Haitian Creole: August 2012
Tout sa ki fet, si se pa pou yon byen se pou yon mal.
Yeah... Sounds better :)
It sounds like a MAKE YOU or BREAK YOU kind of thing.
Tout sa ki fèt, si se pa pou yon byen se pou yon mal
Everything that happens, if it's not for the good it's for the bad (LITERALLY)
Whatever happens, if it doesn't make you, it'll break you.
Everything that happens to you will either strengthen you or weaken you
Any other ideas for an English translation?
Posted by Mandaly at 10:16 PM 4 comments:
tout sa ki fet se pa pou yon byen se pou yon mal. How can i said it in english,please?
Did you, perhaps, mean to say this the other way around?
This is what you have here:
Tout sa ki fèt, se pa pou yon byen se pou yon mal.
Everything that happens, it's not for a good it's for a bad (LITERALLY)
This seems to say that:
Things don't happen for a good reason.
But if you're trying to say that we learn better from our misfortunes, then we would probably have to rephrase the Creole sentence.
Posted by Mandaly at 9:34 PM No comments:
Bonjou Mandlay, Map eseye di nan kreyol: "They look the other way and they sweep it under the carpet." Eske gen yon ekspresyon kreyol pou sa: "to sweep under the carpet?"
to sweep it under the carpet (as in trying to hide or ignore something?)→ kase fèy kouvri sa.
Posted by Mandaly at 4:33 PM No comments:
what does tout moun sou do mean
Is it "Tout moun so do'm." or "Tout moun so do."?
Tout moun sou do'm.
Everyone's on my back.
Everyone's gossiping about me.
Tout moun sou do.
Everybody's on their back.
Posted by Mandaly at 4:14 PM No comments:
Let me clarify this with you Mandy, 'koko makak' is not an offensive word?
Yon kokomakak se yon gwo baton (a club, a heavy stick). Lapolis yo, sitou, konn pote baton sa yo.
Does "mache rive" form another noun or expression when used together?
It denotes the action of walking towards a goal.
Mache rive → to arrive on foot, to get to a location by walking, to walk, to walk to arrive
Mwen te mache rive la.
I walked to get there.
Nou pa't gen machin, se poutèt sa nou te oblije mache rive legliz la.
We didn't have a car, that's why we had to walk to get to the church.
M' renmen Kreyol Ayisyen. M’ te fè Kreyol pastan mwen è te sispann tout lòt yo ki mwen te gen. Mèsi pou ap fè blog sa. Se trè avantaje!
Mwen kontan tande sa.
Sa fè'm plezi pou tande Kreyòl la se pastan ou.
M'espere ou anmize ou anpil lè w'ap aprann lang sa.
E m'espere ou va jwenn kèk bon zanmi Ayisyen pou pratike pale tou.
M'ankouraje ou pou kontinye konsa.
Posted by Mandaly at 10:31 AM 23 comments:
When I hurt the ones I love I wish for a shower of grace and forgiveness to wash away the pain making beauty from our brokenness.
Lè mwen ofanse moun ke'm renmen, mwen swete yon beny lagras ak padon ta lave lapenn nan pou ekspoze bote ki fòme nan enpèfeksyon nou.
Lè mwen ofanse moun mwen renmen, mwen swete yon beny favè ak padon ta lave lapenn nan, sa vin pwodui yon bote ki fòme nan enpèfeksyon nou.
Hi there -- Can you tell me what "jiskounye" means, please? Mesi!
Jiskounye, also joukounye a, jiskensi, joukensi → to date, thus far, so far, up until now
Kisa "tilititi' ye? Did I spell it right?
Tulututu se fè nen pwenti, fè granpanpan, fè gwo zouzoun, se pale Franse pou fè moun wè etc... Nan lang Angle a, yo rele sa pomposity, grandiosity
Posted by Mandaly at 7:12 PM No comments:
"Ni rigwaz ni rele ni movesan, sa pa briding gwo bonnanj mwen ki pran lyann al jouke langinen." Zig Lavi,36. Translation thoughts? (particularly "jouke langinen")
rigwaz - whip
movesan (or move san, literally bad blood) → upset, vexation, bitterness
briding → intimidate, flinch
bonnanj → ghost, spirit, soul
lyann → tree vine
pran lyann (literally take a vine), picture a tarzan-like individual taking a swing on a vine
jouke → roost, perch
langinen (also written in Creole as nan Ginen, nan Gine) means in Guinea, Africa. Guinea is believed to be the origin or motherland of all Haitians. Haitians also use the word Ginen to mean beginning, origin, genesis. In the times of slavery, many slaves believed that after their death their soul returned Nan Ginen.
Ni rigwaz ni rele ni movesan
Neither whip, neither cry, neither bad blood (LITERALLY)
sa pa briding gwo bonnanj mwen
that not intimidate big (main) spirit my (LITERALLY)
ki pran lyann al jouke langinen
who take vine to go perch in Guinea (LITERALLY)
Ni rigwaz ni rele, ni movesan, sa pa briding gwo bonnanj mwen ki pran lyann al jouke langinen.
Neither the whip, nor tears, nor bitterness does not move my soul who's ran away to rest in Guinea.
the translation might be slightly different based on the context.
I'm trying to say 'You're not cut out for this'. I have 'Ou pa koupe deyò pou sa'. Does that sound right?
This literal translation that you have will not work for that sentence.
Try instead: Ou pa't fèt pou sa.
Posted by Mandaly at 7:07 AM No comments:
"kote'w ye" and "Kote ou ye?" are the same.
Kote'w ye is a contracted variant of Kote ou ye? which means where are you?
Are there any rules about the use of w in place of ou?
You: "Ou" or "W"
Posted by Mandaly at 4:07 PM No comments:
Jan ou gen bon ke sa a! (kisa fraz sa vle di nan angle? Mwen pa fin konprann "bon ke sa a") Mesi!!
