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Monday, March 9, 2015

Kilès ki gen rezon? Who's right?





Listening exercise. Click on the play button and follow along :)


O Ti Mari ou rantre bonè jodi a.
Ti Mari you're home early today.

Men wi. Mwen fatige. M pral kouche pou yon moman.
Yes I'm tired. I'm going to lie down for a while.

What's wrong?

Nothing's wrong.

Cheri m konnen w trè byen. Sa’w genyen? Poukisa figi w fennen konsa?
Sweetie I know you very well. What's wrong? Why the sad face?

A! Se pa anyen ditou.  M pa gen anyen.  M'anfòm.
It's nothing at all. Nothing's wrong. I'm fine.

Ou di w anfòm men figi w pa sanble sa.  Pale avè m non.
You say you're fine but your face doesn't look it. Talk to me won't you?

Dakò. Te’m rakonte w sa’k pase m. Di m kilès ki gen rezon.
Ok. Let me tell you what happened to me. Tell me who's right.

M’ap koute w.
I'm listening.

Jodi a nan travay la nou te genyen yon miting.
Today at work we had a meeting.

Anhan.

Bòs mwen t’ap fè yon prezantasyon an Kreyòl enpi yon anplwaye etranje  ki te la panche bò zòrèy mwen pou mande m tradui sa bòs la t’ap di a. Sa’w kwè m fè?
My boss was making a presentation in Creole and a foreign employee that was there leaned in my ear to ask me to translate what the boss was saying. What do you think I did?

Ou te ede anplwaye a?
You helped the employee?

Men wi . Mwen tradui sa bòs mwen an t’ap di a.  Sa w kwè k rive?
Yes. I translated what my boss was saying. What do you think happened?

Bòs la mande w fè silans,
He told you to be quiet?

O o men wi! – Se kòmsi w te la.  Bòs la fè m yon sèl malonèt devan tout moun – li di m pe bouch mwen.  Mwen vin santi m tankou yon timoun yo rale zorèy li.
Yes! it's as if you were there. He insulted me in front of everyone. He told me to shut up. I felt like a reprimanded child.

Bòs ou an  gen rezon wi cheri. Ou pa ka pale pandan l’ap pale tou – si tout moun ap pale, pa gen moun k’ap koute. Se youn oubyen lòt. Ouswa w’ap pale ouswa w’ap koute. Ou pa ka fè toulede alafwa.
Your boss is right sweetie, you can't talk while he's talking. If everyone is talking no one is listening. It's one or the other. Either you're talking or listening. You can't do both at the same time.

O o sou bò ki moun ou ye menm?
Whose side are you on?

Mwen sou bò w cheri – men eske ou ta renmen gen yon odyans k’ap pale pandan w’ap fè yon prezantasyon?
I'm on your side sweetie. But would you like to have an audience talking while you're doing a presentation?

Non men fò’w konprann sa’ m t’ap fè a te enpòtan tou.
No but you must understand that what I was doing was also important.

Menm si sa, pa fè yon lòt sa w pa ta renmen yo fè w. Ou konnen sa trè byen.
Even then, "Don't do unto others, what you wouldn't want done unto you". You know that very well.

Bon kòm mwen wè se kritike ou vle kritike m jodi a, mwen pral kouche kouche m. Ou mèt kouche sou sofa a aswè a.
Since I realize that all you want to to is to criticize me today, I'm going to lie down. You may lie down on the couch tonight.

O o Cheri! Mwen te fè erè. Se ou ki gen rezon.  Se ou ki va toujou gen rezon.
Oh Sweetie! I was wrong. You were right. You will always be right.

A! li twò ta pou chanje lide.  Pase bòn nwi sou sofa a.
It’s too late to change your mind. Have a good night on the couch.



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

Sa ou te kwè a se pa sa

Sa ou te kwè a se pa sa.
You were wrong.

Sa ou kwè sa a ye?
What do you believe this is?
What do you think this is?

Sa w kwè ki pase la a?
What do you believe happened here?

Sa  kwè li fè?
What do you think she did?

Sa w kwè k te rive (contraction)
or
Sa ou kwè ki te rive?
or
Kisa ou kwè ki te rive?
What do think happened?

Sa w kwè li te di m?
What do you think he told me?

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

Genyen rezon, gen rezon

gen rezon - to be right, to be correct, to be at an advantage

Ou gen rezon
You are right.

Kilès ki gen rezon e kilès ki pa gen rezon?
Who's right and who's wrong?

Ravèt pa gen rezon devan poul.
Roaches are at a disadvantage when facing chickens.

Se mwen ki gen rezon.
I'm the one who's right.

Li gen rezon devan w.
He's got a leg up on you.

Ou pa fè respè w, se pousa ou p'ap janm gen rezon devan bèlmè w.
You don't respect yourself, that's why you'll never have the upper hand when dealing with your mother in law.

