Bonjour Mandaly. Mwen we ki ou te pase yon bon weekend nan fet ou. Bon fet :) My question is about the word KONT. Although you've posted about all the possible translation for it Haitian Creole word KONT, I'm not too sure what it stands for here: 'Nou danse kont nou.' This sounds like we dance against our will - which does not fit in the story that I'm reading? And would give other examples please?

Mèsi anpil.

All the possible translations that I had given for the H. Creole word kont are:
1.
kont → against
Aswè a Tampa Bay Buccaneers ap jwe kont New York Jets.
Tonight the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will play against the New York Jets.

2.
kont → fable
Rakonte m yon kont tanpri.
Tell me a story please.

3.
kont → argument
Mwen pa vle nan kont avè w aswè a.
I don't want an argument tonight.

4.
pou kont → alone, by self
Mwen prale pou kont mwen.
I will go by myself.

5.
sou kont → in the care of 
Mwen kite timoun yo sou kont manman m.
I have left the kids on the care of my mother.

6.
kont → enough, sufficient, plenty
Nou bezwen san dola anplis pou fè lajan vwayaj la kont.
We need one hundred dollars more to have enough money for the trip.

In the sentence that you have, we'll use the translation in #6 to make sense of it.

kont, in front a noun, will mean plenty of as in:
kont danse (plenty of dancing)
kont plezi (plenty of enjoyment)
kont manje (plenty of food)
kont debòch (plenty of revelry)

And then you may also see a pronoun after that noun/verb/or the word kont:
Nou danse kont danse nou (we danced plenty or we did plenty of dancing)
Yo danse kont danse yo (They danced plenty or they did plenty of dancing)

Nou manje kont manje nou (we ate plenty or we did plenty of eating)
Ou dwe te manje kont ou (You must have eaten plenty)

Nou pran kont plezi nou (we enjoyed ourselves plenty)
Li pran kont plezi li (He enjoyed himself plenty)
Nou fè kont debòch nou (We had a lot of fun)


1. Nou danse kont nou.
    or sometimes you'll hear:
     Nou danse kont danse nou.
     We danced plenty.
     We danced all we could.

2. Nou te ale nan yon fèt.  Nou te manje kont nou.
    We went to a party.  We ate plenty.
     We went to a party. We ate all that we could.

3.  Manman timoun yo pa't la.  Yo fè kont dezòd yo.
     The kids' mom was not home.  The kids acted up plenty.
      The kid's mom was not home.  The kids got into plenty of mischiefs.

4. Mwen wè kont mwen.  Ou pa bezwen montre m ankò.
    I've seen enough (plenty).  You don't need to show me anymore.

5. Podyab Joe.  Machin li te pran pàn.  Li te mache yon distans 15 kilomèt pou rive lakay li.  Li te fè kont egzèsis li pou semèn sa a.
     Poor Joe.  His car broke down.  He walked a distance of 15 km to get home.  He's had plenty exercise for this week

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

WHAT IS JOUVAJOUVYEN?

Jouvajouvyen (jou-va-jou-vyen, lit. day-go-day-come) → the day will come, my day will come

1. Jou va jou vyen, se va tou pa'm tou.
    The day will come, it'll also be my turn.

2. Jou va jou vyen, m'ava gen machin pa'm tou. Lè sa a m p'ap bezwen mande woulib ankò.
    The day will come, I'll have my own car too.  Then I will not need to ask for rides anymore.

3. Jou va jou vyen, m'a vin wa.  Mwen va fè yo peye tout mechanste yo lè sa a.
    The day will come, I will become king.  I'll make them pay for all their wickedness at that time.

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

Li mache si ou konn papa a. what does "si ou konn" stands for here?

Usually, when we use "si ou konn", it's for comparison.  A comparison to an idea/term that you are most likely familiar with.
Si ou konn (lit. if you know) → like you know, just like, like, as if it was, same way as


1. Li mache si ou konn papa a k'ap mache.
    He walks like you know the father walks.
    He walks like the father.

2. Li wonfle si w konn yon motosiklèt k'ap kouri.
    He snores like you know a motorcycle would ride.
    He snores like a roaring motorcycle.