Premyèman, bon kè vle di good hearted, compassionate
Li gen bon kè.
He has good heart (literally)
Dezyèman, Haitian Creole expressions that start with "Jan ..." or "Pou jan ..." indicates the modifiers SO, SO MUCH, FOR SUCH A ...
1. Jan ou gen bon kè sa, poukisa li ta fè'w sa?
The way you have this good heart, why he would fo you that (LITERALLY)
For such a compassionate person like yourself, why would he do that to you?
You are so compassionate, why would he do that to you?
2. Jan' m te anvi wè'w sa enpi ou pa vin vizite'm.
The way I wished to see you, and you not come visit me (LITERALLY)
I wanted to see you so much and you didn't come to visit me.
3. Pou jan'l te bon timoun sa, mwen pa't janm panse li ta fè sa.
For the way he was this good kid, I didn't never think he would do that (LITERALLY)
He was such a good kid, I never thought that he would do this.
3. Jan nou t'ap konte sou prim sa, enpi nou pa't resevwa'l. Sa dekourajan!
The way we counted on this bonus, and we didn't receive it. ....(LITERALLY)
We were counting on that bonus so much, and we didn't receive it. That's discouraging!
4. Jan'w se yon moun ki gen lòd sa, kijan fè ou pa't prevwa sa?
The way you are this person that has order, how happen you didn't foresee this (LITERALLY)
For such a organized person like yourself, how could you have not foreseen this?
Posted by Mandaly at 11:13 AM No comments:
I sin. I repent. I repeat. I'm getting dizzy. (how can I say this in Creole?)
☺life cycle ?
I sin. I repent. I repeat. I'm getting dizzy.
Mwen peche. Mwen repanti. Mwen repete. Sa ban'm tèt vire.
M peche. M repanti. M repete. Sa fè'm toudi.
to get dizzy → gen tèt vire, gen vètij, or toudi.
koman yo rele "savon" yo itilize pou pase rad oubyen lave asyet yo?
Ou vle di pou lave rad? Savon lesiv, savon lave; powder detergent would be savon an poud or fab
For dish soap it's savon vesèl or likid vesèl
Posted by Mandaly at 5:15 AM No comments:
What is "Se pa rans non."? Thanks
Se pa rans non.
Posted by Mandaly at 10:33 PM 2 comments:
Beze ak lanmou pou ou tou
Beze ak lanmou pou ou tou.
Kisses and love to you too.
Posted by Mandaly at 7:39 PM No comments:
what we had has been broken beyond repair. .. or I didn't think what we had could break beyond repair but I see I was wrong (nan kreyol tanpri)
I didn't think what we had could be broken beyond repair, but I see I was wrong.
Mwen pa't panse sa nou te genyen an te kapab kraze nan dènye eta, men mwen wè mwen te tronpe'm.
Our lien/friendship had be broken without hope of reparation.
Lyen nou / zanmitye nou brize san espwa reparasyon.
Posted by Mandaly at 2:45 PM No comments:
kiles mwen dwe di pou di "what I did"...sa m te fe oswa sa m fet. Example: I want to tell you what I did. Mwen vle di w sa m te fe ou sam te fet???
Itilize premye a: Sa'm te fè
kòm, kon, tankou, menm jan → Just as, as, like, since?
To listen to this audio, please click on the play button and follow along :)
Bonjou zanmi mwen yo. Kouman nou ye?
Kòm → like, as (prepositions)
Kòm → as (conjunction)
Kòm si → as if
Kòm comes from the French:
Kòm ( from French comme)
kòm si (from French comme si)
kon (from French comme)
konsa (from French comme ça)
Kòm / antanke → in the role of, as, like
1. Kòm bon zanmi ou, mwen ta konseye’w pou rele’l.
Antanke bon zanmi'w, mwen ta konseye'w pou rele'l.
As your good friend, I would advise you to call her.
2. Kòm yon papa, kijan ou ta regle sa?
Antanke yon papa, kijan ou ta regle sa?
As a father, how would you handle this?
3. Mwen renmen'w kòm zanmi, pa kòm yon menaj.
Mwen renmen'w antanke zanmi, pa kòm yon menaj.
I like you as a friend, not as a boyfriend.
Kòm (kon, kou, tankou, menm jan) → comparison
4. Doulè a te si tèlman sevè, li te kriye kon yon ti bebe.
Doulè a te si tèlman sevè, li te kriye tankou yon ti bebe.
Doulè a te si tèlman sevè, li te kriye menm jan ak yon ti bebe.
The pain was so severe, he cried like a little baby.
5. Se te yon nuit trè klè. Lalin nan te klere kon solèy midi.
Se te yon nuit trè klè. Lalin nan te klere kou solèy midi.
Se te yon nuit trè klè. Lalin nan te klere menm jan ak solèy midi.
It was a very clear night. The moon shone like the noon sun.
6. Mwen renmen vwa’w. Ou chante kòm yon zanj.
Mwen renmen vwa’w. Ou chante tankou yon zanj.
Mwen renmen vwa’w. Ou chante menm jan ak yon zanj.
I like your voice. You sing like an angel.
Kòm → (seeing that) since
7. Kòm se konsa ou vle fè li, mwen swete’w bòn chans.
Since that's the way you want to do it, I wish you luck.
8. Kòm nou pa’t gen machin, nou te oblije mache.
Since we didn't have a car, we had to walk.
Kòm si (kòmsi as one word, konmsi, tankou si) → as if
9. Lè’m te wè li nan landmen, nou te pale kòm si anyen pa’t pase.
When I saw her the next day, we spoke as if nothing happened.
10. Li te anbrase'm kòm si’l te konnen li pa t’ap janm wè’m ankò.
She hugged me as if she knew she would never see me again.
And.... zanmi'm yo, se te tout pou jodi a, mèsi anpil anpil. Orevwa e pase yon bon jounen.
