Basic Greetings

Hello.

Bonjou. (bon-joo)

Good morning.

Bonjou. (bon-joo)

Good evening.

Bonswa. (bon-swah)

Good night.

Bòn nwit. (bon nweet)

Goodbye.

Orevwa. (oh-rev-wah)

See you later.

N a wè pita. (nah weh pee-tah)

Nice to meet you.

Mwen kontan rankontre ou. (mwen kon-tan ran-kon-tray oo)

Welcome.

Byenveni. (byen-veh-nee)

How are you?

Kijan ou ye? (kee-jan oo yay)

I’m fine.

Mwen byen. (mwen byen)

And you?

E ou menm? (ay oo mem)

Good afternoon.

Bonswa. (bon-swah)

How is everything?

Kijan tout bagay ye? (kee-jan toot bah-guy yay)

What is up?

Sak pase? (sak pah-say)

Have a good day.

Pase yon bon jounen. (pah-say yon bon joo-nen)

See you tomorrow.

N a wè demen. (nah weh deh-men)

Take care.

Pran swen tèt ou. (pran swen tet oo)

It is a pleasure.

Se yon plezi. (say yon play-zee)

Long time no see.

Sa fè lontan. (sah feh lon-tan)

How is your family?

Kijan fanmi ou ye? (kee-jan fan-mee oo yay)

Politeness & Basics

Please.

Tanpri. (tan-pree)

Thank you.

Mèsi. (meh-see)

Thank you very much.

Mèsi anpil. (meh-see an-peel)

You’re welcome.

Pa de kwa. (pah deh kwah)

Excuse me.

Eskize m. (es-kee-zay em)

I’m sorry.

Mwen regrèt sa. (mwen reh-gret sah)

No problem.

Pa gen pwoblèm. (pah gen pwoh-blem)

That’s okay.

Li anfòm. (lee an-fom)

Of course.

Byensir. (byen-seer)

Don’t worry.

Pa enkyete ou. (pah en-kyeh-tay oo)

Yes.

Wi. (wee)

No.

Non. (non)

Maybe.

Petèt. (peh-tet)

I don’t know.

Mwen pa konnen. (mwen pah kon-nen)

I understand.

Mwen konprann. (mwen kon-pran)

I don’t understand.

Mwen pa konprann. (mwen pah kon-pran)

Do you speak English?

Èske ou pale angle? (es-kay oo pah-lay an-glay)

Please speak slowly.

Tanpri pale dousman. (tan-pree pah-lay doos-man)

Can you repeat that?

Èske ou ka repete sa? (es-kay oo kah reh-peh-tay sah)

Can you help me?

Èske ou ka ede m? (es-kay oo kah eh-day em)

Core Survival Patterns

Pattern: I need …

Mwen bezwen … (mwen beh-zwen)

I need help.

Mwen bezwen èd. (mwen beh-zwen ed)

I need water.

Mwen bezwen dlo. (mwen beh-zwen dlow)

I need a doctor.

Mwen bezwen yon doktè. (mwen beh-zwen yon dok-teh)

I need a taxi.

Mwen bezwen yon taksi. (mwen beh-zwen yon tak-see)

I need to sleep.

Mwen bezwen dòmi. (mwen beh-zwen doh-mee)

Pattern: I want …

Mwen vle … (mwen vlay)

I want to eat.

Mwen vle manje. (mwen vlay man-jay)

I want this.

Mwen vle sa a. (mwen vlay sah ah)

I want to go.

Mwen vle ale. (mwen vlay ah-lay)

I want to pay.

Mwen vle peye. (mwen vlay pay-yay)

I want more.

Mwen vle plis. (mwen vlay plees)

Pattern: I would like …

Mwen ta renmen … (mwen tah ren-men)

I would like a coffee.

Mwen ta renmen yon kafe. (mwen tah ren-men yon kah-fay)

I would like to stay.

Mwen ta renmen rete. (mwen tah ren-men reh-tay)

I would like to buy this.

Mwen ta renmen achte sa a. (mwen tah ren-men ash-tay sah ah)

I would like the bill.

Mwen ta renmen fakti a. (mwen tah ren-men fak-tee ah)

I would like some water.

Mwen ta renmen yon ti dlo. (mwen tah ren-men yon tee dlow)

Pattern: Can you …?

Èske ou ka …? (es-kay oo kah)

Can you help me?

Èske ou ka ede m? (es-kay oo kah eh-day em)

Can you tell me?

Èske ou ka di m? (es-kay oo kah dee em)

Can you wait?

Èske ou ka tann? (es-kay oo kah tan)

Can you write it?

Èske ou ka ekri li? (es-kay oo kah eh-kree lee)

Can you show me?

Èske ou ka montre m? (es-kay oo kah mon-tray em)

Pattern: Where is …?

Ki kote … ye? (kee koh-tay … yay)

Where is the bathroom?

Ki kote twalèt la ye? (kee koh-tay twah-let lah yay)

Where is the exit?

Ki kote sòti a ye? (kee koh-tay soh-tee ah yay)

Where is the hotel?

Ki kote otèl la ye? (kee koh-tay oh-tel lah yay)

Where is the hospital?

Ki kote lopital la ye? (kee koh-tay loh-pee-tal lah yay)

Where is the bank?

Ki kote bank lan ye? (kee koh-tay bank lan yay)