WORD ORDER

(Basic)

The word order in Kwéyòl (Patois) sentences is generally similar to English, following a subject, verb, object pattern.

An indefinite article like "yon" (a) is placed before the noun, but definite articles like "la" (the); possessive pronouns like "nou" (our) and "yo" (their) are placed after the noun.

The following sentences can be translated, by simply substituting Kwéyòl words for English on a one to one basis.


1. I can stay there. 

   Mwen sa wèsté la.
  (mweh sah wes-tay lah)
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2. We don't want to speak French. 

    Nou pa vlé palé Fwansé.
    (noo pa vlay pa-lay fwahn-say)
==

3. They want to speak Creole.

    Yo vlé palé Kwéyòl.
   (yo vlay pa-lay kway-yuhl)

==

4. He wants to eat. 

    Li vlé manjé.
   (lee vlay mahn-zhay)
==

5. Give Jean a cup. 

    Bay Jan yon tas.
  (bai zhahn yohn tas)
==

6. Do you want coffee? 

    Ès Ou vlé kafé?
   (es oo vlay cah-fay)
==

7. The house caught fire. 

    Kay-la pwi difé.
  (kai la pwee dee-fay)
==

8. The watch is beautiful. 

    Mont-la bèl.
  (mohnt la behl)
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Note in the last 2 sentences, the article (la) meaning "the" is placed after the noun.