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Hi Mandaly, I have quick question about "and" in Creole. I'll be doing a year-long global health fellowship in Thomassique in exactly 3 weeks and have started learning a bit of Creole. I'm confused about when I should use epi, e, ak as "and." Is "epi" used only connecting two sentences? I've also seen "ak used as "and" though I was taught ak primarily means "with." Thanks for the great blog - It's been a huge help!

Great! I wish you a good stay in Thomassique. By the time your fellowship is done you'll be speaking Creole like a native :)

These are some Haitian Creole words for "and":

ak, avè, avèk (which primarily mean "with") → and
ak, avè, and avèk are better used when connecting two objects, or two words (as if you were saying "together with")

1. manman m ak papa m
manman m enpi papa m ("my mom and then my dad" - "enpi" will also work here)
~~manman m e papa m~~ (we do not usually use "e" to connect two words. It feels more natural to use "ak"," avè " or "avèk")
my mom and my dad

2. Mwen te ale nan magazen an. Mwen te achte yon liv avèk yon kreyon.
I went to the store. I bought a book and a pencil.

3. Ou menm avè frè w la sanble tèt koupe.
You and your brother look very much alike.

epi or enpi → and, and then, then, so therefore
epi or enpi can be used to connect two sentences, clauses, or words

4. Li vini, li manje enpi li pati ankò. Li pa te gen tan repoze.
She came, she ate and then she left again. She did not have time to rest.
She came, she ate and she left again. She did not have time to rest.

5. An nou priye enpi n'a manje.
Let's pray and then we'll eat.

6. Mwen renmen zoranj, chadèk, enpi seriz tou.
Mwen renmen zoranj, chadèk, ak seriz tou. ("ak, avè, or avèk" will work here)
Mwen renmen zoranj, chadèk e seriz tou. ("e" will work here)
I like oranges, grapefruits, and also cherries.

e → and, and then, and also (connects clauses and sentences, but not usually "two"words)
7. Mwen te wè li e mwen panse li te wè m tou.
I saw her and I think she saw me too.

8. Si ou te ale e pale avèk li, mwen panse li ta bon.
If you went and talked to her, I think it would be good.
I think it would be good if you went and talked to her.

9. Li pati e li pa janm retounen.
He left and never came back.

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

Yon nouvo zouti enpòtan ki kapab ede timoun Ayiti yo aprann

Yon nouvo zouti enpòtan ki kapab ede timoun Ayiti yo aprann

Se Dory Piccard Dickson ki ekri atik sa a ann angle, enpi se Mandaly Louis-Charles ki tradui li an kreyòl

“Imajinen yon nouvo Ayiti kote tout moun, finalman, kapab li ak ekri lang natif natal yo.” (Michel DeGraff, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Inisyativ MIT-Ayiti, Akademi Kreyòl Ayisyen)

Refleksyon sou eksperyans yon elèv lekòl ann Ayiti:

Lè Mandaly Louis-Charles t ap grandi ann Ayiti, pwofesè lekòl, jeneralman, te konn fè tout klas yo an franse, yon lang ke pifò elèv pa janm abitye pale lakay yo. Se nan bat pa kè elèv yo te konn aprann ti mòso nan lang franse a. Toudabò, elèv yo memorize ABC lang franse a, lèfini elèv yo memorize mo yo, enpi fraz yo. Apre sa, timoun yo aprann ki sa mo yo vle di. Nan epòk sa a, klas yo pa t separe ak miray. Nan kèlkeswa nivo klas nou te ye a, nou te toujou ap tande timoun ki t ap resite alfabè a. Pa te gen chape pou nou. Alfabè franse a te nan wèl nou tout tan.

