Friday, May 3, 2013
Èske w ta tradwi pawòl epi fraz sa yo pou mwen? ....
For #2, #3, #5, #7, we would have to look at the whole sentence or context in order translate it accurately.
1. Zen translates both a fish hook and gossip / word of mouth / scandal / rumor mill.
You can say:
Li te lage zen an nan lanmè a pou l te peche pwason
He dropped the fishhook into the ocean so he can fish.
or
Pa lage m nan zen.
Don't get me entangled in gossip.
2. "Ayisyen k ap tòdye men yon tè kòkòtò"
tòdye translates to wring
kòkòtò (or peng, or chichadò) → tightwad, a scrooge, skimpy
"Ayisyen [] k'ap [] tòdye [] men [] yon tè kòkòtò"
"Haitians [] who are [] wring [] hands [] a skimpy earth
"Haitians who are wringing the hands of a barren land.
3. Ki konn malveyan translates "....who is/are usually insolent" , "who are used to doing vile things"
This may be part of a bigger sentence. Translating just these three words will not give you an accurate translation:
4. Boukannen → to roast, to grill
5. To be nan samba → (tonbe nan sanba?)
Sanba (musician, song writer, lyrics writer)
6. Konpòz (konpozè?) → composer
7. "Medam fi yo pran pou grad yo"
grad → classification, pwomotion
The women were siding with their ....grad...?
The women were vouching for their promotion....
8. Alapapòt → (at the threshold of the door), beginning, prologue, from the get go
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words
1. Zen translates both a fish hook and gossip / word of mouth / scandal / rumor mill.
You can say:
Li te lage zen an nan lanmè a pou l te peche pwason
He dropped the fishhook into the ocean so he can fish.
or
Pa lage m nan zen.
Don't get me entangled in gossip.
2. "Ayisyen k ap tòdye men yon tè kòkòtò"
tòdye translates to wring
kòkòtò (or peng, or chichadò) → tightwad, a scrooge, skimpy
"Ayisyen [] k'ap [] tòdye [] men [] yon tè kòkòtò"
"Haitians [] who are [] wring [] hands [] a skimpy earth
"Haitians who are wringing the hands of a barren land.
3. Ki konn malveyan translates "....who is/are usually insolent" , "who are used to doing vile things"
This may be part of a bigger sentence. Translating just these three words will not give you an accurate translation:
4. Boukannen → to roast, to grill
5. To be nan samba → (tonbe nan sanba?)
Sanba (musician, song writer, lyrics writer)
6. Konpòz (konpozè?) → composer
7. "Medam fi yo pran pou grad yo"
grad → classification, pwomotion
The women were siding with their ....grad...?
The women were vouching for their promotion....
8. Alapapòt → (at the threshold of the door), beginning, prologue, from the get go
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words
Tanpri souple tradwi pawòl epi fraz sa yo tou.....
Tanpri souple tradwi pawòl epi fraz sa yo tou......
1. A fokòl (fokòl is literally fake necktie, fake cravat)
moun ak fokòl → basically people that wear business suits just for show
2. Charabya yanmyanm kakachat (literally yikkety yak, yum yum, cat poop)
That stands for babbling, trivial talk, nonsense talk
3. Ozanj (from French Aux anges "to the angels) → very happy, elated
4. Rekèy → a book (like a book of songs, a book of poems), a periodical
5. Kisa vle di 'mete fè' nan fraz sa a: Lide sa a te pouse m pran desizyon pou
mwen mete fè.
Here "mete fè" means to work harder, persevere, to keep at it, to persist
"Lide sa a te pouse m pran desizyon pou mwen mete fè."
"This idea gave me the incentive to wok harder."
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words
1. A fokòl (fokòl is literally fake necktie, fake cravat)
moun ak fokòl → basically people that wear business suits just for show
2. Charabya yanmyanm kakachat (literally yikkety yak, yum yum, cat poop)
That stands for babbling, trivial talk, nonsense talk
3. Ozanj (from French Aux anges "to the angels) → very happy, elated
4. Rekèy → a book (like a book of songs, a book of poems), a periodical
5. Kisa vle di 'mete fè' nan fraz sa a: Lide sa a te pouse m pran desizyon pou
mwen mete fè.
