"ki mele m si ou fache" or "kite mele m si ou fache" - which is correct? Can you give me more examples please

You may use either one.

ki mele m (kite mele'm) → I don't care, so what?

Ki mele'm si w fache  (so what if you're angry)
Ki mele'm si w pa pale avè m (so what if you don't talk to me)
Ki te mele'm si w ale ou pa janm tounen  (I don't care if you leave and never come back)
Ki te mele'm avè w (I don't care)

We also say "ki mele m avèk entèl" meaning "I don't care what so and so ...."
example:
Joe pa vle fè zanmi avè m.  Ki mele'm avè l.
Joe doesn't want to be my friend. I don't care.

Moun yo refize ede m.  Ki te mele'm avè yo. M'a fè sa m kapab.
They refuse to help.  I don't care.  I'll do what I can.


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How would you say "Have you been to the beach?"

Have you been to the beach?
Eske ou te laplaj la?

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how would you translate "kenbe l kout" in English?

kenbe kout - to stay close to, to pursue, to give no rest.

1. Ti pitit la te kenbe pye manman l kout.  Tout kote manman l fè, li fè tou.
    The kid stayed close to his mom.  He went everywhere his mom went.

2. Ou dwe kenbe l kout jouk li renmèt ou lajan w.
    You must give him no rest until he reimburses you your money.

3.  Nou kenbe pye Bondye kout.  Nou pa lage l yon may.
     We stay close to God.  We don't stray away from him.
   
   

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How can I communicate, "Turn around". For example: "Turn around and look at me" or "Turn around and walk the other way"?

There are different ways to translate "to turn around" in Haitian Creole.  But "turn around" here is translated as "vire"
Turn around → vire
Turn around and look at me → Vire enpi  gade m. You can also say Vire gade m.
Turn around and walk the other way. →  Vire enpi mache ale nan lòt sans lan. You can also say Vire enpi mache ale laba. 

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Madanm, Are the billions written as: de milya twa milya sis milya uit milya ETC? Mesi anpil.

Yes.
We also say dèmilya de moun billions of people; yon milya de dola a billion dollars
We TEND to put "de" after milya sometimes.

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can you explain more "pran fil". No English translations in your examples please. I want to read through them and try to understand.....

pran fil - expression for to be succeeding at something, to thrive, to progress, to flourish

1. Apre sèlman de jou nan klas Kreyòl la blan meriken an fin pran fil nèt nan lang lan.  Lotrejou tout moun kanpe sou ran pou gade l k'ap fè pri tenkantenk ak yon machann an Kreyòl.

2. Li gen twa mwa sèlman nan travay, li gentan pran fil nèt.  Kounye a se li'k manadjè.

3. Anna apenn vin abite nan vwazinay la, men tout vwazen gentan konn non l.  Tout moun se zanmi l.  Li fin pran fil nan katye a.

4. Biznis la ouvè de pi dezan, li pa janm pran fil.  Sanble yo pral oblije fèmen l.

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How do you use OLYE (instead) here? "I'll have water instead"

You should use PITO here.
olye - in place of, rather than, instead of
pito adv - instead, preferably, rather

FYI: pito v → to prefer; it is preferable that, it is better to

1. I'll have water instead.
    M'ap pran dlo pito.
    but you can say:
    I'll have water instead of coffee.
    Olye kafe, m'ap pran dlo.

2. Let's go to the movies instead.
    Ann al nan sinema pito.
    or you can say:
    Olye pou n al nan konsè a, pa pito n t'al nan sinema.
    Instead of the concert, what if we go to the movies?

3. I prefer to have a salad instead.
    Mwen pito pran yon salad.

4.  Olye pou ap gaspiye tan w la a, pa pito ou te tounen lekòl.
      Instead of wasting your time here, wouldn't it be better if you went back to school?

5. Olye pou ap babye pou frijidè a ki vid, pa pito w ta al fè makèt.
     Instead of nagging about the empty fridge, why don't you go to the market?

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Madanm, In the sentence, "M ka ba ou senkannsenk (ou, oswa, osnon e oubyen) swasannsenk goud. Are the words for "or" in brackets ALL interchangeable? In other words, is each of the four words correct in this sentence? Mesi anpil.

Yes they are.
Or - ou, oubyen, onswa, ouswa, osinon, osnon

These conjunctions can also be used to translate:

osnon  (osinon) → or, otherwise, or rather
1. Lè yon fanmi w osinon yon zanmi w trayi w, sa kapab afekte anpil.
    When a family or a friend betrays you, that can affect you a lot.

2. Tout sa mesye sa a di, kit se byen osnon mal, moun toujou aplodi l.
    Everything this man says, whether is good or bad, people always applaud him.

Ou/oubyen/onswa ... ou/oubyen/onswa → either ... or


3.  Onswa ou sèvi Bondye onswa ou sèvi lajan.  Ou pa kapab fè toude.
     Either you serve God or money.  You can't do both.

4.Oubyen ou menm onswa mari w ka vin chache l.
    Either you or your husband  can come pick it up.  


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qu'est que ça veut dire "tonsiton"?

tonsiton - matching colors, coordinating colors.

Mesye a abiye tonsiton.
The man is dressed in coordinating colors. (His clothes, shoes, sock, ties match fashionably well)

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Is there any way usually used to differentiate we from you (plural)?

No.  Not in H. Creole.  You may have to look within the context of the paragraph or sentence to find out if the word "nou" means we/us/our or if it's you (plural).

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Madanm, In "bye a, diven an e wiski la" do you eventually know which article to use by sound, or is it by rules of grammer only? I guess what I am saying is, do you just learn which article to use when you learn a particular word? So far I have not had much difficulty in memorizing which article to use when I learn a certain word. Mesi Madanm.

The Haitian Creole grammar makes it easier to know which def. article to use.
It says to go by the -ending of the words...

P.S.  the word "wiski" will take another vowel, not "la".  After reviewing the following rules, would you like to figure out which def article goes after "wiski"?

After a vowel (vwayèl bouch) (a, e, è, i, o, ò), we use "a":
examples:
kò a
matla a
mont Kendra a

after a consonant (t, y, l, d, etc....), we use "la"
examples:
pitit la
kay la
mayo Pòl la

After an "m" or "n" sound (machin, fanm, kazèn) we use "nan" - sometimes people use "lan"
examples:
madanm nan
mwa desanm nan
chemiz Edison lan

After a nasal vowel sound (an, on, en), we use "an"
examples:
pen an
pon an
Sa se òdinatè mwen an.

After a consonant which follows a nasal sound/vowel (vwayèl nen), we use "lan"
examples
mant lan
monnonk lan
matant lan

and then you will use the nasal "an" or "lan" if the word sounds nasal, no matter what the ending is:
examples:
zanmi an
fanmi an
lanmou an
Ban'm pitit la or Ban'm pitit lan.


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How would you translate "is for" like "Anything that happens is for a reason." Do you use se?

Yes.

Anything that happens is for a reason.
Tout bagay ki rive se pou yon rezon.

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Regarding your answer for "sa k fe sa" meaning "why" - can you as a 'why' question with is. "Why didn't you go?" I can say "POUKISA OU PA TE ALE" or "SA K FE SA OU PA TE ALE "?

