It's TIME to go to work. (AUDIO)

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Hey... Madanm, di mwen, eske ou pa’t gen pou  al travay maten an?

Lady, tell me,  didn't you plan to go to work this morning?

Mwen prale wi.  Men Li poko lè pou m kite. (please see link)

Yes I AM going.  But it's not time to leave yet.

A ki lè w’ap kite?

At what time will you leave?

M’ap soti la a setè edmi paske travay mwen kòmanse a uitè.

I'll get out of here at 7:30 because my job starts a 8:00.

Ah mwen konprann.  E se a ki lè w’ap tounen?

Ah! I understand.  And at what time will you be back?

M’ap fin travay a midi.

I'll be done working at noon.

Kifèla, ou pa travay anpil!  Ou travay katrèdtan sèlman?

So, you don't work much!  You work only for four hours?

Wi se sa.  Mwen travay KAT-È-D'-TAN sèlman.

Yes that's right.  I only work four- hours-of-time.

E se kisa ou fè avèk rès tan w?

And what do you do with the rest of your time?

Ak rès tan mwen, mwen fè klas pou moun ki pa konn li ……lasemèn nan apremidi.

With the rest of my time, I teach a class for people who don't know how to read ...on weekday afternoons.

E ki sa w fè lewikenn.

What do you on weekends?

Lewikenn, mwen dòmi nèt ale.  Mwen dòmi tout lajounen, tout lannuit.

On weekends, I sleep like a log.  I sleep all day, all night.

San dout, ou merite tout repo sa a.

Without a doubt, you deserve all that rest.

Wi ….M panse m merite l vre.  Enben, m’ale wi.  N’a wè pita lè m rantre a dizè?

Yes,  I think I do deserve it.  So, I'm leaving.  See you later when I come back at 10:00?

Dakò.  N’a wè lè w retounen.

Yes.  See you when you get back.

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

far away from ..... (in Creole?), How to say especially ...away from.

"... away from" does not have to be translated here
Far away from .... → lwen ...; some people say lwen avèk .... or lwen de .....

1. Pouki ou kanpe lwen m konsa?
    Why do you stay so far away from me?

2.  Poukisa ou sanble lwen konsa jodi a?
     Why do you seem so distant today?

3.  Mwen lwen lakay.
     I'm far away from home.

4. Ki kote Nouyòk ye?  Eske li lwen isit la?
    Where is New York?  Is it far from here?

5.  Lapolis te fè manifestan yo kanpe lwen baryè palè prezidansyèl la.
     The police had the protesters stand far away from the gate of the presidential palace.

6.  Chak kou mwen lwen w konsa, m santi m pa viv.
     Whenever I'm so far away from you I have a hard time.

7.  Tibebe pa ka sipòte rete lwen manman yo.
     Babies can't tolerate staying far from their mom.

8.  Fout mete w deyò!  Pati!  Ale lwen isit la!  Mwen pa vle wè menm lonbraj ou devan kay sa.
     Get the hell out!  Leave!  Go far away from here!  I don't even want to see your shadow passing by this house.

9.  M'atriste. M lwen lakay,  lwen fanmi m,  lwen menaj mwen,  lwen tout sa m renmen e ki renmen m.
    I'm sad.  I am far away from home, from my family, from my lover, far away from those I love and who loves me.

10.  Yon sèl bagay m'ap di w.  Rete lwen bonòm sa a tande!
       I'll telll you just one thing.  Stay away from this young guy, you hear!

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

What does anpwent mean here: "Evidamman, se pa yon sijè nou ka nye lè nou vin wè efè anpwent li sou agrikilti an Ayiti pase fòk peyi a te kòmanse debwaze pou chèche lajan pou kòmanse peye Lafrans." Védrine-'Agrikilti ta dwe premye sib nan devlopmanAyiti'

anpwent (fingerprint); I think Emmanuel Védrine is being nonconcrete here.  Anpwent, here, might mean  mark, influence, impression, or signature.

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

m'ale (in English)

M'ale.
I'm leaving.
I'm going.
I'm out of here.
So long
Goodbye

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

Number of hours

èdtan (from French heures de temps)

1. inèdtan 
    inè-d-tan
    one hour

2. dezèdtan
    dezè-d-tan
    two hours

3.  Mwen te travay pou douzèdtan ayè.
     I worked for twelve hours yesterday.

4.  Nou te jene pou vennkatrèdtan (vennkatèdtan).
     We fasted for twenty-four hours.

5. Dabitid yon fim dire inèdtan edmi.
    Usually a movie lasts one and a half hours.

6.  Nenpòt moun ki fè yon diskou ki dire plis pase demi èdtan pa gen konpasyon pou oditè l yo.
     Anyone that makes a speech longer than half an hour has no compassion for his audience.

7.  Mwen fatige paske m te dòmi yon kadè sèlman yèswa.
     I'm tired because I only slept for a quarter of an hour last night.

8.  Konbyen èdtan ou travay pa semèn?  Mwen travay karantèdtan pa semèn.
     How many hours you work per week?  I work forty hours per week.

9.  Pran medikaman an chak twazèdtan.
     Take the medicine every three hours.

10.  M te gen tranche pou trannsizèdtan anvan m akouche.
     I was in labor for thirty-six hours before giving birth.

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

Ak tout boulin? (fast?)

Wi se sa.

Ak tout boulin
An boulin
Ak tout vitès
With full speed
At great speed

1.  Kamyon pasaje Ayiti sa yo, menm si yo chaje moun, yo pran mòn yo ak tout boulin.
     These passenger trucks in Haiti, even if they're full, take the hills at full speed.

