I have just read your recent response to the post about 'an sotan''an patan'. I figured that the gerund express 'while' or 'during' even 'upon', 'though', 'when' but I wasn't sure so I didn't ask the question until now. I'm still not that sure about it. I have provided MANY examples in English and creole. A good amount of these examples are experiments. There are also alternative examples that express the same meaning. You could say I got carried away. I don't think all of my creole sentences are correct. FEEL FREE to make comments and corrections on anything you find fault with, FEEL FREE to let me know if my questions don't make sense to you. Can the gerund in creole have others meanings provided below? Can the gerund be alternatives?

Mezanmi o!  You DID get carried away :)
Kòm m te di w, sanble ou gen anpil enfliyans Franse lakay ou.  Sa parèt nan sa w ap ekri.


1.
He came into the room smiling.
Li te vin nan chanm nan souran.
Li te vin nan chanm nan tout an souriyan.
Se nan souri li te vini nan chanm nan.
Se ak yon souri li te vini nan chanm nan.

2.
She lost weight by working out.
Li te pèdi pwa nan fèzan(fèran) egzèsis.
Se nan fè egzèsis li te pèdi pwa. (I like!)

3.
He fell asleep while listening to the radio.
Li te tonbe dòmi pandan l'ap ekoute radyo a. (I like!)
Li te tonbe dòmi an ekoutan radyo a.

4.
He injured himself while playing basketball.
Li blese kò l pandan(antan) l'ap jwe baskèt. (I like!)
Li blese kò l an jouwan(jweyan) baskèt.
Or you could also say:
Li te blese pandan l'ap jwe baskèt.

5.
He slammed the door as he left.
Li klake pòt la lè li te pati. (I like!)
Li klake pòt la kan li te pati. (I like!)
Le te pati en klakan pòt la.

6.
As he was leaving, he looked worried.
Kan li te pati, li te sanble ankyè.(enkyè?)
Lè li te pati, li te sanble ankyè.
An patan, li te sanble ankyè.

7.
When I arrive in London, I shall go straight to my friends' house.
Lè mwen rive nan Lond, mwen prale touswit nan kay zanmi mwen yo.
Kan mwen rive nan Lond, mwen prale touswit nan kay zanmi mwen yo.
An rivan nan Lond, mwen prale touswit nan kay zanmi mwen yo.
How about:
Lè m rive Lond mwen prale tou dwat lakay zanmi mwen yo..?

8.
When taking her coat, she caught her foot in the rug.
Lè pran manto li, li te pran pye li nan tapi a.
Kan pran manto li, li te pran pye li nan tapi a.
An pranan(prenan) manto li, li te pran pye li nan tapi a.
How about
Pandan l ap pran manto li pye l te pran nan tapi a...?

9.
As/while she was trying to catch up with Fabienne, Nadine tripped and fell.
Kòm li te eseye ratrape Fabienne, Nadine trebiche e tonbe.
Pandan li te eseye ratrape Fabienne, Nadine trebiche e tonbe.
An eseyan ratrape Fabienne, Nadine trebiche e tonbe.
Pandan l t'ap eseye .....?

10.
On(upon) arriving, I had to change clothes because I was soaking wet.
Lè mwen rive, mwen te gen pou chanje rad mwen paske mwen te tranpe. (I like!)
Kan mwen rive, mwen te gen pou chanje rad mwen paske mwen te tranpe. (I like!)
An rivan(arivan) mwen rive, mwen te gen pou chanje rad mwen paske mwen te tranpe.
I think you mean:
Rive m rive, mwen t oblije chanje rad mwen paske m te tranpe.

11.
Upon seeing the flowers, she cried.
Lè li te wè flè yo, li kriye. (I like!)
Kan li te wè flè yo, li kriye. (I like!)
An vwayan(wèyan) flè yo, li kriye.  (wèyan..?)

12.
Upon entering the building, I saw Paul.
Lè(kan) mwen te antre nan bilding nan, mwen wè Paul.
Se nan antre nan bilding nan, mwen wè Paul.
An antran nan bilding nan, mwen wè Paul.
How about:
Kou m antre nan bilding nan m wè Paul...?


