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Bayou - Meaning, Definition & English Examples

A bayou is a slow-moving or stagnant body of water, often found in flat, low-lying areas like the southern United States. It is typically marshy and may connect to larger rivers or lakes.

bayou

/ˈbaɪ.u/ /ˈbaɪ.uː/

Definition:

A marshy, slow-moving stream or swamp, common in the southern U.S.

Synonyms:

swamp, marsh, wetland, backwater

Part of Speech:

noun

Antonyms:

desert, upland

Common Collocations:

bayou country, bayou wildlife, bayou vegetation

Derivatives:

bayous (plural), bayou-like (adj.)

Usage Tips:

Use "bayou" to describe Southern U.S. wetlands; avoid for fast-moving rivers or dry regions.

Common Phrases:

down the bayou, bayou magic, lost in the bayou

Etymology:

Derived from Choctaw "bayuk," meaning "small stream," adopted into Louisiana French and English.

Examples:

  • 1. The alligator lurked in the murky bayou.
  • 2. We paddled our canoe through the winding bayou at sunset.
  • 3. Spanish moss draped over the trees near the bayou’s edge.
  • 4. The bayou teemed with frogs and water lilies in summer.

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