Creole meaning

In today's West Indies, the name Creole is a European descendant born in a colony, but it is more used to refer to all people belonging to Caribbean culture, no matter what class they belong to or whether their ancestors are Europeans, Africans, Asians or Indians. In French Guiana, the name refers exclusively to those who adopt a European lifestyle, regardless of their skin color. In neighboring Suriname, it refers to the descendants of African slaves. In some parts of Louisiana, it refers to the French white descendants of early French and Spanish immigrants, while in other areas, it refers to the French and Spanish mixed-race mulatto.

In different parts of Latin America, the word Creole has various meanings: it can refer to people who are born locally and belong to pure Spanish descent; It can also refer to the descendants of Spanish aristocratic families who settled in the local area during the colonial period; Or just refer to Europeanized residents in cities to distinguish them from Indians in rural areas. In a country like Peru, the adjective "Creole" describes a vibrant lifestyle. The word "Creole" also has some special meanings: in the West Indies, it is an alias of local black dialects, such as English Creole, French Creole or Dutch Creole, and proverbs or poems expressed in these dialects (such as "Creole Motto") also belong to this category. In Louisiana, "Creole" also refers to a local cooking method, which uses rice, okra, tomatoes, peppers, seafood and so on.