13.
I understood the political situation by/in/upon reading the newspapers.
Mwen konprann sitiyasyon politik la lè(kan) mwen li jounal yo.
Se nan li jounal yo ke mwen konprann sitiyasyon politik yo. (I like ! :)
Mwen konprann sitiyasyon politik an lizan(liyan) mwen li jounal yo.

14. 
TOUT (Emphasis)
All the while she was talking to me she was doing the ironing.
Tout pandan li te pale avèk mwen, li te pase fè.
Tout an palan avèk mwen, li te pase fè.
Se tout nan pale avèk mwen, li te pase fè.
How about:
Li t'ap repase tout pandan l'ap pale avè m...?

15.
Opposition
Despite taking the longer route he still arrived first.
Malgreke li pran yon wout pli lòng, li te rive premye toujou.
Se tout nan pran yon wout pli lòng, li te rive premye toujou.
Tout an pranan(prenan) yon wout pli lòng, li te rive premye toujou.
How about:
Malgre l te pran wout ki pi long nan, li te toujou rive an premye....?

16.
Concession
Whilst I understand his arguments, I do not agree with his plan.
Byenke mwen konprann agiman li, mwen pa dakò avèk plan li.
Se tout nan kronprann agiman li mwen pa dakò avèk plan li.
Tout an kronpranan agiman li mwen pa dakò avèk plan li.

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

In "I'll be in Haiti at that time." (or I'll be at school, I'll be at the party, I'll be there), when I use "Mwen pral", it seems that I'm saying I'M GOING instead of I'LL BE AT. Which future indicator do I really use? mesi pou ed ou.

m'ap or m'ava (mwen va or m va) will work just fine.

I' ll be at ....  
M'ap ...
M'ava ...

I'll be at the ... 
M'ap nan ...
M'ava nan ...

1. I'll be in Haiti at that time.
    M'ap Ayiti lè sa a.
    M va Ayiti lè sa a.

2. I'll be in New York tomorrow.
    M'ap New York demen.

3. I'll be at school by the time you arrive.
    M'ap lekòl distans pou w rive.

4. I'll be at church in the morning.  Why don't you come see me in the afternoon instead?
    M'ap legliz nan maten.  Pouki ou pa vin wè m nan apremidi pito.

5.  I'll be at home
     M'ap lakay.
     M va lakay.

6.  I'll be at your side.
     M'ap bò kote w.
     M'ava bò kote w.

7. I'll be at the movies.
    M'ap nan sinema a.

8.  I'll be in the crowd watching you sing.
     M'ap nan foul la ap gade w k'ap chante.
    M va nan foul ap gade w k'ap chante.

9. I'll be at the hospital
    M'ap nan lopital la.

10. I'll be at the party
    M'ap nan fèt la.

11. I'll be at the river
    M'ap nan larivyè a

12. I'll be at the bar
      M'ap nan ba a.


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

gade yon ..., gade yon tenten. Are there more expressions like these, that is to say, expressions that similar in form and in meaning.

Yes.  I think it's the same as saying "What the hell!", isn't it?
Gade yon tenten!
Gade de betiz!
Gade de salopri!
Gade yon zen!
Gade yon tèt chaje!
etc....

or almost similar expressions:
Look what I've gotten myself into.
Gade yon kwòk m'al mete nan kou m.
Gade nan kisa 'm pran.
Gade nan ki nich gèp ma'l foure pye'm.
etc...

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

Hi Mandaly, I was wondering if you could recommend any specific novels written in Hatian Creole, but not anything at an advanced reading level. Thanks for all the work you've done on your blog, I really have learned a lot. -Julia

Bonswa Julia :)
Mèsi.  I'm glad you're learning a lot.

Have you read Maude Heurtelou's Lafanmi Bonplezi, Sezisman!, or Her Creole adaptation of Jacques Roumain's Gouverneurs de La Rosée, Fòs Lawouze?  Also I found Emile Celestin-Megie's fiction AGASYA (about a young Haitian woman who, while doing research on the vodou religion, gets enthralled into a vodou sect) interesting. In these books, I would say, the Creole is of an intermediate level.

