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

• kann BT ( n. ) dikann CA, PC dikonn PC lè konn PC lalékann PC dékonn PC dékann PC dékàn PC kon NE dékon NE lékann CA lékonn CA kan ST
  1. Sugar cane; canne à sucre.
     Mo travaye dan koupe le kann, charje le kann. I worked at cutting the cane, loading the cane. (BT); En fourno, se pou moule dikann dan laskleri. A furnace is for grinding sugar cane in the sugar factory. (CA); Kan sik. Sugar cane. (ST) ♦ Vié neg dans rang di cane apé toumain la terre avec yé la charrie. The old blacks in the sugar cane rows were turning the earth with their plows. (T27) •’canne maïs’ n.phr. Cornstalk; tige de maïs. Yé trouvé li en haut les cannes maïs. They found him on top of the cornstalks. (AN T15) • dekon a ling n.phr. (PC). Bamboo; bambou, •kann chovaj n.phr. (PC). Wild cane, reed; canne sauvage, roseau, •kann maron n.phr. dekann maran (PC); dikann maron (CA). Wild cane, reed; canne sauvage, roseau. Dekann maran-la gran li vyen lanng. E chak ne gen diferan grosè. The wild cane is tall, it gets long. And each joint is a different size. (PC) •klo dikann n.phr. (CA) Sugar cane field; champ de canne à sucre, cf. klo •pye dekonn n.phr. (PC); pye dekann (PC); pye dikann (CA). Sugar cane stalk; tige de la canne à sucre. Li fe en pye dekonn. The bud produces a sugar cane stalk. (PC) •pyès dekann n.phr. Sugar cane field, piece of sugar cane; champ de canne à sucre; morceau de canne à sucre, cf. pyès See examples
  2. Cane, walking stick; canne.
     ♦ Quand li vié, li pronne ein déconne et li marché en haut trois pattes. When he is elderly he gets a cane and walks on three legs. (BD) See examples
• kannik CA, PC ( n. ) kanik CA, BT, ST kankik PC
  1. Marble; bille.
     Mwò, mo me deu kanik dan l ron; twò, to me k deu kanik dan l ron. La, nou jou. Me, I put two marbles in the circle. You, you put only two marbles in the circle. Then we play. (BT); 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) ♦ Ein caillou pas plis grand qué ein piti canique. A stone no bigger than a marble. (FO T22) See examples
• kanon ST ( n. ) kano BT, CA, PC
  1. Cannon; canon.
     ♦ Mo nèk tonde ye ape tire kanon. I only heard them firing cannons. (TP) See examples
  2. Barrel (of a gun); canon (d’un fusil).
     To charj lakartouch, to ponmpe li, li va rantre dan leu kano. You load the cartridge and you cock it, it goes into the gun barrel. (BT) ; Li gen en ti bout on bout bra fizi-la. E la li gen sa to pel en kano. There is a little piece on the end of the rifle butt. And that it has what you call a barrel. (PC); M a sakre twa en kou kano fizi. I'il hit you with the barrel of the shotgun. (CA) See examples
• kanpañ BT, ST ( n. ) kanpanñ CA, PC kanponñ CA, PC konpony NE
  1. Country, countryside; campagne.
     Pou dèt ye fom, ye s ole en fiy la konpony. To be their wife, they wanted a girl from the country. (NE); Moun la kanpangn. Country folk. (PC) See examples
• kanpé BT, ST ( v.intr. ) konpé NE
  1. To stand; être (se mettre) debout.
     To te gen pour rèste lampe drèt la. You had to stay standing right there. (BT); Les autres vieux macaques-là, yé té tous campés à côté. Those other old monkeys were all standing around. (AN T102); Plen fwa nou gen pou kanpe dan legliz parskè ye pa gen ase plas pou asi. A lot of times we have to stand in church because there aren’t enough places to sit. (ST) •kanpe dan l kwen v.phr. (BT). To stand in the comer (as a punishment); rester debout dans le coin (comme punition). To veu pa koute sa mo t ape di twa. To fe kèkchoz dòt ke to te pa supoze fe, so to va kanpe dan l kwen pour trant minut. You don’t want to listen to what I’m telling you. You did something you’re not supposed to do, so you go stand in the comer for thirty minutes. (BT) •kanpe dibout v.phr. (BT). To stand up; se mettre debout. Kanp dibout! Get up! (BT) •rèste kanpe v.phr. (ST). To remain standing; rester debout. Kan mo te dan kouvon, mo te toujour gen pou rèste kanpe dan legliz . When I was in the convent, I always had to remain standing in church. (ST) See examples
• kanshyé No sources ( n. )
