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

• kalalou PC ( n. )
  1. Menstrual blood; sang menstruel.
     Mo fe li manje kalalou. I made him eat menstrual blood (to keep him faithful to me). (PC) See examples
• kalbas BT, CA, PC, ST ( n. ) kalbas PC
  1. Calabash, gourd; calebasse, gourde.
     Le kalbas, na pa grant afèr anndan pou manje, paskœ le kalbas ete sèrvi , ti pour pèrse en trou anndan, mèt le bin TO MAKE SHAKERS . Gourds, there is not much to eat inside, because gourds were used for - you can put a hole in them and put in beans to make ‘shakers.’ (BT); To gen latèt pli di k en kalbas. You’re head is harder than a calabash. (CA) ♦ Li temps pou nous planté calbasse auras cabane. It’s time for us to plant gourds near the house. (T27) •La kalbas swiv lalyòn. exp. (PC). (Creole proverb) The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Like father, like son. Tel père, tel fils. (lit. The gourd follows the vine.) See examples
• kaldo ST ( n. )
  1. «Caldo,» Spanish soup made with cabbage, vegetables, meat and sweet potatoes; soupe espagnole faite avec du chou, des légumes, de la viande et des patates.
     Mo kaldo cho. My caldo is hot. (ST) See examples
• kaldron PC ( n. ) kaldran PC kaltronn CA
  1. Quadroon; quarteron.
     En kaldron, mo kra li trwa ka FROM èt en blan. A quadroon is a person who is three-quarters white. (PC); Mo memèr te en kaltronn. Li te lamotche blan lamotche nwa. My mother was a quadroon. She was half white and half black. (CA) REM: The AmHer defines this as «a person having one quarter Negro ancestry.» Modern speakers apply the term more loosely to various degrees of racial mixture. See examples
• Kalifourni CA, PC ( place n. ) Kaliforni PC
  1. California; Californie.
     Tou mo gro bann-ye dan Kalifourni. Most of mine [children] are in California. (PC) See examples
• kalifourshon No sources ( n., adv.phr. ) o kalifourshon No sources
  1. Astride; à califourchon.
     ♦ Li monte o kalifourchon on so lasèl. He straddled his saddle. (TP) See examples
• kalimason PC ( n. ) kalimasan PC
  1. Snail; colimaçon, escargot.
     Mo wa kalimason apre en lapli. Kan ye wa twa, ye rant bèk andan kokiy-la. I see snails after a rain. When they see you, they go back in their shell. (CA) ♦ Mo compair ; to boucou lémé colimaçons? My friend, do you really like snails? (T3) See examples
• kalin CA ( adj. ) kalinn (f.) CA
  1. Lazy; paresseux.
     Li gen bon lèkspèryans. Li pa kalen. He’s got good experience. He’s not lazy. (CA) See examples
• kalinn ST ( n. )
  1. Girlfriend; petite amie, copine.
     Mo garson achte en bel lalyans pou so kalin. My son bought a beautiful wedding ring for his girlfriend. (ST) See examples
• kalinnda ST ( n. )
  1. Calinda (a dance of the Antilles); calinda (danse antillaise).
     ♦Com dansé Calinda, chantez, tout moun content. Go and dance the Calinda, sing, everyone is happy. (T27) See examples
• kalité CA, MO 60, NE, ST ( n. ) kalté BT, CA, PC
  1. Kind, type, sort; espèce, sorte, type.
     Ye gen diferan kalte kana e diferan kalte poul. There are different kinds of ducks and different kinds of chickens. (PC); Nenpòr kalite t ole jordi, t ale gen li. No matter what kind you want today, you will have it. (ST) ♦ Li di twa pou kouri wa an-o e ta wa de kalite manje. He told you to go upstairs and that you would see two kinds of food. (JR) •ke kalite adv.phr. (CA; NE); ki kalite (ST). What kind of; quelle sorte de. Ke kalite louvraj t ape chèrche? What kind of work are you looking for? (NE) •tou kalite adj.det. (CA; NE; ST). All sorts of, all kinds of; toutes sortes de. Bòr-isi to wa tou kalite moun, le milat, le nèg nwar-nwar-nwar. Here you see all kinds of people, mulattoes and really dark black people. (NE); Mo te fe lasoup avèk tou kalite vèrdir: karòt, tomat... I made soup with all kinds of vegetables: carrots, tomatoes... (CA); Kan li sou, li sèrvi tou kalite vilen parol. When he’s drunk, he uses all kinds of bad words. (ST) See examples
