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Saturday, July 21, 2012

I got a letter from Haitian friend containing the words 'sepoul' and 'nef' (I don't think he meant the number nine). Any ideas? Thanks!

nèf → new
tou nèf → brand new
ex:
soulye nèf → new shoes
kay nèf → new house

Se pou 'l → He/She must or May he/she or Let him/she

Se pou'l rete lakay ou.
He/ She must stay at your house.


Se pou'l ba ou tout lajan an.
He/She must give you all the money.


Se pou'l rete avèk ou.
May he/she stay with you.
Let him stay with you.
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

3 comments:

  1. AnonymousJuly 22, 2012 at 3:40 AM

    Thanks. Yet another way to say 'must' to confuse me more;) So when would be most appropriate to use 'dwe' vs 'fok' vs 'se pou?'

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    Replies
    1. MandalyJuly 22, 2012 at 1:09 PM

      Ah zanmi'm! Se konsa wi:)

      Think of it as having "options". This Haitian Creole language offers many different options when saying one word :)

      But 'Se pou' might be in a class of its own there. People use it most often when they're giving advice.
      And if you click on the SE POU link in the post you'll see that the meaning could change too.

      Anyways, did the translation of 'sepoul' work for the translation of your letter?

      I was thinking that Haitians also say Se pou l kapab. → It is so that he/she can or So that he/she may

      Chapo ba!

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    2. AnonymousAugust 18, 2012 at 7:48 AM

      Sorry for the late reply. Yes 'sepoul' is a form of 'must' in the letter. Thank you.

      Are there special occasions or intentions where one word would be preferred over the other. Do any convey more intensity than others (dwe, fok, se pou)?

      Thanks,
      Jess

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