KwГ©yГІl
Dictionary
Compiled by
Paul Crosbie, David Frank,
Emanuel Leon, Peter Samuel
Edited by
David Frank
Ministry of Education
Government of Saint Lucia
Castries, Saint Lucia
illustrations by Mervin Evans, David Frank,
Mark Frank, and David Samman
First Edition
Copyright В© 2001 SIL International
Contents
Preface ............................................................................... iii
Introduction..........................................................................v
The KwГ©yГІl Writing System ................................................x
Kwéyòl – English ................................................................ 1
English – Kwéyòl ............................................................ 246
Appendix ........................................................................ 321
List of Abbreviations
ADJ
adjective
ADV
adverb
ART
article
CONJ
conjunction
Eng.
English
Fr.
French
INTERJ
interjection
N
noun
opp
opposite (antonym)
PREP
preposition
PRO
pronoun
syn
synonym
V
verb
var
variant
ii
Preface
This dictionary is published by the Ministry of Education of St. Lucia to
meet the need for an authoritative, affordable reference guide on Creole. The
research for this dictionary was done by the SIL team in the years 1984–
2000. Several years after the project was begun, the researchers became
aware of the work of the late Jones Mondesir, who at the time was
cooperating with Dr. Lawrence Carrington of the University of the West
Indies to publish his own ground-breaking dictionary of St. Lucian Creole,
having begun collecting data several decades earlier.1 With his dictionary and
other writings either on Creole or in Creole, Mr. Mondesir earned a place as
a pioneer in the development and recognition of Creole as a legitimate,
respectable language.
After Mondesir’s dictionary was published in 1992, the work on the
present Creole dictionary continued, and because the need still existed for a
Creole dictionary that was affordable and reliable as a spelling guide, it is
now finally being released in this first edition. The compilers have chosen for
this first edition to include data that they themselves gathered and have
consciously avoided �borrowing’ data from Mondesir. Subsequent editions
will likely include input from a greater variety of sources in order to be of
maximum usefulness to the public.
Of the SIL team members who worked on this dictionary, Dr. Frank
oversaw the project. He wrote a Dictionary Database Editor computer
program that the team used for entering and editing the data and producing
the formatted dictionary. He was responsible for turning the data into a
publishable book. Mr. Crosbie worked harder than anyone else on the team
on collecting and processing lexical data. He worked mostly in conjunction
with Mr. Leon, who served as a knowledgeable mother-tongue Creole
language specialist. The team of Crosbie and Leon worked tirelessly over the
course of some fifteen years collecting information about the words and
phrases of Creole. Mr. Samuel, working primarily with Dr. Frank, also
served as a valuable mother-tongue source of information about the Creole
lexicon over the years, but his contribution was especially important in the
1
Jones E. Mondesir (1992) Dictionary of St. Lucian Creole, ed. by Lawrence D.
Carrington. Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter.
iii
last year, as Frank, Crosbie and Samuel worked intensively as a team on
editing the lexical data in preparation for publication of this dictionary.
SIL International is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to
facilitate language-based development through research, translation, and
literacy. The following statement is taken from the Linguistic Creed: 1 “As
the most uniquely human characteristic a person has, a person's language is
associated with his self-image. Interest in and appreciation of a person's
language is tantamount to interest in and appreciation of the person himself.
All languages are worthy of preservation in written form by means of
grammars, dictionaries, and written texts. This should be done as part of the
heritage of the human race.”
The compilers of this dictionary owe a debt of gratitude to the following
persons or institutions: Dame Pearlette Louisy, Governor General of St.
Lucia, without whose enthusiasm, leadership and scholarship, Creole would
not get the respect it deserves today; Dr. Lawrence Carrington of the
University of the West Indies, whose solid, pioneering work on the analysis
and exposition of St. Lucian Creole2 paved the way for further descriptions
such as the present one; Dr. Didacus Jules, Permanent Secretary in the
Ministry of Education, who has been working on Creole literacy even before
this dictionary project was born and who has the vision, intelligence and
confidence to use his position of leadership to deal properly with
controversial topics such as the place of Creole in St. Lucian society; Mr.
Michael Walker, a prominent scholar and author, a �mover and shaker’ who
has used his tremendous energy and his unique intellectual and interpersonal
gifts to bring Creole to the public consciousness in a new way and bring
together the various parties working on Creole; the Folk Research Centre,
which is the foremost promoter and guardian of all things Creole – including
both language and culture – in St. Lucia; and not least of all, the hundreds of
Creole speakers who joyfully shared a wealth of information about their
language with the researchers.
A final note: This first edition of the KwГ©yГІl dictionary is a work in
progress. The authors and publisher hope to replace it eventually with a
second revised and enlarged edition. Comments, corrections, and additions
are welcome and can be sent to SIL, Box 1030, Castries, Saint Lucia.
1
This statement of SIL’s purpose and the Linguistic Creed (authored by Benjamin
Elson) are taken from the SIL web site. For more information, see www.sil.org.
2
See especially Lawrence D. Carrington (1984) St. Lucian Creole: A Descriptive
Analysis of its Phonology and Morpho-Syntax. Hamburg: Helmut Buske.
iv
Introduction
This dictionary for St. Lucian KwГ©yГІl is in two parts. The first part is
arranged alphabetically according to KwГ©yГІl key words with English
definitions. Different senses of the word are given, along an example
sentence illustrative of the word used in that sense. Other information is
given as well, including the part of speech, any synonyms, antonyms, or
cross-references, and an etymology, if known.
The second part of the dictionary is arranged alphabetically according to
English key words. Parts of speech and the KwГ©yГІl meanings are given for
each English key word, again with different senses indicated where
applicable. As the main purpose of this dictionary is to serve as a reference
guide on KwГ©yГІl, the information given about English is not as extensive as
the information given about KwГ©yГІl. The purpose of the English-KwГ©yГІl
part of the dictionary is to give a quick KwГ©yГІl gloss of the English words
and point the reader to the the right spot in the KwГ©yГІl-English part of the
dictionary for more complete information.
The following gives more detailed information about the different parts of
a dictionary entry:
KEY WORD
The term �key word’ here is used to indicate the Kwéyòl (or English)
word being explained. Each entry in this dictionary begins with a key word
in blue bold type. The order of presentation is according to normal English
alphabetic order, with accent marks ignored for the sake of alphabetisation.
Sometimes a phrase is defined in this dictionary rather than a single word.
In such a case, the phrase too is in blue bold type, but the phrase comes as a
continuation of an entry rather than as a separate entry. Defined phrases are
included in this dictionary as part of the entry of one of the key words in the
phrase.
Occasionally the key word is followed by a small, raised number, as in
the example provided (Figure 1) on the following page. The superscripted
number is used to distinguish homonyms, in the case of two or more words
that have the same spelling but are unrelated in meaning. For example, the
v
Creole word
part of speech
English definition
example
sentence
synonym
bawГ©1
V to block. PyГ© bwa-a tonbГ© Г©pi i bawГ© tout
chimen-an. The tree fell and blocked the whole road.
(syn: bouchГ©; opp: dГ©bawГ©; see also: jennen, bawad)
ADJ 1) blocked. Mwen pa sa pasГ© paski chimen-an
bawГ©. I cannot pass because the road is blocked.
2) overcast. Ovan-an bawГ©; i sanm lapli kay tonbГ©. It
is overcast to the east; it seems like it is going to rain.
(see also: mawГ©) [< Fr. barrer]
antonym
crossreference
etymology
Figure 1: Sample dictionary entry
Kwéyòl word bawé can mean �to block; blocked’. But there is another
KwГ©yГІl word bawГ©, which is a type of fish. To keep these homonyms
distinct, the dictionary lists them as bawГ©1 and bawГ©2 respectively.
In some cases the key word will be followed by an indication of a variant
form, as in jГІdi (var: hГІdi). This means that jГІdi is considered to be the most
standard form, but hГІdi is recognized in this dictionary as a variant form of
the same word. Looking up hГІdi in the dictionary, one would find a minor
entry that says this word is a “variant of jòdi.” Please note that in such cases
where one form of a word is said to be a variant of another form of the same
word, the authors do not intend to be making a judgment concerning
correctness. That is, the way the entries are made in this dictionary is not
intended to impose standardisation and say that one form is right and another
form is wrong. As a basis for determining which KwГ©yГІl form is called a
variant of another form, the commonly-used form that is closest to the French
origin (or, in some cases, origin from another source) was chosen for a full
entry, and other forms less directly related to the form of the etymological
source were said to be the variants. It is possible, however, that as KwГ©yГІl
develops more into a written language, there will be instances where the
forms further removed from the original source language that will eventually
be recognized as “standard”.
vi
PART OF SPEECH
The set of parts of speech, or word classes, used in this dictionary is as
follows: N (noun), PRO (pronoun), ADJ (adjective), ART (article), V (verb),
ADV (adverb), PREP (preposition), CONJ (conjunction), and INTERJ
(interjection). These are only broad categories. In a more complete
grammatical description of KwГ©yГІl, these broad categories could and should
be further broken down into subcategories. For example, what is called here
�noun’ would include both common nouns and proper names, but a
distinction is not made for the present purposes. Similarly, the category
�verb’ would include transitive verbs, intransitive verbs, and linking verbs,
but such distinctions are not made in this dictionary. Other word classes
could be subdivided as well.
DEFINITION
What is termed a �definition’ in this introduction would perhaps more
accurately be called a gloss in the other language, i.e., English glosses for
KwГ©yГІl key words and KwГ©yГІl glosses for the English key words.
There may be different senses of a word. What is judged to be the primary
sense is always put first in the dictionary entry. If there are other
distinguishable secondary or extended senses, then a numbering system is
used to identify them. For example in Figure 1, bawГ© in its use as an
adjective primarily means �blocked’, but it can also mean �overcast’ in
reference to the weather. The compilers determined that there seemed to be
some thread of shared meaning between these two senses, so they were
considered as different senses of the same word and put into a single entry,
rather than being a pair of homonyms each deserving its own separate entry.
The primary sense is the meaning that one would think of first, such as if the
word is cited out of context. Secondary or extended senses are other
meanings that the same word can have in other contexts.
EXAMPLE SENTENCE
Generally speaking, each entry has an example sentence to show how the
word is normally used in context. The compilers sought to use illustrative
sentences that reinforced the meaning of the word and gave clues to the way
the word is naturally used in context. Each KwГ©yГІl example sentence is
followed by an English translation of the same. Often when an entry involves
more than one sense, different example sentences are given to show how the
word is used in that particular sense. Example sentence are not provided in
the English-KwГ©yГІl part of the dictionary.
vii
USAGE, SYNONYMS, ANTONYMS, CROSS-REFERENCES
It is valuable in a dictionary such as this to have, in addition to the
definitions of words and example sentences, notes on usage and observations
on the way one word in the language relates to others. Such information was
collected in the lexical database, and when it applies to an entry it appears in
the printed dictionary in parentheses, following the definition and example
sentence. In terms of usage, the main observations that were noted
occasionally were that particular words were archaic (that is, they are old
words that few people know today), religious (that is, used primarily used in
a religious context such as church), or crude. Synonyms of the word in focus
– other words with the same meaning – are noted with the abbreviation �syn’.
Antonyms, or opposites in meaning, are marked with �opp’. In some cases, a
certain word will bring to mind certain other words that are not exactly
synonyms but are closely related in meaning, and in such a case a crossreference will be noted with the words �see also:’.
ETYMOLOGY
Every word has a history, and the term �etymology’ refers to the historical
antecedents of a word. St. Lucian KwГ©yГІl is a French Creole, and most of the
vocabulary of KwГ©yГІl comes from French. There are various sources of
KwГ©yГІl words, as in any language, including African languages, English,
Indian languages, Portuguese, etc., but the overwhelming majority of KwГ©yГІl
words derive from French. That is not to say that KwГ©yГІl is not a unique
language – that it is merely a corruption of French. Kwéyòl is a language and
deserves to be described as such rather than as a variation of something else.
To say that KwГ©yГІl is a dialect and not a language is to show ignorance of
the proper, technical meanings of those terms.
Creole languages are a unique category that arise out of particular sociohistorical contexts, whereby a new language is created that derives it
vocabulary usually (though by no means always) from a major European
�lexifier’ language but the new language form is distinguishable from the
language from whence it arises. Thus there are French Creoles and English
Creoles in the Caribbean, and also Spanish Creoles, Dutch Creoles, Arabic
Creoles, African-language-based Creoles like Hausa, etc. It would be beyond
the present purpose to go into exactly how a Creole language develops and
what makes it unique, and these issues are in fact topics of debate among
linguists.
There is not always a one-to-one relationship between KwГ©yГІl words and
their sources in French. There are many cases where a KwГ©yГІl noun, for
example, derives from a French preposition and/or article plus noun, as in
viii
KwГ©yГІl lavi coming from French la vie, nanj from un ange, zГІdi from les
ordures and dlo from de l’eau.
There are certain regular sound changes that can be seen to have taken
place in the development of KwГ©yГІl out French. For one thing, KwГ©yГІl has
fewer vowel phonemes than has French, and certain small sets of French
vowels have merged to be represented as one KwГ©yГІl vowel phoneme. For
example, French has a distinction between a high, front unrounded vowel [i]
and a high, front rounded vowel [y], where KwГ©yГІl has only the unrounded
variety of high front vowel. So French words with this sound, usually spelled
in French with the letter u, normally correspond to KwГ©yГІl words with the [i]
sound, as in the French word tortue, which corresponds to the KwГ©yГІl word
tГІti. Also, the distinction between [w] and [r] in French was lost in KwГ©yГІl
so that, for example, the KwГ©yГІl word corresponding to French arrГЄter is
awГ©tГ©. There are many other regular sound correspondences that can be
identified in the development of KwГ©yГІl out of French.
In the KwГ©yГІl-English part of this dictionary, etymologies have been
noted in square brackets at the end of the entries wherever possible. These
are simple etymologies, pointing to a single historical source, rather than
complex etymologies pointing to a trail of antecedent forms, which would be
more accurate in some cases but beyond the scope of this dictionary. A left
wedge means �comes from’, so that an etymology such as [< Fr. frère]
indicates that the word in question (fwГЁ in this case) comes from the French
word frГЁre. Sometimes the etymologies that were posited amount to educated
guesses, and the compilers will be happy to incorporate any corrections and
additions that are brought to their attention into further editions.
ix
The KwГ©yГІl Writing System
St. Lucian Creole has 32 different sounds, or phonemes. These are
represented in the writing system by 24 letters, and also two different accents
used over the vowels. The letters Q and X are not used in St. Lucian Creole,
and R is used only in some words borrowed from English.1
In order for 24 letters to represent 32 sounds, some of the sounds are
represented by a combination of letters. (The same is true for English,
examples being CH, SH, and TH.) The 24 letters can represent 32 sounds by
combining with accent marks and with each other. This KwГ©yГІl writing
system is phonemic and easy to learn for anyone who can read and write
English well and who can speak KwГ©yГІl.
Below is a summary of the sounds of KwГ©yГІl and the symbols used to
represent them in writing:
CONSONANTS
symbol
p
t
k
phonetic quality
[p] voiceless bilabial stop
voiceless alveolar stop
[t]
[k] voiceless velar stop
b
d
g
[b]
[d]
[g]
voiced bilabial stop
voiced alveolar stop
voiced velar stop
f
s
ch
[f]
[s]
[S]
voiceless labiodental fricative
voiceless alveolar grooved fricative
voiceless alveopalatal grooved fricative
1
This section on the KwГ©yГІl writing system is adapted from the SIL publication
(1999), MannyГЁ Ou Sa Li Г€k Г‰kwi KwГ©yГІl.
x
v
z
j
[v]
[z]
[Z]
tj
dj
[tS] voiceless alveopalatal affricate
[dZ] voiced alveopalatal affricate
l
[l]
voiced alveolar lateral
m
n
ng
[m]
[n]
[N]
voiced bilabial nasal
voiced alveolar nasal
voiced velar nasal
w
y
[w]
[j]
voiced bilabilial semivowel
voiced alveopalatal semivowel
h
[h]
voiceless nonsyllabic vocoid
r
[В®]
retroflexed nonsyllabic vocoid
i
Г©
ГЁ
[i]
[e]
[E]
high front unrounded vocoid
mid close front unrounded vocoid
mid open front unrounded vocoid
a
[a]
low central unrounded vocoid
ou
o
ГІ
[u]
[o]
[Г§]
high back rounded vocoid
mid back rounded vocoid
low back rounded vocoid
en
on
an
[e)]
[o)]
[a)]
mid front unrounded nasal vocoid
mid back rounded nasal vocoid
low central unrounded vocoid
voiced labiodental fricative
voiced alveolar grooved fricative
voiced alveopalatal grooved fricative
SEMI-VOWELS
VOWELS
xi
THE KWÉYÒL ALPHABET
One of the most important things to note about the Creole writing system
is that it is phonemically-based; that is, there is a one-to-one relationship
between the sounds and the letters (or combination of letters) used to
represent the sounds. The same cannot be said for English. The problem with
English spelling is that the writing system is very old, and over the centuries
the pronunciation of English has changed considerably while the spelling has
changed little. As a result, there are English words that are spelled differently
but pronounced the same, e.g. right, write, and rite. While the basics of
English spelling can be taught according to phonic principles, there are many
spellings of English words that simply have to be memorized.
The same is not true of Creole spelling. Because the system is fairly new
and carefully thought out, the relationship between the spoken form of the
language and the written form is very straightforward. One of the most basic
rules of writing Creole is that it is written just the way it is pronounced,
according to the given set of spelling rules. This is not meant to imply that
Creole is superior to English, nor that the Creole writing system is superior to
that of English, but rather that, for various reasons, the rules for reading and
writing Creole can be learnt much more easily and quickly than those for
writing English.
Note that some of the sounds in KwГ©yГІl are represented in writing by a
sequence of two letters. These are called digraphs. The following digraphs
are used in the KwГ©yГІl orthography, or writing system, each to represent a
single consonant sound: ch, dj, ng, and tj. A nasal vowel in KwГ©yГІl, as in
bon �good’, is represented by a vowel plus the letter n. The nasal vowels in
KwГ©yГІl are an, en, and on. The [u] sound is represented by the combination
ou, as in boutik �shop’. The letters C and U never occur by themselves in the
KwГ©yГІl orthography, but only in the combinations ch and ou.
The following table presents the Creole alphabet, this time in alphabetic
order, with examples:
xii
a
chat
an
dan
b
bak
ch
chГЁz
d
dГ©
dj
djГІl
Г©
nГ©
ГЁ
bГЁf
NOTE: This is a nasal vowel,
represented by a digraph,
namely vowel plus n.
Note that c is never used by
itself in the Creole writing
system. It is always used in the
combination ch.
xiii
en
pen
f
fГЁt
g
gason
h
hach
i
tifi
j
jako
k
kat
l
liv
See note for an. Note that the n
in these cases is not pronounced
as a consonant, but rather is
used to represent that the vowel
has a certain nasal sound.
xiv
m
mouton
n
nich
ng
zonng
o
koko
ГІ
pГІpГІt
on
bonbon
ou
souwi
p
Sometimes n and g go together
to make up a single sound, but
sometimes the combination ng
represents a sequence of two
sounds rather than a digraph.
See notes for an, en.
Note that the ou together
represents one sound. This
spelling convention is patterned
after the French. Note also that
the u is never used by itself.
pГІt
xv
r
radyo
s
sГЁt
t
tab
tj
tjГЁ
v
vГЁ
w
wat
y
yanm
z
zГ©
The r is used only in words
borrowed from English.
xvi
NOTE: While the vowels a, e, and o combine with an n to form a digraph in
which the n is not to be pronounced as a consonant, the same is not true for
the vowels i, Г©, ГЁ, ou, and ГІ, which are never combined with n as a digraph.
So any time the reader sees one of these latter vowel symbols followed by an
n, he should interpret it as the combination of a vowel plus a consonant
rather than as a single nasal vowel sound. In cases where a true n sound is
preceded by a nasal vowel, two ns have to be written. Note the spellings of
the following words:
lapГ©
lapen
lapenn
l+a+p+Г©
l + a + p + en
l + a + p + en + n
�peace’
�rabbit’
�sorrow’
sa
san
sann
sanng
s+a
s + an
s + an + n
s + an + ng
�that’
'without'
�ash’
�belt’
lanp
l + an + p
�lamp’
PUNCTUATION
Most punctuation works the same way in St. Lucian Creole as in English.
However, special attention must be given to the uses of the hyphen and the
apostrophe.
hyphen The definite article (that is, the Creole equivalent of English �the’)
is attached to the preceding word with a hyphen. The Creole definite article
can take four forms, depending on the context: -a, -la, -an, and -lan. Here are
some examples:
latГЁ-a
�the earth’
tab-la
�the table’
tan-an
�the time/weather’
lanp-lan �the lamp’
Mwen koutГ© listwa-a i wakontГ©-a.
�I listened to the story he told.’
apostrophe As in English, there are some words in Creole that are commonly
contracted, and the contraction of two words is marked with an apostrophe.
Here are some examples:
mwen + pa = m’a
mwen + ka = ng’a (or n’a)
mwen + kay = ng’ay (or n’ay)
xvii
si + ou = s’ou
pa + ankò = p’òkò
When the pronouns i (�he’ or �she’) and ou (�you’) follow a word that ends
with a vowel sound, they are sometimes converted to ’y and ’w respectively
and attached to the preceding word, as in the following examples:
Mwen kay pwédyé ba ou. becomes Mwen kay pwédyé ba’w.
Tifi i bo i. becomes Tifi’y bo’y.
xviii
Kwéyòl – English
Aa
a
PREP at, on, to. (usage limited only
to a few specific phrases; see also: a
klГЁ, a kotГ©, a laj di, a lГЁ, a tab, a tГЁ,
tГЁt a tГЁt) [< Fr. Г ]
-a (var: -la, -an, -lan)
ART
sav i sГ© on malГ©wГ©. When you look at
his clothing you know that he is poor.
(syn: had, lenj) [< Fr. habillement]
abitwГ©
V to be accustomed. I pa
abitwé wè mwen maché. He’s not
accustomed to seeing me walk. [< Fr.
habituer]
the. Mwen
ni chapo-a. I have the hat.
(conditioned variant)
abandonnen (var: anbandonnen,
abiyГ©
V to dress. Mwen kay abiyГ©
pou alé lanmès. I’ll get dressed for
church. (opp: dГ©zabiyГ©) [< Fr.
habiller]
bandonnen) V to abandon. Mwen ja
abandonnen jaden-an. I’ve
abandoned the garden. [< Fr.
abandonner]
abГЁbГЁ (var: aboubou)
abizan
ADJ abusive. Madanm nonmlan kité’y paski i té abizan. The
man’s wife left him because he was
abusive. [< Fr. abusant]
a person who
cannot understand or speak properly
because he is mentally retarded. Si ou
pa konnГЁt nonm-lan ou pa kay sav i
sé on abèbè. If you didn’t know the
man you would not know he is a deaf
mute. (see also: moumou, dГЁkdГЁk)
abГ©sГ©
N
abizГ©
V to abuse. MГЁt-la tГ© ka abizГ©
sГ© twavayГЁ-a. The boss used to abuse
the workers. [< Fr. abuser]
abliman variant of abiman.
to humble, to submit.
Madanm-lan abésé kò’y bay
mawi’y. The woman submitted to her
husband. (syn: simГЁt) [< Fr. abaisser]
V
abГІ
PREP in, on, aboard. Nou wè’y
abГІ yon motoka. We saw him in a
car. [< Fr. Г bord]
abilitГ©
aboli
N ability. Mwen pa ni abilitéa pou fè kalité twavay sala. I don’t
have the ability to do this kind of
work. (see also: ladwГЁs, talan) [< Fr.
habilitГ©]
V to abolish. Yo aboli ГЁslavay
konmen tan ki pasГ©. They abolished
slavery a long time ago. [< Fr. abolir]
abondans
N abundance. [< Fr.
abondance] an abondans (var:
alabondans) abundantly, in
abundance, an abundance of. SГ©zon
abiman (var: abliman)
N apparel,
clothing. Lè ou gadé abiman’y, ou
1
aboubou
Kwéyòl – English
afГІs
[< Fr. adultГЁre]
sala pГ©yi-a ni mango an abondans.
In this season the country has an
abundance of mangoes.
adjablГЁs variant of ladjablГЁs.
admiwГ©
V to admire. Nou admiwГ©
nonm sala pis i ni an chay lajan. We
admired that man because he has lots
of money. [< Fr. admirer]
aboubou variant of abГЁbГЁ.
abousak
N canvas shoulder bag,
haversack. Abousak li tГ© pann asou
koté’y. His bag was hanging on his
side.
adГІptГ©
V to adopt. Yo pa tГ© sa fГЁ
pyГЁs ich, mГ© yo adГІptГ© ti manmay
sala. They were unable to have any
children, but they adopted that child.
[< Fr. adopter]
absoliman
INTERJ definitely, of
course. Г€s ou ka alГ© an dansГ©-a?
Absoliman! Are you going to the
dance? Of course! (see also:
positivman, asiwГ©, kouman) [< Fr.
absolument]
adowГ©
V to adore, to worship. Yo ka
adowé Bondyé. They’re worshiping
God. (see also: glowifyГ©) [< Fr.
adorer]
abwГ©zan variant of apwГ©zan.
achГ© variant of chachГ©.
adwГ©sГ©
V to address. Nonm-lan
adwГ©sГ© jan Sent Lisi an KwГ©yГІl. The
man addressed the St. Lucian people
in Creole. [< Fr. adresser]
achtГ©
V to buy, to purchase. Nou
achtГ© sГ© chГЁz-la an lanmen an piti
madanm. We bought the chairs from
a small woman. (syn: ganyen; opp:
vann) [< Fr. acheter]
afalay (var: anfalay)
N landslide.
Afalay-la dГ©twi tout sГ© jaden-an.
The landslide destroyed all the
gardens. [< Fr. falaise]
adan1
PREP 1) in, inside. I mГ©tГ©
chГЁbon-an adan tГЁson-an. He put the
charcoal in the coalpot. (syn: an,
andidan; opp: dГЁwГІ) 2) out of, from.
I tiyé lajan’y adan pòch li. He took
his money out of his pocket. (syn: an,
andidan) [< Fr. dans]
afГЁktГ©
V to affect (usually with a
negative connotation). Gwo dlo-a
afГЁktГ© tout sГ© jan bГІ lawivyГЁ-a. The
flood affected everyone living by the
river. [< Fr. affecter]
adan2
afГІ variant of afГІs.
ADJ some, certain. Adan sГ©
moun-an ka chantГ©, mГ© adan yo ka
plГ©wГ©. Some of the people are singing,
but some of them are weeping. (see
also: dГ©, yonn dГ©, dГ©otwa, sГЁten,
tjГЁk)
afon ADJ ashamed, embarrassed. fГЁ
afon to shame, to embarrass
(someone). LГЁ i mandГ© nonm-lan
lajan ankò, nonm-lan fè’y afon.
When he asked to borrow money from
the man again, the man shamed him.
(syn: tjipi, fГЁ hont, jawГ©)
adГ©lГЁ variant of dГ©lГЁ.
adiltГЁ
N adultery. Nonm sala tГ© mayГ©
mГ© atjГІlman i ka viv an adiltГЁ. That
man was married, but now he’s living
in adultery. (see also: fГІnikasyon)
afГІs (var: afГІ, fГІs)
ADV so, so much,
to such an extent. Yo twapГ© Chouval
mГІ wГЁd an lГ©tjiwi-a afГІs i tГ© fachГ©.
2
afwГ©chi
Kwéyòl – English
agreement. [< Fr. agrГ©ment]
They found Horse stone dead in the
stable because he was so angry. (see
also: kantitГ©, mizi, osi, otan, si
tГЁlman) [< Fr. Г force de]
agwГ©yab
ADJ agreeable, pleasant.
Gason-an agwéyab an pil. The boy’s
very pleasant. (opp: dГ©zagwГ©yab)
[< Fr. agrГ©able]
afwГ©chi (var: wГ©fwГ©chi)
V to cool, to
freshen, to refresh. Dlo-a afwГ©chi
mwen apwГ© mwen twavay wГЁd. The
water refreshed me after I worked
hard. N a cooling using bush
medicine. MisyГ©-a tГ© ni pou pwan
afwГ©chi avan i pwen mГЁtsin. The
man had to take a cooling before
taking a purge. [< Fr. rafraГ®chir]
ajen
N fasting (for religious purposes).
I ka sГЁvi BondyГ© an lapwiyГЁ Г©pi ajen
konstan. She always serves God by
prayer and fasting. [< Fr. Г jeun] fГЁ
ajen to fast. I ka fè ajen. He’s
fasting. (syn: fas, wГЁstГ© san manjГ©)
aji
V 1) to get along with. Mwen aji
byen épi’w. I get along well with you.
(syn: dakГІ) 2) to deal with. Si ou aji
byen èk mwen, mwen kay ba’w an
bèf. If you deal well with me, I’ll give
you a cow. (syn: dakГІ) [< Fr. agir]
Afwik
N Africa. MisyГ© sala sГ© jan
Afwik. That man is from Africa.
[< Fr. Afrique]
Afwitjen
ADJ African. FwГЁ mwen
mayГ© Г©pi an Afwitjen. My brother is
married to an African. [< Fr. Africain]
ajounou
V to kneel. Yo ajounou pou
pwГ©dyГ©. They knelt to pray. [< Fr.
s’agenouiller]
agalo
N leatherback turtle
(Dermochelys coriacea). Lwil agalo
bon pou azma. Oil of the leatherback
turtle is good for asthma. (see also:
kawГЁt, tГІti)
agГІspyГЁs
akizГ©
ajoutГ©
V to join, to bring together. I
ajoutГ© dГ© tiyo. He joined two water
pipes. [< Fr. ajouter]
ak variant of aksyon.
crudely, not nicely
done. I koupГ© tanmadГІz-la
agГІspyГЁs. He cut the tomatoes
crudely. [< Fr. Г grosse piГЁce]
ADV
akajou
N red cedar. Biwo-a fГЁt Г©pi
bwa akajou. The dresser was made of
red cedar. [< Fr. acajou]
agouman
akennsin
N a type of plant like a wild
calalou or spinach. Nonm-lan tГ© ni
an chay agouman an jaden’y. The
man had lots of agouman in his
garden. agouman bГЁf a type of
plant like a wild calalou or spinach
with a large leaf. LГЁ i bwilГ© tГЁ-a an
chay agouman bГЁf lГ©vГ© an tГЁ-a.
When he burnt the land, lots of
agouman bГЁf came up there.
N a type of fresh-water fish.
La ni an chay akennsin an ma-a ki
dГЁyГЁ faktri-a. There are lots of
akennsin in the pond behind the
factory. [< Eng. Atkinson]
akizasyon
N accusation. SГ© moun-an
fГЁ an chay akizasyon kont nonm-lan,
mГ© i pa jenmen konfГ©sГ©. The people
made many accusations against the
man, but he never confessed. (see also:
kГ©s, plent) [< Fr. accusation]
agwГ©man
N agreement. KitГ© sГ©
moun-an wГЁ ou tjenn agwГ©man sala.
Let the people see that you kept this
akizГ© (var: atjizГ©)
3
V
to accuse. Yo
akГІdans
Kwéyòl – English
was already born. [< Fr. accoucher]
akizé’y mé i pa té koupab. They
accused him but he wasn’t guilty. (see
also: blanmГ©, wipwochГ©) [< Fr.
accuser]
akouchman
N childbirth. I lavГ© had
akouchman’y. She washed her birth
clothes. [< Fr. accouchement]
akГІdans
PREP according to, in
accordance with. Yo pa ka viv
akòdans pawòl Bondyé. They don’t
live according to God’s word. (syn:
akГІdans di, akГІdans pou; see also:
dapwГ©, silon) [< Fr. accorder]
akГІdans di same as akГІdans.
akГІdans pou same as akГІdans.
akoupi
V to squat, to stoop. JГ©zi
akoupi ГЁk i Г©kwi a tГЁ-a ГЁk dwГЁt li.
Jesus squatted and wrote on the
ground with his finger. (see also: bГ©sГ©)
[< Fr. s’accroupir]
akowГ©
V to brace. Nonm-lan akowГ©
fig-la ГЁk pitjГЁt-la. The man braced the
banana tree with the stake.
akГІdГ©
V 1) to grant, to accord.
Bondyé akòdé’y sa i té vlé-a. God
granted him what he wanted. 2) to
pack the wood evenly in making a coal
pit. Nonm-lan pa tГ© akГІdГ© bwa-a
byen an fou chГЁbon-an, kon sa i
konsonmé. The man didn’t pack the
wood properly in the coal pit, so it
turned to ashes. [< Fr. accorder]
aksГЁptГ© (var: asГЁptГ©) to accept. I ja
asГЁptГ© lГІt twavay-la. He has already
accepted the other job. (see also:
wisivwГЁ) [< Fr. accepter]
aksidan
N accident. Nou menm sГ©
tГ©mwen aksidan sala. We ourselves
are witnesses of that accident. (see
also: dja) [< Fr. accident]
akГІdi variant of akwГЁdi.
aksyon (var: ak)
N act. Yo
kondannГ© nonm-lan pou movГ©
akson-an i tГ© fГЁ-a. The man was
condemned for his violent act. [< Fr.
action]
akonmdi variant of konmsi.
akonmsi variant of konmsi.
akonpli
V to accomplish. I akonpli
tout sa i tГ© di i kay fГЁ. He
accomplished everything he said he
would do. [< Fr. accomplir]
akonplis (var: dikonplis)
alafen
akwГЁdi (var: akГІdi)
CONJ as if, as
though. Nonm-lan fГЁ akwГЁdi i tГ©
wich. The man acted as if he were
rich. (syn: konmsi, konmkwГ©ki)
[< Fr. Г crГ©dit]
N
accomplice. Yo tГ© akonplis an
kwim-lan. They were accomplices in
the crime. (see also: sitouwГЁz) [< Fr.
complice]
alabondans
ADV variant of an
abondans. Nou ka mandГ© BondyГ©
pou benni nou alabondans. We ask
God to bless us abundantly.
akouchГ©
V 1) to give birth. I vini
akouchГ© ГЁk i fГЁ an tibway. She gave
birth and she had a boy. 2) to birth.
Avan fanmchay-la wivГ© pou
akouchГ© manman-an, ti manmay-la
tГ© ja fin fГЁt. Before the midwife
arrived to birth the mother, the child
alafen (var: alafendГ©fen)
ADV finally,
at long last. I di i tГ© kay vini Г©pi
alafen i vini. He said he would come
and he finally came. [< Fr. Г la fin]
alafen di about, around,
approximately. LГЁ i koumansГ©
4
alafendГ©fen
Kwéyòl – English
(see also: alapГІtГ©, bГІ, bГІdaj, pwГ©,
vizavi) alimans yonn a lГІt side by
side. DГ© motoka-a alГ© alimans yonn
a lГІt. The two cars ran side by side.
twavay sala, i tГ© alafen di twant
lannГ©. When he began that work, he
was about thirty years old. (syn:
apipwГ©, avГЁwdi, bГІ, owon, vГЁГІ)
alafendГ©fen variant of alafen.
aliyГ©
V to line up people or things. I fГЁ
tout sГ© moun-an aliyГ© douvan
balkon-an pou’y té tiwé pòtwé yo.
He made all the people line up in front
of the balcony to take their picture.
[< Fr. aligner]
alakous
ADV running, on the run. LГЁ
yo tann sa, sГ© ti manmay-la vini
alakous. When they heard that, the
children came running. (see also:
kous) ADJ in competition, in
contention. Tifi sala alakous ГЁk
mwen. That girl is competing with
me. [< Fr. Г la course]
alkoupa
N a type of medicine for
worms. Alkoupa sГ© an wimГЁd ki
amГЁ an pil. Alkoupa is a very bitter
medicine.
alapГІtГ©
PREP alongside, beside, next
to. Kon kannГІt-la wivГ© alapГІtГ© tjГ©a, pГ©chГЁ-a mawГ© kГІd-la vitman.
When the boat arrived alongside the
dock, the fisherman tied the rope
quickly. (see also: alimans, bГІ, bГІdaj,
a kotГ©, pwГ©, vizavi) [< Fr. Г la portГ©e]
alГІ (var: alГІs)
CONJ well, so. I moutГ©
anlГЁ mГІn-an, alГІ. I koupГ© tout pyГ©
fig ki tГ© la. So he went up and cut all
of the banana trees which were there.
[< Fr. alors]
alГІs variant of alГІ.
alavГЁwdi variant of avГЁwdi.
alavidГЁy
alyans
N wedding ring. I ba li alyanslan. He gave her the wedding ring.
[< Fr. alliance]
openly, publicly.
AtjГІlman moun ka fГЁ tout bagay
alavidГЁy. Now people do everything
openly. [< Fr. à la vue d’oeil]
ADV
amГ©
V to arm. BondyГ© ja amГ© nou
Г©pi tout kaltГ© zam. God has armed us
with all kinds of weapons. ADJ armed.
Yo vini dГЁyГЁ mwen amГ© ГЁk koutla
pou goumen ГЁk mwen. They chased
me armed with cutlasses to fight with
me. [< Fr. armer]
alГ© (var: ay)
V to go (to). LГЁ sГІlГЁy
kouchГ©, i alГ© lakay li. When the sun
went down, he went home. (opp: vini,
viwГ©, witounen; see also: kitГ©, pati,
sГІti) [< Fr. aller]
alГЁz
amГЁn
ADJ financially well-off. Ou alГЁz
pasГ© mwen. You are better off than I
am. (syn: byennéwé, éwé, ja fè’y, ja
wivГ©, wich; opp: mal, malГ©wГ©, pГІv;
see also: byen, wichГЁs) ADV easily.
Si ou sГЁvi papyГ©, ou sa tiyГ© sa alГЁz. If
you use paper, you can remove that
easily. [< Fr. à l’aise]
INTERJ amen. Mwen ka mandГ©
tout sГ© bagay sala an non JГ©zi Kwi,
amГЁn. I ask all of these things in the
name of Jesus Christ, amen. (syn:
ensiswatil) [< Eng. amen]
an1 (var: on, yan, yon)
ART a, an. I ni
an chimiz wouj. He has a red shirt.
ADJ one. I ni an sГЁl soulyГ©. He has
only one shoe. (see also: yonn) [< Fr.
un]
aliman variant of alimans.
alimans (var: aliman)
PREP
an
beside.
5
an
Kwéyòl – English
an2
because he ate too much. (syn:
anbazoudi) [< Fr. embarrasser]
PREP 1) in, inside. La tГ© ni on
poul an kay mwen mГ© i ja alГ©. There
was a fowl in my house but it is gone
now. (syn: adan, andidan; opp:
dèwò) 2) upon. An ouvè zyé’y, i
chonjГ©. Upon opening his eyes, he
remembered. [< Fr. en]
anbazoudi
ADJ emotionally or
physically distressed and unable to
hold still. I té anbazoudi èk kò’y
paski i manjГ© twГІp. He was not able
to sit still because he ate too much.
(syn: anbawasГ©; see also: bazoudi)
an3 variant of mwen. Doubout isi-a
ban an souplГ©. Hold my place for me
please. (rare)
anbГ©tan
ADJ annoying, troublesome.
I anbétan toubonnman. He’s very
troublesome. (syn: anmГЁwdan,
antГ©tГ©; see also: dГ©zagwГ©yab) [< Fr.
embГЄtant]
an4 variant of lannГ©. (used after
numbers higher than one)
-an (var: -a, -la, -lan)
ART the. MГ©tГ©
mwen bГІ pon-an. Let me out at the
bridge. (conditioned variant)
anbГ©tГ©
V to annoy, to bother, to
disturb, to unnerve. Nou anbawasГ©.
Pa anbété nou! We’re busy. Don’t
bother us! (syn: anmГЁwdГ©, annГЁwvГ©,
chagwinen, distwГ©; see also:
pwovokГ©) [< Fr. embГЄter]
anba1
PREP below, under. MГ©tГ© liv-la
anba tab-la. Put the book under the
table. [< Fr. en bas] anba-a la
down there. Mwen jwenn li anba-a
la. I met her down there. (opp: anlГЁ-a
la)
anbwasГ©
V to embrace. LГЁ i wivГ©, i
anbwasГ© madanm li. When he
arrived, he embraced his wife. [< Fr.
embrasser]
anba2
CONJ unless. Anba ou asГЁptГ©
JГ©zi kon sovГЁ, ou kay pГЁd. Unless
you accept Jesus as savoir, you’ll be
lost. (syn: ГЁksГЁptГ©, tout tan...pa)
[< Fr. en bas]
anbwennzenng
ADJ busy in an
unproductive way. Ou toujou
anbwennzenng, mГ© ou pa sav ki sa
ou ka fè-a. You’re always busy, but
you don’t know what you’re doing.
anbadjo
ADJ many, much, a lot of.
Anbadjo moun pa ka kwГЁ sa. A lot
of people don’t believe that. (syn: an
chay, an pil, mizi)
anchennГ©
V to chain. Yo anchenné’y
èk mété’y lajòl. They chained him
and put him in jail. (opp: dГ©chennГ©;
see also: chenn) [< Fr. enchaГ®ner]
anbandonnen variant of
abandonnen.
anbawasГ©
andГ©klinan
andavans (var: davans)
ADV in
advance. Nonm-lan tГ© ja di sa ki tГ©
kay fГЁt andavans. The man had said
what would happen in advance. [< Fr.
d’avance]
1) busy, occupied. I tГ©
tГЁlman anbawasГ© i pa tГ© menm ni
tan pou manjГ©. He was so busy he
didn’t even have time to eat.
2) emotionally or physically distressed
and unable to hold still. I tГ©
anbawasé èk kò’y paski i manjé
twГІp. He was not able to sit still
ADJ
andГ© variant of Г©dГ©.
andГ©klinan
ADJ in declining health. I
malad. I pa ka fГЁ pwogwГ©. I
6
andГ©lГЁ
Kwéyòl – English
His arm was swollen. [< Fr. enfler]
andéklinan. He’s sick. He’s not
making progress. He’s in declining
health. [< Fr. dГ©clinant]
anfondwГ© (var: ofondwГ©)
V to cave
in, to collapse, to sink. TГЁ-a
anfondwГ© paski i tГ© ni dlo ka kouwi
anba’y. The ground caved in because
there was water running underneath.
ADJ caved in. TГЁt kay-la tГ©
anfondwГ©. The top of the house was
caved in. [< Fr. effondrer]
andГ©lГЁ variant of dГ©lГЁ.
andГ©pandan (var: endГ©pandan)
ADJ
independent. Sent Lisi sГ© on pГ©yi ki
andГ©pandan. Saint Lucia is an
independent country. [< Fr.
indГ©pendant]
andГ©pandans (var: endГ©pandans)
anfonsГ© (var: fonsГ©)
V to dent.
Tibway-la anfonsГ© motoka-a lГЁ i
konyen’y èk wòch-la. The boy dented
the car when he knocked it with a
stone. (syn: kabosГ©) ADJ dented.
Douvan trГІk-la tГ© anfonsГ© adan
aksidan-an. The front of the truck was
dented in the accident. [< Fr.
enfoncer]
N
independence. I vlГ© andГ©pandans li.
He wants his independence. [< Fr.
indГ©pendance]
andidan
PREP 1) in, inside. Kwab-la
antwГ© andidan twou-a. The crab
entered the hole. (syn: an, adan; opp:
dГЁwГІ) 2) out of, from. Kwab-la sГІti
andidan twou-a. The crab came out
of the hole. (syn: an, adan) [< Fr. an
dedans] andidan-an inside. MГ©tГ©
sa andidan-an ban mwen. Put this
inside for me. (opp: dГЁwГІ-a)
anfounГ©
V to put in the oven.
AnfounГ© pen-an. Put the bread in the
oven. (see also: fou) [< Fr. en four]
AnglГ© (var: LanglГ©)
N 1) English, the
English language. Ou pa ka palГ©
Anglé? You don’t speak English?
2) Englishman. SГ© on AnglГ© ki ka
palé Patwa. He’s an Englishman who
speaks Patwa. [< Fr. anglais]
andjГ©lГ© (var: anndjГ©lГ©)
V to call
loudly, to shout, to yell, to scream.
Nou andjélé non’y mé i pa tann. We
shouted his name but he didn’t hear.
(syn: hГ©lГ©, kwiyГ©)
andji
anjandwГ©
angoudi
ADJ numb, asleep. PyГ©
mwen angoudi. My foot’s asleep.
[< Fr. engourdir]
instead of, rather than.
Pwan sa mwen andji sa ou-a. Take
mine instead of yours. (syn: pito, olyГЁ;
see also: vonmyГ©, simyГ©)
PREP
anho
PREP above, over. I tГ© asou
masonn-an anho kouch-la. It was on
the wall above the bed. (opp: anba)
[< Fr. en haut]
anfalay variant of afalay.
anfen
ADV in fact. Anfen tout moun
tГ© ja la ka ГЁspГ©yГ© dГІktГЁ-a. In fact
everyone was there waiting for the
doctor.
anhogwiyen
ADV upstairs. La tГ© ni
lanp ka limen anhogwiyen-an ko
nou tГ© yГ©-a. There were lamps
burning upstairs where we were.
[< Fr. en haut grenier]
anflГ©
V to swell (in reference to a body
part). Bwa’y koumansé anflé. His
arm began to swell. (see also: boufi,
gonflé) ADJ swollen. Bwa’y té anflé.
anjandwГ©
7
V
to come up with. SГ©
anjlen
Kwéyòl – English
ankouwajman sala an pil. I
appreciated that encouragement very
much. [< Fr. encouragement]
jenn manmay-la ka anjandwГ© tout
vyГ© vis. The young children are
coming up with all kinds of vice.
[< Fr. engendrer]
anjlen
anlГЁ
PREP 1) on, upon, on top of, atop.
Yo mété’y anlè tab-la. They put it
upon the table. (syn: asou) 2) off, off
of, from. Yo tiyé’y anlè tab-la. They
took it off the table. anlГЁ-a la up
there. Yo machГ© jis anlГЁ-a la. They
walked all the way up there. (opp:
anba-a la) fas anlè lying on one’s
back, face up. I tonbé asou do’y fas
anlГЁ. He fell on his back face up.
a type of wood used for
making furniture. Si ou fГЁ mГЁb ГЁk
anjlen, pyès bagay pa kay pitjé’y. If
you make furniture out of “anjlen”, no
bugs will eat it.
N
ankachГЁt
ADV secretly, in secret. Nou
tГ© jwenn ankachГЁt. We met secretly.
(syn: anba fГЁy, an sГ©wan, an sigwГ©)
[< Fr. en cachette] mГ©tГ© ankachГЁt
to hide. Nou mГ©tГ© liv-la ankachГЁt.
We hid the book. (syn: sГ©wГ©) [< Fr.
mettre en cachette]
ankayГ©
Anman variant of Manman. Anman,
vini isi-a. Mother, come here.
anmasГ©
V to pick up, to gather. I kay
anmasГ© sГ© jenn moun-an. He will
pick up the young people. (syn: hГ©di,
hapГ©; see also: sanblГ©) [< Fr.
ramasser]
to stick, to catch on
(something). Mwen tГ© ka pГ©chГ© lГЁ
zen-an ankayГ© anba wГІch-la. I was
fishing when my hook got stuck under
the stone. (syn: pwi)
V
anklГ©want
anmГЁ
ADJ bitter. WimГЁd-la anmГЁ
kon fyГЁl. That medicine is bitter like
bile. (opp: dou) [< Fr. amer]
shiny. Tjilòt tibwayla ankléwant. The boy’s pants are
shiny.
ADJ
ankГІ (var: onkГІ, ГІkГІ)
anmennen
V to attract. PawГІl li ka
anmennen moun. His words attract
people. [< Fr. amener]
again, else,
anymore. Ki sa ou vlГ© ankГІ? What
else do you want? (see also: pa ankГІ)
[< Fr. encore] pa ankГІ no longer,
not any more. Ou pa sa doubout
KwГ©yГІl ankГІ. You can no longer stop
Creole. (see also: p’òkò)
ADV
anmГЁwdan
ADJ annoying,
troublesome. Ti manmay-la
anmГЁwdan pasГ© ki. The child is so
troublesome. (syn: anbГ©tan, antГ©tГ©;
see also: dГ©zagwГ©yab)
ankontwГЁ variant of okontwГЁ.
anmГЁwdГ©
V to annoy, to bother, to
disturb. Pa anmèwdé nou! Don’t
bother us! (syn: anbГ©tГ©, annГЁwvГ©,
chagwinen, distwГ©; see also: minab)
ankouwajГ© (var: enkouwajГ©,
onkouwajГ©) V to encourage. I
ankouwajГ© nonm-lan pou alГ© oti
dГІktГЁ. He encouraged the man to go
to the doctor. (opp: dГ©kouwajГ©; see
also: pwan tjГЁ) [< Fr. encourager]
AnmГ©wik (var: LanmГ©wik)
N United
States. Mwen pa janmen alГ©
AnmГ©wik. I have never been to the
United States. [< Fr. AmГ©rique]
ankouwajman (var: enkouwajman)
N
anmitan
encouragement. Mwen tГ© apwГ©syГ©
anmitan (var: nanmitan)
8
PREP
in the
anmiyonnen
Kwéyòl – English
unnerve, to make nervous, to make
angry. Ti manmay-la ka fГЁ tГЁlman
dГ©zГІd, i ka annГЁwvГ© mwen. The
child is making so much noise, it
makes me angry. (syn: anbГ©tГ©,
anmГЁwdГ©, chagwinen, distwГ©; see
also: pwovokГ©) ADJ bothered,
worried, nervous. I tГ© tГЁlman
annГЁwvГ© i tГ© ka twanblГ©. He was so
nervous he was trembling. [< Fr.
Г©nerver]
middle of. Nou wè’y anmitan lawi-a.
We saw him in the middle of the
street.
anmiyonnen
V to coax, to cajole.
Nonm-lan tГ© ka anmiyonnen mwen
pou mwen pwété’y motoka-a. The
man was cajoling me to lend him the
car. (syn: flatГ©)
anmizГ©
V to amuse. SГ© blag ou-a ka
anmizГ© mwen an chay. Your jokes
amuse me a lot. [< Fr. amuser]
anmizman
annik variant of annГЁk.
amusement. Batay kГІk
sГ© on kaltГ© anmizman. Cock fighting
is a kind of amusement. [< Fr.
amusement]
N
annikout variant of annГ©kout.
annivГЁsГЁ variant of annivГЁwsГЁ.
annivГЁwsГЁ (var: annivГЁsГЁ)
ann’ variant of annou. Ann’ alé,
annafГЁ
ADJ meddling; having the
nature of a busybody. Tifi sala
annafГЁ. That girl is a busybody. (see
also: soutiwГЁz)
annГІd
ADV in order. MГ©tГ© tout sГ© liv
sala annГІd ban mwen asou lГ©tajГЁ-a.
Put all those books in order for me on
the shelf.
anndjГ©lГ© variant of andjГ©lГ©.
annou (var: ann’) 1) let’s. Annou alé
just, merely.
KonpГЁ Lapen annГЁk tonbГ©,
blèkètèk! Br’er Rabbit just fell down,
bleketek!
ADV
annГ©kout (var: annikout)
N
anniversary. Yo sГ©lГ©bwГ© annivГЁwsГЁ
yo. They celebrated their anniversary.
[< Fr. anniversaire]
gason. Let’s go, boy.
annГЁk (var: annik)
anpagal
an vil. Let’s go to town. 2) let’s go,
let’s come. Mété had ou èk annou
an vil. Put on your clothes and let’s go
to town. 3) come. SГ© manmay-la ni
pou annou Г©pi mwen. The children
have to come with me. [< Fr. allons]
ADJ
attentive. WГ©tГ© annГ©kout ГЁk ou kay
tann pli nouvГЁl apwГ© sa. Remain
attentive and you will hear more news
after that.
annГІvГ© variant of annГЁwvГ©.
annwi
ADJ bored. M’a vlé ou vini
annwi. I don’t want you to get bored.
[< Fr. ennui]
annГ©kГІz
V to cause, to make. Ki sa ki
ka annГ©kГІz ou pou twakasГ©? What
makes you worry? N fault. SГ©
annГ©kГІz ou ki fГЁ bГЁf-la mГІ. It is your
fault that the cow died. (see also: a
kГІz di)
anpagal
ADV riotously, in a riotous,
confusing manner. Yo koumansГ©
goumen anpagal kont yonn a lГІt.
They began fighting each other in free
for all. (see also: roro, ansazinay)
[< Fr. pagaille]
annГЁwvГ© (var: annГІvГ©)
V to annoy, to
bother, to disturb, to worry, to
9
anpami
Kwéyòl – English
anpami
antГ©tГ©
There was a brawl by the dance and a
lot of people got injured. (see also:
anpagal)
PREP among. I tГ© ka sГ©wГ©
anpami sГ© moun-an. He was hiding
among the people. [< Fr. en parmi]
anpany
ansazinГ© variant of asasinГ©.
ADV into little pieces, into
shreds. Yo dГ©chiwГ© had li anpany.
They tore his clothes into shreds. (see
also: miyГЁt, mГІso)
ansent
ADJ pregnant. I twapé kò’y
ansent. She became pregnant. (syn:
gwo bouden; see also: gwГІs, plenn)
[< Fr. enceinte]
anpatikilГ©
ADV in particular. Yo
enmen krikГЁt anpatikilГ©. They like
cricket in particular. (see also:
patikilГ©man) [< Fr. particulier]
anslivi
V to shroud (corpse). Yo
anslivi mò-a byen avan yo mété’y an
senkГЁy-la. They shrouded the corpse
well before they put it in the coffin.
[< Fr. ensevelir]
anpГ©chГ©
V to prevent. Sa ka anpГ©chГ©
nou palГ©. That prevents us from
speaking. (see also: dГ©fann, doubout,
enpozГ©) [< Fr. empГЄcher]
ansyen
ADJ long ago, in times past.
Kay ansyen tГ© kay pay. In times past
houses were of straw. [< Fr. ancien]
anpГ©zГ©
V to starch. Pa anpГ©zГ© sГ©
chimiz-la. Don’t starch the shirts. (see
also: lanmidon) [< Fr. empeser]
ant
PREP between. Mété’y ant sé livla. Put it between the books. [< Fr.
entre]
anplasГ© (var: wiplasГ©)
V to replace.
AnplasГ© gwo-a ГЁk piti-a. Replace the
big one with the small one. (syn:
pwan plas) [< Fr. remplacer]
antanmГ©
V to meddle with, to get
entangled with or in. Pa antanmГ© vyГ©
lavi. Don’t get tangled up in
immorality. (syn: fofilГ©; see also:
mГ©lГ©) [< Fr. entamer]
anplowГ© variant of anployГ©.
anployГ© (var: anplowГ©)
V to employ.
Yo pa sa anployé mwen. They can’t
employ me. [< Fr. employer]
antansyon1
N intention. Sa sГ©
antansyon mwen. That’s my
intention. (see also: vlГ©, divwa,
volontГ©) [< Fr. intention]
anpozГ© variant of enpozГ©.
anpwizonnen
V to imprison. Yo
anpwizonnen JozГЁf. They imprisoned
Joseph. [< Fr. emprisonner]
antansyon2
N attention. Antansyon
tout moun! JГІdi-a mwen ka ladjГ©
zГІt bonnГЁ. Attention everybody!
Today I am letting you off early.
[< Fr. attention] fГЁ antansyon to
watch out, to take care. FГЁ antansyon
pou vyГ© nГЁg pa bat ou asou chimen.
Watch out so that bad men don’t beat
you up on the road. (see also: pwan
pwokosyon, pwan gad, vГ©yГ©)
ansanblГ© variant of asanblГ©.
ansanm
ADV together. Nou tout kay
chanté ansanm. We’ll all sing
together. [< Fr. ensemble]
ansasinГ© variant of asasinГ©.
ansazinay
N brawl, free-for-all. BГІ
dansГ©-a tГ© ni an movГ© batay
ansazinay ГЁk an chay moun tГ© blГ©sГ©.
antГ©tГ©
ADJ stubborn, troublesome. Ti
manmay sala antГ©tГ© an pil. That
10
antГ©wГ©san
Kwéyòl – English
child is very troublesome. (syn:
anbГ©tan, anmГЁwdan; see also:
dГ©zagwГ©yab, tГЁt di) [< Fr. tetu]
twanpГ©)
antwГ©
V 1) to enter. Tifi-a pa tГ© vlГ©
antwé an motoka-a. The girl didn’t
want to enter into the car. 2) to cause
to enter, to bring in. Yo antwГ© tout sГ©
bГЁf-la an kay-la. They brought all the
cows in the building. 3) to welcome,
to invite in. I alé an vil-la koté i lévéa, mé pyèsonn pa antwé’y. He went
to the town where he grew up, but
nobody welcomed him. (syn: wisivwГЁ)
4) to bring in (the clothes after drying
outside). LГЁ ou fini lavГ© sГ© bagay
sal-la, antwГ© sГ© had-la. When you
finish washing the dishes, bring in the
clothes. [< Fr. entrer]
antГ©wГ©san (var: entГ©wГ©san,
Г©tГ©wГ©san) ADJ interesting. Sa yo tГ©
di nou-an tГ© antГ©wГ©san an chay.
What they told us was very interesting.
[< Fr. intГ©ressant]
antГ©wГ©sГ© (var: entГ©wГ©sГ©, Г©tГ©wГ©sГ©)
interested. Nou tГ© vlГ© titj yo sa,
mГ© yo pa tГ© antГ©wГ©sГ© pyГЁs. We
wanted to teach them that, but they
weren’t at all interested. [< Fr.
intГ©resser]
ADJ
antit (var: adan tit)
ADJ 1) entitled.
Mwen antit pou sa jwenn pГ©yiman.
I’m entitled to receive payment.
2) perfect, lacking nothing. ManjГ©
sala antit. That food is perfect. [< Fr.
intituler]
antwГЁt
ADV unpredictable,
treacherous, without warning. Chyen
sala ka mГІdГ© antwГЁt. That dog will
bite you without warning. (see also:
twГЁt) [< Fr. en traГ®tre]
antiwan (var: antiwans)
PREP except.
Ou sa pwan tout sГ© liv-la antiwan
sala. You can take all the books
except this one. (syn: ГЁksГЁptГ©) [< Fr.
en tirant]
antwichГ©
ADJ infatuated. Ti gason-an
tГ© antwichГ© an mwen an pil. The
little boy was quite infatuated with me.
[< Fr. enticher]
antyГЁ
ADJ entire, whole. I manjГ© on
bwapen antyГЁ. He ate a whole
breadfruit. [< Fr. entier]
antiwans variant of antiwan.
antjГЁt
ADJ jumpy. Si tjè’w antjèt kon
sa, talГЁ ou kay jwenn batman tjГЁ. If
you are so jumpy, soon you will get a
heart attack.
anven
ADV in vain. Nou palГ© ba li
anven. We spoke to him in vain.
[< Fr. en vain]
antouka variant of antoulГ©ka.
antoulГ©ka (var: antouka)
anvГ©witГ© (var: anvГЁytГ©) truly, in
in
case. Si antoulГ©ka ou wГЁ Amos
mandé’y lajan-an ban mwen. If in
case you see Amos ask him for the
money for me. (syn: pitГЁt; see also: si)
[< Fr. an tout les cas]
antwanp
anvi
truth, to tell the truth. AnvГ©witГ© lГЁ
mwen wГЁ sГЁpan-an mwen fГЁ yon
kwi. To tell the truth, when I saw the
snake I screamed. [< Fr. en vГ©ritГ©]
ADV
anvГЁytГ© variant of anvГ©witГ©.
anvi
V 1) to want, to desire, to feel
like. I anvi dГІmi. He feels like
sleeping. (syn: vlГ©) 2) to long, to
soaking. Ti manmayla tГ© mouyГ© antwanp. The child was
soaking wet. (see also: mouyГ©,
ADV
11
anvlimГ©
Kwéyòl – English
see also: anvyГЁj)
yearn. Nou anvi wè’w menm kon ou
vlГ© wГЁ nou. We long to see you just as
you want to see us. 3) to covet.
Nonm-lan tГ© anvi motoka-a tГЁlman,
i vòlè’y. The man coveted the car so
much, he stole it. (syn: anwajГ© dГЁyГЁ,
anwajГ© pou, ni an waj pou) [< Fr.
envie]
anwita
ADJ delayed, late. Lapli-a
mГ©tГ© mwen anwita. The rain made
me late. (see also: ta, tadГ©) [< Fr. en
retard]
anwout
ADJ on the way. KannГІt-la tГ©
anwout ka alГ© SenvГ©san lГЁ i koulГ©.
The boat was on the way to St.
Vincent when it sank. (syn: asou
lawout) [< Fr. en route]
anvlimГ©
ADJ inflamed, infected.
Bobo-a ja vini anvlimГ©. The sore has
become inflamed. [< Fr. enflammer]
anvlГІp
apГЁsivwГЁ
anyen
PRO 1) anything, something. Si
ou vlГ© sav anyen, mandГ© mwen. If
you want to know anything, ask me.
2) nothing. Anyen pa ka fè’y pè.
Nothing makes him afraid. (opp: on
bagay, tout bagay; see also: ting,
mwenk)
envelope. I mГ©tГ© lГЁt-la
adan anvlòp-la épi i pòsté’y. He put
the letter into the envelope and mailed
it. (see also: lГЁt, pГІstГ©) [< Fr.
envelope]
N
anvowГ© variant of anvoyГ©.
anvoyГ© (var: anvowГ©)
anyenditou
anvyГЁj
Apa variant of Papa. Apa, ban nou
V to postpone,
to adjourn (court). Yo ja anvoyГ©
mitin-an jis lГІt simenn. They have
postponed the meeting until next
week. [< Fr. envoyer]
ADJ worthless (said of a
person). Nonm-lan ensiltГ© madanm
li; i kwiyé’y anyenditou. The man
insulted his wife; he called her
worthless.
ADJ envious. SГ© an fanm ki
anvyèj. She’s an envious woman.
(syn: vivi; see also: jalou; anwajГ©
pou, ni an waj pou, vowas) [< Fr.
envieuse]
lajan-an, souplГ©. Father, give us the
money, please.
apa
ADV apart, set apart, aside. MГ©tГ©
tout sГ© bГЁf blan-an apa. Put all of the
white cows apart. (syn: asou kotГ©)
[< Fr. Г part] apa di apart from,
besides. Apa di sa, m’a ka chonjé
anyen ankГІ konsГЁnГ© sa. Apart from
that, I don’t remember anything else
about it. [< Fr. Г part de]
anvyolГ©
V to rape. Nonm-lan anvyolГ©
tifi-a. The man raped the girl. (syn:
jwi) [< Fr. violer]
anwajГ©
ADJ angry, enraged. Ki sa
mwen fè’w pou’w anwajé kont
mwen kon sa? What did I do to you
for you to be so enraged against me
like that? (syn: dГ©zolГ©, sitwayГ©; see
also: fachГ©) [< Fr. enragГ©] anwajГ©
dГЁyГЁ same as anwajГ© pou. anwajГ©
pou to covet, to desire strongly.
Nonm sala toujou anwajГ© pou lajan.
That man always covets money. (syn:
anwajГ© dГЁyГЁ, anvi, ni an waj pou;
apantГЁ
N surveyor. ApantГЁ ka sГЁvi
poto fГЁ. Surveyors use iron pegs.
[< Fr. arpenteur]
apantГ©
V to survey. Yo apantГ© tГЁ-a.
They surveyed the land. [< Fr.
arpenter]
apГЁsivwГЁ
12
V
to perceive. SГ© nonm-lan
api
Kwéyòl – English
other. (opp: avan) CONJ then. ApwГ©
mwen kitГ© doudou-a Г©pi mwen fini
ГЁk kalitГ© lavi sala. Then I left the
girlfriend and I finished with that kind
of life. [< Fr. aprГЁs] apwГ© sa
afterward. ApwГ© sa, i manjГ©
bouden’y plen. Afterward, he ate until
his belly was full. (see also: dГ©pi)
apГЁsivwГЁ yo tГ© ka wivГ© bГІ tГЁ. The
men perceived that they were getting
near land. (see also: wГЁ, kwГЁ, santi,
konpwann, wГ©yalizГ©) [< Fr.
apercevoir]
api
N trust, confidence, weight,
support. Ou sa mété tout api’w asou
konmandman BondyГ©. You can put
all of your weight on God’s
commandments. (see also: fyГ©, dГ©fyГ©,
konfyans, konfyГ©) [< Fr. appui]
apwentГ©
V to appoint. Gouvèdmanan apwenté’y. The government
appointed him. [< Fr. appointer]
apipwГ©
apwenti
ADV approximately, about,
around. I ni apipwГ© dГ© san dГІla. He
has approximately 200 dollars. (syn:
alafen di, avГЁwdi, bГІ, owon, vГЁГІ)
[< Fr. Г plus prГЁt?]
apiyГ©
N apprentice. Mwen twavay
kon an apwenti pou kat lannГ©. I
worked as an apprentice for four years.
[< Fr. apprenti]
apwentman
N appointment. Yo ba li
apwentman-an. They gave him the
appointment.
to lean, to rest (on), to depend
on, to rely on. I ka apiyé asou kayla. He’s leaning on the house. (see
also: panchГ©, dГ©pan, fyГ©, konfyГ©)
[< Fr. appuyer]
V
apwГ©syГ©
V to appreciate. Yo pa ka
apwésyé sa. They don’t appreciate
that. [< Fr. apprГ©cier]
aplГЁ
ADV may, might. Si ou gadГ© pou
nonm-lan ou aplГЁ jwenn li bГІ tjГ©-a.
If you look for the man you might find
him by the dock. (see also: dwГ©, pГ©,
sa, pitГЁt)
apwГ©zan (var: abwГ©zan)
ADV now,
nowadays, currently, presently, these
days. I ka twavay apwézan. He’s
working these days. (syn: atjwГЁlman;
see also: pwГ©zantman) [< Fr. Г prГ©sent] apwГ©zan sala now, right
now, at this moment. ApwГ©zan sala
nou kay chantГ© an lГІt chantГ©. Now
we will sing another song. (syn:
atjwГЁlman sala)
aplikasyon
N application. I ka fГЁ an
aplikasyon pou twavay. He is making
an application to work. [< Fr.
application]
aplon
ADJ accurate, on target. Ou
vowГ© wГІch-la, mГ© ou pa aplon. You
threw the rock, but you’re not
accurate. [< Fr. Г plomb]
apwochГ©
V to approach. Kon chat-la
apwochГ© jibyГ©-a, i volГ©. As the cat
approached the bird, it flew away. (see
also: alГ©, vini) [< Fr. approcher]
apГІt variant of zapГІt.
apwann
asanblГ©
apwouvГ©
V to approve. MГЁt-la
apwouvГ© tout twavay-la mwen fГЁ-a.
The boss approved all the work I did.
[< Fr. approuver]
to learn. Nou vlГ© apwann
palГ© Patwa. We want to learn to speak
Patwa. [< Fr. apprendre]
V
apwГ©
PREP after. Yo antwГ© yonn
apwГ© lГІt They entered one after the
asanblГ© (var: ansanblГ©, sanblГ©)
13
V
to
asasinГ©
Kwéyòl – English
assemble, to meet (together), to get
together. Chak Sanmdi nou ka
asanblГ© ansanm. Each Saturday we
meet together. (see also: jwenn) [< Fr.
assembler]
AsiwГ©, mwen kay vini. Certainly, I
will come. (see also: absoliman,
kouman) [< Fr. assurer]
asiz (var: asid)
V to sit. VyГ© madanm
sala toujou ka asiz anba pyГ© mangoa. The old lady is always sitting under
the mango tree. [< Fr. assise]
asasinГ© (var: ansazinГ©, ansasinГ©)
V to
beat up. Yo asasinГ© nonm-lan, mГ© yo
pa tjwé’y. They beat up the man, but
they didn’t kill him. (see also: dékalé)
[< Fr. assassiner]
asou
PREP 1) on, on top of, atop, upon.
Mété’y asou tab-la. Put it on the
table. (syn: anlГЁ) 2) off, off of, from.
I tiwé’y asou difé-a. He took it off the
fire. (syn: anlГЁ) 3) toward. PyГЁ
maché asou’y. Peter walked toward
him. 4) about, concerning. Annou
palé asou sa. Let’s talk about that.
(syn: konsГЁnГ©)
asГ©
ADJ enough, sufficient. Nou pa ni
asé lajan. We don’t have enough
money. [< Fr. assez]
asГЁptГ©1 variant of aksГЁptГ©.
asГЁptГ©2 variant of ГЁksГЁptГ©.
asid variant of asiz.
atakГ©
V to attack. Bouwo-a atakГ© sГ©
moun-an pou vГІlГЁ lajan yo. The evil
person attacked the people to steal
their money. (syn: blotjГ© anlГЁ, bouwГ©
anlГЁ) [< Fr. attaquer]
asinasyon
N summons. Polis-la pГІtГ©
asinasyon-an ba li. The police gave
him the summons. [< Fr. assignation]
asistans
N assistance. Mwen mandГ©
lГ©gliz-la asistans. I asked the church
for assistance. [< Fr. assistance]
atandГ©1
V to wait for, to await. Mwen
té ka atandé’y mé i pa vini. I was
waiting for him but he didn’t come.
(syn: ГЁspГ©wГ©) [< Fr. attendre]
asistГ©1
V to attend, to be present (at).
Yo asistГ© mitin-an. They attended the
meeting. (syn: atandГ©) [< Fr. assister]
atandГ©2
V to attend, to be present at.
Tout fanmi-an atandГ© lГЁtГЁman-an.
The whole family attended the funeral.
(syn: asistГ©) [< Fr. attendre]
asistГ©2
V to assist, to give support, to
help. Mwen ka asisté nonm-lan. I’m
helping the man. (syn: Г©dГ©) [< Fr.
assister]
atik
N ingredient. GadГЁ-a mГ©tГ© atik li
ansanm pou’y té fè wimèd bay
nonm-lan. The seer mixed his
ingredients together in order to make
medicine for the man.
asiwans
N assurance. I ka enstwi yo
Г©pi an chay asiwans. He teaches them
with much assurance. (see also:
konfyans) [< Fr. assurance]
asiwГ©
atjivГ©
atitid
N attitude, way, lifestyle. I ni
menm atitid èk manman’y. He has
the same attitude as his mother. (see
also: mannyГЁ) [< Fr. attitude]
to assure. I asiwГ© mwen i tГ©
kay vini mГ© i pa vini pyГЁs. He
assured me he would come, but he
didn’t come. ADJ sure, certain. Nou
asiwé ki dlo-a té pi. We’re sure the
water was pure. ADV surely, certainly.
V
atjivГ©
V to achieve. Yo atjivГ© tout sa
yo tГ© di yo tГ© kay fГЁ-a. They achieved
14
atjizГ©
Kwéyòl – English
avГЁwdi (var: alavГЁwdi)
all that they said they would. [< Fr.
achever]
ADV about,
around, approximately. Nou pati
avГЁwdi sizГЁ ГІswГЁ. We left at about six
in the evening. (syn: alafen di,
apipwГ©, bГІ, owon, vГЁГІ) [< Fr. vers de]
atjizГ© variant of akizГ©.
atjГІlman variant of atjwГЁlman.
atjwГЁlman (var: atjГІlman)
avoka
N lawyer, attorney. Papa
mwen sé on avoka. My father’s a
lawyer. [< Fr. avocat]
ADV
1) now. AtjwГЁlman yo ka twavay.
They’re working now. (syn: apwézan;
see also: pwГ©zantman) 2) nowadays,
these days. AtjwГЁlman la pa ni kay
pay. These days there are no foliage
houses. (see also: jГІdi, jГІdi jou) [< Fr.
actuellement] atjwГЁlman sala right
now. (syn: apwГ©zan sala)
avГІtГ©
V 1) to abort (used of animals).
BГЁf-la tГ© plenn mГ© i avГІtГ©. The cow
was pregnant but it aborted. (see also:
fГІskouch) 2) to fall prematurely (said
of fruit). Tout mango an pyГ© sala ka
avГІtГ©. All of the mangoes in that tree
fall prematurely. ADJ description of
fruit that falls to the ground before it is
mature. Pa anmasГ© sГ© mango-a ki
avòté-a. Don’t gather up the mangoes
that fell before they were mature.
(opp: matwitГ©, mi; see also: koulГ©,
olГЁt) [< Fr. avorter]
avan
CONJ 1) before (in the sense of
time). Nou wè’y avan i pati. We saw
him before he left. (opp: apwГ©; see
also: douvan) 2) lest, or. Pa kouwi
la avan ou tonbé. Don’t run there lest
you fall. [< Fr. avant]
avansГ©
V to advance. Nou sa avansГ©
pГ©yi-a. We can advance the country.
[< Fr. avancer]
avГІtsГЁvis
ADJ at your service. Nou
avòtsèvis pou’w. We are at your
service. [< Fr. Г votre service]
avansman
N advancement. Lajan
sala kay mennen an gwo avansman
pou lГ©gliz-la. That money will bring a
great advancement to the church.
[< Fr. avancement]
avoudwГ© (var: voudwГ©)
V to wish.
Mwen avoudwГ© i tГ© la. I wish she
were here. (see also: simyГ©, anvi, vlГ©)
[< Fr. voudrais]
avanzyГЁ
avous
avГЁg
Avwi
ADV the day before yesterday.
AvanzyГЁ nou alГ© Castries. The day
before yesterday we went to Castries.
[< Fr. avant hier]
ADJ mercurial, moody,
temperamental. Tifi sala avous pasГ©
ki. That girl is really moody. (see also:
ni vap, ni vous; zimГЁy; vap anlГЁ)
ADJ blind. Misyé-a twapé kò’y
avГЁg. The man became blind. (see
also: vГЁglГ©; soud) N blind person. La
ni on lГ©kГІl pou sГ© avГЁg-la. There is a
school for the blind. [< Fr. aveugle]
avГЁtisman (var: vГЁtisman)
awali
N
April. [< Fr. avril]
awa
INTERJ No! Oh no!. Awa! Pa di
sa! Oh no! Don’t say that! (opp: wi;
see also: non)
awali
N a type of tree with an inedible
fruit. Wasin pyГ© awali-a mawГ©
oliwon pyГ© pГІwyГ©-a. The root of the
awali tree is tied around the white
N
warning. Nou inyowГ© tout sГ©
avГЁtisman-an We ignored all the
warnings. [< Fr. avertissement]
15
awГ©tГ©
Kwéyòl – English
bagay
ayГЁl
cedar tree.
N great grandparent, ancestor.
Tout ayГЁl mwen tГ© wГ©zidan VyГ© FГІ.
All of my ancestors resided in Vieux
Fort. (archaic; syn: bizayГЁl, gwan
ayГЁl; see also: gwanmanman,
gwanpapa, dГ©sandan) [< Fr. aГЇeul]
gwan ayГЁl same as ayГЁl. Gwan ayГЁl
mwen sГІti an Afwik. My great
grandparents come from Africa.
awГ©tГ©
V to arrest. Yo awГ©tГ© vГІlГЁ-a.
They arrested the thief. (see also:
memnen lalwa, mennen lodyans)
[< Fr. arrГЄter]
Awou
N August. Mwa Awou sГ© mwa
manmay lГ©kГІl asou vakans. The
month of April is the month when the
school children are on vacation. [< Fr.
aoГ»t]
ayfГ©
N fairy. VyГ© ayfГ©-a mГ©tГ© an
modisyon anlГЁ ti manmay-la. The
evil fairy put a curse on the child.
ay variant of alГ©. Ay limen difГ©-a. Go
light the fire.
Bb
ba1 (var: bay, ban)
V 1) to give. Ba li
lajan-an. Give him the money.
(conditioned variant) 2) to allow, to
permit, to let. Ba li lavé had-la ba’w.
Let her wash the clothes for you. (syn:
kitГ©, pГЁwmitГ©) PREP for. FГЁ sa ba li.
Do that for him. (see also: pou)
[< OFr. baillir]
an fГЁt sala. They had babadin juice at
that party.
babawen
N
goatfish. (syn: souwi)
baboutjГЁt
N muzzle. SГ© pou ou mГ©tГ©
baboutjГЁt bay bouwik-la pou ou sa
kondwi’y. You have to put a muzzle
on a donkey to be able to control it.
(see also: bwid)
ba2
ADJ low, short. Kay li pli ba pasГ©
sa mwen. His house is lower than
mine. (opp: ho) [< Fr. bas]
babouyГ©
V to make a mess of oneself
while eating. Ti manmay-la ka
babouyé tout kò’y èk manjé-a. The
child is making a mess of himself with
the food. [< Fr. barbouiller]
ba3
N stocking. KotГ© ou genyen ba
sala? Where did you buy that
stocking? [< Fr. bas]
babyГ©
V to quarrel, to squabble. DГ©
nonm koumansГ© babyГ©. Two men
began to quarrel. (syn: tiwГ© mГ©tГ©, halГ©
kasГ©; see also: chikannen, dispitГ©)
ba’ay variant of bagaj.
bab
N beard. I ni bab wouj. He has a
red beard. (see also: moustach) [< Fr.
barbe] bab kabwit goatee. Nonmlan tГ© ni on ti bab kabwit. The man
had a small goatee. [< Fr. barbe
cabri]
bag
N ring. Mwen achtГ© on bag lГІ. I
bought a gold ring. [< Fr. bague]
bagaj variant of bagay.
babadin
bagay (var: bagaj, ba’ay)
N a fruit like a passion fruit
but much larger (Passiflora
quadrangularis). Yo tГ© ni ji babadin
N thing.
KotГ© i jwenn bagay sala? Where did
he find that thing? (syn: chГІz) [< Fr.
16
bak
Kwéyòl – English
bagage] on bagay something.
Mwen ka gadГ© pou on bagay an vil. I
am looking for something in town.
(syn: kГ©chГІy; opp: anyen) bagay sal
dirty dishes. Sé pou’w lavé sé bagay
sal-la. You must wash the dirty dishes.
bak1
bonm-lan asou tГЁt li. He balanced the
bucket on his head. 2) to swing. I ka
balansé lanmen’y kon on sòlda. He’s
swinging his arms like a soldier. (see
also: swing) [< Fr. balancer]
balanswin same as swing.
river crab. Yo ka tjГ©bГ© bak.
They’re catching crabs. (see also:
kwab, siwik, touloulou, zagaya)
bak2
N
balawou
N whale. Yo wГЁ an gwo
balenn Г©chwГ© asou lans-lan. They
saw a big whale washed up on the
shore. [< Fr. baleine]
bak3
V to reverse, to back (up). Yo
tout bak dГЁyГЁ lГЁ yo wГЁ fizi mwen.
They all backed up when they saw my
gun. [< Eng. back]
balizyГ©
N (Heliconia caribaea) a plant
of the family of the banana tree; it
bears red or yellow flowers but no
fruit. Madanm-lan fГЁ an ti kay ГЁk
fГЁy balizyГ©. The woman made a little
house with balizyГ© leaves. [< Fr.
balisier]
baka
N backer, supporter. Yo pwen
lavantay asou mwen paski mwen pa
tГ© ni pyГЁs baka. They took advantage
of me because I didn’t have any
supporters. [< Eng. backer]
balkon
N balcony. I doubout an
balkon-an ka kwiyé pwochen’y. He
stood on the balcony calling his
neighbour. [< Fr. balcon]
bal1
N ball, dance. Kabwit bay bal, sГ©
Mouton ki sou. Goat gave a dance, it
is Sheep that got drunk. (syn: dansГ©)
[< Fr. balle]
balyГ©
N broom. Madanm-lan kasГ©
balyé-a asou tèt mawi’y. The woman
broke the broom over her husband’s
head. V to sweep. Tifi-a koumansГ©
balyГ© kay-la. The girl began to sweep
out the house. [< Fr. balayer]
bal2
N bullet. Yo jwenn bal fizi-a bГІ
chimen-an. They found the rifle bullet
by the road. [< Fr. balle] bal simen
pellet, shot, buckshot. Fizi-a ka sГЁvi
bal simen. The gun uses shot.
ban1
N bench. I mГ©tГ© chapo-a asou
ban-an. He put the hat on the bench.
[< Fr. banc]
balance. Tjenn balan’w pou
ou pa tonbГ© an dlo. Keep your
balance so you don’t fall in the water.
(syn: pyГ©ton) [< Fr. balance]
N
ban2 (var: ba, bay)
V 1) to give. Ban
mwen an ti bo. Give me a little kiss.
(conditioned variant) 2) to let, to
allow, to permit. Ban mwen di’w yon
bagay. Let me tell you something.
(syn: kitГ©, pГЁwmitГ©) PREP for. FГЁ sa
ban mwen souplГ©. Do that for me
please. (see also: pou)
balanmin
N digging tool made of an
iron bar flattened on one end. Yo ka
fouyГ© twou poto tГ©lГ©fГІn-an ГЁk
balanmin. They dig holes for
telephone poles with iron bars.
V
a type of small fish with
balenn
trough, concrete water tank
without a top. Bak-la tГ© plen dlo. The
tank was full of water.
balansГ©
N
long snout.
N
balan
ban
1) to balance. I balansГ©
17
banbou
Kwéyòl – English
banbou
sea. (see also: chyГ©, kaka, lasГЁl,
ladjidjit, wilachman)
N bamboo. BГІ lawivyГЁ-a tГ©
plen banbou. There was a lot of
bamboo by the river. [< Fr. bambou]
bandГ©
bas1
N reef. Yo kwГЁ batiman-an tГ©
kay touchГ© anlГЁ bas-la. They thought
the boat was going to touch the reef.
(see also: kay) ADJ at low tide.
Bonmaten-an lanmГЁ-a bas. This
morning the sea is at low tide. (opp:
plen) [< Fr. basse]
to bandage, to tie, to bind.
Nonm-lan bandé wen’y pou’y té lévé
chay-la. The man tied his waist tight
to lift the load. [< Fr. bander]
V
bandja
N wild yam. Bandja-a bon
Г©pi vyann kochon woti. The wild yam
is good with roast pork.
bas2
N cricket bat. Nonm-lan fГЁ bas li
menm. The man made his own cricket
bat. (see also: krikГЁt) V to bat. DГ©pi
sГ© kon sa ou ka bas, ou pa kay diwГ©.
If it is that way you are batting, you
won’t last.
bandonnen variant of abandonnen.
bank
N bank. I alГ© an bank-lan pou
chanjé lajan’y. He went to the bank
to change his money. (see also:
labank) [< Fr. banque] biyГ© bank a
one pound note, roughly equivalent to
five dollars. Yo pГ©yГ© kat biyГ© bank
pou tГЁ-a. They paid twenty dollars for
the land. [< Fr. billet de banque]
bann
basen
N river basin, deep part of a
river or sea. Yo pГЁ najГ© an basen-an.
They are afraid to swim in the basin.
(see also: bГ©sin) [< Fr. bassin]
bat
V 1) to hit, to strike. Nonm-lan tГ©
tГЁlman fachГ© i bat poto-a. The man
was so angry he struck the post. (syn:
fwapГ©, foutГ©; see also: konyen, tap)
2) to beat, to spank. Papa ti
manmay-la bat li paski i pa tГ© ka
kouté manman’y The child’s father
spanked him because he wouldn’t
listen to his mother. (syn: bay kou,
bay volГ©, lapidГ©, plichГ©, pГ©tГ© kГІ)
3) to beat, to win, to defeat, to surpass.
Mwen tГ© ka fГЁ on kous ГЁk gason
mwen mГ© i bat mwen. I was having a
race with my son but he beat me. (syn:
ganyen; opp: pГЁd) [< Fr. battre]
band, orchestra. I ka kondwi
bann polis. He leads the police band.
[< Eng. band]
N
bannann
N plantain. Mwen kontan
manjГ© bannann ГЁk pwГ©son. I like to
eat plantain with fish. (see also:
gwenn bannann, fig, makanbou)
[< Fr. banane]
bannbouden
N intestine. NГ©twayГ©
bannbouden-an ban mwen. Clean
the intestines for me. (see also: fil
bouden)
banndjo1
N banjo. I ka jwé banndjoa. He’s playing the banjo. [< Eng.
banjo]
banndjo2
N
batay
bata
N bastard, illegitimate child.
Mwen sГ© pa on bata, mwen sГ©
léjitim li. I’m not a bastard; I’m his
legitimate child. (syn: ich dГЁwГІ; opp:
lГ©jitim) [< Fr. bГўtard]
skipjack tuna.
bantjГ©
N excrement deposited in a
chamber pot. SГ© moun-an tГ© ka jГ©tГ©
bantjГ© yo an lanmГЁ-a. The people
were throwing their excrement in the
batay
N fight, battle. La tГ© ni on
movГ© batay an kabawГ©-a. There was
18
batayГЁ
Kwéyòl – English
load (something onto something). Yo
batjГ© tout sГ© bwГЁt-la abГІ trГІk-la.
They loaded all the boxes on the truck.
(opp: dГ©batjГ©; see also: batГ©, chajГ©)
[< Fr. embarquer]
a bad fight in the rumshop. (see also:
asasinГ©, goumen, mГ©limГ©lanj, roro)
[< Fr. bataille]
batayГЁ
N fighter, battler. LГЁ papa
mwen tГ© an ladjГЁ-a i tГ© on bon
batayГЁ. When my father was in the
war he was a good fighter. [< Fr.
batailleur]
batmanntjГЁ
N heart attack. Si ou
kontinГ© manjГ© gwГЁs kon sa, talГЁ ou
kay jwenn batmanntjГЁ. If you
continue eating fat like that, soon you
will get a heart attack.
batГ©
V to load (normally with
animals). Ou batГ© mwen kon on
bouwik! You’ve loaded me like a
donkey! (opp: dГ©batГ©; see also: batjГ©)
[< Fr. bГўter]
bato
N ship. Bato-a koulГ© an dlo-a.
The boat sank in the water. (syn:
batiman, patjГ©; see also: kannГІt,
chaloup) [< Fr. bateau]
batenm
N baptism. TГ© ni on batenm
bay ti manmay-la. There was a
baptism for the child. (see also:
batizГ©) [< Fr. baptГЄme]
baton
N stick. I bat li ГЁk baton-an.
He hit him with the stick. [< Fr.
baton]
bati
bava
V to build. I fin bati kay-la. He
finished building the house. (syn: fГЁ)
[< Fr. bГўtir]
ADJ 1) boastful. Nonm sala
bava kon an chyen. That man is as
boastful as a dog. 2) overly talkative,
unable to keep a secret. Pa di nonm
sala zafè’w; i bava twòp. Don’t tell
that man your business; he is too
talkative. (see also: sousГЁ) N braggart,
boaster. Nonm sala sГ© on bava. That
man is a braggart. (syn: bavadГЁz,
vanta; see also: bavadГ©) [< Fr.
bavard]
batiman
N ship. Tan lontan sГ©tГ© abГІ
batiman moun tГ© ka sГІti VyГ© FГІ alГ©
Kastwi. Long ago people used to have
to take ships to go from Vieux Fort to
Castries. (syn: bato, patjГ©; see also:
kannГІt, chaloup) [< Fr. bГўtiman]
batistГЁ
N baptismal certificate, birth
certificate. Madanm mwen alГ©
ogwГЁf pou gadГ© pou batistГЁ sГ©
manmay-la. My wife went to the
registry to look for a birth certificate
for the children. [< Fr. baptistaire]
bavadГ©
V 1) to brag, to boast. Gasonan toujou ka bavadГ© konsГЁnГ© tout sa
i ja fГЁ. The boy always brags about
what he has done. (syn: palГ© vanta)
2) to talk a lot, carelessly,
thoughtlessly; to chatter, to blab.
Madanm-lan enmen bavadГ©. The
woman likes to chatter. (see also:
bava, bavadГЁz) [< Fr. bavarder]
batizГ©
V to baptize. Yo batizГ© an
chay moun an lanmГЁ-a Dimanch
pasГ©. They baptized many people in
the sea last Sunday. (see also:
batenm) [< Fr. baptiser]
batjГ©
bavadГЁz
bavadГЁz
N braggart, boaster. Pa
kouté bavadèz sala. Don’t listen to
that braggart. (syn: bava, vanta; see
also: bavadГ©) [< Fr. bavardeuse]
1) to board, to embark aboard.
Yo batjГ© vann-an Г©pi yo alГ©. They
boarded the van and they went. 2) to
V
19
bavГ©
Kwéyòl – English
bavГ©
(syn: lodyans, lalwa) [< Fr. barreau]
V to drivel, to slobber. Ti
manmay-la ka bavГ©. The child is
slobbering. [< Fr. baver]
bay1 (var: ba, ban)
V to give. Yo bay
Pita lajan-an. They gave Peter the
money. (conditioned variant; see also:
potjiwГ©) PREP for, on the behalf of.
Mwen kay achtГ© on motoka bay zГІt.
I am going to buy a car for you all.
bay asou to shine on. KlГЁtГ© sГІlГЁy-la
ka bay asou miwГЁ-a. The light of the
sun shone on the mirror. (see also:
klГ©wГ©) bay on so to throw to the
ground. Papa mwen ba li yon so Г©pi
i kouvè’y a tè-a. My father threw him
down and jumped on him. (syn: jГ©tГ©,
fГ©sГ©, foutГ©, matГ©) bay tГ©tГ© to nurse.
Pito ou asid bГІ lawi-a, alГ© bay ich ou
tГ©tГ©. Rather than sit by the street, go
nurse your child.
bawad
N barrier, roadblock, retaining
wall. Yo mГ©tГ© an bawad an chimenan pou anpГ©chГ© moun pasГ©. They put
a barrier on the road to prevent people
from passing. (syn: jennman; see
also: bawГ©)
bawГ©1
V to block. PyГ© bwa-a tonbГ©
Г©pi i bawГ© tout chimen-an. The tree
fell and blocked the whole road. (syn:
bouchГ©; opp: dГ©bawГ©; see also:
jennen, bawad) ADJ 1) blocked.
Mwen pa sa pasГ© paski chimen-an
bawГ©. I cannot pass because the road
is blocked. 2) overcast. Ovan-an
bawГ©; i sanm lapli kay tonbГ©. It is
overcast to the east; it seems like it is
going to rain. (see also: mawГ©) [< Fr.
barrer]
bay2 (var: labay)
N manger. I vidГ©
manjГ©-a an bay-la bay kochon-an.
He poured the food into the manger
for the pig.
bawГ©2
N kingfish, wahoo
(Acantchocybuim solandri). SГ©
pГ©chГЁ-a tjГ©bГ© bawГ© tousГЁl jГІdi-a.
The fishermen caught only kingfish
today.
bayГ©
V 1) to yawn. Pita tГ© ka bayГ©
paski i tГ© vlГ© dГІmi. Peter was
yawning because he was sleepy. 2) to
stretch, to stretch out of shape. Ti
manmay-la jГ©tГ© choson-an paski yo
tГ© bayГ©. The child threw away the
socks because they were stretched out.
[< Fr. bГўiller]
bawi
N barrel. Yo voyГ© tout
konmisyon-an adan an bawi. They
sent everything in a barrel. (see also:
bouko, kas) [< Fr. baril]
bawo1
Bazil
bayГЁ
N gate. FГЁmГ© bayГЁ-a pou
chyen-an pa sГІti. Close the gate so
the dog won’t get out. (see also:
bawad) [< Fr. barriГЁre]
wooden bar used for securing
a door or window. Yo pГЁd bawo
lapòt-la èk yo té ni pou mawé’y épi
an kГІd. They lost the bar of the door
and they had to secure it with a rope.
[< Fr. barreau]
N
baza
N bazaar, fair. TГ© ni on baza bГІ
lopital-la. There was a bazaar by the
hospital. [< Fr. bazar]
bawo2
N court, magistrate, legal
authorities. Si ou kontinГ© vГІlГЁ
mango mwen, mwen kay mennen’w
douvan bawo. If you keep on stealing
my mangoes, I will take you to court.
Bazil a personification of death. Г€s si
ou pawГ© pou lГЁ Bazil vini? Are you
ready for death to come? Bazil
pwen’y he died. Nonm-lan té jenn
20
bazilik
Kwéyòl – English
bГЁltГ©
bГЁktГ©
toujou lè Bazil pwen’y. The man was
still young when he died. (slang; see
also: mГІ, Г©tenn, mawГ© patjГ©, di dГ©dГ©,
tiwГ© kГІ)
V to peck. Poul-la bГЁktГ©
manjГ©-a. The chicken pecked at the
food. (see also: bat zГІy) [< Fr.
becqueter]
bazilik
bГЁl
N basil tree. FГЁy bazilik-la ka
santi bon. The leaf of the bazilik
smells good. [< Fr. basile]
ADJ 1) pretty, beautiful. Kay-la tГ©
bГЁl. The house was beautiful. (syn:
joli; opp: lГЁd; see also: bГЁltГ©) 2) nice,
wonderful. Nou tГ© ni on bГЁl jounГ©.
We had a wonderful day. 3) serious,
good (in an ironic sense). Yo bay
misyГ©-a an bГЁl chalГЁ. They gave the
man a good beating. [< Fr. belle]
bazou
N jaw. I kasГ© zo bazou nonmlan ГЁk an koul pwen. He broke the
man’s jawbone with a punch. (syn:
machwГЁ)
bazoudi
ADJ stunned, giddy, dazed.
KГІk-la tГ© bazoudi apwГ© i pwen koul
zГ©pon-an an tГЁt-li. The cock was
stunned after another one hit it on its
head with its spur. (syn: kagou, toudi;
see also: anbazoudi, Г©gawГ©, vag)
bГ©lГ©jenn
N
eggplant.
bГЁlfi
N daughter-in-law. Bèlfi’w ka
vini denmen. Your daughter-in-law is
coming tomorrow. (see also: bГЁlmГЁ,
bГЁlsГЁ, bofis, bofwГЁ, bopГЁ) [< Fr.
belle-fille]
bГЁ
N butter. I genyen dГ© liv bГЁ. He
bought two pounds of butter. [< Fr.
beurre]
bГЁlibann
N cinch, girth. I sГ©wГ©
bГЁlibann-an anba bouden chouvalla. He tightened the cinch under the
horse’s belly [< Eng. belly band]
bГ©dji
ADJ amazed, astonished,
astounded, surprised. LГЁ yo tann sa,
yo tГ© bГ©dji. When they heard that,
they were amazed. (syn: sipwi,
Г©tonnen, sГ©zi)
bГЁlmГЁ
N 1) mother-in-law. Mawi pa
kontan bèlmè yo. Husbands don’t like
their mothers-in-law. (see also: bГЁlfi,
bèlsè, bofis, bofwè, bopè) 2) stepmother. I pa enmen bèlmè’y. She
doesn’t like her step-mother. [< Fr.
belle-mГЁre] bГЁlmГЁ zonng cuticle.
BГЁlmГЁ zonng li anflГ©, i ni kannawi
dlo. Her cuticle is swollen, she has an
inflammation of the nails.
bГЁf
N cow, cattle. BГЁf-la kwazГ© jaden
mwen. The cow destroyed my garden.
[< Fr. boeuf]
bГ©gГ©yГ©
V to stammer, to stutter. AfГІs
nonm-lan tГ© ka bГ©gГ©yГ©, nou pa tГ© sa
menm konpwann li. The man was
stammering so much we couldn’t even
understand him. [< Fr. bГ©gayer]
bГЁlsГЁ
N sister-in-law. Non bèlsè’y sé
Mawi. Her sister-in-law’s name is
Marie. (see also: bГЁlfi, bГЁlmГЁ, bofis,
bofwГЁ, bopГЁ) [< Fr. belle-soeur]
bГ©k
N bake: flat bread cooked on a hot
plate. BГ©k cho bon Г©pi bГЁ. Hot bakes
are good with butter. (syn: roti; see
also: dalpouri, sohari) [< Eng. bake]
bГЁltГ©
N beauty. Nonm-lan mayé’y
pou bèlté’y, mé i pa té sa tjwit
manjГ© byen. The man married her for
her beauty, but she couldn’t cook well.
bГЁk
N beak. Kilibwi ni on lonng bГЁk.
Hummingbirds have long beaks. (see
also: zГІy) [< Fr. bec]
21
bГ©lyГ©
Kwéyòl – English
bГ©lyГ©
bГ©sГ©
N ram. Pa alГ© pwГ© bГ©lyГ©
mouton-an avan i ba’w on koul tèt.
Don’t go near the ram or it will butt
you. [< Fr. bГ©lier]
V 1) to lower, to bow. Annou
bГ©sГ© tГЁt nou pou pwГ©dyГ©. Lets bow
our heads to pray (opp: lГ©vГ©; see also:
filГ©) 2) to stoop, to bend over, to bow,
to kneel. LГЁ i antwГ© an lГ©gliz-la i
bГ©sГ© asou on jounou. When he
entered the church he knelt on one
knee. (see also: akoupi, ajounou)
3) to abate, to lessen, to diminish. LГЁ
lapli-a bГ©sГ© tout moun alГ© lakay yo.
When the rain abated everyone went
home. [< Fr. baisser]
ben
N bath. Mwen anvi pwan an
ben. I want to take a bath. (see also:
benyen) [< Fr. bain] ben fГ©yay leaf
bath. I bon pou pwan an ben fГ©yay
tanzantan. It’s good to take a leaf
bath once in a while. ben lanmГЁ sea
bath, swim. Yo alГ© pwan on ben
lanmГЁ. They went for a sea bath.
bГ©sin
N basin. Genyen an bГ©sin ban
mwen pou mwen sa pentwi fawin
fwans mwen. Get a basin for me to
knead my flour in. (see also: basen)
[< Eng. basin]
bennГ©diksyon (var: labennГ©diksyon)
blessing. BondyГ© ba li
bennédiksyon’y. God gave him his
blessing. (see also: benni) [< Fr.
bГ©nГ©diction]
N
bennГ©fis
bГ©tiz
BГЁson
benefit. La pa ni pyГЁs
bennéfis an sa. There’s no benefit in
that. (syn: gany; see also: pwofi) V to
benefit, to gain. Ki sa sa kay
bennГ©fis ou si ou genyen tout latГЁ-a
Г©pi ou pГЁd lam ou? What will it gain
you if you get the whole world and
you lose your soul? (syn: sinifyГ©)
[< Fr. bГ©nГ©fice]
N
bГЁt
N
the village of Bexon.
1
N 1) animal, beast. BГЁt-la alГ©
avan mwen wГЁ sa i tГ© yГ©. The animal
got away before I could see what it
was. (syn: zannimo) 2) bug, insect.
La tГ© ni tout sГІt kaltГ© bГЁt an jadenan. There were all kinds of bugs in the
garden. [< Fr. bГЄte] bГЁt san zo
same as vyann san zo. BГЁt san zo ka
manjГ© jaden-an. Slugs destroy the
garden.
benni
V to bless. BondyГ© kay benni
nou. God will bless us. (see also:
bennГ©diksyon) ADJ blessed. Anyen
pa wivé’y paski i benni. Nothing
happened to her because she is
blessed. [< Fr. bГ©nir]
bГЁt2
ADJ stupid, foolish (in reference to
a woman). Fanm-lan tГ© bГЁt an chay.
The woman was very foolish. (syn:
sГІt, kouyon) [< Fr. bГЄte]
benyen
bГЁtafГ©
V 1) to bathe. Yo vlГ© benyen
atjГІlman. They want to bathe now.
(see also: ben) 2) to have an
abundance, to have a lot of something,
to be full of. Plas-la ni tizing tГЁ mГ©
anba’y té benyen kayè. The place had
a little soil but under it there were a lot
of rocks. (see also: alabondans, bГ©wГ©,
plen) [< Fr. baigner]
N firefly. La ni an chay bГЁtafГ©
ka klГ©wГ© an nwГЁsГЁ-a. There are many
fireflies shining in the darkness.
bГЁtannipyГ©
N centipede.
BГЁtannipyГ©-a tГ© adan blГІk-la ГЁk i
mantjГ© mГІdГ© mwen. The centipede
was in the block and it almost bit me.
(see also: kangowi)
bГ©tiz
22
N
foolishness, nonsense. I ka
bГ©tizГ©
Kwéyòl – English
Bib
palé bétiz. She’s talking nonsense.
(syn: maji, papicho, kouyontwi; see
also: ennitil, kouyon, dГ©palГ©) [< Fr.
bГ©tise] palГ© bГ©tiz same as palГ©
papicho.
N Bible. Bib-la sГ© pawГІl BondyГ©.
The Bible is the word of God. (syn:
Labib) [< Fr. Bible]
bich
N deer. Ou ni lapo bich –
lapo’w pa ka gwaté pyès. You have
skin like a deer’s hide – your skin
doesn’t scratch at all. (syn: sèf) [< Fr.
biche]
bГ©tizГ©
V to talk nonsense. Nonm-lan
sou tГЁlman i ka bГ©tizГ©. The man is so
drunk he is talking nonsense. (see also:
palapata) [< Fr. bГ©tise]
bГ©tjГ©
biwo
bidim
ADJ enormous, huge. MisyГ©-a
ka fГЁ on bidim kay; mwen pa sav ki
tan i kay fini’y. The man is building
an enormous house; I don’t know
when he’ll finish it. (syn: gwo bidim,
matenm, manman)
white person. Manman
mwen sГ©tГ© chabin ГЁk papa mwen
sГ©tГ© bГ©tjГ©, ГЁk sГ© pou sa mwen blan
kon sa. My mother was light skinned
and my father was white, and that is
why I am so white. [< Bantu bГ©kГ©]
bГ©tjГ© KwГ©yГІl albino. I sГ© ich dГ©
jan nwГЁ, mГ© i sГ© an bГ©tjГ© KwГ©yГІl. He
is the son of two black persons, but he
is an albino.
N
bijou
N jewellery. I ka pГІtГ© an chay
bijou. She’s wearing lots of jewellery.
[< Fr. bijou]
bimbwa variant of bi bwa.
bГ©tjin
biswi
N barracuda. Nou wГЁ on bГ©tjin
lГЁ nou tГ© an dlo-a kon sa nou kouwi
sГІti an dlo-a. We saw a barracuda
when we were in the water so we got
out quickly.
N biscuit, cracker, cookie. [< Fr.
biscuit] biswi dou cookie. Mwen
kontan manjГ© biswi dou Г©pi ditГ©. I
like to eat cookies with tea. biswi sГЁl
salted cracker, saltine. Yo di biswi sГЁl
bon pou van. They say saltines are
good for gas.
bГЁtouj variant of bГЁt wouj.
bГ©wГ©
V to overdo, to pour on, to bathe
in. I bГ©wГ© manjГ©-a piman. He put a
lot of pepper in the food. (see also:
benyen, plen)
bita
ADV together, neck and neck. Yo
tГ© ka fГЁ on kous ГЁk yo wivГ© bita.
They were having a race and they
arrived neck and neck. (syn: bita bita,
tГЁt a tГЁt) bita bita same as bita.
bГЁwjГ©
N shepherd. BГЁwjГ©-a ka vГ©yГ©
sГ© mouton-an. The shepherd watches
the sheep. (syn: gadyenn mouton)
[< Fr. berger]
bitasyon
N plantation, estate,
countryside. I ka twavay anlГЁ on
bitasyon. He works on an estate. (see
also: hГІtГЁ, plantasyon)
bi
N a large piece (of something). Tifia tГ© ni an bi pen ka manjГ©. The girl
was eating a big piece of bread. (see
also: tjГІ, mГІso, miyГЁt) [< Fr. bille] bi
bwa (var: bimbwa) log. Yo ka sГЁvi
sГ© bi bwa-a pou fГЁ kay. They using
the logs to make houses. [< Fr. bille
bois]
bitji
N crutch. Nonm-lan tГ© ka machГ©
ГЁk bitji lГЁ janm li kasГ©. The man was
walking with crutches after he broke
his leg. [< Fr. bГ©quille]
biwo
N desk, office. Nonm-lan tГ©
asid bò biwo’y ka twavay. The man
23
biyo
Kwéyòl – English
blГ©sГ©
also: chandГЁl) blan zГ© egg white. I
sГЁvi blan zГ© ГЁk sik blan fin pou
dГ©kowГ© bonbon-an. He used egg
white and icing sugar to decorate the
cake.
was sitting at his desk working. (see
also: ГІfis) [< Fr. bureau]
biyo
N chopping block. Yo tjwГ© poulla asou biyo-a. They killed the
chicken on the chopping block. [< Fr.
billot]
blanchi
V to bleach, to whiten. SГ©
pou’w blanchi chimiz sala. You must
bleach that shirt. (syn: lablanni) [< Fr.
blanchir]
bizayГЁl same as ayГЁl. [< Fr. bisaГЇeul]
bizwen (var: bwizen, bouzwen,
bouzen) V to need. Nou bizwen
lajan. We need money. N need. I ka
potjiwГ© tout bizwen nou. He provides
all of our needs. (syn: labizwen) [< Fr.
besoin] fГЁ bizwen to use the toilet,
to relieve oneself, to defecate or
urinate. Mwen kay fГЁ bizwen mwen.
I’m going to the toilet. (euphemism;
see also: alГ© an wazyГ©, chyГ©, kaka)
ni bizwen same as bizwen.
blanm
N blame. Pa bay tibway-la
blanm pou lèwè an lòt moun. Don’t
give the boy the blame for another
person’s mistake. (see also: wipwòch)
[< Fr. blГўme]
blanmГ©
V to blame. Yo vlГ© blanmГ©
mwen. They want to blame me. (syn:
bay tГІ; see also: akizГ©, wipwochГ©)
[< Fr. blГўmer]
blad
blГ©
N 1) bladder. La tГ© ni on nonm
ki tГ© ni on wГІch an blad li. There was
a man who had a stone in his bladder.
2) balloon. Chak lГЁ i vini vizitГ© nou i
ka mennen blad bay sГ© ti manmayla. Every time he comes to visit us he
brings a balloon for the children.
ADJ 1) blue. I ka pГІtГ© on chimiz
blГ©. He is wearing a blue shirt.
2) green (said of plants), in leaf,
having foliage. LГЁ ou wГЁ jaden-an ja
blé, vyann san zo ka vin manjé’y.
When you see the garden is green,
slugs come to eat it. N bluing.
Madanm-lan mГ©tГ© blГ© an had blanan. The lady put bluing in the white
clothes. [< Fr. bleu]
bladjГ©
V to joke, to share jokes, to
chat. SГ© nonm-lan ka bladjГ©. The
men are chatting. (see also: blag,
bladjГЁ, kozГ©) [< Fr. blague]
blenm
ADJ pale due to sickness. DГ©
jou malad sala fè’w vini blenm kon
moun ki pa ni san. Those two days of
being sick made you become pale like
people who don’t have blood. (see
also: pal) [< Fr. blГЄme]
bladjГЁ
N joker. Nonm sala sГ© on
bladjè. That man’s a joker. (see also:
bladjГ©, blag) [< Fr. blague]
blag
N joke. I konnГЁt an chay blag.
He knows many jokes. (see also:
bladjГ©, bladjГЁ) [< Fr. blague]
blГЁs
N internal injury. Sé pou’w bay ti
manmay-la wimГЁd pou blГЁs-la. You
must give the child medicine for the
internal injuries. (see also: san mГІ)
[< Fr. blesser]
blan
ADJ white. Kay-la tГ© pentiwГ©
blan. The house was painted white.
(opp: nwГЁ) [< Fr. blanc] blan
balenn candle. Limen blan balennan. Light the candle. (syn: bouji; see
blГ©sГ©
V to injure, to wound. Nonmlan tГ© blГ©sГ© lГЁ i tГ© ka goumen. The
24
bliyГ©
Kwéyòl – English
bolonm
bГІbГІl
man was injured when he was
fighting. (see also: san mГІ) [< Fr.
blesser]
N fraud, trickery, deceit,
chicanery, artifice. Tout sa yo ni, yo
twapé’y pa bòbòl. All they have they
got by deceit. fГЁ bГІbГІl to embezzle.
I fГЁ on gwo bГІbГІl. He embezzled a lot
of money.
bliyГ© variant of obliyГ©.
blotjГ©
V to botch, to bungle, to mess
up, to do a job half-way. Madanmlan pa té lavé had-la byen; i blotjé’y.
The wife didn’t wash the clothes well;
she botched it. [< Fr. bloquer] blotjГ©
anlГЁ to charge, to attack. LГЁ lyon-an
blotjГ© anlГЁ nonm-lan, nonm-lan
pitjé’y èk sab li. When the lion
attacked the man, the man stabbed it
with his sword. (syn: atakГ©, bouwГ©
anlГЁ; see also: kawГ©) [< Fr. bloquer]
bГІbГІlis
N swindler, crook. BГІbГІlis-la
pwan tout lajan lapГЁy mwen. The
swindler took all of my pay.
bГІdaj
N bank (of a river), edge. I
wГЁstГ© asou bГІdaj lawivyГЁ-a pou
pГ©chГ©. He settled on the side of the
river to fish. PREP alongside, beside,
next to. Nonm sou-a kouchГ© bГІdaj
chimen-an. The drunk man lay down
beside the road. (see also: alapГІtГ©,
alimans, bГІ, a kotГ©, pwГ©, vizavi)
[< Fr. bordage]
bo
V to kiss. I bo ti manmay-la. She
kissed the child. N kiss. I ba li on ti
bo asou fidji’y. He gave her a small
kiss on her cheek.
bГІdГ©
V to come (near), to approach.
Pa bòdé isi-a! Don’t come here! (see
also: vini)
bГІ
N side. Nou wè’y lòt bò-a. We saw
him on the other side. (syn: fasad,
kotГ©, sayd) PREP 1) by, alongside,
beside, near, next to. I vini bГІ
kannГІt-la. He came near the boat.
(opp: lwen; see also: alapГІtГ©,
alimans, bГІdaj, a kotГ©, pwГ©, vizavi)
2) to. Mwen ka alГ© bГІ laplas. I am
going to the market. 3) about,
approximately, around. BГІ ki lГЁ ou
kay vini? At about what time will you
come? (syn: alafen di, apipwГ©,
avГЁwdi, owon, vГЁГІ) [< Fr. bord] ki
bò where. Ki bò jaden’y yé?
Where’s his garden? (syn: ki koté)
bofis
N son-in-law. Mwen ni an bon
bofis. I have a good son-in-law. (see
also: bГЁlfi, bГЁlmГЁ, bГЁlsГЁ, bofwГЁ, bopГЁ)
[< Fr. beau-fils]
bofwГЁ
N brother-in-law. Non bofwè’y
sé Pyè. His brother-in-law’s name is
Peter. (see also: bГЁlfi, bГЁlmГЁ, bГЁlsГЁ,
bofis, bopГЁ) [< Fr. beau-frГЁre]
bol
N 1) ball. I vowГ© bol-la. He threw
the ball. 2) cricket. LГЁ nou tГ©
tibway, nou toujou tГ© ka jwГ© bol
apwГ© lГ©kГІl. When we were boys, we
always used to play cricket after
school. (syn: krikГЁt) [< Eng. bowl]
bobansГ©
V to spend wildly, to waste.
I bobansГ© tout sa i tГ© ni. He wasted
all that he had. (syn: gaspiyГ©)
bГІl
N bowl. I mГ©tГ© bouyon-an adan
an bГІl. She put the soup in a bowl.
(see also: pla, vГ©sГЁl, zasyГЁt) [< Fr.
bol]
bobo
N sore, wound. I ni on bobo
asou lanmen’y. He has a sore on his
hand. (see also: malenng, gad, blГ©sГ©)
[< Fr. bobo]
bolonm
25
N
1) doll. Tan lontan
bon
Kwéyòl – English
bonswГЁ
of hummingbird. (see also: kilibwi)
manmay tГ© ka fГЁ bolonm ГЁk tГЁ gwa.
Long ago children used to make dolls
with clay. (syn: pГІpГІt) 2) a
supernatural character who looks like
a child with a big head and makes a
crying sound like a cat. Mwen pГЁ alГ©
an bwa-a lГ© swГЁ paski mwen pГЁ
bolonm. I am afraid to go into the
woods at night because I am afraid of
“bolonms”. (see also: ladjablès) [< Fr.
bonhomme] ti bolonm child.
bГІnГ©
V to be bounded by, to have a
boundary, to border (on), to adjoin, to
lie next to. TГЁ mwen-an bГІnГ© Г©pi sa
ou. My land borders on yours. [< Fr.
borner]
bonjou
INTERJ good morning, hello.
Bonjou. Kouman ou yГ©? Good
morning. How are you? (see also:
bonnapwГ©midi, bonswГЁ) N greeting,
hello. Mwen ka voyГ© on bГЁl bonjou
ba’w. I am sending you warm
greetings. [< Fr. bon jour]
bon
ADJ good. Ou sa anployГ© nonm
sala; i ka fГЁ bon twavay. You can
employ that man; he does good work.
(opp: movГ©, vyГ©, mГ©chan, sГ©lГ©wa,
modi; see also: bГЁl) INTERJ good,
okay, well. Bon, sГ© sa nou kay fГЁ.
Okay, that’s what we’ll do. (see also:
Г©ben) [< Fr. bon]
bonm
N bucket, pail. Bonm-lan plen
dlo. The bucket is full of water.
bonm-lan pГ©tГ© idiom referring to a
secret being revealed. LГЁ bonm-lan
pГ©tГ© ou kay konnГЁt ki sa ki ka alГ©-a.
When the news breaks you will know
what is going on.
bГІn
N boundary, boundary pegs. Yo
ka mété sé bòn-an bay popyétè’y.
They are putting in the boundary pegs
on his property. [< Fr. borne]
bonmachГ©
ADJ cheap, inexpensive.
YГЁ fig tГ© bonmachГ©. Yesterday
bananas were cheap. (opp: chГЁ) [< Fr.
bon marchГ©]
bonbon
N cake. Yo fГЁ on bonbon
pou nГІs mwen. They made a cake for
my wedding. [< Fr. bonbon]
bonbon zГ© pound cake.
bonmaten
N morning. Nou ka moutГ©
toulГ© bonmaten. We go up every
morning. (see also: li bonmaten)
[< Fr. bon matin] li bonmaten in
the morning. Li bonmaten nou lГ©vГ©
Г©pi nou alГ© lakay nou. In the morning
we got up and we went to our house.
bonda
N backside, buttocks, arse. Yo
bwilГ© bonda Tig ГЁk an fГЁ cho. They
burnt Tiger’s buttocks with a hot iron.
(syn: fГЁs, tjou)
Bondous
INTERJ My God!. Bondous!
Papa’w kay bat ou! My God! Your
father will beat you! (euphemism; syn:
BondyГ©)
bonnapwГ©midi
INTERJ good
afternoon. BonnapwГ©midi. Kouman
ou yГ©? Good afternoon. How are you?
(see also: bonjou, bonswГЁ) [< Fr.
bonne aprГЁsmidi]
BondyГ© (var: DyГ©)
N God. BondyГ©
ka potjiwГ© ban nou. God provides for
us. INTERJ Good Lord!. BondyГ©! Sa
ki wivé’w? Good Lord! What
happened to you? (syn: Bondous)
[< Fr. bon Dieu] sisi BondyГ© a type
bonnГЁ
ADV early. Nou kay wivГ©
bonnè. We’ll arrive early. (opp: ta)
[< Fr. bonne heure]
bonswГЁ
26
INTERJ
good evening, good
bontГ©
Kwéyòl – English
You can run your mouth all you want,
I don’t care. (syn: bat djòl) bouch
lonng scowl, dark or gloomy look,
pout. Pouki ou ka fГЁ bouch lonng?
Ou fachГ©? Why are you scowling like
that? Are you angry?
night. Lè nonm-lan di’y bonswè
pyГЁsonn pa wГ©ponn. When the man
said good evening, nobody responded.
[< Fr. bon soir]
bontГ©
N goodness, good things. I ka
fГЁ an chay bontГ© ban nou. He does
many good things for us. (syn:
byennfГ©) [< Fr. bontГ©]
bouchГ©1
V 1) to plug, to clog, to block.
Bonm-lan tГ© ka koulГ© kon sa i
bouché’y. The bucket was leaking so
he plugged it. (syn: bawГ©; opp:
dГ©bouchГ©; see also: bawad, jennen)
2) to catch by surprise. Yo bouchГ©
Tig ka vГІlГЁ poul louwa. They caught
Tiger stealing the king’s chickens. ADJ
clogged, plugged. Tiyo-a tГ© bouchГ©
ГЁk dlo-a pa tГ© sa pasГ©. The pipe was
clogged and water couldn’t pass
through it. (syn: tjГІk) [< Fr. boucher]
bopГЁ
N 1) father-in-law. Madanm-lan
kontan bopè’y. The woman likes her
father-in-law. (see also: bГЁlfi, bГЁlmГЁ,
bГЁlsГЁ, bofis, bofwГЁ) 2) step father. Ti
manmay-la pa kontan bopè’y. The
child doesn’t like her step father.
[< Fr. beau-pГЁre]
bГІs
N brush. Mano fouyГ© bГІs li an
penti-a ГЁk i koumansГ© pentiwГ©.
Mano dipped his brush into the paint
and he began to paint. [< Fr. brosse]
bouchГ©2
N butcher. Mwen achtГ© latjГ©
kochon lanmen bouchГ©-a. I bought
pigs tails from the butcher. (see also:
labatwa) [< Fr. boucher]
bosГ©
V to brush. Ou enmen bosГ©
chivé’w twòp. You like to brush your
hair too much. [< Fr. brosser]
bosi
bouchon
N cork, bottle cap, lid.
Bouchon-an tГ© wiyГ©. The cap was
rusty. (see also: plak) [< Fr. bouchon]
hunchbacked. Nonm-lan
bosi. The man is hunchbacked. [< Fr.
bossu]
ADJ
bГІsko
bouchonnen
V to put a lid on.
Bouchonnen boutГЁy-la. Put the lid on
the bottle.
lop-sided. TГЁt ou pa won,
i bòsko. Your head’s not round, it’s
lop-sided.
bouch
bouden
ADJ
bouden1
N 1) belly, stomach. Bouden
mwen plen. My belly is full. (syn:
pans) 2) heads; the open part of a
seed or nut used in gambling. LГЁ
moun ka jwГ© kotji dГ© bouden ГЁk dГ©
do ka genyen. When people play kotji
two heads and two tails win. (opp: do)
[< Fr. boudin] bouden ka mennen
to have diarrhoea. Bouden mwen ka
mennen mwen. I have diarrhoea. (see
also: ladjidjit, mal vant, wilachman)
mouth. Mwen tГ© tГЁlman pГЁ
mwen pa tГ© sa menm ouvГЁ bouch
mwen. I was so afraid I couldn’t even
open my mouth. (see also: djГЁl) [< Fr.
bouche] bat bouch 1) to mouth, to
move one’s lips. Lè malad-la pwan
nonm-lan i tГ© ka bat bouch li mГ©
pawГІl-la pa tГ© ka sГІti. When the man
fell sick he would move his lips but
the words wouldn’t come out. 2) to
run one’s mouth, to speak without
anyone paying attention. Ou sa bat
bouch ou kon ou vlГ©, mwen pa mГ©lГ©.
N
bouden2
N black pudding, blood
sausage. Yo kontan manjГ© bouden
27
boufi
Kwéyòl – English
toulГ© Sanmdi. They like to eat black
pudding every Saturday.
boukan èk yo pwi’y difé. They made
a pile of debris and set it on fire.
boukan difГ© campfire, debris fire,
bonfire. Yo fГЁ on boukan difГ© pou yo
tГ© chofГ© kГІ yo. They made a fire to
warm themselves. (see also: fouyГ©,
difГ©)
boufi
V to swell, to cause to swell,
particularly in reference to one’s face.
Yo ba li yon koul pwen an fidji’y; yo
boufi zyé’y. They punched him in his
face; they caused his eye to swell. (see
also: anflГ©, gonflГ©) ADJ bloated,
swollen. BГЁf mГІ-a ja vini boufi. The
dead cow has gotten bloated. (see also:
anflГ©) [< Fr. bouffir]
boug
boukantГ©
V to exchange, to trade.
BoukantГ© sГ© pa on pГ©chГ©. To
exchange is not a sin.
bouklГ©
V to buckle. BouklГ© sanng ou
èk ann’ alé. Buckle your belt and let’s
go. [< Fr. boucler]
fellow, guy. Sa boug-la ka di
la-a? What is that guy saying? (see
also: nonm, misyГ©)
N
bougonnen
bouko
N barrel, cask, hogshead.
Bouko-a plen wonm. The cask is full
of rum. (syn: kas; see also: bawi)
to grumble, to gripe, to
complain. SГ© moun-an koumansГ©
bougonnen lГЁ yo pa jwenn pГ©yГ©. The
people began to complain when they
didn’t get their pay. [< Fr. bougonner]
V
boukousou
N type of pea similar to
snow peas. AtjГІlman moun pa ka fГЁ
foli dГЁyГЁ boukousou ankГІ. Nowadays
people don’t bother with cooking
boukousou anymore. (see also: senm,
pwa)
bouji
N candle. Limen bouji-a pas i
ja ka fГЁ nwГЁ. Light the candle because
it is getting dark. (syn: blan balenn;
see also: chandГЁl) [< Fr. bougie]
boujon
boul
N clot, lump, clod. I kwazГ© boul
tè-a pou’y té planté pyé pwa-a. He
crushed the clod of soil to plant the
pea plant.
bud. PyГ© bwa-a ka vowГ©
boujon. The tree is putting out buds.
[< Fr. bourgeon] boujon gwiyav
guava bud used for bush medicine.
Madanm-lan bouwi boujon gwiyav
bay ti manmay-la pou doubout
wilachman-an. The lady boiled guava
bud for the child to stop the diarrhoea.
[< Fr. bourgeon goyave]
N
boujonnen
boula
N homosexual man. Nonm sala
sГ© on boula mГ© i pa vlГ© pyГЁsonn sav.
That man is a homosexual but he
doesn’t want anyone to know. (see
also: malmanman)
boulГІk
N unintelligible utterance.
Nonm-lan bat mwen an boulГІk alГІ;
m’a sa fin di’w sa i di-a. The man
said something unintelligible; I can’t
tell you what he said.
to bud. PyГ© zowanj ka
boujonnen apwГ©zan. Orange trees are
budding now. [< Fr. bourgeonner]
V
bouk
N billy goat. Yo tjwГ© bouk-la
ГЁk yo fГЁ fГЁt. They killed the billy goat
and they had a feast. (see also:
kabwit) [< Fr. bouc]
boukan
N
boulvГЁsГ©
boulon
N bolt. Yo sГ©wГ© boulon-an
twГІp. They tightened the bolt too
much. (see also: vis, visГ©)
a pile of debris. Yo fГЁ on
boulvГЁsГ©
28
V
to nauseate, to upset.
boulwГЁ
Kwéyòl – English
longer in ignorance; everybody is
enlightened. (syn: inyowans; opp:
Г©klГ©wГ©)
Bagay sala ka boulvГЁsГ© mwen. That
thing nauseates me. (syn: sivotjГ©) ADJ
nauseated, queasy, upset. I vin
boulvГЁsГ© lГЁ i tann nouvГЁl-la. He
became upset when he heard the news.
(syn: malotjГЁ) [< Fr. bouleverser]
boutik
N shop, store, boutique,
supermarket. Nou alГ© an boutik-la
pou achtГ© fawin fwans. We went to
the store to buy some flour. (syn:
magazen) [< Fr. boutique]
boulwГЁ
N boiler, tank used to provide
steam for cane train. DifГ©-a ka limen
an boulwГЁ-a. The fire is burning in
the boiler.
boutjГ©
N bouquet. I ni on boutjГ© flГЁ.
She has a bouquet of flowers. [< Fr.
bouquet]
bous
N queen triggerfish (Balistes
vetula). Papa mwen tГ© ni pou kГІchГ©
tout sГ© bous-la bay manman mwen.
My father had to skin all of the
triggerfish for my mother.
bouton1
N button. Mwen tГ© ni pou
mГ©tГ© an lГІt bouton an chimiz-la. I
had to put a new button on the shirt.
[< Fr. bouton]
bousay
N debris, tangle of leaves and
twigs in water. Yo lГ©vГ© bousay-la
pou tjГ©bГ© kwibich. They lifted the
debris to catch crayfish.
bouton2
N rash. ChalГЁ-a fГЁ bouton
lГ©vГ© asou tout lapo ti manmay-la.
The heat caused a rash on the baby’s
skin. (see also: gwatГЁl)
bousГІl
N swelling, bumps. Maygwen
té mòdé’y tèlman, lapo’y plen
bousГІl. Mosquitoes bit him so much,
his skin has bumps all over it.
boutonnen
V to button. I boutonnen
chimiz li owa kolГ© paski i tГ© ka fГЁ
fwГЁt. He buttoned his shirt up to his
collar because it was cold. (opp:
dГ©boutonnen) [< Fr. boutonner]
bousolГ©
ADJ swollen, bumpy, puffy.
KotГ©-a vonvon-an mГІdГ© mwen-an
bousolГ©. Where the bee bit me is
swollen. [< Fr. boursouflГ©]
bout
bouwi
boutou
N club. Polis-la ni on gwo
boutou. The policeman has a big club.
bouwГ©1
V to eat fast, to bolt one’s
food. I ka bouwé manjé’y. He’s
bolting his food. [< Fr. bourrer]
bouwГ© anlГЁ to charge, to attack. Tig
bouwГ© anlГЁ nonm-lan. Tiger charged
the man. (syn: atakГ©, blotjГ© anlГЁ)
[< Fr. bourrer]
end. VwГ©zinaj mwen fГЁ kay li
an bout chimen-an. My neighbour
built his house at the end of the road.
(syn: finisman; see also: fini) ADJ
over, finished, ended. LГЁ tan nou tГ©
bout Г©pi yo, nou alГ©. When our time
with them was over, we went away.
[< Fr. bout]
N
bouwГ©2
V to heap up soil around a
plant. I bouwГ© tГЁ-a oliwon pyГ© fig-la
i fin plantГ©-a. He heaped up soil
around the banana tree he had just
planted. (see also: labouwГ©) [< Fr.
labourer]
boutГЁy
N bottle. Chak an sГ© nonmlan bwГЁ yon boutГЁy wonm. Each of
the men drank a bottle of rum. [< Fr.
bouteille] boutГЁy nwГЁ ignorance. I
pa ni moun ki an boutГЁy nwГЁ ankГІ;
tout moun Г©klГ©wГ©. People are no
bouwi
29
V
1) to boil, to cook. Yo ka
bouwik
Kwéyòl – English
bwanch
armpit was swollen.
bouwi vyann-an. They’re boiling the
meat. (see also: fwi, tjwit) 2) to stir,
to swirl, to splash. LГЁ balenn-an fГ©sГ©
kò’y a tè, i fè dlo-a bouwi. When the
whale threw itself down, it made the
water splash. 3) to be angry. LГЁ i wГЁ
sa, i té ka bouwi andidan’y. When he
saw that, he was angry. (see also:
fachГ©) 4) to growl, to rumble (used of
stomach). Bouden mwen ka bouwi.
My stomach’s growling. [< Fr.
boullir]
bwa2
N 1) wood. SГ© kay-la tГ© fГЁt an
bwa. The houses were made of wood.
2) same as gwan bwa. I alГ© anba
bwa pou koupГ© bwa. He went into
the woods to cut wood. [< Fr. bois]
bwa bwa puppet. Yo fГЁ tГ©yat bwa
bwa. They did a puppet show. fГЁ
pwan an bwa to chase away. Nou
fГЁ yo pwan an bwa. We chased them
away! (syn: chachГ©, fГЁ fann kann, fГЁ
kwazyГ© bwa, fГЁ kwazyГ© wazyГ©, fГЁ
pwan lavГІl, kouwi dГЁyГЁ; see also:
bay lapouswiv) gwan bwa forest,
woods. I alГ© gwan bwa pou gadГ©
pou bwa kannГІt. He went into the
forest to look for wood to make a
canoe. (syn: lafowГ©) pwan an bwa
to flee, to run away. Mwen bay
chyen-an yan koul wГІch, i pwan an
bwa. I threw a stone at the dog and it
ran away. (syn: fann kann, fГЁ djip, fГЁ
lapousyГЁ, fГЁ zГ©klГЁ, kwazГ© bwa,
kwazГ© wazyГ©, pwan lavГІl; see also:
kouwi, chapГ©, mawon; bay pyГ©,
bwennen kГІ, chapГ© kГІ, fГЁ pyГ©, fГЁ
yan, kouwi vant a tГЁ)
bouwik
N donkey, ass. Yo mawГ©
bouwik-la an pyГ© mango-a. They tied
the donkey to the mango tree. (see
also: chouval, milГ©) [< Fr. bourrique]
bouwo
N someone with a bad
reputation. Bouwo-a atakГ© sГ© mounan pou vГІlГЁ lajan yo. The bad man
attacked the people to rob them. (see
also: movГ© lam, vyГ© lam) [< Fr.
bourreau]
bouyon
N stew. Madanm-lan ka ban
nou bouyon chak MГ©kwГ©di. The
woman gives us stew every
Wednesday. [< Fr. bouillon]
bouzen variant of bizwen.
bwadenn
N bay (Pimenta racemosa).
Yo bouwi fГЁy bwadenn pou fГЁ ditГ©.
They boiled bay leaves to make tea.
[< Fr. Bois d’Inde]
bouzwen variant of bizwen.
boyo
N 1) small intestine. Yo mГ©tГ©
san an boyo-a pou fГЁ bouden. They
put blood in small intestines to make
black pudding. 2) bosom, guts. Ti
manmay-la sГІti an boyo mwen. The
child came from my bosom. 3) a type
of vine with prickles on it. Yo ka sГЁvi
boyo pou fГЁ kolyГ© bay mouton. They
use boyo vines to make collars for
sheep. (see also: lyenn) [< Fr. boyau]
bwadnГІ
N pitch pine. Madanm-lan
limen difГ©-a ГЁk bwadnГІ. The woman
lit the fire with pitch pine.
bwanch
N branch. PyГ© bwa-a pa ni
bwanch. The tree has no branches.
[< Fr. branche] bwanch fil piece of
thread. Mwen vlГ© on bwanch fil pou
koud tjilГІt mwen. I want a piece of
thread to sew my pants. bwanch
laklГ© key ring, bunch of keys. I ni
an bwanch laklГ© pann an sanng li.
bwa1
N arm. I kasé bwa’y. He broke
his arm. [< Fr. bras] anba bwa
armpit. Anba bwa’y té anflé. His
30
bwanchГ©
Kwéyòl – English
bway2
He has a key ring hanging on his belt.
(syn: patjГ© laklГ©, kolyГ© laklГ©)
N boy, man, guy, male. Г‰
bway, kotГ© ou ka alГ©? Hey guy,
where are you going? (see also:
tibway) [< Eng. boy]
bwanchГ©
V to swing from branch to
branch. I ka bwanchГ© kon on
makak. He swings like a monkey.
(see also: swing)
bwГ©
N bamboo float used for
identifying location of fish pots. LГЁ
pГ©chГЁ-a pa wГЁ bwГ©-a i sav on moun
vГІlГЁ nas-la. When the fisherman
didn’t see his float, he knew someone
had stolen his fishpot. [< Fr. bouГ©e]
bwanhany
ADJ barren. Madanm-lan
tГ© bwanhany. The woman was barren.
bwapen
N breadfruit. Yo ka vann
bwapen chГЁ atjwГЁlman. They are
selling breadfruit for a lot of money
now. [< Fr. bois pain]
bwГЁ
V 1) to drink. Mwen enmen bwГЁ
dlo fwèt lè ng’a santi cho. I like to
drink cold water when I am feeling
hot. 2) to drink alcohol. I ka bwГЁ
twГІp. He drinks too much. (see also:
bwason, gГІg, gГІgГЁ, nГЁg wonm, sou,
wonm) 3) to take in completely what
a person is saying, to eavesdrop. Ou
ka bwГЁ sa moun-an ka di-a, mГ© i pa
ka palé ba’w. You’re taking in
everything the person is saying, but
he’s not talking to you. (syn: gobé) N
liquor, alcoholic drink. I doubout bГІ
kabawГ©-a pou i tГ© achtГ© on bwГЁ. He
stopped by the bar to buy a drink.
(syn: bwason, gГІg) [< Fr. boire]
bwas
N span from hand to hand with
outstretched arms used as a measure
for buying rope. Mwen genyen dГ©
bwas kГІd. I bought two measures of
rope.
bwaslГ©
N bracelet. Tifi-a ni on
bwaslГ© nГЁf. The girl has a new
bracelet. [< Fr. bracelet]
bwason
N drink, drinking of alcohol
beverages. Sé pa pou’w kontan twòp
fГЁt ГЁk twГІp bwason. You must not
love too much partying and drinking.
(syn: bwГЁ, gГІg; see also: sou, gГІgГЁ,
nГЁg wonm, sou, wiski, wonm) [< Fr.
boisson]
bwennen
V to twitch, to stir, to fidget.
Madanm-lan pa menm bwennen
afòs i té malad. The woman didn’t
even twitch because she was so sick.
bwennen kГІ to hurry, to get moving,
to go quickly. AlГ© an boutik-la ban
mwen èk bwennen kò’w. Go to the
store for me and go quickly. (syn: bay
pyГ©, chapГ© kГІ, chapГ© pyГ©, fГЁ pyГ©, fГЁ
vit; see also: kouwi; fann kann, fГЁ
djip, fГЁ lapousyГЁ, fГЁ yan, fГЁ zГ©klГЁ,
kouwi vant a tГЁ, pwan lavГІl)
bwav
ADJ brave, courageous, bold. I
sé on nonm ki bwav. He’s a brave
man. (syn: fouben; see also: ni tjГЁ)
[< Fr. brave]
bwavtГ©
N bravery, courage. I tГ© ni on
chay bwavtГ© pou plonjГ© adan dlo
fon sala. He had a lot of bravery to
dive into that deep water. (see also:
bwav, fouben)
bway1 (var: bwГЁy)
bwГЁt
bwГЁt
N box. I ni tout bagay adan
bwГЁt-la. He has everything in the box.
[< Fr. boГ®te] bwГЁt zouti toolbox. I
pГЁd bwГЁt zouti-a ГЁk i pa tГ© sa fГЁ
gills. Yo tiyГ©
bway-la an pwГ©son-an. They
removed the gills from the fish.
N
31
bwГ©tГ©
Kwéyòl – English
down the house when they were
playing with matches. 2) to cause
envy, to make jealous. Г€s i ka
bwilé’w pis mwen ni an pli bèl
motoka pasГ© sa ou-a? Does it make
you jealous that I have a nicer car than
yours? ADJ burnt, burnt down. LГЁ
nonm-lan wГЁ kay li tout bwilГ© i
koumansГ© hГ©lГ©. When the man saw
his house burnt down he began to cry.
[< Fr. brГ»ler]
twavay li. He lost the toolbox and he
couldn’t do his work.
bwГ©tГ©
V to limp. Nonm-lan tГ© ka
bwГ©tГ© paski i blГ©sГ© vyГ© janm li-an.
The man was limping because he hurt
his injured foot. [< Fr. boiter]
bwГЁy variant of bway.
bwi
N star apple (Chrysophyllum
Cainito). Pa dГ© bwi ki anlГЁ pyГ©-a.
There are a lot of star apples on the
tree. bwi kaymik a large variety of
star apple. Bwi kaymik-la ni an chay
lГЁt lГЁ i vГЁt. The star apple has a lot of
milk when it is green.
bwital
ADJ brutal, severe. Nonm sala
sГ© on nonm ki bwital; i koupГ© tГЁt
madanm li. That man is a brutal man;
he cut off his wife’s head. (syn: mové,
mГ©chan; opp: bon, dous) ADV
seriously. Bwa’y té blésé bwital. His
arm was seriously injured. [< Fr.
brutal]
bwid
N bridle. Chouval-la ni on
bwid nГЁf. The horse has a new bridle.
(see also: baboutjГЁt, bouklГ©, bwidГ©)
[< Fr. bride]
bwidГ©
bwizГ©
bwitalizГ©
V to rough up. VГІlГЁ-a
bwitalizГ© madanm-lan lГЁ i pwen bag
li. The thief roughed up the woman
when he took her bag. (syn: bwizГ©)
[< Fr. brutaliser]
to bridle. I bwidГ© chouval-la
byen. He bridled the horse well. (see
also: baboutjГЁt, bouklГ©, bwid) [< Fr.
brider] bwidГ© domino final move
in a game of dominoes. I bwidГ©
domino-a ГЁk i genyen pa pwen. I
made the final move in the game of
dominoes and he won by points.
V
bwitГЁl
N suspenders. Nonm sala
enmen mГ©tГ© tjilГІt ki ni bwitГЁl. That
man likes to wear pants with
suspenders. [< Fr. bretelle]
bwigan
ADJ boisterous. Ti manmayla twГІ bwigan. The child is too
boisterous. (see also: anbГ©tan) [< Fr.
brigand]
bwiyan
ADJ bright, brilliant. KlГЁtГ©-a
bwiyan. The light is bright. [< Fr.
brillant]
bwigo
bwiyans
N whelk, sea snail. Nou jwenn
an chay bwigo an lanmГЁ-a. We found
a lot of whelks in the sea.
N brilliance. Bwiyans sГІlГЁyla vГЁglГ© nonm-lan. The brilliance of
the sun dazzled the man. [< Fr.
brillance]
bwik
N brick. Yo tГ© ka mГ©lГ© tГЁ gwa
Г©pi zГЁb pou fГЁ bwik. They were
mixing clay and grass to make bricks.
[< Fr. brique]
bwiyГ©
V to celebrate. LawГІz-la ka
bwiyГ© VyГ© FГІ ГІswГЁ-a. The La Rose
festival is being celebrated in Vieux
Fort tonight. (syn: fГЁ lafГЁt, sГ©lГ©bwГ©,
wibotГ©) [< Fr. briller]
bwilГ©
V 1) to burn, to burn down. SГ© ti
manmay-la bwilГ© kay-la lГЁ yo tГ© ka
jwГ© ГЁk zalimГЁt-la. The children burnt
bwizГ©
32
V
to rough up. SГ© polis-la
bwizen
Kwéyòl – English
well. SГ© pa moun ki byen pГІtan ki
bizwen an dòktè. It’s not people who
are healthy who need a doctor. [< Fr.
bien portant]
bwizé boug-la lè yo awété’y. The
police roughed the fellow up when
they arrested him. (syn: bwitalizГ©)
bwizen variant of bizwen.
byen
chachГ©
byenmГЁsi
ADV well, quite well,
satisfactorily. MГЁt bГЁf-la viwГ© plantГ©
flГЁ-a viwГ© ban mwen byenmГЁsi. The
owner of the cow re-planted the flower
for me satisfactorily. [< Fr. bien
merci]
well. I fГЁ twavay li byen.
