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Did Somebody say Valentine's Day?!

Pi Bonè se Gran Maten. Buy early for Valentine's Day. Thanks for your support!

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Finishing a good strong year! Don't forget to visit the shop that supports the blog!

You can log into the SOUVNI Etsy shop here: https://souvni.etsy.com

And here are some of the T-shirts designs that you will find:

And my absolute favorite: Women's Midweight Cotton Tee - Mayo pou fanm. Haiti Strong 13492477691575796039, 18913339349424001881, 16327649384742333594, 54832300560476054867, 16360004319621178711 4995 in stock $20.55 Expires Apr 13, 2024                                                                                                                                                                                

 

Bonjou! kisa blofè, blanchisè, sousèdsan yo vle di?

Blofè - someone who is deceiving, telling bluffs and such

Blanchisè - avaricious, extortionist

Sousèdsan - someone who exploits other people, an opportunist

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I wanted to ask this question in Creole, 'couman Haitian celebrate Thanksgiving?' How do they celebrate this holiday in Haitian

It's not a Haitian holiday. Haitian living in the US celebrate it just the same way Americans do. There's usually some side dishes from Haitian cuisine, but the main dish remain the turkey, even though some Haitians may cut it up into a 'TASO'.

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Have you been having any pain?

Have you been having any pain?

Èske ou konn gen doulè?

Do you have Pain?

Èske ou gen doulè?

Èske w gen doulè?

 

What's hurting you?

Sa k ap fè w mal?

What kind of pain do you have?

Ki kalite doulè ou genyen?

Can you describe the pain?

Èske w ka di m ki kalite doulè li ye?

Show me where the pain is?

Montre m kote doulè a ye?

Show me where you hurt.

Montre mwen ki kote ki ap fè ou mal.

Montre m ki kote k ap fè w mal

How do you say "we broke up" in a dating relationship. I've used we're not together, but wondering if there is a better way to say it?

People say: Nou kite. (We broke up)

Also:            Nou pa renmen ankò (We're not in love anymore)

                    Nou pa ansanm ankò (we're nt together anymore)

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

Is foskouch the correct term for a miscarriage? I am volunteering at a birthcenter and wondering what term is most appropriate? Before 20 weeks saying "your baby died" doesn't seem correct as the women don't seem to see it as a baby yet. "Lost pregnancy" doesn't seem right either. Thanks for all the work you put into this webpage...it's an amazing resource! Mesi anpil!

Hello, sorry for the late reply.

Yes 'foskouch' is the correct term for a miscarriage.

Thanks

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

At this site, you wrote a construction that I am having trouble understanding........

At this site, you wrote a construction that I am having trouble understanding: http://sweetcoconuts.blogspot.com/2015/09/wap-twouble-sante-m.html

"Jouk kote sante w ye a pou w ap kite moun twouble l, mezanmi o!"

I understand it's some sort of joke, but I can't figure out what you're actually saying, and my Haitian friends can't seem to explain it. Can you translate it into English and help me understand? 

Mandaly says:

Oh man! you are right. It is indeed kind of hard to explain :)

Jouk kote - the way it used here, usual means far, separate, apart, unrelated, in a peaceful corner away from the chaos

Literally:

Jouk kote    | sante w ye a   | pou w | kite  | moun    | twouble | l   mezanmi o! |

So far away | your health is  | for you to let | people | disturb it  | wow! |

It will be translated as: Wow! Why are you letting people disturb your health when it is isolated or unrelated to whatever the cintext of the conversation was

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

Hi Mandaly! I have two phrases that I wanted to know the meaning of: "Nan kad lit" and "espas an Plennè"............

Hi Mandaly! I have two phrases that I wanted to know the meaning of: "Nan kad lit" and "espas an Plennè". It is from the title of a news article about Covid-19. "Eske li Nesesè pou Moun Dezenfekte Espas an Plennè yo nan Kad Lit Kont Kowonaviris la?" I assume Espas an Plennè means wide open spaces, but I am not sure about the second one.

Hi,

Yes, anplennè or an plennè means outdoors, or open spaces

Nan kad lit kont - kad (french: cadre) means frame; lit (french: lutte) means fight, struggle; kont (french: contre) means agaisnt. -   It means 'regarding or concerning the fight against .....'

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

Hi! thanks for all the content, its really helpfull. Im trying to find some novels or books in Creole to practice, but i cant find any. Do you know where i can find any books?

