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, March 31, 2013

Lik 7:30 Men, farizyen yo ak dirèktè lalwa yo te refize sa Bondye te vle fè pou yo; se sak fè yo pa t' kite Jan Batis batize yo. ( Can you translate into English version ?) Kamsa hamnida

Se sa'k fè (contraction for Se sa ki fè) means That is why, This is why, it's for this reason
See this link about Se Sa'k Fè

Men  | Farizyen yo     | ak    | dirèktè     | lalwa yo | te refize |
but     | the pharisees  | and  | directors  | the laws  | refused 

sa      |  Bondye    |te vle      | fè      |pou yo; 
what   |  God          |  wanted  | do     | for them   

se sak fè     |  yo pa t'        | kite            |Jan Batis             | batize yo.
This is why   | they did not  | let  / permit | John the Baptist  | baptize them.

"Men, Farizyen yo ak dirèktè lalwa yo te refize sa Bondye te vle fè pou yo; se sak fè yo pa t' kite Jan Batis batize yo." 
"But the Pharisees and the directors of laws declined/refused what God wanted to do for them; it's for this reason they did not let John the Baptist baptize them."

Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Sometimes I see the verb tense 'ap' is placed between verbs. For example 'Konsa moun yo vin ap viv ak matyè e fatra sa yo'. Can you explain this further and give examples on how to use it?

Yes.  The first verb becomes a helping verb. The first verb may be in the present , past, future tense.
The second verb is usually in the continuous form.

1. Li te kontinye ap aniye m.
    She kept bugging me

2. Mwen te vin ap panse avè l. (I came to think about her)
    I started thinking about her.

3. Mwen te tonbe ap rele, "Anmwey! Osekou!"
    I started screaming, "Help! Help!"

4. Li te rete la ap kriye devan sèkèy la.
    She stayed there crying in front of the coffin.

5. Yo te kanpe ap gade tout sa ki t'ap pase.
     They stood watching everything that was going on.

6. Fanm nan pral koumanse ap joure  si nou pa ba li kafe li.
    The woman will start cursing if we don't give her her coffee. .

7. Chak jou yo te kontinye ap rale cheve l, ap joure'l, ap takinen'l, ap bat li, jouk li te defann tèt li.
    Everyday they kept on pulling her hair, cursing her out, teasing her, beat her until she fought back.

Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Can you explain further 'vin' and 'fin' as helping verbs? For example in these sentence: "Mo a vin sibi yon transfòmasyon." oubyen "Mo a fin sibi yon transfòmasyon." Mesi

fin ( contraction for fini) indicates the completion of an action → to be done

1. Mwen fin manje.
    I am done eating.
   
2. Tout pitit nou yo fin gran.  Li lè pou nou panse a nou.
     All our children are done growing. ...
     All the children have reached a mature age.....
     All our children are grown.  It's time we think about us.

3.  Ou fin joure byen joure, enpi ou panse m'ap rete avè w?  Ou dwe fou!
      You're done cursing me as well as one could, and you think I'm going to stay with you? You must be crazy!
      After cursing me out, you think I'm going to stay with you.  You must be crazy!

4. Nou fin gade fim nan deja.  Poukisa se kounye a w'ap pote popcorn?
    We have already finished watching the movie.  Why are you bringing popcorn now?


Sometimes fin can translate practically, virtually, nearly.

5.  M te tèlman malad, m te fin mouri.  mMen lanmou li te resisite m.
     I was so sick, I was virtually dead. But his love brought me back.

6.  Kay la te fin tonbe sou nou, men grasadye nou te soti sennesof.
      The house practically collapsed on us, but thank God we got out safely.

7. Kontinye ale. Ou fin rive deja.  Pa lage.
     Keep going.  You're practically there already.  Don't give up.
     
8.  Li te fin ouvè bouch li pou l pale, men avoka a te fè l yon siy pou l pa't di anyen.
     He had already opened his mouth to speak, but his lawyer motioned to not say anything.
      

9.  Mwen te fin desann machin nan pou m antre kay menaj mwen.  Men lè papa li te soti ak yon revòlvè, mwen te take pòt machin nan e m te peze gaz.
     I was practically out of the car to get into my girlfriend's house.  But when her fathercame out with a gun, I locked the car's doors and sped off.



vin (contraction for vini to come) → to come, to become, to end up

"vin" can be used in place of "vini"
10. Mwen vin lakay ou.
      Mwen vini lakay ou.
      I come to your house.

11. Vin jwenn mwen.
       Vini jwenn mwen.
       Come to me.

12.  Vin jwenn Jezi.
       Come to Jesus

13. Mezami!  Ou vin wo!
      Wow! You've become tall!

14. Si w te wè sa, figi l vin wouj tèlman te fache.
      You should have seen this.  His face became red he was so mad.

And sometimes vin will translate, to come to, to end up, to arrive at a conclusion/understanding because of another action.

15. Mwen vin konprann ke li pa't renmen m ankò.
      I came to understand that he didn't like me any more

16. Nou vin reyalize tout sa li t'ap di yo se te manti.
       We came to realize that everything he said was a lie.

17. Mo a vin sibi yon transfòmasyon.  Sibi to suffer, to undergo, to go through
      The word wound up undergoing a transformation.

Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Eske w te ka tradwi fraz sa a pou mwen: "Koze desantralizasyon y’ap pale Ayiti depi ti konkonm ta goumen ak berejèn nan pa janm fèt." Mesi

First of all you should know that "depi ti konkonm ta goumen ak berejèn" is an expression which means a very long time ago, long long ago, it's the equivalent of many moons ago

and

Koze → talk, affair, thing, project, ....

Koze   | desantralizasyon   |  y’ap      | pale       | Ayiti 
talk      | decentralization       | they are  |  talking  |  Haiti
Talk of decentralization they were talking in Haiti

depi  | ti konkonm ta goumen ak berejèn  | nan                          | pa janm fèt.
since | a very long time a go                          | the (modifies "koze") | never happened
Since a long time ago never happened.

"Koze desantralizasyon y’ap  pale Ayiti depi ti konkonm ta goumen ak berejèn nan pa janm fèt."
 "The project of decentralization that they were talking about in Haiti since a long time a go never materialized."

Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Kisa vle di 'bidonvilizasyon'?

bidonvilslums, ghetto
bidonvilizasyon → when cities are transformed into slums.  For example, you'll find that in Port-Au-Prince.  People are running away from poverty and misery in the outskirts of Haiti.  They come to the capital and start building piles of shabby little houses wherever they please.  These bidonvil may be built in streets originally reserved for vehicular traffic, close to public buildings, in other residents' driveways and backyards ... you name it.  And, there's no respect for building codes.

Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Kisa vle di moustik 'anofèl'?

moustik anofèl se moustil ki transmèt malaria ak anpil lòt move viris.
moustik anofèl (anopheles mosquito), some of them are known to be a carrier of the malaria parasites, other viruses, and heartworm worms in dogs.

Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Saturday, March 30, 2013

If I want to say "I like children" (in general), is it "M' renmen timoun" or "M' renmen timoun yo"?

Can you help me find the lyrics to ANYO BONDYE A by DELLY BENSON. mesi



Anyo Bondye a
Ou ki diy pou n adore
Ak tout kè’n nou prezante
Aplike san Ou nan nou

Koule sou nou lwil Sentespri
Ki soti nan prezans Ou



Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Hello. Is there a Haitian Creole version of the Christian song "Just As I Am?"

No.  Not officially.
On a national scope, this song is translated, sang and very well known in French (Chants d'Esperance #295 French Side)
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Question: If I want to give an explanation about a photo which shows two persons, can I say: "Sa se nou: "Name" ak "Name"? Thank you for your answer!

Yes.

1.
Sa se nou
or
Sa se nou menm.
This is us.

or

2.
Sa se mwen menm ak Mari m, Paul.
This is me and my husband Paul.

3.
Sa se mwen menm ak fanmi m.
This is me and my family.

4.
Sa se mwen menm ak pitit gason m nan.
This is me and my son.

5.
Sa se mwen menm ak pitit fi m nan, Sheila.
This is me and my daughter Sheila.

6.
Sa se mwen menm ak zanmi m.
This is me and my friends.

Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Friday, March 29, 2013

What is "koupe gran gou" seemingly the whole thing is a noun

Sounds to me like "yon koupe grangou" which is "a snack"

Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

tep moun itilize pou mezire , se ki jan ou rele l?

what doe's "girl, you suck" translate in creole?

I think "suck" could mean anything here.
You suck! → Ou raz!, Ou blèm!, Ou nil!

There are many ways to say this in Creole.

Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

"papa m rele m pa m"? (my father - calls me - mine)? (my father calls me his own?)

Your first translation captured it.
Papa'm rele'm pa'm.
as if to say My father would call me "my own".
My father is called my own.

The expression, here is made with "rele"

1. Lajan m rele m pa m, m gen dwa fè sa m vle avè l.
    as if to say: The money calls me, "master" or The money calls me, " mine!"
    The money is mine, I have the right to do what I want with it.

2. Machin nan rele m pa m, m gen dwa vann li si m vle.
    another way to say it in Creole.
    Machin nan rele m chèmèt chèmtrès, m gen dwa vann li si m vle.
    The car is mine, I have the right to sell it, if I please.

3.  Kay la rele m pa m.  E mwen di ou pa ka rantre. Pwen final.
     The house is mine.  And I say you can't come in.  End of story.

4.  Liv la rele m pa m.  Si m pa vle prete w li, ou pa ka fè m chanje lide m.
     The book is mine.  If I don't want to lend it to you, you can't make me.

5.  Kò m rele m pa m.  M gen dwa fè sa m vle ak li.
     My body is mine.  I can do whatever I want with it.

Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Fanm pran kriz, se lò yo mete bon chemiz?

Yes, a woman will get into a seizing fit only when she's wearing her good shirt (that's the translation)
I think it means that you don't draw attention to yourself when you're not camera-ready, or having a bad hair day (basically)
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

wiiiiii, finally I can post my question isit la...wiiiiiiiiiiii Fatherland or death, we will win!!!!!!!! This was famous exclamation of many revolutionaries, including Thomas Sankara. What would be the most suitable expression on kreyol...

O o!   You sound very excited.  I'm glad you're so happy :)

I think I'll say it in Creole as:
Lapatri ou lanmò!
Fatherland or death!

Thomas Sankara is right up there with Toussaint Louverture, Jean Jacques Dessalines and Capois Lamort.  Burkina benefitted a lot from his programs.  He's even more of a champion because he CHOSE to die for what he believed in rather than taking his country back to the old ways.  That's a true hero :)

Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

 

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Are the verbs 'anake, eskwoke, karambouye',and the nouns 'anakè, eskwokè, karambouyè the synonyms of 'magouye' and 'magouyè' respectively?

I guess they could be.
(nouns) magouy, tronpri, eksplwatasyon, eskwokri, vòl, karanbouyay
(verbs) deplimen, vòlè, eksplwate, derobe, anake, eskwoke, tronpe, triche, etc.....

Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

How would you translate these phrases in the most understandable way for the average Haitian? The context is "Who I am in Christ." Here are the phrases: I am accepted. I am secure. I am significant. Thanks!!!!

I am accepted. 
Mwen se yon moun adopte.
Mwen se yon moun rekonèt.
Mwen se yon moun li akeyi. (He has welcomed me)

I'm significant.
Mwen gen enpòtans.
Mwen se yon moun konsekan.
Mwen konsekan.
Mwen konte nan zye li. (I matter in his eyes)

I am secure.
Mwen byen kore. (I'm well anchored)
Mwen byen plante. (I'm well rooted)
Mwen ansekirite. (I'm in a safe place)
Mwen alabri. (I'm sheltered)
Mwen ansite. (I'm safe)

Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Twòp lapriyè fè jounou krochi?

yeah, this is a good one.
I think i posted this before... or .... someone asked about it.
It's an expression which means that It's time to act, it's time to take action.

Twòp lapriyè fè jenou kwochi.
Too many prayers render the knees crooked
so, get up and take care of the situation already  ... basically

This expression is the same as:
Chita pa bay.
Sitting around doesn't give.

Twòp pale anpil fè machwè gonfle.
Too much babbling will distend your jaws.
or
Too much babbling will render your jaws swollen.

