mwen ta dwe gen koute nan ou.

Do you mean:
Mwen ta dwe koute ou. - I should listen to you.

Ask me anything

Here I am! Did you call me? Heare I am, Lord.

Here I am.
Men Mwen.

Did you call me?
Eske ou te rele mwen?

Did you need me?
Eske ou te bezwen mwen?

Here I am, Lord
Men mwen, Senyè.

Take me as I am.
Pran mwen jan mwen ye a.

What you see is what you get.

What you see is what you get.
Sa ou wè a se sa.

How are public displays of affection received in Haiti?

It's almost taboo.
It's frowned upon.
Especially in the outskirts of the country.
People will make a big deal out of a simple kiss.
But you may hold hands.

Ask me anything

I have a question about the culture that will take more space to ask...is there a different way for me to send a longer question to you?

Ask by e-mail
Limanecasimi@aol.com
Belmandaly@gmail.com

Ask me anything

What are some of your favorite expressions in Creole? (In English I like to say something "warms my heart.")

My favorite expressions are actually the unexpressed or unstated ones.

But I'll list the Creole expressions that I use the most:

1. Renmen a mò → love to death

Mwen renmen w a mò. - I love you to death.

2. Tèt mato → Bad, really bad driver

Tèt mato literally means hammer head

I just think it's a cool Creole expression.

"Tèt mato!" is what I yell at the driver who cuts in front of me on the road.

3. Poto mitan → an important or indispensable person.

Poto mitan literally means "central pillar"

My mom is my "poto mitan". I learned a lot from her.

4. Pawòl tafya → nonsense talk

"Pawòl tafya" literally means "words of a drunkard"

W'ap pale pawòl tafya! → You're talking nonsense!

5. Doktè de men → a doctor who practices medicine according to science, but also believes in witchcraft.

I know a few "doktè de men" who practice medicine in Miami. They have a lot of Haitian clients.

6. Gate san → (literally: spoil blood) → driving mad

This is my favorite expression. I use it all the time.

W'ap gate san m! → You're making me mad!

7. Yaya kò → to pick up after yourself a bit, pick up the pace

You are going to the movies with a friend. You're in a hurry, and your friend is taking his time, causing you to be late. You can tell your friend:

Yaya kò w non! → C'mon, hurry up!

8. Anba anba → in secret

Yap pale anba anba. → They're being secretive.

9. Bay poto → (literally: to give a stick) Not keeping your word.
My friend promised me that he'll come to help me paint the kids room yesterday, but he never showed up.
Li ban m poto. → He didn't keep his word to me.

10. Bay jarèt → (literally: to give a leg) To support.

Anpil peyi ap bay Ayiti jarèt.

Many countries are supporting Haiti.


11.  Mete dlo nan diven w. → (Literally: Put some water in your wine.)
It means to Calm down, chill out, simmer down, cool it, compose yourself, control your emotion, etc....
Example:
Tata pa koute.  Mwen pede di li pa kanpe sou chèz la.  Kou l tonbe, l'ap mete dlo nan diven l.
Tata doesn't listen.  I keep telling her not to stand on the chair.  Once she falls, she'll simmer down.

Ask me anything

bird

Bird
Zwazo

Ask me anything

Laugh

To laugh
ri, gen kè kontan, griyen dan

She was laughing a lot.
Li t'ap ri anpil.

I made him laugh.
Mwen te fè li ri.

They started laughing.
Yo tonbe ri.

Ask me anything

do you have a phrase for "the silent treatment" in Creole?

to give the silent treatment → meprize, pa okipe

pay no attention to → pa okipe

Pa okipe l - Pay no attention to him. or  Ignore him

M p'ap okipe w - I'll pay no attention to you. or I'll ignore you
 

Why do you give me the silent treatment?

Poukisa ou meprize m?

or

Poukisa ou pa okipe m?

She's giving me the silent treatment.

L'ap meprize m.

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This is why I don't initiate our conversations. I don't like how it makes me feel when you don't answer me. I want you to lead our friendship.

This is why I don't initiate our conversations. I don't like how it makes me feel when you don't answer me. I want you to lead our friendship.
Se rezon sa ki fè mwen pa renmen kòmanse pale ak ou. Mwen pa renmen jan m santi m lè ou pa reponn mwen. Mwen ta renmen se ou menm ki pou ta mennen amitye a.

Maybe you should give him/her the silent treatment too. And hold your ground until he/she talks to you again. It takes two to make a friendship work. If you don't get your say, you might feel abused or taken advantage of later. (That was just my unsolicited opinion. Hope you don't mind :)

Ask me anything

tell me what is wrong please

Tell me what is wrong, please.

Tanpri, di mwen sa ou genyen.

Ask me anything

will you talk to me? I'm feel lonely when I don't hear from you.

Will you talk to me?!

Pale avè m non!

I'm feel lonely when I don't hear from you.

Mwen santi m sèl lè ou pa pale avè m.

Ask me anything

How do you say things got to get better in Creole

Things got to get better.
Bagay yo va fè mye.
or
Bagay yo a vin miyò.

Let me hear from you, or i will become very sad.

Kite mwen tande w, si se pa sa w'ap fè m tris.

Lanmou, toujou lanmou!

Love, it's always love!