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

• lashèr CA, PC ( n. ) lashè PC
  1. Flesh; chair.
     Ena ki te gen lachè jòn, e ena ki te gen lachè blan. Some [peaches] had yellow flesh and others had white flesh. (PC) ♦ Li pron la chèr bef-y e, la li monte o en gro lamezon avek vyonn-la. He took the flesh of the six oxen and he climbed atop a big house with the meat. (LA) See examples
• lashé BT, CA, NE, PC ( v., v.tr., v.intr. ) lash BT, CA, NE, PC
  1. To let go of, release; lâcher.
     Lach mo! Mo di twa lach mo! Let me go! I said let me go! (NE); Mo te uch lache ye. I used to just turn them [the cows] loose. (PC); Ye t ape hale dibwa dan dolo. Kan ye arive o bout, ye hele: Lache li pou mèt li anlè latèr. They were hauling logs in the water. When they got to the end, they yelled: Let go to put it on land. (CA) ♦ Laché mouen, ti négresse. ‘Let go of me, little black girl. ‘ (T2) See examples
  2. To drop; laisser tomber.
     Tou lach li dan lafrikase. You drop it into the stew. (BT) •lache louvraj v.phr. (CA); lach de louvraj (PC). To leave work, stop work (for the day); finir, cesser de travailler, débaucher. Tou l mouri isit travay dan lajournen. Eusot lach de louvraj apeupre dan le traz-èr, katr-èr. Everyone around here works during the day. They get off work around three o’clock or four c’clock. (CA); Nou lache. We stop working. (PC) See examples
  3. To leave alone; laisser tranquille, laisser en paix.
     Safe kon mon apèrswa ye grizonne, mon dize pitèt mon lach le chveu, sa va sove mwa kèk bren. So when I noticed it was turning grey, I said, maybe I'll leave my hair alone, and that will save me a few strands. (BT) See examples
  4. To remove; ôter, enlever.
     Boug-ye lache chiko, ena apre douz nonm on en chiko. The guys were removing tree stumps, there were about twelve men on a tree stump. (PC) See examples
  5. To dismiss, fire; congédier, mettre à la porte.
     Mo ite ongaje par Bòb Onnjèl lasmèn pase, me lasmèn-sila li lache mon. I was hired by Bob Angelle last week, but this week he fired me. (NE)To get off work, get out of school; débaucher. Nou lach a deuz-œr e dmi. We stop working at two thirty. (PC) • lache bèk v.phr. (NE). To let out, be out (of school); finir (en parlant de l’école). Lekòl te ouvèr-la nev-èr e li te lache bèk a katr-èr. School opened at nine o’clock and it was over at four o’clock. (NE) See examples
• lasirans CA ( n. ) lasirons PC
  1. Insurance; assurance.
     Se kan to tòm malad, e kan to mouri, e to lasosyète se li ki antèr twa, li gen larjon pou antère twa. E la ina lasirons . When you fall sick, or when you die, it’s your society that buries you. It has money to bury you. And then there is insurance. (PC); Mwa asire mo lamezon. Lasirans va peye si to lamezon brile. I insured my house. The insurance will pay if your house bums down. (CA) See examples
• lasmèl CA ( n. ) lasmyèl PC lasmél PC
  1. Sole (of a shoe); semelle.
     Mo lasmyèl souye bèsonn ranje. The soles of my shoes have to be repaired. (PC); Li pi gen lasmèl anba so souliye. He hasn’t got any more soles under his shoes. (CA) ♦ Mo té tremblé dans mo kilotte, mo té même l'envie caché sous lasémelle de mo botte. I was shaking in my trousers, I even wanted to hide under the sole of my shoe. (T38) See examples
• lasoup BT, CA, NE, ST ( n. ) soup PC, NE
  1. Soup; soupe.
     E gonbo se klèr kòm en lasoup. A gumbo is as light-colored as a soup. (NE); Mo te f e lasoup avèk tou kalite vèrdir: karòt, tomat... I made soup with all kinds of vegetables: carrots, tomatoes... (CA) ♦ C'était ain vié la soupe tout fréte sans ain patate. It was old soup that was cold, without any potatoes. (T20) See examples
