Top 10 Cajun Words Everyone in Louisiana Should Know

🐊 KNGT 🐊 | Louisiana — Alright y’all, let’s talk Cajun for a minute. Now if you grew up anywhere in Southwest Louisiana like me, you’ve probably heard some of these words tossed around at a crawfish boil or shouted across the dance floor at a fais do-do. But for the folks who ain’t from around here, or maybe just wanna brush up on their Cajun vocabulary, I put together my own Top 10 Cajun Words everybody oughta know.

Got this list from morrisardoin.com, but these are the ones that really hit home for me. Let’s count ‘em down from 10 to 1.

Top 10 Cajun Words, Everyone Should Know

10. Tasso (Tah-so)
This one’s for all the food lovers. Tasso is seasoned pork shoulder, smoked like jerky. we toss it in beans, gumbo, or jambalaya, it’ll change your life. That smoky flavor just hits.

9. Trinity
No, not church. I’m talkin’ onions, bell peppers, and celery, the base of dang near every good Louisiana dish. Some folks call it “mirepoix” in fancy kitchens, but down here, it’s the trinity. Me? I swap out celery for garlic and celery seed. Don’t judge, I just ain’t a fan of cooked celery.

8. Tante (Tont)
Means “aunt.” I had two favorites growin’ up, T’taunt T’tell and T’taunt T’eva. We all got one in the family, shes normally the party animal.

7. Rougarou (Roo-garoo)
Rougarou is the Cajun version of a werewolf.

6. Nonc (Nonk)
Means “uncle.” Comes from “Mon Oncle” in French. Just like #8 Taunte, every family have a Nonc, he is the male version of the party animal.

5. Gris-Gris (Gree-gree)
Some say good luck charm. Some say it’s voodoo. I avoid them both.

4. Fais do-do (Fay-doe-doe)
Cajun dance party. Live music, good food, and folks two-steppin’ till midnight.

3. Couillon (Koo-yon)
Now this one right here? That’s me. Means “crazy” or “foolish.” My mama called me a couillon more times than I can count. It’s said with love though, most of the time.

2. Bourré (Boo-ray)
Cajun card game. Played it plenty of nights where the laughter got loud and the beer got cold. I need to learn this game, let me know if you still play.

1. Boudin (Boo-dan)
Come on, y’all knew this would be number one. It’s that rice sausage made with pork, onions, garlic, and a whole lotta soul. You find it in gas stations, meat markets, and probably in my fridge right now. Ain’t nothin’ more Cajun than a link of boudin on a paper towel.

There you go, my Top 10 Cajun Words that everybody should know.
If you didn’t grow up with ‘em, that’s alright, you hang around Southwest Louisiana long enough, you’ll be talkin’ like a local in no time.

Now go grab you some boudin, call your Nonc, and get ready for the next fais do-do.