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Wednesday, November 30, 2011

I don't know what to say, I don't know how to express myself

I don't know what to say.
Mwen pa konn sa pou m di.

I don't know how to espress myself.
Mwen pa konnen kijan pou m eksprime tèt mwen.

to know → konn, konnen

Jesus knows

Jesus knows.
Jezi konnen.

God knows.
Bondye konnen.

God knows everything.
Bondye konnen tout bagay.

Who knows?
Kimoun ki konnen?
or
Kilès ki konnen?

I see that you have translated "as soon as" as "menm kote", is there another translation for it?

Yes.
As soon as → menm kote, menm lè, osito, sito, imedyatman, dèke

As soon as the rain stops, we'll leave.
Menm kote lapli a rete, n'ap kite.

As soon as the Holiday season's over, I'll come home.
Imedyatman sezon fèt la pase, m'ap vin lakay.

Call me as soon as the books come in.
Rele m dèke liv yo vini.

The dogs started barking as soon as the door bell rang.
Chyen yo te koumanse jape sito pòt la te sonnen.

Tell me what is wrong. What did I do wrong? and What is wrong? (in Creole please)

What's wrong?
Sa ki genyen? (non-contracted)
Sa'k genyen? (contracted)
Use either one

What did I do wrong?
Kisa mwen fè ki mal?

What did I do to you?
Kisa mwen fè w?

Did I hurt you?
Eske mwen atriste w?

Did I do something wrong?
Eske mwen fè yon bagay ki mal?
or
Eske mwen fè yon move bagay?

Lekol lage means School's out. But i've the feeling it means something else in this sentence "Le manman yo pa la, se lekol lage."

lage → to let out, to make free
Lekòl lage. → School's out.

School's out. Drive slowly.
Lekòl lage. Kondui dousman.

Who will pick up Rachel when school's out today?
Kilès ki pral chache Rachèl lè lekòl lage jodi a?

Lekòl lage is also an expression which means anything goes

When their mom's not home, it's a wild party.
Lè manman yo pa la, se lekòl lage.

As soon as the teacher stepped out of the class, the commotion started.
Menm kote pwofesè a kite klas la, lekòl lage.

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Mwen pral an Ayiti demen. What would you recommend I must see/eat while there?

Take a drive to the outskirts of the city.
Visit Basen Ble in Jacmel.
Swim in the ocean.
Visit a flea market on market day.
Eat spicy seafood (conch, fish and shrimps),
and drink lots of coconut juice.

Be safe.
Pase yon bon vwayaj.

Ask me anything

what does fle sezon mean?

Flè sezon → (literally) seasonal flower

But the expression is about "seasonal friends".
Someone is said to be a "flè sezon" if, even though you are good friends, they'd talk to you seasonally.  They might say a big hello to you today, stop talking to you for a whole month or so, and then out the blue reenter your life again.

how old are you

How old are you?
Ki laj ou?

'To pass' as in: to pass a car on the expressway (Creole)

to pass → double (pronounced doo-blay)

I was in such a hurry I passed all the cars on the road.
Mwen te tèlman prese mwen double tout machin yo sou wout la.

Should "reyalize" be used for both "to produce" and "to recognize", like its English cognate "to realize"?

Yes, it could be used for both.

example:
Can you recognize what went wrong here?
Eske ou reyalize sa ki pase la?

They worked hard to produce this performance.
Yo travay di pou yo reyalize spetak sa.

Is "asistans" correctly translated as "help", as "attendance", or both?

more like: help, support, relief, sustenance, or even helping hand

Ask me anything

Crazy (Creole), anything other than fou?

Yeap.
Crazy →  dechennen, anraje, debòde, fou, pèdi fèy, bonèt (pronoun) chavire, pèdi tèt (pronoun)

Examples: (see where pronoun is placed for the last two translations.

He's gone beserk.
Li fou.
Li dechennen.
Li deraye. (English: to derail)
Li anraje
Li pèdi yon fèy
Bonèt li chavire
Li pèdi tèt li.

We thought you went crazy when you took the streets all naked.
Nou panse ou te fou lè w te pran lari a toutouni.
Nou panse ou te pèdi tèt ou lè w te pran lari a toutouni.
Nou panse bonèt ou te chavire lè w te pran lari a toutouni.

Crazy in love → use "fou"
I'm crazy for you.
Mwen fou pou ou.

I'm surprised.

I'm surprised (stunned, or shocked).
Mwen sezi.
Mwen etone.

I'm startled.
Mwen pantan.
Mwen sote.

Eske m 'fou paske mwen renmen ou anpil?

Eske m fou paske m renmen anpil? (you may contract the second "m" also)
Am I crazy because I love you so much?

Is there a similar Creole expression for "to butt head"?

to butt head just like goats?

butt head (to disagree, to clash) → twoke kòn

Ask me anything