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Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Bonjou! I am honored to have been asked to be a marenn (godmother) at a young girl's kindergarten graduation. I will not be in Haiti for the graduation but am wondering what might be expected of me, financially and/or otherwise. What would be appropriate for me to do? Thank you for your help!

The role of "marenn" in Haiti is usually that of a supporter, encourager, helper, patron or sponsor.  Since you cannot be present to encourage her, take pictures, or give her a pat on the back on the day she celebrates her achievement, you can send a gift.  The young little kindergarten graduate is probably looking forward first to summer vacation activities, then to her FIRST YEAR at school.  If you choose to give a gift, perhaps it could be some summer activity materials, a new backpack with lunchbox, or a nice pair of shoes.  You can never go wrong with shoes in Haiti :)

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Ifvyiu wanted to say Acts 1:8 tells us the global preaching work can not be done with out Jehovah's Holy Spirit Would you say? Travay 1:8 di n travay predikasyon mondyal pa ka fè ak soti Jewova Sentespri

A little correction.  Write instead:
Acts 1:8 tells us the global preaching work cannot be done without Jehovah's   Holy Spirit"
Travay 1:8 di nou travay predikasyon mondyal la pa ka fèt san Sentespri Jewova a.

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Is there a H. Creole equivalient to the phrase "No problem" in response to someone thanking you?

Monday, June 10, 2013

in kreyol what does it mean when someone says "ou pap sis"

Ou p'ap sis → you'll be disappointed, you won't make it, you'll get nothing, you won't succeed

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how do you write this h.creole " she is clothed with strength and dignity ; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom and faithful instruction is on her tongue"

She is clothed with strength and  dignity ; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom and faithful  instruction  is on her tongue"
Li abiye avèk fòs e diyite;
Jou k'ap vini yo pa fè'l pè.
Pawòl li plen ak lasajès, 
E ansèyman ki sou lang li konfòme ak laverite.

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

This is not a question but more of a comment of praise. I am learning to speak and read Hatian Creole on my own and became very excited when ran across your blog through Google. Thank you for the wonderful information. Your posts are going to be a key resource in my learning. :)

it's me again asking another question on emphasis. Using 'byen' as manje byen manje. Could you give me a couple of example?

Here the emphasis will translate into REALLY WELL.

Some examples:

1.  Mare l byen mare.
     Tie it really tightly.

2. Mwen gade l byen gade.
    I took a good look at him.

3. Fanm nan joure mesye a byen joure.
    The woman really cursed the guy out.

4.  Lave l byen lave  anvan w mennen l anndan kay la.
     Wash it really well before you bring it inside the house.

5. Li sere mont lan byen sere pou ankenn pa't jwenn ni.
    He hid the watch real well so that no one would find it.

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how do you say dwarf?

2 questions in 1: How does one convey "I missed you." instead of "I remembered you"? Also, what is this Creole word for "teacher"? It sounded something like "metla" and was a title of honor.

"Mwen te sonje w" is basically a good way to say that.
Sonje (or chonje) translates to remember, to recall, to reminisce, to think of, to long for, to miss

1. Lè ou kite, mwen va sonje w anpil.
    When you leave I'll miss you a lot.

2.  M sonje manman m.
     I miss my mom.

3. Eske ou te sonje m?
    Did you miss me?
    
4. Sonje priye anvan w'al kouche.
    Remember to pray before you go lie down.

5. Fè m sonje rele sè w la pou m ka swete l bòn fèt.
    Remind me to call your sister so I may wish her a happy birthday.

Creole word for teacher → pwofesè, mèt, metrès (female)
Yes sometimes people say "mèt la" which literally means "the master".  It's equivalent "teacher"

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Sunday, June 9, 2013

Mandalay, how do translate "mind" in 'do you mind' or 'would you mind' in Creole? thanks

1.
Do you mind?
Eske sa deranje w?

2.
Would you mind?
Eske sa ta deranje w?

3.
Would you mind if I call you later tonight?
Eske sa ta deranje w si m ta rele w pita nan aswè?

4.
No I won't mind.
Non sa p'ap deranje'm.

5.
Yes I mind.  I have to go to work early in the morning.
Wi sa ap deranje m.  Mwen dwe al travay bonè demen maten.


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translate for me please: mwen konnen ke mwen genyen kek bagay ke mwen fi'n mete. le pwoblem se ke: mwen te plis we, pou nou avanse plis nan pwodiksyon an pou jou an.

Mwen konnen ke mwen genyen kek bagay ke  mwen fi'n mete. le pwoblem se ke: mwen te plis we, pou nou avanse plis nan  pwodiksyon an pou jou an.
I know that I had already added some stuff.  The problem is that I mostly wanted to progress to the production for (or of) the day.