3. Gran jenn ti gason sa a te kriye si ou konn yon bebe ki grangou.
    This big young guy cried as you know a hungry baby would cry.
    This big young guy cried like a hungry baby.


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

A great birthday

Apparently I had a big birthday surprise party this weekend and no one told me :)
My family (about twenty of them!) traveled from as far as 500 miles to come wish me a happy birthday.  They came bearing gifts and lots of smiles. Yes, I was VERY surprised and touched.  They pulled it off in a big way.  Mezanmi! It was a two-day celebration.  I want to say a big thank you for all the b-day wishes.  I could not asked for a better group of people who has my back and stick around through thick and thin.

my sisters and I
Back, from left to right: Lydie, myself, Emmanuelle
Front, from left to right: Claudia, Esther.
I am the oldest girl, by the way.

My brother, Ernest and I.
My other brother, Seth stayed back with his sick wife in the hospital.

My mom, in front, being a good sport.

All the birthday "wishers", with Mike and Emmanuelle behind the cameras.

Mèsi anpil tout moun :)

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

My mom is telling me that L'huile de ricin and L'huile palma-christi

They are the same, as far as I know.  They are from the same plant.
Luil makresti is a little crude and does not have such a good smell.

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

Can you explain 'lan'. Sometimes I see it and sometimes I don't. It seems to replace 'nan' in all its meanings. Is this true?

It's one of the Haitian Creole singular definite articles.  It usually comes after words that have  nasal sound and end with a consonant.  Some people do use "lan" instead of "nan".
Some people say plim lan, madanm lan, machin lan instead of plim nan, madanm nan, machin nan.

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

Bonjou! Bon dimanch! Tanpri di-mwen ki sa vle di:1. annega 2. ti tak ponmad 3. leve brip Mèsi :)

Dakò :)

1. annega → regarding, concerning

2. ti tak ponmad
    ti tak → a very small amount
   
    a. yon ti tak ponmad
        a small dab of ointment /pomade / hair grease

    b. yon ti tak dlo.
         a small amount of water.

3. leve brip
     brip → suddenly, abruptly, all of a sudden

     a. Li leve brip.
         He got up suddenly.
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Se Jès La ki Konte - It's the thought that counts

Download link for this audio (track not included in download)
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To listen to this audio, click on the play button and follow along :)
 

-Ki dènye fwa ou te resevwa yon kado ou te reyèlman apresye?

  When was the last time you received a gift that you really liked?

-Te m wè.  Nwèl pase, yon zanmi te fè m kado yon bèl foula.  Mwen te twouve li byen itil.

  Let me se.  Last Christmas, a friend gave me a nice scarf.  I found it very useful.

-Eh byen, kòm ou konnen, semèn pase se te fèt mwen.

  Well, as you know, last week was my birthday.

-Wi,  mwen konnen.  Eske ou te renmen kravat mwen te ba ou a?

Yes, I know. Did you like the tie I gave you?

-Wi.  Li ... te bon.   Wi, kòm mwen t’ap di w.   Yon bèl ti dam mwen renmen nan travay la te ban m yon kado pou fèt mwen.

   Yes.  It was ....alright.  Yes, as I was telling you.  A beautiful woman whom I have crush on at work gave me a birthday gift.

-O o! ou resi fè yon menaj?

  Oh you finally have a girlfriend?

-Non li poko menaj mwen.  Li pa menm konnen si m gen santiman pou li.

 No, she's not my girlfriend yet.  She doesn't even know that I have feelings for her.

-O o! sa w’ap tann?  Poukisa w poko mande l soti?

  Well, what are you waiting for?  Why haven't you asked her out?

-Enben koute sa m’ap eseye di w la avan.

  Well, listen to what I'm trying to tell you first.

-Wi. Dakò. Ou t’ap di m li fè w yon kado?   Kisa li te ba ou?

   Yes. alright.  You said she gave you a gift.  What did she give you?

