Sunday, September 18, 2011

Many ways to greet someone in Haitian Creole

What do you say when someone asks you "How are you?"  in Creole?

1.  How are you?
     Kijan ou ye?  or  Kouman ou ye?   or  Kòman ou ye?  (use either one)
     I'm fine.
     Mwen byen
     I'm not too bad.
     Mwen pa pi mal.
     I'm well.  Everything's calm.
     Mwen byen.  Tout bagay poze.

2.  How are things?
     Kijan bagay yo ye?
     Everything's fine.
    Tout bagay byen.
    Things are not too well!
    Bagay yo pa twò byen non!

3.  What's new?
     Sa ou fè de nouvo?  or more popularly    E nouvèl?
     Nothing really, thanks!
     Anyen mèsi!
     We're thriving.
      Nap degaje nou.

4.  What are you up to?
     Sa ou fè?

5.  What's up?
     Sak pase?
     We're still here.
     Nou la.
     We're holding firm.
     Nap kenbe.   or   Nap boule.


6. What's happening?
     Sa kap fèt?
    I'm great!
    Mwen anfòm!

7.  What have you been up to?
     Sa ou fè de bon?
     I've been up to nothing really!
     Mwen pa fè anyen de bon non!
     Sometimes, Creole speakers say: 
     Well... you know...
     Enben... ou konnen...

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