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
Information on contents and orthography:
(see more)
- 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
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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
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nòr
CA, PC
(
n.
)
no
PC
-
North; nord.
Divan-la dan nòr. The north wind. (PC) ; Se pa dan l si, se dan l nòr. It’s not in the South, it’s in the North. (CA)
See examples
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place n. The North (of the USA); le Nord (des USA).
Yenki-ye sòti dan no, se sa l di nouzòt. Yankees came from the North, that’s what they told us. (PC) • Mo té zonglé kom ça zens di Noryé té touzou parlé en ho neg ki té traouail dir. I thought that Northerners always talked about black people who work hard. (T14)
See examples
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nòr-wèst
CA
(
n.
)
-
Northwest; nord-ouest.
Sete pli fre dan l nòr-wèst livèr-sa-a-la. Sete en move livèr. It was colder in the northwest this winter. It was a bad winter. (CA) ♦A chak jwa en nyaj nwa lev don sid epi li kouri don nòrwès na gen lapli pou sir lonnmen. Every time a black cloud rises in the south and goes northwest we’ll have rain for sure the next day. (LA)
See examples
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nòtis
CA
(
n.
)
-
Notice, invitation; faire-part, invitation.
Ye mèt en nofis pou peche twa pase an travèr lakou. They put up a sign to prevent you from crossing their yard. (CA) ♦ Mé mo pa pé couri demain do ... mo gagnin l'enterrement ...To recewoi to notice? But I can’t go tomorrow, I have a funeral... Did you receive your notice? (WO)
See examples
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o
No sources
(
int.
)
-
Oh! Oh!
♦ Oh! non, mo pas capab vive comme ça, qui ça ma fait Bon Djé, Seigneur. Oh no! I can’t live like that, what am I going to do, dear Lord? (FO T3)
See examples
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o
PC
(
prep.
)
-
[Location]. On, in, at; sur, à, dans.
Mon elve o lil. I was raised on the Island. (PC); To pòz myeu, sa pèche to èt o chèmen bwa. You relax better [if you’re married], that keeps you from being out on the street drinking. (PC) ♦ ’au clair dé line’ In the moonlight. (T27)
See examples
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[Direction]. To; a, vers.
♦ ’au marché’ To the market. (T4); ‘au Mexique’ To Mexico. (T38); ‘au calaboosse’ To prison. (T39)
See examples
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oblijé
BT, ST
(
v.,
v.mod.,
v.tr.
)
bijé
BT, NE, PC, NE
blij
BT, NE, PC, NE
bujé
BT, NE, PC, NE
blujé
BT, NE, PC, NE
blijé
CA, NE, PC
oblije pou
PC
-
[Obligation]. To have to, must, be obligated to; devoir, être obligé.
No te blije monke lekol pou travaye don klo. We had to miss school to work in the fields. (NE); Nou oblije pou konfese en fwa par mwa dan Karèm. We have to confess once a month during Lent. (ST) ♦ Tan Madamme Ranhoutan ouâ so gran labarbe tou plin lavase, li bligé ri. When Mrs. Ranhoutan saw his big beard all full of mud, she had to laugh. (T6)
See examples
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[Hypothesis]. Must; devoir.
Mo blije e vini vye astè astè-la. I must be getting old now. (PC); Men moun-sa-ye blije fou, ou ye apròn sa? But those people must be crazy, where did they learn that? (PC) ♦ To blije et ape fe de betiz avek mwen. You must be joking with me. (JR)To force (s.o. to do sth.); forcer (qn de faire qch.). Mo blij li fe sa. I force him to do that. (NE)
See examples
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oblijé
No sources
(
v.tr.
)
-
To oblige, help; aider.
♦ Tout ça to oulé ma fait li pou toi, moi toujours paré pou obligé tout mo zami. Whatever you want I’ll do for you, I’m always ready to oblige my friends. (FO T1)
See examples
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obsèrvé
NE
(
v.tr.
)
òpsèrvé
CA
òpsèrv
CA
-
To observe, watch; observer.
Tou kone, si lontourmon-la, l a seye parle meriken, me si mo p ap obsèrve, l ape parle kreol èk lez-ot. You know, depending on his surroundings, he’ll try to speak English, but if I’m not watching him he’ll speak Creole with the others. (NE); Li t ap fe so vantèr pou nouzòt te òpsèrve li. He was bragging so we would watch him. (CA) ♦ Li obsèrve a tou manman lyon-la se leve so pat e frote so nen apre li. He observed at every moment that the lion would raise its paw and rub its nose against it. (JR)
See examples
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obéi
CA, PC
(
v.tr.
)
-
To obey; obéir.
T a monte on chval-la, to gen fe li obei twa. You’ll mount the horse, you have to make it obey you. (PC)
See examples
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obéisan
CA
(
adj.
)
-
Obedient; obéissant.
Li te pa obeisan. Li kout pa so paran-ye. He wasn’t obedient. He doesn’t listen to his parents. (CA)
See examples
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odyans
No sources
(
n.
)
-
Audience; public, auditoire.
Ca p’olé parler à le vent comme nous-autres fait temps par temps. Non, li gain avoir ein audience. He didn’t want to talk to the wind as we do from time to time. No, he had to have an audience. (DC)
See examples
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of
CA, PC
(
adv.
)
-
Off; éteint.
Tann ichka to prechke pare, pou TURN to gòmbo of Wait until you’re almost ready to turn your fire off. (PC); Tournen stov -la of Turn the stove off. (CA); Mo ote TELEPHONE-la òf kroche-la. I took the phone off the hook. (PC)
See examples
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Off work; en congé.
Kòfer to gen of? Why do you have off? (CA)
See examples
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ofis
PC
(
n.
)
lofis
CA, PC, NE
-
Office; bureau.
Èna trwa ou kat lavoka ke gen en lofis la. There are three or four lawyers who have an office there. (CA) ♦ Ye mennen li dan lofis, e li esplike so misryon. They took him into the office, and he explained his mission. (JR)
See examples
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ofisyé
No sources
(
n.
)
-
Officer; officier.
♦ Li présenté zoficié yé à zeine sarpantié. He introduced the officers to the young carpenter. (T7); ‘n’officier’ (T14)
See examples
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ofri
No sources
(
v.tr.
)
ofèr
CA, NE, ST
of
NE
-
To offer; offrir.
Mo ofèr twa laglas pou mèt andan to vèr-la. I offered you ice to put in your glass. (CA) ♦ Mo pa ole ofri ouzot bwa dan menm boutey avek mwen. I don’t want to offer you to drink from the same bottle with me. (JR)
See examples
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ogmanté
No sources
(
v.,
v.intr.,
v.tr.
)
-
To go up, increase; augmenter.
♦ Train la avec di bri la té augmenté toujou. The noise level increases every day. (FO T15)To raise, increase; augmenter. ♦ Ein jou yé encontré Maite Rénard ki té apè parlé zaffair gouvernement pou augmenté taxe. One day, they met Master Fox who was speaking of the government affairs in order to increase the tax. (FO 1887)
See examples
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oj
No sources
(
n.
)
lòrj
CA, PC, PC
òj
CA, PC, PC
laj
BT, PC
-
Watering trough; abreuvoir.
Ye ape bwa dan lòrj-leu. The cows are drinking from the trough. (PC); No te gen en lòrj-a-bwa pou le zanimo. We had a watering trough for the animals. (CA)
See examples
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Trough (for eating); auge.
Lavach-ye monje anndan lòrj-la. The cows are eating from the trough. (PC)
See examples
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Mortar; mortier.
Lòj-la ron, sa fe e dibwa. Ye f e sa don en bich, en ? Ben ye fè en trou anndan-lan, me ye me diri l anndan, ye pile sa. The mortar is round and made of wood. They make it from a log, you know? They make a hole in it and put in some rice, and grind it up. (PC)
See examples
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ojourdui*
No sources
(
adv.
