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

• kèk-par CA, ST ( adv. ) on kèk-par NE an kèkpar BT
  1. Somewhere; quelque part.
     Mo ete ne, mo krwa, a Lil de Sip an kèk-par. I think I was bom somewhere on Cypress Island. (BT) ♦ Li mandé fame la si li té pas capabe caché li méme en quéque part jouqua dinmain matin. He asked the woman if he couldn’t hide somewhere until the next day. (FO T19) See examples
• kèk-plas CA, PC, ST ( adv. )
  1. Somewhere; quelque part.
     Mo pèd mo pòt-mònè. Li bije t kèk-plas. I lost my wallet. It must be somewhere. (PC) See examples
• kèk-zafèr ST ( pron.indef. ) kèk-zafè CA, PC
  1. Something; quelque chose.
     Ye te sèr sa pou dòn le moun ki te boukou malad, ki gen fison pòtrin o kèk-zafè. They gave that to people who were really sick, who had pneumonia or something. (PC) See examples
• kèkshoz CA, ST ( pron.indef., adj. ) kèkishòz CA, PC kèkshoj BT, CA, NE kèksho PC kékishoj PC kékishòw PC kèshò PC kèkishò PC kishò PC kishòz PC kèshoj NE kèksho NE kèchòz BT, NE kikshòj CA kikshoz CA
  1. Something; quelque chose.
     Si kèkenn dòn mo kèkcho mo konton. If someone gives me something I’m happy. (PC); Mo gen kètchòz sère pou twa, monmon! I have something put away for you, Missy! (BT); To bezwen monje kèkchoj oubyen to va tonbe malad. You have to eat something or else you’ll get sick. (NE); En lamas, to sèr sa pou fan kikchoj. A sledgehammer, you use it to split something in two. (CA) ♦ Li senti quéque choge drole comme si malhére allé rivé. She felt something strange as if a misfortune were going to happen.(FO T20); ‘kichauge’ (T3); ‘kisoze’, ‘kisoz ’(NE 1987 passim) See examples
  2. Thing; chose.
     Enave de moun ki te res isi, anlantour isi e ye te parl pou tou de kichòz koum sa. There used to be people who lived around here who talked about all of those things. (PC) ♦ Primié kisoz mo oua cé ein ti zenne zan ké mo té zamé kontré dépi ein souar patrouil té trapé moué. The first thing I saw was a guy whom I haven’t seen since the night that the patrol caught me. (T12) •en lòt kichò pron.indef. (PC); lòt kichoj (PC). Another thing, something else; une autre chose, quelque chose d’autre. En lòt kichò ye te kònen sèrvi si to te ge en ple ki te e abouti pou vini myeu, ye te me en rave on sa. Another thing they used to use when you had a wound that was getting better, they used to put a cockroach on it. (PC) •tou kichoj pron.indef. (PC); tou kèkchoj (MO 60; NE; PC); tou kichò, tou kèkcho (PC); tou kètchòz (NE); tou kikchoz, tou kichoz (ST); tou kikchoj (CA). All, everything; tout. Dan tan-sa-la, tou kichò te bon marche. In those days everything was inexpensive. (PC); Piti-le parpiye lachanm devan e lese tou kikchoz pou mwa ramase. The children made the front room a mess and left me to pick everything up. (ST); Feri-la travèrs moun, oto, tou kikchoj. The ferry takes across people, cars, and all kinds of things. (CA) ♦ Li di ye tou kichòz te pare e pou jis swiv li. He told them everything was ready and that they should just follow him. (JR)Something else (i.e. extraordinary); terrible, fantastique. E garson a MISS CHANDLER, boys, se kèkchoz, nonm-sa-la. Mo jame wa en nonm smat konm sa. And Miss Chandler’s son, boy, he’s something else, that man. I’ve never seen a man as smart as he is. (BT) See examples
• kèkènn CA, PC ( pron.indef. ) kèkin CA, NE kékènn CA, PC, ST kèkœn PC kikènn PC
