Word Of The Day

Saying goodbye

There are several ways you can say "goodbye" in Kwéyòl / Patois 

Ayo: Bye!
ah-yo 
Ou pati é ou pa menm di mwen ayo!
You left and you did not even tell me bye!

Babay: Bye bye
bab-eye
Alé di tout moun babay.
Go and tell everyone bye bye.

An dòt sòlèy: Another sun (another day / another time)
uh dot suh-leh-ee
Nou ké jwenn nou an dòt sòlèy.
We'll meet again another time.

Dédé: Goodbye
day-day
Vini di papa-ou dédé!
Come and say goodbye to your father!

Fò mwen alé: I must go
faw mweh ah-lay
Fò mwen alé, ès mwen ké wè ou oswè-a?
I must go, will I see you tonight?

Oplèz: goodbye, farewell 
oh-plehz
Apwé li di tout moun oplèz, li pati asou chimen-li.
After he told everyone goodbye, he went on his way.

Pli ta: later
plee-tah
Mwen ké wè ou pli ta doudou.
I will see you later darling.

Mwen ka alé: I am going (departing/leaving)
Ében mwen ka alé konpè!
Well, I'm leaving buddy!

Mwen ka pati: I'm leaving (departing)
mweh kah pah-tee
Ki lè i yé? Yon ka apwé mennwi!?  Woy, mwen ka pati!
What time is it? A quarter after midnight!? Wow, I'm leaving!

Tjenbé wèd: Stay firm / keep good
chem-bey wehd
Tjenbé wèd machè!
Stay firm my dear (address a woman with machè)

Ovwa: Goodbye, farewell
oh-vwah
Ovwa mézanmi!
Goodbye friends!

Mo Pou Jòdi-a

Ansanm

Pronunciation: uh-suhm

Meaning: Together

Démen nou ké alé ansanm.

Tomorrow we will go together.

Question: How do you say "what is your name?"

What is your name?

Sa ki non'w?
(sah kee noh oo)

Ki non'w?
(kee noh oo)

Kouman'w ka kwiyé'w?
(coo-mah oo cah kwee-yay oo)

Kouman yo ka kwiyé'w?
(coo-mah yo cah kwee-yay oo)

Question: How is everything?

How is everything?
Kouman tout bagay yé?
(koo-mah toot bay-eye yea)

Question: I'm fine, how about you?

I'm fine, how about you?
Mwen byen é ou menm
(mweh byeh ay oo mem)

Question: How do you say I'm doing well thank you?

I'm doing well thank you. 
Mwen byen mèsi.

Question: What does the word nannan mean?

The word nannan refers to the pulp or inside of a fruit or nut.

nannan sé zowanj-la té byen anmè - The pulp of these oranges was very bitter.

Question: How do you say where do you live?

Where do you live?

**(Ki) koté ou ka wèsté?
(kee koh-tay oo kah wes-tay)

**(Ki) koté ou ka wété?
(kee koh-tay oo kah way-tay)

Éti ou ka wèsté?
(ay-tee oo kah wes-tay)

Note: The words wèsté and wété are interchangeable with wèsté being preferred by most people.

** The word ki is often dropped when asking this question.

Question: is there a difference between ès and èskè?

No there is no difference. Ès is a question marker for any question that can be answered with a simple yes or no response. There are several variants of the word ès I will list them all below:

Ès <--- This is the most common form of the word.

Ex. Ès ou vlé alé épi papa'w? - Do you want to go with your dad?

Èskè <--- The most common variant of the word Ès.

Ex. Èskè nou sé moun ki mové? - Are we evil people?

Other less common forms are (èski, es si and ensi)

Note: The word 'ès' and all other variants is always placed at the start of a sentence.

Good Morning Trinidad!

A couple ways Trinidadians greet each other when they meet. 

Bonjou! ---> Good morning / hello!

Bonjou tout moun ---> Hello everyone!

Bonjou, kouman'w yé? ---> Hello how are you?

Bonjou latè! ---> Greetings to all present!

Bèl bonjou! ---> Warm greetings! 

Byen bonjou! ---> Good day!

Gwanmoun timoun bonjou! ---> Hello everyone!

Salitasyon, kanmawad! -> Greetings, my friends!

Wèspé! ---> Respect!

