Some Haitian Creole "expression of interjections" .... What are the creole version to these ....?

kalFebruary 14, 2013 at 6:26 PM

What are the creole version to these and then some...? Here is a list: What the heck!, Holy moly!, darn!  gosh!, goodness!, shucks!, ...

to express surprise, shock
Jezi Mari Jozèf!
Gras lamizèrikòd!
Mezanmi!
Mezanmi o!
O O!
RETE!
Adye o!

for WTF moments:
Ki koze sa!
Ki bagay sa!
Ki tenten sa!
Ki sendenden sa!
Ki betiz sa!
Ki kaka sa a!
Ki salopri sa a!

Expressing pity!
Podyab!
Adye!
Adye Bondye!
Adye frè
Adye sè
Adye manman
Adye papa

Expressing discontentment, aggravation, annoyance
Wouch!
Ayayay!
Fout!
Fwenk!
Koulangit!

Expressing amazement, surprise as in "WOW!"
Wipip!
Komabo, koumabo, koumanman, koumatiboulout!
Wifout!
Kèt!
Koulangèt!

Ayayay!

Wololoy, ololoy, loloy!

Wifout manman!

Saying "Go to hell!"
Vouzan, alevouzan, or ale w vouzan!
Laba, ale w laba!
Lakwann!
Lavoum!
Laprit!
Myann, nanmyann, or lanmyann!
Mèd, nanmèd, lanmèd, or lanmèd pou ou!

Saying, "You on your own!"
Zafè w!
Zafè pa w!
Zafè k gade w!

Who cares!
Kite mele m!
Sa pa gade m!

Awesome! (GREAT!)
Dako!
Trè byen!
Se sa!
Se sa nèt!

Se sa nèt al kole!

Anfòm!
Anfòm nèt!
Palemwadsa!
Pa gen pàn!

Some people swear by thunder or by the virgin Marie:
Vyèj pete je m!
Tonnè boule m!
Tonnè kraze m!

Your ass is mine!
Mwen nan dengonn ou!
Mwen nan wèl ou!
Mwen nan deng ou!
Mwen nan dengòt ou!


Calling for help
Anmwe! or Anmwey!
Osekou!
Woy!
Wouy!

How to answer in Creole when someone calls your name
Plètil or lètil?
wi?
wi madanm?
wi mesye?

Down with!
aba!

what a ...! or How .....! (as in What a jerk! → Ala yon enbesil!)
ala ...!

type of noise people often describe with their mouths:
voup! (sudden mouvement)
pè w! (a slap)
pa w! (a slap)
bow! (slamming)
pyout! (kiss)
tyoup! (penetration  ...of a knife perhaps)
chou! (shooing a pig)
chi! (shooing a chicken)

Expressing disappointment over something you were otherwise expecting
"Nothing!"
kaka rat!
kaka rat deye bwat!
bichi!
Anyen ditou!
Anyen menm!

Well, well then!
Enben!
Eh byen!
Anben!

Expressing disgust or impatience
Hany!
Any! (pronounced An-y!)
Tchuip! (It's a sound yo make with your mouth)


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

1)All the more? / 2)All the less? in Creole

all the more → plis, pi, pi plis, pi plis ankò, plis ankò, dotanplis, dotanpli
all the less → mwens, dotanmwens

1. She was all the more in love with him when she saw him play the guitar on stage.
    Li te pi renmen misye ankò, lè li te wè l ap jwe gita sou estrad la.

2. The gang's violent attacks in the streets gave her all the more a reason to leave the country.
    Atak vyolan bandi yo nan lari a te ba li plis rezon pou l te kite peyi a.

3. The earthquake of 2012 made Haiti all the less appealing to business investors who were already having second thoughts about their decision.
    Tranblemanntè 2012 la te rann Ayiti dotanmwens atiran pou biznismann ki te deja ap doute desizyon yo.

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

I would like... Is "mwen ta vle" the synonym of "mwen ta renmen"? Are there other words or ways to express "I would like"?

Men wi. Gen anpil:
Mwen ta renmen
Mwen anvi
Mwen dezire
Mwen swete
etc...

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

What are the names for first-born child, middle-born child, and last-born child in creole?

