Neither...nor. 1)As subject:"Neither Paul nor Peter smokes." 2)As object:"He wants to drink neither tea or coffee." 3)With verb: "Keith neither drinks nor smokes nor takes drugs." 4)With preposition:"He is neither from Paris nor from London."

also see link for either ... or

Ni ... Ni → Neither ... nor, neither
A H. Creole negative sentence with "Ni ... Ni" may still include the negation "pa" which would be considered double negation in English.

(with prepositions)
1. Madanm nan t ap chache nan tout rakwen.  Ti bebe a pa't ni nan bèso l ni nan chèz li.
    The Lady was searching everywhere.  The baby was neither in his crib nor in his chair.

(with subjects)
2. Mwen pa't ka jwenn non aktè a sou entènèt la.  Ni Google ni Bing pa't mansyone l.

    I couldn't find the name of the actor on the internet.  Neither Google nor Bing had mentioned him.

3. "Ni Pyè ni Pòl pa fimen."
    "Neither peter nor Paul smokes."

(with objects)

4. "Li pa sot ni Pari ni Lond."

    "He is neither from Paris nor from London."

(with adjectives)

5. Lè diktatè a te mouri, pèp la pa te ni kontan ni tris.
    When the dictator died, the people were neither happy nor sad.

6. Lang Kreyòl Ayisyen an pa ni konplike ni senp. Pou w aprann li pi vit, se pratike konvèsasyon ki konte.

    The Haitian Creole language is neither complicated nor simple.  To learn it faster, it's practicing conversations that counts.

(with verbs)7. Se pawòl serye m'ap pale wi.  M p'ap ni bay blag ni egzajere.

    I am being serious.  I am neither joking nor exaggerating.

 
Ni ... Ni → Neither, neither one

8. Mwen pa bwè kafe onswa te.  M pa renmen ni youn ni lòt.
    I don't drink coffee or tea.  I like neither.

9. Kilès nan machin yo ou te chwazi? Mwen p'at chwazi ni youn ni lòt.
    Which one of the cars did you choose?  I chose neither.

10. Nattie ak Fanfan pa te al nan dans lan paske ni youn ni lòt pa't konn danse.
    Nattie ak Fanfan didn't go to the dance because neither of them know how to dance.


Ni ... ni → Both ... and 
11. Sèjousi ni dantis ni famasyen se bon chwa pou yon metye.
    These days both dentistry and pharmacology are good choices for a career.

12. Jou premye Janvye 1804 la, ni esklav ni moun lib te selebre yon nouvo espwa pou peyi a.
     On that day of January 1st, 1804, both slave and free people celebrated new hope for the country.


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

Mandalie, ban m di w, se ayisyen m ye tou. men zafe 'twade' a, m pa ta janm dòmi reve ke l te yon bon mo Kreyol non. Ki kote w bare avè l?

M kapab konprann kote w ye a.  Mwen te fè zòn Lakayè, Lakolin, Aken, Pòtoprens anvan m te vin resi tande mo sa a nan bouch yon nonm Pòdepè.  Mwen menm se wayal ak kasavamanba m te konn di.  Se nan bouch menm nonm sa a m te premye tande mo chenjanbe a tou.  M pa't konn dènye sa a nonplis.  Kifè la a, m imajinen mo sa yo so soti, omwens, nan zòn Nòdwès yo.

Fò'm di w tou, yon jou m te di zanmi sa a ke pye l te santi mayas.  Lè sa a, li te fè grimas ak figi l, li mande m, "Ki kalite mo mayas sa w'ap di la a?  Sa sa vle di?" Lè m te di l se te sant soulye, li pa't kwè m ditou.  M ta panse yon mo jeneral konsa, ki nan tout peyi a, fòk on Ayisyen ta konnen l.  Anmwey o!

Si pa gen yon diksyonè ki pou ranmase tout mo sa yo ki degrennen nan tout rakwen peyi a, pou blije mete yo nan yon branch pou montre moun kote yo anrasinen, sanble gen anpil mo Kreyòl k'ap tout desann nan latonm ak mèt yo. Nou p'ap janm konnen yo.
 
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

What does dyòlè mean?

dyòlè → braggart, grandstander, a boastful person, a show off, a know-it-all who's not humble

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

"yon won't see her until a few months later", how do you say a few months later here? mesi anpil

a few → kèk or kèlke
until → jis, jous, or jouk
....until a few month later → jouk kèk mwa apre.

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

Will you ever make available for purchase some of your Kreyol Audio files? I love the alfabet. So does my 7 year old.

That's great.  Mèsi :)
This was done solely on a volunteer basis.
This audio file can be downloaded here: Click here to download…

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

How does one translate a gerund construction? 1)Manner or Mean: One learns through travelling. or He found his watch by tidying up his things. 2)Simultaneity: We eat dinner while watching TV. 3)Cause: He broke his legs playing football. Other ways?

Manner or Mean:  One way of saying this in Haitian Creole is by using "Se nan ..." as if saying "It is by..."

1. One learns through traveling. 
    It is through traveling that one learns.
    Se nan vwayaje moun aprann.

2. One good way to learn is by asking lots of questions.
     One good way to learn is in asking lots of questions.
    Yon bon fason ou kapab aprann se nan mande anpil kesyon.

3. He got this rich by working his ass off.
    It is by working his ass off that he got rich like that.
    Se nan travay pete fyèl li vin rich konsa.

4. He found his watch by tidying up his things.
    Se nan netwaye zafè l li jwenn mont li an.


Simultaneity: We could achieve these types of sentences by using the Haitian Creole conjunction PANDAN or ANTAN or ETAN to bring the clauses together.  In Haitian Creole the subject is almost always repeated in the second clause using the same verb tense sometimes.

5. We eat dinner while watching TV.
    Nou manje dine pandan n'ap gad televizyon.

6. What will you be dreaming of while sleeping?
     Kisa ou va reve antan w'ap dòmi?

7. She held the child arms while running to catch the train.
    Li te kenbe bra timoun nan byen di etan li t'ap kouri al pran tren an.

Cause: In the following type of sentences AND situations we can use paske, afòs, poutèt, akòz, or [nothing] followed by a progressive tense.

8. He broke his legs playing football. 
    Li kase pye l ap jwe football.

9. She got herself sick thinking about you everyday.
    Li te rann tèt li malad afòs l'ap panse avè w chak jou.

10. We scraped our feet going up and down the hills of the villages.
      Nou te kòche pye nou ap monte desann mòn nan vilaj yo.

