Haitian Creole

Ajai?....

I think you mean adye!, which is an interjection
you'll hear:
Adye o!
Adye Bondye!
Adye frè'm!
Adye sè'm!
Adye manman!
Adye papa!
Adye pitit!
They could translate Oh God!, Oh my!, Oh dear!, Yikes!, Geez!, Jeepers Creepers!, etc...

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

Is there an expression to say "keep your hands to yourself"? I'm looking for something stronger than "pa bat mwen".

Pa bat mwen is Don't hit me

Keep your hands to yourself would generally translate in Creole as Pa manyen anyen (Don't touch anything) or Pa manyen'm (Don't touch me)

But if someone is actually hitting you, tell him/her:
Pa leve zago'w sou mwen!
or
Sispann leve zago'w sou mwen!
Then let someone know about this.
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

M genyen yon kesyon gramatikal. M ap li yon liv ki rele "Epi yon jou konsa tèt Pastè Bab Pati." Gen yon fraz (paj 48)"..otorite sou katye a te reyini ap jwe kat, bay blag, epi bwè gwòg yo." Yo itilize "ap" aprè yon vèb. Eske sa gen sans? Kisa sa vle di?

Mezanmi o! Tit liv sa a long :)
Li sanble yon liv trè enteresan.

Konsènan kesyon ou an, mwen ta renmen ou gade plasman 'AP' nan yon lòt fason.
Pa panse yo mete 'AP' apre vèb reyini,
Men, panse pito yo mete 'AP' anvan vèb jwe, bay blag, ak bwè .

look at it this way:
Otorite | sou katye a | te reyini | ap jwe kat | ap bay blag |epi | ap bwè gwòg yo.
The big shots on the neighborhood got together playing cards, giving jokes, and drinking their beer.
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Is, I believe it is "manman-ou pi gran pase gran-n ou" an insult or something bad? I know it means the mother is older than the grandmother, but that can't be right... thanks.

Well, you're right about the translation.
Manman'w pi gran pase grann ou means that your slip is showing.
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Your blog is fantastic, thanks for doing it. Have you ever thought of uploading your audio lessons to itunes as a podcast? thanks smile ask

Mèsi anpil :)
No, I haven't really thought of that. Maybe one day I might.
Chapo ba!

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

Moun ki chache pwoteksyon bo kote BD ki anwo nan syel la, moun ki rete kache anba zel BD ki gen tout pouvwa a...tanpri esplike "bo kote" na vese sa...does it mean person who searches for protection close to God? Mesi anpil!!

Wi. Ou kòrèk. Tradiksyon ou egzak.

Bò kote (literally around the sides) means close to, beside, nearby, alongside
Haitian Creole speakers will use the following words to say near, next to, or close to: bò, bò kote, bò kot, pre, tou pre.
Please see this audio post which includes bò kote
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

beautiful things → bèl bagay
so many beautiful things → anpil bèl bagay
too many beautiful things → twòp bèl bagay
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

King → wa
King David → Wa David
king of the castle → wa chato a
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

How do you say..today is my birthday...in creole?

2 comments:

AnonymousAugust 9, 2012 4:50 PM

How do you say.today is my birthday...in creole?
ReplyDelete
Replies

i have seen the word "koze" used what seems like 15 different ways... can you tell me some of the ways it is used

Yes :)
The word koze can mean so many different things in Creole, and it is used in hundreds of expressions too.

Koze n., in Haitian Creole, can be translated as: chatter, dialogue, story, situation, business, personal affairs, gibberish, double talk, baloney, crap, blah-blah, dispute, etc...

Using koze in a sentence:

1. Mwen gen yon koze pou'm di'w.
I have something to tell you.

2. Koze lanmou sa se tèt chaje!
This affair of love is a headache!

vye koze can mean filth, dirty talk, offensive language, obscenities, sexual stuff

3. Chak fwa mwen wè Nancy, se vye koze sèlman li vle pale.

Every time I see Nancy, she only wants to talk about obscenities.

Koze, as verb, can mean to chat, to talk, to talk gibberish, to court a woman

4. Frantz gen dezan depi l'ap koze ak Myrlene. Yo resi renmen.

Frantz has been courting Myrlene for two years. They're finally going out.

And, here are some expressions with koze that you will hear often.
5. Ki koze sa?
What the hell is this?
What is this?

6. Men koze papa!
There it goes.
Oh no, there it goes.

7. Nan ki koze mwen ye la?
What did i get myself into?

8. Vin tande yon koze
Come and listen to this

9. Se gwo koze
It's a big deal

10. Ala de koze!
Ala de koze papa!
What baloney!
What nonsense!

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

se sa ki fe...eske se lot jan mwen met di se poutet sa? Li sanble li vle di nan angle: it is what is doing?? Mwen pa byen konprann.

Wi zanmi'm, ou kòrèk.

Se sa'k fè (se sa ki fè) is yet another way to say That is why.
It literally means It's what that makes :)

Here, below, is a link to an audio post about the many ways to say That is why.
Take a look:
Many Ways to Say That is Why

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

Sa zye' pa we, tse pa ka-fe' mal

You have this in an older Creole form.

We generally say this proverb as:
Sa je pa wè, kè pa tounen.
What the eyes don't see cannot make the heart queasy.
or
You cannot feel queasy about what your eyes haven't seen.

The idea is about "Ignorance is bliss."
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

"Ou konn sa w ap kite; ou pa konn sa ou pral jwenn." What is the thought behind this proverb?

Ou konn sa w'ap kite, men ou pa konn sa'w pral jwenn.
You know what you're leaving behind, but you don't know what you will find.

Haitians also say:
Ou konn kote'w soti, men ou pa konn kote'w prale.
You know where you've been, but you done know where you going.

