Patois is a noun that refers to the dialect of the common people of a region.

Our word of the day comes from a French word that means ‘rough speech.’ It has come to refer to any dialogue of a language spoken by the common people.

I had always thought I understood English perfectly well, but after hearing the patios of many people in Appalachia, I realized how little I truly understood. Their brand of English was difficult for me to make sense of.