noun
Uncommon
Creole
KREE-ohl
Creole (noun) means a language that develops naturally from the mixing of two or more languages, typically becoming the native tongue of a community. Example: “Haitian Creole grew out of French and West African languages.”
noun
1
A language that develops naturally from the mixing of two or more languages, typically becoming the native tongue of a community.
"Haitian Creole grew out of French and West African languages."
2
A person of mixed European and other ancestry born in a formerly colonised region, or (in Louisiana) a person of French or Spanish descent born there.
"Her family has Creole roots going back to colonial New Orleans."
adj
1
Relating to a cooking style that blends French, African, Spanish, and Caribbean influences, especially from Louisiana.
"The restaurant is known for its Creole gumbo."
How to use Creole
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishCan refer to a blended language, a person of mixed colonial-era heritage, or a style of Louisiana cooking.
Common pairings
Creole cuisine
Creole language
Louisiana Creole
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like Creole.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- Creoles
- Comparative
- more Creole
- Superlative
- most Creole
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Haitian _____ grew out of French and West African languages.
Etymology
From French créole, from Spanish criollo, from Portuguese crioulo, itself from criar, "to raise" — originally describing someone raised in a household, later anyone born locally to settler ancestry.
Rhymes for Creole
See all rhymes for Creole →Frequently asked questions
What does “Creole” mean?
The word “Creole” means a language that develops naturally from the mixing of two or more languages, typically becoming the native tongue of a community. In plain terms, can refer to a blended language, a person of mixed colonial-era heritage, or a style of Louisiana cooking.
How do you pronounce “Creole”?
“Creole” is pronounced KREE-ohl (/ˈkɹiˌoʊl/ in IPA).
How do you use “Creole” in a sentence?
Here is “Creole” used in a sentence: “Haitian Creole grew out of French and West African languages.”
What part of speech is “Creole”?
Depending on how it is used, “Creole” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “Creole” come from?
The word “Creole” comes from French. From French créole, from Spanish criollo, from Portuguese crioulo, itself from criar, "to raise" — originally describing someone raised in a household, later anyone born locally to settler ancestry.
Is “Creole” a common word?
“Creole” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Creole” have?
“Creole” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a language that develops naturally from the mixing of two or more languages, typically becoming the native tongue of a community.