Both sentences are the same ideas. They're about not knowing what the future holds.
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

poutet...kisa mo sa vle di nan fraz la: Se poutet sa...

se poutèt sa ... → that is why ..., that is the reason why, it's because of that (literally)

poutèt (on its own) means because, because of

example:
Mwen malad. Se poutèt sa mwen pa't ale travay.
I'm ill. That's why I didn't go to work.

Yo grangou. Se poutèt sa y'ap kriye.
They're hungry. That's why they're crying.

or check this out :)

Y'ap kriye poutèt manje.
They're crying because of food

Li kite travay la poutèt timoun li yo.
She left the job because of her kids.

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

pou kont....pou kont ou, pou kont li, pou kont mwen....I understand this to mean for yourself, her/himself, myself...I thought ou menm, li menm, mwen menm was yourself, her/himself, myself?? Can you use either?

You are right about ou menm, li menm, etc... meaning yourself, him/herself

Pou kont ... in Creole translate by self, which means alone.

pou kont mwen (literally on my own account) - by myself
pou kont li - by himself
pou kont nou - by ourselves
Example:
Li te aprann kondui pou kont li.
She learned to drive by herself (She learned to drive on her own, with no help)

Li te kite timoun yo nan kay la pou kont yo.
He left the kids in the house by themselves (alone, with no supervision)

See these helpful links:
Alone, unattached, by oneself
Mwen menm, ou menm - myself, yourself?

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

Se pou nou renmen tout bon vre...it is for us to love (all good true)??? I struggle only knowing the literal translation sometimes...what it this saying in the context of the Creole language? Mesi Mandaly!!

Dakò :)

Se pou ... denotes obligation, duty, requirement
example:
Se pou ou vini wè mwen.
You must come see me.

Se pou yo netwaye kay la anvan yo pati.
They should clean the house before they leave.

notice how the subject is placed after SE POU.
See more on SE POU link

Tout bon vre means for real, for good, genuinely, truly
see link for posts on tout bon vre

Se pou nou renmen tout bon vre...
You must love for real... (literally)

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

Mwen pa konpran mo la: piga. Nan vese sa li di: Pitit mwen yo, piga nou renmen selman nan bouch, nan bel diskou ak bel pawol. Kisa mo sa piga vle di? Mesi anpil :)

Piga or pinga means don't, do not (used when giving advice or a warning)
See link to posts about PINGA
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Be respectful

We usually say:
Fè respè'w which literally means to earn your respect.

If you want to say Be respectful in Haitian Creole, it's better to name the "object" such as:
Gen respè pou lòt.
Be respectful of others.
Have respect for others.

or
Respekte lèzòt yo.
Respect others.
Have respect for others.

or
Respekte pwochen'w.
Respect your neighbor.
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

To say "there are no words to express my sentiments ..." in Creole, should I say 'pa gen pawòl yo ...' or "pa gen mo yo..."?

There are no words to express my sentiments ....
Pa gen yon mo ki kapab eksprime santiman mwen ...
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Stove and Oven?

stove → recho
oven → fou
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

How do you say "Happy 1st Birthday my dear, sweet Rosenalie! I hope we can become best friends one day! Love, Khalil" I'm sending a gift from my one year old son. Thanks!

Pase yon bon premye anivèsè nesans Rosenalie, dous cheri mwen!
Mwen espere nou kapab vin bon zanmi yon jou!
Avèk lanmou, Khalill
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

I'm looking for the right ways to say "want to be." Li se dòktè. Li vle se dòktè. Kòrèk? Men... Li ro. (he's tall). Li vle se ro. ?? Does that work, or would I have to say something like "li vle fini ro" or something like that? Mesi!

There are really two best ways to say it:

The first one: want to be ... → vle vin ... (which literally translates want to come/ become)
Examples:
1. He wants to be a doctor.
Li vle vin yon doktè.

2. She wants to be skinny
Li vle vin mens.

3. I want to be a servant.
Mwen vle vin yon sèvitè

4. She wants to be like you.
Li vle vin tankou'w

5. I want to be your friend
Mwen vle vin zanmi'w

The second one: I want to be ... → Mwen vle pou'm ta ... which literally means I want for me to be ... (where the pronoun that comes after POU reflects the subject)
This second one can also be used for the sentences above. AND .... it works well in sentences where it's hard to use VLE VIN such as #7 and #9.

6. I want to be my own boss.
Mwen vle pou'm ta bòs tèt mwen.
I want for me would be the boss of my head (literally :)

7. I want to be wherever you are.
Mwen vle pou'm ta nenpòt kote ou ye.
I want for me would be anywhere you are (literally)

8. He wants to be taller.
Li vle pou'l ta pi wo.
He wants for him would be more tall (literally)
and you could also say:
Li vle vin pi wo.
He wants come more tall (literally)

9. They want to be with their mom.
Yo vle pou yo ta ak manman yo.
They want for them would be with mom their (literally)

10. She wants to be my girlfriend
Li vle pou'l ta menaj mwen.
She wants for her would be girlfriend my (literally)

P.S. you don't always have to use contractions after POU. You can say pou mwen ta (instead of pou'm ta), pou li ta (instead of pou'l ta), pou nou ta (instead of pou'n ta), etc...

AND... as you get comfortable using this 'second one', you'll start noticing that Haitians may use different tenses; past tense (vle pou pronoun te ...), present tense (vle pou pronoun ...).

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

How do you say thank u hun in creole

Thank you 'hun'.
Mèsi ti cheri.
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

If I want to say you can stay there by yourself...eske mwen dwe di: ou met rete la pou kont ou? Ede'm tanpri :)

Yes, you are correct. Ou byen di'l.
Haitian Creole word 'mèt' is all about giving permission or allowing someone to do something

You can stay here by yourself.
You may stay here by yourself.
Ou mèt rete la pou kont ou.

