Paula Chakravarti
Dr.Grau/Dr.West
Public Health in Developing Countries
Spring 2006
Final Project
The class went to the Dominican Republic in January 2006. It was a wonderful
experience! I worked with the primary care group and helped treat numerous individuals
in the bateys we visited. I was only able to provide any help through a translator either in
Spanish or Creole. There were other individuals I wished to speak to which proved to be
difficult since I did not know either language. I tried speaking French to the Creole
speakers, since I knew French. Unfortunately, the pronunciations are different enough
that they were not able to understand me. I was somewhat able to understand what they
were saying. I found this one-way communication very frustrating.
I was trying to determine what I should do for my final project and decided a
translation guide may be helpful for future groups. This should hopefully prevent them
from facing the same frustrations I faced. They should hopefully be able to have some
kind of meaningful conversation with either Creole or Spanish people. The bulk of the
translation guide focuses on the medical care since that is the area where I devoted most
of my time. My desire is for the translation guides to help those like me communicate
with both Creole and Spanish speakers in the Dominican Republic. This will help make
the experience more memorable and allow a more direct connection to those who were
visited.
The translation guides are separated by language. There is one from English to
Creole and another from English to Spanish. The content is similar between the Creole
and Spanish translation guides, but not exact due to difficulty in translation of certain
phrases.
- Creole translations are spelt the way they would be pronounced. They are not
necessarily the correct spelling.
- Words in parentheses on the Creole side are the pronunciations for the words preceding
the parentheses.
- There may be alternate ways of saying the same thing. Certain phrases have the
alternate indicated by (1) and (2).
General Conversation:
English
Hello
What is your name?
My name is …
How old are you?
How old is your baby?
Where do you live?
I live in the United States of America.
How long have you been or lived here?
Do you go to school?
I am in school now.
Can you read?
Can you write?
It is very hot today.
I saw a rainbow while coming here.
Do you need warm clothes here?
Is it normally hot here?
We have hot summers and cold winters.
Here, take this coloring book
This is for you.
How are you?
That is a pretty dress/clothes.
Yes
No
Morning
Afternoon
Night
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
Seven
Eight
Nine
Ten
Creole
Alo
Kommo relay?
Mwe relay …
Kommo laj ou?
Kommo laj bebey ou?
Ki kotey ou abitey
Mwe abitey Etazini
Kommo tan ou abitey la?
Ou alley lekol?
Mwe alley lekol kounyey.
Ou konnay pou fey lekti?
Ou konnay ekri?
Li trey cho (show) jodi a.
Mwe te we ou akansyel le mwe tap vini la
Ou bezwen rad cho (show) la?
Li toujou cho (show) la?
Nou genyen etey cho et saison livey fret
Pran liv pou fey desen oubyen fey kolore
Sa pou ou.
Kijan wye?
Sa on bel robe/rad
Wi
Non
Maten
Apremidi
Nwit
En
De
Twa
Kat
Sank
Sis
Set
Uit
Nef
Dis
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
baby bottle
Bad luck
Barefoot
Do you walk barefoot during the day?
Breakfast
Burial
Calm down please
Cast a spell on (vb)
Damp
Daylight (hours)
Good:
Female
Male
How far away?
Hunger
Insect
Music
Why?
Where?
Dirty
Egg
Knock down
Milk
Rain
Arrived
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter
Mother
Father
I don’t know
Month
Week
Today
Lendi
Madi
Mekredi
Jedi
Vandredi
Samdi
Dimanch
Bibwon
malchans
Sans soulyey
Escur ou machey san soulyey?
Mangey maten
Anteman
Kalmey silvouple
Metey bouchey sou
Mouyey, imid
Gwo lajounen
Byen
Tifi
Ti gason
Ki distans?
grangou
Ensek
Mizik
Poukisa?
Kikotey
Sal
Zey
Fesey atey
Let
N lapli
Rivey
Pretan
Etey
Loton
Livey
Maman
Papa
Mwe fey pa konnen.
Mwa
seymen
jodi
Worming:
English
Please form a straight line
Please remove your shoes and stand on the
scale
Have you previously taken this worming
medication?
When was the last time you took this
medication?
How old are you?
How tall are you?
Please come here.
Please drink this medication.
This is for you.
Do you remember?
Worming medicine
Creole
Fey on liy dwat silvouple
Retir(y)ey soulye ou et kanpay sou balans
sa silvouple
Ou pran medikaman pou vey anvan?