2.  Lè prezidan an ap pase sou lari a, machin li pase ak tout boulin.  Ou pa menm gen tan pou w wè ki moun ki nan machin nan.
    When the president is traveling, his car drives by at great speed.  You don't even have the time to see who's in the car.

3.   Vòlè a te rale bous mwen nan men'm enpi li pran kouri.  Mwen pete yon boulin dèyè l jouk mwen ratrape l.
      The robber snatched my purse from me and took off running.   I took off after him with full speed until I caught him.

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

I say 'kitchin' for kitchen and 'badoum or batoum' for bathroom. Are these words used by other Haitians alongside 'kwizin' and 'twalèt' respectively and are they part of the creole vocabulary?

That sounds like bad English to me.
What do you think?
Would a Haitian who's never travelled to the US, and who only had a primary education in an elementary school in the outskirts of ..... Trou du Nord (for example), understand this type of language clearly?

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

Do you know what the English equivalent to "sa w pa konnen pi gran pase ou"? Is it "Ignorance is bliss"?

No... It's not equivalent to "Ignorance is bliss".

Tout sa w pa konnen pi gran pase w.
All that you don't know is greater than you. literally

I'm not sure what the English equivalent is.  This proverb means that things that are beyond our knowledge and understanding are greater than us.  We can't control the things we don't know.  And sometimes when fate puts them in our way, they can change our lives in ways that we did not plan.  They are greater than us. "Yo pi gran pase nou."

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

Men longè! Men lajè! Men gwosè! --- MEN means VERY or EXCESSIVELY in this case.

Men, here, translates very,  excessively, to a high degree, or to such a degree in English

1.
Fi a t'ap fè chèlbè nan lari a, men lajè dada l!  Ni gason ni fanm te oblije kanpe pou gade l.
The woman was strutting her stuff in the streets, her butt was that wide!  Men and women taken by curiosity, stopped to stare at her.

2. 
Marlèn akouche yon ti bebe kenz liv.  Si w ta wè sa!  Men gwosè machwè li!
Marlene gave birth to a 15-pound baby.  You should have seen this!  His cheeks were that big!

3.
Te gen plenn lin jou swa sa.  Lalin nan te men gwosè!  Tout lougawou, tout move je, tout zonbi te deyò.  
There was a full moon that night.  The moon was this big!  All werewolves, evil eyes, and zombies were out.

4. 
Fanm nan te ansent uit mwa.  Malgre sa li tonbe goumen ak mèt magazen an.  Men gwosè vant li.  Ou ta kouche atè pou w ri si w te wè sa.
The woman was eight months pregnant.  In spite of that she started to fight with the store owner.  Her belly was so big.  You would have rolled on the floor laughing if you had you seen it.

5.  
Lè m te tande nouvèl la, m te santi tèt mwen te men gwosè.
When I heard the news I felt my head was so big.

6. 
Je blan an te vèt.  Men longè bwa nen l. Tout moun nan vilaj t'ap gade l paske yo patko janm wè yon moun blan.
The white man's eyes were green.  The bridge of his nose was that long.  Everyone in the village was staring at him because they had never seen a white person yet.

7.
Nèg la antre nan ofis la toutouni nèt.  Men longè grenn li. Li pa te wont menm.  Tout moun te panse l te fou.
The man came into the office butt naked.  His penis hanging all the way to the floor.  He had  no shame at all.  Everyone thought he was crazy.

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

IS there a haitian Creole expression to translate 'jumping through hoops'?

Jumping through hoops
Fè anpil zefò. (zefò, jefò, or efò)
Pase nan pil.
Naje bèl nas.

egz:

I jumped through hoops to get the store to reimburse me my money.

Mwen te pase nan pil pou m fè magazen an remèt mwen lajan m.
Mwen te naje bèl nas pou m fè magazen an remèt mwen lajan m.
Mwen te fè anpil efò pou magazen an remèt mwen lajan m.

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

How do I say GET LOST! in Creole?

Get lost! (Scram!, Beat it!)
Soti la!
Retire kò w la!
Rale kò w la!
Degèpi!
Rache manyòk ou!
Òltegèt!

egz:
Retire kò w la! Pa janm parèt figi w isit la ankò!
Get lost! Don't ever show you face around here again!

Also,

To take off (to split, to run)
Degèpi
Rache manyòk
Kraze rak
Chape poul
sove

egz:
Lè touris yo te tande gen yon siklòn k'ap vini, yo te rache manyòk yo bay teren an blanch.
When the tourists heard that there was a hurricane on the way, they took off and cleared the area.

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

How exactly is the word 'alsiyis' used?

Alsiyis (to moan in pleasure, or moans of pleasure) can be used as verb or a noun.
egz:
Msye fè m alsiyis nèt. 
Se pa ti Alsiyis fanm nan bay non!
 
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Many ways to say "therefore (...and so)" in Haitian Creole

Therefore (...and so)
pakonsekan
kifèla
kidonk
kifèdonk
donk
konsa la
konsa menm
konsa tou
alò
alò menm
annefè

So, you mean to tell me that yon don't want to go any more?
Pakonsekan, ou vle di m ke ou pa vle ale ankò?
Kidonk, ou vle di m ke ou pa vle ale ankò?
Konsa menm, ou vle di m ke ou pa vle ale ankò?
Annefè, ou vle di m ke ou pa vle ale ankò?

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

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)

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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