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

'To suit' as a verb? "The ripped jeans didn't suit her elegant image." or "My new job suits me, as I work less hours and don't have to commute so much." or "Her nickname "Bullet" suits her as she is a fast runner."

To suit (to befit?) → apwopriye, ale, konvenab, koresponn

1. "Her nickname "Bullet" suits her as she is a fast runner."
    "Ti non jwèt "Bullet" la ale avè l paske l maton nan zafè konn kouri."

2. "The ripped jeans didn't suit her elegant image."
    "Abako dechire yo p'at apwopriye pou aparans granpanpan l lan."

3. "My new job suits me, as I work less hours and don't have to commute so much."
    "Nouvo dyòb la konvnab pou mwen, paske orè travay mwen rakousi e mwen pa monte desann twòp pou al travay."

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

Homebody? and Gadabout(somewhat opposite of homebody)? "Although my uncle likes to travel, my aunt is a homebody, so he usually comes with us while she stays home with her cats." and "O'Brien never remarried and got a reputation as a bit of a gadabout."

Haitian Creole for Homebody and Gadabout:

Homebody → pòpòt kay, pitit kay, solitè, sedantè
Gadabout → flannè, grenn pwomennen, avadra, fritè, aladen

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

10s, 50s, 80s translation? "The nineteen teens was a decade that consisted of justice for the working citizens of America." or "Yet Americans in the fifties saw their share of conflict and strife." or "She lived in San Francisco in the eighties."

So, we're saying: about 10, about 20, ...about 30 ?

add "-èn"
about 10 → yon dizèn
about 40 → yon karantèn
about 50 → yon senkantèn
about 100 → yon santèn

or add "... konsa" after the number.
about 70 → swasanndis konsa
about 500 people → yon senksan moun konsa

1. There's about 10 oranges in this box.
     Gen yon dizèn zoranj nan bwat.

2.  Only about 20 people showed up.
      Sèlman yon ventèn moun te vini.

3.  How old do you think she is?  I think she's in her fifties.
     Ki laj ou panse l ye? M panse li nan senkantèn yo.

4.  Hundreds of people drowned when that boat went own.
     Plizyè santèn moun te neye lè bato a te koule.

5. The volunteers went to Haiti and built thousands of houses.
     Volontè yo t'ale Ayiti e yo te bati plizyè milye kay.

6. To feed all these people, we'd have to kill about 4 to 5 hundred goats.
    Pou nouri tout moun sa yo, nou ta dwe touye kat a senksan kabrit konsa.
-------------------------

kalFebruary 12, 2013 at 11:34 PM

Since we are on the subject of numbers, alongside wanting to know about the years like the nineteen teens; the nineteen thirties; the nineteen sixties; etc, what about age? Examples, "President Obama is in his early fifties." "My professor is in his mid thirties." "My best friend is in his late twenties." Now, how are these sentences translated? "He is twelve years my senior." and "He is three years my junior." What are all the names of each age group in creole? -One who is between the age of 10 and 19
-One who is between the age of 20 and 29
-One who is between the age of 30 and 39
-One who is between the age of 40 and 49
-One who is between the age of 50 and 59
-One who is between the age of 60 and 69
-One who is between the age of 70 and 79
-One who is between the age of 80 and 89
-One who is between the age of 90 and 99
-One who is between the age of 100 and beyond.

ReplyDelete

Replies

MandalyFebruary 13, 2013 at 10:18 AM
The nineteen teens → ane dis yo, or ane 1910 yo

the nineteen thirties → ane trant yo, or ane 1930 yo

the nineteen sixties → ane swasant yo, or ane 1960 yo

"President Obama is in his early fifties."
“Prezidan Obama fèk koumanse senkantèn ni.”
"Prezidan Obama nan koumansman senkantèn ni."

"My professor is in his mid thirties."
“Pwofesè m nan nan mi trantèn ni.”
“Pwofesè m nan nan trannsenkan yo konsa.”

"My best friend is in his late twenties."
“Pi bon zanmi m nan nan fen ventèn li.”

"He is twelve years my senior."
“Li gen douzan plis pase m”
“Li gen douzan depase m.”

"He is three years my junior."
“Li gen twazan mwens pase m.”
“Mwen gen twazan depase l.”

The names of each stage of development in creole?
childhood → anfans
puberty → kwasans, pibète
adolecense → adolesans
adult → adilt
middle age → antdezaj
old age → granmoun, pèsonaj

One who is between the age of 20 and 29 → ventèn
He's in his twenties.
Li nan ventèn ni.

One who is between the age of 30 and 39 → trantèn
He's in his thirties.
Li nan trantèn ni.

One who is between the age of 40 and 49 → karantèn
He must be in his forties.
Li dwe nan karantèn yo konsa.

One who is between the age of 50 and 59 → senkantèn
She must be in her fifties.
Li dwe nan senkantèn yo konsa. 

One who is between the age of 60 and 69 → swasantèn
He's in his sixties.
Li nan swasantèn ni.

One who is between the age of 70 and 79 → swasandis, swasanndizan yo konsa.
He looks to be in his seventies.
Li sanble nan swasanndizan yo konsa.

One who is between the age of 80 and 89 → katreventèn
He's in his eighties.
Li nan katreventèn ni.

One who is between the age of 90 and 99 → katrevendis, katrevendizan yo konsa
She must be in her nineties.
Li dwe nan katrevendizan yo konsa.

One who is between the age of 100 and beyond → santèn
She must be about a hundred years old.
Li dwe nan santèn ni konsa.

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

How does one translate "awesome"? "Graduation was the most anticipated and profound moment for me and my family. Awesome!" or "Awesome! You got all As in all your classes." or "That was awesome!" or "Awesome, dude!"

Awesome (wonderful)!
Fantastik!
Anfòm!
Bèl mèvèy!
Bèl bagay!
Estrawòdinè!
Trè byen!
Ekselan!
Fòmidab!

That was awesome!
Se te bèl bagay!

You were awesome!
Ou te michan nèt!

This is an awesome book.
Liv sa a estrawòdinè.

This is an awesome God.  There's no other like him.
Bondye sa se Bondye bèl mèvèy. Pa gen lòt tankou l.
or 
Bondye sa a mèveye. Pa gen lòt tankou l.

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

Madanm Mandaly, Is the Kreyol word "kontan" besides being "happy" and "pleased"; can it be also translated "content"? Such as in "Mwen kontan fe konesans ou mesye". Mesi.