• lasyèt CA, PC, NE ( n. ) lasyét PC
  1. Dishes; vaisselle.
     M e lave mo lasyet. I wash my dishes. (PC); Li gen de joli lasyèt an so latab. She’s got pretty dishes on her table. (CA) See examples
  2. Plate; assiette.
     Si to se vini dòn mon mo lasyèt manje, ète pròch kòm en chyen. If you had come to give me my plate of food, I would have been just like a dog. (PC) ♦ Quand yé mandé li ein l'assiette li donnin di pain ou ben ein fourcette. When they asked for a plateful he gave them bread and a fork. (FO T2) See examples
• lasyèté CA, PC ( n. )
  1. Plateful; assiettée.
     Tou le jou nou gen pou ote enn lasyète pou vent-katr œr. Every day we have to leave a plateful out for twenty four hours. (PC); Li te gen gro lasyète. Li manj tro. He had a big plateful. He eats too much. (CA) ♦ Oui même, li mangé. Ain gran lassietté dé poi crazé avec di riz et tou ain banane. Yes indeed, he ate. A big plateful of mashed peas with rice and an entire banana. (WO) See examples
• lasèl CA, ST ( n. ) lasél PC lésé! PC
  1. Saddle; selle.
     Sa se en letriye, pou monte on lesel. That’s a stirrup, for getting into the saddle. (PC); To gen pou mèt labrid-la dan so ladjèl. Lakord-la va kote lasèl pou to tchèn li. You’ve got to put a bridle in his mouth. The rope goes by the saddle so you can hold it. (CA) ♦ Compair Lapin sanglé ben so lasel. Brer Rabbit buckled his saddle on firmly. (T3) •ale a lasèl v.phr. (CA; ST); ale a lasel (BT). To go to the bathroom, to have a bowel movement; aller à la selle. •kouri a lasèl v.phr. (BT). To go to the bathroom, have a bowel movement; aller à la selle. Lamèdsin pour mo kouri a lasèl, mo pa bezenn prann aryen pou ale a lasèl, mo pran sa-l. The medicine I take for going to the bathroom, I don’t have to take anything else, I just take that. (BT) See examples
  2. Saddle (cut of meat); selle (coupe de viande).
     Lasèl andan volay li plen zòs. The saddle in poultry is full of bones. (CA) See examples
• lasèn CA, PC ( n. ) lasènn PC lasin CA
  1. Seine, fishing net; seine.
     Mo te kònen gen en ti lasèn pou kou trape pwason dan larivyè . I used to have a little fishing net for going fishing in the river. (PC); Li t ap voye so lasen dan dolo pou trape pwason. L ape semen. He was throwing his net into the water to catch fish. He was fishing with a net. (CA) •fe lasenn n.phr. (PC). To fish with a net; seiner, pécher avec une seine. Fe lasenn, avek sak, pou trape ye. [We used to] go fishing with a seine, and a bag to hold [the fish]. (PC) •ti lasenn n.phr. (PC). Mini-seine, mini-net (25’ long, 4’ wide); petite seine. En ti lasenn vent-sen pye-ye. A little seine that is 25 feet long. (PC) See examples
• lasèv PC ( n. ) lasév CA, PC
  1. Sap; sève.
     Vou koup pa li-mèm ron paski chiko-la, li sipoze gen pli chikro, plu bonnè kè diplon-lan. Pasè diplon-la gen tchobo lasev plu lanton. You don’t cut it (the cane that you’ve planted for the first time) at the same time (as you cut the stubble), because the stubble is supposed to contain more sugar earlier than the freshly planted cane. Because the latter has to hold the sap longer. (PC) See examples
• lasé BT, CA, PC ( v.tr. )
  1. To lasso, catch with a rope; prendre au lasso.
     Ti sèrv en kab pou lase de bèt ou pou tire d lo. You use a rope to lasso animals or to draw water. (BT); To pran lakòrd e to te gen pou lase ti vo-la avan to trè lavach. You took a rope and you had to lasso the calf before you milked the cow. (CA) See examples
  2. To tie; lier, attacher.
     Anan di vou gen kat senk den en plas, aben vou pran en lagid, vou lase sa èn par èn. Let’s say you have four or five [pigs] in one place, well, you take a rope and tie it to them one by one. (PC) See examples
  3. To tie, lace up; lacer.
     Li gen de broken delase. Si to lase sa tro sere, sa fe bobo. She’s got her ankle boots unlaced. If you lace them too tight, it makes a sore. (CA) See examples
• lasòs BT, CA, PC ( n. )
