oui
standard, Louisiana
In Cajun French "yes" is oui, the same word as in standard French. Among friends and family you will often hear ouais, which is close to English "yeah".
Meaning: affirmative answer (adverb)
Ways to say it
| French | Note |
|---|---|
| oui | standard, Louisiana |
| ouais | informal |
Use oui when you want to be polite or clear, and ouais in relaxed talk. Both can stand alone as a full answer.
How do you pronounce it?
Oui sounds like "wee". Ouais sounds like "way" and is the casual form.
Did you know?
- The word "Cajun" is a shortened form of "Acadian", the name of the French settlers who were forced out of Acadia in the 1750s and 1760s and later settled in Louisiana.
Examples in context
- Oui, je viens ce soir.Yes, I am coming tonight.
- Ouais, c'est bon.Yeah, that is fine.
Example conversation
Chloé asks her grandfather Émile at his house near Lafayette if he wants more coffee.
- ChloéPépère, tu veux du café?Grandpa, do you want some coffee?
- ÉmileOui, merci.Yes, thank you.
- ChloéAvec du sucre?With sugar?
- ÉmileOuais, un peu.Yeah, a little.
