We’ve got some interesting sayings in Louisiana. Most of us grew up with these sayings… it’s so second nature to us you forget that these sayings don’t exist anywhere else. Ever try to order a sandwich “dressed” in Boston? You’ll get a few strange looks. Here are a few other words and phrases that will raise some brows if you say them outside of Louisiana.
- Pinch The Tail And Suck The Head
Derek Key/Flickr Pretty simple directions… for eating crawfish!
- Cher
michael-mark.com/Flickr A term of affection meaning “dear” or “love”
- Lagniappe
nola.agent/Flickr French for a little something extra, or a bonus.
- Cattywampus
Numbdog/Flickr Ok this one may just be more of a southern word, but I said it once in Boston and the entire room stared at me like I started speaking a foreign language. But it’s a much more fun way to describe something that’s misaligned or askew.
- Dressed
dabruins07/Flickr No, this has nothing to do with your wardrobe. Dressed po’boys will be served with lettuce, tomatoes, and mayonnaise.
- Fais Do Do
Shreveport-Bossier Convention Center/Flickr A cajun term for a dance party, it literally means “to make sleep”
- Fixin’ To
Shreveport-Bossier Convention/Flickr About to. As in, I’m fixin to eat those shrimp.
- Making Groceries
Rouses/Facebook Going to buy groceries. Bonus points if you say you’re “fixin’ to make groceries!”
- Gris Gris
Kathryn/Flickr In voodoo, it’s a charm or a talisman that’s kept for good luck or to ward off evil spirits.
- Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler
Wikimedia Let the good times roll!
- Where y’at?
Where Y’at Magazine/Facebook Where are you?
- Brake Tag
coffeespiral/Flickr More of a New Orleans thing, but it’s an inspection sticker to just about everyone else.
- How’s Ya Mama And Dem?
x1klima/Flickr We just wanna know how everyone is. You, ya mama, ya kids, cousins, their kids… Everyone!
How many of these phrases do you say? Did we leave any out? Let us know in the comments below.
Derek Key/Flickr
Pretty simple directions… for eating crawfish!
michael-mark.com/Flickr
A term of affection meaning “dear” or “love”
nola.agent/Flickr
French for a little something extra, or a bonus.
Numbdog/Flickr
Ok this one may just be more of a southern word, but I said it once in Boston and the entire room stared at me like I started speaking a foreign language. But it’s a much more fun way to describe something that’s misaligned or askew.
dabruins07/Flickr
No, this has nothing to do with your wardrobe. Dressed po’boys will be served with lettuce, tomatoes, and mayonnaise.
Shreveport-Bossier Convention Center/Flickr
A cajun term for a dance party, it literally means “to make sleep”
Shreveport-Bossier Convention/Flickr
About to. As in, I’m fixin to eat those shrimp.
Rouses/Facebook
Going to buy groceries. Bonus points if you say you’re “fixin’ to make groceries!”
Kathryn/Flickr
In voodoo, it’s a charm or a talisman that’s kept for good luck or to ward off evil spirits.
Wikimedia
Let the good times roll!
Where Y’at Magazine/Facebook
Where are you?
coffeespiral/Flickr
More of a New Orleans thing, but it’s an inspection sticker to just about everyone else.
x1klima/Flickr
We just wanna know how everyone is. You, ya mama, ya kids, cousins, their kids… Everyone!
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