Lafòs é lasanté ba'w! --> Health and strength to you!
Tiwé chapo! ---> Hats off to you!

Mwen salyé'w! ---> I greet you!

Salyé kanmawad-mwen! ---> Greetings my friend!
Sa ka fèt? ---> What's up?
Sa ka maché? ---> What's happenin'?
Sa ka pasé? ---> What's happenin'? 
Tout bon? ---> Is everything okay?

You'll also hear:

Bonjou konpè! ---> hello male comrade! 

Bonjou makoumè! ---> hello female comrade!

Bonjou vwazen! ---> hello male neighbour!

Bonjou vwazin! ---> hello female neighbour! 

(Question?) É kouman lajouné-a? --> How's your day so far? 

(Answer) Pa pli mal non fwè-mwen! --> No too bad my brother!

(Answer) Pa pli mal non sè-mwen! --> Not too bad my sister!

Many different ways to say and answer to: How are you?

What do you say when someone says "how are you?" in Patois?

1. How are you?

    Kouman ou yé? or Sa ou fè?

    I'm fine. 

    Mwen byen.

    I'm not too bad.

    Mwen pa pli mal.

    I'm well, everything is calm.

    Mwen byen, tout bagay dous.

2. How are things?

    Kouman zafè'w yé?

    Everything is fine.

    Tout bagay byen.

    So-so

    pyanm-pyanm.

   Things are not too well!

    Bagay pa twò byen, non!

3. What's new?

    Ki nèf or ban mwen nouvèl-ou or even ki nouvèl-ou?

    Nothing really, thanks!

    Ayen mèsi!

   As usual...

   Kon labitid...

   We're thriving!

    Nou an banbòch!

4. What are you up to?

     Sa'w ka fè la?

5. What's up?

     Sa ka fèt?

6. What's happening?

     Sa ka pasé?

    I'm great!

    Mwen byen bon! / Mwen kowèk!

7. What are you up to today?

    Sa'w ka fè jòdi-a?

   I'm here chillin'

   Mwen la ka lòchoté

   I've been up to nothing really!

  Mwen pa ka fè ayen pou bon, non!

  Well... you know...

   Ében.. ou sav... 

Question: How do you say Hello and welcome?

Hello and welcome!
Bonjou é byenvini!
(boh-zhoo ay byeh-vee-nee)

Hello and welcome to Trinidad & Tobago.
Bonjou é byenvini nan péyi Twinidad èk Tobago.
(boh-zhoo ay byeh-vee-nee nah pay-ee twee-nee-dad ehk tobago)

or

Bonjou é byenvini an Twinidad èk Tobago.
(boh-zhoo ay byeh-vee-nee ah twee-nee-dad ehk tobago)

Question: How do you say speak slowly?

Speak slowly
Palé dousman
(pah-lay doos-mah)

Speak more slowly please.
Palé pli dousman souplé.
(pah-lay plee doos-mah soop-lay)

night, tonight, last night, tomorrow night

night ---> lannwit, swè, swawé
at night ---> nan òswè, lé swè, lannwit, nan nwit
tonight ---> òswè-a
last night ---> yè-òswè
tomorrow night ---> démen-òswè
for one night ---> pou yon lannwit, pou yon swawé
every night ---> toulé swè, chak lannwit
all night long ---> tout lannwit, pandan tout lannwit la

How was your night?
Kouman lannwit-ou té yé?
Kouman'w té pasé lannwit-la?

I had a sleepless night.
Mwen pasé yon lannwit blanch.

Have a good night.
Pasé yon bon lannwit.

Good night.
Bon lannwit.

Question: How do you say "You're welcome, it's my pleasure" in Patois?

You're welcome
Sé pa anyen
[say pah ah-yeh]

It's my pleasure
Sé tout plézi mwen
[say toot play-zee mweh]

Ni wézon

ni wézon - to be right, to be correct, to be at a advantage. 

Ou ni wézon.  
You are right.

Kilès ki ni wézon, kilès ki pa ni wézon?
Who is right, who is wrong?

Wavèt pa ni wézon douvan poul.
Roaches are at a disadvantage when facing chickens.

Sé ou ki ni wézon!
You are the one who is right!

Dapwé yo, li toujou ké ni wézon douvan'w.
In their opinion, she will always be right, not you. 