  1. Rural hide shoe; chaussure rustique de peau.
     ♦ Dans l'ancien temps vié neg coutime metté cantchié, mais tous ti négrillons yé té couri ni-pieds. In the old days black folks would put on leather shoes, but all the little boys went barefoot. (T27) See examples
• kansidèré CA ( v.tr. ) kansèdèré PC
  1. To consider; considérer.
     Ye pale kont en nasyon moun, o ye kansèdère ye se le nwa ? Were they speaking against a race of people, or did they consider themselves black people? (PC) See examples
• kansomin CA ( v.intr. )
  1. To simmer; cuire à feu doux, mijoter.
     Kan t ape fe en frikase, to toufe zepi-ye e to me to lavyann. To lese li kansomen en pe avan to me to dolo. When you make a fricassee, you smother your onions and garlic mixture and you put in your meat. You let it simmer down a little before you add water. (CA) See examples
• kantik PC ( n. ) kontik PC
  1. Hymn; cantique.
     Bèptis-ye te chant ye-tchèn kantik. Baptists sing their own hymns. (PC) ♦ Chantez cantique, chantez pou bon mouman Bon Djé. Sing a hymn, sing to the good Mother of God. (T27) See examples
• kantinn No sources ( n. )
  1. Canteen; bidon.
     ♦ Li prann so kantin wiski vide li dan dolo-la. He took his canteen of whiskey and emptied it into the water. (JR) See examples
• kantité CA, PC, ST ( n. )
  1. Quantity; quantité.
     Me en kantite dolo dan to diri pou kwi li. Put an amount of water in your rice to cook it. (CA) ♦ Li oua ein grand quantité des os qui recommencé chanté. He saw a great quantity of bones begin singing again. (FO T17) See examples
• kantonn PC ( n. ) konton CA
  1. Area, region; région. (PC)
  2. Small town, village; village. (CA)
• kantyèm CA, PC ( pron. ) kantyinm PC, ST
  1. Day, date; jour, quantième, date.
     Demen, se kantiem? What is tomorrow’s date? (HW); Kan ti bebe batize, prèt-la ranj so batistèr e so non, so pap, so moman, so paren, so nenenn e mwa li ne, e kantyèm, e lonnen. When a little baby is baptized, the priest prepares his baptismal certificate with his name, his dad, his mom, his godfather, his godmother, and the month he was born, the day and the year. (CA) •ki kantyèm n.phr. (PC); ki kantyenm (PC). What date; quelle date. Ki kantyenm li e chodui? What is the date today? (PC); Ke kantiem no ye? What is today’s date? (HW) See examples
• kanèl No sources ( n. ) lakanèl CA, ST lakanél PC
  1. Cinnamon; cannelle.
     Mo rape lakanèl pou mèt dan jòromon. I grated cinnamon to put in my pumpkin. (CA) ♦ [Pou] ladipteri, pronn di ven lakanel e bouyi sa avek di soumarouba. For diphtheria, take some cinnamon wine and boil it with some simaruba. (BI) See examples
• kanèt CA ( n. )
  1. Wild cane reed, small bamboo; canne sauvage, petit bambou.
     To pran en kanèt pou fe en lalign pou ale pèche. You take a small bamboo stalk to make a fishing rod. (CA) •kanèt maron n.phr. (CA). Wild cane reed, sort of small bamboo; petite canne sauvage, espèce de bambou. See examples
  2. Fishing pole; canne à pêche.
     Mo t ap ale pèche e mo kanèt lalve. I was going fishing with my fishing pole on the levee. (CA) See examples
• kapab CA, MO 60, NE, PC, ST ( v.mod. ) kapa MO 60, PC kap LA kab ka NE, MO 60, gen
