Dictionary of Louisiana Creole

The contents of this website remain the intellectual property of the following authors: Albert Valdman, Thomas A. Klingler, Margaret M. Marshall, Kevin J. Rottet

• Warning: There has been no censoring of the data, including offensive language or racial slurs.
• Orthography: Entries use the modern Kouri-Vini Orthography; however, the examples retain their original orthography based on Haitian Creole from the book. There are also several examples written in a French Orthography; these have also been left as is in the book. Additionally, the acute (à) and circumflex (â) when used for stress, preterit, or disambiguation, have not been included separately (i.e., aren't used).
• There are several variants for certain sounds that have not been included in the variants for entries. Please use the variants in quotations in place of the others when searching for words with the following sounds:
  • use "s" for /s/ ← s, ç
  • use "è" for /æ/ ← æ, è
  • use "i" for /ɪ/ ← ì, i
  • use "an" for /ã/ ← an, am, en, em
  • use "on" for /ɔ̃/ ← on, om
  • use "in" for /ɛ̃/ ← in, im
• Parts of Speech abbreviation correspondences:
  • adj. = Adjective
  • adv. = Adverb
  • adv.phr. = Adverbial Phrase
  • art.def. = Definite Article
  • art.indef. = Indefinite Article
  • conj. = Conjunction
  • dem. = Demonstrative
  • det. = Determiner
  • det.poss. = Possessive Determiner
  • f. = Feminine
  • int. = Interjection
  • interr.phr. = Interrogative Phrase
  • m. = Masculine
  • n. = Noun
  • n.phr. = Noun Phrase
  • num.card. = Cardinal Number
  • num.ord. = Ordinal Number
  • onom. = Onomatopoeia
  • pl. = Plural
  • place n. = Place Name
  • prep. = Preposition
  • pron. = Pronoun
  • pron.indef. = Indefinite Pronoun
  • pron.refl. = Reflexive Pronoun
  • pron.rel. = Relative Pronoun
  • prop.n. = Proper Noun
  • ptcl. = Preverbal Particle
  • sg. = Singular
  • v. = Verb
  • v.aux. = Auxiliary Verb
  • v.cop. = Copular Verb
  • v.intr. = Intransitive Verb
  • v.mod. = Modal Verb
  • v.phr. = Verb Phrase
  • v.refl. = Reflexive Verb
  • v.tr. = Transitive Verb
• Sources abbreviation correspondences (post-1960):
  • gen = (BT + CA + NE + PC + ST)
  • AN = Ancelet 1994
  • BT = Bayou Teche, field data
  • CA = Côte des Allemands, field data
  • DC = Clifton 1980
  • DT 77 = Tentchoff 1977
  • GY = Guidry, Richard
  • HW = Hebert Wiltz
  • MO 60 = Morgan 1960
  • MO 69 = Morgan 1969
  • MO 72 = Morgan 1972
  • NE = Neumann 1985
  • PC = Pointe Coupee, field data
  • ST = Saint Tammany, field data
  Sources abbreviation correspondences (pre-1960):
  • BD = Broussard 1942
  • BI = Bienvenu 1933
  • BO = Bourgeois 1927
  • DU = Durand 1930
  • FO T# = Fortier 1895
  • FO 1887 = Fortier 1887
  • GC1 = Cable 1886a
  • GC2 = Cable 1886b
  • JR = Jarreau 1931
  • KB = Krehbiel 1962
  • LA = Lavergne 1930
  • ME = Mercier 1881
  • ME 90 = Mercier 1890
  • ME 91 = Mercier 1891
  • PE = Perret 1933
  • T# = Neumann 1987 Text # (T12–T17 are satirized Creole, use with caution)
  • TM = Marie Augustin
  • TN = Tinker 1935
  • TP = Trappey 1916
  • WO = Marguerite Wogan

Website created by William S. Morales.

