I am newly divorced.
Mwen fèk divòse.
Mwen fèk kite ak madanm/mari mwen.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Thanks for a very clear explanation of when to use/not use contracted pronouns. - Dory
Great Dory! Glad to hear from you :)
Why do "Machann lèt" and "Machann sik" become cuss words at times?
Machann lèt (milk merchants) and machann sik (sugar merchants), usually women, are not cuss words. But in the flea markets, these merchants do have a reputation of being loudmouthed, temperamental and belligerent. So, some people use it as an insult to call others by these names.
I heard that some Haitian Creole words when pronounced are always accompanied with particular gestures. Is that true? If yes, could you, please, give some examples?
I don't think so.
If it is so, then what would happen to the people that are physically unable to gesture?
Tones and accents can sufficiently be used in lieu of a gesture.
If you do stumble on such words, please do share them with me ;-)
I want you to know that I love you!
Mwen vle ou konnen mwen renmen ou. (uncontracted)
Mwen vle w konnen mwen renmen w. (contracted)
What is the Creole word "RAPE" exactly?
Rape (pronounced rah-pay)
to yank, to snatch, to snap at, jumping down one's throat
1. He was so angry he yanked the baby from my arms.
Li te si tèlman fache li rape bebe a nan bra mwen.
2. The burglar snatched the purse from my hands.
Vòlè a rape bous la nan men mwen.
3. I dislocated my arm when he yanked the watch from my wrist.
Mwen domaje bra mwen lè li te rape mont lan nan ponyèt mwen.
4. He's been jumping down my throat since this morning.
Depi maten l'ap rape m.
5. Why are you snapping at me?
Poukisa w'ap rape m konsa?
to yank, to snatch, to snap at, jumping down one's throat
1. He was so angry he yanked the baby from my arms.
Li te si tèlman fache li rape bebe a nan bra mwen.
2. The burglar snatched the purse from my hands.
Vòlè a rape bous la nan men mwen.
3. I dislocated my arm when he yanked the watch from my wrist.
Mwen domaje bra mwen lè li te rape mont lan nan ponyèt mwen.
4. He's been jumping down my throat since this morning.
Depi maten l'ap rape m.
5. Why are you snapping at me?
Poukisa w'ap rape m konsa?
how do u say "don't let others fool u"
To fool → betize (pronounced bay-tee-zay), or twonpe (pronounced t-ronh-pay)
Don't let others fool you.
Pa kite moun twonpe w.
Pa kite moun betize avè w.
to rent a car
To rent a car
lwe yon machin
I need to rent a car.
Mwen bezwen lwe yon machin.
Do you have cars to rent?
Eske ou gen machin pou lwe?
Where can I find some rental cars?
Ki kote mwen ka jwenn machin pou lwe?
"This is my aunt" or "she is my aunt"
This is my aunt.
Sa se matant mwen.
She is my aunt.
Li se matant mwen.
Brown noser (Haitian Creole)
Brown noser → ti sousou
to suck up to → fè ti sousou, or fè ti sousou nan pye
What a back-scratcher!
Ala yon ti sousou!
Stop sucking up to him.
Sispann fè ti sousou nan pye l.
If Fefe didn't suck up to the boss, he would have lost the job a long time ago.
Si Fefe pa't fè ti sousou nan pye patron an, li ta pèdi travay la lontan.
Creole synonyms for ti sousou: reskiyè, restavèk, tyoul
to suck up to → fè ti sousou, or fè ti sousou nan pye
What a back-scratcher!
Ala yon ti sousou!
Stop sucking up to him.
Sispann fè ti sousou nan pye l.
If Fefe didn't suck up to the boss, he would have lost the job a long time ago.
Si Fefe pa't fè ti sousou nan pye patron an, li ta pèdi travay la lontan.
Creole synonyms for ti sousou: reskiyè, restavèk, tyoul
Best way to say "WHAT ARE YOU UP TO?" in Creole
What are you up to?
Kisa w'ap regle? (contraction for "Kisa ou ap regle?)
Sa w'ap regle? (contraction for "Kisa ou ap regle?)
