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

• vev CA, PC, ST ( n. ) vév PC
  1. Widow; veuve.
     Nou tou le dè vev. We were both widowed. (PC); Mo vev e mo gen rète vev. I am a widow and I will remain a widow. (PC) ♦ Mo zanfans, Compair Tigue sassiné Compair Cabri, et mo promi so vêve pou vangé li. My children, Brer Tiger murdered Brer Goat, and I promised his widow that I would avenge him. (T8) See examples
• vi NE, PC ( n. ) lavi gen
  1. Life; vie.
     To jamè fe aryen d byen don ta vi, twa! You’ve never done anything good in your life! (NE); Mo se kontan trouve en mayèr pou sove lavi piti-la ki malad. I would be happy to find a way to save the life of the child who is sick. (ST) ♦ Yé té pas gagnin danger pou so la vie, pasqué so latéte té pas cassé . There was no danger for his life, because his head wasn’t broken. (FO T20) •fe en lavi v.phr. (PC). To make a living; faire une vie. O Lil se bon, sè en bon plas pou fe lavi . On the Island is a good place to make a living. (PC) •ganyen (so) lavi v.phr. To make a living; gagner vie. •Men konman ma ganyen mo lavi si mo van twa li? vye nonm-la reponn. ‘But how will I earn my living if I sell it to you?’ the old man replied. (JR) •ton ma vi adv.phr. (PC). All my life, all my days; toute ma vie. See examples
• vid CA ( adj. )
  1. Empty; vide.
     So kamasyèr jamen vid. His game bag is never empty. (CA) ♦ La levé qui asteur si vide, dé provisions té si chargé. The levee which is now so empty was so loaded with supplies. (T37) See examples
• vidé PC ( v.tr. ) vid CA, PC
  1. To empty, pour (out); vider.
     Inave en basen, trape dlo èk en gran kab dan leu fon, pi la lève don la, trape leu basen, e pi vide dan enn òt, pou dlo. There was a bucket, and you had to get water with a long rope to the bottom, and grab the bucket and empty it into another, for water. (BT); Ena moun ki vid ye kafe dan en soukoup en peu a la fwa e ye bwa li kòm sa. There are people who pour their coffee into a saucer a little at a time and they drink it like that. (CA) •Jean Malin...té apé vidé divin dans so gobelet. Clever John was pouring wine into his glass. (FO T2) See examples
• vif CA ( adj. )
  1. Lively, peppy; vif, plein d’entrain.
     To gen traka pou twe plonjèr. Li vif. It’s hard to kill kingfishers. They’re quick. (CA) See examples
• vil CA, MO 60, NE ( n. ) laviyl PC lavil CA, NE, PC
  1. City; ville.
     HOUSTON sa se en gro lavil. Houston is a big city. (NE) • Ein cordonnier dans ein piti la ville té gagnin ein belle fille. A shoemaker in a little city had a beautiful daughter. (FO T21) 2 .place n. New Orleans; la Nouvelle-Orléans. Enon de fwa m a kouri laviyl, mo gen en sè di rès laviyl. Sometimes I go to New Orleans, I have a sister who lives there. (PC) ♦ La ville sré parlé de so bal. The city would talk about his ball. (T40) •an vil adv.phr. (CA; PC; ST); an viyl, on viyl (PC); on vil (NE). To, in New Orleans; à la Nouvelle-Orléans. COUNT BASSIE vini an vil. Count Bassie came to New Orleans. (PC); Li gen pou atann jiska demen pou ale an vil. He has to wait until tomorrow to go to town. (ST); M ap ale frekante mo piti-ye an vil. I’m going to visit my children in New Orleans. (CA) ♦ Li té pas vini en ville tant li té pair Général Sheridan. He wasn’t coming into New Orleans, he was so afraid of General Sheridan. (T40) vilaj n. (BT; CA; MO 60; NE; PC); lavilaj (PC). Town, village; village. Mo va o vilaj e m achte le mòtiriyal. I go into town and buy fabric. (BT); Mètri se en vilaj kote lavil. Metairie is a town next to New Orleans. (CA) ♦ Ein fois yavait ein l'Irlandais sou qui tapé révini village. Once there was a drunk Irishman who was coming back to the village. (FO T5) •0 vilaj adv.phr. (BT). To town; in town, downtown; au village, au centre-ville. To wa lamanch, sa na prann la-l, pou kouri o vilaj? Do you see the road that we take to go into town? (BT) See examples
