Trini Phrase: La Couray

I was in La Couray reading bout the team yesterday, I bit my tongue on several occasions, to make the right pronunciations.

In Trinidad and Tobago, there are two spellings of the word la couray and lacuray

• lacuray, la couray (n) – A strained or difficult relationship or situation /lakure/ from French and French Creole la querelle ‘the quarrel’

La Couray – Caribbean Usage

The phrase Cokey-O-Ko is mainly used in Trinidad & Tobago

Trini Phrases

The various words and phrases from Trinidad & Tobago can be traced back to English, French and Spanish origins. La Couray is one such word that has its roots in the English language. Growing up in Trinidad and Tobago is interesting because the 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.

Oral Traditions

Trini folklore such as Papa Bois is an oral tradition meant to pass on the stories to the next generation. Other Trini phrases in the vernacular are Goat-Mouth, Sprawl Off, Doux-Doux, Kunumunu, Madam De Leau, Cokey-o-Ko, Lime.

Click here now for other Trini expressions and leave us a comment below of phrases you have heard.

• Source:
  • Dictionary of the English/Creole of Trinidad & Tobago by Lise Winer
  • Dictionary of Caribbean English Usage by Richard Allsopp

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