Haitian Creole phrasebook Voyage Tips and guide

Haitian Creole (kreyòl ayisyen) is one of the official languages of Haiti along with French. The former is spoken by 8.5 million people in Haiti, which is nearly the entire population. It is also spoken by large Haitian communities in several nearby countries, among the United States, the Bahamas, the 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 Haitian Creole is based on French, although it differs greatly from standard French because of the lack of grammatical gender and verb inflection.

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.

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!

Driving

Authority

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