• vilajyé BT ( n. ) vilajé CA
  1. City dweller; villageois.
     Le vilajye, kan ye vyen la leu, ye trouve enn bonn plas, y arèt pa avan li nètwaye li prop. Cityfolk, when they come out here, they find a good place [to hunt] and they don’t stop till they clean it out. (BT); Vilaje-ye pa osi vayan ke moun lakanpongn. City dwellers are not as nice as country folk. (CA) See examples
• vilin gen, MO 60 ( adj. )
  1. Mean, nasty, unpleasant; méchant, désagréable.
     Mo te gen en vilen figur. I had a mean face. (NE); Li te gen vilen lag rimas. Li te pa kontan. He had an awful grimace. He was not happy. (CA) • Li continié so vilain nabitude, chaque fois li té gagnin la chance li té soulé li bien. He continued his nasty habit, each time he had the chance he got drunk. (FO T15) •vilen monyen n.phr. Swear word, dirty word, bad word; gros mot, juron, grossièreté. cf. mànyèr •vilen parol n.phr. Swear word, dirty word, bad word; gros mot, juron, grossièreté. cf. paròl See examples
  2. Ugly; vilain, laid.
     Li sanm en makak. Se en vilen monn. He looks like a monkey. He’s a very ugly person. (BT); Fonm blan te gen gro lagwat anba so kou. Sete vilen. The white woman had a big goiter on her neck. It was ugly. (CA); Li fe en vilen lafigur. He made an ugly face. (ST) • Ein jour, quand mo té dans Caddo mo ouar ein vilain makak noir. One day when I was in Caddo I saw an ugly black monkey. (T36) See examples
• vilvòkin PC ( n. )
  1. Bit-brace; vilebrequin.
• vimvam CA ( n. )
  1. Uproar, racket, din; tapage, vacarme.
     No te fe vimvam pou atire gro chisnaid. We used to make a racket to attract the big mosquito hawks. (CA) See examples
• vin CA, PC ( n. )
  1. Vein; veine.
     Se ven bouche. His veins are blocked. (PC); To wa mo ven dan mo bra? Do you see my vein in my arm? (CA) ♦ Quand mo ouar ça li té fait, tou mo sang glacé dans mo veine. When I saw what he had done, all of my blood froze in my veins. (T39) See examples
• vin No sources ( num.card. ) vin-de PC vènn-sét PC vèn-dé PC vint-èn PC vint-é-èn PC vint-i-ènn PC vin-sink NE vint-sèt NE vèn-trwa NE vint-wit NE
  1. Twenty; vingt.
     Mo te gen vent-i-enn an kan mo BAPTIZE . I was twenty-one when I was baptized. (PC) ; Te peye enn pyas vent-sen sou par jou. They paid me a dollar twenty-five a day. (PC) ♦ Michié Sommelair voté ein Bile Souflémantair pou asté cin sang boâte di noua et sang saintkante vin broce à souyé. Mr. Sommelair voted for a bill to buy five hundred boxes of nuts and a hundred and seventy shoebrushes. (T16) •le ven n.phr. (PC). The twenties; les années vingt. Dan le ven . In the twenties. (PC) •vent an n.phr. (PC). Twenty years (old); vingt ans. Mo te pa kwa gen vent an ka mo marje. I don’t think I was twenty years old when I got married. (PC) See examples
• vinar No sources ( n. )