)
ojòrdi
BT, CA, NE
jòrdi
CA, MO 60, NE, ST
jourdi
BT, NE
jodi
CA, PC
jòrdwi
NE
jour ojòrdi
NE
jardi
ST
shòdui
PC
jòdwi
PC
jòdi
PC
-
Today; aujourd’hui.
Sa-fe komonse jòrdi to va kouri tò-tchèn monyèr e mwa mo kouri mò-tchèn monyèr. So from today on, you will take care of your business and I will take care of mine. (NE); Mo pousyère labiten jourdi. I dusted the furniture today. (BT); Tan-la brouyase jòdi-la. The weather is foggy today. (PC); Ki jour se jòdi? What day is it today? (CA) ♦ Ah! cé vou , Comaire Ranhoutan! Vou ben matinal , jordi. Oh, it’s you, Mrs. Orangutan. You’re an early riser today. (T6)
See examples
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These days, nowadays, at present; de nos jours, actuellement.
Lontan pase mo se janmen fèrmè mo lapòt. Kite li gran ouvè. Pa jodi. A long time ago I didn’t used to shut my door. I left it wide open. Not today. (PC) ♦ Mo dijà frémé yé, Compair Bouki, n’a si tan cokins dan tan jordi. I’ve already locked them up, Brer Bouki, there are so many thieves today. (T6)
See examples
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okin
CA, MO 60, PC, ST
(
adj.
)
okènn
MO 60, PC
-
Not any, not a single; aucun(e).
Ye te pa gen oken piti. They did not have a single child. (PC) ; Mo ti nèveu di: Mam , sa ena? Oken repons. Li te mòr. My little nephew said, ‘Mom? What’s wrong?’ No answer. She was dead. (CA); Na pa oken dile. There’s no milk. (ST) ♦ Pas dit nous projet aucun milat e, yé pas l’ainmain nous l’égalité. Don’t tell our project to any mulatto, they don’t like our equality. (T33)
See examples
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oksijèn
CA
(
n.
)
òkshigèn
PC
òkshigòn
PC
-
Oxygen; oxygène.
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); [REjFRIGERATOR i tchòbo dolo-la fre, e laplu dolo-la fre, le e tchòbo òkchigèn. The refrigerator keeps the water cold, and the colder the water, the more oxygen it will hold. (PC)
See examples
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okupé
No sources
(
adj.
)
-
Busy; occupé, pris.
Li te byen okipe. Li te pa gen tan pou wa man. He was very busy. He didn’t have time to come see me. (CA) ♦ Nous té si occupé dedans qué nous té pas connin arien . We were so busy inside that we didn’t know anything. (T40)
See examples
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okupé
PC, ST
(
v.,
v.tr.,
v.refl.
)
œkupé
PC
okupé
PC
òkipé
MO 60
òkipè
MO 60
okipé
CA
-
To occupy, inhabit; habiter, occuper.
Mè toujour òkipè yè plas avè yè famiy. But they still occupied their house with their family. (MO 60)To meddle, dabble in; s’occuper de. ♦ Ça va montré toi lire gazette é oquipé toi la politique tou lé dimanche, au lié to couri tranquillement la messe. That will teach you to read the newspaper and meddle in politics on Sundays, instead of going quietly to mass! (FO 1887) •okupe apre v.phr. (PC); okup(e), okip (PC); òkipe pou (MO 60); okipe apre/pou (CA). 1) To take care of, watch, care for (an elderly person, a child, etc.); s’occuper de, soigner. Mo elve ye e ye, ye okup apre mwen . I raised them, and now they take care of me. (PC); Mo okipe apre mo pèr. Li aflije. I take care of my dad. He’s crippled. (CA) 2) To nin, manage, tend (a store, a business, etc.); gérer, tenir (un magasin, etc). Se nòm-sa-la ki te okupe apre moulen-la. It was that man who took care of the mill. (PC) 3) To pay attention to, listen to, heed; faire attention à, écouter. To p ap okipe pou sa m ap di twa. You’re not paying attention to what I’m telling you. (CA)
See examples
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olyé
NE
(
conj.
