Machande nan Mache → Haggling at the Market (AUDIO)

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Madanm… Eske w gen anana pou vann?

Ma’am… Do you have pineapples for sale?

Wi mesye.   Mwen gen twa sèlman ki rete.

Yes I do.  I only have three left.

Dakò.  Vann mwen YOUN!

Great.  Let me have ONE!

O non!… se touletwa m’ap vann ansanm.  M p’ap ka degrennen yo.

No… I am selling all three together.  I won’t separate them.

O…Konbyen w mande pou twa yo?

Oh… How much do you ask for the three?

Sèt dola.

Seven dollars.

Eske w ka bay yo pou twa dola senkant?

Can you give them for three dollars fifty?

O! ou debòde monchè!  Pou w ta panse pou m ta ba w zannana yo pou mwatye pri mwen mande w la? Non, non, non!  m pa sa fè sa.

You must be insane!  To think that I would give you the pineapples for half the price that I asked for.  No no no,  I can’t do that.

Enben, m’a ba w $4.00 pou yo.

Well, I’ll give you $4.00 for them.

Non mesye, mwen p’ap desann pri a.

No sir,  I won’t reduce the price.

E si m ajoute senkant kòb sou li.  …..Eske w’ap bay li pou kat dola senkant santim?

How about if I add 50 cents to it…..  Will you give it for $4.50 cents?

O o! mwen regrèt sa mesye.  Mwen p’ap vann zannana yo pou pi piti pase sèt dola.

Sorry sir. I won’t sell the pineapples for less than $7.00

Madanm! Mwen vrèman bezwen moso anana pou m pote lakay.  Eske w ta vann yo pou senk dola.?

Ma’am! I truly need to bring some pineapple home.  Would you sell them for $5.00?

Zannana yo twa pou sèt dola, ... san wete san mete.  M p’ap chanje lide’m.

The pineapples are 3 for $7, ...no more no less.  I won’t change my mind.

Bèl ti cheri a! Li gentan fin ta.  Mache a pral fèmen toutalè.  Dayè, Jan m wè anana sa yo la a, y’ap fin pouri nan men w si ou pa vann yo jodi a.  Lèkonsa, se jete ou pral oblije jete yo.

Beautiful darling! It’s already getting late.  The market will close soon.  In fact, from the looks of it, these pineapples will become rotten if you don’t sell them today.  Then you’ll have to throw them away.

Enben, si m pa vann yo, m’a manje yo ak fanmi mwen.  E si fanmi m pa vle yo, m ka toujou lonje yo bay mandyan yo nan lari a.  Men mwen p’ap ba ou yo pou senk dola.

Well, if I don’t sell them, I’ll eat them with my family.  And If my family don’t want them, I could always hand them to beggars in the street.  But I won’t give them to you for $5.00

Enben Makòmè, senk dola senkant! Dènye òf!  Se tout sa m genyen.

Well my comrade, $5.50!  Last offer!  That’s all I have.

Monkonpè, ban m si dola pou yo, enpi ou mèt pran yo!

My comrade, you give me six dollars and you may have them!

Dakò…. Mèsi anpil.  Mwen apresye sa.    Men lajan ou.  …. Mete yo nan yon sache pou mwen silvouplè.

Agree… Thanks a lot.  I appreciate this.  Here’s your money….  Put them in a bag for me please.

Men wi!... Men zannana ou yo.  Pase yon bon jounen mesye.

Of course!  Here are your pineapples.    Have a great day sir.

Kout chapo madanm!

Hats off ma’am!

Track ANANA by Issa El Saieh

Anana sila bon pou manje!
This pineapple is good to eat!
Se paske li bèl, li gwo, li lou, e li peze
That’s because it looks good, it’s heavy, and it has weight
Men pratik, di mwen, konbyen w mande?
But my clientele, tell me how much do you ask?
Li mèt nenpòt pri, cheri, ou konnen m’ape peye
Whatever the price, honey, you know I’ll pay.
O ala yon bèl anana! (bis)
Oh what beautiful pineapple!
Se paske li bèl, li gwo, li lou, e li peze
That’s because it’s beautiful, it’s heavy, and it has weight
Ban m moso pou m pot lakay
Give me some to bring home
Li mèt pouri, li mèt gate
Whether it’s rotten or spoiled
Ban m moso pou m pot lakay!
Give me some to bring home!
Li mèt pouri, li mèt pa bon
Whether it’s rotten or not good
Ban m moso pou m pot lakay!
Give me some to bring home!

Anana sila bon pou manje!
This pineapple is good to eat!
Se paske li bèl, li gwo, li lou, e li peze.
That’s because it looks good, it’s heavy, and it has weight.
Men madanm, di mwen, konbyen w mande?
But lady, tell me how much do you ask?
Li mèt nenpòt pri, cheri, ou konnen m’ape peye.
Whatever the price, honey, you know I’ll pay.
O ala yon bèl anana! (bis)
Oh what beautiful pineapple!
Se paske li bèl, li gwo, li lou, e li peze.
That’s because it’s beautiful, it’s heavy, and it has weight.
Ban m moso pou m pot lakay.
Give me some to bring home.
Li mèt pouri, li mèt gate
Whether it’s rotten or spoiled
Ban m moso pou m pot lakay!
Give me some to bring home!
Li mèt pa bon, li mèt pa bon
Whether it’s good or not
Ban m moso pou m pot lakay!
Give me some to bring home!

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

May I ask you dear what you will be using in place of Formspring?

I'll be using Breezi.  I have an active acct. with them.

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

What are some words for 'schedule'(nouns and verbs)? "I'll check my schedule to see if I`m not busy this weekend." or "The schedule allows three weeks for this stage." or "The next elections are scheduled on the 20th of November."

to schedule → pwojte, pwograme, planifye, mete alorè
a schedule → yon orè, yon pwogram

"I'll check my schedule to see if I`m not busy this weekend."
"M'ava tcheke orè m pou wè si m pa okipe wikenn sa a."