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

Pa kite mechanste gen pye sou mwen. In this part of the verse, is "gen pye sou mwen" like saying have a foot on me...like getting control of me?

Yes. You are right.
gen pye sou or pran pye sou means to control, to dominate, to influence
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Soutni m avek pawol w pou m pa bite...what does bite mean in this verse? Thanks, Mandaly!!

bite (pronounced bee-tay) means to stumble, to trip, or to trip and fall

Soutni'm avèk pawòl ou pou'm pa bite.
Sustain me with your Word so that I don't stumble. (literally)
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

How do I write the bible verse reference. For example: 1 John 1:9. Do you write it 1 Jan 1:9 and do you place the reference at the beginning or end of the verse?

Yes you write it as: 1 Jan 1:9
You say it as : En Jan En vèsè nèf
Most people write it at the end of the verse in Bible Study, but if your group is trying to memorize the verse (saying it out loud), then they'll 'chant' the verse reference first.

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

1 John 1:9...please give me the literal and Creole context translations of this portion of this verse: Paske l'ap fe sa k gen pou fet la:

Pake l'ap fè sa' k gen pou fèt la (contracted)
Paske li ap fè sa ki gen pou fèt la. (uncontracted)
Because he will do what that must be done. (literal meaning)

Paske | l'ap | fè | sa'k | gen pou fèt * | la.
because | he will | do | what that | must be done * | the

*Gen pou is a H. Creole expression which means must, will (depicts imminence of an occurence)
*fèt means done, made, occured, happened, born
Li gen pou fèt → it must be done, it will be done, or it will surely happen
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

do you have translation to this song Your love is amazing by John Tesh? Thank you in advance.

Lanmou’w se yon mèvèy, ki fèm e pa chanje
lanmou’w se yon montay, tou fèm anba pye’m
Lanmou’w se yon mistè, Ala ou soulve mwen!
Lè yo viwonnen mwen, lanmou’w pote mwen

Chorus

Alelouya Alelouya
Alelouya, lanmou’w fè’m chante

Alelouya Alelouya
Alelouya, lanmou’w fè’m chante

Lanmou’w etone mwen, mwen santi l’ap leve

Tout lajwa k’ap grandi, anndan fon kè mwen

Chak fwa lè mwen wè ou, tout bonte ou briye
konsa chan selès sa, leve nan nanm mwen

Bridge

Wi, ou fè’m chante
Senyè, ou fè’m chante…

Ala ou fè’m chante

Alelouya alelouya …

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

mwen pale yon ti kras kreyol

I guess this can be a useful sentence if you want to let the people know that you only speak a little bit of Creole yon ti kras Kreyòl.

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

the door is open / the door is wide open

The door is open.
Pòt la ouvè.
Pòt la louvri.
Do not say: ~~pòt la se louvri~~

The door is wide open.
Pòt la gran ouvè.
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Hello, I am Haitian American and would like to incorporate the Lord's Prayer in French or Creole as part of the wedding ceremony. Can you post the prayer in French or Creole? It would be greatly appreciated.Blessings!

The Lord's Prayer in Creole

Nòtrepè a an Kreyòl

Papa nou ki nan syèl la,

Nou mande pou yo toujou respekte non ou.

Vin tabli gouvènman ou,

pou yo fè volonte ou sou latè, tankou yo fè li nan syèl la.

Pen nou bezwen an, ban nou li jòdi a.

Padonnen tou sa nou fè ki mal,

menm jan nou padonnen moun ki fè nou mal.

Pa kite nou nan pozisyon pou nou tonbe nan tantasyon,

men, delivre nou anba Satan.

Paske, se pou ou tout otorite, tout pouvwa ak tout louwanj, depi tout tan ak pou tout tan.

Amèn.

The Lord's Prayer in French

Le Notre Père en Français

Note Père qui es aux cieux

Que ton nom soit sanctifié

Que ton règne vienne

Que ta volonté soit faite sur la terre comme au ciel

Donne-nous aujourd'hui notre pain quotidien

Pardonne-nous nos péchés

Comme nous pardonnons à ceux qui nous ont offensés

Et ne nous induit pas à la tentation

Mais delivre nous du mal

Car c'est à toi qu'arpatiennent le reigne, la puissance et la gloire aux siècles des siecles.

Amen

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

Abricot where can i find that fruit

Abriko? I see them a lot on West and South side of Haiti. Makes delicious jam.
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

How would you say: "he is feeling something deep in his soul"

He is feeling something deep in his soul.
Li santi yon bagay nan fon nanm ni.
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Mandaly, konbyen religion ki genyen Ayiti? Eske yon moun gen dwa pratike vodou piblikman nan peyi a? Eske Rara se yon relijyon?

Relijyon nan peyi Ayiti, tankou tout lòt kote, fè mikalaw.
Genyen anpil. Mwen pa konnen non yo tout.

Relijyon protestan an ankadre anpil relijyon Kretyen tankou Lapwofesi, Batis, Pannkotis, Advantis, e petèt Temwen Jehova yo tou, etc...
Relijyon katolik la ankadre relijyon Kretyen tankou relijyon Katolik Womèn, Karismatik, Presbyteryen, etc...
Apre sa, genyen Mizilman yo, Mòmon yo, etc... Mwen pa fin twòp konnen anpil sou relijyon sa yo.

Anpil nan seremoni vodou yo fèt nan aswè, men sa pa vle di yo pa pratike li an piblik.

