South Louisianians can say so much with so little. Sometimes, a single sound is the whole sentence. Here are a few of my favorites:
Kaw [kȯ] — an exclamation of shock
Ex. “Kaw! You like your in-laws?”
Kee-yaw [kē-yȯ]—also an exclamation of shock, but about size and distance, specifically
Ex. “Kee-yaw! Yeah, that sign’s a lot bigger now that you pointed it out, officer.”
Shee [shē]—an expression feigning disbelief, typically to call out bull sh*t
Ex. “Shee. The girl who used to expense brunch mimosas as ‘client outreach’… lost her job? Nooooo.”
Shoo [shü]—shows relief, interchangeable with “whew”
Ex. “Shoo! I almost liked her Instagram post from 2016!”
Hot [hät]—a way to say, “I don’t know” and ask “how I’m supposed to know that?” at the same time
Ex. Four-year-old: “Why is the sky blue?”
Cajun mom: “Hot!?”
uh-UH [ə-ə]—means “I can’t believe this,” and “I’ve also known about this the entire time, I just didn’t want to be the ‘that person’ who brings up the gossip first.”
Ex. “uh-UH! Katie’s boyfriend who'd only hang out with her from 4 pm–6 pm on Tuesdays has a secret family?!”
UH-uh [ə-ə]—means “You must be mistaken” ; also a nice way of informing someone who thinks they know everything that they are outright wrong—like, super wrong, actually
Ex. “UH-uh! You didn’t think I was about to wait in that line.”
Luhluhluhluhluh [lələlələlə]—an urgent request for your bestie to hurry up and look at something funny before it goes away (e.g. grandma-influencer twerking in Target, an Italian Greyhound walking like Timothée Chalamet, your friend who said she was too sick to leave the house, who is driving in the lane next to you)
Ex. “Luhluhluhluhluh…you saw that?!
Aww-WHAW! [ȯ-wȯ]—means “ah, c’mon now”
Ex. “Aww-WHAW! I think I used dry shampoo as deodorant.”
Puhhhhh [pəəəəəə]—a way of saying, ‘you exhaust me’
Ex. “Puhhhhh. I want to try that seventeen-step skincare routine from TikTok, but my left arm gets tired.”
Chu meen [chü mēn]—A more efficient way of saying, "What do you mean?"
Ex. “Chu meen you can’t talk right now? You called me!”
Oh nuh nuh nuh nuh nuh nuh no [ ō nə nə nə nə nə ]—a complete sentence to be used when “no” wasn’t heard the first time
Ex. “Oh nuh nuh nuh nuh nuh nuh no. You’re not calling the HOA on ME when I already called them about YOU!”
Aye-yi [ī-yī]—an expression similar to “ouch” or “ow” but designated to be used for when there’s a higher level of pain
Ex. “Ouch! I just got a papercut from this envelope. Aye-yi! It’s this month’s electric bill!”
Aiyee [ä-yē]—the ancestral sound of Cajun glee, typically heard on dance floors and at football games
Ex. “Aiyeee! Alabama lost!”
Poo yiii [pü yī]—used to convey minor concern or worry; can be sarcastic, depending on tone.
Ex. “Poo yiii, I think that ferret story you told earlier was supposed to be funny…but I’m worried about your mental health.”
Aht aht [ät ät]—dismay usually taken out over a pot and emphasized by two smacks of a large spoon.
Ex. “Aht aht! Y’all kids better calm down.”
Huhn?! [ən]—used when someone says something about you, to you, that is untrue
Ex. “Meet you out after 8 pm… girl, you must o’ lost ya mind, hunh?!”
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