"The next elections are scheduled on the 20th of November."
"Pwochen eleksyon yo pwojte pou ven novanm."

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

What are words for 'bookworm'? "In my room I have so many books on the shelf, on the floor, and even on my bed. I love to read; so I am a true bookworm."

bookworm → ti rat bbliyotèk, lektè pasyonen, yon moun ki renmen li, yon moun ki kenbe tèt li nan liv li

"I love to read; so I am a true bookworm." 
"Mwen renmen li, donk mwen se yon lektè pasyone."

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

Madanm Mandaly, What is the Kreyol equivalent to the French "comme si comme sa" (so so)? I am not sure if my French is correct, but I think you know what I am saying. Such as in French "au contraire" to Kreyol "okontre". In Spanish it is "asi asi"

A Haitian Creole equivalent to "comme ci comme ça" is konsa konsa.
In Haitian Creole, it would mean so so, not too bad, or ... mediocre

Examples:
We can use "konsa konsa" to say "not too good, not too bad" or "just average"
1.
-Kisa ou panse osijè fim ou sot wè a? (what do you think of the movie you just saw?)
-M pa't tèlman renmen l.  M panse li te konsa konsa. (I didn't like it much.  I thought it was so so.)


2. 
Kijan ou ye? (How are you?)
Ou konnen... tout bagay ap mache konsa konsa. (Yo know ....everything is  going so so)


"yon gason / fanm konsa konsa" might mean "a poor, insignificant, not important person"
3.
Pa pèdi tan w avèk medam sa yo.  Yo renmen lajan.  Yo p'ap marye ak nenpòt gason konsa konsa non.
Don't waste time with those girls.  They love money.  They will not marry just any guy.


"yon fanm konsa konsa" might mean "an easy, lower class, sleazy woman:
4.
Misye te panse m te yon fanm konsa konsa.
He thought I was an easy woman.



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

Hello Mandaly, I just found that Formspring is shutting down. The last day to post questions is March 31. Will this have a huge effect on your website? How will we post questions when Formspring shuts down?

Yes, they are shutting down. They had a good run, and were very helpful to me :-(
You will still be able to ask questions with a similar set-up... at the same spot on the blog.
I'll make the switch from Formspring during the last days of March.  I'm hanging on with them until their last breath.... Sigh!
RIP Formspring.

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

In CreoleLingo - "ansyen" is listed with the definition of "old" and "ancient" can it also mean "former" or "previous"?

Yes, definitely.
It can translate former, previous, ex
as in
1.
ansyen mennaj mwen
my ex-boyfriend
my ex-girlfriend

ansyen madanm
ex-wife

ansyen mari
ansye mouche
ex-husband, ex-partner

2.
ansyen prezidan Bill Clinton
former president Bill Clinton

3.
Ansyen prezidan René Préval ap vizite lekòl la jodi a.
Former president René Préval will visit the school today.

4.
Mwen renmen nouvo òdinatè yo fèk enstale nan lab la.  Ki sa yo fè ak ansyen yo?
I like the new computers they just installed in the lab.  What did they do with the previous ones?

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

Si ou ta fè konesans yon granmoun ki pa konn pale franse. Eske sa fe yon diferans siw tutoyer oubyen voudoyer li piske li pa konprann sa w'ap di l la?

W'ap fè m grate tèt mwen :)
Ki kalite kesyon ranje sa a :) M sipoze si granmoun nan Ayiti se Kreyòl w'ap pale avè l. Li pa posib pou ni titwaye ni voudwaye an Kreyòl. Sa pa egziste nan lang nou an.

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

'Live today as if it was your last' or 'live each day like your last' in Creole. mesi

Live today as if it was your last.
Viv jodi a kou dènye jou w.
or
Viv jodi a konmsi se te dènye jou w.

Live each day like your last.
Viv chak jou kou dènye jou w.
or
Viv chak jou konmsi se te dènye jou w.

Live each day to the fullest.
Viv chak jou nan plen bòl.
Viv chak jou ak bòl ou byen plen.
Viv chak jou w abondamman

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

Mak 15:3 Chèf prèt yo te depoze anpil plent sou do li. Please translate into English, then can you add explanation for 'plent' ? (Kamsa hamnida)

plent → complaint, accusations, grievance

'Chèf prèt yo te depoze anpil plent sou do li.'
'The chief priests had brought many accusations against him.'
'The chief priests had accused him of many things.'

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

Do you use "souri" for "smirking", or something else?

to smirk → ri nan bab, ri nan manton, fè yon ti souri bèt

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

"...Apre se te tou pa mwen pou m pale." Does TOU PA MWEN make sense?

Yes.

apre | se te   |  tou |  pa mwen |  pou |  m   | pale
after  | it was   | turn | mine           | for    | me   | speak
afterwards it was my turn to speak.

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

"an ran" and "sou ran", which best to use here? as in 'They lined the streets to watch ......'

anran ( an ran) oubyen sou ran kapab bon.
egzanp:
Moun mete yo sou ran nan lari a pou ap gade .....

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

I'd love a translation with audio of IICor 13:34, NIV 84 "May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all."

I'm not sure it's verse "34". It might be verse "13".

Download link: Click here to download…

 

First two verse repetitions comes from this translation:
2 korent 13 vèsè 13 - Se pou benediksyon Senyè Jezikri a, ak lanmou Bondye genyen pou nou an, ansanm ak fratènite Sentespri a toujou la avèk nou.

The "three" repittitions that come afterwards is from the new 1999 Creole edition of the bible:
2 korent 13 vèsè 13 - Se pou benediksyon Senyè Jezikri ban nou an, ak renmen Bondye gen pou nou an, ansanm ak pouvwa Sentespri k'ap fè nou viv ansanm lan toujou la ak nou tout.

