“Li pa bon lò nou tann jouk li twò ta”. You don't need to use the word 'lo' to express. Can you explain ? kamsahamnida

Lò, a conjunction like lè, can be used instead of “lè”.
Lò – when, during the time that, after which

Egzanp:

1. Rele m lò w fini. Or Rele m lè w fini.
    Call me when you’re done.

2. N’a pale lò m rive. Or N’a pale lè m rive.
    We’ll talk when I get there.
 
3. Lò w wè tout fèy nan pye bwa koumanse  ap chanje koulè, sa vle di lotòn rive sou nou.
     When you see all the leaves start to change color this means that fall is upon us.

4. (your example):
Li    | pa | bon   | lò        | nou | tann | jouk | li  | twò | ta.
It’s |not | good | when  |we   |wait   |until  |it’s |too  |late.

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

We are learning about Haiti and a church/orphanage we support there with our church. I would like to make the kids "chokola Ayisyen" Haitian Hot Chocolate but I don't know how to make it (especially without a cocoa ball or stick). Do you have any suggestions or a different recipe?

To make the "chokola Ayisyen", boil the cocoa chunks whether it’s a ball or sticks in water. Use amount of water equal to the amount of hot chocolate that you want to serve.

Some people use a graj (grater) to pulverize the cocoa balls or sticks before they add water and boil them.  It melts better and faster that way.

Once it has melted, you may add milk (carnation milk or powdered milk are often used where there’s no fridge)

If you’re using coarse cocoa then you’ll have to strain it before adding a little sugar and cinnamon sticks or star anise spice to your hot chocolate.  We usually serve it with Haitian bread. 

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

Mandaly, I've pretty much decided I'm moving to Haiti (by myself) eventually, but I'm not sure what to do about health insurance. Any advice?

Does your current health insurance carrier offer some type if “international plan” so that you’d be covered in Haiti and abroad?
If I lived in Haiti I would want my health insurance to cover procedures and tests that I might not be able to get done in Haiti in case I need more advanced care.

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

Li te ansent e kounye ' la ' li fèk akouche. Can u translate 'la' ?

la - here, in the present

Kounye a la – right now, at this present time

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

I wish someone would help me with a single word in Haitian Creole. The word is "moth". There is an insect similar to the butterfly called in English "moth." I know that butterfly is called "Papiyon" in Haitian Creole, but what is the word for "moth"? Could someone help me? Thank you in advance.

We do call them papiyon, ti papiyon denwi, papiyon lanp, or bèt lanp

Clothes or bread moths, on the other hand are called “mit”.

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

Hi Mandaly! What is the English equivalent word for someone who is"kaprisyéz"? does it mean that the person is shy/timid or maybe for example, you ask the person if he/she wants a piece of your cake (perhaps lol) and the person says no thanks but deep down the person wants it? Thanks!

Yes, you got it.  The “kaprisyèz” person (in Haitian Creole) may be timid or pretending to be. The person may try to be coy when in fact he/she is not.

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

What does the word "dyolé" mean? and what does the expression "bann dyolé" vle di tou? Mesi!

dyolè – a bragger, a show off

bann dyolè – bunch of show-offs

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

Peace, Mandaly! I'm new to Haitian Creole and I, having grown up absolutely LOVING foreign languages (Spanish, a tiny bit of French) I finally came into pursing Haitian Creole (along with Haitian history, culture, etc.)…

“Peace, Mandaly! I'm new to Haitian Creole and I, having grown up absolutely LOVING foreign languages (Spanish, a tiny bit of French) I finally came into pursing Haitian Creole (along with Haitian history, culture, etc.) and I was BLESSED enough to find your blog and your other websites. I fell in LOVE with your HAITIAN ALPHABET video on YouTube and everything! Lol. My question is though, as a new student to Haitian Creole exactly WHERE do I start as "Lesson 1" on this wonderful website and as far as following YOUR posts websites, and lessons, etc? XOXO”

Peace to you too zanmi mwen :) Welcome to the community of Haitian Creole learners!
This blog can be a great resource as you learn the Haitian Creole language
Here a few posts to help you get started:
Lesson 1
Lesson 2
Lesson 3
Lesson 4
Lesson 5
Lesson 6
Lesson 7


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

Can you use Haitian creole min in a sentence or two please?

Men wi.

Min – facial expression, demeanor,  mannerism

We usually say “mare min” as in to frown, to pout, to look angry

And we also say, dis min mare nan fwon which means to look angry, to look stern

1. Lè w mare min ou ou fè moun pè.   - When you look angry you scare people .

2. Madanm nan te chita sou tab la, min ni byen mare, pa’t gen moun ki fouti pwoche l. – The woman sat at the table , all gloomy, no one dared  to approach her.

3. Sa’k fè w mare min ou konsa?  Se pou moun pa pwoche w? – Why do you look so angry?  Is it so that people to get close to you?

4. Demare min ou. – Stop the long face. Or  Smile. Or even  Turn your frown upside down

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

what is bat bouda in 'bat bouda nou fe m pa we figi nou la'.

Bat bouda - to leave, to go away, to scram
'bat bouda nou fe m pa we nou la' - Scram, don't let me see you face again

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

What is 'ap la'? Thanks

Is there a subject that comes before it?  Such as

M ap la. - I'll be there
Manman m ap la - My mom will be there.
John ap la - John will be there.
E jounalis yo ap la - And the journalists will be there
Donk tout moun ap la. - So everyone will be there.

You can also use "va la".  Nou va la - We'll be there.

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

what does "alaway toner" vle di an h.creole? Thank you.

Is this the right spelling?

It might actually be Ala … tonnè! Which might mean Damn it!

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

si bonet yon moun chavire eske moun nan fache oubyen eske li fou

Mwen panse lè bonèt yon moun chavire moun nan tèlman fache, li tèlman fin dechennen, tèt li pati, li vin aji tankou yon moun fou – li vin pèdi tout sans li.  Tankou Ameriken yo di, moun nan “mad”, “insane”, deranged”.

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

Koze mande chez?

Koze mande chèz (or koze mande chèy) – Grab a chair, it’s a long story.

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

Hi Mandaly! Can you please help me with this fraz. "Misye te kouche nan lopital la e pandan li kouche a ap pase soufrans, chanmyel vini nan chanm kel te ye a e yo kouvri tout ko misye net. Tou kareman misye vin mouri apre. Ala mechan!" Ok what would the world "chanmyel" or maybe it's "channmyel/ chan myel" vle di an H.creole? I think the word might have a French origin and I don't quite think the fraz is talking about "siwo myel" either. Ede m silvouple Mandaly!!

I think they might mean chanprèl or chanpwèl which is synonymous with lougawou, bòkò, move je (evil people, evil spirit, band of malicious people)

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