Cajun-French Glossary

boudin – cajun dish similar to dirty rice in sausage casing; a complete meal, served at nearly every gas station in louisiana; known as the “breakfast of champions”

bouder - to pout or sulk

ça fait chaud - "it's hot outside"

ça va – “it’s going all right”

caleçons – underwear

canaille – mischievous; tricky; sneaky

chien - a dog

cher – a term of endearment like, dear, baby, or sweetheart

comme ça va? – “how’s it going?”

fâché – angry; annoyed

fesse - butt; ass

frissons – shivers; chills

gardez donc - "look at that"

honte – shy; embarrassed

je ne suis pas gâté. – “i'm not spoiled.”

ma jolie fille - "my beautiful daughter"

maigre - skinny/thin; sickly

mais – all-purpose cajun expression/interjection (literal french translation – well, but)

mais la – expression similar to “oh, well”; “I can’t even”; “Well, shit”

mais, cher – “oh, dear”; “well, darling”

merci beaucoup - "thank you very much" 

n’oncle – uncle

pas bon – not good; bad; naughty; cheeky

pleurer - to cry

pauvre bête – expression meaning “poor thing” or “bless your heart”

roux – dark-brown flour base used for gumbo and cajun stew

sauce piquante - spicy meat and gravy served over rice

tante - aunt/auntie

tasso – smoked pork meat, complements smoked sausage; a staple in most cajun dishes, including gumbo and sauce piquante

tête dure – hard-headed; stubborn