Creole Traditions

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The term Creole comes from the Portuguese crioulo, via Spanish criollo and French Creole.

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Haitian Creole is the true national language of the Republic of Haiti. In addition to seven million people in the homeland, it is spoken by about a million Haitians living abroad. All Haitians speak the language, but a small minority of about 10% of the population also speak French, which they have learned either at home or at school.ﾊ However, even Haitians who master French consider Haitian Creole, which they use for most everyday communication, as the symbol of their national identity. by Davena, Gr. 9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glossary of Creole expressions
Mésyé zé dam bonjou ! : Ladies and gentlemen, good morning/ good afternoon.
Bonjou :Good morning/ good afternoon.
Bonswa : Good evening
Ba mwen… : Can I have…
Doudou : Dear/ darling
Sa ou fé ? : How are you ?
Sa ka maché : Fine.
Si ou plé : Please
Ka ki là ? : Who is there ?
Ka sa yé ? : What’s that ?
Resté la, an ka vin ! : Stay there, I’m coming !
Tanzantan : Sometimes, from time to time
I pa bon : It’s bad
Annou ay ! : Let’s go !
Gidé mwen : Guide me.
Lagé-i ! : Let them go.
Sèk-sèk : Small glass of pure rum.
Ti-bo : A kiss
Vini : Come
Z’oreille : White
Bagail la chô : It’s very hot !
Mi plisi ! : What a pleasure !
An pa tini pwen lajan : I have no money.
Ki moun ki di ou sa ? : Who told you that ?
Mwen aimé ou doudou : I love you dear.
Pani problem : No problem.
Tiembè raid, pa moli ! : Hold on !
Fait bon i bon memm ! : It’s really excellent !
An nou zouké ô swé a : Let’s go dancing tonight.
Ki laj a ou ? et Ki laj ou ka fè ? : How old are you ?
An kay fè on ti poz : I’m going to take a rest.
An nou pran on lagout : Let’s have a glass of rum.
Es ou tandé sa mwen di ou ? : Did you hear what I said ?
Ba mwen an CRS souplé : Can I have a rum punch (lemon, rhum, sugar) please.
Fréquenté chien, ou ka trapé pice : If we mix with bad people, we will get into trouble.
Fok ou mimyin pou apprend nagé : You need to have suffered to learn to come to the surface.
Sa ki pa bon pou zwa pa bon pou kan na : Don’t do to others what you wouldn’t like them to do to you.