nèg

French

Etymology

From the Louisianan pronunciation of the French nègre (“friend, black”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /nɛɡ/

  • Audio

    (file)

• Rhymes: -ɛɡ

Noun

nèg m (plural nègs)

1. (Louisiana) Alternative form of nègre (“friend, buddy”)

Usage notes

• In Louisiana French, nègre has little or no racial connotation in most contexts.

Related terms

• nègre
• négresse
• négro

 

Descendants

• Louisiana Creole: nèg

Haitian Creole

Etymology

Inherited from French nègre (“black person”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /nɛɡ/
• Rhymes: -ɛɡ

Noun

nèg

1. guy, dude, man

See also

• blan

Louisiana Creole

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /nɛɡ/
• Rhymes: -ɛɡ

Etymology 1

Inherited from French nègre (“Black person, Negro; buddy, friend”).

Noun

nèg

1. (derogatory) (a) Black person, (a) Negro

   Synonyms: kokodri, kongo, koulær, moriko, sinbo

2. (derogatory) the Louisiana Creole language

   Synonym: (potential negative connotation) fransé kasé

   Synonyms: (more neutral) gombo, kouri-vini

3. (a) buddy, (a) pal, (a) friend, (a) fellow

   Synonyms: boug, djæk, padna, vyé, zami

Usage notes

• Though some speakers find this term offensive in all its senses, generally when meaning "buddy" the term carries little or no racial connotation and is often employed by speakers of all races. Compare Louisiana French nèg/nègre and the (attempted) reclamation of English nigga.

Alternative forms

• nég

Derived terms

• diri gro nég
• gro nèg
• nég nwa
• pi nég

 

Etymology 2

nèg (H. l. leucocephalus)

Derived from French un (“an”) + French aigle (“eagle”), with the phonological liaison /n/ of the indefinite article re-analyzed as part of the noun.

Noun

nèg

1. (an) eagle

Alternative forms

• lèg