Haitian Creole

I have a a translation for gentle as DOU. will this work if i try to say 'he was very gentle with me'. thanks and welcome back.

It depends on what he 'performed' so gently.
Li te trè dou avè m.

Li te aji avèk anpil souplès avè m.

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

Hi! Can you please help me find the lyrics to this song?? "Jezu pwoblem yo nan men ou. Pwoblem spiritual pwoblem sentimental, pwoblem material yo tout yo nan men ou". The spelling might be wayyyy off lol. Please help me. Thank you!

You were not that far off :)

Si nou sonje lè nou te nan lemonn nou te nan esklavaj

Nou pa’t genyen espwa. Nou te tankou yon brebi egare

Ki pa’t gen patiraj, dyab la te mennen nou nan tout sa ki pa bon

Men Jezi nan amou l, te vin mouri pou nou, e li te rachte nou anba malediksyon

Jodi a m’ap chante, se pa pou n pale m mal, paske li delivre nanm mwen anba peche

Si nou genyen pwoblèm pandan m’ap chante la

Leve men nou anlè, pwoblèm yo va rezoud, jezi

Jezi, pwoblèm yo nan men ou Bis, one line)

Lemonn alèz yo di yo san pwoblèm

Men yo tout pè mouri, paske vi yo pa pwòp

Nou menm kretyen nou konn gen ti pwoblèm

Men nou pa pè anyen paske Bondye nou an se matematisyen

Se li k kreye lemonn ak tout sa ki ladan l –

Tè a avèk syèl, se nan men li yo ye

Li konn geri malad, li kon rezoud pwoblèm

nou pa ka konpare grandè Bondye nou an

si nou genyen lafwa nou mèt desann men nou

O non de Jezi pwoblèm yo deja rezoud

gen moun ki san manman

gen moun ki san papa

se ofelen yo ye, yo tout yo nan men ou

Jezi, Jezi! Jezi, pwoblèm yo nan men ou

Pwoblèm espirityèl pwoblèm santimantal,

pwoblèm materyèl yo tout yo nan men ou

Jezi, Jezi, Jezi pwoblèm yo nan men ou

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

How can I say in Haitian creole ."De la detresse a l'esperance".

Detresse – detrès, touman, chagren

Esperance – lesperans

de la detresse a l'esperance

sot nan detrès pou mennen nan lesperans

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

Faith is Strength - in Haitian Creole please foi se fos?

Faith is strentgh
Lafwa se fòs

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

You are very welcome. It is our pleasure.(in creole sivouple :)

You're welcome
deryen
padekwa

It's our pleasure.
Se tout plezi nou.

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

I'm wondering if you could help me find this song yon jou m va rejui avek Jesus kris Nan yon bel cite lajwa ap nouye. And there's another one it goes like this lavi ap mennew tankou yon ti bato

Zanmi k’ap koute

Ki pa konvèti

Sa se yon ti chan m’ap chante pou ou

Si ou pa prese fè yon ti chita

Pou w kapab tande

Si mwen ta mande w ki jou ou te fèt

,Ou prêt pou reponn se tèl jou ou tèl dat

Alo zanmi mwen mwen ta renmen mande w se konbyen ou rete

Lavi ap mennen w tankou yon ti bato

Ou pa konn ki bò l’ap rive avè w

Asepte Jezi paske se li menm sèl ki kapab delivre w

Ou genyen 22, 23 ou 24 an

Ou kap gen 40, 50 ou 60 an

Alò zanmi mwen mwen ta renmen ou di’m konbyen tan ou rete

Chak fwa ou rete ou di w’a gen tan

Kòm si lavi a te depann de ou

Alò zanmi mwen, mwen ta renmen ou di m konbyen tan ou rete

Chak jou ou leve ou ta dwe priye

Renmèsye Bondye pou sa l fè pou ou

Li menm ki sove w

Li sitèlman renmen

Li bay vi li pou ou

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

Hi Mandaly! I've been missing your posts so much. One question. You know how in a lot of Haitian konpa songs, the singers said "zobodo" a lot? Well, what does it mean? Just curious. Thanks!

...zobodo bodo...pepa...papade..."
They are Lyric fillers.

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

Hi ! I looking for a song ! Can you help me please! Batay la se pou le Seigneur Pouki sa wap kraze ko-uo. Batay la se pou le Seigneur rete en silence .ou te met essaye jodia se pa anyien wap regle pito ou lague batay la nan main l'Eternel .please, Thanks!