  1. Sauce; sauce.
     To pe mèt sa swa dan lasoup ou kwi sa dan en gran lasòs ke nou pèl STEW. You can either put that in soup or cook it in a sauce that we call stew. (BT); En lasòs patat. A potato sauce. (PC); Kan mo fe mo lasòs tomat, mo mèt en pe lay andan. When I make tomato sauce, I put a little garlic in it. (CA) See examples
• lat CA, PC ( n. )
  1. Lath; latte, volige.
     Vou me vou lat primyèr. La to klou ta kouvèrtu dèsu. You put your laths down first, and then you nail your roof shingles to that. (PC) See examples
• latonyin CA, PC ( n. ) latonñin CA, PC
  1. Saw-palmetto; latanier, palmier des Mascareignes.
     (Se renoa repens ). Sè en latonyen, se pen en dibwa. It’s a saw-palmetto, it’s not a tree. (PC); No te fe no levantay avèk latongnen e no te sèr sa kan ye te fe cho. We made fans from palmetto and we used them when it was hot. (CA) ♦ Pou le movèz maladi, met larasin latànye, lalyann blak djak e larasin kotonnye onsonm. For serious sicknesses, put palmetto roots, blackjack roots, and red cotton tree roots together. (BI) See examples
• latronp No sources ( n. ) latranp PC
  1. Trunk (of an elephant); trompe (d’un éléphant).
     Li gen gran zorey avè en gran gran gran latranp. It (an elephant) has big ears, big ears with a very big trunk. (PC) ♦ Prend la corde dans vous latrompe, ma couri marré lavache et quand va tendé moin batte tambour va haler fort en haut la corde. Take the rope in your trunk, I’m going to tie it to the cow, and when you hear me beat the drum, you will pull hard on the rope. (FO T1) See examples
• lavabo CA ( n. ) labavo PC
  1. Washstand, washbasin; lavabo.
     No te sèrvi lavabo pou lave e lavabo-la te gen en gro marb. We used the washstand to wash, and the washstand had a big slab of marble. (CA) See examples
  2. Cabinet; placard. (PC)
• lavaj ST ( n. )
  1. Laundry; lessive.
     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
• lavalas CA ( n. ) lavélans CA
  1. Rain shower, downpour; averse.
     Sete en gro lavalas. Lapli t ap tonbe fòr. It was a big downpour. The rain was coming down hard. (CA) See examples
• lavatwar BT ( n. )
  1. Sink; lavabo, évier.
     To gen to lavatwar de figur, de men AND EVERYTHING SO to pa gen pou trakase. You have your sink for washing your face and hands and everything, so you don’t have to worry. (BT) • lavatwar lavesèl n.phr. (CA). Kitchen sink; évier. See examples
• lavi No sources ( n. )
  1. Opinion; avis, opinion.
     ♦ Einna plein moune pou’ donne yé l’avis et c’est tout ça yé capa fait. There are a lot of people who give you their opinion, and that’s all they’re capable of doing. (BD) See examples
• lavman PC ( n. )
  1. Rainshower, downpour; averse.
     Sa se sa nou pel en lavman. Sa ki e tonbe astè. That’s what we call a rain shower, what’s falling right now. (PC) See examples
• lavnir No sources ( n. )
  1. Future; avenir.
     M’a pas viv’en d’dans l’passé. No’ gain pour viv’ en d’dans l’avenir. I’m not living in the past. We have to live in the future. (GY) See examples
• Lavonn CA ( n. )
  1. Advent; Avent.
     Lavonn, se kat semèn avonn nwèl. Advent is the four weeks before Christmas. (CA) See examples
• lavontaj PC ( n. )
  1. Advantage; avantage, •pron lavontaj
     v.phr. (PC). To take advantage of, exploit; profiter de, exploiter. Ye pron lavontaj on... They take advantage of... (PC) See examples
• lavur BT, CA ( n. )
  1. Slop, scraps; déchets, restes d’un repas qu’on jette ou qu’on donne aux animaux.
     Lavur, se sa ki rèst leu moun manj pa. De jwa ina de poul ki manj sa. Slop is what is left over that people don’t eat. Sometimes chickens eat it. (BT) See examples
