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Sunday, March 18, 2012

my mom's busy

My mom's busy.
Manman m okipe.

floor? he sat on the floor. she lives on the second floor.

floor → atè a
upstairs floors → chanmòt, etaj
He sat on the floor
Li chita atè a.

She lives on the second floor.
Li abite nan chanmòt.

ou jwenn yon ti

you found a little

Ask me anything

Saturday, March 17, 2012

How do we use kokenn and kokennchenn in Creole?

kokenn is big, huge
kokennchenn is bigger, more huge, more massive

Mwen te wè yon kokennchenn vag ap vini sou mwen, mwen tonbe kouri.
I saw a massive wave coming at me, I took off running.

Limena se kokenn fanm dyanm.
Limena is a strong courageous woman.

I had understood 'nenpot' as meaning 'any'... nenpot moun = any/whichever person. Is that incorrect? Or does it have another meaning of 'roughly'. Can you give an example?

You are correct. nenpòt means any. I cannot think of any circumstances where it would mean "roughly" :)

nenpòt → any
nenpòt ki → any which
nenpòt sa, nenpòt kisa, nenpòt bagay → anything
nenpòt fason, nenpòt jan → any way, any which way
nenpòt kote, nenpòt ki kote → anywhere
nenpòt moun, nenpòt ki moun → anyone
nenpòt lè, nenpòt ki lè → any time

Ou mèt vini nenpòt lè.
You may come any time.

Yo kwè nan nenpòt sa li di.
They believe in anything he says.

Mwen p'ap renmen ak nenpòt ki moun.
I will not date just anyone.


Chwazi nenpòt liv ou vle.
Choose any books you want.

Pran nenpòt sa ou bezwen.
Take whatever you need.

In what situations or contexts is 'seten' used to convey 'some' or 'few' as opposed to 'kek'? Is it used in the same way as saying ' there are certain people...'?

Yes it is.

Sèten → some
Kèk → some, a few
sèten or kèk  is used to translate some


Gen sèten jou mwen pa fouti leve nan kabann.
Gen kèk jou mwen pa fouti leve nan kabann. (is also correct)
There are some days I can't get out of bed.

Gen sèten bagay mwen pa ka di w kounye a.
Gen kèk bagay mwen pa ka di w kounye a. (is also correct)
There are some things I can't tell you right now.


Sèten also means sure, conclusive, clear

Mwen sèten w'ap fè bon desizyon an..
I'm sure you'll make the right decision.

Mwen pa twò sèten si m'ap kapab vini aswè a.
I'm not sure I can come tonight.

To stand out Haitian Creole. Her dress stands out.

to stand out → distenge, resòti, parèt diferan

Her dress stands out.
Rad li a parèt diferan.

Her dress stands out from among all the others.
Rad li a distenge nan mitan tou lòt yo.
Rad li a parèt diferan pase tout lòt yo.

I am going to be, e.g.- I'm going to be so tired in the morning

I am going to → mwen pral, m'ap, m'a, or ma va

I am go to be so tired in the morning.
M'ap fatige anpil demen maten.


I am going to be married in two months.
Mwen pral marye nan de mwa.

We're going to be in town tomorrow.
Nou va nan vil la demen.

Friday, March 16, 2012

In our church we address others as "brother" or "sister" followed by their first name... For example, Sister Larissa. How would I say this in Creole?

Ah yes.
In the Christian churches in Haiti too,
 Frè (brother) for males
Sè (sister) for females (whether they married or not)

Sister Larissa → Sè Larissa
Brother Joseph → Frè Joseph
Sister Carinne → Sè Carinne
Brother Frank → Frè Frank

How do I say "Give my love to everyone" or "give my regards" or "give my best" in kreyol?

Best way to say this is:


Salye tout moun pou mwen.
Greet everyone for me.
or


Anbrase tout moun pou mwen.
Greet everyone with a kiss/hug from me.


and also:


Di tout moun mwen voye anbrase yo.
Tell everyone I send them a kiss/hug.


or


Di tout moun mwen voye salye yo.
Tell everyone I send them a greeting.


You could also say:


Di tout moun m'ap panse a yo.
Tell everyone I'm thinking about them.


Di tout moun kò m isi men lespri m toujou avèk yo.
Tell everyone, my body's here but my spirit is always with them.


Di tout moun yo toujou nan panse m.
Tell everyone they're always in my thoughts.

Mwen ta renmen pou w GENYEN jodi a.

GENYEN, here, seems to mean TO WIN

Mwen ta renmen pou w genyen jodi a.
I'd like you to win today.

your going away in creole

You're going away.
W'ap pati.

Are you going away?
Eske w'ap pati?
or
W'ap pati? 

how do you say zanmann in english?

zanmann → Almonds

Ask me anything

how do you say my sweet

Byenveni

Creole for 'welcome"

Ask me anything