And if you're in Haiti, visit the Presses Nationales d'Haiti so you can browse their Creole novels.  A friend of mine just brought me some books from there (Which were recommended by another friend).  I hear they are very helpful.  If they do not carry a book that you're looking for, they'll will notify you when the book is available.

Also, look into these novels that I just finished reading:  Enpi Oun Jou Konsa Tèt Pastè Bab Pati, and Rete, Kote Lamèsi.  These last two are just so very addictive! So good!   Browse through the first few pages (if you can) to see if the Creole is challenging at all.  They are available at Presses Nationales d'Haiti.   I'm not sure how they fare with mail orders.   You can always contact them via the book store phone number on their website.

Bòn chans!  M espere ou va jwenn yon bon woman (novel).

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

eske mikwob pa touyen aysiyen tout bon vre?

Kibò sa mezanmi!
M si e sèten ou konn repons kesyon sa a pi byen pase m menm.  Kwake m pa konn pouki ou mande l, ni pouki moun ap kontinye di sa toujou.

Kòm pawòl sa a se yon dizon li ye, m ka konprann pouki yo toujou ap repete l.  Annefè, li plis yon ekspresyon pase yon dizon .... onswa pa :)

Anndan kò imen, dapre sa m aprann, se yon bagay esteril li ye.  Depi mikwòb antre kote l pa dwe antre, l'ap bay lafyèv, l'ap fè ravaj, l'a kraze brize jouk li fese kò a atè mò rèd.  Se remèd ak iminite w sèlman ki va sove w.  - Yo fè m konprann tou se pa tout mikwòb ki voye w al bwachat.

M panse se zafè iminite a ki ka byen NANNAN ekspresyon sa a.  (Petèt olye nou di "Mikwòb pa touye Aysiyen", nou ta dwe di: "Ayisyen gen plis iminite kont maladi pase tout pèp, akoz katafal mikwòb k'ap viv lakay yo")
Petèt yo repete ekspresyon an paske lè w'ap gade jan divès kote Ayiti sal anpil, w'ap mande tèt ou kouman yon kò imen tolere viv nan kondisyon parèy:  Moun ak kokorat dòmi sou menm kabann; moun bwose dan yo ak menm bwòs ravèt la fin bwose dan li; moun bwè dlo nan larivyè menm jan ak bèf enpi se lè w gade pi wo larivyè a, ou wè te gen yon kolonn chwal k'ap kaka nan dlo a; kò a vin tounen yon kay pou tout kalite parazit.

Grasadye, "Sa'k pa touye w va angrese w" (What doesn't kill you make you stronger).  Kòm rekonpans ou, lè w kite parazit yo fè ladesant nan kò w, chak parasit prezante w ak yon "diplòm" iminite kòmsi ou te pase "lekòl maladi".
Nan kondisyon sa a Ayisyen chaje ak "diplòm"!  Mwen pa menm ka konte konbyen m genyen meznami o!  Bagay pou ta kriye wi.... men nou genyen parazit yo rekonensans.  Nou fè dibyen avè yo. Nou ba yo kote pou yo layite deng yo, swa nan kò nou, swa nan tout kwen lakay nou, swa nan manje nou, swa nan tout fatra ak pousyè nan lari yo.   Yo menm yo fè pa nou.

Tout sa m sot di la ta ka yon bèl verite wi, men mwen panse ou konnen deja ke kolera rantre an Ayiti enpi li montre nou tout ke ekspresyon "Mikwòb pa touye Ayisyen" an pa gen verite ladan l.  Se yon gwo manti.

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

Saying "Thank You's!" and "You're Welcome"! (AUDIO)

Link to download this audio:
Click here to download…

To Listen to this audio, click on the PLAY button and follow along :)

 

Matmwazèl! (Miss!)
Plètil mesye? (Yes sir?)
Eske ou kapab di m ki lè l ye? (Can you tell me what time it is?)
Li fè sizè. (It's six o'clock.)
Mèsi! (Thank you!)
Deryen mesye! (You're welcome sir!)