• kalkilé ST ( v. ) karkul PC karkulé PC karkilé CA, PC
  1. To calculate; calculer.
     Mo karkile to dwa mwa ven pyas. I calculated you owe me twenty dollars. (CA) ♦ 'Konman mo dwa twa? Mo sa gen pou kalkile... ‘ ‘How much do I owe you?’ the big rich man laughed. ‘I’ll have to figure it out,’ said the manager. (JR) See examples
• kalkonshis PC ( n. ) kalkanntiz PC
  1. Small, violet-like plant; calicantuce. (Magnolia fuscata).
     Kalkontchis, li konm enfriskata, mè li viyole. En vye vye vye plan. The magnolia fuscata is like a banana shrub, but it’s purple. A really old plant. (PC) See examples
• kalkul* No sources ( n. ) karkul PC
  1. Calculation; calcul.
     Ena de moun ki fe en karkul. There are some people who do a calculation. (PC) See examples
• kalm PC ( adj. )
  1. Calm; calme, tranquille.
     Tan-la brouyase jòdi-a. Li sipoze pou kalmf me enna en gro tan ke e vini. The weather is drizzly today. It’s supposed to be calm, but there’s a big storm coming. (PC) See examples
• kalmé No sources ( v.tr. ) kalmin ST
  1. To calm, soothe, relieve; calmer, soulager.
     Li te si boulvèrse ki nou te gen traka pou kalmen li. He was so upset we had trouble calming him down. (ST) ♦ Pou frison potrin met de sonsi pou tire dison ontour kote, sa kalme to ladoulè. For pneumonia, put on leeches to draw the blood out, and that will calm your pain. (LA) See examples
• kalokènn CA ( n. )
  1. Skull; crâne.
     Ye mèt de kalokenn e lalimyèr andan-la pou HALLOWEEN. They put skulls with lights in them for Halloween. (CA) See examples
• kalomél PC ( n. ) kaloméyl PC
  1. Calomel; calomel.
     Se pron kalomel pou lafyèv, epi disel. They used to take calomel for fever, and some salt. (PC) See examples
  2. Waste from the sugar-making process, used as a purgative; résidu de la production du sucre, utilisé comme purgatif.
     Si t ole pirje to pran sa. Kalomeyl, se lakwit: If you want to purge you take that. «Calomel» is residue from sugar manufacture. (PC) See examples
• kalosi NE ( n. )
  1. Callus; callosité, durillon.
     La to gen kòm le kalosi on te pye. You’ve got something like calluses on your feet. (NE) See examples
• kalson BT, CA, PC, ST ( n. ) kànson CA
  1. Underpants, panties; caleçon, slip.
     En kalson se sa ton me anba ton lenj. Underwear is what you put on under your clothes. (BT); Mo mèt mo lenj dedsou, mo brasyèr e mo kalson. I put on my underwear, my bra and my panties. (CA); Kalson en nom. Men’s underwear. (CA; ST); Kalson en fonm. Women’s underwear. (CA; ST) ♦ Donne moin mo tchilottes, et mo caneçons ça mo prêté toi. Give me my pants and the underwear that I loaned you. (FO T19) See examples
• kalèn ST ( n. )
  1. Boyfriend; petit ami, copain.
     Kalen mo sœr te en vayan jèn nom. My sister’s boyfriend was a handsome young man. (ST) See examples
