basic creole words and phrases

Oubyen

Or

Renmen

Like

Manje

Eat, Food

Mwen/ M

Me, I

A

The

Zozo santi

Your pussy stinks

M kontan rankontre ou

I’m happy to meet you

Kontan

Happy

Rankontre

To meet

Ou

You

Ye

Be

ki jan

How

Madam

Ma’am (married)

Madmwazel

Miss (unmarried)

Ki Jan ou ye?

How are you? (Literal translation “how you be?”)

Mesye

Sir, Mr.

Bon

Good

Jou

Day

Bonjou

Hello, Good morning, good day (literal translation but also works in conversation based on context)

Mesi

Thank you

Byen

Well

M byen, Mesi.

I’m well, thank you

tou piti

A little

Konprann

Understand

Pa

Don’t, not

Twó

Too

Pa twó byen

Not too well

Ourevwa

Goodbye

Mwen konprann kreyol tou piti, pa twó byen

I understand creole a little, not too well.

Ameriken

American (masculine)

Amerikén

American (feminine) (the “n” is pronounced)

Men

But

Pale

Speak

M se ameriken

I am American (masculine)

M se amerikén

I am American (feminine)

Ayisyen

Haitian (masculine)

Ayisyén

Haitian (feminine)

Mwen se ayisyen

I am Haitian (masculine)

M se ayisyén

I am Haitian (feminine)

M pa konprann

I don’t understand

M konprann kreyol tou piti, men pa twó byen

I understand creole a little, but not too well.

M pa byen

I’m not well

E

And

E Ou menm?

And you?

Souple

Please

Tré

Very

Tré byen

Very well

Nou

We

Wi, Mwen konprann tou piti men m pa pale twó byen

Yes, I understand a little but I don’t speak very well

Se pa pi ba a

It’s not over there

Lari a

The street

Lari a se la a

The street is here

Ki kote

Where

Ki kote lari a ye?

Where is the street?

Ri Sen Jozèf pa la a

St Joseph street is not over there