Haitian Creole phrasebook

Haitian Creole (kreyòl ayisyen) is the one of the official languages of Haiti along with French and is spoken by by 8.5 million people in Haiti, which is nearly the entire population. It is also spoken by large Haitian communities in nearby Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Cuba and French Guiana. It is based on 18th century French and several West and Central African languages with minor Spanish influence. 90% of Hatian Creole is based on French

Pronunciation guide

Creole pronunciation is very phonetic. If you can make friends with a Haitian who speaks English, he or she will usually be glad to help with your pronunciation.

Vowels

e: /a/ as in aim
è: /ɛ/ as in leg
ou: /u/ as in food
i: /e/ as in bee
o: /o/ as in toe
ò: as in saw

Consonants

g: always hard, as in go
j: /ʒ/ as in joke
y: /j/ as in yellow

Common diphthongs

Phrase list

Basics

Hello. (morning): Bonjou. ( )
Hello. (afternoon): Bonswa. ( )
How are you?: Como ou ye? ( ?)
Not bad.: Pa pi mal. ( ?)
What is your name?: Koumon ou rele? ( ?)
My name is ______ .: Mwen rele ______ . ( _____ .)
Nice to meet you.: Mwen kontan konnen ou. ( )
Please.: Souple. ( )
Thank you.: Mèsi. ( )
You're welcome.: Merite. ( )
Yes.: Wi. ( )
No.: Non. ( )
Excuse me. (getting attention): Eskize-m. ( )
Excuse me. (begging pardon): Se pa fòt mwen. ( )
I'm sorry.: Mwen regret sa. ( )
Goodbye: Orevwa. ( )
Goodbye (informal): Babay. ( )
I can't speak kreyol.: Mwen pa pale kreyol. ( )
Do you speak English?: Eske ou pale angle? ( ?)
Is there someone here who speaks English?: Ki moun isit ki pale angle? ( ?)
Help!: Anmwe! ( !)
Look out!: Atansyon! ( !)
Good morning.: Bonjou. ( )
Good evening.: Bonswa. ( )
Good night.: . ( )
Good night (to sleep): . ( )
I don't understand.: Mwen pa konprann. ( )
Where is the toilet?: Ki kote twalet 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: oranj
yellow: jòn

Transportation

Bus and train

Directions

Taxi

I need a taxi.: Mwen bezwen you 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 ...: Kote mewn ka achte ...
Too expensive: Twò chè
I will give you ...: Si mewn ba ou ...
OK!: Dakò!

Driving

Authority

This page was last edited at 01:08, on 16 December 2008 by Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel. Based on work by van and Jani Patokallio, Wikitravel user(s) Soulja Nyn3 and Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel.