patois
Americannoun
plural
patois-
a regional form of a language, especially of French, differing from the standard, literary form of the language.
-
a rural or provincial form of speech.
-
jargon; cant; argot.
noun
-
an unwritten regional dialect of a language, esp of French, usually considered substandard
-
the jargon of particular group
Etymology
Origin of patois
1635–45; < French: literally clumsy speech; akin to Old French patoier to handle clumsily, derivative of pate paw
Explanation
The noun patois describes the way you talk, like the patois of New Englanders who tend to drop the letter r: "Drive yah cah to Hahvahd Yahd," while others say, "Drive your car to Harvard Yard." Patois, which rhymes with "voilà," is speech used in a particular region, profession, or group. It is a French word that originated as "rough speech." Examples of patois are found in every region of the world, but perhaps the most famous is Jamaican. "Ah wha dat yuh ah luok pan?," is Jamaican patois for, "What’s that you’re looking at?" Patois is also the "jargon" or "lingo" used by a group, such as musicians whose patois is lost on non-musicians.
Vocabulary lists containing patois
Vivacious Vernacular: Words About Slang
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The Other Wes Moore
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The Sun Is Also a Star
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In a recent interview Stonebwoy and I discussed the growing use of Patois in Ghana, frowned upon by some Ghanaians.
From BBC • Feb. 25, 2023
He grew up as Frankie Smith in the East Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn, among people who spoke Haitian Creole and Jamaican Patois.
From New York Times • Apr. 28, 2022
Louise served as branch secretary and wrote for the Negro World newspaper and spoke at least three languages: English, French and Patois.
From Washington Post • Feb. 11, 2021
There’s an entire scene in which Death—who, again, is being played by Brad Pitt— speaks Jamaican Patois.
From Slate • Apr. 12, 2019
Almost every word of the Patois may still be found in the Italian, Spanish, and French languages, with a small change in the pronunciation.
From Travels through France and Italy by Smollett, T. (Tobias)
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
