I'm working on reading Kreyol, and am at the point where I can read the VOA news with little difficulty. Can you recommend a website with a more challenging level of text--something with equivalent to reading, say, Le Monde Diplomatique in French? Mesi!

Sosyete Koukouy or the Libreri Mapou bookstore (the Miami Branch at 305-757-9922) has a few magazines that are written completely in Creole.  The website for Sosyete Koukouy is published completely in Creole and has some great reading materials.  Here's a link: http://sosyetekoukouy.org/

REKA is an internet journal published completely in Creole.  The LEKTI part of this online journal has some  interesting reading pieces.  Here is the link: http://kreyol.org/lekti.html

Tanbou.com is published in three languages. Many of the articles are in Creole.  Here's the link: http://www.tanbou.com/

The Haitian Migrant Worker Outreach publishes a free yearly journal.  One English, one in Spanish and one in Creole.  You may contact Dory for a free copy of the Creole Journal at this link: http://haitianmigrantworkeroutreach.org/Journal_English.html

Educavision.com and Libreri Mapou both have hundreds of books written in Creole... Novels, short stories, non-fictions.... etc...

Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

what is the difference between deske/leske/puiske/paske

deske (on the account that) → because, since 
examples:
1.  Mwen remèsye'w dèske ou te tann mwen.
     I thank you on the account that you waited for me.
     I thank you since you waited for me.

2. Mwen kontan deske ou te vin wè'm.
    I'm happy on the account that you came to see me.
    I'm happy since you came to see me.

lòske (is synonymous with lè, lò in Haitian Creole) → it means when
It comes from the French lorsque which means when.
examples:
1.  Lòske yo rive, w'ava rele'm.
     When they arrive, call me.

2.  Mwen va eksplike ou tout bagay lòske nou rive lakay.
     I'll explain everything to you when we get home.


puiske → since (when it means seeing that....)
examples:
1. Mwen prale pou kont mwen puiske ou pa vle ale.
     Seeing that you don't want to go, I'll go on my own.
    I'll go on my own since you don't want to go.

2.  Puiske nou pa gen okenn kesyon, nou va tèmine reyinyon an.
     Seeing that you don't have any questions, we will end the meeting.
     Since you don't have any questions, we will end the meeting.

paske → because (for the reason that)
examples:
1. Mwen te ba ou liv la paske ou te bezwen li.
    I gave you the book, because you needed it.

2.  Li renmen li paske li dous.
     She likes it because it's sweet.
   
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

I have a question about conjugating the phrase "I give." How do you distinguish between tenses? For example, I give, I gave, I was giving, I have given, I should give, I should have given? (Using ba instead of bay, please.)

Present tense: Mwen ba, ou ba, li ba, nou ba, yo ba
I give you my heart.→ Mwen ba ou kè'm
We give him everything he wants. → Nou ba li tout sa li vle.

Past tense: Mwen te ba, ou te ba, li te ba, nou te ba, yo te ba
He gave the order to demolish the house. → Li te ba lòd pou demoli kay la.
I already gave her the money. → Mwen te deja ba li lajan an.

Past Progressive:
She was giving them the news when the phone rang.
Li t'ap ba yo nouvèl la lè telefòn nan te sonnen.

She was giving a speech when she fainted.
Li t'ap ba yon diskou lè l te endispoze.


Present perfect:
I have given you ten beautiful children, and this is how you treat me!
Mwen ba ou dis bèl piti, e se konsa ou trete'm!

Mwen te ba ou dis bèl piti, e se konsa ou trete'm!

here indicating action that began in the past and continues in the present or the action could have been recently completed.  Thus, you'll sometimes here the Creole present tense or the past tense with indicator "te".

Past perfect:
I had given her key to the house.
Mwen te ba li kle kay la.


Using auxillary "should"
I should give the money to the poorest family.
Mwen ta dwe ba fanmi ki pi pòv la lajan an.
here indicating something that you are strongly advised to do.

We should have given him the car.
Nou te dwe ba li machin nan
here, realizing that you should have done an action that you did not get to do.

Using auxillary "must"
You must give him the medication every night.
Ou dwe ba li medikaman an chak swa.
here indicating an action that you are required to do.

I plan on going to Haiti next month. What should I expect...! kinn napinn, zen glen do, voler...! What?

You should expect to have fun, be introduced to a beautiful culture, witness the aftermath of history,  see lots of smiles... some suffering and resilience, and the will to survive.

In every country that you go, there will always be an opportunist (well-dressed or poor-looking) who will try to take advantage of people who are not paying attention to their surroundings.  You will not be that victim if your trip is well planned, you remain vigilant, and exercise common sense.

Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

The main thing to think now about is Francois. He is already on probation. We have to be there for him.

The main thing to think now about is Francois. He is already on probation. We have to be there for him.

Sa ki pi enpòtan kounye a, se pou nou panse a François.  Li sou libète pwovizwa deja.  Nou dwe ba li sipò nou.

Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Did you see the look on his face when they took him by the elbow?

Did you see the look on his face when they took him by the elbow?
Eske ou te we figi li lè yo te rele zepòl li?

Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Jezi te mouri pou ou

Jezi te mouri pou ou
Jesus died for you.

Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

I was in Haiti last month and kept hearing the phrase "te rouge" to refer to white Haitians. What does this phrase actually mean? And what is the appropriate spelling?

Could you have heard the term ten wouj which lterally means reddish teint?
Another popularly used term is grimo (for males), grimèl (for females)


Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Can I get the words to the song "Jesus Loves me" translated into Haitian Creole?

Jezi renmen'm, m'konnen sa
Se labib ki di mwen sa
Tout timoun yo, se pou li
Nan feblès mwen, li bay fòs

Wi, Jezi renmen'm! (3 fwa)
Se labib ki di nou sa
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Wap gro neg yon jou ...

W'ap gwo nèg yon jou.
You'll be an important / VIP person one day.
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

How would you say: "Thank you for sharing your story with us" Mesi Anpil!

Thanks for sharing your story with us.
Mèsi deske ou te pataje istwa ou avèk nou.
or
Mèsi poutèt ou te pataje istwa ou avèk nou.
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

A poem about Deliverance in creole

A poem about Deliverance → Yon powèm sou ladelivrans
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

"How is your family"? Koman fanmi ye?

How is your family?
Kouman fanmi ou ye? / kouman fanmi'w ye?
Kòman fanmi ou ye? / Kòman fanmi'w ye?
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

I'm pleased to make your acquaintance / I am pleased to have met you (Creole)

I'm pleased to have met you.
It was a pleasure to meet you.
Mwen te kontan fè konesans ou.
Mwen te kontan rekonèt ou.


I'm pleased to make your acquaintance.
It's nice to meet you.
Mwen kontan fè konesans ou.
Mwen kontan rekonèt ou.

Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

What would be the literal translation for: Mwen kwè tout byen zanmi Bondye yo fè sèvi lòt yo. ? I know it's from a prayer but was wondering the literal translation. Thanks!

Mwen kwè tout byen, zanmi Bondye yo fè, sèvi  lòt yo.
I believe all the good deeds, the friends of God do, serve others (literally)
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words