Haitian Creole 'Se' Verb Practice
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Practice the Most Common Verbs in Haitian Creole
Common Haitian Creole Verbs Practice
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100+ Most Common Verbs in Haitian Creole
Beginner Lessons
Practice Now
What You Will Learn
1. 100 most common verbs in Haitian Creole organized into key categories
2. Important facts you need to keep in mind about these verbs
Top 100 Verbs
Core Verbs (Essential)
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
Communication Verbs
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
Sensory & Perception Verbs
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
Thought & Decision Verbs
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
Physical Action & Movement Verbs
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
Creation & Work Verbs
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
Emotion & Relationship Verbs
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
Money & Commerce Verbs
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
Search & Utility Verbs
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
Use Re- for Repetition
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 Makes a Big Difference!
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
Haitian Creole Word Order Practice Lesson
Haitian Creole Word Order Practice
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Practice Lesson Parts Day Creole
Haitian Creole: Parts of the Day Practice
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Haitian Creole Word Order Explained
Intermediate Lessons
Practice Now
What You Will Learn
1. Word order of indefinite articles (a or an)
2. Word order of definite articles (the)
3. Word order of possessive pronouns (my, your,etc.)
4. Word order of adjectives (nice, good, bad, etc.)
Word Order of Indefinite Articles
- 1. Like English, the Creole indefinite yon article always come before a word.
- 2. The Haitian Creole indefinite article yon means a or an.
The indefinite article always come before a word in Haitian Creole.
Examples
1. I need a box of candy.
Mwen vle yon bwat sirèt.
2. He is a good friend.
Li se yon bon zanmi.
Word Order of Definite Articles
- 1. Unlike English, the definite article always comes after a word in Haitian Creole.
- 2. Haitian Creole have five words for definite article the.
- 3. They are a, la, an, lan, and nan. Yo is used for plural words.
The definite article always come after a word in Haitian Creole.
Examples
1. I need the box of candy.
Mwen vle bwat sirèt la.
2. He is the good friend.
Li se bon zanmi an.
Word Order of Possessive Pronouns
- 1. Unlike English, pronouns that show ownership always come after a word.
- 2. The Haitian Creole possessive pronouns are mwen, nou, ou, li and yo.
Possessive pronouns always come after a word in Haitian Creole.
Examples
1. I need my box of candy.
Mwen vle bwat sirèt mwen.
2. He is my good friend.
Li se bon zanmi mwen.
Word Order of Adjectives - Tricky At First
- 1. An adjective can come before or after a word depending on the situation.
- 2. But, in most situations, adjectives usually come after a word in Haitian Creole.
- 3. The image below shows some adjecives that often come before a word in Haitian Creole.
Some adjectives come before a word in Haitian Creole.
Before the Noun Examples
1. She is a beautiful woman.
Li se yon bèl fi.
2. You have a big house.
Ou gen yon gwo kay.
After the Noun Examples
1. No, the product will make me have ugly hair.
Non, pwodui a ap fè mwen gen cheve lèd.
2. You have really long hair.
Ou vrèman gen cheve long.
Haitian Creole adjectives usually (not always) come after a word.
Be Patient
It will take time to get used to the word order in Haitian Creole -- particularly the word order of adjectives.
Start by remembering the adjectives that usually come before a noun. The rest will be much easier, because they usually come after a noun.
How to Count Money in Haitian Creole
Intermediate Lessons
What You Will Learn
1. How to say common financial terms
2. How Money Works in Haitian Creole
3. How to Convert 'Haitian Dollars' to Haitian Gourdes
4. Why Haitians Say 'Haitian Dollars' (Dola Ayisyen) When It's Not Real Money
How to Say Money-related Terms in Haitian Creole
- The Haitian Creole word for money is lajan or kòb.
Common financial terms in Haitian Creole
These Terms Are Useful If...
1. If you work with Haitians, especially customer service.
2. If you frequently visit Haiti and you are in situations that require you to buy thingss.
3. If you are a Haitian Creole interpreter having to interpret for Haitians in behalf of financial institutions.
How Money Works in Haitian Creole
- 1. Say the number amount of money and then say goud at the end. (see examples at the bottom part of the next image below)
- 2. Cents are not used for Haitian gourdes and Haitian dollars.
Haitian gourdes rarely use cents because of inflation, and Haitian dollars don't have cents at all because it's a concept, not real money.
How money works in Haitian Creole
How to Know if Someone is Talking About Haitian or American Dollars
1. In Haiti, when Haitians say dola, they are usually referring to the Haitian Dollar.
2. In the United States, when Haitians say dola, they are usually referring to the American Dollar.
3. To be specific, Haitians will often say dola Ayisyen or dola Ameriken to make it clear what type of money they are talking about.
Though you will likely know from the context, if you are conversing with Haitians, you can always ask them if they are talking about Haitian or American dollars to avoid cofusion.
How to Convert American Dollars to Haitian Gourdes
- The Haitian Creole word for money is lajan or kòb.
Converting 'Haitian dollars' to Haitian gourdes
Examples
Remember: 1 Haitian dollar = 5 Haitian gourdes.
1. I have 25 gourdes.
Mwen gen 25 goud.
Mwen gen 5 dola Ayisyen.
2. Who has 300 gourdes?
Kiyès ki gen 300 goud?
Kiyès ki gen 60 dola Ayisyen?
*3. This costs $300.25 USD
Sa a koute 300 dola Ameriken e vennsenk santim
*Note on example 3: The value of American dollars to gourdes was not converted to Haitian dollars because the exchange rate is always changing since the economy itself is always changing
For example, one moment one US dollar could equal to 130 Haitian gourdes, and then could change shortly thereafter.
But, one Haitian dollar always equals to five Haitian gourdes regardless of the exchange rate of the American dollar to Haitian Gourdes, which is why the values were converted in examples 1 and 2.
Why Do Haitians Say Haitian Dollars When It's Not Real Money?
It's a habit for to Haitians say 'dola Ayisyen' because for a long time five gourdes used to equal to one American dollar.
1. This started during the period of American intervention in Haiti from 1915-1934. It became official by 1919
2. To make trading easier, the gourde was pegged to the US dollar, with five gourdes equalling one US dollar.
3. This exchange rate from the peg remained in place until 1989.
4. By the time this system had ended, this exchange rate had become a habit in everyday language
*5. Even though the US dollar is now worth far more gourdes, five gourdes is still be widely seen as one 'dollar' because of habit.
*Note: Of course, that 'dollar' is not a real US dollar. It reflects how things used to be for many years in the past. This is why another name for this concept is the Haitian dollar or dola Ayisyen
References
1. Office of the Historian. United States Department of State.U.S. Invasion and Occupation of Haiti, 1915–34.
2. World Bank.Haiti: Policy Proposals for Growth.
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