It seems that you are asking for a typical name that Haitians would give the first-born or last child and such, right?

I guess sometimes, someone may want to name their child after unusual circumstances surrounding their birth: difficult pregnancy, difficult labor, the child being born on a special holiday /day, etc...  Doesn't this sort of thing occur everywhere in the world?

As far as what some of these Haitian names might be, these names are as exceptional as the circumstances which inspired them: I have met some people with "unusual" names like "Setout", "Fokseli", etc ..... See other unusual Haitian names at this link.  I'm pretty sure, in Haiti, there aren't specific names that one  should call their children based on their birth order.  

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

Kote mennaj an mwen? mennaj mwen, kote ou ye?

AH wi! Mwen la!  mwen kouche anba fèy bannann nan ak yon gwo kalbas kleren ap tann ou!
Vini non!
N'a va benyen ak kleren jouk nou sou ....jouk lalin nan sòti ...jouk solèy la parèt :)

lol! I hope you weren't looking for a translation :)
Pase bòn fèt sent Valanten :)

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

girlfriend/boyfriend

boyfriend
menaj
mennaj
mennay
anmoure
nonm
boubout

girlfriend

menaj

mennaj

mennay

anmourez

fanm

boubout

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

Bòn Fèt Sent Valanten - Happy Valentines' Day

Bòn Fèt Sent Valanten
Happy Valentines' Day

My heart is flooded with love for you.
Lanmou ap jayi nan kè m pou ou.

You are my everything.
Ou se tout mwen.

You are the love of my life.
Ou se lanmou lavi m.

You are the love of my heart.
Ou se lanmou kè m.

You're the only one for me.
Se ou sèl ki pa'm.

I love you from the bottom of my GUTS.
Mwen renmen w nan tout zantray mwen.

I'm crazy about you.
M fou pou ou.

You make me crazy for you.
Ou fè m fou pou ou.

My love.
Cheri mwen
Kòkòt mwen
Chouboulout mwen
Ti chouchou mwen
Nonm mwen (my man)
Fanm mwen (My woman)

Let's make love until morning.
Ann fè lanmou jouk li jou.

Let's make love tonight.  
Ann fè lanmou aswè a.

That's all I got :)

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

Ki diferans ki ganyen ant yon dyòlè ak yon blòfè?

Yon dyòlè renmen vante tèt li.
Li kapab byen egzajere lè l'ap pale.
M panse dyòlè a fè dyòlè pou l ka blofe w.

Yon blofè ap fout ou manti pou w pa chape.
Pa gen anyen nan sa l di ki verite.
Blofè a pa dyòlè pou sa.

Men ni dyòlè a ni blòfè a gen kèk bagay an komen:
Yo pale anpil, yo renmen atansyon, yo depann sou moun k'ap koute yo.
Men, kisa pou w fè? Nou tout gen yon ti dyòlè ak blofè nan nou.
Se konsa sa ye.

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

Jan w vini an se konsa yo pran w (the way you come is how you are perceived)? Is this right?

Men wi se sa.  I think it's about first impression.

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

Cet affaire de Créole, c'est une perte de temps. Sa pap ammener un Haitien loin. Ki Haitiens ou we ki rive loin avec ce Creole?

Wòl Kreyòl se pa pou mennen moun lwen non.  Wòl li se pou l kominike, rasanble sa ki pre ak sa ki lwen, trase wout tan dantan pou nou ka wè kote pou n mete pye n pou n kontinye douvan n, e simante nou kòm yon pèp e ede nou etabli idantite ke n'ap chache a.
Avèk respè mwen salye w, men san regrè m kondane mepri w.

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

Barely, hardly, scarcely? "The bullet grazed my skin but I barely felt it." and "Hardly anyone turned up for the meeting." and "I had scarcely entered the room when the lights went out."

Barely (hardly, scarcely, just) →  apèn, apenn, annik, senpleman, jis, preske pa
Not quite → pa toutafè, preske
scarcely (infrequently) → raman, pa souvan   

1. Nou apenn rive.
    We just arrived.

2. "The bullet grazed my skin but I barely felt it."
     "Bal la te fwole po m men mwen pa toutafè santi li."

