How Old Are You?

The Haitian Creole translation for 'How old are you?' is 'Ki laj ou?'

-Ki laj ou?
-Mwen gen 7 tan. (I am seven years old.)

-Ki laj ou?
-M gen 28 tan. (I am twenty eight years old.)

-Ki laj ou?
-M gen 30 tan. (I am thirty years old.)

-Ki laj li?
-Li gen 100 tan. (He is one hundred years old.)

Did you know...?

Did you know that one year is synonymous with one coffee harvest?
In Haiti, when people talk about their age, they'd often describe one year as one "coffee harvest".
If you are 7 years old, then you've seen 7 coffee harvests.
If you are 40 years old, then you've seen 40 coffee harvests.

Often, instead of 'Ki laj ou?', Haitians will ask:
Konbyen rekòt kafe ou genyen? or
Konbyen rekòt kafe ou genyen sou tèt ou?
Which translates as: How many coffee harvests have you seen?

To which you will answer:
M gen 40 rekòt kafe.   or
M gen 40 rekòt kafe sou tèt mwen.
(I have seen 40 coffee harvests.)


*Konbyen rekòt kafe ou gen sou tèt ou? literally means How many coffee harvests do you have on your head?
_______________________

Konbyen rekòt kafe ou genyen?

how do you spell victory in creole

victory - viktwa

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What are some common Kreyol names for God / Jesus?

Names of God Most commonly used in Kreyòl:

Bondye - God

Letènèl - Eternal One

Senyè - Lord
Senyè dè Senyè - Lord of Lords

Granmèt la - The Great Master

Papa Bondye - Father God

Papa Cheri - Sweet Father

Names of Jesus most commonly used in Kreyòl:

Jezi - Jesus

Jezikri - Jesus Christ

Jezi de Nazarèt - Jesus of Nazareth
Piti Bondye a - The Son of God
Anyo Bondye - Lamb of God
Rwa dè Rwa - King of Kings
Dlo Vivan - living Water
Chemen, la Verite, e Lavi - the Way, the Truth, and the Life
Holy Spirit - Lespri Sen, Lesentespri

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Are Manmi and Papi words for Granny and Grandpa?

Manmi - mom

papi - dad
they are sometimes used as nicknames for older men and women.
It's not uncommon for your spouse to call his/her mother-in-law and father-in-law 'manmi and papi'.

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Koman ou di, "about" eg: I want to talk about the car.

about - de, o sijè de

Tell me about you - pale m de ou.

I want to talk about the car - m vle pale de machin nan.

Tell me about the job. - Pale m de travay la.

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how do you say hello grandma in creole?

Bonjou grann. or

Bonjou granmè.

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same

menm

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How do you say candy in creole?

candy - sirèt

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God understands you.

Bondye konprann ou.

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Could you tell me some endearing names for ones children. Such as Cherie, doudou etc.

toutou, amou kè, doudoun (for girls), papouch (boys), nounoun (girls), ti chouchou, ti cheri, ti kòkòt (girls), ti mamoun (girls), ti fifi (girls).

Also, depending on the child's proper name:
ti jo - for Joseph

jojo - for Joanne
toto - Antonine, Anthony, Antoinette, thomas

tètè - for Esther

didi - for Lydia

dada - for Daniel

dadou, dani, dàn - for André, Daniella

ti jak - for Jacques

sousoul - for Ursule

kikin - for Jacqueline

sonson - for Jackson
dodo, doun, doudoun - for Dominque
nènè - Fritzner
mitch, miki - for Michel, Michaëlle, Michaël
fanfan - Frantz
michou - for Michelle, Michel, Micheline
ti mak - Marc
ansy - Hans

etc....

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Komon ou di, "Put this away"

Put this away. - Mete sa laba
Put this away. - Retire sa la.

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Have there been any improvements in Haiti since the earthquake?

Minimal. Improvements (done right) takes time.

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What Musical Instrument Do you Play?

Yap jwe tanbou.
They're playing the conga.

When identifying which musical instrument you play, you may omit the definite article in your sentence.
Example:
I play the guitar. - M jwe gita

I play the flute. - M jwe flit.

I love the conga. - M renmen tanbou.

We play the trumpet. - Nou jwe twompèt.

She plays the clarinet. - Li jwe klarinèt.


In other forms of sentences, you may add the definite article.
example:

Bring the conga. - Pote tambou a.

Place the piano here - Mete pyano a la.

The guitar fell. - Gita a tonbe.

The clarinet belongs to him. - Klarinèt la se pou li.

Sound the trompet. - Sonnen twonpèt la.

march

march as in the month of March - mas

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Giving Honor to God Who is the Head of My Life.

Onè pou Bondye ki se chèf lavi mwen.

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