Bonjou! Learn to Speak Haitian Creole

Bonjou! ...Mèsi! ...E Orevwa! Search for English or Haitian Creole words translation. Also search the whole site for expressions, idioms and grammar rules. And ask questions about the language in the ASK QUESTIONS HERE section.

Most requested translations added here for your convenience: I love you → Mwen renmen w. I miss you → Mwen sonje w. My love!Lanmou mwen!

Sunday, July 31, 2011

Wait a few minutes, please (creole)

wait - tann

Wait a few minutes. - Tann yon ti moman.


Wait a few minutes, please. - Tanpri, tann yon ti moman.

Wait for me. - Tann mwen. 
(English speakers tend to translate the word "for" after "wait".  It is not necessary to do that.  To wait for will simply translate to Tann.)  see more examples.

Wait for us. - Tann nou.

Wait for him. - Tann li.

I was waiting for you at bus station.
Mwen tap tann ou nan estasyon bis la.

love

love → lanmou

how to say (hello) in creole

Here's a link to introductory phrases in Haitian Creole :)

http://sweetcoconuts.blogspot.com/2011/06/25-useful-introductory-haitian-creole.html

Ask me anything

how do you say life is beautiful?

Life is beautiful. Lavi a bèl.

Power of Love (Creole)

Power of love → Pouvwa lanmou

fout?

It is a cuss word. It's compared to: darn! danm! crap! holy cow! and more. Take your pick.

Fout! is also used within a sentence to show frustration, anger, and pure disdain.
Example:
Mwen fout di ou non!
I cuss word tell you no!

Sòti deyò fout!
Get cuss word out!

Ou fout pa bon!
You are cuss word no good!

Saturday, July 30, 2011

Ak kisa? → With what?

with a, ak avè, avèk
what → kisa, sa (contraction for "kisa")

We are content with what we have.
Nou kontante ak sa nou genyen.

What will we eat it with?
Ak kisa nap manje li?

What are you writing with? A pen or pencil?
Ak kisa wap ekri? Yon plim oswa yon kreyon?

With which?
Which car will you go with?
Ak ki machin ou prale?

With whom?
Who will you go home with?
Ak ki moun ou pral lakay ou?

Who are you talking with?
Ak ki moun wap pale?

ak kisa san ou,ou konnen mpa kapab

...ak kisa san ou, (sentence fragment)
...with what without you,

Ou konnen m pa kapab
You know I can't

could you please translate: Where's the nearest beach?; I have come to dance/I have come to surf; Where is a good place to eat?; Let's go clubbing; What time of the year/month/day are the waves the biggest?---Thank you, your site has been so helpful!

Thanks ☺

Where's the nearest beach?
Ki bò plaj ki pi pre a ye la?

I have come to dance.
Mwen vini pou mwen danse.

I have come to surf.
Mwen vini pou mwen plane sou dlo a.
Mwen vini pou fè espò sou dlo a.


Best translation for Surf → fè espò sou dlo a, plane sou dlo a

Where's a good place to eat?
Ki pi bon kote ki genyen pou m al manje la?

Let's go clubbing?
Ann ale nan "club".
or
Ann ale nan bal.
or
Ann ale nan bwat de nwi.

What time of the year are the waves the biggest?
Ki lè nan ane a vag yo vini pi wo?

What time of the day are the waves the biggest?
Ki lè nan jounen an vag yo vini pi wo?

What months of the year are the waves the biggest?
Ki mwa nan ane a vag yo vini pi wo?

Haitian Creole POSSESSIVE (Part 2)

POSSESSIVES PART 2

Download link for this audio:
http://limanecasimi.audioacrobat.com/download/3f835c9b-16a5-a552-03ee-4369f0d833d8.mp3


To listen to this audio, click the play button, listen and follow allong :)


Bonjou a tout moun k ap koute!
Hello to everyone listenning in!

