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
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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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sansib
CA
(
adj.
)
-
Sensitive; sensible.
Apre to rach en dan, to jansiv byen sansib. After you pull a tooth, your gums are very sensitive. (CA) ♦ Bon Dgié té fé piti là tro sensible, avec tou maleur ça yé gagnin dans moune. God made this child too sensitive, with all the troubles there are in the world. (ME 91)
See examples
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sansibléman
No sources
(
adv.
)
-
Warmly (?); chaleureusement.
♦ Ma saluté vou sancibleman. I greet you warmly. (T 17)
See examples
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sansu
No sources
(
n.
)
sansi
PC
sansou
ST
-
Leech; sangsue.
En sansi... Ye gen ye dan lopital, ye a mèt ye poz an twa pou sise move disan ye di. A leech...They have them in the hospital, they’ll put it on you to suck the bad blood, they say. (PC) ♦ Pou en kou d son vye moun ye te met enn sonsi on chak chwiy di pye. For an apoplectic fit, old folks used to put a leech on each ankle. [ ‘sangsie ‘] (LA)
See examples
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sant
CA
(
n.
)
-
Center; centre.
Mo mét mo madriye pou tchen difwan o sant pou peche li paye. Se en morso di bwa pou tòrd difwan antòr-la. I put a haystack to hold the hay in the center to prevent it from scattering. It’s a piece of wood to twist the hay around. (CA)
See examples
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santans
No sources
(
n.
)
-
(Legal) sentence; sentence.
♦ Jou la yé té donnin li so sentence, yé scié ein nabe dans la cou madame et dans cré nabe la yé trouvé bague la. The day they sentenced him, they sawed down a tree that was in the lady’s yard and they found the ring. (FO T25)
See examples
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santi
BT, CA, PC
(
v.,
v.refl.,
v.intr.,
v.tr.
)
santir
CA
san
CA, MO 60, PC
sonti
NE, PC
sont
NE
son
NE
-
To feel (physically); se sentir (physiquement).
Mo te pa san mo-mèm byen yèr oswò. I didn’t feel well last night. (PC); Mo san pa mon tro byen. I don’t feel too well. (CA) ♦ Mo senti mié, mé mo pa capa maché enco. I feel well, but I am not able to walk yet. (T3)To smell; sentir. Mo monj pa toti, me to pale son bon . I don’t eat turtle, but talk about smelling good! (PC); Si to pa opere en mal kochon, to pa kapab manje li. Lavyann san miske. If you don’t castrate a male pig, you can’t eat it. The meat smells musky. (CA); Li t ap sonti ich laswè kon li vini bèk apre so èksèrsay galope. He smelled of sweat when he came back from his running exercise. (BT) ♦ (Li) comancé fimé et fé ein gran laboucanne ki té santi larose, zasmin avé violette. He started to smoke and made a big cloud of smoke that smelled of rose, jasmine and violets. (T7) •santi pi v.phr. (PC); sonti pi (NE); san pu (PC); san pi (CA; PC). To stink; puer. Mo te sonti pi, wi, mo te lèd. I stank, yes, I was ugly. (NE); Li san pi. To gen p chanje so kouch. He stinks. You need to change his diaper. (CA)♦ Li té gagné naine vié zaillons anho li, ki té santi pi com cocodri. He had on only old rags that stank like an alligator. (T7)1. To smell; sentir. En tayo...kan i va santi latras, lodœr, i va jape. A hound...when he catches the scent he will bark. (BT); Bòraks se pou nètwaye. Mo sèr pa li parskè li tro fòr. Mo lenm pa santi li. Borax is for cleaning. I don’t use it because it’s too strong. I don’t like to smell it. (CA); T e santi kaka chyen, t e santi lamèrd chyen. You’re smelling dog shit. (PC) ♦ Ma sentis laviande fraîche! I smell fresh meat! (BD) 2. To feel (i.e. experience by touch or otherwise); sentir, tâter. Mo jamè sonti sa! I never felt anything! (NE) ♦ Ein jou bon matin, Compair Lapin lévé et li senti lafaim apé gagné li. One day early in the morning, Brer Rabbit got up and felt hunger overtaking him. (T4) 3. To sense; pressentir. Li a santi so lamò. He will have a premonition of his death. (PC)
See examples
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santiman
CA, PC
(
n.