Here "mete fè" means to work harder, persevere, to keep at it, to persist
"Lide sa a te pouse m pran desizyon pou mwen mete fè."
"This idea gave me the incentive to wok harder."
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words
How would you translate this quote in H. Creole: "If I had my life to live over again, I would find you sooner so that i could love you longer." Thank you so much.
"If I had my life to live over again, I would find you sooner so that I could
love you longer"
"Si m te gen yon chans reviv ankò, m ta twouve w pi bonè pou'm ta ka renmen w pou pi lontan."
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words
love you longer"
"Si m te gen yon chans reviv ankò, m ta twouve w pi bonè pou'm ta ka renmen w pou pi lontan."
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words
"My grandmother came to Texas after the civil war, but was raised in the New Orleans area with the assistance of a black "mammy". I am now 66 years old. I remember a chant that was taught to me by my aunt that supposedly came from this black woman. To me it sounds very cajun. It goes something like this...
"My grandmother came to Texas after the civil war, but was raised in
the New Orleans area with the assistance of a black "mammy". I am now 66 years
old. I remember a chant that was taught to me by my aunt that supposedly came
from this black woman. To me it sounds very Cajun. It goes something like
this :
Roll sholl ol dad roll,
zill zall zal zing,
kitty catty coe,
shilly macky lum cum,
shilly macky low,
shilly macky bowly slander,
Chop cu, chop cu, missy fossy,
lossy fu,
Ping daddle ping.
Of course this was handed down verbally so the spelling is completely arbitrary.
It may just be something made up to entertain my great-grandmother as a child.
I have always been curios about it and would appreciate any info anyone might
have.
Thanks"
This really does sound entertaining.
I'm not yet sure what it sounds like, but some of my friends might know.
If I get any information regarding this I'll add it to this post.
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words
the New Orleans area with the assistance of a black "mammy". I am now 66 years
old. I remember a chant that was taught to me by my aunt that supposedly came
from this black woman. To me it sounds very Cajun. It goes something like
this :
Roll sholl ol dad roll,
zill zall zal zing,
kitty catty coe,
shilly macky lum cum,
shilly macky low,
shilly macky bowly slander,
Chop cu, chop cu, missy fossy,
lossy fu,
Ping daddle ping.
Of course this was handed down verbally so the spelling is completely arbitrary.
It may just be something made up to entertain my great-grandmother as a child.
I have always been curios about it and would appreciate any info anyone might
have.
Thanks"
This really does sound entertaining.
I'm not yet sure what it sounds like, but some of my friends might know.
If I get any information regarding this I'll add it to this post.
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words
Thursday, May 2, 2013
why do people say pase pran m, m'a pase cheche w?
It's an expression that means "same same", "birds of a feather"
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words
"Nou rete bèbè" and "nou rete bouch b" se menm bagay?
Wi.
Rete bouch be.
Rete bèbè
Yo vle di ou pa't ka pale. ...petèt akoz yon sezisman ou fè.
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words
Rete bouch be.
Rete bèbè
Yo vle di ou pa't ka pale. ...petèt akoz yon sezisman ou fè.
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words
Kisa vle di gripe?
gripe (or gen grip) → to have a cold
You can say:
1.
Mwen gripe
or
Mwen gen yon grip.
I have a cold.
2.
Doktè a ban m remèd pou grip la.
The doctor gave me medication for the cold.
3.
Mwen wè ou gripe depi de semèn. Eske ou te pran anyen pou li?
I see that you've had a cold for two weeks? Have you taken anything for it?
Also the word anrimen (or anrime) means to have a head cold, to be congested
4.
Ti bebe a anrimen. Sa lakòs li pa't ka dòmi yèswa.
The baby was congested. He couldn't sleep last night because of it.
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English
You can say:
1.
Mwen gripe
or
Mwen gen yon grip.
I have a cold.
2.
Doktè a ban m remèd pou grip la.
The doctor gave me medication for the cold.
3.