Mizik Poukisa w'pa pale manman? pa Manno Charlemagne
Posted by Mandaly at 11:25 AM No comments:
Labels: "AUDIO LESSONS", as, as if, AUDIO LESSON, kòm
Madame, mwen sonje ou te pale de bel Haitian kont. Ki moun ki rakonte ou tout Haitian kont yo ou te tande? Manman ou onswa papa ou?
Pifò nan kont ak devinèt mwen konnen, se te yon bòn ki t'ap okipe mwen menm ak sè'm yo, ki te rakonte'm yo. Li te plis pase yon bòn. Li te soti nan zòn Nò. Li te genyen yon bèl aksan kapwa.
Madanm sa a pa't manje anyen frèt. Li te kapab manje nenpòt gwo bout piman pike san pwoblèm. Li te gen vyann sou li. Lè l'ap mache, tè a te tranble. Kote'l pase, gason pa kanpe :) Se te gwo koze!
Lè l'ap tire kont, li te konn chante byen bèl. M poko janm rankontre yon moun ki kab tire kont kon li. Mwen p'ap janm bliye'l.
Posted by Mandaly at 1:30 AM 2 comments:
ki jan'w ta tradwi tek tek nan kreyol e anglais
tek tek, pou mwen, se bri dlo k'ap degoute.
Se sèl nan sikonstans sa a, mwen konn tande Ayisyen itilize mo tèk tèk la.
Mo tek tek la fè'm sonje lè dlo lapli ap degoute soti nan twati kay tòl mwen ki koule, pou tonbe nan bokit aliminyòm ke mwen mete la pou evite inondasyon anndan kay la.
Nan ki kontèks ou te tande mo sa a?
Posted by Mandaly at 12:48 AM 2 comments:
Hey Mandaly, do you know the lyrics to this song? Is it in Chant D'Esperans? "... Li soutni mwen. Ak men byen dous Li leve mwen. Sot nan vwazen vin nan limye, gras a Bondye Li leve mwen" mwen pa konnen si se konsa li ye, men se sa m sonje
Yes, it's #75 on the Creole side of the Chants D'Ésperance.
It's one of my favorite song :)
Nan bonte Li Jezi vini
Pou rachte nanm mwen pa lagras
Nan bafon peche ak lawont
Konpasyon'L leve mwen
Nan tè danje, Li soutni mwen
Ak men'l byen dous, Li leve mwen
Sot nan nwasè, vin nan limyè
M'ap adore'l, Li leve mwen
Depi lontan Li rele mwen
Anvan kè mwen te repanti
Men lè'm kenbe nan pawòl Li
Ak padon, L'leve mwen
Anpil pikan te pèse fwon'L
De klou terib te pèse men'L
Men lè mwen bandone peche'm
Amou Li leve mwen
Kounye a men L'anlè byen wo
Nanm mwen ape jwi yon repo
Kijan? Pouki? mwen pa konnen
Kouman Li leve mwen
translation for rigwaz and cec like that t-vice video CEC la qualite
'rigwaz' is Haitian Creole for 'a whip'
As for CEC, it's not a word. It's probably a T-Vice inside joke or punchline.
how would you say something like "I will not talk back to you again." As in talking without respect to their parents. Is there a way Haitian children say this?
to talk back → bay replik, fè repons
I will not talk back to you again.
Mwen p'ap fè'w replik ankò.
Mwen p'ap ba'w repons ankò.
I won't disrespect you again.
Mwen p'ap derespekte'w ankò.
Posted by Mandaly at 8:36 PM No comments:
good translation for 'cagou'
It's kagou.
kagou → sick, weak, feeble, feeling down
Posted by Mandaly at 8:25 PM No comments:
Mandaly, Can you tell me please if the "Creole Made Easy Pronunciation Guide" by Wally Turnbull's 2 audio CDs are in MP3 format? Do you know how I might contact Mr. Turnbull? Thank you very much.
You know what, my friend Carlo at www.HaitiHub.com is the go-to guy when it comes to the 'audio' series of the Wally Turnbull Creole learning books. HaitiHub also has an audio lab created in conjunction and for use with the Wally Turnbull Creole books. Send him an e-mail and he'll direct you in the right direction.
Have you heard of a song that goes like this, "pa kite satan twouble ke'w vinn benyen nan sang jezi"
Yes, it's a very old song
Vin benyen nan san
vin benyen nan san Jezi
Pa kite Satan twouble kè'w
other verses go like this:
Vin lave'w nan san
Vin lave'w nan san Jezi....
Vin kache'w nan san
Vin kache'w nan san Jezi...
Posted by Mandaly at 10:15 PM No comments:
Mandaly.. this is my question. When do I say 'chimen' and when do I say 'chemen'? When do I say 'abiye' and when do I say 'biye' Is there a rule? Why are there so many ways to say just one single word?
It's a variation. In some regions of Haiti, people are used to saying 'chimen' and in other regions people say 'chemen'. Or, people from the Haitian Capital usually say 'abiye' and some people from the countryside say 'biye'.
Posted by Mandaly at 4:03 PM No comments:
In a recent post you wrote: "Yon klas Kreyòl enpòtan pou kapab aprann gramè Kreyòl la kòrèkteman." In this sentence, how is "kapab" functioning? It seems to be a noun like "ability/capacity."
pou kapab → in order to
Posted by Mandaly at 3:26 PM No comments:
gad'on salopri means....
Gad'on salopri.
Gade yon salopri
Posted by Mandaly at 3:21 PM No comments:
hey i'm trying to teach someone to speak kreyol but i was wondering how you think i should do so. i'm sending them weekly lessons and i already gave them a lesson in introducing yourself, askinghowsomething is and articles what's next?
Ankouraje moun nan pou'l pran yon klas Kreyòl nan kominote li, si li kapab jwenn youn. Enpi kontinye pratike konvèsasyon Kreyòl avèk li.
