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100+ Most Common Verbs in Haitian Creole

Beginner Lessons

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

Practice Now

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

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