If you choose to use 'Sa'k fè sa', you should write it without "sa":

1.
Sa'k fè ou pa te ale?
Why didn't you go?

other examples:

2.
Sa'k fè w kontan konsa?
Why are you so happy?

3.
Sa'k fè ou pa't di l sa?
Why didn't you tell him/her that?

Remember the Creole term Se sa'k fè - that is why? see link.

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'yon ti jan a goch' Kisa li vle di isit la? "Nou pa p gen ta pase kay joanne paske wout kay li yon ti jan a goch"

agoch vle di 'a little bit out of the way" nan fraz sila a.

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Ale kotew vle, mouri kotew ou te dwe??

Ale kote w vle, mouri kote w dwe.
You don't get to choose how you die.

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Could you please explain ADEKE and use in a sentence?

Do you mean "adekè"?

adekè (lit. with two hearts) - with hesitation, with reluctance
It's used to indicate that you're rendering a service, or you're giving something away; but you're doing it without eagerness or willingness.
Example:

1. Si w'ap ede m ak de kè, pito w pa ede m ditou.
    If you're helping out and you have regret about it, it's better that you don't help me at all.

2. Nou bay mandyan an kòb la adekè paske nou pa konnen si se manje oubyen dwòg li pral achte avè l.
    We gave the beggar the money with reluctance because we don't know whether he's going to use it for food or drugs.

   
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"From" continues to confuse me...I found a Jan 2013 post where you used 'moun' as 'from.' Is this the same as 'soti'? Mesi.

You can use 'MOUN" when indicating origin such as
Mwen se moun New york
I am a person of New York (literally)
I am from New York.

Li se moun Alabama.
She is from Alabama.

So yes,  it means the same as "Mwen soti New York" or "Mwen soti Alabama"

If you haven't done so already, check this link: Using FROM in Creole
And I have also used "moun" in the audio post titled Nan Estasyon Bis la

Can you explain the rules for the mwen to m' contraction?

"MWEN" can be used as personal pronoun: I or ME
"MWEN" can be replaced with contraction "m".
example:
1. Mwen te wè li.
    or 
   M te wè li.
   I saw it.

2. Rele mwen lè w rive.
    or
    Rele m lè w rive.
    Call me when you arrive.

"MWEN" can be used as possessives: MY, MINE (singular or plural)
example
3. pitit mwen - my child
4. pitit mwen yo - my children
Do not use contraction after a word that end with a consonant.
The word "pitit" ends with "t" which is a consonant.  So you cannot say "pitit m".  You will always say "pitit mwen".

5. pye mwen or pye m - my foot
The word "pye" ends with a vowel "e" which is a vowel, so you can say "pye mwen" or "pye m"

6. kesyon mwen or kesyon m - my question
The word "kesyon" ends with a nasal vowel "on", so you can say "kesyon mwen" or "kesyon m"

Sometimes a definite article may come after MWEN:
7. kesyon mwen an or kesyon m nan. - my question
8. kesyon mwen yo or kesyon m yo - my questions

We do not use contractions after these prepositions POU, NAN, SOU at the end of a sentence:

9. Malèt la tonbe sou mwen.
   You cannot say
   Malèt la tonbe sou m.

10. Fè sa pou mwen tanpri.
      you cannot say
     Fè sa pou m tanpri

11. Lespri Bondye te desann sou mwen
     you cannot say
     Lespri Bondye te desann sou m.


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How many "yo" can a sentence handle? Does this sound grammatically correct to you? "Yo te louvri kay yo ak bra yo pou yo te ka akeyi moun yo ki te vin travay nan klinik yo"

wow... that's a lot of "yo" for that little sentence :)  You are probably reading it within the context of a paragraph. I would replace the first "yo" with the subject and remove the plural article "yo" which comes right after "moun".
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pousyè pye miyò pase pousyè chita?? -kisa ki 'pousyè chita'?

Se dwe pousyè ki akimile nan peryòd inaktivite.
Pawòl sa a sanble vle di ke "Se aktivite ak debouya ki mennen pousyè pye; donk kalewès ak parès mennen 'pousyè chita' ".
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Someone might say -Sa Sa fe?- or -Sak fe sa?- Do they mean the same thing?

These terms might have different meanings depending on context.
Besides the obvious, you can translate them this way too:
Kisa sa fè? (Sa sa fè?) - What does that matter?
and
Sa'k fè sa? (Kisa ki fè sa?) - Why?

If I were to use them in a sentence:

1. Sa sa fè si w pa gen soulye?  Ou kapab al legliz la pye atè.  Sa p'ap deranje okenn moun.
    Does it matter if you have no shoes?  You can go to church barefoot.  People won't mind.

2. -Mwen pa prale nan fèt la avèk ou jodi a. I will not go to the party with you today. 
    -Sa'k fè sa? Why is that?
    -paske m prale ak yon lòt moun. Because I'm going with someone else.



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Mandaly, this is three questions in one. (i found the accents BTW:) Is 'pèdi fil' the opposite of 'pran fil'?, Is it the same as 'pèdi fèy'? How can I use 'pèdi fil'?

pèdi fil is not opposite of pran fil
pran fil - to thrive, to progress

for example, you can say
Biznis li a pran fil.
Her business is growing or thriving.

pèdi fil - to lose esteem, to lose authority, to lose leadership, to lose control, to lose grip
Depi lè zafè eskandal adiltè a, pastè a pèdi fil.
Since the time of the adultery scandal, the pastor's leadership has suffered.

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kijan mwen ka di sa an angle: depi ou tande le-a pral rive pou nou lage nan travay la tout moun prese.

Once it's time to be dismissed from work everyone's rushing.
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"Bonèt li chavire dèyè tèt li" --?

Si bonèt yon moun chavire dèyè tèt li, pa pwoche moun sa a :)
Sa vle di moun nan fin anraje, li fin dechennen --anvan lontan l'ap fou.

Basically this means He/She's lost it, He/She's deranged.

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Hey I plan to spend the summer in the town of Thomassique and was wondering if there is any type of accent I should be prepared for?

Nothing significant.
You'll still be able to understand a native's Creole even if they speak with some sort of accent (in Haiti).
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opere yon mirak oubyen fe yon mirak?

Toulede ap pase.

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Eske ou ta kapab di m si -poze san- ak -pran san- se menm? kile ou kapab itilize toude

Wi, mwen ta di yo gen menm definisyon.
Toulede vle di pou relaks, enpi rete trankil.

Poze san w.
Relax
Slow down
Take your time

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One of the definition for 'kouri' is 'to approach' - can you explain how that is? I've tried writing sentences and they don't quite make sense. Mwen kouri nan magazen an--I'm approaching the store?

If you mean I am running towards the store - I'm approaching the store - It makes sense
Unless you're talking about KOURI SOU which mean APPROACHING - running towards, moving towards, drawing near
You can say:
1.
Fanm nan ap kouri sou karantan e l poko vle marye.
The woman is approaching forty and she doesn't want to get married.

2.
M'ap kouri sou de jou depi m pa manje.
I approaching two days since I ate last.
It's been almost two days since I ate.

3.
N'ap kouri sou katrèdtan depi n'ap travay san yon ti kanpo.  An nou fè yon ti poze.
We're approaching fours hours working with a break.  Let's rest a little bit.

4.
Depi konbyen tan remèd ou fini?  M'ap kouri sou de semèn depi l fini.
How long ago did your medication run out?  It's been almost two weeks.

