Haitian Creole phrasebook
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 ____ ?
- Kote mewn ka achte ____ ?
- That's too expensive.
- Se twò chè.
- I will give you ____ .
- Si mewn ba ou ____ .
- OK!
- Dakò!