5139 entries found

• jwon CA, PC ( n. )
  1. Joint; joint.
     Mo gen romatis e safe si mal tou dan mo jwon. I’ ve got arthritis and it hurts all over my joints. (CA) See examples
• jwènn CA, PC, ST ( v., v.intr., v.tr. ) jwèn NE, PC jwann PC jwon PC jwonn PC jwin CA, MO 60, NE jwèñ MO 60 jin CA
  1. To meet by chance, run into; rencontrer (par hasard), tomber sur.
     Nou jwenn e la pli, gro lapli, divan kan nou te e kouri. We ran into some rain, heavy rain, and wind when we were going. (PC) ♦ Set nonm t ape trèvèrse enn fore. Sete enn plas ben foure e ye te pè separe pas ke ye se janmen jwonn onkò. Seven men were crossing through a forest. It was very dense and they were afraid to get separated because they would never meet up with each other again. (JR)1. To meet, get together with; rejoindre, retrouver. Si mo te ka DRIVE AUTOMOBILE la mo te ka jwèn dè an trwa boug-ye dan Chemè Nef. If I could drive a car I would be able to meet two or three guys in New Roads. (PC); Jwen pa en chatig andan bwa. Don’t go near a wildcat in the woods. (CA) 2. To meet, make the acquaintance of; faire la connaissance de. Mo ja tannde pou Lafayet mè mo janmè jwenn li. I have heard of Lafayette but I have never met him. (PC) See examples
• jwé BT, CA, PC, ST ( v.tr., v.intr. ) joué BT, NE jou CA, NE, PC jwè PC jouwé PC
  1. To play (a game, a trick, etc.); jouer (un tour, à un sport, etc.).
     Le jèn moun, se jich SOFTBALL y ape joue. Young people only play softball. (NE); Mo lenm gète tèlèvizyon. Mo lenm gète me zanfan jwe la plòt. I like to watch television. I like to watch my children playing ball. (BT) ♦ Ye konprann ke Lapen te jwe en trik on ye. Ye te ben fache. They understood that Rabbit had played a trick on them. They were very angry. (JR) •jwe kanik v.phr. (ST). To play marbles; jouer aux billes. Nou te joue kanik tou-l-tan kan mo te jèn. Nou te tire kanik avèk ti garson-le. We would play marbles all the time when I was young. We would shoot marbles with the boys. (ST) •jwe kart v.phr. (CA; ST); jwe kat (PC). To play cards; jouer aux cartes. Nou jwe kat tou le mekredi. We play cards every Wednesday. (PC) •jwe lekòl v.phr. (ST). To play school; jouer à la maîtresse d’école. Nou te jwe lekòl dan lete. We would play school in the summer. (ST) •jwe ti madam v.phr. (BT; CA; ST); jwe ti madanm (CA); jwe madanm (PC). To play house; jouer au ménage. Boukou d fwò pitèt le tit fiy pitèt te jwe ti madam. Ti madam, ye te jwe avèk de poupe. Often little girls would play house. They played with dolls. (BT); Kan no t ape jwe ti madanm, no mèt de gro soulye e talon, de long rob e en tabliye. When we played house, we put on big high-heeled shoes, long dresses and an apron. (CA) 2. To play (a musical instrument); jouer (d’un instrument). LOUIS ARMSTRONG Te e jouwe, KING TRUMPET, te jwe le kòrne. Louis Armstrong used to play the trumpet. (PC); To di mon kom-sa to pa bezen travaye, to jou kordeon pou to LIVING . You told me that you didn’t need to work, that you would play the accordeon for a living. (NE) ♦ Quand lé roi vini Jean montré li dézoi la et li dit li, si li jamin bésoin largent dézoi la sré donnin li, si li joué violon. When the king came John showed him the goose and told him, if he ever needed the money the goose would give him some, if he played the violin. (FO T26) •jwe lamuzik v.phr. (PC); jouwe lamizik (PC); joué lamizik (NE). To play music; jouer de la musique. Ye te kone jwe bon ti lamuzik . They used to play some good little music. (PC); M ale joue la mizik pou mo LIVING, to konpron sa? I'm going to play music for a living. Do you understand that? (NE)1. To play; jouer. [T]o te joue èk ye tou ta vi kon to te piti. You played with them all the time when you were younger. (NE) ♦ Ti garçon la té apé joué avec coquille et di sabe. The boy was playing with a shell and sand. (FO T20) •jwe e v.phr. (PC). To play around with, fool around with, mess with; fréquenter, s’amuser avec. Ye pe e jwe e negres-sa-la. Negres-sa-a rèkonni par blan e nwa. They will not mess around with that black woman. That woman is recognized by whites and blacks alike. (PC) See examples