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

What are words for 'jinx'(nouns and verbs)? "..... ." and "He is trying to jinx me so I can't succeed."

a jinx → yon giyon, yon pichon, yon madichon
to jinx → mete bouch sou, limen bouji dèyè, mare

1.
"He is trying to jinx me so I can't succeed."
"L'ap mare m dekwa pou m pa reyisi."

2.
It's raining cats and dogs.  The guests can't make it to the nuptials.  This wedding must have been jinxed.
Lapli a ap fè raj deyò a.  Envite yo p'ap ka vini nan seremoni maryaj la. Yo dwe te limen bouji dèyè nòs la.  

3.  
The team scored a goal at the soccer championship match, breaking the jinx against the country.
Ekip la te fè yon gòl nan konpetisyon chanpyona foutbòl la, yo te retire giyon ki te sou tèt peyi a.


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

Mak 14:51 " Te gen yon jenn gason ki t'ap swiv Jezi; li te gen yon dra ase sou li. Yo mete men sou msye." Can you translate above into English, and explain in detail for 'ase, and 'msye' please. Kamsa hamnida

Dakò :)

msye (without the "i") or misye , not only means man, sir, or Mister, but it also translates the third person pronoun, "he", "him", "his"....   And also translates the guy, the man. ...
examples:
1. Misye malad.
    He is sick.

2. M pa wè Max depi kèk tan.  Kote msye?
    I haven't seen Max in a while.  Where is he?

3. Poukisa w'ap mande m sa?  Mwen pa wè msye nonplis.
   Why are you asking me?  I haven't seen the guy either.

4. Yo "mete men sou" msye.  
      Where "mete men sou" means to touch, or capture, apprehend, grab depending on context 
     They "captured" him.

ase → enough.  It also means only,  just,  only just,  solely
examples:
4. Mwen gen twa dola ase.
    I have just three dollars.
    I have only three dollars.

5. Depi yo te mete men sou msye, li te di de(2) mo ase.
    Since they captured him, he only said two words.

See more examples in the linked post about ASE as ONLY or JUST.  The section is highlighted.

SO the translation for your sentence  in English will be:

Te gen yon jenn gason ki t'ap swiv Jezi; li te gen yon dra ase sou li. Yo mete men sou msye.
There was a young man who was following Jesus; he had only a sheet on him.  They grabbed him.

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

"M granmoun, m gen dwa plezire tet an mwen nenpot le lide m di m" (tèt an mwen? Wha't "AN"?) and (lide m di m? my idea says or tells?)

tèt an mwen (the northern way of saying tèt mwen) → lit. my head.  In this sentence it means myself.

lè lide m di m is an expression for whenever I want, as I please
lè lide l di l → whenever he wants, as he please
lè lide w di w → whenever you want, as you please

another expression that expresses almost the same thing is:
jan mwen vle (jan m vle) → however I want
jan li vle (jan l vle) → however he wants
jan ou vle (jan w vle) → however you want

1.  Ou granmoun, ou gen dwa antre soti lè lide w di w.
     You're an adult, you may come and go as you please.

2. Paran m pa la.  Yo nan vakans.  Donk m gen dwa antre lakay lè lide m di m.
    My parents are not home.  They're on vacation.  So I may go home whenever I please.

3. Lajan an se pa w.  Ou mèt depanse l jan w vle.

    The money's yours.  You may spend whichever way you please.

2. Nou se moun lib.  Nou gen dwa soti abiye jan n vle, pou n ale kote n vle, lè lide n di n.
    We are free.  We have the right to go out dressed however we want, to go wherever we want as we please.



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

Lespri nou byen dispoze, men se kò nou ki fèb. ( Can you translate the above to English ?) Kamsa hamnida

Lespri nou byen dispoze, men se kò nou ki fèb.
Ou spirit is determined (or motivated), but it's our body that is weak. (literally)
Ou spirit is willing, but our body is weak.

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

joli madanm :) "Fouti" is translated as "not able to" based on what you wrote. So I'm reading this sentence (Jan li jenn nan li pa fouti papa l) as (He's not able to be his father) or (He's not able to be a father)? and what is JAN here?

It sounds to me like "He could not be his/her father"

Here are some examples:

1.  Jan mesye sa a jenn nan, li pa fouti papa w.
      The way this man is young, he could not be your father (Lit.)
     This man is so young, he could not be your father.

2. Jan yo t'ap mache men nan men an, yo p'at fouti frè ak sè.
    For the way they were walking hand in hands, they could not be brother and sister.

3. Jan l t'ap desann byè yèreswa a, li pa t'ap  fouti al travay nan demen.
    For the way he was gobbling down beers last night, he could not have gone to work the next day.
    or does the English says: "He could not have been able to go to work..." (I'm not sure :)

4.  Jan w t'al dòmi ta, m konnen ou pa t'ap fouti leve bonè.
     For how you went to bed so late, I know you could not have woken up early.
      You went to bed so late, I know you could not have woken up early.

5. Jan yo te damou an, nou pa't fouti kwè yo te kite vrèman.
    For the way they were in love, we could not believe that they had really broken up.
    They were so much in love, we could not believe that they had really broken up.

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

"Se tout sa" (m genyen) (in English)

1. Se tout sa m genyen.
    That's all I have.

2. Se tout sa n genyen.
    That's all we have.

3.  Eske se tout sa w genyen?
     Is that all you have?

4.  Se tout sa m genyen pou m di.
     That's all I have to say.

5.  Se tout sa m'ap pran avè m.
     That's all I'll take with me.

6.  Se tout sa mwen vle.
     That's all I want.

7.  Se tout sa m te wè.
     That's all I saw.

8.  Se tout sa nou bezwen.
     That's all we need.

9.  Se tout?
     Eske se tout?
     Is that all?

10.  Wi, se tout?
       Yes, that's all.

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

"san wete san mete"

san wete san mete (pa plis pa mwens) → no more no less, exactly, no more than that

1. Tanpri remèt mwen san dola m nan san wete san mete.
     Please reimburse me my one hundred bucks. I want no more no less.

