Laissez les bon temps rouler is a French phrase that means “let the good times roll.” It is used to express the letting loose and celebrating. The phrase is often associated with Mardi Gras, the festival that takes place in New Orleans, Louisiana, in the days leading up to Ash Wednesday. During Mardi Gras, the people of New Orleans celebrate with parades, parties, and music. Laissez les bon temps rouler is a reminder to enjoy the moment and have a good time.
The phrase is pronounced “lay-zay lay bon tom roo-lay.” The “s” in “les” is silent, and the “r” in “temps” is rolled. The phrase is often used in songs and cheers, and it is a popular way to express the spirit of Mardi Gras.
Laissez les bon temps rouler is a reminder to enjoy life and have a good time. It is a phrase that is associated with celebration and fun. The next time you are feeling down, remember to laissez les bon temps rouler.
Breaking Down the Pronunciation
“Laissez les bons temps rouler” is a Cajun French phrase that means “let the good times roll.” It’s often used to express the spirit of celebration and enjoyment, and it’s a common saying in New Orleans and other parts of south Louisiana.
Here’s a breakdown of how to pronounce the phrase:
| Word | Pronunciation |
|---|---|
| Laissez | [ley-say] |
| les | [lay] |
| bons | [bohn] |
| temps | [tahn] |
| rouler | [roo-lay] |
Putting it all together, the entire phrase is pronounced as [ley-say lay bohn tahn roo-lay].
Syllabic Structure
The word “Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler” has 8 syllables, divided as follows:
| Syllable | Vowel |
|---|---|
| Lai | a |
| sez | e |
| Les | e |
| Bon | o |
| Temps | e |
| Rou | ou |
| lez | e |
| Bon | o |
Stress
The stress in “Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler” falls on the following syllables:
* Lai
* Temps
* Rou
The stressed syllables are pronounced with a higher pitch and greater emphasis, while the unstressed syllables are pronounced more softly and quickly. The stress pattern adds rhythm and melody to the phrase.
Secondary Stress
In addition to the primary stresses, there is also a secondary stress on the syllable “Bon” in both “Bon Temps” and “Bon Roulez.” This secondary stress is less pronounced than the primary stresses, but it still adds to the overall rhythm and flow of the phrase.
Common Mispronunciations
The correct pronunciation of “Laissez les bon temps rouler” is as follows:
1. “Laissez”
This is pronounced as “leh-say”. The “ai” in “laissez” is pronounced like the “ay” in “day”.
2. “les”
This is pronounced as “lay”. The “e” in “les” is pronounced like the “e” in “set”.
3. “bon”
This is pronounced as “baw”. The “o” in “bon” is pronounced like the “o” in “dog”. Note that the “n” in “bon” is silent.
4. “temps”
This is pronounced as “tah”. The “a” in “temps” is pronounced like the “ah” in “father”. The “mps” at the end of “temps” is pronounced like the “mps” in “lamps”.
5. “rouler”
This is pronounced as “roo-lay”. The “ou” in “rouler” is pronounced like the “oo” in “boot”. The “er” at the end of “rouler” is pronounced like the “er” in “butter”.
| Correct | Incorrect |
|---|---|
| leh-say lay baw tah roo-lay | lay-see lez bone tahm roo-lay |
| lay-see lay bone tah roo-lay | lay-say lay baw tahm roo-lay |
| leh-say lay bun tah roo-lay | lay-see lay baw tom roo-lay |
Emphasis
In the phrase “Laissez les bons temps rouler,” the emphasis should be placed on the following words:
- “les”
- “bons”
- “temps”
- “rouler”
Intonation
The intonation of the phrase should be slightly rising at the beginning and then falling at the end. This is called the “falling-rising intonation” pattern.
Syllables
The phrase “Laissez les bons temps rouler” is a 10-syllable phrase. The syllables are divided as follows:
Laissez (3 syllables)
Les (1 syllable)
Bons (1 syllable)
Temps (1 syllable)
Rouler (4 syllables)
Pronunciation Table
Here is a table with the pronunciation of each word in the phrase:
| Word | Pronunciation |
|---|---|
| Laissez | leh-say |
| Les | lay |
| Bons | bohn |
| Temps | tahn |
| Rouler | roo-lay |
Regional Variations
The pronunciation of “Laissez les bon temps rouler” can vary depending on the region of Louisiana where it is spoken. Here are some of the most common regional variations:
Acadian Coast
In the Acadian Coast region, which encompasses the southern parishes of Louisiana, the phrase is typically pronounced with a strong emphasis on the first syllable of “Laissez.” The “i” in “bon” is also elongated, and the “s” in “temps” is pronounced with a more pronounced sibilant sound.
Cajun Country
In Cajun Country, which includes the central and southwestern parishes of Louisiana, the phrase is often pronounced with a less pronounced emphasis on the first syllable of “Laissez.” The “o” in “bon” is shortened, and the “s” in “temps” is pronounced with a less pronounced sibilant sound.
New Orleans
In New Orleans, the phrase is often pronounced with a more casual and relaxed tone. The “i” in “bon” is shortened, and the “s” in “temps” is pronounced with a very slight sibilant sound.
Other Variations
In addition to the regional variations listed above, there are also several other factors that can affect the pronunciation of “Laissez les bon temps rouler.” These include the speaker’s age, social class, and level of education.
