Words That Might Get a Louisianan Funny Looks in DC

When I moved to the DC area, I was surprised to find that “y’all” is a perfectly acceptable word. This makes sense being so close to Virginia and being below the Mason-Dixon Line. While “y’all” is not widely used, it is at least widely understood. No one has ever laughed at me for my use of this contraction, but I am still working on weaning it from my vocabulary in favor of “you guys.” On the other hand, I was surprised to find other everyday expressions that did not convey the meaning I had intended. Here are a few words that have caused me some confusion or words that could potentially cause problems when used in DC, or anywhere outside of the Deep South. This could also serve as a guide for anyone visiting Louisiana.

1. Buggy – noun, a cart on wheels that you push around the grocery store while shopping. Example: We had so much to get for the Mardi Gras party that by the time we got up to the check-out our buggy was almost overflowing.

Old habits die hard, and buggy is a word I have not been able to give up. I never realized how ridiculous this word sounds until I moved to Maryland and got some strange looks one day when I used it in class with my students. I am making the effort to use “cart” instead, but so far, no success.

2. Coke – noun, a generic term for any flavor or brand of soft drink. Example: The woman at the McDonald’s drive through asked me, “What kinda coke you want?” I told her, “Dr. Pepper.”

Lately, I have been doing much better about using soda as the catch-all word for soft drink. When I first moved here, I would tell the cashier at Panera that I wanted a coke with my meal. I would get a strange look as if I had given too much information, and then he or she would explain that I could pick whatever kind of soda I wanted at the soda machine.

3. Perot – [pee - row] noun, a small boat used for duck hunting or fishing. Example: I saw Ole Boudreaux out on the bayou this mornin’ in his perot.

I don’t know much about perots, but based on a Google search, I would not recommend using this word outside of Louisiana or Arkansas. It is a little known word that few people have heard of.

4. Wal-Martin’ – verb, to go shopping at Wal-Mart; generally considered to be a leisurely activity. Example: We don’t have big plans for this weekend; just gonna do some yard work and then go Wal-Martin’.

This is also known as “goin’ to Wally World.” A similar expression is “garage sailing” which is also a leisurely activity and starts early Saturday morning. “Garage sailing” is when you cruise from one garage sale to another.

5. Making Groceries – verb, to go grocery shopping. Example: We don’t have anything at the house to eat because my mom forgot to make groceries.

This phrase is isolated to South Louisiana. I have plenty of relatives in New Orleans and Baton Rouge who include this in their Facebook status updates. Although most Louisianans don’t realize it, this is a direct translation from the French faire les courses. It’s a relic from French colonialism. I feel compelled to mention that it is not uncommon to hear a youngster in South Louisiana say, “Mommy, I have to make,” and then be rushed off to the bathroom. This is due to the direct translation of faire pipi. While this second use of the verb “to make” is rarely heard from anyone over the age of ten, it could still attract some strange stares while on a family vacation touring the DC monuments. As for “making groceries,” using this esoteric expression outside of its region of origin may just lead people to believe that you are a farmer.