How to Contract Object Pronouns in Haitian Creole

What You Will Learn

The Creole object pronouns are mwen (me), ou (you), li (him/her/it), nou (us / you [plural]), and yo (them).

The key point to keep in mind throughout this lesson is that object pronouns can often be shortened in certain contexts, especially after a word that ends with a vowel sound.

How to Contract Object Pronouns

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

This applies to both 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 often contract object pronouns after words that end with any of those vowels.

You can often 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

Be Careful When Contracting the Object Pronoun "Yo"

The short form of yo is y, and it can appear in object position in certain contexts.
Because y can sometimes be less clear to learners, using the full form yo is often the clearest choice.
When you use yo as an object pronoun, it means them.

The object pronoun yo can also have the short form y in certain contexts.

For clear learner writing, the full form yo is often the safest choice, although y is also a valid short form in certain contexts.

Examples

1. Take them for me

Full form: Pran yo pou mwen

Short form: Pran y pou mwen

2. Tighten them for me

Full form: Sere yo pou mwen

Short form: Sere y pou mwen

Be Careful When Contracting Object Pronouns After "Nan" and "Sou"

For clarity, it is often better to use the full pronoun after the Creole words nan and sou.
Short forms can occur after these words, but the full forms may be easier for learners to understand.

Using full object pronouns after the words nan and sou can improve clarity.

Examples

1. Stay in it

Clearer: Rete nan li

Shorter form: Rete nan l

2. Put it on me instead

Clearer: Mete l sou mwen pito

Shorter form: Mete l sou m pito

Be Careful When Contracting After "Pou"

You will most often shorten pronouns after pou when pou means in order to, in order for, so that, or something similar.
For example, Pou ou ka viv can naturally be shortened to Pou w ka viv.

When pou simply means for, it is usually better not to shorten the pronoun. Doing so can sound unnatural to native Haitian Creole speakers.

Yo is an exception. Do not shorten yo to y after pou, even when pou means in order to, in order for, so that, and so on.

Good Example

1. In order for you to live

Pou ou ka viv

Pou w ka viv

In this example, pou means in order for, so contracting ou as w sounds natural.

Avoid This Form

2. Take this for me

Pran sa pou m

Pran sa pou mwen

In this example, pou simply means for. Although you may occasionally encounter a contracted form in certain contexts, contracting the pronoun here sounds unnatural or unusual to many native Haitian Creole speakers. It is generally better to say pou mwen.

Avoid Contracting "Yo" After "Pou"

3. Cook this so that they can eat

Kwit sa a pou y ka manje

Kwit sa a pou yo ka manje

Even though pou means so that in this example, do not contract yo as y after pou. Say pou yo.

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.