Matmwazèl!
Plètil mesye?
Mwen grangou.  Fè yon ti sandwich pou mwen tanpri. (I'm hungry.  Make me a sandwich please)

Men wi mesye! (Of course sir!)

Men sandwich la wi. (Here's the sandwich.)

Mèsil anpil.  Mwen apresye sa! (Thanks a lot.  I appreciate this!)

Ak tout plezi mesye. (With all the pleasure sir!)

Matmwazèl!

Plètil mesye?

Eske w kapab pote yon vè dlo byen glase pou mwen? (Can you bring me a very cold glass of water?)

Wi mesye. (Yes sir)

Men dlo glase a wi! (Here's the cold water)

Mèsi anpil! (Thanks a lot!)

Se te yon plezi mesye! (It was a pleasure sir!)

Matmwazèl!

Plètil mesye?

Chofe yon ti dlo pou m ka benyen tanpri. (Warm up some water for my bath please)

Wi mesye.

Dlo a chofe wi. (The water's been heated)

Mèsi! (Thank you!)

Se te tout plezi m mesye! (It was all my pleasure sir!)

Matmwazèl!

Plètil mesye?

Mwen fin benyen.  Vin fèmen dlo a pou mwen. (I'm done taking my shower.  Come shut off the water for me)

Dakò mesye. (Alright sir.)

Mwen fèmen dlo a wi. (I shut off the water)

Mèsi anpil! (Thanks a lot!)

Padekwa mesye! (You're welcome sir!)

Matmwazèl!

Plètil mesye?

Etenn limyè a pou m ka dòmi. (Turn off the lights so that I may sleep)

Wi mesye.

Mwen etenn limyè a wi. (I turned off the lights)

Mwen remèsye w pou tout sa ou fè pou mwen! (I thank you for all you've done for me!)

Sa pa't anyen mesye! (That was nothing sir!)

Matmwazèl!

Plètil mesye?

Vin kouche bò kote m pou w ka grate do m. (Come lie down next to me so you can scratch my back.)

O!  Non non non Mesye! (Oh no no no sir!)

O O! Poukisa w di non? (Why do you say no?)

Paske sa se yon travay pou madanm ou, pa pou mwen menm! (Because this a job for your wife, not for me!)

Enben, eske w ta vle marye avè m pou w kapab vin madanm mwen? (Well would like to marry me so you can become my wife?)

Non mèsi mesye. Ou pa bezwen yon madanm. Se yon bòn ou bezwen! (No thanks sir.  You don't need a wife.  You need a servant)

Enben, mèsi kanmenm! (Well, thanks anyway!)

Se te yon gran plezi mesye! (It was a great pleasure sir!)

Track: Ede m chante chante sa a by Boukan Ginen

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

What is plètil?

Plètil, lètil, ètil or latil is an interjection that Haitians say when they're answering to someone calling them.
It means YES? (What do you want of me?)
Sometimes people (especially the ones from the countryside) will add WI! after Plètil

Example:
Rachel's mom:   Rachel!!  (Rachel!!!)
Rachel:              Plètil?! (Yes?!)
Rachel's mom:   Antre anndan.  Manje a pare! (Come inside please. Dinner is ready!)

From the example above, Rachel could have also answered Plètil manman?! (Yes mom?!) or Plètil wi?! (yes?)

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

Eske ou kapab tradui "Apran'n Reflichi" (Tropicana) pou mwen? Mwen vle konnen kisa li vle di. Mesi anpil pou ede mwen!

Aprann Reflechi

Pwoche pi pre pou nou tande
Come closer so you can hear

Yon bèl pwovèb, sa fè lontan n’ap repete l
a beautiful proverb that we've been saying for a long time.