)
-
Feeling; sentiment.
Mo piti-ye gen santiman pou man. Ye byen bon pou man. My children have feelings for me. They’re very good to me. (CA) ♦ Michié Willyson propozicioné ein bile pou nouârci tou blan dan Sid ki s’rai gaigné bon santiman radiko. Mr. Wilson proposed a bill to blacken all of the whites in the South who had good radical sentiments. (T16) •blese santiman v.phr. To hurt s.o.’s feelings, offend, insult; blesser, offenser, froisser, cf. blese
See examples
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santrifij
No sources
(
n.
)
-
Centrifuge; centrifuge.
♦ Gros centrifige allé ronfler, vié mait content, l apé allé, vini, comme dans temps so jène temps. The big centrifuge was humming and the old master was happy, he was coming and going as in his younger days. (T27)
See examples
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santèn
No sources
(
n.
)
sènntènn
PC
santin
CA
-
Hundreds; centaine(s).
Li achte de senntenn zafè kote DRUG-STORE. He bought hundreds of things at the drugstore. (PC) ♦ Ici c ’été sicre et coton, là c’été mais et farine, et dé centaines de wagon ta pé suive eine à l’aute en ligne. Here it was sugar and cotton, there it was corn and flour, and hundreds of wagons were following one another in a straight line. (T37)
See examples
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santé
PC, ST
(
n.
)
lasonté
NE
lasanté
CA, PC
-
Health; santé.
Lavyàn kochon se pa bon pou to lasante. Pork is bad for your health. (PC) ♦ Compair Tigue couri charché ein bouteil bon tafia, et yé boâ yé santé. Brer Tiger went to get a good bottle of tafia, and they drank to their health. (T8) •bon sante n.phr. (PC; ST); bon lasante (CA); bann sante (ST). Good health; bonne santé. Li gro e li gra e li an bon sante. He is big and fat and in good health. (PC); Li bon sante. He’s in good health. (ST) •gen bon sante v.phr. (PC; ST); gen bon lasante (CA). To be in good health; être en bonne santé. Li gen bon sante. He’s in good health. (PC); To gen bon lasante. To janmen malad. You have good health. You’re never sick. (CA)
See examples
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sardinn
PC
(
n.
)
sèrdinn
CA, PC
sadinn
PC
-
Sardine, shad; sardine.
Vou ka sèrvi en SHAD, sa ye pele en sardin. You can use a shad, what they call a sardine. (PC); Ye gen sèrdin dan lwil e andan lasezònman. There are sardines in oil and sardines in herbs. (CA) ♦ Nous marré, (pas sans fait des tours, car boat té serré com sardine). We moored (not without spinning around, for the boat was packed like sardines). (T37)
See examples
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sasafrwa
CA
(
n.
)
sasafra
CA, PC
sasafras
PC
-
Sassafras; sassafras.
Sa se dibwa-la ki fe file-la, sasafrwa-la . That is the tree that you make filé powder from, sassafras. (CA) ♦ Pou rezipel kon li vini blon ye te pron farin, trwa ti moso sasafra pi wiski e ye te met sa onsonm pou fe kataplonm. For erysipelas, when it turned white they used to take flour, three pieces of sassafras and whiskey, and they put all of that together to make a poultice. (LA) •dibwa sasafra n.phr. (CA). Sassafras tree; sassafras (arbre).
See examples
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sasakwa
CA
(
n.
)
sasakwa
PC
-
Uproar, racket, din; tapage, vacarme. (CA)
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Corn shuck mattress; matelas empaillé de feuilles de maïs. (PC)
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satisfé
CA, PC
(
v.tr.
)
-
To satisfy; satisfaire.
Li pa satisfe le e kanplen. He is not satisfied, he is complaining. (PC); Li travaye byen. Li satisfe man. She worked well. She satisfied me. (CA) ♦ Pyè te en vye nonm ki te pa satisfe avek so lavi di tou. Pierre was an old man who was not satisfied with his life at all. (JR)
See examples
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savan
No sources
(
adj.
)
-
Wise, knowledgeable; sage; savant.
♦ Savan Missié Kabri ki konm tou gri-gri. Wise Mr. Goat, who knows every charm. (TN)
See examples
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savannèt
CA
(
n.
