Practice your vocabulary
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1. Over 60 most common words and phrases in Haitian Creole organized into key categories
2. Essential facts you need to keep in mind about these phrases
1. Bonjou – Hi / Hello / Good morning
2. Bonswa – Hi / Hello / Good Evening
3. Kòman ou ye? / Ki jan ou ye? – How are you?
4. Mwen byen – I am well
Note: Say m ap aprann Kreyòl when you feel overwhelmed if Haitians are speaking full-blown Haitian Creole to you as a beginner. This makes them happy that you are learning their language, and this reminds them to slow down for you.
5. Sa k pase? – What's up?
6. N ap boule – We're hanging in there (Lit. "We're burning")
7. Na wè pita – See you later
8. Mwen pa konprann – I don't understand
9. Pale pi dousman – Speak more slowly
Note: You can also simply say dousman (means 'slowly').
10. Repete, souple – Repeat, please
Note: You can also simply say repete (means 'repeat').
11. Kijan yo di [point to the object] an Kreyòl? – How do you say [this] in Creole?
12. Mwen pale yon ti kras Kreyòl – I speak a little Creole
13. Mwen pa konnen – I don't know
14. Wi – Yes
15. Non – No
16. Dakò / Oke – Okay
17. Se vre – It's true
18. Se pa vre – It's not true
19. Genlè / Petèt / Sanble... – Maybe
Note: You can also use wi and non at the end of a phrase to add more emphasis to what you are saying (find out more in this lesson).
For example, you can use wi at the end of a sentence to show that you agree or recommend something, and you use non at the end of a sentence to show you really disagree with something or to show you are stressing something is urgent.
20. Mèsi – Thank you
21. Pa gen pwoblèm – No problem
22. Tanpri / Silvouplè / Souple – Please
23. Padon – Excuse me / Sorry
24. Eskize m – Excuse me
25. Se yon plezi – It's a pleasure
Note: Saying wi at the end of these phrases above adds more emphasis and makes you sound more down to earth.
26. Ki sa? – What?
27. Ki moun? / Kiyès – Who?
28. Ki kote? – Where?
29. Kiyès? – Which one?
30. Kòman? / Ki jan? – How?
31. Poukisa? – Why?
32. Èske? – (Question marker, like "Is it...?")
Note: The Haitian Creole question word èske can mean any other question words that normally start as does, is, should, will, can, etc.
33. Konbyen? – How much? / How many?
34. Mwen grangou – I am hungry
35. Mwen swaf – I am thirsty
36. Mwen fatige / Mwen bouke – I am tired
37. Mwen vle – I want
38. Mwen bezwen – I need
39. Ban mwen – Give me
40. Mwen cho – I am hot
41. Mwen frèt – I am cold
42. Mwen renmen – I like / I love
43. Mwen pa renmen – I don't like
Note: You can shorten or contract the word mwen as m for simplicity. For example, if you do this mwen grangou will then be m grangou.
44. Jodi a – Today
45. Demen – Tomorrow
46. Yè – Yesterday
47. Maten an – The morning
48. Apre midi a – The afternoon
49. Lendi – Monday
50. Madi – Tuesday
51. Mèkredi – Wednesday
52. Jedi – Thursday
53. Vandredi – Friday
54. Samdi – Saturday
55. Dimanch – Sunday
Note: If you speak Spanish, learning the days of the week may be easier for you. The reason is because the days of the week in Creole and in Spanish start with the same letters.
56. Gason – Man
57. Fi / Fanm – Woman / Lady
58. Ti gason – Boy (Lit. Little man)
59. Ti fi – Girl (Lit. Little woman)
60. Mwen – I, Me, My, Mine
61. Ou – You, Your, Yours
62. Li – He, She, It, His, Her, Its
63. Nou – We, Us, Our, Ours
64. Yo – They, Them, Their, Theirs
Note: Haitian Creole generally doesn't use grammatical gender for pronouns. For example, the Haitian Creole pronoun li can mean he or she. This may sound confusing at first, but you will know from the context who the person is referring to.
By knowing these basic words and phrases, it will be easier to start a basic conversation in Haitian Creole. Of course, the more you speak Haitian Creole with others, the easier it will be to immerse yourself and learn the language.
This creates a great feedback loop and allows you to progress in the language faster and faster. So, use these phrases as a way to get your foot in the door to totally immerse yourself.
1. How to pronounce the Letter R from the throat
2. Fun facts about the letter R in Haitian Creole
It is very important to know how pronounce the letter R, because it's one of the key ways to sounding more like native speaker or more natural when you are speaking Haitian Creole.
Please be sure to watch the video on how to pronounce the letter R to actually how it sounds like.
This is because the letter R sounds quite different than English. Therefore, it's best to see and hear an actual demonstration of how to pronounce it.