)
olyè
PC
oryè
PC
oriyé
CA
-
Instead of; au lieu de.
Olye èn vach, li achte en kochon. Instead of a cow he bought a pig. (NE); Oriye vini man, l ale wa mo frèr. Instead of coming to see me, he went to see my brother. (CA) ♦ Au lié dé fruit, c’est singulier, yé branches té porté des zommes. Instead of fruit, it’s strange, their branches bore men. (T37)
See examples
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olé
gen, MO 60
(
v.tr.
)
voulé
NE
ol
PC
òl
PC
vlé
PC
vœ
PC
vè
CA, MO 60, PC
lé
BT
vé
BT, CA, NE
ve
CA, NE, PC, ST
-
To want; vouloir.
Piti-la ole en bibron. The baby wants a pacifier. (PC); Mo veu di twa mo-tchenn leupiyon. I want to give you my own opinion. (PC); Si ye veu wa l CRAWFISH FESTIVAL ye va o Pon Bro. If they want to see the Crawfish Festival they go to Breaux Bridge. (NE) ♦ Florimond té pas oulé oua. Florimond did not want to see him. (FO T20) •veu pa v.tr. (BT; NE; PC); vep (NE; PC); vyè pa (MO 60); vè pa (CA); vœ pa (PC). Not to want; ne pas vouloir. Kofè m ole monje siton kote rèstoran ò blan ve pa mwen? Why would I want to eat so badly in a restaurant where whites don’t want me? (PC); Ye te veu pa en Kadjen don ye mezon. They didn’t want a Cajun in their house. (NE); To veu pa koute sa mo t ape di twa. You don’t want to listen to what I was telling you. (BT); Li fe komèrs avèk tèl e tèl fom me li vè pa so non soti. He’s running around with this woman and that but he doesn’t want his name to come out. (CA) ♦ Eune jou kisinière la dit, li vé pas fait dinin. One day the cook told her that she did not want to cook the dinner. (T29) •veu di v.phr. (PC). To mean; vouloir dire. Sa sa veu di, se sa se diplon-an. Diplon-la plu jenn, sa min li plonte apre chiko-leu. What that means is that this is the cane that was planted for the first time. It is younger than the cane stubble, that means it was planted after that. (PC) •veu min v.phr. (PC). To mean; vouloir dire. Mo pèl sa se de motchi d franse. Motche, sa veu min, ye sèy pale franse mè y peu pa. Well, I say they’re half-French, half-French means they try to speak French but they can’t. (PC) Conjug: a) voule v.past (NE; PC); voulu (NE). Wanted; voulais (-ait, etc.). Li voule pa li parl kreol. He didn’t wanted her to speak Creole. (NE); Ye voule pa nou pal [kreyòl]. They didn’t want us to speak Creole. (PC) REM: NE notes that conjugated forms such as ‘ve’, ‘voule’, ‘vouly’ are only used by acrolectal speakers (p.233). b) voudre v.cond. (PC; ST); se voudre (PC; ST). Would like; voudrais (-ait, etc.). Mwen ti pa konnen koud mo voudre mo te ka konnen. I didn’t know how to sew, but I would like to have been able to. (PC); Mo se voudre gen en tas kafe. I would like to have a cup of coffee. (ST) REM: The form voudré is rare in Creole. ♦ Mo sré voudré li té capabe trappé giromon la. I would like him to be able to grab the pumpkin. (FO T19)
See examples
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on
PC
(
pron.
)
onn
LA
-
We; nous.
Nou on pa gen, nou pa gen ti venson isit-la. Ena pa. We don’t have any dwarves here. (PC); Li akroupi la-leu pou espyone sa onn ape parle pou. He’s crouched down over there to spy on what we’re saying. (CA) •on dire exp. One would say, it seems; on dirait, cf. di onchonte adj. Delighted; enchanté. ♦ Gason-la ouvri lakaz e torti lasifle mye ke onvon. Gason-la te onchonte. The boy opened the cage and the turtle sang better than before. The boy was delighted. (BO) onèt adj. (PC); ònèt (CA). Honest; honnête. Li byen ònèt. Li pa koken. He’s very honest. He’s not a thief. (CA) ♦ Einne fois ein avé ein nomme qui té olé marié so fille avec ein nomme honnête. Once there was a man who wanted to marry his daughter to an honest man. (JR)
See examples
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onflir
No sources
(
n.