Mwen wè ou gripe depi de semèn. Eske ou te pran anyen pou li?
I see that you've had a cold for two weeks? Have you taken anything for it?
Also the word anrimen (or anrime) means to have a head cold, to be congested
4.
Ti bebe a anrimen. Sa lakòs li pa't ka dòmi yèswa.
The baby was congested. He couldn't sleep last night because of it.
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English
Ki sa vle di 'òf'?
òf (from French "offer") → offer, proposition
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Sa vle di "ka a grav"?
Ka a grav.
The situation is bad / serious / grave.
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words
The situation is bad / serious / grave.
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words
When trying to say "It is . . . " when do you use "se" and when do you use "li"? What is the difference?
Se should be primarily seen as a word that translates (present tense verb to be), it, it is, this is , that is, he is, or she is
So the answer will be that we use "se" for impersonal expressions that's usually written with "it's" in English.
And, even though we use " li (it's)" when it's describing a specific person or thing, "li (it's)" is also used with some impersonal expressions in Creole too.
1. Se vre.
It's true.
That is true (so, here "se" also translates "this is" or "that is")
2. Se konsa.
It's like that.
That's the way it is
3. Se mwen
or
Se mwen menm.
It's me.
That's me.
4. Se li.
or
Se li menm.
It's him.
That's him
5. Se Joe.
It's Joe.
6. Se Joe ki nan telefòn nan.
It's Joe on the phone
7. Se madanm mwen.
It's my wife. '
That's my wife. (So, we can use "Se madanm mwen" even though you can also say "Sa se madanm mwen)
8. Se fèt mwen.
It's my birthday.
9. Se li menm ki fotif.
It's him that is guilty.
He's the guilty one.
10. Se lafwa w k'ap sove w.
It's your faith that will save you.
11. Se apre goumen ou ka konte blese.
It's after the fight you can count the injured.
You can only make assessment of the injured after the fight.
12. Se pa tout maladi ki bezwen swen doktè.
It's not all disease that needs doctor's care.
13. Se sa.
It's the one
That is it. (That's it)
14. Se tout.
That's all.
--------------------------------
"Li" is used in impersonal expressions
15. Li lè. It's time.
16. Li lè pou n ale. It's time to go.
17. Li ta. It's late.
18. Li twò ta. It's too late
19. Li bonè. It's early.
20. Li pi bon pou tann. It's better to wait.
-----------------------------------
Here, "Li" stands for specific person or thing.
21. Li danjere
It's dangerous.
22. Li bèl
It's beautiful.
23. Li lèd
It's ugly.
24. Li se pitit gason m.
He's my son.
25. Li se yon gouman.
He's a greedy person.
26. Li se yon gason vanyan.
He's a brave man.
27. Li se moun mwen t'ap chache. He's the person I was looking for)
Say you wanted to use "Se" in that sentence instead....:
Se li menm mwen t'ap chache a. It's him that I was looking for)
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words
So the answer will be that we use "se" for impersonal expressions that's usually written with "it's" in English.
And, even though we use " li (it's)" when it's describing a specific person or thing, "li (it's)" is also used with some impersonal expressions in Creole too.
1. Se vre.
It's true.
That is true (so, here "se" also translates "this is" or "that is")
2. Se konsa.
It's like that.
That's the way it is
3. Se mwen
or
Se mwen menm.
It's me.
That's me.
4. Se li.
or
Se li menm.
It's him.
That's him
5. Se Joe.
It's Joe.
6. Se Joe ki nan telefòn nan.
It's Joe on the phone
7. Se madanm mwen.
It's my wife. '
That's my wife. (So, we can use "Se madanm mwen" even though you can also say "Sa se madanm mwen)
8. Se fèt mwen.
It's my birthday.
9. Se li menm ki fotif.
It's him that is guilty.
He's the guilty one.
10. Se lafwa w k'ap sove w.
It's your faith that will save you.
11. Se apre goumen ou ka konte blese.
It's after the fight you can count the injured.
You can only make assessment of the injured after the fight.
12. Se pa tout maladi ki bezwen swen doktè.
It's not all disease that needs doctor's care.