Nan lekòl la menm, timoun pa t gen dwa pale kreyòl. Se nan memwa zo bwa tèt yo ke yo te blije chache kèk grenn mo pou yo degaje yo pou pale franse, yon lang yo pa pale ni lakay yo, ni ak ti zanmi yo lè y ap jwe, ni okenn lòt kote nan kominote a. Pa mande Bondye yon pwofesè ta bare yon elèv ap pale kreyòl, lang natif natal li; se ale nan pinisyon tou dwat. Pafwa, pinisyon an konn byen rèd. Alèkile gen ti pwogrè ki fèt: ou kapab jwenn klas kreyòl nan pwogram lekòl yo. Men, kwak sa, yo anseye kreyòl la kòm yon matyè ki separe ak tout lòt yo. Akademi Kreyòl Ayisyen an, ki rive fonde an 2014, ap travay pou chanje sa. Y ape travay pou kore itilizasyon kreyòl nan tout sektè lasosyete. Men, pou kounye a, kominikasyon alekri gouvènman an ansanm ak lwa ak dekrè, se an franse sèlman ke prèske tout dokiman sa yo pibliye .

Videyo a:

Mandaly Louis-Charles, yon fanm vanyan k ap milite pou lang kreyòl la, te kolabore ansanm ak animatè Robert Capria, mizisyen Bémol Telfort, enpi pwofesè lengwistik nan Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Michel DeGraff, pou pwodui yon videyo edikasyonèl pou entwodui premye chante sou alfabè kreyòl la.

Louis-Charles ak DeGraff te kolabore ansanm pou yo ekri pawòl yo. Louis-Charles te kreye melodi a, enpi li chante chante a ansanm ak amoni yo. Telfort te jwe tanbou e bat kata tou pou akonpaniman mizik la te konplè.

Sa se premye chante ak videyo ki fèt sou alfabè kreyòl ayisyen an. Pou entèpretasyon règ òtograf kreyòl la, ekip la te chwazi imaj avèk pawòl ke tout Aysisyen, granmoun kon timoun, konnen byen. Yo te marye bèl rit tanbou ak melodi a, bèl rit ki chita byen fon nan kilti nasyon Ayisyen an depi nan nesans li.

Michel DeGraff di kon sa:

“Chante sa a gen rasin ki antre fon nan bèl tradisyon ki nan nannan kilti nou. Li va bay timoun yo yon grap plezi, e li va ba yo anpil angouman pou yo aprann li, ak kè kontan, nan lang natif natal yo.”

Tit chante a se Alfabè kreyòl nimewo 1. Nenpòt moun kapab telechaje li pou granmesi nan adrès YouTube sa a:

https://youtu.be/6F6yK1HOhWI

E si yo ta enterese chante chante a tou, yo va jwenn pati mizik la ansanm ak akonpaniman san vwa nan CD Baby, iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, ak Gracenote MusicID. Si gen kèk mizisyen ki enterese nan sòlfèj mizik la, yo va jwenn li nan sit sa a: sweetcoconuts.blogspot.com nan mwa k ap vini yo, pandan ete 2015 lan.

Ekip la pa te sèlman kreye yon sèl videyo. Yo te kreye yon dezyèm chante ki entèprete prensip fondamantal òtograf kreyòl la. Dezyèm chante sa a rele Alfabè kreyòl nimewo 2. Ou kapab wè yon ti apèsi chante sa a nan YouTube, nan adrès sa a:

https://youtu.be/dW5LaUJ337U

Enpi ou va jwenn tou de (2) chante yo konplè nan sit sa a:

https://vimeo.com/ondemand/thecreolealphabet.

Mandaly Louis-Charles di kon sa:

“Mwen espere tout moun va gen anpil plezi pou aprann sistèm òtograf kreyòl la pandan y ap chante.”

Ki sa ki fè videyo sa a san parèy:

Animasyon nan videyo a byen fèt e li atiran. Akonpaniman enstriman yo pa anvayi pawòl chante a. Lè w ap koute chante alfabè a, ou kapab tande pawòl yo byen klè pandan tanbou an ap bat anba anba.

DeGraff prevwa:

“Mwen kwè vwa Mandaly ak akonpaniman tanbou an va fè chante sa a popilè nèt ann Ayiti!”

Konsènan pwodiksyon videyo a, Mandaly te di “Se te yon privilèj pou mwen te travay ak Bémol Telfort sou akonpaniman mizik la. Li se yon mizisyen ki gen anpil talan e se te yon gran plezi pou nou te travay sou pwojè a ansanm. Tout bagay te tonbe nan plas yo lè Robert Capria nan ActualityFilms.Com te dakò pou kolabore nan pwojè a tou. Capria, yon Ameriken, te pase yon ti tan Ayiti e se kon sa li te vin fè eksperyans avèk lavi ann Ayiti. Eksperyans sa a vin parèt nan animasyon li yo.”

