Bonjou! Learn to Speak Haitian Creole
Most requested translations added here for your convenience: I love you → Mwen renmen w. I miss you → Mwen sonje w. My love! → Lanmou mwen!
fet
I wouldn't ask you?mwen pa ta mande ou oubyen mwen ta pa mande ou?
How do you say "stop crying" or "don't cry" ?
"Nou pa bezwen polis, nou sivilize"?
"We don't need the police, we are civilized."
It is a slogan (which may have come from a song) which Haitians used to chant in protestation of the Tonton Makout's brutality in the 70s. I became aware of it in the earliest carnival festivities that I remember.
what does se pa ti mean
http://sweetcoconuts.blogspot.com/2012/01/se-pa.html
what does nan tap mache oui lol oui mwen tap fe PR pou ou mean?
a daughter (is it just "fi" or "pitit fi")?
son → pitit gason
boy → ti gason
girl → ti fi
man → nonm, mesye (also misye, msye, or mouche), nèg, monkonpè (or konpè), frewo, jennonm (for younger and for those who feel young), lepè (for older and for those who feel old)
woman → fanm, fi, madanm, dàm, sò, kòmè, makòmè
Young woman → demwazèl (matmwazèl, mademwazèl, or manmzèl), sò, kòmè, jenn dàm, jenn fanm, and jenn fi, and also fanm, fi, or dàm
older person → granmoun, pèsonaj, grandèt
Older woman → grann (also means grandmother)
Older man → lepè, granpè (also means grandfather)
baby → bebe, ti bebe, ti katkat
child / kid → timoun, pitit, ti pitit
how do you say high blood preasure
Where is Bois Caïman, exactly?
The Haitian government declares Bois Caiman a public site
214th anniversary of Bois Caiman
Bois Caïman, spiritual victory
Exorcising the vodou spirits of Bois Caïman
big brother or big sister (Creole)
gran frè / gran sè
Little brother / little sister
Ti frè / ti sè
He's my big brother.
Li se gran frè m.
She's my little sister.
Li se ti sè m.
To be against. "against" (Creole)
I am against it.
Mwen kont sa.
also:
I don't agree.
Mwen pa dakò.
We are against this type of behavior.
Nou pa dakò ak konpòtman sa.
Mesi anpil! Mwen rele Theresa. I am engaged to a man from Bahamas (I will use this Creole there). Do you know of a site like this for Bahamian English?
The web offers few resources that I can find at this time.
But if you google the term "Bahamian dialect" or "Bahamian English", you'll find some helpful resources.
http://www.bahamasgateway.com/bahamas_lingo.htm
How do you say best like: You are the best brother. OR I want the best for you.
and
chou like when someone says it as a name: mwen la pou ou kounyea chou. (chou in english please)
se pa
Is "fè tenten" = "to throw a fit" or "to tantrum"?
"mele" as in "Yo mele."
Yo mele.
They are entangled. (If you're talking about shoelaces or other similar things)
They are in jam.
Piwili is PERFECT!! Thanks! Do you have any suggestions for Thimothee??
I hope he doesn't mind the sweet candy-derived name :)
tito, toto, tilo, tilou, teo, etc... for Thimotée
My name is Rochelle but my Haitian friend calls me Rachou as a nickname. I like it. Now I want to give him a nickname. His actual name is Wickly...any suggestions?? Feeling creative?? :)
You should call him Piwili (Creole for lollipop).
Piwili
Piwouli
kinou
loulou
dadou
patou
Tchitchi :)
besides the obvious
how do you translate i didnt mean to hurt you i wish i can turn back the hands of time to creole?
I didn't mean to hurt you. I wish I could turn back the hands of time.
Se pa fòt mwen si m fwase w. Mwen ta renmen rekile tan an aryè.
what does this mean bagay yo red la pou mwen we neg
"Fè lobo" as in "L'ap fè lobo."
Fè lobo → to raise hell, to bring about an argument, to make trouble
L'ap fè lobo.
He / She's being rowdy.
He / She's making trouble.
Boy, can you raise hell!
Ala ou ka fè lobo!
Ala ou ka fè deblozay!
Ala ou ka fè zen!
Other Haitian Creole synonyms for lobo are: eskandal, briganday, lòbèy, deblozay, akwochay, zen
How was your day?
Kouman jounen ou te ye?
How was your day today?
Kouman jounen ou te ye jodi a?
How's your day?
Kouman jounen ou ye?
What is the Haitian name for Ancestry Day or Hero's day (the January 2nd holiday)? And what are some traditional customs related to the holiday?
It's a day of remembrance of the heroes who served and died for freedom.
In Haiti, there's usually a presidential speech and a service commemorating our courageous ancestors.
The celebration of the 2nd of January seems more like a continuation of the festivities of the previous day (January 1st, Independence Day). Lots of roasted chickens, turkeys, cow meat, or goats will grace our tropical tables on that day. Some people would cap their evening by attending a bal and others would end up on an outdoor terrace at a small table drinking rums and tafia with friends while playing dominoes.
Is this/that correct?, How do you say...?, What is the word for...?
What does that mean?
