French Caribbean

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 Indies, 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 speaking. These areas include Martinique, Guadeloupe (Basse-Terre, Grande-Terre, Marie-Galante, La Désirade, Terre-de-Haut, Terre-de-Bas), Haiti, French Guiana, French St. Martin and Saint-Barthélemy as well as portions of Dominica, 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.

Any area that exhibits a combination of French and Caribbean cultural influences in cuisine, style, architecture, and so on. New Orleans, Louisiana 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