Hello Mandaly, thank you so much for your extremely useful site! My question, I've seen "Labib" and "Bib la" used to mean Bible, even both in the same sentence, but I can't figure out why one or the other would be used. What is the difference between the two, and in what context would each be used?

Thanks :)
There's no preference. There's no difference. Whether you say 'labib' or 'bib', they will be both considered as noun, and will take an article, such as 'labib la' or 'bib la'.

Whenever you have these types of nouns, it does not do too much except to give you options. For example:

Pote lakwa w. or Pote kwa w - Carry your cross

lalwa Moyiz la or lwa Moyiz la - the law of Moses

Mwen pale verite. or Mwen pale laverite. - I speak the truth.

Mwen pase tout lajounen an avè l. or Mwen pase tout jounen an avè l. - I spent the whole day with him/her.

It's a matter of preference.




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

Question: How do you say "hang out" Ex: I am hanging out with my friends

to hang out - pase tan, soti ak, ale nan zanmitay ak
I am hanging out with my friends - M ap pase tan avèk zanmi m.

We also say frekante in the sense of I don't hangout with these people - M pa frekante moun sa yo.

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

Hello Mandaly Is the word "bata" the only slang that means "to be about, to be on verge of, to be on the brink of" or are there other slang words beside this one?

My friend, you know there's always more in Creole :)
I wouldn't call it slang though. It's just a word that they might use in some regions more than others.
Some people may say bata, other might say tou pre or sanse or vanse or pa lwen, or sanlè...

Such as:
Nou bata rive
Nou pre rive
Nou vanse rive
Nou sanse rive
Nou pa lwen rive
Nou sanlè rive
They all mean 'we're almost there'.

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

Does the English word grace translate to favè in Haitian Creole?

Yes it could.

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

Hello Mandalay, Can you explain the usage of "La" in creole, specifically when referring to certain greetings or situations. For example "Kouman w ye la?" Why would the la? be added there? there are also similar situations where the la would be added. Thanks for your help!

Yes you will find that we use them especially when asking questions. In these instances 'la' is used as an adverb. Though it may represent there, at this time, at the moment, or right now there should be no attempt to translate it.  Those meanings are just implied.

Kouman ou ye la? - How are you?
Poukisa w ap fatige kò w la? - Why are you worrying?
Sa w ap di la? - What are you saying?
Poukisa w ap fè tout bagay sa yo la? - Why are you doing all this?
Kisa w vle di la? - What do you mean?
Kounye a la ou pa respekte m ankò? - What now, you don't respect me anymore?
Kisa nou dwe fè la? - What should we do now?

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

Is the Creole word for rape 'kadejak' derived from Cadet Jacques, the lecherous character from Justin Lhérisson's Zoune chez sa ninnaine?

Wi, ou kòrèk. Mo kadejak la vin sinonim ak vyòl gras a woman Misye Justin Lhérisson an.

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

What is the definition of the word "sanse" and how do you use it in a sentence?

sanse - to be expected to, intended to
also
sanse - on the verge of, practically

Nou te an reta pou reyinyon an. Nou te sanse ale ak Jeep la, men l te pran pàn.
We were late for the meeting. We intended to use the Jeep, but it broke down.


Nou swete w byenveni nan òganizasyon nou an. Kounye a nou sanse fanmi w. Ou mèt konsidere nou kòm fanmi.
We welcome you to our organization. Now we are practically family. You may think of us like family.

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

What's the meaning of the word kelkonk? And some examples

kèlkonk - any or whatever
It is used to describe an unspecific person or thing

yon moun kèlkonk - someone, anyone, whatever person
yon bagay kèlkonk - something, anything

Sipoze mwen ta ofri ou yon sèvis kèlkonk, konbyen ou ta peye m?
Suppose I would offer you any service, how much would you pay me?

Sipoze mwen ta mande yon moun kèlkonk pou vin chita devan, kilès nan nou ki ta ofri tèt li?
Suppose I would ask anyone to come sit in the front, which one of you would volunteer?

Fò w ta ban mwen yon bagay kèlkonk kòm avalwa.
You must give me something as down payment.

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

Hi Mandaly, what is a good definition of the word mawozo?

Mawozo - unskilled, inexperienced, wet behind the ears

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

What is the definition of the word "manniganse"?

manniganse or fè mannigans - to work out a plan (could be a devious plan), to scheme, to use devious tactics in order to get results

Se pa de mannigans Manno pa fè non pou l jwenn pèmi sa a.
Manno pulled a lot of strings to get this permit.

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

what is exactly meant by 'tout bon', with examples please.thanks

tout bon - true, for good, for real
We use it to say that something is true, something is a fact

Se tout bon. - It's true.
Èske se tout bon? - Is it true?

Èske se tout bon ou te rankontre ak vedèt Beyonce nan yon restoran?
Is it true that you met superstar Beyonce at a restaurant?

Tout bon? - Really?

We also say: pou tout bon

Se pou tout bon wi. - It's true. / It's for real.

Lè m te di w ke m t ap kite w la, se te pou tout bon wi.
When I told you that I was going to leave you, it was for real.
When I told you that I was going to leave you, I meant it.

Li fache tout bon wi. or Li fache pou tout bon.

She is angry for real.

She's really angry.

Mwen renmen w tout bon.

I love you for real.

I really love you.

Se pa manti m ap fè non, se bagay tout bon m ap pale w.
It's not a lie that I'm making, it's something for real I am telling you.
I'm not lying, I'm telling you the truth.

Se pa espre l ap fè non, se tout bon li pa ka mache.
He's not pretending, he truly can't walk.


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

Hello Mandaly, Do you know where I could take Haitian language classes in NYC? I worked in Haiti for 3 months and learned very basic sentences. Love your blog! Thanks,

Community colleges and universities in the area do offer conversational Creole classes. There are other online organizations offering classes where you'll have a much more personal experience and interaction with native speakers, in groups, or one on one. I have had experiences with Haitihub.com, and love their work. Good luck.

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