)
-
Sweet bath soap, bar of soap; savon doux pour le bain, pain de savon.
Keken donen mwa sis savannèt DIAL. Someone gave me six bars of Dial soap. (CA)
See examples
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savat
CA, ST
(
n.
)
-
Slipper; pantoufle.
Mo achete en joli pèr savat. I bought a pretty pair of slippers. (CA); Mo pye fe mal. M ap ale ote mo soulye e mèt mo savat an mo pye. My feet hurt. I’m going to take off my shoes and put slippers on my feet. (ST)
See examples
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savon
CA, PC
(
n.
)
-
Soap; savon.
Li frote so lamen avek savon. She rubbed her hands with soap. (PC); To mèt savon jonn , dimyèl e flè fevi anlèr en deklou e landmen li te bòs. You put yellow soap, honey and okra flowers on a boil and the next day it would break open. (CA) ♦ Pou ote en pikon mo sèr lasonn blon avek en ti morso savon e avek en ti penset di sik e en ti pe gonmbo pou tchenn kataplas-la. To remove a thorn, I use white ashes with a little piece of soap and a pinch of sugar and a little okra to hold the poultice in place. (BI)
See examples
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Shaving cream; crème à raser. (PC)
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savonn
BT
(
n.
)
lasavann
CA
-
Pasture, meadow; pâture, pré.
Ye te vini laba-la jwe laplòt dan le savonn-l. They came down there to play ball in the meadow. (BT); No te gen en gran lasavann e to te kapab mèt to vach-ye andan-la. We had a big pasture and you could put your cows in it. (CA) ♦ Laplie apé tombé en’aut bêtes qui dans savane. The rain is falling on the animals in the meadow. (T27)
See examples
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savonne
BT
(
n.
)
-
Sudsy or soapy water, soap suds; eau savonneuse.
La savonneu se en savon avèk lo cho. [la savonneu], that is soap and hot water. (BT)
See examples
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savònin
PC
(
v.tr.
)
savonnin
CA, PC
-
To soap, wash with soap, lather; savonner, laver avec du savon.
E la savonnen li, mèt li chèche. You soap it up and let it dry. (PC)
See examples
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sha
BT, CA, PC
(
n.
)
shat
CA, PC, NE
-
Cat; chat.
Ye te gen apepre senkont e kèk gro chat nwar, le chat ho kòm sa ak le zyeu nwar. They had about fifty big black cats, cats about so big with black eyes. (NE) ; Kan en chat nwar pas devan twa, sa dòn twa move lachanch. When a black cat passes in front of you, that gives you bad luck. (CA) ♦ Zié nomme la té brillé comme quenne chatte dans la nouitte. The man’s eyes were shining like a cat’s at night. (FO T20) •chat farouch n.phr. (CA). Wild cat; chat sauvage, •chat maron n.phr. (CA). Lynx, bobcat; lynx.
See examples
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shaba
CA
(
n.
)
-
Pretentious display; spectacle, parade.
Li te gen tèlman en chaba. Li jich t ape fe remarke li-mèm. She put on such a pretentious display. She just wanted to show off. (CA)
See examples
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shadron
CA
(
n.
)
shaldron
PC
-
Thistle; chardon.
(Cirsium horridulum). En chaldron, sa se kòm èn espes lèb, men li pa bon . A thistle. That’s like a weed, but it’s not good. (PC); To va chèrche chadron pou lasalad. To gen p pliche to chadron e to manj sa avèk disèl. You are going to get thistles for a salad. You have to peel them and you eat them with salt. (CA) ♦ Compair Bouki ramassé jeine chougra avé chadron on bord chimin. Brer Bouki gathered pokeweed and thistles along the road. (T6); ' chaldron [chaldronj’ (BI) REM: Holmes 1990:45 identifies chardron as ‘spiny thistle ( Cirsium horridulum Michx.), a coarse herb with edible stems, •chadron makak n.phr. (CA). Milkweed thistle; chardon macaque. (Lactuca floridana or Lactuca canadensis). Chadron makak se pou le zanimo. Ena dile ki sòr andan kan to kas sa. Monkey-faced thistle is for animals. There’s milk that comes out when you break it. (CA) •chadron tandron n.phr. (CA). Tender thistle; chardon tendre. Chadron tandron se sa no manj. Safe en bon lasalad. Tender thistle is what we eat. It makes a good salad. (CA)
See examples
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shadèk
CA
(
n.