3. I barely know her.
    Mwen apenn rekonèt li.
    Mwen pa toutafè fin konnen l nèt.

4.  "Hardly anyone turned up for the meeting."
     "Apenn si gen enpe moun ki parèt pou reyinyon an."

5. "I had scarcely entered the room when the lights went out."
     "M te annik antre nan chanm nan lè limyè yo te tenyen."

6. I scarcely remember anything about the day my father died.
    Mwen preske pa sonje anyen nan jou papa m te mouri a.

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

O'clock sharp and flat? "I will pick you up at two o'clock sharp." and "Have this report done at seven o'clock flat."

Precise or exact? (at an exact time in Haitian Creole)
We say:
presiz
pil
tapan
egzak
won kon boul

1. M'ap vin chache w a uitè tapan.
    I'll come pick you up at exactly eight o'clock.

2. Li te fè midi won kon boul lè solèy la te fèmen je l, nyaj yo te vin tou nwa, e lapli te tanmen tonbe.
    It had just turned 12:00 on the dot, when the sun stopped shining, the clouds became dark, and it started to rain

3.  Depi l fè setè pil, klòch legliz la pran sonnen.  
     At exactly seven o'clock the bells of the church start ringing.

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

What does the Mi- at the beginning of the names Miloudy, Miloury, and Milove mean? What does the name Merujy/Meroudjy/Meroudjie mean? What does the name Rood/Wood mean? I've read theories that it's a form of Rudy, but the people theorizing weren't Haiti

These name are not "typical" Haitian names, as far as I know.

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

Bon swa! Mwen vle konnen kisa "cachiment" se nan anglais. Mesi anpil.

Kachiman → cherimoya, sweetsop, sugar apple or sugar pineapple
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Exclamatives 1)nouns:"what a relief(mess, disaster)!" or "What a lot of work!" 2)modified nouns:"What a good idea!" or "What a handsome/beautiful man/woman!" 3)Adjective:"How interesting(lovely, tedious)!" 4)Adverbs:"How eloquently he speaks!"

To express these exclamatives, with nouns and / or modified nouns, we may use Haitian Creole interjections ala, ala de -
You may also use se pa ti as noted in #4 and #5.

1. What a pain in the neck !
     Ala yon pongongon!
   
2. What a dilemma!
     Ala tèt chaje!
     Ala traka!
     or you can say:
     Ala de tèt chaje o!
     Ala de traka mezami!

Some people say:
3.   What a nuisance for me!
      Ala de tèt chaje pou mwen!

4. What tight corner I'm in!
     Ala de traka m'ap pase!
    Se pa ti traka m'ap pase non!

5. What an embarassment!

     Ala yon wont!
     Se pa ti wont non!

It's the same for modified nouns.  You may use ala or ala de

6. What strange traditions you have!
     Ala tradisyon dwòl nou genyen!
      or
     Ala de tradisyon dwòl nou genyen!

7.  What strange people, these Haitians!

     Ala moun dwòl, Ayisyen sa yo!

     Ala de moun dwòl, Ayisyen sa yo!

8. What arrogant child!  He just walked past me, he doesn't care to say hello.

   Ala timoun malelve. Li pase bò kote'm, li pa menm ka di bonjou.

9. How rowdy your sister is!

     Ala sè w la woywoy!

With adjectives or adverbs, Use ala or ala de.  You may also use se pa ti or se pa de.  Feel free to use emphasis here, using these modifiers more than once in the same sentence:

10. How pretty!
    Ala bèl!
    or
    Ala bèl sa bèl!
    or
    Se pa ti bèl non!


11. How pitiful!
     Ala tris!
     or
     Ala tris sa tris!
     or
     Se pa ti tris non!

12. How clever she is!
      Ala l entelijan!
      Ala entelijan l entelijan!
      Se pa ti entelijan l entelijan non!

13. How quickly she ran to come here when she saw you!
      Ala li kouri vin la vit lè l te wè w!
      Se pa ti vit li te kouri non lè l te wè w!

14. How great it would be if I won the lottery.
      Ala bon sa ta bon si m te genyen nan lotri a.
      Se pa ti bon l ta bon non si m te genyen lotri a.

