H A I T I A N - E N G L I S H 
D I C T I O N A R Y 
In Memory of 
Lynn Porter 
November 16, 1957 - September 27, 2003 
O t h e r b o o k s b y o r e d i t e d b y B r y a n t C. F r e e m a n 
Carrié Paultrc, Tant on Lihen: Annotated Edition for Speakers of English, ed. Bryant 
C. Freeman. Rev. ed. 
Lyonel Desmarattes, Mouché Défas, ed. Bryant C. Freeman. 2C ed. 
L[odewijk] F[rederik] Peleman, Gesproken Taal van Haïti met Verheteringen en 
Aanvullingen / Ti Diksyonnè Kréyôl-Nèlandè ak yon ti Dégiy rev. ed. Bryant 
C. Freeman, 
Bryant C. Freeman, Chita Pa Bay: Elementary Readings in Haitian Creole, with 
Illustrated Dictionary. Rev. ed. 
L[odewijk] Ffrederik] Peleman, Afzonderlijke Uitgave: Verheteringen en 
Aanvullingen van de Gesproken Taal van Haïti / Yon ti Dégi Kréyôl- Né lande, 
ed. Bryant C. Freeman. 
Bryant C. Freeman, 77 Koze Kreyol: A Haitian-Creole Conversation Manual. 
Pierre Vernet ak Bryant C. Freeman, Diksyonè Ôtograf Kreyol Ayisven. 2e ed. 
Bryant C. Freeman, Dictionnaire inverse de la Langue créole haïtienne / Diksyonè 
lanvé Lang kreyol ayisven an. 
Pierre Vernet et Bryant C. Freeman, Dictionnaire préliminaire des fréquences de 
la Langue cri'oie haïtienne. 
Bryant C. Freeman, Survival Creole. 5 th ed. 
Bryant C. Freeman, Survivre en Créole. 2e éd. 
Bryant C. Freeman, Oherlehen auf Kreolisch. 
Bryant C. Freeman, Haitian-English English-Haitian Medical Dictionary, with 
Glossary of Food and Drink. 3 rd ed. 
Bryant C. Freeman, Haitian Creole for Peace Support. 
Bryant C. Freeman, Créole Haïtien pour le Soutien de la Paix. 
Bryant C. Freeman, Haitian-English Medical Phraseology for Doctors, Dentists, 
Nurses, and Paramedics with seven accompanying tapes. 
Bryant C. Freeman, Third- World Folk Beliefs and Practices: Haitian Medical 
Anthropology. 
James G Leyburn, The Haitian People. Ed. Bryant C. Freeman. 
Jan Mapou, Anha Mapou a. Fid. Bryant C Freeman. 
John Bunyan, Traka yon Kretven pandan Vwayaj h. Tr, Carrie Paultre, ed. Jim I). 
Ross ak Bryant C. Freeman. 3e parèt. 
Jim D. Ross ak Bryant C. Freeman, Konkodans Bib la: Nouvo Kontra. 
Carrié Paultre, Woch nan Soléy. hd. Bryant C\ Freeman ak Jim D. Ross. 2C ed. 
Walter Trobisch, Mwen Renmen yon Jenn Gason. Ed. Bryant C. Freeman ak Jim D. 
Ross. 
Jan Wobè Kadè, Restavék. Tr. Iv Dcjan. Pref. ak Ed. Bryant C. Freeman. 
Bryant C. Freeman, ed. Wonn Refleksyon: Liv Patisipan 1. 
Bryant C. Freeman, ed. Wonn Refleksyon: Liv Patisipan 2. 
Carrié Paultre, TiJak ak Kote Wout la ve? Fid. Bryant C. Freeman. 
Carrié Paultre, Lerison. Ed. Bryant C. Freeman ak Jim I) Ross 
Carrié Paultre, Amarant. Ed. Bryant C. Freeman ak Jim I) Ross 
Carrié Paultre, Mànwela. Ed. Bryant C. Freeman. 
Carrié Paultre, Tonton Libert. Ed. Bryant C. Freeman ak Jim D Ross 
Carrié Paultre, Woman Labadi: Si m te Konnen Ed. Bryant ( Freeman 
Carrié Paultre, Se Konnen ki je. Ed. Bryant C. Freeman. 
Carrié Paultre, Depi nan Ginen. Ed. Bryant C. Freeman. 
Carrié Paultre, Nikola, Moun Senmak. Ed. Bryant C. Freeman 
Carrié Paultre, Lavalas pa ka pote I ale. Ed. Bryant C Freeman 
Carrié Paultre, Andeyô Lakav te pi bon. Ed. Bryant C. Freeman ak Jim I) Ross 
Tolstoï, Léon. Kote kigen Lanmou. Tr. Carrié Paultre, ed Bryant C Freeman 
Walter Trobisch. Mwen te Renmenyon Fi, Tr. Carné Paultre, ed Bryant C Freeman 
ak Jim D. Ross. 
Carrié Paultre, Wôch nan Solèy: Annotated Edition for Speakers of English. ed 
Bryant C. Freeman. 
Bryant C. Freeman, ed. Yon Sèvyèt, yon Bourtk, epi von Baton 
Bryant C. Freeman, ed. Twa Sekrè??? 
Bryant C. Freeman, ed. Kijan pou m Jwenn Kob? 
Bryant C. Freeman, ed. Youn pou Bondve, Youn pou Ih ab 
Bryant C. Freeman, ed. Tijo ak Ttg la. 
Bryant C. Freeman, ed. Twa Chèlbè. 
Bryant C. Freeman, ed. Nan Chemen Dyabyo, 
Bryant C. Freeman, ed. Yon Tôti k ap Chante. 
Bryant C. Freeman, ed. Maryaj Ma lis Twoukoukou 
Bryant C. Freeman, ed. 77 Chenn Lo a, 
Bryant C. Freeman, ed. Yon Pwason ki rele Tezen. 
Bryant C. Freeman, ed. Epi Bondve Kreye Premye Fi a. 
Bryant C. Freeman, ed. Yon Lwijanboje. 
Bryant C. Freeman, ed. Yon ti Pye Zoranj. 
Bryant C. Freeman, ed. Yon Kontra ak Ledyab. 
Bryant C. Freeman, ed. Kèk ti Blag: Yon Pye Kob, 
Bryant C. Freeman, ed. Foklo natifnatalpeyi David. Liv / Yon Sèvyèt, van Hmtnk. 
epi yon Baton - ak 57 lot kont ayisven. 
Bryant C. Freeman, ed. Fàklô natifnatal peyi David. Liv 2: Twa ( helbe - ak S,s ht 
kont ayisyen. 
Franketyèn, Pèlentèt (Pvèsteyat): Nouvo Vèsyon. Pref. ak ed. Bryant ( Freeman 
Jim D. Ross ak Bryant C. Freeman, Konkodans Bib la Ansven ak Atouw Kontra 
Bryant C. Freeman, Sobrevivir en Criollo. 
Alaric Degrafinried, Premye Etap akyon Ôdinatè. Ed. Leslie Koo. Jim l) Ross ak 
Bryant C. Freeman. 
Beaudelaine Pierre, Testaman: Woman. Ed. Bryant C. Freeman 
Roger Nelson, Zwazo Avitiyo. Ed. Jim D. Ross, Bryant t \ Freeman, et al 
Bryant C. Freeman and Jim D. Ross, English-Haitian Dictionary 
Bryant C. Freeman, Ph.D. 
Director 
Institute of Haitian Studies 
University of Kansas 
In frequent consultation with: 
Jowel Laguerre, Ph.D., Vice President 
Truckee Meadows Community College 
Jan Mapou, Director 
Sant Kiltirèl Mapou 
Jean-Bénito Merc ier 
Ecole Normale Supérieure 
Port-au-Prince 
Fif th Edi t ion 
H A I T I A N - E N G L I S H 
D I C T I O N A R Y 
Volume I 
Institute of Haitian Studies 
University of Kansas 
I ,awrence 
La Presse Evangél ique 
Port-au-Prince 
r A' 
? ~ v 
_ f j 
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s r n ' l 
\ / • 
2(H)4 
© Institute of Haitian Studies 
University of Kansas 
Lawrence, Kansas 
1996,1998,2000,2002, 2004 
ISBN 0-9654711-5-3 
Honorary Members 
University of Kansas Institute of Haitian Studies: 
Father Roger Désir 
Jowel Laguerre 
Jan Mapou 
Jean-Bénito Mercier 
Carrié Paultre f 
Father Lodewijk Peleman t 
Jim D. Ross 
Roger Savain 
Available from: 
Oread Books 
University of Kansas 
Lawrence, Kansas 66045 
Tel.: (785)864-4431 
Fax:(785)864-5216 
www.kubookstore.com 
La Presse Evangélique 
(Boîte Postale 458) 
27, boulevard Harry TVuman 
Port-au-Prince 
Tél.: 22-4045 
TABLE OF CONTENTS 
Page 
Map of Haiti frontispiece 
Preface to the Fifth Edition xi 
The Language Today xii 
Method xiv 
Sources xvii 
Acknowledgments . xx 
Mcsi Bokou! xxiii 
Note for the Second Edition xxiv 
Note for the Third Edition xxiv 
Note for the Fourth Edition xxv 
Bibliography xxvn 
Pronunciation xlv 
Basic Rules xlv 
-a j and -a> xKi 
-f>j and -by, -ouj and -ouy xlvii 
-any,-cny,-on> xlvii 
e-n and o-n xhiii 
Abbreviations 
Haitian-English Dictionary •• 1 
Chif Kadinal - Cardinal Numbers 
ChifÔdinal - Ordinal Numbers 1009 
Chèf Deta Avili - Rulers of Haiti 1015 
IX 
PREFACE TO T H E FIFTH EDITION 
Most of us are compelled from time to time to consult a dictionary, but few 
of us feel any inclination to read a dictionary preface. For those few who 
do, we hope that their curiosity will be satisfied here without too great a 
degree of boredom. 
The First Edition of the present work had its humble beginnings as a simple 
glossary meant to accompany a rather extensive Haitian-English phrase book. 
Very soon, however, problems arose: naturally the term souive (shoe) deserved 
a place, but what about lasèt (shoelace)? Once the decision had been made to 
include both, there was no end to the task. Then, thanks to a number of 
fortuitous circumstances, in January 1982 we were instrumental in bringing to 
the United States the future Dr. Jowel Laguerre, and work began in earnest. 
With his invaluable collaboration finally appeared in 19% the First Edition of the 
present work with more than 35,(XX) I laitian words and expressions, based on 
oral sources as well as on 291 printed works. 
This Fifth Edition of the Haitian-English Dictionary contains more than 
57,(XX) 1 laitian words and expressions, representing in all some 22 years of 
work. It is based on extensive field work in all major regions of 1 iaiti — not 
forgetting the country's four main off-shore islands as well as on 1,724 
printed works including: novels, short stories, plays, poetry, folktales, songs, 
proverbs; works on agriculture and animal husbandry; treatises on birds, 
fishes, plants, insects; history, law, geography, mathematics, economics, 
grammar; house construction, cooking, dress-making, accounting; and even 
the two-volume scout manual. A high priority was given to medicine and 
traditional folk medicine, dentistry, nursing, anatomy, nutrition, family planning 
and child care. Religious texts ranged from the Bible to the Apocalypse to 
the Book of Mormon, including liberation theology and hymns, as well as to 
Voodoo. Special attention was given to the periodical press, which is intended 
for the greater Haitian-reading public and which probably best represents 
its passive if not always active vocabulary. Thus analyzed in detail 
were the Haitian-language sections contained in 353 issues of Haiti 
Progrès, 299 of Haïti en Marche. 214 of the Haitian Tunes. 95 of Haiti 
Observateur. X9 of / /Union, 78 of Ban Nouvel. 77 of Lihèfe, and 36 of 
Houkan, plus representative issues of Sel. Je Sou Louvri, Avid Fanm, Le 
Petit Samedi Soir. Diyite, La Nouvelle Haïti. K is key a Herald, etc. Finally, 
judicious use was made of more than 30 bilingual dictionaries for Haitian in 
English, French, Dutch and Spanish. 
X! 
Since this is essentially a reference dictionary, understandably we cannot 
give examples of usage. The user has already heard or read his/her own 
example, and making up examples to present here would result in an 
impractical volume either too heavy and too costly for the vast majority of 
users, or oblige us to list far fewer terms of the language. 
A feature new to the present edition is often the use of cf to call attention 
to a more frequently used synonym. For example: "medsen... cf doktè" or 
"entimide... cf kraponnen." Obviously we cannot provide here a synonym 
dictionary, but it can be helpful to remind the user of a less Gallicized or 
"French-fried" term. And the list of 162 varieties of mangoes has now 
been expanded to 165! 
A living language is, by definition, an ever-expanding entity, and we have 
absolutely no illusions as to "completeness." Our only hope is that succeeding 
editions of this work will, with the help of suggestions from users, be less 
incomplete. 
THE LANGUAGE TODAY 
We use the term Haitian, since this is the language of the Haitian people, 
just as the Italian people dignify their language by the name Italian (in spite 
of many similarities to Spanish and French), or the Norwegian people dignify 
their language by the name Norwegian (in spite of many similarities to 
Swedish and Danish). "Creole" is a vague term referring to various 
languages related to French, Portuguese, English, or Dutch, etc., and bearing 
among them little or no lexical similarities. The term kreyol, used almost 
universally within Haiti, is no more justifiable when speaking English than 
would be the term français to refer to French or Deutsch to German. And 
instead of the hybrid term "Haitian Creole," implying a mixture (as are all 
languages), or even something not quite a language, does not Haiti deserve 
the dignity of referring to its language simply by the name of its people, just 
as do other nations? 
Haitian marked an important new phase in its development with at last solid 
official recognition in the 1987 Constitution, Article 5, as the first language 
of the Republic: 
Sèl lang ki simante tout Ayisyen ansanm, se lang kreyol. 
Kreyol ak franse, se lang ofisyèl repiblik Dayiti. 
xii 
Of course this official enactment simply formalized currents long in 
preparation, evolving from a humble status as the language of informal 
discourse, to the realm of formal discourse — eloquently illustrated by its 
exclusive use at the very formal swearing-in ceremonies of President Jean-
Bertrand Aristide on 7 February 1991, a linguistic consecration all but 
unthinkable earlier. With its new status, especially in recent years, Haitian 
has undergone ever more rapid change. More than ever it is not simply 
some basic, elemental language used chiefly by moun mon, the uneducated 
masses in the hills. No greater insult, or stigma, can be attached to Haitian 
than to maintain that it is only the language of the illiterate, and thus can 
authentically include only rudimentary vocabulary. It is also, and increasingly 
so, the language of politics, administration, business, education, culture, 
elegant society, and of course religion, not only in the country's towns but in 
its capital city as well. With this ever-widening use comes the need for an 
ever-widening vocabulary, resulting by necessity in an ever-increasing 
number of terms, many of which would in all probability be unknown to the 
average peasant, but which are becoming, or have become, part of the 
language. Every language grows to meet the needs of its speakers, and as 
needs vary, terms unknown to many necessarily come into usage - but 
which nonetheless are authentic components of the language. Because 
people living in remote areas might not know or need certain terms does 
not mean that they are not in use among native speakers in urban centers. 
Konpitè (computer), if recent, has now taken its place no less than jaden 
(field). To deny the validity of these terms is not only futile, but would be to 
deny Haitian its right, and need, to grow as do other living languages. 
But this rapid evolution presents particular problems for the lexicographer. 
What is Haitian, and what is still just "misspelled French," or as we have 
dubbed it, "French-fried Haitian"? What are the limits of today's language? 
Just how far does tolerance for borrowings from French, or English, or 
Spanish, go? Is privatizasyon now indeed a part of the language? Is 
demokratizasyon an accepted term? Neither is probably in the active 
vocabulary of most moun mon, but when one encounters such terms 
repeatedly in the Haitian press and hears them daily on the radio, then the 
lexicographer would be ridiculous in refusing to accept them, in attempting 
to be "more Catholic than the Pope." But what of terms which as yet occur 
only more rarely, such as pliralis (pluralism) or iminite (parliamentary 
immunity)? Here the message is not as clear, and one has but three options: 
to accept, to reject, or to relegate to the limbo of partial acceptance with a 
caveat such as [Fr.], i.e., an evident Gallicism which may or may not become 
xiii 
an accepted part of the language. This determination between what has 
become truly Haitian, what has not, and what is or may be in the process of 
becoming Haitian, is one of the lexicographer's most delicate tasks. 
Other areas far less delicate but where we have encountered queries, if 
not objections, are the existence of a given phenomenon in Haitian society. 
Upon finding kangouwou in our dictionary, someone asked: "But I didn't 
know there were kangaroos in Haiti?" To the best of our knowledge there 
are not and probably never have been, but then to the best of our knowledge 
there are no Martians in the United States, but we still have a word for 
them. Similarly, others have been surprised to find the names of faraway 
countries. It suffices to listen, for example, to the sports news on the morning 
Port-au-Prince radio stations where, concerning soccer especially, much 
of the world passes in review. And one had only to read the "Kèk Nouvèl 
Senmenn sa a" page of Libète for events of often quite distant lands. 
In a similar vein, we were told by a knowledgeable Haitian, "If I don't 
know the word, it doesn't exist." This fails to recognize the fact that each 
person has a specialized knowledge of the terms of his or her particular 
trade, such as farming, fishing, selling, healing, ironworks, auto-, watch- or 
shoe-repair etc., but in the continued absence of a comprehensive Haitian-
Haitian dictionary, and with the academic study of the language still relatively 
new, many technical terms, while well known to those in the profession 
concerned, are totally unfamiliar to many others. In addition, as in all 
countries, there are regional expressions little known elsewhere, although, 
contrary to popular belief, we have found these to be rarer in Haitian than 
in many other languages. The North is the only area where we have 
encountered a certain number of regionalisms, indicated here by [M]. 
For us, many of the attitudes implied above reveal, on the part of some 
Haitians, a perhaps unconscious tendency to fail to see Haitian for what it 
is, namely a rich, viable and varied language. 
METHOD 
With as constant reminder the quotation from Dr. Samuel Johnson, 
"Dictionaries are like watches: the worst is better than none, and the best 
cannot be expected to go quite true," we have attempted to present as fully 
as possible an accounting of the Haitian language, not limited to period or 
region. 
xiv 
Establishing verbal equivalents from one language to another is an intricate 
undertaking. Seldom does a term in one correspond exactly to a term in 
another. As pointed out above, presenting one or more illustrative sentences 
is often unsatisfactory, but more especially requires far more space than 
would be possible in an extensive yet still affordable and portable dictionary. 
The solution used here, as is the norm for bilingual dictionaries, is the 
presentation of two or more terms which together purport to convey a 
"feeling" or "picture" for a given Haitian word, followed by a semi-colon 
for an entirely separate meaning. 
Early in our collaboration, Jowel Laguerre and I discovered, however, the 
wisdom of first placing a given term or expression in an oral context before 
proceeding to establish equivalents. At that time still relatively new to the 
United States, he defined the verb lack as "to have loose tools." I was 
somewhat surprised that a language would contain a special verb to indicate 
tools rumbling around in a tool chest, so I asked him to use it in a sentence. 
He r e p l i e d , " L è ou te manje yon bagay ki pa t bon pou ou..." 
Subsequently, all entries were checked in a similar manner! 
The project was originally begun using 3" x 5" slips of paper, with the exact 
references as to where the term or expression had been found, resulting in 
some 16,250 slips containing more than 25,000 Haitian entries. Naturally 
these are still retained, but as work progressed this process was found to 
be too time-consuming. Eventually the entries, without the references, were 
transcribed by my wife, Stephanie, onto a computer. 
The spelling system for Haitian has been a subject of contention since 
serious publishing efforts began in the early 1940's, with many systems 
proposed. (See in Bibliography: Depatman Edikasyon Nasyonal - Enstiti 
Pedagojik Nasyonal. Jan pou ekri kreyol.) Since the Haitian government's 
approval of a phonemic system in September 1979, orthography has largely 
ceased to be a subject of contention, and this official system has now been 
adopted by virtually all those publishing in the language. Therefore this is 
naturally the one which we have followed. 
The official spelling system permits either wo, wà, won, wou - or ro, ro, 
ron, rou. However, we have observed the far more frequent practice of 
using a w in each of these cases. Thus: wotë (height), wôb (dress), wont 
(shame), and wout (road). 
Standard alphabetical order has been observed. The practice of some 
lexicographers of Haitian of placing, for example, Azaka before anba, 
xv 
Ezili before è, orfeyaj before fè9 has been found to be counterproductive, 
with even expert Creolists such as Lodewijk Peleman finding it to be 
impractical. 
As headword we have attempted to choose according to our observations 
the form most frequently used, though admittedly this is at times an arbitrary 
choice (e.g., galeri or galriï). With a spelling system which purports to 
mirror pronunciation, the question immediately arises: " W h o s e 
pronunciation?" Every language has at least slight d i f fe rences in 
pronunciation from region to region, and even between members of the 
same immediate family. Which — and how many — of these differences 
should be set forth in a dictionary? In any case, when we have identified 
more than one significant alternate form (e.g., the eighteen [!] variants of 
chovsourit), these forms are listed after the headword simply in alphabetical 
order, rather than attempting any subjective rating based on supposed 
frequency of usage. As to the question of one word or two (e.g .Je pete or 
jepete), we have attempted to follow the usage we have found more 
frequently in printed sources, or occasionally have listed under both forms. 
As for proper nouns, we include many common first names, leading figures 
and sites of Haitian history, well-know Biblical names and places, religious 
groups, the most frequently invoked Voodoo spirits, famous folk characters, 
holidays, public services, planets and well-known stars, signs of the zodiac, 
some common products, and leading factories. As for place names, in 
addition to countries and regional names as mentioned earlier, included are 
continents, oceans, seas, and most islands of the Caribbean. In addition to 
the U.S. states, a few foreign cities frequently mentioned are listed as well. 
As for Haiti itself, there are the nine geographical departments, major towns 
as well as those designating an electoral district (with the department in 
which they are located), lakes, some rivers, often-cited areas (e.g., Lafosèt, 
Raboto, Sentelèn), and leading hospitals (e.g., Bdnfeny Dechapèl). For 
the names of the inhabitants of various localities of the country, the language 
employs not just the term moun followed by the place name (e.g., moun 
Okap, moun Ansavo), but also on occasion a specific term (Kapwci/ 
Kapwaz, Ansavlè/Ansavlèz). These have been included whenever they 
appear to be well-established. 
Parts of speech are indicated as nearly as possible as used in Haitian, but 
which are not always as clearly defined as and do not necessarily coincide 
with, their grammatical usage in English. It must be kept in mind, for example, 
xvi 
that many verbs can be used as nouns, that nouns are sometimes used as 
verbs, that adjectives occur where an adverb would be used in English, etc. 
Idiomatic expressions involving more than one key word are normally 
listed under the term first occurring. For many such expressions there is a 
literal, self-evident meaning as well as a figurative one. Usually we do not 
present the simple word-for-word equivalent. Thus for kase bra we give 
only the not-so-evident meaning of "to discourage, depress," while the self-
explanatory "to break one's arm" is not given. Similarly, for avoka mawon, 
the meaning "shady or dishonest lawyer" can already be adduced from the 
regular entries, whereas we do present its other meaning of a plant known 
as "shining stenostomum." Haiti's numerous plants, incidentally, presented 
a special problem, even with the invaluable aid of a noted tropical botanist, 
and when no English name appeared to exist, we were obliged simply to 
record the Latin name, when available. 
SOURCES 
Our sources were essentially threefold: direct observation, or "field work" 
(the term dear to anthropologists); existing dictionaries and glossaries; and 
the ever-increasing body of fiction and non-fiction, including the periodical 
press, appearing more and more in what is now Haiti's first-named official 
language. 
Oral. For a number of years neither Jowel Laguerre nor myself have been 
without paper and pencil in our daily encounters with the language of Haiti, 
gathering entries for the present work. Jowel Laguerre, as a natifnatal, 
hardly requires an explanation concerning his expertise with the language 
or ability to draw on oral sources. He grew up in Haiti, first in rural Saint-
Georges and Aquin on the southern peninsula, and then in Port-au-Prince. 
In the capital he taught English in various schools, and both oral and written 
Haitian to members of the US Embassy staff there. In fact it was his 
mastery of written Haitian which enabled him to secure (in one day!) a 
special visa as a technical expert in the Haitian language to come to the 
University of Kansas to teach Haitian and French — which according to 
consular officials there was the first such visa ever granted! 
In subsequent years, with Jowel's busy career as a college administrator, 
we have also enlisted the frequent collaboration of Jan Mapou (aka Jean-
Marie Denis), the dynamic founder and director of Miami's Sant Kitirèl 
xvii 
Mapou as well as a well-known poet and short-story writer in the Haitian 
language. In addition, we have greatly profited from the expertise of Jean-
Bénito Mercier, a graduate of Port-au-Prince's prestigious Ecole Normale 
Supérieure and who is at present completing the Ph.D. in French language 
and literature at the University of Kansas. And as always, we often turn as 
final arbiter to our mentor of some thirty years, Father Roger Désir. 
My own experience with the language dates from my love-at-first-sight 
discovery of Haiti in 1958 while still a graduate student in French at Yale. 
Innumerable stays of from three weeks to six months in both urban and 
rural Haiti led to my teaching Haitian through the third-year level and 
eventually to founding in 1992 the Institute of Haitian Studies of the 
University of Kansas. In recent times I have had the opportunity of spending 
a number of months working in rural Haitian hospitals including the Hôpital 
Albert Schweitzer in Deschapelles under Dr. Larry Mellon and the Hôpital 
Bon Samaritain in Limbé under Dr. William Hodges, experiences providing 
an invaluable introduction to medical terms as used by the general population 
rather than the highly Gallicized vocabulary encountered in medical circles 
in the capital. A number of colloquial terms came to the attention of Jowel 
Laguerre and myself while working with a small team to set up a series of 
examinations for the US Justice Department to test the knowledge of the 
language among potential Federal Court interpreters. Later I was called 
upon to serve as an interpreter for Haitian refugees interned at the US 
Naval Base at Guantânamo, Cuba; to participate in a Pax Christi committee 
to investigate human rights violations in Haiti; to serve as instructor for the 
United Nations Mission in Haiti during the de facto regime, and with the 
return of President Aristide, for the several hundred officers sent to oversee 
the UN armed forces in Haiti. In addition I served as advisor for the Military 
Information Support Team preparing material in Haitian for the news media, 
and later as an election observer. And most recently, thanks to serving as a 
lecturer for the U.S. Peace Corps volunteers in Haiti, I obtained many a 
local term during their periodic stays in Port-au-Prince as they came in 
from remote villages. Each of these assignments, along with prolonged 
residence in a Haitian orphanage, as well as writing or editing sixty-six 
published books concerning Haiti, furnished much additional material. 
Dictionaries. No serious work of scholarship is conceived without taking 
into account previous efforts. Of great help was the work of our 
predecessors who created more than 30 bilingual dictionaries for Haitian in 
French, English, Dutch, and Spanish - especially those of Jules Faine, 
xviii 
Lodewijk Peleman, Albert Valdman, Jean Targète and Raphael Urciolo, 
and Féquière Vilsaint. Some dictionaries consulted existed as a single 
roughly-typed copy, first necessitating persuasion in order to borrow 
temporarily, then travel over difficult country roads to a copy facility in 
Port-au-Prince, followed by a return trip. Surprisingly, even the most modest 
ones yielded at least a few valid terms and expressions not yet encountered. 
Each was studied word by word, and when there was doubt as to the 
validity of a given item, it was referred to Father Roger Désir or Professor 
Pradel Pompilus. Occasionally we were further referred to persons such 
as artisans who could confirm or deny a given specialized term. For certain 
categories we worked directly with persons in the specific profession or 
trade, such as Dr. Roger Larose of Saint-Marc for dentistry, a number of 
cooks such as the well-known caterer Madame Gérard Narcisse for culinary 
terms, or various mechanics for automotive terms. For example, for this 
Fifth Edition a most useful four hours was spent going through almost the 
entire stock of Port-au-Prince's largest hardware store with one of its 
managers who gave the Haitian name for the myriad objects, while Jim 
Ross — with a rich background in well-drilling, auto and bicycle-repair, and 
general carpentry — furnished the English equivalents. 
Fiction and Non-Fiction. As for works written in Haitian, we attempted 
above all to achieve as great a variety as possible, while applying the same 
criteria described above. Just because a Haitian author uses a given term 
or expression does not constitute proof that it is a valid part of the language, 
and with certain writers one must exercise special caution. As stated above, 
works of fiction analyzed were quite varied, and included even children's 
literature, jokes and riddles. For agriculture we examined texts on subjects 
as diverse as soil conservation, reforestation, corn raising, porcine fever, 
poultry diseases, and fish pond management. Medical texts ranged from 
general works on public health, folk medicine, hygiene, first aid, to specific 
studies on tuberculosis, diarrhea, AIDS prevention, vaccination, and 
bandaging. Religious texts extended from those listed above even to magic 
spells. Political life was represented by the Haitian Constitution of 1987, by 
various party tracts, studies on community development, peasant economy 
and human rights, as well as by more specialized studies on law and legal 
terminology, including census-taking. And even personal correspondence 
yielded a few expressions as yet unrecorded by us. 
For this most recent edition, the outstanding new written source was the 
monumental French doctorat d'Etat dissertation of Dominique Fattier, 
xix 
Contribution à Vétude de la genèse d'un créole: L'Atlas linguistique 
d'Haïti, cartes et commentaires, consisting of 4,212 pages in six volumes 
researched over a period of some two decades in Haiti. Working with a 
staff of Haitian research assistants, she recorded regional variations of 
several thousand terms in twenty different communities spanning the entire 
country. 
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 
We wish first of all to thank the many Haitians, such as ladies in the Iron 
Market or the Jacmel market, fellow passengers on a taptap, people met 
while walking along a country road, or waiters at the Oloffson, who helped 
with a word or expression. Haitians take joy in their language, and even 
those lacking in formal education find delight in discussing nuances of the 
language of Papa Dessalines. I shall never forget the commotion created 
among a group of machann Mâche Fè when I inquired whether it was 
better to say lay or laj. The question was never settled, but definite opinions 
were certainly expressed! Haitians do care about their language. 
More specifically, we wish to thank Father Roger Désir, who headed the 
team which for some 18 years meticulously, lovingly, translated both the 
Old and New Testaments of the Bible into Haitian. One of the virtues most 
prized in working with Haitian informants is the courage to admit when one 
is not absolutely certain concerning the precise meaning of a given term or 
expression, in which case it is put aside for Father Désir, one of the most 
learned human beings it has ever been our privilege to know. We have 
spent countless hours on the porch of his beautiful home on Delmas 37 
arriving at the best translation for often esoteric items. Perhaps more than 
any other person, it is Father Roger Désir whom we have to thank. 
In the early stage of this project much help was received from one of 
Haiti's major writers, Carrié Paultre, while preparing a textbook edition of 
his masterpiece, Tonton Liben. Late every afternoon he would arrive, and, 
over wonm ponch, explain linguistic intricacies. We indeed treasure his 
memory. 
Special thanks are also due Haiti's internationally known linguist, the late 
Professor Pradel Pompilus, who passed final judgment on the validity of 
several hundred disputed terms; as well as Haiti's inimitable Frank Etienne, 
with whom was spent many a highly informative afternoon while preparing 
a new edition of his Pèlen Tèt. We owe thanks also to Professor Craig E. 
xx 
Martin who went out of his way to help with a number of difficult botanical 
entries; and last but far from least to Michael Geilenfeld and the twenty 
boys of Kay Sen Jozèf, among whom I lived for so long and who were 
among the most valuable guides in the language of Ayiti Toma. 
We wish also to thank Mario Alexandre, Gabriel Antoine, Max Beauvoir, 
Max Blanchet, Gail M. Boaz, Patrick Confident, Dr. Yves Dejean, Dominique 
Delor, Lyonel Desmarattes, William Dunn, Michelle Etnire, Dr. Jacqueline 
Gautier, Dr. Abel Gousse, Glinda G. Griner, Frantz Guillaume, Reverend 
Eric R. Hausler, Dr. and Mrs. William H. Hodges and the staff of the 
Hôpital Le Bon Samaritain in Limbé, Kiran Jayaram, Dr. Michel Jean-
Baptiste, Reverend Pauris Jean-Baptiste, Reverend Edner Jeanty, Aubelin 
Jolicœur, Father Henk Kaal, Camille Laguerre, Vanel Laguerre, Dr. Roger 
Larose, Wender Loriston, Joël Lorquet, Dr. and Mrs. Brinson McGowan 
and the staff of the Centre Médical Emmanuel in Cayes-Jacmel, Dr. 
Catherine C. McGowan, Dr. and Mrs. Larimer Mellon Jr. and the staff of 
the Hôpital Albert Schweitzer in Deschapelles, Dr. Georges Michel, Tequila 
Minsky, Dr. Reynold Monsanto, Félix Morisseau-Leroy, Richard A. Morse, 
Markus Mûller, Madame Gérard Narcisse, Ari Nicolas, William O'Neill, 
Father Lodewijk Peleman, Jim Ross, Roger Savain, Sister Marcella Schrant, 
Jean-Claude Sélimé, Vania Sévère, Mari Dyevela Seza, Dr. Jennie Smith, 
Dr. and Mrs. Glenn R. Smucker, Eleanor Snare, Frances Switt, Léopold 
Philippe Toussaint, Father Jean-Yves Urfié, Professor Albert Valdman, 
Professor Pierre Vernet, and Robert Williamson. Each furnished special 
help found nowhere else. 
Funding for this project has been provided by the University of Kansas 
Institute of Haitian Studies, by the University of Kansas Endowment 
Association, by successive grants from the University of Kansas General 
Research Fund, and by the U.S. Department of Education through the 
University of Kansas National Resource Center of Latin American Studies 
under the direction of Professor Charles L. Stansifer. Special administrative 
support was provided by Vice Chancellor Robert C. Bearse. We wish to 
express to these persons and institutions our warmest gratitude. 
For having first undertaken the arduous task of converting some 25,000 
words and expressions from the Pressoir-Faublas orthography to the official 
spelling system and entering these along with their English equivalents into 
machine-readable form, for at a later stage having carefully proofread the 
entire corpus, as well as for at all times offering valuable editorial advice, I 
wish to thank my wife Stephanie Lynn Freeman — and without forgetting 
xxi 
her constant support and encouragement. Dr. Jennifer Burtner receives 
our gratitude for having spent a summer and numerous weekends checking 
the original proofs while already in medical school. Helpful clerical assistance 
was provided by Tina Wolff. As for the often tedious task of making some 
10,000 additional entries, plus numerous emendations, we have to thank 
especially the expertise and patience of Lynn Porter, along with Pam LeRow 
and Paula Courtney. And for this Fifth Edition, we are deeply grateful to 
Gwen Claassen for her computer expertise and editorial acumen. 
Finally, without the initial collaboration of Dr. Jowel Laguerre, the present 
work might well have never come into existence. Few humans are gifted 
with his innate feeling for language, and never-ending patience. 
Lawrence, Kansas Bryant C. Freeman 
August 2004 
xxii 
Mèsi Bokou! 
Lè mwen rankontre doktè Freeman an Ayiti nou toude te gen menm lide. 
Nou te bezwen mete detwa mo ansanm pou elèv nou yo ki t ap li kreyol. 
Nou pa te janm kwè, nan lane 1982, nou ta rive mete rèv sa a kote li ye jôdi 
a. Men ak pasyans ak travay di "nou rive wè tete fourni." 
Lè mwen t ap fè travay sa a, mwen te sonje ki efè li ta ka gen sou devlôpman 
kreyol, lang mwen pale pi byen pase tout lot yo. Mwen te konsidere tout 
lapenn ak swè yo tankou se peye mwen t ap peye Ayiti yon ti degi nan gwo 
dèt mwen dwe li poutèt bon levasyon depi nan L'Ecole des Garçons d'Aquin, 
rive nan Lycée Anténor Firmin, jiska L'Ecole Normale Supérieure. Nan 
tout lekôl sa yo mwen pa t prèske peye anyen. Mwen ta vie ankouraje tout 
timoun nan mon menm jan ak mwen pou kontinye etidye anba poto limyè 
nan nenpôt kafou, bat bèt sou Channmas oubyen nan Senjera, toujou kwè si 
ou fè jefô rekonpans ou va toujou la. Toujou kwè se ou menm ki reskonsab 
pou chanje lavi pa ou. 
Nou remèsye manman m ak papa m, Jeanne ak Christian Laguerre, nan 
Saint-Georges, moun nan L'Eglise Baptiste Saint-Georges ki te ban mwen 
opôtinite pou mwen te aprann li ak ekri kreyol nan klas Labib nan vakans 
dete. Mwen pa sonje non pwofesè sa yo ankô, kwak youn nan yo te siyen 
Moïse. 
Pwofesè Freeman ak mwen ta vie di tout moun ki te ede nou nan diksyonnè 
sa a, tout moun ki te reponn tout vye kèsyon nou te genyen yo, mèsi. Geraldine 
Strader te ban nou anpil ankourajman. Li te pwomèt tou pou li achte premye 
grenn diksyonnè nou enprime. Mwen vie remèsye madanm mwen, Camille 
Payen Laguerre, ki te toujou ede m sonje kisa anpil mo vie di. 
Mwen fè konesans ak anpil moun ki renmen Ayiti, ki respekte Ayiti, epitou 
ki konprann Ayiti byen. Men mwen p ape janm jwenn youn tankou pwofesè 
Bryant C. Freeman. Se grasa sajès li, ak konprann li ki fè nou rive fini 
diksyonnè sa a. Se poutèt lanmou li gen pou Ayiti tou ki fè li te travay anpil 
konsa pou nou te ka fini li. Mwen vie remèsye li pou tout sa li fè pou mwen, 
pou tout sa li montre mwen, epitou pou devouman li gen pou Ayiti ak lang 
tout kôt fanmi mwen yo pale a. Nan non tout Ayisyen parèy mwen yo, 
mwen di li yon gwo mèsi. 
Duluth, Minnesota Jowel C. Laguerre 
jiyè 1996 
xxiii 
Note for the Second Edition 
Dictionaries Just as bibliographies, are never complete. Since the First Edition, 
work has continued unabated, and as we prepare for the third printing of the 
present work, we are incorporating more than 3,000 additions and corrections, 
with 129 items added to the Bibliography. Special thanks are due Max 
Blanchet for his generous help. There will doubtlessly be subsequent editions 
as well, and any suggestions for corrections and additions will be greatly 
appreciated. 
September 1998 Bryant C. Freeman, Director 
Institute of Haitian Studies 
University of Kansas 
Note for the Third Edition 
Since the Second Edition, with some nine additional months of field work in 
Haiti—from Tortuga to Torbeck—and the benefit of 360 items added to the 
Bibliography, this Third Edition is expanded by approximately 8,000 
corrections and additions, for a total of some 46,000 Haitian words and 
expressions. Thus the present work is almost a third richer than the First 
Edition of 1996. Perhaps the most significant observation to be made concerns 
the gradually increasing effect of the recognition by the 1987 Constitution 
of Haitian as the country's first official language. More and more legal, 
administrative, and technical terms are being introduced, a process which 
will no doubt become ever more pronounced as the language is constantly 
enriched—not unlike all living languages. 
A notable feature of this Third Edition is the substitution of some one hundred 
headwords, thanks to the collective expertise of four of the leading scholars 
of the Haitian language, namely Roger Désir, Pauris Jean-Baptiste, Edner 
Jeanty, and the late Carrié Paultre. A constant problem confronting the 
lexicographer is to indicate the supposedly preferred form of a given term. 
Is it preferably kàmanse, konmanse or koumanse; monte or moute, remet 
or renmètl Obviously one hears and sees several forms, but which is 
preferable? And preferable to whom? Unfortunately, in a dictionary one 
form has to precede the other, and many users assume the first form 
xxiv 
presented to be the preferred one. It is thanks to these scholars that 
headwords have been substituted from those of our First and Second Editions, 
as based upon usage in their 1999 edition of Bib la, and recorded in our 
Concordance and Word-Frequency Lists (see Ross, in the present 
Bibliography). 
In all, the present Edition represents a total of nineteen years of work, but 
again - as with any dictionary - we have no illusions concerning its 
completeness. 
October 2000 Bryant C. Freeman, Director 
Institute of Haitian Studies 
University of Kansas 
Note for the Fourth Edition 
This Edition has been enriched by further field work in Haiti, especially in 
the Department of the Grand'Anse, and by word-by-word analysis of an 
additional 240 items. Special thanks are due Jan Mapou who helped define 
several hundred difficult expressions, and volunteers of the U.S. Peace 
Corps in Haiti whose residency in remote villages often made them a valuable 
resource. New features of the present Edition are a map of Haiti in its true 
language, a table of cardinal and ordinal numbers, and a listing of the country's 
heads of state. 
March 2002 Bryant C. Freeman, Director 
Institute of Haitian Studies 
University of Kansas 
xxv 
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Werner, David. Lasante pou tout moun (tr. Pè Roger Désir et al.). Ms. Pp. 609. 
Wilcken, Lois. The Drums ofVodou. Tempe, Arizona: White Cliffs Media Co., 1992. Pp. 128. 
Williams, Sheldon. Voodoo and the Art of Haiti. Nottingham, U.K.: Morland Lee, n.d. 
Pp. 109. 
Wolcott, George N. Entomologie d'Haïti. PaP: Service Technique du Département de 
l'Agriculture, 1927. Pp. 440. 
Wolff, Amy. Mountain Maid Best Made Cookbook. PaP: Mountain Maid Self-Help Project, 
n.d. Pp. 131. 
Zurcher, Bernadine. Haitian Creole: Programmed Creole Study. Ouanaminthe, Haiti: 
Missionary Church, 1975. Pp. H + 202 + 29. 
xliii 
PRONUNCIATION 
BASIC RULES 
We have not indicated pronunciation following each Haitian entry since in 
almost all cases this is not a problem. The cardinal rule of the official sys-
tem of Haitian orthography — the one used here — is that a word is spelled 
as it is pronounced, and pronounced as it is spelled. Each letter is pro-
nounced, and each sound is written in only one way. 
Sounds to be noted by the speaker of English are: 
ch - as in show: chache (to look for) 6 - as in paw, saw: fo (strong) 
e - as in aim: ede (to help) ou - as in food: ou (you) 
è - as in leg: mèsi (thank you) 
g - always "hard," as in go: 
gen (to have) 
i - as in bee: isit (here) 
j - avoid a "d" in front: jou 
(day) 
o - as in toe: zo (bone) 
r - not rolled, very soft, pro-
nounced at back of throat: 
respire (to breathe) 
s - always pronounced as an "s,1 
never like a "z": prese 
(in a hurry) 
y - as in ^es: pye (foot), zorèy 
(ear) 
NASAL SOUNDS are pronounced partially through the nose, but without 
the "n " itself pronounced. There are no real English equivalents, but are 
close to: 
an - somewhat like âlms: dan (tooth) 
en - as in the name Chopin: pen (bread) 
on - somewhat like don't: bon (good) 
xlv 
When a nasal sound is followed by a second or by an "m," pronounce 
the nasal sound as usual, plus the "n" or "m" separately: venn (vein), janm 
(leg). 
When the letters an, en, or on are M i meant to indicate a nasal sound, a 
grave accent O is placed over the vowel: pan (mechanical breakdown), 
Ayisyèn (Haitian woman), màn (hill mountain). See however E-N and 
O-N below. 
The combination in never indicates a nasal sound. 
In addition to the very basic rules presented above, a few other pointers 
could be helpful: 
-AJ and -AY 
Several hundred Haitian words can end interchangeably in -aj or -ay. Thus: 
chaj and chay (burden) kouraj and kouray (courage) 
dechoukaj and dechoukay (uprooting) lonbraj and lonbray (shade) 
esklavaj and esklavay (slavery) maryaj and maryay (marriage) 
fanmsaj and fanmsay (midwife) nwaj and nway (cloud ) 
fwonmaj and fwonmay (cheese) sovaj and sovay (savage) 
However there are exceptions to this often quoted rule, where -aj and -ay 
are not interchangeable. Some examples: 
-AJ only: 
gaj (pledge) plaj (beach) 
naj (swimming) saj (wise) 
xlvi 
-AY only: 
ay! (ouch!) 
ay ay ay! (wow!) 
babay (bye-bye) 
bagay (thing) 
batay (battle) 
bay (to give) 
betay (cattle) 
bigay (gnat) 
detay (detail) 
fay(gap) 
kay (house) 
koray (coral) 
lakay (home) 
may (link of chain) 
papay (papaya) 
potay (gate) 
sakpay (straw saddlebag) 
tay (size) 
topay (agreement) 
travay (work) 
- Ô J and -ÔY, -OUJ and -OUY 
Only a small number ending in -oj also end in -oy, or -ouj in -ouy: 
fôj and foy (forge) 
kaloj and kalôy (birdcage) 
lôlôj and lôlôy (levelheadedness) 
senjoj and sen joy (var. of large centipede) 
Senjôj and Senjoy (Saint-Georges) 
alagouj and alagouy (randomly) 
chatwouj and chatwouy (octopus) 
koukouwouj and koukouwouy (lightning bug) 
lawouj and lawouy (rust) 
patwouj and patwouy (patrol) 
Non-native speakers frequently hesitate concerning words ending in -any, 
-eny, and -ony. It must be remembered that the final -y forms a separate 
syllable. Thus: 
-ANY, -ENY, -ONY 
chany (shoeshine boy) 
epany (savings) 
gany (winnings) 
zorany (orange) 
beny (bath) 
peny (comb) 
reny (reign) 
chawony (carrion) 
pronounced chan-y 
epan-y 
gan-y 
zoran-y 
ben-y 
pen-y 
ren-y 
chawon-y 
xlvii 
E-N and O-N 
The deficiencies of the Haitian spelling system are so rare that we feel the 
necessity to point out in detail its two "blind spots," namely the infrequent 
cases where en and on - which usually form one nasal syllable - are pro-
nounced separately. In these cases the e is pronounced as in ede, but there 
is no way to denote this since the French é is not part of the official Haitian 
spelling system, nor is there any way to indicate when o and n are in sepa-
rate syllables. These exceptions are so indicated in the present work, but 
since to our knowledge there has never been a separate listing, we present 
them here not as normally written, but with the syllables in question divided. 
E-N: 
abde-nwèl (Christmas tree) 
Ame-nyen (Armenian) 
ante-nwa (funnel) 
antre-nman (training) 
bèlde-nwi (morning-glory) 
be-nwa (bathtub) 
de-nwi (by night) 
enje-nyè (engineer) 
enkonve-nyan (inconvenience) 
E-nri (Ennery) 
este-nye (to sneeze) 
eve-nman (event) 
gre-nye (attic) 
Gwore-nlann (Greenland) 
Ke-nya (Kenya) 
kèse-nva (var. of plant) 
konme-nyon (communion) 
kre-nyè (mane) 
le-nmi (enemy) 
Me-n (Maine) 
me-nwèt (minuet) 
me-nwizye (carpenter) 
monse-nyè (archbishop) 
palfwe-nye (vagrant) 
pode-nwi (bedpan) 
re-nye (to reign) 
te-nva (tapeworm) 
tre-ning (training) 
ve-nyèl (venial) 
ze-nya (zinnia) 
O-N: 
amo-nyom (harmonium) 
anto-nwa (funnel) 
bego-nya (begonia) 
bouto-nyè (buttonhole) 
chanso-nyè (song-writer) 
gaso-nyèz (tomboy) 
ko-nyak (cognac) 
omo-nye (chaplain) 
o-n (aune) 
plito-nyèm (plutonium) 
xlviii 
A B B R E V I A T I O N S 
abbrev. - abbreviation m. - masculine 
acad. - academic mach. - machinery 
acron. - acronym math. - mathematics 
adj. - adjective med. - medicine; medicinal 
adv. - adverb milit. - military 
aux. - auxiliary verb n. - noun 
b. - bom N. - Northern Haiti 
bot. - botany neg. - negative 
c. - circa, approximately num. - numeral 
cf. - compare with obs. - obsolete 
chem. - chemistry occ. - occasionally 
conj. - conjunction onomat. - onomatopoeia 
contr. - contraction PaP - Port-au-Prince 
cul. - culinary pej. - pejorative 
demonst. - demonstrative pers. - personal 
Dept. - Department (administrative phr. - phrase 
district of Haiti) pi. - plural 
ecc. - ecclesiastic pop. - popular 
e.g. - for example poss. - possessive 
Eng. - English prep. - preposition(al) 
ent. - entomology pron. - pronoun 
esp. - especially prop.n. - proper noun 
etc. - et cetera punct. - punctuation 
etym. - etymology q.v. - which see 
ex. - example refl. - reflexive verb 
f . - feminine reg. - regional 
fam. - familiar rel. - religion 
fig. - figurative(ly) S. - Southern Haiti 
fish - variety of fish sh.form - short form of 
Fr. - French, Gallicism sing. - singular 
fut. - future s.o. - someone 
geol. - geology Span. - Spanish 
gram. - grammar s.thg. - something 
inc. - including syn. - synonym 
interj. - interjection U.S. - United States 
in terr. - interrogative USA - United States of America 
irreg. - irregular usu. - usually 
jur. - juridicial v. - verb 
km2 - square kilometers var. - variety; variant 
lang. - language vet. - veterinary 
lit. - literally vulg. - vulgar 
xlix 
H A I T I A N 
E N G L I S H 
D I C T I O N A R Y 
a - abilite 
A 
a definite article the (used after 
word ending in a vowel); prep, to, 
at, about, in, on, with; of [N.]; 
conj. and; interj. ah!; n. art; see 
ak; ala 
A: 
~ ak Z Alpha and Omega [Bible] 
depi nan ~ jis nan Z, de ~ jis Z 
from A to Z, from start to finish 
pa konn ~ nan fèy malanga, pa 
konn ni ~ ni B nan fèy malanga, 
pa konn ni ~ ni je ~ ga nan fèy 
patat not to know beans about, be 
totally ignorant of 
a, av, ava, va (fut. tense indicator -
used only in the affirmative) shall, 
will 
aa!, aaa! interj. ah! 
AAN acron.(Autorité Aéroportuaire 
Nationale) Otorite Ayewopôtyè 
Nasyonal National Airport 
Authority 
ab: 
~ akanm camshaft 
~ denwèl see abdenwèl 
- fwitye fruit tree 
~ lalibète coat of arms of Haitian 
flag 
~ repozwa sacred tree (Voodoo) 
aba adj. striped 
aba...! interj. down with...! 
abajou n. lampshade 
Abakik, Abakoukprop.n. [Bible] 
Habakkuk 
abako n. blue jeans (from 
HABACO manufacturers); loser 
(with women) 
fè ~ to get nowhere with women 
Abakouk see Abakik 
abandon n. abandon 
abandonnen, abandone, 
abandonen see bandonnen 
abandonnman, abandonman n. 
abandonment 
abapri adv. at a low price, cheaply 
abaswa n. giant milkweed (plant) 
abat v. to lessen, diminish 
abataj n. slaughtering, killing 
abati see brid 
abatwa, labatwa n. slaughterhouse, 
abattoir 
a b c see abese 
abdenwèl (pronounced: ab-de-
nwèl), labdenwèl n. Christmas 
tree 
Abdyas prop.n. (Bible) Obadiah 
abe, labe n. priest, young cleric 
Abèl prop.n. [Bible] Abel 
aberasyon n. [Fr.] aberration 
abesan adj. humiliating 
abese, abc n. abc's (alphabet); basic 
knowledge, rudiments; superficial 
knowledge; signboard containing 
alphabet; spelling book (for 
learning to read); v. to lower, 
lessen, humble; adj. basic, 
elementary 
abèslang n. tongue depressor 
abèy n. [Fr.] bee; cf. myèl 
abi n. injustice, abuse; unfairness; 
mistreatment; abuse or misuse of 
power; (man's) suit; formal attire, 
official dress; see rabi 
fè (moun) ~ to wrong (s.o.), treat 
unjustly; to exploit, oppress 
abil adj. skillful, clever 
abilite, abilte n. ability; skill, 
cleverness 
3 
abiltye - abôdjô 
abiltye see abitye 
abim n. abyss; (Jig.) misery, 
misfortune; see labim 
abiman, abiyman n. clothing; dress 
clothes; costuming 
abimen v. to damage 
abinès see albinôs 
Abisini prop.n. Abyssinia, Ethiopia 
abit n. arbiter, judge; mediator; 
referee, umpire 
abitab adj. inhabitable 
abitan n. country-dweller (as 
opposed to city-dweller); farmer; 
peasant; hick, redneck; inhabitant 
~ dekore country bumpkin, rude 
or pretentious hick 
~ djôl di low-life peasant, uncouth 
hick, redneck 
gwo ~ , gran ~ hard-working 
farmer; 
well-off farmer; (relatively ) 
wealthy and powerful peasant 
abitasyon see bitasyon 
abitay, abit raj, abitray n. 
arbitration, mediation 
abitche see abitye 
abite v. to live, inhabit, dwell 
Abite prop.n. small island off coast 
of Corail (Dept. Grand'Anse) 
abitid n. habit, custom; customary 
way; vice; see labitid 
bay ~ to accustom 
pran (pou) ~ to get into the habit 
of 
abitraj, abitray see abitay 
abitre v. to mediate; to referee, 
umpire (sports) 
abitrè adj. arbitrary; n. arbitrariness, 
arbitrary nature 
abitrèman adv. arbitrarily 
abitye, abiltye, abitche, abitwe 
(ak) v. to be used to, be 
accustomed to; to accustom 
abityèl adj. usual, accustomed 
abityèlman adv. usually, generally, 
as a rule 
abivay, abiyaj n. fitting, trying on 
(of clothes) 
abiye, biye v. to dress, get dressed; 
to dress up; to clothe; adj. in 
uniform 
- tankou kongo beli/e, ~ tankou 
yon chat boure, ~ tankou pan 
dressed to kill, all decked out, all 
spruced up; gaudy, glitzy, flashy 
abiyman see abiman 
abizan adj. abusive; parasitica al) 
(person) 
abize v. to abuse, take advantage of, 
exploit 
abizif adj. abusive 
abizman n. abuse; exploitation 
ablabla see rablabla 
ablado n. [Span.] big talker, braggart 
Abnè prop.n. [Bible] Abner 
abnegasyon n. abnegation, sacrifice 
abô n. wharf, pier; adv. aboard; adj. 
without trump card(s); prep. 
beside 
mete ~ to give a hand to; to bring 
along 
monte - to go on board, come 
aboard 
pran - (li) to reprimand, get after 
(s.o.) 
abobo see ayibobo 
abodab, bo dab adj. approachable, 
accessible; affordable 
abôday (lanmè) n. seashore, 
waterfront 
abède, bôde v. to approach, come 
near; to go ashore, land, dock 
abodjô, abôdyô, bôdjô, bôdvo n. 
bad guy, jerk 
4 
aboli - Abrikoten 
aboli v. to abolish; to dismantle, 
disband, do away with; to abrogate 
abolisyonnis n. (slavery) abolitionist 
abolisyon n. abolition, abolishment, 
suppression 
abolotcho n. curse; adj. cursed 
abominab, abonminab adj. 
abominable 
abominasyon, abonminasyon n. 
abomination 
abominen, abonminen v. to 
abominate 
abon! interj. OK! all right! 
abônay see bônay 
abondans, bondans, labondans n. 
abundance, great quantity of; 
prosperity, wealth, riches 
Abondans prop.n. [Book of 
Mormon] Bountiful 
abonde see bonde 
abône n. subscriber; customer 
(water or electric company etc.) 
abonen, abône v. to subscribe; buy 
regularly (from) 
abonmache adj. cheap, inexpensive 
abonman n. subscription, standing 
order (for publication, product or 
service) 
fè - ak to subscribe to; to deal 
regularly with 
pran ~ to subscribe to; to 
take regularly (milk etc.) 
abonminab see abominab 
abonminasyon see abominasyon 
abonminen see abominen 
abonotcho! abônôchô! 
abwenotcbo! bônôchô! interj. go 
away! (expression used to chase 
away evil spirit) 
abonpô adv. intact, safe and sound 
aboretom n. arboretum 
aborijèn n. (rare) aborigine 
abôt: 
pran ~ to reprimand, reproach 
aboulatcha see anboulatcha 
aboupotan adj./adv. point-blank 
about adj. done in, tired out, 
exhausted, worn out, drained; fed 
up, disgusted; at wit's end; 
overactive; ended, at an end 
fin ~ ak to be at one's wits' end 
with 
abouti, bouti v. to arrive at, end up 
at, reach; to end up, finally 
become, result in, succeed; to 
show results 
aboutisman n. outcome, result 
abra adv. hand-driven (grinder, hand 
tool etc.) 
abrakadabra!, abrakalabra! interj. 
abracadabra! 
abrakam n. camshaft (mach.) 
Abram prop.n. [Bible] Abram 
Abraram, Abraam prop.n. 
Abraham 
~ di sètase Enough is enough 
abreje v. to relieve, sustain; to 
abridge, shorten, abbreviate; to 
protect; n. abbreviation; 
abridgment 
~ (di moral) avocado (fam.) 
an ~ in short 
abrejman n. shortening; lessening 
abrevwa n. drinking-trough; 
drinking fountain 
abrevyasyon, abreviyasyon n. 
abbreviation 
abri n. [Fr.] shelter (rel. esp) 
abriko see zabriko 
- dlo var. of mango 
Abriko prop.n. Abricots - founded 
1750 (Dept. Grand'Anse) 
Abrikoten, Abrikotye, Abrikotyen, 
Abrikoyen prop.nAbriko tin, 
abrite - achte 
Abrikotyè, Abrikotyèn, 
Abrikoyèn f.prop.n. inhabitant of 
Abricots (Dept. Grand"Anse) 
abrite v. to shelter; re/7, to take cover 
abriti adj. exhausted, tired out, worn 
out; dazed, stunned, out of it 
Absalon prop.n. [Bible] Absalom 
absan, apsan adj. absent, away; 
absent-minded 
absans, apsans n. absence 
an ~ except for 
absante refl. to excuse oneself; to be 
out 
absanteyis n. absenteeism; s.o. 
habitually absent (teacher, worker 
etc.) 
abse, absè see apse 
absent see lapsent 
absid, apsid adj. absurd 
absidite, apsidite n. absurdity 
abs5ban adj. absorbent 
absobe v. to absorb, soak up 
absoli, apsoli adj. absolute 
absoliman, apsoliman adv. 
absolutely 
absolisyon, apsolisyon, 
labsolisyon, labsout, lapsolisyon 
n. absolution, pardon 
bay - san konfesyon to be 
beguiled, be taken in by 
appearances 
abstansyon n. abstention 
absteni v. to abstain 
abstinans n. abstinence 
abstrè adj. abstract 
abwenotcho! see abonotcho! 
abyenfè adj. pregnant 
abyento! interj. [Fr.] see you soon! 
ach (letter) h; see rach 
kat - four h's (Haitians, 
hemophiliacs, heroin addicts, and 
homosexuals) 
acha n. purchase; deal 
achaj adv. dependent upon, 
supported by 
achak adv. with each 
achànman n. relentlessness, 
determination 
Achelwa, Achelwaz see Akehva, 
Akelwaz 
acheve v. [Fr.) to end, finish off; to 
complété 
acheveche n. archbishopric, 
archdiocese 
achevèk, ïachevèk n. archbishop 
achich n. hashish 
achidvosèz n. archdiocese 
achidyose/en adj. archdHKesan 
Achil prop.n. Achilles 
achilèm v.(ohs.) to circumcise 
achimèd n. entertaining person, 
joker, life of the party; 
(accomplished) story-teller; big 
windbag, big talker; cf. odvansè 
Achimèd, Dachimèd prop.n. 
Archimedes (Greek 
mathematician, 287-212 B.C.) 
achitèk n. architect 
achitekti n. architecture 
achiv n. archives 
Achiv prop.n. National Archives 
(PaP) 
achivis n. record-keeper (clinic etc.); 
archivist 
achoun n. woman's genitals {Jam. ) 
ach tab adj. venal, corruptible 
achtafè n. meddler, busybody 
achte v. to buy, purchase; to bribe, 
corrupt; to take over, take control 
of; to slander; to save; adj. 
artificially acquired; foreign 
~ chat nan makout/sak to buy a 
pig in a poke, buy sight unseen 
~ dèyè, - figi to fawn, eurrv favor; 
6 
achtè - adjahounto 
to kiss s.o.'s butt 
~ kredi to buy on credit 
~ lajan kontan, ~ lajan nan men 
to pay cash; to corrupt; to take 
over, take control (pej. ) 
~ nan sak bounda kreve to be 
self-defeating; to be a waste of 
time 
~ sou pye to buy (crop) before 
harvested 
~ venteyen pye kabrit to bite the 
dust, die 
li ~ men li pa vann not to kid 
around, be serious 
pa ~ frekan (nan men) to take no 
guff (from), accept no nonsense 
(from) 
achtè n. buyer, purchaser 
~ dflgi flatterer, fawner 
achtèbèf n. var. of shoe 
achwal adv. on horseback; adj./adv. 
astride 
Adan prop.n. Adam 
adaptab, adabtab adj. adaptable 
adaptasyon, adapsyon n. 
adaptation, version 
adapte v. to adapt, adjust; to 
acclimate, get used to 
adapté n. adapter (mach.) 
adbôd see albod 
ade adv. together, in pair(s); 
privately 
viv ~ to live together, live as a 
couple 
adè see ladè 
adebra adv. with outstretched arms, 
with open arms 
pran ~ to welcome (with open 
arms) 
adefas adj. hypocritical 
adefo, andefo prep, in the absence 
of, if not 
adekwa(t) adj. [Fr.] adequate; adv. 
rightly, correctly 
Adelina (enperatris) f.prop.n. 
empress Adelina Lévêque (wife of 
emperor Faustin Soulouque of 
Haiti) 
ademi adv. halfway 
pa fè anyen ~ to take no halfway 
measures 
adendom n. [Fr.] addendum 
adenmen! interj. See you tomorrow! 
adenn n. var of mango 
adèp n. follower 
adezif, adeziv n. adhesive tape; 
Scotch tape (cf. eskotch tep) 
adezyon n. adhesion, adherence 
adibitom see adlibitôm 
ADIH acron. Asosiyasyon 
Endistriyèl Ayisyen (Association 
des Industries Haïtiennes) 
Association of Haitian Industries 
adik n. [Fr.] addict 
adiksyon n. [Fr.] addiction 
adikte v. [Fr.] to addict, be addicted 
adiltè, ladiltè n. adultery; adulterer; 
adj. indecent, overly revealing 
(clothes etc.) 
fè komèt ~ to commit adultery 
adilteren adj. bom of adultery 
adipopo see adjipopo 
Adisabeba prop.n. Addis Ababa 
(Ethiopia) 
adispozisyon see aladispozisyon 
adistans adj. far, remote; from afar 
adisyon n. addition, sum; 
(restaurant) check [Fr.]; cf. fich 
adisyonèl, adisyonnèl adj. [Fr.] 
additional 
adisyonnen, adisyone v. to add 
(up), sum up 
aditif n. additive 
adjahounto see adjountô 
7 
adjanikon - adomisil 
adjanikon see oungenikonn 
adjanoumele see adjenoumele 
adjeî adjedan! adjewidan! see 
adye! 
adjenikon, adjennikon see 
oungenikonn 
adjenoumele, adjanoumele n. total 
mess, mass confusion; pile-up, 
smash-up 
adjetif, adjektif n. adjective 
- atribi predicate adjective 
adjewidan! see adye! 
adjida n. curved stick occ. used for 
playing segon (q.v.) in Rada rite 
(Voodoo) 
adjidan n. adjutant, staff officer; 
assistant to a chèf seksyon (q.v.)% 
rural deputy sheriff (same as 
soukèdlawouze) 
adjipopo, adipopo, agipopo, 
ajipopo, azipopo, dipopo, 
djipopo n. worthless person or 
object; obstacle, hindrance; any 
affliction or adversity thought to 
be caused by magic 
adjo, adyo interj. goodbye, farewell; 
hi! (when greeting a young 
person) 
adjountè, adjahounto n. largest of 
the three Rada drums (Voodoo) -
same as manman 
adjovat see adyovat 
adjwen n. assistant, deputy; rural 
deputy sheriff, assistant to chèf 
seksyon 
~ bitasyon yo, ~ pôs, - seksyon, 
premye ~ rural deputy sheriff, 
assistant to a chèf seksyon 
adlibitôm, adibitom adv. endlessly; 
as much as wished, in great 
quantity 
admèt v. to permit, allow, accept; to 
admit, confess, concede, 
acknowledge; to recognize 
admeton, almcton, meton v. [Fr] 
let us assume that, supposing that, 
in case that 
admi v. to pass, promote (in school) 
administrasyon, aministrasyon, 
ladministrasyon n administration 
administrate n., administratrix//i. 
administrator 
administratif adj. administrative 
adminfctrativman ad\ 
administratively 
administre v to administer, manage; 
to administer the last sacrement 
admirab adj. admirable, wonderful 
admirasyon, ladmirasvon n. 
admiration 
admiratè n. admirer, fan 
admire, amire v. to admire 
admisib adj. admissible, proper 
admisyon n. admission, entry; 
initiation 
ADN {pronounced: a-de-enn) 
acron. (Asid Deyoksiribo 
NikJeyik) DNA (Deoxyribo 
Nucleic Acid) 
adôk adj. ad hoc 
adoken n. paving block; five-gourde 
Haitian coin {Jam. ) 
adokinaj, adokinay n. (process of) 
laying down of paving blocks 
adokine v. to pave (with blocks) 
adoksyon see adopsyon 
adokte see adopte 
adoktif see adoptif 
adolesan n. teenager 
adolesans n. adolescence 
adômi: 
bay yon moun - to lodge s.o., put 
s.o. up 
adomisil adv. [Fr.] at home; cf. 
8 
adonnen - afè 
lakay 
adonnen v. to be very involved in, 
devote oneself to; adj. addicted 
(to) 
adopsyon, adoksyon n. adoption 
adopte, adokte v. to adopt; to follow 
(fashions etc.); to appreciate, 
esteem; adj. adoptive, adopted 
adoptif, adoktif adj. adoptive, 
adopted 
adorab adj. adorable 
adorasyon n. adoration, worship; 
money offering (Voodoo); song 
for cult of dead when money 
offerings are made (Voodoo) 
adoratè n. worshiper, admirer 
adore v. to adore, worship; to make 
a money offering (Voodoo) 
adoumaya n. (rare) barrel-type 
drum used occ. in Voodoo 
ceremonies 
adouris interj. sound made to call 
pigs 
adousi, dousi v. to sweeten; to 
soften, relieve, alleviate; to calm, 
pacify 
adowoum n. dance around 
centerpost during Voodoo service 
adrenalin n. adrenaline 
adrès n. address; see ladrès 
mete ~ to address 
adrese v. to address; to appeal to, 
petition 
Adriyatik (lanmè) prop.n. Adriatic 
Sea 
Advantis, Alvantis prop.n./adj. 
Adventist; n. Adventism 
~ Setyèm-Jou Seventh-Day 
Adventist 
advèb n. adverb 
advès adj. adverse, opposing 
advèsè n. adversary, enemy, foe, 
opponent 
advèsite, ladvèsite n. adversity 
adwat adv. right, to/on the right; adj. 
skillful, sharp; agile; tactful 
~ agoch left and right, on both 
sides, in any direction, every 
which way 
adwaz n. slate; writing slate; adj. 
slate-colored 
Ad wen (Bobren) prop.n. Ardouin 
(Beaubrun) - Haitian historian 
(1796-1865) 
adyanoumele n. melting-pot, 
mixture 
adye n. farewell, goodbye 
adye! adje! adjedan! adjewidan! 
adyewidan! atche! interj. alas! 
what a pity! what a shame! oh my! 
watch out!; goodbye, farewell 
~ Bondye (Papa mwen)! my 
God! 
~ dan! watch out! 
adyo see adjo 
adyovat, adjovat, adyova, vat 
interj. it's over, it's finished, that's 
the end of it 
Aewopaj see Ayewopaj 
afa n. shell(s) or pebbles used in 
fortune-telling 
afab adj. gracious, affable, amiable, 
courteous 
afam, afanm adv. made/designed 
for women 
moute bèt % chita - to ride 
sidesaddle (on horse etc.) 
afame see anfanmen 
afanm see afam 
afannkè see anfannkè 
afe: 
zam ~ firearm 
afè, zafè n. matter, affair, concern, 
thing; possessions, belongings; 
9 
afè - afilye 
business, dealing, situation; issue, 
big deal; deal, bargain; love affair; 
big shot; genitals; adj. business; 
see also zafè 
~ bon well-to-do, well off 
~ deta big deal 
- ki gade ou! I don't give a damn! 
~ li nan ti gode to be secretive 
about one's affairs 
~ m pa bon I'm broke 
~ pa bon down and out, broke, 
destitute; poverty 
pa nan ~ moun to be out of it, be 
incapable of (doing s.thg.) 
Afè Sosyal Department of Social 
Welfare/Labor Relations 
an ~ ak to have dealings with; to 
have trouble with; to have sexual 
relations with 
bon ~ bargain 
fè ~ to do business; to live 
together (as a couple) 
fè ~ pa li to strike out on one's 
own, do one's own thing 
fè move ~ to make a bad deal; to 
do wrong 
fè (tout) yon ~ ak to make an 
issue (a big deal) out of; to blow 
(s.thg.) out of proportion 
gen ~ business is good 
moun ~ pa bon poor or destitute 
person, person down on his/her 
luck 
movèz ~ miscarriage 
pa gen ~! no dice! nothing doing! 
no way! 
pakèt ~ big shot, important 
person; big deal; big trouble 
vini sou ~ a to bring up the 
subject 
afebli v. to weaken, grow weak 
afeblisman n. weakening, 
enervation 
Afebril prop.n. brand of syrup (to 
reduce fever) 
afedam n. adventurer; scoundrel 
afeksyon, lafeksyon n. affection 
afeksyonnen v. [Fr.) to have a liking 
for, be fond of 
afektasyon n. posting, stationing 
(soldier, policeman) 
lèt ~ official document of 
appointment or posting 
afekte v. to affect, influence; to be 
posted, be stationed (soldier, 
policeman) 
afektif adj. emotional 
afèktye adj. affectionate 
afèmay, afèmaj see anfèmay 
afème, afëmen see anfèmen 
afèpabon adj. down-and-out, broke 
afere adj. busy 
aferis n. wheeler-dealer 
afese adj. depressed, down 
afetida n. asafetida 
Afgan prop.n./adj., Afgàn f.prop.n. 
Afghan 
Afganistan prop.n. Afghanistan 
aflba, afliba n. entrails, tripe; 
worthless person or thing 
afich n. poster, placard; sign, 
billboard, advertisement 
afichay, afichaj n. posting of bills 
or signs etc. 
afiche v. to post (sign, exam results 
etc.); to show off; to be seen in 
public; to slander, defame 
~ tèt li to make a fool of oneself 
afid n. aphid (var. of noxious plant 
insect) 
afidavi n. affidavit 
afile, file adj. sharp 
afilyasyon n. affiliation 
afilye v. [Fr. 1 to affiliate; n. affiliate 
10 
afimasyon - agôch 
afîmasyon n. affirmation, statement 
afimatif adj. affirmative 
afime v. to affirm 
aflè adj. flowery, flowered (design) 
~ de laj in one's prime 
afliba see afiba 
aflije adj. [Fr.] afflicted; grieved, 
distressed 
afliksyon see lafliksyon 
afliktif adj. [Fr.jur.] corporal 
(punishment) 
afo see afwo 
afôk see afos 
afokol see zotobre ~ 
afon adv. deeply, thoroughly 
afôs, afôk conj. so much, so; as a 
result of, because of 
afou adj. baked 
afranchi n. freed slave 
afranchisman n. emancipation 
afrannkè see anfannkè 
afre n. glutton; adj. greedy, 
ravenous, gluttonous, voracious 
afrechi see rafrechi 
afreman n. gluttony 
afresite n. gluttony; voracity, 
voraciousness; greed 
afrete see fwete 
afriba n. dried salted meat; cf. taso 
Afrik see Lafrik 
~ Santral see Repiblik 
Santrafrikèn 
Afrikanè prop.n./adj. Afrikaner 
afrikanis n. Africanist 
Afrikenprop.n./adj. , Afrikèn 
f.prop.n. African 
afwo, afo n. afro (hairstyle); afro 
(dance); afro- (prefix) 
Afwo (A)meriken African-
American 
Afwodit prop.n. Aphrodite (goddess 
of love and beauty in ancient 
Greek mythology) 
afwodizyak n. aphrodisiac 
afwon n. affront, insult 
afwonte v. to confront, face squarely 
afwontman n. confrontation 
afyo, apyo n. net-grass, coco-grass 
agalôp n. var. of tree 
aganman, agranman, anganman, 
angranman n. chameleon; 
changeable person; turn-coat, 
traitor 
aganmante v. to turn coat, be a 
traitor 
agasan adj. irritating, provoking 
agase v. to irritate, annoy, provoke; 
to tease, pester 
Agasou prop.n. Voodoo spirit 
associated with water spirits, 
sometimes taking form of a crab 
agat n. agate 
Agat f.prop.n. Agatha 
Agawou prop.n. Voodoo spirit of 
storms, winds, thunder, earth 
tremors 
agaz adj. gas-driven 
agida n. bow-shaped stick for 
playing the middle-sized Rada 
drum (Voodoo) 
agiman n. argument, defense 
bay/pote ~ to contend 
agimantasyon n. argumentation 
agimante v. to argue 
agipopo see adjipopo 
Agiwa-Lensou prop.n. Voodoo 
spirit of Petwo rite 
aglomerasyon n. [Fr.] built-up area 
ago!, agoye! interj. I am here! 
(Voodoo); attention!; to denote joy 
or approval 
ago ago adv. carelessly 
agôch, agoch adj. left, to/on the left; 
awkward, gauche, clumsy, dull 
11 
agogo - AHP 
- adwat left and right, on both 
sides, in any direction, every 
which way 
pran ~ ale adwat to go from left 
to right 
agogo adv. galore, in large quantity, 
aplenty; see abobo 
agon n. argon 
agoni, agonni see lagoni 
Agosprop.n. Argos (ancient Greece) 
Agot prop.n. [Book of Mormon] 
Hagoth 
Agou prop.n. [Bible] Agur 
agoudjalaa! interj. yea! yes! 
(Voodoo) 
agoye! see ago! 
agr. abbrev. agwonom (q.v.) 
agraf n. clasp; staple; hook-and-eye 
(fastener) 
agrafe v. to hook, fasten; to staple 
agrafèz n. stapler 
agrandi v. to widen, enlarge, expand 
agrandisman n. enlargement, 
expansion 
agranlijyèn, agrandlijèn, 
grandlijèn, grannlijèn adv. in 
large quantity, in abundance; with 
much ado, with much ceremony 
agranman see aganman 
agrap v. to rebuke 
pran ~ to cuss out, chew out, 
jump all over 
agravan adj. aggravating 
agravasyon n. aggravation, 
worsening 
agrave, angrave v. to worsen, 
aggravate; to become more serious 
or critical 
agrè adj. agrarian, land 
agremante v. [Fr.] to embellish, 
adorn 
agrese v. to aggress, attack 
agresè n. aggressor 
agresif adj. aggressive; enterprising 
agresivite n. aggressiveness 
agresivman adv. aggressively 
agresyon n. aggression, attack 
agreyab adj. agreeable, pleasant, 
pleasing 
agreye, akreye v. to grant, approve; 
to shape (wood) 
agrikiltè n farmer 
agrikilti, lagrikilti n. agriculture, 
farming 
agrikèl adj. agricultural 
agwana see marijàn 
Agwayedyonn, Rivdwat prop.n. 
Aguahedionde, Rive Droite (3rd 
communal section of Hinche, 
Dept. Center) 
Agwayedyonn, Rivgoch prop.n. 
Aguahedionde, Rive Gauche (4th 
communal section of Hinche, 
Dept. Center) 
Agwe, Agwe-Tawoyo prop.n. 
important Voodoo spirit of the sea 
- Tonné Voodoo spirit of thunder, 
storms and earthquakes 
bak ~ small raft on which 
offerings to Agwe are sent off to 
sea 
agwesan, awesan n. scapulary worn 
by newly initiated ounsi kanzo 
(q.v.J in Voodoo 
agwo- prefix agro-
agwobiznis n. agrobusiness 
agwogode adv. in a big way 
agwo(nôm), agwolom, agwonndm, 
agwononm n. agronomist, 
agricultural agent 
agwonomi n. agronomy 
aha! see enhen! 
AHP acron. Ajans Ayisyen pou 
Laprès (Agence Haïtienne de 
12 
aj - ajou 
Presse) Haitian Press Agency 
aj see laj 
ajaks n. scouring powder, cleanser 
ajamè adv. forever 
ajan n. agent (person); silver 
~ chanjman trainer of animatè, 
animatris q.v. 
~ dpôch pocket money 
~ forestye forest ranger 
~ polis policeman; sheriff, rural 
police chief 
~ (la)sante, ~ dsante community 
health worker; paramedic 
~ pwovokatè, ~ destabilizatè 
agitator, (undercover) instigator 
~ sikilasyon traffic policeman/cop 
ajanda, ajannda see ajenda 
ajans n. agency, bureau; branch 
(office); travel agency; travel 
agent 
~ polis rural police chief 
ajanse v. to put together, organize, 
harmonize 
ajansman n. lay-out, arrangement 
ajante n. var. of freshwater fish; adj. 
silvery 
Ajanten prop.n./adj., Argentine(an) 
Ajantin prop.n. Argentina; 
f.prop.n. Argentine(an) 
ajantri n. silverware 
aje adj. old, elderly, senior, aged 
Ajeprop.n. (Bible) Haggai 
ajen adj. on an empty stomach, 
before breakfast; fasting 
ajenda, ajanda, ajannda, ajennda 
n. agenda 
ajenou, ajnou, ajounou adv. 
kneeling, in a kneeling position; 
on one's knees 
machin ~ bô wout la the car is 
abandoned beside the road 
mete ~ to kneel (down); to force 
to kneel, subjugate 
ajenouye v. [Fr.] to kneel (down) 
AJH acron. Asosiyasyon Jounalis 
Ayisyen - Association of Haitian 
Journalists 
aji v. to act, behave, conduct oneself 
~ ak to treat, handle 
~ an aloufa, ~ an devoran, ~ an 
gouman, ~ kou afre, ~ kou 
malfini, ~ kou rapas, ~ kou yon 
saf to be grasping/greedy/ 
ravenous 
~ mal ak to abuse, mistreat 
~ sou to affect, act upon; to 
impress 
~ vouf vouf to act impulsively 
ajikan, ajikann n. person in charge 
of maintaining badji (q.v.) and 
Voodoo ceremonial accessories 
ajil n. clay; adj. agile, nimble; deft 
tè ~ clay 
ajile adj. clay-like 
ajimal adj. misbehaving; n. evildoer, 
wrongdoer, criminal 
ajipopo see adjipopo 
ajisman, lajisman n. conduct, 
behavior 
ajistab adj. adjustable 
ajistay n. adjustment 
ajiste v. to adjust, fit 
ajisteman n. adjustment 
ajitasyon n. agitation 
ajitatè ajitatèz f.n. agitator, 
troublemaker 
ajite v. to shake, shake up; to agitate, 
excite, disturb; to evoke, raise 
(question); adj. restless 
ajiwôl n. eye-drops 
ajnou see ajenou 
ajoli n. var. of bird 
ajou adj. up-to-date; ready; 
transparent; see-through 
13 
ajoune - Akawo 
(material), open-work 
kenbe ~ to keep up-to-date 
mete - to bring up-to-date; to 
clarify 
ajoune v. to adjourn; to set at a later 
date; to be eligible to re-take an 
exam 
ajounou see ajenou 
ajoupa see joupa 
ajoute, joute v. to add (to/on) 
ajoutman n. addition, increase 
ak n. act, certificate, document; 
action, deed; act (theater); bow 
(weapon); arc; arch; acre 
~ denesans, ~ derekonesans birth 
certificate 
~ desè death certificate 
~ maryaj marriage certificate 
pase ~ to draw up a formal 
document; to have a civil marriage 
ceremony 
ak, a, ake, avè, avèk prep, with, in 
connection with, because of; conj. 
and; as 
aka n. itch mite (causing scabies) 
Akab prop.n. [Bible] Ahab 
Akaba: 
lanmè ~ Gulf of Aqabah 
akabi: 
tout ~ all kinds, all types 
akable v. to overwhelm, overcome; 
to plague, torment; adj. sad, 
overwhelmed, depressed; tired, 
weary 
akableman n. despondency, 
depression 
Akachon prop.n. Arcachon 
(disadvantaged community 
immediately west of PaP) 
akademi n. academy 
akademik adj. academic 
Akaden: 
Kôt - , <Kôt) Dèzakaden Côte des 
Arcadins, Arcadin Coast (Dept. 
West) 
akado n. var. of gnat 
akajou see kajou 
Akajoubriie V see Kajouboule Ie 
Akajoubrile 2* see Kajouboule 2* 
akalmi see kalmi 
akamil n. (AK-1000) baby food (2 
parts cereal to 1 part bean, finely 
ground and cooked in water with 
seasonings) - Haiti's standard 
weaning food 
akanj see akany 
Akannsa, Akennsa prop.n. 
Arkansas (USA) 
akansyèl see lakansyèl 
akany, akanj n. archangel 
akapare v. [Fr.] to claim, 
monopolize, seize 
akaparè n. monopolizer, grabber 
akapela adv. [Italian] a cappella, 
without instrumental 
accompaniment 
akaryasite n. bad temper, irritability, 
grouchiness 
akaryat adj. bad-tempered, irritable, 
grouchy 
akaryen n. spider mite (insect) 
akasan, aka 100 n. corn-based 
milky-like gruel 
mwenn - (li mete) siwo at the 
slightest sign; at the slightest 
provocation 
akasya, kasya, zakasya n. acacia 
Akasya see Kriswa 
akawo adj. plaid, checked, squared, 
criss-crossed (design) 
Akawo (Lwi Jan Jak) prop.n. 
Louis-Jean-Jacques Acaau (leader 
of the piquets of the Armée 
Souffrante), died 1846 
14 
akaya - akôdeyon 
akaya see kaya 
Akayè, Lakayèprop.n. Arcahaie 
(Dept. West) - Taino name: 
Arachaya 
akayik adj. archaic 
akdekontrisyon n. [Fr.] repentance 
akdekwa! interj. rightfully so! 
akdenesans n. [Fr.] birth certificate; 
cf. batistè 
Akdetriyonf prop.n. Arc-de-
Triomphe (Paris) 
Akdèzapot prop.n. [Bible] The Acts 
of the Apostles; cf. Travay 
ake [N.] see ak 
pale ~ the particular way of 
speaking in the North of Haiti 
akè adv. sincerely, at heart, to heart 
Akelwa, Achelwa prop.n., Akelwaz, 
Achelwaz f.prop.n. inhabitant of 
F Arcahaie (Dept. West ) 
Akenprop.n. Aquin (Dept. South) -
Taino name: Yaquimo 
Akennsa see Akannsa 
akeri v. [Fr.] to acquire, procure 
akewolojik adj. archaeological 
akèy, lakèy n. welcome, reception; 
social services 
akeyan adj. hospitable, welcoming 
akeyi v. to welcome, receive, greet 
~ ak de bra to welcome/receive 
with open arms 
aki n. gain, benefit, progress; ackee 
tree (whose fruit is toxic if eaten 
prematurely); adv. at what? 
Akil prop.n. L'Acul (Dept. South) 
Akildèpen prop.n. Acul-des-Pins 
(2nd communal section of 
Ouanaminthe, Dept. North-East) 
Akildinô prop.n. Acul-du-Nord 
(Dept. North) 
akilè adv. when, at what time 
Akiljano prop.n. Acul-Jeannot (see 
Wolenbe) 
akimafe n. male homosexual 
akimilasyon n. accumulation 
akimilatè n. automobile storage 
battery 
akimile v. to accumulate 
Akinwa prop.n., Akinwaz f.prop.n. 
inhabitant of Aquin (Dept. South) 
akite v. to acquit, settle, discharge 
akitman n. acquittal 
akizasyon n. accusation, charge 
pote ~ kont to indict, bring 
charges against 
akizatè n. accuser 
akize v. to accuse, indict; n. 
defendant, accused 
~ resepsyon to acknowledge 
receipt 
akizisyon n. acquisition 
aklamasyon n. acclamation 
aklame v. to acclaim 
akle adv. locked; with the key 
aklè adv. openly, clearly, distinctly 
mete ~ to bring out into the open, 
spell out 
akè n. agreement, accord; treaty; 
musical chord; small scratch; see 
rakô 
fè bay ~ to reach an agreement 
fè ~ ak to deal with 
mare ~ to hug 
akochay see akwochay 
akochte see akwoche 
ak6d adj. stringed (music) 
akèdans: 
an ~ ak in accordance with 
akôday see kôkôday 
akôde v. to accord, grant, bestow; to 
tune (music) 
~ gita yo to work together in 
harmony 
akôdeyon n. accordion; harmonica; 
15 
akodeyonis - akoutinians 
notes smuggled into exam session; 
fried breadfruit 
- bouch harmonica 
akfrdeyonis n. accordionist 
akfrdft n. var. of mango 
akokinen v. to conspire, plot, 
scheme 
akokive, rakokiye v. to curl up 
(body), hunch up (back) 
akèkè, akwfrk, akwèkô n. obstacle, 
impediment, handicap; adj. 
disabling, damaging, ruinous 
akolad n. embrace, hug; brackets 
(punct. ) 
bay - to embrace, hug 
akolit, zakoiit n. acolyte; 
confederate, accomplice 
akomodasyon n. accomodation, 
accessibility 
akomode v. to accommodate; to alter 
(dress), dam 
akomodman n. compromise, 
accommodation 
akon, lakon n. barge, scow 
akondisyon conj. on the condition 
that, provided that 
akonnaj n. working on a barge 
akonnèt, akonèt v. to explore; to 
discover 
akonnye n. bargeman 
akonpavatè n. accompanist 
akonpaye, akonpanye, 
akonpanyen, akonpayen v. to 
accompany, go with, escort; to 
accompany (music) 
akonpayman n. accompaniment 
akonpli v. to accomplish, achieve, 
fulfill; to come about, come to 
pass; to marry; to live together, 
settle down, establish a home; to 
pay off a debt 
kay - well-furnished house 
akonplisman n. accomplishment; 
end 
akont n. down payment, partial 
payment 
akostay n. docking, berthing (boat) 
akoste, koste v. to accost, speak to, 
approach; to come alongside, 
board; to dock, berth (boat) 
akostich see akwostieh 
akoteprep, in addition to; beside, 
next to, by; compared to; adv. 
aside; adj. secondary, on the side 
- lanmè seashore, waterfront 
akouche v. to give birth, deliver 
(baby); to assist in giving birth; to 
come up with a new idea 
- betiz to talk nonsense 
akouchèz n. midwife 
akouchman ri. childbirth, delivery 
- anvan lè, ~ anvan tèm 
premature delivery 
- noma! vaginal delivery; 
spontaneous delivery 
doktè - obstetrician 
movèz - miscarriage; painful 
labor or delivery 
akoukouman, koukouman, 
koukounan v. to curl up (body); 
to become narrow-minded; n. fetal 
position 
akouie v. to break/cut s.o/s kite 
string; to capture s.o/s kite 
akoupi, akwoupi, koupi, kwoupi v. 
to crouch (down), squat; to 
wallow 
~ li chaje all set and ready to go 
mache ~ to grovel, kowtow, cower 
akouple v. to couple, mate (animals) 
akoustik n. acoustics; adj. 
acoustic(al) 
akoutimans, akoutoumans n. 
addiction 
16 
akoz - aksyonnen 
maladi ~ chimik chemical 
dependency 
akoz (de) conj. because (of), on 
account of, due to 
akra n. malanga or taro fritter 
(smooth spicy dough fried in 
vegetable oil) 
Akra prop.n. Accra (Ghana) 
akrake: 
ranpli ~ filled to bursting 
akreditasyon n. accreditation 
akredite v. to accredit; to 
substantiate 
akrèk adj. stingy, greedy, voracious; 
aggressive 
fè ~ to act greedily or stingily 
akrekre n. low-class person; loose 
woman, woman of ill repute; adj. 
annoying, bothersome; noxious 
akreye see agreye 
akrilik n./adj. acrylic 
akrimoni see lakrimoni 
aks n. axle; axis (math, etc.) 
aksan n. accent, stress; accent, 
diacritic; accent, inflexion, 
intonation; MGS (monosodium 
glutamate) 
mete ~ sou to emphasize, stress, 
accentuate 
aksanfos, aksangrav n. grave 
accent: à, è, ô 
aksantegi n. acute accent (used in 
French and in former Haitian 
spelling systems): é; tiny bit (of); 
adj. tiny 
aksantye v. to accentuate, stress, 
emphasize 
akse sou v. to center (s.thg.) on/ 
around 
aksè n. access 
akselerasyon n. acceleration 
akseleratè n. accelerator 
akselere v. to speed up, accelerate 
akseptab see aseptab 
akseptabilite n. acceptibility 
akseptans, akseptasyon see 
aseptasyon 
aksepte see asepte 
aksesib adj. accessible 
aksesibilite n. [Fr.] accessibility 
akseswa, aseswa n. accessory; prop 
(theater) 
~ pou twalèt toiletries 
akseswaris n. prop man (theater) 
aksidan n. accident 
fè ~ to have an accident 
pa ~ by chance, it happens, 
unexpectedly 
aksidante n. accident victim; adj. 
damaged; bumpy, uneven (road) 
aksidantèl adj. accidental 
aksidantèlman adv. accidentally 
aksivil n. marriage certificate 
pase ~ to have a civil marriage 
ceremony 
aksyôm n. axiom 
aksyon, laksyon n. action, deed; 
daring act; unexpected event or 
fact; share of stock 
~ an jistis legal action, civil suit 
~ degras see aksyondegras 
gade yon What a thing! 
gen ~ sou li to be enterprising; to 
be daring 
aksyondegras n. thanksgiving (rel.); 
Roman Catholic litanies which 
usu. precede Voodoo service 
aksyonnè, aksyonè n. scoundrel; 
troublemaker; go-getter; 
entrepreneur; adventurer, risk 
taker, daredevil; stockholder, 
shareholder; adj. active, full of 
energy 
aksyonnen, aksyone, aksyonen, 
17 
aktè - aladiferans 
aksyonen, aksyonne v. to 
animate, energize, enliven, spark; 
to subpoena, summon 
aktè n. actor 
aktif adj. active; watchful; n. asset 
Aktik see Atik 
aktim see kaporal 
aktivasyon n. activation, setting into 
motion; installation 
aktive v. to activate, stimulate, put 
into action 
aktivis n. activist 
aktivite n. activity, animation; 
promptness, promptitude; 
vigilance 
mete ~ sou li to shake it up, get a 
move on 
pa manke ~ to be active, be 
industrious 
aktivman adv. actively, directly 
aktout see atout 
aktris f.n. actress 
aktyalite, laktyalite n. current 
events, news; previews 
fè ~ to make the headlines, make 
the news 
aktyèl adj. present-day; present, 
current 
aktyèlman adv. [Fr.] currently, (just) 
now, at present, at the moment 
akwabon? interj. [Fr.] why bother? 
so why do it? 
akwaf see kwaf 
akwarèl n. watercolor (painting) 
akwaryom n. aquarium 
akway n. friendship 
akwe v. to attach tightly; to harness 
two animals together; to be 
friendly with; to enter into dubious 
relationships [N.]; var. of 
djak(oukout) q.v. 
akwentans n. acquaintances, 
friends; dubious relationship^) 
akwentanse v. to make an 
acquaintance 
akwezi n. Voodoo cross formed by 
two daggers or two pieces of metal 
akwo n. rip, tear (in clothing etc.); 
little problem, small handicap 
akwobasi n. acrobatics 
akwobat n. acrobat 
akwochay, akochay, akwochaj n. 
dispute, trouble, conflict 
akwoche, akochte v. to tie up, land 
(boat) 
akwôk, akwôkô see akôkô 
akwonim n. acronym 
akwostich, akostich n. acrostic 
(poetry) 
akwoupi see akoupi 
akyese v. [Fr.] to nod in agreement 
a! see ale 
ala interj. what (a)...! imagine...! 
how...!; conj. for, because; yet, 
however; prep, in the manner of, 
similar to 
kwit - vapè to steam 
Ala prop.n. Allah 
Alabama prop.n. Alabama (USA) 
aiabaz adv. at the root of, underlying 
alabèletwai see dômi ~ 
alabri adv. in a safe place, in a 
sheltered place; prep, exempt from 
alabwès adj. crew cut, butch 
alacha adv. at the buying rate 
(finances) 
alade...! interj. how much...! 
aladefansiv adv. defensively, on the 
defensive 
aladen n. idler, vagabond 
lanp - Aladdin's lamp 
aladesalmannaza! interj. what a 
hell of a mess! 
aladiferans prep, with the 
18 
aladispozisyon - alanvè 
difference that 
aladispozisyon, adispozisyon prep. 
at the disposal of, available to 
aladous adv. on the quiet, 
underhandedly, secretly 
aladriv, driv adj. drifting, idle; 
adrift; abandoned; in quantity, 
aplenty 
lese ~ to set adrift, leave 
directionless 
aladwat, alandwat adv. on the right; 
n. way of braiding (hair, rope etc.) 
alafen adv. finally, in the final 
analysis 
alafendefen, alafendèfen adv. at 
long last, after much ado 
alafilendyèn adv. in single file 
alafoli adv. madly, to distraction 
alafwa adv. at a time, at the same 
time, simultaneously 
alagad adv. on guard, on the alert; 
adj. vigilant 
alaganach see kinalaganach 
alagasôn adv. boyish, mannish 
(when speaking of girl or woman) 
alagoni adv. at death's door, in the 
throes of death 
alagouj, alagouy adv. randomly, 
haphazardly 
alagraba adv. falling apart, in really 
bad shape 
alagrandefouwo adv. without 
thinking, blindly 
alahat adv. hastily 
alaj adv. at the age of; adj. aged 
alakaba adv. coming to an end 
(fam.) 
alakanpay adv. in the countryside 
alakoutime adv. as usual 
alaksyon adv. into action 
pase - to go into action, take 
action 
alalejè adv. casually, lightly 
alalèt adv. to the letter, exactly, 
literally 
Alalin alalin Pyewo prop.n. 
traditional children's song 
alalit adv. in the struggle 
alalong adv. in the long run, 
eventually 
alam n. alarm; see lalam 
alamachin adv. typewritten 
ekri tape - to type 
alamamèl: 
pitit ~ everybody without 
exception 
alame v. to alarm, scare 
alamen adv. by hand; in the hands 
of; at hand, in one's hand 
alamèsi prep, at the mercy of 
alamilatris see melatris 
alaminit adv. each minute, 
incessantly; at the (exact) same 
time 
alamôd adj. fashionable, stylish 
pa - behind the times 
alamonatris see topi 
alamyab adv. privately, out of court 
alan: 
an ~ by/while going 
alanaj, alanay adv. by swimming; 
by rowing 
alanbik n. distillery, still; heavy 
drinker 
alandwat see aladwat 
alankont prep, against, counter to, 
contrary to 
alantou adv. all around, 
surrounding; n. vicinity, 
neighborhood, community, 
surroundings, environs 
alantran adv. at the beginning (of); 
at the entrance (of) 
alanvè adv. inside out; n. way of 
19 
alapaj - alawotè 
braiding (hair, rope etc.) 
alapaj adj. up-to-date, current 
alapapèt adv. at the (very) offset, at 
the start 
alaparèy adv. in the news, in the 
public eye 
alapat: 
mete men ~ to get involved, take 
action 
alapèl prep, in answer to 
reponn ~ to answer the roll-call 
alapis n. spy, informer; adv. 
stealthily, on tiptoe 
mache ~ to show off, put on airs 
alaplas(de) prep, instead of 
alaplim adv. (written) by pen 
alaploum adv. quickly, in no time at 
all; see ploum 
alapôte adv. within reach of, 
available to 
alapwôch adv./prep. at the approach 
of, approaching, nearing 
alapwochèn! interj. [Fr.] see you 
again! be seeing you! 
alapyès: 
pwodiksyon - subcontracting; 
assembly industry 
alaranvès adv. pouring, drenching 
(rain) 
tonbe - to fall backward 
alarat adv. hastily, in a hurry 
alarechèch adv. in search of, 
looking for 
alareskous: 
vini ~ to come to (s.o.'s) rescue 
alaretrèt adv. in retirement 
alaryè adv. behind, to the rear 
Alaska prop.n. Alaska (USA) 
alaso! interj. charge! onward! 
upward! 
moute ~ to assault, storm 
pati ~ dèyè to charge after 
ala*6id adv. [pej. ) in the pay of 
alastrim n. smallpox 
alaswif adv next, following; as a 
result of 
alatak adv on/to the attack, onward 
pase - to go on the offensive 
alatant adj. expectant, awaiting 
alatèt adv. in charge of, at the head 
of; in the lead; n. leader, chief, 
authority 
alatik adv. at death's door 
alatranp: 
mete ~ to cool down, cool off 
mete bab li - to watch out, be 
careful; to take précautions; to get 
ready, be ready; to dread, fear 
alavangad adv. on the forefront of 
alavans adv. in advance, 
beforehand; ahead of time; in 
anticipation 
alavant adv for/on sale 
alavavit adv. hastily, negligently 
alaverite adv. in truth, truly 
alavèy adv. on the day before, on the 
eve of; on the brink of 
alavni adv. in the future 
alavèl adv on the wing, in (full) 
flight 
alawenyay see alawonyay 
alawitèn adv. to a week later (jur.) 
alawonn adv. all around, within a 
radius of; front and back 
alawonnbadè, alawonn, 
alawonndebadè adv. without 
exception, inclusively, completely, 
across the board 
alawonyay, alawenyay v. to lurk, 
prowl; adv. furtively, stealthily; in 
the vicinity, in the area 
alawonyè v. to roam about, lurk 
alawotè adv. well-suited; up to, 
worthy of, fit for 
20 
alawout - ale 
pi ~ most outstanding 
alawout see arawout 
alba see ralba 
Albani prop.n. Albania 
Albànyen prop.n./adj., Albànyèn 
f.prop.n. Albanian 
albarak n. roughneck, tough guy 
albat n. alabaster 
albè n. trick, deception, prank 
bay ~ to put s.o. on, kid; to trick 
gen tit ~ to be a patent or obvious 
thief 
Albè prop.n. Albert 
albimen n. albumin 
albinos, abinos, bilos, boulôs nJ 
adj. albino 
albod, adbod n. plasterboard, 
masonite 
albom n. album 
albou (leson) n. var. of card game 
alchimi n. alchemy 
ale n. way, path; alley; driveway; 
aisle; trip, passage; interj. to chase 
off dog etc. 
ale, al, ay v. to go, go away, leave, 
depart, disappear; to go to the 
bathroom, defecate; to pass away, 
die; to happen, occur; (used after 
another verb) away; n. leaving, 
departure; going; prep, (up) to; see 
aledvini, alewè 
~ ak to fit, be good for, agree 
with; to match, blend in; to suit; to 
make off with, steal; to carry off, 
carry away, abduct 
~ ~ li to go on one's way 
~ bay to put, place 
~ bwa chat to kick the bucket, die 
~ chache to go (and) get 
~ chemen li to go on one's way 
~ devan pè to get married 
~ dèyè to go (and) get; to pursue, 
go after 
~ fè wout (li) (kite) to go on 
(one's) way 
- miyo to improve; see alemye 
- nan dlo to go get water; to be 
submerged in water 
~ nan fanm/fi to sleep with 
numerous women; to go to a 
brothel 
- ou laba! go to (hell)! 
~ ou lanmèd! shit on you! 
~ ou vouzan! go screw yourself. 
- pi devan to go forward, advance 
- pou all the way to, as much as, 
up to 
- pou oto driveway 
~ (pou) vini both coming and 
going; continuously 
- prese to rush, hurry 
~ retou round-trip; reciprocal; 
recurring 
~ sèlman one-way (ticket) 
~ sou tinged with, bordering on; to 
shit on 
~ tounen to keep coming back 
~ vini to go back and forth, 
commute; to be intermittent; 
comings and goings; reciprocal 
- vini ak vire voye commotion, 
agitation, disorder 
~ wè pou - let alone, much less, 
not to mention 
fè - to drive away, repel 
fe ~ vini to come and go, go back 
and forth; to commute; to serve as 
liaison; to buy (in one place) and 
sell (in another) 
ki ~ vini intermittent 
m ~ good-bye 
pa ~ ak to disagree with, have a 
bad effect upon 
pa ka ~ constipated 
21 
alè - alenfinitif 
alè adv: on time; in time; adj. 
punctual, prompt; extroverted; 
excited; homy (woman) 
- pil exactly on time 
~ sa a at this/that time 
mete ~ to set (watch, clock) 
senkant mil - fifty miles an hour 
aieche v. to lure 
alechèl see desen 
alèd (de) prep, with the help of, by 
means of; thanks to 
aledvini see ale vini 
alega prep, with regard to, 
concerning, about 
alegad see annegad 
alegori n. allegory 
alegorik adj. allegoric(al) 
alejans n. allegiance, loyalty 
aleje v. to alleviate, lighten, 
unburden, relieve, soothe 
alèji n. allergy; allergic reaction; adj. 
allergic 
~ ak allergic to 
fè ~ ak to be allergic to 
alèjman, alejman n. relief, 
alleviation; betterment 
aleka adv. aside, apart, detached; 
adj. aloof 
alekè adj. square, plumb, true 
aleken n. various cooked foods sold 
on street such as rice and beans, 
cornmeal etc. 
alèkile, atôkile adj.ladv. nowadays, 
present-day, presently; from now 
on, henceforth; thus, so 
alekout adj. attentive; adv. 
attentively 
alekri adj. written; adv. in writing 
Alèksprop.n. Alex 
aleksandren adj. alexandrine 
(verse) 
Aleksandri prop.n. Alexandria 
Aleksann prop.n. Alexander 
Fè - Fort Alexandre (fortress 
ruins near Fermathe, Dept. West) 
aleksè adv. excessively, in excess 
aleksepsyon adv. with the exception 
of, excepting 
Aleksi prop.n. Alexis 
Aleksi (Jak Kstefèn) prop.n. Alexis 
(Jacques-Stephen) - Haitian writer, 
author of C ^ ampère Général Soleil 
(1922-1961) 
Aleksi (Nô) prop.n. Alexis (Nord) -
(Tonton Nô) president of Haiti, 
1902-1908 
aleksteryè adv. outside 
alekstrawôdinè: 
asanble - special session (of 
Legislature) 
alekstrèm adv. exceedingly 
alèlè n. big talker 
boueh djôl lang % tèt ~ 
blabbermouth, indiscreet person 
alelouya interj. alleluia, hallelujah; 
out! (to chase away evil spirit) 
Alèmprop.n. Harlem (New York) 
alemye, alemiyè, myezale //. 
improvement, betterment; 
improved economic situation 
aien, lalen n. alum 
alèn, alenn, zalèn, zalenn n. breath; 
awl 
poze ~ to hold one's breath under 
water 
Alèn see Alenn 
ALENA acron. (Alliance 
Economique Nord-Américaine) -
NAFTA (North American Free 
Trade Agreement) 
alenèt adj. continuous, non-stop 
alenfinitif: 
pase ~ to send to glory, give the 
death blow, kill 
22 
Alenn - aliman 
Alenn, Alèn (siklôn) prop.n. Allen 
(disastrous hurricane, August 6, 
1980) 
alenperatris see topi 
alenpwovis adv. [Fr.] unexpectedly, 
suddenly 
alenterè adv. at interest (loan) 
alenteryè adv. inside 
alepôk adv. at the time, during that 
period 
aleprèv: 
mete/pase ~ to put to the test 
alèrending adv. late at night; at odd 
hours 
aleretou n. round-trip; adj. 
reciprocal; recurring 
alès adv. on/to the east, on the east 
side/end 
alesepsyon prep, with the exception 
of 
alèt n. alert 
Alèt (riyèl) prop.n. ruelle Alerte 
(bordering Exterior Cemetery, 
PaP) 
alète v. to alert, warn, inform 
alètman n. breast-feeding, nursing 
aletranje adv. abroad, from abroad 
alèv adv. at work, in action 
aleven n. var. of tiny fish 
alevini see aledvini 
alevouzan!, vouzan! interj. fuck 
off! see also vouzan 
alewè, alevwa conj. let alone, much 
less, not to mention 
alewoulaba! interj. go to hell! 
alèz adj. comfortable, well-off; at 
ease; free; adv. easily, 
comfortably; n. draw-sheet; interj. 
at ease! (;milit.) 
~ kou (mèt) Blèz (ki chita sou 
yon chèz san pinèz), - kou Blèz 
ki chita sou yon chèz kay Monèz 
k ap touye pinèz really well-off, 
to have it made in the shade 
pa - nan ko 1 not at ease with 
oneself; to have low self-esteem 
alezan adj. chestnut-colored, dark 
brown (horse) 
alèzeman see alèzman 
alèzko n. good feeling, exhiliration 
alèzman, alèzeman adv. 
comfortably, with ease 
alezwa n. reamer, borer (mach.) 
alfa: 
~ e omega from beginning to end 
Alfa (Misyon) prop.n. Roman 
Catholic literacy program (1986-
1988) 
alfabè, alfabèt n. alphabet 
alfabetik adj. alphabetical 
alfa(betizasyon) n. literacy 
campaign; literacy training 
fe - to conduct adult literacy 
classes 
alfabetize v. to teach to read and 
write; n. person who has 
successfully completed adult 
literacy course; adj. literate 
alfabetizè n. literacy instructor 
alfalfa n. bot. alfalfa 
alfat see asfat 
alfate see asfalte 
alfô see ralfô 
alg 72. alga(e) 
algorit n. algorithm 
ali n. gait, walk, pace; looks, 
appearance 
alibi n. alibi 
aligati see fil aligati 
Aliks prop.n. Alex 
alilin, anilin n. aniline (used to 
make ink, dye etc.) 
alimaj see alimay 
aliman, aliyman n. line up, 
23 
alimantasyon - alokisyon 
formation; alignment (car); 
nutriment, food 
adwat - eyes to the right, form a 
straight line (milit. ) 
fè - to line up, align 
alimantasyon n. [Fr.] nourishment; 
supplying 
alimante v. to feed, nourish, sustain; 
to supply 
alimantè adj. nutritive, nutritional, 
food 
alimay, alimaj n. ignition (of 
vehicle) 
alimèt, zalimèt n. (safety ) match 
- bengal Bengal light (fireworks) 
bwa - matchstick 
pase - to strike a match 
aliminyèm, alimiyôm n. aluminum 
papye - tin foil, aluminum foil 
alinanimite adv. unanimously 
alineya n. paragraph 
alinison adv. in unison 
alisinojèn n. hallucinogen 
alite adj. bedridden 
alito n. breath 
alityè see arityè 
alivyal adj. alluvial 
alivyon n. alluvium 
aliyen, aliye v. to line up, align, 
place in a row; to gather 
aliyman see aliman 
alizan see alzan 
alize: 
van - trade-winds 
alizyon n. allusion 
Alje prop.n. Algiers (Algeria) 
aljèb n. algebra 
aljebrik adj. algebraic 
Aljeri, Laljeriprop.n. Algeria 
Aljeryen prop.n./adj., Aljervèn 
f.prop.n. Algerian 
alkalen, alkalin adj. alkaline 
alkali n. chew. alkali 
~ twa degout var. of particularly 
potent poison used esp. in sorcery 
aikasèt/è n Alka-Seltzcr; (any) 
antacid 
Alkayida prop.n. al-Qaeda/al-Qaida 
(international terrorist 
organization) 
alkèl /;. alcohol; rubbmg alcohol 
alkolik n./adj. alcoholic 
alkolis n. alcoholism 
Alma prt >p, n. ( Book of Mormon ] 
Alma 
Almanprop n./adj., Almann 
fprop.n. German 
almanak, almannak n. calendar 
kite ~ to be older than 31 
Almay, Laimay prop.n. Germany 
- de Lès Hast Germany 
- de Lwès West Germany 
almeton see admeton 
alo adv. w tth water; water-based 
(paint etc.); interj. hi! hello! 
tonbe ~ to flop, fail 
alè, alès adv./conj. so, thus, 
consequently, then, well then 
aldche adj. fat; good-looking 
kout peny - way of combing the 
hair 
alèd: 
~ dijou order of the day ( milit. ) 
raple - to call (s.o. ) to order, call 
(s.o.) down, set (s.o.) straight 
retou - return to order 
alodinè adv ordinarily, usually 
kèm - as usual 
alokasyon n. allocation, benefit 
alokazyon adv, upon occasion, at 
times; prep, during, for, on the 
occasion of 
aldke see alôske 
alokisyon n [Fr ) short speech 
24 
alon - Amagedon 
alon! interj. [Fr.] really! come on 
now! 
alonè, alonnè, anlonnè(de) prep. 
[Fr.] in honor (of) 
alonj n. (electrical) extension cord; 
extension (cord, rope); hair 
extension(s) 
alonj e see lonje 
alonnè see alonè 
alontèm adv. in the long run 
aloral adv. orally 
alorijin adv. at the origin of, at the 
start of; originally 
aloryan: 
pase ~ (etènèl) to pass away, pass 
on, go to one's reward, die 
voye ~ (etènèl) to do away with, 
kill 
alos see alo 
alôske, alôke conj. whereas; while 
(on the other hand) 
aloufa, alouvi, alovi n. glutton, 
insatiable eater; adj. gluttonous; 
greedy; miserly 
bèt ~ scavenger 
aloufasite n. gluttony; greed 
alounmandja adj. huge, enormous 
alounvi, alovi see ayovi 
Alowin see Halowin 
alpaga n. alpaca 
alsa, alza adj./adv. aside 
~ ko li to move away, clear out, 
beat it 
alsfat see asfat 
alsiyis n. orgasm; interj. cry of 
sexual pleasure 
fè ~ to achieve an orgasm 
alte v. to halt, stop (s.o.) 
altè n. dumbbell, hand weight 
altèkasyon n. altercation, dispute, 
quarrel 
altènans n. alternation; changeover, 
rotation (esp. political) 
altènatè n. alternator (mach.) 
altènatif n. alternative; adj. 
alternate, alternating 
altènativman adv. alternately 
altène v. to alternate 
altere v. to alter, change, modify 
altewofil n. weight lifter 
altitid n. altitude 
alto n. alto (voice); viola 
Alvantis see Advantis 
alveyôl n. alveolus; (tooth) socket 
alwès adv. on/to the west; on the 
west side/end 
alwil adv. oil-based (paint etc.) 
alyaj n. alloy, compound 
alyans, alyansay, alyansman, 
lalyans n. alliance, union; 
wedding ring; covenant (rel.) 
alyanse, alyansaye v. to form an 
alliance, unite with 
alyas n./adv. alias 
alye n. ally; adj. allied; v. to mix, put 
together 
alyenasyon n. alienation 
alyene v. to alienate 
alyenn kat n. [Eng.] alien card, 
green card 
alza see alsa 
alzamè, alzaymè n. Alzheimer's 
disease 
alzan, alizan, azan n. chestnut-
colored horse 
alzasyen prop.n./adj. Alsatian 
alzaymè see alzamè 
AM acron. Asanble Minisipal 
(Town Council) 
amabilité n. amiability, kindness; 
caring 
amadiyo n. armadillo 
amadwe see anmadwe 
Amagedon prop.n. [Bible] 
25 
amak - amèvèy 
Armageddon 
amak see ramak 
amalgam n. (permanent) dental 
filling; amalgam; medley, mixture 
amalgame v. to merge, combine 
aman n. [Fr.] lover 
Aman prop.n. disadvantaged section 
of Port-de-Paix (Dept. North-
west); [Bible] Haman 
- Oli (ri) rue Armand Holly (in 
Babiole q.v. area of PaP) 
amande v. to amend 
amandkè, amannkè n. illicit (?) 
lover 
amandman see amannman 
Amaniyileben prop.n. Amany-les-
Bains (Dept. Artibonite) 
amann, lanmann n. fine, penalty 
amannkè see amandkè 
amannman, amandman n. 
amendment; additive 
amarantin n. albahaca (plant) 
amarikprop.n. Amharic 
amarili n. amaryllis (plant) 
amatè see anmatè 
amati n. framework; armature for 
electric appliance 
amatim see amètim 
Amawon, Ammawon prop.n. [Book 
of Mormon] Ammaron 
amaz6n//z. horsewoman; amazon 
(woman) 
Amazôn prop.n. Amazon; 
Amazones (4th communal section 
of Côtes-de-Fer, Dept. South-East) 
Amazoni prop.n. Amazonia 
ame v. to arm, be armed; to pick up 
(weapon); see lame 
- di Sali Salvation Army 
~ jiskodan, ~ jouk/jis nan dan, 
- jouskodan armed to the teeth, 
fully armed 
am h see anmè 
ameba see amib 
Amedisali prop.n. Salvation Army 
amegri see megri 
ameli n. var. of mango 
amelyorasyon ;?. improvement, 
betterment 
amelyore to improve, better 
amcman ;/. armament, weapons 
amèn interj. amen 
amenaje v. to fix up, develop, 
improve 
amenajman n. fixing-up, 
developing; development, 
improvement 
Ameni, Lament prop.n. Armenia 
aniens! v. to thin down, slim down, 
reduce 
amenshman n. thinning (down) 
Amenyen {pronounced: a-me-nyen) 
prop.n. adj., Amenyèn 
(pronounced a-me-nyèn} f prop.n. 
Armenian 
Amerendyen prop.n./adj., 
Anierendyèn f.prop.n. 
Amerindian 
Amerikprop.n. America 
- Dîné North America 
- Disid South America 
- Latin Latin America 
- Santral Central America 
Ameriken, Menken, Merisken 
prop.n./adj American 
Amerikèn, Merikèn fprop.n. 
Amencan woman 
Arnestèdam prop.n. Amsterdam 
(Netherlands) 
amètim, amatim n. [/*>.) bitterness, 
resentment 
ametis n. amethyst 
amèvèy adv. wonderfully, 
marvelous l y 
26 
amezi - amôtize 
amezi see anmezi 
AMH acron. Asosyasyon Medikal 
Ayisyen Haitian Medical 
Association 
amib, ameba n. amoeba; adj. 
amoebic 
amidal see amigdal 
amidon see lanmidon 
amidonnen see anmidonnen 
amigdal, amidal, anmidal n. tonsil; 
tonsillitis 
amigdalit n. tonsillitis 
amigo n. pal, buddy 
amikal adj. friendly; n. association, 
club 
amikalman adv. amiably 
amilèt n. amulet, charm, talisman 
amiltonn n. (U.S.) Coast Guard ship 
aminan n. parasite 
amine: 
asid ~ amino acid 
aministrasyon see administrasyon 
amiral see anmiral 
amire see admire 
amitye see lamitye 
Amitye (wout) prop.n. Route de 
l'Amitié ("Friendship Route" - gift 
from France, road from Carrefour 
Dufort to Jacmel, Dept. South-
East) 
amizan adj. amusing, fun, 
entertaining 
amize, anmize v. to amuse, 
entertain; refl. to have a good time, 
have fun 
fè yon ti ~ to have a little fun 
amizè n. comedian, entertainer 
amizman, anmizman n. 
amusement, diversion, 
entertainment; fun; pastime; snack 
(peanuts, popcorn etc., [N.] - cf. 
pistach, mayi pèpèt) 
Am m a won see Amawon 
amnesti see anmnisti 
amnezi see anmnezi 
amnisti see anmnisti 
amnyotik adj. amniotic 
likid ~ amniotic fluid 
sak ~ amniotic sac 
amô adv. to death; extremely 
Amon prop.n. [Bible] Ammonite 
amoni, amonni, lamoni n. harmony 
amonika, namonika n. harmonica; 
small tin flute 
amonizasyon n. harmonization 
amonize, amonnize refl. to 
harmonize, be in harmony with 
amonnyom see amonyom 
amonya n. ammonia 
amonyak {pronounced: a-mo-
nyak), amonnyak adj. ammoniac 
sèl ~ ammonium chloride 
amonyakal adj. ammoniacal 
amonyom {pronounced: amo-
nyom), amonnyom n. harmonium 
amôrès, anmôrès n. cloth dye 
amorèz see anmourèz 
Amoriprop.n. [Bible] Amorite 
amos n. beginning, start; bait; 
attraction; trial-run, show, 
demonstration 
bay yon ti ~ to present an insight, 
give a small sample 
Amos prop.n. [Bible] Amos 
amose v. to begin, start; to prime 
amotè adj. motor-driven, automatic, 
electric (grinder etc.) 
amoti v. to block (a thrown object) 
with one's body, deflect; to 
deaden, dampen, soften (a blow); 
to pay off (debt), amortize 
amotisman n. amortization, periodic 
payments 
amotize v. to amortize 
27 
amou - anba 
amou n. love, darling (used in direct 
address only) 
fè ~ to have sex 
menm ~ as always, same as ever 
(as in closing of a letter etc.) 
amoupwôp n. tidiness, neatness 
amoure see anmoure 
amourèz see anmourèz 
amstè n. hamster 
amwa, anmwa, lamwa n. wardrobe, 
closet; electric circuit box 
ti ~ locker 
amwari n. coat-of-arms 
amwaz, anmwaz n. sagebrush; 
mugwort {plant considered to 
have both medicinal and magical 
properties) 
amwens (si), amwenke, amwenske, 
anmwenske conj. unless, except 
if 
an n. year; definite article the 
(placed after a word ending in a 
nasal sound where the final "n" is 
not pronounced, and after a word 
ending in -mi, -mou, -ni, -nou); 
prep, in; to; from; of, made of; 
while, by; as a/an; interj. ah! 
~ ~ uh-uh, nope 
~ han! uh-huh! 
~ nou come on, let's go 
pitit ~ mwen dear one 
an, ann prep, in; of, made of; while, 
by; see annou 
An prop.n. Ann(e) 
Ana prop.n. [Bible] Anah; Hannah; 
prop.n. Anna 
anabatis prop.n./adj. Anabaptist 
anache see annache 
anachi see lanachi 
anachik adj. chaotic, disorganized, 
makeshift; adv. haphazardly, 
without plan or structure 
anachikman adv. haphazardly, 
without plan or structure 
anachis see annachis 
An ago see Nago 
Anakawona prop.n. Anacaona 
(queen of Xaragua, betrayed and 
killed by early Spanish governor 
of Hispaniola) 
vil - "City of Anacaona," Léogâne 
(Dept. West) 
anal n. annals, chronicles 
analfabèt, annalfabèt n./adj. 
illiterate 
~ pa (vie di) bèt illiteracy does 
not mean stupidity 
analfabetis, analfabetizasyon, 
lanalfabetis n. illiteracy 
analis n. analyst 
analiz n. analysis; lab(oratory) 
analysis, test; parsing (gram.) 
analize v. to analyze, examine 
analjezik n. analgesic 
analoji n. analogy 
analojik adj. analogical 
an an see en en 
anana see zannanna 
anaprechôk n. backlash 
anasi, annasi n. spider; cf. arenyen 
ill - nich - , twal - spider web, 
cobweb 
anatèm n. anathema 
anatomi n. anatomy 
anatomik adj. anatomic(al) 
anayewob n. anaerobe 
anba n. genitals (female); lower 
(one), bottom (one); downstairs, 
ground floor; adj. lower; adv. 
below, underneath; down; 
downstairs; at the bottom; prep. 
under, from under, below, beneath; 
down; under the influence of 
28 
anba - anbeli 
~ ~ underhandedly; under (one's) 
breath 
- kou - dewlap (ox), fetlock 
(horse), wattle (turkey) 
~ lakay underground foundations 
(of building) 
~ pa moute anwo pa desann 
(nan mitan rete rèd) nothing 
changes 
kôb - bribe 
anbabra n. armpit, underarm 
anbachal, anbapay, anbapo adj. 
clandestine, secret; illicit, 
unlawful; adv. secretly 
koute ~ to eavesdrop 
anbachalman adv. clandestinely, 
secretly 
anbafil adv. illegally, surreptitiously 
anbago n. embargo 
anbakadè n. (seaside) loading area; 
wharf, loading dock 
Anbakannal prop.n. Enbas-Canal 
(disadvantaged area of Gonaïves) 
anbakasyon, bakasyon n. [Fr.] 
(small) boat, (small) craft 
fè - to embark, go on board 
anbake v. to embark, go aboard; to 
put on board, load; to put up a 
fight; to stuff/stick/shove it (up 
one's ass) 
anbakman n. loading (boat); 
embarkation, boarding 
anbalaj, anbalay adj. wrapping 
(paper), packing; bellbottom 
(skirt); n. wrapping(-up), 
packaging, packing(-up) 
anbalakai n. hold (of boat) 
anbalan, balan adj. hanging, 
dangling; indecisive, uncertain, 
undecided, hesitant; unstable; 
inconsistent 
anbalavil n. downtown 
Anbalavilprop.n. Anbas-la-Ville 
(eastern section of Jérémie, Dept. 
Grand'Anse) 
anbale v. to pack, wrap up; to bale; 
to take on (a) responsibility 
anbalè n. packer, bagger (person), 
shipping clerk 
anbandezon adv. in great shape, in 
top form; firmly, solidly 
anbapay, anbapo see anbachal 
anbara, lanbara n. hindrance, 
obstacle; quandary 
anbarasan adj. annoying, 
troublesome; cumbersome, 
unwieldy 
anbarase, barase v. to embarrass; to 
bother, trouble (s.o.); to hamper, 
encumber; to perplex, puzzle, 
confuse; to be broke, be penniless; 
to be busy or taken; adj. clumsy; 
entangled; pregnant 
anbarasman n. embarrassment; 
financial difficulties 
Anbaravin prop.n. Enbas-Ravine 
(disadvantaged area of Cape 
Haitian) 
anbasad n. embassy (often used in 
PaP to signify consulate) 
pran ~ to obtain diplomatic 
asylum; to take refuge 
anbasadè n. ambassador 
anbasadris f.n. ambassadress 
anbatè adj. underground 
anbavant, anbativant n. abdomen 
anbazay, anbazaj n. infancy; young 
child; adv. in infancy 
anbazesèl see zesèl 
anbègè, anmbègè, enmbègè n. 
hamburger 
anbeli v. to decorate, beautify, 
embellish; to improve upon; to 
grow more beautiful; to clear up 
29 
anbelisman - anbrizi 
(weather); n. improvement, 
clearing up (of weather) 
anbelisman n. beautification 
anben see enben 
anbetan, enbetan adj. irritating, 
annoying, troublesome, 
bothersome 
anbete, enbete, enmègde v. to 
annoy, bother, irritate; to bore; to 
tease 
anbetman, anbètman n. annoyance, 
nuisance, bother 
anbibe v. to saturate, soak 
thoroughly 
anbigite, anbigwite n. ambiguity; 
obstacle, hindrance 
anbilan adj. itinerant, strolling 
anbilans n. ambulance 
anbilansye n. ambulance driver; 
para-medic 
anbimen see bimen 
anbiskad, biskad, ianbiskad n. 
ambush 
anbiskadè n. ambusher, waylayer 
anbiske v. to lie/wait in ambush, 
lurk; to hide (oneself) 
anbisye adj., anbisyèz f.adj. 
ambitious; pretentious 
anbisyon, lanbisyon n. ambition; 
pretensions; greed, covetousness 
anbivalans n. ambivalence 
anbizo adj. cut at an angle 
anblèm, lanblèm n. emblem, 
standard; logo 
anbobine v. to entangle, confuse 
anbochay, anbochaj n. hiring 
anboche v. to hire, sign up; to be 
hired 
~ tèt li to sign up for a job 
anboli n. embolism, stroke, 
apoplexy, cerebro-vascular 
accident 
anbonmen, anbome, anbomen, 
anhonmc, honmen v. to perfume; 
to he fragrant, give out fragrance; 
to smell up, give out an offensive 
odor; to embalm 
Anbouch, Ektibann prop.n. 
Ambush, Hctiban (commercial 
insecticide) 
anbouchi see bouchi 
anbouiatcha, aboulatcha, 
anhoulatya adj. topsy-turvy, in 
disarray, in ruin; v. to do in, finish 
off, ruin 
anbouteyaj, anbouteyay n. traffic 
jam; cf. blokis 
anbouteye v. to bottle; to jam, block 
(cf bare) 
anbouyay adj. muddled, confused 
anbouye, anbwouye v. to tangle up, 
mix up; to make a mess, mix up, 
upset (s.thg.); to get into a mess; to 
be confused; adj. cloudy, overcast 
anbranchman n. branch, category, 
section; fork (in road), turn-off 
anbranl adj. restless, agitated; in 
motion 
mete - to set into motion 
anbrasad, anbrasay n. embrace, 
embracing 
anbrase v. to hug, embrace; to kiss; 
to welcome (s.thg.) 
anbrasman n. hugging, embracing 
anbreyay, anbreyaj ri. gear(s); 
clutch; engaging the clutch 
anbreye v. to connect, couple, 
engage; to put into gear; to let in 
the clutch 
anbrigade v. to recruit, enlist 
anbrike v. to be embedded in, be 
joined together with 
anbriyon n. embryo 
anbrizi adj. sickly; broken-down; 
30 
anbwate - andi 
penniless, broke 
anbwate adj. boxed, packed 
anbwouye see anbouye 
anbyans n. fun, party; atmosphere, 
environment 
anbye adj. slanting; crooked, askew; 
adv. obliquely, diagonally 
anch n. reed (of musical 
instrument); see ranch 
anchaj adj. in charge 
anchaje n. proxy; head, person in 
charge; v. to take responsibility 
(for), be in charge (of), head; to 
entrust, put in charge, assign 
anchaj è n. organizer, leader; proxy 
anchale v. to bundle up (against 
cold) 
anchante adj. [Fr.] delighted, glad 
to meet you 
anchantman n. enchantment, spell, 
charm 
anchatkalis, anchalkalis, 
anchalpent, anchatpent adv. 
secretly, stealthily, sneakily, 
furtively 
anchè n. auction 
- e annôs in the flesh, in person 
anchèf adv. in charge (of), 
responsible (for) 
anchènman, anchennman n. 
linking; sequence 
anchennen, anchene, chennen v. to 
chain, tie up 
ancheri v. to cherish; to admire; to 
pamper 
anchwa see janchwa 
anchwan: 
fè moun ~ to break a promise, go 
back on one's word 
andaki adj. unclear, ambiguous; 
shaky 
andebalan(s) adj. undecided, 
uncertain, unsure; indeterminate 
andebandad adj. dispersed, 
scattered; adv. in panic, in disarray 
andedan, andèdan, andidan, 
anndan n. inside, interior; adv. 
inside, indoors; internally; adj. 
indoor; prep, inside, within 
andefinitif adv. finally 
andefo see adefo 
andefwa adv. twice 
andegraba adj. penniless, broke 
tonbe ~ to go into a decline 
andekonfiti adj. shabby 
andemik adj. endemic 
andenmon, andemon adv. 
recklessly, wildly; furiously; 
resolutely 
andènye adv. the last; at last 
andènyelye adv. finally, in the final 
analysis 
andepi adv. in spite of 
andeplasan adv./prep. in/while 
moving or removing 
andetay adv. retail; in detail 
andete v. to go into debt 
andètman n. indebtedness 
andèwô see andeyo 
andèy adj. in mourning; bereaved, 
grieving 
andeyay, andeyaj n. mourning 
andeye v. to plunge into mourning 
andeyo, andèwô n. country (side), 
backwoods, rural area, hills, 
sticks, boondocks; adj. rural, 
country; adv. in the country(side); 
prep, outside of 
moun nèg ~ country folk; hick 
andezay, andezaj, antdelaj, 
antdezay adj. middle-aged 
andezod adj. disorderly, ill-behaved; 
untidy, messy 
andi see andouyèt 
31 
andidan - ane 
andidan see andedan 
andifere adj. pre-recorded 
andifôm adv. \jur.] in proper legal 
form 
andige v. to dike (up) 
andigman n. diking (up) 
andikap n. handicap 
andikape v. to handicap, hinder; adj. 
handicapped, disabled 
andimanche v. to put on one's 
1 Sunday best,' get all dressed up 
andirans, landirans n. endurance, 
solidity, strength 
andire v. to endure, suffer; one 
would say, it seems as if, they say 
andirèk adv. live (television, radio 
etc.) 
andisi v. to harden 
andiyèt see andouyèt 
andizan adv. [Fr.] while/in/by 
saying 
andjable, andyable adj. wild, 
reckless; furious, enraged, out of 
control; adv. wildly, recklessly 
andjenikonn, andjennikon see 
oungenikonn 
andjozay, andjozaj, andyozaj, 
andyozay n. cajoling, flattery; 
tempting, attracting 
andjoze, andyoze v. to cajole, 
flatter, wheedle, caress; to tempt, 
attract; to allure, entice 
andjozè, andyozè n. cajoler, 
wheedler; tempter 
Andô prop.n. Andorra 
andodomeya adv. slowly, calmly, 
safely 
andokrin adj. [Fr.] endocrine 
andoktrinasyon, andoktrinman n. 
indoctrination 
andoktrine v. to indoctrinate 
andomaje see donmaje 
32 
andèmi v to put to sleep; to go to 
sleep; to anesthetize; to make 
numb; to hypnotize; adj. asleep; 
sleepy; numb 
andonmaje see donmaje 
andose, andôse v. to endorse; to 
take on, accept (responsibility) 
andoskop n endoscope 
andosman n. endorsement 
andouyèt, andi, andiyèt, andriyèt, 
andwi, andwiy, andwiyèt, 
zandwi(y)>i small chitterlings 
(spiced pork intestines) 
andoye, andwaye v to put a pinch 
or a very little into s.thg.; to 
administer infant baptism; to 
deceive, cheat, fool; to mark 
playing cards (for cheating); n. 
infant baptism; adj barely 
sweetened 
- yon kadav to prepare a body for 
burial 
Andre prop n Andrew; André (4th 
communal section of C orail, Dept. 
(irand'Anse) 
andriyèt see andouyèt 
andwa n place, locality; v to be 
able, can, have the right (to do 
s.thg ); adv. within one's rights 
andwaye see andoye 
andwi, andi, randi, randwi n. 
roughcasting, coating (of wall); v. 
to roughcast, coat, plaster, smear 
(mud, lime, concrete etc.); see 
andouyèt 
andwiy, andwiyèt see andouyèt 
andyable see andjable 
andyozaj, andyozay see andjozay 
andyoze see andjoze 
andyozè see andjozè 
ane see lanne 
- pase ~ tounen, chak ~ year 
anèks - anflèch 
after year 
anèks n. annex 
aneksasyon n. annexation 
anemi n. anemia; adj. anemic 
~ falsifom sickle-cell anemia 
anemye v. to become anemic 
anestezi n. anesthesia; anesthetic; v. 
to anesthetize 
bay ~ to anesthetize 
anestezis n. anesthetist 
aneta adv. in (good) shape 
anetwale see annyetwale 
aneyanti v. to render void; to 
annihilate 
anfale v. to collapse, cave in, sink 
down; to ruin (financially); to 
snuggle down, curl up; to crouch; 
to ensconce oneself 
~ sou to crowd (s.o.); to force 
oneself on (s.o.) 
anfame v. to famish 
anfanmen, afame adj. greedy 
anfannkè, afannkè, afrannkè n. 
acolyte, altar-boy, choirboy; 
angelic-looking person 
anfans n. [Fr.] childhood 
anfante v. to give birth, deliver 
(baby) 
anfanten adj. childish, infantile 
~ en, ~ de two first primary 
classes after kindergarten 
anfantiyay, anfantiyaj n. infancy; 
childishness; adj. childish 
anfarinay adj. desperate, plaintive, 
sorrowful, doleful 
anfas adv. across, on the opposite 
side, opposite; directly, in person; 
prep, across from, facing; in front 
of, in the presence of 
anfavè prep, to the advantage of, in 
favor of 
anfay adv. in a second, in a minute; 
right away 
anfayit adj. bankrupt 
anfaz: 
mete ~ sou to stress, emphasize, 
highlight 
anfe adj. in heat (animal) 
anfè adj. iron; steel 
anfeje, anfèje v. to comer (an 
opponent) 
anfèman see fèman 
anfèmay, afèmaj, afèmay, anfèmaj 
n. (annual) lease 
anfème(n), afème(n) v. to lease; to 
take an annual lease (on land, 
house etc.) 
anfen adv. finally, at last; in short 
~ dè fen at long last, after much 
ado 
~ serafen! finally! at long last! 
anfennkont adv. in the final 
analysis, when all is said and 
done, at long last 
anfèt adv. in (actual) fact, as a 
matter of fact 
anfetamin n. amphetamine 
anfibi n. amphibian; see enfibi 
anfizèm, anflzema, anmfizema, 
enfizèm n. emphysema 
anflajele see anfrajele 
anflamasyon, enflamasyon n. 
swelling, inflammation 
~ sèvo encephalitis 
anflame v. to flame, go up in flames; 
to inflame, excite 
anfle v. to swell, bloat, puff up; adj. 
swollen, bloated; inflamed; 
suffering from extreme protein 
deficiency (kwashiorkor); n. 
swelling 
maladi ~ kwashiorkor 
anflè v. to flower, be in bloom 
anflèch adj. in good shape (thing); 
33 
anfleman - anglouti 
on the rise; almost ripe (corn); adv. 
fast and furious 
anfleman n. swelling, tumescence 
anfleti(s) n. swelling (often from 
extreme protein deficiency, i.e. 
kwashiorkor); inflammation 
anfèm adj. in (great) shape, in top 
form, fit; well done; all set, secure; 
sexy, shapely (woman); adv. in the 
form of, in the shape of; 
impeccably, properly 
- ak difôm in good and due form 
- kou (yon) bas fit as a fiddle 
mete ~ to get ready; to get in 
shape 
anfondre see efondre 
anfonse v. to sink; to drive in (nail 
etc.); to break in, burst in 
anfoudwaye, anfoudraye v. to sink, 
plunge; to ruin (s.o.), drive (s.o.) 
crazy 
anfoukoufyaka see foukoufyaka 
anfounen, enfounen v. to put into 
an oven; to bake; to stuff into 
anfounman n. action of placing 
s.thg. in an oven 
anfouraye, anfouraje, anfouye, 
anfwaye v. to misplace, lose; to 
put out of the way (opponent) 
~ dèyè to be hidden behind, stand 
behind 
anfoutoufyaka adv. in a mess, in 
confusion, crazy-mixed up 
anfraje v. to fracture, split, crack 
anfrajele, anflajele v. to strike hard; 
to wound; to ruin, squash, destroy; 
to take the virginity of 
anfrangan adj. overly aggressive 
Anfransprop.n. France; from/to/in 
France 
anfrenn v. to infringe, break (a law) 
anfwaye see anfouraye 
anfwisman n. burying, covering up. 
tucking away 
ang n angle; corner (of street) 
~ dwa right angle 
~ vàn water shut-off valve 
sou ~ sa a in that regard 
anga n. lean-to, shelter, shed; hangar 
angad adv. on guard 
angaje n'fl. to commit, engage; v. to 
hire; to need to use the restroom; 
to commit oneself to a certain 
Voodoo spirit; to make a pact with 
an evil spirit; n. person who has 
made a pact w ith an evil spirit; 
indentured worker or servant; adj. 
in trouble, in a fix; broke, short of 
money; involved, committed; 
politically or socially conscious/ 
motivated/active 
angajman n. pact; pact with any evil 
spirit; promise, commitment, 
involvement; pledge, obligation 
pran - to pledge, promise 
anganman set* aganman 
angaway adv in disarray 
angi see angiz; zangi 
angiz, angi, angis amj. instead of; 
prep instead of, in place of 
angle n. var. of yam 
Angle, Anglèprop.n./adj. English; 
prop.n. Englishman 
- w af broken English 
Anglè prop.n,, Anglèz /.prop n. 
inhabitant of Les Anglais (Dept. 
South) 
Angletè, Langletè prop.n. England; 
United Kingdom 
Anglèz/prop. n Engl i shwoman 
anglikan n./adj. Anglican 
anglisis n. anglicism 
anglobe v« to encompass, annex 
anglouti v. to submerge, engulf 
34 
angogay - anizèt 
angogay adv. aplenty, in great 
quantity 
angôgèt adv: deeply, profoundly 
angoje v. to stop/plug up (pipe etc.); 
to engorge, become engorged 
(with blood; with mother's milk); 
to obstruct 
Angola prop.n. Angola 
angoudi v. to become numb, go to 
sleep, have pins and needles (arm, 
leg etc.); adj. numb 
angoudisman n. numbness 
angouman n. [Fr.] enthrallment, 
infatuation; fad, craze 
angran adj. arrogant, haughty; 
impudent, insolent; adv. 
arrogantly, haughtily; impudently, 
insolently 
angranjan adv. with great 
festivities, with much ado 
angranman adv. haughtily, 
imperiously; see aganman 
angrave see agrave 
angrè, angre n. fertilizer, manure 
~ vèt nitrogen-fixing leaves used 
as fertilizer 
mete ~ to fertilize (soil) 
angren adj. unground, whole (grain) 
angrenay, angrenaj n. gears, gear 
system; workings, system, spiral 
angrese v. to fatten (up), get fat 
~ kôk pou Fizeme (kare) to 
knock oneself out for s.o. else's 
gain, further s.o. else's career 
angwas, langwas n. [Fr.] anguish, 
distress, dread 
angwasan adj. anguishing, 
harrowing, agonizing 
angwe adj. very fond of, infatuated 
with 
angwo see gwo 
angwosi v. to make pregnant (vulg.Y 
to make fat 
anhan! aha! enhen! interj. un-huh! 
yeah!; aha! 
anho see anwo 
ani see lanni 
anika n. arnica (plant) 
tenti danika tincture of arnica 
Anikè prop.n. Arniquet (3rd 
communal section of Port-Salut, 
Dept. South) 
Aniketwa prop.n., Aniketwaz 
f.prop.n. inhabitant of Arniquet 
(Dept. South) 
anilasyon n. annulment, cancellation 
anile see annile 
anilè n. ring-finger 
anilin see alilin 
animal! interj. animal! brute! see 
zannimo 
~ nan mal li nan mal nèt things 
are so bad they couldn't get worse 
animasyon n. animation, liveliness; 
activities; agricultural or 
community development 
animatè n., animatris f.n. 
agricultural extension agent; 
community health worker; 
community development organizer 
(adult education, political and 
economic awareness etc.); 
discussion leader, moderator, 
facilitator 
anime v. to animate, stimulate; to 
incite; to grow angry; to enliven, 
brighten, give color to; to conduct, 
lead (broadcast etc.); adj. lively, 
brisk, energetic 
anivèsè, lanivèsè n. anniversary; 
birthday 
anivo adj. horizontal; adv. on the 
same level 
anizèt, annizèt n. anisette liqueur 
35 
anj - ankô 
aiij n. Voodoo spirit (reg. ); see 
bonnanj; lanj; zanj 
- gadyen see bonnanj (ti) 
anjanbe see janbe 
anjandre v. to create, generate; adj. 
unscrupulous, diabolic; wild, 
wicked; possessed (by the devil); 
n. thug 
anjdonè f.n. flower girl (in wedding) 
anje n. stake(s); adv. at stake, at risk 
anjeli n. eczema 
anjelik n. bot. angelica, archangel 
anjelis see lanjelis 
anj en: 
- eksplozif explosive device 
anjin n. tonsillitis; quinsy 
~ pwatrin n. angina (pectoris) 
anjwa adj. overjoyed 
anjwèt adv. playfully 
ank see lank 
anka conj. in case, if, in the event 
of, supposing 
pou si ~ in case ... (could, would) 
si ~ (pa ka) if by chance, just in 
case, on the off-chance (that) 
ankachèt adv. secretly, in hiding 
mkadre v. to frame (picture etc.); to 
lead, head, direct; to support, aid, 
encourage 
ankadrè n. leader, head, director; 
picture framer (person) 
ankadreman, kadreman n. 
frame(s) (of picture, eyeglasses 
etc.); framing, scaffolding); 
direction, leadership; support 
system; surroundings, vicinity 
ankake conj. (just) in case 
ankan n. sideview 
ankatimini adv. underhandedly; 
secretly 
ankave v. to fester (sore) 
ankè, antye, antyè adj. entire, 
36 
whole, integral; complete, 
thorough 
an - entirely, completely 
ankenn sec okenn 
ankese v. to catch hold of (ball, 
balloon etc.); to score (sports); to 
endure, put up with; to get, receive 
(money) 
ankesè n. hill collector, debt 
collector 
ankèsman n. collection, payment 
ankèt, lankèt n. investigation, 
inquiry; public opinion poll, 
survey; census 
- nan tiwa bogus investigation 
fè/mennen (yon) - to investigate 
lankèt ap pouswiv (still) under 
investigation {often interpreted as 
an administrative lie) 
ankete v. to inquire; to investigate 
anketè, lanketè n.. anketèz, 
lanketèz/ft. interviewer, 
researcher, investigator; census 
taker 
ankilèstèm n. hookworm 
a n k i l o z a n k y l o s i s 
ankiloze adj. numb 
anklannche v to set in motion, get 
under way; cf deklannche 
ankli see enkli 
anklim n anvil 
anklo, ranklo n. enclosure, pen, 
fenced-in area 
ankiotiye v. to enclose, pen up 
(domestic animals) 
ankd adv. again, still, yet; more; 
besides; adj extra 
kilès who else? what else? 
(ki)sa ~? what else? 
pa - no longer, (not) any longer; 
no more, (not) any more 
pa t - not yet 
ankodaj - anmègde 
pi... - all the more 
ankodaj n. encoding 
ankode v. to encode 
ankôlè adj. angry, in wrath 
ankoli n. collar size; neck lining 
ankonbray, ankonbraj n. 
crowding, congestion 
ankonbre v. to crowd, congest, 
obstruct; to clutter (up), encumber; 
adj. crowded, congested 
ankonbreman n. crowd, throng; 
overcrowding, bunching up; 
encumbrance, impediment, 
congestion, obstruction 
ankont: 
pran ~ to take into account 
ankou adv. underway, in process, 
pending 
ankourajan adj. encouraging 
ankouraje, enkouraje v. to 
encourage, urge on; to stimulate, 
promote, incite 
ankourajman n. encouragement 
ankrimozo adj. half and half, so-so, 
neither good nor bad; crazy 
ankriyan adv. tearfully 
ankriye n. inkwell 
anksyete n. anxiety 
ankwapan adv./prep. in/while 
preventing, rejecting 
anlè n. top, upper part; surface; adj. 
atop, top, upper; flighty, fickle; up, 
alive, excited; difficult, strained 
(breathing); enraptured, ecstatic; 
adv. high, up, up high, above, up 
above; upstairs; in the sky, up in 
the air; prep, above, over, atop, 
overhead, on top of; on the surface 
of 
~ ~ (overly) eager, (overly) 
enthusiastic; flighty, frivolous; 
short of breath, uncomfortable 
depi - jisk anba from top to 
bottom 
pa - pa atè anxious, nervous, 
edgy; on cloud nine, elated 
rete ~ to float 
anlevan adv./prep. in/while raising, 
getting up 
anleve, anlve v. to abduct, kidnap; to 
remove 
anlèvman n. abduction, kidnapping; 
cf. kidnapin(g) 
anlo adj. golden 
anlonnè(de) see alonè 
anlve see anleve 
anmadèl see lamadèl 
anmadwe, amadwe v. to wheedle, 
coax, flatter 
anmagazine v. to store up, 
accumulate 
anmaldanfan: 
mouri ~ to die in childbirth 
anmak see ramak 
anmanche see manche 
anmandreng adj. hunched up 
anmankan adj. lacking 
anmaskay adv. secretly 
anmatè, amatè, maté n. enthusiast 
(coffee, lottery, cockfighting etc.); 
suitor, admirer; shipowner; sailor; 
amateur 
anmbègè see anbègè 
anmè, amè adj. bitter; sour 
~ (kou) fyèl bitter as gall 
bouch mwen ~ I have no appetite 
anmèdan see anmègdan 
anmède see anmègde 
anmèdman n. annoyance, irritant, 
nuisance 
anmègdan, anmèdan adj. irritating, 
annoying; troublesome; n. pain in 
the ass, nuisance, pest 
anmègde, anmède, anmèkde, 
37 
anmele - annamou 
enmède, enmègde v. to irritate, 
annoy, disturb; to pester; to tease, 
bother; to sexually harass 
- langèt (small) pecker, pencil 
dick (penis) 
anmele adj. embarrassed, confused 
anmenmtan adv. at the same time, 
simultaneously 
anmetan dekote adv./prep. [Fr.] 
putting aside 
anmèvèy v. to show one's stuff, strut 
anmeyab adv. slowly, carefully 
anmezi, amezi v. to have the power 
to, have the means to, be in a 
position to; conj. as much as, in 
proportion to, according to 
anmfizema see anfizèm 
anmharik prop.n. Amharic 
anmi adj. permanent, hard-walled 
(house etc.) 
anmidal see amigdal 
anmidon see lanmidon 
anmidonnen, amidonnen, 
midonnen v. to starch (clothes) 
anmilèt see lanmilèt 
anmilpye, anmilpat, anmipye, 
annipye, milpat, milpye, 
minipye, nipye n. centipede; cf. 
gongolo 
Anmin prop.n. sub-category of 
Voodoo spirits 
anmiral, amiral, lamiral n. admiral 
anmiraye v. to enclose, wall up 
anmitye see lamitye 
anmize see amize 
anmizman see amizman 
anmnezi, amnezi n. amnesia 
anmnisti, amnesti, amnisti n. 
amnesty 
anmore see anmoure 
anmèrès see amôrès 
anmorèz see anmourèz 
anmou see lanmou 
anmoure, amoure, anmore, 
lanmoure, /anmore, zanmoure 
n. boyfriend; lover (m. or f.) 
tra\ ay - work of love 
anmourèz, amorèz, amourèz, 
anmourèz, anmèrèz, zanmorèz, 
zanmourèz f.n. girlfriend 
anmwa see amwa 
anmwH/ see amwa/ 
anmweî, anmwesekou!, anmwey! 
interj. help?; wow! (astonishment; 
pleasure); n, call for help 
rele - to call for help; to cheer 
anmwenskc see amwens 
ann sh. form annou let's; see an 
prep, in (usu. preceding word 
beginning with a vowel) 
annache, anache, hanache v. to 
(put on a) harness 
annachis, anachis n. anarchist; thief 
annafans see annanfans 
annafè (ak) v. to associate (with), be 
involved (with); to be dealing 
(with); to be in trouble (with); to 
be having an affair (with), be 
sleeping (with), having sex (with) 
annafle v. to snort 
annagoni adv in a state of extreme 
suffering; see lagoni 
annajan adj. (made of) silver, 
silver-plated, silvery 
annakayi n. var. of fruit 
annakè ak prep, in agreement with 
annaksis: 
fè ~ sou to abuse (s.o.) 
annaksvon adv into action 
annalan adv while/in leaving 
annale v. to go, leave 
annalfabèt see analfabèt 
annamou: 
tonbe - to fall in love 
1R 
annana - annwiyan 
annana see zannanna 
annanfan adj. child-like, immature 
annanfans, annafans adj. senile; n. 
senile dementia; Alzheimer's 
disease 
annanna see zannanna 
annannan(t) see kannannan 
annantran adv. at the entrance 
annantye adj. entire, whole; adv. 
entirely, completely 
annaparans adv. apparently 
annapre adv. afterwards, thereafter 
annaryè, anneryè adv. to the rear; 
backwards, downhill, going to pot; 
behind, in the back 
annasi see anasi 
annatandan, atandan adv. 
meanwhile, in the meantime; while 
awaiting, until 
annati n. genitals 
annavan adv. ahead, in front of; 
ahead of time; adj. fast (clock, 
watch); interj. forward! march! 
annavans adv. ahead of time, early; 
adj. fast (clock, watch) 
Annayiti prep, phrase from/to/in 
Haiti 
anndan n. insides; see andedan 
Anndiprop.n. Andy 
anne see lanne 
annechap adv. uneasy, anxious 
annefè adv. indeed, as a matter of 
fact 
annega n. good fighting cock; adj. 
fake, false 
annegad, alegad prep, in regard to, 
in relation to, concerning, as for, 
as to 
annèk adv. only 
annekay adj. (made of) tortoise-
shell, turtle-shell 
anneko adj. overflowing, flooding 
anneryè see annaryè 
anneta adv. in good shape 
annetwale see annyetwale 
anni see lanni 
annik, annit, nik adv. only, just, 
merely, simply; just in time; as 
soon as 
annikwoch n. hindrance, obstacle 
annile, anile v. to cancel, void, 
annul, call off; to nullify; to 
forfeit; to make helpless; adj. tied, 
even, same score (games, sports) 
annilè: 
dwèt ~ ring finger 
annimal n. animal; brute, beast, 
boor 
annipye see anmilpye 
annit see annik 
annivre, nivre, zannivre n. var. of 
poisonous plant 
anniyan see annwiyan 
anniye see annwiye 
annizèt see anizèt 
annô adj. golden, gilded 
pale ~ to speak words of gold 
annod adj. orderly, in order, neat; in 
working condition 
annode v. to flood, overflow 
annonim see anonim 
annonn adv. on the air, on the radio 
annonse see anonse 
annotaj adv. as hostage 
annote, anote v. to annotate 
annou, ann v. (first-person plural 
imperative) let us, let's; interj. 
come on! let's go! 
annouyan see annwiyan 
annouye, annouyen see annwiye 
annwi n. trouble, problem; 
persecution; boredom 
annwiyan, anniyan, annouyan adj. 
troublesome, annoying; boring, 
39 
annwiye - anpeste 
dull 
annwiye, anniye, annouye, 
annouyen v. to annoy, bother, 
tease; to bore; adj. bored; annoyed 
anny see any 
annyetwale, anetwale, annetwale, 
anyetwale n. star apple 
Ano prop.n. Arnaud (communal 
section of Anse-à-Veau, Dept. 
Grand* Anse) 
anofèl n. anopheles (malaria-bearing 
mosquito) 
anôl n. field fire 
Anèl prop.n. Arnold 
anômal adj. abnormal, anomalous 
anômali n. abnormality, anomaly; 
s.thg. wrong or strange 
anonim, annonim adj. anonymous 
sosyete ~ corporation 
anons n. announcement; notice; 
commercial, advertisement 
anonse, annonse v. to announce, let 
know 
anonsè n. announcer 
anonsyasyon n. ecc. Annunciation 
An6t, Tapyon prop.n. Anote, Tapion 
(1st communal section of Moron, 
Dept. Grand'Anse) 
anote see annote 
Anous prop.n. Amoux (near 
Miragoâne, Dept. Grand'Anse) 
Letan ~ Lake Amoux 
anouvo adj. [Fr.] anew, afresh 
Anôy, Anoyi prop.n. Hanoi 
(Vietnam) 
anpakte v. to pack down 
anpalan adv. [Fr.] while/in/by 
talking; namely 
anpale v. to impale 
anpan n. span (distance between tip 
of thumb to tip of little finger with 
fingers extended) 
anpàn \ to break down, be out of 
order [nun h ); to lack 
anpanna, anpana n. type of biscuit 
anpant adf sloping; steep; inclined 
(to), ready (to) 
anpare v to seize, grasp, take 
possession of; to overrun, 
overwhelm; adf possessed 
anpasan adv in passing 
anpase v to get along without (s.o.) 
anpalan adv to start with, from the 
start, in the beginning 
anpatèt see antèt 
anpaye v. to put a straw bottom on a 
chair; to put a straw jacket around 
a bottle; to bundle up (against 
cold); to pack (goods); adj. straw-
bottomed (chair); stuffed (doll, 
animal etc.) 
anpe pnm a little 
~ pa ~ little by little, gradually 
anpè adj quiet, alone; adv. in/at 
peace; quietly; n. ampere, amp 
(unit of electric current) 
anpeche v. to impede, hinder, deter; 
to prevent, stop 
anpechman, anpèchman n 
financial difficulties; impediment, 
handicap, hindrance, obstacle 
anpèmanans adv permanently 
anpenpan adj. lightheaded; great, 
fancy, swell, elegant; adv 
wonderful 1 v, brilliantiy 
mete - to get all dressed up 
anpent adj. speckled 
(pa) ni - ni anpenti in no shape 
or form 
anpeny {pronounced: an-pen-y) n. 
vamp (shoe), upper part of a shoe 
anperè, anpèrè see lanperè 
anpeste v. to smell up, stink up; to 
give out a fragrance 
40 
anpèt - anpren 
anpèt see zanpèt 
anpetre, petre v. to entangle, 
enmesh; to fetter (animal); adj. 
lethargic, indolent; shy, awkward, 
not at ease 
anpeyan adj. paying (job) 
travay ~ see travay sou kouray 
(«) 
anpezay n. starching 
anpeze v. to starch (clothes) 
anpi see epi; lanpi 
anpil adv. much, many, plenty (of), a 
lot (of); very; adj. numerous; 
extensive; real; impudent, insolent, 
haughty, arrogant 
~ ak bon moso even more; even 
worse; big job, not an easy job 
~ ~ an enormous amount of; 
enormously, tremendously, 
immensely 
gen ~ to be plentiful, abound 
anpile v. to pile (up), stack; to 
compile; to accumulate 
~ ko li to curl up one's body (esp. 
when cold) 
anpipèt adj. naughty 
anpire, ranpire v. to worsen, get 
worse; to aggravate, make worse 
anpisilin n. ampicillin 
anpitasyon n. amputation 
anpitou see epitou 
anpiwôm n. dregs, residue, sediment 
ANPKO acron. HAMPCO (Haitian-
American Meat and Provision 
Company) 
anplak see anplat 
anplanche see plancheye 
anplas adj. calm, steady, still; adv. 
stationary, in place; in office, in 
power 
fè yon rete ~ to remain 
motionless/inactive/passive 
anplasman, lanplasman n. building 
site, lot, plot, location 
anplat, anplak n. plaster cast; 
(mustard-) plaster 
anplè n. extent, scope, range 
anplen adv. fully, in full measure, in 
full amount 
anplennè adv. [Fr.] outdoors; adj. 
outdoor 
anplifikatè n. amplifier 
anplifye v. to amplify 
anplimdezwa, anplimdepan adj. 
dressed to kill, all dolled up; richly 
ornamented, fancily adorned 
anplis adv. furthermore, moreover, 
in addition, besides, further, 
additionally; extra; prep, in 
addition (to) 
ti ~ accessories 
anplisdesa conj. moreover 
anplwa n. [Fr.] use, usage; 
employment, job 
anplwaye n. employee, clerk; 
attendant; v. to use, make use of, 
employ; to hire; to put away 
~ leta civil servant, government 
employee 
anplwayè n. employer, boss 
anpoche v. to pocket 
anpote v. to carry away, take away, 
remove; to blow off, blow away; 
adj. angry; quick-tempered 
anpoul n. light bulb; small glass 
vial, ampoule; magic spell 
(Voodoo) 
anpoulaw adj. frisky, active 
anpousan adv./prep, in/while 
pushing; in/while growing 
anprè see lanperè 
anpremye adj. first, initial; primary; 
adv. first of all, first 
anpren n. loan 
41 
anprent - ansanm 
fè yon ~ to loan; to borrow 
anprent, mak anprent n. 
fingerprint(s); imprint 
~ dijital fingerprint 
~ pye footprint (of neonate) 
anpresman, lanpresman, 
lapresman n. haste, hurry; 
eagerness, zeal; overzealousness 
anpriz n. hold, influence 
anprizonnen, anprizone v. to jail, 
imprison 
anprizonnman, anprizônman n. 
imprisonment 
anpwaska n. var. of small green-
winged insect 
anpwazonè n. poisoner 
anpwazonnen, anpwazone, 
anpwazonne, pwazonnen, 
pwezonnen v. to poison; adj. 
poisonous, poisoned 
anpwazonnman, pwazônman n. 
poisoning 
anpyete sou v. to infringe upon 
anpyètman n. infringement 
anraje v. to be(come) enraged, get 
mad or angry; to be raving mad, 
rave; n. madman \ f .n. madwoman; 
adj. furious; crazy, wild, 
hysterical; turned on (sexually); 
rabid (animal) 
- k6k graje completely crazy 
~ nan kô li to be on s.o.'s case, 
harass 
fè (li) ~ to drive (s.o.) crazy 
mande ~ to be furious, have a 
temper tantrum 
anran adv. in a row, in a line 
anrapè (ak) conj. in relation (to), in 
regard (to), concerning 
anrasinay n. implanting, 
establishing 
anrasine, anrasinen v. to implant 
(principles); to establish; to 
become enrooted, become 
entrenched; adj. deep-rooted, 
deep-seated, embedded; endemic 
anrasinman n. entrenchment, 
implanting 
anrejistrc v. to register; to record, 
tape (music; document etc.) 
anrejistrè n. recorder (mach.); 
registrar 
anrejistreman n. registration; 
check-in (airport); recording 
anreta adj. late, tardy; backward, 
underdeveloped; slow (clock) 
mete - to delay 
anretan prep. with the exception of, 
excepting 
anretou adv. in return 
Anri prop.n. Henry; communal 
section of Dept. South 
anrichi v. to enrich; to get rich 
anrichisan adj. enriching 
anrichisman n. enrichment 
Anrikiyo, Anrikilyo, Ennrikiyo 
(lak) prop.71. Enriquillo (lake in 
Dominican Republic) 
anrime, anrimen v. to have a cold 
anriyan adj. kidding, playful 
ans n. small bay, cove 
Ansadrik prop.n. Anse-à-Drick (2nd 
communal section of Port-Salut, 
Dept. South) 
Ansafolèprop.n. Anse-à-Foleur -
founded 1700 (Dept. North-West) 
Ansafolè prop.n., Ansafolèz 
f prop.n. inhabitant of Anse-à-
Foleur(Dcpt. North-West) 
Ansagalè(t) prop.n. Anse-à-Galets 
(La Gonâve Island, Dept. West) 
ansan see lansan 
ansandye see ensandye 
ansanm adv. together, altogether; 
42 
Ansanwa - ansibreka 
along; n. musical group or 
ensemble; set, collection, bunch 
~ here's to your health! 
~ ak at the same time as; together 
with, including 
mete ~ to unite 
Ansanwa {pronounced: An-sa-nwa) 
prop.nAnsanwaz (pronounced: 
An-sa-nwaz) f.prop.n. inhabitant 
of (1 ' )Anse-d' Hainault (Dept. 
Grand'Anse) 
ansanse v. to burn incense; to praise 
to the skies 
ansanswa, lansanswa n. incense-
burner, censer, thurible 
ansante adj. healthy 
Ansapitprop.n. Anse-à-Pitre -
founded 1844 (Dept. South-East) 
~/Pedènal important border 
crossing 
Ansapitwa prop.nAnsapitwaz 
f.prop.n. inhabitant of Anse-à-Pitre 
(Dept. South-East) 
ansasen, asasen, sansinè, sasen n. 
assassin, murderer, killer; robber, 
criminal 
ansasina, ansasinasyon, ansasinay 
see asasina 
ansasinen, ansasine, asasine, 
asasinen, sansinen, sasine, 
sasinen v. to assassinate, murder, 
slay; to mutilate, maim, disfigure; 
to rob 
Ansavlè prop.n., Ansavlèz f.prop.n. 
inhabitant of Anse-à-Veau (Dept. 
Grand'Anse) 
Ansavo, Lansavo prop.n. Anse-à-
Veau - founded 1721 (Dept. 
Grand'Anse) 
Ansavoyen prop.n. Ansavoyèn 
f.prop.n. inhabitant of Anse-à-
Veau (Dept. Grand'Anse) 
Ansblanchprop.n. small island off 
court of Corail (Dept. 
Grand'Anse) 
Ansdazi prop.n. Anse-d'Azur (cove 
near Jérémie, Dept. Grand'Anse) 
Ansdeno, Lansdeno prop.n. 
(l')Anse-d'Hainault -founded 
1715 (Dept. Grand'Anse) 
Ansdenoyen prop.n., Ansdenoyèn 
f.prop.n. inhabitant of Anse-
d'Hainault (Dept. Grand'Anse) 
Ansdiklèprop.n. Anse-du-Clerc (1st 
communal section of Abricots, 
Dept. Grand'Anse) 
ansefalit n. encephalitis 
ansèkle, sèkle v. to encircle, 
surround 
ansent n. pregnancy; v. to 
impregnate, make pregnant; adj. 
pregnant, expectant 
~ gwovant in an advanced state of 
pregnancy 
~ pou (yon moun) to be pregnant 
because of (s.o.) 
Ansenwa {pronounced: An-se-nwa) 
prop.n., Ansenwaz (pronounced: 
An-se-nwaz) f.prop.n. inhabitant 
of (L')Anse-d'Hainault (Dept. 
Grand'Anse) 
ansèsèl fadj. spirited, gay, joyful 
ansèt see zansèt 
ansevli, anseveli v. [Fr.] to bury 
ansèy n. sign, signboard 
anseyan n., anseyant fn. teacher, 
educator; adj. teacher 
anseye v. to teach, show how 
ansèyman, lansèyman n. teaching, 
instruction; information; 
directions, advice 
ansibreka adj. in declining health, 
failing, in poor shape; flimsy, 
wobbly, rickety; uneven 
43 
ansiklik - antchoutchout 
ansiklik n. (ecc.) encyclical 
ansiklopedi n. encyclopedia 
ansiklopedik adj. encyclopedic 
ansiskatde adv. in a jiffy, in a wink 
ansite adj. safe, secure, in good 
hands 
anskikonsèn prep. [Fk] concerning, 
about 
Aitsmanchèt prop.n. Anse-
Manchette (Tortuga Island, Dept. 
North-West) 
Ansmason prop.n. Anse-à-Maçon 
(Grande-Cayemit(t)e Island, Dept. 
Grand'Anse) 
ansoleye adj. sunlit 
anson n. upright bar, brace, support 
ansonm, ansôm adv. in sum, all in 
all, in short 
Ansopen prop.n. Anse-aux-Pins (5th 
communal section of Petit-Trou-
de-Nippes, Dept. Grand'Anse) 
ansosele v. to bewitch 
ansdt conj. such that, so that 
ansoudin adv.. in secrecy, in hiding; 
covertly; muted; softly, quietly; 
adj. understated, discreet 
doulè ~ dull pain 
Anspenprop.n. communal section 
of Dept. Grand'Anse 
answa n. var. of mango 
Answa prop.nAnswaz fprop.n. 
inhabitant of Anse-à-Galets (La 
Gonâve Island) 
answit adv. then, next, afterwards 
Answouj, Lanswouj prop.n. Anse-
Rouge (Dept. Artibonite) 
Answoujyen prop.n., Answoujyèn 
f.prop.n. inhabitant ofAnse-Rouge 
(Dept. Artibonite) 
ansyen adj. ancient, old; former; 
longstanding; n. ancestors, 
forefathers; elder(s); old people; 
veteran; senior (in rank); retired 
thief (fam. J 
ansyennte, ansyènte n. olden days, 
past; (the) good old days, (the) 
good old times; seniority 
ant, antre prep, between, among 
- ... al... between ... and ... 
antableman, antablisman n. 
entablature (architecture) 
antagonis n. antagonist; antagonism; 
adj. antagonistic 
antaj see antay 
antame v. to begin, initiate 
antan, entan, etan conj. while, 
during, at the (same) time; (in) so 
much as; see letan 
- la meanwhile; from there 
- pou by the time 
antandi! interj. OK! 
byen - of course, naturally 
antank(e) conj. as, in as much as 
antann refl. to get along; to agree 
(on); to conspire; to arrive at a 
compromise; v. to mean 
antannman, lantannman n. 
understanding, comprehension 
pran ~ to listen to a story-teller 
antansvon see atansvon 
* m 
autant, iantant, lantantman n. 
understanding, agreement, 
settlement 
fè (yon) % jwenn (yon) - , pase 
(yon) % tabii (yon) - to come to 
an understanding/agreement, agree 
antase v. to heap up, pile up; to 
crowd together 
Antatikprop.n. Antarctica 
oseyan - Antarctic Ocean 
antay, antaj, zantay n. notch; gash 
antaye v. to notch; to gash 
antchoutchout, antchipwèt, 
antchoupwèt, antipwèt. 
44 
antdelaj - antistamin 
antoupwèt, antyipwèt, 
antyoupèt, antyoupwèt, 
antyoutyout, atoupwèt n. 
busybody, snoop, meddler; pest, 
nuisance (human); eager beaver; 
adj. nosy, snoopy, curious; 
exuberant, excited; ready to; 
aggressive; stubborn 
~ nan to become active in 
antdelaj, antdezay see andezay 
ante v. to fascinate, attract strongly; 
to haunt; adj. great, fantastic 
antekris see antikris 
antèman, lantèman n. funeral, 
burial 
chante ~ to officiate at a funeral; 
to participate in a funeral 
Antèman (ri) prop.n. rue de 
l'Enterrement (between rue Pavée 
and the Cimetière Extérieur, PaP) 
antèn, antenn, lantèn n. antenna 
~ parabolik satellite dish (TV) 
antennwa, antenwa (pronounced: 
ante-nwa), antènwa see antonwa 
antere, tere v. to bury; to lie low, 
hide 
anteresan see enteresan 
anterit, anterik, anterip, enterik n. 
(gastro)enteritis 
anteryè adj. anterior 
antesedan n. antecedent; adj. 
preceding 
antèt, anpatèt, lanpatèt, lantèt n. 
head, leader; letterhead 
(stationery); heading; headline; 
guide-string at top part of a kite; 
guiding principle (fig.); adv. in the 
lead 
antete adj. stubborn, obstinate; 
determined; aggressive, persistent 
anti prefix anti-
anti ayeryen adj. anti-aircraft 
antibyotik, antibiyotik n./adj. 
antibiotic 
antiche v. to be set on, aim only 
after 
~ pou infatuated with 
antichok n. shock absorber; adj. 
shock-resistant 
antidot n. antidote 
antife adv. slowly, painfully 
Antigaprop.n. Antigua 
Antigang (sévis), Lantigang 
prop.n. (Service d'Investigation et 
Antigang) Haitian Criminal 
Investigation Service 
Antigon f.prop.n. Antigone 
antihistaminik n. antihistamine 
antijèl n. anti-freeze (mach.) 
antik adj. antique, old 
antikite n. relic; see lantikite 
antiko n. antibody 
antikonstitisyonèl adj. 
unconstitutional 
antikowagilan n./adj. anticoagulant 
antikris, antekris, iantekris, 
lantikris n. Antichrist 
antilop n. antelope 
antimwàn n. antimony 
antipile v. to pile up, accumulate 
antipislin, antipichlin adv. secretly, 
surreptitiously 
antipwazon n. antidote, antivenin 
antipwèt see antchoutchout 
antiray, antiraj see lantouray 
antire see antoure 
antisemitis n. anti-Semitism 
antiseptik n./adj. antiseptic 
antisipasyon n. anticipation, 
expectation 
antisipe adj. early, before allotted 
time 
antistamin, antiyistamin n. 
antihistamine 
45 
antite - antre 
antite n. [Fr.] entity, being 
antiteworis adj. antitcrrorist 
antitoksin n. antitoxin 
Antiy, Dèzantiy, Lèzantiy, Ozantiv; 
Zantiy prop.n. Caribbean, Antilles 
~ Nèlandèz Dutch Antilles, Dutch 
West Indies 
Gran - , Grann % Gwo - Greater 
Antilles 
Ti ~ Lesser Antilles 
antiyè prop.adj. Caribbean, 
Antillean 
antiyistamin see antistamin 
Anto prop.n. nickname for Antwàn 
antè adj. guilty; at fault; wrong; v. to 
be wrong 
antèch, antôs n. sprain (ankle, foot) 
antoloji n. anthology 
antolojis n. anthologist 
antomofaj adj. entomophagous 
anton n. beetle 
antone, antonnen v. to begin to sing 
Antoni prop.n. Anthony 
antonim n. antonym 
antonwa [pronounced: an-to-nwa), 
antennwa, antenwa (pronounced: 
an-te-nwa), antènwa, antonnwa, 
antonwa, entennwa, lantenwa 
(pronounced: lan-te-nwa), 
lantinwa, lantinwè, lantonwa 
(pronounced: lan-to-nwa), 
latenwa (pronounced: la-te-nwa), 
letenwa (pronounced: le-te-nwa) 
n. funnel; whirlpool 
antôs see antèch 
antôtye, antôtche, antôtiye v, to be 
tangled up; to entangle, tangle up, 
entwine 
antou adv. in all, altogether, in 
general 
antouka, antouleka adv. in any 
case, anyway, at any rate 
antoupwet \ee antchoutchout 
antouraj, antirav, antouray n. 
entourage, companions; see 
lantouray 
antoure: 
- ak bra to embrace 
antoure, antire, lanfoure v. to 
surround; to encircle; to fence off, 
cnclosc; to gather round; to 
sustain, nurture 
antouzya* n enthusiasm; adj. 
enthusiastic, thrilled, rapt 
antotizya*me \ to fill with 
enthusiasm; to be enthusiastic 
antrak n intermission 
antraknô* n anthracnose (blight 
affcctmg cashew-apples, 
cucumbers, mangoes, yams etc.) 
antran adf initial, beginning 
antranp adf soaked, drenched 
antrapde adv quickly, m no time at 
all 
antrav n problem, trouble, 
hindrance; compromising or 
embarrassing situation; 
troublesome person, troublemaker; 
straight skirl iht ) 
antravan adj compromising, 
troublesome 
antrave v to be stuck; to be 
hindered, be prevented from doing 
s.thg.; to hinder; to implicate, 
incriminate, to place (s.o.) in a 
compromising or embarrassing 
situation; to be m trouble, be in a 
fix, have bad luck, adj messed up, 
confused; cornered, in a tight spot 
- kou krab to be completely tied 
up, be in a bad spot 
antravè adv crosswise, sideways 
chemen - shortcut 
antre v. to enter, go in, come in; to 
46 
antre - antrenè 
put inside, bring inside; to insert; 
to become; n. entrance, entry; 
lobby; entrance fee, admission; 
entry (in dictionary etc.); prep. 
between, among 
~ ale to go off to 
~ de ban not quite as one would 
wish 
~ mele intertwined 
~ nan to join, enlist; to enter; to 
insult; to compensate for, make up 
for; to shorten, take in (skirt, 
sleeve etc.) 
~ nan afè moun to meddle, 
interfere, butt into (s.o.'s) affairs 
~ nan laj to get on in years 
- nan manman lot to call s.o. a 
son-of-a-bitch, really get at s.o. 
~ nan won to get into the swing of 
things, join in; to go into action 
~ sôti to go in and out 
~ sôti nan to come from, arrive 
from 
bèl ~ missing a few front teeth 
antre, rantre n. entrance, entry; 
entry (in list, dictionary etc.); 
admission, cost; v. to enter, 
penetrate, access; to return, go 
back in; to resorb; to throw 
oneself into; to put inside, bring 
inside; to get back, recover 
(property); see ant 
~ fo nan, ~ ko li (nan) to dedicate 
oneself to, tackle seriously, get 
involved in, plunge into 
~ nan lod to return to normal 
~ nan (mitan) to interfere; to 
intervene 
~ nan won to get into the swing of 
things, get into the thick of things, 
join in; to go into action 
~ nan won san baton/tanbou to 
be defenseless, be ill-prepared 
~ sôti to come and go continually, 
go in and out; to come back from; 
comings and goings 
~ sôti (nan) to come back from, 
return from 
~ sôti vin to come, arrive 
~ sou to advance upon, come at; to 
make contact with; to become too 
familiar; to try to get into s.o.'s 
good graces 
~ tankou bèt sovaj to barge in, 
burst in 
antrebaye v. [Fr.] to half-open 
antrede adj. undecided, uncertain; 
average; adv. in between 
antrefilè n. short article, note (for 
newspaper) 
antrejanm n. crotch (of trousers) 
antreka n. between a half and a 
fourth 
antrekoupe v. to interrupt 
antremelay n. joining together, 
entangling 
antremele v. to intersperse, 
(inter)mingle 
antremèlman n. interspersing, 
(intermingling 
antremetè n. middleman, 
intermediary; mediator, go-
between; pimp, procurer; adj. 
meddlesome, nosey 
antremetèz fin. procuress, madam; 
f.adj. meddlesome, nosey 
antremiz, lantremiz n. intervention, 
mediation 
antren n. zest, gusto 
antrene, antrenne, antrennen v. to 
practice, train; to coach; to seduce; 
to lead into error 
antrenè, antrennè n., antrenèz fin. 
coach, trainer 
47 
antrenman - anvès 
antrenman (pronounced: antre-
nman), antrènman, antrennman 
n. practice, training; (bad) 
influence, (negative) peer pressure 
antrenne see antrene 
antrennè see antrenè 
antreprann, entreprann v. to 
undertake 
antreprenan adj. enterprising 
antreprenè n. undertaker; 
contractor; entrepreneur; adj. 
enterprising 
antrepriz n. enterprise, undertaking, 
venture; company, establishment, 
concern 
mikwo - informal sector (of 
economy) 
antrèt adv. treacherously 
antreta n. parvenu; late comer 
antretan adv. meanwhile 
antretni, antreteni v. to maintain, 
keep in order, keep in repair; to 
keep, support (mistress) 
antretyen, dantretyen n. up-keep, 
maintenance 
antrevi see entèvyou 
antsomèy-revèy adj. half-asleep 
Antwàn, Antwann prop.n. Anthony 
- nan Gonmye/Gomye a 
legendary seer 
sa yon moun wè pou ou - nan 
Gonmye pa wè 1 to foresee 
impending doom 
Antwàn (Pôl) prop.n. Antoine 
(Paul) - Haitian-language writer, 
author of Nan Savann dezole 
Antwanèt prop.n. Antoinette 
antwopolog, antwopolojis n. 
anthropologist 
antwopoloji n. anthropology 
antwopolojik adj. anthropological 
antwôt conj. besides; furthermore, 
moreover, in addition; and also, as 
well; on the co itrary 
antyalcji n. antihistamine 
antyasid n antacid 
antye, antvè see ankè 
antyèman adv. [/•>:] completely, 
entirely 
antyipwèt see antchoutchout 
Antyèch prop.n. Antioch 
Antyokis prop.n Antiochus 
antyoutyout, antvoupwèt see 
antchoutchout 
anvan, avan prep before, in 
advance of (time, order); adv. 
before, beforehand, previously; 
prefix pre-
- dènye next to last, penultimate 
- !è early; premature 
- m bat je m in the blink of an 
eye, in no time at all 
- pès military sub-station or 
outpost 
- sant center-forward (soccer) 
fè - to advance, go forward 
anvangadis n. forerunner, trailblazer 
anvanjou n. before dawn; work 
team operating usu. from early 
dawn to 10 A M, 
anvantou, avantou adv. first of all, 
above all, first and foremost 
anvayi v. to invade, overrun; to 
overwhelm; to overflow, flood; 
adj. Hooded (motor) 
anvayisè n. invader 
anvayisman n invasion 
anvè prep. \Fr) towards, w ith regard 
to 
anven adv, [Fr. J in vain, fruitlessly 
anvenimen v. to inflame, aggravate 
anverite adv. truly, truthfully 
anvès n. great quantity of (any 
liquid) 
48 
anvi - anwobe 
anvi v. to feel like, want; to desire, 
crave, be eager, long for; to hold a 
grudge; n. envy; longing, desire, 
urge; birthmark; adj. alive 
~ endispoze faintness, dizziness 
~ kochon harelip, cleft lip; hairy 
black birthmark 
~ krab harelip, cleft lip 
~ mouton birthmark consisting of 
white area on skin, depigmentation 
~ pyebèf harelip, cleft lip 
~ rejete nausea 
~ so yon moun to envy s.o. 
~ touye ak ~ mouri (youn ap 
chache lot) two beings meant for 
each other 
~ vonmi, ~ vèse nausea; nauseated 
- wè lakay homesickness 
~ zago bèf cleft palate 
gen ~ to feel like, want; to envy 
pase yon ~ to fulfill a desire/need 
se pa ti ~ m anvi... I really want 
to ..., I'm really dying to ... 
anviwon adv. around, about, nearly, 
approximately; n. neighborhood, 
vicinity 
anviwonman, anviwonnman, 
lanviwônman, lanviwonnman, 
viwonman n. surroundings; 
environment 
anviwonnan, anviwonan adj. 
surrounding 
anviwonnen v. to surround, 
encompass, environ 
anviwonnmantal, anviwônmantal, 
lanviwonnmantal adj. 
environmental 
anvizaje v. to consider, take into 
consideration 
~ gen to look forward to having 
anv. K. abbrev. tan anvan Kris la 
B.C. (Before Christ) 
anvlimen v. to make worse, inflame, 
aggravate; to get worse; to become 
infected; to fester 
anvlop n. envelope; casing; adj. 
ample, full (dress, pants etc.) 
anvlôpe, anvlope adj. 
underdeveloped 
anvôg adj. fashionable, stylish 
anvoutman n. evil spell (Voodoo) 
anvwa n. sending, launching, 
initiating; reference, footnote; see 
ranvwa 
~ mo sending of spirits of dead to 
harm or kill the living (Voodoo) 
anvwaye n. envoy, delegate, 
representative 
anvye v. to envy, begrudge (s.o. 
s.thg.); adj. envious 
anvye adj., anvyèz f.adj. envious 
anwe adj. hoarse 
anwetan, aotan, awetan, wetan 
adv./prep, in subtracting; 
excepting, except for 
anwo, anho n. top; upper part; upper 
echelons; upstairs, upper floor; 
adv. up there; up high; upstairs; 
adj. upper; prep, on, upon, on top 
of, above, over; at the expense of 
~ anba upside down 
~ miba from top to bottom 
~ p ap desann anba p ap moute, 
~ p ap moute anba p ap desann 
nothing moves at all; nothing will 
change, nothing gives; there is a 
hopeless stalemate 
nan wikenn pase ~ a during the 
past weekend 
pran ~ desann anba to go from 
top to bottom 
tout ~ 1 deyô topless, bare-
breasted 
anwobe v. [Fr.] to wrap up (in), coat 
49 
anwole - aparèy 
(with) 
anwole v. to enroll, enlist, sign up; to 
draft, recruit; n. enlistee, recruit 
anwolman n. enlistment, 
recruitment 
Anwotijo, Tijoanwo prop.n. Haut-
Turgeau (wealthy residential area 
of PaP) 
any, anny interj. uh-uh, no; 
denoting disapproval or disgust; 
see bonnanj; lanj; zanj 
anye! (pronounced: an-ye) interj. 
what a pity! what a shame! oh my! 
ànyè n. telephone directory, 
(tele)phone book 
ànyèl adj. annual 
ànyèlman adv. annually 
anyen, aryen pron. nothing, (not) 
anything 
~ ditou, - men m nothing at all 
- dous pa pati nothing good came 
of it 
~ pa sou kont li not responsible 
for anything 
pa gen - to feel all right 
pyès - nothing at all 
sa pa fè ~ I don't mind; never 
mind; it doesn't matter 
san ~ intact 
anyennafè adj. idle, hanging out, 
hanging around 
Anyès f.prop.n. Agnes 
anyetwale see annyetwale 
anzim n. enzyme 
anzingdekontraryete, 
anzigdekontraryete, 
anzingdekontrayete see 
zingdekontraryete 
aotan see anwetan 
ap, ape (N.), pe (S.) -ing (indicates 
present progressive or immediate 
future of verb); see hap 
apa adj. separate, removed; distinct; 
completely different; aloof; 
saintly, holy; personal, special, 
private; adv. separately, aside; 
apart (from), except for, beyond 
that; besides; privately; interj. if it 
isn't..., isn't it that..., look how..., 
imagine...! 
- de besides 
~ detwa except for a (very) few 
- li (papa)! that's it exactly! there 
you are!; wow! really! 
- li pay pwaï comic version of ~ li 
papa! 
mete - to place in isolation (in 
hospital) 
apach n. roughneck, hardnose; 
hoodlum; adj. greedy 
apadou see rapadou 
apadsa adv. besides, in addition 
apagon n. miser, skinflint 
apanse: 
sa bay - that gives one food for 
thought 
apantay, apantaj n. survey, 
surveying 
apante v. to survey; to travel all 
over, cover; to pace (back and 
forth); to look for 
apantè n. surveyor 
- lannwit thief 
apanti see apranti 
apapèt n. foreword 
aparaman adv. apparently 
aparan adj. apparent, visible 
aparans, laparans n. appearance, 
exterior, façade; face value 
aparantye adv. [Fr.) completely, 
totally 
aparèy, aparèj, zaparèy n. device, 
instrument, mechanism, apparatus, 
machine, appliance; equipment, 
50 
aparisyon - api 
gear, outfittings (donkey etc.; 
ship); (large) radio or stereo; 
dressing (on wound); plaster cast 
(surgical); artificial limb; leg 
brace; braces (teeth); IUD; penis 
- amwa telephone booth 
- foto camera 
- otopedik brace 
aparisyon n. apparition, sudden 
appearance; coming (;rel.) 
fè - to arrive on the scene, show 
up 
apasa conj. apart/aside from that, 
otherwise 
apatandojodi, apatandejodi, 
apatidejodi a, apatidojoudwi, 
patidjodi a adv. from today on, 
from now on, starting from, 
henceforth 
apatenans n. belonging, 
membership, adherence, affiliation 
apateni, apatni v. [Fr.] to belong to; 
to join, be a member 
apateyid, apatayd, apated, apatèd, 
apatèy, apatèyd n. apartheid 
apati(de) prep, beginning with, 
from; based upon 
apatman n. apartment 
apatni see apateni 
apatrid n. stateless person; adj. 
stateless 
apawo n. general harness for donkey 
etc. 
ape (N.) see ap 
apèch adj. (for) fishing 
apèj n. arpeggio (music) 
apèl, lapèl n. call (for s.o.); 
telephone call; summons; appeal 
(jur.); roll call 
ale an - to appeal (jur.) 
- dôf invitation to make a bid (for 
construction work etc.) 
- pirat illegal (unpaid) telephone 
call 
fè - to appeal, solicit; to summon, 
convoke; to call the roll; to appeal 
(to a higher court - jur.) 
kat - prepaid phone card 
lanse yon ~ to make an appeal 
moute an mennen an - to 
appeal (a ruling) (jur. ) 
apèn see apenn 
Apena acron. Administrasyon 
Penitansye Nasyonal 
(Administration Pénitentiaire 
Nationale) National Penitentiary 
Service, National Bureau of 
Corrections 
apendis n. appendix (body) 
apenn, apèn adv. hardly, scarcely, 
barely, as soon as; mere; recently 
apenndisit, apentisit n. appendicitis 
apèpetwite adv. in perpetuity 
apeprè, apipre adv. approximately, 
almost, about, more or less 
apeprèman adv. almost, 
approximately 
aperitif n. aperitif 
apèsevwa v. [Fr.] to perceive, 
glimpse 
apèsi n. glimpse, look, peek; 
summary, outline; clue; v. to 
glimpse, notice, perceive 
apeti n. appetite, desire 
- mawon West Indian chickweed 
apetisan adj. appetizing, tempting 
apeze v. to lessen, diminish; to 
appease; to quench (thirst) 
apezman, apèzman n. relief, 
respite, let-up, pause; calming or 
quieting down 
api, apwi n. help, support 
~ bra armrest 
- chèz chair-back, seat-back 
51 
apik - apranti 
- tèt headrest 
apik adj. steep, precipitous; adv. 
steeply; high 
apikiltè n. apiculturist, bee-keeper 
apikpanno adj. steep, precipitous; 
well-fed, with a foil stomach 
apil adj. battery-operated/driven 
apipre see apeprè 
apita interj. see you later 
apitèt n. headrest 
apiye, apwiye, piye v. to lean on, 
rest on; to support, back, back up, 
prove; to prop up 
fè yon ~ sou to lean on, rest on 
apiyè n. supporter, fan; stud, lady-
killer 
ap. K. abbrev. tan apre Kris la 
A.D. (anno Domini) 
apla adv. flat, lying down 
aplani, aplanni see plani 
aple v. to be called (to ministry ); to 
telephone (cf. telefènen, rele) 
aplik mirai n. wall lamp 
aplikab adj. applicable 
aplikan n. applicant 
aplikasyon n. application 
an ~ into practice, into application 
aplikatè n. applicator; swab; Q-tip 
aplike v. to apply, put into practice; 
to apply for (job etc.); adj. 
studious 
aplikè n. applicant 
aplim, apôy adj. aggressive, greedy; 
bold 
aplodi v. to applaud, cheer 
aplodisman n. cheering, applause 
APN {pronounced: a-pe-enn) acron. 
Otorite Pôtyè Nasyonal (Autorité 
Portuaire Nationale) National Port 
Authority 
apô n. contribution, addition 
Apokalipsprop.n. Apocalypse 
apokaliptik adj. apocalyptic 
Apokrif prop.n. Apocrypha; 
prop.adj. Apocryphal 
Apolon prop.n. Apollo (Greek god) 
apon n. harpoon 
aponen v. to harpoon 
apopleksi n. apoplexy 
kriz ~ stroke 
aposta n./adj. fFt:] apostate, 
renegade 
apostazi n. (rel.) apostasy 
apostola n. ecc. apostolate; Catholic 
lay organization which directs 
prayers and hymns at funeral 
wakes 
apostolik adj. (ecc. ) apostolic 
apostwôf n. apostrophe 
apôt, apot n. apostle 
apoteyoz, apoteyôz n. [Fr.] 
apotheosis, deification, 
enthronement 
apoulaw n. over-sexed dog; 
busybody, nuisance 
fè peple kou ~ to breed like 
flies 
apoura adj. greedy, ravenous, 
gluttonous; miserly 
apôy n. last part of milk obtained 
from cow (same as pov); see 
aplim 
apoze v. to affix (signature, seal etc.) 
apral, aprale, pral, prale v. to be 
going (to) (usu. followed either by 
n. or by v.) 
aprann v. to learn, study (to be); to 
find out, hear of; to teach; to 
inform, be informed 
- sou beton to learn on the job, 
learn by doing 
apranti, apanti n. apprentice, 
learner, beginner, novice, trainee; 
clumsy person, klutz 
52 
aprantisay - apye 
aprantisay, aprantisaj n. 
apprenticeship, learning 
experience 
apray, pray (N.) var. apral, pral 
apre, aprè adv. next, afterward(s); 
prep, after; besides, in addition to; 
prefix post-
- sa next, then 
apredenmen, apredemen, 
apredmen adv. day after 
tomorrow 
apredye interj. thanks to God; n. 
money (fam.) 
apremidi, aprèmidi, lapremidi, 
laprèmidi n. afternoon; adv. in the 
afternoon 
- a this afternoon 
aprenan n. learner 
apresa conj. afterward(s) 
apresyab adj. worthwhile, 
appreciable, considerable, 
valuable 
apresyasyon, apresiyasyon n. 
appreciation, gratitude 
apresye v. to appreciate, value, 
esteem 
apreyande v. [Fr.] to apprehend, 
seize, place under arrest; cf. mete 
anba kod 
aprezan adv. now, at the present 
time 
aprèzavwa prep, after, subsequent 
to 
aprivwaze v. [Fr.] to tame 
apsan see absan 
apsans see absans 
apse, abse, absè n. abscess; boil 
apre - a pete after things have 
come to a head 
mete - sou klou to rub salt on the 
wound, make matters worse, add 
insult to injury, add fuel to the fire 
apsedlenn n. inguinal abscess 
apsent see lap sent 
apsid see absid 
apsidite see absidite 
apsoli see absoli 
apsoliman see absoliman 
apsolisyon see absolisyon 
aptitid n. aptitude, ability 
apwal, apwèl adv. bareback (on 
horse etc.) 
apwen adj. ripe 
apwentman n. salary, wages, pay 
apwi see api 
apwiye see apiye 
apwobasyon n. [Fr.] approbation, 
official approval 
apwôch n. approach 
apwochab adj. approachable, 
accessible 
apwoche see pwoche 
apwofondi, apwonfondi v. to 
investigate, examine, sift, probe; 
adj. thorough, detailed 
apwoksimasyon n. [Fr.] 
approximation 
apwoksimatif adj. [Fr.] 
approximate; cf konsa 
apwoksime v. [Fr.] to approximate 
apwopo(de) prep. [Fr.] concerning, 
regarding 
apwopriye adj. [Fr.] appropriate, 
fitting, apt 
apwouve v. to approve (of), agree 
with; to ratify, confirm 
apwovizyone v. to supply, stock 
apwovizyônman, apwovizyonnman 
n. supplying, stocking 
apye adj. foot; adv. on foot; with 
feet, on stand (cooking pot etc.); 
see lapye 
pran - to take off on foot, go on 
foot 
53 
apyo - arestasyon 
apyo see afyo 
apyoran adj. impertinent, insolent 
Ara prop.n. Harare (Zimbabwe) 
arab n. Arabic (lang.)\ adj. arable, 
rich (land) 
Arab prop.n./adj. Arab; Haitian of 
Syrian or Lebanese origin 
Arabi prop.n. Arabia 
- Sayodit, - Sawodit, 
~ Sawoudit Saudi Arabia 
arabik: 
gonm ~ gum arabic 
arabika n. var. of coffee 
arachid n. peanut 
Arafa prop.n. [Bible] Rapha 
moun ~ Rephaite 
arameyen, arame n./adj. Aramaic 
aran n. herring 
~ barik, ~ sèl salt herring 
fèy ~ var. of med. plant 
Aran prop.n. Hareng (communal 
section of Maïssade, Dept. Center) 
aranbarik n. kipper 
aranje see ranje 
aranjè n. [Fr.] dealer, intermediary, 
go-between; arranger (music) 
aranjman n. agreement, settlement; 
arrangement; negotiation; 
ornaments, border, trimming 
(clothes) 
aransèl n. (silver gray) salt herring, 
kipper 
aransô n. (dark reddish) smoked 
herring; cake made of flour and 
molasses 
~ nan sewôm skin and bones, 
walking skeleton 
aranyen see arenyen 
Araraprop.n. [Bible] (Mount) 
Ararat 
arase v. [Eng.] to harass 
arasman n. [Eng.] harassment 
Arawak/>NR>/> N ad) Arawak 
(Indian) 
Arawon/>m/> n [Bible] Aaron 
arawout, alawout, awoulou, 
aw out, awouwout n arrowr(K>t 
Are Krichna pmp n Hare Krishna 
arè n ruling, decision, judgment 
(jur) 
~ otohis bus stop 
- travay work stoppage 
arebè prep on the side of, at the 
side of; around, about; on the edge 
of; n rim, edge 
- fenèt windows» 11 
aredi v to have s.thg, to add, try to 
have the last word; to criticize, 
reproach; to never be satisfied 
arèdkè, arèdikè n cardiac arrest; 
heart attack 
arèl adj striped 
arèn n arena, ring, amphitheater 
arenyen {pronounced: a-ren-yen), 
anasi, annasi, aranyen 
(pronounced a-ran-yen), 
arenyan {pronounced a-ren-
yan) arenye (pronounced: a-re-
nye), areye, areyen, arinyen, 
a riven, aryen, na*is, zaren, 
zarenyen (pronounced za-ren-
yen), zarcye, /areyen, /arinyen, 
/ariven, /ar>en, imyen, zeryen n. 
spider 
~ (a)krab tarantula 
- boundaVmouda tchou wouj 
very small dangerous field spider 
fil - , nich - , twal - spider web, 
cobweb 
are sezi, arè sezi n confiscation 
fè ~ to confiscate 
arestasyon n arrest; magic charm 
and or ceremony for warding off 
evil spirits (Voodoo) 
54 
arèt - ariya 
arèt n. fishbone; staple, clip; tie-
clasp, tie-pin; ring-guard (for 
wedding ring); feather-stitch 
(needle); magic charm and/or 
ceremony for warding off evil 
spirits (Voodoo); interj. stop! 
arete v. to arrest, apprehend, 
capture; to detain, book; to 
confiscate; to check, stop; to have 
reached one's full growth; to reach 
menopause, be past menopause; n. 
decree; adj. decided upon, settled 
arètkôl n. tie-clasp, tie-pin 
arètman n. stoppage; protective 
talisman against the dead 
(Voodoo); death rite to prevent 
continuation of a lougawou's 
(q.v.) power 
areto see areyto 
arevwa, avwa, awè: 
gen ~ ak to have to do with, be 
related to, have connection or 
dealing with, have relevance to 
areyakôd, ariyèkôd n. [Eng.] 
(telephone) area code 
areye, areyen see arenyen 
areyolw. areola 
Areyopaj prop.n. Areopagus 
(Athens); learned assembly 
areyopô see èpot 
areyto, areto n. areyto (Taino poem 
or song) 
Ari prop.n. Harry 
~ Twoumann (boulva) prop.n. 
Harry Truman Boulevard (along 
waterfront, PaP) 
Ariba prop.n. Aruba 
arid adj. arid, dry; infertile, barren 
aridèl n. nag, broken-down horse 
aridité n. aridity, dryness 
arigwe n. var. med. plant 
arikmetik see aritmetik 
ariko n. green beans 
Arimateprop.n. [Bible] Arimathea 
arimay, arimaj n. stowage (ship); 
arranging of goods on truck etc. 
arimè n. stevedore, longshoreman 
arimen, arime, rime, rimen v. to 
pack, load, stow; to have a cold; n. 
(common) cold 
~ sezon hayfever 
arimetik see aritmetik 
arinyen see arenyen 
Aristid (Jan-Bètran - "Titid") 
prop.n. Aristide (Jean-Bertrand) 
(bom 1953) - president of Haiti, 
1991-1996, 2001-29 Feb. 2004/7 
Feb. 2006 
Aristofàn prop.n. Aristophanes 
(Greek dramatist) 
aristokrasi n. aristocracy 
aristokrat, estokrat, istokrat n. 
aristocrat; adj. haughty, arrogant; 
conceited 
fè ~ to brag, boast, show off 
Aristôtprop.n. Aristotle (Greek 
philosopher, 384-322 B.C.) 
aritcha(patcha bwat nan do) n. 
early Syrian and Lebanese 
peddlers in Haiti; exploiter, 
profiteer 
aritmetik, arikmetik, arimetik n. 
arithmetic; arithmetic book 
depase yon ~ (to have problems) 
beyond count; countless (pej.) 
arityè, alityè, larityè n. hip rafter 
arivay, arivaj n. arrival (of goods 
etc.) 
arive see rive 
arivis n. parvenu; show-off; social 
climber; opportunist 
~ grandan show-off, boaster 
ariya, arya n. worthless or 
insignificant person or thing 
55 
ariyè - aseptab 
ariyè see dèyè 
an ~ behind 
ariyèkèd see areyakôd 
ariyen see arenyen 
Arizona, Arizonna, Larizona 
prop.n. Arizona (USA) 
arya see ariya 
aryè n./adj. back, rear; n. fullback 
(soccer) 
~ gad rear guard 
aryègou n. aftertaste 
aryèl n. var. of mango 
aryen see any en; arenyen 
Aryen prop, n./adj. Arian 
aryennafe n. idler, loafer; adj. idle; 
adv. with nothing to do 
ehita ~ to sit around doing nothing 
aryere, ayere n. back pay, back 
wages; back taxes; adj. backward, 
underdeveloped; unenlightened 
aryoplàn see ayewoplàn 
as n. ace (cards); asthma; see las 
asafetida see safetida 
asagwe n. var. of Voodoo dance 
(reg.) 
asaji v. to quiet down, temper, 
restrain 
asanblaj, asanblay n. assembly, 
gathering; assembly industry 
asanble n. assembly; crowd; v. to 
assemble, gather; to clap one's 
hands to help call forth the 
Voodoo spirits 
Asanble de Dye Assembly of God 
(Church) 
Asanble Nasyonal National 
Assembly (both Chamber of 
Deputies and Senate combined) 
asansè n. elevator 
asansyon n. ascension 
Asansyon prop.n. (Feast of the) 
Ascension Day (40th day after 
Easter) 
asasen see ansasen 
asasina, ansasina. ansasinasyon, 
ansasinay, asasinay, sasina, 
sasinaj, sasinay n assassination, 
killing, murder 
asasine, asasinen see ansasinen 
asavwa conj. [Fr J which is to say 
asayan n. assailant, attacker 
asavi v. to assail, assault, attack 
asafetida see safetida 
ase adj./adv. enough; only; adj. 
sufficient; intery. stop it! 
- (+ verb) stop (+ verb) 
Asefi [.prop, n name sometimes 
given to daughter when parents 
wish no nu>re daughters 
Asèk, Azèk aeron. (Asanble 
Seksvon Kominal) communal 
section assembly iof which there 
were 563, in 1998); member of 
same; c j. Kasèk 
asèl: 
chwal - saddle horse 
asèlfen conj. only so that, only in 
order to 
Aseiom m.prop.n. name sometimes 
given to son when parents wish no 
more sons 
aselwi n. var. of mango 
asèmante v. to take an oath, swear 
<under oath) 
asen n. tall iron candlestand 
(Voodoo) 
asenal see lasenal 
aseni v. to cleanse; to purify; to 
decontaminate; to drain 
asenik see lasini 
asenisman n. cleansing; 
purification; decontamination; 
draining 
aseptab, akseptab adj. acceptable, 
56 
aseptasyon - askôbik 
satisfactory 
aseptasyon, akseptans, 
akseptasyon n. acceptance 
asepte, aksepte v. to accept, agree, 
consent to; to admit; to receive; to 
tolerate 
asesè n. member of municipal 
council; assistant, deputy 
aseswa see akseswa 
asetilèn n. acetylene 
aseton n. acetone; nail polish 
remover 
asètsèzè adv. very late at night; at 
this ungodly hour 
asewola n. acerola, Barbados cherry 
asezon see lasezon 
asezonnay see sezonnman 
asezoimen see sizonnen 
asezonnman, asezonman see 
sezonnman 
asfal, asfalt see asfat 
asfaltay, asfaltaj n. asphalting 
(process) 
asfalte, alfate v. to asphalt, blacktop, 
pave 
asfat, alfat, alsfat, asfal, asfalt, 
azfat n. asphalt, blacktop, 
pavement 
asfiksyan adj. asphyxiating, 
suffocating 
asfiksye v. [Fr.] to asphyxiate, 
suffocate 
asid n. acid; heartburn, gastritis; 
gastric reflux; hot spices; vinegar 
or lime juice seasoning; adj. 
acidic, sour 
soufri ~ to have stomach ulcers 
asidite n. acidity 
asiksè adj. bestselling 
asime v. to assume, take on 
(responsibility etc.) 
asimilasyon n. [Fr. 1 assimilation 
asimile v. [Fr.] to assimilate 
asini see lasini 
asipoze, asipozon conj. let's say 
that..., let's suppose that... 
asirab adj. insurable 
asirans, lasirans n. assurance, 
certitude; insurance 
~ kont dife fire insurance 
~ vi life insurance 
bay ~ to guarantee 
gen ~ to be certain 
asire v. to assure, guarantee; to 
secure; to insure; to be insured; to 
be certain, watch out for; adj. 
confident; sure 
~ pa sèten just saying so doesn't 
make it so 
asirè n. insurer 
asireman adv. [Fr.] assuredly, 
surely, most certainly 
asirepasèten adj. unreliable 
asiryen prop.n./adj. Assyrian 
asistan n. assistant; attendant; 
spectator, onlooker, bystander 
asistans see lasistans 
asiste v. to help, assist; to attend, 
witness, observe, be present at 
mantalite ~ welfare mentality 
pa ~ tiray not even to be in the 
running, not to have a chance 
asiyasyon n. subpoena, summons 
asiyen v. to subpoena, summon; to 
sue; n. subpoena, summons 
asiz n. foundation, basis; seating; 
jur. criminal court 
chita ~ li to lay one's foundations 
asizonnen see sizonnen 
askaris n. ascaris, roundworm 
aske conj. so that 
Asko acron. HASCO (Haitian-
American Sugar Company) 
askôbik adj. ascorbic 
57 
aslè - astewoyid 
aslè n. card shark; con artist, con 
man, shrewd operator 
asma n. asthma 
asmatik n./adj. asthmatic 
asnal see lasnal 
aso n. assault, attack; affliction, 
adversity, ordeal; see laso 
bay ~ to launch an assault, attack 
asogwe, sogwe, songwe n. Voodoo 
initiate; loose net of snake 
vertebrae or beads covering an 
ason (<q.v:) 
ason n. sacred Voodoo rattle; 
saddlebow 
- Ginen very old and sacred 
Voodoo rattle 
~ mèt principal sacred rattle which 
must never leave the Voodoo 
temple 
~ ôdinè additional Voodoo rattle 
for use by visiting priest(esse)s 
pran ~ to become a Voodoo priest 
or priestess 
sonnen ~ an to invoke the Voodoo 
spirits 
asongè n. unscrupulous person 
Asonmsyon, Asonpsyon prop.n. 
(rel.) Assumption 
Asonnsyon prop.n. Asuncion 
(Paraguay) 
asôs see asosye 
asosi, asosi, asosis see asowosi 
asosyasyon, asosiyasyon n. 
association; partnership, 
fellowship 
asosye, asôs, sosye n. associate, 
partner; pal, buddy; sharecropper, 
tenant farmer; type of konbit 
(q.v.); v. to associate 
~ ak to enter into partnership with 
jwe - to play partners (cards etc.) 
koupe - to agree to share 
(children's game) 
mare - ak to form a partnership 
with, go into business with 
nan - to be sharing 
asôti v. to match, harmonize; to sort 
out; adj. dressy (hat etc.) 
(byen) ~ compatible 
asôtiman n. assortment 
asôtô, sôtô n. tallest and largest of 
all Voodoo drums - used only on 
very special occasions 
tchiman ~ ritual sacrifice to 
the ~ 
asoupi n. nap, snooze; v. to doze off, 
nod off; to relax (muscles etc.) 
asowosi, asosi, asôsi, asosis, 
asowosi, sewosi, sosi, sosis, 
sowosi, sôwôsi n. balsam apple 
(vine used for making a med. tea) 
aspè n. aspect 
aspèj n. asparagus 
aspèje v. [Fr.] to sprinkle, splash; to 
spray, fumigate 
aspèswa n. holy-water sprinkler 
aspèsyon n. spraying (for lice etc.); 
spraying with water 
ponp ~ spray pump 
aspik, laspik n. viper 
aspiran n. aspirant, competitor, 
suitor; candidate 
aspirasyon n. aspiration, goal; 
yearning, desire 
aspiratè n. vacuum cleaner 
aspire v. to inhale; to aspire, strive 
aspirin n. aspirin 
Astate prop.n. [Bible] Ashtoreth; 
Asherah 
astè see jouskasètè 
asteni, astinen refl. to abstain, 
refrain; to keep away from, avoid 
asteris n. asterisk 
astewoyid n. asteroid 
58 
astikote - atè 
astikote v. to plague, pester 
astinans n. abstinence 
astinen see asteni 
astral adj. astral 
astrenjan n./adj. astringent 
astwonôm n. astronomer 
astwonomi n. astronomy 
astwonôt n. astronaut 
aswa see vè ~ 
aswafe adj. [Fr.] thirsty (for) 
aswè n. evening; adv. in the 
evening(s); at night 
~ a this evening, tonight 
~ sa a that evening 
nan ~ that evening, that night 
aswiv adv. to be continued 
Asyatik see Azyatik 
asye, lasye n. steel 
asyeje v. to besiege 
asyeri n. steel-mill 
Asyeris prop.n. [Bible] Ahasuerus 
asyèt n. plate, dish, platter; plateful; 
base, basis (fiscal etc.) 
~ Ginen decorated gourd bowl for 
food offerings to the Voodoo 
spirits 
~ katon paper plate 
nan ~ li to be doing great, feel 
comfortable, feel at home 
ata adv. even; as far as 
atab adv. at table 
atable v. to sit down at table 
atach n. strap; brace 
atachan adj. engaging, affectionate 
atache v. to attach, fasten; to glue; to 
be devoted to (s.o.), be attached to 
(s.o.); n. paramilitary thug, civilian 
auxiliary of the Haitian army 
- ak to be attached to, have 
affection for 
atachman n. attachment, affection, 
fondness; attachment, addition 
Atagzèsès prop.n. [Apocrypha] 
Artaxerxes 
atak n. attack, assault, offensive; 
attack, seizure; attempt 
atakan n. attacker; adj. (on the) 
offensive 
atake, take v. to attack, assail; to 
start, begin {fig.) 
atakwa? interj. for what purpose? 
atali n. var. of hat 
Atali prop.n. [Bible] Athaliah 
atan adv. in time; on time 
atandan see annatandan 
atandike conj. [Fr.] whereas 
atann v. to expect; to look forward 
to 
pat ~ unexpected 
atansyon, antansyon, latansyon n. 
attention, precaution; attention, 
thoughtfulness; intelligence; 
interj. Be careful! Watch out! 
Beware!; Attention! (milit.) 
bay fè ~ to be careful, pay 
attention to, heed 
atant n. expectation 
atanta n. criminal assault, outrage 
fè ~ (sou) to assail, attack 
atantif adj. attentive, careful 
atantivman adv. attentively, 
carefully 
ataplata adj. completely down, bad 
off 
ataton adv. gropingly, haltingly 
atawèt adj. cross-eyed 
atchaba!, atyaba! interj. bravo! 
atche! see adye! 
atchoum interj. ahchoo, achoo 
(sound of sneezing) 
ate n. atheist; adj. atheistic 
atè n. ground; floor; artery; adv. on 
the ground; on the floor; ashore; 
down 
59 
atè - atizan 
~ a on the ground; on the floor 
~ miv6 cheap sleeping-mat 
~ plat flat on the ground; 
completely down, bad off 
kite (yon moun) - to leave (s.o.} 
in the lurch 
leve ~ a to get up off of one's 
knees 
mete ~ to fire, dismiss; to give 
birth; to abandon, drop (socially); 
to exclude, extricate, disengage; to 
overthrow 
atèl n. splint; spider monkey 
atelye n. workshop, studio, atelier; 
seminar, workshop; denture, false 
teeth 
~ travay workshop, discussion 
group (at conferences etc.) 
Atemis prop.n. [Bible] Artemis 
atèmiyè n. cheap sleeping-mat 
Atèn prop.n. Athens (Greece) 
atenn v. to attain, reach, get to 
atent n. [Fr.] attack (pej.) 
atenyan {pronounced: a-te-nyan): 
sikonstans ~ mitigating 
circumstances (jur. ) 
atenyen prop.n./adj. (pronounced: 
a-te-nyen) Athenian 
ateri, atèri v. to land, touch down 
(airplane); see teri 
aterisay, aterisaj n. landing (of 
airplane) 
atestasyon n. attestation, certificate, 
written statement 
ateste v. to attest, certify, bear 
witness to 
atezyen adj. artesian 
Ati prop.n. Hatty (3rd communal 
section of Maïssade, Dept. 
Center); Arthur 
atibisyon see atribisyon 
Atibon see Legba 
Atibomsycn prop.n., Atibonisyèn 
f prop n inhabitant of the Dept. 
Artibonitc 
Atibonit, Atibonnit sec Latibonit 
aticho n artichoke 
biswit - artichoke-shaped roll 
atife</Jv slowly, gradually 
atifèklè adv at the crack of dawn 
atifis n artifice, dodge, trick, 
stratcgcm 
atifisyèl adj artificial, false, bogus 
atifisyèlman adv. artificially 
atik n article (newspaper etc.; 
grammar; contract, agreement 
etc.); (/•>] article, object 
Atik, Aktik prop n./adj. Arctic 
atikilasyon n articulation 
atikiie v to articulate, pronounce 
distinctly; ad/ articulate, well-
spoken; jointed, articulated (limb 
etc.) 
atiran adj appealing, attractive 
atirans n. appeal, attraction 
bay - same as at ire 
atiray n gear, paraphernalia, 
equipment 
atire v to attract, lure, entice, 
seduce; to pull or draw towards 
atis rt artist, sculptor 
~ pent (studio) artist, painter 
~ plim (e ank) serious writer 
atisba v to lie in wait for 
atistay n artistry 
atistik adj artistic 
atistikman adv artistically 
atitid, iatitid n attitude; mood 
ativan n Ativan (anti-anxiety drug) 
atiyayo, atiyoyo n sweet basil 
(aromatic plant) 
atiyè n. artilleryman, gunner 
atiyri see latiyri 
atizan n artisan 
atizana - atribisyon 
atizana, atizay n. arts and crafts, 
handicrafts 
atizanal adj. artisanal, craft; 
homemade, locally made 
atizay n. artistry; see atizana 
atize v. to inflame, incense, 
aggravate 
Atlantik prop, n./adj. Atlantic 
atlas n. atlas 
Atlas prop.n. Atlas; n. bearer of a 
heavy burden 
atle v. to hitch up 
atlèt n. athlete; adj. athletic 
atletis n. athletics; track (running 
etc.) 
atmosfè n. atmosphere; mood 
atmosferik adj. atmospheric 
atô, atô a adv. now, presently; so, 
thus; after all; then; at last, finally; 
while, on the contrary 
~ ou a rezon [Fr.] rightly or 
wrongly 
se ~ to persist in 
atôkile see alèkile 
atôkonsa adv. thus, in that way; by 
now 
atom n. atom 
atomik n. juice made from carrots, 
beets and coconut; adj. atomic 
atou, datou n. trump (cards); 
advantage, asset; connections, 
pull, influence 
atouchman n. touching; fondling 
atoufè n. criminal, bandit; vicious 
person; adj. unscrupulous, 
unprincipled; desperate, capable 
of anything 
bay ~ to curse, jinx (not Voodoo) 
atoupri adv. at any cost 
atoupwèt see antchoutchout 
atousa, atoutsa conj. still, 
nevertheless 
atout, aktout conj. although, even 
though; prep, in spite of; see 
atousa 
atoutboulin adv at full speed 
atoutfos adv. strongly, forcefully; no 
matter what 
atoutou n. dish of corn, red beans 
and pork; ball of hot flour 
squeezed by Voodoo initiates 
atoutsa see atousa 
atoutvole adv. vigorously, with full 
force; in full swing 
atraksyon n. attraction 
atrap, atrape, trap, trape v. to 
catch, grab hold of, intercept (ball 
etc.); to catch, contract (sickness); 
to find (by accident); to rebuke, 
dress down; n. trap 
~ (yon moun) devan to stop or 
interrupt (s.o.) before hearing him/ 
her out 
~ nigo see atrapnigo 
tann ~ to set a trap 
atrapan, trapan adj. contagious; 
infectious 
atrape see atrap 
atrapman n. contagion 
- dlo water containment 
atrapmouch n. flypaper 
atrapnigo, zatrapnigo n. 
confidence trick, con game 
atravè prep, through; across 
atresko n. remittance, money 
transfer (from international money 
transfer firm Hatrexco) 
atribi n. attributive (gram.) 
adjetif ~ predicate adjective 
atribisyon, atibisyon n. profit-
sharing agricultural work-team, 
agricultural labor cooperative; 
proceeds (from same); 
attributions, prerogatives, powers; 
61 
atribye - ave 
attribution, imputation (fur. ) 
atribye v. to attribute 
atriste v. to sadden 
atritis, atrit n. arthritis 
atriyôm n. atrium 
atwôs adj. atrocious 
atwosite n. atrocity 
atwoupman n. throng, crowd, 
gathering 
atyaba! see atchaba! 
atyovi see ayovi 
av see a (fut. tense indicator) 
ava n. stinginess, avarice; adj. 
stingy, tightfisted; greedy; see a 
(fut. tense indicator) 
avadra n. bum, tramp, good-for-
nothing 
aval n. guaranteed loan; backing, 
support 
bay ~ to give approval 
jwenn ~ to be approved 
avalize v. to back, support; to 
guarantee (a loan) 
avalizè n. (loan) guarantor 
avalwa, lavalwa n. deposit, down 
payment, cash advance 
bay ~ to make a down payment 
avan n. front; forward (sport); 
advent; see anvan 
avanbra n. forearm 
avangad see lavangad 
avangou n. foretaste, preview 
avani, lavani n. insult, affront, snub; 
disappointment 
avanjou adv. before dawn, at 
daybreak 
avannsant, avansant n. center 
forward (soccer) 
avanpàs see anvan pôs 
avanpwojè n. pilot study 
avanpwopo n. foreword 
avans n. advance; deposit, down 
payment; advance payment; 
(sexual) advances 
fè - to make a pass at; to give an 
advance to (an employee); to pull 
forward (car) 
pran - to borrow in advance of 
one's pay 
avansant sec avannsant 
a van se adj. advanced; see vanse 
avansman, lavansman n. 
advancement, improvement, 
development, progress; (job) 
promotion 
avantaj, avantay n. advantage, 
gain, benefit; asset(s) 
- pa ou! well good for you! 
{sarcastic), well la di da! 
bay ~ to favor, advantage 
avantaje adj. advantageous, 
profitable; v. to favor, give 
preference to 
avantay sec avantaj 
avanti, lavanti n adventure 
avantire refl. to stick one's neck out 
avantirèz / n adventuress, scheming 
unscrupulous woman 
avantirye, a\ antiris adventurer; 
pirate 
avantou see anv antou 
avantyè see avanyè 
avanvèy, lavanvèy n two days 
before 
avanyè, avantyè, avanzyè adv. the 
day before yesterday; recently 
avap, avape (S.J fui. progressive 
tense indicator {contr ava + ape; 
avari n. (Fr.) damage 
avaris see lavaris 
avarye adj. rotting, spoiled 
ave n. confession, admission; guinea-
hen weed (med herb); rei interj. 
Hail Mary, Ave M ana; see avwe 
62 
avè - Awayi 
avè see ak 
avèg adj. blind; n. blind person; v. to 
blind 
~ de je stone-blind; unseeing 
avegle see vegle 
avègleman n. blindness 
avèk see ak 
Avènman prop.n. Advent (of Christ) 
avès n. shower; downpour; adv. in 
torrents (rain) 
avèti, vèti v. to warn, notify, give 
notice; n. warning, notification 
avètisman n. warning, notification; 
notice; foreword 
avi n. notice, communiqué; opinion; 
adv. for life 
~ rechèch arrest warrant 
bay ~ to notify 
avid adj. empty 
avidèy adj. clear, evident; adv. 
visibly; in clear sight, in view of 
all; at first glance 
avidman adv. avidly, ardently 
avili v. to degrade, debase, disgrace; 
to make (s.o.) look bad 
avilisan adj. degrading, debasing 
avilisman n. debasement, 
degradation 
avivwa adv. aloud; in the open, 
publicly 
aviyasyon see avyasyon 
aviyatè see avyatè 
avize v. to notify, inform 
avni, lavni n. future; destiny; avenue 
avoka n., avokat f.n. lawyer, 
attorney; mediator 
~ mawon shining stenostomum 
(bot.) 
fi ~ woman lawyer 
lekôl ~ law school 
avoran adj. greedy, devouring 
avotayi interj. amen (Voodoo); ritual 
Voodoo cry 
avote v. to miscarry; to abort; adj. 
overly watered corn stalk 
avotman n. abortion 
~ envolontè miscarriage 
fè ~ to have an abortion 
avôtsèvis! interj. (please) join us! 
(to eat or drink) 
avozôd! interj. [Fr.] yes sir! at your 
service! 
avrèdi, avredi adv. to tell the truth 
avril n. April 
Avril (Pwospè) prop.n. Avril 
(Prosper) - military ruler of Haiti, 
1988-1990 
avwa n. fortune, possessions; see 
arevwa 
avwal see bato; planch 
avwàn n. oats; oatmeal 
avwazine v. to be near, border on, 
verge on 
avwe, ave v. to avow, declare, admit, 
acknowledge 
avwèl: 
an ~ foolish, naïve 
avyasyon, aviyasyon, lavyasyon n. 
airport, airfield (for domestic 
flights); military airfield (Bowen 
Field - military airfield adjoining 
Pont-Rouge, PaP); aviation, 
flying; air force 
chan ~ airfield 
avyatè, aviyatè n. aviator, pilot 
avyon, lavyon n. airplane 
- anbilans medivac 
- areyaksyon jet airplane 
~ konba warplane 
~ pou lespas space shuttle 
ko ~ fuselage 
(lèt) ~ airmail (letter) 
Awayen prop, n./adj. Hawaiian 
Awayi, Away, Hawayi, Zile Awayi 
63 
atribye - ave 
attribution, imputation (Jur. ) 
atribye v. to attribute 
atriste v. to sadden 
atritis, atrit n. arthritis 
atriyèm n. atrium 
atwès adj. atrocious 
atwosite n. atrocity 
atwoupman n. throng, crowd, 
gathering 
atyaba! see atchaba! 
atyovi see ayovi 
av see a (fut. tense indicator) 
ava n. stinginess, avarice; adj. 
stingy, tightfisted; greedy; see a 
(fut. tense indicator) 
avadra n. bum, tramp, good-for-
nothing 
aval n. guaranteed loan; backing, 
support 
bay ~ to give approval 
jwenn ~ to be approved 
avalize v. to back, support; to 
guarantee (a loan) 
avalizè n. (loan) guarantor 
avalwa, lavalwa n. deposit, down 
payment, cash advance 
bay ~ to make a down payment 
a van n. front; forward (sport); 
advent; see anvan 
avanbra n. forearm 
avangad see lavangad 
avangou n. foretaste, preview 
avani, lavani n. insult, affront, snub; 
disappointment 
avanjou adv. before dawn, at 
daybreak 
avannsant, avansant n. center 
forward (soccer) 
avanpès see anvan pès 
avanpwojè n. pilot study 
avanpwopo n. foreword 
avans n. advance; deposit, down 
payment; advance payment; 
(sexual) advances 
fè - to make a pass at; to give an 
advance to (an employee); to pull 
forward (car) 
pran - to borrow in advance of 
one's pay 
avansant see avannsant 
avanse adj. advanced; see vanse 
avansman, lavansman n. 
advancement, improvement, 
development, progress; (job) 
promotion 
avantaj, avantay n. advantage, 
gain, benefit; asset(s) 
- pa ou! well gtxxi for you! 
{sarcastic), well la di da! 
bay ~ to favor, advantage 
avantaje adj. advantageous, 
profitable; v. to favor, give 
preference to 
avantay see avantaj 
avanti, lavanti n. adventure 
avantire refl. to stick one's neck out 
avantirè* f.n. adventuress, scheming 
unscrupulous woman 
avantiry e, avantiris n, adventurer; 
pirate 
avantou see anvantou 
avantyè see avanyè 
avanvèy, lavanvèy n. two days 
before 
avanyè, avanty è, avanzyè adv. the 
day before yesterday; recently 
avap, avape (S.J fut. progressive 
tense indicator (contr. ava + ape; 
avari n, [/•>.] damage 
avaris see lavaris 
avarye adj. rotting, spoiled 
ave n. confession, admission; guinea-
hen weed (med. herb); rel. interj. 
Hail Mary, Ave Maria; see avwe 
62 
avè - Awayi 
avè see ak 
avèg adj. blind; n. blind person; v. to 
blind 
~ de je stone-blind; unseeing 
avegle see vegle 
avègleman n. blindness 
avèk see ak 
Avènmanprop.n. Advent (of Christ) 
avès n. shower; downpour; adv. in 
torrents (rain) 
avèti, vèti v. to warn, notify, give 
notice; n. warning, notification 
avètisman n. warning, notification; 
notice; foreword 
avi n. notice, communiqué; opinion; 
adv. for life 
~ rechèch arrest warrant 
bay ~ to notify 
avid adj. empty 
avidèy adj. clear, evident; adv. 
visibly; in clear sight, in view of 
all; at first glance 
avidman adv. avidly, ardently 
avili v. to degrade, debase, disgrace; 
to make (s.o.) look bad 
avilisan adj. degrading, debasing 
avilisman n. debasement, 
degradation 
avivwa adv. aloud; in the open, 
publicly 
aviyasyon see avyasyon 
aviyatè see avyatè 
avize v. to notify, inform 
avni, lavni n. future; destiny; avenue 
avoka n., avokat f.n. lawyer, 
attorney; mediator 
~ mawon shining stenostomum 
(bot.) 
fi ~ woman lawyer 
lekôl ~ law school 
avoran adj. greedy, devouring 
avotayi interj. amen (Voodoo); ritual 
Voodoo cry 
avôte v. to miscarry; to abort; adj. 
overly watered corn stalk 
avôtman n. abortion 
~ envolontè miscarriage 
fè ~ to have an abortion 
avôtsèvis! interj. (please) join us! 
(to eat or drink) 
avozôd! interj. [Fr.] yes sir! at your 
service! 
avrèdi, avredi adv. to tell the truth 
avril n. April 
Avril (Pwospè) prop.n. Avril 
(Prosper) - military ruler of Haiti, 
1988-1990 
avwa n. fortune, possessions; see 
arevwa 
avwal see bato; planch 
avwàn n. oats; oatmeal 
avwazine v. to be near, border on, 
verge on 
avwe, ave v. to avow, declare, admit, 
acknowledge 
avwèl: 
an ~ foolish, naive 
avyasyon, aviyasyon, lavyasyon n. 
airport, airfield (for domestic 
flights); military airfield (Bowen 
Field - military airfield adjoining 
Pont-Rouge, PaP); aviation, 
flying; air force 
chan - airfield 
avyatè, aviyatè n. aviator, pilot 
avyon, lavyon n. airplane 
~ anbilans medivac 
~ areyaksyon jet airplane 
- konba warplane 
~ pou lespas space shuttle 
ko ~ fuselage 
(let) - airmail (letter) 
Awayen prop, n./adj. Hawaiian 
Awayi, Away, Hawayi, Zile Awayi 
63 
awè - ayeryen 
prop.n. Hawaii (USA) 
awè see arevwa 
awesan see agwesan 
awetan see anwetan 
awewozèl see ayewozèl 
awi! interj. yes indeed! darn right! 
awiklo adv. [Fr.] behind closed 
doors, in private session 
a wo adj. great, swell 
~ chen nago! ritual Voodoo cry; 
cf. ayibobo 
awogan adj. arrogant, haughty 
awogans n. arrogance, haughtiness 
Awôlprop.n. Harold 
awôm adv. for men; in a male 
fashion (mounting of horse etc.); 
n. [Fr.] aroma, fragrance 
awomatik at//. [Fr.] aromatic 
awomatize v. to flavor, season 
(<cul.)\ cf. sizonnen 
awona see awonna 
awondi, wondi v. to round off; to 
make round; adj. round 
awondisman n. administrative 
subdivision or district of a 
geographic department (larger 
than a komin q.v.) 
awonna, awona n. loose woman; 
slut; prostitute 
awôt n. aorta 
awotè adv. (on a) level (with) 
tire - dôm to shoot to kill 
awotpôte adv. on a high level 
awotvwa adv. aloud; in a loud voice 
Awouba prop.n. Aruba 
awoulou see arawout 
awousa f.n. sly and evil woman; 
good-for-nothing; sneak thief; adj. 
tricky, daring; strange, bizarre 
awout see arawout 
awoutcha, woutcha v. to excite, stir 
up; to spur on; to breed and train 
fighting cocks 
awoutchapatchp n Haitian of 
Syrian or I ebanese origin (pej,)\ 
Arab 
awoutsayd, awoutsay adv. [£wg.] 
out of bound(s), out of position 
{sports): on the sidelines, out of 
the action 
awouwout see arawout 
awouva n. hick, hayseed, clod; 
good-for-nothing; loose woman 
awouzay see wouzav 
avioyo n person to be feared; adj. 
fearless, courageous, bold; 
furious; suspicious, unexpected, 
sudden (windfall etc.) 
fin mande ~ to be furious or 
violent; to bccomc furious or 
violent 
awozab see wozah 
awozay, awozaj sec wouzay 
awoze sec wouze 
awozin n. crankcasc cover 
awozwa see wozw a 
ay (N.) see ale 
ay! ay! ay! interj. boohoo! boohoo! 
boohoo! (sound of weeping) 
ay! hay! interj ouch! owî; hi! hey! 
ay abonbe see ayibobo 
ayatola n, ayatollah; big chief (fam.) 
ayayay!, y ay ay! interj, wow! 
(surprise, admiration); ouch! 
(pain, annoyance); damn it! 
aybobo see ay ibobo 
ayè see yè 
ayèl n. grandparent; ancestor 
ayèoswa see ayèswa 
ayerasyon n aeration; ventilation 
ayere v. to air out; to ventilate; see 
aryere 
ayèreswa see ay èswa 
averven adj. aerial 
64 
Ayès - ayo 
zam anti ~ anti-aircraft weapon 
Ayès f.prop.n. Agnes 
ayeskoul see ayskoul 
ayèswa, ayèoswa, ayèreswa adv. 
last evening, last night 
ayewo- prefix aero-
ayewob n. aerobe 
ayewogram n. aerogram 
ayewonotik n. aeronautics 
Ayewopaj, Aewopaj prop.n. [Bible] 
Areopagus, learned assembly 
(Athens) 
ayewoplàn, aryoplàn n. airplane 
ayewopô n. airport; cf. èpôt 
~ entènasyonal Tousen Louvèti 
Toussaint Louverture International 
Airport (PaP) (formerly ~ 
entènasyonal Franswa Divalye, 
then ~ entènasyonal Mayi Gate) 
ayewopôtyè adj. airport 
ayewozôl, awewozol adj. aerosol 
ayibobo, abobo, ayabonbe, aybobo 
interj. ritual Voodoo cry of Rada 
rite (used in sense of "hallelujah" 
or "amen") 
ayiboko see azibôkô 
ayida f.n. woman with naturally very 
short hair 
~ doupendoup old woman; 
woman who likes much younger 
men; loose or immoral old woman 
Ayida Wèdo f.prop.n. Voodoo spirit 
represented by the rainbow, and 
consort of Danbala Wèdo 
ayigwann, ayigonn n. ring in nose 
of ox 
ayigwe n. air plant, never-die, 
resurrection plant (herb) - used as 
protection against lougawou; cf. 
fèy lougawou 
ayik adj. well-fed, with a full 
stomach; sick from overeating; 
exhausted 
Ayile Selasye (avni)prop.n. Haïlé 
Sélassié (avenue) (also known as 
Airport Road) PaP 
ayisab see rayisab 
ayisyanis n. Haitianism (French 
word or expression peculiar to 
French spoken in Haiti); Haitianist 
ayisyanite prop.n. Haitianness 
ayisyanizasyon n. Haitianization 
ayisyanize v. to Haitianize 
Ayisyano- prop.adj. Haitian-
ayisyanofôn n. speaker of Haitian 
(Creole) language 
ayisyen n. red and blue beetle 
Ayisyen prop.n./adj. Haitian, 
Ayisyèn f.prop.n. Haitian woman 
~ ti zèrèy average Haitian 
Ayiti, Aytiprop.n. Haiti 
~-Boyo Kiskeya, --Kiskeya 
Boyo (Amerindian name for) Haiti 
~ Cheri popular traditional song, 
often termed almost a Haitian 
national anthem 
~ miks soil mixed with sugar cane 
pulp and rice husk 
~-Toma, Titoma (familiar name 
for) Haiti (from equivalent of 
"doubting Thomas," or from first 
name of 19th-century Haitian 
historian Thomas Madiou) 
Litèl - , Ti - Little Haiti (center of 
Haitian community in Miami, 
Florida) 
ayizan n. palm leaves cut into strips 
to ward off evil (Voodoo) 
Ayizan f.prop.n. Voodoo spirit of 
markets and public places, consort 
of Legba 
- mal palan hypocrite, backbiter, 
slanderer 
ayo n. [Fr.] lamb 
65 
ayode - Azyatik 
ayode adv. both together 
ayopè see èpèt 
ayouyou n. stupid person, fool 
ayovi, alounvi, aiovi, atyovi, 
elounvi, elovi, malounvi, tehovi, 
tyovi n. child still-born or deceased 
shortly after birth; tiny baby 
Ayowaprop.n. Iowa (USA) 
Aysennowè (Dwayt) prop.n. 
Eisenhower (Dwight) - president 
of USA, 1953-1961 
ayskoul, ayeskoul n. [Eng.] high 
school 
younyè ~ junior high school, 
middle school [Eng.] 
Ayti see Ayiti 
aza n. chance, fortune; gambling, 
games of chance 
pa % paraza by chance, 
accidentally 
azade v. to dare, venture, risk 
azadè, azalye n. gambler 
Azaka (Mede), Kouzen (Zaka), 
Papa Zaka, Zaka (Mede) prop.n. 
important Voodoo spirit of 
agriculture 
azalye see azadè 
azaman adv. by (a rare) chance 
azamann n. gambler 
azan see alzan 
azaris, azaryen n. gambler 
Azarya prop.n. [Apocrypha] 
Azariah 
azè n. Voodoo symbol in cast iron 
Azèbayidjan prop.n. Azerbaijan; 
prop.n./adj. Azerbaijani 
Azèk see Asèk 
azèl adj. winged 
Azèl (siklôn) prop.n. Hazel 
(disastrous hurricane, 11-13 
October 1954) 
azètô n. sorcerer 
azewo adj. down and out, destitute; 
adv from the start, from scratch 
Azeyi sec Azweyi 
azfat see asfat 
Azi see Lazi 
aziboko, ayibôkè n coffin, casket; 
cf. sèkèv 
aziboutou, azibotou n unknown or 
forsaken place; adv. tar away 
azikôkè n. obstacle, hindrance, 
handicap 
azikrekre n nuisance 
azil, lazil n asylum, shelter, haven, 
sanctuary, refuge; home for the 
aged; poorhouse; (insane) asylum 
- kominal insane asylum 
Azilwa prop.nAzilwaz fprop.n. 
inhabitant of L'Asilc (Dept. 
Grand* Anse) 
azipopo see adjipopo 
azireya(y) n loose woman; scoundrel 
Azis see C'hamo 
Aziwa prop.n Azua (Dominican 
Republic) 
azizwèl f.n. promiscuous young 
woman, tramp, whore 
azè n dog {Jam. ) 
azobato adj. weak, feeble, frail 
azèt n. nitrogen 
azote adj. nitrogenous 
azoumounou n. (epidemic 
hemorrhagic) conjunctivitis, 
pinkeye - cf. je drandran; weak 
and indecisive person; intimacy, 
closcness 
Azlèk prop.n./adj. Aztec 
Azweyi, Azeyi, Azyeyi, (lak) 
Etansomat, letan Somat prop.n. 
Lake Azuey, Etang-Saumâtre (115 
knrr, Dept. West) 
Azyatik, Asyatik prop n./adj. Asian, 
Far Eastern 
b - baba 
B 
b (pronounced: be) 
ni ~ ni c {pronounced: se) nothing 
at all, not a thing 
B.C.GL see Beseje 
ba n. stocking(s), hose; wooden 
pack-saddle; bar, stick, piece 
(metal, soap etc.); bar (restaurant, 
cafe); snack bar; bar (river); line 
(drawn with pencil or pen); bar, 
measure (music); helm, tiller; 
peck, small kiss; stripe(s), 
epaulette; adj. low, short; very 
sick, weak; depressed, 
discouraged; adv. down; low; 
prep, to; for; prefix lower-; see 
bay 
~ chosèt thick socks, thick 
stockings 
~ direksyon steering shaft 
- fiks horizontal bar 
- kilot pantyhose 
~ paralèl parallel bars 
- site security bar 
~ vitès gearshift lever 
- zouti toolbar (computer) 
bay kout - to play a dirty trick 
(on s.o.); to deceive 
demi ~ knee-high stocking(s) 
fè ~ (pou) to kiss 
mete - to give birth (animal), 
calve, have a litter 
mete li nan - to put in a 
straitjacket 
pa - from the rectum 
pwen - that's final 
ti ~ espas space bar (typewriter, 
computer) 
vant ~ lying flat; to be flat on 
one's back, be in bad shape 
Ba (larivyè) see Deba 
baakou see bayakou 
Baal prop.n. [Bible] Baal; Basle 
(Switzerland) 
Baamas, Bahamas, Bayamas 
prop.n. Bahamas 
Baameyen, Baamyen, Bahameyen 
prop.n./adj. Baameyèn, 
Baamyèn, Bahameyèn f.prop.n. 