Batay la se pou Letènèl pouki sa wap kraze kò'w?
Batay la se pou L'etènèl rete an silans.
Ou mèt eseye depi jodi pou rive demen se pa anyen w'ap regle
Pito'w lage batay la nan men Letènèl

Izrayèl te devan lanmè wouj
Farawon dèyè l, l'ap mache al rankontre l
Kijan pou yo fè? Ki moun ki kab delivre yo?
Te gen yon men envizib ki t'ap gide Moyiz avèk pèp Izrayèl la
Touswit Letènèl pale, se te delivrans.

Amalèk parèt sou Izrayèl pase pa dèyè'l atake'l ak gwoup li yo
Moyiz monte sou montay, moun yo te desann al batay
Amalèk pa't kapab reziste chak fwa Moyiz leve men'l anlè bay Bondye
Viktwa batay la te la nan men Letènèl.

Sayil pa't kab sipòte David paske Bondye te chwazi'l pou'l t'al ranplase'l
David pran lafuit, Sayil dèyè'l pou touye'l
David epanye lavi Sayil pandan'l t'ap dòmi
Li pa't mete men sou li.
Sayil mouri, Letènèl te delivre David

Anpil fwa Kretyen yo konn panse se yo menm ki kapab mennen batay la.
Se sa ki fè pafwa yo konn pèdi batay la
Aprann lage batay la nan men Letènèl
Se li menm ki konnen sa l'ap fè
Bay Letènèl batay la, w'a gen laviktwa

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

This is interesting as I noticed when I lived in Haiti that there is often a pretty wide variation in pronunciation because of location, class, and the casualness of....

Anonymous says:
"This is interesting as I noticed when I lived in Haiti that there is often a pretty wide variation in pronunciation because of location, class, and the casualness of conversation, not to mention the natural shift in pronunciation over time. Take for example the word 'bagay.' in my experience the 'g' is dropped more often than not. But it is never spelled 'baay.' Sometimes the first vowel is dropped, too, so that it is pronounced 'bay.' For example, 'ou wè bay la m fenk achte?' Do you think that we are starting to see a drift between written and spoken Creole, where written Creole isn't actually purely phonetic? "

Mandaly says: We'll see. time will tell.

The same thing happens to 'janm" where some Haitians drop the "j" and it sounds like an "h"
Kote w ye m pa janm wè w konsa?

This also happens to the g in "gason"
Kote ti gason sa a prale?

etc...

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

Kisa ki pi senp m ka fe pou yon moun kite'm viv an pè?

Dapre eksperyans mwen, pa gen anyen ou ka fè ki va chanje anyen - si se pou moun w'ap fè li.
Kèlkeswa sa w fè a w'ap toujou echwe depi se pou satisfaksyon moun w'ap fè l.
Fè tèt ou kontan se bagay ki pi senp ou te kapab fè.

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

Haiti is not francophone. Haiti is Haitian(-Creole)ophone. This is something to be proud of,.....

"Haiti is not francophone. Haiti is Haitian(-Creole)ophone. This is something to be proud of, a testimony of the creativity and intellect of Haiti's ancestors - a group of people from different linguistic communities, forced together and enslaved, who created a new language to intercommunicate and eventually liberate themselves.

Haiti and the international community's dealings with Haiti will be much better off once this is understood and celebrated.

I have just spent several months in France, and honestly, I think Haiti is as francophone as France is anglophone.

Yes, most people in France know some English. Many people in Haiti know some French. By presuming it is ok to use only English in France, you are dismissive of the cultural legitimacy of their language.
If you presume it is ok to use only French in Haiti, you are dismissive of the cultural legitimacy of Haitian Creole. "

-TiWil

Mandaly says: Thank you TiWil. It needed to be said. Some foreigners are misled into thinking that they will be prepared to navigate in this Caribbean island if their French is good only to find out that they were wrong.
This happened to a group of missionaries in the summer of 2010. They were leading a youth group to Haiti and had searched the internet for French songs and leaflets - when they got to Haiti there were a lot of confusion.
I guess if you're going to deal with the very few elites and political officials then your French will open some doors in Haiti, but if you want to deal with the people then you need to use the Creole language.

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

Hello, Im looking for a song in the Chant D'Desparance, but i don't know the Title. The song goes..Nau ou menm ki Genyen Lavi pou kesa Map Soufri. Can you tell me what page I can find this song in the Chant D'desparance?