They're all calling for action, instead of "praying", "sitting", "talking"

Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Is there a way to get your podcast through ITunes? I tried searching for it, but I couldn't find it.


I submitted it to ITunes.  It should be available.  I'll look into it.

Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

m ka toujou lonje yo bay mandyan yo nan lari a. (Can you explain 'lonje' here ?) kamsa hamnida

lonjeto stretch out, to extend, to hold out (one's hand or arms), to offer,  to give
In many instances, the verb LONJE will be accompanied with BAY, BAN, or BA

1. Li te lonje men l ban mwen.
    He held out his arms to me.

You'll hear a lot of Haitians say this in their prayers.
2. Senyè! tanpri lonje men ban nou.
    Lord! please extend a hand to us.
    Lord! please help us.

    or
    Senyè! lonje men ba yo.
    Lord extend a hand to them.
    Lord, help them.

   or
    Senyè lonje men w ban mwen.
    Lord extend your hand to me.
    Lord, help me.

3. Mwen te lonje lajan an bay machann nan.
    I held out the money to the merchant.
    I gave the money to the merchant.

4.  Lonje liv la ban mwen.
      Hand me the book.

5. Li te lonje bebe a bay papa l.
    She handed the baby to his father.

6. Lè li te lonje chèk la ban mwen, m remake men l t'ap tranble.
    When he handed me the check, I noticed his hands were trembling.
    

7.  Fanm nan sou kès la te lonje kafe a ban mwen ak mepri.  Petèt se akoz fason mwen te abiye a.
     The woman at the cashier handed me the coffee with disdain.  Maybe it was because of the way I was dressed.

Expressions:
8. Lonje dwèt (expression)
    Stretch out your finger
    To point.

9. Pa lonje dwèt ou sou mwen.
    Do not point your finger at me!


AND.... LONJE  also me to lie down, to stretch your body on
Notice how the pronoun that immediately follow after "" indicates who's lying down.

10.  Mwen pral lonje kò m sou kabann nan.
     I'm going to lie down on the bed.

11.  Pitit fi mwen te pè yèswa, li te vin lonje kò l bò kote m.
     My daughter was scared last night, she came to lie down next to me.

12.  Vin lonje kò w bò kote m.
       Come lie down next to me.

13. Apre vwayaj la nou te tèlman fatige, depi n te lonje kò n sou nat la, dòmi te pran n.
      After the trip we were so tired, we fell asleep as soon as we lay down on the straw may.

Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Te gen anpil nan disip li yo ki te sanble la ak yon gwo mas pèp. ( Can you explain further for 'sanble' here ?) kamsa hamnida)

 Dakò :)

Sanble can translate to look alike or to appear, or to congregate, to come together, to bunch up
Here, in this sentence, sanble (or rasanble) seems means to come together
Depending on the context, it can also mean to look like

Te gen anpil     |nan | disip li yo   |  ki     | te sanble  |   la     | ak   | yon gwo mas | pèp.
There were many      | in     | his disciples       | which | assembled      | there    | with  |  a big crowd          | people
There were many of his disciples which had come together with a crowd of people.
Many of his disciples gathered with a crowd of people.

Sanble as to look alike.

1. Ou sanble ak papa w.
    You look like your dad.

2. Yo di m sanble anpil ak manman m.
     They say I look a lot like my mom.

3.  Eske se sè yo ye?  Yo sanble.
     Are they sisters?  They look alike.

4.  Yo sanble tèt koupe.
      They look very much alike.
      
5. Li sanble tèt koupe avè w.
    She is the spitting image of you.


Sanble as to appear, to have the impression

6. Sanble ou fache avè m.
   or
    Ou sanble fache avè m.
    It seems that you're mad at me.

7.  Sanble lapli pral tonbe.
     It seems that it'll rain.
     It looks like it's going to rain.

8.  Sanble Mireille panse ou damou pou li.
     Mireille seems to think that you're in love with her.

9. Sanble Rita ansent.
    It seems that Rita's pregnant.
    Rita looks like she's pregnant.


Sanble as to come together, to assemble
We also say RASANBLE

10.  Gen yon bann moun ki sanble nan lari a.  M'ap mande m sa y'ap regle.
       There's a bunch of people gathered in the street.  I wonder what they're up to.

11. Poukisa tout moun sa yo sanble sou do kay la? M'ap mande m sa'k genyen.
      Why are all these people gathered up on the roof? I wonder what's going on?

12. Mwen te mete yon sirèt sou tab la, e detwa minit apre yon bann fonmi te sanble bò kote l.
     I put a candy on the table an two or three minutes later a bunch of ants had gathered around it.

Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Bondye di, "tout pitit mwen yo, kouche!". Sèpan di, "Mwen deja atè."

This expression has always sounded clever and hilarious to me.  But I can't say that I know its exact meaning.
Bondye di, "tout pitit mwen yo, kouche!".  Sèpan di, "Mwen deja atè."
God says, "all my children, lie down!".  The serpent says, "I'm already on the ground."

Is the serpent mocking God?
Does "to lie down" mean "to taste misery on the ground" ?
I'm not sure about this one :)

Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

"Tout timoun jwe nan tete manman yo, men yo pa badinen nan pa papa yo." What's "nan pa papa yo"? (not their dad?)

nan pa papa yo (PA is possessive here, not a negative determiner) → in their father's

"Tout timoun jwe nan tete manman yo, men yo pa badinen nan pa papa yo."  
"Kids may play with their mom's breasts, but they don't fool around with their father's."

other examples of the usage of PA that's similar to the example you gave me.

1.  M renmen machin manman ou, men m pa renmen pa papa w la.
     I like your mom's car, but I don't like your dad's.

2.  Sa se pa Joe a.
     This is Joe's.
or

3.  Sa se SOULYE PA JOE A*.
     These are JOE'S SHOES.

*FYI: Haitians may say SOULYE A even if they're talking about BOTH shoes
  example
  Kombyen  w mande pou pè soulye a?
  How much do you ask for the pair of shoes?


