I see the phrase, "se nou pou", from time to time. Can you tell me what the expression is about. I even saw it on one of your posts; you said "se pou nou ale" means "we must go". Can you elaborate please?

Se pou can be an expression or it can be translated literally.
Se pou → indicates a duty, an obligation, or responsibility
In this case, the literal translation will not work here.

example:
1.
Se pou w etidye chak jou tande! (contracted)
Se pou ou etidye chak jou tande! (un-contracted)
You must study everyday, you hear!

2.
Se pou yo kanpe nan liy pou yo ka jwenn manje.
They must stand in line in order to get food.

3.
Se pou nou priye anvan nou manje.
We must pray before we eat.

4.
Se pou li pran medikaman an si li vle miyò.
He must take the medication if he wants to get better.

about some negative sentences:

5.
Se pa pou fè sa.
You must do that.

6.
Se pa pou pale konsa.
You must not talk like that.

7.
Se pa pou yo ranse konsa.
They must not joke around like that.

Se pou → is also used to say blessings, curse, wishful thinking
In this case, the literal translation will not work here.

Example:
8.
Se pou Bondye beni ou menm ak tout pitit ou yo.
May God bless you and all you children.

9.
Se pou maryaj ou beni.
May your marriage be blessed.

10.
Se pou malè tonbe sou li.
May grief fall upon him.  or
May he be cursed.

11.
Se pou kay li kouvri ak wont.
May his home be covered with shame.

12.
Se pou l tonbe. ( or Se pou li tonbe)
I hope he falls.

13.
Mesye pa bon.  Se pou Rachel, madanm li, kite l.
This guy's no good.  I hope his wife Rachel leave him.

Se pou → literal meaning: it's for

example:
14.
Kado sa se pou ou.
This gift is for you.

15.
Se pou ou?
Is it for you?  or
Is it yours?

16.
Wi, se pou mwen.
Yes, it's for me.  or
Yes, it's mine.

17.
Non, se pa pou mwen.
No. it's not for me.   or
No, it's not mine.

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how do you say medication in creole

medication → medikaman

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"To prevent" in Creole

Prevent (to keep from happening) → anpeche

The barricades prevent me from going through.
Barikad yo anpeche m pase.

The noise is preventing me from falling asleep.
Bri a anpeche m dòmi.

The medications are preventing me from loosing any weight.
Medikaman yo anpeche m pèdi pwa.

His bad conduct is preventing him from passing the class.
Move kondwit li anpeche li pase klas la.


Prevent (get protection from) → evite

Prevent heart disease by eating right.
Evite maladi kè lè ou manje byen.

She documented everything well.  That prevented a lawsuit.
Li te byen dokimante tout bagay.  Sa te evite yon pwosè.

Do you know how to prevent skin cancer?
Eske ou konnen kijan pou evite kansè nan po?

how you say "take" in creole

take - pran

Take my hand. - Pran men mwen.

Take the medications. - Pran medikaman yo.

She took the last slice of pizza. - Li pran dènye moso pizza a.

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te asosi

That's bitterweed, bitter gourd, or bitter melon leaves.

Asosi
Scientific name: Momordica Charantia L.
From the family of: Cucurbitaceae

In Haiti, good for treatment of impotence, anemia, diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, and some digestive problems.  It kills cancer cells, viruses, and bacteria.  It induces abortion in early pregnancy, and promotes milk flow in new mothers.
Also, if you boil these leaves, you may use it as topical treatment for wound care.

Always check with your doctor before taking any herbal medications.

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I know that Haitians say "pran" medikaman, but I have heard that it is common to say "bwè" medikaman, even for pills. Is this true...?

Pran medikaman is the more popular way to say it.
Most medications in Haiti were usually tea made from leaves. So people are accustomed to saying, "drink it".
Also, if you take your pills with any kind of liquid, they still consider it, "drinking".

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As a child growing up in Haiti, what were the 5 most common medicines kept in your medicine cabinet? Which one did you dread the most?

First of all, the “medicine cabinet” was rather a straw basket filled with mostly aromatic leaves.
The 5 most common childhood medications I remember were:

1. papaya leaves for deworming,
2. basil leaves for good digestion,
3. Acacia leaves for skin and tooth care,
4. lemon grass and orange tree leaves (don't know what for)
5. garlic roots skin and cloves for stomachache.

These leaves were used to make tea with either sugar or salt.  Some of the leaves were boiled in water. Some were mashed up for the extraction of a greenish juice which I hated very much.

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