#48 Echo Des Elus

Jezi se ou sèl ki fòs mwen

Poukisa w’abandone mwen

Chak jou m leve m’ape kriye

Ouvri je w pou wè mizè mwen

Nan ou menm ki genyen lavi

Poukisa mwen menm m’ap soufri

Kounye a mwen prèt pou mouri

Pa kite m peri senyè

Dlo nan zye’m sèvi nouriti

E m konnen ou gen tout pouvwa

Retire sa’k pa bon nan mwen

Pou m kapab sèvi ou Senyè

Si se peche m ki fè m’ap soufri

Mwen vini mande ou padon

O bon Sovè di yon mo pou mwen

Pou m pa wont devan lènmi m yo

Zanmi mwen Jezi ap rele w

De bra li louvri l’ap tann ou

Pa kite Satan touye ou

Vini li va ba ou lavi

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

How do you say someone speaks the language fluently? Li pale angle kouraman or is it Li pale Angle kourat?

Li pale Angle kouran. - He/ She speaks fluent English

Li pale Angle kou rat. - He / She speaks English extremely well.

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

I will appreciate the correct way to say "your mother's exquisite eyes" ......

Some attributes to translate the English word exquisite in Creole are also used to generally for the word beautiful in H. Creole:
bèl, delika, atiran, kokèt, admirab

I would translate that as:
bèl zye delika manman w

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

What does "Tijwa" mean

Sounds like someone's nickname to me... which translates "little joy"

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

This is actually not a question. I just want to express my appreciation.......

"This is actually not a question. I just want

to express my appreciation for the time and effort that goes into this blog
site. I have been using your site as a resource for a WHILE now (maybe 2 years)
and it has been an enormous help to me!! I think it probably takes a lot to be
diligent and consistent with something like this, and I just want you to know
how grateful I am to you, as I'm sure, many others are as well!! For the last 5
years, I have worked with an orphanage on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince. I
travel there maybe a couple times a year. At first, even though I didn't
understand a WORD that was said, it was absolutely amazing getting to know the
kids and watching them grow --- that is, until body language and hugs could no
longer bridge the gap left by the language barrier. I was desperate to
communicate with them on a deeper level and this blog site has been a HUGE aid
in helping me do just that!! Mwen toujou gen anpil aprann, men, kounyea lè m wè
timoun yo, mwen ka konprann majorite yo di mwen a e piti a piti map aprann
kiminike kè mwen avèk yo. Thank you for what you are doing here :) God
bless!!"

Mandaly says:  Mèsi anpil. I appreciate your comment. Kontinye aprann toujou :)

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

What is another common expression that I can use for the word voryen

Men wi! Absolutely!
Kokorat!
Avadra!
Vagabon!
Sanmanman!
Malandren!
Fritè!
etc...

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

what is meaning of a man putting his red briefs under woman mattress or baby mommy mattress

I guess he's marking his territory :)
Basically he wants to own her for life.
They do more than that ...sometimes his and her "briefs" are sewn together and placed under the mattress... very desperate move.

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

Ki jan ou di "nevermind" an kreyol? lol. M konprann kounye a :)

Nevermind
Ou pa bezwen okipe w
Or
Kite sa.

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

I miss your posts Mandaly! I hope all is well with you and your family. Thank you for all the work you put into the blog over the last 4 years!

Dakò, mèsi anpil :)

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

I don't really understand this - does "kot" mean side of the family? Li se sè franck kot manma,mwen se frè franck kot papa sa vle di jonatha pa sè mwen.

Yes.

Frè kot papa meaning brother from the father's side ... a stepbrother
Li se sè m kot manman m meaning she's my sister from my mother's side meaning we have the same mom but not the same dad ... a step sister

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

I can't understand this because I don't know what "yen" is. Pou manman w, ou tap mande m ou yen pou grann ou. For your mother, you were going to ask me “yen” for your grandmother?

Looks like the word "yen" should have been "anyen".

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

Map pose w ton kesyon ou par kraze Jonathan?

I don't get it either. Perhaps they meant to sa "pa kraze m ...."

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

It appears to me that most of the time the adjectives in Creole don't follow the gender of the noun. But sometime it does. Like I see "Mwa pwochen" and I see "Semèn pwochèn". Are there some rules for this or does it only comes from common usage? Also does the gender of the nouns are inherited from French or is there somewhere I can find a dictionary that gives the gender of the nouns?

Principally there's no agreement between the gender of nous and adjectives in Haitian Creole but we do have a very few instances where the French articulation is preserved in the Haitian Creole language and it just seems as if there are some sort of agreement where the adjective would change depending on the gender of the noun. It is not so in Haitian Creole.

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

How do you say: "You are out of your mind¨" AND "you are not in your right mind" ? I am trying to relate these expressions to a discourse I have in Haitian creole concerning the subject of "bonsans". Mesi anpil pou tout travay ou fe pou Nou.