  1. Someone; quelqu’un.
     Bondyeu kòz pa, non, li gen kekèn pou koze ak twa. God does not speak, no, He gets someone to speak to you. (NE); Kan se prèmye avri e mo di twa keken ap pele twa me mo manti. When it’s April first and I tell you someone’s calling you but I lied. (CA); Toujour ye gen kekenn ki pa konton. There are always some people who are not happy. (ST) ♦ Quéqu 'ain mangé nous di bèl Someone ate our butter! (BD) •kèkœn dòt pron.phr. (PC); keken dòt (CA). Someone else, anyone else; quelqu’un d’autre. To mande sa kèkœn dòt deja ? Did you ask that to anyone else yet? (PC); Mo t ape atann e sete mo tour me keken dòt pase devan man. I was waiting and it was my turn but someone else went in front of me. (CA) •tou kèken pron indef (BT; NE); tou kèkenn (NE). Everyone; tout le monde. Mo ti non te Tout. Tou kèken pèl mwa Tout. My nickname is Toute. Everyone calls me Toute. (BT) See examples
  2. Some, a few; quelques-un(e)s.
     Ye e ponn kèkenn konm sa. They’re laying a few [i.e. eggs]. (PC) ♦ Quéquesennes té lévé et lézottes té baissé. Some were raised up and others were lowered. (FO T20) See examples
• kèl CA, NE, PC ( det. ) ki CA, PC, ST ké NE
  1. Which, what; quel(le)(s).
     A ki magazen lantour isit moun-ye se achte lez òt zafè? At what store around here did people buy other things? (PC); Sa tou depan kèl aj li gen. It all depends how old he is. (BT); Sete pa fe diferans kèl larlijyon li te gen. It didn’t matter what religion he had. (CA) ♦ Li tapé liché so la lèvre comme li jonglé quel bon dinin la fait. He was licking his lips thinking about what a good dinner he would have. (FO T6) •ke kalite adv.phr. What kind of; quelle sorte de. cf. kalite •ki kantyenm adv.phr. What date; quel quantième, cf. kantyenm •kèl lœr li ye? exp. What time is it? Quelle heure est-il? cf. œr •ke monyèr adv.phr. How, in what way? Comment? cf. mànyèr See examples
• kènn CA, PC ( n. )
  1. Canning jar; boîte de conserve, pot.
     Mo gran-momon te me sa dan kenn. My grandmother used to put them (apples) in jars. (PC) ♦ Sa fe Bouki roule don en kenn lagrès pou li te kapa flote. So Bouki rolled around in a can of grease so that he could float. (LA) See examples
• kènn CA, PC, ST ( pron. ) -chènn CA, NE, PC -kèn NE, CA -chèn -kin NE, CA
  1. [Particle attached to personal pronouns to make possessives]. Own; propre.
     A mo-kenn ide... In my opinion... (PC); Nou konne se swa nou manje ou se ye-kenn. We knew it was either our food or theirs. (PC) ♦ Mo-kenn piti-ye. My own children. (JR) See examples
  2. That of, those of, etc.; celui de (etc.).
     Li te lwe latèr. Li te fe sò-kenn epi kenn a ye. He rented the land. He cultivated his own and theirs as well. (PC) ♦ Ah! mo bien regretté yé pas fini statue Kellogg! si vous té voir pattes là qui déjà faites, cé té frappant avec quene nous Gouvernair. I’m really sorry they haven’t finished the statue of Kellogg. If only you could see the feet they made on it, they remind you of those of our own governor. (T34) See examples
• kènnin CA ( v.tr. ) kènn PC
  1. To can; mettre en conserve.
     Te gen kenn feuv plat, te met dipwòv andan l tchobo 1. We had to can butter beans, we always put in some pepper to preserve them. (PC); Mo gen p kennen betrav. I’ve got to can beets. (CA) See examples
• kès BT, CA, PC ( n. )
  1. Case; caisse.
     Ye te gen deu kès-la plen labyè. They had two cases that were full of beer. (PC); Leu chati, se konm enn kès. To poure mèt lapòrt, enn pòrt divan, enn pòrt n aryèr. The wagon-bed is like a box. You can put in a door in front and a door in back. (BT) See examples
• kèsha CA ( n. )