Traditions, magic, spirits, obeah, religion (Kwéyòl glossary)

Traditions, magic, spirits, obeah, religion

Trinidad and Tobago 

(Kwéyòl glossary)

1. Ala: The name of God, as He is known in Arabic and in Islam.
2. Abo-abouké: Short hunchbacked people who live on the far side of the sun
3. Ababo: Yodel used to welcome Orishas [Yoruba gods]
4. Ado: A small calabash used for making magical potions and powders
5. Awobobo: Howl used to banish evil and bring good luck to the home
6. Andjabé: Said of someone who is possessed by a devil
7. Angajé: Said of someone who has made a pact with Satan
8. Bazil: Death personified
9. Boubou: Goblin-like creature; will punish greedy persons
10. Bolonm: The spirit of an aborted child
11. Ben fèy: A herbal bath, thought to bring good luck and remove back magic
12. Benni: To bless
13. Benni kò: A prayer performed over the body of a Catholic
14. Bennédiksyon: Blessing
15. Bèlzibòb: Beelzebub
16. Bon: Good
17. Bondyé: God [general term]
18. Bondyé Bwa: Any wooden idol
19. Bondyé Zendyen: Any Hindu God
20. Bongo: Dance for the dead
21. Bwa Sòlèy: Son of Papa Bois and Ti-Marie
22. Démou: Demon
23. Diviné: To foretell supernaturally
24. Divinè: Seer [man]
25. Divinèz: Seer [woman]
26. Chapèl: Chapel, Sanctuary
27. Chaplé: Rosary
28. Choubichou: A kind of talisman
29. Chouval: A person used by an Orisha
30. Danmbala: A serpent God worshipped by the Rada community [Belmont, Trinidad]
31. Doktè-fèy: Leaf doctor, anyone who heals with herbs and other plants
32. Dèy: Mourning
33. Djab 1: A character who appears in Creole folk-tales as a well-dressed European man
34. Djab 2: The traditional devil with horns, a tail and a pitch fork
35. Djab molasi: Demons who haunt sugar plantations; they represent the spirits of slaves who died on the plantation
36. Dwenn: The spirits of children who died before being baptised; their feet are turned backward
37. Ébadi: Love potion given to a woman
38. Fè mal: To do evil, harm supernaturally
39. Fèt Lanmò: The Feast of All Souls
40. Fowmajé: Silk Cotton Tree; it is believed that spirits live in these trees
41. Gadkò: Talisman to protect against witchcraft 
42. Gadzafè: Soothsayer
43. Gajè: Witch
44. Gajé: Witchcraft; to practise witchcraft
45. Govi: A magical calabash that has power to trap a soul
46. Glo benni: Holy water
47. Gwan Mèt: (Judeo-Christian) God 
48. Iyélé: A love potion given to a man
49. Jan: John the apostle 
50. Jédi Sen: Holy Thursday
51. Jété Glo: Libation ritual for ancestors or gods
52. Jès: A supernatural action
53. Jézi: Jesus
54. Jézi Kwi: Jesus the Christ
55. Jozèf: Joseph, Jesus' earthly father
56. Kadavi: Zombie, the animated dead
57. Kalvè: Calvary
58. Katéchis: Catechism
59. Katolik: Roman Catholic
60. Konfésè: Confessor [Catholic] (see Padwé)
61. Kònn lanbi: Conch horn, the sounding of horn announced a death in the area
62. Kwa: Cross (Variant: Lakwa)
63. Kwétyen: Christian
64. Kwibo: The snake that guards Maman Glo's pool; there is a large coloured gem on its head
65. Labib: Bible (Variant: Bib)
66. Labé: Priest
67. Labèt: The Beast [Book of Revelation]
68. Labé zendyen: Hindu priest
69. Ladjablès: A female seducing spirit with a cloven right foot (variant: Djablès)
70. Lafimé: A smoke ceremony to remove evil from the home
71. Lafwa: Faith
72. Lasiwenn: Mermaid 
73. Lanfè: Hell
74. Lanmen nwè: Said of someone who practices witchcraft [black hand]
75. Lanmen sal: Said of someone who practices witchcraft [dirty hand]
76. Lanmès: A Catholic mass
77. Lanmò: Death
78. Lapwiyè: Prayer
79. Lasimen-sent: Holy Week
80. Latousen: The Feast of All Saints
81. Lavéyé: Wake for the dead
82. Lavèj: The Virgin Mary
83. Légliz: Church
84. Lé Sen: The saints [collective name for Yoruba gods]
85. Lévanjil: The Holy Scriptures (literally, gospels)
86. Lèspwi: Any spirit
87. Lèspwi Bondyé: The Holy Spirit
88. Lifis: God the Son [Jesus]
89. Lipap: The Pope
90. Lipè: God the Father [YHVH] (See Papa Bondyé)
91. Lisentèspwi: The Holy Spirit
92. Louk: Luke The evangelist [Bible]
93. Lougawou: Werewolf
94. Nòtsenyè: Lord (Variant: Senyè)
95. Mabouyazé: To curse supernaturally
96. Mal: Evil
97. Malédiksyon: Jinx
98. Malfètè: Sorcerer
99. Malfètèz: Sorceress
100. Malfètaj: Sorcery
102. Maji: Witchcraft, magic 
101. Maman Glo: A female water spirit with a serpentine lower body
102. Maman Malad: The spirits of women who have died in childbirth; they cry continually at night
103. Manman Latè: A local Orisha, earth goddess [Trinidad]
104. Mawé: To bewitch someone [literally means ''to tie'']
105. Mawé wanga: Any spell cast to insure fidelity
106. Mèkwédi Sann: Ash Wednesday
107. Mawi: Mary, mother of Jesus
108. Miwak: Miracle
109. Modi: To curse supernaturally
110. Modisyon: Curse
111. Monsenyè: Church Bishop
112. Mongba: An Orisha priestess 
113. Omo-glo: Water spirits who appear in the form of children
114. Owéson: Ritualistic prayer to Catholic saints
115. Papa Bwa: A male spirit, guardian of the forest 
116. Pè: Priest
117. Péché: Sin, to sin
118. Péchè: Sinner
119. Piyè: Peter the apostle 
120. Pòl: Paul the apostle
121. Pwèt: Priest
122. Pwèzbitè: Rectory
123. Pyay: To hex
124. Pwiyé / pwédyé: To pray
125. Pyayè: worker of black magic
126. Tjenbwa: Obeah
127. Tjenbazè: worker of black magic
128. Twavay di sen: Orisha spiritual work
129. Satan: Satan, The Devil
130. Sèvis Lé Sen: Orisha worship service
131. Soukouyan: A female vampire, who sheds her skin at night and flies in a ball of fire. 
132. Sosyè: Witch
133. Syèl: Heaven
134. Vyé Lèspwi: Any evil spirit
135. Yawé: Yahweh: The name of God [Judaism], The name of God the father [Christianity]
136. Zafi: Fairy 
137. Zanj: Angel
138. Zapòt: Apostle 