Here's another example of using the possessive PA with a noun instead of a pronoun.
4. Kote pa ti bebe a?
    Where's the baby's?

or

5. Kote chèz pa ti bebe a?
    Where's the baby's chair?

To put #4 and #5 into perspective, we'll replace "ti bebe a" with a pronoun.
#4.  Instead of saying Kote pa ti bebe a, you would say Kote pa li a?
#5. Instead of saying Kote chèz pa ti bebe a?, you would say Kote chèz pa li aor Kote chèz pa l la? (with contraction)


See the construction of these next two.
6.  M konprann SA SE PA M NAN, men kote PA MARI M NAN?
     I understand that THIS IS MINE, but where's MY HUSBAND'S?

or

7. M konprann SA SE MANJE PA M NAN, men kote PA MARI M NAN?
    I understand THIS IS MY FOOD, but where's MY HUSBAND'S?


Two more examples:
8.  Mwen pa't pote bib mwen jodi a, eske m ka itilize pa pastè a?
     I didn't bring my bible today, can I use the pastor's?

9.  Kay Chantal la pi gwo pase pa Jordan nan.
     Chantal's house is bigger than Jordan's.

Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Do you know what's "nitèt"? can't find this word anywhere.

as one word, it sounds like bare headed, or with the head uncovered
But if it's two words it would probably be part of clause like this Li pa gen ni tèt ni pye......, in that case it means neither the head nor ....., or it could mean both the head and ........
Or it might be something completely different......
It's hard to say without knowledge of the context here :)


Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

What words for 'to promote' and 'to demote'. "His boss promoted him to vice-president for many years of diligence and expertise." and "His boss demoted him to secretary position for missing work to many times but had experience."

To promote (to promote a product) → fè reklam
to promote (to raise rank) transitive verb → bay pwomosyon, grade, bay grad
to be promoted (intr. v.) → pran grad, resevwa yon pwomosyon
to demote → degrade, detwone, rekile, deklase

1. I got promoted at work.
    Yo ban m yon pwomosyon nan travay la.

2. "His boss demoted him to secretary position for missing work too many times."
     "Bòs li a rekile pozisyon li.  Li fè l vin sekretè paske li vin travay anreta twòp."
   
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

How do you say, "I'm ready." And, "Are you ready?" Pare? Prepare? Pret?

I am ready.
Mwen pare.
Mwen prè.

Are you ready?
Eske ou pare?
or
Eske ou prè?

or you can also say:

Ou pare? (You're ready?)
Ou prè? (You're ready?)

Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

"sa w te bezwen di l sa fè?" What does "fè" translate as here? mesi.

Basically, Sa ..... fè → what....for?, why... for?

1. "Sa w te bezwen di l sa ?"
     "What did you have to tell him that for?"

2. Sa w te bezwen leve men w ?
    Why did you have to raise your hand for?

3. Sa w te bezwen rele l ?
    Why did you have to call her for?

Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Monday, March 25, 2013

Kifèla, ou pa travay anpil! ( Can you please explain "kifela" ?) Kamsa hamnida

"kifèla",  "kifèla a" or "ki fè la a" (from French ce qui fait que), at best, translates the conjunction SO or the adverb CONSEQUENTLY.  Otherwise it may translate this means, which means, does this mean, I take this as...

Here's an example:
1.
Mwen wè ou nan kabann toujou.  Kifèla, ou pa pral travay?
I see you're still in bed.  So, you're not going to work?
I see you're still in bed.  Does this mean your not going to work?
I see you're still in bed.  I take this as you're not going to work, am I right?


2.
Mwen pèdi travay mwen jodi a.  Kifèla a, m p'ap kapab ede w ankò.
I lost my job today, which means I won't be able to help you anymore.
I lost my job today, so I won't be able to help you anymore.

3.
Mwen remake ou pa al lekòl depi twa semèn. Kifèla yo mete w deyò?
I notice that you have not gone to school for three weeks.  So, they kicked you out?
I notice that you have not gone to school for three weeks.  Does this mean that they kicked you out?


In this next example:
Your son goes ahead and get a tattoo even though you advised him not to do it.
So you say:
4.
Kifèla ou pa koute konsèy mwen ankò?
So you don't listen to my advice anymore?


Here's another example:
Your best friend hasn't talked you in months.  He's been avoiding you.  So the next time you see him you might say:
5.
Kifèla a ou pa zanmi m ankò?
So you're not my friend anymore?
Does this mean you're not my friend anymore?  



Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

mwen pa byen paske mwen pa fouti dòmi avèk chen ou yo k’ap jape tout lannuit lan. (Please explain further for "k'ap") and thank you. kamsa hamnida

"k'ap" or  "k ap" is a contraction for "ki ap", where "ki" translates the English that, which, who, and "ap" here is the determiner for the progressive tense.

some examples.

1.
Ti fi ki ap jwe pyano a se pitit fi mwen. ("ki ap" is not contracted)
Ti fi k'ap jwe pyano a se pitit fi mwen. ("ki ap" is contracted)
The little girl who is playing the piano is my daughter.

2.
Sa se yon fanm ki ap bay ti bebe li tete.
Sa se yon fanm k'ap bay ti bebe li tete.
This is a woman which is breastfeeding her baby.

3.
Chen ki ap jape a te reveye m.
Chen k'ap jape a te reveye m.
The dog that is barking woke me up. 

4.
Di mwen sa ki ap pase.
or 
Di mwen sa k'ap pase.
Tell me what's happening.

5.
Pinga ou janm mete dwèt ou nan dlo ki ap bouyi.
Pinga ou janm mete dwèt ou nan dlo k'ap bouyi.
Never put your finger in water that is boiling.

NOW, let's see the difference when using  different tenses.

Mesye ki ap pale a se papa m. (pres. prog. non contracted)
or
Mesye k'ap pale a se papa m. (pres. prog. contracted)
The man that's speaking is my dad.


Mesye ki te ap pale a se papa m. (past prog. non contracted)
or
Mesye ki t'ap pale a se papa m. (past. prog. contracted)
or
Mesye k t'ap pale a se papa m. (past prog. contracted)
The man that was speaking is my dad.


Mesye ki pral pale a se papa m. (future non contracted)
or
Mesye k pral pale a se papa m. (future contracted)
The man that's going to speak is my dad.


Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Bonjou! I can't find this in CreoleLingo, can you help? I'm looking for a verb that means "to strike a pose"?

to strike a pose → pran yon pòz, poze

1. Poze devan kamera a pou m ka fè foto w.
    Strike a pose before the camera so that a can take your picture.

2.  Pran yon pòz moun k'ap kriye.
     Act if you were crying.

to strike pose (flaunt, strut) → bay payèt, voye payèt, fè bèbèl

3.  Si w te wè li, li t'ap bay payèt devan kamera yo. 
     You should have seen her, she was flaunting it for the cameras.

Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

You might already have this son your blog, but I can't find it. What is 'moun pa"?

Moun pa → favoritism, preference, partisanship, also friend, buddy

1.  Ou ta byen sezi pou w konnen ke menm nan legliz gen moun pa.
     You'd be surprised to know that even in church there's favoritism.

2.  Nan syèl la p'ap gen zafè moun pa.  Tout moun va egal ego.
     In heaven there won't be any bias.  Everyone will be equal.

3. Mwen pa nan moun pa.
    I am not playing favorite.
    I am unbiased.
    

4.  "Menm nan lanfè gen moun pa." (expression)
     "Even in hell there's preferential treatment."

also.

5. Kite l antre.  Li se moun pa m.
   Let him in. He's a friend. (someone I know well).

Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

What are some words for 'to billow'? "We saw black smoke billowing from a distance." or "We saw smoke billowing from the tailpipe of the Vatican indicatiing that a new a pope has been selected."

smoke billowing → lafimen k'ap anvayi, fofile, gonfle monte, or sèpante

"We saw black smoke billowing from a distance."
"De lwen nou te wè lafimen nwa k'ap anvayi syèl la?"

Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Sunday, March 24, 2013

Machande nan Mache → Haggling at the Market (AUDIO)

Download link for this audio:
Click here to download…

To listen to this audio click on the PLAY button and follow along :)
 

Madanm… Eske w gen anana pou vann?
Ma’am… Do you have pineapples for sale?

Wi mesye.   Mwen gen twa sèlman ki rete.
Yes I do.  I only have three left.

Dakò.  Vann mwen YOUN!
Great.  Let me have ONE!

O non!… se touletwa m’ap vann ansanm.  M p’ap ka degrennen yo.
No… I am selling all three together.  I won’t separate them.

O…Konbyen w mande pou twa yo?
Oh… How much do you ask for the three?

Sèt dola.
Seven dollars.

Eske w ka bay yo pou twa dola senkant?
Can you give them for three dollars fifty?

O! ou debòde monchè!  Pou w ta panse pou m ta ba w zannana yo pou mwatye pri mwen mande w la? Non, non, non!  m pa sa fè sa.
You must be insane!  To think that I would give you the pineapples for half the price that I asked for.  No no no,  I can’t do that.

Enben, m’a ba w $4.00 pou yo.
Well, I’ll give you $4.00 for them.

Non mesye, mwen p’ap desann pri a.
No sir,  I won’t reduce the price.

E si m ajoute senkant kòb sou li.  …..Eske w’ap bay li pou kat dola senkant santim?
How about if I add 50 cents to it…..  Will you give it for $4.50 cents?

O o! mwen regrèt sa mesye.  Mwen p’ap vann zannana yo pou pi piti pase sèt dola.
Sorry sir. I won’t sell the pineapples for less than $7.00

Madanm! Mwen vrèman bezwen moso anana pou m pote lakay.  Eske w ta vann yo pou senk dola.?
Ma’am! I truly need to bring some pineapple home.  Would you sell them for $5.00?

Zannana yo twa pou sèt dola, ... san wete san mete.  M p’ap chanje lide’m.
The pineapples are 3 for $7, ...no more no less.  I won’t change my mind.

Bèl ti cheri a! Li gentan fin ta.  Mache a pral fèmen toutalè.  Dayè, Jan m wè anana sa yo la a, y’ap fin pouri nan men w si ou pa vann yo jodi a.  Lèkonsa, se jete ou pral oblije jete yo.
Beautiful darling! It’s already getting late.  The market will close soon.  In fact, from the looks of it, these pineapples will become rotten if you don’t sell them today.  Then you’ll have to throw them away.

Enben, si m pa vann yo, m’a manje yo ak fanmi mwen.  E si fanmi m pa vle yo, m ka toujou lonje yo bay mandyan yo nan lari a.  Men mwen p’ap ba ou yo pou senk dola.
Well, if I don’t sell them, I’ll eat them with my family.  And If my family don’t want them, I could always hand them to beggars in the street.  But I won’t give them to you for $5.00


Enben Makòmè, senk dola senkant! Dènye òf!  Se tout sa m genyen.
Well my comrade, $5.50!  Last offer!  That’s all I have.

Monkonpè, ban m si dola pou yo, enpi ou mèt pran yo!
My comrade, you give me six dollars and you may have them!

Dakò…. Mèsi anpil.  Mwen apresye sa.    Men lajan ou.  …. Mete yo nan yon sache pou mwen silvouplè.
Agree… Thanks a lot.  I appreciate this.  Here’s your money….  Put them in a bag for me please.

Men wi!... Men zannana ou yo.  Pase yon bon jounen mesye.
Of course!  Here are your pineapples.    Have a great day sir.

Kout chapo madanm!
Hats off ma’am!

Track ANANA by Issa El Saieh

Anana sila bon pou manje!
This pineapple is good to eat!
Se paske li bèl, li gwo, li lou, e li peze
That’s because it looks good, it’s heavy, and it has weight
Men pratik, di mwen, konbyen w mande?
But my clientele, tell me how much do you ask?
Li mèt nenpòt pri, cheri, ou konnen m’ape peye
Whatever the price, honey, you know I’ll pay.
O ala yon bèl anana! (bis)
Oh what beautiful pineapple!
Se paske li bèl, li gwo, li lou, e li peze
That’s because it’s beautiful, it’s heavy, and it has weight
Ban m moso pou m pot lakay
Give me some to bring home
Li mèt pouri, li mèt gate
Whether it’s rotten or spoiled
Ban m moso pou m pot lakay!
Give me some to bring home!
Li mèt pouri, li mèt pa bon
Whether it’s rotten or not good
Ban m moso pou m pot lakay!
Give me some to bring home!

