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

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."

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

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 notes

In 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

Word forms

more Creole comparative, Creoles plural, most Creole superlative

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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.

Origin: French

Rhymes for Creole

ole hole vole mole sole pole cole dole role stole whole Poole

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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.