You are out of your mind
(Ou pèdi bon sans ou)
Ou fin tòltòl nèt
Tèt ou pati
Ou pèdi tout fakilte w
Tèt ou pa byen
Lòlòj ou fin chavire

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

Gen "materyèl" ak nou gen "materyo." Kisa diferans? In regards to construction, I think one is used to talk about materials such as sand, gravel, blocks, etc., while the other can be used to talk about tools. or maybe there is no difference.?

materyo - construction equipment and tools
materyèl - gear, stock, stuff

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

What does rann li kont mean?

rann kont has two meanings.
rann kont - to account for
rann (pronoun) kont - to realize, to become aware.

1.Mwen pa't rann mwen kont se te ak yon vòlè m t'ap boule.
I didn't realize that I was dealing with a crook.

2. Mwen byen ak misye lontan men se tou lotrejou la a mwen vin rann mwen kont ke se itilize li t'ap itilize'm.
I've been friends with him for a long time but it's only recently I realized that he was just using me.

3. Li pa't rann li kont ke tout moun t'ap gade li nan yon kamera.
He didn't realized that everyone was watching him on a camera.

and the other meaning.....

4. Nan jou jijman an tout moun pral rann kont de sa yo te fè sou tè a.
On judgement day everyone will give account of what they did on earth.

5. Se granmoun mwen ye. Sa mwen fè pa konsènen okenn moun. Mwen pa gen pou m rann kont bay pyès moun.
I'm an adult. What I do is my business. I don't have to report to anyone.

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

The word maybe in francais is petet. Is the creole word poutet sa the same expression as maybe?

Non it's not the same.
poutèt sa or pousa - ...the reason why

Misye wont fanmi l se poutèt sa li pa janm kite yo konnen kote l'abite.
or
Misye wont fanmi l se pousa li pa janm kite yo konnen kote l'abite
He is ashamed of his family that's why he doesn't let them know where he lives.

Mwen te bliye se te fèt ou jodi a, eske se poutèt sa ou fache konsa a?
or
Mwen te bliye se te fèt ou jodi a, eske se pousa ou fache konsa a?
I forgot it was your birthday today, is it why you're so angry?

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

Ok, I am getting really confused. At times Haitian people say BONJOU all day long. But other times they start saying BONSWA after 12pm. So when do we say BONJOU or BONSWA pls? Are there other time expressions that are said during the day. Thanks

bonjou - good morning, hello is used from morning until noon time.
After noon time Haitians usually say bonswa which is good afternoon or good evening.

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

I found the word "alòske" (English "whereas" or "while") in this passage from Bib la. "Konsènan bagay yo sakrifye bay zidòl, ebyen, nou konnen, nou tout, nou gen konesans. Men, konesans fè moun gonfle ak ògèy, alòske, lamou edifye moun." (1 Korent 8:1 Bib la) Is "alòske" ever used in spoken communication in Haiti? And is "konsènan" used in spoken Kreyòl? Thanks!

Yes and Yes. They are used all the time in everyday conversation.

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

Yon lòt fwa, monchè. Jòdi a, lè nou lage, m ap prese. This is a dialog between two students on their way to class. Does lé nou lage mea, when they let us out? mesi anpil!

Yes it does.

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

At the beginning of a sentence in kreole " se sa k fe'" does that translater as " so" or "there fore " in kreyol?

Se sa k fè - this is why

1.
M te gen tètfèmal se sa k fè m t'al kouche.
I had a headache that's why I went to lie down.

2.
Jezi ap viv nan kè m se sa'k fè kè m kontan konsa.
Jesus lives in my heart that's why I'm so happy.

3.
Moun sa yo se kriminèl se sa'k fè m di w pa asosye ak yo
These people are criminals, this is why I tell you not to hang out with them.

It's also another way to as why?

4.
Sa k fè sa?
Why is that?

5a.
Sa'k fè w tris konsa?
Why are so sad?

5b.
Mwen sonje manman m se sa k fè m tris.
I miss my mother that's why I'm sad.

6a
Sa'k fè w twouble konsa?
Why are you so upset?

6b
Men te fè w konfyans men ou ban m manti se sa'k fè m twouble.
I trusted you but you lied to me that's why I'm upset.

7a
Sa'k fè w malelve konsa?
Why are you so rude?

7b
Mwen pa konnen kouman pou m boule ak moun se sa k fè pafwa m fè malelve.
I don't know how to deal with people that's why sometimes I'm rude.

8a.
Sa'k fè w pa ka dòmi?
Why can't you sleep?

8b
Chen w lan jape tout lannuit se sa k fè m pa ka dòmi.
Your dog barks all night that's why I can't sleep.

9a
Sa'k fè ou p'ap lekòl demen?
Why won't you be in school tomorrow?