Bahamian 
baay see bagay 
bab n. beard, whiskers; bearded 
person; tassel (corn); onomat. 
sound to express sudden action 
anba ~ underfoot, always around; 
right next to 
- blan oldster, codger, geezer 
- chat see babchat 
- e/ak moustach, - ak manton 
total, complete; totally, 
completely; (highly) appropriate; 
right next to each other 
- kabrit small scraggly beard; 
goatee 
~ mayi corn silk or tassel; 
brownish hair 
~ panyôl Spanish moss 
- pou - face to face 
fè - , fè labab to shave (face) 
jwe nan - granmoun to be 
disrespectful 
kite - li pouse to grow a beard 
krèm - shaving cream 
nan - in the presence of, in the 
face of 
ti - small bit, small piece 
tonbe - pou - (ak) to run into 
s.o. (unexpectedly) 
baba n. barbarian; idiot; adj. idiotic; 
67 
babachat - bachelye 
barbaric; see bèbè 
babachat n. threadfin (fish) 
Babad, Babedès prop.n. Barbados 
Babadyen, Babedyen prop.n./adj. 
Babadyèn, Babedyèn f.prop.n. 
Barbadian, Bajan 
babako n. feast, big spread, lots of 
food 
yon - a great quantity of, a lot of 
Babankou prop.n. Barbancourt 
Rum 
babaren, balbaren n. goatfish; var. 
of dove 
- jôn yellow goatfish 
- pat chwal margined flyingflsh 
- wouj red goatfish 
babari n. barbarism; barbarity 
babay interj. bye-bye, good-bye 
babayadô see babyado 
babchat n. var. of threadfin (fish); 
var. of plant 
Babedôs see Babad 
Babedyen, Babedyèn see 
Babadyen 
babekyou n. barbecue 
babèl n. barbell 
Babèl prop.n. [Bible] Babel 
Babèt, Libèt prop.n. nickname for 
Elizabèt (q.v.) 
babich n. goatee 
Babida see Babouda 
Babilon prop.n. Babylon 
Babiloniprop.n. Babylonia 
babilonyen (pronounced: ba-bi-lo-
nyen) prop.n./adj. Babylonian 
babin n. double chin; dewlap; chops 
(jaws of animal) 
- gradoub wealth 
gwo - fat cat, big shot 
babitirik n. barbituric acid 
bable adj. barbed; see fïldefè 
babô n. port (side of ship); see 
tribôbabô 
babôk, babokèt, babôkèt see 
baboukèt 
babote v. to splash about 
babotèz n. rompers (clothing) 
babôtribô see tribôbabô 
Babouda, Babida prop.n. Barbuda 
baboujèt n. young ignoramus, smart 
aleck 
baboukèt, babôk, babokèt, 
babèkèt n. makeshift bridle; 
muzzle; gag; censorship 
~ panyèl tight (makeshift) bridle 
~ zonbi var. of plant 
bay - , mete - to muzzle, silence, 
censor; to shut s.o. up 
baboul n. var. of Voodoo dance 
babous adj. dark, murky, obscure 
babouye v. to smear, smudge 
babouyèt, sèvyèt babouyèt n. 
washcloth 
babouzi n. kid, child; jerk 
babwen n. baboon 
babyadô, babayadô n. griper, 
grumbler, chronic complainer 
babyay n. grumbling, muttering; 
slander, gossip; joking 
babye v. to grumble, gripe; to 
mumble, murmur; to babble; n. 
grumbling, griping; mumbling, 
murmuring; babbling 
Babyôl prop.n. Babiole (wealthy 
residential area of PaP) 
bach onomat. sound of a slap 
bacha, pacha n. rich person, big 
shot, "fat cat"; fatso 
bachata n. var. of Dominican dance 
rhythm 
bachelye n. student who is 
preparing for comprehensive 
exam of secondary school or who 
has passed that exam 
68 
bachote - bafon 
bachote v. to cram (for exam); to 
botch, bungle, mess up 
bada n. chant to ward off an 
unwelcome Voodoo spirit 
Badagri see Ogoun 
bade (ak) v. to fill, cover, smear 
Badè prop.n. Voodoo spirit of the 
winds 
Badelakwa see Badlakwa 
Badèmoustik prop.n. Bas-des-
Moustiques (8th communal 
section of Port-de-Paix, Dept. 
North-West) 
baden n. jokester; adj. 
irresponsible, childish 
Badèpèch prop.n. Bas-des-Perches 
(2nd communal section of 
Perches, Dept. North-East) 
badi n. var. of flower 
badijonnen v. to smear, spread; to 
paint carelessly, slap on paint 
Badikap, Bastèprop.n. (obs.) name 
c. 1670 of Cape Haitian 
badin n. cane, walking-stick (usu. 
of mahogany or oak) 
gwo - big shot, VIP 
badinay n. (game-)playing (children 
esp.) 
badinen, badne, badnen v. to play 
(games), kid around; to write or 
talk facetiously 
- ak lonbray li to play with fire, 
play with s.thg. potentially 
harmful to oneself 
badiyèt-konn n. special drumstick 
for the largest of the three Rada 
drums (Voodoo) 
badj n. badge 
badji, bagi, bagwi, gwevo, kay 
mistè, pedji, pèdji, soba, 
sobadji, sobagi, sobagwi, sobaji, 
sopagi n. inner sanctuary of 
Voodoo temple containing altar 
badjigri n. magic charm (cf. 
wanga); backsliding Christian 
badjikan n., badjikanz//2. person 
who guards the badji (q.v.), aids 
in collecting herbs etc. 
badjo, badyo n. beloved one, love; 
var. of mango 
ensèl - the one and only, the one 
true love 
badjougan n. secret informant for a 
Voodoo priest(ess) 
Badlakwa, Badelakwa prop.n. 
Bas-de-la-Croix (6th communal 
section of Bainet, Dept. South-
East) 
badleken n. baldachin, baldaquin, 
canopy 
badne, badnen see badinen 
Badsôlprop.n. Bas-de-Sault (3rd 
communal section of Saint-
Michel-de-PAttalaye, Dept. 
Artibonite) 
badyo see badjo 
Ba Enri see Pasrèn 
baf n. blow, hit, slap; setback, 
disappointment, failure; 
loudspeaker system; speakers for 
radio etc.; v. to hit, slap; onomat. 
sound of slap or hit 
bay - to beat up, rough up 
pran - to be beaten or roughed 
up; to fail 
bafe v. to slap, hit 
bafè n. steel bar 
baflad n. slapping, hitting 
baflay n. slap (on face); grub, food 
bafle see bafre 
bafon, bafonnay n. far end, deep 
end; ravine, hollow, depression; 
(lower) depths; scum 
fè yon - to sag 
69 
Bafon - bagoul 
Bafon Filomèn prop.n. Bas-Fond-
Philomène (disadvantaged area of 
PaP) 
bafonnay see bafon 
bafonnè n. speculator's accomplice 
or assistant 
bafouye v. [Fr.] to hold up to 
ridicule, mock 
bafray n. deceit, lying 
bafre v. to bluff, mislead 
bafre, bafle v. to eat (greedily), 
stuff oneself, gobble up; to 
deceive; to lie 
bafrezè n. liar, bluffer, cheater 
bafwe v. to lie to, deceive, take in; 
to scorn, scoff, mock 
bag n. ring; wedding-ring 
- ak dwèt hand in glove ipej.) 
beni ~ quiet unpublicized 
wedding 
bagaj: 
pliye ~ li to pack one's bags, take 
off, leave 
bagarè n. troublemaker; adj. rowdy, 
quarrelsome 
bagas n. sugarcane pulp; waste or 
pulp from corn, millet etc. 
bagatèl n. trifle 
bagay, baay, gagay n. thing, stuff, 
matter, substance, object, item, 
article; situation, event, affair, 
business; sexual relations; 
thingamajig, thingamabob, 
something, what-do-you-call-it; 
genitals; v. to do whatever 
(generic catch-all verb) 
~ Bondye fè ak de men heavenly 
creation, divine work 
- moun ak souiye pricey, 
expensive, reserved for the rich 
- moun pa jwenn atè not s.thg. 
one finds just lying around, s.thg. 
very special, s.thg. out of the 
ordinary 
ft - to have sex 
gen yon - to have trouble (usu. 
physical) 
li kwè se yon - li ye (s)he thinks 
(s)he's really somebody 
nan - ak to be having an affair 
with, have a sexual relationship 
with 
pa pou ni de ni twa - not to be 
just kidding/messing around, with 
a definite purpose 
se pa - pou te wè! it's really 
s.thg. to see! 
tout - anything; everything; odds 
and ends 
vve - superstition, nonsense; 
worthless person or thing 
Bagdad prop.n. Baghdad (Iraq) 
bagennen v. [Eng. ] to bargain; cf. fe 
(jis) pri 
bagèt n. drumstick (music); 
conductor's baton {music); rod; 
wand; loaf of French bread 
- ak tanbou (frape reponn) 
birds of a feather, two peas in a 
pod 
- Ginen grotesquely twisted 
drumstick 
- janm skinny legs 
- legede walking skeleton, skin 
and bones 
kout ~ drumbeat; wave of a 
(magic) wand 
sou ~ under the control/ 
supervision of 
bagi, bagwi see badji 
Baginode prop.n. Bas-Guinaudée 
(communal section of Dept. 
Grand'Anse) 
bagoul: 
70 
Bagrandou - bakaloreya 
~ machwè cheeks (of face) 
Bagrandou prop.n. Bas-(de)-
Grandou (5th communal section 
of Bainet, Dept. South-East) 
Bagrigri prop.n. Bas-de(s)-Gris-
Gris (9th communal section of 
Bainet, Dept. South-East) 
Bahamas see Baamas 
Bahameyen see Baameyen 
baj n. barge 
bajôl n. jowl(s), double chin 
baj ou n. dawn, daybreak 
~ kase at dawn, at daybreak; 
dawning 
~ kase li to be delayed, be late 
getting s.thg. done, fail to meet a 
deadline 
bak n. tray (for selling wares); 
market stand; reverse (car); 
reversal; rear of truck (for 
passengers and load); pick-up 
topper, covering for back of pick-
up truck; small boat; ferry-boat; 
business, affairs; ship (of state); v. 
to send back, toss back; sh. form 
bakaloreya 
~ aleje less rigorous bakaloreya 
(q.v.) examination 
~ blan special practice 
bakaloreya (<7.v.) examination 
given at certain prestigious private 
schools 
fè (yon) - to head back, go back; 
to back up; to back away; to 
regress; to reminisce, recall, 
recollect; to decrease, decline; to 
retract; to change one's 
opinion(s); not to keep one's 
promise 
kenbe ~ li to behave, conduct 
oneself 
kondi ~ li dwat to keep to the 
straight and narrow (path), behave 
oneself 
mennen ~ li to run one's 
business, run one's affairs; to 
lead, conduct 
pa ~ backwards; in reverse 
pase ~ to shift into reverse 
pouse ~ li ale to push on, go 
farther 
rale ~ to rush back, withdraw 
quickly 
sou ~ in reverse 
woule ~ li to get around, have a 
wide experience of life 
baka n. infected sore; small demon 
or evil spirit (often taking form of 
animal or shapeless monster); 
certain evil Voodoo spirits such as 
Èzili-Je-Wouj or Ti-Jan-Pye-
Chèch; ugly-looking person; 
largest of the three drums of the 
batri maskawon (q.v.); adj. huge, 
immense 
gen yon ~ avè 1 to be very good at 
(doing s.thg.), have special energy 
or gusto 
gwo ~ larger of the two Petwo 
drums (Voodoo) 
~ kamyon helper on a truck 
(pej.); cf. bèf chenn 
~ lage holy terror, real fright, 
menace to society 
mare ~ to reach an impasse 
ti ~ smaller of the two Petwo 
drums (Voodoo) 
bakad n. dike, dam 
bakadè, debakadè n. pier, dock, 
wharf 
bakala n. slap on the hand (to get 
s.thg. out of s.o.'s hand); var. of 
yam 
bakaloreya n. Haitian secondary-
71 
bakannal - bal 
school diploma (equivalent to 
French baccalauréat); exams 
leading to this degree; see bak 
blan 
bakannal n. wild party, bash 
yon ~ a lot of 
bakannaryè n. regression, retreat, 
decline 
Bakapwouj prop.n. Bas-Cap-Rouge 
(1st communal section of Jacmel, 
Dept. South-East) 
bakara n. baccarat 
bay ~ pou lewouj to trick, 
misrepresent 
Bakasoud, Baksoud prop.n. Bac-à-
Soude (1st communal section of 
Ranquitte, Dept. North) 
bakasyon see anbakasyon 
Bakatyeprop.n. Bas-Quartier (5th 
communal section of Port-Margot, 
Dept. North) 
Bake, Bakè prop.n. Baquet (2nd 
communal section of Anse-à-
Veau, Dept. Grand'Anse) 
bakgamon n. backgammon 
bakgrawonn n. [Eng.] background 
bakilot n. panty hose 
baklanklan see batanklan 
bakle v. to mess up, foul up, botch 
bako n. var. of plantain 
Bakokchant(e) prop.n. Bas-Coq-
Chante (8th communal section of 
Jacmel, Dept. South-East) 
bakoko n. (a) lot of, great quantity 
of; copious meal 
Bakonwa (pronounced: Ba-ko-
nwa), Bakonnwa prop.n. 
Baconnois (1st communal section 
of Anse-à-Veau, Dept. 
Grand'Anse) 
bakonyay n. poaching 
bakonyè (pronounced: bako-nyè) 
nbakonyèz {pronounced: bako-
nyèz)//!. poacher; con artist, sly 
person; adj. sly, cunning, crafty 
bakèp n. [Eng. ] back-up, support; v. 
to back-up, support 
bakouiou adj. rotten, crooked, 
dishonest; tricky, cunning, crafty; 
n. skirt-chaser, womanizer; con 
artist 
Bakoulou-Baka/>ro/>.«. evil 
mischievous demon nourished by 
human flesh (Voodoo) 
Bakousen Ie , Bakousen prop.n. 
Bas-Coursin Ie , Bas-Coursin 2^m 
(1st and 2nd communal sections 
of Petite-Rivière-de-FArtibonite, 
Dept. Artibonite) 
baksayd n. [Eng.] large rear end, 
large buttocks 
Baksoud see Bakasoud 
bakteri n. bacteria 
bakteryolojik adj. bacteriological 
bal n. dance, ball (usu. élite); bale, 
sack (flour etc.); bullet, cartridge; 
ammunition; dollars {Jam.) 
~ dan lively or spirited ball or 
dance 
~ maske masquerade 
- mawon stray bullet 
- pase nan karabin batay 
marye everything is set and ready 
to go 
~ tire gunshot 
bay ~ to execute (by shooting); to 
shoot down; to organize a dance 
fè - to organize a dance 
fè fe ~ to fire a gun 
po ~ cartridge 
pran ~ li ofon to endure, suffer 
without complaining, be long-
suffering 
pran (von) ~ to be shot 
72 
baladay - bale 
ti ~ overly refined Voodoo service 
(pej•) 
baladay n. stroll 
balade v. to stroll 
baladé n. trouble light 
balaf n. scar, gash 
balafre v. to scar, gash 
Balagè (Wakim)prop.n. Balaguer 
(Joaquim) - president of the 
Dominican Republic, 1966-1978, 
1986-1996 
balakawout see blakawout 
Balakil, Basplenn prop.n. Bas-de-
l'Acul, Basse-Plaine (communal 
section of Acul-du-Nord, Dept. 
North) 
Balakwa prop.n. Bas-de-la-Croix 
(6th communal section of Bainet, 
Dept. South-East) 
balan adj. hanging 
fè yon ~ to lean to one side 
mache bra ~ to walk along 
nonchalantly; see anbalan 
Balan prop.n. Balan (2nd communal 
section of Ganthier, Dept. West) 
balans n. balance, equilibrium; 
scales (weight); store of licenced 
buyers (coffee etc.); Libra 
(zodiac) 
- ak baskil weighbridge 
~ ak kwôk hanging scales 
~ otomatik shop scales 
~ panche favoritism, partiality 
~ wobèval Roberval's balance 
~ womèn steelyard 
bay kout ~ to short-change (when 
measuring) 
fè ~ to balance 
balanse v. to rock, sway, swing; to 
balance; to hesitate, vacillate; to 
mark time (without advancing); to 
weigh choices; to get a vehicle or 
group of people moving; to aim 
(rifle etc.); to centrifuge; n. first 
lessons given Voodoo initiates; 
hesitation, doubt; specific 
command and step in contredance 
and quadrille 
~ anplas to mark time (without 
advancing) 
Balanse Yaya traditional 
children's song 
~ debo to stagger, sway; to 
vacillate 
de men ap ~ helpless 
balansin n. swing (playground); var. 
of sandal 
fè ~ to swing (playground) 
balansman n. swinging, swaying 
motion; balancing; oscillation 
(physics) 
balanswa n. swing (playground; 
porch) 
Balatibonitprop.n. Lower 
Artibonite (Saint-Marc region) 
balawou, balavou, belewou n. 
balao, ballyhoo (fish) 
bèk ~ type of bayonet made from 
the jaw of a balao 
balbaren see babaren 
baldeken, baldaken n. baldaquin, 
canopy 
bale n. broom; corn tassel; 
sweep(ing); var. of weed used for 
feeding pigs; v. to sweep, sweep 
away; to fire, clean house, dismiss 
(in mass); to wreck, demolish, tear 
apart; to surpass, excel 
~ anmè feverfew (med. plant) 
~ atè short broom used to sweep 
unpaved area 
~ debou, ~ dibout long broom 
(used to sweep paved area) 
~ dou sweet-scented broom (plant) 
73 
bale - balon 
- elektrik vacuum cleaner; cf. 
aspiratè 
~ fè rake 
- glise broomweed 
- koukouy branches tied together 
to form a brush or short broom 
~ lalou broomweed 
~ plim featherduster 
~ wouze see balewouze 
bwa ~ broomstick, broom handle; 
saltbush, water wally; very skinny 
person 
jete ~ to sprout tassels (corn) 
pase ~ to give a fast (perfunctory ) 
sweep; trial by ordeal (Voodoo) 
balè n. ballet; choreography; proper 
functioning 
Balè prop.n. Balais (2nd communal 
section of Port-à-Piment, Dept. 
South) 
balèn see balenn 
Balenbe prop.n. Bas-Limbé (Dept. 
North) 
Balenbeyen prop.n., Baienbeyèn 
f.prop.n. inhabitant ofBas-Linbé 
(Dept. North) 
balenn, balèn n. whale; (white) 
candle 
~ kôsèt whalebone (for corsets 
etc.) 
blenn - very large candle 
balerin n. ballet dancer 
balerina n. ballerina; shoe with 
almost no heel 
balestwon n. sprit (nautical) 
balèt n. small broom 
balewouze n. police raid; clean-up, 
general house-cleaning; clean-
sweep; weeding-out, mass 
dismissal (of staff, employees); v. 
to wipe clean, clean out, clear out; 
to wow (them), be a great success 
baleyaj, baleyay n. sweeping, 
cleaning (office etc.); general 
house-cleaning; massive firing 
baleye v. to excel, surpass 
baleyè: 
- lari street-sweeper, worker of 
the (public) cleaning department 
Bali prop.n. Bailly (5th communal 
section ofBahon, Dept. North); 
Bali (Indonesia) 
balis, balistrad n. rail, railing, 
bannister, handrail; altar rail 
balistik adj. ballistic 
balistrad see balis 
Balivèn prop.n. Baliverne (5th 
communal section of Dame-
Marie, Dept. Grand'Anse) 
baliz n. beacon, marker, sign, guide 
taye - to clear the path, show the 
way 
balizav, balizaj n. clearing of a 
field (in preparation for planting); 
erosion; rays from obscured moon 
baiize v. to clear, prepare for 
planting; to be spread out, dot the 
landscape; to lay waste, devastate; 
to shine partially (moon); to break 
(sun at dawn); to sway or shake 
the hips 
Balizye prop.n. Balisiers (2nd 
communal section of Abricots, 
Dept. Grand'Anse) 
Balkan prop.n. Balkans 
balkon n. balcony (of house or 
theater); upper floor of two-story 
house 
kay - two-story house with 
balcony 
balo n. bale, sack (flour etc.) 
balon n. big ball {sports); soccer 
ball; balloon 
- an nan pye ouï the ball is in 
74 
Balon - banbou 
your court! 
~ dirijab dirigible 
~ won soccer ball (fam.) 
Balon, Bayon prop.n. Ballon (1st 
communal section of Pilate, Dept. 
North) 
balonnen adj. bloated, distended, 
upset 
balonnman, boulonnman n. 
bloated stomach; indigestion 
balotaj n. balloting, voting 
balote v. to toss (about), shake 
(about), jolt; to get rid of, can 
balsamin n. Balsam apple (vine) 
Baltimoprop.n. Baltimore 
(Maryland) 
bamann n. bartender 
Bamaribajou, Bamaribawou 
prop.n. Bas-Maribatoux (3rd 
communal section of Ferrier, 
Dept. North-East) 
Bamoustik prop.n. Bas-Moustique 
(communal section, Dept. North-
west) 
ban n. bench; school bench or desk; 
pew; proclamation; see bay 
antre de ~ to pretend to be in 
favor of one cause and to serve 
another 
~ akize dock, bar (jur.) 
~ krich jug stand 
~ maryaj marriage banns 
~ sab sand bank, sand bar 
mete li sou ~ to ban s.o.from 
participating in activities, bench, 
put on the sidelines; to penalize 
nan ~ dèyè in the back seat, 
behind 
ti ~ footstool 
voye sou ~ touch to place on the 
sidelines, eliminate 
Banabas prop.n. [Bible] Barnabas 
banal, bannal adj. banal, ordinary; 
dissolute 
banalize v. to look like anyone else, 
not to stand out; to make (s.thg.) 
look normal 
banana, bannanna n. grated 
plantain soup 
Banbara prop.n. group or "nation" 
(nanchon) of Voodoo spirits; 
Bambara (African people) 
banben n. youngster, kid 
banbilay, banbi, banbilaj, 
banbilo, banbolo n. bash, party; 
carousing, partying, high living; 
lots of food; disorder, mess 
fè ~ to live it up, have a big time 
banbile v. to carouse, live it up 
banbinen, lanbinen v. to waste 
time, loiter, dillydally 
banbôch n. partying, high-living; 
party, bash; feast; disorder, 
disorganization; burlesque 
painting (obs.); tall marionette 
(obs.) 
banbocha n. Voodoo dance to the 
dead (N.); var. thick cassava bread 
(cf. bobori) 
banboche v. to party, carouse; to 
seduce (sexually) 
banbochè n., banbochèz//2. 
carouser, reveler 
banbolo see banbilay 
banbou n. bamboo; bamboo flute 
sounding only one note and struck 
on side with stick, associated esp. 
with Rara music - usu. used in set 
of three of varied lengths (same as 
vaksin); large penis 
~ janm tibia, shinbone 
~ laravin "beanpole" (fam. for a 
very tall person) 
plezi ~ dancing to sound of 
75 
banboula - bank 
bamboo flute (vaksin); 
masturbation using hollow of 
bamboo section 
sosyete ~ same as konbit (q.v.) 
banboula n. var. of dance; smallest 
of the three Rada drums 
banda, bannda adj. dressed up, 
spruced up, fancy, elegant; 
affected, cocky, show-off; adv. 
with style, elegantly; n. 
affectation; rhythm with fast slaps 
and rolls; sexually suggestive 
Voodoo dance to the Gede (<7. v.) 
fè (gran) ~ to show off, strut 
gran ~ ostentatious person; 
cockiness 
kraze ~ (yon moun) to put (s.o.) 
down, deflate (s.o.) 
laye ~ (li), mache ~ to show off, 
strut 
pa manke ~ not to be without 
elegance/style 
pale ~ to express oneself with 
elegance or with affectation 
taye ~ (li) to show off, strut 
Banda prop.n. Banda (var. 
commercial soap) 
bandaman, bandawèl adv 
elegantly 
banday, bandaj n. bandage; arm 
sling 
bande v. to bandage, tape, tie up; to 
bunch up, pile up; to have an 
erection; adj. homy (male) 
~ alaryè to be/become enraged/ 
furious 
~ chale to provide animation 
~ je to blindfold 
~ ponyèt li to flex one's muscles 
pa ka ~ to be impotent 
banded prop.n. Band-Aid 
bandi n. ruffian; bandit, scoundrel; 
76 
adj. harsh, cruel 
bandisyon: 
an ~ up in arms, in rebellion 
banditis n. banditry 
banditize v. to rob, thieve, plunder 
bandjo n. banjo 
- peyi rough-hewn tin banjo 
bandlèt n. armband (for mourning) 
bando n. headband; sweatband; 
scarf; blindfold 
bandol see bandwôl 
bandonnen, abandone, 
abandonen, abandonnen, 
bandone v. to abandon, desert, 
forsake, quit 
bandoulyè n. cross-belt, shoulder-
belt; sash (of office) 
an ~ slung over the shoulder 
bandwôl, bandôl n. banner; 
whipping, spanking; cross-belt, 
shoulder-belt; sash (of office) 
Banègrès prop.n. Bas-Négresse 
(3rd communal section of Fond-
Verrettes, Dept. West) 
Bangladèch see Bengladèch 
bani v. to banish, outlaw, proscribe; 
to abolish, prohibit, ban 
banj, bany n. expert; v. to be 
obsessed (by s.thg.) 
bank n. bank (financial institution); 
pot, kitty (in gambling game); 
group, bunch, big gathering; 
uproar, dispute, quarrel; 
(informal) gambling house 
~ bôlèt office or counter of 
private lottery 
~ de reparasyon common fund 
for sharing financial risks 
connected with private lotteries 
~ santral Banque de la 
République d'Haïti 
- (tafya) tableful of drinkers 
bankal - bannann 
- zo gambling den 
fè monte ~ to assemble and 
make a lot of noise 
yon ~ moun crowd 
bankal adj. bowlegged; bent, 
crooked, warped; shaky; 
defective, no-good, bad; without a 
cent 
leve ~ out of sorts, bad-humored 
bankankan see batanklan 
banke v. to be located 
banke, bankè n. feast, banquet 
- ak to happen upon, run into, 
meet 
~ sou to happen upon, ran into, 
meet; to settle down (at a place), 
establish a home 
bankè adj. bank, banking 
bankèt, brankèt n. rack for drying 
dishes, clothes etc.; stool, small 
bench 
Bankok prop.n. Bangkok 
(Thailand) 
bankwout n. bankruptcy 
bankye n. banker 
banlye n. [Fr.] suburbs, outskirts 
banm onomat. bong (sound of bell); 
see hep (banm) 
banmnatè n. var. of plantain 
bann n. group, band, gang, bunch; 
band, music group; flock, herd; 
bandage; ribbon; band, strip (of 
cloth etc.); (radio) band, 
frequency; strap; blindfold; 
headband; erection, hard-on 
~ anvan front section of dance 
band (singers, melodic 
instruments) 
~ apye carnival parade group not 
mounted on floats 
~ desine comic strip 
~ dèyè back-up support; back 
section of dance band (drums etc.) 
~ fèblan, - asye steel band (music 
- Trinidad etc.) 
~ lonbrit same as ~ vant 
~ machwè headband tied under 
chin of corpse 
~ madigra informal musical 
group parading before and during 
Mardi Gras 
~ mayetik cassette tape 
~ rara informal musical group 
parading esp. at Carnival time and 
also year-round 
~ vant umbilical binding (against 
chill - worn by newborn for 3 
months) 
devan - lan at the head of the 
line, in the lead 
pa - ak/e pa pakèt/makon in 
droves 
pa gen ~ to be impotent 
yon ~ (ak yon pakèt) a bunch 
(of), much, many 
bannal see banal 
bannann n. plantain, cooking 
banana; banana fish; adj. washed 
up, done for, finished; entangled 
(kite string); see fig 
~ ak tout fisèl completely washed 
up 
~ mawon var. of plant 
~ mi oriole; var. of fish 
~ mi fran oriole 
~ mi mon mountain oriole 
~ peze, ~ fri, ~ kase plantain 
slices fried in oil 
- poban inferior var. of plantain 
~ timalis finger banana (var. of 
small sweet banana) 
~ zonbi var. of plant 
gato ~ banana bread 
gen bwa dèyè kore ^ li to have 
77 
bannann - barakou 
backing, have independent 
support 
kap an ~ kite which has gone into 
a tailspin and fallen to the ground 
30 other var. of plantain are: 
bako, bank, banmnatè, 
bayonnèt, bwa blan, bwa nwa, 
dyedinèt, fran, ginen, gôgot, 
granbarik, grangiyon, gwôs bot, 
kochon, kouyak, kwiyèz, larenn, 
lougawou, malis, masôk, 
matchen, mateyenn, miske, 
mispipi, peyi, poban, polo, 
pouyak, tchôk, titoto 
Bannann prop.n. Banane (near 
Anse-à-Pitre, Dept. South-East) 
- Wout canal near Liancourt 
(Dept. Artibonite) 
bannanna see banana 
bannbanni (ti), ti bonnbonni (gwo 
tèt) n. var. of very small fish 
(which swim in schools); cf. 
piskèt 
bannda see banda 
Banndino prop.n. Bande-du-Nord 
(1st communal section of Cape 
Haitian, Dept. North) 
mon ~ small mountain at northern 
end of Cape Haitian 
banntou prop.n. Bantu 
Banntoustanprop.n. Bantustan 
(any of partially self-governing 
homelands reserved for Black 
South Africans before 1994 - usu. 
pej'-) 
bannyè see bànyè 
bantanklan see batanklan 
bany see banj 
bànyè, bannyè n. banner, standard; 
see labànyè 
banza n. bow (for shooting arrows); 
one-stringed guitar; var. of string 
instrument with skin-covered 
resonator (usu. with four strings); 
old piano with bad sound; skinny 
person; var. of edible plant 
tanbou ~ elementary musical 
instrument using as resonance 
chamber hole dug in ground 
covered with palm thatch 
banzanman adj. dirty, slovenly 
(person) 
banzaris n. performer on one-
stringed guitar (banza) 
bap! onomat. sound of a light fall 
~ pou ~ directly, squarely 
Bapedchoz prop.n. Bas-Peu-de-
Chose (middle-class area of PaP) 
Ba(r) (larivyè) see Deba 
barachen n. var. of plant 
barad n. (little bit) extra; cf. degi, 
ran je 
Baradè prop.n. Baradères (Dept. 
Grand'Anse) 
Baradewa, Baradeyen prop.n 
Baradewaz, Baradeyèn f.prop.n. 
inhabitant of Baradères (Dept. 
Grand'Anse) 
baraj, baray n. dam; barrier, 
hindrance; folding screen, large 
sheet to section off a room (for 
privacy); punitive group visit to 
home of backsliding member of 
konbit, sosyete etc. 
barak n. roughneck, tough, 
muscleman; sullen or surly man; 
large male pig; wild boar; pen, 
enclosure; shack, shanty; adj. 
strong, tough, hefty; coarse, 
crude; big, extra large 
ti - var. of small med. leaf (used 
against intestinal worms) 
yon ~ a large group of 
barakou see bayakou 
78 
barakouda - Baselôn 
barakouda n. great barracuda 
barank n. gully, ditch 
barase see anbarase 
Barawona prop.n. Barahona 
(Dominican Republic) 
baray see baraj 
bare v. to fence in, enclose; to 
corner, catch, capture; to hem in, 
close in; to block off; to block, 
hinder, obstruct; to bar, keep out, 
exclude; to stop, prevent from 
passing; to bar, fasten (door, 
window etc.); to screen; to erect a 
dam; to conceal, hide, mask; to 
block one's view, block the view 
of; to erase, mark off, cross out; to 
catch red-handed, surprise; to give 
(s.o.) a hard time, put in a difficult 
position; adj. in a tight spot, in 
trouble; broke, penniless; mixed 
up, confused; n. wall, fence, 
barrier; folding screen, large sheet 
to section off a room (for 
privacy); pre-dawn konbit (<q.v.); 
var. of fish; var. of djak(oukout) 
(q.v.) 
~ ak to run into, meet up with, 
encounter 
~ (la)wout to block the way 
~ nail men to catch red-handed, 
catch in the act 
~ van to do nothing (useful) 
- vôlè var. of plant 
barèm n. scale, rate; schedule; 
graph 
Bareniprop.n./adj. Bahraini 
Barenn prop.n. Bahrain 
barèt n. barrette, hair-clip; bobby 
pin 
barik, bari n. barrel; keg, cask; unit 
of measure; var. of banana 
~ myèl beehive 
~ sèl heavy load, great burden 
~ vant belly 
barikad n. road-block, checkpoint, 
barricade; gate; sluice gate 
~ dlo dam; sluice gate 
barikade v. to set up a roadblock; to 
barricade 
bariton n./adj. baritone 
Baryadèl prop.n. Bariadelle (1st 
communal section of Dame-
Marie, Dept. Grand'Anse) 
baryè, bayé n. gate; barrier; door to 
the other world (Voodoo); 
hindrance, hurdle, snag, obstacle; 
gap (between teeth) 
~ lib free trade 
~ pay contour ramp made up of 
fodder 
~ van windbreak 
~ vivan contour ramp made up of 
living plants 
~ zèb grass planted in strips as 
conservation measure 
bay ~ to handicap; to hamper, 
block; to boycott 
mete ~ to block, prevent 
politik ~ lib open-door policy, 
free trade 
vole ~ to flee 
baryôm n. barium 
bas n. base, basis; lowlands, 
flatlands; bass (voice); stringed 
bass, bass fiddle; bass guitar; low-
pitched tambourine; low card; 
bass (fish); adj. low, short 
anfôm kou (yon) ~ fit as a fiddle 
- mon hill 
fè ~ to support (verbally), back up 
gwo ~ tuba 
kay ~ one-story house 
ti - "shorty" (man or woman) 
Baselôn prop.n. Barcelona (Spain) 
79 
basen - Bastè 
basen n. basin, depression in earth's 
surface; pool, pond, small lake; 
deep spot in a riverbed; swimming 
pool; small reservoir; cement 
shower stall; bedpan, chamber 
pot; tub; pelvis 
ti - (kitchen) sink 
(zo) ~ pelvis 
~ vèsan slope, embankment 
Basen prop.n. Bassin (7th 
communal section of Plaisance, 
Dept. North; 5th communal 
section of Gonaïves, Dept. 
Artibonite; 2nd communal section 
of Marmelade, Dept. Artibonite) 
Basen, Biyeprop.n. Bassin, Billier 
(2nd communal section of 
Marmelade, Dept. Artibonite) 
Basenble prop.n. Bassin-Bleu 
(Dept. North-West; Dept. South-
East; Dept. West etc.) 
Basenkayiman prop.n. Bassin-
Caïman (2nd communal section of 
Dondon, Dept. North); see 
Tèblanch 
Basendyaman prop.n. Bassin-
Diamant (4th communal section 
of Plaine-du-Nord, Dept. North) 
Basensenjak see Plenndinô 
Basentàn prop.n. Bas-de-Sainte-
Anne (1st communal section of 
Anse-à-Foleur, Dept. North-West) 
Basenwodo see Wodo (basen) 
Basenzim prop.n. Bassin-Zim 
(Dept. Center) 
basés n. lowness, meanness, 
vulgarity; servility 
fè ~ to curry favor, toady 
basèt n. small heavy chicken; short 
fat woman 
chen ~ basset hound 
Basginode prop.n. Basse-
Guinaudée (4th communal section 
of Jérémie, Dept. Grand'Anse) 
basil n. bacillus 
basin n. vat, basin, tank 
basinen v. to rub lightly; to bathe 
(sores) 
basinèt n. small basin, pan 
Basinwa prop.n. Basinwaz/pro/?.«. 
inhabitant of Bassin-Bleu (see 
Basenble) 
basis n. bassist, bass player (music) 
bask prop.n./adj. Basque 
baskèt n. points won in basketball; 
see baskètbôl 
baskètbôl, baskèt n. basketball 
basketè n. basketball player 
baskil n. scales (weight); dump 
truck; dump mechanism (on 
truck); seesaw 
baskile v. to cock (gun); to unload 
(from dump truck); to slam down 
a ball (volleyball); to tip over 
baskou n. farm-yard 
Basôl prop.n. Bas-Sol (communal 
section. Dept. Artibonite) 
bason n. low card; bassoon 
basonnen adj. fat, paunchy (belly) 
Basplèn, Basplenn prop.n. Basse-
Plaine (1st communal section of 
Limonade, Dept. North; 2nd 
communal section of Plaine-du-
Nord, Dept. North; 1st communal 
section of Quartier-Morin, Dept., 
North; see Balakil) 
basplenn n. plain, flatlands, 
lowlands 
basrak, bastrak n. valley, 
lowlands, land near bottom of a 
ravine 
Bastè prop.n. Basse-Terre 
(Guadeloupe); Basseterre (Saint 
Kitts and Nevis); name c. 1670 of 
80 
bastengal - bat 
Cape Haitian - cf. also Badikap 
bastengal n. truss (med.); sash; 
junk, rubbish; martingale (part of 
horse's harness) 
an ~ crosswise, sideways 
Bastinprop.n. Bastine (5th 
communal section of Verrettes, 
Dept. Artibonite) 
Bastiy prop.n. Bastille (Paris) 
bastonad, bastonnad, bastonnaj, 
bastonnay n. beating, flogging 
bastonnen v. to beat with a stick 
bastrak adj. rude, impolite; see 
basrak 
bastreng n. small music group (usu. 
accordion, guitar and bass, with 
singer); public dance-hall (c. 
1900) 
Bastyen prop.n. Bastien (communal 
section of Verrettes, Dept. 
Artibonite) 
bastyon, basyon n. bastion, 
stronghold 
Basvoldwog prop.n. Basse-
Voldrogue (1st communal section 
of Jérémie, Dept. Grand'Anse) 
Basyenprop.n. Bastien (5th 
communal section of Verrettes, 
Dept. Artibonite) 
bat v. to beat, strike; to defeat, beat, 
overcome, conquer; to win 
(sport); to fight, struggle; to reach 
(a certain distance); to beat, thresh 
(millet etc.); to search, scour 
(place); to stir vigorously; to 
pulse, pulsate; to be in 
convulsions; to separate (cotton); 
n. beating, shaking (for dried 
beans etc.); separating (cotton) 
~ ak to oppose, face off against, 
face up to; to struggle along with; 
see ~ lavi 
- atè to thrash about on the 
ground; epilepsy 
~ ba to give up, admit defeat; to 
come down (off one's high horse); 
to cool off; to take it easy, keep 
cool; to retreat, pull back; to back 
out of a promise, back down, 
retract 
~ bèt to study hard 
~ bouch (ti) chat, little talk 
~ bouch li to smack one's lips; 
see batbouch 
~ bouda to hightail it, beat it, 
leave 
~ bravo ak bouch li to vociferate 
or ululate while beating one's 
mouth with the hand 
~ bravo (lakontantman) to 
applaud, clap; to cheer, praise, 
approve of 
~ dèyè li to leave, clear out 
~ dèyè (yon moun) to keep after 
(s.o.), try to get (s.o. to do s.thg.) 
~ dlo to work hard to no avail 
~ dlo (pou) fè bè to be in 
financial difficulty; to struggle, try 
to eke out a living under 
impossible circumstances 
~ do to congratulate 
~ dous masturbation 
~ fè to lift weights 
~ je to blink; to wink; blink; wink; 
in the blink of an eye 
~ kat to tell s.o.'s fortune, read 
cards; to shuffle cards 
~ kata to beat hard (heart, drum 
etc.) 
~ ko to struggle, make an effort; 
to worry, fret, squirm; to look for 
trouble 
~ kôd to turn the rope (rope 
jumping) 
81 
bat - Batch 
~ kôk to engage in cockfighting 
- kou pitit madigra to beat the 
living daylights out of (s.o.) 
~ lakanpany to be dying 
- laponyèt to jerk off, masturbate 
- (ak) lavi to struggle, make an 
effort, do what one can 
- lavil to wander around town 
~ lokobe to persevere 
~ men to clap, applaud 
~ minwi to study hard 
~ mizè to have a very hard time 
- nan van to flap in the wind 
(flag etc.) 
~ nay(t) to be a night owl; to stay 
out late; to work late at night 
~ ochan to give homage to 
~ ou your deal (cards) 
~ poje to blink 
~ pou to try hard to, do one's best 
to 
~ pou lavi to struggle for 
survival, struggle to make a living 
~ sak pay ki sou do bourik to 
aim at the wrong target, misaim 
~ tanbou to beat/play the drum; to 
hold a Voodoo service; to tap 
one's fingers (on table etc.) 
~ tanbou 1 li danse 1 pou ko 1 to 
answer one's own question; to 
laugh at one's own joke 
~ tè to loosen/turn over soil 
~ tenèb see tenèb 
~ tèt li to strive, try hard 
~ vant (yon moun) to make (s.o.) 
talk, pump (for information), 
worm secrets out of (s.o.) 
~ yon move koton to have a hard 
time of it, suffer greatly 
~ zèl li to flap its wings; to take 
off, get started; to leave, clear out 
nan yon (ti) - je in the blink of 
an eye 
pa ~ kô ou take it easy, don't 
worry; don't fidget! 
pa menm ~ je li to stare at, stare 
down 
san ~ je without batting an eye, 
unhesitatingly 
bata adv. almost; quasi, pseudo; n. 
bastard, illegitimate off-spring; 
var. of sandal; var. of mango; see 
monben ~ 
batado n. dike, small dam; cf. ladig 
bataklan see batanklan 
batalenbe n. sandal made from used 
tire rubber; old shoe 
batam: 
kôk ~ small fighting cock, bantam 
batan n. panel, leaf (of double door, 
shutters); (audio) speaker (of 
radio, hi fi etc.) 
pôt de ~ double door 
batanklan, baklanklan, 
bankankan, bantanklan, 
bataklan, batanklen n. junk, 
stuff 
batay n. battle, fight, struggle; v. to 
fight, battle 
kase - to engage in battle 
nan ~ in the thick of things 
pa nan ~ out of the running 
batayè n. fighter {fig. ); offensive 
and/or combative person; adj. 
combative, pugnacious, 
quarrelsome 
- kôk breeder/trainer of fighting 
cocks 
batayon n. battalion; troup, gang, 
bunch 
batba see bat ba 
batbouch n. confab, talk, lecture 
(fam.) 
Batch prop.n. Batsch 
82 
Batcheba - bato 
Zafè ~ Batsch Affair concerning 
German demands for indemnities 
and its navy's notable insult to 
Haiti, 1872 
Batcheba prop.n. [Bible] Bathsheba 
batdous n. masturbation 
bate v. to wear or provide shoes; to 
wear or provide stockings; to put 
on a wooden pack-saddle (on 
mule or donkey); adj. feathered 
on the legs (poultry) 
batè see batèz 
gran ~ master drummer 
Betèlprop.n. [Bible] Bethel 
Batèlmi prop.n. [Bible] 
Bartholomew 
batèm, batenm n. (Christian) 
baptism; blessing (of house, 
building etc.); inauguration 
(monument etc.); Voodoo 
consecration of persons, spirits, 
temples, drums, necklaces etc. 
non ~ Christian name; opening 
price (when bargaining) 
batèy n. labor camp (of Haitian 
cane-cutters in Dominican 
Republic) 
batèz, batè n. egg-beater, wire 
whisk; mixer 
batl v. to build, construct; to fix up 
~ ak to struggle with 
~ yon ak to draft, draw up 
(official document etc.) 
Batiboy prop.n. Bas-Petit-Borgne 
(2nd communal section of Port-
Margot, Dept. North) 
batik n. batik 
batiman n. large boat, ship, vessel 
~ an fè dlo to take a leak, urinate 
~ po pistach, ~ kal kwi flimsy 
craft, dinky little boat 
batis n./adj. Baptist; n. var. of mango 
Batis prop.n. Baptiste (Dept. 
Center) 
batisè nasyonal n. founder of the 
nation, national hero 
batisman n. construction (action); 
partially finished building; 
mansion; large building 
batistè n. birth certificate; 
acknowledgment of paternity; 
baptismal font; charter, 
constitution 
batize v. to baptize; to consecrate; to 
use or wear for the first time; to 
inaugurate; to take a little bit (of 
s.thg.); to serve as godfather or 
godmother; to serve as maid of 
honor or best man at a wedding 
~ (ak sèl) to sprinkle a little bit of 
salt 
~ debou slave baptized as an 
adult 
(tankou) sa ki pa ~ fool, imbecile 
batje v. to blink; to wink; n. blink; 
wink 
nan yon ~ in the blink of an eye, 
in an instant 
batman n. pulsation, throbbing; 
pulse; beat, stroke 
~ je blink (of eye) 
~ kè pulse, heartbeat; (heart) 
palpitations; tremor (of fear) 
~ (venn) pulse 
Batmann prop.n. Batman 
batmannkè see batman kè 
bato n. boat; large ship 
~ avwal sailboat 
~ degè, ~ gè, ~ lagè warship 
- kabann, - li sleigh bed (var. of 
19th-century carved wooden bed) 
~ machandiz merchant ship, 
cargo ship 
~ sitèn oil tanker 
83 
baton - batwèl 
~ vwal sailing ship 
baton n. stick, club; staff, rod; 
baton; walking stick, cane; v. to 
beat (up), flog, club 
anba ~ under fire; with a beating, 
with a thrashing 
antre anba ~ to club, beat, thrash; 
to be clubbed, beaten, be whipped 
~ an chanje bout the tide of 
battle shifts, the advantage goes to 
the other side 
~ chôche African tulip tree, flame 
of the forest 
~ chokola chocolate bar 
~ jon baton of the leader of a 
bann rara 
~ ke tail, rear end 
~ koumbe spinal column 
~ lakre piece of chalk 
~ mayi corncob 
~ oblik slash (punct.) 
- pye tibia; cf. zo janm 
~ vyeyès child, hope for one's 
declining years 
bay ~ to beat (up), flog, club 
chanje ~ li bout to change 
strategy 
lage mete ~ sou, vide ~ sou to 
beat (up) 
manje pran ~ to receive a 
beating 
mete ~ nan wou to put a wrench 
in the works 
se menm kout ~ an it's the same 
old thing 
sou ~ to have to walk with a cane; 
with a beating, with a thrashing 
batonis n. var. of rara dance 
batonnen v. to beat (with a stick) 
batonnye, batonye n. Mardi Gras 
stick dancer; president of bar 
association (jur.) 
batos n. ballgame of Tainos 
batoto n. winter cherry, alkekengi 
(plant) 
Batousen Ie, Batousen 2e prop.n. 
Bas-Toussaint Ie, Bas-Toussaint 2e 
(communal sections of Petite-
Rivière-de-1'Artibonite, Dept. 
Artibonite) 
Batravil (Benwa, pronounced: Be-
nwa)prop.n. Batraville (Benoît) -
Caco leader after death of Péralte; 
killed 1920 
batri n. (ensemble of) drums, 
percussion; (ensemble of) pots 
and pans, kitchen utensils; battery 
(car etc.); evil fetish, ensemble of 
charms or spells (Voodoo); battery 
(imilit.) 
~ ba ups and downs (either 
physically or fig.) 
~ douzvol 12-volt battery (mach.) 
~ kizin kitchen utensils, 
kitchenware 
~ maskawon set of three drums 
(baka, zizipan, kata) used esp. at 
Carnival time 
~ masonnik special rhythm 
produced by clapping of hands 
and drum beat (Voodoo) 
~ sivol 6-volt battery (mach.) 
~ sono fife and drum corps; bugle 
and drum corps 
kout ~ evil spell or fetish 
(Voodoo) 
pa gen ~ impotent 
batriba adj. inactive, idle, dormant 
batrimann n. electrician 
batwèl, batwa, batwè n. paddle 
(used in washing clothes); dick, 
cock (penis) 
~ figi face 
~ jenou kneecap, patella; cf. zo 
84 
jenou 
- machwè jaw 
bav n. saliva; slobber, drivel; see 
bave 
pase ~ sou yon moun to slander 
s.o. 
bavade v. to chatter, prattle, jabber 
bavant n. abdomen 
bave, bav n. slobber; v. to slobber, 
drool 
~ bouch drool, slobber, saliva; cf. 
krache 
bavèt n. bib 
Bavôldwôg prop.n. Bas-Voldrogue 
(communal section of Dept. 
Grand'Anse) 
bavôtay n. spill, mess, slosh 
bavôte v. to dirty up, make sloppy 
baw! onomat. bang! 
bawo n. bar, legal association; 
bar(s) (prison, cage); rung (of 
ladder or chair) 
bawobab n. baobab (tree) 
bawôk adj. coarse, vulgar, crude; 
slipshod, slovenly 
bawomèt n. barometer 
bawon n. grave-digger; small 
wooden carving balanced on a 
single point; baron 
gwo ~ big shot, bigwig 
Bawon prop.n. Bahon (Dept. 
North); see Bawon Samdi 
Bawon Samdi, Bawon Lakwa, 
Bawon Sanmdi, Bawon Simityè, 
Mèt Senmityè, Mèt Simityè, 
Twa Pèl, Twa Pikwa, Twa Wou 
prop.n. Baron Saturday (important 
Voodoo spirit of death and 
cemeteries) 
bawon n. plant of southern Haiti 
used for feeding domestic animals 
(same as yapokonn) 
bav - bay 
Bawonè prop.n. Bawonèz fprop.n. 
inhabitant of Bahon (Dept. North) 
Baworiko, Bayoriko (mon) prop.n. 
Baoruco (mountains) (Dominican 
Republic) 
Bawouk prop.n. (Apocrypha) 
Baruch 
bay n. lease; tub; vat; bushel 
(measure); adj. bay, reddish-
brown 
bay, ba, ban v. (ba is used before 
ou/w, li/ni and yo; ban before 
m(wen) and n(ou); and bay in all 
other constructions) to give, 
provide, supply; to give for, pay 
for; to contribute; to hand over; to 
let, permit; to cause; to offer, 
present; to give off; to deal 
(cards); to pass (blood, worms 
etc.); to produce, yield; to 
accomplish; to tell (story, joke, 
riddle); to denounce, betray; to 
give (s.o.) away to the devil 
(Voodoo); to reach (when 
comparing heights or lengths); to 
empty (an area); prep, for; at; see 
bayo 
ban m (fè yon bagay) let me (do 
s.thg.) 
ban m kay mwen! get out of my 
house! 
ban m la a! scram! get out! 
ban m(wen) m a ba ou you 
scratch my back and I'll scratch 
yours; fair give-and-take, 
reciprocity 
ban m pase let me pass, let me 
through 
ban m tèt mwen! leave me alone! 
ban m zôrèy mwen! give me 
some peace and quiet! 
bay a di to cause talk, be criticized 
85 
bay - bayé 
bay anba to (offer as a) bribe 
bay bay baya what's given is 
given and not to be returned; there 
is a policy of no-return 
bay bèk to rebuff, snub 
bay (yon kote) blanch to get out, 
clear out of (some place) 
bay bon jan to be nice/ 
welcoming/ hospitable 
bay bouch li manje to control 
one's tongue, be cautious of what 
one is saying 
bay bwa ni pou boulanje ni pou 
dray to beat, swear at, give (s.o.) 
hell 
bay bwè person who waters 
livestock 
bay devan to let s.o. go first; to 
give a handicap or advantage to 
bay dèyè to add money into the 
deal (when bartering) 
bay dèyè li de tap see bay ko... 
bay dèyè li van to sit around 
doing nothing 
bay do to turn one's back on; to 
leave behind, forsake, abandon; to 
be away 
bay domi to put (s.o.) up for the 
night 
bay Dye san konfesyon to try to 
fool s.o. 
bay fè to have s.thg. done; to have 
s.thg. made 
bay kat to hang around, drift 
about, loiter 
bay kenbe to put s.o. on, deceive, 
mislead 
bay kô/dèyè li de tap to get 
oneself going, get the lead out, get 
a move on 
bay moun kenbe anyen pou li 
not to care 
86 
bay nan to look onto, lead out 
into (building etc.) 
bay nan do see bay do 
bay ranje to have repaired 
bay sou to look out over, have a 
view on, face 
bay tè a to depart this earth, die; 
to leave 
bay yon moun kenbe to give s.o. 
s.thg.; to tell s.o. s.thg. 
bay yon sekrè to reveal a secret 
Kisa 1 ap bay? What's become of 
him/her? 
pa bay nwit la not to last/make it 
through the night, die 
pa bay (yon moun) fè anyen 
pou li, pa bay pote gaz pou li, 
pa bay pote senk kôb sèl pou li 
to have no dealings with, have no 
connection with 
baya n. usurer; lender 
bayakou, baakou, barakou n. 
person who cleans privies or 
outhouses; morning star 
Bayamas see Baamas 
Bayara, Bay aha prop.n. Bayaha 
(2nd communal section of Fort-
Liberté, Dept. North-East; name 
of Fort-Liberté during the Taïno 
Arawak and Spanish periods) 
bayawonn, bayahonn n. mesquite 
(shrub or small tree) 
~ dezè var. of mesquite 
~ wouj acacia (shrub or small 
tree) 
baye n. yawn; v. to yawn; to open 
wide; to be hungry; adj. wide-
open 
Baye prop.n. Bay eux (Dept. North) 
bayé see baryè 
~ (de) fon international donor 
community 
Bayèboutèy - bè 
Bayèboutèy prop.n. Barrière-
Bouteille (entrance to Cape 
Haitian; disadvantaged area of 
Cape Haitian, Dept. North) 
bayila n. dance; v. to dance 
bayo! interj. do it!; give it to 'em!; 
heave ho! 
Bayo (zile) prop.n. Bay au Island 
(small isle in Fort-Liberté Bay, 
former buccaneer site, Dept. 
North-East) 
Bayon see Balon 
Bayonè prop.n., Bayonèz f.prop.n. 
inhabitant of Bahon (Dept. North) 
Bayonè (Fô) prop.n. Fort-des-
Bayonnais (Dept. Artibonite) 
bayonèt see bayonnèt 
bayonn n. gag, muzzle 
bayonnen v. to gag, muzzle 
bayonnèt, bayonèt n. bayonet; 
penis of animal; var. of plantain 
~ pengwen pinguin (var. of 
cactus) 
poko renmèt ~ to still be hanging 
in there, not yet have given up the 
ghost 
tan ~ olden times; period shortly 
preceding the 1915-34 American 
Occupation of Haiti 
Bayoriko see Baworiko 
Baytouribprop.n. Baille-Tourrible 
(3rd communal section of 
Thomonde, Dept. Center) 
baz n. base; basis, foundation; 
military base 
de ~ basic; grassroots (level, 
organization etc.) 
jete ~ to set up base 
baza n. grocery store, variety store 
bazaj: 
an ~ very young, of tender years 
bazal(t) n. basalt 
bazann n. sheepskin, parchment 
Bazatibonitprop.n. Lower or 
Southern Artibonite 
baze (sou) v. to base (upon), be 
based (upon) 
bazik adj. [Eng.] basic, elementary; 
cf. fondalnatal 
Bazil (Kastera)prop.n. Bazile 
(Castera) - Haitian painter (3 
murals in Holy Trinity Episcopal 
Cathedral, PaP), 1923-1965 
bazilik n. sweet basil; basilica 
~ gran fèy sweet marjoram (herb) 
ti ~ var. of sweet basil (ocimum 
minimum) 
bazou n. broken-down cart 
bazoudi v. to diminish; to depress, 
sadden; adj. small and skinny 
(animal) 
bazouka n. bazooka 
be (letter) b 
chwal ~ reddish-brown or bay 
horse 
li pa ~ li pa se, li pa di ~ ni se 
(s)he didn't say a word 
ni ~ ni se nothing 
pa gen ~ pa gen se to be 
penniless 
pa nan ~ pa nan se innocent, 
uninvolved; straightforward; to 
make no special consideration 
rete bouch ~ to be dumbfounded; 
to have a blank expression 
bè n. butter; margarine; bay, cove; 
bleat (goat's or sheep's cry) 
baton ~ stick of butter 
~ chalone/chalonè/chalonèl 
cooking butter 
~ di No Baie du Nord (near 
Labadie, Dept. North) 
~ Gran Pyè Baie de Grand-Pierre 
(south of Gonaïves, Dept. 
87 
bè - Bèdoranj 
Artibonite) 
~ jôn shit, dung, manure 
~ Lakil Baie de l'Acul 
(immediately north of Acul-du-
Nord, Dept. North) 
~ Latoti Baie de la Tortue 
(immediately south of Gonaïves, 
Dept. Artibonite) 
~ nan je sleep, eye matter 
bol ~ pot of gold, end of the 
rainbow 
mete chat veye ~ to err, make an 
error in judgment; to ask for 
trouble 
mete plis ~ pase mantèg to 
exaggerate 
ti ~ Petit Beurre biscuits 
wan ~ wan mantèg nothing gets 
done 
bebe n. baby (attractive woman); 
smallest of the three Rada drums 
(Voodoo) - same as boula; see 
tibebe 
~ chochôt painfully shy person, 
tongue-tied person 
Bebe Dôk, Bebi Dôk Baby Doc, 
fam. name for Jean-Claude 
Duvalier (born 1951, president of 
Haiti, 1971-1986) 
~ lèt weak or flabby baby 
~ pwogram party girl 
gran ~ woman with high-placed 
connections 
ti ~ baby, infant 
bèbè, baba n./adj. mute 
rete ~ devan to be dumbstruck 
bèbèl, bèlbèl n. beauty; decor; 
decoration, ornament 
fè ~ to decorate; to improve, 
beautify 
fè ~ ak to go out of one's way to 
please or be kind to s.o. 
bebi n. [Eng.] babe, cutie, honey 
(term of endearment for young 
woman) 
Bebi Dôk see Bebe Dôk 
bebidôl n. babydoll, short négligé, 
nightgown 
bebisit v. [Eng.] to baby-sit 
fè ~ to baby-sit 
bebisitè n. [Eng.] baby-sitter 
bèch n. spade (tool) 
bèchadan n. pickax 
bechamèl: 
sôs ~ béchamel sauce, white or 
cream sauce (butter, flour, and 
milk or cream) 
beche v. to spade, turn over soil 
bechè n. beaker (chem.) 
Bèchebaprop.n. [Bible] Beersheba 
Bèd (kolèj) prop.n. Nouveau 
Collège Bird (PaP) 
BÈD acron. Biwo Elektoral 
Depatmantal - Departmental 
Electoral Office 
bedàn n. joint chisel 
bèd dlo n. var. of bird 
Bedè, Defile, Ponbedè, Ponbedèt 
prop.n. Pont-Beudet (Dept. West); 
Défilée de Pont-Beudet 
psychiatric hospital 
Bèdehèn, Bè de Èn, Bedehèn, 
Bedèn, Bèdeyèn, Bèdeyenn 
prop.n. Baie-de-Henne (Dept. 
North-West) 
Bèdèmoustik prop.n. Baie-des-
Moustiques (Dept. North-West) 
bedeng see bendeng 
Bèdimèl prop.n. Baie-Dumerle, 
Baie-Dumesle (2nd communal 
section of Saint-Louis-du-Sud, 
Dept. South) 
Bedjin see Bejin 
Bèdoranj prop.n. Baie-d'Orange 
88 
bèèè -Bejin(g) 
(1st communal section of Belle-
Anse, Dept. South-East) 
bèèè onomat. bleat, bleating (cry of 
goat or sheep) 
Beèlzeboul, Beèizeboub see 
Bèlzeboul 
bèf n. bull; ox; cow, steer; cattle; 
beef; big shot, important person; 
var. of mango 
bay ~ pou kabrit to sell one's 
birthright for a pot of cabbage 
- angle breed of cattle 
~ chenn helper on a truck; 
stevedore, longshoreman; 
herdsman 
- kabwèt ox used for pulling 
wagons etc. 
- lanmè var. of fish 
~ mo je buffalo 
~ pa latche chenn pa latèt busy, 
on the go, on the run 
- pou wa savann pou wa it's all 
the same, it's all related; no harm 
done 
~ pye girl-shy man, guy who gets 
nowhere with women 
~ rada ritual Voodoo name for a 
bull with reddish or white-
speckled hide 
~ san ke defenseless 
~ sipa buffalo 
~ trenè plow ox 
~ woulè ox used in sugarcane 
crushing 
fè ti ~ to perform cunnilingus 
gazèl ~ heifer, young cow 
jenn ~ steer 
manman ~ (milk) cow 
sa ki soti anba bouch ~ very 
rumpled, very wrinkled (clothes) 
sanble/pôtre moun ~ bat dimwit, 
dummy, stoop 
ti ~ calf; cunnilingus 
towo ~ bull 
vyann ~ beef 
bèg n. stammer, stutter; stammerer, 
stutterer; bag, suitcase (cf. Eng. 
bag) 
maladi ~ stammering, stuttering 
bega, labega n. penis of ox; dish 
prepared essentially with same 
begamôt n. [£] tangerine 
bege, begeye to stutter, stammer 
begè, begeyè n. stammerer, stutterer 
~ kou bouk kabrit to be an 
inveterate stammerer 
bègè see pate 
begèl n. bagel 
begi n. ritual Voodoo name for a 
goat 
begle v. to moo, low; to bellow, roar 
bègleman n. mooing; bellowing, 
roaring 
Begonn prop.n. Baygon (brand 
name of popular insecticide) 
begonya (pronounced: bego-nya) n. 
[bot.] begonia 
begoun n. var. of small saltwater 
fish 
bègwè n. dimwit, dummy; adj. 
dumbfounded, flabbergasted, 
stunned; v. to deceive by playing 
dumb 
begyè n. [Fr.] fritter 
beheng see bereng 
bèj n. bank (of river, stream); adj. 
beige; see Bèlj 
bèje n. shepherd (pastor; 
sheepherder); cf. gadyen mouton 
~ alman German Shepherd Dog 
bèjè f.n. shepherdess 
bèjèn, bèjenn see berejèn 
Bejin(g), Bedjin, Beyijin(g) prop.n. 
Beijing, Peking (China) 
89 
bèk - beki 
bèk n. beak, bill; snout, trap, kisser; 
visor; nozzle; kiss (cf . bo); 
foreskin, prepuce; rebuff; see (sèl) 
kok 
bay (yon) ~ to rebuff; to get mad 
at (s.o.) 
~ anplis ace, expert, hotshot 
~ atè defeatist; submissive; 
completely down, bad off 
~ chèch empty-handed 
~ (de) lyèv harelip, cleft lip; cleft 
palate 
~ fè sucker, fool 
~ fen gourmet; choosy about 
one's food 
~ fwenn var. of salt-water fish 
~ kafetyè prepuce, foreskin 
~ kwaze crossbill (bird) 
~ tôch electrode welding holder 
fè ~ to turn upward (toe of shoe) 
fè ~ atè to bite the dust, fail; to be 
discouraged; to be losing; to give 
up 
fè gwo ~ to score points, make 
progress; to fight hard 
fè yon ~ to try one's luck; to be 
successful 
mete (li) ~ atè to floor, 
overwhelm (s.o.); to defeat (s.o.); 
to ruin, destroy; to surprise, 
nonplus (s.o.) 
pase ~ chèch to pass unnoticed 
rann ~ to be overwhelmed, be 
overcome, be defeated 
rete ~ chèch to be left out, be left 
high and dry; to stay still 
BÈK acron. Biwo Elektoral 
Kominal (Communal Electoral 
Office) 
beka n. natural (sign in music) 
an ~ ou an bemôl no matter how 
bèkalo adv. red-handed, in the act 
90 
rete ~ to remain quiet 
bekàn n. bike, bicycle 
bekanbôl n. clodhoppers, inelegant 
shoes 
bekasin n. sandpiper 
~ bèk long long-beaked sandpiper 
~ blan sanderling 
~ dlo dous solitary sandpiper 
~ fal nwa pectoral sandpiper 
~ fran var. of sandpiper 
~ janm jon yellowlegs chorlo 
~ janm long stilt sandpiper 
~ ke blan white-tailed sandpiper 
~ zèl blan willet chorlo 
~ zèl tranble spotted sandpiper 
gwo ~ janm jôn pectoral 
sandpiper 
ti - bèk long Western sandpiper 
ti ~ janm nwa semi-palmated 
sandpiper 
ti ~ piti var. of sandpiper 
bèkatè n. defeatist; adj. submissive 
fè ~ to fall flat on one's face, fail 
beke v. to peck (at); to manage, 
cope, deal with; to snap at, bite; to 
snap at, answer rudely, snub; to 
hesitate (in speaking) 
~ plim li to misbehave 
bèkèkè adj. dumbfounded, 
flabbergasted, speechless; stupid, 
idiotic; empty-handed 
~ mannwèl totally empty-handed 
fè ~ to pull down on lower eyelid 
as a sign of mockery 
rete ~ to gawk, gape, stare 
stupidly 
sôti ~ to come out empty-handed 
bèkèkèy n. empty-handedness 
beki, bekin, bekiy n. crutch 
mache sou ~ to advance slowly or 
haltingly 
sou ~ in a bad way, bad off 
bekin - Bèlfontèn 
bekin barracuda (fish); see beki 
djôl ~ protruding jaw 
beko n. kiss 
bekonn n. bacon 
bekounaba: 
pa konn ~ nan fèy malanga /nan 
yon bagay not to know diddly-
squat (about s.thg.) 
bèl adj. attractive, beautiful, 
handsome, good-looking, cute; 
fine, lovely, great; nice, pretty; 
adv. real, really, very 
~ anpil splendid, magnificent 
~ devan superficial good looks 
Bèl Olandès La Belle Hollandaise 
(evaporated milk) 
fè ~ to be kind, do s.thg. nice; to 
stand up without support (baby); 
to progress; to be pregnant 
fè ~ maladi to be pregnant 
se great! bravo! 
yon ~ bout/distans a good little 
distance, a great/long distance 
Beladè, Bèladè prop.n. Belladère 
(Dept. Center) 
~/Elyaspin Belladère/Elias Pina 
(important border crossing) 
Beladewa prop.n., Beladewaz 
f.prop.n. inhabitant of Belladère 
(Dept. Center) 
beladonn, beladôn n. belladonna, 
deadly nightshade 
Belanjeprop.n. Bélanger (2nd 
communal section of Verrettes, 
Dept. Artibonite) 
Bèlans, Saltwou prop.n. Belle-Anse 
(Dept. South-East) 
Bèlanswa, Bèlansyen prop.n., 
Bèlanswaz, Belansyèn f.prop.n. 
inhabitant of Belle-Anse (Dept. 
South-East) 
bèlantre n. (triumphal) arch, town 
portal; wide gap between (front) 
teeth 
Belaris prop.n. Belarus; prop.n./adj. 
Belarussian 
bèlbèl see bèbèl 
Bèlchaza prop.n. [Bible] Belshazzar 
bèldenwi {pronounced: bèlde-nwi) 
n. four-o'clock (flower); morning-
glory, moonflower 
bèldriv adv. assuredly, surely; long 
ago 
bele v. to bleat (cry of sheep or goat) 
Bèlè, Belèprop.n. Bel-Air 
(disadvantaged area of PaP; 5th 
communal section of Belle-Anse, 
Dept. South-East; 6th communal 
section of Les Irois, Dept. 
Grand'Anse) 
Belekouprop.n. disadvantaged area 
of Site Solèy (q.v.) 
bèlen n. small sore or cut 
Bèlenprop.n. Berlin (Germany) 
~ Ès East Berlin 
- Wès West Berlin 
bèletwal, bèletwèl f.n. girl with 
quite liberal morals 
belewou see balawou 
Bèlfas prop.n. Belfast (Northern 
Ireland) 
bèlfî f.n. daughter-in-law; 
stepdaughter 
Bèlfas prop.n. Belfast (Northern 
Ireland) 
Bèlfontèn prop.n. Belle-Fontaine 
(4th communal section of 
Kenscoff, Dept. West) 
Bèlfontèn Ieprop.n. Belle-Fontaine 
I e r (1st communal section of 
Croix-des-Bouquets, Dept. West) 
Bèlfontèn 2 e prop.n. Belle-Fontaine 
2e (2nd communal section of 
Croix-des-Bouquets, Dept. West) 
91 
Bèlfontèn - Bènagous 
Bèlfontèn 3 e prop.n. Belle-Fontaine 
3 e (3rd communal section of 
Croix-des-Bouquets, Dept. West) 
Bèlgad (Dantès) prop.n. Bellegarde 
(Dantès) - Haitian diplomat and 
writer (1877-1966) 
Bèlgrad prop.n. Belgrade 
(Yugoslavia) 
Bèli prop.n. Berly (21st communal 
section of Carrefour, Dept. West) 
belijeran n. belligerent, rebel; adj. 
rebellious 
Bèlits prop.n. Berlitz 
Beliz prop.n. Belize 
belizè see kongo 
Bèlj, Bèj prop.n./adj. Belgian 
Belkouprop.n. Belle-Cour 
(disadvantaged area of Cité-
Soleil, PaP) 
Bèljik, Labèljikprop.n. Belgium 
bèlman adv. gently, moderately 
bèlmè f.n. mother-in-law; 
stepmother 
se pa pou bon ~ pou m bobo 
makomè bouch pyan I won't do 
a disgusting thing like that just to 
make s.o. happy 
Bèlmè prop.n. La-Belle-Mère (2nd 
communal section of Pignon, 
Dept. North) 
bèlpave n. var. of fish 
Bèlrivyè, Grannrivyè prop.n. 
Belle-Rivière (2nd communal 
section of Miragoâne, Dept. 
Grand'Anse) 
bèlsè, bèlsb f.n. sister-in-law; 
stepsister 
bèltan adv. a long time 
bèlte, labèlte n. beauty; splendor, 
magnificence 
fè ~ ak yon moun to receive s.o. 
with sympathy and attention 
bèlton n. propriety, decorum 
Bèlvi prop.n. Bellevue (2nd 
communal section of Aquin, Dept. 
South) 
Sèk ~ Cercle Bellevue (famous 
social club of the Haitian elite, 
PaP) 
Bèlvi le prop.n. Bellevue 1er (3rd 
communal section of Delmas, 
Dept. West) 
Bèlvi 2 e prop.n. Bellevue 2e (4th 
communal section of Delmas, 
Dept. West) 
Bèlvi Chadonyè prop.n. Bellevue-
Chardonnières (7th communal 
section of Pétion-Ville, Dept. 
West) 
Bèlvi Montay prop.n. Bellevue-la-
Montagne (4th communal section 
of Pétion-Ville, Dept. West) 
bèlwotè adj. tall 
Belyalprop.n. [Bible] Satan 
belye n. ram; Aries (zodiac) 
~ kabrit especially large male 
goat 
bèlzanmi n. (bot.) touch-me-not 
bèlzebii, bèlzebit n. demon, devil, 
satan 
Bèlzeboul, Beèlzeboub, Beèlzeboul 
prop.n. [Bible] Beelzebub, Satan 
Bèmid prop.n. Bermuda 
bemol n. flat (music accidental) 
ben n. bath, shower; see beny; byen 
bèn: 
mete drapo an ~ to fly flag at 
half-mast (as sign of mourning) 
Bèn prop.n. Bern (Switzerland) 
bèna v. to lose 
Bèna prop.n. Bernard 
Bènadèt fprop.n. Bernadette 
Bènagous prop.n. Bernagousse (1st 
communal section of Pestel, Dept. 
Q? 
benbo - benmari 
Grand'Anse) 
benbo see tan 
bendeng, bedeng n. potbelly, 
paunch 
bendezeng n. joy, gaiety 
bendezwèl see benezwèl 
bendmè n. swim or bath in sea 
bendouk n. pregnancy 
mare yon ~ to get knocked up 
(become pregnant) 
Benè, Bene, Bènè prop.n. Bainet -
founded 1778 (Dept. South-East) 
benediksyon, bennediksyon n. 
blessing; benediction; grace, 
prayer of thanks; approval 
Benediktin ecc. prop.n. Benedictine 
benefakto n. [Eng.] benefactor, 
sponsor 
beneflk adj. beneficial 
benefîs n. profit; benefit, gain 
beneflsye v. to benefit, profit 
benefîsyè n. beneficiary, recipient 
benen {pronounced: ben-en) see 
benyen 
Benen, Bennen, Dawome, 
Dawonmen prop.n. Benin 
Benennwa, Beninwa, Bennenwa 
prop.n./adj., Benennwaz, 
Beninwaz, Bennenwaz f.prop.n. 
Beninese 
Benesyen, Beneswa prop.n 
Benesyèn, Beneswaz f.prop.n. 
inhabitant of Bainet (Dept. South-
East) 
benevôl adj. voluntary, unpaid; non-
profit; benevolent, generous, 
altruistic; n. unpaid helper or 
worker 
benevola n. voluntary help 
benevôlman adv. as a volunteer, 
without pay 
benezwèl, bendezwèl, benezè, 
benndezwèl adj. nasty, disgusting 
(kôk) ~ Venezuelan fighting cock 
(without feather on neck, crop or 
legs); skinny person 
maladi ~ var. of poultry disease 
beng! onomat. ding-dong! (sound of 
bell); sound of any loud metallic 
noise 
kou/depi twazè fè - at three 
o'clock on the dot 
bengal see alimèt 
bengbang see bingbang 
Bengladèch, Bangladèch prop.n. 
Bangladesh 
Bengladèchi prop.n./adj. 
Bangladeshi 
bengo n. bingo 
beni v. to bless, consecrate 
~ bag quiet unpublicized wedding 
Beninwa, Beninwaz see 
Benennwa, Benennwaz 
benis see Dye ebenis 
benison n. chant during food 
offering for the dead (Voodoo) 
beniswa...! interj. blessed be...! 
praise...! 
benisye, benitye, bennisye, 
bennitye n. holy-water basin; 
baptismal font 
benit: 
dlo ~ holy water 
latè ~ blessed earth 
benitye see benisye 
beniwiwi n. yes man, subservient 
person 
benjamen n. benjamin plug (mach.) 
Benjamen prop.n. Benjamin 
Benlat prop.n. Benlate (var. of 
fungicide) 
benlengendeng n. junk, rubbish, 
useless possessions 
benmari n. steamer (for cooking) 
93 
benmbo - berejèn 
benmbo see bimbo 
benn n. favor, advantage; profit; v. 
to bend; to beat up 
~ ak to fill with 
benndezwèl see benezwèl 
benndoliv see bennzoliv 
bennediksyon see benediksyon 
Bennen see Benen 
Bennenwa see Benennwa 
Bennge prop.n. Bengay 
bennisye, bennitye see benisye 
bennzoliv, benndoliv, benzoliv n. 
horseradish tree, drumstick tree 
benwa (pronounced: be-nwa), 
bennwa, benywa (pronounced: 
be-nywa), beywa n. bathtub; 
washtub, laundry tub 
Benwa (pronounced: Be-nwa) 
(Rigo) prop.n. Benoit (Rigaud) -
Haitian painter ("Nativity" in 
Holy Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, 
PaP), 1911-1987 
beny (pronounced: ben-y) n. bath, 
shower; ritual protective Voodoo 
bath; any rubbing on the body of 
magic liquids for good health or 
luck 
~ bouch mouthwash 
~ chans bath or any rubbing on 
the body of magic liquids for 
good health or luck 
~ cho hot bath (esp. after giving 
birth) 
~ fèy ritual bath (Voodoo); herbal 
bath 
~ lanmè, ~ mè swim (in sea) 
~ pot sponge bath 
- san blood bath 
~ santi foul-smelling bath to ward 
off evil spirits (Voodoo) 
~ vapè herbal bath 
pran yon ~ foul to mingle with 
the crowd 
benye n. (pronounced be-nye) 
fritter 
benyè (pronounced: ben-yè) n. 
undertaker; washer of corpses; 
fritter 
benyen (pronounced: ben-yen), 
benen v. to bathe, be bathed; to 
soak in; to steep in; to flood; to 
cover; n. banana fritter; adj. 
involved in Voodoo; n. bathing 
~ ak biswit leta to stone, pelt, 
lapidate 
- ak kout kokomakak to club or 
beat repeatedly 
~ chen to perform a lowly task; to 
be in dire financial straits 
~ kache lonbrit to work 
underhandedly 
~ kè to beat soundly, trounce, get 
the best of (in a game) 
~ nan gwo dlo to be well 
protected (thanks to Voodoo 
powers, or social and business 
connections) 
~ nan labou to wallow in the mud 
~ nan lajan to have money to 
burn 
~ nan lwil to be rolling in clover, 
have it made, be well-off 
byen - to be well protected 
(thanks to Voodoo powers) 
benywa see benwa 
benzin n. benzene 
benzoliv see bennzoliv 
bere v. to butter; to pamper, spoil 
berè n. beret; surgeon's cap 
berejèn, bèjèn, bèjenn, berejenn 
n. eggplant; woman able to bear 
only one child 
~ mawon wild eggplant 
(inedible), berengena 
94 
bereng - bèt 
bereng, beheng, beren adj. coat of 
an animal containing more than 
one color (usu. horse or ox) 
bèri n. buttery, creamery 
beril n. beryl 
bèrings n. (ball) bearings (mach.) 
bèrye n. butter dish 
bès n. decrease, decline 
an ~ faltering, going downhill; 
decreasing; in decline 
bese v. to crouch, bend down, squat; 
to lower, go down; to fall, 
decrease; to bow, stoop; to 
diminish, decline, wind down, 
reduce; to become emaciated; to 
deteriorate; to lower, lessen, 
humble; to turn down, lower 
(radio etc.); to rock, cradle; n. 
decline, lowering 
~ bra li to let down one's 
defenses 
~ devan koehon to have the shits 
or trots 
~ lebra/lèbra to let down one's 
defenses, give up the fight 
~ leve somewhat menial part-time 
occupation or activity; household 
chores; to bustle about, be busy; 
busy, eventful; animated, lively 
~ moun to disparage s.o. 
~ tèt li to bow; to lower oneself, 
degrade oneself 
bèse v. to rock, cradle 
Beseje, B.C.G acron. BCG vaccine 
(against tuberculosis) 
bèsèz, bèsez n. rocking-chair 
besment, bezment n. [Eng.] 
basement 
bèso n. cradle, crib 
bèt n. animal, beast, creature; cattle; 
insect, bug; knowledge, learning; 
adj. ill-mannered, rude; stupid, 
dumb 
bat - to study hard 
~ akrekre nuisance, annoyance 
~ anlè witch, sorceress; cf. 
lougawou 
~ ap vole the teaching is intense 
~ Bondye ladybug 
~ chay beast of burden, drudge; 
helper on a truck (cf. bèf chenn) 
~ dlo sealife (includes all sea 
creatures) 
~ kay, - domestik, ~ dou, ~ 
dous, ~ lakou domestic animal; 
pet 
~ koton var. of insect 
~ lanmè seafood 
~ lanp masked chafer (insect) 
~ lawouze early bird, early riser 
~ nen long, - bouch long, - dyol 
long, - labou pig, hog; unfeeling, 
heartless 
~ nwa [Fr.] one's pet hate or pet 
peeve 
~ pwa var. of insect 
~ seren nocturnal animal; any 
animal which sleeps outside at 
night (horse, ox etc.); night owl 
(person); soldier, guard (on night 
duty) 
~ sèt tèt dis kôn (apocalyptic) 
monster 
~ titèt, ~ volaj, ~ volay poultry, 
fowl 
~ (a) zèl witch, sorceress; cf. 
lougawou 
- zonbi pete sou li out of it, 
disoriented, senile 
bon ~ knowledge, information; 
sure value, good thing 
fè ~ to swarm; to be plentiful, 
abound; to be spoiled, be full of 
bugs 
95 
bèt - Bewo 
gen ~ to be sharp, know one's 
stuff, be well educated 
kraze ~ (li) to study hard 
lage bon ~ atè to deliver 
convincing evidence, make a good 
point 
loray fè ~ to be a violent 
thunderstorm 
mete bon ~ sou ou! get down to 
the books! study hard! 
pran ~ to copy, cheat (on test); to 
deepen one's knowledge 
pran gwo ~ to do advanced study 
ti ~ bug, insect 
tout ~ all kinds and all 
persuasions; s.o. capable of both 
good and bad 
betaiajan n. var. of insect 
Betaniprop.n. [Bible] Bethany 
betay n. cattle, livestock 
bètazèl n. flying insect 
bètchay n. beast of burden 
Bète prop.n. Berthé (section of 
Pétion-Ville) 
betiz n. silliness, foolishness, 
kidding, nonsense; obscenity, 
profanity, dirty word, curse word; 
vulgar joke or saying; stupidity, 
blunder 
di ~ to curse, swear, cuss; to talk 
dirty 
fè ~ to do s.thg. stupid, make a 
blunder 
machann ~ foul-mouthed person 
mete nan pase nan ~ to make 
fun of, tease; to bluff, mislead 
betize v. to joke, kid (around); to 
talk or act foolishly; to work in 
vain, accomplish nothing; to 
deceive 
~ ak to ridicule, make fun of 
betizè, betizyè n. joker, kidder, jerk 
Betleyèm, Bètleyèmprop.n. [Bible] 
Bethlehem 
bètman adv. stupidly 
betomat n. political demonstrator 
béton, breton n. pavement, road 
surface; concrete, cement, mortar; 
sidewalk; adj. grassroots 
(political) 
aprann sou ~ to learn on the job, 
learn by doing 
~ ame reinforced concrete 
- an cho things are hot, many 
political demonstrations are taking 
place 
koule ~ to pour cement, lay 
concrete 
pran ~ (an), bay presyon 
desann sou ~ an, okipe ~ an, 
travay sou ~ (an) to demonstrate 
(for political or social cause), take 
to the streets 
sou ~ in the streets; in the 
business; out of work 
betonis, betonnis n. demonstrator 
(for political or social cause) 
betonnay n. asphalting (process); 
cementing (process) 
betonnen, bretonnen v. to lay 
concrete; to pave 
betonnis see betonis 
betonnyè n. cement mixer 
Bètran prop.n. Bertrand 
bètrav see bètwouj 
Betsaydaprop.n. [Bible] Bethsaida 
bètvenn n. var. of fish 
bètwouj, bètrav n. beet 
~ detwa Detroit dark red beet 
~ èli wonndè early wonder beet 
bevi n. blunder, mistake, slip 
fè ~ to blunder 
bèvitre n. bay window 
Bewo prop.n. Berrault (2nd 
96 
bewôm - bidip 
communal section of Torbeck, 
Dept. South) 
bewom n. tough guy 
bewonm n. bay rum (lotion) 
Bewout prop.n. Beirut (Lebanon) 
beyatifikasyon n. beatification 
beyatifye v. (ecc.) to beatify 
Beyijin(g) see Bejin 
beyisans adj. obedient 
beywa see benwa 
bezbol, bisbôl, bizbôl n. baseball 
beze n. [Fr.] kiss; v. to kiss 
~ tè kissing of the ground (sign of 
Voodoo respect and submission) 
bèzè see bôzô 
Bezenprop.n. Bézin (4th communal 
section of Petite-Rivière-de-
Nippes, Dept. Grand'Anse) 
Bezenwa {pronounced: Be-ze-nwa) 
prop.n., Bezenwaz {pronounced: 
Be-ze-nwaz) f.prop.n. inhabitant 
of Baie-de-Henne (Dept. North-
West) 
bezig, bezik n. bezique (card game) 
bezment see besment 
bezwen, bizwen n. need; want; 
genitals; excrement; v. to need; to 
want 
fè ~ (li) to go to the bathroom 
ti ~ genitals of small boy 
bi n. aim, goal, objective, purpose; 
goal, point (sports); target; lottery 
number; log (wood); prefix bi-; 
see biy 
BI acron. Biwo Enskripsyon 
(Bureau d'Inscription) Voter 
Registration Office 
Bib prop.n. Bible 
bibi n. biceps, upper arm; adj. 
ailing, unwell (baby talk); see 
bibit 
mare ~ to flex or show off one's 
muscles 
bibikrankran n. pain in the neck, 
pest, nuisance (person) 
bibit n. bicep; (sexual) erection 
~ sou yôyôt every last thing 
biblik adj. biblical; in accordance 
with the Bible 
lekol ~ Protestant seminary 
bibliyografi n. bibliography 
bibliyografik adj. bibliographical 
bibliyotèk, biblyotèk n. library; 
book-case 
bibliyotekè n. librarian 
biblo n. treasure, person to be 
revered; knickknack, trinket, curio 
biblyotèk see bibliyotèk 
bibon, bibwon n. baby bottle 
bich n. chunk, piece; log (wood); 
see bitch 
biehe n. wood-pile; stake, funeral 
pyre 
bichèt, jebichèt, zebichèt n. 
winnow, winnowing tray 
bichi! interj. All in vain! No way! 
Nothing doing! 
bichkannen see pichkannen 
bichôp n. [Eng.] bishop; big shot 
bichwon n. [Fr.] woodcutter, 
lumbeijack, lumberman 
bid n. strip of wood on the 
dooijamb preventing the hinges 
from being forced 
BID acron. Bank Entè-Ameriken 
(pou) Devlopman (Banque Inter-
Américaine de Développement) 
Inter-American Development 
Bank 
bidas n. belly 
bidèt, bidè n. bidet 
fè ~ to douche 
bidip bidip bidip onomat. sound of 
heartbeat 
97 
bidje - bilan 
bidje, bidjè n. budget; plans 
bidjetè adj. budgetary 
bidjetize v. to budget 
bidjonnèl, bidjonèl, bidyonèl, 
bidyonnèl n. brothel; jukebox 
ale nan - to go dancing 
bidôl n. dollar; money 
bidon n. medium-sized container 
for liquids; oil drum; canteen; 
measure of capacity (rice, corn 
etc.); fake, joke; adj. fake, phony, 
deceptive, dishonest 
bay - to fool, deceive 
- kreve fake, phony, deceptive, 
dishonest 
bidonvil n. urban slum, shantytown 
Bidouz prop.n. 2nd communal 
section of Aquin (Dept. South) 
bidyonnèl, bidyonèl see bidjonnèl 
bif n. inexpensive cuts of beef; 
onomat. plop 
bifalo, boufalo [Eng.] n. buffalo 
bife, bifte v. to cross out, erase 
bifè n. buffet, self-service meal 
- salad salad bar 
bifèt, bifè n. wardrobe, dresser, 
chest of drawers, bureau; cabinet 
- medikaman medicine cabinet 
- lavabo vanity (cabinet) 
bifstèk see biftèk 
bifte see bife 
biftèk, bifstèk n. (beef) steak 
bigami n. bigamy 
bigarèt, bigare adj. mottled, 
multicolored 
bigay n. gnat, tiny mosquito 
Bigo (Wilson) prop.n. Bigaud 
(Wilson) - Haitian painter 
("Wedding at Cana" in Holy 
Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, PaP), 
born 1931 
bigonn, bigôn n. two-beaked anvil 
bigote, bigôt n. mustache 
bigoudi n. hair-curler; v. to fix one's 
hair (woman) 
bije see blije 
bijou n. jewel, jewelry 
bôs - goldsmith, jeweler 
bijoutri n. jewelry shop 
bijoutye n. [Fr.] goldsmith, jeweler 
bik n. ballpoint pen 
bika n. large (playing-)marble; see 
tè t -
bikabonat, bikabonak, 
bikabonnak, bikabonnat n. 
bicarbonate of soda, baking soda 
biki n. small pakèt kongo (<7.v.) 
representing a child 
Bikina Faso, Boukina Faso, Ot-
Vèlta prop.n. Burkina Faso, 
Upper Volta 
Bikinabe prop.n./adj. Burkinan, 
Burkinabé 
bikini n. bikini bathing-suit; adj. 
having a very low waistline 
(pants, skirt) 
bikôk n. [Fr.] shack, shanty 
bikolô adj. bi-colored; n. the 
Haitian flag 
bikôs n. lump (on head), swelling 
bikwach n. thick cassava bread; cf. 
bobori 
bil n. bile; bubble; [Eng.] bill 
(telephone etc.) 
blad - , pôch - , sak - gallbladder 
brase - , sakaje - , souke - , vire -
to torment; to upset, stir up, 
agitate; turmoil, disturbance, 
commotion; upsetting, annoying 
bila n. table or tent used in Petwo 
rites (Voodoo); see manmanbila 
bilôs see albinôs 
bilan n. balance-sheet; schedule of 
assets and liabilities; assessment. 
98 
bilans - bisektil 
final analysis; results, 
consequences 
fè - , bay - , drese yon - to take 
stock of, assess, add up the results 
bilans n. scales, balance 
bilateral adj. bilateral 
bilbokè n. cup-and-ball toy 
bilding, bildig n. (large) building or 
structure 
bileng adj. bilingual 
bilengwis n. bilingualism 
bilga see boulga 
Bilga prop.n./adj. Bulgarian 
Bilgari, Boulgariprop.n. Bulgaria 
biliwin n. craziness, excitement 
nan - (yon moun) to be after 
(s.o.), be out to get (s.o.) 
bilobilo! interj. amen! (ritual 
Voodoo cry of Petwo rite) 
bilôs see albinos 
bilten, biten n. report card; bulletin; 
ballot 
- meteyolojik weather report 
jete - to vote 
bilye see bliye 
bilyonnè n. billionaire 
bim n. rumbling; brights, high 
beams (vehicle headlights); 
onomat. sound of heavy blow; see 
bimay 
- — sound of rhythmic beat 
vant - (too) frail stomach 
Bimaniprop.n. Burma, Myanmar 
bimay, bim n. collapsing, caving in, 
sinking 
bimbanm n. clatter; fistfight, 
quarrel 
bimbo, benmbo: 
nan tan - , sou pè - long long ago 
bimen, anbimen v. to thrash, beat 
(up); to defeat completely, do in, 
whip; to ruin, spoil; to deteriorate; 
to collapse, cave in, sink; adj. 
muddy, boggy 
- kon yon madigra to give a 
really good beating 
bimotè n. two-engine plane 
biné adj. binary 
binèt n. composure, calmness; face, 
look 
bingbang, bengbang n. commotion 
Bino (I e Plèn)prop.n. Bino (1ère 
Plaine) (1st communal section of 
Petit-Goâve, Dept. West) 
binom n./adj. binomial 
bip onomat. plop (sound of a 
sudden fall) 
- - pitter-patter (of one's heart) 
bipè n. [Eng.] beeper (mach.) 
biralis n. tax collector 
biren n. cold chisel 
Biren prop.n. Burrin (2nd 
communal section of Léogâne, 
Dept. West) 
birèt n. buret(te); cruet 
birinen v. to engrave; to drill (a 
tooth) 
bis n. bus; bust, head and shoulders; 
torso; encore (music) 
mande - to ask for an encore, ask 
for a repeat performance 
bisantnè n./adj. bicentennial 
Bisantnèprop.n. Bicentennial 
(renovated area of downtown 
PaP); name often used for 
Boulevard Harry Truman (PaP) 
bisbis n. wrangling, quarrel 
an - to wrangle, quarrel 
bisbol see bezbol 
bise v. to repeat, replay, redo, begin 
again 
bisektè n. bisector (math.) 
bisektil: 
ane - leap year 
99 
bisèp - bite 
jou - leap-year day 
bisèp n. biceps 
bisiklèt n. bicycle 
- a om man's bicycle 
fè ~ bicycling 
moute ~ to ride a bicycle 
bisk n. bisque 
biska, biskayen n. metal marble 
(game of marbles) 
biskad see anbiskad 
biskankwen adj./adv. sideways, 
sidewise, at an angle 
biskayen n. cannonball; see biska 
biske v. to lurk, hide; to spy upon; to 
ambush; to doll up; n. term in 
marble game 
biskèt n. breastbone, sternum; 
brisket 
~ tonbe, lestonmak louvri to 
have a sore chest; to be 
incapacitated (above waist); to 
suffer epigastric discomfort 
démonté ~ to wear down 
physically (person) 
kè sou ~ anxiety, worry; anxious, 
worried 
pete - to break the back of, do in 
zo - breastbone, sternum 
biskwit see biswit 
bismit n. bismuth 
bisnaw see biznaw 
bisonyè (pronounced: bi-so-nyè): 
fè lekôl - to play hooky (from 
school) 
bist n. bust, head and shoulders; 
torso 
bistonnen v. to castrate 
bistouri n. scalpel 
bistwo n. bar, barroom, tavern 
biswit, biskwit n. roll (bread) 
benyen ak - leta to stone, pelt, 
lapidate 
- aticho artichoke-shaped roll 
~ fou tè popular peasant roll 
- gwomit small square roll 
- leta rock, stone 
- rale biscuit 
- sale (salt) cracker 
- sèk, - soda (soda) cracker 
gen anpil ~ ak pen nan fou li to 
have a lot of irons in the fire 
bit n. hillock, mound, embankment; 
speed bump; fat, paunch, bay 
window; [Eng.] beat, rhythm 
- dante sharp bump (in road); 
crooked or non-aligned teeth - cf 
dan doukla 
- patat bump (in road) 
- sab sand dune 
gwo ~ huge 
san - patat completely flat 
sou - pou to be up to (doing 
s.thg.) 
sou menm ~ ak to be on the same 
wave-length as, be in agreement 
with 
bitad n. stumbling, tripping 
bitaj see bitay 
bitàn n. butane 
bitasyon, abitasyon, labitasyon n. 
field; farm; private domain; 
plantation, land holding, estate; 
rural hamlet, scattered rural 
settlement 
mèt - owner; protective spirit of a 
given location (Voodoo) 
yon bitasyon much, many 
bitay, bitaj n. banking up (of earth), 
mounding; stumbling block; 
stumbling, tripping; stumble, trip 
bitch, bich [Eng.] n. beach 
bite v. to stumble, trip, slip; to prop 
up; to bank up earth when 
planting 
100 
bitè - bizbôl 
- patat li to secure one's position 
- sou to stumble over, have 
difficulty with; to run into, chance 
upon, meet 
- sou yon plat manje to dive into 
a dish of food 
bitè n. scorer (soccer) 
biten n. booty; see bilten 
leve clear out! scram! 
Bitiniprop.n. [Bible] Bithynia 
bitô adj. stubborn, rebellious, 
obstinate; quick-tempered 
bitwa: 
dat - end date, terminal date 
bityos n. Taino priest 
BIV acron. Biwo Enskripsyon ak 
Vôt Voter Registration and 
Polling Station 
biva n. blotter, blotting pad 
papye - blotting paper 
bivab adj. potable, drinkable 
bivèt banquet; n. bar (at a dance) 
bivwak, bivak n. bivouac 
biw! onomat. bang! (sound of heavy 
blow) 
biwo n. desk; study; office; place of 
work; bureau; police station; any 
official office; adj. clerical, 
office; desktop (computer) 
ale nan - to be taken to the police 
station 
ale nan ~ pou, mennen nan - to 
lodge a complaint against 
- chanj currency exchange office 
- enskripsyon voter registration 
office 
biwokrasi n. bureaucracy 
biwokrat n. bureaucrat 
Biwon (Boumon) prop.n. Byron 
(Bourmond) - Haitian painter 
("Cascade"), b. 1923 
biy n. ball bearing(s) 
- wou wheel bearing(s) 
biya n. billards, pool; pool hall 
fè - to win at pool 
biyanbi n. small metal whistle used 
esp. in Voodoo services and in 
rara bands 
Biyasou see Byasou 
biye note, short letter; ticket; lottery 
ticket; bill (paper money); see 
abiye 
Biye see Basen 
biyè, biye n. note; banknote, bill; 
paper-money 
- lotri lottery ticket 
- lotri milyon one in a million 
chances 
- vèt U.S. dollar 
biyèt n. (single) lottery ticket (cf. 
pelas) 
biyetèl, biyetè n. lottery-ticket seller 
biyo- see byo-
biyon n. small mound or 
embankment 
biyôt n. wooden block (used as seat; 
also as support under hips of 
woman during childbirth) 
pa mete kou sou - to make no 
damaging statement; to take no 
adverse action 
biza adj. bizarre, strange, weird 
Bizango prop.n. secret society of 
evildoers; member of same 
kobay - victim of same 
zak - sorcery 
bizanpwèl adj. consecrated to the 
powers of evil 
bizawèl, bizayèl, zizawèl n. great-
grandparent, ancestor 
bizbiz n. quarrel, falling-out, 
misunderstanding, dissension, 
friction, conflict 
bizbol see bezbôl 
101 
bizi - blan 
bizi adj. [Eng.] busy 
bizismann, biznismann n. [Eng.] 
businessman; shady character 
biznaw, bisnaw n. trifle, nonsense, 
triviality 
biznis n. small business, shop; 
shady dealings; buying and selling 
of (esp. political) favors 
fè - ak to do business with, deal 
with; to pull a shady deal with 
ti - street vendors 
biznismann see bizismann 
bizo n. bevel (tool) 
bizon n. bison 
bizote v. to bevel, cut at an inclined 
angle 
bizoton adj. big, classy (Jam.) 
fè kata - to make a profit (at s.o. 
else's expense) 
kado - expensive/unattainable 
gift 
mande koton ak -, mande katon 
- to ask for expensive/ 
unattainable gifts 
Bizoton prop.n. Bizoton 
(disadvantaged community 
immediately west of PaP, and 
constituting the 9th communal 
section of Carrefour, Dept. West); 
Haitian Naval Base 
bizou n. [Fr.] little kiss; cf. bo 
bizwen see bezwen 
blabla(bla) n. drivel, nonsense, 
baloney; v. to drivel, rave on, talk 
nonsense 
blad n. balloon; blister 
- je, - zye eyeball 
- pipi, - pise bladder (human or 
animal) 
- tete very large bra(ssiere) 
- vant, - pitit placenta, afterbirth 
bladchou see choublak 
blag n. joke, funny story; trifle, 
something of little importance; 
understatement 
bay - to chat, talk amiably, make 
small talk; to tell jokes, kid 
fè - to be kidding 
fè - sou (yon moun) to play jokes 
on (s.o.) 
san no kidding! 
blagay n. kidding around 
blage v. to joke 
blagè n. joker, jester, comedian 
blakawout, balakawout n. power 
outage, electrical failure 
blakbôl see plakbèl 
blakin n. shoe polish 
Blaktôt prop.n. Blactote (1st 
communal section of Tiburon, 
Dept. South) 
blam see blanm 
blamab, blanmab adj. 
blameworthy, blameful 
blame, blamen see blanmen 
blan n./adj. white (color or person); 
n. foreigner, any non-Haitian (of 
whatever race); var, of mango; 
white (of egg); straight kleren q.v 
(without any infusion); adj. light, 
pale; empty, deserted; blank; 
foreign, imported 
- je, - zye white of the eye 
- je vèt Caucasian (person) 
- kou dan zonbi, - kou koton 
snow white, sparkling white; pale 
as a ghost; totally deserted 
- krèm creamy white 
- mannan, - poban, ti - poor 
white trash, red-neck 
- mannan chat mawon lowdown 
thieving foreigner 
- mizè albino 
- nwa black foreigner 
148 
blan - ble 
doub - loss (dominoes) 
gwo - wealthy influential white 
(in 18th-century Saint-Domingue) 
ti - average white (small 
merchant, clerk, plantation 
overseer etc. in 18th-century 
Saint-Domingue) 
blanbalenn, blanbalèn n. candle 
blanch n./adj. white (color); pale 
(person); blank; empty, deserted; 
n. white woman; var. of fish; half 
note (music); adj. empty, deserted; 
broke, penniless; newborn; see 
blan 
bay... - to clear out, leave 
- whitish 
pase - to be uneventful; to be 
unsuccessful; to be depressing 
Blanch (larivyè) prop.n. Blanche 
river (emptying into Trou-Caïman, 
Dept. West) 
blanchay, blanchaj n. beating, 
battering 
blanchè n. whiteness 
blanchi v. to bleach, whiten; to 
whitewash; to money-launder; to 
fade; to be graying, turn gray; to 
blacken, denigrate, slander; to 
beat, do in; to bless out, curse 
- dan to fail to keep a promise 
blanchiman n. bleaching, whitening 
- (lajan) money laundering 
blanchisay, blanchisaj n. washing; 
refining (sugar etc.) 
blanchisman lajan n. money 
laundering 
blanchisri, blanchisi n. laundry 
(establishment); laundromat 
blankofôb n. xenophobe 
blankolatri n. awe of foreigners 
blankolo n./adj. white person; light 
mulatto 
blanm, blam n. blame 
blanmab see blamab 
blanmanje n. coconut-milk pudding 
blanmen, blame, blamen, blenmen 
v. to blame, accuse; to scold, 
rebuke 
blanpoban n. poor white trash, red-
neck 
Blanswa prop.n., Blanswaz 
f.prop.n. inhabitant of Fond-des-
Blancs (Dept. South) 
blasfèm, blasfèmans n. blasphemy 
blasfèmatè n. blasphemer 
blasfèmatwa adj. blasphemous 
blasfème, blasfèmen v. to 
blaspheme, curse 
blaw onomat. sound of gunshot 
blayi v. to spread out; to bleach 
laundry (in sun); to sprawl; to 
knock (s.o.) flat; n. stones for 
bleaching laundry in sun 
- atè to flatten out, knock down; 
to kill 
- frèt to kill on the spot, kill 
point-blank 
- ko li to deploy 
- pitit to breed like flies, have 
kids left and right 
- tou rèd to knock unconscious; 
to knock dead; to fall dead; to lie 
dead 
blaze v. to tarnish, smear, soil; to 
fade, bleach, discolor; adj. faded; 
shoddily dressed; burned out, 
depressed 
ble n. wheat; denim; v. to mistreat, 
abuse; adj. blue; exhausted, very 
tired 
- ak to give plenty of; to 
overwhelm with 
- bonnit var. of rice 
- digo (laundry) bluing; bright 
103 
ble - bliye 
blue 
- dsyèl sky-blue 
- jèn bran 
- maren navy blue, dark blue 
- syèl azure 
de - kat kazinèt! be careful! 
watch out! caution! 
fè - sou to violate; to rape 
gwo ~ denim 
kè - wheat germ 
wete ~ mete - neither more nor 
less 
bleble n. hamlet (fish) 
bledôy n. var. of plant 
blèm, blenm v. to feel ridiculous; to 
make s.o. feel ridiculous; adj. 
absurd; pale, sallow; lackluster 
blemi v. to become pale or dim 
bien adj. over-ripe (fruit) 
blenblen n. cucumber tree; bilimbi 
(sour fruit resembling a pickle) 
blende v. to abuse, mistreat; to take 
in, fool; to overwhelm; to beat 
(up); to fill (with); to load (with); 
to riddle with bullets, machine 
gun; adj. full of; armored, bullet-
proof; n. armored car; phantom 
car which passes in the night 
- ak to blend (in) with, mix with 
- ponyèt to put strength in one's 
veins 
- wawa to do (s.o.) in, let (s.o.) 
have it, get (s.o.), fix (s.o.) 
blèndè see blenndè 
bleng onomat. bip, beep 
depi sizè fè ~ at six o'clock on the 
nose, at six o'clock sharp 
fè ~ to appear 
Blengbendeng, Blengendeng see 
Vlengbendeng 
blenm see blèm 
blenmen see blanmen 
blenn: 
- balenn very large candle 
blenndè, blèndè n. (electric) 
blender, mixer 
blenndeng n. [used with pa] 
nothing at all, anything at all; adj. 
down-and-out, washed up, 
finished 
Blennvendeng see Vlengbendeng 
blenoraji n. gonorrhea 
blesan adj. hurting, humiliating 
blese u to wound, injure, hurt; to 
hurt (s.o.'s) feelings, offend; n. 
wound, sore, cut, injury; bruise; 
injured or wounded person 
blesi n. wound, injury; sore; cut 
blewo, bleyo n. shaving brush 
blèz see alèz kou blèz 
blije, bije, oblije v. to be obliged to, 
be required to, be compelled to, 
have to; to compel, force 
bling onomat. ping (sound of metal 
hitting pavement etc.) 
blip onomat. plop 
bliyadè n. absent-minded person, 
forgetful person 
bliye, bilye v. to forget, omit 
~ ko li to forget one's manners; to 
loaf, take one's time; to daydream; 
to be distracted 
~ premye grenn mayi ki te leve 
jaden an, - (premye) lapli ki te 
fè mayi a leve to forget one's 
origins, be ungrateful 
se - sa! just forget it! you can 
forget that! 
se sa li - li pa di to read (s.o.) the 
riot act to, tell (s.o.) off 
se sa li ~ li pa fè to do everything 
one can think of, do everything 
under the sun, do everything 
imaginable (usu. neg.) 
104 
bio - bô 
bio n. lie, falsehood; blow, hit; v. to 
bluff, deceive 
blôf n. bluff, deception 
fè - to bluff, deceive 
pran nan - to be taken in, be 
deceived 
sou - to be bluffing 
blofay n. bluff, bluffing, faking 
blofayman adv. in bluffing 
blofe, blofe v. to bluff, lie, deceive 
blofè n. bluffer, liar, fake(r) 
blôk n. block, chunk; block, 
alliance; block, neighborhood; 
zone, area, region; cinder block, 
concrete block; wedge; pad (of 
paper); bundle 
an - as a whole 
- de vè (square) glass brick 
- doman angle cement block (for 
window) 
- motè engine block 
- ouvè open-faced cinder block 
- tè continent 
- zo walking skeleton, very 
skinny person 
fè yon sèl ~ to become united, 
consolidate 
sou - glas immobile, 
unresponsive, lethargic; 
impervious 
blokay, blokaj n. blockage, 
obstruction, occlusion; obstacle, 
hindrance; stalemate, deadlock; 
blockade 
fè - to block the way 
bloke v. to block, obstruct; to 
wedge, jam; to prevent, stop, 
thwart; to stalemate, deadlock; to 
block off; to wall up; to lock, 
fasten; adj. constipated; congested 
blôkèt see klou bokèt 
blokis n. traffic jam; blockade 
mare yon - to create a traffic jam 
blokte n. continent 
blomay(ay) n. bluff, bluffing, 
faking 
blon n./adj. blond 
blonn f.n./adj. blonde 
blop ti godôp onomat. cloppety 
clop (sound of horses' hooves) 
bloti v. to curl up, snuggle up; to 
nestle, take shelter 
blou(p) onomat. sound to express 
sudden action 
blouberi n. blueberry 
blougras adj. bluegrass (music) 
blouprent n. [Eng.] blue-print 
Blouyil prop.n. area of Cape Haitian 
(Dept. North) 
blouz n. smock, lab coat; blouse; 
blues (music) 
blouzon n. shirt; vest; jacket 
blow onomat. sound of sudden 
impact; sound of shot 
BLTS acron. Biwo Lit Kont Trafik 
Dwôg Haitian Drug Enforcement 
Agency 
BM acron. Bank Mondyal World 
Bank 
BNC acron. Bank Nasyonal Kredi 
(Banque Nationale de Crédit) 
National Credit Bank 
bo n. kiss; v. to kiss; to sting (bee 
etc.) 
- fè (yon bagay) [Fr.] to do 
(s.thg.) in vain 
nan - ak griyen dan with love 
and kisses 
bo n. side; edge; brim; half; 
vicinity, area; place, locale; 
direction; hem; trouser cuffs; 
prep, near, around, beside, next 
to, upon, in the vicinity of; at the 
home/office of; circa; by (time or 
105 
bô - bochwa 
place); towards; see ki bô? 
bay ~ to hem 
- bounda, - dèyè buttock(s) 
- fig! cheek(s) (of face) 
- isit ~ laba, - isit - lôt - here 
and there; this way and that 
- isit la around here 
~ kot(e) next to, beside, 
alongside; towards; near, in the 
neighborhood of; on the part of, 
from, by 
~ kote lanmè seashore, 
waterfront 
- kot(e) manman/papa m on my 
mother's/father's side, related to 
my mother/father 
- kote pa li in one's case, on 
one's side 
- lanmè seashore 
- rivay lanmè seashore, 
waterfront 
frè/sè ~ kot(e) manman/papa li 
half-brother/half-sister by his 
mother/father 
Kijan sa ye - kote ou? How are 
things with you? 
kouri ak yon - li to haul over the 
coals, scold 
lôt - beyond 
lôt - a the dead, the ancestors; the 
Invisibles; Haitians living abroad 
pa bay (yon moun) - to ignore 
(s.o.), pay no attention to (s.o.) 
pa - isit around here 
pa sou - yon moun not to be 
interested in s.o. 
pran ~ kote to take after 
(temperament) 
sou - interested in; about to 
sou ~ li by one's side, taking care 
of s.o. 
yon - ... yon lôt - on the one 
hand... on the other hand 
boa see bowa 
Bob, Bobi prop.n. Bob, Bobby, 
nickname for Wobè 
bobas adj. stupid, foolish 
bôbèch n. candle-holder; small oil 
lamp; adj. cheap, no-good; see tèt 
- agaz Bunsen burner (chem.) 
bobin n. spool, reel; railing post; 
joke; n./interj. nonsense, bunk 
bobinay n. winding (a coil); 
induction coil; story, account 
bobine, bobinen v. to roll up, coil 
up; to wind, rewind (on a spool); 
to dance 
bobis adv. affectedly 
mache % tave (yon) - to act 
fancy, strut around, show off, put 
on airs 
bobo n. kiss; small hurt; cunt; v. to 
kiss; to sting (bee etc.); adj. 
stupid, silly; see bôbôt 
fè kwa - to promise never to do 
(s.thg. bad) again 
Bobo (Wosalvo) prop.n. Bobo 
(Rosalvo) - Haitian political 
leader and unsuccessful 
presidential candidate, 1915 
boboni n. var. small reddish fly 
bobori n. thick cassava bread; 
attractive buttocks 
bôbôt n. cunt; var. of bun (cul) 
gwo po - labia majora 
koupe - to spay, neuter 
ti po - labia minora 
bôbôv n. chicken (coward); dummy, 
fool; adj. naive 
Bochan prop.n. Beauchamp (Dept. 
North-West) 
boche, bochèt see bwochè 
bôchèt n. dense short hair 
bochwa n. deck look-out (on ship) 
106 
bod - bokal 
bôd n. backboard (basketball) 
Bod prop.n. Bordes (Dept. West) 
bôdab see abodab 
Bodari see Kolin Dèchèn 
bôday, bodaj n. rim, edge, border; 
boundary 
lage - to overflow, go beyond the 
bounds 
bode see bwode 
bode v. to approach, come near; to 
line, run alongside; to dock (boat); 
to board (boat, plane); to hem; to 
trim; to put a border on; to line 
(garment) - cf. double; n. 
association; see abode 
- ak to run into, meet 
- laye to stand aside, stand back 
Bode Nasyonal National 
Organization of Voodooists 
fè yon ti - to take a little time off, 
take a breather 
tire - reel, lurch 
bôdè, bodèz see bwôdè 
Bôdè prop.n. Borday (soft drink) 
bodèl n. brothel, whorehouse; cf. 
kafe 
Boden prop.n. Baudin (1st 
communal section of Port-de-
Paix, Dept. North-West; 2nd 
communal section of Pilate, Dept. 
North); Beaudin (Dept. South-
East) 
bôdi n. frame, edge, edging, 
contour; margin, border; hedge; 
rim 
fè - , mete - to border, edge 
bôdjô see abodjô 
bodken, bwodken n. ankle boot, 
half-boot 
bôdmè, bodlamè, bodlanmè, 
bodlanmè, bodmè, bolamè, 
bolanmè, bômè n. waterfront, 
seashore; dock 
Bodmè prop.n. downtown PaP 
bodo, bôdwo n. bill, invoice 
bodri see bwodri 
Bodweprop.n. Broadway (New 
York) 
bôdwo see bodo 
bôdyô see abôdjo 
bôf see bôfrè 
bofijefra: 
viv sou - to be dependent 
bofis, bofî n. son-in-law; stepson 
bôfrè, bôf n. brother-in-law; 
stepbrother 
boga, bonga n. var. of large toad 
bôgenn n. rattletrap, jalopy, old car; 
cf bogi 
bogi n. buggy, (two-wheel horse-
drawn one-seat) carriage, hansom; 
rattletrap, jalopy, old car; beach 
buggy; worn-out object; adj. old-
fashioned 
bogodo adj. much, plenty of 
bogota, bokota n. rattletrap, jalopy 
Bogota prop.n. Bogota (Colombia) 
bohôm see bowôm 
bohoun n. Voodoo funeral rite; 
Voodoo funeral chant 
Bojla (Jewom-Maksimilyen) 
prop.n. Borgella (Jérôme-
Maximilien) - successor to Rigaud 
as head of the ephemeral Haitian 
State of the South (1811-1812) 
- (ri) rue Borgella (behind main 
cathedral leading to Avenue John 
Brown/Lalue - PaP) 
bôk n. stem of fruit; enema bag; 
slap on face or head 
- mayi corncob 
bokal n. jar; tin canister used as a 
drum 
- lank inkwell 
107 
Bokaratonn - bôlèt 
Bokaratonn prop.n. Boca Raton 
(Florida) 
Bokas prop.n. Boccaccio 
(Giovanni) - 1313-1375, Italian 
poet 
bôkè see bôkye 
bôkèt see klou bôkèt 
bokit n. (metal or plastic) bucket, 
pail; bucketful 
kraze ~ yon moun to rough up or 
beat up s.o. 
pa ~ in droves 
yon ~ many, much 
Boklo prop.n. Beauclos (3rd 
communal section of Roche-à-
Bateau, Dept. South) 
boko n. cask, hogshead (about 63 
US gallons or 238.5 liters) 
~ (fatra) garbage dump 
bôkô n. Voodoo priest who deals in 
both good and bad magic, 
sorcerer; pej. term for Voodoo 
priest; Voodoo healer 
koutye demachè ~ assistant 
who finds clients for a ~ 
bokôdji n. var. of yam 
bokota see bogota 
bokou adv. [Fr.] much, many 
used chiefly in three expressions: 
mèsi ~ thank you very much 
pa ~ not much 
pou ~ responsible for much 
Bokozèl prop.n. Bocozelle (5th 
communal section of Saint-Marc, 
Dept. Artibonite) 
Bokozèlyen prop.n., Bokozèlyèn 
f.prop.n. inhabitant of Bocozelle 
(Dept. Artibonite) 
boks n. boxing (sport) 
matla ~ box mattress 
bokse, bôske v. to box, fight 
boksè n. boxer 
boksit n. bauxite; gypsum 
bôkye, bôkè n. perlèche, cracks or 
sores at corner of mouth; dried 
saliva (at corner of mouth); adj. 
false, deceptive 
dyôl ~ good-for-nothing, 
worthless person 
bol n. bowl, dish; lottery number 
formed by two identical digits 
(e.g. 33,44); adj. bald (losing hair 
or feathers) 
~ emaye vagina 
~ grès happiness, fortune 
~ pôv, ~ ble hat, bowl (for 
begging) 
~ pwent ballpoint pen 
nan ~ thriving 
nan ~ grès li in hog heaven, 
comfortable, well-off; in good 
financial shape 
pa nan ~ li to not be feeling quite 
oneself, not be feeling too well 
pote ~ ble to beg 
poul ~ var. of chicken with almost 
no tail 
bolchevik n. anarchist, bolshevik 
bôlchevis n./adj. bolshevism; 
bolshevik 
bôlèt n. privately owned lottery 
(uses last two numbers of national 
or foreign lotteries to determine 
winners); crazy business, 
nonsense, game, joke; adj. 
mediocre, second-rate 
- 50-15-10, ~ 10-4-3 indicates 
type of winnings in lottery 
kalbas tanbou ~ lottery bin 
lekôl ~ see lekôl 
maryaj ~ greatly increased lottery 
prize based upon two winning 
numbers 
ti ^ sou kaye small very informal 
108 
bôlètye - bon 
lottery or game 
bôlètye n. lottery operator 
bolewo n. bolero (slow dance 
rhythm); bolero, very short jacket 
open in front 
bolid n. intelligent person; star 
student; "hot shot"; object moving 
with great speed; luxury 
automobile; adj. strong, muscular; 
smart 
bolin n. revolver with holster and 
belt; bowling (10 pins); bowling 
alley 
sal - bowling alley 
bolit n. ace, expert; obs. Haitian 
equivalent of "pig Latin" -
Gonaïves esp.; (cf. jagon, pale 
lanvè) 
boliva n. large gilded cardboard 
crown worn at Carnival time 
Bolivi, Laboliviprop.n. Bolivia 
Bolivyen prop.n./adj., Bolivyèn 
f.prop.n. Bolivian 
bôljwent n. [Eng.] ball-joint 
(mach.) 
bôlkôk n. ballcock (for toilet bowl) 
bolobolo n. wild and reckless 
person 
boloken n. var. of sandal 
Bôlôs prop.n. Bolosse (area in 
southwestern part of PaP) 
boloze see bouloze 
bôlwivèl n. boll weevil 
Bolye prop.n. Beaulieu (1st 
communal section of Roche-à-
Bateau, Dept. South) 
bomaten n. early morning 
Bomonprop.n. Beaumont (Dept. 
Grand'Anse) 
Bomontwa, Bomontè, Bomonyen 
prop.n., Bomontwaz, Bomontèz, 
Bomonyèn f.prop.n. inhabitant of 
Beaumont (Dept. Grand'Anse) 
bon adj. good, fine; tasty; right, 
correct; valid; suitable, 
appropriate; successful; skillful; 
authentic; charitable; ready, done; 
safe; n. brilliant person; bound, 
leap; bond, certificate; bail; interj. 
well (then); good! look at that!; 
seejan 
a kwa what's the use? 
ala - ou - what an idea! 
(ironically) 
ansyen - has-been 
- atou jack-of-all-trades; capable 
of anything (pej.) 
~ Bondye good luck, good 
fortune 
~ Da/da worthless voucher or 
promissory note (cf. those issued 
by the government of Davilmar 
Théodore, 1914-1915) 
- mache cheap, inexpensive 
- monetè financial bond 
- moun good and generous 
person 
- nèt great, excellent, perfect 
- pou pri a to be successful at 
what one does 
- pou tout pyès to be ready for 
anything 
- ti considerable (quantity of) 
fè de - to show signs of 
pregnancy 
fè pi - to improve 
nan - living the good life 
nan pa - in bad shape; in 
misfortune/misery/suffering 
pa - wrong; bad; unsuccessful; 
broke, penniless; unwell, sick; to 
fail, flunk 
pa - menm flat broke; very sick 
pa - pou chen wè doggone bad 
109 
bon - bonbon 
pa m pi - mine is better; 
excessive individuality 
pa pi - pase sa rather poor, 
leaving much to be desired 
pi - better, preferable; best (cf. 
lemye) 
sa pa - taboo 
se there'll come a day of 
reckoning! 
se - li he's/she's really got it 
made! 
se pa - sa - konsa it's so-so, not 
too good, nothing to write home 
about 
se pa pou tout - don't take it 
seriously, it's only a joke 
se tout - it's no kidding, it's for 
real 
tout - seriously, in earnest 
tout - nan won things are getting 
tougher/worse 
yon - toujou - goodness always 
shines through; you can't keep a 
good man down 
bon n. maid, female servant; nurse-
maid; boundary marker, 
landmarker; (stone) kilometer 
marker; bottle containing magic 
liquid to protect one's home 
against evil spirits; any magic 
object to protect one's home; see 
bonn 
- atoufè all-purpose maid, 
general help 
- atout loose woman 
- timoun nursemaid 
depase - li to go too far, 
exaggerate 
bonanj see bonnanj 
Bonapat, Bonnapat, prop.n. 
Bonaparte 
bonas adj. too good 
bonay, abonay n. setting of 
boundaries; coastal navigation 
bonba n. Petwo dance (Voodoo); 
see boumba 
Bonba, Bonbad, Bonbadopolis 
prop.n. Bombardopolis - founded 
1740 (Dept. North-West) 
bonbade v. to bombard (with insults 
etc.); to bomb, shell 
bonb adman n. bombardment, 
shelling, bombing 
Bonbadopoliten prop.n., 
Bonbadopolitèn f.prop.n. 
inhabitant of Bombardopolis 
(Dept. North-West) 
bonbadye n. bomber (plane) 
bonbans n. feasting, eating 
bonbari n. var. of freshwater fish 
bonbe v. to distend, stick out; to 
bulge out, puff out; to bounce 
(back), rebound; n. var. of mango; 
adj. arched, convex 
- lestonmak li to puff out one's 
chest, strut 
bonbon n. cookie; bun, small cake, 
cupcake; var. of mango 
~ kaptenn var. of tree; (edible) 
fruit of same 
- kèdenn, - kodin hoop withe 
(shrub) 
- koulèv passiflora (vine) 
- lanmidon sweet wafer (made of 
manioc starch, sugar and spices) 
- sèl cracker (saltine etc.) 
- siwo cake made of flour and 
molasses 
- siwo ak sikdèj all love and 
kisses 
Bonbon prop.n. (Trou) Bonbon 
(Dept. Grand'Anse) 
bonbèn n. demijohn; canister; 
carboy 
110 
Bonbonè - Bonètalevèk 
Bonbonè, Bonbonnè prop.n 
Bonbonèz, Bonbonnèn f.prop.n. 
inhabitant of Bonbon (Dept. 
Grand'Anse) 
bonbonfle n. small mosquito; good-
for-nothing, worthless person; 
adj. bloated, swollen 
bonbonflo n. (N.) same as 
bonbonfle 
bonbonyè n. candy-dish 
bonbonyen, bonbonye n. wild sage 
(shrub of vervain family) 
bonbyè n. bomber (person) 
bonch see bwonch 
bonda see bounda 
~ pè acalypha (herb or shrub) 
bondans see abondans 
bondanse v. to celebrate, have a 
good time 
bonde v. to pack, fill to 
overflowing; to spring, leap; adj. 
crowded, full 
~ ak to have a lot of 
bonde, abonde v. to abound, be 
plentiful 
bondi v. to pounce, jump on 
bondye n. god 
Bondye, Bondje, Bongye, Dje, 
Dye, Gye prop.n. God 
bay ~ jounen to waste one's time, 
do s.thg. for nothing, engage in 
meaningless activity 
bay ~ san konfese/konfesyon to 
bluff, lie, deceive 
~ fè fortunately, luckily; thank 
God 
~ manman m wen! Holy Mother 
of God! 
dèyè do ~ in a bad way, under 
terrible conditions 
moun ~ konnen good-looking 
person 
pa mande no wonder! 
pran ~ to take communion 
sa ~ ban mwen female genitals 
sa ki pou ~ sacred 
sèl ~ ki wè m no one will ever 
know; masturbation 
si - vie God willing; often used as 
future tense indicator 
ti - generous charitable person 
viv sou ~ bon to leave up to fate 
bone see bonnèt 
~ ~ very early 
bonè, bônè, bonnè adv. early in the 
morning; early; n. happiness; 
good fortune, good luck 
~ byen gran gwo - quite 
early, at the crack of dawn 
Bonè prop.n. Bonaire 
~ Alevèk Bonnet-à-1'Evêque (site 
of the Citadel Laferrière, Dept. 
North) 
bone, bonen, bonnen v. to restrict, 
limit; to control, restrain; to mark 
a boundary; adj. narrow-minded; 
n. action to prevent an evil spirit 
from inflicting harm or taking 
possession of s.o. (Voodoo) 
bonedifom adv. [Fr.] in due form, 
properly (jur.) 
bonèfè adv. fortunately 
Bonèkare (chenn) prop.n. Bonnet-
Carré (mountain chain, Dept. 
South) 
fo ~ Fort Bonnet-Carré (fortress 
ruins near Aquin, Dept. South) 
bônen see bone 
bonèt see bonnèt 
~ ~ very early 
Bonètalevèk, Bonètlevèk, 
Bonnèalevèkprop.n. Bonnet-à-
l'Evêque (mountain in northern 
Haiti, site of the Citadel 
111 
Bônfen - bonnanj 
Laferrière, 2nd communal section 
of Milot, Dept. North) 
Bônfen, Bonnfen prop.n. Bonne-
Fin (4th communal section of 
Cavaillon, Dept. South; hospital 
in same area) 
lopital Limyè same hospital as 
above 
bônfwa n. good intentions, 
sincerity, good faith 
Bônfwa (ri) prop.n. rue Bonne-Foi 
(downtown PaP) 
bonga see boga 
Bongaprop.n. Bongars (5th 
communal section of Kenscoff, 
Dept. West) 
bongason n. broadleaf spurge 
(poisonous plant) 
bongo n. bongo drum 
bongre: 
- maigre willingly or not, 
whether one likes it or not 
de - , pou - willingly 
Bongye see Bondye 
boni see bonis 
Boni prop.n. Bony (3rd communal 
section of Chardonnières, Dept. 
South) 
bonifas n. sucker, fool; water-
hyacinth (plant) 
bonifikasyon n. gratuity, payment 
bonis, boni, bonnis n. bonus; end-
of-year bonus, thirteenth-month 
paycheck 
bonit, bonnit n. frigate mackerel 
(fish) 
ble - var. of rice 
bonjan see jan 
bonjou, boujou n./interj. good 
morning; hello; greetings 
- ou pa laverite one can't trust 
anything you say 
- parenn hand-me-down clothes 
pa gen - ak to shun; not to be on 
speaking terms with 
voye - pou to send one's regards/ 
greetings 
bonkè n. goodness, kindness, 
compassion 
bonkira n. var. of mango 
bonkonprann n. understanding, 
intelligence 
bonkou, bonkout adj. much, many; 
n. bunch, a lot of 
bonm n. saucepan, aluminum or tin 
cooking pot (usu. with lid); bomb; 
irritable person; see tibonm 
- ak chodyè pots and pans 
- atizanal home-made bomb 
- zangle camphor tree 
lachè - , lagè - , sotè - bomber, 
terrorist 
bonmache adj. cheap, inexpensive; 
adv. cheaply, inexpensively 
bônman adv. simply, frankly, 
sincerely, honestly 
bonmas n. person in Mardi Gras 
masquerade; useless person; naive 
person 
bonmaten n. early morning; adv. 
early in the morning 
bonmbè n. bomber 
bonmdevi n. var. of med. plant 
bonmen see anbonmen 
bonn n. plug, stopper; see bon 
bonnami n. of address my beloved, 
my love 
Bonnane! interj. Happy New Year! 
bonnanj, bonanj, bonnany, 
bonzany n. good sense(s); 
awareness 
degaje - li to free one's 
conscience 
gwo - soul, basic life force (Voodoo) 
112 
bonnanj - boparan 
mete - sou li, repran - li to pull 
oneself together, come to one's 
senses 
pran - (yon moun) to capture 
(one's) heart 
ti - guardian angel; one's 
character, willpower and 
individuality (Voodoo) 
bonnanmalan adj. so-so, mediocre, 
indifferent 
bonnans n. calm or smooth sea; 
calm, tranquility 
Bonnapat see Bonapat 
bonnas n. simple-mindedness; naive 
person; adj. simple-minded, 
stupid 
bonnbonni (ti) see bannbanni (ti) 
bonne see bonnèt 
bonnè n. surgeon's cap; see bonè 
Bonnèalevèk see Bonètalevèk 
bonnen see bone 
bonnèt, bone, bonèt, bonne n. 
bonnet; cap; hood (for fighting 
cock) 
- blan blan - birds of a feather, 
peas in a pod, alike 
- chavire crazy, upset 
- chinwa Chinese hat plant 
(shrub) 
- kare parsnip 
- lakansyèl pot of gold at the end 
of the rainbow 
chavire - li to make angry, anger 
gran ~ big shot, VIP 
koupe/taye yon - mete nan tèt 
(yon moun) to give (s.o.) a cock-
and-bull story, tell (s.o.) a story 
that sounds superficially correct 
but which is false 
taye - pou tèt (yon moun) to 
pretend to be s.thg. other than 
what one is 
Bonnfen see Bonfen 
bonnis see bonis 
bonnit see bonit 
bonnonm, bonom, bononm n. 
fellow, young man; iris (of eye) 
Bono prop.n. Bonneau (5th 
communal section of Saint-Louis-
du-Nord, Dept. North-West) 
Bono (Lwi) prop.n. Borno (Louis) -
president of Haiti, 1922-1930 
bonochô see abonotcho 
bonom, bononm see bonnonm 
Bonrepo prop.n. Bon-Repos 
(community just north of PaP and 
site of former maternity hospital, 
Dept. West) 
bonsans n. common sense 
bonswa, bonswè n./interj. [used 
from noon until midnight] good 
afternoon, good evening, good 
night; hello; greetings 
- dam/danm piece of music 
which indicates the end of a dance 
or party; near the end of a series 
of negotiations 
bontan: 
pou ~ for no reason, for nothing 
bonte, labonte n. kindness, 
goodness 
bontèt n. sweet basil (aromatic 
plant) 
bonvini! see byenveni! 
bonvivan n. bon vivant, person who 
enjoys good food and drink 
Bonyelèprop.n., Bônyelèz f.prop.n. 
inhabitant of Le Borgne or of 
Petit-Bourg-du-Borgne (Dept. 
North) 
bonzany see bonnanj 
bônzèv pl.n. good works, charitable 
works 
boparan pi. n. in-laws 
113 
bôpè - Bosnyak 
bopè, bopè n. father-in-law; 
stepfather 
bôpiwo adj. lopsided 
boraks n. borax (chem.) 
borama n. var. of white-colored 
freshwater fish 
bôrik: 
asid ~ boric acid 
borisit adv. around here, over here 
bos n. master craftsman, artisan, 
builder; chief, head, employer, 
boss; (large four-wheel horse-
drawn two-seat) carriage; bump, 
bruise; hump, bulge; title of 
respect for an artisan; adj. 
skilled, advanced; see bwôs 
~ an chèf head man 
~ bout manchèt clumsy inexpert 
workman 
~ chapant general carpenter 
~ ebenis cabinet-maker 
~ elektwonik repairer of 
electronic equipment 
~ fè iron worker; iron sculpture 
artisan 
~ kay construction foreman; 
general contractor 
~ kôdonye shoe-maker, shoe 
repairman 
~ mason construction foreman; 
general contractor; woman with 
very little hair 
~ papa expression used when 
addressing an older respected man 
(whom one does not know, or 
like, too well) 
~ pent (house-)painter 
~ seri locksmith 
fè ~ to blister 
fo ti ~ inexpert or clumsy 
craftsman 
gwo ~ foreman 
yon ~ ... a famous...; an 
infamous... 
bosal n. bridle; slave born in Africa; 
slave newly arrived from Africa; 
hick, hayseed, clod; adj. wild, 
savage, untamed; fierce, violent, 
brutal; uninitiated; unbaptized; 
unconsecrated (Voodoo); see 
ounsi 
jwèt la gen ~ rough or dirty game 
lwa ~ Voodoo spirit manifesting 
itself for the first time within a 
particular believer 
ounsi ~ Voodoo believer whose 
initiation is still incomplete 
bosale v. to break in (horse etc.) 
pa ~ untamed 
bosalite n. cruelty, harshness 
bosalman adv. brutally, savagely 
bosanova n. bossa nova (dance) 
bose see bwose 
Bosejou prop.n. Beauséjour (8th 
communal section of Léogâne, 
Dept. West) 
bosi n. hunchback; adj. 
hunchbacked; v. to bend 
~ do li to hunch (up) one's back 
Bosi prop.n. Bossu (communal 
section, Dept. Artibonite) 
boske see bouske 
bôske see bokse 
bosko n. hump; hunchback; 
imbecile, fool; v. to bend (body); 
adj. hunchbacked 
geri - (li) to make do with; to 
satisfy one's hunger, fulfill one's 
needs 
bôsmann n. coachman (for a bôs, 
q.v.;cf koche) 
Bosni-Ezegovin prop.n. Bosnia-
Herzegovina 
Bosnyak, Bosnyan prop.n./adj. 
114 
bosou - bouch 
Bosnian 
bosou n. spotted bass; large ladle; 
secret society of evildoers; 
member of same 
Bosou prop.n. Bossous (2nd 
communal section of La Chapelle, 
Dept. Artibonite) 
Bosou Twa Kon prop.n. three-
horned bull spirit of both Rada 
and Petwo rites (Voodoo) 
Bôstonn, Boston (Ba - , Wo - ) 
prop.n. Boston (disadvantaged 
areas of Site Solèy - q.v.); Boston 
(Massachusetts, USA) 
bosye n. var. of mango 
bot n. (pair of) boots; blow; rebuff 
anba - under the heel of 
bay - to rebuff; to hit hard 
- desandelye, - desanlye high 
boots 
- djôj rubber sandal 
- fere, - feray iron-studded 
boot(s); harsh, dictatorial 
- (mayi) bundle of corn (hung 
from tree for safe-keeping) 
- salyè, - salye blow, punch, 
sock, clout; knockout blow, final 
blow 
- sire, - mayas authoritarian 
chante - to talk nonsense; to talk 
to no avail 
pran - li to scold, reprimand; to 
fire, dismiss, kick out 
pran yon (bèl) - to get (very) 
hurt; to be (greatly) damaged; to 
be (angrily) scolded at 
bota v. to test out a fighting cock 
botan see lapli 
botanik n. botany; adj. botanical 
botanis n. botanist 
botay see bwotay 
bote, labote n. beauty; dimple; see 
bwote 
ti - , tou - , twou - dimple 
boten n. [Fr.] directory, phonebook 
botin n. ankle boot, half boot 
botip n. [Fr.] good-looking guy 
botpipèl, bôtpipol n. [Eng.] boat-
people, refugees 
Botswana prop.n. Botswana 
bou! onomat. boom! 
boubou n. credulous person; 
bumpkin; timid person; v. to dunk 
(s.o.) 
bouboul, boubouy, boulboul n. 
soursop (or corossol) fruit mixed 
with sugar and water; see 
boubout 
bouboun n. bottom part; woman's 
genitals (fam.); ass (S.) - cf. 
chouchoun, foufoun 
twou - vagina; anus 
boubout n. sweetheart, darling; 
girlfriend; boyfriend 
bouboutay n. flirting, dallying, 
philandering 
bouboutè n. small fry, half pint, 
squirt 
boubouy see bouboul 
boubyay n. confusion, muddle, 
mess 
boubye n. puddle, mire, quagmire; 
scrape, mess (fig.) 
bouch n. mouth, opening; orifice, 
aperture; entrance (to town, tomb 
etc.); brim; neck, spout (of bottle); 
adj. oral (vowel) 
anba - under the influence of, 
under the domination of; close to 
(s.o.); impertinent, insolent 
antre - (li) nan to have a say in; 
to interfere in 
bat - li to snack; to blabber 
bay bon - to butter up, flatter 
115 
bouch - bouch 
bay ~ to put a hex on, put a jinx 
on 
bay ~ gou to whet one's appetite 
bay ~ li manje to watch one's 
tongue; to put words into s.o.'s 
mouth 
bay - li twôp lè to laugh too hard 
bo ~ corner of mouth 
bon ~ smooth talker, sweet talker; 
convincing, persuasive 
~ a ~ nan ~ mouth-to-mouth 
resuscitation 
~ a chabon air vent of charcoal 
kiln 
- ak nen very near one to the 
other 
~ alèlè indiscreet person, 
blabbermouth 
~ an ~ by word of mouth, from 
mouth to mouth, from one person 
to another 
~ anba upside-down 
~ ap koule dlo one's mouth is 
watering (at smell of food etc.) 
~ be open-mouthed, surprised, 
baffled; in awe; speechless 
~ blanch dry mouth 
~ chire sores at corner of mouth 
~ cho blabbermouth, big mouth 
~ (d)ensandi fire plug, fire 
hydrant 
~ dlo salivation 
~ dous smooth talker; sweet-
talking 
~ fann harelip, cleft lip; cleft 
palate 
~ fizi muzzle (of gun) 
~ flobop, - flôbôp, ~ fobo, ~ 
fobop, ~ fôbop, ~ foj, ~ foy 
toothless 
~ gonfle resentful 
~ kabrit harbinger of doom, 
Cassandra 
- koud!, ~ kouzi! don't breathe a 
word!, mum's the word! 
~ koule, ~ laj blabbermouth, big 
mouth 
~ laj big mouth, blabbermouth; 
s.o. who talks a lot 
~ latrin toilet seat 
- li anmè to have no appetite 
- li bon to have a good appetite 
~ li chape to blurt out, make a slip 
of the tongue; to reveal, give away 
- li dous to be persuasive 
~ li fè dlo, ~ li kouri dlo to make 
one's mouth water; to slaver, 
slobber, drool 
- li gou to have a good appetite 
~ li koule lôlô to water (mouth) 
~ li kouri dlo see ~ li fè dlo 
~ li mare tankou pit his/her 
mouth is clamped shut 
~ li pa bon, ~ li pa gou to have 
no appetite 
~ long blabbermouth, big mouth 
~ makônen silent, speechless 
~ manje sores at corner of mouth 
~ mare silent, speechless 
~ nan - mouth to mouth 
resuscitation 
~ ouvè quarrel, argument 
~ pa bon loss of appetite 
~ pa ka pale see pa gen ~ pou 
pale 
~ pe silent, speechless 
- pèp rumor, gossip 
~ ponp gaz nozzle 
~ pou ~ face to face 
~ sa ki mouri ki pa kite byen 
voracious eater 
~ santi bad breath, halitosis 
- tonm nan simityè the soul of 
discretion 
116 
bouch - bouch 
de - a - directly, 
straightforwardly 
dwèt sou - to shut up, keep quiet 
fè anpil - louvri to cause a lot of 
talk 
fè - li long to sadden, disappoint; 
to make (s.o.) angry 
fè - yon moun to put words into 
s.o.'s mouth 
fè ~ (yon moun) mâche, fè -
(yon moun) koule/kouri dlo to 
make (s.o.'s) mouth water 
fè ti - to pick at one's food; to eat 
like a bird, eat little; to be 
fastidious 
fè yon (gwo) - louvri to argue, 
quarrel, dispute 
fèy - lip 
gen bon - to have a good appetite 
gen - to be a gossiper; to be a big 
talker 
gen - dous to be a smooth talker 
gen - li ki fann to express 
discontent 
gen (yon) - louvri ak to argue 
with 
gwo - louvri squabble, 
commotion 
kase - , koupe - , kraze - to 
knock (s.o.'s) block off, hit 
koud - ou! be quiet! shut up! 
koud - (yon moun) to impose 
silence (on s.o.) 
lave - li to brush one's teeth 
mare - to pucker (up) 
mete - anba to leave speechless 
mete - li (byen) long to have/ 
make a long face, put on a sour 
face 
mete - (nan) to have a say in; to 
intervene; to interfere in, meddle 
mete - pou to speak out for 
mete - sou to cast a spell on 
nan - (sèlman) just talk, empty 
words 
nan - (yon bagay) to be at the 
center (of things) 
nanpwen - it's beyond words, it's 
amazing 
olon - lip(s) 
pa bay - (pou pale) to take the 
words out of s.o.'s mouth; to 
prevent from speaking 
pa - orally 
pa gen - pou pale, - pa ka pale 
to be embarrassed; to be 
speechless, be beyond words 
pale - an - to furnish confidential 
or inside information 
pe - to be quiet, stop talking, shut 
up 
pete - to knock (s.o.'s) block off, 
hit 
po - lip 
pran - ak to have a talk with 
rache - to knock (s.o.'s) block 
off, hit 
rantre - (li) nan to have a say in; 
to intervene; to interfere in, 
meddle in 
rantre nan (gwo) - louvri to 
argue, quarrel, dispute 
rete - be to be speechless 
rete - koud to remain silent 
rete - louvri to be amazed; to be 
waiting expectantly (for s.thg. 
good) 
se - ak nen to be very close 
(friends) 
se - ase li genyen to be a big 
talker or bragger 
tèt - lip(s) 
tire - to knock (s.o.'s) block off, 
hit 
117 
Bouch - Boudon 
touse ~ li to ready oneself 
(tout) ~ ap bat (all) tongues are 
wagging, people are talking 
Bouch (Jôj) prop.n. Bush (George) 
- president of USA, 1989-1993 
- (Joj W.), Ti - Bush (George W.) 
-president of USA, 2001-
bouche n. butcher; mouthful (of 
food); "it" (in hide-and-seek); var. 
of freshwater fish; v. to fill in 
(hole etc.); to block, obstruct; to 
stop up, plug up, clog up; to be 
stopped up, become clogged up, 
be congested; to cover or hide 
(ears, mouth etc.); to cork; adj. 
dull-witted, dense 
~ jeto blind {fig.) 
~ je li to turn a blind eye (to), 
ignore 
~ nen li to hold one's nose 
~ tou, ~ veso tinsmith 
~ twou dan to fill one's stomach 
vale ~ doub to eat rapidly, gobble 
up; to advance rapidly, tear ahead, 
take giant strides 
bouchi n. embouchure, mouth (of 
river); butcher-shop; abattoir, 
slaughterhouse 
bouchi, anbouchi, labouchi, 
lanbouchi n. embouchure, mouth 
(of river) 
bouchin n. [Eng.] bushing (mach.) 
bouchon n. stopper, plug, lid, cap; 
cork (of bottle); traffic jam (cf . 
blokis) 
~ gaz gas cap 
jwenn ~ li to get what is coming 
to s.o., get one's just punishment 
bouchonnen v. to limit, restrict; to 
stop up, congest; to rumple, 
wrinkle, crumple 
~ (yon chwal) to rub down (a 
horse) 
bouchpave n. var. of fish 
bouchri, labouchri n. butchery, 
slaughter; butcher-shop; abattoir, 
slaughterhouse 
bouda see bounda 
Bouda prop.n. Buddha 
boudakôde see bounda kède 
Boudapès prop.n. Budapest 
(Hungary) 
boudbèk n. var. of bird 
boude v. to be angry; to sulk, be 
sullen, pout; to shun, refuse to 
have anything to do with, keep 
away from 
~ sou to be angry at 
boudé adj. pouty, sulky, sullen 
Boudé prop. n. Bourdet(lst 
communal section of Cayes, Dept. 
South) 
boudèkè n. lie, falsehood 
bouden n. blood sausage; ass, butt; 
paunch, beerbelly, gut; whopper, 
tall tale; coil, spring; pulp of 
certain plants 
bay ~ to do s.thg. badly; to fool, 
trick; to shortchange; to stand 
(s.o.) up, fail to show up for a 
meeting 
~ gri falsehood, lie; worthless or 
despicable person 
~ li plen to be stuffed (with food) 
~ san blood sausage 
pran ~ to be tricked, be fooled 
boudich see bounda 
boudis n. Buddhism; n./adj. 
Buddhist 
boudjigo n. billhook, pruning knife 
boudon n. bumblebee 
fo ~ drone, stingless male bee 
Boudon prop.n. Bourdon (wealthy 
residential area of PaP); Boudon 
118 
boudonnen - Boukanbwapen 
(2nd communal section of Anse-
d'Hainault, Dept. Grand'Anse) 
boudonnen v. to buzz (insects) 
boudonnman n. buzzing or ringing 
in ears 
boudouye v. to mumble 
boudozè see bouldozè 
boudwa n. boudoir 
boufalo see bifalo 
boufan n. bouffant (hairstyle) 
boufannan, boufanan n. breed of 
cattle 
boufe v. to wolf down, devour 
(food) 
boufi, boufte adj. puffed up, 
swollen, bloated; shy, timid 
boufon n. buffoon, clown; adj. shy, 
timid 
boug n. guy, fellow 
bougenvil, bougenvilye n. 
bougainvillea 
bougon n. shrimp, shorty (small, 
insignificant person); small 
corncob 
- flè frit fly (sic) 
~ mayi small ear of corn; corncob 
bougonnen v. to grumble; to mutter, 
mumble; to murmur 
- (granmoun) roasted corn or 
millet candy 
bouhaha, bouhara see bourara 
boujay n. jolting, jerking 
bouje v. to budge, move, act 
bouji n. (colored) candle; spark 
plug 
- chofay/chofaj glow plug 
(Diesel engine) 
fil ~ spark plug wire 
limen ~ dèyè yon moun to put a 
hex on s.o. (Voodoo) 
boujon n. bud, flower bud; shoot, 
tendril, sprout 
jenn ~ little kid 
pouse fè - to bud, sprout 
boujonnen v. to sprout, bud, put 
forth young shoots; to spring forth 
boujonnman n. budding, 
blossoming, blooming 
boujou see bonjou 
boujwa n. candle-holder 
boujwa n./adj., boujwaz f.n. 
bourgeois, middle-class person; 
wealthy person; member of the 
(Haitian) elite 
boujwazi, laboujwazi, lèboujwa n. 
bourgeoisie, middle class; social 
and financial elite (of Haiti); 
bourgeoisie 
bouk n. village, hamlet (somewhat 
pej.); buckle, clasp; curl, ringlet, 
lock of hair; billy goat 
~ belye billy goat 
~ emisè scapegoat 
- jaden market town 
- kabrit billy goat; (real) stud, 
macho 
Bouk Chany prop.n. one of most 
disadvantaged areas of PaP (at 
Delmas 32) 
boukan, boukandife n. bonfire; 
temporary place of worship 
(Protestant) 
tè ~ recently cleared land 
Boukan prop.n. Boucan (2nd 
communal section of Chambellan, 
Dept. Grand'Anse) 
Boukanbelye, Boukanpelye 
prop.n. Boucan-Bélier (5th 
communal section of Côtes-de-
Fer, Dept. South-East) 
Boukanbwapen I e prop.n. Boucan-
Bois-Pin I e r (1st communal 
section of Cornillon, Dept. West) 
Boukanbwapen 2eprop.n. Boucan-
119 
Boukanè - Bouki 
Bois-Pin 2 e (2nd communal 
section of Cornillon, Dept. West) 
Boukanè prop.n., Boukanèz 
f.prop.n. inhabitant of Boucan-
Carré (Dept. Center) 
boukanfe v. to sauté, brown 
Boukanfîlip prop.n. Boucan-
Philippe (Grande-Cayemit(t)e 
Island, Dept. Grand'Anse) 
Boukangèp prop.n. Boucan-Guêpes 
(Tortuga Island, Dept. North-
west) 
Boukangiyom prop.n. Boucan-
Guillaume (1st communal section 
of Anse-à-Pitre, Dept. South-East) 
Boukankare prop.n. Boucan-Carré 
(6th communal section of 
Mirebalais, Dept. Center) 
Boukanmichèl prop.n. Boucan-
Michel (2nd communal section of 
Le Borgne, Dept. North) 
boukannay n. roast, roasting 
boukannen v. to roast, barbecue, 
charcoal broil; adj. scalded 
~ dlo to be engaged in 
meaningless effort; to do nothing; 
to be bad off 
boukannye see boukànye 
Boukanpechè prop.n. Boucan-
Pêcheur (name of Côtes-de-Fer 
before 1843, see Kotdefè) 
Boukanpelye see Boukanbelye 
Boukanricha prop.n. Boucan-
Richard (1st communal section of 
Gros-Morne, Dept. Artibonite) 
boukantay, boukant, boukantaj n. 
swap, trade, exchange; swapping, 
trading 
boukante v. to trade, barter, swap, 
exchange; to mistake one thing for 
another; to tie the ends of a 
headscarf 
~ kon pou zago to trade s.thg. 
good for s.thg. bad, be taken 
(advantage of), be had 
~ lide, ~ pawôl to trade ideas, 
discuss; to brainstorm 
pye li ~ to alter one's menstrual 
cycle; to start giving birth to boys 
rather than to girls, or vice versa 
boukantè n. dealer, trader 
boukànye, boukannye n. 
buccaneer 
boukara n. piece of land strewn 
with rocks and unfit for 
cultivation 
Boukarès prop.n. Bucharest 
(Romania) 
Boukasen I e prop.n. Boucassin Ier 
(1st communal section of Cabaret, 
Dept. West) 
Boukasen 2 e prop.n. Boucassin 2e 
(2nd communal section of 
Cabaret, Dept. West) 
boukay n. fatigue, exhaustion; 
discouragement 
Bouk Chany prop.n. Bouc-Chany 
(disadvantaged area of PaP) 
boukdôrèy n. earring 
bouke n. bouquet; v. to stop, cease; 
adj. tired out, exhausted 
(physically), pooped; exasperated, 
fed up 
~ (ak) to be tired (of), disgusted 
(with) 
Bouke Finèb book often used by 
prêt savann q.v. when officiating 
at funerals 
boukèt, boukè n. bouquet 
~ raje bush, thicket 
bouki n. fool, idiot; damselfish; adj. 
stupid, imbecile 
Bouki prop.n. famous character of 
Haitian folklore, usually 
120 
Boukina - boul 
representing a fool; cf. Timalis; 
[Bible] Bukki 
- Timalis children's game 
Se yon nonk ~ He's such an ass/ 
stupid or disagreeable person 
Boukina Faso see Bikina Faso 
Boukinèt f.prop.n. daughter of 
Bouki (q.v.) 
boukinis n. outdoor bookseller 
bouklay n. curliness, waviness (of 
hair) 
boukle v. to buckle, fasten up; to 
curl (hair); to catch, arrest; to 
sterilize; adj. sterile, barren 
(female animal); curly, wavy 
(hair) 
~ nan prizon to lock up in jail 
bouklèt n. small curl 
cheve li fè ~ his/her hair is curly 
Bouklin see Bwouklin 
boukliye n. shield; defense, 
protection; see leve ~ 
boukman n. curl, wave (hair) 
chèf % chèf boukmann political 
boss 
Boukmann Diti prop.n. Boukman 
Duty (early leader in Haitian 
Revolution, organizer of famous 
Bois Cayman ceremony of Aug. 
14, 1791) 
boukoli see bwokoli 
boukonn, boukong, bouskon, 
bouskong, bouskonn, n. [Span.] 
Dominican recruiter of Haitian 
workers 
boukoulou: 
~ Bondye cemetery 
boukousou n. var. of large bean; 
thick cassava bread (cf. bobori) 
boukten n. wild goat 
boul n. ball, globe, sphere, mass; 
ball (soccer, basketball etc.); ball 
(toy); gland; clot; clump; lump, 
bump, growth, swelling; cyst; 
tumor (breast); bubble; air bubble, 
lump (batter); dip (of ice-cream); 
lottery number; pot, marijuana 
(fam.); "bull," lie; see kanik 
~ dife fireball 
~ dlo blister 
~ dous li one's favorite 
~ glas ice cube 
~ gogo elastic band with ball to 
hold ponytail in place 
~ grenn balls, nuts (testicles); 
buddy, chum, good and trusted 
friend 
~ je, ~ zye eyeball 
~ je nan tèt li main means of 
support 
~ ki pa asiste tiray lottery 
number which was far from 
winning 
~ lagad var. of cheap small roll or 
bun (obs.) 
~ li soti he/she has won at lottery 
~ lo golden, ideal; treasure, nest 
egg 
~ (n)an do hump; hunchback 
~ nan kou goiter 
~ pik see boulpik 
~ Senlo sucker, lollipop (from a 
certain madan Senlo on the 
Champ-de-Mars) 
~ sikdôy (stick of) barley sugar; 
sucker, lollipop 
~ tè dirt clod 
de ~ balls, nuts (testicles) 
fè ~ to clot (blood); to swell 
(wound); to curdle (milk); to form 
lumps (flour) 
fè ti ~ to have goose bumps/goose 
flesh 
gen ~ la nan pye li to have an 
121 
boul - boule 
advantage; to have a 
responsibility 
jwenn - to come out first, be 
victorious 
mete ~ nan pwa yon moun to 
cool s.o. down 
tounen yon - swif to disappear 
boula n. smallest of the three Rada 
and batri maskawon drums 
(Voodoo) - same as bebe, kata or 
ti koure; singing (when words are 
indistinct); var. of squash; v. to 
hum (loudly) 
Ban m (ti) ~ ou? What's new? 
Boule - ou Do your thing 
boulamann n. drummer (for dance 
party only); cf. tanbourinè 
boulanje n. bakery; baker 
bos - baker 
boulanjri n. [Fr.] bakery 
boulatcha, boulatya n. movement, 
motion; adj. worrisome, difficult; 
see anboulatcha 
boulay n. burning; round, sequence 
(sports); odd job; low-paying job 
boulaye n. drummer who plays the 
boula (q.v.) 
boulboul adj. lumpy, full of lumps 
(food); see bouboul 
boulchit n./interj. [Eng.] bullshit; 
"loser" 
bouldemas, bouldimas, boulmas, 
boultimas n. oyster plant (herb) 
bouldôg n. bulldog 
bouldozè, boudozè n. bulldozer 
boule v. to bum, scorch; to bum 
down; to incinerate, cremate; to 
burn out (light bulb); to irritate; to 
cauterize; to get along, hold one's 
own; to do well, be successful; to 
get along (with s.o.); to work 
hard; to sell off cheaply; to get rid 
of (s.o.), send (s.o.) away; to 
prostitute (oneself); to flunk (an 
exam); n. burn; burning; 
scorching; adj. finished, done for, 
washed up 
ap ~ to be getting along fine 
~ ak to handle, deal with; to relate 
to, get along well with, be buddy-
buddy with; to go hard at, really 
get into 
- ou Do your thing 
~ byen ak to get along well with, 
relate to 
- dous to be getting along well 
- gra to do great; go ahead! go 
for it! 
~ jwif burning of traditional 
carnival figure 
- kadav, - kô to cremate; 
cremation 
- mal ak to treat badly 
- nan to go hard at 
~ nan lanp (yon moun) to have 
need of (s.o.) one day (in the 
future) 
~ nèt, - plat to burn down/up 
(completely) 
- prizon to go to jail; to do time 
in jail 
~ rapyetè to burn (down) to the 
ground 
- rejis to cut off a relationship 
with s.o. 
- tè to burn off a field 
~ tou vivan to burn alive; to burn 
at the stake 
- wouj go ahead! go for it! 
~ yon fyouz to blow a fuse 
- zen Voodoo initiation 
ceremony; to whisper about (s.o.), 
gossip; to share news 
fason mwen - my attitude 
122 
boulé - boulye 
map - san fè sann I'm getting 
along fine 
boulé: 
tire a - wouj to go after (s.o.) 
tooth and nail 
boulenge v. to rebuke, reprove 
boulèt n. meatball, fishball etc.; 
cannonball; bullet; spitball; 
kneecap 
- kanno cannonball tree; big shot 
or kick (soccer) 
~ pye ankle 
boulezon n. var. plant blight 
boulga, bilga, boulgi n. Bulgar 
wheat 
Boulgari see Bilgari 
boulgrenn n. balls, nuts (testicles); 
buddy, chum, good and trusted 
friend 
po - scrotum 
boulin n. speed; sling (weapon); 
running 
ak/an ~ at high speed; full sails 
kase/mete - to speed up 
lage (yon) ~ to speed off, dash off 
(a) tout tou - at full speed 
boulinen v. to speed (up); to rush 
down; to wander around, waste 
time 
boulino n. racer, runner — 
boulmas see bouldemas 
Boulmye, Moransi prop.n. 
Boulmier, Morency (2nd 
communal section of Cayes, Dept. 
South) 
boulnando n. var. of med. plant 
boulo n. birch (tree) 
boulok, laboulôk n. bluff, lies; 
"bull," bunk, whopper, tall tale; 
trouble, problem 
bay - to bullshit 
boulon n. bolt, dowel, lug 
- sant center bolt in leaf spring 
lâche ~ to ease control 
sere ~ see sere 
sere - li to pressure s.o., comer 
s.o. 
boulonnen v. to bolt, fasten; to give 
trouble to 
boulonnman see balonnman 
boulôs see albinos 
boulou n. var. of fish 
boulo va! interj. wow! 
bouloze, boloze v. to have a good 
time, enjoy oneself, have fun, 
party; to talk nonsense 
boulozè n. partier, good-time-guy 
boulpik n. main marble (marble 
game); good-luck charm; 
obsession, passion; pal, buddy 
boulsenlo n. jawbreaker (candy) 
boultèrye n. bull terrier 
boultimas see bouldemas 
boulva n. boulevard; round (of a 
fight); spirited attack against 
opposing bird (cockfighting) 
boulvari n. turbulence (wind etc.); 
disturbance, commotion, turmoil; 
spirited attack against opposing 
bird (cockfighting) 
boulvès, boulvèsman n. turmoil, 
disturbance, commotion, 
confusion 
an - in turmoil; confused, 
disorganized 
bay - to annoy, bother, pester 
boulvèsan adj. upsetting 
boulvèse v. to upset, disturb, agitate; 
to stun, daze; to be upset, be 
disturbed, be agitated 
~ bil to upset, torment 
boulvèsman see boulvès 
boulye n. goalkeeper, goalie 
(soccer) - cf. gadyen bi; abacus 
123 
boum - bourèt 
boum! onomat. boom! (sound of a 
gun, heavy fall etc.); n. bash, big 
party; cf. bap; bow 
boumba. bonba n. dugout canoe; 
Petwo dance (Voodoo); var. of 
fish 
nan - in a fix 
boun! onomat. bang! whack! 
bounda, bonda, bouda, boudich, 
boundich n. butt, ass, buttocks; 
rear; bottom, base; see mouda 
achte bô - to pay not to be beaten 
arèt - tailbone, coccyx 
bat - ou! scram! hit the road! 
bay (yon moun) - to hoist (s.o.) 
up 
bo - buttock(s) 
- bôpè var. of food 
- chich thin (in buttocks) 
- chire, - pyese torn pants; 
destitute person; bum, good-for-
nothing 
- flzi gun butt 
- je li corner of one's eye 
- kode thin (in buttocks); 
scrawny, gaunt, raw-boned; 
kwashiorkor (cf. kwachyôkè) 
- li ap koupe klou to shit a brick, 
be extremely afraid 
- li nan dife/fou/lanfè/recho his/ 
her ass is in a really tight spot, he/ 
she is in a very difficult situation 
- lou lazy person 
- mouye sorry excuse of a person 
- Nini nonsense; so what! who 
cares! 
- trese thin (in buttocks) 
de (2) - untrustworthy; indecisive 
fè - li plat to be lazy, do nothing 
fè - lou to be lazy, be slow 
kase -, kraze - , limen - , pete - , 
rache - , swife - to beat (s.o.'s) 
ass, do (s.o.) in 
laye - to undulate the hips (esp. 
in dancing) 
peze - sou chèz to be lazy, do 
nothing 
rale - ou! move your ass! 
yon ti - lajan a little bit of dough 
(money) 
bourach n. borage, starflower 
(herb) 
bourad n. push, shove; boost, help, 
encouragement 
bay - to lend a helping hand, aid, 
assist 
- tabak inferior tobacco leaf 
bourade v. to push, shove; to push 
(away) with force 
bourara, bouhaha, bouhara n. 
brouhaha, hubbub, uproar, hurly-
burly, din, commotion 
bouras n. squall, flurry, gale; blast, 
burst; large quantity (esp. money) 
bouray n. food, grub; stuffing, 
wadding, padding (action; 
contents of pillow etc.); cramming 
(acad. ) 
boure v. to stuff (chair, cushion 
etc.); to stuff down food, gobble 
down; to eat too much; to cram; to 
saturate; to scold; to overwhelm 
with insults; to pad (clothes); to 
wear "falsies" (breasts, buttocks); 
n. slam-dunk (basketball); see 
pote 
- pip (yon moun) to dress down, 
scold (s.o.) 
gwo - fatso, big eater 
bourèt, bouwèt, bwouwèt n. 
handcart, two-wheeled wooden 
cart; wheelbarrow; small 
tambourine-like drum 
bal - festivities which often 
124 
bouretye - boustè 
accompany a manje lemô (q.v.) 
bouretye n. cart-puller, man who 
pushes or pulls wheelbarrows or 
carts 
Bouri prop.n. Bourry (1st 
communal section of Torbeck, 
Dept. South) 
bourik n. donkey; lout, yokel, hick; 
card game; loser in card game; 
var. of mango; adj. ill-mannered, 
uncouth; stupid; see tibourik 
- (ak) kat las to lose with good 
cards 
- entchô coarse gruff lout 
~ je boy stubborn, pigheaded; 
one-eyed donkey 
- lagwèzè coarse dirty person 
~ Sendomeng rebellious or 
unruly person 
- sourit large dangerous donkey 
- travay chwal garyonnen 
exploitation of the poor by the 
rich 
mal - jackass, male donkey; 
stupid; stubborn 
manman - jenny (female 
donkey); workhorse (person) 
mare - li ak to join forces with, 
work with, become associated 
with 
pouse - li pi devan/pi lwen to 
further one's cause, make progess, 
advance 
ti - support under hips of woman 
during childbirth; rude person 
travay kou - (do foule) to slave 
away like crazy 
bourike v. to toil, slave away, work 
like a dog 
bous n. wallet, billfold; purse, 
pocketbook, handbag; scrotum; 
scholarship; triggerfish 
- afe clown triggerfish 
- akôn scrawled cowfish 
- tabak sea bass (fish) 
bousay see bwousay 
bouse, bousèt, gouse, gousè, 
gousèt n. fob, vest-pocket, watch-
pocket 
bousen n. dolphin (fish) 
bousiyay, bousiyaj n. mud-walling; 
mud-wall 
bousiye v. to bungle, mess up 
bouskade v. to look for, search 
bouskado n. researcher 
bouskay n. search; research 
bouske, boske v. to look for, seek 
(out) 
- lavi to (try to) make a living, 
seek a livelihood 
bouskè n. researcher 
bouskèdkont n. troublemaker 
bouskilad n. shoving, pushing; 
stampede 
bouskile v. to shove, jostle, knock 
over, toss about; to annoy 
- lespri yon moun to trouble, 
upset s.o. 
bouskon, bouskong, bouskonn see 
boukonn 
bousol n. blister; bump; pockmark; 
hump; hives; compass; guide (jig.) 
bousole v. to guide, lead, direct 
byen - level-headed 
bousoufle v. to bloat, puff up; n. 
fatso, tub, blimp 
boustabak, poustabak, n. ani, 
black witch (bird); low-class 
person (fam.)\ var. of fish; adj. 
ugly 
bouste v. [Eng.] to boost, promote 
boustè n. [Eng.] booster cable, 
jumper cable (mach.); backer, 
supporter, promoter 
125 
boustifay - bout 
- fren brake booster 
boustifay n. feed, grub, chow 
boustifaye v. to put away a huge 
meal, eat a lot 
boustouklouz n. louse (pl.: lice) 
bousye adj. stock-market 
bousye n., bousyè f.n. scholarship 
student 
bout n. end; dead-end, impasse; 
limit, edge; quarrel, dispute; 
piece, scrap; stump, stub (of 
limb); character, personality, 
temperament; small distance; v. to 
end (s.thg.); to end up, conclude, 
finish; to reach, arrive at one's 
goal; to be due, be owed; adj. 
harassed, desperate; fed up, tired 
of; finished, worn out, exhausted; 
see jarèt 
ale nan dènye ~ to take extreme 
measures 
- anba bottom (part), base 
- an - end to end; patched 
together 
~ anlè upright 
- anwo upper (part) 
- chot shorts, cutoffs 
- choukèt shorty (person); tree 
stump used as a bench 
- dèyè back part (of house etc.) 
~ di hard-nosed, inflexible, 
unbending; totalitarian 
~ djak shorts, cutoffs 
- fè unbending (person) 
~ jip short apron 
~ jounen half-day's work 
- kanson, - pantalon shorts, 
cutoffs 
- kot short apron 
- kouto squat, stubby (person) 
- lang var. of fish 
- pou - finally, after much ado 
- sigarèt cigarette butt 
- tan short time, short period 
- tèt tadpole 
- zougounou short and stocky 
person 
dènye - extremity 
depi yon bon - tan for a 
considerable amount of time 
fè yon ~ to have it out, quarrel 
fin ~ to reach one's goal; to 
corner, back against the wall 
gwo - nèg big guy 
jwenn ~ (yon bagay) to find an 
explanation for (s.thg.), get to the 
bottom of (s.thg.); to deal with 
(s.thg.), cope with (s.thg.) 
jwenn/konnen - (yon moun) to 
know how to approach or deal 
(with s.o.), know how to get along 
(with s.o.); to call one's bluff; to 
do s.o. in 
jwenn yon - to come to an end, 
be settled 
ki pa gen - infinite 
li te ~ (yon kote) to get as far as 
(place) 
mete yon - ak to put an end to 
nan dènye ~ to the bitter end 
pou - to (expression of time) 
rive - nan to result in 
rive nan ~ li to achieve one's 
goal/aim 
rive nan dènye - li to be 
completely done in, be at one's 
wits' end 
san - infinite 
ti - tonton short little guy 
wè - li to overcome, get the better 
of 
yon bèl - a good little distance, a 
great/long distance 
yon (bon) - tan a (good) little while 
126 
boutabout - bouyay 
boutabout adv. end-to-end 
Boutanprop.n. Bhutan 
boutdigo n. sickle 
boutèy n. bottle 
- gad, - mavangou buried bottle 
containing magic potion to protect 
one's home (Voodoo) 
- plen dlo (sorcerer's term for) 
pregnant woman (as intended 
victim) 
mache - to hit the bottle; to pass 
around the bottle 
moso - shard, piece of broken 
glass 
moute - to prepare a bottle of 
herbal medicine 
travay nan - nwa to perform evil 
magic 
boutfè n. hard-nosed individual; 
difficult person to handle; var. of 
fish 
bouti, boutiraj, boutiray n. 
seedling, sapling; cutting (from a 
plant); see abouti 
boutik n. shop, store; (small) 
grocery store, small variety store; 
vagina (fam.); prostitute 
~ jounal newsstand 
mèt - shopkeeper 
Boutilytprop.n. Boutilliers 
(overlooking PaP) 
boutiray, boutiraj see bouti 
boutnèg n. "shorty" (pej.) 
boutofen adv. at last, finally 
bouton n. button; knob; bud; 
blemish; pimple, boil, pustule; 
mole; wart; rash; acne; scabies; 
impetigo 
- chalè heat rash 
- chen wart 
- dim dimmer switch (car) 
- dlo vesicle 
- flè bud (bot.) 
~ grate scabies 
- lafyèv fever blister 
- limyè light switch 
- manch, - pwayè cuff-link 
- pot doorknob 
- presyon snap-fastener 
- sonèt doorbell button 
- tete nipple (breast) 
- tiwa drawer knob, handle 
~ vant belly button, navel, 
umbilicus 
- volim volume control (mach.) 
gwo - acne, pimples; smallpox 
ti - kwasans acne, pimples 
boutonnen v. to button, fasten; to 
bud, sprout 
boutonyè (pronounced: bouto-
nyè), boutonnyè n. buttonhole 
boutou n. barrel, cask; yellow-tail 
parrotfish 
boutyo n. Arawak priest and healer 
bouva n. calf (bovine) 
bouvari n. burst, gust 
bouvaz n. strong purgative 
Bouvye prop.n. Bouvier (19th 
communal section of Carrefour, 
Dept. West) 
bouwèt see bourèt 
bouwo n. slavedriver, brutal 
taskmaster; torturer; executioner; 
adj. cruel 
dwèt - index finger, forefinger 
Bouwoundi prop.n. Burundi 
bouya see bwouya 
bouyan adj. boiling 
bouyay, bwouyaj, bwouyay n. 
interference, static; confusion, 
uncertainty; disorder, tumult, 
hubbub, turmoil; troubles, 
problems, predicament; adj. 
coarse, crude 
127 
Bouyaya - boyo 
Bouyaya, Bouyara prop.n. 
Bouyaha (3rd communal section 
of Saint-Raphaël, Dept. North) 
larivyè - Bouyaha river (Depts. 
North and Center) 
bouye v. to confuse; to be confused, 
be mixed up; to shuffle (cards); to 
sow discord, create dissension 
~ kat yo to reveal a secret 
bouyi n. boiling; rumbling (in 
stomach); v. to boil; to sterilize; to 
cook badly; to rumble, growl 
(stomach); to use a lot of, do a lot 
of, eat a lot of; to keep on doing 
s.thg.; see labouyi 
~ bôdlèz lime and sulfate 
preparation to protect tomatoes, 
bananas etc. 
- desann to pour forth, deluge, 
inundate 
~ moute to boil over 
- vide badly-cooked food; ill-
prepared, hasty; shoddy, slipshod; 
to cook poorly; to do shoddy 
work; carelessness, unconcern; 
confused mess, mishmash, 
hodgepodge 
- zen to gossip 
konmanse ~ to simmer 
bouyon n. soup, bouillon, broth; 
stew; bubble (in boiling liquid); 
boiling, bubbling; rough draft 
- blan mullein, high taper (herb) 
~ mimi muddy, murky; vague, 
confused; confusion, disarray 
~ pechè fish soup 
- rechofe rehash, reworking 
papye - scrap paper 
pete (yon) - to start to boil 
bouyonnen v. to bubble up, foam, 
froth 
bouyôt n. small kettle, teakettle; 
foot-warmer; hot-water bottle 
bouywa n. kettle 
bouze see bouziye 
bouzen n. slut, whore, prostitute; 
loose or promiscuous woman; 
prostitution; male homosexual (pej) 
~ fè son of a bitch 
~ sibtil high-class prostitute 
fè - to be a prostitute 
gwo - type of sexually suggestive 
Carnival dance 
pitit - street urchin 
bouzendri n. prostitution 
Bouzi prop.n. Bouzi (communal 
section of Anse-à-Veau, Dept. 
Grand'Anse) 
bouziye, bouze, bouzye v. to smear, 
spread, daub (mud; concrete etc.) 
bouziyèt, breziyèt n. nettle 
bow! onomat. boom! crash! bang! 
bowa (konstriktè), boa n. boa 
(constrictor); boa (long fluffy 
scarf) 
bowèm adj. bohemian 
bowôm, bohôm n. rebellious or 
disobedient person 
bowoum, bowou n. commotion, 
racket, noise 
boy n. one-eyed person; dumpling 
Boy see Obôy 
boy a n. hod (for carrying mortar, 
bricks etc.); wooden load support 
for pack-animals 
Bôyelè prop.n., Bôyelèz f.prop.n. 
inhabitant of Le Borgne (Dept. 
North) 
bôykôt n. boycott 
bôykotaj, boykotay n. boycotting 
boykote v. to boycott 
boyo n. intestines, entrails; guts; 
rubber sandal or shoe; genitals of 
small girl 
Boyo - Bragôch 
- djab sanguinaria (herb) 
Boyo prop.n. Bohio (additional 
Indian name for Haiti) 
boyo adj. dumb, flabbergasted; 
senseless, incoherent (from 
drinking) 
boz n. pot (fam.), marijuana 
bozo, bèzè adj. dressed-up, fancy, 
chic, elegant; cocky; n. affected 
manner; big shot, hot stuff, 
conceited ass 
fè - , kraze - to put on airs, show 
off, be snobbish; to swagger 
mete - to put on fancy duds, be 
all decked out 
bra n. arm; see anbabra 
ak - ouvè, ak de - cordially, with 
open arms 
anba - armpit, underarm 
anvan - forearm 
bese - li to let down one's 
defenses 
- balan, - balanse arms free; 
with arms swinging; helpless; 
idle; passive, motionless 
- douch shower connection 
- dwat right-hand counselor, 
trusted aide 
- janm tibia; see zo janm 
- kwaze helpless; idle; passive, 
motionless 
- li kraze to be disheartened, be 
discouraged 
- li pa ka touche ko li dressed 
up, fancified, pretentious 
- li pran nan moulen to be 
caught in a trap 
- mare powerless, (with) one's 
hands tied; wow! oh! oh! 
- pye tibia; see zo janm 
de - balan, de - balanse, de ~ 
kwaze helpless; idle; passive, 
motionless; unemployed, out of 
work 
de - de pye koupe finished, done 
for; useless, worthless 
de - dèyè do handcuffed; arms 
behind one's back 
de - pandye helpless; idle; 
passive, motionless 
frè - companion at first 
communion 
gen gwo - dèyè bannann li to 
have strong back-up, have strong 
support 
kase - yon moun to disappoint or 
discourage s.o. 
lage de - pandye/balanse to be 
dispossessed 
lage nan - kwaze to put out of 
work, cause lay-offs 
louvri de - pou resevwa to 
welcome with open arms 
pran ak de - to welcome with 
open arms 
san - san baton without 
resources, helpless 
sou - li on one's arm; under one's 
responsibility or care, dependent 
upon 
braban n. var. of cotton material 
rad - special costume for vow or 
penitence 
brad see bradsou 
brade v. to clamp together, press 
together 
bradsou bradsa, bradsi bradsou 
adv. arm-in-arm 
bragèt n. fly (of trousers) 
Bragôch prop.n. Bras-Gauche (6th 
communal section of Port-Margot, 
Dept. North; 7th communal 
section of Bainet, Dept. South-
East; 3rd communal section of 
129 
brahany - brase 
Côtes-de-Fer, Dept. South-East) 
brahany see branrany 
brak adj. slightly sweetened; 
grouchy, grumpy; impatient, 
abrupt; dry, cold, unemotional; 
brackish, briny 
brakande v. to tie loosely; to attach 
temporarily 
brakay, brakaj n. havoc, 
devastation 
brake v. to aim, level, point (gun 
etc.); to sweeten slightly 
- je sou to stare at, gaze at 
branany see branrany 
branch n. branch (tree, office etc.); 
limb, bough; field of interest, 
specialty 
- bwa tree branch; twig (often 
carried as sign of popular uprising 
or celebration) 
- cheve single hair (on head) 
gwo - limb (of tree) 
ti - twig 
branche v. to branch, fork; to tap, 
siphon off, run off; to connect; to 
tune in (radio, TV); to grow 
branches (tree) 
- sou to branch out; to perch; to 
jump from one branch to another; 
to be dealing with; to be tuned in 
to (radio station etc.) 
branchi pl.n. gills 
branchman n. branching (of tree) 
brandi v. to brandish, flourish; n. 
brandy 
branhanch, branhang see 
branrany 
branka n. (often makeshift) 
stretcher 
brankadye, brankadje n. stretcher-
bearer; workman, laborer 
brankèt n. vendor's stand; see 
bankèt 
branl: 
mete an - to set in motion, get 
going 
branlan adj. loose, flimsy, shaky, 
unsteady 
branlba n. bustle, commotion, 
confusion 
branle v. to shake, rock, agitate 
brannay, brannaj n. jolting, 
jostling; quaking, trembling 
brannen, brennen v. to quake, 
tremble, shake; to budge; to 
flinch; to jolt, jostle 
branrany, brahany, branany, 
branhanch, branhang, 
branranch, branrang, branranj, 
branrann, brenhany, bwahany 
adj. barren, sterile (woman or 
animal) 
brap! onomat. sound to express 
sudden action 
bras, bwas [N.] n. stroke 
(swimming); arm span (5 ft. 4 in.); 
batch (of mortar); fathom; 
business, deal, transaction 
- tabak string of tobacco leaves 
(more or less standard length) 
fè ~ to swim (as opposed to 
wading) 
Ki - ou? How are you doing? 
solèy la yon bèl - the sun is high 
in the sky 
brasa n. armband 
- wouj politically-inspired gang 
member, organized terrorist; 
tonton makout (see makout) 
brasay, brasaj, bwasay n. mixing, 
stirring up; mishmash, 
hodgepodge 
- lide general discussion 
brase, bwase v. to move, spin, 
130 
brase - brekfas 
whirl; to mix, stir; to scramble 
(eggs); to brew (beer), bottle (soft 
drinks); to shuffle (cards); to deal, 
do business; see bil 
- djôl to yap, talk 
- ko li to squirm, toss and turn 
- lide to discuss, trade ideas; to 
brainstorm; discussion, exchange 
of ideas; brain-storming session 
- mele controversy, argument, 
discussion, debate; mishmash, 
jumble, confusion 
- ren to undulate or grind the hips 
- trip to tear out one's guts, 
grieve 
- van to shoot the breeze, talk 
about everything and nothing 
brasè n. brewer; businessman; 
broker 
brasèdafè, brasèdefè n. wheeler-
dealer 
brasewôs, brasewo n. [Span.] 
sugar-cane cutter 
braslè n. bracelet; wrist-watch; 
watch band; identification 
bracelet 
- mont, mont - wrist-watch 
brasman n. mixing together, 
jumbling 
brason see bwason 
brasri n. brewery 
brasyè n. band, strip 
brav adj. brave, courageous, daring 
pran pôz ~ to swagger 
brave v. to confront, face, dare, defy 
bravedanje (reskonsab malè) n. 
daredevil 
bravo, bwavo interj. hurrah! bravo! 
cheers! n. cheers, applause 
bat ~ (lakontantman) to applaud, 
clap; to cheer, praise, approve of 
fè tranble ak ~ to overwhelm 
with praise 
mande - to ask for praise 
bravou n. bravery, courage 
bravte n. bravery, daring 
Brawad see Bwowad 
bray see bway 
Bray n. Braille 
braye v. to yell, shout; to leave/be 
unbuttoned; n. loudmouth; 
brawler 
~ dan to laugh 
Brazavilprop.n. Brazzaville 
(People's Republic of the Congo, 
Congo-Brazzaville) 
Brazilyaprop.n. Brasilia (Brazil) 
brazye n. blaze; inferno 
bre n. bitumen 
brè see bwè 
- kôb to live it up, relax, have a 
good time 
brebi n. [Fr.] ewe; sheep, disciple 
m 
brèch n. breach, gap, notch, nick 
breche v. to notch, nick, chip 
brèd n. nightshade (plant) 
Breda prop.n. Breda (birthplace of 
Toussaint Louverture, near Cape-
Haitian, Dept. North) 
Tousen - original name of 
Toussaint Louverture (see Tousen 
Louvèti) 
brèf adj. brief, short, concise; 
rough, rowdy, boisterous; 
reckless; adv. quickly; in short 
brek n. [Eng.] break, pause; break, 
chance, opportunity; break 
dancing, hip hop (music) 
fren ~ brake(s) (of vehicle) 
brekdawoun n. [Eng.] (mechanical) 
breakdown 
brekè n. break dancer 
brekfas n. [Eng.] breakfast 
131 
brelôk - brezo 
brelok n. charm (for bracelet or 
chain) 
bren n. guy if am.) 
ti - little guy; tiny bit, very little 
bren, brenn, brin, labren, labrèn, 
labrenn, labrin n. twilight, dusk; 
adj. light brown, light coffee color 
(person's skin) 
- fèmen, - fèt, - mare, fè - dusk 
falls 
- lespwa ray of hope 
gwo - dawn; twilight 
nan ~ ignorant, in the dark 
brenbale v. to swing, wave; to ring, 
make resound 
brenboryon n. futility; red-tape, 
useless complication; insignificant 
thing 
brendeng, brending see briding 
breng, bring n. healthy young adult 
brenhany see branrany 
brenn n. brains, intelligence, good 
judgment, discernment; gal if am.) 
gen - nan ko li to be intelligent 
gen ~ sou li to be brave, be 
courageous 
mete ~ (li) deyô to put one's mind 
to work 
Mete - sou ou! Use your brain! 
Get smart! 
brennay n. twilight, dusk 
brennen see brannen 
brenzeng, brennzeng, bwenzeng, 
bwenzenn: 
an ~ drunk; animated; irritated, 
annoyed 
mete sou - to animate, excite 
sou ~ li in a good mood, in good 
shape; vibrantly alive or active; 
aroused, agitated, inflamed; drunk 
breson see bwason 
bresonnyè, bresonyè see 
bwasonnyè 
brèt n. var. of sandal; see bwat 
Bretay, Labretay prop.n. Brittany 
(France) 
brete see bwete 
bretè n. fighting cock; scrapper, 
bully, roughneck; swordsman 
bretèl, brètèl n. suspenders; 
(shoulder) strap 
wout ~ connecting street or road 
breton n. praline (of corn and 
syrup); prop.n./adj. Breton; see 
beton 
bretonnen see betonnen 
brevay, brevaj, bwevaj n. beverage 
brevè n. vocationally-oriented 
secondary school lasting three to 
four years; diploma (from same); 
breviary; patent 
bay - to give a prize 
- senp diploma awarded for two 
successful years of study beyond 
elementary school 
- siperyè diploma awarded for 
three successful years of study 
beyond elementary school 
brevyè n. breviary 
brèy n. donkey/mule used to turn 
millwheel 
Breya see Lakoubreya 
brèz n. embers, burning pieces of 
wood or charcoal; fence 
leve - to fence in (field etc.) 
Brezilprop.n. Brazil 
Brezilyen prop.n., Brezilyèn 
f.prop.n. Brazilian 
Brezilyèn prop.n. Brésilienne (1st 
communal section of Bainet, 
Dept. South-East) 
breziyè n. guao tree 
breziyèt see bouziyèt 
brezo n. bow tie 
132 
BRH - brikouri 
BRH acron. Bank Repiblik Dayiti 
(Banque de la République 
d'Haïti) Central Bank of Haiti 
bri, bwi n. noise, sound, rumbling; 
rumor 
- kouri (nouvèl gaye) the word 
spreads 
- sapat meaningless talk 
fè - to quarrel, squabble 
kouri - (deyô) to circulate 
rumors 
san - san/ni kont quietly, without 
fanfare; without further ado 
(yon) - kouri there is a rumor 
brid n. bridle; rein 
- abati all out, hell for leather 
- sou kou see bridsoukou 
lage - bay to give free rein to 
lage - kenbe ke to go from bad to 
worse, mess up; var. of children's 
game 
bride v. to bridle; to restrain, censor 
briding, brendeng, brending, 
bridim, bridin, brinding v. to 
frighten, scare; to budge; to move, 
affect 
- ko li to budge 
pa - not to budge, be steadfast 
bridj n. bridge (card game); (dental) 
bridge 
Bridjtawn prop.n. Bridgetown 
(Barbados) 
bridsoukou adj. immediate; quick, 
hasty, sudden, abrupt; adv. 
immediately, quickly, hastily, 
suddenly 
brigad n. brigade; cooperative work 
team; (alcoholic) drink 
- vijilans neighborhood watch or 
defense group 
jeneral - brigadier-general 
yon - many 
brigadye n. squad member; member 
of neighborhood watch group 
brigan n. bandit, outlaw, criminal; 
bad guy; rascal, scoundrel; adj. 
unruly, undisciplined 
briganday, brigandaj n. (armed) 
robbery, banditry; disorder, mess; 
brawl, noise, disarray; riot; 
insurrection; carousing, drinking; 
vagrancy, delinquency 
fè - to make noise, misbehave 
brigande v. to misbehave, clown 
around 
brigo n. gastropod mollusk (var. of 
conch shell) 
Brijit, Grann Brijit, Manman 
Brijit, Manmzèl Brijit prop.n. 
Voodoo spirit: consort of Bawon 
Samdi 
brik n. brick; long bar of laundry 
soap; cement brick 
brikabrak n. pawnshop; general 
store; bric-a-brac, knickknacks; 
adv. helter-skelter, disorderly, 
without care 
mete nan - , ale nan - , pote nan 
- to pawn, hock 
brikal n. machete; pinon, coral bean 
tree 
brike v. to clean, scrub 
brikè n. cigarette lighter 
gaz - (cigarette-)lighter fluid 
brikèt n. briquet, home-made 
substitute charcoal block 
- tôch torch striker 
brikol n. sash (worn over shoulder) 
brikolay, brikolaj n. improvising, 
winging it, doing s.thg. any old 
way 
brikole v. to tangle with, fight with 
brikolè n. jack-of-all-trades 
brikouri n. diarrhea 
Briksèl - briz 
Briksèl see Brisèl 
brilan adj. sharp, biting, caustic 
brile v. to burn, scorch; to burn, 
irritate; n. burning; see boule 
brilè n. burner 
- Bennzenn Bunsen burner 
(chem.) 
brilfè see brisfè 
brili n. burn; burning 
brilo n. home-remedy for sore 
throat (alcohol, lime juice, sugar 
etc.) 
brimad n. whack; punishment, 
scolding, rebuff; problems, 
suffering; hazing (to initiate new 
student, Freemason etc.) 
fè - to mistreat 
brime v. to bother, hinder, impede 
brin see breu 
brinay, brinaj n. drizzle, sprinkle, 
light rain 
brinding see briding 
brinen v. to drizzle, sprinkle, rain 
lightly 
brineny adj. sterile (animal) 
brinèt, labrinèt f.n. light-skinned 
woman (darker than a grimèl) 
Brineyiprop.n. Brunei 
bring see breng 
brini v. to brown, darken, tan 
Brino (madan) prop.n. Carnival 
figure of man dressed as woman 
Kay madan ~ traditional 
children's song 
brip adj. abrupt; onomat. sound of 
sudden stop, sound of brakes 
screeching 
bris adj. abrupt, unexpected, 
sudden; brief, fast; adv. abruptly, 
unexpectedly, suddenly; briefly, 
rapidly, fast; n. highest cards in 
besique (tens and aces) 
brisak n. sack, bag; bookbag; 
knapsack; belly 
Brisèl, Briksèl prop.n. Brussels 
(Belgium) 
brisfè, brilfè n. destructive or 
hyperactive child; klutz, clumsy 
person 
briske v. to be curt or brusque with 
s.o. 
briskeman adv. abruptly, suddenly, 
unexpectedly 
bristôl n. poster board, heavy 
cardboard 
brit adj. rough, coarse, unpolished; 
crude, impolite, harsh; gross 
(profit) 
britaj, britay n. sound effects 
brital adj. brutal, violent, rough; 
abrupt; n. bear, churl, lout 
fè ~ to become violent 
britalite n. brutality 
britalize v. to rough up, mistreat, 
abuse 
britalman adv. brutally, roughly 
Britanik, Britannik prop.n. 
Britisher; prop.adj. British 
britay see britaj 
briyan adj. bright, brilliant, shining; 
n. luster 
briyans n. brilliance, brilliancy 
briyantsolèy adj. bright, radiant, 
shiny; clever 
briye v. to shine, sparkle, glitter; to 
stand out, excel 
Briyè (Jan-Fènan) prop.n. Brierre 
(Jean-Fernand) - Haitian poet (b. 
1909) 
briyèch n. brioche 
briyèl n. red ironwood, darling 
plum (small tree); serrette guava 
(tree) 
briz, labriz n. breeze 
brizay - bwa 
briz van windbreak 
brizay, brizaj n. breaking, 
smashing 
brize v. [Fr.] to break, smash 
- nos to divorce, separate 
pat ~ pie crust 
Brize prop.n. Voodoo spirit of 
Petwo rite 
gen yon lwa ~ sou li klutz, 
butterfmgers, to be s.o. who 
breaks everything he/she touches 
brizè n. destroyer, demolisher 
brizfè n. "bull in a china shop," 
clumsy person; destructive person 
(esp. child) 
brizi n. bits, scraps; rubble, waste 
stones; scrap iron 
an - dismayed, dispirited 
brizyèt n. var. of med. herb 
BUH acron. Bank Linyon Ayisyen 
(Banque de l'Union Haïtienne) 
Bank of the Haitian Union 
BV abbrev. (Biwo Vôt) polling 
station 
bwa n. wood; tree, timber; board, 
lumber; trunk, log; stem; stick; 
rod; antler; woods, forest; 
backwoods, remote area; boy, man 
(fam.); penis; adj. wooden; see 
bra; janm; tim 
ale - chat to kick the bucket, die 
an ~ wooden 
anba ~ to be in trouble 
bay - to beat, give a beating to; to 
prop up; to speed up, give her the 
gas (car etc.); to have sex 
bay ~ mitan to shake repeatedly 
(kite) 
bay ti ~ kenbe to fool, cheat (s.o. 
out of s.thg.), exploit 
bay yon ~ long kenbe to rebuff, 
turn away (s.o.); to keep (s.o.) at 
arm's length 
bay yon kout - to screw (sexual 
intercourse) 
bèt ~ uncivilized person; shy 
person; wild animal 
- a pral mare things are 
beginning, things are getting 
started 
~ alimèt matchstick 
~ bale broomstick, broom handle; 
saltbush, water wally; very skinny 
person 
~ bourik bamboo flute (same as 
vaksin, q.v.) 
~ chabon wood for making 
charcoal 
- chapant timber; lumber 
~ chat see bwachat 
~ chèch dry wood; marasmus, 
extreme undernourishment; see 
tim 
- chwal seesaw 
~ de janm stilts 
- dèyè bannann backing, 
support, influence 
~ dife burning ember; firewood 
- drapo flagpole 
- fil spool 
~ fouye dugout canoe 
- gra firewood 
- grandi/kole sou do li to grow 
up illiterate 
- jouman abuse, tongue-lashing, 
berating, insult; swearing, 
cussing, abusive language; stigma, 
blemish; reproach, taint, stain 
- kase! timber! (warning sound 
or signal) 
~ katim see kachimbo 
~ ke tail, rear end 
- kok center stem of coconut leaf; 
see bwakôk 
bwa - bwa 
- kou neck 
- lakre piece of chalk 
- linèt frames (of eye-glasses) 
- makak club, stick, bat 
- mayi corncob 
- mitan centerpost, central pillar 
(same as poto mitan); mainstay, 
chief support 
- nan makout hopeless dreamer 
- nan nen clothes-pin put on nose 
or ear of loser in card game 
- nèf recently cleared land 
- nen nose; nasal bone, bridge of 
nose 
- pip pipe (for smoking) 
- piwo "beanpole" (fam. for a 
very tall person); outstanding 
person (fam.) 
- ponyèt (upper) arm, biceps 
- (pou) dife firewood 
- pwonmennen wanderer, 
roamer, stroller 
- san fèy same as - piwo 
- sévis (any) sacred tree (Voodoo) 
- sou - var. parasitical plant 
- sou nen card game where loser 
must wear piece of slit bamboo on 
nose 
- sovaj wilderness 
- tèlman mare things are so tight, 
financial conditions are so 
desperate 
- w o n dugout canoe; (wood) 
dowel rod 
- zaboka! see tim 
fè - to cut or gather wood 
gen - dèyè bannann to have 
backing, have independent 
support 
gwo bout - log, beam 
gwo - big shot, VIP 
kase ti - nan zôrèy to tell sweet 
nothings; to try to seduce, put the 
moves on 
kè li monte - he is anxious, 
worried 
ki - (yon moun/yon bèt) chofe 
what stuff (s.o.) is made of, the 
measure of (s.o.'s) worth 
mèt - , wa - var. parasitical plant 
mete anba - to beat; to get a 
beating 
mete - nan nen to outdo, 
dominate 
mete - pou yon moun to give 
s.o. a beating; to screw s.o., have 
sex with s.o. 
mete - sou to beat down, 
intimidate 
monte - to roost; to go sky-high; 
to be hard to find 
pase anba - to beat; to get a 
beating 
pran (yon) - to flee, escape; to 
take to the hills, go into hiding, go 
underground; to receive a beating; 
to have sex (woman) 
pran - li ofon to endure s.thg. 
rale - to pull (out) a weapon 
ti (bout) - twig 
ti - small reed flute; kindling 
wood 
ti - chinwa chopsticks 
ti - lyann withe, tough supple 
twig 
ti - pa ti - step by step, gradually 
vide - sou to beat with a stick 
wa - see mèt -
Bwa: 
- (Plenn) Arbre Plain (Dept. 
North-West) 
fô - Fort des Bois (Dept. 
Grand'Anse) 
bwa ajan n. mustard shrub, caper tree 
136 
bwa anjou - bwafeyblanch 
bwa anjou n. candle wood shrub 
bwa anmè n. bitterwood tree 
bwa arada n. caracolillo, gaita, 
ramoncillo (tree) 
bwabale n. saltbush, water wally; 
broomstick, broom handle; very 
skinny person 
bwabande n. jewbush, ironwood 
bwablan n. bitterwood tree; 
zapatero, West-Indian boxwood; 
fire bush, pepper bush 
ti - Florida boxwood 
Bwablan prop.n. Bois-Blanc (2nd 
communal section of Sainte-
Suzanne, Dept. North-East) 
bwabourik n. sapa, rat bean, church 
blossom (bot.); see bwa bourik 
bwabouwo n. leadtree 
bwabrilan n. gum tree, milkwood 
tree 
bwachandèl n. candelabre-shaped 
cactus; torchwood tree, 
candlewood tree; any pinewood 
(for making fire) 
bwachat n. "the other world," "the 
great beyond" 
ale moute - to kick the bucket, 
die 
voye (al) ~ to rub out, kill 
bwachik n. cereza (bot.) 
bwadan n. toothpick; brushstick 
(piece of stem or wood used as 
toothbrush) 
pa pran m fè m sévi - ou I 'm no 
doormat 
tounen ~ to make a fool of 
bwadanmawon n. spiderflower 
bwadantèl n. lacebark tree, Indian 
lace tree; small crop or whip 
bwadchenn, bwatchenn n. 
oakwood 
Bwadchenn, Bwadchèn (kannal) 
prop.n. Bois-de-Chêne canal 
(crossing PaP) 
koridô - passageway between rue 
Capois and avenue Christophe 
near Champ-de-Mars, PaP 
bwadenn, bwadèn n. cordia, geiger 
tree 
- franse bay rum tree 
- mawon var. of tree 
(ternstroemia peduncularis) 
bwadife n. firewood; ember; torch 
bwadin n. rose apple tree 
bwadlans n. lancewood tree 
Bwadlansprop.n. Bois-de-Lance 
(2nd communal section of 
Limonade, Dept. North; 2nd 
communal section of Ranquitte, 
Dept. North) 
Bwadlorens see Bwalorens 
bwadnô n. high-quality wood used 
in construction 
bwadôm n. bastard cedar 
Bwadôm prop.n. Bois-d'Orme (2nd 
communal section of Anse-à-
Pitre, Dept. South-East; 
community near Plaisance, Dept. 
North) 
bwadoti n. fiddlewood tree 
- wouj var. of tree (carpodiptera 
cubensic) 
bwadoulè n. Indian mulberry (shrub 
or small tree) 
bwadsèd n. cedar wood 
bwadyou n. wild rose apple tree 
bwa ekôs n. cohoba tree 
bwa enivre n. Surinam poison 
(plant) 
bwafè n. ironwood (tree); tough guy 
bwafèblan n. colubrina (shrub) 
bwafetid n. caper tree 
bwafèyblanch n. beaverwood tree, 
one-berry tree, hackberry tree 
137 
bwafd - bwamajô 
bwafil n. spool 
bwaflo n. balsa tree; float, life-saver 
(for swimmers) 
bwafoumi n. ant's-wood (shrub) 
bwafouye, bwawon n. dugout 
canoe 
bwafrenn n. ash tree 
bwagal n. cohoba tree 
bwagèp n. fire bush, pepper bush 
bwagrenn nwa n. doncella tree 
bwagrigri n. yellow sanders, 
granadilla wood tree 
bwahany see branrany 
bwa imôtèl n. coral bean tree, 
bucare tree 
bwajanbèt n. golden dewdrop, 
duranta, pigeonberry (shrub) 
bwajèn n. fustic tree, dyer's 
mulberry tree 
bwakabrit n. senna tree 
bwakaka n. mustard shrub, caper 
tree 
bwakalson, bwakanson, 
bwatigason, bwatikalson, 
bwatikanson, ti kanson n. 
mountain ebony tree 
Bwakamèl prop.n. Bois-Camelle 
(1st communal section of Carice, 
Dept. North-East) 
bwakanpèch see kanpèch 
Bwakarade prop.n. Bois-Caradeux 
(area of PaP east of Delmas) 
bwakasav n. loblolly tree 
bwakase n. cassia tree 
bwakayiman n. bitterwood, black 
cabbage-bark tree 
Bwa Kayiman prop.n. Bois 
Cayman (site of Boukman 
Ceremony of 14 August 1791 -
Dept. North) 
bwakle see bwaple 
bwakochon n. hogbush; var. sexual 
stimulant 
bwakôdenn, bwakôk n. 
parrotweed, celandine 
bwakôk n. breakaxe tree, ironwood 
tree 
bwakôn n. locustberry shrub 
bwakoray n. wild sage (shrub of 
vervain family) 
bwakôtlèt n. Florida plum, Guiana 
plum (shrub or small tree) 
bwakou, zo bwakou n. neck, 
neckbone 
bwakoulèv n. black ironwood, 
inkwood (shrub) 
bwakrapo n. dovewood 
bwalafyèv n. nakedwood tree, 
snakebark tree 
bwalajan n. mustard shrub, caper 
tree 
Bwalans prop.n. communal section 
of Dept. North 
bwalavi n. lignum vitae tree, tree of 
life 
bwalèt n. gum tree, milkwood tree 
bwaletèl n. fever-root, horse gentian 
(herb) 
bwaliben n. yacca tree 
Bwalo prop.n. Boileau (1st 
communal section of Cavaillon, 
Dept. South) 
Bwalorens, Bwadlorens prop.n. 
Bois-Laurence (2nd communal 
section of Mombin-Crochu, Dept. 
North-East) 
bwamab(re) n. poisonwood tree, 
crabwood tree 
bwamabèl n. brunellia tree 
bwamabi n. soldier wood 
bwamago n. black olive tree, wild 
olive tree; yellow sanders, 
granadilla wood tree 
bwamajô n. jointwood tree 
138 
bwamari - bwapwav 
bwamari n. calaba tree, Santa-
Maria tree 
bwamawon n. Jamaica cherry tree 
bwamerèz, bwameris n. bastard 
breadnut tree 
bwamilat n. hog gum tree, black 
poisonwood tree 
bwamilèt n. black ironwood, 
inkwood (shrub) 
bwamit n. red stopper, rodwood, 
spiceberry (small tree or shrub) 
Bwamokèt prop.n. Bois-Moquette 
(section of Pétion-Ville) 
bwamoutad n. caper tree (shrub) 
bwanago n. ebano tree 
bwanannon n. coral tree 
bwanèf n. recently cleared land 
Bwanèfprop.n. Bois-Neuf (1st 
communal section of Saint-
Raphaël, Dept. North; 2nd 
communal section of Saint-Marc, 
Dept. Artibonite; 2nd communal 
section of Terre-Neuve, Dept. 
Artibonite) 
letan - Etang Bois-Neuf (small 
lake between St. Marc and 
Délugé, Dept. Artibonite) 
bwanèg n. var. of med. plant 
(allophyllus rigidus) 
bwanegès n. wild sarsaparilla (vine 
or shrub) 
bwanivre n. Surinam poison (plant) 
bwanize n. fennel (herb) 
bwanouvo n. dezombified person 
bwanwa n. yaya tree, lancewood 
tree, chaparro tree; lebbek tree 
bwap onomat. sound to express 
sudden movement 
bwapal n. bloodwood tree, 
corkwood tree, dragon's blood 
tree 
bwapalmis n. cabbage barktree, 
angelin tree, worm bark tree 
bwapànye(n) n. basket withe (vine) 
bwapanyol n. maiden plum tree; 
black plum tree 
bwapatat n. shining stenostomum 
(bot.) 
Bwapatat prop.n. Bois-Patate 
(wealthy residential area of PaP) 
bwapele n. colubrina (shrub) 
bwapen n. pine; pine-wood for 
making fire; torch 
- Ostrali Australian pine, 
horsetail tree 
Bwapen prop.n. Bois-Pin (4th 
communal section of Bahon, 
Dept. North) 
mon - Mount Bois-Pin -
mountain (2,235 meters) between 
Fond-Verrettes (Dept. West) and 
Grand-Gosier (Dept. South-East); 
mountain in Depts. North-East 
and Center 
bwapijon n. pigeonwood tree 
bwapini, bwapine n. prickly 
yellowwood tree, yellow prickle 
tree, yellow Hercules tree 
Var.: - blan, - jôn 
bwapiwo n. "beanpole" (fam. for a 
very tall person); outstanding 
person (fam.) 
bwaple, bwakle n. Florida 
boxwood, coffee colubrina, 
snake-bark (used for washing); cf. 
kapab 
bwaplim n. pen (pej.); penholder 
bwaplon n. lead tree 
Bwapou prop.n. Bois-Poux (2nd 
communal section of Mont-
Organisé, Dept. North-East) 
bwapoulèt n. bunchosia (bot.) 
bwapwav n. nakedwood tree, 
snakebark tree 
139 
bwapwazon - bwate 
bwapwazon n. bitterbush (shrub or 
small tree) 
bwapyan n. mustard shrub, caper 
tree 
bwarav n. caper tree (shrub) 
bware n. beaverwood tree, one-
berry tree, hackberry tree 
bwarèd n. pigeonwood tree, ebano 
tree 
bwas [N.] see bras 
bwasadin n. box brier, inkberry 
(shrub) 
bwasanti n. stinkwood tree 
bwasatànye n. loblolly tree 
bwasavann n. fiddlewood tree; lead 
tree; ebano tree 
bwasavonnèt n. soapberry tree 
bwasay see brasay 
bwase see brase 
bwasèd n. cedar 
bwasen n. lignum vitae tree, tree of 
life 
bwasenegal n. mustard shrub, caper 
tree 
bwasezisman n. yellow oleander 
(shrub or small tree) 
bwasiwo n. var. of plant 
bwaso n. [Bible] container for 
measuring grain, flour etc. 
equivalent to seven liters 
bwasôlda n. soldierwood (shrub) 
bwason, brason, breson, bweson 
n. beverage, drink 
anba ~ li, sou ~ li drunk 
bwasonnyè, bresonnyè, bresonyè, 
bwasonyè, bwesonmann, 
bwesonnyè, bwesonyè n. 
drunkard, alcoholic 
bwasougrenn n. jerk, bum 
bwasoumi n. Spanish elm tree, 
princewood tree 
bwaswa n. Florida trema tree 
bwat, brèt, bwèt n. box; (tin) can; 
container; jar; carton, case; trunk' 
trash-bin; office 
- a gan glove compartment (car); 
cf. ti kof devan 
- denwi night club 
~ elektrik fuse box 
- fatra trash basket; garbage can, 
trash can 
~ fèblan tin can; canned goods 
- fizib fuse box 
- frigo cooler 
- gaz gas sterilizer 
- glas cooler 
- katon carton 
- konsèv tin can; canned goods 
- Kontra Ark, chest containing 
the Ten Commandments [Bible] 
~ koze repertory of jokes or 
stories 
- (a) lèt mailbox {for mailing or 
for receiving mail) 
- leta government office 
- lespri mind 
~ myèl beehive 
~ nan do thieving, crooked 
- postal post-office box 
- savon soap-dish 
~ sekrè piggybank; safe (for 
securing valuables); close-
mouthed or secretive person 
~ switch, ~ swis electric switch 
box 
~ volan power-steering gear box 
gwo - crate 
bwatannis wouj n. elephant's ear 
tree, mulatto ear tree 
bwatapanna(n) n. var. of wood 
Bwat Kontra (Seyè) prop.n. [Bible] 
Ark of the Covenant 
bwatchenn see bwadchenn 
bwate see bwete 
140 
bwatèt - bwè 
bwatèt, zo bwatèt n. skull, cranium 
bwatifèy n. Spanish stopper tree 
bwatigason, bwatikalson, 
bwatikanson see bwakalson 
bwatmèl n. mailbox 
bwatranble n. var. of plant 
(didymopanax tremulum) 
bwatwonpèt n. trumpet tree 
bwatye n. computer processing unit 
bwavach n. dovewood 
Bwavèna prop.n. Bois-Verna 
(middle-class residential area of 
PaP); name often used for Avenue 
Lamartinière (PaP) 
bwavo see bravo 
bwawayal n. bastard cherry, 
stinging bush, cow itch bush 
bwawon see bwafouye 
Bwawon-Tonnè (Lwi) prop.n. 
Boisrond-Tonnerre (Louis), 
author of the Haitian Declaration 
of Independence (1776-1806) 
bwawouj n. muskwood tree 
Bwawouj prop.n. Bois-Rouge 
(Dept. Center) 
bwawoz n. cogwood, greenheart, 
Jamaica laurel (tree - same as 
kaserach) 
bway, bray n. (small) boy; servant 
boy 
bwaya see bwouya 
bwayaj n. grinding, crushing 
Bwaye (Jan-Pyè) prop.n. Boyer 
(Jean-Pierre) (1787-1850) -
president of Haiti, 1818-1843 
bwazamou n. allspice 
bwazanmi n. stinkwood tree 
bwazaren n. var. of fish 
bwaze, bweze v. to flee, run away, 
take to the woods; to go into 
hiding, go undercover; adj. 
wooded, covered with trees 
~ kite to clear out, leave 
bwazri n. wood-working, carpentry 
bwe n. buoy, float 
bwè, brè v. to drink; to absorb 
liquid, soak up (plants, floor, 
walls etc.); to take (pills, 
medicine); to evaporate; to 
swallow (an insult etc.); to cheat, 
take (s.o.) in; to put out of 
business; to suffer; to give up, 
concede; to abduct, kill; to abort 
voluntarily; to gather (material) 
bay ~ fool, sucker; horse groomer 
bay - sou tèt li to be duped, be 
fooled 
~ dlo to take on water, spring a 
leak (boat); to fail, flop, lose out, 
bite the dust, fall flat 
~ dlo menm kote to be birds of a 
feather, be alike 
~ gaz to exaggerate 
~ kob to live it up 
~ kola renmèt boutèy to sleep 
around, change sex partners 
frequently 
~ kou tafyatè to drink like a fish 
~ krèm to eat ice-cream 
~ lwil to lose out, break down, go 
under, bite the dust, fall flat 
~ prizon to go to jail; to do time 
in jail 
~ pwa to give up, concede 
~ san to exploit mercilessly 
~ soup sou tèt (yon moun) to be 
much taller than (s.o.); to outdo 
(s.o.), be better than (s.o.) 
~ wout to walk a lot, walk a long 
distance; to walk rapidly or run 
~ (yon) grenn to take a pill 
~ yon sèl kou to drink in a single 
gulp 
- yon (tas) kafe anmè ak/ 
141 
bwèlta - bwonze 
ansanm to quarrel, fight (it out) 
pa - nan menm vè not to follow 
suit, not be like-minded 
vin - lèt li pa vin konte bèf to 
mind one's own business 
bwèlta, vwèlta n. walk, stroll 
fè yon - to go for a walk, wander 
bwen see byen 
Bwenozè, Bwenôs Ayirès prop.n. 
Buenos Aires (Argentina) 
bwenzeng, bwenzenn see 
brenzeng 
bweson see bwason 
bwesonmann see bwasonnyè 
bwesonnyè, bwesonyè see 
bwasonnyè 
bwesovtaj n. life preserver, life 
buoy 
bwèt see bwat 
bwete, brete, bwate v. to limp; adj. 
lame 
mache - to limp 
maladi - var. of poultry disease 
bwevaj see brevay 
bwèy see doumbrèy 
bweze see bwaze 
bwi n. boxwood; see bri 
ti - polygala (large herb or shrub) 
bwôch n. brooch; spit (for roasting), 
skewer, brochette 
bwochè, boche, bochèt, bwoche n. 
snook (fish) 
bwôchèt n. shish kebab 
bwochi n. booklet, brochure, 
pamphlet 
bwochit see bwonch 
bwôd n. pretense; see bwôdè 
bwode, bode v. to embroider; to put 
on airs, swagger, show off; adj. 
cultured 
~ pase pis dressed to kill 
~ sou to embellish, exaggerate; to 
bad-mouth (s.o.) 
fè — to strut, show off, put on airs 
be pretentious or ostentatious 
bwôdè, bôdè n. elegance, class, 
style 
- razè flashy but penniless, s.o. 
who put on a big/false front but is 
really broke 
bwôdè, bôdè adj., bwôdèz, bôdèz 
f.adj. fancy, elegant, chic, classy, 
dressed up; cocky, affected; adv. 
affectedly 
fè - to strut, show off, put on airs, 
be pretentious or ostentatious 
bwodken see bodken 
Bwodken prop.n. Brodequin (3rd 
communal section of Aquin, Dept. 
South) 
bwodri, bodri n. embroidery 
fè - to embroider 
Bwôdwe prop.n. Broadway (New 
York City) 
bwokè n. [Eng.] broker, agent, 
middleman 
bwôkèt see klou bôkèt 
bwokoli, boukoli n. broccoli 
~ komèt vèt green comet broccoli 
- lanperè emperor broccoli 
- premyôm kwôp premium crop 
broccoli 
bwôm n. bromine 
bwonch, bonch, bwochit, 
bwonchit n. bronchial tube, 
bronchi; bronchitis 
fè - to have bronchitis 
bwonche v. [Fr.] to falter, flinch 
bwonchit n. bronchitis 
Bwonks prop.n. Bronx (New York) 
bwonning n. automatic revolver 
bwonselosis see bwouselosis 
bwonz n. bronze 
bwonze v. to bronze; to tan (in sun); 
142 
bwoz - byen 
adj. tan; sunburned 
bwôs, bôs n. brush; scrub brush; 
(chalkboard) eraser 
- abi, ~ rad clothesbrush 
- dan, bwosadan toothbrush 
- metalik wire brush 
~ tèt, ~ cheve hairbrush 
kout - brushing 
pase ~ to brush 
Bwosaprop.n. Brossard (Dept. 
Grand'Anse) 
bwosadan n. toothbrush 
bwosay n. brushing 
bwose, bose, bwoste v. to brush; to 
brush up, improve 
~ yon tablo to paint a picture 
(fig*) 
bwostè: 
kok ~ fighting cock which has a 
secret tactic 
Bwotaj prop.n. Brostage (1st 
communal section of Dondon, 
Dept. North) 
bwotay, botay n. moving, change of 
residence 
bwote, bote v. to move (one's 
belongings), move in, change 
residence; to carry away/off, wash 
away; to haul, transport; to skid; 
to plunder, loot 
~ ale/pote, ~ pote ale to move 
away; to carry away, carry off, 
sweep away/along 
~ desann to sweep away (topsoil 
etc.) 
~ dlo ak kiyè pou plen kannari 
to spit in the sea to raise the 
water-level 
~ dlo nan paswa, ~ woch konble 
lanmè to do s.thg. in vain, do 
s.thg. for nothing; to engage in 
self-defeating action 
~ jete to wash away, erode 
~ vini to move in 
~ yon moun (nan prizon) to take 
s.o. to jail, arrest s.o. 
bwotè n. hauler, transporter 
Bwouklin, Bouklin prop.n. 
Brooklyn (disadvantaged area of 
Site-Solèy q.v.); Brooklyn (New 
York) 
bwousay, bousay n. underbrush, 
brushwood 
bwouselosis, bwonselosls n. 
brucellosis 
Bwouwa (Kal) prop.n. Brouard 
(Carl) - Haitian poet (1902-1965) 
bwouwèt see bourèt 
bwouy n. quarrel, falling-out, 
misunderstanding, estrangement 
bwouya, bouya, bwaya n. fog; 
smog 
bwouyaj, bwouy ay see bouyay 
bwouye v. to mix up, confuse; to 
mess up 
Bwowad, Brawad prop.n. Broward 
County (Florida) 
Byasou, Biyasou prop.n. Biassou 
(one of early leaders of Haitian 
Revolution) 
bye, byè n. bias tape, bias strip, 
braid, piping 
an ~ see anbye 
byè n. beer, ale; see bye 
~ peyi home-made brew 
pa - de by means of, using the 
expedient of 
byèl, pye byèl n. connecting-rod 
(automobile) 
Byeloris prop.n./adj. Belarussian, 
Belorussian (people; language) 
Byelorisiprop.n. Belarus, 
Belorussia, White Russia 
byen, ben, bwen, byenman n. 
143 
byen - byennèt 
wealth, property, possessions, 
assets, goods; inheritance; 
welfare, benefit, well-being, good; 
right; adj. fine; well-off, 
prosperous; happy, content; on 
good terms (with s.o.); wealthy; 
safe; adv. well; safely; very, really, 
quite; distinctly 
ban m sa ~ give it to me straight, 
tell me the whole story 
~ ak to be on good terms with; to 
be sexually intimate with 
~ edike well-bred, courteous 
~ fèt well-made; to be right (to 
have done s.thg.) 
~ fonde validity, soundness, 
justification 
~ imèb, ~ imobilye land, real 
estate holding (jur. ) 
~ kou mal anyway, in any case; 
more or less, so so; carelessly, 
irresponsibly 
~ Leta up for grabs, ready for 
plundering 
~ mèb personal property (jur.: ) 
~ mal quite ill 
~ miné inherited property 
remaining undivided within same 
family; property normally bought 
and sold only within same family 
~ pansan exemplary, 
conscientious 
~ pw6p properly, in good shape, 
very well; full well; very clean; all 
right 
~ san swe something for nothing; 
ill-gotten gains 
~ veni!, ~ vini! welcome! 
chaje ~ very wealthy 
fè ~ to give charity, do good 
works 
nan ~ ak on good terms with. 
associating with 
pa gen - pou li wè to have no 
good outcome; not to get away 
with s.thg. 
pou ~ di ou to tell you the truth, 
actually 
pran ~ ak to take good care of 
se ~ (it's) ok 
vin ~ (ak) to become friends with; 
to become lovers 
byenere adj. blessed, blest, 
fortunate 
byenfè n. benefit; kindness, favor, 
good deed 
byenfektè, byenfetè n. benefactor, 
patron 
bvenfezan adj. beneficial, kindly 
byenfezans n. charity, beneficence 
byenfonde n. [Fr.] justification, 
validation 
byenke conj. although, even though 
byenman see byen 
byennantandi adv. [Fr.] of course, 
it is understood; to tell you the 
truth 
byennanvan adv. much earlier, well 
before 
byennelve adj. polite, well-
behaved, well-mannered, 
courteous 
byenneme n. (dearly) beloved 
person; adj. beloved 
byennere adj., byennerèz f.adj. 
carefree, fortunate, well-off; 
happy; lucky; blessed 
- Sen Jan Batis happy-go-lucky 
person 
byennèt n. welfare, well-being, 
good; happiness 
Byennèt Sosyal Department of 
Social Welfare 
nan ~ well-off, in a favorable 
144 
position 
pran (yon moun) nan - to have a 
forced marriage 
byennèz n. well-being 
byennseyans see byenseyans 
byennwa n. muffin 
byenpetèt adv: maybe 
byenpôtan adj. healthy, robust 
byenseyan adj. decent, modest 
byenseyans, byennseyans, 
labyennseyans n. decency, 
modesty; proper etiquette 
byento adv. [Fr.] soon, shortly 
byenveni!, bonvini!, byenvini! 
interj. welcome!; see labyenveni 
byenveyans n. benevolence, 
goodwill, kindness 
byenvini v. to be of average height 
or taller; adj. well-developed; 
interj. welcome! 
swete (yon moun) - to welcome 
(s.o.) 
byeze adj. facing each other; v. to 
have sex 
byochimi, biyochimi n. 
biochemistry 
byochimis, biyochimis n. 
biochemist 
byodivèsite, biyodivèsite n. 
biodiversity 
byofizik, biyofizik n. biophysics 
byograf, biyograf n. biographer 
byografi, biyografi n. biography 
byografik, biyografik adj. 
biographical 
byoloji, biyoloji n. biology 
byolojik, biyolojik adj. biological 
byolojis, biyolojis n. biologist 
byomedikal, biyomedikal adj. 
biomedical 
byoteknoloji, biyoteknoloji n. 
biotechnology 
byennèz - byoteknoloji 
145 
c -cbachè 
CH 
c (pronounced: se) 
C abbrev. centigrade 
CD acron. [Eng.] {pronounced: 
sede) CD, compact disk 
CEE acron. Kominote Ekonomik 
Ewopeyen (Communauté 
Économique Européenne) 
European Economic Community 
(cf. Linyon Ewopeyen) 
ch! interj. shoo! (to chase chickens 
etc.) 
cha n. carnival float; chariot; tank 
(milit.); shah 
~ blende armored tank {milit.) 
~ daso, ~ lagè tank (milit.) 
~ madigra Mardi Gras float 
chabin, chablin (dore) n. very light-
skinned mulatto (often with 
freckles and reddish hair) 
chabon n. charcoal; (magnetic 
armature) brushes 
bôs ~ charcoal maker or dealer 
bwa ~ trees and bushes used for 
making charcoal 
~ bwa charcoal 
~ dife embers, coals 
~ gayak good quality charcoal 
~ tè coal 
~ ti bwa inferior quality charcoal 
maladi mal ~ anthrax 
chabone v. to burn food; to make 
charcoal 
chabonnèz, chabonèz: 
(la)fyèv ~ anthrax 
chabonnye, chabonye n. charcoal 
maker or dealer 
Chabot prop.n. Chabotte (4th 
communal section of Limbé, Dept. 
North) 
chabrak n. saddle blanket, saddle 
cloth; coarse garment 
(gwo) - rich person, big shot, "fat 
cat"; fatso 
chabranl see chanbrann 
chacha n. cha-cha (dance) 
chachay, chèchay n. searching, quest 
chache see sache 
chache, chèche v. to look for, look, 
seek, (go) get, search for; to 
attempt, try to; to pick up, get 
- chemen lakay to head for home 
~ gen koze ak to put the moves 
on, try to have sex with 
~ konnen to inquire; to investigate 
~ kont to pick a fight; to bother 
s.o., pick on s.o. 
- kote dlo koule pi fre to look for 
one's advantage, seek out the best 
deal 
~ kote lari/lavi fè kwen to get 
out, get away, look for some 
action; to scramble for a living 
~ kou loko vasiye to search far 
and wide 
~ kou zepeng to search 
meticulously 
~ lavi (kote li fè kwen) to (try to) 
make a living, seek a livelihood 
~ li bot to cause s.o. trouble, give 
s.o. a hard time 
~ mwayen to seek a means to 
~ touye tèt li to knock oneself out 
looking for s.thg. 
~ wè to come see 
- yon bagay anlè epi jwenn li atè 
to find on one's own doorstep 
what one sought far and wide 
chachè n. researcher 
147 
chachèdkont - chaje 
chachèdkont, chèchèdkont n. 
troublemaker, aggressor, instigator 
Chada prop.n. Shada 
(disadvantaged area of Cape 
Haitian, Dept. North) 
kafou - Shada crossroads 
(immediately north of PaP, Dept. 
West) 
CHADA acron. SHADA (Société 
Haïtiano-Américaine de 
Développement Agricole) Haitian-
American Organization for 
Agricultural Development) 
lajan - 'easy come easy go,' 
money that comes and goes fast 
chadap v. [Eng.] to shut up, quiet 
down 
chadèk, chadèt n. shaddock, (small, 
sweet var. of) grapefruit 
chadon see chadwon 
Chadonèt prop.n. Chardonnette (6th 
communal section of Corail, Dept. 
Grand'Anse) 
chadonnre n. warbler (bird) 
Chadônyè prop.n. Chardonnières 
(Dept. South) 
Chadônezyen, Kadonezyen 
prop.n., Chadônezyèn, 
Kadonezyèn f.prop.n. inhabitant 
of Chardonnières (Dept. South) 
Chadrakprop.n. [Bible] Shadrach 
chadwon, chadon, chodwon n. sea 
urchin; thistle 
- beni Jamaica yellow thistle 
- kadas cardon cactus 
chaf n. shaft, driveshaft 
santé - driveshaft support 
chafo see echafo 
chafoday, echafoday n. scaffolding 
(when building) 
chafoure n. brawl, fight, scuffle 
chagren n. sorrow, grief, heartbreak; 
depression; adj. sorrowful, 
depressed, downcast, sad; 
homesick 
bay - to afflict, sorrow 
chagrinen v. to cause pain, sorrow 
chagrinman, chagrennman n. 
sorrow, grief 
chaj see chay 
pran an - to take over, assume 
responsibility for 
chaje v. to load, burden; to lift; to be 
troubled, be burdened, be upset; to 
fill; to have in abundance; to load 
(gun); to charge (battery); to 
entrust; to take on responsibility; 
to anger (s.o. against s.o.); to 
scold, dress down, swear at; to 
charge, attack illegally (sports); n. 
chief, head.; adj. filled with; full, 
crammed; cloudy, overcast; 
loaded, drunk; drugged 
- ak to be loaded with, be filled 
with; to be infested with 
- an twôp to overload 
- dafè chargé d'affaires 
- kon Lapoloy dead drunk 
~ kou (kal)bas to be heavily 
laden, be weighed down 
- koule ba, - kou Legba to have 
plenty; to be heavily laden, be 
weighed down; to swear at, dress 
down 
- pase sa ou pa konnen filled to 
bursting, filled to the brim 
~ pouvwa agent (holding power 
of attorney) 
- tèt to worry, weigh down with 
care 
- twôp to overload; to be 
overloaded 
lestonmak ~ upset stomach 
tèt - worries, troubles, burdens 
148 
Chaje - Chalôt 
Chajeprop.n. Chageux (communal 
section of L'Asile, Dept. 
Grand'Anse) 
chajè n. loader, hauler (person); 
crane for loading trucks; gun-
chamber, magazine, cartridge clip; 
battery charger 
chajman, chayman n. cargo, load, 
freight, shipment 
~ tèt worry, concern 
chak adj. each, every; adv. 
whenever, each time 
- de every other, every two 
- le dimanch every Sunday 
yo ~ each one (of them) 
chakenn pron. each one 
chakitri n. pork goods store, 
delicatessen 
chakitye n. pork-butcher 
chal n. shawl 
anba ~ see anbachal 
an ~ pent see chat (an chat pent) 
Chal prop.n. Charles 
~ Simè (lari) rue Charles Sumner 
(between avenue Henry 
Christophe and avenue Jean-Paul 
II, PaP) 
chala see tchala 
chalan, chalon n. paddy wagon, 
police van; barge 
chalante v. to bother, annoy (by 
showing off) 
chalatan n. charlatan, quack, fraud 
chalatanis n. charlatanism, fraud 
chalbari, chalbarik, chalbawou n. 
hue and cry, public clamor; 
collective scolding, group 
reprimand 
bat/lage/rele ~ dèyè (yon moun) 
to heckle (yell while beating the 
mouth); to jeer at; to raise a hue 
and cry against; to chase away, run 
(s.o.) off; to all go after s.o. (in 
hide-and-go-seek) 
chalbore see dechalbore 
chalè n. heat, warmth; temperature; 
ardor, spirit; fire, passion; energy, 
eagerness; zeal, ardor; intense 
excitement; sarcasm, sarcastic 
remark; var. of mango 
an ~ in heat, estrus 
bay - to make fun of, tease, taunt; 
to brag, show off 
boufe ~ hot flashes 
gran(n) - , grant - urethral 
discharge; vaginal discharge; 
gonorrhea 
Chaleken prop.n. Charles Fifth (of 
Spain - 1500-1558) 
chalerin adj. passionate, ardent, 
excitable, hot 
chalimo n. (drinking) straw; 
blowtorch, acetylene torch 
chalkalis see chatkalis 
Chalmay prop.n. Charlemagne 
- Peral(t) Charlemagne Péralte 
(Caco leader, 1886-1919) 
chalmayperalteman adv. 
patriotically 
chalon see chalan 
Chalon prop.n. Chalon (1st 
communal section of Miragoâne, 
Dept. Grand'Anse) 
chalone, chalonè, chalonèl: 
bè - cooking butter 
chaloska n. Carnival figure 
representing a soldier (cf. Charles-
Oscar Etienne, military 
commander accused of 1915 
killing of large number of political 
prisoners) 
chalôt see echalôt 
Chalôt prop.n. Charlotte (communal 
section of Dept. Grand'Anse); 
149 
chaloup - chanj 
f.prop.n. Charlotte 
chaloup n. launch; motorboat 
chaltouy see chatwouy 
Chalye prop.n. Charlier (Dept. 
Grand'Anse) 
cham n. charm, grace, appeal; 
Voodoo charm; philter, love potion 
bay - to bewitch s.o. 
chaman adj. charming 
chamantiz n. flirting, coyness, 
coquetry 
chamaye v. to bother, annoy, tease 
chamayri n. bickering, squabbling 
chame v. to charm, bewitch; to hex 
chaîné n. charmer, enchanter 
chamo n. camel 
Chamo, Azis prop.n. Chameau (3rd 
communal section of Moron, 
Dept. Grand'Anse) 
chamwa n. chamois (leather), 
shammy cloth; n./adj. chamois 
(color) 
Chamwaz see Lafay 
chan n. song; chant; hymn; singing 
class; field; operatory area (on 
body for surgery) 
- donè field of honor 
- pwen see chante pwen(t) 
nan - to be a choir member 
wo - special song of salutation 
(Voodoo) 
chanbelan n. chamberlain 
Chanbelan, Chanbèlan prop.n. 
Chambellan (Dept. Grand'Anse) 
Chanbelanè, Chanbelannè prop.n., 
Chanbelanèz, Chanbelannèz 
f.prop.n. inhabitant of Chambellan 
(Dept. Grand'Anse) 
Chanbon prop.n. Chambon (4th 
communal section of Pétion-Ville, 
Dept. West) 
chanbrann, chabranl n. frame (of 
door, window) 
an ~ de balistrad completely 
ready, totally prepared; in a 
difficult or exposed position 
chanbre n. chambray (cloth) 
chanbrèy n. low-class prostitute; 
clothes (pej.) 
chanday n. sweater 
chandèl n. candle, torch; high kick; 
see bwa -
- angle Caribbean princewood 
- blan torchwood tree 
- mawon white ironwood tree 
ekonomi bout - paltry savings 
fe yon - to consult a Voodoo 
priest 
je - bright shining eyes 
klere - divining method used by 
sorcerers 
monte - ceremony to ensure 
successful childbirth 
pran nan - characteristic(s) 
acquired from one's godmother 
chandelye n. var. of tall cactus; 
chandelier; candelabra; 
candlestick 
chandlé see lachandlé 
Chandmas see Channmas 
Chandra prop.n. brand of razor 
blade 
Chandriyon see Sandriyon 
chandti see channti 
chanèl n. channel; TV channel; adj. 
carnal 
Changay prop.n. Shanghai (China) 
chango adj. shady, dubious 
lajan - money that has to be paid 
back 
Chango prop.n. Voodoo spirit of 
storms, thunder and lightning 
an - wildly, brutally 
chanj n. currency exchange; see 
150 
chanjan - Chanpen 
chany 
chanjan adj. changing, variable 
chanje v. to change, vary, switch; to 
alter, modify; to shift; to change 
clothes; to change money; to 
exchange; to move (livestock) to 
another grazing area 
- bèt to change pastures 
- (yon) chèk to cash a check 
- klas to be promoted, pass (in 
school) 
- koulè to become angry; to blush 
- lide to change one's mind 
- plas to move, change places 
- po to change sides or allegiance; 
to shed one's skin, peel, molt 
Chanje prop.n. Changeux (8th 
communal section of L'Asile, 
Dept. Grand'Anse) 
chanjman n. change, difference; 
modification, mutation; variation 
- dè change of scenery 
- vitès gearshift, (stick) shift; 
shifting (of gears) 
chank n. chancre, skin ulcer; cold 
sore; canker; impetigo 
- lèt, chankalèt thrush, oral 
infection, oral candidiasis 
~ sifilis soft chancre 
chankok n. cockcrow, dawn, 
daybreak 
chankre n. short walk, stroll; v. to 
turn off, branch off; to zigzag, 
meander, not go in a straight line; 
to be winding (road etc.); to cut in 
a curved line; to trim the hair 
around the forehead; to take a 
short cut; to beat around the bush, 
be evasive; to deviate; adj. jagged, 
uneven 
fè yon ti ~ to swerve 
tèt - receding hairline 
tonbe nan chemiz san - to get 
into trouble or into a mess 
Chanlwizprop.n. Champ-Louise 
(1st communal section of Acul-du-
Nord, Dept. North) 
chanm n. room (of house etc.); 
bedroom; inner tube; 
compartment; chamber, cavity (of 
heart etc.); sterile drape 
bout - kay one-room apartment 
- depite, ~ bas Chamber of 
Deputies 
- frèt walk-in cooler 
~ fwad cold storage 
~ gason bachelor apartment 
~ kay (rented) room 
~ kômès chamber of commerce 
- twalèt bathroom 
fè - to straighten up/clean up the 
room 
chanmakouche n. bedroom; 
bedroom furniture set 
chanmchanm, sanmsanm, 
tchanmtchanm n. ground roasted 
corn; cf. tchentchen 
chanmôt, chanmwot n. second 
floor; two-story house 
Channmas, Chandmas prop.n. 
Champs-de-Mars (large square 
adjoining National Palace, now 
officially named "Place des Héros 
de l'Indépendance," PaP) 
channti, chandti n. (milit.) firing 
range (for target practice) 
chanpan see tchanpan 
chanpay n. champagne; fruit cola 
Chanpay prop.n. Champagne (5th 
communal section of Le Borgne, 
Dept. North; 2nd communal 
section of Plaisance, Dept. North) 
Chanpen prop.n. Champin (1st 
communal section of Caracol, 
151 
chanpèt - Chantalè 
Dept. North-East) 
chanpèt n. promiscuous woman; 
rural deputy sheriff, assistant to a 
chèf seksyon (g. v.); government 
agricultural station (<obs.); adj. 
pastoral, bucolic 
fèt ~ local fair; popular music 
concert 
Chanpi, Nankanpèch prop.n. 
Champy, Nan Campêche (3rd 
communal section of Corail, Dept. 
Grand'Anse) 
Chanpin prop.n. Champine 
(disadvantaged area of Cape 
Haitian) 
chanpiyon n. [Fr.] imported 
mushroom (cf. djondjon); fungus 
~ blan oidium (var. of plant 
blight) 
~ nwa sooty mold (var. of plant 
blight) 
enfeksyon ~ yeast infection 
Chanplwa prop.n. Champlois (2nd 
communal section of Camp-
Perrin, Dept. South) 
chanpou n. shampoo 
chanpoura n. drink containing 
coffee, sugar, milk and rum 
chanprèl, chanpwèl see sanpwèl 
chanpyon n., chanpyon fn. 
champion, winner 
chanpyona, chanpyonna n. 
championship; championship 
match, tournament 
chans, lachans n. chance, 
opportunity; good fortune; 
windfall; bad luck, misfortune; 
chance, risk; coincidence; luck; 
lucky charm, talisman; adj. lucky; 
adv. fortunately, luckily 
bay ~ to give a chance to, give an 
opportunity to; to bring luck 
- lou bad luck 
gen ~ (pou) probable 
mache ak tout chans li to be born 
under a lucky star 
pa chans by chance, accidentally; 
luckily 
pa gen anpil ~ unlikely 
pa pran - to dare not (do s.thg.) 
pran ~ to risk; to attempt 
seye - to risk, take one's chance(s) 
sou - risky, at risk; to try one's 
luck 
tante - li to try one's luck 
chanse adj. lucky, fortunate 
chansè n. daredevil 
chansèlri n. chancellery 
chanselye n. chancellor 
chansi n. tin rattle (Voodoo); see 
sansi 
Chansom, Chansôl, Chansolm 
prop.n. Chansolme (Dept. North-
West) 
Chansomyen prop.n., Chansômyèn 
f.prop.n. inhabitant of Chansolme 
(Dept. North-West) 
chanson n. [Fr.] song 
chansonèt, chansonnèt n. (light-
hearted) song 
chansonyè (pronounced: chanso-
nyè), chansonnyè n. satirical 
song-writer and singer 
Chansrèl prop.n. Chancerelles 
(industrial community 
immediately north of PaP) 
chant n. bard, poet; see prêt savann 
- legliz church singer 
chantaj see chantay 
Chantai prop.n. Chantai (Dept. 
South) 
Chantalè prop.n. Chantalèz 
fprop.n. inhabitant of Chantai 
(Dept. South) 
152 
chantan - chape 
chantan: 
an - by/while singing 
chantay, chantaj n. slander; drivel, 
nonsense; blackmailing; 
blackmail, extortion 
fè - to blackmail 
chante n. song; singing; crowing; 
chirping; recurring subject; v. to 
sing; to ring out, sound, resonate; 
to crow; to chirp; to harp on; to 
talk nonsense 
- anwo, fè - sou to make up a 
song about (s.o.) 
