Cafe and restaurant in Haitian Creole
A table, the menu, what you cannot eat, and a compliment to the kitchen. Play the ten Haitian Creole words against the clock, with a note on how locals really use each one after every answer. All ten are written out below.
All 10 Haitian Creole phrases in this lesson
- Yon tab pou deyon tahb poo duh
- A table for two
- Meni a, souplemeh-NEE ah, SOO-pleh
- The menu, please
- Kisa ou rekòmande?kee-SAH oo reh-koh-MAHN-deh
- What do you recommend?
- Mwen pa manje...mwen pah mahn-ZHEH
- I don't eat...
- Mwen fè alèji ak...mwen feh ah-leh-ZHEE ahk
- I'm allergic to...
- Vyannvyahn
- Meat
- Poulpool
- Chicken
- Pwasonpwah-SOHN
- Fish
- Li bon anpillee bohn ahn-PEEL
- It's delicious
- Sante!san-TEH
- Cheers
Tab is table. Restaurants in Port-au-Prince often book; calling ahead helps. Rural restaurants and eateries seat themselves, just sit down.
Menus exist mostly in restaurants in the capital. Street food and small eateries display dishes openly; pointing is the normal order method.
"Mwen pa manje vyann", I don't eat meat.
Griyo, fried pork, is the national favorite.
Literally "it is good very much". Li means it. Compliments to the kitchen or vendor are genuinely appreciated and encourage more friendliness.
Literally "health", straight from the French santé, and the standard toast in Haiti. Clink glasses, make eye contact, and keep it warm; toasting is social, not ceremonial.