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, November 29, 2015

Avantaj ki genyen lè òtograf timoun lekòl yo ap aprann nan baze sou lang matènèl yo

Kòm pwofesè Michel Degraff di, "Nou gaspiye richès lengwistik lè timoun lekòl Ayiti yo koumanse aprann fè lekti avèk yon òtograf ki pa baze sou lang matènèl yo".
Richès yon peyi se nan kilti li, nan kalite manje li fè, nan tradisyon mizik li, e nan lang li tou.
Ameriken yo p ap janm fè timoun kindergarten yo koumanse li nan lòt lang pase angle sèlman.
Franse yo p ap janm kite timoun klas anfanten li yo koumanse li nan okenn lòt lang pase franse sèlman.
Timoun panyòl yo toujou koumanse aprann li nan lang matènèl yo.
Aktyèlman, tout timoun tout peyi toujou koumanse aprann li nan lang ke yo konnen depi yo piti.
Nou espere timoun Ayisyen yo va suiv menm egzanp sa a.
Pou nou gen "lekòl tèt anwo, nan yon peyi tèt anwo", fòk nou eksplore richès lang kreyòl la nan aspè syantifik li. Suiv tweets @MichelDegraff yo pou nou rete konekte avèk dènye nouvèl sou avansman lang kreyòl la. Enpi gade e pataje videyo sa:


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

Friday, November 27, 2015

Chef Rafi kuit yon soup joumou Ayisyen byen gou! / Chef Rafi makes a tasty Haitian squash soup!

It's been our tradition for more than 200 years now, soup joumou on January 1st, Haitian independence day. Haitians have celebrated their independence every year since 1804 by eating and sharing this tasty soup. Chef Rafi, the young chef who's brought us so many international and exotic dish is bringing us a delicious soup joumou in his usual playful cooking show on his cooking channel.
The section of young  Chef Rafi's cooking show that he dedicated to this Haitian delicacy is aired in both English and Creole, so you will even learn the name of the ingredients in Creole. Each show ends with some sayings and proverbs, and you will definitely learn some Haitian wisdom in this portion of the show. Haitian independence day without soup joumou is like celebrating Thanksgiving without the yummy turkey and stuffing. Be sure to check out Chef Rafi cooking show and make the soup with him in honor of Haitian Independence Day.


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

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Bonjou Mandaly! Mwen websayt ou anpil! So my question is: Many times I hear my family ask questions in creole without the "ye" Example: Kote Mandaly? Whats the difference in using ye and not using it? Also, in sayings such as "Sak ap fet la?" Sa gen la?" Whats the difference in saying it with or without the "la"? Mesi anpil!

Bonjou. Mèsi anpil.

In asking questions with the verb to be in Creole, yes, you can get away sometimes with not using 'ye' in a few instances. There's not much difference then.
Some examples other than yours are:
Kote li?
Kote li ye?
Where is he/she?

Konben li?
Konben li ye?
How much is it?

Or
Kilè fèt la?
Kilè fèt la ye?
When is the party?

Other times you have to use it, and the question will not make any sense without it. Some examples are:
kisa li ye?
kijan ou ye?
kilè li ye?
kimoun ou ye?

So when in doubt use 'ye'.
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And, in saying 'Sa k ap fèt la?' or "Sa k genyen la?", la retains its meaning of there, over there, around here. So some people say Sa k genyen? or they say Sa k gen la? . It's really similar to the difference between What's going on? and What's going here?




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

Tuesday, November 17, 2015

what does "jofre" mean? P.S. I believe there's an accent on the O. Mesi davans!

jòfre - sneak a peek, watch, take a look.

There's also bay jòf and pran jòf
pran jòf - to sneak a ppek, to take a glimpse
bay jòf - to let s.o take peek (at something that would otherwise remain hidden from view)

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

Tuesday, November 3, 2015