)
shadèg
CA
-
Grapefruit tree; pamplemoussier. (CA)
-
Grapefruit; pamplemousse.
Mo te gen en chadèg ki te pèz trèz liv e sete roz . I had a grapefruit that weighed thirteen pounds. It was pink. (CA)
See examples
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shagrin
CA
(
n.
)
-
Sorrow, pain; chagrin, peine.
To pa gen p pran chagren. Sa va ran twa malad. You mustn’t feel sorrow. It will make you sick. (CA) ♦ Chevrey bese so latet dan en gro chagren pas ke li te lenmenjïy-la plen. Brer Deer lowered his head in sorrow, because he had loved the girl a lot. (JR)
See examples
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shagrin
CA, PC
(
v.intr.
)
-
To feel sorry for, pity; plaindre.
Mo pa chagren pou ye ditou. I don’t feel sorry for them at all. (PC);
See examples
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To regret, be sorry; regretter.
Mo chagren mo pa mannde li plis ABOUT THAT. I’m sorry I didn’t ask him more about that. (PC) ♦ Li te chagren pou pèrd so chien. He was sorry to lose his dog. (JR)
See examples
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shagrinin
CA
(
v.,
v.tr.,
v.intr.
)
-
To grieve, distress, sorrow; peiner, faire de la peine, chagriner.
♦ Ça qui té chagrinain yé plisse c'était plis pitit-la qui té chétif et qui té pas ca causer. What grieved them the most was the youngest one who was feeble and could not speak. (BD)
See examples
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To annoy, embêter.
L ap chagrinen man. Li kontini repete tou-l-tan la mèm choj. He’s annoying me. He keeps repeating the same thing all the time. (CA)To complain; se plaindre. Li te jich ap chagrinen. Pou gen lape, mo di li sa li t ap parle pou sete bon. He was just complaining. To have peace, I told him that what he was talking about was fine. (CA)
See examples
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shak
CA, NE, PC
(
adj.,
pron.,
pron.indef.
)
-
Each, every; chaque.
Chak fwa mo wa li, mo parl avèk li. Each time I see him I speak to him. (NE); To gen pou mèt labrid-la dan so ladjèl. Li gen lakòd-ye chak kote pou GUIDE ye chval-la . You’ve got to put a bridle in his mouth. It’s got ropes on each side to guide their horse. (CA) ♦ En haut chaque poteau so labarrière li té mené ein paquet de bois gras. Atop each fencepost he put a bundle of pine wood. (T40)Each (one); chacun(e). Li te konnen kan chak pèrsonn te kouri mourir. Li te gen en lachandel pou chak, e la pèrsonn se viv osi lontan konm chandel-la se brile. He knew when each person was going to die. He had a candle for everyone, and the person would live as long as his candle burned. (PC) ♦Mo gen en sak an ba ouzòt, e chak ki a garde an ba a tombe dan sak-la. I have a sack below you, and everyone who looks down will fall into the sack. (JR)
See examples
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shak
No sources
(
int.
)
-
Shucks, doggone it, rats! Mince, zut!
♦Mait' Réna ‘ té pas ca ‘traper yé. Ça fait, li dit li-meme o chaque! Yé tout verts; yé pas bons pou' moin. Master Fox couldn’t reach them. So he said to himself, ’Shucks! They’re all green; they’re not good for me.’ (BD)
See examples
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shak
CA, MO 60, ST
(
adj.
)
-
Drunk, tipsy; éméché, ivre.
Li te pa sou, li te tchak. He wasn’t drunk, he was tipsy. (CA) ♦ Compair Torti mayé avé Mamzel Calinda samdi k apé vini, et tou moune manzé, boi, jika yé tchiak. Brer Turtle will marry Miss Calinda this coming Saturday, and everyone will eat and drink until they are drunk. (T5)
See examples
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shakaya
CA
(
n.
)
-
Pest, nuisance; casse-pieds.
Se keken k ap travaye desi to nèrf. Se en chakaya. It’s someone who’s always working on your nerves. It’s a pest. (CA)
See examples
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shakayé
CA
(
v.
)
shakaya
PC
shagayin
CA
-
To bother, disturb; agacer, gêner.