  1. Catcher (in baseball); attrapeur (dans le jeu de baseball).
• kèské PC ( interr.phr. ) ki sé sa CA sa sa ye ST
  1. What’s that? Qu’est-ce que c’est que ça?
• kèstyon CA, NE, PC, ST ( n. ) kèschyon PC
  1. Question; question.
     L e mànde mo tou vye kèstyon lontan pase. He asks me all these old questions about long ago. (PC) ♦ Popa mamzelle la mandé zami michié Macaque question on namouré so fille. The girl’s father asked Mr. Monkey’s friend questions about his daughter’s boyfriend. (FO T9) See examples
• kèstyonin CA, ST ( v.tr. ) kèksyonnin PC
  1. To question; questionner.
     Ye te gen pran li pou trètmon pou kèksyonnen li pou so maladi. They had to take him for treatment to question him about his illness. (PC) See examples
• kèt PC ( n. ) két PC lakèt CA
  1. Collection; quête, collecte.
     Mon m p ole ye fe laket an mon ka m a krève. I don’t want them to take up a collection for me when I die. (PC) •pase lakèt v.phr. (PC; ST). To pass the collection plate (in church), take up a collection; faire la quête, la collecte. •ramase lakèt v.phr. (ST). To pick up the collection plate (in church); faire la quête, la collecte. See examples
• ké CA, NE, PC ( conj., adv. ) k CA, NE, PC ki PC, ST kè PC
  1. That; que.
     Mo te p ole ke ye te kone mo te parle. I didn’t want them to know I spoke [Creole]. (NE); Mo pa sèlman touche li, la l ole manti kote lalwa, di ki mo konyen li, mo mo ensilte li. I didn’t even touch him and he wants to lie to the police and say that I hit him, I insulted him. (PC); Li te si boulvèrse ki nou te gen traka pou kalmen li. He was so upset we had trouble calming him down. (ST); Mo te si antandi ke mo pa i lachans pou mèt mo lastik andan mo manch-ye. I was so busy I didn’t have the chance to put the elastic in my sleeves. (CA) REM: Ke ‘que’ introduces complement clauses; its use is optional. (NE p. 347). ♦ Roklo t ape kourtize lafiy a rwa-la e li di li ke li te pa ole li vini wa so lafiy. Roclos was courting the king’s daughter, and the king told him that he didn’t want him coming to see his daughter. (JR) See examples
  2. Than; que.
     L a petèt charje twa plis kè manje-a vo. He might charge you more than the food is worth. (PC); Madòm Bro plu malad jòrdi ke yèr. Mrs. Breaux is more sick today than she was yesterday. (NE) ♦ Li té pli gros qu’eine souris, mais pas si gros qu'ein éléfant. He was bigger than a mouse, but not as big as an elephant. (T36) See examples
  3. Until, so much that; jusqu’à ce que, à tel point que.
     Sa! Vye nonm-la ri ke le lanm koulè dan se zye! The old man laughed until there were tears flowing from his eyes. (DT) See examples
  4. In order that, so that; pour que, afin que.
     Va la-ba paye le patat, ye tro tou den ta, ke ye pe chèche. Go spread out the potatoes— they’re too heaped together— so they can dry out. (BT) See examples
  5. If; si.
     Mo achte en char ke mo genyen plou d arjan. I would buy a car if I had more money. (PC)Only, just; seulement, ne ... que. Mwò, mo me deu kanik dan l ron; two, to me k deu kanik dan l ron. La, nou jou. Me, I put two marbles in the circle; you put only two marbles in the circle, and then we play. (BT) ♦ La vou met di gout parigori (si se en piti en n on. En piti si mwa, ke sen gout). Then you put in ten drops of parigoric, for a child that’s a year old. For a six month old child, only five drops. (BI) See examples
• ké CA, PC, NE, ST ( pron.rel. ) ki NE, PC, ST k NE, PC
  1. Whom, that, which; que.
     La tit fiy ke t ape wa la se ma fiy. The little girl that you see there is my daughter. (NE); Piti ke sa momon mouri res èk mwa. The little girl whose mama is dead lives with me. (NE); En sasi ki to lèv kòm sa. A window that you open like this. (PC); Mo wa en ti garson de isi ke mo te pa wa pou lontan e mo te pa rekonèt li. I saw a young boy from here that I hadn’t seen in a long time and I didn’t recognize him. (ST) REM: According to NE 1985: 162, the use of relative ke and its forms is borrowed from Cajun and represents one aspect of decreolization. ♦ Li ta pé sauté com chevreuil, qué mouches piqué en Septembre. He was jumping around like a deer that flies bit in September. (T39) See examples
• ké No sources ( int. )
  1. The devil! Que diable! cf. djab
• késhòp No sources ( n. )