Yes, definitely.
kontan → happy, cheerful, pleased, festive, satisfied ...

some people say:
1. Mwen kontan ak ou.
    I am proud /satisfied of your progress.

2.  Eske ou kontan ak travay mwen fè pou ou nan garaj la.
     Are you happy with /satisfied with the work that I did for you in the garage.

also the noun kontantman
3. Mezanmi! Ban m yon ti kontantman non!  Lave pwòp asyèt nou pou mpa bezwen fè l.
    Give me a little satisfaction! Wash your own dishes so that I won't have to do it.

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

Don't bother? ""I'll get you a chair.' 'No, please don't bother.""-Dialogue or "The waiter will be here in a minute, 'please don't bother."" or "Don't bother to cook dinner tonight; we'll eat out!" or " Don't bother about driving me home, I'll walk."

Don't bother (don't go through the trouble)
pa okipe w
pa trakase w 
pa deranje w 
pa bat kò w 
pa fatige kò w
pa bay tèt ou pwoblèm

Don't bother (leave it alone)
Kite sa
lese sa

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

se pa de ri m ri?

1. Se pa de ri m ri.
    I laughed a lot.

2. Se pa de kriye m kriye non.
    I cried a lot

3. Se pa de sonje m sonje w non.
    I missed you a lot.

4. Se pa de grangou m grangou non.
     I am starving.

You can replace "de" with "ti kras" or "ti"

5. Se pa ti eskandal madanm nan pa fè non.
    The lady caused a lot of ruckus.

6.  Se pa ti kras bouke pa bouke non.
     I m exhausted.


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

she says 'li leve pati kite m'. Doesn't that mean "He or she left me", my question is, why use three verbs ALE PATI KITE, when one could've used just one (KITE, in my opinion)? So is this Creole sentence some type of Creole slang 'cause it doesn't make sense to me.

Leve, then pati, then kite sort of describe an action in sequence here.  True it just means that he/she left me, but try to look at it as a CREOLE sentence which makes perfect sense IN CREOLE.

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

Intensifiers on ?s "What on earth do you mean?" or "How in creation do you expect me to do that?" or "Who in the world do you think you are?" or "Why on earth would she ask you to join them?" or "Where on earth could Casey have learned such behavior?"

Some intensifiers in H. Creole are: anpil anpil, menm, ojis, wi, non, trè trè, some double wording

1. What on earth do you mean?
     Kisa w vle di menm?

2. What in the world do you think you are?
     Kisa w panse ou ye menm?

3. Come quick.  This is extremely important.
    Vini vit.  Sa trè trè enpòtan.

4. I really did my homework.
    M te fè devwa mwen wi.

5.  I swear to you I did not see anything.
     Mwen sèmante, mwen pa't wè anyen non.

6. So, what exactly do you want from me?
    Kidonk, sa'w vle nan men m ojis?

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

What's the point? "What's the point in getting my doctorate degree when I will be considered overqualified for the position that I want at my job."

Yeah, What's the point?!
I'll tell you what's the point.... Akwabon!, Ki nesesite!

Akwabon lavi!
Akwabon m'al lekòl, si m p'ap jwenn dyòb demen?!
Akwabon m'ap travay si m p'ap touche?!
Akwabon w kontinye al lekòl si w p'ap etidye?!
Akwabon!  Ki nesesite!

"What's the point in getting my doctorate degree when I will be considered overqualified for the position that I want at my job."
"Akwabon m pran doktora mwen si kalifikasyon m pou pozisyon mwen vle nan travay la ap sipase."

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

You are so very helpful with your answers! One quick question; what is the word in Kreyol for "vibration"? As in a rocket's vibration in a silo. I am thinking "vibratsyon". Am I right? Thank you so much.

Anfòm :)

vibration (as in vibration in a silo) → vibrasyon, tranbleman, soukad, soukous

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

Bon Jou! Could you please tell me when it is appropriate to use "ye" and when it is appropriate to use "se"? I understand ye when I read and hear it but don't understand how to start using it myself. Mesi anpil!

One of the places you can start using it is when asking certain types of questions with kilès (who), kisa (what), kote (where), kilè (when), kouman (how), and using the verb to be.

some examples:

1. Kilès ou ye? (who are you)
2. Kilè li ye? (Who is he?)
3. Kilè fèt la ye? (when is the party?)
4. Kilè batèm nan ye menm? (When is the baptism?)
5. Kote fèt la ye? (Where is the party?)
6. Kote ou ye? (Where are you)
7. Kouman manman w  ye? (How's your mom?)
8. Kouman timoun ou yo ye? (How are your kids?)
9. Kisa sa frenk ye? (What the hell is this?)
10. Kisa ou vle mwen ye? (What do you want me to be?)

As far as "SE" is concerned, here's a good way to start using it as the following comment suggested:
noun-adjective combination
Mwen kontan. (I am happy)
Mwen bouke. (I m tired)
Mwen grangou. (I am hungry)

and for a noun-noun combination
Mwen se yon elèv. (I am a student)
Mwen se yon kretyen vivan. (I am a human being)
Li se yon ti zwazo. (It is a bird.)

Shane WendelSeptember 1, 2012 at 3:50 PM

I think they're talking about the implied "to be" such as in "Mwen kontan" instead of "Mwen se kontan".

I believe the general answer is that that when it's a noun-adjective combo it's usually an implicit "to be" and when it's a noun-noun combo it's usually explicit such as "Mwen se yon dokte" - I am a doctor.

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

'To blame' as a verb. "He blames the popular kids and the jocks for making him have a terrible high school experience." Also, put the blame on, pin the blame on , lay the blame on? verbal expressions for those? maybe?

to blame (lay blame on, accuse, hold responsible, etc...) → akize, repwoche, bay tò, bay (subject) tò, blame, blanmen

egz:
1. Moun ki fè zak la, se pa li yo bay tò.
    The person who commits the act is not the one who was held responsible.

2. Poukisa w'ap blanmen m pou yon bagay ki pa menm fòt mwen?
    Why are you blaming me for something that's not even my fault?

3. Se konsa li ye.  Li toujou ban m tò pou tout sa ki rive.
    That's how he is.  He always blames me for everything that happens.

4.  Ou dwe konprann ke mwen pa ba w tò pousa ki pase w la.  Se pa fòt ou.
      You must understand that I don't blame you for what happened to you.  It's not your fault.

5.  Si yo fè kadejak sou fanm nan, se pa li pou n bay tò.
     or
     Si yo fè kadejak sou fanm nan, se pa pou nou ba li tò.
     If the women has been raped, one must not blame her.