He did his work well. ADJ well. Г€s
ou byen? Are you well? (see also: la)
V to be friendly with. Pa byen ГЁk
nonm sala piski i sГ© an kwennad.
Don’t be friendly with that man
because he is a deceiver. N wealth,
riches, possessions, goods, belongings,
inheritance. I mГІ Г©pi i kitГ© tout
byen’y bay madanm li. He died and
he left all his possessions to his wife.
(see also: popyГ©tГЁ, wichГЁs) [< Fr.
bien] byen fГЁt rightly, correctly. Г€s
nou pa byen fГЁt di ou sГ© an vГІlГЁ?
Weren’t we correctly calling you a
thief? (opp: ni tГІ; see also: ni wГ©zon)
byen jwenn well-matched. Nonm
sala ГЁk madanm li byen jwenn. That
man and his wife are well-matched.
(syn: tenk) byen pГІtan healthy,
ADV
byennГ©wГ©
ADJ rich, prosperous,
wealthy. Nonm sala byennГ©wГ©; i ni
konmen sГЁvant lakay li. That man is
wealthy; he has many servants at his
home. (syn: Г©wГ©, alГЁz, wich; opp:
mal, malГ©wГ©, pГІv; see also: wichГЁs,
byen, ja fè’y, ja wivé)
byennfГ©
N good works, good deeds.
SГ© moun-an tГ© kontan madanm sala
paski i fГЁ an pil byennfГ© ba yo. The
people liked that woman because she
did a lot of good deeds for them. (syn:
bontГ©; see also: bon)
Cc
chaben
They’re looking for the child who got
lost. (syn: chachГ© pou, gadГ© pou)
[< Fr. chercher] chachГ© pou same
as chachГ©. Yo ka chachГ© pou ti
manmay-la ki té pèd-la. They’re
looking for the child who got lost.
N light-skinned Negro.
Chaben-an ka kwГЁ i sГ© an blan. The
light-skinned Negro thinks he is white.
(see also: chabin, nГЁg, milat) [< Fr.
chabin]
chabin
N light-skinned Negress. Ou
pa konnГЁt Agafa? I sГ© chabin-an ki
ka vann pen anba-a la. You don’t
know Agatha? She is the light-skinned
woman selling bread down there. (see
also: chaben, nГЁgwГЁs, miyatwГЁs)
[< Fr. chabine]
chachГ©2 (var: chachГ© alГ©)
V to chase
away. Nou kay chachГ© sГ© moun-an
ki ka wété la. We’ll chase away the
people who live there. (syn: kouwi
dГЁyГЁ, fГЁ fann kann, fГЁ kwazГ© bwa, fГЁ
kwazГ© wazyГ©, fГЁ pwan an bwa, fГЁ
pwan lavГІl; see also: bay lapouswiv)
[< Fr. chasser] chachГ© alГ© variant
of chachГ©. Nou kay chachГ© alГ© sГ©
chachГ©1 (var: achГ©)
V to look for. Yo
ka chachГ© ti manmay-la ki tГ© pГЁd-la.
33
chadГЁt
Kwéyòl – English
chalbawi
chagwinen
moun-lan ki ka wГ©tГ© la. We will
chase away the people who live there.
chachГ© kont to hinder, to interfere
with. I pwГ©chГ© san pyГЁsonn
chaché’y kont. He preached without
anyone troubling him. (syn: anbГ©tГ©,
anmГЁwdГ©, annГЁwvГ©, chagwinen)
V to annoy, to bother, to
worry, to disturb, to unnerve, to make
nervous. Pa kité sa nonm-lan di’w-la
chaginen’w. Don’t let what the man
told you bother you. (syn: anbГ©tГ©,
anmГЁwdГ©, annГЁwvГ©, distwГ©; see also:
minab) [< Fr. chagriner]
chadГЁt
chaj
N shaddock (Citrus grandis).
SГ© fanm-lan tГ© ka vann chadГЁt ГЁk
sitwon. The women were selling
shaddocks and limes.
N criminal charge. Polis-la fГЁ an
chaj kont nonm-lan paski i té jiwé’y.
The policeman made a charge against
the man for cursing him. (see also:
plent) [< Fr. charge] an chaj in
charge. Yo mГ©tГ© polis-la an chaj
pwizonnyГ©-a. They put the police in
charge of the prisoner. (see also: asou
kont)
chadon (var: chadwon)
N white sea
urchin, sea egg (Stronglyocentrus
spp.). La ni an chay chadon an
lanmГЁ-a la. There are many sea
urchins in the sea there. chadon
benni a type of plant used for a
seasoning or bush medicine. Nonmlan mГ©tГ© chadon benni an zГ©pis-la
pou pwГ©son-an. The man put chadon
benni in the seasoning for the fish.
chadon nwГЁ (var: chadwon nwГЁ)
black sea urchin (Diadema antillarum).
Chadon nwè kay pitjé’w si ou najé
an dlo-a la. Black sea urchins will
prick you if you swim in the water
there.
chajГ©
V 1) to put a load on (an
animal’s back or a person’s head).
ChajГ© patjГ© bwa-a anlГЁ bouwik-la ГЁk
ann’ alé. Load the bundle of wood on
the donkey and let’s go. (syn: baté,
batjГ©; opp: dГ©chajГ©) 2) to load (a
gun). I chajГ© fizi-a pou fiziwГ© sГ©
kanna sovay-la. He loaded his gun to
shoot the wild ducks. [< Fr. charger]
chajГЁs variant of lasajГЁs.
chak (var: chaken)
ADJ each, every.
Chak fwa ou vini ou ka manjГ©. Each
time you come you eat. [< Fr. chaque]
chadwon variant of chadon.
chaginen variant of chagwinen.
chagwen
chaken variant of chak. Chaken
V depression, sadness,
chagrin. [< Fr. chagrin] ni chagwen
to be unable to do without. Fanmi’y
té ni chagwen’y lè i alé lòt péyi. His
family couldn’t do without him when
he went overseas. (see also: mantjГ©)
pwan chagwen to grieve, to be
overtaken with grief. LГЁ manman-an
kitГ© tibway-la, i pwan chagwen ГЁk i
mantjГ© mГІ. When the mother left the
boy, he was overtaken with grief and
he almost died.
moun ka pГІtГ© chay li. Each person
will bear his burden.
chal
N kerosene bottle torch. LГЁ
mwen tГ© piti mwen toujou tГ© ka
chachГ© kwab ГЁk chal. When I was
little I always used to look for crabs
with a kerosene bottle torch. (syn: chal
boutГЁy, flanbo) chal boutГЁy same
as chal.
chalbawi
N ridicule. SГ© manmay-la
tГ© ka fГЁ chalbawi bГІ kay nonm-lan.
34
chalГЁ
Kwéyòl – English
The children were inflicting ridicule
on the man by his house. ladjГ©
chalbawi dГЁyГЁ to ridicule, to heckle,
to harass. LГЁ nonm-lan koumansГ©
palé, yo ladjé chalbawi dèyè’y. When
the man began to speak, they heckled
him. (syn: pwan sГЁvi papicho, pwan
sГЁvi widitjil, pwan sГЁvi wizib; see
also: fГЁ sin)
chay chan pou sГ© zannimo-a. He has
plenty of space for the animals. (see
also: savann) [< Fr. champ]
chandГЁl same as chandГЁl mГІl. [< Fr.
chandelle] chandГЁl mГІl soft candle.
Manman tibway-la mГ©tГ© chandГЁl
mòl anlè pyé’y pou hédi pikan-an.
The mother of the boy put soft candle
on his foot to take out the thorn. (syn:
chandГЁl; see also: blan balenn, bouji)
chalГЁ
N 1) heat. I ni an chay chalГЁ
jГІdi-a. There is a lot of heat today.
(opp: fwГЁt; see also: cho) 2) conflict,
pressure. Yo ka ban nou chalГЁ paski
nou p’òkò fini twavay nou. They are
giving us pressure because we haven’t
finished our work. 3) beating. Yo ba
li an bГЁl chalГЁ paski i pa tГ© fini
twavay li. They gave him a good
beating because he hadn’t finished his
work. 4) sexual drive, promiscuity.
Madanm sala ni an chay chalГЁ; i pa
vlГ© wГ©tГ© Г©pi yon sГЁl nonm. That
woman has a strong sexual drive; she
won’t be faithful to one man. [< Fr.
chaleur]
chanjГ©
V to change. BondyГ© ja
chanjГ© tjГЁ nou pou enmen yonn a
lГІt. God has changed our hearts to
love one another. [< Fr. changer]
chanjman
N change. An chanjman
ja pwan kou. A change has taken
place. [< Fr. changement]
chanjmandГЁ
N a change of air,
atmosphere, setting, location. Si ou
alГ© AnglitГЁ anlГЁ vakans,
chanjmandè-a kay bon pou’w. If you
go to England on vacation, the change
of setting will be good for you. [< Fr.
changement d’air]
chaloup
N yacht. Yo tГ© ni pou pГ©yГ©
an chay lajan pou chaloup nГЁf yo.
They had to pay a lot of money for
their new yacht. (see also: batiman,
bato, kannГІt, patjГ©) [< Fr. chaloupe]
chank
N canker sore in the mouth.
Chank-lan ja pwan tout bouch ti
manmay-la. The canker has spread in
all the child’s mouth. (see also: bobo,
gad, malenng) [< Fr. chancre]
cham
N potion. Nonm-lan bay tifi-a
an cham pou’y wété épi’y. The man
gave the girl a potion to force her to
stay with him. (see also: koupay,
lowizon) [< Fr. charme]
chanm
N bedroom, room. Kay-la ni
kat chanm. The house has four
bedrooms. [< Fr. chambre]
chanmo
N camel. (archaic; syn:
kanmГЁl) [< Fr. chameau]
chamГ©
V to give a potion. FwГЁ mwen
chamé chyen-an pou’y pa té alé
jwenn pwГЁmyГ© mГЁt li. My brother
gave the dog a potion to prevent it
from going back to its first master.
[< Fr. charmer]
chan
N
chans
chanpiyon
N fungus, mould.
Fwomaj-la pa bon pyГЁs; i ni
chanpiyon. The cheese is not at all
good; it’s mouldy. (see also: wasi)
[< Fr. champignon]
chans
free space, open land. I ni an
35
N
luck. Nonm sala ni an chay
chansГ©
Kwéyòl – English
chaplГ©
chapantyГ©
chans pou’y genyen otan lajan. That
man has a lot of luck to win so much
money. [< Fr. chance] bon chans
good luck. Bon chans! Good Luck!
(opp: mal chans, malГЁ) mal chans
1) bad luck. MisyГ© ni mal chans pasГ©
pyГЁsonn mwen konnГЁt. The man has
bad luck more than anyone else I
know. (syn: malГЁ; opp: bon chans)
2) unfortunately. Mal chans pou li, i
pa ni lajan. Unfortunately for him, he
has no money. (opp: chansГ©)
N carpenter. ChapantyГ©
ka fГЁ senkГЁy-la. Carpenters are
making the coffin. [< Fr. charpentier]
ditГ© chapantyГ© a kind of bush
medicine for colds. Madanm-lan bay
ti manmay-la ditГ© chapantyГ© pou
koupГ© wim-lan. The woman gave the
child a cup of “chapantyé” tea to cure
the cold. (see also: wimГЁd wazyГ©)
chapГ©
V 1) to escape. Ou pa sa chapГ©
anba pinisyon sala. You can’t escape
that punishment. (see also: mawon;
fann kann, fГЁ djip, fГЁ lapousyГЁ, fГЁ
zГ©klГЁ, pwan lavГІl, kwazГ© bwa,
kwazГ© wazyГ©, pwan an bwa, pwan
lavГІl) 2) to rescue, to save. DГ© gason
tГ© ka nГ©yГ©, mГ© an nonm chapГ© yo.
Two boys were drowning, but a man
rescued them. (see also: sovГ©, Г©dГ©,
soukou) 3) to come. Lè i lévé zyé’y,
i wГЁ sГ© chyen-an chapГ©. When he
looked up, he saw the dogs coming.
(syn: vini) [< Fr. Г©chapper] chapГ©
kГІ to hurry up, to move quickly, to
get moving. Chapé kò’w avan laplia kwévé. Hurry up before the rain
starts to pour. (syn: bay pyГ©, bwennen
kГІ, chapГ© pyГ©, fГЁ pyГ©, fГЁ vit; see also:
kouwi; fann kann, fГЁ djip, fГЁ
lapousyГЁ, fГЁ yan, fГЁ zГ©klГЁ, kouwi
vant a tГЁ, pwan lavГІl) chapГ© pyГ©
same as chapГ© kГІ.
chansГ©
ADJ fortunate, lucky. Ou
chansГ© ou pa tГ© an vann-an lГЁ i
maté. You are fortunate you weren’t
in the van when it overturned. (see
also: chans) ADV fortunately.
ChansГ© pou mwen, mwen ni lajan.
Fortunately for me, I have money.
(opp: mal chans) [< Fr. chanceux]
chanson
N song. I chantГ© an bГЁl
chanson. She sang a nice song.
(archaic; syn: chantГ©) [< Fr. chanson]
chantГ©
V 1) to sing. Ou toujou ka
chanté maji. You’re always singing
nonsense. (see also: chanson, chantГЁ,
chantwГЁl) 2) to crow. KГІk-la toujou
ka chantГ© lГ© bonmaten. The cock
always crows in the morning. N song.
Ou pa konnèt chanté-a? You don’t
know the song? (syn: chanson; see
also: chantГЁ, chantwГЁl) [< Fr.
chanter]
chapГЁl
N place of worship, shrine.
ToulГ© Sanmdi sГ© moun-an ka
asanblГ© an chapГЁl-la pou pwГ©dyГ©.
Every Saturday the people assembled
at the shrine to pray. (see also: lГ©gliz)
[< Fr. chapelle]
chantГЁ
N singer. Nou tann chantГЁ-a
ka chantГ© kont. We heard the singer
singing folk songs. (see also: chanson,
chantГ©, chantwГЁl) [< Fr. chanteur]
chantwГЁl
chapit
N singer (in reference to
woman), choir. SГ© chantwГЁl-la
chantГ© byen ГІswГЁ-a. The singers sang
well tonight. (see also: chanson,
chantГ©, chantГЁ) [< Fr. chantrelle]
N chapter. Nou ja li jis chapit
kenz. We’ve read as far as chapter
fifteen. [< Fr. chapitre]
chaplГ©
36
N
1) rosary beads. I pwan
chapo
Kwéyòl – English
fatter. [< Fr. chГўtrer]
chaplГ©-a ГЁk i koumansГ© pwГ©dyГ©. She
took the rosary and started to pray.
2) rosary prayer. ToulГ© bonmaten-an
papa mwen ka di chaplé’y. Every
morning my father says his rosary.
[< Fr. chapelet]
chapo
chatwiyГ©
V to tickle. Chat-la ka
chatwiyГ© mwen Г©pi pat li. The cat
tickled me with his foot. (syn: tjikilik)
[< Fr. chatouiller]
chatwiyen variant of chatwiyГ©.
hat. I mГ©tГ© chapo-a asou tГЁt
li ГЁk i alГ©. He put the hat on his head
and he left. [< Fr. chapeau] chapo
Denmou same as chapo djab.
chapo djab toadstool. Chapo djab
ka lГ©vГ© an bwa pouwi-a. Toadstools
are growing in the rotten wood. (syn:
chapo Denmou, pawasГІl djab)
chapo kay ridge cap of a roof. Vanan volГ© chapo kay-la nГЁt. The wind
completely blew away the ridge cap of
the roof. (see also: tГЁt kay, galvanniz)
koukou chapo skullcap. Sé pou’w
plen ti koukou chapo sa’a lajan’w
ban mwen. You must fill this little
skullcap with your money for me.
N
chaviwГ© (var: chaviyГ©)
V to overturn,
to capsize. I pГЁ kannГІt-la kay
chaviwé. She’s afraid the boat will
capsize. (opp: dГ©chaviwГ©; see also:
matГ©) [< Fr. chavirer]
chaviyГ© variant of chaviwГ©.
chawi
N plough. Yo tГ© ka sГЁvi chawi
ГЁk kat bГЁf pou fouyГ© tГЁ-a. They used
to use ploughs and four cows to dig
the ground. V to plough. Moun pa
ka chawi ankГІ; yo ka sГЁvi trakta.
People don’t plough anymore; they
use tractors. [< Fr. charrue]
chawitГ© variant of lachawitГ©. [< Fr.
chapoti variant of sapoti.
charitГ©]
chasГ©
chay
V to hunt. Yo ka chasГ© lapen.
They’re hunting rabbits. (see also:
chasГЁ, lachas) [< Fr. chasser]
N load. I ka pГІtГ© an gwo chay
lou asou tГЁt li. She is carrying a big,
heavy load on her head. [< Fr.
charrier] an chay 1) much, many.
Yo ni an chay lajan. They have much
money. (syn: anbadjo, an pil, an lo,
mizi, tibwen; opp: djГЁ; see also:
joliman, konmen) 2) very. Pwan
pokosyon; misyГ© dwГІl an chay. Be
careful; the man is very strange. (see
also: toubonnman) an chay di lГЁ
many times, often. An chay di lГЁ yo
ka manti. They often lie. (syn: dwi,
souvan; see also: wГЁglГ©)
chasГЁ
N hunter. Tonton mwen sГ© on
chasГЁ. My uncle is a hunter. [< Fr.
chasseur]
chat
N cat. Chyen ka kouwi dГЁyГЁ
chat. Dogs chase cats. [< Fr. chat]
chat tig same as tig.
chatany
N breadnut. Yo jwenn
chatany an jaden-an. They found
breadnuts in the garden. [< Fr.
chatГўigne]
chatou
N
chayГ©
chayГ©
V to carry. Yo tГ© ni pou koupГ©
bwa ГЁk chayГ© dlo. They had to cut
wood and carry water. (syn: pГІtГ©; see
also: chay, mennen) [< Fr. charrier]
chayГ© pawГІl to bear tales, to back-
octopus. (see also: chГЁs)
chatwГ©
V to castrate. Yo ka chatwГ©
sГ© towo bГЁf-la pou yo vini pli gwa.
They castrate the bulls so they’ll get
37
chГЁ
Kwéyòl – English
run.
bite, to speak badly about. Yo enmen
chayГ© pawГІl asou moun. They like to
bear tales about people. (syn: pГІtГ©
pawГІl, mal palГ©, mГ©pwizГ©; see also:
manti, sali non, nwГЁsi non, ensiltГ©)
chennГЁt
N akee fruit (Melicoccus).
Moun ka vann chennГЁt tout bГІ lawia. People are selling akees all along
the road.
chГЁ
ADJ expensive, dear. Tout bagay
an magazen chГЁ apwГ©zan.
Everything in the stores is expensive
nowadays. (opp: bonmachГ©) [< Fr.
chГЁr] pwan chГЁ to charge a lot of
money. KoutwiyГЁz sala ka pwan chГЁ
pou koud. This seamstress charges a
lot to sew.
chГЁs
N squid, inkfish. ChГЁs sГ© an bon
lak pou pГ©chГ©. Squid is a good bait
for fishing. (see also: chatou)
chГ©wi
V to cherish. Nou ka chГ©wi
lanmityé Bondyé. We cherish God’s
love. (see also: enmen, kontan) N
sweetheart, darling, loved one.
Madanm sala sГ© chГ©wi mwen. That
woman is my sweetheart (syn:
doudou) [< Fr. chГ©rir]
chГЁbon1
N coal, charcoal. Yo ka
vann chèbon bò laplas. They’re
selling charcoal by the market. [< Fr.
charbon]
chГЁz
N chair. La ni kat chГЁz ГЁk kat
tab. There are four tables and chairs.
[< Fr. chaise] bwa chГЁz a reply in
the opening of a “tim tim”. Tim tim.
Bwa chГЁz.
2
chГЁbon
N boil, carbuncle. LГЁ ou ni
chГЁbon, sГ© dlo ki wimГЁd li. When you
have a boil, it’s water that is its
medicine. (syn: klou; see also: latwas,
plГІk, zanpoul) [< Fr. charbon]
chichi
chГ©chГ©
N
fringe, tassel. [< Fr. chichi]
chifonnen
V to become dry. Had-la ja
ka chГ©chГ©. The clothes are already
drying. (see also: sГЁk) [< Fr. sГ©cher]
V to crumple, to wrinkle, to
rumple. I chifonnen papyГ©-a Г©pi i
jété’y. He crumpled the paper and
threw it away. [< Fr. chifonner]
chГ©d
N shelter, shed, lean-to. Yo
konblГ© an chГ©d-la paski yo pa tГ© vlГ©
lapli-a mouyГ© yo. The crowded in the
shelter because they didn’t want the
rain to get them wet. (see also: kabГ©)
[< Eng. shade] chГ©d fig banana
shed.
chГЁf
chikannen
chik
N hookworms, the sores cause by
hookworms. Nonm sala ni chik ГЁk i
pa sa pasГ© asou wГІch. That man has
hookworm sores and can’t walk on
rocks.
chikann
N quarrel, argument. (syn:
dГ©zagwГ©man, kankan, libenn; see
also: pwovokГ©) [< Fr. chicane] achГ©
chikann to look for a quarrel, an
argument, trouble. Pa achГ© mwen
chikann! Don’t look for trouble with
me! (syn: achГ© kankan, achГ© twen)
chief, boss, head. KilГЁs ki chГЁf
twavay sala? Who is the boss at this
job? (syn: mГЁt, jГЁwГЁ; see also:
kolonm) [< Fr. chef]
N
chenn
N chain. Chenn-an kasГ©. The
chain broke. (see also: anchennГ©,
dГ©chennГ©) [< Fr. chaine] bay chenn
to wind (clock). Bay mont-lan chenn
pou i machГ©. Wind the clock so it will
chikannen (var: achГ© chikann)
V to
argue. SГ© ti manmay-la koumansГ©
chikannen. The children began to
38
chikola
Kwéyòl – English
argue. (see also: babyГ©, dispitГ©, halГ©
kasГ©, tiwГ© mГ©tГ©) [< Fr. chicaner]
hélé! The boy’s a cry-baby. As soon
as you talk to him he cries.
chikola
chis
N cocoa tea. Yo ba li chikola
pou ditГ©. They gave him cocoa tea for
breakfast. (syn: ditГ© kako) [< Fr.
chocolat]
chimen
ADJ stingy. Nonm-lan chis pasГ©
ki. The man’s very stingy. [< Fr.
chiche]
chivГ©
N hair. Yo koupé chivé’y paski
i tГ© ka vin twГІ lonng. They cut his
hair because it was getting too long.
(see also: pwГЁl) [< Fr. cheveu]
road, highway, way. Yo
bawГ© chimen-an pou nou pa sa pasГ©.
They blocked the road so we couldn’t
pass. (see also: lawi, lawout) [< Fr.
chemin] fГЁ chimen 1) to make
ready, to get ready. FГЁ chimen!
Madanm ou pГ© akouchГ© touswit. Get
ready! Your wife might give birth
soon. 2) to go one’s own way. Nou
pa té sa dakò kon sa mwen di’y ay fè
chimen’y. We couldn’t get along so I
told him to go his own way. gwan
chimen main road. Ou kay wГЁ
gwan chimen-an la. You’ll see the
main road there. pwan chimen to
do as one likes. BondyГ© ka kitГ© nou
pwan chimen nou. God allows us to
do as we like. ti chimen path,
footpath. Nou ni pou pasГ© an ti
chimen pou nou alГ© an jaden nou.
We have to pass on a footpath to go to
our garden. (see also: twas)
N
chivi
N ankle. I kasé chivi’y padan i
tГ© ka janbГ© kannal-la. He broke his
ankle while he was jumping across the
ditch. (syn: zГЁgo) [< Fr. cheville]
chivon
N rafter. Yo mГ©tГ© planch
asou sГ© chivon-an avan yo mГ©tГ©
galvanniz-la. They put boards on the
rafters before putting on the
galvanized roofing. [< Fr. chevron]
chiya variant of chinya.
chiyan variant of chinya.
chiz
N disagreement. Mwen tГ© an
chiz Г©pi madanm mwen. I was in a
disagreement with my wife. (see also:
dГ©zagwГ©man, goumen, roro)
chlen
N shilling, 24 cents (often
rounded off to 25 cents). [< Eng.
shilling] yon chlen dГ© sou twentyfive cents. AbwГ©zan yo ka vann yon
pen pou yon chlen dГ© sou. Nowadays
they sell one bread for twenty-five
cents.
chimiz
N shirt. I ni on chimiz wouj.
He has a red shirt. (see also: kГІ) [< Fr.
chemise]
chini
N caterpillar. Adan moun pГЁ
chini. Some people are afraid of
caterpillars. [< Fr. chenille] sak
chini cocoon. Sé pou’w tiyé sé ti
bwa-a ki anlè sak chini-an pou’w sa
tiyГ© chini-an. You have to remove the
little sticks on the cocoon in order to
take out the caterpillar.
chinya (var: chiya, chiyan)
cho
cho
ADJ 1) hot. I ka fè cho jòdi-a. It’s
hot today. (opp: fwГЁt; see also: chalГЁ,
chodГ©, chofГ©, bwilГ©, tyГЁd) 2) lively.
Mizik fwansГ© sГ© an mizik ki cho. The
French music is lively.
3) enthusiastic, ardent, zealous.
Nonm-lan tГ© cho lГЁ i vini pou lwa
Bib-la. The man was ardent
concerning the laws of the Bible. (see
ADJ
crybabyish, apt to cry easily. Gasonan chinya. DГ©pi ou palГ© ba li i ka
39
chГІb
Kwéyòl – English
chopin
also: zГ©lГ©) 4) drunk, tipsy. Pa pwan
pawГІl nonm-lan pou anyen; i ja cho.
Don’t take his words for anything;
he’s already drunk. 5) flirtatious. Tifi
sala sГ© on tifi ki cho. That girl is
flirtatious. (see also: mal pwГІp) [< Fr.
chaud] fГЁ cho to be hot (in reference
to weather). JГІdi-a ka fГЁ cho. It is hot
today. (opp: fГЁ fwГЁt)
N pint measure; 2 cups or 1/2
quart. Mwen kay pwan on chopin
fawin. I’ll take a pint of farine. (see
also: po) [< Fr. chopine]
choson (var: chonson, sonson)
ADJ bald. TГЁt li tГ© chГІb kon an
kalbas. His head was bald as a
calabash. (see also: tГЁt kwi) [< Fr.
chauve]
chou
N eddo, tanya. Jaden-an pa fГЁ
djГЁ chou lannГ© sala. The garden
didn’t produce many eddoes this year.
[< Fr. chou] manman chou the
main tanya root off of which other
tanya roots develop. Kochon-an
manjГ© tout manman chou-a. The pig
ate all the main tanya roots.
chodГ©
V to scald. I chodé lanmen’y
an dlo cho-a. He scalded his hand in
the hot water. (see also: cho, chalГЁ,
bwilГ©) [< Fr. Г©chauder]
chГІdyГЁ
chouponm (var: chwaponm)
N iron cooking pot with two
handles. I mГ©tГ© manjГ©-a bouwi adan
chГІdyГЁ-a. He put the food to boil in
the pot. (see also: kannawi, pann,
tГ©win) [< Fr. chaudiГЁre]
N
cabbage. FГЁy chouponm ka fГЁ bon
bouyon. Cabbage leaves make good
soup. [< Fr. chou]
chous1
N the part of the roots of a tree
above the ground, stump. Yo koupГ©
pyГ© bwa-a owa chous li. They cut the
tree down to a stump. [< Fr. souche]
to heat up. ChofГ© ditГ©-a ban
mwen. Heat up the tea for me. (see
also: cho, chalГЁ, bwilГ©) [< Fr.
chauffer] chofГ© difГ© to warm
oneself at a fire. Yo fГЁ on boukan
difГ© pou yo tГ© chofГ© difГ©. They made
a fire to warm themselves.
V
chous2 variant of sous.
chouval
N horse. Chouval-la tГ© mГІ
an lГ©tjiwi-a. The horse was dead in
the stable. (see also: bouwik, milГ©)
[< Fr. cheval] chouval BondyГ©
praying mantis. Chouval BondyГ©
sala ja pousГ© zГЁl. This praying mantis
has grown wings.
chofГЁ
N driver. ChofГЁ-a tГ© fachГ©
paski pasajГ©-a tГ© ka fimen abГІ
machin li. The driver was angry
because the passenger was smoking on
board his vehicle. [< Fr. chauffeur]
chonjГ©
N
sock. Ban mwen choson-an pou
mwen mГ©tГ© an pyГ© mwen. Give me
the sock for me to put on my foot.
[< Fr. chausson]
chГІb
chofГ©
ChwazГЁy
chГІz
N thing. BondyГ© mГ©tГ© tout chГІz
asou latГЁ. God put everything on
earth. (rare; syn: bagay) [< Fr. chose]
to remember, to recall. M’a
tГ© sa chonjГ© sa i tГ© di mwen-an. I
couldn’t remember what he had told
me. (opp: obliyГ©; see also: katjilГ©,
wГ©flГ©chi) [< Fr. songer]
V
chwaponm variant of chouponm.
ChwazГЁy (var: SwazГЁy)
N Choiseul.
SГ© pГ©chГЁ ChwazГЁy-la toujou ka tjГ©bГ©
an chay volan. The Choiseul
chonson variant of choson.
40
chwazi
Kwéyòl – English
fishermen always catch a lot of flying
fish.
chwazi (var: chwГ©zi, swazi, swГ©zi)
danjГ©
(see also: palГ© an zГІwГЁy, souflГ©)
chyГ©
N excrement. I pa tГ© ka gadГ© an
pyé’y èk kon sa i pilé chyé. He
wasn’t watching his feet and so he
stepped in excrement. (crude; syn:
kaka; see also: lasГЁl) V to defecate.
Gason-an alГ© chyГ© an wazyГ©-a. The
boy went to defecate in the bushes.
(crude; syn: kaka; see also: alГ© an
wazyГ©, fГЁ bizwen) chyГ© anlГЁ to pay
attention to, to take on. SГ© moun-an i
té envité-a pa chyé anlè sé sèvant lia. The people he had invited didn’t
pay any attention to his servants. (used
with negative; syn: bay ganm)
V
to choose. Sé pou’w chwazi sa ki pli
bГЁl. You must choose which is most
beautiful. [< Fr. choisir]
chwГ©zi variant of chwazi.
chwichwi
N whisper. SГ© moun sala
toujou ni an chwichwi ka palГ©.
Those people are always speaking in
whispers. V same as palГ© chwichwi.
palГ© chwichwi to whisper, to gossip.
Yo ka palГ© chwichwi paski yo pa vlГ©
mwen tann. They are whispering
because they don’t want me to hear.
Dd
da
the land to keep it fresh. (archaic)
N woman who stands in for the
mother at a baby’s christening. Da ti
manmay-la ba li an chenn lГІ. The
woman who held the baby at his
baptism gave him a gold chain. (see
also: nennenn, pawen, makoumГЁ,
konpГЁ)
dalpouri
N East Indian bread stuffed
with curried split peas. Dalpouri sala
wipinyГ© mwen. That dalpouri satisfied
me. (see also: bГ©k, sohari, roti)
dan
N tooth. Yo waché dan’y paski i
té ka fè’y mal. They extracted his
tooth because it was hurting him.
[< Fr. dent] bay dan to speak evil of
people. Si ou kontinГ© ka bay yonn a
lГІt dan, talГЁ zГІt kay pli movГ© lГЁlmi
ki ni. If you continue speaking evil of
each other, you’ll soon be worst
enemies. (syn: mal palГ©) dan sajГЁs
wisdom tooth. Dan sajès ou kay fè’w
mal an pil lГЁ yo ka pousГ©. Your
wisdom teeth will hurt you a lot when
they are pushing out.
dachin
N dasheen, taro (Colocasia
esculanta). PyГ© dachin sala fГЁ an
gwo dachin. That dachin plant made a
big dachin. (syn: danma)
dajan
N silver. Mwen ni an bГЁl bag
dajan. I have a beautiful silver ring.
[< Fr. d’argent]
dakГІ
INTERJ okay, agreed. DakГІ, sГ©
sa nou kay fè. Agreed, that’s what
we’ll do. V to agree. Mwen dakò épi
tout sa ou di-a. I agree with
everything you said. [< Fr. d’accord]
danjГ©
N danger, peril. SГ© jan vilaj-la
tГ© an danjГ© paski gwo dlo-a tГ© ka
moutГ©. The villagers were in danger
because the flood waters were rising.
dal
N irrigation system. Dal-la ka
mennen dlo an tout tГЁ-a pou tjenn li
fwГ©. The irrigation system waters all
41
danjГ©wГ©
Kwéyòl – English
[< Fr. danger]
dat
pilonnen; see also: pilГ©) [< Fr. fouler]
danjГ©wГ©
danmyГ©
danklГ©
dannГ©
danm
dansГ©
ADJ dangerous. Chimen-an
danjГ©wГ© lГЁ i mouyГ©. The road is
dangerous when it is wet. [< Fr.
dangereux]
N good draughts player.
Nonm sala sГ© on danmyГ©! That
man’s a good draughts player! [< Fr.
damier]
V to make an edge jagged, to
form notches, teeth, or ragged edges.
Ou kay danklГ© koutla-a lГЁ ou ka
konwen’y asou wòch kon sa. You
will make the edge of that cutlass
jagged if you knock it against rocks
like that. ADJ jagged; having notches,
teeth, or ragged edges. Koutla-a tГ©
filГ© mГ© atjГІlman i danklГ©. The cutlass
was sharp but now it’s jagged. (see
also: dГ©filГ©, mГІ) [< Fr. denteler]
V to damn, to condemn. Ou
kay dannГ© lam ou si ou kontinГ© viv
kon sa. You will damn your soul if
you continue to live like that.
(religious; syn: kondannГ©; opp: sovГ©;
see also: damnasyon, kondannasyon,
pГЁd) ADJ damned, condemned. Si ou
fГЁ movГ© bagay sala, lam ou kay
dannГ©. If you do this wicked thing
your soul will be condemned. [< Fr.
damner]
N 1) female dancing partner.
Danm ГЁk kavalyГ© ka dansГ© ansanm.
Women and men dance together. (see
also: kavalyГ©) 2) nun. SГ© danm-lan
ka endГ© pwГ©t-la. The nuns help the
priest. (syn: mГЁw; see also: labГ©,
lГЁvГЁk, pГЁ, pwГЁt, monsenyГЁ)
3) draughts game. SГ© gwan nonm
sala sa jwГ© danm byen. Those older
men can play draughts well. 4) queen
in a card deck. Mwen pa tГ© sav sГ© ou
ki té ni danm-lan. I didn’t know it
was you who had the queen. (see also:
wa) [< Fr. dame]
V to dance. Tifi mwen-an
apwann dansГ© kГІdwil an lГ©kГІl. My
daughter learned to dance the quadrille
at school. N dance. Tout moun an
vilaj-la alГ© an dansГ©-a. Everyone in
the village went to the dance. (syn:
bal) [< Fr. danser]
dansГЁ
N dancer. Anpami tout sГ© jenn
jan-an, tifi sala ki pli bon dansГЁ-a.
Among all the young folks, that girl is
the best dancer. [< Fr. danseur]
dapwГ©
PREP according to one’s own
understanding or opinion. Dapwé’w
mwen tГ© ka pasГ© an ti chimen. You
thought I was passing on the little
road. (see also: akГІdans, silon) [< Fr.
d’après]
danma
N dasheen, taro (Colocasia
esculanta). Lagon sala ka fГЁ bГЁl
danma. That wetland produces good
dasheen. (syn: dachin) danma
alifГІm a type of dasheen. danma
blan white dasheen. danma nwГЁ
black dasheen. danma vГЁ green
dasheen.
dat1
N date. Dat-la mwen tГ© mayГ©-a
tГ© li senk Novanm. The date I was
married was November fifth. [< Fr.
date] ansyen dat ancient times,
long ago. DГ©pi ansyen dat nonm ka
jwГ© gwenndГ©. Since ancient times
people have played dice.
danmГ©
V to trample, to tread on. Fini
mwen fini fak tГ©-a ГЁk ou ka
danmé’y! I just forked the ground and
you’re trampling on it! (syn: foulé,
dat2
42
N
lotah, vitiligo, a fungus causing
davans
Kwéyòl – English
dГ©bitГ©
was using to sew. [< Fr. dГ©]
white patches on the skin. Manmanan di ti manmay-la, “Pa touché
zanndoli-a avan i ba’w dat.” The
Mother said to the child, “Don’t touch
the lizard or it will give you lotah.”
(syn: lota; see also: kannawi dlo,
wГ©zipГЁl) [< Fr. dartre]
dГ©bann
N bunch. Mwen pa vlГ© alГ©
pwé débann ipokwit sala! I don’t
want to go near that bunch of
hypocrites! [< Fr. des bandes]
dГ©bat
V to struggle, to attempt, to try,
to cope, to get by, to muddle through.
Yo tГ© ka dГ©bat palГ© langaj sala, mГ©
yo pa tГ© sa. They were struggling to
speak that language, but they weren’t
able. (syn: dГ©bwiyГ©; see also: Г©sГ©yГ©, fГЁ
so, mennajГ©) [< Fr. dГ©battre]
davans variant of andavans.
davwa
CONJ because. Davwa chay-la
té lou titak, ou pa pòté’y vini.
Because the load was a little heavy,
you didn’t bring it. (syn: paski)
dayann (var: dayonn)
dГ©batГ©
dayonn variant of dayann.
dГ©batjГ©
N a medicine
for bedbugs. Tan lontan moun tГ© ka
sГЁvi dayann pou tjwГ© pinГЁz. In times
past people used to use dayann to kill
bedbugs.
V to unload something from an
animal. Sé pou’w débaté bouwik-la.
You must unload the donkey. (syn:
dГ©chajГ©; opp: batГ©; see also: dГ©batjГ©)
[< Fr. dГ©bГўter]
V 1) to disembark, to get off.
Nou kay débatjé vann-an. We’ll get
off the van. (opp: batjГ©) 2) to unload.
DГ©batjГ© sГ© bwГЁt-la an batiman-an.
Unload the boxes from the boat. (see
also: dГ©chajГ©, dГ©batГ©) [< Fr.
dГ©barquer]
1
dГ©
ADJ two. Kay sala ni dГ© lapГІt.
That house has two doors. [< Fr.
deux] dГ© sou one cent. Nonm sala
tèlman chis, si lajan’w mantjé dé
sou i pa kay ba’w konmisyon-an.
That man is so cheap, if you lack one
cent he won’t give you the item.
dГ©bawasГ©
V 1) to clear. Si ou
dГ©bawasГ© tab-la, la kay ni lГЁ pou
pwen konpyouta-a. If you clear the
table, there’ll be room for the
computer. 2) to help someone get rid
of something. DГ©bawasГ© mwen Г©pi
sГ© sak mango sala souplГ©. Help me
get rid of these bags of mangoes
please. [< Fr. dГ©barrasser]
dГ©2
ADJ some, a few. La ni dГ© kotГ© ki
ni pinГЁz. There are some places that
have bedbugs. (see also: adan, yonn
dГ©, dГ©otwa, tjГЁk) [< Fr. des] Ou
kwГЁ sГ© dГ©? an expression used to
say that there is an incredible amount
of something. pa dГ© much, many,
very, quite. Nonm sala piti mГ© pa dГ©
fГІ i fГІ. That man is small but he is
quite strong. Pa dГ© lajan i kay fГЁ. He
won’t make just a few dollars. Pa dé
sanm i ka sanm li. He resembles him
more than a little bit.
dГ©bawГ©
V to unblock, to open, to
uncover, to remove barrier or obstacle.
Yo ja dГ©bawГ© chimen-an ГЁk mwen
sa pasé. They’ve opened the road and
I can pass. (syn: dГ©bouchГ©, dГ©jennen;
opp: bawГ©, bouchГ©, jennen) [< Fr.
dГ©barrer]
dГ©3
N thimble. Ti manmay-la pèd déa manman’y té ka sèvi pou koud-la.
The child lost the thimble his mother
dГ©bitГ©
43
V
to butcher. BouchГ©-a dГ©bitГ©
dГ©bГІdГ©
Kwéyòl – English
bГЁf-la. The butcher butchered the cow.
[< Fr. dГ©biter]
avan i mété’y an kay-la. The man
unloaded the gun before putting it in
the house. [< Fr. dГ©charger]
dГ©bГІdГ© (var: dГ©bondГ©)
V to overflow.
Bonm-lan ja plen ГЁk i ka dГ©bГІdГ©.
The bucket is full and it is
overflowing. [< Fr. dГ©border]
dГ©chaviwГ©
V to set upright again, to
restore to upright position. Yo
dГ©chaviwГ© motoka-a ki tГ© chaviwГ©-a.
They set upright the car that had
overturned. (syn: dГ©matГ©; opp:
chaviwГ©) [< Fr. chavirer]
dГ©bondГ© variant of dГ©bГІdГ©.
dГ©bouchГ©
V to unplug. Yo dГ©bouchГ©
bak-la pou yo sa lavé’y. They
unplugged the water tank in order to
clean it. (syn: dГ©bawГ©; opp: bouchГ©,
jennen) [< Fr. dГ©boucher]
dГ©chennГ©
V to unchain. LГЁ yo
déchenné’y, i kouwi alé. When they
unchained him, he ran away. (opp:
anchennГ©; see also: chenn) [< Fr.
dГ©chaГ®ner]
dГ©boutonnen
V to unbutton. I tГ© ka
fГЁ cho tГЁlman, i dГ©boutonnen chimiz
li. It was so hot, he unbuttoned his
shirt. (opp: boutonnen) [< Fr.
dГ©boutonner]
dГ©chifwГ©
V to explain, to interpret, to
decipher. Mwen kontan mannyГЁ ou
dГ©chifwГ© mГІso lГ©vanjil sala. I like
how you interpreted that portion of
scripture. (syn: ГЁspityГ©, ГЁsplikГ©) [< Fr.
dГ©chiffrer]
dГ©bwanchГ©
V to prune, to cut off
branches. PyГ© mango-a tГ© tГЁlman
gwo nou té ni pou débwanché’y. The
mango tree was so big we had to cut
off some of its branches. (see also:
tayГ©) [< Fr. dГ©brancher]
dГ©bwayГ©
dГЁdikГ©
dГ©chiwГ©
V to rip, to tear. Pa dГ©chiwГ©
papyé-a. Don’t tear the paper. [< Fr.
dГ©chirer]
dГ©dГ© INTERJ goodbye. (syn: oplГЁz) di
dГ©dГ© 1) to say goodbye. I di dГ©dГ© lГЁ
dishevelled, disorderly,
untidily dressed. Ou pa ka vini dГЁyГЁ
mwen ГЁk had ou tou dГ©bwayГ©. You
will not come with me with your
clothes so untidy. [< Fr. dГ©braillГ©]
ADJ
i pati. He said goodbye when he left.
2) to die, to expire. Gwan nonm-lan
di dГ©dГ©. The old man died. (slang;
syn: mò; see also: Bazil pwen’y,
foukan, mawГ© patjГ©, Г©tenn, tiwГ© kГІ)
dГ©bwiyГ©
V to strive, to try hard, to
struggle, to get by, to muddle through.
Mwen kontan wГЁ mannyГЁ ou ka
dГ©bwiyГ© bay ich ou. I like to see how
you are trying hard on behalf of your
children. (syn: dГ©bat; see also: Г©sГ©yГ©,
mennajГ©, fГЁ so) [< Fr. dГ©brouiller]
dГ©dГ©fouden (var: lГ©lГ©douden)
N
wari
game, a board game played with
seeds. [< Fr. graine]
dГ©di
V to go back on one’s word. Yè
ou dakГІ pou twavay Г©pi mwen mГ©
jГІdi-a ou ka dГ©di. Yesterday you
agreed to work with me but today you
are going back on your word. [< Fr.
dГ©dire]
dГ©chajГ©
V 1) to remove a burden, to
unload (a person or animal). DГ©chajГ©
mwen, souplГ©. Unload me, please.
(syn: dГ©batГ©; opp: chajГ©) 2) to unload
(a gun). Nonm-lan dГ©chajГ© fizi-a
dГЁdikГ©
44
V
to dedicate. Jenn nonm-lan
dГ©fachГ©
Kwéyòl – English
dèdiké lavi’y bay Bondyé. The young
man dedicated his life to God. ADJ
dedicated, committed. Nonm sala
dГЁdikГ© an chay an twavay li. That
man is quite dedicated to his work.
dГ©glizГ©
effiler]
dГ©filtwГ©
V to remove a hem, a stitch
(in sewing). DГ©filtwГ© chimiz-la Г©pi
viyГ© koud li. Take the hem out of the
shirt and sew it again.
dГ©fachГ©
V to cool off, to allow one’s
anger to abate. Pa palГ© ba li tout tan
i pa défaché! Don’t talk to him until
he cools off! [< Fr. dГ©fГўcher]
dГ©fini
N death, end. (syn: lanmГІ; opp:
lavi; see also: mГІ) fГЁ dГ©fini to kill,
to put to death. Yo tГ© vlГ© fГЁ an dГ©fini
Г©pi nonm sala. They wanted to put
that man to death. (see also: tjwГ©)
dГ©fann
V to forbid, to prohibit. Mwen
dГ©fann yo alГ© pГІtwГ©. I forbid them to
go to movies. (syn: enpozГ©; see also:
anpГ©chГ©, doubout) [< Fr. dГ©fendre]
dГ©fo
N defect, flaw, weakness. SГ©l
dГ©fo i ni i ka bwГЁ twГІp wonm. His
only weakness is that he drinks too
much rum. (see also: fГЁblГЁs, fГІt, tГІ)
[< Fr. dГ©faut]
dГ©fans
N defence. Tout sГ© sГІlda-a
vini ansanm pou dГ©fans vil-la. All of
the soldiers came together for the
defence of the city. [< Fr. dГ©fense] fГЁ
dГ©fans to defend. I tГ© vlГ© fГЁ dГ©fans
li menm douvan sГ© moun-an. He
wanted to defend himself before the
people. (syn: wГ©ponn tГЁt; see also:
pwotГЁktГ©, pwotГ©jГ©)
dГ©foukГ©
V to split at crotch. TjilГІt
tibway-la défouké! The boy’s pants
are split at the crotch! (see also: fann,
pГ©tГ©)
dГ©foulГ©
V to unpack, to uncrowd, to
loosen, to pack less densely. DГ©foulГ©
sak dachin-an paski mwen pa kay
pòté’y kon sa. Unpack some of the
dasheens from that bag because I
wouldn’t carry it like that. (opp: foulé)
[< Fr. dГ©fouler]
dГ©fen
ADJ late, deceased. Si dГ©fen
gwanpapa mwen tГ© ka viv, ou pa tГ©
kay fГЁ mwen sa. If my late
grandfather were still alive, you would
not have done that to me. [< Fr.
dГ©funt]
dГ©fyГ©
V to distrust, to mistrust.
Nonm-lan fè mwen défyé’y plis ankò
pou sa i fГЁ-a. The man made me
distrust him more for what he did.
(opp: fyГ©, konfyГ©) [< Fr. dГ©fier]
1
dГ©filГ©
V to dull, to take edge or point
off. KilГЁs ki dГ©filГ© koutla mwen?
Who dulled my cutlass? (syn: tjwГ©;
opp: filГ©; see also: danklГ©) ADJ dull,
not sharp. Koutla-a tГ© dГ©filГ© tГЁlman,
mwen pa té sa koupé anyen épi’y.
The cutlass was so dull, I couldn’t cut
anything with it. (syn: mГІ)
dГ©gajГ©
V to render a witch powerless.
LГЁ yo dГ©gajГ© nonm-lan, i dГ©palГ©.
When they rendered the witch
powerless, he told all that he had done.
(syn: pitjГ©; see also: jan gajГ©) [< Fr.
dГ©gager]
dГ©filГ©2
ADJ frayed, tattered, unravelled.
I vini pou mwen sa koud tjilГІt li
paski i tГ© dГ©filГ©. He came to me to
sew his pants because they were
frayed. (see also: dГ©woulГ©) [< Fr.
dГ©glizГ©
V to mar. VyГ© mГЁs li ka
dГ©glizГ© bГЁltГ© tifi sala. Her bad
manners mar that girl’s beauty.
45
dГ©gГІbГ©
Kwéyòl – English
dГ©gГІbГ©
dГ©jnen (var: dГ©jlen)
dГ©gou (var: dГ©goutans)
dГ©joukГ©
V to chip (rock, wood, etc.). I
pa tГ© sa fann tjГІ bwa-a mГ© i tГ© ka
dégòbé’y. He couldn’t split the wood
but he was chipping it. (see also: gГІb,
gГІbГ©)
dГ©klawГ©
V to eat lunch.
Mwen ka alГ© dГ©jnen ГЁk kanmawad
mwen jòdi-a. I’m going to lunch with
my friend today. (see also: manjГ©,
ditГ©, dinen, wipa) [< Fr. dГ©jeuner]
N disgust,
distaste, aversion. Mwen ni dГ©gou
pou nonm sala. I have a distaste for
that man. (see also: dГ©goutГ©) [< Fr.
dГ©goГ»t]
V to unyoke (ox, cow). LГ© yo
fini, yo dГ©joukГ© sГ© bГЁf-la. When they
finished, they unyoked the cows. (opp:
joukГ©)
dГ©kachtГ©
V to unseal. PyГЁsonn pa sa
dГ©kachtГ© anvlГІp sala. Nobody can
unseal that envelope. (opp: kachtГ©)
[< Fr. dГ©cacheter]
dГ©goutans variant of dГ©gou.
dГ©goutГ©1
V to dislike, to be disgusted
with or by. Mwen tГ© kontan tifi-a,
mé mwen vin dégouté’y. I liked the
girl, but I came to dislike her. [< Fr.
dГ©goГ»ter]
dГ©kalГ©
V 1) to break open or remove
shell. Madanm-lan tГ© ka dГ©kalГ©
kwab-la. The woman was removing
the crab shell. 2) to beat severely.
Lafanmi tifi-a dГ©kalГ© nonm-lan pou
sa i fè’y-la. The girl’s relatives beat up
the man for what he did to her. (see
also: asasinГ©, bat) 3) to mess up
(hair). Pa dékalé chivé mwen! Don’t
mess up my hair! (syn: dГ©wanjГ©,
kwazГ©)
dГ©goutГ©2
V to drip, to drop. Dlo-a ka
dГ©goutГ© an goutyГЁ-a tak pa tak.
Water is dripping from the drain pipe
drop by drop. [< Fr. dГ©goutter]
dГ©gwennen
V ripe bananas falling off
hand. WГ©jim fig-la mi tГЁlman i ka
dГ©gwennen. The bunch is so ripe the
bananas are falling off. [< Fr.
Г©grener]
dГ©katjГ©
V to cut up, to cut in parts.
DГ©katjГ© poul-la ban mwen souplГ©.
Cut the chicken up into parts for me
please.
dГ©ja
ADV already. Yo ja ka fouyГ©
yanm-lan déja. They’re digging yams
already. (for emphasis; see also: ja)
[< Fr. dГ©ja]
dГЁkdГЁk
N retarded person. Tifi-a ka
fè kò’y kon on dèkdèk. The girl acts
like she is retarded. (syn: enfim an tГЁt,
gochГ© an tГЁt; see also: tГЁt wГЁd,
tГЁtenm)
dГ©janbГ©
V to jump back over (in order
to remove a jinx). Si ou pa dГ©janbГ©
mwen, m’a kay pwofité. If you don’t
jump over me again, I won’t grow.
(superstitious; see also: janbГ©)
dГ©klawГ©
V to declare. Yo dГ©klawГ©
andГ©pandans yo. They declared their
independence. [< Fr. dГ©clarer]
dГ©klawГ© asou to come upon, to
come over, to afflict. I p’òkò menm
fini djГ©wi anba maladi sala Г©pi an
lòt ja déklawé asou’y. He was not yet
fully recovered from this sickness and
dГ©jennen
V to get out of the way.
DГ©jennen mwen pou mwen pasГ©. Get
out of my way so I can pass. (opp:
jennen; see also: dГ©bawГ©, dГ©bouchГ©)
dГ©jlen variant of dГ©jnen.
46
dГ©klouwГ©
Kwéyòl – English
returning. (opp: koulГ©; see also:
apГЁsivwГЁ, fГЁ tГЁ) [< Fr. dГ©couvrir]
another one has come upon him.
dГ©klouwГ©
V to remove nails. Yo
dГ©klouwГ© tout planch ki tГ© anlГЁ kayla. They removed nails from all the
boards which were on the house. (opp:
klouwГ©) [< Fr. dГ©clouer]
dГ©kouwajГ©
V to discourage. Kon i ja
wivГ© otan lwen-an, sГ© pa pou
dékouwajé’y. As he has already
gotten that far, you mustn’t discourage
him. (syn: dГ©konpГІtГ©; opp:
ankouwajГ©) ADJ discouraged. Mwen
tГ© dГ©kouwajГ© lГЁ sГ© manmay-la pa tГ©
aksГЁptГ© konsГЁy-la. I was discouraged
when the children didn’t accept the
advice [< Fr. dГ©courager]
dГ©kolГ©
V 1) to come unstuck, to come
apart. SoulyГ©-a ka dГ©kolГ©; i ja fГЁ
tan’y. The shoe is coming apart; it’s
served its time. (opp: kolГ©) 2) to rest
on. Pa dГ©kolГ© asou kwazon-an avan
penti-a sali’w. Don’t rest on the wall
or the paint will get you dirty. [< Fr.
dГ©coller]
dГ©kowГ©
V to decorate. SГ© madanmlan tГ© an twizin-an ka dГ©kowГ©
bonbon. The ladies were in the
kitchen decorating cakes. [< Fr.
dГ©corer]
dГ©kГІltГ©
ADJ open, exposing the neck.
I alГ© an vil ГЁk had li tou dГ©kГІltГ©. He
went to town with his clothes quite
open at the neck. [< Fr. dГ©colletГ©]
dГ©kwiyГ©
V to slander, to defame.
Madanm-lan té ka dékwiyé mawi’y
douvan jij-la. The wife was
slandering her husband before the
judge. (syn: mГ©pwizГ©, nwГЁsi non, sali
non; see also: ensiltГ©, chayГ© pawГІl,
mal palГ©)
dГ©konpГІtГ©
V to become discouraged,
downcast. Pa dГ©konpГІtГ©; ou kay
jwenn an lòt twavay. Don’t be
discouraged; you will find another job.
(syn: dГ©kouwajГ©) [< Fr. comporter]
dГ©konsГ©yГ©
V to dissuade. Fanmi
gwan nonm-lan dékonséyé’y pou’y
pa mayГ© ГЁk jenn tifi-a. The relatives
of the old man dissuaded him from
marrying the young girl. [< Fr.
dГ©conseiller]
dГ©koud
dГ©labwГ©
ADJ to fall into disarray,
disorder. Madanm-lan vini dГ©labwГ©
apwé mawi’y mò. The woman’s life
fell into disarray after her husband
died. [< Fr. dГ©labrer]
dГ©laklГ©
V to unlock. Yo pa tГ© sa
délaklé lapòt-la. They couldn’t
unlock the door. (opp: laklГ©; see also:
dГ©tjatjГ©)
to unsew. DГ©koud had
sala ГЁk koud li pli mГЁyГЁ, souplГ©.
Unsew this garment and resew it
better, please. (opp: koud)
dГ©kouvГЁ
dГ©lГЁ
V
dГ©lasГ©
V to unlace. I délasé soulyé’y.
He unlaced his shoes. (opp: lasГ©)
[< Fr. dГ©lacer]
1) to discover, to uncover.
Adan moun kwГЁ sГ© KГІlonmbГІs ki
dГ©kouvГЁ Sent Lisi. Some people think
it is Columbus who discovered St.
Lucia. 2) to sight, to catch sight of.
SГ© jan lanmГЁ-a dГ©kouvГЁ sГ© piton-an
lГЁ yo tГ© ka viyГ©. The fishermen caught
sight of the pitons when they were
V
dГ©lГЁ (var: adГ©lГЁ, andГ©lГЁ)
ADV
sometimes, occasionally. DГ©lГ© yo ka
vini isi-a mГ© pa souvan kon avan.
Sometimes they come here, but not
often like before. (syn: lГ© dГ©lГЁ,
47
dГ©libГ©wasyon
Kwéyòl – English
tanzantan) lГ© dГ©lГЁ same as dГ©lГЁ.
dГ©moutГ©
V to take apart, to dismantle.
Boug-la dГ©moutГ© machin-an Г©pi i pa
té sa viwé mouté’y. The fellow took
the engine apart and he couldn’t put it
back together again. (opp: moutГ©)
[< Fr. dГ©monter]
dГ©libГ©wasyon
N deliberation. ApwГ©
an chay dГ©libГ©wasyon sГ© jiwi-a
twapГ© nonm-lan koupab. After a lot
of deliberation the jurors found the
man guilty. [< Fr. dГ©libГ©ration]
dГ©lij (var: dГ©liz)
denmen
ADV tomorrow. Denmen nou
kay mouté an jaden. Tomorrow we’ll
go to the garden. (opp: yГЁ; see also: li
denmen) [< Fr. demain] li denmen
the following day, the next day, the
morrow. Li denmen i alГ© Kastwi.
The following day he went to Castries.
[< Fr. lendemain] denmen si pГЁ ta
DyГ© tomorrow if God wills. Denmen
si pГЁ ta DyГ© nou kay alГ© Mikou.
Tomorrow we will go to Micoud if
God wills.
flood. DГ©lij DГЁbi
fГЁ an chay donmaj an Sent Lisi. The
flood from Tropical Storm Debbie did
a lot of damage in St. Lucia. (syn: gwo
dlo) [< Fr. dГ©luge]
N
dГ©livwans
N deliverance. Nou
pwГ©dyГ© pou nou sa jwenn
dГ©livwans. We prayed for deliverance.
[< Fr. dГ©livrance]
dГ©livwГ©
V to deliver. Yo kay dГ©livwГ©
sé chèz-la nou achté-a. They’ll
deliver the chairs that we bought.
[< Fr. dГ©livrer]
denmi
V to sprain. Pa kouwi avan ou
denmi pyé’w! Don’t run or you’ll
sprain your foot! ADJ sprained. DwГЁt
mwen denmi; yo ka hédi’y épi
chandèl mòl. My finger’s sprained;
they’re massaging it with soft candle.
dГ©liz variant of dГ©lij.
dГ©manti
V to contradict, to refute, to
prove wrong or false. LГЁ yo dГ©manti
nonm-lan, pa dГ© hont i tГ© hont.
When they refuted the man, he was so
ashamed. [< Fr. dГ©mentir]
Denmou
N Devil. Denmou pwan
nonm-lan èk i bwè tout san’y. The
Devil took the man and drank all his
blood. (see also: djab, vyГ© lГЁspwi)
dГ©matГ©
V to set upright again, to
restore to upright position. I pwen sis
nonm pou tГ© sa dГ©matГ© motoka-a. It
too six men to set the car upright
again. (syn: dГ©chaviwГ©; opp: chaviwГ©,
matГ©)
dГ©mawГ©
dГЁnyГ©
Dennwi
N the village of Dennery.
Dennwi sГ© on kotГ© ki benyen jan
lanmГЁ. Dennery is a place full of
fishermen.
dГЁnyГ©
ADJ 1) last. Sa sГ© dГЁnyГ©
simenn nou isi-a. This is our last
week here. (opp: pwГЁmyГ©) 2) all,
every last one, every little bit. I
manjГ© dГЁnyГ© bonbon-an! He ate all
of the cake! (syn: tout; see also: sГЁl)
ADV last. Anpami tout sГ© moun-an
ki manjГ©-a, sГ© li ki manjГ© dГЁnyГ©.
Among all the people who ate, it was
he who ate last. [< Fr. dernier]
to untie. LГЁ nou dГ©mawГ©
bèf-la, nou dé té ni pou tjébé’y.
When we untied the cow, the two of us
had to hold it. (opp: mawГ©)
V
dГ©mГ©lГ©
V to untangle. Patan mwen tГ©
ka démélé chivé tifi-a, kwiz pwen’y.
While I was untangling the girl’s hair,
she screamed. (opp: mГ©lГ©) [< Fr.
dГ©mГЄler]
48
dГЁnyГ©man
Kwéyòl – English
dГЁnyГ©man
dГ©patГ©
ADV lastly. DГЁnyГ©man
nou kay alГ© lakay. Lastly we will go
home. (opp: pwГЁmyГ©man) [< Fr.
derniГЁrement]
V to cut (bananas, etc.) into
hands. Fama-a koupГ© wГ©jim fig-la
épi i dépaté’y. The farmer cut down
the bunch of bananas and cut it into
hands. (see also: koupГ©)
dГ©otwa
ADJ some, a few. SГ© moun
sala tГ© ni dГ©otwa bГЁf, mГ© yo tout mГІ.
Those people had some cows, but they
all died. (see also: dГ©, adan, yonn dГ©,
tjГЁk) [< Fr. deux ou trois]
dГ©palГ©
dГ©payГ©1
V to strip leaves off. Yo
dГ©payГ© tout pyГЁs kann-an. They
stripped the leaves from the whole
field of cane.
dГ©payГ©2
1) to jabber, to talk nonsense.
DГ©pi tibway sala wГЁ manjГ© i ka
dГ©palГ©. Whenever this boy sees food
he talks nonsense. (see also: bГ©tiz,
maji, ennitil, papicho, kochonni,
kouyon, kouyontwi) 2) nearing
death, obeah person tells all of his
wicked acts. LГЁ jan gajГ©-a tГ© ka mГІ,
i dГ©palГ©. When the witch was dying,
she told all her wicked acts.
V to cancel a bet. Bava-a
dГ©payГ© vitman paski i sav i tГ© kay
pГЁd. The boaster cancelled his bet
quickly because he knew he would
lose. [< Fr. dГ©parier]
V
dГ©pi
CONJ 1) since. LГІt mwa kay fГЁ
dГ© lannГ© dГ©pi mwen mayГ©. Next
month will be two years since I got
married. (see also: apwГ©)
2) whenever, as soon as. DГ©pi tibway
sala wГЁ manjГ© i ka dГ©palГ©. Whenever
this boy sees food he talks nonsense.
3) if, since, as long as. DГ©pi ou blan
ou sipozГ© ni lajan. If you are white
you are expected to have money. (see
also: si) PREP 1) from. I tГ© ni gwo
dlo dГ©pi BГЁson pou wivГ© Kastwi.
There was a flood from Bexon to
Castries. 2) since, ever since. DГ©pi
jou sala mangous pa janmen manjГ©
mango lonng ankГІ. Ever since that
day mongoose never eat mango lonng
any more. [< Fr. depuis]
dГ©pan
V to depend, to rely. Ou pa sa
dГ©pan asou manmay jГІdi-a. You
can’t rely on children nowadays. (see
also: apiyГ©, panchГ©, fyГ©, konfyГ©)
[< Fr. dГ©pendre]
dГ©pann
V to take down, to unhang.
MisyГ©-a dГ©pann chapo-a an klou-a.
The man took the hat down off the
nail. (opp: pann) [< Fr. dГ©pendre]
dГ©pans
N expense. SГЁl sa ou ni pou
fГЁ sГ© pГ©yГ© dГ©pans nou. All you have
to do is pay our expenses. [< Fr.
dГ©pense]
dГ©pansГ©
dГ©plГЁ
dГ©plasГ©
V to displace, to move. Yo tГ©
ni pou dГ©plasГ© sГ© kay sala pou fГЁ
chimen-an. They had to move those
houses to make the road. [< Fr.
dГ©placer]
to spend. I ja dГ©pansГ©
tout sa ou tГ© ba li-a. He has already
spent all that you gave him. [< Fr.
dГ©penser]
V
dГ©pasГ©
dГ©plГЁ
V to exceed. Lajan-an yo
twapГ© dГ©viwГ© dГ©pasГ© sa yo tГ© bay-la.
The money they got back was more
than what they had given. [< Fr.
dГ©passer]
V to displease. MГЁs sГ©
manmay-la dГ©plГЁ mwen an chay.
The manners of the children
displeased me a lot. (opp: plГЁ; see
also: dГ©goutГ©) [< Fr. dГ©plaire]
49
dГ©pГІtГ©
Kwéyòl – English
dГ©pГІtГ©
dГ©sidГ©
V to deport. Yo dГ©pГІtГ© nonmlan paski i pa tГ© ni papyГ© pou wГЁstГ©
an pГ©yi-a. They deported the man
because he didn’t have the proper
papers to stay in the country. [< Fr.
dГ©porter]
V to decide. Mwen dГ©sidГ© pou
swiv JГ©zi. I decided to follow Jesus.
(syn: fГЁ lidГ©) [< Fr. dГ©cider]
dГ©syen
N swarm. DГ©syen myГЁl-la
antwГ© an twou-a ki tГ© an pyГ© bwa-a.
The swarm of bees went in the hole
that was in the tree. (see also: myГЁl,
vonvon) [< Fr. des essaim?]
dГ©pozГ©
V to make a deposit, to put
down a deposit. Mwen tГ© ni pou
dГ©pozГ© yon san dГІla pou mwen tГ© sa
jwenn sГ© chГЁz-la. I had to make a
deposit of 100 dollars in order to get
the chairs. [< Fr. dГ©poser]
dГ©sakwГ©
dГЁt
N debt. Nou ni an gwo dГЁt pou
nou pГ©yГ©. We have a large debt to
pay. [< Fr. dette]
dГ©tay
N detail. Kolonm sala ni pou
gadГ© tout dГ©tay avan i sa di twavayla bon. That foreman has to look at
every detail before he can say the
work is good. (see also: pwen) [< Fr.
dГ©tail]
to desecrate. SГ© lГЁlmi-an
antwГ© an Kay BondyГ©-a ГЁk yo
désakwé’y. The enemies entered the
Temple and desecrated it.
V
dГ©sandan
N descendant. Tout sГ©
dГ©sandan nonm sala bon. All of that
man’s descendants are good. (see also:
ayГЁl) [< Fr. descendant] an
dГ©sandan and lower, and less, and
under. Yo tjwГ© tout gason ki tГ© dГ©
lannГ© an dГ©sandan. They killed all
boys who were two years old and
under. (opp: an moutan)
dГ©tenn
V to run (in reference to dye),
to fade. Had wouj sala dГ©tenn asou
sГ© had blan-an Г©pi i gatГ© yo. These
red clothes ran on the white ones and
spoiled them. (opp: tenn; see also:
kouwi) [< Fr. dГ©teindre]
dГ©tjatjГ©
V to unlatch. LapГІt-la pa sa
ouvè paski ou p’òkò détjatjé’y. The
door won’t open because you haven’t
unlatched it. (opp: tjatjГ©; see also:
dГ©laklГ©)
DГ©sanm
N December. SГ© an mwa
DГ©sanm NwГЁl ka tonbГ©. It is in the
month of December Christmas falls.
[< Fr. dГ©cembre]
dГ©sann
dГ©vГ©gondГ©
dГ©tou
N curve. Chimen-an ni an
chay dГ©tou. The road has many
curves. [< Fr. dГ©tour]
to go (down). Denmen nou
kay désann an vil. Tomorrow we’ll
go to town. (opp: moutГ©) [< Fr.
descendre]
V
dГ©twi
V to destroy. Wat dГ©twi tout
jaden patat mwen. Rats destroyed my
whole garden of sweet potatoes. (syn:
kwazГ©) [< Fr. dГ©truire]
dГ©satisfГЁ
ADJ dissatisfied. Mwen
dГ©satisfГЁ Г©pi mГЁs ou. I am dissatisfied
with your manners. (syn: dГ©plГЁ; opp:
satisfГЁ, plГЁ, kontantГ©)
dГ©vagondГ© (var: dГ©vГ©gondГ©)
N very
bad person. Nonm sa’a sé on
dГ©vagondГ©! That man is a very bad
person! (syn: movГ© lam, vyГ© lam)
dГ©sГ©lГ©
V to unsaddle. I dГ©sГ©lГ©
chouval-la. He unsaddled the horse.
(opp: sГ©lГ©) [< Fr. desseller]
dГ©vГ©gondГ© variant of dГ©vagondГ©.
50
dГ©vidГ©
Kwéyòl – English
dГ©vidГ©
V 1) to spill. Pa dГ©vidГ© dlo-a!
Don’t spill the water! 2) to pour (in
reference to rain). Lapli-a ka dГ©vidГ©!
The rain is pouring! (see also: fifinГ©,
tonbГ©, kwГ©vГ©)
dГ©viwan (var: viwan)
pansГ©. Her belly was out of place and
she had to go see the midwife in order
to get it treated. (see also:
dГ©wanjman) [< Fr. dГ©ranger]
dГ©wanjman
N disarrangement (in
reference to internal organs). Mwen
pwen on so Г©pi mwen santi on
dГ©wanjman. I fell and I feel my
organs are out of place. (see also:
dГ©wanjГ©)
return,
returning. An dГ©viwan, yo alГ© an
tout sГ© vilaj-la. Upon returning, they
went into all the villages.
N
dГ©viwГ© variant of viwГ©.
dГ©wГЁspГЁktГ©
V to disrespect. Tibwayla dГ©wГЁspГ©ktГ© tifi-a. The boy
disrespected the girl. (see also: fanm,
nonm)
dГ©viyГ© variant of viwГ©.
dГ©vlopГ©
V to develop. PГ©yi-a ka
dГ©vlopГ© piti pa piti. The country is
developing little by little. [< Fr.
dГ©velopper]
dГЁwГІ (var: dГІwГІ)
PREP outside (of).
Yo tГ© dГЁwГІ kay-la lГЁ yo tann ti
manmay-la ka hГ©lГ©. They were
outside the house when they heard the
child crying. (opp: adan, an,
andidan) [< Fr. dehors] dГЁwГІ-a
outside. SГ© manmay-la ka toujou
jwГ© dГЁwГІ-a. The children are always
playing outside. (opp: andidan-an)
dГ©vlГІpman
N development.
DГ©vlГІpman nГЁf sala kay mennen an
chay twavay an pГ©yi-a. This new
development will bring a lot of work
to the country. [< Fr. dГ©veloppement]
dГ©voplГ©
V to unroll, to unwrap. I
dГ©voplГ© kГІd-la ГЁk i mawГ© bГЁf-la. He
unrolled the rope and tied the cow.
(opp: voplГ©)
dГ©woulГ©
V to lose a hem. Had
madanm-lan dГ©woulГ©, i pa menm
sav. The woman’s dress lost its hem
and she didn’t even know. (see also:
dГ©filГ©, woulГ©) [< Fr. dГ©rouler]
dГ©vosГ©
V to divorce. Nonm-lan
dГ©vosГ© madanm li. The man divorced
his wife. [< Fr. divorcer]
dГ©vowГ©
dГЁyГЁ
dГЁy
N mourning. Papa yo tГ© mГІ, kon
sa yo mГ©tГ© had dГЁy anlГЁ yo. Their
father had died, so they put on
mourning clothes. [< Fr. deuil] an
dГЁy in mourning. Yo an dГЁy toujou.
They’re still in mourning. pòté dèy
to mourn. I pГІtГ© dГЁy pou kawant
jou. He mourned for forty days.
to devour, to eat. Chyen-an
dГ©vowГ© vyann-an tГЁlman vit ou ka
kwГЁ i ni dan an gГІj li. The dog
devoured the meat so quickly you
would think he has teeth in his throat.
(syn: manjГ©) [< Fr. dГ©vorer]
V
dГ©wanjГ©
V to disarrange, to put in
disarray, to mess up. I dГ©wanjГ© sГ©
papyГ©-a. He disarranged the papers.
(syn: dГ©kalГ©, kwazГ©) ADJ out of place
(in reference to internal organs).
Bouden’y té déwanjé épi i té ni pou
alГ© wГЁ fanmchay-la pou i tГ© sa
dГЁyГЁ
PREP 1) behind. Yo mГ©tГ© sak-la
dГЁyГЁ kay-la. They put the bag behind
the house. (opp: douvan) 2) after, in
pursuit of. I alГ© dГЁyГЁ Tijan. He went
in pursuit of Tijan. [< Fr. derriГЁre]
51
dГ©zabiyГ©
Kwéyòl – English
dГ©zabiyГ©
dГ©zyenm
dГ©zobГ©yi
V to undress. Pa dГ©zabiyГ©
douvan sé manmay-la. Don’t undress
in front of the children. (opp: abiyГ©)
[< Fr. dГ©shabiller]
V to disobey. Gason-an
dézobéyi papa’y. The boy disobeyed
his father. (opp: obГ©yi; see also:
dГ©zobГ©yisan, dГ©zobГ©yisans) [< Fr.
dГ©sobГ©ir]
dГ©zagwГ©man
N trouble,
disagreement. I toujou ka twapГ©
kò’y an dézagwéman. He always
finds himself in trouble. (syn:
chikann, libenn; see also: chiz,
goumen, roro, twaka)
dГ©zobГ©yisan
ADJ disobedient. Si ou
pa tГ© otan dГ©zobГ©yisan, sa pa tГ© kay
wivé’w. If you weren’t so disobedient,
that wouldn’t happen to you. (opp:
obГ©yisan; see also: dГ©zobГ©yi,
dГ©zobГ©yisans) [< Fr. dГ©sobГ©issance]
dГ©zagwГ©yab
ADJ deliberately
annoying, irritating, offensive,
unpleasant. I pa ni on tibway ki
dГ©zagwГ©yab kon tibway sala. There
isn’t any other boy as disagreeable as
this one. (opp: agwГ©yab; see also:
anbГ©tan, antГ©tГ©, anmГЁwdan) [< Fr.
dГ©sagrГ©able]
dГ©zobГ©yisans
N disobedience.
BondyГ© kay jijГ© dГ©zobГ©yisans yo.
God will judge their disobedience.
(opp: obГ©yisans; see also: dГ©zobГ©yi,
dГ©zobГ©yisan) [< Fr. dГ©sobГ©issance]
dГ©zГІd
N 1) noise. Yo tГ© ka fГЁ tГЁlman
dГ©zГІd mwen pa tГ© sa menm dГІmi.
They were making so much noise I
couldn’t even sleep. (syn: dibwi, son)
2) quarrelling, confusion, disorder. LГЁ
la ni moun ki jalouzi, la kay toujou
ni dГ©zГІd. When there are people who
are jealous, there will always be
quarrelling. [< Fr. dГ©sordre]
dГ©zan
N same as dГ© lannГ©. Yo wГЁstГ©
la pou dГ©zan. They remained there for
two years. [< Fr. deux ans]
dГ©zapwentГ©
V to disappoint. SouplГ©
pa dézapwenté nou! Please don’t
disappoint us! (see also:
dГ©zapwГЁtman) ADJ disappointed. Si
mwen di’w mwen pa dézapwenté,
mwen manti. If I were to tell you I am
not disappointed, I would be lying.
[< Fr. dГ©sappointer]
dГ©zolasyon
N desolation. (see also:
twibilasyon) [< Fr. dГ©solation]
dГ©zolГ©
ADJ enraged. Nonm sala fachГ©
tГЁlman i dГ©zolГ©. That man was so
angry he was enraged. (syn: anwajГ©;
see also: fachГ©) [< Fr. dГ©solГ©]
dГ©zapwГЁtman
N disappointment. Sa
sГ© on dГ©zapwГЁtman pou mwen an
vГЁytГ©. That is truly a disappointment
to me. (see also: dГ©zapwentГ©) [< Fr.
dГ©sappointement]
dГ©zonnowГ©
V to dishonour. Ou pa
sipozГ© dГ©zonnowГ© chГЁf gouvГЁdman
péyi-a kon sa. You shouldn’t
dishonour the head of the government
of the country like that. (opp: onnowГ©)
[< Fr. dГ©shonorer]
dГ©zГЁ
N two o’clock. [< Fr. deux
heures]
dГ©zi
N desire. Sa sГ©tГ© dГ©zi mwen pou
vini mГ© mwen pa tГ© sa. It was my
desire to come but I couldn’t. (see
also: vlГ©, antansyon) [< Fr. dГ©sir]
dГ©zyenm
ADJ second. Nou ka fГЁ
dézyenm lison. We’re doing the
second lesson. [< Fr. deuxiГЁme]
52
dГ©zyenman
Kwéyòl – English
dГ©zyenman
dimotyГ©
fire to, to set on fire. Nou pwi
boukan-an difГ©. We set the pile of
debris on fire. (see also: limen)
ADV secondly.
PwГЁmyГ©man nou kay pwГ©tГ© lajanan, ГЁk dГ©zyenman nou kay achtГ© an
motoka nèf. First we’re going to
borrow the money, and secondly we’re
going to buy a new car. (see also:
pwГЁmyГ©man, twazyenman,
dГЁnyГ©man)
difГ©wan
ADJ different. Madanm sala
ni senk ich Г©pi yo tout ni difГ©wan
mannyГЁ. That woman has five
children and they all have different
ways. [< Fr. diffГ©rent]
di1
PREP of. I fГЁ sa a laj di kenz an.
He did that at the age of 15 years.
[< Fr. de]
difГ©wans
N difference. La pa ni pyГЁs
difГ©wans Г©pi BondyГ©, menm si ou
blan ében nwè. There’s no difference
with God, whether you are white or
black. [< Fr. diffГ©rence]
di2 variant of dis.
di3
V 1) to say. Pa di sa pa vwé! Don’t
say that isn’t true! 2) to tell. I di
mwen i kay vini pli ta. He told me he
would come later. (see also: enfГІmГ©,
fГЁ sav, palГ©, souflГ©, wakontГ©) [< Fr.
dire]
difikiltГ©
N difficulty. SГ© manmay-la
ni an chay difikiltГ© pou kopwann sa
titja-a ka di-a. The children have a lot
of difficulty in understanding what the
teacher is saying. (see also: difisil,
wГЁd) [< Fr. difficultГ©]
di4
ADJ hard. (see also: wГЁd) [< Fr.
dur] tГЁt di stubborn, hard-headed.
Ki mannyГЁ tГЁt ou di kon sa? Why are
you so stubborn? (see also: antГ©tГ©,
dГ©zagwГ©yab) ni tГЁt di to be
stubborn. Tibway-la ni tГЁt di; i pa ka
koutГ© pyГЁsonn. The boy is stubborn;
he doesn’t listen to anyone. (see also:
ni tГЁt wГЁd, antГ©tГ©)
difisil
ADJ difficult, hard. Mwen pa tГ©
sav pou apwann bon mГЁs tГ© otan
difisil. I didn’t know it was so difficult
to learn good manners. (syn: wГЁd;
opp: fasil, Г©zГ©) [< Fr. difficile]
dikonplis variant of akonplis.
Dimanch
N Sunday. LГ© Dimanch
nou ka alГ© lГ©gliz. Sundays we go to
church. [< Fr. dimanche] Dimanch
DГ©wanmo Palm Sunday.
dibonntГЁt
N wisdom, intelligence,
intellect. I pa fГЁ sa pa dibonntГЁt li
menm, sé fòsé yo fòsé’y fè’y. He
didn’t do it by his own wisdom; they
forced him to do it. [< Fr. de bonne
tГЄte]
dimi
ADJ half. Ban mwen dimi sak
chГЁbon. Give me half a sack of
charcoal. (see also: lanmwatyГ©) [< Fr.
demi]
dibwi
N noise. Nou tann an chay
dibwi. We heard lots of noise. (syn:
dГ©zГІd, son) [< Fr. de bruit]
diminwГ©
V to diminish. Lajan’y ka
diminwГ© jou pa jou. His money is
diminishing day by day. [< Fr.
diminuer]
difГ©
N fire. DifГ©-a pa tГ© vlГ© pwi paski
bwa-a té mouyé. The fire wouldn’t
light because the wood was wet. (see
also: boukan difГ©, zondifГ©) [< Fr. de
feu?] pwi difГ© to catch fire, to set
dimotyГ©
ADV when a person who has a
cow shares profits from sale with a
person who has tended it for him.
53
dinen
Kwéyòl – English
argue. Yo tГ© ka dispitГ© kilГЁs pou tГ©
jwenn pli an popyГ©tГЁ-a. The were
arguing about who should get more of
the property. (see also: chikannen,
babyГ©) [< Fr. disputer]
Ng’a ba’w bèf sala dimotyé. I want
you to tend this cow for me and we’ll
share the profits.
dinen
N dinner. Nou manjГ© tout
dinen nou. We ate all our dinner. (see
also: manjГ©, dГ©vowГ©, ditГ©, dГ©jnen) V
to eat dinner, to dine. Ki lГЁ nou kay
dinen? What time will we eat dinner?
[< Fr. dГ®ner]
dispityГ© variant of dispitГ©.
distans
N distance. SГ© manmay-la
swiv vyГ© madanm-lan adan an
distans. The children followed the old
lady at a distance. [< Fr. distance]
dis (var: di)
ADJ ten. Yo ni dis
panyen mango. They have ten baskets
of mangoes. N tenth. Papa mwen
ban mwen yon dis an sa i tГ© ni. My
father gave me one tenth of what he
had. [< Fr. dix]
disГЁt
ADJ
distwГ©
V to annoy, to bother, to
disturb. Sé pa pou ou distwé papa’w
lè i ka étidyé. You mustn’t disturb
your father while he is studying. (syn:
anbГ©tГ©, anmГЁwdГ©, annГЁwvГ©,
chagwinen, twakasГ©; see also: fachГ©,
kontwayГ©, minab, sitwayГ©, twoublГ©)
ADJ annoyed, bothered, disturbed. TjГЁ
manman mwen tГ© distwГ© lГЁ i tann sa
tibway-la fè-a. My mother’s heart was
disturbed when she heard what the boy
did. [< Fr. distraire]
seventeen. [< Fr. dix-sept]
disip
N disciple. JГ©zi ni an chay
disip. Jesus has many disciples.
(religious; see also: zapГІt) [< Fr.
disciple]
disizyon
N decision. Yo fГЁ on
disizyon ki enpГІtan. They made an
important decision. [< Fr. dГ©cision]
ditГ©
N 1) tea. Adan moun simyГ© ditГ©
pasГ© kafГ©. Some people prefer tea to
coffee. 2) breakfast. Yo ka pwan
dité yo. They’re eating their breakfast.
(see also: dГ©vowГ©, dГ©jnen, dinen,
manjГ©, wipa) V to eat breakfast.
Atjòlman yo ka dité. Now they’re
eating breakfast. [< Fr. de thГ©] ditГ©
bwadenn bay leaf tea. Yo bwГЁ ditГ©
bwadenn pou chofГ© kГІ yo. They
drank bay leaf tea to warm themselves.
ditГ© chin black tea. DitГ© chin ka
bay moun bon santГ©. Black tea gives
people good health. ditГ© kako cocoa
tea. Yo ba li ditГ© kako. They gave
him cocoa tea. (syn: chikola) ditГ©
kannГЁl cinnamon tea. DitГ© kannГЁl
bon pou mal bouden. Cinnamon tea
is good for belly aches. ditГ© pГ©yi a
kind of bush medicine for colds.
diskasyon
N discussion. Diskasyon
sala pwen an chay tan mГ© i tГ©
entГ©wГ©san. This discussion took a lot
of time but it was interesting. (see
also: kozГ©, palГ©) [< Eng. discussion]
diskitГ©
V to discuss. Yo koumansГ© ka
diskitГ© ГЁk yonn a lГІt ki sa yo kay fГЁ.
They began to discuss with each other
what they were going to do. (see also:
palГ©, kozГ©) [< Fr. discuter]
dispawГЁt
V to disappear. Nonm sala
ni an chay vis; yo di i ka dispawГЁt.
That man has a lot of tricks; they say
he can disappear. (usually associated
with supernatural; opp: pawГЁt) [< Fr.
disparaГ®tre]
dispitГ© (var: dispityГ©)
V
ditГ©
to discuss, to
54
diten
Kwéyòl – English
diten
disciples perceived Jesus’ divinity.
(religious) [< Fr. divinitГ©]
N thyme. Yo ka vann ti lonyon
ГЁk diten bГІ laplas-la. They sell chives
and thyme by the market. (syn: ti
diten) [< Fr. de thym] gwo diten a
kind of thyme with relatively big
leaves. MГ©tГ© gwo diten-an an sГІs-la,
i ni an bon gou. Put thyme in the
sauce, it has a good flavour. ti diten
same as diten.
divizyon
N division. La ni twГІp
divizyon an fanmi sala. There’s too
much division in that family. (syn:
halГ© kasГ©, tiwГ© mГ©tГ©) [< Fr. division]
divwa
N will, intention. SГ© moun-an
vlГ© swiv divwa BondyГ©. The people
wanted to follow God’s will.
(religious; syn: volontГ©; see also:
antansyon) [< Fr. devoir]
ditГІ
N wrong, hurt, harm. [< Fr. de
tort] fГЁ ditГІ to hurt, to harm. Si ou
pwan wimèd sala, i pa kay fè’w ditò.
If you take this medicine, it won’t hurt
you.
diwan
N duration. Yo koupГ© kann
tousГЁl pou diwan tan wГ©kГІt-la. They
cut only cane for the duration of the
harvest. [< Fr. durant]
diven
N wine. Yo tГ© ka bwГЁ twГІp
diven ГЁk yo vini sou. They were
drinking too much wine and they got
drunk. [< Fr. de vin] diven wak
dry, bitter wine. Lontan nou tГ© ka
sГЁvi diven wak adan an chay wimГЁd.
Long ago we used to use bitter wine in
a lot of remedies.
diwant
ADJ everlasting, eternal. (syn:
Г©tГЁwnГЁl) [< Fr. durant] lavi diwant
eternity, eternal life, everlasting life.
Nou kay viv Г©pi BondyГ© pou lavi
diwant. We will live with God for
eternity. (religious; syn: pou tout tan)
divГЁs
diwГ©
ADJ various, diverse. BГІ laplas
ou ka jwenn divГЁs kalitГ© gwo manjГ©.
By the market you find various kinds
of ground provisions. [< Fr. divers]
divinГ©
dizan
V to last. DГ©pi sГ© kon sa ou ka
bas, ou pa kay diwГ©. If you bat like
that, you won’t last. [< Fr. durer]
diwГЁktГ©
to divine, to practice
divination, to supernaturally foretell
the future or discern hidden facts.
Madanm-lan fГЁ mwen ouvГЁ lanmen
mwen pou i tГ© sa divinГ© ban mwen.
The woman had me open my hand in
order to tell me about my future. (see
also: gajГ©, fГЁ maji nwГЁ, fГЁ tjenbwa, fГЁ
zГЁb, gadГЁ) [< Fr. deviner]
V
to direct. (syn: djidГ©,
kondwi)
V
diwГЁktiman
ADV 1) directly. Mwen
di’y koté pou i jwenn avoka-a épi i
alГ© la diwГЁktiman. I told him where
to find the lawyer and he went there
directly. 2) exactly. Mwen pa sav
diwГЁktiman ki jou papa mwen ka
vini. I don’t know exactly what day
my father is coming. (syn:
ГЁgzaktiman) [< Fr. directement]
divinГЁ
N seer, practitioner of obeah.
Manman mwen sГ© on divinГЁ. My
mother is a seer. (syn: gadГЁ; see also:
jan gajГ©, tjenbwatГЁ, vyГ© lam)
diwi
N rice. Yo ka manjГ© diwi ГЁk
pwa wouj. They’re eating rice and red
beans. [< Fr. du riz]
divinitГ©
N divinity. Tout sГ© disip-la
tГ© apГЁsivwГЁ divinitГ© JГ©zi. All of the
dizan
N same as dis lannГ©. Yo kay
wèsté la pou dizan. They’ll remain
55
dizГЁ
Kwéyòl – English
djari
there for 10 years. [< Fr. dix ans]
dizГЁ
N
N transparent rubber sandal.
Tan lotan sГ©tГ© djari tousГЁl nou tГ© ka
mГ©tГ©. Long ago it was only djaris we
used to wear.
ten o’clock. [< Fr. dix heures]
diznГЁf
ADJ
nineteen. [< Fr. dix-neuf]
dizwit
ADJ
eighteen. [< Fr. dix-huit]
djГЁwtГ©
djГ©
ADJ happy. Nou tГ© djГ©
toubonmnan! We were very happy!
(syn: kontan; opp: an lapenn, sonm,
twis) [< Fr. gai]
dja
N accident, collision, crash, wreck.
La tГ© ni on dja bГІ kay-la bonmatenan. There was a wreck by the house
this morning. (see also: aksidan) V to
collide. Bonmaten-an dГ© motoka dja
dwГЁt douvan kay mwen. This
morning two cars collided right in
front of my house.
djГЁ
ADV hardly any, scarcely any. Nou
pa tГ© sa jwГ© bol-la paski la pa tГ© ni
djè moun. We couldn’t play ball
because there were hardly any people.
[< Fr. guГЁre]
djab
djГЁl variant of djГІl.
N devil. Gwan moun di lГЁ lapli
sГІlГЁy, djab ka mayГ© dГЁyГЁ kay. Old
folks say that when the sun shines as it
is raining, devils are getting married
behind the house. (see also: Denmou,
vyГ© lГЁspwi) [< Fr. diable]
djГЁp
N a kind of red wasp. DjГЁp-la
pitjé’y patan i té ka aché mango.
The wasp stung him when he was
looking for mangoes. (see also: myГЁl,
vonvon)
djabal
N concubine, mistress, �outside
woman’. Fanm sa-a sé djabal tonton
mwen. That woman is my uncle’s
mistress.
djГЁt
N brace for a pole. Nou ka mГ©tГ©
djГЁt an tout konwen kay-la. We are
putting braces on all the corners of the
house.
djal
N chick, attractive girl or woman.
Tifi sala sГ© on bГЁl djal. This girl is a
nice chick. (see also: fanm, kabwГЁs,
madanm, manmzГЁl, tifi) [< Eng. girl]
djГ©tГ©
V to freeload, to expect
something that you have not been
invited to take. Pa asiz lakay sГ©
moun-an pou djГ©tГ© pou manjГ© yo.
Don’t sit at their home and expect to
eat uninvited. (see also: mandyan)
djanmГЁt
N 1) prostitute. Fanm sala
sé on djanmèt. That woman’s a
prostitute. (syn: fanm konmen, fanm
lawi, fanm vyГ© lavi) 2) prostitution.
Fanm sala pa ka kitГ© djanmГЁt pyГЁs.
This woman won’t leave prostitution
at all.
djГ©wi
V to heal, to cure. DГІktГЁ-a
djГ©wi boug-la. The doctor cured the
fellow. [< Fr. guГ©rir]
djГ©wizon (var: djГ©wizyon)
N cure,
remedy. Maladi sala pa ni djГ©wizon.
That illness has no remedy. (see also:
wimГЁd, wimГЁd wazyГ©) [< Fr.
guГ©rison]
djapanna
N a plant that heals, flu,
cold and internal injuries when made
into a tea. Tibway-la ni wim, sГ© pou
ou fГЁ ditГ© djapanna ba li. The boy
has a cold and you should make
djapanna tea for him. (see also: wimГЁd
wazyГ©)
djГ©wizyon variant of djГ©wizon.
djГЁwtГ©
56
N
joy. Ou sa fГЁ nou soufГЁ mГ©
djid
Kwéyòl – English
run one’s mouth, to speak without
anyone paying attention. Ou sa bat
djГІl ou kon ou vlГ©, mwen pa mГ©lГ©.
You can run your mouth all you want,
I don’t care. (syn: bat bouch) djòl
twou mouth or opening of a hole.
Tibway-la mГ©tГ© an wГІch asou djГІl
twou kwab-la. The boy put a stone
over the opening of the crab hole.
ou pa sa pwan djГЁwtГ© nou. You can
make us suffer but you can’t take
away our joy. (syn: lajwa; see also:
wГ©jwi, widjГЁwtГ©, djГ©, lakontantman)
an djГЁwtГ© joyful. Ou kay an
djèwté lè gason’w-lan vini sòti lòt
péyi. You’ll be joyful when your son
comes back from overseas.
djid
N guide, leader. LГЁswpi BondyГ©
sГ© djid nou. The Spirit of God is our
guide. (see also: djidГ©) [< Fr. guide]
djГІn
N gonorrhoea. MisyГ©-a tГ© ni pou
alГ© wГЁ dГІktГЁ paski i tГ© ni djГІn. The
man had to go see the doctor because
he had gonorrhoea. (see also: kako)
djidГ©
V to guide. LГЁ ou alГ© an souf, la
toujou ni on moun pou djidé’w.
When you go to the sulphur springs,
there is always someone to guide you.
(syn: kondwi; see also: djid) [< Fr.
guider]
djinГ©
dlo
djГІs
ADV just. Ti manmay-la pa
malad; i djòs mové. The child isn’t
sick; he’s just bad. [< Eng. just]
djouk
N a kind of potfish. Djouk sГ©
on pwГ©son ki ka santi fwГ© an chay.
Djouk is a kind of fish that smells very
rotten. djouk bwa a sharp piece of
wood, such as the root of a tree that
has been cut down, sticking up out of
the ground, over which someone
might trip or get hurt. Tibway-la
tonbГ© anlГЁ an djouk bwa Г©pi djouk
bwa-a èstòpyé’y. The boy fell on a
sharp piece of wood and it cut him.
(see also: djoukГ©)
person with very dark, blueblack skin. (see also: nГЁg) [< Fr.
GuinГ©]
N
djip
N Jeep, four-wheel drive vehicle.
Yo wivГ© abГІ on djip. They arrived in
a Jeep. [< Eng. Jeep] fГЁ djip same
as fГЁ zГ©klГЁ. VГІlГЁ-a fГЁ djip lГЁ i wГЁ
polis-la chapГ©. The thief ran away
when he saw the police coming.
djiyon
N jinx, bad luck. Ou ni djiyon
paski ou ka twavay toulГ© jou mГ© ou
pa janmen ni lajan. You have bad
luck because you are working every
day yet you never have money. (see
also: malГЁ, chans, limyГЁ, modisyon)
[< Fr. guignon]
djoukГ©
V to poke, to jab. Las djoukГ©
mwen avan mwen fГЁ on bagay
épi’w! Stop poking me before I do
something with you! (syn: tjokГ©)
djoup
ADV directly, straight. LГЁ
chyen-an bouwé dèyè’y i antwé an
kay-la djoup toubonnman. When the
dog charged after him, he went
straight into the house just like that.
djГІb
N job, work. I pГЁd djГІb li tou.
He lost his job too. (syn: twavay)
[< Eng. job]
djГІl (var: djГЁl)
N mouth or snout of an
animal. I bay bouwik-la an koul
wГІch asou djГІl li. He hit the donkey
on the mouth with a stone. (see also:
bouch) [< Fr. gueule] bat djГІl to
dlo (var: glo)
N 1) water. VГЁ-a plen
dlo. The glass is full of water. 2) tear.
Mwen ka di zГІt oplГЁz ГЁk dlo an zyГ©
mwen. I’m telling you farewell with
57
do
Kwéyòl – English
donmaj
dГІgla variant of dogla.
tears in my eyes. (see also: lam) [< Fr.
de l’eau] dlo ajenni fountain of
youth. Yo benyen tifi-a an dlo
ajenni. They bathed the girl in the
fountain of youth. dlo dous fresh
water. PwГ©son sala pa ka wГ©tГ© an
lanmГЁ-a, i ka wГ©tГ© an dlo dous. That
fish doesn’t live in the sea, it lives in
fresh water. dlo gwip gripe water,
given to babies for gas. Yo bay ti
manmay-la dlo gwip paski i tГ© ni
kolik. They gave the baby gripe water
because he had colic. mГ©tГ© dlo an
bouch to water down. Nonm sala
pa ka mété dlo an bouch li pou di’w
anyen. That man doesn’t water down
his message when he tells you
anything. dlo sikwГ© sugar water,
given to a child as medicine after a
fall. Ti manmay-la pwan on so; nou
ba li dlo sikwГ© pou bwГЁ.
dГІktГЁ
N doctor. DГІktГЁ-a pa tГ© sa
djéwi’y. The doctor couldn’t cure him.
(see also: nГІs, lopital) [< Fr. docteur]
dГІla
N dollar. Konmen dГІla ou ni?
How many dollars do you have? (syn:
goud) [< Eng. dollar]
dolГ©
V to trim. Poto-a tГ© twГІ gwo,
nou té ni pou dolé asou’y. The post
was too thick and we had to trim it.
(see also: pwenti)
dolotГ©
V to caress. MisyГ©-a tГ© ka
dolotГ© madanm li. The man was
caressing his wife. (syn: kawГ©sГ©,
nichГ©; see also: manyen, touchГ©)
dГІmГЁz
N one who falls asleep easily.
Boug sala sГ© on movГ© dГІmГЁz. That
fellow is always sleeping. [< Fr.
dormeuse]
do
N 1) back. Si ou kontinГ© fГЁ sa, ou
kay kasé do’w! If you keep doing
that, you’ll break your back! (see also:
zГ©pГІl) 2) tails; the rounded side of a
split seed or nut used for gambling.
LГЁ moun ka jwГ© kotji, dГ© bouden ГЁk
dГ© do ka genyen. When people play
kotji, two heads and two tails win.
(opp: bouden) [< Fr. dos] bay do to
turn one’s back. I bay tibway-la do.
She turned her back on the boy. do
lanmen backhand. Yo pГ©tГ© djГІl li lГЁ
yo ba li an do lanmen. They broke his
jaw when they gave him a backhand.
(see also: palaviwГ©, souflГ©, tap)
dГІmi
V to sleep. Nou kay dГІmi
bonnГЁ ГІswГЁ-a. We are going to sleep
early tonight. (see also: kouchГ©,
sonmГЁy) [< Fr. dormir] anvi dГІmi
to be sleepy. M’a sa li òswè-a; mwen
anvi dòmi twòp. I can’t read tonight;
I’m too sleepy.
dГІmino
N domino, game of dominoes.
SГ© nonm-lan ka jwГ© dГІmino toulГ©
VandwГ©di. The men play dominoes
every Friday. [< Fr. domino]
don
N gift. SГ© on don BondyГ© ban
mwen-an. It’s a gift that God gave
me. (rare; syn: kado; see also:
donnan) [< Fr. don]
dogla (var: dГІgla)
N person who is
part Indian, part Negro. Papa mwen
sГ© on dogla. My father is half Indian.
(see also: milat) chivГ© dogla mixed
hair; curly or wavy hair. Sa sГ© an bГЁl
tifi; i ni chivé dogla. That’s a
beautiful girl; she has mixed hair.
donbwГ©
N dumpling. Yo ka manjГ©
an chay donbwГ©. They eat lots of
dumplings. [< Fr. dombrГ©]
donmaj
N damage. Bouwik-la fГЁ an
chay donmaj. The donkey did much
58
donmajГ©
Kwéyòl – English
damage. [< Fr. dommage]
pou doubout lГЁ GouvГЁnГЁ-a wivГ©. We
all had to stand when the Governor
General arrived. 2) to stop. Doubout
la, gason! Stop there, boy! 3) to stop
doing (something). Ou ni pou
doubout sГ© bagay sala ou ka fГЁ-a.
You need to stop doing the things you
are doing. (see also: las, anpГ©chГ©,
dГ©fann, enpozГ©) [< Fr. debout] bon
doubout good standing, good status.
I ni on bon doubout an vilaj-la. He
has a good standing in the village.
donmajГ©
V to damage. Si yo kontinГ©
vowГ© wГІch, yo pГ© donmajГ© motokaa. If they keep throwing stones, they
may damage the car. [< Fr.
endommager]
donmГЁstik
N maid, domestic helper or
servant. LГЁ mwen tГ© alГ© lГІt pГ©yi tou
fwГ©, mwen tГ© ka twavay kon on
donmГЁstik. When I first went
overseas, I was working as a maid.
(see also: sГЁvant) [< Fr. domestique]
donminasyon
doudou
N darling, sweetie. Ou tonbГ©,
doudou? Did you fall, darling? (syn:
chГ©wi) [< Fr. doux doux]
domination. SГ© waa ni donminasyon asou sГ© moun sala
ГЁk yo ka maltwГ©tГ© yo. The kings have
domination over those people and they
mistreat them. [< Fr. domination]
N
doukwГ©
ADJ just enough. AnmasГ©
doukwГ© mango pou nou manjГ© jГІdia. Gather up just enough mangos for
us to eat today. (syn: jis kont)
donnan
ADJ generous. Mwen pa sa
di anyen asou misyГ© sala; i donnan
an chay. I cannot say anything bad
about that man; he’s very generous.
(see also: don) [< Fr. donnant]
dous
ADJ 1) calm, tranquil. Tout
bagay tГ© dous. Everything was calm.
2) tame. Bouwik sala dous tГЁlman,
népòt moun sa batjé’y. That donkey
is so tame, anyone can load it. (opp:
fawouch, mawon, sovay) 3) quiet.
Tifi sala dous an chay. That girl is
very quiet. (see also: koutja) ADV
slowly. PalГ© pli dous pou mwen sa
kopwann. Speak more slowly so I can
understand. [< Fr. douce]
dontГ©
V to tame, to train an animal (or
a child). Chouval sala sovay; ou kay
ni pou donté’y. That horse is wild;
you will have to tame it. Mwen kay
donté’w! I’ll fix you!
dosil
ADJ docile, tame. Zannimo-a tГ©
dosil. The animal was tame. (opp:
sovay, fawouch, mawon; see also:
savan) [< Fr. docile]
dousГЁ
N sweetness, pleasantness. La
ni an dousГЁ an ti manmay sala.
There is a sweetness in that child.
[< Fr. douceur]
dou
ADJ sweet. Bonbon-an tГ© dou!
The cake was sweet! (opp: si, anmГЁ;
see also: dousi, soumachГ©) [< Fr.
doux]
dousi
V to sweeten. I ka dousi kafГ©-a.
He’s sweetening his coffee. (see also:
dou, soumachГ©) [< Fr. adoucir]
doublГ©
V to double. MГЁt-la doublГ©
twavay-la asou mwen jГІdi-a. The
boss doubled my work today. [< Fr.
doubler]
doubout
V
dout
dousman
ADV quietly, slowly, calmly.
PalГ© dousman, souplГ©. Speak slowly,
please. (opp: vit, vitman)
dout (var: doutans)
1) to stand. Nou tout tГ© ni
59
N
doubt. Si la ni
doutans
Kwéyòl – English
also: lenn) [< Fr. drap]
dout an tjè’w, wimèd-la pa kay
twavay. If there is any doubt in your
mind, the medicine won’t work. [< Fr.
doute] an dout in doubt. I pa kitГ©
nou an dout pou tan sala. He didn’t
leave us in doubt about that time.
dwГ©1 (var: dwГ©tГЁt)
ADV 1) must, must
have, must be, may, may have, may
be, might, might have, might be. I
dwГ© alГ© la paski i kwГЁ i tГ© kay jwenn
twavay. He must have gone there
because he thought he would get work.
(syn: oblijГ©; see also: fo, nГ©sГ©sГЁ, pГ©,
sa, aplГЁ, pitГЁt) 2) ought, should. I pa
ka twavay kon i dwé. He doesn’t
work like he should. (syn: sipozГ©)
[< Fr. doit]
doutans variant of dout.
douvan
PREP 1) in front of. Tifi-a
doubout douvan mwen. The girl
stood in front of me. (opp: dГЁyГЁ)
2) before, in the sight of, with respect
to. Nou ni on bon doubout douvan
BondyГ©. We have a good standing
before God. [< Fr. devant] pwan
douvan to go ahead, to go in front, to
take the lead. Pwan douvan èk ann’
alé. You take the lead and let’s go.
dwГ©2
V to owe. Boug-la dwГ© mwen
an chay lajan. The fellow owes me a
lot of money.
dwГ©3
CONJ though, although, despite,
in spite of. DwГ© i tГ© ni an chay lajan,
mГ© i pa tГ© satisfГЁ. Although he had a
lot of money, he was not satisfied.
(syn: magwГ©)
douz
ADJ twelve. Mwen genyen douz
zГ©. I bought twelve eggs. [< Fr.
douze]
douzenn
dwГЁt
dwГЁt1
dozen. Ou pa ka vann yo
pa douzenn? Don’t you sell them by
the dozen? [< Fr. douzaine]
N finger. LГЁ i tonbГ©, i kasГ©
dwГЁt li. When he fell, he broke his
finger. (see also: gwo pous) [< Fr.
doigt] bout dwГЁt fingertip. I koupГ©
bout dwГЁt li. He cut his fingertip.
tété dwèt to suck one’s thumb. Sé
pou ou doubout tГ©tГ© dwГЁt. You must
quit sucking your thumb. ti dwГЁt
little finger, pinkie. I kasГ© ti dwГЁt li.
He broke his little finger.
N
dowad
N dolphin. JГІdi-a yo ka vann
dowad bonmaché. Today they’re
selling dolphin cheap. [< Sp. dorado]
dГІwГІ variant of dГЁwГІ.
drayv
V to drive. Sa ki ka drayv
motoka-a? Who is driving the car?
(syn: kondwi) [< Eng. drive]
dwГЁt2
ADJ 1) right. I soud an zГІwГЁy
dwГЁt li. He is deaf in his right ear.
(opp: gГІch) 2) straight. Baton-an
dwГЁt. The stick is straight. (opp:
kochi) 3) right, righteous. I tГ© ka viv
an lavi ki dwГЁt. He was living a
righteous life. ADV right, directly.
Mango-a tonbГ© dwГЁt douvan lapГІtla. The mango fell right in front of the
door. [< Fr. droit] lanmen dwГЁt
right, right-hand side. LГЁ ou wivГ© an
vil, tounen asou lanmen dwГЁt. When
dwa1
N right. Kilès ki ba’w dwa-a
pou fГЁ sa? Who gave you the right to
do that? (syn: lotowitГ©, pouvwa; see
also: tit) [< Fr. droit] an dwa to
have a right. Ou an dwa mГ©tГ© yo
dГІwГІ asou tГЁ-a. You have the right to
kick them off of the land. (see also:
adan tit)
dwa2
N bed sheet. Dwa-a tГ© dГ©chiwГ©.
The sheet was torn. (syn: kouvГЁti; see
60
dwГ©tГЁt
Kwéyòl – English
to roam. Yo pa ni anyen pou fГЁ, kon
sa yo enmen dwivГ© tout lajounГ©-a.
They have nothing to do, so they love
to stroll all day long.
you arrive in town, turn to the right.
(opp: lanmen gГІch)
dwГ©tГЁt variant of dwГ©. [< Fr. doit
ГЄtre?]
dwi
dwiyГЁt
N a traditional dress worn
when dancing the quadrille. An tan
lontan sГ© madanm-lan tГ© ka abiyГ©
an dwiyГЁt pou dansГ© kГІdwil. Long
ago the ladies wore the traditional
dress to dance the quadrille. (see also:
wГІb)
often. Nonm-lan ka alГ©
lanmГЁ dwi toujou magwГ© i sГ© an
gwan nonm. The man still goes to the
sea often although he’s old. (syn:
souvan, an chay di lГЁ; opp: wa; see
also: wГЁglГ©)
ADV
dwivayГЁz
N someone who wanders
aimlessly, loafer, someone who is
unproductive. Tibway sala sГ© on
dwivayГЁz. That boy is an aimless
wanderer. (syn: vakabon)
dwivГ©
V
Г©gal
dwГІl
ADJ strange, funny. Zyé’w ka
gadГ© dwГІl. Your eyes look strange.
(syn: Г©twanj) [< Fr. drГґle]
dyanman
N diamond. Yo ka chachГ©
dyanman. They’re looking for
diamonds. [< Fr. diamant]
to stroll, to wander aimlessly,
Ee
Г© variant of Г©pi. Mwen byen, Г© ou
The whale washed up on the Laborie
beach. (syn: kГІstГ©; see also: fГЁ tГЁ)
[< Fr. Г©chouer]
menm? I’m fine, and you? [< Fr. et]
Г©, Г©
INTERJ eh, eh. É, é, sa ki wivé’y?
Eh, eh, what’s the matter with him?
Г©ben (var: enben, oben, ouben)
Г©dГ© (var: endГ©)
V to help. ZГІt tout
kay Г©dГ© nou. You all will help us. (see
also: chapГ©, sovГ©, soukou) [< Fr.
aider]
CONJ
1) or. Г€s ou vlГ© sala Г©ben lГІt-la? Do
you want that or the other? 2) well,
then. Г‰ben, fГЁ sa ou vlГ©. Then do
what you want. (see also: bon) [< Fr.
eh bien]
Г©fasi
V to erase. Yo Г©fasi tout sa ki tГ©
Г©kwi-a. They erased all that was
written. [< Fr. effacer]
Г©chanlib variant of lГ©chanlib.
Г©fГІ
N effort. Nonm-lan pa fГЁ pyГЁs Г©fГІ
pou édé kò’y. The man didn’t make
any effort to help himself. [< Fr.
effort]
Г©chofi
N athlete’s foot; a fungus that
grows between the toes. Tibway sala
toujou ni Г©chofi paski i pa ka lavГ©
pyé’y. That boy always has athlete’s
foot because he doesn’t wash his feet.
Г©gal
ADJ equal, level, same, flush.
Mwen miziwГ© dГ© mГІso planch sala
Г©pi yo Г©gal. I measured the two planks
of wood and they are the same length.
(see also: nivo) [< Fr. Г©gal]
Г©chwГ©
V to beach, to wash up on
shore, to land a boat. Balenn-an
Г©chwГ© asou lans lanmГЁ Labowi-a.
61
Г©gawГ©
Kwéyòl – English
Г©gawГ©
Г©klatГ©
ADJ dazed, in a daze. I Г©gawГ©
menm kon ti manmay ki lГ©vГ© an
sonmèy. He’s in a daze just like a
child who has been awakened from
sleep. (see also: bazoudi, kagou,
toudi, vag) [< Fr. Г©garer]
ГЁgzaktiman
V to resound, to burst, to
reverberate, to echo. Son koul hachla tГ© ka Г©klatГ© an bwa-a. The sound
of the axe echoed in the forest. (see
also: pГ©tГ©) [< Fr. Г©clater]
Г©klГ©wГ©
V to clarify, to make clear, to
enlighten. Г‰klГ©wГ© mwen pli asou sa,
souplГ©. Clarify that for me, please.
(syn: klawifyГ©) ADJ enlightened.
ApwГ©zan tan-an Г©klГ©wГ©. Nowadays
times are enlightened. (opp: inyowan,
boutГЁy nwГЁ) [< Fr. Г©clairer]
exactly. M’a sav
ègzaktiman ki jou i ka vini. I don’t
know exactly what day he is coming.
(syn: diwГЁktiman) [< Fr. exactement]
ADV
ГЁgzanminГ©
V to examine. Yo
ГЁgzanminГ© papyГ©-a. They examined
the paper. [< Fr. examiner]
Г©klГІ
V to hatch. Tout zГ© poul-la Г©klГІ.
All the chicken’s eggs hatched. (see
also: ponn, kouvГ©) [< Fr. Г©clore]
ГЁgzanp
N example. I sГ© on bon
ГЁgzanp pou sГ© jenn manmay an
vilaj-la. He is a good example for the
young people in the village. [< Fr.
exemple] pa ГЁgzanp 1) for example.
Pa ГЁgzanp, pyГЁs nonm ki kitГ©
madanm li ГЁk i ka viv ГЁk yon lГІt
madanm, i ka viv an adiltГЁ. For
example, any man who leaves his wife
and leaves with another woman, he is
living in adultery. 2) as an example.
SГ© pou ou viv pa ГЁgzanp. You must
live your life as an example for others.
Г©koutan
ADJ obedient. LГЁ yo tann sa,
yo kay pli Г©koutan. When they hear
that, they will be more obedient. (syn:
obГ©yisan; opp: dГ©zobГ©yisan) [< Fr.
Г©coutant]
ГЁksГЁptГ© (var: asГЁptГ©)
PREP except.
Yo mennen tout bagay ГЁksГЁptГ© sa.
They took everything except that.
(syn: antiwan) CONJ unless. Ou pa
kay sovГ© ГЁksГЁptГ© ou konnГЁt JГ©zi.
You won’t be saved unless you know
Jesus. (syn: anba, tout tan...pa) [< Fr.
exceptГ©]
ГЁgzibisyon
N exhibition. SГ© fama-a
ka tjenn an gwo ГЁgzibisyon an vil
VyГ© FГІ. The farmers are holding a big
exhibition in Vieux Fort. [< Fr.
exhibition]
ГЁkstrГ©
N x-ray. DГІktГЁ-a ka gadГ©
ГЁkstrГ© fwisi misyГ©-a. The doctor is
looking at the x-ray of the man’s
lungs. V to x-ray, to take an x-ray.
Tifi-a tГ© adan an aksidan Г©pi yo tГ© ni
pou ГЁkstrГ© tГЁt li. The girl was in an
accident and they had to x-ray her
head. [< Eng. x-ray]
ГЁgzistГ©
V to exist. M’a ni lidé bagay
kon ladjablès ka ègzisté. I don’t think
things like she-devils exist. [< Fr.
exister]
ГЁk variant of ГЁvГЁk.
Г©klanmГ©
Г©kwi
Г©kwi
V 1) to write. Tifi-a Г©dГ©
gwanmanman’y ékwi lèt-la. The girl
helped her grandmother write the
letter. (see also: matjГ©) 2) to have the
ability to write. I tГ© ka li Г© Г©kwi. He
to claim. SГ© pou ou
éklanmé tè-a gwanmanman’w té ba
ou-a. You must claim the land your
grandmother left you. [< Fr.
rГ©clamer]
V
62
Г©kwiti
Kwéyòl – English
could read and write. [< Fr. Г©crire]
ennitil
zafГЁ mwen. That boy is so
presumptuous; he is asking me my
business. (syn: konpawГ©zon) [< Fr.
indiscret]
Г©kwiti
N 1) writings. Г‰kwiti sГ©
pwofГЁt-la pa tГ© Г©zГ© pou kopwann.
The writings of the prophets were not
easy to understand. (see also: lГ©vanjil)
2) handwriting. Mwen pa sa fouti
kopwann ékwiti dòktè-a. I couldn’t
understand the doctor’s handwriting at
all. [< Fr. Г©criture]
enfim
ADJ infirm, lame, crippled.
Aksidan-an kitГ© nonm-lan enfim.
The accident left the man crippled.
[< Fr. infirme] enfim an tГЁt
mentally deficient, retarded. Tibwayla ka fГЁ kon moun ki enfim an tГЁt.
The boy is acting like a retarded
person. (syn: gochГ© an tГЁt, dГЁkdГЁk;
see also: tГЁt wГЁd, tГЁtenm)
Г©kwiven
N writer, author. Г‰kwiven
liv sala sГ© on Sent Lisyen. The author
of this book is a St. Lucian. [< Fr.
Г©crivain]
enfimitГ©
N lame, crippled person. SГ©
avГЁg-la wГЁ ГЁk enfimitГ© tГ© ka machГ©.
The blind saw and the crippled were
walking. [< Fr. infirmitГ©]
ГЁkzГІvГ© variant of ГІbzГІvГ©.
Г©livГ© ADJ mannered. [< Fr. Г©levГ©]
byen Г©livГ© polite, well-mannered.
Sé on gason ki byen élivé. He’s a
well-mannered boy. mal Г©livГ© illmannered. Gason-an tГ© mal Г©livГ©.
The boy was ill-mannered.
enfГІmasyon
N information. Liv-la ni
an chay enfГІmasyon ki enpГІtan. The
book has much important information.
[< Fr. information]
enben variant of Г©ben.
enfГІmГ©
V to inform. Yo kay enfГІmГ©
nou ki jou nou kay jwenn ankГІ.
They will inform us what day we will
meet again. (syn: fГЁ sav, souflГ©; see
also: di) [< Fr. informer]
endГ© variant of Г©dГ©.
endik
N advice. Si endik sГ©tГ© lajan,
sГ© pa mwen ou tГ© kay bay li. If
advice were money, you wouldn’t give
it to me. (syn: konsГЁy) [< Fr. indiquer]
engwa
ADJ ungrateful. Nonm wich-la
tГ© tГЁlman engwa! The rich man was
so ungrateful! (syn: mal onnГЁt) [< Fr.
ingrat]
endikasyon
N education. SГ© moun
sala pa ni djГЁ endikasyon. Those
people have hardly any education.
[< Fr. Г©ducation]
enkoutan variant of Г©koutan.
endikГ©
enkouwajГ© variant of ankouwajГ©.
V to educate. Yo ka endikГ© sГ©
ti manmay-la. They’re educating the
children. (see also: moutwГ©, enstwi,
titj) ADJ educated. Madanm sala
endikГ© an chay. That woman is welleducated. [< Fr. indiquer]
enmen
V to like, to love. Nou enmen
jwГ© Г©pi sГ© ti manmay-la. We like to
play with the children. (syn: kontan;
opp: hayi; see also: lanmityГ©,
lanmou) [< Fr. aimer]
endiskwГ©
ADJ indiscreet,
presumptuous. Tibway sala
endiskwГ© pasГ© ki; i ka mandГ© mwen
ennitil
ADJ silly, lacking sense. Gason
sala ennitil! That boy is silly! [< Fr.
inutile] palГ© ennitil same as palГ©
63
enposib
Kwéyòl – English
also: endikГ©, moutwГ©) [< Fr.
instruire]
papicho.
enposib
ADJ impossible. Sa wГЁd mГ© i
pa enposib. That’s hard but not
impossible. (opp: posib) [< Fr.
impossible]
enswi variant of enstwi.
entГЁl
PRO so and so. Ay di entГЁl
mwen bizwen koutla mwen. Go tell
so and so I need my cutlass. (Used
when you don’t want to mention the
person’s name.; see also: tèl tèl,
tan3) [< Fr. en tГЁl]
enpГІtan
ADJ important. I enpГІtan
pou kouté manman’w. It is important
to obey your mother. [< Fr.
important]
enpozГ© (var: anpozГ©)
entГЁlijan (var: Г©tГЁlijan)
V to forbid.
Papa’y enpozé’y alé an vil. His father
forbad him from going to town. (syn:
dГ©fann; see also: anpГ©chГ©, doubout)
[< Fr. imposer]
ADJ
intelligent, smart. Gason-an entГЁlijan
mГ© i pa kontan lГ©kГІl. The boy is
intelligent but he doesn’t like school.
[< Fr. intelligent]
enpwidan variant of Г©pwidan.
entГЁlijans (var: Г©tГЁlijans)
N
intelligence. BondyГ© ban nou tout
entГЁlijans. God gave all of us
intelligence. (see also: sГЁvГЁl) [< Fr.
intelligence]
ensi variant of ГЁs.
ensiltan
ADJ insulting. Pa palГ© bay
nonm sala; i twò ensiltan! Don’t
speak to that man; he’s too insulting.
[< Fr. insultant]
ensiltГ©
Г©pawlab
entГ©wГ©san variant of antГ©wГ©san.
entГ©wГ©sГ© variant of antГ©wГ©sГ©.
to insult. Pouki ou ka
ensiltГ© mwen kon sa? Why are you
insulting me like that? (see also:
dГ©kwiyГ©, jГ©tГ© pawГІl, mГ©pwizГ©, mal
palГ©, sali non) [< Fr. insulter]
V
entГІnasyonnal
ADJ international.
Nou ka sГ©lГ©bwГ© Jounen KwГ©yГІl
EntГІnasyonnal. We are celebrating
International Creole Day. [< Fr.
international]
ensiswatil
INTERJ amen. Mwen ka
mandГ© tout sГ© bagay an non JГ©zi
Kwi, ensiswatil. I ask all of these
things in the name of Jesus Christ,
amen. (religious, archaic; syn: amГЁn)
[< Fr. ainsi soit-il]
envitasyon
N invitation. Yo ban nou
envitasyon-an pou fГЁt-la, mГ© nou pa
alГ©. They gave us the invitation to the
party, but we didn’t go. [< Fr.
invitation]
ensit
envitГ©
enstwi (var: enswi)
ГЁp variant of Г©pi.
N insult. Ou ni twГІp ensit anba
lanng ou! You have too many insults
under your tongue! (see also: mГ©pwi)
[< Fr. insulte]
V to invite. Mwen tГ© vlГ© alГ© an
fГЁt-la, mГ© yo pa envitГ© mwen. I
wanted to go to the party, but they
didn’t invite me. [< Fr. inviter]
V to teach, to
instruct. Titja-a ka enstwi nou
mannyГЁ pou li. The teacher is
teaching us how to read. (syn: titj; see
Г©pawlab
ADJ speechless. I tГ© tГЁlman
sipwi, i tГ© Г©pawlab! He was so
surprised he was speechless!
64
Г©pГ©
Kwéyòl – English
Г©pГ©
ГЁslavaj (var: ГЁslavay)
ADJ thick. Liv-la tГ© Г©pГ©! The book
was thick! (opp: mens) [< Fr. Г©pais]
N slavery. Yo
aboli ГЁslavaj konmen tan ki pasГ©.
They abolished slavery a long time
ago. [< Fr. esclavage]
Г©pi (var: Г©, ГЁp)
CONJ and. Mwen
genyen pen Г©pi yonn dГ© ti bagay. I
bought bread and a few small things.
(syn: ГЁvГЁk) PREP with. Mennen
mwen épi’w! Take me with you! (syn:
ГЁvГЁk; opp: san)
ГЁslavay variant of ГЁslavaj.
Г©souflГ© (var: wisouflГ©)
V to gasp for
air. LГЁ i fin moutГ© mГІn-an i tГ© ka
Г©souflГ© an chay. When he finished
climbing the hill he was really gasping
for air. [< Fr. essouffler]
Г©pwidan (var: enpwidan)
N illness
whose symptoms are chills and fever.
(see also: kanmanmi, sapantГЁ, tiyГЁl)
[< Fr. imprudent]
ГЁspГ©wГ© (var: ГЁspГ©yГ©)
V 1) to wait
(for), to await. Yo tГ© ka ГЁspГ©wГ© nou.
They were waiting for us. (syn:
atandГ©) 2) to expect. Ou vini lГЁ
mwen pa tГ© ka ГЁspГ©wГ©. You came
when I wasn’t expecting. [< Fr.
espГ©rer]
ГЁs (var: ГЁskГЁ, ГЁs ki, ГЁs si, ensi) Y/N
question marker. Г€s ou ni lajan? Do
you have money? [< Fr. est-ce] ГЁs ki
variant of ГЁs. ГЁs si variant of ГЁs. Г€s
si wat enmen patat? Do rats like
sweet potato?
Г©sГ©yГ©
ГЁspГ©yans
N experience. Yo tГ© ni on
vyГ© ГЁspГ©yans. They had a bad
experience. [< Fr. expГ©rience]
to try, to attempt. Yo Г©sГ©yГ©
mé yo pa té sa fè’y. They tried but
they couldn’t do it. (see also: débat,
dГ©bwiyГ©, fГЁ so, mennajГ©) [< Fr.
essayer]
V
ГЁspГ©yansГ©
V to experience. Nou ja
ГЁspГ©yansГ© lanmityГ© BondyГ©. We
have experienced God’s love. [< Fr.
expГ©rience]
ГЁskГЁ variant of ГЁs. [< Fr. est-ce que]
ГЁskiz
ГЁspГ©yГ© variant of ГЁspГ©wГ©.
N excuse. Yo ban nou tout sГІt
kaltГ© ГЁskiz. They gave us all kinds of
excuses. [< Fr. excuse]
ГЁskizГ©
ГЁspozГ©
ГЁspityГ© variant of ГЁsplikГ©. Г€spityГ© sa
ban mwen. Explain that to me.
to excuse. Г€skizГ© mwen,
souplГ©. Excuse me, please. [< Fr.
excuser]
V
ГЁsplikГ© (var: ГЁspityГ©)
V to explain.
Nonm-lan ГЁsplikГ© pwoblenm-lan
ban nou. The man explained the
problem for us. (syn: dГ©chifwГ©) [< Fr.
expliquer]
ГЁskoupyon
N scorpion. Mwen tГ© ka
fouyГ© bandja Г©pi mwen jwenn an
ГЁskoupyon. I was digging for wild
yams and came across a scorpion.
[< Fr. scorpion]
ГЁspozГ©
V 1) to expose. SГ© jenn tifi
sala annГЁk ГЁspozГ© kГІ yo
toubonnman. These young women
just expose themselves like that. 2) to
lay out a corpse for viewing. Yo
ГЁspozГ© kГІ mГІ-a dГ© nГЁditan avan
lГЁtГЁman-an. They laid out the body
for viewing two hours before the
ГЁslav
ADJ enslaved. I tГ© ГЁslav sigawГЁt.
He was enslaved to cigarettes. N
slave, person who is enslaved. Ou ka
twГ©tГ© mwen kon an ГЁslav. You are
treating me as a slave. [< Fr. ГЁsclav]
65
ГЁspwa
Kwéyòl – English
burial. [< Fr. exposer]
started. Wilizyon sala Г©tabli an Sent
Lisi senkant lannГ© ki pasГ©. This
religion got started in St. Lucia fifty
years ago. [< Fr. Г©tablir]
ГЁspwa
N hope. Г€spwa mwen sГ© sa:
Yon jou mwen kay wГЁ sГ© ich mwenan ankГІ. My hope is this: One day I
will see my children again. [< Fr.
espoir] ni ГЁspwa to hope. Mwen ni
èspwa mwen kay wè’w ankò. I hope
I will see you again.
Г©taj (var: Г©tay)
N floor, storey.
Boutik-la tГ© asou pwГЁmyГ© Г©taj kayla. The shop was on the first floor of
the building. [< Fr. Г©tage]
ГЁspwГ©
Г©tay variant of Г©taj.
ADV deliberately, on purpose.
SГ© ГЁspwГ© i fГЁ sa! He did that
deliberately. [< Fr. exprГЁs]
ГЁspwГЁsman
Г©tГЁlijan variant of entГЁlijan.
Г©tГЁlijans variant of entГЁlijans.
especially. Mwen fГЁ
bonbon sala èspwèsman ba’w. I
made this cake especially for you.
(syn: sitou)
ADV
Г©tГЁnГЁl variant of Г©tГЁwnГЁl.
Г©tenn
V 1) to extinguish, to put out (a
fire). Yo Г©tenn difГ©-a avan i bwilГ©
kay-la. They put out the fire before it
burnt down the house. (see also: tenn)
2) to die, to pass away, to expire.
Gwan nonm-lan pa mГІ, i Г©tenn. The
old man didn’t die, he expired. (slang;
usually used in reference to the death
of elderly people; syn: mГІ; see also:
Bazil pwen’y, foukan, mawé patjé,
di dГ©dГ©, tiwГ© kГІ) [< Fr. Г©teindre]
ГЁspwi variant of lГЁspwi.
ГЁstati
N statue. Yo fГЁ on ГЁstati pou fГЁ
moun chonjГ© tout sГ© sГІlda-a ki mГІ
an ladjГЁ-a. They made a statue to
remind people of the soldiers who died
in the war. [< Fr. statue]
ГЁstennГ©
V to sneeze. Lapousyè-a fè’y
ГЁstennГ©. The dust made him sneeze.
[< Fr. Г©ternuer]
ГЁstimГ©
Г©tonnen
Г©tГ©wГ©san variant of antГ©wГ©san.
to estimate. I kay ГЁstimГ©
valГЁ kay-la. He will estimate the value
of the house. [< Fr. estimer]
V
Г©tГ©wГ©sГ© variant of antГ©wГ©sГ©.
Г©tГЁwnГЁl (var: Г©tonnГЁl, Г©tГЁnГЁl)
ADJ
eternal. Kado BondyГ© sГ© lavi
étèwnèl. God’s gift is eternal life.
[< Fr. Г©ternel]
ГЁstГІdinГЁ
ADJ extraordinary, strange.
Kay sala ГЁstГІdinГЁ. That house is
extraordinary. (see also: ГІdinГЁ) [< Fr.
extraordinaire]
Г©tidyГ©
V to study. Pou fГЁ byen lГ©kГІl
ou ni pou Г©tidyГ© an chay. To do well
in school you must study a lot. [< Fr.
Г©tudier]
ГЁstopyГ©
V to cut. Pa kouwi la avan
boutèy èstopyé’w. Don’t run there, or
glass will cut you. (syn: koupГ©; see
also: volГ©) [< Fr. estropier]
Г©tonnГЁl variant of Г©tГЁwnГЁl.
Г©tabli
Г©tonnen
V 1) to establish, to start. JГ©zi
vini asou latГЁ-a pou Г©tabli lГ©gliz li.
Jesus came on earth to establish his
church. 2) to get established, to get
ADJ astounded, astonished,
amazed, surprised. LГЁ yo wГЁ sa yo tГ©
Г©tonnen! When they saw that they
were astonished! (syn: sГ©zi, sipwi,
66
Г©twal
Kwéyòl – English
bГ©dji) [< Fr. Г©tonner]
fak
ou pa vlГ© alГ© ГЁvГЁk mwen, mwen kay
alé pa kò mwen. If you don’t want to
go with me, I’ll go alone. (syn: épi)
[< Fr. avec]
Г©twal
N star. Nou wГЁ lalin-an ГЁk an
chay Г©twal. We saw the moon and
many stars. [< Fr. Г©toile] Г©twal filГ©
falling star. LГЁ yo wГЁ klГЁtГ©-a, yo kwГЁ
i sГ©tГ© an Г©twal filГ©. When they saw
the light, they thought it was a falling
star.
Г©vwГ©
ADV It’s true. Évwé mwen ba li
lajan, mé mwen pa ba li tèlman. It’s
true I gave him money, but I didn’t
give him so much. [< Fr. c’est vrai]
Г©twanj
Г©wГ©
ADJ strange. Nou tann on
dГ©zГІd ki Г©twanj. We heard a strange
noise. (syn: dwГІl) [< Fr. Г©trange]
ADJ prosperous, wealthy.
Madanm sala pa bizwen anyen;
mawi’y mété’y éwé. That woman
doesn’t need anything; her husband
has made her prosperous. (syn: alГЁz,
byennéwé, ja fè’y, ja wivé, wich;
opp: mal, malГ©wГ©, pГІv; see also:
byen, wichГЁs) [< Fr. heureux]
Г©twanjГ©
N stranger, foreigner. SГ© pou
ou twГ©tГ© Г©twanjГ© byen. You should
treat strangers well. [< Fr. Г©tranger]
Г©twГ©si
V to shrink. Chimiz-la Г©twГ©si
lè mwen lavé’y. The shirt shrank
when I washed it. [< Fr. rГ©trГ©cir]
Г©wisi
V to succeed. I Г©wisi fГЁ sГ©
moun-an kwГЁ sa. He succeeded in
making the people believe that. (see
also: siksГ©) [< Fr. rГ©ussir]
Г©twГЁt
ADJ narrow, tight. TwГЁl sala
twГІ Г©twГЁt pou mwen sa fГЁ anyen
épi’y. That cloth is too narrow for me
to do anything with it. (syn: jis) [< Fr.
Г©troit]
Г©wityГ© (var: iwityГ©)
V to inherit.
Gason éwityé tout lajan papa’y. The
son inherited all of his father’s money.
[< Fr. hГ©riter]
Г©vansyon
N invention. Sa sГ© an
évansyon nèf. That’s a new invention.
[< Fr. invention]
Г©zГ©
ADJ easy. I pli Г©zГ© pou dГ©sann
mГІn pasГ© moutГ©. It is easier to go
down a hill than to go up it. (syn: fasil;
opp: difisil, wГЁd)
ГЁvГЁk (var: ГЁk)
CONJ and. Kouman
PyГЁ ГЁvГЁk Mawi yГ©? How are Peter
and Mary? (syn: Г©pi) PREP with. Si
Ff
fachГ©
ADJ 1) vexed, irritated, cross,
annoyed, upset. LГЁ mwen wГЁ boutikla tГ© fГЁmГ©, mwen tГ© fachГ© tГЁlman.
When I saw the shop was closed, I
became quite upset. (see also: anwajГ©,
distwГ©, sitwayГ©, twoublГ©, lГ©vГ©
vГІlkan, tousГ© nГ©, waj) 2) when you
are not speaking with someone
because of an unhappy relationship.
Misyé sala faché épi tout pwochen’y.
That man is not speaking with his
neighbours. [< Fr. fГўchГ©]
fad
ADJ bland, tasteless. ManjГ©-a tГ©
fad pis mwen tГ© obliyГ© mГ©tГ© sГЁl
adan’y. The food was bland because I
forgot to put salt in it. [< Fr. fade]
fak
67
N
fork used for gardening. Mwen
faktri
Kwéyòl – English
fann bwa. The man was splitting
wood. 2) to cut open a body to
perform an autopsy. Mwen pa tГ©
wГЁstГ© lГЁ dГІktГЁ-a koumansГ© fann kГІ
mò-a. I didn’t stay when the doctor
began to cut the corpse open. ADJ
split, cracked. Kay masonn-an tГ©
fann. The concrete house was cracked.
[< Fr. fendre]
kasГ© fak-la patan mwen tГ© ka plantГ©
patat. I broke the fork while I was
planting sweet potatoes. V to plough,
to dig with a fork. Mwen fak tout tГЁ
sala mwen yonn. I ploughed all this
land myself. [< Eng. fork]
faktri
N factory. Yo ka fГЁ had an
faktri sala. They make clothes in that
factory. (syn: lizin) [< Eng. factory]
fal
fant
N crack, split. La ni fant an
kayГЁ-a. There are cracks on the rock.
[< Fr. fente]
crop, craw of a bird. Fal jibyГ©-a
té plen épi pwa. The bird’s crop was
full of peas.
N
falГЁz
fap (var: faps)
ADV 1) intensifier. PГ©
la fap Г©ben ou kay jwenn pli! You
just shut up or you’ll get it worse!
2) just, suddenly. Yo pwen kouwanan fap, ГЁk toupatou tГ© ka fГЁ nwГЁ.
They suddenly took the current and
everywhere was dark.
cliff, precipice. Pwen
pokosyon; la ni on gwo falГЁz la. Be
careful; there’s a big precipice there.
(syn: kaskou, koudoum) [< Fr.
falaise]
N
fama
N farmer. BofwГЁ mwen sГ© on
fama ki ka plantГ© fig. My brother-inlaw is a farmer who grows bananas.
(syn: plantГЁ) [< Eng. farmer]
faps variant of fap.
fas1 N face, front side. [< Fr. face] an
fas opposite. Tounen lГЁ ou wivГ© an
fanm
N woman. Mwen pa tГ© janmen
sav fanm sala tГ© on dГІktГЁ. I never
knew that woman was a doctor. (see
also: djal, kabwГЁs, madanm,
manmzГЁl, tifi) ADJ womanish; when
a young girl rudely tries to act older
than she really is. Tifi sala, pyГЁs
moun pa fanm pasé’y. This girl
thinks she is more grown up than
everybody else. (see also:
dГ©wГЁspГЁktГ©, nonm) [< Fr. femme]
fas lapГІs-la. Turn when you arrive
opposite the post office. fas a tГЁ face
down, on one’s face. Ti manmay-la
tГ© ka kouwi Г©pi i tonbГ© fas a tГЁ. The
child was running and fell on his face.
(syn: fas anba, vant anba, vant a tГЁ;
opp: vant anlГЁ) fas anba face down,
on one’s stomach. I mété liv-la fas
anba. He put the book face down.
(syn: fas a tГЁ, vant a tГЁ, vant anba;
opp: vant anlГЁ)
fanmchay
N midwife. SГ© fanmchay
ki té ka koupé lonbwi. It’s midwives
who used to cut umbilical cords.
fas2
V to fast. Jou sala nou fin fas.
That day we finished fasting. (syn: fГЁ
ajen, wГЁstГ© san manjГ©) [< Eng. fast]
fanmi (var: lafanmi)
N family. Tout
fanmi mwen ka wГЁstГ© lГІt pГ©yi. My
whole family lives overseas. (see also:
jennenwasyon) [< Fr. famille]
fann
V
fasil
fasad
N side. Motoka-a tГ© lГІt fasad
chimen-an. The car was on the other
side of the road. (syn: bГІ, kotГ©, sayd)
[< Fr. façade]
1) to split. Nonm-lan tГ© ka
fasil
68
ADV
easy. LГЁgzanmГ©-a tГ© fasil.
fatpГІk
Kwéyòl – English
This shirt fits you well. [< Fr. faire]
The test was easy. (syn: Г©zГ©; opp:
difisil, wГЁd) [< Fr. facile]
fatpГІk
N
fennen
fГЁ majГІl to extend the dewlap (in
reference to lizards). Zanndoli-a ka
fГЁ majГІl ban mwen. The lizard is
extending its dewlap at me.
a type of fruit. (syn: zikak)
favГЁ
N favour. KonpГЁ Lapen mandГ©
on favГЁ. Brother Rabbit asked for a
favour. (see also: gwas) [< Fr. faveur]
an favГЁ for, in favour of, in defence
of. FwГЁ mwen palГ© an favГЁ mwen an
lodyans-lan. My brother spoke in
favour of me in court. (opp: kont)
fГЁ2
N 1) iron, steel. Mwen fГЁ bayГЁ
mwen tout an fГЁ. I made my gate out
of iron. 2) iron used for pressing
clothes. Moun ka sГЁvi fГЁ pou pasГ©
had yo. People use irons to press their
clothes. [< Fr. fer] fГЁ blan
aluminium. Dlo nou ka bwГЁ nou ka
mГ©tГ© adan an bonm fГЁ blan. We keep
our drinking water in an aluminium
bucket.
favowi
N sideburn, side whisker. I tГ©
ni favowi mé i wazé’y. He had
sideburns but he cut them off. [< Fr.
favoris]
fawin
fГЁb
N cassava flour. Nou tГ© ka fГЁ
fawin. We were making cassava flour.
(syn: fawin manyГІk; see also: kasav)
[< Fr. farine] fawin fwans wheat
flour. I genyen on sak fawin fwans
pou fГЁ pen. He bought a sack of wheat
flour to make bread. fawin manyГІk
same as fawin.
ADJ weak. Janm fГЁb li-a
anpéché’y kontiné asou lawout-la.
His weak leg prevented him from
continuing on his way. (opp: fГІ; see
also: toub) [< Fr. faible]
fГЁblГЁs
N weakness. MisyГ©-a tГ© fen
tèlman fèbles pwan’y. The man was
so hungry weakness came over him.