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Does it matter if I use anndan'm or nan mwen when I want to say 'within me'?

It will matter if you care about being specific.
And anndan mwen (inside of me, within me) and nan mwen (in me, within me) might be translated differently in different contexts and may not be interchangeable at that point.

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tradwi pou mwen souple:segne mwen pral pran lari-a, pran kontwol mechan yo pou mwen.

Seyè mwen pral pran lari-a, pran kontwòl  mechan yo pou mwen
Lord I'm going to take the streets, protect me from the wicked.
Lord I'm going out, protect me from harm

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How would you say "Just one life", as in we have just one life to live and make a difference.

Just one life
Yon sèl lavi a
oubyen
Yon sèl egzistans lan

We have just one life to  live and make a difference
Nou gen yon sèl lavi a pou n viv e fè yon diferans

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Is there a H. Creole phrase similar to the english "I'm sorry" or "Excuse me" with the meaning "I didn't hear you correctly."

Yes. We say, "Padon?"

TiWilJune 12, 2013 at 5:25 AM

A Haitian friend near Hinche gave me three ways to say this. They might carry some associations of politeness, formality, or social background...

1. En?
2. Padon?
3. Plètil?

-TiWil

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to "hang around"? as in "We used to hang around in his backyard"?

Hang around → pase tan, frekante; also rete

1. We used to hang around in his backyard.
     Nou te konn pase ti tan nan lakou li a.

2. Don't hang around these people.  
    Pa frekante moun sa yo.

3. We hanged around the room a little bit longer to see who would show up.
     Nou te fè yon rete yon ti tan anplis pou wè ki moun ki ta vini.

4.  We didn't hang around to talk to him much.  We were in a hurry.
     Nou pa't rete pale avè l twòp.  Nou te prese.

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I want to design an exam question of the following type: There are two columns of words shown. The children need to match the words on the left side with the words on the right side by drawing a line. How could I say this in kreyòl in a way that is easy for timoun to understand? Mèsi!

What is the connection between the words on the left side with the word on the right side? Are they synonyms? Antonyms?  That connection, if you are including it too, will be written in blue.

Ou kapab ekri:

Trase yon liy pou konnekte mo ki nan kolonn goch la ak mo ki nan kolonn dwat la.
oubyen
Trase yon liy pou konnekte mo ki nan kolonn goch la ak mo ki vle di menm bagay la nan kolonn dwat la.

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To say "The apostles may have given him the name Barnabas because he was warmhearted, kind, and helpful to others. We should be like him" in Kreyòl, Would you say ? - Apòt yo te ka ba l 'Banabas yo Non, paske li te chaleureux, kalite, ak itil bay lòt moun. Nou ta dwe tankou l ' I am not helped much by google translate sorry,

Google translate can be helpful -- sometimes :)
"The apostles may have given him the name Barnabas because  he was warmhearted, kind, and helpful to others. We should be like him"
"Petèt Apòt yo te ba l non Banabas la paske li te gen konpasyon ak bon kè, e li te sèvyab avèk tout moun. Nou ta dwe menm jan ak li."


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Bonjou! I am honored to have been asked to be a marenn (godmother) at a young girl's kindergarten graduation. I will not be in Haiti for the graduation but am wondering what might be expected of me, financially and/or otherwise. What would be appropriate for me to do? Thank you for your help!

The role of "marenn" in Haiti is usually that of a supporter, encourager, helper, patron or sponsor.  Since you cannot be present to encourage her, take pictures, or give her a pat on the back on the day she celebrates her achievement, you can send a gift.  The young little kindergarten graduate is probably looking forward first to summer vacation activities, then to her FIRST YEAR at school.  If you choose to give a gift, perhaps it could be some summer activity materials, a new backpack with lunchbox, or a nice pair of shoes.  You can never go wrong with shoes in Haiti :)

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Ifvyiu wanted to say Acts 1:8 tells us the global preaching work can not be done with out Jehovah's Holy Spirit Would you say? Travay 1:8 di n travay predikasyon mondyal pa ka fè ak soti Jewova Sentespri

A little correction.  Write instead:
Acts 1:8 tells us the global preaching work cannot be done without Jehovah's   Holy Spirit"
Travay 1:8 di nou travay predikasyon mondyal la pa ka fèt san Sentespri Jewova a.

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Is there a H. Creole equivalient to the phrase "No problem" in response to someone thanking you?

Yes.  We usually say, "Pa gen pwoblèm"

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in kreyol what does it mean when someone says "ou pap sis"

Ou p'ap sis → you'll be disappointed, you won't make it, you'll get nothing, you won't succeed

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how do you write this h.creole " she is clothed with strength and dignity ; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom and faithful instruction is on her tongue"

She is clothed with strength and  dignity ; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom and faithful  instruction  is on her tongue"
Li abiye avèk fòs e diyite;
Jou k'ap vini yo pa fè'l pè.
Pawòl li plen ak lasajès, 
E ansèyman ki sou lang li konfòme ak laverite.

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This is not a question but more of a comment of praise. I am learning to speak and read Hatian Creole on my own and became very excited when ran across your blog through Google. Thank you for the wonderful information. Your posts are going to be a key resource in my learning. :)

That is awesome.
Thank you.
Kontinye aprann :)

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it's me again asking another question on emphasis. Using 'byen' as manje byen manje. Could you give me a couple of example?

Here the emphasis will translate into REALLY WELL.

Some examples:

1.  Mare l byen mare.
     Tie it really tightly.

2. Mwen gade l byen gade.
    I took a good look at him.

3. Fanm nan joure mesye a byen joure.
    The woman really cursed the guy out.

4.  Lave l byen lave  anvan w mennen l anndan kay la.
     Wash it really well before you bring it inside the house.

5. Li sere mont lan byen sere pou ankenn pa't jwenn ni.
    He hid the watch real well so that no one would find it.

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how do you say dwarf?

dwarf → nen

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2 questions in 1: How does one convey "I missed you." instead of "I remembered you"? Also, what is this Creole word for "teacher"? It sounded something like "metla" and was a title of honor.

"Mwen te sonje w" is basically a good way to say that.
Sonje (or chonje) translates to remember, to recall, to reminisce, to think of, to long for, to miss

1. Lè ou kite, mwen va sonje w anpil.
    When you leave I'll miss you a lot.

2.  M sonje manman m.
     I miss my mom.

3. Eske ou te sonje m?
    Did you miss me?
    
4. Sonje priye anvan w'al kouche.
    Remember to pray before you go lie down.

5. Fè m sonje rele sè w la pou m ka swete l bòn fèt.
    Remind me to call your sister so I may wish her a happy birthday.

Creole word for teacher → pwofesè, mèt, metrès (female)
Yes sometimes people say "mèt la" which literally means "the master".  It's equivalent "teacher"

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Mandalay, how do translate "mind" in 'do you mind' or 'would you mind' in Creole? thanks

1.
Do you mind?
Eske sa deranje w?

2.
Would you mind?
Eske sa ta deranje w?

3.
Would you mind if I call you later tonight?
Eske sa ta deranje w si m ta rele w pita nan aswè?

4.
No I won't mind.
Non sa p'ap deranje'm.

5.
Yes I mind.  I have to go to work early in the morning.
Wi sa ap deranje m.  Mwen dwe al travay bonè demen maten.


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

translate for me please: mwen konnen ke mwen genyen kek bagay ke mwen fi'n mete. le pwoblem se ke: mwen te plis we, pou nou avanse plis nan pwodiksyon an pou jou an.

