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 water. Show all posts
Showing posts with label water. Show all posts

May all your dreams be fulfilled ?May your wishes be fulfilled this new year. (Creole)

fulfill → akonpli, reyalize
May... → Se pou

May all your dreams be fulfilled this new year.
Se pou tout rèv ou yo reyalize nan nouvo ane sa.

May your wishes be fulfilled this new year.
Se pou dezi ou yo akonpli nan nouvo ane sa.

to water it down (in Creole)

To water down (as in: to dilute) → koupe, or delye

Reduce it with some water before you give it to her.
Koupe l ak yon ti dlo anvan ou ba li l.

The coffee was so strong I had to dilute it with some water.
Kafe a te si tèlman fò mwen te oblije delye l ak yon ti dlo.

what is hot in creole

Hot → cho

hot coffee → kafe cho
hot water → dlo cho
hot sun → solèy cho
hot girl → fanm byen kanpe (can't use "cho" for this kind of "hot":-)

As the deer panteth for the waters, so my soul longeth after thee (lyrics in Creole)

As the deer panteth for the waters

As the deer panteth for the waters
So my soul longeth after thee
You alone are my heart’s desire
And I long to worship thee
You alone are my strength my shield
To you alone may my spirit yield
You alone are my heart desire
And I long to worship thee


Menm jan plant nan jaden bezwen dlo
Se konsa mwen swaf prezans ou
Ou se jwa nan kè mwen
E mwen pap janm sispann chante glwa ou
Nan ou sèl nanm mwen jwenn refij
Nan ou sèl nanm mwen jwenn sekou
Ou se jwa nan kè mwen,
E mwen pap janm sispann chante glwa ou

To give → ba,ban, bay

The verb "to give" is translated in Creole as "ba, ban, or bay"
To give → ba, ban, bay

"Ban" used before a nasally sounding pronouns MWEN NOU.
You will say:
ban mwen → give me
ban nou → give us
ban nou (plural) → give you all

Examples:
1. Ban mwen yon ti dlo tanpri.
    Ban m yon ti dlo tanpri. (even when the pronoun is contracted, continue to follow this rule)
    Give me some water please.


2. Pou fèt mwen, Nadine te ban mwen yon kado.
    Pou fèt mwen, Nadine te ban m yon kado. (m is contracted form of mwen)
    For my birthday, Nadine gave me a gift.  


3. Li ban nou lavi.
    Li ban n lavi. (n is contraced form of nou)
    He gives us life.


4.  Ban mwen yon ti moso.
     Ban m yon ti moso.
     Give me a small piece.



Before the pronouns OU  & YO, always use "ba"
Mwen ba ou I give you
Do not say: Mwen bay ou.
Do not say: Mwen ban ou.

Mwen ba yo I give them.
Do not say:  Mwen bay yo.
Do not say:  Mwen ban yo.

Examples:
1. I gave them everyhing I had.
    Mwen ba yo tout sa m-te genyen.

2. Kisa mwen dwe ba ou?
    Kisa mwen dwe ba w? (Expect that Creole speakers will use contractions.  W is contracttion for ou)
    What must I give you?

3. Nou ba yo tout manje a.
    We gave them all he food.



Always use "bay" at the end of a sentence.
5. Konbyen pou m bay?
    How much should I give?

6. It is not correct to say:
    Konbyen pou m ba?
    Konbyen pou m ban?
    How much should I give?
    (Don't use "ba" or "ban" at the end of a sentence.)

7. But, you could say:   
    Konbyen pou m ba ou?
    How much should I give you?
    Konbyen li te ban mwen?
    How much did he/she give me?


Lastly, except in the above cases, you can interchangeably use "BA" or "BAY" everywhere else.

Examples:
You can say:
8.  Mwen bay Jacques liv la. or
     Mwen ba Jacques liv la.
     I gave the book to Jacques.


9.  An nou bay lanmen.  or
     An nou ba lanmen
     Let's shake hands.


10.  Nou te bay anpil liv gratis yè.  or
       Nou te ba anpil liv gratis yè.
       We gave away a lot of free books yesterday.

In the following five sentences, use ba, ban, or bay.
11.  I gave you a book.
       Mwen _____ ou yon liv.