Se pou sa te e chakaya è moun kòm sa. That is why you are bothering people like that. (PC); Ena toujou keken ape kongnen. Sa chakaye man. There’s always someone knocking. That annoys me. (CA)
See examples
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shakin
BT, CA, MO 60, PC
(
pron.indef.
)
-
Each (one); chacun(e).
Ti garson te Chaken gen trwa pyas. The little boys each had three dollars. (PC); Nou te kouri pour kolèkte Chaken trant sou, pour tou lavanmidi. We each went to collect thirty cents for the whole morning. (BT) ♦ «Can nou rivé, chakenne a gagnin ain bon cou ouiski. « When we arrive, each one will get a long swig of whiskey. (ME)
See examples
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shakwéyl
PC
(
n.
)
-
Coffee cup; tasse à café.
-
shaké
ST
(
v.tr.
)
-
To get drunk; se soûler, s’enivrer.
-
shaké
PC
(
v.tr.
)
-
To check; vérifier.
Èna de patat toufe astè. Vou koupe li, SLICE ye, e vou fri vou zonyon, e vou met l dan zonyon-la, e vou met vou tap on la, e vou kit li epwi vou tchake li, pren en ti layè, vou toumen ye, brase ye, met vou tap. Then there are smothered potatoes. You cut them, slice them, and fry your onions and put them in, and you put the lid on, and you leave it and then check it later. Take a spoon, stir them, stir them, and put the lid on. (PC)
See examples
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shal
CA
(
n.
)
-
Shawl; châle.
En chat gen de franj k ape pann e en tapchal pa gen de franj. A shawl has fringe that hangs down and a cape doesn’t have fringe. (CA)
See examples
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shalan
No sources
(
adj.,
n.phr.
)
mai shalan
No sources
-
Sweet com; maïs sucré, cf. mai
-
shalon
CA, PC, ST
(
n.
)
-
Small flat-bottomed boat, rowboat; petite barque à fond plat.
Boug-la travèrse la rivyè dan son chalon. The guy crossed the river in his flat-bottomed boat. (PC); En chalon se sa euzòt pagay. Se pla. Ena pa bòr. A flat-bottomed boat, that’s what they paddle. It’s flat, it doesn’t have sides. (CA) ♦ Li fé ein gran chalan ou ké li rantré kan dolo monté. He made a big rowboat which he entered when the water rose. (T13)
See examples
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shalèr
MO 60, ST
(
n.
)
shalè
PC
-
Heat; chaleur, le chaud.
To tro cho, la chalé-la a tchwe twa. You’re too hot, the heat will kill you. (PC) ♦Bamby l"allé fait chaud; mo l'ainmain lachaler. By and by it will be hot; I like the heat. (T27)
See examples
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shalòt
PC
(
n.
)
shariot
CA, PC
shalot
CA
-
Shallot; oignon vert.
Nou te gen CLEAN chalòt. We had to clean the shallots. (PC) •chariot sèk n.phr. (CA). Shallot; échalote.
See examples
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Green onion; échalote.
Pou dòn nouzot lalimyèr pou wa pou nètwaye charlòt, no te pann lantèn-la an legalri. To give us some light to see to clean the green onions we hung the lantern on the porch. (CA) •chariot vèr n.phr. (CA). Green onion; échalote.
See examples
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shamayé
No sources
(
v.intr.
)
-
To bicker, wrangle; chamailler, se disputer.
♦ Pendant yé té pé chamailler, des ats-yé vini ensomme. While they were bickering, the rats got together. (B D)
See examples
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shamo
CA
(
n.
)
-
Camel; chameau.
Andan krèch-ye, ye gen chamo e bourik alantour bebe Jezi. Inside the crèche scenes, there are camels and donkeys around the baby Jesus. (CA) ♦ Lion déclaré la djerre tous néléphants et ma pé verti tous milets, choals et chameaux yé pou fou yé camp. Brer Lion declared war on all the elephants, and I am warning all of the mules, horses and camels to flee. (FO TI5)
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shan
CA
(
n.
)
shon
PC
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Field; champ.
Èna dan lez ak, dan l chon. There are some in the fields. (PC); No t ale dan chan annaryè. We would go in the field in back. (CA) ♦ Mo té révé que tous les champs té couvert dé belle récolte. I dreamt that all of the fields were covered with beautiful crops. (T37) •fiche (so) chan v.phr. To leave, beat it; foutre le camp, partir, cf. fiche
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shan
No sources
(
n.
