patois Hear it!

patois Definition

pa·tois (patwä′; Fr pȧ twȧ)

noun pl. -·tois′-twäz′; Fr, -twȧ

  1. a form of a language differing generally from the accepted standard, as a provincial or local dialect
  2. jargon (sense )

Etymology: Fr < OFr, uncultivated speech, akin to patoier, to shake paws, behave crudely < pate, paw, akin to Frank *pauta > paw

patois Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • speech: Using the patois of Jamaican speech, LKJ articulates the Black British experience and uses the rhythms of reggae to get his message across.

Converse of object

  • speak: The Speak Jamaican - with an excellent collection of pages including help in speaking Jamaican patois.
  • use: For me, the shorthand character sketches, often using patois or speech rhythms, are the most immediate things in the book.

Adjective modifier

  • Jamaican: The language here is Jamaican patois - a version of English which has developed in Jamaica.
  • French: Local French patois is spoken Weather Hot tropical climate with cool sea breezes.
  • local: Local French patois is spoken Weather Hot tropical climate with cool sea breezes.
  • soft: Card was filled the soft patois were three hours late.
  • Caribbean: From poems written in strict form to poems written in Caribbean patois.
  • English: Among young people is there a developing English Urdu patois?

Noun used with modifier

  • street: Some odd melange of Whitehall, English and the street patois of Blather.
patois Quotes

Would you convey my compliments to the purist who reads your proofs and tell him or her that I write in a sort of broken-downpatoiswhichissomething likethewaya Swiss waiter talks, and that when I split an infinitive,God damn it, I split it so it will stay split.

—Chandler, Raymond

Browse dictionary entries near patois

  1. Patna
  2. Patmos
  3. patisserie
  4. patio
  5. patine
  6. patinate
  7. patina
  8. patiently
  9. patient
  10. patience
  1. Paton
  2. patootie
  3. Patras
  4. patri-
  5. patriarch
  6. patriarchal
  7. patriarchate
  8. patriarchy
  9. patriate
  10. Patricia