What You Will Learn
In this lesson, you will learn the Haitian Creole words for some of the main parts of the body.
In other lessons, you will learn more specific vocabulary for parts of the face, internal organs, fingers, toes, and other areas of the body.
Key Body Parts in Haitian Creole
- 1. Tèt - Head
- 2. Cheve - Hair
- 3. Sousi - Eyebrow / eyebrows
- 4. Je - Eye / eyes
- 5. Nen - Nose
- 6. Zòrèy - Ear / ears
- 7. Figi - Face
- 8. Bouch - Mouth
- 9. Kou - Neck
- 10. Zepòl - Shoulder / shoulders
- 11. Kò - Body
- 12. Lestomak - Chest / stomach
- 13. Lonbrit - Belly button / navel
- 14. Vant - Belly / abdomen
- 15. Bra - Arm
- 16. Koud - Elbow
- 17. Avanbra / anvan bra - Forearm
- 18. Ponyèt - Wrist
- 19. Men - Hand
- 20. Do - Back
- 21. Dèyè - Buttocks / butt
- 22. Kwis / kuis - Thigh
- 23. Jenou - Knee
- 24. Janm - Leg
- 25. Pye - Foot / feet
- 26. Zòtèy - Toe / toes
Note: Haitian Creole nouns generally do not change form to show whether they are singular or plural. For example, je can mean eye or eyes, depending on the sentence.
Does “Lestomak” Really Mean “Chest”?
Yes. In Haitian Creole, lestomak can refer to the chest, but it can also refer to the stomach or the general area at the front of the upper body.
Because the meaning can depend on the context, you can use vant when you specifically mean the belly or abdomen.
You can also use pwatrin when you specifically mean the chest.
Native speakers commonly understand lestomak in reference to the chest, so you should become familiar with that usage. However, you do not need to avoid pwatrin. It is a useful and more specific word for the chest.
Consider these examples:
Lestomak mwen ap fè m mal. - My chest or stomach hurts.
Mwen gen doulè nan pwatrin mwen. - I have pain in my chest.
Vant mwen ap fè m mal. - My stomach or belly hurts.
The surrounding situation usually makes the intended meaning clear.