I need the definition for these following phrases/ terms please: piga, oze, ranfeme, anvi, tet mwen pati, gwo foli, m'ape, jire, lobey, foke, antann, nou sonje tout rime

 Piga (or pinga) – don’t, refrain from, beware, (giving a warning)

Egzanp:

Pinga w pale ak moun sa yo.  – Don’t talk to these people

Pinga ou ale la. – Don’t you go there.

Pinga m tande kriye sèlman. – I better not hear any crying

 

Oze – to dare, to take a risk

Egzanp:

Misye renmen fi a men li pa oze pale avè l. – He likes the girl, but he’s not courageous enough to speak to her.

 

Ranfème – to be withdrawn

Egzanp:

Ti fanm tèlman timid, li ranfèmen tankou yon flè

 

Anvi (n.) – desire

Anvi (v.) – to want, to desire

Egzanp:

M’anvi wè boubout mwen. - I miss my sweetie pie.

 

Tèt mwen pati – I’ve lost my mind

gwo foli – madness

 

m'ape (same as m’ap or mwen ap)

Egzanp:

M’ap chante  same as M’ape chante (I’m singing)

M’ap wè w nan fèt la pita.  Same as M’ape wè w nan fèt la pita .(I’ll see you at the party later)

 

jire – to swear

Egzanp:

Nou jire pou n pa janm fè sa ankò. – We swear never to do that again.

 

lobèy - commotion, unrest

Egzanp:

Ki lòbèy ki gen nan kay sa a?! – What’s all the fuss in this house?

Ala fanm ka fè lòbèy! – This woman can be rowdy!

 

foke – to have lost it, to have gone crazy

 

antann (or tonbe dakò) – to agree, to mean to say

Egzanp:

Ann antann nou sou sa. – Let’s agree on this.

 

nou sonje tout rime (rimè?) – We remember all rumors

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

What expressions of courtesy that exist in creole? I have seen in the french language expressions such as these:....

"What expressions of courtesy that exist in creole? I have seen in
the french language expressions such as these:

(Veuillez)Avoir l'amabilité de + infinitive, avoir la bonté de + infinitive,
avoir la gentillesse de + infinitive, avoir l'obligeance de + infinitive, avoir
la politesse de + infinitive, etc. Seriez si bon de + infinitive, seriez si poli
de + infinitive, seriez si gentil de + infinitive, etc.

In Spanish language, Tener la amabilidad/bondad/cortesia/gentileza/fineza de +
infinitive, hacer el favor/fineza de + infinitive, etc.

In English, there are: would you be so good/kind/polite/helpful/courteous/gracious/friendly/amiable/etc
+ as + infinitive. Have the goodness/kindness/amiability/courtesy/politeness in
+ present participle. Would you be a dear..... could you be a dear......

I know that all these polite expressions in these languages are formal versions
of "please". I know in creole, we have various words for please, but I want to
know if there are phrasal or construction equivalents in creole. I'm fascinated
by these. As you already know, I love to know other ways of expressing the same
idea. Could you provide these courtesy constructions if they exist? Also, what
are other words  for "so" as an intensifier? I know that in this context, "so"
translates "tèlman" but what are other words that could replace it?

Ex

"Would you be so kind as to help carry the groceries in my car?"

"Have the courtesy in sitting down immediately."

"Would you be a dear in lending me some money to pay for my books?"

I hope I make sense. Sometimes my head is jumbled with a lot of ideas. Feel free
to add more and be as detailed as you can."

------------------

Ou fè anpil sans, men kesyon ou an sanble li genyen plizyè pati.  Gen moun ki ta di w Ayisyen pa nan tout koze siplikasyon sa yo, men se pa vre.  Chak peyi gen fason pa yo pou eksprime jantiyès. Ayiti pa fè eksepsyon. 

Aysiyen va di w:

Tanpri souple….

Rann mwen yon sèvis tanpri…

Rann mwen yon sèvis tanpri ti cheri a

Mwen soupriye w an gras, fè sa pou mwen …..

Fè m plezi e rann mwen yon sèvis….

Some people may even say:

Fè kè m kontan e rann mwen tèl sèvis…..

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Can I use malandrin for females or is it malandren for males and females?

I haven't heard the word malandrin.
Malandrin makes me think of a fruit. ...I don't know why.

