Is there a proverb about the importance of a command hierachy? thanks.

Try this H. Creole proverb: Si tout moun sou cheval, kimoun ki va fèmen baryè.

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

What does "konn sa'm kite" mean?

Based solely on the information you gave me, it means "to know what I leave" or "to know what I left"

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

Mandaly I'm confused about a conversation my friend and I had in Haiti about the words sal and salison.after she explained it to me i'm still confused. my question is, if it's sal then it's dirty but if its salison it can get dirty, but it’s not dirty? If I say my shoes are salison, will they ever get dirty at some point?

All shoes get dirty.  Don't they? :)
The word is "salisan".  "Salisan" means that it easily picks up dirt, or easily gets soiled
Stuff such as white carpet are "salisan", if you have busy kids or toddlers the carpet will be ruined before you have time to enjoy it.
Light-colored suede shoes, for example, are "salisan", you wear them just once and they already have scuff marks and mud stains on them.
Jeans, for example, are not "salisan". You could wear a pair of jeans for years and never wash it and  no one will notice.
Ou konprann?

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

How do you say the expression "For Sure", Ex: “I will see you for sure!”, “It'll rain for sure!”, “I will pass the test for sure”, etc....... or, “I am sure what I am saying”. Mesi anpil

For sure – definitivman, asireman, pou sèten, tout bon, or san dout?

Do you know that for sure? – Eske ou sèten sou sa?

Yes, for sure. – Wi, tout bon; Wi, asireman.

That’s for sure! – Tout bon!, Men wi,; Se sèten!, or San dout!

I will see you for sure – M va wè w definitivman.

It’ll rain for sure –Li pral fè lapli pou tout bon.

I will pass the test for sure. – M’ap pase egzamen an definitivman.

Are you sure what you said is true?. – Eske ou sèten sa’w te di a se laverite?

I’m not so sure about that. – Mwen pa fin sèten sou sa.

I am sure of what I m saying – Mwen sèten sa m di a.

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

Does ‘li pa tande li pa wè’ (or yo pa tande yo pa wè) have another meaning (other than the obvious)? Can you use it in a sentence please. Thanks Mandy.

It means to be blind to everything else, to have just one  specific goal in mind, to want nothing but one thing

Egzanp:

Depi misye rankontre fanm nan, m pa konn sa’k pran’l, li pa tande l pa wè se marye l vle marye. - Since he met that woman, I don’t know what came over him, he wants nothing but to marry her.

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

Have you heard this before, map fow kite denye mess. Someone said it angrily and pointing the finger at my face

O O! what did you do? If I were you I wouldn’t eat anything that person offers me :)  He/she’s going to teach a lesson (or something like that)

 

“M’ap fè w kite dènye mès”?

 

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

If someone says for example "map sotew tankou yon anpoul" what would he/she mean by that? Is this statement a mean or just playful statement? #JustALittleCuriousLol

It actually can be both, threatening or playful depending on context.
I'm afraid to ask what the context was :)

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

I've had some Haitian friends ask me "Kouman blan fè fè fè?" It took a while to figure out, but after they explained it to me I'm still a little confused. Do you really need the first "fè" in there for "do"?

 You may use up to two “fè” in that sentence; the third one will indeed make it confusing.

 

Kouman w fè l?

How do you do it?

 

Kouman ou fè fè l?

How did you succeed in doing it?

 

Do you think they were trying to say something other than what I have above?

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

Tèt Chaje! (E anpil anpil lòt ekspresyon)

Not every Haitian Creole expression in this audio post can be translated word for word.

Download link:
http://limanecasimi.audioacrobat.com/download/2b1b5975-db17-152c-90ea-e1b2c93ced65.mp3

Click to listen to audio: http://www.audioacrobat.com/play/WYLsvX1S

Sa se istwa Toto ak Janèt.
This is the story of Toto and Janet.

Toto ak Janèt se te misye ak madanm.
Toto and Janet were husband and wife.

De mesyedam sa yo se te pwason kraze nan bouyon.  Yo te damou nèt.
These two people were like two peas in a pod.  They were totally in love.

