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!

Monday, October 31, 2011

Mwen byen ak ou

Mwen byen ak ou.
(I am on good terms with you)
We're on good terms.

i guess they let him go, He got out.

I guess they let him go.
Mwen panse yo dwe kite l ale.

He got out.
Li sòti.
Li deyò.

i love your blog! how do you say hi grandma, what have you been up to?

Thanks :)

Hello grandma, what have you been up to?
Bonjou/bonswa grann, kisa w'ap regle?

Alèz kom blèz nan chèz san pinèz. Who or what is "blèz"?

This expression is a pun.
"Blèz" is a proper name.
The word "Blèz" is used because it rhymes with "Alèz, chèz, and pinèz".

It is like saying: Holy Molly!

Generally, Alèz kòm blèz nan chèz san pinèz alludes to "As comfortable as an old shoe", or "As relaxed as wet spaghetti".

what is sissy in creole

Sissy → dèyè manman, krebete, kanannan, egare

how the family doing

How's the family doing?
Kijan fanmi an ye?

how do you say fun in creloe

fun → plezi, amizman, anmizman
to have fun → pran plezi, anmize

Have fun
Pran plezi w.
Anmize w.

We'll have fun.
N'ap anmize nou.

u mad at me (Creole

Are you mad at me?
Eske ou fache avè m?

You mad at me?
Ou fache avè m?

what is hot in creole

Hot → cho

hot coffee → kafe cho
hot water → dlo cho
hot sun → solèy cho
hot girl → fanm byen kanpe (can't use "cho" for this kind of "hot":-)

Sticky fingers (Creole)

Sticky fingers (expression) → dwèt long (expression)

Im hungry, lets eat

I'm hungry. Let's eat.
Mwen grangou. An nou manje.

where was i on 9/11/01? I was in college. this day was so terrible for americans who lost their loved ones. Not just for those american who lost their loved ones but for all american.

Let's never forget.
An nou pa janm bliye.

Still, as in: we're still standing (Creole)

still → toujou

I'm still alive.
M'ap viv toujou.

We're still here.
Nou la toujou.

I still love you.
Mwen renmen ou toujou.

I'm still waiting for you.
M'ap tann ou toujou.

I'm still on my way.
Mwen nan wout toujou.

I'm still mad as hell.
Mwen fache toujou.
___________________

Still (as in quiet) → kal, trankil, dousman

Be still.
Rete dousman.

I was sitting by the waters.  Everything was still...
Mwen te chita bò dlo a.  Tout bagay te kal...

Why won't you be still?
Poukisa ou pa rete trankil?

Without a fuss (Creole)

A few Haitian Creole will translate that:

Without a fuss
San bri san kont
San traka, ni dlo nan je
San goumen san batay

They surrendered without a fuss.
Yo bay legen san bri san kont.

Give me my money without a fuss.
Ban m lajan m san bri san kont.

Since it was their fault, they accepted it without a fight.
Paske se te fòt yo, yo asepte l san bri san kont.

se me ou ye

Do you mean "mè" with the accent on the "e"?
Me → month of May
Mè → nun

Se mè ou ye?
Are you a nun?

Can you tell me a typical Haitian joke?

Check out wwww.belblag.com

Ask me anything

woule de bò (expression)

expression → woule de bò
literally → rolling both sides
meaning → not being straight/direct with someone, to deceive someone, being two-faced, double-dealing

How to use this expression: Insert the pronoun after the word woule.

L'ap woule m de bò.
He's playing me.

Y'ap woule n de bò.
They're deceiving us.

Poukisa w'ap woule m de bò?
Why are you being two-faced with me?

Li gen menaj, men li di l'ap sòti avè w.  L'ap woule w de bò.
She has a boyfriend, yet she said she'll go out with you.  She's deceiving you.

Lè li avèk Levanjil, li di li se Levanjil,
Lè li avèk Katolik, li di li se Katolik.
L'ap woule n de bò.
When she's among Christians, she says she's a Christian,
When she's among Catholics, she says she's a Catholic.
She's deceiving us.

Good night, I love you (Creole)

Good night, I love you
Bòn nwi, mwen renmen ou.

Have a good night.
Pase bòn nwit.

Sweet dreams and good night.
Fè bon rèv e bòn nwi.