9b
Mwen dwe ale kay doktè se sa' k fè m p'ap la.
I must go to the doctor that's why I wont be there .

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

Alo Mandaly! Sa fé lontan depi kew pa upload anyen sou blog la! But anyways, I just have one tiny question. What does "estebedjé" mean in kreyol? P.S. you could just email me the explanation. Mesi davans! Hope you're not neglecting the blog! Miss you!

estebedje, bègwè, djèdjè, or egare - idiot, bonehead

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

How do you say in Haitian Creole, "Stand TALL! Stand STRONG! Be PROUD! Be PROUD!"? And I mean this in a sense of being proud and unashamed of yourself, your race, your beautiful African roots and origins, even in the face of evil opposition. Xoxox

Stand tall!
Kenbe tèt ou wo!
kenbe tèt ou byen wo!

Stand strong!
Kanpe fèm!
Kenbe fèm!
Pa brennen!

Be proud!
Se pou w gen fyète!

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

What is ‘pa pran sa pour anyen’. I translated it as ‘to take something for nothing’. I think I’m missing something – your thoughts? Also what is aryen?

”anyen” and “aryen” se menm bagay :)

...pa pran pou anyen

to have hard feelings

to be no wimp

to not be faint at heart

to be immune to …

Usually in regards to a situation

They walked through the streets filled with dead rotting bodies but they were immune to the sight. They were used to it.

Yo t’ap mache nan lari a ki te plen kadav k’ap pouri men yo pa’t pran sa pou anyen. Yo te abitye ak sa.

Yo t’ap mache nan lari a ki te plen kadav k’ap pouri men sa pa’t fè yo anyen. Yo te abitye ak sa.

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

kijan mwen ka di ranse an angle: pa egzamp: pa ranse ave'm, ou ranse twop ave'm.

Lè w di ranse, sètènman ou vle si "pase nan betiz"?

ranse - ridicule, mock, taunt

ou kapap di:

Don't play with me.
Don't ridicule me.
etc...

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

Sometimes when I use "nan" as a preposition for "in", I have been informed that I should use "an" in some situations, but am not understanding when "an" is correct; I probably over use "nan." When should I be using "an" for in? I am having a similar problem with "ki", recently being told by those helping me improve my Creole that in some cases I should use "ke" instead of "ki" for "that", but am not understanding when to use "ke" and probably over use "ki." If you could help me I would greatly appreciate it. Mesi anpil!

Some instances where “an” may be used as preposition:

Here it means in or from

Mwen fèk sot an Ayiti maten an.

I just came from Haiti this morning.

Mwen te fèt an Giyàn.

I was born in Guyana.

Mwen te ale an Ayiti semèn pase

I went to Haiti last week.

The above sentences can also be used without “an”.

___________________________________

Or sometimes “an” is used to show the order of things.

Li te vini an dènye.

He came in last.

Fè nou pase an premye.

Let us go first.

Fè ti moun yo kanpe an de ran.

Have the kids form two lines.

___________________________

“an” may indicate what something is made of

7. Li fèt an ò (or annò). – It’s made of gold

8. Li fèt an fè (or anfè) – It’s made of iron

9. Li fèt an asye - It's made of steel

10. Li fèt an bwa (or anbwa) – It’s made of wood

11. Li fèt an plastic – It’s made of plastic

______________________

“an” may indicate in what manner something is done.

12.

L’ap pale avè’m an chèf.

He’s talking to me as if he was my boss.

13.

Sitiyasyon chanje an kòbòy (Cowboy)

The situation change for the worse (dangerous).

_______________________

As far as “ki” and “ke” is concerned, you won’t see “ke” that often. When you do it’s usually used as a conjunction:

14. Mwen te di’l ke m pa't grangou.

I told her that I was not hungry.

15. Mesye ke ou te wè a se te papa m.

The man that you saw was my father.

16. Nou te espere ke legliz te gentan fin konstwi.

We had hoped that the construction of the church was completed.

And ... the above sentences will work fine without “ke”

_____________________________

And “ki” would be use as pronoun:

17. Moun ki dwe pa janm dòmi anpè.

People who have debts never sleep peacefully

18. Fanm ki konn travay jaden p'ap janm dòmi grangou.

Women who know how to farm will never go to bed hungry

19. Gason ki twò brav se nan simityè yo abite.

Men who are too gutsy live in the cemetery.

20. Timoun ki derespektan pa viv lontan.

Kids that are discourteous don't live long.

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

How do you say this in English? Sa pa ta mal non, ou ta fe désert ave l

Fraz sa a ta bèl wi si se pa't koze desè yo t'ap pale vre :)

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

Kisa "zo pa kwit" vle di? Mwen we moun ap ekri l souvan nan mi yo, konsa m konnen li gen yon sans negatif men m pa konprann kibo fraz sa soti. Mesi anpil!

