Friday 31 January 2014

Proverb of the day - Ti-pawòl pou jòdi-a

 Proverb of the day - Ti-pawòl pou jòdi-a

Chyen pa ka palé, sé pou yo pa ba’y fè konmisyon.

Dogs don't talk, so that people won't send them on errands.

Meaning: Some people hide their abilities in order to avoid being sought out.

Word of the day - Mo pou jòdi-a

Word of the day - Mo pou jòdi-a

Pawadi : /pah-wah-dee/

Meaning: Heaven or paradise

Nou ké wè jézi nan pawadi.

[noo kay weh zhay-zee nahn pah-wah-dee]

We will see Jesus in heaven.

Wednesday 29 January 2014

Word of the day - Mo pou jòdi-a

Anj: /ahnj/

Variant: zanj or nanj

Meaning: Angel.

Anj-la ké pwotéjé nou, pa pè.

[ahnj lah kay pwoh-tay-zhay noo pah peh]

The angel will protect us, don't be afraid.


Tuesday 28 January 2014

Word of the day - Mo pou jòdi-a

Word of the day - Mo pou jòdi-a

Kann: /kahn/

Meaning: Sugar Cane 

nonm-lan ka koupé kann.

(nohm-lahn kah koo-pay kahn)

The man is cutting sugar cane.


Monday 27 January 2014

Proverbs of the day - Ti-pawòl pou jòdi-a


Proverb of the day - Ti-pawòl pou jòdi-a

Bèl boukou, mové lanmouwi

Nice barrel, bad salt-fish (salted cod).

Meaning: Outward appearances often mask a sad reality.


Sunday 26 January 2014

word of the day - Mo pou jòdi-a

Word of the day - Mo pou jòdi-a

Lougawou: /loo-gah-woo/

Lougawou-a té sòté anlè nou antwèt

(loo-gah-wooo tay sau-tay ahn-leh noo ahn-tweht)

The werewolf attacked us without warning.


Friday 24 January 2014

Proverb of the day - Ti-pawòl pou jòdi-a

Proverb of the day - Ti-pawòl pou jòdi-a

Lanmouwi pa ka tounen vyann.

Salted cod does not turn into meat.

Meaning: We do not change our nature.

Word of the day - Mo pou jòdi-a

Word of the day - Mo pou jòdi-a

Lou: /loo/

Meaning:Wolf.

Nou té wè yon lou ka hélé nan simityè-a.

(noo tay weh yohn loo kah hay-lay nahn see-meet-yeh ah)

We saw a wolf howling in the cemetery.

 

Wednesday 22 January 2014

Word of the day - Mo pou jòdi-a

Word of the day - Mo pou jòdi-a

Jako: /zha-koh/

Meaning:Parrot.

Jako-a tèlman dosil, ou pé touché'y.

zha-koh ah tell-mahn doh-seel oo pay too-shay ee

The parrot is so tame, you can touch it.


Sunday 19 January 2014

Word of the day - Mo pou jòdi-a

Word of the day - Mo pou jòdi-a

Balyé: /bahl-yay/

Meaning:Broom.

Éti ou mété balyé-a?

(ay-tee oo may-tay bal-yay ah)

Where did you put the broom?


Saturday 18 January 2014

Word of the day - Mo pou jòdi-a

Word of the day - Mo pou jòdi-a

Bouya: /boo-yah/

Meaning:Fog.

An bouya ka kouvè sé mòn-lan jòdi-a.

(ahn boo-yah kah koo-veh say muhn lahn zhuh-dee ah)

A fog is covering the mountains today.





Proverb of the day - Ti-pawòl pou jòdi-a

Proverb of the day - Ti-pawòl pou jòdi-a

Si zandoli té bon vyann, i pa té ké ka kouwi asou bayè.

If lizards were fit to eat, they would not be running on the fence.

Meaning: Good things are rare and should be cherished.



Friday 17 January 2014

Di'y an Kwéyòl - Say it in Kwéyòl

Say it in Kwéyòl

Di'y an Kwéyòl

 

Wi.
[wee]
Yes.

Non.
[nohn]
No.

Pitèt.
[pee-teht]
Perhaps.

Souplé / Tanpwi.
[soo-play tahn-pwee]
Please.

Éskizé mwen.
[ays-kee-zay mweh]
Excuse me.

Padonen mwen.
[pah-doh-nehn mweh]
Forgive me / Pardon me.

Sé pa ayen.
[say pah ah-yehn]
You're welcome.

Ès ou ka palé Annglé?
[ehs oo kah pah-lay ann-glay]
Do you speak English?

Ès ou ka palé Kwéyòl / Patois?
[ehs oo kah pah-lay kway-yuhl / paht-wah]
Do you speak Kwéyòl / Patwa?

Mwen anni ka palé Annglé.
[mweh ann-ee kah pah-lay ann-glay]
I only speak English.