- bot to chatter, babble (on) 
- kôk sou to lord over, dominate 
- pwen(t), chan pwen(t) 
improvisational song tradition 
criticizing or mocking an 
individual or as a form of social/ 
political/economic protest 
- ze to cackle 
fè - to blackmail, extort 
Chante: 
Pi Bèl - Song of Songs, Song of 
Solomon [Bible] 
chanté n., chantèz f.n. singer 
- (de) priyè see prêt savann 
chantiyon n. scarecrow (cf. jwif); 
see echantiyon 
chantôn n. var. of cloth 
chantonnen, chantone, chantonne, 
chantounen v. to jigsaw 
chantrèl f.n. singer (Voodoo) 
renn - , larèn - , larenn - , métrés 
- lead female singer (Voodoo) 
chantye, santye n. construction site, 
work area 
chanv n. hemp (cf pit) 
chanwan (pronounced: chan-wan) 
n. riffraff; ugly person, horror; 
adj. disgusting 
chanwan (pronounced: chan-wan), 
chatwan n. screech owl; petrel 
(bird) 
- ke long Hispaniolan nyctibius 
(bird) 
- lasèl black-capped petrel (bird) 
chany (pronounced: chan-y), chanj, 
chaynè, souchany n. shoeshine 
boy/man; person of low status 
fè - to be a shoeshine boy/man 
chànyè n. hinge, joint 
- kadna hinge with lock 
dat - historic date, turning point 
Chanzelize prop.n. Champs-Elysées 
(Paris) 
chap n. cope (ecc.) 
chap, chapad n. brief absence (to 
run errand) 
fè yon ti - to step out for a 
moment 
chapant n. carpenter; carpentry; 
scaffolding, framework; basis 
bwa - timber, lumber 
chapante: 
byen - well built, well 
constructed, well structured 
chapantye n. carpenter; see 
sèpantye 
chapchawon, chapchawe n. fooling 
around, sleeping around; dirty 
lowdown place; plunder, theft 
fè - to steal, pilfer 
chapchoutè see chatchoutè 
chape v. to escape, survive, pull 
through; to get away, slip away, 
run away; to rescue, save; to slip, 
fall; to be saved; adj. past the 
critical stage (during which young 
children often die); self-sufficient, 
independent, of age; n. salvation, 
escape; quick trip 
bouch li - to blurt out, make a slip 
of the tongue; to reveal, give away 
153 
chape - chapo 
~ aie, - ko li, - poul li to fly the 
coop, to slip away, take to one's 
heels 
~ anba to escape from 
~ tonbe to drop/fall accidentally 
fè yon ~ pye to leave, go away 
fè yon ti - sou to wander onto, 
make a small foray onto, trespass 
pou li pa - a lot, much 
timoun - child who has survived 
the high-risk age (usu. birth to five 
years of age) 
chapechen n. soursop 
chapèl n. chapel 
- premye jou hick, clod, lout 
Chapèlwa prop.nChapèlwaz 
f.prop.n. inhabitant of La Chapelle 
(Dept. Artibonite) 
chapeton n. (pieces of) termites' 
nests (used as bait by shrimp 
fishermen) 
chapi see chèpi 
chapit n. chapter 
fè ~ to divine using a candle flame 
over a tin of water 
yon lot - another story 
chapitè n. fortune-teller who 
predicts future by interpreting 
passage chosen at random from a 
book 
chapito n. column, pillar 
yon - much, many 
chaple, chaplè, chaplèt n. rosary; 
string (of oaths etc.); cradle cap 
grennen - , pase - , woule grenn ~ 
wozè to say the rosary 
chaplèt n. club (weapon); stick; 
chaplet; cradle cap; var. of knotty 
shrub 
bay - to club, beat 
je - beating 
pase - to hit with a club; to twist a 
woman's breasts affectionately 
pran - to receive a beating 
voye - to club, beat 
chaplete v. to club, beat 
chapli n. dried bread-crumbs; (cf. 
miyèt pen) 
chapman n. outlet, exit 
chapo n. hat; coping (at top of a 
wall); condom 
ale nan peyi san - to kick the 
bucket, die 
- asôti, - sôti matching hat, dress 
hat, fancy hat 
- ba! hats off! bravo! 
- chinwa n. Chinese hat plant 
(shrub) 
- inde chwal pote kôd var. of hat 
- jenou kneecap, patella; cf. zo 
jenou 
- kaplin fancy hat 
~ kare breakaxe tree, ironwood 
tree 
- kasav type of very thin straw hat 
- lenn big shot, VIP 
- plezi condom 
- sôti see ~ asôti 
- wayal plume on top of a pakèt 
kongo (q.v.) 
fè - (yon moun) vire dèyè tèt li 
to make (s.o.) mad, anger (s.o.) 
gen yon kout - pou to fall for 
(S.O.) 
koube - li devan to take one's hat 
off to, give homage to 
kout - tip of the hat, salutation 
mache ak ~ anba bra one may 
die at any moment 
retire/wete - devan to take one's 
hat off to, give homage to 
sôti nan - li to conceive, imagine 
ti - evildoer, criminal 
voye - (anlè galta) to kick the 
154 
chapon - chat 
bucket, die 
chapon n. capon (bird); coping (at 
top of a wall) 
chaponnen v. to castrate; cf. châtre 
chapote v. to wear a hat 
chapya v. to clean out, clear out 
charabya n. gibberish, jabber; 
nonsense; v. to talk nonsense 
charad n. short tale, short joke; 
vision in a dream indicating a 
lucky lottery number 
bay - to show off 
pase nan - to tease, make fun of 
charade see chare 
charanpyon see saranpyon 
charanson n. weevil 
chare, charade, charante, 
chawaye, chaye v. to imitate, ape, 
mimic; to mock 
charèt n. cart, carriage 
Charètprop.n. Charette (6th 
communal section of Saint-Marc, 
Dept. Artibonite) 
charl n. plow 
charit n. charity; v. to give through 
charity; see lacharit 
charitab adj. charitable, caring, 
merciful; tolerant 
charité, lacharite n. charity; 
handout, offering, gift; love, 
compassion; v. to give through 
charity; to plow 
bay - , fè - to give (to a beggar) 
mande - to beg 
charye, chaye v. to cart, transport, 
carry (away, off), move, convey; to 
drag, lug; to mock, imitate 
- dlo nan panyen pèse, - dlo nan 
paswa to work in vain, work for 
nothing 
charyè n. carrier, transporter 
- dlo water carrier (person) 
charyo n. dolly; cart, wagon; 
shopping-cart; chariot 
- pye Rara musical group without 
instruments using foot stomping as 
percussion 
- tibebe baby carriage 
chas n. hunting; bag (result of one's 
hunting); scolding; see lachas 
- a lorn manhunt 
chase v. to hunt; to chase away, drive 
off, kick out, evict; to flush (toilet) 
(cf. floche); n. powder used in 
Voodoo-inspired remedies; see 
chasekwaze 
chasè n. hunter; chasseur, light 
infantryman 
- koken poacher 
chasekwaze n. mix-up, confusion; 
comings and goings; reciprocal 
change of places 
chasi n. frame, chassis; mount (for 
supporting cannon) 
chasib n. chasuble (ecc.) 
chasmouch n. fly swatter 
chat n. cat; petty thief; pussy 
(genitals); var. of yam; chart [Fr.] 
achte - nan makout/sak to buy a 
pig in a poke, buy sight unseen 
an - kalis, an - pent secretly, 
stealthily, sneakily, furtively 
anvan - pran tiwèl li quick as a 
wink; before dawn 
bay - veye mantèg to leave a fox 
to guard the henhouse 
- boule fat person 
- bwa wildcat 
- de pye, - dis dwèt, - gran dwèt 
thief, crook 
- kay domestic cat, pet cat 
- make thief, crook 
- mawon wildcat; petty thief 
- mimi vicious thief 
155 
chat - chaviray 
~ nan makout see achte ~ nan 
makout 
~ pent see chatpent 
~ pran lang li the cat's got his 
tongue, to be speechless 
~ wouy, ~ wouj octopus; squid 
fè (ti) pa ~ (mimi) to sneak 
around, have affairs, cheat on 
one's spouse 
gwo ~ mimi myaw cat burglar, 
sneak thief, master thief 
(jwèt) ~ konnen rat konnen 
everyone knows the problem but 
no one is willing to do anything 
about it 
lage ~ la to let the cat out of the 
bag, reveal confidential 
information 
makou ~ tomcat; thief, criminal 
mal ~ tomcat; thief, crook 
manman ~ accomplished thief 
(woman); cunning woman 
mete ~ veye mantèg to leave a 
fox to guard the henhouse 
nanpwen % pa not a soul, no 
one at all 
pa reveye ~ k ap domi let 
sleeping dogs lie; don't dig up the 
past, don't bring up what is best 
forgotten 
pa wè pa kontre ~ not to see a 
soul 
papa ~ thief, crook 
rele ~ bopè pou moso zaboka to 
fawn, curry favor, be obsequious 
tèt ~ dishonest, rigged 
ti ~ kitten 
vale kèk ~ to be hoarse 
viv tankou ~ ak chen to be 
constantly quarreling 
wa ~ accomplished thief 
chata v. to flee, leave 
chatche see chatye 
chatchoutè, chapchoutè n. sharp-
shooter, sniper; "cool guy" 
chatè n. [Eng.] charter (ship or plane 
leased by a group) 
chateng n. good quality breadfruit 
chateny n. breakaxe tree, ironwood 
tree 
chatiman n. punishment 
chatiyèt see zatouyèt 
chatkalis, chalkalis: 
an ~ stealthily, sneakily, furtively 
chatman: 
an ~ in secret 
chato n. mansion, castle; large dark 
cloud 
^ dlo water tower 
fè ~ in certain games the most 
difficult position to reach 
chatouy see chatwouy 
chatouye, chatouyèt see zatouyèt 
chatpent: 
an ~ stealthily, sneakily, furtively 
chatray n. castration 
chatre v. to castrate; to neuter, spay; 
to perform a vasectomy; to dam, 
damn; n. castrated animal 
chatrè n. castrator 
chatrèz n. chartreuse (liqueur; color) 
chatsouri, chatsourit see 
chovsourit 
chatwan see chanwan 
chatwouy, chaltouy, chatouy, 
chatwouj n. octopus; squid 
chatye, chatche v. to punish, 
chastise, castigate 
Chavann (Jan Batis) prop.n. 
Chavannes (Jean-Baptiste) -
Mulatto leader executed by French 
at start of Haitian Revolution, 
1791 
chaviray n. overturning (car etc.); 
156 
chavire - cheche 
capsizing (boat) 
chavire v. to capsize; to turn over, 
tip over; to overturn, overthrow; to 
head toward; to toss on (clothes) 
- bonnèt li to make angry, anger 
- bouch anba to turn over, turn 
upside down 
~ lôlôj (yon moun) to disturb 
(s.o.) profoundly 
(fè yon) kase ~ to head toward 
chaviwon see zaviwon 
chawa n. porter; flunky, servant; 
cannon carriage; see kabwèt 
bèf ~ beast of burden; flunky, 
servant 
chawaye see chare 
chawolen n. type of martial artist 
chawony, chawonj, chawonya n. 
carrion, decaying carcass; very 
sexually promiscuous person 
fè ~ to engage in illicit sexual 
activity 
chawonya n. vulture 
chawony en (pronounced: cha-won-
yen), chawouye v. to tease, annoy 
chawopye, chèwopye n. shuffling 
dance step used esp. by bann rara 
(q.v.) 
chay, chaj n. load, cargo, freight; 
burden, problem, responsibility; 
charges, expenses; electric 
charges; magic power to change 
course of events (Voodoo) 
bay ~ la pote to lay blame upon 
~ kôn very heavy load 
lage/mete ~ sou (do) to lay blame 
upon; to set a task for 
pote ~ to bear blame 
retire ~ nan tèt voye 1 sou zepôl 
to shift responsibility to no avail 
yon ~ (ak yon pakèt) a whole 
bunch of, many many 
yon - koze a lot of talk (pej.) 
chaye see chare; charye 
chayman see chaj m an 
chaynè see chany 
chazib n. (ecc.) chasuble 
chè n. flesh, meat, tissue; pulp 
(fruit); pulpit; dear, sweetheart; 
adj. expensive, costly, valuable; 
dear, cherished; adv. dearly, at a 
high price 
bay (yon bagay) ~ to give shape, 
give form (to s.thg.); to put into 
action 
~ nan gôj tonsil; tonsillitis 
~ nan je pterygium 
- nan nen nasal polyp 
~ pase tèt nèg extremely 
expensive 
~ poul see chèdpoul 
~ tout mwen my darling 
nan ~ ak nan zo in flesh and 
bones 
pa ~ pou fè yon bagay not to be 
grudging about doing s.thg., have 
no problem about doing s.thg. 
pran ~ to take shape, take form 
rete sou ~ to be self-righteous 
chèch, sèch adj. dry; dried up; 
skinny, emaciated; dehydrated; 
boiled away; evaporated; flat 
broke; out of (s.th.), devoid of; 
without sauce (food); n. var. of 
squid; v. to dry up, become dry 
~ kon bwa bale, ~ kou (yon) kas, 
- kou kaw, ~ kou taso (lagwèzè), 
~ tankou/kouwè bagèt legede 
thin as a rail 
~ kou nen chen dry, tasteless 
(food); dry as a bone 
chèchay see chachay 
chechalôt see echalôt 
cheche, seche v. to dry, dry up; to 
157 
cheche - chela 
freeze up, become incapable of 
action; to lose weight, become 
emaciated; to be dehydrated; n. 
old form of dance 
~ barik drunkard 
~ debout to become scrawny, 
become emaciated 
machin pou ~ dryer 
chèche see chache 
chèchè n. researcher 
chèchèdkont see chachèdkont 
chècheko n. thin person 
checherès see sechrès 
Chèchil (Winstonn) prop.n. 
Churchill (Winston) - prime 
minister of Great Britain (1874-
1965) 
chechrès see sechrès 
chechwa, sechwa n. cement slab or 
area (for drying coffee beans etc. -
cf. glasi); hairdryer; (clothes) 
dryer 
chèdepoul see chèdpoul 
chedèv, chèdèv n. masterpiece 
chèdpoul, chèdepoul, chè poul n. 
goose flesh, goose bumps 
chèf n. boss, chief, head, leader, 
ruler; government official, military 
personage; see kanbiz 
~ (d)akizasyon charge, count (of 
indictment) (Jur.) 
~ boukman(n) political boss 
~ defil leader; political leader 
~ katye, ~ polis district police 
chief (serving under a chèf 
seksyon) 
~ koutimye hereditary African 
tribal chief 
~ potal, ~ baryè, - gagé, ~ potay 
gatekeeper at cockfight arena 
~ seksyon rural police chief, rural 
sheriff (obs.) 
~ tèt master, boss 
fè ~ to intimidate 
fè ~ sou to take authority over, 
dominate, subjugate 
chèfdôkès n. big organizer, wheeler-
dealer; conductor, orchestra leader 
chèfkoumandè n. supreme 
commander, commander-in-chief 
chèflye n. administrative center (of 
each of Haiti's nine geographic 
departments) 
chèfrè n. brother (in religious order) 
chèftèn n. girl-scout leader 
chèk n. check (personal; Traveler's); 
pay check; good pass (sports) 
~ bare check which can be cashed 
only in a designated bank 
~ (an) blan blank check 
~ nominatif check made out to a 
specific person or organization 
~ opotè bearer check (which can 
be cashed by anyone possessing 
the check) 
~ san pwovizyon bad check 
~ vwayaj Traveler's cheque 
~ zonbi payment to a dead or non-
existent person; paid position for 
which no work is required, 
sinecure 
fo ~ bad check 
cheka n. government employee who 
receives pay (chèk zonbi) without 
working 
cheke v. to be on the payroll; see 
tcheke 
chekè n. ticket-taker (at sports event 
etc.); Chinese checkers 
Chekspi prop.n. Shakespeare 
chèl n. grille (of car etc.); var. of 
mango 
chela n. bag with shoulder strap; 
pageboy (hairstyle) 
158 
chèlbè - chemiz 
chèlbè n. vanity, pretense, pride; 
dandy, dude; adj. vain, 
pretentious; cocky; dressed up 
- pase zo krab very stuck-up 
fè kraze yon ~ to show off, 
strut, put on airs 
chelèn n. beautiful playing-marble; 
beautiful woman or object 
chèlverèt see chevrèt 
chema, chenma n. diagram, sketch; 
picture, drawing; outline 
byen - in great shape 
fè ~ to draw a diagram; to show 
off 
mache ~ to strut, swagger 
chèmann, tyèmann n. [Eng.] 
chairman 
chemen, chimen n. road, way, path, 
course 
- anba tè tunnel 
- antravè, ~ (de)koupe shortcut 
~ dlo route by which Voodoo 
spirits arrive and depart from a 
service 
~ koupe, ~ kout shortcut 
~ lasante road-to-health card, 
child's weight and vaccination 
record, weight chart 
~ pikan bramble patch 
~ rat bald spot (from bad haircut) 
~ tè pile footpath 
~ travè(s) shortcut 
fè ~ kwochi ak to take a 
roundabout way; to use 
dishonestly/illegally 
fè ~ li to go on one's way, take off, 
leave; to gain ground, progress 
fè yon ~ koupe to take a short cut 
gran ~ main road, highway 
Kat Chemen Four Crossroads 
(famous intersection at (Aux/Les) 
Cayes, Dept. South) 
mwatye - halfway 
nan - (pou) to be about to 
pase ~ li to go on one's way 
pran - laprès to go public 
pran ti - chankre to take a 
roundabout way, take a devious 
route, use a devious strategy 
ti - track, path 
Chemennèfprop.n. Chemin-Neuf 
(3rd communal section of Ennery, 
Dept. Artibonite) 
chemennfè, chemendfè, chemenfè 
n. railroad 
chemennkwa pin. stations of the 
cross 
chemennman see cheminman 
chèmèt chèmètrès (tèt) n. (true/ 
real) master, owner, proprietor 
dwa ~ - inherent right, natural 
right 
chemine, cheminen, cheminye, 
chiminen, chiminye n. chimney, 
smokestack; fireplace; standing 
kerosene lamp; chimney of 
kerosene lamp; air vent of 
charcoal kiln 
tab ~ mantel 
cheminman, chemennman n. [Fr.] 
progression, advance 
chemiz, chemiy, chimiy, chimiz n. 
shirt; file folder (for documents); 
peel 
chanje ~ pou moun ki swe pou 
ou to show gratitude 
~ ak po inseparable friends 
- de nwi nightgown 
~ kokoye palm thatch 
~ lopital hospital gown 
~ manch long long-sleeved shirt 
pa pote ~ li pou bèl twal to be a 
man of courage, be a real man, be 
a he-man (cf. kanson) 
159 
chemizèt - chèn 
chemizèt, chenmizèt n. undershirt 
(without sleeves) 
~ ak manch T-shirt 
~ maldjôk, ~ twa paman multi-
colored undershirt to ward off evil 
spirits (Voodoo) 
~ nan sèso walking skeleton, very 
skinny person 
~ penitans special undershirt 
worn as penitence 
~ san manch tank top 
chen n. dog; loser (in a game); 
shameless person; obsequious 
person; child born preceding 
twins; see chenwouj; chyen 
an ~ in a bad mood; in bad shape 
bay ~ mete/pote kanson to give 
s.o. more than his due, overvalue 
~ ak chat incompatible 
~ anraje rabid dog; hectic, frantic 
~ ap bwè dlo nan nen to be 
raining cats and dogs; things are 
bad 
~ ap tranpe kasav pou li to be 
down and out 
~ chas hunting dog 
~ de moun pa ale kayimit 
(ansanm) two people who don't 
get along with each other 
~ dgad watchdog 
~ eskimo Husky 
~ fè li esplikasyon to be on the 
lowest level (socially) 
~ fou rabid dog 
~ frans purebred dog 
~ janbe snack sold in outdoor 
market; outdoor food vendor's 
stand (or in Iron Market etc.); 
cheap badly-made clothing 
~ ki fè 1 kochon ba 1 tete a cold 
unfeeling person 
~ lanmè var. of fish 
- manje ~ (chat manje chat, 
dog-eat-dog (attitude); every 01. 
for himself/herself 
~ moute kowosol hungry, starvL 
~ peyi local mongrel dog 
~ plenn lazy 
~ rigôl drifter, vagrant, bum 
- san mèt waif, vagabond; 
neglected person 
~ te fè 1 kochon te ba 1 tete 
shameless, unfeeling 
~ tranpe kasav pou li to have 
many problems, be really bad off 
fè ~ (nan pye/dèyè) to be 
obsequious, be servile 
femèl manman ~ bitch, female 
dog ( l i t ) 
kou ~ ki pete legliz/nan mès 
katrè to be guilty-looking, be 
uneasy 
mèsi ~ said to children who forget 
to say "thank you" 
nan ~ nan chat to be sleeping 
around, be having numerous 
lovers 
pa konnen non ~ li not to know 
what one is talking about 
pa tout ~ to be lucky; to have 
connections 
pa wè ~ not to see a soul 
pran ~ voye sou chat to be in 
financial difficulty 
se ~ y ap leve pou yo kouche to 
practice self-denial, make 
sacrifices; to be in bad financial 
shape 
ti - pup(py) 
voye ~ sou chat to stir up trouble 
zo bouke ~ incorrigible person; 
shameless 
chèn n. oak, oaktree; oakwood; see 
chenn 
160 
chendan - chète 
- kalbasi fiddlewood tree 
chendan, chyendan n. couch grass, 
weeds; bermuda grass 
chenè: 
fè ~ to bounce ball/orange etc. off 
of one's knees or feet 
chenèt, chennèt n. gap between two 
front teeth; small chain 
cheni, chenni, chini n. caterpillar 
- chou imported cabbage worm, 
cabbage looper 
~ do spine, backbone; cf. chenn do 
~ fil legim beet webworm 
~ fil pitimi sorghum webworm 
~ kôn hornworm 
~ konkonm pickle worm 
- koupe (gri; mawon; nwa) 
(gray; brown; black) cutworm 
~ mayi cornstalk borer, sugarcane 
borer 
~ zepi mayi corn ear worm 
gwo ~ fèy beet army worm 
ti ~ fèy celery leaftier 
Other var. of caterpillars: 
~ agwotis, ~ elyotis, ~ kann, ~ 
trip, ~ zoranj 
chenma see chema 
chenmizèt see chemizèt 
chenn, chèn n. chain; chain 
(measuring instrument for 
surveying); mountain range; 
necklace; oak; television channel; 
bicycle chain; type of konbit (<7.v.) 
bay ~ to wind (watch, clock); to 
make fun of, tease, bait, badger; to 
encourage, egg on, incite; to set 
(s.o.) up 
~ asanblaj assembly line 
~ do spine, backbone 
~ kou necklace 
~ taymin timing chain (mach.) 
fin pran ~ to get into a routine 
kouri ~ to survey, measure 
kout ~ kwochi dishonest 
measurement (in surveying) 
manje kou sa k sot nan - to eat 
greedily or voraciously 
pran - to get mad, get angry; to 
get excited, get wound up; to take 
over, control 
chennen see anchennen 
chennèt see chenèt 
chenni see cheni 
chennkou n. necklace 
chenpanze n. chimpanzee 
chente v. to be obsequious, servile 
- nan pye to flatter 
chenwouj: 
lage ~ dèyè to go after, harass, 
rage against 
chèpi, chapi n. rags 
chèpiye see dechèpiye 
cheran n. scarecrow; adj. high-
priced (describing s.o. who sells at 
high prices) 
Cherètprop.n. Chérette (7th 
communal section of Saint-Louis-
du-Sud, Dept. South) 
cheri n. darling, dear, sweetheart; 
beloved; v. to cherish 
ti ~ little darling, little dear; gently, 
softly, easily 
cheriben n. [Bible] cherub (angel) 
cherif n. [Eng.] sheriff; cf. chèf 
seksyon 
Cherilôm (ravin) prop.n. 
disadvantaged neighborhood of 
PaP, near Fort National 
chèsè n. sister, nun 
chèslè n. var. of hair style 
chèso see sèso 
chesrès see sechrès 
chèt! interj. [Eng.] shit! damn! 
chète n. high prices, inflation 
161 
chetif - Chewoki 
chetif, cheti adj. sickly, puny; 
stunted, underdeveloped 
chètout adj. beloved 
chèv n. [Fk] long-haired goat; cf. 
kabrit 
cheval see chwal 
chevalèt n. sawhorse, stand; 
(artist's) easel; small stand for 
painting 
chevalye n. yellow elder (shrub); 
knight (nobility; chess) 
~ denwi {pronounced: de-nwi) 
var. of plant; robber, burglar, 
criminal 
~ donè chevalier of the Legion of 
Honor 
Chevalye prop.n. Chevaliers (youth 
organization of Roman Catholic 
church) 
cheve, chive n. hair (on head) 
~ alonje see ~ swa 
~ bab mayi reddish or yellowish-
tinged hair 
~ filas very fine thin hair 
~ founi thick head of hair 
~ franj, ~ frany unruly hair 
~ gaye thinning hair 
~ grenn, ~ frize kinky or frizzy 
hair 
~ grennen thinning hair 
~ kannèl orange-gray colored hair 
(often indicative of kwashiorkor) 
~ kase hair loss (on woman) 
~ katiye hair piled onto one side 
~ kwot, ~ kôt, ~ koton kinky or 
frizzy hair 
~ long see ~ swa 
~ louten dreadlocks 
~ lwil same as ~ siwo 
~ pay see ~ swa 
~ plim toutou disheveled hair, 
unruly hair 
^ pwav short kinky hair 
- simbi reddish or yellowish-
tinged hair; dreadlocks 
~ swa, ^ alonje, ~ long, ~ pay, -
sire, ~ siwo, ~ soup straight silky 
hair, smooth sleek hair 
~ trese dreadlock(s) 
~ wouj (supposedly the hair color 
of a lougawou, q.v.) 
~ zin(g) dreadlocks (S.) 
~ zonbi dreadlocks 
fè ~ to do one's hair; to get a 
haircut 
fo ~ wig; hair piece; hair weave; 
(hair) extension 
pase ~ to comb with hot comb 
(iron) 
pye ~ root of hair 
rache rale tire to pull hair 
taye ~ to cut hair, trim hair 
chevè n. [Fr.] head of a bed 
nan ~ beside, next to 
chevelyèm n. iota, tiny bit of; tiny 
drop of 
chèvèrèt see chevrèt 
chèvfèy n. honeysuckle 
chevi n. bolt, rod; peg; ankle 
~ plon/plastik lead/plastic screw 
anchor for cement wall 
cheviye v. to bolt, pin, peg 
cheviyè n. ankle brace 
chevoche v. to be astride 
chevon, chevwon, chivon n. rafter 
chevonnen, chivonnen v. to 
position rafters 
chevrèt, chèlverèt, chèvèrèt, 
chèvrèt n. (salt-water) shrimp; 
liquid excrement 
chevwon see chevon 
chevwotin n. buckshot 
chevyôt n. Cheviot wool 
Chewoki prop.n./adj. Cherokee 
162 
chèwopye - chikata 
chèwopye see chawopye 
chèz, chèy n. chair, seat; car seat 
bay sou de ~ to do s.thg. quite 
well 
- boure presidency (fig.) 
~ long chaise lounge 
- salon armchair, easy chair 
~ tibebe highchair 
- twa plas sofa 
~ wo bar stool, high stool 
~ woulan(t) wheelchair 
mete ~ nan salon to start teething 
mete yon moun dèyè ~ to punish 
s.o. 
moute ~ boure a to gain power 
(fig-) 
platfôm ~ seat of chair 
pran ti ~ vin koute, pran ti ~ 
(ba) li, rale ti ~ li to listen 
attentively 
sou de (ti) ~ thoroughly, inside 
out, with ease; immediately; quick, 
rapid 
chi! interj. shoo! (to chase away 
chickens, fowl) 
~ i i! shhh! quiet! 
Chiblon prop.n. [Book of Mormon] 
Shiblon 
Chibolèt, Sibolètprop.n. [Bible] 
Shibboleth 
chibwe n. West Indian birchtree 
chich adj. stingy, cheapskate, tight, 
chintzy; small, in limited quantity 
~ pase do kiyè fè to be stingier 
than hell 
chichado, chicha n. tightwad, 
skinflint, cheapskate 
chichi n. spit curl 
fè ~ to make a mess 
chichichi v. to whisper 
chichin n. tuft of hair longer than 
the rest; multicolored playing 
marble 
chichot see chovsourit 
chichote v. [Fr.] to whisper 
chichotman n. [Fr.] whispering 
chif n. number, figure, digit 
~ arab Arabic numeral 
~ dafè turnover, amount of 
business transacted 
- no uneven/odd number 
~ pè, ~ won even number 
~ women Roman numeral 
chifon n. rag, scrap; (chalkboard) 
eraser 
chifonnay, chifonnaj n. wrinkling; 
roughing up 
chifonnen, chifonen v. to wrinkle, 
be wrinkled; to crumple (up), 
rumple; to tear apart; to trouble, 
bother; to treat roughly, rough up 
chifonnye n. dresser, chest of 
drawers 
chifony n. rag, scrap 
chift n. straight-stick (car gears) 
chiiit! interj. shhh! quiet! 
chik n. tick; chigger; adj. chic, 
elegant, smart 
chika n. sharp movement of the 
pelvis in dancing; var. of dance of 
the French-colonial period 
Chikago prop.n. Chicago (Illinois, 
USA) 
chikanè n. quibbler, argumentative 
person 
chikann n. chicanery, quibbling 
pwa ~ chicory 
chikannen v. to quibble; to criticize 
(s.o.), gossip about (s.o.) 
chikànri n. quibbling 
chikata n. person infested with 
chiggers; adj. deformed, 
misshapen; lame (horse); uneven 
(spinning-top) 
163 
chikchik - Chirasid 
chikchik n. var. of med. plant 
(allophyllus rigidus) 
chikdlo n. waterbug 
chike v. to chew (tobacco); to pilfer 
chikèt n. bit, fragment, smidgen, 
driblet 
an ~ in small quantity, in small 
amounts; on a small scale 
~ pa ~ bit by bit 
chikin, tchikin n. jerk, joggle; v. to 
joggle, budge, move to and fro (as 
by repeated jerks) 
chiklèt n. chewing gum 
mache/manje - to chew gum 
chikore n. chicory, endive 
chikôrèt n. narrow-billed tody (bird) 
chikote v. to hit, beat; to annoy 
chikriti n. greed, selfishness; 
silliness, foolishness; miser, 
skinflint; adj. stingy; worthless 
fè ~ to act in a silly fashion 
chiktay n. dish composed of smoked 
herring, avocado, onion, cassava 
etc. 
chili n. [Span.] chili 
Chili prop.n. Chile 
chilpiti n. var. of mango 
Chilyenprop.n., Chilyèn f.prop.n. 
Chilean 
chimè n. idle fancy, impossible 
notion; mythological fire-
breathing demon; (pro-Aristide) 
political thug; adj. resentful, bitter, 
hostile 
an ~ in a bad mood; resentful 
sou ~ li in a bad mood 
chimen see chemen 
chimerik adj. irritable, cranky; 
cross; fanciful, whimsical 
chimerize v. to become a political 
thug 
chimi n. chemistry; shimmy, 
wobbling (wheels of car); v. to 
shimmy, wobble, vibrate 
chimik adj. chemical 
chiminen, chiminye see chemine 
chimis n. chemist 
chimiy, chimiz see chemiz 
chin, tichin adj. bantam (rooster) 
Chin, Lachin prop.n. China 
chinen: 
(zo) ~ do spine, backbone 
chingèl n. [Eng.] shingle 
chini see cheni 
~ do spine, backbone 
chintoyis n. (Japanese) Shintoism; 
Shintoist 
chinwa n. var. of banana; v. to take 
off, speed away; adv. deceitfully, 
underhandedly 
~ ko li to slip away (quietly), 
disappear 
~ yon moun to ignore s.o. 
pale ~ to obfuscate, speak in a 
complicated manner 
Chinwa prop.n./adj., Chinwaz 
f.prop.n. Chinese; Asian 
chip: 
~ mayi corn chips 
~ natcho nacho chips 
~ ponmdetè potato chips 
~ tôtiya tortilla chips 
Chip prop.n. Cyprus 
chipe v. to swipe, steal 
~ ko to move (one's body) 
chipmonk n. [Eng.] chipmunk 
chipote v. to upset, annoy, mistreat; 
to harass, tire out 
pa ~ ko ou! don't fidget! 
chipotô n. tormentor, pesterer, 
persecutor 
Chira, Chirak, Sirak prop.n. 
[Apocrypha] Sirach 
Chirasid prop.n. [Apocrypha] 
164 
chiray - chita 
Ecclesiasticus 
chiray n. dodge, quick turn 
chire n. tear, rip, split; quarrel, 
outburst; v. to tear, tear up, tear 
apart, rip, split; to skin (knee etc.); 
to fail; to take to one's heels, 
speed off; to be done for, be 
finished; to pop a woman's cherry 
(vw/g.); adj. torn, ragged; washed 
up, done for, finished; cracked, 
off, loony; slanted (eyes) 
- ayizan to shred up 
~ dlo to go full speed ahead (boat) 
~ je to pull down one's lower 
eyelid (derision) 
- nat to do in, overcome 
- pit to quarrel, argue; dispute, 
argument; discord 
~ wout la to speed, step on it 
fè gran ~ to put on airs, show off 
gran ~ see granchire 
je ~ slant eyes; Chink, Jap (pej. 
for an Asian) 
chiriji n. surgery; surgical ward; adj. 
surgical 
~ bouch oral surgery 
~ estetik plastic surgery 
gwo ~ major surgery 
chirijikal adj. surgical 
chirijyen n. surgeon; sturgeon (fish) 
chirijyèn f.n. surgeon 
chit n. fall, tumble; collapse, 
downfall; waterfall, cascade; 
prolapse; loss (hair); relapse, 
return of illness; sin; warbler, 
thrush (bird) 
~ dlo waterfall 
~ je blan flat-billed vireo (bird) 
~ tè oven bird 
ti - warbler 
ti ~ ble nwa black-throated blue 
warbler 
ti - ble pal northern parula 
warbler 
ti ~ bwapen Hispaniolan pine 
warbler 
ti - dife redstart 
ti ~ dlo dous Louisiana water-
thrush 
ti ~ fal jon yellow-throated 
warbler 
ti - fal nwa black-throated 
warbler 
ti ~ figi jon golden-headed 
warbler 
ti ~ figi nwa northern yellow 
throat 
ti ~ jon Hispaniolan golden 
warbler 
ti ~ kat je Chapman's ground 
warbler 
ti ~ ke blan magnolia warbler 
ti ~ kou jon Cape May warbler 
ti ~ lasèl Hispaniolan ground 
warbler 
ti ~ mak jon myrtle warbler 
ti ~ mang lanmè water thrush 
ti - nwa e blan black and white 
warbler 
ti ~ palmis palm warbler 
ti ~ tèt jon zoranj golden-headed 
warbler 
ti ~ vant jon black poll warbler 
ti ~ vètè var. of warbler 
ti ~ zèl jôn prairie warbler 
chita v. to sit, sit down, be seated; to 
be based (upon); to be established; 
to suit or fit (clothes); to stagnate, 
sit idle; to dawdle over work; to 
keep on, continue; n. basis, 
foundation; fortune, wealth; butt, 
rear; session, meeting; adj. sitting, 
seated; well-off; self-assured 
byen ~ well-established 
165 
chita - chita 
byen ~ sou to fit well (clothes) 
~ a chwai to straddle (wall; 
question etc.) 
- afam, ~ afanm to ride 
sidesaddle (on horse etc.) 
~ ak to sit down with, confer with 
- anba ban lekôl to be a 
dumbbell 
~ ansanm group discussion 
~ aryennafe to sit around doing 
nothing 
~ brase to discuss 
~ byen to fit 
~ dèyè kamyonèt la to be out of 
it, be not up with the times 
~ diskite see ~ pale 
~ dwat to sit up straight 
~ gade, ~ grate santi to sit and 
watch, remain passive, do nothing 
~ ko li to be located, be situated; 
to become established, become 
enrooted 
- koupi to crouch, squat 
~ koute see ~ tande 
~ koze to discuss; discussion 
~ kwaze bra to sit around doing 
nothing, remain idle 
~ mal devan to displease, find 
disfavor 
~ manje luncheon/dinner 
discussion 
~ nan poch pocket-sized 
~ pale, ~ diskite conference; 
discussion; negotiation; to confer, 
discuss; to negotiate 
~ poze kèsyon question-and-
answer session 
~ réfléchi to discuss; deliberation, 
round-table discussion 
~ sou to be based upon; to take as 
a basis; to emphasize, underscore; 
to pay attention to, take care of; to 
depend upon; to be chronic; to sit 
on, take no action; to adhere, cling 
to (paint etc.) 
~ sou ban lekol to be a good 
learner 
- sou ban pwatann to sit on the 
waiting bench 
~ sou baton tche li, - sou wozèt 
bounda li to sit on one's tail, do 
nothing 
~ sou blôk glas li to calm down; 
to remain calm or unperturbed 
~ sou de zôrèy li to be deaf to, be 
unheeding to 
~ sou do to be based upon 
~ sou twa wôch dife established 
on a firm basis 
~ sou wozèt bounda li see ~ sou 
baton tche li 
~ sou zo li thin as a rail 
~ tande (réfléchi), - koute to sit 
down and listen; hearing, formal 
session, formal discussions 
~ tann see chitatann 
fè ~ to seat (s.o.) 
fè ~ li to make a fortune 
fè yon (ti) ~ to sit down for a 
while 
leve ~ to sit up 
mande ^ to require reflection; to 
need a little rest 
pa ~ sou anyen groundless, 
unsupported, unsubstantiated 
pa ~ sou sa to take action on 
s.thg., make a move, not to ignore 
s.thg. 
pare - , ranje - to build a nestegg 
for the future 
rete ~ (gade) to do nothing, 
remain idle 
rete - sou to remain convinced of 
san ~ restless 
166 
chitatann - chodo 
voye - to dismiss 
chitatann n. trap, snare; slow-acting 
poison; impassivity, apathy; v. to 
wait and see; to remain passive, do 
nothing 
~ banmpase Voodoo charm which 
makes s.o. do your will 
chite v. to stop professing a faith, 
backslide; to have a relapse (;med.) 
chive see cheve 
chivon see chevon 
chivonnen see chevonnen 
chiwawa n. Chihuahua 
chiye v. [Ft:] to shit 
chiyol n. hand drill 
chiyon see tiyon 
chizbègè n. [Eng.] cheeseburger 
cho adj. hot, warm; spicy; spirited, 
active; excited, eager, involved; 
impatient; feverish; bold, 
passionate, ardent; fickle; intense, 
vivid, dramatic; recent; sexually 
aroused; n. show, spectacle 
bay ~ to show off 
chans li pi ~ to be luckier, be 
more fortunate 
- ~ feverishly; see tchotcho 
~ devan bann, ~ pase bout pip, 
(pi) ~ pase leve danse to be 
overly enthusiastic, be exuberant, 
be an eager beaver 
~ kou vè lanp red-hot 
~ nan tèt woman-chaser who is all 
talk and no action 
~ of show-off [Eng.] 
~ pase pip tè piping hot, hot as 
blazes 
~ pou to long for, desire 
fè ~ to be hot (weather); to hurry 
up 
kou li ~ li kwit to jump the gun, 
be in too much of a hurry; hastily 
put together, ill-advised; carelessly 
done 
pa fè ni ~ ni frèt to leave 
unconcerned, be unmoved 
pa gen anyen ki cool it! be 
patient! 
tou - tou bouke suddenly, out of 
the blue; without pause 
chobiz(nis) n. [Eng.] show biz, 
empty display, charade, pretense, 
travesty 
chobolot n. vagina 
chôche, chochye, sèche, sôsye n. 
sorcerer, warlock, male witch 
chôchè, chochyè, sôchè, sosyèf.n. 
witch, sorceress; prostitute 
fèy ~ air plant, never-die, 
resurrection plant (herb) - used as 
protection against lougawou; cf. 
fèy lougawou 
chocho see tchotcho 
chochôl, chôchôt, chôdchod see 
chovsourit 
chôchôt n. woman's genitals 
(fam.); man who chases women 
without success 
Chôchôt prop.n. nickname for 
Chalôt (q.v.) 
chochye see chôche 
chochyè see chôchè 
chôdchôt see chovsourit 
chode v. to scald; to singe; to heat; to 
sunburn; to place in hot water; to 
steam (cooking); to be prematurely 
old (child); adj. scorched (fruit); 
rare (meat); half-cooked; bruised 
(psychologically) 
chodin, lachodin fn. sensuous 
woman 
chodo n. caudle, hot spicy 
sweetened milk mixed with raw 
eggs 
167 
chodou - chôkabsôbè 
chodou n. pressure cooker 
chôdpis, chôlpis n. gonorrhea 
~ kôde severe case of gonorrhea 
chodwon n. cauldron, large kettle; 
boiler; see chadwon 
chodwonnri n. ironworks, 
metalworks 
chodwonnye n. coppersmith, tinker, 
dealer in pots and pans 
chôdyè, chodyè n. cast-iron cooking 
pot, cauldron; kettle 
- bwaze cooking pot used to 
prepare offerings for the Voodoo 
spirits 
- a bouyi de bo to be impartial/ 
unbiased 
~ a bouyi yon sèl bô to be partial/ 
biased 
~ chinwa wok 
~ manje potful, panful 
fè yon moun monte - to provide 
s.o. with some means of support 
moute ~ (sou dife) to cook a meal 
chof, chôf n. heating, warming (up); 
distilling; firing, stoking 
Chofa prop.n. Chauffard (Dept. 
West) 
chofay, chofaj n. heat; heating; 
heater 
chanm - boiler room 
chofben, chofdlo see chofo 
chofe v. to heat up, warm up; to 
reheat (food); to get warm, get hot; 
to animate; to become animated or 
excited; to warm up (before 
athletic activity); to incite, 
provoke, egg on; to encourage 
strongly; to stimulate; adj. excited; 
enthusiastic, exuberant; heated, 
fiery 
- dife to egg on, encourage 
- kou yon vè lanp to be red-hot 
~ nan dèyè to have the hots for, 
be sexually attracted to 
~ soièy to warm oneself in the sun 
(montre) ki bwa li ~ (to show) 
what one is made of 
chofè n. chauffeur, driver 
~ dife, ~ kont troublemaker; 
instigator 
~ gid tourist driver and guide 
~ lanfè reckless driver 
~ tibôl, ~ adwat money collector 
in (usu.) small public pick-up 
truck 
~ tren (train) engineer 
chofi n. athlete's foot; heat rash 
- kouchèt diaper rash 
chofo, chofben, chofdlo, watèhitè, 
watè itè n. water heater 
chofrèt n. chills; fever and chills; 
tuberculosis; sudden elevation of 
temperature of male genitalia (usu. 
due to gonorrhea) 
chofri n. stokehold, fireroom; boiler 
room 
chofsourit see chovsourit 
chok n. shock, bump, impact; 
trauma; confrontation, clash; 
damage; adj. fancy, impressive 
~ (absôbè) shock absorber 
- an retou see chokanretou 
- nan tèt cerebral hemorrhage; 
stroke, cerebro-vascular accident 
(CVA) 
fè ~ to shock; to cause a 
confrontation 
fè ~ ak to confront, have it out 
with 
pran ~ to get hurt, be injured; to 
hit a bump 
sou - quarrelsome, aggressive 
chôkabsôbè, chôkaksôbè n. [Eng.] 
shock absorber 
168 
chokan - chou 
chokan adj. shocking, offensive, 
disgusting 
chôkanretou n. backlash, whiplash 
injury; reprisal, retaliation 
choke v. to shock; to displease, 
offend; to take offence at; to be 
scandalized, be shocked, be 
offended 
chôko v. obs. to wash poorly 
chokola n./adj. chocolate; n. 
chocolate bar 
- an poud powdered cocoa 
~ gra unsweetened chocolate 
~ ole chocolate milk 
~ onwa hot chocolate drink with 
crushed nuts (N. esp.) 
cholay n. calcium compound (for 
improving crops) 
Cholètprop.n. Cholette (2nd 
communal section of Petite-
Rivière-de-Nippes, Dept. 
Grand'Anse) 
cholinèt f.n. sexually aggressive 
woman 
cholpis see chodpis 
chômât adj. brackish, briny; nasty, 
unpleasant 
chomay, chomaj, chonmay n. 
unemployment 
jou ~ day off, holiday (from work) 
chôme v. to be unemployed; not to 
go to work 
chômé n. unemployed (person) 
chomeko, chomesko n. unemployed 
person; unemployment (fam.) 
Chomo see Lasiv 
chonje, sonje v. to remember, recall, 
think of; to miss, need, feel the 
lack of (person, thing); to dream, 
imagine; to consider, reflect 
fè (li) - to remind (s.o.) of 
pa ~ (premye) lapli ki te fè mayi 
a leve to forget one's origins, be 
ungrateful 
chonmay see chomay 
chop n. [Eng.] shop, store; 
workshop 
chopè n. [Eng.] shopper 
choping n. [Eng.] shopping 
chorèt f.n. (highly) sensual woman 
chose v. to put on (shoes, boots etc.); 
to supply with shoes; to fit, suit 
(shoes); to wear a certain size; to 
dig up (potatoes etc.); to rebuke, 
reprimand 
chosèt n. sock (for foot); hood (for 
fighting cock) 
ba ~ thick socks, thick stockings 
~ plezi condom 
chosi n. [Fr.] shoes 
choson n. baby's bootee; ballet 
slipper, toeshoe 
chot n. shorts, cutoffs; short circuit; 
penis; v. to short-change; to short-
circuit 
bout - shorts, cutoffs 
- ko li to leave; to humble oneself 
fè - to fall short (in cash receipts) 
chotchot bed-wetter (cf. pisannit); 
see chovsourit 
chotdeben, deben n. bathing suit 
(man's or woman's) 
chôti n. [Eng.] "shorty," little man 
(fam.) 
chou n. cabbage; bun, chignon (hair-
do); dear, darling, honey (when 
addressing a male); interj. shoo! 
(to chase away pigs); see chout 
- alizèn red cabbage 
- Briksèl Brussels sprouts 
~ bwokoli broccoli 
~ chinwa, ~ chènwa Chinese 
cabbage 
~ chinwa taki senkant jou tikii 
169 
chou - choute 
50-day Chinese cabbage 
~ chinwa taki swasanndis jou 
takii 70-day Chinese cabbage 
~ karayib taro (same as kilenbe) 
~ moutad, ~ rav var. of edible 
plant 
- nan vinèg sauerkraut 
~ palmis palm heart, heart of palm 
~ peyi collard 
fè - e rav see chouyerav 
fè - gra to acquire (s.thg.) easily 
salad ~ coleslaw 
Var. of cabbage: brenswik, dètch, 
glôbking, kopennag 
choublak, bladchou n. hibiscus 
chouboulout, choubou, 
chouchou(t) n. sweetheart, honey, 
darling, dear 
chouboum see tchouboum 
chouch see chouk 
chouchol see chovsourit 
chouchou n. darling, pet, honey 
Chouchoube prop.n. Chou-Chou 
Bay (beach near Cape Haitian, 
Dept. North) 
chouchoun n. woman's genitals 
chouchout n. penis (fam.); see 
chouboulout 
chouchoutay n. caress, embrace 
chouchoute v. to pamper, coddle, 
pet 
chouchwôl see chovsourit 
chouflè n. cauliflower 
~ pwake pua kea cauliflower 
- snobol snowball cauliflower 
~ snokrayn snow crown 
cauliflower 
chouk, chouch, chous, souch, souk 
n. stump (tree; plant; human limb); 
root; check stub 
anwo ~ small tip or reward 
~ bwa stump, log 
~ dan stub of tooth 
- pantalon shorts, cutoffs 
ti ~ shorty 
choukay n. embedding, implanting 
choukbwa n. shrimp, runt, midget 
chouke v. to take root, become 
established; to insert, imbed, 
implant 
choukèt, choukout n. tree stump 
(used as stool); support under 
woman's hips during childbirth; 
short person; saber planted in 
ground as symbol of a seer; same 
as dosou an van (<7. v.) 
bout - shorty (person); tree stump 
used as a bench 
~ (lawouze) see soukèdlawouze 
choukoun n. attractive young 
woman (cf poem of Oswald 
Durand); hut; cabana 
choukounèt n. outdoor shelter, 
arbor 
choukout see choukèt 
choukwout n. sauerkraut 
choul see tchoul 
Choulouk see Soulouk 
choumounou n. dwarf 
choun (ti) f.n. "good little Haitian 
peasant girl" (cf. wowo, ti) 
rele ~ to cry "uncle", admit defeat, 
succomb; to cry out in pain 
choupèt n. clump, group, cluster 
(trees etc.); sweetheart 
chourinen v. to knife; to do (s.o.) in, 
cut the throat of, murder, kill 
chous see chouk 
chout n. shot, kick (soccer) 
~ danvwa kickoff 
- efè, - (ak) do pye kick using 
instep or side of foot (soccer) 
chou(t) fran free kick 
choute v. to chase off, kick out, boot 
170 
chouyerav - Chwaytzè 
out; to fire, "can"; to expel from 
school; to kick (a ball); to snap at 
(verbally) 
~ ak toude pye li to be bisexual 
chouyerav, chwerav: 
fè ~ to do anything, behave in a 
random fashion; to be all the rage, 
be extremely popular 
chôv adj. bald 
chovay see sovay 
chovsourit, chatsouri, chatsourit, 
chichot, chôchôl, chôchôt, 
chôdchôd, chôdchôt, chôfsourit, 
chôtchôt, chouchôl, chouchwôl, 
chôvsouri, chovsourit, 
chwètchwèt, sovsouri, 
tchotchorit, tchôtchôt n. bat 
(mammal) 
~ lanmè batfish 
chôy see choz 
ala ~ li ta how great it would 
be! 
choye v. to pamper, coddle 
choz, chôy, lachôz n. [Fr.] thing, 
thingamajig; what's-his-name, 
what's-his-face; genitals 
byen dè ~ all our greetings 
choz di choz fèt no sooner said 
than done 
chwa n. choice, selection, 
alternative, option 
fè ~ to choose, select 
chwal, cheval n. horse; Voodooist in 
trance; victim, slave; unbaptized 
person 
~ angle tall woman; beast, brute, 
holy terror (person) 
~ asèl saddle horse 
~ batay war-horse 
~ Bondye grasshopper 
~ bwa piece of wood used by 
children as horse; figurehead, 
puppet; grasshopper 
~ dyab grasshopper 
~ kay roof beam 
~ lanmè sea horse 
~ lwa Voodooist while possessed 
or in trance 
~ monti saddle horse 
~ natirèl perky or spirited horse 
~ papa inherent right, automatic 
privilege, "pork barrel" 
~ ren long light eater, s.o. who 
eats like a bird, s.o. who has a 
small appetite 
~ vôltij vaulting horse (gymnastic 
equipment) 
~ zonbi praying mantis 
gen ~ nan tèt to be unbaptized 
(baby or child) 
manman ~ mare 
moute an ~ to take by storm, take 
over 
moute ~ to ride a horse 
moute ~ li, sele ~ li to possess, 
take over (Voodoo spirit believed 
to take temporary possession of 
s.o.'s mind and body) 
moute ~ malentespri to do things 
the wrong way, never do things 
right 
sou ~ on horseback 
ti ~ pony; unbaptized baby 
wete ~ nan tèt to baptize (into 
Christianity) 
chwale v. to mount, ride (horse etc.) 
chwan adj. nauseous, disgusting 
(odor) 
chwap chwap! onomat. whack! 
(sound of swift cut) 
Chwaytzè, Chwazè, Chwezè 
prop.n. Schweitzer 
lopital Albè - Hôpital Albert 
Schweitzer, HAS (Deschapelles, 
171 
chwazi - CRS 
Dept. Artibonite) 
chwazi, chwezi v. to choose, select; 
adj. chosen, special, hand-picked 
chwe, echwe v. to wash up (on 
shore), run aground, beach; to end 
up, drift into, arrive at by chance 
or by default; to fail, be 
unsuccessful; to sink, be 
submerged 
chwerav see chouyerav 
chwèt n. owl; fickle woman; ugly 
person; adj. ugly 
~ bwa, mèt bwa Hispaniolan 
stygian owl 
~ savann Hispaniolan short-eared 
owl 
chwètchwèt see chovsourit 
Chwezè see Chwaytzè 
chwezi see chwazi 
chwi v. to reach orgasm 
chwichwi(chwi), tchwitchwi(tchwi) 
v. to whisper; n. whispering; 
gossip, rumor 
chwip, chwipe see tchwipe 
chya, tchya interj. yuk! (cry of 
disgust, disdain) 
chye v. to shit 
pa ~ bay santi to ignore 
completely 
chyen n. purebred dog; cf. chen 
chyèn/«. bitch (woman) 
chyendan see chendan 
chyente v. to beg; to fawn, bootlick 
CICM see Esket 
Cimo see Simo 
CRS acron. {pronounced: se-è-ès) 
Katolik Rilif Sévis Catholic 
Relief Services 
172 
d - Dakota 
D 
d (pronounced: de); prep, of, 
concerning; from 
da: 
istwa ~ history of art 
mize ~ art museum 
Da prop.n. nickname for David 
dabitid adv. usually 
kom ~ as usual 
yon keksyon ~ a question/matter 
of habit 
dabo adv. first (of all), at first; 
besides, moreover 
tou ~ first of all 
Dabôn prop.n. Darbonne (large 
village and sugar refinery near 
Léogâne now officially renamed 
izin Jan Dominik de Dept. 
West) 
Dabwa prop.n. Darbois (4th 
communal section of Port-Salut, 
Dept. South) 
dach n. dashboard (of vehicle) 
dacha adj. purchasing, buying 
Dachimèd see Achimèd 
dada n. ass (rear) 
bay ~ (twa tap) to throw one's 
ass into (doing a task), work one's 
butt off 
~ Nini nonsense; so what! who 
cares! 
gwo ~ Carnival figure 
dadorasyon: 
sévis ~ worship service 
dadrès adj. address 
dafè adj. business 
fanm ~ businesswoman 
ôm ~ businessman 
dafile adv. at a stretch, in a row, in 
succession 
dafodil n. daffodil 
dage see djage 
Dahabonn, Dajabon, Dajabonn 
see Dayabonn 
Dahatsou prop.n. Daihatsu 
(vehicle) 
daj adj. age 
dajan adj. silver 
Dak (Jàn) prop.n. Joan of Arc 
(1412-1431) 
Daka prop.n. Dakar (Senegal); 
Dhaka (Bangladesh) 
Daken: 
Sen Toma ~ Saint Thomas 
Aquinas 
dakèy n. flat dumpling; adj. 
welcoming 
daki n. parable; allusion; metaphor 
an ~ unclear, ambiguous; shaky 
pale an ~ to speak in riddles; to 
insinuate, use innuendo, be 
enigmatic 
dakô interj. agreed! granted! OK! 
all right! v. to be in agreement, 
agree; to approve; to consent; adv. 
rightly, properly, correctly 
~ pou in favor of 
mache ~ to agree, be in accord 
mete (li) ~ to agree (upon) 
pa ~ to disagree, object, 
disapprove 
pale ~ to talk sense 
tonbe - to agree (upon) 
dakonpayman adj. accompanying, 
related, connected 
Dakonil prop.n. Daconil 
(commercial insecticide) 
Dakota prop.n. Dakota 
- di No North Dakota (USA) 
173 
dakoukou - damou 
- di Sid South Dakota (USA) 
dakoukou n. ghost; interj. said by 
mother while playing with or 
silencing her baby 
dakoun see dakwonn 
daksyon adj. of action 
nèg ~ resourceful guy 
dakte: 
poud ~ remedy for skin rash 
daktilograf n. typist, word 
processor (person) 
daktilografi, daktilo n. typing, 
typewriting, keyboarding 
daktilografye v. to type 
dakwonn, dakoun n. polyester, 
dacron 
dal n. slab, paving stone, flagstone; 
drainpipe, rainspout; waterfall; 
large metal container; cement 
roof; (roof-)gutter; eaves 
~ beton cement roof 
~ planch(e) form for pouring 
cement 
yon ~ much, many 
Dal (wout de) prop.n. route des 
Dalles (south-west PaP) 
dalam: 
kri ~ warning cry 
Dalayi Lama prop.n. Dalai Lama 
dalfabetizasyon adj. literacy 
Dalilaprop.n. [Bible] Delilah 
dalmari, damari, danmari n. 
calaba tree, Santa-Maria tree 
Dalmari see Dammari 
Dalmasi/?r<9/?.«. Dalmatia 
Dalmètprop.n. Dalmette (4th 
communal section of Tiburon, 
Dept. South) 
dalo n. bilge pump 
dalya n. dahlia (plant) 
Dalye prop.n. Dallier (2nd 
communal section of Dame-
Marie, Dept. Grand'Anse) 
dam, danm n. lady, ma'am; queen 
(cards, chess); checkmate (chess); 
dam, barrier (cf. baraj); tamper 
(mach.); see plas 
gran ~ great lady (social position) 
pô ~ bearing of weapons 
vin ~ to assume a place of 
importance 
demachè n. go-between, agent 
daman n. coney (rabbit) 
damanglèz, lamanglèz n. 
Hispaniolan trogon (bird) [same 
as kanson wouj] 
damari see dalmari 
Damas prop.n. Damascus (Syria) 
damase, danmase n. damask 
(cloth); adj. glossy, lustrous, 
polished 
Damasen prop.n. Damassin (Dept. 
South) 
damaza n. conger eel (very large 
eel; same as kong) 
damdonè f.n. lady-in-waiting 
dame, damen see danmen 
Dame prop.n. Damé (3rd communal 
section of Môle-Saint-Nicolas, 
Dept. North-West) 
Damerik prop. adj. of America 
damijàn, damjann see danmijann 
damis n. player of (the game of) 
checkers, checker player 
Dammari, Dalmari prop.n. Dame-
Marie (Dept. Grand'Anse) 
Dammaryen prop.n., Dammaryèn 
f.prop.n. inhabitant of Dame-
Marie (Dept. Grand'Anse) 
damne: 
manda ~ subpoena (jur.) 
damou, danmou v. to be in love, 
fall in love; to kiss; adv. of love; 
in love; adj. love 
174 
damye - dan 
ap fè ~ to have sex 
- pou in love with 
damye, danmye n. checkers 
(game); checkerboard 
D amy en prop.n. Damien 
(communal section, ministry and 
school of agriculture, immediately 
northeast of PaP) 
dan n. tooth; fang; claw; tine, prong 
(of fork etc.); tooth (of comb, 
rake, saw etc.); thread (of screw); 
cog (imach.); clove (of garlic); 
notch; grudge; snag, catch, 
sticking point; see nan 
ak de ran ~ li penniless, broke 
anba ~ mumbling, muttering 
under one's breath; servile, 
subservient 
bay ~ lè to laugh heartily 
bay kout ~ to bite 
chaje (ak) - jagged 
chanje - to be getting one's adult 
teeth 
chouk - stub of tooth 
~ barak strong back teeth 
~ barak li pèse wou kabwèt li ap 
woule to be very old but still 
hanging in there 
- bayé missing incisor 
~ bonbon decayed tooth 
~ bourik molar 
- chen canine tooth, eyetooth, 
cuspid; red pepper 
- chenèt, - chennèt gap-toothed 
~ devan front tooth, incisor 
- dèyè molar 
- deyo smiling 
- doukla crooked or non-aligned 
teeth; see ~ marasa 
~ ekate, - kate gap-toothed 
~ fè mal toothache 
- fennèt gap-toothed 
- fouchèt prong of a fork 
~ gate decayed tooth 
~ granmoun adult tooth 
- griyen buckteeth; bare, 
exposed; silly person (who laughs 
continually); grimace; see pou ~ 
ri 
~ je eye tooth, canine tooth, 
cuspid 
~ kangrennen, - kanni decayed 
tooth 
~ kanin canine tooth, eyetooth, 
cuspid 
- karye decayed tooth 
~ kate, ~ ekate gap-toothed 
~ kontre even teeth 
- koulèv fang(s) (of snake) 
- kouto knife blade 
- krab crab claw(s) 
- kraze broken tooth 
- lay, ~ laj clove of garlic 
~ lèt baby tooth 
- machwè wisdom tooth 
~ marasa two teeth growing in 
same position [not an impacted 
tooth] 
~ mon (k ap griyen) (protruding) 
bare rocks 
~ moul wisdom tooth 
~ moulen molar 
- myèl stinger of bee 
- ouvè gap-toothed 
- pike decayed tooth 
- pikèt canine tooth, eyetooth, 
cuspid 
~ pilon molar 
~ pou - a tooth for a tooth; 
discord, controversy, dispute 
- pouri decayed tooth 
~ pwenti canine tooth, eyetooth, 
cuspid 
- rachôt short or stunted tooth 
175 
dan - dan 
- radot li pouse to talk nonsense 
- rezo albino (fam.) 
~ ri see pou - ri 
- ri malè to laugh at misfortune 
- sajès wisdom tooth 
~ sere close-mouthed, reticent, 
taciturn 
~ sirèt sensitive or sore tooth 
~ souke loose tooth 
~ tchaka, - tyaka teeth set far 
apart 
- tif decayed tooth 
~ timoun baby tooth 
~ tou jou dey o always laughing 
~ vise (dental) bridge 
~ woch, - zonbi sharp rock, 
protruding rock 
~ wouj discolored teeth 
~ zorèy wisdom tooth; all 
powerful 
dlo ~ saliva 
fè - to be teething 
fè yon - to take a bite; to be 
successful 
fo - false tooth; denture 
frechi ~ gum abscess 
gen ~ to be strong or powerful; to 
present difficulties; to be notched 
gen ~ dèyè to be hard or tough 
(task) 
gen ~ nan gôj to be gluttonous 
gen (yon) - kont to hold a grudge 
against, have it in for 
gran - blabbermouth, indiscreet 
person 
griyen (tout) - li to laugh heartily 
gwo - (dèyè) molar 
klere kou - zonbi to shine 
brightly 
kout ~ bite 
kwok ~ tooth (pej.)\ canine tooth; 
fang 
kwôk - kochon particularly long 
canine teeth or cuspids 
manje ~ to gnash or grind one's 
teeth, be raging with anger 
mare ~ to grit one's teeth 
mete tout - li deyô to grin from 
ear to ear, break out into a broad 
smile 
nan ~ mumbling, muttering under 
one's breath 
nan - griyen to be kidding 
nan - ou! up yours! to hell with 
you! 
pa gen griyen - ladann to be no 
laughing matter 
pale gwo - to speak caustically or 
in a mordant tone 
pe ~ ou! shut your mouth! 
pèl ~ (a) large tooth 
pou - ri/griyen for a trifle, for 
the slightest cause, for no reason, 
for nothing 
pran - to hang in there, take 
heart; to become established, 
prosper, succeed; to resign oneself 
to, put up with; to rival 
pran yon ~ nan to take a bite of 
san nan - pyorrhea 
sere - li to clench/grit one's teeth 
sere - li nan michan to get down 
to hard work; to face up to hard 
reality 
siye - (yon moun) to grate on 
(s.o.'s) nerves; to fool, deceive, 
mislead 
sou - to be down and out; to be 
under pressure 
ti - ransè kidding or derisive 
tendency 
tout - li deyo with a huge grinJ 
smile 
twou (nan) - cavity 
176 
Dàn - dans 
vini ak de (2) ran ~ li to arrive 
without a cent to one's name 
wete nè/vè nan - to perform root 
canal surgery 
Dan prop.n. Dan, nickname for 
Dànyèl 
danasyon n. damnation (rel.) 
Danbala (Wèdo) prop.n. 
Damballah (important Rada 
serpent spirit of fertility - Voodoo) 
- Flanbo evil Petwo serpent spirit 
(Voodoo) 
danble v. to strengthen; adj. correct, 
fit; steady, strong; adv. deeply, 
profoundly 
danda adj. clumsy; timid 
dane v. to sell one's soul; adj. 
damned; (deeply) embedded 
(splinter etc.) 
fen ~ year's end 
danfan adj. [Fr.] child's, children's 
jaden ~ nursery school, 
kindergarten 
danfans adj. childhood; n. bangs 
(hair) 
danfè: 
kanpe ~ to stand solidly, resist 
danfèmal n. toothache 
Danglizprop.n. Danglise (3rd 
communal section of Abricots, 
Dept. Grand'Anse) 
dangoye, dongoye v. to barely 
survive, just get by; to hobble; to 
advance slowly 
Daniprop.n. Danny, nickname for 
Dànyèl 
danika see anika 
danivèsè: 
fèt ~ anniversary 
danje n. danger, peril; adj. 
dangerous 
mete nan ~ to endanger 
danjere, danj re adj. dangerous 
dankèt adj. investigative 
danlemonnantye adv. [Fr.] in the 
whole world 
danm n. masher, packer, tamper 
(tool); pile driver; see dam 
danma n. machete 
Dànmak, Dannmak prop.n. 
Denmark 
danmari see dalmari 
danmase see damase 
danmen, dame, damen, danme v. 
to tamp, pack down, flatten, 
smooth down; to checkmate; to 
win 
danmijann, damijàn, damjann, 
danmjann n. demijohn (large 
receptacle for liquids) 
~ toutouni/ko touni unprotected 
(person) 
danmou see damou 
danmye see damye 
Dannmak see Dànmak 
danno see dano 
dannoye v. to whip 
Dannwa, Dannwaz see Dànwa, 
Dànwaz 
dano, danno n. small crop or whip; 
West Indian senna 
Dano prop.n. communal section of 
Grand-Goâve (Dept. West) 
Danpi(s) prop.n. Dampuce (near 
Léogâne, Dept. West) 
danplwa adj. employment 
danre n. foodstuff, produce, 
commodities, goods; harvest 
danrezo n. albino (fam.) 
danri see pou dan ri 
dans n. dance; dance (social event); 
adj. dense, compact, thick 
pa mete m nan ~ debou/ jenou! 
leave me out of it! 
177 
dansan - dapre 
Among many var. of traditional 
dances: ~ Dawome zepol, ~ 
debou, ~ Ibo, ~ jenou, ~ kimele, 
~ kongo, ~ marengwen, ~ mayi, 
~ petwo zepèl, ~ pinga zonbi, ~ 
yanvalou 
dansan: 
an ~ while dancing 
danse v. to dance; n. dance 
chè li ap ~ his/her flesh is tingling 
~ kita to shimmer (rising heat 
waves) 
~ kole (ak) to dance cheek-to-
cheek (with); to collaborate 
closely with; to be in agreement 
(with), in accord (with); to be 
extremely friendly (with) 
~ konpa a to keep up, maintain 
the pace 
~ nan tèt to possess, temporarily 
take over one's mind (Voodoo) -
same as monte 
- sou yon pye to be of like mind 
fè yon moun ~ san tanbou to 
punish needlessly 
pa ~ kole ak to be on the outs 
with (s.o.), be in disagreement 
with (s.o.) 
dansé n. var. of fish 
dansé dansèz f.n. dancer 
dansèyman adj. teaching 
dansing n. [Fr.] dance hall 
dansite n. density 
dantan n. by-gone age, yesteryear 
dantè adj. dental 
dantèl n. lace; advanced or difficult 
lessons 
ti ~ artillery plant (herb) 
danti n. denture; spirit of a 
deceased family member; adj. old 
dantikite adj. antique 
dantis n. dentist; dentistry; s.o. who 
laughs with his/her mouth wide 
open 
dantisyon n. teething 
dantle n. grater; perforated metal 
cylinder scraped with stick and 
used as percussion instrument; 
adj. notched 
dantre adj. entrance 
dantrènman adj. training 
dantretyen see antretyen 
danvi adj. lustful, salacious 
Dànwa, Dannwa prop.n., Dànw&z, 
Dannwaz f prop.n. Dane; prop, 
adj. Danish 
Danwomen see Dawome 
Dànyèl prop.n. Daniel 
dap v. to seize, grab; onomat. bang, 
zap; see dappiyan(p) 
dapèl: 
kou tribinal - court of appeals 
(jur.) 
sant ~ telephone exchange 
daplikasyon: 
kan ~ training camp 
daplon adj. even, level; well-
anchored, secured 
~ ak on a level with; in agreement 
with 
tonbe - (ak) well-fitting; suited 
to 
dappiyan(p) n. raid, seizure, 
capture; v. to seize, capture 
fè ~ sou to pounce upon, descend 
upon; to seize, grab, ravish 
dappiyanpè n. raider, predator 
daprantisaj adj. learning, 
educational 
dapre conj. because (of); because, 
for, since; prep, according to, 
judging by, based on 
~ ou according to you; as you 
wish 
178 
daprezavwa - davwa 
daprezavwa, daprèzavwa conj. 
because (of), since 
dapwi adj. support(ing) 
darachpye adv. relentlessly, 
unceasingly 
darati n. old person; senile person; 
runt, pipsqueak, twerp, shrimp; 
adj. ancient; senile; experienced 
- kôn/kod siye coquettish old 
maid; old-timer, old hand 
dare adj. cunning, sly 
darè: 
manda ~ arrest warrant 
darestasyon: 
eta ~ state of arrest, under arrest 
Dariyisprop.n. [Bible] Darius 
dasanblaj: 
faktori ~ assembly factory 
dasiz (dwa) n. excise tax 
daso: 
bay ~ to cheat s.o. out of s.thg. 
maryaj ~ shotgun marriage, 
forced marriage 
pran ~ to (take by) storm; to gate-
crash, sneak in 
pran nan ~ to put (s.o.) on, fool, 
deceive 
dasomann n. gate-crasher (dance, 
school etc.); intruder, interloper; 
auditor, unofficial student 
dat n. date (calendar; fruit); period, 
time; menstrual period; end of 
period of pregnancy, due date; 
eczema, rash; herpes; adv. long 
ago 
~ kodenn freckle(s) 
depi (tann) ~ for so long a time, 
for ages 
gen - sometimes 
jiska ~ up to the present date/time 
pase ~ to go/be out-of-date, 
expire 
(pou) - , (se) ~ for so long a time; 
ages ago, it's been a long time 
since 
pye - date palm 
rete - to fix the date (for an 
event) 
se tann ~ a long time ago, it's 
been a long time since 
se pa (pou) - for a long while 
datak: 
plan - plan of attack 
datant: 
lis - waiting list 
sal ~ waiting room 
date v. to date, indicate date; to date 
from 
daté n. (flat) desk calendar 
datifis: 
fe - fireworks 
Datignav (Sid) prop.n. 
Dartiguenave (Sudre) - president 
of Haiti, 1915-1922 
datis n. var. of mango 
datou see atou 
Datsonn prop.n. Datsun 
davangad adj. [Fr.] avant-garde 
davans adv. in advance, 
beforehand; ahead of time 
davantay, davantaj adv. more, 
further 
Davezak (kannal) prop.n. Davezac 
canal (built by Pierre-Valentin 
Davezac de Castera 1765, Camp-
Perrin, Dept. South) 
davi adv. of the opinion that 
David prop.n. David 
siklôn - hurricane David (August 
1979) 
davni, daveni adj. with a future 
davoum n. male homosexual; cf. 
masisi 
davwa conj. because, since 
179 
daw - debaba 
daw onomat. bang (sound of shot) 
Dawome, Danwomen, Dawomen, 
Dawonmen prop.n. (general 
region of) Dahomey, Benin; Royal 
Corps of Dahomets (imported 
from Africa, gendarmerie and 
bodyguard of King Henry 
Christophe) 
~ zepèl rapid traditional Voodoo 
dance - see yanvalou debou 
dawomeyen prop.n./adj. 
Dahomeyan 
dawou, dawout, out n. August 
dawouya f.n. old woman 
~ kôn siye coquettish old maid 
day see tay 
Dayabonn, Dahabonn, Dajabon, 
Dajabonn prop.n. Dajabon 
(Dominican Republic, near 
Haitian town of Ouanaminthe) 
dayalesls n. dialysis 
dayè, dayètou conj. besides, 
moreover 
dayila: 
~ doupendoup slut 
dayinaflo n. dynaflo automatic 
transmission (mach.); fancy car 
Dayiti prep, phrase of Haiti 
dayiva, dayva n. [Eng.] expert 
swimmer; diver 
daza n./adj. gambling 
dazadè, dazamann n. gambler 
de (letter) d; n. thimble; dais; 
canopy; die (pi. dice); first 
walking steps (of baby); num. 
two; adj. some, a few; prep, of, 
concerning; about; from 
a - together; privately 
an ~ kat sis in a jiffy 
anba ~ well displayed, in full 
view; with great honor or respect 
chak - every other, every two 
- a ôm, dèj, vèjin man's thimble 
(supposedly larger) 
~ fwa twice; see defwa 
~ jou an jou from day to day 
~ kout round (in a game) 
~ pa ~ two by two, two abreast 
~ pa kat stud (upright post in 
framework of a wall) 
~ tan cut-time (music) 
~ tyè two-thirds 
~ zou twa, ~ twa (a) few, some, 
several 
fè ~ pou senk to be cheap, be 
inexpensive; to be everywhere 
kondisyon ~ on alert (milit.) 
montre (yon moun) - fwa ~ 
konben li fè to set (s.o.) straight, 
teach (s.o.) a lesson 
pa fè ni ~ ni twa to not beat 
around the bush, not hesitate for a 
moment 
pa gen ~ there is no other 
pa gen ni ~ ni twa there's only 
one 
se pa - quite a few, quite an 
amount, quite a lot 
se pa ni ~ ni twa there's no doubt 
about it; a (large) number of 
dè adj. many; n. canopy used during 
Fête-Dieu procession; [Fr.] plural 
marker for fraction of an hour ; 
see chanjman dèyè; kouran ~ 
~ kou nape (of neck) 
deba n. effort; fight, struggle; (hot) 
argument; debate; food (fam.) 
Deba, Ba(r) (larivyè) prop.n. 
Barres River (near Saint-Louis-
du-Nord, Dept. North-West) 
debaba v. to devastate, lay waste; to 
mow down; to party, carouse; to 
rant, rave (esp. before death); adj 
shabby, run down 
180 
debaboukete - debi 
debaboukete: 
- lapawoli to give freedom of 
expression, ensure free speech 
debabouye refl. to wash one's face, 
clean (oneself) up 
debabouyèt n. washcloth 
debadè n. longshoreman, stevedore, 
dock worker 
debadijonnen v. to clean up, clear 
off ' 
debagaje v. to move, change 
residence; to clear (a place); to 
remove furniture etc. temporarily 
after s.o. in the house has died 
debakadè see bakadè 
debakasyon n. disembarkation 
debake v. to arrive, land, disembark; 
to unload; to descend, raid 
- sôti nan to disembark from, 
arrive from 
debakman n. disembarking, 
landing, arrival; raid 
debalaj see debalay 
debalanse v. to unbalance, throw 
out of balance; to derange, 
disorder; adj. unequal 
debalay, debalaj n. unpacking; 
display (of goods) 
- lide li clarifying of one's 
thoughts 
debale v. to unpack; to display or 
lay out (merchandise) 
debalizaj, debalizay n. looting, 
robbing; clearing; ravaging 
debalize v. to loot, rob; to clear an 
area (for planting); to ravage (usu. 
by fire) 
debandad, ladebandad n. mad 
rush, stampede, panic, disarray 
debanday, debandaj n. 
dissoluteness, dissipation; 
confusion, disorder, chaos 
pase nan ~ to be up for grabs 
debande v. to loosen; to lose one's 
erection; to remove a bandage, 
unbandage 
debandwele v. to scatter, spread out 
debarase v. to straighten out, put in 
order, disencumber; to relieve; to 
clear a place, empty out, rid; to 
expel the placenta 
~ ak to get rid of 
debarasè n. person who cleans 
sewers, privies or outhouses; cf. 
bayakou 
debarasman n. riddance, 
deliverance; relief 
debaray n. short-term loan (to tide 
one over); removal of a barricade 
debare v. to clear, remove obstacles; 
to unblock; to help (s.o.) out 
financially; n. riddance, 
deliverance 
deb at, doubat v. to struggle; to try, 
endeavor; to debate, argue; to 
discuss; to deliberate 
ap ~ to be trying, be getting along, 
be doing one's best 
~ ak to get along with 
debati v. to exorcise, rid of all 
outward manifestations of Voodoo 
debatman n. struggle between the 
gwo bonnanj and lwa over 
possession of physical body of a 
Voodooist 
Debay prop.n. Des Bayes (3rd 
communal section of Boucan-
Carré, Dept. Center) 
debaye see debraye 
debaz adj. grassroots (level, 
organization etc.) 
deben adj. bath; see chôtdeben 
debèn see ebèn 
debi n. start, beginning; rate of flow 
181 
debinen - débouché 
(water); output (gas, electricity); 
debit; sales, turnover (goods) 
debinen v. to slander, make false 
charges 
debiske, debiche v. to unearth, 
uncover 
debitan n. beginner, novice 
debitasyon see depitasyon 
débité v. to surround a plant or tree 
with soil; to debit, charge, record 
a debt; to cut up (for distribution); 
to start up (a program or plan of 
action); see depite 
débité n. debtor 
debitman n. start, beginning 
deblan: 
tou ~ all (in) white 
deblatere v. [Fr.] to rant (on), drivel 
(on) 
debleman n. clearing away, 
removing, unblocking 
debleyaj, debleyay n. clearing 
away, removal, unblocking 
debleye v. to clear away, remove, 
unblock 
deblokaj, deblokay n. unblocking, 
unjamming, releasing 
debloke v. to unblock, unjam, free, 
release; to make available; to 
solve 
deblozay, deblozaj n. violent 
quarrel, disorder, uproar, ruckus, 
brawl, turmoil; riot, trouble; 
upheaval, catastrophe, cataclysm 
deblozè n. quarreler, brawler 
debô adv. on both sides 
debobine, debobinen v. to unwind, 
unravel, untangle, come apart 
~ lide to analyse, examine ideas 
debôch, debochay n. dissolute 
living, debauchery; carousing; 
libertine, rake 
deboche v. to debauch; to corrupt, 
seduce 
debochè n. corrupter, seducer; 
tempter 
debode v. to overflow, spill over; to 
extend beyond; to burst out, erupt; 
to overhang (roof), protrude; adj. 
exuberant; furious, enraged, out 
of control; terrible; audacious; 
exaggerated; crazy, extravagant 
~ chwal li to exhaust a person 
possessed (by a Voodoo spirit) 
~ kad la to go beyond the limit, 
be excessive 
~ sou to strike out hard against, 
go hard after 
debôdman n. overflow; 
overflowing, inundation, 
flooding; extension; eaves, 
overhang (of roof); wooden rain 
or sun awning 
an ~ overcrowded, overflowing 
~ san hemorrhage 
debon n. treat, something good; 
gift; adj. worthy, worthwhile, 
valuable 
fè ~ to be pregnant 
pote ~ to be of benefit 
pou ~ for good 
debonbe v. to deflate, reduce in size 
debonde v. to overflow; to clear, 
free from obstruction; to have 
bowel movement (after 
constipation); n. acalypha (herb or 
shrub) - cf. dégonflé 
debote, debôte v. to fire, kick out, 
expel 
debou see doubout 
debouchay, debouchaj n. 
decongesting, opening up 
débouché v. to uncork, unscrew, 
open (container); to unstop, 
182 
Debouchèt - debouye 
unclog, unplug; to decongest; to 
emerge, come out upon, open out 
upon; n. opening, opportunity 
- kola to deflower, break the 
hymen 
~ sou to lead up to, result in; to 
open out upon 
Debouchèt prop.n. Debouchette 
(2nd communal section of Saint-
Jean-du-Sud, Dept. South) 
deboude v. to be no longer angry or 
pouting 
deboukantay, deboukantaj n. 
trading back, exchange, return 
deboukante v. to trade back, 
exchange, return (s.thg.) 
deboukle v. to unbuckle, unfasten 
deboulaj, deboulay n. rolling 
down, tumbling down; crumbling 
deboulatchya, deboulatya v. to 
ravish, violate, rape; to do in, 
finish off, ruin 
deboulaw n. commotion, noise 
deboule, demoule v. to roll down, 
tumble down; to crumble 
~ tonbe, ~ desann to collapse 
deboulinen v. to tumble down; to 
run away, flee (in group); to spurt 
out, gush out 
~ desann to tumble down 
~ soti to leave hurriedly 
deboulman n. landslide 
deboulonay, deboulonaj, 
deboulonnaj, deboulonnay n. 
dismantling; dismantlement 
déboulonné n. dismantler 
deboulonnman n. dismantling; 
collapse 
deboulonnen v. to unbolt, unscrew; 
to dismantle, tear apart; to 
collapse, fall down suddenly 
deboundare v. to torture, mistreat; 
to kick (s.o.'s) ass; to deflower, 
break the hymen 
deboure v. to unclog, clear out, 
clean out (drain pipe, smoking 
pipe etc.); to remove stuffing; to 
empty out; to scold, swear at; to 
get into more comfortable clothes 
debourè n. person who cleans 
sewers, privies or outhouses; cf. 
bayakou 
debourike v. to domesticate, tame, 
humanize 
debousayèz n. brush-trimmer, 
hedge-trimmer 
debouse v. to spend money; to 
disburse, pay out 
~ peye kalanmplanm to pay 
every last cent 
debousole v. to disorient 
debout see doubout 
débouté v. to kick out, fire, dismiss 
{fam.) 
deboutonnen v. to unbutton 
(manje) vant - (to eat) one's fill; 
to stuff oneself (with food) 
debouya, debouyè, debwouya, 
debwouyè adj. resourceful, 
clever, enterprising; practical; n. 
wheeler-dealer 
debouyay, debouyaj n. 
resourcefulness, inventiveness; 
any income-producing activity or 
job 
debouye, debwouye refl. to get out 
of a jam, find a solution; to 
manage, make do, cope, get along; 
to finagle; to do or try one's best; 
to make a living; n. livelihood, 
sustenance; adj. makeshift, short-
termed 
~ djèt li to be on one's own 
~ li kou mèt Jan Jak to be very 
183 
debouyè - dechèpiye 
resourceful; to light into, go like a 
house afire 
ti ~ low or menial job 
debouyè see debouya 
Dèboza: 
lekol ~ School of Fine Arts 
debrake v. to stop aiming at, stop 
pointing at (with gun) 
débranché v. to prune, cut branches 
off (tree); to divert, distract; to 
disconnect (telephone) 
debraye, debaye v. to open wide; 
adj. slovenly, untidy; run down, 
shabby, decaying; unbuttoned, 
unzipped; low-necked, low-cut; 
disrespectful 
kolèt ~ openly, without fear 
vant ~ full stomach, stuffed 
debraze f.n. prostitute (working in 
rural area) 
debreye v. to disengage, release 
(gears) 
debri n. debris, junk; fragments; 
trash (person); peasant work team 
debride v. to unbridle; adj. 
unrestrained 
debwate v. to disjoint, dislocate 
(bone) 
debwaze v. to deforest, clear of 
trees; adj. stripped bare of trees 
debwazè n. looter, pillager, 
plunderer, scavenger; cf. piyajè 
debwazman n. deforestation 
debwouya see debouya 
debwouyadiz n. resourcefulness 
debwouye see debouye 
debwouyè see debouya 
debyen adj. fine, honest, decent, 
upright, worthy, respectable; 
dependable, reliable 
dechaj n. unloading, unlanding; 
discharge, release; administrative 
clearance, approval (concerning 
past administrative conduct); see 
dechay 
dechaje v. to unload, empty; to 
move (furniture, households); to 
ejaculate; adj. rundown, dead 
(battery) 
dechajè n. ejector (of firearm etc.); 
(furniture) mover; person who 
cleans sewers, privies or 
outhouses (cf. bayakou) 
dechalbore, chalbore v. to smash 
(up), demolish, ruin; to devour 
dechalborè n. smasher, demolisher 
dechanbrannen v. to remove a 
doorframe; to disorient 
dechante to become disillusioned 
Dechapèl prop.n. Deschapelles 
(Dept. Artibonite) 
lopital ~ Hôpital Albert 
Schweitzer (HAS) 
dechapiye, dechapiyen see 
dechèpiye 
dechay, dechaj n. sperm, semen, 
ejaculate; precum; discharge, 
release 
sak - seminal vesicles 
dechè n. waste matter, refuse 
decheche v. to dry out, wither 
Dechèn see Kokoye 
dechennen adj. unchained, 
unloosened, unbridled; nervy, 
audacious; furious, enraged; 
ridiculous; v. to unchain, let loose; 
to exaggerate; to lose one's self-
control, become enraged 
dechèpiyay, dechèpiyaj n. 
squandering, wasting; plundering, 
pilfering 
dechèpiye, chèpiye, dechapiye, 
dechapiyen, dechèpiyen v. to tear 
apart, destroy (lit. or fig.); to 
184 
dechèpiyè - dedomajman 
disparage; to steal everything, 
clean out, strip clean 
dechèpiyè n. thief, robber; destroyer 
(person); adj. destructive; 
plundering, piratical 
decheyans n. decline, decay 
dechifonnen v. to smooth out, 
unwrinkle; to really go at making 
love 
dechifre v. to decipher, decode; to 
analyze, interpret; to tear off, pull 
out; to unravel, fathom 
dechikete, dechikte v. to remove 
ticks; to cut to pieces, slash, hack; 
adj. ragged 
dechiran adj. heartbreaking, 
heartrending, harrowing 
dechire v. to tear (apart), tear up, 
rip, shred; adj. shabbily dressed; 
in tatters, in rags; see chire 
dechose v. to lose weight, become 
emaciated; to pull meat off (crabs 
etc.); to remove (one's) shoes; 
adj. skinny, scrawny, gaunt; 
deboned 
dechoukaj, dechoukay n. 
uprooting, eradication; removal 
from office; mob justice; 
lynching; looting, burning; loot 
seized during uprising 
dechouke, dejouke v. to uproot, 
root out, pull out (by the roots), 
eradicate; to clear (land); to fire 
(from job), remove from office, 
depose, overthrow; to lynch; to 
pillage, plunder, burn; to discover, 
find 
dechoukè n. rebel, insurgent; 
member of lynch mob; pillager, 
plunderer 
dechte, dejte v. to diminish (in 
value), depreciate; to lose weight; 
to shrink 
dechwe v. to refloat (boat); to bail 
out, set back on one's feet 
Ded prop.n. Dade County (Florida) 
dèd adj. [Eng.] dead-tired, 
exhausted 
Dèdal (wout) prop.n. route des 
Dalles (south part of PaP from rue 
St-Gérard to Carrefour area) 
dedan n. inside, interior 
dede n. old man; f.n. friend who 
helps out on special occasions 
dedete, detete n. DDT (insecticide) 
dedi v. to criticize, contradict; to 
reduce; to lose weight; to retract 
(a statement); to renege, go back 
on one's word 
dedikas n. dedication, inscription 
fè yon - to dedicate 
dedikase v. to sign, autograph, 
inscribe; to dedicate, consecrate 
dedikasyon n. dedication, 
commitment 
dediksyon n. deduction, inference; 
deduction, subtraction 
Dedin prop.n. Desdunes (communal 
section of Dessalines, Dept. 
Artibonite) 
Dedinyen prop.n., Dedinyèn 
f.prop.n. inhabitant of Desdunes 
(Dept. Artibonite) 
Dedip: 
konplèks ~ Oedipus complex 
dedje see dedye 
dedjennen v. to pull out, unsheathe 
dedjole v. to unstop, unplug; to slap 
in the face 
dedloye v. to dry up, dry out; to 
parch 
dèdo see dèyè do 
dedomaje see dedonmaje 
dedomajman see dedonmajman 
185 
dedonmaje - defeyte 
dedonmaje, dedomaje v. to 
compensate, indemnify, make up 
(for), make amends (for), redress 
dedonmajman, dedomajman n. 
compensation, settlement 
dedoub n. thick cassava bread 
dédoublé v. to open out, unfold; to 
take on a second personality 
dedoubleman n. dividing, splitting 
dedwa adv. [Fr.] rightfully, 
legitimately; adj. law 
eta sosyete ~ rule by law; 
legitimacy, lawfulness 
dedwane, dedwanen v. to clear 
through customs 
dedwi v. to deduct, infer; to deduct, 
subtract 
dedye, dedje v. to dedicate 
dèè see dèyè 
defakto adj. de facto 
defalay, defay n. collapsing, caving 
in, sinking 
defale (tonbe) v. to collapse, cave 
in, sink 
defalkaw adj. dizzy 
defalkay: 
an ~ torn, tattered 
defalke v. to demolish, smash, 
destroy; to strip, take out; to tear 
apart; adj. torn, tattered 
defamasyon n. defamation 
defami adj. family-oriented 
defandab adj. defensible 
defann v. to defend; to forbid, 
prohibit, ban; to challenge, defy; 
refl. to cope, fend for, look out for 
~ yon patat to be after s.thg., be 
in it for s.thg. 
defans n. defense, protection; 
defense (sports); forbiddance, 
interdiction; bumper (on vehicle); 
tusk 
~ aryè rear bumper 
~ avan front bumper 
~ ko moun autoimmune system 
lejitim ~ self-defense 
pran ~ to defend (s.o.) 
sistèm ~ immune system 
defansè n. defender; guard (sports) 
defansif adj. defensive 
defas adj. hypocritical; adv. directly 
an ~ hypocritically 
defason conj. so that, in such a way 
that 
~ pou in such a way as to 
defavè n. disfavor; disadvantage 
defavorab adj. unfavorable 
defavorize v. to disadvantage; adj. 
disadvantaged, underprivileged 
defay see defalay 
defayans n. faintness, feeling of 
weakness; failure, lapse 
san ~ without flinching, without 
hesitation 
defaze v. to disorient, be mixed up, 
be confused; to be unstylishly 
dressed 
defè, defèt v. to undo, take down; to 
unseat (government etc.); to 
rescind; to unstitch, break; to 
disconcert; to be in declining 
health, be on the wane; to sell 
with regret; adj. torn, undone 
(seam); see men ~ 
defektye adj. faulty, defective 
defen n./adj. deceased, the late; 
defunct; adj. hunger 
defere v. to refer, hand over (to the 
court) (jur.) 
defèt n. defeat; see defè 
~ oubyen boukante no matter 
how 
defètis adj. defeatist 
defeyte v. to leaf through, skim 
186 
défi - Dèfouk 
through, glance through (book 
etc.); cf. feyte 
defi n. challenge, dare, defiance 
bay % mete an - to challenge, 
dare, defy 
leve (yon) ~ to meet a challenge, 
accept a dare 
men ~ kwa manman ou men ~ 
kwa papa ou I challenge you, I 
dare you 
defifare v. to break apart 
defigire v. to disfigure; to distort; to 
spoil, mar; to change (for the 
worse), look sick 
defikse v. to unfasten, detach 
defilannegwi adv. one thing leading 
to another, gradually 
defile v. to parade, drill, march past; 
to proceed; to unwind, unravel 
(sewing); to take thread out of a 
needle; to dull, blunt; adj. dull, 
blunt; n. parade, march 
~ desann to go rushing down 
Defile (la-Fol)prop.n. Défilée 
(elderly woman who rescued 
physical remains of Dessalines -
17 Oct. 1806); see Bedè 
defilman n. parading, passing in 
review 
defiloche v. to unravel, fray 
defilonnen v. to shoot back and 
forth (lightning) 
defiltre v. to unravel, unthread, 
shred 
definfala see delala 
défini v. to define; to be emaciated; 
to break off (a relationship); adj. 
definite; destroyed, finished 
definisyon n. definition 
fè ~ to make up one's mind 
définitif adj. definitive 
an ~ eventually, when all is said 
and done 
definitivman adv. definitely, 
positively; definitively, 
conclusively 
defisi(t) n. deficit, loss 
fè ~ to lose, make no profit or 
gain, be in the red 
defisitè adj. in deficit 
defisyan adj. [Fr.] deficient 
defisyans n. [Fr.] deficiency 
defizyone v. to defuse 
deflektè n. deflector, baffle 
deflore v. to deflower, violate, 
ravish 
defo n. defect, flaw, imperfection; 
fault; shortcoming; vice, bad 
habit; see jijman 
pa ~ by default 
defofile v. to unravel, unwind 
(sewing) 
Dèfôj, Defôj prop.n. Des Forges 
(2nd communal section of 
Bombardopolis, Dept. North-
west) 
defoke adj. immoral 
defomasyon n. deformation; 
irregularity; handicap; defect, 
deformity, malformation 
defome v. to deform; to be 
deformed; to distort 
defonsaj, defonsay n. demolition; 
smashing, battering 
defonse v. to smash in, batter; to 
remove or break the bottom (pot, 
pail etc.); to deflower, break the 
hymen; adj. bumpy, rough (road) 
defonsè n. smasher, destroyer 
defontankonm adv. from top to 
bottom 
Dèfouk prop. n. Des Fourques (12th 
communal section of Petit-Goâve, 
Dept. West) 
187 
defouke - degaje 
defouke v. to tear the crotch (of 
pants); n. slovenly or negligent 
person 
defoulay n. (psychological) release, 
unwinding, letting go 
defoule refl. to let go, unwind 
(oneself); to take out one's 
frustrations 
~ kè/konsyans li to clear one's 
conscience 
defoulman n. (psychological) 
release 
defounen v. to take out of an oven; 
to come forth, emerge, 
materialize; to present, come out 
with 
~ nen to pick one's nose 
defouni v. to thin, empty, clear; to 
thin out, fall out (woman's hair); 
adj. sparse 
defouye v. to ransack, turn inside 
out 
defrechi v. to fade, become worn or 
wrinkled 
defresiye v. to disembowel, rip up, 
break open; to mistreat, rough up, 
beat up 
défriché v. to clear off (land) 
defripe v. to smooth out; to insult; 
to beat, thrash; adj. ragged, torn, 
frayed 
defwa, dèfwa adv. twice; sometimes 
defwanèf n. second-hand goods; 
adj. second-hand 
defwoke n. social outcast; adj. 
defrocked; badly dressed; socially 
ostracized; deranged, demented, 
crazy 
Dèfwonfô (ri) prop.n. rue des 
Fronts-Forts (downtown PaP) 
defy an adj. mistrustful, distrustful, 
suspicious 
defyans n. mistrust, distrust, 
suspicion 
defye v. to mistrust; to challenge, 
defy, dare 
dega n. damage, havoc; var. of 
mango 
mank - lack of respect, disrespect 
manke manke dezenga/ 
dèzenga to lack respect for, be 
disrespectful toward, be 
discourteous; to provoke 
fè ~ to devastate 
degad adj. on duty, on guard 
degagannen v. to grab by the throat, 
attack; to cut the throat of; to 
overcharge; to pressure (s.o.) to 
pay 
degajan adj. resourceful; reliable 
degaje, degajèt refl. to get by, make 
do, manage, make ends meet; to 
get out of a jam, find a solution; 
to emanate, come forth; to kick 
ball out of penalty area (soccer); 
to free; to make a living; to hurry 
up; to help (s.o.) out; to contrive; 
to go to the bathroom; n. 
livelihood, sustenance; adj. 
makeshift, short-termed 
scram! 
~ konsyans li to clear one's 
conscience 
~ li pou kont li to fend for 
oneself 
- ou! Take care of yourself! Sink 
or swim! 
- pa peche making do is no 
crime, taking advantage of the 
means at hand is OK; informal 
fè yon ti ~ to eke out a living 
ti ~ low or menial job; part-time 
job; small business (selling 
inexpensive wares etc.) 
188 
degajè - degoudwone 
degajè n. handyman, jack-of-all-
trades; woman street vendor; 
charlatan; prostitute 
degajèz f.n. prostitute 
degangole see degrengole 
degani v. to thin (out), empty, clear; 
to strip (decorations) 
deganisaj, deganisay n. thinning 
out, clearing out (of plants esp.) 
degaye v. to mess up; to fall apart; 
adj. messy 
degè adj. war 
degengole see degrengole 
degenn n. news; boldness; slyness; 
gait; strength, talent, value 
degennen v. to unsheathe, pull or 
draw (machete, knife etc.) 
degèpi v. to shove out, chase out, 
evict; to clear out, leave 
degèpisman n. eviction 
degi, djegi, dyegi, gyegi n. extra 
measure, bonus, supplement, 
(little bit) extra (for good 
measure), to boot (same as ranje) 
kôm ~ in addition (to) 
ti ~ moun puny or runty person 
degistasyon n. savoring, enjoying 
degiste v. [F/:] to savor, enjoy, taste 
degizan adj. shameful 
degize v. to disguise, mask, conceal; 
to disgrace, shame; adj. dressed in 
poor taste 
bal ~ costume ball 
degizman n. disguise, mask; 
costume 
deglase v. to become warm 
(substance); to thaw 
deglasè n. defroster (mach.) 
deglasyaw adj. disgusting 
degobe, degobiye, degobye v. to 
burp, belch 
degobyay n. belching 
degôch adj. leftist 
degoche n. hick, clod, oaf 
degoche, degochi v. to prepare, 
initiate; to smooth out; adj. dumb 
degoje v. to cut the throat of; to slice 
up; to pressure (s.o.) to pay; to 
free, clear (passageway, etc.); to 
declog (piping etc.) 
degôjèt v. to tear (s.o.'s) throat out 
degojman n. cutting the throat; 
slicing up; pressuring (s.o.) to 
pay; freeing, clearing (passageway 
etc.); decloging (piping etc. 
degon see dengon 
dégonflé v. to deflate, reduce in 
size; to scatter, disperse; to make 
room for; to evacuate, clear; to 
find relief from indigestion; n. 
acalypha (herb or shrub) 
degonmay, degonmaj n. ungluing, 
degumming 
degonmen v. to unglue, degum, 
ungum; to detach, come off; to 
clean (s.thg.) 
degonn n. ass, buttocks; rear 
degou n. disgust; distaste, dislike 
degouden n. half a gourde, 50 
centimes; (formerly) 10 cents 
U.S., dime 
~ kole, ~ ak senkant kôb, 
senkant kôb ak ~ (kole) six of 
one half dozen of the other, the 
same thing 
konn ~ se 45 kôb to be stupid 
tounen ~ nan yon papye goud to 
become inseparable 
degoudi v. to warm slightly (water 
etc.); to remove stiffness or 
numbness; to learn the first 
rudiments; to learn one's way 
around 
degoudwone v. to remove or tear 
189 
degoulinen - degrennen 
up road paving 
degoulinen v. to drip, trickle down 
degoumandaj n. pruning, thinning 
out 
degoumande v. to prune, pull out 
the suckers of a plant 
degouse v. to shell, husk, pod (peas 
etc.); to disassociate, break apart 
degouspa: 
li p ap ~ he won't budge, he 
won't do a thing (about it) 
degout n. drop, drip; see twadegout 
~ pa ~ drop by drop, little by little 
degoutan adj. disgusting, nasty; 
annoying, worrisome 
degoutans n. aversion, repugnance, 
disgust, nausea; anti-love potion 
degoute v. to disgust; to be 
disgusted with; to dislike; to drip, 
dribble; to drip dry; to drain; adj. 
disgusted, discouraged 
lapii ap ~ it's raining lightly 
degoziye v. to shout oneself hoarse 
degraba v. to become worthless, 
lose value, go downhill; to 
corrupt, debase 
(n)an - penniless, broke, ruined; 
in ruins 
degradan adj. degrading, 
humiliating, demeaning 
degradasyon n. desounen (q.v.) 
ceremony (Voodoo); decline, 
dissolution, deterioration; 
degradation 
degrade v. to demote; to degrade; to 
damage; to disparage; to decline, 
deteriorate, go downhill, get 
worse; to scale (enamel); to 
separate a dead person from his/ 
her principal Voodoo spirit; refl. 
to lower oneself 
~ mo ceremony separating dead 
person from his/her principal 
Voodoo spirit 
dégrafé v. to unhook, unfasten, 
detach 
Degranj prop.n. Des Granges (3rd 
communal section of Saint-Louis-
du-Nord, Dept. North-West) 
degrape v. to pick, harvest 
degrate v. [N.] to clear (land) 
degrave v. to obliterate, erase, 
delete 
degre n. degree, rank; degree, 
diploma; degree (on 
thermometer); extent, phase, 
stage, point; magic power, 
magical protective device 
(Voodoo); adj. magic, protective 
dènye ~ to the last degree, 
completely, fully 
degrengolad n. downfall; slump 
degrengole, degangole, degengole, 
degrenngole, degringole, 
dingole, djingole v. to tumble 
down, fall; to rush down, scamper 
down 
~ desann same meanings as 
above 
degrenn pin. a few 
degrennen v. to separate one by 
one; to shell (beans etc.); to husk 
(corn); to drift away; to break 
apart; to disjoint; to isolate; to fall 
out (hair, teeth); to thin out 
(forest); to break a bill (for 
change); to become crumbly, fall 
apart; to list, spell out (problems 
etc.); to spew out (bullets); adj. 
separate, individual 
an nan ~ disjointedly, in bits 
and pieces 
- dan to knock s.o.'s block off 
~ wozè to say one's rosary 
190 
degrenngoch - dejwentaj 
vann ~ to retail 
degrenngoch adj. half-assed, 
stupid, idiotic (lit. : putting on two 
left shoes); adv. stupidly, 
idiotically, inanely 
degrese v. to lose weight, slim 
down, slenderize; to remove fat or 
grease 
degresman n. slimming down, 
slenderizing 
degrifi adj. desolate 
degriji v. to unwrinkle, smooth out 
creases; to spruce up; adj. worn out 
degringole see degrengole 
degrize v. to sober up, bring to one's 
senses 
degwèl n. daily effort to feed 
oneself 
degwenn see dengon 
degwosi v. to lose weight; to break 
in, get (s.o.) accustomed to 
(s.thg.); to teach the rudiments to; 
to know the first rudiments; to 
smooth out; to rough-hew 
degzistans adv. of existence 
dehèl! interj. hell! 
dèj, vèjin n. man's thimble 
(supposedly larger) 
deja, dija adv. already, yet, even 
now; previously, before; so quick; 
right away, immediately 
~ pou youn (as) for starters, (as) 
for a start 
Dejan prop.n. Déjean (1st 
communal section of Chambellan, 
Dept. Grand'Anse) 
Dejan (Iv) prop.n. Déjean (Yves) -
scholar of the Creole language 
Dejan (Pol) prop.n. Déjean (Paul) -
principal translator of the 1987 
Haitian Constitution into the 
Haitian language 
dejante v. to remove (tire) from rim 
dej arete v. to withdraw support, 
cripple 
dejele see dejle 
dejene, dejenen, dejennen see 
dejnen 
dejeneresans n. (rel.) degeneracy 
dejennere, dejenere v. to 
degenerate; n./adj. degenerate; 
adj. broken-down, battered, 
dilapidated 
dejije v. to go back on one's 
decidynamitsion, change one's 
mind 
dejimèl n. butterfly flower, bullhoof 
flower 
dejistès adv. barely, just, by a 
narrow margin 
dejle, dejele n. series (of); big 
quantity of; v. to thaw 
- kou/baton beating, thrashing, 
shower of blows 
dejnen, dejene, dejenen, dejennen, 
dejne, tidejene n. breakfast; v. to 
eat breakfast 
dejouke v. to leave the roost; to 
release, unfasten; see dechouke 
dejouranjou, dejouwanjou, dejou 
anjou adv. from day to day; 
gradually, steadily 
dej te see dechte 
dejwa n. irresponsible person; 
spendthrift, wastrel 
Dejwa prop.n. Déjoie (2nd 
communal section of 
Chardonnières, Dept. South) 
dejwe n. irresponsible person; 
spendthrift, wastrel; v. to corrupt, 
be a bad influence on; to foil, 
thwart; to fool, trick 
dejwentaj n. dislocation (of bone), 
luxation 
191 
dejwente - dekilakyèl? 
dejwente, dejwentiye v. to disjoint, 
dislocate (bone); n. dislocation 
dèk n. [Eng.] (back)deck (of house) 
deka n. object used by Voodoo 
priest(ess) to call forth Voodoo 
spirits 
dekabès n. double win (lottery 
number which has won twice; 
dominoes); jackpot 
fè ~ to hit the jackpot 
fè ~ sou to do in, overcome 
dekabonize v. to decarbonize 
dekachotye v. to reveal, disclose 
dekachte v. to unseal, reveal; to 
deflower, break the hymen; adj. 
open, unsealed 
~ lide to exchange ideas, engage 
in a dialogue; to brainstorm 
dekad n. [Fr.] decade 
dekadans, ladekadans n. 
decadence, decay, decline, wane 
dekafeyine adj. decaffeinated 
dekage v. to lean forward, return to 
normal (seating) position 
dekagôn n. decagon (math.) 
dekalay, dekalaj n. gap, interval, 
discrepancy 
dekale v. to chip off; to peel (off), 
scale off; to scale (fish); to 
remove tiles; adj. bare; scaly; 
stripped (electric wire) 
dekalifye v. to disqualify 
dekalkaj n. tracing; transfer 
(drawing, design) 
dekalke v. to trace; to transfer 
(drawing, design) 
papye ~ carbon paper 
Dekalôgprop.n. Decalog(ue), Ten 
Commandments 
dekalyon adj. numerous, many 
yon ~ a lot of, many 
dekamèt n. tape measure; ten 
meters, decameter 
dekana n. deansnip; university 
administration 
dekanke v. to deflower, break the 
hymen 
dekanpe refl. to move off, run 
away, make oneself scarce; n. 
substance which wards off evil 
spirits (Voodoo) 
dekape v. to carve up, cut up (meat); 
to behead, decapitate; to dress 
(bird); to skin 
dekapite v. to decapitate, behead 
dekapotab n./adj. convertible (car) 
dekare adj. startled, surprised 
Dekat (Inivèsite) prop.n. Descartes 
University (Sorbonne), Paris 
dekati adj. decrepit, aged, old 
dekatiye see dekatye 
dekatlon n. decathlon 
dekatman n. cutting up, carving up; 
pruning, thinning out 
dekatye, dekatiye, dekatya v. to 
cut up, carve up; to strip, 
dismantle; to prune, thin out; to 
categorize; to have become 
useless, gone to seed 
Dèkawo prop.n. disadvantaged area 
of Gonaïves (Dept. Artibonite) 
dèkay see dèyèkay 
dekayèt: 
pwa ~ var. of bean 
Dèkazèn (ri) prop.n. rue des 
Casernes (adjoining National 
Palace, PaP) 
dèke conj. as soon as; see dèske 
dekese v. to disburse, pay out 
dekèsman n. disbursement, paying 
out 
dekidwa? adv. by what right? on 
what grounds? 
dekilakyèl?, dekilakèl? interj. who 
192 
dekilote - dekolonizasyon 
cares?; how come? 
dekilote v. to take down one's pants; 
to mistreat 
dekilpe, dekilpabilize, dezenkilpe 
v. to exonerate, exculpate, 
vindicate 
dekiltire v. to strip of (one's) culture 
dekimannigèt see dekiprevyen 
dekimen v. to skim (off) 
dekip adj. team; see ekip 
dekiprevyen (dekimannigèt) adv. 
how come? why is it that? by 
what right? 
bay ~ (sou) to explain how, to 
account for 
di ~ to talk things out 
dekire v. to skin, abrade, remove 
pieces of skin 
dekitasyon: 
pantalon ~ riding breeches 
deklanchan: 
an ~ in launching, in unleashing 
deklanchman n. unleashing, 
launching; starting 
deklannche, deklanche, 
deklanntche v. to start, begin to; 
to disengage, throw out of gear; to 
launch, trigger, unleash 
deklarasyon n. declaration, 
statement; formal registration; 
formal complaint; avowal of love 
~ enpo tax return 
fè ~ to make an official report; to 
declare one's love (to a woman) 
deklare v. to declare, state, affirm, 
contend 
~ koupab to convict 
lapli ~ it has started to rain 
deklas adj. high-class 
deklase v. to downgrade 
deklen n. decline, deterioration 
deklere v. to tarnish; to frost (glass) 
deklete v. to unlock; to open 
dekline, deklinen v. to decline, 
deteriorate, go to ruin; to be in 
declining health; to ruin 
deklinezon n. declension 
deklipsè n. staple remover 
deklise v. to take apart wattle 
(construction material) 
dekloke v. to disjoint, dislocate 
(bone); cf. dejwente 
dekloure v. to unnail, remove nails; 
to come apart at nails (shoes) 
dekô n. décor, decoration; scenery 
dekoche v. to utter (cry, sound) 
dekochte, dekwochte v. to unhook, 
unlatch; to unlock; to get, obtain 
(with difficulty) 
dekodaj n. decoding 
dekode v. to decode 
dekôde v. to untwist, unknot 
dekofre v. to lift up, relieve from 
oppression; to remove (wooden) 
cement forms (construction work) 
dekoke, dekouke, dekwoke n. 
good-for-nothing; hick; hand-me-
down clothes, shoddy clothes; v. 
to unhook, take down; to get, 
obtain (with difficulty) 
dekolay, dekolaj n. ungluing, 
detaching; take-off (of airplane); 
scheme 
sou ~ illegally 
dekolboso v. to break down, smash 
dekole v. to unglue, unstick; to fall 
apart; to detach; to depart, take off 
(person; plane); to get a start, take 
off; to loosen, decongest; to get 
out/be pulled out (of mud etc.); to 
disjoint, dislocate (bone); to 
furnish (s.o.) an answer 
dekolonizasyon, dekolonnizasyon 
n. decolonization 
dekolonize - dekoray 
dekolonize, dekolonnize v. to 
decolonize 
dekolore v. to bleach, fade 
dekôlte v. to unbutton; adj. (with a) 
plunging neckline; lewd, off-
color; unrestrained; insolent, 
impertinent 
dekômande, dekonmande, 
dekoumande v. to cancel, 
rescind, annul, revoke 
dekomokyèl adj. ridiculous, 
bullshit 
dekonble, dekonbre v. to evacuate; 
to clear out 
dekonekte, dekonnekte v. to 
disconnect, unplug; to cut off, 
isolate 
dekonèt see dekonnèt 
dekonjesyonne v. to decongest, 
relieve congestion 
dekonm n. rubble, debris, ruins 
dekonmande see dekomande 
dekonnekte see dekonekte 
dekonnèt, dekonèt v. to forget 
(what has been learned), not 
recognize s.o. easily; to disown 
dekonplis (ak) adv. in complicity 
(with) 
dekonpoze v. to decompose, rot, 
spoil, decay; to take apart; to 
faint, pass out; to have a seizure; 
to make nauseous; to sadden, dis-
courage, make listless; adj. 
unconscious; unresponsive; upset, 
flustered, disturbed; nauseated 
dekonpozè n. decomposer 
dekonpozisyon, ladekonpozisyon 
n. fainting spell; seizure; minor 
illness, indisposition; analysis, 
breakdown; breakdown, falling 
apart; decay, rotting 
~ gwo chalè heat exhaustion; 
hyperthermia 
dekonsantrasyon n. 
decentralization, dispersal 
dekonsantre v. to deconcentrate, 
decongest 
dekonsè: 
- ak in cooperation with, in 
conjunction with 
dekonseye v. to dissuade, 
discourage, advise against 
dekonstipe v. to loosen one's 
bowels 
dekonstonbray, dekonstonbraj n. 
demolishing, breaking apart; 
terrible beating 
dekonstonbre, dekostonbre v. to 
demolish, break apart; to give a 
terrible beating to; to fall apart, 
disintegrate; to be down, be 
depressed 
dekonstonbrè n. demolisher, 
destroyer 
dekont n. detailed account, 
breakdown (of an account) 
dekontaminasyon n. 
decontamination 
dekontamine, dekontaminen v. to 
decontaminate 
dekontrakte adj. relaxed, laid-back 
dekontwôl n. temper tantrum; 
emotional breakdown 
dekontwole v. to lose one's temper; 
to break down, lose emotional 
control; to be flustered; to agitate, 
perturb, upset 
dekorasyon n. decoration, 
ornament, ornamentation, trim; 
medal, decoration 
dekoratè n. decorator 
dekoratif adj. decorative 
dekoray n. withdrawal of support, 
crippling 
194 
dekore - dekouwonnen 
dekore v. to decorate, adorn, 
ornament; to decorate, award a 
medal; to withdraw support or 
backing; to remove a wedge (from 
vehicle tire etc.) 
abitan ~ rude or pretentious hick 
dekoste v. to weigh anchor, sail off, 
sail away 
dekostime v. to get undressed 
dekostonbre see dekonstonbre 
dekote adv. aside 
dekotikay, dekôtikaj n. cleaning 
up; shelling, peeling, husking 
dekôtike v. to decorticate, shell, 
peel, husk; to clean up 
dekôtikè n. mechanized sisal 
stripper 
dekou n. decrease, wane (moon 
etc.); good period for planting 
fèt sou bon ~ to be born under a 
lucky star 
dekouchay n. scrubbing, scouring; 
staying out all night 
dekouche v. to scrub, scour; to stay 
out all night, spend the night away 
from home 
dekoud v. to unstitch, remove 
stitches; to come undone at seams, 
rip; to tear open; to lose one's 
skills or talent; adj. incoherent 
dekouke see dekoke 
dekoule de v. to ensue, follow from, 
be the result of 
dekoumande see dekômande 
dekoupaj, dekoupay n. 
apportionment, division, 
distribution; cuts, cutting (radio, 
cinema) 
dekoupasyon n. partition, interior 
wall 
dekoupe v. to cut up, cut out, cut 
off, carve, divide; to section off; 
to intersect; to interrupt; to dilute, 
water down; to take a shortcut; to 
eat copiously; n. shortcut; middle-
sized of the three Rada drums 
(Voodoo) - same as segon; adj. 
disjointed, disconnected 
chemen wout - shortcut 
~ kôpyèz to cut up or divide up 
large portions of 
~ kôpyèz ak to be on very 
friendly terms with 
~ rache to take advantage of, 
profit from, exploit 
fè yon ~ to go out of one's way, 
make a detour 
dekoupèt adj. cunning, crafty, sly, 
deceitful 
dekouple v. to separate, pull apart 
dekourajan adj. discouraging, 
depressing 
dekouraje v. to discourage, 
dishearten, dispirit; to be 
discouraged, be disheartened, be 
dispirited; adj. downcast, listless, 
disillusioned 
dekourajman n. discouragement 
dekouvè see dekouvri 
dekouvèt n. discovery; invention 
fè yon - to discover s.thg.; to find 
out about s.thg. 
dekouvri, dekouvè v. to clear up 
(weather); to uncover, unveil; to 
discover; to find out; to reveal; to 
take off (one's) covers; to remove 
roof 
~ chodyè prying, nosey, snoopy 
~ sen Pyè pou kouvri sen Pôl to 
rob Peter to pay Paul, be in 
financial difficulty; to manage a 
situation 
dekouwonnen v. to depose, 
dethrone; to cut the top off (of 
195 
Dekouze - delala 
s.thg.) 
Dekouze prop.n. Découzé 
(community between Carrefour 
Dufort and Jacmel, Dept. South-
East) 
dekovil n. old clothing, rag(s); 
worthless or worn-out object; 
rattletrap, jalopy; adj. 
uncomfortable 
dekowôm n. decorum, propriety 
san ~ slovenly, untidy, messy 
dekoze v. to talk nonsense, babble 
dekrasay, dekrasaj n. scrubbing, 
scouring 
dekrase v. to scrub, scour, take dirt 
off 
dekrè n. decree, edict, ordinance, 
order 
~ lwa executive order 
dekrenmen, dekreme v. to wear 
out, exhaust; to deteriorate, get 
worse, go downhill; to skim 
(milk); adj. wasted away, 
emaciated 
dekrepi adj. decrepit 
dekreta, dekrepe, dekrete v. to cut 
off the crest or comb of a rooster; 
to deflower, take away a woman's 
virginity; to mistreat; adj. flat-
crested (rooster) 
dekrete v. to decree, proclaim, 
declare; see dekreta 
dekreyolize v. to decreolize, 
assimilate, neutralize 
dekri v. to describe, depict 
dekrinen v. to abuse (s.o.) 
deksepsyon adj. exceptional, 
special 
dekspresyon: 
libète ~ freedom of speech 
deksterite n. [Fr.] dexterity, skill 
dekwa, dikwa n. means, something 
(to), what it takes (to), 
wherewithal; cause, good reason; 
adv. enough; conj. in order (that), 
so (that) 
~ pou so that, in order that 
Pa gen It's nothing! Don't 
mention it! 
dekwafe v. to take off a hat; to take 
down one's hair; to ruffle hair 
dekwasan adj. decreasing 
dekwaze v. to uncross 
dekwennen v. to skin, abrade, 
remove pieces of skin; to scald 
dekwense v. to loosen, unwedge 
dekwochay n. impediment 
dekwoche v. to unhook; to pick up 
(telephone); to get, obtain, win 
~ m ay ol la to take the prize 
dekwochi v. to unbend, straighten 
out 
dekwochte see dekochte 
dekwoke see dekoke 
dekwotay, dekwotaj n. scrapping, 
scrubbing, scouring 
dekwote v. to remove mud; to 
scrape, scrub, scour; to comb and 
braid hair 
délabré v. to shatter, dilapidate, 
ruin; adj. in ruins, broken down, 
decaying 
delabreman n. fatigue, exhaustion; 
dilapidation, disrepair 
delache v. to loosen; to relieve, 
release; to relax, unwind 
delage v. to untie, unfasten, set free, 
release, loosen; adj. done in, 
dejected 
delakè n. rascal, tramp; jerk; 
damselfish 
delala, definfala v. to wear out, 
weaken; adj. shabby, run down, in 
bad shape; blasé, nonchalant; 
196 
Delann - Delis 
delirious 
fin ~ to fall into ruins 
Delann prop.n. Deslandes (Dept. 
Artibonite) 
delapade prep. [Fr.] from, on behalf 
of 
delase v. to untie, unlace; to unwind, 
relax 
- janm li to stretch one's legs 
Delat (2® Plèn) prop.n. Delattre (2© 
Plaine) (2nd communal section of 
Petit-Goâve, Dept. West) 
delatè n. [Fr.] informer 
delatètopye, latètopye adv. from 
head to toe, from top to bottom, 
from start to finish; entirely, 
thoroughly, completely 
delave adj. faded, washed-out 
Delawè prop.n. Delaware (USA) 
dele, delè n. deadline 
bay ~ to put off the deadline 
delè n. times; length of time; 
reprieve, delay, deferment, 
postponement; adv. sometimes 
yon dènye ~ an ultimatum 
dèle n. delay; see delè 
delegasyon n. delegation 
delege n. delegate, envoy, 
representative; chief government 
representative in each of the nine 
geographic Departments 
responsible for public services 
(excluding police); rural section 
chief (same as chèf seksyon); v. 
to send, delegate 
vis ~ government representative in 
each awondisman (q.v:) 
responsible for public services 
(excluding police) 
Delege prop.n. Délégué (communal 
section of Dept. Artibonite) 
delèkè adj. weak, listless, 
downtrodden 
delen n. var. of weed (used for 
feeding hogs and goats) 
delenkan n. trouble-maker; 
offender, delinquent; adj. 
delinquent, careless, neglectful 
delenkans n. misdeeds, offenses, 
delinquency 
deleryôm n. delirium 
delese v. to neglect, abandon 
deleste v. to jettison ballast, lighten 
(ship, plane) 
deleye see delye 
deleze v. to rough-hew 
Dèlfi prop.n. Delphi (seat of famous 
oracle in ancient Greece) 
deli n. delirium; crime, offense; 
deli(catessen) 
nan ~ to be delirious 
flagran ~ [Fr] caught red-handed 
deliberasyon n. deliberations, 
debate, proceedings 
délibéré v. to deliberate, consider, 
confer; to liberate, set free, let go 
deligote v. to unbind, untie 
delij see deliz 
Delijeprop.n. Délugé (1st 
communal section of Saint-Marc, 
Dept. Artibonite) 
delika adj. delicate; subtle; refined, 
sensitive; feeble, weak 
delikatès n. delicacy, fineness; 
refinement; scrupulousness (of 
conduct), fastidiousness (of taste) 
delikidifye v. to deliquify 
deliks adj. deluxe 
delimitasyon n. (line of) 
demarcation 
délimité v. to demarcate 
delire adj. forward, bold; smart-
alecky; v. to be delirious, rave 
Delis prop.n. Des Délices (5th 
197 
delivrans - demalanmal 
communal section of Arcahaie, 
Dept. West) 
delivrans, delivrany n. afterbirth, 
placenta; childbirth, parturition; 
see ladelivrans 
Delivrans: 
fèt - Feast of the Passover (rel.) 
délivré v. to deliver, hand over; to 
rescue, set free, release, liberate, 
save; to get off the hook, get out 
of an obligation; to deliver, give 
birth; to expel the placenta 
deliy n. short note 
deliz, delij n. flood, deluge; great 
quantity; cf. lavalas 
dèlko n. dynamo, electric generator 
Dèlma prop.n. Delmas (large area 
of PaP and Pétion-Ville) 
Dèlmasyen prop.n., Dèlmasyèn 
f prop.n. inhabitant of Delmas 
(greater PaP) 
deloje v. to remove (s.o.) from a 
house; to move, change residence 
delojman n. moving 
delok v. to unlock 
delokalizasyon n. sending off-shore 
(manufacturing) 
delokalize v. to move, change 
residence; to send off-shore 
(manufacturing) 
delonje v. to disjoint, dislocate 
(bone) 
delonnen v. to disarray, mess up 
Dèlpe prop.n. Delpé (2nd communal 
section of Aquin, Dept. South) 
delwayal adj. unfair, underhanded 
delwen adv. at a distance, from afar 
delye, deleye v. to dilute, be diluted; 
to thin (paint); to mix, dissolve; to 
loosen, free, release 
fè vizit ~ to inspect, visit the 
scene of a crime (jur.) 
demach n. initiative, project, 
undertaking, step, action; process; 
attempt; gait, bearing, walk 
fè mennen ~ to make 
arrangments; to take steps toward, 
exert influence, pull strings 
demachè n. sales representative; 
recruiter 
demachwelay, demachwelaj n. 
smashing (s.o.'s) face in, 
knocking (s.o.'s) block off 
demachwele v. to smash s.o.'s face 
in, knock s.o.'s block off 
demagôg n. demagogue, rabble-
rouser; lying politician 
demagoji n. demagoguery, (empty) 
political rhetoric, campaign 
promises, rabble-rousing; swindle, 
sham, pretense, flimflam 
fè ~ to rabbble-rouse, instigate, 
inflame 
demagojik adj. demagogic(al), 
rabble-rousing 
demakasyon n. [Fr.] demarcation; 
see liy 
demakay, demakaj n. avoidance; 
difference of opinion 
demake v. to slip away, sneak away; 
to hide from or avoid (s.o.); refl. 
to differ from, set oneself apart 
from 
~ konvèsasyon an to change the 
subject 
demakè n. elusive or evasive person 
demakiye v. to remove make-up 
demakônen, demakonnen v. to 
untangle, disentangle 
demakoutizasyon n. eradication of 
criminal elements 
demakoutize v. to rid of criminal 
elements 
demalanmal adv. from bad to worse 
198 
demanbray - demaye 
demanbray, demanbraj n. 
battering, beating; ravaging, 
devastating 
demanbre v. to dismember, break 
up; to tear apart, batter, beat (a 
person); to ravage, devastate; to 
weaken; adj. very tired, worn out; 
weak, paralyzed; n. dwelling left 
by the ancestors (Voodoo); ruins, 
remains (of house); family 
gathering to honor ancestral 
Voodoo spirit 
demanbrè n. smasher, demolisher 
demanbreman n. disunion, 
alienation 
démanché v. to remove the handle 
of; adj. without a handle 
demandé n. requester, applicant; 
plaintiff (fur.) 
demanjezon, manjezon n. itch(ing) 
demann n. request; application (job 
etc.) 
an ~ in demand, popular 
fè ~ to make a request; to apply 
for (job etc.); to demand 
fè (la)demann (pou) to request in 
marriage 
demannyè see demànyè 
demans n. [Fr.] dementia, mental 
disorder 
demantele see demantle 
demantèlman n. dismantlement, 
breaking up, demolition 
demanti n. denial, contradiction; v. 
to deny, contradict, belie 
pote yon ~ to issue a denial 
demantibilay, demantibilaj n. 
smashing up, demolition, 
destruction 
demantibile v. to smash up, 
demolish, destroy completely; to 
dismantle; to dislocate, put out of 
joint; adj. falling apart, in ruins 
demantibilè n. smasher, demolisher 
demantisman n. denial, 
contradication 
demantlay, demantlaj n. 
dismantling; demolition, 
destruction 
demantle, demantele v. to 
dismantle; to raze, demolish, 
destroy 
demantlè n. demolisher, destroyer 
demànyè, demannyè conj. so that, 
in such a way that 
demaraj, demaray n. starting-up, 
moving off; weeding out of 
superfluous or sickly plants 
demarande v. to disunite 
Demarat (Lyonèl) prop.n. 
Desmarattes (Lyonel) - Haitian-
language dramatist, author of 
Mouche Defas, born 1954 
demaray see demaraj 
demare v. to untie; to free; to clear 
up (sky); to relax (one's 
expression); to start, get started 
demarè n. starter (;mach.) 
demaryaj n. thinning out (of plants 
etc. growing too closely together) 
demarye v. to disengage, separate, 
pull apart; to divorce 
demas adj. mass 
demaske v. to unmask, uncover, 
reveal; to clear up (weather) 
~ ou devan mwen! Get out of my 
sight! Beat it! 
Dèmate prop.n. Des Matheux (6th 
communal section of Arcahaie, 
Dept. West) 
dèmatolog n. dermatologist 
dèmatoloji n. dermatology 
demawonnen v. to disentangle 
demaye v. to undo (links of chain); 
199 
dèmè - demisyonè 
to unravel, disentangle, undo 
dèmè: 
fèt - Mother's Day 
demeble v. to remove the furniture 
demèfle adj. dull, listless, 
weakened, down and out; v. to 
destroy, tear up 
demefyan adj. mistrustful, wary; 
skeptical, doubtful 
demegri v. to lose weight; adj. torn, 
dirty (clothing) 
demelanjay, demelanjaj n. 
classification, categorization 
demelanje v. to classify, categorize 
demelay n. untangling, unraveling; 
small business, wares (of street 
merchant) 
demele v. to untangle, unravel; to 
shuffle (cards); refl. to get along, 
manage, make do; n. (temporary) 
work, job; merchant's (makeshift) 
stand 
~ gèt li to get one's ass out of 
trouble 
~ gèt ou! sink or swim! 
~ yon trip to earn a penny, just 
get by 
ti ~ low or menial job; small stand 
for selling wares 
demèlman n. unraveling, 
disentangling 
demen see denmen 
demenaje v. [Fr.] to move (one's 
belongings), move in, change 
residence; cf bwote 
demenm, demèm adv. similarly, in 
the same way 
demeplè adj. disgusting; crude, 
vulgar; disobedient 
demere u to live, reside 
demerite v. to be unworthy 
demezire adj. disproportionate 
demi n./adj. (one-)half; adj. 
dislocated, out of joint (wrist, 
ankle etc.); n. half bottle; halfback 
(soccer); see edmi 
~ avèg visually impaired 
demibot n. ankle boot, half-boot 
demibrigad n. demi-brigade 
demidèy n. half-mourning; fabric 
with black and white dots 
demifinal n. semi-finals (sports) 
demifrè n. half-brother 
demigri adj. tipsy, befuddled, shaky 
demijàn n. large water bottle (on 
stand) 
demijounen n. half-day; half-day's 
work 
demika n. half (of a rum bottle) 
demilitarize v. to demilitarize 
demimezi n. half-measure 
nan pwen ~ there is no alternative 
pran yon ~ (kont) to punish, 
make pay for 
demini n./adj. destitute 
demipansyon n. half or partial 
board and lodging 
Dèmirak (ri) prop.n. rue des 
Miracles (downtown PaP) 
demisè f.n. half-sister 
demisèk n. half-circle 
demistifikasyon n. enlightenment, 
démystification 
demistifye v. to enlighten, disabuse, 
demystify 
demisyon n. resignation; quitting, 
giving up 
bay remèt - to resign, quit (a 
job) 
demisyone, demisyonne, 
demisyonnen v. to resign, quit 
demisyonè, demisyonnè n. s.o. 
who has tendered his/her 
resignation; adj. passive, do-
200 
demitas - demwatye 
nothing, abdicative 
demitas n. demitasse 
demitou n. about-face (milit.); short 
absence 
fè ~ to turn around, go in the 
opposite direction 
demiyè n. half-hour 
demo see devi 
demobilizasyon n. demobilization; 
apathy 
demobilize v. to demobilize; to put 
out of action 
demôd v. to budge, give in, concede 
demode adj. out of fashion, old-
fashioned; outdated, obsolete 
demodman n. obsolescence, disuse 
demograf n. demographer 
demografi n. demography 
demografik adj. demographic 
demokrasi, lademokrasi n. 
democracy; decent human rights, 
respect; practical training; 
infrastructure: schools, roads, 
clinics, decent homes 
demokrat n. democrat; adj. 
democratic 
demokratik adj. democratic 
demokratikman adv. 
democratically 
demokratizasyon n. 
democratization 
demokratize v. to democratize 
démoli v. to demolish, tear down 
demolisman n. demolition, pulling 
down, destruction 
demolisyon n. demolition 
demon see denmon 
demonizasyon n. demonizing 
demonize see denmonnize 
demonstrasyon, demonstraksyon 
n. meaningless talk; show, 
display; proof (math.); 
demonstration, explanation; 
public protest, mass meeting 
démonstratif adj. (gram.) 
demonstrative 
demontab adj. dismantable 
demontay see demoutay 
demonte see demoute 
démonté see demoutè 
démontré v. to prove, demonstrate, 
depict 
demoralize v. to demoralize, 
dishearten, dispirit, discourage; 
refl. to become demoralized or 
discouraged 
Demostèn prop.n. Demosthenes 
(Greek orator) 
demosyon n. demotion 
demot v. to make a gesture, make a 
move; to play innocent, play 
dumb 
demoule see deboule 
demoulen v. to remove from a mold 
demoutay, demontay n. taking 
down, taking apart 
demoute, demonte v. to take down, 
take apart, disassemble, 
dismantle; to demolish; to 
dismount, get off (horse etc.); to 
disjoint, dislocate (bone); adj. 
raging, heavy (sea) 
demoutè, démonté n. demolisher, 
destroyer 
demouye v. to dry up, dry out; to 
parch 
demoyiz n. coarseness, vulgarity, 
gross insults 
demwatye, dimwatye n. 
sharecropping, tenant farming; 
sharecropper, tenant farmer; cf. tè 
jeran 
mwen se ~ I'm not the boss; I'm 
just a humble peon 
201 
demwazèl - denterè 
travay - to sharecrop 
demwazèl n. young lady; single girl 
young unmarried woman; 
dragonfly; butterfly fish; adj. 
threatening (weather) 
an - gingerly, cautiously, warily 
fè - to put on airs (woman); to 
behave out of keeping with one's 
age (woman) 
vin - to reach puberty (woman) 
demwele v. to weaken; to break 
apart; adj. weak, feeble 
den n. roe deer 
denatiralize v. to denaturalize, 
deprive of rights of naturalization 
or citizenship 
denenflay, denenflaj n. 
desensitizing, numbing; slapping, 
hitting 
denèfle, denenfle v. to desensitize, 
numb; to slap, hit; adj. apathetic 
deng n. ass, butt 
~ - devil-may-care 
lafyèv -, lagrip - dengue fever 
kole nan - (yon moun) to harass, 
hound (s.o.), be on (s.o/s) case 
po - rough, dry skin 
dengon, degon, dengèt, degwenn, 
dengonn, dengoun, dengwen, 
dengwenn n. ass, butt; see 
nandeng 
fann nan - to harass, badger, 
annoy 
Deni prop.n. Dennis 
deniche v. to uncover, discover, 
unearth; to chase 
denigre v. to denigrate, disparage, 
run down, belittle 
denigreman n. disparagement, 
running down, belittlement 
denkou adv. all at once 
denmen, demen, dmen adv. 
tomorrow; n. (the) next day 
a ~ see you tomorrow 
apre - day after tomorrow 
- dimanch (els.) next Sunday 
(etc.) 
- maten the next/following 
morning 
- swa the next/following evening 
- tanto one of these days; 
dawdling, procrastinating 
disi - by tomorrow 
nan - on the next day 
denmon, demon n. evil spirit, devil, 
demon 
an ~ in great shape; irritated, 
highly annoyed 
denmonnfee, demonize v. to 
demoni/.e, villainize 
dennonse see denonse 
Dennvè prop.n. Denver (Colorado) 
dennye see dènye 
denomînasyon n [Fr.] 
denomination; designation 
denominate n. denominator 
denon adv. by name 
denonbre v. [Fr. ] to count, 
enumerate, list 
denonse, dennonse v. to inform on, 
denounce, accuse 
denonsman n. denouncement 
denonsyasyon, denonsiyasyon n. 
denunciation 
denonsyatè n. denouncer, informer 
denote v. to denote, indicate 
denpi see depi 
denspeksyon adj. inspection 
denstriksyon: 
jij - investigating magistrate 
kôd - kriminèl Criminal 
Procedure Code 
dentelijans adj. (of) intelligence 
denterè: 
202 
dentèwogasyon - depase 
- piblik in the public interest 
konfli - conflict of interest 
to ~ interest rate 
dentèwogasyon: 
pwen ~ question mark (punct.) 
denvestigasyon adj. investigative, 
of investigation 
denvitasyon: 
kat ~ formal invitation 
denwa {pronounced: de-nwa) in 
black 
denwi {pronounced: de-nwi) adv. 
by night; adj. night 
denye v. to deny, repudiate; n. 
denier (small Roman monetary 
unit representing average day's 
pay for a manual laborer [Bible] 
dènye, dènyè, dennye adj. last; 
latest; every (last); decisive, final 
an - last (in order) 
- degre extremely, critically 
- kras every last bit (of) 
dènyèman adv. recently, lately 
deotanba adv. from top to bottom 
deoutwa see dezoutwa 
depa n. departure 
Dèpa prop.n. Des Pas (5th 
communal section of Les 
Coteaux, Dept. South) 
depafini v. to ruin; to be ruined; to 
waste away, wither away, 
deteriorate; to exhaust, wear out 
depafwa adv. sometimes, 
occasionally 
Depal A see Dèpam A 
Depal B see Dèpam B 
depale v. to rant, rave, ramble; to be 
delirious, talk gibberish; to 
contradict oneself; to make a slip 
of the tongue; n. delirium 
Dèpam A, Depal A prop.n. Des 
Palmes A (9th communal section 
of Petit-Goâve, Dept. West) 
Dèpam B, Depal B prop.n. Des 
Palmes B (10th communal section 
of Petit-Goâve, Dept. West) 
depaman adj. mismatched, 
incongruous, contradictory, 
discordant, out of keeping, not in 
accordance, out of line, out of 
step, inappropriate; of several 
colors; adv. differently; v. to 
deform, disfigure, deface 
pa ~ ak not unlike 
depan, depann (sou) v. to depend 
(on), rely (on) 
tou ~ depending on/upon 
depanaj, depanay n. fixing up, 
repairing; short-term loan (to tide 
one over) 
depandan adj. dependent 
~ de depending on/upon 
depandans n. dependence, 
dependency 
depane, depanen, depanne, 
depannen v. to repair, fix 
(mach.)\ to help out (of a fix) 
depann n. dependency, 
subordination; see depan 
depanne, depannen see depane 
depans n. expense, expenditure 
depanse v. to spend, consume 
~ kafetyè grann li to spend or 
waste one's last cent 
depansè n. spendthrift, big spender 
deparye, depareye v. to divorce, 
separate; to dissociate, disengage; 
to break up (fight etc.); adj. 
mismatched, incongruous, 
disparate 
depasaj, depasay adv. in passing; 
passing through, passing by, in 
transit 
depase v. to exceed, surpass, outdo, 
203 
depasman - depeyize 
go beyond; to outgrow (clothes); 
to overtake; adv. more than; 
excessively; adj. excessive; out-
of-style; expired 
- bôn li, ~ lebôn, ~ lèbôn, ~ 
lebonn to go too far, exaggerate 
depasman n. exceeding, surpassing, 
outdoing; overtaking; overhang 
depasyante v. to lose patience, be 
impatient; to cause to lose 
patience 
depataje v. to decide between, 
settle; to allot, apportion, allocate; 
to split (vote etc.) 
depatcha, depatchya, depatya v. to 
separate, cut into pieces; to break 
up; to axe; to destroy; to bone 
(meat), cut up (meat); to 
disappear; adj. shabby, run-down; 
thin, emaciated 
~ lide to analyse, evaluate 
depate v. to detach (a cluster of 
bananas from the stalk) 
depati v. to stop associating with, 
break up with 
depatman n. department, ministry; 
one of the nine political or 
geographic divisions of Haiti 
depatmantal adj. departmental 
depatya see depatcha 
depay see epany 
depayay, depayaj n. shelling 
(beans etc.); cleaning (coffee 
beans etc.); removing of cane 
seats 
depaye v. to shell (beans, peas, 
millet etc.); to clean (coffee beans 
etc.); to take apart woven straw 
object; to remove cane from chair; 
adj. coming apart (woven straw 
object), unraveling 
depè: 
- anfis from father to son, 
eternally 
tribinal - court of justice of the 
peace 
depèch n. dispatch, message; 
telegram, cable 
Ou pa bezwen fè lôt No way! 
Forget it! Fat chance! 
depeche refl. to hurry, hasten; v. to 
dispatch, send (s.o.) off 
depechevou: 
fè yon ~ to rush, hurry 
depenn v. to depict, describe; to 
discredit, slander 
depenyen v. to mess up, tousle, 
dishevel (hair) 
depèpiven v. to peter out, fade away 
depeple v. to depopulate 
deperi u to lose weight; to decline, 
go downhill; to waste away, 
wither, wilt; adj. dehydrated 
deperisman n. withering away, 
wasting away, fading away 
Depès (Rene) prop.n. Depestre 
(René) - militant Haitian poet (b. 
1926) 
depese v. to dismember, tear limb 
from limb 
depèsonalizasyon n. 
depersonalization 
depèsonnalize v. to depersonalize 
depestab see detestab 
depèswade v. to be intent (on doing 
s.thg.) 
depetray n. disentanglement, 
extrication 
depetre, dezanpetre v. to 
disentangle, extricate, get out of a 
jam; to feel at home; adj. clever, 
bright, smart 
depeyize v. to leave one's country; 
to move away; to run away, flee; 
204 
depi - deplore 
to exile; to be disoriented, feel 
strange or out of place 
depi n. spite, resentment 
bay ~ to disgust 
gen ~ to be disgusted 
depi, denpi conj. since (temporal); 
as soon as; as long as; if; provided 
that; because; prep, since 
(temporal); from, beginning at 
an ~ in spite of 
rive... from... to... 
~ lontan since long ago 
- nan from, beginning at 
depifre adj. rumpled; v. to unravel, 
pull the thread of 
depilonnen, depilote v. to disjoint, 
dislocate (bone); cf. dejwente 
depislay n. beginning, start 
depistaj n. detection, tracking 
down, unearthing 
depiste v. to detect, track down, 
unearth 
depitasyon, debitasyon n. 
deputation (concerning Chamber 
of Deputies) 
biwo - deputy's office (of 
Chamber of Deputies) 
depite, débité n. deputy, 
(government) representative, 
legislator 
Chanm Depite Chamber of 
Deputies 
- japwouv rubber-stamp 
legislature 
deplancheye v. to remove floor 
boards 
déplanté v. to transplant 
deplase v. to move, remove; to 
change residence, relocate, move 
away, leave; to move about; to 
move, change places; to go out for 
a short time; n. move, change of 
place; adj. out of place, 
inappropriate, impudent; 
dislocated (shoulder etc.) 
- kite to set out from, leave 
fè yon ti - to step out for a 
moment 
deplasman n. commuting, traveling, 
journey; change of place; change 
of residence, relocation, 
relocating; transfer; movement, 
motion 
fè ~ to move about; to travel 
Dèplaton A prop.n. Des Platons A 
(7th communal section of Petit-
Goâve, Dept. West) 
Dèplaton B prop.n. Des Platons B 
(8th communal section of Petit-
Goâve, Dept. West) 
deplè v. to displease, give offense 
deplen v. to empty out 
deplezan adj. disagreeable, 
unpleasant 
deplezi n. displeasure, annoyance 
deplimen v. to pluck, deplume; to 
lose feathers; to be losing one's 
hair, be going bald; to depilate; to 
skin s.o.'s hide, skin alive, punish; 
to weaken 
deplise v. to take pleats out of; to 
flatten out, smooth out; to cease 
frowning, smooth out the wrinkles 
depliyan n. brochure, (folded) 
pamphlet, leaflet 
depliye v. to unfold, open out 
deplizanpli adv. more and more, all 
the more 
deploge v. to unplug 
deplonbe v. to remove the filling 
(tooth) 
deplorab adj. deplorable, 
lamentable 
deplore v. to deplore, lament 
205 
deplotonnen - depwen 
deplotonnen, deplontonnen, 
deplotônen v. to unravel, unfold, 
unwind, unroll; to deploy, fan out; 
to explain, make clear 
déployé, deplwaye v. to deploy; to 
spread out, display; to unfold, 
unroll 
deplwaman n. deployment; 
spreading out, unfolding; 
diversification 
deplwaye see déployé 
depo n. warehouse, storehouse, 
depot; baggage-room; store-room; 
food storage container or bin; 
storage; garbage dump; wholesale 
outlet; deposit (money; mud etc.); 
abscess 
~ a tèm term deposit 
~ kandidati official declaration 
of (political) candidacy 
~ legal registration of copyright 
~ poul chicken coop 
~ zam arsenal 
fè - to make a (bank) deposit; to 
present, file; to declare one's 
(political) candidacy 
leve - (lajan an) to withdraw 
money from bank 
manda - remand (jur.) 
yon ~ a lot of, much 
depèche v. to spend; to pick s.o.'s 
pocket 
depole v. to dislocate, become 
disjointed (shoulder) 
depoli v. to tarnish, rough up; adj. 
dull, lusterless 
deposede v. to dispossess, deprive 
deposesyon n. dispossession 
depètasyon n. deportation 
depète v. to deport, expel, exile; to 
unload (horse etc.); n. deportee 
depotwa n. garbage dump 
depouye v. to count, tally (votes) 
depouyman n. skinning; counting 
(of votes) 
depozan n. (bank) depositor 
depoze v. to deposit, lay, drop; to 
lay down, put down; to present, 
file; to drop (s.o.) off; to deposit 
(money); to depose, remove from 
office, overthrow 
~ yon lèt to mail a letter 
- yon plent to lodge a complaint 
depozisyon n. deposition, 
testimony; complaints (jur.) 
fè ~ to file charges 
depravasyon n. depravity 
deprave adj. coarse, vulgar, foul-
mouthed; depraved 
Depre prop.n. Croix-Desprez 
(wealthy residential area of PaP) 
deprè adv. closely 
depredasyon n. depredation, 
plundering 
depreferans adv. preferably, 
instead, rather 
deprès: 
konferans ~ press conference 
depresan n. depressant 
deprestije v. to devalue, run down, 
deprecate 
depresyasyon n. depreciation 
depresye v. to depreciate, lessen in 
value 
depresyon n. physical exhaustion; 
chronic fatigue; depression 
- nè nervous breakdown 
depri v. to untie, untangle 
deprime v. to suffer a loss in 
weight; adj. depressed 
depwele v. to remove unwanted hair 
depwen n. colon (punct.) 
fè ~ to make a gain, be successful, 
come out a winner; to do (s.o.) in 
206 
depwente - derechanj 
depwente v. to dull, blunt the point 
of; adj. dull, blunt 
depwograme, depwogramen v. to 
deprogram 
depyefèm, depye milité adv. in 
great shape, firmly, strongly; 
resolutely, steadfastly 
depyegaye adv. widely 
depye kole n. bicycle kick (soccer) 
derab: 
siwo - maple syrup 
Derakprop.n. Dérac (Dept. North-
East) 
deranchay n. undulation, grinding 
(of hips) 
deranche v. to swing one's hips; to 
lean one's weight on one hip; to 
have a broken hip; to paralyse, be 
paralysed; to break s.o. apart; adj. 
lop-sided 
deranje v. to disturb, interrupt, 
intrude, annoy; to inconvenience; 
to upset (stomach); to disarrange; 
to injure, disable (part of body); 
to dislocate (bone); to be insane; 
to put s.thg. out of order (mach.); 
to be out of order (mach.); to 
break, break down (mach.); adj. 
crippled, disabled 
deranjè n. pest, nuisance, irritant 
(person) 
deranjman, deranyman n. 
disturbance, trouble; aching, 
malaise, pain, discomfort; 
intestinal disorder, stomach upset; 
mechanical defect, malfunction 
Dèranpa (ri) prop.n. rue des 
Remparts (downtown PaP) 
derapaj, derapay n. beginning, 
start; trouble, strife; slip-up 
fè ~ to incite trouble 
derapan: 
an - upon starting, at the 
beginning 
derape v. to take off, hurry off, clear 
out, leave; to get a start (in an 
undertaking or in life); to weigh 
anchor; n. point of departure; 
start, beginning 
- azewo to start from zero, start 
from scratch 
~ yon machin to get a car moving 
fè yon sèl - dèyè to make a dead 
dash for 
premye - first step 
derapin, derasin, rapin n. double-
bladed hoe with flat blade on one 
side and pickax blade on other; 
weed-cutter; f.n. unscrupulous girl 
derapinen, derapine v. to weed, 
clear off (land) 
derapman n. beginning, start; 
taking off, moving 
derasin see derapin 
derasinay, derasinaj n. uprooting, 
extirpation, eradication 
derasinè n. eradicator, destroyer 
derasinen, derasine v. to uproot, 
extirpate, eradicate 
deratizasyon n. rat extermination; 
pest control 
deratize v. to exterminate rats/ 
vermin 
deraye v. to derail, go off the tracks; 
to be derailed; to be in bad shape, 
be off course; to ramble, talk 
nonsense; to lose one's self-
control; to get mad, get angry; n. 
gear-changing mechanism (of 
bicycle) 
derayman n. derailment; madness 
derechanj, derechany adj. 
alternate, spare, back-up; see 
rechanj 
207 
deredi - desandelye 
deredi: 
~ po je to open one's eyes to 
derefi n. refusal; rejection 
derefize v. to absolutely refuse; cf. 
refize 
deregle adj. out of order; unruly; 
untidy, messy; disorderly, 
unrestrained; loose, immoral; n. 
loose living, immoral conduct; v. 
to disturb, unsettle, upset; to put 
out of order, break down 
deregleman n. disturbance, turmoil; 
license, lust 
derekonnèt v. to fail to recognize, 
not to know 
derespektan adj. insolent, 
disrespectful, impudent, insulting, 
impertinent; n. insolence 
fè ~ to be insolent, disrespectful 
derespektans, derespektansite n. 
disrespect 
derespekte v. to disrespect, be 
disrespectful (toward), insult 
deretou adv. in return, in 
repayment; n. handicap (sports) 
derezon n. insanity 
derezonab adj. unreasonable 
derezonnen, derezone v. to talk 
irrationally, talk nonsense; adj. 
irrational 
derije see dirije 
derik n. [Eng.] derrick 
derimen v. to kid (s.o.), put (s.o.) on 
derimo see gerimo 
derisen: 
Iwil ~ castor oil 
deriv n. drift, move with the current 
ala an - adrift 
derizwa adj. insignificant, 
unimportant 
derizyon n. derision, mockery; 
sarcasm 
pase nan ~ to make fun of, 
ridicule; cf. pase nan betiz/rizib 
dèryè see dèyè 
deryen adj. no-good, worthless; 
interj. you're welcome, don't 
mention it 
kôm si ~ netè [Fr.] as if nothing 
happened 
dès num. two (in game counts, 
playing, singing etc.) 
desa adv. of that 
desabote v. to cut off hands and 
feet; to cut off feet (animal) 
desale v. to desalt, desalinize 
Desalin (Jan Jak) prop.n. 
Dessalines (Jean-Jacques) (1758-
17 October 1806) - proclaimed 
Independence of Haiti, governor-
general, then emperor of Haiti, 
1804-1806 
Kazèn ~ see Kazèn 
Desalin (Mari Klè Erèz Felisite 
Bonè) fprop. n. Dessalines 
(Marie-Claire-Heureuse-Félicité-
Bonheur) - wife of Jean-Jacques 
Dessalines 
Desalin, Machan prop.n. 
Dessalines (town in Dept. 
Artibonite) 
desalinizasyon n. desalinization 
Desalinyen prop.nDesalinyèn 
f prop.n. inhabitant of (Marchand) 
Dessalines (Dept. Artibonite) 
Desalinyèn see Ladesalinyèn 
desan adj. decent, modest; num. 
two hundred 
desandan n. descendent 
desandans n. descendant(s), 
offspring, lineage 
desandelye, desanndelye, 
desantdelye, desantdèlye n. 
police search or raid; see bot ~ 
desangle - desere 
desangle v. to unstrap, ungirth 
desanlye see bot ~ 
desanm n. December 
desann, disann v. to come down, go 
down, climb down, descend, step 
down; to lower, put down, let 
down; to go down in price; to 
down; to knock down; to kill; to 
take down; to lower, diminish, 
decrease; to belittle; to reduce; to 
lose weight; to decline, deteriorate 
(health, looks, ability); to get off, 
get down, alight from (vehicle, 
horse etc.); to get out of (vehicle); 
to overflow, flood (river etc.); to 
stay at, spend the night at, sleep 
at; to come down off one's high 
horse; to take (an official exam); 
to put away or stuff down (food); 
to take off the fire (stove); n. 
descent, slope; see ladesant 
~ dlo yon watè (ijenik) to flush a 
toilet; cf. floche 
- fe to calm down, cool it 
- figi li to stoop, lower one's 
dignity 
~ plonje to plunge down, barrel 
down 
~ sôti nan/sou to come down out/ 
off of 
~ sou to fall upon, invade 
~ sou woulib to coast down 
- yon nè to deaden a nerve 
~ zetwal to call on occult forces, 
call on magic powers 
fè yon ~ to go down 
fèk - (s.o.) straight from the hills, 
straight off the farm, hick 
desanndelye see desandelye 
desans n. decency; modesty 
desant see ladesant 
desantdelye, desantdèlye see 
desandelye 
desantralizasyon n. 
decentralization 
desantralize v. to decentralize 
desantyèm adj. two-hundredth 
desanzan n. two hundred years 
desatanize v. to desatanize, convert 
desatisfè v. to frustrate, disappoint 
desè n. dessert; decease, demise, 
death; see kou ~ 
ak - death certificate 
deseche v. to dry out, dry up, 
dehydrate 
desede v. [Fr.] to decease, die 
desegregasyon n. desegregation 
deseke see dèske 
desekretize v. to let out a secret, 
reveal the truth 
deseksyon n. rural section chief, 
rural sheriff 
desele v. to unsaddle; to spend the 
night; to undress; adj. no longer 
possessed by a Voodoo spirit 
desen n. drawing, sketch, design, 
illustration; art; (tire) tread; see 
vèvè 
~ alechèl scale drawing 
~ anime movie cartoon 
~ myèl swarm of bees 
fè - to illustrate 
leve ~ tracing, copying; transfer 
(of a drawing) 
desène, desènen v. to give, award; 
to assimilate 
deseni n. decade 
desepsyon n. deception; insult, 
affront; disappointment, let down 
fè ~ to rebuff s.o. 
pran - to be rebuffed 
desere v. to loosen, release, untie; to 
unscrew; to have regular stools 
(after constipation) 
209 
deserenize - Despa 
- dan li to stop pouting 
kè li - to feel relieved 
pa ~ bouch li not to say a word, 
not open one's mouth 
deserenize v. to upset, trouble 
desevan adj. disappointing 
desèvi v. to clear away, remove 
dishes etc. from table; to provide 
(regular) transportation/telephone 
etc. service; to serve, be used by; 
to serve as pastor (of a church) 
desèvis adv. on duty 
desevwa v. to deceive; to disappoint 
Dèseza (ri) prop.n. rue des Césars 
(downtown PaP) 
desezon see dezonm 
desi v. to disappoint; to be 
disappointed 
desibèl n. decibel 
deside v. to decide, resolve, make up 
one's mind; adj. resolute, firm, 
determined, decided 
Deside prop.n. Décidé (one of six 
forts built by Dessalines 
surrounding Haiti's first capital, 
Marchand (Dept. Artibonite) 
desidè n. decision-maker 
desideman adv. [Fr.] decidedly 
desilit n. deciliter 
desimal n./adj. decimal 
desimante v. to remove cement 
desime v. to decimate, destroy 
desimèt n. decimeter 
desinatè n. artist, designer, 
illustrator; cartoonist 
~ teknik draftsman 
desine, desinen v. to draw, sketch, 
illustrate 
desipe v. to have fun 
Desisprop.n. Decis (commercial 
insecticide) 
desiskole n. homosexual; 
homosexuality; num. sixty-six 
desitire, desoutire v. to unmask; to 
drive out, expel, get rid of, 
abolish, do away with, eliminate 
desizif adj. decisive 
desizyon, ladesizyon n. decision; 
judgment, verdict 
fè ~ to come to a decision, make 
up one's mind 
dèske, dèke, deseke conj. since, 
because; prep, as long as, 
provided that 
desklizyon adj. exclusionary 
deskripsyon n. description 
deskriptif adj. descriptive 
desolidarize v. to dissociate 
(oneself) from, break with 
desolidifye v. to desolidify 
desose v. to bone (meat); adj. 
skinny, emaciated 
desôti: 
wôb ~ fancy dress 
desouche v. to uproot 
desoude v. to split apart at seams, 
become unsoldered 
desoule v. to sober up 
desounen v. to separate a dead 
person from his/her principal 
Voodoo spirit; to stun, daze; adj. 
deserted, abandoned; apathetic; n. 
ceremony at which principal 
Voodoo spirit is separated from 
head of the deceased; apathy; see 
poud ~ 
Desous prop.n. Dessources (5th 
communal section of Jean-Rabel, 
Dept. North-West; 1st communal 
section of Léogâne, Dept. West; 
3rd communal section of 
Miragoâne, Dept. Grand'Anse) 
desoutire see desitire 
Despa prop.n. Despas (5th 
210 
Despay - detaye 
communual section of Les 
Coteaux, Dept. South) 
Despay prep.phrase of Spain 
desperans adj. (of) hope 
dèspô pl. adj. of sports 
despot n. despot, tyrant; adj. 
despotic 
despotik adj. despotic, tyrannical 
despotis n. despotism, tyranny 
destabilite n. instability 
destabilizasyon n. destabilization, 
disarray 
destabilizatè n. seditionist, 
mutineer, revolutionary; adj. 
destabilizing 
ajan ~ agitator, (undercover) 
instigator 
destabilize v. to destabilize 
desten, ledesten n. destiny, fate 
dèsten n. keel (of ship) 
destinasyon n. destination 
destinatè n. addressee 
destine n. destiny, fate; v. to destine; 
to be destined (for), intended (for) 
destitisyon n. impeachment 
destitye v. to impeach 
destriksyon, destrisyon n. 
destruction 
destriktè n. destroyer, demolisher; 
adj. destructive 
destriktif adj. destructive 
des wit adv. right away, at once; in 
succession 
desyans adv. of sciences 
dèsyèk: 
depi ~ e ~ for centuries and 
centuries 
dèt n. debt, loan; liabilities 
fè ~ lajan pa ka peye to be 
indebted beyond measure 
fè ~ m a peye to give free reign to 
expenses; borrow now pay later 
Deta prop. adj. (of) State 
detachan n. spot remover 
detache v. to detach, untie, unfasten, 
loosen; to come unstuck, break 
loose; to clean, remove stains; to 
have nothing to do with; adv. 
separately, apart 
detachman n. detachment, squad, 
unit 
detake, detakete v. to unlatch 
detale v. to take off, dash off 
detan conj. sometimes; while, as, 
when, at the time 
an ~ in two separate times/ 
payments etc. 
- twa mouvman in no time at all, 
in a jiffy 
dètan adv. a long time 
detann v. to relax 
detansyon n. [Fr.] holding, 
possession; detention 
detant, ladetant n. relaxation, 
amusement, recreation 
detanzantan see tanzantan 
detanzawot, detanzawot adv. from 
time to time 
detay n. detail, trifle; nonsense 
ak anpil - at length 
an ~ retail; in detail 
vann - to retail 
detayan n. retailer, retail dealer; 
adj. retail 
detayay n. retailing; explaining in 
detail 
detaye v. to talk animatedly; to 
scrutinize; to retail; to cut up; to 
give in detail, explain thoroughly; 
to shower with insults; to make a 
gesture of ridicule or contempt 
(esp. one girl to another); adj. 
detailed 
~ kôpyèz to cut up or divide up 
91 1 
detchonn - detounen 
large portions of 
detchonn n. trash, bum, good-for-
nothing 
detchoure v. to rub vigorously 
dete adj. summer 
detèjan n. detergent 
deteksyon n. detection 
detekte v. to detect 
detektè n. investigator; sensor, 
detector; (usu. airport) metal 
detector 
detektif, detektiv n. detective; 
secret service agent 
detèminan n. determiner (gram.); 
determinant 
detèminasyon n. determination 
detèmine, detèminen v. to 
determine, settle; to ascertain; adj. 
determined, resolute; definite 
deteni see detni 
detenn v. to fade, bleach; to 
discolor; to run (colors in fabric 
etc.); to rub off on, influence; to 
speak ill (of s.o.); n. influence; 
discoloration 
detente v. to remove dye or tint 
detepe, ditepè acron. D.T.P 
(innoculation against diphtheria, 
tetanus and pertussis/whooping 
cough) 
detere v. to unearth, dig up, exhume 
deteryorasyon n. deterioration 
deteryore, detèryore v. to 
deteriorate, worsen; to damage, 
spoil 
detestab, depestab adj. detestable, 
hateful; loathsome, odious, foul 
detestans n. detestation, abhorrence 
deteste v. to detest, hate, abhor 
detètanba adv. from top to bottom 
detete, dedete n. DDT (insecticide) 
Detewonôm prop.n. [Bible] 
Deuteronomy 
detid adj. study 
detik: 
kôd ~ code of ethics 
detike, detikte v. to rid of ticks/ 
parasites; to shower with insults; 
to clean (s.thg. very dirty) 
detlre v. to stretch (out); to stretch 
(oneself); to iron; to jerk (as 
convulsions), have tonic clonic 
movements 
detle v. to take off from work 
detni, deteni v. [Fr.] to detain, hold 
prisoner; n. inmate, prisoner 
detôde v. to untwist 
deton adj. two-toned, two-colored 
detonasyon n. detonation, 
explosion 
detôtye, dezantètye v. to 
disentangle, disengage, extricate 
detou, dètou n. dodge; swerve; 
curve (road); subterfuge, pretext; 
tricks, ruse, artifice; detour, by-
pass 
fè ~ to get off the subject, ramble 
detoufay, detoufaj n. thinning out, 
emptying out; revealing, making 
public; removing cover from a 
cooking-pot; ceasing a strangle-
hold 
detoufe v. to thin, empty, clear; to 
reveal, make public; to remove 
cover from a cooking-pot; to stop 
strangling; to take off pieces of 
clothing 
~ lide to enlighten 
detounasyon n. leading astray, 
perdition, ruination; corruption 
detounen, detoune v. to deviate, 
divert, reroute; to thwart; to ward 
off, deflect, fend off; to embezzle, 
misappropriate; to hijack; to lead 
212 
detounman - devan 
astray, entice 
- timoun to abort; cf. jete pitit 
detounman n. misappropriation (of 
funds); corruption (of minor) 
detoutfason adv. in any case 
detoutpyès adv. [Fr.] from start to 
finish, totally 
detrake n. crackpot, eccentric, nut; 
v. to get off course 
detraktè n. detractor, disparager 
detranpe v. to soak, moisten; adj. 
soggy, sodden 
detravè adv. crosswise, sideways 
detrès, ladetrès n. distress 
detrese v. to unravel; to unbraid 
(hair) 
detri see detwi 
detripan adj. gut-wrenching, heart-
breaking 
detripe v. to gut, disembowel; to 
empty (out); to unstuff; to swear 
at; to defame, disparage; to rip 
apart 
detritis n. garbage, rubbish 
detwa adj. some, several, a few; n. 
strait 
nan ~ jou soon, some time from 
now 
se pa ~ quite a few 
Detwa prop.n. Detroit (Michigan) 
detwi, detri v. to destroy, ruin, 
wreck 
detwizè n. destroyer, demolisher 
detwone v. to dethrone, overthrow; 
to fire (s.o.) from an important 
position 
detwonpe v. to disabuse 
detwouse v. to thieve, pilfer, filch 
detyè num. two-thirds 
detyedi v. to warm; to make 
lukewarm; to be lukewarm 
detyoule v. ro uproot, eradicate 
dèv see èv 
devalize v. to rob, plunder, ransack 
devalorizasyon n. depreciation, 
devaluation 
devalorize v. to depreciate, devalue; 
to cause to lose status 
devalye v. to devalue 
devan, douvan n. front, lead 
(position); ancestors, forefathers; 
genitals; fly (of trousers); adj. 
front; adv. ahead, before (time); 
ahead of the game; prep, before, 
in front of (position); v. to be 
ahead, in the lead (sports); interj. 
forward! (milit.) 
ale - to advance 
~ byen dèyè mal two-faced 
backbiter, hypocrite; talking (ill) 
behind s.o.'s back while 
pretending to be a friend, 
hypocrisy; hypocritical 
~ dèyè backwards; thoroughly; 
dishonest; crazy, mixed-up; 
everywhere, all over the place 
~ (kon) dèyè thoroughly 
- pawôl foreword 
- pou ~ face to face 
pa gen - pa gen dèyè to be alone 
in the world, be entirely without 
relatives; to be without 
possessions; without rhyme or 
reason 
pi ~ further (on), ahead; later (on) 
pi ~ pi tris the worst is yet to 
come 
pran ~ to precede, go in front of, 
go ahead, take the lead; to make 
the first move; to pass (in race or 
on road); to initiate, take the 
initiative; to get ahead, gain the 
advantage 
sou - on the forefront 
213 
devanjou - devni 
vin - to advance, go forward 
devanjou, douvanjou, vanjou adv. 
(a little) before daybreak; n. 
dawn; early-morning gathering or 
meeting 
devanpèt n. door curtain 
devanse v. to precede, get ahead of; 
to outdo, surpass 
devanti n. front, façade (of 
building) 
devantre v. to disembowel, gut; to 
insult, revile 
devas n. devastation, havoc 
dévasté v. to devastate, ravage, lay 
waste; to eat up (garden etc.) 
dévasté, devastatè n. devastator, 
ravager; thief, robber; adj. 
destructive 
devastasyon n. devastation, disaster 
devègonday, devègonnman n. 
licentious or loose living, 
licentiousness, dissoluteness 
devègonde adj. shameless; 
disobedient; foul-mouthed; 
uncouth; f.n. whore 
deven n. Voodoo priest 
devenn, devèn n. bad luck, 
misfortune; adj. unlucky, 
unfortunate 
an ~ unlucky, out of luck 
bay ~ sou, jete ~ sou, lage ~ sou, 
mete - sou to put a hex on, jinx 
- kôde terrible luck, persistent 
curse or misfortune; disastrous 
devere v. to worm 
devèse v. to pour out, drain; to 
unload 
devèwouye v. [Fr.] to unbolt, unlock 
devi n. estimate, appraisal 
gen dwa ~ osnon demo to have 
the power of life and death 
devide v. to empty (out); to unwind; 
to fall apart; to become emaciated, 
lose weight; to overflow; to reel ' 
off (words); to fall into ruin or 
disrepair; to rot, spoil 
devilge see divilge 
devinasyon n. divination, 
foretelling of future; end, fate 
devine, devinen v. to guess; to 
forecast, foresee 
deviné see divinô 
devinen see devine 
devinét n. riddle 
deviray n. detour, by-pass 
devire n. errand; short absence; 
curve; digression; detour; var. of 
dance step; v. to turn off, turn 
aside; to change direction; to 
misrepresent, twist (words) 
gran ~ affectations, 
pretentiousness 
Devis: 
koup - Davis cup (tennis) 
devise v. to unscrew, twist off 
~ ren li to undulate or grind the 
hips 
deviz n. motto, watchword, slogan 
devizaje v. to stare at, look hard at 
devize v. to give an estimate, 
appraise 
devlope v. to develop, grow; to 
grow up, become mature; to 
evolve, modernize; to unwrap, 
open; to break in (car, shoes etc.); 
to unroll, unfold (event) 
- fim to process or develop film 
devlopè n. [Eng.] real-estate 
developer 
devlopman n. development, 
growth; maturation; pedal 
sprocket row (of bicycle) 
devlèpmantis adj. developmental 
devni n. fate; whereabouts; future; 
214 
devo - dèyè 
v. to become 
devo adj. [Fr.] devout 
devodwize v. to Christianize, 
evangelize 
devoran n. madman; adj. ravenous, 
devouring; starving, famished 
devore v. to devour, eat up, chew 
up; to destroy; to disparage, 
detract 
devosyon n. devotion, zeal; piety, 
devoutness; devotions, prayer 
devouman n. devotion, self-
sacrifice, dedication 
devwa n. obligation, duty; 
homework, assignment 
devwale v. to reveal, uncover, 
disclose; to unveil; to come to 
light 
devwe v. to devote; adj. dedicated, 
devoted; devout 
devyasyon n. deviation; detour, 
bypass 
devye v. to deviate; to lean, slant, 
bend; to turn, turn aside, deflect 
devyèje v. to deflower, deprive of 
virginity 
dewat! interj. (What the) hell!? 
dewô, dèwo see deyo 
dewobe v. to steal, rob 
dewobè n. thief, robber 
dewonte adj. shameless, brazen 
Dewonvil prop.n. Déronville (1st 
communal section of Pont-
Tamarin, Dept. Artibonite) 
dewoule v. to unroll, unfold, 
unwind; to take out a hem; to go, 
proceed, develop, come out; to 
happen; to take place (event, 
meeting) 
dewoulman n. development, 
evolution; unfolding; progress; 
maturing, maturation, growth 
dewout: 
mete an - to rout, put to flight 
dewoute v. to divert; to disconcert, 
baffle 
Dewouvre prop.n. Dérouvray, 
Déhouvray (2nd communal 
section of Saint-Louis-du-Nord, 
Dept. North-West) 
dewouye v. to remove the rust 
(from) 
dewouze, dewoze, dezawoze v. to 
parch; to dry up, dry out 
dèy n. mourning; mourning clothes 
demi - half-mourning; black and 
white warbler (bird) 
pote % pran - to mourn 
simen ~ to plunge into mourning/ 
grief, cast a (tragic) shadow over 
deyakoud n. thimble 
deyangaje see dezangaje 
dèyè, ariyè, dèè, dèryè n. bottom, 
buttocks; rear; bottom, base (of a 
container); backing, support; adv. 
behind, back; prep, behind, in 
back of; after, in search of, in 
pursuit of; in the absence of; adj. 
rear 
achte/bat/blanchi/chofe/ 
dannoye/flanbe/frape/kale/kase/ 
koupe/kraze/pete/rache/rasoye/ 
rigwaze/sapate/sentiwonnen/ 
wouchinen/woulipin ~ to spank, 
beat, strike, whip 
bat ~ li to leave, clear out 
bay ~ to add money into the deal 
(when bartering) 
bay ~ li de tap to get going, get a 
move on 
bô ~ buttock(s) 
~ do, dèdo behind, beyond; see 
dèyèdo 
~ gonfle acalypha (herb or shrub) 
215 
dèyè - dezagreyab 
~ kay, dèkay see dèyèkay 
- kou nape (of neck) 
~ li ap koupe klou to be 
frightened to death, be scared stiff 
- linèt torn pants 
~ lou lazy person 
~ manman minor, insignificant 
- timoun lan parèt anvan breech 
birth 
fant - anal groove, crease in 
buttocks 
fè ~ yon timoun to spank a child 
laye - to undulate the hips (esp. 
in dancing) 
pa - from behind, backwards 
pa gen - chita fasii, pa gen ~ 
pou chita to he hard-working 
san ~ var. of sandal 
se ak - 1 li gade, je li se nan - 1 li 
ye blinded, not able to see the 
obvious 
sou ~ bad off 
tou twou - anus 
woule ~ li to swing one's "hips" 
dèyèdo n. gale-of-wind (med. plant; 
used occasionally to flavor 
kleren) 
dèyèkay, dèkay n. buttocks, rump; 
adj. hidden, undercover 
deyès f.n. goddess 
dèvètou n. curve (road) 
deyite n. deity 
deyd, dewè, dèwè, dèyè adv. 
outside; out, beyond; out of 
bounds (sports); on the prowl; 
adj. external, outer; uncovered, 
showing; illegitimate; n. 
outside(s), exterior; interj. scram!; 
see andeyè 
- pou to aim to, intend to, be out 
to 
egzamen - illegally obtained 
(copy of an) examination 
fanm ~ mistress 
li - he is leaving; he is outside 
mete - to chase out, kick out; to 
leave; to get out, flee; to publish 
nonm ~ lover (of married woman) 
sou - outwardly; outwards; 
surface 
deyodoran see dezodoran 
deyontoloji n. deontology, 
professional code of ethics 
dez [followed by: an, è, dm] two 
[two years, two o'clock, two men] 
dèz n. ease; prep. [Fr.] of the 
pran - to take one's time, go at 
one's own pace; to take it easy 
de/.a adv. of the fine arts 
dezabitwe, dezabitve v. to get rid of 
a habit; to rid (s.o.) of a habit; to 
become unaccustomed to, lose the 
habit of 
dezabiye v. to undress; n. bathrobe, 
dressing-gown 
~ sen Pyè pou abiye sen Pôl to 
rob Peter to pay Paul 
dezablaza n. big event; party, bash; 
adj. rickety, shaky 
de/.abène v. to cancel one's 
subscription 
dezafeksyon n. loss of affection 
dezafi n. regional cockfight; 
challenge; disturbance 
dezafiche v. to take down a poster 
dezagrafe v. to unhook, undo, 
unfasten 
dezagrafèz n. staple remover 
dezagreman n. unpleasantness, 
trouble, discord 
chache - to ask for trouble, pick a 
fight 
machann - quarrelsome person 
dezagreyab adj. disagreeable, 
216 
Dèzakaden - dezavèg 
unpleasant; moody; unbearable, 
intolerable, nasty; ill-tempered 
Dèzakaden (Kot) see Akaden 
dezakize v. to withdraw an 
accusation; to pardon 
ban ~ dock/bar of the accused 
dezako n. disagreement, discord, 
dissension 
dezakôde adj. out of tune (music) 
dezakse adj. unbalanced; v. to come 
off its axle (bicycle); to lose s.o., 
confuse s.o. 
dezaksyon n. misdeed, 
transgression, offense 
Dezamprop.n. Désarmes (4th 
communal section of Verrettes, 
Dept. Artibonite) 
dezame v. to disarm 
~ lespri to put (s.o.'s) mind at 
ease; to disturb, unhinge, nonplus 
dezameman n. disarmament 
Dèzamerik prop. adj. of the 
Americas 
dezamose v. to defuse; to forestall, 
nip in the bud 
dezan, dezane n. two years 
dèzan: 
depi ~ for a long time 
dezanalfabetizasyon n. first 
Haitian government adult literacy 
programs, 1944-45, 1947-57 
dezanbale v. to unwrap, unpack 
dezane see dezan 
dèzane adv. for years and years 
dezanfle v. to reduce swelling 
dezangaje, deyangaje v. to relieve 
(oneself) of responsibility, get out 
of (s.thg.); adj. socially or 
politically neutral 
dezangoudi v. to sensitize; to revive 
dèzanj see miwa 
dezankonbre v. to disengage, 
disentangle 
Dezann (masif) prop.n. Andes 
(mountain range) 
dezannouye, dezanniye, 
dezannwiye v. to cheer up, relieve 
one's boredom; to amuse oneself 
dezanpare (de) v. to get rid of; adj. 
caught off guard, unprepared; 
troubled, disturbed, distraught 
san ~ unceasingly, incessantly, 
without stopping; without fail 
dezanpetre v. to disentangle, 
disengage, extricate; see depetre 
dezantere v. to disinter, unearth 
Dèzanti(y) prop. adj. of the Antilles 
lanmè ~ Caribbean Sea 
pèp - Caribbean people 
dezantôtye see detotye 
dèzany see miwa 
dezapiye v. to stop leaning (against 
s.o. or s.thg.); to withdraw 
(financial etc.) support 
dezaprann v. to forget what one has 
learned, unlearn 
dezapresye v. to have little regard 
for, look down on, disdain 
dezapwobasyon n. [Fr.] 
disapproval 
dezapwouve v. to disapprove 
dezas n. disaster; devastation, 
ravage 
dezasosye v. to disassociate, 
dissociate, break ties (with s.o.) 
dezavantaj see dezavantay 
dezavantaje v. to wrong; adj. 
underprivileged 
dezavantay, dezavantaj n. 
disadvantage, drawback; liability 
dezave n. [Fr.] disavowal, 
disowning, repudiation 
dezavèg: 
restoran ~ greasy-spoon 
717 
dezavwe - deziyasyon 
restaurant 
dezavwe v. to disavow, deny 
dezawa n. disarray, disorder; 
trouble, disturbance 
fè ~ to cause trouble 
dezawoze see dewouze 
dezay see andezay 
dezayisyanize v. to assimilate, 
acculturate 
dezè n. desert; two o'clock; two 
hours; delay; adj. barren 
pran - to be delayed 
dezèdtan n. two hours 
dèzega: 
mank ~ disrespect; to show a lack 
of respect 
dezekilib n. imbalance, loss of 
balance 
dezekilibre v. to unbalance, throw/ 
be out of balance; to become 
unbalanced; adj. looney, crazy; 
unsteady 
Dezèmit prop.n. (area famous as a 
religious site, between Canapé-
Vert and Pétion-Ville, Dept. West) 
dèzend see dèzenn 
dezenfektan n. disinfectant 
dezenfekte v. to disinfect 
dezenfômasyon n. disinformation 
dezenfome v. to misinform 
dezenga, dèzenga: 
manke ~ see dega 
dezenkilpe see dekilpe 
dèzenn, dèzend adj. Indian, from 
India 
dezentegrasyon n. disintegration 
dezenterese v. to have little or no 
interest in; adj. unselfish, not 
seeking personal gain 
dezenteresman n. unselfishness, 
altruism 
dezentôtye v. to disentangle 
dezenvite v. to avoid, prevent 
(mishap, danger) 
dezenvolt adj. casual, offhand 
dezerite v. to disinherit; to deprive; 
n. down-trodden, have-nots, 
deprived 
dezespere v. to despair, lose hope; 
adj. desperate, hopeless, 
despairing 
dezespwa n. despair, grief, 
hopelessness 
dezète v. to desert, leave, forsake, 
abandon 
dezètè n. deserter 
~ mizè refugee 
dezètifikasyon n. desertification 
dezètik adj. desert, desert-like 
dezevre adj. unemployed, idle; n. 
unemployed person 
dezèvreman n. unemployment, 
idleness 
dezeye v. to be unhooked, be 
unclasped; to be open 
dezi n. desire, longing, wish 
Dezi (monpè Roje) prop.n. Désir 
(père Roger) - principal translator 
of the Old and New Testaments of 
the Bible into the Haitian 
language 
dezidratasyon n. dehydration 
dezidrate v. to dehydrate 
dèzil n. var. of mango 
dezini v. to disunite, divide, 
separate; to lose one's stride 
dezinye, dezinyen see deziye 
dezinyon, ladezinyon n. dissension, 
disunity, discord, strife 
dezipe v. to unzip 
dezire v. to desire, long for, wish for 
deziste v. to desist, cease 
deziyasyon n. designation, naming, 
appointment 
218 
deziye - DGI 
deziye, dezinye, dezinyen, deziyen 
v. [Fr.] to designate, appoint, 
assign; to point out; to mark 
dèzko n. relaxation, rest 
dezobeyi v. to disobey, be 
disobedient 
dezobeyisan adj. disobedient 
dezobeyisans n. disobedience; 
infraction 
dezoblijan adj. disagreeable 
dezod n. disorder, misbehavior, 
misconduct; confusion, mess, 
disarray; unrest; anarchy; 
foolishness, horseplay; sexual 
misconduct; prostitution; adj. 
disorderly, misbehaving, unruly, 
naughty; mischievous; untidy, 
messy 
pitit ~ illegitimate child 
dezôdone, dezôdonnen adj. 
disorganized; disorderly, 
misbehaving 
dezodoran, deyodoran n. 
deodorant 
dezôganizasyon n. disorganization 
dezôganize v. to disorganize 
Dezokipasyon prop.n. end of first 
US Occupation of Haiti (1934); 
end of "Intervasion" (begun in 
September 1994) 
dezokipe v. to pull up stakes, pull 
out, withdraw 
dezolasyon, ladezolasyon n. 
distress, grief; desolation, 
devastation 
dezole adj. desolate, barren, 
uninhabited; distressed, very sorry 
dezom pl.n. two men; see dezonm 
dezômè adv. [Fr.] henceforth, from 
now on 
Dezomo prop.n. Désormeau ([only] 
communal section of Bonbon, 
Dept. Grand'Anse; 3rd communal 
section of Dame-Marie, Dept. 
Grand'Anse) 
dezonpl.n. two aunes, two ells (see 
lonn) 
bay ko li - repo twazon 
trankilite to calm down, cool it 
dezonbifye v. to dezombify, 
awaken, arouse 
dezonè, dezonnè n. dishonor, 
disgrace 
dezonèt, dezonnèt adj. dishonest 
dezonètete n. dishonesty 
dezonm, desezon, dezom n. var. of 
plant 
dezonnè see dezonè 
dezonnèt see dezonèt 
dezonoran adj. dishonorable 
dezonore v. to dishonor, bring 
shame on 
dezôrèy anzôrèy adv. by word of 
mouth, confidentially 
dezoryantasyon n. disorientation, 
bewilderment 
dezoryante v. to disorient, bewilder; 
adj. disoriented 
dezose v. to remove the bones 
(chicken, fish etc.); to become 
emaciated or cachectic; adj. 
boned, deboned; thin, emaciated 
dezoutwa, deoutwa, de twa, 
dezotwa adj. several, a few 
pa ~ not just a few 
pandan ~ jou temporarily 
dezwèk n. [Eng.] day's work 
dezye v. to designate 
dezyèm adj. second; n. runner-up 
(sports)] lining (garment) - cf. 
doubli 
~ men second-hand 
dezyèmman adv. secondly 
DGI acron. (pronounced: dejeyi) 
219 
di - didezè 
Direksyon Jeneral Enpo 
(Direction Générale des Impôts) -
Internal Revenue Service of Haiti; 
cf. kontribisyon 
ajan kolektè ~ tax collector 
di v. to say; to tell; to beckon, invite; 
n. var. of mango; adj. hard, firm, 
tight; resistent, rugged; durable; 
tough; difficult; callous; strict, 
severe, intense, harsh; adv. hard; 
firmly, strenuously; strictly; prep. 
in the, of the, from the; see 
dibyen; dis 
ale - to be constipated 
~ anwo yon moun to speak ill of 
s.o. 
~ kaka te gen zo (pise te gen 
mwèl) to say no matter what, tell 
tall tales 
~ kareman to declare 
~ mèsi to thank 
~ mo to curse, cuss 
~ sa k(i) pa sa to lie 
~ Sen Filip ak Sen Jak to tell one 
and all 
- sou yon moun to speak ill of 
s.o. 
~ twôp to go too far, exceed the 
bounds 
~ yon bon mo (pou) to intercede 
(for, in favor of) 
~ yon kout tonné to swear 
profusely 
fè ~ to harden 
gen ~ ak to have an agreement 
with 
ki ~ ki fèt no sooner said than 
done 
kon ~ yo ~ as they say 
nan ~ in hardship, in suffering, in 
sacrifice 
ou ta ~ rather 
pa ~ m! you don't say! 
pa - m pa t ~ n! don't say I 
didn't tell you so! 
pa ~ sa! no kidding! 
pa ~ (yon moun) je wouj not to 
say a single thing (to s.o.) 
se pou ~ so-called, pseudo 
se sa li bliye li pa ~ to read (s.o.) 
the riot act, tell (s.o.) off 
vin ~ to harden; to freeze; 
hardening; sclerosis 
Dibèl (larivyè) prop.n. Dubelle 
river (tributary of the Grande-
Rivière-de-Nippes, Dept. 
Grand'Anse) 
dibita, dibidal, dibital adv. much, 
many 
yon ~ a lot of, many 
Diblen prop.n. Dublin (Ireland) 
Dibou(k) prop.n. Dubourg (5th 
communal section of Pilate, Dept. 
North) 
dibout see doubout 
dibreyis n. piece of old clothing, 
rag 
dibyen n. good (deeds); (some) 
good; (some) favors 
dichay adj. discharged, dead 
(battery) 
Dichenn see Kokoye 
dichès/w. duchess 
Dichitiprop.n. Duchity (5th 
communal section of Pestel, Dept. 
Grand'Anse) 
didaktik adj. didactic, pedagogical, 
teaching 
didantite: 
kat - identity card (attesting one's 
annual tax has been paid) 
didezè: 
arab ~ desert Arab (Mardi Gras 
disguise) 
220 
Didi - Difô 
Didi see Diti; nickname for Edwa 
didje n. [Eng.] DJ, disc jockey 
difamasyon n. defamation, slander, 
libel 
fè ~ to slander, libel 
difamatè n. slanderer 
difamatwa adj. defamatory, 
slanderous, libelous 
difame v. to defame, slander, libel 
Difayiprop.n. Dufailly (Dept. 
Center) 
dife n. fire, flame; light, match (for 
cigarette) 
bay ~ to smoke out (bees etc.) 
boul ~ fireball 
bwa ~ burning ember 
chofe ~ to egg on, incite, 
encourage; to inflame a situation 
- a boule nan chôdyè yon sèl bo 
to have troubles or frustration 
~ bwa wood fire 
- pay mayi/kann wildfire; hot 
air, bombast 
~ pran to catch on fire 
~ volan blister (esp. caused by 
shoe) 
fè ~ (boule) to light a fire; to egg 
on, incite 
fè ti ~ boule/volan to egg on, 
incite, encourage; to inflame a 
situation 
kat ~ burning permit 
krache ~ to spit fire, heat up; to 
put a hex on, curse, jinx 
leve ~ to instigate, incite 
mete ~ (nan) to set on fire (to), 
ignite 
mete sou ti ~ to (let) simmer 
pouse ~ to egg on, incite, 
encourage 
pran ~ to catch on fire 
sanble ~ to start a fire or bonfire; 
to burn off weeds and grasses (for 
preparing land) 
ti - (boule) provocation 
touye - to extinguish (a) fire 
voye ~ to incite, egg on, 
encourage 
difejennès see fejennès 
diferaman, diferantman adv. 
differently; conj. otherwise 
diferan, diferant adj. different 
diferans, ladiferans n. difference 
fè ~ to differentiate 
diferansyasyon n. differentiation; 
classification 
diferansye v. to differentiate; to 
classify 
diferansyèl n. differential (math.); 
differential gear 
~ aryè rear axle 
doub ~ four-wheel drive 
diferantman see diferaman 
difèt prep, from the fact that, 
because of 
difikilte, figilte, fikilte n. difficulty 
~ lavi hardship 
Difll Bich prop.n. Deerfield Beach 
(Florida) 
difisil adj. difficult, hard; picky; 
fashionable 
difisilman adv. with difficulty 
difize v. to broadcast 
difizyon n. broadcasting; 
circulation, distribution 
Difo (Prefèt) prop.n. Duffaut 
(Préfète) - Haitian painter 
("Processional Road" at Holy 
Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, PaP), 
b. 1923 
Difo (Kafou) prop.n. Carrefour 
Dufort (crossroads leading to 
Jacmel or to Les Cayes - Dept. 
West) 
221 
difom - dikte 
difom adj. deformed, distorted 
difonsèl n. var. of mango 
difôs conj. as a result of, because 
of; so much, so 
Difou prop.n. Dufour (communal 
section of Carrefour, Dept. West) 
difteri n. diphtheria 
dig n. ditch; dike, small dam; 
breakwater; jetty, pier; pavement, 
raised part of street or road 
digdal, dikdal n. cauldron 
yon ~ many, much, a large amount 
of 
digdantan, digtan lontan, 
dikdantan adv. a very long time 
ago 
dige, digonnen, djige v. to goad, 
spur, prod; to jab, poke; to needle, 
bug 
digè n. posthole digger 
digèt, djigèt, dzigèt n. goad, prod, 
stick; v. to goad, prod 
bay ~ to say a word on (s.o.'s) 
behalf 
mache ~ to walk stiffly and 
rapidly 
digo, djigo, endigo n. indigo; 
indigo blue, deep violet blue; 
bluing 
kouto ~ billhook, pruning knife 
digonnen see dige 
digtan lontan see digdantan 
dija see deja 
dijamèvi: 
se ~ it's a wonder, it's a marvel 
dijans adj. emergency; adv. 
immediately 
zôn - disaster area 
dijèn see dijyèn 
dijere v. to digest 
dijès adj. easily digestible 
dijestif adj. digestive 
222 
dijesyon n. digestion; adj. digestive 
dijital adj. digital; fingerprint 
dijitalize v. to fingerprint 
dijneny: 
chen manje ~ li to lose 
everything 
dijouolendmen adv. [Fr.] from one 
day to the next, overnight 
dijyèn, dijèn adj. hygiene 
sévis ~ sanitation department 
travayè sévis - sanitation worker 
dik n. duke 
dikaman n. ingredient; gadget 
(fam.) 
dikdal see digdal 
dikdantan see digdantan 
dikdôgèdè adj. conceited, arrogant, 
haughty; elegant (obs.); n. 
bragger, show-off 
Dike (ri) prop.n. rue du Quai 
(downtown PaP) 
Dikiniprop.n. Diquini (communal 
section of Carrefour, Dept. West) 
Dikiyon prop.n. Duquillon (1st 
communal section of Corail, Dept. 
Grand'Anse) 
Dikofèl, Kèltàn prop.n. Dicofol 
(commercial insecticide) 
Dik5s (ri) prop.n. rue Ducoste 
(between rue Capois and avenue 
Henry Christophe, PaP) 
diks n. wheel hub 
diksyon n. diction, delivery 
diksyonnè, diksyonè n. dictionary 
dikta n. diktat, harsh settlement 
sou ~ under the heel of, under the 
thumb of 
diktatè n. dictator 
diktati, ladiktati n. dictatorship 
diktatoryal adj. dictatorial 
dikte n. dictation; advice given 
during a dream by spirits of the 
dikton - dinamit 
dead; screw, sex act (fam.); v. to 
dictate 
pran ~ to be dictated to, be under 
the orders of 
dikton n. saying, dictum 
dikwa see dekwa 
dil n. underhanded dealing 
dilamit see dinamit 
dilapidasyon n. [Fr.] squandering; 
embezzlement, misappropriation 
dilapide v. [Fr.] to squander, 
embezzle, misappropriate 
dilapidé n. squanderer; embezzler 
dilatasyon n. abortion; dilation, 
enlargement 
fè ~ to have an abortion; to 
perform an abortion 
dilate v. to dilate, enlarge; to melt 
(down), run, liquefy 
dilatwa adj. dilatory, delaying; n. 
delaying tactics; bluff, mere show, 
sham 
fè - to temporize, delay, 
procrastinate; to bluff, fake, 
deceive 
Dilavach see Ilavach 
dile v. to deal, bargain, haggle (usu. 
pej•) 
dilè n. (esp. drug) dealer; agent 
dilèm, dilenm n. dilemma 
dilere n. regret; misfortune; adj. 
regrettable, unfortunate, painful 
dilijan adj. speedy, prompt 
dilijans n. haste, speed; any small 
rapid means of interurban 
transport; diligence, 
conscientiousness 
fè ~ to hurry, make all possible 
haste; to speed up (a process) 
dim n. tithe; see bouton; ladim 
Dima prop.n. Dumas (1st communal 
section of Fort-Liberté, Dept. 
North-East) 
dimal n. harm, evil 
dimanch n. Sunday 
~ Kazimodo Quasimodo Sunday 
(Sunday after Easter) 
~ Lamwason see lamwason 
~ Pak Easter Sunday 
~ Ramo Palm Sunday (Sunday 
before Easter) 
~ senp (Sunday during no special 
religious period such as Lent etc.) 
~ Trinité Trinity Sunday (Sunday 
after Pentecost) 
san ~ to never take a break; 
incessantly 
dimansyon n. dimension, size 
dimaten adv. a.m., in/of the 
morning 
~ oswa from morning til night 
Dimetoyat, Sigonn prop.n. 
Dimethoate (commercial 
insecticide) 
dimil num. ten thousand 
dimilite adj. of humility, humble 
diminisyon n. decrease, decline; 
reduction, discount 
diminye, diminwe v. to reduce, 
diminish, decrease, lessen; n. 
reduction, decrease 
dimoman adv. from the moment 
when; as soon as 
Dimon prop.n. Dumont (5th 
communal section of Port-Salut, 
Dept. South) 
dimonn adj. world, of the world 
voyaj tou ~ trip around the world 
dimwatye see demwatye 
dimwens adv. at least 
dinamik adj. dynamic, active; n. 
dynamics 
dinamis n. dynamism 
dinamit, dilamit n. dynamite; 
223 
dinamize - dirèk 
firecracker 
dinamize v. to energize, vitalize 
dinamo n. dynamo, electric 
generator 
dinasti n. dynasty 
dinaza n. baggy clothing, old-
fashioned clothing 
dine, dinen n. dinner, large meal, 
main meal of the day; luncheon, 
noonday meal; v. to eat the main 
meal of the day, have dinner 
dingding see tingting 
dingdong onomat. ding-dong 
(sound of bell) 
dingole see degrengole 
dinite see diyite 
dind adj. northern, from the north 
masif Dinô mountain range of the 
North (Depts. North and North-
East) 
dinozo n. dinosaur; extremely 
conservative politician 
dinyite see diyite 
dip n. push-up; see djip 
Dipèl, Tirisid prop.n. Dipel 
(commercial insecticide) 
Dipèp (ri)prop.n. rue du Peuple 
(downtown PaP) 
dipigatwa adj. of/from purgatory 
diplikata n. duplicate, carbon copy 
diplis adv. in addition, more; n. 
additional effort; supplement, 
addition, surcharge, extra 
mete ~ sou to add to 
dipiisite n. [Fr.] duplicity 
diplôm, diplonm n. diploma, 
certificate, degree 
pran ~ to graduate 
pran ~ nan to be a past master at, 
be expert at 
diplomasi n. diplomacy; diplomatic 
service, foreign service 
~ beton (politically or socially-
inspired) street demonstrations 
diplomat n. diplomat; adj. tactful 
- beton demonstrator (for 
political or social cause) 
diplomatik adj. diplomatic 
diplôme, diplonmen n./adj. 
graduate; v. to graduate; adj. 
qualified 
diplonm see diplom 
dipopo see adjipopo 
Dipterèks, Klowofôs Dipterex 
(commercial insecticide) 
dipwav see pwav 
dira: 
ki ~ pou what about, not to 
mention 
dirab adj. durable, lasting, long-
term, sustainable; solid; chronic 
dirakwa n. doubting Thomas; 
upstart, newly-rich, status seeker; 
adj. incredulous, unbelieving 
Diran see Iran 
Diran (Ozval) prop.n. Durand 
(Oswald) - leading Haitian poet, 
author of "Choukoun" (1840-
1906) 
diran(t) prep, during; n. var. of fish 
lavi ~ lifelong, for one's whole 
life 
diranpandan, dirantpandan adv. 
continuously, steadily, 
unceasingly 
dirant see diran 
dirantan adv. (for) a long time; 
conj. while 
dire n. duration, period; v. to last, 
endure 
dirèk adj. direct, straight, 
straightforward; adv. directly; 
interj. right! see direktè; 
dirèkteman 
224 
direksyon - disi 
an ~ live (broadcast, telecast) 
direksyon, ladireksyon n. 
direction; administrative staff; 
head office; principal's office; 
guidance; management, leadership 
dirèktè, dirèk, direktè n. director, 
manager, chairman, leader, head; 
school principal 
dirèkteman, dirèk adv. directly, in 
a straightforward manner; of 
course, surely, evidently 
direktiv n. directive, order, 
instruction 
direktris f.n. directrice 
diretik n./adj. diuretic 
direktwa adj. directory 
diri n. rice 
- ak sos pwa rice with bean puree 
~ foltoun var. of rice 
- glase white rice 
~ jôn wild rice 
~ kajou unhusked rice, paddy rice 
~ kawolayna Carolina rice 
~ ki poko bat unhusked rice, 
paddy rice 
~ kole (ak pwa), ~ nasyonal rice 
and beans cooked together 
~ lakrèt, ~ kretapyewo La Crête 
rice (superior quality of rice) 
~ lapé rice for relief effort, 
donated rice 
~ Louki var. of rice 
~ madan gougous jôn var. of 
good quality rice 
~ odeveya ODVA (q.v.) rice 
~ ole rice cooked in milk 
~ reksowo var. of rice 
~ solèy brown rice 
~ teseyès, ~ TCS var. of lower-
quality rice 
~ tiziya, ~ tisina var. of rice 
moulen ~ rice-processing 
machine or factory 
tèt ~ rice husk 
dirigasyon adj. irrigation 
dirijab adj. directed, teleguided 
dirijan n. director, leader; 
conductor 
dirije, derije v. to direct, head, lead, 
steer, manage, guide 
dirijis adj. interventionist 
Dirisi (letan) prop.n. Dirisi Pond 
(Dept. West) 
DIRP acron. (Département de 
l'Information et des Relations 
Publiques) Department of Public 
Information 
diryan n. var. of fruit 
dis: 
~ di hard drive (computer) 
dis, di, diz num. ten 
dis pa kare not one step further 
~ ti piti barefoot (lit. : ten little 
toes); ten more like you (couldn't 
do s.thg.) (pej.) 
fè dis sou dis to do perfectly 
fè ti ~ kôb to earn a penny 
disann see desann 
disansyon n. [Fr.] dissension 
Disant (ri) prop.n. rue du Centre 
(downtown PaP) 
disantri n. dysentery 
disèl n. var. of mango; see sèl 
disènen, disène v. to discern 
disèt num. seventeen 
~ (+ n.) a lot of; very, so (+ adj.) 
~ lajè so large, very large 
~ otè, ^ degre, ~ wotè sky-high 
disetan num. seventeen years 
disètasyon n. essay 
disète v. to discourse upon, hold 
forth 
disetyèm adj. seventeenth 
disi prep, (from) now (until) 
225 
disid - dtspite 
~ denmen by tomorrow 
~ senmenn pwochen by next 
week 
~ ventan within the next twenty 
years 
disid adj. southern, from the south 
disidan n./adj. dissident 
disip n. disciple, follower; 
protective spirit (Voodoo) 
disiplin, ladisiplin n. discipline; 
regulation; self-control; specialty 
disipline, disiplinen v. to discipline 
disiplinè adj. disciplinary 
Disis prop.n. Ducis, Dussis (Dept. 
South) 
disk n. discus; phonograph record 
(cf. plak); compact disk, CD 
~ mou floppy disk (computer) 
diskalifye v. to disqualify 
diskè n. record dealer, seller of 
records and tapes 
diskèt n. (computer) diskette, floppy 
disk 
diskisyon n. discussion; argument; 
dispute, quarrel, row 
diskit n. dispute, quarrel, row 
diskite v. to discuss; to deny, 
protest; to argue, dispute, quarrel 
~ pri to bargain, haggle 
disko see diskotèk 
diskôd n. discord 
diskonpak n. compact disc 
diskont n. discount 
diskotèk, disko n. discotheque, 
disco 
diskou n. speech, discourse 
~ akèy, ~ byenvini welcoming 
address 
- louvèti, ~ louvri baryè opening 
address 
- sikonstans oration 
diskouri v. to discourse upon, hold 
forth 
diskrè, diskre adj. discreet 
diskredi n. discredit, disfavor; 
discredit, disrepute 
diskredite v. to discredit, bring into 
disrepute 
diskresyon n. discretion 
diskresyonè adj. discretionary 
diskrètman adv. discreetly 
diskriminasyon n. discrimination 
diskriminatwa adj. discriminatory 
diskriminen, diskrimine v. to 
discriminate 
diskwalifikasyon n. 
disqualification (sports) 
dislèksi n. dyslexia 
dislèksik adj. dyslexic 
disloke v. to dislocate (shoulder 
etc.) 
disnèf see diznèf 
disnevyèm see diznevyèm 
disolisyon n. dissolution, ending, 
demise 
disoud v. to dissolve, disband 
dispansatè n. dispenser 
dispanse v. to dispense, exempt 
dispansè n. dispensary, clinic, 
infirmary 
disparèt v. to disappear, vanish; to 
make disappear; to abduct; to kill, 
exterminate; n. disappearance 
- ko ou! beat it! get lost! 
fè ~ to clear out, get rid of, chase 
away; to kill 
disparisyon n. disappearance; 
extinction; abduction 
dispèse v. to disperse, scatter 
dispèsyon n. dispersion, scattering 
dispit n. dispute, argument 
dispitay n. quarrel 
dispite v. to dispute, argue, contend 
pa ~ small straw bag 
disponib - ditilite 
disponib, disponnib adj. available, 
at hand, on hand 
disponibilité, disponiblite n. [Fr.] 
availability 
mete/voye an ~ [Fr.] to place on 
leave 
miz an ~ [Fr.] leave of absence 
prale an ~ to become unemployed 
dispozab adj. disposable 
dispoze v. to be in a good mood (to 
do s.thg.); to feel like, be willing 
(to do s.thg.); to get ready (for); to 
put aside for; to allocate; to plan 
on; adj. disposed, inclined, prone 
to 
dispozisyon n. attitude, mood, 
feeling; decision; arrangement; 
stipulation; willingness, 
inclination; disposal 
gen bon ~ pou (fè yon bagay) to 
be determined (to do s.thg.) 
pran (yon) ~ to take a strong 
stand or position; to take steps (to 
do s.thg.), make preparations 
dispozitif n. contingent; device, 
mechanism 
distans n. distance; period (of time) 
bay ~ to stay at a distance, keep 
away 
distanse v. to space; to keep at (a) 
distance 
~ ak distant from, far from 
disten see distenk 
distenge v. to distinguish, honor; to 
distinguish, tell apart; adj. 
distinguished, esteemed, honored, 
eminent 
distenk, disten adj. distinct 
distenksyon n. distinction, 
importance; distinction, 
difference; differentiation, 
discrimination 
distilasyon n. distillation 
distilatè n. distiller (person) 
distile, distiye v. to distill; to 
condense; to purify (water etc.); to 
ruminate, chew the cud 
distilè, distiyè n. distiller; brewer 
distilri n. distillery 
distraksyon n. recreation, 
amusement, entertainment; 
pastime, fun 
distrè v. to entertain, amuse; to 
distract; refl. to have a good time, 
amuse oneself; adj. distracted, 
absent-minded; crazy 
distri see distrik 
distribisyon n. distribution 
fè ~ to pass the ball (soccer) 
distribitè, distribiyè n. retailer, 
distributor; distributor (mach.) 
distribiye, distribye v. to distribute, 
divide up 
distribiyè see distribitè 
distrik, distri n. district 
Distrik Konlonbya prop.n. District 
of Columbia (USA) 
diswa adv. p.m., in/of the evening 
disyade v. to dissuade 
disyèk adj. of the century, of great 
consequence 
disyèl adj. heavenly, heaven-sent 
ditan prep, in the period of, in the 
time of 
Ditàn prop.n. Dithane-M45 
(commercial insecticide) 
dite n. var. of mango; [Fr.] 
hardness, toughness; tea 
diten n. [N.] thyme 
ditepè see detepe 
Diti, Didiprop.n. Ditty (near Anse-
à-Foleur, Dept. North-West) 
ditilite piblik adj. [Fr.] state-
approved 
227 
dit6 - diwote 
ditô see t6 
fè ~ to harm 
diton n. saying, proverb; cf. 
pwovèb 
ditou adv. not at all 
— not at all, not a bit 
~ jamè! not on your life! 
pa ... not... at all! 
ditwèp n. nuisance, pest, pain in the 
neck 
divage v. to rave, say crazy things; 
to ramble, digress 
Divalon, Fôs Nabôt prop.n. 
Duvallon, Fosse Naboth (2nd 
communal section of Dessalines, 
Dept. Artibonite) 
Divalye (Franswa) prop.n. 
Duvalier (François) (1907-1971) -
president of Haiti, 1957-1971 
Divalye (Jan-Klod), Divalye Fis 
prop.n. Duvalier (Jean-Claude) 
(bom 1951 ) - president of Haiti, 
1971-1986 
~ double double serving of food 
(,humorous) 
divalyeris prop.n./adj. Duvalierist; 
prop.n. Duvalierism 
Divalyevil prop.n. Duvalier-Ville -
name of Kabare (q.v.) during 
Duvalier regime 
divan n. divan, sofa, couch 
Divayon, Fosnabot prop.n. 
Duvallon, Fausse-Naboth (2nd 
communal section of Dessalines, 
Dept. Artibonite) 
divè n. down, fine soft feathers 
divèjans n. [Fr.] divergence; 
difference 
diven n. wine; various other locally-
made drinks with low alcoholic 
content; blackcap basslet (fish); 
var. of mango; adj. divine 
~ kann sugarcane juice 
mete dlo nan - li to calm down, 
not to get excited 
divès adj. various, diverse; 
numerous, many 
divèsifye v. to diversify 
divèsite n. diversity 
divèsyon n. diversion, deviation 
divèti v. to amuse, entertain; refl. to 
have fun, amuse oneself 
divètisman n. amusement; 
recreation 
dividal: 
yon ~ a lot of, many 
dividann n. dividend 
dividi n. individual, fellow, person 
dividivi n. divi-divi (small tree) 
divilgasyon n. revelation 
divilge, devilge v. to divulge, reveal; 
to swear at, cuss out 
divinasyon n. divination, 
prescience, clairvoyance 
divinè see divinô 
divinèz/w. seer, diviner, 
soothsayer; Voodoo priestess 
divinité, ladivinite n. divinity 
divinè, deviné, divinè n. seer, 
diviner, soothsayer; Voodoo priest 
divis: 
ansyen ~ retired thief (fam.) 
divize v. to divide 
divizè n. devisor (math.) 
divizib adj. divisible 
divizyon n. division; split, schism, 
discord, strife, contention 
yon ~ much, many 
divizyonè adj. divisional 
divôs n. divorce 
divdse (ak) v. to divorce, separate 
Diwojèn prop.n. Diogenes (ancient 
Greek philosopher) 
diwote n. gadabout, s.o. who is at 
228 
diy - djak 
any gathering; veteran, elder 
diy adj. worthy, respectable 
diyalôg see dyalôg 
diyaman see dyaman 
diyaspora see dyaspora 
diyiretik n. diuretic 
diyite, dinite, dinyite, ladiyite n. 
dignity; penis 
diyitè n. dignitary 
diyman adv. with dignity 
diyo n. duo; duet 
diyoksid n. dioxide 
diz see dis 
dizan n. ten years 
an ~ by/while saying 
dizay, dizaj adj. usual, customary 
dizè n. ten o'clock 
(flè) ~ var. of flower (closes petals 
after sunrise) 
dizè n., dizèz f.n. born story-teller; 
wit, wag; cf. grandizè 
dizèdtan n. ten hours 
dizèl, dyezèl n. diesel fuel; adj. 
diesel 
dizèn, dizenn n. ten or more; ten(s); 
decade (of rosary) 
dizèt, dizès n. famine, hunger; 
scarcity 
diznèf, disnèf num. nineteen 
diznevan n. nineteen years 
diznevyèm, disnevyèm adj. 
nineteenth 
dizom: 
manje pou ~ to eat enough for 
ten men, eat ravenously 
dizon n. permission, approval; 
acceptance, agreement, accord, 
understanding, consent; statement, 
declaration; appointment; v. let's 
say [Fr.] 
bay ~ pa li to have one's say 
san pran ~ without asking 
permission 
dizondi interj. actually, to tell the 
truth; let's say...; adv.. 
unfortunately 
dizonn diloj n. weewee, small penis 
dizwit, dizwi num. eighteen 
dizwitan n. eighteen years 
dizwityèm adj. eighteenth; n. 
corkscrew (hairstyle) 
dizyèm adj. tenth; "Tenth 
Department of Haiti," i.e., 
Haitians living abroad, Haitian 
diaspora 
dj acron. [Eng.] {pronounced: 
didje) DJ, disc jockey 
dja see ja 
djab see dyab 
djabèt, dyabèt n. diabetes 
djabetik, dyabetik n./adj. diabetic 
djablès see ladjablès 
djabloten n. black-capped petrel 
(bird) 
djabolik, dyabolik adj. diabolic(al) 
djabolizans, dyabolizans n. 
demonization 
djabolize, dyabolize v. to 
demonize, villainize 
djage, dage, drage, dyage v. to 
stab; to spear; to jab at, pick apart, 
criticize (s.o.) 
~ ak kout fwenn to prod; to spear 
djagnostik, dyagnostik, 
dyanostike n. diagnosis; adj. 
diagnostic 
djagnostike, dyagnostike, 
dyanostike v. to diagnose 
dj agonal, djagonnal, dy agonal, 
dyagonnal n./adj. diagonal 
(n)an ~ diagonally; in dire straits 
djak, dyak n. jack (automobile; 
electric; cards); deacon; small roll 
(bread); mess, disorder; shorts, 
229 
djaka - djendjen 
cutoffs; see djak(oukout) 
~ sou ~ big, huge 
gwo ~ large mechanical jacklift 
djaka, dyaka n. large fruit 
resembling breadfruit nut found in 
southern Haiti 
djake, dyake v. to jack up (car etc.); 
to jerk s.o. off the ground by the 
seat of his pants; to apply the 
form of torture described under 
djak(oukout) q.v. 
djakèt see jakèt 
djakonna n. jaconet (lightweight 
cotton fabric) 
djakonnès, dyakonèz, dyakonnès 
f.n. deaconess 
djak(oukout), dyak(oukout), 
yakoukout n. form of beating 
whereby a stick is wedged under 
the knees and over the wrists 
bound under the knees 
djakout, dyakout n. very large 
straw shoulder-bag (with strap) 
djal see dyal 
djaloge see dyaloge 
djam see djanm 
djaman see dyaman 
Djamena prop.n. N'Djamena 
(Chad) 
djanborit n. tadpole; cf. teta 
djandjan, djangan, dyandyan, 
dyangan n. eye matter, sleep (cf. 
kaka je); adj. multicolored, in 
vivid colors; gaudy, loud, garish 
djandjoukou n. Voodoo priest; cf. 
oungan 
djanm, djam, dyanm adj. robust, 
sturdy, fit; steady, firm; lively, 
energetic; adv. steadily, firmly 
djanman see dyaman 
djanmankankan n. chaos, 
confusion 
djanmjèw n. var. of fish 
djanni, dyanni, janni n. 
paraphernalia, stuff, junk, odds 
and ends; junk food 
djanpal, djanpav, djanpaw n. 
barracuda 
djapazon, dyapazon n. compass, 
range; tuning fork; pitch pipe 
djapôt, dyapôt n. jackpot; slot 
machine; puke, vomit 
bay fè - to puke, throw up, 
vomit; to win in gambling; to 
succeed spectacularly 
djare, dyare n. diarrhea 
~ anwo vomiting 
~ masisi AIDS 
~ pa ba diarrhea 
~ pa wo vomiting 
gwo ~ san dysentery 
djaweton n. Rara drums [/V.] 
djayi, djaye, dyaye, dyayi v. to 
spring forth, gush forth [Fr.]; to 
jump (for joy); to demonstrate, 
march; to convulse as in a trance 
(Voodoo esp.); to fall between 
two numbers (dominoes) 
djaz, dyaz n. jazz; dance band 
(mizik) ~ jazz 
djaze, djazè, dyaze v. to talk 
nonsense 
fè ~ to talk nonsense 
Djazinôn see Dyazinôn 
djazmann, dyazmann n. jazz 
musician, rock musician 
Dje see Bondye 
djèdjè, jèjè n. chatterbox, babbler; 
imbecile; adj. imbecilic; v. to talk 
nonsense, ramble 
djegi see degi 
djèmbo see gèmbo 
djendjen n. worthless person or 
object; adj. vain, pretentious 
230 
Djenms - djol 
Djenms, Jemzprop.n. James; cf. 
Jak 
djenn, dyenn n. small shady 
business; sheath; suspender-belt; 
see genn 
djèp see gèp 
Djeriprop.n. Jerry 
djesèlmevwa see dyesèlmevwa 
djèt, dyèt, jèt n. jet (plane); fast-
moving person; diet; gaiter; garter 
(rare) 
djètapan, gètapan n. ambush; adj. 
impulsive 
djevo, dyevo, gevo n. Voodoo 
initiation chamber; storeroom for 
accoutrements of the various 
Voodoo spirits 
djèz, dyèz n. sharp (music 
accidental) 
djib n. jib sail 
Djibouti prop.n. Djibouti 
Djiboutyen prop.n./adj., 
Djiboutyèn fprop.n. Djiboutian 
djige see dige 
djigèt see digèt 
djigo see digo 
djigote see jigote 
djim n. [Eng.] gym(nasium) 
Djimiprop.n. Jimmy 
djin n. gin; (blue)jeans 
djingole see degrengole 
djip, dip, dyip n. jeep; jib (sail) 
~ wôki Daihatsu "Rocky" (hatch-
back) 
fè ~ to do push-ups 
djipopo see adjipopo 
djipsi see jitan 
djo see dlo 
Djo, Dyoprop.n. Joe, nickname for 
Jozèf 
bôs ~ fool, dummy, idiot 
djo, dyô n. wing which surrounds 
the universe (Voodoo); adj. not 
involving animal sacrifice 
(Voodoo) 
frè ~ men who have received 
Voodoo initiation together 
priyè lapriyè - general prayer 
to the Voodoo 'nations,' spirits 
and dignitaries 
sè ~ women who have received 
Voodoo initiation together 
djob, dyôb, job n. job, position; 
racket, scam 
bay ~ to set a specific sum for 
the accomplishment of a specific 
task 
~ moso jounen part-time job 
- pa ou that's your own business; 
who cares? 
~ sèkèy dead-end job; grueling 
job; risky or dangerous job 
ti ~ temporary job 
djobe, dyobe v. to have a job; to be 
hired; to play, jump around, make 
noise 
djôbè, dyôbè, jôbè n. temporary 
employee; mercenary 
djôbis, djyôbis, dyôbis n. day-
worker; spy, informer, infiltrator 
djôgin n. jogging 
djôk, dyôk, jôk n. evil spell, evil 
eye, hex 
jete ~ sou to hex, curse 
djoke, djoke, dyôke v. to bewitch, 
hex, cast a spell over 
djokè n. joker (cards); adj. impish, 
mischievous; humorous 
djoko n. dummy, imbecile 
djôl, dyol, gyol n. (fam.) mouth, 
'trap'; mug, face, head 
anba ~ snoop, nosy person; to be 
hanging around (to get s.thg.); 
underfoot, in the way 
231 
dj61 - Djonnsonn 
~ alèlè blabbermouth, indiscreet 
person 
- be open-mouthed, surprised, 
baffled; in awe; speechless 
~ bekin protruding jaw 
- bèkyè "loser" 
~ dous smooth talker, sweet 
talker; convincing, persuasive 
~ file sharp-tongued 
~ flobop, ~ flôbèp, ~ fobo, ~ 
fobop, ~ fôbop, ~ fôj, ~ fôy 
toothless 
~ kochon! asshole! 
~ kwochi uncouth, loutish 
~ lolo, ~ loulou, ~ loulouz mouth-
watering; terrific, great, tops 
~ long, ~ pa ret atè 
blabbermouth, big mouth 
~ pave sheepshead (fish) 
~ pwenti affected, pretentious 
~ pwès argument, fight 
- si speaking in an affected 
manner 
- wouze/woze fancy or high-class 
woman (pej. ) 
fanm ~ woze elite woman 
fè ~ alèlè to run off at the mouth 
fè ~ pwès to be ill-tempered 
gen bon ~ to be a big eater; to be 
a gourmet 
gen ~ to have a big mouth; to be a 
bragger 
gen ~ long ak to swear at, argue 
with 
gran ~ bragger, show-off 
nan ~ ou! the same to you! (pej.) 
nanpwen ~ (pou pale bagay 
konsa) it's beyond words, it's 
amazing 
ra ~ overflowing, to the brim 
rete anba ~ to spy on 
rete ~ louvri to be dumbfounded, 
be flabbergasted 
vire ~ to change one's story; to 
pout 
djola, djoula, dyola, dyoula n. 
small straw bag 
djole, dyole u to chitchat, prattle, 
gossip 
djôlè, dyèlè, gyèlè n. bragger, 
boaster, show-off, big talker; adj. 
boastful, bragging 
fè - to brag; to shout, bellow, yell 
djôlfi n. sea pike, snipe fish 
djèlpagou, dyôlpagou adj. hungry, 
famished (person) 
Djomeka prop.n. Jamaica; 
Jamaican; see Jamayik; 
Jamayiken 
Djon prop.n. Jacmelian (fam.) 
Djèn see Djonn 
djonborit n. var. of freshwater fish 
djondjon, dyondyon n. small black 
mushroom 
donnen kou ~ to mushroom, 
burgeon 
fè ~ to mildew, mold 
maladi ~ fungal infection 
djondjonnen, dyondyonnen v. to 
sprout (forth), mushroom, 
proliferate 
djong djong onomat. sound of 
slow-paced steps 
djonk n. [Eng.] junk, trash 
Djonn, Djôn prop.n. [Eng.] John 
- Bwonn (avni), Lali (avni) -
John Brown Avenue, Lalue 
Avenue (downtown PaP leading 
up to Pétion-Ville); John Brown, 
great U.S. abolitionist (1800-
1859) 
Djonni prop.n. [Eng.] Johnny, 
nickname for Jan 
Djonnsonn (Lenndonn) prop.n. 
277 
djos - dlo 
Johnson (Lyndon) - president of 
USA, 1963-1969 
djos see djouz 
djosèz see dyosèz 
djosezen see dyosezen 
djosezyen see dyosezyen 
djouba, djoumba, dyouba n. var. 
of rhythm; special Voodoo drum 
used for Azaka (q.v.) and more 
generally at Carnival time; special 
dance for Azaka (q.v.); miniskirt 
djoudjou n. toy; joker, comic; 
magic charm, fetish, amulet, 
talisman (for either good or bad 
magic - always tangible) 
djougan, dyougan adj. classy, 
elegant (person); morally loose 
(male); happy, cheerful, elated; 
see oungan 
djoukoudjou n. musical instrument 
used in Voodoo ceremonies 
djoula see djola 
djoumba see djouba 
djousi n. cocaine mixed with 
marijuana 
djouz, djos adj. plentiful, abundant; 
impressive, beautiful 
djyôbis see djobis 
dlapremidi adv. in/of the afternoon 
dlo, djo, dyo, glo, gyo n. water; 
liquid, fluid, juice (fruit); (body 
of) water; tear, teardrop; 
perspiration; var. of yam; var. of 
mango; adj. watery, weak (drink, 
food etc.) 
ale ~ to have a (very) watery stool 
ale nan - to go get water; to be 
swept away, be carried off (by 
flooding) 
bay jete rann vide ~ to 
break water (in childbirth) 
bay - manyôk pou lèt to 
swindle, victimize, flimflam 
bon - pou bwè potable water 
bwè ~ (kon ti kôk pye kokoye) 
to take on water, spring a leak 
(boat); to fail, flop, lose out, bite 
the dust 
bwè - frèt to be shocked 
bwè ~ nan nen to rain cats and 
dogs 
bwè yon ti gout - frèt to be 
startled 
chache kot ~ koule pi fre to look 
for one's advantage, seek out the 
best deal 
~ benit, ~ benediksyon holy water 
~ blan(ch) discharge, secretion 
~ bouch saliva; cf. krache 
~ chita stagnant water 
~ dan saliva; cf. krache 
~ demanbre magically poisoned 
water (Voodoo) 
~ disèl salt water 
~ distile purified water 
~ dômi stagnant water 
~ dous fresh (unsalty) water 
~ fo, ~ Gede liquids used in 
Voodoo-inspired remedies 
~ Ginen consecrated water used 
in sacrificial ceremonies (Voodoo) 
~ grèg/grèk weak coffee 
^ j e tear, teardrop 
~ kafe weak coffee 
~ kalalou slippery 
~ kann sugar-cane juice 
~ kannèl waste water; nonsense 
~ kanpe sugarcane (riddle - cf. 
- kouche and - pandye) 
~ kanpe lwen same as ~ repiyans 
~ Kiligann, ~ Kouligann 
Culligan water 
~ ko sweat 
~ ko li benyen ko li to stew in 
233 
dlo - dlo 
one's own juices, suffer the 
consequences of one's deeds 
- k6k, ~ kokoye coconut milk; 
see klè kou ~ k6k 
~ konpi see ~ kowonpi 
~ konpoze concoction of herbs 
etc. 
~ kouche melon (riddle - cf. 
~ kanpe and ~ pandye) 
- koule nan bouch li his/her 
mouth waters 
~ kouran river water; undrinkable 
water 
~ kouri nan je li to cry, weep 
~ kowonpi, ~ konpi, ~ kwonpi 
stagnant water 
~ lacho whitewash 
~ lanmè saltwater 
~ lese m atô same as ~ repiyans 
- lolo watery 
~ lou non-potable water 
~ machin water from tank truck 
~ majik water- or oil-based 
remedies against maladi lèzom 
(q.v.) 
~ marengwen stagnant water 
~ men unclean or unappetizing 
food; watered-down food 
~ mennen van pouse errant, 
vagabond, tramp 
~ mineral mineral water 
~ m6 water used to bathe a 
cadaver; liquid used in Voodoo-
inspired remedies 
~ moustik stagnant water 
~ nan bouch indecisive 
~ nan je tearful, in tears 
~ nan vant ascites 
~ oksijene hydrogen peroxide 
~ pandye coconut (riddle - cf 
~ kanpe and ~ kouche) 
~ ponpe nan je tears come 
flowing out 
~ pôt vaginal bath after giving 
birth 
~ poze stagnant water 
~ pwa small profit or gain; odd 
job; very thin bean soup 
~ repiyans, ~ repouse magic 
potion to ward off evil (Voodoo); 
potassium sulfate 
~ rete stagnant water 
~ sale salt water 
~ santi stagnant water; magic 
potion (Voodoo) 
~ santi dômi stagnant water 
~ savon soapy water 
~ sèl salt water 
~ seren dew 
~ si acidic belch, gastric reflux 
~ siwo mixture of cane syrup and 
water 
~ solèy water warmed by sun 
~ sot poisonous booze 
~ tiyo tap water, running water 
~ trankil magic potion to 
counteract hex 
fè ~ to take on water, leak (boat); 
to (secrete) water (eyes), be 
watery; to salivate 
fè ~ k6 li benyen ko li to punish 
s.o.; to beat up (s.o.), have s.o. 
beaten up 
fè ~ kouri nan je li to bring tears 
to one's eyes 
fè ~ monte sou to irrigate 
fè tounen ~ to liquefy 
gate ~ to take a leak, urinate 
gen ~ nan je to be very sad, cry 
gran ~ central irrigation canal; 
deep-sea 
gwo ~ swift current, torrent 
jete ~ see bay ~ 
jete ~ dèyè to chase away (an evil 
234 
dlo - do 
spirit) 
jete ~ pou to commune with 
jete/voye ~ san mouye pèsonn 
not to accuse anyone in particular 
jete ~ sou to criticize, attack 
jete ~ sou tèt (yon moun) to calm 
(s.o.) down 
jete yon ~ to take a leak, piss 
jete yon ti ~ to give remembrance 
to 
kache/mete ~ nan bouch li to 
hesitate to say, be reluctant to say 
kite ~ pase nan venn li to 
become weak 
konnen ~ to know how to swim 
konnen kou ~ to know 
thoroughly, know inside out 
kout ~ frèt kout ~ cho on again 
off again, running hot and cold 
lage yon ~ to take a leak, piss 
lot bô ~ abroad 
ma ~ puddle 
manman ~ central irrigation 
canal 
mete ~ atè/deyô to cry, weep 
mete/kache ~ nan bouch li to 
hesitate to say, be reluctant to say 
mete ~ nan dife to dampen, 
check; to calm (s.o.) down 
mete ~ nan diven/kleren li to 
dilute; to calm (s.o.) down 
mete ~ nan moulen to provide 
grist for the mill of, give aid or 
encouragement to 
mete pye nan ~ to begin an 
undertaking; to consult a faith-
and-herb healer 
nan - , pye nan ~ in bad shape, in 
a fix, in trouble, in hot water; lost 
pa ka kenbe ~ nan je li to not be 
able to hold back the tears 
pa mete - nan bouch li not to 
mince words 
pa rete ak ~ nan bouch li not to 
remain silent, not to hesitate to 
say 
pase ~ to fail, flop 
pase - nan je to console, cheer 
up 
pote ~ nan moulen, pote ~ nan 
panyen to waste one's time 
pran bon vè ~ mete la to be 
ready for trouble, be prepared for 
the worst 
pran ~ to run away 
rann ~ see bay ~ 
san/pa mete ~ nan bouch 
frankly, openly 
se ~ li pile nan pilon to be 
penniless 
tèt ~ spring (water) 
ti ~ stream, creek 
tonbe nan ~ to fail, abort 
(project, undertaking) 
vide ~ see bay ~ 
voye ~ san mouye pèsonn see 
jete dlo . . . 
voye ~ sou to criticize, attack 
voye (yon moun) nan ~ to send 
(s.o.) to get water 
yon kout ~ cho yon kout - frèt 
roller coaster, violent ups and 
downs (fig.) 
dlodevi n. brandy 
dlololo, dyololo adj. watery; simple, 
easy 
dloye v. to water; cf. wouze 
dmen see denmen 
do n. back; top; roof; C (music); 
position in game of knucklebones 
(oslè); see dwe 
ale sou ~ pye (yon moun) to go 
after (s.o. with intent to harm) 
bat ~ to pat s.o. on the back, 
do - Dobrawouj 
cheer up 
bay (nan) ~ to turn one's back on; 
to leave behind, forsake, abandon; 
to be away 
bay/fè sou ~ (yon moun) to talk 
behind (s.o.'s) back 
chenn ~ backbone 
dèyè ~ li behind one's back; in 
one's absence 
~ ba round-shouldered; stooped; 
dance movement with back 
parallel to ground 
~ bo si, ~ bosko bent over 
~ chamo hunchback 
~ fè mal backache 
~ kale stripped bare (mountain); 
experienced, knowledgeable; 
slick, crafty, unscrupulous 
~ kase var. of dance 
~ kay roof (of house or building) 
~ kiyè fè very stingy, miserly 
~ koko mons veneris 
~ louvri sprained back 
~ machin roof or top of vehicle 
~ mangay ulcerated back (donkey 
etc.) 
~ men back or dorsum of hand 
~ mon peak, summit 
~ ouvè sprained back 
~ pou ~ back-to-back; flawlessly, 
impeccably; thoroughly; from 
cover to cover; at odds, in 
disagreement 
~ pye instep, dorsum of foot 
- rat low down (dirty rat) 
~ touni naked, nude (cf 
toutouni) 
fè gwo ~ to rebel; to offend 
fè (kèk) ~ ale ~ vini to rock back 
and forth 
gen bon ~ to be long-suffering 
gen ~ not to be evenly or properly 
placed (cinder block etc.) 
gen ~ kanna "Teflon"-like, like 
water off a duck's back 
gen gwo ~ to be resilient, be 
capable of handling anything 
kase sou ~ to be in an advanced 
state of pregnancy 
mache ~ ba to slink, cower 
mete ~ yon moun atè to throw 
s.o. down on the ground 
mete sou ~ to accuse, hold 
responsible 
nan ~ li behind one's back; in 
one's absence; without one's 
knowledge 
pa ~ backwards 
pa janm kite ~ li rive plat atè to 
never give up, never admit defeat 
palèt ~ general shoulder area 
pran ~ elefan to become angry, 
get mad 
pran ~ kay to go up on the roof; 
to run away, hide out 
ravin ~ exterior depression along 
backbone 
règ ~ backbone 
sou - at the expense of 
vire ~ to leave, depart; to give s.o. 
the cold shoulder, turn one's back 
on s.o. 
vire ~ bay to turn one's back on, 
abandon 
zo ~ backbone, spine 
do adj. golden, of gold 
dob n. stewing beef 
doba n. traditional Voodoo dance 
(same as dans jenou); adj. round-
shouldered; stooped 
dobèmann n. Doberman pinscher 
doble adj. unripe (breadfruit) 
Dobrawouj prop.n. Dobra-Rouge 
(2nd communal section of 
236 
dôd - dokimantasyon 
Lascahobas, Dept. Center) 
dod adv. of (law and) order 
Doda prop.n. Dodard (5th 
communal section of Petite-
Rivière-de-1'Artibonite, Dept. 
Artibonite) 
Dodàn prop.n. Dos-d'Âne (2nd 
communal section of Baie-de-
Henne, Dept. North-West) 
dodann n. hogback, sharp ridge (of 
mountain) 
dodennen see dodinen 
dodin n. rocking chair 
dodinay, dodinaj n. balancing, 
rocking 
dôdinè adv. [Fr.] usually 
dodinen, dodennen, dodine v. to 
rock (back and forth); to dance 
(rocking back and forth); to be 
self-confident, be sure of oneself, 
be relaxed 
dodo v. to sleep (baby talk) 
fè ~ to spin; to sleep (baby talk) 
fè ~ nan syèl to remain 
motionless in the sky (kite) 
fè ~ titit to hoodwink, deceive, 
trick 
pawôl pou fè timoun ~ cock-and-
bull story, highly improbable tale 
dodomeya n./adj. quiet, calm; n. 
bluff, mere show, sham; v. to 
doze, nod off; to lull, quiet, calm 
down; to bluff, fake; to let a kite 
flutter in the wind; adj discreet 
an ~ quietly, calmly; discreetly 
dodomeyay n. dozing, nodding off; 
calming down; bluffing, faking 
dodomeyayman adv. in bluffing 
dof n. var. of mango; see apèl ~ 
dofen, dolfen n. dolphin 
Dofen (plantasyon) prop.n. 
Dauphin sisal plantation (Phaéton, 
Dept. North-East) 
Fô ~ Fort-Dauphin, name of Fort-
Liberté (Dept. North-East) during 
French colonial period; fortress 
ruins near Fort-Liberté 
Dofinwa prop.n., Dofinwaz 
f.prop.n. inhabitant of Fort-
Liberté (Dept. North-East) 
dofis adv. automatically, as a matter 
of course 
dog n. dogma 
doge, dogwe v. to protect child 
against evil (Voodoo); n. second 
child born following twins; ritual 
term for sacrificial ram or goat 
(Voodoo) 
dogmatik adj. dogmatic 
dôj n. barley 
Doj prop.n. Dodge (automobile) 
doja: 
siwo ~ amaretto, syrupy drink 
using almond-base liquid 
dojo n. (frequent) hangout 
Dôjwon, Dôjewon (Bètran) prop.n. 
d'Ogeron de la Bouère (Bertrand) 
- governor of La Tortue 1665-
1674, "the true father of Saint-
Domingue" 
dôk n. dock; (sh. form doktè) doc 
dokase n. var. dance 
dokay n. roof (of house or building) 
dokazyon adj. used, second-hand 
doke v. to hit (s.o.) on the head 
dôkè n. docker, longshoreman 
dokès: 
chèf ~ orchestra conductor; 
master of ceremonies 
dokiman n. official document, file 
(mete) tout ~ deyô to present 
oneself all dressed up 
dokimantalis n. (press) researcher 
dokimantasyon n. documentation 
237 
dokimante - domèn 
dokimante v. to document 
dokimantè n./adj. documentary 
(film) 
dokipasyon adj. occupation (milit.) 
dokiyèfè see dokyèfè 
Doko prop.n. one of six forts built 
by Dessalines surrounding Haiti's 
first capital, Marchand (Dept. 
Artibonite) 
doksoloji n. (ecc.) doxology 
dèktè, doktè n. doctor, physician; 
blue tang (fish); know-it-all, stuck 
up person 
aprann ~ to study medicine 
~ bèt veterinarian 
~ dan dentist 
~ fanm, ~ fl woman physician; 
gynecologist, obstetrician 
~ fèy, ~ andeyo, ~ feyay, oungan 
fèy, papa fèy faith-and-herb 
healer, folk healer 
~ je eye specialist, 
ophthalmologist 
~ jeneralis general (medical) 
practitioner 
~ Leta government physician 
~ moun fou psychiatrist 
~ pakoti quack 
~ timoun pediatrician 
doktora n. doctorate 
doktoral adj. doctoral 
doktorès f.n. woman physician 
doktrin n. doctrine 
dokyèfè, dokiyèfè adj. stingy, 
miserly 
dôl n. game played using seeds from 
a sandbox tree 
dola n. dollar 
~ (ayisyen), ~ nasyonal, ~ wouj 
Haitian dollar, five gourdes 
- vèt U.S. dollar 
fèy ~ dollar bill 
dolan adj. lethargic, apathetic 
Dolan prop.n. Doland (1st 
communal section of Terre-
Neuve, Dept. Artibonite) 
dolarizasyon n. use of the US 
dollar as a country's sole official 
currency 
dolarize v. to use the US dollar as a 
country's sole official currency 
dole v. to live from hand to mouth; 
to give in very small amounts; to 
slice thinly; to whittle; to peel 
inexpertly (potato etc.) 
doleyans n. complaint, grief 
kaye dosye ~ list of complaints 
dolfen see dofen 
doliv n. (Caribbean) wild olive 
~ bata Barbados olive tree 
lwil ~ olive oil; cooking oil 
dolmann n. coat with dolman 
sleeves (wide at armhole and 
narrow at wrist) 
Dôlèstop prop.n. brand of aspirin 
dolote, dolote v. to coddle, pamper, 
spoil; to fondle 
dôm see donm 
domaj see donmaj 
domajab adj. damageable 
domaj ay see donmaj ay 
domaj e see donmaj e 
domaj enterè n. damages with 
interest (jur.) 
domaj man see donmaj man 
doman adj. immobile, steady 
(blôk) ~ angle cement block (for 
window) 
domant n. overhanging roof 
domay see donmaj 
dômè n. shady businessman; 
cheater; adj. cunning 
domen n. back or dorsum of hand 
domèn, domenn, donmèn, 
238 
Domeng - Dominik 
donmenn n. domain, area, sphere; 
specialty, field 
Domeng (Michèl) prop.n. 
