Greetings and politeness in Haitian Creole
Hello, please, thank you, sorry: the ten openers everything else builds on. 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 11 Haitian Creole phrases in this lesson
- Bonjoubon-ZHOO
- Hello
- Bon matenbon mah-TEN
- Good morning
- Bonswabon-SWAH
- Good evening
- Orevwaoh-reh-VWAH
- Goodbye
- N a wènah WEH
- See you
- SoupleSOO-pleh
- Please
- MèsiMEH-see
- Thank you
- Pa gen pwoblèmpah gen pwoh-BLEM
- You're welcome
- Padonpah-DOHN
- Sorry
- Eskize mes-KEE-zeh m
- Excuse me
- Kontant kontre oukon-TAHN kon-TREH oo
- Nice to meet you
The standard greeting from morning until about midday, and with anyone. Saying bonjou on entering a room or a shop is basic courtesy.
Heard early in the day, especially in the countryside. Bonjou covers the morning just as well.
Takes over from bonjou in the afternoon, often from around noon.
The standard goodbye, used for any parting. Some people say "adye" (ah-DYE), the creolized version of adieu, but orevwa is the most common across the country.
Literally "we'll see", the friendly goodbye. N a wè pita means see you later.
From French sil vous plait shortened and creolized. Used to soften requests and add politeness, though tone of voice carries most of the politeness work.
The standard thanks, used everywhere. It is derived from French merci but pronounced and spelled distinctly Creole. Always use it liberally.
Literally "no problem". It is the standard response to thanks and signals genuine warmth. The phrase practically runs Haitian conversation.
The apology, for a bump or a mistake. "Mwen regrèt" (mwen reh-GRET) is the stronger I'm sorry.
To get someone's attention or to squeeze past. The m at the end is short for mwen, me.
Kontant means happy, kontre means meet, ou is you. This is the genuine social phrase that signals warm interest in getting to know someone.