4 ms·

Try saying "Acadian" quickly, and you can see pretty easily how it might elide into "Cajun". Uh-cay-dee-yan Cay-dee-yan Cage-dee-yan Cay-jee-yan Cay-jun S

Try saying "Acadian" quickly, and you can see pretty easily how it might elide into "Cajun". Uh-cay-dee-yan Cay-dee-yan Cage-dee-yan Cay-jee-yan Cay-jun Speech gets lazier with repetition. Ask any native of New Orleans how their city's name is pronounced: the majority will say something like "Noo-ahh-lins" or even just "Nah'lins".

dunefox 3y ago
That's a stretch.
- hunter2_ 3y ago
  It's true though. The same transformation of the ending syllables happened with Indian becoming Injun (although that one eventually became offensive, unlike Cajun).
  - dunefox 3y ago
    I think I read the word with the stress on the second syllable. On the first one it makes a lot more sense now.
deleted 3y ago
[deleted]
djbusby 3y ago
New Orleans. Outside it's four syllable. Inside it's one