Men longè! Men lajè! Men gwosè! --- MEN means VERY or EXCESSIVELY in this case.

Men, here, translates very,  excessively, to a high degree, or to such a degree in English

1.
Fi a t'ap fè chèlbè nan lari a, men lajè dada l!  Ni gason ni fanm te oblije kanpe pou gade l.
The woman was strutting her stuff in the streets, her butt was that wide!  Men and women taken by curiosity, stopped to stare at her.

2. 
Marlèn akouche yon ti bebe kenz liv.  Si w ta wè sa!  Men gwosè machwè li!
Marlene gave birth to a 15-pound baby.  You should have seen this!  His cheeks were that big!

3.
Te gen plenn lin jou swa sa.  Lalin nan te men gwosè!  Tout lougawou, tout move je, tout zonbi te deyò.  
There was a full moon that night.  The moon was this big!  All werewolves, evil eyes, and zombies were out.

4. 
Fanm nan te ansent uit mwa.  Malgre sa li tonbe goumen ak mèt magazen an.  Men gwosè vant li.  Ou ta kouche atè pou w ri si w te wè sa.
The woman was eight months pregnant.  In spite of that she started to fight with the store owner.  Her belly was so big.  You would have rolled on the floor laughing if you had you seen it.

5.  
Lè m te tande nouvèl la, m te santi tèt mwen te men gwosè.
When I heard the news I felt my head was so big.

6. 
Je blan an te vèt.  Men longè bwa nen l. Tout moun nan vilaj t'ap gade l paske yo patko janm wè yon moun blan.
The white man's eyes were green.  The bridge of his nose was that long.  Everyone in the village was staring at him because they had never seen a white person yet.

7.
Nèg la antre nan ofis la toutouni nèt.  Men longè grenn li. Li pa te wont menm.  Tout moun te panse l te fou.
The man came into the office butt naked.  His penis hanging all the way to the floor.  He had  no shame at all.  Everyone thought he was crazy.

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

IS there a haitian Creole expression to translate 'jumping through hoops'?

Jumping through hoops
Fè anpil zefò. (zefò, jefò, or efò)
Pase nan pil.
Naje bèl nas.

egz:

I jumped through hoops to get the store to reimburse me my money.

Mwen te pase nan pil pou m fè magazen an remèt mwen lajan m.
Mwen te naje bèl nas pou m fè magazen an remèt mwen lajan m.
Mwen te fè anpil efò pou magazen an remèt mwen lajan m.

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

How do I say GET LOST! in Creole?

Get lost! (Scram!, Beat it!)
Soti la!
Retire kò w la!
Rale kò w la!
Degèpi!
Rache manyòk ou!
Òltegèt!

egz:
Retire kò w la! Pa janm parèt figi w isit la ankò!
Get lost! Don't ever show you face around here again!

Also,

To take off (to split, to run)
Degèpi
Rache manyòk
Kraze rak
Chape poul
sove

egz:
Lè touris yo te tande gen yon siklòn k'ap vini, yo te rache manyòk yo bay teren an blanch.
When the tourists heard that there was a hurricane on the way, they took off and cleared the area.

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

How exactly is the word 'alsiyis' used?

Alsiyis (to moan in pleasure, or moans of pleasure) can be used as verb or a noun.
egz:
Msye fè m alsiyis nèt. 
Se pa ti Alsiyis fanm nan bay non!
 
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Many ways to say "therefore (...and so)" in Haitian Creole

Therefore (...and so)
pakonsekan
kifèla
kidonk
kifèdonk
donk
konsa la
konsa menm
konsa tou
alò
alò menm
annefè

So, you mean to tell me that yon don't want to go any more?
Pakonsekan, ou vle di m ke ou pa vle ale ankò?
Kidonk, ou vle di m ke ou pa vle ale ankò?
Konsa menm, ou vle di m ke ou pa vle ale ankò?
Annefè, ou vle di m ke ou pa vle ale ankò?

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

I have just read your recent response to the post about 'an sotan''an patan'. I figured that the gerund express 'while' or 'during' even 'upon', 'though', 'when' but I wasn't sure so I didn't ask the question until now. I'm still not that sure about it. I have provided MANY examples in English and creole. A good amount of these examples are experiments. There are also alternative examples that express the same meaning. You could say I got carried away. I don't think all of my creole sentences are correct. FEEL FREE to make comments and corrections on anything you find fault with, FEEL FREE to let me know if my questions don't make sense to you. Can the gerund in creole have others meanings provided below? Can the gerund be alternatives?

