When you think about how people speak in the Big Easy, you’re likely picturing a Southern drawl with a chic French flair, but the New Orleans accent and Cajun accent are actually two very distinct things. The biggest shocker for visitors to N’awlins is that a real New Orleans accent can sound quite similar to the accent in… New York City? A little bit of history will explain how and why Louisiana has such varied accents, and how one came to be more Brooklyn and the other more Bordeaux.
Cajun English
Flashback to History class and you may recall that the US bought this vast stretch of land from the French in the Louisiana Purchase. Prior to that, almost everyone in the area spoke strictly French. The French settlers in the more rural area of Acadia became known as “’Cadians” by the British and US, a term that evolved into “Cajuns.” The Cajuns kept their native French until state education programs forbade the language at school and the number of native French speakers dwindled over generations.
The influence was not erased completely, however, as Cajun English still has a good helping of French words, syntax, and style. Not only did it survive in southern Louisiana, but it has in fact spread to parts of Texas and Mississippi as well.
New Orleans English
The French influence explains the unique sound of Cajun English, but how in the world did New Orleans develop an accent so similar to NYC? Well, a number of reasons, and one of the first clues is in their names – New York and New Orleans. These were both big cities settled and colonized at major ports of call, meaning an influx of laborers, refugees, and everyone else was constantly coming and going. They both became key hubs for commerce and immigration, ultimately developing relatively similar working-class accents where the ending -r sound is dropped and phrases like “these and those” sound like “dese and dose.”
This accent is referred to by some as the “yat accent,” derived from the common local greeting “Where ya’ at?”, but it is important to note that the city itself (like all cities) has a multitude of accents. The Uptown area speaks with more of that genteel Southern twang, while 5th Ward speakers have linguistic roots from Caribbean and African cultures. And if you go to Bourbon Street in the French Quarter, you’re sure to hear all of the above and more, as the city draws around 20 million tourists each year.
New Orleans and Cajun Slang to Know
Feel frisson
This term is used when something gives you shivers or goosebumps, but locals prefer this phrase with the French word frisson, which has a similar meaning.
Who dat?
NFL fans have likely seen this phrase displayed in black and gold, as New Orleans Saints fans love to yell “Who dat?” at opposing teams. The full expression is a fantastic depiction of Cajun English and its varied syntax – “Who dat say dey gonna beat dem Saints?”
Allons
Another term you might hear at a sporting event, as it is the French term for “Let’s go!”
Pass a good time
You don’t have a good time here, you pass one. A direct translation of the French passe un bon temps.
Alligator Pear
A local name for an avocado, given its color and texture.
Geaux
A tongue-in-cheek spelling of the word “Go,” used as a nod to traditional French spellings. You may see “Geaux Tigers!” around LSU.
Cher
Sounds like “Sha,” and is a multi-purpose term of endearment. It comes from the French word cher, meaning “dear.” It is often used when referring to family, loved ones, and especially babies.
F’true
A take on a filler phrase to subtly express agreement or seek confirmation, similar to “fer sure” in California or “f’sho” in Atlanta.
Go-Cup
There are no open container laws in NOLA, but you still can’t take your glass bottle out of the bar or restaurant with you. Ask for a go-cup for the rest of your beverage and enjoy it outdoors as you walk to the next bar.
Parish
Louisiana is the only state in the US that does not have counties. It is divided into parishes, a reflection of its colonial history, Catholic traditions, and civil law legal system.
How to Talk with a Cajun Accent
If you’re not from Louisiana, this is a tough one to do without sounding incredibly corny, but if you want to have some fun with it, you can start by watching a clip of the late, great Cajun Chef Justin Wilson. His cooking show was one of the first times mainstream America got to hear a Cajun accent, and he certainly played it up as much as he could. Right off the bat, you can hear not only how he sings out those vowel sounds, but the non-standard word order and syntax in “How y’all are?” and “I’m glad for you to see me.” So switch up that syntax, let the French words flow, and celebrate life in Louisiana.