  1. Ketchup; ketchup.
     ♦ Pronn en sèrvyet e vlope en boutey kechòp ki plen dolo. Take a napkin and wrap up a bottle of ketchup that’s filled with water. (BI) See examples
• kété CA ( v.intr. )
  1. To collect money; quêter, ramasser de l’argent.
     M ap kete pou kèken ke malad parskè li pa gen larjan. I’m collecting money for someone who is sick because he doesn’t have money. (CA) See examples
• kòfré No sources ( v.tr. )
  1. To lock up; enfermer.
     ♦ Li té kofré dan prizon. He was locked up in prison. (T17) See examples
• kòfè CA, NE, PC ( adv., conj. ) kofè PC, NE, ST kòfèr BT kofèr CA, ST
  1. Why; pourquoi.
     Kòfè m ole monje siton kote rèstoran ò blan ve pa mwen ? Why would I want so much to eat in a restaurant where the whites don’t want me? (PC) Kofè to pa di mwa konbyen moun enave ? Why didn’t you tell me how many people there were? (NE); Kòfèr to march bosi kòm sa avèk zepòl-ye antèr? Why do you walk hunchbacked like that with your shoulders up? (CA) ♦ Cofè Bon Djé pas blanchi moin? Why didn’t God make me white? (BD)Because; parce que. ♦ Fo oucitte mo maitresse donne moin ruban, cofair mo oulé fé Emma à Caroline bel tou plin dimin, si tan bel tou moune a admiré yé. My master’s wife also has to give me some ribbon, because I want to make Emma and Caroline beautiful tomorrow, so beautiful that everyone will admire them. (ME) See examples
• kòk CA ( n. )
  1. Eggshell; coque d’oeuf, •kòk dezèf mole
     n.phr. (CA). Poached egg cup; oeuf poché à la coque. Mo gen de kòk dezèf mole. To koup anlèr li. To me disèl e to manj sa dan lekay. I’ve got poached egg cups. You cut off the top. You put salt and you eat it in the shell. (CA) See examples
• kòk CA, PC ( n. )
  1. Rooster, cock; coq.
     To wa èna diferan kòk. Ena en ti kòk ye pel en ti genm. Ti zafè-sa-a ka bat , li ka bimen en gro kòk. You see there are different kinds of cocks. There’s a little cock they call a little gamecock. That little thing can beat a big cock. (PC); Mo te gen en ta kòk e profèsèr-la opere ye. Ye vini chapon. I had a lot of roosters and the high school teacher castrated them. They became capons. (CA) ♦ Primié kisoze mo té koné anvan cok komancé sonté, mo tandé nome là vini kongné nouzote laporte cabane. The first thing I knew before the cock began to crow, I heard the man come and knock on our cabin door. (T13) •kòk batay n.phr. (CA). Fighting cock, gamecock; coq de com-bat. •kòk dòminik n.phr. (CA). Rhode Island red rooster; espèce de coq rouge. Li mèt so poul-ye a kouve avèk en kòk dominik. He put his hens to brood with a Rhode Island red rooster. (CA) •kòk jenga n.phr. (PC). Young speckled rooster; jeune coq tacheté, ♦ln bel piti coq ginga. A beautiful speckled rooster. (T33) See examples
• kòkodènn CA, ST ( n. ) kokodènn CA, PC
  1. Freckles; taches de rousseur.
     So lafigir plen kokodenn. Li gen chve rouj. His face is covered with freckles. He’s got red hair. (CA); Mo lafigœr plen kokodenn. My face is full of freckles. (ST) See examples
• kòkòrbyé PC ( v.intr. ) kòkòbyé PC kòkobyé PC kokobyé CA
  1. To buck, rear up; faire le gros dos, se cabrer.
     En chval ki kòkòbye. A horse which is bucking. (PC); Mo pa konen tchen chval-la. Li kokobye tro. I can’t hold the horse. He’s rearing up too much. (CA) See examples