Domingue (Michel) - president of 
Haiti, 1874-1876 
domennen see dominen 
domestik, donmestik, donmèstik 
n. domestic, servant; adj. 
domestic [Fr.] 
domestike v. to treat s.o. like a 
servant; to tame, domesticate 
domestisite n. [Fr.] domestic 
service, servant status 
domèz, donmèz n. chaise lounge, 
deck-chair; sly or hypocritical 
woman; tripletail (fish) 
dômi v. to sleep; to go to bed; to 
whir, hum (spinning top); to be 
left over (food); to be stagnant 
(water); n. sleep; drowsiness; adj. 
asleep; latent, passive; numb; 
leftover (food, medicine); 
stagnant (water) 
anvi ~ drowsiness, sleepiness 
bay ~ to put (s.o.) up for the night 
~ ak yon je fèmen yon je louvri 
to remain on the alert 
~ ala bèl etwal to sleep outdoors 
~ anlè to sleep on a bed 
~ ap pete je li to be unable to 
keep one's eyes open 
~ blanch to go to bed hungry 
~ chat catnap, short doze; cf. 
kabicha 
~ deyo not to come home for the 
night 
~ di to be sound asleep, sleep 
soundly; to be a heavy sleeper 
~ grangou to go to bed hungry 
~ kole ak to have a very close 
relationship with 
~ konsa to go to bed hungry 
~ leve to have a live-in job; to 
spend the night 
~ leve ak... to live a life of... 
~ nan je li to be sleepy, be drowsy 
~ pran li to fall asleep, doze off 
~ reve to think about; to dream 
about, daydream 
~ sou to deceive, cheat, take 
advantage of; to dawdle, be slack; 
to rest on (one's laurels), bask in 
(one's glory) 
~ swa to sleep peacefully; to have 
it made, be well off 
- ta to go to bed late 
~ tèt an ke to sleep in same bed in 
opposite directions 
~ tèt ba to sleep without a pillow 
~ twonpe li, - void li to doze off, 
fall asleep 
~ yon je louvri yon je fèmen to 
be vigilant/watchful/wary 
gen ~ nan je to be sleepy 
leve nan ~ to wake up 
nan ~ asleep, sleeping; indolent 
pa ~ reve to forget 
pa ka ~ insomnia 
santi ~ nan je li to be sleepy, be 
drowsy 
dômichat n. catnap, short doze 
domidi var. of crab 
dominan adj. major, dominant; 
overwhelming 
dominans n. dominance, 
domination 
dominasyon n. domination, control 
dominen, domennen, domine, 
donmennen, donminen v. to 
dominate, prevail; to preoccupy, 
distract; to look out over 
Dominik prop.n. Dominique 
Dominik, Ladominik prop.n. 
(Commonwealth of) Dominica 
TW 
dominikal - donniez 
dominikal adj. (pertaining to) 
Sunday 
lekôl ~ Sunday school 
Dominikani, Ladominikani 
prop.n. Dominican Republic 
Dominikè prop.n./adj. Dominican 
(of or pertaining to the 
Commonwealth of Dominica ) 
dominiken n. Spanish (lang.) 
Dominiken prop.n./adj., 
Dominikèn f.prop.n. Dominican 
(of the Dominican Republic) 
Dominiken ecc.n. Dominican 
dominiko- prefix Dominico-
domino n. dominos (game) 
~ asosye dominos played in teams 
or by pairs 
domisil n. [Fr.] domicile, place of 
residence; cf. lakay 
don n. big landowner (cf. grandon); 
talent, gift, aptitude; see donn 
fè ~ to make a donation 
se ras ~ k ap chache ~ money 
seeks money, the wealthy 
associate with the wealthy 
donab, donnab adj. fruitful, 
productive 
donan, donnan adj. generous 
— to give and to receive equally 
in return 
donasyon n. donation 
donatè n. donor 
donbou n. caracolillo, gaita, 
ramoncillo (tree) 
donbrèy see doumbrèy 
Dondon prop.n. Dondon (Dept. 
North) 
Dondonnè prop.n., Dondonnèz 
f prop.n. inhabitant of Dondon 
(Dept. North) 
done n. data; fact 
donè, donné n. donor, giver; ace. 
real winner; adj. honor, of honor 
donèt see donot 
donezon see donn 
dongoye see dangoye 
donk adv. then, in that case, 
therefore, so 
donm, dôm n. dome 
donmaj, domaj, domay, donmay 
n. damage, injury, loss; disability, 
handicap; birth defect, deformity; 
interj. too bad! what a shame! 
what a pity! 
~ enterè indemnity, fine 
~ ki fè donmaje! That's really a 
shame! That's really tough! 
~ nan nesans birth defect 
- nan sèvo cerebral hemorrhage; 
stroke, cerebrovascular accident 
(CVA) 
san - intact 
donmajay, domaj ay n. damaging, 
injuring; crippling, disabling 
donmaje, andomaje, andonmaje, 
domaje v. to damage, injure, 
harm; to cripple, handicap, 
disable; adj. disabled, injured; 
defective 
bebe - deformed or handicapped 
infant 
moun ~ lame person, cripple, 
disabled person; cf. kokobe 
donmajman, domajman n. 
disability, handicap, deformity; 
physical injury; damage 
donmay see donmaj 
donmbèl n. dumbbell 
donmbèy see doumbrèy 
donmèn, donmenn see domèn 
donmennen see dominen 
donmestik, donmèstik see 
domestik 
donmèz see dômèz 
240 
donminen - doub 
donminen see dominen 
donn, don, donezon, donnezon n. 
yield, produce, harvest; see longé 
donnab see donab 
donnan see donan 
donne n. datum (pi. data); computer 
input 
donné see donè 
donnen v. to produce, yield, bear 
(crops, fruit); to be gone for a 
long time; to stay too long; to 
waste time, dillydally; to have a 
malignant growth; to have a 
pimple; to form a scar; adj. 
ingrained, deep-seated, endemic 
~ sou to overcome; to be chronic 
or long-lasting 
donnèt see donôt 
donnezon see donn 
donôt, donèt, donnèt n. [Eng.] 
doughnut 
dontay, dontaj, dontman n. 
taming, subduing; mastering, 
overcoming 
donte v. to tame, subdue; to master, 
overcome; n. taming, subduing 
dontè n. horse trainer 
dontman see dontay 
donzèl n. young lady; loose or 
immoral woman 
dopye n. instep, dorsum of foot 
dorad n. dolphin (fish); loose 
woman 
doranj adj. orange 
dore v. to brown (cooking); to frost 
(cake); to adorn; adj. golden, 
gilded; golden brown 
dorenavan adv. [Fr.] henceforth 
Doriprop.n. Dory (10th communal 
section of Cayes, Dept. South) 
dorijin adv. of origin, by birth 
dorilas adj. peerless 
dosa (marasa) f.n. girl born 
following twins 
~ anvan, - devan girl born before 
twins 
dosil adj. docile, gentle, well-
behaved, manageable 
rann ~ to tame 
dosilite n. docileness, docility 
dosilize v. to tame, calm down 
dosopl.n. back muscles 
dosou (marasa) m.n. boy born 
following twins; var. of mango 
~ anvan, ~ devan boy born 
before twins 
dostôp n. [Eng.] doorstop 
dosye n. back (of chair etc.); 
records, dossier, file; computer 
file folder; case (jur.); brief, 
record (jur.); medical record; 
hospital chart 
~ klase settled question 
dot pron./adj. other(s); n. dowry 
pase anyen ~ than anything else 
tan ~ so many others 
dotan adv. so much that, the more; 
the more...the more 
~ pli(s) all the more; moreover 
dotasyon n. grant, endowment 
dote v. [Fr.] to grant, endow 
dotouni adj. naked, nude (cf. 
toutouni) 
dotri: 
byen ~ other people's possessions 
dôtwa n. dormitory; barracks (cf. 
kazèn) 
dotyen, ladotyen pron./adj. some; 
most 
dou adj. docile, nice, gentle, mild, 
tender, quiet, tame, peaceful; 
domestic; tasty, appetizing [N.] 
santi ~ to smell fishy (lit.) 
doub n. news, story; gossip, tidbit; 
241 
doubat - doulè 
deceit, fraud, swindle; patch (on 
clothes); duplicate, second copy, 
backup; adj. double 
~ (diferansyèl) four-wheel drive 
vehicle (4x4) 
~ sis see doubsis 
wè ~ to have double vision 
doubat see debat 
double v. to double; to repeat; to 
stand for reelection, serve another 
term of office; to repeat (a class or 
level of instruction in school); to 
pass (s.o. in driving); to have a 
second serving (of food); to line 
(garment); to pass, get ahead of; 
n. four-wheel drive vehicle 
~ ~ to intermingle thread; to 
confuse, complicate 
kase ~ to do again, repeat 
doublé n. repeater (in school) 
Doublen prop.n. Dublin (Ireland) 
doubleve (letter) w 
doubli n. lining; understudy 
(theater); stand-in (cinema); 
gouvènman politik ~ 
government by proxy (usu. 
manipulation of Black regime by 
Mulatto advisors) 
doublon n. gold coin, doubloon 
doubout, debou, debout, dibout 
adj. standing, upright; to be in 
good shape financially; fresh, 
alert; forward, brazen, rash; 
impatient, restless, excitable; adv. 
upright, straight 
mete (li) ~ to arise, stand 
doubsis n. two sixes (when rolling 
dice); trouble, problem; male 
homosexual, gay; lesbian 
doubwèy see doumbrèy 
douch n. shower (bath); shower 
head; (vaginal) douche; waterfall 
pwa - , tèt - shower head 
doudou v. to crush, kill 
doudous, doudou n. sweetie, 
darling; sweets, candy; var. of 
mango; adv. slowly; cf. 
ladoudous 
fè - to caress 
douk n. bump; hump; adj. bumpy 
- bumpy 
~ sou - blow upon blow 
fè - to be swollen 
koupe - , mare - to agree on; 
children's game involving the 
little finger perched on the ring 
finger 
douke n. enamel paint (for metal); v. 
to paint (a metal surface) 
doukendouk adv. piece by piece; 
completely, totally 
doukla: 
chemen - bumpy road; see dan ~ 
douko n. enamel paint (for metal), 
car paint; v. to apply paint on 
metal surface 
- figi to paint one's face, pile on 
the make-up 
voye ~ sou to paint (metal surface) 
doukomann n. car painter 
doukouklou adj. tight 
poud - magic powder which 
makes one docile or obedient 
rete - to stay quiet, shut up 
doukounou n. sweet cornmeal 
pudding; thick cassava bread; old 
person 
doulè, ladoulè n. pain, ache; 
sorrow, grief; labor contractions; 
rheumatism; Indian mulberry 
(shrub or small tree) 
- ansoudin dull pain 
- ki ap bat throbbing pain 
- ki ap lanse/pike stabbing pain 
242 
doulere - dôz 
doulere, douloure adj. painful, 
grievous, distressing 
Doulmye prop.n. Doulmier (12th 
communal section of Cayes, Dept. 
South) 
doum, dwonm, dwoum n. 
(oil-)drum, barrel; (household) 
water tank; top (toy); large 
amount of 
lapli a tonbe a gwo - it's raining 
cats and dogs 
doumbrèy, boy, bwèy, donbrèy, 
donmbôy, doubwèy, doumboy, 
doumbwèy, dounmbwèy, 
doumplim, dounplim n. 
dumpling 
mete - nan pwa li to beef up, 
strengthen 
Doumbrèy Cho traditional 
children's song 
doumping n. dumping (of goods at 
low price in a foreign country) 
doundoun n. smallest of the three 
Rada drums (Voodoo) - same as 
boula 
dounplim see doumbrèy 
doup onomat. sound of pounding 
doupendoup adj. illusory, 
deceptive, falsifying 
douryèt adj. lazy, shiftless, 
dawdling 
dous n. sweetening, sweetener, 
sugar; sweets; candy bar; fudge; 
love-making, petting; adj. sweet, 
sugary; sweet, pleasant, agreeable; 
melodious; effortless, easy, gentle, 
mild; smooth; adv. gently; v. to 
sweeten; see ladous 
an - on the quiet, underhandedly, 
secretly 
bagay - sweets, candy 
- anmè bittersweet 
- kôkôy, - ji kôk coconut candy 
- makos flat fudge-like candy of 
Petit-Goâve 
~ pou - reciprocally; sex for sex 
sake; love and sex combined 
fè - to sweeten 
manke - to be not sweet enough 
dousè see ladousè 
an ~ gently, smoothly, quietly 
dousi see adousi 
dousman adj. calm, peaceful, quiet; 
adv. slowly; quietly, softly; 
calmly, gently 
ale - ko! take it easy! watch 
out! 
dout n. doubt, qualms; see out 
doutans n. doubt, uncertainty; fear 
doute v. to doubt, mistrust, be wary 
of 
doutifri adj./adv. [Eng.] duty-free 
douvan see devan 
douvanjou see devanjou 
douvèti adj. open, transparent, 
above board; opening, initial 
douy n. cartridge-shell; socket drive 
douyèt adj. soft, delicate; indolent, 
flabby 
douz num. twelve; n. queen (card 
game) 
- edmi early 1900's public dance 
session (named for 12 1/2 centime 
admission price) 
douzan n. twelve years 
douzèn, douzenn n. dozen 
douzyèm adj. twelfth 
- depatman cemetery 
do won n. coffin, casket; cf. sèkèy 
Dowote f.prop.n. Dorothy 
doye v. to think, reflect; to mark 
(playing-)cards illegally 
dôz n. dose, dosage; mixture, blend; 
knowledge 
243 
dozado - drese 
~ rapèl booster shot 
dozado adv. back to back; in 
opposition (to, with) 
dozafe n. pubic area or region 
doze v. to measure out (in small 
doses) 
dra n. (bed) sheet; bedding 
anba ~ secretly; to be in bed sick 
fè ~ to serve as a scapegoat 
nan ki - li ye in what a (bad) 
situation he/she is 
rale ~ discord; dispute, argument 
sévi ~ pou to serve as a cover or 
front for (neg.) 
drage v. to try and pick up women; 
see djage 
dragon n. dragon; dragoon (armed 
trooper) 
dragonnen v. to grab hold of 
(weapon); to brandish, wave or 
flourish menacingly (weapon) 
~ ponyèt to get set (for a fight) 
draje n. dragée (candy) 
drak n. drachma (small Greek 
monetary unit) [Bible] 
Drakila prop.n. Dracula 
dram n. drama 
dramamin n. dramamine 
dramatij n. dramatist, playwright 
dramatik adj. dramatic 
a ~ dramatic art 
dramatizasyon n. dramatization 
dramatize v. to dramatize; to fill 
with emotion 
drandran n. var. of tiny parasite 
fè ~ to make cow-eyes at, look 
lovingly at 
je ~ conjunctivitis, pink-eye 
drape (tou) v. to take possession of, 
seize, grasp 
drapo n. flag; Voodoo ceremonial 
banner 
anba ~ mwen at (my) home 
- ble e wouj official flag of Haiti 
(since 1986) 
~ etwale star-spangled banner 
~ nwa e wouj official flag of 
Haiti during the Duvalier regime 
~ pentad flag symbolic of the 
Duvalier regime 
kenbe bwa ~ to hold one's head 
up, persevere in spite of adversity 
kô ~ flag corps, flag-bearers 
(Voodoo esp.) 
leve ~ to indicate a penalty 
(soccer) 
pa ~ not to fluctuate, not go up 
and then later go down (prices) 
drapri n. drapes, curtains 
dray(klinin) n. dry cleaning; dry 
cleaning establishment 
dray vin n. [Eng.] drive-in movie 
theater 
drèd(lôks), drèd(laks), dyèd(laks), 
dyèd(lôks) (principally 
Jamaican) n. dreadlock; person 
with dreadlocks 
Other var. of dreadlocks: louten, 
sanba, simbi, rasta, zin 
drèn n. drain, gutter; drainage pipe 
drenaj, drenay, drennaj draining, 
drainage; dredging, deepening 
drene, drennen v. to drain (off) 
dreno n. drain cleaner 
dresaj, dresay n. training, 
disciplining 
drese v. to draw up, make out, 
formulate; to set up, establish, 
erect; to distribute, serve (food); 
to straighten, unbend; to 
straighten up (one's body); to 
square off (boards); to discipline; 
to train (horse, dog) 
~ kabann to make the bed 
244 
drèsman - dwann 
- ko to sit up straight 
- tèt to hold up one's head 
fè yon - to straighten up (one's) 
body, stand/sit erect 
drèsman n. setting up, establishing 
dreswa n. dresser (furniture) 
drèt, dwat adj. straight; upright, 
erect, standing; straightforward, 
upright; sane; adv. straight 
- dirèk sou straight ahead at, 
directly at 
tèt - , - nan tèt sane; proud 
dri adv. often, frequently; 
repeatedly; rapidly; (too) closely 
spaced; profusely 
pale - to speak extremely rapidly 
drib n. dribble (basketball; soccer); 
dodge, fake (sports) 
drible v. to dribble (basketball; 
soccer); to dodge, fake (sports) 
driblè n. dribbler (basketball; 
soccer); dodger, faker (sports) 
dril n. mechanical drill; drill (strong 
cotton fabric) 
- inyon var. of fine cotton fabric 
dring onomat. sound of alarm clock 
or telephone ringing 
DRIP acron. DRIPP 
(Développement régional intégré 
de Petit-Goâve et de Petit-Trou-
de-Nippes) - Canadian aid 
program begun in 1974 
driv n. stuff, things, possessions; 
see aladriv 
bèl - from afar; a long time ago; 
for quite some time 
drivay, drivaj n. hanging around, 
wandering around 
drivaye v. to drift around, wander 
aimlessly 
drivayè n., drivayèz f.n. drifter, 
loafer 
drive v. to drift about, hang around, 
wander aimlessly; to insult; to 
abuse, exploit; to wear daily 
(clothing); to be lying around 
(object); see rad drive 
- po to go around without 
(wearing) a shirt 
drivé n. drifter, loafer 
driy n. (carpenter's) drill 
Dtè. abbrev. dôktè (<7.v.) 
dwa n. law (subject); law school; 
right, authority; legal rights; tax, 
fee, duty; finger (unit of measure) 
ang - right angle 
bay - to authorize, entitle 
de - by rights, rightfully 
de - gaye two fingers spread (for 
measuring serving of rum etc.) 
- de rega oversight, right to 
examine or inspect 
- granmoun, - grandèt (majè) 
sovereignty, independence 
- komen common law, civil law 
- koutimye customary/statute law 
- moun, - zimen human rights 
- sedantè squatter's rights 
(traditionally 20 years of 
uninterrupted occupancy) 
- zimen human rights 
gen - may, might, can; to be able; 
it's possible that; likely to, liable 
to; maybe, perhaps 
gen - gen moun la there may be 
people there 
dwadantre n. admission fee, 
entrance fee 
dwadlôm, dwadelôm n. human 
rights 
Dwal (letan) prop.n. Douai Pond 
(Dept. South) 
dwann, dwàn n. customs, duty, tax, 
tariff 
7A5 
dwannye - dwèt 
dwannye, dwànye n. customs 
official; adj. customs 
dwany, don n. big landowner; 
authority figure 
dwanye see dwannye 
dwat adj. right (opposite of left); 
straight; righteous, upright; erect; 
adv. straightaway; see dwèt 
- devan straight ahead 
- dirèk straight ahead; squarely, 
directly 
~ e gèch awkward; deceptive 
fil - woven 
mete - to straighten 
pa ~ crooked, dishonest 
tèt li ~ he's got his head screwed 
on right 
tou ~ straight ahead 
youn se - la lôt se gôch la 
inseparable friends 
dwate n. tact, skill, judgment; 
player who kicks ball with right 
foot (soccer); v. to touch with 
finger; adj. right-handed 
dwategôch adj. on the wrong hand 
(gloves), on the wrong foot 
(shoes); ill-timed, uncalled for, 
inappropriate; topsy-turvy 
dwatèt v. should be, ought to (be 
able to) 
dwati see ladwati 
an ~ better, more easily passable 
(road) 
dwatis n./adj. right-winger 
dwatye adj. right-handed 
dwayen n. dean; chief justice; 
doyen, most senior person 
dwayèn f.n. doyenne, most senior 
woman 
dwayene n. deanery (rel. district) 
dwazimen pl.n. human rights 
dwe v. to owe; must, have to; may 
be; adj. gifted 
- pase li gen cheve nan tèt li to 
have creditors coming out of 
one's ears 
pa ~ to have no right to 
ta - should, ought to 
dwedou n. promissory note 
dwèl, dyèl n. duel; fight; stave (for 
making barrels etc.) 
dwèt, dwat n. finger 
bay - to feel, touch; to force 
(s.thg.) to work; to use the finger 
for sex 
bout - stub (of finger) 
dis - thief 
dis ~ rele li pa li, gen (tout) dis ~ 
(li) to be a great worker; to be 
resourceful 
divizyon pa - informal 
subdividing of land among heirs 
for temporary use 
- anlè, - annilè, - bag ring finger 
~ gwopous loner, self-reliant 
person 
- jida, ~ jouda, - bouwo index 
finger, forefinger 
- jimo extra finger or toe 
- lemajè middle finger 
- makoubi misshapen shrimp 
(person) 
- long sticky fingers, thieving 
tendencies 
- long siperyè master thief 
- majè middle finger 
- marasa extra finger or toe 
- mitan middle finger 
- orikilè little finger, pinky 
- pous thumb 
- pye toe 
fanm dis - talented housekeeper 
fant - space between fingers or 
toes 
246 
dwèt - dyab 
fè yon ~ to signal with one's 
finger (not vulg.) 
gen dis ~ to be a good hard 
worker 
gen ~ fasil (sou gachèt) to have 
an itchy trigger-finger 
gen ~ long to be greedy/ thieving/ 
rapacious 
gwo ~ thumb 
jwenti - knuckle 
konnen dis ~ li to be a great 
worker; to be resourceful 
konnen sou bout ~ to know cold, 
know thoroughly 
kote ~ mwen fè zen an where I 
am pointing; what I am thinking 
about 
koupe ~ finger-licking good, 
tasty, delicious 
kout ~ (secret) denunciation, 
squealing, ratting 
long kou yon ~ barely, almost 
lonje ~ accusation(s), 
recrimination(s) 
lonje ~ sou to point at; to 
pinpoint; to accuse 
mode ~ (same as koupe ~) 
montre senk ~ to give very full 
manual sexual pleasure (to a 
woman) 
niche ~ finger-licking good, tasty, 
delicious 
pase ~ anba to transgress, breach, 
violate 
pran ~ to use the finger for sex 
(woman) 
pran mezi/longè ~ to fingerprint 
pwent tèt ~ fingertip 
ti ~ little finger, pinky 
dwete v. to touch (with the finger) 
dwôg n./adj. (illegal) drug; n. magic 
charm or potion (Voodoo) 
anba/nan ~ on (illegal) drugs 
~ di hard (illegal) drug 
~ dous (legal) drug, medication 
dwoge, dwôge v. to protect through 
magic power; to immunize a 
child's blood against lougawou 
(q.v.); to drug; to do drugs, be 
under the influence of illicit 
drugs, be high; n. drug addict 
dwogè n. drug-dealer 
dwogidwogan adj. unbalanced; out 
of proportion 
vant ~ big belly 
dwogmann n. drug dealer 
dwôl adj. funny; strange, odd, 
peculiar, suspicious, weird; 
forward, fresh; pregnant 
dwonm, dwoum see doum 
dwouy n. (gun) cartridge 
Dwouya prop.n. Drouillard (Dept. 
West, immediately north of PaP); 
area of Site Solèy, q.v. 
Dwouyè (fo) prop.n. Fort Drouet 
(near l'Arcahaie, Dept. West) 
dyab, djab, grandjab, grandyab, 
gyab, lagrandyab, ledjab, 
ledyab n. devil 
ak yon ~ sou h inflamed, aroused 
an ~ in great shape; irritated 
bay ~ veye pitit to leave a fox to 
guard the henhouse 
depi ~ te (gen grad) kaporal 
since long long ago, from time 
immemorial (comic reply: 
Kounyeya li sèjan) 
- an dèy fright, horror, very ugly 
person 
- ap bat/goumen ak/kale 
madanm li (pou graten pitimi) 
rain is falling while the sun is 
shining 
~ fanm tall, robust woman 
247 
dyab - Dyazinôn 
- kann field overseer (obs.) 
- mele ak bon mas all kinds of 
people 
- pa pran li pou kaporal nobody 
really cares, nobody really pays 
any attention 
~ san li pa aprann (to have 
become s.thg.) without having 
ever studied (pej.) 
gen - avè 1 to do a devil of a job, 
do a hell of a good job 
po poor guy! poor devil! poor 
thing! 
dyabèt see djabèt 
dyabetik see djabetik 
dyablès see ladjablès 
dyabolik see djabolik 
dyabolizans see djabolizans 
dyabolize see djabolize 
dyadèm n. diadem 
dyafram, dyafrag «.diaphragm 
dyage see djage 
dyagnostik see djagnostik 
dyagnostike see djagnostike 
dyagonal, dyagonnal see dj agonal 
dyagram n. diagram 
dyak see djak 
dyaka see djaka 
dyakdyak see tchaktchak 
dyake see djake 
dyakonèz, dyakonnès see 
djakonnès 
dyak(oukout) see djak(oukout) 
dyakout see djakout 
dyakritik adj. diacritical 
dyal, djal n. good-looking chick or 
gal, (a) real babe 
dyalèk n. dialect 
dyalèktal adj. dialectal 
dyalektik n. [Fr.] dialectic, 
discussion, debate, search for 
truth; adj. dialectical, logical, 
rational 
dyaliz n. dialysis 
dyalôg, diyalôg n. dialogue 
dyaloge, djaloge (ak) v. to converse 
(with) 
dyaman, diyaman, djaman, 
djanman, dyanman, gyanman 
n. diamond 
an ~ priceless 
Dyaman (Fo) prop.n. Fort Diamant 
(northernmost of the three forts 
overlooking Saint-Marc, Dept. 
Artibonite) 
dyamantè n. diamond dealer; 
person of great value 
dyamèt n. diameter 
dyàn see dyann 
dyandyan see djandjan 
dyangan see djandjan 
dyanm see djanm 
dyanman see dyaman 
dyann, dyàn n. wail, cry (of baby) 
dyanni see djanni 
dyanostike see djagnostike 
dyapazon see djapazon 
dyapôt see djapot 
dyare see djare 
dyaspora, diyaspora, n. diaspora; 
same as dyas 
dyas(poreyen) n. Haitian returned 
after having lived abroad; Haitian 
living abroad 
- popo same as above, but fam. 
or pej. 
dyaye, dyayi see djayi 
dyaz see djaz 
dyaze see djaze 
dyazepam n. diazepam (anti-
anxiety drug) 
Dyazinôn, Djazinôn prop.n. 
Diazinon (strong commercial 
insecticide) 
248 
dyazmann - dzozou 
dyazmann see djazmann 
dye n. god, deity, spirit 
Dye see Bondye 
- benis Bless you! (when s.o. 
sneezes) 
- ki fè God-given, heavenly-made 
si - vie, si - ve God willing; often 
used as future tense indicator 
dyèd see drèd 
dyedinèt n. var. of plantain 
dyegi see degi 
dyèl see dwèl 
Dyelpè prop.n. God the Father 
dyenn see djenn 
dyèp see gèp 
dyesèlmevwa, djesèlmevwa n. 
masturbation 
Dyesire prop.n. Dies Irae (funereal 
chant) 
dyèt n. diet; see djèt 
dyetetik n. dietetics; adj. dietetic 
dyetetisyen n. dietician 
dyevo see djevo 
dyèz see djèz 
dyezèl, dizèl n. diesel fuel; adj. 
diesel 
dyip see djip 
dyo see dlo 
Dyo see Djo 
dyo see djo 
dyôb see djôb 
dyobe see djobe 
dyobè see djôbè 
dyôbis see djôbis 
Dyojèn prop.n. Diogenes (ancient 
Greek philosopher) 
dyôk see djôk 
dyoke see djoke 
dyôl see djôl 
dyola see djola 
dyole see djole 
dyôlè see djôlè 
dyololo see dlololo 
dyôlpagou see djolpagou 
dyondyon see djondjon 
Dyondyon prop.n. Diondion (7th 
communal section of Jean-Rabel, 
Dept. North-West) 
dyondyonnen see djondjonnen 
dyonn long n. var. of mango 
dyosèz, djosèz n. diocese 
dyosezen, djosezen adj. diocesan 
dyosezyen, djosezyen n. member of 
a diocese 
dyouba see djouba 
dyougan see djougan 
dyoula see djola 
dzigèt see digèt 
dzozou n. weewee (penis) 
249 
e -echeyans 
E 
e conj. and; interj. hey! 
both... and 
uh-uh! (neg.); wow! 
1 - {pronounced: pre-mye) first 
è n. hour, o'clock; (letter) r 
an dènyè ~ at/according to the 
latest report 
demi ~ half an hour 
ebdomadè adj. [Fr.] weekly; cf. 
chak senmenn 
ebèje v. [Fr.] to lodge, put up 
ebèjman n. lodging 
eben see enben 
ebèn n./adj., debèn adj. ebony 
Ebenezè, Ebennezè prop.n. [Bible] 
Ebenezer 
ebenis, bénis, bôs ebenis, ebennis, 
ibenis n. furniture maker, 
cabinetmaker, woodworker; 
coffin-maker; carpentry; 
cabinetmaking; cabinetmaker's 
shop 
ebenistri n. cabinetmaking; 
carpentry, woodworking; coffin-
making 
ebete, enbete adj. stupefied, 
bewildered; stupid, idiotic, dumb; 
senile; n. mentally retarded; v. to 
scare, terrorize 
ebilisyon n. boiling; turmoil, 
ferment 
volkan an ~ erupting volcano 
èbisid n. herbicide, weed killer 
èbivô n. herbivore; adj. herbivorous 
eblouyi v. [Fr.] to dazzle, impress 
eboulman (tè), eboulonnman (tè) 
n. landslide 
ebranle v. [Fr.] to shake, rattle; to 
shake, shock, surprise; to rock 
(building etc.) 
ebrayik prop. adj. [Bible] Hebraic; 
Hebrew 
ebre prop, n./adj. Hebrew 
Ebreprop.n. [Bible] Hebrews 
Ebwonprop.n. [Bible] Hebron 
ebyen see enben 
Ebyoso, Ebyosou prop.n. Voodoo 
spirit of thunder (specially 
honored at Souvnans, q.v.) 
echafo, chafo n. scaffolding; 
scaffold; sawhorse; gallows 
echafoday see chafoday 
echalot, chalôt, chechalôt, 
jechalôt, sechalot, zechalôt n. 
shallot, scallion 
echanj see echany 
echanje v. to trade, exchange, swap 
echantiyon, chantiyon n. sample, 
specimen 
echantiyonnaj n. sampling 
echany, echanj n. exchange, trade, 
swap 
~ an wonn reciprocal work group; 
cf. eskwad, sori, wonn 
echap n. mantilla, fancy scarf; arm 
sling 
an ~ uneasy, anxious 
~ prezidansyèl presidential sash 
echapad n. indiscreet utterance; 
departure from formal system 
echapman n. exhaust (automobile); 
emissions (factory) 
echas n. stilt(s); black-necked stilt 
(bird) 
echèk n. failure; chess 
echèl, lechèl n. scale; ladder (cf. 
nechèl); gauge, (graded) scale 
echeyans n. date of payment; 
251 
echi - efèktif 
mortgage; expiration date 
echi v. to fall due, come due 
echikye n. chessboard, checkerboard 
echofoure n. [Fr.] brawl, clash; 
skirmish 
echwe see chwe 
èd n. aid, help, assistance; aide, 
helper, assistant 
- dôktè paramedic 
- memwa reminder 
- polis, - seksyon rural deputy 
sheriff, assistant to a chèf seksyon 
- tan see èdtan 
ede, ende, ide, jide, rede, ride, 
wede v. to help, assist, aid 
èdekan n. aide-de-camp 
edèm n. edema 
Edenbou prop.n. Edinburgh 
(Scotland) 
Edenn prop.n. Eden 
EDH acron. (pronounced: e-de-ach ) 
Elektrisite Dayiti (Electricité 
d'Etat d'Haïti) electric power 
company of Haiti 
Edi prop.n. Eddy, nickname for 
Edwa 
edidye see etidye 
edifikasyon n. edification, 
enlightenment 
edifis n. edifice, structure 
edifye v. edify, instruct, enlighten 
(rei) 
edikasyon, ledikasyon n. 
upbringing, training; education, 
instruction; politeness, good 
manners 
Ministè Edikasyon Nasyonal -
National Ministry of Education 
edikasyonèi adj. educational 
edikatè n. educator 
edikatif adj. educational 
edikatris f.n. educator 
edike v. to bring up; to educate, 
teach; to be(come) educated; adj 
well-bred, educated 
edikte v. to edict, decree 
Edip prop.n. Oedipus 
edisyon n. edition, publication 
fè yon ~ to publish 
edite v. to publish; to edit 
édité n. publisher 
editoryal n. editorial 
editoryalis n. editorialist 
èdkan n. aide-de-camp, military aide 
Edlen prop.n. Edelin (2nd 
communal section of Les Anglais, 
Dept. South) 
edmi n. and a half; thirty (minutes), 
half past (the hour); see lènmi 
èdmi see lènmi 
Ednè prop.n. Edner 
Edon prop.n. [Bible] Edom 
èdtan n. hour(s), (length) of time 
Edwa prop.n. Edward 
èf letter f 
efas, efaswa n. (pencil) eraser 
~ tablo blackboard or chalkboard 
eraser 
pase ~ to erase, do away with 
efase, fase v. to erase, delete; to 
cross out, scratch out; to get lost, 
scram; adj. self-effacing, retiring, 
unassuming 
efaswa n. eraser; cf. gonm 
efawouche v. [Fr.] to frighten, scare 
off 
efè n. belongings; effect, impression; 
spin (soccer) 
an ~ in fact, indeed 
fè move ~ to make a bad 
impression 
efèktif, efektif n. enrollment; 
attendance; strength, complement, 
(total) number; adj. effective; real, 
252 
efektivman - egareman 
actual 
efektivman adv. in effect, 
effectively; actually, in fact 
efektye v. [Fr.] to carry out, perform, 
execute 
Efêl (latou) prop.n. Eiffel Tower 
(Paris) 
efemè adj. [Fr.] ephemeral 
efemerid n. daily/block calendar, 
tear-off calendar 
Efèz prop.n. [Bible] Ephesus 
Efezyen prop.n. [Bible] Ephesians 
efikas adj. [Fr.] effective, efficient 
efikasite n. [Fr.] effectiveness, 
efficiency 
efikasman adv. [Fr.] effectively, 
efficiently 
èfiltè n. air filter 
efisyan adj. [Eng.] effective, 
efficient 
efo adj. damaged, spoiled, rotting 
efô n. effort, attempt; see jefô 
èf-of onomat. ribet (sound of frog or 
toad) 
èfôlè, jèfolè, zèfolè n. custard 
efondre, anfondre v. to collapse, 
cave in 
efonnman, efondreman n. 
collapsing, caving in 
èfôs n. [Eng.] air force 
wayal ~ peanut butter etc. 
sandwich on cassava bread 
efranjit n. swollen feet (and legs), 
edema (of lower extremities) 
Efratprop.n. Euphrates 
efrayik, enfrayik, frayik adj. 
fantastic, extraordinary; quick-
tempered, irascible 
Efrayimprop.n. [Bible] Ephraim 
efreyan adj. scary, frightening; 
hideous 
efreye v. to frighten, scare; adj. 
frightened, scared, afraid 
efware adj. with a hole, with holes; 
split, broken 
efwonte adj. [Fr.] insolent, 
impudent, impertinent; cf. fwonte 
èg, lèg n. eagle 
ti ~ eaglet 
ega n. respect, consideration 
an ~ with respect to, concerning 
égal adj. equal, identical, alike; 
congruent (geometry); normal, 
well-formed, well-rounded; well-
balanced, sane; even, flat, level; 
adv. thus; identically, in the same 
proportions; conj. in short, that is 
to say, which means..., in the 
end...; v. to equal, be equal to, be 
equivalent to 
egale v. to compare 
egalego adj. equal; egalitarian; adv. 
evenly, equally, fifty-fifty 
égalité n. equality; congruence 
egalizasyon n. equalization, 
levelling; tying (sports) 
egalize, galize v. to even up, even 
off; to equalize; to flatten, smooth, 
level (off); to equalize; to even the 
score, be tied (sports) 
egalman adv. equally; interj. the 
same to you! 
egaman n. aberration, blindness 
egare n. fool, dummy, imbecile, 
idiot; adj. naive, foolish, simple-
minded; dumb, stupid; 
dumbfounded, astounded; 
intimidated; confused, disoriented, 
bewildered; v. to go astray, get 
lost; to lead astray, sway, 
influence; to deceive, cheat 
~ dondon stunned 
~ pou to go crazy over 
egareman n. foolishness; daze, 
253 
egeye - egzekite 
deviation (from virtue etc.) 
egeye v. to cheer up, liven up, 
brighten up 
egi adj. acute; see zegwi 
egiy see zegwi 
egiyè n. lamp-lighter (obs.) 
èglefen n. haddock (fish) 
ego see egalego 
egoa, ego, rego, regou n. (covered) 
sewer, drain 
ton ~ sewer, sewer hole, mouth of 
sewer; drainage; cesspool 
egoyin see goyin 
egoyis n. egotism; self-interest, 
selfishness; egotist; selfish person; 
adj. egotistical; selfish, self-
centered 
egratiyi n. [Fr.] scratch, scrape 
egrè see zègrè 
egri adj. embittered 
egsite see eksite 
egwi var. of small beam; see zegwi 
egwiy see zegwi 
egz~, ekz. abbrev. egzanp (example) 
p, - for example 
egzag&B, ekzagôn n. hexagon 
egzajerasyozi, ekzajerasyon n. 
exaggeration 
egzajere, ekzajere v. to exaggerate 
egzajereman, ekzajereman adv. 
excessively, exaggeratedly 
egzak see egzat 
egzaksyon, egzasyon, ekzaksyon, 
ekzasyon n. exaction, demand, 
oppression 
egzakteman, egzateman, 
ekzakteman, ekzateman adv. 
exactly, precisely; interj. right, you 
bet 
egzaktitid, ekzaktitid n. precision, 
accuracy 
egzale v. to exhale; cf. lage souf 
egzalte, ekzalte v. to exalt, glorify, 
praise 
egzama see egzema 
egzamen, ekzamen n. 
exam(ination), test, quiz; inquiry 
egzaminasyon, ekzaminasyon n. 
analysis; worries 
egzaminen, egzamine, egzanmine, 
ekzamine, ekzaminen, 
ekzanminen v. to examine, view; 
to consider, reflect, think about; to 
ponder, brood; to explore 
egzan, ekzan adj. exempt(ed), 
spared 
egzanmine see egzaminen 
egzanp, ekzanp, legzanp, lekzanp 
n. example, model, pattern, 
illustration; precedent 
pa ~ for example, for instance 
egzanplè, ekzanplè adj. exemplary; 
n. [Fr.] copy (of book etc.; cf. 
grenn) 
egzansyon n. exemption 
egzante, ekzante v. to exempt; to 
avoid, keep away from, keep out 
of; to protect (from danger); to 
abstain from 
egzat, egzak, ekzat adj. lively, 
spirited, alert; exact, accurate, 
precise, sharp; attentive, watchful; 
adv. on time 
egzateman see egzakteman 
Egzavye prop.n. Xavier 
egzekisyon, ekzekisyon n. 
fulfillment, execution, carrying 
out; execution, killing 
egzekitan n. performer, player; 
executioner 
egzekite, ekzekite v. to execute, 
carry out (orders; project); to 
execute, kill 
~ yon preskripsyon to fill a 
254 
egzekitif - ekay 
prescription 
egzekitif, ekzekitif adj. executive; 
n. executive branch (of 
government) 
egzema, egzama, ekzema n. 
eczema, rash; athlete's foot; 
jockitch 
egzèse, ekzèse v. to exercise 
(power); to exercise, put into 
practice; to drill (soldiers); to 
train; to rehearse; to practice 
(musical instrument) 
egzèsis, ekzèsis n. exercise, drill; 
practice session; training, work-
out 
fè ~ to exercise, drill (soldiers); to 
train, work-out 
- 1999 the 1999 fiscal year 
egzeyat, ekzeyat n. medical 
discharge or release, permission to 
leave hospital 
egzeyate, ekzeyate v. to release or to 
be released from hospital; to give 
leave (milit.) 
egzibe v. to exhibit, display 
egzibisyon, ekzibisyon n. 
exhibition, exhibit, display 
egzijan, ekzijan adj. demanding, 
exacting, hard to please; delicate, 
needing much care or attention 
egzijans, ekzijan s n. demand, 
requirement 
fè ~ to be demanding, make 
demands on 
egzije, ekzije v. to demand, require, 
exact, insist on 
egzijib adj. important; required, 
necessary; indispensable 
egzijibleman, ekzijibman adv. duly, 
properly, justly 
egzil, ekzil, legzil, lekzil n. exile 
pran ale an - to go into exile 
egzile, ekzile n. exile (person); v. to 
exile; to retreat, hide 
egzis see egziste 
egzistans, ekzistans, legzistans n. 
existence 
egzistansyèl, ekzistansyèl adj. 
existential 
egziste, egzis, ekziste v. to exist 
egzobitan, ekzobitan adj. [Fr.] 
exorbitant, outrageous 
egzôd, ekzod n. exodus, flight 
Egzôd prop.n. [Bible] Exodus 
egzose, ekzose v. to fulfill, grant 
egzôsize, ekzôsize v. to exorcise 
egzôtasyon, ekzotasyon n. 
exhortation 
egzôte, ekzote v. to exhort; to 
reprove 
egzotik adj. exotic 
ejakilasyon n. ejaculation; cf. voye 
~ anvan lè premature ejaculation 
ejakile, èjakile v. to ejaculate; cf. 
voye 
Eje (lanmè) prop.n. Aegean Sea 
Ejèn prop.n. Eugene 
Ejip, Lejipprop.n. Egypt 
Ejipsyen prop.n./adj., Ejipsyèn 
f.prop.n. Egyptian 
eka n. quarter past (the hour); a 
fourth (of any unit of measure); 
space, distance; disparity, gap 
ekaliptis, kaliptis n. eucalyptus 
ekari v. to square off (woodworking 
etc.); see kari 
Ekaristi see Lekaristi 
ekaristik adj. Eucharistie 
ekate v. to move apart, move aside, 
separate; to exclude, push aside; to 
open, spread 
ekatè n. dental probe 
ekay, zekay, zèkay n. scale (of fish 
etc.); flake; chip (of marble); 
255 
ekaye - eklèsisman 
splint (of wood); oyster-shell 
ekaye v. to scale (fish) 
eke conj. and (that) 
ekè n. T-square, (carpenter's) square 
- pou mèb furniture joint 
Èkil prop.n. Hercules 
Môn ~ Morne Hercule (section of 
Pétion-Ville) 
ekilateral, ekwilateral adj. 
equilateral (math.) 
ekile see rekile 
ekilè see lorikilè 
ekllib n. balance, equilibrium 
fè % pran - to balance; to gain 
one's balance 
ekilibre v. to balance; to be evenly 
balanced 
ekilibris n. tightrope walker; juggler 
ekimenik adj. ecumenical 
ekimenis n. ecumenism 
ekinèks n. equinox 
ekip n. team; crew, work party; staff 
chèf chèf dekip supervisor, 
foreman 
~ woulo konpresè unbeatable 
team 
pa ~ in shifts 
yon ~ a bunch of, a lot of 
ekipay, ekipaj, kipay, lekipaj, 
lekipay n, equipment, gear, 
outfittings (donkey etc.; ship) 
ekipe v. to equip, furnish; to care for, 
take care of; adj. well equipped, 
well furnished; see okipe 
ekipman n. equipment, material; 
harness; ingredients 
ekipse see eklipse 
ekipye n. team member (sports) 
ekirèy n. squirrel 
ekiri, lekiri n. stable, stall 
ekitab adj. equitable, fair, just, 
impartial 
ekitasyon n. horseback riding, 
equitation 
ekivalan n./adj. equivalent 
ekivalans n. equivalence, equivalent 
ekivo ak v. [Fr.] to be (the) 
equivalent of 
ekla n. piece, fragment, splinter; 
flash (of light); glitter, sparkle, 
glare; burst, outburst; shoe-polish 
bay ~ to glow, gleam 
pete yon ~ ri to burst out laughing 
eklanmezi, eklanmsi, eklanpsi n. 
eclampsia 
eklari n. burst of laughter 
pete yon ~ ri to burst out laughing 
ekiatan adj. brilliant, shining 
eklate v. to burst, explode, rupture; 
to break out, erupt; to lash, burst 
out; to blow up; to blow out (tire); 
cf. pete; n. outburst (laughter etc.) 
eklatman n. rupture; explosion, 
eruption; outburst, upheaval 
eklè n. éclair; see zeklè 
ekleray, ekleraj n. lighting, 
illumination 
eklerasyon n. education, culture, 
enlightenment 
eklere v. to enlighten, educate; n. 
know-it-all; adj. educated, 
intelligent, open-minded 
eklerè n. scout (milit.); enlightener 
eklereta n. know-it-all, smart aleck, 
wise-guy 
fè ~ to echo, reverberate 
eklèsi, eklesi, klesi, klèsi v. to 
enlighten, clarify, explain; to clear 
up (weather); to thin out, clear out; 
n. clearing (weather); clearing, 
cleared space (of land) 
eklèsisaj n. thinning out (of plants, 
seedlings etc.) 
eklèsisman see klèsisman 
256 
Eklezyas - ekritè 
Eklezyas prop.n. [Bible] 
Ecclesiastes 
eklezyastik adj. ecclesiastical 
eklich n. Watergate, lock, sluice-gate 
Eklidprop.n. Euclid (3rd century 
B.C. Greek mathematician) 
èklinè n. [Eng.] air cleaner (mach.) 
eklips n. eclipse 
eklipse, ekipse v. to eclipse, 
overshadow, outshine; refl. to slip 
away, take off 
fè ~ to disappear, vanish 
eklis see klis 
eko n. echo 
fè ~ to echo, reverberate 
ekolaj n. tuition 
ekoloji n. ecology 
ekolojika^'. ecological 
ekolojis n. ecologist 
ekolomi see ekonomi 
ekolye n. [Fr.] elementary-school 
pupil 
èkondisyone, èkondisyonnè n. air-
conditioning; air-conditioner 
ekonom n. treasurer; bursar, 
financial administrator 
ekonoma n. bursar's office; staff 
cooperative store 
ekonomi, ekolomi, kolomi, 
kolonmi, konomi, lekonomi n. 
economy; savings; economics 
~ bout siga, ~ bout chandèl, ~ 
bwa chandèl stinginess 
~ domestik home economics, 
domestic science 
~ enfomèl informal sector (street 
vendors etc.) 
fè ~ to save, put aside, be thrifty; 
to budget 
ekonomik adj. economic; 
economical 
ekonomikman adv. economically, 
from an economic point of view 
ekonomis n. economist 
ekonomize, konomize v. to 
economize, save money 
ekore: 
byen - in great shape 
ekôs, zekos n. bark (of tree) 
Ekos see Lekès 
ekosè prop.n. Scot; prop. adj. 
Scottish; adj. plaid 
ekosistèm n. ecosystem 
ekotouris n. ecotourist; ecotourism 
ekotouristik adj. ecotourist 
ekou see ekwou 
ekoule v. [Fr.] to market, sell; cf. 
vann 
ekoulman n. urethral discharge; 
gonorrhea 
ekout n. radio audience or listeners 
an ~ to be listening for 
mete liy telefon sou ~ to bug, tap 
(a telephone line) 
ekoutè n. earphones, headphones; 
listener 
ekran n. screen (movie, TV etc.); 
computer monitor 
ekrevis n. [Fr.] (freshwater) 
crayfish, crawfish; cf kribich 
Ekrevis, Gwowoch prop.n. 
Écrevisse, Grosse-Roche (2nd 
communal section of Vallières, 
Dept. North-East) 
ekri v. to write, write down, jot 
down, record; to correspond 
bay kout fo ~ to deceive (in 
writing) 
- alamachin to type 
- annabreje to abbreviate 
- gwo to have large handwriting 
nan ~ ak in (written) 
correspondence with 
ekritè n. writer, author 
257 
ekriti - eksploze 
ekriti, kkriti n. handwriting, 
writing; writing, text; (accounting) 
entry; scripture (rei) 
pase - to note, record 
ekritman n. writing 
ekrito n. sign, notice; inscription 
ekriveo n. writer, author; local 
scribe 
eks. (abbrev.for eksetera) etc., et 
cetera 
èks prefix ex-
eksè n. excess, exaggeration 
eksede v. to exceed, be greater than 
eksèdzèl n. [Fr.] over-zealousness 
ekselan adj. [Fr.] excellent 
ekselans ». excellence; excellency 
pa ~ above all, pre-eminently 
son ~ his excellency (referring to 
high official) 
eksele v. to excel 
ekstpsyon, esepsyon n. exception 
eksepsyonnèl, eksepsyonèl adj. 
exceptional 
eksepsyonèlman adv. exceptionally 
eksepte see esepte 
eksesif adj. [Fr.] excessive 
eksetera(era) and so forth, et cetera, 
etc. 
bay yoa bann - to give (s.o.) a lot 
of irrelevant details or 
meaningless talk 
eksitan n. stimulant 
eksitasyon n. excitement; 
disturbance, tumult 
eksite, egsite, èksite, esikte v. to 
excite, arouse, incite; to prod; to 
provoke, annoy; to animate, 
inflame; to stimulate (thirst etc.); 
to get excited, worked up; adj. 
nervous; excited, lively; upset, 
angry 
Pa ~ m, non! You're getting on 
my nerves! 
eksitè: 
- gason sexy woman; seductres 
ekskiz see eskiz 
ekskize see eskize 
eksklamasyon n. exclamation, 
interjection 
ekskli v. to exclude 
eksklizif see esklizif 
eksklizyon n. exclusion 
ekskreman n. [Fr.] excrement; cf 
kaka 
ekspansyon n. expansion 
ekspansyonis adj. expansionary 
ekspè see espè 
ekspedisyon see espedisyon 
ekspedisyonè see espedisyonè 
ekspeditif adj. [Fr.] expeditious, 
speedy, prompt 
ekspedye see espedye 
eksperimantal see esperimantal 
eksperimantasyon see 
esperimantasyon 
eksperimante see esperimante 
eksperiyans, eksperyans see 
esperyans 
eksperyanse see esperyanse 
ekspètiz see espètiz 
ekspilse, espilse v. to expel, drive 
out, deport 
ekspilsyon, espilsyon n. expulsion; 
dismissal 
ekspirasyon see espirasyon 
ekspire see espire 
eksplikasyon see esplikasyon 
eksplike see esplike 
eksplisit adj. explicit; cf. klè 
eksplorasyon, esplorasyon n. 
exploration 
eksploratè, esploratè n. explorer 
eksplore, esplore v. to explore 
eksploze, esploze v. to explode 
258 
eksplozif - ekwou 
eksplozif, esplozif n./adj. explosive 
eksplozyon, esplozyon n. explosion, 
blast 
fè - to explode 
eksplwa, esplwa n. exploit; court 
order, writ (jur.) 
eksplwatan see isye 
eksplwatasyon, esplwatasyon, 
espwatasyon, leksplwatasyon, 
lesplwatasyon n. exploitation 
eksplwate, esplwate v. to exploit, 
abuse; to utilize; to exploit (mine 
etc.); n. exploited or abused 
person 
eksplwatè, esplwatè n. exploiter, 
abuser 
ekspo n. export 
ekspôtasyon see espôtasyon 
ekspôtatè see espôtatè 
ekspôte see espôte 
ekspozan see espozan 
ekspoze see espoze 
ekspozisyon see espozisyon 
ekspre see espre 
eksprès see esprès 
ekspresif see espresif 
eksprèswe n. [Eng.] expressway 
ekspresyon see espresyon 
eksprime see esprime 
ekspyasyon n. [Fr.] expiation, 
atonement 
ekspyatwa adj. [Fr.] expiatory 
ekstansyon see estansyon 
ekstaz see estaz 
ekstazi n. ecstasy (illegal synthetic 
drug) 
ekstèminasyon see estèminasyon 
ekstèminen, ekstèmine see 
estèminen 
ekstèn adj. [Fr.] external 
ekstèna see estèna 
ekstènen see estènen 
ekstengichè, ekstenktè, ekstentè 
(dife) n. fire-extinguisher 
eksteryè see esteryè 
ekstra, estra adj. extra 
ekstrade v. to extradite 
ekstradisyon n. extradition 
ekstraksyon, ekstrasyon n. 
extraction 
ekstraterès see estraterès 
ekstrateritoryal see estrateritoryal 
ekstrawôdinè see estwôdinè 
ekstrè see estrè 
ekstrèm see estrèm 
ekstrèman, ekstrèmeman, 
ekstrèmman adv. [Fr.] extremely 
ekstremis, estremis n./adj. 
extremist 
ekstremite n. extremity 
ekstremonsyon n. extreme unction, 
last rites 
ekstwôdinè see estwôdinè 
ekta n. hectare (2.471 acres -
approximately size of a football 
field) 
Ektibann, Anbouch prop.n. 
Ectiban, Ambush (commercial 
insecticide) 
Ektô prop.n. Hector 
ektolit n. hectoliter (100 liters, or 
105.7 quarts) 
ektomèt n. hectometer (100 meters, 
or 328 feet) 
ektopik: 
gwosès ~ ectopic pregnancy 
ekwasyon n. equation (math.) 
ekwatè n. equator 
Ekwatè, Lekwatèprop.n. Ecuador 
Ekwatèryen prop.n./adj., 
Ekwatôryèn f.prop.n. Ecuadorian 
ekwaye n. china closet, cupboard 
ekwilateral see ekilateral 
ekwou, ekou n. screw, nut (for 
259 
ekz. - eleji 
bolt), lug 
- aks axle nut 
~ ele wing nut 
ekz. see egz. 
ekzagôn see egzagôn 
ekzajerasyon see egzajerasyon 
ekzajere see egzajere 
ekzajereman see egzajereman 
ekzaksyon see egzaksyon 
ekzakteman see egzakteman 
ekzaktitid see egzaktitid 
ekzaltasyon n. exaltation 
ekzalte see egzalte 
ekzamen see egzamen 
ekzaminasyon see egzaminasyon 
ekzamine, ekzaminen, 
ekzanminen see egzaminen 
ekzan see egzan 
ekzanp see egzanp 
ekzanplè see egzanplè 
ekzante see egzante 
ekzasyon see egzaksyon 
ekzat see egzat 
ekzateman see egzakteman 
Ekzavye prop.n. Xavier 
ekzekisyon see egzekisyon 
ekzekite see egzeklte 
ekzekitif see egzekitif 
ek/ema see egzema 
ekzèse see egzèse 
ekzèsis see egzèsis 
ekzeyat see egzeyat 
ekzeyate see egzeyate 
ekzibisyon see egzibisyon 
ekzijan see egzijan 
ekzijans see egzijans 
ekzije see egzije 
ekzijibman see egzijibleman 
ekzil see egzil 
ekzile see egzile 
ekzistans see egzistans 
ekzistansyèl see egzistansyèl 
ekziste see egziste 
ekzobitan see egzôbitan 
ekzod see egzèd 
ekzose see egzose 
ekzosize see egzôsize 
ekzotasyon see egzôtasyon 
ekzôte see egzôte 
èl letter 1 
Ela (siklôn) prop.n. Ella (disastrous 
hurricane, 30-31 August 1958) 
elaborasyon n. elaboration 
élaboré v. to elaborate, formulate 
elaji [Fr.] see laji 
Elaman prop.n. [Book of Mormon] 
Helaman 
elan n. bound, jump; surge, rush, 
dash; outburst; moose; elk 
bay ~ to throb 
pran ~ to warm up; to take off 
(runner; airplane); to arrive 
socially 
elanse adj. slim, slender 
elas! interj. alas! 
santi li ~ to feel hopeless/ 
dej ected/ despondent 
elastik, lastik adj. elastic; n. rubber 
band 
Elatprop.n. [Bible] Elath 
elatriye, elat., elatrye, elt. adv. and 
so forth, and so on, et cetera 
elayn, elay n. [Eng.] airline 
Eldorado prop.n. Eldorado, place 
of fabulous wealth or opportunity 
elefan n. elephant 
pat ~ bell-bottom trousers 
pran do ~ to become angry, get 
mad 
elegan adj. elegant, fancy, 
fashionable; classy; full of vim 
and vigor 
elegans n. elegance; cf. gangans 
eleji n. elegy 
260 
eleksyon - elvaj 
eleksyon n. election 
ale nan ~ to stand for election, 
present one's candidacy 
- dezyèm tou run-off election 
fè ~ to hold an election 
fè ~ dèyè to line up for, vie for, 
strive for 
prale nan ~ to stand for election, 
present one's candidacy 
elektè n. voter, elector 
elektif adj. elective 
elektora n. electorate 
elektoral, elektoralis adj. electoral 
elektoralman adv. electorally 
elektrifikasyon n. electrification 
elektrik, eletrik, lektrik adj. 
electric; n. electricity 
elektrisite, eletrisite, lektrisite, 
letrisite n. electricity 
elektrisyen n. electrician 
elektrize v. to electrify, charge, rouse 
elektwo- adj. electro-
elektwochimi n. electrochemistry 
elekwochôk n. electroshock 
(treatment) 
elektwod n. electrode 
elektwojèn: 
gwoup ~ generating set, generator 
elektwokadyogram n. 
electrocardiogram 
elektwokite v. to electrocute 
elektwon n. electron 
elektwonik, elektwonnik adj. 
electronic; n. electronics 
elektwonikman adv. electronically 
elektwonisyen n. electronic 
engineer 
eleman n. (young) man; eccentric, 
crackpot, character; element; 
electric coil (on stove); water-
heater element 
~ jenan outsider; infiltrator, spy 
elemantè adj. elementary, basic 
~ en third grade 
~ de fourth grade 
Elèn prop.n. Helen 
elenikprop.adj. Hellenic 
eletrik see elektrik 
eletrisite see elektrisite 
elèv n. pupil, student 
~ papa li to be like one's father, 
be a chip off the old block 
elevasyon see levasyon 
elevatè n. elevator [Eng.]; (dental) 
elevator 
eli v. to elect; n. chosen one; elected 
official 
Eli prop.n. [Bible] Elias; Elijah 
elijib adj. eligible 
elijibilite n. eligibility 
elikôptè, elikoptè, likoptè n. 
helicopter 
elikzi n. elixir 
eliminasyon n. elimination 
eliminatwa adj. qualifying (sports); 
n. qualifying event (sports) 
eliminen, éliminé v. to eliminate, do 
away with, get rid of; to disqualify 
elip, elips n. ellipse (math.) 
elis n. propeller 
elit see lelit 
elitis adj. elitist 
Elizabèt f.prop.n. Elizabeth 
Elizeprop.n. [Bible] Elisha 
elmi, èlmi see lènmi 
eloj n. praise, acclaim 
fè ~ to praise, acclaim 
elokisyon n. elocution 
elounvi, elovi see ayovi 
èlpant see espant 
Èlsinkiprop.n. Helsinki (Finland) 
elt. abbrev. elatriye (q.v.) 
elvaj, elvay n. animal husbandry, 
breeding, raising, rearing (of 
261 
elvasyon - en 
livestock) 
- myèl apiculture, beekeeping 
fè ~ to raise livestock 
elvasyon see levasyon 
elve v. to raise, bring up, rear, 
educate; to lift up; to breed; adj. 
high 
elvè n. breeder 
elwànye adj. [Fr.] distant, remote, 
faraway 
elwaye v. [Fr.] to remove, keep off 
Elyaspin, Elyaspine prop.n. Elias 
Pina (town in Dominican Republic 
near border opposite Belladère) 
elyôm n. helium 
-èm suffix to indicate ordinal 
number 
emab adj. amiable, friendly, kind, 
nice 
emajman: 
lis ~ payroll list 
eman see leman 
Emannwèl see Emànyèl 
emansipasyon n. emancipation, 
liberation 
emansipatè n. emancipator 
emansipe v. to emancipate 
emante adj. magnetic, magnetized 
Emànyèl, Emannwèl prop.n. 
Emmanuel; Immanuel 
ematimèt n. hemacytometer 
ematokrit n. hematocrit 
emay n. enamel 
emaye n. enamel; adj. enameled 
emèjan adj. emerging 
emèjennsi n. [Eng.] emergency 
èmenetik n. hermeneutics 
Emès prop.n. Hermes 
emèt v. to issue, emit, put forth; to 
broadcast 
emetè n. transmitter 
eroèveye v. [Fr.] to charm 
completely, fill with wonder 
emewôd see emwôd 
emigrasyon n. emigration 
emigre v. to emigrate; n. emigrant 
Emilif.prop.n. Emilie, Emily 
èmin n. ermine 
eminans n. [Fr.] eminence, 
distinction 
son ~ his/her Eminence 
Emira Arabzini pl.prop.n. United 
Arab Emirates 
emisè n. emissary, envoy 
emisfè n. hemisphere 
emisferik adj. hemispheric 
emisyon n. broadcast 
Emit see Lemit 
emoglobin n. hemoglobin 
emondaj n. pruning 
emoraji, moraji n. bleeding, 
hemorrhage; great pain 
emosyon n. shock; emotion 
fè ~ to be emotional or 
overwrought 
pran - to get mad (at), get furious 
emosyone, emosyonnen v. to be 
stirred, be moved, be aroused; adj. 
out of control, enraged 
emosyonèl, emosyonnèl adj. 
emotional 
emosyonèlman, emosyonnèlman 
adv. emotionally 
emouvan adj. [Fr.] moving, 
touching, stirring 
emowoyid n. hemorrhoids, piles 
emwôd, emewôd, emwod n. 
emerald 
en num. one (in counting); interj. 
huh? what?; see yon 
ala -?! What in the world?! 
~ an, ennan one year 
— uh-uh, nope 
moun ki pa pou le ~ ni pou le de 
262 
èn - endiskrè 
(2) unemployed (person) 
pa ni - ni de many, a lot of 
èn, hèn n. [Fr.] hatred; cf. rayisman 
Èn, Hèn (larivyè) p r o p M , Henne 
river (at Baie-de-Henne, Dept. 
North-West) 
Enawôlprop.n. Enarol (former 
vegetable-oil plant) 
enb adj. [Fr.] humble, meek 
enben, anben, eben, ebyen, enbe 
interj. so, well then 
enbesil n. imbecile, fool, idiot; adj. 
stupid, foolish 
enbesilite n. foolishness, stupidity; 
imbecility, mental deficiency 
enbesilman adv. stupidly, foolishly 
enbetant see anbetan 
enbete see anbete; ebete 
Ench, Hench, Rench prop.n. 
Hinche (administrative center of 
Dept. Center) 
enchanjab adj. unchangeable 
Enchwa, Henchwa, Renchwa 
prop.n., Enchwaz, Henchwaz, 
Renchwaz f.prop.n. inhabitant of 
Hinche 
End see Enn 
endanmnite n. indemnity 
ende see ede 
en défini adj. indefinite (gram.) 
endefiniman adv. indefinitely 
endèks n. index; index finger 
endelebil adj. indelible 
endepandaman adv. independently 
endepandan adj. independent; adv. 
independently 
~ de regardless of 
endepandans, lendepandans n. 
independence 
endesan adj. indecent, immodest, 
lewd 
endesans n. indecency, immodesty; 
lewdness 
endesizyon n. indecision 
endetèmine adj. [Fr.] indeterminate 
endezirab adj. [Fr.] undesirable 
endiferan adj. indifferent, 
unconcerned, distant, aloof 
endiferans, lendiferans n. 
indifference 
endigo see digo 
endigotri n. indigo plantation 
endijan adj. poor, needy, indigent; 
n. indigent person, pauper 
endijans, lendijans n. indigence, 
extreme poverty 
endijèn adj. indigenous, native, 
aboriginal; n. native, aborigine 
endijenis adj. indigenous, native; n. 
indigenism (journal and literary 
movement affirming validity of 
Haitian culture, fl. 1927-C.1950) 
endijennize v. to indigenize, 
acclimatize, adapt to native 
conditions 
endijès adj. indigestible 
endijesyon n. indigestion 
endikasyon n. directions, 
indication(s), sign; education 
endikatè n. indicator 
endikatif n. indicative (gram.) 
endike v. to indicate, point (out) 
endiktif adj. inductive 
endiljans n. (rel.) indulgence; cf. 
sitirans 
endin(y) see lèrending 
endirèk adj. indirect; covert; adv. 
indirectly 
endirèkteman adv. indirectly 
endis n. indication, sign 
endisiplin n. misconduct 
endisipline adj. undisciplined; 
reckless, out of control 
endiskrè adj. [Fr.] indiscreet 
263 
endispansab - enfeksyon 
endispansab adj. [Fr.] 
indispensable, cf. pakapala 
endispoze v. to faint, pass out; to 
make nauseous, upset; adj. 
delirious; unconscious 
endispozisyon n. delirium; fainting 
spell; shock; nausea 
tonbe ~ to faint, pass out 
endistenteman adv. indistinctly, 
indiscriminately 
endistri, lendistri n. industry, 
manufacturing 
endistriyalizasyon n. 
industrialization 
endistriyalize v. to industrialize 
endistriyèl adj. industrial; n. 
industrialist 
eiidivi adj. (jur.) undivided, held in 
common (property) 
endividi n. individual, fellow, 
person; moron; character, clown 
endividyalis n. individualism; adj. 
individual(istic), personal 
endividyèl adj. [Fr.] individual, 
separate 
endividyèlman adv. individually, 
separately 
endivizib adj. indivisible 
endivizyon see tè ~ 
endiy adj. unworthy, worthless 
lè ~ quite late at night 
endiyan adj. indignant 
endiyasyon, lendiyasyon n. 
indignation; deep regrets 
endiye v. to deplore, regret deeply; 
to rouse the indignation of s.o.; 
adj. indignant, outraged; very 
regretful 
endiyite n. indignity; worthlessness 
Endochin prop.n. Indochina 
Endo-ewôpeyen n./adj. Indo-
European 
endok adj. coarse, crude, vulgar 
Endonezi, Lendonezi prop.n. 
Indonesia 
Endonezyen prop, n./adj., 
Endonezyèn f.prop.n. Indonesian 
endont adj. untamed, not broken in 
(animal) 
endontab adj. indomitable, 
untameable, uncontrollable; cf. 
wôklô 
endou prop.n./adj., endyèn 
f prop.n./adj. Hindu 
endouyis prop.n. Hinduism 
endwi v. to induct, lead into (error, 
evil etc.) 
Endyana see Enndyana 
Endyenprop.n./adj., Endyèn 
f.prop.n. Native American; Indian 
Loseyan Endyen Indian Ocean 
endyenn, endyèn n. printed calico 
enèjetik adj. energy-producing 
(substance) 
enèji, ennèji n. energy, spirit; 
electric current 
enèjik adj. [Fr.] energetic 
enèjikman adv. [Fr.] energetically, 
with force, with vigor 
en en, an an neg. interj. uh-uh, nope 
Ènès prop.n. Ernest 
enèvan see ennèvan 
enève see ennève 
enfaman adj. [Fr.jur.] infamous, 
ignominious 
enfantil adj. infantile 
enfantri n. infantry 
enfatigab adj. indefatigable, tireless, 
untiring 
enfayib adj. infallible, unerring 
enfayibilite n. infallibility 
enfeksyon, enfèksyon n. infection 
~ (nan) bwonch pneumonia 
~ nan jwenti septic arthritis 
264 
- nan sait seps is 
- nan zo osteomyeli t is 
fè ~ to be or become infected, 
have an in fec t ion 
enfekte, e n f è t e v. to infect 
enfektye adj. [FK] infectious; see 
atrapan 
enfènal adj. [FrJ\ infernal 
enfenm adj. v i le , loathsome 
enferyè adj. in fer ior ; crude, rude, 
mean 
fè ~ to b e h a v e badly 
enferyorite n. inferiority 
enfeste v. t o in fes t , overrun 
enfète see e n f e k t e 
enfibi, anf fbi n. j e rk , nerd, idiot; nJ 
adj. b i sexual 
enfidèl adj. [Fr.] unfaithful; 
faithless; n. i n f ide l 
enfidelite n. infideli ty, 
unfaithfulness, adultery 
enfiltrasyoii n. infiltration 
enfiltre v. t o inf i l t ra te 
enfim v. to c r i p p l e , disable; adj. 
crippled, d i s a b l e d ; frail, sickly 
enfimite n. i n f i rmi ty , handicap, 
disability; c r i p p l e 
enfimri n. i n f i r m a r y ; cf. dispansè 
enfimye n. m a l e nurse 
enfimyè f.n. ( f e m a l e ) nurse (cf. 
mis); n u r s i n g 
enfini n./adj. i n f in i t e 
enfinitif n. i n f i n i t i v e {gram.) 
enfizèm see a n f i z è m 
enflamasyon see anflamasyon 
enflasyon n. [F>.] inflation; cf. lavi 
chè 
enfliyan adj. inf luent ia l 
enfliyans, e n f l y a n s n. influence 
enfliyanse v. t o influence 
enfomasyon, e n f o n. information; 
news 
enfekte - enjerans 
enfômatè, enfoman n. informer 
enfômatik n. computer science 
enfomatisyen n. computer scientist 
enfômatize v. to computerize 
enfôme, enfômen v. to inform, 
notify; to be informed 
enfômèl adj. informal 
enfounen see anfounen 
enfraksyon n. infraction, offense, 
breach of the law (jur.) 
enfranjit see lenfanjit 
enfrastrikti n. infrastructure 
enfrawouj adj. infrared 
enfrayik see efrayik 
enganm, engam adj. able-bodied, 
fit, firm, strong; spry, active, agile 
enginal adj. inguinal 
engouvènab adj. ungovernable 
engra adj. ungrateful, unthankful; 
improfitable 
engratitid, lengratitid n. 
ingratitude, ungratefulness 
engredyan n. ingredient; good-for-
nothing (person) 
enhen! aha! anhan! interj. uh-huh! 
yeah!; aha! 
èni n. hernia 
~ (e)trangle strangulated hernia 
~ plak zo rèldo herniated disk 
enigm n. [Fr.] enigma, puzzle 
enik n. eunuch 
enimerasyon n. enumeration, listing 
enimere v. to enumerate, list 
enjeksyon n. [Eng.] Diesel fuel 
injection; injection; cf. piki 
enjektè n. fuel injector (in diesel 
engine) 
enjenyè (pronounced: en-je-nyè), 
enjennyè n., enjenyèz 
(pronounced: en-je-nyèz) f.n. 
engineer; architect 
enjerans n. [Fr.] interference, 
265 
euji - enkonvenyan 
interfering, meddling 
fè ~ to interfere, meddle 
enji n. [Fr.] insult 
enjis adj. unjust, unfair; adv. 
unjustly, unfairly 
enjistis, lenjistis n. injustice, 
unfairness, wrong 
enjisteman adv. unjustly, unfairly 
enka num. one-fourth; prop.n./adj. 
Inca 
enkalkilab adj. incalculable, 
countless 
enkanasyon, lenkanasyon n. 
incarnation 
enkandesan adj. incandescent 
enkane v. to incarnate 
enkantasyon n. [Fr.] incantation, 
invocation, conjuration 
enkapab adj. incompetent, 
incapable 
enkapasite n. incapacity, inability; 
disability; incompetence 
enkibasyon n. incubation 
enkibatè n. incubator 
enkilpasyon n. inculpation, charge, 
accusation 
enkilpe v. to incriminate, charge, 
accuse; n. defendant, accused 
(person) 
Enkizisyon prop.n. Inquisition 
enkli, ankli v. [Fr.] to include; 
including 
enklinasyon n. inclination 
enkline adj. leaning, tilting, sloping 
~ tèt to bow 
enkMzyoift n. inclusion, 
inclusiveness 
enkômède, enkonmode v. to 
disturb, bother, to make s.o. feel 
ill-at-ease or uncomfortable 
enkondisyonèl adj. unconditional 
enkondit, enkondwit, lenkondit, 
lenkondite, lenkondwit n. 
misbehavior, misconduct; 
fornication; adj. irresponsible, 
unstable 
fè - to be boisterous, cause 
commotion; to act childishly 
enkonfôtab adj. [Fr.] uncomfortabl 
enkonmode see enkomode 
enkonni, enkoni adj. unknown; n. 
unknown party, stranger; unknown 
element 
enkonparab adj. incomparable 
enkonpetan adj. incompetent, 
unqualified 
enkonpetans n. incompetence 
enkonplè(t) adj. incomplete 
enkonpreyansib adj. [Fr.] 
incomprehensible 
enkonsekan adj. thoughtless; 
inconsistent 
enkonsekans n. thoughtlessness, 
irresponsibility 
enkonsolab adj. inconsolable 
enkonstitisyonèl adj. 
unconstitutional 
enkonstitisyonèlman adv. 
unconstitutionally 
enkonsyaman adv. unconsciously 
enkonsyan n./adj. unprincipled, 
dishonest, unscrupulous; 
oblivious, unmindful 
enkonsyans n. lack of principles, 
lack of conscience 
enkontwolab adj. uncontrollable; 
out of control 
enkonvalesan adj. in ill health 
enkonvenyan (pronounced: en-
kon-ve-nyan), enkonvenyans 
(pronounced: en-kon-ve-nyans) 
n. disadvantage, drawback, 
inconvenience; conditions, 
restrictions 
266 
enkonvèti - enpèfeksyon 
enkonvèti adj. unconverted 
enkôporasyon n. [Eng.] 
incorporation 
enkôpore v. [Eng.] to incorporate 
enkouraje see ankouraje 
enkoutab n. stubbornness; adj. 
stubborn, headstrong, disobedient 
enkoutan adj. stubborn, headstrong, 
disobedient 
enkredil adj. incredulous, sceptical, 
unbelieving; n. incredulity, 
disbelief; unbeliever 
enkredilite n. incredibility, disbelief 
enkriminasyon n. incrimination 
enkriminen, enkrimine v. to 
incriminate 
enkwayab adj. unbelievable, 
incredible 
enkwayan n. disbeliever, non-
believer 
enkwayans n. disbelief 
enkyè adj. worried, uneasy, anxious 
enkyetan adj. disquieting, 
disturbing, worrisome 
enkyete v. to worry, be anxious, fret; 
to be preoccupied 
enkyetid, lenkyetid n. anxiety, 
restlessness, agitation, worries; 
preoccupation 
san ~ carefree 
enkyetman n. worry, concern, 
anxiety 
enm letter m 
enmbègè see anbègè 
enmède, enmègde see anmègde 
ènmi, enmi see lènmi 
enn letter n 
Enn, End, Lend, Lenn, Lèzenn, 
Ozend, Ozenn prop.n. India 
ennan n. one year 
anvan - infant 
Enndyana, Endyana, Indyana 
prop.n. Indiana (USA) 
ennèji see enèji 
ennèvan, enèvan, nèvan adj. 
irritating, bothersome 
ennève, enève, nève v. to annoy, 
vex, irritate, get on s.o.'s nerves; 
adj. irritated, angry, exasperated; 
restless; nervous, tense 
ennimere v. [Fr.] to enumerate 
ennmi see lènmi 
Ennri see Enri 
Ennrikiyo see Anrikilyo 
Ennstay (Albè) prop.n. Einstein 
(Albert) - German-American 
physicist, 1879-1955 
ennvètè see envètè 
Enôkprop.n. [Bible] Enoch 
enom adj. [Fr.] enormous 
enômeman adv. enormously 
enonpa conj. [Fr.] and not 
enonse n. statement, exposition 
Enôs prop.n. [Book of Mormon] 
Enos 
enpadonnab adj. unpardonable, 
inexcusable 
enpafè n. (gram.) imperfect tense 
enpak n. impact 
enpas n. dead-end street; impasse; 
deadlock 
nan yon ~ in a quandary 
enpasyal adj. impartial, 
unprejudiced, unbiased; cf san 
paspouki 
enpasyalite n. impartiality; cf. san 
paspouki 
enpasyan adj. impatient 
enpasyans n. impatience 
enpasyante v. to lose patience 
enpav see epav 
enpe adj. a little, some, a few 
enpè adj. [Fr.] odd (number) 
enpèfeksyon n. [Fr.] imperfection 
267 
cnpekab - enptipe 
enpekab adj. [Fr.] impeccable 
enpèmeyab n. oil cloth, plastic 
sheet; plastic tablecloth; raincoat; 
adj. waterproof, water-resistant 
enperatif n. imperative, 
requirement, necessity; imperative 
mood (gram.); adj. imperative, 
urgent 
enperatris />. empress 
enperyal n. imperial (pointed beard 
under lower lip and chin); adj. 
imperial 
enperyalis n. imperialism; n./adj. 
imperialist 
enpèseptib adj. [Fr.] imperceptible 
enpèsonèl adj. impersonal 
enpetigo n. impetigo 
enpètinait adj. impertinent; cf. 
frekan 
enpètinans, lenpètinans n. 
impertinence; cf. frekansite 
fè ~ to be impertinent, be 
rebellious 
enpeyab adj. priceless 
enpi see cpi 
enpini adj. unpunished 
enpinite, lenpinite n. impunity 
enpisan see enpwisan 
enpisans see enpwisans 
enpitou see epitou 
enplantasyon n. introduction, 
setting up, establishment 
enplante to implant, embed, instill 
enplikasyon n. implication; 
involvement 
enpiike v. to implicate, involve 
enplimantasyon n. implementation 
enplimante v. to implement, put into 
practical effect 
enplorasyon n. entreaty, imploring 
cnplore v. to plead, implore 
enpo n. tax, duty 
- lokatif property tax, real-estate 
tax 
enpè n. import 
enpoli adj. [Fr.] impolite 
enpopilè adj. unpopular 
enposib adj. impossible 
enposiblite, enposibilite n. 
impossibility 
enpôtan adj. important; famous; 
adv. importantly 
enpètans, lenpôtans, pôtans n. 
importance 
enpètasyon n. importation 
enpètatè n. importer 
enpète v. to import 
enpozan adj. imposing, impressive 
enpoze v. to prevent, hinder, stop; to 
forbid; to impose (upon), force 
(upon) 
enpozisyon n. prevention, hindering, 
stopping; imposition (of taxes etc,) 
~ men yo laying on of hands (rel.) 
enpratikab adj. impassible 
enpresyon, lenpresyon n. 
impression; printing 
enpresyonan adj. impressive 
enpresyone, enpresyonne, 
enpresyonnen v. to impress, awe 
enpresyonis n./adj. impressionist; 
n. impressionism 
enprevi adj. unforeseen, unexpected 
enpridan adj. careless, imprudent, 
rash 
enpridans n. imprudence 
fè ~ to expose oneself to sickness 
enprimant n. computer printer 
enprime, enprimen v. to print 
enprimè n. printer; printing 
machine; computer printer 
enprimri, lenprimri n. printing 
office, printing plant, print shop 
enptipe adv. a little bit 
enpwisan - enskri 
enpwisan, enpisan adj. [Fr.] 
powerless, defenseless, helpless; 
impotent 
enpwisans, enpisans n. [Fr.] 
powerlessness; impotence, 
impotency 
enpwôp adj. unclean, slovenly 
enpwovizasyon n. improvization 
enpwovizatè n. improvizer 
enpwovize v. to improvize 
Enri (pronounced: E-nri), Ennri, 
Ènriprop.n. Ennery (Dept. 
Artibonite) 
ENS acron. Lekôl Nomal Siperyè 
National Teacher-Training School 
(PaP) 
Ènsprop.n. Ernst, Ernest 
ensalibrite n. insalubrity, 
unhealthiness 
ensandi n. [Fr.] fire 
bouch ~ fire plug, fire hydrant 
ensandye, ansandye v. [Fr.] to set 
on fire, burn down 
ensandyè n. [Fr.] arsonist, 
incendiary; adj. incendiary, 
inflammatory 
ensanse adj. insane, senseless 
ensansib adj. insensitive, indifferent 
ensatisfaksyon n. dissatisfaction, 
discontent 
ensatisfè adj. dissatisfied, 
discontented 
ensèk n. [Fr.] insect; cf. tibèt 
ensekirite n. insecurity; lawlessness 
ensektisid n. insecticide, pesticide 
ensèktivô n. insectivore; adj. 
insectivorous 
ensèl adj. [Fr.] a single, only one; 
see badjo 
enseminasyon n. insemination 
enseparab adj. inseparable 
ensès n. incest; cf. ras kabrit 
ensèten adj. uncertain 
ensètitid, lensètitid n. incertitude, 
uncertainty 
ensidan n. incident 
ensideswit adv. and so forth, and so 
on 
ensidonk adv. thus, therefore 
ensifizans n. [Fr.] insufficiency, 
inadequacy 
~ renal kidney failure 
ensije n. insurgent, rebel 
ensike conj. [Fr] as well as 
ensi koni adv. thus known; so-called 
ensikonsi adj. uncircumcised 
ensil see ensilt 
ensilin n. insulin 
ensilt, ensil, ensiltans n. insult, 
affront 
ensiltan adj. insulting, humiliating 
ensilte v. to insult, revile 
ensineratè n. incinerator 
ensipotab adj. unbearable, 
unendurable, intolerable 
ensireksyon n. [Fr] insurrection, 
uprising 
ensireksyonèl adj. [Fr] 
insurrectionary 
ensistan adj. persistent 
ensistans n. insistence 
ensiste (sou) v. to insist (on), persist 
ensiswatil! interj. [Fr.] so be it!; 
amen! 
ensitasyon n. incitement 
ensite v. [Fr.] to incite, urge, 
encourage 
ensiy n. badge 
ensiyifyan, ensiyfyan adj. stupid, 
foolish; insignificant 
ensiziv n. incisor; cf. dan devan 
ensizyon n. incision 
enskri v. to inscribe, record; to 
register, enroll, sign up; n. 
269 
enskripsyon - enstwi 
registered student 
enskripsyon, lenskripsyon n. 
registration, enrollment; 
recruitment; inscription; sign, 
placard 
biwo ~ registrar's office; 
recruiting station 
- elektè voter registration 
ensolan adj. insolent, rude, insulting 
ensolanste, ensolans n. insolence, 
impertinence; insult 
ensosyab adj. unsociable 
ensoumisyon n. [Fr.] 
insubordination, rebelliousness 
ensousyan adj. negligent, 
neglectful, indifferent 
ensousyans n. negligence, 
neglectfulness, indifference; 
happy-go-lucky attitude 
enspeksyon n. inspection, 
supervision 
biwo ~ school inspector's office 
fè ~ to inspect 
enspekte v. to inspect, check 
enspektè n., enspektris f.n. 
inspector, supervisor 
enspirasyon n. inspiration 
enspire v. to inspire 
enstab adj. unstable 
enstabilite n. instability 
enstalasyon, estalasyon n. 
installation, set-up; installation, 
swearing-in, taking of oath; 
setting-up 
enstale, estale v. to install; to settle 
in, move into, get settled; to knock 
down; to display; n. ritual 
introduction of the spirits into a 
new Voodoo temple 
enstans n. constituted group or 
authority; legal proceedings; see 
tribinal 
enstantane adj. instantaneous; n. 
snapshot, instamatic 
ensten, lensten n. instinct; intuition 
enstige v. [Fr.] to instigate 
enstiti n. institute 
Enstiti Ayisyano-Ameriken prop.n. 
Haitian-American Institute (PaP) 
enstitisyon n. institution 
enstitisyonalis n. institutionalist 
enstitisyonalize v. to institutionalize, 
incorporate, standardize 
enstitisyonèl, enstitisyonnèl adj. 
institutional 
enstititè n., enstititris f.n. (primary 
school) teacher 
enstitiye v. institute, establish, set up 
enstorasyon n. institution, 
establishment, setting up 
enstore v. to institute, establish 
enstri adj. educated, knowledgeable 
enstriksyon n. directions, 
explanation, instructions; teaching, 
instruction 
bay ~ to educate 
kabinè ~ office of the district 
attorney 
Ministè Enstriksyon Piblik -
former name of Ministè 
Edikasyon Nasyonal 
enstriktè n. instructor 
enstriktif adj. instructive, 
educational 
enstriman, lenstriman n. 
instrument; device; dick, cock 
(penis) 
enstrimante v. to equip, outfit; [jur.] 
to draw up a formal document 
(deed, contract etc.) 
enstrimantis n. instrumentalist 
(music) 
enstwi v. to instruct; to educate, 
teach; to investigate (jur.) 
270 
entak - entèmisyon 
entak adj. [Fr.] intact, untouched, 
unchanged 
entan see antan 
entandan n. manager; intendant, 
high administrative official 
(during French colonial period) 
entanperans n. intemperance 
entanperi n. [Fr.] inclement weather 
entans adj. intense 
entansif adj. intensive 
entansifikasyon n. intensification 
entansifye v. to intensify 
entansite n. intensity 
entansyon, lentansyon n. intention, 
purpose 
deklare ~ to make a formal 
declaration of marriage 
gen ~ to intend 
entansyone: 
byen ~ well-meaning, well-
intentioned 
mal ~ ill-intentioned, with evil 
intent 
entansyonèl adj. intentional 
entante: 
~ yon pwosè to file legal 
proceedings, bring suit 
entatad adj. senile; spastic 
entcho, entyô, ètchô, ètyo adj. 
powerful (male donkey, horse 
etc.); lusty; unruly 
bourik ~ coarse gruff lout 
enté- prefix inter-
~ dwat right inside forward 
(soccer) 
~ gôch left inside forward (soccer) 
entèdi v. to interdict, forbid; to ban, 
prohibit 
entèdi(ksyon) n. ban, banning, 
forbiddance 
entèferans n. [Eng.] interference, 
interfering, meddling; cf. enjerans 
entèfere v. [Eng.] to interfere, 
meddle 
entèg adj. upright, honest 
entegral adj. complete, in full, 
uncut; integral (calculus) 
entegralite n. entirety, whole 
entegralman adv. in full, fully 
entegrasyon n. [Fr.] integration 
entegre v. to integrate; to join; to 
infiltrate 
entegrite n. integrity, probity, 
uprightness; unity, wholeness 
entèjeksyon n. interjection (gram.) 
entèji v. to startle, stun; to numb 
entèkale v. to insert, interpolate 
entèkom n. intercommunication 
system) 
entèl pron. so and so, somebody, 
someone, such a person 
entèlèk n. intellect 
entelektyalite n. intellectuality 
entelektyèl, entèlektyèl n./adj. 
intellectual 
entelektyèlman adv. intellectually 
entelijan, entèlijan adj. intelligent, 
bright, smart, clever, wise; sly, 
cunning, shrewd; n. con artist 
fè ~ ak to be/act sly or cunning 
entelijans, entèlijans, lentelijans n. 
intelligence, brains 
entelijennsya n. intelligentsia 
entèliy n. space between lines 
(typing etc.) 
doub ~ double-spacing, skipping a 
line 
entelo n. egghead, intellectual (pej.) 
entèmèd n. break, pause; 
intermission 
entèmedyè n. intermediary; 
middleman, agent, broker; adj. 
intermediate 
entèmisyon n. intermission, break 
271 
entèn - entèvni 
entèn, entenn n. resident, intern 
(imed.)\ adj. internal, domestic 
entèna n. boarding house; boarding; 
boarding school; internship (med.) 
entènasyonal, entènasyonnal adj. 
international 
entènasyonalis n./adj. 
internationalist 
entènasyonalizasyon n. 
internationalization 
entènasyonalize v. to 
internationalize 
entènasyonalman adv. 
internationally 
entènen, entène, etène, etènen v. to 
hospitalize, admit (to hospital); to 
be hospitalized 
entènèt n. internet 
entènis n. internist 
entenn see entèn 
entennwa see antonwa 
entèpelasyon n. summoning, 
invoking 
entèple, entèpele v. to invoke, 
conjure up; to summon; to bring to 
justice 
Entèpèl pwp.n. Interpol 
entèprèt n. interpreter 
~ pou soud, ~ an siy sign-
language interpreter 
entèpretarya n. interpreting 
entèpretasyon n. interpreting; 
interpretation 
entèprete v. to interpret 
enteraksyon n. interaction; cf. 
fwotman 
entèram adj. interim, temporary 
enterè, lenterè n. interest, rate; 
interest, advantage, benefit; 
possession, belonging(s) 
entèrejyonal adj. interregional 
tnteresan, anteresan, teresan adj. 
interesting; appealing, captivating, 
productive, efficient, useful, 
rewarding, worthwhile; n. show-
off 
fè % fè enteresant (f ) to show 
off, put on airs; to make oneself 
ridiculous 
enteresant f.n. show-off 
enterese adj. interested, eager; v. to 
interest; n. interested or concerned 
party 
enterik see anterit 
enterim(è) adj. interim, temporary, 
acting, caretaker 
enteripsyon n. interruption 
entèriptè n. [Fr.] electric switch; cf. 
bouton limyè 
enteryè adj. interior; see Lenteryè 
entèsede v. to intercede 
entèseksyon n. [Fr.] intersection 
(math, etc.) 
entèsekte v. to intersect 
entèsepte v. to intercept 
entèseptè n. interceptor (airplane) 
entèsezon n. off-season 
entèskolè adj. varsity 
entesten n. intestine 
entestinal adj. [Fr.] intestinal 
entete adj. stubborn; senile; v. to 
have Alzheimer's disease 
entètè adj. dull, listless 
entèvai n. lapse of time, interval 
pou ~ interim 
entèvansyon n. intervention; 
mediation; contribution in speech 
or discussion 
entèvansyonis n. interventionism; 
n./adj. interventionist 
entèvenan n. intervener; speaker (at 
formal function); contributor in 
speech or discussion 
entèvni, entèveni v. to intervene 
272 
entèvyou - envizib 
entèvyou, antrevi n. interview 
fè - ak to be interviewed by; to 
interview 
entèvyouve, entèvyoure, 
entèvyouwe v. to interview 
entèwogasyon n. interrogation, 
questioning 
entèwogatif n./adj. interrogative 
entèwogatwa n. cross-examination, 
interrogation, questioning (jur.) 
entèwoje v. to interrogate, question 
entewonp, entèwonp v. to interrupt 
entim n. (close) friend; adj. intimate 
entimidasyon n. intimidation; cf. 
kraponnay 
entimide v. to intimidate, frighten; 
cf. kraponnen 
entimite n. intimacy; closeness (of 
friendship) 
entoksikasyon n. toxemia 
entoksike v. [Fr.] to intoxicate; to 
brainwash, indoctrinate 
entolerab adj. intolerable, unbearable 
entoleran adj. intolerant 
entolerans n. intolerance 
entonasyon n. intonation 
entouchab adj. untouchable; 
invulnerable 
Entouchab prop.n. Untouchable 
(India) 
entran n. agricultural supplies 
entranzijan adj. intransigent 
entranzitif adj. intransitive (verb) 
entravenèz adj. intravenous 
entrensèk adj. [Fr.] intrinsic 
entrepid adj. [Fr.] intrepid, 
dauntless, bold 
entreprann see antreprann 
entretab adj. incurable 
entrig n. story, plot; intrigue, plot 
entrigan adj. scheming, devious; n. 
schemer, intriguer; troublemaker 
entrige v. to plot, scheme; to 
intrigue, fascinate, puzzle 
entrigè n., entrigèzf.n. schemer, 
intriguer 
entwisyon n. intuition 
entwodiksyon n. introduction 
entwodwi v. to introduce (concept; 
public speaker); to lead s.o. into a 
room 
entwouvab adj. unfmdable, 
unattainable 
entyè num. one-third 
entyô see entcho 
envalib, envalid adj. idle; lazy; n. 
invalid, cripple (cf. kokobe); 
loafer, bum 
envansyon n. invention 
envante v. to invent 
envantè n. inventor; discoverer 
envantè, lenvantè n. inventory 
envazyon n. invasion 
envensib adj. invincible 
envès adj. opposite, contrary; 
inverse; reverse 
envèsti v. to invest; to induct, install 
(in office); to beseige 
envestigasyon n. investigation; cf. 
ankèt 
envestigatè n. investigator 
envestige v. to investigate 
envèstisè n. investor 
envèstisman n. investment 
envèstiti n. inauguration, investiture 
envètè, ennvètè n. inverter (mach.) 
envètebre n./adj. invertebrate 
envitasyon n. invitation; type of 
konbit (q.v.) 
envite n. guest; v. to invite; to be 
invited; to avoid 
~ donè guest of honor 
envivab adj. unlivable 
envizib adj. invisible, unseen; see 
273 
envokasyon - episye 
lezenvizib 
envokasyon n. invocation 
envoke v. to invoke, call upon 
envolontè adj. involuntary 
envolontèman adv. involuntarily, 
unwillingly, unwittingly 
envyolab adj. [Fr.] inviolate 
Ènwa (pronounced: È-nwa), 
Hennwa, Hènwa, Yènwa prop.n., 
Ènwaz (pronounced: E-nwaz), 
Hennwaz, Hènwaz, Yènwaz 
f.prop.n. inhabitant of Baie-de-
Henne (Dept. North-West) 
ènyèm, enyèm (pronounced: e-
nyèm) adj. umpteenth 
ep! interj. hey! 
epa interj. if it isn't..., isn't it that, 
look how..., imagine...! 
epant see espant 
epànwi, epannwi v. [Fr.] to open 
out, blossom out 
epànwisman n. opening out, 
blossoming out 
epany, depay, epay n. savings, 
economy, thrift 
fè ~ to save (money), economize 
kont ~ savings account 
epànye see epaye 
epapiye v. to scatter, spread around; 
cf. gaye 
epatati epatata see patati patata 
epatit n. hepatitis 
epav, enpav n. good-for-nothing, 
bum, loafer; unreliable person; 
slowpoke, dawdler; loose woman 
ft - to waste time 
epay see epany 
epaye, epànye, espalye v. to spare, 
shield; to be spared; to avoid 
epe see nepe 
epè adj. thick, dense; cf. pwès 
epeng see zepeng 
èpès n. herpes 
epesè n. thickness; density 
epesi, pesi v. to thicken 
epi, anpi, enpi, epwi conj. and, 
then, and then; and also; see zepi 
epidèm n. epidermis 
epidemi, pidemi n. epidemic 
epidemik adj. epidemic 
epidemyoloji n. epidemiology 
epidiral adj. epidural 
Epifani prop.n. Epiphany, Twelfth 
Night (January 6) 
epiglot n. epiglottis 
epik interj. and more!; adj. [Fr.] epic 
~ twaka very cheaply 
Epikiprop.n. Epicurus 
Epiktètprop.n. Epictetus (ancient 
Greek Stoic philosopher) 
epilog n. epilogue 
epina see zepina 
epin dôsal n. [Fr.] spinal cord 
epinyè adj. spinal 
epis, zepis n. spice, herb; seasoning 
~ dous, ~ te spices (for making 
tea) 
machann ~ barren or sterile 
woman 
mete ~ to spice up, make more 
interesting 
prezidan ~ sterile man 
episant n. epicenter (of earthquake) 
epise (ak) v. to spice (up), pepper 
(with) 
episkopa n. (ecc.) episcopate, 
ensemble of bishops 
episkopal prop. adj. Episcopal; 
prop.n. Episcopalian 
Episkopalyen prop.n. Episcopalian 
episri n. [Fr] grocery, neighborhood 
store 
epistolè adj. [Fr.] epistolary 
episye n. [Fr.] grocer 
274 
epit - ès 
epit, lepit n. epistle, letter 
epitèt n. [Fr.] epithet 
epitou, anpitou, enpitou conj. and 
(also); moreover, in addition 
epize, epwize v. to exhaust, tire out, 
wear out; to run out, use up, 
deplete; to eat up, finish off 
epizman n. fatigue, exhaustion 
epizôd n. episode 
eple v. to spell, spell out; to read 
haltingly 
epôk, lepok n. epoch, period, times, 
era 
depi ~ ti poul patko fè dan from 
the far-distant past, from long long 
ago 
epôl see zepol 
epole see zepole 
eponj n. sponge, foam rubber; 
spermicidal sponge; sponger, 
sponge, parasite 
èpôt, areyopô, ayewopô, ayopô n. 
airport 
epoutan conj. however, yet 
epouvantay n. scarecrow 
epouvèt see epwouvèt 
EPPLS acron. (.Etablissement 
Public pour Logements Sociaux) 
Etablisman Piblik pou Lojman 
Sosyo Public Establishment for 
Low-Cost Housing 
eprèv, leprèv n. test, experiment; 
trial, ordeal; galley proof 
eps, epst! interj. pst! 
epwi see epi 
epwize see epize 
epwizèt n. landing net (fishing) 
epwouve v. to test, try out; to 
experience 
epwouvèt, epouvèt n. test tube 
epye v. [Fr.] to be on the look-out 
for, watch for; to spy on 
era see ets. 
Era see Rivyè Era 
erab n. maple (tree) 
eradike v. eradicate 
eradikasyon n. [Eng.] eradication 
Eraklit prop.n. Heraclitus (ancient 
Greek philosopher) 
eral n. herald, messenger 
eran adj. wandering; see jwif ~ 
ere adj. happy, glad; fortunate; cf. 
kontan 
erè, èrè, lerè, lèrè n. error, mistake 
fè - to err 
eredite n. heredity 
ereditè adj. hereditary 
ereksyon n. [Fr.] erection (of penis); 
cf. bann 
eren n./adj. [Fr.] bronze; brass 
erente adj. [Fr.] exhausted, worn 
out, frazzled 
eretik n. heretic; adj. heretical 
erèz fadj. happy, glad; fortunate 
Erez (Mari Klè) prop.n. Heureuse 
(Marie-Claire) - wife of Jean-
Jacques Dessalines (for full name 
see Desalin) 
erezman, erèzman, erèzteman adv. 
fortunately, luckily 
Eri (lak)prop.n. Erie (lake) 
erije v. to erect, set up; refl. to set 
oneself up as, act as (pej.) 
eripsyon n. (volcanic) eruption 
erisipelas n. erysipelas (acute skin 
disease) 
eritay, eritaj, leritaj, leritay n. 
inheritance, estate; heritage; adj. 
inherited 
Eritreprop.n. Eritrea 
eritye n. heir(ess); v. to inherit; to 
take after, resemble 
eriyis n. ruddy turnstone (bird) 
ès letter s; n. harrow; position in 
275 
esans - eskandinav 
game of knucklebones (oslè) 
esans n. extract, essence (vanilla 
etc.) 
esanse v. to add essential ingredients 
(to soup etc.) 
esansyèl n./adj. essential 
Iwil ~ aromatic oil 
esansyèlman adv. essentially, 
basically 
Èsde prop.n. S. D. (Service de 
Dépistage or Sévis Détaché), 
repressive branch of Duvalier 
regime whose methods were often 
compared to those of German 
Gestapo 
Esdras prop.n. [Bible] Ezra 
esè see esèy 
esèl, anba esèl see zesèl 
ESÈM acron. ECEM (Entreprise de 
Construction Electro-Mécanique -
electrical construction company) 
eseme v. to swarm (bees) 
esepsyon see eksepsyon 
esepte, eksepte prep, except (for), 
but (for) 
èsès adj. tough, strict; well-behaved, 
submissive 
fè - to wind, curve, meander 
glise ~ to slither, slink 
mache ~ to toe the line 
esèy, esè n. try, attempt, approach; 
trial, test(ing), experiment; essay 
~ nikleyè nuclear test(ing) 
eseyaj, eseyay n. fitting, trying on, 
trial 
eseye see seye 
escyis n. essayist 
esfè n. sphere 
esfenks n. sphinx 
esikte see eksite 
eska n. bedsore 
eskadwon n. squadron, group; 
undercover squad 
~ lanmo death squad 
eskal n. port of call, stopover 
fè ~ to stop over, settle down (for 
awhile) 
eskalabaha! interj. cry to call forth 
Voodoo spirits 
eskalad n. escalation; abuse of 
power 
eskalade v. to climb, scale; to roll 
down (hill etc.); to rob 
- ou devan m lan! get lost! 
eskalatin: 
lafyèv ~ scarlet fever, scarlatina 
eskalèn adj. scalene (math.) 
eskalop n. thin steak; cutlet; scallop 
eskalpèl n. [Eng.] scalpel (cf. 
bistouri) 
eskalye n. stairs, staircase 
~ sekou fire escape 
~ woulan escalator 
eskamotaj, eskamotay see 
eskanmotay 
eskamote, eskamôte see 
eskanmète 
eskamotè see eskanmotè 
eskandal, eskandalite n. scandal; 
scene, uproar, din, racket; (public) 
scolding, scene, abuse, quarrel 
fè ~ to be deeply shocked at s.thg., 
be scandalized by s.thg. 
fè yon pakèt ~ to make a big 
scene, create a public scandal 
pete yon ~ ri to burst out laughing 
eskandalè adj., eskandalèz fadj. 
scandalous; loud, rowdy, noisy; n. 
loudmouth, rowdy or noisy person 
eskandalite see eskandal 
eskandalize v. to make known, noise 
about; to scandalize (publicly) 
eskandinav prop.n./adj. 
Scandinavian 
276 
eskanè - eskizofrèn 
eskanè n. scanner (;mach.) 
eskanmotay, eskamotaj, 
eskamotay, eskanmotaj n. theft; 
stupid argument 
eskanmotè, eskamote, eskamote v. 
to rob, pilfer, filch; to make 
(s.thg.) disappear; to conjure 
eskanmotè, eskamôtè n. highway 
robber; sneak thief 
eskanp n. crease (in trousers) 
- figi appearance, general 
characteristics; image, prestige 
levé ~ to raise the image, enhance 
the standing 
pèdi ~ li to lose face, lose one's 
status 
refè ~ figi li to redo/remake/ 
change one's image 
rejwenn ~ figi li to regain one's 
dignity/status 
eskanpay n. notch; gash 
eskanpe v. to crease, put a crease in 
byen ~ sou to fit well (clothes) 
eskanpi n. scampi 
eskapaj n. flattening a section of 
land 
eskape v. to flatten a section of land 
eskapen n. var. of old-fashioned 
shoe 
eskapilè n. scapular, scapulary 
eskaryot, eskayôt, iskaryot n. 
traitor 
Eskaryot see Jouda 
eskatolojik adj. [Fr.] scatological 
eskavatè n. (dental) spoon excavator 
Eskayôt see Jouda 
èske, èski adv. (interrogative marker 
for yes-no question) 
eskèdil, eskedilw. [Eng.] schedule 
eskèlèt n. skeleton; skeleton, very 
skinny person; outline, draft, 
sketch; adj. skeletal 
èsken see yèsken 
Esketprop.n. Scheut or 
Missionhurst (Roman Catholic 
religious order); abbrev.: CICM 
esketbod n. [Eng.] skateboard 
eskètch n. variety sketch, short often 
satirical scene or play 
Esketis prop.n. member of Scheut or 
Missionhurst Fathers; see Esket 
eski n. ski; skiing 
baton ~ ski pole 
~ sou chemen cross-country 
skiing 
~ sou dlo water-skiing 
fè ~ to ski 
èski see èske 
eskil n. mason's string (used as 
guide when roughcasting a wall) 
eskilte v. to sculpt 
eskiltè n. sculptor 
eskilti n. sculpture; wood-carving 
eskimo prop.n./adj. Eskimo, Inuit; n. 
chocolate-coated ice-cream 
eskis n. [Fr.] sketch, outline 
eskiv n. dodge, swerving 
fè yon ~ to dodge, swerve, avoid, 
duck 
eskive v. to dodge, swerve, avoid, 
duck 
eskiye v. to ski 
eskiyè n. skier; see reskiyè; 
restavèk 
eskiz, ekskiz n. apology, excuse, 
alibi, pretext 
mande ~ to apologize, ask 
forgiveness 
san ~ inexcusable, unforgivable 
eskize, ekskize v. to excuse, forgive; 
to apologize 
~ ko li to move aside, stand aside 
- ou la a! beat it! get lost! 
eskizofrèn n./adj. schizophrenic 
277 
esklame - eskriten 
esklame v. to exclaim, cry out 
esklann n. noise, spectacle, scene 
esklav n. slave; palm-chat (bird) - cf. 
zwazo palmis 
- bosal slave born in Africa 
- chanpèt field slave 
~ domestik house slave 
~ kreyèl slave bom in Saint-
Domingue 
~ metye slave working as a 
craftsman 
- palmis, zwazo palmis palm-
chat (bird) 
esklavaj see esklavay 
esklavajis n. slave-owner; slave-
trader, slaver; adj. slave-owning; 
pro-slavery 
esklavay, esklavaj, esklavite, 
lesklavaj, lesklavay n. slavery 
mete nan ~ to enslave 
esklewoz anplak n. multiple 
sclerosis 
eskli v. [Fr.] to exclude 
esklizif, eksklizif adj. exclusive, 
sole 
esklizyon n. exclusion; expulsion, 
suspension 
eskô n. [Fr.] score 
eskobit n. strange-looking person 
Eskoda prop.n. Skoda (vehicle) 
eskogrif n. lanky fellow 
eskolarizasyon, eskolarite n. 
schooling; school enrollment 
eskolarize v. to be enrolled in 
school; to send to school, educate 
eskolè adj. (of) school, (pertaining 
to) schools; academic, scholastic 
eskolit n. var. plant disease attacking 
esp. coffee plants 
eskèlyoz n. scoliosis 
eskominyen, eskomenye, 
eskomenyen, eskominye, 
eskonminyen v. to 
excommunicate 
eskominyon, eskomenyon, 
eskonminyon n. 
excommunication 
eskonbrit n. quarrel, fight, riot, 
dispute 
eskonmenyen see eskominyen 
eskonmenyon see eskominyon 
eskont n. loan; discount; advance 
salary payment but at reduced 
amount 
eskonte v. to expect (to), intend to, 
hope; to borrow (using property 
etc. as collateral); to discount; to 
receive salary advance but at 
reduced amount 
~ lajan to expect (to), intend to, 
hope; to borrow money with 
interest 
Eskopye prop.n. Skopje 
(Macedonia) 
eskèpyon n. scorpion; Scorpio 
(zodiac) 
fè yon kout ~ to destroy oneself 
eskori n. slag, scoria, clinker 
eskèt n. escort; group of Voodoo 
spirits accompanying an important 
Voodoo spirit; family of Voodoo 
spirits 
eskotch: 
- tep Scotch tape 
eskète v. to escort, convoy 
Eskotyabankprop.n. Scotia Bank 
eskoubin n. loafer, idler, slacker 
eskout (eklerè) n. boy scout; 
scouting (organization) 
eskoutis n. scouting 
eskreman n. [Fr.] excrement; cf. 
poupou 
eskrib n. scribe 
eskriten n. voting, polling, balloting 
278 
eskwa - espedisyon 
eskwa see espwa 
eskwach n. zucchini (squash); 
squash (game) 
eskwad n. (for reciprocal services or 
occ. for wages) work team (usu. 
smaller than a konbit); group; 
large number of; squadron (Jmilit.) 
- myèl swarm of bees 
eskwatim n. [Eng.] swat team 
eskwokri n. [Fr.] fraud, swindle 
eslang/i. [Eng.] slang 
eslay(d) n. (photographic) slide, 
transparency 
eslèt: 
dôktè ~ doctor of letters 
(somewhat similar to Ph.D.) 
eslip n. (man's Jockey-type) 
underpants; (woman's) panties 
eslogan, eslogann n. slogan 
Eslovak prop.n./adj. Slovak(ian) 
Repiblik ~ Slovak Republic 
Eslovakiprop.n. Slovakia 
Eslovèn prop.n./adj. Slovene, 
Slovenian 
Esloveniprop.n. Slovenia 
Esminprop.n. [Bible] Smyrna 
esmit n. var. of mango 
Esmitprop.n. Smith 
esmokin n. tuxedo 
~ ke fann tails (man's very formal 
evening wear) 
esnakba n. snack-bar 
esnè n. snare drum 
ESNÈM acron. SNEM (for Service 
National des Epidémies Majeures 
- essentially, the national malaria 
control program) 
ESNÈP acron. SNEP - Sévis 
Nasyonal Dio Potab (Service 
National d'Eau Potable) national 
drinking-water service 
Eso prop.n. Esso, Exxon 
esoufle v. to wheeze; adj. out-of-
breath, breathless 
espadon, espadwon n. swordfish 
espadonnen, espadonne v. to fend 
off, block or avoid a blow 
espadwon see espadon 
espageti n. spaghetti 
espak n. spark (mach.) 
espalye see epaye 
ESPAN acron. Enstiti pou Sove 
Patrimwàn Nasyonal (Institut 
pour la Sauvegarde du Patrimoine 
National) Institute for the 
Safeguard of the National 
Patrimony 
espanè, spanè n. spanner, wrench 
espant, èlpant, epant n. terror, fear; 
jab, swipe, blow 
espantan adj. startling, frightening; 
startled, frightened; adv. 
breathlessly, in suspense 
espante v. to be startled, be terrified, 
be frightened 
fè (yon moun) ~ to startle (s.o.) 
espanyol see panyôl 
espas, lespas n. space; gap, hole 
fè ~ to space, separate 
espase v. to space (out) 
espasyal adj. space 
Espatprop.n. Sparta 
Espatakis prop.n. Spartacus 
espatil n. tire iron, tire-lever; 
spatula; (dental) cement spatula; 
roseate spoonbill (bird) 
Espay see Lespay 
espayol see panyôl 
espè, ekspè n. expert, authority 
Espèprop.n. Espère (2nd communal 
section of Pestel, Dept. 
Grand'Anse) 
espedisyon, ekspedisyon n. sending 
of evil spirits or evil magical 
279 
espedisyonè - espirityèlman 
substances against an enemy 
(Voodoo); evil substance or spell 
(Voodoo); expedition; mailing, 
shipping, dispatching; 
consignment; copying, copy (of 
legal document) 
espedisyonè, ekspedisyonè adj. 
expeditionary 
espedye, ekspedye v. to expedite, 
finish quickly; to send (away); to 
ship, dispatch; to mail; to export; 
to exorcise, expel (an evil spirit); 
n. powder used in Voodoo-
inspired remedies 
espekilasyon n. speculation; 
wholesale buying 
espekilatè n. speculator; middleman 
who buys coffee and other 
produce 
espekilèm n. speculum 
espektak n. noise, hubbub; quarrel, 
scene; spectacle, show, exhibition 
espektakilè adj. spectacular 
espektatè n. spectator 
espektoran n. expectorant 
espèm n. sperm, ejaculate 
èspèmatozoyid n. spermatozoon, pl. 
spermatozoa 
esperans, lesperans n. hope; 
expectation 
~ vi life expectancy 
espere v. to hope (for); to wait (for); 
to expect 
esperimantal, eksperimantal adj. 
experimental 
esperimantasyon, 
eksperimantasyon n. 
experimentation 
esperimantatè n. experimenter, 
research scientist 
es périmante, eksperimante v. to 
experiment; adj. [Fr.] experienced 
esperyans, eksperiyans, 
eksperyans n. experience; 
maturity; experiment 
fè ~ to have an experience; to 
experiment 
esperyanse, eksperyanse v. to 
experience, go through 
espès n. kind of, type of; species; 
cash (cf. lajan kontan) 
espesifik adj. specific 
espesiflkman adv. specifically 
espesifye v. to specify 
espesimenn n. specimen, sample 
copy 
espesyal adj. special, particular 
espesyalis n. specialist; technician 
espesyalite, espesyalte n. speciality 
espesyalizasyon n. specialization 
espesyalize v. to specialize 
espesyalman adv. (especially, 
particularly; cf. sitou 
espètiz, ekspètiz n. expertise 
fè - to serve as an expert witness; 
to do advanced work/study in 
espidomèt n. speedometer 
espikè n. radio/television announcer; 
disc jockey 
espilse see ekspilse 
espilsyon see ekspilsyon 
espiral n./adj. spiral; n. hairspring 
(of watch or clock) 
espirasyon ekspirasyon n. 
expiration 
espire, ekspire v. to expire, go/be 
out-of-date; see respire 
- nyaj to take a puff, blow smoke 
(cigarette etc.) 
Espiriten prop.n. [ecc.] Holy Ghost 
Father 
espirityalite n. spirituality 
espirityèl adj. spiritual 
espirityèlman adv. spiritually 
280 
esplandè - espwopriye 
esplandè n. splendor 
esplandid adj. splendid 
Esplandid prop.n. Splendides 
(brand of Haitian cigarettes) 
esplikasyon, eksplikasyon, 
lesplikasyon n. explanation, 
directions; stern lecture, talking to, 
dressing down 
bay fè ~ to lecture, scold, 
reprimand, admonish 
esplike, eksplike v. to explain, 
account for; to talk things out; to 
describe, narrate 
esplorasyon see eksplorasyon 
esploratè see eksploratè 
esplore see eksplore 
esploze see eksploze 
esplozif see eksplozif 
esplozyon see eksplozyon 
esplwa see eksplwa 
esplwatasyon see eksplwatasyon 
esplwate see eksplwate 
esplwatè see eksplwatè 
espô, lespô n. sport; physical 
exercises 
espôkèt 72. sprocket 
esponansyèl adj. exponential 
esponnso, esponsô n. [Eng.] 
sponsor; advertiser 
esponnsôre, esponsorize v. [Eng.] 
to sponsor 
espontaneman adv. spontaneously 
espopye, espwopriye v. to 
expropriate 
espot (pibiisitè) n. [Fr.] commercial 
(radio, TV) 
espôtasyon, ekspotasyon n. 
exportation 
espôtatè, ekspotatè n. exporter 
espôte, ekspôte v. to export 
espôtif adj. sporting, athletic; n. 
sportsman, athlete 
konplèks ~ sports complex 
espôtlayt n. [Eng.] spotlight 
espôtmann n. weight lifter; 
sportsman 
espozan, ekspozan n. exponent 
(math) 
espoze, ekspoze v. to expose; to 
display, exhibit; n. oral 
presentation 
espozisyon, ekspozisyon n. show, 
exposition, exhibition, display 
sal ~ showroom; viewing area (in 
funeral parlor) 
Espraytprop.n. Sprite (pop. soft 
drink) 
espre n. aerosol spray 
espre, ekspre, esprè adv. on 
purpose, deliberately, 
intentionally, knowingly; adj. 
deliberate; n. emissary 
pa ~ on purpose, purposely 
se pa - m fè I didn't do it on 
purpose, I didn't mean to do it 
esprès, eksprès n. express; v. to 
send by express mail 
fè ~ to jump on a moving vehicle; 
to hurry, rush 
espresif, ekspresif adj. expressive 
esprèswe n. [Eng.] expressway, 
superhighway 
espresyon, ekspresyon n. 
expression; utterance 
espri see lespri 
esprime, eksprime, esprimen v. to 
express 
espwa, eskwa, èspwa, lespwa, 
lèspwa n. hope, expectations, 
anticipation 
espwatasyon see eksplwatasyon 
espwennfil n. Springfield (rifle) 
espwopriyasyon n. expropriation 
espwopriye see espopye 
281 
espyèg - estatistik 
espyèg adj. mischievous, impish 
espyon n. spy 
fè-to spy 
espyonnay, espyonaj, espyonay, 
espyonnaj n. espionage, spying 
koat - counter-espionage 
tspyonnen v, to spy (on) 
estab adj. stable, steady 
estaba adj. big, large 
bat - to tap, make tapping noise 
tstabHHen stability 
estabilizasyon n. stabilization 
estabilize v. to stabilize; to 
standardize 
estad n. stage (of journey or 
proctss); 178 meters [Bible] 
estad, estadyôm n. stadium 
- Silvyo Katô Syivio Cator 
Stadium (PaP) 
estaf it. staff, team 
tffcaj, estay n. training period, 
apprenticeship 
H~to take a training course 
estajè, estajyè n. learner, apprentice, 
trainee 
estalagmitu stalagmite 
•itiàallU m stalactite 
iriltiaiym see enstalasyon 
citait see tssttk 
EÏUHB (Joièf) prop.n. Stalin 
(Joseph) • Soviet Communist 
leader, 1879-1953 
citubèt, ctaabèt a sternpost (of 
iKWt) 
v^iMMÉ see estas a 
ettaMa *./odj. standard 
estaadadizasyoa n. standardization 
etismêaMm it to standardize 
Estanda(d) (Fwouit) pnp.n. 
Standard Fruit Company 
esta»», estaad n. stand, stall (csp. at 
carnival); bicycle stand 
estannbay, estanbay, estenbay, 
estennbay v. to sit back; to stand 
by, remain immobile; to stand by, 
wait; to be installed, be 
established; to obstruct, block (cj 
bare) 
sou - to be on the waiting list 
Estannlè prop.n. Stanley 
estanp n. branding iron 
estansyon, ekstansyon n. extensioi 
enlargement; development, 
expansion; extension cord 
pran - to develop, expand 
estasyon n. station; bus (etc.) 
terminal or stop; radio/TV station; 
station of the cross; small building 
for Protestant worship, branch 
church 
- gaz(olin) gas station, service 
station; cf. ponp gaz 
- ponpye fire station 
- vagon station wagon 
fè (yon) - to make a stop, stop off 
estasyonnen, estasyone, 
estasyonne v. to park 
estasyonnman, estasyonman n. 
parking 
estât v. to start (a car etc.) 
estatè, statè n. starter, ignition (of 
car etc.); ancient Greek monetary 
unit equivalent to four drachmas 
[Bible] 
estati n. statue; graven image; 
scarecrow; statute, by-law; status, 
standing 
~ an bwa woodcarving 
Estati Lalibète Statue of Liberty 
(New York City harbor) 
estatik adj. static 
estatistik/i. statistic(s); adj. 
statistical 
2S2 
estatistisyen - estimasyon 
estatistisyen, estatisyen n. 
statistician 
estay see estaj 
estayan adj. stagnant; cf. dlo dômi 
estaz, ekstaz n. ecstasy 
estchèm! onomat. a(t)chooo! (sound 
of sneeze) 
Esté fprop.n. [Bible] Esther 
Estefèn prop.n. Stephen 
estèk n. steak 
estekoun, estekonn n. servant; 
unpaid servant; second-hand or 
castofF clothing; adj. second-hand, 
castoff 
estèl n. stele, upright stone slab 
estèlin(g) n. sterling, British 
currency 
estèminasyon, ekstèminasyon n. 
extermination, extinction, 
eradication 
estèminatè n. exterminator 
estèminen, ekstèmine, ekstèminen, 
estèmine v. to exterminate, 
extirpate, eradicate 
estèna, ekstèna n. day school 
estenbay see estannbay 
estènen, ekstènen, estène, estèniye, 
estennen, estenye (pronounced: 
este-nye), estènye, estènyen, 
etènye, etènyen v. to sneeze; to 
snort (animals); n. sneeze 
estennbay see estannbay 
estenograf n. stenographer 
estènôm n. sternum (cf. biskèt) 
estensil n. stencil; ditto paper 
estenye, estènye, estènyen see 
estènen 
Estèpovè, Stèpovè prop.n. Stepover 
(var. of high-quality Haitian-made 
shoe) 
estera adj. pompous, proud 
~ era showing off, being pompous 
fè ~ to show off, be pompous 
estereyo n. stereo 
estereyotipe v. to stereotype 
esteril adj. sterile, disinfected; 
sterile, infertile, barren, childless 
esterilè n. IUD (intrauterine device), 
loop, (contraceptive) coil 
esterilizasyon n. sterilization 
(sanitizing; neutering) 
esterilizatè n. sterilizer 
~ vapè autoclave 
esterilize v. to sterilize (sanitize; 
neuter) 
esteryè, eksteryè n./adj. exterior 
Esteryen prop.n., Esteryèn fprop.n. 
inhabitant of L'Estère (Dept. 
Artibonite) 
Estetenn Aylenn prop.n. Staten 
Island (New York) 
estetik n. aesthetics; adj. aesthetic 
estetisyèn f.n. beautician 
estetoskop n. [Fr.] stethoscope; cf 
sonn 
Estèvprop.n. Steve; cf. Estiv 
estewoyid n. steroid 
estidyo, estidjo, stidyo n. 
broadcasting studio; beauty salon/ 
parlor; artist's studio 
~ bote, ~ pou fè bèbèl beauty 
salon/parlor 
estigma n. stigma 
estik n. (officer's) swagger stick 
(milit.) 
estik en. [Eng.] sticker, adhesive 
label 
estil, stil n. style, model, type 
estile adj. fashionable, chic 
estilè n. stiletto, dagger 
estilistik adj. stylistic 
estim n. esteem, respect 
estimasyon n. appraisal, evaluation 
fè ~ to appraise 
283 
estime - estriktirasyon 
estime v. to esteem, value; to 
appraise, evaluate; to consider, 
judge, deem 
Estime (Dimasè) ("Titim") prop.n. 
Estimé (Dumarsais) - president of 
Haiti, 1946-1950 
estimé n. steamer, steamship 
estimidè n. stevedore, docker, 
longshoreman 
estimilan n. stimulant 
estimile v. to stimulate 
estipefyan n. [Fr.] illegal drug, 
narcotic 
estipid adj. [Fr.] stupid, dumb 
estiptik: 
kreyon ~ styptic pencil 
Estivprop.n. Steve; cf. Estèv 
estèje v. to clean up; to beat up, do 
in (s.o.) 
estôk n. stock, supply, merchandise, 
wares; stock, shares, securities; 
soup stock, broth 
estokaj, estokay n. storage, storing, 
stocking; hoarding; black 
marketing 
estoke v. to stock (up); to store, 
stockpile; to compile 
estokè n. stockpiler 
Estokolm prop.n. Stockholm 
(Sweden) 
estokrat see aristokrat 
estôlèdè adj. snobbish, vain, 
pretentious 
estèlèj, estolôy n. var. of plant 
estomak see lestonmak 
Èstoni see Lèstoni 
estonmake, estomake v. to stagger, 
flabbergast; to be offended, take 
offense; adj. indignant, offended 
estonmakman, estomakman n. 
offense, indignation 
estôp n. stop; K to stop 
estope, estope v. to stop 
estra see ekstra 
estrad n. bleachers; platform, stand 
estrade v. to extradite 
estradisyon n. extradition 
estragônya n. crape myrtle (shrub) 
estraodinè see estwôdinè 
estrap n. [Eng.] strap, paddle, whip 
etc. 
estraponten n. jump-seat, foldaway 
seat 
estratèj n. strategist 
estrateji, estratèji n. strategy 
estratejik adj. strategic(al) 
estratejis n. strategist 
estraterès, ekstraterès n./adj. 
extraterrestrial 
estrateritoryal, ekstrateritoryal 
adj. extraterritorial 
estrav n. stem, forward part of a ship 
estravagan adj. extravagant 
estravagannza n. extravaganza 
estravagans n. extravagance 
estrawodinè see estwôdinè 
estrè, ekstrè n. extract, digest; 
certificate 
~ kaka piece of shit (person) 
estrèm, ekstrèm adj. extreme 
~ dwat right winger (soccer) 
~ gèch left winger (soccer) 
estremis see ekstremis 
estrèmonsyon n. last rites, extreme 
unction 
estrèptokôk n. streptococcus 
estrès n. stress 
estrese v. to stress, pressure, torment 
èstrevage v. to be out of one's head, 
talk nonsense 
estrik, strik adj. strict, rigorous, 
harsh, severe 
estrikti n. structure, framework 
estriktirasyon n. structuralization 
284 
estriktire - etanol 
estriktire v. to structure 
estriktirèl adj. structural 
estriman n. general harness for 
donkey etc. 
estriptiz n. [Eng.] striptease 
estrit n. [Eng.] street 
estwôdè n show-off, pompous ass 
estwôdinè, ekstrawôdinè, 
ekstwôdinè, estraôdinè, 
estrawôdinè adj. extraordinary, 
exceptional, phenomenal 
estwôf n. verse, stanza (song) 
estwok n. stroke, apoplexy 
estwopye v. to injure, cripple, maim; 
n. cripple; adj. lame, disabled; cf. 
kokobe 
estyèm onomat. kerchoo (sound 
made when sneezing) 
eswiglas n. [Fr.] windshield wiper; 
cf. wouchin(g) 
èt (imen) n. (human) being; cf. 
kretyen vivan 
eta n. condition, situation, state, 
plight; state (political or 
geographic division), nation; 
government; see leta 
(biwo) ~ sivil public bureau of 
vital statistics (where births, 
marriages and deaths are recorded) 
~ dedwa rule by law; legitimacy, 
lawfulness 
~ d(e) syèj state of siege 
Eta Jenewo States General 
(French history) 
~ majô general staff (milit.) 
~ rezilta profit-loss sheet 
~ sivil marital status 
fè ~ to report, tell about, describe 
nan bon ~ in working condition 
ofisye (d)~ sivil registrar of vital 
statistics 
Eta prop.n. Ertha 
etab n. cowshed 
établi see tabli 
etablisman n. establishment, 
enterprise 
etadedwa see eta de dwa 
etadsyèj see eta de syèj 
etaj, etay n. floor, story (of 
building); cf. letaj 
nan - on the second floor/story 
etajè, letajè n. shelf, rack; set of 
shelves 
~ liv bookcase 
etalaj see etalay 
etalajis: 
machann ~ stallkeeper, merchant 
who spreads out his/her wares 
(obs.) 
etalan see étalon 
etalay, etalaj n. array, display; 
bragging, show 
gade ~ to windowshop 
etale v. to display, spread out 
(merchandise); to knock down, 
flatten (s.o.); to make known, 
spread (the word); to brag 
étalon, etalan, talan n. stallion 
etamajo n. general staff (milit.) 
etamin n. stamen (bot.) 
etan see antan; letan 
etanbot see estanbèt 
etandi n. [Fr.] area, expanse (of 
land) 
Etandijon prop.n. Etang-du-Jonc 
(3rd communal section of Pétion-
Ville, Dept. West) 
etandone adv. [Fr.] given (that), 
admitting (that) 
etandot pron. and more, and others, 
and so many others 
etann v. to extend, expand, stretch 
out, spread out 
etanol n. ethanol 
etanp - etranj 
etanp, letanp n. branding iron, brand; 
stamp, mark; temple (anatomy) 
etanpe see tanpe 
Etansomat see Letan Somat 
ctap n. stage (of journey or process) 
etasivil see eta 
etatik adj. [Fr.] state, under state 
control 
etatize v. to establish state or 
government control over 
etay see etaj 
Etazini ( Amerik), Lezetazini, 
Lèzetazini, Ozetazini (Amerik), 
Zetazini prop.n, United States (of 
America) 
Etazinyen prop.n., Etazinyèn 
f.prop.n. US citizen, American; 
prop.adj. US, American 
ètchè see entchè 
etc see kte 
ctè «. ether 
Eté prop.n. [Book of Mormon] Ether 
etea ». tin; solder 
ctèa see etenn 
etène, etènen see entènen 
etènèl adj. eternal 
etènèiman adv. eternally 
etènite see letèaite 
etènize (sow) v. [Fr] to go/drag on 
and on (about) 
eteaa, etèa v. to put out, extinguish, 
turn off; to shut down (computer) 
- sotif, - iavi to squash; to 
throttle, kill; killer 
- swaf li to quench one's thirst 
eteasèi, tcnsèl n, spark 
fè - to spaikle; to spar, dispute 
etèaye, etèayea see estènen 
tUsee plètil 
etkl, zetid n. study; studies, 
éducation; reflcctkm, deliberation; 
office (of lawyer, notary etc.) 
gwo ~ advanced study 
etidyan n.y etidyant f.n. student 
etidye, edidye, etidje v. to study, 
study to be a/an....; to consider, 
reflect on; n. studying 
~ fè to study hard; to study by 
reciting aloud 
etik n. ethics; adj. ethical 
etikal adj. ethical 
etikèt, letikèt n. label, sticker 
etimoloji n. etymology 
etimolojik adj. etymological 
etire see retire 
etnik adj. ethnic 
etnograf n. ethnographer 
etnolèg n. ethnologist 
etnoloji, etno n. ethnology 
etnolojik adj. ethnological 
eto see leto 
etof, letèf n. material, fabric 
etôl n. stole (ecc.) 
etonan, etonnan adj. amazing, 
astonishing 
etone(n) see etonnen 
etonman, etonnman n. amazement 
astonishment, surprise 
etonnan see etonan 
etonnen, etone(n) v. to be surprised 
amazed, astonished; to surprise, 
amaze, astonish 
etoudi adj. scatterbrained, absent-
minded; v. to daze, stun; to make 
dizzy 
etoudisman, toudisman n. 
dizziness, lightheadedness, 
giddiness, vertigo 
etoufman, retoufman n. 
suffocation; asphyxia; choking; 
shortness of breath; dyspnea; 
asthma; emphysema 
étranglé adj. strangulated 
etranj adj. foreign, unknown; 
2&6 
etranje - evènman 
strange, peculiar, odd 
etranje n. stranger; foreigner, alien 
(cf. blan); guest; adj. foreign; 
imported; factory-made (whether 
in Haiti or abroad) 
nan ~ abroad 
etranjman adv. strangely, oddly 
etrèn see zetrenn 
etrenite see letènite 
etriye, zetriye n. stirrup; stirrups 
(for pelvic exam); staple, U-
shaped metal loop (for holding in 
place re bars etc.) 
ets. (abbrev.) etsetera(era) etc., et 
cetera 
etwal see zetwal 
~ di maten morning star 
etwale adj. starry, star-studded; star-
spangled 
etwat adj. narrow; tight 
ètwèt n. var. of bird 
etwi n. case, holder; holster 
Etwondpô obs.prop.n. Etron-de-
Porc (lit. Pig Turd); former name 
of Saint-Jean-du-Sud (Dept. 
South) 
Etyèn prop.n. Stephen 
Etyèn (Chaloska) prop.n. Etienne 
(Charles-Oscar) - military 
commander accused of 1915 PaP 
killing of large number of political 
prisoners 
Etyèn (Frank), Franketyèn prop.n. 
Etienne (Franck) - Haitian novelist 
and painter, author of Dezafi (b. 
1936) 
ètyô see entchô 
Etyopi, Letyopi prop.n. Ethiopia 
Etyopyen prop.n./adj., Etyopyèn 
f.prop.n. Ethiopian 
èv n. work of art or literature; see 
zèv 
Èv fprop.n. Eve 
evade to escape, flee; n. escaped 
prisoner 
evakyasyon n. evacuation 
evakye, evakwe v. to evacuate 
evalyasyon, evaliyasyon n. 
evaluation; assessment, estimate; 
grading (of tests) 
evalyatè n. evaluator; appraiser; 
grader (for tests) 
evalye, valye v. to evaluate, 
appraise, assess; to grade (tests) 
evanjelik adj. evangelical 
evanjelis n. evangelist; preacher 
evanjelizasyon n. evangelization 
fè ~ to evangelize 
evanjelize v. to evangelize, spread 
the Gospel 
Evanjil n. [Fr.] Gospel 
evantay, levantay, vantay n. 
(hand-)fan; range, scope 
evantre see vantre 
evantyalite n. eventuality 
evantyèl adj. eventual 
evantyèlman adv. eventually 
evaporasyon see vaporasyon 
evapore see vapore 
evarye see varye 
evatye, vatye v. to have a bowel 
movement; cf. watè 
evaze adj. flared, widening out 
evazyon n. escape 
Èveprop.n. Hervé 
eveche, leveche n. bishopric, 
diocese; bishop's residence 
evèk, levèk n. bishop 
evèn see nevèn 
evènman, evenman (pronounced: 
eve-nman), evennman, 
levenman (pronounced: leve-
nman), levènman, levennman n. 
happening, event, incident; 
287 
evèy - Ezôp 
unusual occurrence; outcome; 
eccentric character 
evèy n. [Fr.] awakening 
eveye v. [Fr.] to awaken, stimulate; 
adj. alert; cf. leve 
evidaman adv. evidently 
evidan adj. evident, obvious; cf. klè 
evidans n. evidence 
evitay n. ensemble of one's personal 
Voodoo spirits 
evite, envite v, to avoid; to prevent, 
avert; to spare 
evoke v. to evoke, recall, call to mind 
evolisyon n. evolution; progress 
evolye v. to evolve, develop; to be 
active, be involved, take part; adj. 
well-developed, strong (person) 
evrèt n. denim; cf. karabela 
evye n. [Fr.] kitchen sink 
ewi interj. yes (unfortunately) 
ewo n. hero; euro (European 
monetary unit) 
Ewochima see Iwochima 
Ewôd prop.n. [Bible] Herod 
Ewodôt pwp.n. Herodotus (Greek 
historian, 5th century B.C.) 
Ewodyad prop.n. [Bible] Herodias 
Ewôl pwp.n. Errol 
Ewèp, Lewôp prop.n. Europe 
- de Lès, - Olevan Eastern 
Europe 
- de Lwès, - Oksidantal Western 
Europe 
ewôpeyanize v. to Europeanize 
Ewôpeyen prop.nJadj. European 
cwotik adj. erotic 
ewoyik adj. heroic; cf. vanyan 
ewoyikman adv. heroically 
ewoyia n. heroin; f.n. heroine 
ewoyinomàn n. heroin addict 
ewozyon n, erosion 
- an nap sheet erosion 
~ an rigôl gully erosion 
ey! interj. hey! 
èy: 
~ pou - , dan pou dan an eye for 
an eye, a tooth for a tooth 
eyandwa n. [Fr.] beneficiary, 
eligible party 
eye, eyè n. carnation (flower); see 
zeye 
Eyôl prop.n. Aeolis, Aeolia (ancient 
region of Asia Minor) 
eyolyèn adj. aeolian, wind-blown 
èz, lèz, zèz n. ease, pleasure, comfort 
ezans n. ease, facility; affluence, 
prosperity 
Ezayiprop.n. [Bible] Isaiah, Esaias 
eze adj. [Fr.] easy; well-to-do, well-
off 
Ezekyas prop.n. [Bible] Hezekiah 
Ezekyèl prop.n. [Bible] Ezekiel 
Èzili, Èzili-Zila, Zili prop.n. Erzulie 
(most important of the female 
Voodoo spirits: represents love, 
grace and beauty as well as 
jealousy) 
~ Danto Black Erzulie 
~ Freda White Erzulie 
~-Je-Wouj evil female Voodoo 
spirit associated with jealousy 
Grann-~ Voodoo spirit: crippled 
old woman 
Some Petwo Èzili are: - Boumba, 
~ Kanlikan, - Kè-Nwa, ~ 
Kokobe, ~ Mapyang 
ezitan adj. hesitant, irresolute 
ezitasyon n. hesitation, indecision 
ezite v. to hesitate; n. hesitation 
san - unhesitatingly 
ezofaj, lezofaj n. [Fr.] esophagus 
tib - gastrointestinal (GI) tube 
Ezôp prop.n. Aesop (ancient Greek 
fabulist) 
f - fal 
F 
f (pronounced: èf)F 
fa n. make-up; lipstick; lighthouse, 
beacon; F (music) 
kle - bass clef (music) 
fab n. detergent (cleansing 
substance); fable, fairy tale; joke, 
gag 
fabnak n. (plastic or rubber) sandal, 
shoe 
fabrik n. factory 
(mak) - brand; trademark; 
hallmark; (distinctive) 
characteristic 
fabrikan n. manufacturer, maker 
fabrikasyon n. manufacturing; 
manufacture; falsehood, lie 
fabrikatè n. fabricator (pej.) 
fabrike v. to manufacture; to 
fabricate, make up 
Fabyasprop.n. communal section of 
Dessalines (Dept. Artibonite) 
fache adj. annoyed, upset, angry, 
mad; v. to trouble, upset; to get 
angry, get mad; n. fit of anger 
~ pou li pa chape, ~ prêt pou 
pete to be beside oneself with 
anger 
- sou angry at, mad at 
fè ~ to anger 
koupe ~ to break off relations, 
break off a friendship 
fachin n. twig 
~ bwa kindling wood 
fachis, fasis n. fascism; n./adj. 
fascist 
fachman n. anger 
fad adj. tasteless, insipid, flat 
~ sèl not enough salt 
fade v. to put on make-up 
FADH acron. Fôs Ame Dayiti 
(Forces Armées d'Haïti) Armed 
Forces of Haiti 
fado n. burden, load; box, carton, 
crate 
FAES acron. Fon Asistans 
Ekonomik Ewôpeyen (Fonds 
d'Assistance Economique 
Européenne) Fund for European 
Economic Assistance 
fafouten see pafouten 
fafouye v. to rummage (about) 
fago n. embers, burning wood 
fagote v. to rig out, dress 
ridiculously 
mal ~ carelessly done, shabby 
fakilte n. resources, means; faculty, 
ability; school/ division/branch of 
university 
Faklann see Malwin 
faks n. (tele)fax; v. to (tele)fax 
fakse v. to (tele)fax 
faksyon n. sentry, watch, guard 
an fè ~ to be on guard-duty 
pran - , monte - to stand guard 
faksyonnè, faksyonè, fraksyonnè 
n. sentry 
faktè n. mail carrier; factor 
fakti n. invoice, bill 
faktirasyon n. invoicing, billing 
faktori n. factory, plant 
fal n. gullet; craw, crop (of bird); 
breast (bird); gizzard; chest, 
stomach (pej.); upper part of 
overalls or apron 
al pote - li to seek out danger, not 
take precautions 
- dam var. of bird 
rale - li sou to threaten, menace 
289 
falbala - fan m 
falbala n. trimming, frill (skirt, 
jacket etc.) 
falèz, falèy n. cliff, precipice; fissure 
fè - to collapse, cave in 
falèze v. to be a cliff-hanger 
falfann n. var. of mango 
falèp: 
twonp - Fallopian tube 
falstfikasyon n. falsification, 
adulteration 
falta v. to falter, fail; to run aground; 
to end up at 
fam see fanxn 
famasetik adj. pharmaceutical 
famasi, fanmasi, fonmasi, 
fwonmasi n. pharmacy, drugstore; 
(bathroom) medicine-cabinet 
famasyea, fanmasyen, fonmasyen 
». pharmacist, druggist 
fonbctay see faan chay 
adj. famous 
family al see fawnâyal 
faattyartte ». familianty, closeness 
faaoHyarize v. to familiarize, 
- ak to become familiar with 
hmÊyt «0. familiar, informal; 
faa*. fwwn, young <k*r 
flMMlflfc 9k In» supporter, admirer, 
faaarti i famikiiiii 
! It to 
, (pertaining to 
§ "s^ o^ nfiyftiB cr Kiiser cnt 
fanchon n. curse, spell, hex 
fandang n. fandango (type of dance) 
fandanman, fondanman, 
foundanman adj. miry, muddy, 
rancid; rotten (meat, fish); n. 
spoiled meat 
fane v. to fade, droop, wither, wilt 
fanfa n. marching band (music); 
brass band 
Fanfan prop.n. nickname for Fraatz 
fanfawon n. braggart 
fè - to brag, boast 
fanfeje v. to corner (an opponent) 
fanm, fam f.n. (often rather pej.) 
woman; common-law wife; 
mistress 
ale nan ~/fi to sleep with 
numerous women; to go to a 
brothel 
bay - pitit to make pregnant 
- ak - lesbianism 
- akote mistress 
- akouchman midwife; cf. ~ chay 
- awôm tomboy 
- biblo trophy wife; useless 
woman 
- blanch var. of mango 
- bwa see ~ môn 
~ cham sexy woman 
~ chans woman who brings a man 
good fortune 
- chay, - chaj, ~ saj, ~ say 
midwife 
- dafè businesswoman 
- deliks trophy wife; useless 
woman 
~ deyô mistress 
- filing sexy woman 
- gran krinyè woman with long 
(flowing) hair; pretentious woman 
~ jaden woman who plays a 
particularly active role in farming 
290 
fanm - fann 
- kafe prostitute (working in a 
brothel) 
- kale ko seductress 
- kay principal common-law wife; 
concubine [Bible] 
~ ki gen - nan - yo truly 
outstanding woman 
- kolokent loose woman 
- lib loose woman 
- mal tomboy; lesbian 
- mon, - bwa peasant woman 
- manjèd kôd highly 
promiscuous woman 
- plase common-law wife 
- saj, - say midwife 
- solèy beautiful woman 
- sou kote mistress 
- tèt, - sèvo intelligent woman 
- totalkapital complete woman, 
hell of a woman, fine wonderful 
woman 
- tou limen, - ton pare 
seductress 
- twotwa prostitute 
- vanyan strong woman 
- vitrin trophy wife; useless 
woman 
- zwazo fickle woman 
gen - sou li see mete - sou li 
gran ~ woman with high-placed 
connections 
mach - menstruation, menstrual 
problems 
mal ~ lesbian; cf. madivinèz 
mete - sou li to act like a woman 
of courage, be firm; to assume 
one's responsibilities; to get with it 
Ministè Kondisyon Fanm (ak 
Dwa Fanm) Ministry of Women's 
Affairs 
fanmasi see famasi 
fanmasyen see famasyen 
fanmchay, famsaj, famsay, 
famnchaj, fanmsaj, fanmsay f.n. 
midwife 
fanmi, fami n. immediate family; 
relative(s); extended family; group 
of Voodoo spirits; adj. related 
- lwen distant relative(s); distantly 
related 
- pre immediate family, close 
relative(s) 
gran - wealthy and respected 
family 
kôd - extended family 
ti - distant relative 
fanmilyal, familyal adj. family, 
hereditary 
fanmiman adv. as a family, in a 
family group; within the family, 
confidentially 
fanmitay, fanmiray n. family 
relationships; family connections 
fanmitaye v. to become family 
fanmôt adj. effeminate, sissy; n. 
poor or ineffectual housewife; 
weak man; faggot (offensive term 
for male homosexual) 
fanmsaj, fanmsay see fanmchay 
fann v. to slit, split (open), cleave; to 
crack, break open; to lance; to beat 
hard; to flee (to); to dash, run; to 
chap, become chapped; n. cut; 
incision 
- devan m! split! get the hell out 
of here! 
- dèyè, - nan siyay (yon moun) 
to pursue, go after; to keep after 
(s.o.), be on (s.o.'s) tail, be all out 
after s.o.; to get on s.o.'s case, 
bother, annoy 
- fwa to tear apart, do in; to kill, 
murder; crushing, violent, 
murderous 
291 
fann - fas 
- kann to scram, flee 
- kè heart-breaking 
- k6 li to make one's way, 
advance; to flee, run away 
- kô ou! split! get the hell out of 
here! 
- nan kè/deng (yon moun) to go 
after (s.o.) with a vengeance 
- nan siyay (yon moun) see - dèyè 
- vant to perform a Caesarean 
section/stomach surgery 
ke - jacket with vented tail 
fannal, fanal n. lantern; Chinese 
lantern; lit-up papier-mâché house 
(seen chiefly at Christmas); 
calabash used as lantern by 
fishermen to attract fish at night; 
lighthouse lamp 
fannfwa v. to tear apart, do in; to 
kill, murder; adj. crushing, violent, 
murderous 
fant n. crack, split, fissure; slit, 
opening, gap; crotch; (tire) tread; 
slot; space between (fingers etc.) 
- dèyè, - bounda anal groove, 
crease between buttocks 
- janm groin 
- mèn gorge, mountain pass 
- woch cave, grotto 
- zètèy flip-flops (sandals) 
pale nan - dan (ak gwo zètèy k 
ap peze tè a) to lie through one's 
teeth 
fantas n. fantasy 
fantezi n. whim, caprice; everyday 
(clothing) 
fè - (yon moun) to do as (s.o.) 
likes, please s.o. 
fè yon bagay pou - to do s.thg. 
out of sheer caprice 
fantezis adj. whimsical, capricious; 
n. whimsical or capricious person 
fantoch adj. puppet, figurehead 
fantom n. phantom, ghost; 
figurehead, ruler/chief without 
power; adj. bogus, fake 
fap onomat. to express sudden 
action 
- - right away, immediately 
farandèlè, farandolè n. bragger, 
boaster; greenhorn, sucker; adj. 
bragging, boastful 
farawon n. pharaoh 
Farennay(t) n. Fahrenheit 
farin n. flour; meal; grub, food 
(fam.) 
- diri rice powder 
- frans wheat flour 
- ginen flour mixed with sand etc. 
used to draw Voodoo vèvè (<7.v.) 
- lapli drizzle, sprinkle, light rain 
- manyok tapioca 
- mayi corn starch 
- sinistre foreign-donated flour 
fè - to be shattered (into many 
pieces) 
menm -, - menm sak birds of a 
feather, alike 
tire - to trace a vèvè (q.v.) 
farinay, farinaj n. drizzle, sprinkle, 
light rain; heavy mist; adj. light, 
mild 
- bwa kindling wood 
farinen, farine v. to coat with flour; 
to drizzle, sprinkle, rain lightly; to 
be misty; n. drizzle, sprinkle, light 
rain 
farizyen prop.n. [Bible] Pharisee; n. 
hypocrite 
fas n. side, face; farce; trick, 
practical joke; stuffing, filling 
(cul.)\ cf. lafas 
an - see anfas 
bay - to turn toward (s.o.) 
292 
fas - fawouchè 
~ a ~ an ~ P o u ~ ^ace t 0 ^ace' 
across from, opposite 
- ak faced with 
fè -, mete nan ~ to make fun of; 
to kid 
fè - (ak) to face, confront 
fè - kare (ak) to oppose, face up 
to, face off in combat 
fasa prep, facing, in the face of, 
faced with, versus 
fasad n. front, façade; (false) 
appearance; side; each of the four 
directions of the compass 
fasanfas, fasafas adv. face to face 
fase see efase 
fasè n. (practical) joker; phony, 
undependable person 
fasenè n. [Eng.] wood joint fastener 
fasèt n. facet, aspect 
je - compound eyes (bees etc.) 
fasfoud n. [Eng.] fast food 
fasi v. to stuff (poultry etc.) 
fasil adj. easy; easygoing; loose 
(morally); adv. easily 
fasilitasyon n. facilitation, 
mediation 
fasilitatè n. facilitator, mediator, go-
between 
fasilite n. ease, convenience; facility, 
way; v. to facilitate, simplify; to 
provide (with) 
fasilitè n. facilitator, go-between 
fasilman adv. easily 
fasinen, fasine v. to fascinate 
fasis see fachis 
fason n. way, means; behavior, 
manner 
fasondaji n. [Fr.] behavior, manner; 
cf. konpôtman 
fasonnen, fasone v. to shape, 
fashion, model 
fasonnman n. shaping, fashioning, 
modeling 
fat adj. elegant, dressed up 
fatal adj. fatal 
fatalité n. fate, destiny 
fatig n. fatigue, weariness 
gwo ~ exhaustion 
fatigan adj. tiring, fatiguing; 
tiresome, tedious 
fatige v. to tire, exhaust; to worry, 
annoy, badger; adj. tired, weary 
(esp. mental fatigue); worn out, 
weak, battered, beat-up 
~ ko li to worry, fret 
fatra n. trash, garbage, rubbish, 
waste, junk 
boko pil ~ garbage heap; 
garbage dump 
bwat pànye ~ trash basket; 
garbage can, trash can 
"Fatra Baton" nickname for th 
young Toussaint Louverture 
machin ~ garbage truck, 
dumptruck 
fatray bwa n. kindling wood 
favè n. favor, service, grace 
fè ~ to grant, give 
favorab adj. favorable, propitious 
favorabman adv. favorably 
favoritis n. favoritism; cf. paspouki 
favorize v. to favor, give preference 
to; to condone 
faw onomat. to express sudden 
action 
Fawès prop.n. "Far-West," Dept. 
North-West 
fawouch adj. wild, savage; shy, 
unsociable; frightening 
bay - to frighten (off), scare (off) 
fawouche v. to frighten (off), scare 
(off); to aggravate; to taunt, jeer, 
mock 
fawouchè n. frightening person; 
293 
fay-fè 
troublemaker; instigator; wit, 
joker, humorist, wisecracker 
fay n. fault, fail; break, hole, fissure, 
gap; hit, blow; adj. faint, giddy, 
light-headed; light; frail; 
superficial 
- minit five minutes, right away 
faya v. to faint; adj. very weak (from 
hunger); deadly 
tonbe - to be depressed or 
exhausted; to starve to death 
fayans n. earthenware, pottery 
faye: 
- jou to dawn, grow light 
Fayeton, Fayton prop.n. Phaéton 
(Dept. North-East) 
fayi v. to fail, falter; to do wrong, sin 
fayit n. failure; bankruptcy 
ft - to go bankrupt, declare 
bankruptcy; to go under, lose out 
Fayton see Fayeton 
faz n. phase 
FBI acron. (pronounced: èf-bi-ay) 
Federal Bureau of Investigation 
(USA) 
fe n. ridge (of roof); force, vigor; 
rash, skin eruption; firing, 
shooting; fairy [Fr.]; interj. fire! 
shoot! (command) 
an ~ passionate, impulsive, rash 
an t i - slowly, gradually 
- bal volley of shots/bullets 
- datifis fireworks 
~ kwazc crossfire 
- nouri heavy firing, constant 
shooting 
ft fè ~ bal to fire a gun 
kase - to turn down the heat 
kas* - yon moun to quiet s.o. 
down, calm s.o. down 
tonvri ~ to open fire, shoot 
•« mèt ft - you can bet on it! 
fè v. to do, perform, execute; to 
make, build, construct; to go, head 
towards; to accomplish; to 
manufacture, fabricate; to create, 
form, fashion; it is (weather); to 
outdo; to make up, constitute, 
compose; to last, be good for 
(object); to cause, bring about; to 
produce, yield fruit; to bring forth, 
bear; to give birth; to form, train; 
to be studying or learning (law, 
medicine etc.); to convert, turn; to 
gain, collect, acquire; to take in 
money; to pretend to be, act, 
imitate; to stay, spend (time); to 
have sex; to have a bowel 
movement; n. iron; steel; flatiron; 
weights, dumbbell, barbell; 
horseshoe; iron rod; rebar; fact; 
stirrups (for pelvic exam); same as 
ogan (q.v.) 
andeyô a pa - menm in the 
country(side) things are bad 
(ba) - metal re(inforcing) bar/rod 
bat - to lift weights; to beat metal 
against metal (in order supposedly 
to attract and then kill a 
threatening bee); see also tenèb 
~ ak to cope with, get along with 
~ a repase, - a men flatiron 
- a soude (electric) soldering iron 
~ an u u-beam 
- blan tin; tin can 
- bous, - chabon, - gous flatiron 
heated with charcoal 
- dife flatiron that must be heated 
on a fire 
- divè [Fr.] news tidbit, random 
occurrence 
- e/ak defè to be all powerful, be 
omnipotent 
- - to have done, have made 
294 
fè - fedatifis 
- . - yon sèl to merge, put 
together, incorporate 
- foje wrought-iron 
- komsi/konmsi/konsi to pretend, 
make believe 
- kônyè angle iron (mack) 
~ kouran, ~ letrisite electric 
flatiron 
- le to act as, pretend to be 
- lè to scram, clear out 
- li ak yon moun to empathize 
with s.o., feel for s.o. 
- m p a w è ou! get out of my 
sight! get lost! 
- mal to harm; to hurt, pain; to 
ache, be sore 
- pa (li) to pardon, forgive, have 
pity on; to share with; to do a 
favor for s.o.; to give s.o. a 
chance; to rant and rave, rampage, 
be out of control 
- reyèl fact 
- sa li pito/renmen/vle to do 
whatever one wants 
~ sa pou to be about to do s.thg. 
and then be interrupted 
~ semèl iron staple 
~ sou to attribute to; to accuse 
(of); to make (money etc.) off of 
s.o. 
~ sou li to urinate/defecate on 
oneself 
~ sou (modèl) to reproduce, copy 
~ soulye, ~ talon cleats 
~ (tan)kou to pretend, make 
believe 
~ tiyo line, pipe (mach.) 
~ won lis smooth reinforcing rod, 
smooth rebar 
~won zo reken ribbed reinforcing 
rod, ribbed rebar 
~ yon ti (+ v.) to (verb) a little 
Ki lè ou What time do you 
have? What time is it according to 
your watch? 
kouri ~ sou to iron 
leve ~ to lift weights 
mete - to work hard 
pa ~ ni de ni twa, pa ~ ni youn ni 
de not to hesitate for a moment, 
not beat around the bush 
pa gen yon - not to have a cent 
pase ~ sou to iron 
sa ~ ago, it has been 
Sa li ~ li I don't care! Who 
cares!; Be it as it may!; Whatever 
happens happens! 
se sa li pa ka ~ li pa ~ to do 
everything one can think of, do 
everything under the sun, do 
everything imaginable (neg.) 
tire ~ to hit or beat (s.o.) with a 
metal club 
fèb adj. weak, feeble, frail; dull; 
faint, dim 
li ~ pou li (s)he has a weak spot 
for him/her, she loves him/her 
fèblan n. tin; drum (metal 
receptacle); tin can; tin box; tinny-
sounding musical instrument 
fëblantye, fëbantye n. tinsmith 
feblès, fèblès, lafeblès n. weakness, 
feebleness, frailty; anemia; 
weakling 
maladi ~ malnutrition; var. of 
poultry disease 
maladi ~ nan pye var. of poultry 
disease 
tonbe ~ to faint, pass out; to be 
exhausted 
febli v. to weaken, lose strength, 
diminish 
fëbren n. dusk 
fedatifis n. fireworks 
295 
federal - fèmen 
tire ~ to set off fireworks 
federal adj. federal 
federasyon n. federation 
federe v. to federate, unite 
fedètgiyom: 
ti mâche ~ any place where many 
people are coming and going 
fedjennès see fejennès 
fedjwa n. bonfire; cf. boukan 
fedkan n. campfire, bonfire; camp-
out (scouts) 
fegonde see fekonde 
fejennès, difejennès, fedjennès n. 
acne 
fèk, fenk, fèrank, fèrèk, fèrenk 
aux. to have just (done s.thg.); adv. 
recently 
- desann hillbilly, country hick 
~ kare to have just started (doing 
s.thg.) 
- sôt(i) to have just (done s.thg.) 
fekal: 
matyè ~ excrement, fecal matter 
fekil (mayi) n. cornstarch 
fèklè: 
a ti ~ at the crack of dawn 
fekondasyon n. fecundation 
fekonde, fegonde v. to fecundate, 
impregnate 
fele it. crack, break, fissure, fault; v. 
to crack, split, fracture 
Feliks pwp.n. Felix 
felisitasyon pin. congratulations 
felislte v. to congratulate 
feiisya n. var. of banana 
fèm /t. farm; lease, annual rent; adj. 
firm, solid, sturdy, steady; adv. 
firmly, solidly, sturdily, steadily 
fè - to sign a lease, rent 
- kay house rent 
- kon ti kzanj twitan solid as a 
rock; tight as a drum 
~ (l)ekol rural school 
kay ~ rented house 
fèmaj, fèmay n. lease; leasing 
~ kado preferential leasing of 
(usu. state-owned) land 
femalaganach adj./adv. hard, 
persistent(ly), with perseverance 
fèman n. ferment, fermenting agent 
fernan, anfeman n. machete 
femantasyon n. fermentation 
femante v. to ferment 
Fèmat prop.n. Fermathe (between 
Pétion-Ville and Kenscoff, Dept. 
West) 
femay see fèmaj 
femèl, fèmèl, fenmèl n. female 
(animal not yet having given birth; 
otherwise: manman); pej. female, 
woman; adj. female 
fememan adv. firmly, solidly 
fèmen, fenmen v. to close, shut, turn 
off; to close down, shut off; to 
close up (fontanel); to confine, 
imprison; to enclose; to corner; to 
block, obstruct; to grow worse 
(weather); to take in a hem, make 
smaller (clothes); to withdraw into 
one's self, retire into one's shell; 
to retract its feathers (fighting 
cock); to refuse to fight (cock); to 
form scar tissue, cicatrize; n. 
closing, shutdown; adj. shy, timid, 
bashful; reserved, withdrawn; 
narrow-minded 
~ a(k) kle to lock 
~ bouch/djèl ou! shut up! 
~ je sou to ignore, tolerate 
~ nan prizon to lock up (in jail), 
imprison 
~ pye to put one's legs together 
~ sou (yon moun) to hang up 
(telephone abruptly) on (s.o.) 
296 
feminen - fènwa 
- telefôn Ian to hang up the 
telephone 
- (yon moun) deyô to lock (s.o.) 
out 
feminen adj. feminine 
feminis n. feminism; n./adj. feminist 
fèmte n. firmness, steadfastness; 
hardness 
fèmti n. closing, shutting 
fèmye n. farmer; lessee (of 
farmland) 
fen n. end, ending; rock hind (fish); 
adj. slim, thin, slender; fine, well-
bred, polite; fine, delicate; smooth, 
polished; cunning, crafty, sly; 
perceptive, alert; dressed up, 
fancy, stylish, elegant; adv. well, 
faultlessly, impeccably; fluently 
fè yon - ak to put an end to, do in, 
kill 
- e byen perfectly well 
- kou ze zwa sharp, elegant 
- mayi moulen coney (fish) 
mete - to end, terminate 
pran ~ to come to an end, come to 
a close; to fall due 
san - endless, unending 
Fèn (Jil)prop.n. Faine (Jules) -
author of a pioneering 
Dictionnaire Français-Créole 
(1880-1958) 
Fènan prop.n. Ferdinand 
fendane n. year's end (between 
Christmas and New Year's Day) 
Fendimonn prop.n. Fin-du-Monde 
(one of six forts built by 
Dessalines surrounding Haiti's 
first capital, Marchand, Dept. 
Artibonite) 
fènen see fennen 
fenèt see fennèt 
fenfen n. graysby, small grouper (fish) 
fenfon adv. thoroughly, to the core; 
n. bottom, base, foundation; 
depths 
Fenisiprop.n. [Bible] Phoenicia 
fenk see fèk 
- kare to have just started (doing 
s.thg.) 
Fenlandèprop.n./adj., Fenlandèz 
f.prop.n. Finn (n.); Finnish (Jang.; 
adj.) 
Fenlann prop.n. Finland 
fenmèl see femèl 
fenmen see fèmen 
fennen, fènen v. to fade, wither, 
wilt; n. fading, withering, wilting; 
var. plant blight 
~ figi li to appear listless 
figi - languishing 
fennenyan, fenneyan n. idler, loafer 
fennèt, fenèt n. window; air vent of 
charcoal kiln 
arebô - windowsill 
fenobabital prop.n. Phénobarbital 
fenomèn, fenomenn, fenonmèn, 
fenonmenn n. phenomenon; 
surprising event; incredible person 
or character (pej.) 
fent n. ruse, trick, pretext; 
subterfuge; pretense, fake; fake 
out, feint (sports); sudden 
temporary change in Voodoo 
rhythm 
fè - to simulate; to fake out 
(sports) 
fente v. to trick, deceive, cheat; to 
fake out, feint (sports) 
fentè adj. cunning, crafty, sly; n. 
phony, fake; trickster, deceiver, 
cheater 
fènwa, fènwè n. darkness; 
ignorance; adj. dark; obscure 
fôs - forces of evil 
297 
fenyan - fèt 
nan ~ ignorant, in the dark 
fenyan n, coward; idler, loafer; adj. 
cowardly, spineless, faint-hearted 
Ferachwal (larivyè) prop.n. Fer-à-
Cheval River (Dept. Center) 
fèrank see fèk 
feray n. scrap metal, scrap iron; 
reinforcing (for concrete) 
feraye v. to work on metal; to work 
hard, struggle; to militate 
ferayè n. hard worker, person who 
prepares iron/steel reinforcements 
in construction work; adj. hard-
working 
fere v. to shoe (horse); to put cleats 
on shoes; to put a red-hot nail in 
boiling milk (to avoid diarrhea); 
adj. skilled, competent, intelligent; 
iron-tipped, steel-studded, steel-
nmmed 
fèrèk, fèrenk see fèk 
ftiycï 
j<Hi~ holiday 
Ferye, Fèryc prop.n. Ferrier (Dept. 
North-East) 
Us ». buttock(s); cf. bomida 
~§®ti hemorrhoids 
ton -, twou - anus 
few V. to spank; to wot hard; to 
crash down, fall down 
~ aiè to knock down, hurl down 
- kè l atè to drop (oneself) to the 
ground 
IHINL cap (hat) 
apKcoespiiBcy; cluster, 
ta»die; gossip, slander 
iwÉt» m. banquet, feast 
M r i m M M 
futi|>*ulft. poetry recital 
•wtlval* festival 
fc*»rt* ML festivities 
wUwiyi M to celebrate 
fet n. felt (material); felt-tip markcj 
fèt n. feast, celebration, festival; 
party; birthday; fact; saint's day, 
anniversary; holiday; v. to be bom, 
to happen, take place; adj. done, 
completed, made, produced 
bon happy birthday! 
byen ~ sou to fit well (clothes) 
fè ~ to celebrate, have a party; to 
hold a (political) rally 
- ak kwaf to be lucky; to be able 
to see the invisible 
~ Asansyon Feast of the 
Ascension (40th day after Easter) 
- Asonmsyon, - Notredam ki 
monte nan Syèl Feast of the 
Assumption (August 15) 
~ atansyon! be careful! watch 
out! 
~ Ayèl Ancestors' Day (January 2) 
~ Batay Vètyè see ~ Vètyè 
~ Batèm Jezi (Baptism of the 
Lord - 1st Sunday after Epiphany ) 
~ chanpèt local fair; popular 
music concert 
~ Dedikas Hanukkah, Chanukah 
- Dekouvèt Ayiti Columbus Day 
(December 5) 
- dèmè Mother's Day (in Haiti 
last Sunday in May) 
- Demô, - Démo see ~ Lem6 
~ dèpè Father's Day (in Haiti last 
Sunday in June) 
- de pye devan breech delivery 
- Drapo ak Linivèsite Flag and 
University Day (May 18) 
- Dye, - K6 ak San Jezikri 
Corpus Christi (Thursday after 
Trinity Sunday) 
~ e founi see fètefouni 
- Fanmi Jezi see ~ Lasent Fanmi 
~ Gede see ~ Lemô 
298 
fèt - fet 
Jezi (ki) Monte nan Syèl 
Ascension Day (40th day after 
Easter) 
- Jezi ki Renmen Nou see ~ 
Sakre Kè 
- Jezikri Wa, - Kriswa Feast of 
Christ the King (4th Sunday in 
November) 
- Ko ak San Jezikri see ~ Dye 
- Kriswa see ~ Jezikri Wa 
- Kwa Jezikri Ki Bay Laviktwa 
Exultation of the Cross (2nd 
Sunday in September) 
- Lanmô Jan Jak Desalin 
Anniversary of Jean-Jacques 
Dessalines' Death (October 17, 
1806) 
- Lanmo Tousen Louvèti 
Anniversary of Toussaint 
Louverture's Death (April 7, 
1803) 
- Lanmou (Saint) Valentine's 
Day; cf. Senvalanten (fèt) 
- Lapannkôt Pentecost 
~ Lasent Fanmi, - Fanmi Jezi 
Feast of the Holy Family (last 
Sunday in December) 
- Lasent Trinité, - Latrinite see 
~ Trinité 
- Latousen see ~ Tout Sen 
- Lemô, - Demo, - Démo, ~ 
Gede, - Lèmô, - Tout Moun ki 
Mouri yo, - Tout Zanmi Bondye 
yo All Souls' Day, Feast of the 
Dead (November 2) 
- Lendepandans Independence 
Day (January 1) 
~ Lespri Sen Pentecost 
- Lèwa Twelfth Night, Epiphany 
(January 6) 
~ manman see ~ tout manman 
~ Mari ki (monte) nan Syèl Feast 
of the Assumption (August 15) 
- Mari manman Bondye 
Solemnity of Mary (January 1) 
- nan ta to be born late in a 
woman's life 
- Nasyonzini United Nations Day 
(October 24) 
- Nesans Janbatis ki Sen Feast 
of Saint John the Baptist (24 June) 
- Notredam ki monte nan Syèl 
see ~ Asonmsyon 
- Notredam ki toujou pote n 
Sekou Feast of Our Lady of 
Prompt Succor (27 June) 
- Nwèl Christmas Day (December 
25) 
- papa Father's Day (in Haiti last 
Sunday in June) 
- Papa a ak Pitit la ak Lespri 
Sen an see ~ Trinité 
- patwonal festival in honor of 
the patron saint of an individual 
town 
- pou should, must, be required 
to; be supposed to; to be born for, 
suit (a position or job); entitled to 
- Premye parèt Jezi Epiphany, 
Twelfth Night (first Sunday of 
January) 
- Prezantasyon Jezi nan Tanp la 
Feast of the Presentation of Jesus 
in the Temple (2 February); cf 
Lachandlè 
~ Pyè ak Pôl ki Sen Feast of 
Saints Peter and Paul (29 June) 
- Sakre Kè, - Jezi ki Renmen 
Nou, - vandredi Sakre Kè Feast 
of the Sacred Heart (last Friday in 
June) 
- Sen Jan Batis, Lasenjan Feast 
of St. John (June 24) 
- Sen Valanten (Saint) 
299 
fet - fey 
Valentine's Day 
- tèt anlè breech delivery 
~ tou mouri stillborn, dead at 
birth 
- (tout) manman Mothers' Day 
(in Haiti last Sunday in May) 
~ Tout Moun ki Mouri yo All 
Souls' Day (November 2) 
- Tout Sen, ~ Tout Zanmi 
Bondye yo, ~ Latousen All 
Saints' Day (November 1) 
~ Travay (ak Lagrikilti) Labor 
Day (May 1) 
~ Trinité, ~ Lasent Trinité, ~ 
Latrinite, ~ Papa a ak Pitit la ak 
Lespri Sen an Trinity Sunday 
(Sunday after Pentecost) 
~ vandredi Sakre Kè see ~ Sakre 
Kè 
- Vètyè Battle of Vertières Day 
(November 18) 
~ Vyèj Mirak celebration 
dedicated to the Virgin of Miracles 
(Our Lady of Mount Carmel), and/ 
or Lasirèn (q.v.\ July 16 
~ Zansèt Ancestors' Day (January 2) 
sa pa ~ that's not normal/possible 
se pa de ~ li pa fè to be oveijoyed 
tèt M bon pou ~ he needs a haircut 
fetaj see fetay 
fètakonpli n. [Fr.]fait accompli, 
accomplished feet 
fètatansyon! interj. Be careful! 
Watch out! Beware! 
fetay, fetaj n. rafters, upper part of 
roof; shelf above door or window 
~ kay la wo said when one's food 
is too hoi and one must open one s 
mouth wide to cool it 
fete u to celebrate; to party 
fètefouni adv. everything included 
(materials and labor); all inclusive, 
complete; adv. completely 
fètekoz: 
pran ~ pou to stand up for, stick 
up for 
fètespre, fètekspre n. voluntary 
mistake, deliberate misdeed 
fetich n. magic charm, talisman, 
fetish; spell, magic 
fètil adj. [Fr.] fertile 
fètilite n. fertility 
fètilizasyon n. fertilization 
fetis n. fetus; adj. fetal 
fetoskop n. fetoscope 
fetre v. to wattle, do the wicker-work 
(for a house) 
fetyè n. ridge (of roof), ridge cover 
fèvan adj. [Fr.] fervent, ardent 
fevriye n. February 
Fewa prop.n., Fewaz fprop.n., 
inhabitant of Ferrier (Dept. North-
East) 
fewodal see feyodal 
fewonnri, fewoni, fewonri n. 
ironworks, metalworks 
fewonnye, fewonye n. iron-worker 
fewôs adj. ferocious, wild, savage, 
vicious, fierce 
fewosite n. ferocity 
fèy n. leaf; sheet (paper, metal, 
hardboard); (bank) note, bill, 
paper money; herb; herbal remedy 
labia (majora and minora); often 
used to describe any flat object 
dèktè papa ~ faith and herb 
healer, folk healer 
~ bouch lip 
- bounda bitterbush (shrub or 
small tree) 
~ bwa leaf 
~ djôl, ~ dyôl lips; mouth 
~ dola dollar bill 
300 
fèy - fezan 
- doulè Indian mulberry (shrub or 
small tree) 
- kann hillbilly, country hick; cf. 
moun mon 
- kat playing-card 
- kè monkey's-hand, colt's-foot 
(herb) 
- koudè silver morning-glory 
(vine) 
- koulant fitweed, stinking weed 
- krab tibey (plant) 
~liv page of book 
- lougawou melastoma (med. 
shrub) 
- makak cordylirie, dracaena 
(plant of the lily family) 
- malanga paper (fam.) 
~ nan bwa member(s) of a given 
Voodoo temple 
Fèy o! traditional children's song 
- pè cascarilla, seaside balsam 
(shrub) 
- planch plank, board 
- renmèd medicinal herb 
- sable, - sablèz sandpaper 
- sezi, - sezisman yellow 
oleander (shrub or small tree) 
- vèt US dollar 
- wont, mouri leve sensitive plant 
(herb) 
- zegwi shepherd's needle (bot.) 
- zôrèy ear; earlobe 
kase - kouvri sa to sweep under 
the carpet, conceal, cover up; to 
forget, forgive 
machann - vegetable vendor 
manke yon/plizyè - see pèdi 
yon/kèk -
nèg (anba) - hick, clod, yokel 
papa - see doktè -
pase - to leaf through, skim 
through, glance through (book etc.) 
pèdi anpil - to be really nuts or 
crazy 
pèdi yon/kèk - , manke yon/ 
plizyè - to lose one's marbles, be 
a little crazy, looney 
pile - to set an evil magic trap 
pitit - , ti - initiated member of a 
given Voodoo temple; patient of a 
Voodoo healer 
ti - pa ti - step by step, gradually 
twa - allophyllus (bot.) 
Among the innumerable fèy 
(herbs) of Haiti are: - akasya, -
ak kè, - ave, - bradin, - chans, -
esans jiwôf. - geri tout, - kapab, 
- lèt pase, - malagèt, - malfini, 
- monben, - san, - senjan, -
siwo, - sousi, - ti kole, - twa 
pawol, - wa bwa, - wou, -
zaryen, - zo detrimo, - zo 
devan, - zorèy bourik 
feyaj, fèyaj, feyay, fèyay, fèyèy n. 
foliage, leaves; green leafy 
vegetables 
al nan - to consult a faith-and-
herb healer 
feye v. to sprout leaves 
feyè n. leaf, page; leaflet 
feyèt n. stomach of ruminant (goat, 
sheep etc.); var. of bread 
fèyèy see feyaj 
feyodal, fewodal adj. feudal; n. 
feudal lord 
feyodalite, feyodalis n. feudalism 
feyte v. to leaf through, skim 
through, glance through (book 
etc.) 
pat - puff pastry, flaky pastry 
feyton n. serial, series 
woman - serialized novel, serial 
fezab adj. feasible, doable 
fezan n. pheasant 
301 
fezande - fig 
fezande adj. spoiled, corrupt, 
decadent 
fëzè, fezè n., fèzèz f .n. snob; maker, 
builder; busybody; gossiper; 
slanderer; imaginative liar 
~ dchapo hat-maker, hatter, 
milliner 
- (d)mal evildoer 
- (de) kont habitual liar; tattletale, 
informer; instigator, troublemaker 
fi interj. (obs.) bah! pooh! 
fi, fiy f.n. girl, woman; daughter; 
maid, servant; adj. female; see tifi 
- donè/donnè maid of honor (in 
wedding) 
- enpôte, ~ fontyè prostitute from 
Dominican Republic 
- gason male homosexual 
- lib loose woman 
- tèt gridap real dog of a woman, 
very ugly woman 
jeim - teenage girl 
moso - inadequate woman 
pitit - daughter 
rete - pou to pick out a bride for 
(s.o. else) 
ti ~ men ti gason fèmen janm a 
ou (N.) sensitive plant (herb) -
same as fèy wont or mouri leve 
vyèy - old maid, spinster 
Fib n. fiber 
fibdevè n. fiberglass 
fibwôm n. fibrous tumor, fibroma; 
hard mass of spoiled blood within 
the womb 
fibwosiman n. fibrocement 
fich n. slip, card, form; check, bill 
(restaurant etc.); receipt; 
registration sticker (car etc.) 
fè - to print forms; to fill out 
forms 
- depo deposit slip (bank) 
- tiraj withdrawal slip (bank) 
fichye n. data file 
fidèl n. believer; parishioner; adj. 
faithful, trustworthy, loyal; 
compliant (medically); adv. 
faithfully, regularly 
fidélité, fidélité n. faithfulness, 
trustworthiness 
fidèlman adv. faithfully, loyally 
fidonè f.n. maid of honor (in 
wedding) 
fif n. fife (made either of bamboo or 
metal) 
fif, fiftiwann, fiftiwonn, fistiwann, 
fistiwonn, fitiyonn n. ass, butt 
(lage) nan - (yon moun) to set 
out after (s.o.) 
twou - anus 
Fif! prop.n. nickname for young 
sister 
fifinen v. to spruce up, fix up, doll up 
fifti fifti adv. [Eng.] fifty-fifty, half 
and half 
fig n. banana 
bon - bannann good and faithful 
person (Voodoo) 
~ bannann banana 
~ barik var. of large round banana 
~ frans fig 
~ mi (ripe) banana 
~ mi timalis, ~ mi timelis 
particularly sweet var. of small 
banana 
- nenn dwarf banana 
mi ~ mi rezen wishy-washy, 
hesitant, vacillating, irresolute; 
wry, half-humorous 
move ~ bannann untrustworthy 
person (Voodoo) 
Other var. of banana are: 
~ achil, ~ bayonnèt, - chinwa, ~ 
felisya, ~ gwo michèl, ~ long, ~ 
Figawo - fil 
lougawou, - ponm, - rak, - sik, 
grann ~ 
Figawo see Kôkot 
fige see figye 
figi n. face; appearance, looks; 
figure, drawing 
achte - to fawn, curry favor 
bô ~ cheek(s) 
desann ~ li to stoop, be 
obsequious, lower one's dignity 
fe ~ di to put on a bold front 
fè ~ tè pwa tè mayi to put on a 
sad face 
fè ti - to fawn, be obsequious 
- bèf, ~ chat, - gwo kou lalin 
mwa mas, ~ pouf, ~ tonm moon-
faced, round-faced 
- bousôl, - fè t(w)ou, - graj, ~ 
graje vèrèt, - grave, - grenn, -
takte takte, - ti graj, - ti t(w)ou, 
- vèrèt pockmarked face 
- chèch, ~ drive, ~ jwif, ~ kase, ~ 
pati, ~ pli, ~ rale, ~ zo drawn/ 
haggard/wizened face 
~ di strict, severe; shameless; old, 
aged 
~ li fè kwen to become angular 
(face) 
~ li fè min, - li mare to frown, 
show anger; to be wrinkled 
~ li zo to become drawn, become 
haggard 
~ limen, - sôti radiant healthy 
face 
~ replèt healthy happy face 
~ tak (tak) freckled face 
~ ven jen kat avril sorrowful or 
dejected face 
gen - to be respectable, be 
reputable, have standing 
lonje ~ to get angry; to show 
discontent 
mare ~ to frown, show anger 
mete ~ ou sou mwen! look at me! 
nan ~ yon moun under s.o.'s nose 
po ~ complexion, face; cheek 
san ~ shameless 
ti ~ fawning, obsequious 
zo ~ cheekbone 
flgilte see difikilte 
figiran n. extra (cinema); walk-on 
(theatre); stooge, puppet 
figire v. to figure (out), realize; to 
picture, imagine; to appear, be 
listed; adj. figurative 
figye, fige n. var. of parasitical plant 
~ modi mawon autograph tree 
fije v. [Fr.] to congeal, stiffen, freeze 
Fiji prop.n. Fiji Islands 
fijitif n. [Fr.] fugitive 
fikilte see difikilte 
fikips n. free kick (soccer) 
flkis n. ficus (var. of tree, shrub or 
climber) 
fiks adj. fixed, permanent, regular; 
settled; firm, steady; adv. fixedly, 
squarely, steadfastly; exactly, 
sharp (time) 
atansyon ~ attention (milit. 
command) 
gade ~~ to stare at 
fiksasyon n. regularization 
~ pri price ceiling 
fikse, fiske v. to stare at, gaze at; to 
scrutinize; to fasten; to adjust 
(radio, television); to fix, settle 
(date, hour etc.); to focus (eyes; 
projector); to regularize 
fiksyon n. fiction; see friksyon 
fiksyonnen v. to rub vigorously with 
lotion, alcohol etc. 
fiktif adj. fictional 
fil n. wire, thread, string; string (of 
musical instrument); cord; line; 
303 
fil - filange 
thread (of screw etc.); cable; fiber; 
yarn; stitch; suture; strip, swath; 
train of thought; connections, pull, 
influence; hymen; frenum of 
penis; var. of mango; adj. gaunt; 
scrawny, emaciated 
anba ~ in secret; illegally 
bay ~ to give free rein (to); to 
encourage (s.o.) to talk; to test 
trustworthiness; to launch (s.o. in 
an endeavor); to let out kite string 
bay ~ môl to let loose in order to 
restrain later 
chaje - stringy (mango etc.) 
de - an egwi one thing leading to 
another, gradually; clearly; in all 
details 
fè ~ to wait in line, line up 
~ a make chalk-line reel 
~ acha tiny wire (esp. in 
konbèlann, q.v.) 
~ aligati binding wire, tie wire 
~ an ~ little by little, step by step, 
gradually 
- aplon plumb line 
~ arenyen, ~ areye spider web, 
cobweb 
~ bobin thin as a rail 
~ dachal small wire 
~ dan(tè) dental floss 
~ dwat woven 
- elektrik wire cable 
- estansyon, ekstansyon 
extension cord 
- fè wire; barbed wire 
- kouran electrical wire 
~knn yam 
~ vM weak thread; unfirm, unsure 
- oligati see ~ aligati 
~ p©« dan dental floss 
~ solèy (obs.) cotton 
~ tè grounding wire 
~ travè knitted 
~ triko yarn 
kout ~ phone call 
pase - (nan dan) to floss (one's 
teeth) 
pèdi ~ to lose out, go downhill; to 
lose one's concentration 
pran ~ to prosper; to climb 
(socially); to become widespread 
prevalent, catch on; to get to know 
one's way around; to draw in 
string (kite) 
pran ~ nan to catch on to (a given 
task), get the hang of 
pran nan ~ to swindle, con 
pwen ~ stitch 
pwent ~ projecting end of stitch 
(on cut etc.) 
sou ~ pèdi to be declining, be 
going downhill (fig.) 
Fil prop.n. Phil, nickname for Filip 
Filadèlfi prop.n. Philadelphia 
(Pennsylvania, USA) 
filalang n. trick, deception; sticking 
out one's tongue (as insulting 
gesture) 
fè - to trick, fool; to tease 
filaman n. filament (light bulb); 
IUD (intrauterine device), loop, 
(contraceptive) coil 
filamezi see ofiramezi 
filamonik, filamonnik adj. 
philharmonic 
filan adj. fast-moving 
filang n. narrow strip; small bit of; 
adj. tattered, ragged (clothes) 
filangaj, filangay n. beating up, 
roughing up; whipping, thrashing 
filange, flange v. to notch, nick; to 
cut slits in (meat); to lacerate; to 
shred; to mince, chop, slice very 
thinly; to beat (up), rough up; to 
304 
filangèt - Filipogis 
whip, thrash; to play around with, 
mess with (sexually) 
filangèt n. shaving, slice, thin strip 
filann n. small knife 
filannegwi adv. gradually; clearly 
filantwop n. philanthropist 
filantwopik adj. philanthropic(al) 
filaplon n. plumb line 
filaretôd n. problem, difficulty, 
headache 
filareye n. spider web 
filaryôz n. filariasis (med.) 
filas adj. bright yellow; blond; fine-
textured (hair); nice-looking or 
silky (hair) 
filatelis n. philatelist 
filati n. textile mill 
fè ~ to trail, shadow, follow 
filay: 
~ dlo silt, mud, slime 
filbobin n./adj. bisexual 
fildefè bable n. [Fr.] barbed wire 
file v. to dash (away), flee; to sprint; 
to flow freely; to sharpen, hone, 
whet; to thread (needle); to string; 
to spin (cotton etc.); to become 
stringy; to deal (cards); to pay out 
(rope, string); to test 
trustworthiness; to shoot (star); to 
shadow, put under surveillance; to 
flirt; to court, woo; adj. sharp; 
interj. scram! beat it! 
~ antre to rush into; to slip into, 
slide into 
~ desann to go right down, go 
down fast 
~ glise desann to slip down, slide 
down 
~ kôk kalite to engage in cock 
fighting 
~ lang to whet the appetite 
~ lang bay yon moun to stick out 
one's tongue at s.o.; to make a 
face, grimace 
~ moute to go right up, go up fast 
~ moute desann to rush up and 
down 
~ yon move fil, - yon move 
koton ~ yon move pant to get off 
on the wrong foot; to head in the 
wrong direction 
~ zepon li to sharpen one's spurs, 
prepare for battle 
fïlè n. fish-net; net (sports); hair-net; 
spider-web [Fr.]; fillet (meat, 
fish); suitor, sweetheart; flatterer, 
fawner; var. of worm; see filèt 
fè yon kout ~ to set a snare/trap; 
to make a haul 
~ kouto knife-grinder (person) 
~ sekirite safety-net 
kout ~ dragnet, police raid 
pete ~ to score, make a goal 
(sports) 
Filemonprop.n. [Bible] Philemon 
filèt, filé n. mesh, net; hair-net; 
hymen; string of the tongue, 
frenum; frenum of penis 
yon ~ a few drops, just a little (of 
a drink) 
filfè n. barbed wire; barbed-wire 
fence 
filing n. [Eng.] feeling, sensation 
bay ~ to act or dress sexily 
pran ~ to become interested or 
aroused sexually 
pran ~ li to enjoy oneself 
Filip prop.n. Philip(pe); Philippi 
[Bible] 
Filipenprop.n. Filipino 
Filipinprop.n. Philippines 
Filipogis (Salnav) prop.n. Philippe-
Auguste (Salnave) - Haitian 
painter known esp. for Garden of 
305 
Filipyen - fini 
Eden scenes, b. 1908 
Filipyen prop.n. [Bible] Philippians 
Filisti prop.n. [Bible] Philistine 
filme, fime v. to film, videotape 
filmol n. weak thread; adj. unfirm, 
unsure 
filo n. final year of secondary school 
(Haitian and French system) 
filolôg n. philologist 
filonnen v. to shoot (lightning) 
filozof n. philosopher; secondary-
school graduate; highly educated 
person; know-it-all 
filozofe v. to philosophize, ponder, 
deliberate (upon) 
filozofi n. philosophy; final year of 
secondary school (Haitian and 
French system) 
fè ~ to act like a wise guy 
filozofik adj. philosophical 
filt, filtè n. filter (mack) 
~ dyezèl fuel filter (diesel) 
~ gaz fuel filter (gasoline) 
~ lwil oil filter 
~ van, - lè air filter 
filtre v. to filter, strain 
~ glise to slip in, slide in 
papye - filter paper 
filyè n. thread (of water pipe, bolt 
etc.); basketball net; central roof 
beam; connections, channels; 
network, ring; bastard cherry tree 
fim n. film, movie; camera film; 
firm, company 
~ (an) pèmanans continuous 
showing (of film) 
~ fiks slide (film) 
fimado n. (inveterate) smoker 
fimaman n. firmament, sky 
fime adj. tinted (esp. car windows); 
see filme 
fimè n. smoker (person) 
fimen v. to smoke (cigarette, pipe 
etc.); to tint (esp. car windows); n. 
smoking 
- sou to blow cigarette smoke at 
(s.o.) 
Fimen (Antenô) prop.n. Firmin 
(Anténor) - leading Haitian 
statesman and presidential 
candidate (1850-1911) 
fimye, frimye n. manure, fertilizer, 
muck, dung, waste 
~ dife, ~ nwa soot; cf. kras 
lafimen 
fin before v. finally; completely, 
fully; see fini 
~ fè (yon bagay) to complete 
(s.thg.) 
finach v. to finish, end 
se that's it! that's over with! 
final adj. final; n. finals (sports) 
an ~ finally, as a last resort 
finalis n. finalist 
finalité n. finality, closure 
finalize v. to finalize 
finalman adv. finally, ultimately 
finans n. finance(s) 
finanse v. to finance, provide 
financing 
finansman n. financing 
finansye n. financier; adj. financial 
finansyèman adv. financially 
finèb adj. funeral; n. funeral home/ 
parlor 
fineray see finiray 
finerè adj. funerary, funeral 
finès n. elegance; delicacy, 
sensitivity; good manners; 
subtlety, shrewdness; cunning, 
guile; smooth talk; niceties, finer 
points (of language); fine clothing; 
fine linen 
fini, fin v. to finish, end, complete, 
306 
fini - fiyèt 
conclude; to become, end up; to 
expire; to run out of, use up; to 
abuse; to come within a hair's 
breadth (of doing s.thg.); to be 
completely; to complete the 
process of, become (ripe, ready 
etc.); adj. worn-out, finished; adv. 
fully, completely 
- ak to get rid of, exterminate; to 
do in, finish (s.o.) off 
- an ke de pwason to come to an 
abrupt end; to end anti-
climactically 
- bout to reach one's goal; to 
corner, back against the wall 
- fè (yon bagay) to have almost 
done (s.thg.) 
~ mal to fail, ruin; to come out 
badly 
- pa to finally do (s.thg.), end up 
doing (s.thg.) 
~ pase to go through; to finish up, 
complete 
~ sou pye to look peaked, look 
green about the gills 
li pa ka fin fè 1 (s)he can't do it at 
all 
pou - in the last/final analysis; in 
conclusion 
finiray, fineray n. funeral, burial; 
death 
finisan: 
an - by/while finishing [Fr. -
rare]; cf. nan fini 
finisman n. end, completion 
finisyon n. [Fr.] finishing time, 
closing time; finishing touches 
finman adv. completely, quite 
firamezi, firanmezi see ofiramezi 
firè n. [Fr.] furor, anger 
fè - to be all the rage, be 
extremely popular 
firye adj. [Fr.] furious; cf. 
dechennen, move kou kong 
fis n. [JFV.] son; cf. pitit gason li 
fisaryom n. virus causing rotting of 
roots of sweet potatoes etc. 
Fis-de-lom n. [Fr.] Son of Man 
fisèl n. string, twine; adj. sly, 
cunning 
rale ~ (yon moun) to kid or tease 
(s.o.) 
tire ~ to pull strings, exert 
influence; to engage in a tug of war 
fisele v. to tie up 
Fisiprop.n. Furcy (Dept. West) 
fiskal adj. fiscal 
flskalite n. taxation 
fiskalize v. [i7/:] to make subject to 
tax; to fund by taxation 
flske v. to stare at, glare at; see fikse 
flsle v. to tie (up) 
fistibal, festibal n. slingshot 
fistije v. to flay; to rebuke, censure 
fistiwann, fistiwonn see fif 
fisyon n. fission 
fit, flit, fwit n. leak; small hole, 
puncture 
flti n./adj. future 
fitiyonn see fif 
Fito prop.n. nickname for Filip 
fly see fi 
fiyans: 
fè ~ to become engaged 
fiyansay, fiyansaj n. engagement, 
betrothal 
fiyanse see fyanse 
fiyèl, fiyôl, fyôl n. godchild, godson, 
goddaughter 
fiyètf.n. little girl 
Fiyèt Lalo sorceress, witch; 
female member of the Duvalierist 
militia or VSN (Volontaires de la 
Sécurité Nationale); cf. makout 
307 
fiyôl - flanbwayan 
fiyôl see fiyèl 
fiyole v. to undulate, ripple 
Fiyole (Dànyèl)prop.n. Fignolé 
(Daniel), 1913-1986 - provisional 
president of Haiti 1957 
fize n. rocket 
fizi n. rifle, gun 
bounda bwa ~ gun butt 
chanje ~ 1 zepôl to change sides/ 
position, change camps, flipflop; 
to change trades, change one's life 
~ abal rifle 
- aplon air rifle, BB gun 
~ (ak) apon spear gun 
~ benjamen, ~ cheridann, ~ 
kwèsmann specific var. of air 
rifles 
~ chas hunting rifle 
~ daso assault rifle 
- de kou, ~ dedjol double-barrel 
shotgun 
~ Gra common rifle (in use esp. 
1870-1915) 
~ katouch shotgun 
~ spwentfil Springfield rifle 
fizib n. (electric) fuse 
bwat - fuse box 
- katouch fuse 
~ plôg plug fuse 
fizik n. physical condition; physical 
development; physics; adj. 
physical 
gen - to have a good build, have 
strong muscles 
fiziknian adv. physically 
fizisyen n. physicist 
fiziyad n. shooting, killing 
flziye, fizye v. to shoot, kill, execute; 
to make, screw (a woman) 
fizyoloji n. physiology 
fizyon n. fusion 
flzyone, fizyonnen v. to merge, 
combine 
fizyonnomi n. [Fr.] physiognomy, 
facial appearance 
fizyoterapi n. physiotherapy 
flabo n. flatterer 
flach n. flashlight; flash bulb, flash 
attachment; flash, communiqué 
kout ~ quick look, glance; review, 
summary 
flache v. to flash, light up, spotlight; 
to blink (light); to seduce; to cut 
into long thin strips 
~ ko li to show off oneself, be an 
exhibitionist, act sexily 
flafla n. smooth talk, claptrap, 
hogwash; bragging; vanity; v. to 
do quickly 
flagran adj. flagrant, blatant, daring 
an ~ deli red-handed 
flak adj. hungry 
flakon n. small bottle, vial, flask 
flaman n. flamingo; prop.n. 
Fleming; prop. adj. Flemish; see 
flanman 
Flaman, Nadin prop.n. Flamants 
(4th communal section of Aquin, 
Dept. South) 
flamengo n. flamingo; adj. bright 
pink 
flamenko n. flamenco 
flan n. side, flank; custard, flan; 
diaphragm (anatomy) 
flanbay n. blaze, flame; beating, 
whipping 
flanbe v. to flame, flare, blaze; to 
flame, broil, charcoal broil; to 
singe; to beat, whip; to spank; to 
flunk, fail; n. beating, whipping 
flanbo n. torch; see oflanbo 
flanbwayan n. royal poinciana, 
flamboyant (tree) 
~ ble jacaranda (bot.) 
308 
flandren - flè 
- etranje butterfly flower, 
bullhoof flower 
ti - crown of thorns (plant) 
flandren n. lanky or gawky man 
flanèl see flannèl 
flange see filange 
flanj n. flange (meek) 
flanke, flank v. to deliver (punch, 
blow); to fork over, hand over; to 
fling, toss; to impose on, inflict 
upon; to lose weight (for an 
animal); to let, allow (vulg.) 
~ deyo to toss out, kick out 
flanm n. flame, blaze; smart, 
brilliant person, whiz; adj. 
burning, passionate 
fè ~ to burn, blaze, catch on fire 
~ dife flame 
mete ~ dife to set ablaze 
flanman, 11a man n. var. of large 
stinging ant; flamingo 
flann n. walk, stroll; ride, drive 
fè yon ~ to go for a walk/drive 
fè yon ~ nan machin to go for a 
joy ride 
flannay n. strolling about, drifting 
about, hanging out 
flannè n. loafer, bum, good-for-
nothing; guy, buddy 
flannèl, flanèl n./adj. flannel 
flannen v. to stroll or ride about 
aimlessly, drift about, wander, 
lounge (about), loaf (about) 
flap n. flap (rubber insert between 
rim and inner tube of large truck 
tire); onomat. to express sudden or 
rapid action 
~ ~ quickly 
flapè n. [Eng.] toilet flapper/stopper 
(mach.) 
flate v. to flatter, fawn, be 
obsequious 
flatè n. fawner, flatterer; adj. 
obsequious, fawning 
flatô n. flatterer 
flatri n. flattery, fawning, 
obsequiousness 
flawe: 
~ kou ajan lapôs to wander 
around, drift about 
flay n. slip, miss; v. to fly off, take 
off, leave; adj. light, flimsy 
fè (yon) ~ to miss a kick (soccer); 
to make a social blunder; to miss 
an opportunity 
flè n. flower; blossom; bloom; bud 
(on tree or shrub); menstruation, 
menstrual period 
bèl ~ wandering evil spirit 
(Voodoo); Voodoo rattle devoid of 
any magic powers 
fè - to flirt 
~ blanch, ~ dan manjack tree 
~ chadwon jôn Jamaica yellow 
thistle 
~ chans luck, lucky charm 
~ dat var. of med. plant used as 
tranquilizer 
~ dizè var. of flower (closes petals 
after sunrise) 
~ jalouzi henna (shrub) 
- lasezon see ~ sezon 
~ mayi cornflower 
~ môtèl coral tree 
~ nwèl ipomoea, morning-glory 
(flower) 
~ peta manyroot (med. herb) 
~ senpyè yellow elder (shrub) 
~ sezon, ~ lasezon seasonal 
flower; changeable person; fickle, 
temperamental; neurotic 
~ siy calico flower (bush) 
~ solèy sunflower 
- twonpèt var. of plant 
309 
flebit - flo 
pou bèl ~ for nothing 
voye ~ to flatter; to talk nonsense; 
to skirt or evade an issue, beat 
around the bush; to show off; to 
fail miserably, bomb (exam, test) 
flebit n. phlebitis 
flèch n. arrow; pointer, indicator; 
tassle (of com); (bamboo) shoot; 
very top (plant, tree, mountain); 
cursor (computer) 
an ~ in full force 
fè ~ to be in bloom (sugarcane 
etc.) 
ti~dart 
fléchi v. to bend, give way; to flinch, 
wince 
flechisman n. bending, giving in 
flèdelaj: 
nan ~ in the prime of life, in one's 
prime 
flèdelis n. fleur-de-lis 
flègèdèk, flègèdèp adj. old; skinny; 
dying 
fleksib adj. flexible; negotiable 
fleksyon n. flexion, bending 
flèm, flenm, Aim n. phlegm, snot, 
mucus, sputum 
rann - to choke, suffocate (fig.) 
fleng n. revolver, pistol; machete; 
adj. tiny, little 
fiengen, flengèt n. frail child 
flenjèt n. musket 
flenm see flèm 
flere v. to barely touch 
ftèrèt, flerèt «. var. of knife or 
dagger 
fieri v. to flower, blossom, bloom; to 
flourish; to menstruate 
fieriton, florezon n. flowering, 
blossoming 
flèsolèy n. sunflower 
grwwi - sunflower seed 
fletan n. halibut (fish) 
flète v. to flirt 
flétri v. to wither, fade away 
flèv n. main river (in Haiti: 
Artibonite River) 
flewo, fleyo n. scourge, calamity, 
affliction; beam (of scales) 
flibistye n. freebooter, pirate 
fliktyasyon n. [Eng.] fluctuation, 
variation 
flim see flèm 
fling n. small bit, small piece; 
reprimand 
mete ~ to push or encourage (s.o. 
to do s.thg.) 
flingflang n. messing around, 
looking for trouble 
Flinipwa prop.nFlinipwaz 
f.prop.n. inhabitant of Petite-
Rivière-de-Nippes (Dept. 
Grand'Anse) 
Flipo prop.n. disadvantaged area 
between Pétion- Ville and Canapé-
Vert (Dept. West) 
flit n. insect spray; spray gun (for 
insecticide); flute; recorder 
(musical instrument); see fit 
~ a bèk recorder (musical 
instrument) 
ti ~ piccolo 
flite v. to spray, fumigate; to filter 
through, flow out of 
flitè n. inhalor 
fliyè n. fluorine 
fliyorid n. fluoride 
fliyorisan adj. fluorescent 
flo n. trials, trouble, misery, 
suffering; disaster; flow; flood, 
tide 
~ loray, ~ loraj flash of lightning, 
lightning bolt 
(yon) ~ many, much, a lot of 
310 
flo - Foblas 
flô n. [Eng.] floor, story; factory 
floor or workspace 
flobop, flobop see fobop 
floch n. flush, flushing (toilet); flush 
(cards); v. to discard, dismiss, push 
away; adj. flush with, on a level 
with; tightly joined or connected 
rèv ~ ak men dream come true 
floche v. [Eng.] to flush (toilet) 
flôk, flokô, flop adj. baggy, loose 
(clothing) 
flôkotok adj. broken, loose, out of 
order (mach.) 
Flon (Katrin) prop.n. Catherine 
Flon (who sewed together 18 May 
1803 Haiti's first flag - "the 
Haitian Betsy Ross") 
flonflon f.n. self-important woman; 
short stout woman 
flonn n. sling; var. of very swift fish; 
adj. swift, fleeting 
(yon) ~ a bunch of, a lot of 
flop see flôk 
flop flop adv. quickly, in no time at 
all 
Flora (siklon) prop.n. Flora 
(disastrous hurricane, 3-4 October 
1963) 
floral adj. floral 
floresan adj. florescent 
florezon see flerizon 
Florid, Florida, Laflorid prop.n. 
Florida (USA) 
Floridyen prop.n. Floridian 
flot n. mason's trowel; a large 
amount of; fleet 
flotay n. roughcasting (wall) 
flote v. to float; to flutter, flap (in 
wind); to coat, smear (surface) 
flotè n. float; ballcock 
flou adj. fluffy, soft; blurred, fuzzy 
pase kon - to fly by, go rapidly 
past 
floup onomat. slurp (noise made 
when drinking); zip; adv. quick as 
a flash; see vloup!; n. crush 
(orange, grape etc.) 
~ flap zip (to express rapid action) 
~ ~ flapping (sound made by 
object not firmly attached) 
floupe v. to gulp, swig, guzzle 
FMI acron. Fon Monetè 
Entènasyonal (Fonds Monétaire 
International) International 
Monetary Fund 
fo adj. false, fake, phony, bogus, 
artificial; n. fake, forgery 
~ pa plis nothing more need be 
said; that's all there is to it; see 
fopaplis 
fo adj. strong, powerful; loud; 
intense; intensive; durable, 
resistant; violent, hard; heavy 
(sea); difficult, advanced; 
intelligent, knowledgeable; clever, 
skilled; adv. strongly, with force; 
loudly; aloud; n. (military) fort, 
fortress, fortification; see fôk 
fè ~ to push very hard, force s.thg. 
to happen 
~ nan to be good at, adept at 
gou ~ rancid 
pi ~ most, the majority of 
pi ~ pase alfo strong as an ox 
santi ~ (tankou bouk kabrit) (to 
be) smelly, to stink 
Fob prop.n. Forbes (W. Cameron) 
Komisyon ~ Forbes Commission 
(sent to Haiti in 1930 to report on 
U.S. Occupation) 
foban n. crook, criminal 
fobazen n. var. plant 
Foblas (Lelyo) prop.n. Faublas 
(Lélio) - pioneer in Haitian-
fobop - fôklodin 
language movement 
fobop, flobop, flobop, fobo, fobop, 
fôj, foy: 
djôl bouch ~ toothless 
fobôs n. inexpert or clumsy 
craftsman 
fobou n. [Fr.] suburb 
Focheprop.n. Fauché (Dept. North) 
Fodprop.n. Ford (car) 
ansyen ~ (twa pedal) outmoded 
or outdated object; old fogey, 
geezer; old bag, old hag 
fôde v. should (less emphatic or 
more polite form of fôk, q.v.) 
Fodejou prop.n. Fort-de-Joux 
(France) - where Toussaint 
Louverture was imprisoned and 
left to die, 7 April 1803 
Fodeside, F6 Inosan, F6 Itoko, 
Fôkilbite, Fôlafendimonn 
prop.n. Fort-Décidé, Fort 
Innocent, Fort-Itaucau, Fort-
Culbuter, Fort-La-Fin-du-Monde 
(forts built by Dessalines near 
Marchand-Dessalines, Dept. 
Artibonite) 
Fôdimanch, "Fôlanmô" prop.n. 
Fort-Dimanche (notorious political 
prison during Duvalier regime, 
PaP) 
Fodofen prop.n. Fort-Dauphin 
(fortress ruins near Fort-Liberté; 
name of Fort-Liberté during 
Colonial period) 
Fôdofmwa prop.n., Fôdofmwaz 
f.prop.n. inhabitant of Fort-Liberté 
(Dept. North-East) 
fôfe, f6fè n. evil deed, crime; forfeit, 
loss; penalty (sports) 
fè - to lose, forfeit 
fèfetè adj. contractual 
fofil n. tacking thread 
fofilay, fofilaj n. intimacy, 
friendship; basting, tacking 
fofile v. to baste (sewing); to thread; 
to weave; to entwine 
~ (antre/rantre), - ko li (nan) to 
slip into, sneak into; to worm 
one's way into, creep into, 
insinuate oneself 
fofilè n. sirloin steak 
fôgètminot n. [Eng.] forget-me-not 
(plant) 
fôj see foy 
Fojakprop.n. Fort Jacques (near 
Fermathe, Dept. West) 
fôje v. to forge, form, mold; to forge, 
falsify; to make up, invent (story, 
excuse etc.) 
fè ~ wrought-iron 
fojon, bos fôjon, fôjewon, fôjwon 
n. blacksmith; metalsmith, 
tinsmith 
bos - blacksmith; metalsmith, 
tinsmith 
fôk n. jib, headsail; seal (animal) 
fôk, fô, ifo v. [the subject follows] to 
have to, it is necessary that, must 
- ou pa fè sa! don't do that! 
- ou vie, fôvle, fôwvle magic love 
potion (Voodoo) 
~ pa plis perfect, ideal; extremely 
fokal adj. focal 
Fokal acron. Fondasyon Konesans 
ak Libète Knowledge and Liberty 
Foundation 
foke, fôke see loke 
fokis n. focus, mental concentration; 
v. to focus on, concentrate on 
fokise v. [Eng.] to focus 
fôklif n. forklift 
fôklo, fôlklô n. folklore 
fôklodin n. fried dough filled with 
dried fruit (speciality of 
312 
foklorik - fômol 
Pandiassou) 
foklorik, fôlklorik adj. folkloric 
fokôl n. detachable collar; priest's 
collar 
pran nan kout ~ to impress, 
dazzle; to be duped, be taken in 
fôkôp v. to mess up, foul up; adj. 
loose, out of order (mach.) 
fôkseli n. cornmeal; "eat this or go 
hungry"; adj. indispensable 
fol adj. crazy; adj. loose (screw 
which has lost its traction); n. fall 
(false tresses on woman's hair) 
Fôlanmô see Fôdimanch 
fôldè n. [Eng.] computer file folder 
foli, lafoli n. craziness, insanity, 
madness, folly, delusions; 
extravagance 
gen ~ damou to be crazy in love; 
to be after every skirt in sight 
gen ~ pè/grannèg to imagine one 
is a priest/big shot 
Fôlibèteprop.n. Fort-Liberté 
(administrative center of Dept. 
North-East; fortress ruins near 
present-day Fort-Liberté - cf. 
Fodofen; 11th communal section 
of Petit-Goâve, Dept. West) 
folik adj. folic 
folklô see fôklô 
fôlklorik see foklorik 
fôlman n. belly (pej.); adv. madly, 
foolishly, crazily 
fôlôp n. time-out, break, pause; 
AWOL, away without leave 
(milit.) 
fè yon ~ to step out for a short 
time 
fè yon - dèyô to go to a brothel 
fôm, fonm n. form, shape, mold; 
application (for job etc.); shoe 
stretcher; see anfôm 
bay ~ to shape, model 
san ~ shapeless 
fôma n. format 
gran - large-sized; influential; 
know-it-all, show-off 
fomaj see fwonmaj 
fômalite n. formality, red-tape 
fômalize v. to formalize, develop 
structure and rules 
fômann, fômàn n. foreman 
fomante v. to foment, stir up 
fômasyon n. formation, creation; 
formation, training; education; 
puberty 
fè ~ to conduct training classes 
~ adistans distance learning 
~ kontini continuing education 
fômatè n. trainer, instructor 
fôme, fômen v. to form, organize; to 
create, establish; to bring up, 
educate, train; to reach puberty or 
menarche; to menstruate; adj. 
pubescent; mature; basically 
educated 
lè yon moun fin ~ when a person 
reaches (physical) maturity 
pitit k ap ~ young teenager 
Fômèkredi prop.n. Fort-Mercredi 
(disadvantaged area of PaP, near 
Saint-Gérard) 
fômèl adj. formal 
fomèlman adv. formally 
fomi, fômi see foumi 
fômidab adj. tremendous, fantastic, 
great, incredible 
fômika n. Formica 
fômil n. formula, equation; (infant's) 
formula 
fômile v. to formulate 
fômilè n. form; application, 
questionnaire 
fômol n. formaldehyde 
357 
Fomon - fondèt 
Fomon (mon) prop.n. Mount 
Formond (2,180 meters), Dept. 
South 
Fornoz prop.n. Formosa, Taiwan 
fon n. forehead, brow; bottom, back; 
far end, rear (of room etc.); bottom 
(container etc.); valley; fund(s); 
substance, heart, essence; prop.n./ 
adj. Fon; adj. deep; profound; adv. 
deeply, thoroughly; sh.form fè + 
yon; see fwon 
fè ~ to sink; to crumble, collapse; 
to reach the bottom, be at a low 
ebb 
~ dwa (moun) basic (human) 
rights 
~ soup unencumbered fund(s) 
~ wotatif revolving fund 
gran - high seas, far out at sea 
(beyond sight of land) 
nan fen ~ in the very heart of, in 
the very depths of 
nan - lanmè at the bottom of the 
sea; far out at sea 
pa ~ shallow 
san ~ bottomless 
fon contr. fo(k) + n(ou) 
Fon (larivyè) prop.n. Fond River 
(emptying into Lake Azuey, Dept. 
West) 
Fon Arabi prop.n. Fond-Arabie (4th 
communal section of Petit-Goâve, 
Dept. West) 
Fènasyonal prop.n. Fort-National 
(disadvantaged area of PaP); 
former barracks (PaP); prison for 
women and children (PaP) 
Fonbatis prop.n. Fond-Baptiste (7th 
communal section of Arcahaie, 
Dept. West) 
fonbazen see franbazen 
Fonblan prop.n. Fond-Blanc (1st 
communal section of Terrier-
Rouge, Dept. North-East) 
Fonbleprop.n. Fond-Bleu (6th 
communal section of Sainte-
Suzanne, Dept. North-East) 
Fonbouden prop.n. Fond-de-Boudin 
(14th communal section of 
Léogâne, Dept. West) 
fondalnatal n. origins, roots, 
foundations; adj. fundamental, 
basic 
fondalnatalman, fondamantalman 
adv. fundamentally, basically 
fondamantal adj. fundamental, 
basic 
fondamantalis adj. fundamentalist 
(re/.) 
fondanman see fandanman 
fondas n. basis, foundation; 
substructure; substratum 
fondasyon n. founding; basis; 
foundation (of house); foundation 
(institution) 
fondatè n.f fondatris f.n. founder 
fonde v. to found, create, establish; 
see fondepouvwa 
fondé, fondyè n. depth; hollow, dip, 
recess 
Fondeblan, Fondèblan prop.n. 
Fond-des-Blancs (9th communal 
section of Aquin, Dept. South) 
Fondeblan, Fondèblan prop.n. 
Fond-des-Blancs (4th communal 
section of Cabaret, Dept. West) 
Fondenèg, Fondènèg prop.n. Fond-
des-Nègres (Dept. South; 5th 
communal section of Miragoâne, 
Dept. Grand'Anse) 
fondepouvwa n. para-legal attorney 
(licensed to serve only in lower 
courts) 
fondèt n. fundamentals, essence, core 
314 
Fondikak - Fonparizyen 
Fondikakprop.n. Fond-d'Icaque 
(2nd communal section of Corail, 
Dept. Grand'Anse) 
fondman see fonnman 
fondonmon n. stench 
fondri n. foundry 
Fondwaprop.n. Fond-d'Oie (10th 
communal section of Léogâne, 
Dept. West) 
fondyè see fondé 
fonèm n. phoneme 
fonemik adj. phonemic 
fonetik, fonnetik n. phonetics; adj. 
phonetic 
Fonfô see Fwonfô 
Fonfrèdprop.n. Fonfrède (2nd 
communal section of Cayes, Dept. 
South) 
fongis n. fungus 
fongisid see fonjisid 
fonikasyon n. [Fr.] fornication (rel.) 
Fonjannwèl prop.n. Fond-Jean-
Noël (4th communal section of 
Marigot, Dept. South-East) 
fonjisid, fongisid n. fungicide 
Fonkochon, Lopino prop.n. Fond-
Cochon, Lopineau (2nd communal 
section of Roseaux, Dept. 
Grand'Anse) 
Fonkoze acron. Fondasyon Kole 
Zepol Shoulder-to-Shoulder 
Foundation (small business loans 
to micro-entrepreneurs) 
fonksyon n. function, role 
pran - to take office 
fonksyonè, fonksyonnè 
fonksyonèzf.n. government 
official, civil servant 
fonksyonèl adj. functional, 
operational 
fonksyone(n), fonksyonnen v. to 
function, operate 
fonksyonman, fonksyonnman n. 
functioning, working 
Fonlagranj, Kotdefè, Kôtfè prop.n. 
Fond-Lagrange, Cotes-de-Fer (7th 
communal section of Le Borgne, 
Dept. North) 
Fonlyàn, Fonlyannprop.n. Fond-
Liane, Fond-des-Lianes (1st 
communal section of Petite-
Rivière-de-Nippes, Dept. 
Grand'Anse) 
fonm see fôm 
fonmasi see famasi 
fonmasyen see famasyen 
fonmay var. fwonmaj 
Fonmelon, Mich, Sèlprop.n. Fond-
Melon, Mich, Selle (2nd 
communal section of Jacmel, 
Dept. South-East) 
fonmi see fourni 
fonn v. to melt, thaw; to dissolve; to 
be absorbed, merge; to dilute; to 
sneak away, disappear 
~ ak to unite with, join together 
with 
~ kon bè to disappear, clear out 
quickly 
~ nan lespas to evaporate 
fonnannan, fonnatal n. essence, 
core 
fonnetik see fonetik 
fonnman, fondman n. foundation, 
basis, keystone 
fonograf, fono n. phonograph, 
record-player 
fonoloji n. phonology 
fonolojik adj. phonological 
fonotèk n. sound archives 
Fonpalmisprop.n. Fond-Palmiste 
(1st communal section of Chantai, 
Dept. South) 
Fonparizyen prop.n. Fond-Parisien 
315 
Fondikak - Fonparizyen 
Fondikakprop.n. Fond-d'Icaque 
(2nd communal section of Corail, 
Dept. Grand'Anse) 
fondman see fonnman 
fondonmon n. stench 
fondri n. foundry 
Fondwaprop.n. Fond-d'Oie (10th 
communal section of Léogâne, 
Dept. West) 
fondyè see fondé 
fonèm n. phoneme 
fonemik adj. phonemic 
fonetik, fonnetik n. phonetics; adj. 
phonetic 
Fonfô see Fwonfô 
Fonfrèdprop.n. Fonfrède (2nd 
communal section of Cayes, Dept. 
South) 
fongis n. fungus 
fongisid see fonjisid 
fônikasyon n. [Fr.] fornication (rel.) 
Fonjannwèl prop.n. Fond-Jean-
Noël (4th communal section of 
Marigot, Dept. South-East) 
fonjisid, fongisid n. fungicide 
Fonkochon, Lopino prop.n. Fond-
Cochon, Lopineau (2nd communal 
section of Roseaux, Dept. 
Grand'Anse) 
Fonkoze acron. Fondasyon Kole 
Zepol Shoulder-to-Shoulder 
Foundation (small business loans 
to micro-entrepreneurs) 
fonksyon n. function, role 
pran - to take office 
fonksyonè, fonksyonnè n., 
fonksyonèz f.n. government 
official, civil servant 
fonksyonèl adj. functional, 
operational 
fonksyone(n), fonksyonnen v. to 
function, operate 
fonksyonman, fonksyonnman n. 
functioning, working 
Fonlagranj, Kotdefè, Kôtfè prop.n. 
Fond-Lagrange, Côtes-de-Fer (7th 
communal section of Le Borgne, 
Dept. North) 
Fonlyàn, Fonlyann prop.n. Fond-
Liane, Fond-des-Lianes (1st 
communal section of Petite-
Rivière-de-Nippes, Dept. 
Grand'Anse) 
fonm see fom 
fonmasi see famasi 
fonmasyen see famasyen 
fonmay var. fwonmaj 
Fonmelon, Mich, Sèlprop.n. Fond-
Melon, Mich, Selle (2nd 
communal section of Jacmel, 
Dept. South-East) 
fonmi see fourni 
fonn v. to melt, thaw; to dissolve; to 
be absorbed, merge; to dilute; to 
sneak away, disappear 
- ak to unite with, join together 
with 
~ kon bè to disappear, clear out 
quickly 
~ nan lespas to evaporate 
fonnannan, fonnatal n. essence, 
core 
fonnetik see fonetik 
fonnman, fondman n. foundation, 
basis, keystone 
fonograf, fono n. phonograph, 
record-player 
fonoloji TI. phonology 
fonolojik adj. phonological 
fonotèk n. sound archives 
Fonpalmisprop.n. Fond-Palmiste 
(1st communal section of Chantai, 
Dept. South) 
Fonparizyen prop.n. Fond-Parisien 
315 
fonse - fos 
(3rd communal section of 
Ganthier, Dept. West) 
fonse v. to rush, charge ahead; to 
sink; to dent; to drive in (nail etc.); 
to gather, pleat (skirt); adj. dark, 
deep (color); dark-skinned; n. dent 
~ fondasyon to lay the foundation 
(of a house) 
~ poze (pa) anba to sink down, 
settle 
~ sou to attack, pounce on/upon 
~ sousi to frown 
~ tèt bese to charge ahead 
fonsè n. tinsmith 
fonsi n. dent 
fonsman n. recess, indentation; dent 
fonsyad n. var. of plant 
fonsye adj. fundamental, basic; real-
estate; land, landed, land-owning 
fonsyèman adv. fundamentally, 
basically 
font n. font (printing) 
Fontamara prop.n. Fontamara 
(advantaged residential area west 
ofPaP) 
fontanèl n. fontanel 
fonte see fwonte 
fontenn, fontèn, fwontenn, 
lafontenn n. forehead; fountain; 
fontanel 
~ tèt forehead; fontanel 
FontM prop.n. Fond-Tortue (3rd 
communal section of Baradères, 
Fontètiryen prop.n., Fontôtiryèn 
f prop.n. inhabitant of Fond-Tortue 
(Dept. Grand'Anse) 
fontyè, fwontiyè, fwontyè n. border 
(of country), frontier, red-light 
district 
fè ~ ak to border 
Vtwrixteym prop.n., Foavèrètyèn 
f.prop.n. inhabitant ofFond-
Verrettes (Dept. West) 
Fonwouj(dayè) prop.n. Fond-
Rouge-Daiyer, Fond-Rouge-
Daherre (8th communal section of 
Jérémie, Dept. Grand'Anse) 
Fonwouj Tôbèkprop.n. Fond-
Rouge-de-Torbeck (9th communal 
section of Jérémie, Dept. 
Grand'Anse) 
fopa n. false step, mistake; social 
blunder 
fè yon ~ to stumble, slide, slip 
fopanno n. saddle cushion 
fopaplis, fopaplis adj. perfect, 
outstanding; adv. perfectly; see fe 
fopèz adj. deceptive, faulty 
(measuring device) 
Fôpikolè prop.n. Fort-Picolet 
(French ruins near Cape Haitian) 
fopwen n. brass knuckles 
foraj n. drilling, boring 
foray n. pasture, meadow; forage, 
fodder (for domestic animals) 
fore, foré, foré n. forest, woods 
Foredepen, Forèdèpen prop.n. 
Forêt-des-Pins (Dept. South-East) 
Foreflechiprop.n. Fort-Réfléchi 
(overlooking Pestel, Dept. 
Grand'Anse) 
forestye adj. forest; see gad ~ 
fos see fo 
fôs n. strength, force, might, power, 
stamina, capability; size; courage; 
pressure; intensity; grave, tomb; 
ditch, pit; sum (of); adj. much, 
many 
aksan ~ grave accent: à, è, ô 
bay pran ~ to strengthen, 
energize, boost 
bay plis ~ to reinforce 
fè - to rebel; to apply pressure; to 
316 
fôs - fôtiflkasyon 
resist 
- defrap strike force 
~ fènwa forces of evil 
- komin common or communal 
grave 
- kote see foskote 
- kouraj, - kouray physical 
strength, brawn 
- kouran voltage 
- lyon lions' den 
- piriji tetanus, lockjaw 
- ponyèt physical strength 
menm - ak comparable with 
mezire - li to strive, struggle, 
contend 
pa ~ unwillingly 
vini - to come in strength, arrive 
in force 
fôsa n. convict, forced laborer 
fosdelôd n. [Fr.] security force(s) 
fose n. ditch; gulf, gap 
fose v. to force, break open; to strain, 
exert to the utmost; to compel; to 
coerce, intimidate; to force oneself 
(to do s.thg.); to induce 
~ lagad pou antre nan palè to do 
s.thg. very difficult or dangerous 
fosè n. forger, counterfeiter 
fôselye n. grave-digger 
fôseman adv. inevitably, necessarily 
Fose Nabot see Divayon 
Fôsenmichèlprop.n. Fort Saint-
Michel (disadvantaged area of 
Cape Haitian, Dept. North) 
fôsèp, fosèt n. (obstetrical) forceps 
foseyè, foseye n. ditch-digger, grave-
digger, well-digger 
fosfat n. phosphate 
fosfate v. to phosphatize, treat with 
phosphates 
fosfô n. phosphorus 
fosforik adj. phosphoric 
fosil n. fossil 
foskawo, foskawo n. chocolate-
based drink 
foskote v. to be out of balance, be 
out of line, be leaning; n. 
imbalance; favoritism, partiality; 
discrimination 
ak ~ unequal, one-sided, lopsided 
fè yon ti ~ to swerve 
gen - to be one-sided, be partial, 
be unfair 
gen ~ nan to lean toward, incline 
toward 
san ~ impartial, unbiased 
foskouch, foskouch n. miscarriage 
~ makak fright, horror, very ugly 
person 
foskouraj, fôskouray n. physical 
strength, brawn 
Fosnabot see Divayon 
fôsponyèt n. physical strength 
fôt, fot, lafôt n. fault, mistake, error; 
misspelling; foul (sport) 
se pa ~ mwen I didn't do it on 
purpose, I didn't mean to do it 
zewo ~ impeccable, perfect 
fôtadi v. one would have to say 
(that) 
fôtakwa adv. thus, for that reason 
fôtdefrap n. misprint, typographical 
error 
fote see fwote 
fotèdetwoub n. troublemaker, 
mischief-maker, agitator 
fôtèy, fotèy n. armchair, easy chair; 
special chair or stretcher for 
transporting sick persons 
~ boure easy chair; presidency 
(fig) 
fotif n. culprit, guilty party; adj. 
faulty, incorrect; at fault 
fotifikasyon n. fortifying, 
317 
fôtifyan - Fouche 
strengthening; fortification, 
rampart 
fôtifyan n. tonic; vitamin; nutrient; 
adj. nutritious; fortifying, 
nourishing 
fôtifye v. to strengthen, fortify; to 
invigorate 
fôtin n. fortune, wealth 
F6t Lodedèl, Fot Lodèdal, Fot 
Ladèdèlprop.n. Fort Lauderdale 
(Florida) 
foto n. photo, picture; poster; 
drawing 
fè pran tire ~ to take a 
picture, photograph 
fotograf n. photographer 
fotografi n. photograph; 
photography 
fotografye v. to photograph 
fotojenik adj. photogenic (person) 
fotokopi n. photocopy 
machin ~ photocopier 
fotokopye v. to photocopy, xerox 
foton n. photon 
fotosentèz n. photosynthesis 
Fôtouwon prop.n. disadvantaged 
area of PaP 
fôtrès n. fortress, stronghold 
fou n. oven, stove, kiln; tern (bird); 
maniac; bishop (chess); adj. crazy, 
insane; delirious; see lefou 
bôs ~ baker 
~ acho lime kiln 
~ atè to throw to the ground, 
throw down; to wheedle (s.thg.) 
out of s.o. 
- bèk j6n zoranj royal tem (bird) 
- bèk nwa gull-billed tern (bird) 
~ bèk wouj common tern (bird) 
- blan roseate tern (bird) 
- devan dèyè poko konnen all 
for show, exhibitionist, show-off 
[fou here in the sense of'"stove"] 
~ dou slightly demented, eccentric 
- gri briddled tern (bird) 
- gri tèt blan hoddy tern (bird) 
- mikwowonn microwave oven 
~ nwa sooty tern (bird) 
- pay nan ke yellow-billed tropic 
bird 
- pou crazy about, passionate 
gwo ~ blan, gwo ~ gri brown 
booby (bird) 
mete nan kwit nan - to bake; 
to roast 
moun - maniac, madman 
o ~ o moulen! here there 
everywhere — busy busy busy! 
rann (yon moun) ~ to drive (s.o.) 
crazy 
ti - least tern (bird) 
vie ~ to get mad; to be driven 
crazy 
foub n. mistake; cheating; 
deceitfulness; trickster 
fè - to cheat, deceive, defraud 
foubi v. to rub, polish; to scrub, 
scour; to scold, fuss at 
- dan li to clean one's teeth (with 
branch, leaf etc.) 
~ je gade to stare 
foubisman n. polishing up; 
scrubbing, scouring; scolding, 
reprimand 
fouch n. bend, angle, fork, hook; 
prop (for banana plant etc.); 
pitchfork, hayfork; wide-pronged 
comb; bicycle fork (supporting 
front wheel) 
bay - to prop up, support 
fouche v. to mount (horse, bicycle 
etc.) 
Fouche (Frank) prop.n. Fouché 
(Franck) - Haitian poet and 
318 
fouchèt - fourni 
dramatist (1915-1978) 
fouchèt n. fork (eating); foot rot 
(horse etc.) 
- jaden garden claw (tool) 
fouchtaj n. loosening or turning 
over of earth 
fouchte tè v. to dig (with hoe, 
pickax, iron bar etc.) 
foudwaye v. to strike down 
foufou (N.) see tonmtonm 
foufou, fwoufwou n. puffer fish; 
striped burrfish 
foufoun n. vulva 
fouge adj. fiery, ardent 
fougonnen v. to trouble, torment, 
make life hard for; to rough up; to 
poke, stir (fire); to rummage 
about; to try to seduce, go after; to 
seduce 
foujè n. fern 
fouk n. crotch; crotch of pants 
anba andedan ~ crotch; crotch 
of pants 
koupe ~ to have pants that are too 
tight 
kout - low blow; deceit, 
deception, lie 
foukay n. arrest 
foukbôl see foutbol 
foukbolè see foutbolè 
fouke v. to grab under the crotch or 
back of pants; to grab, arrest; to 
put a diaper on a baby; to really 
get to; to ride (horse etc.) 
foukoufyaka, anfoukoufyaka adj. 
chaotic, upside down, disorganized 
foul n. crowd; v. to fill, fill up; adj. 
full (of), loaded, crowded 
yon ~ a bunch of, a lot of 
foul, lafoul n. crowd, throng 
foula n. bandanna, kerchief, 
headscarf; var. of peasant flute; 
v. to atomize, spray (rum etc.) 
foulay n. sprain; non-specific pain 
or ache 
foulaye v. to atomize, spray (rum 
etc.) 
foule v. to pack down, stuff down, 
tamp; to harden (fig.); to tread on; 
to sprain; to strain, pull (muscle); 
to compress, crush; adj. stocky, 
thickset; sprained, hurt 
- chay to go in heavily for 
kout ~ short and fat, roly-poly 
person 
fouli n. sprain 
foulkan! interj. get the hell out of 
here! 
Foulon prop.n. Foulon (1st 
communal section of Sainte-
Suzanne, Dept. North-East) 
foulonnen v. to stuff down, put 
away (food) 
foulouba v. to eat greedily 
foultitid n. crowd (of), lot of 
foulwa n. (dental) condenser 
fourni, fomi, fomi, fonmi, fwomi, 
fwonmi, fwoumi n. ant 
chache trip ~ to work in vain 
~ flanman var. of large stinging 
ant 
~ fou var. of black fast-moving ant 
~ lyon antlion 
~ pikan stinging ant 
- va ban m nouvèl a little bird's 
going to tell me, I'll find out 
sooner or later 
~ zèl flying ant 
gen ~ nan potchanm to have 
sugar in one's urine, be diabetic 
mete - nan pye to get (s.o.'s) feet 
moving (from music etc.) 
nich ~ anthill 
pran nan ~ to get into trouble 
319 
foumilye - foutbolè 
Other var. of ants: ~ dan, ~ nwa, ~ 
wouj 
foumilye n. anteater 
foun see founda 
founacho n. inferno; ovenful; lime-
kiln 
founan adj. flat-assed 
founda, foun n. rotting smell (meat, 
fish etc.) 
foundanman see fandanman 
foundaye v. to stink 
founde n. meat or fish conserved in 
salt and spices 
foundok n. cramped room or place; 
adj. thick, dense, impenetrable 
founen v. to place into an oven; to 
bake; n. batch, ovenful 
founèz n. blazing fire, blaze; 
furnace, oven 
founi v. to furnish, provide, supply; 
to cater; adj. thick, abundant, 
dense, bushy (hair, underbrush 
etc.) 
~ je gade to take a look, get an 
eyeful 
founisè n. supplier 
founiti n. supplies, provisions; 
school supplies; ingredients 
founo n. hearth, fire; stove; oven; 
kiln; ovenful 
nan ~ in the works, in preparation 
foup! see vloup! 
fourad: 
an - with gusto or eagerness; in a 
frenzy 
fourado, fouradon see fouyapot 
fourajè w. fodder 
fouray n. forage, fodder 
fouraye v. to scavenge, rummage, 
dig about in; to be lost (in), be 
engrossed (in); to misplace 
foure v. to stick, cram, jam, stuff; to 
shove in, insert 
- bouch (li), - pye (li) to stick 
one's nose in, interfere, meddle; to 
intervene 
- dwèt nan je to offend, insult, 
provoke 
- je (gade) to look closely at; to 
meddle into (s.o. else's business) 
~ ko 1 nan to meddle, stick one's 
nose into; to get involved in 
- men to stick one's hand in, take 
action 
~ men pran to grab, take out 
~ nan mitan to infiltrate 
~ nen to interfere 
~ pye to begin, start up; see ~ 
bouch (li) 
~ zèl anba vant to become quiet; 
to withdraw 
fouri n. fur 
fourye: 
sèjan ~ quartermaster sergeant 
fout v. to deliver, give (punch, 
blow); to do forcefully; to fork 
over, hand over; interj. damn, 
damn it, hell 
ala ~ yon bon... what a hell of a 
good... 
- dèyè! sit the hell down! sit your 
ass down! 
~ ou deyô la a! get the hell out of 
here! 
tonné! damn it to hell! 
- (yon moun) anba to knock 
(s.o.) down 
Ki - kote ou moun? Where the 
hell/fuck are you from? 
wi damn right! 
foutbol, foukbôl n. soccer 
~ ameriken football 
foutbolè, foukbolè n. soccer player 
~ ameriken football player 
320 
foute - franchipànye 
foute u to deliver, give (punch, 
blow); to fork over, hand over 
- deyô to kick out, toss out 
- li pa mal not to give a damn 
kisa sa ~ 1 what the hell business 
is it of his/hers? 
foutè n. var. of bread 
fouti adj. hopeless, lost 
pa ~ to be imable (to do s.thg.), 
cannot 
fouting n. jogging 
foutre obs. interj. damn, damn it, hell 
foutwou(lou)! interj. heck! 
fouwo n. sheath, case, scabbard; 
pillowcase (cf. sak zôrye) 
fouy n. search 
fè ~ to search, conduct a search 
fouyajè n. researcher 
fouyapôt, fouradô, fouradon, 
fouyadô, friyapôt n. busybody, 
snoop, meddler; researcher; adj. 
nosy, snoopy, meddlesome 
fouyay n. delving, investigating, 
probing 
fouye n. hearth (formed with three 
stones); v. to dig, dig up, excavate; 
to drill; to search, frisk; to delve; 
to harass with questions, grill; to 
pick or harvest (potatoes etc.) 
aparèy pou ~ drilling rig; cf. 
machin pi 
~ chache to dig around, rummage 
around, ferret out 
~ men pran pa li to dip in, take 
what's up for grabs 
~ sab var. of fresh-water fish 
~ zo nan kalalou to be nosy or 
inquisitive; to delve deeply into a 
subject, examine closely 
fouyè n. ditch-digger; researcher 
~ fos grave-digger 
fouyfouy n. busybody 
fovle see fok 
Fôwayal prop.n. Fort-Royal (name 
of Fort-Liberté during 1811-1820 
reign of King Henry [Christophe], 
Dept. North-East) 
fowôm n. forum 
fowvle see fok 
fôy, fôj n. forge 
bôs ~ blacksmith 
djôl ~ toothless mouth 
~ Ogoun iron rod in brazier 
representing Ogoun (q.v.) 
foye, fouye n. hearth (formed with 
three stones) 
FPH acron. Federasyon Pwotestan 
Dayiti Protestant Federation of 
Haiti 
fragmantasyon n. fragmentation (of 
exploding bomb etc.) 
frajil adj. fragile, delicate; sensitive, 
susceptible, touchy; frail 
frajilite n. fragility 
frajilize v. to weaken 
fraka n. crash, roar 
frakase v. to smash, shatter 
fraksyon n. fraction 
e ~ plus (some) 
fraksyonnè see faksyonnè 
frakti n. fracture, rupture, break; 
physical shock, trauma, injury 
fraktire v. to injure; to fracture, 
break, smash, force (open) 
fran adj. frank, sincere, candid; 
clear (jur.); n. (French) franc 
bannann ~ var. of plantain 
franbazen, fonbazen n. sweet 
maijoram (herb); sweet basil 
(aromatic plant) 
franbwaz n. raspberry 
franchi v. to cross, cross over; cf. 
janbe 
franchipànye, franchipay see 
321 
franchiz - frape 
franjipànye 
franchiz, lafranchiz n. frankness, 
openness; exemption from 
(customs) duties, tax exemption 
~ ladwann free trade 
franchman adv. frankly; bluntly 
franj, frany n. fringe, border, 
edging; rag; adj. unruly, uncombed 
(hair) 
fè ~ to become ragged 
Franjipàn prop.n. Frangipane (11th 
communal section of Aquin, Dept. 
South) 
franjipànye, franchipànye, 
franchipay, franjipann n. 
frangipani (shrub or small tree) 
Frankennstayn prop.n. 
Frankenstein 
Franketyèn see Etyèn (Frank) 
franko- prejbc Franco-
frankofil n. Francophile 
frankofili, frankofoli n. 
Francomania 
frankofon prop.n./adj. Francophone 
Frankofoni, Lafrankofoni prop.n. 
French-speaking world 
Franmason prop.n. Freemason 
Franmasonri prop.n. Freemasonry 
Frannsprop.n. Frantz 
Frans, Lafrans prop.n. France 
franse prop.n. French (language; 
people); prop. adj. French 
bay bèl - to deceive with fancy 
talk 
pale - to deceive, outwit, mislead 
Franse prop.n. Frenchman 
Fransèz f.prop.n. Frenchwoman, 
French girl 
fransik n. largest var. of mango (in 
Haiti) 
fransisken n. [ecc.] Franciscan 
fransiyad, fransiyàn n. Barbados 
pride (shrub) 
fransize v. to Gallicize 
Franswaprop.n. Francis; Frank 
tonton - , "Papa Dôk" fam. name 
for Dr. François Duvalier (1907-
1971), president of Haiti, 1957-
1971 
Franswaz f.prop.n. Frances 
fransyôl fam.n. "French-fried 
Haitian" 
fransyomàn n. Francophile 
frany see franj 
frap n. hit, strike, blow; power, 
force 
sou - under attack 
Frap acron. Fwon Revolisyonè pou 
Avansman ak Pwogrè Ayiti 
(Front Révolutionnaire pour 
l'Avancement et le Progrès 
d'Haïti/Front Révolutionnaire 
Armé du Peuple Haïtien) 
paramilitary terrorist organization 
active during latter part of "de-
facto" period, esp. 1993-1994 
frapan adj. striking 
frapay, frapaj n. striking, hitting, 
bumping, knocking 
frape v. to strike, hit, bump, bang, 
knock; to collide; to knock, tap; to 
work very hard; to play a drum; to 
chatter (teeth); to stomp (on); to 
hurt, affect; to surprise; to 
astonish; to reflect (sun, moon 
etc.); to put on ice, cool (drink); to 
wear for the first time; to wear 
with elegance; to fuck; n. strike, 
hit, bump; injury; knock; adj. cool, 
iced (drink) 
ap - to be getting along fine 
bouton ~ button made of two 
pieces joined together 
byen - ice-cold (beer esp.) 