(opp: fГІs, kouway) [< Fr. faiblesse]
fawouch
ADJ wild. Kabwit-la tГ©
fawouch. The goat was wild. (syn:
mawon, sovay; opp: dous) [< Fr.
farouche]
fГЁman
N weapon. Jenn jan apwГ©zan
pa ka goumen san fГЁman yo. Young
people today don’t fight without their
weapons. (see also: zam)
fawouchГ©
V to scare, to frighten. Yo
fawouchГ© sГ© kwibich-la. They
frightened the crayfish. [< Fr.
farouche]
fГЁmГ©
V to close, to shut. AntwГ© an
kay-la ГЁk fГЁmГ© lapГІt-la, souplГ©.
Come into the house and close the
door, please. (opp: ouvГЁ; see also:
laklГ©, tjatjГ©) [< Fr. fermer]
fГЁ1
V 1) to do. Sa ou ka fГЁ la? What
are you doing there? 2) to make.
Manman fГЁ bonbon koko. My
mother made coconut cake. (see also:
fГІmГ©, wann) 3) to cause (something
to happen), to force, to make
(someone do something). I fГЁ mwen
manjГ© tout mango vГЁt-la mwen
tjouwi-a. He made me eat all the
green mangos I picked. (see also: fГІsГ©)
4) to fit. Chimiz sala ka fè’w byen.
fen
ADJ hungry. I fen paski i pa tГ©
pwen ditГ©. She is hungry because she
didn’t eat breakfast. [< Fr. faim]
fennen
V 1) to wilt, to wither. SГІlГЁyla fennen tout fГЁy pyГ© bwa-a. The
sun withered the tree’s leaves. 2) to
ripen off the vine. MГ©tГ© mango-a
fennen. Put the mango to ripen. [< Fr.
69
fГЁplГ©
Kwéyòl – English
had made its nest on the roof of the
house. (syn: tГЁt kay; see also: chivon,
chapo kay) [< Fr. faГ®tage]
faner]
fГЁplГ© (var: fyГЁplГ©)
ADJ frank,
straightforward, plain-spoken. Nonm
sala fГЁplГ©; i pa ka mГ©tГ© dlo an bouch
li. That man is plain-spoken; he
doesn’t water down what he says.
fГ©tГ©
V to hold, to have, to give (a
party), to celebrate. Ti manmay-la
batizГ© jГІdi-a mГ© nou ka fГ©tГ© fГЁt-la
denmen. The child was baptized today
but we are holding the party
tomorrow. (see also: sГ©lГ©bwГ©, wibotГ©,
fГЁ lafГЁt) [< Fr. fГЄter]
fГЁs
N backside, buttocks, arse. I tonbГ©
asou difГ©-a ГЁk bwilГ© fГЁs li. He fell on
the fire and burnt his backside. (syn:
tjou, bonda) [< Fr. fesses]
fГ©sГ©
fi
fГ©to variant of fГ©tay.
to throw down, to slam down.
(syn: foutГ©, jГ©tГ©) fГ©sГ© a tГЁ to throw
someone down on the ground. Nonmlan tjébé tibway-la èk i fésé’y a tè!
The man grabbed the boy and he threw
him down to the ground! fГ©sГ© pyГ© a
tè to stamp one’s feet. Tibway-la té
faché tèlman i fésé pyé’y a tè. The
boy was so angry he stamped his feet.
V
FГ©vwiyГ©
N February. SГ© an mwa
FГ©vwiyГ© nou ka sГ©lГ©bwГ©
andГ©pandans nou. It is in the month
of February we celebrate our
independence. [< Fr. FГ©vrier]
fГ©wГ©
V to shoe (horses). Mwen
mennen chouval-la bay fГІjon-an pou
féwé’y. I brought the horse to the
blacksmith to shoe it. [< Fr. ferrer]
fГЁsten
N festival, fete, feast. LГЁ
pwГЁmyГ© tibway mwen fГЁt, mwen
bay an gwan fГЁsten. When my first
boy was born, I gave a big feast. (syn:
fГЁt, sГ©lГ©bwasyon; see also: bal) [< Fr.
festin]
fГЁy
N leaf. PyГ© bwa-a mГІ ГЁk tout fГЁy
li tonbГ©. The tree died and all of its
leaves fell. (see also: pay) [< Fr.
feuille] anba fГЁy secretly, in secret.
Yo asanblГ© anba fГЁy. They met
secretly. (syn: ankachГЁt, an sГ©wan,
an sigwГ©) bwa gwan fГЁy a type of
tree with large leaves. Bwa gwan fèyla ni an nich mèl anlè’y. The “big
leaf” tree has a blackbird nest in it.
fГЁy kas leaves of cassia plant, used as
bush medicine. FГЁy kas sГ© an bon
afwéchi si ou vidé dlo cho anlè’y.
Cassia leaves make a good cooling if
you pour hot water on it. (see also: zГЁb
akouwГЁs)
fГЁt1
V 1) to happen, to take place. Sa
ka fГЁt atjГІlman. That happens
nowadays. (syn: pwan plas, pwan
kou; see also: fГЁ, wivГ©) Sa ka fГЁt?
What’s happening?/How’s it going?
2) to be born. Tifi mwen fГЁt an mwa
DГ©sanm. My daughter was born in the
month of December. [< Fr. fait]
fГЁt2 (var: lafГЁt)
N party, celebration,
feast. JГІdi-a la kay ni on fГЁt. Today
there will be a party. (syn: fГЁsten,
sГ©lГ©bwasyon) [< Fr. fГЄte] FГЁt LГ© MГІ
All Saint’s Day. Fèt Sent Jozèf St.
Joseph’s Day, Feast of St. Joseph.
fГЁyГЁt
N page. SГ© ti manmay-la
dГ©chiwГ© sГ© fГЁyГЁt liv-la. The children
tore the pages of the book. [< Fr.
feuillet]
fГ©tay (var: fГ©to)
N roof. JibyГ©-a tГ© fГЁ
nich li asou fГ©tay kay-la. The bird
fi variant of tifi. [< Fr. fille] vyГ© fi
70
fidГЁl
Kwéyòl – English
unripe banana used in cooking. fig
wouj a small, fat, red banana. (syn:
fig kochon)
old maid, spinster. VyГ© fi sala ka
vann chГЁbon. That old maid sells
charcoal.
fidГЁl
fiksГ©
ADJ faithful, in the sense of
keeping one’s word, vows. Nonm
sala fidГЁl; i pa janmen fГЁ anyen asou
madanm li. That man is faithful; he
has never cheated on his wife. (rare)
[< Fr. fidГЁle]
fidГЁlitГ©
N
V to fix (in reference to eyes,
mind), to direct steadily. ZyГ© yo tГ©
fiksГ© asou nonm-lan. Their eyes were
fixed on the man. [< Fr. fixer]
fiksyon
N oil, ointment, liniment
applied to the body by rubbing. SГ©
pou’w fè an bon fiksyon pou mété
an tГЁt ti manmay-la. You must make
a good ointment to put on the child’s
head. [< Fr. friction]
faithfulness. (rare) [< Fr.
fidГ©litГ©]
fidjay variant of fidji.
fidji (var: fidjay)
N face. I lavГ©
fidji’y avan i alé lékòl. He washed his
face before he went to school. [< Fr.
figure] fidji lonng a desolate,
embarrassed look on one’s face.
Fidji’y vini lonng lè yo mété sigwé’y
dГІwГІ. He had a desolate look on his
face when they revealed his secrets.
ponm fidji cheek. Ponm fidji’y té
wouj. Her cheeks were red. fidji pou
fidji face to face. Yo gadГ© yonn a
lГІt fidji pou fidji. The looked at each
other face to face.
fiksyonnen
V to rub with oil,
ointment, liniment. Sé pou’w
fiksyonnen ti manmay-la si i blГ©sГ©.
You must rub the child with ointment
if he’s in trauma. (see also: fwoté,
hГ©di) [< Fr. frictionner]
fil
N thread. I sГЁvi fil blan pou koud
chimiz li. She used white thread to
sew her shirt. (see also: fisГЁl, kГІd)
[< Fr. fil] gwo fil bouden (var: ti fil
bouden) large intestine. Gwo fil
bouden-an pli mal pou tjwit lГЁ ou fГЁ
bouden épi’y. The large intestine is
harder to cook when you make black
pudding with it. (see also:
bannbouden) ti fil bouden (var:
gwo fil bouden) small intestine. Ti
fil bouden-an pli bon pou fГЁ bouden.
The small intestine is better for
making black pudding. (see also:
bannbouden)
fifin
N drizzle, very fine rain. An ti
fifin lapli i wГЁ Г©pi i pa alГ© twavay.
He saw a little drizzle and he didn’t go
to work. (see also: lapli)
fifinГ©
V to drizzle, to rain lightly.
Lapli-a ka fifinГ©; mГ©tГ© an bagay
asou tГЁt ou. The rain is drizzling; put
something on your head. (see also:
dГ©vidГ©, kwГ©vГ©, tonbГ©)
fig
filГ©
filaylonm
N a type of sweet syrup
added to rum. Wonm-lan twГІ fГІ; ou
ni pou mété filaylonm adan’y. The
rum’s too strong; you have to add
syrup to it.
banana. I ka koupГ© fig li pou
vann bò laplas. He’s cutting his
bananas to sell at the market. (see also:
bannann, makanbou) fig kochon a
small, fat, red banana. (syn: fig wouj)
fig mi ripe banana. fig sikwiyГ© a
small type of banana. fig vГЁt green,
N
filГ©1
V to sharpen. I filé koutla’y épi
an lim. He sharpened his cutlass with
71
filГ©
Kwéyòl – English
the window. [< Fr. fenГЄtre]
a file. (opp: dГ©filГ©, tjwГ©) ADJ sharp.
Kouto-a pa filГ©! The knife is not
sharp! (opp: mГІ) [< Fr. filer]
fini (var: fin)
V to finish. Nou p’òkò
fini twavay nou. We haven’t finished
our work yet. (opp: koumansГ©; see
also: bout) ADV just. Ou pa ka pwan
an bonbon ou fini fè épi mété’y an
fridj-la. You don’t put a cake you just
made and put it in the refrigerator.
Fini mwen fini wè’y. I just saw him.
[< Fr. finir] fini anyen to come to
nothing, to vanish, to disappear. SГ©
bagay-la ki pa vo anyen-an kay fini
anyen. The things that are worthless
will come to nothing.
filГ©2
V to lower on a rope. FilГ© bonmlan ban mwen. Lower the bucket to
me. (opp: lГ©vГ©; see also: fil, bГ©sГ©)
[< Fr. filer] filГ© zГ©djwi to thread a
needle. I filГ© zГ©djwi-a. She threaded
the needle.
filГЁt
N small fishing net. FilГЁt-la plen
pwéson. The net’s full of fish. (see
also: senn, lГЁpГЁvyГ©, kali) [< Fr. filГЄt]
filГІzГІf
ADJ flashy, stylish, elegant,
well-dressed. Nonm sala filГІzГІf kon
on pan. That man is as flashy as a
peacock. (syn: flanman) [< Fr.
philosophe]
fimГЁl
ADJ
fimen
V
finisman
N end, finish. An finismanan yo viyГ© san pwГ©son. In the end
they returned without fish. (syn: bout)
fisГЁl
N string. Mwen mawГ© sak-la Г©pi
fisГЁl. I tied the bag with a string. (see
also: fil, kГІd) [< Fr. ficelle] fisГЁl
pГ©chГ© fishing line. Yo genyen fisГЁl
pГ©chГ©. They bought fishing line. (see
also: ling)
female (in reference to
animals). Nou ni twa fimГЁl chat Г©pi
on mal. We have three female cats and
one male. (opp: mal) N female. Chat
sala sГ© on fimГЁl. That cat is a female.
[< Eng. female]
fiyansГ© (var: fwiyansГ©)
ADJ engaged
to be married. MisyГ© sala ja fiyansГ©
Г©pi an bГЁl madanm. That man is
engaged to a beautiful woman. N
fiancГ©, fiancГ©e. FiyansГ© fwГЁ mwen
ka wété lòt péyi. My brother’s fiancée
lives overseas. (usually in reference to
woman) [< Fr. fiancГ©]
to smoke (a cigarette, cigar,
pipe). Pa fimen isi-a! Don’t smoke
here! (see also: lafimГ©, pafimГ©,
sigawГЁt) [< Fr. fumer]
fimyГ©
N manure, compost. Nou mГ©tГ©
fimyГ© asou jaden-an. We put manure
on the garden. (see also: lasГЁl, sГЁl)
[< Fr. fumier]
fin1
fiyГЁl
N godchild. Mwen achtГ© an wГІb
bay fiyГЁl mwen pou NwГЁl. I bought a
dress for my godchild for Christmas.
[< Fr. filleul]
thin. Gason-an fin kon an
gГІlГЁt. The boy is as thin as a stick.
(opp: gwa, gwo; see also: mГЁg)
[< Eng. thin]
ADJ
fiyonnen
V to scoff, to ridicule. Yo
tout tГ© ka fiyonnen nonm-lan ki tГ©
ka pwГ©chГ©-a. They were all ridiculing
the man who was preaching. (see also:
motjГ©, pwan sГЁvi papicho, pwan sГЁvi
widitjil, pwan sГЁvi wizib)
fin2 variant of fini. Madanm-lan ja
fin vann. The woman has finished
selling. (used before another verb)
M’a fin sav. I’m not even sure.
finГЁt
N
fiyonnen
window. OuvГЁ finГЁt-la. Open
72
fizi
Kwéyòl – English
fizi
flo
flatГЁz
N gun, rifle. Nonm-lan pwan
fizi’y épi i kouwi dèyè vòlè-a. The
man took his rifle and chased after the
thief. (see also: fiziwГ©, wivГІlva) [< Fr.
fusil] fizi bouwГ© a kind of muzzleloading gun. Moun tГ© ka sГЁvi fizi
bouwГ© lontan. People used to use
muzzle-loaders long ago. (archaic)
N flatterer. Ou sГ© on flatГЁz!
You’re a flatterer! [< Fr. flatteuse]
flГЁ
N flower. Jaden madanm sala
benyen flè. That woman’s garden is
full of flowers. (see also: flГ©wi) [< Fr.
fleur]
flГЁch
N 1) arrow. Tan lontan moun tГ©
ka sГЁvi bannza Г©pi flГЁch pou ay
pГ©chГ©. Long ago people used to use
bows and arrows to fish. (rare; see
also: va, pitjГЁt fГЁ) 2) wire leader for a
fishing hook. SГ© pou ou mawГ© flГЁch
an zen’w avan bétjin koupé ling ou.
You must put a leader on your fishing
hook or a barracuda might cut your
line. 3) shoot (of rice, etc.). BГЁf-la
manjГ© tout flГЁch diwi-a. The cow ate
all the shoots of rice. (see also: jГЁm,
koko, wichton; pousГ©) [< Fr. flГЁche]
fiziwГ©
V to shoot with a firearm. Nou
fiziwГ© tout jibyГ© nou wГЁ. We shot
every bird we saw. (see also: fizi)
flanbo
N torch. Yo tГ© ka achГ© kwab
Г©pi an flanbo. They were looking for
crabs with a torch. (see also: chal)
[< Fr. flambeau]
flanbotГ©
V to hunt or fish by torch
light. Yo toujou ka flanbotГ©. They
always fish by torch light.
flandjГ©
V to slit. FlandjГ© fig vГЁt-la
pou ou sa gwennen’y. Slit the green
banana in order to peel it.
flГ©chГ©
V to hurl, to throw something in
anger. Mwen flГ©chГ© pla-a dГЁyГЁ chatla lГЁ i manjГ© pwГ©son mwen-an. I
hurled the plate at the cat when it ate
my fish. (see also: jГ©tГ©, voyГ©)
flanm
N flame. Kay-la pwi difГ© Г©pi
flanm-lan tГ© cho an chay. The house
caught fire and the flames were very
hot. (see also: difГ©) [< Fr. flamme]
flГ©wi1
V to flower. SГ© pyГ© mango-a ja
ka flГ©wi. The mango trees are already
flowering. (see also: flГЁ) [< Fr. fleurir]
flГ©wi NwГЁl poinsettia. Yo ni an
chay flГ©wi NwГЁl douvan kay yo.
They have many poinsettias in front of
their house.
flanman
ADJ flashy, stylish, elegant,
well-dressed. Ou gadГ© flanman! You
look elegant! (syn: filГІzГІf)
flas
N thermos. Flas-la plen kafГ©. The
thermos is full of coffee. [< Eng.
flask]
flГ©wi2
N a fork used to pierce witches
in order to kill them or render them
powerless. Papa mwen pitjГ© gajГ©-a
Г©pi an flГ©wi. My father pierced the
witch with a fork.
flatГ©
V 1) to flatter. MisyГ©-a ka flatГ©
mwen pou mwen sa achtГ© an
magazen’y. The man flatters me to get
me to buy something in his store.
2) to coax, to cajole. Yo tГ© ka flatГ©
tibway-la pou manjГ© titak manjГ©.
They were coaxing the boy to eat a
little food. (syn: anmiyonnen) [< Fr.
flatter]
flo1
ADJ empty, hollow. Pistach-la tГ©
flo! The peanut was empty. (syn:
kwГЁz)
flo2
N styrofoam. Las jwГ© ГЁk flo-a; i
ka twisayГ© mwen. Quit playing with
73
flotГ©
Kwéyòl – English
foli
the styrofoam; it is giving me the
shivers.
N craze, mania, craving.
Madanm-lan pa ka fГЁ foli dГЁyГЁ sГ©
soulyé sala. The woman doesn’t
follow the craze for those shoes.
[< Fr. folie] an foli in heat. Chat-la
tГ© an foli. The cat was in heat. (syn:
mandГ© mal, pwan mal)
flotГ©
V to float. KannГІt-la tГ© ka flotГ©
asou dlo-a. The boat was floating on
the water. (opp: koulГ©) [< Fr. flotter]
fo1
ADJ false. LatГЁ-a benyen fo
pwofГЁt. The world is full of false
prophets. [< Fr. faux] fo tГ©mwen
false witness. La kay ni fo tГ©mwen.
There will be false witnesses. [< Fr.
faux tГ©moin]
fo2
fГІnikasyon
fГІm
N form. AdjablГЁs-la vini adan
an fГІm an bГЁl fanm. The spirit came
in the form of a beautiful woman.
[< Fr. forme]
fГІmГ©
V to form. BondyГ© fГІmГ© latГЁ-a
adan sis jou. God formed the earth in
six days. (see also: fГЁ) [< Fr. former]
necessary. (see also: dwГ©,
nГ©sГ©sГЁ, oblijГ©) sГ© fo it is necessary.
SГ© fo ou alГ© lГ©kГІl si ou vlГ© apwann. It
is necessary for you to go to school if
you want to learn. (syn: sГ© pou; see
also: ni pou, oblijГ©)
ADJ
fon1
ADJ deep. Dlo-a pa fon. The
water is not deep. (opp: plat) N
valley. Nou dГ©sann an fon-an. We
went down into the valley. [< Fr.
profond] fГЁ fon to sink. Yo vowГ©
lank-lan an dlo-a èk kité’y fè fon.
They threw the anchor in the water
and let it sink. (see also: koulГ©) Fon
AsГІ Fond Assor (a village in St.
Lucia). JounГ© KwГ©yГІl tГ© Fon AsГІ.
Creole Day was at Fond Assor.
fГІ
ADJ 1) strong. Nonm sala fГІ pasГ©
ki! That man’s very strong! (opp: fèb)
2) intense. Van-an ka vin fГІ. The
wind is becoming intense. ADV
loudly. Nonm sou-a chantГ© fГІ kon i
pasГ© kay-la. The drunk man sang
loudly as he passed by the house.
[< Fr. fort] piman fГІ hot pepper.
TjГ©bГ© fГІ. Hold tight. Hang in there.
(see also: pwan tjГЁ, tjГ©bГ© wГЁd)
fon2
N forehead. Yo bat li asou fon’y.
They hit him on the forehead. [< Fr.
front]
fofilГ©
V 1) sewing term: to baste, to
tack. 2) to mingle, to get entangled, to
get involved (with). Annou pa fofilГ©
kò nou épi péché. Let’s not entangle
ourselves with sin. (syn: antanmГ©; see
also: mГ©lГ©) [< Fr. faufiler]
fondasyon
N foundation. La tГ© ni
tГЁlman lapli nou pa tГ© sa twavay
asou fondasyon kay-la. There was so
much rain we couldn’t work on the
foundation of the house. [< Fr.
fondation]
fГІjon
N blacksmith. FГІjon-an ka
fГ©wГ© chouval-la. The blacksmith is
putting shoes on the horse. [< Fr.
forgeron]
fondjГЁ
N depth. Ki fondjГЁ basen-an
yГ©? How deep is the river basin? (see
also: gwandГЁ, gwГІsГЁ, hГІtГЁ, lajГЁ,
londjГЁ) [< Fr. profondeur]
fГІl (var: fou)
ADJ crazy, mad (fem.
form). Madanm-lan fГІl! The woman
is crazy! [< Fr. folle]
fГІnikasyon
N fornication. Yo bouchГ©
dГ© moun sala ka fГЁ fГІnikasyon. They
caught those two people committing
74
fonmaj
Kwéyòl – English
knoll for planting. FГІs-la tГ© ja fouyГ©,
kon sa yo plantГ© sГ© gwenn-an. The
furrow was already dug, so they
planted the seeds.
fornication. (see also: adiltГЁ) [< Fr.
fornication]
fonmaj variant of fwonmaj.
fonmasi
N pharmacy. Ay an
fonmasi-a, achtГ© wimГЁd ban mwen.
Go to the pharmacy and get medicine
for me. [< Fr. pharmacie]
fГІs3 variant of afГІs.
fГІsГ©
V to force. I fГІsГ© nou pГІtГ© chay
lou-a. He forced us to carry the heavy
load. (syn: oblijГ©; see also: fГЁ) [< Fr.
forcer]
fonmi
N ant. La ni an chay fonmi
asou pyГ© mango-a. There are many
ants in the mango tree. [< Fr. fourmi]
fonmi flanman a large red ant that
sometimes lives in rotten wood.
fonmi fou a small black ant that
moves quickly. fonmi kaka type of
ant with a bad odour. fonmi mГІdan
a small black, biting ant. fonmi
wouj a small red ant that bites.
fonmi ada a kind of large black ant.
fonmi azГЁl rainfly. fonmi fГЁ a
small hard-backed black ant.
fГІskouch
N miscarriage. Fanm-lan tГ©
gwo bouden, mГ© i fГЁ fГІskouch. The
woman was pregnant, but she had a
miscarriage. (see also: avГІtГ©) [< Fr.
fausse couche]
fГІt
N fault due to negligence. SГ© fГІt
ou ki fГЁ chat-la chapГ©. It is your fault
the cat escaped. (syn: tГІ; see also:
dГ©fo) [< Fr. dГ©faut]
fotГ© variant of fwotГ©.
fonn
fГІtifiyan
V to melt, to dissolve. ChalГЁ-a
fonn tout bГЁ-a. The heat completely
melted the butter. ADJ broke (in
reference to money), bankrupt.
MisyГ©-a tГ© fonn plat; bank-lan pwen
tout sa i tГ© ni. The man was flat
broke; the bank took all he had. (opp:
wich; see also: pГІv, mal, malГ©wГ©)
[< Fr. fondre]
ADJ strengthening, nutritious,
fortifying. ManjГ©-a tГ© byen fГІtifyan.
The food was quite nutritious. [< Fr.
fortifiant]
fou1 (var: fГІl)
ADJ crazy, mad (masc.
form). PyГЁ fou! Peter is crazy! [< Fr.
fou]
fou2
N oven. Nou tiwГ© pen-an an foua. We removed the meat from the
oven. [< Fr. four] fou chГЁbon
charcoal pit. Mwen fГЁ on fou chГЁbon
dwГЁt bГІ jaden-an. I made a charcoal
pit right next to the garden.
fonsГ© variant of anfonsГ©. fonsГ© anlГЁ
to fight. (syn: sotГ© anlГЁ)
fГІs1 (var: lafГІs)
N force, strength.
Nou tГ© ni pou sГЁvi tout fГІs nou pou
sa pousГ© trГІk-la. We had to use all
our strength to be able to push the
truck. (syn: kouway; opp: fГЁblГЁs)
[< Fr. force] fГЁ fГІs kГІ to strive, to do
one’s best. Yo ka fè fòs kò yo pou
wivé an bout-la. They’re striving to
arrive at the end.
fГІs2
N
fouchГЁt
fouben
ADJ bold, brave, courageous.
Yo tГ© sipwi lГЁ yo wГЁ mizi fouben
gason-an tГ© fouben. They were
surprised when they saw how brave
the boy was. (syn: bwav; see also: ni
tjГЁ)
fouchГЁt
furrow, mound, heap, hillock,
75
N
fork. MГ©tГ© fouchГЁt-la asou
fouk
Kwéyòl – English
tab-la. Put the fork on the table. (see
also: kouto, tjwiyГЁ) [< Fr. fourchette]
fouk
fwapГ©
fГ©sГ©)
fouti
ADV (emphasizes a negative).
Konstan mwen ka di ng’a mété’y
dГІwГІ kay-la mГ© mwen pa fouti sa
fè’y. I am always saying I am going to
put him out of the house but I just
cannot do it. [< Fr. foutu]
crotch. I ka koud fouk tjilГІt
li. He’s sewing the crotch of his pants.
N
foukan
V 1) to go away. Tout sГ©
moun-an ja foukan. All the people
have gone away. 2) to die. (slang; see
also: mГІ, Г©tenn, mawГ© patjГ©, di dГ©dГ©,
tiwГ© kГІ) [< Fr. foutre le camp]
fouyГ©1
V 1) to dig. I ka fouyГ© twou
yanm. He’s digging yam holes. 2) to
stuff, to put, to push (something into
something). I fouyГ© chat-la an sak-la
èk i mawé’y. He stuffed the cat into
the bag and tied it. (see also: mГ©tГ©)
[< Fr. fouiller] fouyГ© dГЁyГЁ to look
into, to investigate. Madanm-lan
fouyГ© dГЁyГЁ sГ© bagay sala. The woman
looked into these things. [< Fr.
fouiller]
foulГ©
V 1) to pack densely, to tamp, to
cram. FoulГ© sak kopra-a, i twГІ lГ©jГЁ.
Pack the sack of copra densely, it’s too
light. (opp: dГ©foulГ©) 2) to trample, to
tread on. (syn: danmГ©) ADJ packed
densely, crammed. Sak kopra-a byen
foulГ©. The bag of copra is packed
quite densely. [< Fr. fouler]
founi
ADJ leafy, having an abundance
of leaves. PyГ© bwa-a founi twГІp. The
tree has too many leaves.
fouyГ©2
N an arrangement of three rocks
with a fire in the middle used for
cooking. ApwГ© yo fin twavay an
jaden-an yo bouwi bwapen-an asou
fouyГ©. After they finished working in
the garden they boiled breadfruit on a
cooking fire. (see also: fou, boukan,
difГ©)
founiti
N 1) furniture. Kay-la tГ© ja ni
tout founiti’y andidan’y. The house
already had all its furniture inside it.
(syn: mГЁb) 2) trimmings, garnish.
Madanm mwen mГ©tГ© tout founiti
anlГЁ salГ©zon-an. My wife put all the
trimmings on the meat. [< Fr.
fourniture]
fridj
N refrigerator. Mwen gadГ© an
fridj-la mГ© la pa tГ© ni pyГЁs laglas. I
looked in the refrigerator but there
wasn’t any ice. [< Eng. fridge]
founo
N furnace. Yo bwilГ© tout sГ©
vyГ© kawton-an an founo difГ©-a. They
burnt all the old cartons in the furnace.
[< Fr. fourneau]
fwa1
N time, occasion. Sa sГ© dГЁnyГ©
fwa-a mwen kay palé ba’w. This is
the last time I’m ever going to talk to
you. (syn: kou) [< Fr. fois]
foutГ©
V to hit, to strike. I tГ© fachГ©
tГЁlman i foutГ© tibway-la an koul
baton. He was so angry he struck the
boy with a stick. (syn: bat, fwapГ©; see
also: konyen, tap) Mwen kay
fouté’w on bèl tap. I’m going to give
you a hard slap. (crude) foutГ© a tГЁ to
throw down. I fouté kò’y a tè. He
flung himself to the ground. (syn: jГ©tГ©,
fwa2
N liver. LГЁ ou ka bwГЁ dlo fwГЁt
épi dlo cho ansanm, i ka ba’w gwo
fwa. If you drink cold water and hot
water together, it will give you an
enlarged liver. (syn: fwisi wГЁd) [< Fr.
foie]
fwapГ©
76
V
to hit, to strike. Nonm-lan
fwГ©
Kwéyòl – English
fwapГ© kochon-an Г©pi baton-an. The
man hit the pig with the stick. (syn:
bat, foutГ©; see also: konyen, tap)
[< Fr. frapper]
fwГ©
fwédi an jounou’y. She has
rheumatism in her knee. [< Fr.
froidure]
fwГ©kantГ©
V to have sex, to be sexually
active. SГ© jenn jan sala ja ka
fwГ©kantГ©; sГ© sa ki fГЁ yo nonm Г©pi
fanm kon sa. Those young people are
already sexually active; they think that
makes them grown up. (euphemism;
syn: fГЁ vis, kouchГ©, pwan) [< Fr.
frГ©quenter]
1) cool. Ti van sala fwГ©
bonmaten-an. This breeze is cool this
morning. 2) fresh. Si pen-an pa fwГ©,
pa achté’y. If the bread is not fresh,
don’t buy it. (opp: wasi) 3) refreshed.
Ti ben sala fГЁ mwen vin fwГ©. That
little bath made me refreshed.
4) strong (in reference to smell).
PwГ©son nas ka santi fwГ© an chay.
Pot fish have a strong smell. 5) proud
(in a negative sense), conceited. Boug
sala fwГ© paski i ni endikasyon. That
fellow is conceited because he has
education. (see also: kwГЁ, lГІgГЁy)
[< Fr. frais] fГЁ fwГ© to cut fish and
throw in the sea to attract fish. SГ©
pГ©chГЁ-a ka fГЁ fwГ© pou tjГ©bГ© volan.
The fishermen are throwing chopped
fish in the water to attract flying fish.
tou fwГ© recently. Li Г©pi madanm li
tГ© sГІti Sent Lisi tou fwГ©. He and his
wife had come from St. Lucia
recently. (see also: talГЁ-a)
fwГЁ
ADJ
fwГЁt1
ADJ 1) cold. Dlo-a tГ© fwГЁt. The
water was cold. (opp: cho; see also:
tyГЁd) 2) quiet, silent. LГЁ sa fГЁt, tout
bagay vini fwГЁt. When that happened,
everything became silent. (see also:
silans, tjantjil) [< Fr. froid] fГЁ fwГЁt
to be cold (in reference to weather). I
ka fГЁ fwГЁt jГІdi-a pasГ© pyГЁs jou. It is
colder today than any other day. (opp:
fГЁ cho)
fwГЁt2
N whip. I fwapГ© tibway-la senk
fwa ГЁk fwГЁt-la. He struck the boy five
times with the whip. (syn: kavach,
lyenn) [< Fr. fouet]
fwГ©yГЁ variant of fwiyГЁ.
1) brother. Non fwГЁ mwen sГ©
Mak. My brother’s name is Mark. (see
also: sГ©sГ©) 2) brother, in the sense of
being a fellow Christian. Nou kay
kwiyГ© asou FwГЁ PyГЁ pou pwГ©dyГ©.
We will call on Brother Pierre to pray.
(religious) [< Fr. frГЁre]
N
fwi1 (var: fwitaj)
N fruit. Yo ka vann
tout sГІt kaltГ© fwi bГІ laplas. They sell
all kinds of fruit at the market. [< Fr.
fruit]
fwi2
V to fry. Yo ka fwi pwГ©son-an
pou vann. They’re frying the fish to
sell. (see also: bouwi, tjwit) ADJ
fried. PwГ©son fwi sГ© on manjГ© ki
bon. Fried fish is a kind of food that is
good. [< Fr. frire]
fwГ©chГЁ
N breeze, cool air. An
balkon-an la ni an bГЁl fwГ©chГЁ. On
the balcony there’s a nice breeze. (syn:
ti van) [< Fr. fraГ®cheur]
fwГ©di
fwidjГ©
fwidjГ©
N banyan tree. Nou ka fГЁ bas
bol Г©pi wasin fwidjГ©. We make
cricket bats out of the roots of banyan
trees.
1) cold weather. FwГ©di-a ja
koumansГ© la. The cold weather has
already begun there. (opp: chalГЁ; see
also: livГЁnaj) 2) rheumatism. I ni on
N
77
fwijГЁ
Kwéyòl – English
fwijГЁ
gadГ©
fwiyansГ© variant of fiyansГ©.
N fern. La ni an pil fwijГЁ bГІ
chimen-an. There are many ferns near
the road. [< Fr. fougГЁre]
fwiyГЁ (var: fwГ©yГЁ)
N fear. Mwen
santi on fwiyГЁ pasГ© an mwen lГЁ
mwen pasГ© bГІ senmityГЁ-a. I felt a
fear pass in me when I passed by the
cemetery. (syn: fwison, pГЁwГЁz, lapГЁ,
kwentif)
fwisi
N entrails, internal organs,
giblets, offal. LГЁ yo tjwГ© kochon-an
yo vann fwisi-a. When they killed the
pig they sold the entrails. malad an
fwisi cirrhosis of the liver. I ka tГ© ka
bwГЁ tГЁlman wonm, i jwenn malad an
fwisi’y. He drank so much rum, he got
cirrhosis of the liver. fwisi mГІl lung.
Yo tiwГ© fwisi mГІl kochon-an Г©pi yo
tjwit li pou manjГ©. They removed the
lungs of the pig and cooked them to
eat. fwisi wГЁd liver. Mwen kontan
manjГ© fwisi wГЁd bГЁf. I like to eat beef
liver. (syn: fwa)
fwonmaj (var: fonmaj)
N cheese.
Nou genyen dГ© liv fwonmaj. We
bought two pounds of cheese. [< Fr.
fromage]
fwotГ© (var: fotГ©)
V to rub, to massage.
FwotГ© janm mwen ГЁk fiksyon sala
souplГ©. Rub my leg with this liniment
please. (see also: fiksyonnen, hГ©di)
[< Fr. frotter]
fwison
fyГ© variant of konfyГ©.
N 1) chill (a kind of illness).
Madanm sala malad; i ni fwison.
That woman is sick; she has a chill.
2) chill (as a result of fear). LГЁ mwen
tann bwa-a kasГ© an fwison pasГ©
andidan mwen. When I heard the
wood break a felt a chill pass over me.
(syn: fwiyГЁ, pГЁwГЁz, lapГЁ, kwentif; see
also: bouton fwГ©di) [< Fr. frisson]
fyГЁl
N 1) bile, gall. KafГ©-a pa ni sik; i
anmè kon fyèl. The coffee doesn’t
have sugar; it is as bitter as gall.
2) gall bladder. KГІk-la pwan an koul
zГ©pon ГЁk fyГЁl li pГ©tГ©. The cock was
struck by another’s spur and its gall
bladder burst. [< Fr. fiel]
fyГІl
N jar. Bouchonnen fyГІl-la. Put
the lid on the jar. (see also: jГЁ)
fwitaj variant of fwi.
Gg
ga variant of gadГ©. Ga yo! Ga yo!
vГІlГЁ-a. The guards are supposed to
protect the house, but they were
helping the thieves. [< Fr. garde]
gad mouton variant of gadyenn
mouton. pwan gad same as pwan
pwokosyon. Pwan gad; chimen sala
benyen chous bwa. Be careful; this
path is full of roots.
Look at them! Look at them! (used in
imperative; syn: mi)
gad1
N incurable sore. Lontan lГЁ
sèpan té pitjé’w i ka ba’w an gad.
Long ago when a serpent struck you it
would give you an incurable sore. (see
also: bobo, malenng)
gad2
gadГ© (var: ga)
V to look, to look at.
Nou gadГ© andidan kay-la, mГ© nou pa
guard. SГ© gad-la sipozГ©
pwotГЁktГ© kay-la, mГ© yo tГ© ka Г©dГ© sГ©
N
78
gadГЁ
Kwéyòl – English
gargling his throat with salt water.
wГЁ pyГЁsonn. We looked in the house,
but we didn’t see anyone. [< Fr.
regarder] gadГ© apwГ© to look after,
to take care of. Dépi manman’w mò
sé mwen ki gadé apwé’w. Since your
mother died it is I who have been
looking after you. (syn: otjipГ©, pwan
ka; see also: swen) gadГ© an mitan
zyé to look directly in the eye. Polisla gadé nonm-lan an mitan zyé’y, èk
i sav nonm-lan tГ© ka manti. The
policeman looked directly into the
man’s eyes and knew that he was
lying. gadГ© kon to look like, to
resemble. Ou gadé kon papa’w. You
look like your father. (syn: sanm) pa
gadé don’t be fooled, deceived by
appearance of. Pa gadГ© tibway sala, i
ni bon tèt. Don’t be fooled by that
boy’s appearance, he is very smart.
gadГ© pou to look for. Yo tГ© ka gadГ©
pou lГІ, mГ© yo pa jwenn pyГЁs. They
were looking for gold, but they didn’t
find any. (syn: chachГ©) gadГ© pou kГІ
to be selfish, to be concerned with
one’s own interests. I ka gadé pou
kò’y tousèl. He is only concerned
about his own interests.
gadГЁ
gajГ©
V to practice obeah or witchcraft.
Fanm sala ka gajГ©. That woman
practices obeah. (see also: divinГ©,
maji nwГЁ, tjenbwa, zГЁb, pyay) N
1) same as jan gajГ©. Chat nwГЁ sala
sanm sГ© an gajГ©. That black cat seems
to be a witch. (see also: tjenbwatГЁ,
gadГЁ) 2) money kept safe by the spirit
of a dead slave. jan gajГ© seer, witch,
practitioner of obeah. SГ© moun-an
vini fachГ© ГЁk yo tjwГ© jan gajГ©-a. The
people became angry and killed the
witch. (syn: divinГЁ, gadГЁ, maji nwГЁ,
tjenbwatГЁ, vyГ© lam; see also: dГ©gajГ©)
gal
N scabies, mange. Gal sala twГІ
mové an tèt ti manmay-la, sé pou’w
mennen’y oti dòktè. That scabies is
too bad on the child’s head, you
should take him to the doctor. [< Fr.
gale]
galba
N a type of tree that has a round
seed. Tan lontan sГ© manmay-la tГ©
ka sГЁvi gwenn galba kon mab. Long
ago the children used galba seeds as
marbles.
galГ©1
ADJ when one’s skin is mottled or
marked up from bites or sores. Tout
kò tifi-a galé. The girl’s whole body is
marked up from mosquito bites.
seer, practitioner of obeah.
Madanm-lan sГ© on gadГЁ. The woman
is a seer. (syn: divinГЁ; see also: jan
gajГ©, tjenbwatГЁ, maji nwГЁ, vyГ© lam)
N
gadyenn
galon
galГ©2
V to plane. I ka galГ© bwa-a pou
fè mèb. He’s planning the wood to
make furniture.
guardian. Gadyenn tifi
sala ka gadé’y byen. That girl’s
guardian is taking good care of her.
[< Fr. gardien] gadyenn mouton
(var: gad mouton) shepherd. Jou
ГІswГЁ sala, sГ© gadyenn mouton-an
kitГ© mouton yo an savann-an. That
night the shepherds left their sheep in
the field. (syn: bГЁwjГ©)
N
galГЁ
N plane. ChapantyГ©-a ka fГЁ pli
bon twavay pis i ni on galГЁ nГЁf. The
carpenter is doing better work because
he has a new plane.
galon
N gallon. Pwi an galon
kawozin ja moutГ©. The price for a
gallon of kerosene has gone up. [< Fr.
gallon]
gagawouzГ©
V to gargle. I ka
gagawouzГ© gГІj li Г©pi dlo sГЁl. He is
79
galopГ©
Kwéyòl – English
galopГ©
V to gallop, to trot. SГ©
manmay-la ka galopГ© kon chouval.
The children are galloping like horses.
(see also: kouwi) [< Fr. galloper]
galta
Gany VyГ© FГІ kay vini. The Vieux
Fort group will come. (syn: gwoup,
konpanni; see also: pil) [< Fr. gang]
gany2
N gain, advantage. Ou pa kay
ni pyГЁs gany an konsГЁy mwen si ou
pa swiv li. You won’t get any
advantage from my advice if you don’t
follow it. (syn: bennГ©fis; see also:
pwofi, sinifyГ©) [< Fr. gain]
loft, attic. Nou fГЁ sГ© ti
manmay-la dГІmi an galta-a. We
made the children sleep in the loft.
[< Fr. galetas]
N
galvanniz
N corrugated galvanized
roofing. Mwen kay kouvГЁ kay
mwen-an Г©pi galvanniz. I am going
to cover my house with corrugated
galvanized roofing. (see also: tГЁt kay,
chapo kay) [< Fr. galvaniser]
ganyen (var: genyen)
V 1) to buy, to
purchase. Yo ganyen dГ© liv sik. They
bought two pounds of sugar. (syn:
achtГ©; opp: vann) 2) to win, to defeat,
to conquer. Wa-a goumen ladjГЁ-a la,
mГ© i pa ganyen. The king fought the
war there, but he didn’t win. [< Fr.
gagner] ganyen a bout to
overcome, to completely conquer, to
utterly defeat. Si ou kitГ© anyen
ganyen a bout ou, ou ka vini ГЁslav
bagay sala. If you let anything
completely conquer you, you become
the slave of that thing.
galwi
N extension (to a house). Papa
mwen jГ©tГ© an galwi asou kay-la. My
father added an extension to the house.
[< Fr. galerie]
gan
N glove. I tГ© ni gan pou lГЁ i tГ© ka
fГЁ fwГЁt. He had gloves for when it was
cold. [< Fr. gant]
ganbo variant of gonbo.
ganm
gason
N son, boy. Yo ni dГ© tifi ГЁk dГ©
gason. They have two girls and two
boys. (syn: tibway; see also: ich, tifi)
[< Fr. garçon]
figure, body. Tifi sala ni an
bГЁl ganm. That girl has a nice figure.
(see also: kГІ) bay ganm to pay
attention (to). Yo pa bay sГЁvant-lan
ganm. They didn’t pay attention to the
servant. (used in negative
constructions; syn: chyГ© anlГЁ) Bay
kò’w ganm! Get busy! fè ganm to
prepare, to make preparation, to get
ready. Yo ka fГЁ ganm pou yo alГ©
légliz. They’re getting ready to go to
church. (syn: pwГ©pawГ©, fГЁ
pwovizyon)
N
gaspiyГ©
V to waste, to squander. I ja
gaspiyГ© tout sa i tГ© ni. He has already
wasted all that he had. (syn: bobansГ©)
[< Fr. gaspiller]
gatГ©
V to spoil. Yo pwan kouwan-an,
ГЁk tout vyann-an gatГ©. They took the
electricity, and all the meat spoiled.
(see also: pouwi) ADJ 1) spoiled.
Tout fwi-a tГ© gatГ© ГЁk mwen pa tГ© sa
manjé’y. All the fruit was spoiled and
I could not eat it. 2) spoiled, in the
sense of overindulged. DГЁnyГ© tibway
li-a gatГ© pasГ© ki. His last boy is quite
spoiled. [< Fr. gГўter]
ganmé to fix up, to dress up (one’s
appearance). Ganmé kò’w pou
mawi’w. Fix yourself up for your
husband. (syn: wanjГ©)
gany1
N
gatГ©
group (of people), gang.
80
gavwГ©
Kwéyòl – English
gavwГ©
ADJ gravely. TГЁ-a tГ© gavwГ©,
kon sa nou pa plantГ© pyГЁs gwenn.
The ground was gravely, so we didn’t
plant any seeds. [< Fr. gravier]
gawoulГ©
Paditan i tГ© ka hachГ© bwa-a, an gГІb
konyen tibway-la asou fidji’y. While
he was cutting the wood, a chip hit the
boy on his face. (see also: dГ©gГІbГ©)
gГІbГ©1
to enjoy (oneself, with
dance, drink, etc.). Yo ka gawoulГ© kГІ
yo. They are enjoying themselves. (see
also: jwГ©, jwi)
V to chip (in reference to
marbles, tops). Pa kasГ© mab mwen
fò avan ou gòbé’y. Don’t hit my
marble hard lest you chip it. (see also:
dГ©gГІbГ©)
V
genyen variant of ganyen.
glanglan
gГІbГ©2 variant of gobГ©.
cheap, flashy jewellery,
baubles. Madanm sala abiyГ© Г©pi an
chay glanglan. That woman is
adorned with a lot of cheap jewellery.
N
gobГ© (var: gГІbГ©)
V to gape, to
eavesdrop, to listen intently with a
blank stare. Las gobГ©; sГ© pa ba ou
mwen ka palГ©. Stop eavesdropping;
I’m not talking to you. (syn: bwè)
gliglinglas
N a type of grass.
Gliglinglas-la blГ© an jaden-an. The
�gliglinglas’ is in leaf in the garden.
(syn: tibГЁnad; see also: zГЁb)
gГІch
ADJ left. PyГ© gГІch li kasГ© an
aksidan-an. His left foot was broken
in an accident. (opp: dwГЁt) [< Fr.
gauche] lanmen gГІch left, left-hand
side. Tounen asou lanmen gГІch.
Turn to the left. (opp: lanmen dwГЁt)
glisad
N slide, slip. I pwan yon glisad
ГЁk i tonbГ© adan dlo-a! He took one
big slide and fell in the water! [< Fr.
glissade]
glisГ©
gochГ©
N left-hander, left-handed
person. FwГЁ mwen sГ© on gochГ©. My
brother’s a left-hander. [< Fr.
gaucher] gochГ© an tГЁt mentally
deficient, retarded. PГІdjab, i gochГ©
an tГЁt li. Poor devil, he is mentally
retarded. (syn: dГЁkdГЁk, enfim an tГЁt;
see also: tГЁt wГЁd, tГЁtenm)
to slide. Yo glisГ© an labou-a.
They slid in the mud. ADJ slippery.
La tГ© ni tГЁlman lapli, chimen-an tГ©
glisГ© an chay. There was so much
rain, the road was very slippery. [< Fr.
glisser]
V
glo variant of dlo.
gloum variant of groum.
gГІg
N liquor, alcoholic beverage. SГ©
an kabawГ© sala papa mwen ka bwГЁ
gГІg li. It is in this bar my father drinks
his liquor. (syn: bwГЁ, bwason; see
also: gГІgГЁ, nГЁg wonm, sou, wonm,
wiski) [< Eng. grog]
glowifyГ©
V to glorify, to praise. Tout
sГ© moun an lГ©gliz-la tГ© ka glowifyГ©
BondyГ©. All the people in the church
were praising God. [< Fr. glorifier]
go1
N one penny/two cents E.C. Mwen
achtГ© yon chlen dГ© go pen. I bought
twenty-nine cents’ worth of bread.
gГІgГЁ
N drunkard, sot. Nonm sala sГ©
on gògè. That man’s a drunkard. (syn:
wonmyГ©, nГЁg wonm; see also: gГІg,
bwГЁ, bwason)
go2 variant of gwo.
gГІb
N
gГІj
gГІj
chip of wood, rock, etc.
81
N
throat. GГІj mwen ka fГЁ mwen
gГІjГ©
Kwéyòl – English
face in anger. Tifi-a tГ© fachГ© tГЁlman i
gonflé fidji’y. The girl was so angry
she puffed up her face. 3) to swell (in
reference to waves). Gwo van-an fГЁ
sГ© lanm-lan gonflГ© an lawad-la. The
strong winds made the waves swell in
the harbour. [< Fr. gonfler]
mal. My throat hurts. Yo hГ©lГ© tout
lajè gòj yo, �Awété’y!’ They shouted
at the top of their lungs, �Arrest him!’
[< Fr. gorge] anba gГІj violin. I ka
jwé anba gòj-la. He’s playing the
violin. (syn: vyГ©lon)
gГІjГ©
N swallow. Dlo-a tГ© wa tГЁlman,
sГ© dГ© gГІjГ© tousГЁl mwen tГ© sa bwГЁ.
The water was so scarce, I could only
drink two swallows. (see also: valГ©,
bwГЁ) [< Fr. gorgГ©e]
gonmyГ©
N gommier tree. Mwen ni an
pyГ© gonmyГ© dwГЁt dГЁyГЁ kay mwenan. I have a gommier tree right behind
my house. [< Fr. gommier] gonmyГ©
benni a kind of gommier tree used
for making dugout canoes. Yo ka fГЁ
an chay kannГІt Pwalen paski la ni
an chay pyГ© gonmyГ© benni. They
make a lot of dugout canoes in Praslin
because there are a lot of �gonmyé
benni’ trees there.
gГІjГЁt
N Adam’s apple. Gòjèt li ka
fè’y mal. His Adam’s apple hurts him.
[< Fr. gorge] bay gГІjГЁt to hit or
push someone on the throat. Apa ba li
an gòjèt èk i maté’y a tè! Papa hit
him on the throat and threw him
down!
gГІl1
gouj
gГІs variant of gwГІs.
long robe or gown worn by
priests or at a graduation ceremony,
etc. PwГЁt-la ГЁk MonsenyГЁ-a tГ© ni
difГ©wan gГІl. The priests and the
Monsignor have different robes. (see
also: siltann)
N
gou
N 1) taste. ManjГ© sala fad; i pa
ni pyГЁs gou. This food is bland; it
doesn’t have any taste. Manjé sala ni
on bou gou. This food tastes good.
2) sense of style. MannyГЁ nonm sala
abiyГ©-a ka moutwГ© i pa ni pyГЁs gou.
The way that man dresses shows he
doesn’t have any taste. [< Fr. goût]
gГІl2
N long stick with a curved blade
on the end. Nonm-lan tГ© ka tjouwi
koko Г©pi on gГІl. The man was picking
coconuts with a long stick with a
curved blade on the end. (see also:
gГІlГЁt) [< Fr. gaule]
goud
N dollar. I mandГ© nou dГ© goud
pou lo mango-a. He asked us two
dollars for the heap of mangos. (syn:
dГІla) [< Fr. gourde]
gГІlГЁt
N pole used for knocking fruit
down from trees. Ou ka tjouwi
bwapen ГЁk gГІlГЁt mwen. You are
picking breadfruit with my pole. (see
also: gГІl, kali)
goudon
N pitch, tar. Yo pa ka mГ©tГ©
asГ© goudon asou chimen-an lГЁ yo ka
fè’y. They are not putting enough tar
on the road when they are making it.
[< Fr. goudron]
gonbo (var: ganbo)
N okra. Yo pa
enmen gonbo. They don’t like okra.
goudonnen
V to pitch, to tar. Yo kay
goudonnen chimen-an jГІdi-a.
They’ll put pitch on the road today.
(see also: pitj) [< Fr. goudronner]
gonflГ©
V 1) to puff up. Diwi-a gonflГ©
tГЁlman i plen pann-an. The rice
puffed up so much it filled the pan.
(see also: anflé) 2) to puff up one’s
gouj
82
N
long, cucumber-like vegetable.
goulgoula
Kwéyòl – English
Gouj bon lè ou bouwi’y épi vyann.
Gouj is good when you boil it with
meat.
Mwen pa kontan dachin sala; i ja
groum. I don’t like this dasheen; it is
already “groum”. (see also: kyanng,
nyak, tounen)
goulgoula
N East Indian fried bread.
Papa mwen enmen fГЁ goulgoula. My
father likes to make East Indian fried
bread.
gwa
ADJ fat. BГЁf sala gwa an chay.
That cow is very fat. (opp: fin, mГЁg)
[< Fr. gras] manjГ© gwa to eat food
with a lot of fat. I tГ© ka manjГ© twГІ
gwa, kon sa gwès bouché tjè’y èk i
mГІ. He ate too much fatty foods, so
grease blocked his heart and he died.
goumen
V to fight. SГ© manmay-la tГ©
ni on dГ©zagwГ©man Г©pi yo koumansГ©
goumen. The children had a
disagreement and they began to fight.
N fight. Pa doubout kotГ© la ni
goumen. Don’t stop where there’s a
fight. (see also: dГ©zagwГ©man, chiz,
twaka, roro) [< Fr. gourmer]
goutГ©
Gwadloup
N Guadeloupe. Nou tГ© ka
vizitГ© Gwadloup. We were visiting
Guadeloupe. [< Fr. Guadeloupe]
gwafiyen
V to claw, to scratch. Chatla gwafiyen mwen! The cat scratched
me.
to taste. GoutГ© manjГ©-a;
mwen asiwé ou kay kontan’y. Taste
the food; I’m sure you’ll like it. [< Fr.
goГ»ter]
V
gwaj
N grater. Mwen ka chachГ© gwaj
mwen pou gwajГ© koko. I am looking
for my grater to grate some coconut.
(see also: gwat) gwaj koutla a
cutlass with one end made jagged,
used to grate coconut. Gwaj koutla
sala mГ©witГ© filГ©. That coconut grater
needs to be sharpened.
goutyГЁ
N gutter. Yo mГ©tГ© goutyГЁ tout
oliwon kay-la. The put gutters all
around the house. [< Fr. gouttiГЁre]
gouvГЁdman
N government. I ka
twavay bay gouvГЁdman-an. He
works for the government. [< Fr.
gouvernement]
gwajГ©
V to grate. I ka gwajГ© tout
manyГІk-la. She is grating all the
cassava. (see also: gwatГ©, wapГ©) ADJ
grated. Ou kay bizwen koko gwajГ©.
You will need grated coconut.
gouvГЁnay
N rudder. GouvГЁnay-la
kasГ© Г©pi mwen pa tГ© sa kondwi
kannГІt-la ankГІ. The rudder was
broken and I could not control the boat
any more. [< Fr. gouvernail]
gwan
ADJ 1) big, large. MГ©tГ© pen-an
adan an gwan panyen. Put the bread
in a large basket. (syn: laj; see also:
gwo) 2) old. Gwan nonm-lan pa
vini pis i tГ© malad. The old man
didn’t come because he was sick. (syn:
vyГ©; opp: jenn) [< Fr. grand] gwan
ouvГЁ wide open. LГЁ i sГІti, i kitГ©
lapГІt-la gwan ouvГЁ. When he left, he
left the door wide open.
gouvГЁnГ©
V to govern. Yo ka gouvГЁnГ©
pГ©yi-a byen. They are governing the
country well. (syn: kondwi) [< Fr.
gouverner]
gouvГЁnГЁ
N governor. Nonm sala sГ©
gouvГЁnГЁ-a. That man is the governor.
[< Fr. gouverneur]
groum (var: gloum, kroum)
ADJ
gwandГЁ
a
gwandГЁ
stage in the maturity of dasheen.
83
N
1) width. Ki gwandГЁ finГЁt-
gwandГЁ
Kwéyòl – English
gwat
la? How wide is the window? (see
also: fondjГЁ, gwГІsГЁ, hГІtГЁ, lajГЁ,
londjГЁ) 2) age, level of maturity,
adulthood. Pou gwandè’w ou pa
sipozé wèsté lakay manman’w
toujou. For your age you shouldn’t be
living at your mother’s house any
more. (see also: pititГЁs, vyГ©yГЁs) [< Fr.
grandeur]
N scraper used to clean out the
inside of a calabash. LГЁ i fini gwatГ©
kalbas-la ГЁk gwat-la, i ay pwen dlo.
When he finished cleaning out the
calabash with the scraper, he went for
water. [< Fr. gratte, gratter] gwat
kwi a type of frog. Gwat kwi-a sotГ©
asou tГЁt tibway-la. The little frog
jumped onto the boy’s head. (see also:
tolin, kwapo)
gwandГЁ variant of lagwandГЁ.
gwandi
gwatГ©
V 1) to scratch, to scrape. Yo
ka gwatГ© manyГІk-la pou yo sa
gwajé’y pou fè fawin. They’re
scraping the cassava in order to grate it
to make cassava flour. (see also:
gwajГ©) 2) to itch. Bagay-la ka gwatГ©
mwen. The thing is itching me. [< Fr.
gratter]
1) to become larger (in
reference to inanimate objects).
Bagay-la ka gwandi! The thing is
getting larger! (opp: Г©twГ©si, mГЁgwГ©si;
see also: gwosi, ogoumantГ©) 2) to
enlarge. Nou kay gwandi kay nou.
We will enlarge our house. (syn:
ogoumantГ©) [< Fr. agrandir]
V
gwanmanman
gwenn
gwatГЁl
N rash, itching. GwatГЁl-la tГ©
tГЁlman movГ©, i tГ© ni pou alГ© oti
dГІktГЁ. The rash was so bad, he had to
go see a doctor. (see also: bouton)
[< Fr. grattelle]
grandmother.
Gwanmanman mwen pa tГ© la. My
grandmother wasn’t there. [< Fr.
grande-manman]
N
gwanmГЁsi
CONJ because of, thanks to.
GwanmГЁsi papa mwen ki voyГ©
mwen lГ©kГІl, jГІdi mwen sa li Г©kwi.
Thanks to my father who sent me to
school, today I can read and write.
[< Fr. grand merci]
gwaten
N stewed green papaya or
christophene. Gwaten-an tГ© ni bon
gou. The stewed christophene had a
good taste.
gwatjanm
N calf (of leg). Gwatjanm
li té ka fè’y mal. His calf was hurting
him. (syn: jawГ©)
gwanpapa
N grandfather. Gwanpapa
mwen sГ© on mason. My grandfather is
a mason.
gwenn
N 1) seed. I achtГ© gwenn mi
pou plantГ©. He bought corn seeds to
plant. 2) testicle. Tibway-la pwan an
koul bol asou gwenn li. The boy got
hit by a ball on his testicles. [< Fr.
graine] gwenn bannann plantain.
Mwen bouwi dГ© gwenn bannann. I
boiled two plantain. (see also:
bannann) gwenn fig banana.
gwenn lГ©gliz a kind of seed that is
black and red, or the plant that bears
those seeds. Yo tГ© ka fГЁ chenn Г©pi
gwap
N cluster, bunch (of fruit). Nou
tjouwi dГ© gwap koko. We picked two
bunches of coconuts. [< Fr. grappe]
gwas variant of lagwas.
gwasyГ©
V to spare, to be gracious to.
Jij-la gwasyГ© madanm-lan magwГ© i
tГ© koupab. The judge spared the
woman even though she was guilty.
[< Fr. gracier]
84
gwenndГ©
Kwéyòl – English
gwenn lГ©gliz. They were making
chains out of seeds that are red and
black. gwenn makanbou plantain.
gwenn pwa dou sweet pea. Gwenn
pwa dou-a ka lévé san ou planté’y.
The sweet pea grows without your
having to plant it. gwenn zyГ©
eyeball. Ou ni on bagay blan asou
gwenn zyé’w. You have something
white on your eyeball. (syn: koko zyГ©)
gwo
plichГ©) ADJ wrinkled. Ou ka wГЁ
madanm-lan ja vyé paski tout fidji’y
gwiji. You can see the woman is old
because her face is all wrinkled. (syn:
plisГ©; see also: pli)
gwinad
N pomegranate. DГ©lГЁ sГ©
fanm-lan ka vann gwinad.
Sometimes the women sell
pomegranates. [< Fr. grenade]
gwiv
N tropical mockingbird, thrush
(Minus gilvus). Gwiv-la fГЁ nich li
asou pyГ© mango-a. The thrush made
its nest in the mango tree. [< Fr.
grive]
gwenndГ© N dice. (syn: zo) jwГ©
gwenndГ© to gamble with dice, to roll
dice. Yo ka jwГ© gwenndГ©. They are
playing dice.
gwennen
V to peel (bananas,
plantain), to shell (peas). I ka
gwennen fig-la. He’s peeling the
banana. (syn: kalГ©; see also: plichГ©)
gwiyav
N guava. Yo manjГ© tout
gwiyav-la ki tГ© an pyГ©-a. They ate all
the guavas that were in the tree. [< Fr.
goyave]
gwГЁs
N fat, grease. Vyann-an ni an
chay gwГЁs. The meat has lots of fat.
[< Fr. graisse]
gwiyГ©
V to grill, to parch. Yo ka
gwiyé kafé avan yo pilé’y. They
parch coffee before they grind it.
[< Fr. griller] bwa gwiyГ© a type of
tree with small seeds that turn your
teeth black if you chew them. Gwenn
bwa gwiyГ©-a bon pou manjГ©. The
seeds of the gwiyГ© tree are good to eat.
gwi
ADJ grey. Chouval gwi-a genyen
kous-la. The grey horse won the race.
(syn: sann) [< Fr. gris]
gwif
N claw, talon. Gwif jibyГ© sala
lonng an chay. That bird’s claw is
very long. [< Fr. griffe] koul gwif
scratch. Chat-la ban mwen on koul
gwif. The cat gave me a scratch.
gwiyen
V 1) to grin, to smile. I ka
gwiyen kon an chyen. He is grinning
like a dog. (see also: wi, souwi) 2) to
grimace. Dlo-a té ka bwilé’y tèlman
i koumansГ© gwiyen. The water was
burning him so much he began to
grimace. (syn: fГЁ jГЁs, fГЁ maji)
gwigwi
N a tree similar to coconut
(Aiphanes luciana). Mwen ni dГ© pyГ©
gwigwi asou tГЁ mwen. I have two
gwigwi trees on my property. gwigwi
poulГ© chicken hawk, American
kestrel (Falco spaverius). Gwigwi
poulГ©-a ka manjГ© poul. The
American kestrel eats chickens. (syn:
malfini; see also: lГЁg)
gwo (var: go)
ADJ big, large. I ka
vann gwo yanm bГІ laplas-la. She is
selling big yams at the market. (syn:
gwan, laj; opp: piti) [< Fr. gros] gwo
bidim same as bidim. gwo bouden
pregnant. I gwo bouden ankò. She’s
pregnant again. (syn: ansent) gwo
dlo flood, floodwaters. Gwo dlo-a
gwiji
V to skin, to abrade. Gason-an
pwan yon so, i gwiji jounou’y. The
boy fell and skinned his knee. (syn:
85
gwodja
Kwéyòl – English
had
The dog began to growl when it saw
the cat. [< Fr. gronder]
alГ© Г©pi jaden mwen-an ki tГ© bГІ
lawivyГЁ-a. The floods washed away
my garden that was by the river. (syn:
dГ©lij) gwo mo sal foul language,
swear words. Nonm-lan ka sГЁvi an
chay gwo mo sal lГЁ i ka palГ©. The
man uses a lot of foul language when
he talks. (see also: jiwГ©) gwo pitja
big shot, important person. Nonm
sala kwГЁ i sГ© on gwo pitja. That man
thinks he is a big shot. (syn: gwozГІm,
gwo pГЁp) gwo ponpon a type of
plant used for treating colds. DitГ©
gwo ponpon bon pou wim. Tea made
of gwo ponpon is good for colds.
gwГІs (var: gГІs)
ADJ pregnant. Mwen
tГ© kwГЁ tifi sala pa ka gwГІs pyГЁs. I
thought this girl would never get
pregnant. (derogatory; see also: gwo
bouden, ansent) [< Fr. grosse]
gwГІsГЁ
N size. Ki gwГІsГЁ i yГ©? How
big is it? (see also: fondjГЁ, gwandГЁ,
hГІtГЁ, lajГЁ, londjГЁ) [< Fr. grosseur]
gwosi
V to get bigger, to increase (used
of animate objects). Jou apwГ© jou
yanm-lan tГ© ka gwosi. Day after day
the yam got bigger. (see also:
ogoumantГ©, gwandi) [< Fr. grossir]
gwodja
N East Indian pastry roll with
ginger and saffron. Mwen enmen
manjГ© gwodja lГ© NwГЁl. I like to eat
�gwodja’ at Christmas time.
gwoup
N group. Gwoup-la pa tГ© sa
vini. The group couldn’t come. (syn:
gany, konpanni; see also: pil) [< Fr.
groupe]
gwГІg variant of gГІg.
gwon
GwozilГ©
N large metal staple, horseshoe
nail. TjГ©bГ© sГ© gwon sala ban mwen
pou mwen klouwГ© waya pak-la.
Hold these staples so I can nail the
fence wire.
N Gros Islet, a town in the
northern part of St. Lucia.
gwozГІm
N big shot, important man.
SГ© pou ou twГ©tГ© misyГ©-a byen; i sГ©
an gwozГІm. You must treat that man
well; he is an important man. (syn:
gwo pitja, gwo pГЁp, gwo tjГІ)
gwondГ©
V to growl. Chyen-an
koumansГ© gwondГ© lГЁ i wГЁ chat-la.
Hh
ha variant of ja.
hachГ©2 variant of wachГ©.
hach
hachГІt
N axe. I ni on hach nГЁf. He has
a new axe. (see also: hachГІt) [< Fr.
hache]
N hatchet. Mano koupГ© pyГ©
bwa-a ГЁk hachГІt li. Mano cut down
the tree with his hatchet. (see also:
hach) [< Fr. hachette]
hachГ©1 (var: wachГ©)
V to chop, to cut
something with a cutlass or an axe.
BouchГ©-a hachГ© vyann-an Г©pi an
koutla. The butcher cut the meat with
a cutlass. (see also: koupГ©) [< Fr.
hacher]
had (var: wad)
N clothes, apparel.
Had ki moun ou ka pasГ©? Whose
clothes are you pressing? (syn:
abiman, lenj) [< Fr. hardes] had
dГІmi night clothes, nightgown,
86
haden
Kwéyòl – English
sometimes made out of flour sacks.
Manman mwen ka lavГ© sГ© had
dГІmi-an. My mother is washing the
night clothes.
hanche]
hanni
V to bray. Kon midi sonnen
bouwik-la koumansГ© hanni. At the
stroke of noon the donkey began to
bray.
haden variant of jaden.
hadi
hansouwa variant of hanswa.
ADJ rude. Mwen pa ni anyen
pou fè épi’w paski ou twò hadi. I’m
not having anything to do with you
because you are too rude. [< Fr.
hardi]
hadyГЁs
hГ©di
hanswa (var: hansouwa)
N sickle.
Yo ka koupé zèb èk hanswa. They’re
cutting grass with sickles.
hanyon
N rag. Madanm-lan mawГ©
tГЁt li ГЁk an mГІso hanyon. The woman
tied her head with a piece of rag. (see
also: kabann) [< Fr. haillon]
rudeness. Pa pГІtГ© hadyГЁs
ou ban mwen. Don’t bring your
rudeness to me. [< Fr. hardiesse]
N
hal (var: lahal)
N slaughterhouse, a
place where an animal is killed and
butchered and the meat is sold.
BouchГ©-a mennen bГЁf-la adan hal-la
pou tjwГ©. The butcher led the cow
into the slaughterhouse to kill it. (syn:
labatwa)
hapГ©1
V to bark. Nou pa tГ© sa dГІmi
paski sГ© chyen-an tГ© ka hapГ© tout
lannwit. We couldn’t sleep because
the dogs were barking all night.
hapГ©2
V to grab. I hapГ© on chГЁz pou i
tГ© fГ©sГ© an tГЁt nonm-lan. He grabbed a
chair in order to hit the man on the
head. (syn: hГ©di; see also: anmasГ©)
halГ©
V to pull. Yo halГ© bГЁf-la sГІti an
jaden-an. They pulled the cow out of
the garden. (syn: hГ©di) INTERJ what
one says to a cow to get it to move.
[< Fr. haler] halГ© kalpat to crawl.
Ti manmay-la ka halГ© kalpat. The
child is crawling. (syn: machГ© kalpat)
[< Fr. halГ© kat pat] halГ© kasГ©
division, confusion. La ni twГІp halГ©
kasé anpami sé moun-an. There’s too
much division among the people. (syn:
divizyon, tiwГ© mГ©tГ©) halГ© kГІ to
withdraw, to pull (oneself) away.
Mwen halГ© kГІ mwen anpami sГ©
moun sala pou anpГ©chГ©
dГ©zagwГ©man. I withdrew from among
those people in order to avoid
disagreement. (syn: witjilГ©, hГ©di kГІ)
hav variant of sav.
hawansГІ
N smoked herring. Mwen
enmen manjГ© hawansГІ ГЁk fig vГЁt. I
like to eat smoked herring and green
bananas. [< Fr. hareng saur]
hayi
V to hate. Mwen hayi alГ©
twavay lГ© Lendi-a. I hate to go to
work on Mondays. (opp: enmen,
kontan) [< Fr. haГЇr]
hayisans
N hatred. Yo ni haysans
adan tjГЁ yo. They have hatred in their
hearts. (opp: lanmityГ©, lanmou)
hГ©di (var: wГ©di)
V 1) to pull. SГ©
pГ©chГЁ-a hГ©di kannГІt yo sГІti an
lanmГЁ-a. The fishermen pulled their
boats up out of the water. (syn: halГ©)
2) to pick up. LГЁ mwen wГЁ chyen-an,
mwen hГ©di on wГІch. When I saw the
hanch
N hip, haunch. Nonm-lan
tonbГ© ГЁk i kasГ© zo hanch li. The man
fell and broke his hip bone. [< Fr.
87
hГ©lГ©
Kwéyòl – English
hГІdi variant of jГІdi.
dog, I picked up a stone. (syn: hapГ©,
anmasГ©) 3) to massage, to rub (in
reference to finger). MisyГ©-a hГ©di
dwГЁt mwen Г©pi chandГЁl mГІl. The
man rubbed my finger with soft
candle. (see also: fwotГ©, fiksyonnen)
hГ©di dГЁyГЁ to back off, to draw back.
Pito ou alГ© douvan, ou ka hГ©di dГЁyГЁ
kon kwibich yo tjГ©bГ© ГЁk zen. Rather
than going forward, you are drawing
back like a crayfish they caught with a
hook. (see also: hГ©di kГІ) hГ©di kГІ to
stretch oneself. Lè i lévé, i hédi kò’y.
When he got up, he stretched himself.
hont
ADJ ashamed, embarrassed. I tГ©
tèlman hont lè yo di’y sa tifi’y-la fè.
She was so ashamed when they told
her what her daughter had done. Pa
hont pou palé. Don’t be ashamed to
speak. [< Fr. honte] fГЁ hont to
embarrass, to shame. M’a vlé fè’w
hont. I don’t want to embarrass you.
(syn: fГЁ afon, tjipi, jawГ©)
hontГ© (var: hontГЁz)
N shame. Sa sГ©
on hontГ© pou wГЁ sa sГ© manmay
lГ©kГІl-la tГ© ka fГЁ an chimen-an. It is a
shame to see what the school children
do in the road. [< Fr. honteux]
hГ©lГ©
V to call loudly, to shout, to yell,
to scream. Ti manmay-la koumansГ©
hГ©lГ©! The child began to scream! (syn:
andjГ©lГ©, kwiyГ©, fГЁ kwi; see also:
plГ©wГ©) hГ©lГ© dГЁyГЁ to shout at. Yo
hГ©lГ© dГЁyГЁ sГ© moun-an pou fГЁ yo alГ©.
They shouted at the people to make
them go away. (see also: lГ©vГ© dГЁyГЁ)
hГЁlsenta
houma
hontГЁz variant of hontГЁz. [< Fr.
honteuse]
hosГ©
V to raise. Yo hosГ© pwi diwi-a.
They raised the price of rice. (opp:
bГ©sГ©; see also: lГ©vГ©) [< Fr. hausser]
hosman
N raise. Yo ba li an hosman
an salè’y. They gave him a raise in his
salary. [< Fr. haussement]
health centre. DГІktГЁ-a ka
vini an hГЁlsenta-a jГІdi-a. The doctor
is coming to the health centre today.
[< Eng. health center]
N
hГІt variant of zГІt.
henn
hГІtГЁ
ADJ having a grudge or bad
feelings. Mwen henn kont li pis i
vГІlГЁ lajan mwen. I have a grudge
against him because he stole my
money. (see also: lahenn) [< Fr.
haine]
N 1) height. Ki hГІtГЁ i yГ©? How
high is it? (see also: fondjГЁ, lajГЁ,
londjГЁ, gwandГЁ, gwГІsГЁ) 2) high
country, countryside, plantation,
estate. Nou tГ© fГЁt an hГІtГЁ. We were
born in the countryside. (see also:
bitasyon, plantasyon) [< Fr. hauteur]
ho
ADJ tall, high. Kay-la ho pasГ© ki!
The house is very high! (opp: ba,
kout) [< Fr. haut]
hou
N hoe. M’a té sa sèklé paski
mwen obliyé hou mwen. I couldn’t
weed because I forgot my hoe. [< Fr.
houe]
hГІ variant of zГІt.
hГІd
PREP from, away from. Mwen ka
twavay senk lyГ© hГІd kay mwen. I
work five miles from my home. [< Fr.
hors de] hГІd di variant of hГІd.
[< Fr. hors de]
houma
N lobster. Yo tГ© ka vann
houma twГЁz dola la liv. They were
selling lobster at twelve dollars a
pound. [< Fr. homard]
88
i
Kwéyòl – English
inyowans
Ii
i (var: li, ’y)
before they came to know God. [< Fr.
image]
PRO third person singular
pronoun. LГЁ i wivГ©, i wГЁ nou. When
he arrived, he saw us. [< Fr. il]
imajinasyon
N imagination. LГЁ sГ© ti
manmay-la ka jwГ© yo ka sГЁvi
imajinasyon yo. When the children
play they use their imagination. [< Fr.
imagination]
’i variant of wi. Titja-a la, ’i. The
teacher is there, yes.
ich
N child, offspring. Tifi-a sГ© ich li.
The girl is his child. (see also: fi,
gason) ich dГЁwГІ illegitimate child.
Nonm sala ni twa ich dГЁwГІ Г©pi dГ©
Г©pi madanm li. That man has three
illegitimate children and two with his
wife. (syn: bata; opp: lГ©jitim) ich
ich same as ti ich. Tibway sala sГ©
ich ich fwГЁ mwen. That boy is my
brother’s grandchild. (see also: ayèl,
gwanmanman, gwanpapa) ti ich
grandchild. Nonm sala ni an chay ti
ich. That man has many
grandchildren. (syn: ich ich; see also:
ayГЁl, gwanmanman, granpapa)
igwГ©tГ©
V
imajinГ©
V to imagine. Mwen ka
imajinГ© sГ© bagay-la mwen ni pou di
lodyans denmen-an. I am imagining
what things I will have to say in court
tomorrow. [< Fr. imaginer]
imГ©dyГЁtman (var: imidyГЁtman)
ADV
immediately. Vini imГ©dyГЁtman!
Come immediately! [< Fr.
immГ©diatement]
imidyГЁtman variant of imГ©dyГЁtman.
inosan
ADJ 1) innocent. Nonm-lan tГ©
inosan mé yo voyé’y lajòl. The man
was innocent but they sent him to jail.
(opp: koupab) 2) naive, simple. SГ©
manmay sala inosan toujou; yo
p’òkò konnèt lavi. Those children are
still naive; they don’t yet know about
life. [< Fr. innocent]
variant of wigwГ©tГ©.
ijennyГЁ
N engineer. Papa mwen sГ©
on ijennyГЁ. My father is an engineer.
[< Fr. ingГ©nieur]
ilГЁksyon
N election. La kay ni
ilГЁksyon lannГ© sala. There will be
elections this year. [< Fr. Г©lection]
inyowan
ADJ ignorant. An tan jГІdi
mwen pa tГ© kwГЁ i ni moun ki
inyowan kon sa toujou. I would not
have thought nowadays that there are
still such ignorant people. (opp:
Г©klГ©wГ©) [< Fr. ignorant]
ilГЁktГ©
V to elect. Yo vlé ilèkté’y pou
wГ©pwГ©zantГ© nou an lГІt ilГЁksyon-an.
They want to elect him to represent us
in the next election. [< Eng. elect]
imaj (var: wimaj)
inyowans
N 1) image,
reflection. Nou wГЁ imaj nou an
miwГЁ-a. We saw our reflection in the
mirror. 2) idol, false god. Yo tГ© ka
adowГ© imaj avan yo vini konnГЁt
BondyГ©. They used to worship idols
N ignorance. KitГ© yo wГ©tГ©
adan inyowans yo. Let them remain
in their ignorance. (syn: boutГЁy nwГЁ;
opp: nГІlaj, lakonpwann) [< Fr.
ignorance]
89
inyowГ©
Kwéyòl – English
jalou
inyowГ©
nou wivГ© isi. We were young when
we arrived here. [< Fr. ici] isi-a
(var: isit-la) right here. Mwen vlГ© ou
mГ©tГ© mwen a tГЁ isi-a. I would like
you to drop me off right here. isi-a la
over here. SГ© isi-a la aksidan-an fГЁt.
It was over here the accident took
place.
ipokwit
isit variant of isi. isit-la variant of isi-
V 1) to ignore. SГ© manmay-la
tГ© ka inyowГ© lГІd manman yo. The
children were ignoring what their
mother had told them. (syn: kitГ© bat
mizГЁ) 2) to deny. Ou pa sa inyowГ©
sГ© twavay-la nou ja fГЁ an pГ©yi sala.
You cannot deny the things we have
done in this country. [< Fr. ignorer]
N hypocrite. Mwen pa ka fГЁ
ipokwit èk moun. I don’t act like a
hypocrite with people. [< Fr.
hypocrite]
ipokwizi
a.
ivГ© variant of wivГ©.
iwityГ© variant of Г©wityГ©.
hypocrisy. Mwen pa sa
sipГІtГ© ipokwizi nonm sala. I cannot
bear that man’s hypocrisy. [< Fr.
hypocrisie]
N
izГ© (var: wizГ©)
V to use up, to wear
out. ADJ used up, worn out. Pa mГ©tГ©
tjilГІt sala ankГІ, paski i ja izГ© twГІp.
Don’t wear those pants again, because
they are too worn out. Mwen kay
izé’w! I’ll beat you! [< Fr. user]
is variant of yis.
isi (var: isit)
ADV
here. Nou tГ© jenn lГЁ
Jj
ja (var: ha, za)
the garden but you cannot see what
they are doing. [< Fr. jardin]
ADV 1) already. LГЁ
nou wivГ© yo tГ© ja la. When we arrived
they were already there. (see also:
dГ©ja) 2) perfect indicator. Yo ja
aksГЁptГ© sa mwen di yo-a. They have
accepted what I told them. [< Fr.
déja] ja fè’y to have made it
financially, to have made one’s
fortune. Nonm sala ja fè’y; i pa ni
pou twavay ankГІ. That man has made
his fortune; he does not have to work
any more. (syn: alГЁz, byennГ©wГ©, Г©wГ©,
ja wivГ©, wich; opp: mal, malГ©wГ©,
pГІv; see also: byen, wichГЁs) ja wivГ©
same as ja fè’y. Nonm sala ja wivé.
That man has made it financially.
jak
N penis. Nonm-lan ni an maladi
an jak li. The man has a sickness in
his penis. (syn: kal, lolo, kГІk, koko,
pennsil, pati)
jako
N St. Lucian parrot (Amazona
versicolor). La ni an chay jako an
lГ©fowГ© sГ© jou sala. There are a lot of
St. Lucian parrots in the forest these
days. [< Fr. jacquot]
jalap
N medicine used for purging
long ago. Ou ka palГ© ennitil menm
kon moun ki bwГЁ jalap. You talk
foolishness like people who take jalap.
(see also: mГЁtsin, tizann, lГІk)
jaden (var: haden)
N garden. ToulГ©
jou yo ka alГ© an jaden mГ© ou pa ka
wГЁ sa yo ka fГЁ. Every day they go to
jalou (var: jalouzi)
ADJ jealous,
jealous of. Nonm sala jalou mwen
90
jalouzi
Kwéyòl – English
2) lap. Tifi-a asid asou janm
manman’y. The little girl sat on her
mother’s lap. [< Fr. jambe]
paski mwen ni lajan pasé’y! The
man is jealous of me because I have
more money than he. (see also: vivi,
anvyГЁj, vowas) [< Fr. jaloux]
jalouzi
janmen (var: jenmen)
ADV 1) never.
Mwen pa kay janmen fГЁ lГЁwГЁ sala
ankГІ. I will never make that mistake
again. (opp: toujou, tout tan) 2) ever.
Г€s ou janmen tГ© vlГ© alГ© lГІt pГ©yi? Did
you ever want to go overseas? [< Fr.
jamais]
jealousy. Fanm sala ni
jalouzi an tjè’y. That woman has
jealousy in her heart. ADJ variant of
jalou. Jalouzi i jalouzi kon sa, i jik
vlé mwen bo’y tou. He is so jealous,
he even wants me to kiss him too.
[< Fr. jalousie]
jan
N
janmou variant of jГІmou.
1) friend. Mwen alГ© an vil ГЁk sГ©
jan mwen-an. I went to town with my
friends. (syn: kanmawad; opp: lГЁlmi)
2) nationality. Ki jan’w? What is
your nationality? 3) citizen. Mwen sГ©
jan Babad. I am a citizen of
Barbados. fГЁ jan to befriend, to
make friends. Nou tГ© vlГ© fГЁ jan Г©pi
pwochen nou, pis nou pa tГ© konnГЁt
pyГЁsonn. We wanted to make friends
with our neighbour, because we didn’t
know anyone.
N
janti
ADJ gentle, kind. Mwen enmen
misyГ© sala; i janti an chay. I like that
man; he is very kind. [< Fr. gentil]
jantiyГІm
N gentleman. Nonm sala
ka abiyГ© kon jantiyГІm. That man
dresses like a gentleman. [< Fr.
gentilhomme]
JanvyГ©
N January. SГ© manmay-la pa
tГ© vlГ© viwГ© lГ©kГІl an JanvyГ©. The
children didn’t want to return to
school in January. [< Fr. janvier]
janbГ©
V to cross over, to jump over, to
straddle. Nou tГ© ni pou janbГ©
konmen lawivyГЁ pou nou tГ© sa wivГ©
an vil-la. We had to cross over so
many rivers in order to reach town.
(syn: lansГ©; see also: twavГЁsГ©) [< Fr.
enjamber]
jawГ©1
N calf muscle. JawГ© tibway-la
fГЁb tГЁlman i pa sa menm moutГ©
mach-la. The boy’s calf muscle was
so weak he could not even go up the
steps. (syn: gwatjanm)
jawГ©2
V to shame. Mwen pa vlГ© alГ©
wГЁ kolonm-lan paski mwen pГЁ i
jawé mwen. I don’t want to go see the
overseer because I am afraid he will
shame me. (syn: fГЁ afon, fГЁ hont,
tjipi)
janbГЁt
N penknife, pocket knife. FwГЁ
mwen toujou ka machГ© Г©pi on ti
janbГЁt. My brother always carries a
little penknife. (see also: kouto,
koutla, sab, ponya) [< Fr. jambette]
janbon
jГЁ
jГЁ
N jar. JГЁ-a tГ© plen dlo. The jar was
full of water. (syn: jГЁ tГЁ; see also: fyГІl)
jГЁ lajan treasure chest. Mwen sav ki
kotГ© yo tГ©wГ© an jГЁ lajan. I know
where they buried a treasure chest. jГЁ
tГЁ clay jar. SГ© moun sala ka fГЁ jГЁ tГЁ.
Those people make clay jars. (syn: jГЁ;
ham. Mwen enmen manjГ©
janbon lГ© NwГЁl. I like to eat ham at
Christmas time. [< Fr. jambon]
N
jandji variant of zandji.
janm
N 1) leg. Tibway-la kasГ© janm
li. The boy broke his leg. (syn: katjГЁt)
91
JГ©di
Kwéyòl – English
his relative. (see also: fanmi) [< Fr.
gГ©nГ©ration]
see also: fyГІl)
JГ©di
N Thursday. Nou ka fГЁ
konmisyon toulГ© JГ©di. We do errands
every Thursday. [< Fr. jeudi]
jennГЁs
N 1) youth, adolescence. Nou
tГ© ka fГЁ sa an jennГЁs nou. We did that
in our youth. (opp: vyГ©yГЁs; see also:
pititГЁs, jenn) 2) youth, young person.
SГ© jennГЁs atjГІlman-an pli fenyan
pasГ© jennГЁs lontan. The youth of
today are lazier than those long ago.
[< Fr. jeunesse]
jГЁm
N germ, sprout. I ja lГЁ pou plantГ©
yanm-lan paski yo tout ja ni jГЁm. It
is already time to plant the yams
because they all already have sprouts.
(see also: pousГ©; flГЁch, koko,
wichton) [< Fr. germe]
Jen
jГ©tГ©
jennГ©wal
N general. Mwen ka palГ©
an jennГ©wal; mwen pa ni pyГЁsonn
an lidГ© mwen. I am speaking in
general; I don’t have any specific
person in mind. [< Fr. gГ©nГ©ral]
June. SГ©zon movГ© tan ka
koumansГ© an mwa Jen. The
hurricane season begins in June.
[< Fr. juin]
N
jenjanbyГЁ
N ginger beer. LГЁ mwen
ka bwГЁ jenjanbyГЁ i ka afwГ©chi
mwen. When I drink ginger beer it
refreshes me. [< Fr. gingembre]
jennman
N obstacle, hindrance. I
menm tiwГ© jennman-an i tГ© mГ©tГ© an
chimen-an. He removed the obstacle
he himself had put on the road. (syn:
bawad; see also: jennen) [< Fr. gГЄner]
jenjanm
N ginger. ManjГ© sala ni
twГІp jenjanm. This food has too
much ginger in it. [< Fr. gingembre]
jennton
N June bug. Tan lapli sГ© tan
jennton. The rainy season is a time of
June bugs.
jenmen variant of janmen.
jenn
jГЁs
ADJ young. SГ© jenn moun-an ka
jwГ© tout tan-an. The young people
play all the time. (opp: vyГ©; see also:
jennГЁs) [< Fr. jeune]
N supernatural trick. MisyГ© sala
sanm ni an chay jГЁs. This man has a
lot of tricks. (see also: lowizyon, vis,
maji nwГЁ) fГЁ jГЁs 1) to grimace, to
make faces, to gesticulate. Nonm sala
toujou ka fГЁ jГЁs! That man always
makes faces! (syn: fГЁ maji, gwiyen)
2) to manipulate the supernatural in
order to do evil. Nonm sala oblijГ© ka
fГЁ jГЁs. This man must be dealing with
evil. (see also: divinГ©, fГЁ tjenbwa, fГЁ
zГЁb, gajГ©, pyay)
jennen
V to hinder, to block, to be in
the way, to keep someone away from
something. Pa jennen mwen asou
twavay mwen. Don’t hinder me from
my work. (opp: dГ©jennen; see also:
bawГ©, bouchГ©, jennman) [< Fr.
gГЄner]
jennenwasyon
N 1) generation.
Jennenwasyon sala pa ni pyГЁs wГЁspГ©
pou BondyГ©. Put it there for all their
generations to see it. 2) relative. I alГ©
lГЁtГЁman-an paski mГІ-a tГ©
jennenwasyon’y. He went to the
funeral because the dead person was
jГ©tГ©
V 1) to throw, to throw away. Yo
jГ©tГ© zГІdi-a bГІ chimen-an. They threw
the garbage by the road. (see also:
flГ©chГ©, voyГ©, fГ©sГ©) 2) to add. Papa
mwen jГ©tГ© an mГІso asou kay li. My
father added an extension onto his
92
jГЁwГЁ
Kwéyòl – English
house. [< Fr. jeter] jГ©tГ© pawГІl to
insult, to use insulting language. Tifia tГ© ka jГ©tГ© pawГІl ban mwen mГ©
mwen pa di anyen. The girl was
saying derogatory things to me but I
didn’t say anything. (see also: ensilté,
jiwГ©) jГ©tГ© zyГ© to keep an eye (on), to
watch out (for). JГ©tГ© zyГ© asou
chГІdyГЁ-a ban mwen souplГ©. Keep
your eye on the pot for me please.
jijГ©wГЁ
CONJ much less. Nou pa sa
achtГ© an poul, jijГ©wГЁ an kay. We
can’t buy a chicken, much less a
house.
jijman
N judgment. M’a kontan
jijman sala jij-la pasé-a. I don’t like
this judgment the judge passed. [< Fr.
jugement]
jik variant of jis.
jГЁwГЁ
jilyГ©
N manager, boss. JГЁwГЁ-a kay
pГ©yГ© nou jГІdi-a. The boss will pay us
today. (syn: chГЁf, mГЁt; see also:
kolonm)
N waistcoat. Mwen pa kay mГ©tГ©
jilyГ© jГІdi-a paski i ka fГЁ twГІ cho. I
am not going to put on a waistcoat
today because it is too hot. [< Fr.
gilet]
JГ©zi
N Jesus. JГ©zi sГ© wa-a BondyГ© tГ©
pwonmГЁt pou voyГ©-a. Jesus is the
king God had promised to send. (syn:
Jezi Kwi) [< Fr. JГ©sus] JГ©zi Kwi
Jesus Christ. Nou ka swiv JГ©zi Kwi.
We follow Jesus Christ. (syn: JГ©zi)
ji
jis
jimo
N twin. Madanm sala ja fГЁ dГ©
jimo. That woman has had two sets of
twins. [< Fr. jumeau]
jinis
N heifer. Manman bГЁf sala ja fГЁ
twa pГІtГ© Г©pi tout sГ© piti-a sГ© jinis.
That cow has given birth three times
and all the little ones are heifers. (opp:
towo) [< Fr. gГ©nisse]
N juice. Yo ka bwГЁ ji zowanj.
They’re drinking orange juice. [< Fr.
jus]
jibyГ©
jip
N bird. JibyГ© kontan ti gwenn
sala. Birds like that little seed. jibyГ©
lapli rain bird: a type of little bird.
LГЁ lapli-a ka pasГ©, ou kay wГЁ jibyГ©
lapli-a ka volГ©. When rain passes,
you’ll see rain birds flying.
N skirt. I pГІtГ© on jip kout. She
wore a short skirt. [< Fr. jupe]
jipon
N slip. Jipon’y pli lonng pasé
jip li. Her slip was longer than her
skirt. [< Fr. jupon] dimi jipon halfslip. I ka lavГ© dimi jipon-an. She is
washing the half-slip.
jij
N judge. Jij-la kondanné’y pou i
alГ© lajГІl. The judge condemned him to
go to jail. (see also: majГЁstwa) [< Fr.
juge]
jis1 (var: jik)
PREP 1) until. Nou pГ©
wГЁstГ© jis lannГ© ka vini. We may stay
until next year. (syn: jis a tan, jis tan,
jis lГЁ, jisannatandan, jiskatan) 2) as
far as, up to. Yo machГ© pou wivГ© jis
an hГІtГЁ. They walked until they
reached the countryside. [< Fr.
jusque] jis a tan variant of jis tan.
jis lГЁ until. WГ©tГ© la jis lГЁ nou wivГ©.
Stay there until we come. (syn: jis
tan) jis tan (var: jis a tan, jiskatan,
jijГ©1
V to judge. BondyГ© kay jijГ© nou
asou jou jijman-an. God will judge
us on the day of judgment. [< Fr.
juger]
jijГ©2
N gizzard. Mwen kontan jijГ©
poul ГЁk diwi. I like chicken gizzards
and rice. [< Fr. gГ©sier]
93
jis
Kwéyòl – English
jon
jiwГ©
jisannatandan) until. Madanm-lan
palГ© dГ©pi nou kitГ© Kastwi jis tan nou
wivГ© VyГ© FГІ. The woman spoke from
the time we left Castries until we
arrived in Vieux Fort. (syn: jis lГЁ)
[< Fr. jusqu’à temps]
V to curse, to use foul language.
Nonm sala enmen jiwГ©. That man
likes to curse. (see also: jГ©tГ© pawГІl)
[< Fr. jurer]
jiwi
N jury. Jiwi-a pa pwen djГЁ tan
pou fГЁ disizyon yo. The jury hardly
took any time to make their decision.
[< Fr. jury]
jis2 (var: jik)
ADV 1) even. Jis sГ©
madanm-lan ki alГ© wГЁ sГ© manmay-la
jwГ© bol. Even the women went to see
the children playing cricket.
2) exactly, precisely. I mennwit jis. It
is exactly midnight. [< Fr. juste] jis
kont 1) just enough. AnmasГ© jis
kont mango pou nou manjГ© jГІdi-a.
Gather up just enough mangos for us
to eat today. (syn: doukwГ©) 2) just
right, just the right size, just fits.
SoulyГ© nГЁf-la jis kont tibway mwenan. The new shoe is just the right size
for my boy.
jiwГІf
N clove. JiwГІf bon an ditГ©
kako. Cloves are good in cocoa tea.
(syn: klou jiwГІf)
jГІb
N cigarette paper. Tan lontan
moun tГ© ka sГЁvi jГІb pou woulГ©
sigawГЁt yo. Long ago people would
use cigarette paper to roll their
cigarettes.
jГІdi (var: hГІdi)
ADV today (in a
general sense), nowadays. Manmay
jГІdi pa kon manmay lontan.
Children today are not like children in
the past. (see also: atjwГЁlman) [< Fr.
aujourd’hui] jòdi-a today. Jòdi-a
pa ni twavay. There is no work today.
jГІdi jou nowadays, these days. JГІdi
jou nou pa ka machГ© pou alГ© an
hòtè. Nowadays we don’t have to
walk to get to the countryside. (syn:
atjwГЁlman)
jis3
ADJ just. BondyГ© asГ© jis pou
pawdonnen pГ©chГ© nou. God is just
enough to forgive our sins. (see also:
jistis) [< Fr. juste] jis di pГ© justice
of the peace. Tan sa’a papa mwen té
an jis di pГ©. At that time my father
was a justice of the peace.
jis4
ADJ tight. TjilГІt tibway-la jis
tèlman i pa sa menm bésé. The boy’s
trousers are so tight he cannot even
bend over. (see also: sГ©wГ©) [< Fr.
juste]
joli
ADJ lovely, beautiful. Sa sГ© an joli
madanm. That is a beautiful woman.
(syn: bГЁl; opp: lГЁd) [< Fr. joli]
jisannatandan variant of jis tan.
joliman
ADV very, very much. Yo
mГ©chan joliman! They are very
wicked! (see also: an chay, an pil)
[< Fr. joliment]
jiskatan variant of jis tan.
jistifyГ©
V to justify, to clear. I jik vlГ©
jistifyГ© sa i ka fГЁ-a. He even wants to
justify what he is doing. [< Fr.
justifier]
jГІmou (var: janmou, jonmou,
jonmon) N pumpkin. JГІmou sala ni
bon gou. That pumpkin tastes good.
[< Fr. giraumon]
jistis
N justice. La pa ni pyГЁs jistis an
latè sala. There’s no justice in this
world. (see also: jis) [< Fr. justice]
jon
94
N
reed. Tan lontan sГ©tГ© chГЁz jon
jГІn
Kwéyòl – English
ou tГ© ka pli jwenn. Long ago it was
chairs made of reeds that were most
common.
jГІn
bГЁf-la. The farmer yoked the cows.
(opp: dГ©joukГ©) [< Fr. joug]
jounГ©
N day (with an emphasis on
activities done or condition during the
day). Yo twavay wГЁd tout jounГ©-a.
They worked hard all day. (opp:
lannwit; see also: jou, lajounГ©) [< Fr.
journГ©e] jan jounГ© friend for a day,
reciprocal exchange of favours. Papa
mwen tГ© ni jan jounГ© jГІdi-a. My
father had a few friends helping him
work today. (see also: koudmen)
yellow. Kay-la tГ© pentiwГ© an
jГІn. The house was painted yellow.
[< Fr. jaune] jГІn zГ© egg yolk.
DГІktГЁ-a di mwen sГ© pa pou mwen
manjГ© jГІn zГ©. The doctor told me I
shouldn’t eat egg yolks.
ADJ
jonmon variant of jГІmou.
jonmou variant of jГІmou.
jou
jounou
N 1) day (with an emphasis on
calendar, rotation of the earth, or
seasons of the year). Ki jou ou kay
viwГ©? What day will you return? (see
also: jounГ©, lajounГ©) 2) daylight,
daytime. (opp: swГЁ) [< Fr. jour] fГЁ
jou to become daylight. I tГ© ja ka fГЁ
jou lГЁ kannГІt-la Г©chwГ©. It was
already becoming daylight when the
boat landed. (opp: fГЁ nwГЁ) gwan jou
broad daylight. I tГ© gwan jou lГЁ vГІlГЁa kasГ© kay madanm-lan. It was broad
daylight when the thief broke into the
woman’s house. (syn: gwan lajouné,
gwan midi; opp: gwo lannwit) jou
ouvГЁ 1) dawn, daybreak. I tГ© ja fini
bouwi manjГ© avan jou ouvГЁ. She had
already finished cooking the food
before dawn. (see also: laba, sГІlГЁy
lГ©vГ©) 2) daybreak jump-up. Tout sГ©
jenn manmay-la alГ© an jou ouvГЁ. All
of the young children went to
daybreak jump-up. (associated with
carnival and other celebrations)
N knee. Jounou’y ka fè’y
mal. Her knee is hurting her. [< Fr.
genou]
jowanj variant of zowanj.
jowany variant of zowanj.
jwa
N a good player of board games.
Pa gadГ© misyГ©, i sГ© on bon jwa.
Don’t be fooled by his looks, he is a
good player. [< Fr. joueur]
jwГ©
V 1) to play. SГ© ti manmay-la
toujou ka jwГ©. The children always
play. 2) to gamble. I jwГ© ГЁk i pГЁd
tout lajan’y. He gambled and lost all
his money. (see also: waflГ©) 3) to
enjoy. Nonm-lan jwé blag madanmlan. The man enjoyed the woman’s
jokes. (see also: jwi, gawoulГ©) N
game. Sa sГ© on bГЁl jwГ©. That is a nice
game. [< Fr. jouer] jwГ© an fidji to
wag a finger or hand in another’s face.
Pa jwé lanmen’w an fidji mwen,
tibway! Boy, don’t wag your hand in
my face.
Joudlan
N New Year’s Day. Toulé
Joudlan mwen ka alГ© asou skwГЁ.
Every New Year’s Day I go to the
street festival. [< Fr. jour de l’an]
jouk
joukГ©
N
V
jwenn
jwenn
V 1) to join, to meet. Tout
lГ©gliz kay jwenn ansanm pou
pwГ©dyГ© bay pГ©yi-a. All of the
churches will meet together to pray for
the country. (see also: asanblГ©) 2) to
get. Si ou achtГ© dГ© chimiz ou kay
yoke. [< Fr. joug]
to yoke. Fama-a joukГ© sГ©
95
jwi
Kwéyòl – English
jwenn yonn pou anyen. If you buy
two shirts you will get one for free.
(syn: twapГ©, twouvГ©, wisivwГЁ) 3) to
find. YГЁ mwen jwenn on dГІla bГІ
chimen-an. Yesterday I found a dollar
by the road. [< Fr. joindre]
jwi
kabwГЁs
jouir]
Jwif
N Jew. Byen pГ© an sГ© Jwif-la ki
tГ© aksГЁptГ© JГ©zi kon wa yo Few of the
Jews accepted Jesus as their king.
(religious) [< Fr. Juif]
JwiyГЁt
N July. PГ©yi Sent Lisi ka
sГ©lГ©bwГ© kannaval an JwiyГЁt
atjwГЁlman. St. Lucia celebrates
carnival in July now. [< Fr. juillet]
1) to enjoy. Nonm-lan bati an
matenm kay mé i pa té ni tan jwi’y
paski i mГІ. The man built a huge
house but he didn’t have time to enjoy
it because he died. (see also: gawoulГ©,
jwГ©) 2) to rape. (syn: anvyolГ©) [< Fr.
V
jyГ© variant of zyГ©.
Kk
ka1
ADV progressive aspect marker. I
ka palГ©. He is speaking.
an kabawГ©-a. Although the doctor
had told him not to drink he continued
going to the bar. [< Fr. cabaret]
ka2 (var: kad)
N 1) quarter. I pa tГ© sa
menm manjГ© yon ka an manjГ©-a. He
could not even eat a quarter of the
food. (see also: katyГ©, katyenm)
2) quarter of an hour, fifteen minutes.
I yon ka apwé senkè. It’s a quarter
after five. [< Fr. quart]
kabГ©
N a temporary shelter made of
sticks, palm fronds. Mwen fГЁ an kabГ©
bГІ jaden-an pou bouwi manjГ©
mwen. I made a temporary shelter in
the garden in order to cook my food.
(see also: chГ©d)
ka3
N care. [< Eng. care] pwan ka
to take care of, to care for. BondyГ©
kay pwan ka’w. God will take care of
you. (syn: gadГ© apwГ©, otjipГ©; see also:
swen)
kabosГ©
V to dent. Bonm zenk-lan
tonbГ© asou masonn-an Г©pi i kabosГ©.
The galvanized bucket fell on the
concrete and got dented. (syn:
anfonsГ©) ADJ dented. Mwen pa vlГ©
achtГ© motoka sala paski i twГІp
kabosé. I don’t want to buy that car
because it is dented too much. [< Fr.
cabosser]
kab
N cable, rope. Machin kannГІt-la
koupГ© tout kab nas-la. The engine of
the boat cut the fish pots’ ropes. [< Fr.
cable]
kabann
kabowГ©
N 1) cart. Pa mГ©tГ© kabowГ©-a
douvan chouval-la. Don’t put the cart
before the horse. (see also: kawГІs)
2) toy car pushed on the end of a stick.
Tout sГ© ti gason-an ni kabowГ©. All
the little boys have toy cars.
bed in the form of old
clothes on the floor. Yo anmasГ©
kabann-an a tГЁ-a. They gathered up
all the rags for sleeping on. (syn:
kouch) [< Fr. cabane]
N
kabawГ©
N bar, tavern, pub. MagwГ©
dòktè-a di’y pa bwè i kontiné ka alé
kabwГЁs
N young girl. Mi kabwГЁs-la
la! Look at the young girl there! (syn:
96
kabwit
Kwéyòl – English
tifi; see also: djal, fanm, madanm,
manmzГЁl)
kaka
kous-la. The man took one minute and
ten seconds to run the race. (see also:
minit, nГЁditan)
kabwit
N goat. I mawГ© kabwit-la an
jaden misyГ©-a. He tied the goat in the
man’s garden. (see also: bouk) [< Fr.
cabri]
kadna
N padlock. VГІlГЁ-a pГ©tГ©
kadna-a pou i tГ© sa antwГ© an kay-la.
The thief broke the padlock in order to
break into the house. (see also: laklГ©,
sГ©wi) [< Fr. cadenas]
kabwiya
N noose used for catching
animals. Yo ka tjГ©bГ© zanndoli ГЁvГЁk
kabwiya. They catch lizards with
nooses.
kado
N gift. Madanm mwen ban
mwen on kado pou NwГЁl. My wife
gave me a gift for Christmas. (syn:
don) [< Fr. cadeau]
kabyГ© variant of kwabyГ©.
kachiman
N custard apple. SГ©
kachiman-an matwitГ© atjГІlman. The
custard apples are ripe now.
kafГ©
N coffee. KafГ© sala mГ©witГ© sik.
This coffee needs some sugar. [< Fr.
cafГ©] kafГ© bwГ©zilyen, kafГ© gwenn
lГ©gliz, kafГ© gwo bouwo, kafГ© pat
chouval, kafГ© ti kafГ©, kafГ©
zГЁpyant types of coffee.
kachmabal
N a game in which people
have to guess who is holding a certain
small object. LГЁ nou tГ© manmay nou
toujou tГ© ka jwГ© kachmabal. When
we were children we liked to play
�kachmabal’. [< Fr. cache ma balle]
kafГ©tyГЁ
N coffee maker. Manman
mwen ban mwen kafГ©tyГЁ sala kon
an kado. My mother gave me this
coffee maker as a present. [< Fr.
cafГ©tiГЁre]
kacho
N jail cell. Polis-la fГЁmГ© vГІlГЁ-a
an kacho-a. The police locked up the
thief in the jail cell. (see also:
kalabous, lajГІl, pwizon) [< Fr.
cachot]
kagou
ADJ dazed, stunned, disoriented.
Ti manmay-la gadГ© kagou; i sanm
malad. The child looks disoriented; he
seems to be sick. (syn: bazoudi,
toudi; see also: Г©gawГ©, vag)
kachtГ©
V to seal (envelope, etc.). LГЁtla tou kachtГ©. The letter was all
sealed up. (opp: dГ©kachtГ©) [< Fr.
cacheter]
kaka
N excrement. Nou alГ© anmasГ©
kaka bГЁf an savann-an pou nou
mГ©tГ© an jaden nou. We went to
gather up cow excrement in the field
in order to put it in our garden. (syn:
chyГ©; see also: bantjГ©, fimyГ©,
ladjidjit, lasГЁl, wilachman) V to
defecate. Mwen tjГ©bГ© tibway-la ka
kaka dГЁyГЁ kay mwen. I caught the
boy defecating behind my house. (syn:
chyГ©; see also: fГЁ bizwen, alГ© an
wazyГ©) [< Fr. caca] kaka bawi a
type of saltwater fish. kaka bГ©tjГ© a
kad variant of ka. Ban mwen on kad
pГІt. Give me a quarter cup. (archaic)
[< Fr. quart de]
kadav
N cadaver, dead body. Nonmlan tjwГ© madanm li ГЁk i jГ©tГ© kadavla adan an twou pwГ©vit. The man
killed his wife and put her body in a
pit toilet. (see also: kГІ) [< Fr. cadavre]
kadГЁ
N second (time). Nonm-lan
pwen yon minit dis kadГЁ pou kouwi
97
kakan
Kwéyòl – English
kind of plant used for bush medicine.
Kaka bétjé sé on bon afwéchi. �Kaka
bétjé’ is a good cooling. (syn:
soumatjГ©) kaka dlo extreme fear.
Kaka dlo pwen’y lè i wè sèpan-an.
Extreme fear overtook him when he
saw the snake. kaka labyГЁ barley
residue left at brewery. kaka mГЁl a
type of tree with dark blue fruit. kaka
nГ© dried nasal mucous. kaka poul
1) a small flower that is commonly
white or pink. SГ© pli an senmityГЁ-a
ou ka jwenn kaka poul. �Kaka poul’
are usually found in the cemetery. 2) a
type of fish found in the sea. kaka
sГЁl a stone found in salt that looks
like salt. Kaka sГЁl-la gadГ© kon sГЁl
mГ© i pa ni pyГЁs gou. The false salt
looks like salt but it has no taste.
kaka zГІwГЁy earwax.
ki kasГ© magazen-an an kalabous-la.
They put the man who broke into the
store in jail. (syn: lajГІl, pwizon; see
also: kacho) [< Sp. calabozo]
kalalou
N callaloo (Xanthosoma
braziliense). LГЁ ou mГ©tГ© kalalou an
bouyon, sГ© sa ki bon. When you put
callaloo in dumpling soup, it’s really
nice. [< Fr. calalou]
kalandjГ©
V to dawdle. Tibway-la ka
kalandjé kò’y-la kon an moun ki pa
ni anyen pou fГЁ. The boy is dawdling
like a person who doesn’t have
anything to do. (syn: fГЁ kГІlonng, fГЁ
kakГІl)
kalbas
N calabash (Cruscentia cujete).
Tibway-la alГ© pwan dlo Г©pi i kasГ©
kalbas-la an wavin-an. The boy went
to get water and he broke the calabash
in the ravine. [< Fr. calebasse]
kakan
N 1) oxbow. 2) headlock. I
tjébé’y an kakan. He held him in a
headlock.
kalГ©
V to peel (bananas, plantain).
KalГ© pat fig sala ban mwen. Peel
those bananas for me. (syn: gwennen;
see also: plichГ©)
kako1
N cacao (Theobroma cacao),
cocoa. La ni an chay pyГ© kako bГІ
wavin-an. There are a lot of cacao
trees by the ravine. ADJ brown. I
mГ©tГ© an soulyГ© kako pou i alГ© an
twavay. He put on brown shoes to go
to work. [< Fr. cacao]
kali
N 1) small round net used to catch
flying fish. Kali-a tГ© plen volan. The
net was full of flying fish. (see also:
senn, filГЁt, lГЁpГЁvyГ©) 2) net on the end
of a long stick, used to pick fruit
without it falling to the ground and
getting damaged. PwГЁt-la wГЁstГ© an
balkon’y épi i té ka tjouwi mango
Г©pi on kali. The priest stayed on his
balcony and was picking mangoes
with a net on the end of a long stick.
(see also: gГІl, gГІlГЁt)
kako2
N venereal disease. Nonm sala
ni kako ГЁk i pa sa byen pisГ©. That
man has venereal disease and he
cannot urinate well. (see also: djГІn)
kakГІl
N delay. fГЁ kakГІl to stall, to
delay, to dawdle. Las fГЁ kakГІl! Ay
an boutik-la! Quit stalling! Go to the
store! (syn: fГЁ kГІlonng, kalandjГ©)
kalimГ©
N a type of grass, like bamboo,
but smaller. An lagon-an benyen pyГ©
kalimГ©. The swamp was filled with
�kalimé’ plants.
kal
N penis. (crude; syn: lolo, kГІk,
jak, pennsil, koko)
kalabous
N
kalitГ©
jail. Yo mГ©tГ© nonm-lan
kalitГ© (var: kaltГ©)
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N
1) kind, type.
kalkanda
Kwéyòl – English
kamo
Nou genyen tout kalitГ© fwitaj. We
bought all kinds of fruit. 2) quality.
Yanm mwen-an sГ© an pli bon kalitГ©
pasГ© sa ou-a. My yams are better
quality than yours. [< Fr. qualitГ©] ki
kalitГ© what kind. Ki kalitГ© motoka i
ni? What kind of car does he have?
N a kind of fresh-water fish..
Tan lontan lawivyГЁ tГ© benyen kamo.
Long ago the rivers were filled with
�kamo’ fish.
kan
N crease. Kan tjilГІt-la filГ© menm
kon an koutla. The crease in the pants
is as sharp as a cutlass.
kalkanda
N sickness in roosters.
MannyГЁ kГІk sala ka machГ©-a, ou sa
wГЁ i ni kalkanda. The way that
rooster is walking, you can see it has
�kalkanda’.
kandi
V to harden, to cake. Tout lГЁtla kandi an fyГІl-la. All of the milk
powder hardened in the jar.
kankan
N trouble, mischief. (syn:
chikann; see also: pwovokГ©) [< Fr.
cancan] achГ© kankan to look for
trouble. Ou toujou ka alГ© bГІ
chimen-an ka achГ© kankan. You
always go by the road looking for
trouble. (syn: achГ©, chikann, achГ©
twen)
kalkati
N a kind of storytelling that
involves exaggeration. tiwГ© kalkati
to tell wild, exaggerated stories.
PyГЁsonn pa enmen tiwГ© kalkati pasГ©
gwanpapa mwen. Nobody likes to tell
exaggerated stories like my
grandfather. (see also: tiwГ© listwa,
tiwГ© plan)
kankandГЁz variant of kankannГЁz.
kalmason
kankannГЁz (var: kankanndГЁz)
N snail. Kalmason pa ka
alé vit. Snails don’t go quickly. [< Fr.
colimaçon]
N
troublemaker. Tibway sala
kankannГЁz an chay. That boy is a big
troublemaker. (see also: anbГ©tan,
anmГЁwdan, antГ©tГ©, dГ©zagwГ©yab)
[< Fr. cancaniГЁre]
kalГІj
N cage. Yo mГ©tГ© lapen-an an
kalГІj-la. They put the rabbit in the
cage.
kalГІt
kanmawad
kankroum
N cartilage. Yo ba li an
koul pwen, yo kasé kankroum né’y.
They punched him in the nose, they
broke his nose cartilage.
1) blow to the head given with
the finger or knuckle. Tan lontan
manmay tГ© ka bay yonn a lГІt kalГІt.
Long ago children gave each other
blows to the head. 2) same as kalГІt
tГЁt. [< Fr. calotte] kalГІt tГЁt skull.
KalГІt tГЁt sala plat kon kalbas ki pijГ©
an fant bwanch. That skull is flat like
a calabash that is squeezed between
two branches. (syn: kalГІt)
N
kanmad
ADJ bow-legged. M’a té sav
tibway sala tГ© kanmad kon sa. I
didn’t know that boy bow-legged like
that.
kanmanmi
N a type of plant used for
bush medicine. Mwen achtГ©
kanmanmi pou fГЁ wimГЁd Г©pwidan. I
bought �kanmanmi’ to make medicine
for �épwidan’. (see also: sapantè,
tiyГЁl)
kalson
N drawers, underpants.
Madanm-lan achtГ© kalson bay
mawi’y. The woman bought
underpants for her husband.
kaltГ© variant of kalitГ©.
kanmawad
99
N
friend. I tГ© la ГЁk
kanmГЁl
Kwéyòl – English
kann fГЁ a type of sugar cane. Lapo
kanmawad li. He was there with his
friend. (syn: jan; opp: lГЁlmi) [< Fr.
camarade]
kann fГЁ wГЁd mГ© i dou an chay. The
husk of �kann fè’ is hard but it is very
sweet. kann wiban type of sugar
cane that has what appear to be
ribbons on it. Kann wiban pli dou
pasé sé lézòt kann-an. �Kann wiban’
is sweeter than other types of sugar
cane.
kanmГЁl
N camel. LГЁ i wivГ© bГІ pi-a, i
fГЁ sГ© kanmГЁl-la kouchГ©. When he
arrived near the well, he made the
camels lie down. (syn: chanmo)
[< Eng. camel]
kanmenm
CONJ however,
nevertheless. Mwen tГ© ja di mwen
pa tГ© kay alГ© an dinen-an, mГ©
kanmenm pou lapГ©ti madanm
mwen, mwen alГ©. I had already said I
wasn’t going to the dinner, but
nevertheless for the sake of my wife I
went. (syn: okontwГЁ; see also: mГ©,
wannman) [< Fr. quand mГЄme]
kanmizГІl
kanna
N duck. SГ© moun sala benyen
kanna bГІ kay yo. Those people have
a lot of ducks by their house. (see also:
poul dlo) [< Fr. canard]
kannal
N ditch, drain. Dlo-a ka koulГ©
adan kannal-la. The water runs in the
ditch. [< Fr. canal]
Kannaval
N Carnival. Yo ka alГ©
Sent Lisi pou Kannaval. They are
going to St. Lucia for Carnival. [< Fr.
carnaval]
coat, jacket, suit coat,
sport coat. I mГ©tГ© kwavat-la Г©pi
kanmizГІl li. He put on his tie and
jacket. [< Fr. camisole]
kann
kannik
N
kannawi
sugar cane. Avan fig sГ© kann
nou tГ© ka plantГ© Sent Lisi. Before
bananas, sugar cane was grown in St.
Lucia. (see also: vizou) [< Fr. canne]
fann kann to run quickly, to run
away, to flee. Mwen fann kann lГЁ
mwen wГЁ mГЁt mango-a ka vini. I ran
away when I saw the owner of the
mango tree coming. (syn: fГЁ djip, fГЁ
lapousyГЁ, fГЁ zГ©klГЁ, kwazГ© bwa,
kwazГ© wazyГ©, pwan an bwa, pwan
lavГІl; see also: kouwi, chapГ©,
mawon; bay pyГ©, bwennen kГІ, chapГ©
kГІ, fГЁ pyГ©, fГЁ yan, kouwi vant a tГЁ)
fГЁ fann kann to chase away. LГЁ
nou antwГ© an plas sala, nou kay fГЁ sГ©
moun-an fann kann. When we enter
that place, we will chase those people
away. (syn: chachГ©, fГЁ kwazГ© bwa, fГЁ
kwazГ© wazyГ©, fГЁ pwan an bwa, fГЁ
pwan lavГІl; see also: bay lapouswiv)
N clay pot. Kannawi-a kasГ©
an miyГЁt. The clay pot broke into
pieces. (see also: chГІdyГЁ, pann,
tГ©win) kannawi dlo paronychia,
inflammation of the fingernails.
Manman mwen tГ© ni pou pГ©yГ© moun
pou lavГ© ba li paski i ni kannawi dlo.
My mother has to pay people to wash
for her because she has �kannawi dlo’.
(see also: dat, lota, wГ©zipГЁl)
N
kannГЁl
N cinnamon (Cinnamomum).
KannГЁl ka bay ditГ© kako bon gou.
Cinnamon gives cocoa tea a good
taste. [< Fr. cannelle]
kangowi
N millipede. La ni an chay
kangowi an jaden-an. There are
many millipedes in the garden.
kangowi nwГЁ black millipede.
kangowi wouj red millipede.
kannik
100
N a certain kind of pod,
sometimes used by children for
kannitil
Kwéyòl – English
of money in coins. PГІl ni on fyГІl
asou létajè’y ki benyen kapa. Paul
has a jar on his shelf that is full of
small change. [< Eng. copper]
playing marbles.
kannitil dog days; the hot time in July
and August. Tan kannitil sГ© tan
sГІlГЁy-la pli cho. The dog days are
when the sun is hottest.
kapab
ADJ able, capable. I pa asГ©
kapab pou fè sa. He’s not capable of
doing that. [< Fr. capable]
kannГІt
N boat, dugout canoe. SГ©
pГ©chГЁ-a pГЁd kannГІt yo an movГ© tanan. The fishermen lost their boat in the
storm. (see also: batiman, bato,
chaloup) [< Fr. canot]
kapasitГ©
N capacity. I tГ© vlГ© mГЁt-la
fè’y an kolonm mé i pa ni kapasité-a
pou sa. He wanted the boss to make
him an overseer but he doesn’t have
the capacity for that. [< Fr. capacitГ©]
kannou
N 1) cannon. I pГ©tГ© sГЁt koul
kannou. He fired seven cannon shots.
2) noisemaker �cannon’ made of
bamboo hollowed out and filled with
kerosene vapour and ignited to make a
loud noise. SГ©zon NwГЁl sГ© tan nou
ka pГ©tГ© pli kannou. The Christmas
season is the time when we fire our
bamboo cannons. [< Fr. canon]
kanp
kapital
N capital. Kastwi sГ© kapital
Sent Lisi. Castries is the capital of
Saint Lucia. [< Eng. capital]
kaponnen
V to grab. LГЁ i tonbГ©
mwen kaponnen’y. When he fell I
grabbed him. (see also: tjГ©bГ©)
kas1
camp, camping. LГ©gliz-la ka
alГ© kanp lГІt simenn. The church is
going camping next week. [< Eng.
camp]
N
N cassia, a type of plant
(cinnamomum cassia) used in bush
medicine as a cooling. Si ou manjГ©
kas-la, i kay mennen’w. If you eat the
cassia, it will loosen your bowels.
[< Fr. casse]
kanpГЁch
N campГЄche, a type of thorny
tree (Haematoxylon campechianum).
Tout bГІdaj chimen-an tГ© plen pyГ©
kanpГЁch. The road was lined by
campГЄche trees. [< Fr. campГЄche]
kantitГ©
N 1) amount, quantity. I tГ© ni
on gwo kantitГ© lajan. He had a large
amount of money. 2) variant of ki
kantitГ©. Yo wГЁ kantitГ© ho i tГ© ho.
They saw how tall he was. (syn: mizi;
see also: afГІs, osi, otan, si tГЁlman)
[< Fr. quantitГ©] ki kantitГ© (var:
kantitГ©) how much. Nou wГЁ ki
kantitГ© lajan nonm-lan tГ© ni. We saw
how much money the man had. (syn:
ki otan, ki mizi, konmen; see also:
afГІs, si tГЁlman)
kapa
N
kasГ©
kas2
N cask. Mwen achtГ© an kas
wonm bay kabawГ© mwen-an. I
bought a cask of rum for my rumshop.
(syn: bouko; see also: bawi)
kasav
N cassava bread. Mwen enmen
kasav Г©pi lГЁt. I like cassava bread and
milk. (syn: kasav manyГІk) kasav
manyГІk same as kasav. kasav
myГЁl honeycomb. Kasav myГЁl-la
dou! The honeycomb is sweet! (see
also: myГЁl, vonvon)
kasГ©
V 1) to break. I kasГ© vГЁ-a. He
broke the glass. 2) to break into. Yo
kasГ© kay-la. They broke into the
house. 3) to hit one marble with
another. Mwen kasГ© mab-la! I hit the
small change, a small amount
101
kaskou
Kwéyòl – English
marble! [< Fr. casser] kasГ© bwa an
zГІwГЁy to refuse to listen to or obey.
Mwen di’w pa fè sa. Ou ka kasé bwa
an zГІwГЁy ou! I told you not to do that.
You are refusing to obey! kasГ©
kanmawad to break or sever a
friendship. Mwen Г©pi misyГ© pa sa
dakГІ, kon sa mwen kasГ© kanmawad
épi’y. The man and I could not agree,
so I severed my friendship with him.
kasГ© wen to give a heavy blow.
Mwen kay kasé wen’w! I’ll give you
a good licking.
cure Г©chofi, ti kouwi and vitiligo. FГЁy
katalГ©zГІm bon pou lota. KatalГ©zГІm
leaves are good for treating vitiligo.
kataplanm
N poultice. Wen mwen
ouvГЁ Г©pi mwen tГ© ni pou mГ©tГ© on
kataplanm. My waist opened and I
had to put a poultice on it. [< Fr.
cataplasme]
katapГІl
N 1) catapult, slingshot.
Mwen tjwГ© an jibyГ© Г©pi katapГІl
mwen. I killed a bird with my
slingshot. 2) slipper, thong, sandal,
flip-flop. I mГ©tГ© kouwi Г©pi katapГІl li
volé sòti an pyé’y. He started running
and his slipper flew off his foot. [< Fr.
catapulte]
kaskou
N cliff, precipice. I tonbГ© an
kaskou-a. He fell in the precipice.
(syn: falГЁz, koudoum; see also: fon)
[< Fr. casse-cou]
kastГІ
helmet, hard hat. MisyГ©-a ni
on kastГІ nГЁf. The man has a new hard
hat.
N
katin
N black widow spider. Gwan
moun di si an katin mòdé’w, ou ni
pou dansГ© pou ven kat nГЁditan. Old
folks say that if a black widow spider
bites you, you have to dance for 24
hours. (syn: ven kat nГЁditan)
Kastwi
N Castries. Yo ka alГ© Kastwi
vitman ay fè on konmisyon. They’re
going to Castries to do a quick errand.
kat1
four. Mwen vlГ© kat liv sГЁl. I
want four pounds of salt. Ou kwГЁ sГ©
kat! Ou kwГЁ sГ© dГ©! Do you really
believe that? [< Fr. quatre] kat
chimen crossroad. Yo kouwi jis tan
yo wivГ© an kat chimen-an. They ran
until they arrived at the crossroads.
kat nwГЁ five cents. Nou pГ©yГ© kat
nwГЁ pou chak fig. We paid five cents
per banana.
katjГЁt
N leg. SГ© pou ou toujou fГЁmГ©
katjГЁt ou lГЁ ou ka asid. You must
always put your legs together when
you sit. (crude; syn: janm)
ADJ
katjil
N thought, mind. Mwen épi’w
fГЁ menm katjil. You and I are of the
same mind.
katjilГ©
V to think, to ponder, to
meditate. SГ© pou nou katjilГ© asou sa.
We must think about that. (see also:
chonjГ©, kwГЁ, ni lidГ©, wГ©flГ©chi) [< Fr.
calculer]
kat2
N cards, playing card. I toujou
ka jwГ© kat. He is always playing
cards. [< Fr. carte] bat kat to
shuffle cards. Yo bat sГ© kat-la avan
yo jwГ©. They shuffled before they
played. (sometimes refers to occult
practice like Tarot)
katalГ©zГІm
N
Katolik
Katolik
ADJ Roman Catholic. LГ©gliz
Katolik sГ© pli gwo lГ©gliz ki Sent Lisi.
The Roman Catholic Church is the
biggest church in Saint Lucia. N
Roman Catholic. SГ© Katolik-la ka
chantГ©. The Catholics are singing.
[< Fr. catholique]
a type of plant, used to
102
katouch
Kwéyòl – English
katouch
kawaf
katГІz
kawaktГЁ
katwan
kawanng
N cartridge, shell. Fizi sala
ka pwan kat katouch. That rifle takes
four cartridges. [< Fr. cartouche]
ADJ fourteen. Nou ni katГІz liv.
We have fourteen books. [< Fr.
quatorze]
N same as kat lannГ©. [< Fr.
quatre ans]
katwГЁ
N
kawГ©sГ©
N jug. Kawaf-la tГ© plen dlo.
The jug was full of water. [< Fr.
carafe]
N character. Nonm sala ni
on bon kawaktГЁ. That man has a good
character. [< Fr. caractГЁre]
N amberjack fish. Mwen
enmen pГ©chГ© kawanng. I like to fish
for kawanng.
four o’clock. [< Fr. quatre
kawant
heures]
ADJ forty. Yo ni kawant
dГІla. They have forty dollars. [< Fr.
quarante]
katwiven
ADJ eighty. Yo ni katwiven
dГІla. They have eighty dollars. [< Fr.
quatre-vingts] katwiven dis ninety.
Yo ni katwiven dis dГІla. They have
ninety dollars. [< Fr. quatre-vingt-dix]
kawГ©
ADJ square. Tout finГЁt an kay
sala kawГ©. All the windows of that
house are square. (see also: skwГЁ) N
lot, piece of land, house spot. Mwen
tiwГ© an kawГ© bay tifi mwen-an pou i
sa fГЁ kay li. I divided off a piece of
land for my daughter so she could
build her house. V to square off, to
prepare to fight. LГЁ i wГЁ nonm-lan i
kawГ©! When he saw the man he got
ready to fight! [< Fr. carrГ©] kanf
kawГ© camphor balls. Manman
mwen mété kanf kawé an biwo’y
pou wavГЁt pa mГІdГ© had li. My
mother put camphor balls in her
dresser so cockroaches wouldn’t eat
her clothes. kawГ© tГЁ acre. Mwen
achtГ© an kawГ© tГЁ an hГІtГЁ pou mwen
sa fГЁ jaden. I bought an acre of land in
the countryside in order to make a
garden.
katyГ©
N one fourth, one quarter. Yo
ba li on katyГ© byen yo. They gave
him a quarter of their wealth. (see
also: ka, katyenm) [< Fr. quartier]
katyenm (var: katzyenm)
ADJ fourth.
Sa sГ© katyenm fwa-a mwen ka alГ©
lòt péyi. This is the fourth time I’m
going overseas. (see also: ka, katyГ©)
[< Fr. quatriГЁme]
katzyenm variant of katyenm.
kav
N cave. Yo sГ©wГ© bwГЁt-la adan
kav-la. They hid the box in the cave.
[< Fr. cave]
kavach
N whip. Yo bat li ГЁk kavach.
They whipped him. (syn: fwГЁt, lyenn)
[< Fr. cravache]
kavalyГ©1
N
kavalyГ©2
N
male dancing partner.
Danm ГЁk kavalyГ© ka dansГ© ansanm.
Women and men dance together. (see
also: danm)
moss rose. Douvan kay li
benyen kavalyГ© plantГ©. There are a
lot of moss roses planted in front of
their house.
kawenm
N dry season, January to
May. Tan kawenm moun ka bati
kay. In the dry season people build
houses. (opp: livГЁnaj) [< Fr. carГЄme]
kawГ©sГ©
V to caress. Nonm-lan tГ© ka
kawГ©sГ© madanm li. The man was
caressing his wife. (syn: dolotГ©, nichГ©;
see also: manyen, touchГ©) [< Fr.
103
kawГЁt
Kwéyòl – English
caresser]
kawГЁt
p’òkò wè jij-la. The courthouse is full
of people but we haven’t seen the
judge. kay masonn wall house,
house made of concrete blocks. Kay
masonn sГ© kay ki ka fГЁ pli cho. Wall
houses are the hottest kind of houses.
kay planch wooden house. Kay
planch ka kwazГ© pli vit pasГ© kay
masonn. Wooden houses fall apart
quicker than wall houses.
1
N tool for stirring cassava
flour. Yo wimen fawin-lan Г©pi
kawГЁt-la. They stirred the cassava
flour with the stirring tool. (see also:
wabГІt)
kawГЁt2
N a type of sea turtle. Yo ka
manjé kawèt. They’re eating sea
turtle. (see also: agalo, tГІti) [< Fr.
caret]
kawГІs
kay3 (var: kway)
N scale appearing on
one’s skin. Tibway-la pa ka benyen;
tout do’y sé kay. The boy doesn’t
bathe; his back is covered with scales.
[< Fr. Г©caille] kay pwГ©son fish
scale. Yo ka tiyé kay pwéson anlè’y.
They’re taking the scales off the fish.
buggy, cart, chariot. Nou wГЁ
dГ© chouval ka hГ©di kawГІs-la. We
saw two horses pulling the buggy. (see
also: kabowГ©)
N
kawouj
N St. Lucia oriole. Kawouj
sГ© yonn an sГ© pli bГЁl jibyГ©-a ki St.
Lisi, i ni koulГЁ jГІn ГЁk nwГЁ. The oriole
is one of the most beautiful birds in St.
Lucia, it’s coloured yellow and black.
kay4
N reef. LanmГЁ-a bas; nou sa
machГ© alГ© jik asou kay-la. The sea is
low; we can walk all the way to the
reef. (see also: bas)
kawozin
N kerosene. BoutГЁy-la tГ©
plen kawozin. The bottle was full of
kerosene. [< Eng. kerosene]
kaya
N marijuana. An chay moun ka
fimen kaya. Many people smoke
marijuana.
kawton
N cardboard. PГІtГ© tjГІ
kawton sala ban mwen. Carry this
piece of cardboard for me. ADJ
cardboard. SГ© an bwГЁt kawton ou ka
mГ©tГ© fig. You put bananas in
cardboard boxes.
kay
1
kayal
N egret, heron, cowbird. LГЁ
lapli sГ© savann-an ka benyen kayal.
In the rainy season the fields are full
of egrets.
kayГ©1
V to clot, to congeal, to curdle.
Tout san bГЁf-la kayГ©. All of the
cow’s blood clotted. N curds. Lè
mwen tГ© piti manman mwen tГ© ka
ban mwen kayГ© Г©pi pen cho pou
ditГ©. When I was little my mother
would give me curds and hot bread for
breakfast. [< Fr. cailler]
future tense indicator.
Denmen nou kay pati. Tomorrow we
will depart.
ADV
kay2 (var: kaz)
N house, building. I
ja ni dГ© lannГ© dГ©pi misyГ©-a
koumansé kay-la épi i p’òkò sa
wèsté adan’y jik toujou. It has
already been two years since the man
began to build the house and he still
can’t live in it yet. (see also: mézon)
kay lodyans courthouse. Kay
lodyans-lan plen moun mГ© nou
kayГ©
kayГ©2
V to scale (a fish). SГ© mwen ki
kayГ© tout sГ© pwГ©son sala. I am the
one who scaled all of those fish. ADJ
scaly. Tout do tibway-la kayГ©. The
boy’s back is all scaly. [< Fr. écailler]
104
kayГЁ
Kwéyòl – English
kayГЁ
kilГЁs which. KilГЁs motoka ou simyГ©?
Which car do you prefer? kilГЁs ki
N bedrock, rock. Pa machГ© asou
kayè glisé sala avan ou tonbé. Don’t
walk on that slippery rock or you’ll
fall. (see also: wГІch)
which, who. KilГЁs ki mГІ? Who died?
(see also: ki moun ki, ki sa ki)
kayman
kilibwi (var: koulibwi)
N caiman, alligator. Moun
ka manjГ© kayman. People eat
alligator.
kiliwou variant of kiliyou.
kГ©chГІy variant of kГ©chГІz.
something.
LГЁ ou alГ© an vil, pГІtГ© kГ©chГІz ban
mwen. When you go to town, bring
something back for me. [< Fr. quelque
chose]
PRO
kiliyou (var: kiliwou)
kГ©s
kirou
N sweetened rice. LГЁ yo ka fГЁ
fГЁt, sГ© Kouli-a ka manjГ© an chay
kirou. When they are having a party,
the Indians eat a lot of sweet rice.
kitГ©
V 1) to leave, to depart. I kitГ© OjГ©
ГЁk i alГ© Kastwi. He left Augier and
went to Castries. (syn: pati; opp: wivГ©;
see also: alГ©, sГІti) KitГ© koutla-a
anba kay-la. Leave the cutlass under
the house. Lajan-an ou dwГ© mwenan, kitГ© sa. The money you owe me,
don’t worry about it. 2) to allow, to
let, to permit. Pa kitГ© mwen viwГ© Г©pi
ou p’òkò lavé sé bagay sal-la. Don’t
let me return and find you haven’t
washed the dishes. (syn: ba, pГЁwmitГ©)
[< Fr. quitter]
court, court case. I moutГ©
dГ©sann konsГЁy pou dГ© lannГ© avan
kГ©s-la pawГЁt. He went up and down to
high court for two years before they
called the case. (see also: akizasyon,
plent) [< Eng. case]
KГ©wГІl variant of KwГ©yГІl.
kГ©won variant of kwГ©yon.
ki
kibich variant of kwibich.
a type of
kimonnon variant of koumonnon.
N
ADJ what, which. Ki jou ou vlГ© yo
sГІti? What day do you want them to
leave? CONJ that, which, who. SГ©
pou ou fГЁ bagay ki ka plГЁ nou. You
must do things that please us. [< Fr.
qui] ki...ki 1) whether...or. Ki yo
vlГ© tann ki yo pa vlГ© tann, i pa ka fГЁ
pyГЁs difГ©wans. Whether they want to
hear or not, it doesn’t make any
difference. 2) either...or. Ki an lГ©kГІlla, ki an chimen-an... Either at
school, or on the road... (see also:
ni...ni, swГ©...Г©ben)
N
fish.
kenz
ADJ fifteen. Yo ni kenz dГІla.
They have fifteen dollars. [< Fr.
quinze]
N
hummingbird. Kilibwi ka sisГ© flГЁ.
Hummingbirds suck flowers. (syn: sisi
BondyГ©)
kaz variant of kay.
kГ©chГІz (var: kГ©chГІy)
klazon
kiyennen variant of kwennen.
klaklak (var: krakrak)
N locust.
Klaklak-la tГ© asou pyГ© bwa-a ka
kasГ© zГІwГЁy mwen. The locust was in
the tree making a lot of noise.
klas
N class, grade. KilГЁs klas ou kay
alГ© lГЁ lГ©kГІl ouvГЁ? What class will you
be in when school opens? [< Fr.
classe]
klazon variant of kwazon.
105
klГЁ
Kwéyòl – English
klГЁ
ADJ clear. Dlo-a tГ© tГЁlman klГЁ nou
té ka wè tout ofon’y. The water was
so clear we could see to the bottom.
ADV same as a klГЁ. Wi, mwen ka wГЁ
klГЁ ankГІ! Yes, I am seeing clearly
again! [< Fr. clair] a klГЁ clearly.
Ou kay wГЁ tout bagay a klГЁ. You will
see everything clearly.
ko variant of ki kotГ©. Ko ou ka alГ©?
Where are you going?
kГІ
N 1) body. Yo koupГ© gГІj nonmlan Г©pi yo jГ©tГ© kГІ-a an lawivyГЁ-a.
Someone cut the man’s throat and
threw the body in the river. (see also:
ganm, kadav) 2) self. SГ© moun sala
ja vyГ©; yo pa sa fГЁ anyen bay kГІ yo.
These people are old; they can’t do
anything by themselves. 3) same as
kГІ had. [< Fr. corps] kГІ had
blouse. I ka lavé kò had-la. She’s
washing the blouse. (syn: kГІ, kГІ wГІb)
kГІ pyГ© bwa tree trunk. KГІ pyГ©
bwa-a tГ© wГЁd! The trunk was hard!
pa kГІ by oneself, alone. I alГ© pa
kò’y. He went by himself. (see also:
yonn) kГІ wГІb same as kГІ had.
klГ©tГЁ variant of klГЁtГ©.
klГЁtГ© (var: klГ©tГЁ)
N light. Mennen an
klГЁtГ© ban mwen pou mwen gadГ© pou
an bagay la. Bring me a light so I can
look for something there. (syn: limyГЁ)
[< Fr. clartГ©]
klГ©wГ©
V to shine, to give light, to
illuminate. Lalin-an ka klГ©wГ© an
chay ГІswГЁ-a. The moon is shining a
lot tonight. (see also: bay asou)
klГІch
kochi
kГІbiya
N hearse. KГІbiya-a kay
mennen senkГЁy-la. The hearse will
carry the coffin. [< Fr. corbillard]
bell. I ja lГЁ dГ©jlen kon sa sГ©
pou ou sonnen klòch-la. It’s
lunchtime, so you should ring the bell.
[< Fr. cloche]
N
kГІbo
N vulture. KГІbo ka manjГ© tout
bagay ki mò avan’y. Vultures eat
anything that dies before them. [< Fr.
corbeau]
klochГ©
N belfry, steeple. DГ©pi misyГ©
sala alГ© lГ©gliz, i ka toujou doubout
anba klochГ©-a. Whenever that man
goes to church, he always stands under
the belfry. [< Fr. clocher]
kГІchГ©
V 1) to hook (a fish, etc.), to
join, to hitch. Mwen kГІchГ© konmen
pwéson mé m’a tjébé yonn. I hooked
so many fish but I didn’t catch any.
2) to skin (a type of fish without
scales). Papa mwen tГ© ni pou kГІchГ©
tout sГ© bous-la bay manman mwen.
My father had to skin all of the
triggerfish for my mother. [< Fr.
accrocher]
klou1
N nail. Yo pa ni pyГЁs klou pou
fini twavay-la. They don’t have nails
to finish their work. [< Fr. clou] klou
jiwГІf same as jiwГІf.
klou2
N boil, carbuncle, sty. Papa
mwen ni an klou dwèt an fon’y. My
father has a boil right on his forehead.