  1. Can, to be able to; pouvoir, être capable de, savoir.
     Nou te senk sè e sèt frè, e se juch mon ki ka parle sa [kreyòl]. There were five sisters and seven brothers in my family, and I’m the only one who can speak it (Creole). (PC); Mo pi kapab koud. I can’t sew anymore. (CA) REM: Acrolectal speakers tend to use kapab ; the forms kab and ka are considered basilectal forms (NE: 224). ♦ To borgne mo jié, mo pa capa ouâ. You poked out my eye, I can’t see. (T3); Quand ti bourgeons yé sorti trop bonne her Fret là capab tchoué yé et jété yé par ter. When the little buds come out too early, the cold can kill them and make them fall to the ground. (T27) See examples
  2. May, to be allowed to; avoir la permission de.
     Èna pa MUCH ki e maryi. E ye kapab! They’re aren’t a lot (of interracial couples) who are married. Yet they are allowed to do it! (PC) See examples
• kaparé No sources ( v.tr. )
  1. To hoard; accaparer.
     Si mo sè ‘caparer ein ti brin di to l'amou, seigneur. If I hoarded a little bit of your love, Lord. (DC) See examples
• kapishon CA, PC, ST ( n. )
  1. Pointed hat worn as part of Mardi Gras costume; chapeau pointu d’un costume de Mardi Gras.
     En kapichon , sa lonng. A Mardi Gras hat is long. (PC); Enave de joli kapichon chapo pou Mardi Gra. Li pwenti anlè. There were some pretty Mardi Gras hats. They’re pointed on top. (CA) See examples
• kapitènn CA, PC ( n. )
  1. Captain; capitaine.
     Dan sèrvis ena de kapitenn, de kaporal, tou kalite. In the service there are captains and corporals of every kind. (CA) ♦ Mouché Préval té capitaine bal, so cocher Louis té maite cérémoni. Mr. Préval was captain of the ball, and his coachman was the master of ceremonies. (T10) See examples
• kapkap CA, PC, ST ( n. )
  1. Little green heron; petit héron vert. (Butorides virescens virescens).
     Kapkap se en ti zozo. Sa pa gen lavyann. Sa vo pa en kou-d-fizi. A little green heron is a little bird. It doesn’t have any meat. It’s not worth shooting. (CA) See examples
• kapo CA, NE, PC, ST ( n. )
  1. Coat; manteau.
     Don livèr fo no me no kapo. In the winter we have to wear a coat. (NE); Kapo-sa-la redouble. Li gen en ladoublir. That coat is lined. It has a lining. (CA) ♦ Li té mette so gros capot dans l'été. He would wear his big overcoat in the summer. (BD) •kapo lapli n.phr. (CA; ST; PC). Raincoat; imperméable. Mo konpanni fourni kapo lapli, de bòt e tou. My company furnishes raincoats, boots, and everything. (CA) •kapo sire n.phr. (PC). Raincoat; imperméable. See examples
  2. Suit jacket, sport coat; veste.
     Li t ape ale legliz . Alors, li mèt so kilot, so chimij e so kapo. He was going to church. So he put on his pants, his shirt, and his suit coat. (CA) See examples
• kapon CA, PC, ST ( n., adj. )
  1. Cowardly; lâche.
     Ena de moun ki pè, ye kapon. Mè si vou kapon vou pe e apronn. There are some people who are afraid, they’re cowardly. But if you are cowardly, you can’t learn. (PC); Li te gen pèr. Sete en kapon. She was afraid. She was a coward. (CA) ♦ Eh ben, couri, d'abord to si capon, bon a rien. Well, go on, since you’re so cowardly, you good-for-nothing. (FO T1)Coward; lâche. ♦ Kapon viv lonton. The coward lives a long time. (DU) See examples
• kaporal CA, ST ( n. )
  1. Corporal; caporal.
     Kaporal-sa-la te move pou solda-ye. That corporal was mean to the soldiers. (CA); Mo frè te en kaporal dan larme. My brother was a corporal in the army. (ST) ♦ Tou gaçons lézot rois so ouazins, avé zénérals, coronels, caporals, tou té olé marié avé li. All of the neighboring kings’ sons, and the generals, colonels and corporals, everyone wanted to marry her. (T7) See examples