Word of the the day - Mo pou jòdi-a

Ou pa sa konté tout sé zétwal-la.

(oo pah sah cohn-tay toot say zay-twahl lah)

You can't count all of the stars.

Speaking about the day

Speaking about the day

Day
Jou
zhoo

Today 

Jòdi-a

zhau-dee ah

All day.  

Tout lajouné.

toot lah-zhoo-nay

Every day.
Chak jou / Toulé jou.
shak zhou / too-lay zhou

Broad daylight.  

Gwan lajouné. 

gwah lah-zhoo-nay

During the day.

Pandan jouné-a. 

pahn-dahn zhoo-nay-a

How is you day going? 

Kouman jouné ou yé? 

coo-mah zhoo-nay oo yay

How was your day? 

Kouman jouné ou té yé? 

coo-mah zhoo-nay oo tay yay

I had a bad day.

Mwen pasé yon mové jou / jouné.

mweh pah-say yoh moh-vay zhoo / zhoo-nay

I had a good day.
Mwen pasé yon bon jou.
mwen pasé yoh bon zhoo

What day is today?
Ki jou jòdi-a yé?
kee zhoo zhau-dee ah yay

Today is Thursday.
Jòdi-a sé Jédi.
zhau ah say  zhay-dee

This present day.
Jouné jòdi-a / jòdijou.
zhoo-nay zhau-dee ah / zhau-dee-zhoo