• kalé CA, PC, ST ( v., v.intr., v.tr. ) kal CA
  1. To sink; sombrer, couler.
     To kal trwa fwa e la trazyèm fwa se tou. To neye. You sink three times and that’s all. You drown. (CA); Li kale li dan bayou. He sank it in the bayou. (ST) ♦ Navir-la grouye plen, men li tchobo en bon bout tan. Men divan-la te tro fo pou li e li frape on en chiko. Dousman men sirman li kanmanse kale. The ship rocked alot but it held on for a good while. But the wind was too strong for it and it struck a stump. Slowly but surely it started to sink. (JR) 2. To plunge, dive; plonger, s’enfoncer. ♦ Cocodrille dit: -Monté on mo dos, ma traversé toi. Rendi dans milié fléve li calé, li calé en bas dolo et li néyé djabe. The alligator said, ‘Climb onto my back, I’ll take you across.’ Once they had reached the middle of the river, he dove and drowned the devil. (FO T19)1. To swallow; avaler. ♦ Li ouvri dézouite la et pis li calé li. He opened the oyster and swallowed it. (T24) 2. To lower; baisser, descendre. Nou te koutmen kale en syo dan pu pou trape dolo. We used to lower a bucket into the well to get water. (ST) ♦ Compair Dahomey pran ein laficel dans so poche, maré ein caïou dan lot boute et li calé li dan pi. Brer Dahomey took a string from his pocket, tied a pebble around the other end of it, and lowered it into the well. (T6) 3. To stick, put; foncer, mettre. I te gen en ti norye pou mèt lœrz epenng e lèz egwiy. Ye se kale l egwiy-l andan 1. She had a little pillow for their needles and pins. They would stick the needles into it. (PC) 4. To swindle, cheat; escroquer, frauder. Li kale twa. He cheated you. (PC) See examples
• kalòt BT, ST ( n. ) karòt PC
  1. Crown, top (of a head, a hat); calotte (du crâne, d’un chapeau).
     La parti anho, sa se la kalòt. The top of the head is called the crown. (BT); La kalòt-la kabose. The top of the hat is dented. (ST) See examples
  2. Punch, slap; calotte, gifle, coup de poing, claque.
     Karòt dèsu ladjèl. A punch in the mouth. (PC) ; Man fou twa en kalòt. T ap anbète man. I’m going to give you a slap. You’re bothering me. (CA) See examples
• kam No sources ( onom. )
  1. Knock ! Toc !
     ♦ Compair Bouki cogné apé lapote kam! kam! Brer Bouki knocked on the door, knock knock! (T3) See examples
• kamarad CA, MO 60, NE, ST ( n. )
  1. Comrade, friend; camarade, ami.
     Lòri gen en ta kamarad ki pele tou le jour e ye vini vizite osi. Lori has a lot of friends who call every day and they visit too. (ST) ♦ Annon fé camarade é vive tranquille com bon voisin. Let us be friends and live quietly like good neighbors. (FO 1887) See examples
• kamilya PC ( n. ) kanmélya PC
  1. Camellia (flower); camélia. (PC)
  2. Tea made of the camellia flower; tisane faite des fleurs du camélia. (PC)
• kamizòl CA, PC, ST ( n. )
  1. Nightgown; chemise de nuit, camisole.
     En fam me en kamizòl. A woman wears a nightgown. (PC) REM: In CA, this term is used by acrolectal speakers while gabrièl is used by basiclectal speakers. ♦ So jipons, yé gaignin dé volan tou froncé avec la dentel, et so camisole de nuit. Her petticoats, they have gathered flounces of lace, and her nightgowns. (WO) See examples
  2. Slip; jupon.
     Lontan pase, vye dam te fe kamizòl avèk mòlton e ye te mèt sa kòm en jipon anba ye rob. Long ago, old ladies made slips with flannel and they would wear that like a slip under their dress. (ST) See examples
• kamomèl ST ( n. )
  1. Chamomile; camomille.
     Kamomèl, sa se en tretman. Chamomile tea, that’s a medical treatment. (ST) ♦ Pou vomisman bouyi konmami don dolo e bwa de ti tas tou le jou. For vomiting, boil chamomile in water and drink three cups of it a day. (LA) See examples
• kan No sources ( adv. ) ékan CA, PC, ST ékon NE éka NE
  1. When; quand.
     Ekan t e mary e? When are you getting married? (PC); Ekan to va fini ale bòr e babòr? When are you going to stop running every which way? (CA) See examples