Pwovèb sila gen anpil sans
This proverb makes a lot of sense

Poutan lèzòm pa janm entèprete l menm jan
However people do not interpret it the same way

Nou toujou tande yo di ke”Tout chimen mennen a Wòm”.
You always hear they say "All roads lead to Rome.:

Nan mal entèprete l,
because of interpreting it falsely

Anpil nan nou tonbe nan twou.
Many of us fall into a hole

Si w vle reyisi lavi
If you want to succeed in life

Fò w pa chwazi chimen kwochi
You should not choose a "crooked" road

Pran chemen ki dwat
Take the "straight" road

Yon jou w’ava jwenn siksè
One day you will succeed

Sobodobodobo …

Anpil moun panse yo ka rive pa nenpòt mwayen paske wout la long
Many people think they can get there by whichever way because the road is long

Pa janm bliye pa gen siksè san onètete lè n vle avanse.
Don't ever forget that there's no success without honesty if we want progress. 
Pou reyisi lavi,  nou kapab fè anpil bagay

To succeed in life, we can do many things 

Sa w pa nui pèsonn, san ou pa anmède tèt ou.

Without troubling anyone or yourself

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

I know that 'live news report' is 'nouvel an direk' in creole. But what about previously- recorded(pre-recorded) news report?

Previously recored broadcast → emisyon andifere
egz:
Nou te resevwa emisyon nouvèl yo andifere lakòz chanpyona foutbòl la ki te televize andirèk li menm.

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

Kouman lekti a ye? Kote ou rive? :)

Awww! Li anfòm nèt :)

Lè mwen te fin li Pastè Bab, m te oblije reli l ankò.
Premye fwa mwen te li l, mwen pa't ka tann pou konnen kouman istwa a te fini.
E mwen te li l yon fwa ankò, pou m kapab absòbe e apresye tout idyòm Kreyòl ki nan liv sa a.
Mwen poko janm kontre ak yon liv ki gen tout kantite idyòm sa yo nan 105 ti paj sèlman!  Mwen souliyen tout :)!

Liv sa gen yon ton pèsonèl pou mwen. Tout vwazinay Pastè Bab yo sanble trè familye pou mwen.

Istwa sa a, tou, byen tris.  Kwake liv la fini avèk posiblite ke Pastè Bab kapab jwenn kè kontan, epòk ki pi enpòtan nan lavi li te makònen avèk anpil dezolasyon.  Ni manman l, ni papa'l, ni fanm li te renmen an pa te ba li okenn afeksyon.  Menm zanmi l yo pa te zanmi l tout bon.  Sèl espwa li te genyen, se te pou pati nan peyi etranje, yon rèv ke anpil Aysiyen pataje.

Kounye a, m'ap li Pase m yon kou Foli paske mwen sonje ou t'ap pale m osijè li.  Mwen fèk koumanse l.

"TIWIL", mwen te renmen analiz ou te fè nan Lamèsi a.  Sa te ban m yon diferan pèspektiv sou liv sila a.  Mwen ta renmen konnen sa ou panse osijè Pastè Bab?

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

kisa 'manje je' vle di? Mwen panse se yon ekspresyon.

If you don't mean in the literal sense :-\, then yes, it is an expression.

manje je → to take advantage, to pull a fast one, to confuse
manje je yon moun → take advantage of someone.

Example:
1. Lè diaspora ale Ayiti, machann yo toujou ap eseye manje je yo.
2. Apa w'ap eseye manje je m.  M pa egare non!

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

What is the best English translation for 'byen pre pa lakay'

Byen pre pa lakay 
(Being near is not being there)
It's not over until it's over.
I think this proverb say:  Just because you're almost there, does not mean you there.  A lot can still happen.

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

Yon ti vizit (AUDIO)

Link to download audio:
Click here to download…

To listen to this audio post, click on the PLAY button and follow along :)

 

Rigaud is visiting with Charité at her home in the countryside near Aux Cayes....
Conversation starts here:

Hmm! Ala kafe gou!
Yum! What tasty coffee!

Sa a se kafe peyi, wi, w'ap bwè la!  Tè Ayiti bay bon kafe!
It is homegrown coffee that you're drinking.  Haitian soil yields good coffee.

