How to Tell Time in Haitian Creole

Beginner Lessons

What You Will Learn

1. Saying the hours shown on a clock

2. Asking what time it is

3. Saying what time it is

4. Telling time with minutes (e.g., 7:38)

5. Using expressions such as quarter past, half past, and quarter to

How to Say the Hours on a Clock

When writing a time numerically, you can place è after the number.
For example, 8 o'clock (8:00) can be written as 8è.

The hours on a clock in Haitian Creole are inè (one o'clock), dezè (two o'clock), twazè (three o'clock), katrè (four o'clock), senkè (five o'clock), sizè (six o'clock), setè (seven o'clock), uitè (eight o'clock), nevè (nine o'clock), dizè (ten o'clock), and onzè (eleven o'clock). Midi means noon, and minui means midnight.

For noon and midnight, you can use midi (noon) and minui (midnight).

Example 1

Uitè (8è)

8 o'clock (8:00)

Example 2

Twazè (3è)

3 o'clock (3:00)

How to Ask for the Time

To ask for the current time, say Ki lè li ye? (What time is it?)
To ask when a specific event will take place, say Ki lè and then mention the event.

For example, suppose that you want to say When is the game? in Haitian Creole.

In Creole, that would be Ki lè jwèt la?

As you can see, jwèt la (the game) comes after Ki lè.

To ask what time it is in Haitian Creole, say Ki lè li ye? To ask when an event will take place, say Ki lè followed by the event.

Example 1

Ki lè entèvyou a?

When is the interview?

Example 2

Ki lè jwèt la?

When is the game?

How to Answer What Time It Is

To answer what time it is, simply say Li and then say the time.

For example, suppose that you want to say It's seven o'clock.

The Haitian Creole translation is Li setè.

To say what time it is in Haitian Creole, say Li followed by the time.

Example 1

Li setè.

It is seven o'clock.

Example 2

Li midi.

It is noon.

How to Tell Time with Minutes

Say the hour and then say the number of minutes.

For example, suppose that you want to say seven twenty-eight (7:28).

In Creole, that would be setè ventuit (7è 28).

The time seven twenty-eight is setè ventuit in Haitian Creole.

Example

9:32

Nevè trannde

Nine thirty-two

See our lesson on counting numbers in Haitian Creole.

How to Express Quarter Past, Half Past, and Quarter to the Hour

Enka means 15 minutes past the hour.
Edmi means 30 minutes past the hour.
Mwennka means 15 minutes before the next hour.

Enka means quarter past, edmi means half past, and mwennka means quarter to in Haitian Creole.

The word ka originated from the French word quart, which means "quarter."

Example 1

6:15

Sizè enka

Quarter past six

Example 2

6:30

Sizè edmi

Half past six

Example 3

6:45

Setè mwennka

Quarter to seven

To express other times before the next hour, say mwen (minus).

Example 4

6:40

Setè mwen ven

Twenty minutes to seven

What About AM and PM?

You may also use AM and PM in Haitian Creole, since many Haitians are familiar with these terms and will understand what you mean.

To be more specific, you can say that something happens in the morning, afternoon, or evening. See our lesson on parts of the day in Haitian Creole.