CAJUN DICTIONARY
ain? - what, what did you say?
Andouille - [ah(n)-doo-wee] Sausage made with lean pork and lots of garlic.
Atchafalaya - [uh-chaf-uh-lie-uh] Choctaw indian word meaning "long river".
ax the process of questioning, ask. "Ax you momma kang you do?"
ball - to boil. "we gonna ball dem crawfish, so ya'll come on over."
bat to wash or bathe. " Man you better take a bat before we can pass by the church house."
BEIGNET (ben-yay)-A fried pastry which is a cross between a cruller and a doughnut without the hole,
a square shaped confection served hot and liberally sprinkled with powdered sugar.
bon - [boh(n)] good.
bon appetit - good eating.
bon temps - good times.
boucherie - butchering. The communal slaughtering of hogs. La Boucgerie is a social event where
very little is wasted. The Cajuns would make boudin, hogs head cheese. pigs feet, cracklin's, ect.
boudin - [boo-da(n)] sausage made with rice, ground pork and seasonings.
CAFÉ AU LAIT (caf-ay-oh-lay) French, meaning, literally, coffee with milk. It is a half-and-half blend of
strong chicory coffee and hot milk.
Catahoula -[kat-uh-hoo-luh] Choctaw word meaning "beloved lake" Also the name of a breed of dog
indigenous to South Louisiana, which is the state dog, the Catahoula Hound.
cher - [cha] sweet.
chew - slang for rear end or behind.
CHICORY (chick-o-ree) An herb, the roots of which are dried, roasted, ground and used to flavor
coffee. During the Civil War, when coffee imports were scarce, south Louisianans used chicory to
stretch their meager coffee supplies. Today it is used as flavoring.
COURTBOUILLON (coo-bee-yon) A thick fish stew or soup served over rice.
CRAWFISH Sometimes spelled “crayfish”, but usually pronounced “crawfish”; these small crustaceans
resemble tiny lobsters and are used in a wide variety of south Louisiana dishes. They are indigenous
to the freshwater swamps and bayous and are also grown in controlled ponds.
Creole - means "native" In South Louisiana it refers to the combination of French and Spanish
cultures with African and Indian influences.
dat -that. "Dat is the lass time ahm gonna tell you!"
dem -[dim] them, pronoun. "Dem men is playing cards agin."
den - then. "After we finish de decorate, den we be ready for Marti Gras."
depeche - hurry.
dere [dare] there. "Dere she goes agin, aw'ways makin' trouble."
dey - [day] they pronoun. "Dey say she be back soon."
Dirty Rice - Louisiana rice dish cooked with bits of liver or meat seasoned with onions and parsley.
dis - this. "Brought you'self to dis here spot."
don - dont. do not. "Don drop dat baby."
ETOUFFEE’ (ay-too-fay) A method of cooking seafood smothered in vegetables in a succulent
tomato-based sauce used to create a stew-like seafood entrée. Usually served over steamed white
rice.
FILE (fee-lay) Ground sassafras leaves used as a flavoring and thickening agent in gumbo.
gris gris - [gree / gree] the phrase used for a spell, or voodoo charm.
guff - Gulf of Mexico. "Ahm takin mah Lafitte Skiff down to de guff dis week."
GUMBO A thick soup prepared with seafood or game, countless spices, and vegetables and served
over rice.
harry - hurry. "Harry up wit dat gombo, ahm starvin to det."
HUSHPUPPIES A cornbread-type mixture, formed into balls and fried until crispy and golden on the
outside.
JAMBALAYA (jum-bo-lie-ya) A highly spiced rice-based one-pot meal that combines any variety of
seafood or meat with vegetables.
King Cake - Traditional yeast coffee cake served during the Mardi Gras season. The King Cake
honors the Magi or the three kings of the Orient, who visited the Christ child on the "twelfth night" or
Epiphany. The cake is a continuous circle, symbolizing the continuity of Christ and decorated with
yellow, purple and green sugars, the colors of Mardi Gras. The first king cake is made on the
Epiphany, and a little plastic baby doll (representing the baby Jesus) is baked into the cake. When
served, the person with the baby in his/her piece hosts the next king cake party. This goes on until
Mardi Gras, or the day before lent begins. Originally, a bean or pecan was baked into the cake.
Lagniappe - [lan-yap] something extra or special, like a bakers dozen.
ma - my, possessive adjective.
mais non - but no.
msis oui - but yes.
merci - thanks.
merci beaucoup - thank you very much.
N'awlins - New Orleans.
nort - North, the direction opposite of South.
parrain - godfather.
pass by - to stop or go into. You may also hear "to make a pass."
pirogue - [pee-row] canoe.
pooyie - expletive showing offense or distaste. " dat was a skunk in de road, pooyie!"
RED BEANS AND RICE Red beans simmered for hours with seasonings and smoked sausage then
served over steamed rice. Traditionally made on Monday (laundry day) so that the dish could cook,
unattended, all day while the wash was being done.
REMOULADE (row-moo-lad) A cold dressing made with oil, Creole mustard, chopped green onion,
paprika and any combination of spices, served on chilled, boiled seafood.
ROUX (roo) A mixture of flour and fat (butter, oil or lard), cooked until it is brown with a nutlike flavor
and aroma, then used as a base for sauces and soups.
SAUCE PIQUANTE A thick, sharp-flavored sauce made with roux and tomatoes, highly seasoned with
herbs and peppers, simmered for hours.
T - small, petite, or little. Actually a shortened version of 'tit which is a shortened version of petite. For
example, "T-boy" would be "little boy."
tasso - Cajun jerky which is hotly seasoned for use in cooking vegetables.
Vidalia -[vuh-dayl-yuh] town in Louisiana famous for their sweet onions.
zydeco - Cajun music with African American influences.
ain? - what, what did you say?