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

In "M ka di ou ke sa a vande gran.", what translates the second "a" in "sa a". By the way, is this sentence correct? Mesi anpil.

The "a" is a definite article. It automatically comes with "sa a" meaning this, that, this one, that one see link.

And, do you mean to sell, or to cost when you say "vande"?

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

vin potem soukou is about the same as ede, right?

Wi.  Se sa wi.

Vin pote m sekou!
Come to my rescue!
Help me!

Anmweyy! Anmweyy! sekou! vin pote m sekou! 
Help!  Help me!  (basically)

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

Willing? "I am willing to leave at once if that is what you want." or "The manager is willing to speak to you."

To be willing → prepare, dispoze, vle,  pran desizyon

1. Eske ou dispoze vwayaje si yo ofri w pozisyon an?
    Are you willing to travel if you were offered the position?

2. "I am willing to leave at once if that is what you want."
    "Mwen prepare pou m kite tousuit si se sa w vle.

3. "The manager is willing to speak to you."
    "Manadjè a dispoze pou pale avè w.

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

On the one hand...on the other hand...construction? "On the one hand, he's delighted to have been offered this job in Tampa, but on the other hand, he's sad to have to go so far away."

On the other hand → dayè, poudayè, pakont

Janjan pa yon nèg entelijan, men sè l la pakont se yon jeni.
Janjan is not smart, but his sister on the other hand is a genius

on the one hand .... on the other hand → yon kote / yon bò .... yon lòt kote / yon lòt bò

Yon kote mwen kontan ou prale nan kolèj la, men lòt kote a m'ap tris lè m wè ou ale.
On the one hand I happy you're going away to college, but on the other hand I'll be sad to see you go.

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

Is "oganizasyon" pronounced "o-ga-ni-za-syon", or "o-gan-i-za-syon"? In other words, is there a nasal vowel in the "gan"; if so, should not there be two "n's" in the word to represent the nasal vowel? Maybe I am being too phonetic with this. Mesi anpil

Pa gen pwoblèm :)
It is pronounced the first way, as you have it:  "o-ga-ni-za-syon"

Kenbe la pi rèd.

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

Kisa w'ap tann? → What are you waiting for?

1.
Kisa w'ap tann?
Kisa w'ape tann?
Sa w'ap tann?
What are you waiting for?

2.
Kimoun w'ape tann?
Kimoun w'ap tann?
Kilès w'ap tann?
Who are you waiting for?

3.
Ki kote ou va tann mwen?
Where will you wait for me?

4.
Tann mwen!
Rete tann mwen!
Ret tann mwen!
Wait for me

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

How does one translate these sentences? "Jim has as little food as Sam." or They've got as little water as we have." or "We'll return your file in as little as 12 hours." This comparative construction is opposite of 'as much as'

I don't think we should talk 'opposites' here. As little as (no more than, not over, within), or as much as (however much) are used in different ways.  And they are also different from when comparing quantities.
1.
I'll be back in as little as 2 hours.
M'ap tounen nan dezèdtan.

2.
You can buy a radio for as little as five bucks.
Ou kapab achte yon radyo pou pa plis pase senk dola.

3.
This song is so easy, kids as little as five can play it on a guitar.
Chante sa a tèlman fasil, timoun ki gen pa plis pase senkan kapab jwe li sou yon gita.


And using as much as, in that sense:

4.
You can eat as much as you want.
Ou kapab manje mezi w vle.

5. 
As much as we don't want to admit it, there seems to be no hope for the country.
Malgre  nou pa vle admèt sa, sanble pa gen espwa pou peyi a.
   
6.
As much as I want to help you, my hands are tied.
Malgre jan m ta vle ede w, men m mare.

And using these for comparing quantities, I would say:

as much as, as little as → menm mezi, menm valè, menm fòs, menm kantite, menm, menm ak, 
7.
Jim has as little food as Sam.
Jim gen menm valè manje ak Sam

8.
They have as little water as we have.
Yo gen menm mezi dlo avè nou.

9. 
I have as little food as you do, so I can't share mine with you.
M gen menm fòs manje avè w, kidonk m pa ka pataje pa'm nan avè w.

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

Hi,Mandalay!(Love your site!) What is the difference, if any, between "rale" and "rache"? If I "rale cheve mwen" am I pulling it out?

Mèsi :)

rale → to pull, to yank
rache → to rip off, to pull up, to tear out

Rale cheve doesn't necessarily mean to pull it out. Maybe some people like to play with their hair and pull them (rale yo) without yanking them out (rache yo).  Or maybe it's someone else doing the pulling... O O mezanmi!  I'm not even going to ask :)

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

What are some verbs for 'to cram'? "He stayed up all night cramming(swotting, mugging) for the final exam and then slept right through it." Also what are some verbal expressions for 'to pull an all-nighter'? "I pulled an all-nighter to study for my math."

to cram → bachote, bat bèt

1. "He stayed up all night cramming for the final exam."
     "Li pase tout nuit la ap bachote pou egzamen final la."


to pull an allnighter → bat nayt, pase yon nuit blanch

2. "I pulled an all-nighter to study for the math exam."
     "M pase yon nuit blanch ap etidye pou egzamen matematik la."

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

"Koute yon lot fwa anko." or should it be "Koute yon lot fwa." Or , are both correct? Mesi.

Both are correct H. Creole grammar.

Koute m yon lòt fwa.
Listen to me one more time 

Koute m yon lòt fwa ankò.

Listen to me one more time again.

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

ou fe dibyen se byen wa jwenn, ou fe dimal se mal wa jwenn sou te a.

Mwen pa gen anyen pou m ajoute nan sa ki pale la a, esepte ke sa pa toujou pase konsa.  Moun ki fè byen pa toujou jwenn rekonpans, e moun ki fè mal la pa toujou peye pou malfezans li.  Se vre ke tout moun ap jwenn jijman apre lanmò, men gendèfwa mwen ta prefere Bondye jije mechan an pandan li sou latè toujou,  E ba li chatiman li devan je m.  Konsa mwen wè lajistis fèt douvan je m.

