Language/Haitian/Vocabulary/Introductions
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As a Haitian language teacher with 20 years of experience, I am excited to help you discover the basics of Haitian vocabulary. In this lesson, we will cover introductions and how to introduce yourself and others in Haitian. This lesson is part of the larger course titled "Complete 0 to A1 Haitian Course," designed for complete beginners who want to learn the basics of the Haitian language.
Before we dive into the lesson content, there are a few interesting cultural facts about Haiti that I'd like to share with you. Haiti is the first country in the Caribbean to gain independence, and Haitians love to celebrate their history and culture through music and dance. Haitian Creole, the language we'll be learning in this course, is widely spoken in Haiti and is a blend of French, African, and other indigenous languages.
Now, let's get started with introductions!
Finish this lesson and explore these related pages: Fruits & Meats and Seafood.
Basic Introductions
In Haitian, we have a few different ways to introduce ourselves and others. Here are some common phrases and expressions:
- Mwen rele... (My name is...)
- Kijan ou rele? (What is your name?)
- Sa ki non ou? (What's your name?)
- Li rele kisa? (What's his/her name?)
To ask someone's name, you can use either "Kijan ou rele?" or "Sa ki non ou?" - both are commonly used and understood.
Examples
Let's look at some examples of introductions in Haitian:
| Haitian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Mwen rele Sofia. | [mwɛn ʁel Sofia] | My name is Sofia. |
| Kijan ou rele? | [kiʒan u ʁel] | What is your name? |
| Sa ki non ou? | [sa ki nɔn u] | What's your name? |
| Li rele Jean. | [li ʁel ʒan] | His name is Jean. |
In Haitian culture, it's common to shake hands and make eye contact when greeting someone. However, depending on the context and relationship between people, different greetings may be more appropriate. For example, in a formal setting or with someone older or in a position of authority, you would use a different greeting than you would with friends or family members.
Other Common Expressions
Here are some additional expressions that are useful for introductions and greetings:
- Bonjou (Good morning)
- Bonswa (Good afternoon/evening)
- Bonswa, kijan ou ye? (Good afternoon/evening, how are you?)
- Mwen byen, mèsi. E ou menm? (I'm fine, thank you. And you?)
Notice that to ask how someone is doing in Haitian, you can say "Kijan ou ye?" which literally means "How are you?"
Examples
Here are some examples of other common expressions:
| Haitian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Bonjou. | [bɔnʒu] | Good morning. |
| Bonswa. | [bɔnswa] | Good afternoon/evening. |
| Bonswa, kijan ou ye? | [bɔnswa kiʒan u jɛ] | Good afternoon/evening, how are you? |
| Mwen byen, mèsi. E ou menm? | [mwɛn bjɛn mezi e u mɛm] | I'm fine, thank you. And you? |
Conclusion
Congratulations! You now know how to introduce yourself and others in Haitian, as well as other common introductory phrases. Keep practicing and using these expressions in conversations to improve your skills. In the next lesson, we will focus on talking about nationalities and languages in Haitian.
Now that you've completed this lesson, don't stop learning! Check out these related topics: Ordinal Numbers & How to say Good Bye?.
Other Lessons
- Fruits
- How to Say Hello and Greetings
- Food
- Drinks
- Useful Phrases
- Cardinal Numbers
- Education
- Animals
- Nationalities and Languages
- Time Expressions
Sources
- Learn these 20 words and phrases in Haitian Creole before your ...
- Haitian Creole Phrasebook: Essential Expressions for ...
| ◀️ Greetings — Previous Lesson | Next Lesson — Nationalities and Languages ▶️ |