Ou gen rezon wi - se nan sans negatif yo toujou di li.

Kon zo a fin di pa gen anyen ou ka fè pou fè l vin mou.
Asepte l konsa, li fin rèk, ou pa ka chanje sa l ye a
Li p'ap janm kuit
P'ap gen transfòmasyon
Pa gen espwa chanjman

Ou konprann?

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

Can anybody help me translating the following Haitian phrases int English:

You might have this in vodou chant.

Papa Legba would be the god of the crossroads.

Papa Legba, l'ouvri barrie-a pou moin, ago ye, Papa Legba, ouvri barrie-a pou 
moin, pou moin passé

Papa Legba / l'ouvri baryè a pou moin / agoye!

Papa Legba / open the gate for me     / agoye!

Papa Legba / l'ouvri baryè a pou moin /

papa Legba / open the gate for me     /

pou mwen pase /

so that I may proceed/

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

Greeting! I love your website! Thank you for all your posts. I will be going back to Haiti in a few months. One of our objectives will be to paint a school building. Could you help me by giving me some phrases related to painting? (Things like using a ladder, asking for a brush, a more technical details like smoother strokes.) Thank you for your help!

Dakò zanmi.

1. ladder – nechèl, echèl,

2. wall – mi, miray, panno

3. Place the ladder against the wall

Apiye nechèl la sou mi a.

4. Where’s the ladder?

Kote nechèl la?

5. Be careful so you don’t fall off the ladder.

Atansyon pou w pa sot tonbe sou nechèl la.

6. paint (n.) – penti

7. to paint – pentire

8. a can of paint – Yon manmit penti

9. paint bucket – bokit penti

10. bucket of paint - yon bokit penti

11. Paint the wall with upward and downward strokes

Pentire mi an dewo anba

12. crack – fant

13. to crack – fann

14. Repair the cracks and holes in the wall

Repare fant ak twou ki nan miray la.

15. paint brush – penso

16. paint roller – woulo

17. brush stroke – kout penso

18. How many brushes do we have?

Konben penso nou genyen?

19. Use smoother brush strokes to achieve a smooth finish.

Egalize kout penso yo pou penti a ka parèt lis lè li sèch.

20. water-based paint – penti alo

21. oil-based paint – penti aluil

22. to cover with plaster – masonnen

23. to cover the ceiling with plaster – masonnen plafon an

24. to peel – dekale

25. peeling pent – penti dekale

26. Scrub the peeling paint. – Foubi penti ki dekale yo.

27. one coat (of paint) – yon kouch

28. a coat of paint – youn kouch penti

29. to apply two coats (of paint) – bay de kouch penti

30. Apply one coat of paint and let it dry overnight.

Bay mi an yon kouch penti enpi kite l fin seche aswè a

31. We’ll apply the second coat the next day.

N’a bay dezyèm kouch penti an nan demen.

32. painter (professional house painter) – bòs pent

33. Wash the brushes with soapy water.

Rense penso yo ak dlo savon.

34. Wash the paint roller with lots of water and let it dry.

Rense woulo penti ak bonkou dlo enpi kite l seche.

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

kouman yo di misye mare kou krab an angle?

Misye mare kon w krab.
(Ou kapab di sa diferan fason depandan de sitiyasyon an)
He is uneasy.
He is clumsy.
He feels awkward.
He's embarrassed.

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

Hello! I've been studying the Haitian Creole language and I really like this language and it's fantastic that I can talk to Haitian friends in their mother tongue. I want to know the difference between PRAL and VA (or, A).

That is awesome :)

Va, a, or ava – future tense – aux: will or shall

Nou va kite demen.

N’a kite demen

N’ava kite demen.

We will leave tomorrow.

We shall leave tomorrow.

Pral, prale – to be + going to

M pral pale avè l pou m ka fè l konnen sa m peze.

Or

M prale pale avè l pou m ka fè l konnen sa m peze.

I’m going to talk to her to let her know what I’m made of.

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

kouman yo di an angle :"li telman fache li tchwipe devan tout moun yo."

“He/She was so mad he sucked his/her teeth in front of everyone to show his/her contempt.”

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

WHAT IS THERE MONEY WORTH TO AMERICAN DOLLAR?

At this time ....2nd month of 2015 ....

It's 900 Haitian dollars for 100 american dollars.