• jènn CA, NE ( n. ) jinm CA, PC jèm PC
  1. Potato eye; germe de pomme de terre.
     Patat anglez-la gen en jenm an-o lé. To va to plant li an to ron. La li gen leve. The Irish potato has an eye on it. You go and plant it in your row. Then it’ll grow. (PC) 2. Sprout, shoot, bud; bourgeon. (PC) 2. Germ; microbe, germe. Se te hale le jènn don le klou? Did that remove germs from boils? (NE); Kan to gen en ple, to gen pou ponse sa pou ote jènn. When you have a wound, you have to bandage it to get rid of germs. (CA) 4. Infection (in a sore), core (of a boil); infection (dans une plaie), coeur (d’un furoncle). Si to pa ote jenm-la anndan, li pe e geri. Me to gen ote jenm-la pou li geri . If you don’t remove the core it won’t heal. But you have to remove the core for it to heal. (PC); Kan to bobo meri, to gen pou preze li e jenm-la soti. When your sore came to a head, you pressed it and the infection came out. (CA) 5. Venom (of a snake); venin (d’un serpent). Pikanke so lake rèste anlèr. Li toujou pare pou pike twa avèk so jènn. A sting-ray snake his tail is up. He’s always ready to sting you with the venom. (CA) See examples
• jèrmin CA, PC ( v., v.intr. ) jarmin PC
  1. To sprout, bud; bourgeonner, germer.
     Koton-l e jarmen , mai-l e jarmen. The cotton is sprouting, the corn is sprouting. (PC) See examples
• jèrsé CA, PC, ST ( v.tr. )
  1. To chap; gercer.
     Duvan fre peu jèrse te lev. The cold wind can chap your lips. (PC) ; So ti pipis tou jèrse. Her little weewee was all chapped. (CA) See examples
• jèt-dolo No sources ( n. )
  1. Fountain, gush of water; jet d’eau.
     ♦ Nous tous couri à laporte pou sorti mais là encore un autre jet dolo rencontré nous et fou nous tous par terre. We all ran to the door to go out but then another gush of water met us and threw us to the ground. (T40) See examples
• jèté CA, MO 60, PC, ST ( v.tr. ) jété BT, ST jté CA, PC dité BT, PC jèt CA, MO 60
  1. To throw; jeter.
     Kan piti-ye manj, ye jèt manje an planche. When babies eat, they throw their food on the floor. (CA); Chval-la chte mon. The horse threw me. (PC); Kan mo jete laplòt-la, mo wa li. When I threw the ball, I saw him. (ST) ♦ Mo di momenm se popre ton pou vye Remi djet so lonmen ye on lè e kite tou kicho. I told myself it was about time for Old Remus to throw his hands into the air and to leave everything. (DU) •jete o do v.phr. (BT). To give s.o. a hard time, jump on s.o.’s back; tomber sur le dos à qn. Prèt-lœ jete o ye do pou dèt ta a legliz . The priest gave them a hard time for being late to church. (BT) 2. To throw away; jeter a la poubelle. Mo prèse papy e-la, e mo jète li. I wadded up the paper and threw it away. (PC); Kan to fini sise lakann, to jèt leplich. When you’re finished sucking out the sugar cane, you throw out the stalk. (CA) 3. To tear down, demolish; détruire, démolir. Ye jète lamiray-la. They tore down the wall. (PC); Divan-la jète mo garaj. Mo i pou rebati li. The wind knocked over my garage. I had to rebuild it. (CA) 2. To spill, knock over; renverser. Mo jète labyè-la. I spilled the beer. (PC); Kofè t ap baskile li. To va fe li mal o to va jte li. Why are you shoving him around? You’re going to hurt him or you’re going to knock him over. (CA) See examples