• lavwar CA ( n. ) lavwa PC navwa PC navwar PC
  1. Pier; jetée, ponton.
     Nou gen en ti lavwa. We have a little pier. (PC); No gen en lavwar ki va dan lak e no pèch la. We have a pier that goes into the lake and we fish there. (CA) See examples
• lavwènn BT, PC, ST ( n. )
  1. Oats; avoine.
     Ina du moun ki sèrv du fid dou e mo mo sèrv du mai ekraze e deu lavwenn ekrase e pi fid, mo mèl le trwa ansanm. There are some people who use sweetened feed, whereas I use ground corn and ground oats and I mix the three together. (BT); Mo sèrvi di lavwenn ekraze pou mo myoule. I used crushed oats for my mules. (ST) See examples
• lavyolans No sources ( n. )
  1. Violence; violence.
     ♦ Mais com mo té fils d’ein baboon mo té pas peur dé laviolence. But since I was the son of a baboon, I wasn’t afraid of violence. (T38) See examples
• lavèrtisman PC ( n. ) lavètisman CA
  1. Warning, notice; avertissement.
  2. Premonition; prémonition.
     Se en lavètisman. Kèkchoj ap ale arive. It’s a premonition. Something is going to happen. (CA) See examples
• lavèrtu No sources ( n. )
  1. Virtue; vertu.
     ♦ Si mo dansé avec Jige Direll pas tremblé pour mo lavertu. If I dance with Judge Direll, do not fear for my virtue. (T33) See examples
• lavèt CA, PC ( n. ) lavét PC
  1. Dishrag; torchon.
     Vou lave le ave lavet-la, e la vou tòrd lavet-la e souye lasyet-la. You wash it with the dishrag, and then you wring the rag out and wipe the plate. (PC) ♦ Kon to lavet lavesel tonmbe on plonche la konponye gen vini. When your dishrag falls to the floor you will have company. (LA) See examples
• lavé BT, CA, PC ( v.tr. ) lav PC
  1. To wash; laver.
     Ye lave mo figi ave dolo fre. They washed my face with cold water. (PC); Li ale pilote dan labou. Kan li soti, li te tou bourbe e la li te gen pou debourbe li-mèm, pou lave li-mèm. He went stomping around in the mud. When he came out, he had to get the mud off himself, to wash up. (CA) ♦ Compair Torti lavé so jiés dan bayou. Brer Tortoise washed his eyes in the bayou. (T4) See examples
• lay CA, PC ( n. ) dilay PC
  1. Garlic; ail.
     To mèt dilay, zonyon, pèrsi. To mèt tou sa e dipwav, e to sizle li ben. You put in some garlic, onions, and parsley. You put all that with your pepper and season it really well. (PC); Kan mo fe mo lasòs tomat, mo mèt en pe lay andan. When I make tomato sauce, I put a little garlic in it. (CA) ♦ Pou geri rimatis ponn en kolye delay don to kou. To cure rhumatism, hang a garlic necklace around your neck, [' desi’ail’ ] (BD) See examples
• lazil CA ( n. )
  1. Institution for orphans, for handicapped people, orphanage; asile, orphelinat.
     Li pèrd so moman e so popa. Li en òrfelen. Ye sa gen pou mèt li dan lazil. He lost his mom and dad. He’s an orphan. They’ll have to put him in an institution. (CA) See examples
• laènn No sources ( n. )
  1. Hate, hatred; haine.
     ♦ Apre sa fanmiy a Bouki te gen en lahenn kont Lapen. Ye te blanmen Lapen pou lamò ye garson. After that ouki’s family hated Rabbit. They blamed Rabbit for the death of their son. (JR) See examples
• lañap CA, NE ( n. ) lànyap BT
  1. A small gift given with a purchase; un petit cadeau donné avec un achat.
     Mo va dòn twa lagnap avon to gòn. I’ll give you a small gift before you leave. (NE); Kan mo te va o magazen, ye te dòn man lagnap: en mòso kandi ou en ti gato. When I would go to the store, they would give me lagniappe: a piece of candy or a cookie. (CA) ♦ Qui ça yé, mo oulé to dit moin tout suite ou ben mo va taillé toi et metté toi dihors pou la gniappe. What is that? I want you to tell me immediately or else I shall whip you and put you outside into the bargain. (FO T2) See examples
• le CA, PC ( det. ) lé NE, PC lœ NE, PC l NE, PC
  1. sg. [Prenommai]. The; le.