1. Retire - To remove
2. Mare - To tie something
3. Detire - To strech out something
4. Rejte - To reject
5. Separe - Separate
6. Rale -To pull
7. Rele -To call / shout / cry out
8. Renmen -To like / love
9. Rido -To Curtain
10. Branch -Branch
11. Bri -Noise
12. Dra - Bed sheet
1. The name of the letter R itselft in Haitian Creole is Èr.
2. It sounds like saying air, like the air you breathe. But, of course, remember it is mainly pronounced from your throat.
1. How to say someone is beautiful or pretty in Haitian Creole
2. How to emphasize someone is really beautiful or pretty
Cheri, cheve w bèl jodi a.
Honey, your hair is pretty today.
Cheri, cheve w vrèman bèl jodi a
Honey, your hair is really pretty today
Cheri, cheve w bèl anpil jodi a
Honey, your hair is very pretty today
Fun Fact: The word anpil literally means in a pile or in a heap. It comes from the French word en pile. The meaning in Haitian Creole is very or a lot
Haitians often show emphasis by repeating a word several times or by prolonging the pronunciation.
For example, one you can emphasize even more that someone is really beautiful by saying ou vrèman, vrèman bèl or ou vrèèèèman bèl.
1. The letters of the Haitian Creole alphabet
2. How to pronounce to each letter
1. a sounds like /a/ in apple
2. an sounds like /an/ in want. It does not sound like un in under but as /an/ in want. It's a firm, abrupt sound that does not prolong.
3. b sounds like /b/ in boy
4. ch sounds like /sh/ in share. It does not sound like ch in chapter nor ch in character but as /sh/ in share.
5. d sounds like /d/ in dog
6. e sounds like /i/ in sit. It does not sound like e in excellent but as /i/ in sit.
7. è sounds like /e/ in get
8. en sounds like /en/ in sent. It does not sound like en in entrance but as /en/ in sent. It's a firm, abrupt sound that does not prolong.
9. f sounds like /f/ in face
10. g sounds like /g/ in game
11. h sounds like /h/ in happy
12. i sounds like /ee/ in feet. It does not sound like i in it but as /ee/ in feet.
13. j sounds like /s/ in vision. It does not sound like j in juice but as /s/ in vision.
14. k sounds like /k/ in kiss
15. l sounds like /l/ in love
16. m sounds like /m/ in mom
17. n sounds like /n/ in nest
18. ng works very similar to the way it does in English.
19. o sounds like /o/ in boat. But, in Haitian Creole it's a shorter, more abrupt sound
20. ò sounds like /o/ in or. It basically sounds like the word or without saying the r
21. on sounds like /on/ in don't. But, in Haitian Creole, the sound is more firm and abrupt.
22. ou sounds like /oo/ in boot. But, in Haitian Creole, the sound is more firm and abrupt.
23. oun sounds like /oon/ in moon.
24. p sounds like /p/ in pen
25. r comes from the throat (see video)
26. s sounds like /s/ in see
27. t sounds like /t/ in touch
28. ui sounds like yoowee. Think of it as combining the English words you and we
29. v sounds like /v/ in vein
30. w sounds like /w/ in water
31. y sounds like /y/ in yes
32. z sounds like /z/ in zoo
Knowing the Haitian Creole alphabet is a great way to start, because it shows you many of the key sounds.
Please be sure to view other lessons in our Haitian Creole pronunciation series to fine tune your skills even further.
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1. 100 most common verbs in Haitian Creole organized into key categories
2. Important facts you need to keep in mind about these verbs
1. Se – Be
2. Ye – Be
Note: Both se and ye mean to be. The difference is you can use ye at the end of a sentence.
3. Genyen / Gen – Have
4. Fè – Do / Make
5. Di – Say
6. Ale – Go
7. Al – Go
8. Kapab / Ka – Can
9. Jwenn / Resevwa – Find / Receive
10. Ta – Would
11. Konnen – Know
12. Konn – Know
13. Pran – Take / Get
14. Bay – Give
15. Di – Say / Tell
16. Rakonte – Say / Tell (a story or event)
17. Mande – Ask
18. Poze – Pose (to pose a question) *2
Note: Poze can also mean to rest or to calm down. The reason is because it is can also be shorter version of the repoze, which means to rest.
19. Pale – Talk / Speak
20. Rele – Call / Shout / Scream
21. Reponn – Answer/Respond
22. Kriye – Cry
23. Esplike – Explain
24. Mansyone – Mention
25. Sijere – Suggest
26. Montre – Show
27. Wè – See
28. Gade – Watch / Look
29. Suiv – Follow / Watch
30. Veye – On the Lookout / Look after
31. Siveye – On the Lookout / Look after
32. Tande – Hear
33. Koute – Listen / Cost
Note: When talking about money or finances, koute also means cost.