Yon klas Kreyòl enpòtan pou kapab aprann gramè Kreyòl la kòrèkteman.
Posted by Mandaly at 2:48 PM No comments:
can you say m ta swete ke nou ka DEVENI bon zanmi
Men wi. Ou kapab di sa.
Depi ou konprann mwen e mwen konprann ou, Kreyòl la pase :)
Ou kapab di tou:
Mwen ta swete nou ka vin bon zanmi.
Posted by Mandaly at 2:17 PM No comments:
Would it be weird to say in kreyol "bon apre midi"?
That's how we say 'Good afternoon' or 'Have a good afternoon'
☺ Bon apremidi!
hey i can't think of a way to translate these two. i understand them but can't exactly translate them for people. w'ap kite sot w, and w'ap konn joj.
W'ap kite sòt w...
you will leave your stupidity ... (literally)
You'll stop the foolishness.
W'ap konn Jòj. (same as W'ap gentan konnen)
Soon you'll know. (said as a warning or intimidation)
Posted by Mandaly at 2:12 PM No comments:
how do you translate ....rive'm. for example, m t'ap pale de le manman'm mouri e yon sel latranblad rive'm.
...rive'm - happen to me, came over me
...yon sèl latranblad rive'm.
...one bout of trembling happen to me (literally)
... I started shaking.
Mwen renmen Ayiti cherie nou pa bliye
Non, nou pa ka bliye.
Posted by Mandaly at 1:32 PM No comments:
sou fimen woch is one being asked do u smoke crack?
Mwen pako janm tande koze 'fimen wòch la'....
Men sa mwen konn tande:
Eske ou fimen dwòg?
Eske ou fimen mariwana?
Posted by Mandaly at 7:49 AM No comments:
may god bless your country as this storm approach and hoping and praying for the safety of all.
Se pou Bondye beni peyi nou pandan tanpèt la apwoche a, e mwen espere ak priye pou sekirite tout moun.
Posted by Mandaly at 7:45 AM No comments:
do ya know what this means? yo ap kite miscad yo nan kanel yo. one more i know what this means but i wanna see what you see. w 'ap gen tan konnen.
Yo ap kite miskad yo nan kannèl yo.
They're leaving the nutmegs in the cinnamon.
W'ap gentan konnen.
Soon you'll know (most often said as a warning)
Posted by Mandaly at 7:42 AM 2 comments:
very sweet in creole
trè dous or dous anpil
Posted by Mandaly at 11:53 PM No comments:
what does moin mean
It is now 'mwen' in Haitian Creole.
It could translate I, ME, or MY
Posted by Mandaly at 11:26 PM No comments:
Mandaly, what exactly would be the meaning of bonèt chavire?
That depends... It could mean:
having a 'screw loose'
to loose all common sense
kisa mo detounen vle di?
Detounen (from French detourner - divert, reroute), in Haitian Creole means to disrupt, disconcert, to redirect.
Creole speakers might say:
Li te yon bon timoun, men depi li te koumanse fè zanmi ak moun sa yo, li te detounen.
He was a good kid, but once he began hanging around these people, he was disrupted. (meaning his life was disrupted.)
Posted by Mandaly at 6:52 PM No comments:
What is the name for the massage oil?
Do you mean like a Haitian remedy?
It's called frikson or pomad.
Posted by Mandaly at 2:57 PM 2 comments:
How would you say "so" in the context of, say: "I want to read a book, so I should go to the library"? Are there multiple ways?
I think that's when we might use donk (so, therefore) or konsa (so), and sometimes pa konsekan (so therefore)
I want to read a book, so I should go to the library.
Mwen vle li yon liv, donk mwen ta dwe ale nan bibliyotèk la.
Posted by Mandaly at 2:55 PM 4 comments:
ahhh...mwen pa fin konprann. ede'm tanpri!! Sa li vle di isit: Trezor sa se trezor paw. Men nimpot lot moun Ka we Li ,servi ak Li men ,se pa pou yo Li ye
Trezò | sa | se | trezò | pa'w.
Treasure | this | is | treasure | yours.
This treasure is yours
Men | nenpòt moun | ka wè li | sèvi ak li.
But | any one | can see it | serve with it.
But anyone may be able to see it, benefit from it.
Men | se pa | pou yo | li ye.
but | it's not | for them | it is.
"Tout moun se moun"? Is this "All people are people"?
WI. Tout moun se moun. Pa gen moun pase moun.
Pa gen moun pase moun.
One person is not more important that the other
Posted by Mandaly at 12:14 PM No comments:
Mandaly, does Creole "pi fo" means 'louder, stronger or most'?
It translates all three :)
Pale pi fò.
Kòd sa a pi fò.
This rope is stronger.
Pifò elèv yo t'ale nan jounen an.
Most of the students went on the field trip.
Posted by Mandaly at 12:09 PM 4 comments:
is there a word like "soupliye" or something like that stating the action of pleading or begging
Yes. It's sipliye - to supplicate, to plead, to beg
Posted by Mandaly at 10:44 AM 2 comments:
is this harmful inside the ear?
Is it harmful inside the ear?
Eske sa fè'w mal anndan zòrèy ou?
Are you hurting inside your ears?
Eske anndan zòrèy ou ap fè'w mal?
"pa gen mwayen" and "nanpwen mwayen" se menm bagay?
Wi Wi. Se menm.
Pa gen mwayen.
Nanpwen mwayen.
Pa gen mwayen pou m fè sa.
There are no means by which I can do this.
Mwen pa gen mwayen.
I don't have the means.
Mwen pa gen mwayen pou m nouri tèt mwen.
I don't have the means to feed myself.
Pa gen fason ... → There's no way ...