Sleep well.
Dòmi byen.

Sunday, October 30, 2011

wa al di label woz sa a, mwen konen'w!

Is "labèl wòz" the name of an individual?

Translation: Go an tell this to label woz, I know you!

konfiti (pronounced kon-fee-tee)

Konfiti (pronounced kon-fee-tee) from the French word confiture.  It is a marmalade.  It is a preserve usually made from the pulp of grapefruits.

blèz

Can you give me the context please?

The word "Blèz" is acually a proper name "Blaise".
Other than being a proper name, I've heard this word mainly in the following puns and expressions (which is in the likes of: Easy breezy):

Alèz kòm Blèz.
(literally: As relaxed as Blaise)
and
Alèz kòm Blèz ki chita sou chèz san pinèz.
(literally: As relaxed as Blaise sitting on bugless chair)

"to miss" and "to remember", USE SAME CREOLE VOCAB WORD?

miss (to long for) → sonje
remember → sonje

We miss you.
Nou sonje ou.

Did you miss me?
Eske ou te sonje m?

I missed so much while you were away.
Mwen te sonje ou anpil pandan ou pa't la.

I miss home.
Mwen sonje lakay mwen.

Remember to bring the milk.
Sonje pote lèt la.

Do you remember where you were on 9/11/01?
Eske ou sonje kote ou te ye 11/9/01?

Do you remember me?
Eske ou sonje m?

I don't remember anything.
Mwen pa sonje anyen.

I'm praying for you (Creole)

to pray → priye or lapriyè

I am praying for you.
M'ap priye pou ou.
or
M'ap lapriyè pou ou

I will pray for you.
Mwen va priye pou ou.
or
Mwen va lapriyè pou ou.

I have not heard anything from you. (in Creole)

I haven't heard anything from you.
Mwen pa tande anyen soti kote ou.
or
Mwen pa tande anyen bò kote ou.

You will also hear:
Mwen pa tande anyen de ou.
But you should know that the word "de" is considered a French word and is being eliminated from accurate translations.

I haven't heard from you.
Mwen pa tande ou.
or
Mwen pa tande ou menm.

I haven't heard from you at all
Mwen pa tande ou ditou.

peze-nen

expression → peze nen
literally to cover the nose
meaning turn a blind eye

thankou yon bél

Do you mean: tankou yon bèl or tankou yon bèt?

(Note: The accent on your "e" should go the opposite direction.  That makes a difference in the word sound.  Compare your accent to mine)

tankou yon bèl... → like a pretty....
tankou yon bèl flè... → like a pretty flower

But

Tankou yon bèt → like an animal.
Li te aji tankou yon bèt. → She acted like an animal.

to exchange, to trade

To trade → boukante (pronounced boo-kanh-tay)

Ala yon sovè espesyal mwen genyen!

Link: Ala yon sovè espesyal mwen genyen HYMN & LYRICS


Ala yon sovè espesyal mwen genyen.
What a special /wonderful savior I have.

Ala yon bèl jounen!
What a beautiful day!

Ala yon bèl ti chen!
What a cute puppy!

Ala yon move jounen mwen pase!
What a bad day I had!

Ala yon jwèt lèd!
What an ugly toy!

Arcahaie bèl peyi

Wi se sa!

Akayè bèl vil!
Akayè beautiful city!

Akayè tè zansèt mwen.
Akayè land of my ancestors.

Akayè, mwen regret mwen te kite w.
Akayè, I'm sorry I deserted you.

Akayè, yon jou na rankontre ankò.
Akayè, one day we'll meet again.

Akayè va akeyi m.
Akayè will welcome me.

Let me go (let go of me)

Let go of me. Lage m.

Let me go.
Kite m m'ale.

how is citrus spelled?

Citrus (oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruits, mandarin, tangerines and others)

oranges → zoranj
lemons → sitwon
limes → sitwon vèt
grapefruits → chadèque
mandarins → mandarin

Mwen pase men mwen yo nan kou w, mwen anbrase w e mwen di w mwen renmen w ak tout ke m. a demen si D vle.

Mwen pase men m nan kou w.
I put my arms around your neck.

Mwen anbrase w.
I embraced / kissed you.