34. Santi – Smell / Feel
35. Goute – Taste
36. Manyen – Touch / Work with
37. Remake – Notice
38. Rekonèt – Recognize
39. Obsève – Observe
40. Panse – Think
41. Reflechi – Think / Reflect
42. Kwè – Believe /Trust
43. Konprann – Understand
44. Sonje – Remember
45. Bliye – Forget
46. Imajine – Imagine
47. Devine – Guess
48. Deside – Decide
49. Chwazi – Choose
50. Espere – Hope
51. Swete – Wish
52. Reyalize / Remake – Realize
Note: The words reyalize and remake almost mean same thing. The main difference is that remake more specifically means to notice something.
53. Konte – Count / Rely
54. Deplase – Move / Displace
55. Bouje – Budge / Move
56. Mache – Walk
57. Kouri – Run
58. Sote – Skip / Jump
59. Vole – Jump / Fly
60. Naje – Swim
61. Pouse – Push
62. Rale – Pull
63. Trennen – Drag / Crawl against a surface or the ground
64. Tann – Wait
65. Pote – Carry / Bring
66. Mennen – Bring
Note: The words pote and mennen almost mean same thing. The main difference is that mennen more specifically means to bring something.
67. Retounen – Return
68. Remèt – Give back / Return
69. Tonbe – Fall
70. Rive – Arrive / Happen
71. Pase – Pass / Spend time
72. Manje – Eat
73. Bwè – Drink
74. Dòmi – Sleep
75. Leve – Raise / Lift / Wake
76. Bese – To lower something / To lower your body or part of it like your head or hand
77. Respire – Breathe
78. Frape – Hit / Knock / Crash into
79. Fwote – Rub
80. Sere – Tighten / Squeeze
81. Kwense – Narrow / Corner
82. Peze – Press
83. Lage – Release / Let go
84. Fè mal – Hurt (Lit. "Make / Do Bad)
85. Geri – Heal
86. Itilize – Use / Utilize
87. Sèvi avèk / Sèvi ak – Use / Utilize
88. Kenbe – Keep / Hold
89. Travay – Work
90. Bati – Build
91. Konstwi – Build
92. Kreye – Create
93. Koupe – Cut
94. Ekri – Write
95. Kopye – Copy
96. Efase – Erase
97. Tape – Type
98. Desine – Draw
99. Trase – Trace / Draw
100. Repare – Repair
101. Ranje – Fix
102. Netwaye – Clean
103. Pwòpte – Clean
104. Monte – Get on something / Go up / Climb
105. Desann – Get down from something / Go down / Descend
106. Ogmante – Increase / Augment
107. Diminiye – Decrease / Diminish
108. Mete – Put
109. Retire – Remove
110. Wete – Remove
111. Demonte – Disassemble
112. Enstale – Install
113. Sekwe – Shake
114. Souke – Shake
115. Tranble – Tremble / Rattle / Quiver / Shiver
116. Vibre – Vibrate
Note: The Creole word vibre more specifically means to vibrate.
117. Chanje – Change / Modify
118. Kòmanse – Start / begin / Commence
119. Fini – Finish / End
120. Sispann – Stop
121. Kanpe – Stand / Stop
122. Chita – Sit down
123. Renmen – Love / Like
124. Rayi – Hate
125. Vle – Want
126. Anvi – Want
127. Bezwen – Need
128. Prefere – Prefer
129. Pito – Rather / Prefer
130. Manke – Miss
131. Pran plezi – Enjoy
132. Jwi – Enjoy
133. Rejwi – Rejoice
134. Pran Swen – Take Care
Note: Like English, Haitian Creole has short phrases that often act like a verb such as pran swen, fè mal, pran plezi and so on.
135. Damou – Fall in love
136. Marye – Marry
137. Separe – Separate
138. Divòse – Divorce
139. Bo – Kiss
140. Anbrase – Hug
141. Souri – Smile
142. Ri – Laugh / Giggle
143. Karese – Touch gently
144. Kite – Let
145. Pèmèt – Allow / Permit
146. Rete – Stay
147. Achte – Buy
148. Vann – Sell
149. Peye – Pay
150. Koute – Cost
151. Depanse – Spend
152. Voye – Send
153. Resevwa – Receive
154. Ekonomize – Save / Save Money
155. Sere – Hide / Save something
156. Fè Ekonomi – Save / Save Money
157. Touche – Earn
158. Dwe – Owe
159. Prete – Lend / Borrow
160. Envesti – Invest
161. Twoke – Exchange
162. Boukante – Exchange
163. Chèche – Search / Look for
164. Fouye – Dig
165. Kache – Hide
166. Ede – Help
167. Eseye – Try
168. Seye – Try
169. Pèdi – Lose
170. Jwenn – Find
171. Twouve – Find
Like English and French, you can at times use the prefix re- for some verbs to show repetition
Here are some examples:
1. Remonte - Reassaemble
2. Refè - Redo
3. Revoye - Resend
Knowing these verbs will give you major lead, because they are some of the most common verbs Haitians use in everyday conversations.
Be sure to use our practice lesson to make it easier to remember those verbs.
Once you learn all of those surprised, you will have an easier time listening and carrying basic conversations in Haitian Creole
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