Pa gen opòtinite ... → there's no opportunity
Bonjou, li ok pou mwen di sa a? "Souple, pliye genou maksimòm. Rete konsa kinz segonn. Repete li dis fwa sou chak janm." Mèsi!
Souple, pliye jenou'w o maksimòm. Rete konsa pou kenz segonn. Repete sa dis fwa pou chak janm.
Posted by Mandaly at 3:55 PM 8 comments:
"I will be back in.." or "I will return in..."
I will be back in ...
M'ap retounen nan ...
M'ap retounen nan kenz minit.
I'll be back in thirty minutes
M'ap retounen nan trant minit.
I will return in one hour.
M'ap retounen nan inèdtan.
Posted by Mandaly at 3:51 PM No comments:
Your big sister → gran sè ou, or gran sè'w (contracted)
Do you know of any Kreyol translation of Martin Luther King's "I have a dream" speech? I am in Haiti and there are some students listening to it to help with English comprehension. We were particularly stuck translating the word "creed" in that context.
Creed, in that context, may be translated as kwayans, doktrin
Here's a link to "I have a dream" speech in Creole:
http://lou9587.wordpress.com/2008/01/21/i-have-a-dream-speech-mwen-gen-yon-rev-in-haitian-creole/
Si'm vle di "I'm cleaning your table. Now it's clean." Eske m'ka di "M'ap netwaye tab ou. Kounyea li pwop." Eske sa se, Mandaly? Mesi anpil!
Wi se sa :) Li kòrèk.
Ou kapab ajoute yon atik dèyè mo "tab ou" a: M'ap netwaye tab ou a.
To say she woke up early/late? Li te leve bone/anreta? Eske se konsa mwen ka di sa?
Wi. Li leve bonè (She woke up early) / Li leve ta.(She woke up late)
Posted by Mandaly at 12:52 PM No comments:
Felisitasyon èske w konnen itilize yon tradiktè sou entènèt, Li ap rasire paske ou bezwen li.
Google translate se yon bon tradiktè Kreyòl Ayisyen. Men, fòk ou konn Kreyòl la byen pou'w kapab jwi avantaj li.
Posted by Mandaly at 11:22 AM 2 comments:
Mandalay, can you tell what it means to say 'mwen fè kwa'. A Haitian parent asked her daughter to say this after the child was punished. Now i know it means 'I make cross', but is there a deeper meaning to it?
Yes, it does literally say to make or draw a cross.
Some Haitian parents, after they're done disciplining a child, will ask them to say, Mwen fè kwa mwen p'ap janm fè sa ankò. So here, fè kwa would mean to swear, to vow, to promise
The parent would say,
Fè kwa. or
Fè kwa ou p'ap janm fè sa ankò.
Swear you'll never do that again.
And the child would say,
Mwen fè kwa m'p'ap janm fè sa ankò.
I swear I'll never to that again
Other parents would just ask the child to say,
padon! or
M mande'w padon !
Grown ups also use this expression when they vow never to do something.
Mwen fè kwa m'pap janm mete pye lakay Betty.
I swear I'll never set foot in Betty's house.
Depi lè papa'l te mouri ak kansè poumon an, li te fè kwa li p'ap janm fimen ankò.
Since the time his dad died of lung cancer, he swore never to smoke again.
Depi lè li te fè aksidan machin nan, li te fè kwa pou li pa't janm monte machin ankò.
Since the time he got into a car accident, he swore never to get into another car.
Sometimes we use prep. 'pou' after this expression.
Posted by Mandaly at 11:19 AM No comments:
what does pa fwa mean?
It is written as one word 'pafwa' (from French parfois), it means sometimes.
For the term,"healthy body",is it "sante kò", oswa, "kò sante"?
kò an sante
an sante (from the French en santé) which means in health, in good health
an bòn sante (from the French en bonne santé) which means in good health
Mwen an bòn sante.
snack stand?
bak machandiz
Disciple 23 May 23, 2012 2:51 PM
I know this is random but do u have the lyrics to this song......it goes something like this.. Hosanna hosanna satan ou pedi batay ooh ohhhh
Mandaly May 24, 2012 12:17 PM
No, your question is not random at all :)
This song is mostly sang in French, with some ad lib in Creole. Here's the lyrics. You will also find many you tube posts of this song if you search it under this long title "Sans inquiétude sous son manteau de grâce"
French VersionSans Inquiétude
Sans inquiétude sous son manteau de grâce
Au ciel je m’en vais lahaut prendre ma place, hm hm
Inonde de l’amour de mon sauveur
Les vagues de fraîcheur
Déferlent dans mon coeur hmm hmm
Plus fier que l’aigle et le condor
Je m’envole vers les cieux
La toute puissance des bras de Dieu
M’environne et me rend fort
Je suis plus que vainqueur, hm hm
Dans cette vallée de l’ombre de la mort
Je marche sans trembler car il est avec moi
Mon père a deja visé mon passport
La-haut bras ouvert
Et il n’attend que moi hmm hmm
Les anges du ciel ne peuvent comprendre
Cette grâce infinie qui porte mon âme a crier:
Hosanna Hosanna! je suis plus que vainqueur
Lè m’ap mache anba lonbray lanmò,
M’ pa pè, kè’m pa janm sote
Senyè a avèk mwen, hmmm hmmmm
Papa m deja tcheke paspò lavi hmm hmm
Nan syèl la, se mwen menm l’ap tann
Zanj nan syèl la pa ka konprann
Ki gran gras enfini, ki fè nanm mwen ape kriye
Ozana! Ozana! Satan w pèdi batay hmm hmm
Posted by Mandaly at 2:08 PM 33 comments:
Saying 24/7 in Creole
vennkat sou vennkat - around the clock, 24/7
Se pou Bondye beni nanm ni.
Posted by Mandaly at 6:06 AM 3 comments:
I love how you're talking about the French derivations of words! Thanks as usual!
