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!

Showing posts with label CREOLE GRAMMAR. Show all posts
Showing posts with label CREOLE GRAMMAR. Show all posts

Depi → since, once, as soon as, as long as, for....

Haitian Creole conjunction DEPI is used to translate Since, Since after, for how long, as soon as, as long as, if, because, etc...


Depi as Since...
1. M’ap tann ou depi  ganm maten.
    I’ve been waiting for you since early this morning.

2. Mwen pa wè yo depi samdi
    I hadn’t seen them since Saturday

3. Ane pase Toto ak Fifi te mare yon gwo goumen.  Depi lè sa youn pa janm pale ak lòt
    Last year Toto and Fifi had a big fight.  Since that time they never talked.

4. Semèn pase mwen te wè yon sourit nan kizin nan.  Depi jou sa mwen pa mete pye la!
    Last week I saw a mouse in the kitchen.  I haven't set foot in there since that day!


Depi as From...
5. Le dimanch, magazen an ouvè depi onzè nan maten jouk senkè nan apremidi.
    On Sundays, the store's open from eleven in the morning until five in the afternoon.


6.  Pou devwa nou aswè a, nou va li depi paj douz jouk paj ven.
     For your homework tonight, you will read from page twelve to page twenty.

Depi as for how long...
5. Depi kilè ou la?
    Since when have you been here?


6. Depi ki jou ou te wè yo?
    Since what day did you see them?

7. Depi konbyen jou ou konsa?
    For how many days have you been like this?

8. Depi konbyen tan w’ap touse?
    For how long have you been coughing?


Depi as Once
9. Depi jij la parèt nan tribinal la, tout moun dwe kanpe.
    Once the judge enters the courtroom, every one must stand.

10. Depi ou pase estasyon gazolin, ou preske rive
     Once you pass the gas station, you almost there

11. Depi sezon  lapli a koumanse, mwen etenn tou awozwa yo.
     Once the rainy season starts, I turn off all sprinklers

12. Depi nou kwè, n’ap wè glwa Bondye
      Once you believe, you will see the glory of God.


Depi as if, or as long as....
13. Depi se ou k di, nou kwè w.
      If you say so,  we believe you

14. Depi nou genyen jwèt la, nou prale nan konpetisyon  final la
      If we win the game, we’ll go to the final competition

15. Depi pa gen fanm, pa gen kriye
     If there’s no women, there’s no cry
     Did Bob Marley say that :)

16.  Depi ou dakò sou pri a, n’a koumanse travay la.
      As long as you agree on the price, we’ll start the job.

17. Depi ou pa sonnen sonnèt la, chen yo p'ap jape.
     As long as you don’t ring the bell the dogs won't bark.



Depi as Based on...
18. Depi sou fason doktè a te gade mwen, mwen te konnen bagay yo te mal.
     Judging from the way he looked at me, I knew things were bad.

19.  Depi sou jan li abiye, nou te konprann li te yon moun pòv.
       Judging from the way she dressed, we could tell she was poor.


Can you give a few examples using "An nou" (meaning: "Let's") such as "Let's go to the store, Let's build a sand castle, ..."?

Let's → you'll see it as "An nou", "An'n", "Ann", and perhaps as "Annou"

1. An nou ede yo.
Let's help them.

2. An nou rete la.
Let's stop right there.

3. Ann sispann goumen.
Let's stop fighting.

4. Ann avanse.
Let's move forward.

5. An'n vize pi wo.
Let's aim higher.

6. Ann kontinye.
Let's keep going.
Let's move on.
Let's continue


7. An nou pa aji tankou yo.
Let's not act like them.

8. Ann pa pèdi lafwa.
Let's not lose faith.

9. An'n pa tann lòt yo.
Let's not wait for the others

10. Ann pa ba yo yon okazyon pou yo akize nou..
Let's not give them an opportunity to point their fingers at us.

What does toule mean?

toule, tou le (from the French "tous les" meaning "all the")every

tou le jou, toule jou → everyday
tou le swa, touleswa → every night.
toule dimanch → every Sunday
toule lendi → every monday
toule midi → every noon time

This "le" borrowed from French "les", which is the plural definite article, is also used in:
le lendi → on Mondays
le samdi → on Saturdays
leswa → at night
lematen → in the morning

"Require" -This requires a lot of schooling

requiremande, egzije (to be obligated) 


This requires a lot of schooling
Sa mande pase anpil tan lekòl


This requires some thinking.
Sa mande yon ti refleksyon.

''How far should we go?" How would you ask that in Creole? Help with asking questions with 'How far...?'


How far → ki distans, nan ki distans, jouk ki bò, or jouk ki kote

How far did you get/attain → ki distans ou rive, jouk ki bò ou rive, etc...

How far should we go?
Ki distans nou dwe rive?
Jouk ki bò nou dwe rive?


How far is it?
Ki distans li ye?
Jouk ki bò li ye?


How far did you get?
Ki distans ou te rive?
Jouk ki bò ou te rive?

How far did you walk?
Ki distans ou te mache?

How far did you read into the book?
Ki bò ou te rive nan liv la?
Jouk ki bò ou te rive nan liv la?