Mwen konnen ke mwen genyen kek bagay ke  mwen fi'n mete. le pwoblem se ke: mwen te plis we, pou nou avanse plis nan  pwodiksyon an pou jou an.
I know that I had already added some stuff.  The problem is that I mostly wanted to progress to the production for (or of) the day.

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

Menaj Kay → House Chores (AUDIO)

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-Mwen deteste jou samdi a.
  I hate Saturday.

-Mwen konn poukisa w di sa wi.
  I know why you said that.

-Poukisa ou panse m di sa?
 Why do you think I said that?

-Chak semèn, depi samdi rive, ou toujou di menm bagay la paske samdi se jou nou fè menaj kay!
  Every week, when Saturday comes, you always say the same thing because Saturday is the day we do house chores

-Eske w ka ban'm tò mezanmi?  Ki plezi ki genyen nan bale, pase mòp, ak foubi kras?
Can you blame me?  What fun is there is sweeping, mopping, and scrubbing dirt?  

- Nanpwen!
  There's none!

-Mwen jis pa renmen fè menaj nan kay.  Si m te gen lechwa, chak samdi mwen ta al chita bò lanmè Montrouis a pou m bwè byè depi solèy leve jis solèy kouche.
  I just don't like to do house chores.  If I had the choice, every Saturday I would go sit by the ocean of Montrouis to drink beer from sunrise to sundown.

-Enben si ou rayi l tout rayi sa a, se pou w anplwaye yon bòn pou fè menaj kay la pou ou.
 Well if you hate it that much, you should hire a maid to do the house chores for you.

-Non.  Mwen pito lave pwòp asyèt pa'm.  E mwen vle ranje pwòp kabann mwen tou.  Nanpwen moun ki ka fè pi bon dyòb pase m.
 No.  I rather wash my own dishes.  And I want to make my own bed too.  No one can do a better job than me.

-Nou pa oblije fè netwayaj jodi a.  Kay la p'ap soufri si n sote yon semèn.
 We do not have to do the cleaning today.  The house won't suffer if we skip a week.

-Men non, nou p'ap ka fè sa.  Sonje, nou te sote netwayaj la semèn pase?  E dayè, n'ap gen envite demen.
  But we can't do that.  Remember, we had skipped the cleaning last week.  And besides, we have guests tomorrow.

-Ki envite?
  What guests?

-Manman w ak nouvo mari l la ap vin dine avèk nou.
  Your mom and her new husband are coming to have dinner with us

-O O!  Nan ka sa a, an nou met men ansanm pou n ka fini pi vit.
  O O! In that case, let's team up together so that we can finish faster.

-Sa se yon bon lide.  M'a netwaye anndan an, e ou menm, ou va netwaye deyò a.
  Good idea.  I'll cleaning inside, and you'll do the outside

-Wi.  Mwen va lave fenèt yo. M'a bale payason yo. E m'a fè gazon an, epi pase rato sou li.
  Yes.  I'll wash the windows. I'll sweep the doormats.  And I'll mow the lawn and rake it.

-Dakò.  E mwen menm, mwen va siye mèb yo, pase bale elektrik nan chanm yo, e pase mòp nan rès kay la.
  Okay.  And as for me, I'll dust the furniture, vacuum the rooms, and mop the rest of the house

-Lè nou met men ansanm, kantite travay la vin diminye.
  When we team up together, the workload becomes lighter.

-Wi, konsa n'a fini anvan lontan.
  Yes, this way we'll be done before long.

-Distans pou apremidi rive, n'ap gentan sou plaj Montrouis a, lanbi griye nan yon men e yon boutèy wonm nan lòt men an.
By the afternoon we'll be at the beach of Montrouis, grilled conch in one hand and a bottle of rum in the other.

-Mwen renmen lè w pale konsa.
 I love when you talk like that.

-An nou kòmanse travay.
 Let's start working.

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

How does the "byen" in "M ta byen renmen manje avek ou" translate? Is this a common expression in HC? Mesi. Jan

byen, here, translates as really, indeed, truly, very much... or emphasis.
Yes, using "byen" in this way is very common.

1. M ta byen renmen manje avèk ou.
    I would truly love to eat with you.

2. M ta byen renmen ale avèk ou, men m'ap travay jou sa a.
    I would really love to go with you but I work that day.

3. Pa enkyete'w si l fè kòmsi l pa wè'w. Li byen renmen w.
    Don't worry if she pretends not to see you.  She does love you.

4. Malgre tout tèt chaje l te ban'm pandan te la a, mwen byen sonje l kounye a.
   In spite of all the headaches he gave us while he was here I do miss him now.

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

perform related duties as assigned

Perform related duties as assigned
Pèfòme tach apwopriye ke yo anchaje w.
Or
Efektye tout tach apwopriye ke yo anchaje w.

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

tradwi pou mwen souple: ou pa janm konnen kisa lavi rezeve pou sa'w fe se li ou we.

Ou pa janm konnen kisa lavi rezeve pou ou, sa'w  fè se li ou wè.
basically:
You never know what life has in store for you, you reap what you sow.

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

? about the è sound. Lapriyè - priye - Prayer and pray When I hear natives Say "priye" with no Accent It sounds as if it the è as in lapriyè.

-è in the H.C. word lapriyè (to pray, prayer) sounds like the "e" in the word get.
-e in the H.C. word priye (to pray, prayer) sounds like the letter "a" in the verb to say.

both H.C. word can be used as noun or verb.

egzanp:
N'ap fè yon ti priye.
or
N'ap fè yon ti lapriyè

and

Priye pou mwen
or
Lapriyè pou mwen.

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

"Mwen pa fou, men tout moun panse mwen fou.Lavi a fe anpil sans le mwen pran poz mwen fou. Tout moun respekte m le yo panse m fou. Yo pa vini bo mwen. Yo kite m anrepo. Si mwen te konnen sa, mwen te dwe pran nesans tou fou." Eske li bon Mandlay?

Anmwey!  Li bon wi.
Li sanble w'ap viv yon lavi tètanba.
Pafwa se sa ki fè sans :)

In the sentence "Yo pa vini bo mwen", did you mean "They don't come near me"?  If yes, then you should replace "bo" with "PRE", "TOU PRE", or "BÒ KOTE".  As you have it now, it can also mean "they don't come to kiss me".

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

Would you say the word 'rapyetè' is a synonym of 'nèt'?

I guess it could be, depending on the context.
rapyetè (atè nèt) → all the way to the ground

1. Dife a ravaje vil yo rapyetè.
    The fire destroyed the town to the ground.

2. Tònad la detwi kay yo rapyetè.
    The tornado destroyed the homes to the ground.

3. Tout kay yo ak tant yo te boule rapyetè.
    All the homes and tents were burned to the ground.

4. Mwen razè.  Lamizè mete'm  rapyetè.
    I'm broke. Poverty has put down on the ground.

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

Bonjou Mandaly, M’ fèk fini premyè chapit Pastè Bab e m’ gen kesyon pa bann e pa pakèt pou ou. Ou dispose?! Oke. Respire.... M'ap swete w toujou gen souf. Mèsi anpil anpil

Pou di w laverite, kè'm manke rete lè m te wè longè kesyon w lan :)
Mwen te menm manke endispoze.  Bondye fè m te chita sou yon chèz :)

Mwen espere lè'm fin repon kesyon ou yo, ou va repase premye chapit la ankò, avèk yon lòt konpreyansyon :)

Page 11

1. fèmen bèk lapousyè ki t'ap fè granchire nan lakou tè - close the beak of the 
dust that was showing of on the ground?

