How to Contract Object Pronouns in Haitian Creole

What You Will Learn

The Creole object pronouns are Mwen (Me), Nou (Us), Ou (You), Li (Him/Her/It ) and Yo (Them).

The key point to keep in mind throughout this lesson is that you can mainly contract object pronouns after a word that ends with a vowel.

How to Contract Object Pronouns

You can contract an object pronoun after a word that ends with a vowel

This applies to both types of vowels. Now, the two types of Creole vowels are nasal and non-nasal vowels.

The nasal vowels are an, en and on. The non-nasal vowels are a, e, è, i, o, ò and ou.

You can contract object pronouns after words that end with any of those vowels.

You can contract object pronouns after a vowel.

Examples

1. Give me

Ban mwen

Ban m

2. He chose you

Li te chwazi ou

Li te chwazi w

3. Call us tomorrow

Rele nou demen

Rele n demen

4. Put her on the list

Mete li nan lis la

Mete l nan lis la

Don't Contract the Object Pronoun Yo

Don't contract yo when using it as an object pronoun
When you use yo as an object pronoun, it means them

Avoid contracting 'yo' after object pronouns

Examples

1. Take them for me

Right: Pran yo pou mwen

Wrong: Pran y pou mwen

2. Tighten them for me

Right: Sere yo pou mwen

Wrong: Sere y pou mwen

Don't Contract Object Pronouns After "Nan" and "Sou"

Avoid contracting object pronouns after the Creole words nan and sou even though they end with a vowel.
Contracting object pronouns after those words causes confusion.

Avoid contracting object pronouns after the words 'nan' and 'sou'

Examples

1. Stay in it

Right: Rete nan li

Wrong: Rete nan l

2. Put it on me instead

Right: Mete l sou mwen pito

Wrong: Mete l sou m pito

Be Careful When Contracting After "Pou"

It is better to contract object pronouns after pou when you use it as a conjunction.
When you use pou as a conjunction, it can mean in order to, in order for or so that.

Yo is the only exception. Avoid contracting it after pou even when you use it as a conjunction.

Good Example

1. In order for you to live

Pou ou ka viv

Pou w ka viv

Bad Example

2. Take this for me

Pran sa pou m

Pran sa pou mwen

This example is wrong because you should mainly contract object pronouns after pou if they mean in order to, in order for, so that and so on.

Bad Example

2. Cook this so that they can eat

Kuit sa a pou y ka manje

Kuit sa a pou yo ka manje

This example is wrong because you should avoid contracting yo after pou even when it is used as a conjunction.

Is This Too Hard?

It's okay if you think it is. That's quite a bit to remember!

Something that will really help is knowing how to effectively use the pronouns in Haitian Creole. Please see our lesson on using pronouns in Haitian Creole.

As you get comfortable using the pronouns correctly, it will be easier to transition into using contractions.