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

Do Haïtians from Port-au-Prince completely understand everything that a Haïtian from the north or south of Haïti is saying? Will it be difficult for them to understand their accent and words?

Men wi! tout Ayisyen kèlkeswa kote yo sòti, nan Lès, Lwès, Nò oubyen Sid Dayiti va konprann Kreyòl ki pale  .....depi se Kreyòl Ayisyen l ye. Aksan moun nan Nò oubyen nan Sid p'ap anpeche w swiv yon konvèsasyon nonplis. Gen de twa mo vokabilè ki ka pa menm nan Nò ak nan Sid - donk si w tande yon mo ou pa konprann pran plis enfòmasyon sou mo a.
Absolutely! All Haitians whatever their origin, East, West, North of South of Haiti, will understand spoken Creole ...as long as it is Haitian Creole. Northern or southern Haitian Creole accents won't prevent you from following a conversation. Some vocabulary words may not be the same in the North and South, so ask about these words if you hear them.

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

Sunday, March 8, 2015

Can you post the lyrics for Freedom manman song . i cant find it anywhere thanks.

Solèy leve m di Bondye mèsi ke w egziste
Pa gen anyen p’ap fè pou ou
M pa konn fè nwa,
Se sèl nan zye w m wè limyè ka klere
Pa gen anyen m p’ap fè pou ou
Lè kè m fè m mal  tout penn efase lè w vin bò kote  m
Pa gen anyen p’ap fè pou ou

 Nan lavi sa se ou ki lespwa m
Sèl moun ki ka vrèman ban m jwa
Enpi ou fè powblèm vin tounen yon bon paradi
Lè m wè manman m chagren pati
Ou te ban m fòs lè m santi m pa t vle kontinye
Enspirasyon pouse w
Se gras a ou ki fè m pa t janm sispann lite
Ou se cham  ki klere m

Tout sa ke m fè ou sipote m
Depi m piti se lamou pa w ki gide m
M’ekri mizik sa a pou konprann laverite
San ou m sati m debousole
San ou m santi m fòs kè m bese
Pa gen lanmè m p’ap travèse
Pou mwen ede w si ou rele



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

Saturday, March 7, 2015

I have a a translation for gentle as DOU. will this work if i try to say 'he was very gentle with me'. thanks and welcome back.

It depends on what he 'performed' so gently.
Li te trè dou avè m.
Li te aji avèk anpil souplès avè m.

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

Hi! Can you please help me find the lyrics to this song?? "Jezu pwoblem yo nan men ou. Pwoblem spiritual pwoblem sentimental, pwoblem material yo tout yo nan men ou". The spelling might be wayyyy off lol. Please help me. Thank you!

You were not that far off :)


Si nou sonje lè nou te nan lemonn nou te nan esklavaj
Nou pa’t genyen espwa. Nou te tankou yon brebi egare
Ki pa’t gen patiraj, dyab la te mennen nou nan tout sa ki pa bon
Men Jezi nan amou l,  te vin mouri pou nou, e li te rachte nou anba malediksyon
Jodi a m’ap chante,  se pa pou n pale m mal, paske li delivre nanm mwen anba peche

Si nou genyen pwoblèm pandan m’ap chante la
Leve men nou anlè, pwoblèm yo va rezoud, jezi
Jezi, pwoblèm yo nan men ou Bis, one line)

Lemonn alèz yo di yo san pwoblèm
Men yo tout pè mouri, paske vi yo pa pwòp
Nou menm kretyen nou konn gen ti pwoblèm
Men nou pa pè anyen paske Bondye nou an se matematisyen
Se li k kreye lemonn ak tout sa ki ladan l –
Tè a avèk syèl, se nan men li yo ye
Li konn geri malad, li kon rezoud pwoblèm
nou pa ka konpare grandè Bondye nou an

si nou genyen lafwa nou mèt desann men nou
O non de Jezi pwoblèm yo deja rezoud
gen moun ki san manman
gen moun ki san papa
se ofelen yo ye, yo tout yo nan men ou

Jezi, Jezi! Jezi, pwoblèm yo nan men ou
Pwoblèm espirityèl pwoblèm santimantal,
pwoblèm materyèl yo tout yo nan men ou

Jezi, Jezi, Jezi pwoblèm yo nan men ou

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

Friday, March 6, 2015

How can I say in Haitian creole ."De la detresse a l'esperance".

Detresse detrès, touman, chagren
Esperance lesperans

de la detresse a l'esperance

sot nan detrès pou mennen nan lesperans

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

Faith is Strength - in Haitian Creole please foi se fos?

You are very welcome. It is our pleasure.(in creole sivouple :)

You're welcome
deryen
padekwa

It's our pleasure.
Se tout plezi nou.