)
anflir
CA
-
Swelling; enflure.
Li gen en anflir an so pye. En mouch-a-myèl pike li. He’s got a swelling on his foot. A honeybee stung him. (CA) ♦ Pou en n onflir, en foulir e nenpòrt doulèr ke to pa ne avek. For a swelling, a sprain or any pain that you weren’t bom with. (BI)
See examples
-
onflé
No sources
(
v.intr.
)
anflé
CA
-
To swell; se gonfler, s’enfler.
Li te gen lajòb. Li te tou anfle apre so kou. He had the mumps. He was all swollen by his neck. (CA) ♦ Osit o ke gep-la pike vou, pase vou lamen onmba vou bra e frote si lapikir; sa onpech li vini onfle. As soon as the wasp stings you, put your hand under your arm and rub the sting, that will prevent it from swelling up. (BI)
See examples
-
onkènné
BT
(
v.tr.
)
-
To can (foods); mettre en conserve.
M ale onkenne mon defik pou fe de konfitu. I will can some figs for myself to make some preserves. (BT)
See examples
-
onmbrèl
No sources
(
n.
)
-
Umbrella; parapluie.
♦ Faut pas ouvert ein nombrelle dans la maison. ça pote malhè. You must not open an umbrella in the house, it brings bad luck. (BD)
See examples
-
onni
CA, PC
(
v.intr.
)
onni
CA
hanni
PC
anni
PC
-
To bray; braire.
En mile le e anni. A mule is braying. (PC); Men mo se pa sa l e anni pou. I don’t know why it’s braying. (PC)
See examples
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onpoulé
No sources
(
adj.
)
-
Turgid, swollen (of a blister); gonflé, enflé (en parlant d’une ampoule).
♦ Enn fwa li onpoule to pronn de sizo e to koupe le klòch pou retire dolo-la. Once it is swollen you take scissors and you cut the blisters to draw out the liquid. (BI)
See examples
-
onrishi
No sources
(
v.tr.
)
anrishi
CA
-
To enrich; enrichir.
Kan to me fimye andan latèr, t ape anrichi li. When you put fertilizer in the dirt, you’re enriching it. (CA) ♦ Kotonnye bon asi. Sa onrichi to di son. Cotton tree tea is good too, it enriches your blood. (BI)
See examples
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ont
PC
(
n.
)
honnt
NE, PC
hont
NE, PC
honté
PC
hannt
ST
honwt
CA
hante
CA
-
Shame, shyness; honte, timidité.
Se en hont. It’s a shame. (PC); Mo hant lamayèr mo parle an to machin. I’m ashamed of the way I talked about your machine. (ST); Se en hanteu lamanyèr ye fe piti-la. It’s a shame the way they treated the child. (CA) •(gen) ont v.phr. To be ashamed, embarrassed; avoir honte, être gêné. Li deve gen honwt. Li deve pa fe sa. He should be ashamed. He shouldn’t do that. (CA) ♦ Fiy-ye te pe pi tchenn ye-menm. Ye bòs ri apre Bouki drèt devan li. Li te si ont li te tou mizerab sa fe li eskize li-menm tout swit e li parti. The girls couldn’t contain themselves any longer. They burst out laughing at Bouki right in front of him. He was so ashamed that he was miserable, and he excused himself and left. (JR)
See examples
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ontasé
NE
(
v.tr.
)
tasé
PC
-
To pile up, stack up; entasser, empiler.
Ye te koupe le kòn mai, koupe le baton koton, ontase sa a lamen. They would cut the corn stalks and the cotton stalks and stack them by hand. (NE) ♦ Quand yé vini dans place-la ou nabbe té tassés si plein yi té pas ca oua loin. When they came into the place where the trees were piled up so thick that they couldn’t see very far. (BD)
See examples
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ontrin
NE
(
v.mod.