• kapoté BT, CA, PC, ST ( v., v.intr., v.tr. ) kapòt BT, PC
  1. To fall over; tomber, capoter, se renverser.
     La vou vyen ave en kaltivètè, djounya, vou mol li, sa min mèt è peu latè pou pèche li kapote. Then you come along with a cultivator, a ‘Junior’, and you mold it, that means you put down some dirt to keep it from falling over. (PC) ♦ Li armé so biscaïen, vizé ben, tiré boum; carancro capoté: wap! He cocked his biscayen, aimed well; the buzzard fell over: bam! (T6) 2. To capsize, tip over; se renverser. M pa ka kouri e chalon paski l a kapote e mon. I can’t go with my boat because it’ll capsize. (PC)1. To turn over, knock over, spill; renverser. Li te si kolèr li kapote to chodyèr. He was so angry he knocked over your kettle. (CA) ♦ E ye kouri kote djòg-la e ye wa ke le te kapote. And they went to the bottle and they saw that it had been knocked over. (JR) 2. To knock down, knock over; renverser. Kofè vou mèn latè bèk, vou za dèsose li, e la si vou mèn pa latè bèk, è von vyen, l a kapote. The reason you put earth around it is that you’ve already laid the roots bare, and if you don’t lay some earth, a wind will come along and knock it over. (PC) ♦ Li capoté gros chène et raché so labarbe. He knocked over a big oak and tore off his beard. (T27) 3. To turn over (ground); renverser. Enn chari gen en n orey. La, kan to rant li, le fe latèr kapote konm sa pou fe ton ran juch en bòr. A plow has an ear. When you go into the ground with it, it throws the dirt to one side to make your row. (BT) See examples
• kapsil ST ( n. )
  1. Capsule; capsule.
• kar ST ( conj. )
  1. For, since; car.
     Li pa vini kar mo te la. He didn’t come since I was there. (ST) ♦ Mo pas connin pou qui raison yé traité moin de cette sorte, car mo té pas dans lamaison que mo trouvé moin à laporte. I don’t know why they treated me that way, but no sooner was I in the house than I found myself back at the door. (T37) See examples
• kar CA, PC, ST ( n. ) kart PC kat PC ka PC
  1. Quarter (fourth part); quart.
     En kart . A quarter. (PC); Nou te gen trwa kar, e nonm-la ki gen, OWN latè-la, li te pran en kat We took three quarters of the harvest, and the man who owned the land took one quarter. (PC); Mo t ole achete jich en kar labwat lagrès. I wanted to buy just a quarter of a jar of shortening. (CA) ♦ Met di vineg e tèrebontin oton en ke lòt jiska demi boutey-la e trwa ka plen. Until the demi bottle is three quarters full. (LA) •travay o kar v.phr. To work as a sharecropper paying one quarter of the harvest as rent; travailler comme métayer dont le loyer se paie avec le quart de sa récolte, cf. travaye . See examples
  2. Quarter (of the moon); quartier (de la lune).
     Lalin-la te trwa kar. The moon was three-quarters full. (PC); Latin en kar, en demi ou trwa kar. The moon is a quarter, a half, or three quarters. (ST) See examples
  3. Watch, guard; quart, •fe kar
     v.phr. To keep watch; faire le quart. Solda ape fe kar. The soldier is keeping watch. (ST) •A soir m alé fait quart; -mo mait dit mo trop vié. Tonight I’m going to keep watch; my master says I’m too old. (T27) See examples
  4. Quarter of a pound; quart d’une livre.
     No ramase kar demi pou nou monje. We gathered a quarter pound of blueberries to eat. (PC); En kar de liv lagrès. A quarter of a pound of lard. (ST) See examples
• karabinn BT, MO 60, ST ( n. )
  1. Rifle, carbine; carabine, fusil.
     Astèr ye pran en karabin ye tir li. Nowadays they take a rifle and shoot it (i.e. the pig). (BT) See examples
• karakolé CA, PC ( v.intr. ) krakolé PC
  1. To stagger, totter; chanceler, tituber.
     L ape krakole. He is staggering. (PC); Kan to sou, tap karakole. When you’re drunk, you stagger. (CA) ♦ Ti gason-la vini ape sote e karikole don kabonn vye nonm-la. The little boy came along jumping and staggering into the old man’s house. [‘ caricolé '] (DU) See examples
• karaktèr CA, ST ( n. ) karaktè PC
  1. Character; caractère.
     Mo lenm to karaktè. I like your character. (PC); Piti-sa-la gen move karaktèr. Li jich ole bat lòt piti-ye. That child has a bad character. He just wants to fight the other children. (CA) ♦ Mais moune té pas l'ainmin ça a cause de so caractère. But people didn’t like that because of his character. (T37) See examples
