For All You Cajuns Need Help in pronouncing your State and Lafayette (New Orleans: home, live in)

[Gigihere]

I want to make certain I know how to pronounce your city and state

Is the correct way to say Louisiana "lou - weez- e - ana" or
"Lose - e - ana"?

Same for Lafayette is it "La - fee- et" or "La - feet" or "La - fa- yet" or "La-fa-et"

I am serious and do not want to insult my prospective employer when I talk with her. I understand it is a different dialect in south Louisiana and is Lafayette considered South Louisiana?

[Rosinante]

If you aren't from Louisiana, then I think your attempts to pronounce our state's name as if you were a Cajun might be offensive to some while others might find you a little silly. I would, therefore, pronounce it LOO - WEEZ -E - ANA.

As for the city's name, it is pronounced, LAUGH - AY - ETTE.

[darylwi]

I can't stand it when people say "Lose E Ana". To me it's a sign of ignorance and lack of education although I know many rural people in the state say it like that mostly out of habit. But I can't help but hate that pronunciation.

[WestbankNOLA]

Most of the people that I've heard say "Lose E Ana" the were from Louisiana came from the towns in the northern part of the state. I've always pronounced Lafayette (Lah-Fe-Ette) but I don't know how the locals there say it. "La-Feet" would be Lafitte

[CherryMagic]

Louise zee anna/ Lou eeze zee ana

Lah Feh ette/ La fay et

Now real Cajun.....it's way beyond my understanding - especially at 4 am driving from BR-NO, and only being able to pick up 1-2 radio stations...but I think it sounds chez cool. Kept me awake on that 12 hour drive.

I lived in Arcadia for 3 years - I don't recall hearing as many French Cajuns up there as were in the south.

[sailordave]

I'm born and raised in Lafayette Parish. Don't worry about our city/parish name. Even among long time residents we sometimes say it differently depending on how we were raised. Just say it the way you're most comfortable. We have many people here from different parts of the world so we don't get bent out of shape if people say our names wrong as long as it isn't being done to be insulting. Now family names is a different story. If pronounced incorrectly people will just correct you on how their family name is pronounced. Don't be surprised if some of them laugh when you first say their name. We're use to it. In bootcamp I was called Borderline. My family name is Bordelon. I pronounce it boar-del-on. Other parts of Louisiana, Canada, and France may say it another way. No big deal. My grandmother was a Benoit. Here it's pronounced ben-wah. Just don't be surprised when you turn on the early morning news and hear some of the news in French.

[ILUVMAINE]

Originally Posted by darylwi

I can't stand it when people say "Lose E Ana". To me it's a sign of ignorance and lack of education although I know many rural people in the state say it like that mostly out of habit. But I can't help but hate that pronunciation.

I am from Louisiana and I proudly pronunce it Lose E Ana! I am far from ignorant AND definitely not lacking in education! If we are going to express what we really hate - it is people who are ignorant and use too many contractions! Just my own opinion!

Most people, especially the wonderful people in southern Louisiana are agreeable and willing to help anyone "from away" to understand the correct pronunciation of different words and their culture.

[Rosinante]

Originally Posted by ILUVMAINE

I am from Louisiana and I proudly pronunce it Lose E Ana! I am far from ignorant AND definitely not lacking in education! If we are going to express what we really hate - it is people who are ignorant and use too many contractions! Just my own opinion!

Most people, especially the wonderful people in southern Louisiana are agreeable and willing to help anyone "from away" to understand the correct pronunciation of different words and their culture.

Agreed, it's no big deal. Think about all the folks who live in the state to our east that pronounce it MISS - SIP - EE.

[ILUVMAINE]

Originally Posted by Rosinante

Agreed, it's no big deal. Think about all the folks who live in the state to our east that pronounce it MISS - SIP - EE.

You are so right! AND the list could go on and on!

[firefightermom]

Originally Posted by darylwi

I can't stand it when people say "Lose E Ana". To me it's a sign of ignorance and lack of education although I know many rural people in the state say it like that mostly out of habit. But I can't help but hate that pronunciation.

My father is from Louisiana and graduated from Tulane with a degree in engineering. He worked as an aeronautical engineer for over 30 years and worked on Air Force One and the Stealth Bomber. Therefore, I would classify him as far from ignorant and far from uneducated.

He also pronounces his home state as Lose-E-Ana. By the way, he also says 'Nawlins instead of New Orleans. Quit judging people by their local dialects...that in itself is ignorant!

The thing I really hate is when people say New Orleeeens....geez!