• jé PC, ST ( n. ) jéy PC je PC
  1. Jay, blue jay; geai, geai bleu.
     Li mennen en lo tren li-mèm, en je. It makes a lot of noise, a blue jay. (PC); En je se en zozo bleu e li gen en lavwa fòr. A jay is a blue bird and it’s got a loud voice. (CA) See examples
• jéan No sources ( n. )
  1. Giant; géant.
     ♦ Yé oua ein lumière loin, loin, et en minme temps géants vini pou trappé yé. They saw a light very far off, and at the same time the giants came to get them. (FO T22) See examples
• Jézi-Kri CA ( prop.n. ) Jézu-Kri CA, PC, ST Jéju-Kri BT
  1. Jesus Christ; Jésus-Christ.
     Meday an kaspilèr. En portre a Jeju-Kri òho. A scapular medal. It has a picture of Jesus Christ on it. (BT); Andan krèch-ye, ye gen chamo e bourik alantour Bebe Jezi . Inside the crèche scenes, there are camels and donkeys around the baby Jesus. (CA) ♦ Pou arete en ne senye, ekrir non Jezi Kri on krwa don so fron To stop a bloody nose, write the name of Jesus Christ in the shape of a cross on the person’s forehead. (BT) See examples
• jézyé No sources ( n. ) zizyé PC, CA jijié PC, CA jijé CA, ST jijyé ST
  1. Gizzard; gésier.
     Sa l a monje a kouri andan, ye di se sa ki e moule so manje, zizye-la. Whatever it eats will go in it, they say that’s what grinds up its food, the gizzard. (PC); M ap boure mo kana pou THANKSGIVING . Mo mèt diri e fwa e jijie pou fe en far. I’m stuffing my duck for Thanksgiving. I put rice, liver and gizzards to make a stuffing. (CA); Mo sœr lenmen fe gonbo avèk jije denn ou jije poul me mo pa lenmen jije di tou. My sister likes to fix gumbo with turkey or chicken gizzards but I don’t like gizzards at all. (ST) ♦ [Pou] vomisman, i fo tchwe en volay e griye ti la po-la ki don jezye la. For vomiting, you must kill a bird and grill the little bit of skin that is in the gizzard. (BI) See examples
• jòb No sources ( n. ) lajòb CA, PC
  1. Mumps; oreillons.
     Li te gen lajòb. Li te tou anfle apre so kou. He had the mumps. He was all swollen by his neck. (CA) ♦ Si la jòb tonm don le sen ou don le parti, bouyi nenpòrt kèl plim e met sa don en po, e met li asi desi sa. If the mumps go down to the breasts or the private parts, boil any feather and put it in a pot and have the sick person sit on that. [ 'l a jobe'] (BI) See examples
• jón CA ( adj. ) jan CA jòn PC, NE jann PC, CA jonn PC jèn MO 60
  1. Yellow; jaune.
     Narb li ki li fe sa rèste vèr tou livèr. Tou lez ot tòrnen jàn e maron. The tree that did that for him stayed green all winter. All the others turned yellow and brown. (CA); Koui rou-la jiska sa vyen jèn jèn jèn. Cook the roux until it gets nice and brown. (MO 60) ♦[Pou] koklich, en morso lendyenn jonn tronpe don vinèg e mare don kou en nonfon va onpeche de kent. For whooping cough, a piece of yellow calico soaked in vinegar and tied around the child’s neck will prevent coughing fits. (BI) •la fyèv jonn n.phr. Yellow fever; fièvre jaune. cf. fyèv See examples
  2. Blond; blond.
     Na de chveu blan, na de chveu nwa, ina de chveu jòn, ina de chveu gri. There is white hair, black hair, blond hair, gray hair. (PC) See examples
• jón CA ( n. ) jonn PC
  1. Egg yolk; jaune d’oeuf.
     To bat to dezef. E to me to lamiskad andan lan, e to disik, bat li byen e jonn dezef, la jonn-lan. You beat your eggs. And you put your nutmeg in, and your sugar, and beat it well with the egg yolks. (PC); Ena moun ke many jich jón-la andan zèf. There are people who just eat the yolk of the egg. (CA) ♦ Pou enn foulir pron en demi boutey e met en jonn def on don la. For a sprained ankle take a small bottle and put an egg yolk in it. [ 'jaune d'œuf'] (LA) See examples
