Listen to and Follow The Podcast at SOUVNI ON THE MIKE with Podcast Transcripts available. Advanced Haitian Creole Learners, you have arrived :). Souvni On The Mike stands as a vibrant cultural beacon in the digital soundscape, offering a weekly immersion into the heart of Haitian language and life. This Haitian Creole podcast transforms the airwaves into a dynamic classroom and cultural salon, where education, entertainment, and community connection converge. Follow the podcast.

Monday, October 31, 2011

Still, as in: we're still standing (Creole)

still → toujou

I'm still alive.
M'ap viv toujou.

We're still here.
Nou la toujou.

I still love you.
Mwen renmen ou toujou.

I'm still waiting for you.
M'ap tann ou toujou.

I'm still on my way.
Mwen nan wout toujou.

I'm still mad as hell.
Mwen fache toujou.
___________________

Still (as in quiet) → kal, trankil, dousman

Be still.
Rete dousman.

I was sitting by the waters.  Everything was still...
Mwen te chita bò dlo a.  Tout bagay te kal...

Why won't you be still?
Poukisa ou pa rete trankil?

Without a fuss (Creole)

A few Haitian Creole will translate that:

Without a fuss
San bri san kont
San traka, ni dlo nan je
San goumen san batay

They surrendered without a fuss.
Yo bay legen san bri san kont.

Give me my money without a fuss.
Ban m lajan m san bri san kont.

Since it was their fault, they accepted it without a fight.
Paske se te fòt yo, yo asepte l san bri san kont.

se me ou ye

Do you mean "mè" with the accent on the "e"?
Me → month of May
Mè → nun

Se mè ou ye?
Are you a nun?

Can you tell me a typical Haitian joke?

Check out wwww.belblag.com

Ask me anything

woule de bò (expression)

expression → woule de bò
literally → rolling both sides
meaning → not being straight/direct with someone, to deceive someone, being two-faced, double-dealing

How to use this expression: Insert the pronoun after the word woule.

L'ap woule m de bò.
He's playing me.

Y'ap woule n de bò.
They're deceiving us.

Poukisa w'ap woule m de bò?
Why are you being two-faced with me?

Li gen menaj, men li di l'ap sòti avè w.  L'ap woule w de bò.
She has a boyfriend, yet she said she'll go out with you.  She's deceiving you.

Lè li avèk Levanjil, li di li se Levanjil,
Lè li avèk Katolik, li di li se Katolik.
L'ap woule n de bò.
When she's among Christians, she says she's a Christian,
When she's among Catholics, she says she's a Catholic.
She's deceiving us.

Good night, I love you (Creole)

Good night, I love you
Bòn nwi, mwen renmen ou.

Have a good night.
Pase bòn nwit.

Sweet dreams and good night.
Fè bon rèv e bòn nwi.

Sleep well.
Dòmi byen.

Sunday, October 30, 2011

wa al di label woz sa a, mwen konen'w!

Is "labèl wòz" the name of an individual?

Translation: Go an tell this to label woz, I know you!

konfiti (pronounced kon-fee-tee)

Konfiti (pronounced kon-fee-tee) from the French word confiture.  It is a marmalade.  It is a preserve usually made from the pulp of grapefruits.

blèz

Can you give me the context please?

The word "Blèz" is acually a proper name "Blaise".
Other than being a proper name, I've heard this word mainly in the following puns and expressions (which is in the likes of: Easy breezy):

Alèz kòm Blèz.
(literally: As relaxed as Blaise)
and
Alèz kòm Blèz ki chita sou chèz san pinèz.
(literally: As relaxed as Blaise sitting on bugless chair)

"to miss" and "to remember", USE SAME CREOLE VOCAB WORD?

miss (to long for) → sonje
remember → sonje

We miss you.
Nou sonje ou.

Did you miss me?
Eske ou te sonje m?

I missed so much while you were away.
Mwen te sonje ou anpil pandan ou pa't la.

I miss home.
Mwen sonje lakay mwen.

Remember to bring the milk.
Sonje pote lèt la.

Do you remember where you were on 9/11/01?
Eske ou sonje kote ou te ye 11/9/01?

Do you remember me?
Eske ou sonje m?

I don't remember anything.
Mwen pa sonje anyen.

I'm praying for you (Creole)

to pray → priye or lapriyè

I am praying for you.
M'ap priye pou ou.
or
M'ap lapriyè pou ou

I will pray for you.
Mwen va priye pou ou.
or
Mwen va lapriyè pou ou.

I have not heard anything from you. (in Creole)

I haven't heard anything from you.
Mwen pa tande anyen soti kote ou.
or
Mwen pa tande anyen bò kote ou.

You will also hear:
Mwen pa tande anyen de ou.
But you should know that the word "de" is considered a French word and is being eliminated from accurate translations.

I haven't heard from you.
Mwen pa tande ou.
or
Mwen pa tande ou menm.

I haven't heard from you at all
Mwen pa tande ou ditou.

peze-nen

expression → peze nen
literally to cover the nose
meaning turn a blind eye

thankou yon bél

Do you mean: tankou yon bèl or tankou yon bèt?

(Note: The accent on your "e" should go the opposite direction.  That makes a difference in the word sound.  Compare your accent to mine)

tankou yon bèl... → like a pretty....
tankou yon bèl flè... → like a pretty flower

But

Tankou yon bèt → like an animal.
Li te aji tankou yon bèt. → She acted like an animal.

to exchange, to trade

To trade → boukante (pronounced boo-kanh-tay)