to 'hurt one's feelings'

to hurt one's feelings → blese santiman li, fwase, blese kè, ponyade kè


You hurt my feeling
Ou blese santiman m.
Ou fwase m.


I'm sorry I hurt your feelings
Eskize m deske m blese santiman w.
Eskize m deske m fwase w.

citrus fruits

sitwon jòn → lemons

sitwon vèt → limes

zoranj → oranges

zoranj si → marmelade oranges

chadèk → grapefruit

mandarin, klemantin →tangerines

kenèp? → spanish limes

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How would say 'there may be...' as in "There may be blood".

There may be ... → *Ka *gen
*ka may also be written as kab or kapab

*gen may also be written as genyen

There may be blood.

Ka gen san koule.

There may be an error.

Ka gen yon erè.

There may be tears.

Ka gen kriye.

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Se nan chemen jennen yo kenbe chwal malen. Eske se vre?

Kanta sa.
Pa gen manti nan sa ☺

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"Sak vid pa kanpe." What do you say in this?

Literally, it's a simple law of physics.
Figuratively, it's a simple rule of life: Your body needs food to survive.

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Se ki kote mwen ka jouinn yon ti luil maskriti?

Se nan ki peyi w ye?

Si w nan peyi etranje, chache yon kominote/magazen Ayisyen.
Men si w Ayiti, w'ap jwenn sa nan tout ti kwen mache.
Chache, wa jwenn :)

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'Nou tout nan ka'?

Nan ka → in serious trouble, screwed, busted

Nou tout nan ka.
Nou tout nan tchouboum.
Nou tout pran nan pèlen
Nou tout pran nan twa wa.
Nou tout pran nan mera.
We're all screwed.

"shortcut" - Do not take any 'shortcuts' with me please.

Shortcut → chemen dekoupe, wout dekoupe

Do not take any shortcuts with me please.
Pa pran okenn chemen dekoupe avè m tanpri.

Ann fè lanmou.

Ala de koze mezanmi!

Si pa't gen lanmou sou tè a, nou tout ta nan ka :)

Ann fè lanmou.

Let's make love.

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I AM MOVING TO HAITI IN ABOUT A WEEK, FOR A YEAR. WHAT PHRASES SHOULD I KNOW?? I DON'T WANT TO GO AND NOT UNDERSTAND ANYTHING I THINK TOO MANY PEOPLE GO UNPREPARED... I REALLY NEED AUDIO!!!

At this point in time, get a Haitian Creole language learning book, and also a Creole-English/English-Creole dictionary. Bring them with you. You'll have plenty of time within that year to learn from the natives.

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"Two cho devan bann nan"

"Twò cho devan bann nan" → too eager, too excited

alèkile, alòkile, lèkonsa?

Lèkonsa (lè konsa) → then, at that time, at that point, subsequently

Alèkile (alòkile) → nowadays, these days


Alèkile ou pa salye m ankò.
Nowadays you don't say hi to me anymore.

Nowadays (in Creole) → alèkile, alòkile, sèjousi, sètansi, denojou, aprezan

Are you familiar with the song "Ole Ole" by Lakol? Could you help me with the lyrics (I really want to sing along) and the meaning?

Jodi a nou leve
Today we get up
Pa vle chita gade
Don’t want to sit around
Vini, an al danse
Come, let’s go dance
Yon konpa ki byen mate
A bouncing Konpa
An nou chante
Let’s sing
An nou danse
Let’s dance
Pa kite tan pase
Don’t let time pass
Tout moun mete deyò pou y al danse Lakòl

Everyone, come out to dance Lakòl
Nan kadans, bèl pawòl
With entertainment, beautiful ambiance
Nou pral kole zepòl
We’ll come together
Sa fè depi lontan n’ap ret tann moman sa
We’ve been waiting for this moment
Jodi a nou kontan pou nou ale
Today we’re happy to go

Leve pou n ale
Get up, let's go
Pa kite tan pase
Don’t let time pass

Leve leve leve pou nou ale
Get up, get up, get up so we can go
Aswè a m te la
Tonight I was there
Nou te ka danse, ole ole
To dance Ole! Ole!
Vini pou nou chante
Come sing
Vini pou n ale
Come let’s go
Mete men w anlè
Put your hands in the air
Pou nou sa danse
So we can dance
Jouk demen maten
Until morning
Vini pou n ale
Come let’s go
Men si w kontan met men w anlè
But if you’re happy put your hands up

Apiye sere pa frape mesye pou nou banbile
Lean closer, no bumping , guys,so we’ll have fun

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How can I explain to someone when and how to use the following stress words in Creole: Mwen la WI Li pa la NON Ban m sa a NON

Ah yes! There's nothing like it in the English language, is there?

Sometimes, I tell people it's more like putting an emphasis or accentuation.

Mwen la wi.

I'm here yes I am.

Li pa la non.

He's not home, no he's not.

Ban m sa non.

Give it to me, wouldn' t you.

M pa pi mal non.

I'm not too bad no I'm not.

M te sonje w wi.

I missed you yes I did.

I have some non-Creole speaking friends who actually went around a whole day adding a "yes" after each positive sentences they uttered, and a "no" after each negative sentences. Mezanmi! Sa te komik! ☺

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What is the difference between "Se ki kote ou rete?" and "Ki kote ou rete?"

Not much difference.
Se (from French C'est which means It is/This is) doesn't really belong there (in front of the question). But, H. Creole speakers use it anyway. You will find this inquisitive se before any non-yes/no →Eske questions. Go ahead and try it. Check out the following examples And then you may use it when you talk to your Haitian friends :)


You will often hear:

Ki moun ou ye?

or

Se ki moun ou ye?

Who are you?

Kouman ou rele?
or
Se kouman ou rele?
What's your name?


Kisa ou genyen?
or
Se kisa ou genyen?
What's wrong?


Ki kote w rete?
or
Se ki kote w rete?
Where do you live?


Kisa sa ye?
or
Se kisa sa ye?
What is this?


Kisa w'ap fè la?
or
Se kisa w'ap fè la?
What are you doing here?


A kilè w'ap fini?
or
Se a kilè w'ap fini?
What time will you be done?

Konbyen sa a koute?
or
Se konbyen sa a koute?
How much does this cost?

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