• karamèyl PC ( n. ) karomèl CA
  1. Caramel; caramel.
     Gato koko, gato deponm, gato karamèyl, AND tou zafè-sa-ye. Coconut cakes, apple cakes, caramel cakes, (I make) all of that. (PC); Mo brile en tas disik e mo mèt dile andan pou fe dile karomèl. I burned a cup of sugar and I put milk in it to make caramel milk. (CA) ♦ Va oi Sirop dans bac et caramel dainmain. You will see syrup in the bucket and caramel tomorrow. (T27) See examples
• karankro CA, PC ( n. ) karanklo PC kanakro PC kènankro PC karonkro NE, ST
  1. Buzzard, vulture; buse, vautour.
     Li ote dezye e la li va kote so gogo. Se sa en karankro fe. He takes out the eyes and then he goes to the backside. That’s what a buzzard does. (CA); Karonkro-ye lèd. Buzzards are ugly. (ST) ♦ En ti monmon apre sa ina en gro kalonklo ki vini. A moment later a big vulture came along. (LA) REM: Read notes that this term can designate either the Turkey buzzard ( Cathartes aura septentrionalis ) or the Black vulture ( Catharista urubu urubu), both of which are common in Louisiana. (RD 1931: 21). See examples
• karanmbòlé No sources ( v.intr. )
  1. To carom; caramboler.
     ♦ Kan mo sorti, mo té apé karambolé tou koté et mo té samblé ouar plin barik ouski marké 4 JIYET. When I came out I was stumbling around, and I seemed to see a lot of barrels of whiskey marked ‘July 4’. (T13) See examples
• karant CA, NE, PC, ST ( num.card. ) karannt PC
  1. Forty; quarante.
     De san karannt pyas. Two hundred and forty dollars. (PC) ♦ Ma gagé quarante douze lote zanimo pou travail dan mo place. I have forty twelve other animals to work in my place. (FO 1887) REM: Regarding numerals like quarante-douze , Fortier 1887: 121 says «A strange way of counting of the negroes, but very common.» See examples
• karantinin CA ( v.tr. )
  1. To quarantine; mettre en quarantaine.
     Lamezon te karantinen. Ye mete en riban nwa desi lagaldri. The house was quarantined. They put a black ribbon on the porch. (CA) See examples
• karbòlik No sources ( adj. )
  1. Carbolic; carbolique.
     ♦ Mo sré bien oulé gagnin in peu lacide carbolic. I would really have liked to have a little carbolic acid. (T34) See examples
• kardap No sources ( onom. )
  1. Thump! Houp-là, hop!
     ♦ Compair Bouki soté diyor, kardap! et li galopé jika li rivé côté Compair Tayot. Brer Bouki came out, thump! and he ran until he arrived at Brer Hound’s house. (T3) See examples
• kardinal CA ( n. ) kadino PC, ST
  1. Cardinal; cardinal.
     Kèkfwa a onz-èr mokèr-ye ap imite tou lez ot zozo, en pèrdri, en kardinal. Sometimes at 11:00 the mockingbirds are imitating all the other birds, a partridge, a cardinal. (CA); Kadino-la joli. The cardinal is pretty. (ST) See examples
• kariyon No sources ( prop.n. )
  1. Le Carillon (name of a francophone newspaper of Louisiana); Le Carillon (nom d’un journal francophone de Louisiane).
     ♦ Com dit pitit Carillon la: Bon Dié pas fait négue Congo pou aute chose que Bamboula et, dans bals zombis, zoué banjo. As the Carillon says, God made the black man for no other purpose than to dance the Bamboula, and in the zombi dance, to play the banjo. (T32) See examples
• kariyòl ST ( n. )
  1. Light cart, carriole, carryall; carriole.
     ♦ Navé ein zolifée assite dan ein ti cariole tou dorée. There was a pretty fairy seated in a gilded carriage. (T7) See examples
• karkas CA, ST ( n. )
  1. Carcass; cadavre, carcasse.
     Ye karkas bef ye gen pou ponn ye pou koupe ye. Their beef carcasses they have to hang them to cut them. (CA); Apre Krismis nou sèrvi karkas denn pou fe lasoup. After Christmas, we used the turkey carcass to make soup. (ST) ♦ Moin mo pa olé à rien... jisse gardé carcasse volaille pou moin demin. I don’t want anything... just keep a chicken carcass for me tomorrow. (WO) See examples
• karlé CA, PC, ST ( n. )