-Li fè m kado yon chapo.

  She gave me a hat.

-Yon chapo?  Yon kado ki montre anpil konsiderasyon

  Oh. a hat?  A thoughtful gift 

-Pa si ou chòv.  M pa konn poukisa li ban m yon chapo

  Not if you're bald. I don't know why she gave me a hat.

-Sa ki gen mal nan sa?  Li ba ou yon kado ki montre li t'ap panse a ou.   Pa vre?

  What's wrong with it?  She gave you a hat which shows that she was thinking of you.  Isn't it true?

-Oubyen... li ban m kado a paske li fatige gade tèt kale mwen.

   Or... she gave me the hat because she's tired of staring at my bald head.

-W'ap mete pase genyen. Li fè ou yon kado. Se jès la ki konte  Kounye a se tou pa w.  Rele l pou  w remèsye l.  Eske ou gen nimewo telefòn ni?

  You're reading between the lines.  She gave you a gift.  It's the thought that counts.  Now it's your turn.  Call her so you can thank her.  Do you have her phone number?

-Wi.  Li te mete nimewo telefon ni nan yon papye anndan chapo a.

  Yes.  She put her phone number in a piece of paper inside the hat.

-O! yon bèl ti dam ke ou renmen fè w kado nimewo telefòn ni kachte nan yon chapo pou fèt ou, enpi w'ap kesyone motif li toujou?  

   O! a beautiful woman which you have a crush on gives you her telephone number wrapped in a hat for your birthday, and you're still questioning her move? 

-Eske ou panse li vle m rele l?

   Do you think she wants me to call her?

-Men wi! Li vle w rele l.  Pouki lòt rezon pou l ta ba ou nimewo telefon ni?

   Of course! She wants you to call her.  Why else would she give you her phone number?

-Alò dakò.  Mwen pral rele li.   Oh tann..... Eske w panse m ta dwe rele l jodi a oubyen demen?

  Ok then. I will call her.  Oh wait.... Do you think I should call her today or tomorrow?

-Gras lamizerikòd pou pòv ti malerèz la Bondye!  Nan kondisyon sa ti dam nan ap  fin granmoun anvan l resevwa apèl sa a!  Wi rele l kounye a!

  God help the poor girl!  In this way she'll be an old lady before she gets that call!  Yes, call her now!

Track: Kè Mwen Kontan by K-Zino 

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

How do you get the concept of 'away' in phrases like 'walked away', 'ran away', or 'flew away'?

We look at these phrasal verbs as expressions or terms which in turn are expressed by its own term in H. Creole. We do not usually translate the verb and then the preposition or adverb that comes after it as if it were two different words.
Some examples:

to walk away → kite
to run away → sove
to fly away → vole ale
to look away → detounen figi
to get away → chape poul, sove, or chape
to throw away → jete
to lock away → fèmen, anfèmen
to stay away → rete lwen

and its the same with other prepositions:
to look after → gade, siveye, pran swen
to run into → kontre ak, kwaze ak
to call off → anile
to turn down → rejte, refize
to break in → kase
etc...

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

what does the word "epav" mean in h. creole and please give at least 3 examples! thank you I've heard this word used ALOT especially in ayiti and Facebook

epav → a bum, a hobo, a tramp, a drifter who doesn't not have a fixed home

Here are your THREE examples :)

1. Fanm sa a se yon epav li ye.  Li dòmi lakay tout moun.
    This woman's a tramp,  She sleeps at everybody's house.

2. Bann epav!  Al chache travay pou n fè.
    Bunch of bums!  Go find some work to do.

3. Si w'ap mache fè epav lakay tout moun, w'ap pèdi respè'w.
    If you're loafing around at everyone's house, you'll lose your respect.