  2. To jump around, cavort; sautiller, cabrioler.
     Moun-ye e bwa ye gro djòg wiski, labwason e fe gonmbo. Vye moun-ye e vye nonm-ye e kòkòrbye antrœ ye. The people were drinking their big jugs of whiskey, drinking and making gumbo, and old people were dancing with each other. (PC) See examples
• kòkòt PC ( n. ) kokòt CA, PC, ST koukou PC koukout PC kikit PC
  1. Vagina; vagin.
     Fonm-ye gen kokòt e nom-ye gen pip. Women have vaginas and men have penises. (CA) See examples
• kòl CA, PC ( n. )
  1. Glue; colle.
     To pèrs en ti trou, to fe ta chviy, e la to me en peu lakòl anndan la, to kal li andan la ave en marto. You drill a hole, and you make your dowel, and then you put a little glue in there, and you drive it in with a hammer. (PC) •’la colle pacane’ n.phr. Praline; praline. ♦ Clarisse apalé vende pin patate, estoma milate et la colle pacane. Clarisse is going to sell sweet potato bread, gingerbread and pralines. (WO) See examples
• kòm CA, NE, PC, ST ( adv., conj. ) konm BT, PC koum PC kom CA, PC
  1. Like; comme.
     Mo pa ruch kòm li. I’m not rich like him. (NE); 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); Fanm-la ap bat so zye-ye kòm keken ki fòl. That woman is batting her eyes like a crazy person (CA); Ye te mèt sa kòm en jipon anba ye rob. They would wear that like a slip under their dress. (ST) ♦ Fiy-ye va ri apre mwen si ye wa twa monte mwen konm on en chwal. The girls will laugh at me if they see you riding me like a horse. (JR) •konm si konm sa adv.phr. (PC); kòm si kòm sa (PC). So-so; comme ci, comme ça. •konm sa adv.phr. (BT; PC). Like that; comme ça. Mo wa te gen ti pwason armen te lonng konm sa. I saw there was a little garfish as long as that. (PC); Bitudman, leu lanm a enn pyòch e drwòt konm sa. Usually the blade of a hoe is straight like that. (BT) ♦ Ye bat konm sa ziska lapli tonmbe on ye. They fought like that until the rain was falling on them. (LA) See examples
  2. When; quand.
     Kòm sa arive, to p e kònè sa arive, cha-la si lou. When it happened you didn’t even know it, since the train was so heavy. (PC) ♦ Dikrepsi, se konm monje dijir pa. Dyspepsia is when food doesn’t digest, [‘comme’] (BI); Konm de fet Djab garde an ba, e konm li tonbe dan sak-la Katafo mare ladjel-la. In fact the Devil looked down, and when he fell in the sack, Catafo tied its opening shut. (JR)As; comme. Ye te pran en legid, e, vlopi li osi TIGHT kòm ye te kapab. They took a rein, and tied it as tight as they could. (PC) •konm kwa conj. As though, as if; comme si. ♦ Mo pel si sen mo krwa plis desi, e mo of li konm kwa se pou li ma pe fe tretmon-la e pa pou mwen. I call upon the saint that I believe in the most, and I offer it as if it was for him I was doing the treatment, and not for myself. (BI) •kòm si conj. (NE; PC); konm si (PC). 1) As if, as though; comme si. Sa gard kòm si li malad. It looks like he’s sick. (NE); Te konm si ye te pa kònen li te malad. It’s as if they didn’t know he was sick. (PC) ♦ Kon Lapen wa Lous-la, li kouche pou fe konm si li te mouri. When Rabbit saw the bear he lay down to act as if he were dead. (LA) 2) When; quand. Mo epi ma momon e ma sœr, kòm si nou trwa onsom e le piti deor, nou parl no kreol. Me, my mother and my sister, when we’re together and the kids are outside, we speak our Creole. (NE) See examples
• kòmandan CA ( n. )
  1. Commander, overseer commandant; commandant.
     Komandan se li ki gen TROOPS . The commander is the one who has troops. (CA) ♦ Lézot matlo pa bésouan comandan: yé fé tou, divinain tou ça to oté fé, et là ou to oté couri. The other sailors don’t need an overseer; they do everything, they guess what you want to do, where you want to go. (T7) See examples
• kòmandœr No sources ( n. )
  1. Overseer; commandeur.
     ♦ Mo pas connin, commandeur, maîtresse dit moin préparé café la, mandé li. I don’t know, commander, the mistress asked me to prepare the coffee, ask her. (TM) See examples
• kòmansman CA ( n. )
