The term
French Caribbean varies in meaning with its usage and frame of reference. This ambiguity makes it very different from the term
French West IndiesThe term French West Indies refers to the four territories presently under French sovereignty in the Caribbean: the two overseas departments of Guadeloupe and Martinique, plus the two overseas collectivities of Saint Martin and Saint-Barthélemy...
, which refers to the specific, formal French possessions in the Caribbean region.
When used as a noun with “the” to indicate a geographic location, as in “visiting the French Caribbean”, the term may refer to any of the following:
- Areas in or around the Caribbean region that are predominantly French-speaking or French Creole
A French creole, or French-based creole language, is a creole language based on the French language, more specifically on a 17th century koiné French extent in Paris, the French Atlantic harbors, and the nascent French colonies...
speaking.
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The term
French Caribbean varies in meaning with its usage and frame of reference. This ambiguity makes it very different from the term
French West IndiesThe term French West Indies refers to the four territories presently under French sovereignty in the Caribbean: the two overseas departments of Guadeloupe and Martinique, plus the two overseas collectivities of Saint Martin and Saint-Barthélemy...
, which refers to the specific, formal French possessions in the Caribbean region.
When used as a noun with “the” to indicate a geographic location, as in “visiting the French Caribbean”, the term may refer to any of the following:
- Areas in or around the Caribbean region that are predominantly French-speaking or French Creole
A French creole, or French-based creole language, is a creole language based on the French language, more specifically on a 17th century koiné French extent in Paris, the French Atlantic harbors, and the nascent French colonies...
speaking. These areas include MartiniqueMartinique is an island in the eastern Caribbean Sea, with a land area of . It is an overseas department of France. To the northwest lies Dominica, to the south St Lucia, and to the southeast Barbados. As with the other overseas departments, Martinique is also one of the twenty-six regions of...
, GuadeloupeGuadeloupe is an archipelago located in the eastern Caribbean Sea at , with a land area of 1,628 square kilometres . It is an overseas department of France. As with the other overseas departments, Guadeloupe is also one of the twenty-six regions of France and an integral part of the Republic...
(Basse-TerreBasse-Terre Island is the name of the western-half of Guadeloupe proper, in the Lesser Antilles. It is separated from the other half of Guadeloupe proper, Grande-Terre, by a narrow sea channel called the Rivière Salée ....
, Grande-TerreThe main part of Guadeloupe consists of two islands separated by a salt river and whose combined shape resembles a butterfly. The western island is Basse-Terre Island and the eastern island is Grande-Terre...
, Marie-GalanteMarie-Galante is an island of the Caribbean Sea located in the Guadeloupean archipelago. Marie-Galante is constitutionally part of France, as Guadeloupe is an overseas région and département....
, La DésiradeLa Désirade is an island in the French overseas région and département of Guadeloupe, in the Lesser Antilles.It has a land area of 20.64 km² and a population of 1,595 in 2006 , with a population density of 77 inh. per km² in 2006...
, Terre-de-HautTerre-de-Haut Island is an island in the Îles des Saintes archipelago in Guadeloupe. It belongs to the commune of Terre-de-Haut. The Fort Napoléon des Saintes is located on this island....
, Terre-de-Bas), HaitiHaiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Creole- and French-speaking Caribbean country. Along with the Dominican Republic, it occupies the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago...
, French GuianaFrench Guiana is an overseas department of France, located on the northern coast of South America. It has borders with two nations, Brazil and Suriname. Like the other DOMs, French Guiana is also an overseas region of France, one of the 26 regions of France. Its currency is the euro...
, French St. Martin and Saint-BarthélemySaint Barthélemy , officially the Collectivity of Saint Barthélemy , is an overseas collectivity of France. To the northwest lies St. Martin, to the southwest Saba, to the south St. Eustatius and St. Kitts, and ultimately to the southeast Barbuda.It has an area of 21 km² and a population of...
as well as portions of DominicaDominica, officially the Commonwealth of Dominica, is an island nation in the Caribbean Sea. To the north-northwest lies Guadeloupe, to the southeast Martinique. Its size is and the highest point in the country is Morne Diablotins, which has an elevation of . The Commonwealth of Dominica has an...
, St. Lucia .
- The two official French overseas departments are Guadeloupe and Martinique. St Martin and St Barthélemy, formerly attached to the department of Guadeloupe, have held separate status as overseas "collectivities" since 2007. These Caribbean Départments et Collectivités d’Outre Mer are also known as the French West Indies
The term French West Indies refers to the four territories presently under French sovereignty in the Caribbean: the two overseas departments of Guadeloupe and Martinique, plus the two overseas collectivities of Saint Martin and Saint-Barthélemy...
.
- Any area that exhibits a combination of French and Caribbean cultural influences in cuisine, style, architecture, and so on. New Orleans, Louisiana
The State of Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state divided into parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
in the United States is one example of these kinds of influences.
When used as an adjective, as in “French Caribbean islands” or "French Caribbean style," the term is also ambiguous and dependent upon the user's frame of reference and context.
See also
- Antillean Creole
Antillean Creole is a French-lexified creole language spoken primarily in the Lesser Antilles. Its grammar and vocabulary also include elements of Carib and African languages. Antillean Creole is related to Haitian Creole, but has a number of distinctive features...
- Anglophone Caribbean
The term Anglophone Caribbean is used to refer to the independent English-speaking countries of the Caribbean region. Upon a country's full independence from the United Kingdom, Anglophone Caribbean traditionally becomes the preferred sub-regional term as a replacement to British West Indies.The...
(for other parts of the Caribbean)