(syn: chГЁbon; see also: latwas, plГІk,
zanpoul) [< Fr. clou]
kochi
klouwГ©
V to nail. Yo ka klouwГ©
planch-lan épi an mato. They’re
nailing the board with a hammer. (opp:
dГ©klouwГ©) [< Fr. clouer]
106
ADJ 1) bent, crooked. Baton-an
kochi. The stick is bent. (opp: dwГЁt;
see also: kГІviyГ©, tГІd, tГІtiyГ©)
2) crooked, dishonest. SГ© pou ou vГ©yГ©
nonm sala – i kochi an chay. You
must look out for that man – he is very
crooked.
kochon
Kwéyòl – English
kochon
N pig. Yo ni an chay kochon
an pak-la. They have many pigs in the
sty. ADJ greedy. Ki mannyГЁ ou
kochon kon sa? Why are you so
greedy? (syn: vowas) [< Fr. cochon]
kochon tГЁ a type of insect. Gwan
moun di kochon tГЁ ka mГІdГ© fГІ. Old
folks say the �kochon tè’ bug bites
hard.
kГІf
N strongbox, place to keep
valuables. Madanm-lan mГ©tГ© tout
bijou’y adan kòfò-a. The woman put
all of her jewellery in the strongbox.
[< Fr. coffre]
kГІk1
N cock, rooster. ApwГ© kГІk-la
chantГ© mwen pa tГ© sa dГІmi ankГІ.
After the rooster crowed I couldn’t
sleep any more. (see also: poul,
poulГЁt) [< Fr. coq] batay kГІk
cockfight. ToulГ© Sanmdi la ni batay
kГІk. Every Saturday there are
cockfights.
kГІk2
N fang. Nonm-lan ka achГ©
goumen paski i ni on kГІk sГЁpan an
pГІch li. The man is looking for a fight
because he has a snake fang in his
pocket. [< Fr. croc]
kГІd
N cord, rope. BГЁf-la pГ©tГ© kГІd-la
Г©pi alГ© an jaden-an. The cow broke
the rope and went into the garden. (see
also: fil, fisГЁl) [< Fr. corde]
kГІk3
N penis. I ni an maladi an kГІk
li ki ka anpéché’y pisé. He has a
problem with his penis that is
preventing him from urinating. (syn:
kal, koko, jak, pennsil, lolo, pati)
kodenn
N turkey. Nou manjГ© an gwo
kodenn pou NwГЁl. We ate a big
turkey for Christmas.
kГІdgad
police station. Si ou pa
kitГ© mwen bat mizГЁ mwen, mwen
kay mété non’w an kòdgad. If you
don’t leave me alone, I will report you
to the police station. (syn: stГ©chann)
[< Fr. corps de guard]
N
kokiyaj
N 1) clam. Yo ka manjГ©
kokiyaj. They eat clams. 2) shell. I
ka fГЁ pГІpГІt kokiyaj. She makes shell
dolls. (see also: zГ©kal) [< Fr.
coquillage]
kГІkma
N a supernatural being that
gives you nightmares. YГЁ ГІswГЁ mwen
wГ©vГ© on kГІkma tГ© dГЁyГЁ mwen. Last
night I dreamed a �kòkma’ was after
me.
kГІdonnyГ©
N shoemaker. KГІdonnyГ©
sala pa jenmen ni soulyГ©. That
shoemaker never has any shoes. [< Fr.
cordonnier]
kГІdonnyГ©
N
jackfish (Alexis crinitus).
boxfish.
kГІfГІ
kochonni
N 1) rubbish, trash. SГ©
moun-an ka jГ©tГ© an chay kochonni
an lawivyГЁ-a. The people throw a lot
of rubbish in the river. (syn: zГІdi)
2) nonsense, foolishness, stupidity. SГ©
kochonni tousГЁl ou ka palГ© la. It is
only nonsense you are speaking there.
(syn: bГ©tiz, maji, kouyontwi,
papicho) [< Fr. cochonnerie]
N
koko
koko1
N 1) coconut. VГІlГЁ-a tjouwi
tout koko-a an jaden mwen. The
thief picked all of the coconuts in my
garden. 2) male genitals, groin. Bolla konyen’y asou koko’y; i tonbé a
tГЁ. The ball hit him in the groin; he fell
to the ground. (slang; see also: pati,
kГІdwil
N quadrille, a traditional St.
Lucian dance. Jenn tibway sala ka
dansГ© kГІdwil-la byen. That young
boy dances the quadrille well. [< Fr.
quadrille]
107
koko
Kwéyòl – English
kal, lolo, jak, pennsil, kГІk, lenn)
[< Fr. coco] koko an tjwiyГЁ jelly
coconut. koko di coconut meat
between the stages of being jelly and
being dry. [< Fr. coco dur] koko
Kouli type of fruit. koko makak
type of plant like a cactus. koko sГЁk
dry coconut. koko tanbou a tree
like turmeric. (syn: topi tanbou)
koko wak immature coconut. koko
zyé same as gwenn zyé. Koko zyé’y
blГ©. His eyes are blue.
kolé’w. Fix your collar. (see also:
kolyГ©) [< Fr. collet]
kГІlГЁ
N anger. Yo wГ©tГ© la jis a tan
kГІlГЁ fwГЁ yo bГ©sГ©. They stayed there
until their brother’s anger abated. (see
also: waj, lГ©vГ© vГІlkan) [< Fr. colГЁre]
kolik
N colic. Kolik-la ka mal
mennen ti manmay sala
toubonnman. The colic is really
giving this little child a hard time.
[< Fr. colique]
koko2
kolonm
N shoot, sprout of banana, yam,
dasheen, tanya, etc. PyГ© danma-a ni
koko tout oliwon’y. The dasheen has
shoots all around it. (see also: flГЁch,
jГЁm, wichton; pousГ©)
kГІkГІt
N foreman, overseer.
Kolonm-lan ka twavay bay jГЁwГЁ-a.
The foreman works for the manager.
(see also: jГЁwГЁ)
kГІlonng N dawdling, stalling, wasting
time. fГЁ kГІlonng to dawdle, to stall,
vagina of a child, sometimes
of an older woman. Tifi-a pwan an
koul bol asou kГІkГІt li. The girl was
hit by a ball on her vagina. chГЁ
doudou kГІkГІt my darling. LГЁ
misyé-a té ka pasé bò sé madanmlan, i di yo, “Bonjou chè doudou
kòkòt.” When the man was passing by
the women, he said, “Hello my
darlings.”
kolan
N
to delay, to waste time. PyГЁsonn pa
ka fГЁ kГІlonng pasГ© madanm mwen.
Nobody wastes time like my wife.
(syn: kalandjГ©, fГЁ kakГІl) ZГІt ka fГЁ
kГІlonng tГЁlman nou pa tГ© sa menm
alГ© lГ©gliz. You dawdled so much we
couldn’t go to church. ni kòlonng
same as fГЁ kГІlonng.
kГІlvГЁt
N culvert, underground drain.
Dlo-a lavГ© chimen-an paski kГІlvГЁt-la
bouchГ©. The water washed away the
road because the culvert was blocked.
[< Eng. culvert]
the stage in maturity of a
dasheen, yam, etc., when it is still soft
and tasty. PlizyГЁ moun simyГ© dachin
lГЁ i kolan. Most people prefer dasheen
when it is soft and tasty. (see also:
groum) [< Fr. collant]
ADJ
kolyГ©
N collar (for an animal),
necklace. I mГ©tГ© kolyГ©-a an kou
kabwit-la. He put the collar on the
goat’s neck. [< Fr. collier] kolyé
laklГ© key ring, bunch of keys. (syn:
bwanch laklГ©, patjГ© laklГ©)
kolasyon
N snack. Ng’ay pwan an
kolasyon. I’m going to have a snack.
(syn: soutni) [< Fr. collation]
kolГ©1
V to stick, to adhere, to glue. Г‰pi
ki sa ou kolГ© liv-la? What did you
glue the book with? (opp: dГ©kolГ©)
[< Fr. coller]
kolГ©2
N
kon
kon
collar (of clothes). WanjГ©
108
CONJ 1) as, like. ZГІt ka swiv
misyГ©-a kon mouton. You are
following the man like sheep. Kon ki
di kon ki fГЁt. It happened just as it
was foretold. 2) when, as. Kon i wivГ©
kГІn
Kwéyòl – English
i wГЁ lapen-an. When he arrived, he
saw the rabbit. (syn: lГЁ; see also:
padan) 3) as well as. Yo tout alГ©,
nonm kon fanm. They all went, men
as well as women. [< Fr. comme]
kon ha variant of kon sa. kon sa
(var: kon ha) 1) so. I tГ© las kon sa i
kouchГ© pou fГЁ on sonmГЁy. She was
tired so she laid down to take a nap.
2) as soon as. Kon sa nou chanjГ©
had lГ©kГІl nou, manman mwen voyГ©
nou pwan dlo. As soon as we changed
out of our school clothes, my mother
sent us to collect water. 3) introduces
indirect quotation. I di kon sa i kay
vini denmen. He said that he will
come tomorrow.
kГІn
1) horn (of an animal). BГЁf sala
ni yon sГЁl kГІn. That cow has only one
horn. 2) sea shell. Mwen achtГ© yon
kГІn lanbi bГІ lanmГЁ-a. I bought a
conch shell by the sea. [< Fr. corne]
condamner]
kondisyon
N condition. Kondisyon
kotГ© gwanmanman mwen ka wГЁstГ©a pa bon pyГЁs. The conditions where
my grandmother is living are not at all
good. [< Fr. condition]
kondwi
V 1) to lead, to control, to
rule, to reign. Nonm-lan pa sa menm
kondwi kay li. The man cannot even
rule his household. (see also: djidГ©)
2) to drive. Mwen pa kontan
mannyГЁ madanm-lan ka kondwi
motoka-a. I don’t like the way the
woman is driving the car. (syn: drayv)
[< Fr. conduire]
kondwit
N rule, reign, control. SГ©
moun-an tГ© anba kondwit wa-a. The
people were under the rule of the king.
[< Fr. conduite]
N
kГІnГ©1
V to blow a conch shell as a
horn. Yo ka kГІnГ© pou fГЁ moun sav
sГ© pwГ©son yo ka vann. They blow the
conch shell to let people know they are
selling fish. (see also: sonnen, souflГ©)
[< Fr. corner]
konblГ©
V to crowd. Tout sГ© moun-an
konblГ© douvan lapГІt-la ka ГЁspГ©yГ©
magazen-an ouvГЁ. All the people
were crowding in front of the door
waiting for the store to open. [< Fr.
encombrer]
kГІnГ©2
V to cuckold, to be unfaithful to
one’s husband. Mwen tann moun di
madanm sala ka kòné mawi’y. I hear
people say that that woman is being
unfaithful to her husband. (see also:
adiltГЁ)
konbГІs
N rival for a man’s attention.
Mi konbòs ou ka gadé’w la. Look at
your rival watching you.
kondannasyon
N condemnation. I
sovГ© nou hГІd kondannasyon. He
saved us from condemnation. (syn:
danmnasyon; see also: dannГ©,
kondannГ©) [< Fr. condamnation]
kondannГ©
to condemn, to sentence,
to fine, to convict. MajГЁstwa-a
kondannГ© misyГ©-a yon mil dГІla. The
magistrate fined the man one thousand
dollars. (see also: danmnasyon,
dannГ©, kondannasyon) [< Fr.
konfi
konfГ©sГ©
V to confess. Nou sipozГ©
konfésé péché nou. We’re supposed
to confess our sins. [< Fr. confesser]
konfГЁsyon
N confession. VГІlГЁ-a fГЁ
an bon konfГЁsyon douvan jij-la. The
thief made a full confession before the
judge. [< Fr. confession]
V
konfi
V to preserve. Yo ka sГЁvi vinГЁg
pou konfi piman. They use vinegar to
109
konfГІtab
Kwéyòl – English
much money do you have? 2) so
much, so many. MagwГ© konmen
lannГ© tГ© ja pasГ©, i tГ© ka chonjГ©
méchansté-a yo té fè’y-la toujou.
Although many years had passed, he
still remembered the bad thing they
had done to him. (syn: an chay, an
pil, anbadjo, mizi, plizyГЁ; see also:
yonn dГ©, dГ©otwa) [< Fr. combien]
preserve peppers. (syn: konsГЁvГ©,
pwГ©zГЁvГ©) Ou sa konfi la si ou vlГ©;
mwen pa mélé épi’w. You can stay
there as long as you like; I’m not
going to have anything to do with you.
[< Fr. confire]
konfГІtab
ADJ comfortable. Mwen
asid la byen konfòtab. I’m sitting
there very comfortable. [< Fr.
confortable]
konmen2
ADJ common. SГ©tГ© on
bagay ki konmen. It was a common
thing. [< Fr. commun] fanm
konmen prostitute. LГ© ГІswГЁ lawi
sala ka benyen ГЁk fanm konmen. At
night that street is full of prostitutes.
(syn: djanmГЁt, fanm lawi, fanm vyГ©
lavi)
konfГІtГ©
V to comfort. Madanm-lan
té ka pléwé tèlman lè mawi’y mò,
pyèsonn pa té sa konfòté’y. The
woman cried so much when her
husband died, nobody could comfort
her. [< Fr. rГ©conforter]
konfyans
N confidence. Nou ni
konfyans an BondyГ©. We have
confidence in God. (see also: asiwans,
lafwa) [< Fr. confiance]
konfyГ©
konmГЁs
N mess. Ti manmay-la ka fГЁ
on konmГЁs! The child is making a
mess!
konmГ©zasyon
to trust, to confide. Pa
konfyé nonm sala! Don’t trust that
man! (syn: fyГ©; opp: dГ©fyГ©) [< Fr.
confier]
V
N conversation.
KonmГ©zasyon zГІt pa ka sanm
konmГ©zasyon manmay. Your
conversation doesn’t sound like the
conversation of children. [< Fr.
conversation]
konkonm
N cucumber. La pa ni pyГЁs
konkonm an magazen-an. There’s no
cucumber in the supermarket. [< Fr.
concombre]
konmi
V to commit. Avan yo
anpwizonnen’y, i konmi an chay
abonminasyon. Before they
imprisoned him, he committed many
abominations. (see also: fГЁ) [< Fr.
commettre]
konmandГ© (var: koumandГ©)
V to
command, to order. Nonm sala
enmen konmandГ© moun. That man
likes to order people around. [< Fr.
commander]
konmandman (var: koumadman)
konminikasyon
N communication.
La pa ni pyГЁs konminikasyon ant
madanm-lan épi mawi’y. There’s no
communication between the woman
and her husband. [< Fr.
communication]
N
commandment. Yo ka swiv tout sГ©
konmandman-an. They follow all the
commandments. [< Fr.
commandement]
konmen1
konminikГ©
konminikГ©
V to communicate. Mwen
tГ© sa konminikГ© Г©pi sГ© jan Matnik-la
paski yo sa kopwann KwГ©yГІl. I could
1) how much, how
many. Konmen lajan ou ni? How
ADJ
110
konminyГ©
Kwéyòl – English
family. (see also: nГІlaj, lakopwann,
konnГЁt, sav) [< Fr. connaissance]
communicate with the Martiniquans
because they understand Creole. (see
also: palГ©) [< Fr. communiquer]
konminyГ©
konnГЁt
V 1) to know. Mwen konnГЁt
nonm sala. I know that man. (see also:
konnГ©sans, sav, pwan vwa) 2) to
find out. Si ou ja sav, talГЁ tout moun
kay konnГЁt. If you already know,
soon everyone will find out. [< Fr.
connaГ®tre] fГЁ konnГЁt to introduce.
Mwen vlé fè’w konnèt papa mwen. I
would like to introduce you to my
father.
to have communion.
Dimanch sala mwen kay konminyГ©.
This Sunday I will have communion.
[< Fr. commune]
V
konminyon (var: lakonminyon)
N
communion. Nou ka ni konminyon
an lГ©gliz nou toulГ© Dimanch. We
have communion in our church every
Sunday. [< Fr. communion]
konmisyon
konng
N salt-water eel, moray eel.
(see also: zandji)
1) errand. Mwen ni on
konmisyon pou fГЁ. I have an errand to
do. 2) message. I kitГ© an konmisyon
ban mwen. He left a message for me.
3) parcel. I kité konmisyon’y asou
ban-an. She left the parcel on the
bench. [< Fr. commission]
N
konpanni (var: kopanni)
N company,
group. Si ou swiv vyГ© konpanni, ou
kay toujou twapé kò’w an
dГ©zagwГ©man. If you follow bad
company, you will always find
yourself in trouble. (syn: gany,
gwoup; see also: pil) [< Fr.
compagnie]
konmisyonnГЁ
N messenger. Mwen
pa tГ© wГЁ konmisyonnГЁ-a ou vowГ©-a. I
didn’t see the messenger you sent.
[< Fr. commissionaire]
konpany
N companion. Konpany
mwen, Pita, alГ© toutpatou ГЁk mwen.
My companion, Peter, went
everywhere with me. [< Fr.
compagnie] tjenn konpany keep
company. Vini tjenn mwen konpany
patan mwen ka bouwi manjГ©. Come
keep me company while I am cooking.
konmkwГ©ki
CONJ as though, as if.
Ou ka gadГ© mwen konmkwГ©ki sГ©
mwen ki pwan bagay-la. You are
looking at me as though I were the one
who took the thing. (syn: akwГЁdi,
konmsi)
konmsi (var: akonmdi, akonmsi,
konmsidi, konmsidiwГ©) CONJ as
though, as if, like. I fГЁ konmsi i pa tГ©
wè nou. He acted as though he didn’t
see us. (syn: akwГЁdi, konmkwГ©ki)
[< Fr. comme si]
konmsidi variant of konmsi.
konpawГ©zon
konpasyon
N compassion. La ni
konpasyon adan tjè’y. There’s
compassion in his heart. (syn: tjГЁ fГЁb;
see also: mizГЁwikГІd, pityГ©) [< Fr.
compassion]
konpawГ©zon
ADJ overly bold or
forward, presumptuous. Ou twГІ
konpawГ©zon pou ou vini pwen zouti
mwen san mandé mwen. You’re too
presumptuous to come take my tools
without asking. (syn: endiskwГ©)
konmsidiwГ© variant of konmsi.
konnГ©sans
N acquaintance. Mwen
vlé fè konnésans épi fanmi’w. I want
to make acquaintance with your
111
konpГЁ
Kwéyòl – English
konpГЁ
N 1) male cosponsor at
baptismal ceremony; your child’s
godfather, or your godchild’s father.
(see also: makoumГЁ, pawen,
nennenn) 2) friend, pal, comrade.
KotГ© ou ka alГ©, konpГЁ? Where are
you going, friend? 3) Br’er (used in
folktales). KonpГЁ Lapen ka toujou
kwennen Konpè Tig. Br’er Rabbit is
always tricking Br’er Tiger. [< Fr.
compГЁre]
di-a? Did you understand what I said?
(see also: apГЁsivwГЁ, kwГЁ, lakopwann,
sav) [< Fr. comprendre] konpwann
kò to come to, to come to one’s
senses, to revive. Konpwann kò’w
avan mwen kwiyé polis ba’w. Come
to your senses before I call the police.
mal konpwann to misunderstand.
Mwen pa vlГ© ou malkonpwann
mwen, ou sav. I don’t want you to
misunderstand me, you know.
konplГЁtman
konpyouta
ADV completely. I ba
Bondyé lavi’y konplètman. He gave
God his life completely. (syn:
nГЁtaman, toutafГЁt) [< Fr.
complГЁtement]
konpliman
N computer. Mwen achtГ©
on konpyouta bay sГ© manmay-la. I
bought a computer for the children.
[< Eng. computer]
konsГЁnГ©
V to concern. Sa mwen ka
di-a pa ka konsèné’w. What I am
saying doesn’t concern you. PREP
about, concerning. Mwen vlГ© palГ©
ba’w konsèné sé zannimo’w-la ki
ladjГ©-a. I want to talk to you about
your animals that are loose. (syn:
asou) [< Fr. concerner]
compliment. Yo
avoudwГ© twapГ© on konpliman. They
would like to get a compliment. [< Fr.
compliment]
N
konplimantГ©
V to compliment.
Mwen tГ© ni pou konplimantГ© sГ©
manmay-la paski yo tout fГЁ byen an
lГЁgzanmГ©-a. I had to compliment the
children because they all did well on
the exam. [< Fr. complimenter]
konsГЁy
N 1) advice, counsel. Si
konsГЁy sГ©tГ© lajan, ou pa tГ© kay ban
mwen’y. If advice were money, you
wouldn’t give it to me. (syn: endik;
see also: konsit) 2) high court. I
moutГ© dГ©sann konsГЁy pou dГ© lannГ©
avan kГ©s-la pawГЁt. He went up and
down to high court for two years
before they called the case. [< Fr.
conseil]
konplo
N plot, conspiracy. SГ© tibwayla fГЁ on konplo pou bat mwen. The
boys made a conspiracy to beat me.
[< Fr. complot]
konpГІtГ©
V to behave, to bear up, to
conduct oneself, to get along.
Kouman ou ka konpòté kò’w? How
are you getting along? [< Fr.
comporter]
konsidiwГ©
V to consider. Yo pa tГ©
konsidiwé sa mwen di-a. They hadn’t
considered what I said. (see also:
wГ©gadГ©) [< Fr. considГ©rer]
konpozГ©
V to compose. Mwen ka
konpozГ© an bГЁl chantГ© bay wa-a. I
am composing a beautiful song for the
king. [< Fr. composer]
konpwann (var: kopwann)
V to
understand. Ou konpwann sa mwen
konsit
konsiltГ©
V to consult. Yo konsiltГ© Г©pi
nou avan yo alГ©. They consulted us
before they went. [< Fr. consulter]
konsit
112
N
conference, council, meeting.
konsolГ©
Kwéyòl – English
pou’y té sa palé vanta. They gave the
man complete freedom to boast.
Avan nou fГЁ pyГЁs disizyon, nou ni
pou tjenn an konsit. Before we make
any decision, we need to hold a
meeting. (see also: konsГЁy, mitin)
[< Fr. consulter]
konsolГ©
kont2 N account. [< Fr. compte] asou
kont on or under one’s authority,
charge, responsibility. Mwen kitГ©
tout pozГЁsyon mwen asou kont yo. I
left all of my possessions under their
authority. bay kont to account, to be
accountable. Ou kay ni pou bay kont
pou tout sa ou di-a. You’ll have to be
accountable for everything that you
said.
to console. ApwГ© papa yo
mГІ, tout jan yo vini konsolГ© yo. After
their father died, all their friends came
to console them. [< Fr. consolГ©]
V
konsonmГ©
V to consume. ChГЁbon-an
konsonmГ©, i fГЁ sann. The coals were
consumed and turned to ashes. [< Fr.
consommer]
kont3
N ballad, such as sung at a wake
about the deceased. Nou toujou ka
chantГ© kont lГЁ lavГ©yГ©. We always
sing ballads at wakes.
konstan variant of konstanman.
konstanman (var: konstan)
ADV
constantly. I tГ© ka palГ© konstanman!
He was talking constantly! (syn:
toujou, tout lГЁ, tout tan) [< Fr.
constamment]
kontan
V to like, to love. Nou kontan
mizik-la yo ka jwГ©-a. We like the
music. (syn: enmen; opp: hayi) ADJ
happy, glad. Mwen kontan an pil
pou mwen isi-a anpami jan mwen.
I’m very happy to be here among my
friends. (syn: djГ©; opp: twis, an
lapenn, sonm) [< Fr. content]
konstipГ©
V to constipate, to make
constipated. LГЁ ou manjГ© an chay
gwiyav, i kay konstipé’w si ou pa
manjГ© lapo-a. When you eat a lot of
guavas, if you don’t eat the skin, it
will constipate you. ADJ constipated.
Ti manmay-la pa tГ© sa alГ© lГ©kГІl
paski i tГ© konstipГ©. The child could
not go to school because she was
constipated. [< Fr. constiper]
kontantГ©
V to be contented, to be
satisfied. Ou sa fГЁ sa ou pГ© ba li, i pa
ka jenmen kontantГ©. You can do all
you can for him but he is never
satisfied. ADJ satisfied, contented. SГ©
pou ou toujou kontantГ© Г©pi sa ou ni.
You must always be satisfied with
what you have. (syn: satisfГЁ) [< Fr.
contenter]
konsyans
N conscience. Nou sipozГ©
swiv konsyans nou. We should follow
our consciences. [< Fr. conscience]
kont1
PREP 1) against. SГ©sГ© mwen
palГ© kont mwen an lodyans-lan. My
sister spoke against me in court. (opp:
an favГЁ) 2) about, because of. Mwen
fachГ© kont bonm-lan ki tonbГ©-a. I
am upset about the bucket that fell
over. [< Fr. contre] kont chans all,
every opportunity, complete freedom.
Yo bay nonm-lan kont chans li
kontinГ©
kontantman variant of
lakontantman.
kontГ©
V to count. Yo ka konté lajanan. They’re counting the money.
[< Fr. compter]
kontinГ© (var: kontwinГ©)
V to
continue, to persist. MagwГ© i malad i
kontinГ© ka bwГЁ wonm. Although he
113
kontinГЁlman
Kwéyòl – English
is sick he continued drinking rum.
[< Fr. continuer]
kГІri
N curry. Ou mГ©tГ© twГІp kГІri an
manjГ©-a. You put too much curry in
the food. [< Tamil kari]
kontinГЁlman
ADV 1) continually. I di
nou sa kontinГЁlman! He told us that
continually! (see also: konstanman,
toujou) 2) continuously, all the time.
I pa ka twavay kontinГЁlman. He
doesn’t work continuously. [< Fr.
continuellement]
kГІs
N clove (of garlic, etc.), a segment
of a bulb. Manman mwen voyГ©
mwen achtГ© yon kГІs lay. My mother
sent me to buy a clove of garlic. [< Fr.
cosse] kГІs kako 1) cocoa pod.
Mwen pa vlГ© ou tjouwi kГІs kako-a
avan i mi. I don’t want you to pick the
cocoa pod before it is ripe. 2) hand
grenade. LГЁ kГІs kako-a pГ©tГ© i tjwГ©
sГІlda-a nГЁt. When the hand grenade
exploded it killed the soldier.
kontwayГ©
ADJ troubled, upset,
distressed. I tГ© tГЁlman kontwayГ© i
koumansГ© hГ©lГ©. He was so troubled
he began to cry. (see also: distwГ©,
twoublГ©, twakasГ©) [< Fr. contrarier]
kontwГ©
to meet. DГ© montany pa
ka kontwé. Two mountains don’t
meet. (see also: jwenn) [< Fr.
rencontrer]
V
kГІsГІl
N soursop (Annona muricata).
Ji kГІsГІl sГ© ji ki bon. Soursop juice is
a good kind of juice. [< Fr. corossol]
kГІstГ©
V to dock, to land. Batiman-an
kГІstГ© an vil VyГ© FГІ. The boat docked
in Vieux Fort. (syn: Г©chwГ©; see also:
fГЁ tГЁ, tjГ©, wГІf)
kontwinГ© variant of kontinГ©.
kontwolГ©
V to control. I pa sa
kontwolé kò’y. He can’t control
himself. [< Fr. contrГґle]
kosyon
N bail, bond. ApwГ© yo pГ©yГ©
kosyon, sГ© polis-la ladjГ© yo. After
they paid bail, the police released
them. [< Fr. caution]
konwen1 variant of kwen.
konwen2 variant of konyen.
konyen1 (var: konwen)
1) to hit, to
strike, to knock. Yo konyen vann-an
asou on pyГ© bwa. They hit the van on
a tree. (see also: bat) 2) to knock on,
to rap on. Mwen konyen lapГІt-la mГ©
pyГЁsonn wГ©ponn. I knocked on the
door but nobody answered. [< Fr.
cogner]
V
kotГ©
kГІt1
N rib. I ni dГ© kГІt ki kasГ©. He has
two broken ribs. [< Fr. cГґte]
kГІt2
N quart. Nonm sala bwГЁ yon kГІt
wonm antyГЁ. That man drank a whole
quart of rum.
kotГ©
N 1) side. Nou ka alГ© lГІt kotГ©-a.
We’re going to the other side. (syn:
bГІ, fasad, sayd; see also: plas)
2) half of a pair (of shoes, socks, etc.).
An dansГ©-a i tГ© pwen yon kotГ©
soulyГ© tifi-a. At the dance he had
taken one of the girl’s shoes.
3) house, place. Yo alГ© kotГ© Pita ГЁk
yo mandé’y lajan. They went to
Peter’s house and asked him for
money. (see also: lakay) ADV
konyen2 variant of kwen.
kopanni variant of konpanni.
kopwann variant of konpwann.
kГІrГЁk
ADJ good, okay, well. Г€s ou
kГІrГЁk? Are you okay? [< Eng.
correct]
114
kotjen
Kwéyòl – English
1) wherever. KotГ© ou alГ©, mwen
dèyè’w. Wherever you go, I’ll find
you. 2) variant of ki kotГ©. Mwen pa
sav koté i alé-a. I don’t know where
he went. [< Fr. cotГ©] a kotГ© beside,
at one’s side, next to. I ni chyen’y a
koté’y. He has his dog at his side. (see
also: alimans, bГІ, bГІdaj, alapГІtГ©,
pwГ©, vizavi) asou kotГ© aside. I
mété lajan manjé’y asou koté. He
put his food money aside. (syn: apa)
ki kotГ© (var: kotГ©, ko) where. Ki
kotГ© ou ka alГ©? Where are you going?
(syn: ki bГІ)
kotjen
ADJ dishonest, characterized by
cheating. Pa jwГ© Г©pi tibway sala; i
kotjen an chay. Don’t play with that
boy; he is such a cheater. (see also:
bГІbГІl, vГІlГЁ, kochi) fГЁ kotjen to
cheat. Nonm sala pa sa jwГ© si i pa fГЁ
kotjen. That man can’t play without
cheating.
springs. (syn: fwa) pwan kou to
take place. JounГ© KwГ©yГІl ka pwan
kou toulГ© Г’ktГІb. Creole Day takes
place every October. (syn: pwan plas)
kou3
N try, attempt. Tig fГЁ on sГЁl kou.
Tiger made only one attempt. [< Fr.
coup]
kou4 N blows, licks. (see also: koul)
bay kou to beat, to spank. Ki moun
ki ba’w kou? Who beat you? (syn:
bat, lapidГ©, bay plich, plichГ©, koupГ©
fГЁs, koupГ© latjГ©, pГ©tГ© kГІ, wizГ©, bay
volГ©)
koub
N bridge (of nose). Né nonmlan plat, i pa ni koub. The man’s
nose is flat, it doesn’t have a bridge.
[< Fr. courbe]
koubawi
N coubaril tree, which has
hard wood and big pods like horns.
BГІ jaden mwen plen pyГ© koubawi.
By my garden there are a lot of
coubaril trees.
kotji
N a type of gambling game. Yo
ka jwГ© kotji ГЁk yo ka payГ© lajan yo.
They play �kotji’ and bet their money.
koubГ©
ADJ bent, curved, hunched.
Nonm-lan twavay tГЁlman wГЁd, i vini
koubГ©. The man worked so hard, he
became hunched over. [< Fr. courber]
koton
N cotton. ZГІwyГ© koton bon
pou dГІmi. Cotton pillows are good for
sleeping. [< Fr. coton] bГЁt koton
cotton bug, a type of red insect that
may be found in cotton plants. PyГ©
koton-an kouvГЁ Г©pi bГЁt koton. The
cotton plant is covered with cotton
bugs. koton flo a type of cotton
from a wild plant. Tan lontan yo tГ©
ka sГЁvi koton flo pou fГЁ zГІwyГ©. Long
ago they used wild cotton to make
pillows.
kouchГ©
kouch
N bed. Mwen kwazГ© kouch li.
I destroyed his bed. (syn: kabann)
[< Fr. couche]
kouchГ©
V 1) to lie down, to go to bed.
Yo kouchГ© mГ© yo pa dГІmi. They lay
down but they didn’t sleep. (opp: lévé;
see also: dГІmi) 2) to set (in reference
to the sun). SГІlГЁy-la ka kouchГ© ta sГ©
jou-a. The sun is setting late these
days. (opp: lГ©vГ©) 3) to sleep. Mwen
mГ©tГ© ti manmay-la kouchГ© asou
kabann li. I put the child to sleep on
his bed. (syn: dГІmi) 4) to have sex. I
mayГ© mГ© i ka kouchГ© Г©pi lГІt fanm.
He is married but he is having sex
kou1
N neck. I pwèskè kasé kou’y!
He almost broke his neck! [< Fr. cou]
kou2
N time, occasion. Sa sГ© pwГЁmyГ©
kou mwen ka alé an souf. That’s the
first time I’ve been to the sulphur
115
koud
Kwéyòl – English
with other women. (euphemism; syn:
fwГ©kantГ©, fГЁ vis, pwan) [< Fr.
coucher]
koud
to sew. Manman mwen ka
koud chimiz-la. My mother’s sewing
the shirt. (opp: dГ©koud) [< Fr. coudre]
V
alГ©. The fishermen lost sight of the
pitons when they were going further
out. (opp: dГ©kouvГЁ)
koulГ©3
ADJ immature, unripe (said of
fruit). Mango-a koulГ©, i tonbГ© avan i
tГ© matwitГ©. The mango was immature,
it fell before it got ripe. (see also:
avГІtГ©)
koudbwa (var: koutbwa)
N elbow. I
kasé koudbwa’y. He broke his elbow.
[< Fr. coude bras]
koulГ©4
V to strain a liquid. SГ© pou ou
koulé ji-a avan ou bwè’y. You must
strain the juice before you drink it.
[< Fr. couler]
koudmen
N a help, a free work day, a
group work project. Sanmdi nou kay
bay fwГЁ mwen an koudmen asou
kay li. Saturday we will give my
brother a free day working on his
house. (see also: jan jounГ©) [< Fr.
coup de main]
koudoum
N cliff, precipice. (syn:
falГЁz, kaskou; see also: fon)
koul (var: kout)
N blow, strike, hit. I
ba li on koul baton. He struck him
with a stick. (see also: kou) [< Fr.
coup] koul zГ©klГЁ bolt of lightning.
I tГ© ni on koul zГ©klГЁ bГІ kay-la, i
mantjГ© avГЁg mwen. There was a bolt
of lightning near the house that almost
blinded me.
koulГЁ
colour. Nou pa kontan koulГЁ
sala. We don’t like that colour. [< Fr.
couleur]
N
koulГ©1
V 1) to leak. Sitenn-an ka
koulГ©. The pipe is leaking. 2) to sink.
KannГІt-la koulГ© dwГЁt an lawad-la.
The canoe sank right in the harbour.
(opp: flotГ©; see also: fГЁ fon) 3) to
water, to salivate. Bouch ou pГ©
koulГ©, mГ© ou pa kay jwenn anyen.
Your mouth may water but you won’t
get anything. [< Fr. couler]
koumansman
Kouli
N person of East Indian descent.
Sent Lisi ni on bon dГ©otwa Kouli. In
St. Lucia there are quite a few people
of East Indian descent. (derogatory)
koumadman variant of
konmandman.
kouman 1) how. Kouman ou yГ©?
How are you? (syn: ki mannyГЁ,
koumannyГЁ) 2) of course; used to
make tag question. Ou ni lajan-an,
kouman? You have the money, don’t
you? (see also: absoliman, asiwГ©)
[< Fr. comment]
koumandГ© variant of konmandГ©.
koumannyГЁ variant of ki mannyГЁ.
KoumannyГЁ ou kay fГЁ sa? How will
you do that?
koumansГ©
V to start, to begin. Yo
koumansГ© hГ©lГ© lГЁ yo tann papa yo
mГІ. They began to yell when they
heard their father died. (syn: pwan;
opp: fini) [< Fr. commencer]
koumansman
N beginning. An
koumansman lannГ©-a mwen di
mwen pa kay bwГЁ ankГІ. At the
beginning of the year I said I wouldn’t
drink any more. [< Fr.
commencement]
koulГ©2
V to lose sight of. SГ© jan
lanmГЁ-a koulГ© sГ© piton-an lГЁ yo tГ© ka
116
koumonnon
Kwéyòl – English
koumonnon (var: kimonnon) what
is... name?. Non mwen sГ© Pita, ГЁk ou
menm, koumonnon’w? My name is
Peter, and you, what is your name?
[< Fr. comment nom]
kounoumounou
koupГ© kou poul-la. The man cut off
the chicken’s head. (see also: volé,
sotГ©) koupГ© latjГ© same as koupГ©
fГЁs.
koupyГЁ
N croup strap. KoupyГЁ-a ka
pasГ© an sГЁl-la Г©pi dГЁyГЁ latjГ© chouvalla. The croup strap passes through the
saddle and behind the horse’s tail.
[< Fr. croupiГЁre]
fool. Gason-an
sГ© on kounoumounou! The boy is a
fool! (syn: kouyon, lГЁlГЁ)
N
koupab
ADJ guilty. SГ© nonm sala tГ©
koupab mГ© yo chapГ©. Those men
were guilty but they got away. (opp:
inosan) [< Fr. coupable]
kous
N 1) race. Sa ki genyen kousla? Who won the race? (see also:
alakous) 2) route, course. Nou alГ©
dwГЁt asou kous-la. We went straight
on the course. [< Fr. course]
koupay
N curse breaker, action that
breaks a black-magic curse. (see also:
cham, lowizon)
kouson
N watercress. An lagon-an la
ni an chay kouson plantГ©. In the
swamp there is a lot of watercress
planted. [< Fr. cresson]
koupГ©
V 1) to cut. Fanmchay-la
koupГ© lonbwi ti manmay-la. The
midwife cut the baby’s umbilical cord.
(see also: ГЁstГІpyГ©, sГЁpГ©, siyГ©, sotГ©,
volГ©) 2) to cure, to stop. Madanmlan bay ti manmay-la ditГ© chapantyГ©
pou koupГ© wim-lan. The woman gave
the child a cup of “chapantyé” tea to
cure the cold. [< Fr. couper] koupГ©
dlo same as siyГ© dlo. KanГІt-la ka
koupГ© dlo. The boat is going fast.
koupГ© douvan 1) to cut in front of,
to jump the line, to break in line. Yo
annГЁk koupГ© douvan mwen! They
just cut in front of me! 2) to interrupt.
Ou pa ni mГЁs paski mwen tГ© ja ka
palГ© Г©pi ou annГЁk koupГ© douvan
mwen! You don’t have manners
because I was already speaking and
you interrupted me. koupГ© fГЁs to
spank, to beat. Si ou fГЁ sa ankГІ
mwen kay koupГ© fГЁs ou. If you do
that again I will beat you. (syn: bat,
bay kou, bay plich, bay volГ©, koupГ©
latjГ©, lapidГ©, pГ©tГ© kГІ, plichГ©, wizГ©)
koupГ© kou to behead, to cut off the
head (of something). Nonm-lan
koutja
kout1
ADJ short. TjilГІt mwen twГІ
kout. My pants are too short. (opp:
lonng, ho; see also: ba) [< Fr. court]
kout2 variant of koul.
koutbwa variant of koudbwa.
koutГ©1
V to cost. Konmen chimiz-la
koutГ©? How much did the shirt cost?
[< Fr. coГ»ter]
koutГ©2
V to listen (to). Pa koutГ© sГ©
moun sala! Don’t listen to these
people! (see also: tann) [< Fr. Г©couter]
kouti
N 1) sewing. Madanm mwen
asid la ka fè kouti’y. My wife is
sitting there doing her sewing.
2) seam. Tout kouti had-la ja
dГ©koud. The whole seam of these
clothes has come out. [< Fr. couture]
koutiyГЁz variant of koutwiyГЁz.
koutja
ADJ shy, timid. I pГЁ palГ© paski
i koutja. She won’t speak because she
is shy.
117
koutla
Kwéyòl – English
koutla
kouwГЁs
kouto
kouwi
N cutlass, machete. Ko ou kitГ©
koutla’w? Where did you leave your
cutlass? (see also: kouto, sab, ponya,
janbГЁt) [< Fr. coutelas]
N a type of nocturnal snake
found only on the Maria Islands.
Asou lilГЁt-la benyen kouwГЁs. On the
islet there are plenty of snakes.
N knife. MГ©tГ© kouto-a asou
tab-la. Put the knife on the table. (see
also: koutla, sab, ponya, janbГЁt;
fouchГЁt, tjwiyГЁ) [< Fr. couteau]
koutwiyГЁz (var: koutiyГЁz)
V 1) to run. I ka kouwi vit
pasГ© mwen. He runs faster than I. (see
also: chapГ©, mawon; galopГ©; kwazГ©
bwa, kwazГ© wazyГ©, pwan an bwa,
fann kann, fГЁ djip, fГЁ lapousyГЁ, fГЁ
yan, fГЁ zГ©klГЁ, kouwi vant a tГЁ, pwan
lavГІl) 2) to flow. Kannal-la bouchГ©
Г©pi dlo-a ka kouwi dГ©sann chimenan. The drain is clogged and the water
is running down the road. (see also:
koulГ©, dГ©tenn) [< Fr. courir] kouwi
dГЁyГЁ to chase away. SГ© moun sala
kouwi dГЁyГЁ lГЁlmi yo lГЁ yo antwГ© an
pГ©yi sala. The people chased away
their enemies when they entered this
country. (syn: chachГ©, fГЁ fann kann,
fГЁ kwazГ© bwa, fГЁ kwazГ© wazyГ©, fГЁ
pwan an bwa, fГЁ pwan lavГІl) kouwi
vyГ© lavi to live immorally. SГ© moun
sala ka kouwi vyГ© lavi. Those people
live immorally. (usually used in
reference to women)
N
seamstress. KoutwiyГЁz sala ka pwan
chГЁ pou koud. This seamstress
charges a lot to sew. (see also: tayГЁ)
kouvan
N convent. SГ© danm-lan ka
wГ©tГ© an kouvan-an. The nuns live in
the convent. [< Fr. couvent]
kouvГ© to sit (on, in reference to
chickens and eggs). Poul-la ka kouvГ©
asou sГ© zГ©-a. The hen sits on the eggs.
(see also: ponn, Г©klГІ)
kouvГЁ
V to cover. Pa kouvè fidji’w!
Don’t cover your face! (opp: dékouvè)
[< Fr. couvert] kouvГЁ a tГЁ-a to
wrestle, to fight. Papa mwen ba li
yon so épi i kouvè’y a tè-a. My father
threw him down and jumped on him.
(see also: litГ©, sotГ© anlГЁ)
kouwonn (var: kouwann)
N crown,
wreath. MГ©tГ© tout kouwonn-an asou
senkГЁy-la. Put all the wreathes on the
coffin. [< Fr. couronne]
kouvГЁti
N bed sheet, covering. Nou
pa ni pyГЁs kouvГЁti. We have no bed
sheet. (syn: dwa; see also: lenn) [< Fr.
couverture]
kouwonnГ©
V to crown. Yo
kouwonnГ© nonm-lan kon wa LawГІz.
They crowned the man as La Rose
king. [< Fr. couronner]
kouwan
N 1) current. La ni kouwan
an lanmГЁ-a la. There are currents in
the sea there. 2) current, electricity.
Nou pa ni kouwan. We don’t have
electricity. [< Fr. courant]
kouyon
kouyГ© variant of kwiyГ©.
kouyon
ADJ stupid, foolish. Nonm
sala kouyon tГЁlman, tout moun ka
kwennen’y. That man is so stupid,
everybody tricks him. (syn: sГІt; opp:
savan) N fool, idiot. Nonm sala sГ©
on kouyon. That man is a fool. (syn:
kounoumounou, lГЁlГЁ) palГ© kouyon
kouwann variant of kouwonn.
kouway
N strength, force. I pa ni
pyГЁs kouway an janm li. He has no
strength in his legs. (syn: fГІs; opp:
fГЁblГЁs) [< Fr. courage]
118
kouyontwi
Kwéyòl – English
krikГЁt
same as palГ© papicho. Ou ka palГ©
kouyon. You are talking nonsense.
N the game of cricket. Mwen
ka alГ© jwГ© krikГЁt jГІdi-a. I am going
to play cricket today. (syn: bol; see
also: bas) [< Eng. cricket]
kouyontwi
N foolishness. SГ©
kouyontwi tousèl ou ka palé. You’re
only talking foolishness. (syn: bГ©tiz,
kochonni, maji, papicho)
kouzen
kroum variant of groum.
kwa
N cross. JГ©zi mГІ asou kwa-a.
Jesus died on the cross. (see also:
Kwis) [< Fr. croix] kwa chyen kwa
chat come what may (words used in
swearing, making an oath). I fГЁ kwa
chyen kwa chat i pa kay janmen
fimen ankГІ. He swore he would never
smoke again.
male cousin. PyГЁ sГ© kouzen
mwen. Peter’s my cousin. (see also:
kouzin) [< Fr. cousin]
N
kouzin
N female cousin. Mari sГ©
kouzin Pyè. Mary is Peter’s cousin.
(see also: kouzen) [< Fr. cousine]
kГІvГ©
N job, task. Vini fГЁ an kГІvГ© ban
mwen, mwen kay péyé’w. Come do a
job for me, I’ll pay you. [< Fr. corvée]
kwab
N crab. Tan lapli sГ© tan kwab.
Rainy season is crab season. (see also:
bak, siwik, touloulou, zagaya) [< Fr.
crabe] kwab hont red sea-crab.
Papa mwen tjГ©bГ© dГ© kwab hont an
nas li. My father caught two red crabs
in his fish pot. kwab mal zГІwГЁy
fiddler crab. Kwab mal zГІwГЁy piti
mé mòdan’y gwo. The fiddler crab is
small but its claw is big.
kГІviyГ©
V to twist, to kink. I kГІviyГ©
chenn-an. He twisted the chain. ADJ
twisted, kinked. KГІd-la tГ© kГІviyГ©.
The rope was twisted. (see also: tГІd,
tГІtiyГ©)
kowijГ©
V to correct. Otan kou ou ja
pwan, ou p’òkò kowijé toujou? You
have taken so many licks and you are
still not corrected? [< Fr. corriger]
kwabyГ© (var: kabyГ©)
N great blue
heron (Ardea herodias). KwabyГ© ka
manjГ© pwГ©son. Herons eat fish.
kГІz
N cause. Yo fГІsГ© mwen pou
mwen tГ© mennen kГІz mwen bay waa. They forced me to bring my cause
to the king. [< Fr. cause] a kГІz di
because of. A kГІz di ou, bГЁf-la mГІ.
Because of you, the cow died. (see
also: annГ©kГІz, pou lapГ©ti) [< Fr. Г cause de]
kwacha
N saliva, spit, spittle. Ti
manmay-la ka jwГ© an kwacha-a. The
child is playing with spit. [< Fr.
crachat]
kwachГ©
V to spit. Madanm ansent
ka toujou kwachГ©. Pregnant women
are always spitting. N spit and image,
exact likeness. Tibway-la sГ© kwachГ©
papa’y. The boy is the spit and image
of his father. (syn: papa’y tjwa) [< Fr.
cracher]
kozГ©
V to chat. SГ© nonm-lan ka jwГ©
dГІmino Г©pi sГ© madanm-lan ka kozГ©.
The men are playing dominoes and the
women are chatting. (see also: bladjГ©,
palГ©, diskitГ©) N chat. Yo tГ© ni on ti
kozГ©. They had a little chat. (syn:
diskasyon, palГ©) [< Fr. causer]
kwapo
kwanp variant of lakwanp.
kwapo
N toad. Mwen fГЁ yon kwi lГЁ
kwapo-a sotГ© asou mwen. I let out a
krakrak variant of klaklak.
119
kwapon
Kwéyòl – English
scream when the frog jumped on me.
(see also: gwat kwi, tolin) [< Fr.
crapaud]
kwazГ© kay-la. They destroyed the
house. (syn: dГ©twi; see also:
migannen) 2) to mess up, to
disarrange. Pa kwazГ© chivГ© mwen.
Don’t mess up my hair. (syn: dékalé,
dГ©wanjГ©) [< Fr. Г©craser] kwazГ©
bwa to flee, to run away. Mwen bay
chyen-an yon koul wГІch; i kwazГ©
bwa. I hit the dog with a stone and it
fled. (syn: fann kann, fГЁ djip, fГЁ
lapousyГЁ, fГЁ zГ©klГЁ, kwazГ© wazyГ©,
pwan an bwa, pwan lavГІl; see also:
kouwi, chapГ©, mawon; bay pyГ©,
bwennen kГІ, chapГ© kГІ, fГЁ pyГ©, fГЁ
yan, kouwi vant a tГЁ) fГЁ kwazГ©
bwa to chase away. Mwen fГЁ sГ©
kabwit-la kwazГ© bwa sГІti an jaden
mwen. I chased away the goats from
my garden. (syn: chachГ©, fГЁ fann
kann, fГЁ kwazГ© wazyГ©, fГЁ pwan an
bwa, fГЁ pwan lavГІl, kouwi dГЁyГЁ; see
also: bay lapouswiv) kwazГ© bwizГ©
to completely destroy. Siklonn-an
kwazГ© bwizГ© tout lafowГ©. The
hurricane completely destroyed the
forest. (see also: lapatouch; dГ©twi)
kwazГ© wazyГ© same as kwazГ© bwa.
fГЁ kwazГ© wazyГ© same as fГЁ kwazГ©
bwa.
kwapon
ADJ cowardly. MisyГ©
kwapon an chay. The man is very
cowardly. N coward. Kwapon ka viv
lontan. Cowards live long.
kwas
N dregs. An fon bouko-a
benyen kwas. In the bottom of the
barrel are the dregs. dГЁnyГ© kwas the
last little bit, remainder. I dГ©pansГ©
dГЁnyГ© kwas lajan nou. He spent the
last bit of our money. ti kwas little
bit. An ti kwas lГЁt ki wГЁstГ© an pГІt-la.
A little bit of milk remained in the
cup. (syn: ti miyГЁt, ti tak, tizing)
kwatjГ©
V to make a squeaking,
grinding, or cracking noise. LapГІt-la
ka kwatjГ©. The door is squeaking.
kwatjé dan to grind or gnash one’s
teeth. Las kwatjé dan’w; i ka
twisayГ© mwen. Quit grinding your
teeth; it is giving me the shivers.
kwavat
N necktie. I mГ©tГ© an kwavat
nwГЁ pou i alГ© lГЁtГЁman-an. He put on
a black tie to go to the funeral. [< Fr.
cravate]
kway variant of kay.
kwazon (var: klazon)
N wooden
partition in a house. Yo pentiwГ©
kwazon-an an blan. They painted the
partition white. [< Fr. cloison]
kwayan
N believer, Christian, person
with faith in God. Nou tout sГ©
kwayan an Jézi. We’re all believers
in Jesus. (relig., rare; see also:
kwityen) [< Fr. croyant]
kwГ© variant of kwГ©yГ©.
kwГЁ1 (var: kwГЁyГЁ)
V to believe, to
think. Mwen tГ© kwГЁ ou tГ© ja alГ©. I
thought you had gone. (syn: ni lidГ©;
see also: apГЁsivwГЁ, katjilГ©,
konpwann, sav, lafwa) [< Fr. croire]
kwayГ© variant of kayГ©.
kwazГ©1
V to cross (arms). Nonm-lan
kwazé bwa’y; i pa sanm vlé twavay
jГІdi-a. The man crossed his arms; he
doesn’t seem like he wants to work
today. [< Fr. croiser]
kwazГ©2
V
kwГЁ
kwГЁ2
V to have undue pride, to be full
of oneself. I kwè’y tèlman, i pa ka
palГ© ban nou. He thinks so much of
1) to destroy, to crush. Yo
120
kwГ©di
Kwéyòl – English
fear anyone. (syn: pГЁ, ni lapГЁ, ni
pГЁwГЁz)
himself, he doesn’t talk to us. (see
also: fwГ©, lГІgГЁy, kwГ©yans)
kwГ©di
N credit. Mwen pa ka ba’w
kwГ©di ankГІ paski ou pa ka pГ©yГ©. I
won’t give you any more credit
because you don’t pay. ADV on credit.
I achtГ© radyo-a kwГ©di. He bought the
radio on credit. [< Fr. crГ©dit]
kwen (var: konwen, konyen)
kwГЁsyon (var: tjГЁsyon)
N question.
Sa sГ© on bГЁl kwГЁsyon ou mandГ©-a.
That is a good question you asked.
(opp: wГ©pons) [< Fr. question]
kwГЁsyonnen (var: tjГЁsyonnen)
V to
question. Nou pa sipozГ© kwГЁsyonnen
Bondyé. We shouldn’t question God.
[< Fr. questionner]
N
corner. MГ©tГ© balyГ©-a an kwen-an.
Put the broom in the corner. (see also:
ti kГІt) [< Fr. coin]
kwГ©vГ©
V 1) to burst, to pierce, to
puncture, to stab. Sak-la kwГ©vГ© Г©pi
tout sik-la tonbГ©. The bag was
punctured and all of the sugar came
out. (syn: pГЁsГ©, pitjГ©) 2) to develop a
hole. Fou chГЁbon-an kwГ©vГ© yГЁ ГІswГЁ
Г©pi tout chГЁbon-an konsonmГ©. The
coal pit developed a hole last night and
all of the charcoal was consumed.
3) to fall, to pour (in reference to rain).
FГЁmГ© sГ© finГЁt-la; lapli-a kay kwГ©vГ©!
Close the windows; it is going to rain.
(see also: dГ©vidГ©, fifinГ©, tonbГ©) [< Fr.
crever]
kwenm
N 1) cream, whipped cream.
Bonbon-an benyen kwenm asou’y.
The cake has a lot of whipped cream
on it. 2) porridge. Ki kaltГ© kwenm
ou ka manjГ© la-a? What kind of
porridge are you eating there? (see
also: loukou, malobi, matГ©tГ©, pap)
[< Fr. crГЁme] ti kwenm same as
kwenm. Ti manmay-la manjГ© ti
kwenm-lan nГЁt. The child swallowed
the porridge right down.
kwennad
N deceiver. Pa byen ГЁk
nonm sala paski i sГ© an kwennad.
Don’t get friendly with that man
because he’s a deceiver. (see also:
malen)
kwГ©yans
N pride. I ni tГЁlman
kwéyans, i pa kay kité’w antwé an
kay li. He’s so proud, he won’t let you
in his house. (syn: logГЁy; see also:
kwГЁ) [< Fr. croyant]
kwennen (var: kwiyennen, kiyennen)
to fool, to deceive, to trick. Si ou
pa tГ© souflГ© mwen sa, i tГ© kay
kwennen mwen. If you hadn’t
notified me in advance, he would have
tricked me.
V
kwenstГ©
to crowd. ZГІt ka kwenstГ©
twГІp asou ban sala. You are
crowding too much on this bench. (see
also: konblГ©)
KwГ©yГІl
kwГ©yГ©
V to create. SГ© BondyГ© ki
kwéyé latè-a. It’s God who created
the earth. (relig., rare; see also:
kwiyasyon) [< Fr. crГ©er]
kwГЁyГЁ variant of kwГЁ. I fГЁ sa an
kwГЁyГЁ sГ© Tijan i koulГ©. He did that
believing it was Tijan he sank.
V
KwГ©yГІl (var: KГ©wГІl)
N 1) Creole
language. Yo pa ka palГ© KwГ©yГІl.
They don’t speak Creole. (syn: Patwa)
2) person of African descent. Papa
mwen sГ© on KwГ©yГІl, manman mwen
kwentif
N fear. (syn: pГЁwГЁz, lapГЁ)
[< Fr. craintif] ni kwentif to fear. I
pa ni kwentif pyèsonn. He doesn’t
121
kwГ©yon
Kwéyòl – English
kwim
sГ© on Kouli. My father is of African
descent and my mother is of East
Indian descent. [< Fr. crГ©ole]
N crime. I pa fГЁ pyГЁs kaltГ©
kwim mГ© sГ© li polis-la awГ©tГ©. He
didn’t do any kind of crime but it was
him the police arrested. [< Fr. crime]
kwГ©yon (var: kГ©won)
N pencil. I ka
Г©kwi Г©pi on kwГ©yon wouj. He is
writing with a red pencil. [< Fr.
crayon]
kwis
N crucifix. Kwis-la ka pann la.
The crucifix hangs there. (see also:
kwa) [< Fr. Christ]
kwГЁz
kwisifГ© variant of kwisifyГ©.
ADJ hollow. PyГ© bwa-a tГ© kwГЁz.
The tree was hollow. (syn: flo) [< Fr.
creuse]
kwisifyГ© (var: kwisifГ©)
V to crucify.
Yo kwisifyГ© JГ©zi asou MГІn KalvГЁ.
They crucified Jesus on Calvary Hill.
[< Fr. crucifier]
kwi1
N cry, scream, shout. Nou kouwi
viwГ© an kay-la paski nou tann an
kwi. We ran back to the house because
we heard a scream. [< Fr. cri] fГЁ kwi
to cry out. Nou pa tГ© ka fГЁ yo anyen,
mé yo té ka fè kwi. We weren’t doing
anything to them, but they were crying
out. (syn: andjГ©lГ©, kwiyГ©, hГ©lГ©) fГЁ
yon kwi to scream. LГЁ mwen wГЁ
sГЁpan-an mwen fГЁ yon kwi. When I
saw the snake I screamed.
kwi2
kwistal
N crystal. Zatolan enmen
manjГ© gwenn kwistal. Ground doves
love to eat grains of crystal. [< Fr.
cristal]
kwititjГ©
V to criticize. Madanm sala
enmen kwititjГ© lГІt moun. That
woman likes to criticize other people.
[< Fr. critiquer]
N calabash bowl or plate. SГ©tГ© an
kwi nou tГ© ka manjГ© lГЁ nou alГ© an
hГІtГЁ. It was on calabash plates we
used to eat when we went into the
countryside. koupГ© kwi to cut off,
to shave (in reference to hair on head).
Misyé-a koupé chivé’y kwi. The man
cut all of his hair off. tГЁt kwi hair
cut very short. TГЁt ou kwi kon on
kalbas. The hair on your head is cut
short like a calabash. (see also: chГІb)
kwitjГЁt
N grasshopper. KwitjГЁt-la pa
té ka soté. The grasshopper wasn’t
jumping. [< Fr. criquet] kwitjГЁt
bwa a very large type of grasshopper
or locust. kwitjГЁt senkГЁy a type of
locust or grasshopper shaped like a
coffin. kwitjГЁt vГЁ cicada. KwitjГЁt
vГЁ ka mennen bon nouvГЁl. Cicadas
bring good news.
kwityen
N 1) Christian. Nou tout sГ©
pa Kwityen. We’re not all Christians.
(relig., rare; see also: kwayan)
2) mankind. SГ© BondyГ© ki fГЁ tout
kwityen. It is God who created all
mankind. (syn: latГЁ, lГ©zГІm) [< Fr.
chrГ©tien]
kwi3
ADJ raw. SГ© nonm-lan ki tГ© pГЁd
anlГЁ lanmГЁ-a tГ© ni pou manjГ©
pwГ©son-an tou kwi. The men who
were lost at sea had to eat the fish
quite raw. [< Fr. cru]
kwibich (var: kibich)
N crayfish. An
lawivyГЁ-a ni an chay kwibich. There
are lots of crayfish in the river. [< Fr.
Г©crevisse]
kwiyasyon
kwiyasyon
N creation. LatГЁ-a sГ©
kwiyasyon BondyГ©. The earth is
God’s creation. (see also: kwéyé)
[< Fr. crГ©ation]
122
kwiyГ©
Kwéyòl – English
kwiyГ© (var: kouyГ©)
has convulsions. (see also: malkadi,
twanblad) 2) crisis; uncontrolled
anger, rage, craziness, madness;
nervous tension, stress; the state of
being out of one’s mind. Pa pasé
kwiz ou anlè mwen. Don’t pass your
rage on to me. [< Fr. crise] kwiz
pwan to bawl, to cry out, to have a
fit. Mwen fГЁ ti manmay-la sotГ© Г©pi
kwiz pwan’y. I startled the child and
he cried out. (see also: andjГ©lГ©, hГ©lГ©,
plГ©wГ©) fГЁ kwiz pwan anlГЁ to
infuriate, to anger, to enrage. Tibwayla fè kwiz pwan mwen anlè’y. The
boy infuriated me.
V to call loudly, to
shout, to yell. Yo kwiyГ© nou mГ© nou
pa tann. They called us but we didn’t
hear. (syn: andjГ©lГ©, hГ©lГ©; see also:
kwi) [< Fr. crier] kwiyГ© anlГЁ to call
upon (e.g. for help). Yo kwiyГ© anlГЁ
BondyГ© pou BondyГ© tГ© sa Г©dГ© yo.
They called upon God to help them.
kwiyГ© asou to call upon (e.g. to give
an account). LГЁ BondyГ© kay kwiyГ©
asou’w, ki sa ou kay di? When God
calls on you, what will you say?
kwiyennen variant of kwennen.
kwiyotГ©
N evil, wickedness. SГ©
moun-an tГ© ka fГЁ nou an chay
kwiyotГ©. The people were doing us a
lot of evil. (syn: mГ©chanstГ©, movГЁztГ©;
see also: vis)
labГ©
kyanng
ADJ overripe (in reference to
dasheen). Dachin-an pa bon ankГІ, i
ja kyanng. The dasheen isn’t good
anymore, it’s already overripe. (syn:
nyak, tounen; see also: groum)
kwiz
N 1) fit, convulsion. Tibway
sala ni an kwiz ka pwan’y. That boy
Ll
-la (var: -a, -an, -lan)
ART the. I ka
manjГ© fig-la. She is eating the banana.
(conditioned variant)
labank
ADV in the bank, to the bank. I
dépozé lajan’y labank. He deposited
his money in the bank. (see also:
bank) [< Fr. la banque]
la
ADV 1) there. Sa ou ka fГЁ la? What
are you doing there? 2) then. La yo
vin konpwann. Then they understood.
[< Fr. lГ ] la menm right then, right
away, immediately. La menm i
koumansГ© kouwi! Right then he
began to run!
laba
N dawn. Nou alГ© bГІ lanmГЁ-a
avan laba kasГ©. We went to the beach
before dawn broke. (syn: laba jou; see
also: jou ouvГЁ, sГІlГЁy lГ©vГ©) laba jou
same as laba. LГЁ laba jou ka pasГ©,
sГІlГЁy-la tГ© ja lГ©vГ©. When dawn was
breaking, the sun had already risen.
labatwa
N abattoir, shop where
animals are slaughtered and the meat
is sold. Mwen ka mennen bГЁf-la an
labatwa-a. I am bringing the cow to
the abattoir. (syn: hal) [< Fr.
l’abattoir]
labay variant of bay.
labГ©1
N priest. LabГ© sala pa jan Sent
Lisi. That priest is not from St. Lucia.
(syn: pГЁ, pwГЁt; see also: danm, mГЁw,
lèvèk, monsenyè) [< Fr. l’abbé]
labГ©2
123
N
drumfish (Equetus loreto).
labennГ©diksyon
Kwéyòl – English
labennГ©diksyon variant of
He drinks too much beer. [< Fr. la
biГЁre]
bennГ©diksyon. [< Fr. la bГ©nГ©diction]
Labib
lachajГЁs variant of lasajГЁs.
N the Bible. Labib di ou
sipozé enmen pwochen’w. The Bible
says you are supposed to love your
neighbour. (syn: Bib) [< Fr. la Bible]
lachas
N hunting. I pwen chyen’y èk
i alГ© lachas. He took his dog and went
hunting. (see also: chasГ©, chasГЁ) [< Fr.
la chasse]
labitid
N custom, habit. Ou ka pwan
sa kon an labitid; pa fè’y ankò. You
do this as a habit; don’t do it anymore.
(syn: lakoutim) [< Fr. l’habitude]
kon labitid as usual, according to
custom. (see also: kon lakoutim)
lachawitГ© (var: chawitГ©)
N alms,
charity. Nonm avГЁg-la tГ© ka mandГ©
lachawitГ©. The blind man was asking
for alms. [< Fr. la charitГ©]
labizwen same as bizwen. BondyГ©
konnГЁt labizwen lГ©gliz-la. God knows
the needs of the church. (relig., rare)
[< Fr. le besoin]
lachГ© V to release. [< Fr. lГўcher]
lachГ© dlo to urinate. Yo alГ© lachГ©
dlo dГЁyГЁ kay-la. The went to urinate
behind the house. (syn: pisГ©) lachГ©
van to break wind, to pass gas.
Tibway-la lachГ© van anpami tout sГ©
moun-an. The boy broke wind among
all the people. (syn: pГ©tГ©)
lablanni
V to bleach, to whiten.
Mwen mГ©tГ© had-la lablanni an
sГІlГЁy-la. I put the clothes to bleach in
the sun. (syn: blanchi) lablanni a tГЁ
to fall flat. Mwen bay vГІlГЁ-a yon
koul baton dГЁyГЁ tГЁt li; i lablanni a
tГЁ-a. I hit the thief on the head with a
stick and he fell flat. (syn: plantГ©
bannann)
LabonnlannГ© same as Bon LannГ©.
Mwen ka swété’w Labonnlanné. I
am wishing you a happy New Year.
[< Fr. la bonne lannГ©e]
labou
N mud. SГ© jou sala la ni an
chay labou. These days there’s lots of
mud. [< Fr. la boue]
lachГЁ1
N flesh; the physical or
corporeal part of a whole person.
LachГЁ lГ©zГІm fГЁb. Human flesh is
weak. (see also: vyann) [< Fr. la
chair]
lachГЁ2
N lime, limestone, quicklime.
(see also: plasta) [< Fr. la chaux]
lad
N leprosy. DГІktГЁ-a di maladi-a i
ni-an sГ© lad. The doctor said the
sickness he has is leprosy. ADJ
leprous. I djГ©wi tout sa ki tГ© lad. He
healed all who were leprous.
ladjablГЁs (var: adjablГЁs)
N female
bewitching spirit that may cause
someone to lose his way. Jan lontan
di i tГ© ni ladjablГЁs Sent Lisi. Long
ago people said there were female
bewitching spirits in St. Lucia. [< Fr.
la diablesse]
N labourer, worker. Yo pГ©yГ©
sГ© labouwГЁ-a byen. They paid the
labourers well. (see also: twavayГЁ)
N
bow (of a violin). [< Fr.
lacho
labouwГЁ
labyГЁ
N
l’archet]
labouwГ©
V to root (in reference to
pigs). Kochon-an labouwГ© tout
jaden mwen. The pig rooted up my
garden.
ladjablГЁs
beer. I ka bwГЁ twГІp labyГЁ.
124
ladjГ©
Kwéyòl – English
ladjГ©
V 1) to drop. Tibway-la ladjГ©
pГІt-la an bonm dlo-a. The boy
dropped the cup in the bucket of
water. 2) to drop off, to let off. LadjГ©
mwen an vil, souplГ©. Drop me off in
town, please. (syn: mГ©tГ©) 3) to let
loose, to let go, to release. I ladjГ©
mouton-an an jaden misyГ©-a. He let
the sheep loose in the man’s garden.
4) to dismiss, to fire (from job).
Gason-an fГЁ kouyon jis a tan yo
ladjé’y an twavay-la. The boy did
foolishness until they fired him from
work. ADJ loose. Vis-la tГ© ladjГ©. The
screw was loose. (see also: slak)
ladjГ© asou to loosen. LadjГ© asou
vis-la. Loosen the screw. (opp: sГ©wГ©)
has a lot of skill but he is lazy. (see
also: abilité) [< Fr. l’adresse]
lafanmi variant of fanmi. [< Fr. la
famille]
lafen
N hunger, famine. Lafen ka
tjwГ© an chay moun oliwon latГЁ-a.
Famine kills a lot of people around the
world. [< Fr. la faim]
lafГЁt variant of fГЁt. fГЁ lafГЁt to be
merry, to have a party, to celebrate.
Yo pwГ©pawГ© pou yo fГЁ lafГЁt. They
got ready to have a party. (syn: bwiyГ©,
sГ©lГ©bwГ©, wibotГ©)
lafimГ© (var: lafimen)
N 1) smoke,
haze. Machin sala ka fГЁ an chay
lafimГ©. That truck makes a lot of
smoke. (see also: fimen, pafimГ©,
sigawГЁt) 2) cigarette. Ban mwen on
lafimГ©. Give me a cigarette. [< Fr. la
fumГ©e]
ladjГЁ
N war. I ni ladjГЁ toupatou an
latГЁ sala. There are wars everywhere
in this earth. (opp: lapГ©; see also:
batay, goumen) [< Fr. la guerre]
ladjidjit
N diarrhoea. Ti manmay-la
ni ladjidjit. The child has diarrhoea.
(syn: mal vant, wilachman; see also:
bouden ka mennen)
lafimen variant of lafimГ©.
laflanmasyon
N inflammation. I tГ©
ni an chay laflanmasyon paski i pa
tГ© ka pwen mГЁtsin. She had a lot of
inflammation because she didn’t take
the purge. [< Fr. l’inflammation]
ladГІmi
N anaesthesia. DГІktГЁ-a ba li
ladГІmi avan lopГ©wasyon-an. The
doctor gave him anaesthesia before the
operation.
lafГІj
N forge. FГІjon-an ka twavay
adan lafГІj. The blacksmith works in
the forge. [< Fr. la forge]
ladwati
N righteousness. Ladwati
nonm pa bon asГ© douvan BondyГ©.
Man’s righteousness is not good
enough before God. (relig.; see also:
dwГЁt) [< Fr. la droiture]
lafГІs variant of fГІs. [< Fr. la force]
lafowГ© (var: lГ©fowГ©)
N forest, woods.
LafowГ©-a enpГІtan pou lavi Sent Lisi.
The forest is important for life in St.
Lucia. (syn: gwan bwa; see also:
hГІtГЁ) [< Fr. la forГЄt]
ladwenn
N customs tax, import duty.
Mwen tГ© ni pou pГ©yГ© an chay
ladwenn pou motoka-a. I had to pay
a lot of duty on the car. (see also:
lajan kay, taks) [< Fr. la douane]
lafwa
lafwa
N faith. Si mwen pa tГ© ni lafwa
mwen té ja mò. If I didn’t have faith I
would have already died. (see also:
konfyans, kwГЁ) [< Fr. la foi]
ladwГЁs
N skill. Gason sala ni an
chay ladwГЁs mГ© i fenyan. That boy
125
lafyГЁv
Kwéyòl – English
lafyГЁv
N fever. Ti manmay-la ni on
movГ© lafyГЁv. The child has a bad
fever. [< Fr. la fiГЁvre]
laglas
ice. La pa ni pyГЁs laglas an
vè mwen. There’s no ice in my glass.
[< Fr. la glace]
N
also: henn) [< Fr. la haine]
la’ivyè variant of lawivyè.
laj1
N age. Ki laj ou yГ©? What is your
age? [< Fr. l’age] a laj di at the age
of. A laj di senk an yo voyГ© ti
manmay-la lГ©kГІl. At the age of five
years they sent the child to school. an
laj old enough, of age. Yo otjipГ© ti
manmay-la jis a tan i wivГ© an laj
pou gadé apwé kò’y. They took care
of the child until he became old
enough to look after himself.
lagli
N sticky sap. Nou fГЁ zatwap ГЁk
lagli pou tjГ©bГ© jibyГ©. We made traps
out of sticky sap to catch birds. (see
also: lakГІl, lГЁt) [< Fr. la glu]
laglwa
N glory. Laglwa BondyГ© plen
légliz-la. God’s glory filled the
church. (relig., rare) [< Fr. la gloire]
laj2
ADJ big, large. Jip-la twГІ laj pou
tifi-a. The skirt was too big for the
girl. (opp: piti; see also: gwan, gwo)
[< Fr. large]
lagon
N swampy or soft muddy area
fed by a fresh water spring. Lagon-an
mwen ni an wavin-an toujou ni
dachin andidan’y. The swamp that I
have in the ravine always has dasheen
in it. (see also: manng, sous) [< Fr.
lagune]
lajan (var: lahan)
N money. Nonmlan ni an chay lajan. The man has
lots of money. [< Fr. l’argent] lajan
kay 1) house tax. Nonm-lan ka
anmasГ© lajan kay bay gouvГЁdman.
The man is collecting the house tax for
the government. (see also: ladwenn,
taks) 2) rent money. Mwen mГ©tГ©
lajan kay mwen asou kotГ©. I put my
rent money aside.
lagroup
N mumps. Titja-a pa alГ©
lГ©kГІl jГІdi-a paski i ni lagroup. The
teacher didn’t go to school today
because she has the mumps.
lagwandГЁ
N magnitude, greatness.
Nou pa sa jenmen fini konnГЁt
lagwandГЁ BondyГ©. We will never
fully understand God’s greatness.
(relig., rare) [< Fr. la grandeur]
lajГЁ
N size, breadth, width. LajГЁ
lanmГЁ sala, zГІt pa sa pГ©chГ© adan san
zГІt goumen? The size of this sea, you
all can’t fish in it without fighting?
(see also: fondjГЁ, gwandГЁ, gwГІsГЁ,
hГІtГЁ, londjГЁ)
lagwas (var: gwas)
N grace. Nou
mandГ© BondyГ© lagwas pou nou sa
fini twavay-la. We asked God for
grace to finish our work. (see also:
favГЁ) [< Fr. la grace]
lajlГ©
N jelly. Sent Lisyen ka fГЁ lajlГ©
Г©pi an chay difГ©wan kalitГ© fwi. St.
Lucians make jelly with a lot of
different kinds of fruit. [< Fr. la
gelГ©e]
lahal variant of hal.
lahan variant of lajan.
lahenn
grudge, bad feelings, ill will.
Annou pa kòwijé yo an lahenn. Let’s
not correct them with a grudge. (see
N
lajГІl
lajГІl
N jail, prison. Yo kondanné’y
pou’y alé lajòl. They sentenced him to
jail. (syn: pwizon, kalabous; see also:
kacho) [< Fr. geГґle]
126
lajounГ©
Kwéyòl – English
lajounГ©
N 1) day. Yo twavay wГЁd
tout lajounГ©. They worked hard all
day. (opp: lannwit; see also: jou,
jounГ©) 2) during the daytime. Moun
sala ka twavay lГ© ГІswГЁ Г©pi i ka dГІmi
lajounГ©. That person works nights and
sleeps during the daytime. [< Fr. la
journГ©e] gwan lajounГ© broad
daylight, in the middle of the day.
VГІlГЁ-a kasГ© kay mwen gwan
lajounГ©. The thief broke into my
house in broad daylight. (syn: gwan
jou, gwan midi; opp: gwo lannwit)
kotГ© i mГ©tГ© laklГ© kay-la. The servant
doesn’t know where he put the key to
the house. 2) lock. VГІlГЁ-a kwazГ©
laklГ© lapГІt-la Г©pi i antwГ© an kay-la.
The thief broke the lock of the door
and he entered the house. (syn: sГ©wi;
see also: kadna) V to lock. ChonjГ©
pou laklГ© lapГІt-la avan ou ay dГІmi.
Remember to lock the door before you
go to bed. (opp: dГ©laklГ©; see also:
tjatjГ©, fГЁmГ©) ADJ locked. LapГІt-la
laklГ© Г©pi nou pa sa antwГ©. The door
is locked and we can’t enter. [< Fr. la
clГ©]
lajwa
N joy. Lè i wè mawi’y, tjè’y té
plen Г©pi lajwa. When she saw her
husband her heart was filled with joy.
(syn: djГЁwtГ©; see also: wГ©jwi,
widjГЁwtГ©) [< Fr. la joie]
lakoklich
N whooping cough. Ti
manmay sala ka tousГ© an chay; i
oblijГ© ni lakoklich. This child is
coughing a lot; she must have
whooping cough. [< Fr. la
coqueluche]
lak
N bait. Yo pa tjГ©bГ© pyГЁs pwГ©son
paski lak yo pa té bon. They didn’t
catch any fish because their bait
wasn’t good.
lakГІl
N glue. Pa touchГ© lakГІl-la; i
p’òkò sèk. Don’t touch the glue; it
isn’t dry yet. [< Fr. la colle]
lakal
N deck (of a boat). Yo mennen
mwen toupatou anba lakal batimanan. They took me everywhere under
the deck of the ship. [< Fr. la cale]
lakangwenn
lakonminyon variant of konminyon.
[< Fr. la communion]
lakontantman (var: kontantman)
gangrene. I ni
lakangwenn an pyé’y èk yo té ni pou
koupé’y. He has gangrene in his foot
and they had to cut it off. (see also:
malenng, bobo) [< Fr. la gangrГЁne]
lakansyГЁl
lakopwann
N understanding,
comprehension. BondyГ© ouvГЁ
lakopwann nou. God opened our
understanding. (opp: inyowans; see
also: nГІlaj, konnГ©sans, konpwann,
lidГ©, sav)
lakay
N home. Mwen mennen’y
lakay mwen Г©pi mwen ba li an pla
manjГ©. I brought him to my home and
I gave him a plate of food. (see also:
kay, kotГ©)
laklГ©
N
N
happiness, contentment. La ni tГЁlman
lakontantman an tjГЁ mwen, mwen
pa sa menm manjГ©. I have so much
happiness in my heart, I cannot even
eat. (opp: twistГЁs; see also: djГЁwtГ©,
lajwa, satisfaksyon) [< Fr. le
contentement]
N
N rainbow. ApwГ© lapli-a
nou wГЁ an lakansyГЁl. After the rain
we saw a rainbow. [< Fr. l’arc-enciel]
lakou
lakou
N yard. La ni on pyГ© mango
adan lakou-a. There’s a mango tree in
1) key. SГІvant-lan pa sav ki
127
lakout
Kwéyòl – English
the yard. [< Fr. la cour]
lalwas
N lotion made from aloe. Ay
an fonmasi-a genyen lalwas ban
mwen. Go to the pharmacy and get
aloe for me. (see also: lalwГ©)
lakout
N scab. Bobo-a ka fГЁ lakout.
The sore is making a scab. [< Fr. la
croГ»te]
lakoutim
habit, custom. (see also:
labitid) [< Fr. la coutume] kon
lakoutim as usual. Yo ka sГ©lГ©bwГ©
LawГІz kon lakoutim. The are
celebrating La Rose as usual. (see
also: kon labitid)
N
lalwГ©
N aloe plant. Ki moun ki koupГ©
pyГ© lalwГ© mwen? Who cut my aloe
plant? (see also: lalwas)
lalwГЁt
N uvula. Yo ba li wimГЁd pou
djГ©wi lalwГЁt li. They gave him
medicine to heal his uvula. [< Fr. la
luette]
lakwanp (var: kwanp)
N cramp. On
lakwanp tjГ©bГ© mwen an lanmГЁ-a. I
had a cramp in the sea. [< Fr. la
crampe]
lam1
N soul, spirit. Tout moun ni an
lam. Everybody has a soul. (see also:
lèspwi) [< Fr. l’âme] vyé lam
1) witch, practitioner of black magic
or obeah. LГЁ yo sГІti an vГЁy, yo wГЁ an
vyГ© lam tГ© ka swiv yo. When they left
the wake, they saw that a witch was
following them. (syn: movГ© lam,
dГ©vagondГ©; see also: tjenbwatГЁ,
divinГЁ, jan gajГ©, gadГЁ, maji nwГЁ)
2) person who practices evil. Nonm
sala sГ© an vyГ© lam, la pa ni yon vis i
pa ni. That man is an evil person,
there’s no wrong he doesn’t do. (syn:
movГ© lam; see also: bouwo,
dГ©vagondГ©)
lakwenn
N crackling, fried rind.
Lakwenn kochon bon Г©pi bandja.
Fried pork rind is good with wild yam.
lalГЁd
N the ugly one. Yo tГ© ka kwiyГ©
tifi sala lalГЁd. They call that girl the
ugly one. (rare; see also: lГЁd)
lalin
N 1) moon. Lalin-an ka klГ©wГ©
an chay ГІswГЁ-a. The moon is shining
a lot tonight. 2) the lunula, the
crescent-shaped spot near the root of
the fingernail. Mi lalin-an la, kotГ©
zonng-lan ka jwenn ГЁk lachГЁ-a. Look
at the lunula there, where the nail
meets with the flesh. 3) capability of
holding one’s breath underwater.
MisyГ© sala ni tГЁlman lalin, nou tГ© jik
kwГЁ i nГ©yГ©. That man can hold his
breath so long, we thought he had
drowned. [< Fr. la lune]
lam2
N tear. (see also: dlo) [< Fr.
larme] lam dlo tear drops. Lam dlo
té an zyé’y. Tears were in his eyes.
-lan (var: -a, -an, -la)
ART the.
Nonm-lan ki fè’y-la té ka pòté on
chimiz nwГЁ. The man who did it was
wearing a black shirt. (conditioned
variant)
lalwa
N court, legal authorities.
Mwen kay mennen’w douvan lalwa
si ou kontinГ© anbГ©tГ© mwen. I will
bring you before the legal authorities
if you continue to trouble me. (syn:
lodyans, bawo) [< Fr. la loi]
mennen lalwa same as mennen
lodyans.
landji
lanbi
N conch. Ou ka toujou jwenn
lanbi GwozilГ© pou achtГ©. You can
always find conch for sale in Gros
Islet. [< Fr. lambi]
landji
N teasing, torment. fГЁ landji
to tease by offering and then taking
128
landwГЁt
Kwéyòl – English
back. I ka fè mwen landji! He’s
teasing me!
menm kon on ti biswi ki fГЁt an siwo.
Manna was just like a small biscuit
made in syrup. (relig.) [< Fr. la
manne]
landwГЁt
ADV right side out. Chimiz
ou lanvè; mété’y landwèt. Your shirt
is on inside out; put it on right side
out. (opp: lanvè) [< Fr. l’endroit]
lanmant (var: mant)
N mint candy.
Manmay lГ©kГІl jГІdi pa kontan
lanmant. School children today don’t
like mints. [< Fr. la menthe]
lanmant fanm a type of mint plant.
lanmant kouwant a type of mint
plant.
lanfГЁ
N hell. LanfГЁ fГЁt pou movГ©
moun. Hell was made for bad people.
(relig.) [< Fr. l’enfer]
langaj
N language. LatГЁ sala ni an
chay difГ©wan kalitГ© langaj. This
world has a lot of different kinds of
languages. (syn: lanng) [< Fr.
langage]
lanmГЁ
N ocean, sea. Yo ka najГ© an
lanmè-a. They’re swimming in the
sea. [< Fr. la mer] jan lanmГЁ
fishermen. Jan lanmГЁ enmen tiwГ©
listwa. Fishermen like to tell stories.
(syn: nonm lanmГЁ, pГ©chГЁ) nonm
lanmГЁ fisherman. Pita sГ© on nonm
lanmГЁ. Peter is a fisherman. (syn:
pГ©chГЁ, jan lanmГЁ)
LanglГ© variant of AnglГ©. [< Fr.
l’anglais]
LanglitГЁ
N England. Mwen pa
janmen alГ© LanglitГЁ. I have never
been to England.
lank1
lanmen (var: lenmen)
ink. La pa ni pyГЁs lank pou
mwen sa ékwi. There’s no ink for me
to be able to write. [< Fr. l’encre]
N
N hand. I lГ©vГ©
lanmen’y asou papa’y. He raised his
hand against his father. (see also: pyГ©)
PREP from. Nou achtГ© tout bagay
lanmen’y. We bought everything from
him. [< Fr. la main] an lanmen
some help, assistance. Ban mwen an
lanmen la souplГ©. Give me some help
here please. anba lanmen under the
care of. I tГ© anba lanmen dГІktГЁ-a lГЁ
i mò. He was under the doctor’s care
when he died. (see also: otjipasyon)
lank2
N anchor. Batiman-an ladjГ©
lank li an lawad-la. The boat dropped
its anchor in the harbour. [< Fr.
l’ancre]
lanklim
N anvil. FГІjon-an ka twavay
an lanklim-lan. The blacksmith works
on the anvil. [< Fr. l’enclume]
lanm1
N blade. Lanm kouto-a mГІ.
The knife blade is dull. [< Fr. lame]
lanmГЁs
N mass in a Roman Catholic
church. Yo ka alГ© an lanmГЁs.
They’re going to mass. (relig.) [< Fr.
la messe]
lanm2
N wave. LanmГЁ-a ni an chay
gwo lanm jГІdi-a. The sea has a lot of
big waves today. [< Fr. lame] lanm
batan shore (i.e. where waves are
breaking). Ng’ay mennen’w an lanm
batan. I’ll bring you on the shore.
[< Fr. lame battant]
lanmann
N
lanmidon
LanmГ©wik variant of AnmГ©wik.
lanmidon
N starch. Madanm mwen
mГ©tГ© twГІp lanmidon an had-la. My
wife put too much starch in the
clothes. (see also: anpГ©zГ©) [< Fr.
manna. Lanmann tГ©
129
lanmityГ©
Kwéyòl – English
[< Fr. la neige]
l’amidon]
lanmityГ©
N love. BondyГ© ni an chay
lanmityГ© pou lГ©zГІm. God has a lot of
love for mankind (opp: hayisans; see
also: lanmou, enmen, kontan) [< Fr.
l’amitié]
lanng
N 1) tongue. KafГ©-a tГ© tГЁlman
cho i bwilГ© lanng li. The coffee was
so hot it burnt his tongue.
2) language. Titja mwen ka palГ©
konmen difГ©wan lanng. My teacher
speaks so many different languages.
(syn: langaj) 3) what one says. Nou
kay fГЁ malpalan sala pГ©yГ© pou lanng
li! We will make that bad-talker pay
for what he says! [< Fr. langue]
lanng kaka babbler, one who cannot
keep a secret. Pa di tifi sala zafè’w; i
sé an lanng kaka. Don’t tell that girl
your secrets; she is a babbler. (syn:
palapata)
lanmГІ
N death. Byen pГ© nonm ki pa
pГЁ lanmГІ. There are few people who
don’t fear death. (syn: défini; opp:
lavi; see also: mГІ) [< Fr. la mort]
lanmonnГ©
N change. LГЁ ou fini fГЁ
konmisyon-an, pГІtГ© lanmonnГ©
mwen ban mwen. When you finish
doing the errand, bring me back my
change. (see also: pyГЁs) [< Fr. la
monnaie] on ti lanmonnГ© a small
amount of money. Bagay wГЁd; ban
mwen on ti lanmonnГ©. Things are
hard; give me a little money.
lanmou
love. I pa ni pyГЁs lanmou
pou madanm li. He has no love for
his wife. (opp: hayisans; see also:
lanmityГ©, enmen, kontan) [< Fr.
l’amour]
N
lanni
N anis. Yo ni lanni ГЁk pГЁsi an
jaden yo. They have anis and parsley
in their garden. [< Fr. l’anis]
lannwit (var: nannwit)
N late at
night. Nou pa kontan sГІti lannwit.
We don’t like to go out late at night.
(opp: lajounГ©; see also: nwit, ГІswГЁ,
swГЁ) [< Fr. la nuit] gwo lannwit the
dead of night. MisyГ©-a vini lakay
mwen gwo lannwit ka mandГ© mwen
pou pòté’y soukou. The man came to
my house in the middle of the night
asking me for help. (opp: gwan jou,
gwan lajounГ©, gwan midi)
lanmowi
N saltfish. Lanmowi ГЁk fig
vГЁt sГ© sa ki bon. Saltfish and green
figs are good. [< Fr. la morue]
lanmwatyГ©
N half, some, a good
amount. I ba li lanmwatyé byen’y.
He gave him half of his wealth. (see
also: dimi) [< Fr. la moitiГ©]
lanp
N lamp. Lanp-lan ka mantjГ©
kawozin. The lamp is out of kerosene.
(see also: layt) [< Fr. lampe]
lannГ© (var: nannГ©)
N year. LannГ©
sala kay ni an chay lapli. This year
there will be a lot of rain. [< Fr.
l’année] Bon Lanné (var:
LabonnlannГ©) Happy New Year.
Nou swété’w Bon Lanné! We wish
you Happy New Year!
lans1
N bay, beach, shore. PГ©yi sala ni
an chay lans tout oliwon’y. This
country has a lot of beaches all around
it. (see also: lanmbatan) [< Fr. l’anse]
lans2
N handle (e.g. of a bucket).
Bonm-lan pa ni lans. The bucket has
no handle. [< Fr. l’anse]
lannГЁj
N snow. I tГ© blan pasГ© lannГЁjla. It was whiter than snow. (rare)
lansan
lansan
130
N
incense. Mwen kontan
lansГ©
Kwéyòl – English
pwan lГІdГЁ lansan. I like to take the
smell of incense. [< Fr. l’encens]
Yo fГЁ an lapatouch ГЁk fig-la. They
completely destroyed the bananas. (see
also: dГ©twi, kwazГ©, kwazГ© bwizГ©)
lansГ©
V 1) to jump over. I tonbГ©
patan i tГ© ka lansГ© kannal-la. He fell
while he was jumping over the canal.
(syn: janbГ©; see also: lansman, sotГ©,
twavГЁsГ©) 2) to give a shooting pain
(associated with a sore or a swollen
gland). Bobo-a ka lansГ© mwen. The
sore is giving me a shooting pain.
[< Fr. lancer]
LanslawГ©
N
lapawГІl (var: lapawГІli)
N the faculty
of speech. On ladjablГЁs pwan
lapawГІl li. A bewitching spirit took
his speech away. (see also: pawГІl,
vwa) [< Fr. la parole]
lapawГІli variant of lapawГІl. (rare)
lapГ©
N peace. Nou sa viv an lapГ©. We
can live in peace. (opp: ladjГЁ; see also:
milyГ©) [< Fr. la paix]
the village of Anse La
Raye.
lansman
leap, jump. Lansman
manman kabwit sГ© menm Г©pi ti
kabwit. The mother goat’s leap is the
same as its kid goat’s leap. (see also:
lansГ©)
N
lantГЁman (var: lГЁtГЁman)
N
lapГЁ
N fear. SГ© moun sala ni pli lapГЁ
an yo pasГ© lafwa. Those people have
more fear in them than faith. (syn:
pГЁwГЁz, kwentif) [< Fr. la peur]
lapen
N rabbit. Lapen ni gwo zГІwГЁy.
Rabbits have large ears. [< Fr. lapin]
burial.
[< Fr. l’enterrement]
lapenn
N sorrow, grief. (see also:
penn) [< Fr. la peine] an lapenn
(var: an penn) in grief, in sorrow.
Madanm-lan tГ© an lapenn paski ich
li tГ© mГІ. The woman was in sorrow
because her child had died. (syn: twis,
sonm; opp: djГ©, kontan) fГЁ lapenn
to cause to feel grief, sorrow, distress.
SГ© manmay sala ka fГЁ mwen lapenn
paski ni manman yo ni papa yo mГІ.
I feel sorry for these children because
both their mother and their father died.
lantГ©wГ© variant of lentГ©wГ©.
lanti
N lentil. Mwen ni pou achtГ©
lanti pou mwen sa bouwi Г©pi diwi. I
need to buy some lentils to cook with
rice. [< Fr. lentille]
lantounwГЁ
N funnel. SГ© pou ou sГЁvi
lantounwГЁ-a pou vidГ© lwil-la. You
must use the funnel to pour the oil.
[< Fr. l’entonnoir]
lanvГЁ
ADV backwards, wrong side out,
inside out. Ou mГ©tГ© wГІb ou lanvГЁ.
You put your dress on backwards.
(opp: landwèt) [< Fr. l’envers]
LapankГІt
N
Whit Monday.
lapГ©ti1
N appetite. I ni on bon lapГ©ti.
He has a good appetite. [< Fr.
l’appétit]
lapГ©ti2
N sake. pou lapГ©ti for the
sake of, on behalf of, because of. Pou
lapГ©ti wonm ou pa sa ni dГ© sou.
Because of rum, you can’t keep a
penny. (see also: paski)
lapat
N dough. Lapat sala kay fГЁ bon
pen. This dough will make good
bread. (see also: pentwi, pГ©twen)
[< Fr. la pГўte]
lapatouch
N
lapГЁwmisyon
lapГЁwmisyon variant of pГЁwmisyon.
complete destruction.
[< Fr. la permission]
131
lapГЁy
Kwéyòl – English
lapГЁy
N pay, wages. Denmen yo kay
ban nou lapèy nou. Tomorrow they’ll
give us our pay. (see also: pГ©yiman,
salГЁ)
lapidГ©
manmay-la tonbГ© dГІwГІ-a. Close the
door before the child falls outside.
[< Fr. la porte]
lapouswiv
N pursuit, chase. [< Fr.
poursuivre] bay lapouswiv to
chase, to pursue. Nou bay nonm-lan
lapwouswiv jis tan nou tjébé’y. We
chased the man until we caught him.
(syn: kouwi dГЁyГЁ, chachГ©; see also:
fann kann, kwazГ© bwa, kwazГ©
wazyГ©, pwan an bwa, pwan lavГІl, fГЁ
lapousyГЁ)
to thrash. Ng’ay lapidé’w!
I’ll thrash you! (syn: bat, bay kou,
bay volГ©, plichГ©, koupГ© fГЁs; see also:
chalГЁ)
V
lapit
N sisal. Yo ka mawГ© sГ©
zannimo-a ГЁk kГІd lapit. They tie the
animals with sisal cord.
laplas1
N market, market place.
Mwen achtГ© bannann bГІ laplas
bonmaten-an. I bought plantain at the
market this morning. [< Fr. la place]
lapousyГЁ (var: pousyГЁ)
N dust.
Chanm sala benyen lapousyГЁ. This
room is full of dust. [< Fr. la
poussiГЁre] fГЁ lapousyГЁ 1) to make
dust fly up. Chouval-la jété’y an
mitan chimen-an, i fГЁ lapousyГЁ. The
horse threw him off on the middle of
the road and dust flew up. (see also: fГЁ
pousyГЁ) 2) to flee. LГЁ chyen-an pati
dèyè’y i fè lapousyè désann chimenan. When the dog chased after him, he
fled down the road. (syn: fann kann,
fГЁ djip, fГЁ lapousyГЁ, fГЁ zГ©klГЁ, kwazГ©
bwa, kwazГ© wazyГ©, pwan an bwa,
pwan lavГІl; see also: kouwi, chapГ©,
mawon; bay pyГ©, bwennen kГІ, chapГ©
kГІ, fГЁ pyГ©, fГЁ yan, kouwi vant a tГЁ)
swiyГ© lapousyГЁ asou to dust. Yo
ka swiyГ© lapousyГЁ-a asou sГ© chГЁz-la.
They are dusting the chairs.
laplas2 in place of. Mwen alГ© lanmГЁ
laplas fwГЁ mwen paski i tГ© malad. I
went fishing in place of my brother
because he was sick.
lapli
N rain. Tan-an lГЁd; lapli kay
kwГ©vГ©. The weather is looking bad;
the rain is going to pour. (see also:
fifin) Lapli ka tonbГ©. It is raining.
(see also: dГ©vidГ©, kwГ©vГ©, fifinГ©) [< Fr.
la pluie]
lapo
N 1) skin. Lapo’y té blan. His
skin was white. 2) bark (of a tree).
Zannimo manjé tout lapo pyé bwaa. Animals ate all of the tree’s bark.
(syn: tjilas) [< Fr. la peau] fГЁ lapo
to have dandruff. TГЁt mwen ka fГЁ
lapo. I have dandruff. (see also: tipo)
lapo zyГ© eyelid. I ni on klou asou
lapo zyé’y. He has a carbuncle on his
eyelid.
lapГІs
N post office. I ni konmen jou
dГ©pi mwen alГ© lapГІs. It has been so
many days since I have gone to the
post office. [< Fr. la poste]
lapГІt
N
lapwГЁs
lapouyГЁ variant of lapwiyГЁ.
lapsГ©
N abscess. Mal dan-an ja fГЁ an
lapsГ©. The sore tooth has made an
abscess [< Fr. l’abcès]
lapwennsГЁs variant of pwennsГЁs.
lapwГЁs
N press for making cassava
flour. Nou ja mГ©tГ© manyГІk-la
lapwГЁs. We have already put the
cassava to the press. [< Fr. la presse]
door. FГЁmГ© lapГІt-la avan ti
132
lapwiyГЁ
Kwéyòl – English
lapwiyГЁ (var: lapouyГЁ, pwiyГЁ)
N
throw out the excrement. (see also:
bantjГ©, chyГ©, fimyГ©, kaka) [< Fr. la
selle]
prayer. BondyГ© tann lapwiyГЁ yo.
God heard their prayers. [< Fr. la
priГЁre]
lapwiz
lasi
N 1) wax. Yo ka fГЁ lasi ГЁk kasav
myГЁl. They make wax from
honeycombs. 2) matter, sleep in one’s
eyes. Mal zyГ©-a ka fГЁ zyГ© mwen fГЁ
lasi. The bad eye makes my eye make
matter. [< Fr. la cire]
captive. Mwen ni bГЁf oua lapwiz. I have your cow captive.
tjГ©bГ© lapwiz to keep or hold captive,
to capture. Mwen tjГ©bГ© bГЁf-la ki
manjГ© jaden mwen-an lapwiz. I
captured the cow that was eating my
garden.
ADJ
laswГЁ
N sweat, perspiration. I tГ© ni
laswè asou fidji’y. He had sweat on
his face. (see also: swГ©) [< Fr. la
sueur]
las1
ADJ tired, weary. Yo tГ© las ГЁk fen.
They were tired and hungry.
las2
lat
V to stop, to cease. Las palГ© kon
sa! Stop talking like that! (used in the
imperative; see also: doubout)
lasajГЁs (var: sajГЁs, chajГЁs, lachajГЁs)
N lath, piece of wood set on a beam
to support the rafters. MГ©tГ© sГ© lat-la
dГ© pyГ© hГІd yonn a lГІt. Put the laths
two feet from each other. (see also:
chivon) [< Fr. latte]
N
wisdom. SГ© pou ou ni lasajГЁs pou
konpwann sГ© pawГІl sala. You must
have wisdom to understand these
words. (see also: entГ©lijans, lГЁspwi)
[< Fr. la sagesse]
lasal
latannyГ©
N a type of tree whose
fronds are used to make brooms
(Coccothrinax dussiana).
latГЁ
N 1) earth, world. LГЁ ou vini an
latГЁ-a ou pa ka vini ГЁk anyen; lГЁ ou
ka kité’y ou pa ka kité’y èk anyen.
When you come into this world you
don’t come with anything; when you
leave it you don’t leave it with
anything. (see also: tГЁ) 2) mankind.
LatГЁ sala ka vin movГ© jou an jou.
Mankind is becoming worse day by
day. (syn: lГ©zГІm, kwityen) [< Fr. la
terre]
sitting room, living room. SГ©
nonm-lan asid an lasal-la ka kozГ©.
The men were seated in the sitting
room chatting. (see also: chanm,
tjwizin) [< Fr. la salle]
N
lasГ©1
N shoelace. I ni soulyГ©-a mГ© i pa
sav kotГ© i mГ©tГ© lasГ©-a. She has the
shoe but she doesn’t know where she
put the lace. (syn: lasГ© soulyГ©) V to
lace. Lasé soulyé’w! Lace your
shoes! (opp: dГ©lasГ©) [< Fr. lacet] lasГ©
soulyГ© same as lasГ©.
latГЁtopyГ©
ADV from head to toe. PinГЁz
kouvГЁ tifi-a latГЁtopyГ©. Bed-bugs
covered the girl from head to toe.
[< Fr. la tГЄte aux pieds]
lasГ©2
V to tire, to weary. Ti machГ©
sala lasГ© mwen. This little walk tired
me. (see also: las) [< Fr. lasser]
latilyГ©
latilyГ©
N crowd. An latilyГ© moun
swiv li. A crowd of people followed
him. (syn: popilas; see also: kopanni,
gany, twipo, pil)
lasГЁl
N excrement. Yo lГ©vГ© bonnГЁ
bonmaten pou ay jГ©tГ© lasГЁl-la The
got up early in the morning to go
133
latjГ©
Kwéyòl – English
latjГ©
lavantay variant of lavantaj.
N tail. Silon van-an, latjГ© kГІk-la
ka panchГ©. According to the wind, the
cock’s tail bends. [< Fr. la queue]
latjГ© wat a type of grass or weed.
lavГ©
V to wash. I ka lavé lanmen’y.
She’s washing her hands. (see also:
lavman, pwГІp, nГ©twayГ©, tjiwГ©,
savon) [< Fr. laver]
latjГЁt
N offering. KilГЁs ki kay
anmasГ© latjГЁt jГІdi-a? Who will
gather the offering today? (syn:
lofwann)
lavГ©witГ©
N truth. SГ© pou ou toujou
palГ© lavГ©witГ©. You should always
speak the truth. (opp: mansonj; see
also: anvГЁytГ©) [< Fr. la vГ©ritГ©]
latjilbit
N fall, tumble. (syn: so) [< Fr.
la culbute] pwan latjilbit to
stumble. I pwen yon latjilbit, i
mantjГ© tonbГ©. He stumbled and
almost fell. (see also: pwan so, tonbГ©)
lavГЁy N eve. [< Fr. la veille] LavГЁy
Joudlan Old Year’s Day, New
Year’s Eve. Lavèy Joudlan mwen ka
alé lanmès. Old Year’s Day I am
going to go to church.
latwas
N boil, carbuncle. SГ© pou ou
ay wè dòktè pou’y sa fann latwas
sala ba’w You should go see a doctor
so he can cut out that carbuncle for
you. (see also: klou, chГЁbon, plГІk,
zanpoul) [< Fr. la trace]
lavalГЁ
lavi
lavГ©yГ© (var: vГЁy)
N wake. La kay ni
an lavГ©yГ© ГІswГЁ-a. There will be a
wake tonight. (see also: lanmГІ,
lГЁtГЁman, ywit jou) [< Fr. la veillГ©e]
lavi
about, approximately (in
reference to money). I ban mwen
lavalГЁ dГ© dГІla pwГ©son. He gave me
about two dollars worth of fish. [< Fr.
la valeur]
ADV
lavan
N bow, front of a boat. Lavan
kannГІt-la mantjГ© konyen nou padan
nou tГ© ka benyen-an. The bow of the
canoe just missed hitting us while we
were in the sea. [< Fr. l’avant]
lavant
N sale. Lavant mango-a cho
jГІdi-a. The sale of mangoes is going
well today. (see also: vant) [< Fr. la
vente]
lavantaj (var: lavantay)
N advantage.
(see also: pasyalitГ©, pwГ©fГ©wans)
[< Fr. l’avantage] pwan lavantaj to
take advantage (of). I enmen pwan
lavantaj anlè moun ki piti pasé’y. He
likes to take advantage of people who
are smaller than he. (syn: machГ© asou,
manstipГ©)
134
N 1) life. SГ© BondyГ© ki ka bay
lavi. It is God who gives life. (opp:
dГ©fini, lanmГІ; see also: lisouf, viv)
2) some, an amount (of money). Yo
ban mwen an lavi lajan. They gave
me some money. [< Fr. la vie] bon
lavi a good amount of money. Mawi
mwen voyГ© an bon lavi ban mwen.
My husband sent me a good amount of
money. (opp: ti lavi) fanm vyГ© lavi
prostitute. (syn: djanmГЁt, fanm
konmen, fanm lawi) lavi SodГІm
immoral or homosexual life. Lavi
SodГІm sГ© pli vyГ© lavi pou an moun
ka viv. The immoral live is the worst
life for a person to live. ti lavi living,
a small amount of money. I ka
genyen on ti lavi. He makes a small
living. (opp: bon lavi) vyГ© lavi
immoral lifestyle, immorality. VyГ©
lavi-a ou ka viv-la pa kay ba’w pyès
bennГ©fis. That immoral life you are
living won’t bring you any benefit.
(syn: vis; see also: mal pwГІptГ©)
laviktwa
Kwéyòl – English
laviktwa
N victory. Nou ka wimГЁsyГ©
BondyГ© paski i ja ban nou laviktwa.
We thank God because he has given us
victory. (see also: ganyen, ganyen a
bout) [< Fr. la victoire]
chimen, lawout) [< Fr. la rue] fanm
lawi prostitute. (syn: djanmГЁt, fanm
konmen, fanm vyГ© lavi)
lawivyè (var: la’ivyè, lawouvyè,
lГІvyГЁ) N river. La ni kwibich adan
lawivyГЁ-a. There are crayfish in the
river. (see also: wavin) [< Fr. la
riviГЁre] lawivyГЁ gwo river at flood
stage, river overflowing. LawivyГЁ
gwo jГІdi-a; mwen pa sa alГ© an
jaden. The river at flood stage; I can’t
go to the garden.
lavman washing. (see also: lavГ©)
[< Fr. lavement] lavman di kГІ
preparation of a corpse. SГ© madanmlan fГЁ lavman di kГІ-a avan lГЁtГЁmanan. The women prepared the body
before the funeral.
N flight. [< Fr. le vol] a lavГІl
in flight, in the air. I tjwГ© jibyГ©-a a
lavГІl. He killed the bird in flight.
pwan lavГІl to take flight, to flee, to
run away. LГЁ jibyГ©-a wГЁ chat-la i
pwan lavГІl. When the bird saw the cat
it took flight. (syn: fann kann, fГЁ djip,
fГЁ lapousyГЁ, fГЁ zГ©klГЁ, kwazГ© bwa,
kwazГ© wazyГ©, pwan an bwa; see also:
volГ©, vГІltijГ©; kouwi, chapГ©, mawon;
bay pyГ©, bwennen kГІ, chapГ© kГІ, fГЁ
pyГ©, fГЁ yan, kouwi vant a tГЁ) fГЁ
pwan lavГІl to chase away. Mwen fГЁ
ni li ni koutla-a pwan lavГІl. I chased
him away along with his cutlass. (syn:
chachГ©, fГЁ fann kann, fГЁ kwazГ© bwa,
fГЁ kwazГ© wazyГ©, fГЁ pwan an bwa,
kouwi dГЁyГЁ; see also: bay lapouswiv)
lavГІl
lawjГІl
N measles. I pa sa alГ© lГ©kГІl
paski i ni lawjòl. He can’t go to
school because he has the measles.
(see also: bouton) [< Fr. la rougeole]
lawonn
N a game played with tops.
Tan lontan sГ© ti manmay-la tГ© ka
jwГ© lawonn ГЁk topi yo. Long ago
children played lawonn with their
tops.
lawouj
N rust. Pa kité dlo an bonmlan avan lawouj pwan’y. Don’t leave
water in the bucket or rust will
overcome it. (see also: wiyГ©) [< Fr. la
rouge]
lawout
N route, way. Nou pwan an
chay tan pou wivГ© paski lawout-la tГ©
lonng. We took a long time to arrive
because it was a long way. (see also:
chimen, lawi) Asou lawout-la mwen
doubout pou pwan an ben an
lawivyГЁ-a. On the way I stopped to
take a bath in the river. [< Fr. la
route]
lavwenn
N oats. Ay bay sГ© kГІk-la
lavwenn. Go give the cocks some
oats. [< Fr. l’avoine]
lawad
N harbour. KannГІt-la antwГ©
an lawad-la. The canoe entered the
harbour. (see also: tjГ©) [< Fr. la rade]
lawat
N spleen. I tГ© malad ГЁk dГІktГЁa tiyГ© lawat li. He was sick and the
doctor removed his spleen. [< Fr. la
rate]
lawouzГ©
lawouvyГЁ variant of lawivyГЁ.
lawouzГ©
N dew. Pa wété an lawouzéa, ou kay jwenn fwédi. Don’t stay in
the dew, you’ll get rheumatism. (syn:
sГ©wen) [< Fr. la rosГ©e]
lawi
N street. Ki lawi bank-lan yГ©?
What street is the bank on? (see also:
135
LawГІz
Kwéyòl – English
LawГІz
liver. (syn: si) [< Fr. l’heure] a lè
1) on time. Nou kouwi pou nou wivГ©
a lГЁ. We ran to arrive on time.
2) same as lГЁ. Ki mannyГЁ ou sa fГЁ
palГ© bon bagay a lГЁ sГ© movГ© bagay
ki an tjè’w? How can you speak good
things when it is wicked things that are
in your heart? ki lГЁ when, what time.
Ki lГЁ ou kay pati? What time will you
leave? (see also: ki tan)
N La Rose festival. LawГІz-la
ka bwiyГ© VyГ© FГІ ГІswГЁ-a. The La
Rose festival is being celebrated in
Vieux Fort tonight.
lay
N garlic. Nou bizwen lay pou sa
mГ©tГ© an sГІs-la. We need garlic to put
in the gravy. [< Fr. l’ail]
layt
N light. Tenn layt-la! Turn the
light off! (see also: lanp, limyГЁ, klГЁtГ©)
[< Eng. light]
lГ©
a class of something. LГ© gwo
ka manjГ© lГ© piti. The big eat the
small. [< Fr. les] lГ© Dimanch,
Lendi... every Sunday, Monday... or - on Sundays, Mondays.... LГ©
Dimanch nou toujou ka alГ© lГ©gliz.
On Sundays we always go to church.
lГ© malГ©wГ© poor, disadvantaged
people. lГ© pasan passers-by. Ou ka
gadé lé pasan-an? You’re watching
the passers-by? [< Fr. passant] lГ©
pГІv poor people. lГ© wich rich
people. (see also: wicha)
lГ©bichГ©
N 1) sifter for cassava flour.
LГ©bichГ©-a kasГ© padan nou tГ© ka pasГ©
fawin-an. The sifter broke while we
were sifting the cassava flour. (see
also: fawin, tanmi, paswa) 2) sea
fan. LanmГЁ-a bas; ou ka wГЁ tout sГ©
lГ©bichГ©-a asou kay-la. The tide is
low; you can see all of the sea fans on
the reef.
ART
lГ©chanlib (var: Г©chanlib)
N liberty,
freedom, license. Manmay jГІdi jou
twГІp lГ©chanlib. Children today have
too much freedom. (see also: libГЁtГ©)
bay lГ©chanlib to give rights (to
someone, over someone else). (syn:
bay pyГ©; see also: bay wГ©zon)
lГЁ1
N room, space. Г€s ou ni lГЁ pou ou
sa pwan nou? Do you have room to
take us? [< Fr. l’air] fè lè to move
over, to make room. FГЁ lГЁ pou mwen
sa asid asou ban-an épi’w. Move
over so I can sit on the bench with
you. (syn: tjilГ©, vansГ©)
lГЁ2
N 1) time, hour. Ki lГЁ i yГ©? What
time is it? (see also: nГЁditan) 2) time,
occasion. La ni lГЁ i nГ©sГ©sГЁ pou mwen
pini’w. There are times that I must
punish you. (see also: tan, fwa) CONJ
1) when. Nou wè’y lè i wivé. We saw
him when he arrived. (syn: kon; see
also: padan, a menm di tan) 2) if.
LГЁ ou ka bwГЁ dlo fwГЁt Г©pi dlo cho
ansanm, i ka ba’w gwo fwa. If you
drink cold water and hot water
together, it will give you an enlarged
lГ©fowГ©
lГ©chГЁl
N ladder. I moutГ© lГ©chГЁl-la
pou i sa pentiwГ© fГ©to kay-la. He
climbed the ladder so he could paint
the ceiling of the house. [< Fr.
l’échelle]
lГЁd
ADJ ugly. Chyen sala lГЁd an chay.
That dog is very ugly. (opp: bГЁl, joli)
[< Fr. laid]
lГ©djim
N vegetable. TГЁ sala bon pou
plantГ© lГ©djim. This ground is good for
planting vegetables. (see also: gwo
manjГ©, vivtГЁ) [< Fr. lГ©gume]
lГ©fan
N
elephant. [< Fr. Г©lГ©phant]
lГ©fowГ© variant of lafowГ©.
136
lГЁg
Kwéyòl – English
lГЁg
N eagle. LГЁg-la ka volГ©. The eagle
is flying. (see also: malfini) [< Fr.
l’aigle]
levain]
lГ©man
N magnet. Nou jwenn on tjГІ
lГ©man anpami kochonni-an. We
found a piece of magnet among the
trash. [< Fr. l’aimant]
lГ©gliz
N church. LapГІt lГ©gliz-la ouvГЁ
pou tout moun. The door of the
church is open for everyone. (see also:
lanmès) [< Fr. l’église]
lГ©gowin (var: ligowin)
hand saw. I
siyГ© bwa-a ГЁk lГ©gowin-an. He cut the
wood with the hand saw. (see also: si,
paspatou; siyé) [< Fr. l’égoine]
N
lГЁgzanmГ© N test, exam, inspection.
pasГ© lГЁgzanmГ© to take exams. Tout
Lendi
lenmen variant of lanmen.
lenn1
N 1) wool. Yo ka sГЁvi lenn
mouton pou fГЁ had fwГ©di. They use
sheep’s wool to make winter clothing.
2) blanket. MГ©tГ© lenn-an asou
kouch-la. Put the blanket on the bed.
(see also: dwa, kouvГЁti) [< Fr. laine]
lenn2
N groin. I pwan an koul bol an
lenn li. He got hit with a ball in his
groin. (see also: koko) [< Fr. l’aine]
lГ©jitim
lentГ©wГ© (var: lantГ©wГ©)
N interest,
return on a deposit. Yo p’òkò péyé
lentГ©wГ©-a asou lajan-an yo pwГ©tГ©-a.
They haven’t yet paid the interest on
the money they borrowed. [< Fr.
l’intérêt]
lГ©kГІl
N school. ToulГ© bonmaten yo
ka alГ© lГ©kГІl. Every morning they go to
school. [< Fr. l’école]
lГЁlГЁ
N fool, a silly or gullible person.
Nonm sala sГ© on lГЁlГЁ! Tout moun ka
kwennen’y. That man is a fool!
Everyone deceives him. (syn:
kounoumounou, kouyon; see also:
sГІt)
lГЁpГЁvyГ©
N cast net. Mwen tjГ©bГ© an
chay pwГ©son Г©pi lГЁpГЁvyГ© mwen. I
caught a lot of fish with my cast net.
(see also: filГІt, senn, kali)
lГ©pini
N a type of spiny tree
(Zanthoxylum monophyllum). LГЁ
pikan lépini pitjé’w, i ka bwilé’w
pasГ© tout lГІt pikan. When the lГ©pini
thorn pricks you, it burns more than
any other. (see also: zakasya)
lГ©lГ©douden variant of dГ©dГ©fouden.
lГЁlmi
N enemy. Nou pa ni pyГЁs lГЁlmi.
We have no enemies. (opp: jan,
kanmawad) [< Fr. l’ennemi]
lГЁlven
N yeast, leavening. Pen sala fГЁt
san lГЁlven. That bread was made
without leavening. (syn: yis) [< Fr.
Monday. [< Fr. lundi]
N clothes. Nonm sala wich; lenj
li chГЁ an chay. That man is rich; his
clothes are very expensive. (syn: had,
abiman) [< Fr. linge]
lГ©jГЁ
N legitimate child. Mwen sГ©
pa bata, mwen sé an léjitim. I’m not
a bastard, I’m his legitimate child.
(opp: bata, ich dГЁwГІ) [< Fr. lГ©gitime]
N
lenj
manmay lГ©kГІl ka pasГ© lГЁgzanmГ©
simenn sala. All of the school
children are taking exams this week.
ADJ light. Tibway-la lГ©jГЁ kon on
plim. The boy is as light as a feather.
(opp: lou) [< Fr. lГ©ger]
lГ©ponj
lГ©ponj
N foam (for cushions or a bed).
LГЁ nou alГ© an hГІtГЁ nou ka dГІmi asou
lГ©ponj. When we go into the
137
lГ©sisyon
Kwéyòl – English
countryside we sleep on a foam. (see
also: matla) [< Fr. l’éponge]
lГ©sisyon
lessons, teaching,
instruction. Mwen tГ© apwann
lГ©sisyon sala lГЁ mwen tГ© jenn. I
learned that lesson when I was young.
(see also: lison)
N
li Г©pi lwil koko. They rubbed his chest
with coconut oil. [< Fr. l’estomac]
lГЁt1
N letter. Mwen Г©kwi dГ© lГЁt jГІdi-a.
I wrote two letters today. [< Fr. lettre]
lГЁt2
N 1) milk. Mwen genyen dГ© pГІt
lГЁt. I bought two cans of milk. 2) sap.
LГЁt-la ka koulГ© an pyГ© bwa-a. The
sap is leaking from the tree. (see also:
lagli) [< Fr. lait] lГЁt konsГЁv
condensed milk. LГЁt konsГЁv sГ© on lГЁt
ki dou. Condensed milk is a kind of
milk that is sweet. tiwГ© lГЁt to milk (a
cow). ToulГ© bonmaten i ka tiwГ© lГЁt.
Every morning he milks the cow.
lГ©siv
N laundry. I ka fГЁ lГ©siv li toulГ©
Sanmdi ГІswГЁ. She does the laundry
every Saturday evening. [< Fr.
lessive]
lГЁskalyГ©
N stairway, stairs. LГЁ i wГЁ sa
ki fГЁt, i dГ©sann lГЁskalyГ©-a vitman.
When he saw what happened, he went
down the stairs quickly. (see also:
mach) [< Fr. l’escalier]
lГ©ta
N 1) occupation, profession, trade.
Ki lГ©ta ou ni? What is your
profession? (see also: twavay)
2) state, condition. Sa ban mwen an
penn an tjГЁ mwen lГЁ mwen wГЁ lГ©ta
nonm sala. That hurt me when I saw
the condition of that man. (see also:
sò) [< Fr. l’état]
lГЁspiwasyon
N breath. (syn: lisouf,
van) [< Fr. respiration] pwan
lГЁspiwasyon to breathe, to take a
breath. I pa ka pwan lГЁspiwasyon.
He’s not breathing.
lГЁspwi (var: ГЁspwi)
N 1) spirit. Г€s ou
kwГЁ tout moun ni on lГЁspwi? Do you
think everyone has a spirit? (see also:
lam) 2) intelligence, cleverness,
shrewdness, cunning, wiles. (syn:
lifon; see also: lasajГЁs, entГ©lijans,
savan, malen) [< Fr. l’esprit]
LГЁspwi BondyГ© Holy Spirit.
LГЁspwi BondyГ© ka djidГ© nou. The
Holy Spirit guides us. (syn:
LisentГЁspwi) ni lГЁspwi to be smart,
sly, cunning, wise, intelligent, clever,
shrewd, wily. Г€s ou kwГЁ ou ni lГЁspwi
pasГ© mwen? Do you think you are
smarter than I am? (syn: visyГ©) vyГ©
lГЁspwi evil spirit. Nonm sala ni an
vyé lèspwi adan’y. That man has an
evil spirit inside him. (syn: movГ© lam)
lГЁstan variant of lГЁwГЁstan.
lГЁstomak
N
lГ©ti
lГ©tabli
N work bench. MГ©tГ© bГ©sin-an
asou lГ©tabli-a. Put the wash bucket on
the work bench. [< Fr. l’établi]
lГ©tajГЁ
N shelf. Yo mГ©tГ© lanp-lan anlГЁ
lГ©tajГЁ-a. They put the lamp on the
shelf. [< Fr. l’étagère]
lГ©tan
N lake. I pa ni pyГЁs lГ©tan Sent
Lisi. There are no lakes in St. Lucia.
(rare; see also: ma) [< Fr. l’étang]
lГЁtГЁman variant of lantГЁman.
lГ©tГЁnitГ© variant of lГ©tГЁwnitГ©.
lГ©tГЁwnitГ© (var: lГ©tГЁnitГ©)
N eternity.
Nou kay viv pou tout lГ©tГЁwnitГ©. We
will live for all eternity. (syn: lavi
diwant; see also: tan) [< Fr. l’éternité]
lГ©ti
N lettuce. La pa ni pyГЁs lГ©ti an
magazen-an. There’s no lettuce in the
chest. Yo fotГ© lГЁstomak
138
lГ©tjГЁ
Kwéyòl – English
when we heard what he was doing.
(syn: pwi dГЁyГЁ, pwi an pwi an kГІ; see
also: hГ©lГ© dГЁyГЁ) lГ©vГ© kankan same
as achГ© kankan, achГ© twen, achГ©
chikann. mal lГ©vГ© to raise, bring up
poorly, wrong. Ti manmay-la
méchan kon sa paski manman’y mal
lévé’y. The child is bad because his
mother brought him up wrong. (opp:
byen lГ©vГ©) [< Fr. mal Г©lever] lГ©vГ© nГ©
to make proud. Gason-an lГ©vГ© nГ©
mwen pis i fГЁ byen lГ©kГІl. The boy
made me proud because he did well in
school. (see also: lГІgГЁy)
supermarket. [< Fr. laitue]
lГ©tjГЁ
N carpentry square. Yo pa ka
sèvi létjè-a. They’re not using the
square. (syn: skwè) [< Fr. l’equerre]
lГ©tjiwi
N stable. MГ©tГ© chouval-la
adan lГ©tjiwi-a. Put the horse in the
stable. (see also: bay) [< Fr. l’écurie]
lГ©vanjil
N Holy scriptures. Yo toujou
ka tann lГ©vanjil mГ© sa pa ka fГЁ
anyen ba yo. They always are
listening to the scriptures but it doesn’t
do anything for them. (see also: Bib;
ékwiti) [< Fr. l’évangile]
lГЁv
lip. LГЁv li tГ© ka senyen. His lip
was bleeding. (see also: bouch) [< Fr.
lГЁvre]
lГ©vГ©
N
V 1) to get up, to rise, to wake up.
Ki lГЁ ou ka lГ©vГ© lГ© bonmaten? What
time do you get up in the morning?
(opp: kouchГ©) 2) to grow (in
reference to plants). PyГ© koko-a kay
lГ©vГ© si ou ba li sГЁl. The coconut tree
will grow if you give it fertilizer. (see
also: pwofitГ©) 3) to raise, to lift up.
Gason-an lévé lanmen’y. The boy
raised his hand. (opp: bГ©sГ©) 4) to rise
(in reference to sun). SГІlГЁy-la ka lГ©vГ©
bonnГЁ! The sun rises early! (opp:
kouchГ©) 5) to wake, to awaken. LГЁ ti
manmay-la lГ©vГ© an sonmГЁy-la, i tГ©
Г©gawГ©. When the child woke from
sleep, he was in a daze. 6) same as
lГ©vГ© wГ©vГІt. SГ© moun-an lГ©vГ© kont
gouvГЁdman-an The people rebelled
against the government. (see also:
wГ©bГЁl, wivГІltГ©) [< Fr. lever] byen
lГ©vГ© to bring up properly, to raise
well. Tonton mwen byen lГ©vГ© sГ©
manmay li-a. My uncle raised his
children well. lГ©vГ© dГЁyГЁ to rebuke.
Nou lГ©vГ© dГЁyГЁ tibway-la lГЁ nou tann
sa i tГ© ka fГЁ-a. We rebuked the boy
lГ©zГЁ
lГЁvГЁk
N bishop. LГЁvГЁk-la tГ© adan
lГ©gliz-la. The bishop was in the
church. (see also: pГЁ, pwГЁt, labГ©,
monsenyè) [< Fr. l’éveque]
lГЁwГЁ
N error. Ou an lèwè! You’re in
error! (opp: ni wГ©zon; see also: ni tГІ)
[< Fr. l’erreur]
lГЁwГЁstan (var: lГЁstan)
N the rest,
remainder. I ka lavГ© lГЁwГЁstan sГ©
had-la. She’s washing the rest of the
clothes. [< Fr. restant]
lГЁwni
N hernia. LГЁ ou lГ©vГ© chay twГІ
lou, ou kay twapГ© lГЁwni. When you
carry a too heavy load, you will get a
hernia. [< Fr. l’hernie]
lГ©za
N iguana. (see also: zanndoli)
[< Fr. lГ©zard]
lГ©zavwa
N reservoir. Yo ka mГ©tГ© dlo
an lГ©zavwa-a pou lГЁ la pa ni dlo.
They fill the reservoir for when there
is no water. [< Fr. rГ©servoir]
lГ©zГЁ
N sky, air. LГЁ mwen gadГ© an
lГ©zГЁ-a mwen wГЁ an vГІl jibyГ© ka pasГ©.
When I looked in the sky I saw a flock
of birds passing by. (see also: syГЁl,
van) [< Fr. les aires]
139
lГ©zГЁksis
Kwéyòl – English
lГ©zГЁksis
lidé’y. He has the thing in mind. dé
lidГ© to be double minded, ambivalent,
undecided. Gwan moun di dГ© lidГ© pa
bon. Older folks say that being
double-minded is not good. fГЁ lidГ© to
make up one’s mind, to decide.
Mwen fГЁ lidГ© mwen pou alГ© an vil
jГІdi-a. I have decided to go to town
today. (syn: dГ©sidГ©) fГЁ dГ© lidГ© to
waver, to hesitate, to be doubleminded, indecisive, of two minds. Pa
fГЁ dГ© lidГ©, paski ou sav sa pou fГЁ.
Don’t hesitate, because you know
what to do. ni lidГ© to think, to
believe. Mwen ni lidГ© yo kay vini
jГІdi-a. I think they will come today.
(syn: kwГЁ; see also: katjilГ©)
N exercise. LГ©zГЁksis bon
pou santé’w. Exercise is good for
your health. [< Fr. l’exercise]
lГ©zГІm
N people, man, mankind. La ni
tГЁlman ladjГЁ paski lГ©zГІm pa ka
dakГІ. There are so many wars because
mankind cannot get along. (see also:
latГЁ, kwityen) [< Fr. les hommes]
lГ©zГІt
ADJ other (plural). Yo tГ© ni dГ©
lГ©zГІt ti manmay. They had two other
children. (see also: lГІt) [< Fr. les
autres]
li1
PRO variant of i. Ba li chГЁz li. Give
him his chair.
li2
V to read. Mwen kontan tann titja
sala li. I like to hear this teacher read.
[< Fr. lire]
li3
ART
libenn
the. (limited usage) [< Fr. le]
argument. (syn:
dГ©zagwГ©man, chikann)
N
lifon
N smartness, shrewdness, slyness,
cunning.
ligowin variant of lГ©gowin.
Lildivan
N Windward Islands. Sent
Lisi sГ© on pГ©yi an Lildivan. St. Lucia
is a country in the Windward Islands.
[< Fr. l’île de vent]
libГЁtГ©
N liberty. Yo tГ© vlГ© libГЁtГ© yo.
They wanted their liberty. (see also:
lГ©chanlib) [< Fr. libertГ©]
libГ©wasyon
liberation. Avan
libГ©wasyon i tГ© on ГЁslav. Before
liberation he was a slave. [< Fr.
libГ©ration]
libГ©wГ©
lidГ©
lilГЁt
N islet. I tГ© ka najГ© pou alГ© asou
lilГЁt-la Г©pi i mantjГ© nГ©yГ©. He was
swimming to the islet and he almost
drowned. [< O Fr. l’islet]
N
to liberate. Tout nГЁg an
ГЁslavay tГ© libГ©wГ© pasГ© yon san
swasant lannГ© ki pasГ©. All blacks in
slavery were liberated more than one
hundred and sixty years ago. [< Fr.
libГ©rer]
lilyon
N unity. SГ© lilyon ki ka ban
nou lafòs. It’s unity that gives us
strength. (see also: manchГ©) [< Fr.
l’union]
V
N 1) idea. I tГ© ni on bon lidГ©. He
had a good idea. (see also: katjil)
2) mind. Sa pasГ© an lidГ© mwen. That
slipped my mind. (see also: sГЁvГЁl)
[< Fr. l’idée] asou lidé in mind, on
one’s mind. I ni bagay-la asou
limГЁ
lim1
N lemon. Yo ka vann lim ГЁk
sitwon. They sell lemons and limes.
[< Fr. lime]
lim2
N file. I filé koutla’y épi an lim.
He sharpened his cutlass with a file.
limГЁ (var: limyГЁ)
N pus. LimГЁ ka sГІti
an bobo-a. Pus is coming out of the
sore. (syn: matyГЁ; see also: pГІstimГ©)
140
limen
Kwéyòl – English
limen
V to light, to ignite. Nou ja
limen difГ©-a. We have lit the fire. (see
also: pwi difГ©) [< Fr. allumer]
[< Fr. lisse]
lisans
N license. Mwen pa ni lisans
pou mwen drayv vann-an. I don’t
have a license to drive the van. [< Fr.
licence]
limit
N limit. La pa ni pyГЁs kaltГ©
limit an sa sГ© tibway sala sa fГЁ.
There’s no kind of limit on what these
boys can do. [< Fr. limite]
LisentГЁspwi
N Holy Spirit. SГ© pou
nou koutГ© vwa LisentГЁspwi-a. We
must listen to the voice of the Holy
Spirit. (syn: LГЁspwi BondyГ©) [< Fr. le
saint ГЁsprit]
limitГ©
V to limit. Ou pa sa limitГ© yo.
You can’t limit them. ADJ limited.
LidГ© nou limitГ©. Our minds are
limited. [< Fr. limiter]
limou
moss, slime on trees. PyГ©
pwadou-a tГ© ka glisГ© pas i tГ© ni an
chay limou anlè’y. The tree was
slippery because it had much moss on
it.
lison
N lesson. Nou ja apwann lison
nou. We’ve learned our lesson. (see
also: lésisyon) [< Fr. leçon]
N
lisouf (var: souf)
N life, breath as a
sign of life. SГ© pou ou fГЁ bon patan
ou ni lisouf toujou. You must do
good while you still have life. (see
also: lavi, lГЁspiwasyon, van, viv)
[< Fr. le souffle]
limowo
N number. Mwen obliyГ©
limowo-a ou ban mwen-an. I forgot
the number you gave me. [< Fr.
numГ©ro]
limyГЁ1
listwa
N history, story, tale. Nou vini
isi-a pou apwann listwa péyi’w. We
came here to learn the history of your
country. [< Fr. l’histoire] tiwé
listwa to tell stories. Yo tГ© ka tiwГ©
an chay listwa bГІ lavГ©yГ©-a. They
were telling a lot of stories at the
wake. (see also: tiwГ© kalkati, tiwГ©
plan)
1) light. Tout gwan chimen
ni limyГЁ apwГ©zan. All of the main
roads have lights now. (syn: klГЁtГ©)
2) curse. I kay mГ©tГ© an limyГЁ anlГЁ
tГЁt ou. He will put a curse on you.
(syn: modisyon; see also: djiyon)
N
limyГЁ2 variant of limГЁ.
linГЁt
N glasses. DГІktГЁ-a ba li linГЁt
nГЁf. The doctor gave her new glasses.
[< Fr. lunettes]
ling
N line. I ouvГЁ had li asou linglan. She hung her clothes on the line.
(see also: kГІd, fil, fisГЁl) [< Fr. ligne]
lipap
Pope. Lipap kay vini Sent
Lisi. The Pope is coming to St. Lucia.
[< Fr. le pape]
lis
N
smooth. Planch-lan vini lis
apwé nou galé’y. The board became
smooth after we planed it. (opp: wid)
ADJ
livГЁnaj
litГ©
V to wrestle. SГ© ti manmay-la tГ©
ka litГ©. The children were wrestling.
(see also: kouvГЁ a tГЁ-a) [< Fr. lutter]
liv1
N book. Yo ka li an chay liv.
They read many books. [< Fr. livre]
liv2
N pound. Mwen vlГ© kat liv sik. I
want four pounds of sugar. [< Fr.
livre]
livГЁnaj
N rainy season. Tan sala sГ©
tan livГЁnaj. This is rainy season. (opp:
kawenm; see also: fwГ©di, sГ©zon)
[< Fr. l’hivernage]
141
livwГ©
Kwéyòl – English
livwГ©
my house again, I will take you to
court. (syn: lalwa, bawo; see also:
gwan konsèy) [< Fr. l’audience]
mennen lodyans to take to court.
Si ou kontinГ© fГЁ sa, mwen kay
mennen’w lodyans. If you continue
doing that, I’ll take you to court. (syn:
mennen lalwa; see also: awГ©tГ©)
V to hand over, to turn over (to).
Yo livwГ© nonm-lan an lanmen sГ©
polis-la. They turned the man over to
the police. [< Fr. livrer]
livyГЁ
N lever. Yo ka sГЁvi livyГЁ pou
lГ©vГ© pyГ© bwa-a. They use levers to
raise the tree. [< Fr. levier]
lizin
N factory. I ka twavay an lizinan. He works in the factory. (syn:
faktri) [< Fr. l’usine]
lГІfГЁb
N goldsmith. SГ© an lГІfГЁb ki fГЁ
tout sГ© bГЁl chenn sala. It was a
goldsmith who made all of these nice
chains. [< Fr. l’orfèvre]
lo
N 1) share, portion. Ban mwen lo
mwen! Give me my share! (see also:
pa, pГІsyon) 2) pile, heap. Konmen
pou lo dachin-an? How much for the
pile of dasheen? (syn: pil) an lo a
lot. La tГ© ni an lo moun. There were
a lot of people. (syn: an chay, an pil;
see also: anbadjo, mizi)
lofwann
N offering. SГ© pa pou ou
obliyé anmasé lofwann-an. Don’t
forget to take up the offering. (syn:
latjГЁt) [< Fr. offrande]
lГІg
N organ. Nou ni on lòg an léglizla mé nou pa ni moun pou jwé’y. We
have an organ in the church but we
don’t have anyone to play it.
lГІ
N gold. Mwen ni dГ© zanno ki fГЁt
an lГІ. I have two earrings made of
gold. (see also: lofèb) [< Fr. l’or]
logГЁy variant of lГІgГЁy.
lochГ©
lГІgГЁy (var: logГЁy)
lГІd
lГІjГ©
lГІdГЁ
lГІjman
lodyans
lГІk
V to be loose, to shake (in
reference to tooth). Dan-an ka lochГ©.
The tooth is shaking.
N order. Mwen tГ© ka swiv lГІd
mèt-la. I was following the boss’s
orders. [< Fr. l’ordre] bay lòd to
order, to give orders. Mwen ba yo
lГІd pou doubout goumen. I ordered
them to stop fighting.
N smell, odour, scent. BГЁl flГЁ mГ©
i pa ni lòdè. It’s a beautiful flower but
it has no scent. I ni on bon lГІdГЁ. It
smells nice. [< Fr. l’odeur] pwan
lГІdГЁ to smell. Mwen ka pwan lГІdГЁ
vyann-an. I smell the meat. (see also:
santi)
N court, legal authorities. Si
ou vini bГІ kay mwen ankГІ, mwen ka
mennen’w lodyans. If you come by
lГІk
N pride. Ou ni
twГІp lГІgГЁy. You have too much pride.
(syn: kwГ©yans, kwГЁ)
V to lodge someone, to put
someone up. Manman mwen di i
kay lГІjГ© mwen jik tan mwen fin fГЁ
kay mwen. My mother said she will
put me up until I finish building my
house. (see also: lГІjman)
N lodging, residence, place to
stay. MГЁsi BondyГ© pou kouzen
mwen ki ban mwen an lГІjman lГЁ
mwen tГ© lГ©kГІl. I thank God for my
cousin who gave me a place to stay
when I was in school. (see also: lГІjГ©,
wГЁstГ©, lakay)
N oils taken as a purge several days
after taking tisane. Madanm mwen
pwan on lГІk sГЁt jou apwГ© i akouchГ©.
142
lokasyon
Kwéyòl – English
to name. Yo lonmen ti manmay-la
PГІl. They named the child Paul. (syn:
bay non) [< Fr. nommer]
My wife took a purge seven days after
she gave birth. (see also: mГЁtsin,
jalap, tizann)
lokasyon
lonnГЁ
N location. Yo chanjГ©
lokasyon-an. They changed the
location. [< Fr. location]
N honour. Nonm sala enmen
bay kò’y lonnè. That person likes to
give himself honour. (see also: wГЁspГ©,
pwivilaj) [< Fr. l’honneur]
lokazyon
N occasion, opportunity.
Nou wimèsyé’y pou lokazyon sala.
We thanked him for that opportunity.
[< Fr. l’occasion]
loko
N
lonng
ADJ long. Ling-lan tГ© twГІ
lonng. The line was too long. (opp:
kout) [< Fr. long]
same as twen. [< Fr. locomotif]
lontan (var: lotan)
ADV 1) a long
time, for long, long. Nou pa tГ© wГЁstГ©
lontan. We didn’t stay long. 2) same
as tan lontan. Lontan yo tГ© ka wГ©tГ©
isi. Long ago they lived here. [< Fr.
longtemps]
lolГ©
V to wriggle. VГЁ tГЁ-a ka lolГ© a tГЁa. The worm is wriggling on the
ground.
lolo
N penis. Nonm-lan tГ© ni an
maladi an lolo’y. The man had a
sickness in his penis. (crude; syn: kal,
koko, pennsil, jak, kГІk, pati)
lonvi
N binoculars, telescope. Nou tГ©
sa wГЁ tout bagay a klГЁ paski nou tГ©
ni lonvi nou. We could see everything
because we had our binoculars. [< Fr.
longue vue]
lonbwaj
N shade, shadow. PyГ© balata
ka ban nou lonbwaj. The balata tree
gives us shade. [< Fr. l’ombrage]
lonbwi
lonyon
N onion. Lonyon ka bay
manjГ© bon gou. Onions give food a
good taste. [< Fr. l’oignon] ti
lonyon spring onion, green onion,
chives. Yo ka vann ti lonyon Г©pi ti
diten. They sell green onions and
thyme.
umbilical cord, navel.
Fanmchay-la koupГ© lonbwi ti
manmay-la. The midwife cut the
child’s umbilical cord. [< Fr. nombril]
N
londjГЁ
N length. Ki londjГЁ kГІd-la?
How long is the rope? (see also:
fondjГЁ, gwandГЁ, gwГІsГЁ, hГІtГЁ, lajГЁ)
[< Fr. longueur]
lopinyon (var: wipinyon)
N opinion.
WГЁspГЁktГ© lopinyon lГІt moun.
Respect others’ opinions. [< Fr.
l’opinion]
lonjГ© (var: lonji)
V to stretch out, to
extend. I lonjé lanmen’y ban mwen.
He extended his hand to me. [< Fr.
allonger] lonjГ© lanmen to assist, to
help out. SГ© pou ou toujou lonjГ©
lanmen’w bay lé pòv. You must
always help out the poor. (see also:
lachawitГ©, Г©dГ©, asistГ©)
lopital
N hospital. I ka wГЁstГ© an
lopital-la. He’s staying in the hospital.
(see also: dòktè, nòs) [< Fr. l’hôpital]
loposyon
N asthma. Pa wèsté an dloa twòp paski ou ni loposyon. Don’t
stay in the water too long because you
have asthma.
lonji variant of lonjГ©.
lonmen (var: nonmen)
V
to christen,
losyon
losyon
143
N
perfume. Losyon sala ni on
lГІt
Kwéyòl – English
bon lГІdГЁ. This perfume has a nice
scent. [< Fr. lotion]
loup
N welt, lump. LГЁ i manjГ© vyann
kochon, gwo loup ka lГ©vГ© anlГЁ
lapo’y. When he eats pork, welts rise
on his skin. [< Fr. loupe]
lГІt
ADJ 1) other. La pa ni pyГЁs lГІt
mannyè pou fè sa. There’s no other
way to do that. (see also: dГІt, lГ©zГІt)
2) next. LГІt simenn nou kay alГ©
Kastwi. Next week we will go to
Castries. (syn: ka vini, pwochen)
[< Fr. l’autre] an lòt another. Yo té
ka fГЁ an lГІt bagay. They used to do
another thing. lГІt pГ©yi abroad,
overseas. Yo tout ka wГЁstГ© lГІt pГ©yi.