Dakò. Mèsi :)
Posted by Mandaly at 6:05 AM No comments:
I see that you use "se" or "sa se" to say this is/that is...what would "se sa" mean? or is that even proper creole?
Sentence: Se sa!
Literally: It's that!
Meaning: That's it!, There it is!, Yes!, It's correct!, etc...
can you explain why "ki te mele'm" means I don't care? Mesi :)
It comes from the French expression De quoi je me mêle? which says I should mind my own business.
Haitian Creole's mele (from French mêler) means to mix, to mingle, to meddle, to get involved
So if I wanted to translate that literally, I would say:
Ki te mele'm?
Ki | te | mele | 'm | ?
What | past tense | involve | me | question mark
What should I involve myself ?( literally)
Why should I meddle?
Posted by Mandaly at 12:27 AM No comments:
Tou moun poze ... ?
Tout moun poze.
Everyone has calmed down.
Everyone is resting.
Poze is Haitian creole for resting, taking a break, settling down, or set down
how best to say "fierce" in Creole?
fierce → achane, michan, fewòs
Usually, what time do families in Haiti sit down to have dinner? or Is it supper? And, what about snack time? Thanks!
Dine (dinner), in Haiti, is anytime between noon and three in the after noon.
It's the biggest meal of the day.
Soupe (supper) is a night time snack, right before bedtime. A lot of people usually have labouyi (porridge) for supper. Also, some people may buy fritay (fried foods) from the many street vendors that you'll find in the street corners cooking usually, under, the light poles.
And... People who have the means, do snack. And those that are less fortunate must wait for dine or soupe time.
Bonjou Mandalay! "yo" se yon artik posesif ki vle di "their" "yo" se yon artik definitif plyriel. là sa a, mwen ka di "kay yo" pou di "the houses" ak "their house". kòman pou mwen di "their houses" ? Kay yo yo?? mèsi anpil.
Bonjou :)
Ou kapab senpleman di "kay yo" si ou vle di "their houses".
All their houses were destroyed.
Tout kay yo te kraze.
The burglar took all their books.
Vòlè a te pran tout liv yo.
Posted by Mandaly at 3:01 PM No comments:
They are my family, they are my treasure, they are my heart...thank you God. Eske mwen ka di "Yo se fanmi'm, yo se trezo'm, yo se ke'm...mesi Bondye
Wi Wi! Ou kapab di sa :)
Ou di li trè byen.
Pa bliye mete yon aksan sou "o" nan "trezò", avèk sou "e" nan "kè'm".
ANFÒM!
Posted by Mandaly at 9:31 PM No comments:
I am looking for the lyrics to some T Vice songs. Any suggestions?
Have you tried Zouker.com?
How do you say "Don't be" something. Such as "Don't be cruel". or "Please don't be mad" or "Don't be afraid". Not so much about the specific adjective but more about the construction of the "don't be" part. Thanks!
Actually, we would be translating to be cruel, to be afraid, to be shy, etc... as verbs.
We already know that "Don't" will be translated as 'Pa" in H. Creole.
To be afraid → pè
Don't be afraid → Pa pè
To be shy → fè timid / fè timidite
Don't be shy → Pa fè timid
To be upset → fache
Don't be upset → Pa fache
to be judgmental → jije
Don't be judgmental → Pa jije
to be greedy → fè goumandiz, fè aloufa, fè visye, fè avaris
Don't be greedy → Pa fè avaris
to be lazy → fè parese
Don't be lazy → Pa fè parese
to be jealous → fè jalouzi
Don't be jealous → Pa fè jalouzi
to be nosy → fè jouda
Don't be nosy → pa fè jouda
What if we wanted to say to be a noun? We would still be dealing with 'verbs' in Haitian Creole. For example:
Don't be a fool → Pa fè estipid ...
Don't be a jerk → Pa fè enbesil ....
Don't be a coward → Pa fè kapon ..
Don't be a stranger to me → Pa fè etranje avè'm.
Posted by Mandaly at 3:36 PM No comments:
do hatians like to get money for their birthday
☺ Who doesn't?
W'ap mande si malad vle bwè soup?(Haitian proverb)
Posted by Mandaly at 2:51 PM 2 comments:
what does this prayer say?: seigneur .ou konnin m ew sonde m ou we kem se pa fe moun we , oubien travay pou fanmim selman men se desim pou travay ou ti mou n yo kap soufri ,ki pa gen moun pou ede yo nan pays d'haiti... map mande w pou pa kite angnen dekouragem nan sam vle fe pou ou ,ke se maladi, mankeman , ou nimpot lot bagay ki ka kampe sou cheminm . banm kompasion nan kem pou tout lot mou seigneur merci ampil papa..
Senyè, ou konnen'm e w sonde'm.
Ou wè ke se pa fè moun wè oubyen travay pou fanmi'm sèlman
Men se dezi'm pou travay pou ti moun yo k'ap soufri
ki pa gen moun pou ede yo nan peyi Dayiti...
M'ap mande w pou pa kite anyen dekouraje' nan sa'm vle fè pou ou
ke se maladi, mankeman, ou nempòt lòt bagay ki ka kanpe sou chimen'nm
Banm konpasyon nan kè'm pou tout lòt moun Senyè,
Mèsi anpil Papa.
Lord, you know me and tried me.
You see that I'm not showing off, or just working for my family
but my desire is to work for the suffering kids
who have no one else to help them in Haiti
I ask you to keep me from giving up in what I want to do for you
whether it's illness, needs , or other things that may stand in my way
give me compassion in my heart for other people
Than you Father
Posted by Mandaly at 2:49 PM No comments:
"eyes" ????
Eyes can be je or zye
Remember, You don't necessarily have to put 'yo' after it just because it's plural.