• jœn NE, PC ( adj. ) jèn MO 60, NE, PC jènn BT, CA, PC, ST
  1. Young; jeune.
     Li si jèn, li dwatèt pèr. He is so young, he must be afraid. (NE); Se mo plu jèn sè. She is my youngest sister. (PC); Mo manj pa otan ke mo te manje kan mo te pli jenn. I don’t eat as much as I did when I was younger. (CA) ♦ Tou jenn garson-ye rive o bal bonnè. All of the young guys arrived at the dance early. (JR) •plu jèn n.phr. (PC); plu jenn (PC). Youngest (of siblings); le cadet, le plus jeune, le benjamin, •jen jan n.phr. Young people; jeunes gens, les jeunes, ci.jan •jœn onm n.phr. Young man; jeune homme, cf. nòm •jœn jou n.phr. Younger days, youth; jeunesse, cf. jour •jèn boug n.phr. Young man, boy; jeune homme. cf. boug See examples
• jœn No sources ( n. ) jènn PC
  1. Young people, children; enfants, les jeunes.
     Vye moun-ye di lòt jenn-ye, e sa ki te jenn ye vini ye di ye-kèn piti sa. Old people told young folks, and young folks went and told their own children. (PC) See examples
• jœnès PC ( n. ) jènès CA, MO 60, PC jènnès PC jènnèsh PC jenèz CA
  1. Youth; jeunesse.
     Dan mo jènès. In my youth. (MO 60) ; La jeunèz se pir e la vyèyès se tris. Youth is pure and old age is sad. (CA) See examples
  2. Young people; les jeunes.
     La jènès ye pa konnè aryen konm sa ankò. Young folks don’t know things like that anymore. (PC) See examples
• ka CA, NE, PC, ST ( n., prep., conj. )
  1. Case, instance; cas.
     An prèmye ka, mo pa sur si mo dwa ale avèk twa . In the first case, I'm not sure I should go with you. (ST) •an (tou) ka prep., conj . (ST); a tou ka (PC); en tou ka (CA); on ka (NE).In case of; en cas de. Kouvè li atouka lapli. Cover it in case of rain. (PC)If, in case; au cas où, si. On ka no genp sòrti, debar lapòrt: In case we have to leave, unlock the door. (NE); Mo te menne en rechans an tou ka mo swe. I brought a change of clothes in case I sweat. (CA); M ale dòn li di pyas an tou ka li bèzwen li. I’m going to give him ten dollars in case he needs it. (ST) •on tou le ka adv.phr. (NE; ST). In any case, anyway; en tout cas. Mo te pa konen sa pou fe. On tou le ka, mo di li pou ale. I didn’t know what to do. Anyway, I told him to go. (ST) •pou ka prep. (PC; ST). In case of; en cas de. Ka ena zeklè ou tonnen, t a brile ramo-ye dan to lamezon, sa a proteje to lamezon. Prèt-la beni ye espre pou ka move tan . It’s a palm branch. When there’s lightning or thunder, you’ll burn the palms in your house, that’ll protect your house. Because [on Palm Sunday] the priest blessed them specifically in case of bad weather. (PC) See examples
• kab BT ( n. )
  1. Rope; corde.
     Èk en kab ou enn sentur, se sa ye te taye avèk. With a rope or a belt, that’s what they used to whip you with. (BT) See examples
  2. String; ficelle.
     ♦ Met di sel don en ti lenj klèr. Me li avek en ti kab, la mar li otour so kou. Put some salt in a clean rag. Put it in with a little piece of string and tie it around his neck, [‘cab’] (BI) See examples
• kabalé CA, ST ( v.intr. )
  1. To cabal, scheme, plot; cabaler, intriguer.
     ♦ Pa Lapen prann en moso lakòd e en baton kat pye long e li parti den dezè. Li chèche jiska li trouve en sonnet. Li kanmanse kabale. Brer Rabbit took a piece of rope and a stick four feet long, and he went out into the field. He searched until he found a rattlesnake. He began to scheme. (JR) See examples
