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Tuesday, September 25, 2012

What is the word 'tapan' as in nevè tapan? Thanks

tapan → on the dot

nevè tapan → nine on the dot

Nou te rive legliz la a dizè tapan.
We arrived at the church at exactly ten o'clock.

Seremoni maryaj la va koumanse a sizè tapan.
The wedding ceremony will begin at exactly six o'clock.
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Does "N ap pike pou pi douvan" mean something like we're pushing forward?

What does Map pense a toi mean?

This is not 100% Creole.
Is this from a satirical sketch?
Is it from a poem?

This should say M'ap panse a ou (H. Creole) or Je pense a toi (French);  not M'ap panse a toi.
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you have a lot of admirers

You have a lot of admirers.
Ou gen anpil admiratè. (admirers, supporters)
Ou gen anpil fanatik. (fans)
Ou gen anpil filè. (suitors)
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sa je pa we ke pa tounen

Yeah... What you don't see won't upset your stomach.
Yum! ... ignorance is bliss
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"Ou pa fèt pou di sa" is You must not say that? Fèt means must here, does it?

Ou pa fèt pou di sa.
You should not say that.
You must not say that.
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Could you give a few examples of how to use "renk" or "renk sa" in a sentence?

renk → simply, only, merely, just...
renk sa is more like just that, simply that

1. Tout sa li fè se renk dòmi tout lajounen.
    All she does is just sleep all day.

2. Nou te envite tout moun nan fèt la, men se renk fanm yo sèlman ki vini.
    We invited everyone to the party, but only the ladies came.

3. Pyès moun pa konnen sa ki pral pase demen, renk Bondye ki konnen
    No one knows what will happen tomorrow, only God knows.

4. Tout chadèk sa yo pa pou mwen, renk sa ki nan panye a ki pa'm.
    All these grapefruits don't belong to me, only the ones in the basket are mine

5.  Anvan li te mouri li te di "Mèsi ou tout".  Renk sa sèlman l te di.
    Before she died she said, "Thanks for everything".  That's all she said.

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Monday, September 24, 2012

how do you say, "I don't want help." or "Don't help". I want to let the men know at the airport that I just want to take my own luggage. thanks.

I don't want any help, thanks.
Mwen pa bezwen èd, mèsi.

You do not need to help me.  I''ve got it, thanks!
Ou pa bezwen ede'm.  Mwen anfòm, mèsi!

You don't need to help me.  I'll carry my suitcases.
Ou pa bezwen ede'm.  M'ap pote malèt mwen.
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what does jab mean?

how do you say "have patience" in Hatian Creole?

Have patience
Pran pasyans
or
Pasyante.

Pran yon ti pasyans SVP.
Have a little patience please.

Pasyante SVP.
Have patience please.
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In reading, I often see "pa fouti," such as "M pa fouti di ou ki kote li te ale." Is "pa fouti" vulgar or inappropriate in certain contexts? (noticing that "fout" might be a root)

No, it's not vulgar at all.

fouti (use in negative sentences) means to be able, can, also to dare

M pa fouti pale.
I'm not able to talk.
I'm unable to talk.

Mwen malad.  Mwen kouche, mwen pa fouti leve.
I'm ill.  I'm laid down, I'm unable to get up.

Mwen te si tèlman sezi, mwen pa't fouti di yon mo.
I was so shocked, I couldn't say a word.

M pa fouti di ou ki kote li te ale.
I'm not able to tell you where he/she went.

Li pa fouti fè frekansite sa yo lè pwofesè a la.
She dares not do all these impertinences when the teacher is here.
She dares not be that bold when the teacher is present.
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I'm proposing to my girl in kreyol. I need to know how to say ABOUT in this phrase "I love everything about you". I have two choices here: "mwen renmen tout bagay sou ou" or should I say "mwen renmen tout bagay osijè ou"? Thanks.

Felisitasyon!

Even though you're using the correct translation, neither of them sound as divine as the English one.
How about the Creole's
Mwen renmen tout sa ke ou ye.
Mwen renmen tout sa ou reprezante

Anybody else have any suggestions. Thanks
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Do you know where on haiti map i will find Duvaliervil? Thanks.

It's now called Kabarè.
Li nan zòn lwès.
Lè w'ap kite Pòtoprens, ou sipoze jwenn li yon bon kou trajè apre ou fin kite Titanyen, e anvan ou pran Akayè si ou sou wout nasyonal la.
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i bet you do ...?

There are many ways to say this, but it depends on context.
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What would jackie be in creloe?

It should be the same spelling in Creole.
It is both a boy or girl's name.
My mom is nicknamed Jackie.
My stepbrother is named Jackie.
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