Happy Thanksgiving! I'm attending a Haitian wedding in Haiti over the holidays (just as a regular guest) and am not sure what to expect. Any tips?

Is it Catholic, Protestant, or non-Christian wedding?
Is it happening in the capital or in the outskirts?
Are you caucasian? (some people might go out of their way to make you feel welcome)
Are you of African descent? (other guests might realize that you're not one of them by the way you speak), then some may treat you as Haitian, some may treat you as a foreigner.
In any case, as a guest, you should expect to have loads of fun - Eat plenty of tasty (maybe spicy foods) - meet lots of happy smiley faces.
The wedding ceremony might be a little lengthy, toasts will be more than minutes long, drving to the church and/or reception might be an 'adventure' (smoke, car fumes, and avoiding hitting a pedestrian).   Most everyone will be in their sunday best. 
Some reception halls can be crowded, but good food, great music under a tropical sky  make for an enjoyable ambience.
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Mandaly. I have finished the Pimsleur HC course. I think this course gives one the basics on which to expand one's self. Thank God that the verbs in Kreyol make the journey much faster to learn. But the idioms in Kreyol to me are more difficult to master. Anyway, I am now going to hit the materials on your website exclusively. I will be going to Ayiti in April, so I will be able to jump-start my Kreyol. While doing the Pimsleur Method, I spent a lot of time with grammar, so I completely know the spelling of HC and its rules. My Brown Creole cousin, who sent me off in this direction, was brilliant for prodding me into learning HC. Now for my question: Is "ta" in H. Kreyol considered a verb marker? I know this sounds juvenile, but I am trying to get the past, present and future tenses down first, and then move on to other tenses. But, I am not sure where "ta" (if it is a verb marker) fits in. Mesi anpil.

Hi Mr. Rachal.  Anpil konpliman pou ou!
I am so glad that you kept at it.  Some people swear by the Pimsleur method.  I can tell that it has been very helpful to you.  As far as the idioms are concerned, there are so many of them, but you will soon get acquainted with them once you start communicating with Creole speakers and you’ll start to notice the ones we use most – and how we use them.  In your Creole conversations you’ll soon start to use them too.

I am excited about your upcoming trip.  And I know you are too.  Be safe and alert always.

Ta –determiner for conditional tenses - WOULD, SHOULD

1. M ta manje mango a si m te kapab. – I would eat the mango if I could.

2. M ta di w sa m panse osijè ou men m pito fèmen bouch mwen. – I would tell you what I think of you but I rather keep my mouth shut

3. Gade moun sa yo k’ap dòmi anba pon an. Nou ta dwe ede yo. – Look at these people sleeping under the bridge.  We should help them.

4. Mwen renmen timoun yo twòp. M pa ta ka fè yo sa. – I love the kids too much.  I could not do that to them.

5. Si m te genyen nan lotri a m ta va kite travay mwen. – If I won the lottery I would quit my job.

6. Si fanm nan te renmen w tout bon, li ta gentan la deja. – If the woman really loved you she would have already been there.

 

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When a child does something to another child--like takes away the other child's toy--what would you recommend having that child say to the other child as an apology? Mwen regrete sa? Padon? And what would you recommend to have a child say in apology to an adult--like when a child has not obeyed what the adult told him to do? One more question: Are there times when you should never say "Mwen regrete." Thanks!

The child should say:

Padon

Or

Eskize m

 

To an adult, the child may say:

-M mande w padon.
-Eskize m.

And sometimes they say

-M fè kwa m pa’p janm fè sa ankò.

And many Haitian adults (in Haiti usually) have the child make a cross on the dirt ground and kiss it (it’s a promise that he/she sorry and that he/she will not offend again)

Adult to adults – we use the same terms to apologize.  Sometimes adults would say Mwen prezante w eskiz mwen or Mwen prezante w tout eskiz mwen.

To apologize – fè eskiz, prezante eskiz, mande padon

We rarely say Mwen regrete – unless you want to say Mwen regrete tout sa m fè. – I regret all that I have done.

I cannot think of a situation where you couldn't use 'mwen regrete'. 

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What was the question? :)

 Reyèl – real

Tòk – saddle bags, pack saddle bags?

Chandèl (bouji, balèn) – candle

Tchuis (kuis?) – thigh

Rèk – mature, ready to be picked (fruit)

Kanpèch – logwood

Poutan – however

li pa chèch – it’s not dry

topi (toupi) – top (the toy)

gadja? (gadyè?) – cock fighting rink

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

Is there a reference (book or website) or one of your audio lessons that would help me in a medical mission with Project Medishare @ Bernard Mevs in PAP ? I only need to know very basic- Are you in pain? Take a deep breath and cough. Roll over. I will see you tomorrow. I know please and thank you- and we have some interpreters. THANK YOU

You can use the English/Haitian Creole Medical Dictionary by Maude Heurtelou and Fequière Vilsaint.  It is mainly a dictionary.  I did browse it once or twice, I don’t remember seeing any sentences for patient communication in there.

