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Friday, December 21, 2012

I tend to write "ki jan" (two words) instead of "kijan". The same with "w ap", instead of "wap". I tend to keep words apart versus combining them. Am I wrong? Mesi.

I believe that one day there will be guidelines about whether to combine these words or not, but since the Creole language is a work in progress we only find suggestions and recommendations (usually from Creole linguists, interpreters, and educators like Yves Dejean, J. C Bernard, Roger Savain, etc....)
One word may have one or two different spellings because of the variation in the Creole spoken in different regions.  For example, you'll find many ways to say the next day in Creole thanks to these variants: "lelandemen, lelandmen, nan landmen, nan demen".  And there are many instances where all of the different terms for one word are very popular.  Some examples:

bonmache or bon mache to translate cheap
lindemyèl or lin de myèl for honeymoon
larezon or rezon for good judgment
zanj, lanj, anj, lezanj, zany for angel
tenb or tenm for postage stamp
zwazo or zwezo for bird
chimen or chemen for path
ponko, ponkò, poko, pako for not yet

Both "kijan" and "ki jan"  are acceptable.  Some of our most respected Haitian writers write "wap", some "w'ap" or "w-ap", an others write "w ap".

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This make sense: “Poze la monkonpè, si ou pa vle yon tanpèt jouman manman ou farine tout vwazinay la. M gen yon pwoblem serye la.”

It doesn't?
“Poze la monkonpè, si ou pa vle yon tanpèt jouman manman ou farine tout vwazinay la. M gen yon pwoblem serye la.”
Literally, it says "Rest there my friend, if you don't want a tempest of insult of your mother to sprinkle the neighborhood. I have a serious problem."
It seems that this is coming from a preoccupied mother of a boy, and I would translate it as:
"If you don't want your mom to sprinkle the neighborhood with a storm of profanities, you'd better simmer down.  I'm dealing with a dilemma here."
or
"If you don't want your mom to shake up the whole neighborhood with a storm of profanities, you'd better simmer down.  I'm dealing with a dilemma here."

Which words threw you off? Was it "tanpèt jouman manman w"?

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Thursday, December 20, 2012

do you have the english version of Jezu te fet nan yon krech mizerab christmas song

What does 'chirepit' mean?

chirepit also (hinghang, chen manje chen, kerèl) quarrel, dissension, discord, argument

egzanp:
"Tout lajounen moun sa yo nan yon chire pit.  Yo viv tankou chen."

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

We wish we could be there

We wish we could be there.
Nou swete nou te ka la.

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your translator was in a car accident and she is running late

Not a serious accident it seems?

your translator was in a car accident and she is running late 

Tradiktè ou a te fè yon ti aksidan machin, li anreta.


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“Piti, piti, zwazo fè nich li”. Is this correct? Translate also please.

Yes, it's correct.

Piti piti, zwazo fè nich li.
Little by little the birds builds its nest.

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what does renmen'm mean

renmen'm love love love me!

I hope that's not all she/he said :)

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MNCHE ANTOUKA NS PAP OKIPE YO PAM

Sounds like:
Monchè antouka, nou p'ap okipe yo menm.
In any case, we won't even worry about them.
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kijan mwen ka di sa an kreole: he looked human except for crimson hair and maroon eyes.

He looked human except for crimson hair and maroon eyes. 
Sof pou cheve kramwazi ak zye maron-wouj li yo, li te sanble ak yon èt imen.

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Wednesday, December 19, 2012

what does vremanvre mean in creole?

Vreman vre → for real, really, undeniably, honestly, absolutely

1. Lè m te wè se vrèman vre li t'ap kriye, mwen te sispann pase l nan betiz.
    When I saw it's truly true she was crying, I stopped making fun of her.
    When I saw that she was crying for real, I stopped making fun of her.

2. Si vreman vre ou vle vin yon komedyen, nanpwen anyen ki ka rete w.
    If you honestly want to become a comedian, nothing can stop you.

Sometimes you'll find vreman vre at the beginning of a sentence,  and it might translate the expression truth be told
3. Vrèman vre, lè'm rive lakay mwen lapolis te la ap tann mwen.
    Truth be told, when I got home the police was there waiting for me.

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

le m gade syel la bel

Something else comes after that?

lè m gade ... syèl la bèl...
when I look .... the sky is beautiful
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Ou se pi plis pase akeyi

Are you trying to say You are more than welcome?

You are more than welcome to stay here? (Make yourself at home?)
Mete w lakay ou.
Fè kòm si ou te lakay ou.

You are more than welcome (you're welcome from a "Thank you!")
Se te tout plezi m
Padekwa

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how to pronounce Merry Christmas in creole

Merry Christmas
Jwaye Nwèl
Jwaye Nowèl
pronounced: Jwa-yay-No-wel

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i enjoy christmas

I enjoy Christmas.
Mwen renmen sezon Nwèl.
Mwen renmen Nwèl.
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words