Proverb 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:Is there an expression in Creole equivalent to "counting your chickens before they hatched"?

Yes there is a Creole equivalent, in Trinidad we say

Fò pa konté zé an bonda poul.

(faw pah con-tay zay uh bon-dah pool)

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)

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!

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 épi Tobago.
(boh-zhoo ay byeh-vee-nee nah pay-ee twee-nee-dad ai-pee tobago)

or

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

Patois Class in Tunapuna, Trinidad

Women Working for Social Progress (Workingwomen) will be starting a Patois class on Friday 16th March, 2012 at their office on 8 Niles Street, Tunapuna, T&T, beginning at 5:00 p.m.

For further information please call Ms Phillip at 663-9509.