• kan CA, PC, ST ( conj. ) ka NE, PC kon NE kont NE ékon NE éka NE kant PC
  1. When; quand.
     Kon nou te koupe nouzòt, nou te kour trape en fil nagne. When we cut ourselves, we went to get a spider web. (NE); Kan laplu tonm mo fenm me chasi. When it rains I close my windows. (PC) ♦ Quand branche la balancé ça idé piti zozos la chanté, comme hamac idé ein homme chanté. When the branch swings that helps little birds to sing, as a hammock helps a man to sing. (FO T20) See examples
  2. Whereas, while; tandis que.
     Li pron so char kon mwa mo krwa li se marche. He took his car whereas I thought he would walk. (NE) See examples
• kan No sources ( n. ) kon CA, PC
  1. The group of houses or cabins occupied by workers on a plantation; ensemble de maisons ou de cabanes occupées par les ouvriers d’une plantation.
     ♦ Jou la pété so fouet, la oi tout moun dans champ, jisqu'à ti négrillons allé sorti dans camp. The day he strikes his whip, you’ll see everyone out in the field, even the young black boys will go out. (T27) See examples
• kan No sources ( prep. ) kon pou NE
  1. As for, as concerns; quant à.
     Kon pou le plarin, to jame si monje le meyœr. As for pralines, you’ve never eaten any better than these. (NE) ♦ Quant à moin, mo sûr mo zaffair. As for me, I’m sure of my thing. (T33) See examples
• kan-mèm CA, PC, ST ( conj., adv. ) kon-mèm NE ka-mèm BT, NE, ST kan-minm BT
  1. Although; bien que, quoique.
     Ka-mèm li lèd, li gen le vayon monyèr. Although she’s ugly, she is well-mannered. (NE) ♦ Li di mouen li té treat mouen bon zamiké; kan mem li té pa kandida. He told me that he would treat me as a good friend; even though he is not a candidate. (T14) See examples
  2. Even when; même quand.
     Le vyeu lida, sa toujou kontraye pou lagèr. Ka-mèm inave lagèr, lape te signen, me sa toujou kontraye. The old leaders continued on with the war. Even when peace had been signed, they kept the war going. (PC) See examples
  3. Even if, even though; même si.
     Kon-mèm ye parl pa li, si ye ton kreol, ye apron sa REAL FAST. Even if they don’t speak it, when they hear Creole they learn it real fast. (NE) ♦ Li di can minme yé donnin li $100,000- li papé récommencé jamin encor, jamin la entrepran ein pareil job. He says that even if they gave him $100,000 he wouldn’t start that again, never would he undertake such a job. (FO 1887) See examples
  4. Whether or not; qu’il en soit ainsi ou non.
     Kan-mèm to va ou to va pa, m ap dòn twa lenvitasyon pou mo lanòs. Whether or not you come, I’m giving you an invitation to my wedding. (CA)All the same, even so; tout de même. Mo swat pa ye fe mo monje li kan-mèm. All the same, I hope they don’t make me eat it. (PC) ♦ Kan lapli tombé zans koulair pa traouail, mé Rébail bligé péhié kan maim. When the rain falls black folks don’t work, but the rebels have to pay them anyway. (T16) See examples
• Kanada CA, NE ( prop.n. ) Kènnada PC
  1. Canada; Canada.
     Mo e gòn ON VACATION k’te Kennada. I’m going on vacation to Canada. (PC); Kan no te dan Kanada, no te ale dan en bèl lotèl. When we were in Canada, we went to a beautiful hotel. (CA) See examples
  2. Canadian; Canadien(ne). (NE)
• kanadyèn PC ( n. )
  1. Canada goose; oie canadienne, outarde. (Branta canadensis canadensis).
• kanal CA, PC, ST ( n. )
  1. Canal; canal.
     Laparwas isit gen si tèlman le ti kanal e le ti bout dolo. This parish has so many little canals and stretches of water. (PC); Dan lete no mèt en vyey rob e no te ale naje dan kanal. In the summer, we would put on an old dress and we would go swimming in the canal. (CA) ♦ Le swa kokodri se kouche dan kanal ora en lamezon. In the evenings the Alligator would sleep in a canal near a house. (JR) See examples
  2. Ditch; fossé.
     Nouzòt nou pèl è fose mè en Fronse di kanal. A French speaker will call them canals, but we call them ditches. (PC) See examples