Kòm nou te di, ekip la te travay sou yon dezyèm chante tou. Nan dezyèm chante sa a, Louis-Charles ak DeGraff te espesyalman kontan dèske yo te gen opòtinite pou yo entegre prensip fondamantal òtograf kreyòl la nan chante a:

Chak lèt rete nan wòl yo. Chak son ekri menm jan. Nan pwen lèt ki bèbè. Chak lèt gen yon sèl son.

Entwodiksyon premye chante sou alfabè kreyòl la nan ane 2015, se yon bagay ki ekstraòdinè lè nou konsidere ke anrejistreman dwa otè pou alfabè lang angle a te fèt depi nan ane 1835. Chante tradisyonèl alfabè angle a, ki pa chante selon fonèm ki koresponn ak lèt yo, gen menm melodi ak “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.” Sa ki fè pwojè alfabè kreyòl la diferan, se jan melodi ke Louis-Charles kreye a pa te egziste anvan. Se yon melodi ki orijinal nèt.

Pou ki sa se 180 lane apre chante sou alfabè angle a ke nou jwenn chante sou alfabè kreyòl la? Se ka paske se trè raman ke yo te rive kouche lang kreyòl la sou papye anvan ane 1960 yo. Enpi lè sa te rive fèt, se ak òtograf franse a ke yo te sèvi. Se te jouk nan ane 1980 ke kreyòl la te vin gen pwòp sistèm òtograf ofisyèl pa li. Se òtograf sa a ki sèvi jounen jodi a. E se òtograf ofisyèl sa a ke chante alfabè kreyòl la entèprete.

Enpòtans istorik:

Paske Ayiti te yon koloni franse, se franse ki te toujou lang lekòl menm si gen, pou pi piti, 90% Ayisyen ki pa pale franse. Ayiti te anba pouvwa Lafrans depi 1625 rive 1804. Apre yon revolisyon esklav ki te reyisi, Ayiti te vin endepandan. Apre endepandans lan, sepandan, zafè leta ak edikasyon nan lekòl te kontinye sèvi avèk lang franse a.

Materyèl eskolè ak lòt resous pou edikasyon, se sa Ayiti toujou manke. Pa gen ase lekòl piblik. Pa gen ase pwofesè ki byen kalifye. Pifò pwofesè yo pa pale franse alèz. E poutan se yo ki anchaj pou yo anseye an franse. Enpi se an franse tou pou yo anseye timoun yo lekti ak ekriti. Limitasyon sa a andikape timoun yo depi nan premye ane lekòl: lè yon timoun aprann li nan yon lang ke li pa konn pale, sa difisil anpil pou timoun sa a vin bon lektè. E si yon timoun pa ka li byen, li pa fouti vin maton nan okenn matyè, nan okenn lang.

Enpi tou, gen pwoblèm lajan. Pifò paran pa gen mwayen voye pitit yo nan bon lekòl. Genyen ki pa menm kapab peye inifòm obligatwa lekòl la, oswa yo pa gen lajan pou peye ata twal pou fè inifòm nan. Anpil timoun, se nan lekòl bòlèt y ale. Alòske moun nan klas privilejye yo pale franse lakay yo. Ki fè timoun sa yo aprann franse depi yo ti katkat. Fanmi sa yo gen mwayen pou peye bonjan lekòl prive pou pitit yo, pou prepare yo pou bèl metye ak lòt pozisyon lelit. Sa ba yo mwayen pou transmèt pouvwa sosyal ak pouvwa ekonomik bay pitit yo. Enpi, se kon sa fanmi sa yo ka asire yo ke pitit yo, pitit pitit yo, elatriye, ap kontinye viv konfòtab.

Men sa DeGraff esplike:

“N ap pran yon ti souf tou piti pou le moman gras a nouvo pwogram gouvènman an k ap bay lekòl ki gratis e ki obligatwa: Universal, Free and Obligatory School Program (“PSUGO”). Men, nou toujou manke resous pou tout popilasyon an.”