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

please give the creole translation of Read your Bible pray everyday and you will grow strong

"Read your Bible pray everyday and you will grow strong"
"Li labib ou, priye chak jou e ou va byen grandi"
_______________


Read your bible, pray every day
Read your bible, pray every day
Pray every day (2 times)
Read your bible, pray everyday
And you’ll grow, grow, grow
And you’ll grow, grow, grow (2 times)
Read your bible, pray everyday
And you’ll grow, grow, grow


Li la bib ou, priye chak jou
Priye chak jou (2 fwa)
Li la bib ou priye chak jou 
E ou va grandi
E ou va grandi (2 fwa)
Li la bib ou priye chak jou
E ou va grandi
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Will you translate these phrases for me. 1. cheche kraze-rak; 2. lage koukouwouj; and 3. li dewoule a di. Also I know what 'nan kad' means but I am having trouble puting the right English words to it. Can you help? Mesi mesi anpil anpil!!

Dakò :)

1. "chache kraze rak"
    Kraze rak (degèpi or chape poul) → to escape, to break away, to flee, to decamp
    Chache kraze rak → to atempt to flee, to try to make a run for it, to try to break away

2. lage koukouwouj (fè koukourouj) → to hunt for someone, to go after someone
    
3. Li dewoule a di → (I'm not too sure what this exact sentence mean)
    dewoule → unravel, happen, or unroll
   if you had "dewoule a di", I would translate it as "the beginning is tough" or "Getting started is tough".
   but that's not what we seem to have here.

4. Nan kad.
    "kad" → frame, framework, affiliation, league
    Thus the verb "ankadre"→ to frame, to structure

     a. kad yon foto. 
         frame of a picture

     b.  Mwen pa nan kad moun sa yo.
          I'm not affiliated with these people.

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

Èske w ta eksplike sòti tankou yon 'helping verb'? Pa egzamp ki sa vle di egzakteman 'li sòti pè'?

"Li soti pè" sounds to me like "He became a priest."

Other than to go out, to go outside, to come out
Soti or sot is used to say to come from:

1. Mwen soti New York.
    Mwen sot New York.
    I come from New York.

2.  Mwen fèk soti lavil.
     Mwen fèk sot lavil.
     I just came from town.


You can use "soti" as a verb helper here too:

3. Mwen sot wè li.
    I just saw her.

4. Mwen sot pale avè li.
    I just spoke to her.

5. Nou sot benyen nan larivyè a.
    We were just bathing in the river.
     We just come from bathing into the river.


Soti is also used to say to come out as, to become:
6.  Tout timoun ou yo soti byen.
      All your children have become well behaved/grounded kids.

7.  Mwen mete pen yo nan fou a, yo tout soti tou boule.
     I put the bread in the oven, they came out all burned.


We can also use soti to say from one thing to another, from one place to another
8. soti nan yon kote ale nan lòt la
    to come out of one place and go into another.

9.  Mwen te kondui sot New York ale Miami nan yon jou.
     I drove from New York to Miami in one day.

10. Nou te mache soti nan ri Touusaint rive nan ri Dessalines.
      We walked from Toussaint Street to Dessalines Street.

11.  Aswè a n'ava priye soti nevè nan aswè rive jouk senkè nan maten.
       Tonight we'll pray from nine p.m. until five a.m.

12. Distans pou nou kondui soti lakay nou rive lopital la, li te gentan akouche bebe a.
     By the time we drove from our house to the hospital, she already had the baby.

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

Is it grammatically correct to say "Eske ou gen kichòy pou mwen?"

Wi, li kòrèk.  Ou kapab di sa.

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

"If you see me as a Macoute, then I'm a Macoute. If you see me as gay, I'm gay. What you think of me is no problem, as far as I am concerned. You have the right to think what you want. I know who I am, and that's the main thing."

By "...gay...", do you means "...homosexual..."?
Or did you mean "...a jolly person..."?
I'm translating it here as homosexual. That's what it looks like to me.

"Si w gade m tankou makout, donk se sa mwen ye.  Si w gade m pou masisi donk se sa mwen ye tou.  Annega mwen menm, sa'w panse osijè mwen pa trakase m. Ou gen dwa panse sa w vle.  Mwen konn ki moun mwen ye, e se sa ki enpòtan"

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