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"Which one is___(cho)___ and which one is ___(fwedi)___.” I am making an image for a Haitian classroom, with one cold object and one hot object.

cold object - frèt
hot object - cho

 “Fwedi” more about cold temperatures.

 

For example you'd say:

M pa renmen vwayaje nan peyi fredi.

Peyi Kanada se peyi fredi.

M pa renmen tan fredi.

Li fè fredi deyò a

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what does laponyett and zoklo mean?

Do you mean “bat laponyèt”?

Bat laponyèt – to masturbate

zoklo - see definition here

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

How would you translate, "The most she can take is six students." Thanks!

"Plis li ka pran se sis elèv"

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From Istwa Jezi nan Bib la page 122, what does this sentence about Goliath mean? "Moun Filisti yo te gen yon gwo potorik gason yo te rele Golyat ke moun pa t konnen." The Philistine people had a big, tough guy called Goliath that people didn't know. That last part doesn't make sense to me.

"The Philistine people had a big, tough guy called Goliath who people didn't know about."

"The Philistine people had a big, tough guy called Goliath who no one knew."

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What's the difference between "pa ta kapab" and "pa t'ap kapab?"

Mwen pa ta kapab...
I would not be able....

Mwen pa t'ap kapab...
I could not....

The difference seems subtle.

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I know that when you send something to someone you use "bay" for "to." Like, "M'ap voye wòb la ba ou." If you are sending someone (instead of something) do you use "kote" for "to"? Like, "M'ap voye pitit fi mwen an kote ou." Thanks!

Yes, that’s right.  It’s like saying “M’ap voye l kote w.” “I’m sending her where you are” or “I’m sending her your way”.

When Haitians pray they say that a lot:  “Senyè, nou vini kote w….” “Lord, we’ve to come near you (into your presence)"

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I know you can put pi before an adjective to make the -er in English, like pi bèl means prettier. Or pi can mean more, like pi enpòtan means more important. First question: Can you use pi with ANY adjective? I don't think I've ever heard it with many different adjectives like pi vye or pi nèf. Also I know you can use pi with verbs, like, "Sa ou pi renmen?" meaning "What do you like most?" Second question: Can you use it with ANY verb? Please give examples if possible. Thanks!

Pi, plis, pi plis – more

Pi – the most

Usually we put “pi” before adjectives and adverbs

1.     Do you feel better or worse?

Eske w santi w pi byen ou pi mal?

 

2.     The right foot is more red than the left foot.  I think it’s infected.

Pye dwat la pi wouj pase pye goch la.  M panse li enfekte.

 

3.     Which is more economical, renting an apartment or buying a house?

Kilès ki pi ekonomik, lwe yon apatman onswa achte yon kay?

 

4.     The car drives more slowly now.

Machin nan mache pi dousman kounye a.

 

5.     Airplane tickets will be more expensive in the year 2015.

Tikè avyon ap koute pi chè nan ane 2015.

 

With some verbs you may use “pi”, but generally we’ll use “plis” or “pi plis” after the verb

6.     This baby sleeps more in the daytime.

Bebe sa a dòmi plis pandan lajounen.

 

7.     The seeds I gave you will yield more this year.

Grenn mwen ba ou yo ap bay plis rannman ane sa a.  (actually this puts “plis” before a noun)

 

8.     You sister smiles more when she’s happy.

Sè w la souri pi plis lè l kontan.

 

You cannot use “pi” before all the verbs, but you can usually use “plis” or “pi plis” after a verb. Here are more examples:

9.     Nou pi renmen manje ou fè maten an.

Or you can say.

Nou renmen manje ou fè maten an  plis (or pi plis).

We like the food you made this morning best.

 

10. Ou pi konn danse pase sè w la.

Or you cansay:

Ou konn danse plis pase sè w la.

You dance better than your sister.

 

And then we’ll put “plis” before a noun.

11.  We need more love in this world.

Nou bezwen plis lanmou nan monn sa a.

 

12. There are more people at the market this morning.

Genyen plis moun nan mache a maten an.

 

13. We need more money.  We always need more.

Nou bezwen plis lajan.  Nou toujou bezwen plis.

 

And then we have sentences with “plis … plis”

14. The more you know the more you grow.

Plis ou konnen se plis ou grandi.

 

15. There’s a sale at the store.  The more you buy the more you save.

Genyen yon lavant nan magazen an.  Plis ou achte se plis ou ekonomize.