  2. To influence, sway; influencer.
     Li kabale so momon pou fe sa. He influenced his mother to do that. (ST) See examples
  3. To carouse, party; faire la fete.
     En geng nonm y ap ale bwa e genble. Y ap ale kabale. A group of men are going drinking and gambling. They’re carousing. (CA) See examples
• kabinèt CA, PC ( n. ) kabinè PC kabinét PC kabinin PC kabiné CA, ST [in sense 5:] kaboré PC kabaré PC
  1. Pantry; office, garde-manger. (PC)
  2. Bathroom; salle de bain, toilettes, w.c.
     Sèrvyet se pou dan kabinèt, e lavet lakuzin. A bathtowel is for the bathroom, and a dishrag is for the kitchen. (PC) See examples
  3. Small room put to various uses; petite chambre qui sert à des buts divers.
     Gen dè lachanm divon e en kabinen dèriyè. Se sa nou te gen pou nou lakizin, en kabinen. There are two rooms in front and a small room in back. That’s what we used for our kitchen. (PC) See examples
  4. Closet; placard, penderie. (PC)
  5. Kitchen cabinet; placard de cuisine.
     M ap debarase mo kabine. M ap jete tou sa ki pa bon andan la. I’m clearing out my cabinets. I’m throwing away everything that’s not good in there. (CA) See examples
• kabo No sources ( onom. )
  1. Pow! Paf!
     Quand il a arrivé là-là, il Sacré gaillard-la un coup de poing. «Cabôf» Ça, c’était les jambes en bas, vous comprends? When he arrived there he struck the guy with his fist. «Pow!» The legs went down, you understand?» (AN T3) See examples
• kabosé ST ( adj. )
  1. Hunchbacked; bossu.
     Li kabose. Li gen do kabose. He’s hunchbacked. He’s got a hunched back. (ST) See examples
• kabosé CA, ST ( v.tr. )
  1. To dent; cabosser.
     Si to fou li, to kapab kabose to glasyè. If you hit it, you can dent your refrigerator. (CA); La Kalòt-la kabose. The top of the hat is dented. (ST) See examples
• kaboush PC ( n. )
  1. Caboose; fourgon de queue (d’un train).
     Aben, ye te gen kabouch, petèt de kabouch, on cha, èn pou blan e èn pou nwa. Well, they had a caboose, maybe two cabooses on the train, one for whites and one for blacks. (PC) See examples
• kabri NE, PC, ST ( n. )
  1. Goat; chèvre.
     Ye famiy te achte dule kabri pou nouri ye. Their families bought goat’s milk to feed them. (ST) See examples
  2. Kid; cabri, chevreau.
     ♦ Mo té ben olé ouâ dan Compair Cabri. I really want to see Brer Goat’s teeth. (T8) See examples
• kabré No sources ( v.intr. )
  1. To rear up (of horse, ass); se cabrer.
     ♦ Ala ain bourrique tendé lamisique, li vini valsé, com quand li cabré. Then a donkey heard the music and came to waltz, just like when he rears up on his hind legs. (T10) See examples
• kabàn PC, CA, ST ( n. ) kabann CA, PC kabonn CA, PC lakabòn MO 60
  1. House, cabin, shack; maison, cabane, bicoque.
     Le e vini kote mo kabonn dèmen. She’s coming to my house tomorrow. (PC); Li gen en ti kabonn avèk de larich dimyèl e de tan. He’s got a little house with beehives and bees. (CA) ♦ Ein vié négue yé té pélé Jean des Pois Verts té vive dans ein cabane coté palais lé roi. An old black man they called John Green Peas lived in a house by the king’s palace. (FO T26) See examples
  2. Shed; atelier, appentis.
     Mo gen en ti kabàn deyò. Mo mèt sa mo gen bèzòn andan-la. I have a little shed out back. I put things I need in there. (CA) See examples
• kabòsh No sources ( n. )
  1. Head; tête.
     ♦ Si mouen cogné toi, ma fanne to caboche an piti moceau. If I strike you, I’ll break your head into little pieces. (T2) See examples
