Bonjou! Learn to Speak Haitian Creole

Bonjou! ...Mèsi! ...E Orevwa! Search for English or Haitian Creole words translation. Also search the whole site for expressions, idioms and grammar rules. And ask questions about the language in the ASK QUESTIONS HERE section.

Most requested translations added here for your convenience: I love you → Mwen renmen w. I miss you → Mwen sonje w. My love!Lanmou mwen!

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Exercise 23 - Answers to Exercise 22

Salut! I hope you guessed all the words correctly in exercise 22. Were you able to come up with some sentences. E-mail them to me if you wish Or find a Haitian friend to look them over. Thanks and Good day.

1. Yon ban (a bench)

2. Yon tas (a cup)

3. Yon fig (a banana)

4. Repete (repeat)

5. Yon rout (a road)

6. Yon zwazo (a bird)

7. Yon bann moun or yon foul moun (a crowd)

8. Yon lekòl (a school)

9. Lajan (money)

10. Retire (take away)

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Lesson 22 - Krik? Krak! Guessing Game.

In Haiti, we have this guessing game called "krik? krak!".
A storyteller will say "Krik?" to a group of people, and if you're gamed to guess the riddle, then you'll answer, "Krak!". The storyteller will then give you a riddle and you have to yell out the answer if you guessed it.
Click here to learn some Haitian Krik Krak riddles.

Please guess the creole word from the following definitions. Then use that word in a sentence (a creole sentence of course!)

1. Krik? Krak! A long, narrow seat for several people, usually made of wood. _____________

2. Krik? krak! A small container for holding liquids, often with a handle. ______________

3. Krik? krak! A tropical fruit that is long, curved, and yellow. _______________

4. Krik? Krak! To say or do something again. ____________

5. Krik? Krak! A wide path with a smooth surface on which vehicles or people travel. ______________

6. Krik? Krak! A warm-blooded creature with two legs, wings, feathers, and a beak. ________________

7. Krik? krak! A lot of people packed together. _________

8. Krik? krak! A place where people go to be taught. _______

9. Krik? krak! Coins or bills that people use to buy things. ___________

10. Krik? Krak! To take something off or away. ___________

Find the answers in the next blog as always. Thanks!

Exercise 21- Answers to Exercise 20

Hello once again. In Exercise 20, you were to convert these following sentences in to negative then translate. Here are your answers.

1. Chita sou ban sa.
Pa chita sou ban sa.
Do not sit on this bench
.

2. Kenbe kle sa pou mwen.
Pa kenbe kle sa pou mwen.
Don't hold on to this key for me.


3. Mwen fè egzèsis chak jou.
Mwen pa fè egzèsis chak jou.
I do not exercise every day.


4. Nou pral vote demen maten.
Nou pa pral vote demen maten.
We will not go to vote tomorrow morning
.

5. Gen twa liv sou tab la.
Pa gen twa liv sou tab la.
There aren't three books on the table.


6. Polis la chire papye a.
Polis la pa chire papye a.
The police officer do not tear the paper.


7. Misye a te siyen chèk la.
Misye a pa te siyen chèl la.
The man did not sign the check.

Also :),

Translate the following sentences to Haitian Creole. ("May the force be with you!")

(Answers!)
1. She did not understand a word I said.
Li pat konprann yon mo mwen te di. or
Li pa te konprann yon mo mwen te di.


2. The people will not move away from the gate.
Moun yo pap soti devan baryè a.
Moun yo pap pral soti devan baryè a.

3. There's no difference between big and large.
Pa gen diferans ant gwo ak laj.

4. There was no one on the phone.
Pat gen pèsòn nan telefòn nan. or
Pa te gen pèsòn nan telefòn nan.

5. There will not be any dancing tonight.
Pap gen danse aswè a. or
Pa pral gen danse aswè a.


I truly hope you did well!

Monday, August 9, 2010

Exercise 20 - Let's review NEGATIVE SENTENCES

Negative sentences! Yay!!!

Your mission: Convert these sentences to the negative, then translate the resulting sentence.

1. Chita sou ban sa.

2. Kenbe kle sa pou mwen.

3. Mwen fè egzèsis chak jou.

4. Nou pral vote demen maten.

5. Gen twa liv sou tab la.

6. Polis la chire papye a.

7. Misye a te siyen chèk la.

Also :),

Translate the following sentences to Haitian Creole. ("May the force be with you!")