     Te gen froubi leu planche, nouzòt pa gen le map, non. We had to scrub the floors, we didn’t have a mop, no. (PC); Ye arive a l non kouri-vini. They came up with the name ‘couri vini’ [for Creole]. (PC); Nou tou koupe l bwa. We’ve all cut wood. (NE); Me en nèg pa gen l drwa... But a black man doesn’t have the right... (NE); Me le dis set. May 17. (PC); Sa se leu bwa ki fe leu file, leu sasafrwa. That is the tree that you make filé powder from, sassafras. (CA) ♦ Asteur, dit Compair Lapin, pas blié moin quand ta marié avec fille lé roi. Now, said Brer Rabbit, don’t forget me when you marry the king’s daughter. (FO T18) 2. pi. [Preposed]. The; les. Leu machin. The machines. (PC); Boukou leu bayou. A lot of the bayous. (PC) 3. Per, a, each, every; le, par, chaque. A di sou l son liv. At ten cents per hundred pounds. (NE) See examples
• lesye PC ( n. ) nesye PC sye BT lésyé CA
  1. Axle; essieu.
     Lesye te kase e ye te pa konen sèrvi ye oto. The axle was broken and they couldn’t use their car. (CA) ♦ Mo capab racomodé ain lessieu é tou ça qui cacé dan ain voiture. I can repair an axle and anything that is broken on a wagon. (ME) See examples
• levin CA ( n. ) lèlvin PC lélvin CA, PC
  1. Leaven, yeast; levain, levure.
     Mo achte en siro, mèm siro-la ke ye sèr pou fe dipen, èna lelven andan la. I bought syrup, the same syrup they use to make bread. There is yeast in it. (CA) See examples
• li CA, NE, PC ( pron. ) l CA, NE, PC i NE, PC
  1. subj. He, she, it; il, elle.
     Mo fiy pa la, li kouri on vil. My daughter is not here, she went to New Orleans. (NE); Mo fiy i gen mo batistè li i kònè mo laj. My daughter has my certificate of baptism, she knows my age. (PC) ♦ Li si content bafré qui li jamain gardé ça qui l apé mangé. He likes to stuff himself so much that he never looks at what he’s eating. (T19) 2. subj. They; ils, elles. Dan lèsklavai, le nòm blan te fe sa l ole. In the time of slavery, white men did whatever they wanted to. (PC) REM: The usual word for ‘they’ is ye. 3. imper, subj. It, there; il. Ki lè i ye? What time is it? (PC) ♦ Si li fait noi ‘, si li li fait clai ‘, si li fait frette, si li fait chaud, faut pas plérer, faut pas to pè. If it is dark, if it is light, if it is cold, if it is hot, you must not cry, you must not fear. (BD) 4, obj.dir. [Postverbal]. Him, her, it; le, la. To ramase to ramiriz. La to gen to en ti bari. To vide l andan bari-la, è to kite li vini eg. You pick your wild cherries. You’ve got a little barrel, you empty it (your container full of cherries) into the barrel, and you let it turn sour. (PC) ♦ Lœ rwa balanse li de ou trwa fwa e voye li osi Iwon dan flèv konm li te pe. The king swung him two or three times and threw him out into the river as far as he could. (JR) 5. ind.obj. [Postverbal]. (To) him, her, them; lui, leur. Tou le natif deu UNITED STATES, to dòn li lœr libèrte. All of the natives of the United States, you grant them their freedom. (PC); Mo di li pou li arète fe sa. I told him to stop doing that. (CA) ♦ Mo bag disparet yè, rwa-la di li. ‘My ring disappeared yesterday,’ the king told him. (JR) 6. dir.obj. [Preverbal]. Him, her, it, them; le, la, les. Enn etalonn, ti peu pa gade tou lez etalon. Sa fe, si ti veu gade pour èlve, ti l koup pa. Tou lez òt, ti l koup. A stallion, you can’t keep all of your stallions. So the one that you want to keep for breeding, you don’t castrate him. All the others, you castrate them. (BT); Se meyœr si ti l pas trwa fwa. Sa moul sa fen. It’s better if you send it through three times. It grinds it up finer. (CA) REM: This form is preverbal, like the corresponding French object pronouns, but is less common in Creole than the postverbal li and ye . See examples
• li-mèm CA, NE ( pron. ) li-minm BT, PC
  1. emph. Himself, herself, itself; lui-même, elle-même.
