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.
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.