  1. Square fishing net, dip net; carrelet.
     Napa se sa vou trap ave karle. Bait is what you catch with a dip net. (PC) See examples
  2. Trap; piège.
     To me karle-la desi latèr. Krebis-ye vini asit andan la. To mèt en ti morso lavyann andan la. You put the trap on the ground. Crawfish come and sit in it. You put a little bit of meat in it. (CA) See examples
• karnasyèr CA ( n. ) kanasyèr CA
  1. Game bag; carnassière.
     Kan li va lachach, li toujou vini bèk ak kekchoj. So karnasyèr jamen vid. Whenever he goes hunting, he always comes back with something. His game bag (for hunting) is never empty. (CA) ♦ Compair Bouki plimé li, coupé so latête avé so pate, meté li dan so canassière. Brer Bouki plucked it, cut off its head and its feet, put it in his game bag. (T6) See examples
• karnaval PC, ST ( n. )
  1. Carnaval, Mardi Gras; carnaval, Mardi Gras.
     Karnaval se Mardi Gra. Se jour avan Karèm. Carnaval is Mardi Gras. It’s the day before Lent. (ST); Moun sòrti la-ba dan l nò, vini wa Karnaval. People came from the North to see Carnaval. (PC) ♦ Vous connin que roi Canne avale té donné l'‘ordre qué li té pas oulé qué moune masqué yé en haut Mardi Gras. You know that King Carnaval gave the order that he does not want people to wear masks on Mardi Gras. (T40) See examples
• karo CA, PC, ST ( n. )
  1. Diamonds (in cards); carreaux (dans les jeux de cartes).
     Kan to joue kart, ye gen karo, kœr, pik, e mo pa konen. When you play cards, they have diamonds, hearts, spades, and I don’t know. (ST) See examples
  2. Square, scrap (of material, e.g. to make a quilt); carreau, bout (d’étoffe, par ex. pour faire une courtepointe).
     Se sa yè pèl vou en kwil sè ave karo. Ye fe sa ave karo. Karo sa min ye ti mòso lenj', ye SEW THAT, ye koud sa ansonm. What they call a quilt is made with squares of material. They make it with little cloth squares. They sew them together. (PC). See examples
• karp CA, PC, ST ( n. ) dikap PC kap PC
  1. Carp, buffalo fish; carpe.
     Mo kwa ye gen barbi, e ye gen dikap, patasa, mo kwa ye gen choupik osi. I think there are catfish, and there are carp, perch, I think there are mudfish also (in False River). (PC) •karp blan n.phr. (PC; ST). White or Small-mouthed buffalo fish; espèce de carpe. ( Ictiobus bubalus ). •kap jonn n.phr. (PC; ST). Species of buffalo fish; espèce de carpe. •karp rouj n.phr. (ST); kap rouj (PC) ‘Red carp’, a species of buffalo fish; espèce de carpe. Kap rouch, se en pwason dan gran rivyè-ye. The ‘red carp’ is a fish found in big rivers. (PC) •kap soley n.phr. (PC; ST). Species of buffalo fish; espèce de carpe. See examples
• kart CA, PC, ST ( n. ) lékart PC
  1. Card; carte.
     O mè ye gen kat pou medikòmon, gen kat pou doktè. But they have [credit] cards for medicine, and cards for the doctor. (PC) •jwe kart v.phr. To play cards; jouer aux cartes, cf. jwe See examples
• karti No sources ( n. )
  1. Quartille, a half-picayune, two and a half cents; quartille; demi-picaillon, deux sous et demi.
     ♦ »Ki to gaignin là?» «Dibèr, dézef, qua 'ti ri, qua ‘ti poive et lagniappe zallumettes.» «What have you got there?» «Butter, eggs, half a nickel of rice, half a nickel of pepper, and for lagniappe matches.» (TN) See examples
• karton No sources ( n. ) kaltron ST
  1. Cardboard; carton.
     Mo sere lavèsèl dan bwat kaltron. I keep my dishes in a cardboard box. (ST); Moso kaltron. Piece of cardboard. (ST) ♦ Mouche pron li, li ronje pat-la avèk ti dibwa e de ti morso karton . The man took it, and set her leg with a stick and some pieces of cardboard. (TP) See examples
• kartosh CA ( n. )
  1. Hair bun; chignon.
     Se pa so cheve natirel. Se en pòstich. To kapab gen en kartoch pòstich . That’s not her real hair. It’s a wig. You can get a hair bun wig too. (CA) See examples