Wi, sa se vre.  Ayiti te toujou gen bon tè.  Bon, Charité, mwen te kontan vizite ou jodi a.  Mèsi pou bèl akèy la.
Yes, that is true.  Haiti always had good soil.  Well, Charité, I was happy to visit you today.  Thank for the nice reception.

Mwen kontan ou te vini tou.  Kilè ou gen pou tounen nan kapital la?
I, too, was happy you came.  When must you return to the capital?

Mwen dwe retounen demen sidyevle.  Fò m'al travay.
I must go back tomorrow God willing.  I must go to work.

Ah wi?  Se ki metye ou fè?
Oh yeah?  What is your profession?

Mwen anseye matematik ak syans nan yon lekòl.  E ou menm Charité, kisa w fè?
I teach math and science at a school.  How about you Charité, what do you do?

Mwen menm, mwen se kiltivatè.  Mwen plante.  Mwen rekolte.  Enpi m'al vann tout sa m rekolte yo nan yon mache.
I am a farmer.  I plant. I harvest.   And then I go to sell what I harvest at a market

Sa se travay pete fyèl!  Ou se yon fanm dyanm k'ap nouri peyi a.  Chapo ba!
That's hard work!  You are a strong woman feeding the country.  Hats off!

Mèsi wi.  Ou konnen, se konsa.  Fòk nou travay pou n manje.
Thanks. You know, that's how it is.  We must work in order to feed ourselves.

Eske m mèt mande ou yon lòt bagay?
May I ask you something else?

Wi?
Yes?

Eske ou fè zafè deja?
Are you in a relationship?

Adye Rigaud!  Mwen poko non.
Alas Rigaud! Not yet.

O! yon bèl fanm tankou w, sa w'ap tann?
A beautiful woman such as yourself, what are you waiting for?

Enben m'ap tann sa Bondye sere pou mwen an.
Well I'm waiting for what God has put aside for me.

M'espere sa Bondye sere pou ou  a pa twò lwen.  Se kisa ou fè pou w distrè ou lè w p'ap travay?
I hope that what God has in store for you is not too far.  How do distract yourself when you're not working?

Enben Rigaud, lè m p'ap travay, mwen renmen ale nan sinema.
Well Rigaud, when I'm not working I like to go to the movies.

Mwen menm tou.  Mwen renmen gade fim komedi.  E ki dènye fim ou te wè?
Me too.  I love comedy.  And what was the last movie you saw?

Sa gen lontan depi m pa ale gade yon fim.
It's been a long time since I have not seen a movie.

O enben tande sa.  Gen yon fim ki fèk soti nan sinema bò lakay mwen nan Pòtoprens.  Li rele "Les Trois Stooges".  Eske ou ta renmen al wè l?
Well listen to this.  There's a movie that's just out in the movie theaters near my home in Port-Au-Prince.  It's called "Les Trois Stooges"  Would you like to go see it?

Men wi! depi se avè w mwen prale, m panse m va byen anmize m.
Of Course!  As long as I'm going with you, I think I'll enjoy myself.

Enben machè Charité m'ap envite w, wikenn pwochen,  pou vin gade yon fim avèk mwen nan Pòtoprens.
So, my dear Charité, I am inviting you to come see a movie with me in Port-Au-Prince.

Rigaud, mwen asepte envitasyon ou.
Rigaud, I accept your  invitation.

Anfòm! Mwen va vin chache ou nan estasyon bis la vandredi.
Great! I will come pick you up at the bus station Friday.

Dakò Rigaud, n'a wè vandredi apremidi.
Okay Rigaud, see you Friday afternoon.

Track: Nonm sa a by Emeline Michel

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

Expressions with Hatian Creole word "gade":

Gade literally means "to look"

Gade lè w non!

Gad lè w!

Oh look at you!

Just look at you!

Gade lè yo

Gad lè yo!

Just look at them! .... so pitiful (implied)

Gade non!

Look!

Gade non! Mwen pa sou jwèt jodi a.

Look! I am not playing around today.

Sa pa gade m!
It's none of my business!

Sa pa regade m.

This does not regard me

This does not concern me

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

What "an" here: an sòtan and an patan, sometimes with a pronoun; an sotan m.