They live abroad.
loupГ©
V to blister, to cause welts to
rise. MГЁt lГ©kГІl-la loupГ© fГЁs tibway-la
ГЁk an lyenn. The school principal
blistered the boy’s rear-end with a
whip. [< Fr. loupГ©]
louwa
N king. Louwa di si mwen
genyen batay-la i kay mayГ© mwen
épi fi’y-la. The king told me that if I
win the battle he will let me marry his
daughter. (term used only in folktales;
see also: wa) [< Fr. le roi]
lota
N lotah, vitiligo, fungus causing
white patches on the skin. Pa dГ© lota
ki an do tibway-la. The boy’s back is
covered with lotah. (syn: dat; see also:
kannawi dlo, wГ©zipГЁl)
lГІvyГЁ variant of lawivyГЁ.
loway
N thunder. La tГ© ni loway ГЁk
zГ©klГЁ. There was thunder and
lightning. [< Fr. l’orage]
lotan variant of lontan.
lotГЁl
N altar. Yo mГ©tГ© sakwifis-la
asou lotГЁl-la. They put the sacrifice
upon the altar. [< Fr. l’autel]
lowizon1 (var: lowizyon)
N charm,
object used for supernatural
protection. PyГЁsonn pa sa fГЁ nonm
sala anyen paskГЁ i ni an lowizon.
Nobody can do anything to him
because he has a charm. (see also:
cham, jès, koupay) [< Fr. l’oraison]
lotowitГ© (var: otowitГ©)
N authority.
Ki moun ki ba’w lotowité pou fè sa?
Who gave you authority to do that?
(syn: pouvwa, dwa; see also:
otowizasyon) [< Fr. l’autorité]
lou
1) heavy. Sak-la tГ© lou pasГ©
ki! The sack was very heavy! (opp:
lГ©jГЁ) 2) easy-going, laid back.
Madanm mwen lou tГЁlman i pa sa
janmen wivГ© twavay a lГЁ. My wife is
so laid back she can never arrive at
work on time. (syn: kalandjГ©, fГЁ
kakГІl, fГЁ kГІlonng) [< Fr. lourd]
lowizon2
N horizon. Yo navidjГ© jis
lowizon-an. They sailed to the
horizon. [< Fr. l’horizon]
ADJ
loukou1
N porridge made with cassava
flour. (syn: matГ©tГ©; see also: fawin,
kwenm, malobi, pap)
lwa
lowizyon variant of lowizon.
lozГЁy
N sorrel. LГ© NwГЁl sГ© tan-an
nou ka bwГЁ pli lozГЁy. Christmas is the
time when we drink the most sorrel.
[< Fr. l’oseille]
lwa
N 1) law. Lwa pГ©yi sala pa Г©zГ©.
The laws of this country are not easy.
2) rule. SГ© manmay sala wivГІltГ©
kont lwa lГ©kГІl-la. Those children
revolted against the school rules.
[< Fr. loi]
loukou2
N halter that squeezes the
animal’s nose. [< Fr. licou]
144
lwГ©
Kwéyòl – English
lwГ©
machГ©
kavach) [< Fr. liane] lyenn chasГЁ a
type of vine that releases water when
cut. KoupГ© lyenn chasГЁ sala ban
mwen pou mwen bwè dlo adan’y.
Cut that vine for me so I can drink
water from it. lyenn dous a type of
wild vine that goats and rabbits like to
eat. Kabwit kontan lyenn dous.
Goats like wild vines. lyenn savon
“soap vine”, a type of vine that some
people use to brush their teeth. SГ©
Rasta-a ka sГЁvi lyenn savon pou
tjiwГ© dan yo. The Rastas use soap
vines to brush their teeth. lyenn wid
“rough vine”, a type of vine that has a
rough surface and causes the skin to
turn black. Pa kitГ© ti manmay-la alГ©
bò lyenn wid-la. Don’t let the child go
near the rough vines.
V to rent, to let. Nou lwГ© kay-la
bay polis-la pou dГ© lannГ©. We rented
the house to the policeman for two
years. (see also: pwГ©tГ©) [< Fr. loyer]
lwen
ADV far, far away. Nou tГ© ni pou
alГ© lwen pou nou pГ© sa jwenn dlo.
We had to go far away in order to be
able to collect water. (opp: pwГ©) [< Fr.
loin]
lwil
N oil. Ban mwen dimi boutГЁy
lwil koko. Give me half a bottle of
coconut oil. [< Fr. l’huile]
lyГ©
N mile. Yo machГ© sis lyГ© avan yo
doubout. They walked six miles
before they stopped.
lyenn
N 1) vine. SГ© lyenn-an kouvГЁ
pyГ© bwa-a. The vines covered the
tree. 2) branch used as a whip. I bat
chyen-an ГЁk an lyenn. He whipped
the dog with a branch. (syn: fwГЁt,
lyon
N lion. Lyon fГІ pasГ© Tig. Lion is
stronger than Tiger. [< Fr. lion]
Mm
ma
away!’
N pool, manmade pond. Ma-a tГ©
plen dlo. The pond was full of water.
(see also: lГ©tan) [< Fr. mare]
machandiz
N merchandise. Yo tГ© ka
vann machandiz yo bГІ lawi-a. They
used to sell their merchandise by the
street. (see also: machann) [< Fr.
marchandise]
mab
N marbles. Mwen enmen jwГ©
mab. I like to play marbles. (see also:
tГЁk, zing) [< Fr. marbre]
mabouya variant of mabwiya.
machann
N vendor, merchant.
Machann-an ka vann fwitaj. The
vendor sells fruit. (see also:
machandiz, wivandГЁz) [< Fr.
marchande]
mabwiya (var: mabouya)
N gecko,
house lizard. La ni an chay mabwiya
adan kay-la. There are a lot of geckos
in the house. (see also: zanndoli)
mach1
step, stair. I asid asou
mach-la. She sat on the step. (see also:
lГЁskalyГ©) [< Fr. marche]
N
machГ©
mach2
V go away (said to dogs). Di
chyen-an, �Mach!’ Tell the dog, �Go
145
V 1) to walk. I tГ© tГЁlman sou i
pa tГ© sa menm machГ©. He was so
drunk he couldn’t even walk. (see
also: pwonmnen) MachГ© byen! Take
care of yourself! 2) to work, to
function. TrГІk-la ka machГ© byen.
machГЁ
Kwéyòl – English
The truck works well. [< Fr. marcher]
machГ© anlГЁ to approach someone
threateningly. Mwen maché anlè’y
Г©pi mwen ba li on palaviwГ©. I
approached him and I gave him a slap
on the face. machГ© asou to take
advantage of. Pa kitГ© pyГЁsonn machГ©
asou’w. Don’t let anyone take
advantage of you. (syn: manstipГ©,
pwan lavantaj) machГ© Г©pi to walk
with, to carry (something with you).
Sé pou maché épi manjé’w lè ou ka
alГ© an hГІtГЁ. You must carry your food
with you when you go to the
countryside. machГ© kalpat to
crawl. Ti manmay-la ka machГ©
kalpat. The child is crawling. (syn:
halГ© kalpat) [< Fr. machГ© kat pat]
machГ© piti to tiptoe, to creep, to
stalk. I ka machГ© piti dГЁyГЁ mwen; i
kwè m’a wè’y. He tiptoed behind me;
he thought I didn’t see him.
denmen. My wife is coming
tomorrow. (opp: mawi) TITLE Mrs.,
Mistress (used with surname).
Madanm Ambrose tonbГ© malad.
Mrs. Ambrose fell sick. (syn: Man;
see also: ManzГЁ, MГЁyГЁ) [< Fr.
madame]
Madi
magazen
N shop, store, supermarket.
MГЁt magazen-an dwГ© nou lajan. The
store owner owes us money. (see also:
boutik) [< Fr. magasin]
magnifyГ©
V to exalt. Nou kay
magnifyé non Bondyé. We’re going
to magnify the name of God. (relig.)
[< Fr. magnifier]
magotГ©
V to graft. Yo magotГ© pyГ©
mango-a. They grafted the tree. ADJ
1) grafted. PyГ© mango-a ki magotГ©-a
ka pГІtГ© bГЁl fwi. The mango tree that
is grafted bears nice fruit. 2) having
an extra finger or toe. Tibway sala
magotГ©; i ni sis dwГЁt adan yon
lanmen. That boy is “grafted”; he has
six fingers on one hand. [< Fr.
marcotter]
machin
N 1) machine, engine.
Machin-an toujou ka kwazГ©. The
machine always breaks down.
2) truck, van. Machin-an kay vini
pwan’y. The truck will come take it.
(syn: trГІk; see also: motoka, vann)
[< Fr. machine]
jaw. Avan chyen manjГ©
zo, i ka miziwé machwè’y. Before a
dog eats a bone, he measures his jaw.
(syn: bazou) [< Fr. machГґire]
machwen
N
madanm
magwГ©
CONJ though, although,
despite, in spite of. I vini, magwГ© i
pa tГ© ni pyГЁs lajan. He came,
although he didn’t have any money.
(see also: dwГ©, kanmenm) [< Fr.
malgrГ©]
porpoise. [< Fr.
marsouin]
Tuesday. [< Fr. mardi]
V to bewitch. TjenbwatГЁ-a
mafwГ©zГ© tifi-a. The obeah man
bewitched the girl.
(see also: monchГЁ) [< Fr. ma chГЁre]
N
N
mafwГ©zГ©
machГЁ my dear (said of a woman).
machwГЁ
maho
maho
N mahogany. Maho ka fГЁ bГЁl
mГЁb. Mahogany makes nice furniture.
maho piman 1) a type of tree whose
bark can be peeled to make rope.
2) the rope made from such a tree.
Mwen mawГ© bwa-a Г©pi maho
1) lady, woman.
Madanm sala ka vann pen. That
woman sells bread. (see also: djal,
fanm, kabwГЁs, manmzГЁl, tifi)
2) wife. Madanm mwen kay vini
N
146
majГЁstwa
Kwéyòl – English
marque] mak pyГ© footprint. Yo ka
swiv sГ© mak pyГ©-a pou wГЁ ki kotГ© i
sòti. They’re following the footprints
to see where he came from.
piman. I tied the wood with peeled
bark.
majГЁstwa
N magistrate. MajГЁstwa
sala pa ka bay blag. This magistrate
doesn’t joke around. (see also: jij)
[< Fr. magistrat]
maji
1) magic. Ti manmay-la tГ©
kwГЁ i tГ© maji. The child thought it
was magic. 2) nonsense, foolishness.
(syn: bГ©tiz, papicho, kouyontwi,
kochonni) [< Fr. magie] maji blan
“white magic”, the use of supernatural
powers to abuse men sexually in their
sleep, or the person who practices
“white magic”. Mwen pa té janmen
sav madanm sala sГ©tГ© on maji blan.
I never knew this woman practiced
white magic. fГЁ maji to grimace, to
make faces, to gesticulate. Dlo-a tГ©
ka bwilé’y tèlman i koumansé fè
maji. The water was burning him so
much that he began to grimace. (syn:
gwiyen, fè jès) maji nwè “black
magic”, the use of supernatural powers
to abuse women sexually in their
sleep, or the person who practices
“black magic”. I ka fè maji nwè. He
does black magic. (see also: gajГ©, jГЁs,
tjenbwa, vyГ© lam, zГЁb) palГ© maji
same as palГ© papicho.
makabou variant of makanbou.
makanbou (var: makabou)
N a kind
of cooking banana. I ka vann
makanbou. She sells cooking
bananas. (see also: fig, bannann)
N
majГІ
ADJ strong, stronger, strongest.
Ou kwГЁ ou majГІ pasГ© mwen? You
think you’re stronger than I am?
majГІl
N
makak
N monkey. Makak-la ni on
lonng latjГ©. The monkey has a long
tail. [< Fr. macaque]
makouchat
N tomcat. Makouchat-la
gwo! The tomcat is large!
makoumГЁ
N 1) female cosponsor at
baptismal ceremony; your child’s
godmother or your godchild’s mother.
MakoumГЁ mwen vini Г©pi mwen pa
ni anyen pou ofè’y. My godmother
came and I don’t have anything to
offer her. (see also: konpГЁ, pawen,
nennenn) 2) effeminate male, a man
who is acting like a woman. Nonm
sala ka machГ© kon on makoumГЁ.
That man is walking in an effeminate
way. (see also: boula, mal manman)
makwГ©yo
N
mackerel. [< Fr.
maquereau]
makwisti N castor oil plant. gwenn
makwisti castor bean. lwil gwenn
makwisti castor oil. Lwil gwenn
makwisti sГ© yonn an sГ© lwil-la yo ka
bay madanm ki akouchГ©. Castor oil
is one of the oils which they give
women who have given birth.
dewlap.
majГІwitГ©
N most. MajГІwitГ© moun
Sent Lisi ka palГ© KwГ©yГІl Most
people in St. Lucia speak Creole.
[< Fr. majoritГ©]
mal
mal1
ADJ male. Mal bouwik sala wГЁd
pou kondwi. That male donkey is
hard to control. (opp: fimГЁl) [< Fr.
male] mal manman homosexual
male. Nonm sa’a sé on mal
mak
N scar. Koul boutГЁy-la kitГ© on
mak asou fidji’y. The blow from the
bottle left a mark on his face. [< Fr.
147
mal
Kwéyòl – English
malen
manman. That man’s a homosexual.
(syn: boula) pwan mal to be in
heat. FimГЁl chat-la ka pwan mal.
The female cat is in heat. (syn: anfoli,
mandГ© mal)
ADJ sly, cunning, crafty. Ou
kwГЁ ou malen, mГ© ou pa kay
kwennen mwen! You think you’re
sly, but you won’t fool me! (see also:
lГЁspwi, lasajГЁs, entГ©lijans, savan,
lifon) [< Fr. malin]
mal2
ADJ 1) bad. Nou pa di anyen ki
mal asou’w. We didn’t say anything
bad about you. 2) poor. Yo tГ© mal,
yo pa tГ© ni anyen. They were poor,
they didn’t have anything. (syn: pòv,
malГ©wГ©; see also: fonn) N pain.
Chouval sala sanm ni an chay mal.
This horse seems to be in a lot of pain.
[< Fr. mal] fГЁ mal 1) to hurt. Dan
mwen ka fГЁ mwen mal. My tooth is
hurting me. 2) to harm. Yo ka fГЁ
tjenbwa pou fГЁ lГЁlmi yo mal. They
use obeah to harm their enemies.
mal3
malenng
N sore that doesn’t heal. I ni
an malenng asou pyé’y. He has a sore
that doesn’t heal on his foot. (see also:
bobo, gad, lakangwenn)
malГ©wГ©
ADJ poor. Nonm-lan
malГ©wГ©. The man is poor. (syn: mal,
pГІv; opp: wich; see also: malГ©wГЁz,
fonn) N poor person. I sГ© on malГ©wГ©
mГ© i pa an vГІlГЁ. He is a poor person
but he’s not a thief. (opp: wicha)
[< Fr. malheureux]
malГ©wГЁz
ADJ poor (in reference to
females). An ti madanm malГ©wГЁz ki
ban mwen an pГІt dlo pou mwen
bwГЁ. It was a little poor woman who
gave me a cup of water to drink. (syn:
pГІv, mal; see also: fonn, malГ©wГ©) N
poor woman. Mwen vlé’w édé
madanm sala paski i sГ© on malГ©wГЁz.
I want you to help this woman because
she is a poor woman. [< Fr.
malheureuse]
trunk, suitcase. I sГІti LanglitГЁ
Г©pi an gwo mal. He left England with
a big trunk. [< Fr. malle]
N
malad
ADJ ill, sick. I pa tГЁlman
malad. He’s not so sick. [< Fr.
malade] malad akouchГ© in labour,
having labour pains. AlГ© kwiyГ©
fanmchay-la, madanm mwen malad
akouchГ©. Go call the midwife, my
wife is in labour.
malad variant of maladi.
malfini
N chicken hawk. Malfini ka
manjГ© ti poul. Chicken hawks eat
small chickens. (syn: gwigwi poulГ©;
see also: lГЁg)
maladi (var: malad)
N illness,
sickness. Yo ni tout sГІt kaltГ© maladi.
They have all kinds of illnesses. (see
also: plГ©g) [< Fr. maladie]
malis
ADJ devious. I pli malis pasГ©
lézòt. He’s more devious than the
others. (syn: visyГ©, kwennad, bГІbГІlis)
malanga
N wild tanya. Pa kasГ©
malanga-a avan i gwaté’w. Don’t
break the wild tanya or it will make
you itch.
malkadi
N epilepsy. DГ©lГЁ malkadi
ka pwen ti gason-an. Sometimes
epilepsy takes the little boy. (see also:
kwiz, twanblad)
malГЁ
N bad luck. Yo ni an chay malГЁ.
They have lots of bad luck. (syn: mal
chans; opp: bon chans; see also:
djiyon, modisyon) [< Fr. malheur]
malobi
malobi
N porridge made with white
flour, milk and spices. LГЁ i ka fГЁ fwГЁt
148
malotjГЁ
Kwéyòl – English
mwen enmen manjГ© malobi. When it
is cold I like to eat porridge made with
white flour. (syn: pap; see also:
kwenm, loukou, matГ©tГ©, pap)
malotjГЁ
nauseous, queasy, upset.
LГЁ mwen wГЁ lГ©ta nonm sala, mwen
jwenn malotjГЁ. When I saw that
man’s condition, I became queasy.
(syn: boulvГЁsГ©; see also: sivotjГ©)
mandГ© mal same as pwan mal.
Chat-la ka mandГ© mal. The cat is in
heat.
mandyan
N moocher, freeloader.
Nonm sala sГ© on mandyan. That
man’s a moocher. (see also: djété)
ADJ
mango
N mango (Mangifera indica).
Yo ka vann tout sГІt kaltГ© mango.
They sell all kinds of mangos.
[< Tamil mankay] mango alawГІz,
mango diwidou, mango djouli,
mango grГ©henm, mango groum,
mango kawozin, mango Kayenn,
mango koko bГЁf, mango kwenm,
mango lonng, mango lota, mango
madanm, mango man wili,
mango manng, mango manng
nwГЁ, mango palwi, mango pon,
mango ti wavin, mango tin,
mango tin alawГІz, mango tin
djГЁk, mango tin kwenm, mango
vГЁ, mango wili, mango zanzanna
names for types of mangoes.
malpalan
N bad-talker. Nou kay fГЁ
malpalan sala pГ©yГ© pou lanng li!
We’re going to make that bad-talker
pay for what he said! (see also: palГ©,
mal palГ©) [< Fr. mal palant]
Man
TITLE Mrs., Mistress, Madam
(used with surname). Man Ambrose
kay vini pli ta. Mrs. Ambrose will
come later. (syn: Madanm; see also:
MГЁyГЁ, ManzГЁ)
manch
N 1) handle. I bizwen on
manch pou hach li. He needs a
handle for his axe. 2) sleeve.
Chimiz-la ni manch kout. The shirt
has short sleeves. (syn: manch had)
[< Fr. manche] manch had same as
manch.
manhГ© variant of manjГ©.
manjГ© (var: manhГ©)
V to eat. Yo pa
manjé pwéson-an. They didn’t eat the
fish. (see also: dГ©vowГ©, dГ©jnen,
dinen, ditГ©) Pen ГЁk pwГ©son fwi ka
manjГ© byen. Bread and fried fish go
well together. N food. Yo bay chatla manjГ©-a. They gave the cat the
food. [< Fr. manger] gwo manjГ©
ground provision, starchy root crops.
JГІdi-a an chay madanm ka vann
gwo manjГ©. Today many women are
selling ground provisions. (syn: vivtГЁ;
see also: lГ©djim)
manchГ©
V 1) to put a handle on. I
manchГ© on pikwa. He put a handle on
an axe. 2) to unite, to join together.
TjГЁ mwen manchГ© Г©pi sa ou. My
heart is united with yours. (see also:
lilyon, jwenn, ansanblГ©) [< Fr.
emmancher]
manchonj variant of mansonj.
mandГ©
V 1) to ask. Ou sa mandГ©
nГ©pГІt moun ki kotГ© mwen ka wГЁstГ©.
You can ask anyone where I live.
(opp: wГ©ponn; see also: plГ©dГ©) 2) to
ask for. Mwen pa vlГ© ou mandГ©
mwen lajan. I don’t want you to ask
me for money. [< Fr. demander]
manm
manm1
N muscle. Nonm sala oblijГ©
ka lГ©vГ© plon; gadГ© gwГІsГЁ manm li!
That man must lift weights; look at the
size of his muscles!
149
manm
Kwéyòl – English
manm2
manng
N member. Nou tout sГ©
manm gwoup sala. We’re all
members of that group. [< Fr.
membre]
N mangrove, swamp. Yo tГ© ni
pou pasГ© an manng-lan pou alГ© bГІ
lanmГЁ. They had to cross through the
mangrove to get to the beach. (see
also: lagon) [< Taino mangle]
manm3 variant of manman.
manman (var: manm, Anman)
mansyonnen
N
mother. Kouman manman’w?
How’s your mother? (see also: papa)
ADJ huge, really big, enormous. Sa sГ©
on manman wГІch ki tonbГ© an
chimen-an. That is a huge rock that
fell on the road. (syn: bidim,
matenm) [< Fr. maman] manman
dlo mermaid. Jan lontan kwГЁ i ni
manman dlo an lanmГЁ-a. Long ago
people thought there were mermaids in
the sea.
mannikou
N opossum. Adan moun
ka manjГ© mannikou. Some people
eat opossum.
mannwa
N warship. La ni an
mannwa an lawad-la. There is a
warship in the harbour. [< Eng. manof-war]
mannyГЁ
N 1) manner, way, how.
Mwen kontan mannyГЁ i bouwi
pwГ©son-an. I like the way he cooked
the fish. (see also: sitiwasyon) 2) way
of living, lifestyle. I ja chanjГ©
mannyè’y. He’s changed his lifestyle.
(see also: atitid, mГЁs) [< Fr. maniГЁre]
ki mannyГЁ (var: koumannyГЁ) how.
Ki mannyГЁ ou fГЁ sa? How did you do
that? ki mannyГЁ ki fГЁ why, how
come. Ki mannyГЁ ki fГЁ ou pa ni
koutla-a? Why don’t you have the
cutlass? (see also: pouki)
manmay
N child. Tout sГ© manmayla ni wim. All of the children have
colds. (syn: ti manmay, zanfan; see
also: ich) ti manmay same as
manmay. Ti manmay-la ka hГ©lГ©
twГІp. The child cries too much.
manmГЁl
N udder. ManmГЁl bГЁf-la
gwo; i sanm kay mètba. The cow’s
udder is full; it looks like it is going to
give birth. (see also: tГ©tГ©)
mansonj (var: manchonj)
N lie.
Tibway sala ka palГ© mansonj tousГЁl.
That boy speaks only lies. (opp:
lavГ©witГ©) [< Fr. mensonge] tiwГ©
mansonj to lie, to tell lies. Yo tГ© ka
tiwГ© mansonj pou kwennen sГ© lГ©zГІt
moun-an. They were telling lies to
deceive the others. (syn: manti)
manmit
N large tin. Manmit-la plen
dlo. The large tin is full of water. (see
also: bonm, tin) [< Fr. marmite]
manmotГ©
V to mumble. Ki mannyГЁ
ou ka manmotГ© kon sa? Why are you
mumbling like that? (see also:
mimiwГ©)
manstipГ©
V to take advantage (of).
Ou sa manstipГ© asou nonm sala pis
ou ni lajan pasé’y. You can take
advantage of that man because you
have more money. (syn: machГ© asou,
pwan lavantaj)
manmzГЁl
N unmarried young woman.
Sa sГ© on bГЁl manmzГЁl ki ka vann an
magazen-an. That is a pretty young
woman who is selling in the store. (see
also: djal, fanm, kabwГЁs, madanm,
tifi) [< Fr. mademoiselle]
mansyonnen
V to mention. SГ© pa
pou mansyonnen sa mwen di’w-la
150
mant
Kwéyòl – English
bay pyГЁsonn. You must not mention
what I told you to anyone. [< Fr.
mentionner]
ManzГЁ
TITLE Mistress (used with first
name). Yo alГ© vizitГ© ManzГЁ TГ©wГ©za.
They went to visit Mistress Teresa.
(syn: MГЁyГЁ; see also: Madanm, Man)
mant variant of lanmant. [< Fr.
menthe]
mapou
N a type of tree with soft wood
(Ceiba pentadra).
mantГЁ
N liar. I sé on mantè. He’s a
liar. (see also: manti, mantГЁz) [< Fr.
menteur]
mas1
N sledgehammer. I sГЁvi on mas
pou kwazГ© masonn-an. He used a
sledgehammer to break the concrete.
(see also: mato) [< Fr. mace]
mantГЁz
ADJ lying. Nonm sala sГ© on
vyГ© ipokwit mantГЁz. That man is an
evil lying hypocrite. (see also: manti,
mantГЁ)
manti
to lie. I manti asou mwen!
He lied to me! (syn: tiwГ© mansonj;
see also: mantГЁ, mantГЁz) [< Fr.
mentir]
V
mantjГ©
V 1) to lack, to need. Si ou
mantjé anyen, mwen kay ba ou’y. If
you are lacking anything, I will give it
to you. (see also: bizwen, mГ©witГ©)
2) to miss. I vowГ© wГІch-la mГ© i
mantjГ© mango-a. He threw the rock
but he missed the mango. (see also: ni
chagwen) ADV almost, nearly. I
tonbГ© asou an pyГ© koko Г©pi i mantjГ©
mГІ. He fell out of a coconut tree and
he almost died. (see also: pwГЁskГЁ)
[< Fr. manquer]
Mas2
the month of March. [< Fr.
mas3
N mask. VГІlГЁ-a tГ© ni on mas; sГ©
sa ki fè nou pa wè fidji’y. The thief
was wearing a mask; that is why we
didn’t see his face. [< Fr. masque]
mason
N mason. Mwen vlГ© on
mason pou mГ©tГ© an tjГІ masonn asou
kay-la ban mwen. I want a mason to
put a concrete extension on my house.
[< Fr. maçon]
masonn
N concrete. LГ©gliz-la fГЁt an
masonn. The church is made of
concrete. (see also: siman)
masonnen
V to pour concrete, to lay
concrete, to pave. Yo ka masonnen
bò kay-la. They’re laying concrete
next to the house. (see also: pitj)
mastif
ADJ hard, tough, heavy (in
reference to bread). Pen sala twГІ
mastif; mwen pa sa manjé’y. This
bread is too tough; I can’t eat it.
manyГІk
N cassava. SГ© Г©pi manyГІk
ou ka fГЁ fawin. It is with cassava that
you make cassava flour. (see also:
fawin, kasav) koukou manyГІk
mangrove cuckoo (Coccizus minor).
Mwen pa konnГЁt pyГЁs jibyГ© ki pli
dous pasé koukou manyòk. I don’t
know any bird that’s tamer than the
mangrove cuckoo.
N
mars]
manyen (var: menyen)
V to touch, to
stroke, to handle. I tГ© ka manyen
chat-la. He was stroking the cat. (see
also: touchГ©) [< Fr. manier]
matenm
matГ©
V 1) to overturn, to tumble.
Nonm-lan matГ© motoka-a. The man
overturned the car. (syn: chaviwГ©;
opp: dГ©matГ©, dГ©chaviwГ©) 2) to buck.
Bouwik-la koumansГ© matГ©. The
donkey began to buck.
matenm
151
ADJ
huge, enormous. Nonm-
matГ©tГ©
Kwéyòl – English
malad an matwis li. The woman is
sick in her womb. [< Fr. matrice]
lan bati an matenm kay, mГ© i pa
jwi’y. The man built a huge house, but
he didn’t enjoy it. (syn: bidim,
manman)
matwitГ©
ADJ 1) mature. Viv lavi’w
kon on moun ki matwitГ©. Live your
life like a person who is mature.
2) ready to pick. Sé zabòka-a p’òkò
matwitГ©. The avocadoes are not yet
ready to pick. (see also: olГЁt, mi, vГЁt)
[< Fr. maturitГ©]
matГ©tГ©
N porridge made of cassava
flour and milk. Gwanmanman mwen
enmen matГ©tГ©. My grandmother likes
to eat porridge made of cassava flour.
(syn: loukou; see also: fawin, kwenm,
malobi, pap)
matjГ©
1) to mark, to write. I matjГ©
asou liv-la Г©pi on kwГ©yon. He wrote
on the book with a pencil. (see also:
Г©kwi) 2) to heed, to take note of, to
pay attention to. MatjГ© sa mwen
di’w-la! Heed what I’m telling you!
[< Fr. marquer]
matla
matwiyo
N building materials. I ban
nou tout matwiyo-a pou nou sa bati
lГ©kГІl-la. He gave us all the materials
to build the school. [< Fr. matГ©riaux]
V
mattress. MГ©tГ© matla-a asou
kouch-la. Put the mattress on the bed.
(see also: lГ©ponj) [< Fr. matelas]
N
matyГЁ
N pus. MatyГЁ ka sГІti an boboa. Pus is coming out of the sore. (syn:
limГЁ; see also: pГІstimГ©)
mawГ©
V 1) to tie. Yo mawГ© kannГІtla bГІ tjГ©-a. They tied the canoe by the
dock. (opp: dГ©mawГ©) 2) to put under
a spell. Yo di madanm sala mawГ©
mawi’y. They say that woman put her
husband under a spell. (see also:
tjenbwa, mafwГ©zГ©, chamГ©) ADJ
1) tied. I kitГ© kabwit-la mawГ© an
pak-la épi i ay fè zafè’y. He left the
goat tied to the fence and he went to
do his business. 2) cloudy, overcast
(in reference to weather). Tan-an
mawГ© jГІdi-a. The weather is overcast
today. (see also: bawГ©) [< Fr.
amarrer]
matlo
N sailor. Papa mwen sГ© an
matlo. My father is a sailor. [< Fr.
matelot]
Matnik
N Martinique. Yo tГ© kwГЁ nou
tГ© alГ© Matnik. They thought we had
gone to Martinique. [< Fr.
Martinique]
mato
N hammer. PГІtГ© mato-a ГЁk
klou-a ban mwen. Bring the hammer
and nails to me. (see also: mas) [< Fr.
marteau]
maton
chin. I koupé maton’y. He
cut his chin. (see also: machwГЁ,
bazou) [< Fr. menton]
mawi
N husband. Mawi’y sé on
mason. Her husband is a mason. (opp:
madanm) [< Fr. mari]
N
matoutou
mawisosГ©
N dragonfly. La ni an
chay mawisosГ© bГІ kay mwen. There
are a lot of dragonflies around my
house.
tarantula. Mwen wГЁ an
matoutou asou pyГ© mango-a. I saw a
tarantula on the mango tree.
N
matwГ©yo variant of matwiyo.
matwis
N
mawiyaj
mawiyaj
N marriage. Mawiyaj yo pa
fò. Their marriage isn’t strong. (see
also: nГІs, mayГ©) [< Fr. mariage]
womb. Madanm-lan
152
mawon
Kwéyòl – English
mawon
V to run away, to escape. Ti
manmay-la mawon! The child ran
away! (see also: chapГ©; fann kann, fГЁ
djip, fГЁ lapousyГЁ, fГЁ zГ©klГЁ, pwan
lavГІl, kwazГ© bwa, kwazГ© wazyГ©,
pwan an bwa, pwan lavГІl) ADJ wild.
Sa sГ© on bГЁt mawon. That is a wild
animal. (syn: fawouch, sovay; opp:
dous) [< Fr. marron]
nèf pou Nwèl. They’re buying new
furniture for Christmas. (syn: founiti)
[< Fr. meubles]
mГЁblГ©
V to furnish. I ja mГЁblГ© kay-la.
She has already furnished the house.
[< Fr. meubler]
mГЁch
N wick. Yo mГ©tГ© mГЁch-la adan
lanp-lan pou’y limen. They put the
wick in the lamp to light it. [< Fr.
mГЄche]
mawonn
N beach party. La kay ni an
mawonn LanslawГ© Dimanch. There
will be a beach party in Anse La Raye
Sunday.
mГ©chan
ADJ evil, wicked. Gason sala
mГ©chan an chay. That boy is very
wicked. (syn: sГ©lГ©wa, modi; opp: bon;
see also: movГ©, vyГ©) [< Fr. mГ©chant]
may
N 1) link (of a chain). ChanjГ©
chenn-an asou bГЁf-la paski an may
ja pwГЁs kasГ©. Change the chain on the
cow because a link is almost broken.
2) holes in a fishpot or netting wire or
fence wire. WГ©tjen-an koupГ©
konmen may an nas-la pou tГ© sa
manjГ© pwГ©son-an. The shark tore
open several holes in the fishpot in
order to eat the fish. [< Fr. maille]
mГ©chanstГ©
N evil, iniquity,
wickedness, wicked things. Pa fГЁ sa;
sa sé méchansté. Don’t do that; that is
evil. (syn: kwiyotГ©, movГЁztГ©; see also:
sГ©lГ©watГЁ, vis) [< Fr. mГ©chancetГ©]
mГ©dikanman
N medicine, remedy.
DГІktГЁ-a ba li an mГ©dikanman pou
bwГЁ. The doctor gave him a medicine
to drink. (syn: wimГЁd) [< Fr.
mГ©dicament]
mayГ©
V to marry. Mwen kay mayГ©
mwa pwochen. I’m getting married
next month. (see also: mawiyaj, nГІs)
[< Fr. marier]
mГЁditГ©
V to meditate. Paditan i tГ© ka
ГЁspГ©wГ©, i tГ© ka mГЁditГ©. While he was
waiting, he meditated. (see also:
katjilГ©, konsidiwГ©, chonjГ©) [< Fr.
mГ©diter]
maygwen
N mosquito. Tan lapli sГ©
tan maygwen. Rainy season is the
time for mosquitoes.
mayhont
N creeping mimosa plant.
Mayhont-lan ni an chay pikan tout
anlè kò’y. The mayhont has many
thorns all over.
mГ©1
CONJ
MГ©2
N
May. [< Fr. mai]
mГЁb
N
furniture. Yo ka achtГ© mГЁb
MГ©kwГ©di
mГЁg
ADJ skinny, thin. BГЁf sala mГЁg
an chay. That cow is very thin. (syn:
fin; opp: gwa, gwГІs) [< Fr. maigre]
mГЁgwГ©si
V to get smaller, to get
thinner, to shrink. Manman mwen ka
mГЁgwГ©si paski i malad ГЁk i pa vlГ©
manjГ©. My mother is getting smaller
because she is sick and doesn’t want to
eat. (opp: gwandi, gwosi, ogoumantГ©)
[< Fr. maigrir]
but. Nou tГ© la mГ© nou pa
wè’y. We were there but we didn’t see
him. (see also: kanmenm, magwГ©)
[< Fr. mais]
MГ©kwГ©di
153
N
Wednesday. [< Fr.
mГЁl
Kwéyòl – English
mercredi]
mГЁl
menm
ADJ 1) same. Tout sГ© soulyГ©-a
menm pwi. They’re all the same
price. 2) own. Mwen wè’y èk zyé
mwen menm. I saw it with my own
eyes. (syn: pwГІp) ADV 1) intensifier
modifying a noun or pronoun. Mwen
menm pa sav! I myself don’t know!
2) even. I tГ© sou tГЁlman i pa tГ© sa
menm machГ©. He was so drunk he
couldn’t even walk. [< Fr. même]
menm kon just like, just as. Ou
bladjè menm kon manman’w. You
are a joker just like your mother. (syn:
mГІd kon; see also: tГЁl kon, pawГЁy)
menm si even if, even though.
Menm si yo alé, m’a kay alé. Even if
they go, I won’t go.
1
N blackbird. MГЁl kontan manjГ©
mi. Blackbirds like to eat corn. [< Fr.
merle]
mГЁl2
N stone used for sharpening,
whetstone. I filГ© kouto-a asou mГЁlla. He sharpened the knife on the
whetstone. (syn: pyГ© dous)
mГ©lГ©
V 1) to mix, to tangle. I mГ©lГ© sik
Г©pi bГЁ pou i tГ© sa fГЁ bonbon. She
mixed sugar with butter in order to
make a cake. (opp: dГ©mГ©lГ©) 2) to
confuse. Pa kité’y mélé’w. Don’t let
him confuse you. (see also: toublГ©)
3) to care, to be concerned. Ti
manmay-la tonbГ© Г©pi ou pa menm
mélé? The child fell and you don’t
even care? Ki mГ©lГ© mwen? What do I
care? Mwen pa mélé èk sa. I don’t
care about that. Ki mélé’w épi yo!
Don’t worry about them! ADJ mixed,
tangled. Tout sГ© fil-la mГ©lГ© ansanm.
All of the threads are tangled together.
(see also: tГІtiyГ©) [< Fr. mГЄler]
mennwit
mennajГ©
V to manage. Mwen vlГ©
nonm sala mennajГ© zafГЁ mwen byen
ГЁk pa gaspiyГ© lajan. I want that man
to manage my affairs well and not
waste money. (see also: dГ©bat,
dГ©bwiyГ©)
mennen
V to bring, to take. I kay
mennen lajan-an lГЁ i vini. He will
bring the money when he comes.
[< Fr. mener] mennen fwi to bear
fruit. Si titak lapli tonbГ©, pyГ© sala pГ©
mennen fwi. If a little rain falls, that
tree may bear fruit. (syn: pГІtГ©; see
also: pwodwi) [< Fr. mener fruit]
mal mennen 1) to buffet. Van-an
tГ© ka mal mennen kannГІt-la. The
wind was buffeting the boat. 2) to
treat roughly, to mistreat, to ill-treat, to
abuse. Nonm-lan tГ© ka mal mennen
tibway-la. The man was mistreating
the boy. (see also: mal twГ©tГ©) 3) to
wear down, to cause to lose weight
and strength. Malad sala ka mal
mennen mwen. This sickness is
wearing me down.
mГ©limГ©lanj
N 1) mixture (of food). I
fГЁ an mГ©limГ©lanj ГЁk manjГ©-a, mГ© i tГ©
bon. He made a mixture with the food,
but it was good. 2) mГЄlГ©e; noisy,
confused brawl. La ni yon
mГ©limГ©lanj anba-a la; manman ka
goumen ГЁk papa, papa ka goumen
ГЁk ich. There is a mГЄlГ©e down there;
mother fighting with father, father
fighting with children. (see also:
batay, roro) [< Fr. mГЄler mГ©lange]
mГЁltwi
V to soften. Pwan pwokosyon
Г©pi mango-a avan ou mГЁltwi yo.
Take care with the mangoes lest you
soften them. ADJ soft. Tout mango-a
mГЁltwi. All of the mangoes are soft.
(see also: mГІl)
mennwit
154
N
midnight. Yo kay wivГ©
mens
Kwéyòl – English
bГІ mennwit. They will arrive near
midnight. (see also: midi) [< Fr.
minuit]
mens
animals). Chat-la ja mГЁtba. The cat
has given birth. [< Fr. mettre bas]
mГ©tГ©
V 1) to put. MГ©tГ© bwГЁt-la asou
tab-la. Put the box on the table. 2) to
put on (clothes). MГ©tГ© had ou pou
nou alГ©. Put on your clothes so we can
go. (opp: tiwГ©) 3) to drop, to let off.
MГ©tГ© nou bГІ laplas-la. Drop us at the
market. (see also: ladjГ©) 4) to begin
to. Yo mГ©tГ© kouwi! They began to
run! (syn: pwan, pitjГ©, koumansГ©)
5) to set (clock). MГ©tГ© mont-lan asou
lГЁ. Set the clock to the right time.
[< Fr. mettre] mГ©tГ© bay to ally with,
to side with, to stand with, to support.
Pa mété bay étwanjé kont fanmi’w.
Don’t side with strangers against your
family. (syn: mГ©tГ© pou, pwan pou;
see also: bay wГ©zon, sipГІtГ©) mГ©tГ©
pou same as mГ©tГ© bay.
thin. TwГЁl sala twГІ mens
pou fГЁ tjilГІt. That cloth is too thin to
make into pants. (opp: Г©pГ©; see also:
fin, mГЁg) [< Fr. mince]
ADJ
menyen variant of manyen.
mГ©pwi
N defamation, slander. Yo ka
voyГ© mГ©pwi ban nou. They heap
slander on us. (see also: ensit) [< Fr.
mГ©pris]
mГ©pwizГ©
V to defame, to slander. Yo
tГ© ka mГ©pwizГ© nou. They were
slandering us. (syn: dГ©kwiyГ©, nwГЁsi
non, sali non; see also: ensiltГ©, chayГ©
pawГІl, mal palГ©) [< Fr. mГ©priser]
mГЁs
N 1) manners. I pa ni bon mГЁs.
He doesn’t have good manners. (see
also: mannyГЁ) 2) habit. Ou pwan sa
kon on mГЁs. You do that as a habit.
(syn: labitid)
mГЁtsin
N purge. MisyГ©-a tГ© ni pou
pwan afwГ©chi avan i pwen mГЁtsin.
The man had to take a cooling before
he took the purge. (see also: jalap,
lГІk, tizann)
mГЁsi
INTERJ thank you. I pa menm di
nou �mèsi’. He didn’t even say �thank
you’. (see also: wimèsyé) [< Fr.
merci]
mГ©syГ©
Man! exclamation
denoting surprise. MГ©syГ©! Ki sa ki
fГЁt-la? Man! What happened? (see
also: misyГ©) [< Fr. messieurs]
INTERJ
mГЁt (var: mГЁtwГЁs)
N 1) owner,
proprietor. MГЁt boutik-la ni an chay
lajan. The store owner has lots of
money. 2) Lord, master. JГ©zi Kwi sГ©
MГЁt lavi nou. Jesus Christ is Lord of
our lives. [< Fr. maГ®tre] mГЁt lГ©kГІl
headmaster, principal. MГЁt lГ©kГІl-la
ka wГ©tГ© an vil. The headmaster lives
in town.
mГЁtba
V
mГ©witГ©
mГЁtsinyГ©
N manchineel (Hippomane
Mancinella). [< Fr. mГ©decinier]
mГЁtwГЁs (var: mГЁt)
N female owner,
proprietress. MГЁtwГЁs bitasyon sala
ka twavay wГЁd. The owner of this
estate is working hard. [< Fr.
maГ®tresse]
mГЁw
N nun. Titja tifi mwen-an sГ© an
mèw. My daughter’s teacher is a nun.
(syn: danm; see also: labГ©, lГЁvГЁk,
monsenyГЁ, pГЁ, pwГЁt)
mГ©witГ©
V 1) to deserve. Nou pa
méwité kado sala. We didn’t deserve
that gift. 2) to need, to lack. KafГ©
sala mГ©witГ© sik. This coffee needs
some sugar. (see also: mantjГ©,
to give birth (in reference to
155
MГ©witjen
Kwéyòl – English
[< Fr. Г midi] an midi variant of a
midi. gwan midi broad daylight, in
the middle of the day. Gwan midi
kon sa ou vlГ© di mwen ou ka dГІmi?
You want to tell me you are sleeping
like that in the middle of the day?
(syn: gwan jou, gwan lajounГ©; opp:
gwo lannwit)
bizwen) [< Fr. mГ©riter]
MГ©witjen
N American, person from
the United States. Nou ka twavay Г©pi
kat MГ©witjen. We are working with
four Americans. (see also: AnmГ©wik)
ADJ American. Nonm MГ©witjen sala
kontan bay blag. That American man
likes to tell jokes. [< Fr. amГ©ricain]
mГЁyГЁ1
migannen
V to crush. An gwo wГІch
tonbГ© asou nonm-lan ГЁk i migannen
janm li. A large rock fell on the man
and crushed his leg. (see also: kwazГ©)
better. Sa ou-a mГЁyГЁ pasГ©
sa mwen-an. Yours is better than
mine. (see also: bon) [< Fr. meilleur]
pli mГЁyГЁ best. KilГЁs ki pli mГЁyГЁ an
twa sala? Which one is best among
these three?
ADJ
mik
ADJ damp. Tout anba tab-la
mik. All under the table is damp. (see
also: mouyГ©)
MГЁyГЁ2
TITLE Mistress. Sa ou fГЁ, MГЁyГЁ
Fabsie. How are you, Mistress Fabsie?
(used with first name; syn: ManzГЁ; see
also: Man, Madanm)
Mikou
mi1
N
mi2
V
corn. Mi-a tГ© dou. The corn
was sweet. (see also: zopi) [< Fr.
maГЇs]
look. Mi manman’w la. Look
at your mother there. (used in
imperative; syn: ga; see also: wГЁ,
gadГ©) [< Fr. mirer]
milat
N mulatto. Nonm sala sГ© on
milat. This man is a mulatto. (see also:
chaben, miyatwГЁs, nГЁg) [< Fr.
mulatre]
milГ©1
N mule. MilГ©-a ka manjГ© mi.
The mule is eating corn. (see also:
bouwik, chouval) [< Fr. mulet]
milГ©2
N
mullet. [< Fr. mulet]
militГЁ
ADJ military. I sГ© on ofisyГ©
militГЁ. He is a military officer. N
military. Gwanpapa mwen tГ© adan
militГЁ AnglitГЁ-a. My grandfather was
in the British military. [< Fr.
militaire]
miltipyГ©
V to multiply, to reproduce.
Wadenn ka miltipyГ© vit. Guinea pigs
reproduce quickly. (syn: plГ©plГ©) [< Fr.
multiplier]
midi
N noon, midday. LГЁ i tГ© midi,
nonm-lan vini. When it was noon, the
man came. (see also: mennwit) [< Fr.
midi] a midi at midday, at noon.
Nou wivГ© a midi. We arrived at noon.
the village of Micoud.
ADJ thousand. I tГ© ni senk mil
dГІla Г©pi i pГЁd li. He had five thousand
dollars and he lost it. [< Fr. mille]
mi3
ADJ ripe, ready to eat. SГ© fig-la
p’òkò mi. The bananas are not yet
ripe. (opp: vГЁt; see also: matwitГ©,
olГЁt) [< Fr. mur]
N
mil
mГ©zon
N nice house. Tan lontan
mwen tГ© ka viv adan an ti kay mГ©
apwГ©zan mwen ka viv adan an
mГ©zon. Long ago I used to live in a
little house but now I live in a nice
house. (see also: kay) [< Fr. maison]
milyГ©
milyГ©
N peace, truce, cessation of
fighting. SГ© pou nou mГ©tГ© milyГ© ant
156
milyonnГЁ
Kwéyòl – English
dГ© nonm sala avan yo tjwГ© yonn a
lГІt. We must make peace between
those two men before they kill each
other. (see also: lapГ©)
milyonnГЁ
N millionaire. I ja vini
milyonnè. He’s become a millionaire.
[< Fr. millionnaire]
[< Fr. mystГЁre]
mistГ©k
N mistake. Nou fГЁ an chay
mistГ©k. We made many mistakes.
[< Eng. mistake]
misyГ©
TITLE Mr.. MisyГ© Ambrose ka
twavay atjГІlman. Mr. Ambrose is
working now. N 1) man. MisyГ© sala
kay vini denmen. That man will come
tomorrow. (syn: nonm; see also:
boug) 2) sir. Ki sa ou vlГ©, misyГ©?
What do you want, sir? (used as a
form of address; see also: mГ©syГ©)
[< Fr. monsieur]
mimiwГ©
V to murmur. ApwГ© pasta-a
fini pwГ©chГ©, sГ© moun-an koumansГ©
mimiwГ©. After the pastor finished
preaching, the people began to
murmur. (see also: bougonnen,
manmotГ©) [< Fr. murmurer]
minab
ADJ frazzled and frustrated. SГ©
manmay sala ka wann manman yo
minab. Those children rendered their
mother frazzled and frustrated. (see
also: anbГ©tГ©, twakasГ©, anmГЁwdГ©,
annГЁwvГ©, chagwinen, distwГ©) [< Fr.
minable]
minis
N minister (of government).
Tout sГ© minis gouvГЁdman-an vini an
lГЁtГЁman-an. All of the government
ministers came to the funeral. [< Fr.
ministre] PwГЁmyГ© Minis Prime
Minister. Jik PwГЁmyГ© Minis-la ki tГ©
la. Even the Prime Minister was there.
minit
mitin
N meeting. Nou ka tjenn mitin
nou ГІswГЁ-a. We are having our
meeting tonight. (see also: konsit)
[< Eng. meeting]
miwak
N miracle. JГ©zi fГЁ an chay
miwak. Jesus did many miracles.
[< Fr. miracle]
miwГ©
V to look in the mirror. Tout lèa i ka miwé kò’y. He’s always
looking in the mirror. [< Fr. mirer]
miwГЁ
N mirror. Yo kasГ© miwГЁ-a.
They broke the mirror. [< Fr. miroir]
miyatwГЁs
N female mulatto. MagwГ© i
sГ© an miyatwГЁs, i ka sipГІtГ© sГІlГЁy-la
menm kon an jan nwГЁ. Although she
is a mulatto, she bears the sun just like
a black person. (see also: chabin,
milat, nГЁgwГЁs) [< Fr. mulГўtresse]
minute. Г€spГ©wГ© on minit!
Wait a minute! (see also: monman,
kadГЁ, nГЁditan) [< Fr. minute]
N
minizyГ©
N joiner. Felix sГ© on
minizyГ©. Felix is a joiner. [< Fr.
menuisier]
mis
N
miyГЁt
miyГЁt
N crumb, small piece. Bay
poul-la sГ© miyГЁt pen-an. Give the
fowls the bread crumbs. (see also: bi,
mГІso, tjГІ, wonyen) [< Fr. miette] ti
miyГЁt (var: tiyГЁt) 1) some, a little
bit, a few. Nou ba li ti miyГЁt diven.
We gave him a little bit of wine. (syn:
tak, tibwen, ti mГІso, ti tak, tizing)
2) okay, so so. Mwen la ti miyèt. I’m
musk. [< Fr. musc]
miskad
N nutmeg. BГІ laplas toujou
ni miskad ka vann. At the market
they are always selling nutmeg. [< Fr.
muscade]
mistГЁ
N mystery. Sa sГ© on gwo mistГЁ.
That’s a big mystery. (see also: sigwé)
157
mizГ©
Kwéyòl – English
backed up. (see also: pli...pli) [< Fr. en
mesure] ki mizi how much. Ki mizi
lajan ou vlГ© dГ©pansГ©? How much
money do you want to spend? (syn: ki
kantitГ©, ki otan, konmen; see also:
afГІs, si tГЁlman)
okay. (syn: pasab, pyanmpyanm,
tibwen, titak, tizing, ti mГІso)
mizГ©
V to overstay, to delay. Mwen
ka voyé’w pwan dlo, mé pa mizé.
I’m sending you to get some water,
but don’t delay. [< Fr. muser]
mizГЁ
misery, poverty. MizГЁ sГ© pa
anyen ki dou. Misery is not at all
sweet. [< Fr. misГЁre] kitГ© bat mizГЁ
to leave alone. KitГ© nonm-lan bat
mizè’y avan i voyé wòch dèyè’w.
Leave the man alone before he throws
stones at you. (syn: bay wipo; see
also: inyowГ©)
N
mizik
N music. Nou kontan mizik
sala. We like that music. [< Fr.
musique] mizik kГІd stringed
instrument. Tan lontan sГ© mizik kГІd
nou tГ© ni. Long ago we had only
stringed instruments.
mizisyen
N musician. Nou vlГ© an
mizisyen pou jwГ© bay lГ©gliz-la. We
want a musician to play for the church.
[< Fr. musicien]
mizГ©wab
ADJ miserable, wretched. SГ©
moun sala sГ© moun ki pli mizГ©wab.
Those people are the most miserable
sort. (see also: movГ©) [< Fr.
misГ©rable]
mizГЁwikГІd
N mercy. BondyГ© ja
moutwГ© nou mizГЁwikГІd li. God has
shown us his mercy. (relig.; see also:
pityГ©, tjГЁ fГЁb, konpasyon) [< Fr.
misГ©ricorde]
mizi
mГІ
miziwГ©
V to measure. I miziwГ©
planch-lan. He measured the board.
[< Fr. mesurer]
mo
N profanity, swearing, curse word.
Las di mo la. Stop saying bad words
there. (see also: jiwГ©, mo pawГІl)
[< Fr. mot]
mГІ1
V to die. I mГІ lannГ© pasГ©. He
died last year. (opp: viv; see also:
péwi, Bazil pwen’y, di dédé, étenn,
tiwГ© kГІ) ADJ 1) dead. Madanm-lan
jwenn nonm-lan mГІ an kay li. The
woman found the man dead in his
house. (opp: vivan) 2) dull (in
reference to a blade). Kouto-a mГІ
tГЁlman i pa sa koupГ© bГЁ. The knife is
so dull it can’t cut butter. (syn: défilé;
see also: danklГ©) [< Fr. mort] mГІ
lafen to starve. Nou kay mГІ lafen si
lapli pa tonbГ© asou jaden-an lannГ©
sala. We will starve if rain doesn’t fall
on the garden this year. mГІ swГЁf to
die of thirst. SГ© zannimo-a mГІ swГЁf
paski ma-a pa tГ© ni dlo. The animals
died of thirst because the pond didn’t
have any water in it. tou mГІ half-
size, amount, measure. Ki mizi
pyé’w? What is the size of your foot?
(see also: miziwГ©) ADJ a lot of, so
much, so many. I ni mizi lajan! He
has so much money! (syn: anbadjo,
an chay, an pil; see also: ki mizi,
konmen, tГЁlman) ADV so. I fГ©sГ©
pyé’y a tè, mizi faché i té faché. She
stamped her feet on the ground, she
was so angry. (syn: otan, kantitГ©)
[< Fr. mesure] an mizi an mizi
little by little, gradually. An mizi an
mizi i vini pli mГЁyГЁ. Little by little he
got better. (syn: piti an piti) an
mizi...an mizi the more, to the same
extent. An mizi nou maché asou’y sé
an mizi i ka bak dГЁyГЁ. The more we
walked towards him, the more he
N
158
mГІ
Kwéyòl – English
modisyon
dead. Machin-an konyen nonm-lan
Г©pi i kouchГ© tou mГІ bГІ chimen-an.
The vehicle knocked the man and he
lay by the road half-dead.
N curse. Modisyon gwan
moun ki asou tibway sala ki fГЁ i
movГ© kon sa. It is a curse some old
people put on that boy that makes him
bad like that. (syn: limyГЁ; see also:
djiyon) [< Fr. maudire]
mГІ2
N bit ( for a horse). Chouval-la
pa kontan mò-a. The horse doesn’t
like the bit. [< Fr. mors]
mГІd
m’òkò same as mwen p’òkò. M’òkò
same as mannyГЁ. Ki mГІd ou
vlГ© mwen fГЁ kay-la? How do you
want me to make the house? [< Fr.
mode] mГІd kon same as menm
kon. I ka machГ© mГІd kon on kanna.
He walks just like a duck. (see also: tГЁl
kon)
ni lajan pou péyé’w. I don’t have the
money to pay you yet.
N
mГІtГЁl
N a type of tree that has a red
flower that is shaped like a cutlass,
used to mark boundaries of a property.
mГІl
ADJ soft. Mi-a pa tГ© mГІl. The
corn wasn’t soft. (opp: wèd; see also:
chandГЁl mГІl) [< Fr. molle]
mГІdan
N pincer, claw (of a crab).
MГІdan sГ© kwab sala gwo. The claws
of these crabs are big. [< Fr. mordant]
moli
V to soften. Si ou mГ©tГ© chandГЁl
mòl asou klou-a, i kay moli’y èk i
kay pГ©tГ©. If you put soft candle on the
boil, it will make it soft and it will
burst. [< Fr. amollir]
mГІdГ©
V to bite. Chyen sa’a mòdé
mwen! That dog bit me! (see also:
pitjГ©) [< Fr. mordre] mГІdГ© anlГЁ to
chew out, to scold. I mГІdГ© anlГЁ
mwen. He chewed me out. mГІdГ©
lanng to make a failed attempt to
speak a language (literally, biting
one’s tongue). Las mòdé lanng ou;
ou pa sa palГ© AnglГ©. Stop biting your
tongue; you can’t speak English.
mГІdГЁl
N model, pattern. Di
manman’w voyé mòdèl had-la ban
mwen. Tell your mother to send me
the pattern for the clothes. [< Fr.
modГЁle]
modi1
V
modi2
ADJ
to curse, to put a curse on. Si
ou anbГ©tГ© vyГ© madanm-lan, i kay
modi’w. If you bother that old
woman, she will put a curse on you.
[< Fr. maudire]
monsenyГЁ
mГІlГІkГІy
N
tortoise, land turtle. (see
also: tГІti)
mГІn
N hill, small mountain. Yo
moutГ© mГІn-an. They climbed the
mountain. (see also: montany, piton)
[< Fr. morne]
monchГЁ my dear. Bon, monchГЁ,
mwen ka alé. Well, my dear, I’m
going. (see also: machГЁ) [< Fr. mon
cher]
monman (var: mouman)
N moment,
minute. Ban mwen an monman,
mwen ka vini talГЁ. Give me a minute,
I’m coming shortly. (see also: minit)
[< Fr. moment]
monsenyГЁ
N bishop, monsignor in the
Roman Catholic church. SГ©
monsenyГЁ-a ki ka fГЁ lanmГЁs
bonmaten-an. It is the bishop who
will be conducting mass this morning.
wicked. I sГ© on modi
tibway. He is a wicked boy. (syn:
mГ©chan, sГ©lГ©wa; opp: bon; see also:
movГ©, vyГ©)
159
mont
Kwéyòl – English
(see also: danm, labГ©, lГЁvГЁk, mГЁw,
pГЁ, pwГЁt)
mouch, mwen pa sa kopwann li.
Your handwriting is just like a scrawl,
I can’t understand it.
mont
N clock, watch. I ni on mont
nГЁf. He has a new watch. [< Fr.
montre]
mouchas
N 1) starch (found naturally
in foods). ManyГІk sala ni an chay
mouchas. This cassava has a lot of
starch. 2) starch (used for ironing).
Mwen mГ©tГ© mouchas asou chimiz
mwen avan mwen pasé’y. I put starch
on my shirt before I ironed it.
montany
N mountain. MisyГ©-a fГЁ
kay-la asou tГЁt montany-lan. The
man built the house on the top of the
mountain. (see also: mГІn) [< Fr.
montagne]
mГІpyon
mouchГ© (var: mouchwГ©)
V to blow
(one’s nose). I mouché né’y. He blew
his nose. (see also: ГЁstennГ©) [< Fr.
moucher]
pubic louse. Pa asid kotГ©
nonm sala avan mГІpyon moutГ©
anlè’w. Don’t sit by that man or lice
will get on you. (see also: pou) [< Fr.
morpion]
N
mouchwГ© variant of mouchГ©.
mГІso
mouchwГЁ
N piece, bit. Ban mwen an
mГІso pen. Give me a piece of bread.
(syn: tjГІ; see also: bi, miyГЁt) [< Fr.
morceau] ti mГІso same as ti miyГЁt.
Mwen la ti mòso. I’m so so.
N kerchief, scarf. SГ© pou
tèt ou mawé èk mouchwè pou’w té
dansГ© kГІdwil. Your head must be tied
with a kerchief for you to dance the
quadrille. [< Fr. mouchoir]
mouchwГЁ pГІch handkerchief. I
swiyé fidji’y èk mouchwè pòch li. He
dried his face with his handkerchief.
motjГ©
V to mock. Ti manmay-la ka
motjé papa’y. The child is mocking
his father. (see also: fГЁ papicho, fГЁ
sin, pwan sГЁvi papicho, pwan sГЁvi
widitjil, pwan sГЁvi wizib, tousГ© nГ©,
wi) [< Fr. moquer]
mouklГ©
N click beetle. MouklГ©-a ka
bat tГЁt li a tГЁ-a. The fire beetle knocks
its head on the floor.
motoka
moulavan (var: moulen van)
N automobile, car. I genyen
on motoka nГЁf. He bought a new car.
(see also: machin, trГІk, vann)
[< Eng. motor car]
moulen
N mortar. Yo ka fГЁ mГІtyГ© pou
bati an pak masonn. They’re making
mortar to build a brick wall. [< Fr.
mortier]
mouch
N
N mill, grinder. Nou bizwen
on moulen pou fГЁ fawin fwans. We
need a mill to make flour. [< Fr.
moulin] moulen van variant of
moulavan. [< Fr. moulin Г vent]
hog plum, hog plum tree.
fly. La ni an chay mouch
asou chouval-la. There are a lot of
flies on the horse. [< Fr. mouche] pat
mouch scrawl, indecipherable
writing. Ékwiti’w menm kon pat
N
N
windmill. Asou mГІn-an ni an gwo
moulavan. On the hill there is a big
windmill. [< Fr. moulin Г vent]
mГІtyГ©
mouben
mouli
mouli
160
N shavings, filings. Mouli-a ka
tonbГ© lГЁ i filГ© koutla-a. Filings fall
when he sharpens the cutlass. mouli
bwa sawdust. La ni mouli bwa
toupatou. There’s sawdust
moulon
Kwéyòl – English
everywhere.
moulon
N watermelon. Moulon-an tГ©
dou. The watermelon was sweet.
[< Fr. melon]
moutjwГ© variant of moutwГ©.
mouton
N sheep. Tan lontan savann
VyГ© FГІ tГ© benyen mouton. Long ago
the field in Vieux Fort was full of
sheep. [< Fr. mouton]
mouman variant of monman.
moumou
dumb, unable to speak.
Sa ki wivé’w? Ou moumou jòdi-a?
What’s wrong with you? Are you
dumb today? (see also: Г©pawlab,
soud) N mute. Gason sala sГ© on
moumou. That boy is a mute. (see
also: abГЁbГЁ)
ADJ
moutwГ© (var: moutjwГ©)
V 1) to show.
MoutwГ© nou lajan-an. Show us the
money. (see also: wГ©vГ©lГ©) 2) to teach.
Tout sé bagay-la mwen moutwé’wla, ou pa apwann anyen. All the
things I have taught you and you
haven’t learned anything. (see also:
endikГ©, enstwi, titj) Mwen kay
moutwé’w an lison ou pa janmen
obliyé! I’ll teach you a lesson that
you’ll never forget! [< Fr. montrer]
moun
N person. Moun sala sГ© on
FwansГ©. That person is a Frenchman.
[< Fr. monde] gwan moun older
folks, grownups, elders. Pa mГ©tГ©
kò’w an zafè gwan moun. Don’t
involve yourself in grownups’
business. ki moun whom. Bay ki
moun ou ka twavay? For whom do
you work? ki moun ki who. Ki
moun ki mГІ? Who died? (syn: kilГЁs
ki, sa ki) sa ki moun whose. Sa ki
moun sa yГ©? Whose is that? (syn: sa
ki)
mouvman
N movement. La pa tГ© ni
pyГЁs mouvman anba kay-la. There
was no movement under the house.
[< Fr. mouvement]
mouyГ©
V to wet, to get wet. Lapli-a
mouyГ© nou. The rain got us wet. (see
also: twanpГ©, mik, sosГ©) ADJ wet.
Chimiz-la mouyé toujou. The shirt’s
still wet. (opp: sГЁk; see also:
antwanp) [< Fr. mouiller]
moustach
N moustache. I ni on gwo
moustach. He has a big moustache.
(see also: bab) [< Fr. moustache]
movГ© (var: movГЁz)
ADJ bad. SГ© on
mové gason. He’s a bad boy. (syn:
vyГ©; opp: bon; see also: mГ©chan,
sГ©lГ©wa, modi) [< Fr. mauvais] movГ©
lam 1) evil spirit. LГЁ yo sГІti an vГЁy,
yo wГЁ an movГ© lam tГ© ka swiv yo.
When they left the wake, they saw an
evil spirit was following them. (syn:
vyГ© lГЁspwi) 2) same as vyГ© lam.
Nonm sala sé on mové lam – i ka fè
maji nwГЁ. That man is an evil person
– he does black magic.
moustik
N sand fly. Moustik piti mГ©
i ka mГІdГ© fГІ. The sand fly is little but
it has a big bite. [< Fr. moustique]
moutГ©
V 1) to go up. I ja moutГ© an
hГІtГЁ twa fwa. She has already gone
up to the countryside three times.
(opp: dГ©sann) 2) to put together, to
assemble. Yo koupГ© tout planch-lan
avan yo moutГ© kouch-la. They cut all
of the boards before they assembled
the bed. (opp: dГ©moutГ©) 3) to ride. I
ka mouté chouval-la. She’s riding the
horse. [< Fr. monter]
movГЁztГ©
movГЁztГ©
N evil, wickedness. Yo fГЁ
tout sГІt kaltГ© movГЁztГ©. They did all
kinds of evil. (syn: kwiyotГ©,
161
mwa
Kwéyòl – English
mГ©chanstГ©; see also: sГ©lГ©watГЁ, vis)
jako. The mwennson’s beak resembles
a parrot’s.
mwa
N month. Yo kay wГЁstГ© dГ© mwa
lГІt pГ©yi They are going to stay two
months overseas. [< Fr. mois]
mwens
ADJ less, fewer. Mwen ni
mwens lajan pasé’w. I have less
money than you. (opp: pli) [< Fr.
moins]
mwГЁl
N marrow. Yo tiyГ© mwГЁl an zoa. They removed marrow from the
bone. [< Fr. moelle]
mwГ©zi
ADJ soft (in reference to dry
foods). Biswi-a pa bon ankГІ; i ja
mwézi. The biscuit isn’t good
anymore; it’s soft. (see also: wasi)
mwen
PRO I, me, my, mine. Mwen
pГЁd tout lajan mwen. I lost all my
money. [< Fr. moi]
mwenk
nothing, not a word. LГЁ
yo akizГ© nonm sala, i pa di mwenk.
When they accused the man, he didn’t
say a word. (syn: ting; see also:
anyen)
PRO
nati
myГЁl
N bee. SГ© myГЁl-la tГ© ka volГ© bГІ
djГІl tou-a. The bees were flying by
the mouth of hole. (syn: vonvon; see
also: dГ©syen, kasav myГЁl) [< Fr. miel]
siwo myГЁl honey. Vonvon ka fГЁ
siwo myГЁl. Bees make honey. (see
also: siwo)
mwennson
N a type of small bird.
BГЁk mwennson-an ka sanm bГЁk
Nn
najГ©
V 1) to swim. Yo tГ© ka najГ© an
lanmГЁ-a. They were swimming in the
sea. (see also: benyen) 2) same as
najГ© saviyon. [< Fr. nager] najГ©
saviyon to paddle. Nou najГ©
saviyon pou wivГ© jik asou lilГЁt-la.
We paddled until we reached to islet.
koko-a tГ© dou! The coconut meat was
sweet!
nannГ© variant of lannГ©.
nannwit variant of lannwit.
nas
N fish pot. I ka tann nas-la
douvan lilГЁt-la. He is setting his fish
pots in front of the islet. (see also:
panyen basen) [< Fr. nasse]
nan variant of adan. Yo mété’y nan
bwГЁt-la. They put it in the box.
nanj
N angel. Nanj-lan tГ© ka palГ©
bay Daniel. The angel was speaking
to Daniel. [< Fr. un ange] nanj
Satan demon. SГ© nanj Satan-an tГ©
ka atakГ© nonm-lan. The demons were
attacking the man. (syn: vyГ© lГЁspwi,
movГ© lam)
nasyon
N nation. LatГЁ sala ni
difГ©wan kalitГ© nasyon. The world has
different kinds of nations. (syn: pГ©yi)
[< Fr. nation]
natГ©
V to braid, to weave, to plait. SГ©
tifi-a ka natГ© chivГ© yo. The girls are
braiding their hair. (see also: twГ©sГ©)
[< Fr. natter]
nanmitan variant of anmitan.
nannan
inside, centre, heart, meat
or pulp of fruit or nuts. Nannan
N
nati1
N dreadlocks. Nati Rasta sala
lonng an chay. That Rasta’s
162
nati
Kwéyòl – English
mawon uneducated, unskilled,
dreadlocks are very long.
nati
2
unsophisticated, unambitious person.
PalГ© kon an moun ki entГ©lijan, pa
kon an nГЁg mawon. Talk like a
person who’s intelligent, not like an
uneducated person. nГЁg wonm
drunkard. NГЁg wonm pa ka ni lajan
pis lè yo ni dé sou, yo ka bwè’y.
Drunkards don’t have money because
when they have a few cents, they drink
it. (syn: wonmyГ©, gГІgГЁ; see also:
bwason, bwГЁ, gГІg, sou, wonm) ti
nГЁg rascal, scoundrel, mischievous
boy. Pa kwiyГ© mwen, ti nГЁg; mwen
pa jan’w. Don’t call me, you rascal;
I’m not your friend. vyé nèg
irresponsible person. MisyГ© sГ© on vyГ©
nГЁg; i pa ka swen ich li. That man is
an irresponsible person; he doesn’t
feed his children.
nature. SГ© kon sa nati lГ©zГІm
yé. That is what man’s nature is like.
[< Fr. nature]
N
natiwГЁl
ADJ 1) natural. Dlo sous sГ© on
bagay ki natiwГЁl. Spring water is a
natural thing. 2) sober, not drunk.
MisyГ©-a pa natiwГЁl pyГЁs; i sanm ja
bwГЁ wonm. The man is not sober at
all; it seems like he has been drinking
rum. (opp: sou) N natural affection.
Manmay jГІdi pa ni natiwГЁl. Children
today don’t have any natural affection.
[< Fr. naturel]
navГ©
N
turnip. [< Fr. navet]
navidjГ©
V to sail. Yo navidjГ© pou dГ©
jou. They sailed for two days. [< Fr.
naviguer]
nГ©1
nГ©glijan
N nose. I ni on gwo nГ©. He has a
big nose. [< Fr. nez]
ADJ negligent. Si ou pa tГ©
otan nГ©glijan, aksidan sala pa tГ© kay
fèt. If you weren’t so negligent, this
accident wouldn’t have happened.
[< Fr. nГ©gligent]
nГ©2
N knot. La ni an nГ© an kГІd-la.
There’s a knot in the rope. [< Fr.
noeud] nГ© banbou bamboo knot,
joint. Yo kwévé dé an sé né banboua èk yo plen’y èk dlo. They pierced
two of the bamboo joints and filled it
with water.
nГ©glijans
N negligence. SГ© pou lapГ©ti
nГ©glijans dГІktГЁ-a ti manmay-la mГІ.
It was because of the negligence of the
doctor the child died. [< Fr.
nГ©gligence]
nГЁditan
N hour. Nou twavay pou sГЁt
nГЁditan jГІdi-a. We worked for seven
hours today. (see also: kadГЁ, minit, lГЁ)
nГ©glijГ©
V to neglect. I ka nГ©glijГ©
twavay li. He is neglecting his work.
[< Fr. nГ©gliger]
nГЁf1
ADJ new. Motoka’y té nèf lè i
kwazé’y. His car was new when he
wrecked it. (syn: nivo; opp: vyГ©) [< Fr.
neuf]
nГЁf2
ADJ
nГЁgwГЁs
N Negress. (see also: chabin,
miyatwГЁs, nГЁg)
nennenn
N godmother. Madanm-lan
sé nennenn mwen. The woman’s my
godmother. (see also: pawen, da,
makoumГЁ, konpГЁ)
nine. [< Fr. neuf]
nГЁf3
N nerve. NГЁf-la anba lapo-a. The
nerve is under the skin. [< Fr. nerf]
nГЁg
Negro. (see also: chaben, djinГ©,
milat, nГЁgwГЁs) [< Fr. nГЁgre] nГЁg
N
nГ©pГІt
nГ©pГІt
163
ADJ any. Ou sa mandГ© nГ©pГІt
moun ki kotГ© mwen ka wГЁstГ©. You
nГ©sГ©sГЁ
Kwéyòl – English
ni1
can ask anyone where I live. (syn:
pwèmyé vini) [< Fr. n’importe]
V 1) to have. Mwen ni twa dГІla
an pГІch mwen. I have three dollars in
my pocket. 2) to be (a certain age).
NivГ© mwen ni ven lannГ©. My nephew
is twenty years old. ni pou to have
to, must. Nou ni pou genyen lavi
nou. We must make a living. (syn: sГ©
pou, sГ© fo, oblijГ©; see also: dwГ©)
nГ©sГ©sГЁ
ADJ necessary. SГ© pou ou fГЁ
tout sa ki nГ©sГ©sГЁ avan mwen vini.
You must do everything that is
necessary before I come. (see also:
dwГ©, fo, oblijГ©) [< Fr. nГ©cessaire]
nГЁt
ADJ clean. WГІb-la pa nГЁt. The
dress is not clean. (syn: pwГІp; opp:
sal, mal pwГІp) ADV completely. Ou
ni pou dГ©twi yo nГЁt. You must
destroy them completely. (syn:
nГЁtaman, konplГЁtman) [< Fr. net]
ni2
ADJ bare. [< Fr. nu] ni pyГ©
barefoot. Ti manmay-la ka machГ© ni
pyГ© an labou-a. The child was
walking barefoot in the mud. [< Fr.
nu-pieds] tou ni (var: toupanni)
naked, nude. Ti manmay-la tГ© tou ni
lГЁ yo jwenn li. The child was naked
when they found her.
nГЁtaman
ADV 1) clearly, definitely.
Mwen kay moutwé’w nètaman sa
mwen vlГ© di. I will show you clearly
what I wanted to say. (syn: a klГЁ)
2) completely. Konsyans mwen klГЁ,
mГ© sa pa vlГ© di mwen inosan
nГЁtaman. My conscience is clear, but
that doesn’t mean I am completely
innocent. (syn: nГЁt, konplГЁtman,
toutafГЁt) 3) (not) at all. Ou pa kay fГЁ
sa nètaman! You won’t do that at all!
(syn: pyГЁs)
nГ©twayГ©
1) to tidy, to clean. AlГ©
nГ©twayГ© kay-la. Go clean the house.
(opp: sali; see also: nГЁt, pwГІp, lavГ©,
tjiwГ©, savon) 2) to cut grass and
brush and clear away trash. SГ© mounan ka nГ©twayГ© bГІ chimen-an. The
people are cutting the grass and
clearing away the trash by the road.
[< Fr. nettoyer]
V
ni...ni
CONJ 1) both...and, as well as.
Ni chouval-la ni kawГІs-la tonbГ© an
lanmГЁ-a. Both the horse and the cart
fell into the sea. (see also: ГЁvГЁk, Г©pi,
ki...ki, swГ©...Г©ben, osi, tou)
2) neither...nor. I pa ka obГ©yi ni
papa’y ni manman’y. He obeys
neither his father nor his mother.
[< Fr. ni]
nich
N nest. JibyГ©-a fГЁ on nich asou
pyГ© mango-a. The bird made a nest in
the mango tree. [< Fr. niche]
nichГ©1
V to lick. Chyen-an nichГ©
lanmen mwen. The dog licked my
hand. [< Fr. lГ©cher]
nichГ©2
V to caress. MisyГ©-a ka nichГ©
madanm li. The man is caressing his
wife. (syn: kawГ©sГ©, dolotГ©; see also:
manyen, touchГ©) [< Fr. nicher]
nГ©van
N same as nГЁf lannГ©. [< Fr.
neuf ans]
nГ©vГЁ
N
nГ©yГ©
V
nivГ©
N nephew. NivГ© mwen ni ven
lannГ©. My nephew is twenty. (see
also: nyГЁs) [< Fr. neveu]
nine o’clock. [< Fr. neuf
heures]
to drown. An jenn tifi nГ©yГ© an
lanmГЁ-a. A young girl drowned in the
sea. [< Fr. noyer]
nivo
nivo1
ADJ level. SГ© planch-lan pa
nivo. The boards are not level. (see
also: Г©gal) N level. ChapantyГЁ-a ka
164
nivo
Kwéyòl – English
sГЁvi nivo-a pou twavay. The
carpenter is using the level to work.
[< Fr. niveau]
nivo2
ADJ
nГІ
north. [< Fr. nord]
new. Sa sГ© on lwa nivo.
That is a new law (rare; syn: nГЁf; opp:
vyГ©) [< Fr. nouveau]
N
nГІlaj
knowledge. MisyГ© sala ni an
chay nГІlaj konsГЁnГ© Bib-la. That man
has a lot of knowledge about the
Bible. (opp: inyowans; see also:
lakopwann, konnГ©sans, sav) [< Eng.
knowledge]
N
alé épi’y nonplis. He said he wouldn’t
take me, but I didn’t want to go with
him anyway. [< Fr. n’on plus]
nГІs1
N nurse. NГІs-la ka otjipГ© fwГЁ
mwen. The nurse takes care of my
brother. (see also: dГІktГЁ, lopital)
[< Eng. nurse]
nГІs2
N wedding. JГІdi-a la kay ni on
nГІs an lГ©gliz Katolik-la. Today there
will be a wedding in the Catholic
church. (see also: mawiyaj, mayГ©)
[< Fr. noce]
nГІtsenyГЁ
N our Lord. Yo p’òkò
asГЁptГ© nГІtsenyГЁ JГ©zi Kwi kon sovГЁ
yo. They haven’t yet accepted our
Lord Jesus Christ as their saviour.
(relig., archaic) [< Fr. notre seigneur]
non1
N name. Non’y sé Mano. His
name is Mano. [< Fr. nom] bay non
to name, to christen. Yo bay non’y
JozГЁf. They named him Joseph. (syn:
lonmen; see also: kwiyГ©) ti non
same as soudnon. Non’y sé
Christopher mé ti non’y sé Tofa. His
name is Christopher but his nickname
is Tofa.
non2
no. Non, nou pa vlГ© pyГЁs
pen. No, we don’t want any bread.
(opp: wi; see also: awa) [< Fr. non]
nГІtwipen
N our daily bread. BondyГ©
ka ban nou nГІtwipen-an. God gives
us our daily bread. (relig., archaic,
rare) [< Fr. notre pain]
nou
PRO we, us, our. Yo ban nou
lajan nou. They gave us our money.
[< Fr. nous]
ADV
nonm
man. Nonm-lan ka twavay
wГЁd. The man works hard. (syn:
misyГ©; see also: boug) ADJ mannish;
when a boy rudely acts older than he
really is. Tibway sala twГІ nonm.
That boy is too mannish. (see also:
dГ©wГЁspГЁktГ©, fanm) [< Fr. un homme]
nonm douvan nonm a type of
grass, remedy for Г©pwidan. (syn:
pikan vГ©wi)
nouwi
nouvГЁl
N 1) news. Lè i tann nouvèlla konsèné papa’y, i koumansé hélé.
When he heard the news about his
father, he began to cry. (see also:
wapГІ) 2) greeting. Ba yo nouvГЁl
nou. Give them our greetings. (see
also: bonjou) Ki nouvГЁl lakay? How
is home? [< Fr. nouvelle]
N
nouwi
V to feed. I ka nouwi gasonan. She’s feeding the boy. (syn: swen)
[< Fr. nourrir] mal nouwi to
malnourish. I ka mal nouwi kò’y, sé
sa ki fГЁ i mГЁg kon sa. He
malnourishes himself, and that is why
he is skinny like that. [< Fr.
malnourrir]
nonmen variant of lonmen. [< Fr.
nommer]
nonpli variant of nonplis.
nonplis
ADV anyway. I di i pa kay
mennen mwen, mГ© mwen pa tГ© kay
165
nouwiti
Kwéyòl – English
nouwiti
Today is Christmas. [< Fr. NoГ«l]
N nourishment. ManjГ© sala
pa ni pyГЁs nouwiti. That food has no
nourishment. [< Fr. nourriture]
Novanm
N
LavГЁy NwГЁl Christmas Eve. Yo
kay pati Lavèy Nwèl. They’ll depart
on Christmas Eve.
November. [< Fr.
nwГЁsГЁ
novembre]
N darkness, the dark. Pa wГЁstГ©
an nwèsè-a; limen lanp-lan. Don’t
stay in the dark; light the lamp. (syn:
fГЁ nwГЁ) [< Fr. noirceur]
nwa1
N nut. Yo ka anmasГ© nwa pou
woti. They are gathering nuts to roast.
[< Fr. noix]
nwa2
kidney. Manman mwen
malad an nwa’y. My mother is sick in
the kidney.
N
nwГЁsi
V to blacken, to darken. SГІti bГІ
chГІdyГЁ-a avan i nwГЁsi had ou. Get
away from the cooking pot before it
blackens your clothes. nwГЁsi non to
defame, to slander. SГ© moun-an ka
nwГЁsi non sГ© lГ©zГІt-la. The people
were slandering the others. (syn:
dГ©kwiyГ©, mГ©pwizГ©, sali non; see also:
ensiltГ©, mal palГ©, chayГ© pawГІl) [< Fr.
noircir]
nwaj
N cloud. SyГЁl-la kouvГЁ Г©pi
nwaj jГІdi-a. The sky is covered with
clouds today. [< Fr. nuage]
nwГЁ
ADJ black. I ka pГІtГ© soulyГ© nwГЁ.
He’s wearing black shoes. (opp: blan)
[< Fr. noir] fГЁ nwГЁ 1) to be dark.
Nou pa vlГ© sГІti lГЁ i ka fГЁ nwГЁ. We
don’t want to go out when it’s dark.
(opp: fГЁ jou) 2) darkness. Mwen tГ©
pГЁ machГ© an fГЁ nwГЁ-a. I was afraid to
walk in the dark. (syn: nwГЁsГЁ) ti fГЁ
nwГЁ pre-dawn. An ti fГЁ nwГЁ-a yo alГ©
gadГ© pou ti manmay-la. Just before
dawn they went to look for the child.
fГЁ ti nwГЁ to be in the dark still, just
before daybreak. I tГ© ka fГЁ ti nwГЁ
toujou lГЁ nou pati alГ© an jaden. It
was still dark when we went out to the
garden. (see also: laba, labajou)
NwГЁl
N
obГ©yisans
nwit
N night. I wГЁstГ© la kawant jou
ГЁk kawant nwit. He stayed there 40
days and 40 nights. (opp: jou, jounГ©;
see also: ГІswГЁ, lannwit) [< Fr. nuit]
nyak
ADJ overripe condition of
dasheen. Dachin-an pa bon ankГІ, i
ja nyak. The dasheen isn’t good
anymore, it’s already overripe. (syn:
kyanng, tounen; see also: groum)
nyГЁs
N niece. NyГЁs mwen malad;
mwen ka alé wè’y. My niece is sick;
I’m going to see her. (see also: nivé)
[< Fr. niГЁce]
Christmas. JГІdi-a sГ© NwГЁl.
Oo
oben variant of Г©ben.
obГ©yisan
ADJ obedient. Mi an tibway
ki obГ©yisan! Look, what an obedient
child! (syn: Г©koutan; opp:
dГ©zobГ©yisan) [< Fr. obГ©issant]
obГ©yi
V to obey. I pa vlГ© obГ©yi
manman’y. He doesn’t want to obey
his mother. (opp: dГ©zobГ©yi) [< Fr.
obГ©ir]
obГ©yisans
N obedience. ObГ©yisans
ou kay mennen’w byen lwen an lavi.
166
obligasyon
Kwéyòl – English
Your obedience will take you far in
life. (opp: dГ©zobГ©yisans) [< Fr.
obГ©issance]
obligasyon
obligation. I pa tГ©
anba pyГЁs obligasyon pou Г©dГ© nou.
He was not under any obligation to
help us. [< Fr. obligation]
oblijГ©
houma ki ni odjГ©. It is against the law
to catch lobsters that have eggs.
ofГЁ
V to offer. Madanm-lan ofГЁ an ti
tjГІ tГЁ pou mwen sa achtГ©. The
woman offered to sell me a little piece
of land. [< Fr. offre]
N
1) to compel, to force. Mwen
oblijГ© tibway-la mennen sГ© bagay-la
i vГІlГЁ-a dГ©viwГ©. I compelled the boy
to bring back the things he stole. (syn:
fГІsГ©) 2) to be obligated, to have to.
Mwen pa oblijé ba’w anyen. I don’t
have to give you anything. (syn: ni
pou, sГ© fo, sГ© pou; see also: nГ©sГ©sГЁ)
[< Fr. obliger]
ГІfis
N office. I ka twavay adan on
ГІfis. She works in an office. (see also:
biwo) [< Fr. office]
V
oblijГ© must. I oblijГ© sГ© yonn an sГ© ti
manmay sala ki voyГ© wГІch-la. He
must be one of those children who
threw the rocks. (syn: dwГ©) [< Fr.
obliger]
obliyГ© (var: bliyГ©)
to forget. Pa
obliyé nou! Don’t forget us! (opp:
chonjГ©) [< Fr. oublier]
V
ГІbzГІki
ADJ out of shape. TjilГІt-la
twГІ ГІbzГІki, i pa ka fГЁ mwen byen.
The pants are too out of shape, they
don’t fit well.
ofisyГ©
N officer. Mwen sГ© an ofisyГ©
an lГ©gliz mwen. I am an officer in my
church. [< Fr. officier]
ГІflen
N orphan. Ti manmay sala sГ©
on ГІflen. This child is an orphan.
[< Fr. orphelin]
ofon
PREP at the bottom of. I twouvГ©
papyГ©-a ofon an panyen. He found
the paper at the bottom of a basket.
(see also: fon) [< Fr. au fond]
ofondwГ© variant of anfondwГ©.
ofwans
N offence. Sa sГ© on ofwans
pou nou. That’s an offence to us.
[< Fr. offense]
ofwansГ©
V to offend. Pawdonnen
mwen si mwen ofwansé’w. Pardon
me if I offended you. ADJ offended.
Nonm-lan vini ofwansГ© paski mwen
palГ© lavГ©witГ©. The man became
offended because I spoke the truth.
[< Fr. offenser]
ГІbzГІvГ© (var: ГЁkzГІvГ©)
V to observe.
Mwen pa tГ© ГІbzГІvГ© sГ© ou ki tГ© la. I
hadn’t observed it was you who was
there. (see also: wГЁ, wГ©yalizГ©) [< Fr.
observer]
ГІgannizasyon
N organization.
Ogannizasyon-an sala ka
wГ©pwГ©zantГ© tout twavayГЁ an pГ©yi-a.
This organization represents all of the
workers in the country. [< Fr.
organization]
ГІdinГЁ
ADJ ordinary. SГ© pa pyГЁs nonm
ГІdinГЁ ou sav; i sГ© on gwo pГЁp. That is
no ordinary man, you know; he is a
big shot. (see also: ГЁstГІdinГЁ) [< Fr.
ordinaire]
odjГ©
ГІgannizГ©
ГІgannizГ©
V to organize. KilГЁs ki
ГІgannizГ© sГ© jwГ© sala? Who organized
these games? [< Fr. organiser]
eggs waiting to hatch (of a
crustacean). I kont lwa-a pou tjГ©bГ©
N
167
ogoumantГ©
Kwéyòl – English
ogoumantГ©
V to increase. BondyГ© ka
ogoumantГ© lafwa nou. God increases
our faith. (opp: Г©twГ©si, mГ©gwГ©si; see
also: gwosi, gwandi) [< Fr.
augmenter]
ogwГЁf
registry. Madanm mwen alГ©
ogwГЁf pou gadГ© pou batistГЁ sГ©
manmay-la. My wife went to the
registry to look for the children’s birth
certificates.
N
OjГ©
N the village of Augier. Yo tout
ka wГЁstГ© OjГ© pwГ© lopital-la. They all
live in Augier near the hospital. [< Fr.
Augier]
ГІkГІ variant of ankГІ.
fruit), unripe. SГ© pa pou tjouwi
mango-a olèt. You mustn’t pick the
mangoes before they are mature. (see
also: matwitГ©, mi, vГЁt)
oliwon variant of owon.
olwen
ADV from a distance. Yo tГ© ka
swiv nonm-lan olwen. They were
following the man from a distance.
(opp: opwГ©; see also: lwen) [< Fr. au
loin]
olyГЁ
PREP instead of, rather than. SГЁvi
sa mwen-an olyГЁ sa ou-a. Use mine
instead of yours. (syn: andji, pito; see
also: vonmyГ©, simyГ©) [< Fr. au lieu]
on1 variant of an. I ni on gwo motoka.
okontwГЁ (var: ankontwГЁ)
CONJ 1) on
the contrary, however. I di i pa ka
palГ© ban mwen. OkontwГЁ sГ© mwen
ki pa ka palГ© ba li. She said she is not
speaking to me. On the contrary, it is I
who am not speaking to her. (syn:
kanmenm; see also: mГ©) 2) as a
matter of fact. Г€s mwen sa tjouwi on
koko? Wi, okontwГЁ, ou sa tjouwi
tout koko-a. Can I pick a coconut?
Yes, as a matter of fact you can pick
all of the coconuts. [< Fr. au
contraire]
He has a large car. [< Fr. un]
on2 sentence tag. Ko ou ka alГ©, on?
Where are you going, eh? (used after a
question or a command; see also: wi)
[< Fr. non]
onkГІ variant of ankГІ.
onkouwajГ© variant of ankouwajГ©.
onnГЁt
ADJ honest. Ti manmay-la tГ©
onnГЁt. The child was honest. [< Fr.
honnГЄte] mal onnГЁt 1) impolite, illmannered, untrained. Ou mal onnГЁt,
wi! Ou pasГ© kay-la ГЁk ou pa di
bonjou! You’re very impolite! You
passed the house and didn’t say good
morning. (syn: mal Г©livГ©; opp: byen
Г©livГ©) 2) ungrateful. Ou mal onnГЁt.
Ou pa janmen di mwen mГЁsi pou
kado-a. You are ungrateful. You
never said thank you for the gift. (syn:
engwa) [< Fr. malhonnГЄte]
okouwan
ADJ familiar. Mwen pa
okouwan Г©pi chimen sala. I am not
familiar with this road. (see also:
konnГЁt) [< Fr. au courant]
Г’ktГІb
N
October. [< Fr. octobre]
olanmГІ
ADV unto death. JГ©zi di nГ©pГІt
moun ki pa pawГ© pou swiv li jis
olanmГІ pa vo pou sГ© disip li. Jesus
said anyone who is not ready to follow
him even unto death is not worthy to
be his disciple. [< Fr. au la mort]
olГЁt
ADJ
immature (in reference to
onnowГ©
onnГ©wab
ADJ honourable. I sГ© on
nonm onnГ©wab. He is an honourable
man. [< Fr. honorable]
onnowГ©
168
V
to honour. Yo ka onnowГ©
oplГЁz
Kwéyòl – English
(syn: ki kantitГ©, ki mizi, konmen)
non Jézi. They honour Jesus’ name.
(opp: dГ©zonnowГ©; see also: wГЁspГЁktГ©)
[< Fr. honorer]
otГ©
V to belch. Gason-an koumansГ©
otГ©. The boy began to belch. [< Fr.
roter]
oplГЁz
INTERJ goodbye, farewell. ApwГ©
mwen di yo oplГЁz mwen pati asou
chimen mwen. After I said farewell I
went on my way. (syn: dГ©dГ©) [< Fr. au
plaisir]
oti1
V to tell on, to tattle. Mwen kay
oti papa’w ba’w! I’ll tell your father
on you!
oti2
opwГ© variant of pwГ©.
V to visit, to pay a visit, to see
(someone for something). TГЁt li tГ© ka
fè’y mal tèlman i té oblijé ay oti
dГІktГЁ-a. His head was hurting him so
much he had to go pay a visit to the
doctor.
osi
ADV also, as well, too. I vlГ© alГ© osi.
He wants to go too. (syn: tou; see also:
ni...ni) [< Fr. aussi] osi byen also,
as well as. Di manman’w bonjou, osi
byen papa’w. Tell your mother hello,
as well as your father. (see also: ГЁvГЁk,
Г©pi)
oti3 variant of woti.
otjГЁt
N hiccups. I ka bwГЁ dlo pis i ni
otjèt. He’s drinking water because he
has hiccups. [< Fr. hoquet]
ГІswГЁ
N evening. I kay vini denmen
ГІswГЁ. He will come tomorrow
evening. (opp: bonmaten; see also:
swГЁ, lannwit) [< Fr. au soir] ГІswГЁ-a
this evening, tonight. I kay vini ГІswГЁa. He will come this evening. (see
also: li ГІswГЁ) li ГІswГЁ (var: li swГЁ) in
the evening. Li ГІswГЁ nou wivГ©
Babad Г©pi nou dГІmi la. In the
evening we arrived in Barbados and
we slept there.
otjipasyon
N care. MisyГ©-a tГ© anba
otjipasyon ich li dГ©pi lГЁ i tonbГ©
malad. The man was under his child’s
care since he fell sick. (`; see also:
lanmen)
otjipГ©
V 1) to take care of, to care for,
to look after. Mwen ka otjipГ© tout
ich fwГЁ mwen-an ki mГІ-a. I am
taking care of all of the children of my
brother who died. (syn: pwan ka,
gadГ© apwГ©; see also: swen, vГ©yГ©) Ay
otjipé zafè’w! Go tend to your own
business! 2) to worry, to be disturbed
or troubled. Pa otjipé’w épi’y. Don’t
worry about him. [< Fr. occuper]
otan
ADV how, how much, to what
extent. Nou wГЁ otan ho kay-la ho.
We saw how high the house is. (syn:
kantitГ©, mizi) ADJ so much, so many.
M’a té sav i té ni otan lajan. I didn’t
know he had so much money. (syn:
tГЁlman) [< Fr. autant] dГ© otan
double, twice as much, twice as many.
LГЁ nou fini, nou kay ni dГ© otan
lajan-an nou tГ© ni an koumansman.
When we finish, we will have twice as
much money as we had before. ki
otan how much. Ki otan lajan ou
vlГ© pou fГЁ konmisyon-an? How much
money do you want to do the errand?
otowizasyon
otowitГ© variant of lotowitГ©.
otowizasyon
N authorization.
PwГЁmyГ© Minis-la ban mwen
otowizasyon-an pou mwen sa Г©tabli
an lГ©kГІl VyГ© FГІ. The Prime Minister
gave me authorisation to establish a
school in Vieux Fort. (see also:
lotowitГ©, pouvwa, dwa) [< Fr.
169
ou
Kwéyòl – English
pa
ovan
autorisation]
ADV upwind. Ou pasГ© ovan nou.
You passed upwind of us. N
windward side, east. Ovan-an bawГ©;
i sanm lapli kay tonbГ©. The
windward side is overcast; it seems it
is going to rain. (see also: sГІlГЁy lГ©van)
[< Fr. au vent]
ou (var: ’w)
PRO second person
singular pronoun. Ou pèd lajan’w?
Did you lose your money?
ouben variant of Г©ben.
oukou
N a type of tree. Oukou-a ka
bay sГІs-la bon gou. Oukou gives the
sauce a good taste.
ovif
ADJ raw, open (in reference to a
wound). Bobo-a ovif. The sore is
open. [< Fr. Г vif]
ouvan variant of ouvГЁ. An ouvan
bouch mwen, mwen wigwГ©tГ© mwen
di’y. Upon opening my mouth, I was
sorry I said it. (rare)
ouvГ© variant of wivГ©.
owa
ADJ to the brim. Yo plen sГ© jГЁ-a
owa. They filled the jars to the brim.
(syn: waz)
owon (var: oliwon)
PREP around.
Mwen machГ© tout owon vil ka gadГ©
pou soulyГ© lГ©kГІl. I walked all around
town looking for school shoes. ADV
approximately, about. Mwen ni lidГ©
chyen-an ni owon douz piti. I think
the dog has about twelve pups. (syn:
alafen di, apipwГ©, avГЁwdi, bГІ, vГЁГІ)
[< Fr. au rond] owon-an around
here, around there. GadГ© owon-an la
pou bol-la; sГ© la i tonbГ©. Look around
there for the ball; that is where it fell.
ouvГЁ (var: ouvan)
V 1) to open. OuvГЁ
finГЁt-la ban mwen souplГ©. Open the
window for me please. (opp: fГЁmГ©)
2) to put out to dry, to hang out (in
reference to clothes). AlГ© ouvГЁ had-la
ban mwen. Go hang out the clothes
for me. (opp: antwГ©) ADJ open.
LapГІt-la tГ© ouvГЁ Г©pi vГІlГЁ-a antwГ©.
The door was open and the thief
entered. [< Fr. ouvrir]
Pp
pa1
(see also: lo, pГІsyon) [< Fr. part]
ADV not. Sa pa vwé! That’s not
true! [< Fr. pas] o pa or not. Ou vlГ©
alГ© an vil o pa? Do you want to go to
town or not? [< Fr. ou pas]
pwan pa to take part, to participate.
Mwen pa vlГ© pwan pa an pyГЁs jwГ©
ou ni pou payé lajan. I don’t want to
take part in any game that involves
gambling. (syn: patisipГ©)
pa2
PREP 1) by, through. SГ© BondyГ©
ki sové’w pa lagwas li. It is God who
saved you by his grace. 2) per. Yo ka
vann li on dГІla pa boutГЁy. They sell
it one dollar per bottle. (syn: li) [< Fr.
par]
pa4
N step. VГІlГЁ-a fГЁ dГ© pa Г©pi i
janbГ© lawivyГЁ-a. The thief took two
steps and he jumped over the river.
[< Fr. pas] fo pa misstep, mistake.
Mwen fГЁ on fo pa la. I made a
mistake there. [< Fr. faux pas] pa
lapГІt doorstep, doorway. LГ©vГ© an
pa3
N part, share. Chak moun kay fГЁ
pa’y. Each person will do his part.
170
pachpach
Kwéyòl – English
pa lapГІt-la, ou ka anpГ©chГ© mwen
pasГ©. Come out of the doorway,
you’re blocking my way.
pachpach
N second-rate, lesser
quality items. Ou pwen tout sГ© bon
tanmadГІz-la, mГ© ou ban mwen sГ©
pachpach-la. You took all the good
tomatoes, but you gave me the lesser
ones.
Pak2
N Easter. Dimanch Pak tout
moun ka alГ© lanmГЁs. Easter Sunday
everyone goes to mass. [< Fr. Paques]
pakouwГЁ
N womaniser. Nonm-lan sГ©
on pakouwè. The man’s a womaniser.
pakouwi
V to womanise, to engage in
illicit sexual relations. SГ© jou sala ni
tГЁlman maladi, Г©pi ou pa ka doubout
pakouwi? These days there are so
many different diseases, and you
won’t quit womanising? (see also:
adiltГЁ, fГІnikasyon) [< Fr. parcourir]
padan (var: padantan, paditan,
patan) CONJ while. Padan nou tГ© ka
palГ© sГ© gason-an tГ© ka jwГ©. While we
were talking the boys were playing.
(see also: kon, lГЁ) [< Fr. pendant]
pal
ADJ pale, light in colour. Mwen
enmen wГЁ chimiz-la ou ni ki pal blГ©a. I like to see your shirt that is pale
blue. (see also: blenm) [< Fr. pГўle]
padantan variant of padan. [< Fr.
pendant temps]
paditan variant of padan.
palanma
padon
palapata
N pardon, forgiveness. WavГЁt
pa ni padon douvan poul.
Cockroaches get no pardon from
chickens. (syn: pawdonnasyon,
pawdonnab) INTERJ excuse me.
Padon – wépété sa ou di-a ankò,
souplé. Excuse me – repeat what you
said, please. [< Fr. pardon]
N
screwpine.
N babbler. Ki sa vyГ©
palapata sala konnГЁt? What does that
evil babbler know? (syn: lanng kaka;
see also: bava)
palaviwГ©
N big, angry slap.
Manman-an bay tibway-la yon
palaviwГ© alГІ. The mother gave the
boy one big slap. (syn: souflГ©, do
lanmen; see also: tap) V to slap with
both sides of hand. Manman-an
palaviwГ© ti manmay-la. The mother
slapped the child. (syn: souflГ©)
pafimГ©
V 1) to send out smoke. VyГ©
vann sala ka pafimГ© toupatou. That
old van sends out smoke everywhere.
(see also: fimen, lafimГ©) 2) to
fumigate. PafimГ© kay-la pou kouwi
dГЁyГЁ sГ© maygwen-an. Fumigate the
house to chase away the mosquitoes.
MГІn-an ka pafimГ©. There is a haze
around the mountain. [< Fr. parfumer]
palГ©
palГ©1
V to speak, to talk. I ka palГ©
KwГ©yГІl. He speaks Creole. (see also:
di, diskitГ©, kozГ©, wakontГ©) N talk,
chat. Nou wè’y èk nou té ni an ti
palГ©. We saw him and we had a little
chat. (see also: diskasyon, kozГ©)
[< Fr. parler] mal palГ© to bad-talk,
to speak badly about, to backbite. Las
mal palГ© moun. Stop bad-talking
people. (syn: bay dan, chayГ© pawГІl,
palГ© moun mal; see also: dГ©kwiyГ©,
mГ©piwzГ©, nwГЁsi non, sali non) palГ©
pak1
N 1) fence. Kabwit-la janbГ©
pak-la. The goat jumped over the
fence. 2) pen, fold. Yo mГ©tГ©
mouton-an adan pak-la. They put the
sheep in the pen. [< Fr. parc] pak
wГІch pile of stones on which women
do laundry.
171
palГ©
Kwéyòl – English
moun mal same as mal palГ©. Tout
also: chГІdyГЁ, kannawi, tГ©win) pann
a fwi frying pan. I lavГ© pann a fwia. She washed the frying pan.
moun ki palГ© moun mal kay mГІ. All
who gossip will die.
palГ©2
pans
palГ©3
pansГ©
palmis
pant
pan
panti
panchan
pantoufouyГ©
N palace. Nonm sala abiyГ© kon
on moun ka wГЁstГ© andidan palГ©.
That man is dressed like a man who
lives in a palace. [< Fr. palais]
N palate, roof of mouth. KafГ©
cho sala bwilГ© tout palГ© mwen. This
hot coffee burned my whole palate.
[< Fr. palais]
N palmiste, a very tall kind of
palm tree. (see also: wanmo) [< Fr.
palmiste]
N peacock. Ou filozГІf kon an
pan You’re as flashy as a peacock.
[< Fr. paon]
N slope, slant. (syn: pant)
[< Fr. penchant] an panchan
sloping, on a slant. MГ©tГ© bwГЁt-la an
panchan. Put the box on a slant.
N belly. Nonm sala malad; ou
pa wГЁ gwГІsГЁ pans li? That man is
sick; don’t you see the size of his
belly? (syn: bouden) [< Fr. panse]
V to dress, to tend (a sore or a
wound). I alé lopital pansé bobo’y.
He went to the hospital to dress his
sore. [< Fr. panser]
N slope, slant. Yo mГ©tГ© tab-la
an pant. They leaned the table at a
slant. (syn: panchan) [< Fr. pente]
N hinge. Mwen ni pou achtГ©
panti pou lapГІt-la. I need to buy
hinges for the door.
pann1
1) to hang. I ka pann had li
asou ling-lan. She is hanging her
clothes on the line. (syn: ouvГЁ; opp:
dГ©pann; see also: sispann, wanmГ©)
2) to hang (a person, as execution or
suicide). Nonm sala mГ©witГ© pann
paski i tjwГ© madanm li. That man
deserves to hang because he killed his
wife. [< Fr. pendre]
pann2
saucepan, frying pan, cooking
pot. MГ©tГ© dlo-a adan pann-an pou
ou sa bouwi diwi-a. Put the water in
the saucepan to cook the rice. (see
hammerhead shark.
N basket. Panyen-an tГ© plen
konkonm. The basket was full of
cucumbers. [< Fr. panier] panyen
basen basket used as a trap for
catching crayfish. Mwen tjГ©bГ© dГ©
kwibich an panyen basen-an. I
caught two crayfish in the trap. (see
also: nas)
panyt
N pint. Ban mwen on panyt
lГЁt. Give me a pint of milk. [< Eng.
pint]
V
N
N
panyen
panchГ©
V to bend, to bend over, to
cause to bend, to lean. Van-an
tГЁlman fГІ i ka panchГ© sГ© kann-an.
The wind is so strong it is bending the
cane over. (see also: pliyГ©) [< Fr.
pencher]
papa
pap
N porridge made with white flour.
Mwen enmen manjГ© pap lГЁ i ka fГЁ
fwГЁt. I like to eat porridge made with
white flour when it is cold. (syn:
malobi; see also: kwenm, loukou,
matГ©tГ©)
papa (var: Apa)
N father. Papa’y té
ja an vyéyès li lè i fè dènyé gason’y.
His father was already in his old age
when he had his last son. (see also:
manman) [< Fr. papa] papa’y tjwa
172
papay
Kwéyòl – English
spit and image of one’s father.
Tibway sala sé papa’y tjwa. That boy
is the spit and image of his father. (see
also: kwachГ©, tjenbГ© pyГ©)
papay
N
papaya, pawpaw. [< Fr.
pas2 variant of paski. pas pouki
same as paski. Pas pouki mwen pa
alé, i lévé faché. Because I didn’t go,
he became angry.
pasab
ADJ passable, so so. ManjГ©-a
pa tГ© twГІ mal; i tГ© pasab. The food
wasn’t too bad; it was passable. (syn:
tibwen, titak, ti mГІso, tizing) Mwen
la pasab. I’m doing so so. [< Fr.
passable]
papaye]
papicho
N 1) nonsense, foolishness.
Sa ou ka di-a sГ© papicho. What you
are saying is foolishness. (syn: bГ©tiz,
maji, kouyontwi; see also: kochonni)
2) foolish person, fool. Nonm sala sГ©
on papicho. That man is a fool. fГЁ
papicho to make fun of, to ridicule.
Ou ka fè papicho épi mwen. You’re
making fun of me. (see also: motjГ©, fГЁ
sin) palГ© papicho to speak
foolishness, to talk nonsense. Nonm
sala ka palГ© papicho tousГЁl. That
man is only speaking foolishness.
(syn: palГ© bГ©tiz, palГ© ennitil, palГ©
kouyon, palГ© maji; see also: dГ©palГ©,
kouyontwi) pwan sГЁvi papicho to
mock, to ridicule, to make fun of. Yo
té ka pwan’y sèvi papicho. They
were mocking him. (syn: fГЁ papicho,
pwan sГЁvi widitjil, pwan sГЁvi wizib,
motjГ©, fiyonnen)
pasaj (var: pasay)
N passage. Nou ja
li pasaj sala. We have read that
passage. [< Fr. passage]
pasajГ©
N passenger. ChofГЁ-a tГ© fachГ©
paski pasajГ©-a tГ© ka fimen abГІ
machin li. The driver was angry
because the passenger was smoking on
board his vehicle. [< Fr. passager]
pasay
N passage, fare (for travel on
bus, airline, etc.). Ki moun ki pГ©yГ©
pasay ou ba’w pou ou sa alé
Matnik? Who paid your passage for
you to go to Martinique? [< Fr.
passage]
pasdwa
N injustice, wrongdoing,
trespass, harm. Fanmi’w ka babyé
apwГ©zan; yo pa tГ© ka wГЁ tout sГ©
pasdwa-a ou tГ© ka fГЁ mwen-an. Your
family is quarrelling now; they didn’t
see all the injustices you’ve done to
me. (syn: ditГІ)
papiyon
N moth. Papiyon ka volГ© bГІ
layt-la. Moths fly near the light.
[< Fr. papillon]
papiyГІt
N butterfly. PapiyГІt ka volГ©
toupatou. Butterflies are flying
everywhere. [< Fr. papillon]
pasГ©
pasГ©
V 1) to pass by. Nonm sou-a
chantГ© fГІ kon i pasГ© kay-la. The
drunk man sang loudly as he passed by
the house. 2) to spend (time).
Kouman ou pasГ© jounГ©-a? How did
you spend the day? 3) to sift. Yo
pasГ© sab-la adan tanmi-an. They
sifted the sand in the screen. 4) to
iron, to press. I pasГ© chimiz-la, pa
chifonnen’y. She ironed the shirt,
papyГ©
N paper. I pliyГ© tout sГ© papyГ©a. She folded all the papers. [< Fr.
papier]
pas1
N trouble, problem. I vin
wakontГ© yo tout sГ© pas-la yo pasГ©-a.
He told them all they troubles they
went through. (syn: twaka,
pwГІblenm) [< Fr. passe]
173
paskГЁ
Kwéyòl – English
don’t rumple it. 5) same as pli pasé. I
bèl pasé yo. She’s prettier than they
are. ADJ past, last. Mwen tГ© malad
simen pasГ©. I was sick last week.
(opp: pwochen, lГІt) [< Fr. passer]
pasé an lidé to slip (one’s) mind.
Sa pasГ© an lidГ© mwen. That slipped
my mind. (see also: obliyГ©) pasГ©
anlГЁ to walk by in an aloof manner,
ignoring the other person. I annГЁk
pasГ© anlГЁ nou! She just walked right
by us! pasГ© ki more than anything.
Ou lèd pasé ki! You’re uglier than
anything!
pasyans to be patient. SouplГ© ni
pasyans Г©pi mwen; mwen kay
péyé’w. Please be patient with me; I
will pay you. (syn: pwan pasyans)
pwan pasyans same as ni pasyans.
pat
N 1) animal’s foot, hoof, paw. Bèf
ni kat pat. Cows have four hooves.
2) hand (of bananas, plantain, etc.).
Yo mГ©tГ© senk pat fig adan bwГЁt-la.
They put five hands of bananas in the
box. [< Fr. patte] koul pat kick (by
an animal). bay koul pat to kick
(done by an animal). BГЁf-la ban
mwen an koul pat. The cow kicked
me. (see also: tiwГ© pyГ©)
paskГЁ variant of paski.
paski (var: pas, paskГЁ, pis, piski, pas
pouki) CONJ because. I tГ© fachГ©
paski i pa tГ© ni pyГЁs lajan. He was
angry because he didn’t have any
money. (syn: davwa; see also: lapГ©ti)
[< Fr. parce que]
patan variant of padan.
patat N sweet potato. [< Fr. patate]
bГЁt patat sweet potato bug, a type of
insect that may be found in sweet
potato fields. BГЁt patat-la ka fГЁ vГЁ
pwan patat-la. The potato bug makes
worms infest the potatoes.
paspatou
N compass saw. I ka sГЁvi
paspatou-a pou koupГ© bwa-a. He
uses the compass saw to cut the wood.
(see also: lГ©gowin, si; siyГ©) [< Fr.
passe par tout]
pasti
N flat, white, extra-strong sweet.
Ban mwen an pasti pou pasГ© an
bouch mwen. Give me a pasti to put
in my mouth. (see also: switi)
paswa
N screen, sifter, sieve, strainer.
(see also: lГ©bichГ©, tanmi)
pati1
V to depart, to leave. Yo kay
pati denmen. They’ll leave tomorrow.
(syn: kitГ©; opp: wivГ©; see also: alГ©,
sГІti) [< Fr. partir]
pati2
N penis. Yo ka koupГ© bout lapo
pati tibway-la. They cut the foreskin
of the boy’s penis. (syn: jak, kal, kòk,
koko, lolo, pennsil)
patikilГ©man
ADV particularly. Yo
antГ©wГ©sГ© an tout jwГ©, patikilГ©man
kwikèt. They’re interested in all
games, particularly cricket. (see also:
an patikilГ©) [< Fr. particuliГЁrement]
pasyalitГ©
N unfair advantage. Ou ja
fè mwen asé pasyalité! M’a sa
pwen’y ankò. You’ve taken unfair
advantage of me enough! I can’t take
it anymore. (see also: lavantaj,
pwГ©fГ©wans) [< Fr. partialitГ©]
patisipasyon
N participation. Yo vlГ©
patisipasyon tout moun. They want
everyone’s participation. [< Fr.
participation]
pasyans
N patience. Tifi-a pa ni asГ©
pasyans. The girl doesn’t have enough
patience. [< Fr. patience] ni
patisipГ©
patisipГ©
174
V
to participate. Yo vlГ© tout
patizan
Kwéyòl – English
moun patisipГ© an Jounen KwГ©yГІl.
They want everyone to participate in
Creole Day. (syn: pwan pa) [< Fr.
participer]
parabole]
Pawadi
N Paradise. JГ©zi di vГІlГЁ-a,
“Jòdi-a ou kay épi mwen an
Pawadi.” Jesus said to the thief,
“Today you will be with me in
Paradise.” (see also: syèl) [< Fr.
paradis]
patizan
N party (e.g., political). Nou
ni twa patizan politik Sent Lisi. We
have three political parties in St.
Lucia. [< Fr. partisan]
patjГ©1
1) package, packet. AchtГ© on
patjГ© lonyon ban mwen. Buy a
package of onions for me. 2) deck of
cards. Yo ni on patjГ© nГЁf. They have
a new deck of cards. [< Fr. paquet]
patjГ© laklГ© key ring, bunch of keys.
Mwen pa sav kotГ© mwen mГ©tГ© patjГ©
laklé mwen. I don’t know where I put
my bunch of keys. (syn: bwanch
laklГ©, kolyГ© laklГ©) mawГ© patjГ© to
die, to expire. Nonm malad-la mawГ©
patjé’y. The sick man died. (slang;
syn: mò; see also: Bazil pwen’y, tiwé
kГІ, Г©tenn, di dГ©dГ©, foukan)
pawasГІl (var: pawisГІl)
N umbrella,
parasol. SГ© pou ou machГ© Г©pi
pawasГІl ou jГІdi-a; i kay fГЁ lapli. You
must carry your umbrella today; it is
going to rain. [< Fr. parasol]
pawasГІl djab toadstool. Tan lapli
nou ka wГЁ an chay pawasГІl djab an
savann-an. In the rainy season you
see a lot of toadstools in the field.
(syn: chapo djab, chapo Denmou)
N
pawdonnab same as padon,
pawdonnasyon.
pawdonnasyon
N pardon,
forgiveness. An chay moun pa sav
sa vlГ© di pawdonnasyon. A lot of
people don’t know what forgiveness
means. (syn: padon)
patjГ©2
N cargo ship. Chak simenn
patjГ©-a ki ka mennen fawin fwanslan ka vini. Each week the cargo ship
that brings flour comes. (syn: bato,
batiman; see also: kannГІt, chaloup)
pawdonnen
V to forgive, to pardon.
BondyГ© ja pawdonnen pГ©chГ© nou.
God has forgiven our sins. [< Fr.
pardonner]
patjit
N purse, pouch, money bag.
Patjit-la vid; i pa sanm i ja vann
anyen bonmaten-an. The money bag
is empty; it doesn’t seem she has sold
anything this morning.
pawГ©1 variant of pwГ©pawГ©. Yo pawГ©
kГІ-a pou lГЁtГЁman-an. They prepared
the body for the funereal. ADJ
prepared, ready. M’a té pawé
bonmaten-an. I wasn’t ready this
morning. (see also: fГЁ ganm)
Patwa
N Patois, St. Lucian Creole.
Yo ka palГ© Patwa tousГЁl lakay yo.
They only speak Patois at home. (syn:
KwГ©yГІl) [< Fr. patois]
pawГ©2
V to catch. I vowГ© wГІch-la ГЁk
mwen pawé’y. He threw the rock and
I caught it.
pawabГІl
N parable: a way of speaking
used to hide the true meaning from
outsiders. Mwen pa vlГ© ou palГ© ban
mwen an pawabòl. I don’t want you
to speak to me in parables. [< Fr.
pawГ©
pawГ©3
V 1) to take shelter from, to
escape, to get away from (rain, sun,
etc.). Yo pawГ© lapli-a adan kay-la.
175
pawen
Kwéyòl – English
says. Sa sГ© on bГЁl pawГІl ou di-a.
That is a nice thing you said. (see also:
lapawГІl) [< Fr. parole] mo pawГІl
word. I pa sa di yon mo pawГІl an
FwansГ©. He cannot say one word in
French.
They took shelter from the rain in the
house. 2) to block, to fend off (a
blow). I pawГ© tout koul pwen yo
voyé dèyè’y. I blocked all of their
punches. [< Fr. parer]
pawen
N godfather. I ka twavay bay
pawen’y. He works for his godfather.
(see also: da, konpГЁ, makoumГЁ,
nennenn) [< Fr. parrain]
pawГЁs
parish, region. PwГЁt sala ka
twavay an pawГЁs VyГ© FГІ. That priest
works in the parish of Vieux Fort.
[< Fr. paroisse]
pawsad
N wattle. Sa sГ© on kay
pawsad. That’s a wattle house.
pawsadГ©
V to wattle. Yo ka pawsadГ©
kay-la. They’re wattling the house.
N
pay
N dry, dead grass or leaves; thatch.
Ay koupГ© pay-la asou sГ© pyГ© fig-la.
Go cut the dead leaves off of the
banana tree. (see also: fГЁy) [< Fr.
paille] pay a kouto same as zГЁb a
kouto. kay pay thatched-roof house.
Yo tГ© ka fГЁ kay pay. They used to
make thatched-roof houses.
pawГЁt
V to appear. Mwen wГЁ an
bagay pawГЁt an syГЁl-la. I saw
something appear in the sky. (opp:
dispawГЁt) [< Fr. paraГ®tre]
pawГЁy1
ADJ similar, like. Mwen ni on
bonm menm pawГЁy ГЁk sala. I have a
bucket just like that one. (see also:
menm kon) [< Fr. pareil]
payГ©
V to bet, to gamble. Asou kilГЁs
chouval ou payГ©? Which horse did
you bet on? (see also: pawi) [< Fr.
parier]
pawГЁy2
N partner. Mwen pa vlГ©
misyé pou pawèy mwen. I don’t want
this man for my partner.
pГ©1
ADV 1) may, might. Nou pГ© vini
kon nou pГ© pa. We may or may not
come. (see also: aplГЁ, dwГ©, pitГЁt)
2) can, able. Nou ka fГЁ tout sa nou
pé. We’re doing all that we can. (syn:
sa) [< Fr. peut]
pawГЁyman
INTERJ the same to you.
“Bon Nwèl!” “Pawèyman!” “Merry
Christmas!” “The same to you!” (used
as a response in greeting) [< Fr.
pareilement]
pГ©2
ADJ few, a little. Byen pГ© moun
ka vini. Very few people come. [< Fr.
peu]
pawfГ©
ADJ perfect. Bagay-la pawfГ©; i
pa ni pyès défo andidan’y. It’s
perfect; it doesn’t have any flaw in it.
[< Fr. parfait]
pГ©3
V to keep quiet, to shut (ones’
mouth). PГ© bouch ou, gason! Shut
your mouth, boy! [< Fr. paix] PГ© la!
Shut up!. PГ© la, Г©ben ou kay jwenn
pli! Shut up, or you’ll get it worse!
pawi
N bet, wager. Yo fГЁ pawi, yo
payГ© an chay lajan. They made bets,
they bet lots of money. (see also:
payГ©) [< Fr. pari]
pГЁ1
N priest. Tan sala pГЁ-a tГ© mГЁt
lГ©kГІl-la. At that time the priest was
head of the school. (syn: pwГЁt, labГ©;
see also: danm, lГЁvГЁk, mГЁw,
pawisГІl variant of pawasГІl.
pawГІl
N
pГЁ
speech, utterance, what one
176
pГЁ
Kwéyòl – English
monsenyГЁ) [< Fr. pГЁre] pГЁ nwГЁ
Lesser Antillean bullfinch (Loxigilla
noctis).
pГЁdant
N loss. PГЁdant mwen sГ© gany
ou. My loss is your gain. an pГЁdant
on the losing end, at a loss. LГЁ i vann
motoka-a i tГ© an pГЁdant. When he
sold the car he was on the losing end.
pГЁ2
V to fear, to be afraid. Gason-an
pГЁ tout bagay. The boy is afraid of
everything. (syn: ni kwentif, ni lapГЁ,
ni pГЁwГЁz) [< Fr. peur]
pГЁ3
pair. LГЁ mwen tГ© piti mwen tГ©
ni yon sГЁl pГЁ jibyГ©. When I was little I
had just one pair of birds. [< Fr.
paire]
pГЁdi variant of pГЁd. [< Fr. perdu]
pГЁdwi
N wild dove. (see also:
toutwГЁl, zatolan)
N
pГ©chГ©1
V to fish. Yo vlГ© alГ© pГ©chГ©
toulГ© jou. They want to go fishing
every day. (see also: pwГ©son) [< Fr.
pГЄcher]
pГЁl
N shovel, spade. Yo kasГ© manch
pГЁl-la. They broke the handle of the
shovel. [< Fr. pelle]
pГ©lГ©kan
N pelican (Pelecanus
occidentalis). PГ©lГ©kan ka plonjГ©
anba lanmГЁ-a pou tjГ©bГ© pwГ©son.
Pelicans dive into the sea to catch fish.
[< Fr. pГ©lican]
pГ©chГ©2
V to sin. Avan yo sovГ© yo tГ©
ka pГ©chГ© tout tan-an. Before they
were saved they used to sin all the
time. N sin, transgression. SГ© pГ©chГ©
ki kwazГ© wilasyon nonm Г©pi
BondyГ©. It is sin that destroyed the
relation between man and God. [< Fr.
pГ©cher]
pГ©chГЁ1
fisherman. Tout sГ© pГ©chГЁ-a
tГ© la. All the fishermen were there.
(syn: jan lanmГЁ, nonm lanmГЁ) [< Fr.
pГЄcheur]
N
pГ©chГЁ2
N sinner, transgressor. JГ©zi
vini asou latГЁ pou sovГ© pГ©chГЁ. Jesus
came to earth to save sinners. [< Fr.
pГ©cheur]
pГЁmisyon variant of pГЁwmisyon.
pГЁmitГ© variant of pГЁwmitГ©.
pen
N bread. Bonmaten-an i ka fГЁ
pen. This morning she is making
bread. [< Fr. pain]
penchen (var: penchennen)
V to
pinch. Gason-an penchen mwen.
The boy pinched me. (see also: pijГ©)
penchennen variant of penchen.
penmi
N cornbread made of corn
meal, sugar, coconut, spices, milk,
cooked in a banana leaf or foil and
eaten for dessert. I ka fГЁ penmi bay
ich li. She makes cornbread for her
children. (see also: timi)
pГЁd (var: pГЁdi)
V to lose, to get lost.
Gason-an pГЁd lajan-an. The boy lost
the money. (opp: jwenn, twapГ©,
twouvГ©) ADJ lost. Nou ka achГ© ti
manmay-la ki pГЁd-la. We are looking
for the lost child. [< Fr. perdre] pГЁd
tèt to lose (one’s) mind, to be senile.
Gwan nonm sala ja ka pГЁd tГЁt li.
That old man is already becoming
senile.
pennГ©pis
penn
N feeling of emotional pain,
heartache. Sa kitГ© an penn an tjГЁ
mwen lГЁ mwen wГЁ nonm sala. It gave
me a feeling of pain in my heart when
I saw that man. (see also: lapenn) an
penn same as an lapenn.
pennГ©pis
177
N
unleavened bread. Yo ka
penng
Kwéyòl – English
manjГ© pennГ©pis toulГ© VandwГ©di
Sen. They eat unleavened bread every
Good Friday.
ear. (see also: kwГ©vГ©, pitjГ©) [< Fr.
percer]
pГЁsi
N parsley. PГЁsi ka bay manjГ©
bon gou. Parsley gives food a good
taste. [< Fr. persil]
penng variant of peny.
pennsil
N penis. Nonm sala ni an
maladi an pennsil li. The man has a
sickness in his penis. (syn: jak, kal,
koko, kГІk, lolo, pati) [< Eng. pencil]
pГЁsikasyon (var: pГЁwsikasyon)
pГЁsikitГ© (var: pГЁwsikitГ©)
V to
persecute. Yo pГЁsikitГ© sГ© moun sala.
They persecuted those people. [< Fr.
persГ©cuter]
pentiwГ©
V 1) to paint. Yo pentiwГ©
kay-la an blan. They painted the
house white. 2) to use a lot of
makeup. Madanm-lan pentiwГ©
fidji’y. The woman used a lot of
makeup on her face.
pГЁsonn variant of pyГЁsonn. [< Fr.
personne]
pГ©tГ©
V 1) to break, to burst. Chouvalla pГ©tГ© kГІd-la. The horse broke the
rope. 2) to break wind, to pass gas.
SГ© pa pou pГ©tГ© anpami moun kon sa.
You must not pass gas in public like
that. (syn: lachГ© van) pГ©tГ© an wi to
burst out laughing. LГЁ nonm sou-a
tonbГ© an labou-a, nou pГ©tГ© an wi.
When the drunk man fell into the mud,
we burst out laughing. pГ©tГ© kГІ to
spank, to give a spanking, to beat, to
give a beating. Manman tibway-la
pété kò’y lè i wè mannyè i déchiwé
chimiz li. The boy’s mother gave him
a beating when she say how he tore his
shirt. (syn: bay kou, volГ©, plichГ©,
plichГ© lapo, koupГ© fГЁs, koupГ© latjГ©)
pentwi
V to knead. Mwen ka pentwi
fawin fwans pou mwen fГЁ pen. I am
kneading flour to make bread. (see
also: lapat, pГ©twen) [< Fr. pГ©trir]
peny (var: penng)
N comb. Peny-lan
kasГ© an tГЁt tifi-a. When the girl was
combing her hair the comb broke.
[< Fr. peigne]
penyen
V to comb. I ka penyen
chivé’y. She’s combing her hair.
[< Fr. peigner]
pГЁp
N people. PwГЁskГЁ tout pГЁp Sent
Lisi kay sГ©lГ©bwГ© Jounen KwГ©yГІl.
Nearly all the people of St. Lucia will
celebrate Creole Day. (see also: jan,
popilas) [< Fr. peuple] gwo pГЁp big
shot, important person. FГЁsten sala sГ©
pou gwo pГЁp tousГЁl. This party is for
big shots only. (syn: gwo pitja, gwo
tjГІ, gwozГІm)
N
persecution. Yo tout tГ© soufГЁ
pГЁsikasyon. They all suffered
persecution. [< Fr. persГ©cution]
penti
N paint. Yo ka vann tout sГІt
kalitГ© penti an magazen sala. They
sell all kinds of paint in that shop.
[< Fr. peinture]
pГЁwГЁz
pГ©twen
N kneading bowl, trough. Yo
pa tГ© sa menm pГІtГ© pГ©twen yo. They
couldn’t even carry their kneading
bowls. (see also: lapat, pentwi) [< Fr.
pГ©trin]
pГЁwГЁz
N fear. Mwen ni on pГЁwГЁz an
tjГЁ mwen ki ka fГЁ mwen twanblГ©. I
have a fear in my heart that makes me
tremble. (syn: lapГЁ, kwentif; see also:
pГЁsГ©
V to pierce. MisyГ© jik pГЁsГ©
zГІwГЁy li. The man even pierced his
178
pГ©wi
Kwéyòl – English
[< Fr. peser] pГ©zГ© fГІ to stress, to
emphasize. LГЁ ou ka pwГ©chГ©, sГ© pou
ou pГ©zГ© fГІ asou sГ© bagay sala. When
you preach, you must emphasize these
things.
pГЁ) [< Fr. peureuse]
pГ©wi
V to perish. Tout sa ki kwГЁ an li
pa kay pГ©wi. All who believe in him
will not perish. (opp: viv; see also:
mГІ) [< Fr. pГ©rir]
pГЁwmi
permission. Mwen pa
bizwen pyГЁs pГЁwmi pou pwГ©chГ©
lévanjil-la. I don’t need any
permission to preach the gospel. (syn:
pГЁwmisyon; see also: pГЁwmitГ©, kitГ©)
[< Fr. permis]
N
pГЁwmisyon (var: lapГЁwmisyon,
pГЁmisyon) N permission. JГЁwГЁ-a
ban mwen pГЁwmisyon pou mwen sa
plantГ© fig isi-a. The overseer gave me
permission to plant bananas here. (syn:
pГЁwmi) [< Fr. permission]
pi1
ADJ pure. Dlo-a ki ka sГІti an sous
sala pi. The water that comes from
that spring is pure. [< Fr. pur]
pi2
N well. BГІ lizin-an ni dГ© pi. By
the factory there are two wells. (see
also: sous) [< Fr. puits]
piblik
N public. SГ© pa pou ou gwatГ©
tèt ou an piblik. You mustn’t scratch
your head in public. [< Fr. public]
piblikasyon
N publication. Sa sГ©
dènyé piblikasyon liv sala That’s the
last publication of that book. [< Fr.
publication]
pГЁwmitГ© (var: pГЁmitГ©)
V to permit, to
allow. PГЁwmitГ© mwen pou mwen sa
pasé an lakou’w souplé. Please allow
me to pass in your yard. (syn: ba, kitГ©)
[< Fr. permettez]
pГЁwsikasyon variant of pГЁsikasyon.
pibliyГ©
V to publish. I ja pibliyГ© dГ©
liv. He has published two books.
[< Fr. publier]
pifwГ©
V to card, to comb (cotton). I
ka pifwé koton-an. She’s carding the
cotton.
pГЁwsikitГ© variant of pГЁsikitГ©.
pГ©yГ©
V to pay. I pГ©yГ© nou tout lajanan i dwГ© nou-an. He paid us all the
money he owed us. [< Fr. payer]
pijГ©
V to squeeze. Yo pa sipozГ© pijГ©
fig-la. The shouldn’t squeeze the
banana. (see also: penchen) ADJ
bruised (in reference to fruit). SГ© pa
pou ou vann sГ© fig pijГ© sala. You
must not sell those bruised bananas.
pГ©yi
N country, nation, land. KilГЁs
pГ©yi ou simyГ©? Which country do you
prefer? (syn: nasyon; see also: plas)
[< Fr. pays]
pijon
N pigeon. (see also: wanmyГ©)
[< Fr. pigeon]
pГ©yiman
N payment. Pou pГ©yiman
mwen, i ban mwen yon san dГІla. For
my payment, he gave me one hundred
dollars. (see also: lapГЁy, salГЁ) [< Fr.
paiement]
pik
N stinger. Vonvon-an pa ni pyГЁs
pik. The bee has no stinger. (see also:
pitjГ©) [< Fr. pique] pik lГ©fan tusk,
ivory. Yo tГ© ni lГІ, dajan ГЁk bagay ki
fГЁt ГЁk pik lГ©fan. They had gold, silver
and things made with ivory.
pГ©zГ©
V to weigh. Yo ka pГ©zГ©
chouponm-lan avan yo vann li. They
weigh the cabbage before they sell it.
pikan
pikan
179
N
thorn. Pikan-an pitjГ© mwen.
pikГЁpГІch
Kwéyòl – English
house on four pillars. (syn: poto)
The thorn pricked me. [< Fr. piquant]
pikan kouzen burr. La ni an chay
pikan kouzen bГІ chimen-an. There
are many burrs by the road.
piman
N pepper. I ka vann piman ГЁk
sèl. She’s selling peppers and salt. (see
also: pwГЁv) [< Fr. piment] piman
bwilГ© a type of hot pepper. piman
gwiv a small, hot pepper. piman
manjak a type of hot pepper.
piman sГЁt chГІdyГЁ a type of hot
pepper.
pikГЁpГІch
N pickpocket. VГ©yГ© misyГ©;
i sГ© an pikГЁpГІch. Watch that man; he
is a pickpocket. (see also: vГІlГЁ)
pikwa
N pickaxe. I manchГ© on
pikwa. He put a handle on a pickaxe.
pil
1) heap, pile. Mwen genyen dГ©
pil tanmadГІz. I bought two heaps of
tomatoes. (syn: lo) 2) group. SГ©pawГ©
sГ© moun-an an pil. Divide the people
into groups. (syn: gwoup; see also:
konpanni, gany) [< Fr. pile] an pil
much, many, a lot of. I ni an pil liv.
He has many books. (syn: an badjo,
an chay, an lo, konmen, mizi)
N
pinГЁz
N bedbug. PinГЁz pa konmen
kon avan. Bedbugs are not common
like before. [< Fr. punaise]
pini
V to punish. I pini ti manmay-la
pou bagay-la i vГІlГЁ-a. He punished
the child for the thing she stole. (see
also: pinisyon) [< Fr. punir]
pinisyon
N punishment. Yo ba li
menm pinisyon kon tout moun. They
gave him the same punishment as
everyone else. (see also: pini) [< Fr.
punition]
pilГ©1
V to grind, to pound. Yo ka pilГ©
kafé-a. They’re grinding the coffee.
[< Fr. piler]
pilГ©2
V to step on. I mantjГ© pilГ© chatla. He almost stepped on the cat. (see
also: danmГ©, pilonnen) [< Fr. piler]
pipirit
N grey kingbird (Tyrannus
dominicensis). Pipirit-la pГ©tГ© an zГІy
an tГЁt malfini-an. The kingbird
pecked the hawk’s head.
pilon
N mortar, bowl-shaped vessel of
hard material in which coffee is
ground with a pestle. Yo ka sГЁvi
pilon pou pilГ© kafГ©. They use mortars
to grind coffee. [< Fr. pilon] manch
pilon pestle; a heavy instrument for
grinding coffee, etc. in a mortar.
Manch pilon mwen-an kasГ© padan
mwen tГ© ka pilГ© kafГ©. My pestle
broke while I was grinding coffee.
pis1
N flea. Chat-la tГ© ni an chay pis.
The cat had many fleas. [< Fr. puce]
pis2 variant of paski.
pisa
N urine. Blad-la plen pisa. The
bladder’s full of urine. [< Fr. pisse]
pisa dou diabetes. Pisa dou sГ© on
maladi ki konmen Sent Lisi.
Diabetes is an illness that is common
in St. Lucia.
pilonnen
V to trample, to step on. Las
pilonnen kabann-an. Stop trampling
on the bed. (syn: danmГ©; see also:
pilГ©) [< Fr. pilonner]
pilotwi
N pillar, post, pole. Yo mГ©tГ©
kay-la asou kat pilotwi. They put the
pisГ©
pisannit
N bedwetter. LГЁ mwen tГ©
piti mwen tГ© on pisannit. When I was
little I was a bedwetter.
pisГ©
V to urinate. Ti manmay sipozГ©
ay pisГ© avan yo kouchГ©. Children
180
piski
Kwéyòl – English
should urinate before they go to bed.
[< Fr. pisser]
goumen. We egged the children on to
see if they would fight. 5) to begin to.
Lè yo wè’y yo pitjé kouwi! When
they saw him they began to run! (syn:
pwan, mГ©tГ©, koumansГ©) N injection.
DГІktГЁ-a ba li on pitjГ©. The doctor
gave him an injection. [< Fr. piquer]
piski variant of paski.
pistach
N peanut. SГ© gason-an ka
vann pistach. The boys are selling
peanuts. [< Fr. pistache]
pitГЁt
pitjГЁt
ADV maybe, perhaps. PitГЁt sГ©
papa mwen ki tГ© la. Maybe it was my
father who was there. (see also: dwГ©)
[< Fr. peut-ГЄtre]
N 1) stake, picket. I ka pwenti
pitjèt-la. He’s sharpening the stake.
2) wicket (in a cricket game).
Konmen pitjГЁt ou pwan? How many
wickets did you take? [< Fr. piquet]
pitjГЁt fГЁ spear, lance, spike. Wa-a
voyГ© dГ© san nonm Г©pi pitjГЁt fГЁ ГЁk
senkant nonm a chouval. The king
sent 200 men with lances and 50 on
horses. (see also: flГЁch, va)
piti (var: ti)
ADJ 1) little, small. Kayla twГІ piti pou nou tout sa wГЁstГ©.
The house is too small for all of us to
stay in. (opp: gwo, gwan, laj)
2) young. I piti pasГ© mwen. He is
younger than I. (syn: jenn; opp: gwan)
[< Fr. petit] piti an piti little by
little, gradually. Piti an piti nou kay
fini. Gradually we will finish. (syn: an
mizi an mizi)
pitjwit
N spotted sandpiper (Actitis
macularia).
pito
CONJ instead of, rather than.
Pwan sala pito sa ki wouj-la. Take
this one instead of the red one. (syn:
andji, olyГЁ; see also: vonmyГ©, simyГ©)
pititГЁs
N childhood. Tan sala nou tГ©
an pititГЁs nou. At that time we were
in our childhood. (opp: vyГ©yГЁs; see
also: jennГЁs) [< Fr. petitesse]
piton
N peak. (see also: mГІn,
montany) [< Fr. piton] Gwo Piton
Gros Piton, a specific mountain in St.
Lucia. Piti Piton Petit Piton, a
specific mountain in St. Lucia.
pitj
V to pave with asphalt. Fini yo
fini pitj chimen-an, i ja ka kwazГ©
ankГІ. They just finished paving the
road and it is already collapsing again.
(see also: goudonnen, masonnen)
[< Eng. pitch]
pityГ©
N pity. JГ©zi ni pityГ© pou nou
tout. Jesus has pity on us all. (see also:
konpasyon, mizГ©wikГІd, tjГЁ fГЁb)
[< Fr. pitiГ©]
pitjГ©
V 1) to prick, to stab. I pitjГ©
blad-la. He pricked the balloon. (see
also: kwГ©vГ©, pГЁsГ©) 2) to sting.
Vonvon-an pitjГ© mwen. The bee
stung me. (see also: pik) 3) to render
(a witch) powerless by stabbing or
stoning. Papa mwen pitjГ© gajГ©-a. My
father stabbed the witch and rendered
him powerless. (syn: dГ©gajГ©) 4) to
goad, to egg on. Nou tГ© ka pitjГ© sГ©
manmay-la pou wГЁ si yo tГ© kay
pla
piwifyГ©
V to purify. Yo ka piwifyГ©
dlo-a. They’re purifying the water.
[< Fr. purifier]
piyon
N gable. Kay-la ni twa piyon.
The house has three gables. [< Fr.
pignon]
pla
N plate. MГ©tГ© pla-a asou tab-la.
