pronunciation note: patois is both the singular and the plural form; the singular form is pronounced (pætwɑː), and the plural form is pronounced (pætwɑːz).
1. variable noun
A patois is a form of a language, especially French, that is spoken in a particular area of a country.
In France patois was spoken in rural, less developed regions.
Synonyms: dialect, vernacular More Synonyms of patois
2. variable noun
A patois is a language that has developed from a mixture of other languages.
A substantial proportion of the population speak a French-based patois.
More Synonyms of patois
patois in British English
(ˈpætwɑː, French patwa)
nounWord forms: pluralpatois (ˈpætwɑːz, French patwa)
1.
an unwritten regional dialect of a language, esp of French, usually considered substandard
2.
the jargon of particular group
Word origin
C17: from Old French: rustic speech, perhaps from patoier to handle awkwardly, from patte paw
patois in American English
(ˈpæˌtwɑ; French paˈtwa)
nounWord forms: pluralˈpaˌtois (ˈpæˌtwɑz; French paˈtwa)
1.
a form of a language differing generally from the accepted standard, as a provincial or local dialect
2.
jargon1 (sense 4)
Word origin
Fr < OFr, uncultivated speech, akin to patoier, to shake paws, behave crudely < pate, paw, akin to Frank *pauta > paw1
Examples of 'patois' in a sentence
patois
Oh yes, soldiering on... "For some reason Peter and I regularly communicated in this obsolescent patois of the British Empire.
Howatch, Susan ABSOLUTE TRUTHS (2002)
Iye ftip," Andre said to the waiter in the Happy Garden patois.
Tony Daniel METAPLANETARY (2002)
1 (noun)
Definition
a regional dialect of a language
In France patois was spoken in rural regions.
Synonyms
dialect
the number of Italians who speak only local dialect
vernacular
To use the vernacular of the day, Peter was square.
2 (noun)
Definition
the jargon of a particular group
people from the ghetto who speak street patois
Synonyms
jargon
full of the jargon and slang of self-improvement courses
slang
He liked to think he kept up with current slang.
vernacular
patter
the famous Glasgow patter
cant
He resorted to a lot of pseudo-psychological cant to confuse me.
lingo (informal)
I don't speak the lingo.
argot
the argot of the university campus
Additional synonyms
in the sense of argot
Definition
slang or jargon peculiar to a particular group
the argot of the university campus
Synonyms
jargon,
slang,
dialect,
idiom,
vernacular,
patter,
parlance,
cant,
lingo (informal),
patois
in the sense of cant
Definition
specialized vocabulary of a particular group, such as thieves or lawyers
He resorted to a lot of pseudo-psychological cant to confuse me.
Synonyms
jargon,
slang,
vernacular,
patter,
lingo (informal),
argot
in the sense of lingo
Definition
any foreign or unfamiliar language or jargon
I don't speak the lingo.
Synonyms
language,
jargon,
dialect,
talk,
speech,
tongue,
idiom,
vernacular,
patter,
cant,
patois,
argot (formal)
Nearby words of
patois
patience
patient
patio
patois
patriarch
patrician
patrimony
Synonyms of 'patois'
patois
Explore 'patois' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of patter
Definition
the jargon of a particular group
the famous Glasgow patter
Synonyms
jargon,
slang,
vernacular,
cant,
lingo (informal),
patois,
argot
in the sense of slang
Definition
informal language not used in formal speech or writing and often restricted to a particular social group or profession
He liked to think he kept up with current slang.
Synonyms
colloquialisms,
jargon,
idioms,
argot,
informal language
in the sense of vernacular
Definition
the commonly spoken language or dialect of a particular people or place
To use the vernacular of the day, Peter was square.