Mwen sòti Twinidad.
[mweh suh-twee twee-nee-dad]
I am from Trinidad.

Mwen sòti an Kawayib-la
[mweh suh-tee ahn kah-wah-yeeb lah]
I'm from the Caribbean.

Mwen sòti  Kannada
[mweh suh-tee kahn-nah-dah]
I am from Canada.

Li sòti Anméwik.
[lee suh-tee anh-may-week]
He /she is from America.

Adwès-mwen sé...
[ah-dwehs mweh say]
My address is...

Souplé palé dousman.
[soop-lay pah-lay doos-mahn]
Please speak slowly.

Mwen pa ka konpwann.
[mweh pah kah kohm-pwahnn]
I do not understand.

Wépété sa souplé.
[way-pay-tay sah soop-lay]
Repeat that please.

Ankò.
[ahn-kuh]
Again.

Pa ankò.
[pah ahn-kuh]
Not again.

Ékwi'y souplé.
[ay-kwe ee soop-lay]
Write it down please.

Ki sa ou vlé?
[kee sah oo vlay]
What do you want? 

Konbyen sa ka kouté?
[konb-yehn sah kah koo-tay]
How much does it cost?

Antwé.
[ant-way]
Come in.

Pouki'w pa antwé?
[poo-keew pah ant-way]
Why don't you come in?

 Vini'w.
[vee-neew]
come here.

 Atann yon ti moman
[ah-tann yohn tee moh-mahn]
Wait a moment. 

Poutji sa?
[poochee sah]
Why [stressed]

Pouki / Poutji?
[poo-kee / poochee]
Why?

Kilè / Kitan?
[kee-leh  / kee-tahn]
When?

Kouman / Ki mannyè?
[koo-mahn / kee mann-yeh]
How?

Ki moun?
[kee-moon]
Who?

Ki sa / Sa?
[kee-sah /sah]
What?

Ki koté? / Koté? / Éti?
[kee koh-tay / koh-tay /ai-tee]
Where?

Ki koté li yé?
[kee koh-tay lee yea]
Where is he / she?

Isi-a / Isit-la.
[ee-see ah  / ee-seet lah]
Here.

La.
[lah]
There.

Konbyen tan?
[kohn-byehn tahn]
How long? [how much time?]

Adan / Adidan
[ah-dahn / ah-dee-dahn]
In.

Vid.
[veed]
Empty.

Plenn
[plehnn]
Full.

Anwo
[ahn-woh]
Up.

Anba
[ahn-bah]
Down.

Douvan.
[doo-vahn]
In front of.

Dèyè.
[deh-yeh]
Behind.

Agoch.
[ah-gosh]
To the left.

Adwat.
[ah-dwaht]
To the right. 

Plizyè.
[pleez-yeh]
Several.

Pé.

[pay]
Few.

Pa djè
[pah djeh]
Not many.

Bon.
[bohn]
Good.

Plis.
[plees]
More.

Mwens.
[mwehs]
Less.

An Titak / tizinng.
[ahn tee-tack / tee-zing]
 A little.

Pli bon.
[plee bohn]
Better.

Myè 
[myeh]
Best.

Mal / Mové.
[mal / moh-vay]

Bad.

Pli mal.
[plee mal]
Worse.

Talè / byentò.
[tah-leh / byehn-tuh]
Soon.

Pli ta.
[plee tah]
Later.

Ositò /kon sa.
[oh-see-tuh / kohn sah]

As soon as.

Omwens.
[oh-mwehs]
At least.

I ta.
[ee tah]
It's late.

I twò ta.
[ee twuh tah]
It's too late.

I bonnè.
[ee bohn-neh]
It's early.

I twò bonnè.
[ee twuh bohn-neh]
It's too early.

Mwen kontan.
[mweh kohn-tahn]
I'm happy.

Mwen kontan kontan.
[mweh kohn-tan kohn-tahn]
I'm really happy.

Mwen twis.
[mweh twees]
I'm sad.

Mwen dézolé.
[mweh day-zoh-lay]
I'm sorry.

Padonné mwen souplé.
[pah-dohn-nay mweh soop-lay]
Please forgive me.

Pwochen fwa.
[pwoh-shen fwah]
Until next time.

Adan dòt sòlèy.
[ah-dahn doht suh-leh-ee]
Until next time.

Thursday 16 January 2014

Proverb of the day - Ti-pawòl pou jòdi-a

Proverb of the day - Ti-pawòl pou jòdi-a

Sé lajan ka fè chyen dansé.

(say lah-zhan kah feh shyehn dahn-say)

It's money that makes dogs dance.

Meaning: You can do almost anything with money.


Word of the day - Mo pou jòdi-a

Word of the day - Mo pou jòdi-a

Pwensès:/pwehn-sehs/

Variant Pwansès /pwahn-sehs/

 Pwensès-la té sòti an glo-a.