Part 2 - POSSESSIVE NOUNS

1. Joseph's car    
    the car of the Joseph   
   machin Joseph la

No translation for preposition "of"
 
2. the man's shoe
    the shoe of the man
    soulye mesye a
   
3. the little girl's hat
    the hat of the little girl
    chapo ti fi a   

4. the children's beds
    the beds of the children
    kabann timoun yo

5. my father's house
    the house of my father
    kay papa mwen 
    
6. Joe and Marie's wedding was beautiful.
    The wedding of the Joe and Marie was beautiful.
    Maryaj Joe ak Marie a te bèl.

7. The hospital's windows blew up.
    The windows of the hospital blew up.
    Fenèt lopital la pete*

Did you know?
*Pete (v. n.) - to blow up, to explode, to fart

8.  Mrs. Johnson's class was interesting
     The class of the Mrs. Johnson was enteresting.
    Klas Madanm Johnson nan te enteresan
   

9. My mother's house is old.
     The house of my mother is old.
    Kay manman mwen an ansyen.
   

10.Your friend's book is heavy.
      The book of your friend is heavy
     Liv zanmi w la lou.
    

11. You are my heart's desire.
      You are the desire of my heart.
     Ou se dezi kè mwen.

Enben se tout.  Mèsi e orevwa!
Well that's all.  Thanks and goodbye!

Learn more about possessive nouns at this link:
Track:  Ou Pi La  from klasik twoubadou

go to hell (creole)

most fitting expression and non-literal translation:
Go to hell! - Ale w laba!
Go to hell! - Ale w vouzan!
Go to hell! - Vouzan!
(From the French Allez-vous-en! which means Go away!)

Friday, July 29, 2011

I love you (with all my heart) - Translation and maybe more...

Mezanmi! Is is Valentines Day already ☺

I love you - Mwen renmen ou.

I love you with all my heart. - Mwen renmen ou avèk tout kè m.

My heart beats for you alone. - Kè m ap bat pou ou sèlman.

M pa ka tann pou  nou fè youn. - I can't wait for us to become one.

Ou se souf lavi mwen. - You are the breath of my life.

Ou se sèl fanm pou mwen. - You are the woman for me.

Ou se sèl nonm pou mwen. - You are the man for me.

How to begin and end a letter in Haitian Creole

There isn't just one way to do this.  But here's a few suggestions:

29 Jiyè 2011
July 29th, 2011

          Start letter with
          Monchè Jean My dear John
          Machè Jeanne My dear Jane
          Gwo kout chapo Hello! (Hats off!)
          Onè… Respè! Hello! (Honor and respect)
          Pou zanmi mwen, Jean To my friend, John
          Cheri mwen, My darling,
          Cheri kè mwen, To the darling of my heart
          Jackie cheri Dear Jackie


State the purpose of the letter.
Mwen kontan gen chans ekri ou jodi a.
I'm glad to have the chance to write to you today.

Mwen sonje w anpil.
I miss you so much


Lè mwen wè w ankò, na pase plis tan ansanm.
When I see you again, we'll spend more time together

Etc…
          End letter with
          Avèk anpil lanmou, With lots of love,
          Avèk senserite, Sincerely,
          Zanmi ou, Your friend,
          Bondye beni w, God Bless you
          Menaj ou, Your sweetheart,
          Mwen renmen w, I love you,
          Map toujou renmen w, i will always love you
          Se pou gras Bondye avè w, God's grace be with you,
          Kenbe la, Keep it up,

how to you say am doing fine

I am doing fine - Mwen byen.

I am not too bad. - Mwen pa pi mal.

How to say: Do you remember me?I was here last year.Thanks Mandaly! =)

Do you remember me?
Eske ou sonje mwen?
or
Do you remember (who I am)?
Eske ou sonje kilès mwen ye?


I was here last year.
Mwen te la ane pase.

HOW TO SAY BYE

bye, goodbye - orevwa, babay

it's payback time now

Translation:
Se lè pou bay rannman.
or
Se lè pou peye pou sa w fè.

you are an angel

angel - anj, zanj, lezanj

you are an angel - Ou se yon zanj.

ti lezanj (literally "little angel") a naive person

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

You are beautiful (in Creole)

You are beautiful. - Ou bèl.