322 
frape - fredi 
- ak pye to kick 
- ansanm (ak) to work together 
with; to get along well together 
- bank (yon moun) to ask (s.o.) 
for money 
- di to go hard at s.thg. (eating 
etc.) 
- (jis) nan kè to wound, trouble, 
upset 
- vè to toast, drink in honor of 
gwo ~ nan tèt concussion 
frapè n. pickpocket; lady-killer, very 
sexually active male, stud 
frapis n. member of FRAPH (Front 
Révolutionnaire pour 
l'Avancement et le Progrès 
d'Haïti/Front Révolutionnaire 
Armé du Peuple Haïtien) 
frapman n. knocking, hitting; 
(social) relations or activities; 
decorative molding (architectural 
embellishment) 
fratènèl adj. brotherly, fraternal 
fratènèlman adv. fraternally 
fratènite n. brotherhood, fraternity 
fratènize v. to fraternize, be friendly 
fratrisid adj. [Fr.] fratricidal 
frayik see efrayik 
Frayovil prop.n. Fragneau-Ville 
(area of PaP east of Delmas) 
fraz n. sentence, phrase; chitchat; 
joke 
bay ~ to tell jokes 
fè ~ to be kidding, be joking 
frazè n. funny person, joker, card 
fre n. flair, scent, good nose (for 
tracing person or animal); fish 
foocifaait; expenses; adj. cool, 
fresh; in good condition; dashing, 
elegant 
fè - to be cool (weather) 
~ kou kola kenz fresh as a daisy; 
fit as a fiddle, in great physical 
shape 
pran - to scent, smell out, sniff 
out 
frè n. brother; half-brother; brother, 
friar (in religious order); friend 
(male); fellow, man; expenses, fee 
demi ~ half-brother (by same 
father only) 
fè ~ to run up bills; to treat, invite 
fè yon - to (give a) treat 
~ batèm man with whom one 
shares same godfather or 
godmother 
~ bra (like a) brother, close 
friends; those who took their first 
communion together 
- kod lonbrit life-long buddy 
~ menm papa/manman half-
brother 
Frè prop.n. Frères (section of 
Pétion-Ville, former military 
academy of Haiti, present training 
academy of Haitian National 
Police) 
frèch adj. cool; chilly; wet (cement) 
frechè n. coolness; shade; fresh air; 
chill (in part of the body); 
freshness; arthritis; rheumatism; 
see lafrechè 
mete yon ti ~ to spruce up, 
freshen up 
frechi v. to get cooler; see fresi 
~ dan gum abscess 
frèdantre n. admission/entrance fee 
frèdè: 
bay moun ~ to be offish/distant 
with s.o. 
fredi n. cold (temperature); chill; 
arthritis; rheumatism 
bat - to fight off the cold 
(weather) 
323 
fredite - fresko 
gen ~ to have tuberculosis 
pran ~ to catch a chill 
fredite, fredizon, fwadisman n. 
coldness (temperature); cold 
weather; sickness caused 
(supposedly) by cold weather 
fredonnen, fredone v. to hum (a 
tune) 
fregat n. frigate (ship); frigate bird 
frego n. ardor, passion, energy 
frekan adj. insolent, impertinent, 
impudent, rude; forward, fresh 
(with women); bold, fresh; n. 
insolence, impertinence, 
impudence; bold or daring act 
fè ~ to show off; to act brazenly; 
to act pretentiously or impudently 
frekans n. frequency (math., 
electronics) 
frekansite, frekanste n. insolence, 
impertinence, impudence; 
impudent person 
fè ~ to act impudently; to flirt 
frekantab adj. presentable 
frekantasyon n. friends, associates, 
social relationships; dubious 
relationship(s) 
frekante v. to associate with, 
socialize with, frequent; to 
frequent, go regularly to a place; 
n. impudence, boldness; adj. 
impertinent, impudent; bold, 
cheeky; busy (place with many 
customers) 
frèl adj. frail, weak 
frelikè n. whippersnapper; adj. 
young, immature 
fremi v. to shudder, shiver 
fremisman n. shudder, shiver 
fren n. brake(s) 
bay yon kout - to brake, step on 
the brake 
- brek brake(s) (of vehicle) 
- (a) men, - levye, levye - hand 
brake, emergency brake 
~ van air brakes 
kalipè - brake caliper 
kole yon - sèk to slam on the 
brakes 
mastè - brake master cylinder 
mete - to put a stop to 
peze - (byen fo) to slam on the 
brakes 
plakèt - brake pad 
tanbou - brake drum 
teke - to touch the brakes 
très ~ brake lining 
frèn, frenn n. ash tree 
frendeng n. ass, butt 
frending n. intestine(s); insides, 
interior 
frengal n. pang of hunger; large 
appetite 
frengan adj. lively, active, energetic, 
vivacious 
frenk, fwenk v. to fling, toss, chuck; 
interj. damn it! hell! 
frenn n. friend, buddy; ash tree; see 
fwenn 
frennay, frennaj n. braking, 
slowing down, stopping 
frennen v. to brake, slow down, 
stop; to constrain, impede; see 
fwennen 
fresi, frechi, fwasi n. liver 
- di liver 
~ mou lungs 
Fresino prop.n. Freycineau 
(immediately south of Saint-Marc, 
Dept. Artibonite) 
freskawo n. chocolate drink 
fresko, frèsko n. snowcone, grated 
ice covered with flavored syrup 
bwèt - cart for selling fresko 
324 
frèt - frivol 
frèt, fwèt adj. cold, chilly 
(temperature); cold, indifferent; 
sad, still; calm, quiet, tranquil; 
adv. instantaneously, suddenly; n. 
chartering, leasing; see fwèt 
fè - to be cold (weather) 
- ak to give a cold shoulder to 
- kou nen chen frozen; freezing 
- pase nen chen, ~ pase laglas 
colder than a witch's tit 
lanmen ~ weak handshake 
(yon moun ki) pa manje anyen 
ki ~ (s.o.) not to be pushed 
around, not to be taken advantage 
of 
retire ~ (yon) dlo to warm up 
water, make water lukewarm 
frete see fwete 
frewo n. little brother, little buddy 
frèy n. entrails, guts 
freye ak v. to associate with, mix 
with 
freyè, frèyè, lafreyè n. fright, scare; 
dread, terror 
frèz n. strawberry; animal fat 
Var. of strawberry: fresno, 
sekoya, solano, tyoga 
frèzesèpin. (rel.) brothers and 
sisters 
fri v. to fry, broil; to deep fry; to 
freeze up, become incapable of 
action; adj. done for, washed up, 
finished; see fwi 
fridodôy, fwidôdoy n. candy, 
sweets; snack food, junk food 
frigo n. refrigerator 
frijèt: 
fè figi ~ to show discontent/ 
disappointment/sadness 
Frijiprop.n. [Bible] Phrygia 
frijidè n. refrigerator, Frigidaire 
abiye an ~ to be dressed in white 
frijyen prop, n./adj. Phrygian 
bonnèt ~ Phrygian cap 
frikaman n. ingredient(s) (for soup 
esp.) 
frikase v. to sauté; n. (vegetable) 
stew; see fwikase 
friksyon, fiksyon n. massage 
~ kach catch/latch for cupboard 
door 
friksyonnen v. to rub, massage; to 
be massaged 
frimouy n. old worn-out object 
frimye see fimye 
frip onomat. sound of scraping or 
scratching 
fripe v. to mess up 
Fripôtprop.n. Freeport (Bahamas) 
fripouy n. rogue, scoundrel 
Fris see Frits 
frisbi n. frisbee 
frison n. chills; shiver, shudder; see 
lafyèv 
frisonnen v. to shiver, shudder 
fristrasyon, fristasyon n. 
frustration 
fristre adj. frustrated 
fritado n. wanderer 
Fritawnprop.n. Freetown (Sierra 
Leone) 
fritay, fritaj n. fried foods (plantain, 
meat etc.); hanging around, 
loitering 
frite v. to hang around, drift about, 
loiter (usu. in hopes of receiving 
food); to flit around 
ale nan ~ same as above 
fritè n. hanger-on, drifter, good-for-
nothing 
friti n. frying; fried food 
Frits, Fris prop.n. Fritz 
fritye n. fruit bowl 
frivol adj. fickle; frivolous 
friyab - fwaye 
friyab adj. crumbly (texture) 
friyan adj. especially fond of meat 
- pou hungry for, fond of (food in 
general; honors etc.) 
friyandiz n. [Fr.] delicacy, tidbit, 
choice morsel 
friyapôt see fouyapôt 
Friyo (larivyè) prop.n. Frio river 
(near Maissade, Dept. Center) 
friz n. deep-freeze chamber; air 
conditioner, air conditioning; curl; 
frieze; v. [Eng.] to freeze; to 
freeze, be blocked (computer); 
interj. [Eng.] Freeze!, Don't 
move! 
frizay see frize 
frize v. to curl (hair); adj. curly 
(hair); ruffled (feathers) 
frize, frizay n. Hispaniolan barn 
owl, hoot owl, screech owl 
(sometimes considered to be a 
lougawou, q.v., in disguise) 
fèy - , fèy lougawou air plant, 
never-die, resurrection plant (herb) 
- used as protection against 
lougawou (q.v.) 
- k6n Stygian owl 
frizè n. [Eng.] freezer, deep-freeze 
unit 
fwa n. time, instance; liver; 
epigastric area; faith; trust, 
confidence; fair, exhibition; prep. 
times (multiplied by) 
an - dekwa in testimony/witness 
of which 
de - twice 
ft - to have a liver problem or 
hepatic disease 
ft movèz - to be non-cooperative 
~ di liver 
- mou lung(s) 
- pa nan kont coltsfoot (herb) 
gen - li chaje to have a coated or 
furred tongue 
gen movèz - to be deceitful, be 
insincere, be two-faced 
gwo - hepatitis 
konben - again and again, over 
and over, repeatedly 
movèz - deceit, insincerity, bad 
faith 
pou lapremye - for the first time 
san - ni lwa fearing neither God 
nor man, lawless, faithless, 
treacherous 
te gen yon - once upon a time 
twa - pase la se ladènye ki reste 
la children's game somewhat 
resembling musical chairs 
yon bon - , yon - pou tout once 
and for all 
yon - once 
yon lot - anko once again 
fwachin n. small wooden switch or 
rod; cf. fachin 
Fwad (larivyè) prop.n. Froide river 
(between PaP and Gressier, Dept. 
West) 
fwadè: 
make - to show disdain 
fwadisman see fredite 
fwadman adv. coldly, coolly, in cold 
blood 
fwadmori: 
lwil - cod-liver oil 
fwarad n. liquid stool, diarrhea 
fware v. to slip, strip (threads of a 
screw); adj. worn-down 
fwasan adj. offending, hurting 
fwase v. to offend, hurt (s.o.'s 
feelings); to take offense 
fwasi see fresi 
fwaye n. hearth (formed with three 
stones); fireplace; heating unit of 
326 
fwego - fwoti 
grill; home; focus (of lens etc.); 
shelter, asylum 
fwego n. [Span] vigor, virility; 
sexual drive 
fwem see fwenn 
fwen n. oats, hay; see fren 
fwenk see frenk 
fwenn, frenn, fwem n. pointed 
stick, pointed wire; spear, lance, 
javelin; dagger 
fwennen v. to stab; to spit, run 
through with a spit; to brake, slow 
down, stop; see frennen 
fwèt TI. whip, lash; wire whist, egg-
beater; chartering, leasing; see frèt 
- ayizan whip made from palm 
foliage for use during Voodoo 
initiations 
- kach, - pit, - taye horsewhip, 
bullwhip; sisal whip used in bann 
rara, Voodoo services (esp. 
Petwo) etc. 
tounen ~ to turn against 
fwetay, fwetaj n. whipping, lashing 
fwete, frete v. to whip 
fwete, afrete, frete v. to charter, 
lease 
fwi n. fruit 
fè -, pote ~ to bear fruit, come to 
fruition 
- lanmè, fwidmè seafood 
fwidôdôy see fridôdôy 
fwikase n. akee tree 
fwinen, fwine v. to nose around, 
nose about 
fwit see fit 
fwitye adj. fruit 
fwod, fwod n. [Eng.] fraud 
fwodè n. swindler, fourflusher, rip-
off artist; adj. fraudulent 
fwomaj, fwomay see fwonmaj 
fwomi see fourni 
fwon, fon n. forehead, brow; 
(political) front, coalition 
Fwonfè, Fonfo (ri dè) prop.n. 
Fronts-Forts (rue des) (downtown 
PaP) 
fwonmaj, fomaj, fonmay, fwomaj, 
fwomay, fwonmay n. cheese; 
prostitute; symptoms of sexually 
transmitted disease (fam.) 
bout ~ nan pwa a tasty delicacy, 
best morsel, best part, crowning 
touch (cf. kwann nan pwa a) 
~ degriyè Gruyère cheese 
~ dlo whey 
~ kamanbè Camembert cheese 
~ kraf(t), - krèm, krèm - cream 
cheese 
~ lèt cottage cheese 
~ tèt m6 Gouda cheese 
~ tilèt curd 
fwonmaje n. cheese container; 
Indian mulberry (shrub or small 
tree) 
fwonmasi see famasi 
fwonmi see fourni 
fwonse see fonse 
fwontalye adj. border 
fwontalyè n. border guard 
fwonte, fonte, fwontè adj. insolent, 
impudent, impertinent; cf. efwonte 
fwontenn see fontenn 
fwontyè, fwontiyè see fontyè 
fwotay, fwotaj n. rubbng; 
scrubbing; polishing 
fwote, fote v. to rub; to scrub; to 
polish; to scratch, scrape; to wash 
superficially 
~ ak lwil to anoint; to rub with oil 
~ bouch li to solemnly swear 
~ lide to trade ideas, discuss 
fwoti(s) n. smear (blood, vaginal 
etc.) 
327 
fwotman - fyouz 
fwotman, fwotman n. rubbing, 
friction; contact, interaction; 
influence, connections, pull 
bri - grinding/scraping noise 
fwoufwou n. rustling, rustle, 
murmur; see foufou 
fwoumi see fourni 
fyab adj. reliable, dependable, 
trustworthy 
fyansay n. engagement (to marry) 
fyanse, fiyanse n. fiancé(e); v. to get 
engaged, be engaged 
fyask n. flask (chem.) 
fyasko n. fiasco, flop, disaster 
Fyatprop.n. Fiat (vehicle) 
fye v. to trust, have confidence in 
fyè adj. (justifiably) proud, self-
confident 
fyèb see lafyèv 
fyèf n. fief, preserve, stronghold 
Fyefye, Tikawo prop.n. Fiéfié, Petit 
Cahos (5th communal section of 
Petite-Rivière-de-1'Artibonite, 
Dept. Artibonite) 
fyèl n. gallbladder; bile; stamina, 
endurance, resistance; patience 
~ bèf bitter, envenomed; harsh, 
difficult 
- manman ou! see gèt manman 
ou! 
- pete backbreaking, exhausting, 
demanding 
gen - to be strong or courageous 
pete - , rache - to do in, wipe out, 
rub out; killer(-diller), humdinger 
rann - (li) to break one's back, be 
done in (doing s.thg.) 
sak - gallbladder 
tiyo - cystic duct 
fyèlaboyo adj. dangerous 
fyèman adv. proudly 
fyengen adj. small, weak 
fyète n. pride; self-confidence; 
boldness, daring 
fyèv see lafyèv 
fyofyo adj. tiny, minuscule 
fyôl n. vial, flask; see fiyèl 
fyon n. stylishness; coquetry, 
coquettishness 
fè - to play or act important 
fyouw! onomat. vroom! (to express 
rapid action) 
fyouz n. (electric) fuse 
328 
g -gadavi 
G 
g (pronounced: je) 
g + anpil sh.form gen(yen) anpil 
there is much, there are many 
g + on sh.form gen(yen) + yon 
there is a 
ga n. wooden awning or canopy 
pa konn g a ~ nan fèy malanga 
not to know beans, be totally 
ignorant, be an ignoramus 
ga, laga n. train station; boarding 
dock 
~ woutye bus station 
gabadin n. gabardine (fabric) 
gabari n. mold, form (construction); 
var. of cloth 
gran - conceited, vain, 
pretentious 
gabèl n. headstart, advantage; 
handicap (sports) 
bay ~ to give a handicap or 
advantage, give odds, give a head 
start, facilitate; to dare 
pran % ranmase ~ to accept a 
handicap or advantage (sports) 
gabelis n. s.o. who receives a 
handicap or advantage (sports) 
gabiyon see gabyon 
gabji see grabji 
Gabon prop.n. Gabon 
gabotaj, gabotay see kabotaj 
gabotè see kabotè 
gabouya, gabouyi see kabouya 
Gabriyèl prop.n. [Bible] Gabriel; 
Gabriel (Dept. Artibonite) 
gabyèn n. var. of Voodoo dance 
gabyon, gabiyon n. gabion, hollow 
cement or metal cylinder (used 
esp. in constructing building 
foundations); bamboo container 
Gabyon prop.n. zone of (Aux/Les) 
Cayes (Dept. South) 
lopital - important eye hospital of 
Cayes 
gache v. to waste, ruin, spoil 
gachèt n. trigger 
gad n. policeman, soldier, guard; 
militia, guard; protective charm or 
amulet; marks or scratches for 
magical protection 
an on your guard! 
- abitasyon protective charm for 
one's home 
~ chanpèt rural policeman 
~ kotye coast guard; cf. gadkôt 
~ de/di ko bodyguard 
~ donè honor guard 
~ forestye forest ranger 
~ ko protective charm for one's 
person; bodyguard 
~ malad attendant, nurse 
~ palè opportunist, self-seeker 
~ polis rural deputy sheriff, 
assistant to a chèf seksyon (q.v.) 
~ vesèl china cabinet, cupboard 
koupe ~ to cut or tattoo marks on 
forehead, shoulder etc. for magic 
protection 
mete an - to warn, caution 
pran - to behave oneself, be careful 
Gad (Dayiti)prop.n. Garde d'Haïti 
(beginning in 1915, the 
Gendarmerie d'Haïti later became 
the Garde d'Haïti, which later 
became the Forces Armées 
d'Haïti, until abolished in 1995 by 
President Aristide) 
gadavi n. police custody; police 
holding cell, holding tank 
329 
péKfml - gadmaatèg 
wterj. attention! (milit.) 
• ~ to coinc to attention 
•MI ** at attention 
GmiCkmmfHprvpn Garde-
Champêtre < 1 st communal section 
of Baft~Lunbé. Dept. North) 
* to look, kx* at, watch, 
observe, examine, scrutinize; to 
behold (rW. ); to consider; to store; 
ID (MM4, fraftek ow, take care of; 
I» keep; to raise animals; to 
cwoem; a looking; look, glance; 
«•ler? watch it! stop it! 
kty mm ~ to loan an animal to 
M>. (frtyaiH who obtains certain 
advantages from raising it 
II ym (H) ~ to take a (quick) look, 
« ak •**» Jt to look wfrvoiabty 
chai, ankiakart, 
mm feaka» - ym kè to 
steal a glance 
t to feoc squarely, affront 
kèt to Mat livestock 
M i to scan at 
il» «Ht (at) 
a m to look squarely in the 
eye. flrnw 
M i a M i k . M B a a t t e k . w M 
m 
(pml wè to look and see: to 
- am to copy, nutate; to cheat (in 
school I 
- tande! now listen! 
- vit to glance, peek at 
m ap ~ I'm doing OK 
m ap - san pran I'm on the 
outside looking in, I'm getting 
along more or less well 
mal - to look down upon, look at 
with disfavor 
pa konn ki kote pou li - not to 
know which way to turn, not knot 
what to do 
sa pa - ou! mind your own 
business! it's none of your 
business! 
san (vire) - dèyè immediately, 
fast; headlong, without restraint, 
without a second thought, without 
hesitation, all the way; without 
remorse 
gadè see gadyen 
gadelovi n. var. of Voodoo dance 
gadennya n. gardenia 
gadfou n. parapet, rail, railing 
gadinay, gadinaj n. livestock 
raising, animal husbandry 
Gadinè prop.n. North Station 
(former railway station in 
downtown PaP) 
gadinyè see gadyen 
gadja v. to run 
gftdjatè see gadyatè 
gadjè see gagé 
gadjen var. gadyen 
gadjèt ». worthless object; 
unimportant person 
gadjin n. fighting cock having two 
or more colors 
gftdjif see gagit 
gadkè see gad kè 
gadkèt, gad kotye n. coast guard 
gadmanje n. cupboard, pantry 
gadmantèg n. person with dirty of 
330 
gado - gal 
lowly occupation 
gadô see gadyen 
gadon: 
- (yon) ka! wow! what a thing! 
gadri n. day-care center 
gadriyè see gadyen 
gadwôb n. wardrobe, closet 
gadyatè, gadjatè n. animal raiser; 
person to whom one loans an 
animal and who obtains certain 
advantages from raising it (bay 
nan gade) 
gadyè see gagé 
gadyen, gadè, gadinyè, gadjen, 
gado, gadriyè n. caretaker, house-
sitter, watchman, guard; 
goalkeeper, goalie (soccer); 
shepherd; baby-sitter, guardian 
(for minor child) 
- bi goalkeeper, goalie (soccer) 
~ mouton shepherd, sheepherder 
gadyèn f.n. babysitter 
gadyennbi n. goalkeeper, goalie 
(soccer) 
gaf n. blunder 
gaga n. fool, dummy, idiot; adj. 
dumb; retarded; sluggish; dazed, 
confused, woozy; senile; 
disoriented; v. to stupefy, stun, 
daze; see ga 
fè ~ to make one lose one's good 
sense 
gagann n. throat, gullet, esophagus; 
chest area, neck and shoulders; 
good friend, supporter; punch, 
blow (to upper body); Carnival 
shoving match; rim 
ba li ~ to make (s.o.) proud or 
self-confident 
banbou - , tib - throat, gullet, 
esophagus 
bay - to punch, strike (in upper 
part of body); to treat badly 
fè - to push around, bully 
fè gwo - to swagger, puff oneself 
up, blow one's own trumpet 
mete men nan pat ~ to arrest 
pran ~ to fail 
ra ~ filled to the brim 
gagannen v. to grab (s.o.) by the 
throat, throttle; to punch, hit (in 
upper part of body) 
gagari n. gargling; v. to gargle 
gagarize, gagare v. to gargle 
gagay see bagay 
gagé, gadjè, gadyè, ganjè n. 
cockfight arena; cockfight 
sèk - , mitan - , pak - cockfight 
arena or ring 
gagèmann n. cock-fighting fan 
gagim see kôk -
gagit, gadjit n. shoe nail 
gagôt n. mess, disorder, confusion; 
intrigue; big feed, spread; adj. 
messy, disorganized; sham 
yon - a bunch of, a (sorry) lot of 
gagotay n. messing up, creating 
disorder 
gagote v. to mess up, turn upside 
down; to talk nonsense 
gagotè n. spoiler, wrecker 
gaj n. pledge, dues; token, sign; fine, 
penalty, forfeit (in parlor game); 
children's game (with objective of 
making s.o. "it"); obligation or 
pledge made to Voodoo priest(ess) 
pran - to make a pact with 
supernatural being(s) 
Gakas prop.n. Garcasse (communal 
section of Les Irois, Dept. 
Grand'Anse) 
gal n. var. of noxious insect 
Gal see Peyid -
gal, galmak n. limit, marker 
111 
gal - Gana 
gal, lagal n. scabies; mange 
gala n. gala, festive occasion 
galaksi n. galaxy 
galan n. womanizer, woman chaser; 
adj. courteous, polite (man) 
galantri n. courtesy, politeness 
Galaradprop.n. [Bible] Gilead 
Galasiprop.n. [Bible] Galatia 
Galat prop.n. [Bible] Galatians 
galata n. var. of agave or sisal 
galata, galita, galta, gata, gayita, 
gayta n. attic, loft, storeroom; 
grainery, grain store-house; ceiling 
yon - a lot of, many 
gale, galè see valop 
galeri, gain n. veranda, porch; 
balcony; art gallery; see lagalri 
~ dèyè patio 
Galesyen, Gaiety en prop.n., 
Galesyèn, Gaiety èn f.prop.n. 
inhabitant of Anse-à-Galets (La 
Gonâve Island, Dept. West) 
galèt n. pebble, stone; river-bank; 
riverbed; dry stream-bed; gully; 
piece of split wood; see valôp 
an ~ wide thin slice (plantain 
chips etc.) 
wèch ~ pebble, stone 
Galètchanbon prop.n. Galette-
Chambon (1st communal section 
of Ganthier, Dept. West) 
Galetyen, Galetyèn see Galesyen, 
Galesyèn 
galfate, galfete v. to caulk, repair 
galgal n. red ironwood, darling plum 
(small tree) 
gaMl n. var. submachine gun 
Galile prop.n. [Bible] Galilee 
galimatya, galimatcha n. gibberish, 
nonsense; mess, confusion; dirt, 
mud 
galimatyak adj. messed up, confused 
galipo n. white ironwood tree 
galipot, galpôt, gayipot n. mythic 
animal resembling a lougawou 
(q.v.); nocturnal killer of animals; 
witch, sorcerer; member of secret 
society of evildoers; fast-moving 
person who can seemingly be in 
two places at once; adj. satanic 
galisis n. Gallicism 
galita see galata 
galize see egalize 
galkou see ralkou 
galmak see gal 
galon n. gallon (3.785 liters); 
(water) jug; stripe, chevron (milit.) 
galonnen v. to promote (milit.); to 
earn a stripe; to decorate (milit); 
to rush; to gallop; to sprint; see 
garyonnen 
galop see valop 
galope v. to gallop; to rush; n. gallop 
galpot see galipot 
galri see galeri 
galta see galata 
galvanize v. to galvanize, stimulate; 
to galvanize, coat (iron or steel) 
with rust-resistant zinc 
galvanomèt n. galvanometer 
galwaprop.n. Welshman; Welsh 
(lang.); prop. adj. Welsh 
gam n. scale (music); key (music); 
gamut, range 
chante - , fè - to brag, boast; to 
exaggerate 
gamèl see ganmèl 
gan n. glove; mitt; see genyen 
bay - to examine using a glove 
(anus, vagina) 
- lanmou condom 
nan - blan ak to treat with kid 
gloves, give special attention to 
Gana, Gannaprop.n. Ghana 
332 
ganache - garanti 
ganache see gannache 
Ganbad prop.n. Gambade (4th 
communal section of Grande-
Rivière-du-Nord, Dept. North) 
ganbade v. [Fr.] to frisk about, caper 
Ganbi prop.n. The Gambia 
ganbo see kanbo 
gandjèl n. var. of freshwater fish 
ganeman n. hellion, mischief-maker 
Ganeyen prop.n./adj., Ganeyèn 
f.prop.n. Ghanaian 
gang n. gang, mob (pej.); gang 
member 
Gang prop.n. Ganges (River) 
gangan, ganga fam. diminutive for 
oungan (q.v.) 
gangans n. elegance, grace, style; 
ritual courtesies exchanged 
between Voodoo priests; bow/ 
curtsy by Voodoo priest toward the 
four cardinal points 
gangliyon n. ganglion 
gangolo, gangolo see gongolo 
gangozye see grangozye 
Gangozye see Grangozye 
gangrenn see kangrenn 
gangrennen see kangrennen 
gangstè see ganstè 
gangsteris see gansteris 
gangsterize see gansterize 
gani v. to equip; to adorn, decorate, 
garnish; n. trimmings, garnishes, 
fixings 
ganiti n. ornaments, decoration, 
trimmings; wattling 
ganizon n. garrison 
ganjè see gagé 
ganme v. to put on airs, act uppity; 
adj. dressed-up, fancy, chic 
ganmèl, gamèl, granmèl n. wooden 
receptacle, wooden basin; trough; 
grandleaf seagrape (shrub or small 
tree) 
Ganna see Gana 
gannache, ganache v. to harness up; 
to grab or hold strongly; adj. 
dressed up 
gannif see kanif 
ganstè, gangstè n. gangster, criminal 
gansteris, gangsteris n. 
gangsterism, criminality 
gansterize, gangsterize v. to act as a 
gangster/mobster/thug 
gantan see gentan 
gante v. to put on gloves; adj. 
dressed up 
Gantye prop.n. Ganthier (Dept. 
West) 
Gantyewa prop.n., Gantyewaz 
f prop.n. inhabitant of Ganthier 
(Dept. West) 
gany n. winnings, prize (game, 
gambling); see genyen 
bay - to concede, give up 
ganyan, gayan n. winner; adj. 
winning 
ganyen see genyen 
ganyot (pronounced: ga-nyot), 
gayôt n. winner; jackpot 
ganypen n. livelihood, living; wild 
ginger (plant) 
garaj, garay n. garage 
fè - to establish car repair 
business 
- anachik makeshift garage, car-
repair business set up on street or 
sidewalk 
garaje v. to garage, put in or take to 
a garage 
garajis n. auto mechanic 
garan n. guarantor; guarantee; 
collateral 
garanti n. guarantee; certainty, 
assurance; wealth, means; 
m 
garata - gaspyè 
advantage, profit; warranty; 
collateral; guaranteed profit; v. to 
guarantee, assure; to pledge; to 
treat (wood etc.) 
bay ~ to guarantee 
garata: 
pit kou ~ every last person 
garay see garaj 
gare v. to park 
garyon n. stallion, stud-horse; real 
stud, macho; gravel mixed with 
small stones; triviality, trifle; 
adj. ardent, passionate, eager; 
useless 
kaka ~ tobacco scraps 
garyonnen, galonnen v. to frolic, 
prance about, gallivant, gad about 
Gasenprop.n. Garcin (1st 
communal section of Trou-du-
Nord, Dept. North-East) 
gasi adj. bitter, acidic 
gaskit n. gasket (mack) 
gaskon prop.n./adj. Gascon 
Gaskôy, Gaskon prop.n. Gascogne 
(5th communal section of 
Mirebalais, Dept. Center); 
Gascony (France) 
gason, yason n. man, fellow; boy; 
waiter; bellhop; brave man; adj. 
male; sexually active 
barak ~ tough guy; outstanding 
man 
bon ~ broadleaf spurge (plant) 
fi ~ male homosexual 
~ bouzen, ~ piten womanizer, 
incorrigible woman chaser 
~ djougan same as ~ kalson 
~ donè/donnè groomsman (in 
wedding) 
~ fanm, ~ femèl male homosexual 
(passive role), "bottom"; cf. 
masisi 
- kanson, - kalson, - ki gen 
kalson 1 nan tay li, ~ total, man 
of courage, real man, he-man 
- kolon stingy or tight(fisted) 
male 
- kouran male homosexual^ 
masisi) 
~ lakou yard boy 
- makonmè, makomè effeminate 
man; male homosexual 
- manba male homosexual (cf. 
masisi) 
- pa kanpe tough, hardy, robust 
male 
~ piten see ~ bouzen 
~ total see ~ kanson 
gen ~ sou li, mete ~ sou li to act 
like a man of courage, be firm; to 
assume one's responsibilities; to 
get with it 
pa ~ impotent 
potorik ~ see potorik gason 
t i~boy 
towo ~ tough guy; imposing man 
vanyan ~ courageous man; 
bitterbush (shrub or small tree) 
vye ^ old bachelor 
gason, gasonyèz (pronounced: ga-
so-nyèz) f.n. tomboy 
gaspiyay, gaspiyaj, gaspyaj, 
gaspyay n. waste, wastefulness, 
squandering 
fè ~ to waste 
gaspiye, gaspye v. to waste, 
squander; to go to waste, die on 
the vine; adj. wasteful 
~ dlo to take a leak, urinate 
gaspiyè, gaspyè n. spendthrift, big 
spender; adj. wasteful 
gaspyaj, gaspyay see gaspiyay 
gaspye see gaspiye 
gaspyè see gaspiyè 
334 
gastwonomi - gaye 
gastwonomi n. gastronomy 
gastwonomik adj. gastronomic(al) 
gata see galata 
gate v. to ruin, damage, wreck, make 
a mess of; to rot, spoil, decay; to 
harm s.o. through magic; to 
pamper, spoil, baby; adj. spoiled, 
rotten, bad; constantly crying or 
whining (infant) 
- dlo to take a leak, urinate 
- metye underseller, undercutter; 
spoilsport 
- pati kill-joy, spoilsport, wet 
blanket, party pooper; trouble-
maker 
- sa spoiler, party-pooper 
- san to upset s.o.; to put s.o. in a 
bad mood; to make s.o. angry; to 
undermine one's health; to 
immunize a child's blood against 
lougawou (Voodoo) 
gatè n. bespoiler 
gateras n. black sheep, outcast 
gatigal see gratgal 
gato n. cake (esp. with icing) 
chèf - large decorated cake 
- ak etaj layer cake 
- eponj sponge cake 
- fèt birthday cake 
- mabre marble cake 
- myèl honeycomb; beeswax 
- (o) bè pound cake 
- premye janvye rum cake 
kase - Voodoo ceremony 
celebrated January 1 
manje - a pou kont li to take 
everything for oneself 
gatri n. little treat 
gatwa see gratwa 
gave v. to stuff, cram (with food) 
gawa n. butt, ass 
gawo n. withers (of horse, donkey 
etc.); tourniquet 
gawôt n. garrote, strangulation; low 
or killing blow; small whip 
gawote v. to deal a crushing/piercing 
blow 
gawoutye, gawoutyè n. bus station 
gay n. experienced fighting cock 
gaya adj. robust, vigorous, fit; 
healed; n. fellow; v. to recover 
fully (from sickness) 
- aryè, - dèyè quarter-deck 
- devan forecastle 
- vivan vigorous, dynamic 
Gaya prop.n. Gaillard (2nd 
communal section of Cayes-
Jacmel, Dept. South-East; 3rd 
communal section of Gros-Morne, 
Dept. Artibonite) 
Gaya (Woje) prop.n. Gaillard 
(Roger) - Haitian historian, author 
of Les Blancs débarquent (1923-
2000) 
gayak, kayak n. lignum vitae (tree), 
tree of life; police stick or club; 
see chabon ~ 
ti - calliandra (shrub or small tree) 
Var. are - bata, - blan, - femèl, ~ 
fran, - mal, - ofisinal 
gayan see ganyan 
gaye v. to scatter, disperse, spread 
(out); to scratch the soil; to 
dissipate; to spread (news), 
broadcast; to spread (disease); to 
go astray; adj. bewildered; 
disconcerted; messy, disorganized 
- cheve to mess up, muss, tousle, 
undo (hair) 
- ploton to break up the group, 
spread out 
- sèvèl li to blow out one's brains 
- tankou dife nan pay kann to 
spread like wildfire 
gayelik - Gede 
- tèt yon moun to mess up s.o.'s 
hair 
- yon plon to fire a gun 
pale ~ to speak in a jumbled or 
confusing manner 
gayelik prop.n J adj. Gaelic 
gayipot see galipot 
gayita, gayta see galata 
gayot see ganyot 
gaz n. gas(oline); kerosene (for 
cooking, lamp etc.); gas, wind, 
flatulence; ache or pain (anywhere 
in body); sharp hunger pain; 
gauze; v. to speed up 
bay ~ to speed up (in a vehicle), 
step on the gas; to fart; to use tear 
gas 
bwè ~ to exaggerate 
fè - to put gas (in a car); to speed 
up; to fart; to piss 
~ blan highest quality kerosene 
~ ble good quality kerosene 
- brikè (cigarette-)lighter fluid 
- jôn high quality kerosene 
~ kabonik carbon dioxide 
~ lanp kerosene 
~ nan tout kè rheumatism 
- wouj low-grade kerosene 
kole - to speed up (in a vehicle) 
mete - to speed up (in a vehicle) 
rann - to fart; to burp, belch 
twal ~ gauze; bandage, dressing 
Gaza prop.n. Gaza 
~ Estrip Gaza Strip 
gazèl f.n. heifer, young cow 
gazèt n. gazette, news-sheet; long 
list, long text 
gazèz adj. carbonated 
gazfiltè, ffltè gaz n. fuel filter 
(gasoline) 
gazolin n. gasoline 
gazon n. lawn, grass; turf 
ti ~ pubic hair 
gazonnen v. to plant with grass or 
turf 
gazouye v. to chirp, warble (bird); to 
babble, murmur (stream); to 
prattle (child); to do all right, get 
along all right 
gazouyi refl. to relax, take a breather 
gazôy n. diesel fuel 
gd abbrev. gourde (Haitian monetary 
unit formerly equivalent to $ .20 
U.S.) 
ge adj. gay, happy, merry, lively; 
interested in the opposite sex 
fè ko li ~ to amuse oneself, make 
merry 
~ pase devan bann lan to be 
extremely gay or lively 
gè see lagè 
an ~ at war 
bat ~ Voodoo rite where forks are 
struck against plates 
gede n. sexually suggestive Voodoo 
dance to the Gede; adj. raunchy, 
off-color 
Gede, Legedeprop.n. mischievous 
and often obscene Voodoo spirits 
of death (not to be confused with 
soul of the dead); general name 
for assistants of Bawon Samdi 
bagèt - cane used by very thin 
person 
chante ~ sexually-explicit song 
~ Nenbo, ~ Nibo Voodoo spirit 
important in ~ family 
kwa ~ cross in honor of ~ 
Some other members of the Gede 
family are: - Ant-Tout, - Bon 
Pousyè Lakwa, - Brav, - Doub, 
~ Fatra, - Fèk-Parèt, - Kaka, -
Loray, - Mazaka, - Ousou, ~ 
Soufran, - Ti-Pete, - Ti Pis nan 
336 
gedj - geri 
DIo, - Ti-Wawa, - Vi, ~ 
Zarenyen, Kapitenn - , Piyatou -
gedj n. gauge 
- Iwil (oil) dipstick 
gedje v. to measure, gauge (oil, gas 
etc.) 
gege n. yellow sanders, granadilla 
wood tree 
gègè n. wide face (of person) 
gem: 
videyo - [Eng.] video game 
gèmbo, djèmbo n. shell sliding on a 
taut string used for fortune-telling 
gen n. profit, earnings, gain; fringe 
benefit; graft; adv. ago; see 
genyen 
- de fwa, - de lè sometimes 
- dwa may, might, can; to be able; 
it's possible that; likely to, liable 
to; maybe 
- kèk lanne de sa several years 
ago 
~ lè to seem, appear; sometimes 
- pou to have to, must 
pa ~ sou li anko to no longer be 
with it, be old and tired 
gèn see genn 
genbo see gonbo 
gendelè, gendefwa adv. sometimes, 
at times 
gendwa adv. maybe, perhaps; see 
gen dwa 
genèp see kenèp 
gengenn n. healthy young woman; 
sexy young woman 
fè - to flaunt (herself), parade 
(herself) 
gengole see grengole 
genlè adv. apparently, probably, 
likely; v. to seem, appear 
- menm ro appear to be the same, 
be similar 
genn, djenn, gèn n. girdle, corset; 
sheath, case, scabbard 
genon f.n. female monkey 
gentan, gantan adv. already; very, 
extremely, quite; immediately, 
right away 
sa k te ~ gen la a? so what? why 
all that? 
genyen, gan, gany, ganyen, gen v. 
to have; to own, possess; there is/ 
are; to win; to gain; to earn, get; to 
beat (in a game); to be (with 
expressions of age); n. gain; adv. 
ago; see genlè; gentan 
- ak to have to deal with; to have 
against, have it in for 
~ pou to have to, must 
M pa - any en There's nothing the 
matter with me; I don't have 
anything 
Sa ou What's the matter with 
you? 
gèp, djèp, dyèp, gyèp n. wasp, 
hornet, yellow jacket (insect); var. 
of mango 
bay ~ to slap s.o.'s ears with both 
hands simultaneously 
- lafyèv var. of wasp 
- panyôl yellowjacket 
~ sab digger wasp 
manman - ortiga (plant of the 
nettle family) 
Geren, Mouton prop.n. Guérin, 
Mouton (1st communal section of 
Baradères, Dept. Grand'Anse) 
geri v. to heal; to cure; to get well, 
recover 
- bosko (li) to make do with; to 
satisfy one's hunger, fulfill one's 
needs; to take out one's revenge 
~ tout powder used in Voodoo-
inspired remedies 
1V7 
gerimo - ginen 
pa ka - incurable 
gerimo, derimo n. var. of med. plant 
gerisab adj. curable 
gerisè n. faith-and-herb healer; (any 
type of) healer 
gerit n. sentry-box; tiny shed for 
selling; bus-stop shelter 
geritou n. boneset, thoroughwort 
(plant) 
gerivit n. melastoma (med. shrub) 
geriya n. guerilla fighter; guerilla 
force 
gerizon, lagerizon n. recovery (from 
illness), healing 
gèrye n. warrior; adj. warlike, 
militant, aggressive 
Gèrye (Filip) prop.n. Guerrier 
(Philippe) - president of Haiti, 
1844-1845 
geryewo, geriyewo n. guerilla 
fighter 
gèt n. large patch (for tire); support 
(for beam, rafter etc.); gaiter, spat; 
interj. wowl; skform iangèt 
debouye/degaje - li to manage, 
assume one's responsibilities 
demele ~ on! sink or swim! 
(aba) - manman ou! fyèl 
manman ou! zantray manman 
oui motherfucker! fuck you! go 
fuck yourself! 
gètapan see djètapan 
gete w. gaiety, joy; v. to watch for, lie 
in wait for, to keep an eye on 
get© «.ghetto 
gevo see djevo 
gèvè n. retreat, secret place 
gi n. mistletoe; boom (nautical) 
Gi prop.n. Guy 
gfchè it ticket window; teller's 
window, cashier's window 
- otomatik ATM (Automatic 
Teller Machine) 
gid n. guide; guidebook; (boy/girl) 
scout 
gide v. to guide, direct 
gidon n. bicycle handlebars; stick 
used by children to guide a hoop 
de - pushy, aggressive 
demele - li, degaje - li to do 
one's best, do whatever one can 
fè kèk kout - to ride around (on a 
bicycle) 
fè kout - ak to use dishonestly 
kout - sudden change of 
direction; corruption 
lage de - to ride a bicycle without 
holding onto handlebars; to throw 
caution to the wind; to show off 
lage de - nan ko to go at s.thg. 
whole-heartedly; to harass 
lage de - nan siyay (yon moun), 
lage de - nan dengon (yon 
moun) to be on (s.o.'s) tail, go all 
out after (s.o.) 
gigit n. (small boy's) penis {fam.) 
gigole see grengole 
gilann n. garland, wreath 
gildiv n. distillery, still (for making 
rum) 
gildivye n. distiller (apparatus; 
person) 
gilmov, gimôv n. marshmallow plant 
gim n. especially good fighting cock 
gimè, giymè n. quotation mark 
gimôv see gilmov 
gindôl n. life preserver, life buoy 
Gine see Ginen 
Gine Bisawo prop.n. Guinea-Bissau 
Gine Ekwatoryal prop.n. Equatorial 
Guinea 
ginen n. var. of yam; Voodoo 
priest(ess) of Rada rite 
338 
Ginen - glann 
Ginen, Gine, (Lafrik) Ginen, 
Langinen, Nanginenprop.n. 
Guinea; West Africa; ancestral 
homeland of the Haitian people; 
dwelling place of the Voodoo 
spirits; proper spiritual and moral 
living; faraway place(s) 
depi nan Ginen since long long 
ago 
fo (n)an Ginen expert in Voodoo 
practices 
fran Ginen "grassroots Voodoo" 
(supposedly most uncorrupted by 
outside influences) 
liv Ginen book supposedly from 
Africa and intelligible only to 
Voodoo priest(ess) 
pale Ginen mystical ritual phrases 
originating in Africa (Voodoo) 
pati nan Ginen to go to the great 
beyond, die 
pitit Ginen child of the mythical 
homeland; member or offspring of 
Voodoo society 
retounen nan Ginen to depart 
this earth, die 
sévi Ginen to practice the Voodoo 
religion (cf. sévi lwa) 
Ginès prop.n. Guinness (beer) 
liv rekô - Guinness World 
Records (book) 
Gineyenprop.n./adj., Gineyèn 
f.prop.n. Guinean 
Ginode prop.n. Guinaudée (2nd 
communal section of Jean-Rabel, 
Dept. North-West; Dept. 
Grand'Anse) 
larivyè - Guinaudée river 
(immediately east of Jérémie, 
Dept. Grand'Anse) 
ginyonnen see giyonnen 
gipopo n. (small) sore, (small) cut 
Giranprop.n. Guirand (10th 
communal section of Aquin, Dept. 
South) 
gita n. guitar 
~ bwat acoustic guitar 
- peyi rough-hewn guitar made of 
aluminum 
gitaris n. guitarist 
giw! onomat. boom! 
Giyàn, Giyana prop.n. Guyana 
Giyàn Franse, Giyann Franse, 
Lagiyàn French Guiana 
Giyanè prop.n./adj., Giyanèz 
f.prop.n. Guianan, Guianese 
giyen see griyen 
giymè see gimè 
Giyôm prop.n. William 
Giyôm Mojeprop.n. Guillaume 
Mogé (3rd communal section of 
Verrettes, Dept. Artibonite) 
giyon n. jinx, bad luck; teasing 
jete - sou to hex 
giyonnè n. instigator, provoker, 
inciter 
giyonnen, ginyonnen v. to goad, 
prod, spur; to provoke, incite; to 
jinx; to be jinxed; to tease, mock, 
ridicule 
- tèt li to fret, worry 
giyonnman n. goading 
giyotin n. guillotine; paper cutter 
(mach.) 
giyotine, giyotinen v. to guillotine 
gladiyatè n. gladiator 
Glandin prop.n. Glandine 
(communal section of Caracol, 
Dept. North-East) 
glann n. gland, lymph node; swollen 
lymph node; ganglion, tumor 
gen - to have swollen gland(s) 
- anbavant adrenal glands 
- gôj adenoids 
339 
glas - glo 
- kriye tear or lacrimal glands 
- nan kou thyroid gland 
~ pwostat prostate gland 
~ sirenal adrenal gland 
~ swe sweat glands 
~ tiwoyid thyroid gland 
glas n. ice; frost; mirror; pane of 
glass; stone (in riverbed); frosting, 
icing (on cake etc.) 
boul ~ ice cube 
fè - to freeze, congeal 
~ (pou bwè) ice 
- (pou gade) mirror 
- je pupil (of eye) 
~ kraze crushed ice 
~ (machin/oto) windshield 
kare - ice-cube 
plato - ice tray 
se pa premye - ki kase nan 
gouvènman this is not the first 
time s.thg. has happened 
tounen ~ to freeze 
Glas (larivyè) prop.n. Glace river 
(often dangerous river, Dept. 
Grand'Anse) 
glasaj n.. frosting, icing (on cake 
etc.) 
glase v. to chill; to freeze; adj. cold, 
freezing, iced, icy; petrified, 
frozen (with fear) 
glasi n. cement slab or area (for 
drying coffee beans etc.); large flat 
stone; frosting, icing (on cake) 
glasiye u to surface (with cement 
etc.); to top, glaze, ice, cover 
(cooking) 
glason n. ice-cube; dip of ice-cream 
gtasyal adj. glacial 
glasye, gjasyè n. ice-box; cooler, 
ice-chest; ice-maker (mach.); 
glacier 
glaw adj. shiny, bright 
glayèl TI. gladiolus, gladiola 
glè n. phlegm, mucus; unripe 
coconut pulp; uncongealed jello; 
slime; adj. mucous 
bay ~ to have mucus stools 
- je, - zye optic fluid 
kontwôl ~ mucus method 
(contraception) 
watè ~ mucus stool 
glenglen n. drunk, lush 
glidoup v. to plummet, plunge, dive 
down 
glikoz, glikoz n. glucose 
glirisidya n. var. of fertilizer 
glis n. trail, trace, slime (of snail or 
slug) 
glisad n. slide, sliding, slip, slipping; 
sledding; sliding of fingers over 
drumhead; sliding board, slide 
(playground) 
- sou dlo, - sou vag water skiing 
glisan adj. slippery, slick 
glise v. to slide, slip; to glide; to 
creep; to slip in (inadvertently); 
adj. slippery, slick; slimy 
- desann (degrengole) to slide 
down 
- desann soti tonbe to slip/slide 
off 
- èsès to slither, slink 
~ file to slide by 
- file moute nan to slip up into 
- filtre to shine through 
~ louvri to slide open 
~ sôti to slide/slip/crawl out 
gliserin n. nitroglycerin 
glisid n. glucide 
glisman n. sliding, slipping 
~ tè landslide 
glisyè TI. track, groove (window, 
sliding door); (children's) slide 
glo see dlo 
340 
glob - godwonnen 
glôb n. globe, planet; lump, ball; 
hump (of hunchback - cf. bôs); 
blister; (toy) balloon 
- dlo blister 
- san blood clot 
- lemonn, - terès globe of the 
world 
global adj. global; general, over-all 
globalizasyon n. globalization 
globalize v. to consolidate, combine 
globalman adv. globally 
globe see gobe 
globil n. globule; blood cell 
maladi - blan leukemia 
glokôm n. glaucoma 
glorifye v. to glorify 
gloriye adj. [i7/:] glorious, blessed 
glôs n. deciliter (measure, 
container); small bottle used to 
measure liquids (cooking oil etc.); 
lip salve; adj. dull, lackluster 
glosé n. glossary 
glôt n. glottis; v. to swallow, accept, 
put up with; onomat. gulp (sound 
of swallowing) 
glôt(glôt) onomat. gurgle (sound) 
glôtglôt v. to wolf down, eat without 
chewing; to guzzle, gulp down 
glouglou n. glue; onomat. gobble 
(cry of turkey); glub glub (sound 
of water gurgling) 
glout onomat. gulp 
glouton n. glutton 
glwa, laglwa n. glory 
bay - to glorify 
gnou see yon 
gob n. piece, portion; large piece 
(meat) 
gobe, globe, gobe v. to gulp down, 
gorge oneself, eat greedily; to 
gouge, peel, skin (taking off too 
much pulp of fruit etc.) 
Gobé see Kolin Gobé 
goble, goblè n. goblet, tumbler; tin 
cup; specimen cup 
gobye v. to burp, belch 
goch, goch adj. left; clumsy, 
awkward 
Goch (larivyè) prop.n. Gauche 
River (near Jacmel, Dept. South-
East) 
goche, gôche adj. left-handed; n. 
left-handed person 
Gochenn prop.n. [Bible] Goshen 
gochis n. leftist 
gode, godèt, gôdèt n. drinking cup, 
mug; goblet (paper, plastic, metal); 
specimen cup 
a gwo - in great abundance 
lapli a tonbe a gwo - it's raining 
cats and dogs 
nan bon ti - from a reliable 
source 
nan gran - in a big way 
nan ti - in a bad way 
pa gwo - in great quantity 
san - pa sonnen secretly, 
unknown to anyone 
vann nan ti - san mezire to sell 
off cheaply 
Gode prop.n. communal section of 
Kenscoff (Dept. West) 
godenm, gôdèm! interj. damn it! 
damn! hell! 
- salmabit, - salamabit damned 
son of a bitch 
gôdèt see gode 
godiye v. to paddle, row 
Gôdonn prop.n. Gordon (hurricane 
in 1994) 
godrin, goudrin n. drink made of 
fermented pineapple skins 
godwon see goudwon 
godwonnen see goudwonnen 
341 
gôdyen - Gonavyen 
gôdyen see ne ~ 
gôf, g61f n. gulf, bay; golf 
baton - golf club 
- estrim Gulf Stream 
- Pèsik Persian Gulf 
teren ~ golf course 
gofè n. [Eng.] gopher 
gôgèt: 
an - completely, deeply 
gôgmagèg n. nonsense talk; 
demagoguery; complete disorder; 
promiscuity; adj. ambiguous, 
unclear; demagogic 
gogo n. one-piece woman's dress; 
miniskirt; booby, numskull, nitwit; 
adj. elegant, chic; whimsical, 
fanciful, capricious; credulous, 
naïve 
gôgôt n. dewlap (ox), fetlock 
(horse), wattle (turkey) 
gohèd! interj. [Eng.] go ahead! go 
on! get out! 
gôj, gôy n. throat, gullet; opening, 
mouth; gorge, mountain pass (N.); 
see gèjèt 
banbou - throat, gullet, esophagus 
boul nan ~ goiter 
fè gwo fè ~ gra to speak 
arrogantly, speak pretentiously 
- fè mal, ~ sere sore throat 
~ rèd lockjaw, tetanus 
grate ~ li to clear one's throat 
gwo ~ esophagus, gullet 
maladi gwo ~ var. of poultry 
disease 
ti - trachea, windpipe 
tou % twou~ opening of the throat 
gèje n. swallow, sip, gulp, mouthful 
(of liquid); throat; gill(s) (offish); 
see gôj 
anba - by the neck 
gèjèt n. small sip 
gôjèt, gèj n. throat, gullet; crop 
(bird); breast (bird); gill (offish); 
small opening, mouth 
(gwo) - mou gullet, esophagus 
kenbe nan - to throttle, stifle, 
silence 
(ti) - di windpipe, trachea 
gôjfèmal n. sore throat 
gôl 72. goal (sports); pole, rod; 
fishing pole/rod; beanpole, very 
tall person 
bay - , fè ~ to score a goal 
bay - ak men to trick, not to play 
fairly 
- klè, - kach automatic goal 
(sports) 
~ nan kôsaj li to have a handicap 
(soccer) 
make - to make a goal 
pare - to fend off ball (soccer) 
pran ~ (ak men) to be tricked, be 
cheated 
ti - bwa small wooden stake 
goldenbè n. well-to-do person 
gole v. to bring down, shake down 
(with a pole) 
golè n. goalkeeper, goalie (soccer) 
gôlèt (ti) n. kindling wood 
gôlf see gôf 
Gèlgotaprop.n. [Bible] Golgotha 
gôlkipè TI. goalkeeper, goalie 
gôlte v. to set up poles 
Golwaprop.n. Gaul (person); 
prop.adj. Gallic 
Golyatprop.n. [Bible] Goliath 
gôm see gonm 
Gomôprop.n. [Bible] Gomorrah 
gomye, gèmye see gonmye 
Gomye see Gonmye 
gon TI. hinge; sh.form gen(yen) + yon 
gonasigwèl n. male homosexual, gay 
Gonavyen prop.nGonavyèn 
342 
Gonayibo - gonzèl 
f.prop.n. inhabitant of La Gonâve 
Island (Dept. West) 
Gonayibo prop.n. Gonaïbo (Taino 
Arawak name for present-day 
Gonaives) 
Gonayiv, Gonnayiv prop.n. (Aux/ 
Les) Gonaïves (administrative 
center of Dept. Artibonite; town 
where Jean-Jacques Dessalines 
proclaimed the Independence of a 
nation resulting from the world's 
only successful slave revolt, the 
first Black nation to win its 
freedom, and the first nation to 
outlaw slavery, January 1, 1804) 
Gonayivyen prop.n., Gonayivyèn 
f.prop.n. Gonaïvian 
gonbo, genbo n. okra (cf. kalalou); 
kind of hard bean or pea; 
ceremony in honor of Voodoo 
spirits (N.)\ adj. slippery 
manje ~ ak yon dwèt to work 
without result, work aimlessly 
gonde see gwonde 
gondole v. to warp, buckle; to limp 
very noticeably 
gondon gondon adj. cross, crabby, 
ill-tempered 
gondoye v. to barely subsist, have it 
hard; to vegetate, stagnate; to walk 
very slowly, struggle along; to 
scull, propel (a boat) with a scull 
gonfiman see gonfleman 
gonfle v. to have indigestion; to 
cause indigestion; to inflate, blow 
up; to swell, bulge, puff up, bloat; 
to flex (muscle); to strut, swagger, 
parade; to flock together, 
congregate, assemble; to throng, 
crowd; to swarm; adj. furious 
- bouch to be resentful 
- ponyèt li to flex one's 
muscle(s); to exert influence 
lanmè a - there are high waves, 
the sea is rough 
gonfleman, gonfiman, gonfliman 
n. indigestion; exaggeration 
gong n. gong (music) 
gongolo, gangolo, gangolo, 
gongolo, kongolô, ngongôlo n. 
centipede; cf anmilpye 
- kôlôkô low-down scum 
gonm, gôm n. gum, resin; chewing 
gum (cf. chiklèt); (pencil) eraser; 
glue, paste; fix, predicament, 
trouble 
- anime locust tree 
pran nan - to get trapped, get 
stuck, get into trouble; to trick, 
dupe; to be tricked, be duped 
pran nan - lamveritab to be in 
deep trouble 
gonmen v. to glue, apply glue, make 
sticky; adj. sticky, gummy 
gonmye, gomye, gomye n. West 
Indian birch tree, gumtree 
Antwàn (ki) nan Gonmye 
Antoine (legendary seer) from (the 
town of) Gommier; Antoine in his 
birch tree 
Sa m wè pou ou, Antwàn nan ~ 
pa wè 1 If only you know what's 
hanging over your head, if only 
you knew the bad things in store 
for you 
Gonmye, Gomye, Nangonmye 
prop.n. Gommier (Dept. 
Grand'Anse) 
Gonnayiv see Gonayiv 
gonokèk n. gonococcus 
gonore n. gonorrhea 
gonyon v. to whisper 
gonzèl f.n. woman with long 
(flowing) hair 
343 
gop gop - goumen 
gop gop onomat sound of marching 
feet 
gore n. foreman, overseer; var. of 
weed 
gorik n. bitter ash tree 
goril n. gorilla; adj. stupid 
Goslin see Lagoslin 
gospèl adj. gospel (music) 
gostri n. hick, redneck 
got onomat. gulp (noise made when 
swallowing) 
gou n. taste, flavor; savor; good 
taste; preference; adj. tasty, 
appetizing, delicious; agreeable, 
pleasant 
bay - to motivate, induce, 
encourage 
bouch/djol li - to have a good 
appetite 
bouch pa ~ loss of appetite 
fè - li to take one's pick 
gen bon - to be tasty or delicious 
gen move - unpalatable 
- nèf novelty 
konn(en) - bouch/djôl li to taste 
good (food); to have good taste 
(esthetics) 
pa nan - li not to one's liking 
pran - to taste or try (s.thg.); to 
take a liking to 
san - bland, tasteless 
goud n. gourde (Haitian monetary 
unit formerly equivalent to $.20 
U.S.); var. offish 
gouden n. 25 centimes, quarter of a 
gourde; see degouden, 
twagouden 
fè de pou - to be extensive 
~ dis ak trannsenk kôb six of 
one half dozen of the other, the 
same thing; cf. degouden kole 
twa pou - cheap 
goudiye v. to just make ends meet, 
struggle; to scull (boat) 
goudon see goudwon 
goudonnen see goudwonnen 
goudougoudou v. to gurgle 
goudrin see godrin 
goudwon, godwon, goudon n. tar, 
pitch; blacktop, asphalt; see 
gwodon 
goudwonnay n. tarring, asphalting 
(process) 
goudwonnen, godwonnen, 
goudonnen, goudwone v. to 
asphalt, tar, blacktop; to smear or 
cover with tar 
gouf n. abyss, chasm, pit; large dark 
cloud 
fè - to throng, crowd 
yon - a lot of, a bunch of 
goufre v. to engulf, submerge 
goug n. gouge (chisel, tool) 
Goug (Jak Angeran) prop.n. 
Gourgue (Jacques-Enguerrand) -
Haitian painter ("Pays du 
Diable"), b. 1931 
gougoun n. glutton; adj. greedy, 
gluttonous 
ti - invisible thief who works 
through magic 
gougout (ti) n. var. of very small 
fish 
gouj n. gouge (tool) 
goulou! goulou! onomat. gobble! 
gobble! (cry of turkey); adj. 
gluttonous 
gouman n. glutton; sucker, shoot (of 
plant); adj. gluttonous, greedy 
goumandiz, lagoumandiz n. 
greediness, gluttony 
goumante v. to increase 
goumè n./adj. gourmet, connoisseur 
goumen v. to fight, brawl; to 
344 
goumèt - gouye 
struggle, resist; n. fight, brawl; 
struggle 
levé - to start a fight, pick a fight 
sou - to have a chip on one's 
shoulder; ready for a fight 
goumèt n. bracelet; chain (for 
horse's bit) 
gounba n. var. of fish 
gounèl 72. algarroba tree, carob tree, 
rain tree 
gounou v. to grumble 
gounouj, gounouy, grennouy, 
grenouy n. frog 
goupman see gwoupman 
gous n. seed pod, shell; clove (of 
garlic); see mangous 
fè - iron (for ironing) heated with 
charcoal inside 
gousan n. caterpillar-like larva that 
attacks sweet potatoes etc. 
gouse, gousè, gousèt see bouse 
gout n. drop, drip; drops (med.) 
~ dlo ki ranvèse vaz la the straw 
that broke the camel's back 
jete twa - dlo pou to pay homage 
to (Voodoo) 
kou de - dlo like two peas in a 
pod, exactly alike 
ti - droplet 
(ti) - pa (ti) - drop by drop, little 
by little 
goute n. snack; taste (sensory 
perception); v. to taste; to enjoy, 
savor; to snack; to sample; to 
experience, go through 
~ men (yon moun) to taste (s.o.'s) 
cooking; to receive a beating 
(from s.o.) 
goutyè n. gutter (of roof); hole in roof 
gouvèlman see gouvènman 
gouvènab adj. governable 
gouvènabilite n. governability, state 
of being able to be governed 
gouvènan adj. governing 
gouvènans n. governance 
gouvènant f.n. tutor, governess (in 
student boarding-house or school); 
housekeeper (for widower, 
bachelor, priest) 
gouvènay n. rudder, helm, tiller; 
direction, control 
pran - la to take the helm, take 
control 
gouvène see gouvènen 
gouvènè n. governor; important 
officer of a konbit (q.v) 
- lawouze local official in charge 
of irrigation and water distribution 
gouvènen, gouvène v. to govern, 
rule; to navigate, steer (ship) 
gouvènman, gouvèlman, 
gouvennman n. government 
Gouvènman prop.n. former name 
for residence of president of Haiti 
gouvènmantal adj. governmental 
gouyad, yayad n. undulation, 
grinding (of hips); Voodoo pelvic 
dance 
fè yon - to have one's turn, get 
one's turn (at doing s.thg.) 
voye - , bay - to undulate or grind 
the hips 
gouyan(g) gouyan(g) adv. hobbling, 
limping 
gouyav, gwayav n. guava 
pat - chewy candy made from 
ground guava 
Var. of guava: - chè blan, - chè 
wouj/wôz (rèd indyann; wolfs) 
gouye v. to undulate the hips (esp. in 
dancing); to wriggle; to move, to 
shake (it) up; to budge 
- ko to get going, get moving; 
Brewster goatsucker (bird) 
145 
govt - gramè 
govi n. earthenware jug containing 
Voodoo spirits 
gôy see goj 
goyin, egoyin, gowin, igorin n. 
handsaw, saw 
mèt ~ sawyer, woodcutter; cf. siyè 
goziye v. to warble, sing out 
gozye n. gullet, throat 
gran - gluttonous 
gra adj. fat, overweight; plump; 
fertile, rich (soil etc.); n. var. of 
mango; see boule; ri 
fè vin - to fatten (up) 
lèt - bold type (printing) 
twa jou ~ yo (dimanch - , lendi - , 
madi - ) the three official days of 
Carnival 
graba n. shabby straw mat 
ala - penniless, broke, down and 
out 
grabday see grapday 
grabinay see krabinaj 
grabji, gabji, grapji n. mess, 
disorder; nonsense, 
ridiculousness; scrawl, scribble 
grad n. rank, status; (university) 
degree; l/400di part of a circle 
(math.); grade, degree of 
inclination 
monte - , pran - to be promoted, 
receive a promotion 
grade v. to promote (in rank) 
wo - high-ranking officer (milit.) 
graden n. step; tier, bleachers, 
stands; general admission section 
graitotKh, gridoub, kridoub n. 
cartilage, gristle; large intestine; 
adj. gristly; incomprehensible, 
indefinable; see babln 
gradyasyon, gradiyasyon n. [Eng.] 
school graduation 
gradye H to graduate (thermometer 
etc.; school [Eng.]) 
gradyèlman adv. gradually; cf. ti 
ti pa 
graf n. graph, chart 
grafèm n. grapheme 
grafenyen see grafouyen 
grafi n. writing system, written form 
grafik n. graph, diagram; drawing; 
adj. graphic (arts) 
grafinyen see grafouyen 
grafit n. graphite 
grafiti n. graffiti 
grafonyen, grafenyen, grafinyen, 
grafiyen, grafounyen, 
grafouyen, grafye v. to scratch, 
scrape, scar, mar; to scratch, itch; 
n. scratch, abrasion 
grafyè n. scribbler 
gragra n. crow 
graj, gray n. grater, scraper; 
perforated metal cylinder scraped 
with stick and used as percussion 
instrument; pockmark; adj. grated, 
scraped; jagged; harsh (voice); 
sore, rough (throat esp.) 
graje v. to grate, scrape; to fidget, 
squirm; to roll around on the 
ground; to writhe (in pain); see 
anraje; kôk 
- manyôk pèdi farm to be self-
defeating; to do s.thg. in vain 
- vèrèt, ti - pockmark 
grajè n. show-off, boaster 
grajman n. dance to chase away 
unwelcome Voodoo spirits 
gram n. gram; tiny bit 
fè yon - to make a small effort 
pèdi - to lose out 
pran yon - to put on a little 
weight 
gramatikal adj. grammatical 
gramè, granmè, lagramè n. 
346 
grameryen - Grandwa 
grammar; grammar book 
grameryen n. grammarian 
gramine n. (family of) grasses 
gran adj. old, aged; big, important, 
famous; main; large; wide; great; 
mature 
Gran Antiy prop.n. Greater Antilles 
granbarik n. var. of plantain 
Granbasen prop.n. Grand-Bassin 
(2nd communal section of Terrier-
Rouge, Dept. North-East) 
granbatan adj./adv. wide-open 
granbazilik n. sweet basil (aromatic 
plant) 
granbo n. bamboo section used as 
trumpet or as drum 
granbonm n. peppermint; spearmint 
Granboukan prop.n. Grand-Boucan 
(3rd communal section of Plaine-
du-Nord, Dept. North; 3rd 
communal section of Mirebalais, 
Dept. Center; 6th communal 
section of Baradères, Dept. 
Grand'Anse) 
granbrenn, granbreng n. big 
fellow, big guy;/w. big gal 
Granbwa prop.n. Grand-Bois 
(Dept. North); same as Kôniyon 
(Dept. West); Voodoo spirit of the 
forest 
Granbwazyen prop.n. 
Granbwazyèn f.prop.n. inhabitant 
of Grand-Bois/Cornillon 
granchemen n. highway 
granchire f.n. difficult pretentious 
woman; n. haughtiness; adj. 
boastful, bragging, pompous 
fè - to put on airs, show off, brag 
grandam n. lady (of high social 
standing); attractive and sought-
after woman 
grandan n. show-off, big talker 
Grandans, Grantans prop.n. 
(Department of the) Grand'Anse 
larivyè - Grand'Anse river 
(immediately east of Jérémie, 
Dept. Grand'Anse) 
Grandanslè, Grandansyen prop.n., 
Grandanslèz, Grandansyèn 
f.prop.n. inhabitant of the Dept. 
Grand'Anse 
grandè n. size, dimension; 
greatness; grandeur, 
impressiveness; pretension, 
arrogance, overbearingness 
grandèt n. leading citizen, 
community elder, local dignitary, 
pillar of the community; greatness, 
prominence, eminence; n./adj. 
elder; grown-up; adj. older; 
autonomous 
grandi v. to grow; to grow up; to 
increase, enlarge, expand; to push 
oneself forward (socially, 
professionally); n. progress; 
expansion 
- kanson to brag, show off 
- lespri to develop the mind 
- sou to get angry, blow up 
grandisman n. growth, expansion, 
development 
grandizè, gwodizè n. big talker, 
bragger, show-off 
fè - to pretend to know; to show 
off 
grandjab see dyab 
grandlijèn see agranlijyèn 
grandon n. large landholder, big 
landowner; person of importance 
(in rural area) 
grandou n. large kite (for flying) 
Grandwa prop.n. Grandoit (1st 
communal section of Anse-
d'Hainault, Dept. Grand'Anse> 
347 
grandyab - granmaten 
grandyab see dyab 
grandyèl n. red hind (fish) 
- ofich speckled hind (fish) 
- woch rock hind (fish) 
grandyoz, grandyoz adj. grandiose; 
pompous 
grandyozite n. grandiosity, 
grandioseness 
grandyozman adv. grandiosely; 
pompously 
granfanm f.n. wealthy woman, 
prosperous (woman) merchant 
granfoma n. show-off, know-it-all 
granfon n. high seas, far out at sea 
(beyond sight of land) 
Granfon prop.n. Grand-Fond (3rd 
communal section of Kenscoff, 
Dept. West; 1st communal section 
of Saint-Louis-du-Sud, Dept. 
South; 3rd communal section of 
Gros-Morne, Dept. Artibonite) 
granfouch adj. of great importance 
grangiyon n. var. of plantain 
grangoj n. big mouth, big talker 
grangou n. hunger, famine, 
starvation; adj. hungry 
bat - to fight off hunger; to be 
very hungry; to starve 
dèmi ~ to go to bed hungry 
- kanpe famine 
- long big appetite 
mouri - to be very hungry; to 
starve 
pase ~ li to satisfy one's hunger 
grangozye, gangozye n. brown 
pelican; glutton; person who eats 
rapidly without chewing his/her 
food 
Grangozye, Gangozye prop.n. 
Grand-Gosier (Dept. South-East); 
small island off coast of Corail 
(Dept. Grand'Anse) 
grangran papa n. great-grandfather 
grangrannf .n. great-grandmother 
Grangwav prop.n. Grand-Goâve 
(Dept. West) 
Grangwavyen prop.n., 
Grangwavyèn f.prop.n. inhabitant 
of Grand-Goâve (Dept. West) 
granile adj. granular, grainy 
granit n. granite 
Granjaden prop.n. Grand-Jardin 
(disadvantaged area of Cape 
Haitian) 
granjan adj. fancy, beautiful; great, 
valuable 
an - with pomp and ceremony, 
with much ado 
Granjilprop.n. Grand-Gilles (1st 
communal section of Grande-
Rivière-du-Nord, Dept. North) 
granjipon f.n. know-it-all, show-off 
granjou see gwojounen 
Grankawo see Lakwa 
grankilt n. main Sunday morning 
church service 
grankola, kola, kongla, poulajoli, 
pouljoli, rele n. limpkin (bird) 
grankolèt see kolèt 
grankreyè n. haughty, pretentious 
person 
Granlagonprop.n. Grand-Lagon 
(4th communal section, La 
Gonâve Island) 
granlajè n. show-off, pretentious 
person 
granlimenna, granlimina f.n. 
important wealthy woman 
granmanjè n. profiteer, "fat cat," 
big shot; glutton 
granmanman f.n. grandmother; cf. 
grann 
granmaten, granmmaten adv. at 
dawn, at daybreak 
348 
granmè - Grannrivyè 
granmè n. grandmother; madam 
(when addressing an elderly 
woman); see gramè 
granmèl see ganmèl 
granmès n. (rel.) High Mass 
granmèsi see gremesi 
Granmètprop.n. God, the Lord 
granmmaten see granmaten 
granmoun n. adult, grown-up, elder; 
old person; parent or guardian (of 
minor); adulthood; adj. elderly, 
old; mature; sovereign, 
independent 
an - independent(ly) 
fin - very elderly 
~ fanm old woman 
- gason old man 
- Ion tan, - aje ancestor; very old 
person 
- tèt li independent or self-
sustaining person; sovereign, 
independent 
- ti tay wizened old person 
konmanse - to be getting on in 
years, be getting old 
pran pôz - to act in an adult 
fashion 
rele tèt li - to proclaim 
independence 
se - ki non li (s)he is a person of 
wisdom/experience 
ti - elderly person; precocious 
child 
vye - elderly person, senior 
citizen 
granmtimaten adv. at very early 
dawn 
grann n. grandmother, granny 
gran - great-grandmother 
- igrann in the distant past 
jwenn zo - li, kontre (ak) zo - li, 
tonbe sou zo - li to get/be in 
trouble; to receive one's just 
deserts, get what one deserves 
ti - precocious little girl 
grannana, grannanna f.n. aged 
spinster; elderly widow 
Grann Bretay, Lagrann Bretay 
prop.n. Great Britain 
Grann Brijit see Brijit 
grannchalè see grantchalè 
grannèg n. VIP, big shot; man of 
wealth or of means 
granni n. granny 
Grannkolin (pik)prop.n. Grande-
Colline Peak (1,980 meters) near 
Jérémie, Dept. Grand'Anse 
Grannkolin I e prop.n. Grande-
Colline I e r (5th communal section 
of Grand-Goâve, Dept. West) 
Grannkolin 2 e prop.n. Grande-
Colline 2 e (6th communal section 
of Grand-Goâve, Dept. West) 
grannlijèn see agranlijyèn 
grannman adv. greatly, hugely; 
grandly, broadly 
Grannplèn, Grannplenn prop.n. 
Grande-Plaine (1st communal 
section of Port-Margot, Dept. 
North) 
Grannplèn I e , Grannplenn I e 
prop.n. Grande-Plaine l e r e (1st 
communal section of Thomazeau, 
Dept. West) 
Grannplèn 2e , Grannplenn 2 e 
prop.n. Grande-Plaine 2 e (2nd 
communal section of Thomazeau, 
Dept. West) 
Grannravin prop.n. Grande-Ravine 
(communal section of Acul-du-
Nord, Dept. North) 
Grannrivyè prop.n. Grande-Rivière 
(8th communal section of 
Plaisance, Dept. North; 3rd 
349 
Grannrivyè - Granvid 
communal section of Léogâne, 
Dept. West; 6th commimal section 
of Anse-à-Veau, Dept. 
Grand'Anse; see Bèlrivyè; 
Mafran) 
Grannrivyè(dinô), 
Granrivyè(dinô) prop.n. Grande-
Rivière(-du-Nord) (Dept. North) 
chenn - Grande-Rivière-du-Nord 
mountain range (Depts. North and 
North-East) 
Grannrivyè(de)nip prop.n. Grande-
Rivière-de-Nippes river (between 
Anse-à-Veau and Petite-Rivière-
de-Nippes, Dept. Grand'Anse) 
Grannrivyèfèl prop.n. Grande-
Rivière-Fesles (2nd communal 
section of Marigot, Dept. South-
East) 
Grannrivyèjakmèl prop.n. Grande-
Rivière-de-Jacmel (7th communal 
section of Jacmel, Dept. South-
East) 
Grannsalinprop.n. Grande-Saline 
(Dept. Artibonite) 
Grannsavann prop.n. la Grande-
Savane (name of the Champs-de-
Mars, PaP, during 19th century; 
see Savann 
Grannsous prop.n. Grande-Source 
(6th communal section of Jean-
Rabel, Dept. North-West; 3rd 
communal section of Anse-à-
Galets, La Gonâve Island) 
Granntôk see Gran Tôk 
Grannzantiy see Antiy 
granpanpan n. pretentious person; 
pedant 
an/ak ~ with great ceremony, with 
much ado 
fè - to be a big show-off, act like a 
big shot 
granpapa n. grandfather 
gran ~ great-grandfather 
granparan n. grandparent 
granpè n. grandfather 
granprèt n. high priest 
Granprizon prop.n. National 
Penitentiary (in center of PaP) 
Granpwent prop.n. Grande-Pointe 
(first name of Sale-Trou Belle-
Anse), Dept. South-East 
granri n. main street, principal 
thoroughfare 
Granri, boulva Desalin prop.n. 
Boulevard Jean-Jacques 
Dessalines (main street of PaP) 
Granrivyèprop.n. Grande-Rivière 
(main river at Saint-Marc, Dept. 
Artibonite) 
Granrivyè(dinô) see 
Grannrivyè(dino) 
Grantans see Grandans 
grantay adj. tall 
grantchalè, grannchalè, 
grennchalè n. venereal disease; 
gonorrhea 
grantè, lagranntè n. mainland (most 
often used to designate mainland 
of Haiti by its off-shore dwellers) 
grantlimyè n. high headlight beam, 
blights (car) 
Gran Tôk, Granntôk prop.n. Grand 
Turk Island (Turks and Caicos 
Islands) 
grantonton n. great uncle 
grantoryan n. big chief, big shot 
Grantoryanprop.n. Grand Lodge 
(Freemasonry) 
Grantousprop.n. Big Dipper (in sky) 
Granvensan prop.n. Grand-Vincent 
(3rd communal section of 
Roseaux, Dept. Grand'Anse) 
Granvid prop.n. Grand-Vide (7th 
granya ouvè - gratèl 
communal section of Pointe-à-
Raquette, La Gonâve Island) 
granya ouvè adj. wide open 
grap n. bunch, cluster 
- lanp large aluminum triangle 
holding a number of small oil 
lamps 
- myèl swarm of bees 
pran ak resevwa a ~ to seize 
(s.o.) violently; to respond angrily 
yon ~ a lot of 
grapday, grabday, graptay n. 
something (solid object), little bit 
(of s.thg.) 
grape v. to grab, seize 
grapen n. grapnel, grappling iron, 
grappling hook 
poze/mete ~ sou to grab, seize, 
take hold of 
grapin n. seizure, confiscation; 
hand, paw, mitt 
mete/poze ~ sou to grab, seize 
grapiyay see grapyay 
grapiye v. to glean, gather; to waste 
time, drift around, do nothing 
useful 
grapji see grabji 
graptay see grapday 
grapyay, grapiyay, grapyaj n. 
diversified farming; informal 
sector (of commerce); first pick 
(harvest) of coffee; scraps, pieces, 
junk; small pickings, insignificant 
amount; unimportant persons, 
kiddies 
grapye v. to pick the first coffee 
beans; to be struggling, trying hard 
to get by 
gras n. mercy, pardon, forgiveness; 
grace; favor; interj. for mercy's 
sake! 
an ~ please 
fè ~ to pardon, forgive; to grant a 
pardon 
~ lamizèrikèd! Lord have mercy! 
~ ofèt thanks to the fact that 
grasa prep, thanks to, due to, 
because of 
~ Dye thank God 
grasèt adj. plump 
Grasi (siklon) prop.n. Gracie 
(disastrous hurricane, September 
1959) 
grasye v. to pardon, forgive 
grasyèz: 
pale ~ to speak with grace and 
elegance 
grat n. scrape, scratch (on table 
etc.); scrapings; rake; grater 
grataj n. scraping 
grate v. to scratch, scrape; to rake; to 
weed; to itch; to scale (fish; teeth); 
to scram, clear out, flee; to 
scrounge, mooch; n. itch, itching; 
scraping; adj. itchy 
~ dèyè to run after, pursue, chase 
~ gôj li to clear one's throat 
~ kwi li (1 a kreve) to be looking 
for trouble 
~ plim to shave 
- santi to be lying around, be 
sitting around doing nothing 
- tèt to scratch one's head, reflect, 
consider; to be in a difficult 
situation 
~ tèt bay yon moun to make 
excuses, give alibis 
san ~ tèt without hesitation 
gratè n./adj. scrounger, moocher, 
free loader, golddigger; gate-
crasher; drifter; pimp 
gratèl n. itch, rash, skin irritation; 
jock itch; allergy; poison ivy; see 
lagratèl 
351 
graten - grena 
graten see graton 
gratezon n. itching 
gratgal, gatigal n. fustic tree 
gratifikasyon n. gratuity, 
gratification, reward; annual 
bonus, "13th month" 
gratifye v. to reward 
gratinen, gratine v. to bake au 
gratin 
gratis adj. free (of charge), gratis 
- ti cheri completely free of 
charge, for nothing at all 
gratitid n. gratitude 
gratiyen n. scratch (on arm etc.) 
gratman n. scratching 
graton, graten n. crust, crusty layer 
(esp. at bottom of a cooking pot) 
pou - pitimi for the slightest 
reason 
gratpetren n. leftovers, unwanted 
food; var. of bread 
gratsyèl n. skyscraper 
gratwa, gatwa n. scraper, scaler 
- penti paint scraper (tool) 
gratwitman adv. [Fr.] free (of 
charge) 
gratwon n. goose grass 
grav adj. grave, serious, critical; 
solemn, severe; malignant; adv. 
severely; gravely, seriously, 
critically 
pi ~ pase aksan - (kay Salnav) 
worse than bad 
grava n. rubble 
grave n. scratch; pockmark; v. to 
scratch, scar; to scrawl; to 
engrave; to make worse, worsen 
- vèrèt pockmark(ed) 
gravi n. engraving, print; picture 
gravite n. (force of) gravity; see 
gravte 
gravman adv. gravely, seriously, very 
- grav extremely serious(ly) 
gravte, gravite n. seriousness, 
graveness 
gravwa n. (coarse) gravel 
gravye n. fine gravel 
Gravye prop.n. Gravier (2nd 
communal section of Côtes-de-
Fer, Dept. South-East) 
gray see graj 
grayndè n. grinder (for metal) 
lanm - grinder disc 
gredè n. road grader 
grèf n. graft, transplant (plant; 
tissue); office of the clerk of the 
court 
grefaj, grefay n. grafting; 
transplant; transplanting 
grefe v. to graft, transplant (plant; 
tissue) 
grefye n. clerk of the court (jur.) 
grèg, grèk, grèp n. coffee filter 
(cloth) 
anba - first brew 
kanson tankou - tight-fitting 
pants 
gregôryen: 
kantik - Gregorian chant 
Gregwa prop.n. Gregory 
Grèk prop.n./adj. Greek; see grèg 
GREKA acron. Gwoup Rechèch 
pou Etid Kreyol Ayisyen 
(Research Group for the Study of 
Haitian Creole) 
grèl see lagrèl 
gremesi, granmèsi, grenmesi n. 
thanks, gratitude, reward; prep. 
thanks to 
pou - (chen) without thanks, in 
vain, for nothing; disinterestedly; 
free of charge 
gren n. windstorm, squall, gale 
grena see wouj grena 
352 
grenad - grenn 
grenad, grennad n. pomegranate; 
hand grenade, rifle grenade 
- fragmantasyon fragmentation 
grenade 
Grenad, Grenada, Lagrenad 
prop.n. Grenada 
grenadin, grennadin n. granadilla 
(var. of passionfruit) 
Grenadin prop.n. Grenadines 
grenadja, grenadya n. passionfruit 
- dous var. of passionfruit 
grenadye n. grenadier 
grengole, gengole, gigole v. to go 
up, climb, ascend 
grenmesi see gremesi 
grenn, krenn n. single unit or piece 
(of anything), particle, component 
part; grain; berry; pit (of fruit), 
kernel; seed; bead; pellet; pill, 
tablet, capsule; lozenge; birth-
control pill; lump; testicle; young 
woman; individual; grain (of 
wood), roughness, irregularities; 
adj. alone; single; lumpy, granular; 
kinky (hair) 
aji an ~ senk to act irresponsibly 
and illegally 
ak de - je li with one's very own 
eyes 
an - disjointedly, in bits and 
pieces 
an ~ senk see nan ~ senk 
bay - to bluff, lie, deceive; to 
stun, daze; to poison 
boul - testicle, testis; buddy, 
chum, good and trusted friend 
chak ~ every single, every last 
de boul ~ testicles 
de ~ a few 
de - degrennen the two rings 
indicating a formal marriage 
de - gôch half-assed, stupid, 
idiotic (lit. : putting on two left 
shoes); stupidly, idiotically, 
inanely 
fè - to spread, grow grass (etc.); to 
be lumpy 
gen - (nan dèyè/bounda li) to 
have balls or guts 
gen ~ pèlenpenpen to be restless, 
be always on the move 
~ bab impertinent, insolent 
~ bèf var. of mango; (supposed) 
aphrodisiac 
~ bwa seed, fruit 
~ chalè gonorrhea 
~ chaplè Job's-tears (grass) 
~ chen bum, good-for-nothing 
~ dechay spermatozoa 
~ demonte angry 
~ diri baby tooth 
~ gason testicle 
~ ~ rare, dispersed, one by one; 
disheveled (hair) 
~ kabrit var. of mango 
~ kafe coffee bean 
~ kannik soapberry tree 
~ kolye bead (in necklace) 
~ kraze, kraze ~ ball-buster, 
rough, tough 
~ lajwa anti-depressant pill 
~ lapli raindrop 
~ maldjôk beads against evil eye 
(worn by infants); Job's-tears 
(grass) 
~ monben var. of small finit 
- monnen bit of small change, 
small amount of money 
~ mwen chèch I'm thirsty 
- mwen frèt give me rum 
- nan bounda guts, grit, spunk 
~ ovan see ~ van 
^ pa ^ one by one, one at a time, 
individually 
353 
grenn - grennen 
- planin birth-control pill 
- pou dômi sleeping pill 
- pwonmennen, - ponmennen, -
pwomennen vagrant, loiterer, 
tramp; wanderer, roamer; well-
traveled, knowledgeable 
- sèl salt tablet 
- senk back-up, support; 
unaffiliated person, person not 
member of any specific group; 
prostitute; bum, jerk; con artist, 
shrewd operator; see nan - senk 
- siperyè superior being, high-
class person 
- swè bead of sweat/perspiration 
- tous cough drop 
- van, - ovan buck(ass) naked, 
stark naked 
- vant cervix of uterus; confidant, 
intimate, trusted friend 
- yon moun se dèyè 1 gade 
shameless, worthless, no-account 
gwo ~ hydrocele 
kèk - degrennen few and far 
between 
kôd - , majô - scrotum and 
testicles 
kraze ~ see - kraze 
li menm yon - all alone 
mete - (nan bounda 11) to act like 
a man of courage, be resolute; to 
assume one's responsibilities; to 
get with it 
mete - sèl pa ti to put in one's 
two cents worth, have one's say 
®ove - scoundrel, rascal 
nan/an - senk without prestige, 
with a poor reputation; separate, 
detached; broken up into pieces 
pa gen(yen) yon there is not a 
single... 
pa nan - tough, rough, harsh 
pati - testicles 
po - , pakèt - , pôch - , sak -
scrotum 
pran - to be on the (birth-control) 
pill 
prije - (yon moun) to cut (s.o.'s) 
balls off, do in 
rete yon - to be the last survivor, 
be the last remaining person 
san - eunuch 
sèl - only, alone 
sere - to grab by the crotch 
tcheke - to check out the chicks 
(women) 
ti - speck, small grain; goose 
bumps, goose flesh; testicles; 
chick, babe, girl 
tire - (yon moun) to cut (s.o.'s) 
balls off, do in 
yon - a single one; a huge, a 
tremendous, a violent 
yon - kou all of a sudden 
yon sèl - one single 
grenna see wouj grena 
grennad see grenad 
grennadin see grenadin 
grennbak, grinbak n. U.S. dollar 
grennbanbou n. rare type of banboo 
seed used for divination; seer 
grennchalè see grantchalè 
grenndelenn n. var. of med. plant 
(same as madelenn) 
grennen v. to shell; to pick, harvest; 
to scatter, spread; to take out after, 
chase after; to count out one by 
one; to produce in great quantity, 
spew out; to fall out/off, become 
detached (teeth, hair, fruit etc.); 
adj. separated; detached, not stuck 
together (rice etc.); lumpy; see lese 
- dan to knock down, knock out 
354 
grennen - gridap 
- kou to shower with blows 
- lajan to overwhelm with money 
- mayi to shuck corn 
- pa to dance 
- pise to take a leak, urinate 
- pitit (devan dèyè) to have/ 
father one baby after another, have 
kids left and right, breed like flies 
grennkou n. blow, hit, punch 
yon ~ all of a sudden; abruptly 
grennlô n. dovewood 
grennouy see gounouj 
grennponmennen, 
grennpwomennen see grenn 
pwonmennen 
grenntoutou n. var. of mango 
grennvant n. kidney 
Grenodyè prop.n. Grenodière (3rd 
communal section of Saint-Louis-
du-Sud, Dept. South) 
grenouy see gounouj 
grenpe v. to climb up (on), scale 
~ bwa, ~ lesyèl, ~ mon 
(Makaya), ~ moute (san gade 
dèyè) to go skyhigh (usu. prices) 
grense v. to creak, squeak 
grenye {pronounced: gre-nye) n. 
attic, loft; granary 
grèp see grèg 
grèpe, krèpe v. to filter coffee 
Grepen prop.n. Dept. North-West 
grès n. grease, lubricant; lubrication; 
cream, salve, ointment; fat, oil; fat, 
excess flesh 
bol - happiness, fortune 
gen ~ to be greasy 
~ di axle-grease, heavy-duty 
grease (mach.) 
~ kochon lard 
- mango temporary weight gain 
- tè loose topsoil 
pran yon - to gain weight (in a 
favorable sense) 
tè a gen - the soil is (quite) fertile 
Grès see Lagrès 
gresay, gresaj n. greasing, oiling, 
lubrication 
grese v. to oil, grease, lubricate; to 
fatten (up) (animal); to get fat; to 
fertilize, enrich 
~ kabrit pou pye loko fè dans to 
work hard so s.o. else can play 
~ pat to bribe, corrupt; bribe 
~ sere to lubricate (car) 
gresè n. grease zerk 
Gresyeprop.n. Gressier (Dept. 
West) 
Gresyewa prop.nGresyewazf. 
prop.n. inhabitant of Gressier 
(Dept. West) 
Greta (siklèn) prop.n. Greta 
(disastrous hurricane, October 
1956) 
greton n. same as griyo q.v. 
(Grand'Anse) 
grèv n. strike, walkout 
fè ~ to go^e on strike, strike 
~ grangou, ~ defen, ~ lafen, ~ 
san manje hunger strike 
leve ~ to end a strike 
grevis n. striker (person on strike) 
greyawound n. greyhound 
gri n. grid; grill (for cooking); 
crossword puzzle grid; grille, 
grate, grating, screen; adj. gray; 
drunk 
- kou pipirit, ~ kou yon po 
silabè dead drunk 
gridap n. unattractive woman, 
"pig"; adj. kinky (hair) 
tèt ~ small oil lamp (made from 
tin can and without glass 
chimney); short kinky hair (on 
woman) 
gridoub - griye 
gridoub see gradoub 
grif n. claw; man with one Mulatto 
parent and one Black parent; tool 
for straightening metal rod 
bay ~ to claw (at) 
poze ~ li sou to sink one's claws 
into 
soti - li to show one's claws 
grife v. to claw, scratch 
grifra n. shoe polish (of any color) 
grifon n. man who is half black and 
half mulatto 
grifèn, grifonn/rc. woman with one 
Mulatto parent and one Black 
parent 
grifonnen, grifonen v. to claw, 
scratch; to scrawl, scribble, jot 
down 
grigri n. hawk; fiddlewood tree; 
easy lay, woman of easy morals; 
magic love potion (Voodoo); adj. 
deceitful, deceiving 
ale nan ~ to chase women of 
dubious morality 
~ frau Hispaniolan sparrow hawk 
- moutany pigeon hawk 
Grigri prop.n. Gris-Gris (1st 
communal section of Côtes-de-
Fer, Dept. South-East) 
grigrimonta n. trap, pitfall 
grij n. incriminating evidence; 
gather, pleat (in cloth); screen 
(window etc.); anal groove, crease 
between buttocks 
griji v. to wrinkle (skin); to tuck, 
gather, pleat (cloth); to scribble; to 
make a design on cloth; to wallow; 
to force oneself to do s.thg.; n. 
wrinkle; tuck, gather, pleat (cloth); 
cloth design 
grijyou n. sparrow hawk 
grimas n. foolishness, nonsense; 
grimace; affected behavior; 
foolish person 
fè - to make a face; to taunt, jeer, 
mock 
grimasay, grimasaj n. grimacing, 
making a face 
grlmasye n. clown 
grimèl f.n. light-skinned Haitian 
woman with curly hair 
- chode very light-skinned Haitian 
woman usu. with light reddish 
complexion 
grimo n. light-skinned Haitian man 
with curly hair; cf. marabou 
- chode very light-skinned Haitian 
man usu. with light reddish 
complexion 
grinbak see grennbak 
grinkat n. [Eng.] green card, U.S. 
residency card 
Grinlannprop.n. Greenland (brand 
of powdered milk); see 
Gworenlann 
grinyen see griyen 
grip, lagrip n. cold, flu, influenza, 
grippe 
~ ak lafyèv flu 
~ lasezon hayfever 
gwo ~ influenza; tuberculosis 
gripe adj. suffering from a cold or 
flu; v. to catch cold; to climb 
grit n. small building or structure 
griy n. grid; grill (for cooking); 
grille, grate, grating, screen 
~ pen toaster 
griyad n. grilled meat 
griyay, griyaj n. mesh, grid, (metal) 
grating, wire netting; chain-link 
fencing; fried meat 
griye v. to broil, grill; to roast; to 
toast; to parch; to electrocute 
~ mayi to make popcorn 
griyè - gwayabèl 
pen ~ toast 
griyè, fwonmaj degriyè n. Gruyère 
(cheese) 
griyèf n. grievance 
griyen, giyen, grinyen v. to open, 
bare; to stick out, be evident or 
visible; to laugh loudly; to grin; to 
giggle; to sneer, jeer; to snarl, 
growl; adj. emaciated 
- bounda to spread one's cheeks/ 
buttocks 
- dan to grin; to laugh heartily; to 
mock, scoff, laugh derisively; to 
grimace; to growl; to be thread-
bare (clothes); laughter, mocking; 
sneer 
- dan sou to growl at; to threaten, 
be mad at, yell at; to make fun of 
- janm to give a glimpse of one's 
legs (woman) 
~ ko to be extravagant 
pa gen ~ dan ladann, pa nan ~ 
dan to be no laughing matter, not 
be kidding 
griyo n. spicy fried pork cut in small 
chunks (Haitian delicacy); spicy 
fried meat (in general) 
griz n. ritual clothing (Voodoo) 
Griz (larivyè) prop.n. Grise river 
(north of PaP, Dept. West) 
grizat adj. grayish 
grizon n. millstone; (playing-) 
marble that has lost its polish; 
damaged object; graybeard, old 
man; good-for-nothing, bum; adj. 
cheap, worthless 
Grizongad(e) prop.n. Grison-Gardé 
(3rd communal section of Acul-
du-Nord, Dept. North) 
grizonnen v. to age, decline; to fade, 
tarnish; to lose one's beauty or 
appeal 
gwaba n. var. of insect 
gwabye n. var. of bird 
gwach n. gouache 
Gwadloup, Lagwadloup prop.n. 
Guadeloupe 
Gwadloupeyen prop.n./adj., 
Gwadloupeyèn f.prop.n. 
Guadeloupean 
gwagwa n. jalopy; small passenger 
truck; see gwayil 
Gwakanagarikprop.n. cacique of 
Marien (kingdom of pre-
Columbian Haiti) 
gwalèt n. var. of small boat 
Gwanmprop.n. Guam 
gwann n. bundle of corn (hung from 
tree for safe-keeping); fiber used 
for making hats, rope etc.; needle; 
type of drum 
Gwanntanamo, Wanntanamo 
prop.n. Guantânamo (Cuba) 
gwano n. guano 
gwap n. bragger; adj. brave, 
courageous; impulsive, brutal, 
violent 
Gwariko prop.n. Guarico (Taino 
Arawak and Spanish name for 
town on site of present-day Cape-
Haitian) 
Gwaryonèks prop.n. cacique of 
Magua (kingdom of pre-
Columbian Haiti) 
Gwasimal prop.n. Guacimal (3rd 
communal section of Saint-
Raphaël, Dept. North) 
gwat n. goiter 
gwatapana see watapana 
Gwatemalaprop.n. Guatemala; 
Guatemala City 
Gwatemaltèk prop.n./adj. 
Guatemalan 
gwayabèl see wayabèl 
357 
Gwayamouk - gwomoun 
Gwayamouk, Wayamouk (larivyè) 
prop.n. Guayamouc river (near 
Hinche, Dept. Center) 
gwayav see gouyav 
Gwayavye prop.n. Goyavier (3rd 
communal section of Saint-Marc, 
Dept. Artibonite) 
gwayil, gwagwa, gwayid, gwègwè 
n. clod, lout, hick; adj. crude, 
uncouth, unrefined 
gwelèt n. schooner 
gwevo n. inner sanctuary of Voodoo 
temple containing altar (reg.); cf. 
badji 
gwèw onomat. sound of gunfire 
gwo adj. big, fat, large; swollen; 
acute; bulky; important, great; in 
the middle of (time) 
an ~ wholesale; in bulk; on the 
whole, in general 
~ ble blue denim 
~ gra fat and healthy 
~ lajan pile of money, big sum of 
money 
~ lanmè heavy/rough sea 
~ michèl var. of banana 
~ midi high noon; (in) broad 
daylight 
~ vwa strong or loud voice; deep 
voice 
m ta gade sa - I would consider 
it an honor 
pi - main, principal 
gwobte n. blue denim 
gwobonsans n. common sense 
gwobrenn n. big fellow 
gwobwa n. big shot, VIP 
gwodizè see grandizè 
gwodon, goudwon, gwèdon n. 
meconium 
gwfcg n. alcoholic beverage, liquor, 
anba ~ (li), - nan tèt li drunk 
direktè - person in charge of 
distributing (usu.) kleren at a 
konbit (q.v.) 
gwôgè n. heavy drinker 
gwôgmann n. alcoholic, heavy 
drinker, lush, drunkard 
gwogoj n. esophagus, gullet; deep 
masculine voice 
gwoj an n. hick, redneck; adj. crude, 
uncouth 
gwo je adj. greedy 
gen ~ to be greedy 
gwojounen, granjou adv. in broad 
daylight 
gwokès n. bass drum 
gwokolèt see kolèt 
gwolo n. jack-pot, first prize 
(lottery) 
Gwomang prop.n. Gros-Mangle 
(5th communal section of Pointe 
à-Raquette, La Gonâve Island) 
Gwomaren prop.n. Gros-Marin (3rd 
communal section of Cavaillon, 
Dept. South) 
gwomidi n. high noon; (in) broad 
daylight 
gwomiks n. var. of prepared soil to 
promote plant growth 
gwomo n. dirty word, curse word 
Gwomôn prop.n. Gros-Morne 
(Dept. Artibonite; area of Pétion-
Ville; 11th communal section of 
Léogâne, Dept. West) 
Gwomônè prop.n., Gwomônèz 
f prop.n. inhabitant of Gros-Morne 
(Dept. Artibonite) 
gwomoso n. ill-mannered and 
uncouth man; big shot, important 
man 
gwomoun adj. wealthy, rich 
(person) 
358 
gwonde - gwovant 
gwonde, gonde v. to growl (at), 
snarl (at); to scold, reprimand; to 
thunder, rumble; to drone, hum, 
buzz; to roar; to grumble, 
complain; to baste, sew or stitch 
crudely; n. var. of fish; growling, 
snarling; roaring; buzzing or 
ringing in ears; droning, humming; 
middle-sized of the three Kongo 
rite drums (Voodoo) - same as 
tenbal 
- nan kanson li to grumble under 
one's breath 
gwonèg see nèg 
gwonnman n. rumble, roar 
gwonyen n. to grunt 
gwopans n. (fat) belly 
gwopo n. material for making fancy-
dress clothes; var. of mango 
gwopopo n. big shot, VIP 
gwopous n. thumb 
dwèt ~ loner, self-reliant person 
gwopye n. elephantiasis, 
lymphedema 
Gworenlann {pronounced: Gwo-re-
nlann), Grinlann prop.n. 
Greenland 
gwôs v. to make pregnant, 
impregnate; to crave; to detest 
(s.o.); adj. pregnant; n. pregnancy; 
gross (group of 144 or 12 dozen 
items) 
~ ak to do (s.o.) in, beat up 
~ gwo vant advanced state of 
pregnancy 
~ pou to really want s.thg.; to 
want to get at s.o. 
pran yon ~ to become pregnant 
(fam.) 
vini - pou (yon moun) to become 
pregnant because of (s.o.) 
gwosè, gwosè n. size, volume, 
dimension 
~ nèg/gason/fi tankou ou a boy/ 
girl your age 
pran ~ to put on weight 
gwosès, gwôsès n. pregnancy 
maladi ~ morning sickness 
pwazon ~ eclampsia 
gwosi v. to grow larger, gain weight; 
to increase; to swell; to enlarge, 
expand; to exaggerate 
fè yon ti ~ to put on a little weight 
gwosis n. wholesaler, wholesale 
dealer 
gwosisman n. enlargement 
Gwôskay prop.n. Grande-Caye, 
Grosse-Caille (island off coast of 
Aquin, Dept. South) 
gwosomodo, gwôskosomodo adj. 
crude, coarse; adv. as a rough 
estimate, roughly; crudely done 
Gwoswôch prop.n. Grosse-Roche 
(Dept. North-East) 
gwosye adj. coarse, crude, vulgar, 
rude, uncouth; irascible, irritable, 
short-tempered 
gwosyète n. coarseness, crudeness 
gwôt, lagwôt n. grotto, cave 
gwoup n. group; cluster 
~ elektwojèn electric generator, 
generating set; cf. dèlko 
gwoupe v. to group (together), 
assemble 
gwoupiskil n. small insignificant 
political group 
gwoupman, goupman n. group; 
grouping; (peasant) collective 
~ kominotè community-action 
group 
gwouyè n. type of sexually 
suggestive collective dance 
gwovant adj. pregnant; n. pot belly; 
kwashiorkor- cf. kwachyôko 
359 
Gwowôch - gyôlè 
Gwowôch prop.n. Grosse-Roche 
(beach and target practice area, 
north side of Saint-Marc, Dept. 
Artibonite); see Ekrevis 
gwozèy n. red currant (shrub) 
gwozo adj. big for one's age; well 
developed 
gwozom n. hedge plant 
gyab see dyab 
gyadya n. giardia 
gyanman see dyaman 
Gye see Bondye 
gyegi see degi 
gyèp see gèp 
gyo see dlo 
gyôl see djôl 
gyôlè see djôlè 
360 
h - hèvimetal 
H 
il (pronounced: ach) 
ha interj. ha! (to surprise or startle 
s.o.); abbrev. hectare (ekta 2.471 
acres, approximately size of a 
football field) 
~l ~! ha! ha! ha! ha! 
(laughter) 
hach see rach 
hache, rache v. to chop up, cut up; 
to grate; to ax 
had see rad 
hadèn n. var. of mango 
hadi see radi 
haje see raje 
hal n. covered courtyard; see ral 
hale see rale 
halfô see ralfô 
Halo win, Alowin prop.n. Halloween 
(US celebration on October 31) 
han! interj. ha!; to express physical 
exertion; see hi 
~ an interj. uh-huh, yes (fam.) 
hanache see annache 
hanch see ranch 
Hanika see Hanouka 
hank interj. expression of surprise 
hanm onomat. yum yum 
hannbol n. [Eng.] handball 
hanni see ranni 
Hanouka, Hanika prop.n. 
Hanukkah, Chanukah 
hany! see heny! 
hap onomat. to express sudden 
action 
hap, ap, larp n. harp 
hap! hap! interj. woof! woof! 
haso see raso 
hat n. hurry, haste; corral 
hatchbak n. hatchback (automobile) 
Hatchevo prop.n. Hatte-Chevaux 
(2nd communal section of 
Marchand-Dessalines, Dept. 
Artibonite) 
Havad (inivèsite) prop.n. Harvard 
University (Cambridge, Mass.) 
Hawad (inivèsite) prop.n. Howard 
University (Washington, D.C.) 
Hawayi see Awayi 
hay! see ay! 
hayi see rayi 
hayikou n. poetic form imitated 
from Japanese; cf. wongèl and 
zwing 
he! see hey! 
hehey! interj. hey hey! 
hèk see rèk 
hèl see rèl 
de ~! interj. hell! 
travay de ~! what a stupid 
meaningless job! 
hele v. to hail, call out 
hen interj. huh? what? 
ala ~ what?! 
~ en! ~ ~! nope! 
~l ~! ha! ha! 
hèn see èn 
Hèn see Èn 
Hench see Rench 
Henchwa, Henchwaz see Enchwa, 
Enchwaz 
hendi prop.n. Hindi 
Hennwa, Hennwaz, Hènwa, 
Hènwaz see Ènwa, Ènwaz 
heny! hany! interj. yuck! 
hep! (banm) interj. hey! (to attract 
s.o.'s attention) 
hepla! hepbanm! interj. heave ho! 
hèvimetal adj. heavy metal (musiçï 
361 
hey! - HUEH 
hey! he! interj. hey! huh! uh!; call 
for cattle to come 
heyeyey! interj. hey! hey! hey! 
hi, hi han, hihan onomat. neigh or 
whinny (of horse) 
highang see hinghang 
hihan onomat. whinny or neighing 
of a horse 
- ~ see hinghang 
hik interj. giddyap (to encourage a 
donkey) 
hil n. var. of mango 
hinghang, highang, hihan hihan, 
ing ang, yingyang n. feud, quarrel 
hipe v. to yell 
hiphèp n. hip hop (music) 
hise see ise 
hm interj. hum 
hmm n. very strong var. of raw rum 
(kleren) 
ho see wo 
Hodikap see Wodikap 
hodpote, hôdpot see wodpote 
hoholi see wowoli 
hohot see wowôt 
hèkèt see okèt 
hèki see ôke 
hola! see ola! 
holdop see èldèp 
hôldôpay see ôldèpay 
holdôpe see èldèpe 
holdôpè see èldèpè 
holèmen see wolèmen 
holokos see olokès 
bon onomat. oink (of a pig) 
honfè see ounfè 
honsi see ounsi 
hont see wont 
honte see wonte 
hop interj. sound of belch or burp 
hosanna! interj. [Bible] hosanna! 
(cry of praise) 
hose see wose 
hosman see wosman 
hot see wot 
hotdog, wôtdèg n. [Eng.] hotdog; 
cf. sosis 
hotè, hôtè see wotè 
hotfôm see otfom 
Hotkou Jistis see Otkou Jistis 
hou see wou 
houfo see ounfo 
hougan see oungan 
houk n. splash (made with one's feet) 
houke see wouke 
houm onomat oink (of a pig) 
houmble see woumble 
houn!, oun! interj. ugh! yuck! 
(expression of disgust); woof! 
houndjenikon see oungenikonn 
hounfo see ounfo 
houngan see oungan 
houngenikon(n) see oungenikonn 
houngèvè see oungeve 
houn(k), ounk, wounk n. var. of 
rudimentary drum 
hounk! ounk! wounk! interj. Watch 
out! Be careful! 
hounla n. var. of rudimentary drum 
hounli n. var. of rudimentary drum 
hounsa see mousa 
hounsi, housi see ounsi 
hountô see ounto 
hountogi, hountôgri see ountôgri 
hountoli n. player of hounli (q.v.) 
hounyo see ouny6 
houy interj. giddyap (to encourage a 
horse, mule, donkey) 
hoy! see woy! 
HUEH acron. Lopital Inivèsite Deta 
Dayiti, Lopital Jeneral (Hôpital de 
l'Université d'État d'Haïti) -
Hospital of the State University of 
Haïti, PaP 
362 
i -igrèg 
I 
i n. position in game of 
knucklebones (oslè); [N.] see li 
(pron.) 
~ an an ~ an an braying of a 
donkey 
ibanis n. urbanism, city living; adj. 
city-planning, urban 
ibanizasyon n. urbanization; city-
planning 
Ibè prop.n. Hubert 
Ibè (Fènan) prop.n. Hibbert 
(Fernand) - Haitian novelist 
(1873-1928) 
iben adj. [Fr./Eng.] urban 
ibenis see ebenis 
Ibewo prop. adj. Iberian 
ibis n. ibis (bird) 
~ gan blan white ibis 
- pechè glossy ibis 
ibiskis n. hibiscus (usu. choublak) 
Ibo n. Voodoo rite: group or 
"nation" (nanchon) of Voodoo 
spirits; dignified reserved dance 
with two steps to the right 
followed by two steps to the left; 
var. of drum 
Ibobitch, Ilkasikprop.n. Ibo Beach 
(Dept. West) 
ibou n. [Fr.] owl; cf. koukou 
ibrid n./adj. hybrid 
idantifikasyon n. identification 
idantifyab adj. identifiable 
idantifye v. to identify 
idantite, lidantite n. identity; 
identification 
pwoblèm ~ lack of self-esteem 
Idawo prop.n. Idaho (USA) 
Idayi acron. ID AI (Institut de 
Développement Agricole et 
Industriel) - for agricultural 
products 
ide see ede; lide 
idèm adj. intact; invariable, same 
ideyal n. ideal(s); adj. ideal 
ideyolôg n. ideologist; ideologue 
ideyoloji, idewoloji n. ideology 
ideyolojik adj. ideological 
IDMO acron. UDMO (Unité 
Départementale du Maintien de 
l'Ordre) - local forces of order 
idôl see zidôl 
idolatri n. idolatry 
Idoume prop.n. [Bible] Idumea 
idratkabôn n. carbohydrate 
idravyon n. hydroplane 
idwo prefix hydro-
idwoelektrik adj. hydroelectric 
idwojèn n. hydrogen 
idwoksid n. hydroxide 
idwolik adj. hydraulic; hydro-
idwomèt n. hydrometer 
idyo w., idyôt f n . [Fr.] idiot 
idyèm n. idiom, idiomatic 
expression 
idyomatik adj. idiomatic 
idyosi n. idiocy, imbecility 
idyôt see idyo 
idyôtman adv. idiotically 
Ife prop.n. dwelling place of the 
Voodoo spirits, 'the Voodoo 
Olympus" 
ifo see fôk 
Igprop.n. Hugh 
Igo prop.n. Hugo 
igorin see goyin 
igrann: 
grann - in the distant past 
igrèg n. (letter) y 
363 
igwann - imajinasyon 
igwann, igwàn n. iguana 
igwaz see rigwaz 
igwe n. air plant 
Igwe, Igwèy prop.n. Higuey 
(Dominican Republic; Kingdom of 
pre-Columbian Haiti) 
ihan ihan ihan onomat. braying of 
donkey 
ijan adj. urgent, pressing; cf. pa ka 
tann 
ka ~ emergency 
ijans n. emergency; urgency 
ijèn see ijyèn 
ijenik, ijyenik, jenik adj. clean, 
hygienic, sanitary 
papye ~ toilet paper 
ijyèn, ijèn, ijyenn, lijèn, lijyèn, 
lijyenn n. hygiene, cleanliness 
fè ~ kay la to do housecleaning, 
clean the house 
ijyenik see ijenik 
ikèt see ôkèt 
ikèn n. icon (computer) 
Ikrèn, Likrèn prop.n. Ukraine 
iks (letter) x 
il see zile 
Ilandè, Ilanndè prop.n./adj., 
Ilandèz, Ilanndèzf.prop.n. Irish 
ilan ilan n. ilang-ilang (tree) 
Ilann, Lilann prop.n. Ireland 
Ilanndè, Ilanndèz see Ilandè, 
Ilandèz 
Ilavach, Dilavach, Lilavach, 
Zileavach prop.n. île-à-Vache(s) 
(52 km2 island near Cayes, Dept. 
South) 
Ilavachwa, Vachyen prop.n., 
llav&chwaz, Vachyèn f.prop.n. 
inhabitant of île-à-Vache(s) (island 
near Cayes, Dept. South) 
Ilè(t)apyèjozèf, Zilè(t)apyèjozèf 
prop.n. îlet-à-Pierre-Joseph (3rd 
communal section of Anse-
d'Hainault, Dept. Grand'Anse) 
ilegal adj. illegal, unlawful; adv. 
illegally, unlawfully 
ilegalite n. illegality 
ilegalman adv. illegally 
ilejitim adj. illegitimate 
iletre n./adj. illiterate 
Ilinwa prop.n. Illinois (USA) 
Iliriprop.n. [Bible] Illyricum 
Ilisprop.n. Ulysses 
ilisit adj. illicit, unlawful 
ilistrasyon n. illustration 
bay ~ to illustrate 
ilistre v. to illustrate 
ilizyon n. illusion 
Ilkasik see Ibobitch 
Iloakon, Zilokon prop.n. îlot-à-
Cornes (8th communal section of 
Limbé, Dept. North) 
ilsè n. ulcer 
~ emorajik bleeding ulcer 
iltimatom n. ultimatum 
Iltonn prop.n. Hilton 
iltrason adj. ultrasound 
iltravyolèt adj. ultraviolet 
Ilvyèj, Zilvyèj prop.n. Virgin 
Islands (US) 
- angle British Virgin Islands 
Ilyadprop.n. Iliad (ancient Greek 
epic by Homer) 
im, lim, limn n. anthem 
imaj, imay, limaj n. image; picture, 
illustration, engraving; 
chromolithograph of a saint 
- mak brand image (for a 
product); public image (company 
or political party) 
~ taye graven image, idol 
imaje adj. vivid, picturesque 
imajinab adj. imaginable 
imajinasyon n. imagination; 
364 
imajine - INAGE 
illusion; fiction 
imajine, imajinen v. to imagine; to 
have an illusion 
imajinè adj. imaginary 
imajis n. imagery 
imajri n. imagery 
imakile adj. immaculate, pure 
fèt ~ feast of the Immaculate 
Conception 
Imamouprop.n. generic name for 
Voodoo sea spirits 
imanis adj. humane, humanitarian; 
humanist 
imanite n. humanities; see limanite 
imanitè adj. humanitarian 
imanizasyon n. humanization 
imans adj. [Fr.] immense 
imatrikilasyon n. registration 
plak - license plate, license tag 
imatrikile v. to register 
imay see imaj 
imè, zimè n. humor, mood, 
disposition; inflammation; pus 
imèb see byen 
imedya adj. immediate 
imedyat, imedyatman adv. 
immediately 
imel n. [Eng.] e(lectronic)-mail; v. to 
e-mail 
imele v. to E-mail 
imen n. human being (cf. kretyen 
vivan); adj. human; considerate 
imèn n. hymen; adj. human; see 
syans ~ 
imènman adv. humanly 
imeris n. humerus 
imèsyon n. [Fr.] immersion 
imid adj. humid, damp, moist, wet, 
muggy 
imidimèt n. humidistat 
imidite, limidite n. humidity, 
dampness, moisture 
imigran n. immigrant 
imigrasyon n. immigration; passport 
control; United States Immigration 
and Naturalization Service (INS) 
imigre v. to immigrate; n. immigrant 
imilite, limilite n. humility 
imilyan adj. humiliating, demeaning 
imilyasyon n. humiliation 
imilye v. to humiliate; to humble 
oneself 
iminite n. [Fr.] immunity; 
(diplomatic or parliamentary) 
immunity 
iminize v. to immunize 
imis n. humus 
imitasyon n. imitation 
imitatè, imitado n. imitator 
imite v. to imitate 
imobil adj. motionless, immobile 
imobilizasyon n. immobilization; 
standstill 
~ kôporèl fixed assets 
imobilize v. to immobilize 
imobilye adj. property, real estate 
imole v. [Fr.] to immolate, sacrifice 
imoral adj. immoral; n. dissolute or 
shameless person 
imoralite, limoralite n. immorality, 
misconduct; lasciviousness 
imotalite n. immortality 
imôtalize v. to immortalize 
imètèl n. coral bean tree, bucare 
tree; adj. [Fr.] immortal 
in see inè 
inadmisib adj. inadmissible 
Inag (Gran)prop.n. Great Inagua 
Island (Bahamas) 
INAGE acron. INAGHEI - Enstiti 
Nasyonal Administrasyon, 
Jesyon e (W)ôt Etid 
Entènasyonal (Institut National 
d'Administration, de Gestion, et 
365 
inakseptab - inivèsitè 
des Hautes Etudes Internationales) 
Haiti's leading business school 
inakseptab adj. unacceptable 
inaktif adj. inactive 
inalan n. inhalant 
inapèsi adj. [Fr.] unnoticed 
INARA acron. Enstiti Nasyonal 
Refôm Agrè (Institut National de 
Réforme Agraire) National 
Institute of Land Reform 
inatandi adj. unexpected 
indiprop.n./adj. Hindi 
Indyana see Enndyana 
inè adv. one o'clock 
Inè see Inès 
inedi adj. [Fr.] unpublished 
inèdtan n. an hour 
chak ~ every hour, each hour 
inégal adj. unequal; uneven, rough; 
irregular 
inégalité n. inequality 
inekitab adj. [Fr] inequitable, 
unjust, unfair 
inekite n. [Fr.] inequity, injustice, 
unfairness 
ineksplikab adj. [Fr.] inexplicable 
Inès (siklèn), Inè, Inèz prop.n. Inez 
(disastrous hurricane, 29-30 
September 1966) 
Inesko acron. Unesco (United 
Nations Educational, Scientific, 
and Cultural Organization) 
inevitab adj. inevitable 
Inèz see Inès 
imfay adv. [Eng.] in five minutes 
ing ang see hinghang 
iiri v. to unite, join together; adj. 
smooth, even; plain (made of one 
piece or of one color) 
rami ~ to make even, smooth out 
inifikasyon n. unification 
inifôm ft. uniform; adj. uniform, 
identical 
inifomite n. uniformity 
inifye v. [Fr.] to unify; cf. ini 
inijanbis n. one-legged person; adj. 
one-legged 
inik adj. unique, only, sole, single 
sans ~ one-way (street) 
inikite n. iniquity (rel.) 
inikman adv. uniquely 
inilateral adj. unilateral 
inilateralman adv. unilaterally 
inimen adj. inhuman 
Inisèf acron. Unicef (United 
Nations Children's Fund) 
inisyal n./adj. initial 
inisyasyon n. initiation 
inisyatè n. initiator 
inisyativ n. initiative 
inisye v. to initiate, introduce, be 
initiated, be introduced; n. initiate 
inite see linite 
~ santral computer processing 
unit 
Inite Santral Jesyon (Unité 
Centrale de Gestion) General 
Accounting Office of Haitian 
Government 
initil adj. useless, worthless, 
unnecessary, needless, 
superfluous; pointless, trivial 
manm ~ worthless individual 
initilman adv. uselessly, vainly, in 
vain 
inivè see linivè 
inivèsalis adj. universalist 
inivèsalite n. universality 
inivèsèl n./adj. universal, general; n. 
sports jacket 
inivèsite, linivèsite n. university; 
college 
inivèsitè n. university student; 
university graduate; n./adj. 
366 
iniyoun - ipopotam 
academic; adj. university(-level) 
iniyoun n. magically poisoned liquid 
(Voodoo) 
inôganik adj. inorganic 
inogirasyon n. inauguration 
inogire v. to inaugurate 
inokilan n. inoculant, inoculum (bot. 
esp.) - cf. piki 
inokilasyon n. inoculation (bot. 
esp.) - cf. piki 
inokile v. to inoculate (bot. esp.) - cf. 
pike 
inôn n. one aune, one ell see lonn 
inondasyon, linondasyon n. flood, 
flooding, inundation 
fè - to overflow (river) 
inonde v. to flood, inundate 
inonni adj. stupid, imbecilic 
inonsan see inosan 
inonsans see inosans 
inoperan adj. inoperative, 
ineffectual, ineffective 
inoptize see ipnotize 
inosan, inonsan, nosan adj. 
innocent; naive, ingenuous 
Inosan prop.n. Innocent (one of six 
forts built by Dessalines 
surrounding Haiti's first capital, 
Marchand, Dept. Artibonite) 
inosans, inonsans, linosans n. 
innocence 
inosant fn. /adj . innocent (girl or 
woman) 
inosante v. to exonerate, vindicate, 
clear; to justify, excuse 
inoubliyab adj. [Fr.] unforgettable 
inovasyon n. innovation 
inove v. to innovate 
INS obs. acron. (pronounced: i-enn-
ès) US Immigration and 
Naturalization Service 
intèriptè n. switch (mach.) 
inwitprop.n./adj. Inuit, Eskimo 
inyam see yanm 
inyon see linyon 
inyoran, iyoran adj. ignorant, 
uninformed, illiterate; boorish, ill-
bred 
inyorans, iyorans, linyorans, 
liyorans n. ignorance, illiteracy; 
boorishness, ill-breeding 
inyore, iyore v. to be ignorant of, 
not know 
~ (konnen) to ignore, disregard, 
not pay attention to; cf. bay vag 
ion, iou see yon 
ipèbol n. hyperbola (math.) 
ipeka n. ipecac 
ipètansyon n. hypertension 
ipi n./adj. hippie 
IPN acron. Enstiti Pedagojik 
Nasyonal (Institut Pédagogique 
National) National Pedagogical 
Institute (teacher training institute, 
PaP) 
ipnotize, inoptize v. to hypnotize 
ipnotizè n. hypnotist 
ipnoz n. hypnosis 
Ipokratprop.n. Hippocrates 
ipokrit n. hypocrite; adj. 
hypocritical 
~ karesan two-faced backbiter, 
hypocrite 
ipokritman adv. hypocritically 
ipokrizi, lipokrizi n. hypocrisy 
Ipolit (Ektô) prop.n. Hyppolite 
(Hector) - considered greatest of 
Haitian primitive painters ("Les 
Zombis," "La Mambo"), 1894-
1948 
Ipolit (Flôvil) prop.n. Hyppolite 
(Florvil) - president of Haiti, 
1889-1896 
ipopotam n. hippopotamus 
367 
ipotèk - Ispayola 
ipotèk, potèk n. mortgage; multi-
year land lease 
leve ~ to pay off the/a mortgage; 
to pay back 
ipoteke, poteke v. to mortgage, be 
mortgaged; to lease (land) 
ipoteniz n. hypotenuse (math.) 
ipotèz n. hypothesis, given 
Irak, Lirakprop.n. Iraq 
Irakyen prop.n./adj., Irakyèn 
f.prop.n. Iraqi 
Iram prop.n. [Bible] Hiram 
Iran, Diran, Liran prop.n. Iran 
Iranis prop.n. Uranus 
Irànyen prop.n./adj., Irànyèn 
f.prop.n. Iranian 
irànyom n. uranium 
irasyonèl adj. [Fr.] irrational 
ire n. var. of fertilizer 
irediktib adj. irreducible, immutable 
iregilarite n. irregularity; fraud, 
deception 
iregilye adj. irregular 
iresponsab, ireskonsab n./adj. 
irresponsible, negligent 
iresponsablite, iresponsabilite n. 
irresponsibility 
irèt n. urethra 
irezonab adj. unreasonable 
iridyom n. iridium 
irigasyon n. irrigation 
irige v. to irrigate 
Irigwe prop.n. Uruguay 
Irigweyen prop.n./adj., Irigweyèn 
f.prop.n. Uruguayan 
irin n. urine (usu. med.); cf. pipi 
irinè adj. urinary (med.) 
irinen v. to urinate (med.) 
irinwa n. urinal 
iris n. iris (of eye) 
iritan n. irritant 
iritasyon n. irritation, inflammation 
irite v. to irritate, annoy, exasperate 
to chafe, abrade, scrape 
ise, hise v. to hoist, raise, haul up; to 
stand on one's tiptoes 
isi see isit 
- prezan right here, on this very 
spot 
isiba adv. here below, on earth 
Isilinprop.n./adj. Ursuline 
isit, isi, isiya, sit adv. here 
ane ~ this year 
- la right here, over here 
~ la menm in this very place 
~ ... lot bo here ... there, 
everywhere 
pa bo ~ around here 
isitkay adv. here at home, here in 
this country; adj. domestic 
iskaryot see eskaryot 
Iskaryôt see Jouda 
iske see riske 
Islam prop.n. Islam 
islamik prop. adj. Islamic 
islamis prop.n. Islamism;prop. adj. 
Islamic 
Islandè prop.n./adj. Icelandic 
Islandè prop.n., Islandèz f.prop.n. 
Icelander 
Islannprop.n. Iceland 
isman n. hoisting, raising, hauling 
up 
Ismayèl, Izmayèl prop.n. [Bible] 
Ishmael 
Isouzou see Izouzou 
ISPAN acron. Enstiti Sovgad 
Patrimwàn Nasyonal (Institut de 
Sauvegarde du Patrimoine 
National) - Haitian Institute for the 
Preservation of the National 
Heritage 
ispanikprop.n./adj. Hispanic 
Ispayola, Ispànyola prop.n. 
368 
istansil - iyorans 
Hispaniola 
istansil n. [Fr.] utensil, implement 
isterik adj. [Fr] hysterical 
istokrat see aristokrat 
istorik adj. historic(al); n. historical 
background 
bay ~ 
fè ~ to retrace the historical 
background 
istorikman adv. historically 
istoryen n.} istoryèn f.n. historian 
istwa, listwa, zistwa n. history; 
story, tale, account; anecdote; 
incident, event; behavior 
bay tire ~ to tell fiinny stories, 
banter, visit with 
~ jeneral world history 
Istwa prop.n. [Bible] Chronicles 
isye n. bailiff; collection agent 
- eksplwatan summons server, 
writ server (jur.) 
~ odyansye sergeant-at-arms (jur.) 
It prop.n./adj. Hittite 
peyi ~ Hatti 
Itali, Litaliprop.n. Italy 
italik n. italics; adj. italic 
Italy en prop.n./adjItalyèn 
f.prop.n. Italian 
lté n. [Eng.] heater 
iteris n. uterus 
itikè n. hives 
itil adj. useful, handy; profitable, 
beneficial; v. to be of use 
pa ~ good-for-nothing; jerk 
itilite n. use, usefulness, utility 
itilizab adj. usable 
itilizasyon n. utilisation, usage 
itilizatè n. user 
itilize v. to use, utilize, employ 
itineran: 
anbasadè ~ roving ambassador 
itinerè n. itinerary, route 
Itlèprop.n. (Adolf) Hitler 
itopi n. [Fr.] Utopia 
itopik adj. [Fr] Utopian 
ityole n. antiseptic (for cuts etc.) 
Ivprop.n. Yves 
ivè see livè 
ivènay see livènay 
Ivètf.prop.n. Yvette 
ivwa, livwa n./adj. ivory 
Ivwaryen prop.n./adj., Ivwaryèn 
f.prop.n. Ivoryian 
ivyè see rivyè 
Iwochima, Ewochima prop.n. 
Hiroshima (Japan) 
iwolog n. urologist 
iwoloji n. urology 
Iwon prop.n. Huron 
iwondèl, jiwondèl, liwondèl, 
viwondèl, wondèl, ziwondèl n. 
swallow (bird) 
~ falèz Hispaniolan cliff swallow 
~ fov var. of swallow 
~ ke long barn swallow 
~ nwa, ~ vant blan var. of 
Caribbean martin 
- vèt Sclatter's swallow 
ti ~ palm swift 
iwoni n. irony 
iwonik adj. ironic(al), sarcastic 
iwonikman adv. ironically 
iwonize, wonize v. to be ironie, be 
sarcastic; to make fun of, 
humiliate 
Iwozyen prop.n., Iwozyèn f.prop.n. 
inhabitant of Les Irois (Dept. 
Grand'Anse) 
iyôd see yod 
iyôde see yôde 
Iyona prop.n. Ionia (ancient region 
of Asia Minor) 
iyoran see inyoran 
iyorans see inyorans 
369 
iyore - Izrayelyen 
iyore see inyore 
izaj see izay 
izaje n. [Fr.] user; adj. used 
Izarakprop.n. [Bible] Isaac 
izay, izaj n. [Fr.] usage 
Izayi prop.n. [Bible] Jesse (father of 
King David) 
ize v. to wear out; adj. worn, worn-
out, tired, old; second-hand, used 
izèd, zèd (letter) z 
inn. usury 
izin, lizin n. factory, plant 
~ sitwon lime-processing plant 
izirye n. money-lender 
Izmayèl see Ismayèl 
izolan n. masking tape; sound-
proofing; weather-proofing; 
insulation; insulator 
izolasyon n. insulation 
izole v. to quarantine, isolate; to 
insulate; adj. alone, isolated 
izolman, izôlman n. isolation 
izotwa n. voting booth 
izôp n. hyssop (bot.) 
izora n. ixora (shrub) 
izosèl adj. isosceles (math.) 
Izouzou, Isouzou prop.n. Isuzu 
(automobile) 
Izrayèl, Lizrayèl prop.n. Israel 
Izraydit prop.n. Israelite 
Izraydyen, Izrayelit prop.n.Jadj., 
Izrayelyèn, Izrayelit f.prop.n. 
Israeli 
370 
j - Jakob 
J 
j (pronounced: ji) 
ja, dja n. (earthenware) jug; pot of 
gold, buried treasure; vat, tub 
- lajan buried treasure 
jabotyè n. frills, ruffles 
jabourik n. var. of plant 
jachè adj. fallow, unseeded, 
uncultivated 
fè - to leave fallow 
jaden n. (cultivated) field; garden 
fè ~ to farm; to garden; farming, 
agriculture 
gran ~ field 
~ bwa deyô field distant from 
one's house 
- danfan nursery school, 
kindergarten 
- Dedenn Garden of Eden 
~ flè (decorative) garden 
~ (nan) lakou, ~ alantou, ~ 
antre, ~ devan pèt, ti ~ small 
vegetable garden; flower garden 
~ papa li birthright, heritage 
- piblik park 
pye - part of field furtherest from 
irrigation entry point 
santi - to smell bad, have bad 
body odor 
tèt - part of field nearest irrigation 
entry point 
jadinay n. agriculture, farming 
jadinye n., jadinyè f.n. gardener 
~ danfan kindergarten teacher 
jagon n. slang, jargon; Haitian 
equivalent of "pig Latin"; (cf. 
bolit; pale lanvè) 
jagounen see ogounen 
jagwa ti. jaguar 
jaja ti. jealousy; adj. jealous 
Jàkprop.n. James 
Fô ~ Fort Jacques (near Fermathe, 
Dept. West) 
pa...ni ~ (ni Pyè) ni Pôl belonging 
to no one in particular 
Ti - Jim 
Twou Sen ~ mud pond at Plaine 
du Nord used as Voodoo 
pilgrimage site (July 25) 
jakal n. jackal 
jakasay, jakasaj n. chatter, jabber, 
yakking 
jakase v. to chatter, jabber, yak 
Jakata prop.n. Jakarta (Indonesia) 
Jakèprop.n. Jacquet (section of 
Pétion-Ville) 
Jaken see Kafouchal 
jakèt, djakèt n. coat, jacket 
bay (yon moun) yon ~ to rebuke 
(s.o.), reprimand (s.o.) 
Jaklin f.prop.n. Jacqueline 
Jakmèlprop.n. (from its Taino name 
Yaquimel) Jacmel - founded 1698 
(administrative center of Dept. 
South-East) 
Jakmelyenprop.n., Jakmelyèn f . 
prop.n. Jacmelian 
jako 72. (Hispaniolan) parrot 
fè - pye vèt to flirt, flatter, play up 
to, woo, court 
~ pye vèt would-be lady killer; 
flatterer 
- repèt copycat, mimic; gossiper; 
rote memory 
nen ~ aquiline nose 
Jako prop.n. traditional children's 
song 
Jakèb prop.n. [Bible; Book of 
Mormon] Jacob 
371 
jakôt-jan 
jakèt n. parakeet 
Jaksil prop.n. Jacquesil (see 
Klodin) 
jaktans n. noisy group (of people) 
jakye n. jackfruit tree 
jal, jral, jwal sh.form general 
(imilit.) 
jalap n. jalap (plant) 
jalon n. stake, pole, landmark; 
surveyor's pole 
poze ~ to prepare the ground, pave 
the way (fig.) 
jalonnen v. to mark off, earmark; to 
line, stretch along 
jalou adj., jalouz f.adj. jealous 
fè~ to be jealous 
jalouzi n. jealousy, envy; shutter, 
blind; Venetian blinds; lattice-
work door or window 
fè ~ to be jealous 
~ krapo groundless or 
unwarranted jealousy 
lalouzi prop.n. Jalousie 
(disadvantaged area of Pétion-
Ville, Dept. West) 
Jamayik, Lajamayik prop.n. 
Jamaica 
Jamayiken prop.n./adj., Jamayikèn 
f.prop.n. Jamaican 
jamè! interj. never! 
ditou se swa not on your 
life! 
(~) ogran not on your life! 
jamèdodo n. night owl (person); 
prostitute; prostitution 
fè ~ to engage in prostitution 
jamegeri n. long-standing sore 
Jamèvi see Janmenvi 
jan n. kind, type, sort; manner, way, 
mode; process; adv./conj. how; as; 
see kijan 
an gran ~ with pomp and 
ceremony, with much ado 
bay bon ~ to be nice/ welcoming/ 
hospitable 
bay move ~ see fè move ~ 
bon ~ honest, upright, proper; 
decent, good, solid; real, authentic, 
genuine; sincere, forthright; polite; 
respectable, trustworthy, 
legitimate; serious, reliable; 
correct, logical, coherent; 
thorough, in-depth; courtesy, 
politeness; a goodly quantity of 
fè menm ~ to imitate 
fè move bay move ~ to be rude 
or mean; to be hostile, be 
unfriendly 
fè yon ~ (ak) to get rid of, 
eliminate; to look after s.o.'s needs 
fè yon ~ pou to make sure that, 
act in such a way that (s.thg. gets 
done) 
fè yon ~ yon manyè to act in such 
a way as to 
fè yon lot ~ to do things 
differently, do anything else 
gen bon ~ to be likeable, be 
affable, be easy-going; to be nice 
gen move ~ to be ill-tempered, be 
disagreeable 
gran ~ fancy, beautiful; great, 
valuable 
- li pase li pase whatever happens 
happens 
- li ye li ye it is what it is, be it as 
it may 
~ manman li te fè 1 la in one's 
birthday suit, naked 
- o u w è m ap pale avè ou la a 
just the way I am 
~ sa a in that way, thus 
~ sa dwa properly, suitably 
move ~ ill-tempered 
372 
jan - janklodis 
pa menm ~ ak unlike 
tout - in any case 
tout ~ tout mannyè/fason 
thoroughly; one way or another; in 
every conceivable way 
yon ~ yon mannyè one way or 
another 
yon (ti) ~ a little (bit), somewhat, 
rather 
Jan prop.n. John 
- Batis John the Baptist 
- Jak see mèt ~ ~ 
~ Lespri smart John (famous 
folktale character; cf. Timalis) 
- Pol II (avni) avenue Jean-Paul 
II (major avenue of PaP beginning 
at avenue Henry Christophe and 
running through Turgeau and 
ending in Haut-Turgeau) 
~ Sot dumb John (famous folktale 
character; cf. Bouki) 
Jàn f.prop.n. Jane, Joan, Jean, 
Jeanne 
Janba prop.n. nickname for Jan 
Batis 
Janbatis prop.n. [Bible] John the 
Baptist 
Janbatis (Pôris) prop.n. Jean-
Baptiste (Pauris) - Haitian-
language writer, author of Nan 
Lonbray Inosans 
janbe, anjanbe v. to cross, cross 
over; to go to; to go abroad; to 
change one's status, convert to; to 
step over (s.o.); n. short distance 
fè yon ~ to drop by 
~ dlo/lanmè to consult a Voodoo 
priest/priestess 
~ minwi past midnight 
~ nan peyi san chapo to cross 
over into the great beyond, die 
~ sou tè yon moun to use s.o.'s 
land without permission 
Janbelin, Janbèlin, Kayimit 
prop.n. Jean-Bellune, Cayemit(t)e 
(3rd communal section of Pestel, 
Dept. Grand'Anse) 
janbèt n. pocketknife 
janblan, janblon adj. blond 
(horsehair); rather large fresh-
water shrimp (resembles small 
lobster) 
janbon n. ham; hock (of animal) 
janbyè n. legging; shin guard; knee-
high boot 
janchwa, anchwa n. anchovy 
jandam, jandanm n. policeman; 
soldier; var. of butterfly 
jandamri n. police station, barracks; 
gendarmerie, police force 
jandanm see jandam 
Jandenant prop.n. Gens-de-Nantes 
(5th communal section of 
Ouanaminthe, Dept. North-East) 
janèt n. var. of poultry disease 
Janètprop.n. Jeannette (Dept. 
Grand'Anse) 
Janfranswa Papiyonprop.n. Jean-
François Papillon - one of early 
leaders of Haitian Revolution 
Janjak see mèt ~ 
Janjak Desalin (boulva), Granri 
prop.n. Boulevard Jean-Jacques 
Dessalines (main street of PaP) 
Janjan prop.n. Johnny (nickname 
for Jan, q. v.) 
janjanbrèt see jenjanbrèt 
janjol n. testicle(s) (of animal) [5.]; 
(supposed) aphrodisiac 
Janklod prop.n. fam. for Jean-
Claude Duvalier (born 1951), 
president of Haiti, 1971-1986 
janklodis n./adj. supporter of Jean-
Claude Duvalier; n. economic and 
373 
jankwo - japwouv 
political movement during regime 
of Jean-Claude Duvalier (1971-
1986) 
jankwo n. John Crow, turkey 
buzzard, black tamarind (bird) 
janm n. leg; adv. ever 
antre anba ~ crotch; crotch of 
pants 
bagèt ~ skinny legs 
banbou ~ tibia, shinbone 
bwa - leg bone; leg; shin, 
tibia 
~ boya bowlegged 
~ debwa stilt(s); person on stilts; 
scarecrow 
~ di fôs supporting beam 
~ kana, ~ kounan knock-kneed 
- kanson var. of plant (used for 
making tea) 
~ louvri, ~ ouvè bowlegged 
- marengwen scrawny-legged 
~ sizo knock-kneed 
~ tôtôy bowlegged 
pa - never 
zo (bwa) ~ leg; shin, tibia 
janmari n. var. of mango 
janmdebwa n. stilt(s); person on 
stilts; scarecrow (cf. jwif) 
janmdefos n. support, backup 
bay - to reinforce, back up, 
support 
janmè, janmen adv. ever, never 
a ~ forever 
p a n e v e r 
Se swa Not on your life! 
Janmenvi, Jamèvi prop.n. Jamais-
Vu (6th communal section of 
Cotes-de-Fer, Dept. South-East) 
janmichèt n. var. of bird of prey 
jannago n. var. of small fish 
janni see djanni 
Jano prop.n. Jeannot (leader of 
following death of Boukman Duty, 
later killed by Jean-François) 
Janrabèlprop.n. Jean-Rabel-
founded 1743 (Dept. North-West) 
janritis, jôritis n. man reluctant to 
declare his intentions (concerning 
relationship with a woman) 
jansiv, jansib, zansiv n. gum(s) (of 
mouth) 
~ anfle gingivitis 
jansivèt n. teething ring 
jansyàn: 
- vyolèt gentian violet 
jant n. rim (of wheel) 
sou ~ in bad shape financially; to 
have a flat tire 
jante v. to put a rim (on wheel) 
janti n. Gentile; adj. nice, pleasant, 
kind, agreeable, well-mannered 
Janti (Oksid) prop.n. Jeanty 
(Occide) - Haitian composer and 
bandmaster, early 20th century 
jantiman adv. kindly, gently 
jantiyès n. kindness, niceness 
janvye n. January 
ti - wait-a-bit (plant) 
Janvye (Lwi Jozèf) prop.n. Janvier 
(Louis-Joseph) - Haitian scholar 
(1855-1911) 
jany see zanj 
jap n. bark (of a dog) 
jape v. to bark (at), yap; to yell, 
shout; n. barking, yapping; yelling, 
shouting 
japman n. barking, yapping 
Japon prop.n. Japan 
Japonè, Japonnè prop.n./adj., 
Japonèz, Japonnèz f.prop.n. 
Japanese 
japwouv, legetè japwouv n. yes-
man, yes-person, sycophant; adj. 
374 
Jarèd -
rubber-stamp, subservient, servile 
see depite -
Jarèd prop.n. [Book of Mormon] 
Jared 
Jaredit prop.n. [Book of Mormon] 
Jaredite 
jarèt, jare n. calf (of leg); hock; 
support, strength 
bay pote ~ to back up, give 
support to, strengthen 
bout ~ calf (of leg) 
pran ~ to gain strength; to become 
established 
jarete v. to back up, give support to, 
strengthen 
jaretèl, jaretyè, jatyè n. garter 
jasent n. hyacinth (plant) 
jasmen n. jasmine 
- denwi (pronounced: de-nwi) 
night-blooming j asmine 
~ doub Arabian jasmine 
jasp n. jasper 
jatyè see jaretèl 
java, javadoun n. highly malignant 
open sore or wound, skin ulcer 
javiwon see zaviwon 
javlo n. javelin 
Jawe see Yawe 
Jawôm prop.n. [Book of Mormon] 
Jarom 
jayi v. to gush forth, spurt out, burst 
forth 
jayisman n. bursting forth, 
outpouring 
jaz n. jazz 
jaze v. to gossip, chatter, prattle 
jazman n. gossip 
je n. set, series; game(s); deck (of 
cards) 
~ daza game(s) of chance, 
gambling 
jeJye, zye n. eye; eyesight; (letter) g 
ak de boul - pa m with my very 
own eyes 
an ~ at stake 
anba - in sight, within sight 
anndan po ~ inner side of eyelid 
anvan ou bat - ou, anvan de -
bat, anvan ti madanm bat - in 
the blink of an eye 
bande ~ to blindfold 
bat - to blink; to wink; blink; 
wink; in the blink of an eye 
bat ~ fèmen ~ in an instant 
bay - to enlighten, inform 
(mystically); to endow with the 
gift of clairvoyance (Voodoo) 
blan ~ white of the eye, sclera 
boul ~ eyeball 
bounda ~ li corner of one's eye 
bourik ~ boy very stubborn 
person 
chè nan ~ pterygium 
chirijyen ~ ophthalmologist 
de grenn ~ nan tèt li one's life-
blood; livelihood 
de ~ fèmen impartially 
dlo - tear(drop) 
doktè - eye specialist, 
ophthalmologist 
dômi nan ~ (li) to be sleepy 
espesyalis ~ optometrist 
fatig nan ~ eye strain 
fe ~ (li) chèch to accept the 
situation, resign oneself; to act 
innocent; to deny the truth 
fè ~ dou, fè yon ~ dou bay to 
make cow eyes at, bat one's 
eyelashes at, look lovingly at 
fè - fè/pise san to get back at 
(s.o.), make (s.o.) pay 
fè (li) pase nan yon ~ zegwi to 
mistreat, oppress, abuse, give a 
rough time (to) 
375 
je- je 
fè yon ~ wouj sou to be firm with, 
put one's foot down with 
fèmen - sou to ignore 
founi - (gade) to give a look, gaze 
at, watch 
gen bon - to have good eyesight 
gen gwo ~ to be envious; to be 
greedy 
gen ~ chèch/sèch to lie brazenly; 
to have the gall (to do s.thg.) 
gen ~ nan do to have eyes in the 
back of one's head 
gen - sou to covet, have one's 
eyes on 
gen ~ toupatou to be overly 
attracted to the opposite sex; to be 
still keeping one's eyes open (for 
the opposite sex); to be fickle 
gen - wouj to have a quarrel/ 
dispute 
gla(s) ~ cornea 
glè ~ iris 
grenn - pupil (of eye) 
grenn ~ nan tèt li» (de) grenn ~ li 
apple of one's eye, prized 
possession 
gwo ~ bulging eyes; avid, greedy, 
ambitious 
~ antravè cross-eyed 
~ antre deep-set eyes 
- ap febli to have failing eyesight 
- atawèt cross-eyed 
- avè cross-eyed 
- bande blindfolded 
~ baton beating 
- bouche blindfolded; swollen 
eye; black eye 
v~ boukannen, ~ griye eyelids 
without eyelashes, ptilosis 
~ bourik large stupid eyes 
- bouyi see ~ drandran 
~ bouzen shamelessness, audacity 
~ boy one-eyed 
- chandèl bright shining eyes 
~ chat hazel-colored eyes 
- chèch cold-eyed; unscrupulous, 
shameless; daring, bold 
- chire slanted eyes; Chink, Jap 
(pej. for an Asian) 
~ degouden gonbo children's 
game 
- drandran, ~ bouyi, ~ kalanbè, 
~ pichon; cf. azoumounou 
pinkeye, (epidemic hemorrhagic) 
conjunctivitis 
~ dwèt knuckles 
- fann slanted eyes; Chink, Jap 
(pej. for an Asian) 
- fèmen effortlessly; with full 
trust, with complete confidence 
~ fon deep-set eyes 
~ grès droplet of grease (in soup) 
~ griye see ~ boukannen 
~ jouda inquisitive 
~ kaka eye filled with eye-matter; 
var. of very small fish 
~ kalanbè see ~ drandran 
~ kale alert, smart 
~ kase black eye 
~ kat deck of (playing-)cards 
- klè awake; wide awake; 
discerning, sharp; awakening 
~ klere intelligent, smart, clever; 
blind 
~ koken shifty-eyed 
~ koklèt excessive blinking 
~ koud elbow 
~ krab round sore (usu. on sole o 
foot) 
~ krankran (epidemic 
hemorrhagic) conjunctivitis, 
pinkeye 
~ kreve blind person; dough, 
money 
376 
- kristal glass eye, false eye 
- lalin pop-eyed, big-eyed 
- lanvè cross-eyed; lazy eye, 
strabismus 
- lasi eye filled with eye-matter; 
bleary-eyed 
- li fè tè pwa tè mayi to look on 
helplessly; to show anxiety and/or 
distress 
- li kouri dlo his/her eyes water 
- li nan twou/tou to have bags 
under one's eyes 
- li se nan dèyè 1 li ye blinded, 
not able to see the obvious 
- li senyen to envy, covet, lust 
after 
- li tounen to faint; to die 
- li toupatou nosey, snoopy; to 
have a roving eye (for opposite 
sex) 
~ li vire lanvè to die 
~ li wè klè his/her eyes light up 
~ li wè Iwen inquisitive, curious; 
nosey, snoopy 
~ lôlôj nystagmus 
~ louch squinting 
- mare blindfolded 
- mari madmwazèl entèl 
children's game 
~ mouran bedroom eyes 
~ nan ~ face to face 
~ nan tou bags under the eyes 
~ nwè native-born Haitian 
Je olenpik Olympic games 
~ ouvè alert, smart, clever 
~ pete blind; blind person 
~ pete klere imbecile, idiot; 
ridiculous; illiterate 
~ pichon chronic eye disease 
involving lid and lash changes; see 
~ drandran 
~ pichpich beady eyes; swollen or 
je - je 
squinting eye(s) 
~ pou ~ face to face 
~ pye ankle; tarsus 
~ sèch see ~ chèch 
~ soti protruding eyes 
- soulye shoe eyelet (for attaching 
shoelaces) 
~ tawèt see ~ twèt 
~ tenyen excessive blinking 
~ tôtoy squinting 
~ tounen cross-eyed 
~ toupatou curious, inquisitive; 
overly flirtatious or loose woman 
- twenzi, ~ twezi cross-eyed 
~ twèt, ~ twat squinting 
~ twou deep-set eyes 
~ twoub blurred vision 
~ vèt green eyes; light-colored 
eyes; Caucasian (person) 
~ vewon cross-eyed; strabismus 
~ vire giddy, dizzy 
~ wè bouch pe! keep it to 
yourself!, keep it a secret!; to mind 
one's own business 
- wont ~ reluctantly 
~ wont ~ wi somewhat 
embarrassed, somewhat ashamed 
~ wouj pinkeye; black-eye; 
bloodshot; passionate, ardent; evil 
(when applied to a Voodoo spirit) 
~ zegwi eye of needle 
~ zôrèy audio-visual 
kad ~ see kat ~ 
kaka ~ eye matter, sleep 
kalalou ~ optic fluid 
kale ~ (sou) see kale ~ 
kat kad ~ tanager (bird); 
blinders (for horse etc.); ability to 
foresee the future (Voodoo) 
kat ~ no Hispaniolan palm tanagei 
(bird) 
kat - sid gonave palm tanager (bird 
377 
je - jebede 
klou nan ~ sty 
koupe -, koupe (yon moun) nan 
kout - to give (s.o.) a scornful 
look, show disdain 
kout - glance, look; dirty or 
haughty look; snub 
kraze yon ~ dou ak to make cow 
eyes at, bat one's eyelashes at 
lasi ~ sleep, eye matter; eye 
discharge; conjunctival discharge 
lave ~ to wash one's face; to wise 
up, enlighten; to have intercourse 
too soon after delivery 
maladi nan ~ conjunctivitis 
manman ~ pupil (of eye) 
mare ~ to blindfold 
mezire - optometry 
mitan - iris 
mouri pou (twou) - li to die in 
vain 
move ~ shady/suspicious 
character; evildoer, culprit, villain; 
spy; evil eye; tension, mistrust; 
scowl, frown 
nan yon ti bat nan bat - in the 
blink of an eye 
nannan nwa - pupil (of eye) 
pa di (ni) ~ wouj (ni) - ble/vèt to 
say nothing at all 
pa gen r illiterate 
pa gen - li not to have one's 
glasses 
pa gen ~ (pa gen zôrèy) to be 
inarticulate, be incapable of 
expressing oneself 
pa koun - bourik, pa konn ~ 
pete klere (nan fèy patat) to be 
illiterate, be ignorant 
pete ~ to blind, dazzle 
plim pwal - , pwèl ~ eyelash 
po - eyelid 
pôch - eyesocket 
pran ~ to foresee the future 
(Voodoo) 
pwal pwèl - see plim ~ 
san bat - without batting an eye, 
unhesitatingly 
tansyon nan - glaucoma 
tenyen - to wink 
ti - person with small eyes; 
squint-eyed; Chink, Jap (pej. for 
an Asian) 
tou - , twou ~ pupil (of eye); lens 
(of eye); eye 
touye ~ to wink 
touye ~ (li) sou to overlook, turn a 
blind eye to, close one's eyes to (a 
given situation) 
volô - gade to steal a look at 
voye - (gade) to glance, look 
(around), take a good look; to keep 
an eye on, watch, guard 
voye - sou to keep an eye on, 
watch over 
vwal nan - blurred vision 
wè - li to see s.o. in person 
yon - louvri yon ~ fèmen 
vigilant, watchful, wary 
Je prop.n. nickname for Jera 
jè n. series, set; see jèdlo 
jèb n. sheaf; bouquet, spray (of 
flowers) 
Jèbèprop.n. Gerber (baby food) 
jebede, jèbèdè, jebete, jèlbèdè n. 
fool; gibberish, nonsense talk; 
nothing; v. to blunder; to talk 
nonsense/gibberish 
fè - to act like an idiot 
pa konn - nan fey malanga not 
to know a darn thing, be entirely 
ignorant 
pa wè ~ nan/sou not to know the 
first thing about 
pa wè ~ sou papye to be illiterate 
378 
jebichèt see zebichèt 
jèbil n. gerbil 
jebisyè see zebisyè 
jeble n. blue jay (bird) 
jebourik n. ox-eye bean (vine) 
jechalôt see echalôt 
jedaza n. gambling 
jededam n. checkers (game); cf. 
damye 
Jedeyon prop.n. [Bible] Gideon 
jedi n. Thursday 
- Asansyon Ascension Day (40 
days after Easter) 
- sen Maundy Thursday 
(Thursday before Easter) 
jèdlo, jèdo n. mechanical fountain; 
fountain, spray 
Jefesonn (Toma) prop.n. Jefferson 
(Thomas) - third president of the 
USA, 1801-1809 
jefô, jèfô, jenfô, zefô n. effort, 
attempt; aggressiveness 
fè (de) ~ to strive, try hard 
fè - ak to resist 
gen ~ to be aggressive or 
intimidating 
jèfolè see èfôlè 
Jefra (Fab-Nikola) prop.n. Geffrard 
(Fabre-Nicolas) (1806-1878) -
president of Haiti, 1859-1867 
Jefteprop.n. [Bible] Jephthah 
jejay v. to talk nonsense 
jèjè see djèdjè 
jeklè adj. discerning, sharp; n. 
awakening 
rèv ~ illusion 
jekon n. screw tree 
jekwa adj. haughty, arrogant 
jekwazandye n. profession of faith 
pèdi ~ li to be disrespectful; to not 
be smart enough 
jelantèt n. var. of freshwater fish 
jebichèt - jèn 
jelatin n. gelatin; adj. plastic 
jèlbèdè see jebede 
jele n. jelly; v. to congeal; to freeze 
(over/up); adj. frozen; cold 
- petwol petroleum jelly 
Jele (plaj) prop.n. Gelée Beach 
(near Les Cayes, Dept. South) 
Jelefre: 
depi tan - since long long ago 
peyi ~ Africa (name used in some 
Voodoo chants); dwelling place of 
the Voodoo spirits 
jelo n. jello 
jèm, jenm n. germ; bacillus; sprout, 
shoot (of plant); sperm, ejaculate; 
ovum; gem, precious stone; see 
jèmen 
- gason sperm, ejaculate 
- maladi germ 
~ SIDA HIV positive 
- yo dako fertilization 
kouzen sou - second cousin; 
distant cousin 
jèmanikprop.n./adj. Germanic 
jemekwa n. conceited ass 
jèmen, jème v. to germinate, sprout 
jèmen, jèm: 
kouzen - first cousin 
jèmèn: 
kouzin ~ first cousin (f.) 
jemi v. to groan, moan, whimper, 
wail 
jèminasyon n. germination 
jèminatif adj. germinal 
jemisman n. groaning, moaning, 
whimpering, wailing 
jemo n. Gemini (zodiac) 
jèmwa n. seed tray 
Jemz, Djenms prop.n. James; cf. 
Jak 
jen, jwen, jyen n. June 
jèn, jenn n. bother, trouble; fast, 
jèn - jennen 
fasting; faith meeting, revival; 
embarrassment; see jenn 
fè - to fast 
- jan young man 
mete - to rejuvenate 
san - indecent(ly) 
Jèn prop.n. Genoa (Italy) 
jenan adj. bothersome, irritating, 
annoying 
jene v. to fast 
jeneral, jenneral, jennral, jenral 
adj. general; n. general (milit.); 
very self-assured little boy; var. of 
duck 
an ~ generally, in general 
~ dekouvèt, - divizyon, - lame, ~ 
silans officers of certain collective 
work groups 
jeneralis: 
doktè - general (medical) 
practitioner 
jeneralite n. generality 
generalize v. to generalize; to 
become widespread 
jeneralman adv. generally, in 
general 
jenerasyon, jennerasyon n. 
generation; relatives 
jeneratè, jeneratris n. generator 
jeneratif adj. generative (gram.) 
jenere v. to generate; adj. generous 
jenerezman adv. generously 
jenerik adj. generic 
jenès see jennès 
jenetik n. genetics; adj. genetic 
jenetikman adv. genetically 
jenetisyen n. geneticist 
Jenèv prop.n. Geneva (Switzerland) 
jenevriye n. juniper (shrub) 
jenewo pl.n. [Fr.] generals (milit.); 
pladj. [Fr.] general 
jenewozite, jennewozite n. 
generosity 
Jenèz prop.n. [Bible] Genesis 
Jenezarèt prop.n. [Bible] 
Gennesaret 
jènfi see jennfi 
jenfô see jefô 
jeng, lajeng n. jungle 
jenga n. nervous energy; nastiness; 
see zenga 
jeni n. genius; engineering 
jenifleksyon, jounoufleksyon n. 
genuflection 
jenik see ijenik 
jenipaye n. genipap tree 
Jenipaye prop.n. Genipailler (3rd 
communal section of Milot, Dept. 
North; 5th communal section of 
Cornillon, Dept. West) 
jenital adj. genital 
jènjan see jennjan 
jenjanbrèt, janjanbrèt n. 
gingerbread 
jenjanm n. ginger; adj. invigorating 
- mawon Bengal root 
jenjerèl, jenjeral n. ginger ale 
jenm see jèm 
jenn, jèn adj. young; new, 
inexperienced; medium-sized; n. 
shame, embarrassment; gene; see 
jèn 
fè - to act timidly, be shy; to 
pretend to be young 
jennan adj. embarrassing 
jennen v. to bother, annoy, disturb; 
to embarrass; to hinder, hamper, 
get in the way of; to constrict, 
inhibit (movement etc.); to burden 
(oneself); to crowd, grow too 
closely together; to be in a jam; to 
corner; refl. to constrain, restrain 
(oneself); adj. embarrassed, ill at 
ease, awkward; shy, 
380 
jennen - Jeren 
uncomfortable; inhibited; 
cramped, constricted, tight; 
narrow; penniless, broke, in 
financial difficulties; cornered 
- pye to be in the way, be a 
hindrance 
pa - ou make yourself at home; 
don't bother 
jenneral see jeneral 
jennerasyon see jenerasyon 
jennès, jenès n. youth, adolescence; 
(young people's) choral group; 
prostitute 
maladi ~ venereal disease 
jennewozite see jenewozite 
jennfi, jènfl fn. teenage girl; young 
lady 
jennjan, jènjan m.n. young man; 
lad; teen-ager, adolescent; 
playboy, womanizer, player 
fè ~ to put on airs (male) 
- gwo po var. of mango 
pran pôz ~ to act not in keeping 
with one's age (man) 
jennman n. need, want; discomfort; 
stricture 
jennmoun n. young person; teen-
ager, adolescent 
jennonm, jennôm, jenôm, jènôm, 
jenonm n. young man; man 
jennou see jenou 
jennouyè n. knee pad 
jennpa, jinpa, zinpa n. genipap tree 
jennral see jeneral 
jennyal see jenyal 
jenôm, jènôm, jenonm see 
jennonm 
jenosid n. genocide 
jenou, jennou, jinou, jounou n. 
knee 
boulèt - , kakon ~ kneecap, patella 
(de) - tè kneeling 
leve ~ to arise from kneeling 
mete - atè, mete a - , mete - tè to 
kneel 
zo - kneecap, patella 
jenoufleksyon, jinoufleksyon n. 
genuflexion; bow 
jenoutè adj. kneeling 
jenouyè n. knee brace 
jenral see jeneral 
jent, lèjent n. junta 
jentlemenn n. [Eng.] gentleman 
jenyal (pronounced: je-nyal), 
jennyal adj. inspired, brilliant, of 
genius 
jepete n. blind person 
- klere imbecile, idiot 
jepye n. ankle; tarsus 
Jeraprop.n. Gerard; Gérard (7th 
communal section of Grand-
Goâve, Dept. West) 
Jeral prop.n. Gerald 
jeran (lakou) n. caretaker, 
custodian, overseer; janitor, 
custodian; gardener 
jerans n. supervision, management 
jerànyôm n. geranium (plant) 
jere v. to direct, manage, administer 
jeremi n. var. of mango 
Jeremi prop.n. Jeremy, Jérémie -
founded 1756 (administrative 
center of Dept. Grand'Anse); 
Jeremiah [Bible] 
plas - Place Jérémie (square near 
end of rue Capois with fountain, 
basketball courts etc., PaP) 
waf - Jérémie wharf/dock/pier (in 
La Saline area, PaP) 
Jeremyen prop.n., Jeremyèn f 
prop.n. Jeremian 
Jeren, Matonprop.n. Gerin, 
Mathon (communal section of 
Baradères, Dept. Grand'Anse) 
381 
jerends - jewolôg 
jerenôs, jerennos, jerenons, 
jonnons, jonos, jonos n. devil, 
demon 
jeretyen n. savings, reserve, nest 
egg; carry over (in arithmetic); 
auxiliary, addition; (illegal) 
commission, graft, rake-off 
fè - to put aside, save 
jeretyenzen: 
fè - to carry over (in arithmetic); 
to cheat 
Jeriko prop.n. [Bible] Jericho 
Jerizalèm prop.n. Jerusalem 
jès n. gesture, movement; deed, act 
bèl - good deed 
fè - to put on airs (girl, woman); 
to gesticulate 
fè - , pale ak - to sign, use sign 
language (for deaf) 
fè move - to make an obscene 
(hand) gesture 
taye - li to put on airs (girl, 
woman) 
Jesifra prop.n. Joe Blow, no matter 
who 
jeswi n. pretentious person 
- jete - ranmase pretentiousness, 
false intellectualism 
jesyon, jestyon n. management, 
administration 
konsèy - board of directors, 
administrative council 
jesyonnè, jesyonè n. administrator 
jèt see djèt 
jete v. to throw, fling, toss, hurl; to 
discard, throw away, dump, throw 
out, jettison; to overthrow; to bud, 
sprout (banana, plantain); to exude 
(pus etc.); refl. to take off (for), 
leave (for), rush off (to), rush 
away 
~ atè to kill; to do a lot, 
accomplish much 
- dlo to consult a Voodoo priest/ 
priestess, employ supernatural 
means; to sprinkle water on 
ground to welcome guest or 
Voodoo spirit; to bail out (water) 
- dlo sou tèt (yon moun) to calm 
(s.o.) down 
- fatra to litter 
- fèy to lose its leaves (tree) 
- giyon sou to hex 
- ko li nan to rush into 
- ou! beat it! scram! 
- pitit, - timoun to abort, have an 
abortion; abortion 
- twa (de)gout dlo pou to pay 
homage to (Voodoo) 
- vè to pass worms, vomit worms 
- yon dlo to urinate (fam.) 
jètèd, jètèt: 
- pitit abortionist 
jeton n. [Fr.] token (for telephone 
etc.); gambling chip 
Jètrid f.prop.n. Gertrude 
Jetsemane, Jetsemaniprop.n. 
[Bible] Gethsemane 
jevandèzakredi v. to sell on credit 
Jèvèprop.n. town in Dept. 
Artibonite 
jevousali Mari! interj. hail Mary! 
irel) 
jèvrin n. strength 
bay - , gen - , pote - , pran - to 
gain strength, strengthen 
jèvrine v. to gain strength, 
strengthen 
jewof see jiwèf 
jewograf see jeyograf 
jewografi see jeyografi 
jewografik see jeyografik 
Jewèji see Jeyèji 
jewolog, jeyolèg n. geologist 
382 
jewoloji - jigote 
jewoloji, jeyologi n. geology 
Jewomprop.n. Jerome 
jewometri see jeyometri 
jewometrik see jeyometrik 
jewopolitik adj. geopolitical 
Jewova see Jeyova 
jeyan n./adj. giant 
jeyo- prefix geo-
jeyograf, jewograf n. geographer 
jeyografi, jewografi n. geography 
jeyografik, jewografik adj. 
geographical 
Jeyôji, Jewôji prop.n. Georgia 
(USA; Republic of Georgia) 
jeyolôg see jewolôg 
jeyoloji see jewoloji 
jeyometri, jewometri n. geometry 
jeyometrik, jewometrik adj. 
geometrical 
Jeyova, Jewova prop.n. Jehovah 
Jezabèlprop.n. [Bible] Jezebel 
jèze n. jersey (sweater); jersey 
(fabric) 
Jeziprop.n. Jesus; see tijezi 
- Mari Jozèf! Jesus Christ! 
(interj.) 
ti - nan po krab hypocrite; coy 
jezikri n. sandal (usu. leather, 
without heel strap) 
Jezikri(s) prop.n. Jesus Christ 
Jezwit prop, n./adj. Jesuit 
ji n. juice; sap; (iletter) j 
fè rann - to make (s.o.) work 
hard; to exploit 
gen tout - 1 sou li to be full of 
vim and vigor 
- bouyon (san ma) (clear) broth 
pran premye - to deflower, break 
the hymen 
rann ~ to sweat blood, work hard 
jibèn n. cartridge belt, cartridge 
pouch 
jibile n. jubilee, special rejoicing 
Jibile prop.n. Jubilé (disadvantaged 
area of Gonaïves, Dept. 
Artibonite) 
jibis n. opera hat, top hat; game, 
quarry 
rèd kou - in top form, in (great) 
shape, fit 
jibon n. gibbon 
Jibraltaprop.n. Gibraltar 
jibye, zibye n. game, quarry, hunted 
animal; worthless person, bum 
Jidprop.n. [Bible] Jude 
jida n. hypocrite; adj. hypocritical; 
seejouda 
- karesan deceitful, deceptive 
person 
Jida, Jouda prop.n. [Bible] Judah; 
Judas 
- Eskaryôt/Eskayôt/Iskaryôt 
Judas Iscariot 
jidayikprop.adj. Judaic 
jidayis n. hypocrite, traitor 
Jidayis prop.n. Judaism 
jide see ede 
Jide prop.n. [Bible] Judaea 
jidisyè n. judiciary; adj. judicial 
Jiditprop.n. Judith 
jido n. judo 
jidoka n. judoka, judo expert 
jif n. [Fr.] slap; var. of bleach 
jiflay, jiflaj n. [Fr.] slapping 
jifle v. [Fr.] to slap 
jifray see jofray 
jig see zig 
jigo n. hind leg, loin, shank (lamb, 
goat etc.) 
jigote, djigote v. to wriggle, squirm; 
to convulse, have a seizure or fit; 
to try to catch oneself (from 
tripping or falling); to regain one's 
equilibrium 
383 
jigridi - jiridikman 
jigridi see majigridi 
jij n. judge 
- denstriksyon/entriksyon/ 
lenstriksyon examining 
magistrate 
- depè justice of the peace 
- depè mon self-appointed judge 
- detouch line judge (soccer) 
~ natirèl proper or appropriate 
judge 
Jij prop.n. [Bible] Judges 
jije v. to judge 
- sou tapi wouj ak (yon moun) 
to have a showdown/argument 
with (s.o.) 
jijib n. jujube, Chinese date 
jijinen v. to wriggle, squirm, twist 
and turn 
jijiri n. [AT.] sesame; cf. wowoli 
jijirit n. children's game played with 
a flattened bottle top 
jijman n. judgment, ruling, verdict, 
sentence, court decision; trial 
- pa defo judgment by default, 
judgment in (s.o.'s) absence 
Jil prop.n. Jules, Julius 
Jilbè prop.n. Gilbert 
jilbrèt n. worries, hardships 
simen/grennen - to cause 
worries/hardships 
jite, jilè n. vest 
- (pou) pa(re) bal bullet-proof 
vest 
- sovtaj life jacket, life vest, life 
preserver 
jilèt n. razor blade 
jili n. var. of mango 
JiKyis prop.n. Julius 
Jitycn prop.n. Julian 
Jilyèt/ pwp.n. Juliette 
jiman n. mare 
jimèl/n. twin(s) (of same sex); cf. 
marasa 
jimlaj n. twinning (of towns etc.) 
jimle adj. twinned (of towns etc.) 
jimnas n. gymnast 
jimnastik n. gymnastics, 
calisthenics 
jim(nazyom) n. gym(nasium) 
jimo n. twin(s) (of same sex); cf. 
marasa 
fo - fraternal twin(s) 
vre - identical twin(s) 
Jina prop.n. Gina (bottled soft 
drink) 
bwat - condom 
jinekolôg n. gynecologist; 
obstetrician 
jinekoloji n. gynecology 
jinou see jenou 
jinoufleksyon see jenoufleksyoR 
jinpa see jennpa 
jinyô n. [Eng.] junior; junior varsity 
Jinyo prop.n. [Eng.] Junior 
jip n. skirt 
bout - short apron 
mini - miniskirt 
Jipitè prop.n. Jupiter 
jipon (long) n. petticoat, underskirt, 
slip 
bout - , demi - half slip 
gran - bragger, big talker, boaster, 
show-off; influential 
jips n. gypsum; cf. boksit 
Jiraprop.n. the Jura (Mountains -
France) 
Jirado prop.n. Girardo (section of 
Pétion-Ville) 
jiraf n. giraffe 
jire v. to swear, vow (cf. sèmante); 
n. juror; jury 
jiri, jire n. jury 
jiridik adj. judicial 
jiridikman adv. judicially 
384 
jiridiksyon n. jurisdiction, territory 
jiris n. jurist 
jis adj. just, fair, equitable; right, 
correct, apt; righteous; tight, 
narrow; adv. exactly; just, only; 
barely enough; prep./conj. until, 
till; as far as, up to, down to 
- leson moral (of story) 
tonbe - to hit the mark 
jiska, jisk, jiskanlatandan, 
jiskapre, jiskavan, jizka prep. 
until, till; unto 
- se jou [Fr.] up to now 
jiskaprezan, jiskadat, jiskasetè, 
jiskasètè, jiskasitè adv. up to the 
present time, (up) until now 
jiskaske, jiskaseke see jouskaske 
jiske, jouskeprep, until, till, as far 
as 
- la that far; until then 
jiskensi adv. (up) until now, up to 
now 
jiskibo?, jiskot? interr. to what 
point?, how far? 
jiskilè? interr. until when?, how 
long? 
jiskisi(t) adv. until now, up to the 
present, so far 
jiskobou adv. right to the end, to the 
bitter end 
ranpli - filled to bursting 
jiskoboutis n. extremist, hard-liner 
jiskodan see ame 
jiskot? see jiskibo? 
jiskounyeya, jiskounye a adv. (up) 
until now 
jistan, jislè, joustanprep, until 
jistans, joustans n. profoundness, 
depth 
jistekô see jistokô 
jisteman adv. exactly, precisely; 
interj. that's right! 
jiridiksyon - jiyè 
Jisten prop.n. Justin 
jistès n. exactness, accuracy, 
precision 
de - narrowly, by a narrow margin 
jistifikasyon n. justification 
jistifye v. to justify 
Jistinyen (lopital)prop.n. Justinien 
hospital (main hospital of Cape 
Haitian, Dept. North) 
jistis see lajistis 
bay/fè tèt li - to take the law into 
one's own hands 
- popilè vigilante justice 
rann - nan ti gode the wheels of 
justice grind slowly 
vann - nan ti gode to sell justice 
bribe by bribe 
jistis depè n. court of a justice of the 
peace 
jistisye n. justice-giver 
jistokô, jistekô n. very tight-fitting 
clothes; adj. tight-fitting; tight, 
narrow; oppressive, confining 
jitan, djipsi n. Gypsy 
jitim adj. right, just, legitimate; 
interj. right! correct! 
jivenil: 
delenkans - juvenile delinquency 
jivinite: 
retire - to deflower, break the 
hymen 
jiwèt n. marionette, puppet; gesture, 
movement, turn; weathervane 
jiwôf, jewôf n. clove(s) (spice) 
fo - bayberry tree, bay-rum tree 
grenn - , klou -, tèt - (a single) 
clove 
jiwomou see joumou 
jiwon n. [Fr.] lap, bosom (fig.) 
jiwondèl see iwondèl 
jiwoumou see joumou 
jiyè, jiye, jwiyè n. July 
jizka - Jolitwou 
jizka see jiska 
jizye see zizye 
In abbrev. Jan, Jean 
Joab see Jowab 
Joas see Jowas 
job see djôb 
Job prop.n. [Bible] Job 
jèbè see djôbè 
Jodani prop.n. Jordan (country; cf. 
Jouden) 
Jodànyen prop.n./adjJôdànyèn 
f.prop.n. Jordanian 
jôdi a, jodi a, jodi, jôdi, jodijou, 
jodiya, jodya adv. today; 
nowadays, now; adj. present-day 
pa pou jôdi ni denmen not about 
to happen 
se jôdi for a long time; a long time 
ago 
se pa jèdi... this is not the first 
time...; for a long time 
jôf n. look, glimpse, peek 
bay - to show off; to entice, 
allure, attract; to let (s.o.) have a 
peek at 
pran - to copy, imitate 
pran (yon) - to glance; to look 
with envy 
jofe v. to entice, allure, attract 
jôfi n. needlefish 
jofray, jifray n. look, glimpse, peek 
~ jèklè very quick look 
jofre v. to peek at, glance at 
Jôg, Matado prop.n. Jorgue, 
Matador (5th communal section of 
Les Irois, Dept. Grand'Anse) 
jôgin n. jogging 
joj n. small graduated vial 
Jôj, Jôy prop.n. George; George 
(22-23 September 1998 hurricane) 
abitasyon - Habitation Georges -
site of kidnapping of Toussaint 
Louverture by French, June 7, 
1802 (near Gonaïves, Dept. ' 
Artibonite) 
bôs - shoeshine boy/man (Jam.)-
cf. chany 
Joj a see Jôji 
jôje, joje v. to measure; to price, 
determine the price of; adj. 
graduated (scale, tube etc.) 
jojeklib n. shellflower 
Jôji prop.n. (Republic of) Georgia 
Jôji, Jôja, Jôjya prop.n. Georgia 
(USA) 
Jojo m.prop.n. nickname for Jozèf; 
f.prop.n. nickname forMajori 
Jôjtawn prop.n. Georgetown 
(Guyana; Cayman Islands) 
jôk see djôk 
joke «.jockey 
jokè n. joker (cards); joker, cut-up 
(person) 
jôkma n. dimwit, dummy; var. of 
poultry disease 
joko n. imbecile 
- jôkma lout, clunk, cluck; shy 
suitor or lover 
jokris n. sucker; simpleton, fool 
jôlfi n. var. of fish 
joli adj. beautiful (stronger adj. than 
bèl) 
Joli prop.n. Joly (4th communal 
section of Pilate, Dept. North) 
larivyè - Joly river (at Arcahaie, 
Dept. West) 
Jolikè (Oblen) prop.n. Jolicceur 
(Aubelin) - celebrated Haitian 
journalist and art expert, model for 
Petit Pierre in Graham Greene's 
Comedians 
Jolitwou prop.n. Joli-Trou (8th 
communal section of Grande-
Rivière-du-Nord, Dept. North) 
jôljôl - jou 
joljôl n. Antillean palm swift (bird) 
jôlôt adj. sweet, dainty, darling 
jolye n. jailer 
joma: 
fe ~ to show off, strut, put on airs 
jomon, jomou, jômou see joumou 
jômonad n. pumpkin puree 
jon n. cattail, rush, reed; papyrus; 
baton (of drum major etc.) 
gran - cattail (tall marsh plant) 
- ke tail 
- panyôl var. of reed 
- rara metal baton 
jwe - to twirl a baton 
majô - drum major; baton twirler; 
headman, head honcho, big cheese 
jôn, jonn adj. yellow; light-colored; 
yellowed, dingy (linen etc.); 
almost ripe; n./adj. mulatto (<obs.); 
n. var. of yam 
- abriko orange 
~ ze egg yolk 
soup - pumpkin soup 
tèt - blond(e) 
ti - var. of bird 
Jonas prop.n. [Bible] Jonah 
Jonatan prop.n. [Bible] Jonathan 
jôndèf, jônbèf n. var. of fruit 
(lacuma domingensis) 
jongle v. to juggle 
joni v. to become yellow 
jonis, jonis see lajônis 
jonisman n. yellowing 
- môtèl/letal blight affecting 
coconut trees 
jonjôl n. flesh from genital region of 
pig; aphrodisiac (food) 
jonjon n. var. of bird 
Jonkiprop.n. nickname for Jan 
Klod 
jonksyon: 
fè - ak to join together with 
jonn see jon 
jonnis see lajônis 
jonnons, jonos, jônôs see jerenôs 
jonn ose v. to exorcize 
jônze n. marmalade tree; egg yolk 
Joramprop.n. [Bible] Joram, 
Jehoram 
jôritis see janritis 
jou n. day; daylight; opening; 
occasion; hemstitch; cheek [Fr.] 
an aim! (in preparation for 
firing gun) 
bay - to provide an opportunity or 
occasion 
chak de - every other day, every 
two days 
chak - each day, everyday, daily 
chak - Bondye mete every God-
given day 
chak - gen - every single day, day 
by day 
(de) - an - from day to day; 
gradually, steadily 
depi de twa - recently 
devan - early-morning konbit 
(q.v.) 
gran - , gwo - broad daylight 
- ale/pase - vini/tounen the days 
go by 
- an - from day to day 
- fèt, - ferye holiday 
- gra see gra 
- - a on that day 
- kase daybreak 
- klè broad daylight 
- kon nwit day and night 
- nèt broad daylight 
- repo sabbath 
- tann interval days, waiting 
period (between applications of 
insecticide etc.) 
- va - vyen, - ale - vini time 
jou -joukoujou 
goes by; there will come a day, our 
turn (for revenge) will come 
ki~ka~ when will the day come 
kou li - at dawn, at daybreak 
li pral - dawn is about to break 
nan ~ ki te on (the day of) 
nanpwen - never 
plen - broad daylight 
poko - pa li one's day to die has 
not yet arrived 
pou de - short-lived, come and go 
san - likely to; about to; almost; in 
no time 
twa - twa nwit a (fairly) long 
time 
(yon) - swa (one) evening 
joubabye n. gobbler, turkey 
jouda n. gossiper, newsmonger; 
gossip, slander; traitor; adj. 
gossipy; curious, inquisitive; 
meddlesome; see jida 
fè - to gossip, slander, talk behind 
s.o.'s back; to sneak a glance, peep 
at; to be snoopy, be a busybody 
- p6t peephole 
Jouda, Jida prop.n. [Bible] Judah; 
Judas 
- Eskaryot/Eskayot/Iskaryôt 
Judas Iscariot 
joudèl n. Caribbean coot (bird) 
Jouden (larivyè) prop.n. river 
Jordan (cf. Jèdani) 
Joudit prop.n. [Apocrypha] Judith 
joudlan n. New Year's Day 
konmès - ill-fated or short-lived 
venture 
soup - pumpkin soup (rich soup 
composed of meat, tropical 
pumpkin and other vegetables, 
served traditionally on New Year's 
Day) 
ti - new garment worn on New 
Year's Day; one's "Sunday best' 
person who dresses up for no 
particular reason 
wè - anvan Nowèl to be in bad 
shape 
joug n. [Fr.] yoke; cf. jouk 
joujou n. toy; joker, comic, clown 
fe - to act stupidly 
- lakomedi joker, comic, clown 
pase nan - to play around, joke 
around 
jouk n. yoke; roost, perch; post, 
picket, stake; prep./conj. until, till, 
up to, as far as, all the way (to); 
adv. even 
pran - to roost, perch 
joukalèkile, joukamentnan adv. 
(up) until now 
joukaprezan adv. up to now, (up) 
until now 
j oukase n. dawn 
joukaske, joukastè see jouskasètè 
jouke v. to roost, perch; to hang up, 
fasten; to hobble, fetter, tie, 
restrain (animal); to yoke, harness; 
to leave an animal to graze; to be 
tied up (with work etc.); to jostle 
and turn in all directions a casket 
so as to confuse the soul of the 
deceased (to prevent its return to 
haunt the family); to fuck hard; 
adj. embedded 
- bwa to go to sleep (bird) 
- gason to prevent a man from 
straying to other women (Voodoo) 
joukensi, jouskensi adv. up to now, 
(up) until now 
joukjanm n. var. of med. plant 
joukjodiya adv. up until today 
joukjou see joukoujou 
jouklè conj. until 
joukoujou, joukjou n. battery of 
388 
jouktan - Jowanèsbou(g) 
gourd rattles carried on a pole; 
adv. on the very day 
jouktan conj. until, till 
jouman n. abuse, tongue-lashing, 
berating, insult; swearing, cussing; 
abusive language 
bwa - (same as ~); stigma, 
blemish; reproach, taint, stain 
lave ak - to shower with insults 
machann - s.o. who cusses a blue 
streak, foul-mouthed person 
joumou, jiwomou, jiwoumou, 
jomon, jomou, jomou, 
jouwoumon, jouwoumou n. 
pumpkin 
soup soup Lendepandans 
pumpkin soup (rich soup 
composed of meat, tropical 
pumpkin and other vegetables 
served traditionally on New Year's 
Day) 
jounal n. newspaper; magazine; 
journal, diary; log, logbook 
- pèsonèl diary 
jounalis n. journalist, reporter; 
journalism 
- fotograf photo-journalist 
jounalistik adj. journalistic, 
newspaper 
jounalye adj. daily, everyday; n. day 
laborer 
joune see jounen 
jounèlman adv. next time 
jounen, joune n. day, daytime, the 
whole day; work day; day's work 
(usu. early morning until noon or 
early afternoon); outing; picnic; cf. 
lajounen 
fè - an to spend all day (doing 
s.thg.) 
gran - , gwo - (in) broad daylight 
- bare type of konbit (q.v.) 
~ jodi a nowadays; today, this 
very day 
tout lasent - all day long, all the 
live-long day 
vann - to be a day worker, be paid 
by the day 
jounou see jenou 
jounoufleksyon see jenifleksyon 
joupa, ajoupa, kay jaden n. (usu. 
one-room) hut (with thatched roof, 
unplastered lattice-work walls, and 
dirt floor) 
jouranjou, j ou wan j ou adv. from 
day to day 
joure v. to insult, swear at, cuss out; 
to swear, curse; to scold, 
admonish; n. dispute 
- moun to tell people off 
jous prep./conj. until, till; adv. even 
jouskasètè, astè, joukaske, 
joukastè, jouskaprezan, 
jouskounya adv. up to now, (up) 
until now 
jouskaske, jiskaseke, jiskaske, 
joukaske, jouska conj. until, till 
- li pa konn ankô more than flesh 
and blood can bear, unendurable 
jouske see jiske 
jouskensi see joukensi 
jouskilè conj. until when 
jouskodan see ame 
jouskounya see jouskasètè 
joustan see jistan 
joustans see jistans 
jout n. joust, match, battle 
joute see ajoute 
jouwanjou see jouranjou 
jouwoumou, jouwoumon see 
joumou 
jovyal adj. jovial, cheerful 
Jowab, Joab prop.n. [Bible] Joab 
Jowanèsbou(g), Joyanesbèg 
389 
Jowas - jwenn 
prop.n. Johannesburg (South 
Africa) 
Jowas, Joasprop.n. [Bible] Joash, 
Jehoash, Josiah 
Jowèl prop.n. Joel 
Joy see Joj 
Jozafa prop.n. [Bible] Jehoshaphat 
jozèf: 
fëy - var. of plant 
Jozèf prop.n. Joseph 
Jozèf (Jasmen) prop.n. Joseph 
(Jasmin) - Haitian painter and 
sculptor (terra cotta clay 
sculptures at Holy Trinity 
Episcopal Cathedral, PaP), b. 
1923 
Jozyàn, Yàn f.prop.n. Josiane 
Jozyas prop.n. [Bible] Josiah 
Jozye prop.n. [Bible] Joshua 
jral see jal 
jwa n. joy, happiness; player; 
gambler 
jwal see jal 
jwaye adj., jwayèz f.adj. joyous, 
merry, glad 
Jwaye Nwèl! Merry Christmas! 
jwazo see zwazo 
jwe v. to play; to act (on stage); to 
gamble, bet; to wiggle; to joke 
around; to deceive, fool, hoax 
ap - to be kidding 
- ak to gamble with, risk 
- ak kôd sakit to be reckless, act 
foolishly 
~ aza to gamble 
- kat sou tab to deal openly and 
honestly 
- lakomedi to put on an act 
- lang li to use double talk, 
mislead, deceive 
- mal to play it stupidly, not to 
play one's cards right, not to play 
it smart 
- nan bab to be disrespectful 
towards 
- nan tèt (yon moun) to 
influence, prejudice (s.o.) 
- sèk to play without electronic 
amplification {music) 
~ sou to count on, rely on; to bet 
on, wager 
pa ~! no kidding! 
pa vie - de pwent sis not to give 
s.o. a chance (to win) 
jwè jwèz f .n . player; gambler 
- koken crook 
jwen n. crack, split, opening; 
chance, possibility; joint 
(plumbing; carpentry); link, 
linkage; joint, marijuana cigarette 
{fam.); see jen 
bay - to permit, give an 
opportunity to 
pa kite/lese yon - ni mwayen to 
leave no way out 
jwenn v. to find, find out, locate, 
discover; to obtain, receive, get; to 
join, meet with, catch up with; to 
regain (health) 
byen - (ak) byen kontre (to be) 
armed and ready; two beings 
meant for each other 
fè - to get for, bring for, obtain, 
procure; to facilitate 
- ak to come across/upon, dig up, 
come up with (idea, solution); to 
have to answer to, have to deal 
with; to catch up with (s.o.); to 
meet with; to quarrel/fight with 
- ak (yon moun) to tell (s.o.) off, 
give (s.o.) a piece of one's mind 
- ak zo grann li to get into 
trouble, come to no-good end; to 
get what one deserves 
390 
jwenn - jwif 
- boul to come out first, be 
victorious 
- bout, - longé to find an 
explanation for, get to the bottom 
of; to deal with, cope with 
- bout (yon moun) to know how 
to approach or deal (with s.o.), 
know how to get along (with s.o.); 
to call one's bluff; to do (s.o.) in 
- mete sou sa in addition to that 
- pou kôb li to get one's money's 
worth, get what one was asking 
for, suffer the consequences of 
one's actions 
se byen - byen kontre to be 
armed and ready 
vin - mwen come here to me 
jwentay n. assembling, joining 
together; grouting 
~ Leta wheels of State, 
administrative machinery 
jwente v. to grout 
~ ak to join with 
jwenti n. joint (of bones); crack, 
split, chink 
doulè - arthritis 
fè - ak to join together with 
- dwèt knuckle 
~ pye ankle-joint 
jwèt n. toy, plaything; game, 
entertainment; go, turn (in a 
game); sexual pleasure(s); 
gambling; teasing, kidding, joke, 
jest; prank, practical joke 
an - kiddingly, in jest; make-
believe 
an - konsa in this manner, in that 
way, thus; one thing leads to 
another 
fè - to be kidding 
fè - ak yon moun not to take s.o. 
seriously 
fè ti - to have sex 
- aza, - daza gambling 
- boul soccer game 
- chat konnen rat konnen see chat 
~ la gate, - make san, - la 
mangonmen to go sour, turn ugly 
- manje tè making mud pies 
(children's game) 
- mô rèd life and death struggle; 
strict, unbending; merciless, 
unforgiving 
- pa konprann pretending not to 
understand 
- pa ou your turn 
- pasyans puzzle 
- pokè pitiless struggle 
- pou - , - (pa) ou it's your turn/ 
move 
- poul ak mangous cat and 
mouse game 
- timoun child's play, piece of 
cake, easy task 
- zo dice game 
nan - to be kidding; at risk 
non - nickname 
pa nan - not to be kidding, be 
serious; to be strict 
pase nan - to make fun of, 
ridicule 
se pa - it's serious business 
sou - to be kidding 
jwèz see jwè 
jwi v. to enjoy, enjoy oneself; to 
reach orgasm 
jwif n. Jew, Jewish person; effigy; 
scarecrow; miser; mannequin for 
Good Friday (before Easter); 
bigeye (fish); adj. Jewish 
- eran wanderer; bearded 
Carnival figure 
Var. of fish are: - nwè, - pentle, ~ 
woz 
391 
jwisans - jyen 
jwisans, jwistans n. enjoyment, 
pleasure; revelry 
jwisè n. high liver, pleasure-seeker 
jwiyè see jiyè 
jye see je 
jyen see jen 
392 
k -kabann 
K 
k (pronounced: ka) 
k-7 see kasèt 
k sh.form ki 
ka n. (letter) k; quarter, fourth; quart 
(measure, container); problem, 
trouble, jam, fix; case, instance, 
situation, circumstance; death, 
misfortune; lawsuit; railway car; 
var. of drum (same as tenbal, 
q.v.); conj. [Fr.] for; sh.form 
kapab; see kay; motoka 
ala de what problems! 
an - pa ka if by chance, just in 
case, on the off-chance (that) 
byen pran - to welcome 
demi - half (of a rum bottle) 
e - quarter past (hour) 
fè - to pay attention to, give 
importance to, take seriously 
fè - de to make a point of, stress; 
to value, give importance to 
~ dè quarter hour, fifteen minutes 
~ ijan emergency 
~ ~ ~ chattering of teeth, trembling 
of knees etc. 
- machandiz railway freight car 
~ madan Vikto john, toilet 
- pèdi hopeless case, basket case 
- presan, - prese emergency 
- tan, kadetan quarter 
(basketball) 
mwen - quarter to (hour) 
pa fè pèt - to pay little attention 
to 
pa - pa la indispensable person, 
key person 
pa pran ~ to slight; to scorn, 
disdain 
pran - (yon moun) to pay 
393 
attention to (s.o.); to take care of 
(s.o.); stick up for (s.o.), defend 
(s.o.) 
se - it may be, it can be 
se - ... osinon it's either... or 
si an - pa - if by chance, just in 
case, on the off-chance (that) 
kab n. (steel or fiber) cable; 
cable(gram); cable (television); tie, 
bond, security; feint, fake (in 
sports); sudden turn to avoid 
encountering s.o.; sh.form kapab 
- boustè, - djonpè jumper cables 
ès - s-hook 
- fren bicycle brake cable 
- kouran electric cable 
- mileaj odometer 
- vitès bicycle gear-changing 
cable 
kaba v. to finish, finish off, put an 
end to; to use up, consume; adj. 
sold out; n. var. of bird 
- ras destroyer; destructive 
kabal n. uproar, commotion, hubbub 
kabale v. to be noisy or rowdy 
kabalè kabalèz fn. loudmouth, 
rowdy person; adj. noisy, 
boisterous 
kabalistik adj. cabalistic, occult 
kabanen v. to fall down 
kabann n. bed; bird-trap (also 
karabann) 
bato - sleigh bed (var. of 19th-
century carved wooden bed) 
bwa - bed planks 
chofe - to stay in bed (late) 
doulè - morning soreness from 
bad bed 
- an fè, - bwa, - gôl, - manchèt, 
kabann - kabôch 
- pikèt, - planch, - ti poto 
uncomfortable bed/bunk/pallet 
~ bôks box-spring mattress 
~ Choukoun small metal-frame 
bed; former famous night club in 
Pétion-Ville (Dept. West) 
~ (de) etaj bunk bed 
- nouris flower-bed used as 
nursery for young plants 
- senp, - yon plas single bed 
- woulèt gurney, wheeled 
stretcher 
monte ~ to go to bed 
pran - to fall sick; to be sick; to 
be/become bed-ridden 
pye ~ footboard (of bed); stirrups 
(for pelvic exam) 
ranje - to make the bed; to plan 
for the future 
ranje/pare ~ anvan solèy kouche 
to plan for the future, take the 
necessary steps 
tèt - headboard (of bed); key or 
valuable person 
kabannen v. to remain in bed; adj. 
bed-ridden 
kabap see kapab 
kabaras adj. destructive 
kabare n. tray; serving platter; 
night club 
Kabare prop.n. Cabaret (1st 
communal section of Jean-Rabel, 
Dept. North-West) 
larivyè ~ Cabaret river (west of 
Port-de-Paix, Dept. North-West) 
Kabare, Kabarè, Divalyevil prop.n. 
Cabaret (town formerly named 
Duvalier-Ville, Dept. West) 
Kabareten, Kabaretyen prop.n 
Kabaretèn, Kabaretyèn f.prop.n. 
inhabitant of Cabaret (Dept. West) 
Kabaril, Sevin prop.n. Cabaryl 
(commercial insecticide) 
kabasik see kalbasi 
kabès n. head; intelligence; 
imagination; skill 
de - double win (lottery number 
which has won twice; dominoes); 
jackpot 
fè de - to hit the jackpot; to lose 
out; to break up, dissolve 
kabestan n. windlass, capstan 
kabèste, kabeste v. to break in, train 
(horse); to correct a horse; to 
discipline; to slap, hit (on head) 
kabi n. carbon powder used in 
welding torches 
kabich n. large loaf of bread/cassava 
kabicha n. nap, snooze; v. to nap, 
take a nap, doze, snooze; to use 
cunning, use trickery 
fè yon - to take a nap 
kabin n. cabin, berth, small room; 
booth; cockpit (airplane); helm 
(boat) 
- telefon, - piblik, - telefonik 
public telephone booth 
kabine, kabinè n. stool, excrement; 
toilet; v. to have a bowel 
movement 
kabinè n. office (of lawyer, surveyor 
etc.); cabinet (group of 
government ministers) 
- (d)enstriksyon office of the 
district attorney 
kabinèt n. cabinet, closet; small 
room; cupboard 
~ twalèt bathroom 
kabiran n. fuel 
kabiratè n. carburetor 
kable v. to cable 
kabo n. tadpole 
kabôch (tèt), kabôs (tèt) n. head, 
noggin, noodle, bean (fam.) 
394 
kabodja kô - kabrit 
kabodja ko v. to dance excitedly 
kabon n. carbon; axle-grease 
- monoksid carbon monoxide 
papye - carbon (paper) 
kabonat n. carbonate 
kabonik adj. carbonic 
kabonize v. to carbonize, reduce to 
ashes 
kabos n. bump, bruise; pod, bean; 
see kabôch 
kabose see kolboso 
kabotaj, gabotaj, gabotay, 
kabotay n. coastal trade, coastal 
navigation; coastal vessel 
kabotè, gabotè n. coastal vessel 
Kaboul prop.n. Kabul (Afghanistan) 
kabouya, gabouya, gabouyi, 
kaboulaw, kaboulay, kabouyay 
n. brawl, row, dispute; uproar, 
commotion, hubbub 
leve pete ~ to raise a storm, 
start an uproar 
kabouye v. to confuse, mess up; to 
turn into a shambles; to brawl, 
dispute 
kaboyidrat n. carbohydrate 
kabral adj. brave, courageous; n. 
courageous person 
Kabral prop.n. Cabrai (1st 
communal section of Thomonde, 
Dept. Center) 
kabray n. feint, fake (sports) 
kabre v. to dodge, avoid; to rear up, 
tilt up; to fake, feint (sports) 
~ sou dèyè to rear up (horse etc.) 
Kabre prop.n. Cabré (4th communal 
section of Petit-Goâve, Dept. 
West) 
kabrèt see kabwèt 
kabrètman see kabwètman 
kabrètmann see kabwetye 
kabrina see kaprina 
kabrit n. goat; filefish, triggerfish; 
s.o. who drinks very little water 
belye ~ especially large male goat 
bouk ~ billy goat 
bwa ~ var. of tree 
chèf % mèt ~ goatherder 
de ~ Tomazo/Tonmazo (menm 
plim menm plimay) birds of a 
feather, alike 
femèl ~ female goat who has not 
yet produced kids; cf. manman ~ 
- antre nan jaden to be the first 
concerned; to be the butt of a joke; 
to have the fly/front of one's 
trousers open; to have one's 
trousers ride up one's rear end 
~ chèv long-haired goat 
~ de pye, ~ san kôn (euphemism 
for) human sacrificial victim 
~ la pa kaka de grenn ankô not 
to be able to produce anything 
anymore 
~ ras youn, ~ ras de, ~ ras twa 
goat which usu. produces only 
one/two/three kids 
~ san kôn human sacrificial 
victim 
- Tomazo/Tonmazo birds of a 
feather, alike; Voodoo 
"backslider" (term applied by 
Voodooists to s.o. who has turned 
to using Voodoo for purposes of 
evil); member of a group of 
evildoers 
mal ~ billy goat 
manman ~ nanny goat (who has 
produced kids) 
manman renn ~ lead goat (m. 
or f.) in a goat herd 
ras ~ family where incest is 
practiced; inbred 
ti - kid, young goat 
395 
kabwa - kachte 
zafè ~ pa zafë mouton it's none 
of my business, it's not my 
problem 
kabwa see kabwèt 
kabwatye see kabwetye 
kabwèt, chawa, kabrèt, kabwa n. 
oxcart; carriage; (child's) wagon 
or cart; wagon (for selling drinks, 
ice cream); (movable) stand 
mennen ~ to rule the roost, 
dominate 
(nan) dèyè - at the tail end of 
things, bad off 
ke ~ la tail end, butt end 
kabwètman, kabrètman n. cartage, 
transporting 
kabwetye, kabrètmann, kabwatye, 
kabwètmann n. wagon-maker; 
itinerant soft-drink or ice-cream 
seller 
kabye see krabye 
kach n. cash; foreskin, prepuce; adj. 
steady; adv. sure, surely, assuredly, 
exactly; see kachkach 
bagay ~ sure thing, cinch 
~ nen dust mask 
~ san manke senk every last cent 
koupe wete ~ to circumcise 
sa se ~ that's for sure 
tounen ~ to turn into cash, be a 
source of income 
kachaboumbe see katchaboumbe 
kache v. to hide, hide out; to cover, 
conceal; adj. undercover (agent 
etc.); hidden, secret; n. hiding; 
tablet (of aspirin) 
~ anba pay to suppress 
information 
pa - mo nan bouch li not to be 
short on words, be long-winded 
kacheman see kachiman 
kachepeche, kachepete n. coat to 
hide shabby clothes; cover, mast 
subterfuge 
kachèt n. hiding-place 
an - in hiding; in secret, secretly 
kachibo see kachimbo 
kachiman, kacheman n. custard-
apple; var. of mango 
dlo grenn - var. strong home-
made insecticide 
~ granbwa wild soursop, 
blackbark, black mahoe 
- kanèl sweetsop, sugar-apple fete 
- kèbèf, - tyèbèk custard apple 
tree, bullock-heart tree 
~ lachin cherimoya 
~ mawon waterwood tree 
Other varieties of custard-apple: ~ 
bouton, ~ panni 
kachimbo, bwa katim, kachibo, 
kachim, kachimo, katchim, 
katchimbo n. clay (smoking) pipe 
kachkach, kachkou n. hiding place, 
secret place; trap door; hide-and-
seek; hidden agenda 
- liben (sere liben), ~ kikola, -
liben san sere kras, ~ li byen, ~ 
manba sere liben hide-and-seek 
in the water; hide-and-seek (with 
an object); beating around the 
bush, delaying tactics; 
underhanded dealings, deceit, 
trickery 
kachmi n./adj. cashmere 
Kachmiprop.n. Kashmir 
kacho n. cell, dungeon; prison 
kachôp see katchôp 
kachotri n. secrecy, mystery; 
secretiveness, furtiveness 
kachoumbonmbe see 
katchaboumbe 
kachte v. to seal, close; to draw 
back, withdraw, retire 
396 
kad - kadran 
lead n. frame (bicycle, kite, 
machinery etc.); stand; cot; 
gurney; lawn chair; trained 
personnel, management (staff); 
class, rank; sphere, scope, range, 
framework 
- chinwa Chinese chard (var. of 
beet) 
- mwayen trained person 
- pike/pitche uncomfortable bed/ 
bunk/pallet 
rete nan ~ ou! behave yourself! 
kadach n. small cactus; (land) deed 
kadafan. witches' conclave 
kadans, lakadans n. rhythm, 
cadence, beat; game, situation 
~ ranpa var. of dance music of 
1960's 
kadansay n. moving in rhythm; 
shaking, moving 
kadanse v. to move in rhythm; to 
shake, move 
- desann to recede, sink, topple 
(hillside, mountainside) 
kadarik n. packet, sachet 
kadas n. cadaster, survey (of 
landholdings); birth certificate (N.) 
kadase, kakaye, kakeye, kodase, 
kôdase, kodasye v. to cackle, 
cluck (bird or person); to prattle; 
n. cackle, cackling, cluck 
kadastre v. to survey and register 
(land) 
kadav n. corpse, cadaver, dead 
body; one's body, one's self 
kite kote - la ye a pou vin kriye 
kote sèkèy la not to take care of 
the matter at hand, do everything 
except what one is supposed to do 
ko - visible physical body (in 
contrast to gwo bonnanj and ti 
bonnanj, q.v; - Voodoo) 
sou ~ mwen pou 1 pase over my 
dead body 
kadè n. moment; quarter of an hour; 
short period of time; second child 
born in family; cadet (milit.) 
e ~ a? how are you doing lately? 
yon ti - (in) just a moment 
kadejakft. rape; violence 
fè ~ sou to rape; to violate 
kadejakè n. rapist 
kaderik n. (N.) cooking pot; cf 
bonm 
tèt ~ domineering husband 
kadèt n. cadet 
kadetan, ka tan n. quarter 
(basketball) 
kadigan n. cardigan 
kadik adj. [Fr.] null and void 
kadin adj. multi-colored 
kadinal n. cardinal (ecc.); cardinal 
(bird); squirrelfish; adj. cardinal 
(number) 
kadino n. squirrelfish 
~ bwa bwa reef squirrelfish 
(nan) kat pwen ~ (in the) four 
cardinal points; in all directions 
Kadiyakprop.n. Cadillac (luxury 
automobile) 
kadjak see kadyak 
kadmyom n. cadmium 
kadna n. padlock 
~ sekrè combination lock 
kadnase v. to padlock 
- bouch (yon moun) to impose 
silence (on s.o.) 
kado n. gift, present; tip, gratuity; 
white spot in fingernail 
fè ~ to give away 
Kadonezyen, Kadonezyèn see 
Chadônezyen, Chadônezyèn 
kadran n. dial, face; quadrant 
(math.); tiny Roman monetary unit 
397 
kadre - kafe 
equivalent to one-tenth of a denier 
[Bible] 
~ solèy sundial 
kadre v. to match, measure up to; to 
sit with dignity, sit (up) straight; 
adj. well-off (financially) 
~ ak to be consistent with 
kadreman see ankadreman 
kadri n. quadrille (dance) 
kadril n. var. of mango 
kadriy n. quadrille (dance) 
kadriyaj, kadriyay n. grid 
kadriye v. to draw a grid; to cover, 
control (milit.); see papye ~ 
kadyak, kadjak adj. cardiac, heart 
kadyogram n. electrocardiogram 
kadyolèg n. cardiologist 
kadyoloji n. cardiology 
kadyovaskilè adj. [Fr.] 
cardiovascular 
kafe n. coffee; brothel, whorehouse; 
cafe, bar; light breakfast; years (of 
age) (sh. form rekôt ~) 
bwè (yon tas) - anmè ak (yon 
moun) to get into a fight with 
(s.o.); to give a hard time to (s.o.), 
make (s.o.) suffer 
dlo ~ weak coffee 
fè ~ to brew coffee 
grenn ~ coffee bean 
gwo ~ strong coffee 
~ a pa balanse sou balans an not 
to get along together (persons) 
~ ak sèl see ~ sale 
~ an pay coffee berry 
- (an) poud, poud - ground 
coffee; instant coffee 
- chwa, - tchoka fresh coffee 
bean that is ground before being 
dried 
~fô,~ki gem fôs, - nwa, - pwès 
strong coffee 
{ 
~ jon allophylus tree 
~ karakoli superior type ofcofe 
bean 
- klè, - dou(s), - enpe enpe, -
fèb, - lejè, - likid, - mens, - p* 
fo, ~ pa plen, ~ pal weak coffee 
~ kok coffee dried and kept in its 
original pulp 
- lanmo coffee used to moisten 
headband (supposedly to avoid 
fainting at funerals, cf. ~ sale) 
- lave specially prepared Haitian 
export coffee; same as ~ pach 
~ li koule ak ma (nan grèg man 
Tata) (s)he is in trouble 
~ mawon (granbwa) strongbark 
tree, roble tree, pigeonwoodtree 
~ natirèl traditional or average 
Haitian coffee 
~ nèg, ~ plant stinkweed 
~ nwa black coffee, strong coffee 
~ olè coffee with milk or cream 
~ pach coffee removed from its 
pulp 
- pay, ~ fad, ~ fay, ~ pa f6, - pt 
pwès, - palpal, ~ two lejè very 
weak coffee 
~ plant see ~ nèg 
~ pwès strong coffee 
- rat coffee beans fallen on the 
ground; badly paid or menial job 
- sale, ~ ak sèl salted coffee 
(supposedly to avoid fainting at 
funerals, cf. ~ lanmô) 
~ seriz coffee bean 
~ tchoka see ~ chwa 
- triyay, tèt - broken coffee bean 
(after grinding) 
kite - koule ak ma to throw out 
the baby with the bath water 
koule ~ to brew coffee 
ma - coffee grounds 
398 
kafe - kajole 
pay ~ very weak coffee 
peze ~ yo nan menm balans, 
peze - li ak to hit it off well with, 
get along well (together); to be 
birds of a feather, be two peas in a 
pod, be alike 
poud - little bit of money 
poud ~ an poud ground coffee; 
instant coffee 
rekôt ~ years (of age) 
tèt - see ~ triyay 
ti ~ allophylus tree 
Other var. of coffee: arabika 
(katayi, katira, ti - mawon, 
tipika), kanefora, wobista 
Kafenolprop.n. brand of aspirin 
kafeterya n. cafeteria; well-known 
police station on Boulevard Jean-
Jacques Dessalines (PaP) 
kafetyè, kafetchè, kafityè, kaftyè 
n. coffee pot; coffee-maker; 
percolator 
kafeyè adj. coffee-producing 
kafeyin n. caffeine 
kafityè see kafetyè 
kafou, kalfou n. crossroads, 
junction, intersection (sacred to 
Voodoo spirits); street corner 
~ kat (chemen) quandary, 
dilemma 
~ tengendeng place or crossroads 
where magic reigns 
~ tenten ridiculousness 
move ~ bad situation 
nan ~ sèt chemen in a quandary, 
in a dilemma 
Kafou, Kalfou prop.n. Carrefour 
(disadvantaged community 
immediately west of PaP); see 
Legba 
Kafouchada prop.n. Carrefour-
Chada (immediately north-east of 
PaP, Dept. West) 
Kafouchal, Jaken prop.n. 
Carrefour-Charles, Jacquin (1st 
communal section of Roseaux, 
Dept. Grand'Anse) 
Kafoufèy prop.n. Carrefour-Feuilles 
(middle-class area of PaP) 
Kafoukanon prop.n. Carrefour-
Canon (3rd communal section of 
Chantai, Dept. South) 
kafoungi n. dish made of spicy 
cornmeal etc. 
Kafouwa, Kafouryen prop.n., 
Kafouwaz, Kafouryèn f.prop.n. 
inhabitant of Carrefour (Dept. 
West) 
kafouyay, kafouyaj n. confusion, 
pandemonium 
kaftyè see kafetyè 
kage v. to lean back, recline (one's 
chair); to be sitting, be stationed; 
to haul in (sails); n. swig (usu. of 
alcohol) 
kagezon n. cargo, shipload 
kago n. cargo; snail 
kago, kagochip n. cargo ship 
kagou adj. sad, down, depressed, 
dejected, ailing 
maladi li ~ var. of poultry disease 
kagoul n. hood, cowl 
kagoula n. cagoulards ("hooded 
ones") - terrorist group employed 
by François Duvalier, 
predecessors of the Volontaires de 
la Sécurité Nationale (Tonton 
Makout) 
kagoule adj. covered with a hood or 
cowl 
kahink kahank n. tuberculosis 
kaj n. large cage (for lions, tigers etc.) 
kajolay n. cajoling, wheedling 
kajole v. to coax, cajole, wheedle 
399 
kajolè - kaka 
kajolè 72. seducer 
kajou, akajou n. mahogany 
~ Venezyela Venezuelan 
mahogany, Honduras mahogany 
nwa ~ cashew nut 
ponm ~ cashew apple 
siye ~ to take charge 
siye ~ ak to have dealings with 
Kajouboule Ie? Akajoubrile I e 
prop.n. Acajou-Brûlé I e r (1st 
communal section of Cerca-la-
Source, Dept. Center) 
Kajouboule 2e> Akajoubrile 2 e 
prop.n. Acajou-Brûlé 2 e (2nd 
communal section of Cerca-la-
Source, Dept. Center) 
kaka, kiki n. shit, dung, manure; 
droppings (bird etc.); v. to shit, 
crap; to shit up, mess up 
bay ~ poul pou bè, bay ~ poul 
blanch pou ze to deceive 
di - te gen zo (pise te gen mwèl) 
to say no matter what, tell tall tales 
enjenyè ~ person who cleans 
privies or outhouses (cf. bayakou) 
estrè ~ piece of shit (person) 
fè yon ~ to do s.thg. dumb 
fè (yon moun) - to disappoint 
(s.o.); to deceive (s.o.) 
fè (yon moun) ~ dife to give (s.o.) 
a hard time, make (s.o.) suffer 
gen - to need to take a dump 
gen - nan tèt empty-headed, shit-
for-brains 
~ aran worthless, insignificant 
~ bè tough shit, tough luck, out of 
luck 
~ bèf var. of cookie 
~ bèf (anwo 1 chèch anba 1 
mouye) changeable, capricious, 
not to be trusted 
- biznaw trifle, nonsense, 
triviality 
- chat secret doings, hidden 
undercurrents; stupidity, silliness 
~ dan tartar 
~ dlo silt, mud, slime 
- dyab asafetida; var. of mango; 
very black-skinned and very ugly 
- garyon tobacco scraps; trifle, 
triviality 
~ jako yellowish green 
~ je sleep, eye matter; eye 
discharge; conjunctival discharge 
~ kabrit bit by bit 
~ kalbas pulp of a calabash or 
gourd; shit-for-brains, empty-
headed 
~ kleren drunk, lush 
~ kôk coconut fritter 
~ lach to shit in one's pants, be 
extremely frightened; to shit 
around, act like an idiot 
~ lasi wax residue (from candle) 
~ li fè branch to be scared shitless 
~ li moute to get damn mad 
~ nan nat shit, turd, worthless 
person 
- nen booger, (dried) snot 
~ pit waste from sisal production 
~ poul var. of mango; see 
kakapoul 
~ rat trifle, triviality; small sugar 
grains used to adorn cake; tough 
shit! (that's really nothing!) 
- rat dèyè bwèt! something 
stinks! something is fishy/ 
suspicious!; bullshit! nonsense! 
~ san savon child of unknown 
father; child not recognized by 
father 
- tabak not to get a damn thing, 
come out empty-handed 
- ti grenn to be shit out of luck, 
400 
kaka - kaktè 
not to have a hope 
- zorèy earwax, cerumen; wax 
build-up (in ear) 
maladi - blanch, maladi - jon, 
maladi - jôn vèt, maladi - san, 
maladi ~ vèt various var. of 
poultry disease 
mete - chat deyô to reveal a 
secret, go public with 
nou ~ we're in deep shit 
pa ~ ankô cock-a-doodle-do 
(crowing of rooster) 
pa ~ poul dèyè bwèt no small 
affair, a big deal 
pase nan - to make fun of, give 
(s.o.) shit 
pran ~ je pou linèt, pran ~ poul 
pou ze/bè to be fooled 
pran yon ~ san savon to become 
pregnant without being married to 
or living with the father 
se ~ m I'm in deep shit! I 'm 
really in a bad way! 
se pa ~ kok, papa! this one's a 
real bitch, man! (it's not easy!) 
kakade v. to bullshit; to fart around, 
shit around 
kakadè see kakatwè 
kakafoni see kakofoni 
kakakaka onomat. sound of 
trembling 
kakalanga n. rooster 
kakan n. triangle put around neck of 
goats or pigs (to prevent passing 
through fences etc.) 
gran ~ large domestic animal (ox, 
horse, donkey, mule); big shot, VIP 
kakapoul n. periwinkle, myrtle 
(herb); var. of mango 
kakarat see katarak 
kakarèl n. liquid excrement; diarrhea 
kakas n. carcass; frame, skeleton; 
frame of a kite; stripped remains 
of car or truck 
Kakas prop.n. Carcasse (7th 
communal section of Les Irois, 
Dept. Grand'Anse) 
kakatafya n. boozer, sot, drunkard 
kakatri n. nonsense; foolishness, 
silliness, stupidity 
kakatwè, kakadè n. person who 
defecates on himself; person of 
very little importance; filthy brat; 
cockatoo (bird) 
kakawèt n. [Fr.] peanut; cf. pistach 
kakawo n. cocoa; adj. very stingy, 
miserly 
~ bobo wild cocoa 
kakaye, kakeye see kadase 
kaki n./adj. khaki 
kakinen see takinen 
kakis v. to face serious problems 
kakit v. to lose out, be defeated 
(fam.) 
kako n. small stinging insect (usu. 
found in latrines etc.); sly and 
cunning man;prop.n. Caco, 
former guerilla fighters (northern 
Haiti); see karako 
~ gri Spanish grunt (fish) 
~ sal var. of mango 
kakofè fin. woman both Voodoo 
priestess and midwife 
kakofoni, kakafoni n. discordant 
sounds, cacophony 
Kakok, Kankôk prop.n. small 
island near Cayes 
kakèn, kakonn n. var. of med. vine; 
var. of mango 
~ jenou kneecap, patella 
~ m a won, ~ pwazon, ~ zonbi var. 
of vine 
~ pye, zo ~ ankle; tarsus 
kaktè see karaktè 
401 
kaktis - kalbas 
kaktis n. cactus 
kal n. bit, piece; covering (bark, 
skin, shell); whipping, beating, 
thrashing, spanking; defeat; break, 
relief (from illness); bilge, hold 
(of ship); slipway (for boats or 
ships); dandruff; scab, scale; scale 
(fish, snake); callus, bunion; 
wedge; crust (of pie etc.); flake, 
chip (of paint); cochineal (insect); 
armored scale (insect); adj. calm, 
quiet, peaceful; contr. ki + ale 
fè ~ to be flaking (paint); to 
be(come) scaly (skin) 
~ bwa bark (of tree); wood 
shavings 
~ nen booger, (dried) snot 
~ nwa angelica (herb); velvet seed 
(shrub) 
~ ze eggshell 
ti - small bit, small piece; small 
crumb 
ti ~ (pa) ti ~ bit by bit 
Kal prop.n. Carl, Karl 
kalabiyen n. var. of dance 
kalabès n. sickle, pruning knife 
kalabous n. dungeon, cell; cacao 
bean 
kalabouse v. to toss into, push into; 
to put away, imprison 
kaladya, kaladja a party, spree, 
frolic 
~ (kè M) to party, carouse 
kakj, kalay n. tile flooring, brick 
pavement; grotto, cave 
kalalawop: 
danse - to dance and jump while 
turning in a circle 
kalakm n. okra; adj. slippery 
an - weak, puny 
fou re dwèt nan - to become 
active, get involved 
glise kou - to be slippery as ice 
~ gonbo okra 
- ' j e optic fluid; eye 
- pran nan vyann things are 
beginning, things are getting 
started 
kalamin n. calamine 
kalamite n. calamity, catastrophe 
pase - to suffer 
kalanba! interj. wow! gosh! 
kalanbè n. smegma; idiot 
kalanbouk n. hollowed-out calabash 
used as peasant lunchbasket 
kalanderik, kalandrik n. mythical 
bird 
fre kou ze ~ fresh as a daisy 
kalandriye n. calendar 
kalanmdekalanm n. masturbation 
kalanmplanm adv. in an orderly 
fashion; swiftly, rapidly, fast; paid 
in full (money) 
kalap (ti) n. (onomat.) flip-flops 
(sandals) 
kalapata n. var. of malanga fritter 
(similar to akra, q.v.) 
kalaw(o)! interj. heck! darn! 
kalay see kalaj 
kalayib see karayib 
kalbas n. calabash, gourd; calabash 
tree, gourd tree; ritual Voodoo 
dance 
~ dous var. of calabash 
~ gran djôl/bouch big talker, big 
mouth; out-spoken, plain-spoken, 
blunt 
~ kouran dishcloth gourd (plant) 
~ mawon, ~ zonbi wild calabash, 
black calabash 
~ pete to break water (in 
childbirth) 
~ tèt head, noggin, noodle, bean 
( fam . ) 
402 
kalbas - kaledou 
nan bon ti - in a neat little 
package 
pale nan - to talk in riddles 
tchok ~ shit-for-brains 
ti - hydrocele 
voye al pran ti ~ to do s.o. in, 
beat s.o.'s brains out 
kalbasi, kabasik, kalbasik n. sweet 
cup (passionflower); var. of small 
edible calabash; (spinning-) top 
made of calabash (toy) 
kalbenday, kalbendaj n. idleness, 
loafing; leisure; lethargy, sloth; 
enticement 
kalbende, kalblende v. to loaf, 
linger, do nothing, waste time; to 
entice, allure; to wither (hopes, 
aspirations); to retract, withdraw 
(statement) 
kalbendè n. crook, cheat, swindler 
kalbose see kolboso 
kalboso see kolboso 
kalbwa n. bark (of tree); wood 
shavings 
Kaldeprop.n. [Apocrypha] Chaldea 
kale v. to beat, beat up; to beat, 
defeat; to abuse; to peel, shell, 
hull; to bare, expose; to skin, 
scrape; to shuck, husk (corn); to 
hatch; to shell out, fork over 
(money); to make or produce 
abundantly; to breed, reproduce; 
to stall, stop, conk out; to roll back 
downhill; to floor or pave with 
tiles or bricks; adj. intelligent, 
good at; stripped bare (hills etc.) 
~ (bannann, kokoye ets.) pou po 
to work for nothing 
~ bounda/bouda stupidity, 
silliness; to joke, kid around 
- dekale to jerk off, masturbate 
~ dèyè do to speak ill of, criticize 
~ gran li tou gran to be very old 
~ janm to be dressed sexily 
~ je to keep one's eyes peeled, 
keep a sharp look-out; to be on the 
alert, be aware; to stare, glare, 
look (at s.o.) defiantly or 
insistently; to turn eyelids inside 
out (children playing) 
~ ko sexy woman; show-off, 
exhibitionist; skimpy revealing 
clothing; seductive 
~ ko li to show off; to act sexily, 
be seductive 
~ ko li sou to be disrespectful 
toward, be rude or impertinent 
toward 
~ kok/kokoye pou po to do s.thg. 
totally without benefit to oneself, 
be stupid 
~ li lajan li to give s.o. his/her 
money 
~ pistach voye nan bouch to do 
easily, do with no effort 
~ pitit (kou rat) to have kids left 
and right, breed like flies 
~ pwôp to beat soundly, trounce, 
get the best of (in a game) 
~ santi to sit and do nothing 
~ sou to spread, multiply 
~ tèt (yon moun) to shave s.o.'s 
head; to pillage, plunder; to 
exploit, abuse (s.o.), take 
advantage of (s.o.) 
lajan ap ~ m my money is getting 
me into trouble 
lajan 1 ap - 1 to be right and yet to 
lose 
kalè tèt n. exploiter 
Kalèbprop.n. [Bible] Caleb; 
Calebite 
kalechot n. soccer shorts 
kaledou v. to admit defeat, say "uncle" 
403 
kalekô - kalkilasyon 
kalekbf.n. sexy woman; f.adj. 
seductive 
kalen n. former monetary unit worth 
one-fourth of a piaster 
kalenda, kalennda see kalinda 
kalepliche v. to roll back, push back 
kalewès v. to loaf, be lazy, goof off; 
to drag out, prolong; n. loafer 
fè - to loaf around, be lazy 
kalfetre refl. to shut oneself up 
kalfou see kafou 
Kalfou see Kafou 
kalib n. caliber, size, capacity; 
importance 
gran ~ first-rate 
gwo ~ high caliber (gun); big shot 
(person) 
11 ~ it works O.K. 
kalida see kalinda 
kalifikasyon n. qualification; name, 
title 
kalifikatif n. qualities, talents, 
capabilities; qualifier (gram) 
KaMfôni prop.n. California (USA) 
kalifènyen prop.n./adj. Californian 
kalifye v. to qualify; to label, 
describe; adj. qualified, 
competent, reliable 
~ (de/kom) to describe as, call, 
label 
Kaligilaprop.n. Caligula (Roman 
emperor) 
kaligraf n. calligrapher, person 
skilled in penmanship 
kaligrafi n. calligraphy 
kaligrafye v. to write with fine 
handwriting 
Kalikit obs.prop.n. Haitian of 
Lebanese or Syrian origin (region 
of Jérémie esp.) 
kaliko n. calico (fabric); 
irresponsible person; happy-go-
lucky; adj. very flexible; foggy 
~ sal dirty affair 
kalimanyôl n. old-fashioned dance 
kalimèt n. straw (for drinking - cf. 
chalimo); pipe (for smoking); 
cigarette holder; cigar holder; pipe 
stem 
Kalimèt prop.n. Calumette (3rd 
communal section of Belle-Anse, 
Dept. South-East) 
kalinda, kalenda, kalennda, kalida 
n. nocturnal dances before 
Revolution (probably serving to 
conceal outlawed Voodoo 
ceremonies); candidate 
bay bat fè ~ to make merry, 
play, frolic 
lè chat pa la rat bay ~ when the 
cat's away the mice will play 
kalipè fren n. brake caliper 
kalipso n. calypso (var. of dance) 
kaliptis see ekaliptis 
kalis n. chalice 
an chat ~ stealthily, sneakily, 
furtively 
kalitatif adj. qualitative 
kalite, kalte n. kind, sort, type, 
class, variety; quality, attribute; 
quantity; var. of mango 
kalkè n. limestone; plaque (on 
tooth); adj. chalky, calcareous 
kalkil n. arithmetic, math; 
computation, calculation; 
reflection, thought, deliberation; 
worries, problems 
- entegral calculus 
pase moso ~ to unwind, relieve 
tension, soothe one's nerves 
pouse - to reflect, meditate 
kalkilasyon n. calculation, 
reckoning, plan; worries, thoughts, 
reflections 
404 
kalkilatè - Kamagwèy 
kalkilatè, kalkilatris n. calculator, 
adding machine 
kalklle, katchoule, katyoule v. {occ. 
refî.) to think (over), reflect, 
consider; to calculate, compute, 
figure out; to estimate; to be 
obsessed 
Kalkitaprop.n. Calcutta (India) 
kalm n./adj. calm; n. respite, let-up 
kalma v. to calm (down), ease up; to 
dance very closely and slowly; 
adj. calm; n. calm; respite, let-up 
kalman n. tranquilizer (med.); 
sedative; painkiller, pain pill; 
bromide; adj. soothing 
kalmannan n. sugarmill activated 
by ox, donkey etc. 
kalmanson, kalmason n. snail; 
slug; core of a boil 
kalme v. to calm down, quiet down, 
cool off; to ease, relieve 
kalmeman adv. calmly, quietly 
kalmeza n. type of old dance 
kalmi, akalmi n. calm, peace; lull, 
slack period; calm spell, lull (in 
wind); inactivity (trading, 
commerce etc.); dead calm; v. to 
grow calm, lull, abate 
kalôj, kalôch, kaloy n. cage (for 
birds, chickens, rabbits etc.) 
kalomèl n. trouble, mess; calomel 
(powerful sometimes dangerous 
purgative) 
nan - ak to be kidding around 
with 
kalomni, kalonmni n. calumny, 
slander; misrepresentation, false 
charge 
kalomnye see kalomye 
kalomyatè n. slanderer, mudslinger 
kalomye, kalomnye, kalonmnye v. 
to slander, smear, malign 
kalonmni see kalomi 
kalonnad, kalonad n. cannonade, 
barrage, shelling 
~ wôch stoning, lapidation 
kalonnen v. to stone, pelt; to storm, 
attack; to swear at, revile 
~ lanmè to do s.thg. in vain, do 
s.thg. for nothing 
kalori n. calorie 
kalorifik adj. calorific 
Kalosprop.n. Carlos 
kalot n. slap, blow, hit (on face, 
head or ears); skullcap, calotte 
~ marasa, ~ jimo simultaneous 
blows to the ears often resulting in 
permanent deafness 
kalote v. to slap (on face, head or ears) 
kalou n. penis 
kalôy see kaloj 
kalsitran adj. picky, fussy, 
uncooperative, choosy, overly 
critical; see rekalsitran 
kalson n. (male's) boxer shorts 
- wouj, kanson wouj Hispaniolan 
trogon (bird) 
ti ~ see bwakalson 
kalsyôm n. calcium 
kalte see kalite 
kalvè n. calvary; suffering, trial, 
tribulation 
fè monte ~ pa do to give (s.o.) a 
very hard time, put (s.o.) through 
hell 
moute (yon) ~ to suffer intensely 
pase ~ to have a hard time, suffer 
Kalvè prop.n. Calvaire 
(disadvantaged area of Cape 
Haitian) 
kalvinis n. Calvinism; Calvinist 
kam n. cam (mach.) 
Kamagwèy, Kamagey prop.n. 
Camagiiey (Cuba) 
405 
kamarad - kan 
kamarad see kanmarad 
kamaradri see kanmaradri 
kamariya n. clique, cabale 
Kamatprop.n. Camathe (2nd 
communal section of Saint-
Michel-de-1'Attalaye, Dept. 
Artibonite) 
Kameprop.n. Camay (soap) 
Kamèl: 
mon ~ Mount Carmel 
kameleyon n. chameleon {cf. 
aganman); opportunist; turncoat 
kameleyonne v. to turn coat, be a 
traitor 
kamelya n.bot. camellia 
kamèmdekamèm see kanmenm 
Kamènprop.n. Carmen 
Kamèp acron. CAMEP - Santral 
Metwopoliten Dlo Pwôp 
(Centrale Autonome 
Métropolitaine d'Eau Potable) PaP 
drinking-water company 
kamera n. movie/television camera 
~ videyo camcorder 
kameramann n. cameraman 
Kamewoun, Kamwoun prop.n. 
Cameroon 
Kamewounè prop.n./adj 
Kamewounèz f.prop.n. 
Cameroonian 
Kami prop.n. Camille 
Kami (Albè) prop.n. Camus 
(Albert) - French writer (1913-
1960) 
Kami (Wousan) prop.n. Camille 
(Roussan) - Haitian poet and 
journalist (1915-1961) 
kaminizye, kaminize: 
koupe ~ children's game where 
they agree to hand over s.thg. to 
one another 
kamizôi, kanmizol n. undershirt; 
small baby's upper garment; 
patient's gown; camisole 
kamo n. bad news 
- lanmè var. of very small salt-
water fish 
kamoken n. subversive, dissident, 
anti-government rebel; quinine 
kamomin, kamomi n.bot. camomile 
~ peyi cudweed 
kamouflay, kamouflaj n. 
camouflage; bluff, subterfuge 
kamoufle v. to camouflage, conceal 
kamoule v. to deceive, cheat, fool 
kamwazi see kanmwezi 
Kamwoun see Kamewoun 
kamyon n. truck; truckload; any 
large vehicle for public 
transportation 
~ baskil dump truck 
~ blende armored truck (for 
transporting funds) 
~ bwat, - bak, ~ bwèt truck with 
wooden sides 
~ fatra garbage truck 
~ gad armored personnel carrier 
~ ponpye fire engine 
~ remok tow truck 
- sitèn tanker truck 
kondi - an to take charge 
mal ~ carsickness, motion 
sickness 
kamyonnèt, kamyonèt n. van, 
station wagon (used for public 
transportation); pick-up truck 
dèyè ~ poor, underdeveloped 
kenbe dèyè - to keep behind the 
times, hold back 
kan n. camp; faction, clique, side; 
cage, goal area (soccer); edge, 
narrow side (board, building etc.) 
pi. n. years; adv./conj. when 
ale nan ~ to camp, go camping 
406 
kan - kanbrik 
fe ~ to take/choose sides, ally 
onese l f , join forces with; to be 
goalkeeper; to camp, go camping 
fe ~ li apa to set oneself apart, go 
on one's own way 
fe - sou do (yon moun) to gang 
up against (s.o.) 
fe yon de ~ to choose teams 
- daplikasyon training camp 
- mèm, ~ menm see kanmenm 
- nan pwen var. of mango 
- ou pran ou konnen trick, deceit 
levé - to depart, leave, go away 
pran ~ to station, settle 
sou ~ edgewise 
kàn see kanistè 
Kàn prop.n. Cannes (France) 
kana see kanna 
Kanaprop.n. [Bible] Cana 
Kanada, Okanada prop.n. Canada 
Kanado- prefix Canadian-
Kanadyen prop.n./adjKanadyèn 
f.prop.n. Canadian 
kanaj n. [Fr.] carnage, slaughter, 
massacre 
kanal see kannal 
Kanal (Bwawon) prop.n. Canal 
(Boisrond) - president of Haiti, 
1876-1879 
kanale see kannale 
kanalizasyon see kannalizasyon 
kanalize see kannalize 
kanape, kannape n. sofa, couch 
kanapèch n. fishing-pole 
Kanapevè prop.n. Canapé-Vert 
(wealthy residential area of PaP; 
important PaP hospital) 
Kanaran prop.n. [Bible] Canaan 
kanari see kannari 
Kanari (Zile)prop.n. Canary 
Islands 
Kanasyon prop.n. Carnation 
(evaporated milk) 
kanaval, kannaval n. Carnival, 
Mardi Gras - three days: dimanch 
gra, lendi gra, madi gra, (period, 
events); see madigra 
boule ~ ceremony following 
Carnival period where masks etc. 
are burned (PaP) 
boule papye ~ same as above 
(Jacmel) 
yon ~ a lot of, a great number of 
kanavalès adj. carnivalesque 
Kanbera prop.n. Canberra 
(Australia) 
kanbis n. money-changer 
~ rache pwèl dishonest money-
changer 
kanbiz n. buffet (at party, marriage 
etc.); feast; food and drink served 
after konbit; place where cooking 
is done for great dinners; store-
room 
chèf ~ person in charge of food 
and drink; person in charge of 
offerings and ritual accessories in 
a Voodoo temple; caterer; leader, 
born leader 
kanbizye n. store-room keeper; 
person in charge of food and drink 
kanbo, ganbo: 
ti ~ bamboo stampers used as a 
substitute for drums 
Kanboj, Kanbôdj, Kanpoucheya 
prop.n. Cambodia, Kampuchea 
Kanbôjyen prop.n./adj., 
Kanbôjyèn f.prop.n. Cambodian, 
Kampuchean 
kanbral adj. bowlegged 
kanbre adj. bowed, arched; 
bowlegged 
kanbri n. instep 
kanbrik n. cambric (fabric) 
407 
kanbriyolaj - Kanj 
kanbriyolaj, kanbriyolay n. [Fr.] 
burglary 
kanbriyole v. [Fr.] to burglarize; cf. 
kase (kay) 
kanbriyolè n. [Fr.] burglar; cf. 
kasèdkay 
kanbya n. method of cutting up 
sugar cane at mill; adj. deformed, 
twisted; adv. affectedly 
kanbyenmèm adv. even though 
kandelab, kandelam n. candelabra; 
candelabra cactus (used as hedge 
or barrier); cf. pengwen, rakèt 
Var.: - etranje, ~ mawon 
kandelon n. var. of hardwood 
kandeya see kanneya 
Kandiprop.n. Candy - early Mulatto 
leader of Haitian Revolution 
kandida n. candidate; applicant 
poze ~ to declare one's (political) 
candidacy 
kandidati n. candidacy 
depo ~ declaration of (political) 
candidacy 
kandjanwoun, kandjanhoun, 
kandjanwou, kandyanwou n. 
feast, celebration, dancing 
kandoule v. to soak 
kandoundou n. var. of spider which 
produces a white web 
kandyo, kandjo n. (obs.) 
whippersnapper (pej.); traitor 
kanè n. report card (school) grade 
results; accounting, reprimand, 
censure; small notebook, 
datebook, record book, address 
book 
bay ~ li to reveal the facts on s.o.; 
to dismiss s.o., get rid of s.o. 
jwenn ~ li, pran - (li) to have 
one's past revealed; to get what is 
coming to s.o., get what one 
deserves 
~ chèk, ~ (d)bank checkbook 
~ depay passbook 
vann - to sell grades; to promote 
(a student) for a bribe 
kanefora n. var. of coffee 
kanèl see kannèl 
kanèt n. bobbin, spool of sewing 
machine 
kanf n. camphor; var. of mango 
kanfeti, kanti conj. even (if) 
kanfre adj. camphorated 
kanfriye n. camphor tree 
kanga n. var. of dance 
kangannen see kankannen 
kangouwou n. kangaroo 
kangrenn, gangrenn, kangrèn, 
lakangrèn, lakangrenn n. 
gangrene; corruption 
kangrennen, gangrennen v. to 
become gangrenous; to corrupt 
kanhi-kanhan adv. so-so, poorly, 
slowly; onomat. repeated 
coughing 
kani see kanni 
kanibal, kannibal n./adj. cannibal 
kanich n. poodle 
kanif, gannif, kannif n. 
pocketknife, penknife 
kanik, boul kanik, kannik n. round 
seed used for playing marbles; 
playing marble (in general) 
kanil n. needle (of syringe); cannula 
kanin n. canine tooth; cf. dan chen, 
dan je 
kanistè, kàn, kannistè n. [M] 
canister, tin can; tin-canful 
(informal unit of measure - called 
mamit in most of Haiti); canister 
kanivo, kanivo, kannivo n. (street) 
gutter; carnivore; adj. carnivorous 
Kanj prop.n. Cange (Dept. Center) 
408 
kank - kanna 
kankw. dummy, dimwit; canker; 
special necklace used in Voodoo 
kankan n. gossip; adj. turned up 
(nose) 
kankannay n. carbonization, 
charring 
kankannen, kangannen, 
krankannen, krankrannen v. to 
char, bum severely, consume; to 
scald 
kankès, krankès n. crankcase 
(mach.); see kannkès 
kankindjo n. albino (fam.) 
