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Tuesday, September 18, 2012

mwen gen pou'm deplase. Men se pa kounye'a. What is GEN POU?

gen pou, gen entansyon, planifye, konte  indicates future tense here.

example:
Mwen gen pou deplase, men se pa kounye a.
Mwen gen entansyon deplase, men se pa kounye a
Mwen planifye pou m deplase, men se pa kounye a
Mwen konte deplase, men se pa kounye a
I plan to go out, but not now
I will go out, but not now

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

on your Property?

Sounds like a physical property like your own residence.  Is that what it is?

...on your property?
...sou teren'w lan?
...sou bitasyon'w lan?
...sou tè'w la?

You know, I could've nailed this if you had given me more info :)
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Is this kreyole anything like swahili? How long does it take to learn kreyole? Where can I find some classes?

#1. I do not speak Swahili so I couldn't answer that.  I'm not even sure you can compare these two languages.  And I am sensing that you may be talking about another type of  "creole" (other than Haitian Creole?).  Are you planning a trip to St Lucia, Haiti, Martinique, or ...Seychelles?  There are some differences in the creole spoken in these places and others.

#2. That I know of, English, Spanish, French, and Italian speakers pick up the Haitian Creole language really quickly.  You bat your eyes and they're already speaking like natives :)  I do not know about other nationalities because I haven't come in contact with them.  But I'm sure they would learn quickly as well.  I imagine the effort you put into learning a language would dictate how long it takes for you to learn it.  But even after you've become fluent in a language, you will be a student of that language for a lifetime.  I am a lifetime student of H. Creole, French, and English; and an active student of the Spanish language.

#3.  Depending on which creole you want to learn, start looking online for classes offered at colleges, universities, community centers, churches, etc....  You should be able to find Haitian Creole classes you can attend in person in places with high population of Haitians (Florida, New York, Mass., Pennsylvania, the Carolinas, New Jersey, Conn.... Haiti, Canada, France.... there are many locations!)   And if you can't find a class in your neighborhood, you can have a similar experience with online classes offered via Skype.  Just start your search online and find the right class for you.
Bòn chans!
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Here's a question for you dear. the Haitian proverb "bwe dlo nan ve respekte ve", now I know what it says in English but I need to know what it's referring to. Th

Bwè dlo, respekte vè is what I usually hear.  People say it as a warning.  It basically means Be cautious of people you're dealing with.
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

What is poison kraze nan bouyon in English?

Do you mean pwason kraze nan bouyon?
FYI:  French's POISON translates POISON and French's POISSON translates FISH
Haitian Creole PWASON (from French's POISSON) means FISH

Pwason kraze nan bouyon is an expression said of people who do everything together, they are very similar in the way they think, act, etc... In English you say two peas in a pod or is it two of a kind?

Pwason kraze nan bouyon lit. fish grounded in soup, fish soup

Think about it: The fish is so grounded into the soup that it disappeared.  You can't differentiate between the two.
Example of sentences you will hear in Creole:
-De moun sa yo se pwason kraze nan bouyon - These two people are inseparable.

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

What is the Creole term for underage? thanks!

"De je kontre manti kaba"

Sa se laverite!

De je kontre manti kaba - (lit. two eyes meet, the lie is put to an end) - When you are caught, you can't lie anymore
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Monday, September 17, 2012

What is the name of the c'est la vie song?

kouman m ka di "I shouldn't" kom "I shouldn't have done that" mesi anpil

I shouldn't ... 
Mwen pa ta dwe (non contracted)
M pa't dwe (contracted)

I shouldn't have done that.
M pa't dwe fè sa
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

How do you say back?

back n. (your backside in between your shoulders) → do
ex:
My back hurts.
Do'm ap fè'm mal.

back n. (rear) → dèyè, dèyè do
ex:
in the back of the house.
dèyè do kay la.

back adv. (behind) → dèyè
ex:
They left him behind.
Yo te kite'l dèyè.

backwards adv. → devandèyè
ex:
He was walking backwards.
Li t'ap mache devandèyè
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Mandaly, kilès ou pa ka viv san li: lapè nan tèt oubyen lapè nan vant?

O O!  Lè mwen te fèk wè kesyon sa, mwen panse li te fasil.  Men apre anpil kalkil, mwen wè li difisil.
 Mwen panse mwen bezwen toulede pou'm viv.
Si'm pa gen lapè nan vant mwen, se gwo tèt chaje. Grangou va touye'm.
Si'm pa gen lapè nan tèt mwen, se pi gwo tèt chaje. Chagren va touye'm.

To live without either one would be tough for me. But if I had to choose I think I'll chose to live with lapè nan tèt (peace of mind, and tranquility).

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

How would you say: "work hard" "I feel so much better now"

work hard →  travay di, fè kòve, and also bourike
example:
I'm working hard.
M'ap travay di.
M'ap fè kòve.
or
M'ap bourike.

I feel so much better now.
Mwen miyò kounye a.
Mwen fè mye kounye a.

I have recovered (from an illness)
Mwen gaya.
Mwen refè.


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

travay rete travay, pa dwe gen moun pa nan kesyon travay.

Is this a slogan?
Is this the whole sentence?
Is there the word "ki" after the word "moun"?

Travay, rete travay. Pa dwe gen moun ki pa nan kesyon travay....?
Work, keep working.  Everyone should work.

That's how I'm reading this..
Anybody see this differently?  Thanks.
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

elus ...?

Did you see this in a Creole sentence? or French?
As a noun this could mean the redeemed, the chosen ones
As a adjective this could mean chosen or elected
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words