If you find yourself down in the Bayou State, don’t be surprised if you overhear some unusual dialogue. You’re not going crazy; you’re just talking to a Cajun.
In the mid-18th Century, French colonists settled in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, just above the tip of what is now Maine. These settlers, known as the Acadians, were soon exiled by the British and found refuge in Southern Louisiana, with its already-strong French heritage. The Acadians eventually became known as "Cajuns" and developed their own distinct lifestyle and dialect, now known as Cajun French.
So go ahead, have a little lagniappe (see definition below). Try out some of these Cajun French words and phrases when you’re in Baton Rouge. Locals may laugh, but we guarantee they’ll love it!
Allons (ah-lohn)
Let’s go!
Andouille (ahn-do-wee)
A spicy sausage made with pork, typically used in gumbos and other Cajun dishes.
Bayou (bye-you)
A slow-moving stream.
Beignet (bin-yay)
A fried French donut covered in powdered sugar. Typically, beignets come in the classic square shape, but Baton Rouge classic, Coffee Call, serves them in long, thin strips called beignet fingers.
Bon Ami (bon ah-mee)
A good friend.
Boudin (boo-dan)
A combination of cooked rice, pork, onions, green peppers, and seasonings. The mixture is put into a meat grinder before being stuffed into a sausage casing. It is then steamed or heated. Boudin balls are amazing too, which is just boudin molded into a ball and then fried.
Bourre (boo-ray)
French for "stuffed,” it is also the name of a Cajun card game.
Cassoulet (cass-ou-lay)
A hearty French bean stew typically made with white beans and sausages, along with pork, lamb or other meat.
Cher (shaa)
Cajun and Creole slang, derived from the French. A term of affection meaning darling, dear, or sweetheart. When used as an adjective, it is to describe something sweet or cute.
Couyon (coo-yawn)
A Cajun French term used to describe a foolish person.
Étouffée (ay-too-fay)
A dish common in Cajun and Creole cuisine that consists of some type of smothered seafood stew served over rice.
Fais Do Do (fay-doh-doh)
The French way to say, “go to sleep,” and oddly enough, also a term for a Cajun dance party, often held on Saturdays or Sundays.
Fifolet (fee-foo-lay)
Cajun Folklore. In Baton Rouge, also the name of a popular Halloween Festival.
Filé (fee-lay)
Ground sassafras leaves used to thicken and flavor gumbo.
Gris-gris (gree-gree)
To put a curse on someone, commonly used in reference to voodoo or black magic.
Gumbo (gum-boe)
A thick, robust, roux-based soup prepared with seafood or game and often thickened with okra or filé.
Jambalaya (jum-bo-lie-yah)
A rice dish with any combination of beef, pork, fowl, smoked sausage, ham or seafood, as well as celery and green peppers. In the traditional Creole recipe, tomatoes are added.
Joie de vivre (Jhwa da veev)
French translation of “the joy of living.”
Lagniappe (lan-yap)
Meaning “a little something extra”
Laissez les Bon Temps Roulez (lay-zay lay bon ton roo-lay)
Cajun French for “Let the good times roll!”
Maque Choux (mock-shoo)
Corn stewed down with tomato, peppers, caramelized onion and spices. Meat or seafood may be added.
Mardi Gras (mardi-graw)
French for “Fat Tuesday,” Mardi Gras is centered around the traditional Catholic holidays, Fat Tuesday and Ash Wednesday, leading up to Easter. Usually occurs in late February and sometimes even March. For Louisianians, Mardi Gras is the biggest festival of the year.
Petite (pe-teet)
Small
Po'Boy (po-boy)
A sandwich that is always made with French bread, po'boys can be stuffed with fried oysters, shrimp, fish, crawfish, meatballs, smoked sausage and more. Gets its name from a historical sandwich costing only 5 cents for “poor boys.”
Roux (rue)
The oh-so-important base of gumbos or stews. It’s a slow-cooked mixture of flour and oil that adds flavor to the dish, but everyone’s grandma has their own special technique.
Sauce Piquante (saws-pee-kawnt)
A spicy sauce usually used in a spicy dish or stew.
Zydeco (zi-de-co)
A style of music combing traditional Creole and Cajun music with R&B and African Blues.