“Sa fè apeprè 50 lane depi militan lang kreyòl yo ap goumen pou bay tout moun aksè egal ego nan edikasyon. Sa se youn pami lòt benefis ke tout Ayisyen ta dwe jwenn kòm sitwayen peyi a—benefis ke pèp la pa ka jwenn lè lang franse a sèvi kòm sèl lang ekri nan biwo leta, lekòl, inivèsite, ak lòt kote k ap kreye e k ap transmèt konesans ak pouvwa.”

“Ogmante itilizasyon kreyòl nan edikasyon ak nan zafè leta, sa mande kokennchenn volonte politik. Sa gen twò lontan depi yo inyore pwopozisyon pou refòm edikasyon nan peyi a—pa egzanp, pwopozisyon refòm Bernard a ki te pran nesans an 1980. Youn nan rezon refòm Bernard a pa te janm reyalize se akoz mank zouti ak mank resous pou edikasyon an kreyòl. E poutan, tout rechèch ki fèt montre jan lang matènèl timoun yo enpòtan nan edikasyon timoun yo. Lang natif natal la se bon zouti pou elèv yo aprann yon dezyèm lang tou. Pa egzanp, se lang kreyòl la ki ta dwe ede pifò Ayisyen aprann franse.”

“Kounye a, finalman, avèk inogirasyon Akademi Kreyòl Ayisyen an ansanm ak gwo jefò ke Ministè Nasyonal Edikasyon ap fè sou lang kreyòl la, nou kapab espere ke nou va itilize lang nasyonal nou an kòm yon lang ofisyèl tout bon vre e kòm yon zouti djanm pou ansèyman kòmsadwa. Se sa lalwa ak pwogram ofisyèl yo mande. Pa kapab genyen devlopman ki dirab ann Ayiti si nou pa sèvi tout kote ak sèl lang sa a ke tout Ayisyen pale—sèl lang sa a ki simante tout Ayisyen ansanm.”

Inisyativ MIT-Ayiti a te fonde nan ane 2010 avèk objektif pou devlope, evalye enpi distribiye resous teknolojik pou anseye matyè lasyans, teknoloji, jeni enpi matematik (“STEM”) an kreyòl. Kreyòl la se yon engredyan ki nesesè pou bon kalite ansanm ak aksè pou edikasyon ann Ayiti. Resous sa yo va sèvi kòm zouti pou pote chanjman ki va amelyore sistèm edikasyon Ayiti a.(1) Inisyativ MIT-Ayiti a devlope metòd ak materyèl (videyo ladan tou) ki demontre avantaj ki genyen lè lang kreyòl la sèvi pou pedagoji ki aktif. Avèk kolaborasyon Ministè Nasyonal Edikasyon, Inisyativ la pwojte pou entegre aprantisaj aktif nan ansèyman STEM toupatou nan peyi a. Se kon sa n ap kapab kreye yon bon baz pou devlòpman ki dirab.

Lè nou sèvi ak kreyòl alekri kòm aloral depi nan premye ane lekòl, kontinye nan tout nivo akademik, rive jouk nan inivèsite, sa va ede elèv yo aprann pi byen e sa va asire siksè elèv yo tou. Chante alfabè kreyòl la se yon zouti ki enpòtan pou nou ranfòse sistèm edikasyon peyi a e pou nou kreye Ayiti nou vle a.

(1) DeGraff, Michel, July 2013

“MIT-Haiti Initiative Uses Haitian Creole to Make Learning Truly Active, Constructive, and Interactive”

http://edutechdebate.org/cultural-heritage-and-role-of-education/mit-haiti-initiative-uses-haitian-creole-to-make-learning-truly-active-constructive-and-interactive/

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

Pou valè moun k'ap chache sekrè lavi a enpi se ou k jwenn ni. please translate 'vale" in detail.

Valè, in Haitian Creole, translates worth, value, cost, price

It also translates many, so many, plenty, an abundance, a large number

We’ll concentrate on this second translation as this is what’s used in the audio post.

