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How to Tell Time in Haitian Creole

Beginner Lesson


local_library What You Will Learn

In this Lesson, you will learn the following in Haitian Creole:

1. Saying hours from the clock

2. Asking what time it is

3. Saying what time it is

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

5. Expressing clock-based time

How to Say the Hours From Clock in Haitian Creole

In Creole, the hours from the clock end as è. 

For example, suppose that you want to say eight O'clock in Creole.

All you have to do is say uit (eight) and then è. So, the Creole translation of that is uitè.

The only exceptions to this are midi (noon) and minui (midnight).



How to Ask What Time It is

To ask for the time, say Ki lè li ye?  (what time is it?)

Now if you want to be more specific by mentioning the event, simply say Ki lè and then mention the event.

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

The translation of that would be Ki lè reyinyon an? As you can see, reyinyon (the event) comes after Ki lè.

Consider These Examples


1. Ki lè entèvyou a? → When is the interview?

2. Ki lè asanble a? → When is the assembly?

3. Ki lè reyinyon an? → When is the meeting

The words a and an mean "the." See lesson on How to Use Creole definite articles


How to Say What Time it is

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

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

The translation of that would simply be Li setè.

Consider These Examples


1. Li senkè → It is five o'clock

2. Li sizè → It is six o'clock

3. Li setè → It is seven o'clock


How to Tell the Time with Minutes

Say the hours from the clock and then say the number of minutes

Suppose that you want to say It is seven twenty in Haitian Creole.

The translation of that would be Li setè ven.

Consider These Examples


1. Li senkè dis → It is five ten

2. Li sizè ven → It is six twenty

3. Li setè trant → It is seven thirty

See our lesson on counting numbers in Haitian Creole 


How to Say Quarter Past, Quarter to, etc.

The Creole word for quarter past is enka.

The Creole word for half past is edmi.

The Creole word for quarter to is mwennka.

For example, setè enka means a quarter past seven (7:15).


Consider These Examples


1. Li senkè enka → It is a quarter past five

2. Li senkè edmi → It is half past five

3. Li sizè mwennka → It is quarter to six

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