Please, don't leave me! (in Creole)

Please, don't leave me!
Tanpri, pa kite m!  or
Silvouplè, pa kite m!

bonswa

Bonswa!Good evening!

This is baloney! (creole translation)

baloney, nonsense, rubbish, foolishness, craptentennad, radotay, ransay, chantay

This is baloney! → Sa se radotay!

All this is nonsense! → Tout sa se chantay!

This is crap! → Sa s'on tentennad!, Sa s'on radotay! (non-vulgar, but effective choice of words)

blessing

blessing -  benediksyon, gras

coconut water

coconut water - dlo kokoye (clear liquid found in a coconut)

coconut juice - ji kokoye (it's also coconut water)

coconut milk - lèt kokoye ( it's the milk extracted from the meat of the coconut)

what does Toujou an ke mwen mean

kè (with an accent on the e) means heart
ke (with no accent on the e) means
tail

toujou nan kè mwen means always in my heart.

toujou an ke means always come last

how are you doing today?

How are you doing today?
Kijan ou ye jodi a? or
Kouman ou ye jodi a?

how do you say big daddy

Big daddy (literally) - gwo papa
Big Daddy (as in hotshot, mogul, moneyman) → gwo palto, zotobre, gwo chabrak, bigchòt.
Big Daddy (as in your little "pooh bear") → papi, nèg, nonm, boulpik
My Big Daddy → nèg mwen, nonm mwen, ti papi m, boulpik mwen

what does Toujou an ke mwen mean

Toujou nan kè mwen. - Always in my heart

You're always in my heart

You're always in my heart.
Ou toujou nan kè mwen.

Leave me alone?Mind your own business?You must be joking?Are you kidding?

Leave me alone!
Kite m an repo!


Mind your own business!
Okipe zafè ou, tande!


You must be joking!
Ou gen lè sou blag!


Are you kidding!
Eske ou sou blag?

I am just teasing you!
Se fawouche m'ap fawouche w!
Se jwe m'ap jwe avè w!
Se sou blag mwen ye!
Se sou jwèt mwen ye!
Ask me anything

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

How do you say? god is with you

God is with you. - Bondye avèk ou.

say black

Black - nwa

I still dont understand the "fet" portion of sa kap fet? because I thought that meant a party or birthday (birth) and I thought "Fe" without the letter "T" is the verb that means - to do,make? Why is there a "T" at the end of the verb "fe" in this express

You are right, but:
Fèt (v.) in Haitian Creole also mean made, to be done, to be produced, to happen, to occur.
Fèt (v.) in Haitian Creole also means to be supposed, to have to, ought to, must, should
Fèt (n.) in Haitian Creole means birthday, party, celebration, holiday, jubilation
Fèt (v.) in Haitian Creole means to be born

Other links for FÈT

***Please note that and fèt are used in different circumstances in Haitian Creole.  So Fèt IS NOT the past tense of (at least not in Haitian Creole).  They are both used in different situations.


Examples:

Li te fèt deja. - It's done already.  or It already happened.

Sa fèt vre. - It happened for real.

Kijan sa te fèt? - How did it/this/that happen?

Kay sa fèt ak bwa. - This house is made of wood.

Maryaj la fèt vit. - The wedding was done quickly.

M'ap di ou sa ki te fèt. - I'll tell you what happened.

Ti bebe a te fèt yè. - The baby was born yesterday.

_________________
and fèt has many different meanings in Haitian Creole. Here is a few of them.

fè (as a verb) - to make, to do, to provide, to make happen
fè (as a noun) - metal iron, elemental iron, iron for ironing clothes
fè (as a noun) - fact

fèt (as a verb) - occurred, made, to get done, be born, to be supposed to
fèt (as a noun) - party, holiday, birthday
_______________

can you un-contract sa kap fet! and break it down word by word please?

