Sa pa vre!
Tha's not true!
That's not real!
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Fè respè w non!
Fè respè w non! (this expression comes out as a warning)
Fè respè w wi! (this expression comes out as an advice)
Behave!
Be good!
Mind your manners!
Mind your reputation!
Be accountable!
Fè respè w wi! (this expression comes out as an advice)
Behave!
Be good!
Mind your manners!
Mind your reputation!
Be accountable!
Sa sèlman!
Sa sèlman (contraction for "Se sa sèlman") → literally means "is that only"
Sa sèlman!
That's it!
That's all!
That's the only thing!
Sa sèlman?!
Is that it?
Sa sèlman ou achte?
Is that all you bought?
Sa sèlman ou pote?
Is that all you brought?
Sa sèlman ou genyen?
Is that all you have?
Sa sèlman mwen genyen.
That's all I have.
Sa sèlman li ka fè.
That's the only thing it/he/she can do.
That's the only thing it/he/she is good for.
Other definitions for Sa Sèlman
Sa sèlman!
That's it!
That's all!
That's the only thing!
Sa sèlman?!
Is that it?
Sa sèlman ou achte?
Is that all you bought?
Sa sèlman ou pote?
Is that all you brought?
Sa sèlman ou genyen?
Is that all you have?
Sa sèlman mwen genyen.
That's all I have.
Sa sèlman li ka fè.
That's the only thing it/he/she can do.
That's the only thing it/he/she is good for.
Other definitions for Sa Sèlman
going through hardship, going through a torment or afflictions (in Creole)
going through a hardship
pase tray
pase mizè
pase peripesi
I went through a bad ordeal while leaving at her house.
Mwen pase mizè pandan mwen t'ap viv lakay li.
She made me go through hell.
Li fè m pase tray.
I went through some hardships.
Mwen te pase yon tray.
Why are you giving me so much grief?
Poukisa w'ap fè m pase mizè konsa?
pase tray
pase mizè
pase peripesi
I went through a bad ordeal while leaving at her house.
Mwen pase mizè pandan mwen t'ap viv lakay li.
She made me go through hell.
Li fè m pase tray.
I went through some hardships.
Mwen te pase yon tray.
Why are you giving me so much grief?
Poukisa w'ap fè m pase mizè konsa?
Kote w jwenn ak Creole sa yo?
Kote w jwenn ak Creole sa yo?
Where did you get these Creole words from?
Where did you get these Creole words from?
really...as in I really want something
really → reyèlman, tout bon
I really miss you.
Mwen vrèman sonje ou.
Mwen sonje w tout bon
Mwen sonje w tout bon
I really want to go home.
Mwen reyèlman vle ale lakay mwen.
I'm really tired.
Mwen vrèman fatige.
Mwen fatige tout bon.
Mwen fatige tout bon.
They have really touched my heart.
Yo reyèlman touche kè m.
Those jokes are really funny.
Blag sa yo vrèman komik.
Monday, October 17, 2011
san fason
expression: San fason
literally: without manners (do not mistake with "having no good
manners")
manners")
meaning: amiable, kind, sympathetic, courteous,
hospitable
hospitable
Example:
Dina is a good person. She's very sympathetic and approachable.
Dina se yon bon moun. Li san fason.
Claude was a good man. He gave me a place to stay when I didn't have a home. He was always hospitable.
Claude te yon bon moun. Li te ban m yon kote pou m rete lè m pa't gen kay. Li te san fason.
Get well
Get well.
Pòte ou byen.
I hope you get better.
Mwen espere ou fè mye.
Take care of yourself.
Pran swen tèt ou.
Pòte ou byen.
I hope you get better.
Mwen espere ou fè mye.
Take care of yourself.
Pran swen tèt ou.
Do you know of a good way to ship things to Haiti from the US?
Oh! here's a disappointing and very frustrating experience.
I (my family) have shipped cars by boat.
I have shipped books by FedEx.
I have shipped items of all sizes, and used pretty much all methods of shipment. I've had nothing but disappointment.
The workers at Haiti's customs have their own rules.
It's all about extortion.
Sending your package is one thing. Getting it from Haiti's customs is another. You'll be succesfull with getting your package depending on how bad you want your shipment and how much you're willing to pay to get it.
If you are sending a small package, send it with a trusted company (FedEx, UPS, DHL, etc...) and insure it.
I once paid about $250 to ship a package via Fedex to Haiti. The package was supposed to arrive within 5 days. The package got lost and resurfaced in three weeks all torn! I didn't insure the package, And worse, I had listed everything in there at a lower value so that the recipient could only pay the $150.00 Customs duty. Big error on my part!
If you are sending a big package like a car, meds for hospitals, clothes for a church, school supplies, or other similar things, I suggest you google a company that would deliver to your chosen city. I, personally, have shipped to Port-de-Paix only because I knew someone at Customs there who made it less of a headache to get my shipment (still has to pay something on the side to each person who handles your shipment).