Put the plate on the table. (see also:
181
plak
Kwéyòl – English
want to grow bananas on this piece of
land. (opp: wГ©kГІltГ©) [< Fr. planter]
plantГ© bannann to fall flat. I pwan
an so; i plantГ© bannann He took a
fall; he fell flat. (syn: lablanni a tГЁ)
zasyГЁt, bГІl, vГ©sГЁl)
plak
N flattened bottle cap used in
game of marbles. MГ©tГ© plak-la an
won-an pou nou zing. Put the cap in
the circle so we can play marbles. (see
also: bouchon) [< Fr. plaque]
plantГЁ
N planter. Tout sГ© plantГЁ-a tГ©
la. All the planters were there. (syn:
fama) [< Fr. planteur]
plan1
N cutting, seedling, immature
plant suitable for transplanting. SГ©
pou ou plantГ© sГ© plan-an avan yo
vini twГІ gwo. You should plant the
seedlings before they get too big.
planten
N plant used in bush
medicine. Yo lavГ© zyГ© tibway-la ГЁk
planten èk zyé’y vin djéwi. They
washed his eyes with planten and his
eyes became healed.
plan2
N plan. Annou fГЁ plan pou
denmen. Let’s make plans for
tomorrow. [< Fr. plan] pousГ© plan
to trick, to play a practical joke on
someone. I pousГ© on plan asou
mwen. He played a trick on me. (see
also: kwennen) tiwГ© plan 1) to tell
jokes or funny stories. DГ©pi
bonmaten yo la ka tiwГ© plan. Since
morning they have been there telling
funny stories (see also: bladjГ©, tiwГ©
kalkati, tiwГ© listwa) 2) same as
pousГ© plan.
planch
plas
N place. KilГЁs plas ou simyГ©?
Which place do you prefer? (see also:
kotГ©, pГ©yi) [< Fr. place] pwan plas
1) to take place. FГЁsten-an pwan plas
lannГ© pasГ©. The festival took place
last year. (syn: pwan kou) 2) to
replace, to take the place of. KilГЁs ki
kay pwan plas ou lГЁ ou kitГ©? Who
will take your place when you leave?
(syn: anplasГ©)
plasta
N 1) bandage. I mГ©tГ© on plasta
asou jounou’y. She put a bandage on
her knee. 2) plaster. Mwen vlé’w
wanjГ© plasta-a kotГ© i ka kwazГ©-a. I
want you to fix the plaster where it is
crumbling. (see also: lacho) V to
plaster. Yo ja fini plasta kay-la.
They have already finished plastering
the house. [< Eng. plaster]
board. Yo kay siyГ© sГ©
planch-lan. They’ll saw the boards.
[< Fr. planche]
N
planchГ©
V to floor, to put flooring (in
a house). SГ© pou ou mГ©tГ© sonmyГ©
avan ou planchГ© kay-la. You must
put in beams before you put the
flooring in the house. N floor.
PlanchГ© kay sala pa fГІ. The floor of
that house is not strong
plat
ADJ 1) flat. WГІch-la tГ© plat. The
rock was flat. 2) shallow. Dlo-a tГ©
plat. The water was shallow. (opp:
fon) [< Fr. plat]
plantasyon
N plantation, estate. Yo
ka twavay asou plantasyon-an. They
work on the plantation. (see also:
bitasyon, hГІtГЁ, jaden) [< Fr.
plantation]
platin
platin
N huge iron bowl used for
boiling the juice of sugarcane or for
drying cassava that has been grated,
pressed and sifted to make farine. Yo
ka sГЁvi platin pou fГЁ fawin. They use
plantГ©
V to plant, to grow (plants).
Mwen vlГ© plantГ© fig an tjГІ tГЁ sala. I
182
plato
Kwéyòl – English
you. (see also: akizasyon, kГ©s, chaj)
[< Fr. plainte]
iron bowls to make farine.
plato
N plateau. Kay-la anlГЁ plato-a.
The house is on the plateau. [< Fr.
plateau]
plГ©plГ©
V to spread by multiplication.
PinГЁz ka plГ©plГ© vit. Bedbugs multiply
quickly. (syn: miltipyГ©)
plГЁ
V to please. Ou toujou vlГ© plГЁ
kò’w. You always want to please
yourself. (opp: dГ©plГЁ) [< Fr. plaire]
plГ©wГ©
V to cry, to weep. Madanmlan koumansГ© plГ©wГ© lГЁ i tann
manman’y mò. The woman began to
cry when she heard her mother had
died. (see also: hГ©lГ©) [< Fr. pleurer]
plГ©dГ©
V to beg, to plead. Mwen tГ© ni
pou plГ©dГ© Г©pi misyГ©-a pou i sa bay
tibway-la an chans. I had to plead
with the man to give the boy a chance.
(see also: mandГ©) [< Fr. plaider]
plГ©zi
N pleasure. Sa ka ban nou an
chay plГ©zi. That give us much
pleasure. [< Fr. plaisir]
plГ©g
N plague. Maladi sala ka simen
kon on plГ©g. This sickness is
spreading like a plague. (see also:
maladi) [< Eng. plague]
pli1
N fold, wrinkle. Madanm-lan ni
an chay pli an fidji’y. The woman
has many wrinkles in her face. (see
also: plisГ©, gwiji) [< Fr. plisser]
plen
ADJ 1) full. Bonm-lan tГ© plen
dlo. The bucket was full of water.
(opp: vid) 2) high tide. Bonmatenan lanmГЁ-a plen. This morning the
tide is high. (opp: bas) V to fill. Nou
plen tout sГ© bonm-lan. We filled all
the buckets. (see also: wГЁd) [< Fr.
plein] an plen in full, fully. I kay
pГ©yГ© nou an plen. He will pay us in
full.
pli2 (var: plis)
ADJ more. Yo vlГ© pli
lajan. They want more money. (opp:
mwens) [< Fr. plus] pli pasГ© more
than. I pli ho pasé sé lézòt fwè’y-la.
He’s taller than his other brothers.
(syn: pasГ©) pli...pli the more...the
more. Pli yo ka twavay, sГ© pli yo ka
gaspiyГ© lajan yo. The more they
work, the more they waste their
money. (see also: anmizi)
plГ©n
N airplane. PlГ©n-an wivГ© ta. The
plane arrived late. [< Eng. plane]
plenn
plichГ©
plich
N beating, spanking. Papa
mwen ban mwen on plich. My father
gave me a beating. (see also: bat, bay
kou, bay volГ©, lapidГ©, plichГ©)
1
ADJ pregnant (in reference to
animals). Chat-la plenn ankГІ. The
cat’s pregnant again. (see also:
ansent) [< Fr. pleine]
plichГ©
plenn2
V to moan, to groan. Lapen-an
sanm ni an chay mal; i ka plenn. The
rabbit seems to be in a lot of pain; it is
groaning. (see also: soupi) [< Fr.
plaindre]
plent
N plaint, charge, grievance, legal
case. Mwen kay pГІtГ© plent kont ou.
I’m going to bring charges against
183
V 1) to husk. I plichГ© koko-a.
He husked the coconut. (see also:
gwennen) 2) to skin, to scrape, to
abrade. Gason-an pliché jounou’y.
The boy skinned his knee. (syn: gwiji)
3) to spank, to beat. Si ou fГЁ sa ankГІ
mwen kay plichГ© fГЁs ou. If you do
that again I’m going to spank your
bottom. (see also: pГ©tГ©, koupГ©)
plim
Kwéyòl – English
plim
pokosyon
He dove under the water. [< Fr.
plonger]
N 1) feather. Plim-lan tГ© blan.
The feather was white. 2) pen. I ka
ékwi èk plim-lan. He’s writing with
the pen. [< Fr. plume]
plotonnen
V to crumple up, to rumple,
to dishevel, to disarrange. VГІlГЁ-a
plotonnen tout had-la. The thief
disarranged all the clothes. (see also:
chifonnen)
plimaj
N plumage. SГ© kГІk-la ka
chanjГ© plimaj yo. The cocks change
their plumage. [< Fr. plumage]
plimen
po
plis variant of pli.
pГІblenm variant of pwГІblenm.
plisГ©
pГІch
pliyan
pochen variant of pwochen.
V to pluck. Yo ka plimen
poul-la. They’re plucking the chicken.
[< Fr. plumer]
N 2 quarts, four pints, half a gallon.
Mwen vlГ© yon po fawin. I want two
quarts of farine. (see also: chopin)
ADJ wrinkled. Fidji’y té tèlman
plisГ©. Her face was so wrinkled. (syn:
gwiji; see also: pli) [< Fr. plisser]
N pocket. I fouyé lanmen’y an
pГІch li. He dug his hand into his
pocket. [< Fr. poche]
N snare, trap. Mwen tjГ©bГ© an
toutwГЁl an pliyan mwen. I caught a
dove in my snare. (see also: zatwap)
[< Fr. pliyant]
pГІdjab
ADJ poor, wretched. PГІdjab
madanm-lan, i pГЁd tout sa i tГ© ni-an.
The poor woman, she lost all she had.
INTERJ poor devil, poor thing, poor
you. PГІdjab! Li yonn ki ka twavay
an sГІlГЁy-la. Poor thing! He alone has
to work in the sun.
pliyГ©
V to bend, to flex, to fold. Yo
pliyГ© fГЁ-a. They bent the iron. (see
also: panchГ©) [< Fr. plier]
plizyГЁ
ADJ several. I ni plizyГЁ liv. He
has several books. (see also: konmen,
dГ©otwa, yonn dГ©, tizing, tibwen)
[< Fr. plusieurs]
plГІk
podwi variant of pwodwi.
pofГЁsyon variant of pwofГЁsyon.
boil, blister, pustule. Malad-la
kité plòk tout asou fidji’y. The illness
left pustules all over his face. (see
also: chГЁbon, klou, latwas, zanpoul)
plon
N
1) lead. Bagay-la tГ© fГЁt an
plon. The thing was made of lead.
2) weight, sinker, fishing equipment. I
ka fГЁ plon pou i sa alГ© pГ©chГ©. He is
making a sinker in order to go fishing.
[< Fr. plomb] lГ©vГ© plon to lift
weights. Gason-an ka lГ©vГ© plon pou
vini pli fГІ. The boy lifts weights in
order to get stronger.
N
plonjГ©
V
to dive. I plonjГ© anba dlo-a.
pofГЁt variant of pwГІfГЁt.
pofi variant of pwofi.
pofitГ© variant of pwofitГ©.
pogwanm variant of pwogwanm.
pogwГ© variant of pwogwГ©.
pГІk
ADJ withered. I ni on lanmen
pГІk. He has a withered hand.
poklanmГ© variant of pwoklanmГ©.
p’òkò
ADV not yet. Manjé-a p’òkò
pawé. The food isn’t ready yet. (see
also: pa ankГІ) [< Fr. pas encore]
pokosyon variant of pwokosyon.
184
politik
Kwéyòl – English
politik
ADJ political. KilГЁs patizan
politik ou ka swiv? Which political
party do you follow?
popilas variant of pГІpilas.
pГІpilas
N crowd, number (of people).
An gwan popilas moun vini wГЁ
Nelson Mandela. A great number of
people came to see Nelson Mandela.
(syn: latilyГ©; see also: kopanni, gany,
twipo, pil) [< Fr. populace]
pon1
N bridge. MГ©tГ© nou bГІ pon-an.
Drop us near the bridge. [< Fr. pont]
pon2
N pound (currency). I twapГ© an
papyГ© yon san pon a tГЁ-a. He found a
one hundred pound note on the
ground.
pГІpilasyon
N population. Ki
pГІpilasyon Sent Lisi? What is the
population of St. Lucia? (see also:
pГЁp, jan) [< Fr. population]
ponm
N cashew. I jwenn on pyГ©
ponm. He found a cashew tree. (syn:
ponm nwa) [< Fr. pomme] ponm
danmou love apple. (syn: ponm
dézenn) [< Fr. pomme d’amour]
ponm dГ©zenn same as ponm
danmou. ponm di lyenn type of
wild fruit like passion fruit, but
sweeter. ponm kannГЁl sugar apple.
ponm nwa same as ponm. ponm
tГЁ Irish potato. La pa ni djГЁ ponm
tГЁ. There are very few potatoes. [< Fr.
pomme de terre] ponm wГІz type of
wild fruit resembling an apple.
pГІpГІt
N 1) doll. AchtГ© an pГІpГІt bay
tifi-a. Buy a doll for the girl. (syn:
bolonm) 2) the flower of a banana
plant. [< Fr. popote]
popyГ©tГЁ
N property. I di papa’y i vlé
tout sa ki ka vini pou li a popyГ©tГЁ-a.
He told his father he wanted all that
was coming to him of his property.
(see also: byen, wichГЁs, tГЁ) [< Fr.
propriГ©tГ©]
posГ©dГ©
V to possess, to have. Sa sГ©
tout mwen posédé. That’s all I
possess. (rare; see also: ni) [< Fr.
possГ©der]
ponmГЁt variant of pwonmГЁt.
ponmnen variant of pwonmnen.
ponmsitГЁ
N
golden apple (Cythere).
posib
ADJ possible. Mwen di yo sa pa
té posib. I told them that wasn’t
possible. (opp: enposib) [< Fr.
possible]
ponn
V to lay (eggs). Poul-la ponn dГ©
zГ©. The chicken laid two eggs. (see
also: Г©klГІ, kouvГ©) [< Fr. pondre]
ponya
dagger, poniard. I pwen an
ponya, i pitjГ© madanm-lan. He took
a dagger, he stabbed the woman. (see
also: kouto, koutla, janbГЁt, sab)
[< Fr. poignard]
N
ponyen
posibilitГ©
N possibility. KatjilГ© asou
posibilitГ© sala. Think about that
possibility. [< Fr. possibilitГ©]
pГІspГ©wГ© variant of pwГІspГ©wГ©.
pГІstГ©
V to post, to mail. PГІstГ© lГЁt sala
ban mwen souplГ©. Mail this letter for
me please. (see also: voyГ©) [< Fr.
poster]
handful. I ni on ponyen
sab. He has a handful of sand. [< Fr.
poignГ©e]
ponyГЁt
N
N wrist. I kasГ© ponyГЁt li. He
broke his wrist. [< Fr. poignet]
pГІstimГ©
pГІstimГ©
V to form pus. Oliwon
zonng ou kay pГІstimГ© pis ou ka lavГ©
185
pГІsyon
Kwéyòl – English
twГІp souvan. Around your nail pus
will form because you wash too often.
(see also: limГЁ, matyГЁ)
(syn: pwovizyon)
potjiwГ©
V to provide. BondyГ© ka
potjiwГ© tout sa nou bizwen ban nou.
God provides us with all that we need.
(see also: bay)
pГІsyon
N portion. Ban mwen an
pГІsyon manjГ©. Give me a portion of
food. (see also: pa, lo) [< Fr. portion]
pГІt
can, tin, enamel cup. Nou
genyen senk pГІt lГЁt. We bought five
cans of milk. (see also: tas) [< Fr. pot]
pГІt a flГЁ flower pot. Sa ki kasГ© pГІt
a flГЁ-a? Who broke the flower pot?
[< Fr. pot de fleurs] pГІt chanm
chamber pot. Ay jГ©tГ© pГІt chanm-lan.
Go empty the chamber pot.
poto
N peg, pillar, post. Yo sГЁvi poto
pou fГЁ pak. They used posts to make
fences. (syn: pilotwi) [< Fr. poteau]
N
pГІtwГ©
N picture, photograph, movie.
Ou ja wГЁ pГІtwГ© sala? Have you seen
that movie? [< Fr. portrait] tiwГ©
pГІtwГ© to take pictures, to
photograph. MisyГ©-a ka tiwГ© pГІtwГ©.
The man is taking pictures. Si ou vin
douvan mwen, mwen kay tiwГ©
pòtwé’w èk on wòch! If you come
close to me, I’m going to throw this
rock at you!
pГІtГ©
V 1) to carry, to bring. I ka pГІtГ©
bwèt-la. He’s carrying the box. (syn:
chayГ©; see also: mennen) 2) to bear.
PyГ© mango-a sanm kay pГІtГ© an chay
lannГ© sala. The mango tree looks like
it will bear a lot this year. (syn:
mennen fwi; see also: pwodwi) 3) to
wear. I ka pòté soulyé nwè. He’s
wearing black shoes. N calving, birth
of a calf. Manman bГЁf sala ja fГЁ twa
pГІtГ© Г©pi tout sГ© piti-a sГ© jinis. That
cow has given birth three times and all
the little ones are heifers. (see also:
akouchman, mГЁtba) [< Fr. porter]
pГІtГ© pawГІl same as chayГ© pawГІl.
Madanm sala enmen pГІtГ© pawГІl
asou moun. That woman likes to badtalk people.
pou1
PREP 1) for (in the sense of
duration). I wГ©tГ© la pou twa simenn.
He stayed there for three weeks.
2) for, in exchange for. Mwen vann
dГ© bwapen ba li pou dГ© dГІla. I sold
him two breadfruits for two dollars.
3) for, because of. Nou wimèsyé’y
pou bon potjiwasyon-an. We thanked
him for the good provision. 4) to, in
order to. I vini pou apwann palГ©
Patwa. He came in order to learn
Patwa. [< Fr. pour] sГ© pou must, to
have to, it is necessary. SГ© pou nou
alГ© an hГІtГЁ gadГ© pou manjГ©. We
must go up to the high country to look
for food. (syn: sГ© fo; see also: ni pou,
oblijГ©) pou li pwГ©zan for now, for
the present. Pou li pwГ©zan ou ka fГЁ
byen, mГ© mwen pa sav pou pli ta.
For now you’re doing well, but I don’t
know about later. (syn: apwГ©zan,
atjwГЁlman) [< Fr. pour le prГ©sent]
pГІtГЁ
N porter, a medicinal drink.
Mwen ka bwГЁ lalwas ГЁk blan zГ© an
pГІtГЁ pou blГЁs. I drink a mixture of
aloe and egg white as a medicine for
internal injuries.
potГЁktГ© variant of pwotГЁktГ©.
potjiwasyon
N provision. Nou ka
wimèsyé’y pou bon potjiwasyon-an.
We thank him for the good provision.
pou
pou2
N pulse. Si ou koupГ© pou an
moun, i kay senyen jik a tan i mГІ. If
186
pou
Kwéyòl – English
you cut a person’s pulse, he will bleed
to death. [< Fr. pouls]
pousad. I gave him a push. [< Fr.
pousser]
pou3
pousГ©
N head louse. Yo ni pou an
chivГ© yo. They have lice in their hair.
(see also: mГІpyon) [< Fr. pou]
V 1) to push. PousГ© motoka-a
ban mwen. Push the car for me. 2) to
sprout. TalГЁ sГ© fГЁy-la kay pousГ©.
Soon the leaves will sprout. (see also:
flГЁch, jГЁm, koko, wichton) [< Fr.
pousser]
poud
N powder. I mГ©tГ© poud tout
anlè lapo’y. She put powder all over
her skin. [< Fr. poudre]
pousyГЁ variant of lapousyГЁ. [< Fr.
poussiГЁre] fГЁ pousyГЁ to break into
pouki (var: poutji) why. Pouki ou fГЁ
sa? Why did you do that? [< Fr.
pourquoi]
little pieces. Moulon-an sГІti asou tГЁt
li ГЁk tonbГ©, i fГЁ pousyГЁ. The
watermelon came off of his head and
fell and broke into little pieces. (see
also: fГЁ lapousyГЁ)
pouki pou same as pouki.
poul
N hen, chicken, fowl. Tout sГ©
poul mwen-an ja ka ponn. All of my
hens are already laying eggs. (see also:
kГІk, poulГЁt) [< Fr. poulet] poul dlo
water fowl. Tan lontan anba mannglan tГ© benyen poul dlo. Long ago
there were plenty of water fowl in the
mangrove. (see also: kanna)
poulayГ©
N coop. Tout sГ© poul-la ka
dГІmi an poulayГ©-a. All the chickens
sleep in the coop.
poutji variant of pouki.
pouvwa
N authority. Ki moun ki
ba’w pouvwa pou fè sa? Who gave
you authority to do that? (syn: dwa,
lotowitГ©; see also: otowizasyon)
[< Fr. pouvoir]
pouwi
ADJ rotten. Yanm-lan tГ© ja
pouwi. The yam was already rotten.
(see also: gatГ©, fwГ©) V to rot. Si ou
kitГ© sГ© fig-la la, yo kay pouwi. If you
leave the bananas there, they will rot.
[< Fr. pourrir]
poulbwa
N wood ant, termite.
Poulbwa ja manjГ© tout lapГІt-la.
Termites have eaten up the door.
poulГЁt
pГІv
poumyГ© variant of pwГЁmyГ©.
povizyon variant of pwovizyon.
pous
povokГ© variant of pwovokГ©.
N young hen. SГ© poulГЁt-la
p’òkò koumansé ponn. The young
hens haven’t yet begun to lay. (see
also: poul, kГІk) [< Fr. poulet]
N 1) inch. LondjГЁ bГЁtannipyГ©
sala tГ© senk pous. The length of that
centipede was five inches. 2) span (as
a unit of measure in marbles). [< Fr.
pouce] gwo pous thumb. Kouto-a
koupГ© gwo pous li. The knife cut his
thumb. (see also: dwГЁt)
pousad
N
pГІz
ADJ poor. SГ© moun sala tГ© pГІv.
Those people were poor. (syn: mal,
malГ©wГ©; opp: wich; see also: fonn)
[< Fr. povre]
pГІwyГ©
N white cedar. Tout bГІdaj
chimen-an tГ© plen pyГ© pГІwyГ©. The
road was lined by white cedar trees.
pГІz
N rest. KitГ© mwen pwan an ti
pГІz avan mwen koumansГ© twavay
sala. Let me take a little rest before I
push. Mwen ba li on
187
pozГ©
Kwéyòl – English
money. 2) to carry. AlГ© pwan dlo-a.
Go carry the water. 3) to go. Ko ou
pwan? Where are you going? (see
also: alГ©) 4) to have sex with. Tifi
sala ja ka pwan nonm. This girl is
already having sex with men. (syn:
fwГ©kantГ©, fГЁ vis, kouchГ©) 5) to start,
to begin, to fall. LГЁ ГІswГЁ pwan, tout
bГЁt ka sГІti anba wazyГ©. When
evening falls, all of the animals come
in from the bush. (used in reference to
morning, evening, perhaps season)
6) to start to, to begin to. Ti manmayla pwan hГ©lГ© lГЁ i wГЁ kwapo-a. The
child began to cry when she saw the
toad. (syn: mГ©tГ©, pitjГ©, koumansГ©)
[< Fr. prendre] pwan pou to ally
with, to side with, to stand with, to
support. Si goumen lГ©vГ©, mwen kay
pwan pou fanmi mwen. If a fight
breaks out, I will side with my family.
(syn: mГ©tГ© pou; see also: bay wГ©zon,
sipГІtГ©) pwan vwa to recognize a
voice. LГЁ nonm-lan palГ©, tifi-a pwan
vwa’y. When the man spoke, the girl
recognized his voice. (see also:
konnГЁt, vwa)
start that work. (see also: van) [< Fr.
pause]
pozГ©
V 1) to rest, to relax. JГІdi-a nou
kay pozé. Today we’ll rest. 2) to
alight, to land. JibyГ©-a pozГ© asou tГЁt
pyГ© mango-a. The bird landed on the
top of the mango tree. 3) to take the
first move in dominos. PozГ© si ou ni
mal sis. Go first if you have a double
six. [< Fr. reposer]
pozisyon
N position. Annou chanjГ©
pozisyon nou. Let’s change our
position. [< Fr. position]
pozitivman
ADV positively. Sa vwГ©
pozitivman! That’s true, positively!
(see also: absoliman, asiwГ©, kouman)
[< Fr. positivement]
pwa1
N pea. Yo ka manjГ© tout kaltГ©
pwa. They eat all kinds of peas. [< Fr.
pois] pwa angГІl pigeon pea. [< Fr.
pois d’Angole] pwa chous a large
kind of bean. pwa dou sweet peas.
pwa gwatГ© itching peas. Savann-an
tГ© plen pwa gwatГ©. The field was full
of itching peas. pwa kasГ© split pea.
Nou pilГ© pwa kasГ©. We ground split
peas. pwa salad green beans, salad
beans. pwa wouj kidney beans, red
beans. pwa zyГ© nwГЁ black-eyed
peas.
pwa2
weight. Yo ladjГ© on kГІd ki tГ©
ni an pwa mawé adan’y. They
released a rope that had a weight tied
on it. [< Fr. poids] pwa senkant a
50 lb. weight.
pwГ©
pwatik1
N customer. Nou sГ© pwatik
li. We’re his customers.
pwatik2 N practice. [< Fr. pratique]
mГ©tГ© an pwatik to put into practice.
Ou ka apwann an chay bon bagay,
mé sé pou’w mété yo an pwatik.
You’re learning many good things, but
you must put them into practice.
N
pwГ© (var: opwГ©)
PREP near. Nou pa
té pwé’y. We weren’t near him. (opp:
lwen; see also: alapГІtГ©, alimans, a
kotГ©, bГІ, bГІdaj, vizavi) ADV near,
nearby. Lè i vini pwé, nou wè’y.
When he came near, we saw him.
[< Fr. prГЁs]
pwalin
N praline, a candy made with
cashews or almonds. Mwen achtГ© dГ©
pwalin pou mwen manjГ©. I bought
two pralines to eat. (see also: tablГЁt)
pwan (var: pwen)
V 1) to take. Nou
kay pwan lajan-an. We’ll take the
188
pwГ©chГ©
Kwéyòl – English
pwГ©chГ©
V to preach. I ka pwГ©chГ©
toulГ© Sanmdi. He preaches every
Saturday. (syn: pwГ©dikГ©) [< Fr.
prГЄcher]
brother is a man who is very hairy.
pwГЁmyГ© (var: pwenmyГ©)
ADJ first.
Ou ki pwГЁmyГ© moun mwen wГЁ jГІdia. You are the first person I have seen
today. (opp: dГЁnyГ©) [< Fr. premier]
pwГЁmyГ© vini any. PwГЁmyГ© vini
moun ki ka dГ©sann chimen-an, ba li
bagay-la ban mwen. Any person you
see coming down the road, give him
the thing for me. (syn: nГ©pГІt)
pwГЁchman
N preaching, sermon.
PwГЁchman-an ja fini. The preaching
has ended. (syn: pwГ©dikasyon; see
also: konmisyon)
pwГ©dikasyon
N preaching, sermon.
Mwen apwГ©syГ© ti pwГ©dikasyon-an
ou bay bonmaten-an. I appreciated
the little sermon you gave today. (syn:
pwГЁchman; see also: konmisyon)
[< Fr. prГ©dication]
pwГ©dikГ©
V
pwГЁmyГ©man (var: pwenmyГ©man)
ADV firstly. PwГЁmyГ©man, nou kay
palé ba yo. Firstly, we’ll talk to them.
(opp: dГЁnyГ©man) [< Fr.
premiГЁrement]
to preach. (rare; syn:
pwen1
pwГ©chГ©)
N fist. Pwen’y té wèd. His fists
were hard. [< Fr. poing] koul pwen
blow, punch. bay koul pwen to
punch, to slug. I ba li on koul pwen.
He slugged him.
pwГ©dyГ© (var: pwiyГ©dyГ©)
V to pray.
Nou ka pwГ©dyГ© bay BondyГ©. We
pray to God. (see also: lapwiyГЁ) [< Fr.
prier Dieu]
pwГ©fГ©wans
preference. BondyГ© pa
ni pwГ©fГ©wans pou pyГЁsonn. God
doesn’t have preference for anyone.
(see also: pasyalitГ©, lavantaj) [< Fr.
prГ©fГ©rence]
N
pwen2
N 1) point, detail, element. ZГІt
kay ni pou aksГЁptГ© chak ti pwen an
sa mwen ka di-a. You must accept
each small point in what I’m saying.
(see also: dГ©tay) 2) proof. Sa ou
moutwГ© mwen la-a sГ© asГ© pwen pou
fГЁ mwen kwГЁ. What you showed me
is enough proof to convince me. (see
also: pwГЁv) 3) point (in reference to
games). Konmen pwen zГІt jwenn
pou jwГ© sala? How many points did
you get for this game? [< Fr. point]
pwГЁl
N 1) fur, hair of an animal, pelt.
Tout sГ© mouton sala ni pwГЁl blan.
All of those sheep have white hair.
2) body hair of a human. PwГЁl li tГ©
wouj. His body hair was red. [< Fr.
poil]
pwГ©lГ©1
pwennsГЁs
batch (of cassava flour).
Mwen fГЁ kat pwГ©lГ© fawin pou jounГ©a. I made four batches of cassava flour
for the day.
N
pwen3 variant of pwan.
pwenmyГ© variant of pwГЁmyГ©.
pwenmyГ©man variant of
pwГЁmyГ©man.
pwГ©lГ©2 variant of pwГ©lГЁz. Ou pwГ©lГ©
kon on makak. You are as hairy as a
monkey.
pwennsГЁs (var: lapwennsГЁs)
N
princess. Jenn tifi-a abiyГ© kon on
pwennsГЁs. The young girl was dressed
like a princess. [< Fr. princesse]
pwГ©lГЁz
ADJ hairy, hirsute. FwГЁ mwen
sГ© on nonm ki pwГ©lГЁz an chay. My
189
pwens
Kwéyòl – English
pwens
N prince. Pwens-lan pa tГ© ni
pyГЁs kouwonn. The prince had no
crown. [< Fr. prince]
pwГЁt
N priest. I ka pasГ© had pwГЁt-la.
She was ironing the priest’s clothes.
(syn: labГ©, pГЁ; see also: danm, lГЁvГЁk,
monsenyГЁ, mГЁw) [< Fr. prГЄtre]
pwensip
N principle. Manmay jГІdi
pa ni pyГЁs pwensip. Children today
don’t have any principles. [< Fr.
principe]
pwГ©tГ©
V 1) to borrow. Mwen kay
pwГ©tГ© lajan-an an bank-lan pou fГЁ
kay-la. I’ll borrow the money from the
bank to build the house. 2) to lend, to
loan. Mwen pwété’y lajan-an. I
loaned him the money. [< Fr. prГЄter]
pwent
N point. Yo kasГ© pwent
kouto-a. They broke the knife’s point.
[< Fr. point]
pwenti
to sharpen (wood). I ka
pwenti pitjèt-la. He’s sharpening the
stake. (see also: dolГ©)
V
pwГ©pawasyon
N preparation. Pa fГЁ
pwépawasyon ban mwen; m’a ka
wété pou lontan. Don’t do any
preparation for me; I’m not staying
long. [< Fr. prГ©paration]
pwГ©pawГ© (var: pawГ©)
to prepare.
Yo pwГ©pawГ© kГІ-a pou lГЁtГЁman-an.
They prepared the body for the
funeral. (syn: fГЁ ganm, fГЁ pwovizyon)
[< Fr. prГ©parer]
V
pwГЁv1
N black pepper. PwГЁv ka fГЁ
mwen ГЁstennГ©. Black pepper makes
me sneeze. (see also: piman) [< Fr.
poivre]
pwГЁv2
N evidence, proof. Sa sé pwèvla ou té ka gadé pou. That’s the
evidence you were looking for. (see
also: pwen) [< Fr. preuve]
pwГ©vit
N bathroom, WC, loo, toilet,
outhouse. I mГ©tГ© pwГ©vit-la dГЁyГЁ kayla. He put the outhouse behind the
house. alГ© an pwГ©vit to defecate, to
go to the bathroom, to use the toilet. I
alГ© an pwГ©vit. He went to the
bathroom. (euphemism; syn: alГ© an
wazyГ©, fГЁ bizwen, chyГ©, kaka)
pwГЁs variant of pwГЁskГЁ.
pwГ©sГ©
ADJ in a hurry, hurried, rushed.
I pwГ©sГ© tГЁlman sГ© jou sala. She is in
such a hurry these days. [< Fr.
presser]
pwГ©zans
N presence. I fГЁ tout sГ©
bagay sala an pwГ©zans mwen. He did
all of these things in my presence.
[< Fr. prГ©sence]
pwГЁskГЁ (var: pwГЁs)
ADV almost,
nearly. PwГЁskГЁ tout zabГІka-a gatГ©.
Nearly all of the avocadoes are spoiled
(see also: mantjГ©) [< Fr. presque]
pwГ©zantГ©
V to present. I pwГ©zantГ©
twavay li bay titja-a. He presented
his work to the teacher. [< Fr.
prГ©senter]
pwГ©son
N fish. Yo ka vann tout
kaltГ© pwГ©son. They sell all kinds of
fish. (see also: pГ©chГ©) [< Fr. poisson]
pwГ©son amГ© porcupine fish,
globefish, puffer, blowfish. pwГ©son
gwan zyГ© red snapper. (see also:
sГІb) pwГ©son nas pot fish.
pwГ©zГЁvГ©
pwГ©zantman
ADV presently. Mwen
pa ka twavay pwézantman. I’m not
working presently. (see also:
apwГ©zan, atjwГЁlman) [< Fr.
prГ©sentment]
pwГ©zГЁvГ© (var: pwГ©zГІvГ©)
190
V
to
pwГ©zidan
Kwéyòl – English
preserve. SГ© pou ou salГ© vyann-an
pou pwézèvé’y. You must salt the
meat to preserve it. (see also: konfi)
[< Fr. prГ©server]
plums. [< Fr. prune]
pwivilaj
N privilege. I sГ© on pwivilaj
pou mwen sa vini isi-a jГІdi-a. It is a
privilege for me to come here today.
(see also: lonnГЁ) [< Fr. privilГЁge]
pwГ©zidan
N president. Nonm sala
vlé nou ilèkté’y pwézidan. That man
wants us to elect him president.
pwГ©zon
poison. Yo fè’y manjé
pwГ©zon-an. They made him eat the
poison. (see also: vlen) [< Fr. poison]
N
pwiyГЁ variant of lapwiyГЁ.
pwiyГ©dyГ© variant of pwГ©dyГ©. Mwen
ka pwiyГ©dyГ© pou BondyГ© sa ni
mizéwikòd asou’w. I am praying that
God will have mercy on you. [< Fr.
prier Dieu]
pwГ©zonnen
V to poison. Yo
pwГ©zonnen nonm-lan. They poisoned
the man. [< Fr. empoisonner]
pwizon
N prison, jail. Yo mété’y an
pwizon. They put him in jail. (syn:
lajГІl, kalabous; see also: kacho)
[< Fr. prison]
pwГ©zГІvГ© variant of pwГ©zГЁvГ©.
pwi1
N price. La ni chimiz tout sГІt
kalitГ© pwi. There are shirts at all
different prices. [< Fr. prix]
pwi2
stuck, caught. LawivyГЁ-a
gwo; i sanm mwen byen pwi ГІswГЁ-a.
The river is high; it seems I am well
stuck tonight. V 1) to get stuck. PyГ©
mwen pwi an twou-a Г©pi mwen pa tГ©
sa tiwé’y. My foot got stuck in the
hole and I couldn’t remove it. 2) to
take root. I pa sanm pyГ© bwa-a kay
pwi. It doesn’t look like the tree will
take root. (syn: fГЁ wasin) 3) to perch.
Malfini ka pwi adan bwanch bwa.
Chicken hawks perch on tree
branches. pwi an pwi an kГІ same
as pwi dГЁyГЁ. Mwen pwi an pwi an
kГІ Pita paski sa i tГ© ka fГЁ-a pa tГ©
bon. I rebuked Peter because what he
was doing wasn’t good. pwi dèyè to
rebuke. Mwen tГ© ni pou pwi dГЁyГЁ
tibway-la pou i tГ© sa koutГ© mwen. I
had to rebuke the child to get him to
listen to me. (syn: pwi an pwi, lГ©vГ©
dГЁyГЁ)
pwodwi
pwizonnГЁ variant of pwizonnyГ©.
pwizonnyГ© (var: pwizonnГЁ)
N
prisoner. Tout sГ© pwizonnyГ© mawon.
All of the prisoners escaped. [< Fr.
prisonnier]
ADJ
pwГІblenm (var: pГІblenm)
N
problem. Nou pa ni pyГЁs pwГІblenm.
We have no problems. (syn: pas,
twaka) [< Fr. problГЁme]
pwochen (var: pochen, pwochenn)
next. Mwen ka alГ© lГІt pГ©yi
simenn pwochen. I am going overseas
next week. (syn: ka vini, lГІt; opp:
pasГ©) N neighbour, fellow man. SГ©
pou ou fè bon bay pwochen’w. You
must do good to your neighbours.
(syn: vwГ©zinaj; see also: jan) [< Fr.
prochain]
ADJ
pwochenn variant of pwochen.
pwodwi (var: podwi)
V to produce.
Jaden mwen pwodwi an chay lannГ©
sala. My garden produced a lot this
year. (see also: pГІtГ©, mennen fwi)
[< Fr. produire]
pwin
N plum. SГ© ti manmay-la ka
manjГ© pwin. The children are eating
191
pwofГЁsГ©
Kwéyòl – English
pwofГЁsГ©
V to profess. Mwen ka
pwofГЁsГ© lafwa an JГ©zi Kwi. I am
professing faith in Jesus Christ.
(religious) [< Fr. professer]
pwofГЁsyon (var: pofГЁsyon)
Pwan pokosyon pou pa koupé kò’w.
Be careful you don’t cut yourself.
(syn: pwan gad)
pwonmГЁt (var: ponmГЁt)
V to
promise. I ja pwonmГЁt nou sa. He
has promised us that. (see also:
sГЁwmantГ©) N promise. Pa fГЁ
pwonmèt ou pa sa tjenn. Don’t make
a promise you can’t keep. (see also:
sГЁman) [< Fr. promettre]
N
profession (of faith). Yo tout fГЁ
pwofГЁsyon lannГ© pasГ© They all made
professions of faith last year.
(religious) [< Fr. profession]
pwofГЁt (var: pofГЁt)
N prophet.
PwofГЁt BondyГ© toujou ka palГ©
lavéwité. God’s prophets always
speak the truth. (religious) [< Fr.
prophГЁte]
pwonmnen (var: ponmnen)
V to
stroll, to wander. LГ© Dimanch nou
ka pwonmnen. On Sunday we go for
a stroll. (see also: machГ©) [< Fr.
promener]
pwofi (var: pofi)
N profit, gain,
benefit. Mwen kay fГЁmГ© magazenan paski mwen pa ka fГЁ pwofi. I am
going to close my shop because I am
not making any profit. (see also: gany,
bennГ©fis) [< Fr. profit]
pwГІp
ADJ clean. Mwen vlГ© ou
nГ©twayГ© la byen pwГІp ban mwen. I
want you to tidy up there very clean
for me. (syn: nГЁt; opp: sal; see also:
nГ©twayГ©, lavГ©) [< Fr. propre] mal
pwГІp 1) dirty, nasty, unclean,
polluted, unsanitary. Ou mal pwГІp;
alé benyen. You’re dirty; go bathe.
(syn: sal; opp: nГЁt; see also: salГІp)
2) promiscuous. Tifi sala mal pwГІp
an chay; i ka dГІmi Г©pi konmen
nonm. That girl is quite promiscuous;
she sleeps with so many men. (see
also: cho)
pwofitГ© (var: pofitГ©)
V to grow. Ou
ja pwofité an chay! You’ve grown a
lot! (opp: Г©twГ©si; see also: lГ©vГ©) [< Fr.
profiter]
pwogwГ© (var: pogwГ©)
N progress.
Nou ka fГЁ bon pwogwГ© asou kay-la.
We’re making good progress on the
house. [< Fr. progrГЁs]
pwojГ©
N project. Nou twavay wГЁd
asou pwojГ© sala. We worked hard on
this project. [< Fr. projet]
pwГІptГ©
N cleanliness. PwГІptГ©
enpГІtan an chay lГЁ ou ka fГЁ
pwГ©pawasyon manjГ©. Cleanliness is
very important when you are preparing
food. [< Fr. proprietГ©] mal pwГІptГ©
1) dirtiness, filth, pollution,
uncleanliness. Ay nГ©twayГ© mal
pwГІptГ©-a la! Go clean up the filth
there! 2) immorality; immoral,
disgusting behaviour. SГ© pou ou
doubout mal pwòpté’w la. You must
stop that disgusting behaviour. (see
also: vyГ© lavi, vis) [< Fr. malpropretГ©]
pwoklanmГ© (var: poklanmГ©)
V to
proclaim. Yo ja pwoklanmГ© lГ©vanjilla toupatou Sent Lisi. They have
already proclaimed the Gospel
everywhere in St. Lucia. [< Fr.
proclamer]
pwokosyon (var: pokosyon)
pwГІptГ©
N
caution, precaution. [< Fr. prГ©caution]
pwan pwokosyon be careful.
192
pwГІspГ©wГ©
Kwéyòl – English
pwГІspГ©wГ© (var: pГІspГ©wГ©)
length of measure). Mwen achtГ© on
poto dis pyГ©. I bought a ten foot long
post. [< Fr. pied] bay pyГ© 1) to
grant power or authority over
someone. Pa janmen bay manmay
pyé asou gwan moun. Don’t ever
give children power over older folks.
(syn: bay lГ©chanlib; see also: bay
wГ©zon) 2) same as fГЁ pyГ©. fГЁ pyГ© to
hurry up, to move quickly, to get
moving. FГЁ pyГ©! FГЁ pyГ© pou nou
fini. Hurry up! Hurry so we can finish.
(syn: bay pyГ©, bwennen kГІ, chapГ©
kГІ, chapГ© pyГ©, fГЁ vit; see also: kouwi;
fann kann, fГЁ djip, fГЁ lapousyГЁ, fГЁ
yan, fГЁ zГ©klГЁ, kouwi vant a tГЁ, pwan
lavГІl) koul pyГ© kick (by a person).
bay koul pyГ© to kick. Nonm-lan tГ©
fachГ© pis yo tГ© ba li koul pyГ©. The
man was angry because they had
kicked him. pasГ© anba pyГ© to
humiliate. Yo pasé’y anba pyé yo.
They humiliated him. pyГ© kawГ©
square foot. Yo pГ©yГ© twa dГІla pa pyГ©
kawГ©. They paid three dollars per
square foot. pyГ© kou base of the
neck. I bay mouton on koul bwa
asou pyé kou’y. He hit the sheep at
the base of its neck with a piece of
wood. pyГ© ni same as ni pyГ©. Si ou
machГ© pyГ© ni, ou kay twapГ© vГЁ
solitГЁs. If you go barefoot, you will get
hookworms. [< Fr. pieds nus] tiwГ©
pyГ© to kick. Bouwik-la tГ© ka tiwГ©
pyé’y. The donkey was kicking its
feet. (see also: bay koul pat) tjenbГ©
pyГ© to follow in footsteps of, to keep
traditions of. Tibway sala tjenbГ© pyГ©
papa’y. That boy follows his father’s
tradition. (see also: swiv, twadisyon,
papa’y tjwa)
V to
prosper. Ou pa kay pwГІspГ©wГ© si ou
ka vГІlГЁ bagay moun. You will not
prosper if you steal people’s things.
[< Fr. prospГ©rer]
pwotГ©jГ© (var: potГ©jГ©)
V to protect.
Papa’y ka pwotéjé’y. His father
protects him. (rare; syn: pwotГЁktГ©; see
also: dГ©fans) [< Fr. protГ©ger]
pwotГЁktГ© (var: potГЁktГ©)
V to protect.
BondyГ© ka pwotГЁktГ© nou. God
protects us. (syn: pwotГ©jГ©; see also:
dГ©fans) [< Eng. protect]
pwovizyon (var: povizyon)
N
provision. Nou wimèsyé’y pou bon
pwovizyon-an. We thanked him for
the good provision. (syn:
potjiwasyon) [< Fr. provision] fГЁ
pwovizyon to make provision, to
prepare, to get ready. SГ© pou ou fГЁ
pwovizyon pou lГЁ ou vini vyГ©. You
must prepare for when you get old.
(syn: fГЁ ganm, pwГ©pawГ©)
pwovokГ© (var: povokГ©)
V to provoke.
Li ki pwovoké mwen avan! He’s the
one who provoked me first! (see also:
anbГ©tГ©, annГЁwvГ©, chikann, kankan,
twen) [< Fr. provoquer]
pyanmpyanm
ADJ so so. Mwen la
pyanmpyanm I’m so so. (syn: pasab,
ti miyГЁt, ti mГІso, tibwen, tizing, ti
tak)
pyay
V to do obeah on. Gwan
madanm-lan pyay tibway-la paski i
té wi’y. The old woman did obeah on
the boy because he had laughed at her.
(see also: fГЁ jГЁs, fГЁ tjenbwa, fГЁ zГЁb,
gajГ©)
pyГ©1
1) foot (as a part of the body).
Mwen té kay sèpé pyé’y. I would
have cut off his foot. 2) foot (as a
N
pyГ©
pyГ©2
N plant, bush, tree. I ban mwen
dГ© pyГ© mango pou mwen sa plantГ©.
He gave me two mango trees to plant.
193
pyГЁ
Kwéyòl – English
pyГЁs3
(see also: zГЁb, wazyГ©) pyГ© bwa tree.
Lapen moutГ© an pyГ© bwa-a. Rabbit
climbed the tree. pyГ© dibas type of
tree. pyГ© dimas type of tree. pyГ©
onflen fir tree. LГЁ van-an ka pasГ©
an pyГ© onflen-an, ou ka kwГЁ sГ© an
moun ki ka souflГ©. When the wind
passes through the fir tree, you think
it’s a person whistling. pyé wazyé
same as wazyГ©. pyГ© wozo type of
tree. pyГ© zГЁb same as zГЁb. pyГ© zГЁl
wavГЁt type of tree. FГЁy pyГ© zГЁl
wavГЁt-la ka sanm an zГЁl wavГЁt pou
vwГ©. The leaf of the tree really does
resemble a roach’s wing.
ADJ not any, none at all. Ou pa
ni pyès wézon pou alé la. You don’t
have any reason to go there. (opp:
tout) ADV not at all. Mwen pa ka alГ©
an sé bagay sala pyès. I’m not going
into those things at all. [< Fr. piГЁce]
pyГЁs kotГ© nowhere. Nou pa ka alГ©
pyès koté. We’re not going anywhere.
pyГЁsonn (var: pГЁsonn)
PRO nobody,
no one. LГЁ nou wivГ© la pa tГ© ni
pyГЁsonn. When we arrived there was
nobody. (opp: tout moun) [< Fr.
personne]
pyГЁstГ©
V to patch. I pyГЁstГ© tjilГІt-la.
She patched the pants. ADJ patched.
Had li toujou pyГЁstГ©. His clothes
were always patched. [< Fr. rapiГЁcer]
pyГЁ N stone. (rare) [< Fr. pierre] pyГЁ
dous whetstone. ChapantyГ©-a filГ©
lanm galГЁ-a ГЁk an pyГЁ dous. The
carpenter sharpened the plane blade
with a whetstone. (syn: mГЁl) pyГЁ
loway �thunder stone’, Indian stone
axe. DГ©lГЁ moun ka jwenn pyГЁ loway.
Sometimes people find stone axes.
pyГЁs1
pyГ©tГ©
V to strain, to exert oneself. Si
ou pa pyГ©tГ© ou pa kay fini jГІdi-a. If
you don’t exert yourself, you won’t
finish today. (syn: fГЁ fГІs kГІ)
pyГ©ton
N balance. Ou pa ni asГ©
pyГ©ton pou pasГ© asou bwa-a. You
don’t have good enough balance to
walk on the wood. (syn: balan)
coin. Ti manmay-la pГЁd pyГЁs
lajan-an. The child lost the coin.
[< Fr. piГЁce]
N
pyГЁs2
N 1) patch (on clothing). I mГ©tГ©
on gwo pyГЁs an do chimiz-la. She put
a big patch on the back of the shirt.
2) field, piece of land. Ou plantГ© on
bГЁl pyГЁs fig an hГІtГЁ. You planted a
nice banana field in the countryside.
(see also: tГЁ, tГ©wen) [< Fr. piГЁce]
roro
PyГ©wo
N the village of Pierrot. Mwen
sГ© jan PyГ©wo. I am from Pierrot.
pyon
N knobs (in a game of draughts).
I pГЁd tout pyon-an. He lost all of his
knobs.
Rr
radyo
N radio. Nou tann nouvГЁl-la
asou radyo-a. We heard the news on
the radio. [< Eng. radio]
[< Eng. record]
roro
N uproar, tumult. La tГ© ni an
gwo roro. There was a big uproar.
[< Eng. row]
rГЁkГІd
N record. Gwoup-la fГЁ on
rГЁkГІd. The group made a record.
194
roti
Kwéyòl – English
roti
salГЁ
they are hot. (syn: bГ©k; see also:
dalpouri, sohari)
N East Indian flat bread. Mwen
enmen roti lГЁ i cho. I like rotis when
Ss
sa1 (var: san)
PRO 1) demonstrative
pronoun: this, that. Г€s ou kopwann
sa? Do you understand that? San
mwen-an pli gwo pasГ© sa ou-a. Mine
is bigger than yours. 2) variant of ki
sa. Sa ou ka fГЁ la? What are you
doing there? [< Fr. Г§a] ki sa (var:
sa) what. Ki sa ou kay fГЁ la? What
will you do there? ki sa ki (var: sa
ki) what. Ki sa ki wivé’w? What
happened to you? sa ki 1) variant of
ki sa ki. Sa ki wivé’w? What
happened to you? 2) who. Sa ki
genyen motoka-a? Who bought the
car? (syn: kilГЁs ki, ki moun ki)
3) whose. Sa ki motoka sala? Whose
car is that? (syn: sa ki moun) 4) he
who, whoever. MisyГ©-a wivГ© ГЁk sa ki
té pawé alé épi’y. The man arrived
and whoever was ready went with
him. sГ© sa ki those who, whoever.
MisyГ©-a wivГ© ГЁk sГ© sa ki pawГ© alГ©
épi’y. The man arrived and whoever
was ready went with him.
sa2
ADV can, to be able. I pa tГ© sa
menm maché. He couldn’t even walk.
(syn: pГ©) SigawГЁt sala sa bon! This
cigarette is really good!
sadin
sand. Yo mГ©tГ© sab-la adan
sak-la. They put the sand in the sack.
[< Fr. sable]
sab2
N
N sword. I mennen sab li
toupatou. He took his sword
everywhere. (see also: kouto, koutla,
ponya, janbГЁt) [< Fr. sabre]
sardine. [< Fr. sardine]
sajГЁs variant of lasajГЁs.
sak
N bag, sack. Mwen vlГ© on sak
sik. I want a bag of sugar. [< Fr. sac]
sakwГ©
ADJ damned. Ou sГ© on sakwГ©
vòlè. You’re a damned thief. [< Fr.
sacrГ©]
sakwifis
N sacrifice. Mwen ni pou fГЁ
on chay sakwifis pou mwen sa fГЁ kay
mwen. I have to make a lot of
sacrifice in order to be able to build
my house. [< Fr. sacrifice]
sal
ADJ dirty, soiled. SГ© jou sala dlo-a
sal an chay. These days the water is
very dirty. (syn: mal pwГІp; opp:
pwГІp, nГЁt; see also: salГІp) [< Fr. sale]
sala (var: sa’a)
ADJ this, that. Nou
kontan motoka sala. We like that car.
[< Fr. cela] sГ© sala these, those.
Pwan liv sala mГ© kitГ© sГ© sala. Take
this book but leave those.
salad
N salad. Mwen pa tГ© sa fГЁ
salad-la paski tout konkonm-lan
gaté. I couldn’t make the salad
because all of the cucumbers are
spoiled. [< Fr. salade]
sa’a variant of sala.
sab1
N
salГ©
V to salt. Yo ka salГ© vyann-an.
They salt the meat. ADJ salty. Dlo-a
tГ© twГІ salГ©. The water was too salty.
(see also: sГЁl) [< Fr. saler]
salГЁ
N salary. I vlГ© yo hosГ© salГЁ-a. He
wants them to raise the salary. (see
also: salГЁ, pГ©yiman) [< Fr. salaire]
195
salГ©zon
Kwéyòl – English
salГ©zon
N meat, fish. Nou manjГ©
manjГ©-a san salГ©zon. We ate the food
without meat. [< Fr. salaisons]
sali
without food. (opp: Г©pi, ГЁvГЁk) [< Fr.
sans]
san4 variant of sa. San mwen-an gwo
1
V to soil, to dirty. Las sali dlo-a!
Stop dirtying the water! [< Fr. salir]
sali non to slander, to defame. SГ© pa
pou sali non moun. You must not
slander people. (syn: dГ©kwiyГ©,
mГ©pwizГ©, nwГЁsi non; see also: chayГ©
pawГІl, mal palГ©)
pasГ© sa ou-a. Mine is bigger than
yours.
sanblГ©
V 1) to gather. Yo ka sanblГ©
nwa. They are gathering cashews. (see
also: anmasГ©) 2) variant of asanblГ©.
Yo tout sanblГ© bГІ pon-an. They all
gathered by the bridge. (syn: jwenn)
[< Fr. assembler]
sali2
V to prime. SГ© pou ou sali
planch-lan avan ou pentiwé’y. You
must prime the board before you paint
it.
sanglГ©
V to buckle (something on an
animal). Yo mГ©tГ© sГЁl-la ГЁk yo
sanglé’y ba li. They put the saddle on
and buckled it for him. (see also:
bouklГ©)
salГІp
ADJ nasty, dirty. Ou salГІp. You
are nasty. (crude; see also: mal pwГІp,
sal) [< Fr. salope]
salvasyon
sanm
V to appear, to seem, to look
like, to resemble. I sanm lapli-a kay
kwГ©vГ©. It seems that the rain is going
to fall. (syn: gadГ© kon) Mwen kwГЁ
zГІt tГ© dГ© fwГЁ pis zГІt ka sanm. I
thought you were brothers because
you look like each other. [< Fr.
sembler]
salvation. JГ©zi ka ofГЁ
nou salvasyon. Jesus offers us
salvation. (religious)
N
san1
N blood. Bouden sala fГЁt ГЁk san
kochon. This black pudding is made
with pig’s blood. (see also: senyen)
Tout pyГ© mwen tГ© ni san. My foot
was all bloody. [< Fr. sang] mГ©tГ©
san dГЁwГІ to shed blood, to spill
blood. Si ou touchГ© mwen, mwen ka
mété san’w dèwò. If you touch me,
I’ll spill your blood. san mò broken
blood vessel, haematoma, contusion,
bruise. DГІktГЁ-a tiwГ© san mГІ-a an
pyГ© nonm-lan. The doctor removed
the haematoma from the man’s foot.
(see also: blГЁs, blГ©sГ©)
san2
hundred. Sa koutГ© konmen
san dГІla. That costs many hundred
dollars. [< Fr. cent] yan san one
hundred. Sak-la pГ©zГ© yan san liv.
The sack weights one hundred pounds.
ADJ
sanngki
Sanmdi
N Saturday. ToulГ© Sanmdi
yo ka alГ© laplas. Every Saturday they
go to the market. [< Fr. samedi]
sann
N ashes. Sa ou pГЁd an difГ© ou
pé twouvé’y adan sann. What you
lose in the fire you may find in the
ashes. ADJ grey. WГІb li tГ© sann. Her
dress was grey. (syn: gwi) [< Fr.
cendre]
sanng
N belt. Sanng-lan tГ© twГІ gwo
pou wen’y. The belt was too large for
his waist.
sanngki
N hymn. LГЁ la ni lavГ©yГ©
moun ka chantГ© sanngki. When
there’s a wake people sing hymns.
[< Fr. Ira D. Sankey]
san3
PREP without. Nou wГ©tГ© twa jou
san manjГ©. We stayed three days
196
sans
Kwéyòl – English
sans (var: syans)
sapoti
N sense. Sa pa ka
fè sans. That doesn’t make sense. (see
also: santiman) [< Fr. sens]
sansi
N sapodilla (Achras zapota).
[< Fr. sapotille]
Satan
N Satan, the Devil. Satan
toujou ka tantГ© moun. Satan is
always tempting people. (syn:
Denmou; see also: djab, vyГ© lГЁspwi)
[< Fr. Satan]
leech. Sansi ka sisГ© san.
Leeches suck blood. [< Fr. sangsue]
N
sansib
ADJ sensitive. Ti manmay-la
sansib an tèt. The child’s head is
sensitive. (see also: sisГЁptid) [< Fr.
sensible]
satifika
N certificate. SГ© manmay
lГ©kГІl-la wisivwГЁ satifika yo jГІdi-a.
The school children received their
certificates today. [< Fr. certificat]
sansiv
N gums. Sansiv li ka senyen.
His gums are bleeding. [< Fr. gencive]
santГ©
health. Santé’y pa bon pyès.
His health is not at all good. [< Fr.
santГ©]
N
satisfaksyon
N satisfaction. Mwen
pa ka jwenn pyГЁs satisfaksyon an sa
mwen ka fè-a. I don’t receive any
satisfaction in what I am doing. (see
also: lakontantman) [< Fr.
satisfaction]
santГЁ
N stinker. SГІti la, santГЁ! Get
out of there, you stinker!
santi
V 1) to feel. Mwen santi an
bagay annГЁk pasГ© andidan mwen. I
felt something just pass inside me.
2) to smell. FlГЁ-a ka santi bon. The
flower smells good. (see also: pwan
lГІdГЁ) 3) to stink. Vyann-an ka santi;
i sanm ja gatГ©. The meat stinks; it
seems to be spoiled. [< Fr. sentir]
santiman
satisfГЁ
V to satisfy. Mwen satisfГЁ Г©pi
wГ©pons-lan ou bay-la. I am satisfied
with your response. (syn: kontantГ©;
see also: wipinyГ©) ADJ satisfied.
Atjòlman yo satisfè. Now they’re
satisfied. (syn: kontantГ©, plГЁ; opp:
dГ©satisfГЁ) [< Fr. satisfaire]
sav
V to know. Mwen pa sav sa i yГ©. I
don’t know what it is. (see also:
konnГЁt) [< Fr. savoir] fГЁ sav to let
one know, to inform. LГЁ ou pawГ©, fГЁ
mwen sav. When you’re ready, let me
know. (syn: enfГІmГ©, souflГ©; see also:
di)
common sense. Fanm
sala pa ni santiman; i ГЁk nonm-lan
toujou. That woman doesn’t have any
sense; she is still with the man. (see
also: sens) [< Fr. sentiment]
N
sapantГЁ
N a type of plant, remedy for
�épwidan’. (see also: kanmanmi,
tiyГЁl)
savan
ADJ 1) wise, smart. Nonm-lan
kwГЁ i savan. The man thinks he is
wise. (opp: kouyon, sГІt; see also:
lasajГЁs, entГ©lijans, lГЁspwi,
lakopwann) 2) civilized. Moun pli
savan apwГ©zan pasГ© avan. People are
more civilized now than before. (opp:
sovay; see also: dosil) [< Fr. savant]
sapat
N 1) sandal. KotГ© ou achtГ©
sapat sala? Where did you buy those
sandals? 2) domino term: a set of
consecutive games unbroken by
defeat. Mwen ba yo dГ© sapat yГЁ
ГІswГЁ. I won two straight sets in
dominoes last night.
savann
savann
N field. Yo mawГ© bГЁf-la
adan savann-an. They tied the cow in
197
saviyon
Kwéyòl – English
the field. [< Fr. savane]
sГЁk2
N hoop, band, ring, circle. SГ© ti
manmay-la tiwé sèk-la oliwon bawia épi woulé’y désann chimen-an.
The children removed the hoop from
around the barrel and rolled it down
the road. (see also: won) [< Fr. cercle]
saviyon
N oar, paddle. Saviyon
kannГІt-la kasГ©. The oar of the canoe
broke. [< Fr. aviron]
savolan
N kite. Yo ka volГ© savolan.
They’re flying kites. [< Fr. cerfvolant]
sГЁklГ©
V to weed. I ka sèklé jaden’y.
He’s weeding his garden. (see also:
sГЁpГ©) [< Fr. sarcler]
savon
N soap. I sГЁvi savon pou lavГ©
lanmen’y. He used soap to wash his
hands. (see also: nГ©twayГ©, lavГ©) [< Fr.
savon] savon nГЁt a type of tree
whose leaves are used to do laundry. I
sèvi fèy savon nèt pou tjiwé planchlan. He used the �savon nèt’ leaves to
scrub the floor.
sГЁl1
ADJ only. SГЁl dГІla mwen tГ© ni,
mwen ba ou’y. The only dollar I had,
I gave it to you. (see also: dГЁnyГ©,
sГЁlman, tousГЁl) [< Fr. seul]
sГЁl2
N salt. Yo mГ©tГ© twГІp sГЁl an
manjГ©-a. They put too much salt in
the food. (see also: salГ©) [< Fr. sel]
sayd
N side. I tГ© lГІt sayd-la. He was
on the other side. (syn: bГІ, fasad,
kotГ©) [< Eng. side]
sГЁl3
N fertilizer. LГЁ plan-an lГ©vГ©, mГ©tГ©
pli sГЁl. When the plant sprouts, put on
more fertilizer. (see also: fimyГ©) [< Fr.
selle]
sГ©1 (var: yГ©)
V to be. FwГЁ mwen sГ© on
dòktè. My brother’s a doctor. [< Fr.
c’est]
sГЁl4
N saddle. Yo mГ©tГ© sГЁl-la anlГЁ do
chouval-la. They put the saddle on the
horse’s back. [< Fr. selle]
sГ©2 pluralizer. SГ© wГІb sala bГЁl pasГ© sГ©
lГ©zГІt-la. These dresses are prettier
than the others.
sГ©lГ©
V to saddle. Ay sГ©lГ© chouval-la.
Go saddle the horse. (opp: dГ©sГ©lГ©)
[< Fr. seller]
sГЁ
N sister. SГ© moun sala sГ© fwГЁ ГЁk sГЁ
mwen an JГ©zi. Those people are my
brothers and sisters in Jesus.
(religious; syn: sГ©sГ©)
sГ©lГ©bwasyon
N celebration.
SГ©lГ©bwasyon-an kay ГІswГЁ-a. The
celebration will be tonight. (see also:
fГЁt, fГЁsten) [< Fr. cГ©lГ©bration]
sГЁf
N deer. An chay moun ka manjГ©
sГЁf. Many people eat deer. (syn: bich)
[< Fr. cerf]
sГ©lГ©bwГ©
V to celebrate. Tout moun
vlГ© sГ©lГ©bwГ© Kannaval. Everyone
wants to celebrate Carnival. (see also:
fГ©tГ©, bwiyГ©, fГЁ lafГЁt, wibotГ©) [< Fr.
cГ©lГ©brer]
sГЁjan
N sergeant. KilГЁs ki sГЁjan-an?
Who is the sergeant? [< Fr. sergent]
sГЁk1
ADJ dry. I lavГ© wГІb-la mГ© i
p’òkò sèk. She washed the dress but
it’s not dry yet. (opp: mouyé) V to
dry. Chimiz-la pa kay sГЁk kotГ© ou
mété’y la. The shirt will not dry there.
(see also: chГ©chГ©) [< Fr. sec]
sГ©lГ©wa
sГ©lГ©wa
ADJ wicked. Pa fГЁ blag Г©pi
tibway sala; i séléwa an chay. Don’t
joke around with that boy; he is very
wicked. (syn: mГ©chan, modi; opp:
bon; see also: movГ©, vyГ©)
198
sГ©lГ©watГЁ
Kwéyòl – English
sГ©lГ©watГЁ
Fishermen use seine nets. (see also:
filГЁt, lГЁpГЁvyГ©; kali) [< Fr. seine]
N wickedness. SГ©lГ©watГЁ
matjé asou fidji’y. Wickedness is
written all over his face. (opp: bontГ©;
see also: mГ©chanstГ©, movГЁztГ©)
sennen
V to seine, to fish with a seine.
SГ© pГ©chГЁ-a ka sennen. The fishermen
are seining.
sГЁlman
ADV alone, only. SГ© ou
sГЁlman mwen vlГ© vini. It is you alone
I want to come. (syn: tousГЁl, yonn; see
also: sГЁl) [< Fr. seulement]
senp
ADJ simple. Bagay-la mwen ni
pou di’w-la byen senp pou
konpwann. What I have to tell you is
very simple to understand. [< Fr.
simple]
sГЁman
N oath. Mwen fè sèman m’a
ka janmen alГ© la ankГІ. I made an
oath I would never go there again. (see
also: pwonmГЁt, sГЁwmantГ©) [< Fr.
serment]
Sent Lisi
N St. Lucia. Yo ka alГ© Sent
Lisi pou Kannaval. They are going to
St. Lucia for Carnival. [< Fr. Sainte
Lucie]
sen
N saint. PwГЁt-la di i sipozГ©
pwГ©dyГ© bay sГ© sen-an an syГЁl. The
priest said he should pray to the saints
in heaven. [< Fr. saint]
senk
ADJ five. Gason-an ni senk sГ©sГ©.
The boy has five sisters. [< Fr. cinq]
sentdjГІn
N plant with a red flower
used in bush medicine. [< Eng. Saint
John]
SenyГЁ
N Lord. SГ© pou ou toujou
kwiyГ© asou SenyГЁ-a. You must
always call upon the Lord. (religious)
[< Fr. seigneur]
senkant
ADJ fifty. Si nou tГ© ni
senkant dòla nou té kay genyen’y. If
we had fifty dollars we would buy it.
[< Fr. cinquante]
senkГЁ
senyen
V 1) to bleed. Yo kwГ©vГ©
nonm-lan ГЁk i koumansГ© senyen.
They stabbed the man and he began to
bleed. (see also: san) 2) to kill. Yo
ka senyen an pil zannimo lГ© NwГЁl.
They kill many animals at Christmas.
(see also: tjwГ©) [< Fr. saigner]
five o’clock. [< Fr. cinq
N
heures]
senkГЁy (var: senkay)
N coffin.
KГІbiya-a vini pwan senkГЁy-la. The
hearse came to take the coffin. [< Fr.
cercueil]
sГЁpan
N serpent, snake. SГЁpan-an
pitjГ© fwГЁ madanm-lan. The snake bit
the woman’s brother. (see also: vlen)
[< Fr. serpent]
senkyenm
ADJ fifth. Yo viwГ© asou
senkyenm jou-a. They returned on the
fifth day. [< Fr. cinquiГЁme]
senm
N
snow peas.
sГ©pawГ©
V 1) to divide, to separate.
SГ©pawГ© manjГ©-a pou nou manjГ©.
Divide the food for us to eat. 2) to
share. Yo tГ© ka sГ©pawГ© tout bagay.
They used to share everything. [< Fr.
sГ©parer]
senmityГЁ
N cemetery. Yo tГ© ka
chachГ© on plas pou fГЁ an senmityГЁ.
They were looking for a place to make
a cemetery. (see also: tГ©wГ©, tonm)
[< Fr. cimetiГЁre]
senn
N
sГЁpГ©
sГЁpГ©
V to cut (brush). Mwen tГ© ka
sГЁpГ© zГЁb-la bГІ kay-la. I was cutting
seine net. PГ©chГЁ ka sГЁvi senn.
199
SГЁptanm
Kwéyòl – English
the grass near the house. (see also:
sГЁklГ©, koupГ©, sotГ©)
SГЁptanm
N
cutlass, it will cut you.
sГ©vwГ©
V to wean. Yo sévwé’y a laj di
twazan. They weaned him at the age
of three years. [< Fr. sevrer]
September. [< Fr.
septembre]
sГ©sГ©
sГЁvyГЁt
sГЁt
sГ©wan
N sister. SГ©sГ© mwen ka twavay
an lopital-la. My sister works at the
hospital. (syn: sГЁ; opp: fwГЁ)
ADJ seven. Yo ni sГЁt mal bouwik.
They have seven male donkeys. [< Fr.
sept]
N towel. Ba li on sГЁvyГЁt pou i
swiyГ© bouch li. Give him a towel to
wipe his mouth. [< Fr. serviette]
ADJ secretive. Mi nonm ki
séwan; i pa ka di’w zafè’y pyès.
Look, a man that is secretive; he won’t
tell you his business at all. [< Fr.
serrant] an sГ©wan secretly, in
secret. Yo fГЁ tout bagay an sГ©wan.
They did everything secretly. (syn: an
sigwГ©, ankachГЁt, anba fГЁy)
sГ©tГ© (var: tГ©)
V was. Papa mwen sГ©tГ©
on pГ©chГ©. My father was a fisherman.
[< Fr. c’etait]
sГ©tГЁ
N seven o’clock. [< Fr. sept
heures]
sГЁten
certain. La ni sГЁten bagay
ou pa sa fГЁ. There are certain things
you can’t do. [< Fr. certain]
sГ©wГ©1
V to hide. KotГ© ou sГ©wГ© lajanan? Where did you hide the money?
(syn: mГ©tГ© ankachГЁt)
ADJ
sГЁtyenm
sГ©wГ©2
V to tighten. Yo sГ©wГ© boulonan twГІp. They tightened the bolt too
much. (opp: ladjГ© asou; see also: visГ©)
ADJ tight. Sanng-lan tГ© twГІ sГ©wГ©.
The belt was too tight. (opp: slak; see
also: jis) [< Fr. serrer]
seventh. Mwen sГ©
sГЁtyenm ich manman mwen. I am
my mother’s seventh child. [< Fr.
septiГЁme]
ADJ
sГЁvant (var: sГІvant)
N servant.
Louwa vowГ© sГЁvant li ay pwan dlo.
The king sent his servant to get water.
(see also: donmГЁstik)
sГЁvГЁl
N brain. Ti manmay-la ka sГЁvi
sГЁvГЁl li. The child is using his brain.
(see also: lidГ©, tГЁt) [< Fr. cervelle]
sГ©wen
N dew. SГ©wen ka tonbГ© lГ©
bonmaten. Dew falls in the morning.
(syn: lawouzГ©)
SГ©wГ©nal
N Christmas celebration
where people march early in the
morning, singing and beating on metal
buckets. Mwen ka alГ© SГ©wГ©nal
denmen bonmaten. I am going to the
Christmas celebration early tomorrow
morning.
SГ©vГ©san
N St. Vincent. Mwen ka alГ©
SГ©vГ©san asou vakans. I am going to
St. Vincent for vacation.
sГЁvi
V 1) to serve. Nou sipozГ© sГЁvi
BondyГ©. We should serve God. 2) to
use. Yo ka sГЁvi manyГІk pou fГЁ
fawin. They use cassava to make
farine. [< Fr. servir] mal sГЁvi to
misuse. Si ou mal sГЁvi koutla-a, i
kay koupé’w. If you misuse the
sГЁwiyГ©
sГ©wi
N lock. LaklГ©-a tГ© adan sГ©wi-a.
The key was in the lock. (syn: laklГ©;
see also: kadna) [< Fr. serrure]
sГЁwiyГ©
ADJ serious. I pa tГ© sГЁwiyГ© lГЁ i
di sa. He wasn’t serious when he said
that. [< Fr. sГ©rieux]
200
sГЁwmantГ©
sГЁwmantГ©
Kwéyòl – English
to swear, to pledge, to
vow. Mwen ka sГЁwmantГ© sa mwen
di-a sГ© lavГ©witГ©. I swear that what I
said is the truth. (see also: pwonmГЁt,
sГЁman) [< Fr. serment]
V
si4 variant of sis. Yo wГЁstГ© la pou si
mwa. They stayed there fore six
months.
sibit
ADV suddenly, all of a sudden,
unexpectedly. Nonm-lan mГІ sibit.
The man died all of a sudden. (see
also: sibitman) [< Fr. subitement]
sГЁz
ADJ sixteen. I pГ©yГ© sГЁz dГІla pou
dГ© koutla. He paid sixteen dollars for
two cutlasses. [< Fr. seize]
sГ©zi
to seize. Bank-lan sГ©zi
motoka-a paski i pa té ka péyé’y.
The bank seized the car because he
wasn’t paying them. ADJ astonished,
astounded, amazed, surprised. LГЁ yo
wГЁ mizi pwГ© aksidan-an fГЁt douvan
yo, yo sГ©zi. When they saw how close
the accident happened in front of
them, they were astonished. (syn:
bГ©dji, Г©tonnen, sipwi) [< Fr. saisir]
sibitman
ADV suddenly, all of a
sudden. Sibitman, nou tann an
dibwi! Suddenly, we heard a sound!
(see also: sibit) [< Fr. subitement]
V
sigawГЁt
N cigarette. I pa ni pyГЁs
sigawГЁt. He has no cigarettes. (see
also: fimen, lafimГ©) [< Fr. cigarette]
sigwГ©
N secret. Kité mwen di’w on
sigwГ©. Let me tell you a secret. [< Fr.
secret] an sigwГ© secretly, in secret.
Nou tГ© jwenn an sigwГ©. We met
secretly. (syn: anba fГЁy, ankachГЁt, an
sГ©wan)
sГ©zisman
N shock, wonder. LГЁ tifi-a
tann manman’y té mò, sézisman
pwen’y. The girl was in shock when
she heard that her mother had died.
[< Fr. saisissement]
sigwГ©tГЁ
N secretary. PyГЁ sГ©
pwГ©zidan-an ГЁk Mari sГ© sigwГ©tГЁ-a.
Peter is president and Marie is
secretary. [< Fr. secrГ©taire]
sГ©zon
N season. Tan sala sГ© sГ©zon
lapli. This is the rainy season. [< Fr.
saison]
si
sik
N sugar. Nou genyen dГ© liv sik.
We bought two pounds of sugar.
[< Fr. sucre] sik an dan to be
elated, to be overwhelmed with
happiness. I tГ© kontan tГЁlman, i tГ© ni
an sik an dan’y lè i wè mawi’y. She
was so happy, she was elated when
she saw her husband.
1
CONJ if. Nou kay alГ© si ou vlГ©. We
will go if you want. (see also: dГ©pi)
[< Fr. si] si...sa this...that. Moun
kay di’w si, moun kay di’w sa, mé
pa koutГ© yo. People will tell you this,
people will tell you that, but don’t
listen to them.
si2
a two-man saw for splitting wood.
Yo fann bwa-a ГЁk si-a pou fГЁ planch.
They split the wood with the saw to
make planks. (see also: siyГ©; lГ©gowin,
paspatou) [< Fr. scie]
si3
N
ADJ sour. Zowanj-lan si kon siton.
The orange was as sour as a lime.
(opp: dou) [< Fr. sur]
sikwiyГ©
siklonn
N hurricane. Tan sala sГ©
sГ©zon siklonn. This hurricane season.
(see also: movГ© tan) [< Fr. cyclone]
siksГ©
N success. (see also: Г©wisi)
[< Fr. succГ©der]
sikwiyГ©
N bananaquit (Coereba
flaveola): a small grey bird with
yellow breast that sucks the flower of
201
silans
Kwéyòl – English
simГЁt
the coconut, banana and mango tree.
[< Fr. sucrier]
V to submit. Simèt kò’w bay
JГ©zi. Submit yourself to Jesus. (rare;
syn: abГ©sГ©) [< Fr. soumettre]
silans
N silence. Mwen vlГ© zГІt tout
asid la an silans. I want you all to sit
there in silence. ADJ quiet, silent.
Nonm-lan wГЁstГ© silans lГЁ i jwenn
nouvГЁl-la. The man remained silent
when he got the news. (see also: fwГЁt,
tjantjil) [< Fr. silence]
simГЁwjГ©
V to scatter. I simГЁwjГ©
manjГ© tout a tГЁ-a. He scattered food
all over the ground. (syn: simen)
simyГ©
V to prefer. KilГЁs kay ou
simyГ©? Which house do you prefer?
ADV it would have been better,
preferable. SimyГ© nou tГ© wГЁstГ© la. It
would have been better for us to have
stayed there. (syn: vonmyГ©; see also:
andji, olyГЁ, pito)
silon
PREP according to. Silon TГІti,
Chat ka pasГ© pa tГЁ. According to
Turtle, Cat is going on the ground.
(see also: akГІdans, dapwГ©) Silon
van-an latjГ© kГІk panchГ©. According
to the wind the cock’s tail bends.
[< Fr. selon]
sin1
N sign. I pa tГ© sa palГ© kon sa i tГ©
ka fè yo sin èk lanmen’y. He couldn’t
speak so he was making signs to them
with his hands. [< Fr. signe] fГЁ sin
anlГЁ same as fГЁ sin asou. fГЁ sin
asou to make derisive gestures in
order to mock, deride, make fun of the
person. Pa fГЁ sin asou nonm-lan
avan i wè’w. Don’t let that man see
you pointing at him. (see also: fГЁ
papicho, ladjГ© chalbawi, motjГ©,
pwan sГЁvi papicho, pwan sГЁvi
widitjil, pwan sГЁvi wizib) sin a kwa
sign of the cross. ApwГ© i fini pwГ©dyГ©
i fГЁ sin a kwa. After she finished
praying she made the sign of the cross.
(relig.) [< Fr. signe Г croix]
siltann
N robe worn by Catholic priest.
PwГЁt-la tГ© ni on siltann blan lГЁ i vin
fГЁ lanmГЁs. The priest had a white robe
when he came to conduct mass. (see
also: gГІl)
siman
N cement. Mwen ni pou achtГ©
on sak siman. I need to buy a bag of
cement. [< Fr. ciment]
simantГ©
V to cement, to bind. SГ©
lanmityГ© ki ka simantГ© nou ansanm.
It is love that binds us together.
(religious) [< Fr. cimenter]
simen
V to spread, to scatter, to sow.
ZГІdi-a simen tout a tГЁ-a. Trash was
scattered all over the ground. (syn:
simГЁwjГ©) [< Fr. dissГ©miner] simen
gwenn to play the fool. Yo toujou
ka simen gwenn! They’re always
playing the fool! (syn: simen kouyon)
simen kouyon same as simen
gwenn.
sinifyГ©
sin2 variant of sindichГЁ.
sindichГЁ (var: sin)
N mole (on the
skin). I ni sindichè asou lanmen’y.
She has moles on her hands. [< Fr.
signe de chair]
sinifyГ©
V to benefit, to gain. Ki sa sa
kay sinifyé’w menm si ou mal palé
mwen? What would you gain even
though you bad talk me? (syn:
bennГ©fis; see also: gany, pwofi) [< Fr.
signifier]
simenn
N week. Nou kay pati lГІt
simenn. We will leave next week.
[< Fr. semaine]
202
sipГІ
Kwéyòl – English
sipГІ
sistans
N support. MГ©tГ© an sipГІ bay pyГ©
bwa-a. Put a support for the tree.
[< Fr. support]
N sustenance, substance. SГ©
manjГ©-a ou enmen-an pa ni sistans.
The foods you like don’t have any
sustenance. [< Fr. substance]
sipГІtГ©
V 1) to support. SГ© sonmyГ©-a
ka sipГІtГ© kay-la. The beams support
the house. (see also: bay wГ©zon, mГ©tГ©
bay, pwan pou) 2) to bear, to stand.
MagwГ© i sГ© an miyatwГЁs, i ka sipГІtГ©
sГІlГЁy-la kon an jan nwГЁ. Although
she’s a mulatto, she can stand the sun
like a black person. [< Fr. supporter]
sit
V to hiss. SГ© gason-an ka sit sГ©
tifi-a. The boys are hissing at the girls.
sitenn
N standpipe. Mwen jwenn dlo
adan sitenn-an. I found water in the
standpipe. (see also: tiyo) [< Fr.
citerne] tГЁt sitenn faucet. Ti
manmay kasГ© tГЁt sitenn-an. The
child broke the faucet.
sipozГ©
ADV ought to, supposed to,
should. Mwen pa tГ© sipozГ© di anyen.
I shouldn’t have said anything. (syn:
dwé) Yo sipozé wivé jòdi-a. They’re
supposed to arrive today. [< Fr.
supposer]
sitiwasyon
N situation. Mwen vlé’w
Г©dГ© mwen paski mwen adan an vyГ©
sitiwasyon apwГ©zan. I want you to
help me because I am in a bad
situation. (see also: mannyГЁ) [< Fr.
situation]
sipwi
V to amaze, to surprise, to
astonish, to astound. Yo kay sipwi’y
épi an kado. They’ll surprise him with
a gift. ADJ surprised. Manman
mwen té sipwi lè i tann sésé’y mò.
My mother was surprised when she
hear her sister died. (syn: bГ©dji,
Г©tonnen, sГ©zi) [< Fr. surprise]
siton variant of sitwon.
sitonnГЁl
sisГ©
ADV especially, above all. Mwen
vlГ© zГІt tout sГІti isi-a, sitou ou menm,
Pita! I want you all to get out of here,
especially you, Peter! (syn:
ГЁspwГЁsman) [< Fr. surtout]
sitwayГ©
ADJ aggravated, annoyed.
Mwen tГ© sitwayГ© tГЁlman lГЁ mwen wГЁ
sa nonm-lan fГЁ madanm li. I as quite
annoyed when I saw what the man did
to his wife. (syn: anwajГ©; see also:
distwГ©, twoublГ©, fachГ©)
to suck. Mwen sisé tèt dowadla. I sucked the dolphin’s head. (see
also: tГ©tГ©) [< Fr. sucer]
sisГЁptid
sitwon (var: siton)
N lime. Madanmlan ka fè ji sitwon. The woman’s
making lime juice. [< Fr. citron]
sispann
V to hang, to dangle, to
suspend. Gason-an ka sispann asou
bwanch bwa-a. The boy’s hanging
from the tree. (see also: pann,
wanmГ©) [< Fr. suspendre]
citronella (Cymbopogon
sitou
V
ADJ sensitive, touchy. Ou
sisГЁptid pasГ© on mouton. You are
touchier than a sheep. (see also:
sansib) [< Fr. susceptible]
N
nomdus).
sis (var: si)
ADJ six. Gason-an ni sis
lannГ©. The boy is six years old. [< Fr.
six]
sivotjГ©
sivotjГ©
V to upset, to nauseate. VyГ©
lГІdГЁ sala sivotjГ© mwen. That bad
smell nauseated me. (syn: boulvГЁsГ©;
see also: malotjГЁ)
203
siwГЁt
Kwéyòl – English
siwГЁt
N
this meat is seasoned. 2) hardy,
resilient. Pa anbété kò’w épi sé
manmay sala; yo ja sizonnen. Don’t
worry yourself about those children;
they are resilient. [< Fr. assaisonner]
gooseberry.
siwik
N blue crab. (see also: bak,
kwab, touloulou, zagaya)
siwiz
N cherry, acerola (Malpighiaceae
emarginata). [< Fr. cerise]
skwГЁ
N 1) set square, used in
carpentry. Si i pa ni skwè i pa sa fè’y
dwèt. If he doesn’t have a square he
can’t make it straight. (syn: létjè; see
also: kawГ©) 2) park, plaza, enclosed
garden in the middle of town. Mwen
alГ© asou skwГЁ-a Г©pi on kanmawad
pou jwГ© mГ© skwГЁ-a tГ© fГЁmГ©. I went to
the square with a friend to play but the
square was closed. [< Eng. square]
asou skwГЁ street festival. Asou
skwГЁ lontan tГ© ka pli bГЁl pasГ©
atjwГЁlman. The street festivals in the
past were nicer than those today.
siwo same as siwo myГЁl. I dousi
dité’y épi siwo. She sweetened her tea
with honey. [< Fr. sirop] gwo siwo
molasses. DГІktГЁ zannimo-a di pou
mГ©tГ© gwo siwo an manjГ© bГЁf. The vet
said to put molasses in the cow’s food.
siyГ©1
V to saw. SГ© nonm-lan ka siyГ©
bwa. The men are sawing wood. (see
also: koupГ©; si, lГ©gowin, paspatou)
[< Fr. scier] siyГ© dlo to go fast in a
boat, to cut through the water. SГ©
kannГІt-la ka vini; yo ka siyГ© dlo.
The boats are coming; they are cutting
through the water. (syn: koupГ© dlo)
slak
ADJ loose. Sanng-lan mawГ© twГІ
slak. The belt was tied too loose. (opp:
sГ©wГ©; see also: ladjГ©) [< Eng. slack]
2
siyГ©
V to sign. SГ© pou zГІt tout siyГ©
papyГ©-a. You must all sign the paper.
[< Fr. signer]
so
N 1) fall. I pwan on so. He took a
fall. (syn: latjilbit; see also: tonbГ©)
2) waterfall. Nou moutГ© jis an hГІtГЁ
pou tГ© sa benyen an so-a. We went
up right to the countryside to bathe in
the waterfall. fГЁ so to struggle
physically. I fè so pou’y chapé, mé i
tГ© byen pwi. He struggled to get away,
but he was stuck. (see also: dГ©bat,
dГ©bwiyГ©, mennajГ©) pwan so to fall,
take a fall. Mwen pwan an so dwГЁt
douvan lapГІt-la. I fell right in front of
the door. (syn: tonbГ©; see also: pwan
latjilbit)
siyГЁz
N a type of cactus. La tГ© ni pyГ©
siyГЁz tousГЁl. There were only cactus
trees. (see also: watjГЁt)
sizan
N
same as sis lannГ©. [< Fr. six
ans]
sizГЁ
sizo
N
six o’clock. [< Fr. six heures]
1
N scissors. KoutiyГЁz-la pГЁd
sizo’y. The seamstress lost her
scissors. [< Fr. ciseaux]
sizo2
N Magnificent Fregate bird
(Fregata magnificens). [< Fr. ciseaux]
sizonnen
to season. Mwen pa sa
manjГ© pwГ©son-an paski ou pa
sizonnen’y byen. I can’t eat the fish
because you didn’t season it well. ADJ
1) seasoned. Mwen kontan mannyГЁ
vyann sala sizonnen-an. I like how
V
sГІb
sГІ
N fate, destiny, state of being poor.
Yo pasГ© an movГ© malГ©wГ© sГІ. They
went through a bad time. (see also:
lГ©ta) [< Fr. sort]
sГІb
N snapper. (see also: pwГ©son
gwan zyГ©)
204
sohari
Kwéyòl – English
sohari
listening). DГІktГЁ-a pa menm ni pou
sondé’y pou sav sa ki wivé’y. The
doctor doesn’t even need to check him
to know what happened to him. [< Fr.
sonder]
N East Indian bread similar to a
roti shell but fried. Mwen enmen
sohari-a lè i wasi. I like �sohari’ when
it is stale. (see also: bГ©k, dalpouri,
roti)
sГІl
N
flounder. [< Fr. sole]
sonm
ADJ sombre, sad. Ou sonm kon
moun ki pèd manman yo. You’re
sombre like people who’ve lost their
mother. (syn: twis, an lapenn; opp:
djГ©, kontan) [< Fr. sombre]
sГІlda1
N soldier. Tonton mwen sГ©tГ©
on sГІlda. My uncle was a soldier.
[< Fr. soldat]
sГІlda2
N hermit crab. (see also: bak,
kwab, siwik, touloulou, zagaya)
[< Fr. soldat]
sГІlГЁy
N sun. SГІlГЁy-la ka kouchГ©
bonnГЁ sГ© jou sala. The sun sets early
these days. [< Fr. soleil] sГІlГЁy
kouchan variant of sГІlГЁy kouchГ©.
sГІlГЁy kouchГ© (var: sГІlГЁy kouchan)
1) west. I tГ© ka machГ© asou sГІlГЁy
kouchГ©. He was walking to the west.
(opp: sГІlГЁy lГ©van, sГІlГЁy lГ©vГ©)
2) sundown. AntwГ© sГ© bГЁf-la avan
sГІlГЁy kouchГ©. Bring in the cows
before sundown. sГІlГЁy lГ©van variant
of sГІlГЁy lГ©vГ©. I tГ© ka machГ© asou
sГІlГЁy lГ©van. He was walking to the
east. sГІlГЁy lГ©vГ© (var: sГІlГЁy lГ©van)
1) east. (opp: sГІlГЁy kouchan, sГІlГЁy
kouchГ©) 2) sunrise, sunup. Mwen
pati alГ© an twavay avan sГІlГЁy lГ©vГ©. I
left to go to work before sunrise. (see
also: jou ouvГЁ, laba)
sГІlsouwi
N bat. Nou wГЁ sГІlsouwi tГ©
ka volГ©. We saw bats flying. [< Fr.
chauve-souris]
sonmГЁy
N sleep. SonmГЁy pwan ti
manmay-la. Sleep overtook the child.
(see also: dГІmi) [< Fr. sommeil]
sonmyГ©
N beam, floor joist. Tout
sonmyГ© kay-la ni poulbwa. All of the
beams of the house have termites.
[< Fr. sommier]
sonn
N stethoscope. DГІktГЁ-a sГЁvi
sonn-an pou gadé si tjè’y ka twavay
byen. The doctor used the stethoscope
to see if his heart was working well.
sonnen
V to ring, to sound. KlГІch-la
sonnen a yonnГЁ. The bell rang at one
o’clock. (see also: kòné, souflé) [< Fr.
sonner]
sonson variant of choson.
sГІs
N sauce. SГІs pwГ©son sГ© an bon
sГІs pou manjГ© ГЁk bwapen. Fish sauce
is a good sauce to eat with breadfruit.
[< Fr. sauce]
sosГ©
V to dip. Nou té ni pou sosé penan an dité-a pou nou té pé manjé’y.
We had to dip the bread in the tea in
order to be able to eat it. (see also:
mouyГ©, twanpГ©) [< Fr. saucer]
son
N noise, sound. LГЁ mwen tann
son-an mwen alГ© dГЁwГІ pou wГЁ sa i tГ©
yГ©. When I heard the sound I went out
to see what it was. (syn: dГ©zГІd, dibwi)
[< Fr. son]
sondГ©
V to check, to test (with a
stethoscope, or otherwise by
sГІt
sГІt1
ADJ foolish. Gason-an sГІt
tГЁlman! The boy is so foolish! (syn:
kouyon; opp: savan) [< Fr. sot]
sГІt2
205
N
kind, sort, type. Yo ka vann
sГІt
Kwéyòl – English
tout sГІt kalitГ© pwГ©son. They sell all
kinds of fish. [< Fr. sorte]
souflГ©
yon sou. Long ago they used to sell
two pieces of bread for one farthing.
[< Fr. sou] dГ© sou one cent.
sГІt3 variant of sГІti. SГІt anba kay-la
soud
apwГ©zan! Come out from under the
house right now!
ADJ deaf. Papa’y ja vini soud.
His father has become deaf. (see also:
avГЁg, moumou) [< Fr. sourd] ti non
soud same as soudnon.
sotГ©
V 1) to jump. Gason-an wГЁstГ©
asou tГЁt kay-la Г©pi i sotГ© a tГЁ. The
boy was up on the roof of the house
and he jumped to the ground. 2) to cut
the top of something off. Si ou vini
an lakou mwen, mwen kay sotГ© tГЁt
ou. If you come into my yard, I’m
going to cut your head off. (see also:
sГЁpГ©, koupГ©, volГ©) 3) to be surprised,
to be startled. VГІlГЁ-a sotГ© lГЁ i wГЁ mГЁt
kay-la. The thief was startled when he
saw the owner of the house. ADJ
surprised, startled, amazed. (syn:
sipwi, Г©tonnen, bГ©dji, sГ©zi) [< Fr.
sauter] fГЁ sotГ© to startle. LГЁ i antwГ©
nou fè’y soté. When he came in we
startled him. sotГ© anlГЁ to fight, to
attack. Si ou vin douvan mwen,
mwen ka soté anlè’w. If you come in
front of me, I am going to attack you.
(see also: litГ©, goumen)
soudГЁ
N deaf person. Jou-a JГ©zi kay
viwГ©-a tout soudГЁ kay tann. On the
day Jesus returns, all the deaf people
will be able to hear.
soudnon
N nickname. Non’y sé
Christopher mé soudnon’y sé Tofa.
His name’s Christopher but his
nickname is Tofa. (syn: ti non, ti non
soud)
souf1
N sulphur, sulphur springs.
Denmen nou kay pwan an ben an
souf. Tomorrow we will take a bath in
the sulphur springs. [< Fr. soufre]
souf2 variant of lisouf.
soufГЁ
V to suffer. SГ© moun sala tГ© ka
soufГЁ tГЁlman. Those people were
suffering so much. (see also:
soufwans) [< Fr. souffrir]
sГІti (var: sГІt)
V 1) to go out. Nou pa
sòti an kay-la. We didn’t go out of the
house. (opp: antwГ©; see also: alГ©, pati,
kitГ©) 2) to come from. Ko ou sГІti?
Where do you come from? [< Fr.
sortir] fГЁ an sГІti to visit a
practitioner of obeah. Ti manmay-la
malad an chay épi manman’y fè an
sГІti ba li. The child was quite sick and
his mother visited an obeah man on his
behalf.
souflГ©1
sou1
ADJ drunk. Nonm sala toujou
sou. That man is always drunk. (opp:
natiwГЁl) [< Fr. saoul]
sou2
N farthing, one half cent E.C..
Tan lontan yo tГ© ka vann dГ© pen pou
206
V 1) to blow. Ti manmay-la
souflГ© asou blan balenn-an. The
child blew on the candle. (see also:
kГІnГ©, sonnen) 2) to whistle, to blow
(a whistle, flute, horn, etc.). Nonm
sala toujou ka souflГ© lГЁ i ka twavay.
That man is always whistling when he
works. 3) to whisper. Las souflГ©
paditan mwen ka palé! Don’t
whisper while I’m speaking! (see also:
chwichwi, palГ© an zГІwГЁy) 4) to
notify, to inform. Si ou pa tГ© souflГ©
mwen sa, nonm-lan tГ© kay kwennen
mwen. If you hadn’t notified me about
that, the man would have tricked me.
(syn: enfГІmГ©, fГЁ sav; see also: di)
souflГ©
Kwéyòl – English
[< Fr. souffler]
soumachГ©
V to sweeten slightly. Si
ou pa soumachГ© ditГ©-a mwen pa kay
sa bwè’y. If you don’t sweeten the tea
a little, I won’t be able to drink it. (see
also: dou, dousi)
2
souflГ©
N slap. Sa sГ© souflГ© manmanan bay tibway-la! What a slap the
mother gave the boy! (syn: palaviwГ©;
see also: tap, do lanmen) [< Fr.
souffleter]
soumatjГ©
N a kind of plant that is
supposed to be good for the skin.
(syn: kaka bГ©tjГ©)
souflГЁt
N whistle. Ou ka souflГ©
souflГЁt sala twГІ fГІ! You are blowing
that whistle too loud! [< Fr. sifflet]
soupi
N groan, sigh. Ti manmay-la
ka fГЁ soupi kon an ti chyen ki ni an
bagay ka fè’y mal. The child is
making groans like a sick puppy. (see
also: plenn) [< Fr. soupir]
SoufouyГЁ variant of SoufwiyГЁ.
soufwans
N suffering. Nou p’òkò ni
soufwans kon tan sala. We now
longer have suffering like that time.
(see also: soufГЁ) [< Fr. souffrance]
souplГ©
INTERJ please. FГЁ sa ban
mwen, souplГ©. Do that for me, please.
[< Fr. s’il vous plaît]
SoufwiyГЁ (var: SoufouyГЁ) the town of
Soufriere.
soukou
N
soukwГ©
V
help. PГІtГ© mwen soukou!
Give me some help! (see also: chapГ©,
Г©dГ©, sovГ©) [< Fr. secours]
to shake. Pa soukwГ©
boutèy-la. Don’t shake the bottle. (see
also: twanblГ©) [< Fr. secouer]
soukwГ© lanmen to shake hands. Yo
tout soukwГ© lanmen. They all shook
hands. soukwé zépòl to shrug one’s
shoulders. Pa soukwГ© zГ©pГІl ou ban
mwen. Don’t shrug your shoulders at
me.
soupyГ©
N floormat. MГ©tГ© soupyГ©-a
an pa lapГІt-la. Put the floor mat in the
doorway. [< Fr. dessous de pied?]
sous (var: chous)
N spring. An hГІtГЁ
yo ka twapГ© dlo adan sous. In the
countryside they get water from
springs. (see also: pi, lagon) [< Fr.
source]
sousГЁ
N one who reveals another’s
personal business. Mwen pa kay palГ©
bay nonm sala ankГІ paski i sГ© an
sousè! I won’t talk to that man
anymore because he is a talker! (see
also: bava)
soulajГ©
V to relieve, to ease, to
comfort, to alleviate. ChantГ© ka
soulajГ© lapenn yo. Singing relieves
their grief. [< Fr. soulager]
sousi same as sousi zyГ©. sousi zyГ©
eyebrow. Kannou-an bwilГ© tout
sousi zyé’y. The bamboo canon burnt
off his eyebrows. [< Fr. sourcil]
soulajman
N relief, solace, comfort.
WimГЁd-la ba li an soulajman. The
medicine gave him some relief. [< Fr.
soulagement]
soutiwГ©
soutiwГ©
V to encourage, to foster, to
help, to meddle, to abet. Manman-an
ka soutiwГ© nonm-lan bay tifi-a. The
mother is encouraging the man for the
girl. (negative connotation) [< Fr.
soutirer]
soulyГ©
N shoe. I ka pГІtГ© soulyГ© nwГЁ.
He’s wearing black shoes. [< Fr.
soulier]
207
soutiwГЁz
Kwéyòl – English
soutiwГЁz
swГЁf
sovГ©
N accessory, accomplice,
meddler. Madanm sala soutiwГЁz, sГ©
li ki annГ©kГІz tifi-a gwo bouden. That
lady is a meddler, she’s the reason the
girl is pregnant. (syn: dikonplis; see
also: annafГЁ) Si pa ni sitouwГЁz pa ni
vГІlГЁ. Without accomplices there are
no thieves.
V to save. Soukou! SovГ© mwen!
Help! Save me! (see also: chapГ©, Г©dГ©,
soukou) [< Fr. sauver]
sovГЁ
N saviour. I konnГЁt JГ©zi kon
sovè’y. He knows Jesus as his saviour.
(religious) [< Fr. sauveur]
SpanyГІl
N Spanish. Nonm-lan ka
palГ© SpanyГІl tousГЁl. The man speaks
only Spanish. [< Fr. espagnol]
soutni
N snack. Mwen pwan an
soutni avan mwen ay dГІmi. I had a
little snack before I went to bed. (syn:
kolasyon)
spГІ
N sport. SГ© manmay sala
entГ©wГ©sГ© an spГІ tousГЁl. These
children are only interested in sports.
[< Fr. sport]
souvan
ADV often. Nou ka alГ© Kastwi
souvan. We go to Castries often. (syn:
an chay di lГЁ, dwi; opp: wa; see also:
wГЁglГ©) [< Fr. souvent] ki souvan
how often. Ki souvan ou ka alГ©
lГ©gliz? How often do you go to
church?
stГ©chann
N police station. DГ©sann an
bout chimen-an Г©pi ou kay wГЁ
stГ©chann-an. Go down to the end of
the road and you will see the police
station. (syn: kГІdgad) [< Eng. station]
souwi1
swa
souwi2
swasant ADJ sixty. [< Fr. soixante]
swasant dis seventy. [< Fr.
V to smile. Apa souwi lГЁ i wГЁ
nou. Papa smiled when he saw us. (see
also: gwiyen, wi) [< Fr. sourire]
N mouse. Chat-la kouwi dГЁyГЁ
souwi-a. The cat chased the mouse.
(see also: wat) [< Fr. souris]
souwi
3
N
goatfish. (syn: babawen)
N silk. Ki kotГ© ou achtГ© had swa
sala? Where did you buy those silk
clothes? [< Fr. soie]
soixante-dix]
SwazГЁy variant of ChwazГЁy.
souyГ© variant of swiyГ©.
swazi variant of chwazi.
sovaj variant of sovay.
swГ©
V to sweat. Nou tГ© ka swГ©
tГЁlman! We were sweating so much!
(see also: laswГЁ) [< Fr. suer]
sГІvant variant of sГЁvant.
sovay (var: sovaj)
ADJ 1) wild. BГЁf
sala sovay tГЁlman ou pa sa menm
vini pwé’y. That cow is so wild you
cannot even come near it. (syn:
fawouch, mawon; opp: dous)
2) uncivilized. SГ© moun sala tГЁlman
sovay, dГ©pi yo wГЁ moun yo ka
kouwi. Those people are so
uncivilized, whenever they see people
they run away. (opp: savan) [< Fr.
sauvage]
swГЁ
N evening, night. I ka vini lГ© swГЁ.
He comes in the evening. (opp: jou;
see also: lannwit, ГІswГЁ, nwit) [< Fr.
soir] li swГЁ variant of li ГІswГЁ.
swГ©...Г©ben (var: swГЁt...Г©ben)
CONJ
either...or. SwГ© ou alГ© Г©ben mwen
kay alГ©. Either you go or I will go.
(see also: ki...ki, ni...ni)
swГЁf
208
ADJ
thirsty. Nou tГ© swГЁf ГЁk las.
swen
Kwéyòl – English
swing. Las pwan swing asou
bwanch-lan avan i kasГ©. Quit
swinging on the branch or it will
break. (see also: balansГ©)
We were tired and thirsty. Nou kay
mò swèf! We’re going to die of thirst!
[< Fr. soif]
swen
V to feed, to take care of by
feeding. Ki mannyГЁ nou kay swen
yo? How will we feed them? (syn:
nouwi; see also: otjipГ©, pwan ka,
gadГ© apwГ©) [< Fr. soigner]
switi
N candy. I nichГ© switi-a. He
licked the candy. (see also: pasti)
[< Eng. sweetie]
swiv
V to follow. Mwen pa vlé’w
swiv mwen. I don’t want you to
follow me. (see also: tjenbГ© pyГ©)
[< Fr. suivre]
swГЁt...Г©ben variant of swГ©...Г©ben.
SwГЁt ou kay wГЁstГ© Г©ben ou kay alГ©.
Either you’ll stay or you’ll go.
swГ©tГ©
swiyГ© (var: souyГ©)
V to wish. Mwen ka swété’w
on bon NwГЁl. I wish you a merry
Christmas. [< Fr. souhaiter]
V to dry, to wipe.
Sé pou ou swiyé kò’w sèk apwé ou
benyen. You must dry yourself well
after you bathe. [< Fr. essuyer]
swГ©zi variant of chwazi.
swifГ©
tach
to apply candle wax or tallow
(on an iron). SwifГ© fГЁ-a apwГ© ou fin
pasГ©. Put tallow on the iron after you
press. [< Fr. suif]
V
syans variant of sans.
syГЁl
N 1) sky. SyГЁl-la tГ© kouvГЁ ГЁk
nwaj. The sky was covered with
clouds. (see also: lГ©zГЁ) 2) heaven.
BondyГ© ka wГЁstГ© an syГЁl. God is in
heaven. (syn: wГ©yГІm BondyГ©) [< Fr.
ciel]
swing
N swing. (syn: balanswin)
[< Eng. swing] pwan swing to
Tt
ta
sugar and coconut. SГ© ti manmay-la
ka manjГ© an chay tablГЁt. The
children eat lots of coconut candy. (see
also: pwalin)
ADV late. I toujou ka wivГ© twavay
ta. He always arrives late at work.
(opp: bonnГЁ; see also: anwita, tadГ©)
[< Fr. tard]
tab
N table. Yo mГ©tГ© kouto-a asou
tab-la. They put the knife on the table.
[< Fr. table] a tab at table. Nou tГ©
asid a tab ka manjГ©. We were sitting
at table eating.
tabliyГ©
N apron. Madanm-la ka lavГ©
tabliyé’y. The woman is washing her
apron. [< Fr. tablier]
tach1
N stain. Chimiz tibway-la
benyen tach. The boy’s shirt is full of
stains. [< Fr. tache]
tabak
N tobacco. SГ© fanm-la ka vann
tabak. The women are selling
tobacco. [< Fr. tabac] tabak djab a
kind of plant you can smoke.
tablГЁt
N
tach2
N school (of fish). SГ© pГ©chГЁ-a
ka gadГ© pou tach pwГ©son-an. The
fishermen are looking for the school of
fish.
candy made with melted
209
tachГ©
Kwéyòl – English
tachГ©1
V to stain. Fig ka tachГ© had
nou. Bananas stain our clothes. [< Fr.
tacher]
2
tachГ©
talon’y. The shoe cut him behind his
heel. [< Fr. talon]
tan1
N time. La ni on tan pou tout
bagay. There’s a time for everything.
[< Fr. temps] an menm di tan at
the same time, simultaneously,
meanwhile. An menm di tan nou
wè’y ka pasé. At the same time we
saw him passing by. ki tan when.
Ki tan ou kay viwГ©? When will you
return? (see also: ki lГЁ) tan lontan
long ago. Tan lontan moun tГ© ni kay
pay. Long ago people had straw
houses. (syn: lontan)
to pin. TachГ© had ou Г©pi
zГ©penng-lan. Pin your clothes with
the safety pin. [< Fr. attacher]
V
tadГ©
V to delay, to make late. Nou
tadГ© paski lapli tГ© ka tonbГ©. We
delayed because rain was falling. (see
also: ta, anwita) ADJ late, delayed.
Lapli-a fГЁ plГ©n-an tadГ©. The rain
made the plane late. [< Fr. tarder]
tak1
N stem. Gason-an kasГ© tak flГЁ-a.
The boy broke the stem of the flower.
tak
2
tan2
N weather. Tan-an movГ© jГІdi-a.
The weather is bad today. [< Fr.
temps] movГ© tan storm, tropical
wave, hurricane. SГ©zon movГ© tan ka
fini mwa sala. Hurricane season is
finishing this month. (see also:
siklonn)
some, a little bit, a few. Ban
mwen tak dlo pou bwГЁ. Give me
some water to drink. (syn: ti tak,
tibwen, ti miyГЁt, tizing)
ADJ
taks
N tax. Mwen ka pГ©yГ© taks toulГ©
mwa. I pay taxes every month. (see
also: ladwenn, lajan kay) [< Eng. tax]
tan3
ADJ such and such an amount
(deliberately vague). Г€s sГ© pou tan
lajan ou vann tГЁ sala? Is it for such
and such an amount you sold the land?
(see also: tГЁl tГЁl, entГЁl)
taktГ©
ADJ spotted, speckled, freckled.
Fig taktГ© dou an chay. Bananas with
speckles on them are very sweet.
[< Fr. tachetГ©]
talan
talent. BondyГ© bay tout
moun talan. God gives everyone
talents. (see also: abilitГ©) [< Fr. talent]
N
tanblГ© variant of twanblГ©.
tanbou
N drum. Nonm sala ka jwГ©
tanbou. That man plays the drum.
[< Fr. tambour]
talГЁ
ADV soon, shortly, in a little while.
TalГЁ vann-an kay wivГ©. The van will
arrive soon. (syn: touswit) [< Fr. tout
à l’heure] talè-a a while ago,
recently, earlier. Mwen jwenn
madanm-lan talГЁ-a. I met the woman
earlier. (see also: tou fwГ©)
talkari
N
talon
heel. Soulyé-a koupé’y dèyè
East Indian dish: stewed
pumpkin. Mwen kontan talkari Г©pi
diwi. I like �talkari’ and rice.
N
tanmadГІz
tanbouwen
N tambourine. Yo ka jwГ©
tanbouwen ГЁk tanbou. They are
playing tambourines and drums.
[< Fr. tambourin]
tanglГ© variant of twanglГ©.
tanmadГІz
N tomato. Nou alГ© an
jaden-an pou tjouyi tanmadГІz. We
went to the garden to pick tomatoes.
[< Eng. tomatoes] ti tanmadГІz
cherry tomato.
210
tanmawen
Kwéyòl – English
tanmawen
N tamarind (Tamarindus).
Tanmawen sГ© on bagay ki si an chay
mГ© i ka fГЁ bon ji. Tamarinds are very
sour but they make good juice. [< Fr.
tamarin] tanmawen fwans a type
of tamarind that is round, not long.
An chay moun kontan tanmawen
fwans paski i pa si kon lГІt
tanmawen-an. Many people like
tanmawen fwans because it’s not sour
like other tamarinds.
tanmi
tantant nou. We used to live with our
aunt. (see also: tonton) [< Fr. tante]
tantasyon
N temptation. Satan ka
ofГЁ nou an chay tantasyon. Satan
offers us many temptations. [< Fr.
tentation]
tantГ©
V to tempt. ManjГ© sala ka tantГ©
mwen. That food is tempting me.
[< Fr. tenter]
tantjil variant of tjantjil.
screen, sieve, sifter. Yo pasГ©
sab-la adan tanmi-an. They sifted the
sand in the screen. (see also: lГ©bichГ©,
paswa) [< Fr. tamis]
N
tanzantan
ADV sometimes,
occasionally. Tanzantan nou ka alГ©
lГ©gliz. From time to time we go to
church. (syn: dГ©lГЁ) [< Fr. de temps an
temps]
tann1
V 1) to hear. M’a tann sa ou dia. I didn’t hear what you said. (see
also: koutГ©) 2) same as alГІ. I moutГ©
an mГІn-an, tann! I koupГ© tout pyГ©
fig ki tГ© la! So he went up on the hill!
He cut down all the banana trees that
were there! [< Fr. entendre]
tann
tap
N slap. On tap ou bizwen, ou kay
jwenn li! You want a slap, you’re
going to get it! (see also: palaviwГ©,
souflГ©, do lanmen)
tapi
N table cloth. Manman mwen
achtГ© an bГЁl tapi pou NwГЁl. My
mother bought a pretty table cloth for
Christmas. (syn: tapi tab) [< Fr. tapis]
tapi tab same as tapi.
2
V to set (a trap). Ng’ay tann an
zatwap pou tjébé souwi-a. I’ll set a
trap to catch the mouse. [< Fr. tendre]
tanp
N temple, side of head. Tibwayla pwan on koul wГІch an tanp li; i
tonbГ© plat a tГЁ-a. The boy got hit on
the temple by a stone; he fell flat to the
ground. [< Fr. temple]
tas
N ceramic cup. Lapen mandГ© on
tas ditГ©. Rabbit asked for a cup of tea.
(see also: pГІt) [< Fr. tasse]
taya
N tyre. Taya-a pГ©tГ©; sГ© sa ki fГЁ
vann-an matГ©-a. The tyre blew; that
is what made the van overturn.
[< Eng. tyre]
tanpi variant of tanpwi.
tanpwi (var: tanpi) I beg you.
Tanpwi souplГ©, pa mennen tibway
sala bГІ kay mwen. I am begging you
please, don’t bring that boy to my
house. [< Fr. je t’an prie]
tayГ©
V 1) to trim. Nonm-lan tayГ©
dachin-an avan i planté’y. The man
trimmed the dasheen before he planted
it. (see also: dГ©bwanchГ©) 2) to crack
(as a whip). LГЁ i koumansГ© tayГ©
fwГЁt-la, sГ© manmay-la twanblГ©.
When he began to crack the whip, the
children trembled. [< Fr. tailler]
tant
N tent. KilГЁs wilizyon ki mГ©tГ©
tant sa’a la? Which denomination put
up that tent there? [< Fr. tente]
tantant
N
tayГ©
aunt. Nou tГ© ka wГ©tГ© Г©pi
211
tayГЁ
Kwéyòl – English
tayГЁ
mesh. Mizik-la ГЁk chantГ©-a pa ka
tèl. The music and the singing don’t
mesh. 2) same as tГЁl tГЁl. tГЁl kon just
like. Ou ka toujou fГЁ mwen hont, tГЁl
kon jou-a ou jwenn mwen bГІ lanmГЁ
Г©pi sГ© madanm-lan. You always
embarrass me, just like the day you
found me at the beach with the ladies.
(see also: menm kon, mГІd kon) tГЁl
tГЁl such and such (in reference to a
thing or person you have been
discussing). Si ou wГЁ tГЁl tГЁl misyГ©,
ba’y konmisyon-an ban mwen. If
you see such and such a man, give him
the message for me. (syn: tГЁl; see also:
tan3, entГЁl)
N tailor. KilГЁs tayГЁ ki fГЁ tjilГІt
sala? Which tailor made these pants?
(see also: koutwiyГЁz) [< Fr. tailleur]
taza
N
king mackerel.
tГ©1 1) anterior verb marker. I tГ© vini
plas sala an chay tan ki pasГ©. He had
come to that place a long time ago.
(see also: sГ©tГ©) I tГ© malad. She was
sick. 2) variant of sГ©tГ©. Papa mwen
tГ© on jan lanmГЁ. My father was a
fisherman. tГ© ka 1) past continuative
verb marking. I tГ© ka hГ©lГ© lГЁ nou
wivГ©. He was crying when we arrived.
2) used to. Tan lontan moun tГ© ka
wГ©tГ© an kay pay. Long ago people
used to live in straw houses.
tГ©2
variant of kité. Té mwen di’w
yon bagay. Let me tell you something.
(used in imperatives)
tГЁ
N telephone. Nou pa ni on
téléfòn. We don’t have a telephone.
[< Fr. tГ©lГ©phone]
tГ©lГ©fГІnГ©
V to telephone. Yo tГ©lГ©fГІnГ©
nou pou mandГ© lajan. They
telephoned us to ask for money. [< Fr.
tГ©lГ©phoner]
N
tГЁk
to play marbles. Nou ka tГЁk
toulГ© apwГ©midi apwГ© lГ©kГІl. We play
marbles every afternoon after school.
(syn: zing; see also: mab)
tГЁl
tГ©lГ©fГІn
V
1) dirt, ground, soil. I mГ©tГ© tГЁ
oliwon sГ© plan flГЁ-a. He put dirt all
around the small flower plants.
2) land, property. Sa ki mГЁt tГЁ sala?
Who is the owner of that land? (see
also: pyГЁs, tГ©wen, popyГ©tГЁ) [< Fr.
terre] a tГЁ on or to the ground. Yo
jété’y a tè. They threw it on the
ground. fГЁ tГЁ to get back to land. LГЁ
nou tГ© pГЁd asou lanmГЁ-a i pwan nou
konmen jou avan nou fГЁ tГЁ. When we
were lost at sea it took us a long time
to get back to land. (see also:
dГ©kouvГЁ, Г©chwГ©, kГІstГ©) tГЁ gwa clay
soil. Mwen hayi machГ© asou tГЁ gwa
lГЁ i mouyГ©. I hate to walk on clay soil
when it is wet.
V
V
tГ©mwenyaj
tГЁlman
ADV so, so much, to such an
extent. Gason-an pa tГ© tГЁlman
malad kon nou tГ© kwГЁ. The boy was
not as sick as we thought. (syn: otan,
si tГЁlman; see also: afГІs, kantitГ©,
mizi) [< Fr. tellement] si tГЁlman
same as tГЁlman. Yo tГ© si tГЁlman
kontan! They were so happy!
tГ©mwen
N witness. Nou tГ© tГ©mwen
aksidan sala. We were witnesses of
that accident. [< Fr. tГ©moin]
tГ©mwennaj variant of tГ©mwenyaj.
tГ©mwenyaj (var: tГ©mwennaj)
N
testimony. TГ©mwenyaj tifi-a ki fГЁ yo
voyé vòlè-a lajòl. The girl’s testimony
resulted in them sending the thief to
jail. (see also: tГЁstifyГ©) [< Fr.
tГ©moignage]
1) to match, to go together, to
212
tenk
Kwéyòl – English
tenk
(syn: bita) 2) getting along well with
each other. Yo pa tГ© ka palГ© avan mГ©
apwézan yo tèt a tèt. They didn’t
speak to each other before but now
they are getting along well with each
other. [< Fr. tГЄte Г tГЄte] tГЁt anlГЁ a
traditional type of lady’s hair wrap
with a kerchief. tГЁt cho stress.
Mawi mwen ka ban mwen tГЁt cho.
My husband is giving me a lot of
stress. tГЁt chyen boa constrictor.
Sent Lisi ni an chay tГЁt chyen. St.
Lucia has a lot of boa constrictors. tГЁt
kasé a traditional type of lady’s hair
wrap with a kerchief. tГЁt kay roof.
Mwen fГЁ tГЁt kay mwen an galvanniz.
I made the roof of my house out of
galvanized corrugated roofing
material. (syn: fГ©tay; see also: chapo
kay) tГЁt mawГ© a traditional type of
lady’s hair wrap with a kerchief. tèt
mГІn summit, peak. Yo moutГ© jik an
tГЁt mГІn-an. They climbed as far as
the summit.
ADJ well-matched. Nonm sala ГЁk
madanm li tenk. That man and his
wife are well-matched. (syn: byen
jwenn)
tenn1
V to dye. Mwen vlé’w tenn
chimiz sala ban mwen. I want you to
dye this shirt for me. (opp: dГ©tenn)
[< Fr. teindre]
tenn2
V to turn off. Tenn layt-la. Turn
the light off. (see also: Г©tenn) [< Fr.
Г©teindre]
tenpГ©wanman
N energy. Nonm sala
ni an chay tenpГ©wanman; i ka
twavay tout jounГ©-a ГЁk i pa ka las.
That man has lots of energy; he works
all day without tiring. [< Fr.
tempГ©rament]
tГ©p
N tape measure. ChapantyГ©-a pГЁd
tГ©p li. The carpenter lost his tape
measure. [< Eng. tape]
tГЁson
N coalpot. SГ© madanm-lan ka
fГЁ tГЁson. The women are making
coalpots.
tГ©wen
tГ©tГ©
V to nurse, to suck, to suckle. Ti
manmay-la vlГ© tГ©tГ©. The child wants
to nurse. (see also: sisГ©) N breast.
Madanm-lan pwan an kou an tété’y.
The woman took a blow on her breast.
(see also: manmГЁl) [< Fr. tГ©ter]
tГЁstГ©
V to talk back, to argue. Mwen
ki manman’w; pa tèsté épi mwen. I
am your mother; don’t talk back to
me. [< Fr. tester]
tГЁstifyГ©
V to testify. Madanm-lan
tГЁstifyГ© kont ich li menm. The
woman testified against her own child.
(see also: tГ©menyaj)
tГЁtenm
ADJ brain-damaged. Ti
manmay sala ja pwan kou an tГЁt li
tГЁlman, i tГЁtenm. That child has
gotten hit on the head so many times,
he is brain-damaged. (see also:
dГЁkdГЁk, tГЁt wГЁd, enfim an tГЁt, gochГ©
an tГЁt)
tГЁt
N head. I ka pГІtГ© on patjГ© bwa
asou tГЁt li. She is carrying a bundle of
wood on her head. (see also: sГЁvГЁl)
[< Fr. tГЄte] mal tГЁt headache. I ni
mal tГЁt. He has a headache. tГЁt a tГЁt
1) head-to-head, neck and neck,
together, at the same time. Yo tГ© ka fГЁ
kous ГЁk yo wivГ© tГЁt a tГЁt. They were
racing and they finished neck-in-neck.
tГ©wГ©
V to bury. Chyen mwen-an mГІ
épi mwen téwé’y. My dog died and I
buried it. [< Fr. enterrer]
tГ©wen
213
N plot of land. Yo ka vann
téwen sala. They’re selling that plot of
tГ©wib
Kwéyòl – English
land. (see also: pyГЁs, tГЁ) [< Fr. terrain]
Pwen an tich koko ban mwen pou
mwen pitjГ© bonbon-an pou wГЁ si i
tjwit. Get me a rib of a coconut frond
so I can stick the cake to see if it’s
done.
tГ©wib
ADJ terrible. Tan-an nou ka
viv-la tГ©wib an chay. The times we
are living in are quite terrible. [< Fr.
terrible]
tГ©win
tif
N pumice, hardened volcanic ash.
Yo mГ©tГ© tif asou chimen-an avan yo
pitj li. They put pumice on the road
before they paved it.
clay pot. MГ©tГ© bagay sal-la
adan tГ©win-an. Put the dirty dishes in
the clay pot. (see also: chГІdyГЁ,
kannawi, pann)
N
tifi (var: fi)
N 1) young girl, young
lady. Sa ki tifi sala? Who is that girl?
(syn: kabwГЁs; see also: djal, fanm,
madanm, manmzГЁl, tibway)
2) daughter. Moun ka di talГЁ tifi kay
tounen kont manman. People say
that soon daughters will turn against
mothers. (see also: gason, ich) [< Fr.
petite fille]
ti1 variant of piti. I genyen kat ti pen.
He bought four small breads. ti jГІn
yellow fin tuna. (see also: ton) ti kГІt
little place, little corner. Mwen ja alГ©
an tout ti kГІt Sent Lisi. I have
already been to every little corner of
St. Lucia. (see also: toupatou, kwen)
ti tak 1) same as tak. Ban mwen ti
tak lajan. Give me a little money.
2) same as ti miyГЁt. Mwen la titak.
I’m okay.
tig
N tiger. Jik toujou tig ka wГ©tГ© an
bwa-a. To this day tigers live in the
woods. (syn: chat tig) [< Fr. tigre]
ti2
ADV yes. Joel? Ti, manm. Joel?
Yes, mother. (child language; see also:
wi)
til
N chicken wire. KalГІj jibyГ© fГЁt ГЁk
til. The bird’s cage is made with
chicken wire.
tib
N cigarette holder. Bout sigawГЁt-la
twò kout – sé pou mwen mété’y
adan an tib. The cigarette is too short
– I’d better put it in a holder. [< Fr.
tube]
tilapiya
1) same as ti miyГЁt.
Mwen vlГ© tibwen lГЁt. I want some
milk. Mwen la tibwen. I’m okay.
2) a lot of. Madanm sala ni tibwen
ich. That woman has a lot of children.
(syn: anbadjo, an chay, an pil, an lo,
mizi, konmen)
tich
N
V
to stagger, to reel. Nonm sou-a
twilbichГ© jis a tan i tonbГ©. The drunk
man staggered until he fell. [< Fr.
trГ©bucher]
tim
N team. I ka jwГ© bay an lГІt tim.
He is playing for another team.
[< Eng. team]
ADJ
the rib of a coconut frond.
a type of fish.
twilbichГ© (var: tizbichГ©, tilbichГ©)
tibway
tibwen
N
tilbichГ© variant of twilbichГ©.
tibГЁnad same as gliglinglas.
N boy, son. Konmen tibway
ou ni? How many boys do you have?
(syn: gason; see also: bway, ich, tifi)
timi
tim tim first part of the introduction of
a riddle. Tim tim. Bwa chГЁz. Tout sa
BondyГ© mГ©tГ© asou latГЁ. Tout chГІz.
(untranslatable)
timi
214
N
cornmeal, cornmeal porridge.
tin
Kwéyòl – English
kò’y. We were surprised when the
young man died. (euphemism; syn:
mò; see also: Bazil pwen’y, foukan,
di dГ©dГ©, Г©tenn, koupГ© ba, mawГ©
patjé, twépasé) tiwé kò’w la Go
away!. MГ©tГ© ponm-la la ГЁk ou
menm, tiwé kò’w la! Put the cashew
there and go away!
Mwen fГЁ timi pou sГ© manmay-la pou
ditГ© yo. I made cornmeal porridge for
the children for their breakfast. (see
also: penmi)
tin
N tin, small can. I genyen on tin
lГЁt. He bought a can of milk. (see also:
manmit) [< Eng. tin]
ting
PRO nothing, anything, at all. I pa
wéponn yo ting. He didn’t answer
them at all. (syn: mwenk; see also:
anyen)
tipo
dandruff. Ou pa tГ© ka lavГ©
chivé’w, pa dé tipo ou ni! You
weren’t washing your hair, you have
so much dandruff! (see also: fГЁ lapo)
N
tit
N 1) title. M’a chonjé tit liv-la. I
don’t remember the title of the book.
2) title, right. Г€s ou ni tit pou tГЁ-a
kotГ© ou ka wГЁstГ©-a? Do you have the
title for the land where you are
staying? (see also: dwa) 3) surname.
Ki tit ou? What’s your surname?
[< Fr. titre] adan tit variant of antit.
Mwen adan tit pou sa jwenn
pГ©yiman. I am entitled to receive
payment. (see also: an dwa) vyГ© tit
bad name. Ou ka bay fanmi’w vyé
tit. You are giving your family a bad
name.
tiwГЁ
N drawer. MinizyГ©-a ka fГЁ sГ©
tiwГЁ-a. The joiner is making the
drawers. [< Fr. tireur]
tiyГ© variant of tiwГ©.
tiyГЁl
N a type of plant, remedy for
Г©pwidan. (see also: sapantГЁ,
kanmanmi)
tiyГЁt variant of ti miyГЁt.
tiyГ©ta
N movie cinema. I tГ© vlГ© fГЁ on
tiyГ©ta. He wanted to make a cinema.
[< Eng. theatre]
tiyo
N underground water pipe. Tiyo-a
pГ©tГ© Г©pi an chay dlo ka gaspiyГ©. The
pipe burst and a lot of water is being
wasted. (see also: sitenn) [< Fr. tuyau]
tizann
N purge, cooling taken by
women after giving birth. PwГЁskГЁ
tout madanm ka pwen tizann apwГ©
yo akouchГ©. Nearly all women take a
cooling after they give birth. (see also:
jalap, lГІk, mГЁtsin) [< Fr. tisane]
titj
V to teach. MisyГ©-a ka titj an
lГ©kГІl-la. The man teaches in the
school. (syn: enstwi; see also: endikГ©,
moutwГ©) [< Eng. teach]
tizbichГ© variant of twilbichГ©.
tizing
ADJ same as ti miyГЁt. Ban nou
tizing lГЁt. Give us a little milk. Mwen
la tizing. I’m so so.
titja
N teacher. LГ©kГІl-la pa ni asГ©
titja. The school doesn’t have enough
teachers. [< Eng. teacher]
tjantjil
ADJ tranquil, quiet, under
control. WГЁstГ© tjantjil, zГІt ka fГЁ
twòp dézòd. Quiet down, you’re
making too much noise. (see also:
fwГЁt, silans) [< Fr. tranquille]
tiwГ© (var: tiyГ©)
V to remove, to take
off. Gason-an ja tiwГ© had li. The boy
has removed his clothes. (opp: mГ©tГ©)
[< Fr. tirer] tiwГ© kГІ to die, to expire.
Nou tГ© sipwi lГЁ jenn nonm-lan tiwГ©
tjatjГ©
tjatjГ©
215
V
to hook, to latch. I tjatjГ©
tjatjГЁt
Kwéyòl – English
took heart. (see also: ankouwajГ©,
tjГ©bГ© fГІ, tjГ©bГ© wГЁd)
lapГІt-la. He latched the door. (opp:
dГ©tjatjГ©; see also: fГЁmГ©, laklГ©)
tjatjГЁt
tjГ©bГ© variant of tjenbГ©.
N hook, latch. TjatjГЁt-la ou
achtГ© bay finГЁt-la twГІ piti. The latch
you bought for the window is too
small.
tjГЁk
ADJ some, certain. Papa mwen
dГ©gajГ© on jan gajГ© tjГЁk tan ki pasГ©.
My father rendered an obeah man
helpless some time ago. (see also: dГ©,
adan, yonn dГ©, dГ©otwa) [< Fr.
quelque]
tjГ©
N dock. LГЁ TГІti wivГ© bГІ tjГ©-a,
Chat té dèyè’y. When Turtle arrived
near the dock, Cat was behind him.
(see also: wГІf, kГІstГ©) [< Fr. quai]
tjГЁ
tjiki
tjenbГ© (var: tjГ©bГ©)
1) heart. Madanm sala malad
an tjè’y. That woman has a problem
with her heart. 2) mind. Si la ni dout
an tjè’w, pa alé. If there is any doubt
in your mind, don’t go. 3) inner man,
essence of a person. Tout movГЁztГ©, sГ©
an tjГЁ nonm i ka sГІti. All evil comes
from the heart of man. 4) the centre
(of something, like a tree). TjГЁ
kanpГЁch wГЁd tГЁlman, i ka tjwГ©
koutla’w lè ou ka koupé’y. The heart
of a campГЄche tree is so hard, it will
dull your cutlass if you try to cut it.
[< Fr. coeur] tjГЁ fГЁb soft heart,
tender heart, compassion, loving
kindness. Nonm sala ni an pil tjГЁ fГЁb
pou sГ© moun-an ki pa ni anyen. That
man has a lot of compassion for the
people who have nothing. (syn:
konpasyon; see also: mizГЁwikГІd,
pityГ©) mal tjГЁ sadness. SГЁl tifi
madanm-lan mГІ Г©pi sa kitГ© an mal
tjè ba li. The woman’s only daughter
died and that left her in sadness. (see
also: penn, lapenn, twistГЁs) ni tjГЁ to
be brave, courageous. SГ© pou ou ni
tjГЁ pou ou sa machГ© gwo lannwit
kon sa. You have to be brave to walk
in the dead of night like that. (see also:
bwav, fouben) pwan tjГЁ to take
heart, to be encouraged, to gather up
one’s courage. Lè yo wè sa, yo tout
pwan tjГЁ. When they saw that, they all
V 1) to hold.
TjenbГ© sak-la ban mwen souplГ©.
Hold the bag for me please. 2) to
catch. Yo an savann-an ka tjГ©bГ©
kwab. They are in the field catching
crabs.
N
tjenbwa
N obeah, sorcery. (see also:
gajГ©, maji nwГЁ, zГЁb, vidajan)
[< quimbois] fГЁ tjenbwa to practice
obeah. Yo ka fГЁ tjenbwa pou fГЁ lГЁlmi
yo mal. They practice obeah to harm
their enemies. (see also: divinГ©, fГЁ jГЁs,
fГЁ zГЁb, gajГ©, pyay)
tjenbwatГЁ
N seer, witch, practitioner
of obeah, obeah man. Nonm sala sГ©
on tjenbwatè. That man’s an obeah
man. (syn: divinГЁ, gadГЁ, jan gajГ©,
maji nwГЁ; see also: vyГ© lam)
tjenn
V 1) to keep. Yo pa tГ© sa tjenn
zyé yo ouvè. They couldn’t keep their
eyes open. 2) to hold, to keep. Tjenn
lanmonnГ©-a. Keep the change. Tjenn
kò’w avan mwen vèti manman’w
ba’w. Don’t touch me or I will warn
your mother about you. [< Fr. tiens]
tjГЁsyon variant of kwГЁsyon.
tjГЁsyonnen variant of kwГЁsyonnen.
tjiki
216
ADJ nosy, prying, unduly curious.
Gason-an tjiki an chay. The boy is
very inquisitive. (see also: tjiwiyГЁz)
[< Eng. cheeky]
tjikilik
Kwéyòl – English
tjikilik
V to tickle. Las tjikilik
mwen! Stop tickling me! (syn:
chatwiyГ©)
tjiktjik
N
kwiyГ© kochon mwen, mwen ka hГ©lГ©
“Tjo, tjo, tjo!” When I call my pigs, I
call, “Tjo, tjo, tjo!”
tjГІ
yellow warbler (Dendroica
N piece. I kasГ© pen-an, i pwan an
tjГІ. He broke the bread and took a
piece. (syn: mГІso; see also: bi, miyГЁt,
wonyen) gwo tjГІ big shot,
important person. Papa mwen sГ© on
gwo tjГІ. My father is a big shot. (syn:
gwo pitja, gwo pГЁp,gwozГІm)
petechia).
tjilГ©
V to move over, to make room.
La pa ni lè; tjilé souplé. There’s no
room; move over please. (syn: fГЁ lГЁ,
vansГ©; see also: witjilГ©) [< Fr. reculer]
tjilГІt
N pants, trousers. Mwen tГ© ka
pГІtГ© tjilГІt nwГЁ. I was wearing black
pants. [< Fr. culotte]
tjok
ADJ clogged, plugged. Sitenn-an
tjok. The pipe is clogged. (syn:
bouchГ©) [< Eng. choked]
tjim
N froth, foam, suds. La ni tjim
asou dlo-a. There’s foam on the
water. [< Fr. Г©cume]
tjГІkanblГІk
ADV haphazardly,
chockablock. I mГ©tГ© sГ© liv-la
tjГІkanblГІk. He put the books in
haphazardly. (see also: vaykivay)
[< Eng. chockablock]
tjimГ©
V to foam, to froth. LanmГЁ-a ka
tjimГ© afГІs i movГ©. The sea is foaming
because it’s so rough. [< Fr. écumer]
tjipi
to embarrass, to shame. Pa
mandé nonm-lan zouti’y pwété ankò
avan i tjipi’w. Don’t ask the man
again to borrow his tools or he’ll
shame you. (syn: fГЁ afon, fГЁ hont,
jawГ©)
tjokГ©
V to poke, to jab. Yo ka tjokГ©
mannikou-a pou fè’y tonbé. They’re
poking the opossum to make it fall.
(syn: djoukГ©) [< Fr. tisonner]
V
tjou
tjiwГ©
V to clean, to scrub. Manman
mwen fГЁ mwen tjiwГ© tout a tГЁ an
lasal-la. My mother made me scrub
the whole living room floor. (see also:
nГ©twayГ©, lavГ©) [< Fr. rГ©curer] tjiwГ©
dan to brush one’s teeth. Nou ka
tjiwГ© dan nou toulГ© jou. We brush
our teeth every day.
tjouyГЁ variant of tjwiyГЁ.
tjwГ©
V 1) to kill. Yo tjwГ© yon bГЁf Г©pi
yon kabwit pou NwГЁl. They killed a
cow and a goat for Christmas. (see
also: fГЁ dГ©fini, senyen) 2) to dull, to
take point or edge off. Ki moun ki
tjwГ© koutla-a? Who dulled the
cutlass? (syn: dГ©filГ©; opp: filГ©; see
also: danklГ©) [< Fr. tuer] tjwГ© kozГ©
forget about it, case closed, end of
discussion. Si ou pa ka kopwann sa
mwen ka di-a, Г©ben, tjwГ© kozГ©. If
you don’t understand what I’m saying,
well, let’s just end this discussion.
ADJ curious. Gason-an twГІ
tjiwiyèz. The boy’s too curious. (see
also: tjiki) [< Fr. curieuse]
INTERJ
same as fГЁs. (crude) [< Fr. cul]
V to pick. KilГЁs ki tjouwi
mango mwen? Who picked my
mangoes? [< Fr. cueillir]
tjiwiyГЁz
tjo
N
tjouwi
tjitjima
N turmeric (Curcuma longa).
Madanm-lan ka vann tjitjima. The
woman is selling turmeric.
tjwГ©
pig call. LГЁ mwen ka
217
tjwi
Kwéyòl – English
tjwi
N leather. Yo ka sГЁvi tjwi pou fГЁ
soulyГ©. They use leather to make
shoes. [< Fr. cuir]
lanmen mwen! Stop twisting my arm!
(see also: tounen) ADJ warped,
twisted. Bwa-a tГІd an chay! The
wood is quite warped! (syn: kГІviyГ©;
see also: kochi, tГІtiyГ©) [< Fr. tordre]
tjwis
N thigh. I pwan an so, i blГ©sГ©
tjwis li. He took a fall and injured his
thigh. [< Fr. cuisse]
tolin
N same as ti tolin. ti tolin a
type of small frog. DГ©lГЁ ti tolin ka
antwГ© an kay-la. Sometimes little
frogs come in the house. (syn: tolin;
see also: gwat kwi, kwapo)
tjwit
V to cook. Ki mannyГЁ ou ka
tjwit pwГ©son wouj? How do you
cook red snapper? (see also: bouwi,
fwi) [< Fr. cuit]
tjwiv
brass, copper. I jwenn on
pyГЁs lajan tjwiv bГІ kay-la. She found
a copper coin by the house. [< Fr.
cuivre]
N
toloman
N arrowroot (Canna indica).
Manman-an fГЁ ti kwenm toloman.
The mother made arrowroot porridge.
tГІmantГ©
V to torment, to torture.
Mwen ka tГІmantГ© isi. I am being
tormented here. [< Fr. tourmenter]
tjwiyГЁ (var: tjouyГЁ)
N spoon. I mГ©tГ©
sГ© tjwiyГЁ-a asou tab-la. She put the
spoons on the table. (see also: fouchГЁt,
kouto) [< Fr. cuillГЁre]
ton
N tuna. SГ© nonm sala ka vann
ton. Those men are selling tuna. (see
also: ti jГІn) [< Fr. thon]
tjwizin (var: twizin)
N kitchen.
Manman mwen ka tjwit manjГ© an
tjwizin-an. My mother is cooking in
the kitchen. [< Fr. cuisine]
tonbГ©
V to fall. Las kouwi avan ou
tonbé! Stop running or you’ll fall!
(syn: pwan so; see also: pwan
latjilbit) [< Fr. tomber]
tò1 fault. Sa sé tò’w. That is your fault.
(syn: fГІt; see also: dГ©fo) [< Fr. tort]
bay tГІ to blame, to accuse. Mwen
ka ba’w tò; ou pa té sipozé bay ich
moun-an kou. I’m blaming you; you
shouldn’t have beat someone else’s
child. (syn: blanmГ©) ni tГІ to be
wrong. Sé ou menm ki ni tò! You’re
the one who is wrong! (opp: ni wГ©zon,
byen fГЁt)
tГІ2 variant of twГІ.
tonbo
tГІd
V
to twist, to wring. Las tГІd
N
same as tonm.
tonm
N tomb. Fanmi mwen ni on
tonm an senmityГЁ-a. My family has a
tomb in the cemetery. (syn: tonbo; see
also: tГ©wГ©, senmityГЁ) [< Fr. tombe]
tonnГЁl
N trellis. La ni an chay senm
anlГЁ tonnГЁl-la. There are a lot of snow
peas on the trellis.
tonsГ©
V to cut evenly. Nonm-lan ka
tonsГ© tjГІ bwa-a. The man is cutting
the wood into even pieces. [< Fr.
tronçonner]
tГІch
N pad made of cloth or leaves or
polythene, used for carrying items on
one’s head. Sé pou ou mété on tòch
asou tГЁt ou pou pГІtГ© sГ© bwa sala.
You must put a pad on your head to
carry these pieces of wood.
tГІp
tonton
N uncle. Tonton mwen sГ© on
chapantyГ©. My uncle is a carpenter.
(see also: tantant)
tГІp variant of twГІp.
218
topi
Kwéyòl – English
topi
boy’s very troublesome! (see also: an
chay) toubonnman kon sa just so,
just like that. Toubonnman kon sa
ou ka jiwГ© manman mwen, gason?
Just like that you curse my mother,
boy?
N top: wooden toy with string
wound around it, flung down to spin.
Ki moun ki fè topi sala ba’w? Who
made you that top? [< Fr. toupie]
topi tanbou a tree like turmeric.
(syn: koko tanbou)
tГІti
toubwennman variant of
N a type of sea turtle. TГІti tГ© ka
najé mé Chat té an do’y. Tortoise
was swimming but Cat was on his
back. (see also: agalo, kawГЁt,
mГІlГІkГІy) [< Fr. tortue]
toubonnman.
touchГ©
V to touch. Pa touchГ© liv
mwen-an! Don’t touch my book! (see
also: manyen) [< Fr. toucher]
tГІtiyГ©
V to tangle. Mouton-an tГІtiyГ©
kò’y oliwon chous bwa-a. The sheep
got its rope tangled all around the
stump. ADJ tangled, tangled up.