(pwehn-sehs lah tay suh-tee ahn glow ah)

The princess came from the water.

Wednesday 15 January 2014

Ali Angel - Mwen Lov ou (I love you) with lyrics

Word of the day - Mo pou jòdi-a

Word of the day - Mo pou jòdi-a

Pwens:/pwehns/ 

Variant:Pwans /pwahns/ 

Meaning:Prince

Yon jou, ti pwehns-la ké léwa-a.

(yohn zhoo tee pwehns lah kay lay-wah ah)

One day, the little prince will be the king.

Tuesday 14 January 2014

Word of the day - Mo pou jòdi-a

Word of the day - Mo pou jòdi-a

Palé: /pah-lay/

Meaning: palace

Siltan-an ka viv nan yon gwo palè blan.

(seel-tahn an kah veev nahn yohn grow pah-lay blahn)

The sultan lives in a big white palace.

Wednesday 8 January 2014

Word of the day - Mo pou jòdi-a

Word of the day - Mo pou jòdi-a


Léwa: /lay/wah

Meaning: King

Nou té lévé lanmen'y pou benni léwa-a.

(noo  tay lay-vay lahn mehn ee poo ben-nee lay-wah ah)

We raised his hands to bless the king.


Tuesday 7 January 2014

Mo pou jòdi-a

Word of the day - Mo pou jòdi-a

Lawenn: /lah/wehnn

Meaning: Queen

Kontinan léwòp-la ni plizyè lawenn.

(cohn-tee-nahn lay-wohp lah nee pleez-yeh lah-wehn)

The continent of Europe has several queens.





Saturday 4 January 2014

Possessive Adjectives

Possessive Adjectives.

In the previous post, we learned how to demonstrate possession when speaking Trinidad French Creole.  Possessive adjectives are the words used in place of articles to indicate to whom or to what something belongs. Today we will learn more about Possessive Adjectives, these adjectives always follow the noun, and most of the time a definite article will follow the possessive adjective.

Possessive Adjectives


My - mwen (mweh)

Your (singular) - ou (oo)

His, hers, its - li (lee)

Our - nou (noo)

Your (plural) - zòt (zaut)

Their - yo (yoh)

Important! - Sometimes a definite article is added after the possessive adjective like this:

My car - motoka mwen an

The definite article can be omitted when using demonstratives (this is, that is, these are, those are).
The definite article can be omitted when using nouns  in such a specific way that there is no way of having more than one: father, mother, grandpa, grandma, husband, wife, heart, etc...

My darling - Doudou mwen instead of Doudou mwen an
My heart - Tjè mwen instead of Tjè mwen an
My head - Tèt mwen instead of Tèt mwen an
This is my chair - sa sé chèz mwen instead of sa sé chèz mwen an
Those are my books  Sé sala sé liv mwen


Very Important - You know that Trinidad French Creole has up to five definite articles: a, an, la, lan, nan.  Just follow the rules before you place them in a sentence.

Examples:
His chant - chan li a
My cocoa - kako mwen an
Your book - liv ou a
Their friend - zanmi yo a
Our family - fanmi nou a
Your (plural) priest - pwèt zòt la

Thursday 2 January 2014

Creole Possessives Part 1

Possessive adjectives are the words used in place of articles to indicate to whom or to what something belongs. In Trinidad French Creole, the possessive adjectives are identical to personal pronouns. There are 6 of them in total. The possessive is always placed after the noun, there are no exceptions to this rule.

  1. mwen - my
  2. ou, w - your (singular)
  3. li, y - his, her, its (y is pronounced "ee")
  4. nou - our
  5. zòt, zò - your (plural)
  6. yo - their
When the possessive ou appears after a noun ending in a vowel, it is shortened to (-w)

When the possessive li appears after a noun ending in a vowel. it is shortened to (-y)

Examples:

Bato mwen.
bah-toh mweh
my boat.

Bato papa mwen.
 bah-toh pah-pah mweh
My father's boat.

Bisiklèt ou.
bee-seek-let oo
Your bicycle.

Bisiklèt maman'w.
bee-seek-let mah-mahnw
Your mother's bicycle.

note:the word maman ends in a nasalised vowel (-an) pronoun shortened to (-w)

Amanda ka palé bay yich-li.
ah-man-dah kah pah-lay bai yeesh lee
Amanda is speaking to her child.

Chapo'y nwè.
sha-poh ee nweh
His hat is black.

Fanm-lan kité chat nou déwò.
fam lahn kee-tay shat noo day-wuh
The woman left our chat outside.

Mwen vlé achté mango zòt apwézan.
mweh vlay ash-tay mango zaut ap-way-zahn.
I want to buy your (plural) mangoes now.

Nou té wè zanmi yo lòt jou-a.
noo tay weh zah-mee yoh lot joo ah
We saw their friend recently.