How do you say "to feel sorry for" and "poor baby"?

To feel sorry for → kè fè mal pou, an expression which lit. means one's heart hurts for ...

Poor baby! → podyab

1. I feel sorry for you.
    Kè'm fè'm mal pou ou.
    Literally: My heart hurts for you.

2. I feel sorry for her.
    Kè'm fè'm mal pou li.
    Literally: My heart hurt for her.

3. He felt sorry for me.
    Kè'l te fè'l mal pou mwen.
    Literally: His heart hurt for me

4.  I felt remorse. (I felt bad.  I felt sympathy)
     Kè'm te fè'm mal.
     Literally: My heart hurt.

5.  He looked at the beggar and felt sympathy. So he gave her five dollars.
     Li te gade mandyan an enpi kè'l te fè'l mal.  Donk li te ba li senk dola.


When you use "Podyab" in Creole, you can add a pronoun or object after it depending on the subject you're showing sympathy for.  For example:

6. Awww.... you poor thing!
    O! Podyab!
    O! Podyab ou!
    Meaning: What a poor thing YOU are!

7. Awww.... poor baby!
    Podyab li!
    Meaning: What a poor thing He is!

8. John did not steal the shoe, but they arrested him.  Poor John!  He carried the burden for his mom.
    Jan p'at vòlè soulye a, men se li yo te arete.  Podyab Jan!  Li te pote fado a pou manman 'l.


You can also say "podyab mwen!" in Creole.  I guess it'll translate as "O! my misery!"

9.  Podyab mwen!  Mwen pa fè krim, men mwen nan prizon.
     O! my misery! I did not commit a crime, and here I am in jail.

10.  Podyab nou!  Se malè nou ki fè anpil moun pwospere.
       O! What misery for us!  Many people prosper because of our misfortune.


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

how do you say in h. creole "I'm sorry, I really am sorry, It wasn't my intention to hurt you, its just that I've been busy lately so it's been really hard to find time to talk to you"

Mwen regrèt sa.  Mwen reyèlman regrèt sa.  Se pa't entansyon mwen pou m te atriste w.  Mwen jis te okipe anpil dènyèman, donk li te difisil pou jwenn tan pou m pale ak ou.

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

Mandaly, Is "M ta renmen manje manje maten kounye a." as well as "M ta renmen manje dine." correct? Mesi anpil.

Wi.  Yo korèk.

Premye a se "I'd like to eat breakfast now."
Dezyèm nan se "I'd like to eat dinner."

Ou byen ekri yo.
Ou kapab di "manje maten" oubyen "dejene".

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

Eske w' kapab ban-mwen kek idyom Kreyol k' ap itilize souvan? Mesi :)

There are so so many Haitian Creole idioms and expressions that Haitians use every day in their daily conversations.  It's hard to choose the ones used most often.  Here are some that you might use on a daily basis:

1.
Be courageous! (Be brave, D'ont be weak)
Mete gason sou ou! (you say that to a man)
Mete fanm sou ou! (you say that to a woman)

2.
I am nervous.
Kè m sou biskèt.

3.
I am hungry.
Ti trip mwen ap vale gwo trip mwen.

4.
to be upset/angry (Fè move san)
Why are you upset/angry?
Poukisa w'ap fè move san?

5.
To be in trouble (pran nan twa wa)
You're in trouble.
Ou pran nan twa wa
or
I'm in trouble
M pran nan twa wa.

6.
To go to bed (monte kabann)
I'm tired, I'm going to bed.
M fatige, m pral monte kabann.

Pran kabann, on the other hand, may mean that you are ill
to be sick

7.
The gist of the conversation (Nannan koze a)
I am just getting to the good part and you want to leave.
Mwen fèk ap antre nan nannan koze a, enpi ou vle ale.

8.
Talk to the hand (pale ak pòch dèyè)
I am ignoring your rambling.
Ak pòch dèyè m w'ap pale. 

9.
To be stubborn (fè wòklò)
You're being stubborn.
W'ap fè wòklò.

10.
to pursue restlessly (lage nan dengonn)
Oh geez! This woman is a pain in my ass!
Mezanmi o! Fi sa lage nan dengonn mwen!

11.
To Calm down (mete dlo nan diven)
Why don't you calm down! Relax!
Mete dlo nan diven w tande!

12.
Really quickly! (nan de tan twa mouvman!)
I'll give this to you in no time at all!
M'ap ba ou li nan de tan twa mouvman

13.
It's about time (li te lè, li te tan, or  li lè li tan)
It's about time you let this go.
Li lè li tan pou kite sa tonbe.