)
-
To intend to, be about to; avoir l’intention de, compter, être sur le point de.
Mo ontren kouri on vil. I intend to go to the city. (NE)
See examples
-
ontrépròn
NE
(
v.tr.
)
ontréprin
NE
antréprann
CA
-
To undertake, take on; entreprendre.
Bouki e Lapen ye te ontrepren èn rekòl onsom. Bouki and Rabbit undertook a harvest together. (NE); Mo antreprann pou nètwaye mo lamezon. Sa va prann en bou tan. I’m undertaking to clean my house. It’s going to take quite some time. (CA) ♦ 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
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onté
PC
(
adj.
)
ante
PC
honté
CA
hantè
CA
hantèz
CA
hante
ST
-
Shameful; honteux.
Ye e mouri pou CASH, se onte. They are dying for cash. It’s shameful. (PC); Li bwa jichka li soule li-mèm. Se honte. He drinks until he gets drunk. It’s shameful. (CA) ♦ Ga, si c'est pas honté ça; ya pé mouri com des mouches! Well if that’s not shameful! They’re dying like flies! (T4)
See examples
-
Ashamed, embarrassed; qui a honte, gêné. (CA)
-
onz
CA
(
num.card.
)
-
Eleven; onze.
Mo te gen onz frèr e sœr. I used to have eleven brothers and sisters. (CA) ♦ Ein fois yavé ein madame qui té gagnin douze piti, onze garçon, et ein fille. Once there was a woman who had twelve children, eleven boys and one girl. (FO T23) •onz-èr adv.phr. (CA); onz-è (PC). Eleven o’clock; onze heures. Li kenz minit pou onz è. It’s a quarter to eleven. (PC)
See examples
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onètman
No sources
(
adv.
)
-
Honestly; honnêtement.
♦ Fau nou débate zonétement. We have to fight honestly. (T32)
See examples
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opérasyon*
No sources
(
n.
)
òpérasyon
MO 60
lopèrasyon
PC
lopérasyon
PC
loparasyan
PC
-
Operation; opération.
Dòktè-la fe mo lopèrasyon. The doctor did the operation on me. (PC); Li i en gran loperasyon. He had a major operation. (CA)
See examples
-
opérasyon*
No sources
(
v.intr.
)
lopèrasyon
PC
-
To operate, perform surgery; opérer.
Se sa ki lopèrasyon on li. He is the one who operated on him. (PC)
See examples
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ora
gen, MO 60
(
prep.
)
ora
PC
-
Near, beside, close to; près de.
Li pase ora mwen, e li touche mwen. She brushed against me. (PC); Mo fiy mare so chyen ora so lamezon. My daughter tied her dog close to the house. (ST) ♦ Li temps pou nous planté calbasse auras cabane. It’s time for us to plant gourds near the house. (T27) •ora che prep. (NE). At; chez, à. Mo pase ora che Bouki. I went by Bouki’s house. (NE)
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Around; autour de.
Mo mèt latè ora dekàn-la. I put dirt around the base of the cane stalk. (PC); No te tou asit ora ansanm. We were all sitting around together. (CA) ♦' auras ‘, ‘au ras’ ‘auras’ (NE 1987 passim); ‘aurà’ (T8); ' ra [ra]’ (DU)
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In comparison with; en comparaison avec.
Li te gen en cha li, li se rich! Li se rich ora mo. He had a car, he is rich! He’s rich compared with me. (PC)
See examples
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oraj*
No sources
(
n.
)
loraj
BT, ST
zoraj
BT
-
Thunder; tonnerre.
Loraj te fòr. The thunder was loud. (ST) •loraj lapli n.phr. (BT). Rain shower; orage, averse. Nou te gen pluzyèr zoraj lapli jodzi . We had many rain showers today. (BT)
See examples
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oranj
CA
(
adj.
)
-
Orange; orange.