Kisa sa vle di? (uncontracted)
Sa sa vle di? (contracted)
What is the Haitian word for Child?
today is one of the biggest day clebration in haiti we r celebrating our heroes
Jodi a n'ap selebre youn nan pi gran jou nan peyi Ayiti. Nou ap selebre ero nou yo.
mwen te tande yon chant nan creole ki mwen renmen anpil. mwen pa sonje tout, eske ou konnen res la?"mesi, pou kote ou te prann mwen, pou kote ou te jwenn mwen, pou kote ou mete mwen..."
A Pye Nou Ye! (Happy New Year)?
A pye nou ye, We are on foot, may be considered a pun. It is a Haitian Creole phrase which sounds like the English new year greeting: Happy New Year. When you say this phrase in Creole, English speakers (who dosen't know Creole) hear it in English.
My non-English speaking grandmother, Manmansousoule, used to do that all the time. Every new year's day she was proud to have that one Creole conversation with her English speaking African-American neighbors. She'd say "A pye nou ye!" and the neighbors would respond "Happy New Year to you too!".
what does gin youn zanmi kap di ou sa pou ou di
What is the English translation of: Kè kontan ane nouvo
Am I correct in guessing that "Bondye beni ou" means "God bless you"?
Yes, you are correct :)
Mandaly cheri, Mwen swete w kè kontan nan ane nuovo. Mèsi pou tout ansèyman ou
Mèsi anpil anpil.
Mwen swete w yon bòn ane tou.
Happy New Year! We love you. Wishing you peace, good health, and happiness in this new year (In Creole)
Bòn ane! Nou renmen ou. Nou swete w lapè, lasante, ak kè kontan nan nouvèl ane sa.
Haiti: Independence Day 2012
Mandaly.
gras a - thanks to
premye janvye - January first
san (n.) - blood
kom yon jeun Realtor,ou fe travay moun ki ladan-l lontan pa ka fe... avek dezi, determinasion ke ou ginyin fe lot moun rinmin travay avew.se te yon gro plezi pou m te travay ansanb avec ou nan lane sa, sonje,ane sa map nan ofis la moins akoz de klas ke m
Like a young realtor, you have done the work that veteran realtors could not do. Because of your desire and determination, your co-workers like to work with you. It was a great pleasure to have worked with you this year. Remember that I'll work less in the office because of my classes this year.
what is money in creol
cents → santim, kòb
10 cents → di santim or dis kòb
50 cents → senkant santim or senkant kòb
$1.75 → yon dola swasannkenz santim or yon dola swasannkenz kòb
change → monnen
Do you have any change?
Eske ou gen monnen?
Give me back the change.
Remèt mwen monnen an.
please help translate, ma che,ou pwouve m sa ou knonnin konplimen
My dear, you prove to me what you know. Compliments! (literally)
malerez pye blanch
ou merite tout glwa lyrics
do you have the same po box, because I mailed you a christmas card and it came back. Please send me your po box again.
Eske ou toujou gen menm bwat postal la? Mwen te voye yon kat Nwèl pou ou e lapòs la retounen l ban mwen. Tanpri voye adrès bwat postal ou pou mwen ankò.
a demen
I have trouble with the "ò " sound. What would pòt rhyme with in English?
How do you say "I'm thinking about you."?
mezanmi!!moun yo move oui la.....
I do not live in Miami anymore so I do not have anyone to talk to me in Creole everyday.So I can talk to you and learn from you.
Mwen pa rete Miyami ankò. Sa vle di mwen pa gen moun ki pou pale Kreyòl avè m chak jou. Mwen ka pale e aprann nan men ou.
how do i say i am going to get money for food and josh will take you
Go Over and above (in Creole), include a sentence please :)
He went over and above what was expected.
Li sipase tout sa nou te espere.
Li ale odela sa nou te espere.
Li fè plis ke sa nou te espere.
crazy man, crazy woman, cuckoo, lunatic, eccentric person
swears, curses, dirty words
how do you say but in haitian creole
You will often hear "men"
example:
I like them but they don't like me.
Mwen renmen yo men yo pa renmen m.
I am lying down but I'm not asleep.
Mwen kouche men mwen p'ap dòmi.
Other Haitian Creole words that you will hear for "but" are: epoutan, poutan, sepandan
See more on Haitian Creole translation for the conjunction "but"...
Ask me anything
what do demande 2500 desfrais de service mean
I look forward to working with you this year and thank you for encouraging me to stay in school.
Mwen pa ka tann pou m travay avè w ane sa, e mèsi deske ou te ankouraje m rete lekòl.
"Makak pa janm kwè pitit li lèd." Is this about having an ugly child?
A monkey never believes his offspring is ugly (literally).
Hmm.. I always thought this was about standing by and encouraging your loved ones no matter what the challenge.
Peace of mind (in Creole)
Lapè nan lespri
Kè poze
or
Trankilite
The opposite of that would be
Upset / distress
Kè sote
Kè kase
Panik
moun ou renmen se pa li ki renmen w.
Now I am depressed :)
Moun ou renmen se pa li ki renmen w.
Literally: Person you love is not he who loves you.