 

16. The higher you go the harder you fall.

Plis ou monte wo plis ou pran gwo so.

 

 

 

Where to buy Soursop in Georgia?

If there are Haitians or Spanish in the area, chances are you will find it there.
In a Haitian store, it will be in the produce section.  In any regular American grocery store, you'll find it in the freezer section where all the frozen ethnic foods are.  It will be under the name Guanabana (spanish).  They also have the papaya.  And they are very good when you make them into a smoothie with your blender.
You may add milk, strawberies, yogurt, and it's delicious.... It'll take you back to tropical Haiti - The only difference is, you have electricity and you don't have to mash it with a spoon to blend it :)

They also have it this juice in a can, but the canned juice doesn't have the "smoothie" consistency that we're used to in Haiti.

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I had it ALL wrong in the beginning. Sorry. I thought the speaker was saying something else. Anyway, do Creoles say "W isit la.", or "Ou isit la."? Tou, ki fom ki itilize plis: "out", "dawou", "dawout" oswa "dout" pou "August"? Ki youn ta dwe mwen sevi ak? Yon gran mesi

In reference to : http://sweetcoconuts.blogspot.com/2013/11/mandaly-m-te-isit-la-depi-kat-jou-pou.html
------------------------------
When they speak you will hear “W isit la.”.   It will sound like “wi-sit-la”.
But when they write, it’s not common to have W at the beginning of the sentence.

 

We use “out” and “dout” more.
Some people say Dawou or Dawout.  It happens often enough.  You will see it a lot in songs and poems, etc….

I don’t think you’ll find “dout” in a dictionary for the month of August.  It is from the French pronunciation of D’Août.  Nevertheless we do say “dout”.

An example:

Mwen fè an out.
Mwen fèt nan mwa out.
Mwen fèt nan mwa dout.
Mwen fèt nan mwa Dawou.
Are all correct for “I was born in the month of August”

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Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge about Haitian language. I have a question about food. Do you know if the white powder sometimes mixed with the "epis" called "absan" or "aksan" (not akasan) is monosodium glutamate?

Aksan....  Yes it is.  It is MSG.

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

Mandaly. "M te isit la depi kat jou pou kont mwen." "I have been (right) here for four days by myself." Do I have the "M te isit la" right? The speaker on the Pimsleur audio is slurring across the "M te isit la"; It almost sounds like "M se sit la". If I have this right, "M te isit la", can I say it phonetically and be understood? I have also noticed this problem with "dwe" in some cases. I realize that no language is completely phonetic, but I like to be as close as I can be with pronunciation; but I want to sound right. School me on this one. Mesi anpil.

 “M te isit la” is definitely right.

If you said “M isit la depi kat jou pou kont mwen”.  That will be right also.

“Dwe” is pronounced (dwe or d-oo-ay) phonetically.

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

Hello! I've read through quite a few of your entries about pral/prale/aprale. I think I'm understanding that pral/prale/aprale are a combination of ap + ale. If ap + ale works like other verbs + ale, it would mean "going," right? So then, do pral and ale get combined? Pral + another verb (like fè) would be "going to do," right? So does pral + ale combine to make a new word? Or does it remain "pral ale?" And does it mean "going to go?" Thanks!

Ap + another verb may indicate future or a progressive tense depending on the context such as:

Nou ap tann ou depi maten. – We’ve been waiting for you since this morning.

Nou ap vini wè w pita. – We’ll come to see you later.

Nou ap manje kounye a.  Nou pa ka vin chache w nan ayewopò a.  – We’re eating now.  We can’t come pick you at the airport.

Pral / Prale (going to) – FUTURE

Nou pral danse. / Nou prale danse. – We’re going to dance.

Nou pral manje. / Nou prale manje. – We’re going to eat.

Nou pral dòmi. / Nou prale dòmi. – We’re going to sleep.

 

Pral ale (going to, going to go, will go)  /You can also use “Va ale” ….before a verb (as a verb helper).  As you already know “va” is a determiner for the future tense.  An example is: Nou va wè w demen. – We’ll see you tomorrow.

Nou pral al gade pou wè si yo toujou la. - We’re going to go see if they’re still there. Most often Haitians will simply say “pral” instead of “pral al”. It feels more natural.

Nou va al di yo sa. – We will go tell them.