Mo gain an zoranj oranj . I have an orange orange. (HW); Mam mete so nepenglèt kòrèl òranj pou ale legliz . Mom wore her orange coral pin to go to church. (CA)
See examples
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ordonné
BT
(
v.tr.
)
òrdonnin
CA, PC, ST
-
To order; commander.
Si to t ordonne kek-choj ke te vini desu le char, sète o depo. If you ordered something and it came in on the train, [you went to get it] at the depot. (BT); M ap ale òrdonnen mo grosri ojourdi. Ye va delivre lapre-midi a lamezon. I’m going to order my groceries today. They’ll deliver (them) this afternoon to the house. (CA) ♦ Pove vieux Michié Zipiter li perdi tout so pratique pasqué pape ordonnin tout moune quitté li et li té bligé fermé so boutique. Poor old mister Jupiter lost all of his clients, because the pope ordered everyone to leave him alone, and he closed shop. (FO T15)
See examples
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oriyé*
No sources
(
n.
)
oryé
PC
loryé
PC
noriyé
PC
noryé
PC
lòriyé
CA, ST
dòriyé
CA
nòriyé
CA
-
Pillow; oreiller.
Ye ote lasenl on so chval ye pran so soutendè, ye fe enn orye. They took the saddle off the horse, they took his blanket and made a pillow. (PC); Mèt to dan anba lòriye-la. Souri-la va mèt twa en sen-sou. Put your tooth under the pillow. The mouse will give you five cents. (CA); Kan mo las, mo tonbe andòrmi tou drwat mo latèt touche lòriye. When I’m tired I fall asleep as soon as my head touches the pillow. (ST)
See examples
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Pin cushion; pelote à épingles.
I te gen en pangnen pou mèt leu fil e lez egwiy, e en ti norye pou mèt lœrz epenng e lèz egwiy. They had a little basket to put needles and thread, and a little pillow to stick their pins and needles in. (PC) •tèt-d-oriye n.phr. Pillow case; taie d’oreiller, cf. tèt-d-oriye òrmi conj. (BT; PC; ST); ormi (PC). Unless; à moins que. Ena de fwa, de mèdikaman koum sa, ye p e von twa li ormi to gen en pèrmit ave en doktè. Sometimes they won’t sell you medicine like that unless you have a prescription from a doctor. (PC); Mo frèr se en bon mantèr. Li pa kapab di aryen òrmi li ape manti. My brother is a good liar. He can’t say anything unless he’s lying. (ST) ♦ Soleil apé dardé; panga la fieve, piti, faut pas couri ni tête, hormis to lé mouri. The sun is beating down; beware of the fever, child, you mustn’t go outside uncovered unless you want to die. (T27)
See examples
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orévwar
CA, ST
(
int.
)
-
Goodbye; au revoir.
♦ Toujou quand mo di li bonsoir, li réponne au révoir. Whenever I tell him good evening he tells me goodbye. (T11)
See examples
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osi
gen, MO 60
(
adv.
)
osit
CA, PC
-
Also, too; aussi.
Mo beuzwenn de klou osi pour ranje lachèj. I also need nails to fix the chair. (BT); Mo kwa ye gen barbi, e ye gen dikap, patasa, mo kwa ye gen choupik osi. I think that (in the False River) there are catfish, and there are carp, perch, I think there are also mudfish. (PC); Ye te fe kòlye e biy e to fe chaple osi. They used to make necklaces with beads and they make rosary beads too. (CA); Li pa osi joli ke sa sœr. She is not as pretty as her sister. (NE); M ole sa osi. I want that too. (ST) ♦ Kan Bon Dje sa pare pou mwen, mo sa pare pou li mwen oust When God is ready for me, I’ll be ready for Him also. (JR)
See examples
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As; aussi.