2.  Tout sa m mande, se pou w ban m sa w dwe m nan, san wete san mete.
      All I ask is that you give me what you owe me. I don't want more than that.

3.  Jounalis la bay nouvèl la nan bon ti manmit, san wete san mete.
     The journalist gave the news as it is, without adding to it or taking away from it.

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

M’ape rantre Ayiti jedi pwochen. Hi, Madaly, can you please explain this contraction ? "M'ape" kamsa hamnida ( mesi anpil)

"ape", like "ap" is the determiner for the progressive forms (and also future form)
We use either one (ap or ape)

We can say:
1.
M'ap chante.
or
M'ape chante
I'm singing.

2. 
Li mèt nenpòt pri, n'ap peye l.
or
Li mèt nenpòt pri, n'ape peye l.
It may be any price we'll pay for it.
Whatever the price we'll pay for it.

3.
Bebe a grangou.  Se poutèt sa l'ap kriye.
or
Bebe a grangou. Se poutèt sa l'ape kriye.
The baby is hungry.  That's why he's crying.


We may also use it in negative sentences.

4.
Mwen p'ap janm retounen nan peyi sa a ankò.
or
Mwen p'ape janm retounen nan peyi sa a ankò.
I'll never return to this country again.

5.
Nou p'ap fè dèyè, men n'ap fè douvan.
or
Nou p'ape fè dèyè, men n'ape fè douvan.
We will not go back, but we'll go forward.


You may use it in question form.
6.
Eske w'ap vini legliz avèk mwen?
or
Eske w'ape vini legliz avèk mwen?
Are you coming to church with me?

7.
Poukisa y'ap kriye?
or
Poukisa y'ape kriye?
Why are they crying?

See link: Present progressive marker

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

M'ape Rantre Ayiti (AUDIO)

Download link for this audio:
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To listen to this audio click on the PLAY button and follow along :)
 

-Alo?

-Bonjou Fanfan.  Kijan w ye?

-Bonjou …se kilès sa a?

   Hello.... who is this?

-Se Joujou...

   It's Joujou.

-O Joujou!  Sa’k pase?  Mwen gen kèk tan m pa tande w.  Sa’w regle?

  oh Joujou! How are you doing?  I haven't heard from you in a while.  What are you up to?

-M pa regle anyen ditou.  Ou konnen, m’ap travay di.

  I haven't been doing much at all.  You know, I'm working hard.

-Ou gen preske yon ane depi w pa vizite Ayiti.  Kilè w’ap fè yon ti kout pye isi?

  It's been almost a year since you visited Haiti.  When will you make a short trip here?

-Enben se poutèt sa mwen rele w.  M’ape rantre Ayiti jedi pwochen.  Eske w ta ka vin chache m nan ayewopò a tanpri?

  Well, That''s why I'm calling.  I'm coming to Haiti next Thursday.  Would you be able to come pick me up at the airport please?

-Mwen ta byen renmen fè sa, men machin mwen anpàn semèn sa.  Li p’ap gentan repare distans pou w vini.

 I would love to do that, but my car's broken down this week.  It will not be repaired by the time you come.

-O! mwen regrèt tande sa.  Men eske ou te kapab fwete yon tap-tap pou vin chache m?

 Oh I'm sorry to hear that.  But could you hire a tap-tap to come pick me up?

-Men wi! M’ap kapab.  Se nan ki vòl w’ap vini?   E ki lè vòl la ap ateri?

 Sure, I'll be able to.  Which flight are you coming in? And what time is the flight landing?

-M’ape vini nan Air France.  Avyon an va ateri bò zòn katrè nan apremidi konsa.  Mwen bezwen yon moun dekonfyans. Eske m ka konte sou ou?

  I'm coming in Air France.  The plane will to land at around 4 PM.  I need someone I can trust.  Can I count on you?

-Men wi! Ou mèt konte sou mwen zanmi’m.  Joujou, konbyen tan w’ap vin fè nan peyi a?

 Sure! You may count on me my friend.  Joujou, how long will you stay in the country?

-M p’ap sa fè anpil tan.  M’ap fè senk jou sèlman.  Mwen pa gen anpil jou konje nan travay mwen.

  I can't stay long.  It'll be just five days.  I don't have many days off from work.

-M konprann.  Senk jou pa anpil, men mwen va kontan vizit ou. Mwen te byen sonje w.

 I understand.  Five days is not much, but I'll enjoy your visit. I have missed you.

-Mwen menm tou.  Mwen sonje fanmi m ak zanmi m.

 Me too.  I miss my family and friends.

-Ki kote w’ap desann?  M’espere se pa nan yon otèl?

 Where will you be you staying?  I hope it's not in a hotel?

-Aktyèlman, se sa mwen t’ap panse fè.

 Actually, that's what I was thinking to do.

-Joujou, mwen ta twò kontan pou w fè ladesant lakay mwen.  An nou pa diskite sa. Se dakò? 

 Joujou, I would be more than happy to have you stay at my home.  Let's not dispute this.  Agree?

-Mèsi Fanfan. Se dakò.

  Thanks Fanfan. Agree.

-Bon, m’ava fè preparasyon pou m resevwa w. M pa ka tann pou m wè w.

  Good.  I'll make preparations to welcome you.  I can't wait to see you.

-Mwen menm tou.  Mèsi davans Fanfan.  N’a wè jedi sidyevle?

  Me too.  Thanks in advance Fanfan.  See you Thursday God willing

-Dakò Joujou.  N’a wè.

  Okay Joujou.  See you.