Mezanmi o! rara pa yon relijyon monchè :)

Si ou jwenn plis enfòmasyon sou relijyon nan peyi Ayiti, w'ava kite'm konnen. Mèsi.

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

It is my heart's greatest desire to share in a small part of your beautiful village.

village? Be a part of the village or share in the village?
Pi gran dezi kè mwen se pou mwen fè yo ti pati nan bèl vilaj ou a.
and for the other one that you had asked about:
Mwen swete mwen ta kapap fè yon pati nan vilaj sa ki satisfè ou si tèlman.
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

it is where I long to be too. (Creole)

It is where I long to be too.
Se la mwen vle ye tou.
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Would it be culturally inappropriate for me (a caucasian ameriken) to say "neg" while in Haiti? I see it in phrases "neg di san fè", and even see "granneg" in the New Testament.

No. Not at all.
You can even call yourself yon nèg blan (a white man :)
The word 'nèg' in Haiti translates man, guy, partner, boyfriend, friend in English

See the links to these posts: nèg is not the N word.

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

Lavi se tankou latè. Lè ou jwenn yon woch jaden an, pa mete woch anko nan latè. Ositou, lè ou jwenn peche a nan lavi, pa mete peche a anko nan lavi. :-) Does that make sense? Is there a more correct way to say it? What is a good word for "remove"? Mesi!

Yes it makes sense to me. I understand it as: Do not make things any worse than they are.
Perhaps you might add the preposition 'nan' before 'jaden'.
Mwen panse se bèl pawòl nèt! ☺

A good H. Creole word for remove can be retire or wete
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

ou decide si te mwen ou vle (?)

sounds like an ultimatum:) Ou deside si se mwen ou vle (You decide if it's me you want)
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

What does chuchu mean? He said "morning chuchu".

It's written as chouchou, but I like your spelling too :)
Chouchou is an endearing name like sweetie, honey, cutie pie..

See link to endearing names
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

My sweet brother / my (adj) ...person (in Creole)

Remember, some adjectives go before the noun and some don't.

my sweet brother
dou frè mwen

my older brother
gran frè mwen

my dear brother
frè cheri mwen

my good Haitian brother
bon frè Ayisyen mwen

my best friend
pi bon zanmi mwen

my one and only friend
sèl zanmi mwen

my dear love
lanmou cheri mwen
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

"W'ap vini nan Kreyòl la." I'm reading it as "You're becoming Creole" Is that correct?

I am reading it as: You're getting there (as in you're getting better or proficient)

W'ap vini nan Kreyòl la.
You're getting better with the Creole.
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

How do you say "Poor people entertain with the heart" in Kreyol?

do you mean entertain as to welcome guests, to show hospitality?
Poor people entertain with the heart.
Moun pòv akeyi moun ak tout kè.
or
Do you mean entertain as to amuse themselves?
Poor people entertain with the heart.
Moun pòv pran plezi yo ak tout kè yo.
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

how would you say "even if the world will end tomorrow, I will plant a tree today

Even if the world will end tomorrow, I will plant a tree today.
Menm si fen monn nan t'ap rive demen, m'ap plante yon pyebwa jodi a.
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Mandalay, do kids in Haiti believe in the tooth fairy? How do you say tooth fairy in Creole? Thanks!

Well, the Haitian tooth fairy is actually a rat.
In Haiti, when children lose a tooth, they throw the tooth on the roof of their house and say, 'Rat, rat, rat! I am throwing you a beautiful tooth, send me a bad tooth'. Rat, rat, rat! Men yon bèl dan m voye pou ou, voye yon move dan pou mwen.

The belief is if to trick the tooth-hungry rat into accepting the bad tooth so that the child may grow the tooth back. If the child doesn't grow a tooth, then the rat didn't buy into the lie :)
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Congratulations to Evy and Ben on the birth of your beautiful girl.

Felisitasyon a Evy e Ben nan okazyon nesans bèl pitit fi ou.
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

How do you feel (Creole)

How do you feel?
Kijan ou santi'w?
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

no question for me yet, but i wanted to let you know that i just discovered your site and it is GREAT, thank you!

Dakò!
Mèsi anpil.
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Tèt chaje! Mwen pa konnen kisa 'pedi fey' vle di :)

O O... Gwo tèt chaje! Sa vle di 'to be crazy' :0
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

kisa yon fridodoy la se ye?

Fridòdòy se manje ki pa fin twò bon pou lasante. Se manje fri. Se fritay. Se 'snacks' tankou potato chips ak fast foods. Se tyanpan. Se pa manje ou manje sou tab ak kiyè e fouchèt :)
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

I translated 'Nan ki koze m tonbe la?' as 'in what I fall?' makes no sense.

No, It won't make any sense if you translate it literally :)
Koze, in Creole, can translate any number of things.

Nan ki koze mwen tonbe la?
What mess did I fall into?
What did I get myself into.

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

Rete! ...Rete! ...Rete!

Download link for this audio:
Click here to download…

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

Bonjou tout moun! kouman nou ye?
RETE
RETE to live, to dwell, to stay with
RETE to keep up, to be left over, to remain
RETE to stop, to cease, to pause

Rete (abite, demere, viv) → live, dwell, stay or stay with

1. Mwen rete New York kounye a.
I live in New York now.

2. Li bezwen yon kote pou li rete.
She needs a place to live.

Rete → remain, be left, continue, keep up

3. Li rete yon semèn pou li etidye pou egzamen yo.
It remains one week for him to study for the exams. (literally)
He has one week left to study for the exams.

4. Nou rete de jou anvan fèt la.
We have two days remaining before the party.

When saying, "There remain.../There remains..." or "There's ... left over", Haitians may begin a sentence with Rete.... and not the subject.
5. ~~Li rete yon lòt timoun anndan kay la. ...~~
Rete yon lòt timoun anndan kay la.
There remains another child inside the house.
There's another child left inside the house.