Have you tried Educavision.com
Sometimes if there is a specific book you need, they may be able to order it for you.
Thanks
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Is there a creole word for a "player" or "womanizer". Like a guy who has a lot of women ect.

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

could you explain the uses for the word "ladan"? I've been told it means "in it," but it doesn't seem to be the case all the time

ladan / ladann - in it (yes!), in there, in that, sometimes expression for not being involved

Kèlkeswa sa k ap pase ant de (2) moun sa yo pa antre ladan.
Whatever is goign on between this two don't get into it

M pa t ladan. - I was not involved in it

Yo mete m ladan - they got me involved it

Pa mete m ladan - Don't get me involved in this





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

Hi! I hope you and your family are safe. I have 2 things I would like to know. What does the expression means "zombi mandé gouté, li pa mandé rété". And what does "abolotcho" means? Have a good one!!! Thanks

Thanks. You be safe too.
"Zonbi goute sèl li pa mande rete" - Once you get a taste of something good, you can't stop doing it.
(The back story is that zonbies do not eat salt, that's why they remain zonbies. But once they get a taste of something salty, then they realize that they've been missing out on being real human :)

Abolotcho - trouble, grief, or you are curse, also could mean a troublemaker

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

How to say in haitian creole "about to" as we say: "I'm about to go buy something" and also "I was about to go buy something".

This can be expressed with 'pare', 'pral' or 'te pral' / 't ap pral'

I'm about to go buy something - M ap pare pou m al achte yon bagay.
I was about to buy something - M t a pral achte yon bagay/ M t ap pare pou m al achte yon bagay.
I was about to call you - M t a pral rele w.
She was about to get in the car - Li t a pral antre nan machin nan.
We were about to leave you beehind- Nou t ap pare pou n kite w dèyè.

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

Hi Mandaly, How do you say that someone is "shacking up" a term that means you're living with someone you're in a relationship with, but you're not married

We say plase, is you really want to be technical.

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

What is the meaning of Myan-Myan?

What is the context?
Thanks

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

Hi! This might be a weird question: I'm writing this thing, and at some point, a haitian character gets asked if he is a mutant. What is the right term for Mutant in Haitian Creole? Google translate said it was tortu mutan, but I don't trust it very much. Thank you for the attention.

Haitians have used devye, zonbi, debousole, mite, mitan


Slaughter has left a new comment on your post "Hi! This might be a weird question: I'm writing th...": 

Thank you, Mandaly! Much appreciated. I will look up those words. Haitian Creole is an interesting language. 

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

I understand the words but not the meaning of "tout bèt tiyab, manjab"

Literally: If you can kill it, you should be able to eat it.
Don't ask me to explain it...ha ha!

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

Will someone please translate a most beautiful song from Haitian Creole to English. It is 'Ou Leve Mwen' by Jackson Chery and Bridging the Gap. I have the words written in the language, but I want to know what the soloists are saying

Will someone please translate a most beautiful song from Haitian Creole to English.  It is 'Ou Leve Mwen' by Jackson Chery and Bridging the Gap.  I have the words written in the language, but I want to know what the soloists are saying ....

Anyone up to the task?
Thank you :)

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

A friend of mine is working toward getting registered in Haiti's National Archive. I've been trying to find information on the process and importance of registration, as well as the hurdles that he might potentially face during the process but it's hard to find information on that. Could you shed some light on that for me?

Well, it depends on th type of registration that you intend to do. It seems as if your friend should start by accessing his/her birth registration. If it's not registered then providing the documents, including certificate fo citizenship or a Haitian passport. It is best to do it in person. Good luck.

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

Hi, do you know how to say "bring it on" in creole ?

It depends on the situation. "Bring it on!" in English expresses confidence. It says that you are ready. There are many ways to espress that in Creole:
Ann ale non!
M pare!
Alezi!
What is your situation?
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

While reading a blog.....in Haitian Creole, I came upon this:

While reading a blog (https://laloidemabouche.ht/ht/2017/11/28/komanse-kanpe-nan-menm-kan-ak-yo/comment-page-1/) in Haitian Creole, I came upon this:
Pèp sa nou ap meprize chak jou Bondje mete a, nou menm byennere, se li ki nan lari a. 
Pèp sa a nou fè tankou nou pa tande a paske nou fin fou ap chache La Perle des Antilles nou an, se li Ki nan lari a.
Question:
What does byennere mean in this context?
Answer: Byennere here means fortunate, a person who is content or blessed
Question:
Does  "nou fè tankou nou pa tande paske nou fin fou ap chache La Perle des Antilles nou an" mean "We act like we can't hear (them) because we're looking for our Ideal Ayiti like crazy"?
Answer: Yes, it does basically.
Question:
And if "fin fou ap chache" means "looking for like crazy" - can I say "M fin fou ap chache liv sa a"?
Answer: 
Yes again. 'going crazy looking for something'



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

Why is the verb "beni" spelled without an accent yet pronounced without a nasal vowel? By normal spelling rules, shouldn't the "en" be a nasal vowel?

The syllables for 'beni' are 'be-ni', therefore making it possible for no accent.

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

What does the phrase “e moun yo ye” mean?

It is translated as "are they people?"

"are you a person? - "se moun ou ye?"

Ususally it is said in the context of : e moun yo ye? (Are they people/humans?) ---- Also, se moun ou ye? (Are you human?) based on a person's uncompassionate behavior.

-----------------------------------------

Tina TamJune 5, 2019 at 11:56 AM

Doesn't this mean "are THEY people/human?"
e...ye-> are
moun -> people/human
yo-> they

Why wouldn't “e moun OU ye” instead mean "are you a person?"

Mandaly says:

You are correct!

Post updated.

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

Kisa CHE PRAL BWE DOLE NAN NE ye?

It's an expression about 'flood'. It means that there will be flooding. It's written chen pral bwè dlo nan nen.
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Haiti, not a ‘shithole’ … I promise.

Great leaders are those who inspire people to be the best of themselves and to appreciate humanity. It takes a very small human being, so small that he cannot see further than his nose, to deny the beauty of diversity, as it stands before him, calling it a ‘shithole’. Coming from a leader with influential authority, this is an attempt to incite hatred and discrimination among those he influences. Only a wannabe leader could entertain such reckless behaviors and below average perspective. Haiti is a treasure. The people of Haiti are beautiful, they have great hearts, and always welcome foreigners with the warmest and most genuine smile.

http://time.com/5100058/donald-trump-shithole-countries/

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Do you have, or know where I can obtain some short stories in Haitian Creole, to practice? I'm finding it a bit difficult to practice and expand my vocabulary just from the phrases. The phrases are really great, but I'm advancing a bit and would like to push forward!

Anfòm! Mwen kontan tande ke w ap avanse nèt nan kreyòl la. Ou kapab tcheke sit wèb EducaVision an. Yo genyen anpil liv ki genyen kont ak istwa ladan yo. Ou kapab koumanse avèk liv Mod Fontis la, Istwa ak Kont Kreyòl. Genyen anpil bèl ti kont nan liv sa a.
Kontinye konsa!

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

My husband and I will be celebrating our 1st anniversary next month. He (Haitian) and I (from the US) adore each other and have a good relationship, but it's like any other relationship plus communication challenges. What phrases do you think are most important to know for great communication in a marriage?

Congratulation on your first anniversary.... yay!
I pray that you have many more happy years.

Marriage is a wonderful thing. Two is always better than one.
They say that the key to communication is listening. I will add that honest communication (saying what you mean and meaning what you say... ) which appropriately matches the body language is as important.  I am not sure that there are specific Creole words you can use that'll make communication in your marriage better, but speaking from the heart is a great way to start.

Kenbe la!


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

Hi Mandaly, Thanks so much for providing this great resource! I have two questions for you today - is "Vin jwenn mwen" the right way to say "Come to me"? And is "Tati" used as a less formal version of "aunt"? Thanks again for all you do!

Thank you.

Yes. Vin jwenn mwen means Come to me.

Likewise:
Al/ale jwenn li. - Go to him/her
Ale jwenn papa w - Go to your dad.
Ale jwenn manman w - Go to your mom.


Yes, tati is an endearing name for aunt.


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

What does sankoutcha (sankoutya) and manfouben mean?

I got your email about the word 'manfouben' .... yes, lazy is right. :)

sankoutya - is being thoughtless, irresponsible, shameless, or with no care in the world

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

What's the differences and real meanings of lonje and alonje?

Lonje and alonje are synonymous. They mean to make longer

Èske w kapab alonje janm pantalon sa a pou mwen? - Can you lengthen these pants for me?