You may also check the following posts:
I have a headache
Do you have pain?
Headaches and Pains

Are you in pain? – Eske ou genyen doulè

Where is your pain? – Ki kote doulè ou ye?

Show me where’s your pain – Montre mwen kote doulè ou ye?

Take a deep breath and cough – Pran yon gran souf enpi touse

Roll over onto your right side – vire sou bò dwat ou.

Roll over onto your left  side – Vire sou bò goch ou.

Roll over onto your back – Vire enpi kouche sou do ou.

Roll over onto your stomach – Vire enpi kouche sou vant ou.

I will see you tomorrow – Mwen va wè ou demen.

See you tomorrow – Na wè demen

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What are some word synonyms for "tèlman" meaning "so"? .......

The terms I’m thinking of are not synonyms, but they are SOME of the many ways to express “so” or “so much”:  tèlman, sitèlman, tank, anpil, kalite, afòs, etc…

I’m using your examples here (except one that does not translate “SO MUCH”)

He is so nice to me. – Tank li ban m bon jan.

"I am so tired! I need to go to bed" – Afòs m fatige fò m al nan kabann

"I am so excited! I can’t wait!" – Kalite kontan m kontan sa! M pa ka tann

 “I’m so hungry. Can we get something to eat first?” – M grangou anpil.   Eske nou kapab al manje yon bagay anvan?

“He is so hot. I love Brad Pitt.” – M’renmen Brad Pitt. Tank li bo gason.

“I am so full. I can’t eat another bite!” – M pa ka manje anyen ankò tank vant mwen plen

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I don't quite understand because in sentence 6 and 7, you crossed out the "ke" and replaced it ........

In reference to tanndat post

I don't quite understand because in sentence 6 and 7, you crossed out the "ke" and replaced it with "depi". Is "depi" interchangeable with "ke" in those contexts? In the additional sentences, starting with "sa gen lontan", you use "depi" instead of "ke", is there any reason for that or is it just your preference? Also, doesn't "sa fè" and "sa gen" mean "since" as well alongside "depi"?

I had examined your response again and realized that in sentence 1, 2, and 4, you used the present progressive marker and in sentence 3 and 5, you didn't instead you used the simple present tense. Could you explain to me why was that?

Refresh my memory, just to be sure, how is "depi", "sa fè", "se gen" used with the past progressive marker or other past tenses?

Can "depi", "sa fè", "se gen" be used with the conditional tenses? If yes, can you give examples? I want to be sure about that as well.

 

Answer

 

1.     Use “depi” instead of “ke”. “Ke” is actually considered French in this type of sentence.  But you can use “ke” if you want.  I am inclined to use “depi”.

2.     “Sa fè” or “sa gen”, IN THESE TYPES OF SENTENCES, stand for “it has been”.  Your sentences do not necessarily have to include “depi” or “ke”.  If you do include “depi” or “ke”, THEY will translate “SINCE”. You may ask a question:

a.

Depi konbyen tan li malad? (Since how long has he been sick? )

And the answer might be:

“Sa gen twa mwa.”  Or “Sa fè twa mwa”. (It’s been three months.)

 

3.     The terms “sa gen” or “sa fè” translate “It has been” in these types of sentences.  You can use different tenses with different H. Creole determiners if you’d like.  Such as:

b.

Sa pral gen dezan depi m isit.

It will be two years since I’m here.

 

c.

Si papa m pa’t mouri, sa ta fè l senkantan depi l marye ak manman m ane sa.

If my father didn’t die, he would have been married to my mom fifty years this year.

 

 

d.

Si w te ale nan konsè a tou, sa t’ap fè nou senk fwa nou wè  jodi a.

If you had gone to the concert too, it would have been five times we saw each other five today. (lit)

If you had gone to the concert too, we would have seen each other five times today.

e.

Sa ta pral fè vennkat èdtan depi nou kole sou do kay la si w pa’t vin sove nou.

It would have been 24 hours that we’re stuck on this roof if you didn’t come to rescue us.

 

Does that answer your question?

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

What does this proverb mean: Pousyè pa janm leve san van?

There's a reason behind everything that happens.
"Dust does not rise without the wind."

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Oh! Another question about the podcast: Do you have the transcripts written out somewhere?

No, it was mean to be jus audio.

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I'm not sure when to use tout and when to use tou. For example I see it both ways in Ps 90 ...ou te fè latè ak tout sa ki ladan l... Fè nou reyisi nan tou sa n'ap fè. Is there a rule or guideline to follow? I know people say tou won and tou nèf. In another psalm I see tout pwoteksyon, tout defans, tout konfyans. It seems like perhaps tou goes with adjectives and tout goes with nouns. Except either one can go with sa...?

Yes.  “TOU” means “ALL” when used with “SA”.  And yes, you can use TOU or TOUT before “sa

Egzanp:

1.        

Mèsi pou tou sa fè pou mwen.  Or

Mèsi pou tout sa ou fè pou mwen

Thanks for all you’ve done for me.

 

When used before adjectives it can be translated as ALL, SO VERY, ALL SO , ABSOLUTELY

2.       Li te achte soulye a tou nèf. – He bought the shoe all brand new.

3.       Li rantre anndan kay la tou tranpe ak dlo lapli a. – He came inside the house all drenched from the rain

4.       Tèt ti bebe a te tou won. – The baby’s head was all so round.

5.       Si w wè sa, kamyonèt la te tou piti enpi li t’ap eseye antre 25 moun ladan l. – you should have seen this the tap tap was very small and he was trying to put 25 people in it.

 

TOU can also mean NOT LONG AGO or JUST THE OTHER DAY

6.       Kijan fè li mouri. Tou lotrejou la mwen te wè l t’ap kouri bisiklèt li.

How come she died.  Just the other day I saw her riding her bike.

 

TOU can be translated as  IN SPITE, DESPITE, GRANTING, or STILL

7.       Li al travay tou malad. – She went to work despite being sick.

8.       Tou fèb la, li kontinye mache  23 kilomèt anvan l resi tonbe. – Still weak she continued walking 23 kilometers before she finally collapsed.

TOU also translates NOW, NOW AND FOR THE LAST TIME or ONCE AND FOR ALL.  You’ll find them usually before verbs

9.       An nou tou ale pandan lapli a sispann.

Let’s go now while the rain has stopped.

10.   Se pou w  tou pale avè li pandan ou la a.

You should talk to her now that she’s here.

11.   Se pou ou tou dòmi legliz la. Li fè nwa ou p’ap ka deplase ale ankenn kote nan kondisyon sa a.

You should sleep at the church once and for all.  It’s already dark and you won’t be able to go anywhere in this condition.

 

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

I found a few episodes of your podcast through my Downcast app, but they are all from March 2013. Are there any newer ones--or even any older ones--I can access? I couldn't find the podcast at all through iTunes. Thanks

I plan to make more once time permits. Hopefully soon :)
They (alone with the audio skits) are meant solely for listening. ...For people who wants to practice listening.

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

does debraye mean the same as dekolte?

debraye - careless, unkempt, disheveled
dekolte - bare, showing lost of skin (clothing), offensive, immodest

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To my friend .... I can't find your original question :-\. I did paste the content in to my WORD program while I work on it. I am still missing one translation :-\.

Sorry bon zanmi m :)
I couldn't find the H. Creole translation for overproof rum.  I did ask around.  I'll keep working in it.

Dreamer – ideyalis, vizyonè

Juicy – plen sòs

grinding machine, grinder - moulen

mash(wine mash) – kraze, moulen

molasses  - melas

overproof rum -

amber rum – wonm anbre

spiced rum – wonm epise

naval rum - gwòg

flavored rum – wonm awomatize

fermentation - fèmantasyon

distillation - distilasyon

aging - vyeyi

blending - blende

yeast - leven

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

Is ren pou ren a shameful expression?

Shameful? Why would it be?
No matter which I look at it I can't see the why you would think that.

Anyways it means "equally".  ....Would it be less shameful if we said "kou pou kou" :)

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

I need the definition for these following phrases/ terms please: piga, oze, ranfeme, anvi, tet mwen pati, gwo foli, m'ape, jire, lobey, foke, antann, nou sonje tout rime

 Piga (or pinga) – don’t, refrain from, beware, (giving a warning)

Egzanp:

Pinga w pale ak moun sa yo.  – Don’t talk to these people

Pinga ou ale la. – Don’t you go there.

Pinga m tande kriye sèlman. – I better not hear any crying

 

Oze – to dare, to take a risk

Egzanp:

Misye renmen fi a men li pa oze pale avè l. – He likes the girl, but he’s not courageous enough to speak to her.

 

Ranfème – to be withdrawn

Egzanp:

Ti fanm tèlman timid, li ranfèmen tankou yon flè

 

Anvi (n.) – desire

Anvi (v.) – to want, to desire

Egzanp:

M’anvi wè boubout mwen. - I miss my sweetie pie.

 

Tèt mwen pati – I’ve lost my mind

gwo foli – madness

 

m'ape (same as m’ap or mwen ap)

Egzanp:

M’ap chante  same as M’ape chante (I’m singing)

M’ap wè w nan fèt la pita.  Same as M’ape wè w nan fèt la pita .(I’ll see you at the party later)

 

jire – to swear

Egzanp:

Nou jire pou n pa janm fè sa ankò. – We swear never to do that again.

 

lobèy - commotion, unrest

Egzanp:

Ki lòbèy ki gen nan kay sa a?! – What’s all the fuss in this house?

Ala fanm ka fè lòbèy! – This woman can be rowdy!

 

foke – to have lost it, to have gone crazy

 

antann (or tonbe dakò) – to agree, to mean to say

Egzanp:

Ann antann nou sou sa. – Let’s agree on this.

 

nou sonje tout rime (rimè?) – We remember all rumors

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