noun
Cajun
KAY-juhn
Cajun (noun) means a member of the French-speaking community in Louisiana descended from Acadian settlers. Example: “Her grandmother, a Cajun from Lafayette, still spoke French at home.”
noun
1
A member of the French-speaking community in Louisiana descended from Acadian settlers.
"Her grandmother, a Cajun from Lafayette, still spoke French at home."
adj
1
Relating to Cajun people, culture, or cooking, especially food made with bold, spicy seasoning.
"We ordered Cajun shrimp with a spicy blackened crust."
How to use Cajun
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishRelating to the French-descended people of Louisiana, or (more commonly heard) their spicy style of cooking.
Common pairings
Cajun food
Cajun spice
Cajun cuisine
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Word forms
- Plural
- Cajuns
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Her grandmother, a _____ from Lafayette, still spoke French at home.
Etymology
An English respelling of Acadien ("Acadian"), reflecting how the French-Canadian settlers who moved to Louisiana pronounced the word in their dialect.
Frequently asked questions
What does “Cajun” mean?
The word “Cajun” means a member of the French-speaking community in Louisiana descended from Acadian settlers. In plain terms, relating to the French-descended people of Louisiana, or (more commonly heard) their spicy style of cooking.
How do you pronounce “Cajun”?
“Cajun” is pronounced KAY-juhn (/ˈkeɪ.d͡ʒən/ in IPA).
How do you use “Cajun” in a sentence?
Here is “Cajun” used in a sentence: “Her grandmother, a Cajun from Lafayette, still spoke French at home.”
What part of speech is “Cajun”?
Depending on how it is used, “Cajun” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “Cajun” come from?
The word “Cajun” comes from French. An English respelling of Acadien ("Acadian"), reflecting how the French-Canadian settlers who moved to Louisiana pronounced the word in their dialect.
How many meanings does “Cajun” have?
“Cajun” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a member of the French-speaking community in Louisiana descended from Acadian settlers.
