Speaking Cajun French – Family Name References
Sep 26th, 2009 | By admin | Category: Cajun French Language, FeaturedIn our Cajun French Facebook group, and through requests made on this blog, I’m seeing a strong desire for people to reconnect with the Cajun French language. In addition to speaking the language, people are excited to learn how to read and write it as well. There are several great resources for learning Cajun French, but this post is the beginning of a series that will focus on simple words and phrases that are commonly used by Cajuns. So, pull up an extra chair for the children (Les efants) and start learning and teaching them the basics of our amazing language. This week, we’ll look at the Cajun Family… La Famille.
La Famille Cadien
| English | Pronunciation | Cajun French Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Grandmother | La gron mair | La grand-mère |
| Grandfather | Lu gron pair | Le grand père |
| Great Grandmother | La gron gron-mair | La grande grandmère |
| Great Grandfather | Lu gron gron-pair | La grande grandpère |
| Parents | La par-on | Les Parents |
| Mother | La mair | La mère |
| Step Mother | La bel-mair | La belle-mère |
| Mother-in-law | same as above | same as above |
| Godmother | Na-nain | Nénaine |
| Father | Lu pair | Le père |
| Step Father | Lu bo pair | Le beau père |
| Father-in-Law | same as above | same as above |
| Godfather | Lu pa-rain | Le parrain |
| Wife | La fom | La femme |
| Husband | Lu mar-ee | Le mari |
| Daughter | La fee’l | La fille |
| Granddaughter | La teet fee’l | La tite fille |
| Step daughter | La bel-fee’l | La belle-fille |
| Daughter-in-law | same as above | same as above |
| Son | Lu gar-son | Le garçon |
| Grandson | Lu tee gar-son | Le tit garçon |
| Step Son | Lu bo fees | Le beau fils |
| Son-in-law | Lu jon | Le gendre |
| Sister | La sur | La soeur |
| Step sister | La bel sur | La belle soeur |
| Sister-in-law | same as above | same as above |
| Brother | Lu frair | Le frère |
| Step brother | Lu bo-frair | Le beau-frère |
| Brother-in-law | same as above | same as above |
| Aunt | La tont | La tante |
| Great Aunt | La gron tont | La grande tante |
| Uncle | L’onk | L’oncle |
| Great Uncle | Lu gron onk | La grand oncle |
| Niece | La nee-ess | La nièce |
| Nephew | Lu nu-vu or n’vu | Le neveu |
| Cousin | Lu koo-zain | Le cousin |
I hope this helps get you excited about learning our language. Next week we’ll take a peek at the “parts of the body.” Hope to see you then.
Thank you Jenny Leigh for the use of your Cajun Family photo.