Meaning: The one you love is not the one who loves you.
you look so good
how do you make dous kokoyes
Check out page 404 to 408 of this Haitian Cuisine google book:
Can you help me with some phrases start of a sentence?Such as: I'm going…. I'm doing…, I'm eating …. etc..
Use subject + ap + verb
Mwen | ap | chante | Uncontracted
M | ap | chante | Contracted
I | Progressive marker | sing |
I am singing.
Li | ap | pale | Uncontracted
L | ap | pale | Contracted
He/She | Progressive marker | talk |
He's talking.
Nou | ap | manje | Uncontracted
N | ap | manje | Contracted
We | Progressive marker | eat |
We're eating.
Eske | ou | ap | dòmi | Uncontracted
Eske | w | ap | dòmi | Contracted
Interrogative | you | progressive marker | sleep |
marker
Are you sleeping?
See more on progressive form part 1 thru 4 here...
could you help me translate this expression in creole"get it over with".MERCI!
I'm confused about 'from.' How do you say 'I'm from the US' and 'This is from me to you?' Mesi anpil!
We just came from the church.
Nou fèk soti legliz la.
I just came from her house. I saw her crying.
Mwen fèk soti lakay li. Mwen te wè l'ap kriye
You may also want to check the prepositions nan, to, ...
prepositions in, at, and from
Ask me anything
If i were a bird, i could flap my wings to give GOd glory. If i were a tree i would sing my branches to give GOd glory. Im not a tree and Im not a bird, but with my hands I will give GOd glory.
Ak zèl mwen yo m’ap bay Bondye glwa
Ak branch mwen yo m'ap bay Bondye glwa
Mèveye, Mèveye, Sovè mwen mèveye
Wonderful, wonderful, my savior is wonderful
or
Mèveye, mèveye, Sovè ou mèveye
Wonderful, wonderful, savior you're wonderful
or
Mèveye, mèveye, Jezi ou mèveye
Wonderful, wonderful, Jesus you're wonderful
Jezi ou merite glwa
Jesus you're worthy of glory
Pou m ba ou glwa
To give you glory
Jezi ou merite vre
Jesus you're truly worthy
Pou m ba ou glwa
To give you glory
El shaddai ou merite vre
El Shaddai you're truly worthy
Pou m ba ou glwa
To give you glory
Sovè mwen merite vre
My savior is truly worthy
Pou m ba ou glwa
To give you glory
There's also another Creole song (Michael Benjamin's Si m te gen zèl) which is somewhat similar to the one above. Truly beautiful lyrics by Renond
audio button ...you may pause to learn lyrics
Vole, vole...
fly, fly...
Vole, vole keyi zetwal nan syèl
fly, fly, gather the stars in the sky
Vole, m ta vole...
Fly, I would fly...
Si m te gen zèl,
I I had wings,
tankou yon zwazo, m ta vole, al keyi zetwal nan syèl.
like a bird, I would fly , to gather stars in the sky
Si m te lapli,
If I were the rain
Mwen ta jete dlo, pou m wouze flè k pouse anba solèy.
I would drop water to spray the flowers growing under the sun
Si m te lajwa,
If I were joy.
M ta antre nan kè, tout malere pou yo kapab jwenn lespwa.
I would enter the heart of the unfortunates to give them hope.
Si m te lanmou,
If I were love
M ta met ajenou, devan Bondye pou lèzòm kabab sispann goumen.
I would kneel before God so that humanity would stop fighting
Yo ta renmen.
They would love
M ta fè tout mòn blanch yo rebwaze,
I would reforest the barren hills
Tout sous ki seche, rekòmanse koule,
All dried up springs, start flowing again
Si m te gen pouvwa pou mwen chanje,
If I had power to change
Tout sa m dezire.
Whatever I desire
Mwen ta bani tout trayizon,
I would bannish all treason
Tout sa ki malad ta jwenn lagerizon,
All the sick would find healing
Tout sa ta pwouve saj yo te gen rezon.
All that would prove the wise were right
M' ta fè tout sa k' grangou jwenn manje,
I would give food to the hungry
Sa k' nan lesklavaj, ta va jwenn libète,
The captives would go free
Si m te gen pouvwa pou mwen chanje,
If I had power to change
Tout sa m dezire.
Whatever I desire
Mwen ta fè tout zam tounen jwèt,
I would turn weapons into toys
Move zentansyon, santiman disparèt,
corrupt intentions and ambitions disappear
Si m te ka chante pou m chase mechanste
If I could sing to chase away naughtiness
Making progress with Creole, but I have no one to practice with so I can barely improve. I'd love to chat over IM/email if you're interested/have time :) If not would you know where else I'd find lang partners? I tried sites like italki, but no success :/
I'm not too big on chatting, but if you can catch me on FB, Skype, or IM I would be happy to exchange some Creole greetings with you :)
How long have you been learning Creole? and
What are your main goals in learning the Creole language?
Could you write about use of k ap and also bó. Thanks. SAre you going to post any audio lessons soon? They are great!
Yes , I will. I plan to continue uploading audio post by second week of January. The recordings on my computer has been full of loud staticky noise even though I replaced my headphones. I finally took care of that :)