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

I'm wondering if you could help me find this song yon jou m va rejui avek Jesus kris Nan yon bel cite lajwa ap nouye. And there's another one it goes like this lavi ap mennew tankou yon ti bato

Zanmi k’ap koute
Ki pa konvèti
Sa se yon ti chan m’ap chante pou ou
Si ou pa prese fè yon ti chita
Pou w kapab tande
Si mwen ta mande w ki jou ou te fèt
,Ou prêt pou reponn se tèl jou ou tèl dat
Alo zanmi mwen mwen ta renmen mande w se konbyen ou rete


Lavi ap mennen w tankou yon ti bato
Ou pa konn ki bò l’ap rive avè w
Asepte Jezi paske se li menm sèl ki kapab delivre w
Ou genyen 22, 23 ou 24 an
Ou kap gen 40, 50 ou 60 an
Alò zanmi mwen mwen ta renmen ou di’m konbyen tan ou rete


Chak fwa ou rete ou di w’a gen tan
Kòm si lavi a te depann de ou
Alò zanmi mwen, mwen ta renmen ou di m konbyen tan ou rete
Chak jou ou leve ou ta dwe priye
Renmèsye Bondye pou sa l fè pou ou
Li menm ki sove w
Li sitèlman renmen

Li bay vi li pou ou

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

Hi Mandaly! I've been missing your posts so much. One question. You know how in a lot of Haitian konpa songs, the singers said "zobodo" a lot? Well, what does it mean? Just curious. Thanks!

...zobodo bodo...pepa...papade..."
They are Lyric fillers.

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

Thursday, March 5, 2015

Hi ! I looking for a song ! Can you help me please! Batay la se pou le Seigneur Pouki sa wap kraze ko-uo. Batay la se pou le Seigneur rete en silence .ou te met essaye jodia se pa anyien wap regle pito ou lague batay la nan main l'Eternel .please, Thanks!

Batay la se pou Letènèl pouki sa wap kraze kò'w? 
Batay la se pou L'etènèl rete an silans. 
Ou mèt eseye depi jodi pou rive demen se pa anyen w'ap regle 
Pito'w lage batay la nan men Letènèl


Izrayèl te devan lanmè wouj
Farawon dèyè l, l'ap mache al rankontre l
Kijan pou yo fè?  Ki moun ki kab delivre yo?
Te gen yon men envizib ki t'ap gide Moyiz avèk pèp Izrayèl la
Touswit Letènèl pale, se te delivrans.


Amalèk parèt sou Izrayèl pase pa dèyè'l atake'l ak gwoup li yo
Moyiz monte sou montay, moun yo te desann al batay
Amalèk pa't kapab reziste chak fwa Moyiz leve men'l anlè bay Bondye
Viktwa batay la te la nan men Letènèl.


Sayil pa't kab sipòte David paske Bondye te chwazi'l pou'l t'al ranplase'l
David pran lafuit, Sayil dèyè'l pou touye'l
David epanye lavi Sayil pandan'l t'ap dòmi
Li pa't mete men sou li.
Sayil mouri, Letènèl te delivre David


Anpil fwa Kretyen yo konn panse se yo menm ki kapab mennen batay la.
Se sa ki fè pafwa yo konn pèdi batay la
Aprann lage batay la nan men Letènèl
Se li menm ki konnen sa l'ap fè
Bay Letènèl batay la, w'a gen laviktwa



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

Wednesday, March 4, 2015

This is interesting as I noticed when I lived in Haiti that there is often a pretty wide variation in pronunciation because of location, class, and the casualness of....

Anonymous says:
"This is interesting as I noticed when I lived in Haiti that there is often a pretty wide variation in pronunciation because of location, class, and the casualness of conversation, not to mention the natural shift in pronunciation over time. Take for example the word 'bagay.' in my experience the 'g' is dropped more often than not. But it is never spelled 'baay.' Sometimes the first vowel is dropped, too, so that it is pronounced 'bay.' For example, 'ou wè bay la m fenk achte?' Do you think that we are starting to see a drift between written and spoken Creole, where written Creole isn't actually purely phonetic? "

Mandaly says: We'll see. time will tell.

The same thing happens to 'janm" where some Haitians drop the "j" and it sounds like an "h"
Kote w ye m pa janm wè w konsa?

This also happens to the g in  "gason"
Kote ti gason sa a prale?

etc...

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

Kisa ki pi senp m ka fe pou yon moun kite'm viv an pè?

Dapre eksperyans mwen, pa gen anyen ou ka fè ki va chanje anyen - si se pou moun w'ap fè li.
Kèlkeswa sa w fè a w'ap toujou echwe depi se pou satisfaksyon moun w'ap fè l.
Fè tèt ou kontan se bagay ki pi senp ou te kapab fè.

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