Monn pa viv osi lantan. People didn’t live as long [as they do today]. (PC) •osi... (konm, ke) adv. osi... ke (CA; PC); osi... konm, osi... kœ (PC). As...as; aussi ... que. Osi vit mo gonbo pare, no va dinè. As soon as my gumbo is ready, we will have dinner. (NE); Li galpe osi vit kè l te kapab. She ran as fast as she could. (PC); Osi vit ke li va pele, mo va gonn. As soon as he calls, I’ll leave. (CA) ♦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 into the river as far as he could. (JR) •osi...pa adv. pa...osi (NE). Not either, neither; ne ... pas non plus. Li vyen pa osi/Li osi vyen pa. He is not coming either. (NE)
See examples
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osito
CA
(
conj.
)
-
As soon as; aussitôt que, dès que.
Osito ke li vini, nou va manje. As soon as he comes, we’ll eat. (CA) ♦ Fe en kòch sou en jenn narb sirtou en peche a soley leve. Osito ke lakòch-la va fèrme to poro va tonbe. Make a notch in a young tree, especially a peach tree, at dawn. As soon as the notch closes up, your wart will fall off. (BI)
See examples
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ot
No sources
(
adj.,
pron.,
adj.
)
in lòt
CA, PC, ST
èn-òt
CA, PC, ST
lòt
MO 60, NE
nòt
NE
dòt
CA, MO 60, NE, PC, ST
in not
CA
in nòt
CA, MO 60
-
Other; autre.
Mo pa kònen lòt non-ye pase ye pèl li MIMOSA . I don’t know any other name for it besides mimosa. (PC); M a mèt mwa enn-òt chodyèr onho l STOVE . I’m going to put me another pot on the stove. (NE) • Laché mouen, ti négresse, o ben mo va fou toi on to jié avé mo lot lamain . Li fou li. -Bim! ‘Let go of me, little black girl, or else I’ll hit you in your eye with my other hand.’ He hit her, pow! (T2) •dòt pl. (PC); dezòt (PC). Others; d’autres. Li te gen dòt boug ki te kouri vini. He had other guys that were coming along. (PC); Pa gen dezòt piti. He doesn’t have any other children. (PC) • Anon tounen tchwe dòt zibye. Let’s go kill other game. (LA) •lez-ot n.phr. (NE; PC). The other; les autres. Se en vyè ti kana. Li piti, mè li fe konm lez-ot kana. It’s a little old duck, it’s little but it’s made like other ducks. (PC); Lez-ot mile-ye te tou gra. The other mules are all fat. (NE) •dòt-chòj pron.indef (PC). Something else; autre chose. Li peutèt bon pou fè dòt-chòj. Perhaps she’s good for something else. (PC)dòt, en lòt (PC; NE); lòt (MO 60); èn lòt, lòt (pl.) (PC). 1. The other(s), another (one, ones); l’autre, les autres. Mo gen en frè an vil, epi en lot ki rès isi . I have one brother in the city, and another one who lives here. (PC); Mo krwa pa m ale joue dòt. I don’t think I’m going to play another [dance]. (NE) •lez-ot pron. (NE). The others, the other ones; les autres. Ye te pele le piti le nwar, le nèg, la le nèg te pele lèz-òt le Kadjen, le piti blon. [White kids] called black kids ‘blacks’ or ‘niggers’, and black kids called white kids ‘Cajuns’ or ‘white trash’. (NE) •Doctaire Macaque avè so complice Bourriquet tou lé dé sorti dan yé trou é yé vini encor parmi les ote. Dr. Monkey and his accomplice Bourriquet came out of their hole to mingle with the others. (FO 1887) •lòt-ye pron. The others, the other ones; les autres. ♦ Li te si feb li te pe pa bat avek Lours ou avek chevrey ou tou lòt-ye ki te pli gro ke li. He was so weak that he could not fight with Bear or Deer or any of the others who were bigger than he. (JR) • èn dèryè lòt adv.phr. (PC). One after the other; l’un après l’ autre. Le chwini, le don konm en dwa, èn dèryè lòt. The small harrow has teeth as wide as a finger, one after the other. (PC) 2. More; plus de. To ka mannde lòt. Mo gen plen tan. You can ask some more (questions). I have lots of time. (PC); Si t ap fe labwi, to mèt dot lafarin pou epesi li. If you’re making custard, you put more flour to thicken it. (CA)
See examples