Ki denyey ley out e pran?
Kijan wye? Ki laja a ou?
Ki wotey ou?
Vini la silvouple
Bwe medikaman sa silvouple
Sa pou ou.
Escur ou sonjey?
Remed vey
Primary care:
English
How are you feeling?
What is the problem?
Where does it hurt?
Please lie down
Are you have any discharge?
Does the discharge have any odor?
Does the discharge have any smell?
Does the discharge have any color?
Did you see any blood?
Was the discharge thick or thin?
Was it a stabbing pain?
Was it a dull, aching pain?
Use the sap from the aloe vera plant
Take one tablet in the morning, one @ night
Are you coughing?
Do have you a cold?
Do you feel hot?
Please walk for me.
Clear
Brown
Yellow
Green
Creole
Kijan wye?
Ki pwoblem ou?
Ki kotey ou fey mal?
Kouchey silvouple
Ou genyen dechaj?
Dechaj sa li genyen odey?
Dechaj sa li santi?
Dechaj sa li genyen kolore?
Escur ou tey wey san?
Dechaj li pews oubyen li fen?
Escur li ti pike you ampil oubyen pa pike
ou telma?
Li ki pa filey?
Itilizey plant lalwa likid.
Pran en grenn nan maten ey en grenn
lanwit
Nap tousey?
Escur ou genyen grip?
Escur ou cho (show)?
Machey pou mwen silvouple
Kley
Mawon
Jon
Vey
Red
Black
Did you see any blood in the private parts?
Take 2 tablets 3 times a day for 7 days.
Take 2 tablets 3 times a day for 10 days.
Please take a deep breath.
What is the problem with your baby?
Do you get the chills?
Do you have a fever?
Please squeeze my finger.
Please squeeze my hand.
Can you feel this?
Please cough for me.
A lot or a little?
Are you having regular bowel movements?
Does it burn when you urinate?
How many times a day do you urinate?
Drink more fluids like water.
Take these vitamins, one a day
They will make you feel better.
Are you pregnant?
Do you know if you are pregnant?
Are you having a baby?
Do you think you are pregnant now?
Please open your mouth
Please show me your tongue.
Can you touch your toes?
Please look straight ahead.
Wash your hair with this liquid.
Be careful not to get the liquid in your eyes.
Put this on your skin every night before you
go to sleep.
Please open your eyes wide.
Are you taking any medicines?
Please list these for me.
Cough medicine
Cough phlegm
Cough syrup
(have a) cold
Coughing up blood
Eye drops
Every 4 hours
Every other day
Abdominal cramps
Wouj
Nwa
Escur ou tey wey san na pa ti privey ou?
Pran de grenn pou twa fwa pou set jou
Pran de grenn pou twa fwa pou dis jou
Pran fon souf silvouple
Ki pwoblem bebey ou?
Escur ou genyen lafyex ak frison
Ou genyen lafyev?
Pezey swet mwen silvouple
Pezey man mwen silvouple
Escur ou santi sa?
Tousey pou mwen silvouple
Ampil oubyen piti?
Escur ou fey poupou regilyeman?
Escur li bouley kan ou fey pipi?
Koman fwa ou fey pipi on jou?
Bwe ampil likid kon dlo (glo)
Pran vitamin sa en fwa pou jou.
Sa nap fey ou santi pi bon.
Escur ou ansent?
Escur ou konnen ou ansent?
Escur ou genyen bebey?
Escur ou pansey ou ansent kounyey?
Ouvri bouchey ou silvouple.
Montrey lan ou silvouple.
Escur ou kapab touchey pye ou?
Gadey dwat silvouple.
Lavey chevey ou avec likid sa.
Fetatansyon pou pa pemet likid sa je ou.
Metey sa soup o ou chak nwit avan ou
domi.
Ouvri je ou byen gran silvouple.
Nap pran medikaman?
Sitey sa you medikaman pou mwen
silvouple.
Siwo tous
Tous ki machey ak flem
Siwo grip
Grip
Tous san
Gout pou je
Chak 4 ey
Chak de jou
kolik
Do you have abdominal pain?
Do you drink alcohol?
Allergy
Iron pills
Back ache
Bedridden
Blood pressure
Bloody diarrhea
Blow one’s nose
Blurred vision
Broken bone
Chest cold
Child birth
Choking
Digestion trouble:
Dissolve
Evil spell
Exhale
Exhausted(tired)
Hand washing
Heart pounding or racing
Insomnia
Lice
Lower back pain
Crush
Mixture
Nausea
Particles of dust
Vomit
Diarrhea
Runny nose
Have sexual relations. How many times a …?