Men sa’k vin pase. Toto te konn travay vennkat sou vennkat. Li pa janm gen tan.  Li pa janm la.  Janèt menm te bouke rete pou kont li nan kay la.  Chak jou se te konsa. Donk, ou konnen, Lè chat pa la rat pran kay.
Here's what happened.  Toto used to work around the clock.  He never had time.  He was never there.  Janet, herself, was tired of staying home alone in the house.  Everyday it was like that.  So, you know, when the cat's away the mice come to play.

Wi machè! Misye te vin sispèk madanm ni ka ap ba li zoklo.  Janèt toujou demanti mari l. Konsa yon jou Toto ba l yon kou sipriz.  Li rantre lakay sanzatann.
Yes! He suspected that his wife may have been cheating on him.  Janet always denied it.  So one day Toto surprised her.  He came home unexpectedly.

Lè Toto rantre nan kay la, sa l wè l pa ka pale.  L’al pantan sou yon move sipriz. Yon lòt nèg….
When Toto got into the house, he was speechless.  He came upon a bad surprise.  Another man...

Sa w tande a, de je kontre manti kaba.  Tout kaka chat deyò.  Toto pran chenn.  Li fin deraye. Li rale yon kouto.
Just like you heard, Janet was cornered.  All secret was out.  Toto got really mad.  He lost it completely.  He pulled out a knife.

Lòt nèg la wè kouto a. Tout jwèt se jwèt, kòchèt pa ladan l. Li ranmase rad li, o o! toutouni an,  li di “pye sa m te manje m pa’t ba w!”. Li chape poul li.
The other man saw the knife, it was not a game anymore.  He picked up his clothes, all naked, he asked his feet to take him as far away as possible.  He split.

Toto menase Janèt ak kouto a. Janèt menm ranmase tout zafè li.  Li kite kay la ak kanè bank mari li blanch.  Li kite misye sou po bouda l.
Toto threatened Janet with the knife.  Janet picked up her belongings and emptied out the house and her husband's bank account.  She left him penniless.

Tèt chaje! Toto pèdi ni sak ni krab. Li pèdi lanmou. Li pèdi madanm. Li pèdi  lajan li. Li pèdi diyite l. Ou konn tande yo di gason pa kriye. Ah! tande ak wè se de, misye te kriye kon yon ti bebe.
It's a dilemma indeed!  Toto lost everything.  He lost his love.  He lost his wife.  He lost his money.  He lost his dignity.  You hear they say that men don't cry.  Well, seeing is believing, he cried like baby.

Depi lè sa a Toto pran lavi a ak degou.  Li te toujou kenbe espwa ke yon jou Janèt va tounen vin jwenn ni.
Since then Toto had a distaste for life.  He always held hope that one day Janet will come back to him.

Men se pa sa ki te fèt. Janèt pa’t ka viv ak sa l te fè a.  Dezespwa anpare l.  L’al lage tèt li devan yon tap-tap.
But that's not what happened.  Janet couldn't live with what she did.  She was overcome with despair.  She went and threw herself in front of a tap-tap.

Anbilans te vini, men pa’t gen anyen yo te ka fè pou sove l.
The ambulance came, but there was nothing they could do to save her

Janèt al bwachat.  Toto pran nouvèl la.  Se te abse mete sou klou.  Toto pran kabann, li pa janm leve.  Chagren touye l.
Janet died.  Toto heard about it.  It was a bad situation that became worse.  He became ill in bed, and never recovered.  He died of a broken heart.

Mezanmi o! Ala de tèt chaje.
Man! What a dilemma!

Enhen! Pawòl nan bon ti manmit nou ba w la.
Uh huh! We told you the story accurately.

Track: Jou Ouvè by Malavoi

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

How is the letter r pronounced? I was told it was silent? Example how do you say the name Robertson? Like in English or is r silent making it Obertson? Is it silent at beginning or word and not when in middle? Thank you.

No it’s not silent – if you see an “r” you should definitely say it.  What would become of the words rara, merite, libreri, and all the others if the “r” were silent?

But the letter “r” is usually pronounced like a “w” when placed in front of the letter “o” in H.  Creole.

That’s why you’ll see that some Haitians write “ròch” and others write “wòch”.