Lè moun nan mouri san l pa peye pou krim li, ki jistis ki gen nan sa?  Menm si moun nan ta leve ankò apre lanmò, se pa kò l ki va leve, men se nanm li ki va leve. L'a gentan bliye sa'l te fè a nètale.
Angle a di "the punishment should fit the crime".  Si moun nan te fè yon krim ak KÒ E NANM, fòk li peye ak KÒ E NANM!  Mwen poko konprann efikasite ki genyen nan toumante nanm nan san w pa toumante kò a tou.  Mezanmi! si m te Bondye, ala yon Bondye san mizèrikòd mwen ta ye :)

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

what's anbandoulye?

anbandoulyè → to be strapped over the shoulder
egz:
Li t'ap mache ak fizi anbandoulyè a.
He was walking with a rifle slung over his shoulder.

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

Correct me if I'm wrong, I''ve been working on sentences such as: "Mwen gen yon maladi ki pran m" meaning "I fell sick"? Is the Creole right?

Yes it's right.
You may also use verbs other than pran. You probably already know that.

Mwen gen yon tèt fè mal ki pran m.
Mwen gen grip ki pran m.
Mwen gen yon grangou ki bare m.
Mwen gen yon pipi k kenbe m.
Mwen te gen yon lafyèv cho k tonbe sou mwen.

Eskize m. M toujou ap konplike bagay yo.  Se defo m :)

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

Do you know the lyrics to the kids song twa fwa pase la in Creole?

I don't think it was ever in Creole.

Trois fois passez là
C'est la dernière qui restera 
J'ai perdu ma fille
Levez levez Marianne
Ouvre la porte grande pour la reine
passez, passez, passez.....

When the last child  passes under the "hand-made" bridge and you stop him/her, then you ask:
"Lalin ak solèy, sa'w pito?"
Then the child chooses one. After that child is gone to stand behind whoever is the "lalin" or "solèy", the song starts again.

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

all of them (in Creole)?

all of them → yo tout

1.  We want to thank all of them.
     Nou vle remèsye yo tout.

2.  I threw all of them out.
    M te mete yo tout deyò.

3.  All of them came to surround me.  They were asking me if I was ok.
     Yo tout te vin antoure m.  Yo t'ap mande si m te oke.

4.  Not all of them were happy about this.
    Se pa yo tout ki te kontan ak sa.


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

YON SEL PITIT or YON SEL PITIT LA? want to say I have only one child

It can be either (YON SEL PITIT or YON SEL PITIT LA)

Mwen gen yon sèl pitit.
or
Mwen gen yon sèl pitit la.
both are correct.
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

la marine pa metye'w?

Lamarin pa metye'w is an expression which basically means that's not your strong suit, that's not your forte.
A woman, for example, might say this to a man if she wants to hurt his ego.  By this she means "you're not that good of a lover", "you're not a chick magnet", etc....

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

Comparison of equality with adjectives and adverbs. "English is as easy as German." or "Jean is as rich as he is hard-working." or "Jean reads as slowly as Luc." or "Jeanne writes as carefully as she does efficiently."

Ah! this one, unlike the previous ones that we discussed, has a few different ways we can structure it in H. Creole.
After reading the comment in that post about an mezi ...an mezi, this man wrote to me about what he said to his Haitian girlfriend today.  He said, "Plis ou pale, plis dan'm ap fè m mal.".  I thought that was clever.  ....but can a babbling girlfriend cause you to have a toothache?   Who knows :)

as ... as → menm jan ak, menm fason ak, men mannyè ak, tankou, kouwè, kòm, kon,  some people even say os ... ke, otan....ke, otan... otan

1. "English is as easy as German."
    "Angle fasil tankou Alman."
    "Angle fasil kouwè Alman."   
    "Angle fasil otan ke Alman."

2. "Jean is as rich as he is hard-working."
    "Otan Jean travay di, se otan li gen lajan."

3.  "Jean reads as slowly as Luc."
     "Jean li dousman tankou Luc"

4. "Jeanne writes as carefully as she does efficiently."
    "Otan Jeanne ekri avèk atansyon se otan li ekri avèk talan."

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

"I am a child at heart"?

"I am a child at heart"
"Nan fon kè'm, mwen se yon timoun."

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

Moun adefas?

yon moun adefas (moun ak de(2) fas) se yon ipokrit.
Se menm bagay ak yon trèt, yon kouto de bò oubyen yon kaka bèf
See links to two-faced

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

Mwen pa fouti dòmi (I'm unable to sleep) - Audio

Click here to download…

Click on the PLAY button, listen and follow along :)
 

-Mwen pa fouti dòmi …

  I'm unable to sleep...  

- O O mezanmi! Ki moun k’ap frape pòt la?

   Oh my goodness! Who's knocking at the door?

-Vwazin! Se mwen menm.  Ouvè pòt la pou mwen silvouplè.

  Female Neighbor! It's me.  Open the door for me please.

-Bonswa vwazen. Ala yon vizit sipriz ou fè aswè a!

  Good evening male neighbor.  What a surprised visit you made tonight!

-Bonswa vwazin.

 Good evening neighbor.

-Kijan ou ye vwazen?

  How are you neighbor?

-Enben, mwen pa byen ditou ditou.

 Well, I am not well at all.

-O! Eske ou malad?

  Are you ill?

-Non vwazin.  M pa malad non.

 No neighbor. I'm not ill.

-O O! Eske ou pran move nouvèl?

 Did you get some bad news?

-Non vwazin, mwen pa resevwa move nouvèl.

  No neighbor, I didn't get any bad news.

-O O! Eske apatman ou gen pwoblèm?

 Is there a problem with your apartment?

-Non vwazin.  Apatman m pa gen okenn pwoblèm.

 No neighbor. There's no problem with my apartment.

-Men vwazen,  gwo lannuit sa a, ou vin frape pòt mwen.  Ou di m ou pa byen ditou.  Sa w genyen? 

 But neighbor, at this time of the night, you come knocking at my door.  You tell me that you are not well at all.  What's wrong?

-Vwazin, mwen pa byen paske mwen pa fouti dòmi avèk chen ou yo k’ap jape tout lannuit lan.

Neighbor, I'm no well because I'm unable to sleep with your dogs that are barking all night.

-O mezanmi eskize mwen.  Mwen pa’t reyalize si  chen m yo  t’ap anpeche w dòmi.  Mwen va fè yo rete silans.

 O dear I'm sorry.  I didn't realize that my dogs were keeping you from falling asleep.  I'll make them quiet down.

-Tanpri fè sa.  Mwen dwe al travay demen maten byen bonè e li preske minui.

 Please do that.  I must go to work really early tomorrow morning and it's almost midnight.