Sweat
Re-use
Tuberculosis
Undress
To Walk (vb)
Walking
Hair
Throat
Vagina
Penis
Escur vant ou fe mal?
(1)Escur ou bwey bwason ki genyen
alkol?
(2) Escur ou bwey alkol?
Aleji
Vitamin ki gen fey
Do fey mal
Malad kouchey
Presyon san
Kolerin
Mouchey nen
Je twoub
Zo kasey
Rim pwatrin
Akouchman
sifokasyon
Pwoblem dijesyon
Deleyey
Maldjok
ekspirey
Boukey fatigey
Lavey man
Batman key ki fo
Pa ka domi
Pou
Douley nan do sou anba
Krazey
Melanj
Nozay
Grenn pousyey
Vomi
Dyarey
Nen larim
Fey seks. Koman fwa …?
(1) swey (2) transpirasyon
Re-itilzey
Tebekiloz
dezabiyey
Machey
Machapye
Chevey
goj
koko
Ka fason, ti ki
- There may be alternate ways of saying the same thing. Certain phrases have the
alternate indicated by (1) and (2).
Spanish Pronunciation Guide:
- When “y” is at the beginning or in the middle of a word it is pronounced with a “j”
sound. Examples: “Yo” (means I, as in I am) or “coyontura” which means “joint” (bone
joint).
- When “ll” is in a word then it is pronounced with a “j” sound. Example: “Lluvia,”
which means “rain.”
- When “j” is at the beginning or in the middle of a word it is pronounced with a “h”
sound. For example, the word “jamas” which means “never” is pronounced like the
Arabic “hamas.”
- When “h” is in a word it is silent. For example, the word “hamaca” which means
“hammock” ignores the “h” sound – it is pronounced “amaca”.
- To say “and” use a “y” on its own and it is pronounced as a long “ee” sound
- When a “z” is present in a word it is pronounced with a “s” sound.
General Conversation:
English
Hello
What is your name?
My name is …
How old are you?
How old is your baby?
Where do you live?
I live in North America.
How long have you been or lived here?
Do you go to school?
I am in school now.
Can you read? or Do you know how to
read?
Can you write? or Do you know how to
write?
It is very hot today.
I saw a rainbow while coming here.
Do you need warm clothes here?
Is it normally hot here?
We have hot summers and cold winters.
Here, take this coloring book
This is for you.
How are you?
Spanish
hola
(1) Cuál es tu nombre. (2) Cómo te
llamas?
Mi nombre es
(1) Qué edad tu tienes? (2) Cuántos años
tienes?
(1) Que edad tiene su bebé? (2) Cuántos
años tiene su bebe?
Dónde tú vives?
Yo vivo en Norte America (Estados
Unidos)
Cuánto tiempo hace que vives aquí?
Vas a la escuela?
Yo estoy en la escuela ahora
(1) Puedes leer? (2) Sabes leer?
(1) Puedes escribir? (2) Sabes escribir?
Esta muy caliente hoy.
Yo vί un arcoiris cuando venίa para acá.
Necesitas ropa para abrigarte?
Esta siempre caliente aqui?
Nosotros tenemos veranos calientes e
inviernos frίos.
Tome este libro para colorear.
Esto es para ti.
Como estás? (informal) Como está usted?
That is a pretty dress/clothes.
Yes
No
Morning
Afternoon
Night
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
Seven
Eight
Nine
Ten
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
baby bottle
Bad luck
Barefoot
Do you walk barefoot during the day?
Breakfast
Burial
Calm down please
Cast a spell on (vb)
To do witchcraft
Damp (drenched)
Moist
Daylight (hours)
Good
Girl (adolescent)
Boy (adolescent)
Young boy (below 13 yrs)
Young girl (below 13 yrs)
Female
Male
How far away?
(formal, adult)
Ese vestido es bonito./Esa ropa es bonita.
Si
No
Mañana
La tarde
Noches
Uno
Dos
Tres
cuatro
cinco
Seis
siete
ocho
nueve
diez
lunes
martes
miércoles
jueves
viernes
sábado
domingo
biberón
Mala suerte
Descalzo (male) descalza (female)
Camina usted descalzo durante el día?
desayuno
Entierro
Cálmese por favor
hacer un hechizo
hacer brujería
Mojado
Húmedo
(1) la luz del día (2) durante las horas del
día
Bueno
muchacha
muchacho
el niño
la niña
Mujer
Hombre
Dónde queda ese lugar?