Andouille - [ah(n)-doo-wee] Sausage made with lean pork and lots of garlic.
Atchafalaya - [uh-chaf-uh-lie-uh] Choctaw indian word meaning "long river".
ax the process of questioning, ask. "Ax you momma kang you do?"
ball - to boil. "we gonna ball dem crawfish, so ya'll come on over."
bat to wash or bathe. " Man you better take a bat before we can pass by the church house."
BEIGNET (ben-yay)-A fried pastry which is a cross between a cruller and a doughnut without the hole,
a square shaped confection served hot and liberally sprinkled with powdered sugar.
bon - [boh(n)] good.
bon appetit - good eating.
bon temps - good times.
boucherie - butchering. The communal slaughtering of hogs. La Boucgerie is a social event where
very little is wasted. The Cajuns would make boudin, hogs head cheese. pigs feet, cracklin's, ect.
boudin - [boo-da(n)] sausage made with rice, ground pork and seasonings.
CAFÉ AU LAIT (caf-ay-oh-lay) French, meaning, literally, coffee with milk. It is a half-and-half blend of
strong chicory coffee and hot milk.
Catahoula -[kat-uh-hoo-luh] Choctaw word meaning "beloved lake" Also the name of a breed of dog
indigenous to South Louisiana, which is the state dog, the Catahoula Hound.
cher - [cha] sweet.
chew - slang for rear end or behind.
CHICORY (chick-o-ree) An herb, the roots of which are dried, roasted, ground and used to flavor
coffee. During the Civil War, when coffee imports were scarce, south Louisianans used chicory to
stretch their meager coffee supplies. Today it is used as flavoring.
COURTBOUILLON (coo-bee-yon) A thick fish stew or soup served over rice.
CRAWFISH Sometimes spelled “crayfish”, but usually pronounced “crawfish”; these small crustaceans
resemble tiny lobsters and are used in a wide variety of south Louisiana dishes. They are indigenous
to the freshwater swamps and bayous and are also grown in controlled ponds.
Creole - means "native" In South Louisiana it refers to the combination of French and Spanish
cultures with African and Indian influences.
dat -that. "Dat is the lass time ahm gonna tell you!"
dem -[dim] them, pronoun. "Dem men is playing cards agin."
den - then. "After we finish de decorate, den we be ready for Marti Gras."
depeche - hurry.
dere [dare] there. "Dere she goes agin, aw'ways makin' trouble."
dey - [day] they pronoun. "Dey say she be back soon."
Dirty Rice - Louisiana rice dish cooked with bits of liver or meat seasoned with onions and parsley.
dis - this. "Brought you'self to dis here spot."
don - dont. do not. "Don drop dat baby."
ETOUFFEE’ (ay-too-fay) A method of cooking seafood smothered in vegetables in a succulent
tomato-based sauce used to create a stew-like seafood entrée. Usually served over steamed white
rice.
FILE (fee-lay) Ground sassafras leaves used as a flavoring and thickening agent in gumbo.
gris gris - [gree / gree] the phrase used for a spell, or voodoo charm.
guff - Gulf of Mexico. "Ahm takin mah Lafitte Skiff down to de guff dis week."
GUMBO A thick soup prepared with seafood or game, countless spices, and vegetables and served
over rice.
harry - hurry. "Harry up wit dat gombo, ahm starvin to det."
HUSHPUPPIES A cornbread-type mixture, formed into balls and fried until crispy and golden on the
outside.
JAMBALAYA (jum-bo-lie-ya) A highly spiced rice-based one-pot meal that combines any variety of
seafood or meat with vegetables.
King Cake - Traditional yeast coffee cake served during the Mardi Gras season. The King Cake
honors the Magi or the three kings of the Orient, who visited the Christ child on the "twelfth night" or
Epiphany. The cake is a continuous circle, symbolizing the continuity of Christ and decorated with
yellow, purple and green sugars, the colors of Mardi Gras. The first king cake is made on the
Epiphany, and a little plastic baby doll (representing the baby Jesus) is baked into the cake. When
served, the person with the baby in his/her piece hosts the next king cake party. This goes on until
Mardi Gras, or the day before lent begins. Originally, a bean or pecan was baked into the cake.
Lagniappe - [lan-yap] something extra or special, like a bakers dozen.
ma - my, possessive adjective.
mais non - but no.
msis oui - but yes.
merci - thanks.
merci beaucoup - thank you very much.
N'awlins - New Orleans.
nort - North, the direction opposite of South.
parrain - godfather.
pass by - to stop or go into. You may also hear "to make a pass."
pirogue - [pee-row] canoe.
pooyie - expletive showing offense or distaste. " dat was a skunk in de road, pooyie!"
RED BEANS AND RICE Red beans simmered for hours with seasonings and smoked sausage then
served over steamed rice. Traditionally made on Monday (laundry day) so that the dish could cook,
unattended, all day while the wash was being done.
REMOULADE (row-moo-lad) A cold dressing made with oil, Creole mustard, chopped green onion,
paprika and any combination of spices, served on chilled, boiled seafood.
ROUX (roo) A mixture of flour and fat (butter, oil or lard), cooked until it is brown with a nutlike flavor
and aroma, then used as a base for sauces and soups.
SAUCE PIQUANTE A thick, sharp-flavored sauce made with roux and tomatoes, highly seasoned with
herbs and peppers, simmered for hours.
T - small, petite, or little. Actually a shortened version of 'tit which is a shortened version of petite. For
example, "T-boy" would be "little boy."
tasso - Cajun jerky which is hotly seasoned for use in cooking vegetables.
Vidalia -[vuh-dayl-yuh] town in Louisiana famous for their sweet onions.
zydeco - Cajun music with African American influences.
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