This makes both spellings:
Rouj and wouj (red)
Ront and wont (shame)
Arondi and awondi (to make round)
Roroli and wowoli (sesame seed)
Ronronnen and wonwonnen (to purr)
And other words like them acceptable in Haitian Creole

When it comes to names in Haitian Creole, Haitians would drop the “r” if it’s not  in front of a vowel, and turn “RO” to “WO”

Example:

Sara will be Sara
Rachel will be Rachèl
But
Berton will become Bètonn
Darline will become Dalin

 Some Haitians do have a Creole version of their name like Jean-Robert will become Jan-Wobè; Rony will become Wony; Robertson will become Wobèsonn;

Many Haitian authors do that too (Having their name written in Creole).  They also publish their work under their Creole names.
Jean-Marie Mapou writes his name as Jan-Mari Mapou,
Roger Savain has published work under Woje Saven
Yves Dejean has used Iv Dejan
Jacques Roumain's name is written as Jak Woumen in some of his novels
Frank Etienne also writes his name as Frank Etyèn

But, to me, unless the name is on your driver’s license and official documents such as a birth certificate, a Creole name is just a pronunciation of your name in Creole.

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

What is koukout an creol please?

koukout - sweetie, darling
ti cheri koukout - sweetie, darling
cheri koukout - honey

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

Have you ever felt extremely isolated when initially arriving in the US from Haiti? When I first returned to my US (single occupant) dorm room, after becoming accustomed to sleeping in a Haitian household, I was shocked at how quiet my room was and how alone I felt.

Yes, you’ll be thinking of Haiti and the ones you left behind for some time before life slowly gets back to normal. 

In Haiti, in the morning, you are awaken with so many sounds – people walking the streets, animal noises, people’s voices preparing for the day ahead whether you’re in the capital or lakanpay.  During the day you are surrounded by people.  Neighbors are practically living in your living room.  Most friendly visits are unannounced.  People just drop by.  If you’re a loner, you may be sure someone is watching, studying you, and probably trying to find the best angle to approach you.  The markets, se moun sou moun; the streets too… always busy with pedestrians.  At nighttime, in some parts of the country , lack of air condition and sometimes lack of entertainment produced by electricity forces everyone out on their galeri and patios in spite of the smoke from people burning their trash, but the smoke keep mosquitoes away.  You can tell tales to keep the kids busy, hang with friends and families, gaze at the stars if it’s a clear night (but isn’t it always?), or just enjoy the same sounds that had awaken earlier that morning. That’s what I miss most about Haiti.

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

In Pignon there are many cactus plants and hedge bushes. What is the creole word for cactus?

Cactus – rakèt

The ones that look like chandeliers, we call kandelab. Some people say kandelam.

In my childhood home in Arcahaie, Haiti our house was fenced with “kandelab” trees, I would say, about 4 to 5 inches tall.  My aunt would periodically trim them.  When the branches are cut, a white sticky and milky liquid pours out.  We used that liquid at times as paper glue J

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

Can you explain ‘pran yon kal nan soley’

Pran yon kal – take a beating

Bay yon kal – to give a beating

Kal, from “kale” – to beat , to whip

 Pran yon kal nan solèy – to take a beating from the sun (it’s figurative)

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

This is not a question, put here is a nice lecture given in slow Haitian Creole for beginners to listen to for listening comprehension.

This is not a question, put here is a nice lecture given in slow
Haitian Creole for beginners to listen to for listening comprehension.
The Creole starts at around 6 minutes:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpXc7ylYwYk

-TiWil


 Yves Dejean's (Or Iv Dejan's) FIU lecture in writing for those that need it.
Thanks TiWil.
-Mandaly

********************************

Lecture starts at 6:18


Mwen sipoze tout moun ki la yo konprann Kreyòl.
M’ap eseye pale dousman, mwen p’ap pale vit.
Si nou pa konprann, m ta kontan nou leve men nou,
nou di m nou pa konprann pou m ka repete pawòl la,
Oubyen pou m di de twa mo Angle

 Men nou mande m fè koze a an Kreyòl
Se pou sa m’ap fè l an Kreyòl
Si yo te mande m fè l an Angle m t’ap fè l an angle.

