Listen to and Follow The Podcast at SOUVNI ON THE MIKE with Podcast Transcripts available. Advanced Haitian Creole Learners, you have arrived :). Souvni On The Mike stands as a vibrant cultural beacon in the digital soundscape, offering a weekly immersion into the heart of Haitian language and life. This Haitian Creole podcast transforms the airwaves into a dynamic classroom and cultural salon, where education, entertainment, and community connection converge. Follow the podcast.

Saturday, December 8, 2012

Thanks for Sharing! I thought it was pretty funny!

"Toto tèlman fokè, yon jou li deside konvèti pou'l ka batize pou'l kite tout (fokèsite).  Lè pastè a ap batize misye, li plonje tèt misye nan dlo a epi pastè a di misye konsa: Apre de jodi a ou pa rele Toto ankò, ou rele Jean Baptiste, ou vin yon lòt moun, ou pa menm sa'w te ye avan, e tout peche'w yo efase, pa gen bwè byè ankò, pa gen al nan pwogram ankò, 2, 3, 4 fanm, alkòl, tout bagay sa yo fini pou ou... Link to Toto fokè to read the rest.

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

what is the response to sak ap me? map boule?

I have never heard people ask it like that before...
I know you can say:
Sa k'ap mennen?
Sa k'ap fèt?
Sa k'ap pase?
Sa k'ap regle?
etc...

...and yes, the response could be M'ap boule.
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Friday, December 7, 2012

I have noticed that the HC word "dejennen" sounds like "dejenne" instead. Is this correct? Mesi, Kreyol Lwiziyen

Yes, Haitians say dejene, dejnen, or dejennen.
These words are variations.  You can use whichever one.  They all mean breakfast.

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

How to say: "If you take this medicine, you will feel better" ?

If you take this medicine, you will feel better
Si ou pran medikaman sa, ou va santi w miyò.
or
Si ou pran medikaman sa, ou va santi w pi byen.
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

How do you say "hundreds of thousands"? Like "For the hundreds of thousands of former renters living hunched under tents..."? Thanks Mandaly

hundreds of thousands → santèn de milye

"For the hundreds of thousands of former renters living hunched under tents..."? 
"Pou santèn de milye ansyen lokatè k'ap viv tou kwense anba tant yo..."

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

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Kreyon Bondye pa gen gòm

Tout sa ki fèt, li fèt nèt. Li pa ka defèt.
Se sa ekspresyon sa vle di.
Men sèjousi, pa gen verite nan ekpresyon sa a ankò.
Mwen panse ke limanite jwenn yon mwayen pou mete gòm nan kreyon Bondye a.
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

In Louisiana, we have both vodou and hoodoo within the Creole culture. I have noticed you touching on this subject somewhat. I never hear about hoodoo from Ayiti. Is it practiced there? I know if we in Louisiana have it, we got it from youAlso, is there a word for hoodoo in HC? Because voodoo should be vodou; I believe that maybe hoodoo is a corrupted form of the word probably from english. mesi.

The religious practices of Haitian vodou is different from Louisiana's hoodoo and/or voodoo.
Haitian vodou is a religion, a way of life, a platform of communications with many engaging and distinct spirits for the believer. For many believers, this religion is about expression, escape and freedom.  It's not mainly about spells and magic. Hoodoo is not of Haitian origin.

Do Haitians say OULALA?

(What's the emoticon for laughing out loud :)
Doesn't everyone say ou la la at some point in their life?

Well, for the Haitian who doesn't say ou la la, there's wololoy!, ayayay!, yayay!, yoyoy!,  wipip!, koulangit!, koumanman!, komabo!, wifout! (not in front of the kids :), koulangèt! (not in front of the kids :)

egzanp:
1. Koulangit! Gad'on fanm!
2. Wipip! Gad'on chedèv!
3. Wifout! Gad'on dèyè!
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Is "katreven en" pronounced as a liason as in "restoran an"? I cannot find a pronunciation in Kreyol Ayisyen for "81" anywhere. mesi anpil

No, there's no liaison. It does not flow like in restoran  an. There's a quick pause between ...ven and the final en.  The sound is "detached".
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

family ....?

Did you want to use a word other than fanmi?
fanmifanmi, lafanmi, parantay, ras, kòt fanmi
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

What's the creole word for creepy?

creepy (scary?) → efreyan, ki fè pè
creepy (gives you goosebumps?) → ki bay frison, ki bay chèdepoul

1.
This guy is creepy.  He scares me.
Mouche sa a efreyan.  Li fè'm pè.


2.
This story is scary.  It gives me the chills...
Istwa sa a efreyan.  Li ban'm frison.
Istwa sa a efreyan.  Li fè m gen chèdepoul.

3.
Lè'm te tande ti fi a kriye, chèdepoul te leve sou tout po m
When I heard the girl cry, I had goosebumps all over.

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

Would you say that lapoula and sanpransouf are synonyms?

Well they both can describe actions that are taken quickly
lapoula (la pou la) → without delay, right then, immediately
san pran souf → without taking a break, without losing momentum
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Great inspiring words from Bloodline. Love the small Creole acknowledgment at the 4:23 mark :)

There's none like you (best way to say in Creole)

There's none like you.
Pa gen lòt tankou w.
Pa gen lòt pase w.

There's none like him.
Pa gen lòt tankou l.
Pa gen lòt pase l.
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Front teeth and back teeth

front teeth  → dan devan
back teeth → dan dèyè

Lè li te tonbe a, li te pèdi tout dan devan l yo.
When he fell, he lost all his front teeth.
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words