Mezanmi o!  You DID get carried away :)
Kòm m te di w, sanble ou gen anpil enfliyans Franse lakay ou.  Sa parèt nan sa w ap ekri.


1.
He came into the room smiling.
Li te vin nan chanm nan souran.
Li te vin nan chanm nan tout an souriyan.
Se nan souri li te vini nan chanm nan.
Se ak yon souri li te vini nan chanm nan.

2.
She lost weight by working out.
Li te pèdi pwa nan fèzan(fèran) egzèsis.
Se nan fè egzèsis li te pèdi pwa. (I like!)

3.
He fell asleep while listening to the radio.
Li te tonbe dòmi pandan l'ap ekoute radyo a. (I like!)
Li te tonbe dòmi an ekoutan radyo a.

4.
He injured himself while playing basketball.
Li blese kò l pandan(antan) l'ap jwe baskèt. (I like!)
Li blese kò l an jouwan(jweyan) baskèt.
Or you could also say:
Li te blese pandan l'ap jwe baskèt.

5.
He slammed the door as he left.
Li klake pòt la lè li te pati. (I like!)
Li klake pòt la kan li te pati. (I like!)
Le te pati en klakan pòt la.

6.
As he was leaving, he looked worried.
Kan li te pati, li te sanble ankyè.(enkyè?)
Lè li te pati, li te sanble ankyè.
An patan, li te sanble ankyè.

7.
When I arrive in London, I shall go straight to my friends' house.
Lè mwen rive nan Lond, mwen prale touswit nan kay zanmi mwen yo.
Kan mwen rive nan Lond, mwen prale touswit nan kay zanmi mwen yo.
An rivan nan Lond, mwen prale touswit nan kay zanmi mwen yo.
How about:
Lè m rive Lond mwen prale tou dwat lakay zanmi mwen yo..?

8.
When taking her coat, she caught her foot in the rug.
Lè pran manto li, li te pran pye li nan tapi a.
Kan pran manto li, li te pran pye li nan tapi a.
An pranan(prenan) manto li, li te pran pye li nan tapi a.
How about
Pandan l ap pran manto li pye l te pran nan tapi a...?

9.
As/while she was trying to catch up with Fabienne, Nadine tripped and fell.
Kòm li te eseye ratrape Fabienne, Nadine trebiche e tonbe.
Pandan li te eseye ratrape Fabienne, Nadine trebiche e tonbe.
An eseyan ratrape Fabienne, Nadine trebiche e tonbe.
Pandan l t'ap eseye .....?

10.
On(upon) arriving, I had to change clothes because I was soaking wet.
Lè mwen rive, mwen te gen pou chanje rad mwen paske mwen te tranpe. (I like!)
Kan mwen rive, mwen te gen pou chanje rad mwen paske mwen te tranpe. (I like!)
An rivan(arivan) mwen rive, mwen te gen pou chanje rad mwen paske mwen te tranpe.
I think you mean:
Rive m rive, mwen t oblije chanje rad mwen paske m te tranpe.

11.
Upon seeing the flowers, she cried.
Lè li te wè flè yo, li kriye. (I like!)
Kan li te wè flè yo, li kriye. (I like!)
An vwayan(wèyan) flè yo, li kriye.  (wèyan..?)

12.
Upon entering the building, I saw Paul.
Lè(kan) mwen te antre nan bilding nan, mwen wè Paul.
Se nan antre nan bilding nan, mwen wè Paul.
An antran nan bilding nan, mwen wè Paul.
How about:
Kou m antre nan bilding nan m wè Paul...?


13.
I understood the political situation by/in/upon reading the newspapers.
Mwen konprann sitiyasyon politik la lè(kan) mwen li jounal yo.
Se nan li jounal yo ke mwen konprann sitiyasyon politik yo. (I like ! :)
Mwen konprann sitiyasyon politik an lizan(liyan) mwen li jounal yo.

14. 
TOUT (Emphasis)
All the while she was talking to me she was doing the ironing.
Tout pandan li te pale avèk mwen, li te pase fè.
Tout an palan avèk mwen, li te pase fè.
Se tout nan pale avèk mwen, li te pase fè.
How about:
Li t'ap repase tout pandan l'ap pale avè m...?

15.
Opposition
Despite taking the longer route he still arrived first.
Malgreke li pran yon wout pli lòng, li te rive premye toujou.
Se tout nan pran yon wout pli lòng, li te rive premye toujou.
Tout an pranan(prenan) yon wout pli lòng, li te rive premye toujou.
How about:
Malgre l te pran wout ki pi long nan, li te toujou rive an premye....?