• kache BT ( adj. ) kashez (f.) BT
  1. Secretive; cachottier.
     Èl kacheuz. El di pa tou so biznis. E en kacheu se en nonm. She is secretive, she doesn’t tell all of her business. And a [kacheu] is a secretive man. (BT) See examples
• kad PC, ST ( n. )
  1. Frame for stretching a quilt to be stitched; cadre qui sert à étaler une courtepointe afin de la piquer.
     En kad, ye mète QUILT-la anho la, e fanm-ye tou antour la, ye e koud li ye e pike li. A frame, they put a quilt on it, and women gathered all around it to sew it and stitch it. (PC); Mo sœr gen en kad pou fe kouvèrt. My sister has a frame to make quilts. (ST) See examples
• kadav No sources ( n. )
  1. Corpse; cadavre.
     ♦ Pov Michié Oscar. Li shure fé in triste cadavre. Ça qui tchué li? Poor Mr. Oscar. He sure made a sorry corpse. What killed him. (WO) See examples
• kadjin CA, PC, NE, ST ( n. ) kajin PC
  1. Cajun (language); le cadien.
     Moun pa parle kadjen otour isit. People didn’t speak Cajun around here. (CA) See examples
  2. Cajun; Cadien.
     Sa se en Kajen ki fe sa. It’s a Cajun who does that. (PC); Astèr ke le Kadjen vini tèlmon popilèr tou partou don pei-la, tou kekèn ole dèt le Kadjen. Now that Cajuns have become popular all over the country, everyone wants to be Cajuns. (NE) See examples
• kadjinn NE ( n. )
  1. Cajun (woman); Cadienne. cf. kadjèn
• kadna CA, ST ( n. )
  1. Padlock; cadenas.
     To me en kadna apre ton magazen mayi pa pou pèrsonn rant dan ton magazen mayi pou vole. You put a padlock on your corn shed so that no one goes in the corn shed to steal. (CA); Mo gen en kadna anho lapòrt lachanm lavaj pou pèche volœr. I’ve got a padlock on the door to the laundry room to prevent robbers. (ST) See examples
• kado CA, NE, ST ( n. )
  1. Gift; cadeau.
     Li dòn man en kado pou nwèl. He gave me a Christmas present. (CA) ♦ Comme toi cé eune bon fille, mo oulé fé toi cadeau dézef ki parlé. Since you’re a good girl, I want to make you a gift of the talking egg. (T30) See examples
• kadril ST ( n. )
  1. Quadrille; quadrille.
     Vye moun lontan pase te koutmen danse la kadril. Old people long ago used to dance the quadrille. (ST) ♦ Vou ouâ, Compair Tigue, tou mo zinvités pa gagné latête, fô vou oté vou kenne pou konné dancé dan kadril larenne. You see, Brer Tiger, all of my guests lack a head; you must remove your own, in order to dance in the queen’s quadrille. (T8) See examples
• kafé CA, MO 60, NE, PC, ST ( n. )
  1. Coffee; café.
     Ye donn mwen en tas kafe san dusuk. They...gave me a cup of coffee without sugar. (PC); Li bwa so kafe. He drinks his coffee. (CA); Mo bwar mo kafe nwar. I drink my coffee black. (ST) ♦ Et dans cabane ça bon assise côté di fé avec tous nos pitis quand napé boi café . And in the house it is good to sit by the fire with all of our children when we are drinking coffee. (T27) •kafe o le n.phr. (ST). Café au lait; café au lait. Mo pa kapab bwar kafe o le pars kè sa boulvèrse mo lèstoma. I can’t drink café au lait because it upsets my stomach. (ST) ♦ Met dile ondon la pou fe piti krwa se kafe o le. Put milk in it to make the child think it’s café au lait. (LA) •kafe sovaj n.phr. (PC). Coffee weed, indigo weed, rattlebush; indigo sauvage. ( Daubentonia drummondii). Kafe sovaj , li gen de palet parey koum en bin, mè se boukou plu piti. Coffee weed has pods like a bean, but it’s much smaller. (PC) •kafe ver n.phr. (CA). Unroasted coffee beans; café non torréfié. No t achèt kafe vèr e no te griye no kafe no-mèm. We would buy unroasted coffee beans and we would roast our coffee ourselves. (CA) See examples
• kagou CA, PC, ST ( adj. )