Mouton-an tГІtiyГ© owa gГІj li. The
sheep is tangled up to its neck. (see
also: tГІd, kochi, kГІviyГ©, mГ©lГ©) [< Fr.
tortiller]
tou1
toulГ©
toudi
V to stun. Mwen ba li on koul
pwen èk mwen toudi’y. I slugged him
and stunned him. ADJ dizzy, giddy,
stunned. Nou woulé’y jis tan i vini
toudi. We rolled him until he got
dizzy. (syn: bazoudi, kagou; see also:
Г©gawГ©, vag) [< Fr. Г©tourdir]
touf
N patch, tuft, cluster (of some
kind of plant). Poul-la ponn an touf
zГЁb-la. The hen laid eggs in the cluster
of grass.
quite, very. KitГ© mwen wГЁ si
Chat tou pwГ© mwen ankГІ. Let me
see if Cat is still very close. tou dwГЁt
straight ahead. I dГ©sann chimen-an
tou dwГЁt. He went straight down the
road.
ADV
toufГ©
V to suffocate. ZГІwyГ©-a tonbГ©
asou fidji ti manmay-la Г©pi i toufГ©.
The pillow fell on the child’s face and
he suffocated. (see also: twanglГ©)
[< Fr. Г©touffer]
tou2
ADV also, as well, too. Nou vlГ©
alГ© tou. We want to go too. (syn: osi;
see also: ni...ni) [< Eng. too]
toujou
ADV 1) still, yet. I ka palГ©
toujou. He is speaking still. (opp: pa
ankГІ) 2) always. I toujou ka palГ©.
He’s always speaking. (syn:
konstanman, tout lГЁ, tout tan; opp:
janmen) [< Fr. toujours]
tou3 variant of twou.
toub
ADJ dim, dull. MisyГ©-a vini
gwan épi zyé’y vini toub. The man
became old and his eyes got dim. (see
also: fГЁb) ADV dimly. Gwan nonmlan sa wГЁ toub tousГЁl. The old man
could only see dimly.
toulГ©
toublГ© variant of twoublГ©.
toubonmnan variant of toubonnman.
toubonnman (var: toubwennman,
toubonmnan) ADV very, very much.
Gason-an anbГ©tan toubonnman! The
219
ADJ every. Nou ka moutГ© toulГ©
bonmaten. We go up every morning.
[< Fr. tous les] toulГ© dГ© 1) both.
Ban mwen toulГ© dГ© pil zowanj-lan.
Give me both heaps of oranges.
2) every other. Nou ka vizitГ© yo toulГ©
dГ© simenn. We visit them every other
week.
touloulou
Kwéyòl – English
touloulou
touswit
tounen
tout
N a type of land crab that
lives by the beach. (see also: bak,
kwab, sГІlda, zagaya)
ADV soon, very soon. I kay
vini touswit. He will come very soon.
(syn: talГЁ) [< Fr. tout de suite]
V 1) to turn, to twist. LГЁ ou
wivГ© an bout lawi-a, tounen asou
lanmen dwГЁt ou. When you reach the
end of the road, turn to the right. (see
also: tГІd) 2) to turn into. Tifi-a
tounen on fimГЁl bouwik. The girl
turned into a female donkey. ADJ
over-ripe state of dasheen. Dachin-an
tounen, i pa bon ankГІ. The dasheen
has turned, it’s not good anymore.
(syn: nyak, kyanng; see also: groum)
[< Fr. tourner]
toupanni
ADJ
ADJ 1) all. Vini denmen ГЁk
mennen tout sГ© liv-la. Come
tomorrow and bring all the books.
(syn: dГЁnyГ©; opp: pyГЁs) 2) every.
Kolonm sala ni pou gadГ© tout dГ©tay
avan i sa di twavay-la bon. That
foreman has to look at every detail
before he can say the work is good.
[< Fr. tout] tout bagay everything.
Senpwi kay pГІtГ© tout bagay. St. Prix
will carry everything. (opp: anyen)
tout lГЁ same as toujou, tout tan.
Nou té douvan’y tout lè. We were
always ahead of him. tout moun
everybody, everyone. Denmen tout
moun kay alГ© an vil. Tomorrow
everybody will go to town. (opp:
pyГЁsonn) [< Fr. tout le monde] tout
tan 1) always. Nou tГ© la tout tan.
We were always there. (syn: toujou,
tout lГЁ, konstanman; opp: janmen)
2) as long as. Tou tan ou kontinГ© sa,
m’a kay édé’w. As long as you
continue to do that I won’t help you.
pou tout tan forever. Nou kay viv
pou tout tan. We will live forever
(syn: lavi diwant) tout tan...pa
unless. Tout tan ou pa fГЁ sa, mwen
kay bat ou. Unless you do that, I’m
going to beat you. (syn: ГЁksГЁptГ©,
anba)
variant of tou ni.
toupatou
ADV everywhere. Yo gadГ©
toupatou mГ© yo pa jwenn lajan-an.
They looked everywhere but they
didn’t find the money.
toupisan
ADJ all-powerful. BondyГ© sГ©
on BondyГ© toupisan. God is an allpowerful God. (religious) [< Fr. toutpuissant]
tousГ©
V to cough. I koumansГ© tousГ©
ГЁk kwachГ©. He began to cough and
spit. [< Fr. tousser] tousГ© bouch to
make a face that shows one is upset,
angry. Tifi-a tousГ© bouch li; i sanm
byen fachГ©. The girl was making a
face; it seems she is quite angry. (syn:
tousГ© fidjay; see also: fachГ©) tousГ©
fidjay same as tousГ© bouch. tousГ©
nГ© to make a mocking face. Tifi-a
tousé né’y. The girl made a mocking
face. (see also: motjГ©, fГЁ sin)
toutafГЁt
ADV completely. Ou vlГ©
kwazГ© viv nou toutafГЁt, en? Do you
want to destroy our relationship
completely? (syn: konplГЁtman,
nГЁtaman) [< Fr. tout Г fait]
tousГЁl
ADV only, alone. SГ© sa tousГЁl
mwen di nonm-lan Г©pi i lГ©vГ© fachГ©. It
is only that I told the man and he got
angry. (syn: sГЁlman, yonn; see also:
sГЁl) [< Fr. tout seul]
touvГ©
toutwГЁl
N Zenaida dove (Zenaida
aurita). (see also: pГЁdwi, zatolan)
touvГ© variant of twouvГ©.
220
towo
Kwéyòl – English
towo
began to tremble.
N bull. Towo-a mГ©tГ© kouwi
dГЁyГЁ yo. The bull started to chase
them. (opp: jinis) [< Fr. taureau]
twanblanntГЁ
N earthquake.
TwanblanntГЁ-a soukwГ© kay-la. The
earthquake shook the house. [< Fr.
tremblement de terre]
trakta
N tractor. Tan lontan yo pa tГ©
ni trakta. Long ago they didn’t have
tractors. [< Eng. tractor]
Trindad
twanblГ© (var: tanblГ©)
V to tremble, to
shake. Mwen tГ© pГЁ tГЁlman mwen
twanblГ© kon on fГЁy. I was so afraid I
shook like a leaf. (see also: soukwГ©)
[< Fr. trembler]
Trinidad. Nonm-lan sГІti
Trindad. The man is from Trinidad.
N
trГІk
N bus, truck. TrГІk-la ka machГ©
byen. The truck runs well. (syn:
machin; see also: motoka, vann)
[< Eng. truck]
twanblГЁ
N trembler: a type of bird that
trembles. TwanblГЁ sГ© on jibyГ© ki ni
an lonng bГЁk. The trembler is a bird
with a long beak. [< Fr. trembleur]
twa
ADJ three. Yo ni twa ti manmay
tousГЁl. They have only three children.
[< Fr. trois]
twanglГ© (var: tanglГ©)
V to choke, to
strangle. Kòd-la séwé kou kochonan tèlman i twanglé’y. The rope was
so tight around the pig’s neck it
strangled him. (see also: toufГ©) [< Fr.
Г©trangler]
twadisyon
N tradition. Yo ka swiv
twadisyon papa yo. They follow their
fathers’ traditions. (see also: tjenbé
pyГ©) [< Fr. tradition]
twadisyonnГЁl
ADJ traditional.
KГІdwil sГ© dansГ© twadisyonnГЁl Sent
Lisi. The quadrille is the traditional
dance of St. Lucia [< Fr. traditionelle]
twanpГ©
V to soak. MГ©tГ© had-la
twanpГ©. Put the clothes in to soak.
(see also: mouyГ©, sosГ©) ADJ soaked.
Ou ka mГ©lГ© san Г©pi pen twanpГ© pou
fГЁ bouden. You mix blood and soaked
bread to make blood pudding. [< Fr.
tremper]
twaka
N problem, trouble. La pa ni
pyès twaka. There’s no problem. (syn:
pwГІblenm, pas; see also:
dГ©zagwГ©man) [< Fr. tracas]
twakasГ©
to trouble, to bother. Pa
twakasГ© mwen Г©pi pwoblenm ou.
Don’t trouble me with your problems.
(see also: anbété) Pa twakasé kò’w
pou sa. Don’t worry about that. ADJ
disturbed, troubled. Mwen tГ©
twakasГ© an chay. I was quite
disturbed. (syn: twoublГ©, distwГ©; see
also: kontwayГ©) [< Fr. tracasser]
twansplantГ©
V to transplant. Yo
twansplantГ© sГ© chouponm-lan an
jaden-an. They transplanted the
cucumbers in the garden. [< Fr.
transplanter]
V
twanblad N shaking, trembling.
twanblad pwan to tremble, to
twapГ©
twant
ADJ thirty. I pГ©yГ© nou twant
dГІla pou panyen mango-a. He paid
us thirty dollars for the basket of
mangoes. [< Fr. trente]
twapГ©
V 1) to receive, to get, to find.
Г€s ou twapГ© lГЁt-la mwen pГІstГ©
ba’w? Did you receive the letter I sent
you? (syn: jwenn, twouvГ©; opp: pГЁd;
shake. Yo tГ© pГЁ tГЁlman, twanblad
pwan yo. They were so afraid, they
221
twas
Kwéyòl – English
see also: wisivwГЁ) 2) it so happened,
you find. Bon, twapГ© twavay li sГ©tГ©
gadé mouton bopè’y. Well, it so
happened that his work was to watch
his father-in-law’s sheep. twapé kò
to find oneself, to become. I twapГ©
kò’y adan an aksidan. He found
himself in an accident. (syn: twouvГ©
kò; see also: vini) Tifi-a twapé kò’y
ansent. The girl became pregnant.
twazГЁ
ADJ third. I ka wГ©tГ© adan
twazyenm kay-la. He lives in the
third house. (see also: tyГЁ) [< Fr.
troisiГЁme]
twen
N train, cart on rails used to carry
sugar cane. Lontan sГ©tГ© twen ki tГ©
ka chayГ© kann alГ© an lizin. Long ago
it was trains that carried sugar cane to
the factory. (syn: loko; see also:
wagon) [< Fr. train] achГ© twen to
took for trouble. Ou toujou ka alГ© bГІ
chimen-an ka achГ© twen. You always
go by the road looking for trouble.
(syn: achГ© chikann, achГ© kankan)
twavay
twennen
V to drag. Had li tГ© tГЁlman
lonng i tГ© ka twennen a tГЁ-a. This
clothes were so long they were
dragging on the ground. [< Fr.
traГ®ner]
twavayГЁ
twГ©pasГ©
V to die. Nonm-lan tГ©
malad pou an lonng tan Г©pi i
twГ©pasГ© yГЁ ГІswГЁ. The man was sick
for a long time and he died last night.
(syn: mГІ; see also: Г©tenn, di dГ©dГ©,
foukan, Bazil pwen’y, tiwé kò, mawé
patjГ©) [< Fr. trГ©passer]
twavГЁsГ©
V to cross, to traverse. LГЁ ou
twavèsé lawi-a ou kay wè’y. When
you cross the street you’ll see it. (see
also: janbГ©, lansГ©) [< Fr. traverser]
twavo
N roadworks. SГ© moun-an ki
ka fГЁ twavo-a ka twavay wГЁd. The
people who are doing roadworks work
hard. [< Fr. traveaux] chГЁf twavo
foreman on a road job.
twГ©sГ©
V to knit, to weave. Nas sala
byen twГ©sГ©. That lobster pot is well
woven. (see also: natГ©) [< Fr. tresser]
twГЁt
ADJ treacherous. Nonm sala twГЁt
pasГ© ki. That man is extremely
treacherous. (see also: antwГЁt) [< Fr.
traГ®tre]
twayi
V to betray. Sé jan’y menm ki
twayi’y. It was his own friends who
betrayed him. [< Fr. trahir]
twazan
three o’clock. [< Fr. trois
twazyenm
N path. Nou tГ© ka swiv twas-la
adan lafowГ©-a. We were following
the path in the forest. (see also: ti
chimen) [< Fr. trace]
N worker. SГ© twavayГЁ-a pa
ni anyen pou fГЁ jГІdi-a. The workers
don’t have anything to do today. (see
also: labouwГЁ) [< Fr. travailleur]
N
heures]
twas
V to work. I ka twavay wГЁd
bay lizin-an. He works hard for the
factory. N work, job. La pa ni djГЁ
twavay isi. There’s scarcely any work
here. (syn: djГІb; see also: lГ©ta) [< Fr.
travailler]
twГ©tГ©
twГ©tГ©
V to treat. Kouman lapli-a
twété’w? How did the rain treat you?
[< Fr. traiter] mal twГ©tГ© to mistreat,
to ill-treat, to abuse. SГ© pa pou ou
mal twГ©tГ© madanm ou. You must not
mistreat your wife. (see also: mal
same as twa lannГ©. I
twavay an magazen-an pou twazan.
He worked in the shop for three years.
[< Fr. trois ans]
N
222
twГЁtman
Kwéyòl – English
[< Fr. trop]
mennen) [< Fr. maltraГ®ter]
twГЁtman
twГІp (var: tГІp)
N treatment. Yo bay nonmlan bon twГЁtman an lopital-la. They
gave the man good treatment in the
hospital. [< Fr. traitement]
ADV too much,
excessively. Ou ka palГ© twГІp! You
talk too much! ADJ too much. Nonm
sala ni twГІp lajan. That man has too
much money. [< Fr. trop] twГІp pli
so much more. I ni twГІp pli valГЁ. It
has so much more value.
twГЁz
ADJ thirteen. Nou ni twГЁz dГІla
tousГЁl. We have only thirteen dollars.
[< Fr. treize]
twou (var: tou)
twГЁzan same as twГЁz lannГ©. [< Fr.
N hole. Nou fГЁ an ti
twou adan planch-lan. We made a
small hole in the board. [< Fr. trou]
twou dlo puddle. I mouyé pyé’y an
twou dlo-a. He wet his foot in the
puddle. twou né nostril. Twou né’y
bouchГ© Г©pi i pa sa byen pwan
lГЁspiwasyon. His nostrils are blocked
and he can’t breathe well.
treize ans]
twГ©zГІyГ©
N treasurer. PyГЁ kay
twГ©zГІyГ©-a. Peter will be treasurer.
[< Fr. trГ©sorier]
twibilasyon
N tribulation. Nou tout
kay pasé an twibilasyon. We’ll all
pass through tribulation. (religious; see
also: dГ©zolasyon) [< Fr. tribulation]
twoublГ© (var: toublГ©)
V to trouble.
Sa gason-an fГЁ-a twoublГ© mwen an
chay. What the boy did troubled me a
lot. ADJ troubled. I tГ© twoublГ© lГЁ i
vin sav sé mawi’y menm ki fè bagay
sala. She was troubled when she found
out it was her own husband who did
this thing. (syn: twakasГ©; see also:
distwГ©, fachГ©, sitwayГ©, kontwayГ©)
twip
N tripe. SГ© moun-an ka manjГ©
twip. The people are eating tripe.
[< Fr. tripes]
twipo
N flock (of sheep). I pГЁd tout
twipo mouton-an. He lost the whole
flock of sheep. [< Fr. troupeau]
twis
ADJ sad. I vini twis ГЁk i
koumansГ© plГ©wГ©. She became sad and
began to weep. (syn: an lapenn,
sonm; opp: djГ©, kontan) [< Fr. triste]
twouvГ© (var: touvГ©)
V 1) to find. I
twouvГ© lajan-an adan bwГЁt-la. He
found the money in the box. (syn:
jwenn, twapГ©; opp: pГЁd) 2) it came to
pass, you find, it so happened.
TwouvГ© nonm-lan ki tГ© avoka-a vini
on jij. It came to pass that the man
who was the lawyer became a judge.
(syn: twapГ©) [< Fr. trouver] twouvГ©
kГІ same as twapГ© kГІ. Madanm-lan
twouvé kò’y ansent. The woman
became pregnant. [< Fr. trouver
corps]
twisayГ©
V to give chills, shivers. Las
jwГ© ГЁk flo-a; i ka twisayГ© mwen. Quit
playing with the styrofoam; it is giving
me the shivers.
twistГЁs
N sadness. An twistГЁs li i
koumansГ© hГ©lГ©. In her sadness she
began to cry. (opp: lakontantman)
[< Fr. tristesse]
twizin variant of tjwizin.
twГІ (var: tГІ)
intensifier: too. Yo
kouwi twГІ vit! They ran too fast!
ADV
tyГЁ
tyГЁ
N third. Yon tyГЁ an popyГ©tГЁ
fanmi mwen ka vini pou mwen. One
third of my family’s property is
223
tyГЁd
Kwéyòl – English
coming to me. (see also: twazyenm)
[< Fr. tiers]
vansГ©
tyГЁd
ADJ lukewarm. Dlo-a tГ© tyГЁd.
The water was lukewarm. (see also:
cho, fwГЁt) [< Fr. tiГЁde]
Vv
va
N harpoon. Va wГЁstГ© an do
machwen-an. The harpoon stayed in
the dolphin’s back. (see also: vawé;
flГЁch, pitjГЁt fГЁ)
van
N 1) air. Taya-a tГ© ka mantjГ©
van. The tire was lacking air. 2) wind.
Van-an fГІ an chay bonmaten-an.
The wind is strong this morning. (see
also: vantГ©) 3) breath. I pwan an
gwo van. He took a deep breath. (syn:
lГЁspiwasyon, lisouf) 4) intestinal gas.
Yo di biswi sГЁl bon pou van. They
say saltines are good for gas. [< Fr.
vent] pwan van to take a break. SГ©
twavayГЁ-a pwan an ti van. The
workers took a break. (see also: pozГ©)
ti van breeze. Ti van sala ka di
dГІmi. This breeze is putting me to
sleep. (syn: fwГ©chГЁ)
vag
ADJ disoriented. AnvГЁytГ© mwen
las tГЁlman mwen vag. To tell the
truth I am so tired I am disoriented.
(see also: bazoudi, Г©gawГ©, kagou,
toudi) [< Fr. vague]
vakabon
N vagabond, loafer. Gason
sala sГ© on vakabon. That boy is a
vagabond. (syn: dwivayГЁz) ADJ
wayward. I gaspiyГ© tout sa i tГ© ni an
vyГ© lavi vakabon. He wasted all he
had in a bad, wayward lifestyle. [< Fr.
vagabond]
vakans
N vacation. Mwen ka pwan
vakans mwen an DГ©sanm. I am
taking my vacation in December.
[< Fr. vacances]
VandwГ©di N Friday. [< Fr. vendredi]
VandwГ©di Sen Good Friday.
vann1
V 1) to sell. Konmen ou ka
vann sГ© bwapen-an? How much are
you selling the breadfruit for? (opp:
achtГ©) 2) to lose a game deliberately.
Yo pГ©yГ© kaptenn-an pou vann jwГ©-a.
They paid the captain to lose the game
deliberately. [< Fr. vendre]
valГ©1
V to swallow. Ti manmay-la
valГ© an zo pwГ©son. The child
swallowed a fish bone. [< Fr. avaler]
valГ©2
valet. Valé louwa té ka édé’y.
The king’s valet was helping him.
(rare) [< Fr. valet]
N
vann2
N van. Yo kay wanjГ© vann-an.
They’ll repair the van. (see also:
machin, motoka, trГІk) [< Eng. van]
valГЁ
vannГ©
valowab
vansГ©
N value. Kay sala ni an chay
valГЁ. This house has a lot of value.
[< Fr. valeur]
ADJ valuable. VГІlГЁ-a pwan
an chay bagay ki tГ© valowab an kayla. The thief took a lot of valuable
things from the house.
V to winnow (rice, etc.). I ka
vannГ© diwi-a. She is winnowing the
rice. [< Fr. vanner]
V to move over, to make room.
VansГ© pou mwen sa asid. Move over
so I can take a seat. (syn: fГЁ lГЁ, tjilГ©)
[< Fr. avancer]
224
vant
Kwéyòl – English
vant1
N belly, stomach. (see also:
bouden, pans) [< Fr. ventre] vant a
tè face down, on one’s stomach,
belly-down. Yo tonbГ© vant a tГЁ. They
fell face down. (syn: fas a tГЁ, fas
anba, vant anba; opp: vant anlГЁ)
kouwi vant a tГЁ to run fast, to run
quickly. I tГ© ka kouwi vant a tГЁ. He
was running quickly. (syn: fГЁ yan; see
also: kouwi, chapГ©, mawon; bay pyГ©,
bwennen kГІ, chapГ© kГІ, chapГ© pyГ©, fГЁ
vit; fann kann, fГЁ djip, fГЁ lapousyГЁ,
fГЁ zГ©klГЁ, kouwi vant a tГЁ, pwan
lavГІl) vant anba same as vant a tГЁ.
vant anlè on one’s back, belly-up. I
kouchГ© vant anlГЁ. He slept on his
back. (opp: vant a tГЁ, vant anba, fas a
tГЁ, fas anba) mal vant diarrhoea.
Mwen ni an mal vant. I have
diarrhoea. (syn: ladjidjit, wilachman;
see also: bouden ka mennen)
vap. The boy is moody. (syn: ni vous;
see also: avous; zimГЁy)
vapГЁ
N steam, vapour. VapГЁ ka sГІti
an pann-an. Steam is coming out of
the pot. [< Fr. vapeur]
vapon N speed, acceleration. bay
vapon to accelerate, to go fast.
Mwen bay vapon pou mwen wivГ© a
lГЁ. I accelerated in order to arrive on
time. (syn: fГЁ vapon) fГЁ vapon same
as bay vapon. LГЁ i wГЁ sГЁpan-an i fГЁ
vapon. When he saw the snake he ran
away.
vawГ©
V to harpoon. Yo ka vawГ©
machwen. They harpoon porpoises.
(see also: va)
vayan
ADJ fat, robust. Mwen kontan
wè’w, ou vayan an pil. I’m glad to
see you, you’re looking quite robust.
[< Fr. vaillant]
vant2
N sale. Г€s ou ja jwenn vant
pou kay-la? Have you already gotten
a sale for the house? (see also: lavant)
[< Fr. vente]
vaykivay
ADV carelessly. SГ© pa pou
ou mГ©tГ© sГ© liv-la vaykivay. You must
not put away the books carelessly. (see
also: tjГІkanblГІk)
vanta
N braggart, boaster. Mi nonm
vanta, i, misyГ©. Look a man who likes
to boast. (syn: bava, bavadГЁz) [< Fr.
vantard] palГ© vanta to boast, to
brag. Moun ka palГ© vanta about
tout bagay. People boast about
everything. (syn: bavadГ©)
vГЁ1
N glass. VГЁ-a kasГ©. The glass
broke. [< Fr. verre]
vГЁ2
ADJ green. Nou kontan kay vГЁ-a.
We like the green house. [< Fr. vert]
vГЁ3
N worm. Vyann-an gatГ©; i benyen
vГЁ. The meat is spoiled; it is full of
worms. [< Fr. ver] vГЁ tГЁ worm,
earthworm. Ti manmay-la tjwГ© vГЁ
tГЁ-a. The child killed the worm.
vantГ©
V to blow. Van-an ka vantГ© fГІ
jГІdi-a. The wind is blowing strong
today. (see also: van) [< Fr. venter]
vap
N moodiness, bad mood. (syn:
vous; see also: zimГЁy) vap anlГЁ in a
bad mood. Vap-la anlГЁ tifi-a jГІdi-a.
The girl is in a bad mood today. (see
also: avous, ni vous; zimГЁy) ni vap
to be mercurial, temperamental,
habitually moody. Gason-an ni on
vГЁglay
vГЁblГ©
N pimple. Tifi sala ni an chay
vèblé asou fidji’y. That girl has a lot
of pimples on her face.
vГЁglay
N glare, blinding light. VГЁglay
sala ka anpГ©chГ© mwen ouvГЁ zyГ©
mwen. That glare is keeping me from
225
vГЁglГ©
Kwéyòl – English
being able to open my eyes.
Г©pi sГ© moun sala. My mother always
used to warn me to not play with those
people. [< Fr. avertir] vГЁti bay to
tell on. Mwen kay vèti manman’w
ba’w. I am going to tell your mother
on you.
vГЁglГ©
V to blind (temporarily), to
dazzle. VГЁglay sala ka vГЁglГ© mwen.
That glare is blinding me. (see also:
avГЁg) [< Fr. aveugler]
vГЁmin
N vermin, pest. SГ© vГЁmin sala
pa ka kitГ© jaden mwen an wipo.
These pests won’t leave my garden
alone. [< Fr. vermine]
vГЁtisman variant of avГЁtisman. Sa sГ©
dènyé vètisman mwen ka ba’w. This
is the last warning I’m giving you.
[< Fr. avertisement]
ven ADJ twenty. [< Fr. vingt] ven kat
nГЁditan black widow spider. Si on
vГЁv
N widow. Madanm sala sГ© on
vГЁv. That woman is a widow. (rare)
[< Fr. veuve]
ven kat nèditan mòdé’w, ou pa ni
pou dГІmi pou yon jou. If a black
widow spider bites you, you must not
sleep for one day. (syn: katin)
vГ©wi
N wart. I ni vГ©wi asou
lanmen’y. He has warts on his hands.
[< Fr. verrue] pikan vГ©wi type of
grass used as bush medicine, remedy
for Г©pwidan. (syn: nonm douvan
nonm)
vГ©n
N game of tag. LГЁ nou tГ© piti nou
tГ© ka jwГ© vГ©n an chay. When we were
little we used to play tag a lot.
venn
N vein. An tjГІ boutГЁy koupГ©
venn pyé’y épi i senyen an chay. A
piece of bottle cut the vein in his foot
and he bled a lot. [< Fr. veine]
venni
varnish. AtjwГЁlman vennian ka sГЁk. Now the varnish is drying.
V to varnish. Nou ja venni sГ© chГЁzla. We have varnished the chairs.
[< Fr. vernis]
N
vГ©witabman
ADV truly, really. (syn:
vwГ©man; see also: wГ©yГЁlman) [< Fr.
vГ©ritablement]
vГЁwsГ©
N verse. SГ© ti manmay-la
apwann tout sГ© vГЁwsГ©-a. The children
learned all the verses. [< Fr. vers]
vГЁwtivГЁ
N crosscut grass, vetiver grass
(Vetiveria zazanoides). Yo sГЁvi
vГЁwtivГЁ pou fГЁ soupyГ©. They used
vetiver grass to make floormats.
ventan
N same as ven lannГ©. [< Fr.
vingt ans]
vГ©sГЁl
dishes, tableware, vessel. Ay
lavГ© sГ© vГ©sГЁl-la! Go wash the dishes!
(see also: pla, zasyГЁt)
N
vГЁy variant of lavГ©yГ©.
vГ©yГ©
V to watch. Lapen ka vГ©yГ© ki sa
yo ka fГЁ Tig. Rabbit is watching what
they are doing to Tiger. (see also:
otjipГ©) [< Fr. veiller]
vГЁt
ADJ green, unripe, not ready to eat.
Mango-a vèt toujou, i p’òkò mi. The
mango’s still green, it’s not ripe yet.
(opp: mi; see also: matwitГ©, olГЁt)
[< Fr. vert]
vГЁti
vid
vГ©yen
N grouper (Epinephelus
inermis).
vid
ADJ empty. Nou pa ni tizing dlo
lakay nou; tout bonm vid. We don’t
have any water at our house; all the
to warn. Manman mwen
toujou tГ© ka vГЁti mwen pou pa jwГ©
V
226
vidajan
Kwéyòl – English
vis2
buckets are empty. (opp: plen) [< Fr.
vide]
N vice, immorality. La ni tout sГІt
kaltГ© vis an vil sala. There is all kinds
of vice in this town. (syn: vyГ© lavi,
mal pwГІptГ©; see also: mГ©chanstГ©,
kwiyotГ©, movГЁztГ©) [< Fr. vice] fГЁ vis
to copulate, to have sex. Yo bouchГ©
dГ© jenn manmay ka fГЁ vis an wazyГ©a. They caught two young people
having sex in the bushes. (crude; syn:
kouchГ©, fwГ©kantГ©, pwan)
vidajan
N mercury, quicksilver.
Nonm sala moutГ© Г©pi vidajan;
pyèsonn pa sa fè’y mal. That man put
mercury under his skin; nobody can
harm him. (see also: tjenbwa, zГЁb)
[< Fr. vif-argent]
vidГ©
V to pour. VidГ© dlo-a an bГ©sinan. Pour the water into the basin.
[< Fr. vider]
vis3
N trick. Nonm sala pa gadé’y; i
benyen vis. You wouldn’t know from
looking at that man that he is full of
tricks. (see also: jГЁs)
vif
ADJ quick. Nou wГЁ ki otan vif
chat-la tГ© vif! We saw how quick the
cat was! (see also: vit) [< Fr. vif]
vil
visГ©
V to screw. I visé’y séwé. He
screwed it tight. [< Fr. visser]
town. Tan sala vil-la tГ© piti. At
that time the town was small. [< Fr.
ville]
N
visyГ©
ADJ clever, shrewd. Nonm sala
visyé pasé ki; ou pa sa kwennen’y.
That man is extremely shrewd; you
can’t fool him. (syn: ni lèspwi) [< Fr.
vicieux]
vilaj
N village. Tifi-a ka wГ©tГ© adan
vilaj-la. The girl lives in the village.
[< Fr. village]
vin variant of vini. Madanm-lan vin
visyГЁz
N tattler, talebearer, gossip (in
reference to a woman). Fanm sala
twГІ visyГЁz, mwen pa vlГ© i vin lakay
mwen. That woman is too much of a
gossip, I don’t want her to come to my
home. [< Fr. vicieuse]
mГІ. The woman came to die.
vinГЁg
N vinegar. Yo ka sГЁvi vinГЁg
pou pwГ©zГЁvГ© konkonm. They use
vinegar to preserve cucumbers. [< Fr.
vinaigre]
vini (var: vin)
vit
ADV fast, quickly. PyГ© mango-a
kay lГ©vГ© vit. The mango tree will
grow quickly. (syn: vitman; opp:
dous) [< Fr. vite] fГЁ vit to hurry up,
to get moving, to move quickly. AlГ©
an boutik-la ГЁk fГЁ vit! Go to the store
and hurry it up! (syn: bay pyГ©,
bwennen kГІ, chapГ© kГІ, chapГ© pyГ©, fГЁ
pyГ©; see also: kouwi; fann kann, fГЁ
djip, fГЁ lapousyГЁ, fГЁ yan, fГЁ zГ©klГЁ,
kouwi vant a tГЁ, pwan lavГІl)
1) to come. Papa
mwen kay vini denmen. My father
will come tomorrow. (syn: chapГ©)
2) to become. I vini on pГ©chГЁ menm
kon papa’y. He became a fisherman
just like his father. (syn: twapГ© kГІ,
twouvГ© kГІ) [< Fr. venir] ka vini
next. LannГ© ka vini nou kay fГЁ sa.
Next year we’ll do that. (syn:
pwochen, lГІt)
vis1
vitman
V
N screw. Nou pГЁd ti vis sala. We
lost that little screw. (see also: boulon)
[< Fr. vis]
vitman
227
ADV fast, quickly. LГЁ i wГЁ sa,
i dГ©sann vitman. When he saw that,
he went down quickly. (syn: vit; opp:
viv
Kwéyòl – English
you get in line with the house, look
straight; you will see my car. (see also:
alapГІtГ©, alimans, a kotГ©, bГІ, bГІdaj,
pwГ©) Sa mwen fГЁ-a pa anyen lГЁ ou
mété’y vizavi sa ou menm ja fè.
What I have done is nothing when you
compare it with what you have done.
[< Fr. vis Г vis]
dousman; see also: bay pyГ©,
bwennen, chapГ© kГІ, fГЁ pyГ©, fГЁ zГ©klГЁ,
kouwi vant a tГЁ)
viv
V to live. Kwapon ka viv lontan.
Cowards live a long time. (opp: mГІ,
pГ©wi; see also: lavi) N interpersonal
relationship, friendship. Sa ou vlГ© fГЁa sГ© kwazГ© ou vlГ© kwazГ© viv nou.
What you intend to do is destroy our
relationship. [< Fr. vivre]
vizГ©1
V to aim at. I vizГ© jibyГ©-a mГ© i
mantjé’y. He aimed at the bird but he
missed it. [< Fr. viser]
vivan
ADJ alive, living. SГЁpan-an
vivan toujou; i p’òkò mò. The snake
is still alive; it is not yet dead. (opp:
mГІ) [< Fr. vivant]
vivi
ADJ envious. Nonm sala vivi
tГЁlman; tout sa i wГЁ i vlГ©. That man is
so envious; he wants everything he
sees. (syn: anvyГЁj; see also: jalou,
vowas)
vivtГЁ
vizГ©2
N visa. Ou bizwen on vizГ© pou
antwГ© LanmГ©wik. You need a visa to
get into the United States. [< Fr. visa]
vizitГ©
V to visit. ToulГ© Dimanch yo
ka vizitГ© moun ki adan lopital-la.
Every Sunday they visit people in the
hospital. [< Fr. visiter]
vizou
N cane juice. Tan lontan pito
sik, moun tГ© ka sГЁvi vizou pou dousi
ditГ© yo. Long ago, rather than sugar,
people used cane juice to sweeten their
tea. (see also: kann)
ground provision. I ban
mwen an ti mГІso an chak vivtГЁ. She
gave me a piece of each ground
provision. (syn: gwo manjГ©)
N
viwan variant of dГ©viwan.
vizyon
N vision. Tout gouvГЁdman
sipozГ© ni on vizyon bay pГ©yi-a yo ka
kondwi-a. Every government should
have a vision for the country it is
leading. (see also: wГ©vГ©lasyon) [< Fr.
vision]
viwГ© (var: viyГ©, dГ©viwГ©, dГ©viyГ©)
V to
return, to go back. Yo alГ© jГІdi pou
viwГ© denmen. They went today to
return tomorrow. (syn: witounen; opp:
kité, pati) ADV back. Tout sé bagayla mwen ba li-a, i ban mwen’y viwé.
All of the things I gave him, he gave
them back to me. [< Fr. virer] viwГ©
ankГІ to repeat (an action), to do
(something) again. Ki tan ou kay
viwГ© moutГ© ankГІ? When will you go
up again?
viyГ© variant of viwГ©.
vlen
vlГ©
V 1) to want. Mwen vlГ© tak kafГ©,
souplГ©. I want some coffee, please.
(syn: anvi) 2) to intend, to mean to.
Sa sГ© sa mwen tГ© vlГ© fГЁ. This is what I
intended to do. (see also: antansyon)
[< Fr. voulez] vlГ© di to mean. Ki sa
sa vlГ© di? What does that mean?
vlen
N venom. Vlen sГЁpan sala
danjéwé an chay. That snake’s
venom is very dangerous. (see also:
sГЁpan, pwГ©zon) [< Fr. venin]
vizavi
PREP in line with, with respect
to. LГЁ ou wivГ© vizavi kay-la, gadГ©
dwГЁt; ou kay wГЁ motoka-a. When
228
vlopГ©
Kwéyòl – English
vlopГ© variant of voplГ©. [< Fr.
woman’s money. (syn: fè vòl) [< Fr.
voleur]
envelopper]
vo
vГІlkan
V to be worth. Sa pa vo anyen.
That’s not worth anything. (syn: vo
valГЁ) [< Fr. vaut] vo valГЁ same as
vo. Sa mwen-an vo pli valГЁ pasГ© sГ©
lГ©zГІt-la. Mine is worth more than all
the others.
N volcano. La ni on vГІlkan
SoufwiyГЁ. There is a volcano in
Soufriere. [< Fr. volcan] lГ©vГ©
vòlkan to lose one’s temper. Lè ou
lévé vòlkan’w, pa pasé waj ou-a anlè
mwen! When you lose your temper,
don’t let your anger spill over on me!
(see also: fachГ©, waj, kГІlГЁ)
vГІl1
N theft, robbery, stealing. [< Fr.
vol] fГЁ vГІl to steal. I fГЁ an vГІl; sГ© sa
ki fГЁ i ni tout sГ© bagay sala. He made
a theft; that is how he has all these
things. (syn: vГІlГЁ)
volontГ©
N will. Mwen kay mandГ©
Bondyé si sé volonté’y pou fè sa ban
mwen. I will ask God if it is his will to
do that for me. (syn: divwa; see also:
antansyon) V to volunteer. SГ© mwen
ki volontГ© pou fГЁ sa bay madanmlan. I was the one who volunteered to
do that for the woman. [< Fr. volontГ©]
vГІl2
N flock (of birds). Mwen pГ©tГ© dГ©
bal simen dГЁyГЁ vГІl jibyГ©-a. I fired
two scatter shots at the flock of birds.
[< Fr. vol]
volan
volГ©
N
flying fish. [< Fr. volant]
vГІltijГ©
V to go flying. LГЁ mwen
tonbГ©, pawГІsГІl-la vГІltijГ©! When I
fell, the umbrella went flying! (syn:
pwan lavГІl; see also: volГ©) [< Fr.
voltiger]
1) to fly. ZГЁl jibyГ©-a kasГ© Г©pi i
pa té sa menm volé. The bird’s wing
broke and it couldn’t even fly. (see
also: pwan lavГІl, vГІltijГ©) 2) to blow
away. Van-an volГ© tout sГ© fГЁy sГЁk-la.
The wind blew away all the dry
leaves. 3) to cut off. I ba li yon koul
sab ГЁk i volГ© zГІwГЁy li. He struck him
with the sword and cut off his ear. (see
also: koupГ©, ГЁstГІpyГ©, sГЁpГ©, sotГ©)
[< Fr. voler] bay volГ© to beat, to
give a beating, to spank. Papa’y ba li
on volГ©! His father gave him a
beating! (syn: bat, bay kou, lapidГ©,
bay plich, plichГ©, koupГ© fГЁs, koupГ©
latjГ©, pГ©tГ© kГІ, wizГ©)
vГІlГЁ
vonvonnГ©
V
vonmi
V to vomit. Ti manmay-la
vonmi asou zépòl manman’y. The
child vomited on his mother’s
shoulder. (see also: malotjГЁ) [< Fr.
vomir]
vonmyГ©
ADV it is better, preferable.
AnvГ©witГ©, vonmyГ© nou tГ© wГЁstГ© la
pito. In truth, it would have been
better for us to have stayed there
instead. (syn: simyГ©; see also: andji,
olyГЁ, pito) [< Fr. il vaut mieux]
N 1) thief. Doubout la! VГІlГЁ!
Stop there! Thief! (see also: pikГЁpГІch)
2) unproductive, harmful vine. Nou
ka tiyé sé vòlè-a. We’re removing the
unproductive vines. V to steal, to rob.
VГІlГЁ-a vГІlГЁ tout lajan vyГ© madanmlan. The thief stole all of the old
vonvon
N bee. Vonvon-an pitjГ©
mwen an do mwen. The bee stung me
on my back. (syn: myГЁl, vonvon
myГЁl; see also: dГ©syen, kasav myГЁl)
vonvon myГЁl same as vonvon.
vonvonnГ©
229
V to buzz. Vonvon-an tГ©
ka vonvonnГ© tout oliwon flГЁ-a. The
voplГ©
Kwéyòl – English
bee was buzzing all around the flower.
voyГ© (var: vowГ©, vwГ©yГ©)
V 1) to send.
PГІl voyГ© dГ© bwapen ban mwen. Paul
sent me two breadfruits. 2) to throw.
Yo voyé wòch dèyè’y. They threw
stones at him. (see also: flГ©chГ©, jГ©tГ©)
[< Fr. envoyer] voyГ© alГ© to send
away. Yo voyé’y alé dé lanmen vid.
They sent him away empty-handed.
voplГ© (var: vlopГ©)
V 1) to wrap. Yo
ka voplГ© sГ© fig-la pou pwotГЁktГ© yo.
They wrap the bananas to protect
them. 2) to roll, to coil. I viyГ© voplГ©
kГІd-la. He rolled up the rope again.
(opp: dГ©voplГ©) [< Fr. envelopper]
votГ©
V to vote. LannГ© sala tout moun
kay sa votГ©. This year everyone will
be able to vote. [< Fr. voter]
voudwГ© variant of avoudwГ©.
vous
moodiness, bad mood, bad
temperament. Madanm sala benyen
vous. That woman has a bad
temperament. (syn: vap; see also:
zimГЁy) ni vous to be mercurial,
moody, temperamental. Tifi-a ni
vous. The girl is moody. (syn: ni vap;
see also: avous; zimГЁy)
vwa
N voice. Nonm sala ni on gwo
vwa. That man has a loud voice. (see
also: pwan vwa, lapawГІl) [< Fr. voix]
vwazinaj variant of vwГ©zinaj. [< Fr.
voisinage]
N
vwГ©
ADJ true. I pa di anyen ki pa
vwé. He didn’t say anything that’s not
true. (opp: fo) [< Fr. vrai]
vwГ©jinaj variant of vwГ©zinaj.
vwГЁl
N 1) veil. Jenn tifi-a mГ©tГ© on
vwГЁl blan lГЁ i tГ© ka mayГ©. The young
lady put on a white veil when she got
married. 2) sail. KannГІt-la pa ni
vwГЁl. The boat has no sail. [< Fr.
voile]
vout
N undercurrent, undertow. Pa alГ©
bò vout-la avan i hédi’w antwé anba
kayè-a. Don’t go near the whirlpool or
it will pull you under the rock.
vowas
vwГ©man
vowasitГ©
vwГ©yajГ© variant of voyajГ©.
ADJ greedy. Gason! Ou twГІ
vowas! Boy, you’re too greedy! (syn:
kochon; see also: jalou, anvyГЁj, vivi)
[< Fr. vorace]
N greed. Yo fГЁ sa a kГІz di
vowasitГ© yo. They did that because of
their greed. [< Fr. voracitГ©]
vowГ© variant of voyГ©.
ADV really, truly. VwГ©man,
sé kon sa i yé. Really, that’s the way it
is. (syn: vГ©witabman; see also:
wГ©yГЁlman) [< Fr. vraiment]
vwГ©yГ© variant of voyГ©.
vwГ©zinaj (var: vwГ©jinaj, vwazinaj)
N trip. I ni on
lonng voyaj pou fГЁ. He has a long trip
to make. [< Fr. voyage]
V to travel. Yo
tГ© ka voyajГ© toupatou. They used to
travel everywhere. [< Fr. voyager]
N
neighbour. SГ© pou ou fГЁ bon bay
vwГ©zinaj ou. You must do good to
your neighbours. (syn: pwochen)
[< Fr. voisinage]
voyaj (var: voyay)
voyajГ© (var: vwГ©yajГ©)
vyann
vyann
N meat. Konmen pou vyannan? How much for the meat? (see
also: lachГЁ) [< Fr. viande] vyann
san zo slug. Vyann san zo ka
manjГ© jaden-an. Slugs are eating the
voyay variant of voyaj.
230
vyГ©
Kwéyòl – English
garden. (syn: bГЁt san zo)
la. Joseph married the virgin. (relig.)
[< Fr. vierge]
vyГ©
ADJ 1) old. VyГ© nonm sala ka
tiwГ© an chay listwa. That old man
tells lots of stories. (syn: gwan; opp:
jenn, nГЁf) 2) bad. Sa sГ© on vyГ©
pawòl! That’s a bad word! (syn:
movГ©; opp: bon; see also: mГ©chan,
modi, sГ©lГ©wa) [< Fr. vieille] VyГ© FГІ
the town of Vieux Fort. Nou kay
machГ© jis VyГ© FГІ. We will walk as far
as Vieux Fort. [< Fr. Vieil Fort]
vyГЁj1
N
waj
vyГЁj2
jewfish.
N
vyГ©lon
N violin. Nonm sala ka jwГ©
vyГ©lon byen. That man plays the
violin well. (syn: anba gГІj) [< Fr.
violon]
vyГ©yГЁs
N old age. An vyГ©yГЁs nou,
nou ka obliyГ© an chay bagay. In our
old age, we forget many things. (opp:
jennГЁs, pititГЁs) [< Fr. vieillesse]
virgin. JozГЁf mayГ© Г©pi vyГЁj-
Ww
’w variant of ou. Sa ki wivé’w? Ou
(tooth). I alГ© oti dantis-la ГЁk yo
waché dan’y. He went to the dentist
and they extracted his tooth. [< Fr.
arracher]
pèd lajan’w? What happened to you?
Did you lose your money?
wa1
N 1) king. Tout tan yo p’òkò
kouwonnen’w, ou p’òkò wa. Unless
they’ve crowned you you’re not the
king yet. (see also: louwa, wenn)
2) king (in draughts or cards). Mwen
genyen jwГ© danm-lan paski mwen tГ©
ni pli wa pasé’y. I won the game of
draughts because I had more kings
than he had. (see also: danm) [< Fr.
roi]
wachГ©2 variant of hachГ©.
wad variant of had.
wadenn
N guinea pig. Pa ni anyen ki
ka fè piti vit kon wadenn. There’s
nothing that has babies quickly like
guinea pigs.
waflГ©
V to raffle. Nou ka waflГ© on
bГЁf ГІswГЁ-a. We are raffling a cow
tonight. (see also: jwГ©)
wa2
ADV rarely, seldom. Byen wa nou
ka jwenn dlo an sitenn sГ© jou sala.
Very seldom do we get water these
days. (opp: souvan, dwi) [< Fr. rare]
wabГІt
a tool for stirring fawin. Yo
ka wimen fawin ГЁk wabГІt. They stir
cassava flour with a �wabòt’. (see also:
kawГЁt)
N
wagon
N
(see also: twen, loko) [< Fr.
wagon]
waj
N anger, wrath, rage. SГ© pa asou
mwen pou ou pasé waj ou-a. Don’t
pass your rage onto me. (see also:
anwajГ©; kГІlГЁ, lГ©vГ© vГІlkan, fachГ©)
Nonm sala ni an waj ka pwen’y.
That man was overtaken with rage.
[< Fr. rage] ni an waj pou to covet.
I ni an waj pou motoka-a. He covets
the car. (syn: anwajГ© pou)
wach variant of hach.
wachГ©1
V 1) to uproot. SГ© nonm sala
wachГ© sГ© pyГ© bwa-a. Those men
uprooted the trees. 2) to extract
231
wajyГ©
Kwéyòl – English
wajyГ© variant of wazyГ©.
péyé’y lajan’y, mé wannman i
mandé mwen toujou. I’ve paid him
his money, yet is still asking me for
money. (see also: kanmenm) [< Fr.
rendement]
wak
ADJ tasteless. (see also: diven
wak, koko wak) [< Fr. Гўcre]
wakontГ©
V to tell, to recount. Mwen
té la èk mwen vin wakonté sa ba’w. I
was there and I came to tell you that.
(see also: di) [< Fr. raconter]
wapГ©
V to grate something improperly,
in big chunks. Gwaj koko-a pa bon –
i ka wapé koko-a. That grater isn’t
good – it’s grating the coconut in big
chunks. (see also: gwajГ©) [< Fr. rГ per]
wan
N row. I plantГ© tout sГ©
chouponm-lan an wan. He planted all
the cucumbers in rows. [< Fr. rang]
wanjГ©
to repair, to fix. Nonm-lan
wanjГ© tГЁt kay li. The man repaired his
roof. Mwen kay wanjé’w! I’ll deal
with you! [< Fr. arranger]
wapГІ
N report, news report. Chak
gwoup kay bay wapГІ yo. Each group
will give their report. (see also:
nouvГЁl) [< Fr. rapport]
V
wanjman
was
N 1) race. Was sГ© moun sala sГІti
an Afwik. This race of people comes
from Africa. 2) family, kind of
people. Was sГ© moun sala ka bwГЁ an
chay wonm. That family drinks a lot
of rum. (usually derogatory) [< Fr.
race]
arrangement, deal. Pou
yo pa tГ© alГ© lodyans, yo pwan
wanjman. In order to avoid going to
court, they made an arrangement.
[< Fr. arrangement]
N
wanm
N a pole for plants to climb on.
Г€s ou ja mГ©tГ© wanm bay yanm-lan?
Have you put a pole for the yams to
climb on? [< Fr. rame]
wasi
ADJ stale, mouldy. Pen-an yo
pwen Г©pi yo-a tГ© ja wasi. The bread
they brought with them was stale.
(opp: fwГ©; see also: chanpiyon,
mwГ©zi) [< Fr. rassis]
wanmГ©
V to cling, to twine, to wrap
around (in reference to vines). Senmlan wanmГ© anlГЁ tonnГЁl-la. The snow
peas twined around the trellis. (see
also: pann, sispann) [< Fr. ramer]
wasin
N root. Yo ja koupГ© wasin pyГ©
bwa-a. They have cut the tree’s roots.
[< Fr. racine] fГЁ wasin to take root.
PyГ© bwa-a ka pwan tan pou fГЁ
wasin. The tree takes time to take root.
(syn: pwi)
wanmo
N palm tree. PyГ© wanmo sala
sa ho. This palm tree is really tall. (see
also: palmis) [< Fr. rameau]
wanmyГ©
wood pigeon. (see also:
pijon) [< Fr. ramier]
N
wasinГ©
ADJ rooted, well-grounded. Yo
wasinГ© an lafwa; anyen pa sa
soukwГ© yo. They are rooted in the
faith; nothing can shake them.
(religious) [< Fr. enraciner]
wann
V to make, to render. Bagay
sala ka wann mwen malad. That
thing makes me sick. (see also: fГЁ)
[< Fr. rendre]
wat
wat
N rat. Wat Г©pi Souwi tГ© vlГ©
kwennen Chat. Rat and Mouse
wanted to fool Cat. (see also: souwi)
[< Fr. rat]
wannman (var: wonnman)
ADV yet
still, nevertheless, however. Mwen ja
232
watjГЁt
Kwéyòl – English
watjГЁt
N a type of cactus. PyГ© watjГЁt
pa ni pyГЁs lonbwaj. Cactus trees
don’t have any shade. (see also: siyèz)
voir]
wГ©bГЁl
N rebel. Nonm sala sГ© an
wГ©bГЁl. That man is a rebel. (see also:
wГ©vГІt, wivГІltГ©) V to rebel. Ti
manmay sala ka wébèl kont papa’y.
That child is rebelling against his
father. (see also: lГ©vГ©, wivГІltГ©) [< Fr.
rebelle]
wavГЁt
N cockroach. WavГЁt pa ni
padon douvan poul. Cockroaches get
no mercy from chickens.
wavin
N stream. I ka benyen an
wavin-an. He is bathing in the stream.
(see also: lawivyГЁ) [< Fr. ravine]
wГЁd
ADJ 1) hard. Bwa sala wГЁd an
chay. That wood is very hard. (opp:
mòl) 2) difficult. M’a sa fè twavay
sala; i twò wèd. I can’t do that work;
it is too difficult. (syn: difisil; opp:
Г©zГ©, fasil) 3) strict. Papa mwen tГ©
twГІ wГЁd. My father was too strict.
ADV hard. I ka twavay wГЁd toulГ© jou
san pozГ©. I works hard every day
without resting. V to fill (one’s belly).
Nonm-lan wèd bouden’y èk fig mi.
The man filled his belly with ripe
bananas. (see also: plen) [< Fr. raide]
tГЁt wГЁd stupid, mentally challenged.
Ki mannyГЁ tГЁt ou wГЁd kon sa? How
can you be so stupid? (see also:
dГЁkdГЁk, tГЁtenm, enfim an tГЁt, gochГ©
an tГЁt) Tifi sala ni tГЁt wГЁd; i pa ka
apwann anyen. This girl is mentally
challenged; she isn’t learning
anything. TjГ©bГ© wГЁd. Hold firm.
Stick with it. (see also: pwan tjГЁ,
tjГ©bГ© fГІ)
wawГЁt
N seaweed. LanmГЁ-a ni an
chay wawГЁt bonmaten-an. The sea
has a lot of seaweed in it this morning.
waya
N wire. Yo fГЁ pak-la Г©pi waya.
They made the fence with wire.
[< Eng. wire]
waz
ADJ to the brim. Yo plen jГЁ-a
waz. They filled the jar to the brim.
(syn: owa)
wazГ©
V to shave. Mwen lГ©vГ© ta ГЁk
m’òkò wazé. I got up late and I
haven’t shaved yet. [< Fr. raser]
wazwГЁ
N razor blade. I pèd wazwè’y
kon sa i pa tГ© sa wazГ©. He lost his
razor so he couldn’t shave. [< Fr.
rasoir]
wazyГ© (var: wajyГ©)
N grass, brush,
bush, tree. Yo sГЁpГ© tout sГ© wazyГ©-a.
They cut all the bushes. (see also: pyГ©,
zГЁb) alГ© an wazyГ© to defecate
(outside). I alГ© an wazyГ©. He went to
defecate. (euphemism; see also: chyГ©,
kaka, fГЁ bizwen)
wГ©di variant of hГ©di.
wГ©flГ©chi
V to reflect. Kité lidé’w
wéfléchi asou sa mwen di’w-la. Let
your mind reflect on what I told you.
(see also: chonjГ©, katjilГ©) [< Fr.
rГ©flГ©chir]
wГ©
N ray, skate. La ni an chay wГ©
LanslawГ©. There are many rays in
Anse La Raye. [< Fr. raie]
wГЁ
to see. Nou machГ© anba-a la mГ©
nou pa wГЁ lГ©fan-an. We walked down
there but we didn’t see the elephant.
(see also: apГЁsivwГЁ, wГ©yalizГ©) [< Fr.
V
wГ©gadГ©
wГ©fwГ©chi variant of afwГ©chi. [< Fr.
rafraГ®chir]
wГ©gadГ©
233
V to regard, to consider to be,
to treat as. ZГІt pa ka wГ©gadГ© mwen
wГЁglГ©
Kwéyòl – English
kon manman zòt. You don’t regard
me as your mother. (see also:
konsidiwГ©) [< Fr. regarder]
kouwonn-an. The queen is wearing
the crown. (see also: wa, danm) [< Fr.
reine]
wГЁglГ©
wГ©panti
wГ©jim1
wГ©pantisman
wГ©jim2
wГ©pГ©tГ©
ADV regularly. Sé pou’w tjiwé
dan’w wèglé. You must brush your
teeth regularly. (see also: dwi, souvan,
an chay di lГЁ) [< Fr. rГ©gulier]
N bunch, stalk (of bananas,
plantain, etc). I mennen senk wГ©jim
fig ba yo. He took them five bunches
of bananas. [< Fr. rГ©gime]
N diet, regimen. Yo ka fГЁ
wéjim. They’re on a diet. [< Fr.
rГ©gime]
V to repent. Sé pou’w
wГ©panti avan ou pГ©wi. You must
repent before you perish. [< Fr.
repentir]
N repentance. Lapenn
san wГ©pantisman pa vo anyen.
Sorrow without repentance is not
worth anything. (religious)
V to repeat. WГ©pГ©tГ© sa ou dia ban mwen ankГІ souplГ©. Repeat
what you said to me again please.
[< Fr. rГ©pГ©ter]
wГ©jistwasyon
N registration.
WГ©jistwasyon-an pou lГЁgzanmГ©-a sГ©
denmen. The registration for the exam
is tomorrow. [< Fr. rГ©gistration]
wГ©ponn
V to answer, to respond.
Lapen kwiyé’y mé bolonm-lan pa
wГ©ponn. Rabbit called to it but the
tarbaby didn’t respond. (opp: mandé)
[< Fr. rГ©pondre] wГ©ponn tГЁt to
argue, to plead one’s case, to go to
one’s defence. I pa té ni pyèsonn
pou wГ©ponn tГЁt li. He had nobody to
plead his case. (syn: fГЁ dГ©fans)
wГ©jistwГ©
V to register. Г€s ou ja
wГ©jistwГ© pou votГ©? Have you already
registered to vote? [< Fr. enregistrer]
wГ©jwi
V to rejoice. WГ©jwi paski
non’w matjé an syèl. Rejoice that
your name is registered in heaven.
(syn: widjГЁwtГ©; see also: lajwa,
djГЁwtГ©) [< Fr. se rГ©jouir]
wГ©pons
N answer, response. LГЁ
mwen konyen asou lapòt-la m’a
jwenn pyГЁs wГ©pons. When I knocked
on the door there was no response.
(opp: kwГЁsyon) [< Fr. rГ©ponse]
wГ©kГІltГ©
V to reap, to harvest. Sa ou
plantГ© sГ© sa ou kay wГ©kГІltГ©. What
you plant is what you will reap. (opp:
plantГ©) [< Fr. rГ©colter]
wГ©pwГ©zantГ©
V to represent. KilГЁs
avoka ki ka wépwézanté’w? Which
lawyer is representing you? [< Fr.
reprГ©senter] mal wГ©pwГ©zantГ© to
misrepresent. Avoka-a mal
wГ©pwГ©zantГ© mwen; sГ© sa ki fГЁ mwen
pГЁd lodyans-lan. The lawyer
misrepresented me; that is why I lost
the case.
wГ©kГІt
N harvest, crop. Yo tГ© ni on
bon wГ©kГІt lannГ© sala. They had a big
harvest this year. (see also: zam)
[< Fr. rГ©colte]
wen
N waist, lower back. Wen’y ka
fè’y mal. His waist is hurting him.
[< Fr. reins]
wendГ© variant of Г©dГ©.
wenn
N
wГ©sisitГ©
wГ©sisitГ©
V to resurrect, rise (from
death). Asou jou jijman-an tout
moun kay wГ©sisitГ© hГІd lanmГІ. On
queen. Wenn-an ka pГІtГ©
234
wГЁskonsab
Kwéyòl – English
wГ©tГ© variant of wГЁstГ©.
the day of judgement all people will
rise from death. (see also:
wГ©zГЁwГЁksyon) [< Fr. ressusciter]
wГ©tjen N shark. [< Fr. requin]
wГ©tjen blan white shark. WГ©tjen
wГЁskonsab
ADJ responsible. Nou pa
tГ© wГЁskonsab pou sa ki fГЁt. We
weren’t responsible for what
happened. [< Fr. responsable]
blan-an danjГ©wГ© an chay. The white
shark is very dangerous. wГ©tjen sab
sand shark. Lapo wГ©tjen sab-la wid
an pil. The sand shark’s skin is very
rough.
wГЁskonsabilitГ©
N responsibility. SГ©
jenn moun-an pa ni pyГЁs
wГЁskonsabilitГ© jГІdi jou. The young
people have no responsibilities these
days. [< Fr. responsabilitГ©]
wГЁspГ©
wГЁv
N dream. Adan wГЁv-la mwen tГ©
on wa. In the dream I was a king.
[< Fr. rГЄve]
wГ©vГ©
V to dream. Paditan i tГ© ka
wГ©vГ© i koumansГ© hГ©lГ©. While she was
dreaming she began to yell. [< Fr.
rГЄver]
respect. Mwen ni an chay
wГЁspГ© pou nonm sala. I have a lot of
respect for that man. (see also: lonnГЁ)
[< Fr. respect]
N
wГЁspГЁktГ©
wГ©vГ©lasyon
N revelation. BondyГ©
ban nou wГ©vГ©lasyon sala. God gave
us that revelation. (see also: vizyon)
[< Fr. rГ©vГ©lation]
to respect. SГ© pou nou
wГЁspГЁktГ© dwa lГІt moun. We must
respect other people’s rights. (see also:
onnowГ©) [< Fr. respecter]
V
wГЁstГ© (var: wГ©tГ©)
wГ©vГІt
wГ©vГ©lГ©
1) to remain, to
stay. WГЁstГ© la jis tan mwen vini.
Stay there until I come. WГЁstГ© la!
Stay there! 2) to live, to reside. Yo
ka wГЁstГ© Kastwi. They live in
Castries. (syn: wГ©zidan) 3) to be left,
to remain. Yo manjГ© tout sГ© ti mГІsoa ki wГЁstГ©-a. They ate all the little
pieces that were left. 4) to have left, to
have remaining. Mwen wГЁstГ© dГ© dГІla
tousГЁl. I have only two dollars left.
[< Fr. rester] wГЁstГ© byen to behave
oneself. Ti manmay-la wГЁstГ© byen
Г©pi mwen. The child behaved himself
with me. wГЁstГ© san manjГ© to fast.
SГ© moun-an tГ© ka wГЁstГ© san manjГ©
ГЁk pwГ©dyГ© lГЁ BondyГ© wГ©ponn
lapwiyГЁ yo. The people were fasting
and praying when God answered their
prayer. (syn: fas, fГЁ ajen) wГЁstГ©
tjantjil same as wГЁstГ© byen.
V to reveal. BondyГ© kay
wГ©vГ©lГ© sa ban nou. God will reveal
that for us. (see also: moutwГ©) [< Fr.
rГ©vГ©ler]
V
wГ©vГЁy
N alarm clock. Mwen tГ© las
tГЁlman mwen pa menm tann lГЁ
wГ©vГЁy-la sonnen. I was so tired I
didn’t even hear when the alarm clock
went off. [< Fr. rГ©veil]
wГ©vГІl variant of wГ©vГІt.
wГ©volisyon (var: wГ©volousyon)
N
revolution. Adan moun ka ГЁspГ©yГ© on
wГ©volisyon. Some people are waiting
for a revolution. [< Fr. rГ©volution]
wГ©volousyon variant of wГ©volisyon.
wivГІlva
N revolver, pistol. I ni
wivòlva’y a koté’y. He has his
revolver on his side. (see also: fizi)
[< Eng. revolver]
wГ©vГІt (var: wivГІt, wГ©vГІl)
235
N
revolt,
wГ©yalizГ©
Kwéyòl – English
rebellion. [< Fr. rГ©volte] lГ©vГ© wГ©vГІt
to rebel, to revolt. SГ© plantГЁ-a lГ©vГ©
wГ©vГІt kont gouvГЁdman-an. The
farmers revolted against the
government. (see also: wГ©bГЁl, wivГІltГ©)
kannawi dlo, dat, lota) [< Fr.
erysipГЁle]
wГ©zon
N reason. Ou pa ni pyГЁs
wézon pou fè sa. You don’t have any
reason to do that. [< Fr. raison] bay
wГ©zon to believe (someone) is right,
to take (someone’s) side. Manman’w
toujou ka ba’w wézon; sé sa ki fè ou
movГ© kon sa. Your mother always
takes your side; that is why you are so
bad. (see also: sipГІtГ©, pwan pou, bay
pyГ©, bay lГ©chanlib) ni wГ©zon to be
right. Sé mwen ki ni wézon. I’m the
one who is right. (opp: ni tГІ; see also:
byen fГЁt) vГІlГЁ wГ©zon to be unfair or
unjust. Sé pou’w dwèt an tout sa ou
ka fè, sé pa pou’w vòlè wézon yonn
bay lГІt. You must be fair in all you
do, you mustn’t be unfair with each
other.
wГ©yalizГ©
V to realize. Mwen pa tГ©
wéyalizé sé ou ki la. I didn’t realize it
was you there. (see also: apГЁsivwГЁ,
konpwann, sav, wГЁ) [< Fr. rГ©aliser]
wГ©yГЁl
ADJ real. Aliyans sala pa
wГ©yГЁl; i pa lГІ. That wedding ring is
not real; it is not gold. [< Fr. rГ©el]
wГ©yГЁlman
ADV really, truly. Sa
wГ©yГЁlman sГ© bГ©tiz. That is really
nonsense. (see also: vГ©witabman,
vwГ©man) [< Fr. rГ©ellement]
wГ©yГІm
N realm, kingdom. (religious)
[< Fr. royaume] wГ©yГІm BondyГ©
kingdom of God, heaven. I pa kay
antwé an wéyòm Bondyé. He won’t
enter into heaven. (syn: syГЁl)
wГ©zonnab
ADJ reasonable. Nonm-lan
entГ©lijan, mГ© i pa wГ©zonnab. The
man is intelligent but he is not
reasonable. [< Fr. raisonnable]
wГ©zen
N grape, seagrape. PyГ© wГ©zen
sala kouvГЁ ГЁk wГ©zen. That seagrape
tree is full of seagrapes. [< Fr. raisin]
wГ©zonnen
V to reason. Yo Г©sГ©yГ©
wГ©zonnen Г©pi nonm-lan mГ© i pa tГ©
vlГ© koutГ©. They tried to reason with
the man but he wouldn’t listen. [< Fr.
raisonner]
wГ©zГЁwГЁksyon
N resurrection. SГ©
disip-la tГ© ka Г©spГ©wГ© wГ©zГЁwГЁksyonan. The disciples were awaiting the
resurrection. (see also: wГ©sisitГ©) [< Fr.
rГ©surrection]
wi1
ADV 1) yes. Mwen di, �Wi, mwen
vlé on pen.’ I said, �Yes, I want a
bread.’ (opp: non, awa; see also: ti)
2) affirmative sentence tag. Mwen la,
wi. I’m fine indeed. (see also: on)
[< Fr. oui]
wГ©zidan
N resident. Mwen sГ© on
wГ©zidan Sent Lisi. I am a resident of
St. Lucia V to reside, to live. Tout sГ©
moun-an ka wГ©zidan VyГ© FГІ. All
those people reside in Vieux Fort.
(syn: wГЁstГ©) [< Fr. rГ©sident]
wi
wi2
V 1) to laugh. I wi tèlman zyé’y
jik plГ©wГ©. He laughed so much he
even cried. 2) to laugh at. LГЁ mwen
di sa i wi mwen. When I said that he
laughed at me. (see also: motjГ©) [< Fr.
rire]
wГ©zipГЁl
N erysipelas: skin disease
caused by streptococcus, characterized
by inflammation. Ti manmay mwenan malad; i ni wГ©zipГЁl. My child is
sick; she has erysipelas. (see also:
236
wiban
Kwéyòl – English
wiban
[< Fr. rГ©jouir]
N ribbon. Gadé si wiban’w
mawГ©. See if your ribbon is tied.
[< Fr. ruban]
wido
N curtain. Mwen mГ©tГ© wido nГЁf
pou NwГЁl. I put up new curtains for
Christmas. [< Fr. rideau]
wibotГ©
V to celebrate. Yo tjenn on
gwo fГЁt ГЁk yo tout koumansГ© wibotГ©.
They held a big party and they all
began to celebrate. (rare; syn: sГ©lГ©bwГ©,
fГЁ lafГЁt, bwiyГ©)
wich
wifizГ©
V to refuse. I wifizГ© fГЁ anyen.
He refused to do anything. [< Fr.
refuser]
wigwГ©tГ© (var: igwГ©tГ©)
V to regret.
Mwen wigwГ©tГ© mwen vini isi-a. I
regret that I came here. [< Fr.
regretter]
rich. Nonm sala tГ© si
tГЁlman wich. That man was so rich.
(syn: alèz, byennéwé, éwé, ja fè’y, ja
wivГ©; opp: mal, malГ©wГ©, pГІv, fonn)
[< Fr. riche]
ADJ
wilachman
N diarrhoea. Mwen ni
wilachman. I have diarrhoea. (syn:
ladjidjit, mal vant; see also: chyГ©,
kaka, bouden ka mennen)
wicha
N rich person. Jan wicha
tousГЁl i vlГ© pou kanmawad li. He
only wants rich people as his friends.
(opp: malГ©wГ©; see also: lГ© wich) [< Fr.
richard]
wilasyon
N relations. SГ© yo ki Г©tabli
wilasyon épi nou. It’s they who
established relations with us. [< Fr.
relation]
wichГЁs
N riches, wealth. SГ© BondyГ©
ki ba yo tout wichès yo. It’s God who
gave them all their wealth. (see also:
byen, popyГ©tГЁ) [< Fr. richesse]
wilizyГЁz
ADJ religious. SГ© on nonm
ki wilizyГЁz an chay. He is a very
religious man. [< Fr. religieuse]
wichton
N sprout. SГ© zannimo-a
manjГ© tout wichton patat-la. The
animals are eating all of the potato
sprouts. (see also: flГЁch, jГЁm, koko;
pousГ©) [< Fr. rejeton]
wid
wilizyon
N religion, denomination.
La ni tout sГІt kaltГ© wilizyon an latГЁ
sala. There are all kinds of religions in
this world. [< Fr. religion]
ADJ rough. Masonn-an wid, i kay
pliché lapo’w. The wall is rough, it’ll
scrape your skin. (opp: lis) [< Fr. rude]
wim
N 1) cold, grippe. Bonmaten-an
mwen lГ©vГ© Г©pi on gwo wim. This
morning I woke up with a bad cold.
2) nasal mucus. Wim ka koulГ© an
né’y. His nose is running. [< Fr.
rhume]
widitjil
N ridicule. (syn: wizib,
papicho) [< Fr. ridicule] pwan sГЁvi
widitjil same as pwan sГЁvi papicho.
widjГЁktГ©
to reject. Fanmi’y menm
widjèkté’y. His own family rejected
him. [< Fr. rejeter]
V
wimГЁd
wimaj variant of imaj.
wimГЁd
N medicine. DГІktГЁ-a ba li
tout kaltГ© wimГЁd. The doctor gave
him all kinds of medicine. (syn:
mГ©dikanman) [< Fr. remГЁde] wimГЁd
wazyГ© bush medicine. VyГ© madanm
sala konnГЁt tout wimГЁd wazyГ©. That
widjГЁwtГ©
V to rejoice. Mwen
widjГЁwtГ© lГЁ mwen wГЁ gason mwenan. I rejoiced when I saw my son.
(syn: wГ©jwi; see also: djГЁwtГ©, lajwa)
237
wimen
Kwéyòl – English
Your mother is tired; leave her in
peace.
old woman is familiar with all kinds of
bush medicine.
wimen
wipwГІch
wimГЁsyГ©
wipwochГ©
wimГЁt
wis
V 1) to stir. Wimen bouyonan. Stir the soup. 2) to wind, to dance.
Mwen wimen tout kГІ mwen. I
danced with all my body. [< Fr.
remuer]
V to thank. Nou wimèsyé’y
pou bagay-la i ban nou-an. We
thanked him for the thing he gave us.
(see also: mГЁsi) [< Fr. remercier]
V to avenge, to get back at, to
get even with. I kouwi dГЁyГЁ nonmlan jis tan i jwenn li pou wimГЁt li. He
ran after the man until he found him to
take revenge on him. (see also:
wivanj, wonpi) [< Fr. remettre]
wipa
N meal. Sa sГ© on bon wipa.
That’s a good meal. (see also: dité,
dГ©jnen, dinen) [< Fr. repas]
N reproach. Sa tibway-la
fè-a pòté wipwòch asou non fanmi’y.
What the boy did brought reproach on
his family. (see also: blanm) [< Fr.
reproche]
V to reproach. Ou enmen
wipwochГ© moun. You like to
reproach people. (see also: akizГ©,
blanmГ©) [< Fr. reprocher]
N risk. Yo ka pwen wis ГЁk lavi
yo. They risk their lives. [< Fr. risque]
wisi
N receipt. Mi wisi-a pou sГ©
bagay-la mwen achtГ© ba ou-a. Here
is the receipt for the things I bought
for you. [< Fr. reçu]
wisivwГЁ (var: wisouvwГЁ)
V to receive.
Simenn pasГ© nou wisivwГЁ lajan-an.
Last week we received the money.
(see also: aksГЁptГ©, twapГ©, jwenn)
[< Fr. recevoir]
wipasГ©
V to chew a cud. BГЁf-la ka
wipasГ© tousГЁl. The cow is only
chewing its cud. [< Fr. repasser]
wipinyГ©
to satisfy without filling
when eating. ManjГ©-a ka wipinyГ©
mwen. The food satisfies me. (see
also: satisfГЁ)
wiski
N whisky. Nonm sala ka bwГЁ
twГІp wiski. That man drinks too much
whiskey. (see also: bwason, gГІg,
wonm) [< Fr. whisky]
V
wisouflГ©
V to gasp for air. LГЁ i fin
moutГ© mГІn-an i tГ© ka wisouflГ© an
chay. When he finished climbing the
hill he was really gasping for air.
[< Fr. essouffler]
wipinyon variant of lopinyon.
wiplasГ© variant of anplasГ©.
wiplen
V to refill. I wiplen boutГЁy-la
dlo. He refilled the bottle with water.
wipo
rest. I pa ni pyГЁs wipo. He
has no rest. [< Fr. repos] bay wipo
to leave in peace, to leave alone. Bay
madanm-lan wipo’y; i anbawasé.
Leave the woman alone; she is busy.
(syn: kitГ© an wipo, kitГ© bat mizГЁ)
kitГ© an wipo same as bay wipo.
Manman’w las; kité’y an wipo’y.
N
witjilГ©
wisouvwГЁ variant of wisivwГЁ.
witiwГ©
V to remove. Tout sa yo ka
di-a vwГ©, anyen a witiwГ©. All that
they say is true, not taking anything
away. [< Fr. retirer]
witjilГ©
V to pull away, to withdraw.
Mwen witjilГ© paski mwen pa kontan
konmГЁzasyon sГ© moun sala. I
238
witounen
Kwéyòl – English
withdrew because I didn’t like those
people’s conversation. (syn: halé kò,
hГ©di kГІ; see also: tjilГ©) [< Fr. reculer]
wiyГ©
V to rust. Si ou kitГ© koutla-a
dГІwГІ-a i kay wiyГ©. If you leave the
cutlass outside it will rust. (see also:
lawouj) ADJ rusty. Bonm-lan wiyГ©
an chay. The bucket is very rusty.
[< Fr. rouiller]
witounen
V 1) to return, to give back.
JГІdi-a i sipozГ© witounen liv-la.
Today he is supposed to return the
book. 2) to return, to come back, to go
back. Mwen kay witounen bГІ lГЁ kon
sa lannГ© pwochen. I will return about
this time next year. (syn: viwГ©; opp:
alГ©) [< Fr. retourner]
witwГЁt
N retreat. Mwa pasГ© nou tГ©
an witwГЁt-la bay tout sГ© nonm lГ©glizla. Last month we were at the retreat
for all of the men in the church. [< Fr.
retraite]
wivandГЁz
vendor. Tantant mwen
sГ© on wivandГЁz bГІ laplas Kastwi. My
aunt is a vendor in the Castries market.
(see also: machann, vann)
N
wiz
N guile, trickery, deceit. Pa kitГ©
nonm sala kwennen’w épi wiz li.
Don’t let that man trick you with his
trickery. (see also: jГЁs, vis, malen)
[< Fr. ruse]
wizГ© variant of izГ©.
wizib
N ridicule. (syn: widitjil,
papicho) [< Fr. risible] pwan sГЁvi
wizib same as pwan sГЁvi papicho.
wГІb
N dress. Ou mГ©tГ© wГІb ou lanvГЁ.
You put your dress on backwards. (see
also: dwiyГЁt) [< Fr. robe]
wГІch
N rock, stone. Gason, las vowГ©
wГІch! Boy, stop throwing stones! (see
also: kayГЁ) [< Fr. roche]
wivanj
N revenge. I vlГ© pwan wivanj
li asou nou. He wants to take revenge
on us. [< Fr. revanche]
wГІf
N wharf. Yo najГ© jik tan yo wivГ©
asou wГІf-la. They swam until the got
to the wharf. (see also: tjГ©, kГІstГ©)
[< Eng. wharf]
wivann
V to resell. Mwen ka achtГ©
chГЁbon pou wivann. I am buying
charcoal to resell. (see also: vann)
[< Fr. revendre]
won
ADJ round. TГЁt ou pa won, i
bòsko! Your head’s not round, it’s
lopsided! N circle. (see also: sГЁk)
[< Fr. rond] fГЁ won to go around, to
walk, drive, etc. in circles. FГЁ on
won, paski manjé-a p’òkò pawé.
Walk around, because the food is not
yet ready. lanmen won clumsy
driver. Nonm sala twapé kò’y adan
aksidan paski i sГ© an lanmen won.
That man finds himself in a lot of
accidents because he is a clumsy
driver.
wivГ© (var: ivГ©, ouvГ©)
V 1) to arrive, to
reach. Batiman-an sipozГ© wivГ©
ГІswГЁ-a. The boat is supposed to arrive
tonight. (opp: kitГ©, pati) 2) to happen
(to). Ki sa ki wivé’w? What
happened to you? (see also: fГЁt) [< Fr.
arriver]
wivГІltГ©
V to revolt, to rebel. SГ©
manmay sala wivГІltГ© kont lwa lГ©kГІlla. Those children revolted against the
school rules. (see also: wГ©bГЁl, lГ©vГ©
wГ©vГІt) [< Fr. se rГ©volter]
wivГІt variant of wГ©vГІt.
wonflГ©
wondГЁl
wonflГ©
239
N
V
a type of bird.
to snore. Tijan ka wonflГ©
wonm
Kwéyòl – English
mГ© i pa ka dГІmi. Ti Jean is snoring
but he’s not sleeping. [< Fr. ronfler]
wonm
roasted saltfish. [< Fr. rotir]
wouj
ADJ red. Nonm-lan ka pГІtГ© on
chimiz wouj. The man’s wearing a red
shirt. [< Fr. rouge] bГЁt wouj (var:
bГЁtouj) mite, chigger. Tout zГІwГЁy
mouton-an ni bГЁt wouj. Both of the
sheep’s ears have mites.
rum. I ka bwГЁ wonm toulГ©
jou. He drinks rum every day. (see
also: bwason, bwГЁ, gГІg, gГІgГЁ, nГЁg
wonm, sou, wiski, wonmyГ©) [< Fr.
rhum]
N
wonmyГ©
wonklГ©
wonn
woul
N drunkard, sot. Nonm sala
sГ© on wonmyГ©. That man is a
drunkard. (syn: nГЁg wonm, gГІgГЁ; see
also: wonm)
N same as wonn poul. [< Fr.
rond] wonn poul cockpit, arena for
cockfights. SГ© kГІk-la tГ© adan wonn
poul-la. The cocks were inside the
arena.
V to bellow, to wail. LГЁ nou
tann towo-a koumansГ© wonklГ© nou
pitjГ© kouwi! When we heard the bull
begin to bellow we took off!
N wheel. Woul motoka-a volГ©.
The wheel of the car flew off. [< Fr.
roue]
woulГ©1
V 1) to roll. Ti manmay-la ka
woulГ© a tГЁ. The child is rolling on the
ground. 2) to roll, to roar, to crack, to
sound (in reference to thunder).
Loway woulГ© tout lajounГ©. The
thunder rolled all day long. [< Fr.
rouler]
wonnman variant of wannman.
wonpi
V to avenge, to get back at, to
get even with, to defeat. Mwen kay
wonpi’w! I’ll get even with you! (see
also: dontГ©, wivanj, wimГЁt)
wonyen
crumb, scrap. Yo manjГ©
tout sГ© wonyen-an. They ate all the
crumbs. (see also: miyГЁt) V to
browse, to nibble at, to pick at.
Mouton-an pa ka manjГ© zГЁb-la mГ© i
ka annèk wonyen’y. The sheep isn’t
eating the grass but is just nibbling at
it.
N
woulГ©2
N hem. WoulГ© had li ka
twennen a tГЁ-a. The hem of her
clothes is dragging on the ground. (see
also: dГ©woulГ©) V to hem. Mwen vlГ©
ou woulé jip-la avan ou mété’y. I
want you to hem the skirt before you
put it on. (opp: dГ©woulГ©) [< Fr. ourlet]
woulo
N roll, spool. I alГ© genyen an
woulo kГІd. He went to buy a roll of
rope. [< Fr. rouleau]
wonz
ADJ eleven. Ti manmay-la ni
wonz lannГ©. The child is eleven years
old. [< Fr. onze]
wonzГЁ
N
wousi
V to sautГ©, to stew. Mwen ka
wousi vyann bГЁf. I am stewing beef.
ADJ stewed. Poul wousi bon Г©pi
dachin. Stewed chicken is good with
dasheen. [< Fr. roussir]
eleven o’clock. [< Fr. onze
heures]
woti (var: oti)
V to roast. Yo woti
vyann-an asou tГЁson-an. They
roasted the meat on the coalpot. (see
also: tjwit) ADJ roasted. Yo ka
manjГ© lanmowi woti. They eat
wouzГ©
wouzГ©
V to sprinkle water on, to water.
Mwen obliyГ© wouzГ© sГ© flГЁ-a. I forgot
to water the flowers.
240
’y
Kwéyòl – English
ywitГЁ
Yy
’y variant of i. Manman’y bo’y asou
yis (var: is)
N yeast, leavening. Pen
sala fГЁt san yis. That bread was made
without yeast. (syn: lГЁlven) [< Eng.
yeast]
fidji’y. Her mother kissed her on the
face.
yan1
N quick exit. fГЁ yan to run
away, to run fast. LГЁ chyen-an wГЁ
mwen i fГЁ yan. When the dog saw me
it ran away. (syn: kouwi vant a tГЁ; see
also: kouwi, chapГ©, mawon; bay pyГ©,
bwennen kГІ, chapГ© kГІ, chapГ© pyГ©, fГЁ
vit; fann kann, fГЁ djip, fГЁ lapousyГЁ,
fГЁ zГ©klГЁ, pwan lavГІl)
yo
PRO they, them, their. Yo ban nou
gwo chat yo. They gave us their big
cat. [< Fr. eux]
yon variant of an.
yonn
PRO one. Mi koko-a! Г€s ou vlГ©
yonn? Look at the coconuts! Do you
want one? (see also: an) ADJ alone,
only, by oneself. Mwen yonn ki ka
twavay. I am the only one working.
(syn: tousГЁl, sГЁlman; see also: pa kГІ)
yonn pa yonn one by one. SГ©
moun-an vini yonn pa yonn. The
people came one by one. yonn dГ©
some, a few. Mwen kay genyen yonn
dé ti bagay. I’ll get a few little things.
(see also: dГ©, adan, dГ©otwa, tjГЁk)
yan2 variant of an.
yanm
N yam. yanm a tou tan
yellow yam. yanm blan white yam.
yanm pikan a kind of yam that has
prickles on its vine. yanm pГІtidjГ©
(var: yanm pГІtidyГ©) Portuguese yam.
yanm pГІtidyГ© variant of yanm
pГІtidjГ©.
yГ©
V variant of sГ©. Kouman ou yГ©?
How are you? (form of �to be’ used at
the end of a sentence)
yГЁ
ADV yesterday. YГЁ mwen manjГ©
douz tig. Yesterday I ate twelve tigers.
(opp: denmen) [< Fr. hier]
yonnГЁ
ADJ eight. Mwen ni ywit dГІla
tousГЁl. I have only eight dollars.
[< Fr. huit] ywit jou wake held 8
days after death. Simenn ka vini la
kay ni on ywit jou. Next week there
will be a wake. (see also: lavГ©yГ©)
N fruit fly. La ni an chay
yenyen an fig mi-an. There are a lot
of fruit flies on the ripe bananas.
to whine. Gason-an
enmen yenyen. The boy likes to
whine.
V
one o’clock. [< Fr. une
ywit
yenyen1
yenyen2
N
heure]
ywitГЁ
N
heures]
241
eight o’clock. [< Fr. huit
za
Kwéyòl – English
zatwap
Zz
za variant of ja.
zabГІka
N
avocado.
zafГЁ
N affair, business. I konnГЁt tout
zafè’w. He knows all your affairs.
Gadé zafè’w. Be careful; pay
attention to what you are doing. Ay
véyé zafè’w! Go tend to your
business! [< Fr. les affaires]
zagaya
N
Tout ti manmay kontan zanmann.
Every child likes almond. [< Fr. les
amandes]
zanndoli N tree lizard. [< Fr. les
anolis] zanndoli tГЁ ground lizard,
skink.
zannimo
N animal. Tout sГ©
zannimo-a tГ© ka palГ©. All the animals
used to talk. (syn: bГЁt) [< Fr. les
animaux]
a type of crab.
zagwiyen
N spider. Nou tjwГ© gwo
zagwiyen sala. We killed that big
spider.
zakasya
N acacia: a kind of tree with
prickles. (see also: lГ©pini) [< Fr. les
acacias]
zanno
N earring. Fanm-lan ni dГ© gwo
zanno. The woman has two big
earrings. [< Fr. les anneaus]
zanpoul
N blister. I ni zanpoul an
lanmen’y. He has blisters on his
hands. (see also: chГЁbon, klou,
latwas, plГІk) [< Fr. les ampoules]
zalimГЁt
N match. Nou tГ© fen, mГ© nou
pa tГ© ni pyГЁs zalimГЁt pou pwi difГ©.
We were hungry but we didn’t have
any matches to light a fire. [< Fr. les
allumettes]
zam1
N crop. TГЁ-a bon; i ka fГЁ tout
kalitГ© zam. The soil is good; it
produces all kinds of crops. (see also:
wГ©kГІt)
zapГІt (var: apГІt)
N apostle. SГ©
zapГІt-la tГ© ka djГ©wi tout kaltГ©
maladi. The apostles healed all kinds
of sickness. [< Fr. les apГґtres]
zasyГЁt
N china, dishes, tableware.
Madanm-lan mГ©tГ© tout zasyГЁt li
adan bwГЁt-la. The woman put all her
china in the box. (see also: pla, vГ©sГЁl)
[< Fr. les assiettes] lajan zasyГЁt
broken ceramic plates, clay pots, etc.,
that children collect and play with. LГЁ
mwen tГ© piti nou tГ© ka toujou jwГ© ГЁk
lajan zasyГЁt. When I was little we
used to always play with broken plates
and pots.
zam2
N arms, firearms, weapons. SГ©
nonm sala ni tout kaltГ© zam. Those
men have all kinds of weapons. (see
also: fГЁman) [< Fr. les armes]
zandji (var: jandji)
N fresh water eel.
(see also: konng) [< Fr. les anguilles]
zandji blan type of eel that is white.
zandji nwГЁ type of eel that is black.
zanfan
N
zatolan
N Common ground dove
(Columbina passerina). (see also:
pГЁdwi, toutwГЁl)
same as manmay. [< Fr. les
enfents]
zanmann
N
almond, almond tree.
zatwap
242
N
trap. Ng’ay tann an
zГ©
Kwéyòl – English
zatwap pou tjébé souwi-a. I’ll set a
trap to catch the mouse. [< Fr. les
attrappes]
zГ©klГЁ
N lightning. YГЁ ГІswГЁ tГ© benyen
loway Г©pi zГ©klГЁ. Last night there was
plenty of thunder and lightning. [< Fr.
les Г©clairs] fГЁ zГ©klГЁ to run quickly,
to run away, to flee. Yo fГЁ zГ©klГЁ lГЁ yo
wГЁ sГЁpan-an. They ran away quickly
when they saw the snake. (syn: fann
kann, fГЁ djip, fГЁ lapousyГЁ, kwazГ©
bwa, kwazГ© wazyГ©, pwan an bwa,
pwan lavГІl; see also: kouwi, chapГ©,
mawon; bay pyГ©, bwennen kГІ, chapГ©
kГІ, fГЁ pyГ©, fГЁ yan, kouwi vant a tГЁ)
zГ©
N egg. KotГ© poul-la ki ka ponn sГ©
zГ© sala? Where is the hen that laid
these eggs? [< Fr. les oeufs]
zГЁb1
N grass. Mwen tГ© ka sГЁklГ© zГЁbla lГЁ lapli-a kwГ©vГ©. I was cutting the
grass when the rain started. (see also:
pyГ©, wazyГ©, gliglinglas) [< Fr. les
herbes] sisi zГЁb Black-faced
Grassquit (Tiaris bicolor). zГЁb a
kouto a type of long grass that is
very sharp. (syn: pay a kouto) zГЁb
akouwГЁs a kind of grass used as
bush medicine for cooling. (see also:
fГЁy kas) zГЁb avach a type of grass.
zГЁb djinГ© a type of grass.
zГЁl
N 1) wing. ZГЁl jibyГ©-a kasГ©. The
bird’s wing is broken. 2) fin (of a
fish). ZГЁl pwГ©son-an tГ© lonng. The
fish’s fin was long. [< Fr. les ailes]
zГ©lГ©
ADJ zealous. SГ© moun sala tГ© twГІ
zГ©lГ©. Those people were too zealous.
(see also: cho) [< Fr. zГ©lГ©]
zГЁb2
N obeah, witchcraft. ZГЁb pa kay
sinifyé’w anyen. Obeah won’t gain
you anything. (syn: tjenbwa; see also:
gajГ©, vidajan, maji nwГЁ) fГЁ zГЁb to
prophesy, to practice witchcraft or
obeah. Nonm sala ka fГЁ zГЁb pou i sa
jwenn madanm. That man is
practicing obeah in order to get
women. (see also: divinГ©, fГЁ jГЁs, fГЁ
tjenbwa, gajГ©, pyay)
zГ©djwi
needle. Gason-an pitjГ©
mwen ГЁk zГ©djwi-a. The boy pricked
me with the needle. (see also:
zГ©penng) [< Fr. les aiguilles]
N
zen
N fish hook. PГ©chГЁ-a pa tГ© ni
pyГЁs zen. The fisherman had no
hooks.
zenk
ADJ galvanized. Tibway-la ka
chayГ© dlo Г©pi an bonm zenk. The boy
is carrying water with a galvanized
bucket. (see also: galvanniz) [< Fr.
zinc]
zГ©penng
N safety pin. TachГ© had ou
Г©pi zГ©penng-lan. Pin your clothes
with the safety pin. (see also: zГ©djwi)
[< Fr. les Г©pingles] zГ©penng ti tГЁt
straight pin. MГ©tГ© on zГ©penng ti tГЁt
asou wГІb-la. Put a straight pin on the
dress.
zГЁgo
N ankle, hoof. Mwen plichГ©
zГЁgo mwen asou masonn-an. I
bruised my ankle on the concrete.
(syn: chivi)
zГ©pina
N spinach. Yo ka sГЁvi zГ©pina
menm kon kalalou. They use spinach
just like calalou. [< Fr. les Г©pinards]
zГ©kal
N shell (of a coconut, almond,
etc.). Yo tiwГ© koko-a an zГ©kal. They
removed the coconut meat from its
shell. (see also: kokiyaj) [< Fr. les
Г©cailles]
zГ©pis
zГ©pis
N spice. Yo ka vann tout sГІt
kaltГ© zГ©pis bГІ laplas-la. They sell all
kinds of spices at the market. [< Fr.
les Г©pices]
243
zГ©pГІl
Kwéyòl – English
zГ©pГІl
zons
N shoulder. I ka pГІtГ© ti
manmay-la asou zГ©pГІl li. He is
carrying the child on his shoulders.
(see also: do) [< Fr. les Г©paules]
zГ©pon
N ounce. MГІso lГІ sala ni lavalГЁ
yon zons. That piece of gold is about
an ounce. [< Fr. les onces]
zopi
N cob. I ka lavé soulyé’y épi an
zopi mi. She is cleaning her shoes
with a corn cob. (see also: mi) [< Fr.
les Г©pis]
spur. ZГ©pon kГІk sala twГІ
lonng. That rooster’s spur is too long.
N
zГ©sant
N wooden shingle. Adan
moun ni kay zГ©sant toujou. Some
people still have shingle houses.
zГІt (var: zГІ, hГІt, hГІ)
PRO you, your
(pl). Si zГІt vini denmen mwen kay
bay zГІt lajan-an. If you come
tomorrow I’ll give you the money.
[< Fr. vous autres]
zikak
N a type of fruit (Chrysobalamus
icaco). (syn: fatpГІk)
zimГЁy
N mood. I pa an bon zimГЁy.
He’s not in a good mood. (see also:
vap, avous, vous) [< Fr. les humeurs]
zing
to play marbles. SГ© gason-an
ka zing tousГЁl. The boys are only
playing marbles. (syn: tГЁk; see also:
mab)
zo
V
1) bone. Zo bГЁf-la gwo an chay.
The cow’s bone is very big. 2) dice.
SГ© nonm sala ka jwГ© zo dГ©pi
bonmaten. Those men have been
playing dice since this morning.
(slang; syn: gwenndГ©) [< Fr. les os]
zГІtГЁy
N toe. Mwen kasГ© zГІtГЁy mwen.
I broke my toe. [< Fr. les orteils]
zouti
N tool. ChapantyГ©-a pГЁd tout
zouti’y. The carpenter lost all his
tools. [< Fr. les outils]
zowanj (var: jowanj, jowany,
zowany)
oranges]
N
N ear. Zòwèy li ka fè’y mal.
His ear is hurting him. [< Fr. les
oreilles] di an zГІwГЁy to whisper.
SГ© lГЁ sala nou vin konnГЁt sa sГ©
moun-an tГ© ka di an zГІwГЁy konsГЁnГ©
nonm sala. Then we came to know
what the people were saying about that
man. (syn: palГ© an zГІwГЁy, chwichwi,
souflГ©) palГ© an zГІwГЁy same as di
an zГІwГЁy. Tout moun tГ© ka palГ© an
zГІwГЁy konsГЁnГ© nonm sala. Everyone
was whispering about that man.
N garbage, rubbish, trash, litter.
Denmen yo kay jГ©tГ© zГІdi-a.
Tomorrow they’ll throw away the
garbage. (syn: kochonni) [< Fr. les
ordures]
garfish, needlefish.
zondifГ©
N ember, hot coals. I fГЁ
chyen-an pawГ© an zondifГ©. He made
the dog catch an ember. (see also:
difГ©) [< Fr. cendre de feu]
zГІwyГ©
N pillow. ZГІwyГ©-a fГЁt Г©pi
koton. The pillow was made of cotton.
[< Fr. les oreillers] tГЁt zГІwyГ©
pillowcase. I ka lavГ© sГ© tГЁt zГІwyГ©-a.
She’s washing the pillowcases.
zonng
N fingernail, toenail. Yo tГ© ni
pou tiyГ© zonng li. They had to remove
his fingernail. [< Fr. les ongles]
zonng makak type of plant.
orange. [< Fr. les
zГІwГЁy
zГІdi
N
N
zowany variant of zowanj.
zГІ variant of zГІt.
zГІfi
zГІy
zГІy
N peck. (see also: bГЁk) bat zГІy
to fight by pecking. SГ© pipirit-la ka
244
zwi
Kwéyòl – English
zyГ©
blink. Lafimé-a fè’y bat zyé’y. The
smoke made him blink. fГЁ zyГ© dou
to wink. I fГЁ zyГ© dou bay tifi-a. He
winked at the girl. gwo zyГ© 1) an
angry look with the eyes. Pou otan
gwo zyГ© ou ja gadГ© mwen, si gwo zyГ©
tГ© ka tjwГ©, ou tГ© ja fin tjwГ© mwen.
For all the angry looks you’re giving
me, if looks could kill, you would
have already killed me. 2) term used
for the windpipe when something is
stuck in it. Diwi-a pasГ© an gwo
zyé’y. The rice passed into his
windpipe. zyГ© kГІklay cross-eyed. I
ni zyГ© kГІklay. He is cross-eyed.
bat zГІy. The kingbirds are pecking
each other. (see also: bГЁktГ©) Pa bat
zòy anlè topi mwen avan ou gòbé’y.
Don’t hit my top or you’ll chip it.
zwi
N cricket. Lannwit zwi ka hГ©lГ©.
At night crickets sing.
zwit
N barnacle. I ni an chay zwit
kolГ© anba kannГІt-la. There are a lot
of barnacles stuck on the bottom of the
canoe.
zyГ© (var: jyГ©)
N eye. Yo kouvè zyé’y
kon sa i pa tГ© sa wГЁ anyen. They
covered his eyes so he couldn’t see
anything. [< Fr. les yeux] bat zyГ© to
245
English – Kwéyòl
Aa
a
an1.
ART
abandon
abate
abattoir
abet
accident
soutiwГ©.
V
ability
able
accessory
lapsГ©.
N
abilitГ©.
N
1
2
kapab. able to pГ© , sa .
ADJ
aboard
PREP
abolish
V
abort
V
avГІtГ©.
about
ADV
V
abroad
ADV
absolutely
V
abusive
accomplish
V
akonpli.
ADV
bay kont.
V
accuse
acre
N
action
abitwГ©.
V
atjivГ©.
V
acquaintance
N
add
mal twГ©tГ©, abizГ©, mal mennen.
V
aksyon.
N
246
N
gГІjГЁt.
jГ©tГ©.
address
adhere
konnГ©sans.
kawГ© tГЁ.
Adam’s apple
an abondans.
abizan.
akizasyon.
N
accustomed
absoliman.
kont2.
akizГ©.
V
achieve
N
aplon.
ADJ
accusation
lГІt pГ©yi.
INTERJ
ADJ
akonplis, soutiwГЁz.
accurate
abundance N abondans. in
abundance an abondans, benyen.
abuse
N
account
1) plichГ©. 2) gwiji.
abundantly
accomplice
abГІ.
anho.
abrade
aksidan.
N
V akГІdГ©. according to
akГІdans, dapwГ©, silon. in
accordance with akГІdans.
aboli.
PREP
soutiwГЁz.
N
accord
apipwГ©, lavalГЁ, owon,
alafen di. PREP konsГЁnГ©, asou, kont1.
at about bГІ, avГЁwdi.
above
bay vapon, fГЁ vapon.
V
accept aksГЁptГ©.
labatwa.
N
zakasya.
N
accelerate
abandonnen.
V
bГ©sГ©.
V
abscess
acacia
V
V
adwГ©sГ©.
kolГ©1.
adjoin
English – Kwéyòl
adjoin
adjourn
admire
agreement
bГІnГ©.
V
anvoyГ©.
aim
admiwГ©.
air
V
V
adolescence
jennГЁs.
N
vizГ© .
V
1) lГ©zГЁ. 2) van.
N
airplane
V
adГІptГ©.
akee
adore
V
adowГ©.
albino
adulthood
N
advance
avansГ©. in advance
V
gwandГЁ.
andavans.
advancement
avansman.
N
advantage N lavantaj. unfair
advantage pasyalitГ©. take
advantage of manstipГ©, machГ© asou,
N
konsГЁy, endik.
bwГЁ, gГІg.
N
pozГ©.
V
vivan.
ADJ
all ADJ 1) tout. 2) dènyé. All Saint’s
Day FГЁt LГ© MГІ. at all nГЁtaman.
alleviate
V
soulajГ©.
alligator
N
kayman.
allow
pwan lavantaj.
advice
alive
bГ©tjГ© KwГ©yГІl.
N
alight
plГ©n.
N
chennГЁt.
N
alcohol
adiltГЁ.
N
agwГ©man.
N
1
adopt
adultery
amazed
ba1, kitГ©, pГЁwmitГ©.
V
all-powerful
ADJ
affair
N
zafГЁ.
almond
affect
V
afГЁktГ©.
almost
ADV
afflict
V
dГ©klawГ© asou.
alms
lachawitГ©.
afraid
ADJ
Africa
N
African
after
2
aloe
pГЁ .
Afwitjen.
PREP
afterward
ADV
again
ankГІ.
ADV
against
age
N
PREP
agree
apwГ© sa.
kont .
V
sitwayГ©.
dakГІ.
agreeable
agreed
ADJ
ADJ
ADJ
alongside
also
agwГ©yab.
pwГЁskГЁ, mantjГ©.
yonn, pa kГІ.
PREP
bГІ, bГІdaj.
ja, dГ©ja.
ADV
osi, osi byen; tou2.
ADV
altar
1
1) laj1. 2) gwandГЁ.
aggravated
ADJ
already
apwГ©.
zanmann.
lalwГ©. aloe lotion lalwas.
N
alone
Afwik.
ADJ
N
N
toupisan.
lotГЁl.
N
although
magwГ©, dwГ©3.
CONJ
aluminium
N
always
ADV
toujou, tout lГЁ, tout tan.
amaze
V
amazed
sГ©zi.
dakГІ.
247
fГЁ blan.
sipwi.
ADJ
sipwi, Г©tonnen, bГ©dji,
amberjack
English – Kwéyòl
amberjack
N
ambivalent
ADJ
amen
American
among
amuse
anpami.
kantitГ©, mizi.
N
anmizГ©.
V
amusement
an
anvil
MГ©witjen.
N
PREP
amount
N
anmizman.
anaesthesia
ancestor
N
N
ladГІmi.
ayГЁl.
N
ancient
ADJ
N
nanj.
anger
N
kГІlГЁ, waj, kwiz.
angry
ADJ
fachГ©, anwajГ©. be angry
bouwi. angry look gwo zyГ©.
anis
zannimo, bГЁt1.
anniversary
annoy
annoyed
N
annivГЁwsГЁ.
distwГ©, fachГ©, sitwayГ©.
ADJ
annoying
ADJ
anbГ©tan, dГ©zagwГ©yab,
anmГЁwdan.
ADJ
an lГІt.
Anse La Raye
answer
ankГІ.
anything
PRO
anyen, ting.
V
N
LanslawГ©.
wГ©ponn.
N
wГ©pons.
nonplis.
ADV
apart ADV apa. apart from apa di.
take apart dГ©moutГ©.
zapГІt.
N
abiman.
N
appear
1) pawГЁt. 2) sanm.
V
appoint
lapГ©ti1.
N
aplikasyon.
N
apwentГ©.
V
appointment
N
appreciate
V
apwГ©syГ©.
apprentice
N
apwenti.
V
V
apwentman.
apwochГ©, bГІdГ©.
apwouvГ©.
approximately
ADV owon, alafen di,
apipwГ©, lavalГЁ. at approximately
bГІ, avГЁwdi.
anbГ©tГ©, distwГ©, anmГЁwdГ©.
V
another
ADV
approve
chivi, zГЁgo.
N
anymore
approach
lanni.
N
ankle
N
pyГЁsonn.
application
angel
animal
PRO
appetite
ГЁvГЁk, Г©pi, Г©.
CONJ
anybody
apparel
ansyen. ancient times
ansyen dat.
and
any ADJ nГ©pГІt, pwГЁmyГ© vini. hardly
any djГЁ.
apostle
lank2.
anchor
lanklim.
N
anyway
an1.
ART
N fonmi. types of ant: fonmi
ada, fonmi fГЁ, fonmi flanman, fonmi
fou, fonmi kaka, fonmi mГІdan, fonmi
wouj.
dГ© lidГ©.
AnmГ©wik.
N
ant
ensiswatil, amГЁn.
INTERJ
America
kawanng.
arm
April
Avwi.
N
apron
N
tabliyГ©.
argue
V
chikannen, tГЁstГ©.
argument
arm1
248
N
N
bwa1.
chikann, libenn.
arm
English – Kwéyòl
arm2
armed
ADJ
armpit
N
arms
assure
amГ©.
V
anba bwa.
around
ADV apipwГ©, alafen di. PREP
owon. at around bГІ, avГЁwdi.
around here, around there owonan.
arrangement
N
arrest
V
awГ©tГ©.
arrive
V
wivГ©.
arrow
N
flГЁch.
arse
artifice
as
kon. as a matter of fact
okontwГЁ. as if, as though akwГЁdi,
konmkwГ©ki. as usual kon labitid,
kon lakoutim. as well as ni...ni.
just as menm kon.
ashen
ADJ
ashes
N
aside
ADV
blenm.
sann.
asou kotГ©.
ask, ask for
asleep
ass
N
V
mandГ©.
angoudi.
ADJ
V
V
1) asanblГ©. 2) moutГ©.
asistГ©2, lonjГ© lanmen.
assistance N asistans. some
assistance an lanmen.
assurance
N
sipwi.
V
asiwans.
Г©tonnen, sГ©zi, bГ©dji.
ADJ
at
PREP bГІ. at your service
avГІtsГЁvis.
dГ©bat.
V
attentive
ADJ
annГ©kout.
galta.
attitude
atitid.
N
attorney
N
attract
V
anmennen.
Augier
N
OjГ©.
August
N
Awou.
aunt
tantant.
N
author
kou3.
antansyon2.
N
N
N
asistГ©1, atandГ©2.
V
attention
attic
Г©chofi.
atakГ©, bouwГ© anlГЁ, sotГ© anlГЁ.
V
attend
N
asou.
PREP
attempt
avoka.
Г©kwiven.
N
authority
N 1) lotowitГ©, pouvwa.
2) lalwa. under (someone’s)
authority asou kont.
bouwik.
assemble
assist
hont, afon.
ADJ
Г©tonnen, sГ©zi, bГ©dji.
ADJ
astounded
attack
toloman.
N
astound
atop
CONJ
ashamed
sipwi.
V
athlete’s foot
bГІbГІl.
N
astonish
wanjman.
fГЁs, bonda, tjou.
N
loposyon.
N
astonished
zam .
arrowroot
asiwГ©.
V
asthma
amГ©.
2
N
await
authorization
N
automobile
motoka.
avenge
V
avocado
await
249
V
N
otowizasyon.
wimГЁt, wonpi.
N
zabГІka.
ГЁspГ©wГ©, atandГ©1.
awaken
English – Kwéyòl
awaken
axe
lГ©vГ©.
V
barrier
hach.
N
Bb
babbler
back
palapata, lanng kaka.
N
1
N do. on one’s back vant
anlГЁ. lower back wen.
back2 ADV viwГ©. back off hГ©di dГЁyГЁ.
back up bak3. draw back hГ©di
dГЁyГЁ. give back witounen. laid
back lou.
backbite
V
backer
baka.
N
mal palГ©.
backhand
backside
N
do lanmen.
fГЁs, bonda, tjou.
N
backwards
ADV
lanvГЁ.
bad ADJ 1) mal2. 2) movГ©, vyГ©. bad
feelings lahenn. bad person
dГ©vagondГ©, movГ© lam, vyГ© lam,.
bad-talk
mal palГ©.
V
bad-talker
bag
N
malpalan.
band1
N
sГЁk2.
band2
N
bann.
bandage
N
banndjo .
bank1
N
bank.
N
bГІdaj.
bank
N
kosyon.
bait
N
lak. cut bait fГЁ fwГ©.
bГ©k.
balance
N
balan.
balcony
N
balkon.
bald
ADJ
ball1
N
bol.
ball2
N
bal1.
ballad
N
balloon
chГІb.
kont3.
N
blad.
2
V
bandГ©.
1
bankrupt
ADJ
banyan
fwidjГ©.
N
fonn.
baptism N batenm. baptismal
cosponsor konpГЁ, makoumГЁ.
baptize
V
batizГ©.
kabawГ©.
N
bawo1. bar used for digging
balanmin.
bail
N
plasta.
N
banjo
2
bake
banbou.
N
banana N fig, gwenn fig. types of
banana: fig kochon, fig sikwiyГ©, fig
wouj. green banana fig vГЁt.
banana shed chГ©d fig.
bar1
sak.
N
bamboo
V
balansГ©.
bar
N
bare
ADJ
ni2.
barefoot
ADJ
bark1
bark
2
N
lapo.
V
hapГ©1.
barnacle
N
barracuda
barrel
N
zwit.
N
bГ©tjin.
1) bawi. 2) bouko, kas.
barren
ADJ
barrier
N
250
ni pyГ©.
bwanhany.
bawad.
basin
English – Kwéyòl
basin1
basin
2
N
basen.
N
bГ©sin.
basket
panyen.
N
bastard
N
baste
fofilГ©.
V
bata, ich dГЁwГІ.
bat1
N
sГІlsouwi.
bat2
N
bas2.
batch
pwГ©lГ©1.
N
bath N ben. leaf bath ben fГ©yay.
sea bath ben lanmГЁ.
bathe
1) benyen. 2) bГ©wГ©.
V
bathroom N pwГ©vit. go to the
bathroom alГ© an pwГ©vit.
battle
batay.
N
battler
N
bawl
V
kwiz pwan.
bay1
N
batayГЁ.
lans1.
bell
koupГ© latjГ©, pГ©tГ© kГІ. beat up
asasinГ©.
beating
chalГЁ, plich.
N
beautiful
ADJ
beauty
bГЁltГ©.
N
bГЁl, joli.
because CONJ paski, davwa. because
of pou lapГ©ti, a kГІz di, gwanmГЁsi,
kont1, pou1.
become
bed
vini, twouvГ© kГІ.
V
kouch, kabann.
N
bedbug
pinГЁz.
N
bedrock
kayГЁ.
N
bedroom
N
chanm.
bedsheet
N
dwa2.
bedwetter
bee
myГЁl, vonvon.
N
beer
pisannit.
N
labyГЁ.
N
bay2 N bwadenn. bay leaf bwadenn.
bay leaf tea ditГ© bwadenn.
before
bazaar
begin, begin to
be
N
baza.
lans1. beach party
mawonn.
beak
N
N
beam
N
bГЁk.
sonmyГ©.
bear
V 1) pГІtГ©. 2) sipГІtГ©. bear fruit
mennen fwi. bear tales chayГ©
pawГІl, pГІtГ© pawГІl.
beard
beat
N
N
bab.
bГЁt1.
1) bat. 2) plichГ©, dГ©kalГ©, bay
kou, bay volГ©, kasГ© wen, koupГ© fГЁs,
V
PREP
douvan.
fГЁ jan.
V
V
koumansГ©, mГ©tГ©,
pitjГ©, pwan.
sГ© , yГ©.
beach
beast
befriend
1
V
avan.
CONJ
beginning
N
koumansman.
behave
V
1) konpГІtГ©. 2) wГЁstГ© byen.
behead
V
koupГ© kou.
behind
PREP
belch
belfry
V
N
dГЁyГЁ.
otГ©.
klochГ©.
believe V kwГЁ1, ni lidГ©. believe
someone is right bay wГ©zon.
believer
bell
251
N
N
kwayan.
klГІch.
bellow
English – Kwéyòl
bellow
belly
1
1
belly-up
ADV
vant anlГЁ.
ADV
N
below
anba1.
PREP
byen.
bench
benefit
1) bennГ©fis. 2) sinifyГ©.
1) bennГ©fis. 2) pwofi.
V
benevolence
bent
beside
best
lachawitГ©.
N
bГІ, a kotГ©, alimans, bГІdaj.
PREP
besides
N
kochi, koubГ©.
ADJ
PREP
apa di.
pli mГЁyГЁ.
ADJ
bet
V payГ©.
dГ©payГ©2.
betray
V
better
ADJ
N
pawi. cancel bet
twayi.
mГЁyГЁ1. it is better simyГ©,
vonmyГ©.
between
PREP
bewitch
V
Bexon
Bible
N
ant.
mafwГ©zГ©.
BГЁson.
N
Bib, Labib.
big ADJ gwan, gwo, laj2, manman. big
shot gwo pitja, gwo tjГІ, gwo pГЁp,
gwozГІm.
bile
N
bird
bishop
N
lГЁvГЁk, monsenyГЁ.
2
N
mГІso, dГЁnyГ© kwas.
N
mГІ2.
V
mГІdГ©.
bite
blab
anmГЁ.
ADJ
bavadГ©.
V
black ADJ nwГЁ. black widow
spider katin, ven kat nГЁditan. black
magic black magic. practitioner
of black magic vyГ© lam, movГ© lam.
mГЁl1.
blackbird
N
blacken
nwГЁsi.
V
blacksmith
N
bladder
N
blade
lanm1.
N
blame
V
bland
ADJ
bleed
bless
blad.
blanmГ©, bay tГІ.
blanket
bleach
fГІjon.
N
V
N
lonvi.
blanchi, lablanni.
senyen.
V
benni.
V
ADJ
blessing
N
N jibyГ©. types of bird: jibyГ©
lapli, sisi zГЁb, mwennson, sikwiyГ©,
V
blister
252
blanm.
lenn1.
blessed
blink
N
fad.
benni.
bennГ©diksyon.
blind ADJ avГЁg.
person avГЁg.
fyГЁl.
binoculars
biswi.
bitter
panchГ©, pliyГ©.
V
N
bit
ban1. work bench lГ©tabli.
N
biscuit
bit1
sanng.
N
V akouchГ©. N pГІtГ©. give birth
1) akouchГ©. 2) mГЁtba.
vant a tГЁ, vant anba.
belongings
bend
birth
bouden , pans; vant .
N
belly-down
belt
wondГЁl.
wonklГ©.
V
blister
V
vГЁglГ©. blind
bat zyГ©.
N
plГІk, zanpoul.
V
loupГ©.
bloated
English – Kwéyòl
bloated
bone
boufi.
ADJ
1
3
block V 1) bawГ© . 2) pawГ© .
chopping block biyo.
blocked
blood
ADJ
bawГ© .
san . shed blood mГ©tГ© san
koul, koul pwen, kalГІt.
N
blow2 V 1) souflГ©1, vantГ©. 2) kГІnГ©1.
blow away volГ©. blow nose
mouchГ©.
blowfish
blue
pwГ©son amГ©.
kou4.
boast
N
planch.
V
batjГ©.
tГЁt chyen.
N
bava, vanta.
ADJ
bava.
N 1) kГІ. 2) ganm. whole body
latГЁtopyГ©.
V
bouwi.
N
chГЁbon2, klou2, latwas, plГІk.
boiler
boisterous
bold
bolt
1
bolt2
bond
ADJ
1
fГЁt .
V
borrow
pwГ©tГ©.
V
bosom
N
boss
chГЁf, jГЁwГЁ.
N
both
boyo.
blotjГ©.
V
toulГ© dГ©. both...and ni...ni.
ADJ
ADJ
N boutГЁy. bottle cap
bouchon. flattened bottle cap
plak.
bwav, fouben.
fon. at the bottom of
N
ofon.
boundary
bouquet
bow1
bГІn.
N
boutjГ©.
N
boutique
bow
bwigan.
annГЁwvГ©, distwГ©.
ADJ
bottle
2
boulwГЁ.
N
annwi.
ADJ
bottom
body
boil2
bored
bavadГ©, palГ© vanta.
V
boastful
boil
bГІnГ©.
V
bothered
N
boaster
1
border
V anbГ©tГ©, chagwinen, distwГ©,
twakasГ©, anmГЁwdГ©, annГЁwvГ©.
boa constrictor
board
N
boukan difГ©.
bother
blГ©.
N
2
liv1.
blГ©.
ADJ
board1
book
botch
N
N
bluing
N
born
kГІ had.
N
blows
bonfire
1
dГЁwГІ.
blow1
zo.
N
1
N
blouse
brace
N
boutik.
V
bГ©sГ©.
N
lavan.
bow-legged
ADJ
kanmad.
bowl N bГІl. iron bowl platin.
kneading bowl pГ©twen.
box
N
bwГЁt.
N
boulon.
boxfish
V
bouwГ©1.
boy N gason, bway2, tibway.
mischievous boy ti nГЁg.
N
kosyon.
brace
253
N
N
kГІf.
djГЁt.
V
akowГ©.
bracelet
English – Kwéyòl
bracelet
bridge
bwaslГ©.
N
N
brag
bavadГ©, palГ© vanta.
bwitГЁl.
braggart
bava, vanta.
N
V
natГ©.
brain
N
sГЁvГЁl.
N
bright
ADJ
bwid.
brilliant
brain-damaged
branch
N
brass
N
tjwiv.
brave
ADJ
ADJ
tГЁtenm.
bwanch.
bwav, fouben. be brave
ni tjГЁ.
bravery
N
brawl
mГ©limГ©lanj, ansazinay.
bray
bridle
bwavtГ©.
N
bwiyans.
ADJ
bwiyan.
bring V mennen. bring in antwГ©.
bring together ajoutГ©. bring up
poorly mal lГ©vГ©. bring up
properly byen lГ©vГ©.
broke
ADJ
broom
N
brother
fonn.
balyГ©.
fwГЁ.
N
brother-in-law
brown
ADJ
bread N pen. daily bread nГІtwipen.
East Indian bread dalpouri. fried
bread goulgoula. unleavened
bread pennГ©pis.
browse
V
breadfruit
brush1
hanni.
V
breadnut
breadth
break
N
N
bwapen.
N
kasГ©, pГ©tГ©. break in line
koupГ© douvan. break into kasГ©.
take a break pwan van. break
wind pГ©tГ©, lachГ© van.
V
breakfast
N
ditГ©.
breast
N
tГ©tГ©.
breath
N
lГЁspiwasyon, lisouf, van.
breathe
breeze
V
N
bruise
pwan lГЁspiwasyon.
ti van, fwГ©chГЁ.
br’er
N
konpГЁ.
brick
N
bwik.
bofwГЁ.
kako1.
wonyen.
ADJ
pijГ©.
N bГІs.
tjiwГ© dan.
brush2
N
brutal
ADJ
buck
N
san mГІ.
N
bruised
chatany.
lajГЁ.
bwidГ©.
V
bwiyan.
brilliance
braid
N
pon1. bridge of nose
N
koub.
braces
V
build
V
bosГ©. brush teeth
wazyГ©.
bwital.
matГ©.
V
bucket
N
bonm.
buckle
V
bouklГ©, sanglГ©.
buckshot
bud
N
N
boujon.
buffet
V
bug
bГЁt1.
N
buggy
build
254
bal simen.
N
V
V
boujonnen.
mal mennen.
kawГІs.
bati, fГЁ.
building
English – Kwéyòl
building N kay2. building
materials matwiyo.
bull
wimГЁd wazyГ©. types of bush
medicine: boujon gwiyav, chadon
benni, ditГ© pГ©yi, fГЁy kas, kaka bГ©tjГ©,
nonm douvan nonm, pikan vГ©wi,
djapanna, kanmanmi, katalГ©zГІm,
planten, sentdjГІn, tiyГЁl.
towo.
N
bullet
bal2.
N
bumps
N
bumpy
ADJ
bousГІl.
business
bousolГ©.
V
buoy
bwГ©.
N
burial
burn
burnt
but
blotjГ©.
ADJ
mГ©1.
CONJ
butcher N bouchГ©2. V dГ©bitГ©.
butcher shop labatwa.
butter
bwilГ©.
V
zafГЁ.
ADJ 1) anbawasГ©.
2) anbwennzenng.
lantГЁman.
N
N
busy
bunch N dГ©bann. bunch of
bananas or plantain wГ©jim1.
bungle
camp
bwilГ©.
burp
V
otГ©.
burr
N
pikan kouzen.
bГЁ.
N
butterfly
N
papiyГІt.
buttocks
N
fГЁs, bonda, tjou.
button
bouton1.
buy
N
V
boutonnen.
achtГ©, ganyen.
V
burst V pГ©tГ©, kwГ©vГ©, Г©klatГ©. burst
out laughing pГ©tГ© an wi.
buzz
bury
V
tГ©wГ©.
by PREP 1) bò. 2) pa2. by one’s own
wisdom dibonntГЁt. by oneself pa
bush
N
pyГ©2, wazyГ©. bush medicine
vonvonnГ©.
V
kГІ.
Cc
cabbage
N
chouponm.
cable
N
kab.
cacao
N
kako1.
cactus
cadaver
cage
caiman
cake
N
calalou
N
V
calf
kalalou.
gwatjanm. calf muscle jawГ©1.
N
calm
ADJ
calmly
anmiyonnen, flatГ©.
V
N
V andjГ©lГ©, hГ©lГ©, kwiyГ©. call upon
kwiyГ© anlГЁ, kwiyГ© asou.
kayman.
bonbon.
kalbas. calabash bowl
call
kadav.
kalГІj.
N
cajole
N
N
kwi2.
siyГЁz, watjГЁt.
N
calabash
kandi.
dous.
ADV
dousman.
camel
N
chanmo, kanmГЁl.
camp
N
kanp.
255
campГЄche
English – Kwéyòl
campГЄche
campfire
2
camphor balls
can
N
V 1) chayГ©, pГІtГ©. 2) pwan.
3) machГ© Г©pi.
kanf kawГ©.
cart
kanp.
N
chapantyГ©.
N
carry
fouyГ© .
N
camping
carpenter
kanpГЁch.
N
caution
1) pГІt. 2) tin. large can
manmit.
N
kabowГ©, kawГІs, wagon.
N
cartilage
kankroum.
N
cartridge
katouch.
N
candle N bouji, blan balenn. soft
candle chandГЁl mГІl.
case N kГ©s. in case antoulГ©ka. legal
case plent.
candy
cashew
switi, pasti.
N
N
chank.
cask
cannon
N
kannou.
cassava
capable
ADJ
capacity
N
kapital.
capsize
V
chaviwГ©.
captive
ADJ
capture
V
N
motoka. toy car kabowГ©.
2
N
kat2.
card2
V
pifwГ©.
cardboard
2
chГЁbon , klou , latwas.
card1
N
V
Carnival
ADV
vaykivay.
dolotГ©, kawГ©sГ©, nichГ©2.
N
castrate
V
chatwГ©.
Castries
N
Kastwi.
cat
N
chat.
catapult
katapГІl.
N
dГ©kouvГЁ.
kawton.
apwГ©, pwan ka, otjipГ©.
caress
mawГ©.
catch V 1) tjenbГ©, pawГ©2. 2) bouchГ©1.
catch fire pwi difГ©. catch sight of
care N ka3, otjipasyon. V mГ©lГ©. be
careful pwan pwokosyon. be
under the care of anba lanmen.
care for otjipГ©, pwan ka. take care
fГЁ antansyon. take care of gadГ©
carelessly
V
lwil gwenn makwisti.
lapwiz.
N
kas1.
castor oil plant N makwisti. castor
bean gwenn makwisti. castor oil
tjГ©bГ© lapwiz.
carbuncle
N
cast (a spell)
kapasitГ©.
N
car
cassia
kapab.
capital
N
N manyГІk. cassava bread
kasav. cassava flour fawin.
kannГІt.
N
ponm.
kas2, bouko.
canker
canoe
N
Kannaval.
caterpillar
N
chini.
Catholic, Roman Catholic
ADJ, N
Katolik.
cattle
N
caught
bГЁf.
ADJ
pwi2.
cause V annГ©kГІz, fГЁ1. N kГІz. cause
to enter antwГ©. cause to feel
sorrow fГЁ lapenn.
caution
256
N
pwokosyon.
cave
English – Kwéyòl
cave
kav. cave in, caved in
anfondwГ©.
N
las2.
cease
V
cedar
N
akajou. white cedar
pГІwyГ©.
celebrate
sГ©lГ©bwГ©, fГ©tГ©, fГЁ lafГЁt,
bwiyГ©, wibotГ©.
V
celebration
cell
charge2 bouwГ© anlГЁ.
chariot
N
kawГІs.
charity
N
lachawitГ©.
charm
cement
sГ©lГ©bwasyon.
siman.
N
cemetery
simantГ©.
senmityГЁ.
N
tjГЁ.
N
centipede
N
bГЁtannipyГ©.
certain1
ADJ
asiwГ©.
certain2
ADJ
sГЁten, adan2, tjГЁk.
certificate N satifika. birth
certificate, baptismal certificate
batistГЁ.
N
chenn.
chair
N
chГЁz.
change1
V
change2
N
V
anchennГ©.
chanjГ©. N chanjman,
chanjmandГЁ. change mind dГ©di.
chapter
chapit.
N
character
charcoal
lanmonnГ©, kapa.
chapГЁl.
N
N
N
kozГ©, bladjГ©.
V
chatter
V
fГЁ kotjen.
check
V
sondГ©.
cheek
N
ponm fidji.
kawaktГЁ.
chГЁbon1. charcoal pit
fou chГЁbon.
charge1 N chaj, plent. V kondannГ©.
charge a lot of money pwan chГЁ.
in charge an chaj. under
(someone’s) charge asou kont.
N
cherish
fwonmaj.
chГ©wi.
V
cherry
kozГ©, palГ©1.
bonmachГ©.
ADJ
cheese
N
bavadГ©.
V
cheat
chest
chain
chapel
chat
V
cheap
dГ© sou.
N
centre
V
lowizon1, koupay.
N
chachГ©2, bay lapouswiv. N
lapouswiv. chase away chachГ© alГ©,
kouwi dГЁyГЁ, fГЁ fann kann, fГЁ kwazГ©
bwa, fГЁ kwazГ© wazyГ©, fГЁ pwan an bwa,
fГЁ pwan lavГІl.
chase
kacho.
N
cent
N
chin
N
siwiz.
lГЁstomak.
N
chicanery
N
bГІbГІl.
chicken
N poul. chicken hawk
gwigwi poulГ©. chicken wire til.
chief
N
chigger
chГЁf.
N
chilblains
bГЁt wouj.
N
fwison.
child N ich, manmay, ti bolonm.
illegitimate child bata, ich dГЁwГІ.
legitimate child lГ©jitim.
childbirth
N
akouchman.
childhood
N
pititГЁs.
chill
N
fwison.
chin
N
maton.
257
china
English – Kwéyòl
china
chip
zasyГЁt.
N
1
gГІbГ© , dГ©gГІbГ©.
V
chives
chockablock
Choiseul
ADV
choose
V
chop
hachГ©1.
Christ
JГ©zi Kwi.
lonmen, bay non.
V
Christian
kwityen.
N
Christmas N NwГЁl. Christmas
celebration SГ©wГ©nal. Christmas
Eve LavГЁy NwГЁl.
church
cicada
lГ©gliz.
N
kwitjГЁt vГЁ.
N
cigarette N sigawГЁt, lafimГ©.
cigarette holder tib. cigarette
paper jГІb.
cinch
bГЁlibann.
N
cinema
tiyГ©ta.
N
cinnamon
kannГЁl. cinnamon tea
N
ditГ© kannГЁl.
circle
sГЁk2, won.
N
class
klas.
cirrhosis
N
N
malad an fwisi.
jan.
N
citronella
city
N
clam
sitonnГЁl.
N tГЁ gwa. clay pot 1) kannawi.
2) tГ©win.
clean
V
N
ADJ
savan.
Г©klanmГ©.
kokiyaj.
nГЁt, pwГІp.
ADJ
V
nГ©twayГ©,
tjiwГ©.
cleanliness
clear
N
cling
V
clock
N
mont. alarm clock wГ©vГЁy.
boul.
clogged
clot
fГЁmГ©.
boul.
clothes
abiman.
N
ADJ
mawГ©.
clove
N
jiwГІf.
clove2
N
kГІs.
boutou.
N
cluster
N
kayГ©1.
nwaj.
N
cloudy
V
had, lenj.
N
clothing
cloud
bouchГ©1, tjok.
ADJ
V
N
coal
mouklГ©.
wanmГ©.
N
close
N
falГЁz, kaskou, koudoum.
N
clod
N
gwap.
chГЁbon1.
coalpot
N
coals
zondifГ©.
258
dГ©bawasГ©.
visyГ©.
ADJ
click beetle
cliff
V
1) a klГЁ. 2) nГЁtaman.
ADV
clever
pwГІptГ©.
klГЁ.
ADJ
clearly
club
vil.
civilized
claim
N
V
clay
1
citizen
Г©klГ©wГ©.
N 1) gwif. 2) mГІdan.
gwafiyen.
chwazi.
N
christen
V
tjГІkanblГІk.
ChwazГЁy.
N
clarify
claw
1) twanglГ©. 2) toufГ©.
V
V
gГІb.
ti lonyon.
N
choke
N
coals
N
tГЁson.
coax
English – Kwéyòl
coax
anmiyonnen, flatГ©.
V
cock
1
kГІk .
N
cockfight
N
cockpit
wonn poul.
N
cockroach
comfortable
ADJ
command
konmandГ©.
V
commandment
batay kГІk.
commit
1
konfГІtab.
N
konmandman.
konmi.
V
committed
wavГЁt.
N
concrete
dГЁdikГ©.
ADJ
cocoa N kako . cocoa pod kГІs kako.
cocoa tea ditГ© kako, chikola.
common ADJ konmen2. common
sense santiman.
coconut N koko1. dry coconut koko
sГЁk. immature coconut koko wak.
jelly coconut koko an tjwiyГЁ.
communicate
cocoon
coffee
kafГ©. coffee maker
N
N
coil
voplГ©.
V
coin
cold1
senkГЁy.
ADJ
compel
fwГЁt1. cold weather
cold
colic
collar
1) kolГ©2. 2) kolyГ©.
V
anfondwГ©.
N
colour
koulГЁ.
comb
N
dja.
peny.
soulajГ©.
N
plent.
konplГЁtman, nГЁtaman,
ADV
V
V
konplimantГ©.
compose
V
konpozГ©.
compost
N
fimyГ©.
comprehension
computer
penyen.
comrade
come V 1) vini. 2) chapГ©. 3) annou.
come apart dГ©kolГ©. come back
witounen. come from sГІti. come
upon dГ©klawГ© asou. come what
may kwa chyen kwa chat.
comfort
N
alakous.
soulajman.
N
konpliman.
dja.
collision
N
ADJ
compliment
V
collide
konpasyon, tjГЁ fГЁb.
nГЁt, toutafГЁt.
collapse
N
N
competitive
kolik.
N
konpany.
N
completely
wim.
N
konminikasyon.
oblijГ©.
V
complaint
fwГ©di.
2
N
konminyon.
N
compassion
pyГЁs1.
N
companion
konminikГ©.
company N konpanni. keep
company tjenn konpany.
kafГ©tyГЁ.
coffin
communication
communion
sak chini.
N
V
V
konfГІtГ©,
N
N
conceited
concern
V
N
lakopwann.
konpyouta.
konpГЁ.
ADJ
fwГ©.
konsГЁnГ©. be concerned
mГ©lГ©.
conch
N
lanbi.
concrete N masonn. lay concrete,
pour concrete masonnen.
259
concubine
English – Kwéyòl
concubine
condemn
djabal.
N
kondannГ©, dannГ©.
V
condemnation
kondannasyon.
N
condemned
ADJ
condition
1) kondisyon. 2) lГ©ta.
N
conference
confess
konsit.
N
konfГ©sГ©, dГ©palГ©.
V
confession
confide
dannГ©.
confidence
konfyans.
N
conflict
N
chalГЁ.
confuse
V
mГ©lГ©.
confusion
conquer
halГ© kasГ©.
N
ganyen a bout.
V
conscience
N
consider
konsidiwГ©, wГ©gadГ©.
console
V
konsyans.
konsolГ©.
V
constantly
ADV
constipate
V
consult
ADJ
konstipГ©.
konsiltГ©.
V
consume
contentment
V
kontantГ©.
ADJ
continually
N
lakontantman.
ADV
kontinГЁlman.
kontinГ©.
continuously
ADV
contribution
N
control
convict
cook
konmГ©zasyon.
N
kwiz.
tjwit, bouwi.
V
cookie
cool
N
kondannГ©.
V
convulsion
biswi.
N
fwГ©.
ADJ
V
afwГ©chi. cool off
dГ©fachГ©.
coop
N
poulayГ©, kalГІj.
cope
V
dГ©bat, dГ©bwiyГ©.
copper
N
cord
N
kГІd.
cork
N
bouchon.
corn
N
mi1.
tjwiv.
cornbread
N
corncob
zopi.
corner
N
lachawitГ©.
penmi.
kwen.
N
cornmeal
N
correct
kowijГ©.
cost
V
V
timi.
ADV
byen fГЁt.
koutГ©1.
cotton N koton. wild cotton koton
flo. cotton bug bГЁt koton.
coubaril
N
koubawi.
cough
V tousГ©. whooping cough
lakoklich.
kontinГЁlman.
kondwi, kontwolГ©. N
kondwit. under control tjantjil.
V
conversation
correctly
konsonmГ©.
V
contented
continue
konstanman.
konstipГ©.
constipated
kouvan.
N
cooling N afwГ©chi. types of
cooling: zГЁb akouwГЁs, tizann.
konfyГ©.
V
convent
konfГЁsyon.
N
count
council
N
konsit.
counsel
N
konsГЁy.
count
kontГ©.
260
V
country
English – Kwéyòl
country
countryside
courage
crayfish
pГ©yi.
N
bitasyon, hГІtГЁ.
N
bwavtГ©.
N
courageous ADJ bwav, fouben. be
courageous ni tjГЁ.
course
courthouse
cover
kouzen, kouzin.
N
kouvГЁ.
V
covering
covet
kay lodyans.
N
kouvГЁti.
N
anvi, anwajГ© pou, ni an waj
V
pou.
cow
bГЁf.
N
coward
kwapon.
N
cowardly
ADJ
kwapon.
crab N kwab. blue crab siwik.
fiddler crab kwab mal zГІwГЁy.
hermit crab sГІlda2. red sea crab
kwab hont. river crab bak1.
crack
tayГ©.
V
cracked
ADJ
cracker
N
crackling
crafty
cram
ADJ
crammed
crawl
fann.
lakwenn.
malen.
N
V
ADJ
foulГ©.
lakwanp.
N
craving
craw
fant.
foulГ©.
V
cramp
N
biswi.
N
N
kwibich.
N
foli.
N
craziness
N
crazy
ADJ
fou1, fГІl.
cream
N
kwiz.
kwenm. whipped cream
kwenm.
court N lodyans, bawo2. take to
court mennen lodyans.
cousin
craze
kous.
N
crowd
foli.
crease
N
kan.
create
V
kwГ©yГ©.
creation
N
credit
N
kwГ©di.
creep
V
Creole
machГ© piti.
KwГ©yГІl, Patwa.
N
cricket
kwiyasyon.
1
N
zwi.
cricket2
N
krikГЁt, bol.
crime
kwim.
N
crippled ADJ enfim. crippled
person enfimitГ©.
crisis
kwiz.
N
criticize
V
crook
bГІbГІlis.
N
crooked
ADJ
kochi.
N
wГ©kГІt, zam1.
crop2
N
fal.
cross
N
kwa.
crop
1
kwititjГ©.
cross V 1) twavГЁsГ©. 2) kwazГ©1. cross
over janbГ©.
cross-eyed
crossroad
crotch
fal.
crow
halГ© kalpat, machГ© kalpat.
crowd
261
V
N
ADJ
N
zyГ© kГІklay.
kat chimen.
fouk.
chantГ©.
N
latilyГ©, pГІpilas.
V
konblГ©,
crown
English – Kwéyòl
current
kwenstГ©.
crown
kouwonn.
N
crucifix
crudely
miyГЁt, wonyen.
N
crumple
crush
cry
1) kwazГ©2. 2) migannen.
V
crutch
chifonnen, plotonnen.
V
plГ©wГ©.
V
crybabyish
crystal
V
cucumber
culvert
N
cunning
cup
N
curds
cure
kwi1. cry out fГЁ kwi.
gwo mo sal.
curtain
N
wido.
curve
dГ©tou.
malen.
ADJ
N
lГЁspwi, lifon.
kayГ©1.
N
koubГ©.
N
N
kachiman.
labitid, lakoutim.
N
pwatik1.
1) koupГ©. 2) ГЁstopyГ©. 3) hachГ©1.
4) sГЁpГ©. cut (bananas etc.) into
hands dГ©patГ©. cut evenly tonsГ©.
cut in front koupГ© douvan. cut off
sotГ©, volГ©.
kГІlvГЁt.
ADJ
N
custard apple
konkonm.
djГ©wi, koupГ©.
V
N
cut
1) tas. 2) pГІt.
N
cursing
customer
kГІnГ©2.
N
V
custom
chinya.
ADJ
kwistal.
N
cuckold
N
apwГ©zan.
kГІri.
N
curved
bitji.
N
ADV
modi1, jiwГ©. N modisyon,
djiyon, limyГЁ1. curse word mo.
curse
agГІspyГЁs.
ADV
crumb
curry
kwisifyГ©.
V
kouwan.
N
currently
kouwonnГ©.
V
kwis.
N
crucify
dangle
V
cuticle
N
bГЁlmГЁ zonng.
cutlass
N
koutla.
cutting
N
plan1.
djГ©wizon.
curious ADJ tjiwiyГЁz. unduly
curious tjiki.
Dd
Dad, Daddy
dagger
damn
V
damned
damp
dance
Apa.
V
donmajГ©.
N
donmaj.
ADJ
1) dannГ©. 2) sakwГ©.
mik.
N
dandruff
N
danger
N
N
tipo. have dandruff fГЁ
danjГ©.
dangerous
dangle
262
V
bal1, dansГ©.
dansГЁ.
lapo.
dannГ©.
ADJ
dansГ©, wimen.
V
dancer
ponya.
N
damage
N
ADJ
danjГ©wГ©.
sispann.
dark
English – Kwéyòl
dark
deceit
fГЁ nwГЁ.
N
darken
darkness
nwГЁsГЁ, fГЁ nwГЁ.
N
darling
N 1) chГ©wi, doudou. 2) chГЁ
doudou kГІkГІt.
dasheen N dachin, danma. types of
dasheen: danma alifГІm, danma blan,
danma nwГЁ, danma vГЁ.
date
1
daughter
daughter-in-law
dawdle
N
bГЁlfi.
fГЁ kakГІl, fГЁ kГІlonng,
V
kalandjГ©.
dawn
N
day
1) jou. 2) jounГ©. 3) lajounГ©.
N
laba, jou ouvГЁ, ti fГЁ nwГЁ.
daybreak
N
daylight
N
daytime
N
laba, jou ouvГЁ, ti fГЁ nwГЁ.
jou. broad daylight
gwan lajounГ©, gwan midi.
dazed
ADJ
dazzle
V
dead
ADJ
deal
N
bazoudi, Г©gawГ©, kagou.
soud. deaf person soudГЁ.
wanjman. deal with aji.
N
N
chГ©wi, monchГЁ. my
lanmГІ, dГ©fini. unto death
olanmГІ. personification of death:
Bazil.
debris
N
debt
dГЁt.
N
deceased
boukan.
ADJ
dГ©sidГ©, fГЁ lidГ©.
V
decipher
decision
1
dГ©chifwГ©.
V
disizyon.
N
N
lakal.
N
patjГ©1.
declare
dГ©klawГ©.
V
decorate
V
dГ©kowГ©.
dedicate
V
dГЁdikГ©.
dedicated
deep
ADJ
deer
N
ADJ
fon .
bich, sГЁf.
defamation
defame
defeat
dГЁdikГ©.
1
V
N
mГ©pwi.
nwГЁsi non.
ganyen, bat, wonpi.
V
V chyГ©, kaka, alГ© an pwГ©vit,
alГ© an wazyГ©, fГЁ bizwen.
mГІ1. dead body kadav.
dear ADJ chГЁ.
dear machГЁ.
death
decide
DГ©sanm.
N
defecate
vГЁglГ©.