Posted by Mandaly at 2:40 PM No comments:
"Mwen di Senyè a: Se ou ki sèl Mèt mwen. Se ou menm ki tout mwen. Pa gen pase ou!" Mwen pa konnen sa "Met mwen" vle di nan vese sa. Eske w vle ede'm fin konprann tanpri? Mesi anpil!!
Mèt is Haitian Creole for Master
sèl is Haitian Creole for alone, only, sole, single.
Sèl Mèt mwen then means my sole Master, or My one and only Lord
Mwen | di |Senyè | a, | Se | ou | ki's | sèl | Mèt | mwen.
I | say | Lord | the, | it's | you | that | only | Master |my.
I say to the Lord, you, alone, are my Lord.
Se | ou | ki | tout | mwen.| Pa | gen | pase | ou.
It | you | that's | all | my. | No | have | more than | you .
You are my all. There's none like you.
how do you say journey in creole?
Journey → trajè, pelerinaj, or pasaj
Posted by Mandaly at 8:48 AM No comments:
Which phrase has the correct word order : (1) sa yo ki pi bon or (2) sa k pi bon yo Mesi d'avans, Mandaly.
Correct: Sa'k pi bon yo.
In order to make the first sentence correct, you would have to say, Sa yo ki pi bon an....
Either way, an article is required after the word bon.
Sa'k pi bon yo ...
Sa yo ki pi bon an ...
How do you say "What are you looking at?" in creole?
Sa w'ap gade la?
Se yon plezi pou'm rankontre ou. (...to meet you)
Se yon plezi pou'm rekonèt ou. (...to make your acquaintance)
Searching for the meaning of "kloti dete" or "kan dete". Seems to have something to do with afterschool programs?
kloti dete (from French clôture d'été) → closing of summer, end of summer, or a wrap up of summer activities
kan dete (from French camp d'été) → summer camp
yon ti crass
Li te ban'm yon ti kras manje.
She gave me a small amount of food.
Mwen pa pè yon ti kras
I am not the least bit scared.
Posted by Mandaly at 7:21 AM No comments:
Hello! I have a Haitian facebook friend who asked about a picture of me. I'd like to say, "This is a picture of me. I have not shaved my beard in many months!" I thought the second sentence might be "Fè pa bab mwen plizyè mwa!" What would the first be?
Sa se foto mwen.
Sa se mwen menm.
For the second sentence, say instead:
I have not shaved my beard in many months.
Mwen gen plizyè mwa mwen pa raze bab mwen.
What does the word "lasengi" means? It occurs in Franketienne's 'Dezafi' in the sentence "Ou pran latranblad lasengi."
Latranblad Lasengi, not an everyday H. Creole word, means an all of a sudden uncontrollable shake resulting from anxiety, surprise or fear. It's 'theater' language.
how do you write no matter how busy you are in creole
Kèlkeswa jan'w te okipe....
Posted by Mandaly at 9:36 PM No comments:
Labels: kèlkeswa
Ou va gen kè kontan ankò.
I love your website. The explanation for "lezentim" was very helpful because it gave the French derivation. Can you please do that as much as possible? Thanks
Can you explain why Haitians say 'pou lèzentim' when they tell you their names?
pou lèzentim (from French pour les intimes) → for close / intimate friends.
They are letting you know what their nickname is.
pou lèzentim indicates what your close friends call you.
Mwen rele Jean Broullard, Janjan pou lèzentim.
I'm called Jean Brouillard, and it's Janjan for close friends.
My name is Jean Brouillard, my friends call me Janjan.
Non mwen se Felix, Fefe pou lèzentim.
My name is Felix, and it's Fefe for close friends.
My name is Felix, my friends call me Fefe.
Thank you so much for your quick answer to my looks like question. I LOVE your blog. It is so difficult to learn Kreyòl because there are so few resources. I am trying to read and study on my own and then pick up tidbits from interpreters during trips but find that their ability to teach grammar is pretty limited. So I get by but obviously lots of times am translating from English into Krey... whoops Kreyòl rather than saying things the way a Haitian would. I am thrilled to have sooo much new grammar to learn! Mesi anpil!
Great. Mèsi anpil.
Kenbe la! (Hang in there!)
Posted by Mandaly at 10:35 PM No comments:
Posted by Mandaly at 3:17 PM No comments:
How do you say, "Good is good, always" in creole
Bondye bon, tout tan.
'lapè nan tèt' avèk 'lapè nan lespri' se menm bagay? thanks!
wi wi :)
Toulede vle di trankilite oubyen an Angle peace of mind.
You said that an Haiti airport "porter" might be offended if he's called a "bouretye", but isn't a "bouretye" a "porter"?
A bouretye is a porter, but a porter is not a bouretye. Well, I should rather say, not everyone who works as a porter in Haiti would consider themselves a bouretye.
Does that make a bouretye a bad thing? No. But some people do consider it a lowly job.
Posted by Mandaly at 6:51 AM No comments:
is there a Creole word that is like "fiel" or something like that a parent would tell their child if they are proud of them? "Mwen fiel de ou?" I'm forgetting what I saw but thought it was something like that??
I think you mean 'fyè'.
fyèl is something else.
fyè - proud
fyète - pride
Mwen fyè de ou.
Mwen kontan ou.
Mwen kontan ak ou.
Ou ban'm anpil fyète
You give me a lot of pride.
Is n always silent??
It does not resonate in manman, tonton, pen, tan
but it does resonate is tann, fann, an'n, machin
I often use sweet to address my mom, dad, and children....I'll say, my sweet mommy/daddy or to my girls...There's my sweet girls. How can I say this in Creole? Mesi anpil!!
'dous' is the Haitian Creole word for 'sweet',
But the best way to say this is with 'cheri' or 'chouchou',
my sweet mommy → manmi cheri mwen or manman cheri mwen
my sweet daddy → papi cheri mwen or papa cheri mwen
my sweet girl → ti fi cheri mwen
my sweet girls → ti fi cheri mwen yo
There's my sweet girl → Men ti fi cheri mwen an.