13. Se sa.
It's the one
That is it. (That's it)
14. Se tout.
That's all.
--------------------------------
"Li" is used in impersonal expressions
15. Li lè. It's time.
16. Li lè pou n ale. It's time to go.
17. Li ta. It's late.
18. Li twò ta. It's too late
19. Li bonè. It's early.
20. Li pi bon pou tann. It's better to wait.
-----------------------------------
Here, "Li" stands for specific person or thing.
21. Li danjere
It's dangerous.
22. Li bèl
It's beautiful.
23. Li lèd
It's ugly.
24. Li se pitit gason m.
He's my son.
25. Li se yon gouman.
He's a greedy person.
26. Li se yon gason vanyan.
He's a brave man.
27. Li se moun mwen t'ap chache. He's the person I was looking for)
Say you wanted to use "Se" in that sentence instead....:
Se li menm mwen t'ap chache a. It's him that I was looking for)
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
I will teach you a lesson ( when you threat someone)
There are many ways to say this:
as a threat.....with the intention of getting at someone (in revenge)...
W'a gentan konnen.
M'ap fè w konn sa'm peze.
M'ap montre w sa'm peze.
M'ap regle avè'w.
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words
as a threat.....with the intention of getting at someone (in revenge)...
W'a gentan konnen.
M'ap fè w konn sa'm peze.
M'ap montre w sa'm peze.
M'ap regle avè'w.
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words
This makes no sense to me 'piti piti plen kay' meaning 'limyè'. Poukisa se limyè?
Wi, piti piti plen kay te ka nenpòt bagay, men depi lè m te ti kakat, m'ap tire kont - se repons sa a yo toujou bay. Tout jenerasyon Ayisyen ki te vin anvan m yo, se repons sa a ki te sifizan pou yo.
Pou mwen menm, li vle di limyè piti, se vre, men li kapab ranpli yon gwo kay.
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words
Pou mwen menm, li vle di limyè piti, se vre, men li kapab ranpli yon gwo kay.
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words
Thanks fo adding that expression twalet deba in previous post; "KISA VLE DI FE TWALET EGZAKTEMAN"; I saw this expression in a book "...Tout plezi foutbol se nan fe gol, pa vre? Fe twaletdeba gadyen an." I'm sure it's not said literally, but your explanation gives me a clear picture. I would have not found this a dictionary :)
Great.... a clever way to say that the goalie was beaten.
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words
What's the best way to translate MOST as in -Most people in that building died-.
most → pifò, twaka
most of the time → leplisouvan
1. Pifò moun nan bilding nan te mouri.
Most people in the building died.
2. Twaka machin ki te fèt nan Etazini se Ford yo ye.
Pifò nan machin ki fèt Ozetazini se Ford you ye.
Most the cars built in the USA are Fords.
3. Leplisouvan mwen pa menm konnen kote manje demen m ap soti.
Most of the time I don't even know where my next meal will come from.
4. M konnen pifò nan nou p'ap tounen ane pwochèn.
I know most of you will not come back next year.
5. Pifò moun Ayiti pa gen twalèt ijyenik.
Most people in Haiti do not have flushing toilets.
6. Pifò moun ki te nan reyinyon se te rezidan katye a.
Most of the people in the meeting were residents of the neighborhood.
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words
most of the time → leplisouvan
1. Pifò moun nan bilding nan te mouri.
Most people in the building died.
2. Twaka machin ki te fèt nan Etazini se Ford yo ye.
Pifò nan machin ki fèt Ozetazini se Ford you ye.
Most the cars built in the USA are Fords.
3. Leplisouvan mwen pa menm konnen kote manje demen m ap soti.
Most of the time I don't even know where my next meal will come from.
4. M konnen pifò nan nou p'ap tounen ane pwochèn.
I know most of you will not come back next year.
5. Pifò moun Ayiti pa gen twalèt ijyenik.
Most people in Haiti do not have flushing toilets.
6. Pifò moun ki te nan reyinyon se te rezidan katye a.
Most of the people in the meeting were residents of the neighborhood.
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words
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