Haitian Creole, a French-based creole spoken in Haiti, is a vibrant language with influences from West African languages, Spanish, English, Taino, and Portuguese. It’s the first language of the majority of Haitians. Here’s a comprehensive guide to essential conversational phrases and questions in Haitian Creole, perfect for various social interactions.

Greetings

• Hello/Hi – “Bonjou” (Good morning) / “Bonswa” (Good evening, used after noon)
• How are you? (informal/formal) – “Koman ou ye?” / “Kijan ou ye?”
• I’m fine, thank you. – “Mwen byen, mèsi.”
• Goodbye – “Orevwa”

Introducing Yourself or Others

• My name is [name]. – “Non mwen se [non].”
• This is [name]. – “Sa a se [non].”
• I am from [country]. – “Mwen soti nan [peyi].”
• I live in [city/place]. – “Mwen abite nan [vil/kote].”

Asking for Directions or People

• Where is the [place]? – “Ki kote [kote] a ye?”
• How do I get to [place]? – “Kijan mwen ka rive nan [kote]?”
• Is this the way to [place]? – “Èske se wout sa a pou ale [kote]?”
• Can you show me on the map? – “Ou ka montre mwen sou kat la?”

Solving a Misunderstanding

• Sorry, I don’t understand. – “Padon, mwen pa konprann.”
• Can you please repeat that? – “Ou ka repete sa, souple?”
• I mean… – “Mwen vle di…”
• What does [word] mean? – “Kisa [mo] vle di?”

Farewell Expressions

• See you later – “N a wè pita”
• Take care – “Pran swen”
• Have a good day – “Pase yon bon jounen”

Travel and Dining

• I would like to book a room. – “Mwen ta renmen rezève yon chanm.”
• Can I see the menu, please? – “Èske mwen ka wè meni an, souple?”
• I am vegetarian. – “Mwen se vejetaryen.”
• The bill, please. – “Kont lan, souple.”

Shopping

• How much does this cost? – “Konbyen sa koute?”
• Do you have this in another size? – “Ou gen sa nan yon lòt gwosè?”
• I’m just looking, thanks. – “Mwen jis ap gade, mèsi.”
• Can I pay by card? – “Èske mwen ka peye ak kat?”

Dating and Love

• You look beautiful. (to a woman) / You look handsome. (to a man) – “Ou bèl.” / “Ou bèl gason.”
• I miss you. – “Mwen sonje ou.”
• I love you. – “Mwen renmen ou.”
• Would you like to go out with me? – “Ou ta renmen soti avè m?”

Emergencies

• Help! – “Edem!”
• Call the police! – “Rele lapolis!”
• I need a doctor. – “Mwen bezwen yon doktè.”
• Where is the nearest hospital? – “Ki kote lopital ki pi pre a ye?”

These phrases provide a solid foundation for basic communication in Haitian Creole. Practice speaking and listening regularly, engage with Haitian Creole media, and don’t hesitate to converse with native speakers. Remember, language learning is a journey—embrace mistakes as learning opportunities and continue to explore the rich linguistic and cultural nuances of Haitian Creole.