E mwen di w, "mwen renmen w ak tout kè m".
And I said to you, "I love you with all my heart".

A demen si Dye vle.
See you tomorrow God willing.

Saturday, October 29, 2011

How do you say: you are someone special in creole?

Ou se yon moun espesyal.

Ask me anything

How do you say I'm sorry in creole?

Mwen dezole.
eskize mwen.
padone mwen.

Ask me anything

Lean on me

To lean → apiye

Lean on me.
Apiye sou mwen

Lean on the wall
Apiye sou mi an.

Don't lean on the table.
Pa apiye sou tab la.

Friday, October 28, 2011

It's me. (Creole)

It's me
Se mwen.
Se mwen menm.

It's me again.
Se mwen ankò.
Se mwen menm ankò.

It's me, your friend.
Se mwen menm zanmi ou.

It is me they're looking for.
Se mwen yap chache.

i have to get ready for work so call me later.

I have to get ready for work so call me later.
Fò m pare m pou m'al travay, rele m pita. (contracted)
Fò mwen pare mwen pou mwen al travay, rele mwen pita. (uncontracted)

i miss you more (Creole)

I miss you more.
Mwen sonje w plis.

I miss you.
Mwen sonje w.

I miss my mom.
Mwen sonje manman m.

I miss my children.
Mwen sonje timoun mwen yo.

I miss my baby.
Mwen sonje bebe mwen.

I miss my girlfriend/boyfriend.
Mwen sonje menaj mwen.

Do you miss me?
Eske ou sonje mwen?

Will you miss me?
Eske w'ap sonje m?

Flower

flower → flè

You are a beautiful flower.
Ou se yon bèl flè

Ask me anything

what does Mwen renmen sa zanmi Pam mean in english

Mwen renmen sa zanmi pa'm.

pa'm is a contraction for pa mwen.

pa mwen or pa'm means mine

zanmi pa'mfriend of mine, my friend

Mwen renmen sa zanmi pa'm
I like that my friend

how do you say bon fet and I hope enjoy your special day! in Kreyol

Happy Birthday! I hope you enjoy yourself well on your special day!
Bòn Fèt! Mwen espere ou anmize ou byen nan jou espesyal ou a!

Happy Birthday!  Enjoy your special day!
Bòn Fèt! Pran plezi ou nan jou espesyal ou a!

how to say happy birthday my friend

Bòn fèt zanmi mwen.

Ask me anything

Let's see (Creole)

Let's see.
Kite n gade.
Kite n wè.
Or
Te n gade.
Te n wè.
Or
An nou gade.
An nou wè.

Let me see.
Kite m gade
Kite m wè
or
Te m gade
Te m wè
   
Also....

Look  and see.
Gade pou wè.

Come look and see.
Vin gade pou wè.

Let's look and see.
An nou gade pou wè.

And also...

Wait and see.
Tann pou wè.

Wait and see what will happen.
Tann pou wè sa kap pase.

Wait and you will see.
Tann epi wa wè.


You're handsome

handsomebo, bo gason, galan, chèlbè, byen kanpe

You're handsome.
Ou galan.
Ou chèlbè.
Ou byen kanpe.
Ou bo gason.

MakawonA friend used to spout expressions akin to English's "See you later, alligator / in a while, crocodile." One ended with "di di / makawon / matchavèl / karamèl." It was accompanied by a vigorous handshake. I always wondered about those words.

I see. I haven't heard that term in a while.

Matchavèl karamèl is an expression shared among good friends.
Especially when you have good history together.
I guess it shouldn't be translated literally then.
Thanks for your response.

(The page does not allow comments because no profiles are selectable. Donk, it displays an error message "Please choose a profile" and provides no remedy.)

It should let you post anonymously.
If you choose anonymous in the list, click preview after you're done writing your comment.
It should let you post then.

I'll look more into that:)

nap gade. (what does it mean?)

Expression: → N'ap gade.
literally means → We're looking.
meaning → We're hanging on, we're doing ok, not too good not too bad

You'll hear this expression when you ask someone:  How are you doing? in Creole.
The answer is usually: Nou la, n'ap gade.  or just  N'ap gade.

Is Haiti the poorest country in the Hemisphere?

