Cajun cooking).

Slow the T.V.— Turn down the volume.

Speed up the T.V.— Turn up the volume.

Texians— all people who don't talk like us

Tooloulou— Fiddler crab

weh— yes

For More Information

"Grandma Said" Phrases
Cajun French Articles
Vocabulary List (by Vermilionville)
Vocabulary List (long download time)
Vocabulary List (by LSU)
French Dictionary (not Cajun but still useful)
Language Books and CDs