  1. Lucky person; veinard.
     ♦ «Barnby' Cigogne vini, salué michié Rénard qui tout moun réconnaite pour ain famé vénard. By and by the Stork came and greeted Mr. Fox whom everyone recognized as a really lucky guy. (T20) See examples
• vini No sources ( v.intr., v.cop., v.aux. )
  1. To come; venir.
     Si vou se vini apepre deu smèn pase, nave de bon bouden. If you had come about two weeks ago there would have been some good blood sausage. (NE); Li va e vyen ka l ole. He comes and goes whenever he likes. (PC); Kan li vini, li te gen son degizman e mo pa rekònèt li. When he came, he had his disguise and I didn’t recognize him. (CA); Nou prèt vini alantour isi vizite tou moun. Our priests come around here visiting everyone. (ST) ♦ Ma fout pas mal toi, dit Jean Malin, «viens, ta oua comme mo va rangé toi. I don’t care about you, said Clever John, ‘come on, you’ll see how I’ll fix you.’ (FO T2) •fe vini v.phr. (PC). To send for; faire venir. Ye te gen fe vini li kek plas. They had to send away for it somewhere. (PC) •ki vyen adj.phr. (NE; PC). Next; qui vient, prochain. To diz an plu vye pase mwa. M a fe SIXTY-FIVE mwa ki vyen. You are ten years older than me. I will be sixty-five next month. (PC); Lendi ki vyen mo va vini wa twa. Next Monday I’m coming to see you. (NE) ♦ Si vou dakor pou zaranjman là mo fé vou, voyé nou zot gazait la samdit ki vien. If you agree with these arrangements that I’ve made, send us a newspaper next Saturday. (T17) •vini bèk v.phr. (NE); vigni bèk (MO 60). To come back, return; revenir. La kon Lapen vini bèk... Then when Rabbit came back... (NE) •vini konè v.phr. (NE). To realize, find out; se rendre compte, découvrir, réaliser. E kon vou vini konè, Lapen kouri dòrmi. And before you knew it Rabbit was sound asleep. (NE) ♦ So bèl-mèr vini konen ou li te. Her mother-in-law discovered where she was. (FO T23) •vini pou et v.phr. (PC). To come to be; devenir. Koman mon, mon vini pou et pret. (You want to know) how I came to be a priest. (PC) •vini chèrche v.phr. To come get; venir chercher. cf. chèrche •vyen ankò v.phr. (PC). Come back; Reviens. •vini o le v.phr. To begin producing milk; commencer à produire du lait. cf. le •vini UP v.phr. (PC). To grow up; pousser, grandir. Mo mari, sotchenn popa pale meriken avek li kon li l te vini UP. My husband, his father spoke English with him when he was growing up. (PC) •vyen war v.phr. Come see! Viens voir! cf. wa •vini pou v.phr. (BT; PC); vni pou (PC). To try to, ‘go to’ do something, be about to do something; être sur le point de, essayer de. Mo vini pou mèt me linèt, me ye te sal. I was about to put on my glasses, but they were dirty. (BT); Mo vini pou asi on la chez, li di mon: ‘To pa ka asi an-o li (When) I started to sit in the seat, he told me: ‘You can’t sit there.’ (PC) Conjug: a) vyenra v.fut. (PC). Will come back; reviendra. To rètouna pi bèk ankò to vyenra pi bèk ankò. You will never come back, you will never come back. (PC) b) vinu past part. (PC). Come; venu. Li te kònè gen chat la swa vinu i te pa gen ditou. There always used to be cats there, but after evening had come there were none left at all. (PC) 2. To be from, come from; venir de. Sa vyen eou? Leu pròfsœ vyen d la Lwizyan? Where does he come from? Does the professor come from Louisiana? (PC) 3. To ejaculate; jouir. Li vini don