1. She did not understand a word I said.

2. The people will not move away from the gate.

3. There's no difference between big and large.

4. There was no one on the phone.

5. There will not be any dancing tonight.

Exercise 19 - Answers to Exercises 18

Here are the answers for the exercises to previous blog.

1. Madanm sa-a genyen yon bel bag nan dwèt li.
Eske Madanm sa-a genyen yon bèl bag nan dwèt li?
Does this lady have a pretty ring on her finger?

2. Chyen sa yo tap jape tout nan nwit.
Eske chyen sa yo tap jape tout nan nwit?
Were the dogs barking all night?

3. Alex bwè dlo a nan yon sèl glòt!
Eske Alex bwè dlo a nan yon sèl glòt?
Did Alex drink the water in just one gulp?

4. Ti fi a pral marye demen.
Eske ti fi a pral marye demen?
Will the girl get married tomorrow?


5. Genyen lekòl jodi a.
Eske genyen lekòl jodi a?
Is there school today?

6. Ti pitit la chante tankou yon ti zwazo.
Eske ti pitit la chante tankou yon ti zwazo?
Does the child sing like a bird?

7. Tout "Cowboy" soti Texas.
Eske tout "Cowboy" soti Texas?
Do all Cowboys come from Texas?

8. Yo di anpil mizisyen ap mouri pòv.
Eske yo di anpill mizisyen ap mouri pòv?
Do they say that a lot of musicians will die poor?

9. Gwo anvlòp sa se pou ou.
Eske gwo anvlòp sa se pou ou?
Is this big envelop yours?

10. Egzèsis sa te fasil!
Eske egzèsis sa te fasil?
Was this exercise easy?

Thanks.

Monday, August 2, 2010

Exercise 18 - Asking "yes" and "no" Questions

To ask a 'yes' or 'no' question in Haitian Creole, place "Eske" in front of your sentence.
Review lesson 25 before doing this exercise
http://sweetcoconuts.blogspot.com/2010/03/lesson-25-asking-yes-and-no-questions.html
Example:
1.
li marye - he's married
eske li marye - is he married

2.
frèz yo mi -  the strawberries are ripe
eske frèz yo mi? - are the strawberries ripe?

3.
pye bwa a tonbe - the tree fell
eske pye bwa a tonbe? - did the tree fall?

4.
ou kontan - you're happy
eske ou kontan? - are you happy?

5.
chyen yo ap jape - the dogs are barking.
eske chyen yo ap jape? - are the dogs barking?
_____________________
Let's practice!

CHANGE THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES INTO YES OR NO QUESTIONS,
THEN TRANSLATE THE RESULTING SENTENCE.

1. Madanm sa-a genyen yon bel bag nan dwèt li.

2. Chyen sa yo tap jape tout nan nwit.

3. Alex bwè dlo a nan yon sèl glòt!

4. Ti fi a pral marye demen.

5. Genyen lekòl jodia.

6. Ti pitit la chante tankou yon ti zwazo.

7. Tout "Cowboy" soti Texas.

8. Yo di anpil mizisyen ap mouri pòv.

9. Gwo anvlòp sa se pou ou.

10. Egzèsis sa te fasil!

Exercise 17 - answers to Exercise 16

Translate in Haitian Creole.

1. Lulu forgot her suitcases.
Answer: Lulu bliye valiz li yo. OR Lulu te bliye valiz li yo.


2. Nènè went to town yesterday.
Answer: Nènè te ale lavil yè.

3. Journalists swarmed over her like flies.
Answer: Jounalis te tonbe sou li tankou mouch.

4. I saw you on top of the roof last night.
Answer: Mwen te wè ou sou tèt kay la yè swa.

5. The repairman fixed the leaky faucet.
Answer: Bòs la te repare tiyo a.

Translate in English.

6. Nou pa te patisipe nan kominyon an maten an.
Answser: We did not participate in the communion this morning.

7. Nou mete tout valiz yo sou kamyonèt la.
Answer: We put all the bags in the "little pick-up".

8. Li pase tout nwit la ap pale nan telefòn.
Answer: He/She spent the whole night talking on the phone.

9. Nou netwaye tout kay la nan de minit.
Answer: We cleaned the whole house in two minutes.

10. Nou tale nan makèt maten an. Nou achte anpil manje.
Answer: We went to the market this morning. We bought a lot of food.