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

kijan ou di "camera shots"? .. m vle di m pa renmen long camera shots nan fim nan yon car k ap deplase paske fe m pe m.....M toujou panse k yon aksidan pral rive...sorry for the bad grammar please feel free to correct it :p

Dakò :)

camera shots → kout kamera

Are you saying you don't like the long camera shots of a moving car?

"Nan fim, mwen pa renmen kout kamera andistans sou yon machin ki ap deplase paske sa ban m sispens. .......M toujou panse gen yon aksidan k pral rive.."

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

'Depi m rat se premye fwa mwen pran nan pèlen" Is this a common thing to say? I plan to include it in my writings. It means 'oops i got caught', right?

By 'common', you mean "is it used in every day language?"  and "will Haitians understand what you mean when you say it?"
The answer is yes.

And yes, it basically means what you said "I finally got caught / in trouble."

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

How do you say "How do you say..." in haitian creole? Is it "konmen ou di", "kouma ou di", "kijan ou di"...??

Yes, it's the last two.
Kouman ou di?
kijan ou di?
or
kòman ou di?

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

What's a typical Haitian meal (breakfast, dinner, or supper). I'm only familiar with the rice and beans, griot, and plantain that my girlfriend makes. I'd like to try more.

Have you told your girlfriend that you want to try more?
A Haitian cookbook will probably help both of you.  See if she'd like to get one.
In the meantime, here are some typical meals, maybe you both can find the recipes online and try some:

Typical breakfast:
soup panad (breadsoup with bread, V8, watercress, herring sometimes)
ze ak pen (eggs sandwich with eggs and bread)
mayi mouli ak aransò (corn meal with herring)
vèmisèl (spaghetti)
soup joumou (squash soup)
avwàn (oatmeal)
chokola Ayisyen avèk pen (bread and cocoa)
kafe ak pen (coffee)
fruits (grapefruit, bananas, apricot)
and many more

Typical supper
labouyi (hot cereals, all kinds: plantain, rice, corn meal, corn flour, flour, oats)
and many more

Typical dinner
diri (rice, white or cooked with beans)
mayi (cornmeal, plain or cooked with beans)
sòs pwa (bean soup, usually to eat with rice)
vyann (meat, all kinds: chicken, beef, goats, fish, conch, crabs, ...)
bouyon (stew)
viv (vegetables, usually eaten with meat and sauces)
legim (legumes)
tyaka (corn and bean stew)
ragou (beef or goat stew)
taso (fried goat meat)
griyo (fried pork)
bannann peze (fried plantains)
fwa di (liver, usually with watercress and roots vegetables or plantains)
and many more



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

"Haitiens pa maren", esplike m?

Ayisyen pa maren (Haitians are no sailors)
I don't know who coined this old term.

But I think it has to do with the fact that so many Haitians had perished during the clandestine trips to Miami during the period of the Duvaliers:
If Haitians knew their way around water, most of them would have already crossed the ocean to run away from their misfortune.
When they do get on the water, they use shabby boats, no life preservers, and never thought of learning how to swim in case things don't go well during what's usually a long voyage.
Instead, they faithfully trust the success of their trip to two gods, Bondye (for the Christians), and Ague (for the .... rests).
But you got to admit that though they're no sailors they are very brave.

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

If I wish to say "I saw it coming" in Creole as in "I predicted that", can you say "Mwen te we l ap vini"? Great blog by the way :)

mèsi wi :)

I would say it using these expressions:
Mwen te wè sa. (I saw this coming)
or
Mwen te wè sa pou ou. (If you're talking to the person in question)
or
Mwen te wè sa pou li.(if you talking about a third party)

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

Can you translate 'lere' here ? Mak 12:27 Bondye se Bondye moun vivan li ye, li pa Bondye moun mouri. Nou wè nou nan lerè anpil, pa vre? (kamsa hamnida - this is a Korean expression for mesi anpil)

Dakò :)

Haitian Creole lerè is from French l'erreur and it means error, mistake, wrongdoing, failure, misguidance

example:
someone might say:
M te tonbe nan lerè.
and it means
I was living a life of wrongdoing.
I was living a life of mistakes (misguidance).
I was living a blameful life.

Mak 12:27
"Bondye se Bondye moun vivan li ye, li pa Bondye moun mouri. Nou wè nou nan lerè anpil, pa vre?"
"God is the God of the living.  He's not the God of the dead.  D'ont you see how misguided you are?"
or

"God is the God of the living.  He's not the God of the dead.  D'ont you see how wrong you are?"

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

How woulod you say "we like Jesus, need to do Jehovahs will first" or "we need to be like him by putting His fathers will above our own" ? I use Google Translate but it does not seem to be using words that are simply understood.

Here's a couple of ways to translate both sentences accurately:

"We like Jesus, need to do Jehovahs will first"
"Nou menm, tankou Jezi, dwe mete volonte Jewova anvan volonte pa nou."
"Nou, menm jan ak Jezi, dwe fè volonte Jewova an premye"

"We need to be like him by putting His fathers will above our own" 
"Nou dwe fè tankou Li e mete volonte Papa li anvan volonte pa nou."
"Nou dwe fè tankou Jezi, e fè volonte Papa a an premye."

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

Kijan yo di: "I heard you took a big exam! How did you do? When do you get the results?" Mesi

"I heard you took a big exam! How did you do? When do you get the results?"
"Mwen tande ou sot pran yon gwo egzamen!  Kouman ou te konpoze?  Kilè y'ap ba ou rezilta yo?"

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

Good morning, I thank you so much ! ( Your work and this blog ) Can you translate 'vole' in detail ? "Mak 10:50 Avèg la voye rad li jete, se vole li t'ap vole pou l' te vin bò kot Jezi. kamsa hamnida !

