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!

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

I saw "li te vin gen" in a Haitian newspaper. it seems to mean "he became." But do you need the "gen" or does "vin" also work? And how is "vin" different from "vini"? Thanks!

Li te vin gen (or Li te vin genyen) → He/She came to own, He/She came to possess, He/She came to have

Yes, for this expression we will need both vin and gen to indicate something that one did not yet have in the past, but came to acquire it..
Ex:
1. Mwen t'ap pral nan magazen an, men mwen pa't ale ankò paske mwen te vin gen yon maltèt.
2. Apre yo te marye, yo te vin gen twa pitit.
3. Apre paran li yo te mouri, li te vin gen anpil lajan.

VIN is a short form of VINI
It means to come, to become, to attain, to reach
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

2 comments:

  1. Which is correct: Mwen vle yon mis. = I want to be a nurse. or Mwen vle vin yon mis. Is it, I want to be a nurse or I want to become a nurse. Does vin only mean become?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. "vin, vini" can mean "come" or "become"
      The second Creole sentence that you have says it better.
      Mwen vle vin yon mis/enfimyè
      I want to be/become a nurse.

      Delete