12.  Give me your heart.
       ________ mwen kè ou.

13.  I gave them what they asked for.
      Mwen te  ________ yo sa yo te mande a.

14.  I gave blood today.
       Mwen te _________ san jodi a.

15.  I have no money to give.
       Mwen pa gen lajan pou m _________



  Answers:  11. ba    12. ban    13. ba    14.  bay/ba    15. bay

Lage m bò dlo a

lage (v.) → to let go

Lage m bò dlo a.
Drop me by the water.

Lage m bò lekòl la.
Drop me off by the school.

Lage m la.
Drop me off right here.

or just...

Lage m!
Let me go!
Let go of me!

In your opinion, if I go to Haiti, what are some places/things I absolutely must see?

Best time to go to Haiti:
Carnival / Mardi-gras time in February. The cities of Port-Au-Prince and Jacmel are bursting with colors, music, dances, food and fun around that time.

Best places to visit:
Haiti's countrysides
Bassin Bleu waterfall near Jacmel
Etang Saumatre (a large lake) near the capital (only if you want to fish and see nature)
La Citadelle in Cap-Haitian (some hiking involved, offers great views of the city)
Musée National in Port-Au-Prince (If it's still standing after the earthquake)

Best things to do:
Sightseeing (enjoy watching colonial-style homes, watching caribbean life) in Petionville, outskirts of Aux Cayes, Jacmel, Arcahaie, Jeremie.
Head for the beaches of Aux Cayes (South), Jacmel (North), or Arcahaie (West)
Hiking in the southern hills of Comble Fort, Terre Rouge, St Jean du Sud, and others
Fishing
Diving
Surfing
Boating

I am not sure in what condition Haiti's forest (Forêt des Pins) is at this time.  You might want to check it out too. 
Once you leave the capital, Haiti's countryside is just miles after miles of beautiful landscape, beautiful beaches, mostly tropical weather, and lots of smiley faces

It's best to have a native tag along with you, preferably a strong man who can talk his way out of a "jam" if necessary.

cup of water

(Thanks Bloodline.  I've added more info :-)

a cup of coffee.
yon tas kafe.
a haitian cup = tas
In Haiti, the word "cup" is translated differently when saying "a cup of coffee" and "a cup of water"

cup of water.
yon gode dlo.
An american cup = gode

a glass of water
yon vè dlo.
Ask me anything

how to say bathroom

The bathroom as a whole is called → saldeben
bathroom (water closet, toilet) → watè, latrin, twalèt
Bathroom (the shower spot) → douch

bathroom

bathroom (the shower room) - saldeben, douch
bathroom (the water closet) - latrin, twalèt, watè

pure water translation in haitiian creole

pure water - dlo pirifye

distilled water - dlo distile

drinkable water - dlo potab

can i have a glass of soda

Can I have a soda?
Eske mwen ka gen yon soda?


Can I have some soda? a glass of soda?
Eske mwen ka gen yon vè kola?

Can I have a glass of water?
Eske mwen ka gen yon vè dlo?
Ask me anything

coconut water

coconut water - dlo kokoye (clear liquid found in a coconut)

coconut juice - ji kokoye (it's also coconut water)

coconut milk - lèt kokoye ( it's the milk extracted from the meat of the coconut)

there will be water in the watering hole

There will be water in the watering hole. - Gen dlo nan sous la.

a little

a little - yon ti
a little boy - yon ti gason
a little lie - yon ti manti
a little water (some water) - yon ti dlo

how is 'saltwater and fresh water' translated?

saltwater - dlo sale ( pronounced dlo-sah-lay)
fresh water - dlo dous

water

water - dlo
cup - gode
tea cup - tas
glass (to drink) -

a glass of water - yon vè dlo.

a cup of water - yon gode dlo.

Bring me a glass of water - Pote yon vè dlo pou mwen.

Give me some water - Ban m yon ti dlo

Can you give me some water? - Eske ou ka ban m yon ti dlo?

I am thirsty. - M swaf.

cold water - dlo frèt
cold water (to drink) - dlo glase
cool water - dlo fre
icy or frozen water - dlo jele
hot water - dlo cho
lukewarm water - dlo tyèd