Estherline Dessime

I’m glad to meet you Mwen kontan fè konesans ou This is a polite response after you meet someone for the first time. It’s a little longer than many beginners phrases but worth the effort to memorize and pronounce well. Literal Meaning Mwen – I kontan – happy fè – make konesans – knowledge ou […]

I can’t wait to see you again. Mwen paka tann wè ou ankò This is a phrase you might use while talking or texting long distance with a friend in Haiti. It could also be something you would include when saying goodbye in Creole. Literal Meaning Mwen – I paka – can not tann – […]

Behind mountains, there are more mountains Dèyè mòn, gen mòn This is the most famous of Haitian proverbs, especially after the book about medical pioneer Paul Farmer’s work in Haiti. The pronunciation can be a little tricky if you’re just learning the language, listen to the example above and repeat as needed. Literal Meaning Dèyè […]

I can not Mwen pa kapab While visiting Haiti, locals will make requests of you. This becomes more frequent once you demonstrate a basic understanding of the Creole language. This phrase is a simple way to say “No” to these requests and protect your new friendships from becoming dependencies. Literal Meaning Mwen – I pa […]

Is everything alright? Tout bagay anfòm? This is another common way to ask a person how are you, but it could also serve to ask about the status of a project or the general situation of a group of people. The frequent response is the same words, simply without the voice inflection to mean “Everything […]

It’s not my fault Se pa fòt mwen When assigning blame for a situation, this is how you can say that you are not to blame. This can be helpful if a person is taking advantage of your kindness or timidity. In friendly situations, you are simply saying there was nothing you could do differently […]