Haitian Creole

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

I beg you pardon.

I beg your pardon?

Eskize mwen? or

Kisa ou di? or

Sa ou di?

Ask me anything

I am a Christian. (Creole)

I am a Christian.
Mwen se kretyen.

What's the idea behind "Zewo bare", why can't they just say "Zewo"?

Zewo → is Haitian Creole for the number zero.
Zewo bare → is a zero with a dash traced through the middle.

A zewo (zero) looks like this: 0
A zewo bare (barred zewo) looks like this: 0

What's the difference in Haiti?
Well, in Haiti, a zewo (zero) is just a number.
But a zewo bare (0) screams null, worthless, fail, inefficient, wrecked.

For a student who has failed a test, there's nothing worse than seeing that zewo bare (0) on his/her test paper.
Sometimes, you feel it's worse than a simple zewo (zero).
It can be traumatizing!

Have you ever gotten a zewo bare on an exam in Haiti?
How did you feel about the instructor who took the special extra time to slash the bar through the zero?
Were you ever bullied because of this :(

what does "mwen" mean?

Mwen → I, me, my

Mwen konprann.

I understand.

Mwen wè ou.

I see you.

Gade mwen.

Look at me.

Reponn mwen.

Answer me.

Papa mwen

My father

Kay mwen

My house

Ask me anything

What are fabrication & baseless in Creole?

Fabrication → manti, istwa envante
baseless → san fondasyon

Ask me anything

All my wishes!

All my wishes! (as in All my best!) → Mwen swete w siksè ak kè kontan!

Happy Birthday! → Bòn fèt!

I wish you all the best! → Mwen swete w siksè, bonè ak kè kontan! (literally: I wish you success, joy and happiness!)

I brought you a gift. → Mwen pote yon kado pou ou.

Ask me anything

Men Li, Kote Li.

Men li. → Here it is.

Kote li? → Where is it?

also

Kote li ye? → Where is it?

Ask me anything

anchor (v.)

kore (v.) → anchor, implant, embed, protect

I am well anchored.
Mwen byen kore.

The cow feet stew fortified me. I feel I have the strength of 10,000 men.
Bouyon pye bèf la byen kore m. Mwen santi m dimil òm. (popular saying in Haiti)

He strenghtens me so that I don't fall.
Li kore m pou m pa tonbe.

You are well rooted in Christianity.
Ou byen kore nan Levanjil la.

Does anyone remember this song? (Wane, Carrefour 1978 kay sè Lamontay :)

Chè Senyè, Chè Senyè!
Dear Lord, Dear Lord!
Kore m pou m pa tonbe!
Anchor me so that I don't fall!
Tè Ayiti se tè glise.
Haiti's land is a slippery land.
Kore m pou m pa tonbe!
Anchor me so that I don't fall!
Tè Ayiti se tè modi.
Haiti's land is cursed land.
Kore m pou m pa tonbe!
Anchor me so that I don't fall!