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. 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.



  1. 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



  1. 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



  1. 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.


  1. 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.)