     Li fe li-mèm frèch pou kapab galope pli vit. She freshened herself up to be able to run faster. (NE); Li te pa kapab soufle an li-mèm. Ye te gen p dòn li oksijèn pou li soufle. He couldn’t breathe on his own. They had to give him oxygen so he could breathe. (CA) ♦ Jean Malin té pensé en li méme:—Jordi na oua la farce. Clever John thought to himself: ‘Today we will have fun.’ (FO T2) See examples
  2. refl. Himself, herself, itself; lui-même, elle-même.
     Le e boure li-menm. He’s stuffing himself. (PC); Li te gen pou debourbe li-mèm, pou lave li-mèm . He had to get the mud off himself, to wash up. (CA) ♦ Ein desrat sortit la terre. Li trouvé li-même ent'pattes ein Lion. A rat came out of the ground, he found himself between the paws of a Lion. (BD) See examples
• lib CA, NE ( adj. )
  1. Free; libre.
     Jòrdi le moun nwar lib. Today black people are free. (NE); Li en prizonnyen. Li pa lib. He’s a prisoner. He’s not free. (CA) ♦ Ye tou mannde lœ rwa pou lese li kouri lib. They all asked the king to let him go free. (JR) See examples
• lib PC ( n. ) lélé CA
  1. Lily; lys.
• libèrté CA, PC ( n. )
  1. Freedom, liberty; liberté.
     Astèr-la ye pa osi mal ke sete BACK YONDER, paskè nou gen plus la libèrte. They are not as bad as they were in the past, because we have more freedom. (PC); Se lastatu la libèrte ke reprezant USA. It’s the statue of Liberty that represents the USA. (CA) ♦ Limin torches, crié vengeance et liberté. I must light the torches, shout vengeance and freedom. (TM) •pran libèrte (avèk) v.phr. (CA). To take liberties (with); prendre des libertés (avec). Li pa gen drwa sèrvi mo zouti. Li pran libèrte. He hasn’t got the right to use my tools. He takes liberties. (CA) ♦ Mo te wa en piti to grondè ape jwe epi pronn libète ek piti vye Madonm Favè. I saw a child of your size playing and taking liberties with Mrs. Favet’s children. ['prenne liberté' ] (DU) See examples
• lida PC ( n. )
  1. Leader; chef, leader.
     Le vyeu lida, sè te toujou kontraye pou lagèr. The old leaders continued fighting the war. (PC) See examples
• likid CA ( n. )
  1. Liquid; liquide.
     Labsent, se en likid vèr avèk ye fe en HIGHBALL. Absinth is a green liquid with which they make highballs. (CA) ♦ La , tronpe en kòrsaj dedsou don likid cho la e met li si pèrsonn-la. Then dip a tee-shirt in this hot liquid and put it on the person. (BI) See examples
• likœr No sources ( n. ) lalikèr CA
  1. Liqueur, liquor; alcool, liqueur.
     Mo gen mal-o-vant. Dòn mwa en bren lalikèr. Safe man rote. Se bon pou to lestoma. I have a stomach ache. Give me a bit of liqueur. It makes me belch. It’s good for your stomach. (CA) ♦ Mo té kré mo té apé boa mem litcheur vié mait té done nou zot zou là ti métresse Ninine marié. I thought I was drinking the same liquor that our old master gave us the day mistress Ninine got married. (T12) See examples
• lila ST ( adj. )
  1. Purple; violet.
• lila CA, PC ( n. )
  1. Chinaball tree, chinaberry tree; arbre à chapelets.
     (Melia azedarach). Lila fe en lagrenn. The chinaball makes a seed. (PC) ♦ La mrise, des glannes, piti pacanes et graines lilas. Cherries, acorns, little pecans and chinaball seeds. (T27) •dibwa lila n.phr. (CA). Chinaball tree, chinaberry tree; arbre à chapelets. (Melia azedarach). •pye lila n.phr. (PC). Chinaball tree, chinaberry tree; arbre à chapelets. (Melia azedarach). Se en pye lila, li fe lagrenn anho. It’s a Chinaball tree, it makes a seed. (PC) See examples
• lim BT, PC ( n. ) lalim CA, PC
  1. File; lime.
     En lim ron, en Um plat. A round file, a flat file. (BT); Pou file en kouto, to sèrvi en lalim. To sharpen a knife, you use a file. (CA) See examples