fonm-sa-a. He ejaculated in that woman. (PC) 4. To happen; se passer, arriver. La sa vigni kan yè trapè en sarten naj le troua maryè. So it came to pass that when they reached a certain age the three married. (MO 60)1. To become; devenir. Kan mo vini major mo vini bouche. When I became an adult I became a butcher. (BT); GRANT vini prèzidan an diz-uit san swasant-uit. Grant became president in 1868. (PC); Li vini en prèt. He became a priest. (NE) 2. To become, get; devenir, se faire. Nòm-la vini choke. The man got angry. (NE); Mo vini malad tou-d-en-kou. I became sick all of a sudden. (BT); Mo koup mo lavyann fen pou kwi li. Li vyen tonn pli vit. I cut my meat thin to cook it. It gets tender more quickly. (CA) ♦ Ma oulé vini gros, gros, pou mo capab bimin nimpòrte qui qua vini bété moin ou tracassé moin. I want strength, I want to become very big so I can beat anyone who comes to bother me. (FO T3) REM: The verb vini can be used with any adjective; cf. vyen andòrmi, vini angaje, vini byen, vini eg, vini fre, vini mi, vini myeu, vyen pare, vini pli mal. •vini prop v.phr. To get potty-trained; devenir propre. cf. prop1. (Used expletively or for emphasis on a following verb. See NE 268-69). Oton moun ki ena isi, t ole vini fe mwa hont parmi moun. There are so many people here, and you want to come and embarrass me in front of them. (NE) 2. To have just; venir de. (PC) See examples
• vinson PC ( n. )
  1. Dwarf, midget; nain.
     Venson, wè, en ti nonm, en vyè ti nonm. Ye vyen pa gro gro, ye piti, ye ba. A midget, yes, a little man, a little old man. They don’t get very tall, they are short. (PC) See examples
• Vintrès PC ( place n. ) Vènntris PC Vènntrès PC Vèntrès PC
  1. Ventress (a place in Pointe Coupee Parish).
     Sa se Vèntrès. Se l mèm kichò, Lil e Vèntrès. That is Ventress. The Island and Ventress are the same thing. (PC) See examples
• vinég CA, PC ( n. )
  1. Vinegar; vinaigre.
     Li pa bon li heg, konm vineg. It is not good [i.e. sugar cane], it is bitter like vinegar. (PC); Mo mete en sèrvyèt e vineg an so lafron e sa koupe so lafyèv. I put a towel with vinegar on his forehead and it broke his fever. (CA) ♦ Pou en pye foule ye te konnen fe en kataplonm avek di sel e di vineg. For a sprained ankle they used to make a poultice with salt and vinegar. [ 'vinaig ’] (LA) See examples
• vinégrèt CA ( n. )
  1. Vinaigrette; vinaigrette.
     Mo te ot lamwal poul andan latèt e no te fe lasalad vinegrèt. I took out the chicken brains and we made a salad with vinaigrette. (CA) See examples
• vinérè PC ( n. )
  1. Life-everlasting, cudweed (a medicinal herb used in making a tea); herbe immortelle, perlière (herbe médicinale utilisée à faire une tisane). (Gnaphalium margaritaceum L.).
     Ye kou chèche en lèrb ye pele vinerè ora fose. They went to get an herb they called life-everlasting from by the canal. (PC) See examples
• violon BT, CA ( n. ) viyélon PC vyélon PC lavyolon CA vyolon CA
  1. Violin; violon.
     Ye te konnen jouwe ye-tchenn muzik, jwe le viyelon... They used to play their own music. They played the violin... (PC); Li te en mizisyen. Li te joue violon. He was a musician. He played violin. (CA) ♦ Yé di mouen sire pou di toi pa manké vini avè to viellon calbasse. They told me to be sure and tell you not to forgot your violin. (T3) See examples
• virvir CA ( n. )