How far do I insert the thermometer?
Jouk ki bò pou m rantre tèmomèt la?


How far away are you?
Nan ki distans ou ye?


How far do you want to go with this?
Jouk ki bò w vle rive avèk sa?

"left" as in 'She's been left behind.' and 'How many do you have left'?

That's two different verbs here (in creole).

to be left behind → kite, abandone, lese


She's been left behind.
Yo kite l dèyè.


We left it on the porch.
Nou kite l sou galeri a.


They left the kids on their own.
Yo kite timoun yo pou kont yo.




left (remain v.), left over) → rete


How many do you have left?
Konbyen ou rete?


Is this all that's left?
Se tout sa ki rete?


They took all my money.  I have nothing left.
Yo te pran tout lajan mwen.  Mwen pa gen anyen ki rete.



1. loose vs lose2. of vs off3. its vs it's

lose (v.) → pèdi

Mwen pèdi.
I'm lost.

Mwen te pèdi valiz mwen ayè.
I lost my bag yesterday.
______________________

loose (not tight) → lach, lage
loose (morally) → lib, konsa konsa
loosen v.) → lage, lache

Kòd la twò lach, li p'ap ka kenbe.
The rope is too loose, it won't hold.

Ala fanm lib!
What a careless / loose woman!

Li  te lage chèn yo pou libere nou.
He loosened the chains to set us free.
_________________________

of - is not practically translated in Haitian Creole.

"pito" means "rather"?

Pito (v.), also Pi pito  → to prefer

Mwen pito mache pase pou m kondwi.
I rather walk than to drive.

Nou pito mouri pase pou n viv kou esklav.
We rather die than to live as slaves.

Nou pi pito ale nan lekòl sa.
We  prefer to go to this school.


Pito at the end of a sentence could mean instead.

Li pa't anvi fè manje.  Li mennen nou nan yon restoran pito.
He did not want to cook.  He took us to a restaurant instead.

Nou te ale Nou Yòk pito.
We went to New York instead.

Mwen te manje yon ponm pito.
I ate an apple instead.


When pito begins a sentence, it means it's better that.

Pito mwen ale kounye a.
It's better that I go now.

Pito w retounen lajan an tande!
It's better that you give the money back.

Pito ou pale ak pitit gason ou la sou koze a.
It's better that you talk to your son on the subject.


When pa pito begins a sentence, it means why don't...

Pa pito nou kòmanse travay la.
Why don't we start the job.

Pa pito n'al nan magazen an anvan yo fèmen.
Why don't we go to the store before they close.

Pa pito nou tann apre vwayaj la pou nou ta marye.
Why don't we wait after the trip to get married.

Li gentan fè nwa.  Pa pito nou retounen lakay.
It's already dark.  Why don't we get back home.

"There will be..." and "There won't be..." in Creole

There will be...

There will be joy.
Ap gen lajwa.  or
Pral gen lajwa.

There will be laughter.
Ap gen kè kontan. or
Pral gen kè kontan.

There will be cakes.
Ap gen gato.    or
Pral gen gato.

There will be food.
Ap gen manje.   or
Pral gen manje.

There will be fireworks.
Ap gen fe datifis.   or
Pral gen fe datifis.

There won't be.

There won't be any tears.
Pap gen kriye.

There won't be violence.
Pap gen vyolans.

There won't be any anguish.
Pap gen tèt chaje.

There won't be peace.
Pap gen lapè.

There won't be enough space for you.
Pap gen ase plas pou ou.

How many times? (Creole)

1.  How many times?
     Konbyen fwa?

2.  How many times should you wash your hair in a week?
     Konbyen fwa ou dwe lave cheve ou nan yon semèn?

3.  How many times should leftovers be reheated?
     Konbyen fwa ou ka rechofe yon manje dòmi?

4.  How many times a week should I exercise?
     Konbyen fwa pa semèn mwen de fè egzèsis?

5.  How many times did you call me?
     Konbyen fwa ou te rele mwen?

Konsa → in this manner, just like that, as follows

Download link for this audio:
 http://limanecasimi.audioacrobat.com/download/e56035ce-72db-7ce7-2e5e-1f790baf89b5.mp3

To listen to this audio, click on the play button and follow along.  Thanks!


Bonjou e Chapo Ba a tout moun!
Hello and Hats Off to everyone!

Konsa (from the french "Comme ça") → just like that, in this way, so


1.  Sa te pase konsa.
     It happened in this manner.

2.  Konsa, nou kapab travay ansanm.
     In this way we are able to work together.

3.  Li di m konsa, "Sòti la!"
     He told me (as follows): "Get out of here!"

4.  Yo di konsa, lanmou avèg.
     They say that love is blind

5.  Poukisa ou pale konsa?!
     Why do you talk so much?!

6.  Poukisa ou dòmi konsa?!
     Why do you sleep so much?!

7.  Poukisa ou renmen li konsa?!
     Why do you like him/her so much?!

8.  Se konsa yo fè li.
     That's how they do it.

9.  Se konsa sa te pase
     That's the way it happened.

10. Se konsa lavi a ye.
     That's how life goes.

Mèsi anpil!  Pase yon bon jounen e orevwa!
Thanks a lot!  Have a nice day and goodbye!