You know, I question this statement every time I hear it.
How many decades or centuries has it been since Haiti was given this title?
If you take a camera and you point it to all the devastated places in Haiti, then all you see is devastation, misery, and poor people.
Sure, unemployment rate is high.  And, it doesn't help that money acquired by the wealthy in Haiti doesn't stay in the country.  It goes to a foreign bank.
The small amount of tax collected in the country is diminished considerably by the time it reaches its destination.
The larger monetary supply that enters the country when the diaspora financially support their family doesn't make it to Haiti's banks either.
Haiti, in my opininon, is not the poorest country in the hemisphere, but it is the most poorly managed country in the hemisphere.

Makawon

Gee, where did you hear that word?  You got to tell me :)

Makawon → ugly, uptight, ill tempered, tense, critical

Nèg sa makawon.
This man is not approachable.

Bagay yo makawon.
Things are critical.

Dark (in Creole)

dark (as in: unlit) → nwa
darkness → fènwa
to darken → nwasi
example:
It's dark (adj.).
Li fè nwa.

It's too dark outside (adj.).
Li fè twò nwa deyò a.

I don't like to drive in the dark (n.).
Mwen pa renmen kondi nan fènwa.

They're living in darkness (n.).
Y'ap viv nan fènwa.

She darkened (v.) her hair.
Li nwasi cheve l.

Nwa (as in: darker shade) → fonse
example:
She was wearing a dark blue shirt.
Li te mete yon chemiz ble fonse.

I want to paint the walls with a dark color.
Mwen vle pentire mi yo ak yon koulè fonse.

me too (in Creole)

me too (as in: dido, same here, myself also) mwen menm tou

Let me know when it's done.

Let me know when it's done.
Kite m konnen lè li fini.

What's up with "pick up" in Creole?

To pick up (as in: lift) → Pran, leve
example:
1. Pick up the box.
    Leve bwat la.


2.  She picked up the chair with no problem.
     Li leve chèz la san pwoblèm.


3.  He gently picked up the child.
     Li leve timoun nan tout dousman.


To pick up (as in: collect, gather) → pran, ranmase
example:
1. Pick up all the toys from the floor before you go to bed.
    Ranmase tout jwèt yo atè a anvan w'al dòmi.


2.  Pick them up.
     Ranmase yo.


3.  A strong wind pick up the houses and threw them in the air.
     Yon gwo van ranmase kay yo e li voye yo anlè a.


To pick up (as in:  clean up) → netwaye
example:
1.  Pick up your room a bit.
    Netwaye chanm ou non.

2.  He leaves his socks all over the house.  I have to pick up after him.
     Li kite chosèt li tout kote nan kay la.  Fòk mwen netwaye aprè li.




To pick up ( as in: to go get) → ale chache, ale pran
To pick up (as in: come get) → vini chache, vini pran
example:
1. Come pick me up.
    Vin chache mwen. or
    Vin pran mwen.


2. Can you come pick me up at the school?
     Eske ou ka vin chache mwen nan lekòl la?
     Eske ou ka vin pran mwen nan lekòl la?


3.  Someone from the church will come to pick us up at the airport.
     Yon moun nan legliz la ap vin chache nou nan aewopò a.
     Yon moun nan legliz la ap vin pran nou nan aewopò a.

4.  Are you on your way to pick me up?
     Eske ou nan wout pou vin chache m?

5.  I'm on my way to pick you up.
     Mwen nan wout pou m vin chache w.

6.  They've arrived.  Can you go pick them up?
     Yo rive.  Eske ou ka al chache yo?

7.  Go get me an umbrella.
     Ale chache yon parapli pou mwen.
     Ale pran yon parapli pou mwen.

Mwen kontan messaj ou.

Mwen kontan mesaj ou.
I was glad to get your message.

What is "handwriting" in Creole

handwriting → ekriti
handwrite → ekri alamen
write → ekri

Your handwriting is bad.
Ekriti ou lèd.

I like your handwriting.
Mwen renmen ekriti ou.

This is not your handwriting.
Sa se pa ekriti ou.

This is Joe's handwriting.
Sa se ekriti Joe.

You could handwrite or type the assignment.
Ou kapab tape devwa a oubyen ekri li alamen.