Sa ou fè? (contraction for "kisa ou fè?)
Sa w fè? (contraction for "kisa ou fè?)
Kisa w'ap regle? (contraction for "Kisa ou ap regle?)
Sa w'ap regle? (contraction for "Kisa ou ap regle?)
Sa ou fè? (contraction for "kisa ou fè?)
Sa w fè? (contraction for "kisa ou fè?)
Contractions: Contracting the Haitian Creole object pronouns "mwen, ou, li, nou"
In Haitian Creole you may contract the object pronoun if the word that precedes it ends with a vowel (nasal or non nasal vowels included)
Examples:
1. Leave me.
You may say: Kite mwen. or Kite m.
2. Write to me.
You may say: Ekri mwen. or Ekri m.
3. Kiss me.
You may say: Bo mwen. or Bo m.
*4. Talk to me.
You may say: Pale avè mwen. or Pale avè m.
5. Look at her.
You may say: Gade li. or Gade l.
6. Walk under it.
You may say: Pase anba li. or Pase anba l.
7. Save us.
You may say: Sove nou. or Sove n.
8. Turn it on.
You may say: Limen li. or Limen l.
9. I hear you.
You may say: Mwen tande ou. or Mwen tande w.
10. Bring it back.
You may say: Retounen li. or Retounen l.
11. Give me one.
You may say: Ban mwen youn. or Ban m youn.
12. Give him one.
You may say: Ba li youn. or Ba l youn.
13. I was here before you.
You may say: Mwen te la anvan ou. or Mwen te la anvan w.
But if the word that precede the pronoun ends with a consonant, do not use contractions.
Examples:
1. I understand you.
Mwen konprann ou. (Do not say: Mwen konprann w.)
2. They beat her.
Yo bat li. (Do not say: Yo bat l.)
*Look back to example #4 above. There are three ways to say the word "with" in Creole: ak, avè, & avèk. See how a contraction may follow the word "avè" (in number 4 above), but not "ak" and "avèk" (in number 3 below). That's because the words "ak" and "avèk" end with a consonant.
*3. Talk to me.
Pale avèk mwen. (Do not say: Pale avèk m)
4. He's waiting for me.
L'ap tann mwen. (Do not say: L'ap tann m.)
5. We submitted it.
Nou remèt li. (Do not say: Nou remèt l.)
6. I survived it.
Mwen siviv li. (Do not say: Mwen siviv l.)
* In the next four examples, you will see that we do not use contracted pronouns after the prep: nan, *pou, san, sou.
7. This is for you.
Sa se pou ou. (Do not say: Sa se pou w.)
8. I'm going without you.
Mwen prale san ou. (Do not say: Mwen prale san w.)
9. Put your hand on it.
Mete men w sou li. (Do not say: Mete men w sou l.)
10. Believe in Him.
Kwè nan li. (Do not say: Kwè nan l.)
*There's one instance when Creole speakers may have a contracted pronoun after the preposition "pou". This would be when "pou" is used as conjunction and is equivalent to: "in order to", "so that" "to" "due to".
1. Call me so that we can talk.
Rele m pou n ka pale. (you may contract the pronoun that comes after "pou" if you wish)
2. Open the door so that I may enter.
Ouvè pòt la pou m ka rantre.
3. In other to be saved, you must believe in Him.
Pou w sove, fòk ou kwè nan Li.
4. He needs to wear his glasses to drive.
Li bezwen mete linèt li pou l kondui.
5. Turn up the volume so I can hear.
Monte volim nan pou m ka tande.
6. I will ask her to do this for me.
Ma mande l pou l fè sa pou mwen.
Other Creole contractions
Examples:
1. Leave me.
You may say: Kite mwen. or Kite m.
2. Write to me.
You may say: Ekri mwen. or Ekri m.
3. Kiss me.
You may say: Bo mwen. or Bo m.
*4. Talk to me.
You may say: Pale avè mwen. or Pale avè m.
5. Look at her.
You may say: Gade li. or Gade l.
6. Walk under it.
You may say: Pase anba li. or Pase anba l.
7. Save us.
You may say: Sove nou. or Sove n.