Lonje does have other meaning, such as to extend, to hand something

Lonje bokit la ban mwen - Hand me the pail.
Li lonje men l ban mwen - He extended his hand to me.

Lonje kò  means to lie back, to take easy, to lounge
M pral fè yon ti lonje kò m la a. - I am going to relax a litle bit.

Lonje dwèt - to point 
Lonje dwèt ou pou montre de ki moun w ap pale a?
Point to show me who you are talking about.


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

Which phrase is correct to say I wanna reach my goals! M vle atenn objektif mwen M vle jwenn objektif mwen M vle ranpli or akonpli objektif mwen M vle fè objektif mwen

The first one... definitely :)

Mwen vle atenn objektif mwen.

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

How do you say, "What is...." For example: What's the phone number? What's the difference? Just anything really that involves using "What is" followed by the rest of the sentence.

There are many ways to start questions with what/what is in Haitian Creole

Being specific - You can start the question with Ki .... 
What's your phone number - Ki nimewo telefòn ou?
What's the difference - Ki diferans lan?
What was the story that you told me yesterday? - Ki istwa ou te rakonte mwen yè a?
What is your choice? - Ki chwa w?
What is the meaning of life? - Ki siyifikasyon lavi a?

Nonspecific
What is life? - Kisa lavi a ye?
What is this/that? - Kisa sa ye?
What is a taco? - Kisa yon taco ye?
What is a meme? - Kisa yon meme ye?
What is a kokoye? - Kisa yon kokoye ye?

Other phrases starting with what....
What's wrong with you today?! - Sa k pase w jodi a?
What the hell is wrong with you?! - Sa  pase w la?!
What's wrong? - Sa w genyen?





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

Hi Mandaly, what is the difference between t ap and te when t ap is used in the following manner? And why isn't te used instead? Ki jan manman ak papa m t ap santi yo si m t al sèvi nan yon lòt peyi? or Si w t ap viv nan epòk la, eske w t ap fè menm jan ak Pyè? Thanks!

t ap (te ap) or (ta ap) are you used to express the past progressive (te ap) or modal verbs (ta ap). Te is used to express the simple past tense.

Look at your examples below, and their translation, and you'll see why using t ap is more appropriate.

Your example:

Kijan manman ak papa m t ap santi yo si m t al sèvi nan yon lòt peyi?
How would my mother and father have felt if I went to serve in another country?

as opposed to using te

Kijan manman ak papa m te santi yo si m t al sèvi nan yon lòt peyi?
How did my mother and father feel if I went to serve in another country?



And the other example:

Si w t ap viv nan epòk la, èske w t ap fè menm jan ak Pyè?
If you were living in that period, would you do the same as Peter?

as opposed to using te (simple past tense indicator)

Si w te viv nan epòk la, èske w te fè menm jan ak Pyè?
If you lived in that period, did you do the same as Peter?



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

what does this word this sentence mean? Vin Gade manze kap fe show boubou'n

Looks like someone is exposing herself ... "show boubou'n" means that she's exposing or flashing her genitals. The sentence means 'Come and see how the girl is exposing herself'

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

How would you say "picky" in creole? Like, "That's all we have, don't be so picky!"

picky - difisil, egzijan
to be picky - fè egzijan

That's all we have, don't be so picky!
Se tout sa nou genyen, sispan fè egzijan!

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

Bonjou Mandalay, Eske ou gen sijesyion pou liv debutan? Maman m se ayitien, papa m se kanadyen. Mwen ka komprann kreyòl là pou yon konvèsayon nòmal, dekontrakté. Men mwen vlé apwofondi konesans mwen. Mwen vlé aprann su éritaj mwen, sa a trè enpòtan pou mwen. Mwen etidye plizyè lang nan lekòl, men mwen te toujou wont paske manman m se ayitien, et mwen pa ka byen pale oswa li lang fanmi mwen. Mèsi anpil :) Maroussia

Bonswa wi Maroussia,
Genyen plizyè ti liv 'Kont ak Istwa' Ayisyen ke ou kapab li. Yo trè enteresan. Li ka pi avantajye pou w ale nan libreri a pou w kapab tcheke liv yo, ak pwòp zye pa w. Konsa ou va gen yon bon lide ki liv ki pi bon pou ou.
Mwen wè ou fè anpil efò nan lang lan, dapre jan ou ekri - Tanpri, pa fatige tèt ou, pa wont. Se efò w ap fè a ki konte. Trè byento ou va kouran nan lang nan.

