Bonjou or Bonswa?
bonjou! - good morning! (say it anytime before noon)
bonswa! - good afternoon! and good evening! (say it any time after noon up until midnight)
bònn nwi! - have a good night! ( say it to wish someone a good night)
Mesye, madanm, or madmwazèl?
mesye - mister (title for married and unmarried men)
madanm - Mrs. (title for married women. They are called by the last name of their husband)
madmwazèl - Miss (title for unmarried women)
Silvouplè or Tanpri?
Either one is good to use when you want to say 'please'.
Example:
Ban m yon ti dlo silvouplè -give me some water please
Ban m yon ti dlo tanpri - give me some water please
Kijan, kouman, or kòman?
All three words mean 'how'
Use them interchangeably.
Example:
kouman ou ye? - how are you?
kijan ou ye? - how are you?
kòman ou ye? - how are you?
ki kote, kote, or kibò?
All three words mean 'where'
Use them interchangeably.
ki kote ou ye? - where are you?
kote ou ye? - where are you?
kibò ou ye? - where are you?
ki moun, kiyès, or kilès?
All three words mean 'who'
Use them interchangeably.
Example:
kimoun ou ye? - who are you?
kilès ou ye? - who are you?
kiyès ou ye? - who are you?
timoun, tipitit, or pitit?
all three words mean 'child'
timoun nan - the child
ti pitit la - the child
pitit la - the child