-Wi,  vwazen, ou p’ap tande yo ankò. E vwazen, kòm ou deja reveye, poukisa ou pa antre?  Enpi mwen ta fè yon bon ti te majolèn pou ou.  Mwen garanti w.  Sa va fè w dòmi tankou yon ti bebe.

 Yes neighbor, you won't hear them anymore.  And neighbor, since you're already awake, why don't you come in?  And I'll make some good oregano tea for you. I guarantee you.  It'll make you sleep like a baby.

- Vwazin, mwen fatige anpil.  Mwen dwe leve bonè demen.  Mwen sèlman bezwen  dòmi anpè. Tanpri, kontwole chen w yo…. enpi m'ava jwenn somèy. Bòn nui vwazin.

 Neighbor...  I'm really tired.  I must get up early tomorrow.  I simply need to sleep in peace.  Please control your dogs... And I 'll get some sleep.  Good night neighbor

-Dakò. Pase bòn nui vwazen.

 Okay.  Good night neighbor.

Listen to Manno Charlemagne's Organizasyon Mondyal yo

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

How about constructing "as promised"? As in "As promised, I will come see you in April". "Kom mwen te pwomes, m'a va vini pou we ou nan Avril" maybe?

you're very close :)

As promised → kòm pwomi, kòm mwen te pwomèt

"As promised, I will come see you in April".
"Kòm mwen te pwomèt, m'a va vin wè w nan mwa avril"
or
"Kòm mwen te pwomèt m'a va vin wè w an Avril.

and, I thought you might be interested to know this popular Haitian proverb about pwomès. You may have heard it already:
In Haiti, we say Pwomès se dèt → Promises are debts.

kenbe la.

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

which is best to use? chak jou or toulejou?

Yo se menm bagay la wi.

Mwen panse avè w toulejou. (I think of you every day)
Mwen panse avè w chak jou Bondye mete. (I think about you every God's given day)
Mwen panse avè w chak jou. (I think about you every day)

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

Do you know any Creol exp. about accepting people for who they are - about not changing who people are?

How about Lè w'al lakay avèg, fèmen je w. (Haitian proverb)

Lè w'al lakay avèg, fèmen je w.
When you go to the blind man's home, close your eyes.

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

What do you miss the most? Which do you prefer the most? Who do you like the most? What's the Creole sentence structure for these?

Kisa ou pi ....? → What do you .... the most?
Ki moun ou pi ....? → Who do you .... the most?
Kilè ou pi ....? → When are you most ....?

1. Kisa ou pi sonje nan peyi w?
    What do you miss the most about your country?

2. Kilès ou pi renmen?
    Who do you like the most?

3. Kilè, nan jounen an, ou pi fatige?
    When are you most tired during the day?

4. Kilès ou pi prefere? kafe ou te?
    Which do you prefer the most? coffee or tea?

5. Ki kalite mizik ou pi renmen koute?
    Which type of music you like to listen to the most?

You can also use "pi plis" instead of "pi".  If you use "pi plis", you'll place it after the verb

1. Kisa ou sonje pi plis nan peyi w?

    What do you miss the most about your country?

2. Kilès ou renmen pi plis?

    Who do you like the most?

3. Kilè, nan jounen an, ou fatige plis?

    When are you most tired during the day?

4. Kilès ou prefere pi plis? kafe ou te?

    Which do you prefer the most? coffee or tea?

5. Ki kalite mizik ou renmen plis koute?

    Which type of music you like to listen to the most?

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

Kijan ou fè lanmou nan yo ti kay pay?

O O! mezanmi o!  ....Ou fè li an silans.... m panse :-\
Bòn chans :)

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

How does one translate these sentences?"Insofar as you need a new laptop computer, this one isn't a bad deal." and "Inasmuch as you have expressed your desire to marry, we shall not oppose your wishes."

puiske, piske → since, view to the fact that, insofar as, inasmuch as, forasmuch as, etc....

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

Eske mwen mèt...? → May I...?

May I...?
Eske mwen mèt...? (Eske m mèt...?)
Eske mwen te mèt...? (Eske m te mèt ...?)

1.  May I ask you something?
     Eske mwen mèt mande yon bagay?

2.  May I sit next to you?
     Es m te mèt chita bò kote w?

3.  May I call you?
     Eske m te mèt rele w?

4.  May I leave this package here for your mom?
     Eske mwen mèt kite pake sa a la pou manman w?

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

To become (in Creole)?

Become → tounen, vin, vin tounen, vin devni, devni

1.  Lajounen li se yon moun, leswa li tounen yon lougawou.
     Lajounen li se yon moun, leswa li vin tounen yon lougawou
     La jounen li se yon moun, leswa li devni yon lougawou.
     During the day he's human, at night he becomes a werewolf.

2. Malgre andikap li, li te vin yon gran avyatè.
    In spite of his handicap, he became a great air pilot.

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

Is YES a H. Creole word. Do you use it to say "yes". and can I say YES instead of WI?

Yes, it's a Haitian Creole word.
You can use it as an adjective or adverb.
I think if you use it to say "yes" as in agreeing with someone, then we're speaking English :)

Yès (syn: kòdyòm, anfòm) → totally fine, okay, well

1. Depi m sot lopital la mwen te fè yon ti miyò, men m poko fin yès nèt.
    Since I came from the hospital I've been a little better, but I'm not totally well yet.

2.  Fè atansyon ak dam sa a, tèt li pa fin yès non.
     Be careful with this girl, her head is not all there.

3.  Mwen menm ak bòs mwen ap travay sou yon kontra anplwaman.  Gen kèk pati nan kontra a ki poko fin yès. Nou espere jwenn yon antant nan de jou konsa.
     My employer and I are working on an employment contract.  Some parts of the contract are not yet conclusive.  We hope to reach an agreement in about a couple of days.

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

What's KIKINAN? It's same as KINAN m

kikinan (v.) → to bother, annoy, trouble

1. Kisa k'ap kikinan lespri w?
    What's troubling you?

2. Pa kite medam yo ap kikinan lespri w non.  
    Do not let the girls give you any trouble.

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

Would you look at a little something I am writing for practice in Creole? It is too long for the Formspring box, (about 4 paragraphs) but I will put it as a comment to this post :)

Dakò, mwen ta renmen li sa w ekri :)
Sometimes the comment sections don't take too much either.  You might want to do two comments if it doesn't take it all.
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

half asleep or half awake - se kouman ou di sa makomè :) ??

Monkonpè :), yo di ant somèy e revèy

pa egzanp:
Mwen te ant somèy e revèy lè sa te pase.  Se konmsi mwen te nan yon rèv.
I was half asleep when that happened.  It is as if I was in a dream.

