What You Will Learn
1. How to count from zero to 100
2. How to remember common patterns
How to Count from Zero to Nine
Fun Fact: Counting in Haitian Creole is almost exactly the same as counting in French. There are only slight differences in spelling and pronunciation.
Be Careful When Saying 'En' When Speaking
- When you are simply talking and not counting, say en mainly when referring to numbers used for identification, such as PINs, phone numbers, ID numbers, and numbered lists.
Examples of When to Say 'En'
1. Phone Numbers
My number starts with one.
Nimewo mwen kòmanse ak en.
2. ID Numbers
My number starts with one.
Nimewo mwen kòmanse ak en.
3. Numbered Lists
Se nimewo en nan lis la.
It's number one on the list.
Check our lesson on how to say a or an in Haitian Creole for more info.
How to Count by 10 (10 - 100)
It may be easier if you learn how to count by 10 before learning the bigger numbers in Creole.
Why It's Useful to Learn How to Count by 10 First
For instance, suppose someone who speaks Creole asks you Konbyen? (How many?)
You can simply reply by giving an estimated number such as anviwon ven (around 20) instead of something specific like 'venntwa' (23).
This makes it much easier for someone who is learning Haitian Creole.
How to Count from 20 to 59
- From 21 to 59, the numbers that come immediately after a multiple of 10—21, 31, 41, and 51—end in eyen in Creole. The ending eyen literally means and one in English.
As such, a Creole number such as tranteyen (31) literally means 'thirty-and-one.'
How to Count from 60 to 100
- Numbers in the 70s and 90s work differently in Haitian Creole.
- To form numbers in the 70s and 90s, start with 60 or 80 and add 10, then 11, 12, 13, and so on.
So, in the case of the 70s in Creole, start by adding 10 to 60 and then go up from there (e.g., 60+10 is swasann-dis).
The same applies to the 90s in Creole (e.g., 80+11 is katreven-onz).
Some Things to Remember
Once you know the basic patterns, you have won half the battle!
The patterns you must especially focus on are the numbers that end in eyen and the addition patterns used for numbers in the 70s and 90s.
Knowing these patterns helps prevent you from making mistakes while saying numbers in Haitian Creole. Therefore, if you understand these patterns, counting in Creole will be easy for you.