Anana sila bon pou manje!
This pineapple is good to eat!
Se paske li bèl, li gwo, li lou, e li peze.
That’s because it looks good, it’s heavy, and it has weight.
Men madanm, di mwen, konbyen w mande?
But lady, tell me how much do you ask?
Li mèt nenpòt pri, cheri, ou konnen m’ape peye.
Whatever the price, honey, you know I’ll pay.
O ala yon bèl anana! (bis)
Oh what beautiful pineapple!
Se paske li bèl, li gwo, li lou, e li peze.
That’s because it’s beautiful, it’s heavy, and it has weight.
Ban m moso pou m pot lakay.
Give me some to bring home.
Li mèt pouri, li mèt gate
Whether it’s rotten or spoiled
Ban m moso pou m pot lakay!
Give me some to bring home!
Li mèt pa bon, li mèt pa bon
Whether it’s good or not
Ban m moso pou m pot lakay!
Give me some to bring home!

Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Saturday, March 23, 2013

May I ask you dear what you will be using in place of Formspring?

I'll be using Breezi.  I have an active acct. with them.

Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

What are some words for 'schedule'(nouns and verbs)? "I'll check my schedule to see if I`m not busy this weekend." or "The schedule allows three weeks for this stage." or "The next elections are scheduled on the 20th of November."

to schedule → pwojte, pwograme, planifye, mete alorè
a schedule → yon orè, yon pwogram

"I'll check my schedule to see if I`m not busy this weekend."
"M'ava tcheke orè m pou wè si m pa okipe wikenn sa a."

"The next elections are scheduled on the 20th of November."
"Pwochen eleksyon yo pwojte pou ven novanm."

Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Friday, March 22, 2013

What are words for 'bookworm'? "In my room I have so many books on the shelf, on the floor, and even on my bed. I love to read; so I am a true bookworm."

bookworm → ti rat bbliyotèk, lektè pasyonen, yon moun ki renmen li, yon moun ki kenbe tèt li nan liv li

"I love to read; so I am a true bookworm." 
"Mwen renmen li, donk mwen se yon lektè pasyone."

Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Madanm Mandaly, What is the Kreyol equivalent to the French "comme si comme sa" (so so)? I am not sure if my French is correct, but I think you know what I am saying. Such as in French "au contraire" to Kreyol "okontre". In Spanish it is "asi asi"

A Haitian Creole equivalent to "comme ci comme ça" is konsa konsa.
In Haitian Creole, it would mean so so, not too bad, or ... mediocre

Examples:
We can use "konsa konsa" to say "not too good, not too bad" or "just average"
1.
-Kisa ou panse osijè fim ou sot wè a? (what do you think of the movie you just saw?)
-M pa't tèlman renmen l.  M panse li te konsa konsa. (I didn't like it much.  I thought it was so so.)


2. 
Kijan ou ye? (How are you?)
Ou konnen... tout bagay ap mache konsa konsa. (Yo know ....everything is  going so so)


"yon gason / fanm konsa konsa" might mean "a poor, insignificant, not important person"
3.
Pa pèdi tan w avèk medam sa yo.  Yo renmen lajan.  Yo p'ap marye ak nenpòt gason konsa konsa non.
Don't waste time with those girls.  They love money.  They will not marry just any guy.


"yon fanm konsa konsa" might mean "an easy, lower class, sleazy woman:
4.
Misye te panse m te yon fanm konsa konsa.
He thought I was an easy woman.



Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Hello Mandaly, I just found that Formspring is shutting down. The last day to post questions is March 31. Will this have a huge effect on your website? How will we post questions when Formspring shuts down?

Yes, they are shutting down. They had a good run, and were very helpful to me :-(
You will still be able to ask questions with a similar set-up... at the same spot on the blog.
I'll make the switch from Formspring during the last days of March.  I'm hanging on with them until their last breath.... Sigh!
RIP Formspring.

Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

In CreoleLingo - "ansyen" is listed with the definition of "old" and "ancient" can it also mean "former" or "previous"?

Yes, definitely.
It can translate former, previous, ex
as in
1.
ansyen mennaj mwen
my ex-boyfriend
my ex-girlfriend

ansyen madanm
ex-wife

ansyen mari
ansye mouche
ex-husband, ex-partner

2.
ansyen prezidan Bill Clinton
former president Bill Clinton

3.
Ansyen prezidan René Préval ap vizite lekòl la jodi a.
Former president René Préval will visit the school today.

4.
Mwen renmen nouvo òdinatè yo fèk enstale nan lab la.  Ki sa yo fè ak ansyen yo?
I like the new computers they just installed in the lab.  What did they do with the previous ones?

Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Si ou ta fè konesans yon granmoun ki pa konn pale franse. Eske sa fe yon diferans siw tutoyer oubyen voudoyer li piske li pa konprann sa w'ap di l la?

W'ap fè m grate tèt mwen :)
Ki kalite kesyon ranje sa a :) M sipoze si granmoun nan Ayiti se Kreyòl w'ap pale avè l. Li pa posib pou ni titwaye ni voudwaye an Kreyòl. Sa pa egziste nan lang nou an.

Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

'Live today as if it was your last' or 'live each day like your last' in Creole. mesi

Live today as if it was your last.
Viv jodi a kou dènye jou w.
or
Viv jodi a konmsi se te dènye jou w.

Live each day like your last.
Viv chak jou kou dènye jou w.
or
Viv chak jou konmsi se te dènye jou w.

Live each day to the fullest.
Viv chak jou nan plen bòl.
Viv chak jou ak bòl ou byen plen.
Viv chak jou w abondamman

Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Mak 15:3 Chèf prèt yo te depoze anpil plent sou do li. Please translate into English, then can you add explanation for 'plent' ? (Kamsa hamnida)

plent → complaint, accusations, grievance

'Chèf prèt yo te depoze anpil plent sou do li.'
'The chief priests had brought many accusations against him.'
'The chief priests had accused him of many things.'

Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Do you use "souri" for "smirking", or something else?

to smirk ri nan bab, ri nan manton, fè yon ti souri bèt

Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

"...Apre se te tou pa mwen pou m pale." Does TOU PA MWEN make sense?

Yes.

apre | se te   |  tou |  pa mwen |  pou |  m   | pale
after  | it was   | turn | mine           | for    | me   | speak
afterwards it was my turn to speak.

Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

"an ran" and "sou ran", which best to use here? as in 'They lined the streets to watch ......'

anran ( an ran) oubyen sou ran kapab bon.
egzanp:
Moun mete yo sou ran nan lari a pou ap gade .....

Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

I'd love a translation with audio of IICor 13:34, NIV 84 "May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all."

I'm not sure it's verse "34". It might be verse "13".

Download link: Click here to download…

 

First two verse repetitions comes from this translation:
2 korent 13 vèsè 13 - Se pou benediksyon Senyè Jezikri a, ak lanmou Bondye genyen pou nou an, ansanm ak fratènite Sentespri a toujou la avèk nou.

The "three" repittitions that come afterwards is from the new 1999 Creole edition of the bible:
2 korent 13 vèsè 13 - Se pou benediksyon Senyè Jezikri ban nou an, ak renmen Bondye gen pou nou an, ansanm ak pouvwa Sentespri k'ap fè nou viv ansanm lan toujou la ak nou tout.

Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

What are words for 'jinx'(nouns and verbs)? "..... ." and "He is trying to jinx me so I can't succeed."

a jinx → yon giyon, yon pichon, yon madichon
to jinx → mete bouch sou, limen bouji dèyè, mare

1.
"He is trying to jinx me so I can't succeed."
"L'ap mare m dekwa pou m pa reyisi."

2.
It's raining cats and dogs.  The guests can't make it to the nuptials.  This wedding must have been jinxed.
Lapli a ap fè raj deyò a.  Envite yo p'ap ka vini nan seremoni maryaj la. Yo dwe te limen bouji dèyè nòs la.  

3.  
The team scored a goal at the soccer championship match, breaking the jinx against the country.
Ekip la te fè yon gòl nan konpetisyon chanpyona foutbòl la, yo te retire giyon ki te sou tèt peyi a.


Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Mak 14:51 " Te gen yon jenn gason ki t'ap swiv Jezi; li te gen yon dra ase sou li. Yo mete men sou msye." Can you translate above into English, and explain in detail for 'ase, and 'msye' please. Kamsa hamnida

Dakò :)

msye (without the "i") or misye , not only means man, sir, or Mister, but it also translates the third person pronoun, "he", "him", "his"....   And also translates the guy, the man. ...
examples:
1. Misye malad.
    He is sick.

2. M pa wè Max depi kèk tan.  Kote msye?
    I haven't seen Max in a while.  Where is he?

3. Poukisa w'ap mande m sa?  Mwen pa wè msye nonplis.
   Why are you asking me?  I haven't seen the guy either.

4. Yo "mete men sou" msye.  
      Where "mete men sou" means to touch, or capture, apprehend, grab depending on context 
     They "captured" him.

ase → enough.  It also means only,  just,  only just,  solely
examples:
4. Mwen gen twa dola ase.
    I have just three dollars.
    I have only three dollars.

5. Depi yo te mete men sou msye, li te di de(2) mo ase.
    Since they captured him, he only said two words.

See more examples in the linked post about ASE as ONLY or JUST.  The section is highlighted.

SO the translation for your sentence  in English will be:

Te gen yon jenn gason ki t'ap swiv Jezi; li te gen yon dra ase sou li. Yo mete men sou msye.
There was a young man who was following Jesus; he had only a sheet on him.  They grabbed him.

Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

"M granmoun, m gen dwa plezire tet an mwen nenpot le lide m di m" (tèt an mwen? Wha't "AN"?) and (lide m di m? my idea says or tells?)

tèt an mwen (the northern way of saying tèt mwen) → lit. my head.  In this sentence it means myself.

lè lide m di m is an expression for whenever I want, as I please
lè lide l di l → whenever he wants, as he please
lè lide w di w → whenever you want, as you please

another expression that expresses almost the same thing is:
jan mwen vle (jan m vle) → however I want
jan li vle (jan l vle) → however he wants
jan ou vle (jan w vle) → however you want

1.  Ou granmoun, ou gen dwa antre soti lè lide w di w.
     You're an adult, you may come and go as you please.

2. Paran m pa la.  Yo nan vakans.  Donk m gen dwa antre lakay lè lide m di m.
    My parents are not home.  They're on vacation.  So I may go home whenever I please.


3. Lajan an se pa w.  Ou mèt depanse l jan w vle.
    The money's yours.  You may spend whichever way you please.


2. Nou se moun lib.  Nou gen dwa soti abiye jan n vle, pou n ale kote n vle, lè lide n di n.
    We are free.  We have the right to go out dressed however we want, to go wherever we want as we please.



Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Lespri nou byen dispoze, men se kò nou ki fèb. ( Can you translate the above to English ?) Kamsa hamnida

Lespri nou byen dispoze, men se kò nou ki fèb.
Ou spirit is determined (or motivated), but it's our body that is weak. (literally)
Ou spirit is willing, but our body is weak.

Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Monday, March 18, 2013

joli madanm :) "Fouti" is translated as "not able to" based on what you wrote. So I'm reading this sentence (Jan li jenn nan li pa fouti papa l) as (He's not able to be his father) or (He's not able to be a father)? and what is JAN here?

It sounds to me like "He could not be his/her father"

Here are some examples:

1.  Jan mesye sa a jenn nan, li pa fouti papa w.
      The way this man is young, he could not be your father (Lit.)
     This man is so young, he could not be your father.

2. Jan yo t'ap mache men nan men an, yo p'at fouti frè ak sè.
    For the way they were walking hand in hands, they could not be brother and sister.

3. Jan l t'ap desann byè yèreswa a, li pa t'ap  fouti al travay nan demen.
    For the way he was gobbling down beers last night, he could not have gone to work the next day.
    or does the English says: "He could not have been able to go to work..." (I'm not sure :)

4.  Jan w t'al dòmi ta, m konnen ou pa t'ap fouti leve bonè.
     For how you went to bed so late, I know you could not have woken up early.
      You went to bed so late, I know you could not have woken up early.

5. Jan yo te damou an, nou pa't fouti kwè yo te kite vrèman.
    For the way they were in love, we could not believe that they had really broken up.
    They were so much in love, we could not believe that they had really broken up.

Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

"Se tout sa" (m genyen) (in English)

1. Se tout sa m genyen.
    That's all I have.

2. Se tout sa n genyen.
    That's all we have.

3.  Eske se tout sa w genyen?
     Is that all you have?

4.  Se tout sa m genyen pou m di.
     That's all I have to say.

5.  Se tout sa m'ap pran avè m.
     That's all I'll take with me.

6.  Se tout sa mwen vle.
     That's all I want.

7.  Se tout sa m te wè.
     That's all I saw.

8.  Se tout sa nou bezwen.
     That's all we need.

9.  Se tout?
     Eske se tout?
     Is that all?

10.  Wi, se tout?
       Yes, that's all.

Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

"san wete san mete"

san wete san mete (pa plis pa mwens)no more no less, exactly, no more than that

1. Tanpri remèt mwen san dola m nan san wete san mete.
     Please reimburse me my one hundred bucks. I want no more no less.

2.  Tout sa m mande, se pou w ban m sa w dwe m nan, san wete san mete.
      All I ask is that you give me what you owe me. I don't want more than that.

3.  Jounalis la bay nouvèl la nan bon ti manmit, san wete san mete.
     The journalist gave the news as it is, without adding to it or taking away from it.

Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

M’ape rantre Ayiti jedi pwochen. Hi, Madaly, can you please explain this contraction ? "M'ape" kamsa hamnida ( mesi anpil)

"ape", like "ap" is the determiner for the progressive forms (and also future form)
We use either one (ap or ape)

We can say:
1.
M'ap chante.
or
M'ape chante
I'm singing.

2. 
Li mèt nenpòt pri, n'ap peye l.
or
Li mèt nenpòt pri, n'ape peye l.
It may be any price we'll pay for it.
Whatever the price we'll pay for it.

3.
Bebe a grangou.  Se poutèt sa l'ap kriye.
or
Bebe a grangou. Se poutèt sa l'ape kriye.
The baby is hungry.  That's why he's crying.


We may also use it in negative sentences.

4.
Mwen p'ap janm retounen nan peyi sa a ankò.
or
Mwen p'ape janm retounen nan peyi sa a ankò.
I'll never return to this country again.

5.
Nou p'ap fè dèyè, men n'ap fè douvan.
or
Nou p'ape fè dèyè, men n'ape fè douvan.
We will not go back, but we'll go forward.


You may use it in question form.
6.
Eske w'ap vini legliz avèk mwen?
or
Eske w'ape vini legliz avèk mwen?
Are you coming to church with me?

7.
Poukisa y'ap kriye?
or
Poukisa y'ape kriye?
Why are they crying?

See link: Present progressive marker

Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Sunday, March 17, 2013

M'ape Rantre Ayiti (AUDIO)

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To listen to this audio click on the PLAY button and follow along :)
 

-Alo?

-Bonjou Fanfan.  Kijan w ye?

-Bonjou …se kilès sa a?
   Hello.... who is this?

-Se Joujou...
   It's Joujou.

-O Joujou!  Sa’k pase?  Mwen gen kèk tan m pa tande w.  Sa’w regle?
  oh Joujou! How are you doing?  I haven't heard from you in a while.  What are you up to?

-M pa regle anyen ditou.  Ou konnen, m’ap travay di.
  I haven't been doing much at all.  You know, I'm working hard.

-Ou gen preske yon ane depi w pa vizite Ayiti.  Kilè w’ap fè yon ti kout pye isi?
  It's been almost a year since you visited Haiti.  When will you make a short trip here?

-Enben se poutèt sa mwen rele w.  M’ape rantre Ayiti jedi pwochen.  Eske w ta ka vin chache m nan ayewopò a tanpri?
  Well, That''s why I'm calling.  I'm coming to Haiti next Thursday.  Would you be able to come pick me up at the airport please?

-Mwen ta byen renmen fè sa, men machin mwen anpàn semèn sa.  Li p’ap gentan repare distans pou w vini.
 I would love to do that, but my car's broken down this week.  It will not be repaired by the time you come.

-O! mwen regrèt tande sa.  Men eske ou te kapab fwete yon tap-tap pou vin chache m?
 Oh I'm sorry to hear that.  But could you hire a tap-tap to come pick me up?

-Men wi! M’ap kapab.  Se nan ki vòl w’ap vini?   E ki lè vòl la ap ateri?
 Sure, I'll be able to.  Which flight are you coming in? And what time is the flight landing?

-M’ape vini nan Air France.  Avyon an va ateri bò zòn katrè nan apremidi konsa.  Mwen bezwen yon moun dekonfyans. Eske m ka konte sou ou?
  I'm coming in Air France.  The plane will to land at around 4 PM.  I need someone I can trust.  Can I count on you?

-Men wi! Ou mèt konte sou mwen zanmi’m.  Joujou, konbyen tan w’ap vin fè nan peyi a?
 Sure! You may count on me my friend.  Joujou, how long will you stay in the country?

-M p’ap sa fè anpil tan.  M’ap fè senk jou sèlman.  Mwen pa gen anpil jou konje nan travay mwen.
  I can't stay long.  It'll be just five days.  I don't have many days off from work.

-M konprann.  Senk jou pa anpil, men mwen va kontan vizit ou. Mwen te byen sonje w.
 I understand.  Five days is not much, but I'll enjoy your visit. I have missed you.

-Mwen menm tou.  Mwen sonje fanmi m ak zanmi m.
 Me too.  I miss my family and friends.

-Ki kote w’ap desann?  M’espere se pa nan yon otèl?
 Where will you be you staying?  I hope it's not in a hotel?

-Aktyèlman, se sa mwen t’ap panse fè.
 Actually, that's what I was thinking to do.

-Joujou, mwen ta twò kontan pou w fè ladesant lakay mwen.  An nou pa diskite sa. Se dakò? 
 Joujou, I would be more than happy to have you stay at my home.  Let's not dispute this.  Agree?

-Mèsi Fanfan. Se dakò.
  Thanks Fanfan. Agree.

-Bon, m’ava fè preparasyon pou m resevwa w. M pa ka tann pou m wè w.
  Good.  I'll make preparations to welcome you.  I can't wait to see you.

-Mwen menm tou.  Mèsi davans Fanfan.  N’a wè jedi sidyevle?
  Me too.  Thanks in advance Fanfan.  See you Thursday God willing

-Dakò Joujou.  N’a wè.
  Okay Joujou.  See you.


Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words