patois

[pat-wah, pah-twah, pa-twa]

noun

plural

patois 

1. a regional form of a language, especially of French, differing from the standard, literary form of the language.

2. a rural or provincial form of speech.

3. jargon; cant; argot.

patois

/ patwa, ˈpætwɑː /

noun

1. an unwritten regional dialect of a language, esp of French, usually considered substandard

2. the jargon of particular group

Word History and Origins

Origin of patois¹

1635–45; < French: literally clumsy speech; akin to Old French patoier to handle clumsily, derivative of pate paw

Word History and Origins

Origin of patois¹

C17: from Old French: rustic speech, perhaps from patoier to handle awkwardly, from patte paw

Example Sentences

The missives have largely mimicked the president’s own social media patois, with hyperbole, petty insults and a heavy reliance on the “caps lock” key.

From Los Angeles Times

The patois changes from office to office and company to company, and the meanings behind certain terms shift from person to person.

From Salon

English may be the main language but patois, spoken at accelerated speed, is ubiquitous and routinely used to show kinship and camaraderie.

From BBC

“I went to prison so you won’t have to,” he declared, in a weird, highly caffeinated surfer patois.

From Los Angeles Times

For Green, one of the biggest challenges of a film like “One Love” was getting the patois language right and making it feel real without watering it down.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• argot 
• dialect 
• idiom 
• lingo 
• slang 
• vernacular