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Tuesday, March 13, 2012

How would you say 'It's time' as in: It's time to cut the cake.?

It's time.
Li lè.

It's time to call it quits.
Li lè pou kite sa.

It's time to cut the cake.
Li lè pou koupe gato a.

It's time to go.
Li lè pou n ale. (it's time for us to go)
Li lè pou w ale.(it's time for you to go)
Li lè pou y ale. (It's time for them to go)


It's time you tell the truth.
Li lè pou w di laverite

It's about time.
Li te lè l' te tan. (Li te lè, li te tan.)

It's about time she left.
Li te lè l te tan pou li te ale.

It's about time I get a raise.
Li lè li tan pou mwen jwenn yon ogmantasyon.

"to twist" -- your ankle, an elastic band, your body

To twist → kòde (to braid), tòde (to wring)

To twist an ankle → sibi yon antòch, fè yon antòch, foule je pye a
To twist an elastic band → kòde yon elastik
To twist the body → tòde kò a

"tòde" or "kòde" is also used for someone whose body's reeling from pain.

Kò li ap kòde ak doulè.
Her body's reeling in pain. or is it ...reeling from pain?

A question i could never ask in class: Would an 'unschooled Haitian understand the word 'clitoris' if I said in Creole 'klitoris'? And does 'nannan' translate clitoris in Creole?

The everyday term that any Haitian would know is "krèk" or "langèt".
"Krèk" is also Haitian Creole for the "comb" on a rooster's head, which some people may remove when they use the rooster for gagè (cockfight).
Haitian Creole "nannan" means core, nucleus, center, essence, principal part; I'm not sure if it fits.
Lastly, "klitoris" sounds French. I would save it for use in an anatomy class, definitely.

Banbile and banboche interchangeable?

Banbile, banboche, distrè, anmize → to have a good time, to enjoy self, to have fun

How do you say Tuesday?

You are mistaken. You are incorrect. You are wrong. You are correct. You are right.

You are mistaken.
Ou twonpe w.
Ou fè erè.


You are incorrect.
Ou fè erè.
Ou pa kòrèk.
Sa ou di/fè a pa kòrèk non.


You are correct.
Ou kòrèk. 


You are right.

Sa w di a se sa (what you said is that)
Ou gen rezon.
Ou byen pale.
Ou pale verite.

Monday, March 12, 2012

my house

kay mwen or lakay mwen

This is my house.
Sa se kay mwen.

I just bought a house.
Mwen fèt achte yon kay.
I am at home.
Mwen lakay mwen.
Mwen lakay.
or
Mwen lakay la.

what does "mennen papa" mean?

mennen
to lead, to do well, to lead a good life


W'ap mennen papa
You're doing well. 
You're living the good life


there are so many words and expressions I can find in dictionary, but I prefer and believe more in your opinion....please, just write one word which describes word in english in the best way scoundrel - villain - good for nothing -

scoundrel → Mètdam
villain → vakabon
good-for-nothing → sanzave

don't mind! do you mind? I hope you don't mind

I don't mind.
Sa pa deranje m.
Pa okipe w.


Do you mind?
Eske sa ap deranje w?

I hope you don't mind.
M espere sa pa deranje w.

I hope you won't mind.
M espere sa p'ap deranje w.

go out, take a seat near the waterfront, enjoy in beautiful weather, nice view, enticing chics, refreshing drink

go out → soti
go out for a stroll → al promennen
take seat → chita
near the waterfront → bò dlo a,
By the seashore, by the ocean → bòdmè, nan bòdmè a
enjoy beautiful weather → jwi bèl tanperati a, jwi bèl briz, jwi bon frechè
nice view → bèl sèn, bèl anbyans?
enticing chics (chicks, chickens?) → bèl medam? bèl fanm Kreyòl :), bèl marabou?
refreshing drinks → bweson fre, bweson rafrechisan, bon bweson,

how do you say you look beautiful

you look beautiful
ou bèl.

Ask me anything