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

Does a verb marker apply to just that verb or the entire thought? For example, if you said "I had a job where I waited tables." in HC, would you need “te” before both verbs or just the first one?

In this sentence it is best to use “te” with both verbs.  "M te gen yon djòb kote m t’ap sèvi moun."

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I know that mèt is "may." Is te mèt "might?" How would you translate this from Psalm 139: "Mwen te mèt ap mache, mwen te mèt kouche, ou wè m, ou konnen tou sa m'ap fè."? Can mèt or te mèt mean anything else? Thanks!

In this case it translates even, even if, whether (conj)

Mèt (as a noun) – meter (metric system), owner, teacher, master

1.     Longè teren an plis pase 6 mèt. - The terrain is more than 6 meters in length..

2.     Kote mèt magazen an? – Where’s the store owner?

3.     Eske se ou ki mèt kay la? – Are you the home owner?

Mèt (adj) – skillful

4.     Nan zafè repare oto, moun sa yo se mèt. – When it comes to fixing cars, these people are proficient.

Mèt, Te Mèt (v. helper) – may, can

5.     Ou mèt ale. – You may go.

6.     Nou mèt antre. – You can come in.

7.     Nou te mèt koumanse manje. –You may start eating.

8.     Eske m te mèt prete bekán ou? – Can I borrow you bicycle.

Mèt  (conj) – even, whether

9.     Mwen te mèt ap mache, mwen te mèt kouche… -Whether I am standing up, whether I‘m lying down …..

10. Ou te mèt fache, m p’ap ka kite w ale nan jounen an. – Even if you’re angry I cannot let you go to the field trip.

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Is "msuspek" a word or slang term in creole? Does it mean something?

No it's not a slang

Msuspek (m sispèk, mwen sispèk) - I am suspicious of, I have suspicion

sispek - to be suspicious of

 

example:

1. Poukisa ou sispèk mwen konsa?

   Whay are you so suspicious of me?

 

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Mandaly, is there an English word for the H. Creole word 'cheran'? mesi.

I am not sure what the English word would be.

cheran (adj.) - someone with whom you can't haggle over the price of an item.  A person who is "cheran" sells his item/service at a high price and is unwavering and persistent at keeping that price.

an example

Machin nan pa menm mache enpi w'ap mande wi mil dola pou li.  Ou twò cheran monchè. - The car doesn’t even run and you're asking eight thousand dollars for it.   You are too “cheran”.

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How do you use gwo san in a sentence? Does it have different meanings?

gwo san (adj.) - short-tempered

Use the verb "gen" or "genyen"  with GWO SAN.

1.

M pa vle annafè ak Joanne.  Li gen gwo san. – I don’t want to deal with Joanne.  She is short-tempered.

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

grenadye alaso? otaj? rime? planche?

Grenadye alaso! - Soldiers, attack! (From French Grenadiers á l'assaut!)

 
There's this song (song of war from Haiti) you may have heard.

Grenadye alaso soldiers attack
Sa ki mouri zafè a yo (bis) Those who die , so what
Nanpwen manman, napwen papa there’s no mom, there’s no dad
Sa ki mouri zafè a yo Those who die, so what

 

Otaj – hostage

Rime (need to have this in a sentence). There’s arimen (to stack up), and anrimen (to have a cold), or fè rimay (to make gestures)

planche – wooden floor

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jibye?

jibye - any wild animal hunted for food, game

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How do you say PREREQUISITE in Creole?

Prerequisite - prereki

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Okay I'm trying to understand this Facebook post in creole it says “We monche ou pap tounen nan DuPont menm”

Sometimes we say “wè” instead of “wi”.

“wè monchè, ou pa tounen nan Dupont menm”

“yes friend, you have not come back to Dupont at all.”

“Yes, you have not gone back to Dupont at all.”

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Mandaly madame what is "ou pasab" - Is it a compliment?

A compliment  .... maybe (that depends on a lot of things)

pasab - satisfactory, not bad, acceptable
Ou pasab - You're ok

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The amazing lessons on your blog continue! Thank you so much, Mandaly! Would you be able to recommend a few Creole translators or translation companies that could handle things like translating longer reports and forms from English-to-Creole and Creole-to-English? If you recommend them, I would feel more comfortable working with them. Mesi anpil!

Wi :)  Leson yo ap kontinye nèt ale.