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Menaj Kay House Chores (AUDIO)

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-Mwen deteste jou samdi a.
  I hate Saturday.

-Mwen konn poukisa w di sa wi.
  I know why you said that.

-Poukisa ou panse m di sa?
 Why do you think I said that?

-Chak semèn, depi samdi rive, ou toujou di menm bagay la paske samdi se jou nou fè menaj kay!
  Every week, when Saturday comes, you always say the same thing because Saturday is the day we do house chores

-Eske w ka ban'm tò mezanmi?  Ki plezi ki genyen nan bale, pase mòp, ak foubi kras?
Can you blame me?  What fun is there is sweeping, mopping, and scrubbing dirt?  

- Nanpwen!
  There's none!

-Mwen jis pa renmen fè menaj nan kay.  Si m te gen lechwa, chak samdi mwen ta al chita bò lanmè Montrouis a pou m bwè byè depi solèy leve jis solèy kouche.
  I just don't like to do house chores.  If I had the choice, every Saturday I would go sit by the ocean of Montrouis to drink beer from sunrise to sundown.

-Enben si ou rayi l tout rayi sa a, se pou w anplwaye yon bòn pou fè menaj kay la pou ou.
 Well if you hate it that much, you should hire a maid to do the house chores for you.

-Non.  Mwen pito lave pwòp asyèt pa'm.  E mwen vle ranje pwòp kabann mwen tou.  Nanpwen moun ki ka fè pi bon dyòb pase m.
 No.  I rather wash my own dishes.  And I want to make my own bed too.  No one can do a better job than me.

-Nou pa oblije fè netwayaj jodi a.  Kay la p'ap soufri si n sote yon semèn.
 We do not have to do the cleaning today.  The house won't suffer if we skip a week.

-Men non, nou p'ap ka fè sa.  Sonje, nou te sote netwayaj la semèn pase?  E dayè, n'ap gen envite demen.
  But we can't do that.  Remember, we had skipped the cleaning last week.  And besides, we have guests tomorrow.

-Ki envite?
  What guests?

-Manman w ak nouvo mari l la ap vin dine avèk nou.
  Your mom and her new husband are coming to have dinner with us

-O O!  Nan ka sa a, an nou met men ansanm pou n ka fini pi vit.
  O O! In that case, let's team up together so that we can finish faster.

-Sa se yon bon lide.  M'a netwaye anndan an, e ou menm, ou va netwaye deyò a.
  Good idea.  I'll cleaning inside, and you'll do the outside

-Wi.  Mwen va lave fenèt yo. M'a bale payason yo. E m'a fè gazon an, epi pase rato sou li.
  Yes.  I'll wash the windows. I'll sweep the doormats.  And I'll mow the lawn and rake it.

-Dakò.  E mwen menm, mwen va siye mèb yo, pase bale elektrik nan chanm yo, e pase mòp nan rès kay la.
  Okay.  And as for me, I'll dust the furniture, vacuum the rooms, and mop the rest of the house

-Lè nou met men ansanm, kantite travay la vin diminye.
  When we team up together, the workload becomes lighter.

-Wi, konsa n'a fini anvan lontan.
  Yes, this way we'll be done before long.

-Distans pou apremidi rive, n'ap gentan sou plaj Montrouis a, lanbi griye nan yon men e yon boutèy wonm nan lòt men an.
By the afternoon we'll be at the beach of Montrouis, grilled conch in one hand and a bottle of rum in the other.

-Mwen renmen lè w pale konsa.
 I love when you talk like that.

-An nou kòmanse travay.
 Let's start working.

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Saturday, June 8, 2013

How does the "byen" in "M ta byen renmen manje avek ou" translate? Is this a common expression in HC? Mesi. Jan

byen, here, translates as really, indeed, truly, very much... or emphasis.
Yes, using "byen" in this way is very common.

1. M ta byen renmen manje avèk ou.
    I would truly love to eat with you.

2. M ta byen renmen ale avèk ou, men m'ap travay jou sa a.
    I would really love to go with you but I work that day.

3. Pa enkyete'w si l fè kòmsi l pa wè'w. Li byen renmen w.
    Don't worry if she pretends not to see you.  She does love you.

4. Malgre tout tèt chaje l te ban'm pandan te la a, mwen byen sonje l kounye a.
   In spite of all the headaches he gave us while he was here I do miss him now.

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perform related duties as assigned

Perform related duties as assigned
Pèfòme tach apwopriye ke yo anchaje w.
Or
Efektye tout tach apwopriye ke yo anchaje w.

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tradwi pou mwen souple: ou pa janm konnen kisa lavi rezeve pou sa'w fe se li ou we.

Ou pa janm konnen kisa lavi rezeve pou ou, sa'w  fè se li ou wè.
basically:
You never know what life has in store for you, you reap what you sow.

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