Men, ann komanse:
Mwen vle pale nou de yon problèm ki enpòtan anpil pou Ayiti
Se enpòtans lang kreyòl pèp Ayisyen an pou edikasyon lekòl Annayiti.

Nou kab konnen, kòm mwen wè nou se moun  ki enterese nan pwoblèm Ayiti, 
nou kab konnen jiskounye a lang lekòl Annayiti se Franse.

Lontan menm menm menm, yo te pini timoun ki pale Kreyòl lekòl.
Kounye a yo preske pa fè sa, men yo fè l toujou wi sèten kote.
Men tanzantan gen pwofesè ki bay ti esplikasyon an kreyòl
M’ap kòmanse avèk pwoblèm enpòtans lang kreyòl la
Si mwen pa pale ase klè, fè’m yon siy
Nou pa bezwen pè, entewonp mwen si pawòl mwen pa klè
E si nou pa fin konprann jan m pale a.
M’eseye pale dousman.

Continue reading at this link: The Politics of Language: Haitian Creole and the Educational System in Haiti

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

what does the kreyol expression "fanm se yon grenn banann" vle di? Also what does "fanm se yon boutik ki ranpli ak yon boutey vid" mean? the second expression is a french quote translated into kreyol btw. Mesi anpil Mandaly!

"Fanm se yon grenn bannann”
(I have to laugh at that one :)
Women are diverse.   They are all kinds and shapes … and fulfilling in different ways

I haven’t heard the second one (about boutèy) … not in French. In Haitian Creole tales, it would have meant beauty in diversity, but I’m not sure it’s the same with the French expression.

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

When "bèl" is used to describe a film, does it mean "good" or does it have a more literal meaning of "aesthetically pleasing"?

Generally, yon bèl fim is a film with all the elements…. having a good script, being enjoyable to watch, ….a good product.

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

I am having a tattoo done. Would “Live : Laugh : Love” be...”ap viv (or just viv): ri: renmen”Thanks!

Just “viv” is ok.

"Viv – Ri – Renmen" is just perfect.

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

Nouvel nan bon ti manmit

Nan bon ti mamit
Accurate, concrete

We say mamit or manmit

Nouvel nan bon ti manmit
Accurate or trusted news

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

Abse mete sou klou

abse mete sou klou (sometimes we say apse instead of abse; and sometimes we say met instead of mete) - to add insult to injury; a bad situation has become worse.

We say:
Se apse met sou klou (literally an abscess on top of a  blister)
Se abse mete sou klou (literally an abscess on top of a  blister)
Se klou sou maklouklou (literally a blister on top of a hydrocele)

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

What is pase nan je zegwi and also what’s bakoulou?

"Pase nan je zegwi" (lit. to go through the eye of a needle) – to go/jump through hoops,  to go through a difficult situation
egzanp:

Bòs mwen ap fè m pase nan je zegwi.

Se nan je zegwi m’ap pase nan travay la.

Bakoulou is a charlatan, a con artist who does not do well with the ladies.

  

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

Madanm. I keep hearing "fi a" ak "fi an" in conversations. Which form of this is more prevalent?

Bonswa Mesye Rachal,

Yes you are right.  “fi a” is more prevalent. Some people from certain regions tend use nasal vowels especially with words ending in “i” ….zanmi, fanmi, mi, fi, etc …..

And one of the reasons for this is they’ll do that if the preceding syllable has a nasal  sound like fanmi, zanmi, kanni, ranni, etc…..

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

what is pe kou?

I'm not sure. It's very hard to figure it out when taken out of its context.  Maybe you can send the sentence it was used in. thanks.
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

What is fanm masay? Is their work voodoo related?