Track: Merengue Pa'm by Toto Laraque

How do you say Anyway?

Anyway (regardless, nevertheless) → antouka
Anyway (by any means) → nenpòt kijan, nenpòt kouman, nenpòt ki fason

The "pa" representing possession is very confusing to me. How do you say "This is NOT mine."

This is not mine.
Sa se pa pa mwen an.
or
Sa se pa pa'm nan. (contracted)

Example:
1.  This is mine.
     Sa se pa mwen an.

2.  This is not mine.
     Sa se pa pa mwen an.

3.  This is yours.
     Sa se pa ou la.

4.  This is not yours.
     Sa se pa pa ou la.

5. I'll give you mine.
   M'ap ba ou pa mwen an.

6. This is hers.
    Sa se pa li.

7. This is not hers.
    Sa se pa pa li.

8.  This book is mine.
     Sa se liv pa mwen an.

9.  This book is not mine.
     Sa se pa liv pa mwen an.

10.  This child is ours.
       Sa se pitit pa nou an.

11.  This child is not ours.
       Sa se pa pitit pa nou an.

Note:  The definite articles you see at the end of the Creole sentences (a, an, la, nan) sometimes accompany the possessive adjectives (mwen, ou, li, nou, yo).

Here are some links on the possessive adjectives:
possessive adjectives 1
Possessive adjectives 2
Possessive adjectives 3
Ask me anything

Yours, Mine and Ours

Yours → pa ou  or  pa'w
Mine → pa mwen  or  pa'm
ours → pa nou   or  pa'n

This is mine.
Sa se pa'm.

This team is mine.
Sa se ekip pa'm.

Where is yours?
Kote pa'w?

This book is yours.  You can have it.
Sa se liv pa'w.  Ou mèt pran l.

This country is ours.
Peyi a se pa'n.

How do you say "about" as in "pertaining to." Like, "What is the movie about?"

about → sou, osijè, or sou ki sijè

What is the movie about?
Sou kisa fim nan ye?

What are you talking about?
Sou kisa w'ap pale?

What is your book about?
Sou ki sijè liv ou a pale?

what sign do we use instead of $

The sign $ is used when talking of "dollar" in Haiti.
But the currency unit in Haiti is "goud"
Generally, 1 dollar used to be equal to 5 goud in Haiti. But with the rate of inflation, that has changed.

When making purchases in Haiti prices are given to you in Goud.The "goud" is also called "pyas"
So, if the Sodacosts 20 gourdes, it means that it costs $4 (minus inflation).

My last child

my last child
dènye pitit mwen

my first child
premye pitit mwen

all my kids
tout pitit mwen yo.

one of my kids
youn nan pitit mwen yo

none of my kids
Okenn nan pitit mwen yo

when do you use "ave" and when to use "ak" or "avek"?

avèk and its contractions: avè, ak, and sometimes a are used interchangeably.

You can say:

you and I
ou menm ak mwen
ou menm avè mwen or
ou menm avèk mwen or

or

I'm going with you.
Mwen pral ak ou. or
Mwen pral avè ou. or
Mwen pral avèk ou.

What's wrong?

What's wrong?
Kisa ki genyen?
Sa'k genyen? (contracted)

What's wrong with you?
Kisa ou genyen?
Sa ou genyen? (contracted)

What's wrong with him/her?
Kisa li genyen?
Sa li genyen? (contracted)

What's wrong with them?
Kisa yo genyen?
Sa yo genyen? (contracted)

What's going on?
Kisa ki ap pase?
Sa kap pase? (contracted)
Sa'k genyen?

What's going on here?
Sa'k genyen la?  or
Sa kap pase la?  or
Sa kap fèt la?

Is "Wi ou pral" correct in saying, "Yes, you will."?

"pral" is not used as an auxillary for short answers.
When one says: "Wi, ou prale." it means: "Yes you will go"

Example:

Are you going to the church?
Eske ou pral legliz la?
Yes I'm going.
Wi mwen prale.

Are we going to Mexico?
Eske nou prale Meksik?
Yes we are.
Wi nou prale.

Am I going with you?
 Eske mwen prale avè w?
Yes, you are.
Wi ou prale.

Short answers in English does not mean short answers in Creole.
Are you going to miss me?
Eske ou pral sonje m?
Yes I am.
Wi mwen pral sonje w.

Are you going to sit down?
Eske ou pral chita?
Yes I will.
Wi mwen pral chita.

Will you sing?
Eske ou pral chante?
Yes I will.
Wi mwen pral chante.

Will you come to the party?
Eske w'ap vini nan fèt la?
Yes I will.
Wi m'ap vini.

Will they recognize me?
Eske y'ap rekonèt mwen?
Yes they will.
Wi y'ap rekonèt ou.

Will I see you again?
Eske m'ap wè ou ankò?
Yes you will.
Wi w'ap wè m.

Will you be here?
Eske w'ap la?
Yes i will.
Wi m'ap la.