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!

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

What's the idea behind "Zewo bare", why can't they just say "Zewo"?

Zewo → is Haitian Creole for  the number zero.
Zewo bare → is a zero with a dash traced through the middle.

A zewo (zero) looks like this: 0
A zewo bare (barred zewo) looks like this: 0

What's the difference in Haiti?
Well, in Haiti, a zewo (zero) is just a number.
But a zewo bare (0) screams null, worthless, fail, inefficient, wrecked.

For a student who has failed a test, there's nothing worse than seeing that zewo bare (0) on his/her test paper.
Sometimes, you feel it's worse than a simple zewo (zero).
It can be traumatizing!

Have you ever gotten a zewo bare on an exam in Haiti?
How did you feel about the instructor who took the special extra time to slash the bar through the zero?
Were you ever bullied because of this :(

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