Here are some examples of using “valè” to translate ….many or a large number, …. As it is used in the audio post:

In these first groups of examples, we use it to say “large quantity”:

Gen yon valè moun ki pa konn li nan peyi sa a. – There are a number of people that do not know how to read in this country.

Mwen gen yon valè bib lakay mwen, m’a prete w youn. - I have many bibles at home, I’ll lend you one.

Sometimes we say “pou valè” – basically ….for the amount or because of the amount…..

Pou valè bagay mwen gen pou‘m fè jodi a, m pa kwè m’ap kapab ede w. – Because of the many things I have to do today, I don’t think I’ll be able to help you.

Pou valè mechanste m tande ou fè, m pa kwè m ka fè w konfyans - For the amount of wickedness I’ve heard that you’ve committed I don’t think I can trust you.

And sometimes we use “Valè” before a noun where it means …so many, many, a great undefined number, …

Valè moun ou genyen nan fanmi w, enpi ou pa't ka jwenn youn ki ka ede w - You have so many people in your family, and you couldn’t find one that can help you.

Valè malonèt yo fè w, enpi ou retounen isit la toujou. Ou pa gen nen nan figi w. - In spite of all the insults thrown at you, you still come back here. You have no shame.

Valè Ayisyen ki gen nan sal la, enpi pa menm gen youn ki ka pale yon bon Franse. M twouve sa dwòl.. - All these Haitians in a room and not even one can speak perfect French. I found that bizarre.

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

How can I communicate, "Turn around". For example: "Turn around and look at me" or "Turn around and walk the other way"?

There are different ways to translate "to turn around" in Haitian Creole. But "turn around" here is translated as "vire"
Turn around → vire
Turn around and look at me → Vire enpi gade m. You can also say Vire gade m.
Turn around and walk the other way. → Vire enpi mache ale nan lòt sans lan. You can also say Vire enpi mache ale laba.

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

Mare kon krab (Audio)

Download link for this audio:
http://limanecasimi.audioacrobat.com/download/2de68cb9-2fb6-62cd-fc53-4944048a4d81.mp3

Click on the PLAY button to listen to this audio the follow along :)

http://www.audioacrobat.com/play/WvMjvfFS

O O Joujou, sa w genyen figi w fennen konsa?

Joujou what’s wrong your face is so faded?
Joujou why do you look so down?

Mezanmi! Fanfan, yon zanmi m te envite m dine lakay li yè swa – si m te konnen sa’k t'apral pase m pa ta ale.

Fanfan, a friend of mine invited me to dinner at her house last night – If I knew what was going to happen I wouldn’t have gone.

Ki sa ki te pase?

What happened?

Lè m rive kay zanmi m nan m te panse se te yon dine konsa konsa men non se te granzafè. Dabò, lè m rantre lakay zanmi m nan, m wè tout envite te abiye fen kou zezwa. Mwen menm se te yon vye mayo ak pantalon abako k te sou mwen.

When I got to my friend’s house I thought it just any dinner but no it was a big affair. First off when I went into my friend’s house I saw that all the guests were dressed very elegantly. As for me I had an old shirt and jeans on.

O O!

Wi! M vin santi de pye m nan yon grenn soulye. Lapoula m te dwe fè bak tounen lakay men tout zye te gentan sou mwen.

Yes! I felt trapped. Right then and there I should have stepped back to return home but all eyes were already on me.

Sa w fè menm?

What did you do same/even?
So what did you do?

Lè tout moun atable yo – m mete m sou tab tou. Enpi se lè sa m sonje m pa’t gen etikèt manje sou tab.

When everyone sat at the table I sat on the table too. And then that’s when I remembered that I didn’t have proper table manners.

Si m te ou - m ta pran pòz m malad - enpi m ta leve ale.

If I were you I would have pretended to be sick and left.

Non m gen twòp fyète pou sa.
No I have too much pride for that.

Donk ou pito anbarase tèt ou devan tout moun?

So you rather make a fool of yourself in front of everyone?

Mezanmi m sou tab la, m mare kou krab. Premyèman m pa konn ak ki men pou m ranmase fouchèt la. Dezyèman m te tèlman grangou m bwote preske tout manje k te sou tab la mete nan plat mwen,

Man! I was at the table, I felt so awkward. First of all I did not know with which hand to pick up the fork. Second I was so hungry I brought almost all the food that was on the table onto my plate.

