Hi.My name is Olga and I,m a linguist. I'm studing creole languages and Haitian Creole is very interesting for me. If it isn't difficult for you, can you help me to find basic information about syntax,morphology and vocabulary of Haitian Creole.

Best place to start is: http://www2.ku.edu/~haitiancreole/

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Re: "panyen pesi" in previous post. Doesn't that expression also mean "dumb"

Yes.

It is used in the expression equivalent to:

English expression: As dumb as a doorknob.

Creole expression: Sòt pase yon panyen pèsi.

Literally:                Dumber than a bunch of parley

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a bunch of...(in Creole)? As in "a bunch crooks". Would bunch be translated as "panyen"?

First of all, Haitian Creole panyen, grap, or bouke best describe a bouquet, a posy, or an assemblage of branches

Example:
yon panyen pèsi
A bunch of parsley

yon bouke flè
a flower bouquet

yon grap rezen
a bunch of grapes


A bunch of  (batch, collection) → yon bann, yon bann kalite or yon pakèt

Mwen wè yon bann kalite moun.
I saw a bunch of different people
She wrote a bunch of words that I did not understand.
Li ekri yon bann mo mwen pa't konprann.

They're a bunch of irresponsible people.
Yo se yon bann manfouben.

They're a bunch of crooks.
Yo se yon bann vòlè.

They're nothing but a bunch of phonies!
Se yon bann magouyè yo ye!

They are a bunch of crazy people.
Yo se yon bann moun fou.

This is a bunch of baloney.
Sa se yon bann tenten.

1 comment:

1. 
   kalJanuary 23, 2013 at 1:11 PM

   I have a list that I have collected. Feel free to post it for everybody to see. I want everybody to learn as much about as I am. Here is the list:
   The * respresent the word may or may not belong in this category.
   yon makòn
   yon rado
   yon makrèy
   yon gagòt
   yon galata
   yon grenn*
   yon tablati*
   yon kanaval
   yon kanal
   yon katredal
   yon kin
   yon kiriyèl
   yon kolonn
   yon lakoloni
   yon lapopilas
   yon larivyè
   yon lata
   yon mas
   yon mazenga
   yon mòlmèk
   yon nich
   yon peyi
   yon pil
   yon piyay
   yon pleyad
   yon rafal
   yon ras
   yon rasanble
   yon rat
   yon rejiman
   yon kay
   yon seri
   yon ta
   yon tonm
   yon lame
   yon lamadèl
   yon latriye
   yon tabènak
   yon gouf
   yon valiz
   yon valè
   yon volim
   yon voum
   yon nonm

I am wondering on which occasions you use 'ki' in Creole. And when you are to say something like "He is the one that helps us" Do you use ki for 'that'? And is 'ke' also used for 'that'?

We are discouraged from using the relative pronoun "ke" in Creole.

You do not need to use "ke" unless you're speaking French.
This does not mean that Creole speakers won't attempt to use it.

Examples:
The dress that you bought is pretty.
Best way to say it: Rad ou achte a bèl.
What some will say: Rad ke ou achte a bèl.

This is the man that I saw.
Best way to say it: Sa se mesye mwen te wè a.
What some will say: Sa se mesye ke m te wè a.

He told me that he loves me.
Best way to say it:  Li di m li renmen m.
What some will say: Li di m ke l renmen m.

She didn't tell me that she was pregnant.
Best way to say it:  Li pa't di m li te ansent.
What some will say: Li pa't di m ke l te ansent.

The relative pronoun "ki" is used usually when it acts like a subject in a sentence.
Example:
The house that burned down was new.
Kay ki te boule a te nèf.

The girl who has the yellow dress is my daughter.
Ti fi ki gen rad jòn nan se piti fi mwen.

A man who has no eyes is blind.
Yon nèg ki pa gen zye avèg.

A house that is divided cannot stand.
Yon kay ki divize pa ka kanpe.

Foods that contain a lot of proteins are healthy.
Manje ki gen anpil pwoteyin bon pou lasante.

Rekative pronoun "ki"
Relative pronouns "ki" and "ke"
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by the time

by the time → distans or distans pou, tan pou, anvan, lè

1. By the time she woke up, I was already gone.

    Distans li reveye, m te gentan ale.

2. By the time I arrived in Haiti, she had already passed.

    Distans m rive Ayiti, li te gentan mouri.

3. By the time the police got to the store, the burglars had already fled.
    Tan pou lapolis te rive nan magazen an, volè yo te deja chape.

4. Before we could take refuge under the table, the roof of the house had already come down on us.
    Tan pou nou te pran refij anba tab la, twati kay la te deja tonbe sou nou.

5. I will be waiting for you by the time you get home.

    M ava ap tann ou anvan ou rive lakay.

    or

    M'ava ap tann ou distans pou w rive lakay.

6. By the time she was fifteen, she was already working.

    Lè l te gen kenzan, li te gentan ap travay.

    Anvan l te gen kenzan li te gentan ap travay..

    or

    Distans li te gen kenzan, li te gentan ap travay.

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"Jèn kore jèn" What is kore?

kore → to anchor, to support, to back up, to stand behind

Kore → to anchor

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Pa take pòt la m ap toune

take (pronounced tah-kay) → to lock

The Creole words klete, take, and kadnase may be used to translate the verb: to lock, to secure.

Usually take would mean to lock with a latch.  Klete would mean to lock with a key.  And kadnase would mean to lock with a padlock.

Pa take pòt la. M'ap tounen.

Don't lock the door. I'll be back.

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All is well / I'm fine / It's all good

I'm fine.
Mwen byen.


I'm very well.
Mwen trè byen.


We're doing well.
Nou byen.


All is well with me.
Tout bagay byen avè m.


Things are well.
Bagay yo ap mache byen.


I'll be fine.
Ma va byen.
Ma degaje m.


It's all good.
Tout bagay byen.

"Byen" as an adverb and as a verb

I need to differentiate between a sheep (older) and a lamb (younger). The Bible uses mouton and brebi interchangeably for both. Ideas?

I had learned that brebi (from French brebis) is the female of mouton.

Mouton → sheep

brebi → sheep (female)

anyo → lamb (young sheep)

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kitchen cupboard

etajè

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I would have been driving at that time if I had not lost my keys.

I would have been... → Mwen ta ap .... (not contracted), Mwen t'ap .... (contracted)

 Mwen  | ta         | ap kondwi                | lè sa            |

     I      | would  | have been driving | at that time |

si | mwen  | pa            | te     | pèdi  | kle mwen |

if  | I           | negative | past | lose  | my keys  |

 

 I would have been driving at that time if I had not lost my keys.

Mwen ta ap kondwi lè sa si m pa't pèdi kle m.

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glove

glove - gan

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"gentan" and "deja" are synonyms

Already → gentan, deja

Examples.

They're already here.
Yo gentan la.
Yo deja la.

I've already bought one.
Mwen gentan achte youn.
Mwen deja achte youn.

We're already done.
Nou gentan fini.
Nou deja fini.

How do you say "dear"?

Dear
monchè (masculin)
machè (feminine)
chè
cheri or ti cheri

My dear

cheri mwen

monchè

or

machè

My dear child,

Pitit cheri mwen,

My dear Julie,

Julie cheri*, or
Chè Julie,

My dear Patrick,
Patrick cheri  or
Chè Patrick,

Dear mom

Manman cheri or
Chè manman,

*If someone were to call me dear, I would prefer "Mandaly cheri" over "Chè Mandaly".  The latter sounds French. The first one is definitely more endearing. 

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january

January →Janvye

Months of the year..

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