Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word
Creole. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
Creole, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
Creole in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
Creole you have here. The definition of the word
Creole will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
Creole, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Etymology
Variously from French créole, from its source, Spanish criollo, and from its source, Portuguese crioulo, itself probably a diminutive of cria (“person raised in one’s house, servant”), from criar (“to rear, to bring up”), from Latin creō (“I create, make, produce”). Doublet of Criollo, Crioulo, and Krio.
Pronunciation
Noun
Creole (plural Creoles)
- A descendant of European settlers who is born in a colonized country.
1969, Shmuel Noah Eisenstadt, The Political Systems of Empires, page 76:Within the Spanish society, a great difference evolved between the Insular Spaniards, sent over for different periods of time from Spain, to serve as officials, etc., and the "native" Spaniards, the Creoles.
- Anyone with mixed ancestry born in a country colonized by Europeans, now especially one who speaks a creole language.
- Someone of African descent who is born in the Caribbean or Americas (originally as opposed to an African immigrant).
- A native-born of Francophone descent in the Louisiana territory of any race, as opposed to Anglo-American settlers.
Usage notes
- In modern usage, the human senses are not always easily distinguishable, but the term generally indicates groups with shared European heritage of some kind. In some specific cases the usage is mainly historical, but it remains a current term notably for descendants of French settlers in Louisiana and other parts of the United States.
Translations
descendant of settlers born in a colonial country
Adjective
Creole (comparative more Creole, superlative most Creole)
- Pertaining to or characteristic of someone who is a Creole.
- (of a person) That is a Creole; especially, born in a colonized country different from that of his or her ancestors.
- Designating a creolized language.
- (cooking) Prepared according to a cooking style developed in a Creole area, now especially that of Louisiana, characterised by a mixture of European and African influences.
Proper noun
Creole
- Any specific creole language, especially that of Haiti.
She grew up speaking Creole.
Along with French, Creole is one of Haiti's official languages.
2002, Matt Cyr, Something to Teach Me: Journal of an American in the Mountains of Haiti, Educa Vision, Inc., →ISBN, page 25:His English is still in its beginning stages, like my Creole, but he was able to translate some Creole songs that he's written into English—not the best English, but English nonetheless.
Derived terms
Further reading
German
Pronunciation
Noun
Creole f (genitive Creole, plural Creolen)
- (chiefly in the plural) hoop earring
Declension