creole
creole Lexical Profile
creole Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A stable, fully developed natural language that evolves from the mixing of different parent languages (often a European language and local or African languages) and has become the native tongue of a community.
"Linguists studied how the island's early trade pidgin gradually evolved into a complex creole spoken by children at home."
A person of mixed European and African or Caribbean descent, or a descendant of early French or Spanish settlers in the Caribbean, Latin America, or the US Gulf Coast (especially Louisiana).
"Many Louisiana Creoles trace their family heritage back to the colonial era of New Orleans."
• adjective
Relating to a creole language or to the people, culture, or traditions of Creole communities in the Caribbean, Latin America, or the US Gulf Coast.
"The festival celebrated the region's vibrant Creole music and storytelling traditions."
American Prepared in the style of traditional Louisiana Creole cuisine, typically featuring a rich sauce made with tomatoes, onions, celery, bell peppers, and spices.
"We ordered the shrimp in a spicy Creole sauce served over steamed white rice."
Word Nuance & Usage
In linguistics, a creole is distinct from a pidgin: a pidgin is a simplified trade language with no native speakers, whereas a creole is a fully developed language acquired as a first language by children. In cultural contexts, the capitalized form 'Creole' refers to specific ethnic groups and cuisines, particularly in Louisiana and the Caribbean.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the late 16th century via French créole and Spanish criollo from Portuguese crioulo ('person born in the colonies'), derived from criar ('to raise or bring up'), ultimately from Latin creare ('to create or bring forth').