Ou konnen se pa konsa sa fèt sou tab. Se piti a piti ou charye manje mete nan plat ou.

You know that’s not the way is done on the table. You bring food to your plate little by little.

Ah! manje nan plat mwen fè yon ti pil byen wo tankou yon ti mòn. Lè m fin manje atò m vin swaf. M rale yon po ji. M plen vè m nan ra bouch. M kage vè a nan figi m. M bwè tout ji a nan yon sèl goje. Enpe bweson tonbe sou rad mwen - enpi m vin rann yon gwo gaz!

The food in my plate made a little pile as high as a little hill. When I was done eating I got thirsty. I grabbed a pitcher of juice. I filled my glass to the rim. I brought the glass to my face and drunk the juice in one gulp. Some fell on my clothes - and then I let out a big belch!

O O!

Tout moun tonbe gade m atò.

Then everyone started looking at me.

Sa’w fè lè sa a?

What did you do at that time.

Lè sa a m wont, m jennen - m tonbe pale koze m pa gen biznis pale sou tab la. Tout moun blije met tèt atè – m te mare kon krab – Lè m te kite kay zanmi m nan, li te lè l te tan.

At that time I was ashamed, I was embarrassed – I started making inappropriate table conversations. Everyone was looking down (They were avoiding eye contact with me) – I was fumbling. When I left my friend’s house it was about time.

M’espere ou pran yon leson – pwochèn fwa yo envite w dine, se pou w mande ki kalite dine li ye anvan – konsa w'a pare pou li.

I hope you learn a lesson. Next time they invite you to dinner you should ask what type of dinner it is first so you can prepare for it.

Pwochèn fwa yo envite m dine m p'ap fè yon pa .

Next time they invite me to dinner I ain’t gonna go nowhere.

Track: Nègès Lakay by Elylrac

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

Is there a reference (book or website) or one of your audio lessons that would help me in a medical mission with Project Medishare @ Bernard Mevs in PAP ? I only need to know very basic- Are you in pain? Take a deep breath and cough. Roll over. I will see you tomorrow. I know please and thank you- and we have some interpreters. THANK YOU

You can use the English/Haitian Creole Medical Dictionary by Maude Heurtelou and Fequière Vilsaint. It is mainly a dictionary. I did browse it once or twice, I don’t remember seeing any sentences for patient communication in there.

You may also check the following posts:
I have a headache
Do you have pain?
Headaches and Pains

Are you in pain? – Eske ou genyen doulè

Where is your pain? – Ki kote doulè ou ye?

Show me where’s your pain – Montre mwen kote doulè ou ye?

Take a deep breath and cough – Pran yon gran souf enpi touse

Roll over onto your right side – vire sou bò dwat ou.

Roll over onto your left side – Vire sou bò goch ou.

Roll over onto your back – Vire enpi kouche sou do ou.

Roll over onto your stomach – Vire enpi kouche sou vant ou.

I will see you tomorrow – Mwen va wè ou demen.

See you tomorrow – Na wè demen

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

Kay Doktè a (AUDIO)

Download link for this audio:
Click here to download…

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

The doctor: Bonjou madanm.

The patient: Bonjou doktè.

The doctor: Kòman m kapab ede w jodi a Madanm?
How can I help you today ma'am?

The patient: Doktè, mwen pa byen ditou ditou. Tout kò m ap fè m mal.
Doctor, I'm not well at all. My whole body hurts.

The doctor: Kisa k ap fè w mal egzakteman?
What's hurting you exactly?

The patient: Depi de(2) jou vant mwen ap fè m mal. Mwen gen tètfèmal.

Mwen gen feblès. Mwen tèlman fèb, mwen pa menm ka mache.

Enpi m santi m toudi toudi.
Since two days my stomach's been hurting. I have a headache.
I have weakness. I'm so weak, I can't even walk.
And I feel so dizzy.

The doctor: E kisa ki fè doulè w vin miyò?
And what makes the pain better?