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

What is WÈL? as in 'grangou nan wèl mwen'

Creole's wèl means ass, like Creole nouns dengonn, bouda

1. Grangou nan wèl mwen. 
    I'm hungry. basically

2. Mwen te pèdi liv Marie a.  Se sa'k fè li lage dife nan wèl mwen pou m remèt li lajan liv la.
    I lost Maries' book.  That's why she's after me like fire in my ass to reimburse her the money for the book.

3. Si'w maltrete sè'm nan, m'ap nan wèl ou tande!
    If you mistreat my sister, I'll be after your ass you hear!

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

How does one translate 'matter' as a verb? "You matter to me a lot." Also, how to translate these expressions? "it doesn't matter" and "no matter"

to matter → konsekan, gen konsekans, gen valè, vo anpil, konte, enpòtan, peze

You matter to me.
Ou konsekan pou mwen.
Ou gen konsekans pou mwen.
Ou gen valè pou mwen
Ou vo anpil pou mwen
Ou konte pou mwen
Ou enpòtan pou mwen.
or
Ou peze anpil nan balans mwen.


It doesn't matter → Sa pa fè anyen, li pa enpòtan see link It doesn't matter

It doesn't matter if you forgot to bring your own food today.  We'll share.
Sa pa fè anyen si w bliye pote manje pa'w jodi a.  N'a pataje ansanm.

It doesn't matter who you are in here.
Li pa enpòtan ki moun ou ye isit la.


No matter what/who/where → Kèlkeswa See link Kèlkeswa
kèlkeswa
kèlkiswa
pèkeswa
kèlklanswa

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

I heard my mom say this, "a fèk gade yo si yo pa kwè ou pa ka travay." is 'a fèk gade yo' equivalent to 'ki mele yo'? I have heard her say this expression a lot but it's the first time I'm actually aware of it.

There's a little difference.

afè k gade w (or zafè ki gade ou) see link to other ways to say this in Creole
business which concerns you (lit)
It's your own business
It's on your head
It's your choice

afè k gade yo (or afè ki gade yo)
affair which regards them.
It's their business
It's their choice.

See other links: That's my business
-----------------------------------

Ki mele yo ( or Ki te mele yo)
What do they care?

See link about Who cares?  for more ways to say this.

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

I see lot so of double words in just one sentence, I understand they're not typos. How can I use them in my own sentences? Especially what do they exactly mean? Ive used "anpil anpil". Can I say "se kontan m kontan"?

YES, you can say "Se kontan m kontan" :)

Those "double words" that you see may be expressing different things.
There are a lot of them.  It's good to understand how to use them before you use them.
The following examples are many, but you probably need to see them in USE, in order to use them yourself.  Right?

Here are some examples:

Verb + subject + verb is used to express as soon as, when, or once something is done
And you can use different verb tenses as seen in example 4

1. Rive nou rive lakay, nou te rele fanmi nou.
    can be translated as:
    When we arrived home, we called our family.
    Once we got home, we called our family.
    Upon arriving home, we called or family

2. Fini li fini manje, l'al kouche.
    As soon as he was done eating, he went to lie down.

3. Soti l soti deyò a, lapolis te arete li.  
    Once he came out, the police apprehended him.  

4.  Dòmi l dòmi, li pa't janm leve ankò. →Once he fell asleep, he never woke up.
     Dòmi l te dòmi, li pa't janm leve. → Once he fell asleep, he never woke up.
     Dòmi l ta pral dòmi li pa t'ap janm leve. → Once he would have fallen asleep, he would not have woken up.

5. Bwè m fin bwè dlo a, m te tonbe malad lamenm.
    Once I was done drinking the water, I immediately fell ill.

Verb + byen + verb expresses emphasis.  It describes how well, how enthusiastically or how meticulously something was done.

6. Li benyen byen benyen pou l te retire labou a sou kò l.
    He took a good shower in order to clean out the mud from his body.

7.  Lè mesye a te pile flè yo, fanm nan te joure l byen joure.
     When the man stepped on the flowers, the woman really cursed at him.

8.  Carol te abiye byen abiye lè li ta prale nan konsè a.
     Carol dressed really nicely when she was going to the concert.

9. Fèt la te anfòm.  M anmize m byen anmize.  E m danse byen danse.
    The party was great.  I really enjoyed myself.  And I danced all I could.


Nan + verb + verb is a dependent clause.  It expresses persistence of one action which may cause something else to happen

10. Nan kouri kouri, li pran yon bèl so.
     He ran so much, that he sustained a bad fall.

11. Nan reflechi reflechi, tèt li pati.
     She thought so much that she lost her mind.

12. Nan chache chache, mwen jwenn $20 ki te pèdi depi dezan.
      In digging and digging, I found $20 that was lost since two years ago.

13. Nan fè bagay fè bagay ak nenpòt moun, li te tonbe ansent.
      In sleeping around so much, she became pregnant.

This next one simply says to keep doing something.

14.  Pa okipe moun k'ap gade w.  Danse danse w tande!
       Don't you worry about people that are looking at you .  Keep dancing you hear!

15. Pale pale w non! Di sa'k ki nan lespri w.  Pa okipe w sa moun va panse.
      Keep talking. Say what's on your mind.  Don't worry about what people will think.


And then, we have double adjectives or adverbs that's simply express how extremely, very much, truly, really real something is or feel.

16.  Mesyedam yo t'ap danse kole kole.
       The couple was dancing very tightly.

17. Fanm nan te parèt kagou kagou.
      The woman seemed very weary.

18.  N'ap koumanse plante bonè bonè.
      We start planting very early.

19.  Nou te rankontre ak yon bèl bèl nègès.
       We met a very beautiful woman.

20. Mwen renmen w anpil anpil.
      I love you very much.


And these last ones ust express an occurrence, an action, a condition, etc... in any tense (past, future, present, etc....)

21. Se danse nou t'ap danse.
      We were dancing.

22.  Se pale n'ap pale sèlman.
       We're only talking.

23. Se kontan m kontan konsa.
      I'm so happy.

24. Linette pa reponn telefòn nan paske se dòmi l'ap dòmi.
      Linette didn't answer the phone because she's sleeping.

25. Se renmen li renmen w konsa kifè li pa kite w deja.
      He loves you so much that's why he hasn't left you already.
      He hasn't left you yet because he loves you so much.