Kankôk Ieprop.n. Camp-Coq Ie 
(5th communal section of Limbé, 
Dept. North); see Kakôk 
Kankôk 2e prop. n. Camp-Coq2e 
(communal section, Dept. North) 
kankou see tankou 
kankrannen see kankannen 
Kanlwizprop.n. Camp-Louise 
(communal section of Acul-du-
Nord, Dept. North) 
kanm n. cam (mach.) 
kanmarad, kamarad n. companion, 
comrade; friend, buddy 
pa - not of (s.o.'s) rank or class 
kanmaradri, kamaradri n. 
comradeship, fellowship, intimacy 
kanmenm, kamèmdekamèm, 
kanmèm, 
kanmenmdekanmenm, 
kantmenm adv. nevertheless, 
nonetheless, somehow, in any 
case, anyway, all the same 
kanmizôl see kamizol 
kanmwezi, kamwazi adj. crimson 
kann(sik), kannasik n. sugarcane 
dlo ~ sugarcane juice 
~ grate, - madè dumb cane (herb) 
~ kale stripped sugarcane; 
worthless 
- kannwèl, ~ kannèl var. of 
sugarcane used for medicinal 
purposes 
~ kifèl booze, moonshine, liquor; 
boozer, drunkard 
~ majô var. of low-grade 
sugarcane 
~ peyi/Dayiti var. of sugarcane 
found esp. or only in Haiti 
~ wozo wild ginger 
~ zannanna esp. sweet var. of 
sugarcane 
ne ~ joint (of sugarcane); section 
between two sugarcane joints 
siwo - molasses 
ven ~ sugarcane juice 
Other var. of sugarcane are: ~ 
anana, ~ blan(ch), ~ dlo, ~ 
kongo, ~ madan blan, ~ mawon, 
~ pewoji, ~ sisan, ~ towo 
kanna, kana n. duck; harvestfish 
fè pat ~ to wade 
~ bwa decoy; spy 
~ nwa ring-necked duck 
~ plonjon West Indian ruddy duck 
~ sasèl blue-winged teal 
~ siflè West Indian tree duck 
- souche shoveller (bird) 
~ tèt blan Bahamas pintail (bird) 
- tèt nwa lesser scoop duck 
- zèl blan baldpate, American 
wigeon (bird) 
- zonbi masked duck 
mâche kôm - to stagger, sway, 
teeter 
nich ~ pothole 
san nich ~ completely flat 
tèt - (pa ale sou tab) that's 
unacceptable/no good 
ti ~ duckling 
Other var. of ducks: gwo ~ 
mawon blan, ~ blan, ~ dlo, ~ 
409 
kannaj - kanno 
fran, - mawon, - pile 
kannaj see kannay 
kannal, kanal n. canal, channel; 
groove; television channel; ditch; 
tract, duct; penis, urethra; vagina 
~ brile gonorrhea 
- dan cavity 
- dèyè anal groove, crease 
between buttocks 
- di Van, ~ Divan Windward 
Passage 
~ fi vagina 
~ lè respiratory system 
- manje esophagus 
- mèt central irrigation canal 
~ nivo contour ditch 
~ pipi urethra; urinary tract 
~ pou vale esophagus 
~ rèldo exterior depression along 
backbone 
~ tande ear canal 
~ ze Fallopian tube(s) 
manman - central irrigation canal 
yon ~ a flow of, a huge amount of 
kannale, kanale v. to channel; to 
rush forward, go rapidly; to head 
toward 
~ ale to forge ahead, push forward 
~ (file) desann (ale) to rush down, 
head down (toward) 
~ dèyè to follow in the wake of; to 
chase after 
~ monte/moute to rush up 
kannalizasyon, kanalizasyon n. 
(irrigation) channeling, 
canalization, piping; water-mains; 
drainage 
kannalize, kanalize v. to channel; to 
support, back, promote 
kannannan, annannan(t) n. 
dummy; adj. mentally retarded; 
dumb, stupid, idiotic; lifeless, 
listless, apathetic 
rann ~ to stun, daze 
kannannanman adv. stupidly, 
idiotically 
kannannantri n. stupidity, 
dumbness 
kannape see kanape 
kannari, kanari n. large 
earthenware vessel for storing 
water; canary (bird); digger wasp 
bôs ~ potter 
kase - breaking of a consecrated 
jar at funeral rite (Voodoo) (N.) 
kannasik see kann 
kannaval see kanaval 
kannay, kannaj n. immature adult, 
big cry-baby; scum, trash, low-
life; cradle-robber; din, racket 
tonton - dirty old man 
kannèl, kanèl n. cinnamon; var. of 
mango; adj. red-brown, russet 
~ pwavre canella, wild cinnamon 
tree 
kanneya, kandeya n. var. of 
freshwater fish 
kanni, kani n. mildew, mold; v. to 
mildew, mold; adj. moldy, 
mildewed, musty 
- fil var. plant blight 
~ poud dry mold 
kannibal see kanibal 
kannif see kanif 
kannik see kanik 
kannistè see kanistè 
kannivo see kanivo 
kannkès n. cask; see kankès 
kraze - , pete ~ to destroy; to beat 
up 
kannkifèl n. booze, moonshine, 
liquor 
kanno n. cannon; artillery; whiz, 
ace, champ; adj. outstanding, 
410 
Kanno - kanpe 
remarkable 
kout ~ fart 
rete de twa kout - toujou the old 
fart still has a lot of life left in him 
sou - in the line of fire, threatened 
Kanno, Kannôt see Kano; Rivyè 
Kano 
kannôt, kanôt n.. (any) small boat, 
rowboat, canoe; var. of insect 
- sovtay/sovetaj/sovtaj, - (bo) 
lifeboat 
- pwason fishing boat 
kannôtaj, kannôtay n. rowing; 
canoeing 
kannotye n. boatman 
kanntè, kantè n. Canter truck; boat 
(used to flee Haiti); v. to flee Haiti 
by boat (illegally) 
kannteris, kanntèmann n. 
boatpeople, refugees; cf. botpipèl 
kannyèt, kànyèl n. pinuela (plant) 
kannyon n. canyon 
Kannzas, Kennzas prop.n. Kansas 
(USA) 
Kano, Kanno, Kannôt (larivyè) 
prop.n. Canot river (near 
Maïssade, Depts. Artibonite and 
Center); see Rivyè Kano 
kanon n. shank (of animal); barrel 
(of gun); canon (rel.) 
kanonik adj. canonical 
kanonize, kanonnize v. to canonize 
kanôt see kannôt 
Kanpan (fo) prop.n. Fort Campan 
(fortress ruins near Léogâne, Dept. 
West) 
kanpay, kanpany {pronounced: 
kan-pan-y) n. campaign; (rural) 
country, rural area, countryside 
fè - , mennen - to campaign, seek 
election; to lobby 
kanpe v. to stand, stand up, get up; 
to stand still, remain standing; to 
stand (s.thg.) up, place s.thg. 
upright; to raise, erect; to have an 
erection; to start up, set up, 
initiate; to stop; to fire, dismiss, 
lay off; adj. standing; upright, on 
end; in good shape; severe, 
extreme; jobless, unemployed; n. 
stop, rest, break; work stoppage; 
stand-in (demonstration) 
byen - attractive, healthy, just 
right 
byen - sou to fit well (clothes) 
fè yon - to make a stop; to cease 
temporarily; to relax, take a break 
- ak (yon moun) to support, back 
up, sustain (s.o.) 
- an kwa kont to obstruct, 
diametrically oppose 
- diskite to discuss, confer 
- djanm to stand solidly, resist 
- dou to calm down 
- gade to stand around and do 
nothing 
- kin to stand firmly, stand 
defiantly; to have a firm erection; 
see kanpekin 
- kin nan to be an integral part of, 
be dug in 
- koute, - koze to discuss, confer 
- la! stop! 
- lwen see kanpelwen 
- pale to discuss, confer 
- poze var. of small straw bag 
- rèd to stand at attention, stand 
without moving 
- sou to hold firmly to, be 
adamant; to hold off on, not to 
rush into 
- sou bit to insist 
- sou pay to be flat broke, be 
penniless; to be an illusion, be 
411 
kanpe - kanson 
based on nothing 
- sou (pwent) pye (li) to be in 
good shape; to be on the alert 
- sou tèt lalwa to be above the 
law, be immune from judicial 
prosecution 
- sou/nan wout to stall, go dead, 
conk out; to be interrupted, stop in 
mid-stream 
- sou yon bit to take a definite 
stand/position 
- tande to discuss, confer 
- tann to stand still, not progress, 
stagnate 
- travay work stoppage, short-
term strike, sit-down strike 
leve - to stand up; eager beaver 
mete - to place upright; to set up, 
establish 
mwen -! I refuse! I won't go 
along with it! 
nen - turned-up nose 
pa - impotent 
pa - sou anyen to have no firm/ 
solid basis; to be flat broke, be 
penniless 
ret(e) - to stagnate 
kanpè n. camper (person); cf. 
kanpis 
kanpèch n. logwood, campeche 
- mawon cat's-claw, black bead 
(shrub) 
kanpekin n. aphrodisiac, beverage 
which (reputedly) restores virility; 
see kanpe kin 
kanpelwen n. var. of plant; foul-
smelling liquid (used as spell to 
keep away people or evil spirits); 
liquid ammonia; moth balls; exile 
mete (nan) - , bay yon - , voye 
nan - to keep at a distance; to exile 
pran yon - to decide to go into 
exile 
Kanperen prop.n. Camp-Perrin 
(Dept. South) 
Kanperinwa prop.nKanperinwaz 
f.prop.n. inhabitant of Camp-
Perrin (Dept. South) 
kanping n. camping; campground 
Kanpinodè prop.nKanpinodèz 
f.prop.n. inhabitant of Plaine-du-
Nord (Dept. North) 
kanpis n. camper (person); campus 
[Eng.] 
kanpman n. posture, presence, 
appearance; camping 
kanpo n. peace, tranquility, peace of 
mind; break, time-out, rest, 
respite; interj. stop! 
Ban m - m! Leave me alone! 
Scram! 
bay - to relieve, take over for 
kanponnay see kraponnay 
kanponnen see kraponnen 
Kanpoucheya prop.n. Kampuchea 
kanpous n. [Eng.] campus; cf. 
kanpis 
kansè n. cancer; tumor; Cancer 
(zodiac) 
kanskanyèt see kaskayèt 
kanson, konson n. trousers, pants, 
slacks 
anvan pipirit mete - li very early, 
before dawn 
bout - shorts, cutoffs 
desann - li to mess up; to curse 
at, swear at 
gason - man of courage, real man, 
he-man 
gen/mete - li nan tay li to 
measure up to, be competent in; to 
be a man of courage, be firm or 
resolute 
gran - big shot 
412 
kanson - kànyèl 
grandi - to brag, show off 
~ fe tough, iron-fisted; unbending 
(person); sweet potato weevil; var. 
of med. plant 
Kanson Fè Iron Pants (fam. name 
for Paul Magloire - president of 
Haiti 1950-56) 
- wouj, kalson wouj Hispaniolan 
trogon (bird) 
manche - fè 1, mete - fè/asye sou 
li to get tough 
mete - li to make up one's mind 
mete - li nan tay li see gen - li 
nan tay li 
mete - li pou bèl twal see pote -
mete menm janm - to be the 
same, be two peas in a pod 
pa bay chen - to take no guff, 
accept no nonsense 
pa pote - li pou bèl twal to be a 
man of courage, be a real man, be 
a he-man 
pon - fly (of trousers); cf. bragèt 
pote/mete - li pou bèl twèl to be 
useless, be incapable; to be 
henpecked 
pran ~ an to wear the pants, 
dominate 
pye - pants leg 
soutni - li to act like a man of 
courage, be firm or steadfast 
tèt - shorts, cutoffs 
ti ~ small wooden switch or rod; 
see bwakalson 
kansonnen v. to sprinkle 
consecrated water during a service 
in honor of the spirits of the dead 
(Voodoo) 
kanta (pou) prep. as for, concerning 
kantaloup n. cantaloupe 
kantamwa, kantamwen n. 
pretentious person, bragger, show-
off; bragging, showing-off 
chante - , pale - to sing one's own 
praises 
kantè see kanntè 
Kanten prop.n. Quantin, Quentin 
(6th communal section of Les 
Coteaux, Dept. South) 
kanti see kanfeti 
kantifye v. to quantify 
kantik n. hymn 
ann kite - pran (la)priyè let's get 
down to business, let's get to it, 
let's cut to the chase 
Kantik de Kantik, Kantik 
Salomon prop.n. [Bible] Song of 
Songs, Song of Solomon 
kantikè n. hymnist; hymnal singer 
kantin n. cafeteria, dining-hall; 
canteen, mess kit; soup kitchen; 
free lunch program; rack for 
carrying food 
kantite, lakantite n. amount; 
supply; quantity; number (of), pile 
(of), heap (of), lot (of) 
yon bann kantite a great number 
of,... galore 
yon kantite many, much, a lot of 
kantmenm see kanmenm 
kanton n. district, area, 
neighborhood 
kantonnen, kantone v. to camp, 
station, settle 
kantonnman n. milit. cantonment 
kantonnye, kantonye n. road-
worker 
kànva n. embroidery sampler 
kanyan(k), kanyen(k) adj. feeble, 
lazy, indolent; sickly, worn-out, 
exhausted; rumpled, disheveled, 
unkempt 
- - nonchalantly, lazily, indolently 
kànyèl see kannyèt 
413 
kanyouk - Kapènawôm 
kanyouk n. adult man who does not 
live with a woman 
kanzo n. initiatory fire ordeal to 
reach the second degree of 
Voodoo; s.o. who can touch fire 
without being burned; Voodooist 
whose protective spirit has been 
"tamed" or controlled; Voodooist 
who has passed the ordeal of fire; 
v. to initiate into the kanzo rank; 
adj. fire-resistant, fireproof 
(person); not afraid of fire 
kap n. kite; dandruff; direction; 
cape, promontory (geography); 
caper (cul.); carp (fish); var. of 
med. plant; cradle cap; valve cap; 
onomat. sound of s.thg. breaking; 
sh.form kapab; contr. ki + ap 
bay - la fil to give free rein to, 
release from restraints 
chanje - to change direction 
fè - to flake off dandruff 
fè ti - nan tèt yon moun to caress 
s.o.'s hair 
file - to fly a kite 
- li pran van to take off, succeed 
~ san lanpa san ke directionless 
kite; uncontrollable kite 
kè li kase - one's heart misses a 
beat (from excitement etc.) 
mete ~ sou, fè ~ pou to head 
toward, go in the direction of 
moute - , monte - to fly a kite 
pase - to pass the hurdle, round 
the cape 
pèdi - li to be out of line; to lose 
one's self-respect 
pran - li to find one's direction 
van - trade wind 
Var. of Haitian kites are: avyon, 
balon, vwayajè, drapo, 
estraterès, fize, gran manjè, 
senk bwa(kôk), solèy 
kapab, bwakle, bwaple n. Florida 
boxwood, coffee colubrina, snake-
bark (used for washing) 
kapab, ka, kab, kabap, kap v. to be 
able, can; may, might, liable to; it 
may be that; adj. capable, 
competent 
fè sa li - to do one's best 
- sa perhaps, maybe, it might well 
be 
- wè sa ou fè to be able to see the 
results of one's work, make visible 
progress 
nèg ki pa - wè fi skirt-chaser 
pa - anko not to be able to stand 
it any longer 
se sa yo pa - yo pa fè to do 
everything possible/imaginable 
Kapados prop.n. [Bible] 
Cappadocia 
Kap Anriprop.n. Cap-Henry (name 
of Cap-Haïtien during reign of 
King Henry Christophe, 1811-
1820) 
kapasite n. volume; full measure; 
strength, power; asset(s), capacity; 
potential; means; aptitude, talent, 
intelligence, capability, ability 
kapat «.woven saddlebag; cf. 
sakpay 
Kapat (masif) prop.n. Carpathian 
(Mountains) 
kapay n. large straw bag; straw mat 
Kapayisyen see Okap 
kapbap adv. freely, without 
restriction 
kapboum onomat. sound of vehicle 
starting 
k ape contr. ki + ape 
Kapènawèm prop.n. [Bible] 
Capernaum 
414 
kapèt - kapote 
kapetn. wall-to-wall carpet; section 
of carpet; wig (fam.\ c f . p e r i k ) 
Kap Franswa, Kap F r a n s è prop.n. 
Cap-François, Cap-Français (name 
of Cap-Haïtien during Colonial 
period) 
kapi n. rural section chief (same as 
chèf seksyon) 
kapichon n. hood, cowl ; s c r e w - o n 
bottle top 
kapilè n. capillary 
kapisin n. garden nasturtium, Indian 
cress (plant) 
kapital n. capital city; capital , 
investment; repository o f Voodoo 
spirits such as sacred trees, caves, 
cliffs, unusual natural formations 
(N.); adj. capital, important; c f . 
lakapital 
fè - politik to make political 
capital, make political gains 
kapitalis n. capitalism; inhabitant of 
capital city; n./adj. capitalist; rich; 
adj. capitalistic 
kapitalizasyon n. capitalization 
kapitalize sou v. to capitalize on, 
grow rich on 
kapitenn see kaptenn 
kapitilasyon n. [Fr.] capitulation, 
surrender 
kapitile v. [Fr.] to capitulate, 
surrender 
kapito: 
sèt peche - (the) seven deadly 
sins 
kapitôl n. capitol 
kapitonnaj, kapitonnay n. padding, 
stuffing; interior upholstery on 
vehicle roof 
kapitonnen v. to s tuf f , pad 
kapiyè n. maidenhair, Venus hair 
(fern) 
kaplata, kaprelata n. magic Voodoo 
protection; particularly effective 
Voodoo priest or sorcerer 
Kaplata prop.n. legendary seer 
kaplin: 
bèl - , chapo - fancy hat 
Kaplo prop.n. sub-category of 
Voodoo spirits 
kapo n. cover; rural section chief 
(same as chèf seksyon); sh.form 
kaporal 
- aryè, - dèyè trunk lid (of 
vehicle) 
- motè hood (of vehicle) 
- wou hubcap 
kapok n. kapok 
kapon n. coward, weakling; 
scaredy-cat, fraidy-cat, chicken; 
adj. scared, fearful; cowardly 
- twôp pou 1 siye not to be up to 
doing s.thg. 
kaponay, kaponnaj, kaponnay n. 
see kraponnay 
kaponnen see kraponnen 
kaponyè n. coward 
kaporal, kapo n. corporal; large 
marble (games) 
aktim - military rank between 
private and corporal 
kaporalis adj. authoritarian, 
repressive 
kaporalize v. to regiment, regulate 
kapèt n. roof (of vehicle); condom, 
rubber; var. of tree; way of tying a 
scarf; hairstyle 
- pou fanm, - pou fi diaphragm 
kapôtay, kapotman n. overthrow; 
overturning (vehicle); capsizing 
kapote v. to overthrow; to overturn, 
turn over; to turn over on its side; 
to capsize; to end, be over; to go 
to, go by (a place); adv. more than 
415 
Kapotiy - karako 
se - ak chavire it's the same thing 
Kapotiy, Kapotiprop.n. Capotille 
(Dept. North-East) 
larivyè ~ Capotille River 
(bordering on Dept. North-East 
and the Dominican Republic) 
Kapotiy an prop.n., Kapotiy àn 
f.prop.n. inhabitant of Capotille 
(Dept. North-East) 
kapotman see kapotay 
kapout adj. [German] finished off, 
done in 
kaprè n. goatweed (plant) 
kaprelata see kaplata 
kaprelatè n. maker of Voodoo 
charms 
kaprikon n. Capricorn (zodiac) 
kaprina, kabrina n. prostitute 
kapris n. whim, caprice; fad; 
capricious act; crepe jasmin 
(shrub) 
kaprisye n./adj., kaprisyèz f.n./adj. 
capricious, whimsical 
kapsil n. capsule 
kaptaj, kaptay n. capping (of 
spring) 
Kaptanprop.n. Captan (var. of 
fungicide) 
kapte v. to cap (spring); to catch, 
pipe (water); to get hold of; to 
rivet (s.o.'s attention); to tune in 
(radio station, T.V.); to lure, attract 
kaptè n. captor 
kaptenn, kapitèn, kapitenn n. 
captain; var. of tree with stinging 
leaves; hogfish 
~ distri rural deputy sheriff, 
assistant to a chèf seksyon (q.v.) 
kapti n. capture, seizure; capture (of 
intruding domestic animal); 
captivity 
kaptif n. captive, prisoner 
kaptire v. to capture, seize, catch 
kaptive v. to captivate; c/chame 
kaptivite n. captivity 
K a p p r o p . n . Cape Verde Islands 
Kapvèdyen prop.n./adj., 
Kapvèdyèn f.prop.n. Cape 
Verdean 
Kapwa prop, n./adj., Kapwaz 
f.prop.n. Capois; f.n. Capoise;n. 
(resident of) Cape Haitian 
Kapwa (ri) prop.n. rue Capois 
(Champs-de-Mars area of PaP) 
Kapwa(-Lamo/Lanmo) prop.n. 
Capois/Cappois/Cappoix 
(François), Capoix-la-Mort (hero 
of Battle of Vertières, died 1806) 
Kapwouj prop.n. Cap-Rouge (Dept. 
South-East) 
kapya v. to cut weeds with a 
machete 
kara n. carat, karat 
dizwit ~ 18-carat gold, of great 
value 
karabachè n. carouser; playboy, 
playgirl 
karabann, kabann n. bird-trap 
karabela, karabèl n. denim 
karabin n. carbine, rifle 
karabinen v. to shoot at (with gun); 
adj. angry, enraged, violent 
karabiyen, karabinyen n. 
carabineer, carbineer, rifleman; 
couples dance from early 
nineteenth century considered 
forerunner of merengue 
karaf n. carafe, decanter 
Karakas prop.n. Caracas 
(Venezuela) 
karako, kako, krako n. "Mother 
Hubbard," woman's typical 
peasant dress (with high waistline 
and full skirt); nightgown 
416 
Karakôl - karanndiseyas! 
- fè person with supernatural 
powers 
- pendeng sly, deceitful 
Karakol: 
- (Bannann) Caracol (3rd 
communal section of Grande-
Rivière-du-Nord, Dept. North -
near supposed site of first 
European settlement in the New 
World, December 1492) 
- (Pwason) Caracol (Dept. North-
East) 
karakole v. to romp, frolic, prance 
about 
karakolè n. cocuyo tree, mastic tree 
karakoli n. superior type of coffee 
bean 
Karakoli prop.n. Caracolie (section 
of Jérémie, Dept. Grand'Anse) 
Karakôlwa, Karakolè prop.n., 
Karakôlwaz, Karakolèz f.prop.n. 
inhabitant of Caracol (Dept. 
North-East; Dept. North) 
karaktè, kaktè, kraktè n. character, 
personality, disposition, 
temperament; mood, humor; 
character, graphic symbol; 
butterfly bush; see ranmase ~ 
gonfle - li sou to bristle at, fume 
at, rage at 
gwo - uppercase, capital letter, 
caps 
- dèzonm, - lezonm/lèzôm 
butterfly flower, bullhoof flower 
- gra bold type (printing) 
- pwotèj hot pad 
kenbe - ak to hold up one's head 
against, defy 
lage - li to weaken, give in, lose 
one's resolve 
mare - sou to be annoyed at, 
frown at, show anger at 
move - bad-tempered 
pa antre nan - li to not be to 
one's liking; to vex, annoy; to 
insult 
ranmase - (li), pran - (li) to 
become serious (about s.thg.), 
become strong or resolute; to 
become highly offended, become 
hurt and angry 
ranmase ~ li ak to draw back 
from (s.o.), become reserved 
toward (s.o.) 
rantre nan - li to fit in with one's 
wishes/thoughts; to be to one's 
liking 
san - immodest 
ti - lowercase (letter) 
karakteristik n. [Fr.] characteristic, 
quality, (typical) feature; (cf. 
mak); adj. characteristic 
karakterizasyon n. [Fr.] 
characterization 
karakterize v. [Fr.] to characterize 
karamèl n. caramel 
karanbôl n. carom (marbles) 
karanbole v. to rebound, ricochet, 
bounce back 
karanbouk see kayanbouk 
karang n. louse (pi: lice); common 
jack (fish); crevalle jack (fish) 
- aplim African pompano (fish) 
- makwok horse-eye jack (fish) 
- ton blue runner (fish) 
Other var. of - (fish) are: - gwo 
je, - gwo tèt, - jômou, - ke jôn, 
- piskèt 
karanklou n. vulture 
karann num. forty (preceding de, 
twa, kat, senk, sis, sèt); n. var. of 
fish; see karant 
karanndiseyas! interj. yes indeed! 
very definitely!; n. condition 
417 
karannkat - Karenay 
consisting of several types of 
venereal diseases at the same time 
karannkat n. (any type of) revolver 
karans n. deficiency, lack, shortage 
karant num. forty; see karann 
karantèn n. forties, approximately 
forty; quarantine 
mete an - to quarantine 
karanteyen num. forty-one 
karantyèm adj. fortieth 
karapas, karapat n. carapace, shell, 
hide; (blood-sucking) tick; pain in 
the ass, nuisance, pest 
karata n. var. of sisal (pit) 
karate n. karate 
karateka n. karate expert, martial 
artist 
karatèl see karetèl 
karavachè n. lush, drunkard 
karavàn n. caravan 
karavèl n. caravel (ship) 
karayib, chou karayib, kalayib n. 
taro (plant) 
Karayib prop.n. Caribbean; Carib 
Indian 
karayibeyen, karibeyen prop.n./ 
adj. Caribbean 
kare n. square; public square; var. of 
popular two-step dance; penalty 
zone (sports); metal sheet on 
(wooden) boat to make fire; office 
(room); type of konbit (q.v.)\ v. to 
square (up); to place a bet; to put/ 
place face to face, face off, line up 
(for battle), be read$ to fight, 
oppose (in combat); to fix up s.o. 
with, make a match (between man 
and woman); to put in starting 
position (cockfight); to hand over, 
give back; to remain, not yield; to 
begin, become involved in, get 
into; adj. square; frank, candid, 
straightforward; adv. frankly, 
plainly, squarely, directly; see 
karebare 
fèk - , fenk - to have just started 
(doing s.thg.) 
~ banda li to strut, show off 
~ fet to continue to be done 
~ ko to stand one's ground; to 
strut, put on airs; to make room, 
give way; to settle down 
comfortably 
- kou ba/brik savon straight as 
an arrow, straightforward, 
forthright 
- lajan to place a bet; to ante up 
- nan yon chèz to sit up straight 
~ pwotèj hotpad 
- zepol ak to put/place face to 
face, face off, line up (for battle), 
be ready to fight, oppose (in 
combat) 
tranche - to cube 
karè n. person who sets off two 
cocks to fight (cockfighting) 
karebare adv. straightforwardly, 
assuredly, openly; bluntly; one 
way or another, no matter what, 
come what may 
karèm, karenm n. Lent; period 
when fishermen are forced into 
inactivity 
kareman adv. openly, frankly, 
squarely, directly, categorically, 
straight-forwardly; bluntly 
karèn, karenn n. hull (of ship) 
mete an - to careen (for repairing 
ship) 
karenay, karenaj n. dry dock; 
Lenten period; period when 
fishermen are forced into inactivity 
Karenay, Karenaj prop.n. Carénage 
(waterfront area of Cape Haitian) 
418 
karenm - kas 
karenm see karèm 
karenn n. hull (boat) 
karennen v. to careen, turn a ship on 
its side for repairs 
karès n. caress, stroking 
bay fe ti ~ to caress, stroke 
karesan adj. caressing, affectionate; 
caring; charming 
karese v. to caress, fondle, pet, 
stroke, show affection 
karèt n. tortoise-shell turtle, 
hawksbill turtle, sea turtle; adj. 
temporarily submissive 
mare yon leve yon ~ to do the 
impossible, perform a miracle 
karetèl, karatèl n. [Span.] road 
kareti n. expectations, aspirations 
kari n. cavity; caries; decay (tooth, 
gum); curry 
kari, ekari n. breadth of shoulders, 
back and shoulders 
karibeyen see karayibeyen 
karibou n. caribou 
karikati n. caricature 
karikatiris n. caricaturist 
Karikôm acron. Mache Komen 
Karayib CARICOM (Caribbean 
Community/Caribbean Common 
Market) - whose 15 members (Jan. 
2004) are: Antiga e Babouda, 
Ayiti, Baamas, Babad, Beliz, 
Dominik, Giyàn, Grenad, 
Jamayik, Monsera, Senkit e 
Nevis, Sentlisi, Senvensan ak 
Grenadin, Sirinam, Trinidad e 
Tobago 
Karisprop.n. Carice (Dept. North-
East) 
karis(m) n. charisma 
karismatik adj. charismatic 
Karisyen prop.n.., Karisyèn 
/prop.n. inhabitant of Carice 
(Dept. North-East) 
kariti n. build, breadth of chest and 
shoulders 
kariyon, kariyonn n. carillon; 
chime(s); peal (of bells); jingling 
noise, clatter 
kariyoimen, karyonnen v. to ring, 
chime, peal; to jingle, clatter; to 
proclaim loudly 
karyadô n. cockfight supervisor; 
friendly go-between in a love 
relationship 
karyann n.geol. agglomerate, 
conglomerate; stone quarry; rocky 
terrain; cf. kwaryann 
karye v. to decay; to be decayed 
karyè n. career; quarry, stone-pit 
de ~ experienced; professional 
karyeris n. careerist (pej.) 
Karyès prop.n. Carriès (8th 
communal section of Cabaret, 
Dept. West) 
karyoka, kayoka n. (woman's) 
sandal 
karyol n. large jeep 
karyonnen see kariyonnen 
kas n. hardhat; helmet; headphones 
for a walkman; plaster cast; 
seashell; cassia (plant); caste; 
exclusiveness 
chèch kou yon ko % mèg kou 
~ emaciated 
- ble United Nations peacekeeper 
~ fetid, ~ nanm stinking weed 
~ soudé welding helmet 
- vè Green Beret (US elite 
military group) 
mèg kou ~ skinny, bony 
Var. of cassia plant: baton 
- abitan, - dous, ~ mawon, ~ 
panyôl, - Syam, - woz, -
zabitan 
419 
kasab - kase 
kasab see kasav 
kasaj see kasay 
kasan adj. breakable 
Kasasyon: 
ale nan - to appeal to a higher 
court 
Kou - , Koudapèl, Lakou - , 
Tribinal - Supreme Court of 
Appeals 
kasav, kasab n. cassava flatbread 
(made from grated manioc root) 
- dous sweet cassava 
- wayal cassava bread spread with 
peanut butter 
mete men nan pat - , pran nan 
pat - to seize, grab, arrest (s.o.) 
pen - cassava pudding 
kasavri n. cassava mill 
kasay, kasaj n. breaking, chipping 
Kasayolprop.n. legendary seer 
di yon moun sa - te di bèf la to 
read s.o. the riot act 
kase v. to break, fracture; to chip, 
break off; to fold, bend; to turn up, 
roll up (sleeves etc.); to hem; to 
break up (relationship); to 
burglarize, break into; to start, 
begin; to break, change (bill, 
money); to dissolve; to injure; to 
pick, harvest (crop etc.); to fire, 
dismiss (s.o.); to lose weight, slim 
down; to stop developing or 
growing; to turn, branch off; to 
reach an agreement; to cancel, 
annul, overturn (judgment etc.); to 
bow while bending the knees 
(Voodoo); n. deferential curtsy 
(Voodoo); break in drum rhythm 
(Voodoo); niche, indentation, 
crevice; hem; trouser cuffs; 
purging cassia, Indian laburnum; 
adj. thin, scrawny 
fè yon - to leave, head out; to lose 
weight (pej.) 
fè yon - chavire to head toward 
- boujon to nip in the bud, 
prevent from starting 
- (yon) bouyon to bring to a boil 
(cooking) 
- bra to discourage, depress 
- chavire to head toward; assault, 
charge, attack 
- chavire dèyè to sink behind 
- dan to beat up 
- de bout done in, washed up 
- double to do again, come back 
for the same thing; to work two 
full shifts in a day (full morning 
and full afternoon shifts) 
- fache to break off relations 
- fe to turn down the heat, dispirit, 
dampen, discourage 
- fe yon moun to quiet s.o. down, 
calm s.o. down 
- fèy (kouvri sa) to sweep under 
the carpet, conceal, cover up; to 
forget, forgive; cover-up 
- kay to break in, burglarize 
- kôd to cast off, set sail (ship) 
- kod (lonbrit) to break the ties, 
cut off relations; to kick the 
bucket, die 
- kôd li to try hard, break one's 
neck trying 
- kou to do away with, kill 
- kou gade to look hard at 
- kou (ti) short nap or dozing off 
- koub to turn a corner, take a 
curve; curve 
- lezo to break water (in 
childbirth); to make a debut 
- lezo nan bouch to suffer from 
disjointed teeth and jaws after 
childbirth 
420 
kase - kaskayèt 
- manch to roll up one's sleeve(s) 
- mete nan men to knock the 
socks off, beat the pants off, 
overwhelm 
- moso bay to share with 
- ou! I dare you! 
- pari to agree on a bet 
- pou grandi to gain height and 
lose weight (growing child) 
- pye to stumble 
- raj, ~ raz wild olive tree 
- rale mennen vini to attract (by a 
Voodoo spell); terrible, awful 
(disease etc.) 
- (yon) randevou to make an 
appointment or date 
- ren to break the back of, wear 
down; to fire, lay off; to dilute 
with water (rum etc.) 
~ sa! cut it! scram! 
- sèk primavera (plant) 
~ sou to fold back; to fold under, 
pull down; to lean back on 
~ tè to leave land, shove off 
(boat); to turn over the soil, plow 
~ tèt to make a (sudden) turn; to 
make a big effort; to break s.o.'s 
head; puzzle 
~ tèt sou to (make a) turn to (left, 
right) 
- tèt tounen to make a U-turn, 
head back in the opposite 
direction; to make an abrupt 
change; retreat 
~ ti bwa nan zorèy to flirt; to 
court, woo 
~ yon randevou to make an 
appointment or date 
~ zo var. of plant 
~ zôtèy to stub one's toe 
lapli a - the rain is approaching 
nan - kole pyese by trial and error 
pa ka ~ (yon) ze to be speechless; 
to be timid; to be powerless 
kasè n. wild and reckless person 
kasèdgrèv n. strike-breaker 
kasèdkay n. burglar, robber 
kasèdpen: 
~ nan pôch skinflint, tightwad, 
cheapskate 
Kasèk, Kazèk acron. (Konsèy 
Administrasyon Seksyon 
Kominal) [three-member] 
administrative council of a 
commune or district (of which 
there were 133 in 1998); member 
of same; cf. Asèk 
bra èd polis ~ unofficial law 
enforcement agent 
kaserach n. cogwood, greenheart, 
Jamaica laurel (tree - same as 
bwawoz) 
kasèt, k-7 n. (audio) cassette, tape 
aparèy ~ cassette player 
woulo ~ cassette tape 
kasetofon n. tape deck 
kasi n. break, crack 
kasik n. cacique, Taino ruler (pre-
Columbian period) 
~ Anri cacique Henry (leader of 
Taino resistance against Spanish in 
early 16th century) 
sou ~ local cacique, regional ruler 
(pre-Columbian period) 
kasika n. one of the five Taino 
kingdoms of pre-Columbian Haiti 
kasis n. cassis 
kaskad n. cascade, waterfall 
kaskadè n. fast driver, speeder; 
daredevil 
kaskari n. seaside balsam, cascarilla 
(shrub) 
kaskayèt, kanskanyèt, kaskanyèt, 
kastayèt, kastenyèt n. castanet(s) 
421 
kaskèt - kat 
kaskèt n. cap (hat) 
gwo - chinwa bigwig, big shot, 
YIP 
kaskou n. daredevil; rough-rider; 
death-trap 
pran - to lose (cockfight esp.) 
Kasolèy see Kaysolèy 
kasoulè n. stew 
Kaspyèn (lanmè) prop.n. Caspian 
Sea 
kast n. [Fr.] caste, class, standing 
kastayèt, kastenyèt see kaskayèt 
Raster a fis (J6j) prop.n. Castera fils 
(Georges) - Haitian-language 
writer, author of Biswit Leta 
kastèt n. cap (hat); hard question; 
headache (fig.) 
~ chinwa puzzle 
kasteyann, kastiyann, kateyann 
prop.n./adj. Castilian; Spanish 
kast6 n. beaver; beaver hat; 
breakaxe tree, ironwood tree 
kast51 see kastwol 
kastole n. var. of cassava (prepared 
in a cooking-pot rather than on a 
griddle) 
kastonnad n. brown-sugar candy 
kastonnen v. to train (horse); to cut 
muscle near base of horse's tail (in 
order for it to stand out); see 
kastwonnen 
Kastri prop.n. Castries (Saint Lucia) 
kastris prop.nJadj. Castroite 
(follower of or pertaining to Fidel 
Castro) 
Kastwo (Fidèl) prop.n. Castro 
(Fidel) - premier of Cuba, born 
1927 
kastwôl, kastèl, kaswèl n. 
saucepan, pan; cooking pot 
~ vapè double-boiler 
kastwotnen, kastwonen v. to give 
an unusual shape to (e.g., a hat) 
kasvè prop.n. Green Beret (US elite 
military group) 
kaswol see kastwol 
kasya see akasya 
kat num. four; n. card; playing-card; 
admission ticket; name badge; 
map; menu; permit; coarse-grained 
sandpaper; see lakat 
achte - pelouz, pran ~ pelouz to 
be only an on-looker, not play an 
active role 
bat - to shuffle cards; to tell s.o.'s 
fortune, read cards 
bay - to hang around, drift about, 
loiter 
bay - blanch to give free rein, 
give a free hand 
bay yon - wouj to disqualify 
(sports) 
bay yon kout - , fè kout - to tell 
s.o.'s fortune, read cards 
chanje - to renew one's 
parishioner's card 
fè kout - to read cards 
fey - playing-card 
- anbakeman boarding pass 
(airport) 
- apèl (telephone) calling card 
- blanch carte blanche, free rein; 
complete authority 
- bon sa bon excellent 
- chemen lasante road-to-health 
chart 
- didantite tax office identity card 
- figi picture playing-cards (i.e., 
jacks, queens, kings) 
- fouch uncomfortable bed/bunk/ 
pallet 
- fwa quadruple 
- jôn penalty (sports) 
~ jwe playing-card(s) 
422 
kat - katafal(k) 
~ kare var. of dance 
- la bat anba pànye it's an 
underhanded deal 
~ legliz parishioner's church card 
(obs.) 
~ mache market card (showing 
merchant's fee has been paid) 
~ make conspicuous, noticeable; 
notorious; standout; retired thief 
(fam.) 
~ mare katôz things are 
beginning, things are getting 
started 
~pa ~ four by four(-wheel drive 
vehicle) 
- panno dump, unpleasing house 
- pay low card 
~ pelouz cheap ticket (for sporting 
event) 
- pikèt, ~ pike, ~ pikè 
uncomfortable bed/bunk/pallet 
~ pou kenz var. of roll (bread) 
- pou moute abô boarding pass 
(airport) 
~ pwofesyonèl business card 
- sable coarse-grained sandpaper 
~ tan common time, four-four 
time (imusic) 
~ ti poto, ~ pye uncomfortable 
beci^unk/pallet 
~ vaksen immunization record 
~ ve e ach see kat-ve-e-ach 
~ vèt U.S. residency card 
~ vizit calling card 
koupe ~ to take one card (in card 
game) 
kout - round, session (playing 
cards); agreement, bargain, deal; 
event, occurrence, situation 
mele - to create confusion 
move kout ~ bad fix, bad 
situation 
nan kout ~ therefore 
pase - to foretell the future; to 
have one's fortune told 
pèdi ~ (marenn) li, pèdi ~ 
jeyografi li to lose one's bearings, 
be disoriented; to be foolish/ 
dumb/crazy 
po ~ low card 
pran yon - dis kôb epi mete 
chwal ou nan pak! sit down and 
be quiet! 
se menm kout - it's all the same 
ti ~-je, ti chit --je Chapman's 
ground warbler (bird) 
tire - to play cards; to read cards, 
tell s.o.'s fortune 
zèl - playing-card 
Kat prop.n. nickname for Katrin 
kata n. head cold; smallest of the 
three Rada or batri maskawon 
drums (Voodoo) - same as boula; 
var. of rhythmic beat on side of 
bamboo flute (vaksin), drum or 
cymbal in konpa dirèk; v. to be 
done for, be finished, be washed 
up; to beat kata rhythm; adj. 
sickly, puny, stunted; retarded, 
slightly mentally defective; see 
bizoton 
bat - to beat hard (heart, drum 
etc.) 
pa tande - (yon moun) not to 
hear any news about (s.o.) 
Kata prop.n. Qatar 
katab n. (filing) folder 
katabou n. smallest of the three 
Kongo rite drums (Voodoo) -
same as ti kongo 
katach, katrach n. AIDS (acquired 
immune deficiency syndrome) 
katafal(k) n. large quantity; 
catafalque; adj. much, many; huge 
423 
katak - Kati 
yon - a bunch of, a lot of 
katak onomat. tick-tock 
katakat see katarak 
katalan prop.n./adj. Catalan 
katalog n. catalog 
kataloge v. to catalog 
Kataloy prop.n. Catalonia 
katalyè, katayè n. player of the 
kata drum; person who marks the 
rhythm (Voodoo) 
katamaran n. catamaran (boat) 
katapil n. catapult 
katapila n. bulldozer 
kataplanm n. idler, loafer; adj. lazy, 
idle 
pa - dèyè bwèt no small affair, a 
big deal; cf. pa kaka poul dèyè 
bwèt 
kataplas n. mustard plaster 
katapoli n. sandpaper (N.) 
katarak, kakarat, katakat, katarat 
n. cataract; waterfall, cascade 
Kataryen prop.nJadjKataryèn 
f.prop.n. Qatari 
katastwof n. catastrophe 
katastwofik adj. catastrophic 
katatè, katetè n. catheter 
kataw onomat. crash! (lightning); cf. 
lakataw 
katawout n. [Eng.] cut-out (design 
work; mach.) 
katayè see katalye 
katayi n. var. of arabika coffee 
katchaboumbe, kachaboumbe, 
kachoumbonmbe, 
katchouboum, katchouboumbe, 
katchoumbonmbe, 
katyouboumbe onomat. boom!; 
plunk! {sound of stone falling into 
water); n. big noise; confused 
situation; trouble, fix, mess, 
turmoil 
katchapika n. dagger 
katche see katye 
katchemen n. dogberry, marlberry 
(shrub or small tree) 
katchim, katchimbo see kachimb* 
katchop, kachop, kètchop n. 
ketchup 
katchouboumbe see 
katchaboumbe 
katchoule v. to hobble along, walk 
slowly; see kalkile 
katchoupin n. nuisance, pain in the 
ass; ass, buttocks 
katè n. quarter (one of four periods 
of playing time in certain sports) 
- enferyè oil pan {mach.) 
Katè (Djimi) prop.n. Carter (Jimmy) 
- president of USA, 1977-1981 
katechèz n. ecc. catechetics 
katechis n. catechism; catechist; 
catechism class; person in charge 
of catechism class 
katedral, katredal n. cathedral 
yon - a huge amount of 
kategori n. category, class, group 
kategorik adj. outspoken; 
categorical, unequivocal 
kategorikman adv. categorically, 
unequivocally 
kategorizasyon n. categorization 
kategorize v. to categorize 
katèl n. board, council; coalition 
katen n. var. of breadfruit tree 
katèn, tèn n. quaternion 
(combination of four numbers in 
lottery, bingo etc.) 
katetè see katatè 
kateyann see kasteyann 
katfil n. high-quality cloth 
Kati prop.n. Cathy, Kathy, Katie 
(nickname for Katrin) 
siklon - Katy (disastrous 
424 
katimini - katye 
hurricane, October 1965) 
katimini: 
an - underhandedly; secretly 
katira n. var. of arabika coffee 
katiye adj. spread open 
katje see je 
katkat see tikatkat 
katlas: 
fe - to make a big win (four aces) 
Katmandou prop.n. Kathmandu 
(Nepal) 
Katô (Silvyo) prop.n. Cator (Sylvio) 
- Haiti's legendary Olympic track 
star 
estad Silvyo - Sylvio Cator 
stadium - main stadium of PaP 
katolik n./adj. Roman Catholic; adj. 
good 
- fran, - levanjil Roman Catholic 
who does not practice Voodoo 
pa ~ not entirely dependable; 
shady, fishy, dubious 
katolisis n. Roman Catholicism 
katon n. carton; cardboard, 
pasteboard; story, version, 
account; penalty (soccer) 
asyèt ~ paper plate 
bay - to call a penalty (sports) 
bay (yon) - wouj to disqualify 
(sports) 
~ bouri fiberglass 
~ jon penalty in soccer (two - jôn 
= - wouj) 
~ wouj disqualification (sports) 
pa nan - to be out of the game, be 
out of it 
pran ~ to receive a penalty 
{sports) 
se menm - an it all amounts to 
the same thing 
katouch n. cartridge 
Katoumprop.n. Khartoum (Sudan) 
katoz num. fourteen 
lagè - World War I 
katozan n. fourteen years 
katôzyèm adj. fourteenth; n. ace in 
some card games 
katpakat « . 4 x 4 , four-wheel drive 
vehicle 
katpostal n. postcard 
katpoukenz n. var. of roll (bread) 
katrach see katach 
katran n. four years 
katrè n. four o'clock 
katredal see katedral 
katrèdtan n. four hours 
katreven num. eighty 
katrevendis num. ninety 
katrevendizyèm adj. ninetieth 
katreven onz num. ninety-one 
katreventyèm adj. eightieth 
Katrin prop.n. Catherine, Katherine 
katriyèm adj. fourth; n. ninth grade 
katriyèmman adv. fourthly 
katsan num. four hundred; any 
inordinately large number or 
amount 
kat-ve-e-ach (4VEH) acron. Vwa 
Evanjelik Dayiti (4 Voix 
Evangélique d'Haïti) - Evangelical 
Voice of Haiti (Protestant radio 
station in Vaudreuil, Dept. North; 
founded 2 June 1950) 
katwon n. (obs.) quadroon, man 
with one White parent and one 
Mulatto parent 
katwon f.n. (obs.) quadroon, woman 
with one White parent and one 
Mulatto parent 
katyapika n. large knife or long 
dagger 
katye, katche n. subdivision of a 
"commune" (same as a seksyon); 
neighborhood, area, district, 
425 
katyemèt - Kawolin 
community; quarter (of the moon); 
buccaneer palm tree; see lalin 
- jeneral (staff) headquarters 
pa bay (yon moun) - to give 
(s.o.) no quarter, be unrelenting 
katyemèt n. quartermaster; person 
who divides or distributes (food, 
clothes etc.) 
fè - to divide, give out, distribute 
Katyemoren prop.n. Quartier-Morin 
- founded 1675 (Dept. North) 
katyèkè see kwachyôkô 
katyouboumbe see katchaboumbe 
katyoule see kalkile 
kav n. tomb, vault, mausoleum; 
cave, cavern, grotto; basement, 
cellar, storage area; var. of hawk 
Kavajalè prop.n., Kavajalèz 
f.prop.n. inhabitant of Cerca-
Carvajal (Dept. Center) 
kavalkad n. stampede; cavalcade, 
procession 
kavalri n. cavalry 
kavalye n. horseman, rider; dance 
partner (male) 
bon - good horseback rider; 
person who always arrives in time 
for a meal 
fè - pôlka to go it alone 
- polka accomplice 
kavalyèz/w. horsewoman; dance 
partner (woman) 
bon - see (bon) kavalye 
Kavayonprop.n. Cavaillon -
founded 1700 (Dept. South) 
Kavayonè prop.n., Kavayonèz 
f prop.n. inhabitant of Cavaillon 
(Dept. South) 
kave refl. to be hidden, be 
concealed; v. to guzzle (down), 
drink heavily 
kavèn n. cavern 
kavite n. cavity 
kavo n. burial chamber, vault, tomb' 
grotto, cave; bank vault 
kavyaw. caviar 
kaw n. crow, raven; sharp thunder, 
ugliness; onomat. whack! pow!; 
see kawôtchou 
chèch kon - dry as a bone 
- fran white-necked crow 
lèd tankou - ugly as a mud fence, 
ugly as the devil 
ti - palm crow 
kawann n. hawk's-bill turtle 
Kawann prop.n. (La) Cahouane 
(Dept. South) 
kawnti n. [Eng.] county 
kawo, kawôt n. carreau (measure of 
surface area 3.19 acres, or 1.29 
hectares, or 125 meters x 125 
meters); diamond (cards); flatiron; 
tile, tile floor; window pane; 
square, grid (of checkerboard 
etc.); chaos [Fr.] 
a - checkered 
- bous, - chabon, - gous flatiron 
heated with charcoal 
- fè, - dife flatiron that must be 
heated on a fire 
- (a) letrisite, - kouran electric 
flatiron 
- (a) men flatiron 
kouri - sou to iron 
kraze yon de - to dance tightly 
embraced 
Kawo (chenn) prop.n. Cahos 
mountain range (Dept. Artibonite) 
Kawodati prop.n. Carreau-Datty 
(2nd communal section of Bassin-
Bleu, Dept. North-West) 
Kawôl prop. n. Carol(e) 
Kawolin prop.n. Carolina; Caroline 
- Akawo traditional children's song 
426 
kawolis - kay 
- di No North Carolina (USA) 
- di Sid South Carolina (USA) 
kawolis n. carolus (gold coin) 
Kawonabo prop.n. Caonabo 
(cacique of Maguana, leader of 
early opposition against Spanish 
—died 1496) 
kawos n. coach, carriage 
Kawôs prop.n. Carrosse (3rd 
communal section of Vallières, 
Dept. North-East) 
kawosi, kawosri n. bus (open at 
sides) with cross seats; chassis, 
body (of car etc.) 
kawôt n. carrot; var. of mango; see 
kawo 
- blan parsnip 
- chantne red cored chantenay 
carrot 
- dànvès Danvers half-long carrot 
kwit - la to bring to a close 
kawotay, kawotaj n. bumping, 
jolting, jerking; obstacles or holes 
in road; squaring off of land into 
regular plots 
chaje - bumpy (road etc.) 
kawotchou, kaw, kawotyou, 
kawouchou, kawoutchou n./adj. 
rubber; n. tire, wheel; life 
preserver; garden hose; catheter; 
siphon 
bay (yon moun) - to necklace -
see lebren 
doub - var. of sandal 
~ (bôk) enema tube 
~ derechany, - derechanj, -
rechany spare tire 
- devan front tire 
~ dèyè rear tire 
~ flanbe see lebren 
~ winchil windshield-wiper blade 
levé pàn ~ to repair a flat tire 
pàn ~ flat tire, puncture 
pye ~ cryptostegia (plant) 
kawôtchoumann, kawotyoumann 
n. tire repairman 
kawote v. to divide (land) into 
quadrants for irrigation; to jolt, be 
jerked about; to tile; adj. bumpy, 
full of potholes, eroded (road); 
grided, squared (graft paper) 
kawotèn, kawoten n. carotene 
kawotid n. carotid (artery) 
kawotik adj. chaotic 
kawotman n. bumping, jolting, 
jerking 
kawotyou, kawouchou see 
kawotchou 
kawotyoumann see 
kawôtchoumann 
kawoule n. Mardi Gras mask 
representing the devil (Saint-Marc 
esp.) 
kawousèl n. idleness, loafing; 
merry-go-round; commotion, 
movement; carousel (for airport 
baggage) 
fè - to lay off the job, stop 
working 
kawoutchou see kawôtchou 
kay n. bobwhite (bird) 
kay, ka n. house, hut, dwelling; 
building, structure; office, shop; 
quail; game played with small 
round black seeds (wari); var. of 
mango; prep, at the home of; in 
the case of; in the establishment/ 
business/factory/office of; adj. 
domestic, home-grown, home-
made; cf. lakay 
anba ~ basement 
anndan - private, behind the 
scenes, off the record 
bay ~ to leave the house, clear out 
427 
kay - kay 
bos ~ construction foreman; 
general contractor 
dèyè ~ rump, buttocks 
fè ~ to construct, build; to spend a 
long time (before returning) 
fëm ~ house rent 
gwo ~ mansion 
~ an blok cinder-block house 
~ an de etaj/etay two-story house; 
cf. chanmot 
~ (an) do chwal, - a(n) chwal, ~ 
an do kochon, ~ an koulwa, ~ 
(an) nen kochon, ~ bouch 
kochon, - do bèf, ~ djol kochon, 
~ kouvri ameriken, ~ kouvri an 
pye debou, ~ (kouvri) de bo 
house with two-sided roof 
~ an galeri/galri house with porch 
or verandah 
~ an koup (kare), ~ an piyon, ~ 
antableman, ~ gran bo piyon 
house with roof slanting in four 
directions 
~ an kwazman house with three 
gables 
~ (an) mi house with stone or 
cement walls 
~ an mi lontan house of former 
colonial master 
~ anba ~ andedan - bed 
~ atè tiny hovel or shanty, 
"glorified chicken coop" 
~ balkon two-story house 
~ bas one-story house 
~ bèt barn 
- blanch place of isolation (room, 
house etc.) for TB patients 
~ boule remains of burned-down 
house (obs.) 
~ (an) chanmot two-story house 
~ chato mansion 
~ depo Voodoo temple 
- eskalye two-story house 
~ fèm rented house 
~ gwo manman brothel 
~ jaden see joupa 
- lwa, ~ lofis Voodoo temple 
~ madan Viktô john, crapper 
(toilet) 
~ manbo Voodoo temple 
(complex); cf ounfô 
~ mi house with stone or cement 
walls 
~ mistè inner sanctuary of Voodoo 
temple complex containing altar 
(same as badji) 
~ mobil trailer, mobile home 
[Eng.] 
~ oungan Voodoo temple 
(complex); cf ounfo 
~ pay thatched-roof house 
~ sen Voodoo temple 
~ solèy building usable only in 
absence of rain (because of bad 
roof) 
~ sou wou trailer, mobile home 
~ tach thatched-roof house 
~ tè mud-walled house 
~ tol tin-roofed house 
~ woch cave, grotto 
kwen ~ good old house 
(expression of endearment) 
lave ~ tè to do useless things, 
work in vain 
li ~ pè pou li mouri san batize to 
die of starvation in a land of 
plenty 
mete (yon moun) nan - to take to 
live with, cohabit 
moun ~ one of us (s.o. considered 
a member of the family); extended 
household (essentially those eating 
from same family kitchen); regular 
customer 
428 
kay - kayobanbi 
pitit - close family friend, 
household intimate; member of a 
given Voodoo temple 
pyès - rented room 
tèt - roof 
ti - outhouse 
yon - a lot of, much 
Kay see Okay 
kaya v. to splash around (in water) 
kaya (mawon), akaya n. 
spiderflower (shrub) 
- dou var. of spiderflower 
kayak see gayak 
Kayaloprop.n. small island near 
Cayes (Dept. South) 
kayanbouk, karanbouk n. calabash 
bowl with large mouth; 
warehouse, storehouse 
kaye n. notebook, exercise book; 
curdled milk; v. to curdle; to 
coagulate, jell, clot; to freeze over, 
freeze up; to be in full force, be in 
full swing; to put into full force; 
adj. filled, congested; chronic 
(disease); see poul 
- doleyans, - reklamasyon, -
revandikasyon list of complaints 
kay en: 
~ ko li to keep a low profile, make 
oneself inconspicuous 
~ - hidden; deceitfully, 
underhandedly 
Kayen prop.n. [Bible] Cain 
Kay en prop.n., Kayèn f.prop.n. 
Cayan, inhabitant of (Aux/Les) 
Cayes (Dept. South) 
kayenkaya adv. slowly, haltingly; cf. 
kanyan(k) 
Kayenn, Kayèn prop.n. Cayenne 
(French Guiana) 
kayif n. caliph, calif 
Kayikôs prop.n. Caicos Island 
(Turks and Caicos Islands) 
kayiman, kayman n. caiman 
(tropical American alligator) 
- fran stinkwood tree 
Kayiman (zile)prop.n. Cayman 
Islands; see Bwa 
Twoukayiman 
Kayimelyen, Kayjakmelyen, 
Kaymelè prop.n., Kayimelyèn, 
Kayjakmelyèn, Kaymelèn 
f.prop.n. inhabitant of Cayes-
Jacmel (Dept. South-East) 
kayimit, kaymit n. star-apple; adj. 
hard-hearted 
- mawon satin leaf tree 
- vyelèt var. of star-apple 
ti - wild kaimit 
Kayimit, Kaymit (zile) prop.n. 
Cayemit(t)es (islands off northern 
coast of south peninsula facing 
Pestel, Dept. Grand'Anse); see 
Janbelin 
Grann - Grande-Cayemit(t)e (45 
km2) 
Ti - Petite-Cayemit(t)e 
Kayjakmèl, Okayjakmèl prop.n. 
Cayes-Jacmel (Dept. South-East) 
Kayjakmelyen, Kayjakmelyèn see 
Kayimelyen, Kayimelyèn 
kayman see kayiman 
Kaymelè, Kaymelèn see 
Kayimelyen, Kayimelyèn 
kaymit see kayimit 
Kaymit see Kayimit 
Kay Moustikprop.n. Caye-à-
Moustique (island off coast of 
Aquin, immediately west of 
Grande Caye - Dept. South) 
kayo n. clot; adj. resistant, durable 
kayobanbi n. sugar cane cutter 
returned from the Dominican 
Republic or Cuba 
429 
kayoka - ke 
kayoka see karyoka 
Kayolobôs prop.n. Cayo Lobos 
(Bahamas) 
Kayonabitch prop.n. Kyona Beach 
(Dept. West) 
Kayonn, Kay on prop.n. Cayonne 
(southeast port village of Tortuga 
Island, Dept. North-West) 
kayonnen v. to chime, ring 
kaypon n. ironwood tree 
Kaysolèy, Kasolèy, K-Solèy prop.n. 
disadvantaged area of Gonaïves 
(Dept. Artibonite) 
kaz, lakaz n. hut, cabin, small 
house; division, compartment; 
cage (for animals); square 
(chessboard, graph); pigeonhole, 
box (for mail) 
grann ~ slave owner's house 
(during French colonial period) 
~ anèg slave quarters (during 
French colonial period) 
kazak n. new born's clothes, 
swaddling clothes, baby dress or 
gown 
chanje - , boukante - , vire - to 
change coats, change sides, 
change (political) allegiance 
remete - to revert to pattern 
Kazakstan prop.n. Kazakhstan 
Kazal, prop.n. Casale (4th 
communal section of Cabaret, 
Dept. West) 
kazànye n./adj. stay-at-home, 
homebody 
kaze v. to hire (s.o.); to find a job for 
(s.o.), place 
kazè n. member of a kasèk (q.v.) 
Kazèk see Kasèk 
kazèn n. military headquarters, 
police station, barracks 
Kazèn Desalin prop.n. Casernes 
Dessalines (Dessalines Barracks 
next to National Palace, PaP) 
kazènen, kazène v. to settle in, 
establish oneself; to be stationed 
(;milit.); to hide, hole up 
kazimi n./adj. cashmere 
Kazimiprop.n. Casimir (8th 
communal section of Ravine-
Gros-Morne, Dept. Artibonite) 
kazimodo n. Quasimodo, Low 
Sunday, Sunday following Easter 
kazinèt n. var. of cloth; adj. durable, 
lasting 
kazino n. (gambling) casino; casino 
(card game) 
Kazo prop.n. Cazeau (Dept. West) 
Kaztach (chenn) prop.n. Casetaches 
mountain range (western extreme 
of Dept. Grand'Anse) 
kazwarina n. var. of tree 
kazwèl n. coward; casuistry, 
sophistry; adj. cowardly; shy, 
timid, bashful; girl-shy; spiritless, 
dull, listless, weak; casual 
(clothes) 
kazye n. office, booth; compartment; 
locker; post office box; small 
separate plot of land; rack, 
whatnot 
- jidisyè police/criminal record 
ke n. tail, end; tail, ass; ejaculation; 
tail of kite; line, queue; tail fin, 
caudal fin (offish); v. let, may 
(<command); pron. [Fr.] that; [Fr.] 
which; [Fr.] whom; conj. [Fr.] 
that; [Fr.] than, in comparison 
with 
baton - , bwa - tail, rear end 
dènye - (at the) tail end 
fini an - de pwason to come to an 
abrupt end; to end anti-
climactically 
430 
k e - k è 
- chemiz shirttail 
- chwal ponytail (hairstyle) 
Ke Dose Quai d'Orsay (French 
Foreign Office) 
- fann vented (coat or jacket) 
- kamyonnèt last place, tail end 
(fig-) " 
-.. . - whether... or 
- kôb wad of money; see ti - kôb 
- koche/kochi/kwochi var. of 
insect similar to scorpion 
-... -/li pa whether or not 
- lanmori tails, formal tuxedo 
- makak tough critter 
- makak la la pi rèd, rèd kou -
makak tightly screwed on, 
irremovable; we're in there 
solid(ly), things are better than 
ever 
- moflè tailpipe, exhaust pipe 
- se whether it be, or 
- wôb train (of dress) 
kou - makak on tight, tightly 
attached 
mete - li anba vant li to put one's 
tail between one's legs, be 
submissive 
redi - (yon moun) to harass; to 
make (s.o.) slave away 
ti - kôb little bit of money 
kè n. heart; heart (cards); heart, 
center, core (of matter or 
substance); stomach; courage, 
endurance; choir; chorus; refrain; 
adv. o'clock 
a - sincerely, at heart, to heart 
ak de - reluctantly, unwillingly 
ak tout - li sincerely 
anba - epigastric; epigastrium 
bat pa - to learn by rote 
memorization 
bay - tounen to nauseate, disgust 
bon - kind-hearted 
bri (nan) - heart murmur 
doktè - cardiologist 
doulè anba - chest pain 
fè - to have heart trouble 
fè - di to harden (one's) heart 
fè - kase to scare, disturb 
fèy - monkey's-hand, colt's-foot 
(herb); cf. kolèt adam 
gen gwo - sou biskèt to be deeply 
concerned 
gen - tireless, indefatigable; to be 
courageous; to have a heart, be 
sensitive to others' problems 
gen - di to be strict, be severe 
gen - fèb pou to have pity on 
gen - nan men to be generous or 
neighborly 
gen - sere to be sad or depressed; 
to be anxious 
gwo - heavy heart 
- ap rete/rache heart-rending 
- boule heartburn, indigestion 
- cho heartburn, acidic stomach; 
impatient 
- di hardhearted, callous, 
insensitive 
- fè mal to pity, be sorry for; 
sorrow, regrets 
- fèb weak heart; nausea 
- frèt cool-headed, calm, 
unflappable 
- grenn jealous; sad, 
downhearted, depressed 
- kal calm; fearless 
- kase shocked, startled, stunned; 
concerned, moved; shock, fear; 
concern 
interj. to call chickens 
- kilôt hard, tough, resistant 
object 
- kôde see ~ tôde 
431 
kè - kechat 
- kontan happiness, gladness, 
satisfaction; peace; joy; happy, 
glad, satisfied 
- li anfle to be angry 
- li desann anba pye 1 to be 
scared stiff, be scared out of one's 
wits 
- li kase to be moved, be stirred, 
experience an emotion 
- li fè li mal his/her heart aches 
- li fè venn to be jealous 
- li konn bat to have a high heart 
rate at times 
- li moute bwa worried, anxious, 
alarmed 
- li pa anplas to be anxious, be 
apprehensive 
- li sote to be afraid, be alarmed 
- li van afraid; impatient, restless 
- mare see ~ sere 
- nan men soft-hearted; 
generosity; sensitivity 
~ nwa yacca tree 
- nwè, - nwa evil, hateful 
- pa kontan depressed, down; 
unhappiness, discontent 
~ pèdi s.o. who has lost all hope 
- pile heartburn 
- plen upset stomach, nausea; 
nauseated; disgust 
~ pôpoz carefree; without fear; 
indifferent; peacefully, quietly, 
leisurely 
- poze peace of mind; untroubled, 
tranquil, calm 
- sansib, ~ sansiv sympathy; 
compassion; sympathetic, caring, 
compassionate 
- senyen var. of plant 
- sere, - mare sadness, 
depression; anxiety, worry; 
anxious, worried 
- si heartburn 
- sote shock, fright, alarm; 
anxiety; shocked, stunned; 
startled, scared 
- sou biskèt anxiety, worry; 
anxious, worried 
- soufwa worried, anxious 
- tode, - kôde great physical 
suffering 
- tounen nausea 
- venn jealous 
kenbe - , pran - to take heart; not 
to be afraid; to endure, tolerate 
kenbe nan - li to keep a secret; to 
bear a grudge 
kenbe (yon moun) nan/sou - to 
bear a grudge (against s.o.) 
kriz - heart attack 
mal anba - epigastric distress 
maladi - heart disease 
mare - li to steel oneself, resign 
oneself 
mare - (pou fè yon bagay) to do 
(s.thg.) in spite of oneself 
nan fon - deep in one's heart; 
inwardly 
pa - by heart, from memory 
plenn nan - to suffer in silence 
pran - see kenbe -
san - insensitive, heartless 
san - sote without flinching; 
fearlessly; brazenly 
siwo - kontan anti-depressant 
syrup 
Kè acron. CARE (Cooperative for 
American Re l i e f Everywhere) 
Kebèkprop.n. Quebec 
Kebekwa prop.n./adj., Kebekwaz 
f.prop.n. Quebecer; prop.adj. 
Quebec 
kechat, ketchat n. chenille plant 
(herb) 
432 
kèd - kenbe 
kèd see tyèd 
kedleza n. piper (bot.) 
kedpwason: 
fini an - to end indecisively, 
finish up in the air 
kedrat see kerat 
kedwon n. tail strap (of saddle) 
kèhèk kèhèk n./onomat. (sound of) 
dry coughing 
kèk, kèlke adj. some, a few, several, 
any 
bon -, se pa - quite a few 
- nan some of 
kèkchôy see kichôy 
kèkè see rèkè 
Kèkètprop.n. Cathy, Kathy, Katie 
(nickname for Katrin) 
kèkfwa adv. sometimes; a few times 
kèkilanswa, kèkleswa see 
kèlkeswa 
Kekôs see Ziltik 
keksyon see kèsyon 
keksyone see kèsyonnen 
keksyonè, keksyonnè, kesyonè, 
kesyonnè n. questionnaire 
keksyonman, keksyonnman see 
kèsyonnman 
keksyonne, keksyonnen see 
kèsyonnen 
kèktan adv. sometime 
kèl: 
fè - to curl one's hair 
kelanswa see kèlkeswa 
kelekeke, kèlèkèkè n. good-for-
nothing (person) 
kelele: 
fè - to be obsequious, be servile 
kelenbe n. var. of plant 
kèlke see kèk 
kèlkenanswa see kèlkeswa 
kèlkepa adv. somewhere 
kèlkeswa, kèkilanswa, kèkleswa, 
kelanswa, kèlkanswa, 
kèlkelanswa, kèlkenanswa, 
kèlkilanswa, kèlswa adv. at any 
rate; whatever, whichever; no 
matter what, whatever may be 
- moun who(m)ever 
kèlkonk adj. any, whatever; of no 
importance 
kèlswa see kèlkeswa 
Kèltàn, Dikofôl prop.n. Kelthane 
(commercial insecticide) 
kèmès n. fair, bazaar, festival 
kèn onomat. sound of breaking 
kenbe, tchebe, tchenbe, tyenbe v. 
to hold, support, sustain; to keep, 
store; to endure, persist, keep 
going, keep at; to make out, get 
along; to keep down, retain (food 
etc.); to restrain; to hold back, 
refrain from; to watch out for; to 
contain; to capture, take, catch, 
get, grab, seize, clutch, grip; to 
catch in the act, catch red-handed; 
to hang onto, hold on(to); to need 
to urinate/ defecate 
ba li (sa) - to fool s.o., deceive 
s.o. 
bay - to constrain, limit one's 
powers; to pawn, hock 
- ak to keep up with 
- atè to keep down, subjugate 
- cho to pressure, harass 
- di to be strict 
- dlo to hold back tears, keep 
from crying 
- fèm (pa lage) to hang in there, 
not lose hope 
- kè to endure, persist; to contain 
oneself, hold back; to be patient 
- kin to hold firmly, hold tight 
- ko to watch one's step, be 
careful, pay attention 
433 
kenbe - kenkina peyi 
- ko li to sit up straight 
- ko 1 mal to have bad posture 
- kontak to keep in touch 
- kout to pressure, harass 
~ la! hold on there! 
- lamen nan lesak to catch red-
handed 
- men to make do, hang in there; 
entry-level or temporary job 
- men nan men to work together, 
join together 
- men nan sak to catch red-
handed 
- nan gèjèt, - nan gagann to 
throttle, stiffle, silence 
- nan kè li to keep a secret; to 
resent, bear a grudge 
~ nan kou to hold by the neck, get 
a stranglehold on 
- nan (pla) men to catch red-
handed 
- nan tèt to retain, remember 
- nèt to keep a record 
- pa lage! Hang in there! Keep the 
faith! Don't get discouraged! 
- pawol to keep one's word 
- pou to stand in for, substitute for 
- pou li pa to try not to do (s.thg.) 
- pye to do (s.thg.) regularly, go 
regularly to 
- rèl to wail; to try not to cry 
- san souf to get a stranglehold on 
- sipôte to endure, bear up 
- sou kè to resent 
- souf to hold one's breath 
- tèt (ak) to rebel; to oppose; to 
hang on to one's position; to resist, 
be stubborn 
- tèt to hold tight, be strict/firm 
- wo to attach importance to 
- yon lekèl to direct a school 
- (yon moun) nan/sou kè to bear 
a grudge (against s.o.) 
- zèl chemiz (yon moun) to hold 
(s.o.) back 
- zorèy li an twonpèt to listen up, 
listen closely 
M ap ~! I 'm hanging in there! I'm 
OK! 
pa ban m sa ~! Don't make me 
swallow that! How stupid do you 
think I am! 
pa ka - untenable 
ti - kè snack 
yon lwa - li a Voodoo spirit is 
making him/her sick 
kenedi, kennedi n. imported 
clothes, second-hand clothes 
ale nan - to buy imported/second-
hand clothes; to resort to buying 
same 
Kenedi (Djak) prop.n. Kennedy 
(Jack) - president of USA, 1961-
1963 
kenenpot see nenpôt 
kenèp, genèp, kenèt, kennèp n. 
Spanish lime 
mal - sterility (in man or woman) 
kenge n. challenger 
mare - to roll up, tuck up (dress, 
skirt); to tie one's waist (with belt 
etc.); to resign oneself 
kenhenk kenhenk n. tuberculosis 
kenkay n. hardware, odds and ends, 
assorted items (for sale) 
kenkayri n. variety store; hardware 
store 
kenken, kenkeng n. finely ground 
corn; adv. abundantly 
fè - to be plentiful or numerous, 
abound; to swarm 
kenkenal adj. quinquennial, five-
year 
kenkina peyi n. princewood tree 
434 
kenn - kesye 
kenn n. [Eng.] small gas can; soft-
drink can; cf. bwat 
kennedi see kenedi 
kennenpôt see nenpôt 
kennèp see kenèp 
Kenntèki, Kentèki prop.n. 
Kentucky (USA) 
Kennzas see Kannzas 
kenpôt see nenpôt 
kensèl: 
fè - to be one and the same 
Kenskôfprop.n. Kenscoff (Dept. 
West) 
Kenskôvitprop.n. inhabitant of 
Kenscoff (Dept. West) 
Kenstonn, Kenston, Kinstonn 
prop.n. Kingston (Jamaica) 
kent n. persistent or hacking cough; 
var. of mango 
Kent (larivyè) prop.n. Quinte river 
(north of Henche, Dept. Center) 
kente v. to have a sequence of five 
cards (game); to excel, succeed 
brilliantly, shine 
Kentèki see Kenntèki 
Kentenprop.n. communal section of 
Dept. South 
Kenya {pronounced: Ke-nya), 
Okenya {pronounced: Oke-nya) 
prop.n. Kenya 
kenz num. fifteen 
- pou - children's game 
kenzan n. fifteen years 
kenzèn, kenzenn n. two weeks; 
approximately fifteen 
kenzyèm adj. fifteenth 
kèp n. paper cup; onomat. clop 
(sound of footsteps); sound of 
breaking or snapping (tree etc.) 
KÈP acron. Konsèy Elektoral 
Pwovizwa/Pèmanan (Conseil 
Electoral Provisoire/Permanent) 
Provisional/Permanent Electoral 
Council 
kepi n. kepi (military cap); 
workman's cap (with visor) 
kèplen n. upset stomach, nausea; 
disgust 
kerat, kedrat n. achyranthes (med. 
herb); horsetail (plant) 
keratit n. keratitis 
kerèl n. [Fr.] quarrel, dispute; cf 
chire pit 
kès n. case, crate, container; safe, 
cash-box; cash register; chest, 
cabinet; treasury; fund; cashier's 
office, pay-desk; piggy-bank; 
snare drum 
gwôs - bass drum 
- depany, - depay savings bank; 
credit union 
- popilè savings and loan 
association 
kesedjo kesekwann, kosedjo 
kosekwèt adv. and so on and so 
forth; this and that; a lot of 
nonsense 
kèsenya {pronounced: kèse-nya) n. 
var. of plant 
keseswa conj. whether, be it 
- . . . - (whether) it be . . . or 
kèskelefrekan n. insolence, 
impertinence 
fè peye - to make (s.o.) pay for 
his/her insolence or impertinence; 
to punish 
kèskeseksa: 
an - in question, in doubt 
keson n. barrel; box 
kestè n. treasurer (for Parliament) 
kestyon [Fr.] see kèsyon 
kestyonnen, kestyone [Fr.] see 
kèsyonnen 
kesye n., kesyèfn. cashier, 
435 
kèsyon - kidire 
(grocery) checker, (bank) teller 
- otomatik ATM, automatic teller 
machine 
kèsyon, keksyon, kestyon, kesyon 
n. question; subject, matter, affair, 
story 
poze yon - to ask a question 
kesyone, kesyonnen see kèsyonnen 
kesyonè, kesyonnè see keksyonè 
kèsyonnen, keksyone, keksyonne, 
keksyonnen, kestyone, kesyone, 
kesyonnen v. to question, ask 
questions 
kèsyonnman, keksyonman, 
keksyonnman n. questioning, 
interrogation 
kèt! interj. wow!; heck! shucks! 
interj. to call chickens 
kèt, lakèt n. collection, donation, 
offering (Catholic church esp.) 
fe - to take up a/the collection 
- zoban begging; collection to pay 
for funeral of pauper 
ketay, ketaj n. collection-taking, 
offering 
ketchat see kechat 
kètchôp see katchop 
kete v. to take up the collection/ 
offering (church); to be a 
groomsman or bridesmaid 
ketè n. usher, person who takes up 
collection (church); groomsman 
fè - to be a groomsman 
ketèz f.n. bridesmaid 
fè - to be a bridesmaid 
Keti, Ketlinprop.n. Katie, Cathy, 
Kathy (nickname for Katrin) 
kètzoban n. thorough search 
kevouzèt interj. [Fr.] which you are, 
such as you are 
kewozin, kewozèn n. kerosene 
kèy n. picking, harvesting 
kèyèt n. picking, gathering (esp. 
coffee beans) 
keyi, kouyi v. to pick, harvest, 
gather; to gather, pluck (flowers); 
to grab, nab, catch (s.o.) 
kg abbrev. kilogram (2.2 pounds) 
ki n. keel (of boat) 
ki, k pron. which, what; that, who 
a - lè? (at) what time? when? 
- bo? where? which direction? 
- fè? how come? how is it that? 
- jan? how? how come? what? 
- ... - some ... some/others 
- - - - ha! ha! ha! (laughter) 
- kote? where? which direction? 
- lè?, -15? when? 
- moun (~)? who? whom? 
(~) sa? what? 
kib n. cube; bouillon cube; ice cube; 
adj. cubic 
- glas ice cube 
- magi soup cube, bouillon cube 
Kiba prop.n. Cuba 
Kibenprop.n./adj., Kibèn, Kibenn 
f.prop.n. Cuban 
kibi n. fried meat and wheat 
kibik adj. cubic 
kibitis n. ulna 
kibô adv. where, which direction 
kibôd n. [Eng.] keyboard (piano, 
computer etc.) 
kibodis n. keyboard player 
kich n. quiche 
kichôy, kèkchoy, kijoy n. 
something 
kid prop.n. Kurd; prop.adj. Kurdish 
kidan n. toothpick 
kidi adv. which is to say 
kididonk see kidonk 
kidiplis conj. moreover 
kidire, kidira conj. let alone, even 
more so 
436 
kidnape - kilikiki 
kidnape v. to kidnap, abduct; to 
hijack 
kidnapè n. kidnapper, abductor; 
hijacker 
kidnapin(g) n. kidnapping, 
abduction 
fè - sou to kidnap 
kidonk, kididonk conj. thus, 
therefore, consequently, so; adv. 
alias, otherwise named, aka; which 
is to say, meaning 
kifason adv. how; cf. kijan 
kife, kifela adv. how come; so that, 
consequently; so, thus 
kifkif adj. same, comparable; adv. 
equally, evenly, fifty-fifty; tit for 
tat 
Kigistanprop.n. Kyrgyzstan 
kijan adv. how, how come, what 
kijodi adv. a long time ago 
kijôy see kichôy 
kikan adv. [tV.] when 
kikeseswa, kikseswa pron. 
whoever, whomever 
kiki see kaka 
kikiliflit n. var. of bird 
kikilik n. cock, dick (penis) 
kikinan v. to bother, annoy 
kikit n. high thin-heeled shoe; var. 
of small bird 
talon - spiked heel, stiletto heel 
Kikit prop.n. Voodoo spirit of the 
Gede family 
Kiklikskanprop.n. Ku Klux Klan 
(USA) 
kikonk pron. anyone, anybody, 
whoever 
kikote adv. where 
kikseswa see kikeseswa 
kil n. "kill" (in volleyball: when ball 
is struck violently to the ground); 
see kilt 
kilakyèl, kilakèl pron. which 
(implies contempt); so what! 
- de... who cares about... 
kilas n. breech (of gun) 
kilbit see lakilbit 
kilbitay n. stumbling 
kilbite v. to stumble, tumble, trip, 
fall; to stagger, totter; to knock 
over, upset, overthrow 
Kilbite prop.n. Culbute (one of six 
forts built by Dessalines 
surrounding Haiti's first capital, 
Marchand, Dept. Artibonite) 
kildesak n. cul-de-sac, dead-end, 
blind alley 
Kildesak, Kilsak (Plèn), 
Plènkildesak, Plennkildesak 
prop.n. Cul-de-Sac (plain 
extending eastward from PaP to 
the Dominican border, defined on 
the north by the Matheux 
mountain range and the Trou-
d'Eau mountains, on the south by 
the La Selle mountain range), 
Dept. West 
kile v. to spike, slam (ball directly to 
ground on opponents' side of net, 
in volleyball) 
kilè adv. when 
Kilebwa (zile)prop.n. Culebra 
(Island) - immediately east of 
Puerto Rico 
kilenbe n. S. taro (same as chou 
karayib) 
kilès, kiyès pron. which one; which; 
who, whom 
pa konn ~ se ~ not to know who 
is who 
kilèski?, kiyèski? interr. pron. who? 
kilfo adj. necessary 
kilikiki: 
mete ~ pou to create problems for 
437 
kilinè - kinenpôt 
kilinè adj. [Fr.] culinary 
kilmik n. argument, squabble, spat 
kilminan: 
- nan culminating in, resulting in 
[Fr] 
kilô adv. when 
kilogram, kilo n. kilogram 
yon ~ sigarèt a carton of 
cigarettes 
kilomèt n. kilometer 
~ kare square kilometer 
kilôt n. (pair of) panties; diaper (for 
weighing child from hanging 
scale) 
- tanga bikini panties 
kilowat n. kilowatt 
kilowatè n. kilowatt-hour 
kHpabilite n. guilt 
Kilsak see Kildesak 
kilt, kil n. cult; worship; worship 
service 
gran ~ main worship service 
~ demo sect of evil doers who 
disinter the dead to make magic 
charms 
kilti n. culture, folklore; crop; 
agriculture, farming, cultivation, 
planting, gardening; cf. lakilti 
~ fizik physical education, 
physical training 
~ latè agriculture, farming 
kiltirèl adj. cultural 
kiltirèlman adv. culturally 
kiltiv see lakiltiv 
kiltivab adj. arable, cultivable 
kiltivatè n. farmer 
kMve v. to farm; to cultivate, grow 
kim, tchim n. foam, lather, suds, 
froth; contraceptive foam 
fè - , bay - to foam, lather, froth 
kimanga, kiman n. ritual alcoholic 
liquid used esp. in Voodoo Petwo 
services - usu. vaporized from 
mouth 
kimannyè adv. how 
kimen, tchimen v. to foam, froth, 
lather; to bring to a boil (cw/.); to 
foam at mouth; to bubble 
maladi ~ epilepsy 
kimilatif adj. cumulative 
kimono n. kimono 
kimoun interr. pron. who, whom 
kimwa n. skimmer (ladle for 
skimming liquids) 
kin n. relatively large plastic water 
vessel (from Hebrew word 
designating quantity of water able 
to be carried by a young girl, i.e., 
about five gallons); winnings; adj. 
persistent, steady; adv. firmly, 
persistently, steadily 
yon - a bunch of, a lot of 
Kin (Maten Litè, Jinyô) prop.n. 
King (Martin Luther, Junior) - US 
civil rights leader, 1929-1968 
Maten ~ (avni) Avenue Martin 
King (PaP); see Nazon 
kina, kinan, prow. [N.] own 
kina (before li/ou/yo) his own, her 
own, its own / your own / their 
own 
kinan (before mwen/nou) my 
own/our own, your (pi.) own 
kinalaganach, alaganach adj./adv. 
firm, hard, persistent(ly), with 
perseverance 
kinan see kina 
Kinchasaprop.n. Kinshasa 
(Democratic Republic of the 
Congo, Congo Kinshasa, ex-Zaire) 
kindègadenn, kindègatenn, 
kintègadenn n. nursery school, 
kindergarten 
kinenpot see nenpôt 
king - kite 
king adv. firmly, persistently, 
steadily 
Kingkong prop.n. King Kong 
zo - s.o. or s.thg. which can cause 
a major problem; see lonje dwèt 
Kingstawn prop.n. Kingstown (St. 
Vincent and the Grenadines) 
kinin n. quinine 
- peyi Gale-of-wmd (med. plant) 
Kinstonn see Kenstonn 
kintègadenn see kindègadenn 
kipay see ekipay 
kipe see tchwipe 
kipidite n. cupidity, covetousness 
Kipido prop.n. Cupid 
kipin adj. [Eng.] peace-keeping 
kipizè(t) conj. furthermore, 
moreover 
kipyè see koupyè 
kiraj n. cleaning-out, clearing-out 
kiras n. shield, armor 
Kiraso prop.n. Curaçao 
kire n. parish priest 
kirèt n. curet 
Kiribati prop.n. Kiribati 
kirikilom, korikoulôm, 
kourikoulom n. curriculum 
~ vite curriculum vitae, CV 
kiriyèl n. group, bunch 
yon ~ much, many, a large amount 
of 
kiriyezman see kiryezman 
kirye adj., kiryèz f .adj . curious, 
nosey, inquisitive 
fe ~ to be curious, be nosey, be 
inquisitive 
kiryezman, kiriyezman adv. 
curiously; with curiosity 
kiryozite, kiyozite n. curiosity, 
inquisitiveness 
kis n. cyst; sty 
kisa interr. pron. what 
kisasa, kisakwèt n. what's-his-
name, what's-her-name, whatever 
kise conj. namely, which is 
kisè n. cursor (computer) 
Kiskeya prop.n. Quisqueya 
(additional Indian name for Haiti) 
kit n. Hispaniolan honey-creeper 
(bird); adj. free, quit, rid (of); even 
if..., but perhaps... 
~. . . ~ whether... (or) whether, 
either... or 
- ~ interj. to call chickens 
nou ~ we are even 
kita n. family of Voodoo spirits of 
the Zandè "nation"; var. of Petwo 
dance characterized by rapid 
shoulder movement (Voodoo) 
danse ~ to shimmer (rising heat 
waves) 
pa ~ pa nago no progress, no 
headway; (a) step neither forward 
nor backward 
kitalè see talé 
kitans n. quittance, receipt 
kitap kitap onomat. ticktock 
(ticking of clock) 
kitay, kitaj n. separation (in 
common-law marriage); abortion 
(euphemism); dilatation and 
curettage, "D and C" 
kite v. to leave, abandon; to leave 
alone; to let, permit, allow; to 
resign, quit; to yield, cede, give in; 
to drop out (school etc.); to 
separate, divorce; to stop, quit, 
give up (doing s.thg.); to 
disappear, die; see te 
- ale to free; to dismiss, fire 
- bay to hand over (to) 
- dekote to leave aside, omit 
- dèyè to surpass, exceed 
~ dèyè yon moun to start after s.o. 
439 
kite - kiyôzite 
- kantik pran priyè, - koze pran 
pawôl, ~ pawôl pran kantik to 
get to the point, get down to 
business, stop beating around the 
bush; to change the subject 
- kouri rantre nan to run off into 
- nan men (yon moun) to entrust 
(s.o.) with 
- pase to overlook, excuse 
- (pou denmen) to postpone, 
leave for later 
- pou (yon moun) to concede, 
give in 
~ sa to drop; to calm down; to die; 
nevermind 
~ sa pa gen kont! lay off it or 
else! 
~ sèt to get tired of, get enough of 
- sou kote to leave aside; to put 
on the sidelines 
~ tè to take off, lift off (airplane; 
enterprise) 
- tonbe to drop 
~ yon may to give a break to, give 
a breather to, leave alone 
kraze yon ~ sa to throw in the 
towel, give up 
kitès, kitèks n. fingernail polish 
kitikantan adv. from time to time; 
frequently; for nothing, for no 
reason at all 
kitip n. cotton swab, Q-tip 
kitkit n. var. of small bird 
cry of mother hen calling 
her chicks 
talon ~ see kikit 
Kitoprop.n. Quito (Ecuador) 
kiv n. vat 
kivatèt n. scalp 
kivedi, kivledi conj. [Fr.] which 
means, which is to say 
kivèt n. wash-basin, pan; basin 
(geol.); depression in ground (for 
planting) 
kiviv: 
sou ~ on the alert 
kivledi see kivedi 
kiw onomat. pow! 
Kiwès prop.n. Key West (Florida) 
kiwi n. kiwi fruit 
Kiwoprop.n. Kiros (Roman 
Catholic youth group active esp. in 
literacy training and reforestation) 
kiy n. bowling pin; keel (of boat) 
kiyankiyan, kyankyan v. to limp 
kiyè, kouyè, kwiyè n. spoon; 
spoonful 
do ~ (fè) very stingy, miserly 
gwo gwo ~ large spoon used for 
stirring cooking-pot 
gwo - , - soup tablespoon, 
everyday spoon (most often used 
for eating by peasant community) 
gwo - ra, gwo - san tiyon level 
tablespoonful 
kenbe/kondi - li kout to behave 
oneself; to be wary (of s.o.) 
kenbe - li long ak li to keep one's 
distance (from s.o.) 
- bwa (pa pè chalè) adventurer, 
risk taker, daredevil; courageous 
- pa - one spoonful at a time 
- plen spoonful 
- soup see gwo ~ 
- tab tablespoon 
- te teaspoon 
ti - , - kafe teaspoon; coffee 
spoon 
ti - ra(z), ti - san tiyon level 
teaspoonful 
kiyere n. spoonful 
kiyès see kilès 
kiyèski? see kilèski? 
kiyôzite see kiryozite 
440 
kizin - klaw 
kizin, koujin, kwizin, lakizin, 
lakoujin, lakwizin n. kitchen; 
cooking-shed 
batri - kitchen utensils, 
kitchenware 
met ~ chef 
kizinye, kwizinye v. [Fr.] to cook 
(cf. fè manje); n. (male) cook 
kizinyè, kouziyè, kwizinyè fn. cook 
kizinyèz, kouziyèz, kwizinyèz fn. 
cook 
kizôn adv. where 
kk abbrev. kopi konfôm certified 
copy; see kaka 
klak n. claque, paid applauders 
chapo - opera-hat 
klake v. to crack (one's knuckles); to 
snap (one's fingers); to chatter 
(teeth) 
klaksonn n. (car) horn 
san - unexpected, sudden; 
unexpectedly, suddenly 
klaksonnen v. to honk, honk at 
klamè, laklamè n. clamor, outcry 
~ piblik public notoriety; public 
outcry 
klamèy n./adj. albino 
Klamèy, Klèmèy prop.n. albino 
Voodoo spirit 
klamidya n. clamydia 
klan n. clan, clique 
klandesten adj. clandestine 
klandestinman adv. clandestinely 
klanps n. (large metal) clamp 
- kab cable clamp 
~ pou tiyo metal strap 
woz - hose clamp (hardwear) 
klanpse v. to clamp 
klap onomat. to express sudden 
action 
fè - - to chatter (teeth in fear or 
cold) 
ti - - ti - - sound of crutches on 
pavement 
klapote v. to splash, ripple, lap; to 
play in water 
klapye n. rabbit hutch, rabbit warren 
klarifikasyon n. clarification 
klarifye v. to clarify, elucidate 
klarinèt n. clarinet 
klaryonnen v. to peal, chime, 
resound 
klas n. class; grade, level in school; 
classroom; studies; social class; 
type; degree of solemnity in 
Roman Catholic church service; 
see laklas 
chanje -, moute - to be 
promoted, pass (in school) 
fè gwo - to be very educated 
grann - top of the scale, choice, 
select 
gwo - upper grades, more 
advanced classes 
ti - elementary-school classes 
klase v. to classify, sort; to rank; to 
put (s.o.) in his/her place, put 
down; to file; to withdraw, take 
out; adj. settled, concluded 
klasè n. file folder; ring binder, 
notebook binder; card holder; 
filing cabinet 
klasifikasyon n. classification 
klasifye v. to classify 
klasik adj. classic, classical; 
traditional; n. classics 
klasman n. classification; filing; 
alphabetical order 
klate see klète 
klavsen n. harpsichord 
klavye n. keyboard (piano, organ 
etc.; typewriter; computer) 
klaw onomat. clack, flap (flag in 
wind) 
441 
kle - klerenmann 
kie n. key; bottle opener, can opener 
(i.e., any tool used to open s.thg.); 
wrench; key, clef (music); adj. key, 
important 
anba ~ under lock and key, locked 
up; in jail 
bay - kou to strangle 
- ajistab, ~ anglèz monkey 
wrench, adjustable wrench 
- ankwa four-branched wrench 
~ boutèy corkscrew 
~ bwat can opener 
~ èl Allen wrench 
~ kola bottle opener 
- kou neckhold (wrestling); hard 
job 
- machin ignition key (vehicle) 
~ mamit can opener 
~ paspatou master key 
~ plat wrench 
~ tiyo pipe wrench 
~ wou lug wrench 
pase ~ to lock (up); to unlock; to 
start up a motor; to consult a 
Voodoo priest(ess) 
pran - kay to take matters into 
one's own hands 
klè adj. clear, plain, definite, 
distinct, obvious, evident; explicit; 
plausible; bright; light (color); 
light-skinned, mulatto; weak 
(coffee, tea etc.); sheer, 
transparent; awake, open (eyes); 
adv. clearly; n. mesh, grid 
fè - to dawn, grow light 
~ kou dlo k5k/kokoye, - kou dlo 
lapli, - kou dlo (ti)sous, - kou 
dlo nan sous, - kou dlo wôch, ~ 
kou dlo wôz bell-clear, clear as a 
bell 
pa ~ in bad shape 
klèb see klib 
klèje n. clergy; clergyman 
klèk n. election clerk 
kleko n. mixture of kleren (q.v.) and 
a cola drink 
klèman adv. clearly, openly, overtly; 
distinctly 
Klèmèy see Klamèy 
klendèy n. [Fr.] wink 
nan yon - in a flash, in the 
twinkling of an eye 
klenklen adv. many 
Klenntonn see Klitonn 
klerasyon n. explanation, 
elucidation 
klere v. to shine, shine on; to glow, 
sparkle; to flash, light (up), 
illuminate, give off light; to 
enlighten, inform; to polish; adj. 
bright, shiny, flashy; n. beam, 
shaft of light; luster 
~ je to enlighten, inform 
~ je gade to stare at, observe 
attentively 
~ je li to keep one's eyes open, 
claim one's rights 
~ je sou to stare menacingly 
- kou dan zonbi to shine brightly 
kleren, leren n. cheap unrefined 
white rum, raw rum 
kaka ~ drunk, lush 
- blan straight raw rum (without 
any infusion) 
~ pote alatèt to be drunk 
(~) tranpe, ~ konpoze raw rum 
infused with herbs etc. 
Other var. of kleren: ~ anmè, -
asosi, ~ atiyayo, ~ dous, ~ 
kannèl, - kri, - lakay, - nazon, -
sowo, ~ zo devan 
klerenmann, klerennye n. 
drunkard, alcoholic, boozer, old 
sot 
442 
klesi - kloche 
klesi, klèsi see eklèsi 
klèsin: 
Idè kou ~ clear as a bell 
klèsisman, eklèsisman n. 
clarification 
klete v. to lock; to lock up, put in jail 
klète, klate n. brightness, gleam, 
light; clearness, clarity 
Klèvo prop.n. Clervaux (Haitian 
Revolutionary leader) 
klevwa n. window blinds, Venetian 
blinds klèvwayan adj. clairvoyant; sharp, 
discerning 
klèvwayans, laklèvwayans n. 
clairvoyance 
klewon n. bugle; see kônè 
klewonnen, klèwonnen, klèyonnen 
v. to proclaim, herald, shout (news 
etc.) 
Kleyo (siklon)prop.n. Cleo 
(disastrous hurricane, August 
1964) 
Klevopatf.prop.n. Cleopatra 
klezon see klwazon 
klib, klèb n. (social) club 
Klib Meditèraneprop.n. Club 
Med(iterranée) (Dept. Artibonite) 
kliche n. cliché; negative 
(photography) 
klik n. clique, coterie, clan 
klike v. to click (on) (computer) 
klima n. climate 
klimatik adj. climatic(al) 
klimatizasyon n. [Fr.] air-
conditioning 
klimatize v. [Fr.] to air-condition 
klimatizè n. [Fr.] air-conditioner 
klimatolojis n. climatologist 
klin adj. clean; neat; perfect; v. to 
clean, wash; adv. perfectly 
~ dôdôy very clean, sparkling 
mete - to clean, wash; to neaten up 
klinay, klinaj n. (fam.) cleaning up, 
straightening up 
Klinèksprop.n. Kleenex (facial 
tissue) 
Klini (mache) prop.n. Cluny market 
(main market of Cape Haitian, 
Dept. North) 
klinikzi. clinic 
klins n. var. of mango 
klip onomat. to express a sudden 
stop 
klipè n. clipper (ship; plane) 
klips n. paper clip; (metal) staple 
klipse v. to staple 
klipsè n. stapler 
klis see klisay 
klis, eklis n. splinter, sliver; partial 
crown; inlay (tooth) 
klisay, klis, klisad, klisaj n. 
wattling, lattice 
klisbwa n. splinter (in finger etc.) 
klise v. to wattle, do the wicker-work 
(for a house) 
klistè see kristè 
Klitonn (Bil), Klenntonn prop.n. 
Clinton (Bill) - president of USA, 
1993-2001 
klitoris n. clitoris 
klivaj n. split, separation 
kliyan, klyan n. customer, client, 
shopper 
kliyantèl, kliyantelis, klyantèl n. 
clientele; cf. pratik 
kliyantelis n. commercial favoritism 
kliyotan n. turn signal indicator 
(mach.) 
klô n. chlorine 
klôch n. bell 
de - testicles 
kloche n. bell-tower, belfry; steeple, 
spire 
443 
Kloche - klowokin 
Klocheprop.n. Clocher (communal 
section of Carrefour, Dept. West) 
klochèt n. bellflower (bot.) 
Klod, Klod prop.n. Claude; 
Claudius 
klodàn n. var. of insecticide 
YAodetf.prop.n. Claudette 
Klodin, Jaksilprop.n. Claudine, 
Jacquesil (2nd communal section 
of Caracol, Dept. North-East) 
klodinèt n. type of hair style 
klôk n. pimple, small bump 
klôkanten n. var. of mollusk 
kloke v. to cluck 
klonaj n. cloning 
klopiklopan adv. limpingly, 
haltingly 
kloramfenikol n. chloramphenicol 
klorat n. chlorate; gun powder; 
fireworks (fig.) 
lage yon ~ sou to give spectacular 
expression to 
klori n. chloride 
kloridrik adj. hydrochloric 
klorin n. chlorine 
klostra, kloska n. decorative or 
ornamental cinder-block 
klotch n. clutch (auto) 
dis ~ clutch disk 
plet ~ clutch plate 
kloti n. fence; enclosure [Fr.]; 
closing (of a ceremony etc.) 
~ siklon wire fencing (to keep out 
animals but unaffected by storm 
winds) 
~ vif hedge 
klotire v. to enclose, wall in, fence 
in (field etc.); to end, terminate, 
conclude (session) 
klou n. (metal) nail; boil, pimple; sty 
(eyes) 
~ beton masonry nail 
~bokèt,~blôkèt,~bwokèt,~ 
dezyèm tack, carpet nail 
~gagit,~djag,~djagit,~ 
dyagit, - gagwit, - san tèt, -
talon shoe nail, cobbler's nail 
- jiwôf (a single) clove (spice) 
~ nan je sty 
- wons nail staple (hardwear) 
mete - sou apse/maklouklouto 
put salt on a wound, make matters 
worse, add insult to injury 
pa gen yon - penniless, flat broke 
san peye yon ~ without paying a 
cent 
Other var. of nails: ~ bak, - de 
pous, ~ de pous edmi, - demi 
pous, ~ nimewo de, ~ nimewo 
en, ~ premye, - sapat, ~ sis, ~ 
twa, ~ twa pous 
kloumglot adj. greedy 
kloun n. clown 
kloup! see vloup! 
klouray n. nailing (down), tacking 
(down) 
kloure, klouwe, klwe v. to nail, nail 
down, nail shut; to be stuck at 
(home etc.) 
~ sou yon kwa to crucify 
soulye ~ shoes that are tacked 
(rather than sewn) 
kloutap kloutap, kloutoup kloutap 
onomat. : 
ale ~ ~ to bump along, rumble 
along (car etc.) 
klouwe see kloure 
klowak n. cloaca, sewer, latrine 
klowofil n. chlorophyl 
klowofôm n. chloroform 
Klowofos, Dipterèks prop.n. 
Chlorofos (commercial 
insecticide) 
klowokin, klowoken n. chloroquine 
444 
klowôks - ko 
klowoks, klowos n. clorox, bleach 
KJowomisetin n. Chloromycetin 
klôz n. clause (contract etc.) 
klôzèt n. [Eng.] closet 
Idwazon, klezon, klozon, kwazon 
n. partition, interior wall; 
temporary wall 
klwazonnen v. to partition (off) 
klwe see kloure 
klyan see kliyan 
klyantèl see kliyantèl 
km abbrev. kilometer 
- 2 square kilometer 
Kmè Wouj prop.n. Khmer Rouge 
KNG acron. Konsèy Nasyonal 
Gouvènman (National Council of 
Government) - ruling junta of 
Haiti, 1986-1987 {facetiously 
defined as Ka Nou Grav Our 
situation is grave) 
ko adv. already; prefix co-
pa ~ see poko 
pa... - not... soon 
pa te - has not yet, had not yet; cf. 
patko 
ko n. body; corpse; organization; 
main portion or section; corps; 
corn, callus; bunion; reflexive 
pron. self 
andedan ~ moun viscera 
bat ~ to fidget, squirm 
bay - van to put on light clothing; 
to take it easy 
brase - li to squirm, toss and turn 
dlo ~ sweat 
e (vye) - a? how goes it? 
fè dlo - li benyen ~ li to threaten, 
make s.o. really sweat 
fè ~ to team up, join forces; to 
bond 
fè - li bèl to doll up, dress 
(oneself) up for a special occasion 
fe ~ li pit! to humble oneself, 
lower oneself; to be 
inconspicuous, be unobtrusive 
fè - li piti devan presyon to give 
in to pressure 
fè yon sèl ~ to come together, 
unite 
fè (yon sèl) ~ sou do (yon moun) 
to gang up against (s.o.) 
fèmen ~ li to be homebound 
frèt ~ li to withdraw, retreat 
gen ~ dous to feel lethargic 
gen nan ~ li to be able to do s.thg. 
(of which one was thought to be 
incapable) 
Gran ~ Haitian Senate (fam.) 
gwo ~ heavy-set, stocky, hefty 
kale ~ li to show off; to act sexily, 
be seductive 
~ a ~ wrestling; hand-to-hand 
combat (milit.) 
~ a pa bon I'm not feeling well 
~ akable, ~ dezole see ~ kraz 
~ bwa tree trunk 
~ donè honor guard 
~ drapo flag corps, flag-bearers 
(Voodoo esp.) 
-earn body and soul, 
wholeheartedly 
~ fanmi household members 
~ gason penis 
~ kadav visible physical body (in 
contrast to gwo bonnanj and ti 
bonnanj, q.v. - Voodoo) 
- kay household 
cry of a fighting cock 
~ konsè French horn 
- kras dirty or filthy person 
~ kraz, ~ kraze exhaustion, 
weariness, lassitude, extreme 
fatigue; general weakness, 
malaise; lethargic person; worn 
445 
ko - kôb 
out, exhausted; listless, apathetic, 
lethargic 
- labouyi flabby body; lethargy 
- lage weakness; lethargy; 
apathetic or lethargic person; 
listless, apathetic, lethargic 
Ko Lapé see Pisko Ayiti 
~ lenge puny, sickly 
- li ap desann see vye - li ap 
desann 
- li grate to be itching for a fight; 
to be restless 
- likid weak, frail; indecisive; 
lethargic 
- lôja lethargic person 
- lôkè flabby body; lethargy 
~ mezon household members 
- mizik musical group 
- mo paralyzed 
- môl weary, tired 
- mou mollusk 
- moun human body, anatomy 
- mouri, - nan môn indolent, 
lethargic, dawdling 
~ pa bon sick, ill; broke, penniless 
- pyebwa tree trunk 
- rèd see kèrèd 
~ san tèt strange monster 
~ touni naked, nude; cf. toutouni 
- zo skeleton, wasted, wizened 
konprann - li to know one's 
place, know one's (lower) social 
standing; to behave oneself 
kont - li completely; enough; very 
kraze - li to exhaust oneself, tire 
oneself out 
lache - li to relax 
lage - nan to devote oneself to 
lonje - to stretch out, recline, 
relax 
louvri - li to have sex (woman) 
(maladi) - rèd tetanus, lockjaw 
mete - deyô to head out, go out 
mete - li tou piti to be self-
effacing; to be discreet 
mete - li yon kote to scram, get 
lost 
mini - skinny, spare, emaciated 
nan ~ (yon moun) to be on 
(s.o.'s) back, be nagging at (s.o.), 
be harping at (s.o.); to be hitting 
on (s.o.), be after (s.o.) sexually 
pa bat - ou! take it easy, don't 
worry! don't fidget! 
pa konn ki kote pou mete - li not 
to know which way to turn; to be 
thrilled, be extremely excited 
pou ~ li alone, by oneself, by itself 
rale ~ to get out of the way, move, 
stand aside 
rale ~ li to pull out of s.thg., 
withdraw 
rale ~ ou! oh come on now! that 
can't be so!; scram! clear out! get 
lost! 
rele sou ~ li to pull oneself 
together 
rete nan ~ yon moun to nag 
san ~ sickly; puny; light, 
insubstantial 
ti ~ penis 
twop pou ~ li impertinent, show-
off 
vye ~ li ap desann to be going 
downhill, be nearing the end, be 
nearing death 
wete - ou! scram! get out of my 
way! 
kôb n. (fam.) Haitian cent (1/100 of 
a gourde); (fam.) dough, money, 
cash; see degouden; ke 
bay - to finance, back up 
bay - anba to bribe 
fè - to make or earn money; to 
446 
kôb - kochon 
win money 
kenz - kole of one piece, 
undivided whole 
- kay rent (money) 
- maledve, ~ sal dirty/dishonest 
money 
- (pa) anba bribe 
- travay pay, wage, salary, 
earning 
- wouj U.S. penny 
manman ~ principal, main sum of 
money (as opposed to enterè -
interest) 
mete - deyô to spend money 
pa gen senk ~ penniless, destitute 
pa peye senk ~ (kwiv) not to pay 
a red cent 
pa pou senk ~ not for a mere 
pittance, not for nothing 
pa yon grenn ~ nwè, pa senk ~ 
not a red cent 
san senk ~ penniless, destitute 
senk ~ (Tonton No), senk ~ kwiv, 
senk ~ wouj "one red cent," 
formerly equivalent of one cent 
U.S., penny 
ti ~ small bronze coin worth one-
half a Haitian cent (obs.); a little 
bit of money 
yon bèl ~ a lot of money 
yon bon - a fairly large amount of 
money 
yon ~ some money 
yon bèl ~ a lot of money 
yon - pwès a fat wallet, a wad of 
money 
yon moso nan - la partial 
payment 
kobaba! kobebe! kôbèbè! interj. 
wow! 
kobal n. cobalt 
kobannza adj. thin, feeble, 
emaciated 
kobay n. guinea pig 
~ Bizango victim of an evil secret 
society 
kobebe!, kôbèbè! see kobaba! 
kôbèy n. church collection plate or 
basket; basket 
kôbiya, kôbya n. hearse 
~ ipomobil horse-drawn hearse 
kobo adj. dented 
kôbo n. crow, raven 
kôbôy n. cowboy; reckless 
individual; Western (film); joker, 
character; comic strip; bachelor 
apartment, bachelor pad 
fè ~ to act up, act irresponsibly 
vire an ~ to become a farce, turn 
into a joke 
kobra n. cobra 
kôbya see kôbiya 
koche n. coachman (for a bogi, q.v.; 
cf. bôsmann) 
kôche, kwôche v. to skin; to flay; to 
butcher; to scratch, scrape, abrade; 
to beat (in a game); to beat up; n. 
scratch, slight cut, abrasion 
~ do to degrade, demean, 
disparage 
kôchè n. skinner 
kocheni, kochini n. cochinel (ent.) 
kochèt, kôchèt n. crochet; see 
kwochèt 
£è ^  to crochet 
kochi see kwochi 
Kochiprop.n. Crochus (1st 
communal section of Thomazeau, 
Dept. West) 
kochini see kocheni 
kochma n. nightmare 
kochni n. var. of noxious insect 
kochon, kochon n. pig, hog, swine; 
pork; slob, dirty person; var. of 
447 
kochon - kôd 
plantain; adj. dirty, indecent; v. to 
be unable to make a move 
(checkers); to prevent from 
making a move (checkers) 
bwa ~ hogbush; pistol, revolver 
(fam.) 
fè ~ to mess up, act like a pig 
femèl - sow 
- barak large male pig; wild boar 
~ blan large imported pig 
- chanpwèl see ~ gri 
~ djôl long, ~ kreyôl, 
~ planch traditional dark Haitian 
Pig 
~ gra var. of fish 
~ gran ras large imported pig 
~ grate white person (pej.) 
~ gri, ~ chanpwèl, ~ san pwèl/ 
pwal secret society of evildoers; 
member of same; (euphemism for) 
human sacrificial victim - cf. 
kabrit san kôn 
- grimèl light-skinned imported 
Pig 
~ kamyon person riding on top of 
truck; helper on a truck (cf. bèf 
chenn) 
~ kreyôl see ~ djôl long 
~ manje santiman li (nan po 
bannann) to have no self-respect 
~ mawon wild boar; joker, jerk, 
irresponsible person 
~ planch see ~ djôl long 
~ san pwèl/pwal see ~ gri 
~ sent Antwàn worthless person 
manman ~ sow, female pig 
mè ~ sow who has not yet 
produced piglets; cf. tiri 
moun ~ fè chen bay tete 
scoundrel, fraud, sneak 
pak - pigpen, pigsty 
pase sa - Lagonav pa pase to 
have a miserable time 
pwal ~ bristle 
pye - pistol, revolver (fam.) 
ti - piglet; woodlouse 
vyann ~ pork 
kochondenn, kochondeng, 
kôchondeng, kochondenn n. 
guinea-pig; small insect 
resembling a guinea-pig 
Kochongra prop.n. Cochon-Gras 
(3rd communal section of Jacmel, 
Dept. South-East) 
kochonnen v. to dirty up, foul up 
kochonnri, kochonste n. filth, 
dirtiness 
kochonnye n. agent responsible for 
removing pigs from PaP streets 
(obs.) 
kochonste: 
mete ~ nan tèt yon moun to 
influence s.o., give s.o. bad 
guidance or direction 
kochte, kwochte v. to hook, latch 
(door, window); to dock; to sail 
into (port); to walk close together 
- ko (li) kote to stick close to 
kôd n. rope; code, cipher; code, 
body of laws; cord of wood (4' x 4' 
x 8r); string (of musical 
instrument) 
anba ~ under arrest; done for, 
finished; to have been cheated, 
have been had 
anba ~ venteyen kout ne tied 
hand and foot, hog-tied 
bay ~ to fly a kite 
bay yon kout - to tie together 
(sisal etc.) 
bèt ~ any type of four-footed 
animal (that can be led by a rope) 
bout - length of rope, piece of 
rope; organized agricultural work 
448 
kôd - kodijeni 
group 
fè - rèd to refuse to negotiate, 
refuse to discuss 
gen - tèt li to be independent 
kenbe - tèt yon moun to 
influence s.o., give s.o. guidance 
or direction 
- dasè access code, country code 
(itelephone) 
~ detik code of ethics 
- fanmi extended family 
- la kase to kick the bucket, die 
- lage loose living, dissoluteness 
- lapôs, zip ~ [Eng.] zip code 
- lonbrit, ~ lonbrik umbilical 
cord; roots, origins 
- mal taye see kontmaltaye 
- ne knotted cord used as Voodoo 
charm 
~ ne koulan hangman's rope 
~ postal zip code 
~ rad clothes line 
~ tèt halter rope (for restraining 
animals by neck) - cf. likou; 
orientation 
~ vokal, ~ vwa vocal cords; 
laiynx 
~ vyolon var. of vine (same as 
lyann vyolon) 
koupe - lonbrit li ak to be really 
attached to, be really into; to have 
a natural propensity for 
kout ~ arrest 
mare - to tie the tubes, perform a 
tubal ligation; to fasten bracelets 
etc. to ward off evil (Voodoo) 
mare - lonbrit ak to become 
attached to, become at one with 
mete anba - to tie down; to 
handcuff, arrest 
mete ~ nan kou to arrest 
nan ~ under arrest 
pa gen ~ ki kapab mare dyab la 
there's no taming the devil 
pran - tèt li to get a hold or grip 
on oneself 
reprann - tèt li to regain one's 
composure 
retire ~ sakit (yon moun) nan 
kose li to cut off friendship, no 
longer be friends 
sote ~ to jump or skip rope 
ti ~ string 
tire - to pull strings, exert 
influence or pressure; to engage in 
a tug of war 
koda adj. guilty; at fault; wrong 
kôdaj see koday 
kodak n. camera 
kout - snapshot 
kodake v. to film, photograph; to 
record, capture 
kodamoni n. French horn 
kodas n. beginner, novice; emigrant; 
boot; adj. inexperienced; 
immature 
kodase, kodase, kodasye see 
kadase 
kôday, kôdaj n. ropes, rigging 
kode v. to encode; adj. coded 
kôde v. to writhe, double up (in 
pain); to squirm, wriggle; to twist, 
knot; to tie up, attach; to make 
rope or twine; to weave; to braid, 
plait; adj. scrawny 
kodenn, kodèn, kodenn n. turkey 
(bird); wanderer; adj. cowardly 
bonbon ~ nightshade (plant) - cf. 
lanman 
kodeyin n. codeine 
Kôdfè see Kôtdefè 
kodifikasyon n. codification 
kodifye v. to codify 
kodijeni n. corps of engineers 
449 
kôdinasyon - kofre 
kôdinasyon n. coordination 
kôdinatè, kodonatè, kodonè, 
kowôdinatè, kowôdonatè, 
kowodonatè n., kôdinatris, 
kodonatris, kowôdonatèz, 
kowôdonatris f.n. coordinator 
kôdiwôy n. corduroy 
kôdjal see kôdyal 
kodjay see koudjay 
kodjo adj. cheap, junky, ugly; 
unkempt; deformed, misshapen 
kôdjôm, kôdjonm, kôdyôm adj. 
pretty, nice, pleasing 
~ ak in accord with, in harmony 
with 
pa ~ devious, evasive, slippery; 
not in good shape; not good-
tasting, not quite right 
pawol ~ words that make sense 
kèdmaltaye see kontmaltaye 
kôdo n. string, line 
kôdôk n. var. of mango 
kodon see kodwon 
kodonatè, kodonatris see kôdinatè 
kôdone v. to coordinate; n. [Fr.] 
one's address, telephone number 
etc. 
kodonè see kôdinatè 
kôdonnèt, kôdonèt n. braid, strand 
(hair); adj. braided 
kôdonnri n. shoe making and/or 
repairing shop 
kôdonye, bôs kôdonye, kôdonnye, 
kodonnyè, n. shoemaker, shoe 
repairman, cobbler; shoemaking, 
shoe repairing 
~ san fil bumbler, s.o. who does 
shoddy work 
kôdtèt see kôd tèt 
kôdwon, kôdon n. strip, band; cord; 
umbilical cord; cordon; girdle 
(ecc.); tassel; type of konbit (q.v.); 
guama tree 
- maldyôk cloth belt worn to 
ward off evil spirits 
~ penitans cloth belt worn as 
penitence (usu. Voodoo) 
~ sekirite police line 
~ ve cloth belt usu. worn in tribute 
to Ezili Freda (Voodoo) 
kodyal, kodjal adj. cordial, hearty, 
warm; cordial (liqueur) 
kôdyalman adv. cordially, heartily, 
warmly 
kodyom see kôdjôm 
kôf n. chest (body; furniture); wall 
safe, coffer; safe deposit box; 
trunk (car); gun butt; trunkfish 
~ dèyè trunk (car) 
~ flzi gun butt 
^ ~ sound of coughing 
~ kôt rib cage 
- latrin seat of latrine 
~ lestonmak chest, thorax, rib 
cage 
lestonmak 11 se - he/she is the 
soul of discretion 
mete nan - lestonmak li to really 
get at s.o., dress down, hit hard; to 
malign, speak ill of s.o. 
se sou ~ lestonmak mwen over 
my dead body; it's within me 
ti ~ devan glove compartment 
(car) 
kofi n. down or pubic hair on some 
infants 
kôfkôf onomat. sound made by a 
sick chicken 
kofray, kofraj n. framing for 
concrete work; scaffolding; 
battering, mauling 
kofre, kôfre, kofwe v. to comer, 
hem in; to beat up badly; to 
overwork; to overwhelm; to do 
450 
kofrè - kôk 
(s.o.) in; to be crushed; to curl up, 
bunch up; to collapse, be 
exhausted; to assemble (wooden) 
cement forms (construction work) 
kofrè n. ruffian, tough, thug 
kofrè n. small (usu. hand-painted) 
wooden jewelry box 
kôfrefo n. safe, strong box, wall-
safe 
koho see koyo 
kôhôn n. patience, strength, 
courage; backbone 
kôhôt see ko wot 
kok n. cocaine (fam.) 
kôk n. rooster, cock; coconut; cock, 
dick (penis); hull (of boat); bully, 
tough guy; cocaine (fam.) 
anraje ~ graje completely crazy 
anvan ~ chante before the cock 
crows, before dawn 
bon ~ macho guy 
chante ~ sou to lord over, 
dominate 
fè gran - to act big, be the big 
man 
file ~ to engage in cockfighting 
fo ~ dildo; political opportunist 
(esp. in Lavalas movement) 
gwo gwo - angle var. of large 
fighting cock 
gwo ~ peyi large plain cock 
jwèt -, ~ batay children's game 
played using seeds from sandbox 
tree 
kale - pou po to do s.thg. for 
nothing, waste one's time 
- a - children's game played with 
small pebbles 
~ ajante, - awoma, ~ awouma 
slate-colored cock 
~ annega good fighting cock 
~ hatay fighting cock; born 
fighter; quarrelsome, pugnacious; 
see jwèt ~ 
- bate heavily-feathered cock 
- bendezwèl, benezè, ~ 
benezwèl, benndezwèl see 
benezwèl 
- blan snowy egret (bird) 
- bol featherless fighting cock 
~ chango (red) cardinal flower 
- chante see sèl - (ki) chante 
- deras good fighting cock 
- dezim, - dzim Indian fighting 
cock; especially good fighting 
cock (cf ~ gim) 
- djougan poor-quality cock 
- do pela, - do pelaw fighting 
cock with no feathers on back 
- dominiken see ~ panyôl 
~ franse var. of fighting cock 
- gagé, ~ gagen fighting cock 
- gagim, gadjim cowardly 
fighting cock; unattractive cock 
- gate cock useless for fighting 
~ gay veteran or very experienced 
fighting cock 
- gim Indian fighting cock; 
especially good fighting cock (cf 
~ dezim, - dzim) 
- golwa first-class fighting cock 
(supposedly of French origin) 
- graje candy made from grated 
coconut; see anraje - graje 
~ gwo grenn cock useless for 
fighting 
- jèm, - jim fighting cock 
- kagou sickly cock or person 
- kalite first-class fighting cock; 
(male) swinger, ladies' man 
- kannèl cinnamon-colored cock 
- katye local hero; folk hero 
- kazwèl fighting cock or person 
lacking in spunk 
451 
kok - koka 
~ konbatan fighting cock 
- kouri, - kreyol cock useless for 
fighting 
- kriyadô experienced old 
fighting cock 
- lakou macho man, Don Juan 
- lannwit yellow-crowned night 
heron (bird) 
- li pa chante to be impotent 
-16 sacrificial rooster (Voodoo) 
- manni var. of fighting cock 
- mo see kwôkmô 
- môl listless or lackluster person; 
see kokmèl 
- oie ideally ripe coconut 
- pa bat no sale 
- pa chante to be impotent 
- panyôl, ~ dominiken large 
fighting cock; large coconut; 
coward 
- papou var. of cock with many 
head feathers 
- pela, ~ pelaw fighting cock with 
no feathers on back 
~ peyi, - paysad plain cock (as 
opposed to a - kalite) 
- ploum rooster that refuses to 
engage in cockfight 
~ pye kaka girl-shy man, guy who 
gets nowhere with women; lazy 
useless guy 
~ pye sal lazy useless guy 
~ rache coconut cut into thin 
strips 
~ ras first-class fighter, worthy 
opponent (person or cock) 
~ rèd hard-on, erect penis 
~ san bèk (person with) two front 
teeth missing 
~ savann cock useless for 
fighting; vagrant, good-for-
nothing; Hispaniolan thick-knee 
(bird) 
- sinis, - sennis gray fighting 
cock 
- sourit var. of med. shrub 
- touyè fighting cock which has 
secret tactic 
~ woutchado experienced old 
fighting cock 
- zenga large fighting cock 
- zepolèt cock with black and 
green wings 
konpè - dude, dandy, man about 
town 
ma jo ~ greater Antillean bullfinch 
(bird) 
pa vie pou - bat - nou not to be 
outdone 
po (ti) - , po tèt - foreskin, 
prepuce 
pou ti - for a song, for a small 
amount of money 
sèl - ki bèk the only one that 
counts 
sèl - (ki) chante only voice to be 
heard, king of the barnyard, ruler 
of the roost; dominant, 
commanding 
swen - pou (yon lot moun) bat 
to serve (s.o. else's) needs 
tèt - glans penis; dickhead, 
bonehead, meathead 
ti - greater Antillean bullfinch 
(bird); (tough) little guy; var. of 
noxious insect (same as sikadèl) 
vôlô - var. of bird 
Other terms for fighting cocks: -
boule, - gri, - nwa, - pentad, ~ 
plima, - tonn, - wouj 
Kok Chante (mon) prop.n. Mount 
Coq-Chanté (Dept. South-East) 
koka n. coca; hickey, "love bite" on 
neck etc.; prop.n. Coke, Coca-Cola 
452 
kokad - kokolo 
fôm - well-shaped or sexy body 
(woman) 
kokad n. hair ribbon, bow; rosette 
Koka(-Kola) prop.n. Coca-Cola 
kokanba n. var. of croton (bot.) 
kokayin n. cocaine 
kokayinomàn n. cocaine addict 
Kokaz prop.n. Caucasus 
koke see kwoke 
kokeliko n. cordia, geiger tree 
koken n. scoundrel, cheat, swindler, 
crook; cheat(ing), crooked 
deal(ing); adj. crooked, dishonest 
fè ~ to cheat, deceive 
leve % pete ~ to protest, revolt; to 
cheat 
nan ~ ak in cahoots with 
kokenn, kôkenn adj. huge, 
enormous, gigantic; good-looking, 
striking; outstanding 
kokennchenn, kokennchenn adj. 
huge, enormous, gigantic 
kokèt adj. coquettish, elegant, natty; 
see kwokèt 
koki see kokiyay 
antre nan - li to withdraw into 
one's shell, lie low, disappear from 
the scene 
- senjak scallop 
kokinay n. dishonesty, fraud, 
trickery 
kokiyay, koki, kokiy [N.)9 kokiyaj 
n. seashell 
antre nan ~ li to be submissive 
jete - to practice divination using 
seashells 
Kokiyo prop.n. (disadvantaged area 
of northeast PaP) 
kokiyoko, kôkkoukouyoukou see 
koukouyoukou 
kokleyè n. scurvy grass 
koklich, koklich n. whooping 
cough, pertussis; chronic cough 
kokliko n. poppy (plant) 
kôkmo see kwokmô 
kôkmol n. winter cherry, alkekengi 
(plant); bastard lignum-vitae tree; 
see kôk mol 
koko n. pussy (fam. for vagina); 
coconut (N.); n./adj. dumb-ass 
~ makak see kokomakak 
~ poul tube anemone, cerianthis 
~ rat see kokorat 
~ tèt anba asshole, dummy 
kout - cupping glass (folk 
remedy) 
pa di ~ pi di kalbas not to say a 
word 
ti ~ var. of plant 
Koko (plaj) prop.n. Coco Beach 
(near Cape Haitian, Dept. North) 
kôkôb adj. clumsy, awkward; n. 
dupe, sucker 
kokobay, kokobaj n. crippling, 
paralyzing 
kokobe v. to cripple; to wither, 
become useless; n. cripple, 
invalid; adj. paralyzed, crippled, 
disabled, handicapped 
ti - kôb measly bit of money, 
paultry sum 
Kokobitch prop.n. Coco Beach 
(Dept. North) 
kôkôday, akôday n. friendship, 
close relationship; association, 
involvement; complicity; 
gossiping 
kôkôdaye v. to form a friendship or 
close relationship 
kokodil n. crocodile 
kokodjaka n. junk, stuff 
kôkôkoudôk interj. cry made by 
alarmed chickens 
kokolo adj. ungainly, misshapen 
453 
kokolobe - kol 
kokolobe n. scarecrow; cf. jwif 
kèkôm see zèkèp 
kokomakak, kokonmakak n. club, 
stick, bat; dwarf coconut tree 
chèf ~ local atache (q.v.) leader 
kokon n. cocoon 
kokonad n. dish made of coconut, 
butter, dark-brown sugar and 
cinnamon 
kokonèt, kokonèt, konkonnèt n. 
coconut cookie 
kokonm see konkonm 
kokonmakak see kokomakak 
kokopèv n. clay (smoking) pipe 
kokorat n. wood louse; pilferer; no-
count person, worthless person; 
street urchin, homeless waif; 
spoiled leftover food; adj. 
insignificant 
~ ti chimè worthless street urchin, 
little bum 
kokoriko see koukouyoukou 
kôkôt n. genitals (female) (N.) 
kôkèt, koukout n. sweetheart, 
honey, dear 
Kèkôt/Popôt ak Figawo n. Romeo 
and Juliet; inseparable friends 
kokoti n. manioc residue (which 
does not pass through strainer) (N.) 
kokotminit n.. pressure cooker 
kokoto n. wishy-washy person; 
stingy or tight-fisted person; adj. 
stingy; namby-pamby; lifeless, 
nonchalant 
kèkèwès, kolowôs n. skull, cranium 
(zo) - tèt head, noggin, noodle, 
bean (fam.) 
kèkèy n. bunion; callus, corn - cf. 
zôbèy; imbecile, idiot; failure, 
flop, bum (person) 
(dous) ~ coconut candy 
kokoye, kôkôye n. coconut; 
tightwad, cheapskate; var. of 
sexually suggestive dance; adj. 
stingy, tight 
chemiz - palm thatch 
dous ~ coconut candy 
kale - pou po to do s.thg. for 
nothing/in vain 
- nan pye large calf muscle 
mole ~ soft coconut meat 
nannan ~ coconut meat 
tach ~ palm thatch 
Var. of coconut: ~ Damyen, ~ 
endijèn, ^ ibrid, ~ kout 
Kokoye (Dichenn/Dechèn) prop.n. 
Cocoyer (Duchêne) (5th 
communal section of Anse-à-Veau, 
Dept. Grand'Anse) 
kôkôyokô see koukouyoukou 
kèkpit n. [Eng.] cockpit (airplane) 
kôkraz, kôkraze see kô kraz 
kokrèl n. var. of insect 
koksidyoz n. coccidiosis 
koksinèl, koksinol n. ladybug 
koksis n. coccyx 
koktèl n. cocktail; any mixed 
alcoholic drink (other than rum); 
cocktail party, reception 
~ molotov Molotov cocktail 
ti - peyi traditional Haitian drink 
composed of kleren (#.v.) rum and 
lime juice 
kokwize see konkwizi 
kol n. (neck)tie; collar; glue, paste; 
difficult question, sticker; Colt 
(revolver); cervix; (telephone) call 
[Eng.]; see lakol 
arèt ~ tie-clasp, tie-pin 
~ bwa carpenter's wood glue 
~ matris cervix 
~ sik to call in sick [Eng.] 
pa gen ~ nan kou ni vès sou do 
not to be stiff and formal 
454 
kola - kole 
kola n. cola; (very sweet) soft drink, 
soda pop; yellowtail snapper 
(fish); limpkin (bird) 
(boutèy) - soft drink bottle, pop 
bottle (used as measure) 
- Bode former Haitian soft drink 
- dis, ~ kenz cheap soft drinks 
- Jannini former Haitian soft 
drink 
kolaborasyon n. collaboration 
kolabo(ratè) n., kolaboratris f.n. 
collaborator, colleague, co-worker 
kolabore v. to collaborate, work 
jointly 
Koladè prop.n. Colladère (Dept. 
Center) 
kolaj n. [Fr.] collage (art) 
Kolamann see Kolmann 
kolan adj. sticky; tiresome, 
annoying, obtrusive (person); 
stubborn (fever); n. leotard, tights 
kolangèt! kolangèt! kolangit! 
kolangit! interj. shit! 
~ manman ou! motherfucker! 
fuck you! go fuck yourself! 
kolasonn, kolazonn n. pick-me-up 
(food etc.) 
kolasôt, koulasot n. cuckoo 
kolasyon, korasyon n. light meal, 
light refreshment; breakfast 
dezyèm ~ noonday meal 
kolasyonnen v. to have or eat 
breakfast 
kolazonn see kalasonn 
kolboso, kabose, kalbose, kalboso, 
kolboso n. dent; v. to dent; to 
bulge out of shape; to clobber, 
bash, hit; adj. dented, bent 
kole n. collar; skirmish, scuffle; v. to 
glue, paste; to stick (to), cling (to); 
to coagulate; to be stuck (in mud 
etc.); to get stuck (on exam etc.); 
to unite, attach; to connect, 
juxtapose; to put; adj. sticky, 
gluey; close to (one another), 
growing too close together (plants 
etc.); clinging, tight (clothes) 
diri ak pwa - , diri - , diri - ak 
pwa rice and beans (cooked 
together) 
fèy ti ~ var. of med. plant 
gwo - high-powered 
- ak next to; to adhere to 
- ansanm to get together, unite 
- dan to dig in, become 
established or entrenched 
- debou gutsy, brave 
- gaz to step on the gas, speed up 
- - touching, adjoining; back-to-
back 
- lèt bannann sou to soil, dirty 
- li pran one thing leads 
necessarily to another 
- li pran pa - li pran whatever 
one does the outcome will be the 
same 
- mabouya dancing intertwined 
and swaying the hips 
- moustach to have a male 
homosexual relationship 
- nan bounda/dengonn/dèyè to 
tail, pursue 
- nan kè/deng (yon moun) to put 
pressure on (s.o.), keep after (s.o.), 
nag; to haunt, obsess 
- pyese to sew together, piece 
together; piecemeal, makeshift; 
imperfect, temporary, ragtag 
- sere to tighten; tight; to close 
ranks, huddle together 
- sou to become too familiar; to 
try to get into s.o.'s good graces 
- tèt to work together, join forces, 
cooperate; to neck, kiss 
455 
kole - kolèt 
- tèt li atè to fall down 
- zepôl, pote - to cooperate, work 
together; cooperation; joint 
endeavor 
pa - joker, clown 
(tou) - ak (right) next to, adjacent 
to, adjoining 
kolè: 
- boyo maker of rubber sandals or 
shoes 
kolè, kolè n. rage, fury, anger, wrath 
an - to be angry (over long 
period) 
fè (yon) - to get angry, be angry 
(momentarily); to rage, storm, 
have a fit of anger; to have 
repressed anger 
fè - sou/kont to get mad/angry at 
fè yon sèl - , fè yon kout - to go 
into a violent rage, throw a fit 
- anndan restrained anger 
- krapo false anger 
- moute nan tèt to become 
enraged 
- pase kong mad as hell 
koute - li to give way to anger, act 
impulsively 
moute - (yon moun) to anger 
(s.o.) 
pase - li to blow off steam, relieve 
one's anger 
pete yon sèl - to have a temper 
tantrum, blow one's stack 
pran/fè - sévi wont, pran/fè 
lawont sévi - to use anger as a 
cover for one's shame or guilt; to 
find an alibi or pretext; to be nervy 
or bold; (often explained as a 
vicious cycle of shame and anger) 
kôlèg n. colleague 
kolèj, kolèy n. private elementary 
and/or secondary school 
kolejyal adj. collégial 
kolejyalite n. [Fr.] collegiality 
kolejyen kolejyèn fn. private 
school student 
kôlèk n. collect (telephone call) 
koleksyon n. collection (stamps, 
coins etc.) 
koleksyonè, koleksyonnè n. 
collector 
koleksyonnen, koleksyone v. to 
collect; to gather, pick up 
kolekte v. to collect; see konekte 
kolektè n. tax collector; collector 
(art, stamps etc.) 
kolektif n./adj. collective 
kolektivis n. collectivism; n./adj. 
collectivist 
kolektivite, lakolektivite n. 
community 
- teritoryal local governing 
structure (designed by 1987 
Constitution to decentralize 
government) 
kolektivman adv. collectively 
kolen n. straw chair which has 
developed hole in middle 
kolepyese n. patch-up job, repairing 
kolera, fyèv kolera n. cholera 
kolerat, kolerat n. var. of plant 
kolerin see kolorin 
kolestewol n. cholesterol 
kolèt, kolèt n. collar; chest; gullet, 
neck area; slope, side (of 
mountain); stem of fruit; hilt; 
collection, offering (of money); 
burlap; var. of mango 
gran - , gwo - big shot, VIP, 
bigwig; haughty 
- adam, fèy - , - Notredam, zèb -
monkey's-hand, colt's-foot (herb) 
- deboutonnen (with a) plunging 
neckline 
456 
kolèt - kolonb 
- débrayé openly, without fear 
mete men nan - (yon moun) to 
seize, grab, arrest (s.o.) 
moute - to be haughty, show 
haughtiness 
nan - on one's back, annoying, a 
nuisance 
sak - burlap bag 
Kolèt (larivyè) prop.n. Colette river 
(at Fort-Liberté, Dept. North-East) 
kolèy see kolèj 
koleyoptè n. beetle 
kôlfôt n. epoxy (glue) 
kolgat 77. toothpaste;prop.n. Colgate 
koli n. parcel, package 
kolibèt n. silliness, nonsense, 
foolishness; fool, idiot 
pa nan - ak not to be too familiar 
with, not to be too close to 
kolibri, kolobri, kolobrik, kolobrit 
n. hummingbird 
fè ~ to take out the riches, exploit 
- fran Hispaniolan tody (bird) 
- mon narrow-billed tody (bird) 
kolido see koridô 
kolik n. menstrual cramps; 
abdominal pains; colic; stomach 
ache 
kolimatè n. gunsight 
kolin n. hill; valley 
Kolinapogon prop.n. communal 
section of Dept. South 
Kolin Dèchèn/Dechèn, Bodari 
prop.n. Colline-des-Chaînes, 
Bodarie (1st communal section of 
Grand-Gosier, Dept. South-East) 
Kolin Gobé, Gobé prop.n. Colline 
Gobert (1st communal section of 
Plaisance, Dept. North) 
Kolin Mango prop.n. Collinée-à-
Mongons (12th communal section 
of Aquin, Dept. South) 
kolinè: 
lak - (artificial) fish pond, fish 
reserve 
kolize n. coliseum 
kolizyon n. head-on collision 
fè - to collide 
kolkol n. prairie lily, blazing star 
(plant); nuisance, pest 
kolkrèm n. [Eng.] cold cream 
Kolmann, Kolamann prop.n. 
Coleman (gas) lamp 
kolmate v. to seal off, plug 
kolmatris n. cervix 
kolmozo adj. weak, flabby 
kolo n. rural section chief (same as 
chèf seksyon); tough guy; see 
kolonèl 
kolobri, kolobrik, kolobrit see 
kolibri 
kolochot, polochôt n. polo shirt 
kolok n. colloquium, symposium, 
conference; impudent reply; 
quarrel 
kolokent f.n. loose woman; adj. 
greedy; n. var. of edible gourd 
koloko adj. underhanded 
kolokoto: 
pa pip - nothing at all 
kôlôkôtèk onomat. cry of a parrot; 
see tôlôkôtôk 
kololaw! interj. wow! (usu. neg.) 
kolomi see ekonomi 
kolon adj. greedy, stingy; n. 
colonist, settler; colon (med.) 
~ kreyol Mulatto elite (pej.) 
~ nèg Black elite, Black ruling 
class 
ti - traitor 
Kolon (Kristôf) prop.n. Columbus 
(Christopher) (1451-1506) 
kolon see kolonn 
kolonb see kolonm 
457 
Kolonbi - kolye 
Kolonbi prop.n. Colombia 
kolonbye, kolonbye n. food storage 
bin set on stilts; granary, grain 
storage hut 
Kolonbye see Savanèt 
Kolonbyen prop.n./adj., Kolonbyèn 
f.prop.n. Colombian 
kolonèl, kolo, kowonèl n. colonel 
koloni, kolonni n. colony; cf. 
lakoloni 
yon - many, a bunch of 
kolonis n. (newspaper) columnist 
kolonizasyon, lakolonizasyon n. 
colonization 
kolonizatè, kolonnizatè n. 
colonizer 
kolonize, kolonnize v. to colonize 
kolonm, kolonb n. dove; cf. pijon 
kolonmi n. var. of peasant dance; 
see ekonomi 
kolonn, kolon n. column, pillar; 
newspaper column; group, throng; 
squad (milit.); same as konbit 
(q.v.)\ strolling group of nocturnal 
evildoers (members of a secret 
society) 
!è ~ to assemble, come together 
fil - type of string 
- vètebral spinal column 
senkyèm - fifth column, spy 
yon - a bunch of, a big number of 
kolonnad n. colonnade 
kolonni see koloni 
kolonnizatè see kolonizatè 
kolonnize see kolonize 
kolonyal, kolonnyal adj. colonial 
kolonyalis, kolonnyalis n. 
colonialism; n./adj. colonialist 
kolora: 
jwe yon - to make a whistling 
sound by blowing into one's hands 
kolorad n. Guiana chestnut tree, 
provision tree 
Kolorado prop.n. Colorado (USA) 
koloran n. coloring (substance) 
kolorasyon n. coloration, coloring 
kolore v. to color, dye 
kolorektal adj. colorectal 
kolorin, kolerin n. dysentery 
kolorye v. to color, apply color 
kôlôs n. colossus, giant; adj. giant, 
gigantic 
gason ~ big, strapping guy 
Kolos prop.n. [Bible] Colossae 
kolosal adj. colossal, gigantic 
kolostwôm n. colostrum, foremilk 
Kolosyen prop.n. [Bible] Colossians 
kolowoch n. barnacle, shell-fish; 
hard substance; hard person (to 
cope or deal with) 
tèt - hardheaded, stubborn, 
obstinate 
kôlowos see kèkôwôs 
kolôy n. cologne 
Kolôy prop.n. Cologne (Germany) 
kolozo (ti) n. var. of freshwater fish 
kolpètay n. gossip 
kolpote v. to gossip; to peddle, hawk 
kèlpotè n. gossip (person); itinerant 
peddler 
kolsik v. [Eng.] to call in sick 
kàlslo n. [Eng.] coleslaw 
kolta n. coal tar; v. to control, get a 
hold on 
koltaye, koltare v. to tar; to mix 
with coal tar 
kolte v. to button up; to wear a tie; 
adj. having a high neckline; well-
dressed 
~ ak to get in touch with; to 
embrace; to come face to face with 
kolvèt n. culvert, conduit, sewer 
kolye n. necklace; dog collar; wild/ 
black tamarind tree 
458 
kolye - komedyen 
desant - final ceremony of kanzo 
initiation when necklaces are 
placed on the vèvè (q.v.) of one's 
special Voodoo spirit 
- doub West Indian killdeer (bird) 
- doub fran, zekolye rufous-
naped plover (bird) 
~ doub janm jôn semi-palmated 
plover (bird) 
- grenn bead 
- pè Lebren see Lebren 
fcôm, konm conj. since, because, 
inasmuch as; when; as, like; n. 
roof trussing, roof timbers 
- de fët as a matter of fact 
~ ki dire see kômkidire 
- kwa see komkwa 
- nou dizon as we say; we agree 
then 
- sadwa, ~ sadwatèt see 
kômsadwa 
~ si (dire), ~ si ryennetè see 
komsi 
koma, konma n. coma; top-hat; 
derby hat; mastic, wild olive 
~ wouj bustic (tree) 
komaboî, komakoulout!, 
konmabo!, konmabisto!, 
koumabo!, kounmabi!, 
kounmabo! interj. wow! 
kôman see kouman 
kômandan, konmandan, 
koumandan n. slave overseer; 
commander; commandant, army 
chief of a region; rural section 
chief (same as cbèf seksyon) 
~ laplas, - plas la local 
commander; see laplas 
kômande, konmande, koumande 
v. to command, lead, control; to 
order, direct; to order (goods); n. 
chives sauted in vegetable oil 
which is added to bean purée; adj. 
poisoned 
kômandè, konmandè n. boss, chief; 
slave overseer (also a slave 
himself); adj. bossy, overbearing 
kômandite v. [Fr.] to finance 
kômanditè n. silent partner; 
conspirator, person ultimately 
responsible (pej.) 
kômandman see kèmannman 
kômando n. commando; commando 
force 
komanman! see koumanman! 
kômann, konmann n. order (for 
goods etc.); controls, lever(s) 
fè ~ to order 
komannman, kômandman, 
konmandman, koumandman, 
koumannman, lakômandman n. 
command, order; commandment 
komansan see konmansaii 
komanse see konmanse 
komansman see konmansman 
komantatè n. commentator 
komante v. to comment 
komantè n. commentary, comment 
komatiboulout!, kômapiston!, 
komastipoulout!, 
kômatimôlmèk!, 
komatchouboulout!, 
komatyouboulout! interj. wow! 
kômdefèt adv. as a matter of fact 
komè see konmè 
komedi, kômedi, konmedi, 
koumedi n. comedy; funny 
character, strange person 
ala ~ what a mess 
M pa nan ~ ak ou I'm not just 
kidding around 
komedyen, kômedyen, konmedyen 
n. comedian, actor; affected or 
artificial person 
459 
komèltèk! - komisyon 
komèltèk! interj. wow! my gosh! 
gee! 
komemorasyon n. commemoration 
komemoratif adj. commemorative 
komemore, konmemore v. to 
commemorate 
komen, komen see konmen 
komenyon see konminyon 
komeray, komeraj, komeray n. 
piece of gossip; gossiping; cf. zen 
kômès, komès, konmès n. business, 
trade, commerce; wares, goods, 
merchandise; bad attitude, 
gruffness; good attitude; conj. 
because of, due to 
fè ~ to engage in trade, do business 
~ ale vini, ~ do ale do vini, ~ 
vayevyen, ~ vire men, ~ vire 
tounen back to back buying and 
selling, back to back trading 
ti ~ small marketing activities, 
selling on street; street vendors 
komèsan, komèsan, konmèsan, 
komèsèz n. businessman, 
merchant, trader, retailer 
komèsant, komèsant see 
konmèsant 
komèse v. to trade, deal 
komèsèz see konmèsant 
komèsyal, konmèsyal adj. 
commercial 
komèsyalizasyon n. 
commercialization 
komèsyalize v. to commercialize 
komèt, komèt, konmèt n. comet; v. 
to commit (sin, error etc.) 
kometan see konmetan 
komi, kèmi see konmi 
komik adj. funny, comic, comical; n. 
funny person; cartoon 
fè ~ to clown around 
kèmilfo adj. proper; adv. properly 
Komilfo prop. n. Comme II Faut 
(brand of Haitian cigarettes, since 
1965) 
- vèt mentholated brand (of 
above) 
- wouj regular brand (of above) 
komilis see kominis 
komin n. commune, administrative 
subdivision of an awondisman 
(q.v.); cf. lakomin 
kominal, konminal adj. municipal; 
communal 
kominikasyon, konminikasyon n. 
communication 
kominikatè n. communicator 
kominikatif adj. communicative 
kominike, konminike v. to 
communicate; n. communiqué, 
bulletin, official announcement 
~ ak to contact 
kominis, komilis, konminis n. 
Communism; n./adj. Communist 
kominote, konminote n. 
community; community center, 
civic group 
kominotè, konminotè adj. 
community 
gwoupman ~ community-action 
group 
kominyen, kominye, kominye, 
kominyen, konminyen v. to 
receive communion 
kominyon, kominyon see 
konminyon 
komisarya, komisariya, 
konmisarya n. commissionership; 
office of the commissioner 
~ polis police station 
komisè, kômisè see konmisè 
komisyon, konmisyon n. 
commission, special committee; 
purchase; provisions, food(stuffs), 
460 
komisyonè - kôn 
supplies; message; errand; (sales) 
commission; genitals (female) 
fe-to do/run errands 
- kominal town council, city 
council 
komisyonè, komisyonnè, 
konmisyonnè n. messenger, 
errand boy; commissioner, 
representative 
komisyonnen, konmisyonnen v. to 
commission 
komite, konmite n. committee; 
council, board; deacon 
- administrasyon board of 
directors, governing board, 
administrative committee 
- katye neighborhood defense and 
clean-up group 
kômizik n. orchestra, band 
komkidire, kômkidirè, 
komkwadire, kômsidire conj. so 
to speak, as though, supposedly, as 
if to say 
kômkwa conj. as if, as though 
komkwadire see komkidire 
Komô, Komo prop.n. Comoro 
Islands 
komôd, komod, konmod n. latrine, 
toilet; outhouse, privy; dresser, 
chest of drawers; adj. convenient 
komodite, konmodite n. 
commodity; convenience 
komokyèl, konokyèl n. nonsense, 
bullshit 
zentelektyèl - bullshit artist 
Kômônwèls, Komonnwèl prop.n. 
(British) Commonwealth 
komoran n. cormorant (bird) 
kômsadwa, kômsadwatèt, sadwa, 
sadwatèt adv. properly, correctly 
kômsi, konmsi, konsi conj. as if, as 
though 
fè ~ to pretend, make believe 
~ (dire) it is as if, it is like 
~ ~ so-so, ordinary, fair to middling 
~ ryennetè as if nothing were 
wrong, as if there were no big deal 
komsidire see komkidire 
kômsiryennetè adv. [Fr.] as though 
nothing had happened 
komye n. guava, guayabo tree 
Komyeprop.n. Cormiers (9th 
communal section of Grande-
Rivière-du-Nord, Dept. North; 
12th communal section of 
Léogâne, Dept. West) 
Komye (plaj) prop.n. Cormier 
(Beach) (Dept. North) 
k on contr. kou + yon 
kon n. idiot; adv. as soon as; adv./ 
conj. when; as...as (ex.: pit! ~ li 
piti as small as he is); prep, like 
kon, kou prep, like, as; conj. when 
kon, konn n. horn; (animal's) horn; 
callus; stem of fruit; shoe-horn; 
cone (math.); drum peg; dice 
game; var. of mango; see konn 
bay kout ~ to gore 
chay - very heavy load 
frape - see kole ~ 
gen ~ to be difficult, be hard 
gen - lan to have the floor, have 
the opportunity to speak 
kenbe ~ to monopolize 
(conversation etc.) 
kole % frape % kontre - to lock 
horns, engage in a fight 
~ ap pouse nan tèt li to become 
enraged 
- jenou kneecap, patella; cf. zo 
jenou 
- kabrit cryptostegia (weed from 
which it was hoped to produce 
latex for rubber); bejuco vine 
461 
kôn - kondanab 
- lanbi conch shell 
- siye toothless, impotent 
- tôde aging; old person 
pase ~ to pass the microphone to, 
give the floor to 
plis ~ pase bèf more form than 
substance 
pran ~ to announce 
pran ~ lan to take the floor; to 
take over, continue to operate 
s.thg. 
siye ~ ak to lock horns with, 
oppose 
yon sèl - unicorn 
konabwèy n. var. of hardwood 
KONAJÈK acron. Konsèy 
Nasyonal Aksyon Janklodis 
(Jean-Claude National Action 
Council) - political and esp. 
economic council of Jean-Claude 
Duvalier, c. 1971-1986 
Konakri prop.n. Conakry (Guinea) 
KONATÈL acron. Konsèy 
Nasyonal Telekominikasyon 
(Conseil National des 
Télécommunications) National 
Telecommunications Council 
konay n. loud or deafening noise 
konba n. combat, struggle, strife 
konbat v. to combat, fight (off), 
struggle (against), oppose 
konbatan n. fighter, combatant; adj. 
combative 
~ pou libète freedom fighter 
konbatif adj. combative; fighting 
konbativite n. combativeness 
konbe see konben 
konbèlann n. illegally tapped 
electricity; trick (for theft of 
electricity, setting back odometer 
reading, inserting water into 
gasoline etc.); confidence trick 
(esp. when changing money on 
street); cheat, scammer;hose 
fè - to make do, use makeshift 
device 
konben, konbe, konbyen adv. \m 
much, how many; so many; n. a 
great number of 
- fwa again and again, repeatedly 
konbi see konbit 
kônbif n. [Eng.] corned beef 
konbin n. scheme, trick 
konbinaj see konkibinay 
konbine, konbinen v. to combine, 
put together, join together 
konbinezon n. combination; plot, 
scheme, device; agreement, 
compromise; creature of disparate 
parts (Voodoo) 
fè mare yon ~ to scheme, plot; 
to arrange, fix up 
konbistib n. [Fr] fuel 
konbit, konbi, koumbit, kounbitn. 
cooperative peasant work team for 
clearing land and harvesting, 
community work fest, work-bee 
(cf. American "barn-raising"); 
working together; intrigue 
moute ~ dèyè/sou to scheme, 
intrigue; to slander, speak ill of 
konble v. to fill up, fill (back) in; to 
fill (vacancy); to be filled (with); 
to pile up, heap up; to crowd 
together; to crowd around, close in 
on, press around (s.o.); to 
overwhelm 
- defisi a to make good or make 
up the deficit 
- lanmè (wôch) to attempt an 
impossible or meaningless task 
konbyen see konben 
kondanab adj. r e p r e h e n s i b l e , 
blameworthy 
462 
kondanasyon - Kone Aylann 
kondanasyon see kondannasyon 
kondane see kondannen 
kondannasyon, kondanasyon n. 
condemnation 
- amô death sentence 
kondannen, kondane, kondanen n. 
guilty party; convict; v. to 
condemn, sentence, convict; to 
condemn, judge unfit for use 
- dèyô do li to condemn in 
absentia 
kondansasyon n. condensation 
kondansatè see kondansè 
kondanse v. to condense; to 
evaporate; n. résumé, summary 
kondansè, kondansatè n. condenser 
Kondeprop.n. Condé (4th 
communal section of Les Coteaux, 
Dept. South) 
kondesandans n. condescension 
kondi, kondwi v. to lead, guide, 
escort, take care of; to drive, steer 
(vehicle); to pilot (boat, plane); to 
pipe, channel, funnel (water etc.); 
to behave 
- bak li dwat to keep to the 
straight and narrow (path), behave 
oneself 
- kamyon an to take charge 
~ maryaj to act as witness at a 
wedding 
~ mennen (ale) to lead; to channel 
(water) 
~ tèt li to be on one's own 
~ tèt li byen/mal to behave well/ 
badly 
kondiktè n. leader; herdsman (who 
leads cattle to market - cf. 
mawoule); driver (cf. chofè); 
(electrical) conductor; guiding 
Voodoo spirit (for a seer) 
kondiktivite n. conductivity 
kondipilwen n. large loaf of bread 
kondisip n. classmate, schoolmate; 
fellow participant 
kondisyon n. condition, state; 
condition, restriction, provision; 
agreement, terms 
fè ~ ak to agree on terms/price 
Ministè Kondisyon Fanm (ak 
Dwa Fanm) Ministry of Women's 
Affairs 
pase ~ to agree on, make a deal; to 
set up guidelines 
kondisyone, kondisyonne v. to 
restrict, set guidelines for; adj. in 
good condition/shape 
kondisyonè, kondisyonnè n. hair 
conditioner 
kondisyonèl n. conditional tense 
(gram.); adj. conditional 
kondisyonman n. conditioning, 
preparing, shaping up 
kondit, kondwit n. conduct, 
behavior; conduit, pipeline, flue, 
duct; penis; maintenance of a 
sacred lamp (Voodoo) 
kondô n. condor (bird) 
kondèleyans, kondoleyans n. (my/ 
our) condolences, sympathy 
kondon n. condom; cf. kapôt 
kondwi see kondi 
kondwit see kondit 
kônè, kone, kône n. cone (for ice 
cream); paper cup; funnel; musical 
instrument of various sizes made 
of hammered zinc ending in a 
flared bell and sounding only one 
note; headphones, earphones; 
small bag (for sugar etc.); corner 
kick (soccer); see konen 
voye ~ to send off, get rid of 
Kone Aylann prop.n. Coney Island 
(New York) 
508 
koneksyon - konfô 
koneksyon, konneksyon n. 
connection 
koneksyone, koneksyonne v. to 
network, establish relationships 
konekte, kolekte, konnekte v. to 
connect, plug in; to insert (IV tube 
etc.) 
Konektikèt see Konetikèt 
kônen, kone v. to buzz, tingle, ring 
(ears); to sound or blow a conch 
shell or horn; to noise about, make 
known 
konesan, konnesan adj. [Fr.] 
knowing 
konesans, konnesans, lakonesans 
n. knowledge; common sense; 
skill; consciousness; acquaintance, 
person one knows; intuition; 
clairvoyance, occult power, extra-
sensory perception 
fè ~ to meet, get to know 
gen bon konesans to be alert 
gen ~ to be conscious 
pèdi ~ to faint, pass out 
pran ~ to read, peruse 
reprann ~ to come to, regain 
consciousness 
san ~ unconscious 
konesè, konèsè, konnesè n. 
connoisseur, expert 
kènèt, konnèt n. earphones, 
headset; cone (ice cream); paper 
cup; cornet; bell (of trumpet, horn, 
old-fashioned record-player); 
funnel; receiver (of old-fashioned 
telephone); grinder spout (mach.) 
Konetikèt, Konètikèt, Konektikèt 
prop.n. Connecticut (USA) 
kènèy n. crow 
Kônèy (Pyè) prop.n. Corneille 
(Pierre) - French dramatist (1606-
1684) 
konfederasyon n. (con)federation 
konfeksyone v. to make (clothes) 
konferans n. lecture; conference 
konferansye n., konferansyèz/«, 
lecturer, speaker; spokesperson 
konfere v. to confer, grant, award 
konfese v. to confess 
konfesè n. confessor 
konfesyon, lakonfesyon n. 
confession 
konfesyonal n. confessional 
konfeti n. confetti 
konfi n. preserves, crystallized or 
candied fruit; pickled vegetable; 
home-made spiced vinegar; v. to 
preserve (fruits); to pickle; to soak 
(leather) 
konfidans n. confidence, personal 
secret 
konfidansyalite n. confidentiality 
konfidansyèl adj. confidential 
konfidansyèlman adv. 
confidentially 
konfimasyon, lakonfimasyon n. 
confirmation 
konfimen, konfime v. to confirm, 
ratify, corroborate; to confirm, 
administer the sacrement of 
confirmation; to be confirmed, 
receive the sacrement of 
confirmation 
konfiske v. to confiscate 
konfisri n. candy factory 
konfiteyo n. (rel.) confession of 
guilt 
konfiti n. jam, preserves 
~ mango chutney 
konfiyans see konfyans 
konfizyon n. confusion 
kônfleks n. dry cereal; corn flakes 
konfli n. conflict, dispute 
konfô n. comfort; toilet; cashbox 
464 
konfôm - Kongo 
- modèn indoor plumbing; flush 
toilet 
konfôm adj. straight, in good order 
- ak true to, in keeping with 
- e difôm in good and due form 
rann - to adapt, adjust 
konfôme, konfômen v. to conform, 
adhere 
konfômeman ak adv. in accordance 
with 
konfômite n. conformity, agreement 
konfonn v. to confuse, mistake one 
thing for another; to confuse, mix 
(s.o.) up 
konfonte see konfwonte 
konfôtab adj. comfortable 
konfôtableman adv. comfortably 
konfôte v. to comfort 
konfôtè n. comforter (to cover bed) 
konfrè n. colleague, fellow member 
konfrèri, konfreri n. brotherhood 
(in organization or group) 
konfwontasyon n. confrontation, 
strife, conflict 
konfwonte, konfonte v. to confront, 
face 
konfyan adj. confident 
konfyans, konflyans, lakonfyans 
n. confidence, trust, faith; close 
friend; intimate associate of a 
Voodoo priest; caretaker of a 
Voodoo temple 
fè - to trust, believe in 
fè tèt - to be self-confident, trust oneself 
fè (yon moun) - to have 
confidence in (s.o.), to trust (s.o.) 
gen - to be confident 
gen ~ nan to rely upon, count upon 
konfye v. to confide in; to have 
confidence in, trust; to entrust 
konfyôl n. accomplice, partner; 
henchman 
konfyolo n. shady dealing, schemes, 
intrigues, conspiracy 
fè (yon) ~ to conspire against 
nan ~ ak in cahoots with 
kong n. conger eel (very large eel); 
adj. mean, vicious 
~ morèl spotted moray (eel) 
~ zèb American eel 
move kou kolè pase ~ mad as 
hell 
kongla n. limpkin (bird) 
kongo n. migrant cane cutter; hick, 
yokel, hayseed; air-head, space-
cadet, out of it, naïve person; 
Voodoo dance of minimal foot 
movement but with sudden violent 
turns 
abiye tankou ~ belizè to be 
dressed in a weird or ugly fashion 
dam ~ woman responsible for 
food and drink in konbit (<7.v.) 
~ fran older form of Kongo rite 
dance (Voodoo) 
- payèt sexually suggestive dance 
where men and women form 
separate lines (Voodoo) 
laye ~ to live it up 
nèg ~ old fogey 
pwa ~ pigeon pea 
sosyete ~ type of konbit (q. v.) 
ti - small double-headed 
cylindrical drum - smallest of the 
three Kongo rite drums (Voodoo) 
Kongo prop.n. important Voodoo 
rite: group or "nation" (nanchon) 
of Voodoo spirits, now usu. 
combined with Petwo services; 
Congo (river) 
- Bèlj/Bèj Belgian Congo (former 
name of the below, 1908-1960) 
Repiblik Demokratik - (Zayi) 
465 
Kongolè - konkasè 
(People's Republic of the) Congo; 
Congo-Kinshasa (formerly Zaire) 
Kongolè prop.n./adj., Kongolèz 
f.prop.n. Congolese 
kongolo n. migrant cane cutter 
(pej.); cf. kongo 
kongolo see gongolo 
kongrè n. convention, meeting 
(political, scientific etc.); congress 
kongreganis adj. church-related 
Kongreganis see Kongregasyonis 
kongregasyon n. congregation, 
assembly; religious order 
Kongregasyonis, Kongreganis 
prop.n. Congregationalist; 
prop.adj. Congregational 
kongresis n. participant at a (formal) 
conference 
kongrèsmann n. [Eng.] 
congressman 
kongrèswoumann, 
kongrèswomann fn. [Eng.] 
congresswoman 
kongrèsyonèl adj. (US) 
congressional 
kongri adj. cooked with beans (rice, 
cornmeal or millet) 
koni adj. well-known, famous 
ensi - thus known; so-called 
kènich adj. dried up, shriveled up 
kènichon, konnichon n. pickle; 
shrimp, runt; chat-tanager (bird); 
hollow cow horn used as container 
for starting a fire (obs.) 
koniflèt, koniflèt n. partisan, 
supporter 
konik, konnik n. chronicle, report 
(press); adj. chronic; conic(al) 
(shaped) 
konivans see konnivans 
kèniye v. to sound (a hom) 
Kôniyon, Granbwa prop.n 
Cornillon (Dept. West) 
Koniyonè prop.n., Kôniyonèz 
fprop.n. inhabitant of Cornilb 
(Dept. West) 
konje n. day off; vacation; leave, 
time off 
jou - holiday 
konjedye v. [Fn] to fire, dismiss,b 
off J 
konjekti n. [Fr.] conjecture 
konjektivit see konjonktivit 
konjelasyon n. [Fr.] freezing 
konjelatè n. freezer 
konjele see konjle 
konjesyon n. congestion, crowding; 
accumulation 
~ nan sèvo, ~ serebral stroke, 
cerebro-vascular accident (CVA) 
konjesyonnen adj. congested 
konjigal adj. conjugal 
konjige v. to conjugate; to combine 
(efforts) 
konjigezon n. conjugation 
konjire v. to ward off; to expel, 
banish, cast out 
konjle, konjele, konjile v. to 
(deep-)freeze 
konjonksyon n. conjunction 
konjonkti n. state of affairs, 
situation, circumstances 
konjonktiv n. conjunctiva 
konjonktivit, konjektivit n. 
(epidemic hemorrhagic) 
conjunctivitis, pinkeye 
konjwen(t) n. [Fr.] spouse; adj. 
joint, combined 
konjwentaman adv. jointly 
konkakaf n. regional competition 
(soccer) 
konkase v. to crush, grind 
konkasè n. crusher (for breaking up 
stones etc.) 
466 
konkav - kon m an do 
konkav adj. concave 
konkeran n. conqueror 
konkeri v. to conquer 
konkèt n. conquest, triumph 
fè ~ to acquire, conquer 
konki adj. conquered, subjugated 
konkibin fn. [Fr.] concubine, 
mistress 
konkibinay, konbinaj n. 
cohabitation, living together 
(without formal marriage); state of 
having more than one non-legal 
(female) spouse 
konkipisans n. concupiscence 
konkiran n. competitor, rival 
konkirans n. competition, rivalry 
fè ~ to compete; to emulate, rival 
konkiranse v. to compete, offer 
competition 
konkistado n. (Span.) conquistador 
konklav n. conclave 
konkli v. to conclude, infer 
konklizyon n. conclusion 
konkôd see lakonkôd 
konkôda n. concordat 
konkodans n. agreement (gram.); 
concordance (Bible etc.) 
konkôday n. affiliation; friendship, 
relationship 
konkôde v. to agree, tally 
konkôdman n. agreement 
konkôkte, konkote v. to concoct, 
conspire, plot 
konkoktè n. concocter, conspirator, 
schemer, plotter 
konkon n. var. of bread 
konkonbwèt, konkonbrèt n. 
quarrels, discord; intrigue, 
machinations 
konkonm, kokonm n. cucumber; 
pickle (cf. konichon); swelling or 
bump on head, hematoma; hump 
(of hunchback - cf. bôs) same as 
graj (percussion instrument), q.v. 
depi/lè/lô ti ~ t ap goumen ak 
berejèn from time immemorial, 
since God made little green apples 
gwo ~ vegetable pear 
- ke rat gherkin 
~ machwè cheek (of face) 
~ zonbi Jimson weed, thorn apple, 
datura stramonium 
ti ~ gherkin 
Other var. of cucumber are: ~ 
epine, ~ kedrat, ^ paloma, ~ 
sovaj, - triyonf, ~ viktwa 
konkonnèt see kokonèt 
konkote see konkôkte 
konkou n. contest, competition; 
assistance, help, support, 
cooperation 
bay - , pote - to help, assist 
konkouran adj. concurrent 
konkre, konkrè adj. concrete, 
tangible, convincing 
konkretizasyon n. concretization, 
realization 
konkretize v. to give concrete 
expression to 
konkrètman adv. concretely 
konkwizi, kôkwize, konkwize v. to 
curl up one's body (esp. when 
cold) 
konm n. roofing, ceiling; see kèm 
konma n. derby hat; top hat; see 
koma 
konmabo!, konmabisto! see 
komabo! 
konman see kouman 
konmandan see kômandan 
konmande see kômande 
konmandè see kômandè 
konmandman see kômannman 
konmando n. (milit.) commando 
467 
konmanman! - konn 
konmanman! see koumanman! 
konmann see komann 
konmansan, komansan: 
an - pa beginning with 
konmanse, komanse, koumanse v. 
to begin, start, commence 
pou ~ to begin with, at first 
konmansman, komansman, 
koumansman n. beginning, start 
konmè, komè, makom, makomè, 
makomè, makonmè f n . honey, 
dear (friendly term used when 
addressing a woman); "sis"; (title 
used by parents when addressing 
their child's godmother, or by 
godmother to child's mother; title 
used by godfather to godmother; 
title used by best man to maid of 
honor); sissy, effeminate male 
(ti) ~ girl, young woman 
konmedi see komedi 
konmedyen see komedyen 
konmemore see komemore 
konmen, komen, komen adj. 
common, usual, ordinary, everyday 
konmenyon see konminyon 
konmeray n. association, friendship 
konmès see kômès 
konmèsan see komèsan 
konmèsant, komèsant, komèsant, 
komèsèz fn. merchant, seller, 
retailer 
konmèse v. to trade, be involved in 
buying and selling 
konmèsyal see komèsyal 
konmèt see komèt 
konmetan, kometan n. backer, 
sponsor, patron 
konmi, komi, kômi n. salesclerk, 
salesperson 
~ grefye assistant to the clerk of 
the court 
konminal see kominal 
konminezon n. plot, scheme, 
conspiracy; combination 
konminikasyon see kominikasyon 
konminike see kominike 
konminis see kominis 
konminote see kominote 
konminotè see kominotè 
konminyen see kominyen 
konminyon, komenyon 
(pronounced: kome-nyon), 
kominyon, kominyon, 
konmenyon (pronounced: 
konme-nyon) n. communion; 
reception after communion 
ceremony 
- (fratènèl) fellowship 
konmisarya see komisarya 
konmisè, komisè, komisè n. 
prosecuting attorney 
- gouvènman prosecuting 
attorney 
~ polis police chief 
Konmisè (mon) prop.n. Mont-des-
Commissaires (Dept. South-East) 
konmisyon see komisyon 
konmisyonnè see komisyonè 
konmisyonnen see komisyonnen 
konmite see komite 
konmod see komod 
konmodite see komodite 
konmsi see komsi 
konn aux. to be in the habit of, 
usually do s.thg., do s.thg. 
regularly or often; (it) sometimes 
happens (that); sh. form konnen; 
see kon 
- dlo to know how to swim 
- fè usual 
- gou djol/bouch li to know what 
one likes, know one's taste 
- moun savoir-faire 
468 
konn - konotasyon 
- viv to have good manners, be 
courteous 
pa - kote pou li mete ko li, pa -
kijan pou li vann machandiz li a 
not to know which way to turn 
pa - moun oaf, lout; ungrateful; 
without pity 
pa - non chen li, pa - pye li ak 
tèt li to be totally clueless, not to 
know from Adam 
konneksyon see koneksyon 
konnekte see konekte 
konnen v. to know, know how; to be 
familiar with, acquainted with; to 
recognize; to understand, assume; 
to believe, think; to busy (oneself) 
with (s.thg.); to have sexual 
intercourse with; n. knowledge, 
understanding; see konn 
chache - to inquire; to investigate 
fè - to let know, warn, inform; to 
reveal; to declare, announce 
fè ~ lavi to deflower, break the 
hymen 
fè kou li ~ to do whatever one 
can, do one's best 
fè sa li ~ to do what one thinks is 
best; to do it one's own way 
fè sa li pa - to do no matter what, 
take desperate measures 
jis mwen pa - to the limit, all the 
way 
~ gou bouch li to know what one 
wants 
~ moun to have good manners, be 
courteous 
~ pèz to be able to evaluate 
~ pèz li to know one's worth 
~ pou to know one has to (do 
s.thg.) 
~ sou bout dwèt to know cold, 
know thoroughly 
- yon leson kou dlo to know a 
lesson inside out/ thoroughly 
pa ~ ignorance 
pa - non chen li not to know what 
one is talking about 
pa - si li monte si li desann not 
to know whether one is coming or 
going 
pou pa di si m te - not to have to 
say if only I'd known, have later 
regrets 
Sa k - you never can tell; who 
knows? 
san - involuntarily; naively 
se ou k ~ it's up to you 
tou ~ ought to know 
konnesan see konesan 
konnesans see konesans 
konnesè see konesè 
konnèt see kônèt 
konnfou n. kung fu (similar to 
karate) 
konngout, kontgout n. medicine 
dropper, eye dropper 
pa ~ drop by drop 
konni adj. well-known 
konnichon see konichon 
konnik see konik, kwonik 
konnivans, konivans n. connivance, 
complicity 
konnsansis, konnsennsis, 
konnsensis see konsansis 
konntenè see kontenè 
konntri adj. country (music) 
konnya, konnye a, konnyeya see 
kounye a 
konokyèl see komokyèl 
konomi see ekonomi 
konomize see ekonomize 
konoso n. connoisseur, good judge 
(of) 
konotasyon n. [Fr.] connotation 
469 
konpa - konpè 
konpa n. beat, rhythm; var. of dance 
rhythm (begun in 1950's); main 
current, main stream (fig.); 
compass; see Liyawona 
blayi - , frape - , gaye - , jwe - , 
lage - , make - , mate - , mete - , 
simaye - , simen - , sonnen - , 
vide - , voye - , woule - to mark 
time or rhythm 
danse - a to keep up, maintain the 
pace 
kenbe (sou) - to have a regular 
heart-beat or pulse; to conduct 
oneself well; to hold one's ground 
- dirèk var. of music and dance 
patterned on merengue from 
Dominican Republic 
mete (yon moun) sou - li to set 
(s.o.) on the right track, bring 
(s.o.) to his/her senses 
pa ka kenbe - not to be able to 
keep up (the pace) 
pa kenbe - li to let oneself go, 
become sloppy 
pa sou - irregular 
pèdi - to be irregular (pulse) 
pèdi - li to be disoriented, lose 
one's way 
konpak adj. compact 
- dis compact disk 
konpanni see konpayi 
konpansasyon n. compensation; cf. 
dedonmajman 
konpanse v. to compensate for, 
make up for 
konpany see konpay 
konpanyen (pronounced: kon-pan-
yen) n. company, guests 
konpanyi see konpayi 
konparab adj. comparable 
konparatif adj. comparative 
konparativman adv. comparatively 
konpare v. to compare 
konparèt n. var. of sweet roll 
(specialty of Jérémie); v. to appear, 
present oneself (in court etc.) 
fè li - to summon, cite 
konparezon n. comparison 
konparisyon n. (jur.) (court) 
appearance 
manda - notice to appear (jur.) 
konpasyon n. compassion 
konpasyonnen adj. compassionate 
konpati v. to sympathize 
konpatiman n. compartment 
- a gan [Fr.], ti - devan glove 
compartment (car); cf. ti k6f 
devan 
konpatriyot n. compatriot 
konpay, konpany n. friend, 
companion 
fè - to pal up with 
konpayè(l) n. buddy, comrade; adj. 
accompanying, helping 
konpayi, konpanni, konpanyi, 
kopanni, lakonpanyi n. company, 
companionship; company, 
guest(s); company, business firm, 
corporation; placenta, afterbirth (5.) 
konpayon n. companion, escort 
konpayonnay n. companionship, 
friendship 
konpayonnaye v. to become 
companions 
konpè, kôpè, monkonpè m.n. 
buddy, man, friend, guy; old friend 
(friendly term used when 
addressing a man); (title used by 
parents when addressing their 
child's godfather, or by godfather 
to child's father; title used by 
godmother to godfather; title used 
by maid of honor to best man) 
- k6k dude, dandy, man about 
470 
konpèd - konpoze 
town 
ti - boy, young man 
konpèd n. var. of Voodoo charm 
konperaj n. plotting, scheming 
konpetan adj. competent, capable, 
qualified; competent, empowered 
(jur.) 
konpetans, kontans n. competence; 
competence, empowerment (jur.); 
strength, endurance 
konpetif see konpetitif 
konpetisyon n. competition, contest 
(cf. konkou); rivalry 
fè - to compete 
- Tato ak Tirayè head-on 
competition (from two competing 
Aux Cayes Carnival groups) 
konpetitè n. competitor 
konpetitif, konpetif adj. 
competitive 
konpi see kowonpi 
konpilasyon n. compilation 
konpile v. to compile; to accumulate 
konpitè, konpyoutè n. computer 
~ pôtatif laptop (computer) 
operatè - data entry operator 
konplè n. outfit, suit (of clothes); 
adj. complete, total 
konplèks n./adj. complex 
konplekse adj. full of complexes, 
inhibited, mixed-up; stuck up, 
snobbish, arrogant 
konpleksifye v. to develop 
complexes; to complicate 
konpleksite n. complexity, intricacy 
konpleman n. complement, 
supplement, addition; 
complement, object (gram.) 
konplenn v. to complain 
konplent n. complaint 
konplès adj. complex (number) 
(math.) 
konplèt adj. complete, total 
konplete v. to complete 
konplètman adv. completely, 
absolutely, wholly 
konplezans n. complacency; 
(excessive) tolerance; cf. sitirans 
konplikasyon n. complication; side 
effects 
konplike v. to complicate, make 
difficult; adj. complicated, 
elaborate, involved, complex 
konpiiman n. congratulations; 
praise, compliment 
fè - to congratulate; to praise, 
compliment 
konplimante v. to congratulate; to 
praise, compliment 
konplis n. accomplice; complicity 
konplisite n. complicity 
konplo n. (political) conspiracy, 
plot; hoax 
fè - , mare - (sou) to conspire, 
hatch a plot, scheme (against) 
konplotay, konplotaj n. plotting, 
scheming; plot, scheme, intrigue, 
conspiracy 
konplote v. to conspire, plot 
konplotè n.} konplotèzfn. 
conspirator 
konpos n. compost heap, mulch pit 
konpôt, ponpot n. compote 
(cooking) 
konpète refl. to behave, act 
- li tankou ze fele to act with 
extreme caution or reserve 
- mal to misbehave 
konpotman n. behavior, conduct 
move - misbehavior 
konpèz v. to compromise, negotiate; 
to mix, prepare (drink, medicine) 
konpozan n. component 
konpoze v. to take an exam; to mix, 
471 
konpoze - konsa 
prepare (drink, medicine); to 
compose, prepare; to compose, 
write (song); to dial (telephone); n. 
mixture, blend, preparation, 
compound; home-made liquor 
- de to be composed of, be 
constituted by 
konpozè n. composer; song-writer 
konpozisyon n. exam(ination), test; 
final exams; composition, creation 
(music etc.); composition; potion, 
preparation; alcoholic drink 
infused with herbs, fruit, bark, 
roots etc. (cf. tranpe) 
fè - to take an examination or test 
konpozitè n. composer 
konpradô n. comprador, 
middleman, commercial 
intermediary 
konprami v. to understand, 
comprehend; to believe, think; to 
assume; n. understanding, 
comprehension; intelligence; 
consideration 
bon - common sense, 
understanding, intelligence 
fè - to claim, declare 
gen bon - wise 
gen - to be responsible, be 
reliable; to be considerate 
- kè li to know one's place, know 
one's (lower) social standing; to 
behave oneself 
- konnen intimate talk or 
expressions shared by two persons 
and understood only by them 
~ mal to misunderstand 
pa - pretending not to know, 
bluff, deceit 
pa - ni pye ni tèt not to 
understand beans, not understand 
anything 
rive - to realize 
san - thoughtless, irresponsible; 
inconsiderate; thoughtlessly, 
irresponsibly 
konprès n. compress (med)\ pad 
mete - to be ailing; to be in 
sorrow 
konprese v. to compress; to press 
konpresè n. compressor; see mato 
woulo ~ 
konpresif adj. compressive 
konpresyon n. changing to a lower 
gear (in car etc.); compression; 
down-sizing (in company, 
industry) 
konpreyansib adj. comprehensible, 
understandable 
konpreyansif adj. understanding, 
indulgent, sympathetic; 
comprehensive 
konpreyansyon n. comprehension, 
understanding; considerateness 
gen - to be considerate 
konprime n. pill, capsule, tablet 
konpwomèt v. to compromise; to 
implicate, endanger 
konpwomi n. compromise; v. to 
compromise 
konpwomisyon n. dishonest 
compromise, shady deal 
konpyoutè see konpitè 
konresponn see koresponn 
konsa, kousa adv. like that, like this, 
in that way, so, thus; 
approximately, around, more or 
less, about; likewise; at that time, 
then 
- - gradually, little by little; in that 
manner; ordinary, everyday, run-
of-the-mill; so-so; evasively; 
irresponsibly; lightly, haphazardly 
pa - - not just any old way 
472 
konsakrasyon - konsiderab 
konsakrasyon n. consecration, 
dedication 
konsakre v. to consecrate, dedicate; 
adj. holy 
konsansis, konnsansis, 
konnsennsis, konnsensis, 
konsensis n. consensus 
konsanti v. to consent, concur 
konsantman, konsantiman n. 
approval, consent 
konsantrasyon n. concentration; 
density 
kan - concentration camp 
konsantre v. to concentrate, be 
intent upon; to be concentrated, be 
centered, be based; n. concentrate; 
adj. tense 
konsantrik adj. concentric 
konsè n. concert; f.n. colleague 
de - ak in cooperation with, in 
conjunction with 
konsekan adj. important; 
influential; respectable; serious-
minded, determined; responsible; 
consistent, rational; profound; 
consequential 
pa - consequently, thus 
konsekans n. consequence, result; 
importance 
an - as a consequence, 
consequently 
konsekitif adj. [Fr.] consecutive 
konsekrasyon, lakonsekrasyon n. 
consecration, dedication 
~ lakominyon (entire) 
communion service; spectacular 
konsènan prep, concerning, 
regarding, about 
konsène, konsènen v. to concern, be 
of importance to, relate to, be of 
interest to, affect; n. person in 
question, person referred to 
konsensis see konsansis 
konsèp(t) n. concept 
konsèpsyon n. conception, outlook; 
consent, approval; conception, 
fertilization 
- gran iakou broad-mindedness 
konseptè n. conceiver, originator 
konsesyon n. concession; 
compromise; large quantity 
konsètasyon n. dialogue, exchange 
of ideas 
konsète v. to consult, exchange ideas 
konsèto n. concerto 
konsèv n. preserves; preserve (for 
trees etc.) 
nan - canned 
konsèvasyon n. conservation 
konsèvasyonis n. conservationist 
konsèvatè n./adj., konsèvatris f.n J 
adj. conservative 
konsèvatwa n. conservatory; adj. 
protective (jur.) 
konsève v. to preserve, retain, 
conserve, keep, put aside, store 
konsevwa v. [Fr.] to conceive, 
imagine 
konsèy n. advice, counsel, tip; 
council; meeting 
- administrasyon, - jesyon board 
of directors, governing board, 
administrative council 
- kominotè community council 
konseyans see konsyans 
konseye v. to advise, counsel; n. 
adviser, counselor; rural section 
chief (same as chèf seksyon) 
- minisipal councilman (U.S.) 
konseyè n. adviser, counselor 
konsi see komsi 
- konsa so so 
konsiderab adj. considerable, 
significant, great 
473 
konsiderableman - konstate 
konsiderableman, konsiderabman 
adv. considerably, significantly, 
appreciably 
konsiderasyon n. consideration 
konsidere v. to consider, think 
about, examine; to regard, esteem 
konsil n. consul 
konsila n. consulate 
konsilè adj. consular 
konsilmann n. [Eng.] councilman 
konsiltan n. consultant 
konsiltasyon n. consultation; 
medical examination, check up 
konsiltatif adj. consultative 
konsilte v. to consult; to have a 
medical check-up; to examine (a 
patient); to auscultate 
konsilyan adj. conciliatory 
konsilyasyon n. conciliation; 
balancing of accounts (finances) 
konsilyatè n. conciliator 
konsilye v. to conciliate, reconcile 
konsimanda n. plot, scheme 
konsistan adj. substantial, firm, 
solid; adv. firmly, solidly 
konsistans n. consistency 
konsisyon n. concession 
konsitwayen n. fellow-citizen 
konsiy n. orders, instructions (usu. 
milit) ; keeping-in, staying-in 
(school punishment) 
konsiyasyon n. consignment 
konsiyatè n. consignee, forwarding 
agent 
konsiyen v. to consign, place in 
consignment; to record; to keep in, 
confine 
~ pôt li to refuse admittance 
konsolasyon, konsol n. consolation, 
comfort 
konsolatè n. consoler, comforter 
konsole v. to console, comfort; refl. 
to resign oneself 
konsolidasyon n. consolidation 
Pwosè Konsolidasyon 
Consolidation Trial (concerning 
corruption involved in 
restructuring Haitian debt to 
France, 1903-1904) 
konsolide v. to consolidate 
konsomasyon n. consumption, 
utilization 
konsomatè n. consumer 
konsome n. bouillon; consommé; 
broth; see konsonmen 
konson see kanson 
konson n. consonant 
konsonmen, konsome v. to bum up, 
consume; to consume, eat, drink; 
n. consommé, bouillon, broth; adj. 
consummate, outstanding, 
exceptional, great; well-cooked 
konsonmsyon n. consumption, 
pulmonary tuberculosis 
konsosyom n. consortium 
konsoud: 
gran - consound (plant) 
konspirasyon, lakonspirasyon 
n. conspiracy 
konspiratè n. conspirator 
konspire v. to conspire, plot 
konsta n. observation; certified 
report; appraisal, verification 
konstaman adv. constantly 
konstan adj. constant 
konstans n. constancy 
konstant n. [Fr.] constant, 
permanent feature 
Konstantinop prop.n. 
Constantinople 
konstatasyon n. [Fr.] observation 
konstate v. to observe, state; to 
witness; to verify, ascertain; to 
appraise (a loss) 
474 
konstelasyon - kont 
konstelasyon n. constellation 
konstènasyon n. [Fr.] consternation 
konstène v. to dismay, dishearten 
konstipasyon n. constipation 
konstipe adj. constipated (cf. sere); 
all dressed up, dolled up; v. to 
constipate 
konstitisyon, lakonstitisyon n. 
constitution 
konstitisyonalis n. defender of the 
Constitution; n./adj. 
constitutionalist 
konstitisyonèl, konstitisyonnèl adj. 
constitutional 
konstitisyonèlman adv. 
constitutionally, according to the 
constitution 
konstititif adj. constituent 
konstitiyan, konstityan adj. 
constituent; n. member of 
constitutional assembly 
asanble - constitutional assembly 
konstitye, konstitiye v. to constitute 
konstri see konstwi 
konstriksyon n. construction; 
compression, reduction 
konstriktè n. maker, builder, 
constructor 
konstriktif adj. constructive 
konstwi, konstri v. to construct, build 
konsyan adj. conscious, aware; 
conscientious; fair-minded 
konsyans, konseyans n. conscience; 
consciousness 
degaje/defoule/vide - li to clear 
one's conscience 
gen -, pran - to realize, become 
aware (of) 
priz - realization, awareness 
konsyansye adj. [ F k ] conscientious 
konsyantizan adj. consciousness-
raising 
konsyantizasyon n. consciousness-
raising, sensitizing; awareness; 
motivation 
konsyantize v. to make (s.o.) aware, 
sensitize; to motivate; to lead to 
revolt 
konsyèj n. [Fr.] super(intendent), 
apartment-house manager 
kont n. tale, story; folktale; riddle; 
lie, falsehood; account, 
explanation; reckoning; (bank) 
account; account, tab; dispute, 
row, quarrel, feud; provocation, 
incitement, instigation; count 
(title); adv. enough; a lot of, plenty 
of; adj. opposed (to), hostile 
(toward); prep, against; prefix 
counter-
bay - to account for; to relate 
tales/stories [does not mean to lie] 
chache - to pick on (s.o.); to look 
for trouble, pick a fight; to be very 
aggressive 
chachè - troublemaker 
fè - to quarrel, argue, clash 
fè - sou to lie (about), accuse 
wrongly; to tattle on, be a tattletale 
fè yon - ak to quarrel/fight with 
fèzè - rumor-monger, gossiper 
gen - ak to be at odds with 
- amiral rear admiral 
- an bank bank account 
- atèm certificate of deposit 
- chante story told with musical 
interludes 
- fini once and for all 
- gout see konngout 
- kô, - li one's fill, one's heart's 
content, plenty, enough 
- kouran checking account 
- maltaye see kontmaltaye 
- randi report, account 
475 
kont - konte 
leve - to oppose, protest 
leve yon - to start an argument 
manje - li to eat one's fill 
mennen - to start a fight, create 
trouble 
mèt - master storyteller 
mete - to start a fight, create 
trouble 
o - on (s.o.'s) responsibility 
pa fè de (2) - not to hesitate 
pa - on the other hand 
pou - li alone, on one's own; 
voluntarily 
pran an - to take into account 
rann - to account for, explain; to 
give an account or explanation; to 
find out; to realize 
rann li - to realize 
sou - in the care of, under the 
responsibility of, under the 
protection of, under the guidance 
of, dependent upon; to have a chip 
on one's shoulder 
teni - (de) to take into account 
tire - to tell/recite stories; to 
propose riddles 
kontab n. accountant, bookkeeper 
espè - (bank) auditor 
kontabilize, kontablize v. to post, 
enter into a ledger (bookkeeping) 
kontabilite, kontablite n. 
accounting 
fè - to study accounting 
kontaj see kontay 
kontajye adj., kontajyèz f.adj. 
contagious 
kontajyon n. [Fr.] contagion 
kontak n. contact, touch; sexual 
intercourse; distributor point, 
points (mack); associate, 
collaborator 
gen - , pran - to have sexual 
intercourse; to be sexually active 
lantiy - , linèt - , vè - contact 
lenses 
rantre an - ak to make contact 
with 
kontakte v. to contact, get in touch 
with 
kontaminasyon n. contamination, 
pollution; contagion 
kontaminen, kontamine v. to 
contaminate, pollute; to be 
contaminated; adj. contagious 
kontan adj. happy, content, glad; 
satisfied (with); n./adj. cash 
an - counting, including 
kontanplasyon n. contemplation 
kontanple v. to contemplate, gaze at 
kontanporen n./adj. [Fr.] 
contemporary 
kontans see konpetans 
kontansye n. [Fr.] dispute; 
litigation; adj. contentious 
Biwo - elektoral Electoral 
Appeals Office 
kontansyon n. [Eng.] contention, 
dispute 
kontante v. to content, satisfy; to be 
satisfied 
kontantman, lakontantman n. 
contentment, happiness, gladness, 
joy; satisfaction 
kontarebou n. [Fr.] countdown 
kontay, kontaj n. counting 
konte v. to count; to calculate, 
reckon, figure out; to expect to, 
hope to; to be important, count; to 
include; to tell (tales, dubious 
news); n. [Eng.] county 
byen - mal kalkile penny wise 
pound foolish, short-sighted 
- sou to depend on, count on, rely 
on 
476 
konte - kontraryan 
- sou tafya bay to count on s.o. 
else to do your work for you 
- vanyans wishes for the New 
Year made during a special 
Christmas Eve ceremony 
(Voodoo) 
- ze nan vant poul to count one's 
chickens before they hatch 
pa ka - incalculable 
san - countless, boundless, in 
great quantity 
kontè n. meter (electric, water etc.); 
timer; storyteller 
- vitès speedometer 
kontèks n. context, setting 
kontenè, konntenè n. container; 
container ship 
kontenjan n. contingent 
kontès f.n. countess 
kontestasyon n. contention, dispute 
konteste v. to contest, challenge, 
dispute 
kontgout see konngout 
konti, konte n. [Eng.] county 
kontimas: 
kondane pa - to condemn in 
absentia (jur.) 
kontinan n. continent 
kontinans n. continence 
kontinantal adj. continental 
kontinite see kontinyite 
kontinyasyon n. continuation 
kontinyatè n. successor 
kontinye, kontinwe v. to continue, 
proceed, go on (with), extend 
kontinyèl adj. continual, unceasing 
kontinyèlman adv. continually, 
continuously; cf. san rete 
kontinyite, kontinite, kontinwite n. 
continuity 
kontizyon n. bruise, contusion 
kontmaltaye, kodmaltaye, 
kotmaltaye n. scam, shady deal; 
shaky compromise; hasty 
settlement 
kontni n. [Ft:] contents, ingredients 
kontôsyon n. contortion, twisting 
kontosyone v. to contort, twist 
kontou n. contour; circumference, 
perimeter 
kontoune v. [F?:] to bypass, 
circumvent 
kontpwazon n. antidote, antivenin 
kontra n. contract; testament [Bible] 
~ ak Bizango pact with the devil, 
evil covenant 
- ke sèvolan cloth or paper at 
bottom of kite 
- tèt sèvolan cross strings at top 
of kite 
kouche - , pase - , siyen - to have 
marriage banns published; to 
finalize an agreement, sign a 
contract 
travay sou - see travay sou 
kouray (li) 
kontradans n. contredance, peasant 
square dance, figure dances 
directed by a caller (colonial 
period esp.) 
kontradiksyon n. contradiction 
kontradiktè n. contradictor, 
opponent 
kontradiktwa adj. contradictory 
kontraksyon n. contraction 
(birthing; grammar) 
kontrakte v. to contract, enter into; 
to settle a deal, draw up a contract; 
to shrink, contract 
kontraktè n. contractor (cf bos 
mason); [jur.] contracting party 
kontrandi n. report, account 
kontraryan adj. annoying, 
bothersome 
477 
kontrarye - kontwole 
kontrarye, kontraye v. to upset, 
annoy; to get upset; to hinder, 
impede, hamper, thwart, block; not 
to menstruate, be amenorrheic 
kontraryete, kontraryezon, 
kontrayete n. disappointment, 
setback; vexation, hindrance; see 
zingdekontraryete 
kontras n. [Fr.] contrast 
kontraseptif n./adj. contraceptive 
kontravansyon n. infraction; fine; 
traffic ticket; troubles, difficulties 
kontraye see kontrarye 
kontrayete see kontraryete 
kontrayman n. obstacle, hindrance 
kontre v. to meet, run into, 
encounter; n. backwoods 
kontrè n./adj. contrary, opposite; 
adj. unfavorable 
kontrebandye n. smuggler (of 
persons or of goods), 
contrabandist 
kontrebann n. smuggling; 
contraband; organized theft 
ale nan - to flee Haiti by boat 
(illegally) 
fè - to smuggle 
kontrebas n. stringed bass, double 
bass 
kontrebason n. contrabassoon 
kontredans n. quadrille, square 
dance 
kontredi v. to contradict 
kontrefè v. to counterfeit, imitate, 
copy (without authorization); to 
mimic, ape; to feign; to deform 
kontrekare v. to oppose, thwart, 
cross, counteract 
kontrekè: 
a - grudgingly, reluctantly 
kontrekou n. repercussions, 
backfire 
kontremach n. riser (of staircase) 
kontremak n. ticket stub 
kontrèman (ak) adv. contrary (to) 
kontremèt n. builder; foreman 
kontrenn v. [Fr.] to constrain, 
coerce 
kontrent n. constraint, restraint 
kontreplake adj. veneered 
kontreprèv n. check, verification 
kontrepwa n. counterweight 
kontresans n. wrong sense, mistake, 
misinterpretation; wrong way, 
wrong side 
kontretan n. hitch, snag, difficulty; 
adj. produced out of season, 
premature; ill-timed 
kontribisyon n. taxes; tax office, 
internal revenue service; pledge; 
contribution 
ajan - tax collector 
biwo - tax office 
kontribiyab, kontribyab, 
kontriyab n. tax-payer 
kontribyan n. contributor 
kontribye v. to contribute 
kontriyab see kontribiyab 
kontwa n. counter 
- dacha trading post (usu. for 
procuring slaves) 
kontwôd n. counter-order, 
countermand 
kontwôl n. control; check, 
inspection, verification; 
supervision, jurisdiction 
fè - to do a follow-up 
fè yon move - to miscount 
- jou apre règ rhythm method 
(contraception) 
- vitès cruise control (mach.) 
kontwole v. to control; to supervise, 
oversee; to verify, check (out), 
inspect, examine, review; to count, 
478 
kontwolè - kopè 
calculate, compute 
kontwolè n. inspector, supervisor; 
ticket-collector, fare-collector (bus 
etc.); tax-collector; comptroller; 
auditor 
- ayeryen air-traffic controller 
kontwolè n., kontwôlèz f.n. show-
off, boaster; kidder, joker; 
meddler, busybody; informer, spy; 
adj. headstrong, defiant 
kontwovès n. controversy 
konvalesans n. convalescence 
konvansyon n. annual church 
assembly; convention, conference; 
agreement, contract, covenant; 
convention, accepted practice 
pase - to enter into an agreement, 
make a deal 
konvansyonèl adj. conventional, 
usual, customary 
konvèjan adj. converging 
konvèjans n. convergence 
konvèje v. to converge 
konvèks adj. convex 
konvenab see konvnab 
konvenabman see konvnabman 
konveni see konvni 
konvenk v. to convince, persuade 
konvenkan adj. convincing, 
persuasive 
konvenki adj. [Fr.] convinced 
konvèsasyon n. conversation; cf. 
koze 
konvèse v. to converse, talk; cf. koze 
konvèsyon n. conversion 
konvèti v. to convert (to 
Protestantism); to convert (from 
one measure to another); n. 
convert (from Catholicism to 
Protestantism) 
konvètisè n. converter; transformer 
(mach.) 
konviksyon n. conviction, strong 
belief; assurance; dedication, 
commitment 
konvnab, konvenab adj. suitable, 
proper, appropriate, apt, fitting; 
convenient 
konvnabman, konvenabman adv. 
suitably, properly, appropriately 
konvnans n. [Fr.] decency, manners 
konvni, konveni v. to fit, suit; to be 
convenient; to agree upon/on 
konvokasyon n. summons; 
convocation 
konvoke v. to summon (before a 
court); to convoke, convene 
konvwa, konvre, konvwe, konvwè, 
konwa n. convoy; group of 
evildoers 
konvwate v. to covet, lust after 
konvwatiz n. covetousness, lust 
konvwe, konvwè see konvwa 
konwa see konvwa 
konwè see kouwè 
konwonp, konwonpi see kowonpi 
konya see kounyeya 
konyak see koyak 
konyapis f.n. nympho(maniac); n. 
macho man, womanizer 
konyay n. fucking, screwing 
konyè a see kounyeya 
konyen, konye v. to fuck, screw 
konyon see kouyon 
konze n. traitor, quisling (after Jean-
Baptiste Conzé, betrayer of 
Charlemagne Péralte); adj. 
traitorous 
kô ôk onomat. caw (sound of crow) 
k6p onomat. sound to express 
sudden action 
kopal n. copal (resin) 
kopanni see konpayi 
kèpè see konpè 
479 
kopèmat - kore 
kopèmat n. wood preservative 
kopen n. pal, buddy, friend; 
boyfriend; dude; adj. dressed-up, 
affected, fancy, hip 
Kopennagprop.n. Copenhagen 
(Denmark) 
kopenyay (pronounced: ko-pen-
yay), kopenyaj n. camaraderie, 
comradeship, close friendship 
kopenyaye (pronounced: ko-pen-
ya-ye) v. to become pals/buddies 
koperan see kowoperan 
koperasyon, kowoperasyon n. 
cooperation, solidarity 
koperatif, koperativ, kowoperatif, 
kowoperativ n./adj. cooperative 
(society) 
kopere see kowopere 
kopi n. copy, duplicate; copying 
fè - to practice penmanship 
~ kopan haltingly or not at all 
kopinf.n. girlfriend; adj. dressed-
up, coquettish, fancy 
kopo n. chip, wood-shaving 
kèporasyon n. [Eng.] corporate 
body; corporation 
kôporèl adj. corporal, bodily, 
physical 
kopra n. copra 
kopye v. to copy, imitate; to cheat; 
adj. copious, ample, abundant; n. 
purslane 
- sou to copy from, cheat; to 
model after 
kôpyèz: 
dekoupe/detaye - to cut up or 
divide up large portions of 
dekoupe - ak to be on very 
friendly terms with 
koradjitè n. coadjutor, assistant to 
the bishop 
koral n. choir, choral group; chorus; 
adj. choral 
koralen n. var. of small boat (for 
coral reefs); cloddish shoes, 
clodhoppers 
koralisyon n. coalition 
Koralyèn, Koralyèn see Korayè, 
Korayèz 
koramin n. digitalis 
Koran prop.n. (rel.) Koran 
koranik adj. (rel.) Koranic 
korasyon see kolasyon 
koray n. support, backing; coral; 
coral vine, Mexican creeper 
Koray prop.n. Corail (Dept. 
Grand'Anse; Dept. West; 3rd 
communal section of Gros-Morne, 
Dept. Artibonite) 
Koray Anriprop.n. Corail-Henri 
(8th communal section of Saint-
Louis-du-Sud, Dept. South) 
Korayè, Koralyen, Korayen 
prop.nKorayèz, Koralyèn, 
Korayèn f.prop.n. inhabitant of 
Corail (Dept. Grand'Anse; Dept. 
West; Dept. Artibonite) 
Koray Lamotprop.n. Corail-
Lamothe (4th communal section of 
Belle-Anse, Dept. South-East) 
Koray Pomago prop.n. Corail-Port-
Margot (3rd communal section of 
Port-Margot, Dept. North) 
Koray Sol/Soul prop.n. Corail-Soult 
(1st communal section of Marigot, 
Dept. South-East) 
Koray To prop.n. Corail-Thor (13th 
communal section of Carrefour, 
Dept. West) 
kore v. to prop up, prop open, 
support, back, reinforce, secure, 
strengthen, hold in place; to block, 
wedge; to put in a stake; to lean 
against; to defeat, overcome; adj. 
480 
kore - Koridon 
stuffed (with food) 
- bannann li to have backing, 
have independent support 
- mwen mwen (ap) - ou scratch 
my back and I'll scratch yours 
- nanm - satan alone, helpless 
- toude bo really stuffed (from 
eating) 
Kore, Lakoreprop.n. Korea 
- di No North Korea 
- di Sid South Korea 
korè n. supporter, backer; cf. 
fanatik, sipôtè 
korèd n. lockjaw, tetanus; 
inflexibility, rigidity; adj. stiff, 
awkward; dull, inelegant; 
senseless, stupid; half-hearted; 
outmoded; inadequate 
koregraf, koregrafè n. 
choreographer 
koregrafi n. choreography 
korejidô n. [Span.] stickler, rigid or 
unbending person 
kôrèk adj. proper, correct; fine, in 
good shape (physically); real, 
quite a; well organized; adv. 
properly, correctly; really, truly, 
quite 
mete li - to be ready (for s.thg.); 
to fill one's stomach 
korekipye n. teammate 
koreksyon n. correction; grading 
(exams etc.); punishment; 
spanking; whipping 
bay - to spank, whip 
koreksyonèl, koreksyonnèl see 
tribinal 
korektè n. grader, corrector 
kôrèkteman, kôrekteman, 
kôrèteman adv. correctly, 
properly; seriously 
korektom n. key for grading 
(papers, exams etc.) 
korensidans n. coincidence 
korenside v. to coincide 
Korentprop.n. [Bible] Corinth; 
Corinthians; prop.n./adj. 
Corinthian 
Korès prop.n. communal section of 
Saint-Michel (-de-l'Attalaye) 
(Dept. Artibonite) 
korespondan n. correspondent; pen 
pal; landlady of student 
boardinghouse 
an - boarder 
korespondans n. correspondence; 
exchange of letters 
an - board and lodging 
korespondant f.n. pen pal 
koresponn, konresponn v. to 
correspond (to); to confront (s.o.); 
to rival, match (in ability); to do 
in, fix, punish 
- ak to punish; to be owed an 
explanation from; to give (s.o.) a 
piece of one's mind, settle an 
account; to confront; to deal with, 
face up to; to mirror (s.o.'s 
movements) 
kôrèteman see kôrèkteman 
Koreyen prop.n./adj., Koreyèn 
fprop.n. Korean 
Kori see Lobi 
korido, kolido, kôrido n. 
passageway, narrow alley, back 
alley; miserable neighborhood; 
hall(way) - cf. koulwa; gorge, 
mountain pass 
- twa vandrès sere dan tough 
going, difficult situation 
lespri ~ narrow-mindedness; one-
track mind (usu. sex) 
Koridon prop.n. Coridon (Dept. 
Artibonite) 
481 
korije - kota 
korije v. to correct; to grade, mark; 
to alter, do alterations (clothes); to 
discipline, punish, chastise 
korikoulom see kirikilom 
koripsyon, koripsyon, lakoripsyon 
n. corruption; perversion 
koriptè, koriptè n. corrupter, 
perverter; adj. corruptive 
koriptib adj. corruptible 
koris n. [Eng.] chorus; cf. kè 
koryann n. coriander (herb) 
koryas adj. hard, tough; stale (bread 
etc.) 
kos n. twisted roll 
Kosprop.n. Cosse (3rd communal 
section of Les Anglais, Dept. 
South); Kos [Bible] (Greek island) 
kos, kwos n. bark (of tree); rifle 
stock, gun butt, revolver grip; 
crosier (of bishop) 
zèb - var. of plant 
kosaj, kosay, kôse n. blouse 
nan - li to or within (s.o.) 
rantre nan ~ to become too 
familiar or intimate 
wete nan - to pay s.o. off; to keep 
s.o. at a distance 
kose, kosè n. corset 
kosè n. corsair, privateer, pirate 
kosedjo kosekwèt see kesedjo 
kesekwann 
kosinis n. cosine (math.) 
kôskôs (tèt) n. scalp 
bay - (tèt) to hit s.o. on the head 
kosmetik n. cosmetics; adj. 
cosmetic 
operasyon - plastic surgery 
kosmetoloji n. cosmetology 
kosmetolojis n. cosmetologist 
kosmik adj. cosmic 
kosmoloji n. cosmology 
kosmonèt n. cosmonaut 
kosmopolit adj. cosmopolitan, 
sophisticated, worldly 
kosmos n. cosmos, outerspace 
kosmotcbo n. idler, loafer, slacker 
kosol see kowosôl 
kosou n. puppet carried around by 
rara bands 
Kosovo prop.n. Kosovo 
Kostarika prop.n. Costa Rica 
Kostariken prop.n./adj., 
Kostarikèn f.prop.n. CostaRican 
koste see akoste 
kostim, kostim n. suit (clothing); 
tuxedo 
- deben swimsuit, bathing suit 
kostime, kostimen v. to wear suitor 
jacket; to wear a costume or 
disguise 
kosto adj. strong, sturdy 
kosyan n. quotient (math.) 
kosyon, kosyônman, kosyonnman 
n. guarantee, security; bail 
kosyonnen, kosyone v. to sponsor 
(s.o.); to pay bail for 
kot? interr. adv. where? 
kôt n. rib; cutlet, chop; coast, shore; 
short apron; rag; rags used for 
mattress; sanitary napkin, kotex; 
quoted value, standing, rating 
[Fr.]; adj. ragged, shabby, tattered 
bo - side (of body) 
fè - kabann to lie around and do 
nothing 
- a - side by side, shoulder to 
shoulder, elbow to elbow 
- fanmi entire family; relatives 
- kabann see kotkabann 
cluck! cluck! cluck! 
(sound made by chicken) 
- wob short apron 
tout ~ ras yo all one's possessions 
kota n. quota 
482 
Kôtakaden - kotizasyon 
Kôtakaden prop.n. Côte des 
Arcadins (Dept. West) 
kôtakot adv. side by side, shoulder 
to shoulder, elbow to elbow 
kotch, kotch n. [Eng.] coach, 
trainer; cf. antrenè 
Kôtdefe, Kôdfè, Kotdefè, Kôtfè 
prop.n. Côtes-de-Fer - founded 
1843, Dept. South-East; 3rd 
communal section of Anse-à-
Foleur, Dept. North-West; 1st 
communal section of Môle-Saint-
Nicolas, Dept. North-West; 
disadvantaged section of Jérémie, 
Dept. Grand'Anse); see 
Fonlagranj 
larivyè - Côtes-de-Fer River 
(Depts. South-East and South) 
Kotdefèrè, Kotdefèrèz see 
Kotiferè, Kotiferèz 
Kotdelanfè prop.n. Côtes-de-1'Enfer 
(fam. name of Côtes-de-Fer before 
1843, see Kotdefè) 
Kôt Divwa, Kotdivwa prop.n. Côte 
d'Ivoire, Ivory Coast 
kote n. place, spot; area, region; 
position, location; side; aspect; 
prep, near, close to, beside, by, 
next to; at the place of; to/at the 
home of, to/at the office of; adv. 
where, wherever; when 
a - aside, beside, by, next to 
de ~ aside 
fôs - ambivalence; bias, prejudice 
ki where? which direction? 
ki - li moun? where is (s)he 
from? 
konnen - pou bay/mete tèt to 
know what to do 
~ ki moun ou vini? Whom did 
you come to see? 
~ 1 la (N.) next to him/her/it; at 
his/her place, at his/her house 
- ou ye such as you are 
- yon moun gade (not to know) 
which way to turn, be bad off 
- solèy goat's chicory (weed) 
lot - on the other side; elsewhere 
mete li yon - to put away, jail 
mete sou - to put aside, save; to 
set aside, disregard 
nenpot (ki) - anywhere, wherever 
pa gen ~ pou de bann danse/pou 
de kôk goumen not to have 
enough space to turn around in 
pran (bô) - to take after, resemble 
(temperament) 
sou - aside, beside, by, next to; 
apart; illegally, surreptitiously; 
secondary, on the side (job etc.); 
illicit lover 
sou - (lan)mè seashore, 
waterfront 
tout - everywhere 
yon - someplace, somewhere 
kotè n. cautery, cauterization 
kôtèj, kôtèy n. cortege, procession, 
retinue 
yon - a large quantity of (people) 
kotèks n. sanitary napkin 
kôtfè n. seaside cliff 
Kôtfè see Kôtdefè 
Kotferè, Kotferèz see Kotiferè, 
Kotiferèz 
Kotibanamaprop.n. cacique of 
Higuey (kingdom of pre-
Columbian Haiti) 
kotidyen adj. daily 
Kotiferè, Kotdefèrè, Kotferè, 
Kotifewaprop.n., Kotiferèz, 
Kotdefèrèz, Kotferèz, Kotifewaz 
f.prop.n. inhabitant of Côtes-de-
Fer (Dept. South-East) 
kotizasyon n. contribution, share, 
483 
kotize - kou 
pledge; money collection/donation 
kotize v. to contribute, pledge; to pay 
one's share, share expenses 
kotizon n. cortisone 
kotkabann n. rags used for 
mattress; lazybones, loafer 
an - in rags, in tatters 
kotkote v. to crow, caw 
kôtle v. to cope, make ends meet 
Kotlèprop.n., Kotlèz f.prop.n. 
inhabitant of Les Coteaux (Dept. 
South) 
kètlèt n. rib (animal, human); cutlet, 
chop 
Kotlètprop.n. Côtelette (3rd 
communal section of Sainte-
Suzanne, Dept. North-East) 
kotmaltaye see kontmaltaye 
koto see kote 
Koto, Lakot, Okotoprop.n. Les 
Coteaux (Dept. South) 
kôtèf n. interior, inside; chest (of 
body) 
dechaje - lestonmak li to get 
s.thg. off one's chest, clear one's 
conscience 
koton n. cotton; var. of mango; adj. 
frizzy, kinky 
bat yon move - to have a hard 
time of it, suffer greatly 
depi nan ~ (since) long ago; far 
away 
file yon move ~ to be about to get 
into trouble, be looking for trouble 
- mawon mahoe tree 
~ rat screw tree 
- swa giant milkweed (plant) 
- wat cotton for dressing wound; 
cotton stuffing (for furniture etc.) 
Other var. of cotton are: - flo, ~ 
mapou, - mawodèm, - sovay, ~ 
vole, ~ vyolèt 
kotonad, kotonnad n. cotton fabric 
kotonye n. person who works with 
cotton (not a cotton-picker) 
kotouni adj. naked, nude (cf. 
toutouni) 
kotpa n. financial share 
kotri n. co-wife, woman who shares 
same man with another woman; cf 
matlot 
kotwaye v. to run alongside, border 
on 
kotye adj. coastal 
gad - , gadkot coast guard 
kou n. neck; blow, strike, hit; shock; 
time, occasion; turn (in order); 
drink; court (of justice); course, 
class; move (game); adv. as soon 
as; conj. when; as well as, as... as 
(ex:, piti - li piti as small as he is); 
prep, like; see kout 
a - si for sure 
an ~ underway, in process, 
pending 
banbou - throat, gullet, 
esophagus 
bay - to strike, hit; to teach 
(bèl) - manman ou! 
motherfucker! 
bon - see bonkou 
bwa - neck 
(dènye) - ki (pou) touye koukou 
a the final blow, the last straw, the 
straw that broke the camel's back 
dèyè - nape (of neck); cf. nwakou 
fè de - to try out 
fè ~ doub to deal a double blow 
fè li - to disappoint, deceive, 
surprise 
fè move - to injure, harm, abuse 
fè yon - to try one's luck; to be 
successful, make a hit 
gwo - goiter 
484 
kou - koube 
jis nan - up to one's neck, deeply 
involved 
kenbe nan - to hold by the throat, 
throttle 
- boutèy var. of mango 
- chat long neck 
- dapèl court of appeals, appellate 
court 
- desè initial try, first attempt 
Kou Kasasyon see Kasasyon 
Kou Kloks Klann, Kou Klouks 
Klan Ku Klux Klan 
-... - both... and 
- Legba see chaje 
- legede long neck 
- manman vant cervix 
- masyal court-martial 
~ moute well prepared plan or 
assault 
~ nou ye la a in these times, these 
days; see kounyeya 
- pa konprann unexpected blow, 
unforeseen trick, trap 
~ pa ou your turn 
~ pa pran invulnerability 
~ pou - revenge, vengeance 
~ rèd see kourèd 
- rete nan kabann crick (in neck) 
~ sa a this time 
~ sa k ap pati in great quantity 
Kou (siperyè) de Kont (ak 
Kontansye administratif), 
Koudèkont, Lakoudèkont, 
Lakou Siperyè Dèkont High 
Court of Claims, Haitian General 
Accounting Office 
~ siprann, - souprann surprise 
attack, unexpected blow; 
unexpected event; shock 
- sou ~ rapidly, in immediate 
succession 
~ souprann see ~ siprann 
- touye killing blow, final blow 
- vire stiff neck; killing of 
sacrificial bird by wringing neck 
(Voodoo); pip (poultry disease) 
maladi ~ kase pip (poultry 
disease) 
nwa ~ nape (of neck); neck bone, 
cervical spine 
pran ~ to be hit, suffer loss 
se ~ ou pran ou konnen you'll 
find out only when it happens to 
you; unpredictable 
sou le ~ outright; instantly; at the 
time [Fr.] 
ti kase ~ short nap or dozing off 
ti ~ ti ~ little by little, gradually 
yon bon ti ~ a good little bit of 
yon grenn yon sèl ~ all at once, 
all of a sudden 
koub n. curve, bend (in road); arch; 
adj. curved 
fè kase ~ to turn a corner, take a 
curve 
fè (yon) ~ sèk to take a sharp turn 
~ elektrik elbow (mech.) 
Koub (ri) prop.n. rue Courbe 
(downtown PaP) 
koubabi! koubaba! interj. what the 
heck! 
koubann n. intrigue, scheme, shady 
dealings 
koubari n. locust tree 
koubati n. pain in lower back, 
lumbago 
koube v. to bend, bow; to consent, 
comply, acquiesce; to slouch; adj. 
vaulted, arched; bent over, stooped 
over (with age) 
- devan to bow (low) 
~ fwon to bow one's head (in 
veneration) 
- tèt bese to kowtow, grovel, bow 
485 
koubèt - koudam 
and scrape 
koubèt, lakoubèt n. low bow; 
bowing and scraping; adj. 
submissive 
fè ~ to bow and scrape to s.o., 
kowtow 
koubi v. to stoop, bend over; to bend 
koubin n. scheme, trick 
rès ~ second-hand goods 
koubôt n. short/little/stunted person 
koubouyon n. herbal broth for 
cooking fish; chowder 
kouch n. layer, level; coat (of paint); 
childbirth, delivery; baker's plank 
fè movèz ~ to miscarry 
fos movèz ~ miscarriage 
pen sou ~ to be in good shape, 
well off 
kouchado n. lethargic or slow 
animal 
kouchan: 
le ~ west 
solèy ~ setting sun; west 
kouche v. to lie down, recline; to go 
to bed, retire; to set (sun); to 
dispose horizontally; to consecrate 
(an object) - Voodoo; to be 
initiated (Voodoo); adj. bedridden; 
lying down; horizontal; n. 
ceremony marking the beginning 
of a Voodoo initiation; ritual 
seclusion for novices undergoing 
Voodoo initiation; consecration of 
Voodoo objects; see kontra 
~ (ak) to make love (with) 
~ ak poul to go to bed early 
~ an kwa to vehemently oppose 
~ deyô, ~ sou to sleep with s.o. 
other than one's spouse 
- kote 1! you've made your bed 
and now lie in itl 
- kote li jwenn to sleep with/have 
sex with just anyone 
- lide to set down one's thoughts, 
write 
- lopital to be hospitalized 
- plat atè to be totally subservient 
~ solèy sunset 
~ sou do to lie on one's back, lie 
face up 
~ sou do ap gade tèt zotèy to be 
dead and buried 
~ sou do nan lespas to do 
absolutely nothing 
~ sou papye to write down 
~ sou vant to lie on one's 
stomach, lie face down 
- tèt anke to sleep head to toe, 
sleep facing in opposite directions 
~ toupatou to sleep around, be 
sexually indiscriminate 
mete ~ to put to bed; to lodge, put 
up 
kouchèt n. diaper; bunk bed 
koucbkoucb, kouskous n. couscous 
koud v. to sew (in, on, up); to stitch 
(up), suture; n. elbow; bend (in 
pipes etc.); see kout 
bay ~ to have made (clothes) 
byen ~ sou to fit well (clothes) 
frape - bra to hit one's funny 
bone 
je ~ bra, zo ~ elbow 
~ a ~ shoulder to shoulder, side by 
side 
- ak fil blan open, evident, 
transparent 
- jenou kneecap, patella; cf. zo 
jenou 
- lanp, ~ poud, ~ zè Voodoo hex 
kout ~ elbow jab 
pwotèj ~ elbow pad 
koudabra n. elbow 
koudam n. gunshot 
486 
koudanvwa - koukouy 
koudanvwa n. opening shot, 
opening remarks, introduction 
Koudapèl see Kasasyon 
koudasiz see lakoudasiz 
koudbèf n. deliberately allowing 
one's livestock to graze on s.o. 
else's land 
koudbwa see poudbwa 
koude n. cubit (length from elbow to 
tip of middle finger) 
koudè n. chill; evil spell transmitted 
by air; silver morning-glory (vine) 
koudebwa see koutbwa 
koudegras n. deathblow 
Koudèkont see Kou (siperyè) de 
Kont 
koudeta n. coup (d'état), 
government overthrow 
bay ~ to overthrow the/a 
government or regime 
koudetayis, koudetamann n. 
government overthrower, political 
schemer 
koudèy, koutlèy n. glimpse, glance, 
peek 
fè yon (ti) - to glimpse, glance 
nan yon ~ in the blink of an eye, 
in an instant 
koudfoud n. love at first sight 
koudjay, kodjay, koudyaj, 
koudyay n. var. of dance popular 
during the first years after Haitian 
Independence; big celebration, 
large noisy festivities; feast, 
banquet; big Voodoo ceremony 
koudmen see koutmen 
koudoung n. drumbeat 
koudtrafalga n. catastrophe 
koudyaj, koudyay see koudjay 
koufran n. free kick (soccer) 
kouj, kouy n. var. of gourd or 
pumpkin 
koujèt n. [Fr.] zucchini, summer 
squash 
koujin see kizin 
Koujol (larivyè) prop.n. Couijolle 
River (immediately south of 
Arcahaie, Dept. West) 
kouk n. [Eng.] cook 
koukiz n. [Eng.] cookie 
koukou n. Hispaniolan burrowing 
owl; ugly person 
bay - pou tôt to deceive, trick 
dènye kou ki pou touye - a the 
last straw (that breaks the camel's 
back), the final blow 
Depi kilè ~ te sansib pou frize/ 
tôt kon sa? Since when has the 
big shot cared about the little guy? 
koukouj see koukouy 
koukouloukou, kouloukoulou 
(onomat.) n. gobbler, male turkey 
koukouman, koukounan see 
akoukouman 
an ~ withdrawn upon oneself, 
retracted upon oneself (physically) 
koukoun n. woman's genitals (fam.) 
koukourenn n. var. of water bird 
koukout n. var. of owl-like bird; see 
kôkôt 
koukouwouj, koukouwouy n. 
chase, (hot) pursuit 
bat - dèyè, fè ~ dèyè/sou, fè yon 
- sou, lage (yon) ~ dèyè, rele ~ to 
organize a round-up to catch s.o., 
go all-out after (s.o.); to chase 
away 
fè - "coming ready or not" (in 
playing hide-and-seek) 
koukouy, koukouj, krikri, kwikwi, 
kwikwiy n. firefly, lightning bug; 
var. of plant 
lespri % chak - klere pou je li 
selfishness, self-interest 
487 
koukouyoukou - koulèv 
limyè ~ faint glimmer of light 
wè ~ to see bright spots in front of 
one's eyes (from weakness, 
fatigue etc.) 
koukouyoukou, kokiyoko, 
kokkoukouyoukou, kokoriko, 
kôkôyôkô onomat. cock-a-
doodle-doo (crowing of rooster) 
koukwi n. var. of plant 
koul adj. cool, loose, hip (fam.) 
koulado n. (cloth) coffee filter 
koulan see ne koulan 
koulangèt! koulangit! koulankit! 
interj. shit! 
~ manman ou! motherfucker! 
fuck you! go fuck yourself! 
koulant n. fitweed, stinkweed 
koulasôt see kolasot 
koulay n. lies, bluff, deception 
koule v. to sink; to scuttle; to drown; 
to flow, stream; to guzzle, swig; to 
glide; to slither; to pour; to pour, 
lay (concrete); to leak, discharge, 
run; to drip; to strain, filter, sift; to 
dodge (a blow); to fail, flunk; to 
cause to fail; to knock down, bring 
down (s.o. else's kite on purpose); 
to dive; to fall to the ground while 
still unripe (fruit); adj. leaky; 
runny (nose; faucet) 
~ antre to slip into, sneak into 
~ antre anba to slip/slide in/under 
- ba see chaje 
~ ba (ak) to hang heavy (with), be 
weighed down (with) 
~ beton to have the shits, have the 
runs 
~ bweson to guzzle (down), drink 
heavily 
- chache to play hide-and-go-seek 
in the water (cf. kachkach liben); 
to dive underwater to retrieve an 
object 
~ desann to flow down, roil 
down; to sink down; to go straight 
down; to set (sun) 
~ desann soti to flow out 
~ dlo to water (mouth) 
- dous to have it easy, have an 
easy time 
~ kafe to filter coffee; to brew 
coffee 
- kafe ti nèg ak ma not to take 
good care of 
~ kafe ti nèg san ma to take good 
care of 
~ lwil to flow smoothly 
~ pran kap, ~ pran ke, - kraze 
(various methods) to down s.o. 
else's kite 
~ sôti to flow out 
~ swa to flow smoothly or evenly 
~ tèt to pour water on s.o.'s head 
(as medical treatment); to drown 
~ tèt li to calm down, cool it 
~ tonbe to spill 
~ (yon) beton to play very 
defensively (soccer) 
koulè, lakoulè n. color; 
pigmentation; diver; adj. colored 
(paper etc.) 
bay ~ to color 
fe wè sèt - lakansyèl to put (s.o.) 
through all kinds of suffering 
~ klè light skin 
pèdi ~ discolored, faded 
pèsonaj tout ~ wishy-washy or 
changeable person (politician esp.) 
wè tout - to go through all kinds 
of suffering 
kouleba, koulegba adv. to capacity; 
see chaje 
koulèv n. snake, serpent; coil (of a 
still) 
488 
koulèv - kounde 
- dlo eel 
-flanbo red-eyed snake 
- (la)madlenn, - madèn, ~ 
madlèn, - madlin var. of small 
green snake 
- nouris var. of large snake 
- sonèt rattlesnake 
vale yon ~ to swallow an affront; 
to swallow a lot of baloney, be 
taken in 
23 other var. of snakes: 
- andômi/lan/nan dômi, ~ 
bankôt, ~ ble, - bwa, ~ chwal, ~ 
dagou, ~ dagwe, ~ de tèt, ~ 
doman, ~ flanboyant, ~ haso, ~ 
kouya, ~ lyann, ~ nwa, ~ 
pentpent, ~ sann, ~ savann, ~ 
souladô, - tè, ~ valèd/valèt, ~ vè, 
- vèt, ~ wouj 
koulewou n. batter for fritters etc. 
kouli n. Hunsonian curlew (bird) 
koulibèt n. blabbering, drivel 
koulin, manchèt koulin n. long 
narrow machete 
~ do spine, backbone 
koulis n. groove, slot; hem (of 
clothing); drawstring; wings (of 
theater) 
sou/an/nan ~ surreptitiously 
koulouk nan n. dick, cock (penis) 
kouloukoulou see koukouloukou 
kouloulou v. to warble, coo 
koulout (ti) n. tightwad, skinflint, 
miser; rogue, scoundrel; weewee, 
little boy's penis 
kouloutan (ti) adj. stingy, miserly; 
sneaky, deceitful 
koulouwou n. round scad (fish) 
koulwa n. hall, hallway, corridor, 
passageway; aisle; gorge, 
mountain pass 
koulya, koulyeya, koulye (a) see 
kounyeya 
koumabo! see komabo! 
koumakwisboulit! see 
koumatiboulout! 
kouman, kôman, konman conj. 
how 
~ fè how come 
koumandan see kômandan 
koumande see kômande 
koumandman, koumannman see 
kômannman 
koumanman! komanman! 
konmanman! interj. whaaat! 
wow! 
~ ou! fuck you! 
koumanse see konmanse 
koumansman see konmansman 
koumasyal n. court-martial 
koumatiboulout! 
koumakwisboulit! koumapiston! 
koumatcbouboulout! interj. 
wow! 
koumba: 
ti ~ var. of Voodoo dance 
koumbe see baton koumbe 
koumbit see konbit 
koumedi see komedi 
koumèlgwèw! interj. wow! 
Koumora (kolin)prop.n. [Book of 
Mormon] hill of Cumorah 
koun n. var. of dance; adj. smelly; 
interj. ugh!; contr. kou + yon 
kounabe, kounabè n. hovel, shanty, 
shack; organized agricultural work 
group 
kounan adj. bow-legged (outward 
curvature); n. buddy, pal 
kounaye, ounaye n. Voodoo spirit 
(same as Iwa) 
kounbit see konbit 
kounde n. bag with flap and 
shoulder strap; ass (anus) 
489 
kounmabi! - koupe 
kounmabi!, kounmabo! see 
komabo! 
Kounoubwa (gwôt) prop.n. 
Counoubois grottoes, near Camp-
Perrin, Dept. South 
kounouk n. hovel, shanty, shack; 
kitchen 
kounouye (la) a, kounouyeya see 
kounyeya 
kountedi n. var. of mango 
kounyeya, konnya, konnye a, 
konnyeya, konya, konyè a, 
koulya, koulye a, koulyeya, 
kounouye (la) a, kounouyeya, 
kounya (a), kounye (la a), 
kounye a adv. now; nowadays, 
presently, at present 
~ la a right now 
koup n. couple; croup, rump; cutting 
(down); tailoring, cut; style; 
(man's) haircut; cut (playing 
cards); goblet, chalice; trophy, 
cup; onomat. to express sudden 
action 
an ~ pointed (roof) 
kay an - (kare) house with roof 
slanting in four directions 
~ boulon bolt cutter 
~ solid hard-cover (book) 
~ gèj dangerous back alley 
~ kenti dressmaking, sewing 
~ papye letter opener 
- pipe cutter 
~ vè,~ vit glass cutter 
lesoft - sewing class 
male mm ~ to ride behind 
Koup David prop.n. Coupe-à-David 
(communal section of Acul-du-
Nofd, Dept. North) 
Konp Madigra prop.n. Coupe-
Mardi-Gras (3rd communal 
section of Saut-d'Eau, Dept. 
Center) 
koupab adj. guilty; n. guilt; guihy 
person 
Koupalenbe (mon) prop.n. Mount 
Coupe-à-Limbé (Dept. North) 
koupay, koupaj n. cutting; 
disconnecting; skirt-chasing, 
womanizing 
koupe v. to cut; to cut down; to cut 
off, interrupt; to intersect; to citw, 
cross over; to disconnect, unplug, 
to amputate; to dilute; to abridge, 
shorten; to mow; to cut (deck of 
cards); to make a trick, trump 
(cards); to whack, hit; to perform 
an episiotomy; to screw (vw/g.);«. 
cut, laceration; incision; 
amputation; screwing (vulg.); adj 
sharp 
~ an tranch to slice 
~ asosye to become partners 
- bout bout to cut into sections 
- bwa kwochi to do s.thg. bad « 
dishonest 
~ chemen to take a shortcut 
- de bra (de pye) (yon moun) to 
make/render (s.o.) helpless; to 
wear (s.o.) out 
- de (2) pou pyese youn to be 
bad off 
~ devan to prepare the terrain 
~ dwèt delicious, tasty, fmger-
licking good 
- fache to break off friendship, 
cut off relations 
~ fache (sèk) radical departure, 
clean break 
~ fouk tight-fitting pants 
~ grangou snack 
~ je cut-throat; see ~ kout je 
- je bay to wink knowingly at 
490 
koupe - kouran 
- kloure cheap, junky; badly 
made; deformed, misshapen; go 
for it! do it! 
- kou to kill 
- kout je to give a dirty or 
haughty look; to snub 
- lalwèt to silence (s.o.) 
- lang delicious, tasty 
- lavi to kill 
- m sa! stop it! 
- pye never again to set foot 
someplace, stop going to 
~ rache to work havoc upon, 
wreck, batter; to pillage, rob; to do 
whatever one wants 
~ rache nan to be an enthusiastic 
follower of 
~ sèk to discontinue abruptly 
~ sou mari li to deceive one's 
husband 
- souf li to throttle, kill 
~ swaf li to quench one's thirst 
~ tèt to behead 
~ tèt li to commit suicide 
~ tèt mete ko to look exactly alike 
~ van to break wind, fart 
~ yon kout je to glare at, give a 
dirty look 
~ zèb anba pye to supplant, 
crowd out 
koupè n. cutter (person) 
koupèdgoj n. cutthroat, gangster, 
murderer; price-gouger, profiteer 
koupèdkann n. cane-cutter 
koupèdpôch, koupèdsakit n. 
swindler, robber, thief 
koupi n. clipping (from newspaper); 
see akoupi; chita 
~ m chaje ou food bought in street 
kouplay, kouplaj n. copulation, 
mating (animals) 
kouple v. to couple (with), mate 
(animals) 
kouplè, kouple n. stanza, verse; 
hinge, joint 
koupleman n. copulation, mating 
(animals) 
Koupo prop.n. Coupeau (18th 
communal section of Carrefour, 
Dept. West) 
koupon n. remnant (cloth); coupon 
(1/10 of a lottery ticket); coupon 
(discount); order form, order blank 
~ alimantè (US) food stamp 
Koupon prop.n. Coupon (Dept. 
Artibonite) 
koupye, poupye n. purslane (plant) 
~ kaya var. of purslane 
koupyè, kipyè, kwoupyè n. crupper 
(leather strap passing under tail of 
donkey etc.) 
koupyon, kripyon, kwoupyon n. 
rump, hindquarters (animal); 
coccyx; adj. asinine, stupid, 
ineffectual 
zo ~ sacrum 
kouraj see kouray 
kouraje adj., kourajèzf.adj. 
courageous, brave 
kourajezman adv. courageously 
kouraman adv. fluently, flawlessly 
kouran n. current, flow, stream; 
tide; small stream, brook; electric 
current, electricity; electric shock; 
adj. present, current; usual, 
ordinary, everyday; fluent; running 
(water); readily available; adv. 
fluently 
bay % mete - to electrify 
- dè draft, current of air 
- dlo waterfall 
- kontini direct current 
nan gran - in the big time, m 
important circles 
491 
kourandè - kouri 
pran (nan) ~ to get an electric 
shock 
swiv (yon) move ~ to follow the 
wrong path, be on the wrong track 
ti ~ dlo stream, brook 
kourandè n. draft, breeze; shortage 
of funds 
pôch li gen ~ to be broke, be 
penniless 
kourant n. course (of hour, day, 
month etc.); prep, around, about 
kourape see kwape 
kouratela n. rough-leaf tree 
kouray, kouraj, lekouraj n. 
strength, power, force, might, 
energy; effort; courage, mettle, 
will-power, determination, mettle, 
endurance 
bay - to console, comfort; to 
embolden 
bay (ko, tèt) li - to delude oneself 
gen - to be strong 
mete tout ~ sou li to summon up 
all one's strength 
pran - li ak de men to get up 
one's courage 
san ~ lethargic 
se ~ yon moun ki pou rete li nan 
travay one can work as much as 
one is up to 
travay sou - , selon ~ li, sou ~ (li) 
piecework, work paid for 
according to the number of 
products turned out 
koure, (kochon) koure n. boar; 
male pig 
ti koure smallest of the three 
Rada drums (Voodoo) - same as 
boula 
kourè n. runner (person) 
kourèd n, skinflint, tightwad; adj. 
stingy, scrimping 
fè - to rebel; to be reluctant; to be 
stingy 
kouri v. to run, run away; to rush, 
hurry, go fast; to speed, drive fast; 
to flow, circulate; n. collective 
panic or hysteria, riot; 
predicament, mess, jam; dianhet 
bouch li ~ dlo to salivate, water 
~ ak (yon moun) to arrest (s.o.) 
~ ale to run off 
- ale ~ vini see ~ moute - desaai 
~ antre nan to dash in(to) 
~ bri (deyô) to spread rumors 
- desann to run down, flow down 
(hill etc.); to rush out; to flood 
- dèyè to go after, run after, chase, 
pursue; to chase away 
- dlo to water (mouth), salivate 
- fè (sou) to iron; to do rapidly 
~ fè wonn to run around 
- fèmen to close quickly 
- fonse antre to rush into 
- (grenpe) moute to run/rush up, 
take off 
~ kanpe to suddenly stand up 
~ kite to run out of, flee; 
uncomfortable bed/bunk/pallet 
- machin twop to drive too fast 
~ moute (anwo) to run up, 
scamper up; to rush upstairs 
~ moute desann, ~ moute ~ 
desann, ~ ale - vini to run up and 
down, run about; to circulate 
(rumors esp.); running about; 
panic, confusion 
~ pase flonn to run like the wind, 
run like lightning 
~ plan to check plans or drawings 
for accuracy 
~ ponpe whatever, regardless 
- pou to flee from 
- pou lapli tonbe nan larivyè/ 
492 
kouri - kout 
lavalas to go from bad to worse 
- pwason davril to look for s.thg. 
which is not there 
- rantre to run back in 
- set jou anvan djab to run away 
from a problem well before it 
becomes crucial 
- sote to skip, jump forward 
- sôti to run out, go out quickly, 
flee 
- sou to charge at, make a rush 
for; to be almost, be about to, be 
close to, be nearly 
- sou tèt to rush in 
- sove (poul li) to run away, run 
off 
~ travèse to run through 
- tren to run around, go back and 
forth; to work long and hard hours 
~ tribinal to go to court, sue 
~ vini to run in, rush over 
~ yon chwal to gallop 
ti ~ (hair) braids 
kourikoulôm see kirikilom 
kourye n. mail 
~ elektwonik, kouryèl E-mail, 
electronic mail 
kouryele v. to E-mail 
kous n. race, competition, contest; 
errand; journey, trip 
fe (yon) ~ to compete in a race 
~ apye foot race; foot-racing, 
track 
~ (a) relè relay race 
~ kouri foot race, road race 
- san, - desan ets. hundred meter 
race, two hundred meter race etc. 
pati/pete yon ~ kouri to take off 
running 
tout - at full speed 
kousa see konsa 
kousen n. cushion, pad 
~ elektrik heating pad 
~ machin car seat 
~ tèt headrest 
kousi see rakousi 
~ kousa, ~ konsa so so 
kousikwi n. short-circuit (mach.) 
kousinen v. to cushion; to feather 
(nest) 
kouskouri n. run, dash 
kouskous see kouchkouch 
kousye: 
gran ~ central irrigation canal 
kout n. thrust, stroke, move; blow, 
hit, lunge; shot, gulp (of alcohol 
etc.); shot (of gun); bolt, flash (of 
lightning); sound; crust; scab; adj. 
short; brief, concise; onomat. 
chickee! chickee! (to call 
chickens); see kou 
anba ~ brid unwillingly 
bay ~ men to lend a helping hand 
bay ~ mi to fool, trick 
bay ~ tèt to nod off, doze off 
bay yon ~ kouto to stab, knife 
bay yon ~ zepôl to give a hand, 
help 
dènye ~ bwa last straw 
fè kèk ~ pèl to shovel (pej.) 
fè ~ dwèt sou to point the finger 
at, accuse, blame 
fè ~ zo to play to win 
fè yon ~ to do (s.thg.); to take a 
turn at being or doing (s.thg.) 
fè yon ~ mèt to make a master 
stroke, be highly successful 
fe yon ~ prezidan to have a try at 
running for president, throw one's 
hat into the presidential arena 
fè yon ~ pye nan to drop in on, 
look in on, pay a visit to 
fè yon ~ volan to make a sudden 
turn, swerve (in vehicle) 
493 
kout - kout 
fè yon - zepon to hit hard 
- ba see koutba 
- bagèt drumbeat; wave of a 
(magic) wand 
- bale (quick) sweep; cleaning 
out, clearing out (lit. and fig.) 
