Haitian Creole

Two questions. 1) How do you say "deliver a baby" and 2) is it okay for foreigners to use the word "neg" in conversation with Haitians? Thank you!

to deliver a baby → akouche yon bebe

to give birth → akouche

birth (n.) → akouchman

She gave birth this morning.

Li akouche maten an.

The doctor delivered the baby.

Doktè a akouche bebe a.

Doktè a delivre bebe a. (pronounced day-lee-v-ray)

you will also hear:

The doctor who delivered me was excellent.

Doktè ki te akouche m nan te anfòm.

I had a busy day. I had 2 deliveries (births) in the office.

Jounen m te okipe. Mwen te gen 2 akouchman nan ofis la.

2. Yes, it is okay for foreigners to use the word "nèg" in conversation with Haitians.

The word "nèg" in Haitian Creole is equivalent to "man, guy, dude, pal, etc..."

Creole speakers will even translate "a white man" as "yon nèg blan" (which is an oxymoron), but that's the way it is: nèg means man.

See this link about other Creole expressions with "nèg".

Other Haitian Creole Expressions with the word "Nèg"

Ask me anything

why do Haitians say, "pitit o!" Or "Madanm o!"?

I guess it might be the same reason pirates say "land o!, land o!"

Adding that "o!", and if you've noticed also "wi!", "non!", "menm!", "la!" is a way of expressing themselves.

Usually these expressions do not translate in English.
Sometimes I want to put them in my writings on the blog, but I refrain from doing it, thinking that they might be confusing. But the truth is that some spoken expressions will feel incomplete without them.

Mwen te sonje w wi!

I missed you.

Kimoun ou ye menm!

Who are you?

Ki kote ou prale la?

Where are you going?

M paka dòmi non!

I can't sleep!

Ask me anything

What's the proper term to describe the corrugated metal material used as the roof of many homes in Nazon?

If you mean the "tin roof", they are called "tòl" in Haiti.
A house that's covered with corrugated tin roof is called "kay tòl"

Living under these tin roofs you hear everything: the landing of the birds, the crash of the ripe coconuts, the rain drops, even the faint noise of the falling dry leaves. At night when it's even quieter, you'd think you heard the footsteps of a "lougawou". And when it's windy, the clatter of the tree branches never stops.
The worst I remember is those sunny days. When the sun is hot and bright consider everything under that tin roof roasted.

Ask me anything

you are so smart

book smart?

You are so smart.

Ou entelijan.

Ou trè entèlijan.

Man! you are clever.

Ala je ou kale papa!

Ask me anything

She's a smart girl. (street smart)

She's a smart girl.
Li s'on fanm intelijan. (s'on = se yon)
Li s'on fanm je kale. (s'on = se yon

to be clever → gen je kale or je (pronoun) kale

They are clever.
Je yo kale.

They won't take advantage of him. He's too clever.
Yo p'ap pran avantaj sou li. Je l twò kale.

Tell me, where did you find this girl? She's so sharp!
Di mwen. ki bò ou jwenn ak dam sa? Ala moun je kale papa!

this sound like an Indian person writing. you know when a person's watching indian movies and that the elder is giving advice to the younger person. they sat around and they're listening to the older person. "Some people say: Love is as supreme (strong

Is this info for me...?
maybe you could send it via e-mail.

Ask me anything

how do you say? '''i love you untill the end of time

I love you until the end of times.

Mwen renmen w pou tout tan gen tan.

Ask me anything

a sneeze / to sneeze

a sneeze → estènen
to sneeze → estènye

Ask me anything

Bon sa w ka dim de viyet plack la? (english)

Well, what can you tell me about the tag's bumper sticker?

Ask me anything

Is there a difference in Creole btw "Do you want.." and "Would you like..." Someone told me they are translated the same?

Do you want ...? → Eske ou vle...?

Would you want...? → Eske ou ta vle...?

Would you like..? → Eske ou ta renmen...?

Do you want to know a secret?
Eske ou vle konnen yon sekrè?

Would you want to live forever?
Eske ou ta vle viv pou tout tan?

Would you like to know more?
Eske ou ta renmen konnen plis?