  1. Beginning; début, commencement.
     Y ap koupe dikann. Se kòmansman lalezan. They’re cutting cane. It’s the beginning of the harvest. (CA) ♦ Zafair couri assé ben dan comanceman; bambail zibié tou faroucé et parti dans lot péhie. Things went rather well in the beginning; by and by the game all got scared off and left for other countries. (T6) See examples
• kòmi CA ( n. )
  1. Clerk; commis.
     Enave en kòmi magazen ki vini e pran to lord. There was a grocery clerk who would come to take your order. (CA) ♦ Ye rantre dan en boutik olon chemen e konm ye rantre enn dan ye tann konmi-la di, ‘Ga trwa Arichmenn. ' They went into a store along the road, and as they went in they heard the clerk say, ‘Look, three Irishmen.’ (JR) See examples
• kòminn No sources ( adj., n.phr. ) dépésh kòminn No sources
  1. Clingstone peach; pavie. cf. pèch
• kòmisyon CA ( n. ) kanmisyon PC
  1. Groceries; provisions.
     M'aie o vilaj, mo gain pou achte de komisyon. I’m going to town. I have to buy some groceries. (HW) ♦ Enfin, fau nou vite parti, porté nou bagage loin d’ici, péché cribiche, volé poisson, vlopé cala avec to Commission. Well, we have to leave quickly, and go far from here, and fish for crawfish, and steal fish, and wrap up that rice cake with your groceries. (T32) See examples
  2. Errand; commission.
     Li justeman byen fe arete. Mo gen en komisyon pou li. He did exactly the right thing by stopping. I have an errand for him. (CA) •fe kòmisyon v.phr. (CA; PC). To run errands; faire les commissions. Sete toujou mon pou kote boutik, sete toujou mon pou fe so kanmisyon . I was always the one who went to the store, I was the one who ran his errands. (PC) ♦ Ça fait madame la prend li dans so bel carrosse et ménin li dans so la maison pou fait so commission et servi a tabe. So the woman picked him up in her beautiful carriage and took him home with her to run her errands and serve at her table. (FO T2) kòmisyònèr n. Messenger; commissionaire, messager. ♦ Mais nous pas jamin oua commissionaire nous té voyé coté vous. But we’ve never seen the messenger we sent to you. (FO T15) See examples
• kòmunyon No sources ( n. ) kòmiyon CA, PC, ST lakanmyon PC kanmiyon PC lakòmiyon CA konmiyon CA kòminyon MO 60
  1. Communion; communion.
     La sennt konmiyon. Holy Communion. (DT); Pran lakòmiyon. To take communion. (CA) •la tit kòmiyon n.phr. (CA). Little communion (at age seven); petite communion (à sept ans), •lakòmiyon inosan n.phr. (CA). Little communion; petite communion (a sept ans). •prèmyè komiyon n.phr. (PC); prèmyè kòmiyon (PC); prèmyèr kòminyon (MO 60). First communion; première communion. Mo fe mo prèmyè komiyon. I did my first communion. (PC); Setè jour mo fè mo prèmyèr kòminyon. It was the day I had my first communion. (MO 60) See examples
• kòmunyé No sources ( v., v.intr., v.tr. ) konmiyin PC konmiñin PC komunié BT komuni BT kòmiyin CA
  1. To take communion; communier.
     Kan ti t mari ti soupoze ale konmiye le jour d avan, resewar la sennt konmiyon. When you get married you’re supposed to go take communion the day before, receive holy communion. (DT); No te blije fe katechis. Mo te gen douz an kan mo kòmiyen. We had to study catechism. I was twelve when I took communion. (CA)To give communion to; donner la communion à. Mo peu pa kouri legliz. Prèt vini tou le mwa komuni mò. I can’t go to church. The priest comes every month to give me communion. (BT) See examples