~ baton beating, thrashing 
- bèk peck 
- boul dishonest trick 
~ boutèy bottle-throwing 
~ bwa see koutbwa 
- cham philter, love potion 
~ chapo tip(ping) of the hat, 
salute; compliment; crush, fancy 
- dan see koutdan 
~ defans bumper blow (of 
vehicle) 
~ djak uplift, gain, advance 
- dwèt (secret) denunciation, 
squealing, ratting 
~ fè ironing; blow 
~ ill phone call 
- filé dragnet, police raid 
- fizi gunfire, gunshot 
- flach quick look, glance; review, 
summary 
~ foud bolt of lightning 
- fouk low blow; deceit, 
deception, lie 
- foule short and fat; roly-poly 
person; pip-squeak, small fry, half-
pint 
- fwèt whiplash 
~ gidon sudden change of 
direction 
~ je see koutje 
~ kat round, session (playing 
cards); agreement, bargain, deal; 
event, occurrence, situation 
~ ke ~ whatever the cost, 
regardless, one way or another 
~ kloch warning sign 
- kôd arrest 
~ kodak snapshot 
~ kon goring 
~ koud elbow jab 
- kouto slash, cut, stab 
- lanbi warning signal 
~ lang see koutlang 
- laso attack, charge, onslaught 
- lè chill 
- limyè see limyè 
- loray clap of thunder 
~ makak clubbing, beating 
~ men see koutmen 
~ mi cheating, trickery 
- mô, ~ nanm hex, curse 
~ nen booger, (dried) snot 
- pa konprann trick, deceit 
- pati shove, push out 
- penso sketch, outline 
- peny see koutpeny 
- pitit see pitit (bay kout ~) 
- plim literary effect; short article 
- ponp shortchanging with only a 
partial gallon of gasoline; 
contaminated gasoline (mixed 
with another liquid) 
~ ponya see koutponya 
~ poud use of magical powder to 
harm s.o. (Voodoo) 
~ pous see koutpous 
- pwen see koutpwen 
- pye see koutpye 
~ pyete see koutpyete 
- pyout see koutpyout 
- rach hatchet blow; swift cutting 
blow 
- rèl outcry; shout, cry, yell 
~ revolvè pistol shot 
- san see koutsan 
~ solèy, - sol see koutsolèy 
- tan severe weather, severe storm 
~ tanbou drumbeat 
494 
kout - koutje 
- telefôn telephone call 
- tèt nod (when dozing); header 
(soccer) 
- teyat dramatic turn of events 
- tôchon clearing off 
- van gust, flurry (of wind) 
- volan sudden turn, swerve 
- wôch rock-throwing; stoning 
~ zam gunfire, gunshot 
- zèl see koutzèl 
- zo see koutzo 
- zong pinch, squeeze; pinch, 
small bit, smidgin 
menm - baton/bwa same old 
thing 
pran ~ ba to be deceived, be 
taken in 
pran - (boul) to get hit; to be 
cheated 
pran ~ kouto to be knifed/stabbed 
pran nan yon ~ pa konprann to 
catch unawares, take by surprise 
pran yon - zepon to take a hard 
hit 
ti - shorty (man or woman) 
vin ~ to shorten, shrink 
yon - dlo cho yon - dlo frèt two-
faced person, hypocrite; traitor -
cf. konze 
koutan adj. obedient 
pa ~ disobedient, stubborn 
koutay, koutaj n. shady enterprise, 
scam; rake-off, graft 
koutayè n. middleman, intermediary, 
broker; scam-artist, double-dealer, 
grafter 
koutba n. deception, low blow, dirty 
trick 
bay ~ to play a dirty trick; to 
deceive, fool, take advantage of; 
to break one's word or promise 
pran - to be deceived, be taken 
koutbatè n. deceiver 
koutbwa, koudebwa n. hit, blow; 
bad situation 
bay - to club 
koutcha, koutya n. style, manner, 
culture; see sankoutcha 
koutche see koutye 
koutdan n. bite 
bay % fè ~ to bite; to take a bite, 
eat 
koutdemèt n. master stroke, brilliant 
maneuver 
koute v. to listen (to); to listen, obey; 
to cost; n. listening; adj. costly 
~ anbachal to eavesdrop 
~ byen to listen carefully 
~ kôlè li to give way to anger, act 
impulsively 
~ tèt nèg to cost a (small) fortune, 
cost an arm and leg 
pa ~ san ou calm down, cool it; 
swallow your pride 
koutfoule n. pip-squeak, small fry, 
half-pint; roly-poly person; adj. 
short and fat 
kouti n. sewing, needlework, 
dressmaking; seam; stitch, suture 
(sewing; wound); binding; scar; 
sewing class; making, creation, 
formation 
~ dèyè perineum 
mete nan ~ to make to order, 
make to one's own specifications 
nan ~ in the works, in preparation 
koutim n. custom(s), practice, habit 
koutimas see kontimas 
koutimye see dwa ~ 
koutiryè, koutiryèz, koutiyèz see 
koutriyèz 
koutize v. to woo, pay court to, court 
koutje 72. glance, look; scornful look 
bay ~ to wink 
495 
koutkekout - kouve 
fè yon - to take a glance 
koupe yon ~ to give (s.o.) a dirty 
look 
~ twaze disdainful stare 
koutkekout adv. whatever the cost, 
regardless, one way or another 
koutlang n. slander; backbiting 
bay % fè - to speak ill of, slander 
koutlèy see koudèy 
koutmen, koudmen n. assistance, 
help, hand 
bay ~ to help, assist 
kouto n. knife; operation 
bay yon kout - to stab 
bout ~ squat, stubby (person) 
~ bouche cleaver 
- (koupe) de b6 (li koupe 
janbon/bonbon li koupe 
pwazon/li file toude bè), ~ de 
dan, ~ de lang, ~ de lanm two-
faced person, hypocrite; traitor; 
double-edged knife 
~ digo billhook, pruning knife 
(large long knife used esp. in 
slaughtering livestock) 
- famasi, - fanmasi, - fonmasi 
see ~ de bè 
- inivèsèl utility knife 
- operasyon scalpel 
~ tire hostility 
mete ~ (sou) to operate (on) 
koutoup koutap adv. haltingly, with 
difficulty 
koutpeny (pronounced: kout-pen-
y) n. hairdo; combing (of hair) 
kontpomya «. loan-sharking, loan (at 
cxhorbitant interest), usury; 
infringement, transgression, 
infraction (fig.) 
anba gwo - heavily into debt (at a 
usurious rate of interest) 
koutpous n. assistance, help 
koutpwen n. punch, jab, fist bkm 
bay ~ to punc'i, jab 
~ bannann crushing blow, knock, 
out blow 
koutpye n. kick 
bay ~ to kick 
de - just two steps away, a stonc'i 
throw, no distance at all 
de ~ pou ti Da to use and then 
discard s.o. 
fè yon ~ to pay a little visit (to), 
drop by 
Yo ban m yon ti ~ mwen via 
tonbe la a mwen bay ti maati it 
a traditional ending for Haitian 
folktales 
koutpyete v. to kick, kick around 
koutriyèz, koutiryè, koutiryèz, 
koutiyèz, koutriyè f.n. 
dressmaker, seamstress 
koutsan n. rage, extreme anger; 
stroke, cardio-vascular accident 
(CVA); seizure 
koutsolèy, koutsôl n. crush, fancy 
(on a woman); sunburn 
gen yon ~ to fancy, be sweet on 
koutwa adj. courteous 
koutwazi n. courtesy, politeness, 
courteousness; donation, gift 
koutya see koutcha; sankoutcka 
koutye, koutche n. agent, broker, 
middleman, contractor; real-estate 
agent 
koutzèl n. wing-beat, flap (of the 
wings) 
koutzo n. throw of the dice 
fè koupe ~ to shoot dice; to 
make a move (dominoes) 
~ towo blatant lie 
kouvan n. convent 
kouve v. to hatch, sit on eggs; to 
smoulder; n. brood, hatch; 
541 
kouvè - kouzen 
offspring 
kouvè n. place setting; silverware 
- sèk see manje sèk 
ranje -, mete - to set the table 
syèl - overcast sky 
kouvèt n. lid 
- enferyè oil pan (mach.) 
kouvèti n. cover; blanket; lid, top; 
roofing; toilet seat lid; press 
coverage; surveillance; cover, 
disguise, subterfuge 
fè ~ to serve as a look-out, 
exercise surveillance 
- kay roof 
~ priz (electric) wall outlet plate 
~ solid hard-cover (book) 
- switch/bouton switch plate 
- twalèt toilet lid 
- twou rigôl manhole cover 
~ vejetal plant covering (ecology) 
~ zôrèy gill cover (of fish) 
kouvèz n. incubator 
kouvezon n. brooding-time, 
brooding, sitting on eggs (chickens 
etc.) 
kouvrè n. roofer 
kouvrefe n. curfew 
bay - to set/establish a curfew 
kouvreli n. bedspread 
~ matlase comforter, quilt 
kouvrepla n. plastic or metal dish-
cover 
kouvri v. to cover, hide; to cover up, 
fill up; to cover, include; to report 
on, cover (journalism); to coat; to 
mate (animals); adj. overcast (sky) 
- ak kouch to coat, cover (paint 
etc.) 
- kay to roof 
~ pou to cover for, make up for 
kouwa n. strap; fanbelt (mach.); v-
belt (mach.) 
kouwapre see kwape 
kouwè, konwè, kwè conj./prep. like, 
just like, similar to, same as, such 
as 
pou - 1 ye la a as for now, at 
present, as the situation now 
stands 
kouwôn, kouwonn n. crown; 
wreath; crown (of tooth); corona 
~ di kris crown of thorns (plant) 
Kouwôn (Kola) prop.n. Couronne 
Cola (pop. soft drink) 
kouwonnen, kouwone, kouwônen, 
kouwounen v. to crown; to circle, 
encircle 
kouwonnman n. coronation, 
crowning 
kouy see kouj 
kouyadinaj, kouyadinay n. 
stupidity 
kouyak n. var. of plantain 
kouyan n. close friend; person who 
hobbles or limps 
kouyanbiz n. shady connections, 
illegitimate dealings 
kouyan(k)-kouyan(k) adv. so-so, 
tolerably, neither very good nor 
very bad; hobbling, limping 
kouyann n. pal, buddy 
kouyè see kiyè 
fè yon - to have a first try; to let 
s.o. else have a try 
kouyezon n. harvest 
kouyi see keyi 
kouyon, konyon n. jerk, fool, 
dummy 
kouyonnad n. foolishness 
kouyonnen v. to deceive 
kouzen n. var. of prickly plant 
~ gwonèg crown of thorns (plant) 
Other var. are: gran % - pikan, ~ 
van, - wouj, ti ~ 
497 
kouzen - kowosôl 
kouzen nkouzin f.n. cousin; friend 
(in direct address) 
- jèm(en) first cousin 
- soujèm(en) second cousin; 
distant cousin 
wa pa kouzen li to be very proud 
Kouzen prop.n. affectionate name 
for Azaka (q.v.) 
kouzi: 
bouch don't breathe a word!, 
mum's the word! 
Kouzin f.prop.n. consort of Azaka 
(Voodoo) 
kouzinèt n. little cousin 
kouziyè see kizinyè 
kouziyèz see kizinyèz 
kôve n. group work (usually 
followed by distribution of food); 
drudgery, chore, unpleasant task; 
(obs.) forced labor (on roads esp.) 
fe ~ to perform a hard unpleasant 
task 
Kèvintonn (Jôj) prop.n. Corvington 
(Georges) - Haitian historian, 
author of a multi-volume PaP au 
Cours des Ans 
kow! onomat. bang!; pow!; crack! 
(of whip); sound of knocking 
kowabite v. to cohabit, live together; 
cf. plase 
kowadjitè n. suffragan, coadjutor 
(ecc.) 
kowaia n. koala 
kowalisyon, kwalisyon n. coalition 
Kowasi see Kwowasi 
kowensidans, koyensidans, 
kwensidans n. coincidence 
Kowet, Kowèt prop.n. Kuwait 
Kowetyen prop.n J adj., Kowetyèn 
fprop.n. Kuwaiti 
kowezyon, koyezyon n. cohesion 
kowôdinasyon n. coordination 
kowôdinatè, kowôdonatè, 
kôwôdonatè, kowodonatèz, 
kowôdonatris see kodinatè 
kowôdone, kowôdonnen v. to 
coordinate; n. coordinate (math.); 
one's address, phone numbeicte 
[Fr.] 
kowolè n. corollary, consequence, 
result 
kowôm n. quorum 
kôwôn n. strength, endurance, 
stamina 
kowonèl see kolonèl 
kowonpi, konpi, konwonp, 
konwonpi, kowonp, kèwonp, 
kowonpi, kwonpi v. to corrupt, 
lead astray; to bribe; adj. corrupt; 
stagnant 
kowoperan, koperan n. foreign 
volunteer worker 
kowoperasyon see koperasyon 
kowoperatif, kowoperativ see 
koperatif 
kowopere, kopere v. to cooperate 
kowopte v. to coopt 
Kowos prop.n. Corosse (communal 
section of Vallières, Dept. North-
East) 
kèwôs n. royal palm tree, coyol tree; 
adj. hard-hearted 
kowosif adj. corrosive 
kowosôl, kosôl, kôwôsôl n. soursop, 
corossol; southern puffer (fish); 
var. of mango 
dlo grenn ~ var. strong home-
made insecticide 
- granbwa wild soursop, 
blackbark, black mahoe 
~ mawon pond apple tree, 
monkey apple tree, corkwood tree 
- zonbi mountain soursop (small 
tree) 
498 
kôwôt - krab 
po - goose bumps, goose pimples, 
goose flesh 
Var. of soursop: - chen, - dyab 
kôwôt, kôhôt n. cohort, troop; 
(Protestant) prayer group 
kowozyon n. corrosion 
kôy n. coil; onomat. sound of a 
heavy metallic blow 
koyak, konyak (pronounced: ko-
nyak) n. cognac 
fè - to kick with the heel (soccer) 
koyefisyan n. coefficient (math.) 
koyensidans see kowensidans 
koyerans n. [Fr.] coherence, 
consistency 
koyezyon see kowezyon 
koyibe v. to fail, go under, be 
washed up; to thwart, prevent; to 
eliminate, put out of action 
koyo, koho n. henpecked husband; 
stay-at-home, recluse; man 
incapable of success with women; 
adj. inane, simple, mindless 
kôyôt n. coyote 
kôz, koz n. cause, reason; motive; 
case, lawsuit; offense; v. to 
perpetrate; to be responsible for, 
cause 
pouki ~ why 
pou ~ because of, for the reason 
of 
pran ~ pou to side with, favor 
koze v. to talk, chat, converse; to 
flirt; to court; to cause; n. 
conversation, chat, talk, 
discussion; gossip, rumor, tale; 
subject, concern, business; 
question, issue; matter, problem, 
affair; details, circumstances 
Ala (de) ~ (ou tande)! What a 
ridiculous thing! Just listen to that! 
Amazing! 
fè ~ mache to make conversation/ 
talk 
gwo ~ "big deal" 
Kenbe - nou! Keep it to yourself! 
Don't spread the word! 
- mande chèz, - pran chèz the 
situation calls for reflection 
- nan bouch, - mete la idle talk, 
hollow words 
~ nan zôrèy private conversation 
~ piman bouk heated discussion 
- tablati nonsense, bullshit 
pa kenbe - sou lestonmak li not 
to be able to keep a secret 
pa nan - not to participate, stay 
out of 
premye - introduction, preface, 
foreword 
se pa de - ki pa pale there was an 
awful lot of talk/gossip 
sou ~ sa a concerning, talking 
about 
vini sou yon - to mention, bring 
up a subject 
vye - bullshit, nonsense 
kozè, kôzè adj. chatty, talkative; n. 
talker, conversationalist; big talker 
kozèt n. (little) chat 
kozèz n. loveseat 
kozman, kozman n. chat, 
conversation, discussion; gossip, 
idle talk; subject, heading 
gwo - principal subject, main 
heading; "big deal" 
premye - introduction, 
presentation 
ti - anba tonnèl private little chat 
kozri n. talk, (informal) discussion 
Kr. abbrev. see Kris 
krab n. crab; yaws; yaws lesion; 
losing combination in dice etc. 
bay - pou tè to sell one's 
499 
krab - krak 
birthright for a pot of cabbage 
- anbara, ~ arenyen, ~ aryen, -
banbara tarantula 
~ bwa land crab 
~ chèch, ~ dlo var. of yaws 
- ko li to weasel out (of an 
obligation); to sneak in; to take it 
easy, be cautious; to squeeze (into 
corner etc.) 
~ la pa mèg business is brisk, 
sales are good 
~ loray var. of crab 
~ malzôrèy, ~ mazorèy rock crab 
(inedible) 
~ mou var. of yaws 
~ sirik saltwater crab 
- vèt var. of yaws 
~ wont var. of crab 
~ zaren, ~ zaryen, ~ zouba, ~ 
zoumba tarantula 
~ zoumba, - zouba large purplish 
crab with many appendages 
pa... ni ~ ni krik nothing at all 
krabè n. nonsense; friend, social 
equal, peer; adj. meaningless 
mwen pa ~ ou! I'm no friend of 
yours! 
ti ~ small rickety child; 
insignificant person 
krabinaj, grabinay, krabinay n. 
scraps, debris, rubble; 
insignificant person; beating, 
battering; smashing, crushing 
~ bwa kindling (wood) 
Krabinay prop.n. violent Voodoo 
Petwo spirit 
krabinè n. smasher, crusher 
krabinen v. to smash up, crush, 
break; to beat up, do in 
~ dwa anba pye to trample on 
(s.o.'s) rights 
krabiyan n. var. of dance 
krabiye, kabye *. Voodoo danceto 
chase away unwelcome spirits 
krabouye v. to crush, smash 
krabye, kabye n. heron; very thin 
person; crab seller 
gwo ~ blan egret 
~ ble little blue heron 
- gad bèf, valèt ibis 
~ gri gray heron 
- vant blan Louisiana heron 
ti - mang lanmè least bittern 
ti - rivyè West Indian green heron 
Var. of heron: ~ dlo, ~ rivyè 
kracha n. sputum 
krache v. to spit; to spit up, cough 
up; to drizzle, sprinkle, rain 
lightly; n. saliva; spit, spittle; tiny 
bit; small drop; drizzle, sprinkle, 
light rain 
anvan ~ sèk/chèch quickly, right 
away 
~ anlè twa fwa to combat a magic 
spell 
~ dife to spit fire, heat up; to put a 
hex on, curse, jinx 
~ nan bouch/djôl yon moun to 
be of a common mind, be in 
complete harmony; to say to s.o. in 
confidence 
~ rim sputum, spit(tle) 
- yon bagay (bay) to give back 
s.thg. 
- (yon moun) to resemble (s.o.) 
exactly 
tou - ak exactly like 
krachin n. light sprinkle, very light 
rain 
krachwa n. spittoon, cuspidor 
kraf(t) n. cream cheese 
krak interj. traditional acceptance to 
listen to a story (cf. krik); n. lie, 
tall story, tall tale; crack, fissure; 
krak - kras 
crotch; crack cocaine; onomat. 
crack! (sound of snapping or 
breaking) 
(pou) ti krik ti - at the slightest 
provocation, for the slightest 
reason 
Krakarayprop.n. Cracaraille (3rd 
communal section of Ranquitte, 
Dept. North) 
krake v. to crack, split; to chatter; to 
creak; to crack up, have a nervous 
breakdown 
- gason to brazenly seduce 
krakè n. story-teller; fibber, liar 
krakèz n. [Eng.] cracker 
krakhèd n. [Eng.] crackhead, crack 
addict 
krako see karako 
krakra n. boatbill (heron) 
kraktè see karaktè 
kramwazi adj. crimson 
kran n. guts, courage, backbone; 
peg; notch 
mete hang in there! go for it! 
kràn, kranntèt, kràntèt n. (interior 
of the) brain 
zo - skull 
krangle n. Haitian language heavily 
influenced by American English 
krankan: 
boule fè ~ to char, burn 
completely 
krankannen see kankannen 
krankès see kankès 
krankrannen see kankannen 
krann adj. proud, brave, strong; adv. 
firmly 
krannberi n. [Eng.] cranberry 
kranntèt see kràn 
kranp, lakranp n. cramp; ache, pain 
kranpon n. spike, cleat, stud (for 
sole of shoe etc.); clamp; spur 
kranponnay see kraponnay 
kranponnen v. to grip, cling to, hold 
on to; to spur; to have cramps or 
pains 
kràntèt see kràn 
krap n. cartilage, gristle; one of the 
two possible outcomes in 
rudimentary form of dice, cf. lèp 
zo - cartilage, gristle 
krapday n. small bit of money; 
small portion or piece 
krapil n. bad lot, dishonest person 
krapo n. frog; toad 
jalouzi - groundless or 
unwarranted jealousy 
- bèf, - boga, ~ bonga var. of 
large toad 
~ lanmè Southern puffer (fish) 
krapodin n. crouch, squat; adj. 
crouching, squatting 
kraponnay, kanponnay, kaponay, 
kaponnaj, kaponnay, 
kranponnay, kraponaj, 
kraponay, kraponnaj n. threats, 
intimidation, scare tactics; 
deception 
pran nan - to be deceived 
kraponnen, kanponnen, kaponnen 
v. to scare off, frighten, threaten, 
intimidate; to be afraid, get scared, 
be intimidated; to take s.o. in, fool, 
deceive; adj. nervous; intimidated 
kras n. dirt, filth, grime, scum; 
crumb; stinginess; squalor; 
skinflint, tightwad; adj. no, none; 
tiny, small; stingy 
dènye ~ every last bit 
fè - to be stingy or tight 
- boutèy sediment, lees, dregs 
- dan tartar (on teeth); plaque 
- lafimen, - nwa soot 
- moun nobody, not a soul 
501 
kras - kre 
- vant last-born child 
pa ~ not at all; nothing, none at all 
pa sere ~ not to mince words 
pa ti - very much 
pa vie ~ not to want just crumbs 
sail ~ innocently, purely, frankly 
san kite ~ without hiding anything 
ti ~ (a) tiny bit, (a) very little 
ti ~ pa ti ~ bit by bit, little by little 
krasmoun pron. nobody, not a soul 
kraste n. dirt, filth; stinginess, 
avarice 
kratè n. crater 
kravat n. [Fr.] (neck)tie; cf. kol 
kravate v. to put on a (neck)tie 
krawkraw onomat. creaking of new 
shoes; see kwôtkwôt 
Kraychlè prop.n. Chrysler 
kraz see kô ~ 
kraze n. fragment, crumb, bit, scrap; 
pittance; small amount of money; 
v. to crush, squash, flatten; to 
break, smash, shatter, demolish, 
destroy; to run over, run down 
(with car etc.); to deplete; to do 
(s.thg.) with pleasure or gusto, 
really go at s.thg.; to enjoy, join in; 
to ban, close down; to disrupt; to 
chew; to mash; to break a bill, 
make change; to fuck; adj. 
battered, beat up; shabby, run 
down; broke, penniless; exhausted 
~ ak dan to grind with the teeth 
~ anba dan to chew 
- anba wèch, - ak kout wôch to 
stone, throw stones at 
~ bèt (li) to study hard 
~ brize to do anything, act in 
whatever way; to vandalize; 
turmoil, agitation; rampage 
~ bwa to run away, go into hiding 
- eskanp (figi) to beat up, rough up 
~ grenn, grenn ~ ball-buster, 
rough, tough 
- kalôj to smash, break up 
~ kite to dump, toss out, throw out 
~ kite sa see ~ (yon) kite sa 
~ ko li to exert oneself greatly, 
force oneself 
~ manje to chew 
~ mouch to swat flies 
~ panno to have a very stiff penile 
erection 
~ plat atè to flatten to the ground, 
demolish, smash 
~ pyese to patch up haphazardly 
~ raje, - rak to run away, go into 
hiding, take to the woods 
~ ray to tear apart, splinter, split 
~ tè to turn over the soil, plow 
~ tonnèl to finish, be at an end 
~ yon de kawo to dance tightly 
embraced 
~ yon dômi to be sleeping soundly 
- yon je dou ak to make cow eyes 
at, bat one's eyelashes at 
- (yon) kite sa to forget about 
that, change or drop the subject; to 
throw in the towel, say to heck 
with that 
- yon manje to savor one's food 
- zo to oppress; oppression, 
persecution; cruel, oppressive, 
destructive 
pa ka ~ yon fourni not to be able 
to kill a fly, gentle 
ti - small bit of change/money; 
skinny 
yon ~ kite sa (n.) see ~ yon kite 
sa 
krazè zèb f.n. loose woman 
krazèd peyi n. exploiter; traitor 
kre adj. hollow; n. position in game 
of knucklebones (oslè); tail {cf. 
502 
krè - krèp 
ke); see Iakre 
krè see kwè 
krebete adj. scrawny, weak (child); 
n. novice, beginner, inexperienced 
person; var. of small freshwater 
fish 
krèch n. crèche, Nativity scene; day 
nursery; crib, manger 
kredi n. credit; adv. on credit 
achte ~ to buy on credit 
bay ~ to attribute 
fè - to credit, give credit to; to 
borrow from 
jwenn ~ to buy on credit; to get a 
loan 
koze ~ nonsense, rubbish, baloney 
rann ~ to sell on credit; to give a 
loan 
kredib adj. credible, believable; 
trustworthy 
kredibilite n. credibility 
kredil adj. credulous, believing 
kredite v. to credit (to an account) 
kredo n. creed, belief, credo 
krefran n./adj. (fam.) "French-fried 
Creole" 
krèk n. clitoris; occ. vagina; see 
krèt 
~ tibèt silliness, nonsense, kidding 
around 
kreke v. to stand still; to tread water 
krèm, krenm n. cream; cream 
(color); ice cream; rich topsoil; 
pick, finest, best part; lotion, 
ointment; contraceptive foam, 
spermicide 
bwè - to eat ice cream 
~ alaglas ice cream 
- anglèz (egg) custard 
~ hat, ~ fwete whipped cream 
~ blan ze meringue 
- frèch crème fraîche [Fr. - no 
American equivalent] 
~ fwonmaj, fwonmaj ~ cream 
cheese; cf. kraf(t) 
~ gason great guy 
~ karamèl custard tart, "flan" 
~ lèt cream (liquid) 
~ (pou) bab shaving cream 
~ pou siraj/siray (floor etc.) wax/ 
polish 
~ prezèvatif contraceptive cream 
~ si sour cream 
~ tè rich topsoil 
~ ti kawôl var. of ice cream 
moulen ~ ice-cream freezer 
kremas n. eggnog (composed of 
rum, milk, coconut and sugar) 
kreme v. to add cream 
kremè(z) adj. creamy 
Krèmlenprop.n. Kremlin (Moscow) 
kremol adj. imaginary; weak, wishy-
washy; slow, apathetic 
koze - nonsense, rubbish, baloney 
M pa nan koze ~ ak ou! Don't 
mess with me! Don't bother me! 
kren n. morassweed (aquatic herb); 
horse hair; var. of straw (used as 
mattress-stuffing) 
krenm see krèm 
krenmen v. to form cream 
krenn v. to fear; see grenn 
krent, lakrent n. fear, dread 
gen ~ (pou) to fear, be scared (of) 
krentif n. fear, awe, respect; adj. 
fearful 
gen ~ pou to fear 
krentitid n. fear 
krentyen see kretyen 
krenyè (pronounced: kre-nyè), 
krenyen, kreye, kreyè, krinyè, 
kriyè n. mane 
- pwason dorsal fin; cf. zèl do 
krèp n. crepe (fabric); crêpe; thin 
503 
krèpe - kreyatif 
pancake; see krèt 
- kreyol pancake dipped in salt 
water and rolled with peanuts and 
watercress 
krèpe see grèpe 
krepi v. to roughcast (a wall); adj. 
frizzy, woolly, fuzzy (hair) 
krepin n. grille, filter; funnel 
~ lavabo sink drain 
krepisay, krepisaj n. roughcasting 
(a wall) 
krepiskil n. [Fr.] twilight, dusk; cf. 
bren, labrin 
krepsôl n. crepe rubber; worn-out 
shoe 
kreson, kresan n. watercress 
Var. are: ~ dànwa, ~ dlo, ~ frans, 
~ savann, ~ sovay 
krèt, krèk, krèp n. crest, comb (of 
rooster or chicken); woman's 
genitals 
gwo % lang tèt ~ clitoris 
~ doub multi-tufted comb (of 
rooster) 
~ mazoumbi, ~ sitwon short thick 
round comb or tufl (of rooster) 
~ zeng having almost no crest 
Krèt, Lakrèt prop.n. Crete 
Krètapen prop.n. Crête-à-Pins (1st 
communal section of Marmelade, 
Dept. Artibonite) 
Krètapyewo, Krètapyèwo see 
Lakrèt 
Krètbrile prop.n. Crête-Brulée (4th 
communal section of Mirebalais, 
Dept. Center) 
kretchen see kretyen 
kretea u. fool, idiot, moron, 
imbecile, dumbbell, dunce 
kretik see kritik 
kretinaj, kretinay n. idiocy, 
imbecility 
krètkôk n. Indian heliotrope (pta, 
~ senp cockscomb (plant) 
krètkrèt see kwètkwèt 
krètmakrèt: 
an - in cahoots, in league, in 
conspiracy 
kretonn, kreton n. cretonne (bean 
cotton material); var. of plant 
Kretwa prop.nKretwaz//?rop* 
Cretan, inhabitant of Crete 
kretyen, krentyen, kretchei, 
kriken, kritchen, krityen nJo$ 
kretyèn fn . Christian 
kretyen vivan human being 
kretyènte, kretyennte n. 
Christendom 
krèv: 
~ kè heart-breaking 
krevant n. drudgery, backbreaking 
work 
krevas n. hole (in road); crevice, 
split, crack, fissure 
gen ~ to be chapped (lips) 
kreve v. to split, break open; to 
puncture, pierce, burst; to put out 
(eyes); to deflower, break the 
hymen; to lose her virginity; adj. 
almost cooked; dying 
krevèt n. (salt-water) shrimp 
krèy n. cluster; (set of objects 
connected by a) string; see 
makrèy 
kreyan: 
an - in/while/by creating 
kreyans n. credit (financial) 
lèt (de) - (diplomatic) credentials 
kreyansye n. creditor 
kreyasyon, lakreyasyon n. creation 
recreation period 
kreyatè n. creator 
kreyati n. creature 
kreyatif adj. creative 
504 
kreyativite - kribich 
kreyativite n. creativity 
kreye v. to create 
kreye, kreyè see krenyè 
kreyofil n. creolophile 
kreyol n. Haitian (Creole) 0tang.); 
Creole; shoot, sprout (plant); off-
shoot, child; product, fruit of one's 
labors; adj. Creole; domestic, 
native, indigenous, native to Haiti 
esklav ~ see nèg ~ 
gwo ~ see ~ rèk 
- bawok Haitian (Creole) of the 
North of Haiti; backwoods Haitian 
(Creole) (lang.) 
~ baz authentic Haitian language 
(without large amount of evident 
Gallicisms) 
- fen well articulated Haitian 
(Creole) (lang.) 
~ franse "French-fried Creole," 
Frenchified Haitian (lang.), 
citified Haitian (lang.) 
~ lou Haitian (Creole) spoken 
indistinctly or with a foreign 
accent 
~ pwès "authentic" Haitian 
(Creole) (lang.) 
~ rèk, gwo - unrefined Haitian 
(Creole) (lang.) 
~ swa refined Haitian (Creole) 
(lang.) 
nèg - , esklav - slave born in 
Saint-Domingue (rather than in 
Africa) 
pale/simen ~ kou rat (nan mayi) 
to speak Haitian (Creole) fluently 
pete ~ to sprout (esp. sugarcane) 
soup - pumpkin soup 
kreyofil n./adj. creophile 
kreyofôb n./adj. creophobe 
kreyolin n. var. of disinfectant; var. 
of worm medicine for animals 
kreyolis n. creolist; adj. Creole-
speaking 
kreyolis, kreyolôg n. creolist 
kreyolizan n. Haitian speaker; 
defender or supporter of the 
Haitian language 
kreyolizasyon n. creolizing 
kreyolize v. to creolize 
kreyolofon n./adj. Creolophone; 
adj. Creole-speaking 
Kreyolofoniprop.n. Creole-
speaking world 
kreyolôg see kreyolis 
kreyololoji n. Creolology 
kreyon n. pencil; stem, vertical shaft 
supporting bicycle handlebars 
- kè mou overly soft lead pencil 
- koulè, ~ desen crayon; colored 
pencil 
- min lead pencil 
- sousi eyebrow pencil 
pase - sou to forgive 
Kreyon prop.n. Creon 
Krèz (larivyè) prop.n. Creuse River 
(emptying into Lake Azuey, Dept. 
West) 
kreza adj. spoiled (person) 
krezè n. var. cast-iron cooking pot 
krezi glou n. [Eng.] crazy glue 
kri n. cry, yell, shout, scream; adj. 
raw, uncooked; unripe; smelly; 
adv. instantaneously 
dènye - latest fashion 
~ dalam warning cry 
- degè war cry 
mouri - to die suddenly 
krib, krip n. sieve, screen (for 
sand); adj. crunchy; gristly; not 
fully cooked or of bad quality 
(potatoes etc.) 
kribich n. (freshwater) crayfish, 
crawfish; adj. fickle, changeable 
505 
krible - Kristèf 
- chode person with very light 
skin (pej.) 
krible v. to riddle, overwhelm (with 
bullets etc.) 
krich n. (earthenware) pitcher or jug 
bos fèzè ~ potter 
krichon n. tray with holes for 
holding pitchers 
kridoub see gradoub 
kriiiw onomat. sound of screeching 
of brakes 
krik n. peep, small sound; 
traditional offer to tell a story (cf. 
krak); see topi 
pa di ~ not to say/utter a word 
pou (nenpèt) ti ~ ti krak at the 
slightest provocation, for the 
slightest reason 
tout ~ everywhere, all over 
krike n. sprocket (mach.) 
krikeit see kretyen 
krikèt, trikèt n. cicada; cricket 
(insect); adj. small, thin 
gwo ~ grasshopper 
~ vèt locust 
krikri see koukouy 
krikrit: 
zo ~ gristle 
krim n. (serious) crime 
kriminalite n. criminality 
kriminalize v. to engage in criminal 
activity; to declare (an activity) 
criminal 
kriminèl n. criminal, felon, 
lawbreaker; adj. guilty, criminal 
kriminen v. to incriminate 
krimizou adj. skinny 
krinolin see krenyè 
krinyè see krenyè 
krip adj. gristly, crunchy; onomat 
sound of screeching halt; see krib 
zo ~ cartilage, gristle 
kripkrip onomat. crunch-crunch 
(when eating crisp food) 
kripton n. krypton 
kriptosejya n. cryptostegia (plant); 
cf. kon kabrit 
kripya, kripyan adj. stingy 
kripyay, kripyaj n. stinginess 
kripyon see koupyon 
kris: 
~ marin bay cedar tree 
Kris prop.n. Christ 
anvan anv. - B.C., before 
Christ 
apre ap. ~ A.D., anno Domini, 
after Christ 
krisalid, krizalid n. chrysalis, pupa 
krisboul, krisboulanm, krisboulit 
see tonné ~ 
krisentôm see krizantèm 
krisifi n. crucifix 
ti ~ nan po krab hypocrite; coy 
krisifiksyon n. crucifixion 
krisifye v. to crucify 
Krisifyen, Krisyen prop.n., 
Krisifyèn, Krisyèn f.prop.n. 
inhabitant of Croix-des-Bouquets 
(Dept. West) 
krismarin n. var. of plant that grows 
near seashore 
krispe v. to tense up, become 
strained; to give (s.o.) a headache 
krispen n. var. tree 
kristal n./adj. crystal; n. glassware 
kou ~ crystalline 
kristalen adj. crystalline, crystal-
clear 
kristalize v. to crystallize 
kristase n. crustacean, shell-fish 
kristè, klistè n. enema 
bay - to drive s.o. crazy, bother, 
annoy 
Kristof (Anri) prop.n. Christophe 
506 
kristyanis - kwa 
(Henry) (1767-1820) - president 
of Northern Haiti, 1807-1811, 
king of Northern Haiti, 1811-1820 
kristyanis see krisyanis 
Kriswa, Akasya, Kristwa prop.n. 
Christ-Roi (middle-class area of 
PaP) 
krisyal adj. crucial 
Krisyanprop.n. Christian (name of 
person; for religion, see kretyen) 
krisyanis, kristyanis prop.n. 
Christianity 
krisyanize v. to Christianize, spread 
Christianity 
Krisyen, Krisyèn see Krisifyen, 
Krisifyèn 
kritchen see kretyen 
kritè n. criterion; pi. criteria 
kritik, kretik n. critic; criticism; 
adj. grave, critical 
fè - sou (do) yon moun to 
criticize, slander s.o. 
kritike v. to criticize 
kritikè n. critic 
kritkrit n. guts, innards, insides; 
(small) detail 
krityen see kretyen 
kriyadô n. chronic weeper; breeder 
and trainer of fighting cocks 
kriye v. to cry, weep, sob, wail; to 
whine; to peep; to creak, squeak; 
to croak; n. tear(s), weeping 
fè - nan yon sèl grenn je to 
severely mistreat 
~ de ran dlo, - matyè, - san to 
weep bitterly 
- onz patou to offer to fight all 
comers 
~ pike to cry one's heart out 
~ san nan pye to plead, beg, 
beseech 
~ vi to shed crocodile/false tears 
kriyè n. weeper, wailer, whiner; see 
krenyè 
kriyèl adj. cruel 
kriyit n. small cricket 
kriyolin see krinolin 
kriyote n. cruelty 
kriz n. crisis; hysteria, emotional 
crisis, fit; fit of anger; fainting 
spell; convulsions, seizure, spasm; 
eclampsia; epilepsy 
fè - to have a fit of anger 
- de nè emotional crisis 
~ fwa liver problem 
~ kè, ~ kadyak heart attack 
gen pran - , tonbe - to become 
hysterical 
krizalid see krisalid 
krizantèm, krisentôm n. 
chrysanthemum, mum 
krizokal, krizo n. costume jewelry, 
fake jewelry; adj. sham, fake 
krizolit n. chrysolite 
krizomèl, krizomelid n. var. of 
noxious insect 
krizopraz n. [Bible] chrysoprase 
(var. of quartz) 
K-Solèy see Kaysolèy 
kwa n. cross, crucifix; burden, 
misery, misfortunes, suffering, 
torment; x (to mark a correct 
answer); see (a ~) bon 
an - crosswise, crossways 
fè - to sign/put one's x, be unable 
to write 
fè - (atè) to solemnly swear 
fè - bo(bo) li to swear or promise 
(not to do s.thg. again) 
fè - nan bounda bourik to be 
totally ignorant 
fè - poul to take an empty oath 
(which one has no intention of 
keeping) 
507 
kwa - kwak 
fè - sou batistè li to send to glory, 
do away with, kill 
fè - (sou/ak bouch), fè - sou djol 
goch to promise to remain silent; 
to swear not to do s.thg. 
kouche/kanpe an - kont to 
obstruct, diametrically oppose 
- arè, - arestasyon, - Gede 
Loray, - Gede Nimbo, - Gede 
Zando, - Limba various buried 
magic charms which form a 
barrier to protect one's home 
against evil spirits 
- digo cross drawn with indigo as 
a Voodoo charm 
- - sacred calabash rattle used in 
Petwo and Kongo rites (Voodoo) -
same as tchatcha 
! ha ha ha! (laughter) 
lage yon - madoulè sou to make 
(s.o.) bear a cross (of suffering) 
men défi - manman ou men -
papa ou (si ou kapab vin pile 1) I 
challenge you, I dare you 
mete an - to obstruct, hinder, 
impede, thwart 
mete yon - sou to put s.thg. 
behind, erase from one's mind 
pase yon - sou to annul, rescind, 
cancel 
pote - to bear a heavy burden, 
suffer 
san - [Fr.] without which, 
otherwise 
Se - pa m! It's the cross I have to 
bear! 
kwabi v. to eat voraciously 
Kwabosai, Kwadbosal, 
Kwadèbosal prop.n. Croix-des-
Bossales (populous commercial 
area ofPaP) 
kwachaf n. universal joint, universal 
coupling (mack); drive shaft 
(mack) 
kwachyoko, katyokô, kwachok^  
kwatchôkô, kwatchwôkô, 
kwatchyôkô, kwatyokô, 
ponchyanko, pwatchjoko, 
pwatchwôkô, pwatyôko n. 
kwashiorkor 
Kwadbosal, Kwadèbosal see 
Kwabosai 
Kwadèboukè prop.n. Croix-des-
Bouquets (Dept. West) 
Kwadèmisyon, Kwamisyon prvpx 
Croix-des-Missions (immediately 
northeast of PaP) 
Kwadèpre prop.n. Croix-Desprez 
(wealthy residential area ofPaP) 
kwadi n. reciprocal work team 
konbit); crowd 
kwadratik adj. quadratic (math.) 
kwadrilatè n./adj. quadrilateral 
(math.) 
kwaf, kwèf n. caul (fetal membrane 
covering head of new-bom infant) 
fèt ak/an - to be born under a 
lucky star; to be able to see 
invisible beings 
kwafe v. to comb or take care of 
one's hair; to put on a hat; to head, 
be at the head of 
- Sent Katrin to remain an old 
maid 
kwafè n. barber, hair-dresser 
kay - barbershop 
kwafëz n. dressing-table, vanity; 
dresser (furniture); f.n. beautician, 
hairdresser 
kwafi n. hairstyle, coiffure 
salon - beauty parlor 
kwak conj. although; n. var. food 
made with flour; several var. of 
birds 
Kwakatchemen - kwaze 
-blanch var. of bird 
-dlo stilt (bird) 
Î ha ha ha! (laughter) 
Kwakatchemen prop.n. Croix 
Quatre Chemins (major crossroad 
at en t rance t o C a y e s - D e p t . 
South) 
kwakdlo n. stilt (bird) 
kwake, kwak conj. although 
- sa nevertheless 
Kwakou (Masiyon) prop.n. Coicou 
(Massillon) - Haitian poet b. 1867, 
executed 1908 
kwaksa conj. in spite of that 
kwakseswa (pa)pron. [Fr.] nothing 
at all 
kwakwa see tchatcha(tcha) 
Kwalalenpiprop.n. Kuala Lumpur 
(Malaysia) 
kwalisyon see kowalisyon 
Kwamisyon see Kwadèmisyon 
kwann, kwenn n. pork rind 
ke se ~ ke se dyo either one or the 
other 
~ figi cheek 
~ janm fatty part of thigh 
~ nan pwa a tasty delicacy, best 
morsel, best part, crowning touch 
~ tèt scalp 
kwanna see pikankwennan 
kwanne n. old person 
kwapay n. chasing away, rebuffing, 
repelling 
kwape, kourape, kouwapre v. to 
chase away, rebuff, repel; to reject 
completely; to overcome, stop, 
prevent; to run after; to catch 
(s.o.), bring (s.o.) back 
kwaryann n. quarry; cf. karyann 
kwasan n. croissant (<cul.) 
kwasans n. puberty; period, 
menstruation; increase, growth, 
development 
fè ~ to reach puberty, start 
menstruating 
pèdi ~ to stop menstruating 
(temporarily or permanently) 
Kwasi see Kwowasi 
kwasiyen v. to trace ritualistically 
the sign of the cross on a person, 
animal or object (Voodoo) 
kwat (kolèt) n. var. of bird 
kwatchôkô, kwatchwôkô, 
kwatchyoko, kwatyèkô see 
kwachyôkô 
kwatyô n. quartet 
Kwa Wouj prop.n. Red Cross 
kwayan n. believer; unbaptized 
member of Protestant church 
kwayans n. belief, faith; conviction, 
creed 
vye ~ superstition 
kwazad n. crusade, campaign 
kwaze v. to meet by chance, bump 
into; to cross; to pass in opposite 
directions; to intersect; to cross 
out, erase; to mate, couple 
(animals); to be fertilized; n. cross 
(of breeds); adj. crossed, folded; 
alternate (rhymes) 
~ ak to meet by chance, bump into 
- (de) bra (li), - lebra, rete bra 
- , (rete chita) - pye, - men li to 
remain idle/passive/inactive, do 
nothing, take no action 
- (de) pye (li) sou (kôtôf 
lestonmak li) to get a lock-hold 
on (wrestling); to crush, oppress; 
to cause indigestion, upset (one's 
stomach) 
- fè to cross swords, enter into 
conflict 
~ lepe to honor 
- lewit term used in square dances 
kwaze - kwètkwèt 
for four couples 
- lewit ak to come to an 
agreement with, collaborate with 
- men li see ~ (de) bra (li) 
- moustach to have (male) 
homosexual relationship 
~ ponyèt sou to beat up 
- rantre sôti to pass each other 
going back and forth 
Kwaze prop.n. Crusaders (youth 
organization of Roman Catholic 
church) 
kwazè n. cruiser 
kwazman n. crossing, intersection; 
crossing (races, plants etc.); cross-
breeding; fertilization; passing 
(when heading in opposite 
directions); crossing of telephone 
conversations (with another party 
on line); adj. crossbred 
fè - to pass in opposite directions 
kwazon see klwazon 
kwazyè n. cruise; cruise ship; 
cruiser 
kwe kwe kwe! interj. ha ha ha! 
(laughter) 
kwè! kwè! kwè! onomat. clucking 
of chicken 
kwè, krè v. to believe; to trust; to 
think, suppose; see kouwè 
fè - to give the impression, claim, 
assert 
lè ou pa - when you least expect 
it 
pa nan ni - ni petèt to be certain, 
be sure 
rete - to keep on believing, 
continue to believe; to be 
convinced, firmly believe 
kwèf see kwaf 
kwelekwekwe n. nonsense; onomat. 
sound of noisy activity 
kwen n. corner, angle 
kat - kadino in all directions 
- ak rakwen every nook and 
cranny 
- ri block (of city/town) 
kwenda n. quarrel, dispute 
kwendak n. small bit, small piece 
kwendèk f.n. attractive young 
woman; interj. hell! 
kwenk onomat. quack (sound of a 
duck) 
pa di - not to let out a peep, say 
nothing 
kwenkay n. house (fam.) 
kwenkwen adj. shy, retiring; 
onomat. quack! quack! (cry of 
duck) 
kwenn see kwann 
kwenna see pikankwennan 
kwennda n. reel of yam or thread, 
skein; tangle, web 
kwense v. to pressure, comer, trap; 
to be cornered, be trapped, be 
stuck; to arrest; to squeeze; to 
crowd (in); to be broke or 
penniless; adj. pinched; cramped, 
confined 
- ko li to squeeze into (a small 
space) 
kwensidans kowensidans, 
koyensidans n. coincidence 
kwenskwens n. contention, strife, 
dispute, argument; nonsense, 
ridiculous talk 
di - kabrit mode woch to say any 
old thing, talk nonsense 
kwente adj. timid, shy, bashful 
kweti n. var. of cloth 
kwètkwèt, krètkrèt n. thrush 
- fran Hispaniolan thrush 
- nô var. of thrush 
- nwa Swales' thrush 
kwètmakwèt - kwochi 
kwètmakwèt adj. demonic, diabolic 
lovi onomat chirp (cry of bird) 
kwi, tchwi n. calabash bowl or dish, 
gourd bowl; beggar's bowl; 
leather, hide; leather razor strop 
grate - li (1 a kreve) to be looking 
for trouble 
- bwa wooden bowl 
- lacharite beggar's bowl 
mennen - to go begging 
(po) ~ tèt scalp 
pran ~ to go begging 
kwik: 
di % reponn - to say a word, open 
one's mouth, make a peep 
pa di - to not say a word, not 
make a peep 
kwikwi, kwikwiy see koukouy 
Kwins, Kwinzprop.n. Queens (New 
York) 
kwip: 
pa di - not to let out a peep, not to 
say anything 
kwipe see tchwipe 
kwis n. thigh; lap; genital area (of 
woman) 
fant % mitan ~ crotch; crotch of 
pants 
~ kole bowlegged 
zo ~ thighbone, femur 
kwison n. cooking, roasting, baking 
kwit, tchwit v. to cook, boil; to 
bake; adj. cooked, well-done; 
completely frozen (ice etc.) 
byen - well-done (cooked meat) 
~ li nan ji li to stew in one's own 
juices, suffer the consequences of 
one's deeds 
~ nan imbued with, indoctrinated 
with 
~ nan fou to bake 
~ nan san embedded in one's 
character/habits 
- nan vapè, - ala vapè to steam 
manke ~ undercooked 
mwatye ~ half-baked, dumb 
kwiv n. copper; brass; bronze; (U.S.) 
penny; see kob 
kwiyè see kiyè 
kwiyèz n. var. of plantain 
kwizin see kizin 
kwizinye see kizinye 
kwizinye, kwizinyè see kizinyè 
kwizinyèz see kizinyèz 
Kwoasi see Kwowasi 
kwobo adj. bent, bulging out of 
shape 
kwobot v. to bend (nails etc.) 
kwoch n. eighth note (music) 
de - sixteenth note (music) 
kat - sixty-fourth note (music) 
twa ~ thirty-second note (music) 
kwôch adj. strange, odd, peculiar 
kwochè n. bracket (mack); square 
bracket (punct.); hook (boxing); 
crocheting; fang (serpent, spider); 
quarter note (music) 
kwôche see kôche 
kwochèt, kochèt, kôchèt, kwèchèt 
n. (door or window) latch, hook; 
tripping, making s.o. fall; low 
blow, foul (sports), hook (boxing); 
dirty trick 
bay (moun) - to play a dirty trick 
(on s.o.) 
fè - to crochet 
jwèt ~ hazardous or fatal game 
kwochi, kochi v. to bend; n. 
crookedness, dishonesty; adj. 
curved, bent; bent over, stooped; 
unsuitable, inappropriate, 
improper; crooked, dishonest; 
tricky; adv. crookedly; awkwardly 
fè chemen fè wout - , pase - to 
511 
kwochi - kwom 
take a roundabout way; to be used 
dishonestly 
fè - to be crooked, be dishonest 
koupe bwa - to do s.thg. bad or 
dishonest 
- ko li to lean over 
mache - to limp 
pale - to voice opposition, 
dissent, criticize; to speak 
incorrectly, use bad grammar 
pase - see fè chemen -
tande - to misunderstand; to 
misquote 
Kwochi Ie prop.n. Crochu Ie (9th 
communal section of Croix-des-
Bouquets, Dept. West) 
Kwochi 2eprop.n. Crochu 2e 
(communal section of Croix-des-
Bouquets, Dept. West) 
kwochte see kochte 
kwok n. forked branch; hook; 
clothes hook; triangular wooden 
collar for goats etc.; shackle; 
difficulty, encumbrance, hitch; 
dirty trick; fang; false sandalwood 
tree, hog plum tree; chaff; clipping 
(sports) 
bay yon moun yon - to trip s.o.; 
to clip s.o. (soccer) 
- chen, - achen inkberry (plant) 
- dan tooth (pej.); canine tooth; 
fang 
- madanm grilled cheese 
sandwich 
~ manto/chapo coat hook 
~ msye grilled ham and cheese 
sandwich 
- mo see kwokmo 
~ sourit snowberry (shrub) 
ti ~ clasp 
kwokanjanm, kwokajanm n. 
tripping (s.o.); dirty trick, foul play 
kwokay n. walking with arm around 
s.o.'s shoulders and/or neck 
kwoke, koke v. to hang up, hookup-
to stick, fasten, attach, perch; to be 
stuck or caught; to secure, fasten 
(door, window); to hang (until 
dead); to hug, embrace; to fuck 
[AT.]; refl. to hang oneself, commit 
suicide 
- chot li to challenge (s.o.) 
- makout li kote ponyèt li ka 
rive to live within one's means; to 
know one's limits 
- makout li pi wo to get ahead in 
life, advance financially/socially/ 
politically 
- makout li two wo to bite off 
more than one can chew 
- nan gôjèt/gagann to stick in the 
craw, force upon 
- nan kôsay yon moun to hang 
out/around with s.o. 
- tèt li nan to ensconce oneself in 
kwokèt, kokèt n. croquette (cm/.); 
adj. vain, pretentious; dressed up 
kwokmo, kôkmô n. undertaker; 
undertaker's assistant; grave-
digger; apathetic or lethargic 
person 
kwoko (ginen) n. African oil palm 
tree 
kwokodil n. crocodile 
lanm de - crocodile tears, 
insincere display of grief 
kwôkôto adj. stingy 
kwokwo n. grunt (fish) 
ti - bactris palm tree 
Kwom, Kwôm prop.n. Krome 
detention center (near Miami, 
Florida, where many Haitian 
"boat-people" were/are interned) 
kwôm n. chromium 
512 
kwome - kyout 
kwome v. to chromee 
kwomozôm n. chromosome 
kwonik, konik, konnik, kwonnik 
n. chronicle, report (press); adj. 
chronic 
Kwonik prop.n. Chronicles (Bible) 
kwonikè n. columnist 
kwonoloji n. chronology 
kwonolojik adj. chronological 
kwonomèt n. chronometer; timer 
kwonometraj n. time-keeping 
(sports) 
kwonometre v. to time (exactly) 
kwonpi see kowonpi 
kwôs see kos 
kwôsba n. crossbar 
kwôt adj. kinky (hair); uncombed, 
ill-kempt, dirty (hair) 
- - ribet ribet (croaking of frog) 
kwote adj. unkempt, slovenly, dirty 
kwotkwôt, krawkraw onomat. 
croak of frog or toad 
kwoton n. croton (shrub, herb) 
kwoub n. var. of water bird 
kwoup n. rump (of horse etc.); 
croup, respiratory difficulty with 
harsh cough 
kwoupi v. to stagnate, rot, wallow; 
see akoupi 
kwoupyè see koupyè 
kwoupyon see koupyon 
kwout n. crust; crumb; rind; grated 
breadcrumbs; scab; booger, (dried) 
snot 
~ jôn calculus (on teeth) 
Kwowasi, Kowasi, Kwasi, Kwoasi 
prop.n. Croatia 
kwowat prop.n./adj. Croat 
kyankyan see kiyankiyan 
kyèd see tyèd 
kyetid n. [Fr.] tranquility, peace (of 
mind); cf. kè poze 
Kyèvprop.n. Kiev (Ukraine) 
kyôs n. bandstand, kiosk 
- Oksid Janti Occide Jeanty 
bandstand on Champs-de-Mars 
(PaP) 
kyoule see tchoule 
kyout adj. [Eng.] cute 
513 
1 - labèlvi 
L 
1 (pronounced: èl); sh.form li (pron.) 
- on sh.form lè yon 
la definite article the (following 
words ending in a consonant other 
than -m, -n or -ng); n. lard; bacon; 
A (music); art; adj. alive; present; 
adv. there, here; presently; then; in 
existence; interj. whoa! contr. li + 
a, la 
ki ~ deja (political) incumbent 
~ a right here 
- kochon lard 
- menm immediately, on the spot 
- pou - right away, immediately 
- pou tout kou on the spot, ready 
(to take advantage of any dubious 
undertaking) 
- pou toutan forever 
~ yo in this area, around here, 
around there 
li ~ toujou! bless you! (after s.o. 
sneezes) 
m- I 'm OK 
ou pa ka - you can't make it, you 
won't succeed 
Laavàn, Lahavàn prop.n. Havana 
(Cuba) 
Lab, Nanbwa prop.n. L'Arbre, Nan-
Bois (communal section of Anse-
Rouge, Dept. Artibonite) 
laba adv. there, over there; down 
there; abroad 
ale ou go to (hell)! 
~ a over there 
pi ~ further 
labab see bab 
fe - to shave (face); to bluff, fake 
(s.o.) out, pull the wool over 
(s.o.'s) eyes 
lababonm n. cannon-ball tree 
Labadiprop.n. Labadie (Dept. 
North); Labady (3rd communal 
section of Petite-Rivière-de-
l'Artibonite, Dept. Artibonite) 
labalenn, labalèn n. whale 
Labalennprop.n. Voodoo marine 
spirit 
labank n. bank (financial 
institution); see bank 
Labank prop.n. National Bank of 
Haiti 
labànyè n. banner, standard 
anba - under the sponsorship of 
pote - to be victorious; to excel 
ranmase - to take up the cause 
labapen n. breadfruit with seeds (cf. 
lamveritab seedless breadfruit) 
- djaka/dyaka var. of breadfruit 
with seeds 
labaras n. possessions 
Labastè prop.n. La Basseterre 
(Tortuga Island, Dept. North-
west) 
labatwa, abatwa n. slaughterhouse, 
abattoir 
labdenwèl see abdenwèl 
labe see abe 
- blan, - fran boxwood 
- wouj horsebush 
labè n. bay 
labega see bega 
labèl n. beautiful woman, beauty 
- Dayiti var. of mango 
- ekip the whole gang 
- epôk the good old days 
Labèljik, Bèljikprop.n. Belgium 
labèlte see bèlte 
labèlvi n. (the) good life 
515 
labenediksyon - Labranl 
labenediksyon, labenedisite n. 
blessing, benediction; grace, 
prayer of thanks; approval 
labèt n. var. of card game 
labi n. [Fr.] clothing 
Labib prop.n. Bible 
pran pou yon pawol ~ to accept 
as Gospel truth 
labich n. var. of mango 
Labichprop.n. La Biche (2nd 
communal section of Côtes-de-
Fer, Dept. South-East) 
labim n. abyss; bog, muddy area 
labirent n. maze, labyrinth 
labitasyon see bitasyon 
labitid n. habit, custom; see abitid 
gen ~ to be used to 
labitrè, abitrè n. arbitrariness, 
arbitrary nature 
lablanchèt f.n. woman with very 
light skin (pej.) 
labliye n. stand for bed or sleeping 
mat 
labo see labo(ratwa) 
Labôdprop.n. La Borde (3rd 
communal section of Cayes, Dept. 
South) 
letan ~ La Borde Pond (near 
Camp-Perrin, Dept. South) 
laboka n. [Span.] mouth 
Labolivi see Bolivi 
labondans see abondans 
labonte see bonte 
laboranten n., laborantin/n (med.) 
laboratory technician 
labo(ratwa) n. lab(oratory); in 
certain contexts, veiled reference 
to: U.S. Central Intelligence 
Agency and Pentagon 
Labori prop.n. Laborie 
(disadvantaged area of Cape 
Haitian) 
laborye adj., laboryèzf.adj. hard-
working 
labote see bote 
iabou n. mud 
benyen nan - to be destitute, be 
utterly without means 
boul ~ clump of mud 
fè ~ to make a mess 
- kochon Florida plum, Guiana 
plum (shrub or small tree, same as 
bwakôtlèt) 
labouchi see bouchi 
labouchri see bouchri 
laboujwazi see boujwazi 
Labouk (fo) prop.n. Fort La 
Bourque, Fort La Bouque (fortress 
ruins on coast near Fort-Liberté, 
Dept. North-East) 
Laboulprop.n. La Boule (wealthy 
residential district situated above 
Pétion-Ville, Dept. West) 
laboulin n. diarrhea 
laboulok see boulok 
labouraj n. plowing 
laboure v. to plow 
labout: 
jous ~ through and through, 
totally, completely 
labouyi n. hot cereal, oatmeal (com 
or wheat flour plus milk, coconut 
milk or water and sugar); weak or 
flabby person 
- lanmidon popular remedy 
against diarrhea 
- (two) cho hot potato, too hot to 
handle 
- vide without principles, without 
standards 
Labranl prop.n. La Branle (4th 
communal section of Gonaïves, 
Dept. Artibonite; Dept. South-
East) 
516 
labren -ladan 
iabren, labrèn, labrenn, labrin see 
bren 
Labretay see Bretay 
labrin, labrim n. nightfall, dusk; 
mist labrinèt^brinèt 
labriz see briz 
labsent see lapsent 
labsolisyon, labsout see absolisyon 
labveritab see lamveritab 
labvwayajè n. traveler's-tree 
labya n. labia 
gwo ~ labia majora 
pete - to do in 
ti - labia minora 
labyèl: 
vire - to drive (s.o.) nuts, drive 
(s.o.) crazy 
labyennseyans see byenseyans 
labyenveni: 
swaye - [Fr.] to be welcome 
swete - to welcome 
lach n. coward, weakling; prop.n. 
Noah's Ark; Holy Ark (containing 
the Ten Commandments); adj. 
cowardly; loose, slack; v. to have 
loose stools 
fe - to back down, give up 
lachandlè, chandlè, lakandlè n. 
Candlemas (February 2) 
Lachanm prop.n. Legislative 
Palace; (Haitian) National 
Assembly; (Haitian) Chamber of 
Deputies; U.S. House of 
Representatives 
lachans see chans 
Lachapèl prop.n. La Chapelle 
(Dept. Artibonite) 
lâchant n. money, offering, charity; 
see charit 
lacharite see charité 
lâchas n. hunting, hunt; v. to hunt; 
see chas 
ale - , fè - to go hunting 
lachay: 
bat - to (drum) beat the charge 
lache v. to loosen, make loose, relax; 
to release, let go of, unleash, untie; 
to loosen one's bowels; to be 
incontinent (stools); to fart; to 
subside, go away (fever, headache 
etc.) 
- ko li to relax 
- may to offer no resistance 
- men to give up, let go, throw in 
the towel 
pa janm - (li) yon may to never 
let go, never give (s.o.) a 
moment's rest 
lachè n. flesh, (human) body; adj. 
earthly, physical, nonspiritual 
fè kômès - to engage in 
prostitution 
lachevèk see achevèk 
Lachikotprop.n. Lachicotte (1st 
communal section of Petite-
Rivière-de-1'Artibonite, Dept. 
Artibonite) 
lachimi, chimi n. chemistry 
Lachin see Chin 
- Popilè mainland China 
lachipèl n. archipelago 
lacho n. lime (calcium oxide) 
dlo - whitewash 
- tenyen slaked lime 
- v i f quicklime 
wôch - limestone 
lachodin see chodin 
lachôz, lachôy n. sage (bot); salvia, 
pluchea (herb or shrub); see choz 
lachte n. cowardice, cowardliness; 
lowness 
ladan, ladann adv. in it, inside it; 
adj. included; adv./prep. inside, 
517 
lade - ladous 
within; prep, into; among 
lade v. to lard (cm/.) 
ladè, adè n. intense heat; ardor, 
fervor, earnestness 
ladebandad see debaitdad 
ladebat: 
fè ~ to barely get by, struggle 
financially 
nan - struggling financially 
ladefans n. defense; see defans 
ladefansiv: 
sou ~ [Fr.] on the defensive 
ladekadans see dekadans 
ladekonpozisyon see 
dekonpozisyon 
ladekouvèt n. discovery 
ladelivrans, delivrans n. 
deliverance, salvation, liberation 
lademann n. engagement or 
marriage proposal 
sou ~ at the request of 
lademokrasi see demokrasi 
ladennye, ladennyè, ladènye, 
ladènyè n. last trick (at cards etc.) 
fè ~ sou/ak to plunder, pilfer; to 
finish off, do in, kill 
ladeprim n. blues, doldrums, 
depression 
Ladesalinyèn, Desalinyèn prop.n. 
the Dessalinienne (Haitian 
national anthem) - words by Justin 
Lhérisson, music by Nicolas 
Geffrard, 1904 
ladesant, desann, desant, ladesann 
n. descent; slope; stay, sojourn; 
shelter, lodging 
bay (fè) ~ to put (s.o.) up for the 
night 
fè - to stay (at), spend the night at, 
stay temporarily (with); to strip 
(s.o.) clean, rob 
pran - to head down 
ladesizyon see desizyon 
ladetant see detant 
ladetrès see detrès 
moun - sad-sack, pitiful person 
(physically) 
ladezinyon see dezinyon 
ladezolasyon see dezolasyon 
ladiferans see diferans 
ladig n. dike, small dam 
ladiktati see diktati 
ladilijans n. diligence, 
conscientiousness 
ladiltè see adiltè 
ladim, dim n. tithe 
bay/fè ladim to tithe 
ladire n. duration 
ladireksyon n. management staff; 
see direksyon 
ladisiplin see disiplin 
ladivinèz see madivinèz 
ladivinite see divinité 
ladivizyon n. division; split, schism 
jeneral ~ major general 
ladiyite see diyite 
ladjablès, djablès, dyablès, 
ladyablèsf.n, she-devil, fury, 
devil of a woman; giant of a 
woman; var. of insect 
ladministrasyon see 
administrasyon 
ladmirasyon see admirasyon 
ladoba n. problems, worries, 
difficulties; catastrophe, 
cataclysm; to topple over 
fè - to walk hunched over 
Ladominik see Dominik 
Ladominikani see Dominikani 
ladotyen see dotyen 
ladoudous, ladousdous n. 
sweetness; sweet caress 
ladoulè see doulè 
ladous: 
518 
ladousdous - Lafrans 
- ki vyen cry of street-vendor of 
mangoes and Spanish limes 
(kenèp); 'land of milk and honey' 
ladousdous see ladoudous 
ladousè, dousè n. sweetness, 
smoothness, softness, gentleness, 
kindness 
ladrapa n. drum rhythm played 
when s.o. dies 
ladrès, adrès n. skill, agility, 
ingenuity, adroitness, knack, know 
how; tact; cunning, guile 
ladvèsite see advèsite 
ladwann n. customs, duty, tax, 
tariff; customs office 
ladwat n. (political) right, 
conservatives 
ladwati, dwati n. righteousness, 
integrity; skill, tact 
ladyablès see ladjablès 
Lafag see Lafay 
Lafaj see Tiwowôz 
Liim) prop.n. Lafange (see Ti 
Ovara) 
lafanmi n. immediate family; 
relative(s) 
~ pitit kay lawful family 
Lafanmi Se Lavi prop.n. home for 
street boys founded by Jean-
Bertrand Aristide (PaP) 
lafas n. pride, self-respect, face 
Lafay, Chamwaz, Lafag prop.n. 
Lafagne, Chamoise (6th 
communal section of Saint-Louis-
du-Nord, Dept. North-West) 
lafeblès see feblès 
lafeksyon see afeksyon 
lafen n. end, ending; famine, hunger 
lafendimonn n. end of the world 
Lafèryè see Sitadèl 
lafèy n. newspaper 
lafilozofi n. philosophy 
lafimen n. smoke; vapor, steam 
bay - to smoke out (bees etc.) 
depi - 1 ap goumen ak galata/ 
fetay kay since long long ago, 
since time immemorial 
fè - , voye - to emit smoke, vapor 
or steam 
kras - soot 
mete - , espire - , pouse (yon) - , 
rale - , respire - to take a puff, 
blow smoke (cigarette etc.) 
Lafito prop.n. 9th communal section 
of l'Arcahaie (Dept. West) 
lafliksyon, afliksyon n. affliction; 
sadness 
laflit see lafwit 
Laflorid, Florid, Florida prop.n. 
Florida (USA) 
lafoli see foli 
lafom: 
pou - for show 
Lafon prop.n. La Fond (Dept. 
South-East) 
Lafontèn (Jan) prop.n. La Fontaine 
(Jean de) - French fabulist, 1621-
1695 
lafontenn see fontenn 
lafos see fôs 
Lafosèt prop.n. La Fossette 
(disadvantaged area of Cape 
Haitian) 
lafôt see fôt 
lafoud n. lightning 
lafoul see foul 
lafoura adj. inquisitive, nosey 
lafranchiz see franchiz 
Lafrankofoni see Frankofoni 
lafrans: 
fè - to strut about; to sit and 
converse in a stilted or snobbish 
fashion; to kid, joke; to flirt 
Lafrans, Frans prop.n. France 
519 
lafrèch - lagay 
meyè pou Lafrans that's all to the 
good 
lafrèch n. cool(ness), fresh(ness) (of 
air) 
- a ko at peace with oneself 
lafrechè, frechè n. (usu. high-class) 
prostitute; freshness, coolness 
lafrechi see rafrechi 
lafrèl n. var. of poultry disease 
lafreyè see freyè 
Lafrik, Afrikprop.n. Africa 
- Ginen see Ginen 
- Santral Central Africa; Central 
African Republic 
nan - to be a practicing Voodooist 
Lafrikdino prop.n. North Africa 
Lafrikdisid prop.n. South Africa 
lafwa n. faith; trust, confidence 
- dènye, - pase last time 
lafwerad n. indigestion, upset 
stomach, diarrhea 
lafwit, laffit: 
pran - to escape, run away 
lafyant n. dung, droppings (of cattle, 
birds) 
- pou ou! shit on you! 
lafyèv, fyèb, fyèv, lafyèb n. fever 
bay - to excite 
gwo - bad fever 
~ apre akouchman, - kabann 
postpartum fever, puerperal fever 
- chabonnèz anthrax 
- cho, ~ chwal high fever 
- deng dengue fever 
~ epatik hepatitis 
- eskalatin scarlet fever, 
scarlatina 
- foil hysteria, emotional upset or 
crisis 
- frèt, - frison, - nan san, ~ 
tranble fever and chills; malaria; 
sensitivity to cold; general malaise 
~ grip flu 
- jon yellow fever; jaundice; 
hepatitis 
- kabann see - apre akouchman 
- lasezon hayfever 
- lèt (mother's) fever while 
nursing infant 
- malarya malaria 
- malta brucellosis, undulant 
fever, Malta fever 
- marengwen, - mayala malaria 
- nan san see ~ frèt 
- nan zo rheumatic fever 
- nouris mastitis 
- palidis malaria 
- pete nan bouch to have oral 
blisters 
- rimatis rheumatic fever 
- san frèt chills 
- sèvo brain fever 
- sezisman hysteria, emotional 
upset or crisis 
- sezon hayfever 
- sizè malaria 
- tifo typhus 
- tifoyid, - tifreyis typhoid fever 
- tranble see ~ frèt 
laga, ga n. train station 
lagad n. army, guard; presidential 
guard 
fè - to keep watch 
moute - to stand guard 
vye - retired thief (fam) 
lagal, gal n. scabies; mange 
lagalri: 
pou - for show (only), for 
appearances' sake 
lagan: 
an - from the start, right in the 
beginning 
lagay n. dissoluteness; setting out 
two roosters to battle 
520 
lagazèl - lagè 
iagazèl f.n. woman with long hair 
jage v. to untie, undo, loosen; to 
drop; to exhale; to release, let go; 
to release, free (prisoner); to fall 
off, drop off; to dump; to jilt; to 
open up (nasal passages etc.); to 
drop (s.o.) off, give a ride to (s.o.); 
to let (s.o.) down, desert, give up, 
abandon, forsake (s.o.; a cause); to 
leave, go away; to drop out, call it 
quits; to dismiss, let out, be over 
(school, church etc.); to lead a 
dissolute life, go to pot; to pour 
out (drop by drop); to get soft; adj. 
limp, floppy 
- atè to drop (on the ground) 
- brid kenbe ke to go from bad to 
worse, mess up; var. of children's 
game 
~ chay sou to lay blame upon 
- chenwouj dèyè to go after, 
harass, rage against 
- de bra balanse/pandye to be 
left helpless 
~ (de gidon) dèyè to pursue (s.o.), 
go after, persecute 
~ de gidon nan (ko) to go at s.thg. 
whole-heartedly; to harass 
~ dèyè to pursue, go after 
~ envitasyon to send out 
invitations 
- kè li to cheer (s.o.) up, gladden, 
console 
~ ko li to let oneself go; to sit 
back, lie back; to throw oneself 
down (on bed etc.) 
~kô li atè to fall down 
~ ko li bay to live on s.o., live at 
s.o. else's expense 
~ (li) desann sôti to get down 
out of, get down from 
~ (li) nan to dive into (esp. 
food, drink) 
- ko li nan mera to fall into a 
trap, get into trouble, get into a 
mess 
~ ko (li) sou to depend upon; to 
flop (down); to slouch 
~ ko nan to devote oneself to 
~ kôd, ~ may la to give some 
slack, let go 
~ kôn to hand over the mike, yield 
the floor 
~ kous to run 
~ lank to anchor, moor 
~ nan to be addicted to 
~ nan bouzen to end up as a 
prostitute 
- nan fanm to start chasing 
women 
~ nan gason to start sleeping 
around (woman) 
- nan ko to go hard at, charge 
into, crack down on 
~ nan lari to leave homeless 
- nan lavi to be on one's own 
~ nan vakabon to become a bum, 
act like a bum 
~ nan won (tenten) to make fun 
of, mock 
~ sa to discontinue, resign; to die 
~ san pran souf to go after 
relentlessly 
~ sôti to release from; to be 
released from 
- sou dèyè to leave (s.o.) bad off, 
put in dire straits 
~ sou do to place blame upon 
~ souf to exhale 
~ yon dlo to take a piss 
- yon kwa madoulè sou to make 
(s.o.) bear a cross (of suffering) 
san - unceasingly, without let-up 
lagè, gè n. war 
521 
lagerizon - lagwèzè 
fè - to wage war, be at war 
- katoz World War I 
mod - warfare 
lagerizon see gerizon 
lagete n. gaiety, joy 
Lagiy see Langi 
Lagiyàn see Giyàn Franse 
laglas n. ice; see glas 
laglwa see glwa 
lago (bouche), - (kache), ~ 
kachkach, - (klè) n. tag (game); 
hide-and-(go-)seek 
fè - (~ ti sangle) to play hide-and-
(go-)seek 
fè (moun) fè - to play fast and 
loose (with promises, one's word 
etc.); to make a fool (of s.o.) 
manman/papa nan ~ person who 
hides s.o. else's eyes in playing 
hide-and-(go-)seek 
lagôch, lagoch adj. leftist 
Lagôj (larivyè) prop.n. La Gorge 
river (at Môle-Saint-Nicolas, 
Dept. North-West) 
lagojannis n. pocketknife 
lagon n. lagoon; stagnant water, 
marsh, pond; swamp mud 
- diri rice paddy 
ma ~ mudpuddle 
Lagon prop.n. Lagon (3rd 
communal section of Terre-Neuve, 
Dept. Artibonite) 
Lagonav, Lagonnav prop.n. La 
Gonâve Island - 684 km2 (Dept. 
West) 
al ~ to lose one's virility 
ban m van pou m al leave me 
alone! get off my case!; tell me 
more, keep on talking 
chache van pou ale ~ to look for 
a way out, look for an excuse or 
alibi 
lagoni, agoni, agonni, lagonnin 
agony, extreme suffering, angm* 
agony, death throes; v. to be in the 
throes of death 
Lagore (zile) prop.n. Gorée Island 
(slave-holding station off coast of 
Dakar, Senegal) 
Lagoslinprop.n. La Gosseline 
communal section of Jacmel, 
Dept. South-East) 
Lagoslin, Goslin (larivyè) prop.n. 
La Gosseline river (near Jacroci 
Dept. South-East) 
lagoum n. phlegm; bad cold; mucus 
in horse's mouth 
lagoumandiz see goumandiz 
lagraba n. destitution, misery 
sou - destitute 
lagramè see gramè 
Lagrandans (larivyè) prop.n. La 
Grand'Anse river (immediately 
east of Jérémie, Dept. 
Grand'Anse) 
lagrandyab see dyab 
Lagrann Bretay see Grann Breta\ 
lagrann pisans n. (fam.) "the great 
power," USA 
lagrannpout n. loose woman, 
prostitute 
lagranntè see grantè 
lagranzè f.n. witch; cf. lougawou 
lagras n. mercy, pardon; grace; 
favor; last rites, extreme unction 
lagratèl n. jellyfish; rash; see gratèi 
lagrèl, grèl n. hail, hailstone 
Lagrenad see Grenad 
Lagrès, Grès prop.n. Greece 
lagrikilti see agrikilti 
lagrip see grip 
- deng dengue fever 
Lagwadloup see Gwadloup 
lagwèzè adj. unruly, rowdy 
522 
lagwôt - lajenès 
bourik - coarse dirty person 
lagwot see gwot 
lahat see larat 
Lahavàn see Laavàn 
Lahayprop.n. La Haye (2nd 
communal section of Savanette, 
Dept. Center) 
La Hè, Lahè prop.n. The Hague 
(Netherlands) 
lahèn, layèn n. [Fr.] hate, hatred; cf. 
rayisman 
laj adj. large-sized (clothes) 
ekstra ~ extra-large (clothes) 
laj, lay n. age; adj. wide, broad, 
ample, large; roomy; generous; 
loose, baggy; adv. wide, widely; 
see lay 
antre nan ~ to begin menopause; 
to be getting old 
gen bèl ~ to reach the golden 
years 
konmanse antre nan % wè ~ ap 
rive sou li to be getting along in 
years 
lajalouzi n. jealousy, envy 
Lajamayik, Jamayik prop.n. 
Jamaica 
lajan n. money, currency; pay; adj. 
silver 
achte ~ kontan to pay cash; to 
corrupt; to take over, take control 
(Pej•) 
bay ~ to be lucrative 
bay - anba (tab) to bribe 
fè - to earn, make money 
fo - counterfeit money 
gen - jouk nan dan to be loaded, 
be filthy rich 
kout - anba bribe 
~ ameriken 1 ye (achte y ap 
achte) sure thing, sure bet 
~ anba tab bribe; cf. kôb anba 
~ chada 'easy come easy go,' 
money that comes and goes fast 
~ chango money that has to be 
paid back 
~ fè coin 
~ kontan, ~ kach, ~ likid cash; 
directly, easily, without opposition 
- m a p bat/kale mwen my own 
kind turns against me 
- nan men cash 
- papye bank note, bill 
- prete loan 
manman - principal, main sum of 
money (as opposed to enterè -
interest); capital (money) 
mete - deyô to spend 
mete - fè pitit to invest; to earn 
interest 
Ou pa jwenn - atè Money 
doesn't grow on trees 
papye - bank note, bill 
pitit - interest earned 
pran ~ kontan to take over 
completely, take without 
opposition 
pran pou ~ kontan to accept as 
(necessarily) true 
remèt - to refund, reimburse 
siyen - to be made of money, be 
very wealthy 
yon ~ a sum of money 
Lajantin, Ajantin prop.n. Argentina 
lajantri n. silverware 
lajè n. width, breadth 
gran - blabbermouth 
twa pye de - three feet wide 
lajelis see lanjelis 
lajenès n. youth, adolescence; 
organized church youth group; see 
jennès 
Zile de Lajenès Isla de la 
Juventud/Isle of Pines, Cuba 
523 
lajeng - Lakayenn 
lajeng see jeng 
lajès n. generosity 
laji, elaji v. to enlarge, widen, 
broaden, expand, extend; to 
stretch; to spread out 
lajil n. clay 
lajisman n. (social) standing, 
position, importance; see ajisman 
lajistis, jistis n. justice; justice, 
fairness; righteousness; court, 
tribunal 
ale - pou to make a formal 
complaint; to bring to justice, 
prosecute 
mennen - , rele - to sue, take to 
court 
lajman adv. greatly, considerably, 
amply, widely 
lajônis, jonis, jonis, jonnis, lajonis, 
lajonnis n. jaundice; yellow fever; 
hepatitis 
lajounen n. day; daytime; workday 
gwo - the whole day; in broad 
daylight 
- jodi today, this very day 
- kou lannwit, ni - ni lannwit 
day and night, around the clock 
lajwa n. joy, happiness; ruminant 
stomach (cow etc.) 
grenn - anti-depressant pill 
- deviv joie de vivre, carefree 
enjoyment of life 
lak n. lake; fishbait; trap (esp. for 
fish) 
- atifisyèl, - kolinè (artificial) 
fish pond, fish reserve 
pran nan - to catch (with bait), 
get trapped; to trick, trap 
lakadans see kadans 
balanse - to shake, undulate, 
dance 
bat sou - to beat in rhythm 
lakado n. small black flea-like bug 
lakal, kal n. bilge, hold (of ship) 
lakalmi n. calm, peace; lull; slack 
period; inactivity (trading, 
commerce etc.); dead calm (at sea) 
lakandlè see lachandlè 
lakangrenn, lakangrèn see 
kangrenn 
- danlopra! unthinkable! 
lakanpany see bat 
lakanpay n. (rural) country, rural 
area, countryside 
lakansyèl, akansyèl n. rainbow; var. 
of mango 
bonnèt - pot of gold at the end of 
the rainbow 
wè sèt koulè - to go through all 
kinds of suffering 
lakantite see kantite 
lakapital n. Port-au-Prince; capital 
city; cf. kapital 
lakat: 
pèdi - to lose one's bearings; to 
lose one's composure; to be 
(somewhat) crazy 
tou - mentally deficient 
lakataw n. thunder and lightning 
(storm); adj. thunderous 
Lakatedral prop.n. Basilique Notre-
Dame (principal Roman Catholic 
cathedral of PaP) 
lakay n. home; homeboy, buddy; 
adv. at home; in one's own 
country; prep, in the case of, inthi 
person of, within one's self; cf. 
kay 
- pa bon the cupboard is bare 
pran - to steal from one's own 
home 
Lakayè, Akayè prop.n. l'Arcahaie 
(Dept. West) 
Lakayenn prop.n. La Cayenne (La 
524 
Lakayi -lakomedi 
Gonâve Island 
Lakayi prop.n. [Bible] Achaea 
lakusee kaz 
lake n. tail end, last person standing 
in a line; worst student in a class; 
tail; v. to bait (a hook) 
ft - to wait in line 
lakèl see larezon 
Lakent (larivyè)prop.n. Quinte 
River (Dept. Artibonite) 
Iakès n. cash register; cashier's 
office, pay desk; cf. kès 
lakètseekèt 
lakèy see akèy 
Iakikin-bekin: 
fe ~ to peck at 
Iakil n. (used as part of many place 
names to indicate) impasse, dead 
end, cul-de-sac 
Lakilprop.n. L'Acul (4th communal 
section of Gros-Morne, Dept. 
Artibonite) 
Lakil (larivyè)prop.n. L'Acul river 
(Dept. South) 
Lakil(-di-No) prop.n. Acul-du-Nord 
(Dept. North) 
lakilbit, kllbit n. somersault; 
tumble, fall; gymnastics 
fè ~ to do gymnastics 
fè ~ pou to have great trouble 
(doing s.thg.) 
fè - (zonbi) to do a somersault 
mon ~ stumbling block 
lakilti n. agriculture, fanning; 
culture, folklore; cf. kilti 
lakiltiv, kiltiv n. farming 
lakimojèn see lakrimojèn 
lakizin, lakoujin, lakwizin n. 
kitchen; cooking, dishes, food 
fè - to cook 
laklamè see klamè 
laklas n. social status; see klas 
laklèvwayans see klèvwayans 
Lako prop.n. var. of soft drink 
lakobat, akwobat, lakwobat n. 
acrobatics, gymnastics; acrobatic 
feat; trick flying 
fè ~ to do gymnastics; to perform 
stunts 
~ politik political scheming 
lakôl n. glue, paste; adj. chewy; see 
kôl 
~ fôt glue; sticking point, snag, 
obstacle, hindrance 
pran nan ~ to get stuck, get 
trapped 
tablèt ~ chewy peanut-brittle; 
coconut brittle 
lakolektivite see kolektivite 
lakolèt, lakolèt n. collection, 
offering (Protestant church esp.); 
cf. kolèt 
fè - to take up the offering; to 
solicit funds 
lakôlfôt n. sticking point, snag, 
obstacle, hindrance 
Lakolinprop.n. La Colline (6th 
communal section of Aquin, Dept. 
South) 
lakolo n. var. of mango 
lakoloni n. colony; colonial times; 
adj. colonial 
~ an danje the situation is 
threatening 
- pran dife all hell breaks loose 
tan ~ colonial times 
yon ~ many, a bunch of 
lakolonizasyon see kolonizasyon 
Lakoma prop.n. Lacoma (1st 
communal section of Jean-Rabel, 
Dept. North-West) 
lakomandman see komannman 
lakomedi n. comedy; cf komedi 
jwe ~ to put on an act 
525 
lakomin - lakrèm 
pope - puppet 
lakomin n. city hall, town hall; cf. 
komin 
lakominyon, lakonminyon n. 
communion; Holy Communion; 
fellowship 
lakon see akon 
lakon: 
pran ~ to take the floor, begin to 
speak 
Lakon prop.n. La Corne (6th 
communal section of Port-de-Paix, 
Dept. North-West) 
lakonesans see konesans 
fè ~ to meet, get to know 
lakonfesyon see konfesyon 
lakonfimasyon see konfimasyon 
lakonfyans see konfyans 
lakonkod, konkod n. concord, 
union, harmony 
Lakonm (larivyè) prop.n. river near 
Corail (Dept. Grand'Anse) 
lakonminyon see lakominyon 
lakonpanyi see konpayi 
mesyedanm ~ ladies and 
gentlemen (formal greeting to a 
group); cf. lasosyete 
lakonsekrayon see konsekrasyon 
lakonspirasyon see konspirasyon 
lakonstitisyon see konstitisyon 
lakontantman see kontantman 
bat bravo ~ to clap for joy 
Lakore see Kore 
lakoripsyon see kèripsyon 
Lakosprop.n. Corsica 
Lakosyànprop.n. communal section 
of Dept. Center 
lakôt n. coastal area; relatives 
fè - to engage in (small) coastal 
trade; to sleep around (woman) 
Lakèt, Koto, Okotoprop.n. Les 
Coteaux (Dept. South) 
lakou n. yard, backyard, enclosure 
courtyard; patio; family 
compound; group of houses; 
community, area; court, tribunal; 
(royal) court 
fè ~ to court 
~ dèyè backyard 
~ fourni shantytown 
Lakou Kasasyon see Kasasyon 
- plètil see plètil 
lespri - , konsepsyon gran ~ 
community spirit 
mèt - traditionally oldest male 
member of a community 
lakoubèt see koubèt 
Lakoubreya prop.n. La Cour 
Breyard (disadvantaged area of 
PaP) 
lakoudasiz, koudasiz n. criminal 
court 
Lakou-de-Kont, Lakoudèkont see 
Kou (siperyè) de Kont 
lakoujin see lakizin 
lakoulè see koulè 
Lakoup prop.n. La Coupe (previous 
name of Pétion-Ville) 
lakoutim n. custom, practice, habit; 
adv. generally 
lakouwàn, lakouwonn n. crown 
lakôve n. (obs.) forced labor (on 
roads esp.) 
Lakowàn prop.n. La Cahouane 
(Dept. South) 
lakèz, lakoz n. cause, reason; v. to 
be responsible for, cause; cf. kèz 
lakranp see kranp 
lakras n. dirt, filth, grime, scum; 
squalor; see kras 
lakre, lakrè n. chalk 
bwa - , baton - piece of chalk 
lakrèm: 
- ochokola racially-mixed 
526 
lakrent - lalin 
lakrent see krent 
Iakrentif n. fear, awe, respect 
Lakrèt see Krèt 
(Fè) ^ a Pyewo, (Fô) - a Pyèwo 
La-Crête-à-Pierrot (historic fort , 
1802 battle site o f Hait ian 
Revolution, near Peti te-Rivière-
de-1'Artibonite in Dept. 
Artibonite) 
lakreyasyon see kreyasyon 
Iakrimojèn, lakimojèn adj. 
lachrymal 
gaz ~ tear gas 
glann ~ lachrymal glands 
lakrimoni, akrlmoni n. acrimony, 
acrimoniousness 
laksyon see aksyon 
laktyalite see aktyalite 
fe ~ to make the headlines, be all 
the talk 
lakwa n. cross, crucifix; misery, 
misfortune, suffering, torment; see 
kwa; sinakwa 
Bawon Lakwa see Bawon Sambi 
Lakwa Disid Southern Cross, 
Crux constellation 
Lakwa Wouj Red Cross 
Lakwa prop.n. La Croix (3rd 
communal section of Cerca-la-
Source, Dept. Center; Tortuga 
Island, Dept. North-West) 
Lakwa, Grankawo prop.n. La 
Croix, Grand Cahos (6th 
communal section of Petite-
Rivière-de-1'Artibonite, Dept. 
Artibonite) 
lakwann!, laskwann! interj. darn 
you! 
lakwizin see lakizin 
lakwobat see lakobat 
lakwôs n. lacrosse 
lakzatif n. laxative 
lalad v. to move forward slowly 
(esp. when playing marbles); to 
cool it, take it easy 
fè - bo wonn to hem and haw, 
beat around the bush 
lalam n. alarm, warning call 
laledè, lalèdè n. ugliness; see lèdè 
lalekti see lekti 
lalen see alen 
lalèp see lèp 
laleson see leson 
fe - to teach 
Laliprop.n. Lalue (street in PaP, 
same as Avenue John Brown) 
kay mè - Les Sœurs de Lalue 
(well-known private girls' school 
on same street) 
lalibète see libète 
Lalibi, Libi prop.n. Libya 
lalimyè see limyè 
lalin n. moon; menstrual period; 
bigeye, glasseye (fish) 
dekou(d) - , kasan(t) % - desann, 
- (nan) dekou, - kasan, - kase, 
patans - , patant - , trèz - waning 
moon 
dènye katye - last quarter of the 
moon 
fè wè - se fwonmaj to make (s.o.) 
believe the moon is made of blue 
cheese, bamboozle, dupe 
gwo - , laplenn - , - ansent, -
antye, - kenz, - lan plenn, -
mapou, plèn - , plenn - full moon 
fèt nan move - to be jinxed, be 
cursed 
- ak solèy children's game 
- aplim lookdown (fish) 
- balize the moon shines partially 
- demyèl honeymoon 
- kaba waning crescent moon 
- (a) katôz the moon has just 
527 
lalin - lam 
appeared over the mountains 
- kwasan, - montan waxing moon 
- (Ian) nouvèl, nouvèl - new 
moon (not yet visible) 
- nan mwatye, mwatye - first 
quarter of the moon; last quarter 
of the moon 
- pa janm chanje katye time 
stands still, nothing changes 
- premye dekou waning gibbous 
moon 
- twa dekou last quarter of the 
moon 
nan - daydreaming; absent-
minded 
pran - pou fwonmaj to think the 
moon is made of green cheese, be 
naive, be duped 
premye katye - waxing crescent 
moon; first quarter of the moon 
renouvèl - waxing crescent moon 
swiv ~ to abstain periodically from 
sexual contact; to practice the 
rhythm method 
ti - waxing crescent moon; 
waning crescent moon 
wè - li to menstruate 
lalinè see lanilè 
laling, laliy, ling, liy n. (shared) taxi 
fe - to drive a cab; to watch one's 
figure 
sou tout laliy all the way down 
the line 
lalis n. list, roll 
Laljeri, Aljeriprop.n. Algeria 
Lalmay see Aim ay 
lalo n. bargain, good deal; magic 
spell; jute, corchorus (herb or 
undershrub); kale-like vegetable 
(usu. eaten with white rice -
specialty of Saint-Marc); see Fiyèt 
Lalo 
mare ~ to manage, succeed; to 
conspire, hatch a plot, scheme 
(against); to arrange things (thanks 
to magic spell) 
ti - sida (herb or shrub) 
Lalo (Leyon) prop.n. Laleau(Léon) 
- Haitian statesman and writer, 
author of Le Choc (b. 1892) 
Laloma prop.n. Lalomas (4th 
communal section of Saint-
Michel-de-P Attalaye, Dept. 
Artibonite) 
lalou: 
ti - broomweed 
lalout n. Mardi Gras mannequin 
Lalowè, Lalwè prop.n. Lalouère 
(4th communal section of Saint-
Marc, Dept. Artibonite) 
laloz n. var. dance 
lalwa n. law, rule, regulation; right, 
permission; aloe (bot.) 
fè - to command, dictate 
gen - bouch/djol li to be free to 
say what one wishes 
lalwadi n. leader of Rara dances; 
Carnival-like Rara ceremony 
taking place the last three days of 
Holy Week 
Lalwè see Lalowè 
lalwèt n. uvula 
anndan - vocal cords 
koupe - to silence s.o. forever 
- boure large badly dressed 
woman 
- teta chatterbox 
- tonbe tonsillitis; acute 
respiratory distress 
Lalwizyàn see Lwizyàn 
lalyans see alyans 
lam n. homemade instrument used 
by twoubadou (q.v.); see 
lamveritab; lanm 
lama - lame 
- opye standing at attention 
(;milit.); attention! (milit.) 
lama n. lama ; llama 
Lama (ri) prop.n. rue Lamarre 
(center PaP) 
lamach n. walking 
leve - to set out (on foot); to set 
out on the march 
Iamadèl, anmadèl, lanmadèl n. 
unmarried middle-aged woman of 
means; peddler, vendor; herdsman 
(who leads cattle to market) - cf. 
mawoule 
fè - to stroll back and forth; to 
come and go 
kontre ak - , kwaze - to have an 
unfortunate encounter 
- mouch large female fly 
yon - a large quantity of 
lamadelèn n. Magdalene; holy 
statue; cf madelenn 
lamagèt n. var. of herb 
lamajorite see majorité 
lamama, lamaman n. dough, 
money 
lamàn, màn, mann n. manna, 
divine or spiritual food 
Lamanchprop.n. La Manche (Dept. 
South) 
lamandye n. mountain almond tree 
Also: - gran fèy, - ti fèy 
lamanglèz see damanglèz 
Lamanit prop.n. [Book of Mormon] 
Lamanite 
lamanjay n. food (not pej.) 
lamannyè: 
pwa - var. of bean 
lamantab adj. [Fr.] lamentable, 
appalling, awful 
Lamantasyon prop.n. [Bible] 
Lamentations 
lamante v. to lament 
lamanten n. manatee, sea cow 
Lamantenprop.n. Lamentin 
(middle-class area near Carrefour -
Dept. West) 
lamànyann n. booze, liquor 
lamare see mare 
lamarin, marin n. navy 
- pa metye li not to be suited (for 
a given occupation), not be one's 
"thing" 
lamarye f.n. bride 
kriye/rele - (two) bèl to rejoice, 
celebrate 
lamas n. people, masses; cf. mas 
Lamaseyèz see Maseyèz 
Lamatin (Alfons de) prop.n. 
Lamartine (Alphonse de) - French 
poet and statesman, 1790-1869 
lamatine n. morning; (the) entire 
morning 
Lamatinik see Matinik 
Lamatinyè (Lwi Do)prop.n. 
Lamartinière (Louis Daure) - hero 
of the Haitian Revolution and 
commander at La Crête-à-Pierrot 
(1771-1802) 
- (avni) avenue Lamartinière 
(between Avenue Henry 
Christophe and Avenue Martin 
King, PaP) 
Lamatriye (larivyè) prop.n. 
Lamatrié River (Dept. North-Ea* 
lamayôl n. first prize 
fè - , gen - , pote - , pran - , 
ranpote - to be victorious, be t 
winner, win first prize 
lamayot, lamayèt n. Mardi Gras 
character; surprise box 
fè - to clown around 
lamayote v. to show off (onesel 
lame, ame n. army, armed force 
group of 
S 
lamé - Lamontay 
- anlè airforce 
Lame Soufran see pikè (fighters) 
yon - many, much 
lamé n. elderly woman, old lady; 
mother; sea, ocean; same as 
manman vant 
Lamedisaliprop.n. Salvation Army 
Lameditèrane prop.n. 
Mediterranean 
lamedizans see medizans 
lamedsin, lametsin n. medical 
science; cf. metsin 
fè - to practice medicine 
lamègrè, lamegrè n. leanness, 
skinniness; skinny person; see 
mègrè 
lamègzo see mègzo 
Lamèkprop.n. Mecca; n. mecca 
(fig-) 
lamèl n. cover glass (for 
microscope) 
lamemwa see memwa 
lamen see lanmen 
lamenchod n. game where one must 
guess who taps on one's hands 
behind one's back 
lamenfèt n. help, assistance 
Lameni see Ameni 
lamenm adv. immediately, instantly 
- dezomenm komenm! same old 
thing! 
lamenwot n. upper hand, advantage 
lameri see meri 
Lamerikprop.n. America 
- Din6 North America 
- Disid South America 
- Latin Latin America 
- Santral Central America 
lamés, lanmès n. mass (;rel.); see 
mès 
lamèsi n. var. of large fish 
lametsin see lamedsin 
lametwopol see metwopèl 
lametye, lanmetye n. dodder 
(plant); see metye 
lamezon, mezon n. house of forma 
colonial master 
Lamezon Blanch prop.n. White 
House (Washington D.C.) 
lami n. friend (in direct address); 
myrrh 
lamidon see lanmidon 
lamilè see lanilè 
Laminprop.n. Lamine (5th 
communal section of Capotille, 
Dept. North-East) 
lamine v. to laminate; cf. plastifye 
laminé n. laminator 
laminwa n. rolling mill (for shaping 
metals) 
lamiral see anmiral 
lamisyon n. mission, missionary 
post; see misyon 
lamitye, amitye, anmitye, lanmitye 
n. buddy, friend; acquaintance; 
guy; friendship; dodder (plant) 
Lamitye (wout) prop.n. route de 
l'Amitié (highway between 
Carrefour Dufort and Jacmel, 
Dept. West and South-East) 
lamiz n. (poetic) muse 
lamizè see mizè 
lamizerikôd see mizèrikod 
lamizik see mizik 
lamô see lanmo 
lamod, lanmod n. fashion, vogue; v. 
to be up-to-date, be with it 
Lamona see Mona 
lamoni see amoni 
Lamontay (Lakwa) prop.n. La 
Montagne (La Croix) (13th 
communal section of Jacmel, 
Dept. South-East; 4th communal 
section of Jean-Rabel, Dept. 
530 
lamonte - landmen 
North-West) 
Umonte didrapo n. flag-raising 
ceremony 
lamoral see moral 
fè - to preach, moralize, harangue 
Iamou see lanmou 
lamveritab, labveritab, lam, 
lanmveritab, veritab n. seedless 
breadfruit (cf . labapen breadfruit 
with seeds) 
boulèt - breadfruit cakes 
Var. of seedless breadfruit: -
chatèn, - gran fèy, - kayenn, -
panyôl 
lamwa see amwa 
lamwason see mwason 
dimanch - , fèt - Feast of the 
Harvest (bazaar or auction in 
Protestant churches where crops 
are donated for profit to the 
church - first Sunday of February) 
lamwatye see mwatye 
lamye, zèl lamye n. eaves, overhang 
(of roof); wooden rain or sun 
awning 
Lamyèlprop.n. La Mielle (3rd 
communal section of Cerca-la-
Source, Dept. Center) 
lan definite article (after words 
ending in sounds -m, -n, -ng and 
often words ending in a nasal 
sound plus a consonant) the; adj. 
slow; prep, in; see lant; nan 
lanachi, anachi n. anarchy 
lanalfabetis see analfabetis 
lanasyon see nasyon 
lanati n. nature, creation 
Lanativiteprop.n. La Navidad -
first settlement by Europeans in 
New World, supposedly near 
Limonade Bord-de-Mer (Dept. 
North), 1492-1493 
Lanavaz (zile), Navaz prop.n. 
Navassa (4 km2 island contested 
between Haiti [Dept. Grand'Anse] 
and the United States) 
lanavèt: 
fè - to travel back and forth, go 
back and forth; to commute 
lanbara see anbara 
lanbe v. to lick, lap; to flatter, fawn 
- pye to bootlick, grovel 
lanbè n. flatterer, obsequious person 
fè - to flatter, fawn 
lanbi n. conch (seafood); conch 
(shell); conch-shell horn 
(associated with the call for 
freedom at the start of the Haitian 
Revolution, a symbol of liberation; 
still used to call people together in 
rural Haiti) 
gen (gwo) - , fè chwa - laj an to 
become overly greedy/ambitious/ 
presumptuous 
kon - conch-shell horn 
kout - warning signal 
po - conch-shell 
sonnen - (rasanbleman) to sound 
the alarm, sound the rallying cry 
Lanbi (zile)prop.n. Lambi Island 
(small island off coast of Corail, 
Dept. Grand'Anse) 
lanbinen see banbinen 
lanbiskad see anbiskad 
lanbisyon see anbisyon 
lanblèm see anblèm 
lanbouchi n. gorge, mountain pass; 
see bouchi 
landemen see landmen 
landemil n. the year two thousand 
landeng see nandeng 
landirans see andirans 
landjè, landjèz see langé 
landmen, landemen, landenmen, 
landrèt - lange 
lannmen, lelandmen n. the next 
day, the following day 
pou - miyo for a brighter 
tomorrow, for better days 
landrèt, landwa, landwat, 
nandwat n. right side, outside, 
face (clothing, fabric); see lanvè -
mete - , tounen - , vire - to turn 
rightside out 
landwa n. place, spot, locale; cf. 
kote 
a - concerning, regarding [Fr.] 
landyè, landyèz see langé 
lane see lanne 
lanegritid see negritid 
lanèj, nèj n. snow; frost 
lanesans see nesans 
lanèt, lannèt n. Hispaniolan sparrow 
hawk 
lanfans n. childhood 
lanfè n. hell 
Lanfè (mon) prop.n. Mount l'Enfer 
(Dept. South-East) 
lanferize v. to demonize 
lang n. tongue; language; bolt (of 
lock) 
bay kout - to slander, backbite 
chanje - , vire - to change one's 
story or testimony; to change one's 
tune 
fè - bat to cause talk, set tongues 
to wagging 
file - to whet the appetite 
file - bay yon moun to stick 
one's tongue out at s.o.; to make a 
face, grimace 
gen de - to be hypocritical 
gen - to speak ill of, gossip 
gen - sal to be foulmouthed 
gran - big talker, boaster 
koupe - delicious, tasty 
kout - slander 
- b è f thin crisp cake; cocuisa 
(giant lily) 
- chat see langchat 
- l i p a nan poch li to have an 
answer for everything 
- li plen bouch li to be speechless 
- li rele 1 pa 1 to be eloquent 
- li sôti to be about to die 
- li twop pou li big mouth, 
blabber, gabbler 
- long tendency to gossip 
- lou tongue-tied; slurred speech 
- vipè spiteful gossip(er) 
maladi - nwè var. of poultry 
disease 
mode - delicious, tasty 
move - slanderous, backbiting 
pa vire - li not to mince words 
pale sou - to lisp 
pran - , souse - to French kiss 
vire - see chanje -
langachat see langchat 
langajè n. gossiper, busybody 
langay, langaj n. tone, expression, 
way of speaking within a given 
language; mystical ritual phrases, 
"tongues" (Voodoo; Pentecostals); 
unintelligible speech 
ki - sa a! What foul talk!; I don't 
understand what you are trying to 
say 
- daki, - kode parable, 
insinuation, innuendo 
- Ginen, pale - hermetic formulas 
derived from African languages 
(esp. Fon) recited in Voodoo 
ceremonies 
langchat, langachat, langichat, 
langlichat, langwichat, lanrichat 
n. boneset, thoroughwort (plant) 
Langdôkprop.n. Languedoc 
lange v. to lick; cf. niche 
532 
langé - lanmen 
jangè, landjè, landyè n langèz , 
landjèz, landyèz/«. big talker, 
big mouth; gossip(er), backbiter, 
slanderer; adj. catty, backbiting 
fe - to talk big; to backbite 
langèt n. clitoris; see gèt 
tèt - clitoris 
Langi, Lagiy prop.n. Laguille (4th 
communal section of Dondon, 
Dept. North) 
langichat see langchat 
Langinen see Ginen 
Langletè,Angletè r^c»p.«. England; 
United Kingdom 
langlichat see langchat 
langonyon v. to make some effort 
langous, langouch n. langouste 
langwas see angwas 
Iangwichat see langchat 
lani see lanni 
lanilè, lalinè, lamilè n. [Fr.] ring 
finger 
lanivèsè see anivèsè 
lanj, lany n. angel; spotted eagle ray 
(fish); see zanj 
~ gadyen guardian angel 
- malfini manta ray, devilfish 
- nwa Atlantic manta ray (fish) 
lanjelis, anjelis, lajelis, nanjelis n. 
dusk, twilight; angelus 
Ianjèz: 
fè - to act indiscreetly 
lank n. ink; anchor 
jete -, lage - , mouye - to anchor, 
moor 
leve - to set sail; to depart, leave 
Lan Kanpèchprop.n. Lan 
Campêche (special Voodoo site in 
Dept. North) 
lankèt see ankèt 
lanketè, lanketèzsee anketè, anketèz 
lankite see lantikite 
lanm, lam n. sea wave; (knife) 
blade; slat (of window blind); 
slide (microscope) 
- a koupe cutting disc 
- de kwokodil see kwokodil 
- grayndè grinder disc 
- jilèt, - razwa razor blade 
- si hacksaw blade 
- si elektrik jigsaw blade 
tèt - crest of (sea) wave 
lanmadèl see lamadèl 
lanman, lanmanye, lanmanyen, 
manman laye n. nightshade 
(plant) 
manman - , zèb aklo/aklok/aklou 
cape gooseberry, winter cherry, 
alkekengi 
Var: - anmè/panyôl, - dou, -
fran 
lanmann see amann 
lanmè n. sea, ocean; uterus, womb; 
var. of mango 
bo - seaside, seashore 
bouch - , kôl - , kou - , pot -
cervix 
gwo - ocean; rough sea 
- a ap leve/moute the tide is 
coming in (high tide) 
- a bèl (vwayaje)! there's the 
door - use it! beat it! take a 
powder! 
- a desann/plat/rale the tide is 
out (low tide) 
- tonbe prolapsed uterus 
mal - seasickness 
nan gran - out at sea; on the high 
seas 
lanmèd!, mèd!, nanmèd! interj. shit 
on you! 
lanmen, lamen n. handshake; adv. 
by the hand of, at the hand(s) of; 
see men 
533 
lanmen - lannwit 
bay - to shake hands; to join 
hands, work together 
bay - dezagreman to shake hands 
or work together although still in 
disagreement 
bay - fôt to lend a helping hand 
kontre - ak to join hands with, 
cooperate with 
- ale - vini reciprocity, fairplay; 
tit for tat, what goes around comes 
around 
leve - to swear an oath (of office), 
be sworn in 
pote/prete - fôt to give a helping 
hand 
sou - at hand, on hand, available 
lanmès see lamés 
lanmetye see lametye 
lanmidon, amidon, anmidon, 
lamidon n. starch; manioc flour; 
carbohydrate; var. of mango 
lanmilèt, anmilèt, lonmlèt, omilè, 
omlè, omlèt n. omelet 
- ayisyen Haitian omelet (with 
water instead of milk) 
- franse French omelet (with milk 
instead of water) 
lanmitye see lamitye 
lanmizè see mizè 
lanmizerikod see mizèrikôd 
lanmô, lamô n. death; funeral, wake 
ale nan - to pay one's last 
respects 
- Bondye death from natural 
causes 
- lezom death from unnatural 
causes 
- sou li at death's door 
lanmèd see lamôd 
lanmori, mori n. cod(fish) 
ke - tails, formal tuxedo 
~ 1 sou gri he's got it made 
lanmou, anmou, lamou n. love 
affection 
fè - to kiss, pet; to have sexual 
relations 
fè - dous pou dous to have sex 
Gust) for the sake of sex (witho* 
emotional attachment) 
lanmouch n. silt, mud, slime 
lanmoure see anmoure 
lanmveritab see lamveritab 
lanmyann! inter]. to hell with yoo! 
Lannbôginiprop.n. Lamborghini 
(luxury Italian car); any expensive 
car meant to impress 
lanne, ane, anne, lane, lannen n. 
year; annually, yearly 
- pase anwo two years ago 
... - sou tèt li... years of age; cf. 
rekôt kafe 
nouvèl - New Year 
twa - youn dèyè lot three 
consecutive years 
lannèt see lanèt 
lanni, ani, anni, lani, nanni n. 
anise; aniseed; dill weed; var. of 
mango 
- vèt fennel (herb) 
Var. of anise: gwo - , - fran (used 
in flavoring kleren), - mawon,ti~ 
lannmen see landmen 
Lanno prop.n. Dept. of the North; 
North of Haiti in general 
lannwit, lanwi, lanwit, nannwit n. 
night; adv. at night, during the 
night; adj. nocturnal 
E - la? Did you sleep well? 
gwo - (in the) dead of night 
- mare at the start of night 
nan - ... pou leve/louvri/ouvè/ 
rive..., pandan pou louvri 
during the night of... 
pase - lan blanch not to sleep all 
lanolin - lanse 
night 
$e - ak lajounen it's as different 
as day from night, totally different 
lanolin n. lanolin 
Lanômandi, Nomandi prop.n. 
Normandy (France) 
lanonvyolans, nonvyolans n. non-
violence 
Ianbtn. bill (telephone etc.) 
lanouriti see nouriti 
lanp n. lamp 
fe ti - to be all over the place, be 
numerous (allusion to Haiti's 
ubiquitous - tètgridap) 
gen (yon) lanp (k ap limen) 
(nan) dèyè li to be out of control 
(perhaps because of a curse) 
~ aladen Aladdin's lamp 
- bôbèch, - tèt bobèch, - (tèt) 
gridap small oil lamp (made 
from tin can and without glass 
chimney, or from half of a 
calabash gourd using castor oil 
and a cotton wick) 
~ cham, - chans, - travay magic 
lamp to obtain good fortune or 
gain vengeance 
~ etènèl, - pèpetyèl lamp formed 
by a wick floating in oil 
~ Kôlmann Coleman (gas) lamp 
~ nwa, - dezas Voodoo lamp to 
bring vengeance on s.o. 
~ vè, - avè, - silenn oil lamp 
(with glass chimney) 
lanpa n. lampas (disease of the 
palate in horses, pigs etc. 
preventing them from eating 
normally); bottom part of the 
frame of a kite (to which is 
attached the tail) 
fè - ak to go at slowly, not really 
apply oneself 
gen - to be a slow eater 
retire - nan lang li to be 
articulate; to speak eloquently 
lanpatèt see antèt 
lanpavè n. oil lamp with glass 
chimney 
lanperè, anperè, anpèrè, anprè, 
lanpère, lanpèrè, lanprè n. 
emperor 
dèyè - in a wealthy neighborhood 
lanperèz f.n. empress 
lanpi, anpi n. empire 
lanpis n. (professional) lamp-lighter 
(<obs.) 
lanplasman see anplasman 
Lanpousyè see Nanpousyè 
lanprè see lanperè 
lanpresman see anpresman 
lanpwen see nanpwen 
lanpyon n. Chinese lantern; metal 
candelabra carried at Carnival 
time 
lanrichat see langchat 
lans n. handle; lance, spear; small 
bay, cove 
- grenad grenade launcher 
- wôkèt rocket launcher 
lansan, ansan n. incense 
lansanm: 
nan - on the whole, in general 
lansanswa see ansanswa 
souke - pou to pay homage to, 
bow low to 
Lansavann see Lasavann 
Lansavo see Ansavo 
Lansdeno see Ansdeno 
lanse v. to throw, fling, hurl, pitch; to 
promote, launch; to lasso; to throb, 
sting; to abduct 
kontinye sou menm - a to forge 
ahead, keep going 
- mo dôd to order, command 
lansè - lapalans 
- yon apèl to make an appeal 
lansè n. thrower, pitcher (person) 
lansèt n. var. of med. plant 
lansèyman see ansèyman 
lansgrenad n. grenade launcher 
lansman n. stinging, smarting, 
irritation; launching, starting up, 
kick-off 
Lanswouj see Answouj 
lansye n. quadrille (dance); lancer; 
nozzleman (firefighter who directs 
hose on fire) 
lant, lan adj. slow; adv. slowly 
lantannman see antannman 
lantant, lantantman see antant 
lantanyen see latanyen 
lantè n. slowness, sluggishness, 
indolence 
lantekris see antikris 
lanteman, lantman adv. slowly 
lantèman, antèman n. funeral, 
burial 
lantèn see antèn 
lantenwa see antonwa 
lantèt see antèt 
lanti, lantiy n. lentil 
Lantigang see Antigang 
lantikite, antikite, lankite n. 
antiquity 
lantikris see antikris 
lantinwa, lantinwè see antonwa 
lantiraj, lantiray see lantouray 
lantiy n. lens; see lanti 
lantman see lanteman 
lantonwa see antonwa 
lantouray, antiraj, antiray, 
antouraj, antouray, lantiraj, 
lantiray, lantouraj n. fence, 
enclosure; hedge; circumference; 
perimeter (of house); surroundings; 
neighborhood; environment; 
entourage, companions 
lantoure see antoure 
lantre n. entrance, gate 
lantrede adj. middle-aged; cf. 
andezay 
lantremiz see antremiz 
lanvè, lenvès n. reverse, wrong side 
(clothing, fabric); adj. inverse; 
reverse; adv. inside out; to the left 
(braiding, plaiting, knitting); seej« 
fè lestonmak vire - to cause an 
upset stomach 
- landwat, - landrèt inside out; 
confusion; in confusion 
lestonmak li ap vire - he is 
ravenously hungry 
moun - landrèt confused or 
stupid person 
pa gen ni - ni landrèt, san ~ m 
landrèt pliable, flexible; without 
rhyme or reason 
po - light-skinned 
pye - knock-kneed 
san - san landrèt generous to a 
fault, ready to do anything for n, 
tounen - , mete - , vire -to turn 
inside out 
lanvi n. envy; longing, desire; 
craving of pregnant woman; see 
anvi 
pase yon - to satisfy a craving 
pote - to envy 
lanviwonnman, lanviwonman see 
anviwonman 
lanviwonnmantal see 
anviwonnmantal 
lanwi, lanwit see lannwit 
lany see lanj 
lànyè n. thong, lash, strap; halter 
(for horse etc.) 
Laolann see Lawolann 
1 ap contr. li + ap (he, she, it... -ing) 
lapalans n. (a lot of) empty talk, 
536 
Lapalestin - lapepi 
baloney, hot air 
Lapalestin see Palestin 
Lapannkôt see Pannkôt 
lapanse n. thought; thinking 
laparad n. parade; see parad 
- lage disorder, license; things 
really get started, all hell breaks 
loose 
laparans see aparans 
gade sou- to judge by 
appearances, accept at face value 
laparatomi n. exploratory surgery; 
laparotomy 
laparès see parés 
laparèy n. tack (saddle, bridle etc. 
for horse); apparatus; the same 
thing 
laparisyon: 
fe - to appear, emerge 
lapat n. paw; var. of glue or paste; 
see pat 
anba - under the control of, under 
the influence of 
mete - sou, poze - sou to abduct, 
grab, seize; to arrest 
lapataj, lapatay see pataj 
lapatèt n. string with three branches 
tied to the top of a kite 
lapati: 
pran - to take the side of 
lapatisipasyon see patisipasyon 
lapatitye, lapotitye n. pharmacist, 
druggist 
lapatri see patri 
wè - angaje to be in dire straits, 
be in real trouble 
lapawôl n. word, remark, statement; 
see pawol 
bay - to let (s.o.) talk; to 
recognize (in parliamentary 
procedure) 
gen - to have the floor (in 
parliamentary procedure) 
koupe - (yon moun) to interrupt 
(s.o.) 
pèdi - to become speechless; to be 
bewildered; to lose consciousness 
pran - to (begin to) speak, have 
the floor 
rete sou - to pay lip service only 
lapawoli, pawoli n. talk, discussion; 
way of speaking; figure of speech, 
idiomatic expression 
Lapazprop.n. La Paz (Bolivia) 
lape n. peace; v. to lap (up), drink 
(up); contr. li + ape (he, she, it... -
ing) 
lapé n. fear; peace 
- !... linyon var. onè ... respè 
(q.v.) 
lapèch n. fishing 
al - , fè - to fish, go fishing 
fe - nan dlo sal to be self-
defeating; to do s.thg. in vain 
- soumarin spear-fishing 
lapèl see apèl 
fè - to call roll 
- Dèzantiy [Fr.] (la perle des 
Antilles) "the pearl of the 
Antilles" (today often ironic name 
for Haiti) 
lapèmanans see pèmanans 
lapèmisyon see pèmisyon 
lapen n. rabbit 
lapenitans see penitans 
lapenn, lapèn n. grief, sorrow; pain, 
suffering; effort, trouble; conj. 
instead of 
fè - to distress, grieve, pain, hurt 
- de m6 death penalty 
pou - as payment; as a result 
pran - to sympathize 
vo - to be worth the trouble 
lapepi see lapipi 
537 
laperèz - Lapolôy 
laperèz, laperè, lapèrèz n. fright, 
fear; anxiety; paranoia; phobia 
gen - to be scared, be frightened 
lapés n. pestilence, plague 
lapèsèn, lapèsonn n. person in 
question; the loved one; 
sometimes used in direct address 
when one does not know the 
person's name 
lapeti n. appetite, desire; conj. 
instead of; if it were left up to 
lapibèl see laplibèl 
lapidasyon n. stoning (to death) 
lapide v. to stone to death 
lapipi, lapepi n. pip (disease of 
poultry) 
lapire n. puree 
bay - to have diarrhea 
laplaj see plaj 
laplanch: 
fè - to float (person) 
laplanèt see planèt 
laplas, komandan jeneral laplas n. 
chief assistant/master of 
ceremonies/sergeant-at-arms to a 
Voodoo priest(ess); chief assistant 
to the head of certain collective 
work teams; see komandan ~ 
laplas(dam) n. town square, (public) 
square; see plas 
Laplat prop.n. La Plate (1st 
communal section of Bassin-Bleu, 
Dept. North-West) 
laplenn, laplèn, plèn, plenn n. 
plain, flatland; lowland 
Laplenn, Laplèn prop.n. La Plaine 
(4th communal section of 
Baradères, Dept. Grand'Anse); La 
Plaine-du-Cul-de-Sac (Dept. West) 
Laplenndinô, Laplèndinô prop.n. 
La-Plaine-du-Nord (town, and site 
of special Voodoo ceremony 25 
July, Dept. North) 
Lapleyad prop.n. Pleiades; la 
Pléiade (famous group of lfifr 
century French poets) 
lapli n. rain; adj. rainy 
fè - to rain 
fè - e lebotan, fè - akbotanto 
be all-powerful, rule the roost 
gen - it's raining 
gwo - driving rain, shower, 
downpour 
- a tonbe rèd an kolè it's raining 
cats and dogs 
- ap fwete driving or lashing rain 
- moun mouri, - zonbi rain is 
falling while the sun is shining 
- pa ~ (solèy pa solèy) come rain 
or shine, come what may 
~ tonbe to rain 
machann - rainmaker (Voodoo) 
sonje premye ~ ki fè mayipouse 
to remember (and be grateful for) 
one's origins 
sôti nan - tonbe nan larivyè to 
go from bad to worse 
laplibèl, lapibèl: 
pou - all the more; all the worse 
laplipa n./adj. most (of) 
pou - for the most part 
laplipaditan adv. [Fr.] most of the 
time 
lapo n. rural section chief (same as 
chèf seksyon) 
lapolis n. police (department); 
policeman; police station; rock 
beauty (fish); var. of mango 
fè - to serve as a policemau/guarc 
lapolitès see politès 
lapolitik n. politics 
Lapoloy, Polôy prop.n. Poland 
chaje kou lapoloy to be heavily 
laden 
laponyèt - lapye 
laponyèt n. masturbation 
bat -, fè - to jerk off, masturbate 
lapopilas see popilas 
yon - a lot of, many 
lapôpôt see popôt 
lapos n. post office; mail service; 
mail; mail carrier; hole (in socks 
or stocking); adj. postal 
pa - by mail 
voye pa - to mail 
laposesyon see lapwosesyon 
laposterite n. posterity 
lapôt see pot 
lapotikèw. (obs.) apothecary 
lapotitye see lapatitye 
lapoud see poud 
jete - ozye to impress; to deceive 
lapoudriyè n. powder magazine, 
powder keg 
lapoula adv. right away, immediately 
se - quick (service) 
lapouriti see pouriti 
lapousa n. loafer, idler, slacker 
lapousiyè n. fruit-tree blight 
Lapousiyè, Lapousinyè prop.n. 
Pleiades 
gran pase - to be ancient, very 
old 
lapousyè n. dust; see pousyè 
métrés - epilepsy 
lapôvrete see pôvrete 
lapratik n. practice, customary way; 
see pratik 
lapremidi, laprèmidi see apremidi 
lapremye see premye 
pou - fwa for the first time 
laprès n. press, media; see près 
- pale radio 
pran chemen - to go public 
lapresman see anpresman 
laprèv see prèv 
laprezidans see prezidans 
lapridans n. prudence, caution 
laprimati n. higher (Roman 
Catholic) clergy 
laprit!, lapwit! interj. heck! darn 
you! damn it! 
ale - , - pou ou! go to hell! 
lapriyè n. prayer; v. to pray 
lapsent, absent, apsent, labsent n. 
absinthe (liqueur) 
- tèt blanch var. of absinthe used 
as med. 
Lapsent prop.n. [Bible] Wormwood 
(star in Revelation) 
lapsis n. [Fr.] slip of the tongue 
lapsolisyon see absolisyon 
Laptitans prop.n. La Petite-Anse 
(disadvantaged area of Cape 
Haitian) 
laptitbouch: 
fè - to nibble, eat like a bird 
laptop n. laptop (computer) 
Lap went prop.n. La Pointe (2nd 
communal section of Port-de-Paix, 
Dept. North-West) 
lapwit! see laprit! 
lapwochèn fwa adv. [Fr.] next time 
lapwofesi see pwofesi 
lapwomnad: 
fè - to go for a walk 
lapwôpte, lapwôptay n. cleanliness; 
sanitation; house-cleaning, 
cleaning-up 
lapwosesyon, laposesyon, 
posesyon n. (eec.) procession 
lapwosperite see pwosperite 
lapwoteksyon see pwoteksyon 
lapwovidans see pwovidans 
Lapwovidans (lopital) prop.n. La 
Providence hospital (main hospital 
of Gonaïves, Dept. Artibonite) 
lapya see tilapya 
lapye, apye n. beehive 
539 
lapyè - lari 
lapyè see pyè 
Lapyè (mon) prop.n. Pointe-la-
Pierre (difficult mountain pass 
northwest of Gonaïves, Dept. 
Artibonite) 
lapyete, pyete n. piety; righteous 
living 
Larabiprop.n. Arabia; see Arabi 
larad n. harbor, anchorage 
laraj, laray n. rage, fury, madness; 
rabies; adj. very fashionable, in 
the latest style; wonderful; see raj 
se - it runs rampant; it's appalling, 
terrifying 
laras n. (black) race; see ras 
pa - inherent in one's family 
larat, lahat n. spleen; pancreas 
gonfle - to make (one) feel proud/ 
important 
- li pete, - li pran chok ruptured 
spleen 
Larat prop.n. La Hatte (Dept. 
South-East; Ile-à- Vache; Dept. 
North-West) 
laravin see ravin 
Laravin(di)sid (larivyè)prop.n. La 
Ravine-du-Sud river (between 
Cayes andTorbeck, Dept. South) 
laray see laraj 
laredevans see redevans 
larèg n. rule, custom 
- dwatèt standard procedure, due 
form 
se - ! that's the rule! that's the way 
it has to be! 
larejôl see lawoujol 
larekonesans see rekonesans 
larekonsilyasyon see 
rekonsilyasyon 
larelèv, relèv n. relief; replacement, 
successor; shift (work) 
pran - , fè - to relieve, take over 
larelijyon see relijyon 
larenjit n. [Fr.] laryngitis 
larenn, larèn n. queen; hussy; see 
renn 
larepantans see repantans 
larepiblik see repiblik 
larepiyans see repiyans 
larepresyon see represyon 
larès n. remains 
laresanblans see resanblans 
laresèt n. receipts, takings, income 
laresponsabilte see reskonsabilite 
larestan n. remainder, rest 
laretrèt n. retreat; retirement 
- oflanbo, torchlight procession 
lareverans, laverans, reverans n. 
bow, curtsy; respect, courtesy; 
reverence 
fè - to bow in greeting; to show 
one's good manners 
tire - to bow in greeting 
lareyaksyon see reyaksyon 
lareyalite see reyalite 
Lareyinyon, Reyinyon prop.n. 
Réunion 
lareyisit see reyisit 
larezanne, larezannen see 
larezonnen 
larezirèksyon see rezirèksyon 
lareziyasyon see reziyasyon 
larezon n. reason, sanity; see rezon 
- Deta national interest 
- pou lakèl the reason why 
larezonnen, larezanne, larezannen, 
larezone, larezonne n. New 
Year's Day; paying of respects on 
January 1 
swete - to wish (s.o.) a happy 
New Year 
lari n. street, road 
al wè/gade/chache kote -/lavift 
kwen to get out, get away, l o o k for 
540 
lari - laseksyon 
some action; to scramble for a 
living 
bay - a to get off of the street 
fè bay - a to disperse (crowd etc.) 
fè/lage/rive/tonbe nan ~ to get 
out, be leaked (news); to be left 
homeless 
mete nan - to chase (s.o.) out of 
a house, dislodge; to send out; to 
reveal, give away (secrets); to 
proclaim; to be known by all, 
lose one's privacy (pej.); to put 
forth 
nan tout ~ well known, public 
knowledge 
pè - to be ashamed to be seen in 
public 
pran - to go out; to leak 
(information); to come out into the 
open, become public knowledge; 
to go crazy; to demonstrate (for 
political cause), take to the streets; 
to be proclaimed 
larichès see richès 
larijôl see lawoujôl 
larim n.. mucus, snot, phlegm 
de ran - runny nose 
larin see rin 
Larisi, Risi prop.n. Russia 
larityè see arityè 
larive n. arrival 
larivyè, rivyè n. river; stream, brook 
sôti - tonbe nan gwo basen to go 
from bad to worse; cf. kouri pou 
lapli tonbe nan larivyè 
ti - stream, creek 
yon ~ a flow of, a lot of, many 
larize n. object of ridicule, laughing 
stock 
Larizona see Arizona 
larp see hap 
las n. ace (cards); ace, star; asthma; 
phlegm, mucus; adj. tired, worn 
out, exhausted 
lage pè - dèyè, fè pè - sou to go 
all out after, hound, pursue 
~ datou trump card 
- koupe dis! that does it! never 
again! 
pè - nuisance, pest 
lasaf n. sugar-cane harvesting (in 
Dominican Republic) 
lasajès see sajès 
lasal n. living room; cf sal 
Lasalin prop.n. La Saline 
(disadvantaged area on waterfront 
in northern section of PaP) 
lasanblan: 
fè - to pretend, fake 
lasanble n. assembly 
lasann n. var. of mango 
lasante n. health 
lasantinèl: 
fè (pôs) - to be on guard duty 
lasasen n. Mardi Gras mask 
suggestive of a Viking helmet 
(Saint-Marc esp.) 
Lasavann, Lansavann, Lasavàn 
prop.n. La Savane (disadvantaged 
area of Aux/Les Cayes; name 
during and long after colonial 
period of the present "Place des 
Héros de l'Indépendance," PaP) 
Lasavwa, Savwa prop.n. Savoy 
(France) 
lase v. to tie (shoes etc.); to lace 
(up); adj. exhausted 
lasechrès see sechrès 
Lasedraprop.n. Lacédras (6th 
communal section of Saint-
Michel-de-1'Attalaye, Dept. 
Artibonite) 
laseksyon n. rural section chief 
(same as chèf seksyon) 
541 
lasèl - Lasitadèl 
lasèl n. stool, bowel movement 
ale - to go to the bathroom, have a 
bowel movement 
Lasèl prop.n. La Selle (2nd 
communal section of Saut-d'Eau, 
Dept. Center) 
mon - highest mountain range in 
Haiti (2,680 meters), between 
Kenskoff and Jacmel, Depts. West 
and South-East 
lasèldedo n. bunk, bed 
sou - lying on one's back 
lasemèn, lasemenn, lasenmenn n. 
weekday(s), workday(s); adv. 
weekly 
jou - weekday 
Lasènprop.n. Seine (French river) 
Lasèn, Lasenn, Lasentsèn n. Holy 
Communion (Protestant church); 
Lord's Supper, Last Supper 
lasena n. var. of tree similar to neem 
tree 
lasenal, asenal n. arsenal 
lasenik n. arsenic 
Lasenjan, fèt Sen Jan Batis prop.n. 
Feast of St. John (24 June) 
lasenmenn see lasemèn 
Lasenn see Lasèn 
Lasenntete (tegliz) prop.n. Holiness 
Church 
Lasenreng, Lasereng prop.n. La 
Seringue (4th communal section 
of Abricots, Dept. Grand'Anse) 
lasent adj. the blessed 
tout - jounen all the live-long 
day, all day long 
Lasentsèn see Lasèn 
Lasentvyèy, Lasentvyèj prop.n. the 
Holy Virgin, the Virgin Mary 
Lasereng see Lasenreng 
lasèt n. shoelace, shoestring 
lasètitid see sètitid 
lasezon, asezon adj. fickle, 
temperamental, changeable, 
undependable 
lasi n. wax; earwax, cerumen; sleep, 
eye matter, eye discharge; 
conjunctival discharge 
lasibab, laswibab, rès bab, sibab, 
swibab n. leftover food, scraps; 
food (in general) 
sove yon - to eke out a living 
lasibsistans see sibsistans 
lasigal, sigal n. cicada (insect) 
lasigoy n. stork (bird) 
lasigwav see sigwann 
lasimok n. strength, endurance 
lasini, asenik, asini, lasine, lasinen, 
lasnik, lazini (N) n. arsenic; 
hemlock 
tounen - to become a pain or 
nuisance 
lasirans see asirans 
lasirèn f.n. mermaid 
- dyaman queen of beauty 
Lasirèn f . prop.n. Voodoo marine 
spirit - female consort of Agwe 
- Labalèn traditional children's 
song 
Lasiri, Siriprop.n. Syria; Assyria 
lasisin, sisin n. nibbling; stinginess; 
dawdling, dillydallying; adj. slow, 
gradual 
fè - to nibble, eat like a bird; to 
make s.thg. good last a long time; 
to tantalize 
lasisiy: 
fè - to tease 
lasistans, asistans n. assistance, 
help; audience, company, those 
present 
Lasistans prop.n. l'Assistance (near 
Cape Haitian, Dept. North) 
Lasitadèl (Lafèryè) prop.n. the 
542 
Lasiv - latantasyon 
Citadel (Laferrière) (Dept. North) 
Lasiv, Chomo prop.n. L'Assive, 
Chaumeau (3rd communal section 
of Moron, Dept. Grand'Anse) 
Laskawobas prop.n. Lascahobas 
(Dept. Center) 
Laskawobasyen prop.n., 
Laskawobasyèn f.prop.n. 
inhabitant of Lascahobas (Dept. 
Center) 
laskwann! see lakwann! 
laskwendeng: 
mèg kou taso ~ to be skin and 
bones, be emaciated 
lasnal, asnal n. endurance, fortitude; 
arsenal 
lasnik see lasini 
laso: 
a charge! attack! 
Lasobon see Sôbôn 
lasolisyon see solisyon 
lasosyete n. society; everybody; 
company, group, guests; members 
of a given Voodoo temple, Voodoo 
congregation; cf. sosyete 
~ ounfô Voodooists who have 
been initiated in the same temple 
~ soutyen group which helps run 
and finance a given Voodoo 
temple 
mesyedanm - ladies and 
gentlemen (formal greeting to a 
group) 
lasoud(orèy) n. pretense not to hear 
fè ~ to pretend not to hear 
lasoufrans see soufrans 
lasous n. spring (of water) 
Lasousprop.n. La Source (6th 
communal section of Pointe-à-
Raquette, La Gonâve Island; 3rd 
communal section of Jean-Rabel, 
Dept. North-West); see Sous Chod 
letan - La Source pond (Dept. 
Artibonite) 
laspik see aspik 
Lasplandid prop.n. La Splendid 
(brand of Haitian cigarettes, 1936-
1975) 
lastik see elastik 
laswaf: 
mouri - to die of thirst 
lasware see sware 
laswè n. sweat, perspiration 
Laswèd, Lasyèd, Swèd, Syèd 
prop.n. Sweden 
laswenay, laswennyay, laswenyaj, 
laswenyay, lasweyay see 
swenyay 
laswibab see lasibab 
Las wis, S wis prop.n. Switzerland 
laswit see swit 
lasyans n. science; knowledge, 
learning; see syaits 
lasye see asye 
manje ~ to lead an impossible 
existence 
Lasyèd see Laswèd 
lasyès, syès n. nap, snooze, siesta 
lat n. lath, slat 
lata: 
yon - a great deal of, much, many 
Latalayprop.n. L'Attalaye (8th 
communal section of Saint-
Michel-de-l'Attalaye, Dept. 
Artibonite) 
Latamizprop.n. Thames (river) 
Latandri (larivyè) prop.n. La 
Tanderie river (north side of Saint-
Marc, Dept. Artibonite) 
Latànri prop.n. La Tannerie 
(disadvantaged area of Gonaïves, 
Dept. Artibonite) 
latansyon see atansyon 
latantasyon see tantasyon 
543 
latanyen - latounay 
latanyen, lantanyen, latànye, 
tanyen n. palm wicker 
- bale, - zonbi var. of palm 
(coccothrinax anomala) 
- chapo Puerto Rican hat-palm 
- kochon palm wicker used in 
broom-making 
- lanmè thatch palm 
latcha n. ass, buttocks; clitoris 
koupe - to finish (s.o.) off, do in 
- fè, - mimi prostitute 
nan - li to be on s.o.'s ass, be 
after s.o. 
latchak, tchak n. diarrhea (in 
poultry) 
latche see tche 
fè - to flatter 
latchoulou n. diarrhea 
late v. to put in a lath or slat 
latè n. land, earth, soil, ground; 
world; cf. tè 
- kouvri dusk, twilight 
- pwomiz promised land 
sou ~ beni here below, under the 
sun; in the entire world 
travay - farming, farm work 
Latè prop.n. Earth (planet) 
lateknik n. technique, know-how, 
skill 
laten prop.n./adj. Latin 
lateng, lateny, teny n. ringworm; 
scabies; adj. dry (skin, lips) 
latenwa see antonwa 
lateral adj. lateral (math) 
lateras see mango sou teras 
latèrè, laterè, terè, tèrè n. terror, 
panic 
latèt n. leader, chief, authority 
latètopye see delatètopye 
latètranble see tranblemanntè 
Latibolyè prop.n. Latibolière (Dept. 
Grand'Anse) 
Latibonit, Atibonit, Atibonnit, 
Latibonnit prop.n. Artibonite 
(River; Dept.; Plain) 
Ba - Lower Artibonite (Saint-
Marc region) 
W o - Upper Artibonite (Gonaïves 
region) 
Latiki, Tiki prop.n. Turkey 
latino ameriken, latinomeriken 
prop.n./adj. Latin-American 
latirani see tirani 
latis n. latticework 
latisisin n. nibble, tiny bite; see 
lasisin 
latiti n. airs, pretense, affectation; 
see titi 
latitid n. latitude; see atitid 
latitin n. capriciousness 
latiyri, atiyri n. artillery 
latolerans see tolerans 
latoltol, latotoy, tôltèl, toytôy n. 
com gruel (less liquid than 
akasan, q.v.) 
latonm see tonm 
Latonm (larivyè) prop.n. La Tombe 
River - which forms the waterfall 
at Saut-d'Eau (Dept. Center) 
Latoti prop.n. Tortuga, La Tortue 
(193 km2 island off north coast of 
Haiti, Dept. North-West, site of 
first French settlement, by French 
pirates, c. 1630) 
latotot n. sucker, lollipop; breast 
(baby talk) 
latotoy see latoltol 
latou n. tower; adv. thereupon, 
immediately 
latoudin, latoudlin see toudlin 
latoumant see touman(t) 
latounay n. dizziness, giddiness 
(often connected with 
hyperthermia) 
544 
latous - Lavano 
latous see tous 
latousen n. light rain that comes and 
goes over a period of several days 
Latousen, fèt Tout Sen n. All 
Saints' Day (November 1) 
latradisyon see tradisyon 
Iatranblad, tranblad n. trembling; 
convulsions; cerebral palsy; see 
maladi tranble; tranblemanntè 
gen - to be shaky (person) 
latranblanntè see tranblemanntè 
latrankilite see trankilite 
latransparans see transparans 
latrayizon see trayizon 
latrin n. latrine, toilet; privy, 
outhouse 
Latrinite, fèt Trinité, fèt Papa a ak 
Pitit la ak Lespri sen an prop.n. 
Trinity Sunday (Sunday after 
Pentecost) 
latristès see tristès 
latriye adj. much, many 
yon - (a) lot of, (a) bunch of 
Latvi, Letoniprop.n. Latvia 
latwonpans n. deceit, deception, 
trickery 
Latwoubprop.n. La Trouble (5th 
communal section of Plaisance, 
Dept. North) 
latwoublay n. trouble, confusion, 
chaos 
latya n. genitals; stamina 
latye see tche 
latyouloulout n. diarrhea 
lav n. larva, grub(worm); (volcanic) 
larva 
- vit windshield wiper 
lavabo n. sink, washbasin; kitchen 
sink 
- mirai wall washbasin 
~ pye free-standing washbasin 
lavaj see lavay 
Laval prop.n. Lavalle (20th 
communal section of Carrefour, 
Dept. West) 
lavalas n. tropical downpour, 
torrential cleansing; flash flood, 
torrent; political concept and 
movement instituted by Jean-
Bertrand Aristide (circa 1990); 
partisan of same 
lavalaseman adv. in the manner or 
spirit of the lavalas political 
movement 
lavalasyen n. member of lavalas 
political movement; adj. 
pertaining to lavalas political 
movement 
lavalè n. value, worth; equivalent; 
adv. as much; see valè 
Lavaleprop.n. La Vallée (Tortuga 
Island, Dept. North-West) 
Lavale(-Jakmèl), Vale a prop.n. La 
Vallée(-de-Jacmel) -founded 1910 
(Dept. South-East) 
Lavale(-Plezans) prop.n. La 
Vallée(-de-Plaisance) (Dept. 
Grand'Anse) 
lavaltay see valpay 
lavalwa see avalwa 
lavan: 
mâche vè - to advance, make 
progress 
Lavan prop.n. Advent 
lavandyèz, lavandyè f . n. 
washerwoman, laundress 
lavangad, avangad n. vanguard, 
advance guard 
lavani see avani 
lavanjans see vanj ans 
lavann n. lavender 
- blanch wild ginger 
Lavano, Lavanno prop.n. 
Lavan(n)eau (12th communal 
545 
lavansman - lavi 
section of Jacmel, Dept. South-
East) 
lavansman see avansman 
lavant n. sale, selling; see vant 
nan - , sou - for sale 
(papye) - bill of sale, title 
lavanti see avanti 
lavanvèy see avanvèy 
lavanyans n. strength, valor, 
courage 
lavapè see vapè 
lavaris, avaris n. avarice, greed; 
stinginess 
lavaryôl see varyôl 
lavay, lavaj n. washing, clean up; 
irrigation (of wound); mass 
dismissal, mass firing 
pran - to have an enema 
lave v. to wash, wash out; to wash 
away, devastate; to defeat 
resoundingly; to do laundry; to 
swear at, cuss out; to irrigate 
(wound); to develop film; to 
become dead drunk; n. washing 
- ak/anba jouman to shower with 
insults 
- bouch li to brush one's teeth 
- bouch sou to cuss out, swear at 
- bounda to take the hide off of, 
call names, cuss out 
- figi to wash one's face; to wise 
up, enlighten 
- je to wash one's face; to wise 
up, enlighten; to have intercourse 
too soon after delivery 
~ lang sou yon moun to speak 
evil about s.o. 
- lespri to brainwash 
- men (nan) to wash one's hands 
(of a given situation), accept no 
responsibility 
- men nan figi to slap 
- m e n siye/souye atè to be self-
defeating; to be a waste of time 
- pase to wash and iron, do 
laundry 
- rad sal nan fanmi not to air 
one's dirty linen in public 
- sèvo to brainwash 
- tèt part of Voodoo initiation: 
ritual washing of the head to 
baptize or strengthen the particular 
Voodoo spirit of a believer after 
first possession and to remove any 
unwanted other Voodoo spirit 
(sometimes termed simply 
"Voodoo baptism"); ritualistic 
poultice applied later on head of 
Voodoo initiate; to exonerate, 
excuse 
- tèt li to brainwash; to become 
dead drunk 
lavé, lavèd, lavèt: 
- machin person who washes cars 
lavèdi see vèdi 
laverans see lareverans 
laverite see verite 
lavèy n. (the) day before; (the) 
evening or night before; (the) eve 
- oswa the night before, the 
previous evening 
lavglas n. windshield washer 
lavi, vi n. life, existence; lifetime; 
livelihood, living 
ale dèyè yon - miyô to seek a 
better life, look for a brighter 
future 
bay - to revive, revivify 
bay yon ti - to give (s.o.) a little 
s.thg. to live on 
chache kote - fè jwen/kwen to 
scramble for a living 
chache/chèche - , dèyè - to make 
a living, seek a livelihood 
546 
lavi - lavwa 
fè - miyo to better one's lot 
genyen - sov to be saved, be still 
alive 
- chè high cost of living, inflation 
- di hardship(s) 
- diran see lavidiran 
- gasonfi sexual relations 
- ki p ap janm fini an everlasting 
life 
- men li to disclaim responsibility 
mande yon ti - to ask for (a little) 
charity 
mennen gran - to live (life) in the 
fast lane, party, carouse 
move - bad living conditions 
nan move - bad off, having a 
hard/difficult life 
pase move - to experience 
trouble, live a hard life 
pou - diran life-long; eternally, 
forever 
lavidiran adj. life-long; adv. 
eternally, forever 
pou - life sentence 
laviji n. look-out, watch 
Laviji (Fô)prop.n. Fort La Vigie 
(easternmost of the three forts 
overlooking Saint-Marc, Dept. 
Artibonite) 
laviktwa, viktwa n. victory, triumph 
gen - , pote - to win, overcome 
Laviktwa prop.n. La Victoire (Dept. 
North) 
lavil n. city, town; n./adj. downtown 
Lavilprop.n. La Ville (6th 
communal section of Plaisance, 
Dept. North) 
lavilizasyon n. urbanization 
lavilize v. to urbanize 
lavilochan n. cemetery (euphemism 
used chiefly in songs and tales) 
Lavilokan, Lavil Okan see VOokan 
lavimiyè n. change for the better 
lavit, lav vit n. windshield wiper 
laviwonn n. hurrying around, 
scurrying around; circling, 
spiraling, spinning around; see 
viwonn 
fè - to circle around; to roam 
around; to orbit 
laviwonndede, viwonndede n. 
whirling around on oneself; 
rotation, revolution, turning; 
roaming, wandering around; 
whirlwind (fig.) 
fè - to go around in circles 
Lavizit: 
mon - Mount La Visite (2,171 
meters) near Marigot, Dept. 
South-East 
zèn - , pak - La Visite National 
Park (in Depts. West and South-
East) 
lavman n. enema 
lavni see avni 
al wè/gade/chache kote - fè 
kwen to get out, get away, look for 
some action; to scramble for a 
living 
Lavôdwôg, Lavôldwôg see 
Vôldwôg 
lavoka see zaboka 
lavolonte see volonté 
lavoum pou... interj. to hell with... 
ale ou - ! go to hell! 
Lavout, Montay Lavout prop.n. 
Montagne-La-Voûte (6th 
communal section of Jacmel, 
Dept. South-East) 
lav vit, lavit n. windshield wiper 
lavwa n. voice; public wash-place 
(for clothes) 
fè - , leve - to raise one's voice; to 
protest 
547 
lavwa - lawouy 
gen - ochapit to have a say in 
things 
louvri - to open the way, clear the 
path 
pa gen - to have no say, have no 
influence 
lavwari n. garbage collection; street 
and road maintenance 
lavyasyon see avyasyon 
Lavyèj (Mari), Lavyèy (Mari) 
prop.n. the Virgin (Mary) 
lavyeyès see vyeyès 
lavyolans see vyolans 
Lavyolèt prop.n. La Violette 
(disadvantaged area of Cape 
Haitian) 
lavyon see avyon 
lawog n. var. of poultry disease 
Lawog, Lawokprop.n. Larogue 
(5th communal section of 
Cavaillon, Dept. South) 
Lawolann, Laolann, Olann, 
Peyiba, Wolann prop.n. 
Netherlands 
Lawomanaprop.n. La Romana 
(Dominican Republic) 
lawon n. thief, crook; traitor 
jete - sou to hex 
~ dwat good crook 
- gôch bad crook 
move - curse, hex, jinx 
lawondèl: 
fè - toutotou to go around in 
circles 
Lawonn prop.n. La Ronde (literary 
movement and journal, 1890-
1915) 
lawonn, lawèn n. round, circle; 
ring-around-the-rosy (children's 
game) 
fè - to walk around continually (a 
given place); to come and go, go 
to and fro 
lawont, lawonte n. shame, 
embarrassment; see kolè 
gen - to be ashamed 
lawontèz n. shame, embarrassment; 
adj. ashamed; shameful 
lawonyad: 
fè - to patrol 
lawôt: 
gen - men pou to have the power 
(to do s.thg.) 
Lawôt prop.n. La Hotte (mountain 
range of the southern peninsula, 
forming the dividing line between 
Depts. Grand'Anse and South) 
lawotè see wotè 
lawou: 
fè - to do a cartwheel 
Lawoud prop.n. La Roude (6th 
communal section of Jacmel, 
Dept. South-East) 
lawouj, lawouy, wouy n. rust; var. 
plant blight 
lawoujôl, larejôl, larijôl, woujoU 
measles 
- alman, ti - German measles, 
rubella 
lawoul: 
fè - to play hooky, cut class 
lawoulèt, woulèt n. roulette; small 
rolling platform used by cripples 
mache sou - to be wary, be on 
guard 
lawouli n. rolling, pitching (boat 
etc.); dizziness, vertigo; 
professional ability or expertise; 
roulette 
- kè, - lestonmak nausea 
- tèt dizziness, vertigo 
lawout see wout 
bare - to block the way 
lawouy n. coal 
548 
Lawouyon - lè 
Lawouyon see Wouyonn 
lawouzay see wouzay 
lawouze, lawoze n. dew; mist 
bat ~ to get up very early 
bèt - early riser, early bird 
soukèd - , soukèt - see 
soukèdlawouze 
Lawôyprop.n. La Hoye (3rd 
communal section of Lascahobas, 
Dept. Center) 
lawôz n. menstrual period 
lawozay, lawozaj n. irrigation 
lawoze see lawouze 
lay n. lye 
lay, laj n. garlic; see laj 
dan - clove of garlic 
layap: 
travay pou - to work for free, 
work for nothing 
laye n. winnowing tray, winnow; 
tray (for merchandise); swirling of 
skirt in a dance; v. to winnow; to 
spread, spread around; to lay out, 
display; to talk loudly 
- banda (li) to show off 
- bounda, - dèyè to undulate the 
hips (esp. in dancing) 
~ ko (li) to stretch out (oneself); to 
establish (oneself) 
- kongo var. of dance (Voodoo) 
~ pa to swirl around, dance 
around 
Layt prop.n. La Haye (communal 
section of Savanette, Dept. 
Center) 
layè gad n. rearguard 
layèn see lahèn 
layik adj. lay, secular; n. lay person 
layite, layte v. to spread out; to 
display; to settle down, become 
established; n. array, display 
~ ko li to have a good time, amuse 
oneself; to spread out (over), 
extend (over) 
layitman n. layout, arrangement, 
presentation 
laylôn see nilon 
layo n. winnowing tray; var. of med. 
plant 
Layôs prop.n. Laos 
layte see layite 
laytè n. [Eng.] car cigarette lighter 
Lazaprop.n. [Bible] Lazarus; 
Lazarre (1st communal section of 
Port-Salut, Dept. South) 
lazafra see zafra 
lazarèt n. lazaretto, quarantine 
station 
lazè n. laser 
Lazi, Aziprop.n. Asia 
- Delès East Asia 
- Disidès Southeast Asia 
Ti - Asia Minor, Middle East 
lazil see azil 
Lazil, Nanpôlprop.n. L'Asile, Paul 
(Dept. Grand'Anse) 
Lazilyenprop.nLazilyèn f .prop.n. 
inhabitant of L'Asile (Dept. 
Grand'Anse) 
lazini (N.) see lasini 
lazwit! interj. heck! darn you! damn 
it! 
le prep, every (habitual); on (date) 
fè - pa to pretend not to 
lè n. time (hour); time (moment); 
instant; season, period; clock, 
watch; air; behavior, attitude; 
appearance, looks; melody, tune; 
conj. when, while; prep, on, every 
(day of the week); at the time of 
a - on time, prompt, punctual 
anvan - early; premature 
bay - to make room, get out of the 
way; to leave, get lost; to tell the 
549 
lè - lèd 
time; to give the impression, 
appear 
bon - at the right time 
chak ki how often? 
depi - a since then, since that time 
fè - to dawdle, stall; to wait for 
the time to pass; to go for a walk; 
to put in hours (at a job) 
fè scram! get out! 
fè yon bon - to be in good 
shape, look good 
gen bèl - ak to look kindly upon, 
have good relations with 
gen de - sometimes, at times 
gen ~ to seem, appear, look like 
gen - (fè yon bagay) to have time 
(to do s.thg.) 
gen - li to have one's good and 
bad moments 
kannal - windpipe, trachea 
Ki - ou genyen? What time do 
you have? What time is it? 
kout - evil air-borne spell 
- d6mi bedtime 
~ endin, - endiy see lèrending 
- kondisyone air-conditioning 
- konsa menm then; on such an 
occasion 
- sa a then, at that (very) time; in 
those days 
li - li tan it's about time, it's high 
time 
li te - li te tan it was about time, it 
was long overdue 
menm - even when; right away, 
immediately 
menm - a right away, 
immediately; instantaneously 
mete sou - to set a clock/watch 
move - bad spirit 
nan - on the air (radio etc.) 
nan - nou ye la a in these times, 
these days 
nenpot ~ whenever, anytime 
pa gen bèl - ak (yon moun) not 
to get along well with (s.o.) 
pran - to get a breath of fresh air, 
to catch a chill 
san - in no time; almost; almost 
ready to, about to; likely to; flat, 
humorless, lackluster 
sou bon - to be set on time 
(watch, clock) 
sou - on time 
yon - ankô another time 
yon - konsa sometimes, once is a 
while, occasionally 
yon lot - later 
leba n. low-lying land 
lebon, lèbon, lebonn see depase -
lebonè n. happiness 
lebotan see lapli 
lèboujwa see boujwazi 
lebra, lèbra: 
bay - to give one's arm to; to 
help, assist; to go together 
bese - to let down one's defenses, 
give up the fight 
gen - to have means or influence 
lebren: 
(kolye) pè - , kawôtchou flanbe 
necklacing, political lynching 
using a flaming tire placed around 
victim's neck 
bay - to necklace (same meaning) 
lebyè: 
pa - [Fr.] from this angle, in this 
way 
lebyen n. charity, beneficence; good 
lèch n. slice, bit, piece 
lechèl see echèl lèchfrit n. var. o f c o o k i n g receptacle 
lèd adj. ugly; dishonest; n. aid, help, 
assistance 
550 
lèdè - legout 
fi-'to misbehave 
-kou chanwan, - kou kaw, -
kou koukou, - pase makak ugly 
as a mud fence, ugly as the devil 
lèdè, lèdnè n. ugliness; ugly person 
Jedesten see desten 
ledikasyon n. education, instruction; 
see edikasyon 
ledjab see dyab 
lèdmi see lènmi 
lèdnè see lèdè 
ledoub n. double; see doub 
ledrapo n. [Fr.] the flag 
lèdte n. ugliness; dishonest act 
ledven, lèdven, lelven, leven n. 
leaven; yeast 
ledvèn see nevèn 
Iedwa n. law; see dwa 
ledyab see dyab 
lefèt, lefè n. [Fr.] facts, situation; the 
fact (that) 
Ièfini, lôfini adv. afterwards; then; 
and also, in addition, moreover 
lefou: 
fè-to pretend to be crazy; to act 
crazy 
Lefratprop.n. [Bible] Euphrates 
river 
lèg, èg n. eagle 
legal adj. legal; proper; adv. legally; 
properly 
légalité n. legality 
legalizasyon n. legalization; 
authentication, certification (of 
signature etc.) 
legalize v. to legalize; to notarize 
Iegalman adv. legally; properly 
legasyon n. legation 
legayan n. winner 
Legba, Atibon Legba, Legba Pye 
Kase, Mèt Bitasyon, Mèt 
Granchimen, Mèt Kafou, Papa 
Legba prop.n. important Voodoo 
spirit: guardian of crossroads, of 
the barrier between the living and 
the dead, between the natural and 
the supernatural 
poto - same as poto mitan (q.v.) 
legede n. var. of small drum (5.); see 
Gede 
bagèt - skinny, skin and bones 
janm - very skinny legs 
legen n. winnings (from a game) 
bay - to surrender, give up, admit 
defeat; to succumb, yield; to give 
(s.o.) praise or credit 
moun ki bay - quitter, shirker, 
slacker 
mwen ba ou hats off! 
ti ko - puny, sickly 
legetè japwouv see japwouv 
legim n. vegetable; vegetable dish; 
prostitute 
legiminèz n. leguminous plant 
legla n. knell, tolling, death bell 
legliz n. church; licorice 
mache - to go to church regularly 
moun - (regular) churchgoer 
ti (kominote) - small discussion 
and activist group(s) associated 
with Roman Catholic church 
Legliz de Dye prop.n. Church of 
God 
Legliz di Kris prop.n. Church of 
Christ 
Legliz Jezikri pou Sen Dènye Jou 
yo prop.n. The Church of Jesus 
Christ of Latter-day Saints 
(Mormon Church) 
Lègomye, Lègonmye prop.n. Les 
Gommiers (4th communal section 
of Roseaux, Dept. Grand'Anse) 
legout: 
gen - to have a cold 
551 
legoyis - lekol 
legoyis n. egotism; selfishness; see 
egoyis 
legzaktitid: 
Se - It's precisely that 
legzanp see egzanp 
legzil see egzil 
legzistans see egzistans 
lejann n. legend, tale; caption; adj. 
legendary 
lejansyen see lezansyen 
lejè, lèjè adj. light (weight); mild, 
slight 
- kou yon pay light as a feather 
pye - untrustworthy woman 
lejèman adv. slightly; lightly; 
somewhat 
lèjent see jent 
lejète n. carelessness, negligence 
Lejip, Ejip prop.n. Egypt 
lejis: 
medsen - medical examiner, 
forensic expert 
lejislasyon n. legislation 
lejislatè n. legislator 
lejislati n. legislature 
lejislatif adj. legislative; n. legislature 
lejitim adj. legitimate, lawful; 
normal; n. var. of med. plant; 
interj. right! you bet! 
Lejitim (Franswa Deni) prop.n. 
Légitime (François-Denis) -
president of Haiti, 1888-1889 
- (ri) rue Légitime (adjoining 
Champs-de-Mars, PaP) 
lejitimite n. legitimacy 
lejitimman adv. legitimately 
lejou adv. the day when 
- ak lannwit day and night 
lejyon n. legion 
Lejyon prop.n. Roman Catholic 
youth organization 
lejyonè, lejyonnè n. member of an 
organized prayer group - cf. 
preceding entry; legionnaire 
leka conj. just in case 
pa ~ not the least bit 
Lekaristi, Ekaristi prop.n. 
Eucharist, Holy Communion 
Lekèprop.n. Cairo (Egypt) 
lèke conj. when 
lekinôs n. sudden sea wind 
accompanied by rain 
lekipaj, lekipay see ekipay 
lekiri see ekiri 
lekiviv adv. on the alert 
Leklè (Chai Vikto Emànyèl) 
prop.n. Leclerc (Charles-Victor-
Emmanuel, 1772-1802)-
commander of French forces in 
Saint-Domingue, 1802 
leklerezon, leklerasyon n. 
enlightenment, understanding 
leko: 
e - ? how are you doing? 
lèko v. to make noise 
lèkô, nèko n. sudden drop-off (sea 
floor) 
lekok divilaj n. [Fr.] ladykiller, 
Romeo 
lekol n. school; school building 
fè - to teach 
fè - bisonyè to play hooky (from 
school) 
fèm (l)ekôl rural school 
- aswè, - di swa night school 
- bôlèt, - biznis, - bôkyè, -
malatchong, "ti second-rate 
school (where supposedly students 
have the same chance of passing 
national exams as of winning the 
national lottery!) 
- di dimanch Sunday school 
- frè, - mè, - pè Roman Catholic-
run school 
lekôl - lemaki 
- lage disorder, confusion; free-
for-all , all hell breaks loose; 
dissoluteness 
- malatchong see ~ bôlèt 
- menajè home economics 
- nomal teacher-training school, 
school of education 
Lekôl Nômal Siperyè Haiti's 
main teacher-training school, PaP 
- peye private school 
- primé elementary school 
- prive private school (usu. 
denominational) 
- segondè high school 
mete - to found a school 
mete yon bagay - to pawn, 
mortgage, hock (fam.) 
sou - studious 
ti - see ~ bôlèt 
lekonomi see ekonomi 
lèkonsa adv. by then; by now; at 
those times 
Lekont (Sensinatis) prop.n. Leconte 
(Cincinnatus) - president of Haiti, 
1911-1912 
lekontrè n. (the) contrary, (the) 
opposite; adv. on the contrary 
Lekôs, Ekôs prop.n. Scotland 
lekou: 
sou - outright 
lekouraj see kouray 
lekriti see ekriti 
leksik n. vocabulary, lexicon 
leksikal adj. lexical 
leksikograf n. lexicographer 
leksikografi n. lexicography 
leksikolôg n. lexicologist 
leksikoloji n. lexicology 
Leksisprop.n. Lexus (luxury 
automobile) 
leksplwatasyon see eksplwatasyon 
lektè Ti., lektèz, lektrisf.n. reader; 
553 
see prêt savann 
- diskèt disk drive (computer) 
- optik optical reader, scanner 
lekti, lalekti n. reading 
fè - to read; cf. li 
- sou bouch lip reading 
lektirè n. learned person 
lektiryan adj. literate; intellectual 
lektrik see elektrik 
lektris see lektè 
lektrisite see elektrisite 
Lekwatè see Ekwatè 
lekzanp see egzanp 
lekzekitif n. executive branch (of 
government) 
lekzil see egzil 
lelaj: 
pran - to take off, clear out, leave 
lelandmen see landmen 
lele n. singing (obs.) - term used 
only in songs of Ibo rite 
(Voodoo); var. of edible fruit (near 
Jérémie) 
lèlèm n. energy, force, strength 
leliks see liks 
lelit, elit n. elite, upper class, 
bourgeoisie 
gwo - very upper class, highest 
echelons of society 
lèlmi see lènmi 
lelon prep, alongside 
Lelouvprop.n. the Louvre museum 
(Paris) 
lelvaj, lelvay n. livestock raising, 
animal husbandry 
lelvasyon see levasyon 
lelven see ledven 
lèlye n. premises, scene, locale (jur.) 
lemajè n. middle finger 
lemaki: 
pran - [Fr.] to go into hiding, 
flee; cf. mawon 
lemal - lendepandans 
lemal n. evil; see mal 
leman, email, lèman n. magnet; 
protective charm 
~ kach magnetic door catch/latch 
lemante v. to magnetize, attract 
lemarye n. bridegroom 
lèmarye n. bridal couple 
lematen, lèmaten adv. in the 
mornings 
tou ~ every morning 
Lèmba n. Voodoo spirit; 
Petwo (q.v.) dance 
Lemèt: 
Dye ~ God the Master 
lemetik: 
mete ~ sou lepika to make matters 
worse 
Lemit, Emit, Lèmit prop.n. 
L'Ermite (5th communal section 
of Saint-Michel-de-1'Attalaye, 
Dept. Artibonite) 
lemo: 
yo bay - they have an 
understanding 
lemè, lèmo, lenmo pl. n. spirits of 
the dead (Voodoo) 
~ keube li (s)he is haunted/ 
tormented by the dead (of his/her 
family) - Voodoo 
priyè ~ Voodoo ceremony for the 
dead taking place on last evening 
of anovena 
Lemè, Lèmè (fèt) prop.n. Feast of 
the Dead, All Souls' Day 
(November 2) 
lemoman adv. at the moment, at the 
time when, just as 
lemond see lemonn 
lemoni see nemoni 
Lemonitè prop.n. Le Moniteur 
(official journal of the Republic of 
Haiti) 
lemonn, lemond n. world, universe 
worldliness; mankind, people; 
non-Protestant 
lemonnantye n. the whole world, 
everyone 
lemonni see nemoni 
lemous see mous 
lemwa n. ego, self 
Lemwèlprop.n. [Bible] Lemuel 
lemye adj./adv. best 
len n. linseed; joron. [Fr.] one 
lèn see lenn 
Lena prop.n. Laina (evaporated 
milk) 
lenba n. magic charm, spell 
mare yon - to obtain magical 
powers; to prepare a magic chaim 
lenbe n. extravagance, prodigality 
bay ~ to let oneself be taken 
advantage of 
pran ~ to have an easy success 
Lenbe prop.n. Limbé - founded 
1715 (Dept. North) 
Lenbeyen prop.n., Lenbeyèn 
f.prop.n. inhabitant of Limbé 
(Dept. North) 
lenbout: 
~ alot from one end to the other, 
completely 
lench n. var. of fresh-water bamboo; 
lunch [Eng.] 
lenche n. [Eng.] to lynch 
Lend see Enn 
lendèks n. [Fr.] index finger, 
forefinger 
lendèn n. lindane 
lendepandans see endepandans 
soup - pumpkin soup (served esp. 
on 1 January) 
Site Lendepandans City of 
Independence (fam. name for 
Gonaïves, Dept. Artibonite) 
554 
lendesi - lenvès 
lendesi n. indecisiveness 
Iendi n. Monday 
lendiferans see endiferans 
Jendijans see endijans 
kndistri see endistri 
lendiyasyon see endiyasyon 
Lendonezi see Endonezi 
lene n. eldest child 
lènè: 
sou - nervous, agitated 
lenesesè n. essential(s), necessities 
fe ~ to take the necessary steps/ 
action 
lenfanjit, enfranjit, lenfranjit n. 
elephantiasis; lymphedema 
lenfatik adj. [Fr.] lymphatic 
lenfenal adj. infernal, hellish; 
diabolical, devilish 
lenfini n. infinity 
lenfinitif see alenflnitif 
lenfranjit see lenfanjit 
lengis see lengwis 
Lenglensou prop.n. dangerous 
blood-thirsty Voodoo spirit 
lengo n. curses, imprecations; ingot 
(rare) 
lengratitid see engratitid 
lengwis, lengis n. linguist 
lengwistik, lengistik n. linguistics; 
adj. linguistic 
leninis n./adj. Leninist; n. Leninism 
lenj n. sanitary napkin or pad (for 
women) 
lenjistis see enjistis 
lenkanasyon see enkanasyon 
lenkondit, lenkondite, lenkondwit 
see enkondit 
lenkyetid see enkyetid 
lènmi, edmi, èdmi, elmi, èlmi, 
enmi (pronounced: e-nmi), ènmi, 
ennmi, lèdmi, lèlmi, lenmi 
(pronounced: le-nmi), lennmi n. 
enemy, foe, adversary; nemesis; 
rival 
lenmo see lemô 
lenn, lèn n. wool; blanket; groin 
bè - inguinal region 
f i l - y a r n 
gwo - hydrocele 
Lenn see Enn 
lennalôt adj. mutual, reciprocal; adv. 
vice versa 
lennmi see lènmi 
lenè see n6 
lenperyalis n. imperialism; n./adj. 
imperialist 
lenpètinans see enpètinans 
lenpinite see enpinite 
lenpôt, lenpos n. transom 
lenpôtans see enpètans 
lenpresyon see enpresyon 
lenprimri see enprimri 
lensètitid see ensètitid 
lenskripsyon see enskripsyon 
lensten see ensten 
lenstriksyon n. instruction, 
education 
lenstriman see enstriman 
lentanporalite n. timelessness 
lentanporèl adj. timeless 
lentansyon see entansyon 
gen - to intend 
lentelijans see entèlijans 
lentèmedyè n. intermediary 
lenterè see enterè 
lenteresan: 
fè ~ to put on airs 
lenteryè: 
de - from within (oneself) 
Lenteryè: 
minis - minister of the Interior 
lento n. lintel 
lenvantè see envantè 
lenvès see lanvè 
555 
lenzalôt - lese 
lenzalot pron. one to the other 
lèp, lalèp n. leprosy 
lèp, lep n. one of the two possible 
outcomes in rudimentary form of 
dice; double six (in dice); cf. krap 
lepa: 
kandanse ~ sou to march in time 
with, synchronize one's steps with 
make ~ sou plas to mark time 
(without advancing) 
lepandjè adj. loafer, idler 
lepap, pap n. pope 
lepasan n. passerby; lèpasan pl.n. 
passersby 
lepase n. past, past times 
lepe see nepe 
kwaze ~ to honor 
lepè n. old man, grandpa 
Lèpèch see Opèch 
lepeche see peche 
lepèdan, pèdan n. loser 
lepèp n. masses, underclass, 
proletariat 
lepèt n. nothing (at all) 
lepika see lemetik 
lepit see epit 
lepitèm n. special comb placed in 
hair to ward off headaches 
lepli n. rainy season 
leplisouvan adv. [Fr.] most often 
lepiisposib adv. [Fr.] the most 
possible 
lepèk see epôk 
lepoukwa n. (the) cause, (the) 
reason why 
lepous n. thumb; cf. gwopous 
lepouvant n. panic, fright 
lepouvwa pl.n. existing authorities, 
(the) powers that be 
lepre n. leper 
leprèv see eprèv 
leprezan n. present, present times 
leptidwa: 
pa levé-(poufèyonbagay)not 
to lift a finger (to do s.thg.) 
lepwa: 
sou - de [Fr.] under the weight of 
lepwogrè see pwogrè 
lèpye: 
mete - nan/sou to set foot in/on 
lera n. rogue, rascal, scamp 
fè - to be seldom seen, make 
oneself scarce 
leray: 
remete sou ~ to put back onto the 
rails, put back into motion 
lerè, lèrè see erè 
leregleman pl.n. rules, regulations, 
laws 
leren see kleren 
lèrending, lè endin, lè endiy adv. 
late at night 
Lerison (Jisten) prop.n. Lhérisson 
(Justin) - Haitian novelist, author 
of the words of the Haitian 
national anthem (1872-1907) 
leritay, leritaj see eritay 
lès n. east; ballast; leash, lead (for 
dog); adj. agile, nimble, spry 
fè ~ to relent, let up somewhat 
lesan: 
- kannale moute nan tèt enraged 
enough to kill 
lèsanpa: 
fè ~ to walk back and forth 
lesansyèl n. the essential; see 
esansyèl 
lesbyèu, lèsbyènfin.. [Fr] lesbian 
(cf. madivinèz) 
lese v. [Fr.] to let, permit, allow; to 
leave, go away from; to quit 
(doing), stop (doing); to abandon 
- ale carelessness, unconcern, 
neglectfulness 
556 
lese - Lèstoni 
- frape playful pushing and 
shoving; free-for-all, brawl 
- grennen, ~ ale unconcern, 
carelessness, easy-goingness; 
laissez-faire; negligence; anarchy; 
negligent person; let the chips fall 
where they may, come what may; 
whatever happens happens; 
permissive; careless 
~ konprann to indicate, point out 
~ kwè to imply 
- m ato powder used in Voodoo-
inspired remedies 
- pase to overlook; see lesepase 
- tonbe to drop; jump shot 
(basketball) 
Ou mèt Forget it! It's OK now! 
lesèk n. dry season 
lesen n. swarm 
lesen, lèsen pl.n. Voodoo spirits; 
Christian saints 
~ lèmô everyone without 
exception 
lesena, lesenna, sèn, senn n. senna 
Lesentespri see Sentespri 
Lesenyè see Senyè 
lesepase n. pass, permit; v. to yield 
lesepsyon see alesepsyon 
Leseyè see Seyè 
lesiv n. laundry, wash (load), 
washing; wash-house 
ale nan - , (al) fè - to go do the 
laundry 
lesivyèz, lesivèz, lesivyè, lesivyèy 
fn. laundress, washerwoman 
lesklavaj, lesklavay see esklavay 
Lesko (Eli) prop.n. Lescot (Elie) -
president of Haiti, 1941-1946 
tèt - Carnival figure 
leskotit n. (obs.) Haitian bauxite 
(named for President Elie Lescot) 
leson, laleson n. lesson; tutoring 
bay ~ to tutor; to best s.o. (games 
etc.) 
jis - moral 
Leson prop.n. Lesson (Dept. 
Grand'Anse) 
lesovè see sovè 
lespas see espas 
Lespay, Espay prop.n. Spain 
lesperans see esperans 
lesplikasyon see esplikasyon 
lesplwatasyon see eksplwatasyon 
lespô see espô 
lespri, espri n. spirit, soul; intellect; 
intelligence; mind; wit; cleverness; 
Voodoo spirit (ex.: Ezili, Legba); 
spirits, alcohol; adj. intelligent, 
smart, bright, clever; cultured, 
educated 
bwat - mind 
- bone narrow-minded 
- dou gentleness 
- pati crazy; mad, furious 
~ sen holy spirit(s) 
Lespri Sen Holy Spirit, Holy 
Ghost 
move ~ evil spirits, devils 
san - ignorant, dupe 
lespwa, lèspwa see espwa 
lestanp n. [Fr.] stamp, image 
leste v. to ballast, provide with 
ballast; to stabilize 
Lesté (larivyè)prop.n. l'Estère 
(tributary of the Artibonite river, 
Dept. Artibonite) 
Lesté, Pon, Ponlestèprop.n. 
l'Estère, Pont, Pont-1'Estère (2nd 
communal section of l'Estère, 
Dept. Artibonite) 
Lèstè Dereprop.n. l'Estère-Déré 
(4th communal section of Baie-de-
Henne, Dept. North-West) 
Lèstoni, Èstoni prop.n. Estonia 
557 
lestonmak - lèt 
lestonmak, estomak, lestomak n. 
chest; heart 
bat - to boast 
gonfle/moute ~ li sou to strut, 
swagger, act disdainfully or 
arrogantly toward 
- boule heartburn, indigestion 
~ chaje nausea 
- fèmal chest pain 
- glise blabbermouth, big mouth 
- griyen (with a) plunging 
neckline 
-11 se k6f he/she is the soul of 
discretion 
- louvri same as biskèt tonbe 
- ou deyô your breasts are 
exposed 
- plen revulsion (at food) 
- sou djak upset stomach 
manyen ~ CPR, cardiopulmonary 
resuscitation 
pouse - to grow breasts 
remonte - to replenish one's 
strength 
lestrad n. platform, rostrum, dais 
lestwèdinè: 
a ~ extraordinarily 
leswa adv. in the evening(s) 
lesye n. axle 
lesyèl n. sky; heaven 
monte/moute - pa do to go 
through hell 
Lesyèl n. Heaven 
lèt n. letter (alphabet; 
correspondence); epistle; milk; 
sap, fluid; latex; var. of mango 
bwè ~ pa konte vo to mind one's 
own business; to waste no time, 
get down to business 
gwo ~ capital letter 
~ ak manmèl closely connected 
~ ak sitwon like oil and vinegar, 
incompatible 
~ poud powdered milk 
~ bèf cow's milk 
- bwat pou tibebe baby formula 
- chaje letter containing money 
- chèch, - pase mother's milk 
which has dried up 
~ degrese low-fat milk 
- demann formal written proposal 
of cohabitation/marriage 
~ evapore see ~ vapore 
~ famasi powdered milk 
~ gate, move - irreversibly 
spoiled or poisonous mother's 
milk 
~ jôn colostrum, foremilk 
~ Kanasyon Carnation 
(evaporated) milk 
~ kaye curd; buttermilk; cottage 
cheese 
~ kondanse evaporated milk 
~ kouri cursive writing, 
handwriting 
~ (de) kreyans (diplomatic) 
credentials 
~ malte malted milk 
- manman (w ap tete) inherent 
right, automatic privilege 
~ manyezi, ~ mayezi milk of 
magnesia 
~ mayi corn syrup 
- moute nan tèt dried mother's 
milk accompanied by seizures 
~ pase see ~ chèch 
~ pase nan san manman (the 
nursing) mother's milk turned sour 
~ poko soti nan nen to be still 
wet behind the ears 
~ rapô colostrum, foremilk 
~ san krèm, ~ san grès skimmed 
milk, nonfat milk 
- sezisman milk from emotionally 
558 
lèv - leve 
lèv n. (good) works, ministry; lip 
gwo ~ labia majora 
ti ~ labia minora 
levan n. orient 
solèy ~ rising sun; east 
levanjelizasyon n. evangelization 
levanjil n. Gospel; Protestant 
antre nan ~ to convert to 
Protestantism 
pran pou yon pawèl ~ to accept 
as Gospel truth 
preche ~ to evangelize 
levantay see evantay 
levasyon, elevasyon, elvasyon, 
lelvasyon n. upbringing, rearing; 
good manners; education, 
intellectual formation, culture 
bon ~ good manners, courtesy 
poud ~ baking powder; yeast 
powder 
leve v. to get up, arise; to wake up, 
awaken; to wake s.o., have s.o. get 
up; to resuscitate; to grow, sprout; 
to germinate; to protrude, stick 
out; to appear (boil etc.); to raise, 
lift, elevate; to rear, raise, educate, 
bring up; to pick up; to rise; to 
pick (a fight or quarrel); to build, 
rebuild; to transfer (from one job 
or position to another); to relieve, 
replace (s.o. on duty); to abolish; 
to have an official document 
drawn up (birth certificate, deed 
etc.); n. removal; sprouting; 
(intellectual) enlightenment 
lanmè a ap - the tide is coming in 
~ ak poul to get up early 
~ an move san, ~ an fanchman, 
~ an kolè, - an malfwenzi, ~ 
fache, - pa nan san, ~ sou move 
pye to get up in a bad mood, get 
up on the wrong side of the bed 
~ anba yon maladi to recover 
from a sickness 
~ atè to get up off the ground; to 
get up off one's knees, stand up 
- boukliye general outcry, hue 
and cry 
- chen pou kouche to be really 
bad off, be gone to the dogs 
~ chita to sit up; to do sit-ups 
- danse see cho pase leve danse 
~ domi nan to be continually in, 
be totally involved in 
~ fè to lift weights 
~ goumen to start a fight, pick a 
fight 
~ grèv to end a strike 
~ jwenn to inherit 
- kanpe (doubout) to stand up, 
get up, rise up, mobilize, revolt; 
organized protest; (political) 
uprising, insurrection, rebellion 
- kanpe soti to get up from 
- ko li frape atè to be furious, hit 
the ceiling 
- koken to protest, revolt; to cheat 
- kouri to run off, run away 
~ kont to oppose, protest 
~ lis to make (out) a list 
- m wo mete m atè dousman! 
pleae leave me alone! 
- men sou to beat, hit 
- moute file to burst forth 
- nan domi to wake, awaken 
- nan ko li, - nan dèyè li to rise 
up against, go after - non to be named after/for 
- nos to go to church for the first 
time after marriage 
- (yon) pàn to fix, repair; to solve 
a problem 
- pati to get up and leave, set off for 
- pipirit chantan to get up/arise 
560 
Liban - lide 
-elibè, libèlibè freely 
nan-fornothing 
nouvo - Black or Mulatto freed 
from slavery in 1793 
vant - diarrhea 
Liban prop.n. Lebanon 
Libanè prop.n./adj., Libanèz 
f.prop.n. Lebanese 
libato n. sleigh bed (var. divan 
popular esp. during Napoleonic 
period) 
libè see lib 
libekalib adv. freely 
libele n. wording to explain a 
particular financial transaction 
liben see kachkach 
libera n. prayer for the dead 
liberal n. liberal; adj. free-spirited, 
liberal 
liberalis n. liberalism 
liberalizasyon n. liberalization 
liberalize v. to liberalize 
liberasyon n. liberation, freedom; 
discharge, release (from prison 
etc.) 
liberatè n. liberator 
libere v. to liberate, release, free, set 
free 
Liberya, Liberiyaprop.n. Liberia 
Libèt, Babèt prop.n. nickname for 
Elizabèt (q.v.) 
libète, lalibète n. liberty, freedom 
- dekspresyon freedom of speech 
~ pwovizwa provisional release 
^ (jur.) 
libèten n. dissolute person; adj. 
dissolute, libertine 
libètinay, libètinaj n. dissoluteness, 
wantonness, libertinage 
fè - to act up, not obey the rules 
libewo n. substitute player 
{volleyball) 
563 
Libi, Lalibi prop.n. Libya 
libidibi n. divi-divi (small tree) 
Libon (larivyè) prop.n. Libon River 
(Dept. Center and Dominican 
Republic) 
librè n. bookseller 
librechanj n. free trade 
libreman adv. freely; cf. lib e libè 
libreri n. bookstore 
Librevilprop.n. Libreville (Gabon) 
libriyôm n. Librium (anti-anxiety 
drug) 
Libyen prop.n., Libyèn f.prop.n. 
Libyan 
liche see niche 
lidantite see idantite 
lide, ide n. mind; idea, opinion, 
thought; intuition, instinct; mood, 
inclination, whim; hunch; 
intention, purpose 
bay - to suggest 
boukante - , bouske - , brase - , 
debale - , dekachte - , depatcha 
- , deplotonnen - , detaye - , 
detoufe - , devlope - , layite - , 
twoke - to discuss, trade ideas; to 
brainstorm; exchange of ideas; 
brainstorming session; (general) 
discussion, talks 
chanje - to change one's mind 
fè - , gen - to think about, 
consider; to intend to, plan to 
gen - sou (yon moun) to be 
interested in (s.o.), be drawn to 
(s.o.) (usu. sexually) 
gwo - oversized ambition; overly 
ambitious, greedy 
jan - li di li freely, voluntarily, 
without coercion 
~ li di 1 to feel like (doing s.thg.); 
to have a whim or fancy; to have a 
hunch, suspect 
lidè - limedya 
- li frape sou to think about 
manke yon ti - to be a little bit 
short of, be a little bit less than 
mete - sou to be tempted by 
yon ti - pi lwen a little bit farther 
lidè n. [Eng.] leader (political) 
lidèchip n. [Eng.] leadership 
lidekan n. camp bed, folding bed 
Lidès (Emil) prop.n. Luders (Emile) 
Zafè - famous case involving 
supposed mistreatment of German 
citizen in Haiti and Germany's 
retribution, 1897 
lideyal n./adj. ideal 
Lidiprop.n. Lydia (ancient country 
of Asia Minor) 
lido n. dice game played using flat 
board and pawns 
lig n. league 
ligati (twonp) n. tubal ligation; see 
fil aligati 
ligote v. [Fr.] to bind hand and foot 
lijen n. var. of edible plant 
lijèn, lijyèn, lijyenn see ijyèn 
Likprop.n. Luke 
likàn n. skylight; dormer window; 
transom 
likè n. liqueur 
likemya n. [Fr.] leukemia 
likid n. liquid, fluid; adj. loose, 
fluid, flexible; liquid 
ale - to have diarrhea 
bay - to secrete 
santi - si to have an acidic belch 
or gastric reflux 
likidasyon n. liquidation, clearance 
sale 
likide v. to liquidate, sell off, sell at 
special low price 
likidifye v. to liquefy 
likidite n. liquidity (finances) 
Liknè prop.n. Luckner 
likoptè see elikoptè 
likou n. halter rope (for restraining 
animals by neck); c/kôdtèt 
Likrèn see Ikrèn 
liks, leliks n. luxury 
Liksprop.n. Lux (soap) 
Liksanbou, Liksenbou prop.n. 
Luxembourg 
Liktènstayn prop.n. Liechtenstein 
lil see zile 
- Moris Mauritius 
Lil prop.n. Lille (France) 
lila n. lilac 
- etranje var. of med. shrub 
Lilann, Ilann prop.n. Ireland 
Lilavach, Dilavach, Ilavach, 
Zileavachprop.n. (l')île-à-
Vache(s) (island near Cayes, Dept 
South) 
Lilavwa prop.n. Lilavois (Dept. 
West) 
lilèt n. small island, islet 
lili n. looniness, craziness; lily 
(flower) 
Lili prop.n. L u l l y (near Arcahaie, 
Dept. West) 
lilit n. weewee (penis of small boy) 
Lilyadprop.n. "The Iliad" (Homer?) 
Lilyàn fi prop.n. Lilian 
lim n. file (tool); nail file, emery 
board; whetstone; anthem 
- kare, - kat fas square file 
- plat flat file 
- triyang triangular file 
limaj see imaj 
limanite, imanite n. humanity, 
mankind 
limansite n. immensity 
limas n. slug (mollusk) 
lime see limen 
limedya: 
nan - in the immediate future 
564 
limen - limyè 
limen, lime v. to light; to turn on, 
switch on (lamp); to light up (fire, 
cigarette etc.), ignite; to file 
(fingernails etc.); to wear 
threadbare; to spank (fig.); adj. 
lighted, on; threadbare, frayed, 
worn(-out) 
- balenn to consult a Voodoo 
priest; to put a hex on; to light a 
candle in (Roman Catholic) 
church 
- balenn/bouji/chandèl dèyè yon 
moun to put a hex on s.o. 
- dèyè to spank 
- dife to kindle/light a fire 
- ko li to act in a seductive 
manner (woman); to put oneself 
forward as a leader 
- lanp to light a lamp near the bed 
etc. of a deceased person after the 
burial 
~ lespri to stimulate the mind 
~ tenyen, - touye, mouri - to 
flicker, blink (light) 
tou - flaming; vehement; great, 
fantastic; loose woman 
limena, limenna: 
gwo - affluent woman merchant 
limewo see nimewo 
limewote see nimewote 
limidite see imidite 
limilite see imilite 
liminasyon n. burning of candles 
(cemetery, graves etc.) 
liminèks (machin) n. var. of 
emergency lighting system 
liminen, liminye v. to light up; to 
light a candle and pray on the 
grave of s.o. or at the foot of 
statue of a saint; adj. luminous, 
shiny 
liminèz adj. luminous, luminescent 
limit n. boundary, limit, extent 
san - uncontrollable; limitless, 
boundless 
limitasyon n. limitation 
limite v. to limit; to restrict 
limn see im 
limojaj n. [Fr.] dismissal; exile to a 
distant post 
limon n. slime; pond scum; moss 
- frans lemon 
- lanmè algae 
limonad, limonnad n. (weak) 
limeade; lemonade 
se - m ye ou ap bwè m you're 
trying to change the subject on me, 
you're trying to turn away my 
attention from the subject at hand 
Limonad, Limonnad prop.n. 
Limonade - founded 1678 (Dept. 
North) 
Limonadyen prop.n., Limonadyèn 
f.prop.n. inhabitant of Limonade 
(Dept. North) 
limoralite see imoralite 
limouzin n. limousine 
limyè, lalimyè n. light; candles; light 
bulb; electric current; electricity; 
traffic light; headlight; glimpse; 
vision 
fè - sou, bay - sou to clarify, shed 
light on, get to the bottom of 
gwo - blights, high beams (car) 
kout - use of magical oil lamp to 
harm s.o. (Voodoo) 
- bak back-up lights (car) 
- devan headlight (car) 
- dèyè tail light (car) 
- dim dimmers (car) 
- koukouy roadside reflector 
- pakin parking light (car) 
- plafon overhead light 
- plak light above license plate 
565 
limyè - lise 
- siyal turn signal (car) 
- solèy sunshine 
- wouj notorious person 
lopital Limyè see Bônfen 
prize - insight, eye-opener 
ti - lows (vehicle headlights) 
lin n. telephone line; see lalin; liy 
Linaf acron. (Lig Nasyonal 
Foutbèl) Haitian National Soccer 
League 
Linèsko acron. l'UNESCO (United 
Nations Educational, Scientific 
and Cultural Organization) 
linèt n. (pair of eye)glasses; hole (in 
pants); opening (in game of 
checkers); opening in traffic or 
barricade (through which a vehicle 
can pass) 
bwa - , manch - , monti - frames 
(of eyeglasses); pair of 
(eye)glasses 
- bifokal bifocal lens 
- nwa, - solèy sunglasses, dark 
glasses 
- pwotèj protective goggles 
- sekirite safety goggles 
machann - optician 
linètri n. optical store, optician's 
service 
lineyè adj. linear 
ling n. line; clothesline; (shared) 
taxi; string 
linikite n. iniquity 
linite, inite n. unity; unit, group 
linivè, inivè n. universe 
linivèsite see inivèsite 
Linkèl prop.n. Lincoln (automobile) 
Linkèl (Abraram) prop.n. Lincoln 
(Abraham) - president of USA, 
1861-1865 
linondasyon see inondasyon 
linosans see inosans 
linotip n. linotype 
linotipis n. linotypist 
liny see liy 
liny en v. to court, woo, go after 
(opposite sex) 
linyon, inyon n. union, alliance 
Linyon Ewôp(eyen), Inyon 
Ewop(eyen), Linyon Lewôp 
prop.n. European Union 
Linyon Sovyetikprop.n. Soviet 
Union 
linyorans see inyorans 
lipid n. lipid 
lipokrizi see ipokrizi 
Lirak, Irak prop.n. Iraq 
Liran, Iran prop.n. Iran 
lirik adj. lyric(al) 
LIryoblanko prop.n. Lirio Blanco 
(powdered milk) 
lis n. list, roll; menu; luster, shine, 
polish, gloss; lily; trail, trace, 
slime (of snail or slug); adj. 
smooth; glossy; polished 
- datant waiting list 
- man je menu 
sou - social rank or station; of 
one's friends 
lisans n. license, permit; driver's 
license; abuse of freedom; licence 
(Fr. university degree); v. to 
license, issue a permit 
bay - to license 
jwenn - li to be able to do as one 
pleases (pej.) 
pran - li to do as one pleases 
(pej-) 
lisansye n. [Fr.] holder of a licence 
(Fr. university degree); v. [Fr.] to 
fire, dismiss, lay off; to license, 
authorize [Eng.] 
Lisbèn prop.n. Lisbon (Portugal) 
lise n. public high school; v. to 
566 
liseyen - liy 
smooth, smooth out or down; to 
uncurl, straighten (one's hair); to 
polish; adj. waved and 
brilliantined (hair) 
liseyen n. liseyèn f.n. public high 
school student 
Lis!prop.n. Lucy; Lycia [Bible] 
Ksid adj. [Fr.] lucid, clear-headed, 
sane 
lisidite n. [Fr.] lucidity, clear-
headedness 
Lisifèprop.n. Lucifer 
lisiferize v. to demonize 
Lislè (larivyè) prop.n. Ilet River 
(Dept. South) 
listre v. to shine, polish; to glaze, 
gloss 
listrin n. glossy cotton fabric 
listwa see istwa 
Lisyenprop.n. Lucian 
lit liter; struggle, fight; wrestling; 
see litlit 
~ kole sere neck-to-neck race, 
tight race 
Litali see Itali 
litani n. litany; refrain, same old 
story 
gran - big argument 
lite v. to wrestle; to struggle, strive, 
fight; to persevere 
litè n. wrestler, fighter; struggler 
Litè prop.n. Luther 
liten, louten n. ghost or soul of an 
unbaptized child 
~ a(k) bab hypocrite 
literatè n. writer (notpej. as in Fr.) 
literati n. literature 
literè adj. literary 
literyen prop.n J adj. Lutheran 
litij n. lawsuit; dispute (Jur.) 
litiji n. liturgy 
litljik adj. liturgical 
litlit adv. easily, smoothly, without 
worrying, without problem; bit by 
bit 
litografi n. lithograph 
litoral n. [Fr.] coastline 
Litwani, Lityaniprop.n. Lithuania 
lityom n. lithium 
liv n. book; pound 
lè di - tè sou lestonmak (yon 
moun) when one is dead and 
buried/pushing up daisies/put to 
bed with a shovel 
- gid guidebook 
- lekèl textbook 
pike - divination based upon 
random choice of passage from a 
book 
po - book cover 
livè, ivè n. winter 
livènay, ivènay n. wintertime, 
winter season; period of 
unemployment and inactivity 
livrab adj. ready for delivery 
livre v. to deliver, remit, hand over, 
give to; to throw oneself into, 
commit oneself to (an 
undertaking) 
- tèt to confide in, reveal oneself 
- yon batay to engage in a fight, 
wage a war 
livré n. pamphlet; booklet 
livrezon n. delivery 
livwa see ivwa 
liwondèl see iwondèl 
liy, liny n. line, mark; cord, line; 
clothes line; clothes rack; line (of 
people); fishing line; measuring 
rope or string; stripe; strip; 
(traffic) lane; inclination, 
tendency, preference; courting, 
wooing; see laling 
chèf - border guard 
567 
liy - lôbèy 
fè - to line up; to wait in line; to 
court, woo 
- aplon plumb line 
- demakasyon boundary; 
demarcation line (milit.); foul line 
(sports) 
- frans nylon cord 
- lesiv clothesline 
liyann see lyann 
Liyawona, Konpa prop.n. [Book of 
Mormon] Liahona 
liye v. [Fr] to bind, fasten, connect, 
tie up; cf. mare 
liyen v. to go after, pursue; to tail 
(s.o.); to set a trap for; to court, 
woo; to flatter, butter up; to test 
out, check out; to line up, arrange; 
to wind (spinning top) 
liyit n. lignite 
liyorans see inyorans 
Liz f.prop.n. Lise 
lizaj, lizay n. good manners, 
courtesy, politeness, etiquette, 
proper thing to do; use, usage; 
customs, habits; proper hygiene 
fè - to be a big drinker/user of 
coffee/tobacco etc.; to fulfill one's 
social, domestic or societal duties 
gen - to be well-bred, be 
courteous 
~ (nan) kay housecleaning 
san - hick, hayseed; ill-bred, ill-
mannered, rude, impolite; 
unconcerned, negligent, 
indifferent 
selon - usual, customary 
lizè n. reader; cf. lektè 
lizib adj. [Fr.] legible 
lizin see izin 
Lizrayèl see Izrayèl 
lizre v. to border, edge (dress, 
tablecloth etc.) 
lizyè n. edge, border, boundary,^ 
gran - ak foli grandè 
extravagant, exaggerated, extreme 
- vyann cheap cuts of meat 
rafrechi - to mark again property 
lines; to repair fences 
lo n. lot, pile; supply; group; portion 
lottery prize 
fè - to assemble, put together 
gwo - , premye - first prize in 
national lottery; jackpot 
lo n. gold; time; adj. golden; conj. 
when, while; prep, at the time of 
depi - a since then, since that time 
- sa a then, at that time 
santim - U.S. cent, U.S. penny 
tèt - red-haired 
lob n. lobe 
Lobak (Frank) prop.n. Laubach 
(Frank) (1884-1970)-U.S. 
linguist who assisted Ormonde 
McConnell (Makonnèl - q.v.) in 
establishing written form of 
Haitian language 
lobe v. to splash water noisily; to 
toss out, toss away; to pass ball 
over s.o.'s head (soccer) 
bat - , koupe - , tire - , voye ~to 
splash water noisily; dispute, row 
lobedyans n. authority, domination, 
command, influence, control 
sou - , anba - under the direction 
of, under the command of, under 
the influence of, under the 
sponsorship of 
lobèj see obèj 
Lobelisk prop.n. Obelisk in honor of 
Heroes of Independence 
(Gonaïves, Dept. Artibonite) 
lobèy n. brawl, quarrel, row; noise; 
scandal; junk, trash 
manje - b a d l y - c o o k e d food 
568 
lobi - lojik 
pete yon - ak to have a quarrel/ 
fight with 
lobi see lobi 
Lobi, Koriprop.n. Loby, Cory (3rd 
communal section of Tiburon, 
Dept. South) 
lobi, lobi n. [Eng.] lobby, entrance 
hall; lobby group, pressure group, 
special interest group 
fè - (pou) to lobby for [Eng.] 
lobidyèt, lôbidjèt n. throat 
vire ~ to torment, upset, stir up, 
agitate 
lobiyis/z. [Eng.] lobbyist 
lobiz, lôbiz n. cannon; see tèt -
lobjè see objè 
lobjèktif, lobjektif n. objective, 
aim, goal 
lobligasyon see obligasyon 
lobo n. brawl, quarrel, row; noise; 
talented person 
gwo - big shot, VIP 
lobop n. [rare] difficult time 
lôbôy n. large flat-bed truck 
Iôbyè n. gall, bile 
pete - to kill 
lôd n. order, discipline; command; 
order, sequence; religious order; 
lord (British title) 
antre nan - to return to normal 
bay ~ to order, command 
fe - rete - to restore law and order 
~ avoka Bar Association 
~ di jou agenda; order of the day 
(milit.) mete an - , mete (yon) - to 
establish order; to organize; to 
straighten up, tidy up 
pase (yon moun) - to order (s.o.), 
give orders (to s.o.) 
remete - to reestablish order 
sou - under the orders of 
lodas see odas 
lodè n. front-end loader (;mach.) 
lodè, lôdè see odè 
lodeye v. to perfume, give out 
fragrance 
Lodiseprop.n. "The Odyssey" 
(Homer?) 
lodonans see odonans 
lodyans see odyans 
lodyansè see odyansè 
LOEA see OEA 
lof n. offer, proposition, bid 
lofe v. to approach land, maneuver to 
land, luff (boat); to celebrate, have 
a good time 
lofèb, lofèm, lofèv see èfèv 
lofini see lèfini 
lofis n. pantry; sideboard (for 
glasses, plates etc.); church 
service(s); see ofis 
lofrann see ofrann 
lofre n. osprey (fish-eating hawk) 
lôgèy n. pride, arrogance, conceit; 
anger 
leve - yon moun to stir up s.o.'s 
pride or anger 
logo n. logo 
lôj n. barley; box seat; Freemason 
lodge 
Sa k gen nan What's going 
on? How's it going? 
lôja n. treat, delicacy, goodie; 
amaretto, syrupy drink with 
almond liquid base 
siwo - amaretto, syrupy drink 
using almond-base liquid; special 
treat; sweetie, darling 
loje v. to lodge; to house, provide 
lodging for 
mache nan - (yon moun) to 
agree with (s.o.) 
lojik n. logic; reasoning; adj. logical 
569 
lojikman - lôlôj 
lojikman adv. logically 
lojistik n. logistics; adj. logistic(al) 
lojisyèl n./adj. computer software 
lojman, lôjman n. housing, lodging, 
shelter 
pran - to move in 
san - homeless person 
lèk n. rag(s), tatters; strong 
purgative; door lock; v. to lock; 
adj. locked 
lokal n. place, locale, premises; adj. 
local, domestic 
nan - li well-balanced, sensible, 
sane; in full control of oneself, in 
full command of one's senses 
pa nan - li crazy, insane; uneasy, 
uncomfortable 
lokalis adj. parochial, limited 
lokalite n. locality, area, 
neighborhood 
lokalize v. to locate, center 
lokans n. talkativeness, 
loquaciousness, garrulousness 
lokasyon n. rent; renting; location; 
adj. rental 
lokatè n. tenant 
lokatif adj. rental 
enpo - property tax, real-estate 
tax 
lokawout n. [Eng.] lockout (labor 
dispute) 
lokazyon see okazyon 
lokazyone see okazyonnen 
loke, foke, fèke, lèke adj. [Span.] 
crazy, loony, insane; loose, shaky 
lèke v. [Eng.] to lock 
lèkè n. [Eng.] locker 
lèkès see èkès 
lokipasyon see okipasyon 
Lokipasyon n. (period of) U.S. 
Occupation of Haiti (1915-34; 
1994-95) 
lokitè n. [Fr.] speaker (of a given 
language) 
loko n. sacred tree (Voodoo); adj. 
[Span.] crazy, insane 
Loko prop.n. Voodoo spirit of 
vegetation and healing, guardian 
of sanctuaries 
lokobasiye, lokobasye, lokobaziye 
n. very calm person; adj. calm, 
level-headed 
lokobe: 
bat - to be dying; to keep afloat, 
keep going, persevere 
lokomotiv n. locomotive 
lokopèt n. gossip, scandal-monger, 
big-mouth or loud-mouth person 
Loksidan see Oksidan 
loksyôl n. alcoholic drink 
lolin n. small amount of money 
lolit see Tilolit 
lolo, lola, lole v. to wheedle, cajole, 
sweet-talk; to entice, beguile, 
allure; to lull 
lolè: 
bouch li koule - to water (mouth) 
loloj, lôlèy n. mental stability, 
levelheadedness; see ôlôj 
fatige - (yon moun) to bug, 
bother, annoy (s.o.) 
marinen - (yon moun), chavire 
- (yon moun) to disturb (s.o.) 
profoundly 
pèdi - to lose one's senses; to 
become infatuated 
ti - simpleton, idiot; envious 
vire - , detounen - to drive (SA) 
crazy; to make (s.o.) change his/ 
her mind, (overly) influence; to 
mislead, misinform, confuse; to 
lead astray 
yaya - li to get one's mind going, 
work one's mind 
570 
lom - lonje 
lôm n. man, mankind; corrupted 
man; see om 
lomaj see omaj 
lomeyans n. praise; literary genre 
embodying praise or glorification 
Ion ^ ^ lonn 
LONA acron. ONA (Office National 
d'Assurance-Vieillesse) Haitian 
Social Security System 
lonbraj see lonbray 
lonbraje adj. skeptical, wary, 
distrustful; skittish (horse etc.) 
lonbray, lonbraj, lonbway, onbwaj 
n. shade; shadow 
bay ~ to shade 
lonbrit, lonbrik, nonbrit n. navel, 
belly button; umbilical cord 
gwo % van nan - protruding 
umbilicus; umbilical hernia 
kôd - umbilical cord 
koupe kôd - li ak sizo manti to 
be a bom liar 
~ pouri stinker, no-good guy 
se ak... yo koupe - li to really 
like..., have a taste for... 
twou -, tou - , navel 
Lond see Lonn 
londjè see longé 
Londonn see Lonn 
Londonyen {pronounced: Lon-do-
nyen)prop.n., Londonyèn 
f.prop.n. Londoner 
lonè, lônè see onè 
lonèkte, lonètete see onèkte 
long adj. long; slow (in doing s.thg.) 
fè - to take a long time (to do 
s.thg.) 
fè pi - to lengthen 
~ kon zong by a hair's breadth 
longan n. unguent, ointment, salve; 
liniment 
longanis n. var. of large sausage 
Longaylann, Longayilann prop.n. 
Long Island (New York) 
longé, londjè n. length; power, 
influence; ability 
bèl - very tall and thin (person) 
konnen - yon moun to know 
what (stuff) s.o. is made of, know 
the measure of s.o.'s worth 
- donn wave length 
men - ever so long 
twa pye de - three feet long 
longman adv. at length 
longpleying adj. [Eng.] long-playing 
(record) 
longsay adj. great, major 
longvi see lonnvi 
Loni acron. United Nations 
lonje, alonje v. to lengthen, prolong, 
extend; to hold out, stretch out; to 
reach out; to border, run 
alongside; to knock down; to take 
a nap, lie down 
fè yon ti - to lie down a little 
while, take a little rest 
- bay to present (to), hand over (to) 
- bouch, - dyôl to express anger 
or dissatisfaction, pout 
- dwèt accusation(s), 
recrimination(s) 
- dwèt li byen long sou to 
pointedly accuse, denounce 
- dwèt sou to point at; to 
pinpoint; to accuse 
- dwèt (sou zo Kingkong) to 
accuse (s.o.) of a crime, denounce; 
to look for trouble 
- kô to stretch out, recline, relax 
- kou to crane one's neck; to peep 
at 
- men to reach, reach out 
- men bay to provide a helping 
hand to/for 
571 
lonje - lorikilè 
- men pran to reach, stretch out 
one's hand (begging; supplication) 
- pran to reach (for) 
- vini to hand over 
- yon kout (pwen ets.) to hit with 
(fist etc.) 
- (yon moun) ianmen to offer 
(s.o.) a helping hand 
lonjitid n. longitude 
lonm, onm n. shade; shadow; see 
lorn 
lonmaren n. rosemary (fragrant 
shrub) 
lonmen see nonmen 
lonminasyon see nominasyon 
lonmlèt see lanmilèt 
lonn, Ion, lonnay, on {pronounced: 
o-n), on, zôn n. aune, ell (45 
inches - for measuring cloth); 
wooden length for measuring an 
aune 
yon - a lot of, much 
Lonn, Lond, Londonn, Lonndonn 
prop.n. London (England) 
lonnè see onè 
lonnèkte see onèkte 
lonnen v. to measure cloth by the ell 
(by 45-inch lengths); to measure 
lonnètete see onèkte 
lonnvi, longvi n. telescope, 
binoculars 
lontan adv. formerly, (from) long 
ago, in time past, in bygone days, 
for a long time; by far, by a long 
shot; considerably; adj. age-old, 
ancient; obsolete 
anvan - before long, soon 
ansyen - , - nan Ginen long long 
ago, in olden days 
depi - since long ago 
- sa a long time ago 
lonyen v. to peer at, stare (at) 
lopilans see opilans 
lopin: 
fè - to roll over (vehicle) 
Lopino see Fonkochon 
lopinyon see opinyon 
lopital n. hospital 
Lopital Dechapèl Albert 
Schweitzer Hospital 
(Deschapelles) 
Lopital Jeneral General Hospital of 
the State University of Haiti (PaP) 
mon Lopital Morne l'Hôpital 
(mountain above PaP) 
lopôtinite see opotinite 
lopozisyon n. opposition (politics) 
lopresyon see opresyon 
lopyôm see opyôm 
loraliti see oraliti 
Lor an prop.n. Laurent (7th 
communal section of Cayes, Dept. 
South) 
loratwa see ogatwa 
lor ay, loraj, zoray n. thunder, 
thunderstorm 
fè - to thunder 
kout - clap of thunder 
- boule to be hit by lightning; 
criminal, bandit; vicious person 
- kale brat, rascal; impossible 
woman; old experienced hand, 
veteran 
- tonbe lightning bolt 
pitit - son of a bitch [N.] 
loreya n./adj., loreyat f.n. laureate 
(esp. student who scores the 
highest on official national exam); 
prize winner, high scorer 
lorezon see orezon 
lorigan n. oregano; maijoram 
lorijinalite see orijinalite 
lorikilè, ekilè, orikilè n. [Fr.] little 
finger, pinky 
572 
lorin - lotèl 
lorin: 
manman - large corpulent woman 
lorizon see orizon 
ioryan n. east 
Loryan prop.n. Orient 
Jèryàn n. squirrelfish 
lorye n. laurel 
chita sou - li to rest on one's 
laurels 
fey - bay leaf 
- blan oleander (shrub) 
- gran fey shinglewood tree 
~ jôn sweetwood tree 
- pyan(t) black sweetwood tree 
- sasafra sassafras tree 
~ woz oleander, rose laurel (shrub) 
Lorye prop.n. Laurier 
(disadvantaged area of Cape 
Haitian) 
lôryon n. lorgnette; monocle 
Lôsannjelès, Lôsanjelès prop.n. 
Los Angeles (California) 
loseyan, oseyan n. ocean 
Loseyani see Oseyani 
Idskeconj. [Fr.] when 
Lôspalisprop.n. Los Palis 
(commune of Cerca Carvajal, 
Dept. Center) 
lospis n. shelter (for elderly or sick) 
Lospozos, Lospos prop.n. Los 
Posos (Dept. Center) 
lostal n. (any) alcoholic drink 
losti n. communion wafer, Host 
yon kob - a little bit of money 
Lostrali see Ostrali 
lostwogo, ostwogo n. dumb oaf, 
blockhead; prop.n. Ostrogoth 
Losyànprop.n. Lociane (2nd 
communal section of 
Thomassique, Dept. Center) 
losyè n. tiny bit; snack 
ban m yon ti - give me a little 
help, give me a hand 
losyon n. cologne, perfume; 
mosquito repellent 
- labab after-shave lotion 
mete - nan nen chen to cast 
pearls before swine 
losyonnen v. to perfume; to wear 
perfume 
lot adj. other; another; next 
al sou - la to jump s.o. 
- mwa next month 
- senmenn next week 
tout - yo all the others 
yon ~ another 
youn konte sou ~ 
interdependence 
youn ou - either 
Lot prop.n. [Bible] Lot 
lota n. skin rash, heat rash; whitish 
spots (on black skin) 
lotantisite see otantisite 
lôtbô adv. (over) there, beyond; 
abroad; adj. foreign; prep, across, 
on the other side (of) 
- a over there 
- dlo, - lanmè abroad, (from) 
overseas 
Lôtbô Kannalprop.n. L'Autre-
Bord-du-Canal (disadvantaged 
area of Gonaïves, Dept. 
Artibonite) 
lote v. to allot, parcel out, divide up; 
to pile up; to involve (s.o.) 
lotè, lotè v. to be responsible for, be 
liable for; n. cause, reason why; 
see otè 
lotèl, otèl n. altar; hotel 
- kominal, - de vil [Fr] town hall 
- (kote yo fè) moman "hot-
pillow" hotel/motel, "no-tell 
motel," hotel/motel renting rooms 
by the hour as well as for the night 
573 
lotisman - louperè 
lotisman n. housing site, plot, lot 
lètjou, lotjou, lotrejou, lotrejou 
adv. (just) the other day, (just) 
recently; three days ago 
loto n. lotto, bingo 
lôtograf see ôtograf 
loton, otôn n. autumn, fall 
lotopsi see topsi 
lotorite see otorite 
lotrejou, lotrejou see lotjou 
lotri n. lottery 
biyè - milyon one in a million 
chances 
lotrich see otrich 
Lotrich see Otrich 
lou adj. heavy; difficult; important, 
big-shot; lukewarm; sultry 
(weather); impure (water); slow-
witted, clumsy, dull; fat, corpulent; 
heavily accented (speech); n. wolf 
lespri li fè - to be slow-witted/ 
dull/stupid 
- pase yon pwa senkant to weigh 
a ton 
men pa - generous 
(pa leve/fè) ni - ni lejè to do 
nothing 
peze - to weigh heavily, be of 
consequence 
loubli: 
nan ~ into oblivion 
Loubyana prop.n. Ljubljana 
(Slovenia) 
louch n. ladle, dipper; adj. 
suspicious 
- fritay skimmer (cul.) 
louchèt n. crow-bar; hole-digger 
Loud prop.n. Lourdes (France) 
loudè n. heaviness, weight 
loudman adv. heavily 
loudo n. oaf, lout; slowpoke, 
straggler; adj. sluggish, lazy; 
clumsy, awkward 
louga n. relief, respite 
lougal, lougay n. look, glimpse, 
peek; tiny bit, snack; a little 
leeway 
bay (yon) - to let s.o. have a look 
at or a peek at; to give s.o. a break, 
let s.o. off 
fè yon - to have a look or a peek 
at 
lougawou n. vampire-like witch or 
warlock; creature believed human 
by day and vampire by night; 
prostitute (N.B. There is no 
werewolf tradition in Haitian 
folklore.) 
fèy - , fèy frize, zèb ~ air plant, 
never-die, resurrection plant (hob) 
- used as protection against ~ 
- lanmè longnose batfish 
lougay see lougal 
louk n. welt, swelling; hump (of 
hunchback - cf. bôs) 
fè - to swell, form a welt 
Loukiprop.n. traditional name for 
dogs 
Loukistray prop.n. Lucky Strike 
(brand of cigarettes) 
loukout fin. witch, sorceress; cf. 
lougawou 
louloup: 
- manje apa - manje andjapa 
incremental refrain of children's 
song 
loulou(t) see youyou 
loulou(z) see djôl lolo 
louma n. var. of marble game 
loumpenn n./adj. lumpen, 
disfranchised, disadvantaged 
loup n. magnifying glass; crystalline 
lens (of eye) 
louperè (abab) n. adult male 
574 
loupin - lozèy 
joapin n. leap; loop-the-loop 
(airplane) 
fe (yon) - to leap; to loop-the-loop 
(airplane) 
lous n. bear; person in excellent 
physical condition; adj. [Eng.] 
loose 
- blan, - polè polar bear 
ti - bear cub 
lous, ous n. bear 
Lous: 
Gwo - la the Big Dipper 
Ti - la the Little Dipper 
loustik n. joker, character 
lout n. otter 
loutcha: 
I ap - he/she is getting by, 
managing, somehow making ends 
meet 
Iouten see liten 
cheve - dreadlocks 
~ ak bab hypocrite 
louvè see louvri 
louvèti see ouvèti 
Louvèti see Tousen 
Site - Cité-Louverture 
(disadvantaged area of PaP) 
louvètiryen adj. in the spirit of 
Toussaint Louverture, 
revolutionary 
louvoyé v. to pitch (boat); to be 
sailing along fine 
louvri, louvè, ouvri v. to open (up); 
to let out a hem, make larger 
(clothes); to unlock; to begin; to 
turn on (radio, TV etc.); to begin 
fighting (cock); adj. sore 
gran - wide-open 
~ ak kou to beat, club 
~ bal sou to fire upon 
~ femen prostitute 
~ fèmen (je) to glance at; to wink; 
to blink 
- janm to engage in sex (woman) 
- je li to be watchful, be vigilant 
- ko li to take up too much space; 
to open oneself to criticism; to act 
sexily (woman) 
- tè to loosen/turn over soil 
- vant exposed, vulnerable (to 
exploitation) 
- vant, - konsyans to pour out 
one's soul, open one's heart, get 
(s.thg.) off one's chest 
- zam to open fire, shoot at 
- zèl li to open oneself up, to 
come out of oneself 
... pou - (sou) ... to (expression of 
time) 
tou - open, wide-open, open-
ended 
louvto n. cub scout 
louvwaye v. to hedge, beat around 
the bush, hem and haw, skirt the 
issue 
louwanj see lwanj 
louwanje see lwanje 
louwe v. to praise (the Lord) 
Lovana prop.n. traditional 
children's song 
loveye v. to tack, beat to windward 
(inautical); to sail along; to be 
loaded with (money, possessions 
etc.) 
lôyen v. to ogle, eye 
lôyèt n. lorgnette 
loyon n. pince-nez (glasses) 
Lozàn, Lozann prop.n,. Lausanne 
(Switzerland) 
lozanj n. lozenge, rhombus 
lozèy, ôzèy n. sorrel {bot.) 
pran - pou chou to take pinetreei. 
for pineapples, be naive, be duped 
Var. are: - mawon, ~ sovaj 
575 
lozye - lwayay 
lozye n. wicker 
lwa n. law, rule, regulation; Voodoo 
spirit; see lalwa 
afe - Voodoo religion 
fè sévis - to conduct a Voodoo 
ceremony 
gen - to be temporarily possessed 
by a Voodoo spirit (same as 
monte) 
gwo - any revered Voodoo spirit 
dating from at least the Haitian 
Revolution 
- achte, - bèlflè any evil Voodoo 
spirit at the service of a boko 
( Î - V . ) 
- blan any pure and undefiled 
Voodoo spirit 
- bosal any violent unidentified 
Voodoo spirit 
- djab any Voodoo spirit of the 
Petwo rite 
- Ginen any Voodoo spirit who 
represents the authentic African 
tradition 
- je wouj any evil cannabilistic 
Petwo Voodoo spirit 
- kad general or outline law 
- kreyol any Voodoo spirit 
originating in New World 
~ (mèt)tèt one's principal 
protective Voodoo spirit to whom 
is owed special allegiance 
- nan kannari spirit of an 
ancestor rescued "from under the 
water" 
~ padon amnesty 
- pi same as - Ginen 
~ pwen Voodoo spirit who 
provides special protection or 
powers 
~ rasin one's ancestral Voodoo 
spirit 
~sele chwal li to be possessed by 
Voodoo spirit 
~ tèt same as ~ (mèt)tèt 
- zenga Voodoo spirit which is 
deaf or without ears 
maladi - supernatural illness 
manman ~ constitution 
mare ~ ceremony or act of 
restraining a troublesome Voodoo 
spirit 
mete ~ a deyô to promulgate a 
law 
pa wè ki - pou li rele not to kirn 
which way to turn, not to know 
where to ask for help 
pran ~ to make one's heartbeat 
faster; to get upset; to become 
possessed (Voodoo) 
ranvwa ~ sending a Voodoo spirit 
off into the woods or back to 
Africa 
rele ~ dance to invoke a specific 
Voodoo spirit 
sévi ~ to practice the Voodoo 
religion 
sévis ~ Voodoo service, Voodoo 
ceremony 
tonbe ~ to be possessed by 
Voodoo spirit 
lwanj, louwanj, lwany n. praise; 
bragging 
bay - , chante - , fè - to praise 
fè - (pou) to brag (about), show 
off lwanje, louwanje v. to praise; to 
brag, show off 
lwanj è n. bragger; adj. boastful 
lwany see lwanj 
lwayal adj. loyal 
lwayay, lwayaj, lwaye, lweyaj, 
lweyay n. (weekly or monthly) 
rent 
576 
Iwayote - lyann 
jwayote n. loyalty 
town. [Fr] leisure, spare time; 
recreation 
Iwazivte n. idleness 
Iwazo see lezo; zwazo 
Lwazoprop.n. Loiseau (1st southern 
communal section of Fort-Liberté, 
Dept. North-East) 
Iwe v. to rent, hire; to rent out, lease; 
to praise; n. renting 
- lajan to borrow money with 
interest 
Iwen adv. far, far away, far from, 
distant, remote; adj. absent-
minded; aloof, reserved, distant . 
de ~ from afar 
de ~ ou de pre directly or 
indirectly 
~ ak quite far; far from 
~~ rarely, occasionally 
pi ~ farther, further 
Iwès, wès n. west 
Lwès: 
(depatman) Lwès (Department of 
the) West 
Iweyaj, lweyay see lwayay 
Iwezo see lezo 
Lmprop.n. Louis, Lewis 
lwido n. Hispaniolan euphonian 
(bird) 
Iwijanboje n. quarrelsome or 
rebellious person, bully; coarse or 
repulsive person; adj. violent 
bvil n. oil (cooking, lubricating etc.); 
lubricant; adj. smooth, flowing 
benyen nan - , woule nan/sou ~ 
to be rolling in clover, have it 
made, be well-off 
bwè - to lose out, break down, go 
under, bite the dust 
~ derisen castor oil 
~ esansyèl aromatic oils (made 
from vetiver, limes etc.) 
- fren brake fluid 
- fwa d(e) mori cod-liver oil 
- kizin cooking oil 
- konsantre var. strong home-
made insecticide 
- lou castor oil 
- pou dan oil of cloves 
- satan booze, moonshine, liquor 
- transmisyon transmission fluid 
mezi - dipstick 
nan - well-off, fortunate; without 
hitch, easily 
viv nan - to lead a life of luxury 
woule nan/sou - see benyen nan -
lwile v. to oil, grease 
L w i z / prop.n. Louise 
Lwizyàn, Lalwizyàn prop.n. 
Louisiana (USA) 
Lwizyanè prop.n./adj., Lwizyanèz 
f.prop.n. Louisianan 
lyan adj. flexible, pliable, resilient; 
lithe, supple, pliant 
lyàn see lyann 
Lyankou prop.n. Liancourt (1st 
communal section of Veirettes, 
Dept. Artibonite) 
lyann, llyann, lyàn n. tropical vine, 
creeper; adj. supple, flexible 
- bande var. of tropical vine 
which reputedly restores virility 
- barik, - bonbon kôdenn hoop 
withe (shrub) 
- chat cat's-claw (shrub) 
- kwôk chen jujube tree 
- lajan, - tonnèl silver morning-
glory (vine) 
- mayi bundle of corn (com on 
cob strung together and hung from 
tree for safe-keeping) 
nan - in hiding ponm - var. of passionfruit 
577 
lyann - Lyoto 
pran ~ to flee, go into hiding 
ti - ibo bejuco vine 
55 other var. of vine are: - aklou, 
- bèf, - blan, - bon gason, ~ 
brilan, - bwanèf, - bwa patat, ~ 
bwa zanmann, - chik, - dous, -
fonswèl, - fourni, - franswaz, ~ 
gen lèt, - grate, - grenn legliz/ 
reglis, - grif chat, ~ jôn, -
kakôn, - kalson, - kare, ~ 
kayiman, - kod, - konkonm, ~ 
kotè, - koulèv/sèpan, - krab, ~ 
lamitye, - legliz, - mang, - mebi, 
- mengè, - mimbi blanch, - mol, 
- mon, - môtèl, - panye(n), -
pat chwal, - pèsi, - reglis, ~ 
savon, - senjan, - si, - (so) 
franswaz, - tafya, - tochon, ~ 
towo, - très, - vè, - vyolon, -
wawa, - wouj, - zanmann, ~ 
zong chat, - zoren 
lyas n. bundle; sheaf, roll; wad (of 
money) 
lye n. place; league (3 statute miles 
or 4.83 kilometers); v. to bind, tie 
up; see lèlye 
fè vizit de - to visit the scene of a 
crime 
- ak to be connected to; to be 
close (in friendship) to 
- dakèy (official) reception hall 
- komen commonplace 
~ rankont meeting place 
- verite beyond the grave, better 
world, just reward; just deserts 
ipej.) 
nan ki how far away? 
lyèj n. cork; cork-tree 
bouchon ~ cork (of bottle) 
lyen n. [Fr.] link, connection 
lyesen n. (<ecc.) sanctuary 
lyetnan n. lieutenant 
sou - second-lieutenant 
lyèv n. hare; floater on fishnet 
Lyèv, Viyi prop.n. Lièvre, Vigny 
(3rd communal section of Peth-
Trou-de-Nippes, Dept. 
Grand'Anse) 
lyezon n. contact, link, connection; 
liaison, affair; (phonetic) liaison 
fè - to act as contact/liaison 
lyon n. lion; Leo (zodiac) 
manman - lioness 
ti - lion cub 
twou - , fos - lions' den 
Lyoto (Jôj) prop.n. Liautaud 
(Georges) - considered originator 
of Haitian metal sculpture (bora 
1899) 
578 
m - machal 
m (pronounced: enm); abbrev. 
meter; sh. form mwen 
m3 cubic meter 
M. abbrev. msye 
ma n. puddle, pond; flagpole; mast, 
pole; pulp; residue, sediment; chaff, 
waste; adj. seedy; my (Fr. - used in 
certain Jixed expressions such as 
ma chè sè); contr. mwen + a 
fe - to become clogged up 
fè ~ tete to form a residue or 
sediment 
fè (yon moun) moute - swife (pa 
do/yon bo/nan gwo solèy) to put 
s.o. through hell 
- dlo puddle 
~ kafe coffee grounds 
~ labou mudpuddle; wallow (for 
Pigs) 
~ poto big hulk of a person 
- swife greased pole; torment 
moute (yon) - swife (pa do/yon 
bô/nan gwo solèy) to go through 
hell 
nan/an demi - at half mast (flag) 
san - clear (liquid) 
watè - seedy stool 
aaa onomat. moo (of cow) 
ab n. marble (stone); playing-
marble; game of marbles 
teke - to play marbles 
nabi n. mixed fruit beverage; var. of 
plant; adj. mixed-up, disturbed, 
troubled 
bwa - restless, always in 
movement 
mabônmè [Fr.] see mamè 
mabouya, maboya n. lizard 
(smaller than aganman, larger 
than zandolit); lizardfish; refl. to 
move, become active; to swing 
one's hips; adj. fickle, changeable 
- lanmè sand diver (fish) 
Mabriyôl, Mabryôlprop.n. 
Mabriole (2nd communal section 
of Belle-Anse, Dept. South-East) 
mabyal adj. harsh; severe, stern, 
strict, exacting; austere; grumpy, 
surly, touchy, in a bad mood; 
bumpy, full of potholes (road) 
Mabyal prop.n. Marbial (5th 
communal section of Jacmel, 
Dept. South-East) 
mach n. gait, walk, way of walking; 
demeanor, behavior; step (of 
stairway); rung (of ladder); stairs; 
march, parade; action, 
undertaking; workings; 
functioning; progress; 
menstruation 
an - functioning, working, 
running 
annavan! forward! march! 
fè - annaryè/aryè to back up, 
head back; to regress; cf. fè bak 
- anba pye step(s), stair(s) 
- oflanbo torchlight procession 
- patou loose woman, slut 
- pye step(s), stair(s); running-
board (of car, truck); stepping 
stone (fig.) 
mete an - to start up (motor etc.) 
machacha n. var. of vine (which 
causes itching) 
machal n. blacksmith; marshal (in 
charge of parade or ceremony); 
police marshal [Eng.]; see 
maréchal 
M 
579 
Machal - mâche 
Machal (zile) prop.n. Marshall 
Islands (Northwest Pacific) 
machan: 
an - by/while walking 
Machan (Desalin) prop.n. 
Dessalines (town formerly called 
Marchand, in Dept. Artibonite; 
Haiti's first capital, under 
Dessalines, 1804-1806) 
Machanbaprop.n. same as mache 
Kwabosal (q.v.) 
machanday, machandaj n. 
dealings, schemes; bargaining 
machande v. to bargain, haggle 
machandlz n. merchandise, goods, 
wares; freight; product, piece of 
merchandise 
Machanfèprop.n. same as Mache 
Fè (q.v.) 
machann n. vendor, merchant, small 
retailer (m. or/); market woman; 
street vendor 
- boutèy, - lèt, - mantèg tricky, 
deceptive, dishonest 
~ peyi, - pèp traitor, Benedict 
Arnold, Quisling; cf. konze 
- plezi prostitute 
- pwonmennen itinerant vendor 
ti - , - chita woman street vendor 
machannlèt n. deceitful, crafty or 
sly person 
machaswiv n. procedure 
machatè n. s.o. always on the go; 
good-for-nothing, bum 
Machatè prop.n. Marchaterre 
(crossroads near Cayes, Dept. 
South - scene of 6 December 1929 
killing of Haitians by U.S. 
Marines) 
mache n. outdoor market, 
marketplace; walking; loud 
talking, noise (of group); v. to 
walk; to march; to travel; to 
function, operate, work, go, m 
(mack); to attend regularly or 
frequently; to go around (doing 
s.thg.); to work out, succeed, 
prosper; to progress; to spread 
(fire, disease); to chew, munck;* 
match, harmonize, go with; to 
consent, agree; to be unsteady» 
changing (jobs, residences efc.) 
bon - cheap, inexpensive 
fè - to shop; to propel, put into 
movement; to startup (mack);to 
get (s.thg.) going 
fè - sou pwent pye li to frighten 
intimidate 
fè yon - to take a walk, go for a 
walk; to talk loudly (group of 
people) 
fè yon ti - to take a little walk; to 
do a little shopping 
- a pa toti to move at a snail's 
pace 
- ak to cooperate with; to 
frequent, hang around with; to 
bring; to harmonize with, match 
- ak chapo anba bra one may die 
at any moment 
- ak de po dèyè 1 to be 
completely broke 
- ak kè li anba pye li to be 
anxious or afraid 
- ak sèkèy li anba bra 1 to live 
dangerously 
- ale to walk to 
- ale vini to walk back and forth 
- Anba same as mache Fè 
- anba de to follow the same 
path; to be stupid; to be a thief 
- an Fè same as mache Fè 
- anfom to tow the line, do as 
expected 
580 
mache - mache 
- ansanm to combine, go 
together, work together; to agree 
- anwo open-air market formerly 
in front of the PaP cathedral 
- anwo yon moun to approach 
s.o. with hostility 
- atè outdoor market 
- bouch to chew, munch 
- Bwanèf Bois-Neuf market (PaP) 
- bwete, ~ bwate to limp (along) 
- bwôdè to strut 
- chache to go around looking for 
(s.thg.), seek out; go-getter 
- chanj currency exchange market 
- cho to work well 
- de... an... to go from... to ... 
- debô to stagger, sway 
~ depotanpôt to go from door to 
door 
- devan to precede 
~ devan dèyè to walk backwards 
~ dèyè to follow, be a follower/ 
disciple of 
~ di to go around saying 
- dwat to live uprightly 
~ ès-ès to toe the line 
~ Fè, - Valyè Iron Market 
(principal public market of PaP) 
~ fè renmen to sleep around 
~ gade to window shop, look 
around, browse 
~ gaye to go about (doing s.thg.); 
to spread rapidly; to stagger, sway 
~ kanbya to limp 
~ kare to walk normally (without 
limping) 
~ Katedral same as - anwo (q.v.) 
~ Kay Fè main public market of 
Jacmel 
~ kole ak to work well together with 
~ kontre to converge 
~ Kwabosal La Croix des 
Bossales market (important public 
market of PaP near the Iron 
Market and formerly a main slave 
marketplace under the French) 
~ kwochi to stumble 
~ labous stock market (finance) 
~ lib free trade 
~ lwen to have gotten around, 
have been places 
~ lwil to flow smoothly 
~ ~ li to continue to walk, walk on 
- Makdonal/Ga/di Po 
MacDonald/Gare/du Port market 
(PaP) 
~ men nan lamen to work hand in 
hand, work well together 
~ mouri to come to a slow stop 
~ moute desann to go back and 
forth; to hem and haw, vacillate 
~ nan san (yon moun) to feel the 
effects of; to make (s.o.) feel 
good, perk (s.o.) up 
~ ni pye to walk barefoot 
~ opa to march (milit.) 
~ opa ak to keep in step with, 
follow the dictates of 
~ pa do to walk backwards 
~ pale to spread the word 
~ pôs li to get out of the way, clear 
out 
- pou to court, go after, pursue 
~ poul to fly the coop, slip away, 
take to one's heels 
~ pran yo to launch an offensive 
- prese to walk hurriedly, hasten; 
(sense of) urgency, pressure; 
turmoil, commotion, agitation 
- pye atè to walk barefoot 
- pye kou pye dèyè (yon moun) 
to tail, follow closely, pursue (s.o.) 
~ ralanti to be in slow-motion 
- rale to crawl along, limp along 
581 
mache - machin 
~ rive sou to walk over to 
~ siwo siwo to swish, mince, 
prance 
~ sou to come to meet; to 
approach with hostility; to 
disrespect; to disregard; to 
threaten 
~ sou bèk to limp along, go badly 
~ sou kat (ets.) mwa to be going 
on four (etc.) months 
~ sou mach li, ~ sou pa to trot 
elegantly (horse) 
~ sou moun to show oneself, be 
seen in public 
~ sou piga pou pa pile si m te 
konnen to be extremely careful, 
be wary, be cautious 
~ sou pikèt to pay extreme 
attention, be very careful; to 
experience a dangerous situation 
~ sou pwent pye li, - sou zôtèy li 
to tip-toe; to be cautious; to be 
fearful 
- sou ren to limp 
~ sou trèz/twa pou pa pile katoz/ 
kat to be extremely careful, be 
wary, be cautious 
~ sou zôtèy li see ~ sou pwent 
pye li 
~ swa to run smoothly (mach.) 
~ tankou kanna/krapo to stagger, 
sway 
~ tèt atè dèyè to follow blindly or 
subserviently 
~ tèt bese to be humiliated, be 
humbled 
~ tribiche to stagger, sway 
- Valyè Vallières Market, Iron 
Market (principal public market of 
PaP) 
~ vil an vil to go from town to 
town 
- v i n jwenn to walk toward 
~ vini to advance 
- yon jan rale to shuffle 
mete - prese nan ko yon moun 
to spur on s.o., rush s.o. 
pa - kole ak to be on the outs 
with (s.o.), be in disagreement 
with (s.o.) 
ti ~ short walk or stroll 
Main markets of PaP are: ~ 
Bwanèf, - (an) Fè (~ Valyè), -
Ipolit, - Kwabosal (~ Anba),-
Livana, ~ Makdonal/Ga/GeriM 
Po, - Peyan, - Pôs Machan, -
Salomon/Tinèl, - Tèt Bèf 
machè f.n. my dear (used only in 
direct address) 
Machekanna prop.n. Marché-
Canard (Dept. Center) 
macheskalye n. stairs, steps 
machèt n. walker (apparatus to aid 
in walking) 
machin n. generic term for any 
vehicle, electrical or mechanical 
device, such as a car, truck, 
machine, dentist's drill etc. 
gen twôp ~ dèyè nos li to have 
influence or backing 
~ a ekri typewriter 
~ a filyè, tawo rod-threader 
- a kalkile calculator 
- a koud sewing-machine 
- a lave washing-machine 
- a pye treadle sewing machine 
~ a seche dryer ~ a tape typewriter 
- bwat, - bwèt truck with wooden 
sides 
- fatra garbage truck, dumptruck 
~ gazon lawn mower 
~ gwann machine gun; fast-
moving or working machine 
582 
machin - madansara 
- kous sports car, race car 
- lesiv washing-machine 
- levye manual transmission, 
'straight stick' 
- otomatik automatic 
transmission 
- pèpè imported used car 
- pou ekri typewriter 
- tren locomotive 
pyès ~ spare part(s) (for vehicles) 
machinal adj. mechanical, 
automatic 
machinasyon n. machination, plot 
machinatè n. magician, sorcerer 
machinen v. to plow, break up (soil); 
see machonnen 
machinis n. machinist 
machis(m) n. machismo 
machmalo n. marshmallow 
machôkèt, machoukèt n. 
blacksmith; bungler, klutz; 
incompetent, mediocrity; adj. 
shoddy; incompetent 
bôs - general craftsman; bungler, 
fumbler 
machonnen, machinen v. to munch 
machpye n. step(s), stair(s); 
running-board (of car, truck); 
stepping stone (fig.) 
machwè, machwa n. jaw 
bann - strip of cloth used 
to mare ~ (see below); stupid 
depi sou prezidan bann - since 
the time of some long-dead 
president, since who knows when 
fè - gonfle to anger, upset 
gen - gonfle to be angry, be upset 
gwo - (won) big shot 
~ bouch muzzle, gag 
~ boude angry 
~ chat chubby cheeks 
~ enferyè lower jaw 
- gonfle angry, upset 
~ mare angry; the game is over, 
the outcome is obvious 
~ rèd, - sere lockjaw, tetanus 
~ siperyè upper jaw 
~ won big shot 
mal ~ mumps 
mare ~ to close the mouth of a 
dead person with strip of cloth tied 
around face 
zo ~ jawbone 
zo ~ anba mandible 
zo ~ anwo maxilla 
Madagaska prop.n. Madagascar 
madam see madanm 
madan n. Mrs. (title) 
~ Blan var. of mango 
~ bray var. of very small fish 
~ Fransik largest var. of mango 
(in Haiti) 
- Jan var. of plant (aspidosperma 
domingense); var. of mango 
- Michèl var. of grass (used esp. 
for grazing of livestock) 
- Nayiz, ~ yas Jerusalem thorn 
(tree) 
~ sara see madansara 
- Viktô john, toilet, privy, latrine, 
outhouse 
madanm, madam n. (legal) wife; 
woman; ma'am, lady 
anvan ti - bat je in the blink of 
an eye 
- Fransik largest var. of mango 
(in Haiti) 
- kay legal wife 
~ ploye shoddy goods, trash 
ti ~ "bottom," male homosexual 
(passive role) 
Madanm Jwa prop.n. Madame -
Joie (Dept. Center) 
madansara, mansara, manzè sara 
Madè (Zile) - madoulè 
n. black and yellow-mantled 
weaver bird; (any) noisy bird 
destructive of crops; woman who 
transports and sells merchandise; 
ill-mannered or rowdy woman 
Madè (Zile)prop.n. Madeira Islands 
madebat n. effort, (hard) struggle; 
adj. slow-moving, plodding 
madègrate n. dumb cane (herb) 
madelenn, madden n. var. of med. 
plant 
madi n. Tuesday 
madichon n. curse, spell, hex, jinx, 
malediction; accursed person 
bay (yon) ~ to put a curse/hex/ 
jinx on 
bwat ~ li plen curse/pain/ 
suffering one has brought on 
oneself 
wete ~ to exorcize 
madichonnè n. sorcerer, 
necromancer, diabolist 
madichonnen v. to put a curse/hex 
on 
madigra n. Mardi Gras (period; 
events); person in Mardi Gras 
costume; clown, fool; masquerade 
party; sham, pretense, make-
believe; adj. ugly; see kanaval 
bann ~ informal musical group 
parading before and during Mardi 
Gras; bunch of jokers/idiots 
boule ~ ceremony on the Saturday 
before Easter 
foli - insanity or madness inflicted 
on s.o. who has stolen a Mardi 
Gras group's funds 
~ kôn Mardi Gras mask 
containing as many as seven horns 
~ mele ak bon mas, bon ~ ak 
move - all sorts of people (good 
and bad) 
~ sal very informal low-class 
Mardi Gras group 
papa - Mardi Gras mask or %ç 
sanble yon - to look ridiculous 
madigrati, madigridi, madigriji 
see majigridi 
Madisonn Eskwè Gadennpwpn 
Madison Square Garden (New 
York City) 
madivin n. lesbianism 
madivinèz, ladivinèz, madivin, 
madivinèg, madi\inès/n. lesbian 
madjigridji see majigridi 
madjok see maldjok 
madjoman! interj. the end! (term 
used in Petwo chants) 
Madlèn f.prop.n. Madeleine 
madlenn, madlèn n. var. of green 
snake; var. of plant 
madmwazèl, matmwazèl f.n. young 
lady; miss (title); primary school 
teacher 
Madoche prop.n. [Bible] Mordecai 
madoda n. male homosexual 
(passive role), "bottom"; lesbian 
madodo n. male homosexual 
(insertive role), "top" 
madoken n. earthen cooking-pot 
madolo adj. heavy, oppressive, 
grievous 
madou n. lie, falsehood; object 
placed at bottom of container to 
falsify volume of contents; adj. 
unrealistic, untrustworthy 
madoubout adj. demanding, 
exacting, difficult 
madougou(n) n. hydrocele (med.); 
var. of yam 
madouka n. assistant to a Voodoo 
priest 
madoulè n. abused or neglected 
person; adj. battered, dilapidated; 
584 
madras - magnolya 
ugly, misshapen 
sèkèy ~ cheap or badly built coffin 
or object 
madras, madra n. kerchief, scarf; 
madras, light cotton fabric; var. of plant blight 
madre adj. sly, cunning, crafty; 
skillful; robust, well-built, strong; 
v. to beat, beat up 
Madrid prop.n. Madrid (Spain) 
madrinay, madrilay n. beating up, 
roughing up, mistreatment 
madrinen v. to beat up, rough up, 
mistreat 
madriye n. (wooden) beam; v. to 
hold up, strengthen, reinforce 
madyôk see maldjok 
Madyou (Toma) prop.n. Madiou 
(Thomas) - Haitian historian, 
author of a multi-volume Histoire 
d'Haïti ( 1814-1884) 
mafi f.n. (my) daughter, girl (used 
only in direct address) 
maflore, maflori n. mature woman 
with very sporadic or no 
menstruation; v. to be amenorrheic 
Mafran (fo) prop.n. Fort Marfranc 
(fortress ruins near Jérémie, Dept. 
