Haitian Creole

Haitian Creole "pa" is not always "negative", is it?

Download link for this audio clip:

To listen to this audio, press the play button and follow along please :)

Zanmi mwen yo, Bonjou!

Hello my friends!

Kouman nou ye?

How are you doing?

Mwen espere tout bagay ap mache byen.

I hope everything is going well.

WORD: PA

Pa → negative indicator

Pa → forms possessive pronoun

Pa → steps

Pa → by means of, via, per, by ....

Pa → negative (not, do not, don’t …)

1. Se pa sa.

It's not that.

That's not it.

2. Pa fè sa.

Don’t do that.

3. M pa’t konnen (contracted)

Mwen pa te konnen (uncontracted)

I didn’t know.

Pa → part, form possessive pronouns

4. Sa se pa’m. (contracted)

Sa se pa mwen. (uncontracted)

That’s mine.

5. Sa se pa l la. (contracted)

Sa se pa li a. (uncontracted)

This is his/hers

6. Sa se valiz pa m nan.
This bag is mine.
That's my bag.

More on possessive pronouns

Pa → by means of, through, via ...

7. Pase pa dèyè a.

Go through the back

8. M’ap voye l pa lapòs.

I’ll send it by mail

9. Mwen touche de fwa pa mwa.
I get paid two time per month.
I get paid twice a month.

10. Vwayaj la ap koute $150 pa tèt.

The trip will cost $150 per person

11. Pran medikaman ou twa fwa pa jou jan yo preskri l la.
Take your medicine three times per day as prescribed.

Pa → steps

12. Li dwe fè premye pa a.

She/He must take the first step.

13. Jodi a se jou konje m. Mwen p'ap fè yon pa.

Today is my day off. I won't make one step.

Today is my day off. I won't go anywhere.

14. Chak pa mwen fè mennen m pi pre lakay.

Each step I take leads me closer to home

15. Ti pa ti pa n’a rive. (contracted)
Ti pa ti pa nou va rive. (uncontracted)
Little step little step we'll arrive.

Step by step we’ll get there

Fè pa – pardon, go easy on, forgive

16. Fè pa m → forgive me

17. Fè pa l tanpri → forgive him, go easy on him please

18. Mwen fè pa w jodi a, men pa fè sa ankò.

I forgive you today, but don't do that again.

I'll let it slide today, but don't do that again.

Se tout pou jodi a. Mèsi e n'a wè.

That's all for today, Thanks and see ya.

Track: Reyinyon Konbit by Manno Charlemagne

Steps (in Creole)

Steps (n.) → pa, mach
step (v.) → fè pa, mache

Every steps she takes, she gets tired.
Chak pa li fè, li bouke.

The store is only a couple of steps from here.
Magazen an se de pa la.

They take one step forward and two steps backwards.
Yo fè yon pa annavan e de pa annaryè

per, by, via, through (in Creole)

by, via, per, by means of → pa

I see my son twice a week.
Mwen pitit gason mwen de fwa pa semèn.

They let the students go one by one.
Yo kite elèv yo ale youn pa youn.

We are saved by faith.
Nou sove pa lafwa.

I met her by accident.
Mwen rankontre li pa aksidan.

He entered the house through the window.
Li antre nan kay la pa fenèt la.

I know this song by heart.
Mwen konnen chante sa pa kè.

I LIKE TO CHAT WITH YOU

I like to chat with you.
Mwen renmen koze avè w.

Bonjou! Learn to Speak Haitian Creole