phrase Street Slang

Gumbo ya-ya

· phrase · nola

Everybody talking at once — overlapping, chaotic, joyful conversation.

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Definitions

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When a whole room is talking simultaneously and nobody's really listening — the verbal equivalent of gumbo, everything mixed together. Affectionate, not a complaint. It's a feature of a good kitchen, a good porch, a good wake.

“Thanksgiving at Auntie's was straight gumbo ya-ya from noon til the saints kicked off.”
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Gumbo ya-ya In A Sentence

Thanksgiving at Auntie's was straight gumbo ya-ya from noon til the saints kicked off.

Origin & Usage

Louisiana French / Creole. 'Ya-ya' = everyone talking. Lyle Saxon's 1945 folklore collection Gumbo Ya-Ya pinned the phrase down on the page; locals already used it.

Variants gumbo ya ya
Tags #nola#cajun#creole#conversation#urban-lingo

People Also Ask

What does gumbo ya-ya mean?

Gumbo ya-ya describes everybody talking at once — a chaotic, overlapping, joyful burst of conversation.

How do you use gumbo ya-ya in a sentence?

You might say, "Dinner turned into pure gumbo ya-ya with everyone shouting over each other."

Where does gumbo ya-ya come from?

It's a Louisiana Creole expression, tied to the same New Orleans culture that gives us gumbo the dish.

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