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