Creole

/ˈkriː.oʊl/

Meaning & Definition

noun

A person of mixed European and African ancestry, especially in the context of the Caribbean and the Americas.

The history of the creole populations in Louisiana is rich and diverse.

A cuisine that originates from the blend of different cultural influences, particularly affecting dishes in Louisiana.

The restaurant offers a variety of creole dishes, including jambalaya and gumbo.

A stable, fully developed language that emerges from the mixing of two or more languages, typically in a colonial context.

Haitian Creole is widely spoken in Haiti and incorporates elements from French and West African languages.

adjective

Relating to or denoting a creole language or culture.

The creole culture of New Orleans is celebrated for its music, food, and festivals.

Derived from the Spanish 'criollo', meaning 'native' or 'local', originally used to refer to people born in the colonies.

Creole cuisine

A style of cooking that originated from Louisiana and combines flavors from French, Spanish, African, and Native American cultures.

Creole culture

The cultural practices and traditions of communities that have a creole background, often blending various cultural influences.

Creole language

A language that has developed from the mixing of parent languages, often in a colonial setting.

pidgin

A simplified language that develops as a means of communication between speakers of different languages.

mestizo

A person of mixed racial ancestry, particularly of European and Indigenous American descent.

Used informally to refer to someone from the Creole community.

He's a real Creole, knows all the local traditions.

Referring to a Creole language in a light-hearted manner.

They were chatting away in Creole like it's the easiest thing in the world.