The Kwéyòl preposition pou

The Kwéyòl preposition pou usually means "for," but has a few other possible meanings as well. It can be followed by a noun, pronoun, or infinitive, and can be used to indicate all of the following: In most cases the preposition pou is interchangeable with "ba" in cases where the word is used for indication or possession. 

The Kwéyòl word POU (poo) can be used as a:

 POU (preposition) –  for, indicating possession; for the benefit of

Examples:

1.  Mwen ké fè sa pou ou.
    I'll do that for you.

2. Mwen pa sa fè'y pou ou.
     I can't do it for you.

3. Tè sa-a sé pou yo.
    This land is their's (*for them)

4. Maman té voyé manjé pou mwen.
    Mother sent food for me.

5. Fwè'w ké twapé lajan pou ou démen.
    Your brother will get money for you tomorrow.

6. Sé kouch-sala sé pou kay mwen an.
    These beds are for my house.

7. Jézi Kwi mò pou tout moun.
    Jesus Christ died for everyone.

POU – in order to, so that

1. Nou tout vini la pou pwédyé ba'w.
    We all came here to pray for you.

2. Ban nou lè pou bwennen!
   Give us room to move!

3. Palé Anglé pou mwen sa konnpwann ou.
   Speak English so that I can understand you.

4. Ouvè radyo-a pou mwen tan nouvèl-la.
    Turn on the radio so that I can hear the news.

5. Nou alé nan konsè-a pou tann ou ka chanté.
    We went to the concert in order to hear you singing.

6. Pou mwen dòmi byen, mwen ka bwè dité mant.
    In order for me to sleep well, I drink mint tea.

7. Mwen ka ékwi'w pou di'w tout sa mwen konté fè.
    I am writing you in order to tell you all that I intend to do.

Duration of an event (temporal preposition)

1. Fanmi-mwen ké wèsté la pou senk lanné.

   My family will live here for five years.

2. Wi, nou bizwen jogé pou yon nèditan.

    Yes, we need to jog for one hour.

3. Nou ké asiz isit pou wonz jou avan nou pati.

   We will sit here for eleven days before we leave. 

4. Pli jenn ti gason-mwen ké abasan adan lékòl pou yon simenn.

    My youngest son will be absent form school for a week.

5. Fanm-lan té ka soufè anba lanmen'y pou katwòz jou.

   The woman was suffering under his control for fourteen days.

6. Gwo délij-la té diwé pou twa jou.

    The huge flood lasted for three days.

7. Ou pa sa bliyé twaka'w pou an ti tan?

  Can't you forget your worries for a little while?

Pou is also used to express one's  point of view.

1. Pou mwen manzèl-la bèl.
   For me the young woman is beautiful.

2. Mawi'y sé tout bagay pou li.
  Her husband is everything for her.

3. Ès sa sé yon bon bagay pou'w?
    Is that a good thing for you?

4. Pou maman-mwen, tout sèpan mové.
   According to my mother, all snakes are evil.

Prepositions: AT, TO, ON, IN

Prepositions

What is a preposition?

A preposition links a noun, pronoun, or phrase to another part of a sentence. Because many prepositions show direction, some say that "a preposition is anywhere a object can go." Today we will be dealing with four very important prepositions that are commonly used in Kwéyòl.

AT

Use the Kwéyòl word nan or an in generally the same way you would use the English word "at" for directions and locations, in some cases lakay or kay is used. I will give an example of the appropriate use of each of these prepositions.

1. I'm at a conference. - Mwen an/nan yon konsit.

2. We were at a concert. - Nou té an/nan yon konsè.

3. She saw the pope at a party. - Li té wè lipap-la an/nan yon fèt.

4. Yesterday you were at the school. - Yè ou té an/nan lékòl.

5. They are at Thomas' house. - Yo lakay Toma.

6. No I'm not at the store - Non mwen pa an/nan magazen-an.

7. I will be at the lecture. - Mwen ké an/nan lèkti-a.

8. She's at work. -  Li an/nan twavay.

9. I saw your sister at the wedding. - Mwen wè sésé'w an/nan nòs-la.

10. It happened at the best time. - Sa wivé an/nan pli bon moman-an.

11. We all saw him at the doctor's. - Nou tout wè'y lakay dòktè-a.

Use the Kwéyòl preposition "a" when telling time and asking questions with "at". 

Examples:

1. At what time are you coming? - A kilè ou ka vini?

2. At five.  - A senkè.

3. At what temperature? - A ki tanpéwati?

4. At what age? - A ki laj?

The preposition "a" can also be used with some nouns where the first letter is a consonant. In general the use of this preposition is very restricted.