• kòmòd CA, PC ( n. ) komòd CA
  1. Toilet, outhouse; toilettes, cabinet extérieur.
     Vye tan pase, no te gen kòmòd deyò me no te gen po-d-chanm pou le swa. In the olden days, we had toilets outside but we had chamber pots for at night. (CA) See examples
• kònésans No sources ( n. ) lakònésans CA, PC konnèsons BT
  1. Consciousness; connaissance, •’perde connaissance 9
     v.phr. To lose consciousness; perdre connaissance. ♦ Li taillé so femme jisqua li té perde connaissance. He beat his wife until she lost consciousness. (T15) •son (d) konnèsons adj. (BT); san lakònesans (PC). Unconscious; sans connaissance. Konye dan lasèrvèl sa me li son d konnèsons. Knock (the pig) in the head to put him unconscious. (BT) ♦ Aïe! ma pé perdu connaissance! Ouch! I’m losing consciousness. (T32) See examples
  2. Acquaintance; connaissance.
     ♦ Mo assite à côté de li, et pou commencin connaissance, mo mandé li d'ein voix poli, Comment s 'porte vote Excellence? I sat down next to him, and in order to make his acquaintance, I asked ‘How is your Excellence?’ (T38) •fe lakònesans v.phr. (CA; PC). To meet, make the acquaintance of; faire la connaissance de. To fe lakònesans e li deja? Have you met him yet? (PC); Mo fe lakònesans e la personn-la. Li parl byen. Li vayan. I met the person. She speaks well. She’s nice. (CA) See examples
• kòp PC ( n. )
  1. Cup; tasse.
     Mo garson, li li bwa kafe, men li gen en kòp o bòd li. Li gen en tas o bòd li. My son drinks coffee, he always has a cup on him. (PC) ♦ To pronn a pe pre de kirelye di sel e to me li don en kòp. You take about two spoonfuls of salt and you put them in a cup. (BI); kòp (JR) See examples
  2. Bucket used for transporting sugar from one level to the next in sugar factory; seau utilisé dans le transport de la canne à sucre. (PC)
• kòr CA ( n. )
  1. Corn; cor.
     To gen en kòr an to zòrtey. You’ve got a corn on your toe. (CA) See examples
• kòr CA, PC ( n. ) kò PC
  1. Body; corps.
     Tou to kò te koupe. Your entire body was cut. (PC); Si disan-la pa ka sèrkile dan to kò, se kekkichò ki peche li sèrkile. If the blood isn’t circulating in your body, there’s something that’s preventing it from circulating. (PC); No te gen laroujòl kan no te piti. Sa don twa tach rouj tou partou an to kòr. We had the measles when we were little. It gives you red spots all over your body. (CA) ♦ Américan-la trapé so fisil et tiré li en travers so corps. The American grabbed his rifle and shot him through his body. (JR) See examples
  2. Corpse; cadavre.
     Ka en moun mò, pou fe li dire, ye ponp so san-la an deyò so kòr. When a person dies, to preserve him, they pump his blood out of his body. (PC); Ena plonjèr ki va anba e ye va chèrche pou kòr kan keken neye. There are divers who go down and they get bodies when someone drowns. (CA) ♦ Eh ben, mo fille, ça tolé mo fait avec corps to vié choal blanc? Well, my girl, what do you want me to do with the body of your white horse? (FO T19) See examples
• kòral CA ( n. ) koray ST
  1. Corral; corral.
     Ye tchen ye vach-ye andan kòral pou gete ye. They keep their cows in the corral to keep an eye on them. (CA); Fèrme vach-ye dan koray. Pen up the cows in the corral. (ST) See examples
• kòrbiyar No sources ( n. )
  1. Hearse; corbillard.
     ♦ Li fé plin largen, cé li qui conduit tou corbillard yé. He makes a lot of money, he’s the one who drives all the hearses. (WO) See examples
• kòrbo No sources ( n. )
  1. Crow; corbeau, corneille.
     ♦ Maît’ Corbeau té perché en ein nabbe avec ein fromage dans so bec. Mr. Crow was perched in a tree with a piece of cheese in his beak. (BD) See examples
• kòrbèy No sources ( n. )
  1. Basket; panier.
     ♦ Li fait ein corbeille evec plis belle flère layé li té capabe trouvé dans so jardin. She made a basket with the prettiest flowers she could find in her garden. (FO T25) See examples