• kanar MO 60, gen ( n. ) kana CA, PC
  1. Duck; canard.
     La bas-kour se le denn, le poul, le kanar, de zwa, de pental, se tou la bas-kour. Domestic fowl includes turkeys, chickens, ducks, geese, Guinea fowl, all that is domestic fowl. (BT); En mal kana ave en femèl kana. A male duck and a female duck. (PC); M ap boure mo kana pou THANKSGIVING . I’m stuffing my duck for Thanksgiving. (CA) ♦ Cofaire vo pas mangé, Rénard, vo ti la geole pointi', comme ain ti bec canard. Why didn’t you eat, Fox, your little mouth is pointed just like a duck’s beak. (T20) •kana bèk-si n.phr. (CA; PC). American merganser, saw-bill; harle américain. ( Mergus americanus). •kana branchi n.phr. (PC; ST). Wood duck; canard des bois, canard branchu. ( Aix sponsa). cf. kanar dibwa •kana denn n.phr. (CA; PC); kanar denn (PC). Muscovy duck, musk duck; canard musqué, canard de Barbarie. ( Cairina moschata). Sa se an latè sa, kana denn. Kana denn, se konm en poul. A muscovy duck remains on the ground. It’s like a chicken. (PC) ♦ Pa Nelson a done vou ein pair cana dame. Pa Nelson will give you a pair of Muscovy ducks. (T17) •kanar dibwa n.phr. (ST); kana dibwa (PC). Wood duck; canard des bois, canard branchu. ( Aix sponsa). •kanar dou n.phr. (CA; ST); kana dou (PC). Domesticated duck; canard domestique. REM: According to LG this is another name for the kanar franse (q.v.). • kanar franse n.phr. (CA; ST); kana fronse (PC). Greenhead Mallard; malard à tête verte. ( Anas platyrhynchos). Kana fronse, ye mwayen jonn, gen de tak nwa, e li gen le plum mwòyen jonn. A mallard duck is yellowish, and it has black spots, and it has yellowish feathers. (PC); Se en gro kanar franse mo tchwe jodi-la pou Nwèl. It’s a big greenhead mallard that I killed today for Christmas. (CA) •kana kreyòl n.phr. (PC). Creole duck; canard créole. [Kana kreyòl], se en betay ki vi on latè, li vi don dolo. A Creole duck, it’s an animal that lives on land or in the water. (PC) •kana mikwonn n.phr. (PC). Shoveler duck, spoon-billed duck; souchet. (, Spatula clypeata). •kana mile n.phr. (PC). Mule duck (a duck bred from a muscovy drake and a mallard, Pekin, or Indian runner duck); •canard mulet» (hybride d’un canard musqué et d’une cane commune dite cane française). So latet rouj, ka la la, e la-isi la, se gri. Ye pèl sa en kana mile. Se en gro zafè. His head is red up until about here, and here he is grey. They call that a mule duck. They’re pretty big things. (PC) •kanar nwar n.phr. (ST); kana nwa (PC). Ring-necked duck, black duck, black jack; canard à col rouge. ( Marila collaris). Ye gen en kana nwa. So kou nwa-la e so latet, li gen en bar nwa on so do. There is a black duck. His neck is black like his head, and he has a black stripe on his back. (PC) •ti kana n.phr. (PC). Duckling; caneton. See examples
• kanay BT, CA, PC, ST ( adj. )
  1. Mischievous; espiègle.
     To kanay. To vomye arete niche piti-la. You’re mischievous. You’d better stop picking on that child. (CA) See examples
  2. Slick, clever, cunning; malin.
     Kan to pèch dan larivyè, ena de vyœ ti tòrti ki vyen anbète lalign. Ye plen koken. Ye kanay , kanay ; kanay. When you fish in the river, there are little old turtles that come and disturb the line. They’re very slick, they’re clever clever clever. (PC); Ena en kont pou en renar-la. Ye kanay. There’s a story about a fox. They’re cunning. (CA) See examples
• kanay CA, NE, ST ( n. )
