I am familiar with 'mouri' (to die), but I am unfamiliar with 'al bwachat'. Could you give me a bit more information on this expression (i.e. its etymology)?

I am not 100% sure.

Other than Al bwachat or al bwa chat and mouri, other commonly used Creole expression for “to die” are:

trepase

Li trepase a minwi tapan. – He died at the stroke of midnight.

Mezanmi! Ede'm. M'ap trepase. - Help me, I'm dying.

ale nan Peyi san chapo

Manman nou kite n. L’al nan peyi san chapo. – Our mom has left us. She died.

fè vwèl pou peyi san chapo

Kamyon an frape misye, li voye l al fè vwèl pou peyi san chapo. – The truck hit him and sent him to his death

kase kòd

Kon minwi sonnen beng malad la kase kòd. - At the stroke of midnight, he kicked the bucket.

rann dènye souf – to give one’s last breath

Li rann dènye souf li. – He gave his last breath

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

This Creole expression (I don’t exactly know how to write it, but I did get the exact translation), it says “he died for his eyes or for one’s eyes”. Do you know the meaning?

 Is it “Li mouri pou pwòp je l” or “Li mouri pou je l”? If yes, then it means that He/she died in vain.

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

Bwa ki nan main ou se ave l ou pouse chien. What’s the meaning please?

This expression basically means to “use your own resources/knowledge/ skills to your benefit” or “use what’s you got  to get what you want”

You’ll hear different version of the same expression depending on the circumstances:

Here are some of them with literal tanslation:

Baton ki nan men w se avè l ou pouse chen.  - The rod that’s in your hand you use it to push dogs away

Bwa ki nan men w se ak li ou pouse chen. - The wood that’s in your hand you use it to push dogs away

Baton ki nan men w se ak li ou pare kou. - The rod in your hand you use it to block a punch

Baton ki nan men se ak li ou bay kou. - The rod in your hand you use it to beat (someone)

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

What does this saying mean: "Pa kite double six mouri nan main'w?"

This expression means

Doubsis – doube-six

Doubsis mouri nan men (yon moun).

(Someone) whose youth is past.

It’s become too late for (someone) to marry.

Pa kite doubsis mouri nan men w.

Don’t let time pass until it’s too late to marry.

Don’t become an old maid.

Doubsis ap mouri nan men w.

You’ll become an old maid.

Pitit fi Papouch la ap fè enteresant, li pa vle marye ak Ayisyen. Li panse l twò bon pou nèg peyi l. Lò doubsis mouri nan men l li va mary nenpòt  avadra.

Papouch’s daughter is being cocky she doesn’t want to marry a Haitian. She thinks she’s too good for a man from her country. Once it becomes too late for her to marry, she’ll take any vagabond.

Another similar expression is "Fè dan zòrèy" which literally means "to grow wisdom tooth".  It can be translated as "being no spring chicken"

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

M’ap aprann kreyòl men m pa pale byen. Eske m di sa kòrèk?

Wi, ou di l byen e ou ekri l byen tou :)
Kontinye konsa enpi kenbe la

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

Creole approximation of "touchy-feely"?

Touchy-feely - siseptib, sansib alagachet

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

Ending a letter in Haitian Creole

Mandaly!!

Ki kote ou ye? M'espere tout bagay anfòm. Nou sonje ou anpil la!

Enben, si ou te ale an vakans, bon vwayaj! (:

(O.o, Kijan ou fèmen yon lèt?)

Bondye beni ou,

Mwen la.

Tout bagay anfòm grasadye.

Mwen t’ap fatige tèt mwen ap fè anpil monte desann, ap travay, ap vwayaje tou. Eskize m, mwen te neglije blòg la pou yon moman.  Mwen retounen lakay mwen kounye a. Mwen mennen tèt mwen ba w (I’m all yours).

Bondye beni ou tou.

 ********************

Lè ou fin ekri yon lèt ou kapab ekri:

At the end of a letter you may write:

Sensèman… or Avèk senserite - Sincerely

Avèk tout senserite – Sincerely yours

Avèk respè … Respectfully

Avèk tout respè – Respectfully yours

Mèsi davans – Thanks in advance

Avèk lanmou … With love

Souwè or Tout souwè - Best regards

Tout bon souwè – Wishing you the best

Mwen pa ka tann pou m rankontre w - I am looking forward to meeting you

M’espere tande w byento – I hope to hear from you soon

Anpil lanmou – Lots of love

Anpil beze – Lots of kisses

Anpil mèsi – Many thanks

A la pwochèn - Until next time

Zanmi ou - Your friend

Pi bon zanmi ou – Your best friend

Pran swen tèt ou – Take care, Be well, Take care of yourself

Fè miyò – Be well

Kenbe la - Hang in there

Na wè byento – See you soon

Akolad – Hugs

Yon salitasyon pou tout moun – Greetings to all

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

What is "He's taken my sins away" in creole?

He’s taken my sins away. – Li retire peche m yo.

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

What does "helas!" mean?

Helas! - Alas!

(Exclamation that expresses sadness or disappointment)

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

Ki sa "Gendwa"?

Gen dwa – to be able, to be entitled, to have the right to, to be allowed

1. Ou gen dwa manje nenpòt sa w vle. – You may eat whatever you want.

2. Nou pa gen dwa jije moun senpleman sou aparans yo. – You should not judge people solely on their appearance.

3. Ou pa gen dwa fè sa. – You should not do that.

4. Konstitisyon peyi a di tout moun se moun, yo gen dwa pou yo viv lib. – The country’s constitution says that everyone is human, they have the right to live free.

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

I'm reading through the creole songs in Chants D'esperance which seem to use an older style spelling. I can still recognize most of the words but I'm stuck on gnou - such as in "Gnou jou avan kouche soley." Also, are the last two words reversed from their normal order?

Gnou, youn, or yon – indefinite article a, an

Gnou jou – one day

To answer your question, no it’s not reversed. It’s the possessive being used here.

kouche  /solèy / la

setting / sun / the

the setting of the sun

gnou  / jou / avan / kouche / solèy

a / day / before / laying / sun

one day before the setting of the sun

one day before sunset

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

What are words for "sprain" or "wramp" as a noun and as a verb?.................

sprain  - fouli, foulay, antòch

to sprain (to twist) – foule, dejwente

egzanp:

M foule pye m antan m t’ap monte mòn nan.

Oubyen

M te pran yon foulay antan m t’ap monte mòn nan.

for a shoulder strain you'll also use depole or dekloke

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

what is wap ban bouden?

W’ap ban m bouden

You’re misleading me.

Bay bouden – to deceive, to double cross

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

apparently and impact in kreyol, also what does fouti mean?

apparently - aparamman

impact – efè, enpresyon, chòk

fouti – to be able (used in negative sentences)

such as:

M pa fouti konprann sa misye ap di la.

I can’t understand what he’s saying.

M telman  fatige lò m fin travay, yon fwa m met tèt nan kabann m pa fouti leve jouk li maten. – I’m so tired after work that once I go to bed I can’t get up till it’s morning.

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

how do you say: ......

I meant to come get you but I forgot. – M te fin pare pou m vin chache w, men m vin bliye.

This means a lot to me. – Sa konsekan pou mwen.

you can use the word konsekan or enpòtan

What do you mean? – Kisa ou vle di?

Basically - esansyèlman

 steering wheel - volan

seat belt – senti sekirite

bald - chòv

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