Madanm. What is the correct way to use mo "monche" (man) an Kreyol? Is it only a term of endearment to people you know very well, or is it used more informally? E ki jan ou di an Kreyol Ayisyen mo "apocalypse", like the book of Revelation in the Bible? I cannot find it anywhere. Yon gran mesi.

It is used more informally.  It basically means "my friend" , "my comrade", "pal", "buddy". It can also translate the informal expression man!
You always use it for males.  For females you would use machè in the same context.
Here are some examples:

1.       Sa’k pase monchè? - What’s up man?

2.       Monchè, pa janm fè m ankò. – Man, don’t ever do that to me again.

Sometimes you use it in a sentence as an expression, but do not have to translate it in English. For example:

3.       Monchè, ou sanwont! – You are shameless!

4.       Ale non monchè! – Go!

5.       Chita non monchè! – Sit down!

Monchè is also an expression which may express surprise, shock, disgust, or disbelief.  For example:

6.       Monchè! M pa ta janm kwè ou ta fè m sa. - I would have never believed that you would do that to me.

 

7.       Monchè! M wont pou ou! - Shame on you.

 

       8.       Monchè o! – (expression of disbelief)

and .... 

Regarding translation of “Apocaplypse”, we do say Apokalips or Revelasyon  in Creole.

 

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M, please don't forget my message about rum terminology...;)

Oke dakò zanmi. Mwen va reponn li aswè a. Mèsi pou pasyans ou :)

Kenbe la.

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plon gaye a? zoklo? please.

plon gaye - buckshot
zoklo (n.) - unfaithfulness (to one s.o), a punch on the head with one's knuckles
bay zoklo (v.) - to cheat on your s.o.  To be unfaithful;  and also to punch someone on the head with your knuckles

egzanp:
L'ap bay madanm nan zoklo.

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mefyans?

mefyans - suspicion, mistrust

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Mandaly. In the course I am using, they say "M isit la depi yon semenn." for "I have been here for one week." Would it not be more correct to use "M te isit la depi yon semenn." for the past tense, or are both just as correct? By the way Madanmm, which form of "week" do you use in Kreyol? "semen, semenn oubyen senmenn?" Mesi anpil.

Actually “M isit la depi yon semèn.” Is correct.

It expresses an event/action that started to happen in the past and continue to happen in the present.

If you had “I had been here for one week”, then you could translate it as “M te isit la depi you semèn."

And regarding the spelling of “semèn”, all three forms are acceptable in Creole.

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Is there an expression in Creole that is equivalent to: "That catches my eye" or "that really stands out"?

There can be different expressions:
How do you want to use it?

To stand out - atire atansyon, atire lespri, resòti, rete devan zye
to catch "my" eye - atire atansyon mwen, danse nan tet mwen, danse nan lespri m  

That catches my eye.
Sa atire atansyon mwen.





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How would you say: "There is a dent in my car" or "That car has a dent"?

to get a scrape (a big dent) - kolboso.

My car has dent.  - Machin mwen kolboso.

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Hola Mandaly,ki sa sa vle di mo "tanto" nan HC epi kijan mwen ka itilize mo sa a,mesi.

In Creole it means sometimes, at times
You can also translate it as one minute ....., and the next.....

Example:
1.

Konpòtman nonm sa a iregilye.  Tanto l kontan, tanto l fache.

This man’s behavior is shifty. Sometimes he’s happy, sometimes he’s angry.

 

2.

Fanm sa a pa konn sa l vle.  Tanto l di vle marye, tanto l di li rayi gason.

This woman doesn’t know what she wants.  Sometimes she says she wants to get married, sometimes she says she hates men.

 

3.

Fanfan poko ka deside ki machin li vle achte.  Tanto se Toyota l vle, Tanto se Nissan li vle.

Fanfan can decide which car he wantd to buy yet. One minute he wants a Toyota, and the next minute he wants a Nissan.

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What is the value of 5000 pwevwa pwosperitse

I don't think it's real money.
I have seen it before.

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I need some lessons in writing letters.. To start by saying "Dear..." and to end.."sincerely" but also by saying ."Hope things are ....” thanks...james

You might find this link helpful: Beginning and ending a letter

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Bonjou Mandaly! Quick question. Eske genyen moun ki di mo shobwa? Means root/tree stump in kreyol , but also refers to a relationship. My father and granma knew the meaning , but my mother was confused. I was told it was a saying moun andeyo di. Can I get some examples mesi anpil!

I am familiar with chouk bwa, souch bwa, or choukèt bwa which means tree stump.

It is very likely that 'cho bwa' is used in the outskirts of some regions of Haiti.

Chouk (souch, or choukèt) is a stump (of a tree, of a tooth); it is also the stub of a paper check …. yon souch chèk  a check stub

It can be used as a verb “chouke”  - to be planted, to be rooted

Example:

Lè madanm nan tande se zen k’ap bay anba tonèl la, li vin chouke kò l la, li pa janm deplase.