Sounds like a masseuse.
A fanm masay may perform some sort of ceremony before she massages you (anvan li rale w).  Usually they work on things like sprained ankle, displaced joints, back alignments, etc....
I had once sprained my ankle, and my dad took me to a 'fanm masay'.  First of all he was a man.  So maybe we should say 'gason masay'.  The man did do a few things before he started working on my foot.  He burned three pebbles in some ashes along with a sour orange.  He took the first pebble and drew a cross on my foot and threw that first pebble over his left shoulder, he did the same thing with the second pebble and threw that over his right shoulder. The third pebble, he threw over his head after he drew the third cross on my foot.  At the time I was thinking "Whoa! did my dad see that!?"  My dad was a pastor and preached against vodou all the time.  But he was right there watching and said nothing.  So I guessed it is just something they do. At last the man cut the hot baked orange in half, poured some oil on my foot and started pulling on my foot.  The orange was very hot and my foot hurt really bad, I was screaming.  I must have fainted 'cause I sincerely don't remember what happened after that.  I don't remember having the pain after that either.

These people don't go to massage school but the good ones are said to have that unusual gift of knowing how to fix you 'straight' again.  I do believe that they learn what they do from a 'master masseuse' or something :) There aren't too many of them.

My haitian girlfriend misreads the things that I say a lot. Quite often it may be a simple gesture or a sentence that gets reworded into the opposite of what it is. Does that have to do with haitan culture?

You think it's possible that a specific group of people or culture tend to misinterpret spoken words and SIMPLE gestures? That's unlikely.  It's true that some cultures understand some gestures differently, but it sounds like you and your girl  may be "out of sync" ...I may be wrong about this :-\

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

Mwen ap mande kesyon mwen nan Creole. koubyen tan mwen pral fe pou aprann lang Haitien Creole an?

Dapre sa m remake, chak moun ki ap aprann lang lan gen pwòp rezon pa yo.  Genyen se misyonè yo ye, genyen se nan zafè lasante y’ap travay, gen moun se kontra travay yo pral ranpli Ayiti, e genyen tou se zafè menaj yo y’ap regle. Donk m panse rezon ki fè ou aprann lang lan se li menm ki va detèminen  valè tan w’ap envesti pou metrize lang lan tou.  Resous ou genyen a dispozisyon ou kapab deside valè tan li va pran pou w soti depi “A” rive jiska “Z”.

Pafwa, yon moun poze kalite kesyon sa a (yo bezwen konnen konbyen tan l’ap pran yo pou pale Kreyòl), paske yo petèt te panse li t’ap pran yo mwens tan, ou byen yo gen dwa koumanse dekouraje paske yo pase anpil tan ap aprann, enpi lang yo lou toujou.  Si se sitiyasyon w sa, li ka byen bon pou chanje metòd w’ap aprann nan.  Chache mete tèt ou nan anviwònman ki ap pi enteresan pou ou – Antoure tèt ou nèt ak lang Kreyòl la.  Keseswa se jounal, televizyon, radyo, zanmi, legliz, kondisip travay, liv, etc….  Kwè m si w vle, anvan w bat je w, n’ap batize w AYISYEN :)

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

Is there another name for fried plantains other than banan frit?

fried plantains - bannann fri oubyen bannann peze

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

Science fiction lovers

If you love science fiction, do take the time to visit Escape Pod - The story featured this week, Into the Breach, is written by the author Malon Edwards and narrated by yours truly.  The story's got everything, action, drama, ....and a 'little bit' of H. Creole.
Here's a link: Into The Breach

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

pye sa m te manje m pa’t ba w

"pye sa m te manje m pa’t ba w" is an expression that's Haitians use to say that they were running for their lives. I guess it means something like feet don't fail me now.

When we use this expression, we say:
Lè mwen wè koulèv la, mwen di, "pye sa m te manje m pa't ba w!".  Mwen kouri ale. - When I saw the snake I said, "Feet don't fail me now!".  I ran.
But if you wanted to break this down, you'll have:
Pye, sa mwen te manje mwen pa te ba ou. (not in a contracted form)
Pye, sa'm te manje m pa't ba'w. (the expression)
Feet, what did I eat and I didn't share with you.
Basically, asking your feet not to fail you.  You've taken good care of your feet, feeding it well.  Now you need to run for your life.

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

I have a few questions from church yesterday. What is otonde lamizik? Maybe something like syncopate? Does griyen dan mean to laugh? Does it mean anything else? What is dyak, or maybe it's djak? The woman used it in referring to receiving prayer for healing. Thanks!

