Basic Greetings

Hello.

Bonjou! (bawn-zhoo)

Good morning.

Bonjou! (bawn-zhoo)

Good evening.

Bonswa! (bawn-swah)

Good night.

Bonswa! (bawn-swah)

Goodbye.

Orévwar! (oh-ray-vwahr)

See you later.

Wa pli tar! (wah plee tahr)

Nice to meet you.

Mo konten fé lakònésans avèk vou. (moh kawn-tahn fay lah-kaw-nay-sahns ah-vehk voo)

Welcome.

Byinvini! (byehn-vee-nee)

How are you?

Komen vou yê? (koh-mahn voo yay)

I’m fine.

Mo byin. (moh byehn)

And you?

É vou? (ay voo)

Politeness & Basics

Please.

Sivouplé. (see-voo-play)

Thank you.

Mærsi. (mar-see)

Thank you very much.

Byin mærsi. (byehn mar-see)

You’re welcome.

Pa-d-kwa. (pah-d-kwah)

Excuse me.

Èskizé mò. (ehs-kee-zay maw)

I’m sorry.

Mo dézolé. (moh day-zoh-lay)

No problem. (reply to thanks).

Çé pa aryin. (say pah ah-ryehn)

That’s okay.

Çé kòrèk. (say kaw-rehk)

Don’t worry.

Chèt pa. (cheht pah)

Core Survival Patterns

Pattern: I need …

I need water.

Mo bezwin dolo. (moh buh-zwehn doh-loh)

I need food.

Mo bezwin manjé. (moh buh-zwehn mahn-zhay)

I need a room.

Mo bezwin in shanm. (moh buh-zwehn ehn shahnm)

I need a doctor.

Mo bezwin in doktœr. (moh buh-zwehn ehn dawk-tuhr)

I need a ticket.

Mo bezwin in tikèt. (moh buh-zwehn ehn tee-keht)

Pattern: I want …

I want to eat.

Mo olé manjé. (moh oh-lay mahn-zhay)

I want to drink.

Mo olé bwa. (moh oh-lay bwah)

I want to go home.

Mo olé kouri shé mò. (moh oh-lay koo-ree shay maw)

I want to learn Creole.

Mo olé aprenn Kréyòl. (moh oh-lay ah-prahnn kray-yawl)

I want this.

Mo olé ça. (moh oh-lay sah)

Pattern: I would like …

I would like a coffee.

Mo sé linmé in kafé. (moh say lehn-may ehn kah-fay)

I would like a tea.

Mo sé linmé in dité. (moh say lehn-may ehn dee-tay)

I would like some water.

Mo sé linmé dolo. (moh say lehn-may doh-loh)

I would like a room.

Mo sé linmé in shanm. (moh say lehn-may ehn shahnm)

I would like to pay.

Mo sé linmé péyé. (moh say lehn-may pay-yay)

Pattern: Can you …?

Can you help me?

Vou pe èdé mò? (voo puh eh-day maw)

Can you speak slowly?

Vou pe parlé dousmen? (voo puh pahr-lay doos-mahn)

Can you wait here?

Vou pe spéré isit? (voo puh spay-ray ee-seet)

Can you fix this?

Vou pe ranjé ça? (voo puh rahn-zhay sah)

Can you say that again?

Vou pe di ça enkòr? (voo puh dee sah ahn-kawr)

Pattern: Where is …?

Where is the toilet?

Éyou komod-la yê? (ay-yoo koh-mohd-lah yay)

Where is my room?

Éyou mô shanm yê? (ay-yoo moh shahnm yay)

Where is the hospital?

Éyou lopital-la yê? (ay-yoo loh-pee-tahl-lah yay)

Where is the grocery store?

Éyou lagrosri-la yê? (ay-yoo lah-grohs-ree-lah yay)

Where is the bank?

Éyou labank-la yê? (ay-yoo lah-bahnk-lah yay)