God's kingdom or government (in Creole)

God's kingdom → rwayòm Bondye
God's government → rèy Bondye

summarize

summarize → rezime, bay yon rezime
summary → rezime

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Different ways to say "or" in Creole→ Oubyen, oswa, osinon, ou

Or → oubyen, oswa( onswa, ouswa), osinon (osnon), ou, o

1. Paper or plastic?
    Papye ou plastik?

2. Coffee or tea?
    Kafe oubyen te?

3. Buying a house or renting a house?
    Achte kay oswa lwe kay?

4. Have children or don't have children?
    Fè timoun osinon pa fè timoun?



 

how do u say i will never leave u?

I will never leave you.
Mwen pap janm kite w.

Have a great time (in creole)

Have a great time.
Pase yon bon moman.
Pase yon bon tan.

I had a great time.
Mwen te pase yon bon moman.
Mwen te pase yon bon tan.

We had a great time together.
Nou te pase yon bon moman ansanm.
Nou te pase yon bon tan ansanm.

Matchavèl (adjective).

Matchavèl a seducer (and very good at it), someone who's good at being bad, something so bad it's good;  a user, heartbreaker or lady-killer, a lover who seduces you easily then lets you go after he/she's done with you
Exampe:
Li se yon gason matchavèl.
He's a heartbreaker

Matchavèl also means: complicated, tense, wired
Example:
Things are complicated.
Bagay yo matchavèl.

My wife hasn't talked to me in two days.  Things are tense at the house.
Madanm mwen pa pale avè m pou depi de jou.  Bagay yo matchavèl nan kay la.

To hate (Creole)

To hate → rayi

I hate this song.
Mwen rayi chante sa.

He hates to travel.
Li rayi vwayaje.

"map, wap, lap, nap, yap" means what in Creole?

map or m'ap are contractions for mwen ap
wap or w'ap are contractions for ou ap
lap or l'ap are contractions for li ap
nap or n'ap are contractions for nou ap
yap or y'ap are contractions for yo ap

Subject pronoun + ap is an indication for progressive or future tense.

Examples:
M'ap manje.
I am eating

L'ap dòmi.
He/she is sleeping.

N'ap wè ou pita.
We will see you later.

Y'ap danse paske yo kontan.
They're dancing because they're happy.

W'ap kondi twò vit.
You're driving too fast.

I want to go home (Creole)

I want to go home.
Mwen vle ale lakay mwen.

Where is home?
Kote lakay ou ye?

What is that means 'tant'

tant or matant → aunt, auntie

"tant" is also Haitian Creole for "tent" (a shelter)

To beat up, to defeat, to hammer, to conquer (Creole)

To defeat → use: vannen, bat, kraze, or kale

The Eagles defeated Notre Dame 10-0.
Eagles vannen Notre Dame 10 a 0 (dis a zewo)

In 1757, the British defeated the French in Canada.
Nan ane 1757, Angle yo bat Franse yo Kanada.

The hurricane hammered  the little town.
Siklòn nan vannen ti vil la.

Which team won?
Ki ekip ki kale?

Put it aside, put it away (in Creole)

Put it aside.
Mete li dekote.
Mete li sou kote.

Put it away.
Mete li dekote.

Put it away for the time being.
Mete li dekote pou kounye a.

I have put some money away for my kids college education.
Mwen mete yon ti lajan dekote pou edikasyon kolèj timoun mwen yo.

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

"number" in Haitian Creole

Number → nimewo, chif
Use "nimewo" when talking about groups of numbers such as telephone numbers,  age, numbers of students, etc...
"chif" is used when talking about specific numbers that make up "a group of numbers", as if you were talking about specific letters that make up one word.
To be safe, you could always use the word "nimewo'
The last time I used the word "chif", I was a student in elementary school.

What's your phone number?
Ki nimewo telefòn ou?

What's your Social security number?
Ki nimewo sosyal sekirite ou?

What do those numbers mean?
Kisa chif sa yo vle di?
or
Kisa nimewo sa yo vle di?

You could always use the word "nimewo" at any time.

Ayisyen

Ayisyen → Haitian, of Haitian nationality, coming originally from Haiti

Haitian food → manje Ayisyen
Haitian music → mizik Ayisyen
Haitian people → pèp Ayisyen
Haitian friend → zanmi Ayisyen

Are you Haitian?
Eske ou se Ayisyen?