“otonde lamizik” (or “au ton de la musique” in French) – to the pitch/tune of the music

Dyak – deacon

Yes, “griyen dan” means to laugh, to laugh satirically, to joke or clown around

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

can you explain the meaning behind fet an kwaf?

Kwaf – caul

Fèt ak kwaf – to be born with a caul over one’s head and face

Such a person is considered to be lucky in life. They are very intuitive.  In the region I’m from, they say these people can see ghosts or sense things that others can’t

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

"tout jwet se jwet kochet pa ladan’l" when can you use this?

Tout jwèt se jwèt kòchèt pa ladan’l – Everything is funny (or everything is a game) until someone starts breaking the law.  Or No dirty trick.  Or Roguishness is not part of the game.

You can use it to say that things have gone too far, that things are turning ugly.

 

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

please what does Sa m we pa ka pale mean?I see this a lot. thanks

Sa’m wè m pa ka pale (I'm not sure if translating this literally will make any sense…) - I was shocked (rendered speechless) by what I saw. (either because  of shock, astonishment, or sheer terror and awe)

Haitians may recount a story and they’ll say: Mezanmi! Sa m wè m pa ka pale! (Man! I can’t express through words what I saw)

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

Hi can you provide some examples on how to use the word ‘blanch’ when it means empty? Thanks for all you do.

The Haitian Creole word blanch translates white (female).  It's not used for all feminine words, just a few.  You can always say BLAN instead of BLANCH:
cheve blan or cheve blanch
yon fanm blanch
dan blan or dan blanch


Blanch –lacking, barren, vacant, devoid of ….

1. Nou manje diri a blanch – We ate the rice plain. (the rice lacks rich meat sauces, legumes, bean sauces, etc….)

      Now if we do say diri blan it means white rice.

2. Lari a blanch, pa gen okenn moun deyò a. – The streets are vacant, there’s no one outside.

3. M pase yon nuit blanch yèswa. - I had a sleepless night last night.

4. Ban m kay la blanch tanpri. - Vacate the house please.

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

how do you say:Jesus died on the cross to forgive us for our sins. this is a gift,totally free.

Jezi te mouri sou lakwa pou l te padone nou pou peche nou yo.  Sa se yon kado, konplètman gratis.

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

I am trying earnestly to learn Haitian Creole as the people of Haiti have stolen my very heart and soul. I go on mission trips 6 times a year and am finding it very hard to understand and learn the language. Where do you suggest starting?

Awesome :)  Haiti does grow on you, doesn’t it? I’m glad you’ve found love and attachment there.

An introductory Haitian Creole language class is highly recommended. It’s a great environment for you to practice listening and speaking. Many people try to learn H. Creole on their own because Haitian Creole language classes are not as available as ESOL, Spanish, French, Italian, etc…. And some people are successful at learning independently using all the resources they can.  Learning on your own has one down side though, you don’t get to practice the speaking part as much as you’d like to.  You understand every written and spoken word but speaking the language is a big challenge.

Isn’t it just discouraging when you think, Ok I’m ready.  I can handle a basic conversation In Haitian Creole.  I KNOW I CAN!  I have done it in my head many many times.  And then you approach this native guy and say one sentence, like Bonjou, kijan ou ye?  hoping that he notices your obvious accent and would reply with a slow paced response just like the conversations that you’ve practiced on the audio tapes and CDs, but no!  The native throws at you one long sentence spoken at a million miles per second, all the words bunched up together, and you’re very sure that he must have spoken a full paragraph. You smile and shake your head pretending to agree with whatever he’s saying, but really you are scanning the string of words coming out of his mouth looking for a familiar sound, but NOTHING!   At last you are grateful that you had learned this sentence (just in case):  Speak more slowly please! (I used that a lot when I was learning English); ¡Hable más lento, por favor! (I’ve actually had to pull that out of my Spanish language repertoire once in a while) and Pale pi dousman tanpri! (you’ll say to the natifnatal guy) and he might take time to enunciate and you’ll learn that all he replied was Bonjou, mwen byen e ou menm?   

