Kreyòl 101
Kreyòl 101
Kreyòl is the language spoken by the vast majority of the Haitian population. It is derived from 17th century French, so you will find many similarities with the French language, mixed with some English, Spanish, West African & Caribbean words. Here are some basics:
1. Expressions
Bonjou = Good morning
Bonswa = Good afternoon
S’ak pase = What’s up?
M’ap boule = I’m burning up (doing great)
M’la = I’m here (not doing that great)
Mwen pa pi mal = I’m okay (not worse)
Koman ou rele? = What is your name?
Pale dousman. = Speak slowly.
Silvouple = Please
Mwen renmen ou = I love you.
Mesi = Thank you.
Mesi anpil. = Thank you very much.
Pa gen problem. = No problem.
Koman ou ye? = How are you?
Mwen soti Canada. = I am from Canada.
Orevwa = Goodbye.
A pita. = See you later.
Si Dye vle = Godwilling.
Anmwen = Help me.
2. Pronouns
Mwen = I/me/my
Ou = You/your
Li = He/she/it/him/her/his/her
Nou = We/us/our
Yo = They/them/their
3. Some nouns
Angle = English
Lavi = Life
Kay = House
Machin = Car
Bato = Boat
Gason = Man
Fanm = Woman
Tigason = Boy
Tifi = Girl
Profese = Teacher
Dokte = Dokte
Mis/Enfemye = Nurse
Atis = Artist
Moun = Person
Tout moun = Everybody
Lajan/kob = Money
Lekol = School
Manje = Food
Legliz = Church
Chapo = Hat
Flash = Flashlight
Kodak = Camera
Jilet = Razor
Maten = Morning
Apremidi = Afternoon
Manifestasyon = Riot
Fig = Banana
Banann = Plantain
3. Some Adjectives
Che = Expensive
Piti = Little
Jenn = Young
Gran = Big/great
Gwo = Fat
Bèt/sòt = Stupid
Parase = Lazy
Kontan = Happy
Grangou = Hungry
Fache = Angry
Bèl = Beautiful
Bo = Handsome
Lèd = Ugly
Malere = Poor
Fou = Crazy
Blan = White
Nèt = Completely
To use an adjective, as in French, the adjective goes after the noun.
Pa egzamp (for example): yon chapo blan = a white hat
To create a simple sentence with a pronoun and an adjective, there is no need for the word, am/are/is. You simply put the noun and the adjective together.
Pa egzamp: Ou bel. = You are beautiful.
4. Some verbs
Vle = To want
Gen/genyen = To have
Manje = To eat
Bwe = To drink
Aprann = To learn
Konnen = To know
Pale = To speak
Kouri = To run
Kouri dèyè = To chase
Souri = To smile
Ri = To laugh
Sonje = To remember/to miss
Tann = To wait (for)
Mache/flane = To walk
Kanpe = To stand
Leve = To rise
Domi = To sleep
Travay = To work
Batay/goumen = To fight
Jwe = To play
Tapaje = To joke
Joure = To mock/tease (bad)
Pataje = To share
Bezwen = To need
Here is the easy part: there are no conjugations in the Kreyol language. To use a verb, you simply combine the subject and the verb.
Pa egzamp: Mwen bezwen. = I need.
Ou bezwen. = You need.
Samuel bezwen. = Samuel needs.
The sentence structure is like that of English: SUBJECT-VERB-OBJECT.)