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

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Prezans Ou Pi Chè Pase Lò lyrics":

Mezanmi o! mèsi anpil wi. mwem apresye sa :)

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Prezans Ou Pi Chè Pase Lò lyrics":

First verse is:

Non ou se Emanyel
Sa vle du Dye ak nou
Nou tout reyini pou la glwa Ou
Se Ou Ki padonen
Tout inikyte n yo
E Ki geri tout maladi n yo

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

Can you tell mean if this word means the color orange? jònabriko Found it in the book "Haitian Creole in 10 Steps" by Roger Sabain, spelled jònabriko. The closest I could come to understanding it was to spell it jòn abriko, it was translated as amber on the interent. What exactly does it mean?

Yes, it does mean orange.

“jonn” or “jòn” of course translates the color yellow.

“abriko” or “zabriko” is what Haitians call the fruit mamey or the tropical apricot

So jònabriko or jòn zabriko means apricot yellow or as yellow as an apricot.

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

Hello, Mandaly, I hope everything is well. I haven't heard from you for a couple of months. Again, I hope everything is well.

Bonswa zanmi, pa enkyete twòp. Tout bagay anfòm kounye a.

Mèsi anpil

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

Ok, this is an odd question, but you're always so helpful, maybe it'll be fun for you, epi w te ede'm anpil le mwen t'ap aprann kreyol. I made a bet with a Haitian friend of mine that he doesn't know how to spell every single word in Creole. After looking through my Creole dictionary, I realized this may be a bad bet on my part! I know Creole is very easy and logical to spell, but are there any exceptions? Can you suggest a few Haitian Creole words which either break the rules (are there any?) or are particularly difficult? Mesi davans! Si mwen genyen, m pral remesye w, men nou pap parye pou kob. N'ap parye pou yon rum sour!

If your friend knows his Creole world you might never get a taste of that rum.

But you can still win the bet.

Words people can misspell easily are

Beny (bath)

Benywa or beywa (washtub)

Words with “ro” which should be “wo” as in “ayewopò” intead of “ayeropò”

Words that begins with “h”:

Hountò (angel)

Hinghang (dissension)

Hèn (hatred)

Also very easy to misspell is “wa”, most people spell it “rwa” but it should be “wa”

To throw your friend off a little, don’t just say “wa”, ask him to spell “wa Nebidkadneza” so that he focuses on the second word :)

Bòn chans .

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

Hello! Thank you for the wonderful information about Haitian Creole!! I am from Brazil and I'm learning this beautiful language. I was reading something this morning and saw a verb tense that I couldn't associate with any other, it's: T APRAL. How am I to understand it? Eg.: "... pwojè sa a T APRAL kraze ... " (This is a portion of the text I read this morning.)

T’apral – te pral (was going to)

Mwen t’apral vizite li lopital la men yo te genten egzeyate l.

I was going to visit her at the hospital but she was already discharged

Pwojè sa a t’apral pwodui anpil travay nan kominote a

This project was going to produce a lot of jobs in the community

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

Saying "goume" when 2 people are kissing? I believe it's something inappropriate?

Well "goumen" means "to fight". and kissing looks nothing like goumen.

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

I know “kouman ou rele” and “ki jan ou rele” but I’m really bad at remembering names (m toujou bliye yo), so how can I say “remind me what your name is?”

You can say:

Raple m non ou.

M pa sonje non w. Raple mwen kouman ou rele tanpri.

Fè m sonje kouman w rele.

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

Ki jan ou di "moun sòt" an Angle? Mwen wè li anpil nan liv Pwovèb la. Komàn li se diferan de "moun fou" oubyen "mechan"?

moun sòt may mean naïve people, foolish or mindless people

moun fou means crazy or insane individual

moun mechan means wicked, malicious, evil people

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

Ki jan ou di "moun sòt" an Angle? Mwen wè li anpil nan liv Pwovèb la. Komàn li se diferan de "moun fou" oubyen "mechan"?

moun sòt may mean naïve people, foolish or mindless people

moun fou means crazy or insane individual

moun mechan means wicked, malicious, evil people

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

Hola Mandaly....ede m souplè...ki sa sa vle di"mwen ta souhaite ke jou sa a kap vini yan ta.Mesi anpil

“Mwen ta souhaite ke jou sa a k’ap vini an ta ….”

“I wish that this day would be ….”

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

What does "koman sa ye la" mean? The translation does not make sense in my head.

Kòman sa ye la? – What’s the situation? How are things?

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

Alright I have a lot of questions for you to answer so please bear with me. 1) I'm going to Haiti very soon, and I am bringing fabric in order to get some pants made. As far as going to a tailor (taye?), what words should I know applying to clothes (width for example).