15.  What a vicious man!
        Ala nèg mechan!
       Nèg sa, se pa ti mechan non l mechan!

I also want to add the following types of sentences:  "There's no one more .....! " or "There's nothing more ...!"

16. Nanpwen moun malelve konsa!
     There's no one more arrogant!

17. Nanpwen jenerasyon engra konsa!
     There's no generation more ungrateful!

18. Nanpwen nèg peng konsa!
     There's no worse penny pincher!

19. Nanpwen fanm manfouben konsa!
      No one is more of tramp than this woman!

20.  Nanpwen anyen m ta pi renmen konsa!
       There's nothing I'd like more!

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

How come ...?

How come ... → kouman fè, kijan fè, or kòman fè.... and sometimes we add ...ke

1. Kouman fè ou pa rele m ankò?
    How come you don't call me anymore?

2. Kijan fè ou malad si souvan?
    How come you get sick so often?

3. Kouman fè ou pale Kreyòl byen konsa?
    Hoe come you speak Creole so well?

4. Kouman fè pa gen lanèj Ayiti?
    How come there no snow in Haiti?

5. Kijan fè Ayiti poko fin rebati?
    How come Haiti has not been rebuilt yet?


This is different from:
Kouman ou fè ..... How do you make .....

6. Kouman ou fè tyanm tyanm?
   How do you make tyanm tyanm? 

7. Kijan n'ap fè pou soti la a?
    How will we get out of here?

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

Ou bannann??

You're in deep trouble.
Ou bannann
Ou pran
Ou chire
Ou nan ka
Ou pran nan mera
 Ou pran nan twa wa
Ou nan tout sa k pa bon
or
Ou jwenn ak zo grann ou.

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

Ki bwason alkòl ki pi gou nan Ayiti?

Gou?!!!  Pou mwen se Prestige. (if you're talking about just taste)

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

Limani - Is there a way to download all the audio files at once? It seems like I have to click on each file individually (and there are pages and pages to go through). Is that right? Also any plans to make it a podcast on itunes? thx

I'm not sure that can be done at this time.... downloading all of them at once.
But I'll look into putting a list together. ...and number the corresponding written post.

I've been meaning to do the podcasts... I look into that too.

Kenbe la toujou.

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

'To meet' in contexts? "I am delighted to meet you." or "I'm finally going to meet Jean-Paul." or "I met my professor at the movies." or "I ran into your sister in town." or "I will meet you at the restaurant." or "Congress meets on Thursdays."

To meet (to be introduced, to make acquaintance) → rankontre, fè konesans, rekonèt ou

1.  I am delighted to meet you.
    Mwen te kontan fè konesans ou.
    Mwen te kontan rekonèt ou.

2. I'm finally going to meet Paul. (for the first time?)
    Mwen resi pral rekonèt Paul .

Pleased to meet you link

To meet (to encounter) → rankontre, kontre, kontre bab pou bab, kwaze ak, jwenn ak

3. "I met my professor at the movies."
    "Mwen te kwaze ak pwofesè mwen nan sinema a"


To meet (get together) → reyini, rasanble, met tèt ansanm, pote kole

4. "The ladies club meet on Thursdays"
    "Gwoup dàm yo rasanble lèjedi."

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

Too bad!? "You can't come to the party? Too bad!" or "You missed the final exam? Too bad! Better go ask the professor to make it up." or "It is too bad that the university decided to close the bookstore last year. "

Too bad!
Domaj!
Se domaj! (What a pity!)
Malerezman! (unfortunately)
Se malere!
Devenn pou ... (Unfortunately for ...)
Adye papa!
Adye manman!
Adye frè m!
Adye sè m!

Also...
Devenn → literally: misfortune, bad luck
andevenn (an devenn) → to be cursed, to have a string of bad luck
Adye → literally: Alas!

1. You missed the final exam? Too bad!
     Ou rate egzamen final la?  Se domaj!

2. He just finished building his house and he died soon after.  It's too bad he didn't get enjoy it.
    Li fèk fin bati kay li enpi li mouri tousuit apre.  Se malere, li pa't gentan jwi li.

3.  He had a motorcycle accident.  Too bad he didn't wear his helmet that day.
     Li fè aksidan ak motosiklèt li. Devenn pou li, li p'at mete kas li jou sa a.

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

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.

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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