Sa kap fèt  → Kisa ki ap fèt

Sa - is contraction for kisa which means what.
Ki - is a relative pronoun that means that, who, or which
ap - is the determiner for the progressive tense
fèt (v.) - as a verb means to do, to happen, to occur

Kisa ki ap fèt? - literally means "what that happening?"
Kisa ki ap fèt? - is the expression for "what's happening?"
The verb to be (se) is not written in this expression. 
It is not required.

______________________________
Same goes for "sak pase?"

Sak pase? → Kisa ki pase?
literally "what that passed"

Sak pase? - is the expression for "what's going on?" "What is happening" "What is up?"

please don't do that

Please don't do that. - Tanpri pa fè sa.

Hello, Is there anyway to learn Haitian Creole in person? I live in New York

Yes, we have some classes via skype that are starting Aug 1. They are introductory and Intermediate conversational Creole classes offered in the AM and PM. Check to see if this what you're looking for at this link: http://www.icontact-archive.com/xE-vuoXakAerUmUN9MDuYe5OB1W6nAjh?w=3

Ask me anything

Rest in peace on kreyolThank you

Rest in Peace - Repoze an pè

I miss you my dear

I miss you my dear. - mwen sonje w cheri mwen

what is ti gason

ti gason - little boy

Why is "sa te" used for was?

Sa - that
te - is indicative of past tense
The verb 'to be' is not named here, but it's understood.

THAT'S IT!

Thats' it ! - se li! or Se li menm!

how do you say i like you ?

I like you (same as I love you) - mwen renmen w

Monday, July 25, 2011

Koute kè mwen

Koute - listen

koute m - listen to me

Koute kè mwen. - Listen to my heart.

mwen vle fe seks avek

Translation:
I want to have sexual relations with...

What is 'de ren' or 'deryen"

deryen, de ryen - Don't mention it, it was nothing.

Deryen is what you say when someone says 'Thank You!'

Are the 5 adjectives that you mentioned - big, small, large, old, beautiful - the only ones that come before the noun? If not, could you provide a complete list so I can memorize it please?

Commonly used Haitian Creole adjectives that come before the noun:
Bad move                 
Ask me anything
Beautiful – bèl
Big – gwo
Good - bon
Great – gran
Huge – gwo
Humongous – gwo, katafal
Large – gwo
Last – dènye
Old – vye
Other – lòt
Pretty – bèl
Small – ti
Some – kèk
Young – jèn
Same – menm
Several – plizyè

how to say "have you ever...?" and "I have never..."

I have never... - M pa janm...
I have never spoken to her. - M pa janm pale avè li.
I have never eaten a mango. - M pa janm manje yon mango.
I had never said that. - M pa te janm di sa.


Have you ever...? - Eske ou janm...?
Have you ever gone to Haiti? - Eske ou janm ale Ayiti?
Have you ever seen the sun set? - Eske ou janm wè solèy la kouche?
Have you ever eaten goat meat? - Eske ou janm manje vyann kabrit?

miss you brother

M sonje w, frè m.

understand

Understand
konprann

Do you understand me?
Eske ou konprann mwen?

I don't understand.
Mwen pa konprann.

I understand a little.
Mwen konprann tout piti.

! what does that mean?

What does that mean? - Kisa sa vle di?

you are the rock of my soul

I am translating rock rather as a 'stronghold'.
translation:
Ou se fòtifyan nanm mwen.
Ou se sipò nanm mwen.
Ou se ranpa nanm mwen
.

Haitian Creole POSSESSIVE (Part 1)

Download link for this audio:

To listen to this audio, press the play button, listen and follow along :)

Bonjou a tout moun kap koute!
Hello to everyone listening in!

Part 1 - possessive adjectives (my, your, our.)

