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 accented letters. Show all posts
Showing posts with label accented letters. Show all posts

12 reasons why you shouldn't ignore the accents in Haitian Creole

Do you sometimes forget to put the accents on the letters in Creole?
Or, if you're like me, you can't figure out how to type an accented character on a Blackberry or an Android phone.
Nevertheless, a letter which is usually accented would be imperfect and naked if the accent is omitted.
It is like writing an undotted "i", or an uncrossed "t".

The accented letters in Haitian Creole, and I imagine in other languages too, are pronounced very  differently than their non-accented counterparts.  Check out these letters in the alphabet song and listen to the variance in sound:  Haitian Creole alphabet song.

Here are some links on how to create accented characters on your PC.
Windows ALT KEY codes
French accents codes
Making accent marks on your computer


Compare these twelve accented Haitian Creole words below and their non-accented counterparts.  See how their definition is very different

1. bo → kiss (n.), kiss (v.)
1. bò → side, border, edge


2. fo → fake (n.)
2. fò → strong, skilled


3. klete → to lock (v.)
3. klète → clarity, brightness


4. me → the month of May
4. mè → mother, nun


5. ke → tail
5. kè → heart


6. te → tea
6. tè → earth, soil


7. po → skin (n.)
7. pò → port, dock (n.)


8. ne → knot
8. nè → nerves


9. manto → coat, cloak
9. mantò → liar


10. vole → to fly
10. vòlè → burglar


11. twaze → to look down on
11. twazè → 3 o'clock


12. pan → peacock
12. pàn → failure, mishap, trouble

Do you pronounce accented letters differently from their non-accented counterparts? If not, how do you pronounce them?

In Haitian Creole, the accented words letters are pronounced differently than their non-accented counterparts.

Listen to this audio, scroll down to follow along.

The three accented letters in Haitian Creole are: e, o, an.

1. O pronounced like letter "o" in  slow.
    example:
    bo (kiss)
    mo (word)

2. ò pronounced like letter "o" in dot.
    example:
    bò (side)
    mò (the dead)

3. e pronounced like "day"
    example:
    ke (tail)
    te (tea)

4. è pronounced like the letter e in get.
    kè (heart)
    tè (land, earth)

5. an
    pan (peacock)
    tan (time)

6. àn
    pàn (inconvenience, dilemma)
    soutàn (the frock that a priest wears)


The accent is called:  aksan grav  or  aksan fòs.
Spelling accented words in Haitian Creole.

7. mòn (m-ò-n)
8. vètè (v-è-t-è)
9. pàn (p-à-n)

practicing...

10 . dakò (agree)
11.  miyò (better)
12. tablo (blackboard or a painting)
13. panno (wall)
14. souke (to shake)
15. woule (to roll)
16. lanmè (ocean)
17. vètè (earthworm)
18. manman (mother)
19. frekan (arrogant, bold)
20. bekàn (bicycle)
21. avwàn (oatmeal)
Enben se tout.  Mèsi e orevwa.
Well that's all.  Thanks and goodbye.