If you cannot physically get to a class, try online group classes (Haitihub.com is a good place to start.  Their online program might be for you). If that’s not an option try books for beginners WITH audio.  If you do try books with audio, you’ll additionally need to practice with someone who speaks the language.  Listening to spoken Creole is as important as speaking it.  Listen to Haitian Creole radio programs, broadcast news, Youtube videos, songs, etc…  At first you might not hear anything that you understand, but little by little you’ll pick up words, then sentences, then expressions, and etc… Reading Haitian Creole is helpful too.  Begin with books of Haitian Creole tales or stories for kids, most likely written with elementary grammar. Some people find the audio part of this blog very helpful as they get to listen to H. Creole dialogues while you read them – and you can download and listen to them as many times as you need so you’ll actually hear some of those dialogues in conversations when you’re around  H. Creole speaking people.

If anyone has anything to add, any foreigner who’s been there,  who has either started with classes or on their own – please feel free to comment – you might be able to help our friend start on the right foot.  Mèsi anpil anpil.

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

Hello Can you get the lyrics for Emeline Michel Flanm or rodrigue Milien confessions? Either one would be great. Thank you

Pèsonn pa vle kwè se vre
Fwa sa m damou tou bon vre
Mwen t’ap jwe lago kache
Kache pa vle di kase
Pèsonn pa kwè, men se vre
Kounye a m damou tout bon vre
Nou tou pre, je nan je, kè m kase
Tout moun di sa k pral pase (M tou konn sa k pral pase)
Mwen jwenn yon zanmi
Dous tankou yon mango mi
Lannuit nou  pou n jemi
M pa sa dòmi
Nou met joure, n met kraze, n met brize
Lè kòk ap chante, n’a fèk kare ap danse
 
Lanmou se flanm ki klere devan m
Lanmou se kan’m, se sa m vle defann
Lanmou se zam  ki fè m santi m fanm
Lanmou se san m
 
Chak fwa tankou premye fwa
Chak fwa tankou denyè fwa
Lanmou nou se tout pou tout
Nou pa ka mize nan wout
Kò nou mare, swè koule, n depale
Kòk ap chante nou fèk kare ap danse
 
Wi lanmou se flanm ki klere devan m
Wi lanmou se zam ki fè m santi’m fanm

Wi lanmou se pa’m, wi lanmou se san m

Wi mwen jwenn yon nonm, nou vle ret ansanm

Wi lanmou, wi lanmou

 

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

M pa konn si w tande chante a ayisyen rele "Istwa Asefi" men m pa ka komprann kisa non sa siyifye. Eske w ka ede m?

Men wi m kapab ede w ti cheri a :)

The meaning of her name “Asefi” may have nothing to do with the song.  But it’s a somewhat common name in the countryside of Haiti meaning “no more girls”.  A parent may give a girl child that name when they intend to have no more girls (I don’t know how it’s possible :)

For boys the name might be “Aselom” (That’s it, no more boys!)

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

In your recent audio post you translated lefini as ‘afterwards’. Shouldn’t it be translated as ‘at the end’ instead?

“Lèfini” (sometimes you may see it as “lòfini”, it may also be written as two words “lè fini”) basically translates afterwards, after that, and then, then

1.

I am going to rest first and then I’ll take my shower. - M pral repoze anvan lèfini m’a pran beny mwen.

2.

Do your homework first, and then you can play. - Fè devwa w anvan, lèfini ou ka jwe.

3.

What you’re doing isn’t right. You spent all your paycheck in one day and then you want me to share my earnings with you. - Sa w fè a pa bon. Ou depanse tout chèk ou nan yon sèl jounen an lèfini ou vle pou m separe salè mwen avèk ou.

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

Making 'Haitian' Egg Sandwich (Audio)

Download this audio at this link:
http://limanecasimi.audioacrobat.com/download/fb8585bd-fc8e-ed18-22d8-d7c60474131a.mp3

Click on this link to listen.  Thanks

http://www.audioacrobat.com/play/WFZ8S4pS

Bòs Litreille, sa w’ap fè la a?

Bòs Litreille what are you doing?

 

M’ap chache zouti pou’m ka fè manje

I’m looking for tools so I can cook.

 

Ki kalite manje ou pral kuit ak zouti sa yo?

What kind of food will you cook with these tools?

 

 M ta renmen fè yon sandwich ze.

 I’d like to make an egg sandwich.

