15 New Orleans Words and Phrases You Should Learn Before Visiting the City
- “Pass a good time”
- “Lagniappe”
- “Who dat?”
- “Creole”
- “Cajun”
- “Pinch the tail and suck the head”
- “Krewe”
- “Fais do-do”
What is a popular saying in New Orleans?
Laissez les bon temps rouler
French for let the good times roll, our motto here in New Orleans.
What is the slogan of New Orleans?
The motto of New Orleans is “laissez les bon temps rouler”, a crude English to Cajun-French translation of “let the good times roll,” and a prime example of why sentiment should always take precedence over grammar.
What are some Louisiana sayings?
19 Words and Expressions You Should Learn Before Traveling To Louisiana
- “Pinch the tail and suck the head.” A tawdry-sounding phrase, but it’s actually how you eat crawfish.
- “Pass a good time”
- “Dressed”
- “Laissez les bon temps rouler.”
- “Fais-do-do”
- “Throw me somethin’, Mister!”
- “Neutral ground”
- “Holy Trinity”
How do you greet someone in New Orleans?
Y’at. You’ll hear this one a lot, since it is the most common greeting around New Orleans. Usually posed as a question — “Where y’at?” — the phrase really means “Hi, how are you?” and not “Where are you?” as most outsiders might think.
How do Cajuns say hello?
Bonjour
Basic Vocabulary
| Cajun French | English |
|---|---|
| Bonjour | Hello |
| Comment ça va? | How’s it going? |
| Comment les affaires? | How are things? |
| Comment c’est? | How is it? |
What is the New Orleans slang called?
The Big Easy
“The Big Easy” became the official nickname for New Orleans after a contest was run years ago.
What does Nola stand for?
New Orleans
History and Etymology for NOLA
New Orleans + LA, abbreviation for Louisiana.
How do they say baby in New Orleans?
dawlin’
Everyone in New Orleans is “baby” or “dawlin’.” Male or female, young or old, it doesn’t matter.
What do Cajuns say when the food is good?
Bon Appetit! (bon a-pet-tite’) – Good appetite – or “Enjoy!” Boucherie (boo-shuh-ree) – A community butchering which involves several families contributing the animal(s) –usually pigs — to be slaughtered.
What does Yaya mean in New Orleans?
‘ There is also a Yoruban word ya-ya, meaning “eldest daughter,” and in New Orleans, the food capital of the South, the term has developed a colloquial meaning through the phrase “gumbo ya-ya,” a rich local soup featuring sometimes seafood, sometimes meat, always vegetables and rice.
How do Cajuns say goodbye?
“Au revoir” is typically the polite form of saying good-bye, and it is to be remembered that the “v” here is not pronounced.
Louisiana French/Goodbyes.
| Cajun French | English |
|---|---|
| Bye-bye | Bye-bye |
| À plus tard | Later |
| À demain | See you tomorrow |
| On va se revoir plus tard | We’ll see each other later |
How do Cajuns say New Orleans?
New Orleans: Pronounced “New or-lins” or “new or-lee-yuns” but not “naw-lins” or “new orl-eens.” Both the parish and the avenue are, however, pronounced “orl-eens.”
How do locals say New Orleans?
You may have heard the proper way to pronounce New Orleans is “NAW-lins,” but locals will tell you that’s not the case. “New Or-LEENZ,” with a long E sound, is also off the mark. Most locals opt for the simple “New OR-lins,” and some even say it with four syllables: “New AHL-lee-ins.
How do Cajuns greet each other?
“Cher” Have you ever heard someone called Cher (share or sha)? It is a term of endearment or even a greeting to another person. It is comparable to “love” or “dear,” and it is traditionally used by Cajuns amongst friends and family.
How do Cajuns say good morning?
Cajun French – Bon matin! (Good morning!) | Facebook.
What is the Cajun word for friend?
ami
ami (n.m.) friend.
What is the Cajun word for crazy?
The definition of a Couyon: Cajun French term for a foolish or crazy person.
What does Buku mean in Louisiana?
“Lots of (from the French “beaucoup”)” is the most common definition for BUKU on Snapchat, WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. BUKU. Definition: Lots of (from the French “beaucoup”)
What does Lil dip mean?
boyfriend, girlfriend or significant other
Social/ Cultural context: Used by New Orleans youth to mean boyfriend, girlfriend or significant other.
What is a NOLA girl?
The name Nola is girl’s name of Gaelic, Latin origin meaning “white shoulder”. Nola, a name with a sleek, enigmatic quality, was used for the much-pursued heroine of Spike Lee’s 1986 breakout film, She’s Gotta Have It, and again by Woody Allen in Match Point. It’s a short form of the traditional Irish name Fionnuala.