what does map gade mean

M'ap gade
I'm looking.
I'll look.

M'ap gade ou.

I am looking at you.

M'ap gade li.

I am looking at him/her/it.

What are you looking at?

Kisa w'ap gade?

Why are you staring at me?

Poukisa w'ap gade m konsa?

Sometimes, Creole speakers use "m'ap gade" to mean: "I'll look into it"  or "I'll think about it"

Example:

I'll see.

M'ap gade

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living the good life.

living the good life → mennen (v.), alèz kòm blèz (v.), byen mennen (v)

She's living the good life.
L'ap mennen.
or
Li alèz kòm blèz

Edith won the lottery last year.  Now she's living large.
Edith te genyen nan lotri ane pase.  Kounye a l'ap byen mennen.

We're living well.
N'ap byen mennen.

They're living the good life.
Y'ap byen mennen.

Creole synonyms for byen mennen:  byen viv, boloze, nan luil


The expression byen viv is also used to translate:  to treat well, to be considerate

1.  Her husband treats her right.
     Mari li byen viv avè l.

2.  They treat me well.
     Yo byen mennen avè m.

3.  Does he treat you well?
     Eske li byen boule avè w?

Creole synonyms for treat well, be considerate of:  byen viv avèk, byen boule avèk, byen mennen avèk

annafè → have business with?

annafè (v.) → have business/dealings, to intermingle, to have relations

1. Mwen pa annafè ak moun tankou w.
    I don't deal with people like you.

2.  Pa al annafè ak moun sa yo non!
     Don't you get mixed up with these people!

3.  You don't even know who you dealing with.
    Ou pa menm konnen ak ki moun ou annafè?

4. What kind of people are you dealing with?
     Ak ki kalite moun ou annafè la?

5.  Who are you dealing with?
    Ak ki moun ou annafè la?

5.  If I knew she was married I would not have had relations with her.
     Si mwen te konnen li te marye, mwen pa ta annafè avèk li.

6.  When you deal with crooks, you act like a crook.
     Lè ou annafè ak vòlè, ou aji tankou vòlè.

Creole synonyms for annafè (v.):  fè biznis, melanje, makònen

Paspouki in Creole is?

Paspouki → unfairness, favoritism, discrimination

Example:
You're playing favorite.
W'ap fè paspouki.
Ou nan paspouki.

I don't play favorites!
Mwen pa nan paspouki!

The teacher is discriminating against his students.
Pwofesè a nan paspouki avèk elèv li yo.

Other Creole synonyms for paspouki are: patipri, pasyalite, balans panche, moun pa

how do u say i am newly divorced?

I am newly divorced.

Mwen fèk divòse.

Mwen fèk kite ak madanm/mari mwen.

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Thanks for a very clear explanation of when to use/not use contracted pronouns. - Dory

Great Dory! Glad to hear from you :)

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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 ;-)

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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)

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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?

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.

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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?

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"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.

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i am very happy to see you

I am very happy to see you.

Mwen trè kontan wè w.

Ask me anything

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