Where is that place?
Hunger
Insect
Music
Why?
Where?
Dirty
Egg
Knock down
Milk
Rain
Arrived
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter
Mother
Father
I don’t know
Month
Week
Today
Dónde está ese lugar?
Hambre
Insecto
Música
Por qué?
Dónde
sucio (singular)/sucios (plural)
Huevo
Tumbar
Leche
Lluvia
Llegó
la primavera
el verano
el otoño
el invierno
Madre
Padre
Yo no sé
Un mes
Una semana
hoy
Worming:
English
Spanish
Please form a straight line
Please remove your shoes and stand on the
scale.
Have you previously taken this worming
medication?
Have you ever taken this worming
medication?
When was the last time you took this
medication?
How old are you?
How tall are you?
Come here please.
Please drink this medication.
Here, this is for you.
Por favor, forme una línea recta
Por favor, quítese los zapatos y párese en la
pesa.
Ha tomado usted antes medicina para los
parásitos?
Ha tomado alguna vez medicina para los
parásitos?
Cuándo fué la última vez qué usted tomó
esta medicina?
Qué edad tienes tú? Cuántos años tienes?
Cuánto mides?
Por favor, venga aquí.
Por favor, tómese esta medicina.
(1) Tenga, esto es para usted. (2) Mire, esto
es para usted
Se acuerda usted?
Medicina para los parásitos
Do you remember?
Worming medicine
Primary care:
English
How are you feeling?
What is the problem?
Where does it hurt?
Please lie down
Are you having any discharge?
Does the discharge have any odor?
Does the discharge have any smell?
Does the discharge have any color?
Where is the secretion (or liquid) coming
from?
Was the discharge thick or thin?
Did you see any blood?
What kind of pain?
Stabbing
Dull
Aching
Did you see any blood in the private parts?
Take one tablet in the morning, one @ night
Take 2 tablets 3 times a day
Are you coughing?
Do have you a cold?
Do you feel hot? Do you have a fever?
Please walk for me.
How are you feeling?
What is the problem?
Clear
Brown
Yellow
Green
Red
Black
Use the sap from the aloe vera plant.
Take 2 tablets 3 times a day for 7 days.
Take 2 tablets 3 times a day for 10 days.
Spanish
Cómo te sientes? (informal). Cómo se
siente? (formal)
Cuál es el problema? Dónde le duele?
Dónde le duele?
Acuéstate, por favor
(1) Tiene alguna secreción?
(2) Está echando líquido por alguna parte
de su cuerpo?
(1) Tiene olor la secreción?
(2) Tiene olor ese liquido?
Tiene olor la secreción?
Tiene color la secreción?
Tiene color el lίquido que está echando
Por cual parte de su cuerpo está echando
el líquido?
Es espesa o ligera la secreción de sus
organos sexuales?
Le salió sangre?
Que clase de dolor tiene?
punzadas
leve molestia
dolor
Sangró usted de su órganos sexuales?
Tome una tableta en la mañana y una en
la noche
Tome 2 tabletas 3 veces al dia
Está tosiendo?
Tiene catarro?
Se siente caliente? Tiene fiebre?
(1) por favor, camine hacia adelante (2)
de unos pasos al frente
Como te sientes?
Cuál es el problema?
Color claro
color café, pardo, marrón
amarillo
verde
rojo
negro
Usa la savia de la planta aloe vera
Tome 2 tabletas 3 veces al dίa por 7 días.
Tome 2 tabletas 3 veces al dίa por 10
dίas
Please take a breath.
Breathe in
Breathe out
What is wrong with your baby?
Do you get the chills?
Do you have a fever?
Please squeeze my finger.
Please squeeze my hand.
Can you feel this?/Can you feel my hand?
Please cough for me.
Are you coughing?
A lot or a little?
Are you having regular bowel movements?
Does it burn when you urinate?
How many times a day do you urinate?
Drink more fluids like water.
Take these vitamins, one a day
They will make you feel better.
Are you pregnant?
Do you know if you are pregnant?
Are you having a baby?
Do you think you are pregnant now?
Please open your mouth
Please show me your tongue.
Can you touch your toes?
