Part 1 - Greetings

1. Bonjou – Hi / Hello / Good morning

2. Bonswa – Hi / Hello / Good Evening

3. Kòman ou ye? / Ki jan ou ye? – How are you?

4. Mwen byen – I am well

Note: Say m ap aprann Kreyòl when you feel overwhelmed by Haitians are talking to you completely in Creole. This makes them happy that you are learning their language, and this reminds them to slow down for you.

5. Sa k pase? – What's up?

6. N ap boule – We're hanging in there (Lit. "We're burning")

7. Na wè pita – See you later

Communication Helpers

8. Mwen pa konprann – I don't understand

9. Pale pi dousman – Speak more slowly

Note: You can also simply say dousman (means 'slowly').

10. Repete, souple – Repeat, please

Note: You can also simply say repete (means 'repeat').

11. Kijan yo di [point to the object] an Kreyòl? – How do you say [this] in Creole?

12. Mwen pale yon ti kras Kreyol – I speak a little Creole

13. Mwen pa konnen – I don't know

Part 2 - Saying Yes or No

14. Wi – Yes

15. Non – No

16. Dakò / Oke – Okay

17. Se vre – It's true

18. Se pa vre – It's not true

19. Genlè / Petèt / Sanble... – Maybe

Note: You can also use wi and non at the end of a phrase to add more emphasis to what you are saying (find out more in this lesson).

For example, you can use wi at the end of a sentence to show that you agree or recommend something, and you use non at the end of a sentence to show you really disagree with something or to show you are stressing something is urgent.

Part 3 - Thanks, Please, Excuse me

20. Mèsi – Thank you

21. Pa gen pwoblèm – No problem

22. Tanpri / Silvouplè / Souple – Please

23. Padon – Excuse me / Sorry

24. Eskize m – Excuse me

25. Se yon plezi – It's a pleasure

Note: Saying wi at the end of these phrases above adds more emphasis and makes you sound more down to earth.

Part 4 - Asking Questions

26. Ki sa? – What?

27. Ki moun? / Kiyès – Who?

28. Ki kote? – Where?

29. Kiyès? – Which one?

30. Kòman? / Ki jan? – How?

31. Poukisa? – Why?

32. Èske? – (Question marker, like "Is it...?")

Note: The Haitian Creole question word èske can mean any other question words that normally start as does, is, should, will, can, etc.

33. Konbyen? – How much? / How many?

Expressing Needs, Feelings and Desires

34. Mwen grangou – I am hungry

35. Mwen swaf – I am thirsty

36. Mwen fatige / Mwen bouke – I am tired

37. Mwen vle – I want

38. Mwen bezwen – I need

39. Ban mwen – Give me

40. Mwen cho – I am hot

41. Mwen frèt – I am cold

42. Mwen renmen – I like / I love

43. Mwen pa renmen – I don't like

Note: You can shorten or contract the word mwen as m for simplicity. For example, if you do this mwen grangou will then be m grangou.

Time and Days

44. Jodi a – Today

45. Demen – Tomorrow

46. Yè – Yesterday

47. Maten an – The morning

48. Apre midi a – The afternoon

49. Lendi – Monday

50. Madi – Tuesday

51. Mèkredi – Wednesday

52. Jedi – Thursday

53. Vandredi – Friday

54. Samdi – Saturday

55. Dimanch – Sunday

Note: If you speak Spanish, learning the days of the week may be easier for you. The reason is because the days of the week in Creole and in Spanish start with the same letters.

Basic Nouns and Pronouns

56. Gason – Man

57. Fi / Fanm – Woman / Lady

58. Ti gason – Boy (Lit. Little man)

59. Ti fi – Girl (Lit. Little woman)

60. Mwen – I, Me, My, Mine

61. Ou – You, Your, Yours

62. Li – He, She, It, His, Her, Its

63. Nou – We, Us, Our, Ours

64. Yo – They, Them, Their, Theirs

Note: Haitian Creole generally doesn't use grammatical gender for pronouns. For example, the Haitian Creole pronoun li can mean he or she. This may sound confusing at first, but you will know from the context who the person is referring to.