Dakò :)
Mèsi zanmi. Mwen apresye remèsiman ou.

vole → to fly, to take flight, to fly away, to leap, bounce or jump.
The noun for "vole" is "vòl" which means a jump, a flight, a bounce, a leap

"vole" should not be confused with "volè n." (with an accent on the "e") which means robber or crook

1. Zwazo ap vole anwo tèt nou.
    Birds are flying over our head.

2.  Avyon an vole deja.
     The plane already took flight.
     in this case, we may also say "pran vòl → take flight"

3.  Timoun nan te tèlman kontan wè manman l, li te vole sou janm li.
     The kid was so happy to see his mom that he leaped into her lap.

In the sentence in your question, it seems that the blind person was probably happy or overjoyed that he was leaping toward Jesus.
4. Avèg la voye rad li jete, se vole li t'ap vole pou l' te vin bò kot Jezi.
    The blind person threw his clothes aside, he was just leaping to get near Jesus.

and don't forget Se vole li t'ap vole is an expression which means "he was JUST leaping/flying".  See the embedded link #21 for more examples like this.

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

Hi, Madaly ! What is okontre ? here. "Men, se pa konsa pou sa fèt nan mitan nou. Okontrè, si yonn nan nou ta vle vin grannèg, se pou l' sèvi nou tout." kamsa hamnida

Bonjou :)
okontrè → on the contrary

"Men, se pa konsa pou sa fèt nan mitan nou. Okontrè, si yonn nan nou ta vle vin grannèg, se pou l' sèvi nou tout." 
"But that's not the way it's done among us.  On the contrary, if one of you wants to be a great man, he must serve all of us."


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

What is KASE here? "Mwen we ou fe yon ti kase."

kase, here, is most likely to have lost weight
We also say desann, pèdi pwa, megri (all verbs)

Li fè yon ti kase.
Li fè yon ti desann.
Li megri.
Li pèdi pwa.
He's lost some weight.

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

First draft? rough draft? final draft? "We have a research paper to do in this class. The first draft is due in two weeks, a second draft in four weeks, a third draft in six weeks a rough draft in eight weeks and the final draft in twelve weeks."

rough draft (first draft?) → bouyon 
travay obouyon → make a rough draft of your work
final draft → kopi final

I am making a rough draft before I make a final copy.
M'ape travay obouyon anvan m mete l opwòp.

Mwen te sèlman ekri l obouyon.
I only made a rough draft

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

Tou won san fon?

Where I am right now it's about 5 PM.  It's still too early for tire kont :)
I'd have to bury my toes in the ground before I could give you an answer.  And I don't feel like going outside to do this.  (LOL! You know how the superstition goes :)

☺Did you really need to know the answer?

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

How does one translate 'to snuggle(up)?

snuggle up → akokiye, plòtonnen

They snuggled up on the chair to watch the movie.
Yo te plòtonnen kò yo sou chèz la pou gade fim nan.

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

Do you know any rhyming quotes in Creole?

What type of quotes????  :)
1.
Si w pa gen kè
Ou pa ka jwe pokè

2.
Wè pa wè,
Antèman pou katrè.

3.
Si w manje manje san sòs
ou pap gen fòs

4.
Alèz kon blèz
ki chita sou chèz san pinèz

5.
demwazèl san zèl

6.
Tou won
san fon

I'm not sure about #5 and 6 being a quote :)

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

What's a baka exactly? does it mean zombi

baka (move lespri, movèzespri, espri malveyan) → evil spirit

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

where would you place "must" in creole in "There must be an easier way to do this" and also in "There should be an easier way to this" and "There could be an easier way to do this? Do you use TE or TA? thanks

There must be an easier way to do this.
Dwe gen yon fason pi fasil pou fè sa.
Fò gen yon fason pi fasil pou fè sa

There should be an easier way to do this.

Ta dwe gen yon fason pi fasil pou fè sa.

Fò ta gen yon fason pi fasil pou fè sa.
Some people use "te dwe" instead of "ta dwe"

There could be an easier way to do this.
Ka gen yon fason pi fasil pou fè sa.

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

what does "to spit three times" mean?

As in someone says  m krache twa fwa (I spit three times)?
It's an expression that means you have sworn off "something", you will abstain from doing "something".
I'm not sure whether people do the action of spiting three times - I have not met anyone that have actually done that.

Here's an example:
1. Lavi New York te tèlman rèd pou mwen, apre m te kite l, m te krache twa fwa m p'ap janm met pye m la ankò.
     Life in New York was so tough for me, after I left, I swore I'd never set foot there again.

2. Apre divòs la, Bènadèt te krache twa fwa, li te di l "M p'ap janm marye ankò!"
    After the divorce, Bernadette swore, she said, "I'll never get married again!"

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

just because? "Just because the grammar is correct doesn't mean people won't think it's not quite right." or "Just because I didn't go to school this week doesn't mean that I dropped out."

Isn't this the same as saying because?
I would say paske, senpman paske, senpleman paske

"Just because I didn't go to school this week doesn't mean that I dropped out." 
"Paske m pa't al nan klas semèn sa a pa vle di m kite lekòl."

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

Sa li ye la? (what does it mean?)

Sa li ye la?
Sa li ye la a?
or 
Sa'l ye la a?
What is this? (What's going on?)

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

is the word kokobe used for "handicapped" or "sick"

It's used for a "physically handicapped".  But use the word "enfim" as noun or adj. if you want to be politically correct.

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

Bonjou! Kouman tout bagay ye? Men kesyon pa'm pou jodi a: Eske "te ka(pab)" vle di "could (presently)" toutan? Ou sa depann konteks la? "Mwen te ka manje kounyeya" "Mwen te ka manje avan mwen te tande move nouvèl la."

Bonjou zanmi, tout bagay anfòm pou mwen.  M'espere se menm bagay la pou ou tou :)

Yes, it will translate "could (presently)" DEPENDING on the context, as you said.
The other times it will translate was/were able to.  It can also translate the possibility of a future event such as: Mwen okipe kounye a, eske te ka rele m pita? I'm busy now could you call me later?