On top of that, there's always the chance of workers going through your shipment. If they see something they like, they take it without shame.
One trick that most Haitians use when they ship to Haiti:
If you're shipping a bike, disassemble the bike. Send the body of the bike in one shipment. Then send the wheels through another shipment at a different date. That goes for bedding, dining room sets, dolls (poor toys!), and lots more.
Do not send new, pretty, or expensive items unless it's via a trusted method of shipment.
We once shipped a newly bought propane tank to Port-de-Paix, Haiti. My husband usually travels to Haiti at the time his shipments are due to arrive at Customs so that he would make his disputes in person and with receipt in hands (as there's always a dispute about an item that didn't make it! & There's nothing worse than disputing your lost item over a very staticky international phone connection!) This time, Customs did deliver the propane tank; a very rusty, old propane tank of a different color than the one we sent!
I (my family) have shipped cars by boat.
I have shipped books by FedEx.
I have shipped items of all sizes, and used pretty much all methods of shipment. I've had nothing but disappointment.
The workers at Haiti's customs have their own rules.
It's all about extortion.
Sending your package is one thing. Getting it from Haiti's customs is another. You'll be succesfull with getting your package depending on how bad you want your shipment and how much you're willing to pay to get it.
If you are sending a small package, send it with a trusted company (FedEx, UPS, DHL, etc...) and insure it.
I once paid about $250 to ship a package via Fedex to Haiti. The package was supposed to arrive within 5 days. The package got lost and resurfaced in three weeks all torn! I didn't insure the package, And worse, I had listed everything in there at a lower value so that the recipient could only pay the $150.00 Customs duty. Big error on my part!
If you are sending a big package like a car, meds for hospitals, clothes for a church, school supplies, or other similar things, I suggest you google a company that would deliver to your chosen city. I, personally, have shipped to Port-de-Paix only because I knew someone at Customs there who made it less of a headache to get my shipment (still has to pay something on the side to each person who handles your shipment).
On top of that, there's always the chance of workers going through your shipment. If they see something they like, they take it without shame.
One trick that most Haitians use when they ship to Haiti:
If you're shipping a bike, disassemble the bike. Send the body of the bike in one shipment. Then send the wheels through another shipment at a different date. That goes for bedding, dining room sets, dolls (poor toys!), and lots more.
Do not send new, pretty, or expensive items unless it's via a trusted method of shipment.
We once shipped a newly bought propane tank to Port-de-Paix, Haiti. My husband usually travels to Haiti at the time his shipments are due to arrive at Customs so that he would make his disputes in person and with receipt in hands (as there's always a dispute about an item that didn't make it! & There's nothing worse than disputing your lost item over a very staticky international phone connection!) This time, Customs did deliver the propane tank; a very rusty, old propane tank of a different color than the one we sent!
what is mezanmi gade in English?
Mezanmi*, gade!
Oh God, look!
*Mezanmi → interjection (Oh God, Oh dear, Geez! etc...)
Se kan w pran ou konnen wi!
Mè wi pitit! Lè ou pran nan twa rwa!
That's why you should always read the fine prints, however disguised they are :)
What is "piyay"
Piyay (pee-yah-y) (n.) → freebie, giveaway, handout
Fè piyay (v.) → to invade, to loot, to plunder, to pillage
The words "piyay" comes from the French "pillage" which means looting, free-for-all, pillaging.
Examples:
The man offered me $500 for the car. He must have thought that this is a freebie.
Mesye a mande m $500 pou machin nan. Li te panse se piyay.
During the riot they looted the store. There's nothing left.
Pandan dezòd la yo fè piyay sou magazen an. Pa gen anyen ki rete.
You'll hear these expressions often.
This is not a handout!
Sa se pa piyay non!
Haiti is not there for the taking.
Ayiti pa pou piyay.
The thieves plundered the house.
Vòlè yo fè piyay sou kay la.
They raped the girl.
Yo fè piyay sou tifi a.
Fè piyay (v.) → to invade, to loot, to plunder, to pillage
The words "piyay" comes from the French "pillage" which means looting, free-for-all, pillaging.
Examples:
The man offered me $500 for the car. He must have thought that this is a freebie.
Mesye a mande m $500 pou machin nan. Li te panse se piyay.
During the riot they looted the store. There's nothing left.
Pandan dezòd la yo fè piyay sou magazen an. Pa gen anyen ki rete.
You'll hear these expressions often.
This is not a handout!
Sa se pa piyay non!
Haiti is not there for the taking.
Ayiti pa pou piyay.
The thieves plundered the house.
Vòlè yo fè piyay sou kay la.
They raped the girl.
Yo fè piyay sou tifi a.
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