  1. Mosquito larva; larve de moustique.
• viré CA, PC ( v.intr. ) vur PC
  1. To turn, turn around, spin around; se retourner, tournoyer.
     Nounoun fe konm en toupi, li vire. Nounoune spun like a top, he turned around. (PC); Li parti dan chemen e tou-d-en-kou li vire e li retòrnen. He went down the street and suddenly he turned and came back. (CA) 2. To turn (a corner); tourner (un coin). Kan to vur pou kouri kote Chèmen Enn. When you turn to go to Highway 1. (PC) See examples
• vis No sources ( n. )
  1. Joke; blague, plaisanterie. •tire de vis
     v.phr. (BT). To tell jokes; raconter des blagues. Li gen ta le vis, toujour ap tire le vis, toujour ap di le vis. He has a lot of jokes, he is always telling jokes. (BT) See examples
• vis CA, PC ( n. ) lavis CA, PC
  1. Screw; vis.
     Li gen dè lavis. He has two screws. (PC); En tèryèr tourn e fe de trou pou mèt en lavis. A hand drill turns and makes holes to put a screw in. (CA) See examples
• visé CA, PC ( v.tr. )
  1. To screw; visser.
     To vis li, to gen vise li an kote-sa-la. La to gen vise li an to lapòt osi. To vise li kont to pòrto. You screw it in (i.e. the bolt of a hinge), you have to screw it on this side. Then you have to screw it on your door, too. You screw it onto your door frame. (PC); En gro boulon, se pou vise kèkchoz . A big bolt is for screwing something. (CA) See examples
• vit CA, NE, PC ( adv., adj. )
  1. Fast, quickly; vite, rapidement.
     Vye moun ye te gen en non pou sa. Se pa nouzòt ki ka di sa vit konm ye. Old people had a name for that. We can't say it as fast as they could. (PC); Mo koup mo lavyann fen pou kwi li. Li vyen tonn pli vit. I cut my meat thin to cook it. It gets tender more quickly. (CA) •fe vit v.phr. (CA). To hurry; se dépêcher. Fe vit. To sa ta. Hurry up. You'll be late. (CA) ♦ Eh ben, hourrah, fait vite si to pas oulé mo coupé to cou. Well, hurry, move quickly if you don’t want me to cut off your head. (FO T18) •osi vit conj. (NE; PC). As soon as; aussitôt que, dès que. Osi vit mo gonbo pare, no va dinè. As soon as my gumbo is ready, we will have dinner. (NE); Osi vit to tande li to ekri li. As soon as you hear it you write it down. (PC)Fast, lively (of music); rapide, plein d'entrain. Lamuzik dousmon e lamuzik vit, ye te mèle sa. Slow music and fast music, they mixed them together. (BT) •vit kòm en neklè adv.phr. (CA). As fast as lightning, as quick as a whip, very fast; très rapide, vite comme l'éclair. Va vit kòm en neklè. Go as fast as lightning. (CA) ♦ Vite comme ain l'éclair li chapé dans ain trou. As quick as lightning he disappeared into a hole. (T23) •vit konm lapoud adj.phr. (CA; PC). Very fast, as quick as a whip; vite comme l’éclair. Ye te vit konm lapoud. They were as quick as a whip. (PC) See examples
• vit CA, PC ( n. ) vut PC lavit NE
  1. Pane, window; vitre.
     Se leu vut la ki leuv kòm sa, e dibwa-la ouv kom sa. Sa ye fe e dibwa to jus gen ouvri li kòm sa. Wi ina deu kalite. Leu vut to jus leuv li. The window pane you just open like that, and the wood opens out like so. Those that are made with wood you just have to open like this. Yes, there are two kinds. The window pane you just lift up. (PC) See examples
  2. Mirror; glace, miroir.
     En kou d tònèr krake mo vit apre mo twalèt: A bolt of lightning cracked the mirror on my dresser. (CA) See examples
• vitman No sources ( adv. )
  1. Quickly; vite.
     ♦ Vini, piti, sorti dans fret... tendé di vent... Vitement! -Gagaye, mo fi, cou pélé to mouman. Come on, child, go out in the cold, listen to the wind, quickly! ‘Look, my daughter, go call your mama.’ (T27) See examples
• vitré CA ( adj. )