1. Turn to the the left. - Viwé a goch.

2. Turn to the right. - Viwé a dwèt.

3. We arrived on time. - Nou wivé a lè.

4. Your mother is at the table eating. - Maman'w a tab ka manjé.

To

The preposition "to" is dropped in sentences that involve directions and locations, and infinitive clauses.

1. I'm going to Basse Terre. - Mwen ka alé Bas Tè.

2. They thought you went to Martinique. - Yo té kwè ou té alé Matnik.

3. I hope to see you - Mwen éspéwé wè'w.

4. The girl tried to scream - Tifi-a éséyé hélé.

You may also use the Kwéyòl word "nan"  to translate preposition "to" in places where you could also use "at".

1. I'm going to the hospital. - Mwen ka alé nan lopital-la.

2. Frank went to the bank. - Fwank alé nan labank-la.

3. The children went to the pool. - Sé ti-moun-an té alé nan pisin-an.

4. They went to the park. - Yo alé nan pak-la. 

On

The Kwéyòl word "asou" /"lasou" / "sou" (ah-soo / lah-soo / soo)  usually translates the preposition "on".

Examples;

1. The bowl of rice is on the table. - Bòl diwi-a asou tab-la.

2. You can sleep on the couch - Ou sa dòmi asou kouchton-an

3. Sit on the red chair. - Asiz asou chèz wouj-la.

4. Put this on the shelf for me. - Mété sa'a asou létajè-a ban mwen.

IN

The Kwéyòl words "nan", or "adan" (ah-dahn) usually translates the proposition "in"

Examples:

1. She lives in the forest. - Li ka wèsté nan lafowé-a.

2. Put some sugar in the juice. - Mété tjèk sik adan ji-a

3. We saw her in the man's house. - Nou wè li nan lakay nonm-lan.

4. In what month were you born? - Nan ki mwa ou té fèt?

5. He put the two loaves in the oven. - Li mété dé pen-an adan fou-a.

Days of the week - Sé jou simenn-nan

The days of the week

Sé jou simenn-nan

 

La ni sèt  (7) jou nan simenn-nan

There are seven (7) days of the week

English	Kwéyòl	Pronunciation
Monday	Lendi	lehn-dee
Tuesday	Madi	mah-dee
Wednesday	Mékwédi	may-kway-dee
Thursday	Jédi	zhay-dee
Friday	Vandwédi	vahn-dway-dee
Saturday	Sanmdi	Sam-dee
Sunday	Dimanch	dee-mash

Here are a few sentences in which the days of the week are used

The 1st day is Monday.

Pwèmyé jou-a sé lendi.

pwehm-yay zhoo ah say lehn-dee

The 2^nd day is Tuesday.

Dézyem jou-a sé madi.

dayz-yehm zhoo ah say mah-dee

The 3^rd day is Wednesday.

Twazyèm jou-a sé mékwédi.

twahz-yehm zhoo ah say may-kway-dee

The 4^th day is Thursday.

 Katyèm jou-a sé jédi.

kat-yehm zhoo ah say zhay-dee 

The 5^th day is Friday.

Senkyèm jou-a sé vandwédi.

sehnk-yehm zhoo ah say vahnd-way-dee

The 6th day is Saturday.

Sizyèm jou-a sé sanmdi.

seez-yenm zhoo ah say sam-dee

The 7th day is Sunday.

Sètyèm jou-a sé dimanch.

set-yehm zhoo ah sé dee-mash

We go to school for 5 days.

nou ka alé lékòl senk jou.

noo kah ah-lay lay-kul sehk zhoo

I go to market every Saturday.

Mwen ka alé laplas toulé sanmdi

mweh kah ah-lay lah-plahs too-lay sam-dee

I go to church on Fridays and Saturdays.

Mwen ka alé légliz lé vandwédi èk sanmdi.

mweh kah ah-lay lay-gleez vahnd-way-dee ehk lé sam-dee

I will see yon at church on Sunday.

Mwen ké wè ou  nan légliz-la dimanch.

 mweh kei weh oo nahn lay-gleez lah dee-mash 

We will leave on Tuesday.

Nou ké pati madi.

Noo kei pah-tee mah-dee

I would rather leave on Thursday.

Mwen plito pati jédi.

mweh plee-toh pah-tee zhay-dee

How many days are in a week?

Konbyen jou nan yon simenn?

kohn-byehn zhoo nahn yohn see-menn

There are seven (7) days in a week.
La ni sèt (7) jou nan yon simenn.
lah nee set zhoo nahn yohn see-menn

Word of the day - Mo pou jòdi-a

Word of the day - Mo pou Jòdi-a

Lakansyèl: /lah-kahn-syehl/

Meaning: Rainbow.

Chivé fanm-lan ni tout koulè lakansyèl-la.

(shee-vay fahm-lahn nee toot koo-leh lah-kahn-syehl lah)

The woman's hair has all the colours of the rainbow.