Language/Haitian/Grammar/Pronouns
Hi Haitian learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will explore the use of pronouns in Haitian. Pronouns are words used to replace nouns and avoid repetition. They are essential to learn and master as they allow us to communicate more efficiently in conversations.
Finish this lesson and explore these related pages: Future Tense, Haitian Grammar: Learning Subject Pronouns and Their Functions, Gender & How to Use Have.
Personal Pronouns[edit | edit source]
Personal Pronouns are used to refer to people and things. They can be used as the subject or object of a sentence. In Haitian, Personal pronouns are classified into 5 categories:
| Haitian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Mwen | [mwɛ̃] | I/Me |
| Ou | [u] | You |
| Li | [li] | He/She/It |
| Nou | [nu] | We/Us |
| Yo | [jo] | They/Them |
Example dialogue:
- Person 1: Mwen se David. (I am David)
- Person 2: Ou byen? (How are you?)
- Person 1: Mwen byen, mèsi. (I am good, thank you)
- Person 2: Li se zanmi mwen. (He's my friend)
- Person 1: Oh, li genyen yon bon kote. (Oh, he's got a good personality)
It is worth noting that in Haitian, personal pronouns can be dropped in many situations since the verb itself already provides information regarding the subject. This is not the case in English language.
Possessive Pronouns[edit | edit source]
Possessive Pronouns are used to indicate possession or ownership. They are placed before the noun they modify. In Haitian, Possessive Pronouns are classified into 3 categories:
| Haitian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Mwen | [mwɛ̃] | My/Mine |
| Ou | [u] | Your/Yours |
| Li | [li] | His/Her/Hers/Its |
| Nòt | [no] | Our/Ours |
| Yo | [jo] | Their/Theirs |
Example dialogue:
- Person 1: Lòtèl la se mwen. (The hotel is mine)
- Person 2: Ok, ou pran bèl chwa. (Ok, you made a good choice)
- Person 1: Tifi a se li. (The girl is hers)
- Person 2: Anvan ou al nan biwo nou, pran fakti nou tou. (Before you go to our office, take our invoice too)
Reflexive Pronouns[edit | edit source]
Reflexive Pronouns are used when the subject and object of a sentence are the same. In Haitian, Reflexive Pronouns are formed by adding "tèt" after a personal pronoun.
| Haitian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Tèt mwen | [tɛt mwɛ̃] | Myself |
| Tèt ou | [tɛt u] | Yourself |
| Tèt li | [tɛt li] | Himself/Herself/Itself |
| Tèt nou | [tɛt nu] | Ourselves |
| Tèt yo | [tɛt jo] | Themselves |
Example dialogue:
- Person 1: Mwen pran anpil foto ak telefòn mwen. (I take a lot of photos with my phone)
- Person 2: Poukisa? (Why?)
- Person 1: Mwen renmen tèt mwen nan vwayaj. (I like to take pictures of myself while traveling)
Demonstrative Pronouns[edit | edit source]
Demonstrative Pronouns are used to point out specific things or people. In Haitian, Demonstrative Pronouns are classified into 2 categories:
| Haitian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Sa | [sa] | This/That |
| Yo | [jo] | These/Those |
Example dialogue:
- Person 1: Sa se rad mwen an. (This is my dress)
- Person 2: Bèl rad la. (Nice dress)
- Person 1: Yo se zouti yo. (Those are their shoes)
- Person 2: Yo chita byen sou yo. (They fit well on them)
Interrogative Pronouns[edit | edit source]
Interrogative Pronouns are used to ask questions. In Haitian, Interrogative Pronouns are classified into 3 categories:
| Haitian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Kilès | [kile] | Who |
| Kisa | [kisa] | What |
| Ki jan | [ki ʒan] | How |
Example dialogue:
- Person 1: Kisa sa ye? (What is this?)
- Person 2: Sa se slise. (This is a slice)
- Person 1: Ki jan ou fè wout la? (How did you make the road?)
- Person 2: Ak machin ak pèlonèt. (With a machine and rollers)
We have covered the use of Pronouns in Haitian. They are an essential part of every language and mastering their use allows for better communication. To improve your Haitian Grammar, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!
➡ If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎
Sources[edit | edit source]
{{#seo: |title=Haitian Grammar - Pronouns |keywords=Haitian grammar, pronouns, personal pron
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Nouns
- Give your Opinion
- Questions
- Adjectives
- Negation
- How to Use Have
- Gender
- Conditional Mood
- Future Tense