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

Koman yo di "Bawon Samdi possessed somebody?"

Ou vle an angle oswa kreyòl?
Ou ban m fraz la an de (2) lang wi :)

An angle: The person has been possessed by Bawon Samdi.
An kreyòl: Bawon Samdi monte moun nan.
Ou kapab di tou: Moun nan posede. Bawon Samdi monte l.

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

Can you explain to me the differences between "sonje" and "manke"? What are the best contexts with which to use them?

You must be asking this in reference to 'missing' someone?

We do not use 'manke' to translate 'miss' as in to feel sadness due to the absence of someone.
We only use 'sonje' in this case.

M sonje manman m. - I miss my mother.
M sonje ou. - I miss you
Nou te sonje w anpil pandan absans ou. - We missed you a lot during your absence
Nou sonje w anpil anpil. - We miss you terribly.
Mwen sonje lakay. - I miss home.

And of course you can use 'sonje' to say 'recall/remember'. example:

Mwen sonje jan li te konn ap chante tout tan. 
I remember how she used to sing all the time.

Ou pa sonje m non?
Don't you remember me?

Mwen pa sonje.
I don't recall.

Èske ou te sonje klete pòt la?
Did you remember to lock the door?

Concerning 'manke', we use it to translate to be short of or lack of, or come close to being...

Bis la manke frape m.
The bus almost hit me.

Li manke tonbe.
He almost fell.

Manje a manke sèl.
The food is lacking in salt.

Nou manke pran nan magouy kat kredi sa a.
We almost fell for this credit card scam.




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

what is antekre? this is word is nowhere in any kreyol dictionaries I've checked. It was used as "antekre ou manje deja", thanks!

It means I thought or I was under the impression that
Sometimes you see it as ou kwè, ou te kwè, on te kwè

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

Hello, this question goes for both gender but could you list some key phrases/words necessary for getting a haircut? Things like "bring the sides all the way down" etc. Thank you!

to get a haircut - taye cheve
baber - kwafè
going to the barber - ale kay kwafè
bring the sides down - raze sou kote yo
sideburns - pafouten
doing the neckline is called fè tyas
you can ask for a blocked neckline and say - fè tyas la kare
You can ask for a rounded neckline and say - fè tyas la won
Shave the beard - taye bab la

COMMENTS:

Sadrak SanmdiJune 27, 2019 at 1:02 AM

E kijan yo rele "receding hair"? Cheve chankre, petet?

Mandaly  June 28, 2019 12:08 says:
Dabitid nou di 'tèt chòv'.
Wi, konn gen moun ki di cheve chankre, fontèn kale, onswa fontèn ayewopò, men, receding hair se definitivman yon tèt k ap chòv :)

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

How can I say he's careless in creole?

He's careless - li neglijan

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

Hello! I was wondering if you would be willing to translate a letter/poem that I have from a friend. What would be the best way to go about this? I absolutely LOVE your blog and all that you do. It has been such a huge resource for me! Thanks,

Thanks!
Send the poem to my email.

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

Mandaly before I ask my question, I wanted to say thank you for your help with the keryol leaflets last month. My Haiti trip would have lacked something without it. Now with the word TOUPISAN, does it go before or after bondye? is it toupisan bondye or bondye toupisan? powerful God?

No problem :)
It's Bondye toupisan all powerful God.

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

Thanks so much for your work to make this website! Mesi anpil! I would like to ask if there are any rules for stress in terms of where the stress falls on individual words or sentences. In other words, if I want to speak more naturally, where should I put the accent when I speak? I haven't listened to much spoken Kreyol yet, so I'm sure I'll learn more as a listen more. Thanks again for you time and work, Lisa

Hi Lisa,
It would be extremely hard to answer this question in just a few lines, as you know each word is different. I would recommend that you find a way to practice what you have learn so far. Though practicing conversations with someone who knows the language well is the best way to achieve fluency, you may start by listening to Haitian radio program, watching Creole TV programs, sitting in in gatherings where Creole is spoken. If you do this, you might find a way to exchange words with peple who speak the langauge. Best of luck :)

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

Bonswa! Eske kek moun ka ekspikem kisa vle di "U fem nan yon lot vi"? Mesi

It means 'you put me in another life'.
It's more like: 'You gave me a new perspective on life'. It's about happpiness.