16.
Concession
Whilst I understand his arguments, I do not agree with his plan.
Byenke mwen konprann agiman li, mwen pa dakò avèk plan li.
Se tout nan kronprann agiman li mwen pa dakò avèk plan li.
Tout an kronpranan agiman li mwen pa dakò avèk plan li.

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

In "I'll be in Haiti at that time." (or I'll be at school, I'll be at the party, I'll be there), when I use "Mwen pral", it seems that I'm saying I'M GOING instead of I'LL BE AT. Which future indicator do I really use? mesi pou ed ou.

m'ap or m'ava (mwen va or m va) will work just fine.

I' ll be at ....  
M'ap ...
M'ava ...

I'll be at the ... 
M'ap nan ...
M'ava nan ...

1. I'll be in Haiti at that time.
    M'ap Ayiti lè sa a.
    M va Ayiti lè sa a.

2. I'll be in New York tomorrow.
    M'ap New York demen.

3. I'll be at school by the time you arrive.
    M'ap lekòl distans pou w rive.

4. I'll be at church in the morning.  Why don't you come see me in the afternoon instead?
    M'ap legliz nan maten.  Pouki ou pa vin wè m nan apremidi pito.

5.  I'll be at home
     M'ap lakay.
     M va lakay.

6.  I'll be at your side.
     M'ap bò kote w.
     M'ava bò kote w.

7. I'll be at the movies.
    M'ap nan sinema a.

8.  I'll be in the crowd watching you sing.
     M'ap nan foul la ap gade w k'ap chante.
    M va nan foul ap gade w k'ap chante.

9. I'll be at the hospital
    M'ap nan lopital la.

10. I'll be at the party
    M'ap nan fèt la.

11. I'll be at the river
    M'ap nan larivyè a

12. I'll be at the bar
      M'ap nan ba a.


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

gade yon ..., gade yon tenten. Are there more expressions like these, that is to say, expressions that similar in form and in meaning.

Yes.  I think it's the same as saying "What the hell!", isn't it?
Gade yon tenten!
Gade de betiz!
Gade de salopri!
Gade yon zen!
Gade yon tèt chaje!
etc....

or almost similar expressions:
Look what I've gotten myself into.
Gade yon kwòk m'al mete nan kou m.
Gade nan kisa 'm pran.
Gade nan ki nich gèp ma'l foure pye'm.
etc...

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

Hi Mandaly, I was wondering if you could recommend any specific novels written in Hatian Creole, but not anything at an advanced reading level. Thanks for all the work you've done on your blog, I really have learned a lot. -Julia

Bonswa Julia :)
Mèsi.  I'm glad you're learning a lot.

Have you read Maude Heurtelou's Lafanmi Bonplezi, Sezisman!, or Her Creole adaptation of Jacques Roumain's Gouverneurs de La Rosée, Fòs Lawouze?  Also I found Emile Celestin-Megie's fiction AGASYA (about a young Haitian woman who, while doing research on the vodou religion, gets enthralled into a vodou sect) interesting. In these books, I would say, the Creole is of an intermediate level.

And if you're in Haiti, visit the Presses Nationales d'Haiti so you can browse their Creole novels.  A friend of mine just brought me some books from there (Which were recommended by another friend).  I hear they are very helpful.  If they do not carry a book that you're looking for, they'll will notify you when the book is available.

Also, look into these novels that I just finished reading:  Enpi Oun Jou Konsa Tèt Pastè Bab Pati, and Rete, Kote Lamèsi.  These last two are just so very addictive! So good!   Browse through the first few pages (if you can) to see if the Creole is challenging at all.  They are available at Presses Nationales d'Haiti.   I'm not sure how they fare with mail orders.   You can always contact them via the book store phone number on their website.

Bòn chans!  M espere ou va jwenn yon bon woman (novel).

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

eske mikwob pa touyen aysiyen tout bon vre?

Kibò sa mezanmi!
M si e sèten ou konn repons kesyon sa a pi byen pase m menm.  Kwake m pa konn pouki ou mande l, ni pouki moun ap kontinye di sa toujou.

Kòm pawòl sa a se yon dizon li ye, m ka konprann pouki yo toujou ap repete l.  Annefè, li plis yon ekspresyon pase yon dizon .... onswa pa :)

Anndan kò imen, dapre sa m aprann, se yon bagay esteril li ye.  Depi mikwòb antre kote l pa dwe antre, l'ap bay lafyèv, l'ap fè ravaj, l'a kraze brize jouk li fese kò a atè mò rèd.  Se remèd ak iminite w sèlman ki va sove w.  - Yo fè m konprann tou se pa tout mikwòb ki voye w al bwachat.

