Lesson 31 - The conjunction "Since"

Conjunctions are words that provide a link between similar words, such as nouns, verbs, people, etc. We have we have already learned how to use two conjunctions, they were the conjunctions AND in lesson 24; then we learned how to use the conjunction WHEN in lesson 29.

Today we will learn how to use the Creole conjunction DÉPI [day /pee]. This word mostly functions as a conjunction and it is derived from the French word depuis. In Trinidad French Creole, the conjunction DÉPI is used to translate since, since after,as long as, if, ever since

Dépi translated as since...

1. Ou té jalou mwen dépi mwen fèt!  

    You've been jealous of me since I was born!

2. Nou pa wè-y dépi lendi maten.  

    We haven't seen him since Monday morning.

3. Démen k'alé fè kat lanné dépi nou la. 

    Tomorrow will make it four years since we've been here.

4. Depi'w enmen mwen, mayé mwen. 

    Since you love me, marry me.

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Dépi translated as from...

5. Lé Vandwédi, magazen-mwen ouvè dépi nèvè nan maten jous sizè an apwémidi.

    On Fridays, my store is open from 9 in the morning until 6 in the afternoon.

6. Pou dévwa-zòt, zòt ké li dépi paj twant pou paj twant-kat.

    For your homework, you will read from page thirty to page thirty-four.

7. Moun té ka goumen dépi Sent Ann wivé Lopino.

    People we fighting from Saint Anne to Lopinot.  

8. Dépi moman mwen wè'w, mwen té sav ou méchan.

    From the moment I saw you, I knew you were evil.

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Dépi translated as since when / for how long?

9. Dépi ki tan ou té an Almany?

    For how long were you in Germany?

10. Dépi konbyen jou ou té malad?

      For how many days were you sick?

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Dépi translated as whenever

11. Dépi li vini faché, li koumansé palé Panyòl.

     Whenever she gets angry, she starts speaking Spanish.

12. Dépi ou wè manzèl-la, ou pa sa di ayen.

     Whenever you see the young girl, you can't say anything.

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Dépi translated as ever since

13. Dépi jou-sala mwen pa janmen wè'y ankò.

      Since that day, I never saw him again.

14. Mwen té wè vè adan vyann-an, dépi jou-sala mwen pa manjé'y.

      I saw worms in the meat, ever since that day, I don't eat it.