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 / Ye – Be *1
Note: Both se and ye mean to be. The difference is you can use ye at the end of a sentence.
2. Genyen / Gen – Have
3. Fè – Do / Make
4. Di – Say
5. Ale – Go
6. Kapab / Ka – Can
7. Jwenn / Resevwa – Find / Receive
8. Ta – Would
9. Konnen / Konn – Know
10. Pran – Take / Get
11. Bay – Give
Communication Verbs
12. Di / Rakonte – Say / Tell
13. Mande – Ask
14. 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.
15. Pale – Talk / Speak
16. Rele – Call / Shout / Scream
17. Reponn – Answer/Respond
18. Kriye – Cry
19. Esplike – Explain
20. Mansyone – Mention
21. Sijere – Suggest
22. Montre – Show
Sensory & Perception Verbs
23. Wè – See
24. Gade – Watch / Look
25. Suiv – Follow / Watch
26. Veye / Siveye – On the Lookout / Look after
27. Tande – Hear
28. Koute – Listen / Cost
Note: When talking about money or finances, koute also means cost.
29. Santi – Smell / Feel
30. Manyen – Touch / Work with
31. Remake – Notice
32. Rekonèt – Recognize
33. Obsève – Observe
Thought & Decision Verbs
34. Panse – Think
35. Reflechi – Think / Reflect
36. Kwè – Believe
37. Konprann – Understand
38. Sonje – Remember
39. Bliye – Forget
40. Imajine – Imagine
41. Devine – Guess
42. Deside – Decide
43. Chwazi – Choose
44. Espere – Hope
45. Swete – Wish
46. 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.
47. Konte – Count / Rely
Physical Action & Movement Verbs
48. Deplase – Move / Displace
49. Bouje – Budge / Move
50. Mache – Walk
51. Kouri – Run
52. Sote – Jump
53. Vole – Jump / Fly
54. Naje – Swim
55. Pouse – Push
56. Rale – Pull
57. Trennen – Drag
58. Tann – Wait
59. Pote – Carry / Bring
60. Mennen – Bring
Note: The words pote and mennen almost mean same thing. The main difference is that mennen more specifically means to bring something.
61. Retounen – Return
62. Remèt – Give back / Return
63. Tonbe – Fall
64. Rive – Arrive / Happen
65. Pase – Pass / Spend time
66. Manje – Eat
67. Bwè – Drink
68. Dòmi – Sleep
69. Leve – Wake
70. Bese – To lower something / To lower your body or part of it like your head or hand
71. Respire – Breathe
72. Frape – Hit
73. Fwote – Rub
74. Sere – Squeeze
75. Kwense – Squeeze / Corner
76. Peze – Press
77. Lage – Release / Let go
78. Fè mal – Hurt
79. Geri – Heal
80. Sèvi ak – Use
81. Kenbe – Keep
Creation & Work Verbs
82. Travay – Work
83. Bati / Konstwi – Build
84. Kreye – Create
85. Koupe – Cut
86. Ekri – Write
87. Kopye – Copy
88. Tape – Type
89. Desine / Trase – Draw
90. Repare / Ranje – Fix
91. Netwaye / Pwòpte – Clean
92. Monte – Assemble / Go up
93. Mete – Put
94. Retire / Wete – Remove
95. Demonte – Disassemble
96. Enstale – Install
97. Sekwe / Souke – Shake
98. Tranble – Tremble / Rattle / Quiver
99. Vibre – Vibrate
Note: The Creole word vibre more specifically means to vibrate.
100. Chanje – Change
101. Kòmanse – Start
102. Sispann / Kanpe – Stop
Emotion & Relationship Verbs
103. Renmen – Love / Like
104. Rayi – Hate
105. Vle – Want
106. Bezwen – Need
107. Pito / Prefere – Prefer
108. Manke – Miss
109. Pran plezi / Jwi – Enjoy
110. 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.
111. Damou – Fall in love
112. Marye – Marry
113. Separe – Separate
114. Divòse – Divorce
115. Bo / Anbrase – Kiss / Hug
116. Karese – Caress
117. Kite / Pèmèt – Let
118. Rete – Stay
Money & Commerce Verbs
119. Achte – Buy
120. Vann – Sell
121. Peye – Pay
122. Koute – Cost
123. Depanse – Spend
124. Voye – Send
125. Resevwa – Receive
126. Ekonomize / Sove – Save
127. Touche – Earn
128. Dwe – Owe
129. Prete – Lend / Borrow
130. Envesti – Invest
131. Twoke / Boukante – Exchange
Search & Utility Verbs
132. Chèche – Search / Look for
133. Fouye – Dig
134. Kache – Hide
135. Ede – Help
136. Eseye / Seye – Try
137. Jwenn / 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