  1. Out of sorts; indisposé.
     To p ole joue. To kagou jodi. Lès mo wa si to gen lafyèv. You don’t want to play. You’re out of sorts today. Let me see if you have a fever. (CA); Mo pa santi byen jòrdi. Mo santi kagou jòrdi. I don’t feel well today. I feel out of sorts today. (ST) ♦ Li rete trankil la tou kagou e sa te sanble li te malad. He remained quiet and out of sorts, and it looked like he was sick. (JR) See examples
• kaiman CA ( n. ) kayman ST
  1. Alligator; alligator.
     (Alligator mississippiensis). ♦ Latcheu Caïman té si long, et li t apé trainé tant', qué mo manqué craser li plus d'ein fois. The alligator’s tail was so long, and it was dragging around so much that I nearly crushed it more than once. (T40) REM: kokodui is used to the exclusion of kayman in PC. See examples
• kaj BT, PC ( n. ) lakaj CA, PC, ST dé zarkaj CA
  1. Cage; cage.
     Nou te konnen pran le poul e mèt dan le kaj. We used to take hens and put them in cages. (PC); Zozo pa dan so lakaj. The bird isn’t in its cage. (CA) ♦ Si yé té mété toi dan ain bon lacage avé bon baro en fer, to sré pa cacé arien. If they put you in a good cage with good iron bars, you wouldn’t be breaking anything. (ME) See examples
• kak No sources ( onom. )
  1. Ha ha! Ha ha!
     ♦Kan mo té proce pou parti, mo tandé ti blan yé ri: kak! kak! kak! When I was just about to leave I heard the little white boys laugh, ha! ha! ha! (T17) See examples
• kaka CA, PC ( n. )
  1. Shit, feces, dung, crap; caca, merde, crotte.
     Mo wa en ta kaka, chyen-a chye patè, sa se en ta lamèrd. I see a pile of shit, the dog shit on the ground, there’s a pile of dog shit on the ground. (PC); Piti-la li bèmen kaka . Li gen deranjman. The child is smeared with crap. He has loose bowels. (CA) •pate kaka 2 n.phr. (CA). Pile of dung; tas de bouse. Lavach-la kaka en pate kaka. The cow made a pile of dung. (CA) •kaka e paye exp. (PC). The shit is flying, the shit hit the fan; On est dans la merde. See examples
• kaka CA, PC ( v.intr. )
  1. To defecate, shit; aller à la selle, déféquer, chier.
     Le zwazo te va monje sa, la i te va kaka olon leu baryè, sa te rèv olon labaryè. The birds ate that, and then they’d go and defecate along the fences, and that’s how it (i.e. the elderberry) grows along fences. (PC) See examples
• kakasya No sources ( n. )
  1. Acacia; acacia.
     ♦ Pou geri kolik f e en tizonn vek grenn kakasya e di sik. Bwa de kiyere kat fwa von to kouche. For colic, make an herbal tea with acacia seeds and sugar. Drink two spoonfuls before you go to bed. (BD) See examples
• kakatwar BT ( n. )
  1. Bathroom; w.c., toilettes.
     Twa to gen to kakatwar dan lamezon; to pa bizwen le deyòr. You have a bathroom in the house, you don’t need to go outdoors. (BT) See examples
• kala No sources ( n. )
  1. Cala (a kind of sweetened rice cake); cala (espèce de gateau de riz sucré).
     ♦ Françoèse, to raplé to boutic la mo té gagnin rue Perdido, dans temps to té vande cala? Frances, do you remember the store I used to have on Perdido Street, when you used to sell rice cakes? (T31) See examples
• kalabous No sources ( n. ) kabous ST
  1. Prison, jail; prison, geôle.
     Li dan kabous parskè li vole larjan deu labank. He’s in jail because he stole money from the bank. (ST) ♦Té méné moin au calaboosse. They took me to jail. (T39) See examples
• kalakaloun CA ( n. )
  1. Tyke; môme.
     Li pi en ti kalakaloun. Li gran. He’s not a little tyke anymore. He’s big. (CA) See examples