Street
lagniappe
What does lagniappe mean?
An unexpected bonus thrown in free — the thirteenth donut, the extra hush puppy, the small gift a shopkeeper hands you because you're a regular. Hospitality with receipts.
"She slipped a couple extra pralines in the bag — pure lagniappe."
Origin
Louisiana French via Spanish 'la ñapa', itself from Quechua 'yapay' (to add, to give more). Mark Twain raved about it in Life on the Mississippi as the most useful word he'd picked up in New Orleans.
Frequently asked questions
What does lagniappe mean?
Lagniappe is a little something extra given for free, a small bonus or gift a vendor adds to a purchase as goodwill.
Where does the word lagniappe come from?
It comes from the Louisiana French and Spanish 'la ñapa', and passed into Trinidadian market and trade speech.
How is lagniappe used?
It usually refers to the extra fruit, produce or freebie a seller throws in, as in 'a few extra plums for lagniappe'.
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