Tailor – tayè

Width – lajè

Length - longè

2) What does danre, ra mean?

danre – vegetables, produce

ra – close to, close to the edge of

3) How do you say "Are you sure"?

“Eske ou sèten?”

4) I tried using the word pyeje around my parents and they aren't familiar with it. What other words can be used?

mete pyèj, tann pyèj

5) When you're buying things in Haiti, in what currency is the price usually

labeled?Dola or goud?

Goud, or dola Ayisyen (Haitian dollar)

6) Konspirasyon?

Or konbinazon,konplo?

plot, conspiration

7) Janbe?

To cross, to move across, to cut across

8) How do you say weird, strange, and awkward?

dwòl

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

Like I’ve said before, isn’t it a waste of time to learn Creole to communicate with Haitians when you can learn French and be equipped to communicate with Haitians and peoples from hundreds of countries.

Though you make a lot of sense, in 2010 the youth group leader from a church planned a visit to Haiti. They downloaded a lot of materials in French and translated a lot of the sentences to be used in conversation for games especially (like soccer, basketball, jumping ropes, etc..) – and had a hard time getting understood – they had to use a Haitian Creole interpretor and could not use any of the French materials they brought with them. Isnt it better to communicate with the people in a language they understand so that the people are comfortable communicating with you too?

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

I'm working my way through Marc Prou's book, SpokenHaitian Creole for Intermediate Learners. Will you please explain this dialog to me? A young boy: Sispann fè politik non, baton n'ap chèche. Alò, ou gen kote wi pou ou ta pran baton, gade gwosè w. A girl: Mezanmi oh! Ala yon ti moun frekan! M ta ka manman ou, epi w'ap gade gwosè m. The young boy: m pa di ou pa ta ka gran sè m, men afè manman an bliye sa. Thank you, Mandaly.

“A young boy: Sispann fè politik non, baton n'ap chèche. Alò, ou gen kote wi pou ou ta pran baton, gade gwosè w. “

Pulling the sentence apart:

Sispann fè politik non... – stop the bureaucracy won’t you

Baton n’ap chèche... [baton nou ap chache (when not contracted)] – the club you looking for (lit.) – You looking for a beating (thrashing)

Alò, ou gen kote wi pou ou ta pran baton... – thus, you have place, yes/indeed, to sustain a beating (this sentence implies that the person is on the heavy side and can sustain a beating because he/she'll can absorb a blow on the fat on their body rather than on their bony part. It can be a sexual suggestion too … if people are referring to how curvy one is)

Gade gwosè w ... – look how curvy/fat you are

Putting the sentence back together:

Sispann fè politik non, baton n'ap chèche. Alò, ou gen kote wi pou ou ta pran baton, gade gwosè w. Stop being political wont you? You must be looking for a beating. Indeed you do have room to sustain a couple of blows. Look how plump you are.

A girl: Mezanmi oh! Ala yon ti moun frekan! M ta ka manman ou, epi w'ap gade

gwosè m.

pulling te sentence apart:

Mezanmi oh! – Oh my God! or Oh man! or Geez! Or Wow! Or Oh my!

Ala yon timoun frekan! – ala (how!) frekan (insolent) – What what a rude child!

M ta ka manman ou – I could be your mother

epi w'ap gade gwosè* m. – and you’re looking at how plump I am.

*gwosè means size

Putting the sentence back together:

Mezanmi oh! Ala yon ti moun frekan! M ta ka manman ou, epi w'ap gade

gwosè m. – Oh my! What an impertinent child! I could be your mother and you’re looking at my curves.

The young boy: m pa di ou pa ta ka gran sè m, men afè manman an bliye sa.

pulling te sentence apart:

M pa di ou pa ta ka gran sè m – I don’t say you couldn’t be my big sister.

Gran sè – older sister

Gran sè m – my older sister

Men afè manman an - but that business of mother

bliye sa –forget about it.

Putting the sentences back together:

M pa di ou pa ta ka gran sè m, men afè manman an bliye sa. – I don’t deny that you could be my big sister, but you could not pass for my mother, forget about that!

..........

“A young oy: Sispann fè politik non, baton n'ap chèche. Alò, ou gen kote wi pou ou ta pran baton, gade gwosè w. Stop being political wont you? You must be looking for a beating. Indeed you do have room to sustain a couple of blows. Look how plump you are.

Girl: Mezanmi oh! Ala yon ti moun frekan! M ta ka manman ou, epi w'ap gade

gwosè m. – Oh my! What an impertinent child! I could be your mother and you’re looking at m curves.

A young boy: M pa di ou pa ta ka gran sè m, men afè manman an bliye sa. – I don’t deny that you could be my big sister, but you could not pass for my mother, forget about that!”

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