  1. Rascal, scoundrel; canaille, coquin.
     ♦ Et pis pou pas vou cré qué moin cé ein canaille, m apé donne vou chacaine ain joli ti lécaille. Just so you don’t think I’m a rascal, I’ll give each of you a pretty little shell. (T24) See examples
• kanayri CA ( n. ) kanaydrl CA kannaydri PC
  1. Low-down trick, dirty trick; canaillerie, mauvais tour.
     Li pran revanch pou kek kanayri ye te fe en-na-lòt. He took revenge for some low-down trick they did to each other. (CA) See examples
• kanbiy No sources ( n. ) lakanbiy PC
  1. Game which involves throwing a knife; jeu dans lequel on lance un couteau.
• kanbré CA, ST ( adj., adv. ) kabré CA, PC konmbré PC
  1. Bowlegged; aux jambes arquées.
     To march kabre. You walk bowlegged. (CA)Bow-legged; arquées (des jambes). Li konmbre. He’s bow-legged. (PC); Nom-sa-la kanbre. Garde-li koman li kanbre kan li march. That man is bowlegged. Look at him, how bowlegged he is when he walks. (CA) See examples
• kandi CA, PC, ST ( n. ) kanndi PC kondi PC konndi PC
  1. Candy; bonbon, sucrerie.
     To se kouri è fiy-la kote latab, achte en bout kanndi PEPPERMINT '. Baton kanndi te lanng konm sa p senk sou. You would go to the table with the girl to buy a stick of peppermint candy. The stick was about that long for five cents. (PC); Dan Karèm mo fe san kandi. During Lent, I do without candy. (ST) •baton kanndi n.phr. (ST; PC). Stick of candy; bâtonnet (de sucre candi). •bout kanndi n.phr. (PC). Piece of candy; bonbon. •morso kandi n.phr. (ST); mòso kandi (CA). Piece of candy; bonbon. En mòso kandi ou en ti gato. A piece of candy or a cookie. (CA) See examples
• kandida No sources ( n. )
  1. Candidate; candidat.
     ♦ Ki ça ki nou zot kandida? Who is our candidate? (T12) See examples
• kandjo No sources ( n. )
  1. Creole slave considered a leader by other slaves; esclave créole considéré comme chef par les autres esclaves.
     ♦ Jou là, z'amis, mo s'ra candjo, mo s'ra fier passé prince. That day, my friends, I will be a leader, I will be prouder than a prince. (T11) See examples
  2. African chief; chef africain.
     ['candio ’ ] (GC1) See examples
• kanf CA ( n. )
  1. Camphor (oil); camphre.
     ♦ [Pou] nimoni, mele di konf avek lwil doliv. For pneumonia, mix camphor with olive oil. (BI) •boul kanf n.phr. (CA). Mothball; boule de naphtaline. Mo mèt de ti boul kanf dan mo tirwa-ye dan mo lenj pou peche rave manje li. I put mothballs in my drawers in my clothes to prevent roaches from eating them. (CA) See examples
• kanfré PC, CA ( adj. )
  1. Camphorated; camphré. • lagrès kanfre
     n.phr. Camphorated oil; huile camphrée, cf. grès •lwil kanfre n.phr. Camphorated oil; huile camphrée, cf. lwil •’pomade camphrée' n.phr. Camphorated salve; pommade camphrée, cf. pòmad See examples
• kangrènn* No sources ( n. ) lakògrènn PC kangrènnin PC kongrènnin PC kongré CA lakongrin CA
  1. Gangrene; gangrène.
     Kongre-la se la pwazon to trap andan to pye ou to janm. Se en bobo ki dòn twa kongre. Ye gen pou koupe to pye. Gangrene is the poison you get in your foot or leg. It’s a wound that gives you gangrene. They have to cut off your foot. (CA) See examples
  2. Tetanus; tétanos.
     Li gen lakò grenn. He has tetanus. (PC); Si to pike to pat, to konen trape lakongren. If you pierce your foot, you can get tetanus. (CA) See examples
• kanko No sources ( n. )
  1. Wild purple berry; une baie sauvage violette.
     ♦ No courri dans bois ramassé cancos. We go to the woods to fetch cancos berries. (GC2) REM: GC2 notes that this is the Indian name for this berry. See examples
• kankrit PC ( n. )
  1. Concrete; béton.
     Se fe an kankrit. It’s made of concrete. (PC) See examples