  1. Made of glass; vitré.
     So lapòrt te vitre e li trape kase. His door was made of glass and it got broken. (CA) ♦ Li défoncé la porte vitrée pou chapper. He knocked in the glass door to escape. (FO T2) See examples
  2. Clear, transparent; transparent.
     So zye-ye si klèr ye vitre. His eyes are so light, they’re transparent. (CA) See examples
• viv CA, MO 60, NE, PC ( v.intr. ) vi BT, NE, PC
  1. To live (possess life); vivre.
     Lalwa Bondje di twa a viv, e kite viv. God’s law tells you to live and let live. (PC); Ye pa marye. Ye plase. Ye viv ansanm kòm fanm e mari. They’re not married. They’re shacked up. They’ré living together like husband and wife. (CA) ♦Yé caressé et béké com pizon kapé fé roucoutoucou, gagnain plin piti, et vive héré comme poesson don dolo. They stroked and kissed each other like pigeons cooing, they had a lot of children, and lived as happy as fish in water. (T7) See examples
  2. To live, dwell, reside; habiter.
     Fanmi-sa-a te viv dan lavil vent an anvon li dèmnaje isi. That family lived in New Orleans twenty years before they moved here. (PC); Li ape viv dan lamizèr. Se pitwayab. He’s living in misery. It’s pitiful. (CA) ♦ In michié qui té vive on bord in bayou trappé in gros tortie. A man who lived along a bayou caught a big turtle. (FO T10) See examples
• vivon PC ( adj. ) vivan BT, CA, PC
  1. Alive, living; vivant, en vie.
     En zafè ki mouri li pe e monje sa non, ifo li vivon, l a rontre dan le lak. [The raccoon] will not eat something dead, it has to be living, he’ll go into the lake [to find food]. (PC); Li vivan. Li pa mouri. It’s alive. It’s not dead. (CA) ♦ Kon to gen move mal de tèt, pran en krapo vivon e pi mèt li vant prèmyè otur to latèt juska life kwakeu li mouri. When you have a bad headache, take a living toad and then put it belly down on your head until it croaks and dies. (LA) See examples
• vivyé CA ( n. )
  1. Pond; vivier, étang.
     Le Falgou ye te gen en vivye e ye te elve kanar, : The Falgousts had a duck pond and they raised ducks. (CA) ♦ Choal Djé té gagnin ein vivié et li té laissé tou compair boi dan so vivié . Choal Djé had a pond, and he allowed all the comrades to drink from it. (FO 1887) See examples
• viyolé PC ( v.tr. )
  1. To rape; violer.
     Ye volèy from mòn , ye konyen le nonm e viyole le dam. They stole from people, they beat the men and raped the women. (PC) See examples
• viz-a-vi CA, PC ( prep. ) dziz-a-vi BT
  1. Across from; en face de.
     Nou te rès apeupre pròch viz-a-vi PARLANGE LANE on lòt kote. We used to live more or less across from Parlange Lane on the other side. (PC); No lelye te viz-a-vi poulaye. Our outhouse was opposite the henhouse. (CA) See examples
  2. Straight toward; braqué sur.
     Li tire fizi-lœ dziz-a-vi mo mezon. He shot the rifle straight at my house. (BT) See examples
• vizaj PC ( n. )
  1. Face; visage, figure.
     Gos se en moun ki te ne ave en vwal. Li ne, en piti ne avek en vwal on sa figir, so vizaj. A ghost is a person who is bom with a veil, a child who is bom with a veil on his face. (PC) REM: The usual Creole word is figur (q.v.) See examples
• vizit CA, PC, ST ( n. )
  1. cf. vèr solitèr
• vizité BT, CA, ST ( v.tr. ) vizit PC
  1. cf. aranjé
• vizyon CA ( n. ) lavizyin CA lavizye PC lavizyè PC
  1. Vision; vue.
     Mò lavizyè en pè gòn. My vision is somewhat gone. (PC); Li i en STROKE e l ape pèrd so lavizyen. She had a stroke and she’s losing her vision. (CA) See examples
• vizé CA, ST ( v., v.tr., v.intr. )