M panse se zafè iminite a ki ka byen NANNAN ekspresyon sa a.  (Petèt olye nou di "Mikwòb pa touye Aysiyen", nou ta dwe di: "Ayisyen gen plis iminite kont maladi pase tout pèp, akoz katafal mikwòb k'ap viv lakay yo")
Petèt yo repete ekspresyon an paske lè w'ap gade jan divès kote Ayiti sal anpil, w'ap mande tèt ou kouman yon kò imen tolere viv nan kondisyon parèy:  Moun ak kokorat dòmi sou menm kabann; moun bwose dan yo ak menm bwòs ravèt la fin bwose dan li; moun bwè dlo nan larivyè menm jan ak bèf enpi se lè w gade pi wo larivyè a, ou wè te gen yon kolonn chwal k'ap kaka nan dlo a; kò a vin tounen yon kay pou tout kalite parazit.

Grasadye, "Sa'k pa touye w va angrese w" (What doesn't kill you make you stronger).  Kòm rekonpans ou, lè w kite parazit yo fè ladesant nan kò w, chak parasit prezante w ak yon "diplòm" iminite kòmsi ou te pase "lekòl maladi".
Nan kondisyon sa a Ayisyen chaje ak "diplòm"!  Mwen pa menm ka konte konbyen m genyen meznami o!  Bagay pou ta kriye wi.... men nou genyen parazit yo rekonensans.  Nou fè dibyen avè yo. Nou ba yo kote pou yo layite deng yo, swa nan kò nou, swa nan tout kwen lakay nou, swa nan manje nou, swa nan tout fatra ak pousyè nan lari yo.   Yo menm yo fè pa nou.

Tout sa m sot di la ta ka yon bèl verite wi, men mwen panse ou konnen deja ke kolera rantre an Ayiti enpi li montre nou tout ke ekspresyon "Mikwòb pa touye Ayisyen" an pa gen verite ladan l.  Se yon gwo manti.

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

Saying "Thank You's!" and "You're Welcome"! (AUDIO)

Link to download this audio:
Click here to download…

To Listen to this audio, click on the PLAY button and follow along :)

 

Matmwazèl! (Miss!)
Plètil mesye? (Yes sir?)
Eske ou kapab di m ki lè l ye? (Can you tell me what time it is?)
Li fè sizè. (It's six o'clock.)
Mèsi! (Thank you!)
Deryen mesye! (You're welcome sir!)

Matmwazèl!
Plètil mesye?
Mwen grangou.  Fè yon ti sandwich pou mwen tanpri. (I'm hungry.  Make me a sandwich please)

Men wi mesye! (Of course sir!)

Men sandwich la wi. (Here's the sandwich.)

Mèsil anpil.  Mwen apresye sa! (Thanks a lot.  I appreciate this!)

Ak tout plezi mesye. (With all the pleasure sir!)

Matmwazèl!

Plètil mesye?

Eske w kapab pote yon vè dlo byen glase pou mwen? (Can you bring me a very cold glass of water?)

Wi mesye. (Yes sir)

Men dlo glase a wi! (Here's the cold water)

Mèsi anpil! (Thanks a lot!)

Se te yon plezi mesye! (It was a pleasure sir!)

Matmwazèl!

Plètil mesye?

Chofe yon ti dlo pou m ka benyen tanpri. (Warm up some water for my bath please)

Wi mesye.

Dlo a chofe wi. (The water's been heated)

Mèsi! (Thank you!)

Se te tout plezi m mesye! (It was all my pleasure sir!)

Matmwazèl!

Plètil mesye?

Mwen fin benyen.  Vin fèmen dlo a pou mwen. (I'm done taking my shower.  Come shut off the water for me)

Dakò mesye. (Alright sir.)

Mwen fèmen dlo a wi. (I shut off the water)

Mèsi anpil! (Thanks a lot!)

Padekwa mesye! (You're welcome sir!)

Matmwazèl!

Plètil mesye?

Etenn limyè a pou m ka dòmi. (Turn off the lights so that I may sleep)

Wi mesye.

Mwen etenn limyè a wi. (I turned off the lights)

Mwen remèsye w pou tout sa ou fè pou mwen! (I thank you for all you've done for me!)

Sa pa't anyen mesye! (That was nothing sir!)

Matmwazèl!

Plètil mesye?

Vin kouche bò kote m pou w ka grate do m. (Come lie down next to me so you can scratch my back.)

O!  Non non non Mesye! (Oh no no no sir!)

O O! Poukisa w di non? (Why do you say no?)

