Filed under: Cajun Joke of the Week
Before I get started with the weekly cajun jokes, we have to cover some terminology so we are all on the same page:
bayou: (ba-you) small river
bon: good
boudin: (boo-dan) sausage with rice, meat, and stuffing
cajun: abbreviation for the word “Acadian,” originally from Nova Scotia, Canada
cher: (share) an endearing term used that can be used instead of dear
coo: an enthusiastic expression of amazement (Coo, dats a big tree!)
couyon: (koo-yon) dummy, person who is a slow thinker
dat: that
de: the
dem: them
dere: there
frein‘: friend
gumbo: a roux-based soup of poultry, sausage, or seafood over rice
jambalaya: a rice dish with meats and vegetables
joli: (jwoh-lee) cute, pretty
lagniappe: (lan-yappe) a little extra.
ma chere: (ma-shar-(e))
mais: (may) but
mais non: but no
nuttin: (nut-tin) nothing
pecan: (pih-kawn) not pronounced pee-kan
pirogue: (pee-row) small boats used by cajun on the bayou
rat cheer: (rat-cheer) “right here,” in front of you
sac-a’-lait: (sack-a lay) freshwater fish
taught: (taut) “thought,” past tense of t’ink
t’ing: thing
udder: (ud-der) in Louisiana this means “other”
waz: ”was”
wit’: “with”
year: ”your ear”
zink: a basin in the kitchen where you wash dishes
zydeco: (zah-dee-koh) “les haricots” meaning “snap beans.” It’s a nickname for the unique Creole music that features a large accordian
Now that we have had a crash course in cajun terminology, on to our cajun joke of the week:
Boudreaux waz drivin’ Thibodeaux to de store de udder day. Dey waz on a lonely back road when a State Trooper pulls him over and axed, “Sir, is dere a reason dat you’re weaving all over de road?”
Boudreaux replied, “Oh officer, t’ank goodness you’re here! I almos’ had an accident. I looked up and dere waz a tree right in front of me. I swerved to de left and dere waz anoder tree in front of me. I swerved to de right and dere waz anoder tree in front of me!”
Reaching true de side window and pointin’ to de rear view mirror, de officer replied, “Sir… dat’s your air freshener.”
