In Disney’s “The Princess and the Frog,” the firefly Ray says he has a Cajun accent because he was “born and bred in the bayou!” While that may be true for Ray, the voice actor portraying him, Jim Cummings, learned to do a Cajun accent by immersing himself in Louisiana culture later in life—or as he explained, “it was all those days on the boats!”
From its notorious lilt to borrowed French slang, the Cajun accent is as unique as it is compelling. In this article, we’ll take an in-depth look at how to master one of the world’s more challenging accents. We gar-on-tee!
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You might be wondering, “Where does the Cajun accent come from?” It starts with the Acadian people, a group of French settlers who established themselves in parts of Canada that are now Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and parts of Quebec (and even in a bit of Maine). The Acadians were subsequently expelled from Canada because they refused to bend the knee to Britain during the French and Indian War. Some made their way south, where they settled in Louisiana, among other American colonies. The Cajun dialect developed with influences of other ethnic groups in the region, including indigenous peoples, German and Irish immigrants, and enslaved African and Caribbean peoples.
There are essentially two types of Cajun accents: the Cajun English accent and the Cajun French accent.
- Cajun English: This is an English accent heavily influenced by French pronunciation, particularly from the Acadian dialect. It has distinct features such as vowel sounds, stress patterns that differ from standard American English, and frequent incorporation of French words.
- Cajun French: Also known as Louisiana Creole, this is a French dialect that has developed its own unique vocabulary and pronunciation patterns deviating from modern Parisian French, especially regarding vowel sounds and the “r” articulation.
If you’re asked to take on a Cajun accent for a role, you’re almost certainly going to use the Cajun English accent popular in Southern Louisiana.
How to Do a Southern AccentSpeed it up: Cajun English zips along faster than a gator chasing a crawfish. The rapid-fire delivery is part of what makes this accent so distinct from its Southern cousins.
Clip your vowels: Cajun speakers snap vowels short, so that “about” becomes “bout” and “around” transforms into “round.”
Use a sing-song rhythm: This lilting accent dances to its own beat—possibly zydeco?—with a melodic quality that comes from its French roots.
Stress the last syllable: Thanks to its French heritage, Cajun English puts the emphasis at the end of words, so that “LOUIS-ville” becomes “Louis-VILLE” and “LAF-ayette” becomes “Lafa-YETTE.”
Replace “th” with “d” or “t”: This signature sound swap turns “this and that” into “dis an’ dat.” “That’s my father” will sound like “Dat’s my fadher.”
Drop final consonants: The ends of words often disappear so that “good” becomes “goo” and “hand” becomes “han.”
Add “me” to “I”: Cajun speakers often use “me” as the subject. Instead of “I’m eating a beignet” it’s “Me, I’m eatin’ a beignet.”
Add French flourishes: Pepper your speech with French-influenced words and phrases, such as the following:
- Cher: a term of endearment, similar to dear or sweetheart
- Couyon: a foolish person
- Étouffée: a common Cajun and Creole dish that consists of smothered seafood stew served over rice
- Lagniappe: a little something extra
- Gris-gris: to put a curse on someone
- Lâche pas la patate: “don’t give up!” (literally “don’t let go of the sweet potato!”)
- Allons-y: “let’s go!”
- Laissez les bons temps rouler: “let the good times roll!”
- Ti: junior, but placed before the name rather than after
- C’est bon: “it’s good”
- Gras doux: dirt or grime, especially the drippings on the bottom of a pot
More than just borrowing French loanwords, in many cases, Cajun English adopts French syntax altogether, so that sentence structures mimic French. For example, instead of saying, “No, I never said that!” someone with a Cajun accent might say, “I never said that, no!” They might also add a directional pronoun for added emphasis: “Me, I never said that, no!”
1. Listen and imitate: The beginning of your accent journey must include listening to authentic Cajun speakers. Start with someone like native Cajun speaker Cajun Dan on TikTok, listen to a variety of Louisiana accents at the International Dialects of English (IDEA) archive, and then branch out to actors taking on the accent for a role. Check out Michael Raymond-James as René Lenier on “True Blood,” Michael Jeter as Eduard Delacroix in “The Green Mile,” or even Channing Tatum’s hilarious (and purposely bad) variation as Gambit in “Deadpool & Wolverine.”
2. Practice phonetics and phrases: The next step is to break down key sounds and practice them repeatedly. If you’re preparing for a role, this is a good time to integrate your script into your practice. Otherwise, settle on a few key phrases that you can work on and perfect.
3. Record yourself: When you feel you have mastered your lines or phrases, record yourself saying them and play it back. Does it sound right to you? If not, make adjustments and re-record.
4. Seek feedback: Ask your friends, colleagues, and anyone who will listen to hear you out and let you know their thoughts. If you’re able, speak with a native speaker or trained dialect coach so they can give you suggestions on how to improve your accent.
5. Keep it goin’: Don’t let one slip-up throw off your entire audition. Casting directors will care more about your ability to persevere than getting every word just right—so think “allons-y!” and carry on. With enough practice and dedication, you too can sound like you were born and raised on the bayou.
