What You Will Learn
1. How to say thank you and you're welcome in Haitian Creole
2. How to use anpil and wi to express gratitude with additional emphasis or warmth
How to Say “Thank You”
- The Haitian Creole word for thank you or thanks is mèsi.
Examples
1. Thank you for the food, Julie.
Mèsi pou manje a, Julie.
2. Tell Rose thank you for the new clothes she bought for me.
Di Rose mèsi pou nouvo rad li te achte pou mwen yo.
How to Say “You're Welcome”
- Padekwa is a common way to say you're welcome or don't mention it.
- Pa gen pwoblèm means no problem and can be used as a casual response to thanks.
- Se yon plezi means it's a pleasure and can be used as a warm or polite response.
Examples
1. You're welcome. I was happy to do that for you.
Padekwa. Mwen te kontan fè sa pou ou.
2. It's a pleasure. I was happy to help you.
Se yon plezi. Mwen te kontan ede w.
3. No problem! We are happy to help you.
Pa gen pwoblèm! Nou kontan ede w.
How to Express Even More Gratitude
- Use mèsi anpil when you want to say thank you very much or thanks a lot.
- You can say mèsi anpil anpil to express your gratitude even more strongly.
- You may also hear mèsi wi, which can add warmth, sincerity, or emphasis to the expression.
The word anpil means a lot or many. Therefore, mèsi anpil communicates a greater degree of gratitude than mèsi by itself.
The word wi normally means yes. However, it can also appear at the end of a statement or expression to reinforce it. In mèsi wi, it adds conversational emphasis rather than functioning as a separate answer meaning yes.
The speaker's tone is important. A warm tone can make mèsi wi sound especially sincere, while a sarcastic tone could change its meaning.
Recommended Lesson: Interesting Ways to Use Wi and Non in Haitian Creole
Examples
1. Julie, thank you so much for the gift!
Julie, mèsi anpil pou kado a!
2. Julie, thank you for the gift! I really appreciate it.
Julie, mèsi wi pou kado a! Mwen apresye sa anpil.
3. Thank you so very much for your support.
Mèsi anpil anpil pou sipò w.
Some Things to Remember
Mèsi is appropriate in both casual and formal situations.
Use mèsi anpil when you want to express stronger gratitude. Repeating anpil can make the statement more expressive, but repetition is not required.
Mèsi wi can sound warm and natural in conversation, but you do not need to add wi every time you thank someone.
When someone thanks you, choose a response that fits the situation:
Padekwa. — You're welcome. / Don't mention it.
Pa gen pwoblèm. — No problem.
Se yon plezi. — It's a pleasure.
If you are referring to something that has already been completed, you can also say:
Se te yon plezi. — It was a pleasure.
Most importantly, use a sincere tone that matches the situation.