When the woman heard all the gossips spilled under the “straw” shed, she came and planted herself there and never moved.

byen kore, or byen chouke, or byen plante – firmly  rooted

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Dear Mandaly, I just saw your videos on creole definite articles. They were a pleasure to watch. Although, I have a couple of questions concerning the definite articles.What do you think when the vowel "i" ending a word but preceded by a nasalized consonant? For example, "fanmi an" or "mi an". What do yo think when when a word ends in a nasalized consonant, it is not only followed by "nan" but also "lan" indifferently? I have heard haitians and even me using both of them interchangeably. For example, "machin nan/lan", "plim nan/lan" or "moun nan/lan". What about words ending in "ng" or "gn", do they take "nan" as well as "lan" or only "nan"? For example, "Bilding nan or lan", "Djòging nan or lan" or "boling nan or lan". In case you didn't know, they translate "building", "jogging", and "bowling" respectively. Let me know what you think of those because they were not covered in your videos.

"What do you think when the vowel "i" ending a word but preceded by a nasalized consonant? For example, "fanmi an" or "mi an". "

You would think that the article for fanmi is “a”, but it is “an”... because of the nasal sound in the first syllable of the word.  The same goes for zanmi, jenou (where “ou” is nasal), lanmou, mi (“m” is nasal), etc…   When you see these words, you might be looking at the vowel at the end,  but you should think about the sound instead. If ou start with a nasal sound, you're prone to end with a nasal sounds.  When you say "zanmi", it feels more natural to add "an" at the end then to add "a".

.......

What do yo think when when a word ends in a nasalized consonant, it is not only followed by "nan" but also "lan" indifferently? I have heard haitians and even me using both of them interchangeably. For example, "machin nan/lan", "plim nan/lan" or "moun nan/lan". 

In some regions of Haiti, they don’t use “nan” for article.  Where I am from, we use it.  Mr Paultre who translated the 1999 version of the KJV bible does not use “nan”.  He uses “lan”.  I don't think you'll find "nan" as a definite article in that version of the Creole bible.

....

What about words ending in "ng" or "gn", do they take "nan" as well as "lan" or only "nan"? For example, "Bilding nan or lan", "Djòging nan or lan" or "boling nan or lan". In case you didn't know, they translate "building", "jogging", and "bowling" respectively.

The rule for the words that end in “ng” is the same as the rule for the words that end in “n” or “m” sound.

It’s either “nan” or “lan” depending on where you’re from.

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This is regarding the question about fighting fire with fire, can you translate it as gwo manman pare pou zepina e zepina pare pou gwo manman.

The expression "gwo manman pare pou zepina, zepina pare pou gwo manman tou" basically means I'm ready whenever you are. (ready to defend myself, ready to go on the offensive)
Used, for example, between two people having a fight.

I am not sure it's about retaliation which is what fighting fire for fire means.

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Can "tanndat + time construction" be an equivalent to "se fè + time construction" and "sa gen + times construction" expressing "for" or "since" in a declarative and interrogative sentence? Also, in different tenses like the futures tenses and other tenses(conditional tense, all past tenses) if they exist?

 

Non, it will not work well here.

I am reposting your examples with corrections :)
Enpi, mwen nimewote egzanp yo pou pi bon referans.

..........

Your examples:
1.
"I have been working for nine hours."
"Tanndat nevèd tan ke mwen travay."
"Sa fè(sa gen) nevèd tan ke mwen m'ap travay"

or you can also say:

Mwen gen nevèd tan depi m'ap travay.

2.
"It has been raining for five days."
"Tanndat senk jou ke li fè lapli."
"Sa fè(sa gen) senk jou ke l'ap fè lapli."

or you can also say:

"Sa fè senk jou depi l'ap fè lapli."

3.
"I have been in Paris for three weeks."
"Tanndat twa semèn ke mwen nan Pari."
"Sa fè(sa gen) twa semèn ke mwen nan Pari."

or you can also say:

"Sa fè twa semèn depi m a Pari." Most of the time we say a Pari instead of nan Pari

 

4.

"(For)How long have you been studying French?"
"Tanndat konbyen tan ou etidye fransè?" or "konbyen tan tanndat ou etidye fransè?
"Sa fè(se gen) konbyen tan w'ap ou etidye Fransè? or "konbyen tan sa fè(sa gen) depi w'ap ou etidye Fransè?

5.

"How long have you been in Quebec?"
"Konbyen lè tanndat ou nan Quebec? or "Tanndat konbyen lè ou nan Quebec?"
"Konbyen lè sa fè (sa gen) ou nan Quebec? or "Sa fè(sa gen) konbyen lè ou nan Quebec?"
You can say:
"Konbyen tan sa fè depi ou Kebek?

6.
"It will be six weeks tomorrow since Paul left."
"Tanndat pral sis semèn demen ke Paul pati."
"Sa pral fè(sa pral gen) sis semèn ke depi Paul pati."

7.
"It will soon be a year since the president's resgination."
"Tanndat youn ane talè ke prezidan an demisyone."
"Sa pral fè(sa pral gen) youn ane talè ke depi prezidan an demisyone."


Feel free to correct any grammatical errors you spot, feel free to add any more grammar constructions, words, or phrases pertaining to this topic, feel free to be as detailed as possible. I want to know as much as I can.



Posted by kal to Haitian Creole at November 10, 2013 at 7:35 PM

 

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Someone says wa gentan konnen, and that means what exactly?

Do not translate this literally.
It indicates an impending threat.
as in:
W'a gentan konnen....
Soon you'll know what's coming to you...

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