    Your translation is right.

    I translate it as ....the rain fell and "eliminated the dust that was getting to be too much."

2. lakòz figi tan an ki te makònen - because the face of time was entangled?

   You can say "tan an makònen", or "tan an mare".  It means "the sky is gray" or "it looks like it's about to rain."

    ...lakòz figi tan an ki te makònen ... → ...because of the weather that looked cloudy...

3. lanjelis oubyen gran lajounen 

    Lanjelis is darkness that falls at between 6 or 7 PM at night.

    Lanjelis oubyen gran lajounen → darkness or broad daylight

4. badijonnen ak klou gagit - covered with shoe nails?

    Your translation is right.  We do not lack shoemakers in Haiti.  Sometimes they patch up your shoes with these little nails and it feels like your shoe is made of nails.  Not all the roads in Haiti are asphalted. And for a kid that walks 3 to 5 miles to and from school twice a day, a shoemaker is a life saver.  Otherwise we would be buying shoes every week.

5.machèt ki pa ret ak machèt - machete that didn't stay a machete?

  rete avèk yon moun (like a restavèk) means you're a servant to them.

  Manchèt ki pa rete a manchèt - "a machete that is no servant to other machetes." or "the machete of all machetes."

6. Oun manman machèt koulin ki rive…jouk atè – A huge ??? machete that goes all 
the way to the ground.

     Your translation is right, a huge or long machete that reaches all the way to the ground.

     manchèt koulin → type of long machete with skinny instead of wide blade; good for cutting sugar cane.

7. pla machèt –the blade of the machete? Or the handle?

    pla manchèt la → the blade of the machete

    They also say:

    pla men w → the palm of your hands

    

Rès la kontinye nan yon imèl....

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

Eske 'dekolte' a se menm bagay ak 'lage ko' a?

Non. Yo se de diferan tèm.

Tèm "lage kò" a se lè yon moun fè neglijans ak kò li.  Li abiye nenpòt ki fason, li  neglije ijyèn ni, e li pa pran swen kò fizik li ditou.  Ou kapab di "Li pa rele aprè tèt li".  Men yon egzanp m'ap ba'w:
"Gen yon seri de medam, yo fè bèbèl ak kò yo pou yo ka atire yon gason, men depi yo fin marye yo lage kò yo". 

Tèm "dekòlte" a vle di abiye yon fason ki ekspoze tout kò w deyò.  Yo rele sa "kale kò" tou.  Men yon egzanp ou kapap pran avèk tèm sa a:
"Mesyedam alèkile pa gen okenn rezèvasyon. Yo menm mete rad dekòlte pou al legliz."

Mo "dekòlte" a kapab vle di yon pawòl ki pa fèt pou timoun piti tande.
pa egzanp:
Ki kote ou jwenn ak tout blag dekòlte sa yo?
Where did you get all these dirty jokes?

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

Lè yon tèt chavire èske sa vle di li vin fou?

Wi, se sa menm wi.

Ou kapab di sa diferan lòt fason tou.
Tèt li chavire.
Tèt li pati.
Lòlòj li chavire.
Lòlòj li chavire dèyè tèt li.
Li pèdi tèt li.
Li fin tòltòl nèt.
Tèt li pa byen.
Li pèdi yon fèy.

Ou kapab di tou:
Ou fè lòlòj mwen chavire.
angiz 
Ou fè'm fou
for "you make me crazy"

Fanm nan vire lòlòj misye.
The woman made him crazy.

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

Madanm, "Ou ta renmen bwe yon bye kounye a avek mwen?" (aksan grav nan kou). Is this the best way to say this?\ Mesi anpil.

Wi, li bon jan ou di l la :)

Ou kapab di tou:
Ou ta renmen pran yon ti byè avè m kounye a?
Ou ta renmen bwè yon ti bweson avèk mwen kounye a?


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

what does it mean to "fe diskisyon pou yon moun"

it's "having an argument over someone"

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

Do you have any tips for teaching English to Haitians?

I imagine that a good ESL program comprising of reading, writing, speaking and listening would be helpful.  That's how I learned.
If you look into the ESL programs they have out there, you'll probably find one that will work for you.

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

Se li menm menm (menm menm?)

menm - same, exact, precisely, indeed

li menm - he, she, it
ou menm - you
nou menm - us, we

li menm menm
exactly it, him, her

Se li menm menm
That is it exactly
That is precisely it

Se mwen menm menm ki fè sa.
It is precisely I who did that.


Se ou  menm menm.
It is indeed you.


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

I am working on an assessment guide for Haiti for an upcoming mission trip. Can you translate:

If a student.....then

Si yon elèv … donk

Use picture cards of objects for initial and final sounds

Itilize kat ilistrasyon chak atik yo pou koumansman ak finisman son yo

Use magnet letters to segment and blend sounds

Itilize lèt lemante yo pou dekoupe ak marye son yo

Play "I'm thinking of a word" to segment words

Jwe “M’ap panse ak yon mo” pou dekoupe mo yo

Create books on topics such as food, recess, friends - labeling the items

Kreye liv sou sijè tankou manje, rekreyasyon, zanmi – nonmen chak atik yo

During writing, have students label all objects in their illustration

Pandan ekriti, fè elèv yo nonmen tout atik ki nan ilistrasyon yo

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

anbisyon-m se pou-m travay pou-m posede sa-m bezwen. Tradui pou mwen souple.

Anbisyon'm se pou m travay pou m posede sa'm bezwen.
My desire is to work so that I could possess what I need. (lit.)

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

How would you translate these verb phrases? to single out to stay downwind to wander away to look off to the left

to single out → mete apa, seleksyone, ekate
to stay downwind  → ale avèk van an, ale nan direksyon van an
to wander away → drivaye, valkande, flannen, balade
to look off to the left → pran pòz gade agoch

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

Kouman ou di 'to stain' epi 'stained'?

to stain → tache
stained → tache

1.  Can this product remove the stains from my clothes.
      Eske pwodui sa a kapab retire tach ki nan rad mwen yo.

2.  He remove the stains of my sins.
     Li retire tach peche m yo.

3. The pages of the book were stained with blood
    Paj liv la yo te tache ak san.

4. You should handle chayotes with gloves otherwise it will stain your hands.
     Itilize gan lè w'ap sèvi ak militon, si se pa sa y'ap tache men w.

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

translate for me please: i thought it was a good time to talk. so i told him that i really wasn't getting better here. i said i wished he would take me away.

I thought it was a good time to talk. so i  told him that i really wasn't getting better here. i said i wished he would take  me away.
Mwen panse se te yon bon tan pou pale, donk mwen te di'l ke mwen pa t'ap vin miyò isit la.  Mwen di'l mwen swete l te deplase'm la a.

