Words and phrases are Haitian Creole. Those noted with an asterisk (*) are French.
Ale lwen (AL-e lWEN) — Go away
Babay (bye-BYE) — Good-bye
Bondye bon (bon-DJAY bon) — God is good
Bonjou (BON-zure) — Hello
*Bonjour (bohn-ZURE) — Hello
Bwa sèch (BWA sesh) — Literally, dry wood. But when used as the response to tim tim, it signals the storyteller to begin
Dèyè mòn gen mòn (deh-yeh moan gay-EN moan) — Behind the mountains, there are mountains
Dousman (DOOS-man) — Be gentle
Ede mwen (eh-DEH mwen) — Help me
Eskize mwen (es-KEEZE mwen) — Excuse me
Granmè/Granpè (gran-MEH/gran-PEH) — Grandma/Grandpa
*Je m’appelle (jhuh ma-PEL) — My name is
Jou Lèmò (joo le-MO) — Day of the Dead
Jwaye Nwèl (jwa-yay nWELL) — Merry Christmas
Kenbo fò (KAN-be foe) — Hold on
*Le soleil brille (lulh so-LAY breel) — The sun shines
*Les nuages noirs apportent la pluie (lay noo-ahjh nwahr ah-PORT la ploo-ee) — Black clouds bring rain
Lespwa fè viv (lespwa FEH veev) — Hope makes us live
Leve (lay-VYAY) — Get up
Li rele (lee ray-LAY) — His/her/its name is
Manman (MON-mon) — Mom, mama
Mèsi anpil (mehsee an-PEEL) — Thank you so much
Mwen dwe travay (mwen dway trav-EYE) — I have work to do
Mwen pè (mwen peh) — I’m scared
Mwen regret sa (mwen ray-GRET sa) — I’m so sorry
Mwen renmen ou (mwen rain-MAIN oo) — I love you
Non mwen se (NON mwen say) — My name is
Ou dwe bon (oo DWAY bon) — Be good
Ou dwe brav (oo DWAY brav) — Be brave
Ou se zanmi mwen (oo say zan-MEE mwen) — You’re my friend
Pa bwè vit (pa BWEH veet) — Drink slowly
Pa pèdi tan (pa pehz-DEE ton) — Don’t dawdle
Petit mwen (pee-TEET mwen) — My child
Prese (pray-SAY) — Hurry
Se lafendimonn (say la-fen-dee-MOAN) — It’s the end of the world
Se pè mwen pè sèlman (say peh MWEN peh sel-MON) — I am only afraid
Solèy la klere (so-LEH-y la kleh-RAY) — The sun shines
Swiv mwen (sweev mwen) — Follow me
Tim tim (teem teem) No literal translation … simply a playful invitation to guess a riddle
Wi (wee) — Yes
Youn tranbleman tè (yoon tron-blay-MON teh) — An earthquake