Haitian Creole

Present tense: Kisa ki pase?
Kisa | ki | pase?
Sa | k | pase? contracted
what | that/which/ who| happen
What's happened?
What's going on?

Also:
Past tense: Kisa ki te pase?
Kisa ki te pase la?
Sa'k te pase la? (contracted)
What happened there?

Future tense: kisa ki va pase? or kisa ki pral pase?
Kisa ki va pase lè ou rive lakay ou?
Sa k va pase lè w rive lakay ou? (contracted)
What will happen when you arrive home.

and also:
Present Progressive: Kisa ki ap pase?
Kisa ki ap pase Ayiti kounye a?
Sa k'ap pase Ayiti kounye a? (contracted)
What's happening in Haiti now?

and
Past progressive: Kisa ki te ap pase?
Kisa ki te ap pase nan lekòl ou a yè?
Sa k t'ap pase nan lekòl ou a yè? (contracted)
What was happening at your school yesterday?

Other ways to say What's going on / What's happening in Creole.
Kisa ki genyen?
or
Sa'k genyen? (contracted)

Kisa ki ap fèt?
or
Sa k'ap fèt? (contracted)

Ask me anything

Is there a difference between 'kalkile' and 'panse' ?

kalkile → ti estimate, to figure out

panse → to recall, to bring to mind, to reminisce

M'ap kalkile kijan pou m jwenn yon travay.

I'm trying to figure out how to find a job.

M'ap kalkile kouman pou m di l sa.

I'm figuring out a way to tell her about it.

N'ap kalkile yon fason pou sòti la.

We're figuring out a way to get out of here.

N'ap panse avè w.

We're thinking about you.

L'ap panse ak menaj li.

She thinking about her boyfriend.

Se sa w panse.

That's what you think.

Another Creole word that may be used for "kalkile" and sometimes "think" is "reflechi".

Reflechi → to consider, to mull over, to think about, to reflect

M'ap reflechi sou sa.

I'll think about it.

Ale reflechi sou sa.

Go and think about it.

Ask me anything

how do I express sympathy for someones child dying?

Do you mean: what to say in Creole to the parent?

For such a painful loss there's really not much to say, except something like "I'm sorry for your loss" and then, be there for them while you help them take comfort in their faith and God.

Haitians usually wish a mourner "courage".

You may say: Kouraj or Bon kouraj

Kouraj frè/zanmi mwen.

Have courage my brother/ friend.

Kouraj sè/zanmi mwen.

Have courage my sister / friend.

Mwen swete w ou kouraj in the name of our God.

I wish you courage nan non Bondye nou an.

Se pou lanmou Jezi soulaje w.

May the love of Jesus comfort you.

Soulaje w nan Bondye zanmi m.

Take comfort in God my friend.

Soulaje w anba zèl Bondye.

Take comfort under His wings.

Se pou lanmou Bondye soulaje w nan tout fason ke mwen menm pa kapab.

May the love of God comfort you in all the ways that I can't.

Ask me anything

"byen" - It does not always mean well, does it?

Byen (noun) → assets, inheritance, possessions

Mesye sa rich. Li gen anpil byen.
This man is rich. He has a lot of wealth (riches, valuables)

Papa m mouri. Li kite anpil byen pou mwen.
My father died. He left me a huge inheritance.

Tout byen ou yo p'ap ka ba ou lavi etènèl.
All your wealth can't give you eternal life.

Byen (verb) → to be friend with, to be on good terms with

Rose ak Filip pa lenmi an ankò. Yo byen.
Rose and Phillip are no longer enemies. They're friends.

Mwen konnen moun sa yo. Mwen byen ak yo.
I know these people. I'm friends with them.

Byen (adverb) → well, good, going well

Pa enkyete w pou li. Li byen.
Don't worry about him. He's fine.

Mwen santi m byen jodi a.
I feel well today.
I'm doing well today.

Ou danse byen.
You dance well.

Ou pale byen.
You speak with knowledge.

Kay la byen bati.
The house is well built.

Pwogram nan te byen òganize.
The show was well organized.

Li byen aji avè m.
She treated me well.

Friday, November 18, 2011

Ak nan syel translation

Akansyèl → rainbow

Ask me anything

are you going to help me

Eske w pral ede m?

and also:

Eske w'ap ede m?

Eske wa ede'm?

Ask me anything

Watch out, you hear! (best Creole translation)

Watch out you hear!
Fè atansyon tande!
Veye zo tande!

Haitian Creole word for "baby"

baby → bebe, ti bebe
crib → bèso
baby bottle → bibwon
diaper → kouchèt
to breastfeed → bay tete, alete
a nursing mom → nouris
to give birth → akouche

She gave birth to a baby boy.
Li akouche yon ti gason.

a new baby
yon nouvo bebe

It's a boy!
Se yon ti gason!

It's a girl!
Se yon ti fi!

miwo miba

miwo miba → expression for uneven, disproportionate, patchy, botched, mediocre

Rad li miwo miba.
Her dress is disorderly.
or
She looks disheveled.

The work you did on the patio is mediocre.
Travay ou fè sou galeri a miwo miba.

Live (as in live tv transmission) - Creole

live → andirèk.

We are live.
Nou andirèk.

We are live on the internet.
Nou branche andirèk sou Entènèt la.

We can talk live on Skype.
Nou kapab pale andirèk sou rezo Skype la.

Are we live?
Eske nou andirèk?

Is this program transmitted live?
Eske pwogram sa andirèk?

Are these images live?
Eske imaj sa yo andirèk?

DO YOU HAVE PAIN

Doulè → Pain

Kò kraze → body soreness
Kòfèmal (Kò fè mal) → body pain, body aches

Do you have pain?
Eske ou gen doulè?

Kijan doulè a ye?
How is the pain?

Eske doulè a miyò?
Is the pain better?

Ask me anything

Thursday, November 17, 2011

How do you say...enjoy?

To enjoy → jwi, rejwi, pran plezi, anmize, fete
To party (to celebrate, to revel) → fete, selebre, banboche
To celebrate a birthday → fete yon fèt
To commemorate → komemore, fete, sonje

Enjoy yourself.

Pran plezi w.

He's enjoying life.

L'ap jwi lavi a.

We're just enjoying ourselves at the party. or

We're partying.

N'ap fete.

N'ap banboche.

How do you celebrate Independence Day?
Kouman nou fete Fèt Lendepandans?

When do you celebrate your birthday?
Kilè ou fete fèt ou?

Are you enjoying yourself?

Eske w'ap pran plezi w?

Eske ou kontan?

Eske w'ap pase yon bon tan?

Ask me anything