Have you ever tasted Haitian rum?
Eske ou janm goute wonm Ayisyen?

What does a Haitian cake taste like?
Ki gou yon gato Ayisyen genyen?

Do you like Haitian music?
Eske ou renmen mizik Ayisyen?

Have you ever been beaten by the Haitian sun?
Eske ou janm pran yon solèy Ayisyen?

Have you ever been caressed by the Haitian moon?
Eske lalin Ayiti a janm karese w?

Okay... I'm going to leave it at that.
You got the idea :)

translate never give up in haitian creole

Never give up.
Pa janm lage.

Hold on tight, don't give up.
Kenbe fèm, pa lage.

Hold on.
Keep it up.
Kenbe la.
Kontinye konsa.

to be able to: means kapab. for example,Biologists say adult pythons are able to eat small deer and bobcats.

Yes, that's right.
Kapab can also be contracted as kab or ka.  You will often see these contracted forms.

Biologists say adult pythons are able to eat small deer and bobcats.
Byolojis yo di gwo piton yo kapab manje ti sèf ak lenks yo.

She is able to go on her own.
Li kapab ale pou kont li.

I'm able to do it.
Mwen kapab fè l.

He is not able to walk.
Li pa kab mache.

Park! (as in amusement park)

amusement park
plas pou amizman
pak pou distraksyon
plas piblik,
plas,
pak

Ou pou kont ou.

Ou pou kont ou.
You're alone.

Ou pou kont ou?
Are you alone?

Don't move (Creole)

Move
bouje (pronounced boo-jay),
deplase (pronounced day-plah-say)

Don't move.
Pa bouje
pa deplase

how to say 'touch" in creole

touch (to make physical contact)
manyen, touche (pronounced too-shay)

touch (to have an effect on)
touche

i miss him (Creole)

I miss him.
Mwen sonje li.

That is life

That's is life.
That's life.
Se lavi.

Would you like me to be your every desire. when ever you need me i'll be there.

I know you want me to translate that. But, that's an impossible promise to keep. Unless... you are God :)
And also it's unfair for someone to ask you to be his/her every desire :)

☺Minding my own business now....
Would you like me to be your every desire?
Eske ou ta renmen pou m ta tout dezi ou?

Whenever you need me I'll be there.
Nenpòt lè ou bezwen m, mwen va la.

To welcome

Welcome! → byenveni!
Welcome to my home.
Byenveni lakay mwen.

Welcome, I'm glad to see you.
Byenveni, mwen kontan wè w.

Welcome everyone!
Byenveni tout moun!

Welcome to my country.
Byenveni nan peyi mwen.

Welcome to class!
Byenveni nan klas la!

To welcome → akeyi
We will welcome him well.
Nou va byen akeyi li.

They welcomed me with open heart.
Yo akeyi m ak kè ouvè.

welcome (noun) → akèy
We gave her a warm welcome.
Nou te ba li yon bèl akèy.

Thank you for such a warm welcome.
Mèsi pou yon si bèl akèy.

They did not give me a good welcome.
I did not feel welcomed.
Yo pa't ban mwen yon bon akèy.

Many ways to say "give glory to God"

Give glory to God.
Fè lwanj pou Bondye.
Bay Bondye glwa.
Louwe Bondye.

Give God thanks.
Bay Bondye remèsiman.
Di Bondye mèsi.
Remèsye Bondye.

Mwen vle mil lang

Mwen vle mil lang
I want a thousand tongues.

Mwen vle mil lang pou m chante bonte ou.
Mwen vle mil lang to sing of your goodness.

Is there any way you can help me to understand the lyrics to Gade'm La Toujou byTibob De Nazareth. It's a very popular song in Haiti right now. I would like to know at least the chorus to the song, if possible. I can't seem to find them anywhere.