6. Rete kat pen sèlman nan panye a.
There's only four pieces of bread remaining in the basket

Rete → to keep up, to stay, to continue to be...

7. Rete jan ou ye a. Pa chanje.
Stay the way you are. Don't change.

8. Rete kote ou ye a. M'ap vin chache ou.
Stay where you are. I'll come to pick you up.

9. Rete konsa. Pa bouje.
Stay like that. Don't move.

10. Rete fèm nan lafwa.
Remain firm in the faith.
Keep the faith

11. Rete trankil.
Remain calm.
Stay calm.

12. Rete nan volonte Bondye
Remain in God's will.

Rete → pause, stop

13. Rete taksi a pou mwen.
Stop the taxi cab for me.

14. An nou fè yon ti rete la pou yon moman.
Let's rest here for a moment.

15. Depi li koumanse, nanpwen anyen ki ka rete'l.
Once it starts, there's nothing that can stop it.

16. Li te mouri paske kè li te rete.
He died because his heart stopped.

Enben zanmi mwen yo, se te tout pou jodi a. M'ap di nou yon gran mèsi. Pase yon bon jounen e orevwa!

****ONE other use for rete. People might use it to express impatience or eagerness or show a little surprise when something unexpected happens when they say WAIT! or GEEZ! Where the hell are you? Here are some examples:

1. Rete! Kote ti fanm nan?! Mwen te voye l nan magazen an depi lontan.
Geez! where's that girl?! I sent her o the store ages ago.

2. Rete! kote you ye? M'ap tann ou toujou!
Man! Where are you? I'm still waiting!

3. Rete! Sa k'ap pase la?
Wait! What's going on here?

4. Rete! sa w'ap fout di konsa?!
Oh man! What baloney are you talking about?!

5. Rete! Apa s'on moun fou ou te ye?
Geez! I didn't realize you were insane!

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

what is beni swani tenel

Beni swa Letènèl → Praise the Lord see link
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

I speak creole, but I still don't understand why machann kann or machann pwason are insults. Can you go more in depth lol?

Unfortunately to some Haitians, if you're not behind a desk crunching numbers, if you're not a doctor, engineer, or architect, then you're in the wrong profession. Machann, especially, take a beating along with other considered lowly professions in Haiti.

If you've ever been to Haiti and browsed through the fish section of a market where flies, maggots and the smell of fish are hard to ignore then you'll know why machann pwason is an easy target for insults.

If you've ever been to Haiti and seen a machann kann struggling to push his heavy wooden cart around so he can sell a peeled kann for just two pennies, then you'll know why machann kann is used as insult.

People tend to forget that any professions where you make an honest living is an honorable profession. So please do remind people of that the next time you hear them use a profession as an insult. I know I certainly will.
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

What is a unique name for a Haitian Creole female?

When it comes to names, what's unique to me might not be unique to you... Especially since we have different backgrounds (it seems).
It looks like you are asking about UNCOMMON HAITIAN CREOLE PROPER NAMES for a girl. Is that right?
Unique names in Haiti tend to not be of Haitian origins. But then again some Haitians parents do name their kids after ...events in their lives.
Here are a few unique Haitian Creole girl's names (some are my friends') that you might be surprised to hear:
Irmide
Dazimèn
Wandaline
Sia (this name literally means 'the saw')
Poukisa ( literally 'why')
Timizè (literally 'little misery')
Nadiyo (literally 'we'll tell them')
Selavi (literally 'That's life')
Tifiyèt (literally ' little girl')
Dòmita (literally 'sleep late')
Krazebwa (literally 'break wood')

I don't think I could ever forgive my parents if they gave me the last name on the list :)
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

How do you say "take for granted" in Creole. For example, don't take it for granted that I'll always pay for your education (even if you get bad grades).

take for granted
pran pou sèten
konsidere kòm sèten
sipoze
kwè

Don't take for granted that I will pay for your education.
Pa konsidere lefè m'ap peye pou etid ou a kòm yon bagay ki sèten.

Don't think that I'll continue to pay for your education even when you get bad grades.
Pa panse mwen pral kontinye peye pou etid ou menm lè ou fè move nòt.

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

how to say i want to be your friend

I want to be your friend.
Mwen vle fè zanmi ak ou.
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

kijan pou m di: I don't care and He doesn't care ann kreyol? mesi.

I don't care.
Kite mele'm.
Sa pa gade'm.
Sa pa regade'm.
And if you're really pissed:
Ki te mele bouda'm.
Mwen pa bay yon mèd. (vulgar)

He doesn't care.
Ki te mele'l.
Sa pa gade'l.
Sa pa regade'l.

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

Please, what does "wè pa wè, vle pa vle" mean? Mèsi davans pou repons-w.

Wè pa wè → whether we see you or not, whether you show up or not, whether you come or not
Example:
Wè pa wè, legliz la ap koumanse a 7:00 PM.
Whether you show up or not church will start at 7:00 PM

Wè pa wè, otobis la ap kite a 9:00 pil.
Whether you here or not, the bus will leave a 9:00 sharp.

vle pa vle → whether you want it or not, whether you like it or not
Example:
Vle pa vle ou pral nan vakans avè nou.
Like it or not, you're going on vacation with us.

Vle pa vle, se nan lekòl sa a ou prale.
Like it or not, this is the school you will attend.
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

How would you say: "when we go to see the mothers and the babies...we are saving lives" Mesi!

When we go to see the mothers and babies.... We're saving lives
Lè nou ale wè manman ak bebe yo.... Se lavi n'ap sove.
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

How do you say, "I saw you talk to the cop. What did he say?"