Part 2 - possesive nouns (Joe's car)

In Haitian Creole the possessive adjectives are:
mwen, m - my
ou, w -  your
li, l - his, her
nou, n - our
nou, n - your
yo - their

Ezamples:
1. papa mwen.
    my dad / my father

2. papa m.
    my dad / my father

3. Papa m malad.
    My dad is ill.
____________
4. chapo li
    his hat / her hat

5. chapo l
    His hat / her hat

6. Chapo l tonbe.
    His hat fell
__________
7. liv ou
    your book.

8. liv ou a
   your book

9. Liv ou a ble.
   Your book is blue.
__________
10. zanmi w
     your friend

11. zanmi w la
     your friend

12. Zanmi w la komik.
      Your friend is funny.
__________
13. Ban m men ou.
     Give me your hand.

14. Mwen renmen cheve w.
      I like your hair.

15. Biznis mwen an ap mache byen.
      My enterprise is going well.

16. Pitit yo a lopital.
      Their child is at the hospital

17. Li pèdi tèt li.
     She lost her head.
Enben se tout.  Mèsi e Orevwa!
Well that's all.  Thank you and Goodbye!

Learn more about Possessive adjectives at these links:

Sunday, July 24, 2011

im burning

I'm burning - Map boule (translation may change depending on whether you're burning with fire, desire, or just living life)

Map boule - is also what you sometimes answer when someone asks you, "Sa k pase?"
Example:
-Sa k pase? (what's going on?, what's up?, what's happening?)
-Map boule.- (I'm holding strong)

pijon and letil

pijon → pigeon, dove, or penis (body part)

Lètil → (Comes from the French 'Plait-il?')  Also known in Creole as: 'plètil?"  This word is what someone answers when you call their name. It is the equivalent of what you would say if someone called your name: yes?  What? etc...

i love you my love

Translation:
Mwen renmen ou lanmou mwen

Ask me anything

How do I use a CHICKEN FEATHER? How do I shape it?

Plim poul is Haitian Creole for chicken feather

Haitians have been using chicken feathers to clean their ears for as long as I can remember. 
The items of choice for cleaning your ears in Haiti are chicken feathers, cotton tip applicators or a bobby pin.
Sometimes a chicken feather is more readily available.
Thank God! because a bobby pin is dangerous.

To make your chicken feather "ear cleaner", pluck 1 single feather from a chicken or any bird.  Pull out the hairs from part of the shaft, but leave some hair at the tapered end of the feather as in the image above.  Clip the feather to a comfortable length.

Once the feather is fashioned to your liking, it's good to use.

Some people would bring the feather to their mouths to wet it a bit before they start to sweep their ears with it.  The feathers are very gentle to your ears.  The climactic sensation that it brings is an added bonus.  Watch and you'll see some people start rolling their eyes and doze off as soon as the feather touches their ears☺

There's a Haitian Creole expression that goes: Pase plim poul nan zòrèy (literally means to apply chicken feather to one's ears) it means to sweeten, to mollify, to sweet talk.

On your next trip to Haiti, if you pay attention, you'll see that some people carry their little cleaned chicken feathers tucked behind their ears.   Don't forget to get your own too!

translate "k ap pran swen"

k ap pran swen - ...who is taking care of
This sentence is not a question. It seems to be part of a sentence.

Pran swen (or bay swen, bay laswenyay) → to care for, to take of

Example:
Sa se enfimyè k ap pran swen mwen.
Sa se enfimyè ki ap pran swen mwen.
This is the nurse who's taking care of me.

pap

pap (contraction for pa ap) - negative form of a progressive or future tense.
pa → determiner for negative form in Creole
ap → determiner for progressive and also future tense
pap stands for not verb + ing
pap also stands for will not

Example:
Mwen pap manje.
I am not eating

Mwen pap pale.
I am not talking.

Mwen pap vini.
I will not come.

Nou pap janm bliye.
We will never forget.

Mwen renmen lavi m

Mwen renmen lavi m.
I love my life.

How do u say I Love u?

I love you. - Mwen renmen ou.

Creole word for soup

soup → soup
Same spelling and pronunciation

stew - bouyon
beef stew - bouyon vyan bèf

What is the origin of the Haitian Creole word FOK?

Fòk - comes from the French: 'FAUT QUE' as in 'IL FAUT QUE'.

