If Your Not From Louisiana, Good Luck Pronouncing These Words
Louisiana [KNGT-FM] - If you’re not from Louisiana, some of the words you’re about to read might leave you scratching your head. But if you were born and raised in the Bayou State, chances are you’ll recognize many of them right away!
From the names of streets and towns to traditional Cajun surnames, Louisiana is full of words that can be challenging to pronounce if you didn’t grow up here. Our unique blend of Cajun French, local dialects, and Southern accents gives the state a language and culture all its own.
I was born in Lake Charles, Louisiana, but my family originally came from the Grand Prairie area in the heart of Cajun Country. Growing up, many of our older relatives, including my great-grandpa and Maw Maw, spoke little or no English. Cajun French was their primary language, and I learned a lot simply by listening to them.
Between picking up bits of a second language and trying to understand thick Cajun accents when relatives spoke English, learning the correct pronunciation of certain Louisiana words could be a real challenge!
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But that’s part of what makes growing up in Southwest Louisiana so special. Our words, pronunciations, and expressions are woven into the rich cultural heritage that makes this region unique.
Now, let’s have a little fun!
Take a look at the list below and see how many you recognize. Don’t worry if a few leave you stumped. At the bottom, I’ll break down each word with a phonetic pronunciation and an explanation of what it means.
How many of these Louisiana words can you pronounce correctly?
Mamou -- MA MOO - Small town in Louisiana
Matte - MOTT- Cajun person's last name
Tchoupitoulas - CHOP UH TOOL US - Street in New Orleans
Envees - ON VEES -- Cajun Saying -- The Wants or Cravings For
Atchafalaya - Ah Chaf UH Lie UH -- Swamp in Louisiana, and there is also a bridge named the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge
Soileau - SWALLOW -- Cajun French person's last name and coincidentally my last name
Ettouffee - A TWO FAY - It is a Cajun food dish usually made with crawfish or shrimp
Hebert -- A BEAR - Cajun French person's last name
Laissez les bons temps rouler - LAZE A LAY BON TON Rule A - Cajun saying meaning Let the good times roll
How did you do? Now you can impress your friends with your knowledge of Louisiana phrases and words.
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