  1. To aim; viser.
     Li vize byen avan li tire. So fizi pa rate. He aimed well before he fired. His shotgun didn’t misfire. (CA) ♦ Li arme so biscaïen, vizé ben tiré boum; carancro capoté: wap! He cocked his biscayen, aimed and shot, boom! The buzzard fell over, whop! (T6)To aim at; viser. Li vize chevrey-la e li tire. He aimed at the deer and he fired. (CA) ♦ Li oua ein bougue avec ein fisil qui t'apé viser ein gros calencro. He saw a guy with a rifle who was aiming at a big buzzard. (BD) See examples
• viñ CA ( n. ) vinn CA, PC
  1. Vine; vigne.
     Mo gen en vign soko desi mo labaryè k ap file. I have a muscadine vine climbing on my fence. (CA) See examples
• vo BT, MO 60 ( n. ) jœn vo PC ti vo CA, PC
  1. Calf; veau.
     Lavach-la gen pluzyè lonnen li gen ven ti vo. After several years the cow has had twenty calves. (PC); Kan to gen en vo, to swa gen en ti bœf ou en tit tòr. If you have a calf you either have a young bull or a heifer. (BT); Ti vo-la ase gro pou sevre li. The little calf is big enough to wean him. (CA) REM: Almost always occurs after [ti]. ♦ Alorse li prend quatre lavache avec yé piti veaux et marre yé dans bo milié la. Then he took the four cows and their calves and he tied them right in the middle. (FO T15) See examples
• vo CA, NE, PC ( v.tr. )
  1. To be worth; valoir.
     Enfwing. Lapo-la vo bon larjan. A mink. The fur is worth a lot of money. (PC) ; T ap blofe man pou sa to achte. To pa peye man sa sete vo. You’re tricking me about what you bought. You didn’t pay me what it was worth. (CA) ♦ Leçon-la mo donne toi, li vaut ein fromage. This lesson I’m giving you is worth a piece of cheese. (BD) •vo pè en foud v.phr. (PC). To not be worth the trouble; ne pas valoir la peine. Mo seye gen li montre mon, pou parle on sèrpan e tou kichò, li di ‘to vo pè en foud. ’ I tried to get him to show me how he speaks over a snake bite (to heal it) and all, but he said ‘You’re not worth the trouble. ‘ (PC) •vole pa d lapenn v.phr. (PC); vo pa lapenn (CA). To not be worth it; ne pas valoir la peine. Sa vole pa d lapenn pou ron prose. It wasn’t worth the trouble to have a trial. (PC) See examples
• vo-kèn No sources ( det.poss., pron., adj. ) vou-chèn CA, NE, PC vo-kènn PC vo-chèn PC vou-chin PC vo-kin PC vou-kèn NE zòt-kèn NE zò-chèn NE vou-kènn ST
  1. Yours, your own; le (la, les) vôtre(s).
     So kè an kote gòch parèy konm vou-tchen. His heart is on the left side just like yours. (PC) ♦ Tou mo zinvités pa gagné la tête, fo vou oté vou kenne pou konné dancé dan kadril la Renne. All of my guests lack a head; you must remove your own in order to dance in the queen’s ball. (T8)Your, your own; votre, vos. Fonm koulè, li se kouri la se vni kote vou-tchèn madòm rèsèvwa piti-la, koupe so nonmbri tou kichò . The colored woman would go to your wife’s house to deliver the baby, to cut its umbilical cord and all. (PC) See examples
• vo-myé CA, NE, PC ( v., v.intr., v.aux., v.tr. ) vo-mye CA vo-myin CA ifo myé PC vo-myè PC fomyé NE