8. Turn it on.
You may say: Limen li. or Limen l.
9. I hear you.
You may say: Mwen tande ou. or Mwen tande w.
10. Bring it back.
You may say: Retounen li. or Retounen l.
11. Give me one.
You may say: Ban mwen youn. or Ban m youn.
12. Give him one.
You may say: Ba li youn. or Ba l youn.
13. I was here before you.
You may say: Mwen te la anvan ou. or Mwen te la anvan w.
But if the word that precede the pronoun ends with a consonant, do not use contractions.
Examples:
1. I understand you.
Mwen konprann ou. (Do not say: Mwen konprann w.)
2. They beat her.
Yo bat li. (Do not say: Yo bat l.)
*Look back to example #4 above. There are three ways to say the word "with" in Creole: ak, avè, & avèk. See how a contraction may follow the word "avè" (in number 4 above), but not "ak" and "avèk" (in number 3 below). That's because the words "ak" and "avèk" end with a consonant.
*3. Talk to me.
Pale avèk mwen. (Do not say: Pale avèk m)
4. He's waiting for me.
L'ap tann mwen. (Do not say: L'ap tann m.)
5. We submitted it.
Nou remèt li. (Do not say: Nou remèt l.)
6. I survived it.
Mwen siviv li. (Do not say: Mwen siviv l.)
* In the next four examples, you will see that we do not use contracted pronouns after the prep: nan, *pou, san, sou.
7. This is for you.
Sa se pou ou. (Do not say: Sa se pou w.)
8. I'm going without you.
Mwen prale san ou. (Do not say: Mwen prale san w.)
9. Put your hand on it.
Mete men w sou li. (Do not say: Mete men w sou l.)
10. Believe in Him.
Kwè nan li. (Do not say: Kwè nan l.)
*There's one instance when Creole speakers may have a contracted pronoun after the preposition "pou". This would be when "pou" is used as conjunction and is equivalent to: "in order to", "so that" "to" "due to".
1. Call me so that we can talk.
Rele m pou n ka pale. (you may contract the pronoun that comes after "pou" if you wish)
2. Open the door so that I may enter.
Ouvè pòt la pou m ka rantre.
3. In other to be saved, you must believe in Him.
Pou w sove, fòk ou kwè nan Li.
4. He needs to wear his glasses to drive.
Li bezwen mete linèt li pou l kondui.
5. Turn up the volume so I can hear.
Monte volim nan pou m ka tande.
6. I will ask her to do this for me.
Ma mande l pou l fè sa pou mwen.
Other Creole contractions
Demaske w sou mwen (translate please)
Not such a nice thing to say to someone.
Demaske → unmask
Demaske w sou mwen.
literally: Unmask yourself from me.
meaning: Get out of my face.
Mwen bezwen demaske li sou mwen.
literally: I need to unmask him/her from me.
meaning: I need to get rid of him/her.
Demaske w la!
literally: Unmask yourself from here!
meaning: Get lost!
Demaske → unmask
Demaske w sou mwen.
literally: Unmask yourself from me.
meaning: Get out of my face.
Mwen bezwen demaske li sou mwen.
literally: I need to unmask him/her from me.
meaning: I need to get rid of him/her.
Demaske w la!
literally: Unmask yourself from here!
meaning: Get lost!
Disappointed: "I am very disappointed in you." (Creole)
Disappointed (adj.) → vekse, pa kontan
to disappoint → desevwa, bay chagren, bay koutba, fè wont
heartbreak - chagren, gloom, heartache
I am very disappointed in you.
Mwen pa kontan avè w.
You disappointed me.
Ou desevwa m.
I can't believe she did this to me. She disappointed me.
Mwen pa ka kwè li fè m sa. Li ban m chagren.
to disappoint → desevwa, bay chagren, bay koutba, fè wont
heartbreak - chagren, gloom, heartache
I am very disappointed in you.
Mwen pa kontan avè w.
You disappointed me.
Ou desevwa m.
I can't believe she did this to me. She disappointed me.
Mwen pa ka kwè li fè m sa. Li ban m chagren.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)