Malgre mizè mwen pase
Gade m la toujou
Tou glwa pou bondye
Gade m la toujou
Look I'm still here
In spite of all the hard times I went through
Look I'm still here
All glory to God
Look I'm still here

Mwen vivan toujou
Malgre mizè mwen pase
Mwen vivan toujou
Tout glwa pou Bondye
Mwen vivan toujou
I'm still alive
In spite of all the hard times I went through
I'm still alive
All glory to God
I'm still alive

Men m anlè toujou
Malgre mizè mwen pase
Men m anlè toujou
Tout glwa pou Bondye
Men m anlè toujou
My hands are still up (May also be translated as: "I'm still on top")
In spite of all the hard times I went through
My hands are still up
All glory to God
My hands are still up

M’ap chante toujou
Malgre mizè mwen pase
M’ap chante toujou
Tout glwa pou Bondye toujou
M'ap chante toujou
I'm still singing
In spite of all the hard times I went through
I'm still singing
All glory to God
I'm still singing

M’ap danse toujou
Malgre mizè mwen pase
M’ap danse toujou
Tout glwa pou Bondye
M'ap danse toujou
I'm still dancing
In spite of all the hard times I went through
I'm still dancing
All glory to God
I'm still dancing
Ask me anything

You did good. Very good

Very → trè  or  anpil

Very much → anpil, a lot

You did well/good.
Ou fè byen.

You did very well.
Ou fè trè byen.

Very good
Trè byen!
Anfòm!

Very quiet
Trè dousman
Trè trankil

Very early
Trè bonè
bonè anpil

Very nice, very sweet
Trè janti
janti anpil

Very funny
Trè komik
Komik anpil

Very angry
Trè fache
fache anpil

Can you see that when you use "trè", it comes before the adj.
And when you use "anpil", you place it after the adj.
Let's take a look at some examples:

You dad is very tall.
Papa ou trè wo.
or
Papa ou wo anpil.

This book is very good.
Liv sa trè bon.
or
Liv sa bon anpil.

Lori is very shy.
Lori trè timid.
or
Lori timid anpil.

look, look at, look for, look into, look up

to look at → gade
Look at me
Gade m.

I can't look at it.
Mwen pa ka gade l.

To look for → chache
Help me to look for it.
Ede m chache l.

I found what I was looking for.
Mwen jwenn sa mwen t'ap chache a.

to look out → fè atansyon, pran prekosyon
Look out!
Atansyon!

Be on the look out.
Fè atansyon.

Look into → envestige, pran ransèyman sou
I'll look into it.
Ma va pran ransèyman sou sa.

Let's look into this together.
An nou envestige sa ansanm.

Look up → gade anlè, leve tèt
Run, don't look up.
Kouri, pa gade anlè.

If you look up, you'll see it.
Si ou leve tèt ou, wa wè li.

Look up to → respekte, admire.
I looked up to her.
Mwen te respekte li.

I can't believe he did that. They looked up to him.
Mwen pa ka kwè ke li fè sa. Yo te respekte li.

English translation for pawol as in: M'ap fe lwanj pawol li.

In this case it means: words or instructions
Pawòl → word

M'ap fè lwanj pawòl li.
I give praise for His words.

God's word
pawòl Bondye

His word is the truth.
Pawòl li se laverite.

Who wrote these words?
Kilès ki ekri pawòl sa yo?

There are other ways to say "word" in Creole:
pawòl
koze
mo
Ask me anything

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

what are you looking at?

What are you looking at?
Kisa w'ap gade la?
or
Kisa w'ap gade?
or
Sa w'ap gade?

Is that right! this is outrageous.

Is that right! This is outrageous.
Ou kwè se vre! Sa makawon.
or
Se vre!  Sa dechennen.
or
Ou kwè se vre!  Bagay sa debòde!

Outrageous / crazy → mal, move, malouk, akaryat, makawon, dechennen, tèt anba, or anraje
Ask me anything

how do you write 9 in creole

What does this mean...zanmi wap fè-m ri anpil sa fè-m plezi

Zanmi, w'ap fè m ri anpil. Sa fè m plezi.
Friend, you make me laugh a lot. This pleases me.
or
Friend, you're making me laugh a lot.  This pleases me.

Using Haitian Creole word "kont" to translate "enough"

Enough is translated in Creole as ase or kont

Let's take a look at the word "kont"
Kont enough, as much as possible, plenty

1. I ate enough.
    I ate as much as I could
    Mwen manje kont mwen.

2. I've had enough, thanks.
    I've had as much as I could have, thanks.
    Mwen gen kont mwen, mèsi.

3. Have you had enough?
    Eske ou gen kont ou?

4. I'm taking a break today.  I wrote as much as I could yesterday.
    M'ap pran yon ti konje jodi a.  Mwen ekri kont mwen yè.