26. Eske se fou w fou kifè w'ap pale pou kont ou? 
      Have you lost your mind, that's why you're talking so much?
      Are you talking on your own, because you've lost your mind?

24. Se benyen m t'apral benyen lè w frape pòt la.
      I was going to take a shower when you knocked at the door.
     
25. Ou wè m pa al travay, se kapab m pa kapab wi.
      You see that I don't go to work.  It's because I can't.

26. Poukisa ou rejte mwen?  Eske ou pa wè se ede m'ap eseye ede w?
      Why have you rejected me?  Don't you se I'm trying to help you?

27. Se grangou m grangou kifè lestomak ap bouyi.
      I'm hungry, that's why my stomach is growling.

28. Se fache m te fache kifè m te kalote w.
      I was angry, that's why I slapped you.

29. Sispann pale fò konsa.  Moun ap panse se joure n'ap joure.
      Stop talking so loud.  People will think that we're arguing.

30. Se damou mwen damou kifè mwen pa ka manje.
      I'm in love, that's why I cannot eat.
      I cannot eat because I'm in love.

31. Se anraje ou anraje kifè w'ap pale anpil konsa?
      Is it deranged you are deranged that makes you talk so much?
      Are you talking so much because you are deranged?

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

How is "enough" used in all contexts?

All context?!
Mezanmi o!  Mwen sipoze gen anpil fason ou kapab itilize "ase" nan lang Kreyòl la.  Men kèk ladan yo.  Ou kapab ajoute pa'w tou.  Mwen ta renmen sa :)  Mèsi.

Ase (sispann) imperative → to stop; also used in those exclamations No more!, Enough!
1. Ase non!
    Stop!

2. Mwen di ase!
    I say enough already!

3. Ase plenyen ban mwen.
    Stop complaining to me.

4.  Ase pale non.
     Stop talking.

Ase (adv.) → only, just
5. twa moun ase
    Just three people

6. senk dola ase
     just five dollars.

7. Se sa ase.
     That's all.

8. Se sa ase mwen genyen.
    That's all I have.

9. Eske se de malèt ase ou pote?
    Did you only bring two suitcases?
    Did you bring JUST TWO suitcases?

10.  Mwen gen kòb pou m peye pou TWA MOUN ASE.
     I have money to pay for JUST THREE PEOPLE.

Ase (adj) → enough, sufficient, adequate
11.  Lajan ou ban mwen pa ase.
     The money you gave me is not enough.

12. Li pa ase pou w di ou renmen yon moun.  Fò w montre yo ou renmen yo tou.
     It is not enough to say you love someone.  You must show them you love them too.
   
Ase (adv.) → quite, rather
13.  Mwen menm ak madanm mwen, nou viv ase byen.
       Me and my wife, we live quite well.

kalJanuary 30, 2013 at 3:28 PM

Cool! I didn't realize 'ase' could be used in some of these contexts. Can 'kont' be equivalent to 'ase' meaning enough, sufficient, adequate? As an imperative, besides 'ase' and 'sispann', I'm pretty sure that 'rete' belongs in this category, am I right?

MandalyJanuary 30, 2013 at 4:23 PM
Yes, some synonyms to ASE - sufficient are kont, sifizan, satisfezan, dekwa, pasab, akseptab, rezonab, desan, elatriye

As far as KONT is concerned, it important to let people know the various circumstances where you can use the Haitian Creole word KONT. See this link: USES OF THE WORD KONT IN CREOLE

And, you're right about RETE.  Check out this link on an AUDIO POSTS ABOUT THE MANY USES OF THE HAITIAN CREOLE WORD RETE.

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

m pa konprann vwazinaj nan peyi Ayiti. yo toujou konnen tout sa ki ap pase lakay ou. mwen pa renmen kan yo ap poze kesyon sou zafe pesonel ki ap pase lakay mwne.

Sa rive senpleman paske anpil nan kay yo kole kole youn ak lòt. Se sa ki lakòz yo tande lè asyèt ap fè kenken lakay ou.  Konsa tou, yo konn tande si se luil w'ap fri onswa si se dlo w'ap bouyi.  Si w'ap fri luil, sa vle di w'ap manje gra.  Men si w'ap bouyi dlo, sa vle di zafè w pa bon ;)  Anmweyy o!
Nou pa kapab ede sa. Vwazinay ou sanse chita nan salon lakay ou.

Sa fè gran diferans ak moun ki jouda anpil... moun k'ap chache konnen koze w ak zafè w.  Moun sa yo se kansè.  Yo rantre lakay ou piti a piti.  Anvan ou gentan reyalize sa, ou wè se yo menm k'ap dirije kay la.  Se yo ki leve w lematen pou w'al travay, se yo ki mennen ti moun ou lekòl, se yo ki di w ki manje pou w kuit, e se yo ki kouche ak madanm ou oubyen mari w pou ou :)  Sa'k pi mal la, yo mache pale zafè w nan tout lari.
Moun konsa, ou dwe mete barikad pou yo depi anvan yo janbe baryè lakou w.

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

As Charles is "Chal" in HC; what is Barbara in HC? Mesi.

We'd say Babara :)

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

The roof of our twin's home in Haiti was made from the dried peeling from sugar cane. Their father told me the name of this in Haitian Creole when I was there but I've forgotten. Can you help? Thanks Mandaly!!

The names that come to mind are kay pay or chomyè (thatched roof house),  do kay pay (thatched roof), and klisay (wicker-work panel for mud and straw houses).

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

Madanm, Correct me if I am wrong. On the audio part of HC, the speaker says "It is too expensive", but translates it in HC as "Sa a two che". Should not it be in HC "Se two che"? I understand that "se" and "sa a" are fairly much interchangable. M

Yes they could be. Sa and/or Se could mean It or It is.  See this link Se at the beginning of a sentence

Sa a twò chè.
This one is too expensive.
This is too expensive

Se twò chè.
Sa twò chè. see link
Li twò chè.
It's too expensive

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

Merite pa mande...

I do get aggravated when people say this expression.  When people say this, Merite pa mande → merit does not beg (lit.), they usually mean that if you thought they deserved something, they needn't have to beg for it.  Well, unless you're a mind reader now, you can't know what everyone wants.  It always make me think (a lot!) every time someone says that to me.
Another Haitian Creole expression that will make you think also is  Bondye konn bay, men Li pa konn separe → God knows how to give, but he does know how to distribute (lit).  This is an explanation for why some people are rich and others are poor.  Oh yes! God gave plenty, but he just didn't distribute the wealth evenly :)

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