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

Bonjou Mandaly! :) Kisa vle di mo sa yo: tòtòy, gagit, kounan, poudayè, bèk, pot fal, madigra Mèsi

Bonjou zanmi, mwen pa tande w kèk tan :)
W'ap fè preparasyon?

tòtòy can be a general "non politically correct" term for someone who walks with a limp,  whose legs are "crooked", who's bow-legged

gagit or more specifically klou gagit are small nails used especially to keep the sole of shoes together.

kounan - bow-legged.  Pye kounan bow-shapped legs; Pye l kounan He's bow-legged.

poudayè (or dayè) → however, after all

bèk → beak; People also say "dyòl"; they are equivalent to "trap" as in Shut your trap! → Fèmen bèk ou! or Fèmen dyòl ou!

Pot fal (pote fal) → the word fal means chest or stomach.  Sometimes people say Fal mwen plen → my belly is full.  or L'ap mache ak fal li deyò → She walking bare chested.
Pote fal is an expression which means that someone walks into a potentially dangerous environment without thinking thoroughly. Often there are consequences because of that.
example:
1.
Si w'al pote fal ou nan lapli  ak zeklè a deyò a, sa w pran se pa'w.
If you negligently walk into the rain and lightning outside, whatever happens to you, you deserve it.

2. 
L'al pote fal li nan batay la deyò a e li tou pran yon zòk.
He brought himself into the fight outside and he received an injury.
  
Madigra (from French Mardi-gras) → clown, someone dressed in costume, someone badly dressed

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

I have translated the song "God You Reign" into Creole and was told that the word for "reign" was renye. Is this incorrect or can I use "renye" for the English word reign?

yes, renye v. is correct.  Sometimes it's also written as reye, if you were to google it.
The noun is reny (ren-y), as in His reign will last forever → Reny li va dire pou tout tan.

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

I am having an art piece made by a Haitian friend. I would like it to say (in Creole) "Love one another" or "Love each other" if it would make more sense through translation. THANKS!

Best way to say this is:

Se pou nou youn renmen lòt.
You must love one another.

Se pou youn renmen lòt.
Love one another.

or you can say:

Renmen pwochen w.
Love your neighbor.

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

Kisa vle di vant deboutonen?

vant deboutonnen (avèk 2 "n") oubyen vant plen se menm bagay la.  Ou kapab itilize tèm sa pou dekri yon moun ki manje anpil enpi ki rasazye.  Si n ta vle pran yon egzanp, nou ta ka di: Mwen t'ale nan yon fèt.   Te gen anpil manje. Tout moun te manje vant deboutonnen.

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

what does "channmas" mean?

Do you mean where is it?  The one in Haiti?  It's on Port-au-Prince, and if you have not been to Haiti in a long time, you will not recognize it... even if you're standing in it.
Chanmas lontan an pa Chanmas jodi a.
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Poukisa Boukman Esp bay bondye glwa pa nan chan desperans nan yo?

Eske w'ap pale chante gwoup sa a chante a?  Mwen pa fin kwè chante sa a te fèt pou Bondye ki nan Chants D'Esperance yo.  M pa panse se yon chan pou legliz Jezi Kris la.

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

suppose that two people are fighting and one of them gets knocked down and the opponent yells "Fe pa li" what would that mean? would it mean "get back at him/her " or "your going to get it"

Fè pa li → give him/her a break, forgive him/her, go easy on him/her, show some mercy, etc...

using appropriate pronouns:
Fè pa m → forgive me, ...
Fè pa n → forgive us, ...
Fè pa yo → show mercy towards them, ...

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

You sometimes mention books written in Haitian Creole. What are some titles you would recommend as good reading as well as good intermediate Creole language practice? And where could I find them?

Educavision.com has a good list of books for intermediate learners.  It would have been better if one could browse the first few pages of these books online before buying them. They have a very short list of Creole books.
Libreri Mapou in Miami, Fl has a great variety of books.  The librerimapou.com website does not list everything in the store.  You can spend hours browsing through the materials that Mr. Mapou has (front and back room of the store). If you're ever in Florida and plan to visit, call ahead  and make sure that they know what time you'll be in - The posted operating store hours are not strictly observed.

In Haiti, you'll find some great books at Presses Nationales.  You can visit their website http://www.pressesnationales.ht/, click on EDITIONS PNDH from the tab, then click on LES COLLECTIONS or OUVRAGES DISPONBLES for a list of their books.

a list of books I think would be great for intermediate Creole learners:
Lafanmi Bonplezi by Maude Heurtelou (novel)
Agasya by Emile Celestin-Megie  (novel) (I find the font in this book distracting)
Bèbè Golgota by Pierre M. Chéry (novel)
Tonton Liben by Carrie Paultre (which you can buy from the university of Kansas)
Fòklò Peyi Dayiti book 1 and/or 2 by Bryant Freeman (folktales and jokes) (University of Kansas bookstore)
Istwa ak Kont Kreyòl by Maude Fontus or Mod Fontis in Creole (folktales)
and also Guy Regis' Creole translation of  L'étranger by Albert Camus, Etranje!

There are more... and I'm hoping that other people might add to this list thanks :)

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

"Se ap pale m ap pale?" I was told that this construction is wrong. Can you explain in details (please :) the construction of this sentence; and other emphatic terms too, if you would. thanks.

You can get this down by first WRITING DOWN YOUR MAIN SENTENCE while keeping in mind what the main verb is.  Then you can add SE + that MAIN VERB in front of the sentence:

1. For example:
    The sentence:             M'ap pale. (I'm talking)
     Main verb is:              Pale (to speak)
     Add Se + main verb in front of that sentence : Se pale m'ap pale.

Se pale m'ap pale.
I'm talking or I'm just talking.


2. another example:
    Main sentence:           Ou pa konnen sa m'ap pase. (You don't know what I'm going through)
    Main verb:                  Konnen (to know)
    Add Se + main verb in front of that sentence :  Se konnen ou pa konnen sa m'ap pase.

Se konnen w pa konnen sa m'ap pase.
You just don't know what I'm going through.


3. One more example:
    Main sentence:           Li pral benyen. (He's going to take a shower)
    Main verb:                 benyen
    Add se + main verb in front of that sentence:   Se benyen li pral benyen.

Se benyen li pral benyen.
He's going to shower.


USAGE

Used in question form:
4.  Poukisa ou vin anreta konsa?  Eske se pèdi ou te pèdi?
     Keep in mind the main sentence is underlined.
     Why did you come so late? Did you get lost?

5.  Poukisa ou vòlè pen an?  Eske se grangou w te grangou konsa?
     Why did you steal the bread?  Were you that hungry?

Used to indicate that one is JUST / JUST ABOUT / SIMPLY /  doing something:
6. Tanpri, pa fache. Se jwe m ta'p jwe ak ou.
    Please, don't be angry, I was only playing with you.

7. Tann mwen non!  Se abiye m'ap abiye.  M preske pare.
     Wait for me!  I am just getting dressed.  I'm almost ready..

8. M kontan vizit ou, men se soti m ta pral soti; donk mwen p'ap ka rete pale avè'w.
   I'm happy about your visit, but I was just going out; so I can't stay and talk to you

9. Nou se etranje sou tè sa a.  Se pase n'ap pase.
    We are strangers on this earth.  We're just passing by.

10. Pa okipe li.  Ou pa wè se eseye l'ap eseye fè w fache.
      Main sentence here is underlined: l'ap eseye fè' w fache - he's trying to make you mad. - lit.
      Don't pay attention to him.  Don't you see that he's trying to piss you off.