Mwen wè ou t'ap pale ak polis la. Kisa li te di?
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

How do you say, "He is counting on you?"

Konte sou
to count on, to rely upon, to have faith in, to trust

He is counting on you.
He relying on you.
Li konte sou sou ou.

He's putting his faith n you.
He's trusting you
He's waiting on you.
L'ap konte sou ou.

You may count on him.
You may trust him.
Ou mèt konte sou li.

Can I count on him?
Eske m'ka konte sou li?

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

What (in Creole)

What → Kisa, Sa, or Ki

'What' can be translated in Creole as KISA:
What is that?
Kisa sa ye?

'What' can be translated as SA:
What is that?
Sa sa ye?
or
I don't know what he wants.
Mwen pa konnen sa li vle.

Or 'What' can be translated as KI:
What day is it?
Ki jou li ye?

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

how do you say beautiful soul in creole

Well, out of context, beautiful soul will literally be bèl nanm in Creole. But this might changed based on what you are trying to say.
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

I've used up all of my emotional energy. Now I'm not sad anymore, just tired. (in Creole)

Mwen fin itilize tout enèji emosyonèl mwen. Mwen pa tris ankò, mwen jis fatige.
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

How do you say "free" in creole?

free (as in not in captivity) → lib

Mwen lib pou'm di sa mwen vle.
I'm free to say whatever I want.

Nou tout lib.
We're all free.

free (as in not costing a penny) → gratis

Tout bagay sa yo gratis.
All these things are for free.

Nanpwen moun k'ap fè sa pou ou pou gratis.
No one will do that for you for nothing.

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

Mandaly, how is the verb 'to be' specifically used in these expressions: Be patient, Be happy or Be blessed. Speaking to a congregation I want to say, "Be happy in the Lord!" The translation I got was "Ou dwe kontan nan Senyè a!", but i don't want to say "You must be happy...". I want to say "Be happy..."

I see...
These sentences comes across as either an advice, an encouragement, or a benediction....
In that case you would say:

1. Be happy in the Lord.
  Se pou nou kontan nan Senyè a. (nou is plural as it seems that you're speaking to a crowd)

2. Be patient.
Se pou ou pasyan. (singular)
Se pou nou pasyan. (plural)
or you can also say:
Se pou'w pasyante.
Se pou nou pasyante.

3. Be blessed. (blessed by God, right?)
Se pou Bondye beni'w. (singular)
Se pou Bondye beni nou (plural)
or you may rephrase this:
Se pou'w jwenn benediction. (May you find blessing.)

other examples (using Se pou....)

4. Be there before 9 PM.
  Se pou nou la anvan nevè di swa.

5. Be kind to them.
  Se pou'w fè jantiyès avèk yo.

6. 'Be quick, but don't hurry'
  'Se pou'w rapid, men pa prese'
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

What does TiFi mean

ti fi → little girl or just girl
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

naturalization in creol

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

out pa we yo

Did you mean:
Ou pa't wè yo (You didn't see them)
or
Ou pa't wè yo? (Didn't you see them?)

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

Helpless and desperate, I go to the feet of God trembling, begging Him to heal my papa. I wait in tears for my God to act. (in Creole)

San defans e san espwa, mwen ale tout an tranblan nan pye Bondye, m'ap sipliye Li pou'l geri papa mwen. M'ap tann, avèk lanm nan zye mwen, pou Bondye mwen an aji.
or
Afebli e detèmine mwen ale tout an tranblan nan pye Bondye, m'ap sipliye Li pou'l geri papa mwen. M'ap tann, avèk lanm nan zye mwen, pou Bondye mwen an aji.

Hope your papa feels better :)
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

When I see my papa in pain a deep fear weighs so heavy it nearly crushes my lungs. But there’s nothing I can do. How can I tame my heart after I’ve allowed it to love my papa with such a wild and extravagant love? (in Creole)

Lè mwen wè papa mwen anba doulè, yon laperèz pwofon si tèlman peze byen lou sou mwen, li preske pete poumon'm. Men nanpwen anyen mwen kapab fè. Kijan mwen ka donte kè mwen, apre mwen fin kite li renmen papa mwen avèk yon lanmou ki si natirèl e si ekstravagan?
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Bad things in life come, I’ll get discouraged, but then I move on. But the thought of losing my papa is more than a bad thing. When my papa is sick my soul feels torn and my whole world comes to a stop. (in Creole)

Move bagay nan lavi sa va rive, mwen ka byen vin dekouraje, men mwen va kontinye kenbe la. Lè papa mwen malad, mwen santi nanm mwen dechire e tout linivè mwen sispann fonksyonen.
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

I know I should know this, but could you translate: "you give it to me" (the statement), and "give it to me" (the command)? I can't remember the proper order for the pronouns.

You give it to me. (the statement)
Ou ban mwen li.

Give it to me. (The command)
Ban mwen li.
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

how do you say, "do you want me to turn on/off the lights?"

Do you want me to turn on the light?
Eske ou vle'm limen limyè a?

Do you want me to turn off the light?

Eske ou vle'm etenn limyè a?

See links for Turn on / turn off

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

I'm so excited about what God is doing and would love to share with you in our next skype session.

Mwen kontan anpil pou tout sa Bondye ap fè, e mwen ta renmen pataje sa avèk ou pwochèn fwa nou pale sou Skype.
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Creole plural of miracle

mirak → miracle or miracles

God makes miracles
Bondye fè mirak.
Bondye konn fè mirak.

Jesus made a lot of miracles.
Jezi te fè anpil mirak.