Please look straight ahead.
Wash your hair with this liquid.
Be careful not to get the liquid in your eyes.
Put this on your skin every night before you
go to sleep.
Please open your eyes wide.
Are you taking any medicines?
Please list these for me.
Cough medicine
Cough phlegm
Cough syrup
(have a) cold
Coughing up blood
Eye drops
Every 4 hours
Every other day
Abdominal cramps
Respire por favor.
Respire profundo para adentro
Respire para afuera
Qué le pasa a su bebé?
Le dan escalofríos?
Tiene fiebre?
Apriete mi dedo, por favor.
Apriete mi mano, por favor.
Tiene sensación aqui?/Siente mi mano?
Tosa por favor
Ha estado tosiendo?
Mucho ó poco?
Hace pupú a diario?
Siente ardor al hacer pipi?
Cuántas veces al día hace pipi?
Por favor beba muchos liquidos,
incluyendo mucha agua.
tome las vitaminas una vez al dia
Esto lo hará sentirse mejor
Está usted en estado/encinta?
Sabe usted si está encinta?
Va a tener un bebe?
Esta usted en estado ahora?
Abra la boca, por favor
Déjeme ver su lengua por favor
Puede tocarse los dedos de los pies?
Por favor, mire hacia adelante.
Por favor lávese el pelo con este líquido.
Tenga cuidado de que no le caiga el
líquido en los ojos
Póngase este remedio en la piel todas las
noches antes de acostarse.
Por favor abra bien los ojos
Está usted tomando alguna medicina?
Por favor, dígame cuales son las
medicinas que usted toma.
Medicina para la tos
Flema que le produce la tos
Jarabe para la tos
Tenie catarro o la gripe?
Tosiendo con sangre
Gotas para los ojos
Cada 4 horas
Cada dos días
Dolor abdominal
Do you have abdominal pain?
Do you drink alcohol?
Allergy
Iron pills
Back ache
Bedridden
Blood pressure
Bloody diarrhea
Blow one’s nose
Blurred vision
Broken bone
Chest cold
Child birth
Choking
Digestion trouble
Dissolve
Evil spell
Exhale
Exhausted (tired)
Hand washing
Heart pounding or racing
Insomnia
Lice
Lower back pain
Crush
Mixture
Nausea
Particles of dust
Vomit
Diarrhea
Runny nose
Have sex. How many times a …?
Sweat
Re-use
Tuberculosis
Undress
Please walk
Walking
Hair
Throat
Vagina
Penis
Do you understand?
Tiene dolor abdominal?
Bebe alcohol?
Alergia
Pastillas que contienen hierro
Dolor de espalda
Postrado en la cama
La presión de la sangre
Sangre en la diarrea
Sóplese la nariz
Visión nublada
Hueso roto
Catarro en el pecho
(1) Nacimiento del bebe; (2) dar a luz
Ahogándose
Problemas con la digestión
Disolver
hechizo
Respire para afuera
Exhausto (cansado)
Lavar las manos
(1) Latidos rápidos del corazón
(2)Palpitación fuerte del corazón
(1) Insomnia (2) No puede dormir
Piojos
Dolores en la parte baja de la espalda
Machacar
Mezcla
Nausea
Granos de polvo
Vómito
Diarréa
Nariz mocosa
tener sexo, Quantos veces al …
Sudor
Usar otra vez
Tuberculosis
(1) Quítese la ropa, por favor, (2)
Desvístase por favor
Camine, por favor
Caminando
el pelo
la garganta
Vagina
Pene
Me entiende? Me comprende?
References
Creole translations
1. Daphne Duvalsaint. MPH/MD student. Health Policy Track. Piscataway, NJ
2. http://www.geocities.com/frenchcreoles/kreyol/krldict.txt
3. Haitain Creole Dictionary. http://www.kreyol.com/dictionary.html
4. Vilsaint, Fequiere and Berret, Jean-Evens. English Haitian Creole Dictionary. 2nd ed.
2005, Educa Vision Inc. Coconut Creek, FL.
Spanish translations
1. Hegla Morell. Administrative Assistant. Hoffmann La-Roche. Nutley, NJ (native
Spanish speaker)
2. Carmen Diaz-Rodriquez. Administrative Assistant. Hoffmann La-Roche. Nutley, NJ
(second generation Spanish speaker)
3. Madrigal, Margarita. See it & Say it in Spanish. 1961, Signet Books. New York, NY.