11. Se renmen l renmen w ki fè l aji konsa.
      He likes you which makes him act like that.
      He likes you.  That's why he acts this way


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

what does "fe lache" mean?

fè lach? → being cowardly, to chicken out, wimp

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

translate for me please:did i already say that the wallpaper is torn off in spots.

my English is rusty :)
Is "torn off in spots" the same as "torn to pieces"?

Did I already say that the wallpaper is torn off in spots?
Eske m te deja di ke tapisri a chire an miyèt moso?

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

Madanm, Ou ka ekri 5,999 tou de fason sa yo? senkmil nefsan katreven diznef. E senkant nef san katreven diznef. (ak aksan grav nan kou) M konnen yon sel nan premye se pwobableman pi komen, men se youn nan dezyem akseptab? Would you use your Kreyol expertise to write 5,999 combining words that you would combine that I did not? Mesi anpil.

Bonswa zanmi :)
Fason ki estanda e ki pi popilè a se premye egzanp ou bay la... "senkmil nèfsan katreven diznèf"
Se konsa laplipa Aysiyen eksprime yo avèk kalite chif sa yo
Nanpwen pi miyò pase sa.

Wi zanmi'm, kòm ou di, nou plis itilize fòm "senkmil nèfsan katreven diznèf"  pase fòm "senkant nèf san katreven diznèf" la.

Dakò.

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

I understand SOTE in "kè sote", it means that your heart is jumping with excitement?

The heart is most likely jumping with fear or surprise

kè sote →anxiety, fear

1.  Kè'm ap sote.
     I'm anxious.
     
2.  Mwen pa ka ap viv ak sote tout tan.  Se pa yon bon fason pou viv.
     I cannot live in fear all the time.  It's not a good way to live.

3.  Ou ban m kè sote.
     You gave me a fright.
     You startled me.
     You scared me.
     You made me anxious.

Sote → to be startled, to be surprised
ex:
4. Timoun yo te kache nan yon kwen pou yo te fè m sote.
    The kids hid in a corner to startle me.

5.  Pandan vòlè te nan kay la, mèt kay la vin sote sou li.
     While the burglar was in the house, the house owner suddenly surprised him.

Sote → to jump
ex:
5. Eske w konn sote kòd?
    Do you know how to jump rope?

Sote → to skip
ex:
6.  Pran medikaman an chak jou, san w pa sote yon jou.
     Take the medication everyday without skipping one day.


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

How do you translate that in English? "poukisa ou rayi m tout rayi sa a"

"...rayi tout rayi sa a"  with TOUT means to hate that much, to hate so much.

1.
Poukisa  | ou rayi m     | tout rayi sa a?
Why      | you hate me |  all that hate?
Why do you hate me that much?

you can use this form with other verbs too.

2.
Poukisa w'ap pale tout pale sa yo?
Why are you talking so much?

3.
Li fache avè w.  Se pousa l'ap pale tout pale sa a.
She's angry with you.  That's why she's talking so much.

4.
Poukisa w t'ap kriye tout kriye sa a yè?  Eske se paske w te sonje pitit ou?
Why were you crying so much yesterday?  Is it because you missed your child?


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

what is the deeper meaning of gres kochon kwit cochon

Grès kochon an kuit kochon an (lit. the pig's fat will cook the pig)  is about being able to support yourself without help from other people.

Here is an example of how you might use this:
1.  Nan òganizasyon nou an, se grès kochon an ki pou kuit kochon an.  Sa vle di se nou ki dwe sipòte youn lòt.  Nou pa konte sou lòt moun.
    In our organization, it's the pig's fat that will cook the pig.  This means that we must support each other.  We cannot count on other people.

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

Tan an Mare Pandan Vakans lan (Audio)

Download link:
Click here to download…

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

 

Eske ou panse n’ap gen chans al laplaj jodi a?

Do you think we'll have the chance to go to the beach today?

Oh non, m pa kwè n’ap kapab.  Tan an mare deyò a.  Tout syèl la tou nwa.    Sanble lapli pral kòmanse tonbe.

Oh no, I don't think we'll be able to.  The weather looks bad outside.  The whole sky is totally dark.  It seems as if it's going to start raining.

Kwake li fè cho anpil, e nou bezwen yon ti lapli pou desann chalè a,  mwen vrèman swete lapli pa ta tonbe jodi a.

Although it's really hot, and we do need a little rain to bring the heat down, I truly wish that it would not rain today.

O poukisa ou di sa?  Ou konnen byen kiltivatè peyi sa a bezwen dlo lapli a pou grandi fwi ak vejetab yo.

Why do you say that?  You know very well that the farmers of this country need the rain to grow their fruits and vegetables.

Wi, mwen konnen.  Men mwen te reyèlman espere al benyen nan lanmè jodi a.  Tout rejim mwen t’ap fè pou prepare m pou vakans lan ta initil si m pa ka al fè bèbèl ak shotdeben m.  Lapli a degoutan.

Yes, I know.  But I was really hoping to go bathe in the ocean today.  All this dieting I did to prepare for this vacation would be useless if I can't show off my bathing suit.  The rain is an inconvenience.

Mwen t’ap koute radyo. Yo anonse tanpèt pou apremidi a. 

I was listening to the radio.  They've announced a storm for this afternoon.

Sa sa vle di?

What does this mean?

Sa vle di ka gen gwo van, loraj ak zeklè.  E li pa pridan pou  al naje nan move tan konsa.   Angiz chòtdeben, se ak parapli nou pral oblije soti.

This means that there may be strong winds, thunder and lightning.  And it's not safe to go swimming in bad weather such as this. Instead of wearing bathing suits, we'll have to go out with an umbrella.

Ala yon vakans...

What a vacation...

Nou ka toujou anmize nou si n’al gade yon fim nan sinema

We may still enjoy ourselves if we go see a film at the movies.

Ya… Men se pa pousa m te vin nan vakans.  Nou kouri pou lanèj ak fredi, nou vin tonbe nan chalè ak lapli.

Yeah, but that's not why I came on vacation.  We ran from the snow and cold weather, and found rain and heat.

Se konsa lavi a ye.  Men se pa pou nou rete plenyen.  Petèt demen move tan an va pase e li va fè bon.  Men Jodi a, n’ap pran parapli nou pou n’ale sinema.

That's life.  But we must not complain.  Maybe tomorrow the bad weather will pass and it will be nice. But today, we'll take our umbrella and we'll go to the movies.

Dakò.  Se yon bon lide.  M’espere solèy la va klere demen.

All right.  It's a good idea.  I hope the sun will shine tomorrow.

Track Vin Kenbe Mwen by Alabanza

Zeklè klere, li fè m sote.

Loray gwonde, fè kè m rete.

Mwen pa ka wè devan m.

Kibò m prale? Mwen pa konnen.

Petèt lanmò kache tou pre m.