Historical Evolution of Pronunciation
As the Louisiana Cajun culture evolved over time, so too did the pronunciation of the French phrase “Laissez les bon temps rouler.” Originally, the phrase would have been pronounced in Standard French, with a nasal “on” sound at the end of “temps.” However, over time, the pronunciation began to change in order to reflect the local Cajun accent. The following table provides a breakdown of how the pronunciation of the phrase changed over time:
| Year | Pronunciation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16th century | /lɛse le bɔ̃ tɑ̃ ʁule/ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 17th century | /lɛse le bɔ̃ tɑ̃ ʁule/ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 18th century | /lɛse le bɔ̃ tɑ̃ ʁole/ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 19th century | /lɛse le bɔ̃ tɑ̃ ʁu/ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 20th century | /lɛse le bɔ̃ tɑ̃ ʁu/ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Present day | /lɛse le bɔ̃ tɑ̃ ʁu/ |
| Usage | Example |
|---|---|
| Encourage others to enjoy themselves | “Laissez les bons temps rouler! Let’s party!” |
| Celebrate a special occasion | “Laissez les bons temps rouler! Happy Mardi Gras!” |
| Express enthusiasm for an upcoming event | “Laissez les bons temps rouler! I can’t wait for the concert!” |
| Create a sense of excitement and anticipation | “Laissez les bons temps rouler! The game is about to start!” |
| Welcome visitors to Louisiana | “Laissez les bons temps rouler! Welcome to Louisiana!” |
Phonological Analysis
Here is a detailed phonological analysis of the phrase “Laissez les bon temps rouler”:
1. Vowels
The phrase contains the following vowels:
| Phoneme | Example |
|---|---|
| /ɛ/ | “laissez” |
| /e/ | “les” |
| /ɔ̃/ | “bon” |
| /u/ | “temps” |
| /ø/ | “rouler” |
2. Consonants
The phrase contains the following consonants:
| Phoneme | Example |
|---|---|
| /l/ | “laissez” |
| /z/ | “les” |
| /b/ | “bon” |
| /t/ | “temps” |
| /r/ | “rouler” |
3. Stress
The phrase is stressed on the last syllable:
“Lais-sez les bon temps rou-ler”
4. Diphthongs
The phrase contains one diphthong:
| Diphthong | Example |
|---|---|
| /ɔ̃/ | “bon” |
5. Nasalization
The vowel in “bon” is nasalized, meaning that air flows through the nose while the vowel is pronounced.
6. Liaison
In French, liaisons are when the final consonant of one word is pronounced with the initial vowel of the next word.
In “Laissez les bon temps rouler,” there is a liaison between the final “z” of “les” and the initial “b” of “bon.”
7. Elision
In French, elision is when the final vowel of a word is dropped before a word beginning with a vowel.
In “Laissez les bon temps rouler,” there is elision of the final “e” of “le.”
8. Truncation
Truncation is the shortening of a word by removing one or more syllables from the end of the word.
In “Laissez les bon temps rouler,” the verb “rouler” is truncated from its full form “rouler la boule,” which means “to roll the ball.”
Impact of Dialects
The pronunciation of “Laissez les bons temps rouler” can vary depending on the speaker’s dialect. Here are some variations:
| Dialect | Pronunciation |
|---|---|
| Standard French | Leh-say lay bohn tahn roo-leh |
| Cajun French | Lay-say lay bon tahn roo-lay |
| Louisiana Creole | Lay-say lay bon tahn roolie |
The Cajun French pronunciation is the most common in Louisiana, where the phrase is often used as a motto. The Louisiana Creole pronunciation is similar, but the “r” sound is slightly more pronounced.
In addition to these regional variations, there are also generational and socio-economic differences in the pronunciation of “Laissez les bons temps rouler.” Older speakers are more likely to use the Standard French pronunciation, while younger speakers are more likely to use the Cajun French or Louisiana Creole pronunciation.
Tips for Accurate Pronunciation
1. Break Down the Phrase:
Separate the phrase into smaller syllables: Laissez (lay-say), Les (lay), Bon (bon), Temps (tan), Rouler (roo-lay)
2. Practice Each Syllable:
Pronounce each syllable individually, exaggerating the vowel sounds.
3. Pronounce the “s” in “Les”:
The “s” in “Les” is pronounced as an “s” sound, not as a “z” sound.
4. Roll the “r” in “Rouler”:
The “r” in “Rouler” should be pronounced with a distinct trill or roll.
5. Emphasize the “Bon”:
The syllable “Bon” should be pronounced with emphasis, as it is the most important word in the phrase.
6. Connect the Syllables:
Once you’re comfortable with each syllable, practice connecting them smoothly.
7. Mimic Native Speakers:
Listen to native French speakers and try to imitate their pronunciation.
8. Use a Pronunciation Guide:
Refer to a pronunciation guide or dictionary to check your pronunciation.
9. Practice Regularly:
Regular practice is key to improving your pronunciation.
10. Detailed Breakdown of “Rouler”:
| Syllable | Pronounciation |
|---|---|
| Rou | roo |
| ler | lay |
– The “r” in “Rou” should be rolled or trilled.
– The “e” in “ler” is silent.
