a – auh, like in Cat (chat), bat (chauvesouri, to beat, to defeat), glass (vit) like in papa – dad; marasa – twins or jimo /jimel - twins
e - ay (1st 1/2 of long a in say) like in Kreyol ‘Ki jan ou ye? (how are you?)
è - eh (e in let, bet) Kreyol: Talò = Talè – in a few, in a short time, Vòlè - thief
i - ee (ee in see, week, seed)
o - o (1st 1/2 of long o in go) ; like in Kreyol ‘Dodo’ – baby talk for sleep
ò - (o in or, bore, core) like in Kreyol ‘kò’ – body; lò - gold
ay - i (i in ice, lice, rice) say ‘kay – house, bay – to give’
ou - oo (o in move, movie)
U is always used in combination with ou – (you), moun – person as in ‘granmoun – adult, grownup and timoun – child’ or in french-based words such as sèu / sè – sister
Nasal Sounds
an – like in Kreyol ‘kann – cane, ban – bench, ann – let’s)
ekzanp: dan (tooth, teeth), Jan (John)
en – like ‘en’ in
Ekzanp: mwen (me, I, my), Mennen – to lead
on – like ‘on’ in don't
Ekzanp: savon (soap), bonbon –sweet or any type of candies
in like in kreyol ‘machi-n – car, vehicle
a-n like kreyol ‘pa-n’ – breakdown, malfunction
ann / an nou – let’s / let us
Let’s take a look at the consonants:
Some Consonants -----
ch - sh in ship; like in Kreyol ‘Chache / chèche – to seek, to look for
g - g in good
j - s in measure; like in kreyol ‘ji /ju’ – juice; Jodi-a - today
s - s in soft like in kreyol ‘sak pase?’ – what’s up?
w - w in wind like in kreyol wi – yes (affirmative, declarative)
y - y in yes like in kreyol ‘Ki jan ou ye?’ – How are you; yè - yesterday
"c" and "h" are only used in the "ch" combination
Like in Kreyol ‘Chache / chèche – to seek, to look for
ch-share chache-to look for
ò -claw fò –strong/intelligent
e-aim ede-to aid, help
ou-you ou-you
è -leg mèsi-thank you
r-(not rolled) respire-to breathe
g-go gen-to have
I-see isit-here
s-(always s) prese-in a hurry
j-(avoid the d sound) jou-day
y-yes pye-foot
o-toe zo-bone
Fènwè/Fènwa net – blackout, obscurity
Nan mitan lannwit – in the middle of the night
Kok chanté bonè – the rooster crows early
Jennjan – young man
Jennfi – young woman
Granmoun – adult, grownup
Now try to say these expressions - Kounye-a, eseye di ekspresyon sa yo
Wi – Yes
Yo - they, them
Non No
Mèsi – Thanks
Anmwe! - Help!
Non, mèsi - No, thanks
Souple / tanpri – Please
Ou merite - You’re welcome
Pa gen pwoblèm - No problem
Oke / Dakò – OK
Eskize mwen - Excuse me
Mwen regret sa - I’m sorry
What is your name? - Ki jan ou rele?
What do you want? - Ki sa ou vle?
What are you doing? - Ki sa ou ap fè oubyen ki sa wap fè?
Sit down here – chita la-a
Stand up please - Kanpe silvouplè
Let’s stand up - Ann kanpe
Stop - Rete
Wait for your turn – Tann kou pa ou
Do it now – Fè sa kounye-a
Stop that – Suspann sa!
Don’t do that - Pa fe sa!
Give me that - Ban mwen sa oubyen ban-m sa!
Where does it go? Ki Kote l-ale?
Get on your knees – Mete ou ajenou
Go - Ale
Work - travay
Wait - Tann
Look - Gade / Fè atansyon
look at me – Gade-m
Listen – Koute (Koute Kreyol – Listen to Creole)
Hear – Tande
good job - bon travay
Very good - tre byen
No - non
Yes – wi
You are welcome – Ou merite / Padkwa
Excuse me- Eskize mwen
I’m sorry - Mwen regret sa
Yesterday was Saturday – yè te Samdi
Today - Jodi-a
See you tomorrow – Na Wè demen
My Name Is... Mwen rele
What is that? - Kisa sa a ye?
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