 

E sa pou fè mato sa a?

And what is this hammer for?

 

 Mato a se pou m ka kase ze a.

 The hammer is so that I can break the egg.

 

 O non bòs Litreille se pa konsa ou fè manje. Rale pwelon w, te’m montre w kijan ou fè sandwich ze.

 Oh no bòs Litreille that’s not how you cook.  Pull out you frying pan, let me show you how to make egg sandwich.

 

Dakò

Ok

 

 Premyèman ou chofe pwelon an, enpi lage yon ti bè ladan l.

 First you heat up the pan, then you add (drop) a little butter in it.

 

Dakò

Ok

 

 Dezyèmman, pran yon bòl.  Kase ze a sou arebò bòl la. Bat ze a  byen bat.

 Secondly take a bowl.  Break the egg over the rim of the bowl. Beat the egg really well.

 

 Ak kisa pou m bat ze a menm?

 With what should I break the egg exactly?

 

 Ou gen dwa itilize yon batèz oubyen on fouchèt.

 You may use an egg beater or a fork.

 

 Kisa pou m fè apre sa?

 What should I do after that?

 

Apre sa ou gen dwa sote yon ti zonyon nan bè a, ansanm ak ti moso tomat, ti konkonm, ti piman, aransò…

You may sauté a little onion in the butter, together with little pieces of tomatoes, some cucumbers, some peppers, herring...

 

 Aransò tou?

 Herring also?

 

 Men wi!  Se pa ze Ayisyen w’ap fè?
Of course!  Isn't it Haitian eggs you are making?

 Of course! Aren't you making Haitian eggs? 

 

Lèfini, lage ze a nan pwelon an.  Li pa’p pran w plis ke 3 minit pou'l pare.
Afterwards, drop the eggs into the frying pan.  It will not take more that 3 minutes to be ready.

Pandanstan sa a m’ap chofe pen m.
In the mean time I’ll heat up my bread.

Se sa.  E men ni!  Sandwich ou pare.
That's right,  And there it is!  Your sandwich is ready.

 Hmmmm Ala bon!
 Hmmmm How good!

 Bòs Litreille, ban m fè yon ti goute non!
 Bòs Litreille, let me have a taste, wont you?!

Dakò. M’ap pran mwatye, m’ap ba w mwatye
Sure. I’ll take half, I ‘ll give you half.

 Mèsi . Hmmmm ala sandwich gou!    Ou gen kafe bòs Litreille?
 Thank you.  Hmmm! What tasty sandwich!  Do you have coffee bòs Litreille?

Non m pa genyen men m kapap bouyi enpe.  Kisa m bezwen pou m fè kafe a la? Yon pwelon ak yon chalimo?
No I don’t but I can boil some.  What do I need to make the  coffee?  A frying pan and a blow torch?

O Non, ou pa bezwen tout sa. Ou sèlman bezwen yon kafetyè, enpe dlo, enpe kafe, e petèt yon ti lèt ak  sik.
No you don’t need all that.  You only need a coffee pot, some water, some coffee and maybe some milk and sugar.

Enben vin al fè kafe a.
Well let's go make the coffee.

Track: TANBOU NOU by Zenglen

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

Sa pou w fè m? - Sa pou w fè gode a?

Asking "What do you want of .....",, "What do you want with ..."?

Kisa pou w fè m?
or
Sa pou w fè m?
What do you want of me?
What do you need me for?

A lot of the times when someone calls your name.....
Janjan! (Johnjohn! :)
You answer ...
Plètil! (Yes!)
The person might yell out....
Vin jwenn mwen! (Come to me!)
And you will say...
Sa pou w fè m? (What do you need me for?)
It's a popular way to answer when someone calls on you ....even the Lord :)

Like Moses said unto the Lord :)
Sa pou m fè m Senyè?
What do you want of me Lord?

Your friend asks you for $100.00... you say..
Sa pou w fè lajan an?
What do you need the money for?

Or she asks you to borrow your car... and you say...
Sa pou w fè machin nan?
What do you need the car for?

Or you see your kid carrying a big hammer and heading for your piggy bank.... you say
Sa pou w fè gwo mato sa a?
What you going to do with this big hammer?



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