Here are a few more examples of its usage, including yours

1. "Mwen te ka manje kounyeya."
    "I could eat now."

2. Bòs la pa la.  Men l'ap tounen trè byento. Eske ou te ka fè yon ti tann li silvouplè?
    The boss is not here. But he'll be back soon.  Could you wait for him please?

3. M te kontan vizit ou.  Eske n te ka vin wè m demen ankò?
    I enjoyed your visit.  Could you come see me tomorrow again?

4. Eske w te ka ale achte kèk tomat nan mache a pou mwen?
    Could yo go buy me some tomatoes from the market?

5. N'ap fè devwa nou kounye a pou n te ka ale nan fèt la pita. 
    We're doing our homework now so that we could go to the party later.

6. M panse m te kapab fè l chanje lide.  Men sa pa't fèt.
    I thought I could make her change her mind.  But that didn't happen.

7. Si'm te ka mache, ala kouri m ta kouri.
    If I was able to walk, how I would run.
    If I could walk, how I would run.


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

Can I use "anpil tan" and "anpil fwa" synonymously?

Non. I don't think so.

anpil fwa (plizyè fwa) → many times, many times over
anpil tan (lontan) → a long time, for a long time

1.  Li te pase nimewo a anpil fwa, men li pa't ka antre nan kominikasyon ak manman l.
     She dialed the number many times, but she couldn't reach her mom.

2.  Sa gen anpil tan depi m pa't wè w.
      It's been a long time since I had not seen you.

fwa (instances)
3. Konbyen fwa ou te vizite Ayiti?
    How many times did you visit Haiti?

4. Yon fwa ankò, mwen di w m pa janm al nan peyi sa.
     Once again, I tell you I've never been to this country.

5. M sèlman ka fè yon sèl bagay alafwa (a la fwa).
    I can only do one thing at a time.

tan (moment, period, epoch, weather)
6. Nan ki tan ou te abite Ayiti?
    During which period of time did you live in Haiti?

7. M okipe anpil.  M pa gen tan pou m ede w.
    I'm very busy.  I don't have time to help you.

8. Tan an mare jodi a.  Ann al lakay.
    It looks like it might rain.  Let's go home.

9.  Tanndat m'ap tann ou.  Kisa w t'ap fè tout tan sa a?
     I've been waiting long for you.  What were you doing all that time?

10. Bon tan kou move tan m'ap toujou ret zanmi w.
      In good times as in bad times I'll remain your friend.


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

Kay Doktè a (AUDIO)

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

    

 

The doctor:  Bonjou madanm.

The patient:  Bonjou doktè.

The doctor:  Kòman m kapab ede w jodi a Madanm?
                      How can I help you today ma'am?

The patient:  Doktè, mwen pa byen ditou ditou.  Tout kò m ap fè m mal.
                      Doctor, I'm not well at all.  My whole body hurts.

The doctor:  Kisa k ap fè w mal egzakteman?
                      What's hurting you exactly?

The patient:  Depi de(2) jou vant mwen ap fè m mal. Mwen gen tètfèmal.  

                   Mwen gen feblès.  Mwen tèlman fèb, mwen pa menm ka mache. 

                   Enpi  m santi m toudi toudi.
                    Since two days my stomach's been hurting.  I have a headache.
                    I have weakness.  I'm so weak, I can't even walk.
                    And I feel so dizzy.
                   

The doctor:  E kisa ki fè doulè w vin miyò?
                      And what makes the pain better?

The patient:  Anyen ditou.
                      Nothing at all.

The doctor:  Eske kò fè mal la vin ak lafyèv?
                      Does the body ache come with fever?

The patient:  Non doktè.  M  pa santi lafyèv non.
                      No doctor. I don't feel any fever.

The doctor:  Eske w’ap touse?
                       Are you coughing?

The patient:  Non doktè, mwen pa gen tous non.
                    No doctor, I don't have a cough.

The doctor:  Eske w gen dyare? 
                    Do you have diarrhea?

The patient:  Non doktè.  M pa ni gen dyare, ni konstipe.
                    No doctor.  I neither have diarrhea nor am I constipated.

The doctor:  Kisa ou te manje maten an madanm?
                     What did you eat this morning ma'am?

The patient:  Maten an, mwen pa’t manje anyen non.
                    This morning, I ate nothing.

The doctor:  E kisa ou te manje yè?
                     And what did you eat yesterday?

The patient:  Ayè, mwen pa’t manje anyen nonplistou.
                   Yesterday, I didn't eat anything either.

The doctor:  Ou pa manje anyen menm pou de jou!!!!!!?
                    You did not eat anything at all for two days!!!!?

The patient:  Anyen menm doktè….  Mwen p’ap travay.  
                   E mwen pa gen mwayen pou m nouri tèt mwen.
                   Nothing at all doctor. .... I'm not working.
                   And I don't have the means to feed myself.
                  

The doctor:  A! mwen wè pwoblèm ou.
                    Ah! I see your problem.

The patient:  O! ou wè pwoblèm nan doktè?! Eske w’ap ban m yon preskripsyon?
                    O! You do see the problem doctor?  Will you give me a prescription?

The doctor:  Wi. Madanm, men yon ti kafe ak bonbon.  Manje li konnya.
                    Yes ma'am, here's a little coffee and cookies.  Eat it now.

The patient:  Mèsi doktè.   ... Li bon.   Ou pa vle yon ti kal doktè, non?
                    Thanks doctor. ...Hmm it's tasty.  You don't want a piece doctor?

The doctor:  Non, m manje deja. ... E konnya, kijan w santi w?
                    No, I ate already.  ...And now, how do you feel?

