How To Greet People In Haitian Creole

How to Greet People in Haitian Creole Beginner Lessons

What You Will Learn

In this lesson, you will learn the following:

1. Saying basic greetings like hi or hello

2. Asking how are you?

3. Saying goodbye

How to Say 'Hi' or 'Hello'

• The Creole words for hi or hello are bonjou or bonswa.
• Say bonjou when it is daytime and say bonswa when it is the evening or night.

Now, you can be more specific by saying bonswa when it is past 12:00 p.m. if you choose to do so.

But, as long as you say bonjou while it is daytime and bonswa while it is evening or nighttime, you are good to go.

Bonjou means 'good morning.' Bonswa means 'good afternoon' or 'good evening.' Consider these examples

1. Bonjou tout moun

Good morning everyone

2. Bonswa frè mwen

Good evening my brother

How to Say 'How Are You?'

• To ask how someone is in Haitian Creole, say Kòman ou ye? or Ki jan ou ye?
• If someone else asks you, respond by saying Mwen byen, which means I am well.

The short or contracted version is kòman w ye? or ki jan w ye? Say Kòman w ye? to ask how someone is doing. Informal Ways of Asking How Someone is

1. Sa k pase? (What's up?)

N ap boule. (We're hanging on)

2. Sa k ap fèt? (What's happening?)

Mwen pa pi mal kounye a. (I am not too bad right now)

How to Say 'Goodbye'

• To say goodbye in Haitian Creole, say orevwa.

Orevwa means 'goodbye' in Haitian Creole. Other Ways of Saying 'Goodbye'

*Babay is pronounced as bah-bye

1. Pote ou byen (Farewell)

2. Babay* (bye bye)

3. Na wè pita (See you later)

The More You Greet, The Faster You Learn Creole

A good conversation with someone starts with a greeting. Haitians often welcome a warm greeting from someone who is excited to learn their native language, Haitian Creole.

Therefore, as someone who is learning Haitian Creole, make an effort to greet others in Creole. This may very well spark a good conversation, which will in turn allow you to practice your Creole-speaking skills.

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