Paske sa se yon travay pou madanm ou, pa pou mwen menm! (Because this a job for your wife, not for me!)

Enben, eske w ta vle marye avè m pou w kapab vin madanm mwen? (Well would like to marry me so you can become my wife?)

Non mèsi mesye. Ou pa bezwen yon madanm. Se yon bòn ou bezwen! (No thanks sir.  You don't need a wife.  You need a servant)

Enben, mèsi kanmenm! (Well, thanks anyway!)

Se te yon gran plezi mesye! (It was a great pleasure sir!)

Track: Ede m chante chante sa a by Boukan Ginen

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

What is plètil?

Plètil, lètil, ètil or latil is an interjection that Haitians say when they're answering to someone calling them.
It means YES? (What do you want of me?)
Sometimes people (especially the ones from the countryside) will add WI! after Plètil

Example:
Rachel's mom:   Rachel!!  (Rachel!!!)
Rachel:              Plètil?! (Yes?!)
Rachel's mom:   Antre anndan.  Manje a pare! (Come inside please. Dinner is ready!)

From the example above, Rachel could have also answered Plètil manman?! (Yes mom?!) or Plètil wi?! (yes?)

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

Eske ou kapab tradui "Apran'n Reflichi" (Tropicana) pou mwen? Mwen vle konnen kisa li vle di. Mesi anpil pou ede mwen!

Aprann Reflechi

Pwoche pi pre pou nou tande
Come closer so you can hear

Yon bèl pwovèb, sa fè lontan n’ap repete l
a beautiful proverb that we've been saying for a long time.

Pwovèb sila gen anpil sans
This proverb makes a lot of sense

Poutan lèzòm pa janm entèprete l menm jan
However people do not interpret it the same way

Nou toujou tande yo di ke”Tout chimen mennen a Wòm”.
You always hear they say "All roads lead to Rome.:

Nan mal entèprete l,
because of interpreting it falsely

Anpil nan nou tonbe nan twou.
Many of us fall into a hole

Si w vle reyisi lavi
If you want to succeed in life

Fò w pa chwazi chimen kwochi
You should not choose a "crooked" road

Pran chemen ki dwat
Take the "straight" road

Yon jou w’ava jwenn siksè
One day you will succeed

Sobodobodobo …

Anpil moun panse yo ka rive pa nenpòt mwayen paske wout la long
Many people think they can get there by whichever way because the road is long

Pa janm bliye pa gen siksè san onètete lè n vle avanse.
Don't ever forget that there's no success without honesty if we want progress. 
Pou reyisi lavi,  nou kapab fè anpil bagay

To succeed in life, we can do many things 

Sa w pa nui pèsonn, san ou pa anmède tèt ou.

Without troubling anyone or yourself

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

I know that 'live news report' is 'nouvel an direk' in creole. But what about previously- recorded(pre-recorded) news report?

Previously recored broadcast → emisyon andifere
egz:
Nou te resevwa emisyon nouvèl yo andifere lakòz chanpyona foutbòl la ki te televize andirèk li menm.

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

Kouman lekti a ye? Kote ou rive? :)

Awww! Li anfòm nèt :)

Lè mwen te fin li Pastè Bab, m te oblije reli l ankò.
Premye fwa mwen te li l, mwen pa't ka tann pou konnen kouman istwa a te fini.
E mwen te li l yon fwa ankò, pou m kapab absòbe e apresye tout idyòm Kreyòl ki nan liv sa a.
Mwen poko janm kontre ak yon liv ki gen tout kantite idyòm sa yo nan 105 ti paj sèlman!  Mwen souliyen tout :)!

Liv sa gen yon ton pèsonèl pou mwen. Tout vwazinay Pastè Bab yo sanble trè familye pou mwen.

Istwa sa a, tou, byen tris.  Kwake liv la fini avèk posiblite ke Pastè Bab kapab jwenn kè kontan, epòk ki pi enpòtan nan lavi li te makònen avèk anpil dezolasyon.  Ni manman l, ni papa'l, ni fanm li te renmen an pa te ba li okenn afeksyon.  Menm zanmi l yo pa te zanmi l tout bon.  Sèl espwa li te genyen, se te pou pati nan peyi etranje, yon rèv ke anpil Aysiyen pataje.

Kounye a, m'ap li Pase m yon kou Foli paske mwen sonje ou t'ap pale m osijè li.  Mwen fèk koumanse l.

"TIWIL", mwen te renmen analiz ou te fè nan Lamèsi a.  Sa te ban m yon diferan pèspektiv sou liv sila a.  Mwen ta renmen konnen sa ou panse osijè Pastè Bab?

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