It kind of means while or during here.

1. Ansòtan or An sòtan ....
    While exiting ....

2. Ansòtan m ...
    During my exit
    While I was exiting ....

3.  Ansòtan yo, paparazzi yo te branche kamera yo sou yo.
     As they were getting out, the paparazzi had aimed the cameras at them.

4. an arivan m, annarivan m...
    At my arrival ...., during my arrival

5. An arivan m nan sal ijans lopital la, enfimyè yo te ofri m yon chèz woulant.
    As I was entering the hospital's emegency room, the nurses offered me a wheel chair.

6. An patan nou konsa, machin nan te pran pàn.
    While we were leaving, the car broke down.

    Anpatan (an patan) → as we started to leave, from the beginning, from the get go


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

M pase pa m??? (in English)

Pase pa → to go through hard time, to go through tough times (Sometimes, e also say "pase kont")

1.  Mwen te pase pa m.
     I went through some hard times.

2.  M te abite ak fanmi matant mwen pandan m te kolèj. Moun sa yo fè m pase pa'm.
     I lived with my aunt's family while I was going to college.  These people gave me a hard time.

3. M'ap pran yon kou esapnyòl nan inivèsite a.  Se pa'm m'ap pase ak pwofesè a, tank li malouk!
    I'm taking a Spanish course at the university.  I'm having a hard time with the professor, he so mean!

4. Lè papa m te vwayaje nan peyi Etazini nan ane swasant (60) yo, te gen anpil prejije nan peyi a.  Yo te fè l pase pa'l anvan l te resi jwenn yon bon ti travay.
   When my dad came to the US in the sixties, there were a lot of discrimination.  They gave me a hard time before he could find a decent job. 

so, you'll say:
mwen pase pa'm (I went through tough times)
ou pase pa'w (You went through tough times)
li pase pa'l (He / She went through tough times)
nou pase pa'n (We went through tough times) 
yo pase pa yo. (They went through tough times)


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

In "M rete an Ayiti" and "M rete Ozetazini"; is the "an" optional to use?

Other ways to say "M rete an Ayiti."
M abite Ayiti.
M abite an Ayiti
Mwen rezide an Ayiti
M'ap viv Ayiti
or
M'ap viv an Ayiti.

Other way to say "M rete Ozetazini."
M'abite Ozetazini.
M'ap viv Ozetazini
M'abite nan peyi Etazini.
Mwen rezide nan peyi Etazini.
or
Mwen demere nan peyi Etazini.

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

I want to put this on a post card. Is it "Swete ou te isi" or "Swete ou te isi la."?

It'll be best to also add the subject pronoun in the Creole sentence.   I'm thinking it is "I" who wishes that "you" were here?

I wish you were here.
Mwen swete w te la.

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

How does one translate 'to reminisce' in Haitian Creole? "I'm reminiscing about the good old days."

☺ W'ap sonje lakay?

To reminisce → reviv, repase nan lespri, sonje, panse, reve, raple, repase nan memwa

I'm remniscing about the good old days.
M'ap sonje tan lontan.
M'ap panse ak tan lontan.

I relive all the good times again and again.
Mwen repase tout bon moman yo ankò e ankò nan lespri m.

see link for Good old days

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

Kale m lajan m sou de chèz??

This is like two expressions made into one:
Sou de chèz is an expression which means completely, thoroughly, satisfactorily
Example:
M te bay yon avoka regle yon ka pou mwen.  Li ban m sa sou de chèz.
I had a lawyer take care of a case for me.  He did an awesome job.


And then... there's the expression with "KALE" which pretty much the same sa FOUT, FWENK, BAY, FLANKE they translate the verb TO GIVE.
Example:
Give me my freakin money!
Kale m lajan m.!
Flanke m lajan m!
Fwenk mwen lajan m!
Fout mwen lajan m!
or 
Ban m lajan m fout!

SO...
Kale m lajan m sou de chèz!
is pretty much the same as
Ban mwen lajan m san tèt chaje tanpri!
or if you prefer to say it in English :)
Give me my money without stressing me out.


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

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