I like the work of the translators at Freelang.net and that of ALTA Language Services.
I have proofread their work.
The team at ALTA can get a little expensive, but they are good.


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Madanm. What is the correct way to use mo "monche" (man) an Kreyol? Is it only a term of endearment to people you know very well, or is it used more informally? E ki jan ou di an Kreyol Ayisyen mo "apocalypse", like the book of Revelation in the Bible? I cannot find it anywhere. Yon gran mesi.

It is used more informally.  It basically means "my friend" , "my comrade", "pal", "buddy". It can also translate the informal expression man!
You always use it for males.  For females you would use machè in the same context.
Here are some examples:

1.       Sa’k pase monchè? - What’s up man?

2.       Monchè, pa janm fè m ankò. – Man, don’t ever do that to me again.

Sometimes you use it in a sentence as an expression, but do not have to translate it in English. For example:

3.       Monchè, ou sanwont! – You are shameless!

4.       Ale non monchè! – Go!

5.       Chita non monchè! – Sit down!

Monchè is also an expression which may express surprise, shock, disgust, or disbelief.  For example:

6.       Monchè! M pa ta janm kwè ou ta fè m sa. - I would have never believed that you would do that to me.

 

7.       Monchè! M wont pou ou! - Shame on you.

 

       8.       Monchè o! – (expression of disbelief)

and .... 

Regarding translation of “Apocaplypse”, we do say Apokalips or Revelasyon  in Creole.

 

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

M, please don't forget my message about rum terminology...;)

Oke dakò zanmi. Mwen va reponn li aswè a. Mèsi pou pasyans ou :)

Kenbe la.

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

plon gaye a? zoklo? please.

plon gaye - buckshot
zoklo (n.) - unfaithfulness (to one s.o), a punch on the head with one's knuckles
bay zoklo (v.) - to cheat on your s.o.  To be unfaithful;  and also to punch someone on the head with your knuckles

egzanp:
L'ap bay madanm nan zoklo.

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

mefyans?

mefyans - suspicion, mistrust

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

Mandaly. In the course I am using, they say "M isit la depi yon semenn." for "I have been here for one week." Would it not be more correct to use "M te isit la depi yon semenn." for the past tense, or are both just as correct? By the way Madanmm, which form of "week" do you use in Kreyol? "semen, semenn oubyen senmenn?" Mesi anpil.

Actually “M isit la depi yon semèn.” Is correct.

It expresses an event/action that started to happen in the past and continue to happen in the present.

If you had “I had been here for one week”, then you could translate it as “M te isit la depi you semèn."

And regarding the spelling of “semèn”, all three forms are acceptable in Creole.

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

Is there an expression in Creole that is equivalent to: "That catches my eye" or "that really stands out"?

There can be different expressions:
How do you want to use it?

To stand out - atire atansyon, atire lespri, resòti, rete devan zye
to catch "my" eye - atire atansyon mwen, danse nan tet mwen, danse nan lespri m  

That catches my eye.
Sa atire atansyon mwen.





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

How would you say: "There is a dent in my car" or "That car has a dent"?

to get a scrape (a big dent) - kolboso.

My car has dent.  - Machin mwen kolboso.

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

Hola Mandaly,ki sa sa vle di mo "tanto" nan HC epi kijan mwen ka itilize mo sa a,mesi.

In Creole it means sometimes, at times
You can also translate it as one minute ....., and the next.....

Example:
1.

Konpòtman nonm sa a iregilye.  Tanto l kontan, tanto l fache.

This man’s behavior is shifty. Sometimes he’s happy, sometimes he’s angry.

 

2.

Fanm sa a pa konn sa l vle.  Tanto l di vle marye, tanto l di li rayi gason.

This woman doesn’t know what she wants.  Sometimes she says she wants to get married, sometimes she says she hates men.

 

3.

Fanfan poko ka deside ki machin li vle achte.  Tanto se Toyota l vle, Tanto se Nissan li vle.

Fanfan can decide which car he wantd to buy yet. One minute he wants a Toyota, and the next minute he wants a Nissan.

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What is the value of 5000 pwevwa pwosperitse

I don't think it's real money.
I have seen it before.

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I need some lessons in writing letters.. To start by saying "Dear..." and to end.."sincerely" but also by saying ."Hope things are ....” thanks...james

You might find this link helpful: Beginning and ending a letter

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