Doudou, doodoo, doux-doux (n):Â Sweetness; sweetie; a Trini phrase of affectionate endearment, usually used to females.
French doux ‘sweet’; such repetition is common in French Creole, but some reduplicated forms of doux, including as a term of affection, are historically found in the east and north-east of France, Aud-Buscher 1989:13; also possibly Yoruba dun ‘is sweet’ = dood(s).
“Ah…done tell mih wifey wot to do when I die. Ah tell she, ‘Doo-Doo gyul, when I die, please bury min wit’ a bottle in each hand” (Sweetbread, Express 21 July 1982:42).
Dou-dou is most common in Trini folk speech but copied through calypsoes my many artists in the Eastern Caribbean.
Some examples of dou-dou used in Trini phrases:
‘Put you’ trust in God, doodoo’, Ma Christine kept saying.
‘Put you’ trust in God.’ ‘Don’t cry doodoo-darlin”, said Ma Christine, gently patting her on the shoulder.
Doux-doux is a common Trini phrase I heard growing up in Trinidad and Tobago. Interestingly slangs can change over time. I have lived in the United States for 20 years now, and every time I travel back to Trinidad and Tobago, I have to reacquaint myself with the words and phrases that have evolved.