Jezi, vin kenbe men mwen

Jezi, vin klere chemen m

Jezi, konsole kè mwen

Yon lè se maladi, yon lè se aksidan

Kanmenm yon jou n gen pou n mouri

Ou konn lanmò pa dous,

Ou te soufri pou ban n lavi

N’ap mande w fòs ou, n’ap febli

Ou te fè n yon pwomès avan ke w te monte

Ou di’n w’ap retounen yon jou

E si nou kwè nan ou

Lanmò p’ap gen viktwa sou nou

Menm jan ou te resisite

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

how do you say in hcreole "I don't care if he doesnt like me, I just want him to be fair instead of judgmental" mesiii

"I don't care if he doesn't like me, I just  want him to be fair instead of judgmental"
"Ki mele'm si'l pa renmen'm.  Mwen jis vle pou li aji san patipri angiz pou l'ap jije."

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

How would you say "I'm very close to my family" in creole?

I'm very close to my family.
Mwen trè rapwoche ak fanmi m.
Mwen sere sere ak fanmi m.

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

Bonjou Mandaly e mèsi pou tout ki fè w. I have a question about how to say "Poma Rosa" (Puerto Rico) or "Manzana de Agua" (Central America) It grows on a beautifully green tree is pinkish or red, very juicy with a subtle flavor. It also lays down a purple carpet when it's blooms drop. There are so many fruits I know and love but I don't even know how to say them in English, mch less creole. Mèsi anpil.

Dakò, mèsi anpil :)

Poma rosa (Syzygium malaccense) or mountain apple in English is called pomwoz or pòm woz in Haiti grows abundantly in the Northeast regions of Haiti per agronomist Francois Séverin.
I think I should say that it is not the same as pòm kajou (Anacardium occidentale), ...in case the latter comes up.

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

translate for me please life is much more exciting now than it used to be.

exciting → enteresan, pasyonan, enpresyonan, eksitan, anfòm

Life is much more exciting now than it used to be.
Lavi a pi enteresan kounye a pase jan l te konn ye anvan.

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

ka gen (there may be?), konn gen (There used to be?)

1.
Gen or genyen → there is / there are
ex:
Gen yon fèt nan legliz la.
There's a party at the church.

Pa gen yon fèt nan legliz la.
There's not a party at the church.

2.
Te gen or te genyen → there was / there were
ex:
Te gen yon fèt nan legliz la.
There was a party at the church.

Pa te genyen yon fèt nan legliz la.
There was not a party at the church.

3.
Ka gen or ka genyen → there might be / there may be
ex:
Ka gen enpe moun ki p'ap ka vini.
There might/may be a few people that will not be able to make it.

Ka pa gen plas pou w chita si n pa ale bonè.
There may not be a place for you to sit if we don't go early.

4.
Konn gen or konn genyen → there's usually or there's sometimes
ex:
Konn gen de jou mwen pa ka menm leve sot nan kabann.
There are some days I can't even get out of bed.

5.
Te konn gen or te konn genyen → there used to be
ex:
Te konn gen yon mesye ki vin wè li chak vandredi.
There used to be a man who came to see her every Friday.

6. 
Fò gen or fò genyen → there must be
ex:
Fò genyen yon lòt fason pou fè sa.
There must be another way to do this.


7. 
Te ka gen or te ka genyen → there could have been
ex:
Te ka genyen plis dega ki fèt si lapli a te dire pi long.  
There could have been more damage if the rain lasted longer.

8.
Ta dwe gen or ta dwe genyen → there should be
ex:
Ta dwe gen yon lwa kont bagay sa yo.
There should be a law against these things.

9.  
Se pou gen or se pou genyen → there must be
ex:
Se pou genyen yon konpetisyon ki va detèminen kilès ki pi entelijan.
There must be a competition which will determine which is samrter.

or

10.

Dwe gen or dwe genyen → there must be

ex:

Dwe gen omwens trant moun ki rete nan kay sa a.

There must be at least thirty people living in this house.

11.  Pa ta dwe gen or pa ta dwe genyen → there should not be
ex:
Pa ta dwe gen yon lwa ki pou di w sa pou w fè ak kò pa'w.
There should not be a law to tell you what to do with your own body.

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

Can you explain "konn" here? 'mwen konn pa wè li pou tout yon mwa'

Konn, here, means → to be accustomed to, to be in the habit of, to be used to.
It points to an event that SOMETIMES /USUALLY occurs.... an event that one has gotten accustomed to.

In this case the sentence is negative:
1.
Mwen konn           | pa wè li                | pou tout yon mwa.
I'm accustomed to   | not seeing him/her | for a whole month.
Sometimes I don't see him/her for a whole month

here's another example:
2.
M konn pa ka dòmi leswa afòs m'ap panse ak pwoblèm mwen yo.
I sometimes (or usually) can't sleep at night from thinking s much about my problems.

3.
Nou tèlman okipe, nou konn pa menm gen tan pou lapriyè ansanm.
We're so busy, we usually don't even have time to pray together.

4. Li tèlman razè, li konn pa menm gen yon ti kòb pou achte yon tas kafe.
    He's so broke, he sometimes do not have the money to buy a cup of coffee.

How about a couple of positive sentences.
5.
Li tèlman ap fè gwo lestomak, li konn pase sou nou san'l pa menmsalye nou.
He's being so arrogant, he sometimes walks pass us and not greet us.

6. Li te konn vizite manman l chak vandredi, men depi de semèn nou pa wè li.
    He usually visited his mother every Friday, but we haven't seen him in two weeks.


AND ALSO, you'll find that we use KONN genyen / KONN gen in a sentence to mean there is SOMETIMES, there is USUALLY

7. Konn gen anpil moun nan restoran an levandredi .
    Usually there are many people in the restaurants on Fridays.

8.  Konn gen lavant nan magazen an chak samdi.  Vin al gade pou wè.
     Usually there is sale at the store every Saturday.  Let's go look and see.

Past tense:
9.  Te konn gen yon mesye ki te toujou chita nan kwen an.  Eske ou konn kote li ye?
     There usually was a guy who sat at the corner.  Do you know where he is?

Negative:
10.  Pa konn genyen okenn moun ki te chita nan kwen an.  Petèt ou twonpe w.
       There's not usually anyone who sat at the corner.  Maybe you miscalculated.

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

ARE these two 'yo' grammatically correct? Poukisa toude 'yo' yo? (oh man, I'm doing it too :) "GAD YO VIRE TALON YO YO SOTI."

Wi se yon fòm kòrèk.

1. Gad yo vire talon yo yo soti.
    The guards turned their heels they left.
    The guards turned around and left.

Ou jwenn fòm sa a avèk lòt pwonon yo tou.  Gendefwa ou kapab rankontre li sou fòm kontraksyon, ki vle di adjektif posesif la oubyen pwonon an, dabitid, konn kontrakte.

2.  Mwen vire do mwen m' ale.
     I turned my back and left.

3. Li ranmase pakèt li li ale.
    He picked up his bag and left.

4. Nou fèmen pòt nou n'al dòmi.
    We closed our doors and went to sleep.

5. Li gade manman'l li tonbe kriye.
    She looked at ther mom and started crying.

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

I'm trying to find a good program to help me learn Haitian Creole. I don't need writing or reading just spoken word... I'm trying out Transparent Language right now, is there any way to make sure they have accurate tranlations?

Since you're ready learning the language, why not also learn the way to write and read it; then you can read all the beautifully diverse materials in Haitian Creole that you can get your hands on.  ... and maybe one day you might write some of your own too.
I am not familiar with the Haitian Creole programs at Transparent Language.  You can check their translations against some language dictionaries and see if they're on the right track.

Kontinye kenbe la tande!

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