  1. To be better; valoir mieux.
     Te gen boukou pakangnen tou dèryè la, men, sete larjan ki t ape rantre se te vo-mye pase rekòt-la . There used to be a lot of pecan trees all back there, that was money coming in and that was better than the harvest. (PC) ♦ Vaut mié to paix, et pis... débate comme to capab. It’s better for you to be quiet and get by as you can. (T24)1. Had better; faire mieux, avoir intérêt à. Pito lese li trape èn grip, mo vo-mye garde li ondon lamezon. Rather than let him catch a cold, I had better keep him in the house. (NE); To kanay. To vo-mye arete niche piti-la. You’re mischievous. You’d better stop picking on that child. (CA) ♦ Mé astaire péhi là sangé, vou vémié kroâ. But now the country has changed, you’d better believe it. (T17) 2. To prefer; aimer mieux, préférer. Epi en Fronse te vò-mye mèle èk en nèg ke mète èk en Kadjen. And a Frenchman preferred to mix with a black man than with a Cajun. (NE); Li vo-myeu lavyann kochon sale ke janbon. He prefers salted pork to ham. (CA)To prefer, like better; aimer mieux, préférer. Li vò-myè byè pase duven. He likes beer better than wine. (PC); ♦ Bam-by l'allé fait chaud: mo Tainmain la chaler pasqué mo disang fret. Jène moun vaut mié l'hiver. Soon it will be hot. I prefer heat because my blood is cold. Young people prefer winter. (T27) REM: Reflexes of ‘valoir mieux’ and ‘faire mieux’ have crossed in Creole. See examples
• volan BT, CA ( n. )
  1. Scythe; faux.
     En volan se pou koupe du fouraj dez animo. A scythe is for cutting fodder for animals. (BT) See examples
  2. Sickle; faucille.
     To koup zèb-ye avèk en volan. You cut weeds with a sickle. (CA) See examples
  3. Flounce; volant.
     Lontan pase vyey fonm-ye te mèt en joze kan ye te byen chanje. Joze te gen volan tou-l-tour. Long ago, women wore a dressy jacket when they get dressed up. The jacket had a flounce all around. (CA) ♦ So jipons, yé gaignin dé volan tou froncé avec la dentel. Her petticoats, they have gathered flounces of lace. (WO) See examples
• volanté CA ( n. )
  1. Will; volonté.
     Si li gen pou mouri, se la volante Dye. If he must die, it’s God’s will. (CA) ♦ Enfin, volonté du ciel soit faite! Well, may heaven’s will be done! (ME) See examples
• volay CA, MO 60 ( n. ) volaj PC
  1. Bird, fowl, poultry; oiseau, volaille.
     ♦ Ya pa lé gaignin ain bel la veillée... Gumbo, jambon, café, volaille. They’re going to have a lovely wake... Gumbo, ham, coffee, poultry. (WO) See examples
  2. Chicken; poulet.
     Pandan li t ape koupe zèrb-ye, mo te andan mo t ape fri mo volay. While he was cutting grass, I was inside frying my chicken. (CA) See examples
  3. Chick, young chicken; poussin.
     Mo mam te gen vann le poul, leu volaj. My mama used to sell chickens and chicks. (PC) See examples
• volish BT, CA ( n. ) vòlish PC
  1. Weatherboard, siding; volige, latte de bois.
     De volich, se on deyòr de mezon. Yanna en morso bwò. Il e mens en bòr e il e epe lòt È la ti tach disu lamezon, enn onho lòt Weatherboards are on the outside of the house. They are made of a piece of wood. It is thin on one side and thick on the other, and you nail it to the house, one on top of the other. (BT); Planch debout mwen chèr ke volich . Upright boards are less expensive than siding. (CA) See examples
• volishé CA ( v. )
  1. To side, cover (a house) with siding; voliger, recouvrir avec des lattes de bois.
     Tou le mezon te voliche kan ye te gen larjan. All the houses were covered in siding when they could afford it. (CA) See examples
• volonté CA ( v.tr. )
  1. To use a sickle or scythe, cut with a sickle or scythe; utiliser une faucille ou une faux, couper à la faucille ou à la faux.
     M ap volonte zèb-la. I’m cutting the grass with a sickle. (CA) See examples