5. He was very brave.  He fought this disease as much as he could.
    Li te gen anpil kouraj.  Li goumen ak maladi sa kont li.

6. I went to Brazil.  I had as much fun as possible.
   Mwen t'ale Brezil.  Mwen pran kont plezi m.

7. They broke into the house.  They did as much damage as possible.
    Yo kase kay la.  Yo fè kont dega yo.

8. They went to the party.  They danced as much as they could.
    Yo t'ale nan fèt la.  You danse kont yo.

You are everything to me → Ou se tout pou mwen.

Ou se tout pou mwen.
You are everything to me.

Li se tout pou mwen.
He/she is everything to me.

Sometimes you'll hear:

Ou se tout mwen (without the preposition "pou")
You are my all.

Li se tout mwen.
He/She is my all.

Ou se tout lavi m.
You are my life.

Li se tout lavi m.
He/she is my life.

will you please give the pronunciation?

Will you please give the pronunciation?
Eske ou kapab bay pwononsyasyon an tanpri?

Come home

Come home.
Vin lakay ou.

Come back.
Retounen.
Tounen

Come back to me.
Retounen vin jwenn mwen.
or
Tounen vin jwenn mwen.

Come to me.
Vin jwenn mwen.

Come at me.
Vin sou mwen

She came at me with a knife.
Li vin sou mwen ak yon kouto.

Come in.
antre

come out
sòti

Come down
desann

Come pick me up.
Vin chache m.

Come as you are.
Vini jan ou ye a.

Come early.
Vini bonè

Come with me.
Ann al avè m.
Vin al avè m
or
Vini avè m

What does the expression "Voye flè" mean exactly?

"Voye Flè" is a Haitian Creole expression. 
The literal translation is "throwing flowers"
This expression has two different meanings in addition to the obvious translation.

Voye flè to flaunt, to parade, to strut
Voye flè → to goof up, to fumble on a task, to mess up, to flub a mission/performance/task.

Examples:
Voye flè → to flaunt it

Rachel just got a new car.  She's parading it.
Rachèl fèk gen yon machin nèf.  L'ap voye flè.

That girl's up to no good.  She's just flaunting her stuff.
Ti fi sa pa regle anyen.  Se flè l'ap voye.

I saw Karen at the party.  She had lost some weight and she was just flaunting it.
Mwen te wè Karen nan fèt la.  Li megri e se flè li t'ap voye sèlman.


Voye flè → to flub

I heard the president's speech last night.  Boy, did he flub it!
Mwen te tande diskou prezidan an yèswa.  Li voye flè nèt ale!

Tina's performance was bad.  She just kept messing up.
Pèfòmans Tina a pa't bon.  Se flè sèlman li t'ap voye.

Usually Jackie Chan does a good job.  But he flubbed this movie.
Dabitid Jackie Chan fè bon travay.  Men li voye flè nan fim sa a.

Monday, October 24, 2011

God bless in creole

May God bless you. (God bless)
Ke Bondye beni w.

Go in peace.
Ale an pè.
or
Ale ak lapè.

May the wisdom of the Lord be with you.
Se pou sajès Bondye avè w.

May the light of God shine upon you.
Se pou limyè Bondye klere w.

May the joy of the Lord abide in your heart.
Se pou lajwa Bondye ret nan kè nou.

Peace be with you!
Lapè avè w!
or
Ke lapè Bondye avè w!

Receive grace, mercy, joy, and peace in the name of Jesus our Lord.
Resevwa lagras, padon, lajwa, ak lapè nan non Jezi Bondye nou an.

the word "answer" in Haitian Creole

to answer (v.) → reponn
answer (n.) → repons

What's your answer?
Ki repons ou?

Give me an answer before tomorrow.
Ban m yon repons anvan demen.

I like your answer.
Mwen renmen repons ou a.

Can you answer this question?
Eske ou ka reponn kesyon sa a?

Answer your phone please.
Reponn telefòn ou an.

Answer me!
Reponn mwen!