Fòk or Fò (v.) → must, have to

When using the verbs Fòk or in a sentence, the subject will come after the verb.
Please notice how I place the subjects or subject pronouns after the verbs Fòk and Fò.

Examples:
1. Fòk mwen ale.
    I must go.

2. Fò m pale avè w
    I must talk to you.

3. ou vini wè mwen.
    You must come to see me.

4. Fòk nou goumen pou libète nou.
    We must fight for our freedom.

5. Fòk bagay yo chanje.
   Things must change.

6.  Pa rete nan kabann.  Fòk ou leve.
     Don't stay in bed.  You have to get up.

negative sentences with Fòk and
7.  Fò w pa pale konsa.
     You must not talk like that.

8.  Fò w pa al dòmi ta, tande!
     You must not go to sleep late, you hear!

9.  Fòk ou pa aji konsa!
    You must not act like that!

NEGERIA, PA ALE A ROUT LA TOU!

Is Negeria the name of a person?

PA ALE A ROUT LA TOU! is not Haitian Creole. But it is definitely Creole.
Perhaps you might want to give more info on the context. Thanks :)

Ask me anything

Saturday, July 23, 2011

my greatest love

My greatest love - Pi gran lanmou mwen

Omg Mw ta mange yon bon ti mayi mouli avek zaboka

Haitians do not say OMG☺ They'd say MEZANMI!

Translation:
Oh how I would love to eat cornmeal and avocados.
Put some hot pepper on mine, please:)

I want you to know how much I love you in Creole language

Translation:
Mwen vle ou konnen kòman mwen renmen ou.

chita

Chita. - Sit down

Chita tande. - Sit and listen.

Chita tann. - Sit and wait.

lapoula?

La pou la (lapoula) - Right then and there, immediately, at this instant

under the earth has no parties

Translation:
Anba tè a, pa gen fèt.

I'm assuming that you mean to say that when you're six feet under, there are no partying,, right?

grand fo ma!

Do you mean: Grann, fò m ale! - Grandma, I must go!

what does respete mean

If you mean: respekte (v.) → to respect
If you mean: repete (v.) → to repeat

Friday, July 22, 2011

how to write jesus haiti is in your hands

Jesus, Haiti is in your hands.
Jezi, Ayiti nan men ou.

how are you

How are you? - Kouman ou ye?
See other introductory phrases in Haitian Creole at this link: http://sweetcoconuts.blogspot.com/2011/06/25-useful-introductory-haitian-creole.html

On lesson 23, the future tense post) you wrote the sentence, Machin sa pral pa w. Why the pa, if its not a negative sentence? (THE CAR WILL BE YOURS)

In that case I was talking about the possessive pronouns:

If you were using the following possessive pronouns and you needed to make a negative sentence, you would have to use yet another "pa" in your sentence. See examples below. Hope this helps.

The followings are possessive pronouns
pa mwen (pa m) → mine

pa ou (pa w) → yours

pa li (pa l) → his, hers

pa nou (pa n) → ours

pa yo → theirs

Examples:
Sa se pa m. - This mine.

Manje sa se pa w. - this food is yours.

Liv sa se pa li. - The book is his.

Kay la se pa nou. - The house is ours.

Magazen an se pa yo. - The store is theirs.

Kote pa m? - Where is mine?


Using negative sentences
Manje sa se pa pa w. - This food is not yours

Liv sa se pa pa m. - This book is not mine.

what does get mean

gèt → from thr French "guetter"

It means to wait for, to anticipate, to stalk

This is not a Creole word, but it is used in a few creole expressions.

Ask me anything

what does vexer en rager mean

vekse (v.) → to insult
anraje - to lose you cool, to lose your temper, to act in a senseless manner.
Li vekse m.
He insulted me.

Mesye a vekse.  Li mande anraje.
The man was insulted.  He lost his temper.

how do you say satan in creole

same spelling, different ponunciation
Satan → satan
devil → dyab
evil mechan, malveyan, satanik

what does moun blanc mean

Moun blan - white people
You will also hear white people being described as "je vèt" or "blan je vèt" which literally means 'green eyes'.