The patient: Anyen ditou.
Nothing at all.

The doctor: Eske kò fè mal la vin ak lafyèv?
Does the body ache come with fever?

The patient: Non doktè. M pa santi lafyèv non.
No doctor. I don't feel any fever.

The doctor: Eske w’ap touse?
Are you coughing?

The patient: Non doktè, mwen pa gen tous non.
No doctor, I don't have a cough.

The doctor: Eske w gen dyare?
Do you have diarrhea?

The patient: Non doktè. M pa ni gen dyare, ni konstipe.
No doctor. I neither have diarrhea nor am I constipated.

The doctor: Kisa ou te manje maten an madanm?
What did you eat this morning ma'am?

The patient: Maten an, mwen pa’t manje anyen non.
This morning, I ate nothing.

The doctor: E kisa ou te manje yè?
And what did you eat yesterday?

The patient: Ayè, mwen pa’t manje anyen nonplistou.
Yesterday, I didn't eat anything either.

The doctor: Ou pa manje anyen menm pou de jou!!!!!!?
You did not eat anything at all for two days!!!!?

The patient: Anyen menm doktè…. Mwen p’ap travay.
E mwen pa gen mwayen pou m nouri tèt mwen.
Nothing at all doctor. .... I'm not working.
And I don't have the means to feed myself.

The doctor: A! mwen wè pwoblèm ou.
Ah! I see your problem.

The patient: O! ou wè pwoblèm nan doktè?! Eske w’ap ban m yon preskripsyon?
O! You do see the problem doctor? Will you give me a prescription?

The doctor: Wi. Madanm, men yon ti kafe ak bonbon. Manje li konnya.
Yes ma'am, here's a little coffee and cookies. Eat it now.

The patient: Mèsi doktè. ... Li bon. Ou pa vle yon ti kal doktè, non?
Thanks doctor. ...Hmm it's tasty. You don't want a piece doctor?

The doctor: Non, m manje deja. ... E konnya, kijan w santi w?
No, I ate already. ...And now, how do you feel?

The patient: Doktè, m santi m yon ti jan miyò. Mwen santi enèji ap tounen nan kò m

ankò. Mwen santi m anfòm nèt doktè. Mèsi!
Doctor, I feel a little better. I feel the energy coming back into my
body again. I feel wonderful doctor. Thank you!

The doctor: Dakò. Mwen pral refere w pou ale nan Centre Catholique la. Di yo se
mwen ki voye w. Yo va ede w jwenn kèk pwovizyon e petèt
yon ti travay tou.
Great. I'll refer you to the Centre Catholique. Tell them I sent you.
They'll help you get some groceries and perhaps a little job

The patient: Mèsi anpil doktè.

The doctor: Enpi mwen rekòmande w pou al lakay ou. Bwè yon gwo tas kafe e manje

yon asyèt manje. E ou va santi w pi miyò toujou.
And I recommend that you go home. Drink a big cup of coffee and eat
a plate of food. And you'll feel even better still.

The patient: Ou se yon bon doktè. Gade kijan mwen vini tou malad. Enpi ou gentan

fè m santi m byen enganm. Mèsi anpil!
You're such a good doctor. Look how I came all sickly. And you've
already made me strong. Thanks a lot!

The doctor: Orevwa madam

The patient: Orevwa doktè

Track: M'a Prale by TiCorn

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

Greeting! I love your website! Thank you for all your posts. I will be going back to Haiti in a few months. One of our objectives will be to paint a school building. Could you help me by giving me some phrases related to painting? (Things like using a ladder, asking for a brush, a more technical details like smoother strokes.) Thank you for your help!

Dakò zanmi.

1. ladder – nechèl, echèl,

2. wall – mi, miray, panno

3. Place the ladder against the wall

Apiye nechèl la sou mi a.

4. Where’s the ladder?

Kote nechèl la?

5. Be careful so you don’t fall off the ladder.

Atansyon pou w pa sot tonbe sou nechèl la.

6. paint (n.) – penti

7. to paint – pentire

8. a can of paint – Yon manmit penti

9. paint bucket – bokit penti

10. bucket of paint - yon bokit penti

11. Paint the wall with upward and downward strokes

Pentire mi an dewo anba

12. crack – fant

13. to crack – fann

14. Repair the cracks and holes in the wall

Repare fant ak twou ki nan miray la.