When indicating a plural noun in Haitian Creole, we add the article yo as in mirak yo the miracles, only when the noun is specified.
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

i like you just the way you are (Creole)

I like you just the way you are.
Mwen renmen ou jan ou ye a
or
Mwen renmen ou egzakteman jan ou ye a.
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

how to say 'You are special."

You are special.
Ou espesyal.

You are a special person.
Ou se yon moun espesyal.

You matter.
Ou konsekan.
Ou konte.
Ou enpòtan.
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

mwen manke l 'tèlman

yeah... Someone's trying to say: I miss him/her so much.
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

how do u say theres my wife

There's my wife.
Men madanm mwen.

Here I am.
Men mwen.

There they are.
Men yo.

Here it is.
Men li.
Sometimes you will hear: Men ni.

There they come.
Men y'ap vini.

See more on There it goes

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

Does this sentance make sense? "Akoz de Bondye renmen nou, li te voye Jezikri sou te a pou nou." Or is "paske Bondye renmen nou, li te voye Jezikri sou te a pou nou." OR is "poutet lanmou Bondye pou nou, li te voye Jezikri sou te a pou nou," better?

The second one is the overall BEST one.
Paske Bondye renmen nou, Li te voye Jezikri sou tè a pou nou.

The third one is also correct. But if you can find a way not to use ...pou nou twice in that sentence, it would flow better.
Poutèt lanmou Bondye pou nou, Li te voye Jezikri sou tè a pou nou.
Maybe you can have it as:
Poutèt lanmou Bondye pou nou Li te voye Jezikri sou tè a.

The first one can remediated if we phrase it like this:
Akoz lanmou Bondye pou nou Li te voye Jezikri sou tè a.

Kout chapo!
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

In your opinion, what is/are the best book/s for learning Kreyol. Also, what is the best pocket/small dictionary?

I do take frequent trips to Miami's Haitian bookstores. The Libreri Mapou owned by Mr Mapou in Miami along with EducaVision have a great collection of Creole learning books. The most complete book I've come upon so far is Ann Pale Kreyòl An Introductory Course in Haitian Creole by Albert Valdman.

The problem with the small pocket Haitian Creole → English pocket dictionaries that I know is that they are missing a lot of the English language high frequency words and Creole's mostly used words in conversation.
Wally Turnbull's Creole Made Easy Creole learning book happens to have a better selection of words in its glossary than these pocket dictionaries.
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

how do you spell signature in creole?

Signature → Siyati
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

What is the opposite of twòp, meaning "few" or "too few"?

The oposite of twòp (too much) can be twò piti, ensifizan or pa ase (too little, insufficient, or not enough)
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

what does this mean "gro tet" and "ti tet"

gwo tèt → big head
ti tèt → big head

Some school children may be called gwo tèt if they being bullied.
Some peole may be called ti tèt if they have trouble learning or retaining what they learn.

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

Ou se Anyo a, e w'se kris la ??

Ou se Anyo a, e ou se Kris la.
You are the Lamb, and you are the Christ.
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Kit se Ayisyen kit se etranje k'ap aprann Kreyòl, yo pa ka fè li san yo pa konnen istwa peyi a. Sa ou panse?

M'panse ou pale dò.
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

What does this mean" Twòp filè, la pa bon pou ou"?

You know, my aunt used to say that all the time.
She'd say, "Sa fè'l difisil pou pran desizyon."
I wonder if there's any truth to that.

Twòp filè pa bon pou ou.
Too many suitors is not good for you.

suitors (as in a man who courts a woman)
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Eske te asosi bon pour medam yo ki ansent?

Ah! ou poze mwen yon gwo kesyon.
Men mwen pa kapab di'w ni wi ni non.
Li ta pi bon pou yon doktè ki lisansye reponn kesyon sa a.

Anpil moun Ayiti, ak anpil Ayisyen k'ap viv nan peyi Etazini itilize plant sa a pou anpil maladi.
Men si yon fanm ansent, pi gwo pwoteksyon li te kapab bay bebe a, se kite yon doktè pran desizyon sou ki remèd li dwe pran ak remèd li pa kapab pran.

Dakò zanmi :)
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Remind me or Give me a reminder (in Creole)

Remind me.
Raple'm.
Fè'm sonje.

Remind me to call your mom and thank her.
Fè'm sonje pou'm rele manman'w pou'm remèsye'l.
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Hello, from all the chess players out here, how do you say CHECKMATE in Creole?

Checkmate! → Defèt!, Ou pèdi!, Ou bannann!, Ou chire!

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

What is KOUT in front of a Creole word? I see it a lot. It's confusing to me 'cause I always thought that KOUT meant SHORT in English. I made a list of the ones I've stumbled on so far: kout zekle, kout fil, kout chapo, & kout pye... And none of these make any sense as SHORT .... Mèsi!

First of all the main word in Creole is kou (from French Coup) which means a blow, a punch, a strike of, a gesture
And when you place it in front of these words, it becomes kout (from French Coup de ...)

There are many Haitian Creole expressions made with the word kout:

1. Kout chapo → tribute, ovation
Ex:
Kout chapo pou ou!
Congratulations!

2. Kout fil → phone call
Ex:
Ban'm yon kout fil pita.
Give me a phone call me later.

3. Kout pye → a kick
Ex:
Li te ban'm yon kout pye.
She kicked me.

4. Kout pye → a short visit, a visit
Ex:
Pandan n te Ayiti, nou te pwofite fè yon ti kout pye Sendomeng.
While we were in Haiti, we took the opportunity to make a short trip to Santo Domingo.

5. Kout pwen → punch
Li te bay pitit la yon kout pwen nan tèt.
He punched the child in the head.

6. Kout men → help, support
Ex:
Ban'm yon kout men ak valiz yo. Yo twò lou.
Give me a hand with the bags. They're too heavy.

