NEW ORLEANS (NEXSTAR) — New Orleans, the host city for Super Bowl LIX, is truly one of a kind. With its vibrant culture and rich history, the Big Easy has traditions, sayings, and expressions you won’t find anywhere else.
Every town or state has its unique vernacular: I’m a native Texan, so tossing out an occasional “y’all” comes naturally to me. But New Orleans takes it to the next level with what feels like its own secret language.
To help you navigate the local lingo, we teamed up with the experts at Visit New Orleans to compile a list of phrases that are quintessentially New Orleans. How many of these are you familiar with?
Boo
A term of endearment often used by a parent or grandparent to refer to a small child, though it can also be used for a sweetheart. It’s thought to have Cajun origins.
Boo-coo
Meaning “a lot,” this term comes from Haitian Creole and French (from beaucoup).
Dressed
When ordering a po-boy, “dressed” means you want it topped with lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, and mayo.
Faubourg
The French word for “suburb,” faubourg refers to areas that were once outside New Orleans’ original city limits, such as Faubourg Marigny or Faubourg Tremé.
Fais Do Do
A Cajun dance party featuring plenty of great food and lively music.
Gris-Gris
Pronounced gree-gree, this refers to a Voodoo good luck charm believed to protect the wearer from evil.
Lagniappe
Pronounced LAN-yap, this phrase means “a little something extra.” It might refer to a free dessert at a restaurant or a surprise treat left on your hotel pillow.
Laissez les bons temps rouler
French for “let the good times roll,” this phrase embodies the spirit of New Orleans.
Make dodo
Pronounced doe-doe, this means “to go to sleep.” It comes from the French faire dodo, derived from faire dormir (to make sleep).
Making Groceries
Old-timers in New Orleans don’t “buy” groceries—they “make” them. This phrase originates from a literal translation of the French faire son marché (to do one’s grocery shopping). Since faire can mean both “to do” and “to make,” the phrase stuck in its unique form.
Marraine/Parrain
The French words for godmother (marraine) and godfather (parrain), still used in New Orleans today.
Neutral Ground
The grassy strip or median in the middle of a road. The term originally referred to the wide median on Canal Street, which served as neutral territory between French Creoles and newly arrived Americans.
Picayune
Originally the name of a small Spanish coin worth 1/8 of a dollar, the term now connotes something trivial or petty.
Where y’at?
This quintessential New Orleans greeting means “How are you?” or “What’s going on?” The correct response is “Alright” or something similar—not your physical location!
Who dat?
The rallying cry of New Orleans Saints fans everywhere, shortened from “Who dat say dey gonna beat dem Saints?” Saints fans are also affectionately called “Who Dats.”
Ya mom’n’em
This phrase refers to your immediate family. For example, “How’s ya mom’n’em?” means “How’s your family doing?”
And One More: Brah
Defined as a shortened form of “brother,” this term has gained popularity far beyond New Orleans. Let’s be honest, it’s everywhere now. Not that my 13-year-old daughter calls me “brah” or anything…
This guide should have you sounding like a local in no time ahead of Super Bowl LIX. Laissez les bons temps rouler!
All facts from this article were gathered by Nexstar journalists. This article was converted into this format with assistance from artificial intelligence. It has been edited and approved by Nexstar staff.