15. paint brush – penso

16. paint roller – woulo

17. brush stroke – kout penso

18. How many brushes do we have?

Konben penso nou genyen?

19. Use smoother brush strokes to achieve a smooth finish.

Egalize kout penso yo pou penti a ka parèt lis lè li sèch.

20. water-based paint – penti alo

21. oil-based paint – penti aluil

22. to cover with plaster – masonnen

23. to cover the ceiling with plaster – masonnen plafon an

24. to peel – dekale

25. peeling pent – penti dekale

26. Scrub the peeling paint. – Foubi penti ki dekale yo.

27. one coat (of paint) – yon kouch

28. a coat of paint – youn kouch penti

29. to apply two coats (of paint) – bay de kouch penti

30. Apply one coat of paint and let it dry overnight.

Bay mi an yon kouch penti enpi kite l fin seche aswè a

31. We’ll apply the second coat the next day.

N’a bay dezyèm kouch penti an nan demen.

32. painter (professional house painter) – bòs pent

33. Wash the brushes with soapy water.

Rense penso yo ak dlo savon.

34. Wash the paint roller with lots of water and let it dry.

Rense woulo penti ak bonkou dlo enpi kite l seche.

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

Mandaly. One last question on the "e" and "avek, ak" usages. Am I able in Creole to use "ak" over "e" most of the time? It seems that Haitian Creoles do this for the most part. I am curious, why is this? Mesi bokou.

There are a few Haitian Creole translations for the English word “and”

“And” can be translated as E, AK, AVÈ, EPI, ENPI, EPITOU,

We tend to use AK, AVÈ, or AVÈK when connecting words and group of words.

1. Jean and Paul – Jan ak Pòl

2. the sun and the moon. - Solèy ak lalin

3. a man and a woman - Yon gason ak yon fanm

4. You and I – Mwen ak ou or Mwen menm ak ou

5. I like rice and beans – Mwen renmen diri ak pwa

We tend to use “E” when connecting or adding clauses and when joining sentences.

6. I like you and I want to marry you. – Mwen renmen w e m vle marye avè w.

7. I am tired and hungry – mwen grangou e m fatige

8. He never taught Creole, and to tell you the truth, I’m not sure he even speak the language. – Li pa’t janm anseye Kreyòl, e pou di w laverite, m pa fin sèten li menm pale lang lan.

Epi / Epitou / E can translate “and, and then, also, as well as”

9. The guy is tall, handsome, and he’s rich, why won’t you marry him? – Nèg la gen bèl tay, li bo gason, enpi li rich, poukisa w pa vle marye avè l?

Click on this link for more examples. It’ll take you to about 6 more posts about “and” and its translation in H. Creole: Many ways to translate English "and" in Haitian Creole

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

"Then, Than..." I don't know how this translate if it does... thanks!

Yes, they both translate.

Than → pase

pi cho pase solèy la
hotter than the sun

pi frèt pase glas.
colder than ice

pi presye pase lò
purer than gold.

then → alò, atò, alèkile, enpi,e, lè sa, lò sa, apre, apre sa, etc...

N'ap priye, enpi n' ava manje.
We'll pray, then we'll eat.

Lè nou fin fè tout travay, se alèkile yo parèt.
After we're done working, it is then we got there.

what does blayi mean and please list the ways it is used if there are any

blayi - to be knocked down, to knock someone down
Li bay fanm nan yon kalòt, enpi fanm nan blayi atè a.
He slapped the woman, and the woman was knocked down to the floor
or
Li blayi fanm nan atè a ak yon kout pwen.
He knocked the woman to the floor with one punch.

blayi - to spread
Li choute panye a enpi tout fwi yo te blayi atè a.
He kicked the basket and all the fruits fell all over the floor.
or

Machann nan bite, li tonbe. Tout machandiz li yo blayi atè a.
The merchant stumbled, he fell. All his merchandises fell all over the floor.

blayi n. - pile of rocks people use to dry laundered clothes

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

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