7. Kout lang → slander, lie
Ex:
Li te kite travay la paske yo te fè twòp kout lang sou li.
She left the job because they told too many lies on her.

8. Kout loray / kout loraj → a strike of thunder
Kout zeklè → lightning strike
Ex:
Chak kout loray e chak kout zeklè ki te fèt, syèl la te klere tankou yon abdenwèl.
Each thunder and lightning strike lit up the sky like a christmas tree.

9. Kout zam → shotgun
Kout fizi → shotgun
Ex:
Nou tande kout zam chak swa nan katye sa a.
We hear gunshots every night in this neighborhood.

10. Kout kouto → a stab (of a knife)
Kout ponya → a stab
Ex:
Li te resevwa yon kout kouto nan batay la.
He got stabbed in the fight.

11. Kout ba → deception
Ex:
Nou te fè misye konfyans. Men li te ban nou kout ba.
We trusted the man. But he deceived us.

12. Kout je → a haughty look
Ex:
Mwen pa konn sa'm fè Rachel. Lè'm te wè li nan magazen an, li pa't pale avè'm, li te koupe'm kout je.
I don't know what I did to Rachel. When I saw her at the store, she didn't talk to me, she gave me a dirty look.

13. Kout pitit → to try and pass one man's conceived child for another's
Ex:
Yo te divòse paske madanm li te ba'l yon kout pitit.
They got divorced because his wife conceived a child for another man and tried to pass the child as his.

14. Kout baton → a beating (with a club)
Ex:
Misye te pran yon bann kout baton.
The guy got beaten with a club.

15. Kout tèt → head nodding (when falling asleep)
Ex:
Ou dwe gen dòmi. Mwen wè w'ap bay kout tèt.
You must be sleepy. I see you're nodding your head.

16. Kout dan → a bite
Ex:
Li te bay mesye a yon kout dan nan bra li.
She bit the man in the arm.

17. Kout wòch → lapidation, stoning
Ex:
Yo te touye'l ak kout wòch.
They stoned him to death.

18. Kout zong → a pinch ( with the fingernails), scratches
Ex:
Lapolis te retire timoun nan nan kay la, lè yo te wè kout zong yo nan do li.
The police removed the child from the home when they saw the fingernail marks on his back.

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

How do you say "produce"?

To produce (verb) → fabrike, donnen (to yield), pwodui (carry, accrue), founi (furnish)
Pwodui (noun) is Haitian Creole for product
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

"Me koze papa" please translate

Men koze papa! translates the English expression There it goes!, There it is!
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

lyrics to amen in haitian creole

The only 'Amen' songs I know in Creole have just about two words in their lyrics: Amèn and Alelouya (and some words Ad Lib). Is that the Amen song your're talking about?
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

how many words are there in the creole language?

Oh my! I cannot answer that :-\
If you do find the answer to that one, please let me know what it is :).
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Just confirming that "Where's mine" is translated as "Kote pa mwen" is that right?

Wi. Se sa.

Where's mine?
Kote pa mwen?
Kote pa mwen an?
Kote pa'm? (contracted)
or
Kote pa'm nan?

and if you really want to get technical, you can also translate it in Creole as:
Kot pa'm nan?
Kot pa mwen an?
Kot pa'm?
Kot pa'm nan ye?
Kibò pa'm nan ye?

All of these 9 translations can be used to say Where's mine?
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Can you write down and translate the chorus of Nan Nannan by Zin? Mesi!

Ah yes.... forbidden song from my pastor father when I was young :)

Nannan in Haitian Creole can mean core, center, essence, the meaty part of a coconut, the pith. Sometimes, nannan yon fanm may refer to the fleshy insides of a female's vagina. So, this song is sexually suggestive.

Kote'l nou vle li? Nan nannan (Where do we want it? In the nannan)
Kote'l renmen'l? Nan nannan (Where does she like it? In the nannan)
Kote'l pi bon? Nan nannan (Where is it better? In the nannan)
Kote'l pi dous? Nan nannan (Where is it sweeter? In the nannan.)
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Praise the Lord! (in Creole?)

Praise the Lord link to posts
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

What do they call the guys at the Port Au Prince airport who help you with your luggage? Bouretye?

Oh no... I would not call them that. They might find it offensive.
If you don't want to say Mesye, please say pòtè
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

We all know that...

We all know that.
Nou tout konn sa.

We all know that this is a lie
Nou tout konnen sa se yon manti

We all know that "Beauty doesn't mean healthy"
Nou tout konnen "Gwo dada pa vle di lasante"

We all know how you like music.
Nou tout konnen jan ou renmen mizik.
Nou tout konnen kouman ou renmen mizik.

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

Jesus loves me and Jesus loves you

Jesus loves me. → Jezi renmen mwen or Jezi renmen'm
Jesus loves you. → Jezi renmen ou or Jezi renmen'w

common Creole names for God/Jesus
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

I saw "li te vin gen" in a Haitian newspaper. it seems to mean "he became." But do you need the "gen" or does "vin" also work? And how is "vin" different from "vini"? Thanks!

Li te vin gen (or Li te vin genyen) → He/She came to own, He/She came to possess, He/She came to have

Yes, for this expression we will need both vin and gen to indicate something that one did not yet have in the past, but came to acquire it..
Ex:
1. Mwen t'ap pral nan magazen an, men mwen pa't ale ankò paske mwen te vin gen yon maltèt.
2. Apre yo te marye, yo te vin gen twa pitit.
3. Apre paran li yo te mouri, li te vin gen anpil lajan.

VIN is a short form of VINI
It means to come, to become, to attain, to reach
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words