lagniappe

or la·gnappe

[ lan-yap, lan-yap ]

noun

1. Chiefly Southern Louisiana and Southeast Texas. a small gift given with a purchase to a customer, by way of compliment or for good measure; bonus.
2. a gratuity or tip.
3. an unexpected or indirect benefit.

lagniappe

/ lænˈjæp; ˈlænjæp /

noun

1. a small gift, esp one given to a customer who makes a purchase
2. something given or obtained as a gratuity or bonus

Word History and Origins

Origin of lagniappe¹

An Americanism dating back to 1840–50; from Louisiana French, from Latin American Spanish la ñapa, la yapa “the addition,” equivalent to la feminine definite article + ñapa, yapa from from Quechua, yapa “that which is added”

Word History and Origins

Origin of lagniappe¹

C19: Louisiana French, from American Spanish la ñapa, from Quechua yápa addition

Example Sentences

Gramercy Cellars (Greg Harrington, winemaker) in Columbia Valley–-especially “Lagniappe” Syrah.

From The Daily Beast

We picked up one excellent word—a word worth traveling to New Orleans to get; a nice limber, expressive, handy word—'lagniappe.'

From Project Gutenberg

Beside, there is no law prohibiting profanity in books: the whole inquiry here is but so much lagniappe.

From Project Gutenberg

At least, I saw her buy a quartie's worth o' coffee and a quartie's worth o' sugar, an' then ask for lagniappe o' salt.

From Project Gutenberg

Whyn't you ax fur des one lagniappe o' sugar-plums, baby, bein's it's Christmas?

From Project Gutenberg

Lagniappe is a small gratuity which New Orleans children always expect and usually get with a purchase.

From Project Gutenberg