ADJ
deaf
jou, lajounГ©.
kwennad.
N
December
deck2
tifi.
N
kwennen.
V
deceiver
deck
dat .
N
bГІbГІl.
N
deceive
nwГЁsi.
V
deliver
dГ©fen.
defect
dГ©fo.
N
defend
defence
V
N
definitely
delay
V
1) fГЁ dГ©fans. 2) wГ©ponn tГЁt.
dГ©fans.
ADV
nГЁtaman.
tadГ©, fГЁ kГІlonng, mizГ©, fГЁ
kakГІl.
delayed
ADJ
tadГ©, anwita.
deliberately
ADV
deliberation
N
deliver
263
V
ГЁspwГ©.
dГ©libГ©wasyon.
dГ©livwГ©.
deliverance
English – Kwéyòl
deliverance
demon
N
dГ©livwans.
Dennery
denomination
dent
dew
Dennwi.
N
wilizyon.
N
dented
ADJ
deny
inyowГ©.
V
depart
deport
deposit
depth
N
dice
fondjГЁ.
descendant
N
desecrate
V
dГ©sakwГ©.
deserve
mГ©witГ©.
dГ©sandan.
N
despite
N
CONJ
depression
destiny
N
develop
N
dГ©tay, pwen2.
V
N
dГ©vlopГ©.
development
devil
lapatouch.
N
dГ©vlГІpman.
N djab. the Devil Satan,
Denmou.
ADJ
difГ©wan.
dimly
difikiltГ©.
toub.
V
toub.
dinen.
N
sosГ©.
V
directly
N
diminwГ©, bГ©sГ©.
V
dinen.
V
direct
dirt
N
ADV
dinner
dip
difisil, wГЁd.
ADJ
ADJ
dine
lapatouch.
difГ©wans.
fouyГ©1.
V
diminish
chagwen.
N
difficulty
dwГ©3, magwГ©.
sГІ.
devastation
difficult
dim
destroy V dГ©twi, kwazГ© . destroy
completely kwazГ© bwizГ©.
N
wГ©jim2.
N
dГ©zolasyon.
2
detail
diet
dig
N
destruction
V
different
biwo.
desolation
gwenndГ©, zo.
N
difference
desire V anvi. N dГ©zi. desire
strongly anwajГ© pou.
desk
dyanman.
N
mГІ1, Г©tenn, twГ©pasГ©, foukan,
mawГ© patjГ©, tiwГ© kГІ. die of thirst
mГІ swГЁf.
die
dГ©pozГ©.
V
pisa dou.
N
N mal vant, ladjidjit,
wilachman. have diarrhoea
bouden ka mennen.
dГ©pan.
V
majГІl.
N
diarrhoea
dГ©pГІtГ©.
V
lawouzГ©, sГ©wen.
N
diamond
kitГ©, pati .
V
dГ©vowГ©.
V
dewlap
1
V
depend
anfonsГ©, kabosГ©.
malis.
ADJ
diabetes
anfonsГ©, kabosГ©.
V
devious
devour
nanj Satan.
N
disagreement
diwГЁktГ©.
ADV
1) diwГЁktiman. 2) djoup.
tГЁ.
dirty ADJ 1) sal, mal pwГІp. 2) salГІp.
dirty dishes bagay sal.
disagreement
264
N
dГ©zagwГ©man, chiz.
disappear
English – Kwéyòl
disappear
dispawГЁt, fini anyen.
V
disappoint
dГ©zapwentГ©.
V
disappointed
ADJ
disappointment
disarrange
disciple
N
dГ©zapwentГ©.
dГ©zapwГЁtman.
dГ©wanjГ©, plotonnen.
V
discourage
disoriented
displace
displease
kagou, vag.
ADJ
dГ©plasГ©.
V
dГ©plГЁ.
V
disrespect
dГ©wГЁspГЁktГ©.
V
dissatisfied
dissolve
disip.
N
dock
ADJ
dГ©satisfГЁ.
fonn.
V
dissuade
V
dГ©konsГ©yГ©.
discouraged ADJ dГ©kouwajГ©.
become discouraged dГ©konpГІtГ©.
distance
N
distans. from a distance
discover
distaste
N
dГ©gou.
distress
V
fГЁ lapenn.
discuss
dГ©kouwajГ©.
V
dГ©kouvГЁ.
V
dispitГ©, diskitГ©.
V
discussion
diskasyon.
N
N maladi. venereal disease
djГІn, kako2.
olwen.
distressed
disease
disembark
disgust
dГ©batjГ©.
V
dishes
vГ©sГЁl, zasyГЁt.
N
dishevel
plotonnen.
V
dishevelled
dishonest
ADJ
ADJ
ADJ
dishonour
V
kotjen.
dГ©zonnowГ©.
dГ©goutГ©1.
V
dismantle
V
dismiss
ladjГ©.
V
dГ©moutГ©.
disobedience
disobedient
disobey
dГ©bwayГ©.
kochi.
dishonesty
dislike
distrust
V
dГ©fyГ©.
disturb
V
distwГ©, chagwinen,
annГЁwvГ©.
dГ©gou. be disgusted
N
dГ©goutГ©1.
V
N
ADJ
dГ©zobГ©yisans.
dГ©zobГ©yisan.
dГ©zobГ©yi.
disorderly ADJ dГ©bwayГ©. fall into
disorder dГ©labwГ©.
kontwayГ©, anbawasГ©,
ADJ
anbazoudi.
disturbed ADJ distwГ©, twakasГ©. be
disturbed otjipГ©.
ditch
dive
kannal.
N
plonjГ©.
V
diverse
ADJ
divГЁs.
divide
V
sГ©pawГ©.
divine
V
divinГ©.
divinity
N
divinitГ©.
division
N
divizyon, halГ© kasГ©.
divorce
V
dizzy
ADJ
do
1
docile
ADJ
dГ©vosГ©.
toudi.
V fГЁ . do as one likes pwan
chimen.
dock
265
N
tjГ©.
dosil.
V
kГІstГ©.
doctor
English – Kwéyòl
doctor
doll
dress2
dГІktГЁ.
N
dollar
domination
donminasyon.
N
domino
N
dГІmino.
donkey
N
bouwik.
lapГІt.
N
doorstep, doorway
N
pa lapГІt.
double
V
doublГ©.
dГ© otan.
ADJ
ADJ
dГ© lidГ©.
N
dout.
dough
N
lapat.
down
anba1. down there anba-
ADV
drive
V kondwi, drayv. drive fast
bay vapon.
drivel
V
driver
N
chofГЁ.
V
fifinГ©.
drizzle
drop1
drop
bavГ©.
N
fifin.
V
ladjГ©. drop off ladjГ©, mГ©tГ©.
V
dГ©goutГ©2.
nГ©yГ©.
V
tanbou.
N
drumfish
drunk
labГ©2.
N
sou1, cho.
ADJ
drunkard
a la.
N
gГІgГЁ, wonmyГ©, nГЁg
wonm.
dozen
drag
bwason, bwГЁ, gГІg.
dГ©goutГ© .
V
drum
dove N toutwГЁl. common ground
dove zatolan.
N
2
drown
doubt
bwГЁ.
V
2
double-minded
dontГ©.
V
drip
dowad.
N
pansГ©.
V
drink
dГІla, goud.
N
dolphin
door
drill
pГІpГІt, bolonm.
N
dye
twennen.
V
dragonfly
drain
sГЁk1. V 1) chГ©chГ©, sГЁk1.
2) swiyГ©. dry clothes ouvГЁ.
dry
douzenn.
N
N
mawisosГ©.
kannal, kГІlvГЁt.
N
draughts
N
danm. draughts player
N
tiwГЁ.
dreadlocks
dream
V
duck
dull
kanna.
N
ADJ
dumb
dГ©filГ©1, mГІ1.
N
1
nati .
wГ©vГ©.
dregs
N
kwas.
dress1
N
wГІb.
N
wГЁv.
N
N
kacho.
duration
N
diwan.
N
lapousyГЁ.
asou.
V
abiyГ©.
dye
266
V
dГ©filГ©1, tjwГ©.
donbwГ©.
dungeon
dust
V
moumou.
ADJ
dumpling
danmyГ©.
drawer
ADJ
tenn1.
V
swiyГ© lapousyГЁ
each
English – Kwéyòl
encourage
Ee
each
ADJ
eagle
N
lГЁg.
egret
N
ear
zГІwГЁy.
eight
ADJ
N
early
ADV
eighteen
zanno.
eighty
N
earth
latГЁ.
bГ©lГ©jenn.
N
kayal.
bonnГЁ.
earring
N
eggplant
chak.
ywit. eight o’clock ywitè.
dizwit.
ADJ
katwiven.
ADJ
either...or
CONJ
sik an dan.
swГ©...Г©ben, ki...ki.
earthquake
N
twanblanntГЁ.
elated
ADJ
earthworm
N
vГЁ tГЁ.
elbow
N
koudbwa.
elders
N
gwan moun.
earwax
ease
east
soulajГ©. at ease alГЁz.
V
easily
kaka zГІwГЁy.
N
sГІlГЁy lГ©van, sГІlГЁy lГ©vГ©.
N
ovan.
Pak2.
N
Г©zГ©.
ADJ
easy-going
ADJ
fasil.
eat V manjГ©, dГ©vowГ©, bouwГ©1. eat
breakfast ditГ©. eat dinner dinen.
echo
V
Г©klatГ©.
eddo
N
chou.
edge
N
bГІdaj.
educate
V
ADJ
education
N
eel
N
effort
egg
wonz. eleven o’clock
ADJ
wonzГЁ.
else
ankГІ.
ADV
embark
batjГ©.
V
V
embarrassed
embers
endikГ©.
endikasyon.
zandji. moray eel konng.
N
filГІzГІf, flanman.
lГ©fan.
N
embarrass
endikГ©.
educated
eleven
lou.
kouwan.
N
ADJ
elephant
ADV
ilГЁksyon.
N
electricity
elegant
Easter
easy
ilГЁktГ©.
V
election
alГЁz.
ADV
ADJ
elect
Г©fГІ.
N zГ©. egg on pitjГ©. egg white
blan zГ©. lay eggs ponn.
embezzle
V
V
emphasize
employ
empty
afon, hont.
V
fГЁ bГІbГІl.
anbwasГ©.
V
pГ©zГ© fГІ.
anployГ©.
ADJ
encourage
2) soutiwГ©.
267
ADJ
zondifГ©.
N
embrace
fГЁ hont, fГЁ afon, tjipi.
vid, flo1.
V
1) ankouwajГ©.
encouragement
English – Kwéyòl
encouragement
end
N
envious bwilГ©.
ankouwajman.
bout, finisman.
evil
epilepsy
V
fini.
N
ended
ADJ
bout.
equal
ADJ
enemy
N
lГЁlmi.
erase
V
energy
N
tenpГ©wanman.
errand
engaged
ADJ
engine
machin.
N
fiyansГ©.
error
Г©gal.
Г©fasi.
konmisyon.
N
lГЁwГЁ.
N
erysipelas
N
ijennyГЁ.
escape
England
N
LanglitГЁ.
especially
Englishman
N
AnglГ©.
enjoy
V jwГ©, jwi. enjoy oneself
gawoulГ©.
enlarge
gwandi.
V
enlighten
Г©klГ©wГ©.
V
enlightened
enormous
ADJ
ADJ
Г©klГ©wГ©.
bidim, manman,
estate
ADJ asГ©. just enough
doukwГ©, jis kont.
enslaved
ADJ
anwajГ©, dГ©zolГ©.
ГЁslav.
entangle V tГІtiyГ©. get entangled
with or in antanmГ©.
enter
V
antwГ©.
enthusiastic
entire
ADJ
ADJ
entrails
N
envious
cho.
antyГЁ.
entitled
envelope
ADJ
antit.
fwisi.
N
ADJ
ГЁspwГЁsman, sitou.
Г©tabli.
bitasyon, plantasyon.
N
ГЁstimГ©.
V
eternal ADJ Г©tГЁwnГЁl, diwant. eternal
life lavi diwant.
eternity
eve
N
lГ©tГЁwnitГ©.
N
lavГЁy.
1) jis2. 2) menm. get even
wonpi. even if, even though menm
si.
even
enough
ADJ
ADV
V
estimate
matenm.
enraged
V
establish
AnglГ©.
N
wГ©zipГЁl.
N
chapГ©, mawon, pawГ©3.
engineer
English
malkadi.
N
ADV
evening N swГЁ. in the evening
ГІswГЁ. this evening ГІswГЁ-a.
ever
janmen.
ADV
everlasting ADJ diwant. everlasting
life lavi diwant.
every ADJ chak, toulГ©, tout. every
opportunity kont chans. every
other toulГ© dГ©.
everyone
N
everything
everywhere
anvlГІp.
evidence
anvyГЁj, vivi. make
evil
268
ADJ
N
tout moun.
N
tout bagay.
ADV
toupatou.
2
pwГЁv .
mГ©chan.
evil
English – Kwéyòl
evil N movГЁztГ©, kwiyotГ©, mГ©chanstГ©.
evil person movГ© lam, vyГ© lam,
bouwo. evil spirit movГ© lam, vyГ©
exercise
exist
exit
1) ГЁgzaktiman,
diwГЁktiman. 2) jis2.
ADV
exaggeration
exalt
kalkati.
V
ГЁgzanminГ©.
example
N
ГЁgzanp. for example pa
ГЁgzanp.
except
PREP
dГ©pasГ©.
excessively
exchange
excuse
V
N
twГІp.
N
kaka, chyГ©, bantjГ©, lasГЁl.
expose
V
ГЁspozГ©.
extend
V
lonjГ©.
extension
N
extract
wachГ©1.
eye
V
ГЁskizГ©. excuse me
padon.
N
ГЁspГ©yans.
ГЁsplikГ©, ГЁspityГ©, dГ©chifwГ©.
V
V
galwi.
ADJ
ГЁstГІdinГЁ.
zyГ©.
N
eyeball
chyГ©.
ГЁskiz.
ГЁspГ©yansГ©.
V
Г©tenn, mawГ© patjГ©, tiwГ© kГІ.
V
explain
chГЁ.
ADJ
extraordinary
boukantГ©.
V
excrement
excrete
antiwan, ГЁksГЁptГ©.
ADV
dГ©pans.
N
experience
expire
examine
V
ГЁspГ©wГ©, atandГ©1.
V
expensive
lГЁgzanmГ©. take exam pasГ©
lГЁgzanmГ©.
exceed
yan1.
N
expense
N
ГЁgzibisyon.
N
ГЁgzistГ©.
V
expect
magnifyГ©.
V
exam
N
lГ©zГЁksis.
N
exhibition
lГЁspwi.
exactly
famine
N
gwenn zyГ©, koko zyГ©.
eyebrow
N
eyelid
lapo zyГ©.
N
sousi zyГ©.
Ff
1) fidji. 2) fas1. face down
fas a tГЁ, fas anba, vant a tГЁ, vant anba.
face to face fidji pou fidji. make
faces fГЁ jГЁs, fГЁ maji.
face
N
factory
fair
N
lizin, faktri.
faithfulness
fidГЁlitГ©.
fall
V 1) tonbГ©, pwan so. 2) pwan (in
reference to evening). 3) lablanni a tГЁ,
plantГ© bannann. N so, latjilbit.
false
baza.
N
N
ADJ
fo1. false witness fo
tГ©mwen.
fairy
N
ayfГ©.
familiar
ADJ
faith
N
lafwa.
family
fanmi.
faithful
ADJ
fidГЁl.
famine
269
N
N
okouwan.
lafen.
fang
English – Kwéyòl
fang
kГІk2.
N
far, far away
ADV
festival, fete N fГЁt2, fГЁsten. street
festival asou skwГЁ.
lwen. as far as
jis1.
fever
farewell
farmer
fart
fama.
N
fidget
sou2.
farthing
N
fast1
ADV
vit, vitman.
fast2
V
N
fat
gwa.
ADJ
fate
ajen.
gwГЁs.
N
father
father-in-law
faucet
N
favour
N
favГЁ. in favour of an favГЁ.
N
feel
FГ©vwiyГ©.
N
1) nouwi. 2) swen.
V
santi. feel like anvi.
V
fellow
boug. fellow man
pwochen.
N
female
fence
N
fifty
ADJ
senkant.
ADJ
V
pak1.
3
batayГЁ.
N
ganm.
N
filings
mouli.
N
fill
V 1) plen. 2) wГЁd (in reference to
belly).
N
mal pwГІptГ©.
zГЁl.
N
find V twouvГ©, twapГ©, jwenn. find
oneself twapГ© kГІ. find out konnГЁt.
finger
N
dwГЁt1. little finger ti dwГЁt.
fingernail
fingertip
finish
fimГЁl.
zonng.
N
N
bout dwГЁt.
V
fini.
N
finished
ADJ
bout.
finisman.
fend
V
pawГ© .
fire
N
difГ©, boukan difГ©, fouyГ©2.
fern
N
fwijГЁ.
fire2
V
ladjГ©.
fertilizer
N
1
3
fimyГ©, sГЁl .
N
lim2.
N
fin
plim.
February
feed
senkyenm.
filth
fГЁsten.
feather
ADJ
file
N lapГЁ, pГЁwГЁz, fwiyГЁ, kwentif.
pГЁ2. extreme fear kaka dlo.
N
fifth
figure
fear
feast
kenz.
ADJ
fighter
bopГЁ.
fГІt, annГ©kГІz.
N
1) savann. 2) pyГЁs2.
N
V 1) goumen. 2) fonsГ© anlГЁ,
kouvГЁ a tГЁ-a, lГ©vГ© kankan, sotГ© anlГЁ.
goumen, batay, mГ©limГ©lanj.
tГЁt sitenn.
N
bwennen.
V
fifteen
papa, Apa.
N
fiyansГ©.
N
fight
sГІ.
N
fault
field
fГЁ ajen, wГЁstГ© san manjГ©, fas2.
fasting
ADJ
fiancГ©e
lachГ© van.
V
lafyГЁv.
N
pГ©2. a few 1) yonn dГ©,
dГ©otwa. 2) tizing.
few
oplГЁz.
INTERJ
firefly
firefly
270
N
bГЁtafГ©.
first
English – Kwéyòl
first
pwГЁmyГ©.
ADJ
firstly
ADV
pwГЁmyГ©man.
pГ©chГ©1. fish pot
nas. flying fish volan. porcupine
fish pwГ©son amГ©. pot fish pwГ©son
nas. other types of fish: akennsin,
balawou, banndjo2, djouk, kaka bawi,
kaka poul, kiliyou, tilapiya.
fish
pwГ©son.
N
fisherman
N
V
pГ©chГЁ1, nonm lanmГЁ.
fishermen jan lanmГЁ.
fist
N
pwen1.
fit1
N
kwiz.
fit
2
1
fГЁ .
V
five ADJ senk. five cents kat nwГЁ.
five dollar bill biyГ© bank. five
o’clock senkè.
fix
1) wanjГ©. 2) fiksГ©. fix up
ganmГ©.
V
flame
N
flashy
ADJ
flat
flanm.
plat.
ADJ
flatter
V
flatterer
flaw
flea
filГІzГІf, flanman.
flatГ©.
N
flatГЁz.
dГ©fo.
N
V fann kann, fГЁ djip, fГЁ lapousyГЁ,
fГЁ zГ©klГЁ, kwazГ© bwa, kwazГ© wazyГ©,
pwan an bwa, pwan lavГІl.
flex
N
V
float
1) lachГЁ1. 2) salГ©zon.
pliyГ©.
flight N lavГІl. in flight a lavГІl.
take flight pwan lavГІl.
flip-flop
N
flotГ©.
V
cho.
ADJ
bwГ©.
N
flock
N 1) twipo (in reference to
sheep). 2) vГІl2 (in reference to birds).
flood
N
dГ©lij, gwo dlo, lawivyГЁ gwo.
floor
N
1) planchГ©. 2) Г©taj.
floormat
N
soupyГ©.
flounder
N
sГІl.
flour
fawin fwans.
N
flow
kouwi.
V
flower N flГЁ. V flГ©wi1. flower of a
banana plant pГІpГІt. flower pot
pГІt a flГЁ. type of flower: kaka poul.
flu
wim.
N
flush
ADJ
fly1
V
volГ©.
N
mouch.
fly
2
foam
fold
1
fold2
N
Г©gal.
1) tjim. 2) lГ©ponj.
N
kalГІj, pak .
V
pliyГ©.
foliage
V
tjimГ©.
1
N
N
pli1.
pay.
follow V swiv. follow in footsteps
of tjenbГ© pyГ©. following day li
denmen.
flee
flesh
flirtatious
pis1.
N
foot
katapГІl.
Fond Assor
food
N
N
Fon AsГІ.
manjГ©.
fool
N kouyon, kounoumounou, lГЁlГЁ,
papicho. V kwennen.
foolish
ADJ
foolishness
kouyon, sГІt1, bГЁt2.
N papicho, maji,
kouyontwi, bГ©tiz, kochonni.
foot
271
N
pyГ©1.
footpath
English – Kwéyòl
footpath
N
footprint
ti chimen.
fourth
ADJ
mak pyГ©.
fowl
poul.
N
for PREP 1) pou1. 2) bay1, an favГЁ.
for the present pou li pwГ©zan.
forbid
dГ©fann, enpozГ©.
V
fГЁ1, fГІsГ©, oblijГ©.
kouway.
force
V
forehead
N
fon2.
foreigner
N
Г©twanjГ©.
N
fГІs1,
foreman N kolonm. foreman of
roadworks chГЁf twavo.
forest
lafowГ©, bwa2, gwan bwa.
N
foretell
V
forge
lafГІj.
N
pawdonnen.
forgiveness
fracture
frank
ADJ
fraud
N
frayed
padon, pawdonnasyon,
N
form
N
fГІm.
fornication
fortunate
forty
ADJ
V
N
ADJ
fortunately
fГІmГ©.
fГІnikasyon.
chansГ©.
ADV
chansГ©.
kawant.
forward
ADJ
foster
soutiwГ©.
V
bГІbГІl.
minab.
freckled
ADJ
taktГ©.
freedom
N
freeload
endiskwГ©.
djГ©tГ©.
N
N
sizo2.
fwГ©. fresh water dlo
ADJ
freshen
afwГ©chi.
V
Friday
N VandwГ©di. Good Friday
VandwГ©di Sen.
fried
ADJ
fwi2.
friend N kanmawad, jan, konpГЁ.
make friends with byen.
friendship N viv. break
friendship, sever friendship kasГ©
kanmawad.
frighten
V
fringe
N
chichi.
frog
ti tolin, gwat kwi.
N
fawouchГ©.
1) adan1, andidan, anlГЁ,
asou, lanmen. 2) dГ©pi. away from
hГІd.
four ADJ kat . four o’clock katwè.
four years katwan.
froth
N
fourteen
fruit
fondasyon.
katГІz.
mandyan.
dous.
1
ADJ
ansazinay.
N
V
PREP
N
lГ©chanlib.
free-for-all
from
foundation
dГ©filГ©2.
ADJ
ADJ
pawdonnab.
fork N 1) fouchГЁt. 2) fak. V fak.
fork for piercing witches flГ©wi2.
katyГ©.
fГЁplГ©.
frazzled
fresh
N
fГЁ pousyГЁ.
V
Fregate bird
V obliyГ©. Forget about it
tjwГ© kozГ©.
V
N
katyenm.
freeloader
divinГ©.
forget
forgive
fruit
272
N
tjim.
V
tjimГ©.
fwi1. fruit fly yenyen1.
frustrated
English – Kwéyòl
types of fruit: koko Kouli, babadin,
fatpГІk, zikak.
frustrated
ADJ
minab.
fwi2.
fry
V
full
ADJ
plen.
fully
an plen.
ADV
fumigate
function
pafimГ©.
V
machГ©.
V
fungus
N
1) chanpiyon. 2) dat2, lota.
funnel
N
lantounwГЁ.
fur
plen, owa, waz. in full an
giddy
pwГЁl.
N
furnace
N
founo.
furnish
V
mГЁblГ©.
furniture
N
furrow
fГІs2.
N
mГЁb, founiti.
Gg
gable
gate
piyon.
N
gany2, pwofi.
sinifyГ©.
gain
N
gall
V
bennГ©fis,
fyГЁl. gall bladder fyГЁl.
N
gallon
N
galon.
gallop
V
galopГ©.
galvanized
gamble
ADJ
gany1.
N
gangrene
garbage
N
N
lakangwenn.
zГІdi, kochonni.
garden
N
1) jaden. 2) lakou.
garfish
N
zГІfi.
gargle
V
garlic
N
garnish
gas
N
gasp
gagawouzГ©.
lay.
N
founiti.
van.
V
gay
anmasГ©, sanblГ©.
V
boula.
N
gecko
mabwiya.
N
jennГ©wal.
N
generation
zenk.
game N jwГ©. gambling game kotji.
game played with tops lawonn.
gang
gather
general
jwГ©, jwГ© gwenndГ©.
V
bayГЁ.
N
Г©souflГ©, wisouflГ©.
generous
genitals
gentle
ADJ
N
ADJ
gentleman
germ
N
N
jennenwasyon.
donnan.
koko1.
janti.
N
jantiyГІm.
jГЁm.
gesticulate
V
fГЁ jГЁs, fГЁ maji.
get V jwenn, twapГ©. get along aji.
get away from pawГ©3. get bigger
gwosi. get by dГ©bwiyГ©. get off
dГ©batjГ©. get out of the way
dГ©jennen. get rid dГ©bawasГ©. get
smaller mГЁgwГ©si. get thinner
mГЁgwГ©si. get up lГ©vГ©.
giblets
giddy
273
N
ADJ
fwisi.
bazoudi.
gift
English – Kwéyòl
gift
gills
God
kado, don.
N
1
ginger
N jenjanm. ginger beer
jenjanbyГЁ.
girl
girth
give
glad
ADJ
glare
N
vГЁglay.
glass
N
vГЁ1.
glasses
N
glorify
glowifyГ©.
V
N
laglwa.
glove
N
gan.
gnash
go
goodness
goods
goat
N
goatee
pitjГ©.
goatfish
bontГ©.
byen.
govern
babawen, souwi .
N
V
fwison.
gouvГЁnГ©.
government
governor
grab
N
N
gouvГЁdman.
gouvГЁnГЁ.
hapГ©2, kaponnen.
V
grace
N
lagwas.
grade
N
klas.
V
piti an piti, an mizi an
mizi.
graft
3
siwГЁt.
N
V palГ© moun mal, palГ©
chwichwi. N visyГЁz.
gradually
bab kabwit.
N
djГІn.
N
gossip
kabwit. billy goat bouk.
N
gonmyГ©.
goosebumps
alГ©, pwan. go ahead pwan
douvan. go around fГЁ won. go
away 1) foukan. 2) mach2, tiwé kò’w
la. go back witounen. go down
dГ©sann. go fast koupГ© dlo, siyГ© dlo.
go flying vГІltijГ©. go in front pwan
douvan. go one’s own way fè
chimen. go out sГІti. go quickly
bay pyГ©, bwennen kГІ, chapГ© kГІ, chapГ©
pyГ©, fГЁ pyГ©, fГЁ vit. go together tГЁl.
go up moutГ©.
V
N
N
gooseberry
kwatjГ© dan.
V
goad
lГІfГЁb.
oplГЁz, dГ©dГ©.
lakГІl.
V
N
ponmsitГЁ.
good ADJ bon, bГЁl, kГІrГЁk. good
afternoon bonnapwГ©midi. good
deeds byennfГ©. good evening,
good night bonswГЁ. Good Lord
BondyГ©. good morning bonjou.
good works byennfГ©. goodbye
pwГ©son amГ©.
glory
N
N
gonorrhoea
linГЁt.
globefish
N
gommier
kontan.
N
lГІ.
N
goldsmith
jijГ©2.
N
nennenn.
N
golden apple
bay1.
V
gizzard
glue
gold
pawen.
N
godmother
bГЁlibann.
N
fiyГЁl.
N
godfather
tifi, djal, manmzГЁl, kabwГЁs.
N
BondyГ©. My God! Bondous.
N
godchild
bway .
N
grafted
V
grafted
274
magotГ©.
ADJ
magotГ©.
grandchild
English – Kwéyòl
grandchild
ti ich, ich ich.
N
grandfather
N
grant
V
akГІdГ©.
grape
N
wГ©zen.
gwanmanman.
grate
kwitjГЁt.
gwajГ©.
V
grated
ADJ
grater
N
gravely
grease
N
greatness
greedy
groan
gavwГ©.
lenn2, koko1.
Gros Islet
N
ayГЁl.
Gros Piton
1) pwofitГ©, gwandi. 2) lГ©vГ©,
V
growl
gwondГ©, bouwi.
V
grownups
grudge
grumble
Guadeloupe
kГІs kako.
guardian
grey
gwi, sann. grey kingbird
guide
plent.
grieve
V
grill
gwiyГ©.
1) fГЁ lapenn. 2) pwan
chagwen.
V
grimace
grin
V
V
gwiyen, fГЁ jГЁs, fГЁ maji.
guile
guilty
N
V
N
gwiyav.
djidГ©.
gun
N
djid.
wiz.
ADJ
N
gadyenn.
N
guinea pig
gums
Gwadloup.
gad .
N
guava
N
2
N
N
bougonnen.
V
grenade
lapenn. in grief an lapenn.
lahenn. having a grudge
N
guard
pipirit.
gwan moun.
N
henn.
nouvГЁl.
grievance
vГ©yen.
N
N
N
wasinГ©.
ADJ
gany , gwoup, konpanni, pil.
N
greeting
grief
Gwo Piton.
N
1
grouper
vowas, kochon.
green ADJ 1) vГЁ2. 2) vГЁt, blГ©. green
beans pwa salad.
ADJ
GwozilГ©.
N
plantГ©.
vowasitГ©.
ADJ
soupi.
N
grow
lagwandГЁ.
N
wim.
N
N
groin
gwГЁs.
N
N
bougonnen. gripe water dlo
V
group
1) gwaj. 2) gwat.
great grandparent
greed
gripe
moulen.
grounded
gwajГ©.
ADJ
N
grippe
N
grasshopper
grinder
gwip.
zГЁb1, wazyГ©. crosscut grass
vГЁwtivГЁ. other types of grass:
gliglinglas, kalimГ©, latjГ© wat, tibГЁnad,
zГЁb a kouto, zГЁb avach, zГЁb djinГ©.
grass
pilГ©1. grind teeth kwatjГ©
V
dan.
gwanpapa.
N
grandmother
grind
gun
koupab.
N
wadenn.
sansiv.
N fizi. muzzle-loading gun
fizi bouwГ©.
gwiyen.
275
guts
guts
English – Kwéyòl
guy
boyo.
N
gutter
head
boug, bway2.
N
goutyГЁ.
N
Hh
habit
hair
labitid, lakoutim, mГЁs.
N
1) chivГ©. 2) pwГЁl.
N
hairbrush
hairy
N
bГІs.
N
half-dead
tou mГІ.
half-pint
halter
ham
N
N
N
N
lanmwatyГ©. half of
hard
ADJ
1) di4, mastif. 2) difisil,
ADV
wГЁd.
hardy
dimi jipon.
harm
hat
hand
N lanmen. hand of bananas
pat. hand over livwГ©.
N
ponyen.
handkerchief
ADJ
V
harvest
mato.
N
handle N manch, lans2. V manyen.
put a handle on manchГ©.
ADJ
tГЁt di.
sizonnen.
fГЁ mal.
N
ditГІ, pasdwa.
va.
V
vawГ©.
N
wГ©kГІt.
N
chapo. hard hat kastГІ.
N
hatch
V
hatchet
hate
mouchwГЁ pГІch.
kandi.
V
harpoon
loukou .
N
lawad.
hard-headed
chopin.
2
hammer
hard
harden
janbon.
handful
N
wГЁd.
half ADJ dimi.
a pair kotГ©.
ADJ
ladjГ© chalbawi dГЁyГЁ.
V
harbour
pwГ©lГЁz.
ADJ
half-slip
harass
Г©klГІ.
hachГІt.
N
hayi.
V
hatred
haunch
hayisans.
N
N
hanch.
1
handwriting
N
Г©kwiti.
hang V 1) pann1. 2) sispann. hang
clothes ouvГЁ.
haphazardly
happen
V
ADV
tjГІkanblГІk.
wivГ©, fГЁt. it so happened
twouvГ©.
happiness
have V ni , posГ©dГ©. have left wГЁstГ©.
have sex fГЁ vis, fwГ©kantГ©, kouchГ©.
have sex with pwan. have to sГ©
pou.
haversack
hawk
haze
N
lakontantman.
happy ADJ kontan, djГ©. Happy New
Year Bon LannГ©.
he
N
N
PRO
N
abousak.
malfini.
lafimГ©.
i, ’y. he who sa ki.
head N tèt. �heads’ bouden1. head
to toe latГЁtopyГ©.
276
headache
English – Kwéyòl
headache
N
mal tГЁt.
here
headlock
N
kakan.
hernia
head-to-head
heal
ADJ
health
N santГ©. in declining health
andГ©klinan. health centre hГЁlsenta.
healthy
heap
1) pil, lo. 2) fГІs2.
N
hear
byen pГІtan.
ADJ
V
bouwГ©2.
tann .
hearse
kГІbiya.
N
heart
N tjГЁ. heart attack
batmanntjГЁ. soft heart, tender
heart tjГЁ fГЁb.
heartache
penn.
N
chofГ©. in heat an
foli. be in heat pwan mal, mandГ©
mal.
chalГЁ.
N
heaven
V
N
syГЁl.
heavy
ADJ
lou.
heckle
V
heed
matjГ©.
V
heel
N
height
N
hГІtГЁ.
hawansГІ.
hesitate
V
fГЁ kГІlonng.
hesitation
N
hiccups
otjГЁt.
hide
N
kГІlonng.
sГ©wГ©1, mГ©tГ© ankachГЁt.
V
INTERJ
N
N
her
PRO
hill
him
chimen.
N
mГІn.
N
li1.
PRO
hinder
jennen, chachГ© kont.
V
hindrance
N
hinge
N
hip
hanch.
N
his
jennman.
panti.
pwГ©lГЁz.
ADJ
1
li .
PRO
sit.
V
N
listwa.
V
hoe
bonjou.
kastГІ.
V Г©dГ©. N soukou. some help
an lanmen. help out lonjГ© lanmen.
hen
highway
bat, fwapГ©, foutГ©, konyen1.
koul.
help
N, V
high ADJ ho. high court konsГЁy.
high tide plen.
hit
lanfГЁ.
helmet
hem
N
history
jinis.
hello
herring
hiss
talon.
N
N
kwabyГ©.
N
hirsute
ladjГ© chalbawi dГЁyГЁ.
heifer
hell
lГЁwni.
N
1
V
heat
isi. right here isi-a.
ADV
heron
tГЁt a tГЁt.
djГ©wi.
V
homosexual
N
hou.
N
hogshead
bouko.
N
hold
V
tjenn, tjenbГ©.
hole
N
twou.
hollow
ADJ
flo1, kwГЁz.
2
woulГ© .
poul. young hen poulГЁt.
home
N
lakay.
homosexual
li1.
277
N
boula, mal manman.
honest
English – Kwéyòl
honest
huge
onnГЁt.
ADJ
honey
N siwo myГЁl. honey bee
vonvon myГЁl.
honeycomb
N
honourable
ADJ
honour
hoof
kasav myГЁl.
lonnГЁ.
N
onnГ©wab.
V
onnowГ©.
pat, zГЁgo.
N
hook
N 1) zen. 2) tjatjГЁt.
2) tjatjГ©.
hookworms
N
hoop
N
sГЁk2.
hope
N
ГЁspwa.
horizon
horn
N
hospital
how
ni ГЁspwa.
lopital.
1) nГЁditan. 2) lГЁ2.
N
N
ADV
kay2, mГ©zon.
1) ki mannyГЁ, kouman.
2) otan. how many, how much
konmen1, ki kantitГ©, ki mizi, ki otan.
however
ADV
CONJ
wannman.
abГ©sГ©.
V
humiliate
kanmenm, okontwГЁ.
pasГ© anba pyГ©.
V
hummingbird
N
hunchbacked
ADJ
kilibwi, sisi BondyГ©.
ADJ
koubГ©.
hundred
ADJ
san2.
hunger
N
hungry
ADJ
lafen.
fen.
1) chasГ©. 2) flanbotГ©.
V
hunter
chasГЁ.
N
hunting
lachas.
N
flГ©chГ©.
V
hurried
N
siklonn.
pwГ©sГ©.
ADJ
hurry
V fГЁ vit, fГЁ pyГ©, bay pyГ©,
bwennen kГІ, chapГ© kГІ, chapГ© pyГ©.
hurt
fГЁ mal.
V
husband
husk
mawi.
N
plichГ©.
V
hutch
N
kalГІj.
hymn
N
sanngki.
hypocrisy
N
ipokwizi.
hypocrite
N
ipokwit.
Ii
I
PRO
ice
N
idea
mwen.
idiot
laglas.
idol
N
lidГ©.
bosi.
hunched
hurricane
djГЁp.
N
humble
hurl
cho. be hot fГЁ cho.
ADJ
house
V
manman, bidim, matenm.
ADJ
hunt
chouval.
N
hour
chik.
kГІn.
hornet
hot
1) kГІchГ©.
lowizon2.
N
N
horse
V
if
if
278
N
N
CONJ
kouyon.
imaj.
si1, dГ©pi, lГЁ2.
ignite
English – Kwéyòl
ignite
including
limen.
V
ignorance
N
instead
inyowans, boutГЁy nwГЁ.
increase
inyowan.
independence
gwosi, ogoumantГ©.
V
ignorant
ADJ
ignore
V
inyowГ©, kitГ© bat mizГЁ.
independent
iguana
N
lГ©za.
Indian
ill
ADJ
malad. ill will lahenn.
ill-mannered
ADJ
mal Г©livГ©, mal
onnГЁt.
illness
maladi.
N
ill-treat
mal twГ©tГ©, mal mennen.
V
illuminate
V
klГ©wГ©.
image N 1) imaj. 2) kwachГ©. spit
and image of one’s father papa’y
tjwa.
imagination
imagine
imitate
imajinasyon.
N
imajinГ©.
V
tjenbГ© pyГ©.
V
immature
ADJ
immediately
avГІtГ©, koulГ©3, olГЁt.
ADV
imГ©dyГЁtman, la
menm, alakous.
immorality N vis2, vyГ© lavi, mal
pwГІptГ©. immoral or homosexual
life lavi SodГІm. live immorally
kouwi vyГ© lavi.
impolite
ADJ
mal onnГЁt.
important
ADJ
enpГІtan.
impossible
ADJ
enposib.
imprison
V
anpwizonnen.
in PREP 1) adan1, andidan. 2) abГІ. in
fact anfen. in front of douvan. in
spite of magwГ©, dwГ©3.
incense
inch
N
N
lansan.
pous.
anpami.
PREP
N
andГ©pandans.
ADJ
andГ©pandan.
Kouli.
N
indiscreet
endiskwГ©.
ADJ
inexpensive
ADJ
bonmachГ©.
infatuated
ADJ
infirm
enfim.
ADJ
inflamed
antwichГ©.
anvlimГ©.
ADJ
inflammation N laflanmasyon.
inflammation of the fingernails
kannawi dlo.
influenza
N
inform
fГЁ sav, enfГІmГ©, souflГ©1.
V
wim.
information
ingredient
inherit
V
N
enfГІmasyon.
atik.
N
Г©wityГ©.
inheritance
N
injection
pitjГ©.
injure
blГ©sГ©.
V
injustice
ink
N
N
byen.
pasdwa.
N
lank1.
inkfish
N
innocent
chГЁs.
ADJ
inosan.
1
insect
N bГЁt . type of insect:
kochon tГЁ.
inside
PREP
adan1, andidan.
N
nannan.
inspection
instead
279
N
CONJ
lГЁgzanmГ©.
pito. instead of andji,
instruct
English – Kwéyòl
intestine ti fil bouden. large
intestine gwo fil bouden.
olyГЁ.
instruct
V
insult
ensiltГ©, jГ©tГ© pawГІl.
V
insulting
enstwi.
ADJ
intelligence
intelligent
intend
intense
ensit.
ensiltan.
N
entГЁlijans.
ADJ
entГЁlijan.
intention
interested
interfere
ADJ
international
ADJ
envitГ©.
V
fГЁ2.
N
interrupt
V
koupГ© douvan.
pasГ©.
V
it
dal.
ADJ
dГ©zagwГ©yab.
N
lilГЁt.
1
i, ’y, li .
PRO
itch
N
fachГ©.
ADJ
island, isle, islet
entГІnasyonnal.
dГ©chifwГ©.
envitasyon.
N
irritating
antГ©wГ©san.
V
gwatГ©.
V
itching
gwatГЁl. itching peas pwa
N
gwatГ©.
its
bannbouden, boyo. small
N
Г©vansyon.
irritated
interpret
intestine
N
irrigation system
chachГ© kont.
V
invention
iron
antГ©wГ©sГ©.
ADJ
interesting
fГЁ konnГЁt.
invite
lentГ©wГ©.
N
V
invitation
antansyon1, divwa.
N
introduce
investigate fouyГ© dГЁyГЁ.
fГІ.
ADJ
interest
N
vlГ©.
V
join
li1.
PRO
ivory
pik lГ©fan.
N
Jj
jab
V
jabber
V
jacket
N
jackfish
jagged
jail
N
jaw
N
N
bat bouch, bat djГІl, dГ©palГ©.
jealousy
kanmizГІl.
Jeep
N
djip.
kГІdonnyГ©.
jelly
N
lajlГ©.
danklГ©.
Jesus
N
ADJ
lajГІl, pwizon, kalabous.
January
jar
jealous bwilГ©.
tjokГ©.
N
JanvyГ©.
jГЁ, fyГІl.
bazou, machwГЁ.
jealous
ADJ
jalou, jalouzi. make
Jew
N
N
jalouzi.
N
JГ©zi.
Jwif.
jewellery
N
jewfish
vyГЁj2.
job
join
280
N
V
N
bijou, glanglan.
1) kГІvГ©, djГІb. 2) lГ©ta.
1) ajoutГ©. 2) jwenn, manchГ©.
joiner
English – Kwéyòl
joiner
jump V 1) sotГ©. 2) lansГ©. N lansman.
jump back dГ©janbГ©. jump over
janbГ©. jump the line koupГ© douvan.
minizyГ©.
N
joist
N
sonmyГ©.
joke
N
blag.
jumpy
joker
N
joy
lajwa, djГЁwtГ©.
N
joyful
bladjГЁ.
judge
jij.
N
judgment
jug
V
juice
N
N
Jen. June bug jennton.
N
N
just1
ADJ
jis3.
just2
ADV
1) fini, djГІs. 2) annГЁk.
jiwi.
1
jijГ© .
jijman.
N
antjГЁt.
ADJ
jury
justice
kawaf.
N
July
June
an djГЁwtГ©.
ADJ
knowledge
jistis. justice of the peace
N
jis di pГ©.
justify
ji.
jistifyГ©.
V
JwiyГЁt.
Kk
keep
V
tjenn. keep an eye on jГ©tГ©
zyГ©.
kingfish
kerchief
N
mouchwГЁ.
kerosene
N
kestrel
gwigwi poulГ©.
key
N
kawozin.
laklГ©. bunch of keys patjГ©
laklГ©. key ring bwanch laklГ©, kolyГ©
laklГ©, patjГ© laklГ©.
N
kick
V
pyГ©.
N
kidney
bay koul pyГ©, bay koul pat, tiwГ©
koul pyГ©, koul pat.
N
nwa2. kidney beans pwa
wouj.
kill
V
tjwГ©, fГЁ dГ©fini, senyen.
kind1
ADJ
kind2
N
king
kingdom
N
janti.
kalitГ©, sГІt2.
wa1, louwa.
kiss
kitchen
kite
N
bo.
V
tjwizin.
savolan.
N
knead
knee
bawГ©2.
N
bo.
N
wГ©yГІm.
N
V
pentwi.
jounou.
N
kneel
V
ajounou, bГ©sГ©.
knife
N
kouto.
knit
twГ©sГ©.
V
knock
knot
know
V
N
V
konyen1.
nГ©2.
1) sav. 2) konnГЁt.
knowledge
281
N
nГІlaj.
La Rose
English – Kwéyòl
leprous
Ll
La Rose
labour
N
1
lead
labouwГЁ.
lasГ© soulyГ©.
N
V
lwa.
N
lawyer
malad akouchГ©.
N
labourer
lace
law
LawГІz.
N
lasГ©1.
avoka.
N
plon.
N
lead2
V kondwi. take the lead pwan
douvan.
lack V mantjГ©, mГ©witГ©. lacking
nothing antit.
leader
ladder
N
leaf
lady
N
madanm.
leafy
lake
N
lГ©tan.
leak
V
koulГ©1.
lean
V
1) apiyГ©. 2) panchГ©.
leap
N
lansman.
lame
lГ©chГЁl.
enfim. lame person
ADJ
enfimitГ©.
lamp
N
lanp.
lance
N
pitjГЁt fГЁ.
1) pГ©yi. 2) tГЁ.
land
V
fГЁ tГЁ, kГІstГ©, pozГ©.
N
large
leavening
afalay.
leaves
last
ADJ
V
diwГ©.
left
1) dГЁnyГ©. 2) pasГ©.
lastly
ADV
latch
N
late
ADJ
lath
N
V
1) tadГ©. 2) dГ©fen.
ADJ
gГІch.
ADV
ta.
N
lГ©siv.
V
wi2.
N
N
dГЁnyГ© kwas.
lim1.
lemon
N
lend
pwГ©tГ©.
lentil
V
londjГЁ.
N
N
lanti.
leprosy
N
leprous
ADJ
282
gochГ©.
janm, katjГЁt.
length
laugh, laugh at
N
sansi.
leftover
leg
tjatjГ©.
lat.
laundry
dГЁnyГ©.
dГЁnyГ©man.
tjatjГЁt.
N
left-hander
ADV
lГЁlven, yis.
N
pay.
N
leech
gwan, gwo, laj2.
ADJ
tjwi.
N
V kitГ©. leave alone bay wipo,
kitГ© an wipo, kitГ© bat mizГЁ.
janm.
N
apwann.
V
leave
language N langaj, lanng. foul
language gwo mo sal.
lap
founi.
ADJ
leather
N
landslide
fГЁy.
N
learn
land
flГЁch.
N
lad.
lad.
less
English – Kwéyòl
less
ADJ mwens. and less an
dГ©sandan.
lobster
lightning
zГ©klГЁ. lightning bolt
N
koul zГ©klГЁ.
lessen
V
bГ©sГ©.
like1
lesson
N
lison.
like2 CONJ konmsi. PREP kon. just
like menm kon, tГЁl kon. just like
that toubonnman kon sa.
lessons
lest
let
1
lГ©sisyon.
N
avan.
CONJ
V
lwГ©.
V
letter
lГЁt1.
N
lettuce
lГ©ti.
N
level
ADJ
lever
N
liar
Г©gal, nivo1.
N
liberate
livyГЁ.
V
liberation
libГ©wГ©.
N
libГЁtГ©, lГ©chanlib.
license
N
lГ©chanlib, lisans.
lid
lie
N
limit.
ADJ
limp
bwГ©tГ©.
V
link
N
may.
lion
N
lyon.
light2
ADJ
koutГ©2.
V
V
1) viv. 2) wГЁstГ©, wГ©zidan.
V
lively
kouchГ©. lie next to
ADJ
liver
klГЁtГ©, layt, limyГЁ1, vГЁglay.
limen. light in colour pal.
lГ©jГЁ.
N
ti lavi.
cho.
fwa2, fwisi wГЁd.
N
ti lavi.
N
lizard
N zanndoli. house lizard
mabwiya.
mannyГЁ, atitid.
lГ©vГ©. lift weights lГ©vГ© plon.
N
limitГ©.
bwГЁ, gГІg.
N
living
light1
limitГ©.
lГЁv.
N
livelihood
lavi, lisouf.
N
V
limited
live
manti, tiwГ© mansonj.
lifestyle
V
N
an mizi, piti an piti.
bГІnГ©.
lift
limit
little ADJ piti. a little ti miyГЁt. little
bit ti kwas. little by little an mizi
N
N
lacho.
kou4.
lie2, lie down
life
N
listen
nichГ©1.
V
V
lime2
liquor
bouchon. put a lid on
bouchonnen.
1
sitwon.
lip
libГ©wasyon.
N
liberty
licks
N
line N ling. line up aliyГ©. fishing
line fisГЁl pГ©chГ©.
nivo1.
mantГЁ.
N
lick
lime1
1
ba , kité. let’s annou. let go
ladjГ©. let off ladjГ©.
let2
enmen, kontan.
V
load
V
N
loafer
loan
V
lobster
283
chay.
N
V
batГ©, batjГ©, chajГ©.
vakabon.
pwГ©tГ©.
N
houma.
location
English – Kwéyòl
location
lock
laklГ©, sГ©wi.
N
locked
locust
laklГ©.
1) klaklak. 2) kwitjГЁt.
lГІjman.
N
loft
N
galta.
log
N
bi bwa.
loss
N
lost
ADJ
pГЁdant.
pГЁd. get lost pГЁd.
lot N kawГ©. a lot 1) an lo. 2) tibwen.
a lot of an chay.
lГІjГ©.
V
lodging
long
V
laklГ©.
ADJ
N
lodge
koulГ©2. on the losing end an
pГЁdant.
lokasyon.
N
Madam
lotah
dat2, lota.
N
loudly
louse
ADV
fГІ.
mГІpyon, pou3.
N
1
ADJ lonng. as long as 1) tout
tan. 2) dГ©pi. long ago lontan, tan
lontan, ansyen dat. long face fidji
lonng. long time lontan.
long2
V
loo
pwГ©vit.
N
ADJ
loosen
ladjГ©, slak. be loose lochГ©.
1) ladjГ©, ladjГ© asou.
2) dГ©foulГ©.
ADJ
joli.
ADJ
lovingkindness
V
lop-sided
N 1) lanmou. 2) lanmityГ©. V
enmen, kontan. love apple ponm
danmou.
lovely
anvi.
look, look at V gadГ©. Look! mi2.
look after gadГ© apwГ©, otjipГ©. look
for gadГ© pou, chachГ©1. look into
fouyГ© dГЁyГЁ. look like sanm. look
directly gadГ© an mitan zyГ©. look in
the mirror miwГ©.
loose
love
bГІsko.
Lord
N mГЁt, SenyГЁ. our Lord
nГІtsenyГЁ.
lose V pГЁd. lose a game
deliberately vann1. lose one’s
temper lГ©vГ© vГІlkan. lose sight
low
N
tjГЁ fГЁb.
ba2. low tide bas1.
ADJ
1) bГ©sГ©. 2) filГ©2. and lower
an dГ©sandan.
lower
V
luck
N chans. bad luck mal chans,
malГЁ, djiyon. good luck bon chans.
lucky
chansГ©.
ADJ
lukewarm
ADJ
tyГЁd.
lump
N
1) boul. 2) loup.
lunch
V
dГ©jnen.
lung
N
lunula
lying
fwisi mГІl.
N
ADJ
lalin.
mantГЁz.
Mm
machine
N
machin.
mackerel N makwГ©yo. king
mackerel taza.
mad
ADJ
Madam
284
fou1, fГІl.
TITLE
Man.
madness
English – Kwéyòl
madness
N
magic
maji.
N
magnet
lagwandГЁ.
mahogany
N
maho.
V
March
mark
sГЁvi papicho.
male ADJ mal1. N bway2. effeminate
male makoumГЁ.
malnourish
man
N
mal nouwi.
V
1) nonm, misyГ©. 2) lГ©zГІm.
manage
mennajГ©, dГ©bwiyГ©.
V
manager
jГЁwГЁ.
N
manchineel
mange
mango
mГЁtsinyГ©.
gal.
N
manger
N
mango.
N
mangrove N manng. mangrove
cuckoo koukou manyГІk.
mania
mankind
manna
N
manner
lГ©zГІm, latГЁ, kwityen.
lanmann.
N
N
mannyГЁ.
manners
N
mannish
ADJ
manure
N
N
marry
mayГ©.
V
mГЁs.
nonm.
fimyГ©, chyГ©.
mwГЁl.
Martinique
mask
mason
mass
N
Matnik.
3
mas .
N
N
mason.
lanmГЁs.
N
massage
fwotГ©.
V
master
N
mГЁt.
match1
N
zalimГЁt.
tГЁl.
V
materials
matter
N
mattress
mature
foli.
N
mawiyaj.
N
marrow
match
bay2.
N
kaya.
laplas1.
N
marriage
make V 1) fГЁ1. 2) annГ©kГІz. make
fun fГЁ papicho. make fun of pwan
N
matjГ©.
V
market
majГІwitГ©.
N
Mas2.
N
marijuana
pГІstГ©.
majority
mab. play marbles tГЁk,
N
zing.
donmГЁstik.
N
dГ©glizГ©.
V
marbles
lГ©man.
N
N
mail
mar
bawo2, majГЁstwa.
N
magnitude
maid
many ADJ an chay, an pil, anbadjo, pa
dГ©. so many konmen1, mizi, otan.
kwiz.
magistrate
meal
may
1
May2
ADV
N
maybe
me
PRO
meal
285
N
lasi.
N
ADJ
maturity
matwiyo.
N
N
matla.
matwitГ©.
gwandГЁ.
pГ©1, aplГЁ.
MГ©2.
ADV
pitГЁt.
mwen.
wipa.
mean
English – Kwéyòl
mean
vlГ© di. mean to vlГ©.
V
meanwhile
measles
ADV
an menm di tan.
lawjГІl.
N
measure V miziwГ©.
measure tГ©p.
meat
N
mizi. tape
salГ©zon, vyann.
N
meddle
soutiwГ©. meddle with
V
antanmГ©.
meddler
soutiwГЁz.
N
meddling
ADJ
annafГЁ.
medicine N wimГЁd, mГ©dikanman.
medicinal drink pГІtГЁ. type of
medicine: alkoupa.
meditate
meet
mГЁditГ©.
V
asanblГ©, jwenn, kontwГ©.
V
meeting
N
mГЄlГ©e
mГ©limГ©lanj.
melt
N
member
manm2.
N
pyГЁstГ©.
V
mention
merchandise
merchant
N
N
machandiz.
machann.
mercurial ADJ avous, ni vous. be
mercurial ni vap.
mercury
N
mercy
mizГЁwikГІd.
merely
N
ADV
mermaid
N
vidajan.
annГЁk.
manman dlo.
mess N konmГЁs. V babouyГ©. mess
up dГ©wanjГ©, kwazГ©2, dГ©kalГ©.
message
N
Micoud
konmisyon.
konmisyonnГЁ.
N
Mikou.
N
middle of
PREP
midnight
N
midwife
might
mile
mennwit.
pГ©1, aplГЁ.
ADV
N
anmitan.
fanmchay.
N
lyГ©.
military
militГЁ.
ADJ
milk N lГЁt2. V tiwГ© lГЁt. condensed
milk lГЁt konsГЁv.
mill
N
moulen.
millionaire
N
millipede
kangowi.
mimosa
N
milyonnГЁ.
mayhont.
N
mind N 1) lidГ©. 2) tjГЁ. in mind, on
one’s mind asou lidé.
fofilГ©.
V
minister
N minis. Prime Minister
PwГЁmyГ© Minis.
mint
mansyonnen.
V
messenger
mingle
fonn.
V
mend
konsit, mitin.
mistreat
lanmant.
N
minute
minit, monman.
N
miracle
miwak.
N
mirror
miwГЁ.
N
miscarriage
miserable
misery
V
mizГЁ.
N
V
mal wГ©pwГ©zantГ©.
mantjГ©.
mis-step
mistake
mistreat
286
mizГ©wab.
ADJ
misrepresent
miss
fГІskouch.
N
N
N
V
fo pa.
fo pa, mistГ©k.
mal twГ©tГ©, mal mennen.
Mistress
English – Kwéyòl
Mistress
N
mistrust
V
misuse
V
mite
bГЁt wouj.
mix
moon
dГ©fyГ©.
misunderstand
N
ni vous.
madanm, Man, ManzГЁ,
djabal.
TITLE
MГЁyГЁ2.
V
mixed
pli2. the more an mizi...an
mizi. more than pasГ©, pli pasГ©.
mal konpwann.
morrow
N
li denmen.
mortar
N
mГІtyГ©.
mГ©lГ©.
mortar2
N
pilon.
mГ©limГ©lanj.
mosquito
N
moan
plenn2.
mock
V motjГ©, fГЁ sin asou, pwan sГЁvi
papicho, pwan sГЁvi widitjil, pwan sГЁvi
wizib, tousГ© nГ©.
mockingbird
model
molasses
mole
Mom
N
N
moment
N
N
N
monsignor
month
N
moocher
majГІwitГ©.
moth
N
papiyon.
mourn
bГЁlmГЁ.
wasi.
ADJ
fГІs2.
N
N
montany.
pГІtГ© dГЁy.
V
N
dГЁy. in mourning an
dГЁy.
mouse
N
souwi2.
moustache
mouth
makak.
N
N
moustach.
1) bouch. 2) djГІl.
move
V dГ©plasГ©. move over tjilГ©,
vansГ©. move quickly fГЁ vit, fГЁ pyГ©,
bay pyГ©, bwennen kГІ, chapГ© kГІ, chapГ©
pyГ©.
monsenyГЁ.
mandyan.
mood
N zimГЁy. bad mood vap,
vous. in a bad mood vap anlГЁ.
movement
movie
moodiness
N
moody
avous. be moody ni vap,
ADJ
N
chanpiyon.
N
mourning
Lendi.
mwa.
N
manman, Manm, Anman.
N
mountain
monman.
N
N
mound
money N lajan, on ti lanmonnГ©. a
small amount of money lavi.
money bag patjit.
monkey
most
mouldy
Mommy Anman.
Monday
limou. moss rose kavalyГ©2.
mould
gwo siwo.
manman, manm, Anman.
N
N
mother-in-law
sindichГЁ.
N
maygwen.
N
moss
mother
gwiv.
mГІdГЁl.
N
bonmaten.
N
1
mixture
V
ADJ
morning
mal sГЁvi.
ADJ
lalin.
N
more
mГ©lГ©.
V
Mr.
vap, vous.
Mr.
287
N
TITLE
N
mouvman.
pГІtwГ©.
misyГ©.
Mrs.
Mrs.
English – Kwéyòl
negligent
madanm, Man.
mumps
much ADJ an chay, an pil, anbadjo, pa
dГ©. much less jijГ©wГЁ. so much
1) konmen1, mizi, otan. 2) afГІs. so
much more twГІp pli.
murmur
mucus
N
musician
mud
labou.
TITLE
N
mulatto
wim, kaka nГ©.
miyatwГЁs.
mule
milГ©1.
N
mullet
N
milГ©2.
multiply
V
1) miltipyГ©. 2) plГ©plГ©.
mumble
V
manmotГ©.
mimiwГ©.
V
manm1.
N
mizik.
N
musk
milat. female mulatto
N
muscle
music
lagroup.
N
mizisyen.
N
mis.
N
must
ADV
mute
ADJ, N
ni pou, oblijГ©, dwГ©, sГ© pou.
moumou.
muzzle
N
my
mwen.
PRO
mystery
baboutjГЁt.
mistГЁ.
N
Nn
nail1 N klou1. V klouwГ©. horseshoe
nail gwon. remove nails
dГ©klouwГ©.
nail2
naive
naked
name N non1. V bay non, lonmen.
bad name vyГ© tit. what name?
koumonnon.
narrow
nasty
ADJ
ADJ
nation
N
mal pwГІp, salГІp.
nasyon, pГ©yi.
nationality
natural
nature
ADJ
N
nauseate
N
nГ©sГ©sГЁ, sГ© pou, fo2.
kolyГ©.
necktie
N
need
bizwen, mГ©witГ©.
V
neglect
N
kwavat.
V
ADJ
boulvГЁsГ©.
N
288
bizwen.
zГІfi.
nГ©glijГ©. fall into neglect
negligence
negligent
N
zГ©djwi.
dГ©labwГ©.
boulvГЁsГ©, sivotjГ©.
nauseated, nauseous
N
needlefish
natiwГЁl.
nati2.
V
ADJ
neck N kou1. base of neck pyГ© kou.
neck and neck tГЁt a tГЁt, bita. open
exposing the neck dГ©kГІltГ©.
needle
jan.
pwГ©.
mantjГ©.
ADV
necklace
Г©twГЁt.
ADV
pwГ©.
ADV
necessary
tou ni, toupanni.
ADJ
pwГ©, bГІ, alapГІtГ©.
PREP
nearly
inosan.
ADJ
near
lonbwi.
N
nearby
zonng.
N
navel
N
nГ©glijans.
ADJ
nГ©glijan.
Negress
English – Kwéyòl
Negress N nГЁgwГЁs. light-skinned
Negress chabin.
Negro
nГЁg. light-skinned Negro
N
chaben.
N
neither...nor
nephew
N
nerve
nГЁf3.
N
vwГ©zinaj, pwochen.
CONJ
ni...ni.
nivГ©.
net
nich.
1) filГЁt. 2) kali. cast net
lГЁpГЁvyГ©. seine net senn.
ADV
janmen.
nevertheless
ADV
wannman.
new ADJ nèf1, nivo2. New Year’s
Day Joudlan. New Year’s Eve
nobs
N
pyon.
noise
N
1) son. 2) dГ©zГІd, dibwi.
noon
nouvГЁl, wapГІ.
N
next ADJ pwochen, ka vini, lГІt. next
day li denmen. next to bГІdaj.
nibble
nice
kabwiya.
north
N
nГІ.
nose
nickname
soudnon, ti non.
N
niece
N
nyГЁs.
night
N
lannwit, nwit.
nГ©1.
N
nostril
nosy
twou nГ©.
N
tjiki.
ADJ
pa1. not any, not at all
pyГЁs . not any more pa ankГІ. not
a word mwenk. not yet p’òkò.
not
ADV
3
notch
V
danklГ©.
notched
ADJ
danklГ©.
nothing
PRO
1) anyen. 2) mwenk,
ting.
notify
bГЁl.
ADJ
midi.
N
N
wonyen.
V
maji, papicho, bГ©tiz,
N
noose
LavГЁy Joudlan.
news
pyГЁsonn.
PRO
kochonni.
N
never
No! awa. no longer pa ankГІ. no
more pa ankГІ.
nonsense
nervous ADJ annГЁwvГ©. make
nervous annГЁwvГ©, chagwinen.
N
non2.
ADV
nobody
neighbour
nest
no
numb
V
souflГ©1.
nourishment
N
November
Novanm.
N
nouwiti.
nightgown
N
had dГІmi.
now ADV apwГ©zan, atjwГЁlman. right
now apwГ©zan sala, atjwГЁlman sala.
for now pou li pwГ©zan.
nightmare
N
kГІkma.
nowadays
ADV
apwГ©zan, jГІdi, jГІdi
jou.
2
nine ADJ nèf . nine o’clock névè.
nine years nГ©van.
nowhere
ADV
nineteen
diznГЁf.
nude
tou ni, toupanni.
katwiven dis.
numb
ninety
ADJ
ADJ
289
ADJ
ADJ
pyГЁs kotГ©.
angoudi.
number
English – Kwéyòl
number
nun
nut
limowo.
N
nurse1
2
nurse
nwa1.
N
nutmeg
danm, mГЁw.
N
on
N
nГІs1.
V
1) tГ©tГ©. 2) bay tГ©tГ©.
miskad.
N
nutritious
fГІtifiyan.
ADJ
Oo
oar
off, off of
saviyon.
N
oath
N
sГЁman.
offal
oats
N
lavwenn.
offend
obeah N tjenbwa, zГЁb2, gajГ©. do
obeah on pyay. practitioner of
obeah jan gajГ©, tjenbwatГЁ.
obedience
obedient
obey
obГ©yisan, Г©koutan.
ADJ
obГ©yi. refuse to obey kasГ©
bwa an zГІwГЁy.
V
obligate
oblijГ©.
V
obligation
obliteration
observe
V
obstacle
N
occasion
obligasyon.
N
ГІbzГІvГ©.
1
occupation
ocean
octopus
of
ADV
N
ADJ
N
N
N
PREP
2
dГ©lГЁ, tanzantan.
ADJ
anbawasГ©.
Г’ktГІb.
chatou.
lГІdГЁ.
di1. of course kouman.
ofwansГ©.
ofwans.
N
ADJ
dГ©zagwГ©yab.
ofГЁ.
V
offering
N
office
biwo, ГІfis.
N
lofwann, latjГЁt.
officer
N
ofisyГ©.
official
N
lalwa.
offspring
N
often
souvan, an chay di lГЁ, dwi.
N
ADV
ich.
lwil.
ointment
N
fiksyon.
okay
ADJ 1) kГІrГЁk. 2) ti miyГЁt, ti
mГІso, ti tak, tibwen, tizing. INTERJ
bon, dakГІ.
lГ©ta.
lanmГЁ.
N
October
odour
2
fwa , kou , lГЁ .
occasionally
offence
oil
jennman.
N
occupied
lapatouch.
N
ofwansГ©.
V
offended
offer
anlГЁ, asou.
fwisi.
N
offensive
obГ©yisans.
N
PREP
okra
N
gonbo.
old ADJ vyГ©, gwan. old age vyГ©yГЁs.
old enough an laj. Old Year’s
Day LavГЁy Joudlan. older folk
gwan moun.
on PREP 1) anlГЁ, asou. 2) abГІ. on
target aplon. on top of anlГЁ, asou.
290
one
English – Kwéyòl
an1. PRO yonn. one by one
yonn pa yonn. one hundred yan
san. one o’clock yonnè.
one
ADJ
onion N lonyon. green onion,
spring onion ti lonyon.
only
sГЁl1.
ADJ
ADV
open
ADJ 1) ouvГЁ. 2) ovif. V 1) ouvГЁ.
2) dГ©bawГ©. wide open gwan ouvГЁ.
openly
ADV
opinion
opossum
N
opposite
or
PREP
an fas.
order N lГІd. V konmandГ©, bay lГІd.
in order annГІd. in order to pou1.
ordinary
organ
1
organ2
ADJ
nou.
PRO
out of PREP adan1, andidan. out of
shape ГІbzГІki.
outhouse
pwГ©vit.
N
N
fou2. put in oven anfounГ©.
dГ©bГІdГ©.
V
overindulged
overstay
V
mizГ©.
V
matГ©, chaviwГ©.
lГІg.
overwhelmed
N
orphan
V
ГІgannizГ©.
gatГ©.
ADV
N
organize
ADJ
overseas
overturn
ГІgannizasyon.
bout. over
ganyen a bout.
V
fwisi.
N
ADJ
bawГ©1, mawГ©.
ADJ
N
organization
oriole
ГІdinГЁ.
zons.
overflow
zowanj.
N
N
dwГ©, sipozГ©.
overcome
pa.
orange
ounce
overcast
1) Г©ben. 2) avan. or not o
CONJ
ADV
lГ©zГІt, lГІt.
over PREP anho.
here isi-a la.
lokazyon.
N
ought
oven
mannikou.
opportunity
ADJ
outside PREP dèwò, dèwò-a. �outside
woman’ djabal.
alavidГЁy.
lopinyon.
N
other
our
sГЁlman, tousГЁl.
pail
lГІt pГ©yi.
ADJ
sik an dan.
2
owe
V
own
ADJ
dwГ© .
menm.
kawouj.
owner
N
mГЁt, mГЁtwГЁs.
ГІflen.
oxbow
N
kakan.
N
saviyon.
N
Pp
pack
package
packed
pad
N
paddle
foulГ©.
V
N
ADJ
tГІch.
1
patjГ© .
foulГ©.
padlock
page
pail
291
N
N
N
kadna.
fГЁyГЁt.
bonm.
V
najГ© saviyon.
pain
English – Kwéyòl
pain
mal2.
N
paint
paintbrush
pair
V
bГІs.
N
had dГІmi.
N
palace
N
palГ©2.
palate
N
palГ©3.
palm tree
palmiste
pan
N
pants
wanmo.
palmis.
N
pann2. frying pan pann a fwi.
tjilГІt.
N
papaya
paper
N
parable
Paradise
parasite
N
parcel
N
parch
V
pardon
vГІlГЁ.
N
parasol
Pawadi.
N
konmisyon.
gwiyГ©.
parrot
parsley
part
N
past
N
N
paw
patisipГ©, pwan pa.
N
pasajГ©.
N
pasГ©.
gwodja.
ADJ
V
pyГЁstГ©.
pyГЁstГ©.
twas, ti chimen.
N
N
pasyans.
pitj.
V
pat.
N
N
papay.
V pГ©yГ©. N lapГЁy. pay attention
matjГ©, bay ganm.
payment
N
patisipasyon.
pГ©yiman.
1
pea
pa3. take part pwan pa.
participation
pasaj.
pyГЁs2.
N
pawpaw
N pwa . black-eyed peas pwa
zyГ© nwГЁ. pigeon peas pwa angГІl.
snow peas senm, boukousou. split
peas pwa kasГ©. sweet peas pwa
dou.
pГЁsi.
V
N
patience
jako.
participate
pasab.
ADJ
N
ADJ
path
kannawi dlo.
N
patizan.
pay
pawГЁs.
paronychia
N
fГЁ lafГЁt.
V
passers-by lГ© pasan.
N
N
fГЁt2.
passenger
pave
pawasГІl.
padon, pawdonnab,
pawdonnasyon. V pawdonnen.
parish
N
patched
pawabГІl.
N
patikilГ©man.
ADV
danm.
N
passage
patch
papyГ©.
N
party2
pastry
papay.
N
1
passable
blenm, pal.
ADJ
partner
anpatikilГ©.
pass V pasГ©. pass away Г©tenn. pass
by pasГ©. pass gas pГ©tГ©, lachГ© van.
it came to pass twouvГ©.
konpГЁ.
N
ADV
particularly
party
pГЁ .
N
pale
pentiwГ©.
3
pyjamas
pal
particular
penti.
N
peak
peace
1) lapГ©. 2) milyГ©.
N
peacock
peak
292
N
N
pan.
piton.
peanut
English – Kwéyòl
peanut
N
peck
bГЁktГ©, bat zГІy.
peel
peg
V
pistach.
N
pellet
bal simen.
pen
pen2
N
moun.
laswГЁ.
N
1
bГЁt , vГЁmin.
N
manch pilon.
N
Piti Piton.
N
pharmacy
fonmasi.
N
N
kalГІj, pak .
photograph
N
plim.
pick V tjouwi. pick at wonyen.
pick up anmasГ©, hГ©di.
penis
kwГ©yon.
N
pickaxe
kГІk3, jak, kal, lolo, pati2,
N
penknife
picture
janbГЁt.
N
N
go.
people
N
1) pГЁp. 2) lГ©zГІm.
pepper
perch
perfect
perfume
N
perish
apГЁsivwГЁ.
ADJ
N
losyon.
N
permit
1
persecute
pГЁwmi, pГЁwmisyon.
ba , kitГ©, pГЁwmitГ©.
V
persecution
pikГЁpГІch.
pГЁsikitГ©.
N
Pierrot
pig
N
kwГ©vГ©, pГЁsГ©.
V
PyГ©wo.
N
kochon.
N
pile
N
pijon. wood pigeon
lo.
pilotwi, poto.
N
pillow
zГІwyГ©.
N
pillowcase
pimple
pГ©wi. perish the thought
tjwГ© kozГ©.
V
permission
pierce
pillar
pawfГ©, antit.
danjГ©.
V
N
wanmyГ©.
pwi2.
V
tiwГ© pГІtwГ©.
pГІtwГ©. take picture tiwГ©
N
pigeon
pa2.
V
V
piece N mГІso, tjГІ, miyГЁt, bi. in
pieces anpany.
N piman. black pepper
pwГЁv1. hot pepper piman fГІ. types
of hot pepper: piman bwilГ©, piman
gwiv, piman manjak, piman sГЁt
chГІdyГЁ.
perceive
pГІtwГ©.
pГІtwГ©.
penny
PREP
N
pikwa.
N
pickpocket
pennsil.
peril
person
Petit Piton
1
pencil
per
kontinГ©.
pestle
pГ©lГ©kan.
pwГЁl.
N
V
pest
pelican
N
persist
perspiration
poto.
N
1
zГІy.
gwennen, kalГ©.
V
pelt
N
pint
N
N
tГЁt zГІwyГ©.
vГЁblГ©.
pin N zГ©penng ti tГЁt.
pin zГ©penng.
pincer
pinch
pint
pГЁsikasyon.
293
N
N
V
mГІdan.
penchen.
panyt.
V
tachГ©2. safety
pipe
English – Kwéyòl
pipe
pistol
pluck
tiyo.
N
pitch N goudon.
pine bwadnГІ.
pity
plug
wivГІlva.
N
V
goudonnen. pitch
place N plas. little place ti kГІt. in
place of laplas2. take place wivГ©,
fГЁt, pwan plas, pwan kou. take place
of pwan plas.
plague
plГ©g.
N
plain-spoken
plaint
fГЁplГ©.
plent.
N
plait
V
natГ©.
plan
N
plan2.
galГЁ.
V
galГ©2.
plant
N
pyГ©2.
V
plantГ©.
plantain N bannann. a type of
plantain: makanbou.
bitasyon, plantasyon.
planter
N
plantГЁ.
plaster
N
plasta.
plate
pla.
N
plateau
N
pocket
pГІch.
N
poinsettia
flГ©wi NwГЁl.
poke
djoukГ©, tjokГ©.
ADJ
V
plasta.
agwГ©yab.
pleasantness
N
please
INTERJ
V
pleasure
plot
N
plough
plГЁ.
N
dousГЁ.
souplГ©.
plГ©zi.
konplo. plot of land tГ©wen.
N
V
pwГ©zon.
chawi.
V
chawi.
V
pwГ©zonnen.
1) gГІlГЁt. 2) wanm.
N
polite
N
kГІdgad, stГ©chann.
byen Г©livГ©.
ADJ
polluted
ADJ
mal pwГІp.
pollution
N
mal pwГІptГ©.
pomegranate
pond
plГ©dГ©.
pleasant
1) pwent. 2) pwen2.
N
N
N
N
gwinad.
ma.
poniard
N
ponya.
1) pГІv. 2) mal2, pГІdjab.
3) malГ©wГ©, malГ©wГЁz. poor person
malГ©wГ©. poor woman malГ©wГЁz.
poor people lГ© malГ©wГ©, lГ© pГІv.
poor devil, poor thing pГІdjab.
poor
ADJ
pope
N
V jwГ©. play the fool simen
gwenn.
V
N
janbГЁt.
poison
play
plead
N
plimaj.
pocket knife
plato.
N
pwin. hog plum mouben.
N
police station
N
N
bouchГ©1, tjok.
ADJ
plumage
pole
plane
plantation
bouchГ©1.
plugged
point
ADJ
plimen.
V
V
plum
pityГ©.
N
porridge
lipap.
population
N
porpoise
machwen.
N
pГІpilasyon.
porridge N kwenm. porridge made
with cassava flour loukou1.
porridge made with cassava
flour and milk matГ©tГ©. porridge
made with white flour pap.
porridge made with white flour,
294
porter
English – Kwéyòl
milk and spices malobi.
porter
portion
lo, pГІsyon.
N
position
positively
ADV
possess
posГ©dГ©.
possessions
possibility
possible
pozitivman.
byen.
N
posibilitГ©.
N
posib.
ADJ
post1
N
poto.
post2
V
pГІstГ©. post office lapГІs.
postpone
V
anvoyГ©.
pot N chГІdyГЁ, kannawi. chamber
pot pГІt chanm.
potato
N ponm tГЁ. sweet potato
patat. sweet potato bug bГЁt patat.
potion
cham. give a potion
N
patjit.
poultice
pound
N
kataplanm.
precaution
N
precipice
N
falГЁz, kaskou, koudoum.
precisely
ADV
prefer
pwokosyon.
jis2.
simyГ©.
V
preferably
ADV
preference
N
liv .
pound2
N
pon2.
pour
vidГ©, dГ©vidГ©, kwГ©vГ©.
powder
N
powerful
pwГ©fГ©wans.
ADJ 1) gwo bouden, ansent,
gwГІs. 2) plenn1.
preoccupied
ADJ
kГІ.
prepare
pwГ©pawГ©, fГЁ pwovizyon, fГЁ
V
prepared
poud.
ADJ
toupisan.
ADJ
pawГ©1.
presence
N pwГ©zans. be present at
asistГ©1, atandГ©2.
present
pwГ©zantГ©.
V
presently
preserve
ADV
president
N
pwГ©zidan.
praise
presumptuous
glowifyГ©.
V
praline
N
pray
pwГ©dyГ©.
N
lapwГЁs.
pressure
N
chalГЁ.
ADJ
endiskwГ©,
konpawГ©zon.
pwalin.
lapwiyГЁ.
N
apwГ©zan, pwГ©zantman.
pwГ©zГЁvГ©, konfi.
V
press
prayer
anbwennzenng.
preparation N pwГ©pawasyon. make
preparation fГЁ ganm.
preparation of a corpse lavman di
practice N pwatik2. put into
practice mГ©tГ© an pwatik.
V
simyГ©, vonmyГ©.
pregnant
2
N
V
pwГ©chГ©, pwГ©dikГ©.
V
ganm.
N
1
chouval BondyГ©.
N pwГЁchman,
pwГ©dikasyon.
chamГ©.
pouch
N
preaching
pozisyon.
N
V
praying mantis
preach
pГІtГЁ.
N
prevent
pretty
ADJ
prevent
295
V
bГЁl.
anpГ©chГ©, enpozГ©.
price
English – Kwéyòl
pumpkin
price
N
pwi1.
proprietress
prick
V
pitjГ©.
prosper
pride
N
lГІgГЁy, kwГ©yans.
1
N
pwГЁt, labГ© , pГЁ .
prime
V
sali2.
prince
N
prostitution
principal
N
mГЁt lГ©kГІl.
principle
N
pwensip.
prison
lajГІl, pwizon.
N
prisoner
N
pwizonnyГ©.
privilege
N
pwivilaj.
problem
N
pwГІblenm, pas1.
proclaim
pwoklanmГ©.
V
produce
pwodwi.
V
profanity
N
profess
pwofГЁsГ©.
V
profession
profit
progress
N
prohibit
V
lГ©ta, pwofГЁsyon.
dГ©fann, enpozГ©.
koudmen.
promiscuous
ADJ
mal pwГІp.
promise
N, V
proof
pwГЁv2, pwen2.
N
pwonmГЁt.
property
N
popyГ©tГЁ, tГЁ.
prophesy
V
divinГ©.
prophet
N
proprietor
pwofГЁt.
N
mГЁt.
proud
djanmГЁt.
N
pwotГ©jГ©, pwotГЁktГ©.
V
fwГ©. make proud lГ©vГ©
ADJ
nГ©.
provide
potjiwГ©.
V
provision N pwovizyon, potjiwasyon.
ground provision gwo manjГ©,
vivtГЁ.
provoke
V
prune
dГ©bwanchГ©.
V
prying
pwovokГ©.
tjiki.
ADJ
kabawГ©.
N
public
piblik.
N
publication
publicly
pwogwГ©.
pwojГ©. work project
N
protect
pub
pwofi.
N
project
mo.
N
byennГ©wГ©, Г©wГ©, ja
N djanmГЁt, fanm konmen,
fanm lawi, fanm vyГ© lavi.
pwennsГЁs.
N
ADJ
fè’y, ja wivé.
prostitute
pwens.
princess
pwГІspГ©wГ©.
V
prosperous
1
priest
mГЁtwГЁs.
N
N
puddle
N
puff up
V
puffy
pibliyГ©.
V
pudding
piblikasyon.
alavidГЁy.
ADV
publish
puffer
N
bouden2.
twou dlo.
gonflГ©.
pwГ©son amГ©.
N
ADJ
bousolГ©.
pull
V halГ©, hГ©di. pull away halГ© kГІ,
witjilГ©.
pulse
N
pumice
pou2.
N
pumpkin
296
tif.
N
jГІmou.
punch
English – Kwéyòl
punch (var: N) 1) koul pwen. 2) bay
koul pwen.
V
punish
pini.
V
kwГ©vГ©.
punishment
puppet
purchase
pure
pursuit
N
bay lapouswiv.
lapouswiv. in pursuit of
dГЁyГЁ.
pus
N limГЁ, matyГЁ. form pus
pГІstimГ©.
push
pi1.
ADJ
patjit.
N
V
ganyen.
V
piwifyГ©.
V
pursue
pinisyon.
N
bwa bwa.
N
purify
purse
puncture
raise
purge N mГЁtsin, tizann. types of
purge: jalap, lГІk.
pousГ©, fouyГ©1.
V
pustule
N
pousad.
plГІk.
N
put, put on
V
mГ©tГ©. put out Г©tenn.
Qq
quadrille
N
quality
kalitГ©.
N
quantity
quarrel
chikann.
quarrelling
quart
quick
N
V
dГ©zГІd.
kГІt2.
N
N
ka , katyГ©.
queasy
ADJ
malotjГЁ.
N
ADV
quicksilver
ADJ
quietly
quite
kwГЁsyonnen.
lacho.
vit, vitman, alakous.
N
vidajan.
dous, tjantjil.
dousman.
ADV
ADV
V
vif.
ADJ
quickly
quiet
2
quarter
queen
babyГ©.
kwГЁsyon.
N
quicklime
kantitГ©.
N
N
question
kГІdwil.
tou1, pa dГ©.
1) wenn. 2) danm.
N
Rr
rabbit
1
race
N
lapen.
rag
hanyon.
N
N
kous.
rage
N
waj, kwiz.
race
N
was.
rain
N
lapli.
radio
N
radyo.
rainbow
raffle
V
waflГ©.
rainfly
N
rafter
N
chivon.
raise
lГ©vГ©, hosГ©.
2
297
V
N
lakansyГЁl.
fonmi azГЁl.
N
hosman. raise
ram
English – Kwéyòl
poorly mal lГ©vГ©. raise well byen
lГ©vГ©.
ram
bГ©lyГ©.
N
rap
rape
rarely
rash
rat
wa2.
ADV
bouton2, gwatГЁl.
N
rather
CONJ
pito. rather than andji,
olyГЁ.
ravine
raw
ray
1) kwi3. 2) ovif.
ADJ
razor
N
wazwГЁ.
reach
V
wivГ©.
read
real
ADJ
wГ©yГЁl.
ADJ
realize
really
wГ©yalizГ©.
V
vГ©witabman, vwГ©man,
ADV
wГ©yГЁlman.
reap
reason
N
wГ©zon.
reasonable
rebel
ADJ
V
wГ©zonnen.
wГ©zonnab.
lГ©vГ©, lГ©vГ© wГ©vГІt, wГ©bГЁl,
wivГІltГ©.
V
rebellion
N
wГ©vГІt.
rebuke lГ©vГ© dГЁyГЁ, pwi dГЁyГЁ, pwi an
pwi an kГІ.
recall
recant
V
V
chonjГ©.
dГ©di.
talГЁ-a, tou fwГ©.
rГЁkГІd.
N
recount
V
red
wouj. red beans pwa wouj.
ADJ
wakontГ©.
jon.
N
reef
N
bas1, kay4.
reel
V
twilbichГ©.
wiplen.
V
reflect
wГ©flГ©chi.
V
afwГ©chi.
V
ADJ
fwГ©.
fridj.
N
refuse
V
wifizГ©.
refute
V
dГ©manti.
regard
wГ©gadГ©.
V
wГ©jim2.
regimen
N
region
pawГЁs.
N
register
wГ©jistwГ©.
V
registration
wГ©kГІltГ©.
V
ADV
refrigerator
pawГ©1. get ready fГЁ
ganm, fГЁ pwovizyon.
ready
twapГ©, wisivwГЁ.
refreshed
li2.
V
V
refresh
wГ©.
N
receive
refill
wavin.
N
wisi.
reed
wat.
N
N
record
anvyolГ©, jwi.
V
receipt
recently
konyen1.
V
relative
N
wГ©jistwasyon.
registry
N
regret
wigwГ©tГ©.
V
regularly
reign
V
reject
ADV
V
kondwit.
wГ©jwi, widjГЁwtГ©.
N
wilasyon.
relationship
298
N
widjГЁktГ©.
relations
relative
wГЁglГ©.
kondwi.
V
rejoice
ogwГЁf.
N
N
viv.
jennenwasyon.
relax
English – Kwéyòl
relax
release
relief
N
N
soulajman.
resilient
ADJ
soulajГ©.
resound
V
V
religion
respect
wilizyon.
N
religious
remain
remainder
remedy
N
remember
remove
render V wann. render witch
powerless dГ©gajГ©.
rent
lwГ©.
V
N
wГЁspГ©.
lajan kay.
wГЁskonsab.
ADJ
rest1
V pozГ©.
dГ©kolГ©.
rest2
tiwГ©, witiwГ©.
V
N
wГ©pons.
N
responsible
chonjГ©.
V
Г©klatГ©.
asou kont.
lГЁwГЁstan, dГЁnyГ© kwas.
djГ©wizon, mГ©dikanman.
N
sizonnen.
responsibility N wГЁskonsabilitГ©.
under (someone’s) responsibility
wГЁstГ©.
V
wГ©zidan.
wГЁspГЁktГ©.
V
response
wilizyГЁz.
ADJ
dГ©pan.
V
lГІjman.
N
resident
lachГ©, ladjГ©.
V
relieve
rely
residence
pozГ©.
V
rib
N
pГІz, wipo. rest on
lГЁwГЁstan.
N
resurrect
wГ©sisitГ©.
V
resurrection
N
wГ©zГЁwГЁksyon.
repair
V
wanjГ©.
retarded enfim an tГЁt, gochГ© an tГЁt.
retarded person dГЁkdГЁk.
repeat
V
wГ©pГ©tГ©.
retreat
N
repent
V
wГ©panti.
return
V
viwГ©, witounen.
reveal
V
wГ©vГ©lГ©.
repentance
replace
report
wapГІ.
N
represent
reproach
V
resell
V
V
N
wipwГІch.
miltipyГ©.
oblijГ©.
wivann.
resemble
V
sanm, gadГ© kon.
reservoir
N
lГ©zavwa.
reside
V
N
revenge
wivanj.
reverse
wГЁstГ©, wГ©zidan.
N
N
dГ©viwan.
wГ©vГ©lasyon.
V
Г©klatГ©.
3
bak .
V
revive
V
konpwann kГІ.
revolt
N
wГ©vГІt.
V
wivГІltГ©, lГ©vГ©, lГ©vГ©
wГ©vГІt.
chapГ©.
V
V
wipwochГ©.
revelation
reverberate
wГ©pwГ©zantГ©.
V
reproduce
rescue
wГ©pantisman.
anplasГ©, pwan plas.
V
require
N
witwГЁt.
revolution
N
revolver
wivГІlva.
N
rheumatism
rib
N
tich.
299
1
wГ©volisyon.
N
fwГ©di.
kГІt . rib of a coconut frond
ribbon
English – Kwéyòl
ribbon
rice
wiban.
N
diwi. sweetened rice kirou.
N
rich
ADJ wich, byennéwé, ja fè’y, ja
wivГ©. rich people lГ© wich. rich
person wicha.
riches
N
ride
moutГ©.
V
ridicule
byen, wichГЁs.
pwan sГЁvi papicho, pwan
sГЁvi widitjil, pwan sГЁvi wizib, fГЁ
papicho, ladjГ© chalbawi dГЁyГЁ,
fiyonnen. N widitjil, chalbawi, wizib.
rifle
ADJ
2
righteous
ADJ
dwГЁt2.
righteousness
rightly
ADV
dwivГ©.
roast
V
woti.
roasted
rob
woti.
ADJ
vГІlГЁ.
V
robbery
vГІl1.
N
gГІl1, siltann.
N
robust
ADJ
rock
kayГЁ, wГІch.
rod
N
vayan.
va.
N
woulГ©1. N woulo. roll dice
jwГ© gwenndГ©. roll up voplГ©.
dwГЁt2, an dwa, ni wГ©zon.
1
ADV dwГЁt . N dwa , tit. just right
jis kont. right away la menm.
right side out landwГЁt.
right
V
roll
fizi.
N
roam
robe
V
rub
N
ladwati.
byen fГЁt.
1
V
roof N fГ©tay, tГЁt kay. ridge cap of
roof chapo kay. roof of mouth
palГ©3.
roofing
galvanniz.
N
room N 1) chanm. 2) lГЁ1. dining
room lasal. sitting room lasal.
make room fГЁ lГЁ, tjilГ©, vansГ©.
ring N 1) sГЁk2. 2) bag. wedding
ring alyans.
root N wasin, djouk bwa. V labouwГ©.
take root fГЁ wasin, pwi2.
ring2
V
rooted
ADJ
rip
dГ©chiwГ©.
rope
kab.
V
sonnen.
ripe ADJ mi3, matwitГ©. over-ripe
state of dasheen tounen.
ripen
rise
V
fennen.
lГ©vГ©. rise from death
wГ©sisitГ©.
V
risk
N
wis.
rosary
rot
V
N
konbГІs.
river
N
lawivyГЁ.
road
N
chimen. main road gwan
chimen.
N
N
chaplГ©.
pouwi.
rotten
ADJ
pouwi, fwГ©.
rough
ADJ
wid. rough up bwitalizГ©,
bwizГ©.
round
rival
roadworks
N
wasinГ©.
route
row
rub
N
ADJ
N
won.
lawout, kous.
wan.
V fwotГ©. rub with ointment
fiksyonnen.
twavo.
300
rubbish
English – Kwéyòl
rubbish
rudder
rude
V kouwi. run away mawon,
fann kann, fГЁ djip, fГЁ lapousyГЁ, fГЁ yan,
fГЁ zГ©klГЁ, kouwi vant a tГЁ, kwazГ© bwa,
kwazГ© wazyГ©, pwan an bwa, pwan
lavГІl. run fast fГЁ yan, kouwi vant a
tГЁ.
gouvГЁnay.
N
hadi.
ADJ
rudeness
N
hadyГЁs.
ruin
N
lapatouch.
rule
V
kondwi.
rum
N
wonm.
rumple
run
kochonni, zГІdi.
N
running
kondwit, lwa.
N
rushed
rust
plotonnen, chifonnen,
V
save
ADJ
alakous.
pwГ©sГ©.
lawouj.
N
rusty
bouwi.
ADV
V
wiyГ©.
wiyГ©.
ADJ
Ss
sack
sacrifice
sad
N
sailor
V
sГ©lГ©.
navidjГ©.
V
matlo.
N
sen. St. Joseph’s Day Fèt
Sent JozГЁf. St. Lucia Sent Lisi. St.
Vincent SГ©vГ©san.
N
sake
lapГ©ti2.
N
salad
salad. salad beans pwa
N
salad.
salary
N
sale
lavant, vant2.
N
saliva
N
salivate
salt
N
salГЁ.
kwacha.
V
sГЁl2.
saltfish
N
koulГ©1.
V
salГ©.
ADJ
salГ©.
lanmowi.
N
salvasyon.
same
ADJ menm, Г©gal. same to you
pawГЁyman.
twistГЁs, mal tjГЁ, chagwen.
vwГЁl.
N
salty
biswi sГЁl.
N
salvation
sГЁl4.
N
sadness
saint
sakwifis.
N
twis.
ADJ
saddle
sail
saltine
sak.
N
sand
sandal
sap
sab1. sand fly moustik.
N
sapat, katapГІl, djari.
N
2
lГЁt , lagli.
N
sapodilla
sardine
Satan
N
N
sapoti.
sadin.
Satan.
N
satisfaction
N
satisfaksyon.
satisfied
ADJ
satisfy
satisfГЁ, wipinyГ©.
V
Saturday
sauce
N
save
301
V
V
Sanmdi.
sГІs.
saucepan
sautГ©
N
kontantГ©, satisfГЁ.
N
pann2.
wousi.
sovГ©.
saviour
English – Kwéyòl
saviour
N
saw
2
sovГЁ.
1
N si . V siyГ© . compass saw
paspatou. hand saw lГ©gowin.
sawdust
say
palanma.
scriptures
N
lГ©vanjil.
N lanmГЁ. sea egg, sea urchin
chadon. sea fan lГ©bichГ©.
seagrape
N
scald
chodГ©.
V
scale
N kay .
kay pwГ©son.
scaly
seal
gal.
3
V
kayГ© . fish scale
scarcely
kouti.
N
seamstress
N sГ©zon. dry season
kawenm. rainy season livГЁnaj.
kayГ© .
season2
ADV
V
seasoned
djГЁ.
sizonnen.
V
fawouchГ©.
seaweed
N
scarf
N
mouchwГЁ.
second1
ADJ
scent
2
lГ©kГІl. school of fish tach .
N
scissors
sizo1.
N
V
fiyonnen.
scold
V
mГІdГ© anlГЁ.
N
N
bouch lonng.
scrap
N
dГЁnyГ© kwas.
scratch
V
scream
screen
screw
V
N
N
gwafiyen, gwatГ©.
hГ©lГ©, fГЁ yon kwi.
paswa.
vis1.
V
second-rate
N
visГ©.
secretary
N
secretive
ADJ
see
V
seed
N
koul
seem
seer
pat mouch.
N
dГ©zyenman.
ADV
pachpach.
sigwГ©tГЁ.
sГ©wan.
ADV ankachГЁt, an sГ©wan, an
sigwГ©, anba fГЁy.
gwif.
scrawl
kadГЁ.
secretly
gwatГ©, plichГ©.
V
dГ©zyenm.
N sigwГ©. in secret ankachГЁt,
an sigwГ©, an sГ©wan, anba fГЁy.
ГЁskoupyon.
scowl
scrape
wawГЁt.
secret
scoff
scorpion
N
secondly
lГІdГЁ.
N
school
second
simen, simГЁwjГ©.
V
2
sizonnen.
ADJ
scare
scatter
koutwiyГЁz.
N
season1
mak.
N
wГ©zen.
N
kachtГ©.
V
seam
2
2
ADJ
tjiwГ©.
V
sea
lakout.
N
scabies
scar
N
di3.
V
scab
screwpine
scrub
mouli bwa.
N
seldom
N
kwi1.
1) wГЁ. 2) oti2.
N
V
N
gwenn.
sanm.
gadГЁ, divinГЁ, jan gajГ©.
seine
V
sennen.
seize
V
sГ©zi.
seldom
302
ADV
wa2.
self
self
English – Kwéyòl
kГІ, menm.
N
selfish
sell
vann1.
V
send
gadГ© pou kГІ.
ADJ
shaddock
senile
ADJ
sense
N
chadГЁt.
N
shade, shadow
N
lonbwaj.
shake
V 1) twanblГ©, twanblad pwan.
2) soukwГ©. 3) lochГ©. shake hands
soukwГ© lanmen.
voyГ©. send away voyГ© alГ©.
V
shiny
pГЁd tГЁt.
sans.
shaking
N
shallow
ADJ
twanblad.
plat.
senseless
ADJ
ennitil.
sensitive
ADJ
1) sansib. 2) sisГЁptid.
sentence
V
kondannГ©.
share
separate
V
sГ©pawГ©.
shark N wГ©tjen. hammerhead
shark pantoufouyГ©. sand shark
wГ©tjen sab. white shark wГ©tjen
September
N
sergeant
sГЁjan.
serious
N
sГЁwiyГ©.
ADJ
seriously
SГЁptanm.
ADV
bwital.
shame
N
fГЁ hont, jawГ©2, tjipi, fГЁ afon.
V
hontГ©.
sГ©pawГ©.
V
sharp
V
wazГ©, koupГ© kwi.
shave
serpent
N
sГЁpan.
shavings
servant
N
sГЁvant, donmГЁstik.
she
serve
sГЁvi.
seven
seventeen
ADJ
disГЁt.
seventh
ADJ
sГЁtyenm.
seventy
ADJ
swasant dis.
several
ADJ
plizyГЁ.
severe
sew
V
sewing
shack
ADJ
bwital.
koud.
N
N
kouti.
kabГ©.
V
PRO
shed
sèt. seven o’clock sétè.
ADJ
filГ©1.
sharpen
pwГ©dikasyon.
V 1) mГ©tГ©. 2) kouchГ©. set a trap
tann2. set apart apa. set fire pwi
difГ©. set upright dГ©chaviwГ©.
filГ©1.
ADJ
N
set
lo, pa3.
blan.
sermon
V
N
sheep
N
N
N
mouli.
i, ’y.
chГ©d.
mouton.
sheet
N
kouvГЁti.
shelf
N
lГ©tajГЁ.
shell
N 1) kokiyaj, kГІn. 2) zГ©kal.
3) katouch. V dГ©kalГ©, gwennen.
shelter
N
kabГ©, chГ©d. shelter from
pawГ©3.
shepherd
N
shilling
N
chlen.
shine
klГ©wГ©. shine on bay asou.
V
shingle
shiny
303
N
ADJ
bГЁwjГ©, gadyenn mouton.
zГ©sant.
anklГ©want.
ship
English – Kwéyòl
ship
batiman, bato. cargo ship
N
patjГ©2.
shirt
shoe
sГ©zisman.
N
soulyГ©.
N
shoelace
N
shoemaker
shoot1
2
shoot
shop
V
fГ©wГ©.
sigh
kГІdonnyГ©.
fiziwГ©.
sign N sin1. V siyГ©2. sign of the
cross sin a kwa.
boutik, magazen.
kout1.
bal simen.
N
should
ADV
shoulder
N
shovel
moutwГ©.
V
shrewd
ADJ
V
shroud
V
visyГ©.
sickness
similar
pawГЁy1.
ADJ
simple
ADJ
1) senp. 2) inosan.
simultaneously
sin
an menm di tan.
pГ©chГ©2.
N, V
since
ADV
dГ©pi.
CONJ, PREP
N
sink
anfondwГ©, koulГ©1, fГЁ fon.
fГЁmГ©. Shut up! PГ© la!.
N
dajan.
N
singer
shut
sickle
ennitil. silly person lГЁlГЁ.
ADJ
anslivi.
V
ADJ
swa.
N
sing
shuffle
ADJ
silk
Г©twГ©si, mГЁgwГ©si.
soukwГ© zГ©pГІl.
V
V
kwi1.
pГЁl.
N
shrink
N
fwГЁt1, silans.
ADJ
silver
zГ©pГІl.
silans.
N
silent
silly
dwГ©, sipozГ©.
shout V andjГ©lГ©, hГ©lГ©, kwiyГ©.
shout at hГ©lГ© dГЁyГЁ.
dГ©kouvГЁ.
V
silence
lans1, lanm batan.
ADJ
sick
soupi.
N
V
short
shy
pasГ©.
sight
N
shrug
sift
paswa.
flГЁch, jГЁm, koko2, wichton.
shore
show
N
sifter N paswa, tanmi. sifter for
cassava flour lГ©bichГ©.
lasГ©1.
N
sieve
V
favowi.
N
N
N
shot
mГ©tГ© bay, pwan pou.
sideburn
chimiz.
N
shock
sit
bat kat.
V
N
plon.
sinner
N
pГ©chГЁ2.
sir
malad.
sisal
hanswa.
sister
maladi.
side N fasad, kotГ©, bГІ, sayd. side by
side alimans, yonn a lГІt. side with
chantГЁ, chantwГЁl.
sinker
koutja.
N
chantГ©.
V
N
misyГ©.
N
N
lapit.
sГ©sГ©, sГЁ.
sister-in-law
sit
304
V
N
bГЁlsГЁ.
asiz. sit on kouvГ©.
situation
English – Kwéyòl
situation
slime
sitiwasyon.
N
six ADJ sis. six o’clock sizè. six
years sizan.
sixteen
sixty
size
skate
wГ©.
N
skill
N
ladwГЁs.
skin
N
lapo.
skink
V
plichГ©, gwiji, kГІchГ©.
N jipon. slip one’s mind pasé
an lidГ©.
slobber
V
slope
panchan, pant.
skirt
N
jip.
slug2
skull
N
kalГІt tГЁt.
sly
sky
slug
1
ADJ
skullcap
slander
V
mГ©pwizГ©.
slant
nwГЁsi non, dГ©kwiyГ©,
N mГ©pwi.
panchan, pant.
N
slanted
ADJ
N
slaughterhouse
slave
N
slavery
N
labatwa, hal.
N
V
dГІmi, kouchГ©.
sleep2
N
lasi.
N
sleepy
ADJ
sleeve
N
V
N
malen.
anvi dГІmi.
manch.
N
glisad.
lifon.
N
piti.
ADJ
ADJ
lifon.
N
V
santi, pwan lГІdГЁ.
1
souwi , gwiyen.
V
smoke
entГЁlijan, savan.
lГІdГЁ.
N
lafimГ©.
N
V
1) pafimГ©.
2) fimen.
smooth
lis.
kolasyon, soutni.
N
kalmason.
N
snake
sonmГЁy.
ADJ
sГЁpan. type of snake:
N
kouwГЁs.
snapper
dГІmГЁz.
glisГ©.
bay koul pwen.
smartness
snail
mas1.
sleep1
sleeper
V
snack
ГЁslavaj.
sledgehammer
slide
V
ГЁslav.
N
bГЁt san zo, vyann san zo.
smart
smile
palaviwГ©, souflГ©2, tap.
palaviwГ©.
slap
dous, dousman.
N
ADJ
smell
an panchan.
an panchan.
ADV
small
lГ©zГЁ, syГЁl.
N
bavГ©.
ADJ
slyness
koukou chapo.
N
N
sloping
skinny
mГЁg.
glisГ©.
ADJ
flandjГ©.
V
slowly
zanndoli tГЁ.
N
slip
slit
mizi, gwГІsГЁ, lajГЁ.
N
katapГІl.
N
slippery
swasant.
ADJ
limou.
N
slingshot
sГЁz.
ADJ
snow
snare
N
kabwiya, pliyan.
N
sneeze
sГІb.
V
ГЁstennГ©.
snore
V
wonflГ©.
snow
N
lannГЁj.
305
so
English – Kwéyòl
so
CONJ kon sa, alГІ. ADV afГІs, mizi,
tГЁlman, si tГЁlman. so and so entГЁl.
so so tizing, pasab, pyanmpyanm.
soak
soaked
soaking
soap
sock
N
soft
ADJ
1) mГІl, mГЁltwi. 2) mwГ©zi.
V
soil
tГЁ.
mГЁltwi, moli.
V
soiled
ADJ
solace
N
soldier
sombre
sali1.
sal.
soulajman.
sГІlda1.
N
ADJ
sonm.
adan2, dГ©2, yonn dГ©, dГ©otwa,
tak , ti miyГЁt, ti tak, tibwen, tizing,
tjГЁk.
some
ADJ
2
something
son
PRO
on bagay, kГ©chГІz,
ADV
dГ©lГЁ.
gason, tibway.
N
song
chanson, chantГ©.
N
son-in-law
soon
N
bofis.
talГЁ, touswit. as soon as
kon sa, dГ©pi.
ADV
sorcery
N
tjenbwa.
sore N bobo, gad1, malenng. sore in
the mouth chank.
sorrel
N
sorrow
lozГЁy.
N
gГІgГЁ, wonmyГ©.
N
Soufriere
soul
sonnen.
V
si3.
ADJ
lapenn. in sorrow an
N
southpaw
sow
SoufwiyГЁ.
N
lam1.
N
sour
kГІsГІl.
gochГ©.
N
simen.
V
space
N
lГЁ1. free space chan.
spade
N
pГЁl.
span
1) bwas. 2) pous.
N
Spanish
N
SpanyГІl.
spank
V bat, plichГ©, bay kou, koupГ©
fГЁs, koupГ© latjГ©, pГ©tГ© kГІ.
spanking
spare
N
plich.
gwasyГ©.
V
palГ©1. speak evil about
mal palГ©, bay dan. speak
foolishness palГ© bГ©tiz, palГ© ennitil,
palГ© kouyon, palГ© maji, palГ© papicho.
speak
V
spear
N
anyen.
sometimes
sГІt2.
N
soursop
choson.
soften
sort
sound
natiwГЁl.
ADJ
N
antwanp.
ADV
savon.
N
sober
twanpГ©.
ADJ
lapenn.
sot
twanpГ©.
V
spider
pitjГЁt fГЁ.
speckled
ADJ
speech
1) pawГІl. 2) lapawГІl.
N
speechless
speed
taktГ©.
ADJ
Г©pawlab.
N
vapon.
V
1) dГ©pansГ©. 2) bobansГ©.
V
fГЁ vapon, koupГ©
dlo.
spend
3) pasГ©.
spice
N
spider
306
zГ©pis.
N
zagwiyen.
spike
English – Kwéyòl
spike
spill
squash
djouk bwa, pitjГЁt fГЁ.
N
dГ©vidГ©. spill blood mГ©tГ© san
V
squat
dГЁwГІ.
N
zГ©pina.
spinster
N
vyГ© fi.
lГЁspwi. Holy Spirit
LisentГЁspwi, LГЁspwi BondyГ©. female
bewitching spirit ladjablГЁs.
spit
N
kwachГ©.
V
jГІmou.
N
akoupi.
V
squeak
spinach
spirit
startle
kwatjГ©.
V
squeeze
V
squid
chГЁs.
stab
N
pijГ©.
kwГ©vГ©.
V
stable
lГ©tjiwi.
N
stagger
V
twilbichГ©.
splash
V
bouwi.
stain
N
tach1.
spleen
N
lawat.
stair
N
mach1.
split
N
V 1) fann. 2) dГ©foukГ©.
fant.
spoil
spoiled
ADJ
spool
woulo.
sport
fann.
gatГ©.
V
N
spoon
ADJ
gatГ©.
sprain
sprained
ADJ
spread
V
1) simen. 2) plГ©plГ©.
spring
N
sous.
sprinkle
sprout
V
N
N
wasi.
N
wГ©jim1.
V
machГ© piti.
fГЁ kakГІl, fГЁ kГІlonng.
V
stamp
stand2
V
staple
gaspiyГ©.
square N skwГЁ. ADJ kawГ©.
carpentry square lГ©tjГЁ. square
foot pyГ© kawГ©.
sipГІtГ©.
V
N
sitenn.
gwon.
N
star N Г©twal. falling star Г©twal filГ©.
star apple bwi.
starch
V
fГ©sГ© pyГ© a tГЁ.
standpipe
zГ©pon.
squander
bГ©gГ©yГ©.
V doubout. good standing
bon doubout.
wouzГ©.
flГЁch, jГЁm, koko2, wichton.
V
V
stand1
denmi.
pousГ©.
spur
ADJ
1
pitjГЁt.
stammer
denmi.
V
stale
stall
spotted ADJ taktГ©. spotted
sandpiper pitjwit.
lГЁskalyГ©.
N
N
stalk2
spГІ.
N
tachГ©1.
stake
stalk
tjwiyГЁ.
N
stairway
V
N
lanmidon, mouchas.
V
anpГ©zГ©.
stare
V
gobГ©.
start V 1) koumansГ©, pwan. 2) Г©tabli.
start to pwan.
startle
307
V
fГЁ sotГ©. be startled sotГ©.
starve
English – Kwéyòl
starve
state
storm
mГІ lafen.
V
lГ©ta. state of being poor sГІ.
N
story
struggle
movГ© tan.
N
listwa.
N
statue
N
stay
wГЁstГ©.
straddle
vГІlГЁ, fГЁ vГІl.
straight ADJ dwГЁt2. ADV djoup.
straight ahead tou dwГЁt.
V
steal
V
steam
stem
vapГЁ.
N
1) pa4. 2) mach1. step on
N
pilГ©2.
step-father
bopГЁ.
N
step-mother
stethoscope
stew
bГЁlmГЁ.
N
N
sonn.
bouyon.
N
V
wousi.
stewed ADJ wousi. stewed green
papaya or christophene gwaten.
stick
sticky
still
baton.
N
toujou.
ADV
sting
pitjГ©.
V
stinger
stingy
stink
kolan.
ADJ
pik.
N
chis.
ADJ
santi.
V
stinker
N
santГЁ.
stir V 1) wimen, bouwi. 2) bwennen.
stirring tool kawГЁt1, wabГІt.
stocking
N
ba3.
stomach
N
bouden1, pans, vant1.
stone
N
pyГЁ. stone axe pyГЁ loway.
stoop
V
bГ©sГ©, akoupi.
stop
store
V
N
N
tiwГ© listwa.
janbГ©.
V
straightforward
tak1.
N
step
storytelling
ГЁstati.
1) doubout, las2. 2) koupГ©.
boutik, magazen.
strain1
V
koulГ©4.
strain2
V
pyГ©tГ©.
strainer
N
strange
ADJ
ADJ
fГЁplГ©.
paswa.
stranger
N
strangle
V
dwГІl, ГЁstГІdinГЁ, Г©twanj.
Г©twanjГ©.
1) bay gГІjГЁt. 2) twanglГ©.
strap
N
bwitГЁl. croup strap koupyГЁ.
street
N
lawi.
strength
N
fГІs1, kouway.
strengthening
ADJ
stress
N
tГЁt cho.
stress
V
pГ©zГ© fГІ.
fГІtifiyan.
stretch V 1) bayГ©. 2) hГ©di kГІ.
stretch out lonjГ©.
strict
ADJ
strike
V
wГЁd.
bat, foutГ©, fwapГ©, konyen1.
N
koul.
string
N fisГЁl. stringed instrument
mizik kГІd. strip leaves dГ©payГ©1.
strive
V
fГЁ fГІs kГІ.
stroll
V
pwonmnen, dwivГ©.
strong
ADJ
fГІ, majГІ.
strongbox
N
struggle
dГ©bat, dГ©bwiyГ©, fГЁ so.
308
V
kГІfГІ.
stubborn
English – Kwéyòl
swear
ADJ
stuck
ADJ
pwi2.
suit coat
study
V
Г©tidyГ©.
sulphur
N
souf1.
fouyГ©1.
summer
N
kawenm.
stuff
V
stumble
pwan latjilbit.
V
1
stump
N
stun
toudi.
V
chous , djouk bwa.
stunned
ADJ
stutter
V
sty1
N
kalГІj.
sty2
N
klou2.
styrofoam
submit
flo2.
N
substance
N
succeed
Г©wisi.
success
V
successful
suck
sistans.
siksГ©.
N
ADJ
ja fè’y, ja wivé.
1) sisГ©. 2) tГ©tГ©. suck thumb
tГ©tГ© dwГЁt.
V
suckle
tГ©tГ©.
V
suddenly
suds
N
suffer
ADV
N
sufficient
ADJ
suffocate
V
N Dimanch. Palm Sunday
Dimanch DГ©wanmo.
sundown, sunset
support
N
asГ©.
toufГ©.
N
sГІlГЁy kouchГ©.
sГІlГЁy lГ©vГ©, laba.
N
N
boutik, magazen.
sipГІtГ©, mГ©tГ© bay, pwan pou.
V
sipГІ.
supporter
N
supposed
ADV
sure
surname
surpass
baka.
sipozГ©.
asiwГ©.
ADJ
N
surprise
tit.
bat.
V
V
sipwi.
surprised ADJ sipwi, sГ©zi, Г©tonnen,
bГ©dji. be surprised sotГ©.
apantГ©.
V
surveyor
N
swallow
V
apantГЁ.
sispann.
V
suspenders
soufwans.
sik. sugar apple ponm
kannГЁl. sugar cane kann. sugar
cane juice vizou.
N
Sunday
suspend
soufГЁ.
suffering
sugar
sГІlГЁy.
N
survey
sibit, sibitman, fap.
tjim.
V
asinasyon.
N
supermarket
abГ©sГ©, simГЁt.
V
tГЁt mГІn.
N
sunrise
filГІzГІf, flanman.
ADJ
kanmizГІl.
N
summons
bГЁt2, tГЁt wГЁd.
bГ©gГ©yГ©.
N
summit
sun
bazoudi, kagou.
ADJ
stupid
stylish
tГЁt di, antГ©tГ©.
suitcase
mal3.
stubborn
N
bwitГЁl.
valГ©1.
N
gГІjГ©.
swamp
N
lagon, manng.
swarm
N
dГ©syen.
swear1
V
sГЁwmantГ©.
V
jiwГ©.
2
swear
309
swearing
English – Kwéyòl
swearing
swim
mo.
N
tattler
najГ©.
V
sweat
V
swГ©.
swindler
sweep
V
balyГ©.
swing
sweet
ADJ
sweeten
dousi, soumachГ©.
sweetheart
sweetness
swell
N
swirl
chГ©wi, doudou.
N
swelling
N
bouwi.
V
swollen
dousГЁ.
anflГ©, boufi.
V
bГІbГІlis.
N
V balansГ©, pwan swing. N
swing. swing from branch to
branch bwanchГ©.
dou.
V
ben lanmГЁ.
N
ADJ
anflГ©, boufi, bousolГ©.
2
sword
N
sab .
syrup
N
siwo, filaylonm.
bousГІl.
Tt
table N tab. at table a tab. table
cloth tapi.
tableware
tag
N
vГ©n.
tail
N
latjГ©.
tailor
tails
N
N
zasyГЁt.
N
N
visyГЁz.
talan.
N
palГ© bГ©tiz, palГ© ennitil, palГ© kouyon,
palГ© maji, palГ© papicho, bГ©tizГ©, dГ©palГ©.
talkative
ADJ
talon
V
mГ©lГ©, tГІtiyГ©.
tar
ADJ
N
ADJ
ho.
bava.
mГ©lГ©, tГІtiyГ©.
2
bak .
N
tanya
chou. wild tanya malanga.
N
goudon.
N
N
V
N
danma.
task
N
kГІvГ©.
chichi.
N
V
goudonnen.
matoutou.
taro
taste
tanbouwen.
N
foulГ©.
V
tassel
talk N palГ©1. talk back tГЁstГ©. talk
excessively bavadГ©. talk nonsense
tall
tamp
tanmawen.
dosil, dous.
tarantula
listwa.
talebearer
talent
ADJ
tank
tiwГ©.
tale
tame
tangled
take V pwan. take down dГ©pann.
take in what a person is saying
bwГЁ. take note matjГ©. take off
N
tambourine
tangle
tayГЁ.
do.
N
tamarind
goutГ©.
N
gou.
tasteless
ADJ
wak.
tattered
ADJ
dГ©filГ©2.
tattle
tattler
gwif.
310
V
oti1.
N
sousГЁ, visyГЁz.
tavern
English – Kwéyòl
tavern
kabawГ©.
N
tax
N lajan kay, taks. customs tax
ladwenn.
tea
ditГ©. black tea ditГ© chin.
N
teach
teacher
lГ©sisyon.
N
team
N
tim.
tear1
N
lam2, dlo. tear drop lam dlo.
tear2
V
dГ©chiwГ©.
tease
V
fГЁ landji.
teasing
telescope
tГ©lГ©fГІn.
N
tГ©lГ©fГІnГ©.
di3. tell on vГЁti bay, oti1.
temperamental ADJ avous. be
temperamental ni vap, ni vous.
temple
tempt
N
tantasyon.
ten ADJ dis. ten o’clock dizè. ten
years dizan.
tent
tenth
N
vГІl1.
their
PRO
yo.
them
PRO
yo.
la. up there anlГЁ-a la.
ADV
thermos
these
sГ© sala.
PRO
they
yo.
PRO
thick
flas.
N
Г©pГ©.
ADJ
vГІlГЁ.
N
tjwis.
N
dГ©3.
thimble
N
thin
fin1, mГЁg, mens.
ADJ
think
V
1) katjilГ©. 2) ni lidГ©.
tant.
third
ADJ
thirsty
dis.
terrible
ADJ
testify
theft
tiyГ©ta.
otjipГ©, pansГ©.
N
poulbwa.
sondГ©.
testicle
N
bagay, chГІz.
N
V
theatre
N
termite
test
-a, -an, -la, -lan; li3.
thing
V
N
sa1.
pay. thatched-roof house
N
ART
thigh
tantГ©.
V
PRO
kay pay.
thief
tanp.
N
temptation
tend
thatch
there
V
lonvi.
N
sala.
ADJ
then ADV la. CONJ 1) apwГ©. 2) Г©ben.
right then la menm.
landji.
N
telephone
V
that
the
titja.
N
teaching
tell
thank V wimГЁsyГ©. thank you mГЁsi.
thanks to gwanmГЁsi.
enstwi, moutwГ©, titj.
V
thorn
N
lГЁgzanmГ©.
tГЁstifyГ©.
testimony
N
tГ©mwenyaj.
ADJ
thirteen
thirty
this
ADJ
ADJ
ADJ
tyГЁ.
twГЁz.
twant.
sala.
PRO
thong
N
katapГІl.
thorn
N
pikan.
311
N
swГЁf.
si...sa.
gwenn.
N
V
tГ©wib.
twazyenm.
sa1. this or that
those
English – Kwéyòl
those
sГ© sala. those who sГ© sa
PRO
ki.
dwГ©3, magwГ©.
CONJ
thought
katjil.
N
thousand
thrash
ADJ
tire
mil.
title
threaten
three ADJ twa. three o’clock twazè.
three years twazan.
throat
throttle
through
PREP
pa2.
foutГ© a tГЁ, fГ©sГ©.
N
gwiv.
thumb
N
gwo pous.
loway.
N
Thursday
thyme
tickle
N
mawГ©, bandГ©.
V
tight
N
V
ADJ
jГІdi, jГІdi-a.
zГІtГЁy.
N
N
zonng.
pwГ©vit.
tomato
N
tomb
tonm.
N
tanmadГІz.
makouchat.
N
ADV
denmen.
tongue
N
tonight
ADV
too
1) osi. 2) twГІ. too much
ADV
2
N
lanng.
ГІswГЁ-a.
zouti.
toolbox
sГ©wГ©2.
toot
koutja.
tabak.
N
ADV
Г©twГЁt, jis , sГ©wГ© .
menm di tan.
chapo djab, pawasГІl djab.
together ADV ansanm, anpagal, bita.
put together moutГ©.
tool
4
time N 1) lГЁ2, tan1. 2) fwa1, kou2. on
time a lГЁ. at the same time an
timid
N
N
twГІp.
tig.
ADJ
tighten
tobacco
mawГ©.
ADJ
tiger
toadstool
tomorrow
chatwiyГ©, tjikilik.
V
pou1.
kwapo.
N
tomcat
JГ©di.
diten.
N
tit.
N
toilet
thrush
las1.
ADJ
toenail
throw V voyГ©, jГ©tГ©, flГ©chГ©. throw
away jГ©tГ©. throw down bay on so,
thunder
lasГ©2.
PREP
toe
bay gГІjГЁt.
V
V
today
gГІj.
N
taya.
toad
machГ© anlГЁ.
V
to
machГ© piti.
V
N
tired
lapidГ©.
V
tire1
2
thread N fil. V filГ© zГ©djwi. piece of
thread bwanch fil.
tied
pГІt, tin. large tin manmit.
N
tiptoe
though
tie
tin
torch
V
N
kГІnГ©1.
tooth
N
top
topi.
N
torch
312
bwГЁt zouti.
N
dan.
chal, flanbo.
torment
English – Kwéyòl
torment
tortoise
N
torture
V
touch
tough
tГІmantГ©.
treat
treatment
tГІmantГ©.
tree
1) mastif. 2) sizonnen.
toward
PREP
towel
sГЁvyГЁt.
tractor
N
trellis
tonnГЁl.
N
tremble
asou.
twanblГ©, twanblad pwan.
V
trembler
trakta.
N
trembling
N
pasdwa.
V
boukantГ©.
trespass
trade2
N
lГ©ta.
tribulation
tradition N twadisyon. keep
traditions of tjenbГ© pyГ©.
trick
traditional
trickery
train
loko, twen, wagon.
N
trample
V
tranquil
ADJ
danmГ©, foulГ©, pilonnen.
dous, tjantjil.
transgression
transgressor
translate
N
trauma
travel
N
2
pГ©chГЁ .
V
twansplantГ©.
zatwap, pliyan, kabwiya.
N
trash
pГ©chГ©2.
N
dГ©chifwГ©.
V
transplant
trap
twadisyonnГЁl.
V
traverse
trim
Trinidad
trip
trot
twГЁt.
tread on
V
danmГ©, foulГ©.
treasure
N
jГЁ lajan.
treasurer
N
N
V
bГІbГІl.
N
bous.
N
N
founiti.
Trindad.
voyaj.
N
tripe
N
dolГ©, tayГ©.
V
trimmings
twip.
galopГ©.
trouble
N twaka, chikann,
dГ©zagwГ©man, kankan, pas1. V
twoublГ©, twakasГ©. look for trouble
achГ© twen.
ADJ twoublГ©, twakasГ©,
kontwayГ©. be troubled otjipГ©.
twavГЁsГ©.
ADJ
twibilasyon.
N
troubled
voyajГ©.
treacherous
N
triggerfish
blГЁs.
V
N
twanblad.
V 1) kwennen. 2) pousГ© plan.
vis3. supernatural trick jГЁs.
zГІdi, kochonni.
N
twanblГЁ.
N
trade
ADJ
twГЁtman.
N
pyГ©2, pyГ© bwa. fir tree pyГ©
onflen. other types of tree: awali,
kaka mГЁl, latannyГ©, savon nГЁt, topi
tanbou.
sisГЁptid.
ADJ
N
twГ©tГ©.
V
mГІlГІkГІy.
ADJ
1
V
touchГ©.
V
touchy
landji.
N
truck
twГ©zГІyГ©.
troublemaker
troublesome
N
ADJ
kankannГЁz.
anbГ©tan, anmГЁwdan,
antГ©tГ©.
truce
N
milyГ©.
truck
N
machin, trГІk.
313
true
English – Kwéyòl
true
vwé. It’s true évwé.
ADJ
truly
turnip
N
kГІ pyГ© bwa.
trunk2
N
mal3.
trust
V
truth
N
try
Г©sГ©yГ©, dГ©bat, dГ©bwiyГ©.
V
twenty
N
kou3.
Madi.
V
matГ©.
tumult
N
roro.
tuna
ton. yellow fin tuna ti jГІn.
turkey
N
latjilbit.
turmeric
tjitjima.
N
jimo.
N
wanmГ©.
V
kГІviyГ©, tГІd, tounen.
V
twisted
twitch
kodenn.
N
twin
twist
tumble
N
ADJ ven. twenty years
ventan. twenty-five cents yon
chlen dГ© sou.
twine
touf.
N
pik lГ©fan.
N
ADJ douz. twelve o’clock
1) midi. 2) mennwit.
lavГ©witГ©. in truth anvГ©witГ©.
N
tГІti, agalo, kawГЁt2, mГІlГІkГІy.
N
twelve
konfyГ©, api.
Tuesday
tuft
tusk
navГ©.
N
turtle
vГ©witabman, vwГ©man,
wГ©yГЁlman, anvГ©witГ©.
ADV
trunk1
understanding
kГІviyГ©, tГІd.
ADJ
V
bwennen.
two ADJ dé1. two o’clock dézè. two
years dГ©zan.
type
N
kalitГ©, sГІt2.
turn V tounen. turn into tounen.
turn off tenn2. turn one’s back
bay do. turn over livwГ©.
Uu
udder
N
ugly
ADJ
ulcer
N
manmГЁl.
uncleanliness
lГЁd. the ugly one lalГЁd.
uncover
umbilical cord
umbrella
unblock
N
V
unbutton
unchain
uncle
N
unclean
uncrowd
malenng.
V
N
lonbwi.
pawasГІl.
under
dГ©boutonnen.
dГ©chennГ©.
tonton.
ADJ
mal pwГІp.
mal pwГІptГ©.
dГ©kouvГЁ.
dГ©foulГ©.
V
undecided
dГ© lidГ©.
ADJ
PREP
anba1. and under an
dГ©sandan.
dГ©bawГ©.
V
V
N
undercurrent, undertow
underpants
N
kalson.
understand
V
konpwann.
understanding
314
N
N
vout.
lakopwann.
undress
English – Kwéyòl
undress
dГ©zabiyГ©.
V
unexpectedly
unfair
ADV
vГІlГЁ wГ©zon.
ADJ
unfortunately
ungrateful
ADV
ADJ
unhang
V
unite
manchГ©.
V
engwa, mal onnГЁt.
AnmГ©wik.
N
unjust
ADJ
unlace
V
unlatch
vГІlГЁ wГ©zon.
dГ©tjatjГ©.
anba2, ГЁksГЁptГ©, tout
CONJ
tan...pa.
unload
V
unlock
V
unstick
untidy
dГ©laklГ©.
annГЁwvГ©, chagwinen.
V
unroll
dГ©filГ©2.
3
koulГ© , olГЁt.
dГ©sГ©lГ©.
V
unsanitary
V
dГ©zagwГ©yab.
dГ©voplГ©.
unsaddle
unseal
ADJ
ADJ
V
ADJ
dГ©bouchГ©.
V
unravelled
unripe
dГ©mГ©lГ©.
V
dГ©bwayГ©.
ADJ
untie
V
until
PREP
dГ©mawГ©.
jis1, jis lГЁ, jis tan.
untrained
ADJ
unwrap
dГ©voplГ©.
V
upon
mal onnГЁt.
dГ©joukГ©.
V
PREP
V
1) anlГЁ, asou. 2) an2.
dГ©matГ©.
uproar
N
roro.
uproot
V
wachГ©1.
upset
unpleasant
unplug
dГ©kolГ©.
V
untangle
V boulvГЁsГ©, sivotjГ©. ADJ
1) boulvГЁsГ©. 2) malotjГЁ, fachГ©,
kontwayГ©.
1) dГ©batГ©, dГ©chajГ©.
2) dГ©batjГ©.
unnerve
dГ©koud.
V
upright
dГ©lasГ©.
V
unsew
unyoke
lilyon.
N
unless
mal chans.
dГ©pann.
United States
unity
sibit.
vain
ADJ
mal pwГІp.
upstairs
ADV
upwind
ADV
urinate
V
urine
pisa.
us
N
PRO
anhogwiyen.
ovan.
pisГ©, fГЁ bizwen, lachГ© dlo.
nou.
use V sГЁvi. use makeup pentiwГ©.
use the toilet alГ© an pwГ©vit. use
up, used up izГ©.
utterance
uvula
N
N
pawГІl.
lalwГЁt.
dГ©kachtГ©.
Vv
vacation
N
vagabond
vakans.
N
vakabon.
vagina
vain
315
N
kГІkГІt.
ADV
anven.
valet
English – Kwéyòl
valet
valГ©2.
N
valley
fon1.
N
valuable
N
van
vann2.
village
N
vine
lyenn. unproductive vine
varnish
N
vegetable
veil
N
V
lГ©djim.
VIP
venn.
N
vendor
N
machann, wivandГЁz.
venom
N
vlen.
verdant
ADJ
founi.
vermin
N
verse
vГЁwsГ©.
N
vГЁmin.
vest
ADV
vexed
ADJ
fachГ©.
vyГЁj1.
virgin
N
visa
vizГ©2.
N
vision
N
visit
vizitГ©, oti2.
V
vizyon.
dat2.
N
voice
N vwa. recognize a voice
pwan vwa.
volcano
N
volunteer
vomit
jilyГ©.
N
vinГЁg.
gwo pГЁp, gwo tjГІ, gwozГІm.
N
vitiligo
an chay, tou1, toubonnman,
pa dГ©, joliman. very much
toubonnman, joliman.
very
N
violin N vyГ©lon, anba gГІj. violin
bow lachГЁ2.
venni.
vwГЁl.
N
vein
vinegar
divГЁs.
venni.
N
vilaj.
vГІlГЁ.
vanish fini anyen.
ADJ
laviktwa.
N
Vieux Fort VyГ© FГІ.
valГЁ.
various
vis2.
N
victory
valowab.
ADJ
value
N
vice
wander
vote
V
vГІlkan.
V
volontГ©.
vonmi.
votГ©.
V
vulture
N
kГІbo.
Ww
wager
N
wages
N
wagon
waist
N
pawi.
wake1
lapГЁy.
2
wake
wagon.
walk V machГ©. walk by pasГ© anlГЁ.
walk with machГ© Г©pi.
N
wen.
waistcoat
wait
V
N
jilyГ©.
ГЁspГ©wГ©, atandГ©1.
wall
N
V
lГ©vГ©. wake up lГ©vГ©.
N
lavГ©yГ©, ywit jou.
kwazon.
wander
316
V
dwivГ©, pwonmnen.
want
English – Kwéyòl
want
war
weakness
vlГ©, anvi.
V
wealth
ladjГЁ.
N
warm
warn
warning N avГЁtisman. without
warning antwГЁt.
warped
ADJ
warship
N
wart
was
wean
sГ©vwГ©.
V
weapon
mannwa.
weary
wash
V
lavГ©. wash up Г©chwГ©.
wasp
N
djГЁp.
watch
V vГ©yГ©. watch out fГЁ
antansyon.
natГ©, twГ©sГ©.
V
wattle
wave
Wednesday
waver
V
wax
N
lasi.
way
N
V
pawsadГ©.
fГЁ dГ© lidГ©.
WC
we
ADJ
N
pwГ©vit.
PRO
nou.
weak
ADJ
fГЁb.
MГ©kwГ©di.
V
sГЁklГ©.
week
N
simenn.
weep
V
plГ©wГ©.
weight
pГ©zГ©.
V
1) pwa2, plon. 2) api.
N
V
antwГ©.
ADJ byen, kГІrГЁk, byen pГІtan.
byen, byenmГЁsi.
well2
N
ADV
pi2.
well-mannered byen Г©livГ©.
1) chimen, lawout. 2) atitid,
mannyГЁ. on the way anwout.
wayward
N
weed
moulon.
lanm2.
N
nГІs2.
well
pawsad.
N
N
1
so.
N
tan2.
weave
welcome
watermelon
lasГ©2.
N
watercress
N
V
weather
weigh
kouson.
las1.
ADJ
water N dlo. V 1) koulГ©1. 2) wouzГ©.
water down mГ©tГ© dlo an bouch.
water fowl poul dlo.
N
fГЁman.
N
wedding
waste V gaspiyГ©, bobansГ©. waste
time fГЁ kГІlonng.
waterfall
éwé, byennéwé, ja fè’y,
V pГІtГ©. wear down mal
mennen. wear out izГ©.
sГ©tГ©.
V
ADJ
wear
tГІd.
vГ©wi.
N
byen.
ja wivГ©.
vГЁti.
V
1) fГЁblГЁs. 2) dГ©fo.
N
N
wealthy
chofГ© difГ©.
V
what
vakabon.
well-matched
welt
N
west
ADJ
wet
ADJ
byen jwenn, tenk.
loup.
sГІlГЁy kouchan, sГІlГЁy kouchГ©.
ADJ, V
mouyГ©.
whale
N
balenn.
wharf
N
wГІf.
what ADJ ki, ki sa, ki sa ki. what
kind ki kalitГ©.
317
wheel
English – Kwéyòl
wheel
N
woul.
widow
whelk
N
bwigo.
width
when
ADV
ki tan, ki lГЁ.
whenever
where
wherever
kotГ©.
wiles
N
CONJ
ki...ki.
2
which
ki, kilГЁs, kilГЁs ki.
whip
mГЁl , pyГЁ dous.
CONJ
ki.
yenyen2.
V
fwГЁt , kavach, lyenn.
N
whisky
1
whisper
V chwichwi, souflГ© , di an
zГІwГЁy, palГ© an zГІwГЁy, palГ© chwichwi.
N chwichwi.
whistle
souflГ©1.
V
Whit Monday
white
who
whoever
souflГЁt.
LapankГІt.
blanchi, lablanni.
V
PRO
N
blan. white person bГ©tjГ©.
ADJ
whiten
N
ki moun ki, kilГЁs ki, sa ki.
PRO
sa ki, sГ© sa ki.
whole
ADJ
whom
PRO
ki moun.
whose
ADJ
sa ki, sa ki moun.
why
wick
ADV
N
antyГЁ.
wicked ADJ mГ©chan, modi , sГ©lГ©wa.
wicked person bouwo.
N
fennen.
win
V
ganyen, bat.
1
N
van.
V
1) wimen. 2) bay chenn.
windmill
moulavan.
N
N
windpipe
finГЁt.
N
gwo zyГ©.
windward ADV ovan. windward
side ovan.
wine
N
diven.
wing
N
zГЁl.
wink
V
fГЁ zyГ© dou.
winnow
V
vannГ©.
winter
N
wire
waya.
N
fwГ©di.
N
lasajГЁs. wisdom tooth
wise
ADJ
wish
V
savan.
1) swГ©tГ©. 2) avoudwГ©.
witch jan gajГ©, vyГ© lam.
2
wicket
V
dan sajГЁs.
mГЁch.
N
wilt
wisdom
pouki, ki mannyГЁ ki fГЁ.
wickedness
divwa, volontГ©.
window
wiski.
N
lГЁspwi.
N
wind2
2
mawon, sovay, fawouch.
will
wind
padan.
lolГ©.
V
ADJ
N
whine
madanm.
N
wiggle
whetstone
CONJ
gwandГЁ, lajГЁ.
N
wild
whether...or
while
wife
vГЁv.
N
ki kotГ©, ki bГІ.
ADV
ADJ
lГЁ2, kon.
dГ©pi.
CONJ
ADV
CONJ
withdraw
sГ©lГ©watГЁ.
witchcraft
with
PREP
withdraw
pitjГЁt.
318
N
zГЁb2, gajГ©.
Г©pi, ГЁvГЁk.
V
witjilГ©, halГ© kГІ.
wither
English – Kwéyòl
wither
worship
fennen.
V
withered
yam
V
adowГ©.
ADJ
pГІk.
worth
ADJ
vo.
without
PREP
san3.
worthless
ADJ
witness
N
tГ©mwen.
wound
woman
N
fanm, madanm, manmzГЁl.
wrap
womanish
ADJ
womanise
V
womaniser
womb
wonder
wool
pakouwi.
wreck
N
dja.
wrestle
ADJ
bwa . wood ant poulbwa.
wriggle
lolГ©.
V
mizГ©wab.
tГІd.
V
pli1.
N
wrinkled
1
N
ADJ
wrinkle
lafowГ©, gwan bwa.
N
blГ©sГ©.
litГ©, kouvГЁ a tГЁ-a.
V
wretched
wring
bГЁl.
2
N
woods
waj.
sГ©zisman.
N
wonderful
wood
N
pakouwГЁ.
V
voplГ©.
V
wrath
matwis.
N
bobo.
N
fanm.
N
anyenditou.
ADJ
V
chifonnen.
gwiji, plisГ©.
lenn .
wrist
N
ponyГЁt.
mo pawГІl.
write
V
Г©kwi, matjГ©.
word
N
work
V, N
worker
N
twavay.
writer
twavayГЁ, labouwГЁ.
writing N Г©kwiti. indecipherable
writing pat mouch.
world
N
latГЁ.
worm
N
vГЁ3.
wrong
ADJ
Г©kwiven.
ADJ
ni tГІ. prove wrong
dГ©manti.
worn, worn out
worried
N
ADJ
izГ©.
wrongdoing
N
pasdwa.
annГЁwvГ©.
worry
V annГЁwvГ©, chagwinen, mГ©lГ©,
otjipГ©, twakasГ©.
Xx
x-ray
N
ГЁkstrГ©.
Yy
yacht
N
chaloup.
yam
319
N
yanm. white yam yanm blan.
yard
English – Kwéyòl
yellow yam yanm a tou tan. wild
yam bandja.
yard
yawn
year
yearn
yeast
yell
jouk.
yolk
N
jГІn zГ©.
anvi.
you
PRO
lГЁlven, yis.
young
lannГ©, an .
V
N
V
N
4
N
ADJ
jГІn. yellow warbler
ADV
your
youth
wi1.
Zz
zealous
ADJ
joukГ©.
1) ou, ’w. 2) zòt.
ADJ
jenn, piti. young person
PRO
1) ou. 2) zГІt.
N jennГЁs. fountain of youth
dlo ajenni.
tjiktjik.
yes
V
jennГЁs.
andjГ©lГ©, hГ©lГ©, kwiyГ©.
yellow
toujou. yet still wannman.
ADV
yoke
bayГ©.
V
yesterday ADV yГЁ. day before
yesterday avanzyГЁ.
yet
lakou.
N
zealous
zГ©lГ©.
320
Appendix
KГІ-a ........................... p. 322
Sent Lisi ..................... p. 323
SГ© Limowo-a ............. p. 324
Ki LГЁ I YГ©? ................ p. 325
321
KГІ-a
fon
chivГ©
fidji
sousi zyГ©
tГЁt
zyГ©
zГІwГЁy
nГ©
dan
lanng
bouch
lГЁv
zГ©pГІl
kou
gГІj
maton
lГЁstomak
koudbwa
bwa
bouden
ponyГЁt
lanmen
dwГЁt
zonng
gwo
pous
wen
janm
jounou
talon
chivi
do
zГІtГЁy
fГЁs
pyГ©
322
Sent Lisi
GwozilГ©
LanmГЁ-a
Kastwi
Babonno
LanslawГ©
BГЁson
Kannawi
Dennwi
SoufwiyГЁ
Mikou
Piti Piton
Gwo Piton
LanmГЁ-a
ChwazГЁy
Labowi
VyГ© FГІ
323
SГ© Limowo-a
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
yonn
dГ©
twa
kat
senk
sis
sГЁt
ywit
nГЁf
dis
wonz
douz
twГЁz
katГІz
kenz
sГЁz
disГЁt
dizwit
diznГЁf
ven
ventenyen
venndГ©
venntwa
vennkat
vennsenk
vennsis
vennsГЁt
ventwit
ventnГЁf
twant
31
32
40
41
42
50
51
52
60
61
62
70
71
72
80
81
82
90
91
92
100
101
102
1000
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
324
twantenyen
twant dГ©
kawant
kawantenyen
kawant dГ©
senkant
senkantenyen
senkant dГ©
swasant
swasantenyen
swasant dГ©
swasant dis
swasant wonz
swasant douz
katwiven
katwiven yonn
katwiven dГ©
katwiven dis
katwiven wonz
katwiven douz
san
santenyen
san dГ©
mil
pwГЁmyГ©
dГ©zyenm
twazyenm
katyenm
senkyenm
Ki LГЁ I YГ©?
mennwit
yonnГЁ
dГ©zГЁ
twazГЁ
katwГЁ
senkГЁ
sizГЁ
sГ©tГЁ
ywitГЁ
nГ©vГЁ
dizГЁ
wonzГЁ
midi
yon ka
apwГ© yonnГЁ
yonnГЁ Г© dimi
yon ka
pou dГ©zГЁ
325

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