There are my sweet girls. → Men ti fi cheri mwen yo.
you can also call your little girl (or boy) ti chouchou or ti cheri which pretty much mean little sweetie or little darling
There's my little sweetie → Men ti cheri mwen an
There go my sweet little ones → Men ti chouchou mwen yo
there was this song that used to come on the Haitian radio stations and it was sung by a man that started out saying "yè swa mwen te wè..." do you know what song that is?
If only I knew what radio station or program, whether it's Christian or non Christian radio program, and whether it's emitting from Haiti or overseas, I would have had a good lead :)
kouman mwen ka di, "don't worry, you are going to be ok."
Don't worry. You're going to be ok.
Pa enkyete'w. Bagay yo va pase byen pou ou.
Posted by Mandaly at 5:04 PM No comments:
Do you have a post on the usage of FIN (and VIN also) with some examples. Thanks!
vin → shortened form of vini, means to come, to become
fin → shortened form of fini, means to finish, to be done to, be completed, and sometimes it may be translated in English as fully, totally, or completely.
1. Si li fin manje, li kapab ale nan chanm li.
If she's finished eating, she can go to her room.
2. Lè ou fin fè devwa'w, ou mèt gade televizyon.
When you're finished doing your homework, you may watch TV.
3. Lè ou fin avèk liv mwen an, pote'l ban mwen.
When you're done with my book, bring it to give me.
When you're done with my book, bring it to me.
4. Mwen fèt sot kwaze ak pitit gason Jacques la. Li fin wo nèt!
I just crossed path with Jacques'son, He's done getting tall totally!
I just met Jacques' son. He's grown so tall!
5. Mwen pa't fin konprann sa'w te di a. Eske ou ka repete'l?
I wasn't done understanding what you said. Can you repeat it?
I didn't totally understand what you said. Can you repeat it?
6. Ou poko fin refè non. Rete nan kabann.
You are not yet done recovering, stay in bed.
You have not fully recovered yet, stay in bed.
7. Lè'w fin pran tout medikaman an, rele klinik la pou'w mete yon randevou.
When you're finished taking all the medication, call the clinic to set up an appointment.
8. Mwen p'ap janm fin remèsye'w pou tout sa'w fè pou mwen.
I'll never be done thanking you for all that you've done for me.
I'll never stop thanking you for all you've done for me.
Vin → come, become
9. Apre yo te fin pentire kay la, li te vin pi bèl kay nan katye a.
After they were done painting the house, it became the most beautiful house in the neighborhood
10. Mwen vin mande'w sipò'w.
I've come to ask you for your assistance.
11. Vin montre'm dan'w. → Come show me your teeth.
12. Vin gade li. → Come take a look at it.
13. Vin ale. → Let's go.
14. Vin al gade l (or Vin ale gade li) → Let's go see it
15. Vin di'm sa'k pase. → Come and tell me what happened
16. Vin jwenn mwen. → Come to me.
17. Mwen vin kote'w. → I have come to you./ I come to you
18. Vin danse avè'm. → Come and dance with me.
Labels: come and vini, fin and fini
what is the word for "progress report" in Haitian Creole?
progress report (on a student) → bilten eskolè, bilten sou pwogrè eskolè
progress report (generally) → bilan, kont randi
Papa ‘m ak manman ‘m te mèt lage ‘m what does te mèt lage ‘m mean?
Is this the complete sentence?
This sentence could be translated two different ways.
It depends on whether or not the sentence you gave me is a dependent clause.
If the sentence in question is not complete (if there's another thought that complete that sentence) then "...te mèt..." becomes a conjunction, and it will be translated as 'Even if' at beginning of your English sentence.
1. Papa'm ak manman'm te mèt lage'm, mwen p'ap dekouraje.
Even if my dad and my mom abandon me, I won't be discouraged
On the hand, if the sentence in question is complete (nothing else follows after it), then we'll translate te mèt lage as may let me go, may abandon me, or may disown me
2. Papa'm ak manman'm te mèt lage'm.
My dad and my mom may let me go.
I would love to know about the texts that surround that sentence..... Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words
Posted by Mandaly at 9:57 PM 4 comments:
What is 'ekriti pat mouch'? Mesi!
Yon ekriti pat mouch se yon move ekriti.
Yon move ekriti se yon bad handwriting. :)
pat mouch means fly's legs literally
Posted by Mandaly at 4:46 PM 2 comments:
how do u say thug
You can say: brigan, bandi, delenkan, raketè, or kriminèl
Posted by Mandaly at 4:26 PM No comments:
I speak French better than Kreyol. Do you know any website -- or even book -- that provides the etymology of Kreyol words? Or that compares French and Kreyol vocabulary? Thanks!
Yes, you will find a lot of these kinds of resources, PDF files which you can download, and some google books, if you search the following names:
Morphology in Creole Genesis
"On certain differences between Haitian and French predicative constructions"
Comment écrire Le Creole d'Haiti by Yves Dejean
Quelques considerations sur les rapports de domination français-créole by Midy Franklin
La Fause Querelle du Créole et du Français by Dorin B.
Creole Genesis and the acquisition of Grammar by Claire Lefebvre
eske bo kote kek pafwol yo ariv soti nan ki egziste nan kilti kweyol la? mouin konnin kek mo a pa lafwa ye epi mouin pap konnin kijan yo egziste
Mwen pa fin konprann tout sa ou mande mwen. Mwen panse ou bezwen konnen orijin mo 'pa lafwa'? Eske se sa?
Mo 'pa lafwa' a soti nan lang Franse a: Par la foi.
Gen kèk mo nan lang Kreyòl la ki gen orijin Franse. Genyen lòt ki gen orijin Panyòl. Enpi rès la soti nan anpil patwa Afriken.
Posted by Mandaly at 10:12 AM 2 comments: