What You Will Learn
The Creole subject pronouns are Mwen (I), Nou (We), Ou (You), Li (He/She/It) and Yo (They).
In this lesson, you will learn how to contract subject pronouns before the words ap and ale.
Use these contractions as often as possible when speaking Haitian Creole. The more you use contractions when you speak, the more you sound like a fluent, native speaker.
How to Contract Subject Pronouns
- 1. You can mainly contract Creole subject pronouns before the words ap or ale.
- 2. You can also shorten the word ale as al. The meaning is the same (see example 1 below).
Steps to Contract
1. Keep only the first letter.
2. Combine it with the words ap or ale. Although they are spaced apart, pronounce the contraction as one word.
The only exception to this is the word ou. It becomes a w when you shorten it. The reason is because it starts with a vowel. This is why it's contractions are w ale or w ap.
Example 1
I go to school.
Mwen ale lekòl.
M ale lekòl.
M al lekòl.
Example 2
He is sleeping.
Li ap dòmi.
L ap dòmi.
The Meaning of "Ap" and "Ale"
The Creole word ale means to go.
The Creole word ap is a tense marker that shows an ongoing action or the future.
For example, the Creole sentence "M ap jwe" means "I will play or I am playing".