MrsChaddie - Bonjou! This was posted on Facebook by some of my Haitian friends. Can you help me understand it and the cultural feelings behind it? Un nègre riche est un mulâtre et un mulâtre pauvre est un nègre Mesi e Bon Fet Drapo!

Hi MrsChaddie, It actually says: 'A rich negro is a mulatto and a poor mulatto is a negro.'  It's an idiom from way back, when there where different social classes in Haiti based on the percentage of black blood running  in one's vein.

This idiom mainly states that Wealth is important, or Money talks.  Or you can even translate it as:  Money is power (in Haitian colonial times of course).

Is haitian creole your language?

Is haitian creole your language? (Creole)
Eske Kreyòl Ayisyen se lang ou?

What's the best way to say 'what about" as in "what about me?", "What about you?"

Say: E


What about me?
E mwen menm?


What about the car? Do you still want it?
E machin nan?  Ou vle l toujou?


What about the meeting?  Do you want me to cancel it?
E reyinyon an?  Ou vle m anile li?

Bòn Fèt Drapo Ayisyen

Koulè peyi m
Fyète peyi m
Se pwen bousòl mwen
Se pwen komen nou
Monte wo
Monte pi wo!
Konsa, tout kote ou ye
Zye nou va toujou leve sou ou ☻

ou fin tounen ayisyen net

Ou fin tounen Ayisyen nèt.
You've completely turned into a Haitian.

How would you say 'on the dot'. I want to say 'Be there at nine on the dot.'

On the dot → pil, egzak


Be there at nine on the dot.
Vini a nevè pil.

What is Creole's 'toupi'?

toupi (used as an adverb) → exact likeness, spitting image

Li sanble ak papa l toupi.

He's looks exactly like his dad.

Ou sanble ak manman w toupi.

You're the spitting image of your mother..

toupi or topi (the toy) → spintop, spinning top, or top

how do i say your people is my people

Your people are my people.
Pèp ou se pèp pa'm.
or 
Pèp ou se pèp mwen.


Your people shall be my people.
Pèp ou va pè pa'm.
or
Pèp ou va pèp mwen.

so, mandaly, 'ke kase' really means to be nervous. Even though 'kase' means 'to break'. So 'ke kase' has none to do with a "broken heart' . Am i right?

Wi, ou korèk.  Ou byen di.

Kè kase (as a verb) → to be antsy, to be tense, to be panicking, to be anxious.

Kè m kase.
I have a bad feeling.

Kè m pa janm kase.
I never worry.

Chak kou l'ale kay doktè, kè'l ap kase.
Every time she goes to the doctor's, she gets nervous.


Poukisa kè'w ap kase konsa?
Why are you so worried?



Kè kase (as a noun) → anxiety,  fear, apprehension

Ou ban m kè kase.
You frightened me.

Ou pa bezwen gen kè kase.
You don't need to worry.


Mwen dòmi ak kè kase.  Mwen leve ak kè kase.
I go to sleep with fear.  I wake up in fear.

Another expression, kè sote is used in the same manner.

Other Haitian Creole expressions for kè kase (n.) are: kè sote, laperèz, anksyete, kè sou biskèt, enkyetid, lafreyè, sousi, or lakrent (all are used in everyday conversation)

Now if you wanted to say a broken heart, then you would say kè brize

where were you? (in Creole)

Where were you?

Kote ou *te ye? (non contracted)

Kote w te ye? (contracted)


Kote ou te ye? (non contracted)
Kote w te ye? (contracted)

Ki bò ou te ye? (non contracted)

Ki bò ou te ye? (contracted)


*te indicates past tense


Where are you? link
Where? link

WHat are some terms of endearment for a child?

ti cheri, ti chouchou, ti choupèt, ti kè, kè mwen, bebe, amou kè, boubou, bou, cheri amou kè mwen
Check this link: Endearing names

rèz, pran rèz, bay rèz

AnonymousMay 17, 2012 10:47 AM

What does pran rez mean? I heard it in a song. Ayiti pran rez, famn yo pran rez, something like that ...

MandalyMay 17, 2012 4:14 PM
pran rèz → to be duped, to be hoaxed, to be deceived, to be played, to be fooled, to expect something and not receive it.

rèz, n. → a hoax, a spoof, a prank, trick, deception 

bay rèz (literally: to give a hoax) → to prank someone, to give a hoax, to dupe someone, to deceive

sak passe wa bu le

O O!  I think you're trying to tell me something :)
Check this link out :) Sa'k Pase?

Mandy, can you explain the expression Li 'pa manje anyen frèt'? thanks!

Pa manje anyen frèt (literally who do not eat anything cold) → to be a spitfire, to be a hell raiser, to be of very strong will and conviction, to be bold and daring.

Don't play with that lady.  She's a little spitfire.
Pa jwe ak fanm sa.  Li pa manje anyen frèt non.

se sa wi la

Se sa wi la!
That's it!
That's what it is!


Generally it's Se sa! That's it!, but sometimes people add wi or wi la after it.