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

Hello, everyone. I am seeking some information regarding Kanaval (both in Haiti and around the world). Any help would be greatly appreciated:

 Hello, everyone. I am seeking some information regarding Kanaval (both in Haiti and around the world). Any help would be greatly appreciated: 

I recently got into a discussion with a group of people about the history behind carnival (not just in Haiti, but throughout the West Indies). One woman believed that carnival was a Catholic celebration with roots in European history. I was told a different story from a Haitian friend of mine (I am not Haitian). His understanding was that although Catholic figures are portrayed during the celebration, they historically represented figures from Voudou and African traditions, more so as a way for African, Taino, and other indigenous people to disguise their beliefs from their abusers/colonizers and that the suffering that the enslaved had to endure was so taxing physically and mentally that the slave captors allowed one day out of the year for the enslaved to experience freedom.... One day out of the year where the enslaved could drink alcohol, sing, dance naked in the street, anything goes.... So that is the celebration that we know as carnival today. Basically, it is a celebration of freedom. Another woman from the Virgin Islands believed that no slaves were allowed to participate in the street parades until 1838, but did have their own parties in their backyard and have mini carnivals. Then once slavery was abolished they used it as a celebration of freedom.

There is a lot of mixed information out there and I was just wondering if anyone could shed some light on this for me. Mesi anpil!

Mandaly says: In Haiti, it is a little different. One cannot talk about kanaval without mentioning rara which is the true celebration of freedom of expression that continues way into the night after kanaval. In rara, people file the streets after kanaval playing bamboos, cans, tanbou, whistles, the whip, singing, and dancing. It has its roots from the days of slavery that led to the Haitian revolution. Any such gathering was done at night, like the one where Boukman, a slave, a oungan, had the gatherers drink blood and made a pact to revolt.
Kanaval, to me, is about celebrating our culture and music. The tradition I remember as a child, at kanaval time,  was men totally covered in molasses, only wearing dry banana leaves to cover their loins and head, running into the streets every year.

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Tanpri, is there a Haitian proverb that would be the equivalent of this scripture Eklezyas 4:6: “Li pi bon pou yon moun pran yon ti repo olye l plede ap travay di e li kontinye ap kouri dèyè van.”

I can think of 3 proverbs that are within the lines of this verse:

Anvi tout, pèdi tout
Zwazo ki chante pa gra
or even
Anbisyon touye rat

They all could mean that working hard doesn't usually gives you the results hoped for.

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I love your blog!!! How do you say Let's have fun?? An nou gen.........? Mesi

Thank you :)

Let's have fun - An nou pran plezi nou. or Ann anmize nou.

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

Do you know any book resources for Haitian Creole?

It depends on what your needs are. Are you looking for beginner, intermediate, or advanced? Are you looing for books to learn Creole, or books to read ... to reinforce your Creole?

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can you help explain the following expressions: "mewi" and "mezanmi" . thanks in advance.

Men wi! is an adverb (literally 'but yes') which may be translated as Sure!, Of course!, Naturally!, Indeed! etc....

Mezanmi (literally 'my friends') is an interjection that expresses surprise, shock, anger, happiness, and many other emotions in between, such as Oh God! Oh my God!, Oh my! Gee whiz!, Oh my goodness! Oops! etc....

Some examples:
Expressing happiness
Mezanmi, mwen kontan wè w.
I am so happy to see you!

Expressing shock and disbelief
Mezanmi, m pa ka kwè ke misye mouri.
Oh my God, I can't believe that he died.

Expressing annoyance
Mezanmi, sispann pale nan tèt mwen!
Please stop babbling!

Expressing  Oops moments
Mezanmi, mwen panke lage estati 12.000 dola a sou mozayik la.
Oops, I almost drop the $12,000 statue on the tile floor.

Expressing impatience
Fè vit non mezanmi!
Hurry!


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How do you say "clock/punch in" and "clock/punch out" in creole? For example, "I clock in to work at 11 pm and I clock out from work at 7 am."

punch in - pwente lè w rive
punch out - pwente lè w ap kite

Did you punch in before you start working?
Èske w te pwente anvan w koumanse travay?

You must clock out before you take your break.
Ou dwe pwente anvan ou pran midi.

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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.




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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.

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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'.

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

Yes it could.

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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?

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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