patois

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

noun

, plural pat·ois [pat, -wahz, pah, -twahz, p, a, -, twa].

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

Related Words

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