CREOLE … basics to learn like a mofo

Proverbs & Expressions

 Men anpil, chay pa lou - Unity creates strength (With many hands, the burden is light) - The
Haitian creole equivalent of the Haitian motto written in French "L'union fait la force".
 Apre bal, tanbou lou - There are consequences to your actions
 Sak vid pa kanpe - You can't work without food. (Literally: An empty sack does not stand)
 Pitit tig se tig - Like father like son. (Literally: the son of a tiger is a tiger).
 Ak pasyans w ap wè tete foumi - Anything is possible. (Literally: With patience you will see
the breast of the ant)
 Bay kou bliye, pòte mak sonje – The giver of the blow forgets, the carrier of the scar
remembers
 Mache chèche pa janm dòmi san soupe - You will get what you deserve
 Bèl dan pa di zanmi – Just because one smiles at you doesn't mean they're your friend
 Bèl entèman pa di paradi – A beautiful funeral doesn't guarantee heaven
 Bel fanm pa di bon menaj - A beautiful wife doesn't guarantee a happy marriage.
 Dan konn mode lang - People who work together sometimes hurt each other (Literally: Teeth
are known to bite the tongue).
 Sak rive koukouloulou a sa rive kakalanga tou – What happens to the turkey can happen to the
rooster too.
 Chak jou pa Dimanch - Your luck won't last forever. (Literally: Not every day is Sunday).
 Fanm pou yon tan, manman pou tout tan – Wife for one time, mother for all time
 Nèg di san fè, Bondye fè san di – People say without doing, God does without saying
 Sa Bondye sere pou ou, lavalas pa ka pote l ale - What God has saved for you, nobody can
take it away.
 Nèg rich se milat, milat pov se nèg – A rich negro is a mulatto, a poor mulatto is a negro
 Pale franse pa di lèspri ou – Speaking French doesn't mean you're smart.
 Wòch nan dlo pa konnen doulè wòch nan solèy – The rock in the water doesn't know the pain
of the rock in the sun
 Ravèt pa janm gen rezon devan poul - Justice will always be on the side of the stronger
 Si ou bwè dlo nan vè, respèkte vè a – If you drink water from a glass, respect the glass
 Si travay te bon bagay, moun rich ta pran l lontan – If work were a good thing, the rich
would've grabbed it a long time ago
 Sèl pa vante tèt li di li sale - Let others praise you (Said to ridicule those who praise
themselves)
 Bouch granmoun santi, sak ladan l se rezon - Wisdom comes from the mouth of old people

Expressions

 Se lave men, siye l atè - It was useless work (Literally: Wash your hands and wipe them on the
floor)
 M ap di ou sa kasayòl te di bèf la - Mind your own business
 Li pale franse – He cannot be trusted, he's a trickster. (Literally: He speaks French)
 Kreyòl pale, kreyòl konprann – Speak plainly, do not deceive (Literally: Creole spoken is
Creole understood)
 Bouche nen w pou bwè dlo santi - You have to accept a bad situation (Literally: Pinch your
nose to drink smelly water)
 Mache sou pinga w pou ou pa pile sou sa w te konnen - You need to be careful to avoid
known problems
 Tann jis nou tounen pwa tann - To wait forever (Literally: Wait until you become a tender
pea) - Word play on "tann", which means "to wait" and also "tender"
 San pran souf - Without taking a breath – Continuously
 Haitian Creole alphabet (Alfabè Kreyòl la)
Today Jodi-a 15 Kenz
Tomorrow Demen
Yesterday Yè Directions/Getting Around
Monday Lendi Where is the… Ki Kote … la ye?
Tuesday madi Market Mache
Wednesday Mèkredi Bus stand Stasyon bis
Thursday Jedi School lekòl
Friday Vandredi Bathroom Twalèt
Saturday Samdí What do you call this …? Kòman ... sa-a rele?

Sunday Dimanch

M,. Greetings Simple Interation

Numbers Months of the year
Hello Alo (more commonly used on phone)
1 Yonn 16  Sez
How are you Kòman ou ye? Yes Wi
2 De 17 Disèt January            Zanvye
I am well/bad Mwen byen/mal No Non
3 Twa 18 Disuit
And how are you? Kòman ou ye tou? I don’t
4 Kat 19 Diznèf
understand Mwen pa konprann February          Fevriye
5 Senk 20 Ven
Good morning Bonjou
6 Sis 30 Trant
Please speak slower
7 Sèt 40 Karant March              Mars
Tanpri pale pi dousman
8 Uit 50 Senkant
Good afternoon/evening
9- Nèf 60 Swasant
10 Dis 70 Swasant dis
Bonswa (used from 12PM to dark) April                 Avril
Do you speak French/English? Èske ou pale
11 Onz 80 Katreven
fransè/anglè? May                 Me
12 Douz 90 Katreven dis
Goodnight Bòn nui (as a farewell) I don’t speak
13 Trèz 100 San
Creole. Mwen pa pale Kreyòl
14 katòz 1000 Mil June                 Zen
Goodbye Orevwa I/You Mwen/ou
15 Kenz
See you tomorrow Na wè demen We Nou
See you later Na wè pita He/she Li/Li July                  Zilyet
Days of the week Please Tanpri They Yo
Thank you Mèsi
You’re welcome Pa de kwa August              Out
Monday           Lendi

Tuesday           Mardi September        Septanm

Wednesday      Merkredi October           Oktob

Thursday          Zedi November        Novanm

Friday              Vandredi December        Desanm

Saturday           Sanmdi

Sunday             Dimans