How to say “Happy Valentine’s Day” in Creole?

Use these audio pronunciations for Valentine’s Day related phrases in Haitian Creole!

Bònn fèt sen Valanten
Happy Valentine’s Day

Bònn fèt tout moun ki gen lanmou
Happy day for all people who have love

Valentine’s Advice in Creole

The following lists are Estherline’s advice for celebrating valentine’s day. Don’t miss her other article about how love happens in Haiti. For the translations below I’m giving a more dynamic meaning than literal word-for-word. This will help you hear more of the flow of phrases in Creole.

Kijan moun dwe fete sen Valanten:
How people should celebrate Valentine’s Day

Mari dwe chache chokola avan sen Valanten
The man should get chocolate before Valentine’s Day

Mari dwe chache chokola san madanm pa konnen
The man should hide the chocolate without the woman knowing

Mari dwe sere chokola kote madanm pa konnen
The man should hide the chocolate where the womand doesn’t know

Mari dwe soti avèk madanm ale nan restoran
The man should go out with the woman to a resturant

Manje ansanm len dwe pote kado pou lòt
They should eat together and bring a gift for each other

Toujou bizou lòt
Always kiss one another

Fè bèl lanmou
Make beautiful love

Paske jou sa vrèman enpòtan de moun ki renmen
Because that day is very important for people in love

Konsèy sou sèn Valanten:
Advice for Valentine’s Day

Si depi avan jou sen Valanten
If before the day of Valentine’s Day

Nou komanse dispite nou dwe jere pwoblèm nou genyen
We start to argue, we should solve the problem we have

Sèl panse avèk 14 fevriye
Only think about February 14th

Paske sa pi bèl jou pou 2 moun ki renmen
Because that is a beautiful day for two people in love

Mesye yo lè nou fache avèk medam yo avan fèt sen Valanten
If the man is angry with the woman before Valentine’s Day

Pote flè , envite madanm ou soti , fè tout sa ki rann medam yo kontan
Bring flowers, invite the woman to go out, do everything to make her happy

Medam si mesye fè nou yon Bagay nou dwe padone panse sèlman avèk sa lanmou
Women, if your man does something, we should forgive and only think about love

Paske pa kite kòlè pote nou twop
and not let anger carry us away

Paske sèl panse bonè nou pa kite yon moun nou renmen paske li gen ti pwoblèm ki ba nou pwoblèm
and only think early and not leave the person you love because of some little problem

Bònn fèt sen Valanten 💋💋💋
Happy Valentine’s Day

For more Haitian Creole vocabulary and listening practice, be sure to check out the Valentine’s Day recordings on the Sweet Coconuts blog.