The patient:  Doktè, m santi m yon ti jan miyò.  Mwen santi enèji ap tounen nan kò m 

                    ankò.  Mwen santi m anfòm nèt doktè. Mèsi!
                     Doctor, I feel a little better.  I feel the energy coming back into my
                     body again.  I feel wonderful doctor.  Thank you!

The doctor:  Dakò.  Mwen pral refere w pou ale nan Centre Catholique la.  Di yo se 
                    mwen ki voye w.  Yo va ede w jwenn kèk pwovizyon e petèt 
                    yon ti travay tou.
                      Great.  I'll refer you to the Centre Catholique.  Tell them I sent you.
                       They'll help you get some groceries and perhaps a little job

The patient:  Mèsi anpil doktè.

The doctor:  Enpi mwen rekòmande w pou al lakay ou.  Bwè yon gwo tas kafe e manje 

                   yon asyèt manje.  E ou va santi w pi miyò toujou.   
                     And I recommend that you go home.  Drink a big cup of coffee and eat
                     a plate of food.  And you'll feel even better still.                 

The patient:  Ou se yon bon doktè.  Gade kijan mwen vini tou malad.  Enpi ou gentan 

                    fè m santi m byen enganm.  Mèsi anpil!
                     You're such a good doctor.  Look how I came all sickly.  And you've
                      already made me strong.  Thanks a lot!

The doctor:  Orevwa madam

The patient:  Orevwa doktè

Track: M'a Prale by TiCorn

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

How would you say : "Set a realistic goal."?

Set a realistic goal
Fikse yon objektif rezonab
Etabli yon objektif ki rezonab

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

Je m klè ....? (My eye is clear?)

Je mwen klè
Je m klè
(my eyes are open)
I am awake

some ex:
1. Je m klè depi senkè.
    I've been awake since 5 o'clock.

2. Depi je m klè nan mitan nuit la, m pa janm ka retounen dòmi ankò.
     Once I wake up in the middle of the night, I could never go back to sleep again.

3. Je w klè?
     Are you awake?

4. Depi kilè je w klè?
    Since when were you awake?

5. Tout nuit la, mwen te rete je klè paske m t'ap panse avè w.
     All night I stayed awake because I was thinking about you.


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

I was trying to translate this on the google translator, but I'm not sure if what I am getting is accurate. There it is, 'flanke deye (with accents on the "e") ou yon kote" . mesi pou ed ou.

Flanke dèyè ou yon kote.
Sit your butt down.
Sit your ass down.
Stay put.

This is what you might say to someone who's being a handful and you want them to sit and quiet down.  But since it's a little vulgar you should not invite guests in your house to sit down in your living room with that sentence .... unless you don't want them coming back :)

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

What's the best way to address a group of 'just' women. Hello ladies! Bonjou fanm yo?

Sure, why not.  You can also say  Bonjou Mèdàm!

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

Kisa ou dwe fe si ou rankontre bab pou bab ak yon bann sanpwel sou wout ou nannuit?

Pwovèb la di se lougawou ki mache lannuit :)
Sa w'ap chache nan lari a nan mitan lannuit lan?
Si'w ta rankontre ak yon bann chanpwèl sou wout ou a minui, enben ...chans pou yo, malchans pou ou!  Ou sanlè tounen zonbi :)

Aktyèlman, lari an laj anpil.  Ou mache sou bò pa w ak tèt ou byen dwat, enpi yo pran bò pa yo.  Y'ap regle zafè pa yo, ou menm w'ap regle zafè pa w.  Si w pa kontrarye yo, m pa wè rezon pou yo ta kontarye w.

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

Poukisa gen moun Haiti se a l'heure que w'ap manje yo vin rann ou visit?

An jeneral, moun pa manje sou moun, Ayiti, san w pa ofri moun.
Gendemoun ki konn ap bat grangou pou detwa jou.  Se diyite yo ki fè yo pa tonbe mande nan lari a.
Si w remake w'ap resevwa yon vizitè chak lè w'ap pare w pou w atable w, petèt moun nan razè, li nan di, li grangou.  Petèt se ou menm ki ba li sèl manje li mete nan vant li pou jounen an.
Malerezman, zafè grangou an se yon pwoblèm serye nan peyi a.  Gen moun, se ak yon grenn sèl anba lang yo ke yo pase jounen an.  Mwen pa ka di w sa pou w fè, men mwen aprann pou m separe sa m genyen piti kon l ye.
Mwen sonje lè mwen menm ak sè m yo patko kite Ayiti;  manman m te nan peyi Etazini, l'ap travay $3.35 pa è.  Si lè l fin peye bill li nan peyi blan an, li pa gen lajan ki rete pou'l voye okipe nou Ayiti, ah! n'oblije al dòmi grangou.  Sa pa't fèt souvan, men m kapab imajinen kouman sa ye pou moun ki p'ap travay e ki pa gen espwa resevwa lajann okenn kote.
Mezanmi, si'n ta pran ekri yon liv sou granmoun, potorik gason, jenn moun ak timoun ki nan grangou fòse e k'ap moute kabann san manje, san konnen kijan demen yo ap ye, dlo lanmè pa ta menm sifi kòm lank pou ekri.

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

Get out of my hair? (What's a good Haitian Creole translation), to get rid of someone who's cramping my style?

1.
Get out of my hair (get away from me)
Retire'w nan kòlèt mwen
Retire'w nan kòsaj mwen

2.
To get rid of an unwanted person (friend, enemy, a person who's being a pest)
retire nan kòlèt
retire nan kòsaj

3.  
Fanm nan te mare pye m, donk mwen retire l nan kosaj mwen.
The woman was cramping my style, so I got rid of her.

4..
Mesye a t'ap ban m problèm, mwen retire l nan kòsaj mwen.
The guy was giving me trouble, so I got rid of him.

5.
Poukisa w rete ak fanm sa a toujou?  Retire l nan kosaj ou non!
Why are you still with that woman?  Get her out of your hair.

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