• kòrd BT, CA, NE, PC ( n. ) lakòd PC kòd PC lakòrd CA, NE kòr BT
  1. Rope; corde.
     Nou te mete en kòrd on sak-la, e nou te mèt li on nou lepòl. We put a rope on that bag, and we put it on our shoulder. (PC); Se en bouro ki ap pann li e ki ap koupe kòrd-la. That’s the executioner who’s hanging him and who’s cutting the rope. (CA) ♦ Bouki, li, prane in gros la corde et li maré so moman bin, pou li té pas capabe chapé. Bouki took a big rope and tied his mother well, so she couldn’t escape. (T9) •lakòrd-a-lenj n.phr. (CA; PC). Clothes line; étendoir, corde à linge. Nou gen en gro lakòd lenj pou tann nou lenj deyò. We have a big clothes line to hang our clothes outside. (PC); No te gen de pèrch pou leve lakòrd-a-lenj pou chèse pli vit. We had two poles to lift the clothesline up so to dry quicker. (CA) •lakòd dœ lonbri n.phr. (BT); lakòrd-lanmbri (CA; ST). Umbilical cord; cordon ombilical. See examples
  2. String (used in folk healing); cordelette, ficelle (qui sert dans les traitements traditionnels).
     Kon mo te foule mo pye, tretœr trete èn kòrd e li fe lapriyèr desi. When I sprained my ankle, the healer treated a piece of string and he said a prayer over it. (NE); Kan li ape sòrti lœr ti don, lab-a-malo-la, tu koup li par may e to pas en tit kòr anddan. Tu mar sa dan so kou . When he [the baby] is starting to grow little teeth, you cut the swamp lily in little pieces, by links, and thread each link on a string. You tie that around his neck. (BT) See examples
  3. String (of a musical instrument); corde (d’un instrument de musique).
     Se konm en gitar, me se plu piti, en mèdtin. Ina oui kòrd ape sa. It’s like a guitar, but it’s smaller, a mandolin. There are eight strings on that. (BT) See examples
  4. Cord (of wood); cordée.
     Ye peye enn pyas vent-sen sou lakòd. They paid a dollar twenty-five for a cord of wood. (PC) See examples
• kòrdon BT, CA ( n. )
  1. String; ficelle, cordelette.
     ♦ Antouène, ... don in pé dolo,... cassé tous cordons corset là. Antoine, in a little water, break all the strings of the corset. (T32) •kòrdon souye n.phr. (CA); kòrdon soulye (ST). Shoelace; lacet. ♦ Tout so chiveix té rassemblé ça et là dans des tits tats qui té marré avec des cordons soulié. All of her hair was gathered up here and there in little piles tied with shoelaces. (T40) See examples
  2. String tied around the body as a folk cure; ficelle, cordelette liée autour du corps dans les traitements traditionnels.
     Se du fil mare double. Se jus en kòrdon pour mèt otour twa konm sa. Mo gen mal o do, sa fe ye pou trète mon pour mon do. Li frèt to kòrdon, don twa li. To me ti antour ta tay. It’s a pièce of string doubled over, it’s just string to put around you like that. I have a backache, so they had to treat me for my back. They treat a piece of string and give it to you, and you tie it around your waist. (BT) ♦ Pou de vèr, ... mo f e lapriyèr si en kòrdon, e ye met sa si ye. For worms, I say a prayer over a piece of string, and [the sick person] puts it on himself. [ ‘ cordon ‘] (BI) See examples
• kòrdé CA, PC ( v.tr. )
  1. To tune (an instrument); accorder (un instrument de musique).
     Avan ye komanse joue la mizik, ye te kòrde en-na-lòt ye enstriman pou ye èt ansanm. Before they began to play, they tuned their instruments so they’d be together. (CA) ♦ Dans fond lasalle les misiciens t apé cordé yé l'instruments. At the back of the room the musicians were tuning their instruments. (T40) See examples
• kòrdònyé No sources ( n. ) kòrdònyin CA
  1. Shoemaker, shoe repairman; cordonnier.
     ♦ Ein cordonnier dans ein piti la ville té gagnin ein belle fille. A shoemaker in a tiny village had a lovely daughter. (FO T21) See examples
  2. Shoelace, lace; lacet.
     No t abitid gen boutònyen. To te gen pou gen en kroche pou fèrmen souye. Me avèk kòrdònyen to te jis gen pou lase ye. We used to have buttons. You had to have a hook to close shoes. But with laces, you just had to lace them. (CA); Kòrdònyen kòrse. Girdle laces. (CA); Kòrdònyen brasyèr. Bra laces. (CA) See examples