Haitian Creole phrasebook
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Pronunciation guide
Creole pronunciation is very phonetic, unlike French—the language it's based on. If you can make friends with a Haitian who speaks English, they will usually be glad to help with your pronunciation. Sounds marked with an asterisk (*) are particularly difficult for English speakers. The nasal sounds can be pronounced as if the 'n' were not there, and the 'r' can be pronounced as a 'w.' While not quite correct, these pronunciations will be generally understandable.
; e : /e/ as in aim
; è : /ɛ/ as in bet
; i : /e/ as in bee
; o : /o/ as in toe
; ò : /ɔ/ as in saw
; ou : /u/ as in food
; ui : /ɥi/ as in weed
; an* : /ã/ as in genre, but nasal
; en* : /ẽ/ as in hen, but nasal
; on* : /õ/ as in on, but nasal
; g : always hard, as in go ; j : /ʒ/ as in treasure
; r* : /ɣ/ no English equivalent, but pronounced like the 'r' in French
; y : /j/ as in yellow
Vowels
; a : /a/ as in father; e : /e/ as in aim
; è : /ɛ/ as in bet
; i : /e/ as in bee
; o : /o/ as in toe
; ò : /ɔ/ as in saw
; ou : /u/ as in food
; ui : /ɥi/ as in weed
Nasal Vowels
Nasal sounds are pronounced without fully articulating the 'n.' Think making the sound, but stopping 3/4 of the way through the 'n.'; an* : /ã/ as in genre, but nasal
; en* : /ẽ/ as in hen, but nasal
; on* : /õ/ as in on, but nasal
Consonants
; ch : /ʃ/ as in shoe; g : always hard, as in go ; j : /ʒ/ as in treasure
; r* : /ɣ/ no English equivalent, but pronounced like the 'r' in French
; y : /j/ as in yellow
Common diphthongs
Phrase list
Basics
; Hello. (morning): Bonjou. (BOH-joo); Hello. (afternoon): Bonswa. (BOH-swa )
; How are you? : Koman ou yè? (KOH-mah oo yay?)
; Not bad. : Pa pi mal. (pah pee mahl)
; What is your name? : Koman ou rèlè? (KOH-mah oo RAY-lay?)
; My name is ______ . : Mwen rèlè ______ . (mway RAY-lay _____ .)
; Nice to meet you. : Enchantè. (on-shahn-TAY)
; Please. : Souple. ( )
; Thank you/very much. : Mesi/anpil. (meh-SEE/on-PEEL)
; You're welcome. : Pa de kwa. (pah-day-kwaah)
; Yes. : Wi. (wee)
; No. : Non. (no)
; Excuse me. (getting attention) : Eskise'm. (es-KEEZ-eh m)
; Excuse me. (begging pardon) : Padone'm. ( )
; I'm sorry. : Dezole. ( )
; Goodbye : Bye Bye. (bah-buy)
; I can't speak kreyol. : Mwen pa kap pale kreyol. (mway pah kahp PAH-lay kway-OHL)
; Do you speak English? : Eske ou pale Angle? (ES-kay oo PAH-lay on-GLAY?)
; Is there someone here who speaks English? : Gen moun isit ki pale Angle? ( ?)
; Help! : Anmwe! ( !)
; Look out! : Atensyon! (!)
; Good morning. : Bonjou. ( )
; Good evening. : Bonswa. ( )
; Good night. : Bon wit. ( )
; I don't understand. : Mwen pa konprann. (mway pah kone-PWAN)
; Where is the toilet? : Kote twalet la? (KOH-tay twah-LET la?)
Problems
Numbers
; 0 : zewo; 1 : en
; 2 : de
; 3 : twa
; 4 : kat
; 5 : senk
; 6 : sis
; 7 : sèt
; 8 : wit
; 9 : nèf
; 10 : dis
; 11 : onz
; 12 : douz
; 13 : trèz
; 14 : katòz
; 15 : kenz
; 16 : sèz
; 17 : disèt
; 18 : dizwit
; 19 : diznèf
; 20 : ven, vent
; 30 : trant
; 40: karant
; 50 : senkant
; 60 : swasant
; 70 : swasenndis
; 80 : katreven, katrevent
; 90 : katrevendis, katreven-dis
; 100 : san
; 1000 : mil
; 2000 : de mil
; 5000 : senk mil
; 10,000 : di mil
; 100,000 : san mil
; 1 000 000 : milyon
; 1 000 000 000 : bilyon
Time
Clock time
; How long? : Pou konben tan?Duration
Days
; Sunday : dimanch; Monday : lendi
; Tuesday : madi
; Wednesday : mèkredi
; Thursday : jedi
; Friday : vandredi
; Saturday : samdi
; Today : jodi a
; Tomorrow : denmen
; Yesterday : yè
Months
; January : Janvye; February: Fevriye
; March : Mas
; April : Avril
; May : Mè
; June : Jen
; July : Jiyè
; August : Daou
; September : Septanm
; October : Oktob
; November : Novanm
; December : Desanm
Writing time and date
Colors
; black : nwa; white : blan
; red : wouj
; green : vèt
; blue : ble
; orange : zoranj
; yellow : jòn
Transportation
Bus and train
; How much is a ticket? : Konben koute biye?; Does this bus stop in ____ ? : Tap la arete nan ____ ?
; Can you stop here? : Ou pve arèt isit?
Directions
; I'm lost. : Mwen se pèdi.; How do I get to ____ ? : Koumon mwen pve ale o ____ ?
; Which way? : Ki wout?
Taxi
; I need a taxi. : Mwen bezwen yon taksi.; Hey! Taxi! : Woy! Taksi!
; How much to go to ... : Konben pou ale ...
; Stop here, please : Rete isit, souple.
Lodging
Money
; How much does it cost? : Konbyen sa koute?; Can I exchange euros/dollars/pounds here? : Mwen pve chanje ewo/dolar/lib si?
Eating
Bars
Shopping
; Do you sell ____ ?: Èske ou vann ____ ?; Where can I buy ____ ? : Ki kote mwen ka achte ____ ?
; That's too expensive. : Sa twò chè.
; I will give you ____ . : Map ba ou ____ .
; OK! : Dakò!