There are more idioms and expressions at the following link.  You may visit it from time to time as we will add more.
Haitian Creole idioms and expressions

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

Hi , I am a multi language translator at Langworld Inc. in the state of Florida and a Haitian native. I find your site fascinating. You are doing an excellent job sharing our beautiful language with the world. I am so proud of you. Keep it up. AJB

Mèsi anpil wi :)
Kenbe la zanmi.

Chapo ba.

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

"Eske w' gen yon mo oubyen yon fraz ki vle di menm bagay kom mo angle nwa-a "finna" nan Kreyol? Kom, "I am finna leave now".

Pa genyen yon ekivalan EGZAK an kreyòl.
Men ou kapab tradui li ak mo sa yo: PRAL, SANSE, PRÈS POU, E FIN (fini)

I finna leave now.
M pral ale kounye a.
M sanse kite  la a.
M près pou ale la a.
Mwen fin ale wi la a.

Leave can be translated as kite, pati, ale in Creole,

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

"dan sezi" can u tell what's that please, mesi

to have "dan sezi"  is to have an acute sensitive tooth.


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

I want to tell my Haitian boyfriend something lovely, but he makes fun of me using Google translations.. So please tell me how I can say,.... " You are the love of my life, and I want to be your madanm. I want to learn Creole and the way of the Haitian people. You mean the world to me, and I truly mean that. I wish to have your children one day. M renmen w.".... Lol, I only know a couple words and phrases but I don't want this to sound like a robot, if you know what I mean. Thank you :)

This Haitian man seems to be very lucky to have you :)
Google translator is a great tool (Thank God for it!), but if you do use it you should have someone proofread your translation.

by "...I want to be your madanm.", you do mean "I want to be your wife."  right?"

" You  are the love of my life, and I want to be your madanm." 

"Ou se lanmou lavi mwen.  Mwen vle vin madanm ou."

"I want to learn Creole  and the way of the Haitian people."

"Mwen vle aprann lang Kreyòl la ak kilti pèp Aysiyen an."

"You mean the world to me, and I truly mean  that."

"Ou se tout bagay pou mwen, m'ap di w laverite."

"I wish to have your children one day. M renmen w."

"Yon jou, mwen ta renmen fè timoun pou ou.  M renmen w.

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

Countryside? Hick, yokel?

countryside - andeyò, nan mòn, nan kanpay
hick - moun andeyò, moun nan mòn, peyizan 
yokel - moun nan mòn, gwo soulye, gwo zòtèy

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

I admire your work on this site so very much ! Keep up the goodwork ! kamsa hamnida

Mèsi anpil anpil.
Kenbe Kreyòl la fò :)

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

Ki sa vle di "pyebo"?

pyebo → clubfoot, clubfoot deformity

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

Hello, I just have to say that I really like your site, it is very helpful. Thank you very much! My question for today is: In your list of Direction you forgot one preposition which I think is very important. The word for under, like “under the traffic light” for instance, could you please add it in if you think it will make lots of sense for students whose learning how to ask and to give direction? Once again, thank you very much for the site! Super Job! Bonn jounen!

Mèsi anpil :)
I will add it.

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

How do you say "You could have called" ? And how about "I would have called but..."

"You could have called."
 "Ou te ka rele."

"You could have called me at least."
"Ou te ka rele m omwens."

"I would have called but..."
"Mwen te ka rele men...."

"I would have called you but I was too busy."
"Mwen te ka rele w men m te twò okipe."

"I would have called you if I was not so busy."
"Mwen ta ka rele w si m pa't okipe konsa."

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

What's the difference between 'FENNEN' and 'BLAZE'. Should I say "Li tankou yon fle ki fin blaze" or "li toukou yon fle ki fin fennen"? mesi anpil anpil :)

fennen - wilted, faded, which has lost its color
fennen - depressed-looking
Figi l fennen - She is looking sad.
blaze - which has lost its color, which has faded, which has become dull
The better choice would be the second sentence: "He/She is like a wilted flower"

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

A used moto would cost less than a new one.". Mesi!

used → ize, dezyèm men (second hand)

"A used moto would cost less than a new one."
"Yon moto dezyèm men ta koute mwens pase youn ki nèf."

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