)
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Song; chant.
♦ Chant du Vié Boscugo. The Song of Old Boscugo. (T10)
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shandèl
CA
(
n.
)
shandél
BT, PC
lashandèl
PC
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Candle; chandelle, bougie.
Li te gen en lachandel pou chak, e la pèrsonn se viv osi lontan konm chandel-la se brile...Enave de grand chandel e de kour. He had a candle for everyone, and the person would live as long as his candle burned...There were some tall candles and some short ones. (TC) ♦ En primié té f é noua... Epi mo ouar comme si yé té guignin ein la chandelle qui tapé clairé. At first it was very dark, and then I saw something as if there were a candle that was shining. (TM)
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shanjé
CA, MO 60, PC
(
v.intr.,
v.tr.
)
shonjé
PC, NE
shonshé
NE
sonjé
PC
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To change; changer.
Li konnen di koman tan-la ja chonje. He used to tell how times had changed. (PC); Lèr ap chanje dimanch ki vyen la. The time is going to change this Sunday. (CA) ♦ Li connin changé en n'homme et tournin taureau encore pou couri manger zherbe. He knows how to turn into a man and turn back into a bull to go eat grass. (FO T2) 2. To change clothes; se changer. M e sonje, met lenj pròp. I change clothes and put on some clean ones. (PC) 3. To dress, get dressed; s’habiller, mettre ses vêtements. Mo jich ole chonje mwa en dimonch faro pou m a garde joli dimonch. I just want to dress elegantly one Sunday in order to look fine that day. (NE); Ga koman li chanje, li gen en kilot pròp men so chimiz pa pròp. Look how he’s dressed. He has clean pants but his shirt isn’t clean. (PC) •byen chanje adj.phr. Dressed up, well dressed; habillé, bien habillé. Kan to byen chanje, kan to vayan, ye di to faro. When you’re well dressed, when you’re good-looking, they say you’re spiffy. (CA) •tou chonje adj.phr. (PC). Dressed up; habillé, tout habillé.1. To change; changer. To chanj sa kouch kan li tranp. You change his diaper when he is wet. (BT) ♦ Après ça yé changé nom Jean Sotte et pélé li Jean l ’ Esprit. After that they changed Foolish John’s name and called him Clever John. (FO TI8) •chanje lèr v.phr. To go for a change of air; changer l’air. ♦ Li réponde yé té chez yé grandmoman et tous les jous li voyé ein lote pou yé changé l'air He said that they were at their grandmother’s and every day he sent another one of them to give them a change of air. (FO T17) •chanje nide v.phr. (CA); chonje nide (PC) chanje lide (ST). To change one’s mind; changer d’avis. No te gen pou ale me no chanje no nide . We were supposed to go but we changed our minds. (CA); Mo fiy chanje so lide tro souvan. My daughter changes her mind too often. (ST) ♦ Vini avec moin; mo fame va changé nidée . Come with me, my wife will change her mind. (FO T27) 2. To dress; habiller. Bengnen li e chonje li pou èspoze li. Bathe and dress (the deceased) in order to lay him out. (PC) 3. To trade; échanger. Vou te ka chonje desœf e zafè pou kafe, o dusuk. You could trades things like eggs for coffee or sugar. (PC) ♦ Yé té changé nous pas pou largent mais pou tout sorte marchandise. They exchanged us not for money but for every kind of goods. (FO T20)
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shanm
CA
(
n.
)
shonm
PC
lashonm
PC
lashanm
PC
shom
NE
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Room; chambre, pièce, salle.
Kote ye lamezon mo pons ye Chaken te gen ye lachanm. In their house I think everyone had his own room. (PC); Mè se te jich èn metrès, nave en sèl chom, e la se te de ti bon. But there was only one teacher, there was only one room with little benches. (NE) ♦ Mo trouvé moin tout seul dans in pitit lachambre. I found myself in a little room. (T34) •chanm a ben n.phr. (PC); chanm bengnen (PC). Bathroom; salle de bain, •chanm a kouche n.phr. (PC). Bedroom; chambre à coucher.
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shanpoura
CA
(
n.
)
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Festive occasion, party; fête.