Sure we have some unusual ways of saying things in Louisiana, but sometimes it seems like people never know the right way to pronounce things. Luckily, we’ve created this guide for anyone who might be somewhat new to the state. This way, you’ll always be pronouncing it right. Here are some unique Louisiana names and phrases that people always pronounce wrong:
- File Gumbo
gumbocooking.com No this isn’t file as in a filing cabinet. It’s fee-lay gumbo. And it’s delicious!
- Hebert
Facebook.com / Herbert’s Speciality Meats If you meet someone who is an Hebert, don’t say her-bert. Say ay-bear.
- Jambalaya
Flickr.com / Jeffreyw Don’t order jam-ball-ayuh. It’s jum-bul-iyah.
- Laissez-les Bon Temps Roulez
Flickr.com / Maitri Most of the time if people see this they don’t even try to pronounce it, but the way to say it is “lay-zay-lay-bon-ton-roulay.” It means let the good times roll. AKA, don’t worry about a thing!
- Geaux
Flickr.com / rex dingler You don’t have to be in Louisiana that long to figure out that is not pronounced guh-ox. Just ignore the x and say go!
- Po-boy
Flickr.com / Angela Rutherford Every time I hear someone order a poor-boy I just shake my head.
- Crawfish
Flickr.com / Billy Brown Same goes when people order cray-fish. Sorry, we bring the crawfish to America, and we call them craaww fish.
- Lagniappe
Flickr.com / Anne Petersen A lot of times people hear this and then read it and have no idea the same word was being said. But you pronounce this “lan-yap,” and it means something a little extra.
- Beaucoup
Flickr.com / Milly Some might say bow-coup, but truly you say, boo-coo and it means a lot or very—i.e. he was boo-coo crazy.
- Chartres
Flickr.com / Phil Roeder This is a street in the French Quarter of New Orleans and people often get it wrong. It’s not “chart-res.” In New Orleans, locals pronounce it “charters.”
- Pralines
Flickr.com / Nora Munro This dessert which some claim was invented in Louisiana, has many delicious flavors and types, but there is some disagreement as to how to pronounce the name. Some say pray-leens, some say prah-lines.
- Courtbouillon
Flickr.com / Jim Hobbs If you’re lucky enough to be able to eat this incredible Cajun dish, be polite enough to call it by the right name—it’s “coo-boo-yawn,” not “court-bullon.”
So there are some unique phrases in Louisiana culture that are sure to be hard to pronounce if you aren’t paying close attention. We hope this helps you acclimate–which did we leave off of this list? Let us know what we should add in the comments below!
gumbocooking.com
No this isn’t file as in a filing cabinet. It’s fee-lay gumbo. And it’s delicious!
Facebook.com / Herbert’s Speciality Meats
If you meet someone who is an Hebert, don’t say her-bert. Say ay-bear.
Flickr.com / Jeffreyw
Don’t order jam-ball-ayuh. It’s jum-bul-iyah.
Flickr.com / Maitri
Most of the time if people see this they don’t even try to pronounce it, but the way to say it is “lay-zay-lay-bon-ton-roulay.” It means let the good times roll. AKA, don’t worry about a thing!
Flickr.com / rex dingler
You don’t have to be in Louisiana that long to figure out that is not pronounced guh-ox. Just ignore the x and say go!
Flickr.com / Angela Rutherford
Every time I hear someone order a poor-boy I just shake my head.
Flickr.com / Billy Brown
Same goes when people order cray-fish. Sorry, we bring the crawfish to America, and we call them craaww fish.
Flickr.com / Anne Petersen
A lot of times people hear this and then read it and have no idea the same word was being said. But you pronounce this “lan-yap,” and it means something a little extra.
Flickr.com / Milly
Some might say bow-coup, but truly you say, boo-coo and it means a lot or very—i.e. he was boo-coo crazy.
Flickr.com / Phil Roeder
This is a street in the French Quarter of New Orleans and people often get it wrong. It’s not “chart-res.” In New Orleans, locals pronounce it “charters.”
Flickr.com / Nora Munro
This dessert which some claim was invented in Louisiana, has many delicious flavors and types, but there is some disagreement as to how to pronounce the name. Some say pray-leens, some say prah-lines.
Flickr.com / Jim Hobbs
If you’re lucky enough to be able to eat this incredible Cajun dish, be polite enough to call it by the right name—it’s “coo-boo-yawn,” not “court-bullon.”
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