Grand'Anse) 
Mafran, Grannrivyè prop.n. 
Marfranc, Grande-Rivière (7th 
communal section of Jérémie, 
Dept. Grand'Anse) 
Mafwendeng see Vlengbendeng 
mafweze, mafreze, mafrezi, 
mafrize, mafwezi, môfreze, 
môfrize, mofweze, mofwezi adj. 
physically retarded, puny, stunted, 
misshapen; wretched, miserable; v. 
to handicap, disadvantage, retard 
mafya n. mafia; shady character, sly 
fellow; f.n. slut 
585 
mafyolo n. criminal dealings, 
organized crime 
mafyoso, mafyozo n. mafioso, 
member of the Mafia 
magarèt n. var. of mango 
Magarètf.prop.n. Margaret 
magarin n. margarine 
magazen n. store, shop; warehouse, 
depot; large trunk (for storage); fly 
(of trousers) 
gran ~ department store 
Magazen Leta (ri) rue du 
Magasin de l'Etat (downtown 
PaP) 
~ zo bag of bones, walking 
skeleton, very skinny person 
magazin n. magazine (publication; 
of gun) 
magazinen, magazine v. to go 
shopping 
magazinye n. warehouse guard 
magba n. var. of hair style 
Magdala f.prop.n. [Bible] 
Magdalene 
magerit, magrit n. var. of shrub; 
daisy (bot.) 
Other var. of daisy: ~ blan, ~ ble 
Magerit, Magrit f.prop.n. 
Marguerite, Margaret 
magi n. soup cube, bouillon cube 
Magi f.prop.n. Maggy, nickname for 
Magarèt 
Maglwa (Pol Ejèn/Ejenn) 
("Kanson Fè") prop.n. Magloire 
(Paul-Eugène) - president of Haiti, 
1950-1956 
Maglwa Anbwaz (avni) prop.n. 
avenue Magloire Ambroise 
(between Champs-de-Mars and 
Carrefour-Feuilles, PaP) 
magnezyôm see mayezyôm 
magnolya n. magnolia (tree) 
mago - majistra 
mago, magogo, magou n. wad (of 
money) 
Mago prop.n. Margot (1st 
communal section of Le Borgne, 
Dept. North; 8th communal 
section of Pilate, Dept. North); 
f.prop.n. nickname for Magerit; 
see Pomago 
magotonm n. scarecrow (cf. jwif) 
magou see mago; makou 
magouj see magouy 
magoul, magoulèt n. mug, kisser, 
face; double chin 
magouy, magouj, magouyaj, 
magouyay n. corruption, graft, 
schemes, intrigues; deceit, fraud, 
trickery, cheating; enigma, 
mystery; adj. corrupt, fraudulent, 
dishonest 
fè ~ to scheme, contrive 
magouya lanmè n. bullhead (fish) 
magouyan see mangouyan 
magouyayman adv. deceitfully, 
fraudulently 
magouye v. to swindle, defraud; to 
scheme, intrigue, conspire 
magouyè magouyèz f.n. grafter, 
crooked politician, schemer 
magre see maigre 
magregè n. specially tailored shirt; 
adj. disparate, ill-assorted, badly 
matched; see Makgrego 
an ~ confused, entangled 
magrekô adj. uncompromising, 
unyielding; complex, complicated 
magrigri n. magic love potion 
(Voodoo); see grigri 
magrit n. butterflyfish; see magerit 
Magrit, Magerit f.prop.n. Margaret, 
Marguerite 
Magwa prop.n. Magua (kingdom of 
pre-Columbian Haiti) 
Magwana prop.n. Maguana 
(kingdom of pre-Columbian Haiti) maho see mawo 
maj n. margin, border, edge; wise 
man (Bible); (the) Magi; (profit) 
margin (finances) 
majè adj. greater, major; of age; 
mature, adult; n. major (scale etc. 
in music); slacker, shirker (at a 
konbit esp.); see lemajè 
- gason strong guy 
majeste n. majesty 
maji n./adj. magic; n. evil magic, 
witchcraft; Voodoo dances during 
preparation of magic charms 
fè ~ to practice witchcraft 
retire - to dispel a Voodoo curse 
majigridi, jigridi, madigrati, 
madigridi, madigriji, 
madjigridji n. scribbling, 
doodling; terrible handwriting; 
graffiti; clowning around; 
nonsense, mess; caricature; 
jokester, clown; v. to scribble, 
doodle 
majik adj. magic(al), mystical 
majinalizasyon n. marginalization, 
shunting aside 
majinalize v. [Fr.] to marginalize, 
edge out, place on the fringes 
majis see majistra 
majiskil n./adj. capital (letter), 
uppercase (letter) 
majistra, majis n. mayor; municipal 
council; member of municipal 
council; judge, magistrate; your 
honor (title) 
- adjwen (one of two) deputy 
mayor(s) (in each commune) 
premye ~ prensipal head 
mayor (in addition to two deputy 
mayors) 
majistral - makakri 
majistral adj. masterful, brilliant 
majistrati n. magistracy, 
magistrature 
majisyen n. magician; sorcerer 
majo n. major (milit.); longterm 
prisoner (who lords it over fellow 
prisoners); see kann; mayol 
- dom chief of a batèy (q.v.) 
~ grenn scrotum and testicles 
- jon drum major, baton twirler; 
headman, head honcho, big cheese 
- kôk greater Antillean bullfinch 
(bird) 
- kôn blower of conch (shell) to 
remind people of konbit 
- rara leader of a bann rara 
(q.v) 
~ tanbou (head) drummer 
Majojo f.prop.n. nickname for 
Major! 
majôl, majo see mayol 
majolèn, majolenn n. maijoram 
(mint herb); double chin; dewlap 
majorai n. oxcart driver; cattle 
keeper 
majore v. to increase (price); to 
overcharge 
majorèt f.n. drum majorette 
Majori f.prop.n. Maijorie 
majorité, lamajorite n. majority; cf. 
pifô 
majorité adj. (in the) majority; 
pushy, self-assertive, obtrusive 
mak n. scar, mark, spot, bruise; 
imprint, trace, track; (commercial) 
brand, make; trademark; feature; 
scorecard; portion; size, cut; 
tattoo; var. dump truck (from 
Mach); adj. valuable 
kout - (commercial) brand, make 
~ anprent fingerprint(s); imprint 
~ fabrik brand; trademark; 
hallmark; (distinctive) 
characteristic 
~ kèsyon question mark 
~ men handprint 
~ pye footprint 
~ soulye shoeprint 
Mak prop.n. Mark 
makab adj. macabre, gruesome 
Makabe prop.n. [Apocrypha] 
Maccabeus; Maccabees 
makabi, makanbi n. bonefish; false 
sandalwood tree, hog plum tree 
makadanm n. macadam, pavement 
makaj see marekay 
Makajou (ri) prop.n. rue Macajoux 
(downtown PaP) 
makak n. monkey, ape; club, stick, 
bat; clubbing, beating, caning, 
flogging; sloppy dresser, poor 
dresser; adj. ridiculous, senseless, 
foolish, crazy 
anba ~ to be in trouble; to receive 
a beating 
fè ~ to clown around, act stupidly, 
make a monkey of oneself; to 
make faces 
gwo ~ gorilla 
je ~ beating, volley of blows 
ke ~ tough critter 
ke - la la pi rèd we're in there 
solid(ly), things are better than 
ever 
~ sale fool, monkey 
mal ~ hangover 
pli - sound beating, thrashing 
vide - sou, woule anba - to beat 
harshly 
vye ~ old experienced hand 
makakre, makake v. to club, beat 
makakri n. foolishness, horseplay, 
monkeyshines; affectations, 
pretensions; exaggerated courtesy; 
587 
makalous - maki 
protective Voodoo charms 
fè ~ to clown around, act stupidly, 
make a monkey of oneself 
makalous f.n. soothsayer, seer; adj. 
thorny, difficult (magically); evil 
makan adj. outstanding, significant, 
striking 
makanba adj. shapeless; misshapen, 
ugly 
makanbi see makabi 
makanda n. poison; evil Voodoo 
charm; awkward ugly person; 
same as lougawou (q.v.) 
makandal n. poison; poisoner; 
magician; charm, amulet 
(Voodoo); secret society of 
evildoers or member of same 
Makandal (Franswa) prop.n. 
Macandal (François) - pre-
Revolutionary leader against 
slavery, burned alive 1758; 
disadvantaged area of Jérémie 
Makariprop.n. Macary (3rd 
communal section of Marigot, 
Dept. South-East) 
Makasya (larivyè) prop.n. Macacia 
River (Dept. Center and 
Dominican Republic) 
makaw adj. miry, murky 
makawon adj. critical; complex, 
complicated; ugly; mean; vicious; 
fierce; severe; bad-tasting; awful, 
nasty, disgusting 
makawoni n. macaroni; noodle 
~ plat noodle 
makay see marekay 
Makaya: 
mon ~ Mount Macaya (2,347 
meters), Depts. Grand'Anse and 
South 
pak - Macaya National Park (42 
kilometers northwest of Les 
Cayes, Dept. South) 
makaye adj. overcast, cloudy (sky) 
Makdonal, Makdonnal (ga) 
prop.n. Macdonald station (former 
PaP railway station at Croix-cb 
Bossales market; also in Saim-
Marc) 
make v. to mark, be marked; to 
indicate; to notice; to write down, 
to label; to nick, notch; to scratch, 
to stigmatize, blemish; to beat 
rhythm; to make life hard (for 
s.o.); to grapple (with), oppose 
(s.o.) (sports); to score pointas); lo 
spot (menstrual blood); to tattoo; 
n. var. of freshwater fish 
~ (li) malviv to make life hard (for 
s.o.); to be indifferent (toward s.o.) 
~ pa to beat time (for marching 
soldiers); to keep in step 
~ pa an/sou plas, ~ lepa to mat 
time (without advancing) 
~ pwen/pyon to score points, 
make progress 
- san to forebode evil 
- (yon moun) to mark (for future 
retribution) 
makè n. highlighter, marking pea; 
marker, indicator; (computer) 
mouse 
makèt n. (scale) model, mock-up 
makèt, sipèmakèt n. grocery store, 
supermarket 
fè ~ to buy groceries 
maketin n. [Eng.] marketing, 
commercialization 
Makgrego prop.n. MacGregor 
(expensive make of shoes); adj. 
fancy, sophisticated; see magregè 
maki n. marquis, marquess 
pran - to go into hiding, take to 
the hills, flee 
588 
makiyaj - makout 
makiyaj, makiyay n. make-up, 
cosmetics 
makiye v. to apply make-up or 
cosmetics; to disguise; to 
camouflage; adj. disguised, 
camouflaged 
makiyon n. horse trainer; horse 
trader 
makiz n. frozen dessert of crackers, 
sugar, milk, butter etc. 
maklouklou, makouklou, 
makoukou, makoulou, 
malglouglou n. hydrocele (;med.); 
see klou 
makoklen n. self-sufficient 
bachelor; male homosexual 
makokô n. unripe plantain; 
worthless or disgusting person 
makomè, makom, makômè, 
makonmè see konmè 
gason ~ male homosexual 
makon, makonn n. bunch, group; 
bundle, cluster, sheaf; team, herd, 
flock (of animals) 
mare - li ak to team up with, ally 
oneself with 
pa - in batches, in bunches 
yon - a bunch of, many 
makônay, makônaj, makonnaj, 
makonnay n. entanglement, 
embroilment; intertwining, 
interlacing, connection 
makonen, makonnen v. to bunch 
together, tie in bunches, tie 
together; to join together; to be 
tied to, be connected with; to 
correspond to; to tangle, entangle; 
to interweave; to grapple (with), 
tangle (with); to meet by chance, 
run into; to lock horns (of a pair of 
steers); to hitch up, harness (to 
wagon etc.); to be intense (rain, 
cold etc.); adj. complicated, 
involved, messy; entangled; 
connected; inextricable 
~ kôt lonbrit li to be intimately 
connected, be intertwined 
~ trip to tie in, make hang 
together 
makonmè see makomè 
makonn, makonmè see makôn 
makonnay see makonay 
Makonnèl (Ômonn) prop.n. 
McConnell (Ormonde) - Northern 
Irish Protestant missionary, 
founder of system for writing 
Haitian language which (with 
changes) would eventually 
become officially accepted 
makonnen see makonen 
makos see dous makôs 
makot 72. var. of graft, transplant 
(plant; tissue) 
makotay n. var. of grafting or 
transplanting 
makou, magou, matou n. tomcat; 
thief, crook 
makoubi adj. crooked, twisted 
(fingers etc.); coarse, crude, vulgar 
bèt - beast of burden 
makouklou, makoukou, makoulou 
see maklouklou 
makousiyen n. disreputable Voodoo 
priest 
makout n. straw bag with shoulder 
strap [usu. carried by a man; a 
woman usu. carries an alfô]; 
saddle-bag; criminal; sh.form 
Tonton Makout; adj. 
disagreeable; suspect; dirty, low-
down (person) 
kwoke ~ li pi wo to get ahead in 
life, advance financially/socially/ 
politically 
589 
makout - mal 
kwoke ~ li twè wo to bite off 
more than one can chew 
~ lou influential Tonton Makout 
Tonton Makout bogeyman; 
familiar name for male member of 
the Duvalierist militia or VSN 
(Volontaires de la Sécurité 
Nationale); other names: milisyen, 
minisivil, minisyen, polis sivil, 
poto mitan; cf. Fiyèt Lalo 
makouti n. small straw bag with 
shoulder strap; (cf. makout) 
makoutik adj. brutal, pitiless, 
merciless 
makoutis n. "macoutism" (State 
violence, corruption, arbitrary 
political rule); adj. "macoutist" 
makouto adj. pertaining to the 
Tonton Makout (see makout) 
makrame n. macramé 
makrèl n. "hot pillow" hotel, hotel 
serving as brothel; procuress, go-
between; pimp; mackerel 
ti ~ guy, fellow 
makrèy, krèy: 
yon - a bunch of, a lot of 
makriyo n. mackerel 
Maks prop.n. Max; Marx 
maksim n. maxim 
maksimize, maksimalize v. [Fr.] to 
maximize 
maksimom n./adj. maximum 
maksis n./adj. Marxist; n. Marxism 
Makwaf prop.n. Mare-à-Coiffe (5th 
communal section of Aquin, Dept. 
South) 
makwali, makwal n. crane (bird); 
bad-looking person; adj. cheap, 
junky, ugly; awkward, clumsy; 
unkempt; deformed, misshapen 
~ kalibofobo clod, oaf, klutz 
makwèt, makwe: 
bonbon ~ var. of cookie 
makwo n. pimp; mackerel; adj. n ^ 
makwowev n. microwave oven 
makyavèl, makyavelik, matchavel 
matchavelik, matyavèl, 
matyavelik adj. Machiavellian, 
cunning, diabolic 
Makyavèl prop.n. Machiavelli 
mal n. evil; harm, hurt; wrong; 
wrong-doing; sickness, illness; 
ache, pain; trunk, footlocker, large 
suitcase; male; adj. bad; wrong; 
sick, in bad shape; male; huge, 
immense; clumsy, awkward; afv. 
badly, poorly, improperly; 
wrongly; contr. mwen + ale 
an ~ with malice, maliciously 
by en ak - right and wrong 
fè ~ to hurt, harm, injure; to ache, 
hurt; to be sore; to put a spell on, 
bewitch 
fè tèt li ~ to harm oneself; to 
attempt suicide; to commit suicide 
kay - "hot-pillow hotel" (where 
rooms are rented by the hour for 
amorous pursuits) 
~ an pi ~ from bad to worse, 
worse and worse 
- an pwen in a bad way, sick 
~ avyon air sickness 
~ chabon anthrax 
- chat thief, crook 
- damou lovesickness 
~ dan toothache 
- demè seasickness 
~ do backache 
- fanm lesbian; cf. madivinèz 
~ goj sore throat 
- j we not to play one's cards right 
not to play it smart 
- kamyon car sickness, motion 
sickness 
590 
mal - maladi 
- kou byen for better or for 
worse, whatever the situation 
<- kou mizè in spite of extreme 
poverty ~Ianmè seasickness 
- machin car sickness, motion 
sickness 
- machwè, ~ machwa lockjaw, 
tetanus 
- makak hangover 
- pou difficult to, hard to, 
embarrassing to, reluctant to; to 
have a hard time (doing s.thg.) 
-pou fini to drag on, seem endless 
- pou mizè for better or for 
worse, whatever the situation 
- pou wont see malpouwont 
- tèt headache 
~ zen large storage trunk (obs.) 
nan ~ nan - nèt to go from bad to 
worse 
pa pi - (pase sa) not too bad (at all) 
pale (yon moun) - to speak ill (of 
s.o.), slander 
pi ~ worse 
pi ~ an pi ~ from bad to worse, 
worse and worse 
pi ~ nèt worst 
pran li - to misunderstand s.thg.; 
to take s.thg. badly 
ti ~ see timal 
malabou n. mud puddle 
Malachiprop.n. [Bible] Malachi 
malachit n. malachite (copper ore) 
malad adj. sick, ill, ailing, diseased; 
sore; obsessed; n. sore, wound, 
injury; sick person, patient; invalid 
- kouche sick in bed, bedridden 
~ nan mantal mental incapacity 
~ pou mouri to be dying 
~ rantre sôti outpatient 
mwen fè li ~ I tricked him/her, I 
bested him/her, I got him/her 
maladi n. sickness, ailment, illness, 
disease 
bay ~ to infect 
gwo ~ malignancy 
- akoutimans chimik chemical 
dependency, drug habit 
~ anfle kwashiorkor 
~ atrapan infectious/ 
communicable disease 
~ Bondye natural sickness (as 
opposed to supernatural) 
~ bon papa over-reliance on 
family or connections; over-
protectionism 
~ chabon anthrax 
- chèch pellagra 
~ djondjon fungal infection 
- doktè sickness which can 
supposedly be cured by Western 
medicine; same as ~ Bondye 
~ dwèt long tuberculosis 
- fi gynecology, ob/gyn 
~ fini anwo de pye tuberculosis 
- fwa cirrhosis of the liver 
~ gate vanyan! Don't worry -
you'll get better soon! 
- gwo grenn hydrocele 
- gwo kou goiter 
- gwo vant kwashiorkor 
~ imajinè psychosomatic sickness 
- je eye problem(s); 
ophthalmology 
- jennès venereal disease 
- kat ach see ach 
- kè heart trouble; cardiology 
- kenhenk, - kenkenk 
tuberculosis; cf. kahink kahank 
~ kimen epilepsy 
- k6 anfle kwashiorkor 
- kè chèch marasmus 
591 
maladi - malangi 
~ kokobe polio 
~ ko rèd tetanus 
~ kriz fit, seizure 
~ (la)tranblad cerebral palsy; 
trembling; convulsions 
~ lèzom, ~ majik, - moun, ~ 
satan sickness caused by ill-will 
of another person or by a group of 
evildoers 
~ lwa supernatural sickness 
~ machwè (sere) lockjaw, tetanus 
~ majik see ~ lèzom 
~ mal manje, ~ mal nouri 
malnutrition, malnourishment 
~ malouk sickness caused by evil 
spirit (Voodoo) 
~ manke manje malnutrition 
~ mo sickness caused by spirit of 
dead person 
~ mo timoun sickness caused by 
spirit of dead child 
~ moun see ~ lèzom 
~ Moyiz hemorrhoids 
~ natirèl, ~ peyi same as ~ 
Bondye 
~ nè nervous disorder 
~ pa tete tetanus 
- paralezi sèvo cerebral palsy 
~ pèdi/pèt memwa Alzheimer's 
disease 
~ po dermatology 
~ poumon, - pwatrin, ~ 
pwatrinè, ~ pye chèch, ~ san 
fanmi tuberculosis 
~ satan see ~ lèzom 
~ sik diabetes 
~ tebe tuberculosis 
~ tèt anfle meningitis 
- tèt siwo AIDS (cf. SIDA) 
~ tèt vire dizziness, vertigo 
~ ti jarèt, - ti kay tuberculosis 
~ timoun pediatrics 
~ timoun anfle kwashiorkor 
~ tonbe epilepsy 
- touse tuberculosis 
~ tranble Parkinson's disease 
move - tuberculosis; malignancy; 
contagious or fatal disease 
pase ~ to have been sick 
maladif adj. sickly, chronically ill 
maladrès n. clumsiness, 
awkwardness; tactlessness 
maladwa(t) adj. awkward, clumsy 
maladwatman adv. awkwardly, 
clumsily 
malagèt n. allspice 
malagoch adj. awkward, clumsy 
malaka, maraka n. maraca (music) 
malaki adj. ill-gotten 
malakse v. to mix (cement) 
malaksè n. cement mixer; (kitchen) 
mixer 
malalèz n. discomfort; adj. ill at 
ease, uncomfortable 
malanbo n. cheaply-made or ill-
fitting pair of pants 
malandouran, malandiran adj. 
short-tempered; violent; crude, ill-
bred; listless, apathetic 
malandren, malendren n. jerk, 
trash, bum, good-for-nothing, 
SOB 
malanga n. malanga, taro, dasheen; 
adj. inseparable 
fèy - paper (fam.) 
Var.: - blan(ch), - fe, - grate,-
jon, - legliz, - mawon, -
mazonbèl, ~ wouj 
Malanga prop.n. Malanga (22nd 
communal section of Carrefour, 
Dept. West) 
malangi v. to stunt the growth of; to 
become stunted; adj. sickly, run-
down 
malantandi - malendren 
malantandi n. misunderstanding 
malapri adj. discourteous; crude 
malarya n. malaria 
Malatchon see Malatyon 
malatchong, malatchonn, 
malatyon(g), malatyonn(g), 
malatyoun n. lucky number 
(lottery); insecticide; junk, 
worthless object; adj. fake, phony, 
false, rigged, illusive, deceptive, 
unreal, misleading 
Malatyon, Malatchon prop.n. 
Malathion (commercial 
insecticide) 
Malawi prop.n. Malawi 
malbouch n. perlèche, crack or sore 
at comer of mouth 
malbourik n. jackass, male donkey; 
adj. stupid; stubborn 
malchabon n. anthrax 
malchans n. bad luck; adv. 
unfortunately, unluckily 
jete ~ sou to put a curse/hex on 
malchanse adj. unlucky 
maldamou n. lovesickness 
maldan n. toothache 
maldanfan(s) n. labor (pains); adj. 
in bad shape; see anmaldanfan 
maldemè n. seasickness 
maldevlope v. to be stunted; adj. 
underdeveloped 
maldezo n. rheumatism 
Maldiv (zile) prop.n. Maldives, 
Maldive Islands 
maldjôk, madjôk, madyok, 
maldyôk n. evil spell, evil eye, 
hex 
chemiz % rad - shirt or clothing 
designed to ward off evil spirits 
grenn ~ seed (carried on one's 
person) for protection against evil 
spirits 
kolye ~ necklace worn for 
protection against evil spirits; 
strings of beads etc. attached to 
outside of an ason (q.v.) 
maldjoke, maldyôke v. to hex, 
bewitch, cast a spell over; to cast/ 
give the evil eye 
maldo n. backache 
maldon n. misdeal; 
misunderstanding; bad luck, 
misfortune; bad season for crops; 
adj. unlucky 
maldyôk see maldjok 
maldyôke see maldjoke 
malè n. misfortune, calamity, woe, 
disaster; accident, mishap 
fè yon ~ sou to injure (s.o.) 
severely 
~ pa (konn) tonbe sou pyebwa/ 
wôch come what may 
- pa mal with luck, by chance, 
"one never knows" 
- pandye threat, imminent/ 
impending danger 
maledike see maledve 
malediksyon n. curse, hex, jinx 
lage/jete - sou to curse, hex, jinx 
malediksyonnen v. to curse, put a 
hex on, jinx 
maledve, maledike, malelve adj. 
ill-bred, rude, impolite, ill-
mannered, insolent, impertinent; 
crude 
malefik adj. malevolent, evil 
malefis n. evil spell; sorcery 
malelve see maledve 
malen adj. cunning, sly, wily, 
shrewd; clever; n. demon, devil; 
Satan 
Malèn f.prop.n. Marlene 
malenchô see malètchô 
malendren see malandren 
593 
malenfome - malkadi 
malenfôme adj. misinformed 
maleng, maling n. (infected) sore, 
(ulcerating weeping) lesion 
~ kabann bed sore 
malenge adj. covered with sores 
malentansyone adj. ill-willed, 
malicious, spiteful, with evil intent 
malentèpretasyon n. 
misinterpretation 
malentèprete v. to misinterprete 
malentespri adj. diabolic, evil; n. 
evil spirit 
moute chwal ~ to do things the 
wrong way, never do things right 
malere adj. poor, unfortunate, 
destitute, indigent; n. poor or 
unfortunate man; peasant without 
land 
~ zafè pa boil down-and-outer 
malerèz, malèrèz f.n. poor woman, 
unfortunate woman 
malerezman, malrezman adv. 
unfortunately 
malesite see malsite 
malèt n. suitcase, luggage; 
footlocker, trunk 
fè ~ to pack one's suitcase 
malèz n. discomfort, uneasiness 
maleze adj. difficult, troublesome, 
inconvenient 
Maleziprop.n. Malaysia 
malfektè, malfèktè, malfetè n. 
lawbreaker, evildoer, wrongdoer, 
criminal 
malfèt adj. badly made; deformed, 
misshapen 
malfezan n. dirty trick; evildoer, 
culprit; adj. wicked, bad, harmful; 
naughty, mischievous 
fè ~ to commit evil 
malfezans n. dirty trick; witchcraft, 
sorcery 
malfini «.hawk; exploiter;^;, 
predatory; v. to end badly (c/.^ 
mal) 
gwo - savann marsh hawk 
~ karanklou turkey vulture 
- ke wouj West Indian redtailed 
hawk 
- lanmè osprey, fish hawk; 
spotted eagly ray (fish) 
~ mouche Hispaniolan sharp-
shinned hawk 
ti - savann Ridgway's hawk 
malfomasyon n. malformation 
malfome adj. deformed, misshapen 
malfonksyon n. malfunction 
malfouti adj. badly dressed, shabby; 
ugly, misshapen; poorly made;», 
wretch, contemptible person 
malfwendeng n. rascal, scoundrel 
(usu. semi-humorous) 
Malgach prop, n./adj. Malagasy, 
Madagascan 
Repiblik - Malagasy Republic 
malglouglou see maklouklou 
malgoj n. sore throat 
maigre, magre prep, in spite of, 
despite (the fact that), though; 
conj. although 
~ sa yet, nevertheless 
Mali prop.n. Mali 
malikong n. male homosexual; adj. 
fake, phony 
malimba, malinba see marimboula 
maling see maleng 
malis n. cunning, craftiness, slyness; 
malice; shrewd or c u n n i n g person; 
var. of plantain; see Timalis 
malisyos adj. evil; crafty, sly 
maljere v. to mismanage 
maljije v. to misjudge 
malkadi n. epilepsy; seizure 
resembling epilepsy 
594 
malkalkile - malpouwont 
kriz -, kriz tonbe epileptic fit/ 
seizure 
tonbe ~ to have an epileptic fit 
malkalkile v. to miscalculate 
malkondwi v. to mistreat 
malkonprann v. to misunderstand 
malkonpreyansyon n. 
misunderstanding 
malkontan adj. unhappy 
malkontwole v. to miscount 
malmachwè, malmachwa n. 
lockjaw, tetanus 
malmakak n. hangover 
an - sickly, in bad shape 
malman adv. not so well, rather 
badly, poorly, barely 
malmanje v. to eat poorly; n. 
malnutrition; adj. malnourished, 
undernourished 
malmaske m. person in Mardi Gras 
costume; clown, fool 
malmennay, malmennaj n. beating 
up, roughing up, abusing, 
mistreating 
malmennen v. to beat up, rough up, 
abuse, mistreat 
malmouton n. mumps 
malniri, malnitri see malnouri 
malnitrisyon n. malnutrition 
malnouri, malniri, malnitri v. to 
malnourish, undernourish; adj. 
malnourished, undernourished 
maloblijan adj. lazy, shiftless, 
unreliable 
malocho adj. gruff, boorish, loutish 
malodan n. toothache 
maloje see malozye 
malokipe adj. messy, sloppy, 
neglected 
malonèt, malonnèt, adj. dishonest, 
unscrupulous; disloyal 
fè ~ to rebuff, refuse to do s.o. a 
favor; to rebuke, reproach; to put 
down, deflate 
malonètman, malonnètman adv. 
dishonestly, fraudulently; rudely, 
impolitely 
malonmen n. euphorbia (cactus-like 
plant) 
malonnèkte, malonnekte, 
malonnètete n. rudeness, affront 
malonnèt see malonèt 
malonnètete see malonnèkte 
malonnètman see malonètman 
malore see vamalore 
malôtchô, malencho adj. unruly, 
rebellious; cf. entchô 
malotèt see maltèt 
malouk adj. repulsive, ugly, 
disgusting; deplorable; bad, 
serious, grave; quite difficult, 
tough; complex, complicated; 
difficult, unapproachable (person); 
coarse, harsh; badly made, sloppy, 
badly done 
malounvi see ayovi 
Malouyin see Malwin 
malozye, maloje, malzye n. 
(epidemic hemorrhagic) 
conjunctivitis, pinkeye; var. of 
poultry disease 
malpalan adj. disparaging, 
backbiting; slanderous; n. 
slanderer 
malpas n. postpartum tetanus; bad 
state of affairs, dangerous 
situation 
Malpas prop.n. Malpasse (east of 
Croix-des-Bouquets, Dept. West) 
~/Jimani important border 
crossing 
malpeye v. to underpay 
malpopyete see malpwôpte 
malpouwont adj. shameful; 
595 
malpwi - mamit 
shameless, unscrupulous, 
unethical; n. shameless person 
malpwi adj. badly brought up 
malpwononse v. to mispronounce 
malpwop n. uncleanliness; 
shameless person; adj. messy, 
sloppy, dirty, unclean; cowardly; 
immoral; promiscuous 
malpwopte, malpopyete, 
malpwoprete n. filth, dirt; 
excrement; immorality 
malreprezante v. to misrepresent 
malrezman see malerezman 
malsen, malzen adj. unhealthy, 
unwholesome 
malsite, malesite n. misery, abject 
poverty; squalor; misfortune, 
deprivation 
malsoti v. to mess up, foul up 
(project, undertaking etc.); adj. 
deformed, sickly 
malswen n. sickly person; careless 
person; ugly or slovenly man; 
dolphin, porpoise 
Malt prop.n. Malta 
Malta prop.n. Malta (popular malt-
based drink) 
maltaye adj. badly-made, badly 
resolved; ill-conceived 
kont ~ see kontmaltaye 
maltcho n. cruel evil person 
Maltè prop.n./adj., Maltèz f.prop.n. 
Maltese; prop.n. Maltese (dog) 
maltèt, malotèt n. headache 
maltretans n. mistreatment 
maltrete v. to abuse, mistreat, treat 
roughly, manhandle 
malvant n. stomach ache 
malvèsasyon n. dishonest act, 
embezzlement, graft 
malvèsite n. adversity, misfortune, 
misery 
malveyan, malvèyan adj. wicked, 
malevolent; ill-willed, spiteful; n, 
rascal, scoundrel 
fè (yon moun) - to harm (s.o.) 
malveyans, malveyansite n. ill will. 
spite; malevolence, wickedness 
malvi adj. incurable 
malvini adj. puny, stunted; 
underdeveloped, undernourished 
~ sou to take a wrong approach to 
malviv n. ill will, hostility, enmity 
malvize v. to aim poorly 
Malwin, Faklann, Malouyin 
prop.n. Falkland Islands 
Malyen prop.n./adj., Malyèn 
f.prop.n. Malian 
malzen see malsen 
malzôrèy n. earache; adj. weak, 
sickly (animal); shoddy, run-down 
malzye see malozye 
mama see manman 
mamay see maymay 
mamazèlfin. primary schoolteacher 
(pej•) 
mamè, mabônmè [Fr.] n. reverend 
mother (ecc.) 
Mamelad, Mamlad prop.n. 
Marmelade (Dept. Artibonite) 
chenn ~ Marmelade mountain 
range (Depts. Artibonite and 
North) 
Mameladè, Mameladyen, 
Mamladè prop.nMameladèz, 
Mameladyèn, Mamladèz 
f.prop.n. inhabitant of Marmelade 
(Dept. Artibonite) 
mamifè, manmifè n. mammal; adj. 
mammalian 
mamit, manmit n. tin can; tin-
canful (informal unit of measure); 
pot, kettle 
bay kout - to short-change, cheat 
596 
mamit - manche 
(when measuring) 
fo % bout - false or dishonest 
measurement; deception, deceit; 
dishonest, deceptive, misleading, 
sham 
gwo - ak tout tiyon full to 
overflowing 
nan bon (jan) ti ~ in a neat little 
package; neatly, rightly, correctly; 
every last detail; from a reliable 
source 
mamlad n. marmalade 
Mamlad see Mamelad 
Mamladè, Mamladèz see 
Mameladè, Mameladèz 
mamogram n. mammogram; cf. 
egzamen tete 
Mamonprop.n. Mamont (7th 
communal section of Saint-
Michel-de-l'Attalaye, Dept. 
Artibonite); Marmont (2nd 
communal section of Hinche, 
Dept. Center) 
mamôte, mamonen, mamonnen, 
manmôte v. to mumble, mutter; to 
complain 
mamye n. pond apple tree, monkey 
apple tree, corkwood tree 
man title Mrs., Ms. 
~ sara see madansara 
man see lamàn 
manadjè, manajè n. [Eng.] manager 
Managwa prop.n. Managua 
(Nicaragua) 
Manaseprop.n. [Bible] Manasseh 
Manatann, Mannatann, 
Mannhatann prop.n. Manhattan 
(New York City) 
manati n. manatee 
manb see manm 
manba n. peanut butter; var. of dice 
game 
~ pike/pimante spicy peanut 
butter 
manbo f.n. Voodoo priestess/healer/ 
seer 
demachè koutye ~ assistant 
who finds clients for a ~ for paid 
consultations 
~ achte uninspired and 
uninspiring Voodoo priestess 
~ kay assistant if.) to a Voodoo 
priest 
manbre adj. strong, robust, hefty, 
strapping; forceful; v. to 
strengthen, sustain 
manch n. handle; jack-handle (for 
changing tire); stick, pole; sleeve; 
arm (of chair); round (of voting) 
kase ~ to roll up one's sleeves 
kenbe nan ~ to control, dominate 
koupe ~ to shorten a sleeve 
- linèt temples (of eyeglasses) 
~ long extensive, far-reaching, 
long-range 
~ pilon pestle 
~ pip pipe stem 
~ pot doorknob, door handle 
- raglan raglan sleeves (without 
shoulder seams - sleaves going 
right up to neck) 
~ telefôn telephone receiver 
- vit window handle 
twou nan ~ clever, sly, crafty 
manche, anmanche, manchte v. to 
put a handle on; to grab (by the 
handle); to cite, evoke; to pick up 
(telephone receiver, musical 
instrument etc.); to have an 
erection; adj. armed and ready 
byen ~ to be well-hung, have a 
large penis 
- (bwa) to seize, take, grab, pick 
up; to put on (as an affectation) 
597 
manchèt - mande 
- plim li to take up one's pen, 
write 
- ponyèt li to roll up one's sleeves 
and get to work 
manchèt n. machete; (newspaper) 
headline; cuff; long narrow loaf of 
bread; penis; sand tilefish; Atlantic 
cutlass fish; var. of mango 
an grann ~ in headlines; in big 
letters 
bôs bout ~ clumsy inexpert 
workman 
gwo ~ well hung, well endowed 
(penis) 
lage ~ sou to hack (away) at, slash 
at 
~ digo sickle, pruning knife 
~ jaden machete 
- koulin (from "Collin's" 
trademark) long narrow machete 
nan ~ to have one's work cut out 
for one 
rale tire ~ to start fighting 
ti ~ var. of alcoholic drink 
mancho n. one-armed person; king/ 
emperor penguin 
manchon n. mantle (for gas or 
Coleman lamp); bicycle handlebar 
grip(s) 
manchte see m+anche 
manda n. mandate, mission; term of 
office; money order 
bay - to appoint, commission 
~ damne subpoena (jur.) 
~ darè, - arestasyon arrest 
warrant 
~ depo remand (jur.) 
~ konparisyon notice to appear 
(jur.) 
mete ~ dèyè, mete - deyè to issue 
an arrest warrant 
manda, mandadarè, manda 
arestasyon n. arrest warrant; 
summons 
mandaren n. mandarin, member of 
elite (pej)\ Mandarin Chinese 
(Jang.) 
mandarin n. tangerine 
mandate v. to authorize, empower 
mandaté n. authorized agent; 
political representative; local 
political party organizer 
mande v. to ask, request; to ask for, 
to beg; to need, require; to 
demand; to ask for s.o.'s hand 
(engagement, marriage); refl. to 
wonder 
li ~ pou li fou just about to go 
crazy 
~ anpil ak bon moso to be asking 
for an awful lot 
~ anraje to be furious, have a 
temper tantrum; to drive (s.o.) 
crazy 
~ Bondye padon! God forbid! 
~ charité to beg 
- chita to require reflection; to 
need a little rest 
- eskiz to apologize 
- konsèy to consult, ask advice 
- kont to ask for an accounting or 
explanation 
- lacharite to beg 
~ moun to beg - pa li to ask for one's share 
- padon to apologize, ask 
forgiveness 
- padon papa to cry uncle, admit 
defeat 
- ponpe to be fit to be tied, be 
quite upset - pou to really want (to do s.thg.) 
- tèt li to wonder 
- wèmô rage, fury 
598 
mande - mango 
- yon moun sa li manje pa - li sa 
li pote watch out for this person, 
this is a dangerous person 
pa vin - sa (yon moun) pote pou 
vann not to pay any attention to 
(s.o.) 
tonbe nan ~ to be reduced to 
begging 
Wfandeng prop.n. Mandingo 
mandiran see mandyan 
mandisite, mandyansite n. begging; 
misery, abject poverty 
mandiyan see mandyan 
mandjan see mandyan 
mandjannen see mandyannen 
mando: 
ti ~ meaningless refrain 
mandolin n. mandolin 
Mandou prop.n. Mandou (4th 
communal section of Anse-
d'Hainault, Dept. Grand'Anse) 
mandouran adj. inquisitive, curious 
mandrago n. mandrake (bot.) 
mandreng: 
an ~ shabby, torn 
mandrinen v. to beat up; to crush, 
smash 
mandyan, mandiran, mandiyan, 
mandjan n. beggar 
mandyannè mandyannèz f.n. 
moocher, scrounger 
mandyannen, mandjannen v. to 
beg for, solicit 
mandyansite see mandisite 
Manèg (rivyè) prop.n. Manègue 
River (near Cabaret, Dept. West) 
manèj n. intrigue, trick 
manèt, mannèt n. lever 
~ fren brake lever 
~ lavit/lav vit/waypè/ winchil 
windshield-wiper lever 
~ siyal turn-signal lever 
~ vitès gear lever 
manèv, mannèv n. unskilled 
laborer; (military) maneuver; trick, 
intrigue; action, workings, 
proceedings; v. to tinker with, try 
to find a way to do s.thg. 
fè ~ to perform unskilled labor; to 
tinker with 
gen ~ to be handy, useful (for 
fixing things) 
manevre, mannevre v. to maneuver 
manevriye n. maneuverer, schemer 
manezyôm n. magnesium 
manfou adj. totally uncaring, not to 
give a damn 
manfouben, manfoubinis adj. 
irresponsible, careless, negligent; 
undependable, unpredictable; 
carefree, happy-go-lucky; n. 
irresponsibility, carelessness, 
negligence 
mang n. white buttonwood tree; 
white mangrove tree; see mango 
~ blan white mangrove tree 
- chandèl red mangrove tree 
~ lan mè var. of tree 
~ nwa black mangrove tree 
- tifèy hopbush (shrub or small 
tree) 
~ wouj red mangrove tree 
manje ~ to live in misery, have it 
hard 
manganèz n. manganese 
mangliye, manglye n. mangrove 
tree 
~ wouj var. of mangrove tree 
mango, mang (N.) n. mango 
konfiti - chutney 
~ de dwèt unclean mango (fallen 
on filthy spot of ground) 
- (madan) Fransik largest and 
supposedly least stringy var. of 
SQQ 
mango - manifès 
mango in Haiti 
~ merilan var. of poor-quality 
mango 
~ miskèt totally rotten 
pa ~ sou lateras not an easy prey 
163 other var. of mango are: abriko 
dlo, adenn, akodo, ameli, answa, 
aryèl, aselwi, badjo, bata, batis, 
bèf, blan, bonbe, bonbon, 
bonkira, bosye, bourik, chalè, 
chèl, chilpiti, datis, dega, dèzil, 
di, difonsèl, disèl, dite, diven, dlo 
(woz), dôf, dosou, doudous, 
dyonn long, esmit, falfann, fanm 
blanch, fil, gèp, gra, grenn bèf, 
grenn kabrit, grenntoutou, 
gwopo, hadèn, hil, janmari, 
jennjan gwo po, jeremi/miskèt, 
jili, kachiman, kadril, kaka 
djab, kaka poul, kako sal, 
kakon, kalite, kan nan pwen, 
kanèl, kanf, kawot, kay, kent, 
klins, kôdôk, kolèt, kon, koton, 
kou boutèy, kountedi, kowosôl, 
labèl Dayiti, labich, lakansyèl, 
lakolo, lanmè, lanmidon, lanni, 
lapolis, lasann, lèt, madan Blan, 
madan Jan, magarèt, manchèt, 
manmye, mari woz, menvil, 
mesye Fransis, mi woz, mikayèl, 
mis, miska, monben, monseyè, 
moulât, mwèl, nèt, nimewo onz, 
ôdinè, pa tout djol, pak, panyôl, 
paskal, pè, penn sik, pit, po fen, 
po rèd, porye, potas, prin, 
remonsin, sann, sarafen, 
senmichèl, sik, sirèt, sôs, 
tèmantin, tete, tete tifi/jennfi, 
tibèk, tibilon, tiblak, tibozo, 
tibwason, tifi, tiglise, tijozèf, 
tiklo, tikouzin, tikoyo, tilodat, 
tilong, tiloran, timera, timichèl, 
tiporèd, tipwav, tisik, tisya, 
tiwoz, tiyeme, tomi atkins, 
toutou, trebanten, twè dom, 
tyoubèf, vedin, vouzèt, vyj^ \ 
vyolèt, won, wozali, yanm,^ 
yil, zabriko, ze, ze kôdenn^ 
zès, zonzon 
Mangonès (Albè) prop.n. Maug** 
(Albert) - Haitian architect, artw 
and sculptor (statue ofthe"% 
Marron" on the Champ-de-Man 
PaP), b. 1917 
mangonmen, mongonmen v. to 
complicate; to get worse; adj. 
complex, complicated, entan i^ 
involved, jumbled, messed up; 
critical, grave 
mangous, gous n. mongoose; # 
woulong, zagouti 
mangousa, mangousan n. idle 
woman; badly-dressed person; 
thick meat and bean soup; adj. 
inelegant, graceless 
mangouyan, magouyan n. 
mongoose; nuisance, pain in tk 
neck (person); adj. misshapen,^  
mangouyann adj. shimmying, 
wobbly (wheels) 
mangwen see marengwen 
mani, manni n. bad habit, mank; 
vice 
maniba see manouba 
Manich prop.n. Maniche (Dept 
South) 
Manichwa prop.n., Manichwaz 
f.prop.n. inhabitant of Maniche 
(Dept. South) 
manif see manifestasyon 
manifakti n. factory, plant {cf. 
faktori); manufacturing 
manifès n. manifesto; customs 
manifest 
600 
manifestait - manje 
manifestan n. demonstrator, 
protestor 
manifestasyon, manif, 
manifestasyon n. demonstration, 
rally, public protest; parade, 
display 
manifeste, manifèste v. to manifest, 
express; to demonstrate, protest, 
hold a political rally; to praise the 
Lord, be overpowered by the Holy 
Spirit 
manifoul n. intake manifold (mach.) 
Maniga (Lesli) prop.n. Manigat 
(Leslie)-president of Haiti, 1988 
manigans see mannigans 
maniganse see manniganse 
manigansè see mannigansè 
manigèt see mannigèt 
maniki n. manicure 
manimba, manimbila, 
manimboula see marimboula 
manipilab adj. manipulable, 
malleable 
manipilasyon n. manipulation 
manipilatè n. manipulator, 
maneuverer, schemer 
manipile, mannipile v. to 
manipulate, contrive, scheme 
maniskri n. manuscript 
manitou n. big shot, big wheel, 
kingpin 
manivèl, mannivèl, mannouvèl n. 
crank, handle 
Maniyprop.n. Manila (Philippines) 
manjab adj. edible 
manjan: 
an - while/by eating 
nanje n. food, nourishment; meal; 
feed (for animals); bait; feast; 
food and drink offering to Voodoo 
spirits; prey, victim; v. to eat; to 
gnaw at, chew up; to best, outdo, 
outstrip; to cover with caresses; to 
irritate, chafe; to wear down; to 
scuffle (shoes etc.); to eat at, 
perplex, torment; to eat away, 
erode, corrode; to mutilate; to kill, 
destroy (often by supernatural 
causes); to have (sexually); adj. 
worn, frayed 
bay - to feed; same as bay 
(tanbou) ~ 
bay ~ sou tèt li to be taken in, be 
fooled 
bay (tanbou) ~ to make a food 
and drink offering to Voodoo 
spirits 
fè ~ to cook; to raise crops or food 
fè ~ mizè to persecute, impose 
suffering 
gran ~ noonday meal 
gwo ~ (cooked) adult food; solid 
food 
lis ~ menu 
mal ~ malnutrition 
~ ak kout baton to club, beat 
- ak yon sèl grenn sèl to eat 
eagerly or voraciously 
- alèz sou to profit handsomely 
from 
- aswè supper, dinner, evening 
meal; to have supper 
~ avwa special unsalted food for 
dead (Voodoo) 
- bèt feed, fodder 
- bliye food forgotten to be served 
and which causes forgetfulness 
(cf. ~~ bliye) 
- boule burnt food; lousy food 
- brase mixed food offering to a 
variety of Voodoo spirits 
- chèch meal containing only 
carbohydrates - chen dog-eat-dog (attitude) 
601 
manje - manje 
- chodyè (cooked) adult food 
~ chwal gri to eat like a horse, 
make a pig of oneself 
~ dan to grind, gnash, or grit one's 
teeth 
~ depoze food offering to Voodoo 
spirits 
~ djak food offering to the 
Voodoo spirits consisting of 
various meats (except pork), 
poultry, fish and vegetables 
~ domi leftovers (food) 
~ dyô food and drink offering to 
Voodoo spirits involving no 
animal sacrifice 
~ fèy to engage in homosexual 
practices (male or female) 
~ gason aphrodisiac 
~ gate food poisoning 
~ Ginen, ~ Lafrik food and drink 
offering to Rada Voodoo spirits 
~ je (yon moun) to milk, bleed, 
drain, exploit 
~ kôd to have a roving eye, be 
inclined to stray (sexually) 
~ konbit meal served after a 
konbit (q.v) 
~ kont li to eat one's fill 
~ kouche leftovers (food) 
~ Lafrik same as ~ Ginen 
~ lanmè seafood 
- lemo food and drink offering to 
appease spirits of the dead 
(Voodoo) 
~ lesen Voodoo ceremony 
~ lezanj same as ~ djak 
~ lôbèy badly-cooked food 
~ lwa, - zanj ceremony of ritual 
food and drink offerings to 
nourish, pacify, thank one or more 
Voodoo spirits 
~ mang to find little or nothing to 
eat 
~~ bliye to be absent-minded; to 
be ungrateful; cf. ~ bliye 
~ marasa food dedicated to twins 
(Voodoo) 
- maten breakfast; to eat 
breakfast 
~ melanj ambiguity 
~ midi noonday meal, lunch 
~ mizè to suffer greatly 
- mo to slur (one's words) 
~ mo same as ~ lemo 
~ moun to kill through sorcery; 
fatal illness or accident sent by 
evil Voodoo spirits 
~ nan plizyè jaden to eat at 
different places; to steal 
~ nan yon sèl plat to be on the 
same page, agree 
~ nasyonal rice and beans 
~ pase cheni tabak to eat s.o. out 
of house and home 
~ pase nwit leftovers (food) 
- pôv ritual act of charity for dead 
and Voodoo spirits 
~ prizon to go to jail; to do time k 
jail 
~ prizonye, ~ lezanm former 
festive offerings of food and drink 
to prisoners by the PaP elite (ok) 
- ranje (deliberately) poisoned 
food; food poisoning 
- sèk, kouvè sèk meal served 
without meat, vegetable or salad; 
same as ~ dyô 
- sèl full meal - sinistre emergency-relief food 
- sote to eat only when one can 
(afford it) 
- sou (yon moun) to eat in front 
of (s.o.); to take advantage of 
(s.o.); to defeat (s.o.) 
602 
manje - manm 
- tankou chwal gri to eat like a 
horse, eat copiously 
- tcham food and drink offering 
involving no animal sacrifice in 
the Petwo rite (Voodoo) 
- tèt food and drink offering to 
one's principal protective Voodoo 
spirit 
- tèt kale to put away the food, 
eat wholeheartedly 
- toi to exaggerate greatly 
- vant deboutonnen/plen, ~ tèt 
kale to stuff oneself (with food) 
- wawa to afflict, beset 
- wonntonn to eat heartily 
- woywoy badly-cooked food 
~ yanm see yanm 
- yon miray to be in extreme 
poverty 
- yon moun to cause s.o.'s death 
~ zanj same as ~ lwa (q.v.) 
~ zèb to graze 
~ zong li to bite one's fingernails 
mwen ~ mwen bwè mwen fimen 
I've got it made, things are going 
great 
nan ~ bwè ak to be in cahoots 
with 
(yon moun ki) pa - anyen ki frèt 
(s.o.) not to be pushed around, not 
to be taken advantage of 
manjè n. eater 
gran - corrupt government 
official; fat cat, wealthy and highly 
privileged person; large bottle of 
soft drink "Couronne" (fam.) 
~ % homosexual (male or 
female) 
~ timoun same as lougawou (q.v.) 
manjèd... n. eater of... 
~ fourni anteater 
~ tè geophagist, earth eater 
manjèdkôd f.n. promiscuous 
woman; bitch 
manjezon n. itching sensation (cf. 
demanjezon); pain 
manjwa n. trough, manger 
mank n. mistake, blunder; lack, 
shortage, deficiency; v. to lack 
bay ~ to forsake, fail 
~ dega lack of respect, disrespect 
~ ~ to make a mistake or error 
san - without fail, definitely; 
inevitably 
sou ~ faulty, deficient; habitually 
broke, without money; ready to 
take advantage of anything that 
comes along (pej.) 
mankan: 
an ~ lacking, missing 
manke aux. to nearly, almost, just 
about (do s.thg.), barely miss 
(doing s.thg.); v. to fail, miss; to 
miss, need (s.o., s.thg.); to lack; to 
be absent, be missing 
~ dega to be disrespectful 
~ kwit undercooked 
~ pawol to fail to keep one's word 
~ sou not to be up to, not be able 
to handle 
- yon fèy to have a screw loose, 
be a little crazy 
~ (yon moun) to wrong (s.o.); to 
be disrespectful toward (s.o.) 
pa ~ sôt to be quite stupid 
san ~ senk every last cent 
mànken see mannken 
mankman n. lack, need; failure, 
omission, shortcoming 
manm n. member; limb (arm, leg); 
rib (of boat); strength; baptized 
member of Protestant 
denomination 
bay ~ to strengthen, give support 
603 
manm - Manmzèl Brijit 
to; to lend a helping hand, aid, 
assist 
gen ~ to be solid or strong 
~ initil deadwood, useless person 
~ mô paralyzed limb 
~ seksyon rural section chief 
(same as chèf seksyon) 
pran ~ to regain strength; to put 
on weight 
manman n. mother; female; largest 
of the three drums used in Rada 
and Kongo rites (Voodoo); larger 
of the two drums used in Petwo 
rite; adj. huge, enormous; main, 
major, principal, basic, essential; 
see sanmanman 
antre nan ~ yon moun to call s.o. 
a son-of-a-bitch, insult s.o. 
dèyè - minor, insignificant 
fyèl - ou! kou - ou! to heck with 
you! 
gèt ~ ou! motherfucker! fuck you! 
go fuck yourself, 
gwo - huge; madam, woman in 
charge of a brothel 
~ bèf cow; large fat woman 
~ bèf plenn! wow! man! 
~ chat accomplished thief 
(woman); cunning woman 
~ chwal mare (cf. jiman) 
~ fèy woman faith-and-herb 
healer, woman folk healer; cf. 
dôktè fèy 
~ gèp, ~ djèp ortiga brava (bot.) 
~ kabrit nanny goat 
~ kôdenn loose woman 
- krab witch, sorceress; cf. 
lougawou 
~ lajan principal, main sum of 
money (as opposed to enterè -
interest); capital (money) 
~ laye see lanman 
~ lwa constitution; see 
manmanlwa 
~ - maternal grandmother 
maternal great-grandmother 
~ Mari! Heavens! 
~ penba see manpenba 
~ pitit common-law wife 
- pitit (se) mare vant! watch out! 
prepare for the worst! 
~ poul hen; coward 
~ salôp slut 
~ vant placenta, afterbirth 
~ wann stachys (mint) 
- wonn var. of shrub 
nan ~ vant at the heart of, in the 
middle of 
san ~ see sanmanman 
vye ~ sleeping mat (cf. nat; atè 
miyo) 
vye ~ te pare pou Zepina e 
Zepina te pare pou vye ~ to be 
armed and ready 
manmanbila, bila n. magic charm 
necklace with pouch 
Manman Brijit see Brijit 
manmanlwa f.n. (obs) Voodoo 
priestess; n. constitution 
manmanpenba see manpenba 
manmay see maymay 
manmèl n. udder 
konte ~ bèf ki anfle to waste time 
pitit ala - all, without exception 
manmi fin. mom, mommy 
manmifè see mamifè 
manmitfin. mommy (fam.); see 
mamit 
manmote see mamote 
manmye n. var. of mango 
manmzèl n. woman, lady; gal; she, 
her; miss; mistress, girlfriend (N.); 
the lady in question 
Manmzèl Brijit see Brijit 
604 
mann - mantalite 
mann see lamàn 
mannan see blan -
mannanglèz n. var. of bird 
Mannatann see Manatann 
mannèt see manèt 
mannèv see manèv 
mannevre see manevre 
Mannhatann see Manatann 
manni see mani 
manniba see manouba 
manniboula see marimboula 
manniboule v. to work hard 
mannifoul, mannifôl n. exhaust 
manifold (mach.) 
mannigans, manigans, 
mannigansay n. intrigue, 
underhand dealing, maneuver 
mannigansayman, 
mannigetayman adv. 
underhandedly 
manniganse, maniganse, 
mannigete v. to scheme, plot, 
work underhandedly, finagle; to 
manage, administer 
mannigansè, manigansè n. 
schemer, plotter, finagler 
mannigansman n. leadership 
mannigèt, manigèt n. influence, 
connections, pull; intrigue, trick, 
stratagem; strategy; underhanded 
dealing; interj. bull, nonsense 
bay ~ to help (legally or not) 
fè ~ to use whatever resources at 
one's disposal; to scheme, plot 
~ bouzen ak jandam meaningless 
commotion 
mannigetay n. influence-peddling 
mannigetayman see 
mannigansayman 
mannigete see manniganse 
mannipile see manipile 
mannivèl see manivèl 
mannken, mànken n. model, 
mannequin; mannequin, dummy 
Manno prop.n. nickname for 
Emànyèl 
mannok, manôk n. var. tobacco 
mannouba see manouba 
mannouvèl see manivèl 
mannyè, mànyè n. manner, way, 
fashion, sort; manners, civility; see 
lamannyè 
mannyèl see mànyèl 
manôk see mannok 
manouba, maniba, manniba, 
mannouba n. var. of less 
resounding drum; var. of dance; 
see marimboula 
manpenba, manmanpenba, penba 
n. var. of drum; sly or malicious 
woman; largest of the cannon at 
the Citadel Laferrière; one's main 
defense; adj. huge, enormous; 
main, principal, basic, essential; 
short and fat, squat (woman) 
mansara see madansara 
manseniye n. var. poisonous tree 
mansonj, mansony n. lie, falsehood 
mansonje adj. false, untrue; 
deceptive, illusory 
manstwe v. [Eng.] to menstruate (cf. 
wè lalin li, regie) 
manswèl, mansyèl n./adj. monthly 
mansyon n. mention 
mansyonnen, mansyone v. to 
mention 
mant n. mint; mint candy; 
peppermint 
- kôk nakedwood tree 
mantal adj. mental 
mantalite n. mentality, attitude, 
spirit 
- asiste, ~ restavèk welfare 
mentality 
605 
mantalman - manyôk 
mantalman adv. mentally 
mantè n., mantèz f.n. liar; adj. lying 
mantèg n. lard; shortening 
mantèz see mantè 
manti n. mantilla (worn esp. by 
Protestant women in church) 
manti, mantè n. lie, falsehood; tale, 
story; v. to lie, tell lies; adj. false 
bay de ~ to make chit chat, engage 
in small talk 
bay fè ~ to lie, deceive, tell lies 
bay tèt (li) ~ to lie to oneself, not 
face up to reality 
~ kou chen to lie like crazy, "lie 
like a rug"; to be totally wrong 
pran - to be lied to, be deceived, 
be fooled 
rèd ~ wouj bold-faced lie, 
blatant lie 
san ~ frankly 
manto n. wrap, coat; overcoat 
~ sen Jozèf coleus (mint herb) 
manto n. liar; lie, falsehood; see 
manti 
mantole adj. mentholated 
manton, maton, mouton n. chin 
- pou - face to face 
ti ~ receding chin 
mànyak adj. fussy, finicky, 
capricious 
manyè (pronounced: man-yè), 
menyè (pronounced: men-yè), 
mèyè adv. rather, sort of, 
somewhat, more or less, a little; 
kind of, in some way; why don't 
you..., at least (to urge or 
encourage) 
mànyè n. masseur; bone-setter; see 
mannyè 
mànyèl, mannyèl n. book, manual; 
adj. manual 
manyen (pronounced: man-yen) v. 
to touch (physically), feel, handle-
to handle, use, utilize; to touch* 
improve, correct; to stroke, caress 
fondle; to massage; to palpate (as 
by a healer); to set bones; to ham 
(by slander; by supernatural 
forces); n. palpation; see manyè 
~ ak to deal with 
- isit - la to busy about, be active 
~ manm to rough up, beat up, 
abuse 
- plim sou do to get one's hackles 
up, provoke, arouse, inflame 
~ san souflèt to steal 
manyèt see mayèt 
manyetik see mayetik 
manyetis see mayetis 
manyetit see mayetit 
manyetize see mayetize 
manyetizè see mayetizè 
mànyèz f.n. masseuse; bone-setter 
manyezi see mayezi 
Mànyi (ri) prop.n. rue Magny (at 
Champs-de-Mars, PaP) 
manyifik see mayifik 
Mànyifika see Mayifika 
manymany n. handling; busybody; 
adj. meddlesome, meddling 
manyok (pronounced: man-yok or 
ma-nyok) n. manioc 
dlo - (poisonous) manioc juice 
kouche ~ to prepare cassava 
flatbread from manioc 
- anmè/amè poisonous manioc 
(not yet prepared) 
- dou(s), ~ matita sweet cassava 
rache - li (bay tè a blanch) to 
pull up stakes, clear out, leave; to 
make a fresh start; to complete 
one's task or mission 
Other var. of manioc are: -
doubankè, - motyetas/matyotas, 
606 
Manzat - marasa 
- po diven, - sizan, - teta, - ti 
Kiba, - titoni 
Manzat prop.n. Manzate 
(commercial insecticide) 
manzè n. miss (respectful title for 
older unmarried woman) 
~ sara see madansara 
manzèl n. var. of fish 
maou see myaw 
m ap contr. mwen + ap (I... -ing); to 
indicate immediate future 
m ape contr. mwen + ape (I... -ing); 
to indicate immediate future 
mapotcho, mapotyo n. var. of small 
black river fish; fatso, fatty, blimp, 
butterball 
mapou n. ceiba, silk-cotton tree, 
kapok (large tree with magic and 
tutelary powers, according to 
Voodoo belief) 
flè ~ kapok 
~ afriken, - zonbi baobab tree 
- blan var. of tree (neobuchia 
paulinae) 
~ gri, - mawon pipewood tree; 
strongbark tree, roble tree, 
pigeonwood tree 
~ kô li to make oneself 
inconspicuous; to be cautious 
ti ~jatropha tree 
Mapou prop.n. Mapou (4th 
communal section of Plaisance, 
Dept. North; 7th communal 
section of Belle-Anse, Dept. 
South-East) 
Mapou (Jan) prop.n. Mapou (Jan) 
[Jean-Marie Wilier Denis] -
Haitian-language dramatist and 
poet, author of DPM Kanntè -
Drèt pou Miyami Kanntè, Anba 
Mapou a, (b. 1941) 
Mapou (larivyè) prop.n. Mapou 
river (east of Cape Haitian, Dept. 
North) 
mapya, mapyang adj. clumsy, 
awkward; n. jerk, good-for-
nothing 
marabou n. dark-skinned Haitian 
with straight silky hair and 
Caucasian facial features (cf 
grimo) 
maraka see malaka 
Marakayibo prop.n. Maracaibo 
(Venezuela) 
Marakwafprop.n. Mare-à-Coiffe 
(communal section of Aquin, 
Dept. South) 
marande v. to join, tie up; to join 
together, connect with; to tangle 
up, entangle; to capture, grab; to 
suppress, repress, smother; to 
concoct, make up (story, lie); to 
arrange, organize 
Maranriprop.n. Mare-Henri (4th 
communal section of Cavaillon, 
Dept. South) 
maras n. stagnation, paralysis, 
slump (economy); dejection, 
depression; marasmus 
marasa, masa, mayasa (N.) n. 
twin(s); divine twins (Voodoo) 
manje ~ annual food offering to 
twins (Voodoo) 
- blan twin(s) who died before 
being baptized (Voodoo) 
- bwa twin not of same sex; 
Petwo twin(s) (Voodoo) 
- Ginen twins of same sex; 
deceased twins (Voodoo) 
~ jiwo same as ~ blan 
- kat quadruplets) 
- ki pa sanble fraternal twin(s) 
- kole Siamese or conjoint twin(s) 
- kreyôl live human twin(s); 
607 
marasa - mare 
twin(s) from nanchon (q.v.) 
originating in Haiti (rather than in 
Africa) - Voodoo 
- senk quintuplet(s) 
~ tèt koupe identical 
twin(s) 
~ twa triplet(s) 
pla ~ two identical connecting 
bowls for feeding ~ (Voodoo) 
pla ~ twa same as above for 
feeding ~ twa 
tanbou ~ two small drums 
attached together 
maraton, maratonn n. marathon; 
fund raiser (event) 
fè (yon) ~ to engage in or conduct 
a marathon 
mare n. marsh; tide; v. to attach, 
secure, fasten, tie, tie up, tie down; 
to strap, bind; to chain; to begin in 
earnest; to throw into high gear; to 
strap together; to weave (c f . tise); 
to beat, corner (games); to put a 
jinx on; to manipulate dishonestly, 
rig; to clench; to interlock one's 
middle fingers to prevent s.thg. 
from happening; adj. cloudy, 
overcast; in a fix, in trouble; 
clumsy, awkward 
bwa a ~ many things are involved; 
there are many activities 
- ak to be connected to, be tied in 
with 
- alo, - fwèt, ~ panzou (three 
names for same) children's game 
~ anba kôd to tie up, arrest 
~ asosye ak to form a partnership 
with, go into business with 
~ baka to reach an impasse 
- batay (sou) to fight (over) 
~ bouch to get mad/angry 
- bouch yon moun to silence s.o. 
~ bourik li ak to join forces with, 
work with, become associated 
with 
- d e pwen kach sou (yon mouu) 
to outdo (s.o.) 
- figi, - min to frown, show angei 
~ fwèt see ~ alo 
- jamè fache to swear undying 
friendship 
- karaktè see ~ min 
~ kè li to steel oneself, resign 
onself 
- konplo to hatch a plot 
~ kou krab hog-tied 
~ kout to restrain, hobble, fetter 
~ machwè to get mad/angry 
~ makon li ak to team up with 
~ men to hinder 
~ min (sou), ~ karaktè to be 
annoyed (at), frown (at), express 
displeasure (at) 
- mouchwa see ~ senti 
~ pakèt to pack one's bags, get 
ready; to get organized, get 
established, get it together; to take 
advantage of a situation; see pakèt 
- pakèt ou! hold onto your hat! 
~ panzou see ~ alo 
~ pitit to prevent the normal 
development of a fetus (through 
evil magic) 
- pli to wrinkle, be wrinkled 
- pwen li to make a fist 
~ pye to hinder 
- ren to tighten one's belt 
- ren li, - zantray li to resign 
oneself, steel oneself, show 
fortitude 
- salan salt marsh, salt flats 
- senti, - mouchwa to pull 
together all one's strength, 
summon all one's determination; 
608 
mare -Marijàn 
belt-tightening, curtailment in 
spending 
~ sere to grab firmly 
- sosis underhanded deal 
- sosis ak to hang around with, 
frequent 
- sosis yo to work in cahoots 
- trip to tie in, make hang 
together 
- twa/kat/sèt min nan fwon li to 
be annoyed (at), frown (at), 
express displeasure (at) 
- vant to resign oneself; see ~ 
pitit 
- yon afë to close a deal 
- yon blokis to create a traffic jam 
~ yon ti kôb to bring in a little 
cash, make a little money 
- zantray li see ~ ren li 
pa ~ resourceful, enterprising 
pwen - with clenched fists 
tan ~ overcast sky 
mare, lamare n. tide 
marè n. binder, tier (person) 
marebas n. low tide 
maréchal (seksyon), machal 
(seksyon) n. chief assistant to a 
chèf seksyon (4. v.), chief rural 
deputy sheriff (same as a 
soukèdlawouze) 
~ de kan (obs.) brigadier general 
- feran blacksmith [Fr.] 
mareche adj. vegetable-growing 
marekay, makaj, makay, marekaj, 
marikay n. swamp, marsh 
dlo - stagnant water 
marèl n. hopscotch 
maren n. seaman, sailor; fisherman; 
adj. nautical 
marengwen, mangwen, 
mayengwen n. large mosquito; 
see tanbou ~ 
bay ~ kwôk to waste one's time, 
do useless things 
bay ~ van pou li vole to give s.o. 
an opportunity 
marenn f.n. godmother (c f . 
nennenn); maid of honor (in 
wedding); backer, sponsor, patron, 
mentor 
fyèl ~ ou! go to heck! 
- nos maid of honor (in wedding) 
maretèt n. bandanna, kerchief, 
headscarf 
marewot n. high tide 
mari n. (legal) husband 
~ woz var. of mango 
Mari f.prop.n. Mary; see Lavyèj 
ou ap pale m de ~ bourik kite m 
pale ou de ~ chwal let me give 
you my side of the story, let me 
put things in their proper 
perspective 
ti ~ servant girl 
ti ~ pa monte ti ~ pa desann 
nothing changes 
ti - rantre li p ap sôti what's 
given is given and not to be 
returned; there a policy of no-
return 
Maribawou prop.n. Maribahoux 
(Dept. North-East) 
Marigo prop.n. Marigot (Dept. 
South-East) 
Marigosyen prop.n., Marigosyèn 
f.prop.n. inhabitant of Marigot 
(Dept. South-East) 
marigouya n. passiflora (vine) 
marijàn, agwana, marigwana, 
mariwana, mayigwana, 
mayiwana n. marijuana; cf pay 
Marijàn f.prop.n. Marie-Jeanne -
heroine of the siege of Crête-à-
Pierrot, 1802 
609 
marijann - Maryani 
avni - avenue Marie-Jeanne 
(downtown PaP) 
marijann n. var. of freshwater fish 
marikay see marekay 
Marilann see Merilann 
marilo: 
- akasansiwo popular children's 
game played while swinging 
around 
marimba n. marimba; see 
marimboula 
marimboula, malimba, malinba, 
maniboula, manimba, 
manimbila, manimboula, 
manniboula, marimba n. musical 
instrument using three to seven 
curved steel bands of varied length 
mounted in a box 
marin n. Marine (soldier); U.S. 
Marine Corps; navy 
marinad n. marinade, croquettes, 
fritters (smooth mixture of flour, 
eggs, milk, spices deep-fried in 
vegetable oil); see nad 
kraze ~ no-count person, 
worthless person 
marinay n. agreement; connivance 
- sosis to agree; to work in 
cahoots 
marinen v. to marinate (meat etc.); 
to stir, mix; to entangle; to plot, 
conspire; to embrace, hug; to 
envelop, consume; to reflect upon, 
meditate; to imagine, conjure up 
- lolôy (yon moun) to disturb 
(s.o.) profoundly 
~ yon konplo to hatch a plot 
marinèt f.n. (obs.) camp follower, 
prostitute (during Haitian 
Revolutionary period) 
Marinèt-Bwa-Chèch, Marinèt-
Pye-Chèchprop.n. dreaded 
Voodoo Petwo spirit 
(la)tristès - extremely sad 
marinko n. U.S. Marine Corps 
marisalôp n. slut; dark-brown 
oilcloth 
maritim adj. maritime 
mariwana see marijàn 
mariya: 
jouk nan - to the bitter end 
MARNDR acron. Ministè 
Agrikilti, Resous Natirèl ak 
Devlopmen Riral Ministry of 
Agriculture, Natural Resources 
and Rural Development 
maryaj, maryay n. wedding; 
marriage; mystic union with a 
Voodoo spirit 
kondi - la to officiate at a 
wedding 
kraze ~ to divorce, separate 
- bay bous, ~ biznis, ~ de 
gouden, - enterè, ~ rezidans 
marriage of convenience 
- dlo di sèl marriage ceremony 
without the usual food and drink 
- doub, - bôlèt greatly increased 
lottery prize based upon two 
winning numbers 
- mistè mystical union with a 
Voodoo spirit 
- pou dis man and woman 
dancing together in Mardi Gras 
celebration 
- Rara occurrence of two Rara 
groups meeting and passing one 
another - sivil civil marriage ceremony 
- viza marriage arranged to obtain 
avisa maryal adj. (ecc.) Marian, of the 
Virgin Mary 
Maryani prop.n. Mariani (outlying 
610 
maryay - Maseyèz 
vicinity west ofPaP) 
maiyay see maryaj 
marye, maye v. to give in marriage, 
many off; to match, go well 
together; to join together, couple, 
combine, connect; adj. married 
fizi -, zam - to be engaged in 
armed combat 
jenn - young married couple 
- ak to marry, get married to; to 
combine, merge with, join together 
with; to be inseparable; to be 
connected to, be associated with, 
join together with 
- legliz to have a church wedding 
- nan kanaval to have a sexual 
fling during Carnival time 
- sivil to get married by a civil 
ceremony 
nouvo ~ newly wed(s) 
tanbou ~ the drums begin to beat 
maryela n. zinnia (flower) 
Maryenprop.n. Marien (kingdom of 
pre-Columbian Haiti) 
Maryon (larivyè) prop.n,. Marion 
River (Dept. North-East) 
maryonnèt, maryonèt n. 
marionette, puppet; Carnival 
figure; cheerleader 
mas n. (solid) mass; lump; mask; 
March; masses, mob; slum 
dwellers; sledgehammer 
an - in great quantity 
bon - scarecrow (cf. jwif) 
boule - ceremony the Saturday 
before Easter 
fè ~ to ground (electricity) 
fè ~ ak to be a party to, be an 
accomplice (pej.) 
~ dekorasyon wooden or leather 
decoration mask 
yon - a lot of, many 
Mas prop.n. Mars 
masa see marasa 
Masachousèt, Masachisètprop.n. 
Massachusetts (USA) 
masaj see masay 
masak n. massacre, slaughter 
Masak (larivyè)prop.n. Massacre 
River (bordering on the 
Dominican Republic, Dept. North-
East) 
masakray, masakraj n. massacring, 
butchering, mutilating 
masakre v. to massacre, slaughter; 
to butcher, kill cruelly; to mutilate; 
to mistreat 
masakrè n. massacrer 
masay, masaj n. massage, rubdown 
bay fe ~ to massage 
- kont makak/baton beating 
pran ~ to be massaged 
masaye v. to massage 
mase v. to massage; to be massaged; 
to mass, gather, assemble 
~ ak kout baton to work over, 
beat 
masè n. nun; sister (within a given 
faith); my sister (fam. term of 
address); masseur 
Masedwàn prop.n. Macedonia 
masèl: 
- kôkôb clod, oaf, klutz 
Masèl prop.n. Marcel; f.prop.n. 
Marcelle 
masere v. [Fr.] to macerate, steep, 
soak 
Masèy prop.n. Marseille (France); 
Marseille (French hymnbook used 
extensively by prêt savann, q.v.) 
Maseyan prop.n. Macéan (1st 
communal section of Aquin, Dept. 
South) 
Maseyèz, Lamaseyez prop.n. la 
masèz - mastôk 
Marseillaise (French national 
anthem) 
masèz f.n. masseuse 
masif adj. massive, bulky; big, 
heavy; solid; shapeless; rough, 
brutal; n. massif, (section of a) 
mountain range 
masigwèl, mazizwèl n. male 
homosexual 
masikwèt n. ugly object 
masisi, sisi, sisib, sisil n. male 
homosexual, gay; homosexuality 
fè nan ~ to engage in 
homosexual acts 
~ fanm lesbian; cf. madivinèz 
masiv adj. see masif 
masivman adv. massively, in great 
number 
maskara n. mascara 
maskarad n. masquerade; disguise, 
pretense; stupidity, foolishness; 
stupid or foolish person 
maskawon n. grotesque Carnival 
figure; sexually suggestive 
Carnival dance; v. to disguise; adj. 
coarse, crude, vulgar; see batri 
maskay n. hiding 
maske v. to mask, disguise; to wear 
a mask; to become cloudy 
(weather); adj. cloudy, overcast 
masketi, maskiti, maskreti, 
maskriti n. castor-oil plant 
lwil - castor-oil 
maskilen adj. masculine 
maskintep n. masking tape 
maskiti see masketi 
masko n. var. of popular dance 
maskot n. mascot; effigy 
maskreti, maskriti see masketi 
Maslen (Frederik) prop.n. Marcelin 
(Frédéric) - Haitian statesman and 
novelist (1848-1917) 
Maslin prop.n. Marceline (Dm 
Grand'Anse) 
masmedya n. (mass-)media 
masminen see maspinen 
masôk n. var. of plantain 
masoke v. to do odd jobs, putter 
masoko n. var. of vine; var. of yam 
masôko n. var. of small sickle; adj. 
misshapen, ill-formed 
mason n. mason, bricklayer; pm/u 
Freemasonry; Freemason; prop. 
adj. Masonic 
bôs - (cf. bos kay) mason; 
construction foreman; general 
contractor 
masonn n. mortar (mix); masonry, 
stonework; wattle daub; stucco 
masonnen v. to plaster, cement; to 
wall, wall up 
masonnri, masonri n. masonry 
masoudi n. sexually suggestive 
dance for the spirits of the dead 
(Voodoo) 
maspinay, maspinaj n. beating, 
mauling; adj. violent, abusive, 
injurious 
maspinen, masminen v. to abuse, 
maul, batter; n. beating, mauling 
mastè: 
diplom - master's degree, M.A. 
(Master of Arts) 
- fren brake master cylinder 
(mach.) 
~ klotch clutch master cylinder 
mastèbèk n. gossiper 
mastèfren n. master-brake (mach.) 
mastibasyon n. [Fr.] masturbation 
mastik n. mastic, roof coating; putty 
- toi plastic roof cement 
mastike v. to mess up, ruin, spoil; to 
apply putty 
mastôk adj. ugly, badly built; 
612 
maswife - materyo 
coarse, crude, primitive 
maswife see ma 
masyal adj. martial, military 
mat adj. dull, lusterless, unpolished 
Mat, Mata f.prop.n. Martha 
matadô, matadol n. demanding or 
difficult person; adj. killer 
- sipèb rebellious person; hard-to-
please person 
Matadoprop.n. Matador (3rd 
communal section of Dondon, 
Dept. North); see Jog 
matant, tant, tantann, tantant, 
tantin fn. aunt, auntie; 
affectionate title of address for 
elderly woman 
- ~ great-aunt 
matata adj. mixed, assorted 
match n. athletic game or contest, 
ballgame 
~ nil tied game 
~ tire kôd tug-of-war 
matchak n. mud; filth 
matchaka adj. complicated, tough; 
n. mixture 
matchason n. var. of Voodoo dance 
matchatcha n. skin problem caused 
by akout poud (q.v.) 
matchavèl, matchaveiik see 
makyavèl 
matche, matye v. to be opposed; to 
be equal, be comparable; to match 
up 
matchè see matyè 
matchis adj. macho 
matcho, matchomann, matyo n. 
lady-killer, seducer, Don Juan; 
macho 
mate v. to lift, raise; to bounce; to 
subdue, overcome; to break 
(waves); to rear, prance (horse); 
adj. big-assed 
~ tanbou to play the drum 
Mate prop.n. Matheux mountain 
range (Depts. Artibonite and 
West); Matheux (communal 
section of Arcahaie, Dept. West) 
larivyè ~ Matheux River (near 
Arcahaie, Dept. West) 
maté see anmatè 
Matèlgatprop.n. Matelgate (1st 
communal section of 
Thomassique, Dept. Center) 
matematik n. mathematics; 
arithmetic; adj. mathematical 
matematikman adv. mathematically 
matematisyen n. mathematician 
maten n. morning; large watchdog 
bon ~ early morning, before 
sunrise 
di - A.M. 
gran ~ at dawn, at daybreak 
- pechè belted kingfisher (bird) 
Maten prop.n. Martin 
Maten (Litè) King (anvi)prop.n. 
avenue Martin (Luther) King 
(between rue Armand Holly and 
route de Delmas, PaP) 
materiel adj. maternal, motherly; n. 
kindergarten 
matènite n. motherhood, maternity; 
maternity hospital or ward 
matenten v. var. of edible plant 
materiyo see materyo 
materyalis n./adj. materialist; n. 
materialism 
materyalize v. [Fr.] to materialize, 
take form 
materyèl n. material; adj. earthly, 
material, physical; coarse, crude, 
uncouth 
materyèlman adv. materially, 
physically 
materyo, materiyo, matriyo n. 
613 
matete - matris 
material(s); construction materials; 
sewing materials; ingredients; 
supplies 
magazen ~ hardware store 
matete n. residue, sediment 
mateyenn n. var. of plantain 
mati n. martyr; martyrdom, extreme 
suffering, torture 
fè pase ~ to abuse, mistreat 
pase ~ to suffer 
Mati (plas) prop.n. Place des 
Martyrs, Cape-Haitian (Dept. 
North) 
matikil n. official document 
matinal adj. early-rising; early-
morning 
matine n. morning; (the) entire 
morning; matinee 
matinèt n. child's goathide whip 
matinik n. var. of both Voodoo and 
secular dance; special Voodoo 
drum used for the spirit Zaka; var. 
of yam 
Matinik, Lamatinikprop.n. 
Martinique 
Matinikè prop.n J adj., Matinikèz 
f.prop.n. Martiniquan 
Matino prop.n. Martineau (3rd 
communal section of Plaisance, 
Dept. North; 1st communal section 
of La Chapelle, Dept. Artibonite; 
2nd communal section of 
Cavaillon, Dept. South) 
Matiren prop.n. Mathurin (2nd 
communal section of Saint-
Raphaël, Dept. North) 
Matirin (So) prop.n. Saut-
Mathurine (waterfall near Camp-
Perrin, Dept. South) 
matirite n. maturity 
matirizans n., martyrdom, torture 
matirize v. to martyr, torture; to 
bully, mistreat 
Matisan prop.n. Martissant (8th 
communal section of PaP -
disadvantaged community 
immediately west of PaP Dept 
West) 
matita see manyôk dou(s) 
matjoukann n. spy, infiltrator, 
informer 
matla n. mattress (made of cotton, 
foam rubber etc.; cf. payas) 
~ bôks box mattress 
matlase v. to make mattresses; n. 
quilting 
matlasye n. mattress maker 
matlo n. sailor, seaman; rival (for 
the love of a woman); sailor suit 
matlot f.n. co-wife, woman who 
shares same man with another 
woman; n. counterpart; rival, 
enemy; adj. shady, dubious 
matlotay n. common-law marriage 
nan ~ ak to be involved with 
matmwazèl see madmwazèl 
mato n. hammer; gavel; see tit ~ 
~ chapant claw hammer 
~ dekouvraj roofing hammer 
~ konpresè pneumatic drill, 
jackhammer 
~ mason mason's hammer 
- mekanik ball peen hammer 
- ranbourè upholstery hammer 
maton n. ace marble player; ace, 
expert, hotshot; adj. sharp, 
skillful, smart; see manton 
Maton see Jeren 
matou see makou 
matrake v. to club 
matrikil n. matriculation 
matrimonyal adj. marital 
matris n. womb, uterus; matrix 
antre - , bouch - , kol -, kou -, 
614 
matrite - Mawotyè 
pot-cervix 
- deplase inverted or tipped 
uterus 
- paswa sterile 
tib - Fallopian tube(s) 
matrite adj. ripe, mature 
matriyo see materyo 
matwon n. male nurse (esp. for 
birthing) 
matwonf.n. government-trained 
midwife 
matyak, matyaka, mityak n. mess, 
foul-up, confusion 
Matyasprop.n. [Bible] Matthias 
matyavèl, matyavelik see 
makyavèl 
matye see matche 
Matyeprop.n. Matthew 
matyè, matchè n. matter; material; 
subject; academic subject; 
discharge, pus, matter, exudate 
- fekal excrement, fecal matter 
~ premye raw material(s) 
matyo see matcho 
mavangou see boutèy ~ 
maw see myaw 
mawanaf.n. prostitute 
mawo, maho n. portia tree, bendy 
tree 
gwo - portia tree, seaside mahoe 
~ ble blue mahoe, mountain 
mahoe, Cuba bark 
~ fran mahoe tree 
~ piman West Indies trema (shrub 
or small tree) 
mawoday n. shady dealing(s); 
pilfering 
mawode v. to pilfer, steal; to maraud 
(milit) ; to cruise (taxi) 
mawodè n. pilferer, petty thief 
mawodèm, mawodèn, mawodenm 
n. balsa tree 
mawogani n. mahogany; cf. kajou 
Mawèkprop.n. Morocco 
mawoka, mayoka n. grub, insect 
larva 
mawoken prop.n./adj., Mawokèn 
f.prop.n. Moroccan 
mawokinye n. leather worker/ 
craftsman 
Mawomè(t) prop.n. Mohammed 
Mawometan n. Mohammedanism; 
n./adj. Muslim, Mohammedan 
mawon v. to flee, evade, escape, 
take to the hills; to hide, hide out; 
to stay away from, shy away from; 
adj. brown; wild, savage, unruly, 
untamed; runaway, escaped; false, 
fraudulent, bogus; n. maroon, 
escaped slave; hiding; flight, 
escape; chestnut; see Nèg Mawon 
ale (nan) tonbe nan ~ to go 
into hiding 
bal ~ stray bullet 
- lekol to play hooky 
mawonnay, mawonaj, mawonay, 
mawonnaj n. fleeing, hiding out; 
custom of forming community of 
escaped slaves; guerilla tactics; 
swindle, cunning theft 
fè - to go into hiding, flee; to lie 
low 
mawonnen, mawonyen 
(pronounced: ma-won-yen) v. to 
tie (up), attach; to tangle up, 
become entangled; to hug, 
embrace; to coil; to pick and 
choose; to thieve, pilfer 
mawonyè {pronounced: ma-won-
yè) n. looter, marauder; fugitive, 
runaway 
mawonyen see mawonnen 
Mawotyè prop.n. Mahotière (7th 
communal section of Port-de-Paix 
615 
mawou - mayetofonn 
Dept. North-West; La Gonâve 
Island, Dept. West; Dept. North-
East, Dept. South etc.) 
mawou see myaw 
Mawouj prop.n. Mare-Rouge (2nd 
communal section of Tortuga 
Island, Dept. North-West; 2nd 
communal section of Môle-Saint-
Nicolas, Dept. North-West) 
mawoule n. herdsman (who leads 
cattle to market); person who 
loads and unloads trucks, boats 
etc.; bum, vagrant, person who 
lives from hand to mouth; large 
stout woman 
mawèz f.n. cat 
Mawozo prop.n. Mare-Roseaux (6th 
communal section of Ganthier, 
Dept. West) 
may n. link (in chain; in knitting); 
brains, intelligence; good graces, 
favor 
bay yon mete de ~ sou chenn 
to cut (s.o.) a little slack, give 
(s.o.) a break 
gen ~ to be slick, be sly, be crafty 
lâche ~ to offer no resistance 
lage yon - to give (s.o.) a break, 
cut (s.o.) a little slack 
mete yon - nan to advance, 
promote, further 
pa janm lache (li) yon ~ to never 
let go, never give (s.o.) a 
moment's rest 
pase ~ sou not to give a direct 
response 
May prop.n. nickname for Mari 
~ Boy My Boy (evaporated/ 
powdered milk) 
Maya prop.n. Maya; prop. adj. 
Mayan Mayami, Miyamiprop.n. Miami 
(Florida) 
may an prop.n./adj. Mayan 
mayanba, mayi anba n. slap on 
water with open hand; var. of fc 
game 
tire - to draw lots 
Mayans prop.n. Mayance (2nd 
communal section of Anse-à-
Foleur, Dept. North-West) 
mayas n. foot odor 
pye ~ smelly feet 
mayasa see marasa 
may daw n. [iV.] sorcery 
maye v. to (inter)knit, intertwine; see 
marye 
mayengwen see marengwen 
mayestwo n. conductor (musical 
group), choir director, maestro 
mayèt, manyèt n. mallet, bat; clout 
blow; power, authority 
kenbe ~ to hold onto or retain 
office or authority 
pase ~ to hand over or confer 
authority 
pran ~ to take over, take office, 
assume authority 
Mayèt prop.n. Mayette (Dept. 
South-East) 
mayetik, manyetik adj. magnetic 
bann ~ cassette tape 
mayetis, manyetis n. magic spell 
(Voodoo); magnetism 
mayetit, manyetit n. lodestone, 
magnetite 
mayetize, manyetize v. to 
hypnotize; to magnetize 
mayetizè, manyetizè n. hypnotist; 
sorcerer 
mayeto n. magneto, esp. small 
generator (on bicycle) 
mayetofonn, mayetofon n. tape 
recorder 
616 
mayezi - mayi 
mayezi, manyezi n. magnesium; 
milk of magnesia 
mayezyom, magnezyôm n. 
magnesium 
mayi n. com, maize; extremely rapid 
Voodoo dance 
anba - a in the hay (for love-
making) 
bliye premye grenn ~ ki te leve 
jaden an to forget one's origins, 
be ungrateful 
bougon ~ small ear of corn 
bwa -, baton bôk ~ corncob 
chay -, kôd % lyann très ~ 
bundle of com (corn on cob strung 
together and hung from tree for 
safe-keeping) 
farin - corn starch 
fen - very finely-ground corn 
gen - nan djakout li to have the 
(necessary) goods on (s.o.) 
gwo - see ~ gwo bougon 
gwo - (moulen) see ~ moulen 
gwo 
jèm - corn kernel 
jis/jouk/jous - mi until the cows 
come home, until kingdom come, 
till hell freezes over 
kè - corn kernel; very finely-
ground corn 
kôd lyann ~ see chay ~ 
- alizèn hardy var. of corn 
ripening in six to ten weeks 
~ anba see mayanba 
~ angren grains of corn detached 
from cob 
~ ankrèm creamed corn 
~ boukannen roasted ear of corn 
~ boule bab almost ripe corn 
~ bwa nwa, ~ diven see ~ 
katajèn 
~ chandèl var. of corn 
Mayi Gate PaP international 
airport 
~ grennen see ~ angren 
~ griye roasted grains of corn; 
popcorn 
~ (gwo) bougon var. of corn 
ripening in five months 
~ (gwo) grenn, ~ gwo tèt 
coarsely-ground corn 
~ idayi var. of corn similar to ~ ti 
bourik but with larger thicker 
grains (from acron. of Institut de 
Développement agricole et 
industriel) 
- kase (an de) coarsely-ground 
corn 
~ katajèn reddish-colored corn 
ripening in three and a half to four 
months 
~ klay var. of com ripening in 
four months 
~ koneli large-eared com 
requiring well-ploughed soil 
~ leta var. of com similar to ~ 
koneli 
- li fini to be out of luck, be done 
for 
~ moulen cornmeal 
- moulen fasi toasted cornmeal 
around hamburger 
- moulen gwo, gwo - (moulen) 
coarsely-ground cornmeal 
- moulen kô li to weasel out (of 
an obligation); to sneak in; to take 
it easy, be cautious; to squeeze 
(into corner etc.) 
~ ole tender fresh com 
- pèpèt, - pètpèt, - plapla, -
plèplèt, - plètplèt, - pwapwa, 
pètpèt - popcorn ~ peyi var. of domestic corn 
- pyonnye var. of corn 
617 
mayi - mazon 
~ senma(k) coarsely-ground 
cornmeal 
~ sèz me var. of corn ripening in 
twelve weeks 
~ ti bouk var. of corn ripening 
twice annually 
- ti bourik var. of corn ripening in 
eleven weeks 
~ vèt ripe corn 
moulen ~ corn grinder (;mach.) 
pay po ~ corn husk 
pètpèt ~ popcorn 
pye ~ cornstalk 
tèt ~ corn kernel 
très ~ see chay ~ 
zepi ~ ear (of corn) 
mayifik, manyifik adj. magnificent, 
splendid, grand, terrific 
Mayifika, Mànyifika n. Magnificat 
mayigwana see marijàn 
mayilè n. stick of candy; dizziness, 
wooziness; children's game where 
one pivots around 
danse fè ~ to dance while 
twirling around 
Mayisad prop.n. Maïssade (Dept. 
Center) 
Mayisadyen prop.n., Mayisadyèn 
f.prop.n. inhabitant of Maïssade 
(Dept. Center) 
mayitid n. magnitude (of earthquake 
esp.) 
mayiwana see marijàn 
mayizena n. var. of hot cereal (esp. 
for babies) 
Maykèl prop.n. Michael 
maymay, mamay, manmay, 
timamay, timanmay, timaymay 
n. brat; little kid, small fry 
mayo n. T-shirt (with sleeves), sport 
shirt, polo shirt 
Mayo prop.n. nickname for Mari 
mayodeben, mayoben, mayodbea 
n. bathing suit 
mayoka see mawoka 
mayol, majo, majol n. wattle (ufc 
bird's throat or chin); double^ 
children's game played with a 
flattened bottle top (same as ralbt 
or siye kole); see lamayèl 
fè ~ to be victorious, be the winner 
mare/leve yon - (twa chif) to 
make a big win 
(premye) ~ winning number (® 
lottery) 
mayon n. link (of chain) 
mayonbe n. var. of fish 
mayonèz, mayonnèz n. mayonnaise 
Mayôtprop.n. Mayotte 
mayote v. to be wrapped in 
mayoyo n. simpleton; var. of dance; 
battery of bells or rattles mounted 
on a frame 
mazanbèl see mazonbèl 
mazanbi n. var. of small straw bag 
mazanga n. var. of lougawou (qx) 
which digs up bodies in 
cemeteries 
mazango adj. evil, satanic 
mazann see mazon 
mazanza n. worthless person; 
lawbreaker, evildoer 
mazenflen n. person with potbelly 
or big gut; bum, no-count person 
mazenga n. cooperative peasant 
work team - same as konbit (qy) 
yon ~ a group of 
mazèt n. clod, bungler, klutz; adj. 
slipshod, clumsy, careless 
mazi n. ruins; shanty, hovel 
mazimaza adj. two-faced, 
hypocritical; n. opportunist 
mazizwèl see masigwèl 
mazon, mazann, mazon, mazonn, 
mazoun - mèd 
mazoun n. Voodoo dance to chase 
away unwelcome spirits; chant 
used for same effect; rapid 
Voodoo drum rhythm 
foule - to pound 
woule ~ to beat rapidly 
mazonbèl, mazanbèl, mazobèl, 
mazoubèl, mazoumbèl, 
mazounbèl n. var. of root 
vegetable (similar to yam) 
Var.: ~ blan, ~ jon 
mazonn see mazon 
mazonnen v. to deceive 
mazora n. toothless person; ugly 
person; worthless person; ugly 
animal 
mazoubèl see mazonbèl 
mazoudi, bazoudi adj. small and 
skinny (animal) 
mazouka n. mazurka (music) 
mazoumbèl, mazounbèl see 
mazonbèl 
mazoun see mazon 
mazou(t) n. (fuel) oil 
mche see mesye 
mdam euphemism for bounda m 
me n. May; adv. here is, here are; 
conj. but, yet 
~ wi of course, certainly 
mè n. nun, mother, sister (rel.); sea, 
ocean; mayor [Fr.]; adv. at least 
(when urging or encouraging s.o.) 
antre nan fè ~ to (study to) 
become a nun 
~ adjwen deputy mayor; cf 
majistra 
- balawou swordfish 
~ de fami(y) mother 
~ prensipal chief mayor; cf. 
majistra 
~ siperyè mother superior 
~ vant placenta, afterbirth 
~ vant tonbe inverted or tipped 
uterus 
pyès ~ master deed, collective 
deed 
mèb n. piece of furniture; furniture; 
see byen 
mete ~ nan kouti to start teething 
meble v. to furnish, provide furniture 
~ tèt li to shape/form one's mind, 
educate oneself 
- bouch li to acquire a denture 
MEBSH acron. (Misyon Evanjelik 
Batis Sid Dayiti) Southern Baptist 
Evangelical Missions of Haiti 
mèch n. wick, fuse; wick lamp; lock 
(of hair); drill; drill bit; lash (of 
whip) 
~ beton cement drill bit 
~ bwa wood drill bit 
~ frèz var. drill bit 
~ pou fouye twou, ~ pou seri 
hole saw 
~ woutè router bit 
pouse yon - to take a dump, take 
a shit 
mechan, michan adj. mean, cruel, 
evil, wicked; naughty; big; grave, 
serious; persistent; difficult, hard; 
wonderful, exceptional; brave, 
enterprising; n. difficulties of life 
antre nan - to face hardship(s), 
face difficulties; now it's serious 
business, now begins the hard part 
gwo ~ huge 
mechanste n. meanness, 
wickedness, nastiness, badness; 
harm, evil; spite; trickery 
mèchi n. mechoui (Arab dish) 
mèd n. turd; see lanmèd! 
~ ba see metba 
~ pou ou! shit on you! 
- vant see mèt (vant) 
619 
medam - mègzo 
pa ». yon ~ not a single damn 
thing, nothing at all 
medam, medanm f p l n. women, 
ladies 
~ pye lejè women of easy virtue 
ti ~ young ladies, girls 
meday n. medal; medallion, pendant 
medaye v. to award a medal, 
decorate 
medba see metba 
mèddam see mètdam 
Medeyin prop.n. Medellin, 
Colombia (site of Liberation 
Theology meetings, 1968) 
Medi prop.n. [Bible] Media 
medikal adj. medical 
medikaman n. medicine, 
medication, pharmaceuticals 
Medikè prop.n. [Eng.] Medicare 
mediko- prefix medico-
meditasyon n. meditation; brief 
informal sermon 
medite v. to meditate (upon); to 
deliver a brief informal sermon 
Mediterane, Meditèrane prop.n./ 
adj. Mediterranean 
medizan n. slanderer; adj. 
slanderous, disparaging, 
backbiting 
~ mal palan hypocrite, backbiter, 
slanderer 
medjok see medyok 
medizans, lamedizans n. slander, 
backbiting 
medo: 
fè - to get nowhere with women, 
be a loser (with women) 
Medo prop.n. Médor (6th communal 
section of Petite-Rivière-de-
l'Artibonite, Dept. Artibonite) 
medsen, mèdsen, mesten, mètsen 
n. [Fr.] physician, doctor; cf. dôktè 
- fèy (usu. doktè fey) faith-and-
herb healer, folk healer 
~ lejis medical examiner, forensic 
expert 
medsin n. medical science; see 
metsin 
~ chwal extremely strong 
medicine 
~ entèn internal medicine 
~ fèy folk medicine 
medsiyen, see metsiyen 
medya n. media, news services; adv. 
immediately 
medyan adj. median (math.) 
medyàn n. median (math.) 
medyasyon n. mediation, arbitration 
medyate v. to mediate 
medyatè n. mediator 
medyatik adj. media 
medyok, medjok adj. mediocre 
medyokrite n. mediocrity 
medyom n. medium (newspapers, 
radio, TV etc. - cf. pi medya); 
(spiritual) medium; adj. medium-
sized (clothes); medium (cooked 
meat) 
mefyan adj. mistrustful, suspicious 
mefyans n. mistrust, suspicion 
mefye v. [Fr.] to mistrust, distrust, be 
suspicious of, beware of 
mèg adj. skinny, gaunt, lean, thin; 
meager; depleted (soil) 
- kou kaw thin as a rail 
megafon n. megaphone 
megawat n. megawatts 
mego n. [Fr.] cigarette butt; cf. pôy 
mègrè, lamegrè, lamègrè n. skinny 
person; leanness; adj. lean, skinny 
megri, amegri v. to lose weight, 
slim down mègzo, lamègzo n. skin and bones, 
walking skeleton 
620 
Mèj - mele 
Mè) prop.n. Roman Catholic youth 
organization 
Mèjeprop.n. Merger (near Gressier, 
Dept. West) 
mekanikw. mechanics; mechanic; 
adj. mechanical 
aprann ~ to study auto repair 
mekanikman adv. mechanically; by 
mechanical means 
mekanis n. mechanism 
mekanisyen n. mechanic 
mekanize v. to mechanize 
mèki n. mercury, quicksilver 
Mèkiprop.n. Mercury 
mèkiryèl n. mercurial, mercury-
based product 
mèkiwokôm see mèlkiwokom 
mèkondoleyans interj. my 
condolences 
mekontan adj. unhappy; n. 
malcontent 
mekontantman n. dissatisfaction, 
displeasure, discontent; 
unhappiness 
mèkredi n. Wednesday 
~ dèsann, - lesann, - lèsann, -
sann Ash Wednesday 
pa janm rive pi devan pase ~ 
dèsann to get no further, not get 
very far 
mekreyan adj. misbelieving, 
unbelieving; n. non-believer; 
wretch, rascal 
Meksik, Omeksikprop.n. Mexico 
Meksiken prop.n./adjMeksikèn 
f.prop.n. Mexican 
Meksikoprop.n. Mexico City 
mekte see mikte 
mèl n. blackbird; whetstone, 
grindstone 
ki - m wen! who cares! 
~ djab Antillean grackle (bird) 
- fran Hispaniolan grackle (bird) 
~ no tawny-shouldered blackbird 
~ (pou) bwa saw blade 
~ tounen millstone 
melad n. honey-colored or roan 
horse 
melado n. gossiper, gossip 
mèlan n. cobia (fish) 
melanj, melany n. mix, mixture, 
blend 
fè yon ~ to mix, blend 
Melanj Ritz Mélange Ritz 
(earliest brand of Haitian 
cigarettes, 1934-1936) 
melanje v. to mix, blend; to dilute; 
to (en)tangle, mess up; to meddle, 
be nosey, interfere in other 
people's business; to confuse 
melankoli n. melancholy 
melany see melanj 
melas n. molasses; cheap beverage 
made from sugarcane (not kleren) 
melatris, milatris, minatris: 
ala an ~ in a stiff or affected 
manner; throwing a playing top in 
the air and catching in palm of 
hand 
mèlba see metba; pèch ~ 
mele v. to mix, blend; to mix, 
associate (with); to mix up, 
disarrange, confuse; to entangle, 
be tangled (up); to mingle; to 
interfere, meddle; to involve, be 
involved; to embarrass; to be in a 
tight spot, be in a bind; to be in 
trouble; to get (s.o.) into trouble; 
adj. confused, mixed up 
Ki ~ bounda (yon moun) Who 
gives a damn about (s.o.) 
Ki ~ m!, Ki te ~ m! What do I 
care! So what! 
Ki ~ m ak Who cares about 
621 
mele - men 
- ak to associate with, have 
dealings with; to be in trouble 
with; to be stuck with or trapped by 
- fon nan to be deeply involved in 
pa ~ to abstain, refrain; to be 
neutral; uninvolved 
pa ~ ak to have nothing to do with 
melimelo, meliyismeleyo n. mess, 
disorder; hodgepodge, assortment, 
odds and ends; eclectic mixture; 
junk shop, pawnshop; busybody 
tout ~ the whole shebang, 
"everything but the kitchen sink" 
melis n. lemon balm herb 
~ mawon var. of herb 
meliton see militon 
mèlkiwokom, mèkiwokôm n. 
mercurochrome 
melodi n. melody 
melojèn, melonjèn n. var. of squash 
melomàn, melomann n. [Fr.] music 
lover 
melon n. melon 
~ dlo watermelon 
~ frans melon (similar to 
cantaloupe) 
~ lespay honeydew melon 
Melon prop.n. Melon (11th 
communal section of Cayes, Dept. 
South) 
melonjèn see melojèn 
Melonnyè prop.n. Melonnière 
(communal section of Chantai, 
Dept. South) 
melovivi n. slander, calumny 
melyasin n. long machete; var. of tree 
mèmè/w. granny, grandma 
mèmman see menmman 
memorab adj. memorable 
memorandom n. memorandum 
memorize v. [Eng.] to memorize; cf. 
aprann pa kè 
memoryal n. memorial 
memwa, lamemwa, menmwa i 
memory; report, paper, thesis 
~ poul short memory 
men n. hand; handful; manpower; 
hand, round (games); adv. here is, 
here are, there is, there are 
(pointing out); here you are, here 
you go; so much, so many, ever so 
(much), so far, that (far, big etc.); 
conj. but, yet; inter /. well well! ' 
my!; souee! (for calling pigs); see 
lanmen 
a ~ by hand 
bat ~ ankouraje chen to urge on, 
encourage; to create a commotion; 
to stir up trouble 
bay kout ~ to give a hand, help 
de ~ anlè hold-up, robbery; 
praying; celebrating 
de ~ de pye with just one's bare 
hands, with no material 
possessions 
de ~ 1 rele 1 pa 1 to have good 
strong hands, be hard-working and 
energetic; to be resourceful 
de ~ nan tèt despairing, distraught 
de ~ pann, de ~ balan, de ~ vid 
empty-handed 
dezyèm ~ used, second-hand 
di - li to assert oneself, show 
oneself, become evident 
do ~ back of hand 
fè - li to practice on, try one's 
hand at 
fè ~ li jwenn ak - yon mounto 
bribe 
fè yon - leve pou to come to the 
assistance of, help 
fè yon pase ~ nan to do some 
repairing 
gen bon - to be a successful 
622 
men - men 
caretaker or manager 
gen - to be skillful; to have a 
green thumb 
gen ~ pou to have a flair for 
kenbe ~ nan sak to catch red-
handed 
konnen ~ dwat 1! konnen ~ gôch 
li to be a great worker; to be 
resourceful 
levé - sou to hit, strike (s.o.) 
lonje ~ bay to assist, reach out to, 
help (financially) 
- ale ~ vini to give and to receive 
equally in return 
- defe hand of iron, firmly, 
harshly 
- gôch left hand; evil Voodoo 
practices 
~ kontre solidarity, togetherness 
- koule extravagant, spendthrift; 
clumsy, butter-fingered 
~ kout stingy 
- kwaze idle, inactive 
~ kwoupi stingy, grasping 
~ lejè inclined to slap or hit (for 
little reason); overly generous (in 
serving food etc.) 
~ levé withdrawal, release (jur.) 
mwen to have no dealings 
with, have no connection with; to 
be physically near s.o. but 
separated (by crowd etc.) 
-11 pran nan moulen to be 
caught in a trap 
~ li rele 1 pa 1 to be skillful, be 
handy 
~ long grasping, greedy, corrupt; 
thief 
~ lou stingy, tight 
~ nan bouch amazed, astounded; 
saddened; sadness 
~ nan kou to be close to, have an 
"in" with 
- nan machwè greatly worried; 
desperate 
~ nan - , - nan lamen hand in 
hand, together; from hand to hand; 
in person, directly 
~ nan tèt despairing, distraught 
- ni! here it is! look! 
- pa lou generous 
- pèse spendthrift, big spender 
~ pôk crippled, deformed or 
withered hand; clumsy, all thumbs 
- sere stingy 
- sou ranch disrespectful or 
defiant gesture 
- tou however 
- yon moun kontre ak - yon 15t 
to work together, be united 
~ wi of course, certainly 
~ wotè ever so high 
mete de - nan katèz to put one's 
hands on one's hips 
mete (de) - nan tèt to be 
surprised; to moan, groan, express 
pain 
mete - to start, begin (s.thg.); to 
get (down) to work; to grab, seize, 
arrest; to come to blows; to 
cooperate 
mete - alapat, mete - (li) nan 
pat la to get involved, take action 
mete - nan to participate in 
mete - nan bouch to be 
disconcerted, be bewildered, be 
perplexed 
mete - nan gagann/pat kasav/ 
kolèt to seize, grab, arrest (s.o.) 
mete - nan tèt to despair, become 
distraught 
mete - sou to grab, seize, arrest 
mete - toutbon to really get into 
(s.thg.), put one's back into (s.thg.) 
623 
men - menm 
nan - from (person); by the hand 
of, at the hand(s) of 
nan - li within one's grasp; f rom 
one's grasp; in one's hands, in 
one's charge 
pase - quick repair; to make a 
quick repair 
pase - nan bouch to snack 
pase - nan je to hide one's eyes, 
put on blinders 
pase - nan tèt yon moun to 
caress, cajole s.o. 
pase - pran to grab 
pase - sou to correct, discipline 
pase nan - to pass through one's 
hands, have had in one's 
possession or grasp 
pla - , plan - , plat - palm (of 
hand) 
pran - (li) to get in line, shape up, 
pull oneself together 
pran - ou! be careful! 
pran nan - to believe; to grab, 
seize 
rete yon - devan yon - dèyè to 
be totally destitute 
retounen ak - li to return empty-
handed 
sere - to wring one's hands 
sou - at hand, close to 
sou - li really with it, on top of 
things, really knowing what one is 
doing 
travay ak de - (of a Voodoo 
priest) to perform both good and 
evil 
voye - to greet; to beg 
voye - (bay) to wave (to/at) 
yon - devan yon - dèyè totally 
destitute 
yon (ti) kenbe - somewhat menial 
job 
Men {pronounced: Me*) m» t 
Maine (USA) 
MEN acron. Ministè Edikasy* 
Nasyonal Ministry of National 
Education 
menaj see mennaj 
menaje v. to spare, protect, treat 
kindly; to save, economize; of. 
household, domestic 
pa - bouch li to not mince word 
state in no uncertain terms 
sant - , lekol - home economics 
training center 
menajè, mennajè nmenajèz/t 
housekeeper; cleaning woman; 
house maid 
menas, mennas n. threat, menace 
fè - to threaten 
menasan, mennasan adj. 
threatening 
menase, mennase v. to threaten, 
menace 
menay see mennaj 
mendèv n. manpower; workforce; 
workers; honest price; labor cost 
mené n. leader, conductor 
menenjit see mennenjit 
mengrèt, mengle, menglèt adj. 
scrawny, skinny 
meni n. menu 
menizye n. [Fr.] cabinetmaker 
MENJS acron. (Ministè Edikisyet 
Nasyonal Jennès ak Espè) 
Ministry of National Education, of 
Youth and of Sports 
menm adv. even; exactly, precisely; 
very; in addition, further; pro*. 
self; adj. same, identical, alike 
jôdi a - on this very day 
- ak same as 
— (for emphasis) 
- . . . - a s soon a s j u s t as 
624 
menm - menwizye 
the same way that... 
- parèy identical 
- sa ou tande a at that very time, 
right then 
pa... ~ not at all 
se sa exactly! it's exactly that! 
Menmfis prop.n. [Bible] Memphis 
menmiz: 
gen - sou, fè - sou to have power 
over, dominate, control 
menmki: 
- menmka similar, exactly the 
same 
menmman, mèmman adv. likewise, 
similarly; equally 
~ parèyman equally, the same as 
always, as usual; likewise 
menmsi conj. even if 
menmwa see memwa 
mennaj, menaj, menay, mennay n. 
boyfriend; girlfriend; fïancé(e); 
married couple, household; 
housework; pair (of animals) of 
each sex 
fè bon - to get along well together 
(man and woman) 
mennaj è see menaj è 
mennas see menas 
mennasan see menasan 
mennase see menase 
mennay see mennaj 
mennè n. herdsman (who leads 
cattle to market - cf. mawoule) 
mennen v. to take, lead, bring; to 
drive 
byen - to succeed, prosper; to 
become wealthy; to live it up 
^ ale to take away; to kill; to 
return, bring back 
~ bak (li) to run one's business, 
run one's affairs; to lead, conduct 
~ bay to bring to 
- kont to start a fight, create 
trouble 
- soti to lead out, take out 
- tounen to take back, bring back 
- tounen bay to bring back for 
- vini to bring forth; to bring 
along; to bring back, return; 
comings and goings 
- yon avyon to fly an airplane 
- zafè to conduct business 
mennenjit, menenjit n. meningitis 
menni! interj. here it is! look! 
mennonit, menonit n./adj. 
Mennonite 
mennot, menot, minôt n. handcuffs 
mennote see minote 
mennwit see minwi 
menonit see mennonit 
menopoz, menopoz n. menopause 
Menos (Solon) prop.n. Ménos 
(Solon) - Haitian statesman (1859-
1918) 
menot see mennot 
menote see minote 
Menowa prop.n. Menorah 
mens adj. slim, thin, slender 
mensi v. to become thin 
Menskprop.n. Minsk (Belarus) 
mentfwa adv. [Fr.] many a time, 
time and time again 
mentnan adv. [Fr.] now 
mentnans n. maintenance, up-keep 
mentni v. to maintain, keep; to keep 
back, restrain; to stay, remain 
mentyen n. [Fr.] preservation, 
upholding 
menvil n. var. of mango 
menwèt {pronounced: me-nwèt) n. 
old-fashioned dance, minuet 
menwi, menwit see minwi 
menwizye {pronounced: me-
nwizye), minizye n. carpenter 
625 
menyè - meskinri 
menyè see manyè 
mepri n. contempt, scorn 
mepriz n. mistake, error 
meprizab adj. contemptible, 
despicable 
meprizan adj. contemptuous, 
scornful, aloof 
meprize v. to despise, scorn, snub, 
look down on; to slight; to ignore 
meprizè: 
- pèp traitor, hypocrite 
mera n. trap, pitfall; poison; portion 
of a workday; corn kernel dipped 
in raw rum 
pran nan (s6s) - , lage ko li nan ~ 
to fall into a trap, get into trouble, 
get into a mess 
mere adv. [AT.] here is [used only by 
street vendors] 
mereng, merenge n. merengue, 
meringue (popular dance rhythm); 
meringue (<cul.) - cf. krèm blan ze 
konkou - Mardi Gras music 
competition 
- kanaval, - koudjay fast-tempo 
merengue 
- salon slow refined merengue 
merès n. dye (for leather) 
meri, lameri n. townhall, city hall 
meridyen n. meridian 
Meridyonal prop.n. inhabitant of 
the Dept. South 
meriken, Merikèn see ameriken, 
Amerikèn 
merilan n. poor-quality mango; 
reject, waste; lackey, servant 
(pej)\ adj. cheap, poor quality 
fè - to be obsequious, servile 
Merilann, Marilann prop.n. 
Maryland (USA) 
merilyen n. lackey, servant 
Merin prop.n. (U.S.) Marine (milit.) 
merisken see ameriken 
merit n. merit 
gen - to be deserving, be wor% 
merite v. to merit, deserve; to 
require, need; interj. you're 
welcome! don't mention it! 
meritwa adj. meritorious 
meriyann n. var. offish 
mèryon n. two-headed fishhook 
attached to metal drum (for 
catching sharks) 
mès n. customs, habits, behavior, 
misbehavior, bad habits; mess; 
Mass (rel.) 
bon - good behavior 
gen - to have vices 
gran - High Mass 
- bas Low Mass 
move - , ti - dissoluteness 
mesaj see mesay 
mesaje, mesajè n., mesajèzf.n 
messenger, courier; envoy 
mesay, mesaj n. message; church 
sermon 
bay - to prophesy 
Mèsedès prop.n. Mercedes 
mèsenè n./adj. mercenary; n. soldier 
of fortune 
mesi n. messiah 
Mesiprop.n. Messiah 
mèsi n. thanks, appreciation; interj. 
thank you; stop here (on taptap, 
shared taxi etc.) 
pou - bokou/mouche without 
thanks, in vain, for nothing; 
disinterestedly; free of charge; cf. 
pou gremesi 
Mèsi prop.n. Mercy (9th communal 
section of Cayes, Dept. South) 
mesken n. warts (reg.); adj. petty, 
small 
meskinri n. [Fr.] pettiness 
mesten - mèt 
mesten see medsen 
m e s d k è n n. var. of flower 
mestiyen see metsiyen 
mesye, mche, misye, mousye, msye 
n. mister, Mr.; sir; gentleman, man, 
companion; husband; pron. he, 
his, him; cf. mouche 
- Fransis var. of mango 
pa -/pa madanm entèl to not be 
known, have no standing 
(ti) - (young) man, guy 
mesyedam pl.n. ladies and 
gentlemen; people (even if only 
one man and one woman) 
~ lasosyete ladies and gentlemen 
(formal opening for speech) 
met see mete 
mèt n. master; school teacher, 
professor; expert; lawyer; title of 
respect esp. for lawyers, but also 
used occ. for judges, teachers, 
pastors, and prosperous men in 
general; owner; director or 
sponsor of a bann rara (q.v.) or 
rock group; meter; tape measure; 
aux. may (permission); conj. even 
if 
chè - chè métrés, janti - janti 
métrés (true/real) master, owner, 
proprietor 
Gran Mèt God, the Lord 
l i te- even if he/she ...: 
whether; whatever 
- abitasyon protective spirit of a 
given locality 
~ afè person in charge 
~ akoulis tape measure 
- an bwa folding wooden tape 
measure 
~ apantè surveyor's tape measure 
~ bann leader of rara band; 
headman, head honcho, big cheese 
- baryè see ~ gagé 
- Bitasyon see Legba 
- boutik shopkeeper 
- bwa Hispaniolan stygian owl; 
var. parasitical plant 
- chanté show-off, big talker 
- chenn helper on a truck; cf. bèf 
chenn 
- e senyè lord and master 
- gagé, - baryè gatekeeper at 
cockfight arena 
- gason see mètagason 
- Granchimen see Legba 
- Janjak jack-of-all-trades; 
resourceful person 
- jwèt lord and master; owner of 
premises where a game is being 
played; master of ceremonies 
- Kafou see Legba 
- kay householder; host 
- ke controller, regulator, 
restrainer (can be a person, or an 
object such as a whip) 
- kèsyon authority, expert 
- kèsyon debounda executioner, 
hangman 
- kizin chef 
- k6, - mô next of kin (of the 
deceased) 
- kont master story-teller; smooth 
talker 
- koze master of ceremonies 
- minwi evil spirit 
- mô see ~ kô 
- ôm, - twôm masterful or 
outstanding man 
- ounfô particular guardian spirit 
of a Voodoo temple 
- pèl mason 
- peyi influential person 
- pliyan folding ruler 
- priyè see prêt savann 
627 
mèt - mete 
- riban meter tape 
~ seremoni master of ceremonies 
- Simityè, - Senmityè see 
Bawon Samdi 
- tè landowner 
- tèt one's principal protective 
Voodoo spirit 
- tèt li sovereign, autonomous 
- travay boss, overseer 
- tw6m see ~ 6m 
- (vant), mèd vant placenta, 
afterbirth 
- woulan tape measure 
ou te - ... even if you whether; 
whatever 
rele chè - chè métrés to belong to 
te - . . . te - ... either ... or, whether 
... or whether 
yo te - sa yo te ye whoever they 
may be, all persons without 
exception 
metab adj. wearable (clothes) 
metafizik n. metaphysics; adj. 
metaphysical 
metafo n. [Fr.] metaphor 
mètagason, mèt gason n. con artist, 
con man, shrewd operator 
metal n. metal 
- deplwaye expanded metal 
(mesh) 
metalik adj. metal, metallic 
metamofoz n. [Fr.] metamorphosis 
metamofoze v. [Fr.] to 
metamorphose, transform 
metàn n. methane 
metba, medba v. to whelp, give 
birth (animals) 
metche see metye 
mètdam, mèddam adj. sly, cunning, 
shrewd; n. con artist, con man, 
smart operator; deception, cunning 
mete, met v. to lay, put, put in, 
insert; to put on, wear (clothes)-to 
apply (ointment etc.); to set, pie 
lay; to take (time); to begin, start' 
to; to appoint, name; let's say that 
(mete form only) 
~ apse sou klou see apse 
- ak, - avèk to join together with, 
act in unison; to take sides with; to 
compare with; together with 
- aklè to elucidate, define, spell 
out 
- akote to put aside, forget 
~ aleka to put on the sidelines, 
push aside 
- an/nan to translate 
- an gad to warn, caution 
- an mach to set in motion, start 
up 
- an reta to delay, make (s.o.) late 
- ansanm to join together; to 
work together 
- (ansanm) ak to take sides with, 
agree with, join with; to compare 
with 
- apa to quarantine, isolate 
- atè to put down, deposit; to 
plant; to abandon, give up; to fire, 
lay off; to overthrow; to whelp, 
give birth (animals); to bet; to kill 
- ba to whelp, give birth 
(animals); to put down, lay down 
- ba lezam to lay down arms, stop 
fighting 
- bout ak to put an end to, bring 
to a close - dan to eat; to put teeth into 
- de pye (yon moun) nan yon sèl 
grenn soulye to hinder, hamper, 
encumber 
- debou to stand up 
- dekote to put aside 
- devan to use as a pretext 
mete - mete 
- dèyè to set out after, pursue 
- deyô to show, reveal; to make 
public; to stick out, extend; to 
expend, exert; to issue, bring out; 
to take out; to publish; to beat it, 
run away, leave; to dismiss, expel, 
kick out; to excrete; to spend 
(money), finance; to consult a 
Voodoo priest/priestess 
- dife to set on fire; arson 
- do (yon moun) atè to down, 
defeat, overcome (s.o.) 
~ jèn to rejuvenate 
- kanpe (sou de pye) to rise up; 
to set up, establish 
- ko li deyô to leave; to make an 
effort; to consult a Voodoo priest/ 
priestess 
~ ko li yon kote to stand aside, 
withdraw 
~ konfyans nan to believe in, 
trust 
~ kouche to put to bed 
~ la to keep on hand, keep on 
reserve; to save; to put back, 
return; on hand, on reserve 
~ ladan to include 
~ lajan deyô to disburse; to invest 
~ li an kat to do all one can, do 
one's best 
~ li anba to take s.o. in, deceive; 
to give s.o. a ride 
- li dwa(t) to straighten up (one's 
body) 
~ li kôrèk to be ready (for s.thg.); 
to fill one's stomach 
~ li sou sa to get involved 
~ m atè leave me out (of it), don't 
include me, I'm not getting 
involved 
~ men to start, begin (s.thg.); to 
get (down) to work; to grab, seize, 
629 
arrest; to come to blows; to 
cooperate 
~ men alapat, ~ men nan pat to 
get involved, take action 
~ men nan to participate in 
~ men nan pat kasav, ~ men nan 
senti to grab, seize, overpower 
~ men nan tèt to despair, become 
distraught 
~ men sou to grab, seize, arrest 
~ min sou to be annoyed (at), 
frown (at), express displeasure (at) 
~ moun sou li see ~ nanm sou li 
~ nan to include; to mislead; to 
induce 
- nan dèyè yon moun, - pou yon 
moun to light into s.o., tell s.o. 
off, rake s.o. over the coals 
- nan tè to plant 
- nan tèt to think, believe, assume 
~ nanm/moun sou li to be firm or 
resolute, act with vigor 
- opye to put down, stamp out, do 
away with 
- (ou) nan plas/po li to put 
(yourself) in s.o.'s shoes 
- pase genyen to exaggerate 
- paten nan pye to skate off, take 
off, clear out 
- pitit atè to breed like flies, have 
kids left and right 
- po fig/mango anba pye/sou 
wout to set a trap 
~ pou yon moun see ~ nan dèyè 
yon moun 
~ rad to get dressed 
~ rete ak moun to place [a child] 
as a restavèk (4.v.) with s.o. 
~ so to affix a seal 
~ sou to add to, add on 
- sou de pye to put into working 
condition 
mete - meto 
- sou do to accuse, hold 
responsible 
~ sou kè (yon moun) to pour out 
one's heart to (s.o.), tell (s.o.) all 
about s.thg. 
~ sou kote to put aside, save; to 
set aside, disregard; to marginalize 
~ sou li (ankè) moreover, in 
addition; what is even worse 
~ sou moun to socialize 
~ sou papye to write down 
~ sou pye to set up, organize, 
establish 
~ sou sa moreover, furthermore, in 
addition (to); what is even worse; 
to encourage, incite; to seduce 
~ sou tè to give birth to 
~ (tèt) ak to side with 
~ tèt anba to mix up, disrupt 
~ tèt ansanm to cooperate; to 
agree 
~ tèt li anplas to come to one's 
senses 
~ tèt pou to head toward, go in the 
direction of 
~ tout dan li deyô to grin from ear 
to ear, break out into a broad smile 
~ tout kaka chat deyô to let the 
cat out of the bag, spill the beans, 
reveal a secret 
~ tout kouray sou li to summon 
up all one's strength 
~ tout moun dakô to bring about 
an agreement or consensus 
~ yon bagay lekôl to pawn, hock 
~ (yon moun) atè to overcome, 
defeat (s.o.) 
~ (yon moun) klè to enlighten 
(s.o.), explain (to s.o.) 
- (yon moun) nan plas li to 
rebuff, rebuke (s.o.) 
~ yon moun yon kote pou solèy 
pa bat li to put behind bars, put 
away, lockup 
- y o n pwen ba nan to put an ead 
to, finish off 
- zèl nan pye to take flight, fee 
- zorèy li an twonpèt to listen^ 
listen closely 
pa - to omit 
pa - dlo nan bouch li not to 
mince words 
san ~ san wete neither more BOT 
less 
metè ansèn n. producer (theater); 
director (cinema) 
metewoloji see meteyoloji 
metewolojik see meteyolojik 
meteyaj n. [jFr.] sharecropping, 
tenant farming 
meteye n. [Fr.] sharecropper, cf. 
demwatye 
Meteye (Twou) prop.n. major canal 
crossing Cité Soleil (q.v.) and 
leading to the sea 
meteyo n. weather report 
meteyô n. meteor 
meteyolôg, meteyolojis n. 
meteorologist, weather forecaster 
meteyoloji, metewoloji n. 
meteorology 
meteyolojik, metewolojik adj. 
meteorological, weather 
bilten - weather report 
meteyolojis see meteyolôg 
meteyorit n. meteorite 
metilèn n. methylene 
metis n. half-caste, half breed 
mètjwèt adj. crafty, wily, artful; n 
unscrupulous person 
mètke n. authority figure, mentor, 
feared or respected advisor 
meto: 
si a siyameto hacksaw 
630 
metôd - mezanmi! 
metôd n. method, way, procedure, 
process, system; elementary 
reader, primer (book) 
- natirèl, - almanak rhythm 
method (birth control) 
metodis n/adj. Methodist 
metodoloji n. methodology 
meton see admeton 
Metouchela prop.n. [Bible] 
Methuselah 
mètpwent adj. crafty, wily, sly, 
cunning; n. unscrupulous person 
métrés, métrés f.n. mistress; 
proprietress, owner 
- kay lady of the house; hostess 
- lekol (woman) school teacher 
Métrés, Métrés prop.n. title for 
Ezili (q.v.) 
metrèsdam f.n. sly crafty woman 
metri, mètri v. to bruise 
metrik adj. metric; n. metrics 
(poetry) 
mètriye adj. murderous; cf. fann 
fwa 
metriz n. mastery, control; master's 
degree 
metrize v. to master, control; to 
master, learn thoroughly; to 
overpower 
mètsen see medsen 
metsin, medsin laxative, purgative; 
see lamedsin 
- chwal potent medicine 
pran - sou kont pentad mawon 
to spend money one doesn't have, 
make plans based on wishes only 
metsiyen, medsiyen, mestiyen n. 
medicine plant {specific var.) 
~ barachen jatropha (bot.) 
Var.: gwo - , - beni 
metsosoprano n. mezzo-soprano 
metwo n. [Fr.] subway 
metwononm n. metronome (music) 
metwopol, lametwopol n. 
metropolis; mother country, 
colonizing country 
metwopoliten adj. metropolitan 
(usu. referring to PaP) 
metye, metche n. trade, occupation, 
profession; habit 
ale nan - to go to professional 
school 
- a tise weaving loom 
nan ~ (professional) homosexual 
pa di - li not to be one's thing, not 
be good at 
mé(vant) n. placenta, afterbirth 
mèvèy n. marvel, wonder 
mèveye adj. wonderful, marvelous, 
splendid 
Mewôtprop.n. Mérotte (near 
l'Arcahaie, Dept. West) 
mewou n. grouper (fish) 
meyakoulpa n. mea culpa, 
confession of guilt 
bat % fè (yon) - to confess one's 
guilt/mistakes 
Meyans prop.n. Méance (Tortuga 
Island, Dept. North-West) 
meyè see miyô 
- mache cheaper, less expensive 
Meyè prop.n. Meyer (immediately 
east of Jacmel, Dept. South-East) 
mèyè see manyè 
mèzalô, mezalô interj. but then, 
however 
mezalyans n. misalliance, 
unfortunate union 
mezanfan, mèzanfan n. of address 
my children 
mezanj n. titmouse, chickadee 
mezanmi! interj. wow! man! good 
grief! (denoting surprise, shock, 
disbelief); n. of address my friends 
631 
mezantant - mîchèlmoren 
mezantant n. misunderstanding 
mezavanti n. misadventure, 
misfortune 
mezestime v. to underestimate, 
underrate, have little regard for 
mezi, mizi n. measurement; 
dimension; size (clothing); 
measure, quantity; measure, 
action, expedient; measure (music 
notation); two and one-half 
gallons [Bible]; adv. as much (as), 
as many (as); all (the), whole; 
enough; adj. every; many 
an - as long as; to be in a position 
(to do s.thg.) 
an - ... an - the more ... the more 
bay nan ti - to ration (out) 
- lajan ou ~ wanga ou you get 
what you pay for 
- ... ~ in the same way that, just 
as; in direct proportion to; the 
more... the more 
~ pye li his/her size; his/her 
(social) rank or status 
nan bon ti - well and clear; in full 
measure 
pran - to measure 
mezire, mizire v. to measure; to 
watch, keep an eye on; to try on 
(clothing); to measure up to, 
compare with 
byen - accurate 
- de (2) pou senk (5) to be 
everywhere, be widespread 
mezon n. [Fr.] house; commercial 
enterprise; see lamezon 
Mezon Blanch White House 
(Washington D.C.) 
- (d)edisyon publishing house, 
publisher 
- finèb funeral home, funeral parlor 
~ komès n. store 
mezondafè n. pawnshop 
mete nan - , ale nan -, pote nan 
~ to pawn, hock 
Mezopotami prop.n. [Bible] 
Mesopotamia 
Mgr abbrev. monseyè 
(monseigneur) archbishop; bishop 
mi n. wall; blueberry; mulberry; E 
(music); losing chip (dominoes); 
adj. ripe; mature; worn-out, 
threadbare; false, fake (in games): 
middle (of month); mid; adv. here 
is, here are; see fig mi 
kay (an) - stone or concrete 
house 
- fig - rezen wishy-washy, 
hesitant, vacillating, irresolute; 
wry, half-humorous 
- sèk dry-wall bench terrace, rock 
terracing (to prevent erosion) 
~ woz var. of mango 
vin - to ripen 
miba v. to whelp, give birth 
(animals) 
Mibalè prop.n. Mirebalais (Dept. 
Center) 
Mibalezyen prop.n., Mibalezyèn 
f.prop.n. inhabitant of Mirebalais 
(Dept. Center) 
Mich m. or f.prop.n. nickname for 
Michèl; see Fonmelon 
mich, mit n. soft part of bread 
michan see mechan 
Miche, Mikaprop.n. [Bible] Micah 
Michèl prop.n. Michael 
Michèl (Jôj) prop.n. Michel 
(Georges) - contemporary Haitian 
historian 
michèlmoren n. jack-of-all-trades, 
general utility man; social 
butterfly, social animal 
632 
Michigan(n) - mil 
Vlichigan(n)prop.n. Michigan 
(USA) 
Vtichlinf.prop.n. Micheline 
michmich v. to flicker 
Micho m.prop.n. nickname for 
Michèl 
midèleskoul n. [Eng.] middle 
school, junior high school 
midi n. noon, midday; break, time-
out 
a - sonan high noon, at noon 
sharp 
gwo ~ high noon; in broad 
daylight 
pare p r a n - to take a lunch 
break 
midonnen see anmidonnen 
mifig mirezen see mi 
migan, miganm n. very tiny bits, 
scattered remnants; ritualistic 
potion prepared with blood of 
sacrificed animals, sugar, spices 
etc. (Voodoo) 
fè ~ to be completely broken 
migannen v. to shatter, smash into 
tiny bits 
migèl adj. complicated, difficult 
migran n./adj. migrant 
migrasyon n. migration 
migratwa adj. immigration 
migrèn, migrenn n. (any) serious 
headache; migraine 
mijonnen v. to plot, scheme 
mijote v. to simmer, cook slowly, 
stew; to plot, brew (fig.) 
Mika see Miche 
mikalaw: 
fè - to abound, be plentiful, teem 
with, overflow with, swarm with 
mikarèm n. third Thursday of Lent 
mikayèl n. var. of mango 
Mikèlanj prop.n. Michelangelo 
mikèz n. mucous membrane 
Miki m.prop.n. nickname for Michèl 
mikmak n. mixing together, 
jumbling; jumble, confusion; adj. 
disparate, ill-assorted, badly 
matched 
an - complex, complicated 
fè - to abound, be numerous; to 
blink 
mikmik adj. over-ripe, beginning to 
spoil; moist, sodden, mildewed 
miko see mikwo 
mikob see mikwôb 
miko riz n. var. of useful bacteria on 
tree roots 
miks adj. coeducational, coed; 
mixed, joint (group) 
mikse v. to mix or combine sounds 
in recording 
mikte, mekte v. to moisten, dampen 
mikwo, miko prefix micro-; n. mike, 
microphone 
mikwôb, mikôb n. microbe, germ, 
organism, bacteria 
mikwobyoloji n. microbiology 
mikwobyolojis n. microbiologist 
mikwoekonomik adj. small-scale 
mikwofich n. microfiche 
mikwofim n. microfilm 
mikwofon n. microphone, mike 
mikwokasèt n. microcassette 
recorder; dictaphone 
Mikwonezi prop.n. Micronesia 
mikwosiyon n. long-playing 
(phonograph) record 
mikwoskôp n. microscope 
mikwoskôpik adj. microscopic 
mikwotchip n. microchip 
mikwowev, mikwowonn n. 
microwave (oven) 
mil num. (one) thousand; n. mile 
- alè miles per hour 
milaj - mimi 
~ e ~ thousands of 
- kare, - 2 square mile 
milaj n. mileage 
milan num. one thousand years; n. 
kite (bird) 
milat, moulat m.n., milatrès, 
miyatrès f.n. mulatto (light-
skinned, straight silky hair, 
Caucasian facial features) 
milatris see melatris 
mildyou n. mildew (plant disease) 
mile, milè, milèt n. mountain mullet 
(fish) 
milenè, milennè, milennyèm, 
milenyèm (pronounced: mi-le-
nyôm), milyenyom (pronounced: 
mil-ye-nyôm) n. millennium, 
thousand years 
milèt n. mule; sterile woman (pej.); 
see mile 
mileyaj n. mileage 
milfèy n. millefeuille (pastry) 
miligram n. milligram 
mililit n. milliliter 
milimèt n. millimeter 
milis, minis n. militia; VSN (q.v.) 
milisyen, minisyen n. militiaman; 
member of the VSN (q.v.) 
militan n./adj., militant f.n. militant, 
political activist 
militans, militantis n. militancy; 
political activism 
militarizasyon n. militarization 
militarize v. to militarize 
milite v. to militate; to campaign, 
argue 
milité n./adj. military; n. soldier 
militèman adv. militarily 
militon, meliton n. chayote squash 
Var.: ~ blan, - nwa, ~ swa 
Milo prop.n. Milot (site of Henry 
Christophe's palace of Sans-Souci, 
Dept. North); nickname forEmij 
Milosyenprop.n., MUosyèn 
h a b i t a n t of Milot (Dept. 
milpat, milpye see anmilpye 
milti- prefix multi-
miltikiltirèl adj. multicultural 
miltikolô adj. multi-colored 
miltilateral adj. multilateral 
miltimedya n. multimedia 
miltimilyonè n. multimillionaire 
miltinasyonal n. multinational 
corporation; adj. multinational 
miltip adj. multiple 
miltipatit adj. multipartite, 
multilateral 
miltiplikasyon n. multiplication 
miltiplikatè n. multiplier 
miltipliye, miltipliyen, miltiplyev. 
to multiply 
miltitid n. multitude 
milya num. billion 
milyadè n. billionaire 
milyadyèm adj. billionth 
milye n. thousand(s); milieu, 
surroundings, environment; center, 
middle 
milyèm adj. thousandth 
milyenyom see milenè 
milyon num. million 
- ven oodles, lots and lots; 
unreasonable price 
milyonè, milyonnè n. millionaire 
milyonyèm adj. millionth 
mim n. mime, miming 
mimi n. (pussy)cat (fam)\ thief, 
crook (fam.) 
fè ~ - to see spots (in front of 
one's eyes) 
- ak makou pussycat and tomcat, 
Romeo and Juliet; good friends 
~ (pouch) pussycat, kitty 
634 
mimire - minyati 
pote - bay makou to lead lambs 
to the slaughter 
ti-kitten 
mimire v. [Fr.] to grumble, complain 
mimyografye v. to mimeograph 
min n. facial appearance, look, 
countenance; wrinkle, furrow; 
(pencil) lead, graphite; ink 
cartridge (for pen); mine, quarry; 
landmine, booby trap; unit of 
weight slightly heavier than a 
quarter of a pound [Bible] ; adj. 
tough, steady, firm 
fe ~ to wrinkle (clothes) 
fouye ~ mining 
mare ~ (sou), mete - (sou), mare 
twa/kat/sèt - (byen mare) nan 
fwon li to be annoyed (at), frown 
(at), express displeasure (at) 
minab adj. wretched, pitiful; 
shabby, seedy 
minatris see melatris 
miné n. minor, adolescent; miner; 
minor scale (music); see tè ~ 
byen ~ inheritance 
ti - (pwèl pis) kid; young male 
virgin 
minen, mine v. to mine, dig; to wear 
down, weaken; to sap, drain, 
undermine, eat away; to ruin 
mineral n./adj. mineral 
Minesotaprop.n. Minnesota (USA) 
minewo n. mineral(s) 
mini n. miniskirt; prefix mini-
~ djaz rock group 
minibis n. minibus 
minijip n. miniskirt 
Minikprop.n. Munich 
minim adj. insignificant 
mini(mini)zwit adv. very very tiny 
minimize v. to minimize, lessen 
minimom n./adj. minimum; adv. at 
least, at the lowest (cost) 
minipye see anmilpye 
minis n. minister (government); 
clergyman; see milis 
- finans, ~ kasasyon, - lagè 
honorary titles for officers of 
certain collective work groups 
sis - de prezidan politicos, 
dignitaries, bigwigs 
minisipal adj. municipal 
minisipalite n. municipality; city 
hall, town hall 
minisivil n. (fam.) same as Tonton 
Makout (see makout) 
miniskil n./adj. small (letter), 
lowercase 
ministè n. ministry (government; 
church) 
ministeryèl adj. ministerial 
minisyen see milisyen 
minisyon n. ammunition 
minit n. minute (time); original of 
official document 
minivann n. minivan (mach.) 
minizye see menwizye 
minorité n. (political or racial) 
minority 
minorité adj. minority 
minôt see mennèt 
minote, mennote, menote v. to 
handcuff; to shackle 
minotri n. flour-mill 
Minouprop.n. traditional name for 
cats 
minrè n. (copper, iron etc.) ore 
minwi, mennwit, menwi, menwit, 
minwit n. midnight 
gwo - very late at night 
janbe ~ past midnight 
mèt ~ devil 
plen - late at night 
minyati adj. miniature 
635 
minye - mistikman 
minye adj. mining 
minyom n. red lead paint 
Mipana acron. MUPANAH Mize 
Panteyon Nasyonal Ayisyen 
(Musée du Panthéon National 
Haïtien) Museum of the Haitian 
National Pantheon - the official 
museum of the Haitian people 
mir n. [Bible] myrrh 
mira n. small konbit (q.v.) 
Miragwàn, Miragwann prop.n. 
Miragoâne founded 1670 (Dept. 
Grand'Anse) 
lak ~ Lake Miragoâne (12 km 2) 
Miragwanè, Miragwaneyen, 
prop.n., Miragwanèz, 
Miragwaneyèn fprop. n. 
inhabitant of Miragoâne (Dept. 
Grand'Anse) 
miraj n. mirage, illusion; see miray 
mirak n. miracle; adj. miraculous 
fè yon ~ to perform a miracle 
mirakilèzman adv. miraculously 
mirai n. mural; adj. wall 
miray, miraj n. wall, partition 
fè ~ to wall up 
miraye v. to enclose with a wall 
mire v. (obs.) to see 
miri v. [Fr.] to ripen 
Miryam f.prop.n. Miriam 
mirye n. mulberry tree 
mis n. nurse; lady, miss; var. of 
mango 
ti ~ var. of com 
mis, misk n. muscle; brawn; coccyx; 
adj. muscular (system) 
~ dèyè, zo ~ coccyx 
~ tonbe to have lower-back pain 
misèk see mi sèk 
misèl n. prayer book 
misil n. missile Misisipi prop.n. Mississippi (USA) 
Misiz title Mrs. 
misk see mis 
miska n. var. of mango; nuta* 
miskad, maskadin, miski* 
nutmeg 
degaje-lito be trying 
miskaden n. love potion 
miskadin see miskad 
miskèt, miske n. var. of good 
quality banana 
miskilati n. muscle structure, 
musculature 
miskilè adj. [Fr.] muscular(syta, 
miskle adj. muscular, strong, 
brawny 
Miso prop.n. Musseau (weahisy 
residential area of PaP) 
Misouri, Mizouri prop.n. Mim 
(USA) 
mispipi n. var. of plantain 
mistè n. mystery, secret, enignac 
secrecy, mysterious ways;¥»è» 
spirit; guardian spirit, the 
Invisibles; [Eng.] mister, Mf; 
spirit retribution; adj. mystenooi 
secret, unimaginable 
kay - inner sanctuary of Voodoo 
temple containing altar 
sévi ~ to practice the Voodoo 
religion 
misterye adj. mysterious 
misteryèzman adv. mysteriously 
mistifikasyon n. deception, trick 
mistifye v. to deceive, trick, fool 
mistik n. Voodoo; magic, 
supernatural; adj. supernatunl 
magical; imbued with supenatunl 
powers; superstitious, credulous, 
obsessed 
fè ~ to employ supernatural 
powers 
mistikman adv. magically, 
636 
misye - mizajou 
supernaturally 
misye see mesye 
misyon n. mission, task, assignment; 
mission, missionary post; message 
jnisyonè, misyonnè n. missionary 
mit n. moth; mite (insect); red 
stopper, rodwood, spiceberry 
(small tree or shrub); (bishop's) 
miter; myth (rare); see mich 
- pwa bean weevil 
mitan n./adj. middle, center; n. half 
time (sports) 
mete nan ~ to interpose, intervene 
- janm crotch 
~je iris 
nan - between, among; within 
mitasyon n. [Fr.] mutation 
mitèn n. mitten 
mitije v. to do carelessly, mess up 
mitile v. [Fr.] to mutilate 
mitin, miting n. political rally, mass-
gathering; meeting 
mitoloji n. mythology 
mitolojik adj. mythological 
mitonnen v. to simmer; to develop, 
evolve; to mash, squash; to harbor 
(hopes etc.); to beat up (s.o.) 
mitray n. grapeshot; trouble 
mitrayad n. volley of shots; 
machine-gun fire 
mitrayaj n. machine-gun fire 
mitraye v. to machine-gun 
mitrayèt n. submachine gun 
mitrayèz n. machine gun 
Mitsoubichi, Mitsibichi prop.n. 
Mitsubishi 
mitwayen adj. adjoining, adjacent, 
neighboring 
mityak see matyak 
mityèl n. mutual, cooperative; adj. 
mutual Mivil (Èns) prop.n. Mirville (Ernst); 
pseudonym: Pyè Banbou Haitian 
doctor, linguist, anthropologist and 
writer; author Tim-Tim, Deviz; 
born 1940 
miwa n. mirror 
bèl pase/kou ~ dèzanj/dèzany 
extraordinarily beautiful 
~ dèzany/lèzany bright shiny 
object 
klere kou ~ dèzanj/dèzany to 
shine brightly, glisten, glow 
miwate, miwaze v. to glisten, gleam 
miwomiba adj. midway; uneven, 
unequal; adv. unevenly, unequally 
fè ~ to have ups and downs 
san ~ without falter, without 
fluctuation 
miwon adj. fast, immediate 
Miyami prop.n. Miami (Florida) 
mlyan miyan v. to twinkle; to form 
a mishmash, be jumbled 
miyatrès see milatrès 
miyèt, myèt n. crumb, tiny piece; 
scattered pieces 
fè ~ moso, fè ~ an - to be 
shattered (into many pieces) 
kraze ~ moso to shatter 
~ an - bit by bit, little by little 
~ moso fragments, bits; in bits and 
pieces 
~ pen breadcrumb; cf. chapli 
ti ~ ankô by a hair's breadth 
miyo, meyè adj./adv. better 
miyon adj. sweet, cute, dainty 
miyonnay n. caressing, fondling; 
pampering, coddling 
miyonnen v. to caress, fondle; to 
pamper, coddle 
miz n. stake, bet 
mizado n. slowpoke, dawdler, idler; 
adj. slow 
mizajou n. up-dating 
637 
mizandisponibilite - mo 
mizandisponibilite see 
disponibilité 
mizangad ru [Fr.] warning, caution 
mizanpaj n. make-up (typography) 
mizanplas n. setting up, formulation 
mizansèn n. production (theater) 
mizapa adv. notwithstanding, 
putting aside 
mize v. to dawdle, linger, loiter, 
waste time, dillydally; to bet, 
stake; n. museum 
- botba to surrender, give in 
~ Da Ayisyen Museum of Haitian 
Art (PaP) 
mizè, lamizè, lanmizè n. poverty, 
misery, suffering, hardship 
bat - to have a hard life; to be 
destitute 
fè pase ~ to mistreat; to torture 
~ ki pa rete ak ~ absolute poverty 
pase manje ~ to suffer 
hardship, have a hard time 
mizèn: 
ma ~ foremast 
vwal ~ foresail 
mizerab adj./n. miserable, wretched, 
pitiful; poor, destitute 
pov ~ poor devil, poor soul 
mizèrere n. misery, suffering; adj. 
miserable 
mizèrikèd, lamizerikod, 
lanmizerikod, mizèrikèd n. 
mercy, forgiveness 
gen ~ to be merciful 
ti ~ weewee (small boy's penis) 
mizi see mezi 
mizik, lamizik n. music, tune; band, 
orchestra, musical group 
- angaje politically or socially 
concerned music 
~ apye strolling music group 
~ dansant commercial dance music 
- de fon background music 
- mobil carnival music group 
foot or on float) 
~ r a s in , ~ lakay roots music 
~ savant classical music 
- sou machin music group on a 
float (carnival) 
~ tipik informal outdoor music 
mizikal adj. musical; n. musicale 
mizikalman adv. musically 
mizikolog n. musicologist 
mizikoloji n. musicology 
mizilman n./adj. Muslim 
mizire see mezire 
mizisyen n. musician; Hispaniolan 
solitary (bird) 
~ Palè Nasyonal National Palace 
Band (music); PaP politician 
(pej.); neutral party; crass 
opportunist, self-server 
mizisyèn f.n. musician 
mizo n. muzzle, gag 
mete ~ to muzzle, gag 
mizopwen n. clarification 
fè yon ~ (ak yon kodak) to focus 
a lens 
Mizouri see Misouri 
mm abbrev. millimeter 
mo n. word; dirty word; ache, pain 
an de ~ twa pawol in/with few 
words, succinctly 
bay ~ to promise 
dènye ~ final word, decision 
di ^ to curse, swear 
di yon - to have a say, take a hand 
in 
gwo - dirty word, foul word; foul 
language 
kase yon - to say a word 
make - to mark (well) s.o.'s 
words, remember 
manje ~ to slur 
638 
mo - môdantrèt 
- antre headword 
- depas password 
- deplase uncalled-for or out of 
place remark; dirty word - cf gwo ~ 
- dad watchword, password 
~kle keyword 
- kontrè, ~ revè antonym 
- kwaze crossword puzzle 
- marasa, ~ tokay synonym 
- sans tokay synonym 
- sekrè password 
- tokay homonym 
- vedèt headword 
pa kache ~ nan bouch not to 
hesitate to say 
mô n. corpse, cadaver, dead person; 
spirit of a dead person, ghost; evil 
spirit; non-paying passenger; bit 
(of bridle); adj. lifeless, dead; 
dead (in marbles); numb; see lemô 
a - extremely; to death 
jou - yo All Souls' Day, Feast of 
the Dead (November 2) 
ki - ki touye/tiye lanperè? what 
happened? 
leve ~ ceremony to call forth the 
dead spirits for a manje lemô 
(q.v.) - Voodoo 
mèt - next of kin (of the 
deceased) 
~ an vakans slated for death, 
walking dead; dimwit, nitwit, 
numbskull 
~ anba dlo spirits of the dead still 
below the waters 
~ Bondye death from natural 
causes 
- brid bit (of bridle) 
~ Ginen African ancestors 
(Voodoo) 
~ o ra, môwora rat poison 
~ rèd, rèd - stone-cold dead; rigor 
639 
mortis; out of the game (marbles) 
~ touse tuberculosis 
~ vivan walking skeleton; dimwit, 
nitwit, numbskull 
ou wè that's incredible! you're 
exaggerating! 
penn de ~ , lapèn de ~ death 
penalty 
pou ~ a pa vin long so as not to 
have problems 
voye ~ (sou) to cast an evil spell 
(on) 
wè ~ to rage, storm, fume; to 
exaggerate 
wete ~ nan dlo Voodoo ceremony 
transferring souls of the dead from 
under water where they have 
remained for at least a year and a 
day 
Moab see Mowab 
mobil adj. mobile, movable; restless; 
excitable; unstable, changeable; n. 
motive; itinerant group which sets 
up dance music equipment 
mobilizasyon n. mobilization; 
uprising, rebellion; uproar 
mobilize v. to mobilize 
mobilye n. furniture, furnishings 
mèbrid n. bridle 
Mod f.prop.n. Maude 
mod n. manner, habit; means; 
customs, habits; style, fashion, 
mode, type; mood (gram.) 
~ lagè warfare 
pase ~ to go out-of-style; antiquated 
modalité n. form, mode; condition, 
clause (fur.) 
modan n. toothache 
mèdan n. var. of small fresh-water 
animal 
môdantrèt n. hypocrite; traitor; adj. 
worn-out, falling apart 
mode - moke 
mode v. to bite; to sting; to hurt, be 
painful; to succeed, be successful; 
to swallow hook and bait (fish); to 
be taken in, be deceived, be 
duped, swallow hook, line and 
sinker; n. bite, sting; see 
modesoufle 
~ antrèt to be a hypocrite; to be a 
traitor; hypocrite; traitor 
- dan to bite down 
- dwèt gwo pous li to kick 
oneself, rue the day, regret 
- dwèt k ap ba ou manje to bite 
the hand that feeds you, be 
ungrateful 
~ lage inconsistent or changeable 
(person); to be intermittent, come 
and go; to feel intermittent pain; to 
just make a start 
~ lang delicious, tasty 
modèl n. model, type, sample; 
pattern, design 
modele v. to model, pattern 
modèm n. modem 
modèn adj. modern 
modènite n. modernity 
modènizasyon n. modernization 
modènize v. to modernize, bring up 
to date 
modepas, modpas n. password 
moderasyon n. moderation 
moderatè n., moderatris f.n. 
moderator, facilitator 
modere rejl. to restrain, curb; to 
moderate, calm down, control 
(oneself); adj. gentle, moderate 
modès adj. modest, humble 
modesoufle n. hypocrite; traitor; v. 
to be hypocritical; to betray 
modesti n. modesty, humbleness 
modi v. to damn, curse, call down 
curses upon (s.o, or s.thg.); adj. 
accursed 
modifikasyon n. modification, 
alteration 
modifye v. to modify, alter 
modil n. module 
modis n. milliner; trend setter môdlev. [Fr.] to shape, fashion, 
mold; to set a trend 
modod n. watchword, password 
modonè n. word of honor 
modpas see modepas 
modtèt n. headache 
môfèm n. morpheme 
mofln n. morphine 
môflè n. muffler (vehicle) 
ke tiyo - tailpipe, exhaust pipe 
manman - main muffler box 
mofo- prefix morpho-
mofoloji n. morphology 
mdfreze, mofrize, mofweze, 
mofwezi see mafweze 
mog n. morgue; funeral parlor, 
funeral home; [Eng.] (beer-)mug 
fè piblisite pou ~ to do a 
dangerous feat, engage in a 
dangerous undertaking 
Mogadichou prop.n. Mogadishu 
(Somalia) 
Mohamèd prop.n. Mohammed 
(founder of Islam, 5707-632) 
mok n. (beer-)mug 
moka n. inferior type of coffee 
(from unripe coffee bean); adj. 
immature, not fully developed 
Mokanèfprop.n. Moka-Neuf (5th 
communal section of Sainte-
Suzanne, Dept. North-East) 
mokasen n. moccasin 
moke v. to make fun of, mock, 
ridicule (cf. pase nan rizib); to 
use a calf to begin cow's flow of 
milk 
mokè - mon 
mokè n. mocker, ridiculer, scoffer; 
heckler 
môko, moko n. donkey; adj. one-
eared; deaf; very stubborn 
mokoy, moko, moko n. coward; 
adj. flabby; indolent; dilapidated, 
rundown 
mokri n. mockery, ridicule 
moksis adj. solemn, somber, 
gloomy, dejected; snobbish 
mol adj. soft, tender; languid, 
indifferent; n. var. of freshwater 
fish 
- ko li to lie low, make oneself 
inconspicuous; to be cautious 
~ pou ~ 50-50, even-steven 
molas adj. listless, apathetic; 
decrepit, worn-out; soft 
Molas prop.n. Molas (6th communal 
section of Le Borgne, Dept. 
North) 
Moldoviprop.n. Moldova, Moldavia 
mole adj. soft-boiled (eggs) 
~ kokoye soft coconut meat 
ti - var. of traditional dance (obs.) 
molè Ti. molar; cf. dan dèyè 
Mol h prop.n., Molèz f.prop.n. 
inhabitant of Môle-Saint-Nicolas 
(Dept. North-West) 
molekil n. molecule 
molèn 72. mullen, high taper (herb) 
molès 72. trouble, travail 
moleste v. to bother, annoy; to curse 
out; to fuss at 
môlètTz. calf (of leg) 
moletyè n. gaiters, spats 
moli v. to soften, weaken 
molisk n. mollusk 
môlkô see mol; molôkoy 
môlmèk 72. buddy, pal (fam.) 
fè ~ to abound, be plentiful, team 
with, overflow with, swarm with 
yon ~ a lot of 
Molokprop.n. [Bible] Molech 
môlôkôy, môlkô, môlôkô, 
môlôkop, môlôkôsô, môlèlô, 
môyèkô n. land turtle; adj. 
lethargic, sluggish 
Môlsennikola, Omôlprop.n. Môle-
Saint-Nicolas - site of Christopher 
Columbus' first arrival in Haiti, 
December 5, 1492 (Dept. North-
West) 
môltonn adj. tired, weak, languid; n. 
corduroy 
moltonnen v. to distress, overwhelm 
molyann adj. lax, flabby, indolent, 
spineless; softening 
rete ~ to be nonplussed 
Môlyè prop.n. Molière 
moman, monman n. moment, 
instant, second 
di ~ from the moment (when, 
that); as soon as 
(lotèl kote yo fè) ~ "hot-pillow" 
hotel/motel, "no-tell motel," hotel/ 
motel renting rooms by the hour as 
well as for the night 
yon ~ a moment, awhile 
Momans prop.n. Momance (Dept. 
West) 
larivyè ~ Momance river 
(between Léogâne and Gressier, 
Dept. West) 
momi 72. mummy 
mômon n./adj. Mormon 
mon adj. [Fr.] my (used in certain 
fixed expressions, e.g., mon 
kômandan) 
mon n. mountain, mount, small 
mountain; hill; mountainous or 
hilly region; countryside (pej.) 
bas ~ hill 
chaje ~ hilly 
641 
mon - monfrè 
do ren ~ hillside 
jenn ~ hill 
- lakilbit stumbling block 
~ monte desann rolling hills 
~ sab dune 
monte/moute (yon) ~ pa do to go 
through a hard time 
moun % nèg ~ hillbilly, country 
hick; peasant 
pran ~ to take to the hills, flee 
tèt - summit, top of mountain 
ti ~ hill, hillock 
M6n Chandèl prop.n. Morne-
Chandelle (14th communal section 
of Carrefour, Dept. West) 
Mona (kannal), Lamona prop.n. 
Mona Passage (between the 
Dominican Republic and Puerto 
Rico) 
Mènabato see Mènbato 
Monabrile, Monbrile prop.n. 
Morne-à-Brûler (10th communal 
section of Jacmel, Dept. South-
East) 
monachi n. monarchy 
Monako prop.n. Monaco 
monanfan n. [Fr.] my child (used in 
direct address) 
monastè, monnastè n. monastery 
Mônatif prop.n. Morne-à-Tuf 
(middle-class area of PaP) 
Mènbato, Mènabato prop.n. 
Morne-à-Bateau (1st communal 
section of Gressier, Dept. West) 
monben n. var. of tree; var. of 
mango 
grenn - var. of small sweet fruit 
gwo - , - fran, - fri jôn hog plum 
tree 
~ bata bastard cedar (med.) 
~ panyèl golden apple tree 
Monben(kwochi), Monben(kochi) 
prop.n. Mombin-Crochu (Dm 
North-East) V * 
Monbinwa prop.n., Monbinwaz 
f.prop.n. inhabitant of Mombin-
Crochu (Dept. North-East) 
monblan n. foreigner (pej.) 
Monbren (gwot) prop.n. Momb^  
grottoes (near Aquin, Dept. South) 
Mènbrile see Monabrile 
Mônchandèl prop.n. Morne-
Chandelle (23rd communal section 
of Gressier, Dept. West) 
monchè m.n. my friend, old man 
(used only in direct address); 
interj. man! 
monden adj. worldly; n. non-
believer 
Mondong, Mongdong, Mongong, 
Moudong prop.n. group or 
"nation" (nanchon) of Voodoo 
spirits; Voodoo dance rhythm 
mondyal adj. world, worldwide;?!, 
international competition, world 
cup 
mondyalizasyon n. globalization; 
world-wide spread or application 
mondyalize v. to globalize 
mondye! interj. my goodness! 
monè see monnen 
Monè prop.n. Momet (communal 
section of Acul-du-Nord, Dept. 
North) 
mone n./adj. stillborn, dead at birth 
Monekilprop.n. Morne-Hercule 
(wealthy area of Pétion-Ville) 
monetè adj. monetary 
monfis, monfi m.n. sonny, my child 
Monfôten prop.n. member of 
Grignon de Monfort (Roman 
Catholic order) 
monfrè n. (rel.) brother; friar; my 
brother (fam. term of address) 
642 
Mongdong - mons 
Mongdong see Mondong 
mongolprop.n./adj. Mongol; n. 
person with Down's syndrome 
Mongoliprop.n. Mongolia 
Mongolyen prop.n./adj., 
Mongolyèn f.prop.n. Mongolian 
Mongong see Mondong 
mongonmen see mangonmen 
moniman n. monument 
monimantal adj. monumental 
monitè, monnitè n. assistant 
agricultural extension agent (<cf 
animatè); monitor; teaching 
assistant; student aide; coach, 
sports instructor; Sunday school 
teacher; computer monitor [Eng.]; 
see Lemonitè 
monitris f.n. monitor; health 
monitor; teaching assistant; 
student aide; coach, sports 
instructor; Sunday school teacher 
Mônkalvèprop.n. Morne-Calvaire 
(area of Pétion-Ville, Dept. West) 
Monkamèl prop.n. [Bible] Mount 
Carmel 
monkonmon adj. dumb, stupid 
(Grand'Anse) 
monkonpè see konpè 
Mônlopitalprop.n. Morne-l'Hôpital 
(7th communal section of PaP, 
Dept. West) 
monman see moman 
monn n. world; see lemonn 
Tyè Monn Third World 
monnami n. [Fr.] my friend 
monnastè see monastè 
monnen, monè n. change (money); 
coin 
bay (yon moun) - pyès li to 
answer back, give tit for tat 
fè ~ to make change, get change 
for (money) 
gen ~ nan to have change for 
grenn ~ bit of small change, small 
amount of money 
jwenn - pyès li to get one's due, 
get one's just desserts, get one's 
comeuppance 
- kouran common practice 
ti - (fen) small change (money); 
small sum of money 
monnitè see monitè 
monnonk n. uncle 
Monntana see Montana 
Monn wo prop.n. Monroe (James) -
president of USA, 1817-1825 
Pawèl ~ Monroe Doctrine (1823) 
monoleng adj. monolingual 
monolôg n. monologue 
monopèl n. monopoly 
monopoli n. Monopoly (game) 
monopolizatè n. monopolizer 
monopolize v. to monopolize 
Mônorelis prop.n. 3rd communal 
section of Port-de-Paix (Dept. 
North-West) 
monoteyis adj. monotheistic 
monotèn adj. monotonous 
monotoni n. monotony 
Monpanas prop.n. Montparnasse 
(Paris) 
monpè n. father, reverend (in direct 
address); priest, curé 
Mènpele prop.n. Morne-Pelée (2nd 
communal section of Quartier-
Morin, Dept. North) 
monpwen n. son or daughter to 
whom a Voodoo priest(ess) 
transmits his/her secrets 
Monreyalprop.n. Montreal 
(Canada) 
monreyale prop.n./adj., monreyalèz 
f.prop.n. Montrealer 
mons n. monster; freak; adj. huge 
643 
Monsera - Monwovya 
Monsera prop.n. Montserrat 
monseyè, monsenyè (pronounced: 
monse-nyè), monsèyè n. 
archbishop; bishop; var. of mango 
bag ~ episcopal ring 
Monseyè Giyou (ri) rue 
Monseigneur Guilloux (between 
rue Pavée and Roman Catholic 
cathedral, downtown PaP) 
monstre adj. monstrous; furious 
mont n. watch (timepiece) 
- braslè, braslè - wrist-watch 
montaj see montay 
Montalè (ri) prop.n. rue Montalais 
(downtown PaP between Champs-
de-Mars and Roman Catholic 
cathedral) 
montan n. total, sum, amount; 
proceeds; total cost; upright (post); 
(taste) additive 
an ~ (while) going up 
Montana, Monntana prop.n. 
Montana (USA) 
montany, montay, moutany n. 
mountain; cf. mon 
ti - hill 
montay, montaj n. assembling, 
putting together; assembly line; 
montage; set-up, plot, scheme 
fè - to scheme, plot 
Montay Lavout see Lavout 
Montay Nwaprop.n. Montagne-
Noire (wealthy district, 1st 
communal section of Pétion-Ville, 
Dept. West; 6th communal section 
of Bahon, Dept. North) 
Montay Terib/Tèrib prop.n. 
Montagne-Terrible (4th communal 
section of Saut-d'Eau, Dept. 
Center) 
monte see moute Monte Kristiprop.n. Monte Christi 
(town in northwestern Dominic. Republic) 
monté n. person who climbs (trees 
esp . ) ; f i t ter (technician) 
Montenegwo prop.n. Montenegro 
Montevideyo prop.n. Montevideo 
(Uruguay) 
Montèy (Michèl de) prop.n. 
Montaigne (Michel de) - French 
essayist (1533-1592) 
monti n. mount (horse etc.); 
headstall and bit (of bridle); fame 
(eyeglasses); mounting, setting (of 
ring etc.) 
Montoganè prop.n., Montôganèz 
f.prop.n. inhabitant of Mont-
Organisé (Dept. North-East) 
Montèganize prop.n. Mont-
Organisé (Dept. North-East) 
montre, moutre v. to show, 
demonstrate, point out, indicate; to 
show how, teach, instruct 
- ko li to act or dress sexily 
~ mal viv to give a cold shoulderto 
- nwa sou blan to show in writing 
- (yon moun) de fwa de konben 
li fè to set (s.o.) straight, teach 
(s.o.) a lesson 
montwaz see motwaz 
montwaze see môtwaze 
monwa n. [Bible] Your Majesty 
(used only in direct address) 
Monwi (pronounced. Mon-wi) 
prop.n. Montrouis (8th communal 
section of Arcahaie, Dept. West; 
communal section of Saint-Marc, 
Dept. Artibonite) 
Mon Wouj prop.n. Mome-Rouge 
(1st communal section of Plaine-
du-Nord, Dept. North - site of 
Bwa Kayiman, q.v.) 
Monwovya prop.n. Monrovia 
644 
monye - motè 
(Liberia) 
monye n. rude person, lout, hick; 
mountaineer 
monyon n. stump (of arm, leg); dull 
knife 
mop n. mop 
pase ~ to mop 
mopyon n. pubic louse, crab; tick-
tack-toe 
- bayakou pubic louse, crab 
morad n. raid, foray 
moraji n. great pain; see emoraji 
moral n. morale, spirits; moral, 
advice; adj. moral 
bay - to cheer (s.o.) up, encourage 
(s.o.) 
fê ~ to preach 
kraze - to severely depress, 
devastate 
pèdi ~ to become discouraged or 
depressed 
remonte ~ (yon moun) to 
reassure, cheer (s.o.) up 
moralité n. morality, morals, good 
conduct 
moralizatè adj. moralizing, 
edifying, elevating 
moralize v. to lecture, moralize 
moralman adv. morally 
Moransi see Boulmye 
moratwa n. moratorium 
môrèd see mô 
Moren (pon) prop.n. Morin Bridge 
(on Avenue Martin King, near tall 
Teleco building, PaP) 
mori see lanmori 
moribon adj. moribund, dying; n. 
dumb jerk, dummy 
morijinen v. to reprimand, take to task 
Morinwa prop.n., Morinwaz 
fprop.n. inhabitant of Quartier-
Morin (Dept. North) 
Moris prop.n. Morris; Maurice 
il lil - , zile - Mauritius 
Morisoprop.n. Morisseau (4th 
communal section of L'Asile, 
Dept. Grand'Anse) 
Moriso Lewa (Feliks) prop.n. 
Morisseau-Leroy (Félix) - Haitian 
writer, author of Dyakout (1912-
1998) 
Morisyen prop, n./adj., Morisyèn 
f.prop.n. Mauritian 
Moritani prop.n. Mauritania 
mos n. walrus 
mosad adj. morose, glum, gloomy; 
sullen 
moske n. mosque 
moskobi n. nut, kook, screwball 
(insulting term for person 
considered crazy) 
Moskou prop.n. Moscow (Russia) 
moso, moso n. piece, part; bite, bit, 
morsel, chunk; fraction; piece of 
music 
gwo - lump; ill-mannered and 
uncouth man; big shot, important 
man 
- chwazi anthology 
~ fi inadequate woman 
- pa -, pa ti ~ piecemeal, bit by 
bit, piece by piece 
ti - ou pa jwenn li you almost 
missed seeing him/her 
yon - nan kôb la partial payment 
môsovit n. slide (for microscope) 
môtadèl n. mortadella; bologna 
môtalite n. demise, decease; death; 
mortality rate 
motamo adv. word for word 
motè n. motor, engine 
doub - dish formed of fish, 
plantain and coconut (Jean-Rabel 
esp.) 
645 
motèl- mouda 
fè - to overhaul an engine 
- tounè rotating motor 
motèl n. motel 
mètèl adj. mortal, deadly, lethal, 
fatal 
motèlman adv. mortally, fatally 
motèt n. headache(s) 
motèz n. mortise joint 
motif n. motive 
motifye v. to regret, be sorry; to be 
mortified, be humiliated 
motivasyon n. motivation 
motive v. to motivate 
motoka n. train pulled by motor 
(rather than by steam engine); 
former locomotive service 
between Saint-Marc and PaP 
motokiltè n. rototiller 
motorat n. rat poison 
moto(siklèt) n. motorcycle 
- taksi motorcycle taxi (where 
passenger sits on seat behind 
driver) 
motosiklis n. motorcyclist 
môtsezon n. off-season, slack 
season 
motwaz, montwaz n. mortise, 
dovetail 
mètwaze, montwaze, motwaze v. to 
mortise, dovetail 
môtye n. mortar (for construction; 
for grinding; weapon) 
môtyè adj. mortuary 
mon adj. soft, tender; languid, 
indifferent; limp, flaccid; boggy; 
onomat. moo (of cow) 
bay - to place s.o.'s 
(spinning-)top in a vulnerable 
position; to subdue, punish 
fè - to entice 
fè - bay to give oneself up to 
- kou trip mealy, uncooked; 
sluggish, lethargic, snail-like 
mouch n. fly (insect); noise-making 
device attached to kite 
fè - to swarm with, teem with, be 
plentiful 
gwo - horsefly 
- amyèl bee (obs.) 
~ avè blowfly, dung fly, large 
green fly 
- blan(ch) whitefly (plant insect} 
- chwal stable fly 
- latrin black soldier fly 
- pa ka vole strict law and order 
- pa vole you could hear a pin 
drop 
- plen bouch (yon moun) to hive 
a bloody mouth (usu. from a blow) 
- vant ble blow fly 
- vè mango fruit fly, mango fly 
- vèt common green lacewing 
(insect) 
pa kite menm - vole to exercise 
tight control 
pouse - to punish too lightly 
ti - fruit fly 
mouche n. man, companion; Mr., 
man (often pej.); husband; prm. 
he, his, him; v. to blow or wipe 
one's nose; see malfini mesyc 
gwo - big shot 
mouchwa, mouchwè n. 
handkerchief; kerchief, bandanna, 
headscarf; neckerchief 
- foula kerchief, bandanna, 
headscarf 
- ginen ceremonial scarf 
(Voodoo) - kou small shawl 
- pôch (pocket) handkerchief 
- tè tiny piece of (farm)land 
- tèt scarf mouda. mounda n. ass, buttocks; 
646 
Moudong - moun 
genitals (female); base, bottom 
(fam.); cf. bounda 
- plog "bottom," passive male 
homosexual; cf masisi 
Moudong see Mondong 
moufet n. skunk 
mouflon n. mountain sheep 
mouka n. kerchief; ice-cream 
vendor (obs.) 
moukmouk: 
fe - to be everywhere, exist in 
great quantity; to falter, waver 
(light) 
moul n. mold, form; mussel 
(seafood); sisal stripper (hand 
tool) 
sot nan - well done, well made, 
well shaped 
moulat n. var. of mango; see milat 
moule v. to fit closely 
moulen n. mill; millstone, 
grindstone; grinder; v. to chew; to 
mill, grind; to ruminate, chew the 
cud; to shape, form 
bra/men li pran nan - to be 
caught in a trap 
byen - well shaped, well formed; 
well mixed; well adjusted, well 
adapted (person) 
mayi ~ cornmeal 
~ ak motè wind turbine 
- dechè garbage disposal 
- kafe coffee mill/grinder 
- mayi com grinder (mach.) 
~ pwav pepper grinder/mill 
- sou Mè Moulin-sur-Mer (beach 
resort and museum, Montrouis) 
- van windmill 
tiwa - kneading-trough 
Moulen prop.n. Moulin (7th 
communal section of Gros-Morne, 
Dept. Artibonite) 
Moulin prop.n. Mouline (5th 
communal section of Corail, Dept. 
Grand'Anse) 
mouliné n. fishing reel 
moulinen v. to grind, grind out 
moulinèt n. twirl 
fè - to twirl 
moulong see woulong 
moumou n. woman's very loose-
fitting or casual dress, shift 
moun n. person, human being, 
individual; inhabitant; people (of a 
place); partisan, follower; nice 
guy, nice person; people, one, 
they; family, friends; adj. human 
fè ~ to gather, assemble (people); 
to attract notice 
fè - vin - to educate, develop, 
broaden, shape 
fè - wè li - pase - to show off, act 
superior 
gen - sou li toujou to still be 
alive, still be hanging in there 
gwo - important person, big shot; 
generous person 
- k ap bese ki p ap ranmase 
anyen born loser, ne'er-do-well, 
incompetent 
- k ap rele chen papa pou zo 
bootlicker, flatterer, abject 
follower 
Ki kote ou Where are you 
from? Where were you born? 
ki - who, whom 
Kote ki moun ou vini? Whom 
did you come to see? 
li pi - he is privileged or superior 
mete sou - to socialize (s.o.) 
~ afè bon well-to-do person 
- afè pa bon poor or destitute 
person, person down on his/her 
luck 
647 
moun - moun 
- andeyô hillbilly, country hick; 
peasant; country folk (pi.) 
- antye man of courage, real man, 
he-man 
- anwo lakay people back at 
home, the home folks 
- bèf bat dummy, idiot 
- Bondye fè ak de men heavenly 
creature, gorgeous being; God-
given talent 
Moun Bondye voye nan lachè 
Son of man [Bible] 
- deyo outsider, stranger 
- fini loser, vagrant 
- fou maniac, madman 
- isit local people 
- kay, - lakou one of us (s.o. 
considered a member of the 
family); extended household 
(essentially those eating from 
same family kitchen); regular 
customer 
- ki gen pawôl person of one's 
word 
- ki kay - see timoun (ki rete ak 
moun) 
- ki pa pou le en (1) ni pou le de 
(2) unemployed (person) 
- ki vini pran opportunist, 
exploiter, carpetbagger 
- lari loud, rowdy or noisy person 
- lontan ancestor 
- lètbô (dlo) foreigner 
- machin (human) robot 
- môn hillbilly, country hick; 
peasant; country folk (pi.) 
- mouch demanding person; 
extravagant person 
- mouri daredevil; listless or 
apathetic person 
- mouri! lucky devil! 
- nan savann country hick, peasant 
- pa true friend, buddy,1"my maf 
close relation, associate; partus 
follower; cronyism, favoritism, 
connections, pull 
- pèdi loser, vagrant 
~ touse tuberculosis victim 
- toutbon upright and self-
respecting citizen 
- tout - friendly, open 
- vini outsider, stranger, 
newcomer 
- yo family 
nan - sa a in this life, herebek* 
pa gen - nan li to be a walking 
skeleton, be thin as a rail 
pa - lacking in pride or self-
respect 
pa - ki rete ak ~ s.o. who acts 
independently, s.o. who does not 
depend on others 
pa nan - isit not to have one's 
feet on the ground, be lost; to be 
lost in thought, be daydreaming, 
be forgetful; comatose, 
unconscious 
pa nan - pa impartial 
pèsonn - , pèsèn - , pesonn - no 
one, nobody, anybody (negX 
anyone (neg.) 
plis sou - to get/be uppity, self-
important 
se - ki - , se pa yon - konsa 
konsa he's really somebody (of 
importance) 
se - ki rete ak - to be servile 
se yon - (s)he's a person of 
principle 
sou - in abundance; frequent; 
evident, visible; up-to-date, 
fashionable; impertinent, 
impudent; openly, publicly 
tout - everyone, everybody 
648 
mounda - mousanbe 
tout - se - we are all created 
equal 
yon - someone, somebody 
mounda see mouda 
mounen n. (small) change, coins 
mouno v. to be speechless, keep 
quiet 
mounpayis n. cronyism, favoritism; 
connections, pull 
mourab adj. mortal 
mouran adj. dying 
je - bedroom eyes 
mouray n. funeral, burial; death 
mouri v. to die; to diminish; to 
become numb, go to sleep, have 
pins and needles (arm, leg etc.); to 
numb, deaden; to stop (motor); to 
go out (light; fire); adj. dead, 
deceased, lifeless; numb; dead-
tired, worn-out, exhausted 
ale nan ~ to pay one's last respects 
bô demi - partially paralyzed 
deja ~ li pa pè santi! the way 
things are now - who cares? 
konben ~ ki genyen you only live 
once 
- an ti fe to die slowly or by inches 
~ bon mô to die a natural death 
- frèt to drop dead, die instantly 
- grangou to be very hungry; to 
starve 
- kite to bequeath, leave or give 
by will; durable, sturdy, resistant, 
long-lasting, last a lifetime 
~ ko to keep quiet, calm down; to 
keep a low profile 
- kon vè/mouch/poul to die like 
flies (many die) 
- kri to die suddenly 
- lèd to die a mysterious death; to 
die a violent death 
~ levé to rise again from the dead; 
sensitive plant (herb) 
- limen to twinkle, flicker, 
sparkle; to flash, blink (electric 
light) 
- nan bwa undependable vehicle 
or animal 
~ nan fim lan to be done for, 
washed up, finished 
- nan kanson to be impotent 
- nan pil to be lost/forgotten in 
the pile/crowd/rush, be put aside 
(for other projects) 
- nan piti to die as a child 
- nan pye travay to die in the line 
of duty, die at one's station 
- nèt dead as a doornail 
- pou to love, die for 
- pou (twou/de/po) je li to die in 
vain 
- poul li to calm down; to make 
oneself inconspicuous 
- rache anba kout manchèt to be 
hacked to death 
- sou plas to die on the spot 
- tèt nwè (je vèt), - tèt nèg to die 
a violent death 
- toufe to suffocate to death 
- touse to die of tuberculosis 
- vif to die suddenly 
tonbe - rèd to drop dead 
Mouri: 
lanmè - Dead Sea 
mouribon adj. moribund, dying 
mous n. froth, foam; (contraceptive) 
foam; mousse (cul.) 
fè - to froth, foam 
mous, lemous n. moss, lichen 
mousa, hounsa, ounsa adj. weak, 
wobbly; n. manioc flour for 
making dumplings 
mousanbe adj. faraway, remote, 
distant 
649 
e -Mousanbe 1 - moute 
g Mousanbe 1 prop.n. Moussambé er 
1 (3rd communal section of 
Grand-Goâve, Dept. West) 
Mousanbe 2 prop.n. Moussambé 
2 (4th communal section of 
Grand-Goâve, Dept. West) 
Mousiyak prop.n. Moussignac (1st 
communal section of Miragoâne, 
Dept. Grand'Anse) 
mouskèt n. musket 
mouslin n. muslin (c f . syanm); 
chiffon; maidenhair fern 
- swis organdy 
moustach n. mustache; whiskers 
(cat etc.) 
kole - (ak) to be in cahoots (with) 
moustang n. mustang 
moustik n. small mosquito, gnat {cf. 
bigay) 
- tig var. of dangerous mosquito 
Moustik prop.n. Moustique (Dept. 
North-West); small island off 
coast of Corail (Dept. 
Grand'Anse) 
moustikè n. mosquito net(ting); var. 
of pink-flowered vine 
mousye see mesye 
moutad n. mustard 
moutadèl n. bologna (sausage) 
moutany see montany 
moute, monte v. to climb, ascend; to 
climb on, mount; to go up, rise; to 
increase in value; to carry up; to 
rise (bread); to boil over; to lift, 
raise; to board, get on; to ride; to 
take office, come into a position of 
authority; to erect, construct, set 
up, put up; to assemble, group, get 
together, organize; to establish; to 
attach (sewing); to pass, be 
promoted (school); to endow with 
evil or harmful magical power; to 
possess, temporarily take over 
one's mind and body (Voodoo); to 
fly (a kite); to wind (clock); to ' 
ruminate, chew the cud; to hoist 
(flag); to service, breed (animal); 
n. ascent, rise, increase; setting up. 
assembling; adj. poisoned 
fè (yon moun) - to get (s.o.) out 
of bed; to support, put forward, 
champion 
fè yon - a de to fight it out 
- a de small fight, quarrel, spat 
- afam to ride sidesaddle (on 
horse etc.) 
- alaso to assault, storm 
~ ale vini to go back up and down 
- an chwal to take by storm, take 
over 
- anwo, - anlè to go upstairs 
- apwal to ride bareback 
~ awôm to ride astride or 
straddling 
- balkon to inflate, go up (prices) 
- batri to prepare a charm 
(Voodoo) 
- bèt afam to ride sidesaddle (on 
horse etc.) 
- bon bourik to arrive on time; to 
arrive at a propitious time (for ex. 
in order to be able to eat) 
- bwa to roost; to take up 
residence, settle down; to go sky-
high; to be hard to find 
- chwal to ride a horse 
- chwal li to possess, take over 
(Voodoo spirit believed to take 
temporary possession of s.o.'s 
mind and body) 
- chwal malentespri to do things 
the wrong way, never do things 
right - desann to go back and forth; to 
650 
moute - mov 
go up and down; to rise and fall; 
to walk up and down; to commute; 
to drift about, loaf about; coming 
and going, running around; 
coming(s) and going(s), activity 
- disèt otè/wotè to go sky-high 
- kabann to go to bed 
- (yon) kalvè to suffer intensely 
- kap to fly a kite 
- lesyèl pa do to go through hell 
- mon (pa do) to have a hard time 
- mon kalvè to suffer intensely 
- mon (Pilbowo) to go sky-high 
- move bourik to arrive late (for a 
meal, for an appointment etc.) 
- pase kite to outdistance 
- pye mabi pa do to have a hard 
time, be up the creek without a 
paddle 
~ sôti to go up from 
~ sou choukèt... pouse to have 
given birth and (thus) be due 
respect 
- sou dlo to emerge, surface; to 
refloat 
~ sou do (yon moun) to backbite, 
talk behind (s.o.'s) back 
- (sou) tab to sit down at the 
table; to be presentable 
- tè to rise, go up 
- tèt moun to influence; to 
agitate, incite 
~ tèt nèg to go skyhigh (prices) 
- towtow to scamper up 
- yon pyès to put on a play 
- yon revèy to set a clock 
(wi) pa - môn "yes" does not 
necessarily mean " y e s " 
yo pa wè si 1 - si 1 desann to 
disappear without a trace 
mouton n. sheep; mutton; see 
manton 
femèl - ewe 
mal - mumps 
- Bondye var. of spider 
sod - coitus interruptus; cf. voye 
deyo 
ti - lamb; acalypha (herb or shrub) 
Mouton see Geren 
moutre see montre 
mou vans n. [Fr.] sphere of 
influence, domain 
mouvman n. movement, motion; 
political turmoil 
fè - to move, be in motion; to 
thrash about, struggle (violently) 
fo - useless move or decision 
mouvmante v. to put into motion; to 
shake, agitate; to wriggle, twist 
and turn; adj. lively; restless; in 
turmoil 
mouyaj, mouyay n. anchoring; 
anchorage; moistening, dampening 
mouye v. to wet, get wet; to dampen, 
moisten; to anchor (boat); to hit or 
spank lightly; adj. wet, moist, 
damp, humid; (lying) at anchor, 
moored; (cow) about to calf 
- ak fwèt to whip 
~ gôj, - bab to have/take a drink 
(alcohol) 
- kanson to come in one's pants 
- kilèt to have a vaginal discharge 
- kôm kanna soaking wet 
- lank to anchor, moor 
- lestonmak li to have/take a 
drink (alcohol) 
- tranp to soak, drench; soaking 
wet 
- (yon moun) pou vale 1 to 
entice, beguile, allure 
poul - coward, chicken 
mov: - fèy won mallow (plant) 
651 
mov - MUPANAH 
mov, mov adj. purple; mauve 
môv n. gull; snot, mucus 
- bèk jon herring gull 
- tèt nwa laughing gull 
move adj., movèz f.adj. bad; wrong; 
cross, irritable, ill-tempered; 
sullen, surly; angry; furious; 
stormy (sea); unpleasant; nasty, 
evil; untimely 
fè - to get angry, get mad 
- kou (yon) kong (nan mazi) 
furious, mad as hell 
- pou dan ri angry for no 
(apparent) reason 
- sou to get angry at 
moveje see je 
moveste see movèzte 
movèz n. placenta, afterbirth; see 
move 
movezak n. evil behavior, 
wrongdoing, misdeed 
movezalèn n. bad breath, halitosis 
movezè n. evil spirit(s); same as 
lougawou (q.v.); bad guy, bastard; 
bitch 
movèzespri n. evil spirit 
chase - to exorcize 
movèzeta: 
an - in a bad way, badly off 
movèz(kouch) n. miscarriage 
movèzte, moveste n. bad attitude; 
misbehavior, misconduct; evil, 
wickedness 
Mowab, Moab prop.n. [Bible] Moab 
moun - Moabite 
Mowo prop.n. Moreau (4th 
communal section of Torbeck, 
Dept. South) 
Mowo de Senmeri (Mederik) 
prop.n. Moreau de Saint-Méry 
(Médéric), French historian (1750-
1819), author of a monumental 
Description de la Partie 
Française de lisle Saint-
Domingue 
Mo won prop.n. Moron (Dept. 
Grand'Anse) 
Mowonè, Mowonyen prop.n., 
Mowonèz, Mowonyèn fprvpM 
inhabitant of Moron (Dept. 
Grand'Anse) 
Mowonl prop.n. [Book of Mom*] 
Moroni 
Mowoniyaprop.n. [Bookof 
Mormon] Moronihah 
mowora, mô o ra n. rat poison 
Moyiz prop.n. [Bible] Moses 
môyôkô see molôkèy 
Mozanbik, Mozanmbik pmp.n. 
Mozambique 
mozanblken prop.n./adj. 
Mozambican 
mozarèl n. mozzarella (cheese) 
mozayik n. tile, (ceramic) floor-tik; 
tile floor; mosaic, decorative 
design; mosaic, medley; mosaic 
(virus disease of plants) 
poud - cement floor coloring 
Var. of mosaic (virus): - dore,-
jôn, - konmen 
mozole n. mausoleum 
Mozyaprop.n. [Book of Mormm] 
Mosiah 
MPP acron. Mouvman Peyizw 
Papay Peasant Movement of 
Papaye 
mren see mwen 
MSPP acron. Ministè Sante Piblik 
ak Popilasyon Ministry of Public 
Health and Population 
MST acron. (maladi seksyèlmai 
transmisib) STD (sexually 
transmitted diseases) 
MUPANAH see Mipana 
652 
msye - mwezi 
msye see mesye 
mwa n. month; period, 
menstruation; see retire twa 
de - Satan 
gen ~ to menstruate, have one's 
period 
lot - next month 
- chalè summer 
mwad n. the month of 
~ jounen kout winter month(s) 
- jounen long summer month(s) 
mwal see mwèl 
mwàn n. monk 
mwason, lamwason n. harvest; see 
lamwason 
mwasone v. [Fr.] to harvest 
mwasonnèz batèz n. combine 
(agriculture) 
mwat adj. damp, clammy, muggy, 
sweaty 
mwatye, lamwatye, mwatche n. 
half; half-way (point); middle; 
one-fourth (of rum bottle); see 
demwatye 
achte a de - to pay half now and 
half later 
~ pou - in half 
ti - a little less than half, a little bit 
mwaw see myaw 
mwaye n. wheel hub 
mwayen n. way, means; middle-
sized Rada drum (Voodoo) - same 
as segon; adj. average, ordinary, 
medium(-sized); mild 
gen - to be of means, possess 
money and property 
manke - to lack the means (to pay) 
- en fifth grade 
~ de sixth grade 
mwayèn, mwayenn n./adj. average, 
mean; n. medium size 
klas ~ middle class 
mwayènman adv. on the average 
Mwayenn Oryan, Mwayèn Oryan 
prop.n. (the) Middle East, Mideast 
Mwayennaj, Mwayenn Aj n. 
Middle Ages 
mwazi see mwezi 
mwazisi see mwezisi 
mwe obs. form of 1st person sing. 
pron. 
mwèk, mwik: 
- - to blink 
pa di - to say nothing at all 
pa fè - not to do or say anything 
mwèl, mwal n. bone marrow; core; 
backbone; courage, strength; var. 
of mango 
jouk nan - to the bone, deeply 
manman - , - tèt brain 
- bwa pith 
mwele v. to provide backbone, 
strengthen 
mwen pron. I, my, (to) me; prep, to, 
until, before (time); reflexive 
pron.; see mwens 
dizè ~ (1) ka a quarter to ten 
- menm myself 
- ou if I were you 
pa - mine; not I, not me 
senkè - dis ten minutes to five 
mwenn adj. the slightest, the least 
- akasan (li mete) siwo at the 
slightest sign; at the slightest 
provocation 
mwens, mwen prep, minus, less 
mwenske adv. less than 
mwèt n. (sea) gull; interj. zip! zilch! 
(to indicate lack of response) 
mwètmwèt: 
fè - to exercise the buttocks or 
anal sphincter 
mwezi, mwazi adj. moldy, musty, 
mildewy; n. mold 
mwezisi - myôp 
mwezisi, mwazisi n. mold, mildew 
mwik adj. musty, moldy; see mwèk 
- mwak to blink 
mwikmwik, mwitmwit v. to 
twinkle; onomat. to express 
batting of the eyes 
mwit: 
- mwat to blink 
Myanma prop.n. Myanmar, Burma; 
prop. adj. Myanmar, Burmese 
myann! interj. to hell with you! 
myas n. miasma 
myaw, maou, maw, mawou, 
mwaw, myaou, myaous, 
myawou onomat: meow (of cat); 
sound made to imply one is a thief 
mye adv. better 
fè - to recover, get better 
fè yon gran - to feel much better 
fè yon ti - to feel a little better 
pran- to feel better 
1 - [premye] first 
myèl n. (honey) bee; manure 
{slang); adj. upset, irritated; fierce 
barik - , bwat - beehive 
dan - , pikan - , pikèt - stinger of 
bee 
desen - , bann - , eskwad - , grap 
- , lesen - , sosyete - swarm of 
bees 
elvaj/elvay - apiculture, bee-
keeping 
gato - honeycomb; beeswax 
leve yon - to win or make a lot of 
money 
- bwa wild bee 
- dou, - kay domesticated bee 
nich - beehive 
ouvriye - bee-keeper, apiculturist 
pay - empty honeycomb 
renn - queen bee 
siwo - honey 
tanbou - beehive 
tou/twou - alveolus, cell (of a 
honeycomb) 
woule siwo - to extract honey 
from honeycomb 
yon - a beehive 
myèt see miyèt 
myezale see alemye 
myezanmye adv. better and better 
myezèt n. greater welfare, improved 
standard 
myôp adj. nearsighted, myopic 
654 
n -nandeng 
N 
n (pronounced: enn) sh. form nou; 
sometimes used for I, li; n a contr. 
nou + a 
-... ke see nèk 
na n. spikenard (aromatic plant); see 
nan 
nachon see nanchon 
nad n. nothing (object) 
~ marinad impotent; nothing at 
all, zilch; nothing changes 
nada n. (Span.) nothing 
Nadin see Flaman 
naftalin, naftalèn n. mothballs 
nage v. to nag, harass; to annoy, 
make fun of 
Nago, Anagoprop.n. group or 
"nation" (nanchon) of Voodoo 
spirits 
- cho rapid and violent Voodoo 
dance 
- gran kou Voodoo dance of 
greeting to Ogoun 
o chen heck! 
pa fè yon pa - not to progress or 
change in any way 
yon pa ~ yon pa kita a step 
neither forward nor backward 
naj n. swimming 
naje v. to swim 
- nan bol grès to live off the fat 
of the land 
- nan fon deep-sea diving 
- nan gwo dlo, - nan gran 
kouran to be well protected 
(thanks to Voodoo powers, or 
social and business connections) 
- pou sôti sink or swim 
- zaviwon to row, paddle 
najè n. swimmer 
najwa n. fin (of fish); flipper (of 
seal, whale etc.); flippers (for 
swimming) 
- sou do dorsal fin 
nak n. mother-of-pearl 
nakaskol n. divi-divi (small tree) 
nakawout see nèkawout 
nakotik n./adj. narcotic 
Namibiprop.n. Namibia 
namonika see amonika 
nan: 
1 - one year 
nan, lan definite article [after words 
ending in sounds -m, -n, or -ng] 
the; prep, in, into; within; to, 
towards; at, by, on; from, from 
within, out of; of; part of; 
between; among; through 
en - one year 
- pami, - tout in, among 
nana: 
gran - aged spinster 
Nan Bannann prop.n. 
disadvantaged area of Cape 
Haitian (Dept. North) 
Nanbwa see Lab 
nanchon, nachon, nasyon n. group, 
category or "nation" of Voodoo 
spirits; persons initiated into 
Voodoo by same priest(ess) 
Ki - moun sa yo? What the heck 
kind of people are they? 
m pa menm konnen - ou I don't 
know you from Adam 
nandeng, dengwenn, landeng n. 
pain in the ass, nuisance, pest 
kole nan dengwenn/landeng 
(yon moun) to harass, hound (s.o.) 
ti - sweet-potato weevil 
655 
nandenmen - nannan 
nandenmen, nandemen adv. on the 
next day, on the following day 
nandèmi adj. asleep; n. tripletail 
(fish) 
nandwat see landrèt 
Nanfi (Ann) prop.n. Namphy 
(Henri) - military ruler of Haiti, 
1986-1988 
Nanginen see Ginen 
Nangonmye see Gonmye 
nanj n. angel; see bonnanj 
Nanjak prop.n. Nan Jacques 
(Tortuga Island, Dept. North-
west) 
nanjelis see lanjelis 
Nankafe prop.n. N an-Café (La 
Gonâve Island, Dept. West) 
Nankanpèch see Chanpi 
Nankatrevendis prop.n. Nan-
Quatre-Vingt-Dix (disadvantaged 
area of Cape Haitian) 
Nankoton prop.n. disadvantaged 
neighborhood of PaP, near Fort-
National 
nanm n. soul, spirit; strength, 
substance; vital force, spiritual 
essence, strength (of plants, trees, 
earth, sun etc., or of a person or 
object ritualistically consecrated); 
complété soul inc. gwo bonnanj 
(q.v.) and ti bonnanj (q.v.) -
Voodoo; immaterial creature either 
benevolent or malevolent; spirits 
or soul of the dead (Voodoo) 
gen - to be of substance, strength 
or size; to have backbone, have 
inner strength; to be daring; to be 
intelligent; to be of nutritional value 
gwo - same as move - (q.v.) 
mete - process of restoring a soul 
that has been taken from a body 
(Voodoo) 
mete - sou to act courageously, to 
stand up for oneself; to look alive, 
get active 
move - ghost of a lougawou [q.v) 
wandering about at night; evil 
spirit (Voodoo) 
~ boutèy lush, drunkard 
- byen tranpe sturdy/resolute 
character 
- kadav kô ordinary (human) 
shadow 
~ li sôti to be enthralled, be 
fascinated 
- sôti sou li to lose control, go out 
of one's head 
- zonbi soul of a dead person 
which has been captured by an 
undertaker (benyè) and sold to an 
unscrupulous Voodoo priest 
pa gen - to be mentally impaired, 
be crazy 
plase - consecration of a ritual 
object (Voodoo) 
pran - to charm, bewitch; to 
distract; to capture s.o/s protective 
guardian angel through evil magic 
(Voodoo) 
retire - to remove the soul from a 
body 
san (gwo) - stupid, slow, lifeless, 
listless, apathetic 
wete - to intimidate, cow 
nanmèd! see lanmèd! 
Nanna: 
bay - pou Sizàn to exchange 
s.thg. of small value for s.thg, of 
great value, cheat; to bluff, lie, 
fake 
pran - pou Sizàn to be taken in, 
be deceived 
nannan n. interior, inner part, 
recesses, core, insides (of), heart 
656 
nannan - nasyonalize 
of; innards; essence, substance; 
nucleus; courage, inner strength; 
gumption, spunk; pulp (of fruit); 
food (baby talk); clitoris; v. to eat 
(baby talk) 
gen - to have backbone, have 
inner strength 
- je pupil (ofeye) 
Nannan prop.n. nickname for 
Fènan (q.v.) 
nanni see lanni 
nannwit see lannwit 
Nanpalmis prop.n. 2nd communal 
section of Petite-Rivière(-de-
FArtibonite) (Dept. Artibonite) 
Nanpany prop.n. Nan Pagne 
(Tortuga Island, Dept. North-
west) 
nanpèch adv. nevertheless, all the 
same 
Nanpôl see Lazil 
Nanpousyè, Lanpousyè prop.n. 
small community immediately east 
of Jérémie (Dept. Grand'Anse) 
nanpwen, lanpwen adv. there is/are 
no, there is/are none 
~ bouch it's beyond words; it's 
amazing 
~ de there is no other 
~ kon sa unbeatable 
- yo youn there is not a single one 
of them 
nansans prep, toward(s), in the 
direction of 
Nansavann prop.n. Nan Savane 
(disadvantaged area of [Aux/Les] 
Cayes) 
Nansous see Sous Donmaj 
Nansouvnans see Souvnans 
Nanvyefè prop.n. Nan Vieux-Fer 
(Tortuga Island, Dept. North-West) 
Nanzanmann prop.n. Nan-Amande 
(disadvantaged area of Cape 
Haitian) 
n ap contr. nou + ap (we... -ing; 
you [>/.]... -ing) 
nap n. tablecloth; layer (gas, oil etc.) 
- dlo underground water level 
- lotèl altar cloth 
Nap prop.n. Naples (Italy) 
n ape contr. nou + ape (we ... -ing; 
you [p/.]... -ing) 
napkin n. paper napkin 
Napoleyon prop.n. Napoleon 
napoleyonyen prop. adj. Napoleonic 
napon, napwon n. placemat; doily, 
small ornamental mat 
Naran prop.n. Narang (2nd 
communal section of Maïssade, 
Dept. Center) 
narasyon n. narration 
naratè n. narrator 
naratif adj. narrative 
narin n. nostril; cf. twou nen 
nas n. large bamboo or wicker 
screen; fyke, (bamboo or wicker) 
fish trap, net; (bamboo or wicker) 
fowl cage 
je te - li to try one's luck, give it a 
try 
nasis see arenyen 
Naso prop.n. Nassau; Bahamas 
nasyon, lanasyon n. nation; group, 
people, nationality; see nanchon 
nasyonal, nasyonnal adj. national 
- nasyono thoroughly patriotic 
nasyonalis, nasyonnalis n. 
nationalist, patriot; nationalism, 
patriotism; adj. nationalistic, 
patriotic 
nasyonalite, nasyonnalite n. 
nationality 
nasyonalizasyon n. nationalization 
nasyonalize v. to nationalize 
657 
nasyonalman - ne 
nasyonalman adv. nationally 
nasyonnal see nasyonal 
nasyono pi.adj. [Fr.] national 
Nasyonziniprop.n. United Nations 
nat n. sleeping mat; matting 
chire - li to tear (s.o.) apart, 
disparage, malign; to do in, finish 
off; to kick out, chase away; to 
sleep with, have sex with 
- très sleeping mat made of palm 
leaves 
natal n. native; adj. native of, born 
(in, at); see natif -
Natanayèlprop.n. [Bible] Nathanael 
natasyon n. [Fr.] swimming 
nati n. nature, character, 
temperament 
- (yon fi) vagina 
natif n./adj. native 
- natal native(-born in Haiti), 
indigenous; home-made, 
homespun; authentic, genuine; 
birthplace 
natiralis n. naturalist 
natiralizasyon n. naturalization 
natiralize v. to naturalize, adapt; to 
be naturalized (as citizen) 
natirèl adj. natural, normal; 
illegitimate (child); smooth-riding 
(horse etc.); n. character, nature; 
naturalness, spontaneity 
jij - proper or appropriate judge 
nan - li in a good mood 
natirèlman adv. naturally, of course 
nativité n. nativity 
naval adj. naval 
Navaz see Lanavaz 
nave, navè, navèt n. turnip 
navèt n. bobbin (sewing machine); 
space shuttle; see nave 
fè - to run back and forth; to 
commute 
navigab adj. navigable 
navigasyon n. navigation, sailing 
navigatè n. navigator; sailor 
navige v. to navigate, sail; to 
struggle, strive 
nawè n. eye; eyesight 
de - pete blind; blindly 
wè ak de - li to see with one's 
very own eyes 
Nawoum prop.n. [Bible] Nahum 
nay see nayt; nyaj 
nayif adj. naïve 
nayilonn see nilon 
nayivte n. naïveté 
nayklèb, nayklib, naytklèb n. night 
club 
naylon, naylonn see nilon 
nayt, nay: 
bat - to be a night owl; to stay oui 
late 
Naywobi prop.n. Nairobi (Kenya) 
nazal adj. nasal 
nazalizasyon n. nasalization 
nazalize v. to nasalize 
Nazarètprop.n. [Bible] Nazareth 
Nazarèt (legliz) prop.n. (Church of 
the) Nazarene 
Nazareyen prop.n./adj. Nazarene 
Nazi prop.n./adj. Nazi 
nazil: 
san - homeless person 
nazireyen, nazirit prop.n./adj. 
Nazirite 
Nazonprop.n. Nazon (middle-class 
area of PaP); name often used for 
portion of Avenue Martin King 
(PaP) 
ne n. knot (string; plant, wood etc.); 
node; ribbon; loop; knot (nautical 
measure); v. to be born 
bay yon - to make a knot 
- godyen see negèdyen 
658 
ne - nèg 
- gôjèt, - gôj, - gôje, - lalwèt 
Adam's apple 
- kann knot or joint of sugarcane 
stalk -... ke see nèk 
- koulan slip knot; (hangman's) 
noose 
- pijon dorsal vein of penis 
nè n. nerve; nerves, nervousness; 
prefix neuro-; adv. o'clock 
mete sou ~ to make nervous, set 
on edge 
- ke only 
- kwense pinched nerve 
sistèm ~ nervous system 
sou (lè) ~ on one's nerves, all 
keyed up 
tonbe ~ to have a seizure; to pass 
out 
yon ~ moute/pran li to be 
nervous; to become angry 
yon sèl ~ moute/pran li to 
become enraged, go into a rage 
nèbèf n. bullwhip 
Nebikadneza prop.n. [Bible] 
Nebuchadnezzar 
Nebraska prop.n. Nebraska (USA) 
nechèl, nèchèl n. ladder; scale 
se wete that takes the cake! 
that's it! nothing more to be said! 
nèf, nev num. nine; adj. new, recent; 
full of energy, lively, vibrant 
tou - kôm - pwen brand-new; 
in fine shape 
Nef! prop.n. [Book of Mormon] 
Nephi 
Nefit prop.n. [Book of Mormon] 
Nephite 
nefretik adj. nephritic 
nefrit n. nephritis 
nèfsan num. nine hundred 
nèg n. man, male; Black man; friend, 
pal, guy, fellow; grouper (fish) 
gran ~ big shot, VIP; rich person; 
rebellious person 
gwo - "big man," big shot, VIP; 
big strong man; rebellious person; 
sturdy, robust, muscular; var. of 
latex-yielding plant 
~ akonpli, - brav, - byen 
chouke, ~ diy, ~ djanm, ~ donè, 
~ entèg, ~ jis, ~ konfyans, ~ 
konsekan, - lwayal, - natif 
natal, ~ natirèl, ~ respekte, ~ 
senbol, ~ solid, ~ total 
courageous man, real man 
~ a konsidere man of importance 
- (anba) fèy hick, clod, yokel 
~ boutèy drunk, lush 
- brenn intelligent man 
~ bwa see ~ mon 
- fasad hypocrite 
- fen well-dressed man 
~ fô intelligent man 
~ gran djèl var. of fish 
~ jôn var. of fish 
- kadinal var. of fish 
~ kay slave-owner, master, lord 
- konplèt married man 
~ krab dunce, fool 
- lavi dous exploiter 
~ lespri clever person; intellectual 
~ mawon escaped slave 
Nèg Mawon, Mawon Enkoni 
(plas) Unknown Escaped Slave 
(Square) (memorial statue to 
Haiti's equivalent of the Unknown 
Soldier, across from National 
Palace, PaP) 
- môn, ~ bwa hillbilly, country 
hick; peasant 
- move zafè shady character, 
suspicious person 
~ nwa Black man 
nèg - nen 
- nwè Negro (pej.) 
- nwè ti zorèy ingrate, ungrateful 
or thankless wretch 
- pa buddy, close personal friend 
- p ap di ou no one is going to tell 
you 
- sal tramp, bum 
- san landmen ne'er-do-well, no-
account, loser 
~ save intellectual 
- tèt, - sèvo intelligent man 
~ ti lespri, ~ ti vizyon dimwit 
- ti zèrèy average Haitian, Haitian 
Mr Everyman 
~ transit status seeker, upstart 
~ wouj red grouper (fish) 
ti ~ young man, man; little guy 
ti ~ wouj ak jôn var. of fish 
negasyon n. negation 
négatif n. (film) negative; adj. 
negative 
negativman adv. negatively, 
adversely 
nègès, nègè, negès n. woman; girl; 
Black woman, Negress 
ti ~ young woman, woman 
Negèv prop.n. Negev, Negeb 
neglijab adj. negligible 
negiijan adj. negligent, lax, careless; 
sloppily dressed 
fè ~ to be careless, be negligent 
neglijans n. negligence, 
carelessness, neglect 
neglije v. to neglect; to omit, drop; to 
round off {numbers); n. negligee 
an - not dressed-up; in dirty 
clothes 
negèdyen n. Gordian knot; insoluble 
problem; problem, rub 
negès n. [Fr.] trade, commerce, 
business 
negosyab adj. negotiable 
negosyan n. wholesaler, wholesale 
dealer; trader, dealer 
negosyasyon, negosiyasyon n. 
negotiation 
negosyatè, negosyè n. negotiator 
negosye v. to negotiate; to 
compromise, make a deal 
negritid, lanegritid n. négritude 
(movement affirming validity of 
Black culture) 
negriye n. slave-trader; slave ship; 
adj. slave-trading 
nèj n. phyllanthus (plant); cocaine 
(jam.) 
nèj, lanèj n. snow; frost; 
condensation; icing, frosting (on 
cake etc.) 
fè ~ to snow 
nèk, neke, nèke adv. only, just, as 
soon as; except, but 
neklesen n. metal triangle played in 
Voodoo ceremonies 
nèkè see lèkô 
nekout: 
mete zôrèy li an ~ to listen 
attentively 
nekta n. nectar 
nektarin n. nectarine 
Nelandè, Neyèlandè prop.n. 
Dutchman; prop.n./adj. Dutch 
Nelandèz, Neyèlandèz/n. Dutch 
woman 
nematôd n. nematode (worm that 
attacks tomatoes, plantains etc.) 
nemoni, lemoni, lemonni n. 
pneumonia 
- atipik SARS (severe acute 
respiratory syndrome) 
nen n. nose; dwarf, midget; hood (ot 
car); adj. nasal 
anndan - nasal passage(s) 
bô ~ (sides of) nostrils 
66<5 
nen - nesans 
bouche - pou fè (yon bagay) to 
do (s.thg.) in spite of oneself 
bwa - nose; nasal bone, bridge of 
nose do - nasal ridge 
gen - fen to have a keen sense of 
smell 
gen - (nan figi li) to have one's 
pride or self-respect, self-
respecting; honest, forthright 
louvri de zèl ~ li to flare one's 
nostrils 
mete ~ nan figi li to show pride or 
self-respect 
- ak bouch ak right next to, 
adjoining 
- bouche stopped-up nose; sinus 
congestion 
- fen foresighted, cautious; lucky; 
intuitive; intuition 
~ frèt without self-respect 
~ frèt! shame! 
~ kanpe turned-up nose 
~ koule runny nose 
~ krikrit straight pointed nose 
~ long solenodon (insect-eating 
mammal resembling shrew) 
- ou ap senyen your fly is open 
~ pou ~ face to face 
- retwouse snub nose 
~ rigôl runny nose 
~ soulye toe of shoe 
pa gen ~ nan figi shameless 
san ~ shameless; tiny, 
insignificant 
son ~ nasal sound, nasal vowel 
ti ~ dwarf, midget 
tou - , twou ~ nostril 
twouse (zèl) - devan, twouse ~ li 
sou to turn up one's nose at, to 
show disdain for 
zèl - (sides of) nostrils; nose 
zo (bwa) ~ nose; nasal bone, 
bridge of nose 
Other terms used to describe the 
human nose: alonje, chankre, 
doubout, dwat, fen, file, gwo, 
kare, kolboso, kout, kraze, laj, 
long, plat, pwenti, ti 
nenf n. pupa, nymph (inactive stage 
of many insects) 
nenifa n. water lily 
nennenn, nènèn, nennen f.n. 
godmother; cf. marenn 
nenpôt, kenenpot, kennenpôt, 
kenpôt, kinenpot pron. anyone; 
whatever, whichever, no matter 
(what); just any; either (one); any 
- eki no matter who(m) 
- (ki) jan however, anyhow 
- (ki) kote anywhere, wherever 
- (ki) lè whenever, anytime 
- kilès every one, all 
- (ki) moun anyone, anybody; 
who(m)ever, no matter who(m) 
nenpôtkèl adj. any 
nenpètki, nenpôteki: 
pa ~ not just anyone 
Nepal prop. n. Nepal 
Nepalè prop.n./adj., Nepalèz 
f.prop.n. Nepalese 
nepe, epe, lepe n. sword 
- Damoklès sword of Damocles, 
inherent threat 
Neptin prop.n. Neptune 
Nerètprop.n. Nérette (section of 
Pétion-Ville) 
neryen, nèryen adj. insignificant; n. 
insignificant or worthless person 
nesans, lanesans n. birth; nature, 
character, heredity 
ak papye % prèv - birth 
certificate; cf. batistè 
pran - to originate 
66<5 
nesesè - neyoliberal 
nesesè adj. necessary; n. essential(s), 
necessities 
nesesèman adv. necessarily 
nesesite n. necessity, must; need; 
utter poverty, deprivation; v. to 
necessitate (cf. bezwen) 
Nesleprop.n. Nestle (evaporated 
milk) 
nèspa? interr. adv. [Fr.] isn't it so? 
nestri, nèstri n. saddle-pad (straw, 
leather, cloth etc.) 
net n. neutral (mack); adj. neutral; 
neuter 
rann - to neutralize 
nèt adj. clean, tidy, neat; thorough; 
net; n. var. of mango; adv. quite, 
completely, thoroughly, entirely, 
really, absolutely, totally; through 
and through; without exception 
se sa ~ exactly; great, terrific 
nètale, nètalkole adv. completely, 
thoroughly, totally, utterly 
netche, netye v. to clean, clean out; 
to skip out, take to one's heels; see 
netwaye 
~ bounda, ~ dèyè, - fif to spank; 
to beat up 
nètman adv. clearly, distinctly 
netralite n. neutrality; cf. san 
paspouki, san patipri 
netraiize v. to neutralize 
netwayab adj. washable 
netwayaj, netwayay n. cleaning, 
washing; clean-up 
netwaye, netche, netye v. to clean; 
to wash, wash out; to wipe (off); 
to clean (an animal for cooking); 
to beat (sports); to thrash, whip; to 
tear (s,o.) apart, make a damning 
report concerning (s.o.) 
~ gèJ M to clear one's throat 
~ tè to clear off land 
netwayè lari n. street clean» 
(person) 
netwon n. neutron 
netye see netche; netwaye 
nev see nèf 
Nevada prop.n. Nevada (USA) 
nevan n. nine years 
nèvan see ennèvan 
neve, nive n. nephew 
ti - great-nephew 
nève v. to get on (s.o.'s) nerves; m 
ennève 
~ sou to be impatient with 
nevè n. nine o'clock 
nevèdtan n. nine hours 
nevèn, evèn, ledvèn, levèn, wrm 
n. novena; nine-day mourning 
period 
fè - , kondi - , kouri -, monte - * 
make a novena 
Nevis prop.n. Nevis (cf. Se&fcH) 
nevit see levit 
nevralji n. neuralgia 
nevyèm adj. ninth 
newoliberal see neyoliberal 
newolôg n. neurologist 
newoloji n. neurology 
Newon prop.n. Nero 
newonn n. neuron 
neyan n. nothingness, emptinesi 
neye, nwaye v. to drown; to oven* 
- kou krapo Lagonav asleep m 
the deep, in a watery grave 
Neyèlandè see Nelandè 
Neyèlandèz see Nelandèi 
Neyemi prop.n. [Bible] Ncfaemiili 
neyo- prefix neo-
neyokolonyal adj. neocolonkl 
neyokolonyalis n. neocolonialism; 
n./adj. neocolonialist 
neyoliberal, newoliberal adj. 
neoliberal 
66<5 
neyoliberalis - nimewo 
aeyoliberalis n. neoliberalism; adj. 
neoliberal 
aeyolojis n. neologism 
neyon n. neon 
ngan, ngangan, nganngan see 
oungan 
ngongolô see gongolo 
ni adj. naked, nude (cf. toutouni); 
bare; conj. nor (with pa); see li 
(pron.) 
-... ~ both ... and 
-... - (with pa) neither ... nor, 
either... or (with not) 
- ko naked, nude (cf. toutouni) 
Nibo see Gede Nibo 
nich n. nest; a lot of, many; 
doghouse; small altar or box 
containing articles for Voodoo 
worship 
~ fourni anthill 
- kanna pothole 
~ lougawou comet; luminous trail 
in the sky left by a lougawou 
(*v.) 
~ myèl (wild) beehive 
san - kanna completely flat 
yon - a good number of, a lot of 
niche, liche v. to lick, lap; to nest; to 
hide 
~ dèyè to brown-nose, kiss (s.o.'s) 
butt, flatter excessively 
- dwèt finger-licking good, tasty, 
delicious; cf. koupe dwèt 
niché n. s.o. who licks his/her plate 
clean 
NIF acron. Nouvo Idantifikasyon 
Fiskal New Fiscal Identity card 
nigè n. (pej.) nigger 
nigo adj. foolish; n. fool, idiot 
nigrit n. inner strength, courage 
Nijè prop.n. Niger 
Nijerya prop.n. Nigeria 
nijeryan prop.n./adjNijeryàn 
f.prop.n. Nigerian 
nik see annik 
Nikaragwa prop.n. Nicaragua 
Nikaragwayen prop.n., 
Nikaragwayèn fprop.n. 
Nicaraguan 
nikèl n. nickel (metal) 
niklay n. nickel-plating 
nikle adj. nickel-plated 
nikleyè adj. nuclear 
nikè adj. nude, naked; cf. toutouni 
nikodèm n. ninny, simpleton, boob 
Nikodèm prop.n. [Bible] Nicodemus 
Nikola prop.n. Nicholas, Nicolas 
Nikolayitprop.n. [Bible] Nicolaitan 
nikotin n. nicotine 
nil adj. worthless; useless, futile; 
null, void; tied (score) 
Nil (larivyè)prop.n. Nile river 
nilon, laylôn, nayilonn, naylon, 
naylonn n. nylon 
nim n. neem (tree) 
dlo lwil - , poud - var. home-
made insecticides 
Nima (Nono) prop.n. Numa (Nono) 
- Haitian-language dramatist, 
author of Jeneral Wodrig 
nimerasyon n. numeration; notation 
nimeratè n. numerator (math.) 
nimerik adj. numerical 
nimewo, limewo n. number; lottery 
ticket; size (clothing, shoes); 
oddball, character; issue (of 
journal etc.); article (of 
constitution) 
bay ~ to number 
m konnen ~ 11 know his kind/ 
type (pej.) ~ dod number (in line) 
- en "numéro uno," head honcho, 
head person 
66<5 
Nimewode - Nôdikilè 
- lwil oil weight 
- onz var. of mango 
~ pye li of one's equal social 
status 
Nimewode prop.n. Numéro Deux 
(section of Jérémie, Dept. 
Grand'Anse) 
nimewote, limewote v. to number 
Nini prop.n. Nini 
se bouda se dada so what! 
who cares! it doesn't amount to a 
hill of beans 
Niniv prop.n. [Bible] Nineveh 
ninja n. ninja, Japanese martial arts 
specialist 
Nip, Titwou, Titwoudenip prop.n. 
Petit-Trou-de-Nippes (Dept. 
Grand'Anse) 
nipye see anmilpye 
niri see nouri 
niriti see nouriti 
nitou conj. neither, nor, (not) either; 
moreover, furthermore, besides, 
indeed 
nitrat n. nitrate 
- ajan silver nitrate 
nitrisyon n. nutrition 
nitrisyonis n. nutritionist 
nitriyan n. nutrient 
nitwojèn n. nitrogen 
nivana n. Carnival figure 
nive see neve 
nivle v. to grade, level out, make level 
nivo adj. level; new, fresh; n. level 
(carpenter's tool); standard, 
criterion; grade, class (in school) 
[Fr.] 
a ~ see anivo 
fè ~ to level off 
kenbe ~ a to keep up the level, 
maintain the same level 
lôt ~ outstanding, notable 
o - see onivo 
pa ~ uneven, unlevel 
piba - lanmè below sea level 
piwo - lanmè above sea level 
nivre see annivre 
nivrèl: 
manje ~ to sap the foundation* 
destroy the base 
Niyagara (kaskad) prop.n. Niagara 
Falls 
nizans see nwizans 
no adj. odd, uneven (number) 
no: 
an ~ golden, gold 
no, leno n. north; adj. northern 
No prop.n. the North of Haiti 
(depatman) ~ (Department of the) 
North 
masif di ~ Massif du Nord, North 
mountain range 
- Afriken North African, 
Maghreb 
~ Ameriken North American 
(Canada, USA, Mexico) 
Tonton - Pierre Nord Alexis 
(president of Haiti 1902-08) 
nob n./adj. noble 
tèt - bald 
noble v. to swear at (s.o.), curse; to 
sing (out); to call; to invoke 
(Voodoo) 
noblès n. nobility 
nod see annôd 
ala - ala katôd bisexual 
node n. nor'easter (wind) 
Nodè prop.n., Nôdèz f.prop.n. 
inhabitant of the Dept. North 
nodès n. northeast 
Nodès: 
(depatman) - prop.n. (Department 
of the) North-East 
Nôdikilè prop.n., Nèdikilèz 
66<5 
nodil - non 
f.prop.n. inhabitant of Acul-du-
Nord (Dept. North) 
nodil n. nodule (bot.) 
nodozite n. nodule, node 
Nèdwès, Nôtwès: 
(depatman) ~prop.n. 
( Department of the) North-West 
Nôdwezyen prop.n., Nôdwezyèn 
f.prop.n. inhabitant of the Dept. of 
the North-West 
Noe see Noye 
nofraj see nofray 
nofraje n. shipwreck victim 
nofray, nofraj, ofraj, ofray n. 
shipwreck (event) 
fè ~ to sink 
nogal n. walnut tree 
nèk see nonk 
nôkawout, nakawout n. knock-out 
(boxing); v. to knock out, knock 
down 
Nôlwizyen prop.n., Nôlwizyèn 
f.prop.n. inhabitant of Saint-Louis-
du-Nord (Dept. North-West) 
nom n. norm, standard 
noma n. noma 
nomad n. nomad; adj. nomadic 
nomal adj. normal, natural; fitting, 
appropriate; adv. normally, 
naturally 
lekôl ~ teacher-training school, 
school of education 
pa nan ~ li not up to one's normal 
self, out-of-sorts 
pa ~ abnormal 
nômalite n. normality, normalcy 
nômalizasyon n. normalization; 
standardization 
nomalize v. to normalize; to 
standardize 
nomalman, nomalteman adv. of 
course, certainly; normally; 
regularly 
nômalyen n. student at teacher-
training school 
~ diplôme licensed teacher 
noman prop.n./adj. Norman 
Nômandi, Lanomandi prop.n. 
Normandy (France) 
nome see nonmen 
nomeman adv. [F/:] by name 
Nômil (Andre)prop.n. Normil 
(André) - Haitian painter 
celebrated for his detailed 
humorous depictions of Haitian 
reality, b. 1934 
nominasyon, lonminasyon n. 
nomination; appointing, naming 
Nompenn prop.n. Phnom Penh 
(Cambodia) 
non n. name; first name; price; 
noun; adv. no, not; then, now; 
prefix non-; used either to 
reinforce or soften a request or 
order, almost the equivalent of 
"please "; sh.form nan + yon 
bay moun ~ to slander; to tease; 
to nickname 
bon ~ real name (as opposed to 
nickname); good reputation 
bon vye ~ nickname 
fo ~ pseudonym 
leve ~ to be named after/for 
~ badnay, - badnen nickname 
- batèm Christian name; opening 
price (when bargaining) 
- fabrik brand name 
~ fi(y) maiden name 
~ gate, ~ jwèt, ~ kachkach 
nickname 
- kalite generic name 
~ mak brand name 
- oun! nah! nope! no! 
- papa certainly not 
66<5 
non - Notredam 
~ patikilye proper name 
~ pwen ritual Voodoo name 
~ pwèp proper noun 
- vanyan ritual Voodoo name 
pa gen ~ to not be known, have no 
standing, have no credit rating 
pa konnen ~ (pou li bay) chen li 
not to know what one is talking 
about 
pote ~ li to live up to one's name 
sou ~ li on his/her bill or account; 
to be talking about him/her 
ti vye ~ nickname 
yo di ou ~ ou di fok to be overly 
insistent 
Nonb prop.n. [Bible] Numbers 
nonbre adj. [Fr.] numerous 
nonbrit see lonbrit 
noni n. Jimson weed, thorn apple, 
datura stramonium (same as 
konkonm zonbi) 
nonk, nôk n. uncle; stupid man 
nonm n. man, guy; (common-law) 
husband; lover; number 
~ deyô lover (of married women) 
yon bon ~ a good(ly) number of 
nonmen, lonmen, nome v. to name; 
to nominate; to cite, mention s.o.; 
to appoint 
~ non li to mention s.o. by name 
yon - a person named 
nonplis, nonpli neg. adv. (not) 
either, neither 
nons n. nuncio 
nonsan: 
ti - innocent little one 
nonsans n. [Fr.] nonsense 
nonsèlman adv. not only 
nonsyati, nonsiyati n. nunciature 
nonvyolans see lanonvyolans 
Nôplant prop.n. Norplant 
(contraceptive patch) 
noran: 
van ~ northwest wind 
Nôrh prop.n., Nôrèz f.prop.n. 
inhabitant of the Dept. Nort^E* 
nos n. wedding, marriage 
~ chen wedding ceremony without 
the usual food and drink 
- do golden anniversary, fiftieth 
anniversary 
nosan see inosan 
nosif adj. noxious, harmful 
nostalji n. homesickness; nostalgia 
nostaljik adj. homesick; nostalgic 
[Fr.] 
nosyon n. notion 
~ de baz basic concept 
not n. note, short message; grade, 
evaluation; transcript; musical no* 
bon ~ good reputation 
fè ~ to make the grade, succeed, 
progress 
move ~ bad reputation 
Not Dam see Nètredam 
~ deprès press release 
reive ~ transcript 
notab n. leading citizen, community 
elder, local dignitary, pillar of tk 
community; rural section chief 
(same as chèf seksyon); woric-
period before sunrise; adj. 
remarkable, noticeable, notable 
notaman adv. notably 
notarye v. to certify, authenticate^ 
notarize 
note v. to note, notice, observe, 
remark; to record, jot down, mike 
a note of 
noté, noté n. notary (public) 
notifye v. to notify, inform 
notis n. notice, warning, caution 
Nètredam, Nôt Dam prop.n. Notre-
Dame, Our Lady 
66<5 
Nôtre-Pè - novisya 
Nôtre-Pèprop.n. Lord's Prayer 
notwa adj. notorious; well-known, 
acknowledged 
Nôtwès see Nôdwès 
nou pron. we, our, (to) us; (to) you 
(pi), your (pl.); reflexive pron. 
~ lède both of us; both of you 
- menm ourselves; yourselves 
- youn each one of us; each one 
of you (pi.) 
pa ~ ours; yours (pl.); not we, not 
us; not you (pi.) 
Nouanmchayè see Nyouanpchi 
nouga n. nougat 
Nouhevenn prop.n. New Haven 
(Connecticut) 
Noujèze, Nyoudjèze, Nyoujèze 
prop.n. New Jersey (USA) 
Noumeksiko see Nouvo Meksik 
nounoun (ti) n. sweetheart, darling 
nounous n. teddy bear 
nouri, niri v. to nourish; to feed; 
adj. thick, heavy, dense 
nouris n. nursing mother; wet-nurse; 
var. of small lizard; adj. being 
breast-fed 
gwo - nursing mother whose child 
has begun to walk 
ti ~ confinement or lying-in period 
(after giving birth); nursing 
mother whose child has not yet 
begun to walk 
ti - blanch mother of a newborn 
infant 
nourisan adj. nourishing, nutritious 
nourisman n. nourishment 
nouriti, lanouriti, niriti n. food, 
nourishment 
nouvèl n. (piece of) news; rumor; 
short story ;f.adj. new 
ban m - ou how are you? what's 
new? 
bay ~ to spread (the) news 
~ kout short news item, news in 
brief 
bay - to inform; to let (s.o.) know 
ki what's new? 
pran ~ to hear (the) news, hear of; 
to hear from 
premye what a piece of news! 
Nouvèl Kaledoni prop.n. New 
Caledonia 
Nouvèl Ôleyan(s) prop.n. New 
Orleans (USA) 
Nouvèltourèn prop.n. Nouvelle-
Touraine (1st communal section of 
Kenscoff, Dept. West) 
Nouvèl Zelannprop.n. New 
Zealand 
nouvelis n. [Fr.] short-story writer 
nouvo adj. new; recent, modern 
de ~ [Fr.] again 
~ ne [Fr.] newborn 
Nouvo Angletèprop.n. New 
England (USA) 
Nouvo Meksik, Noumeksiko 
prop.n. New Mexico (USA) 
nouvone n. [Fr] new-bom; born-
again Christian 
nouvote n. [Fr] new model, new 
thing, novelty 
Nouwakchètprop.n. Nouakchott 
(Mauritania) 
Nouwôk, Nouwak prop.n. Newark 
(New Jersey, USA) 
Nouyôk, Nyouyôkprop.n. New 
York (USA); United States of 
America (ay generic term) 
novanm n. November 
Nàvbj prop.n. Norway 
Nôvejyen prop.n./adj., Nèvejyèn 
f.prop.n. Norwegian 
novis n. novice, beginner, rookie 
novisya n. novitiate 
66<5 
now! - nwizans 
now! inter], nah! nope! no! 
nôwa n. nor'wester (wind) 
Nôwa prop.n., Nôwaz f.prop.n. 
inhabitant of the Dept. North-West 
Nowèl see Nwèl 
Nowou prop.n. Nauru (Southwest 
Pacific) 
Noye, Noe prop.n. [Bible] Noah 
noyo n. kernel, pit, seed; nucleus; 
core 
- peyi piper elder (shrub or small 
tree) 
noyon see wonyon 
nôz: 
pa ~ to dare not 
noze n. nausea; cf. kè plen 
nwa n. nut; walnut; nut used for 
playing marbles; nuts (testicles); 
quarter note (music) 
ni an ~ ni an wouj not at all 
~ brezil Brazil nut 
~ je, ~ zye pupil (of eye) 
~ kajou cashew nut 
~ kola cola nut, bichy nut 
~ kou nape (of neck); neck bone, 
cervical spine 
ti ~ nuts (testicles) 
nwa, nwè n./adj. black; n. Black 
masses, Black proletariat; dark, 
darkness 
fè nan ~ to lie low, go into hiding 
(li) fè - it is dark 
wè tou ~ to be giddy or dizzy 
Nwa: 
lanmè - Black Sea 
mon ~ Black Mountains 
(mountain range running 
northwest to southeast with 
Central Plateau to the north and 
the Artibonite Plain to the south, 
Depts. Artibonite and Center); 
Mome Noir (mountain above 
Pétion-Ville-Dept. West) 
nwaj see nyaj 
nwaje see nyaje 
nwakou n. nape (of neck); * * 
bone, cervical spine 
Nwal see Nwèl 
nwaris n./adj. [Fr.] noiriste-
black ^ 
nwasè n. darkness; Jig. perdition 
nwasi, nwèsi v. to blacken, daitcn 
shade in 
mo - bold type (printing) 
nway see nyaj 
nwaye see neye; nyaje 
nwayo n. [Fr.] core, nucleus, cdl 
~ dijans emergency unit 
nwazèt n. hazelnut 
nwè see nèg nwa 
Nwèl, Nowèl, Nwal n. Christmas 
kwè nan tonton ~ to be naïve 
tonton - , papa - Santa Clara 
nwèsi see nwasi 
nwi v. to annoy, tease, bother, bug; to 
harm, hurt; n. night 
~ ko, - nich to be unable to stay 
quiet; to look for trouble 
- sante (yon moun) to bug(io.), 
annoy, bother 
pa ~ m non, perik don ' t give me 
a n y t r o u b l e , p a l ; great ! swell! 
nwit n. n i g h t 
gwo nan ~ i n t h e midd le of the 
n i g h t , i n t h e d a r k n e s s of the night 
nan - kou lajounen, - kou jo* 
a l l d a y a n d a l l n i g h t 
nan ~ samdi pou ouvè dimandi 
o n t h e n i g h t o f S a t u r d a y to Sunday 
- blanch s l e e p l e s s n igh t 
pase ~ t o s p e n d t h e night 
pase (yon) - blanch t o stay awake 
a l l n i g h t nwizans, nizans n. nuisance, probkn 
nwizanse - nywaj 
nwizanse v. to irritate, harm, injure 
nwizib adj. annoying, bothersome, 
obnoxious; harmful, injurious 
fe~to misbehave, be annoying 
nyaj, nay, nwaj, nway, nyay, 
nywaj n. cloud; puff, billow (of 
smoke) 
ban m rale yon - give me a smoke 
espire - , fè de - , fè (yon) - , 
pouse - , pran - , rale (yon) -
voye - to take a puff, blow smoke 
(cigarette etc.) 
fè - to be cloudy 
nyaje, nwaje, nwaye v. to smoke; 
adj. cloudy, overcast 
Nyameprop.n. Niamey (Niger) 
nyannyan see yanyan 
nyans n. nuance; gradation 
nyapad adv. there isn't, there aren't 
nyay see nyaj 
nye v. to renounce; to disown, 
repudiate, reject; to deny; to 
abandon 
nyè adj. silly, foolish 
nyennyen see yenyen 
nyès n. niece 
ti - great-niece; little niece 
nyèz f.n. silly, foolish 
nyèzay, nyezri n. silliness, 
foolishness 
nyèze v. to act silly, act foolish 
nyik see yik 
nyon (ofo.) see yon 
Nyouanpchi, Nouanmchayè, 
Nyouanmchiprop.n. New 
Hampshire (USA) 
Nyoudeliprop.n. New Delhi (India) 
Nyoudjèze, Nyoujèze see Noujèze 
Nyoutonn (Izarak) prop.n. Newton 
(Sir Isaac) - English 
mathematician and physicist, 
1642-1727 
nyouwann adj. brand-new, hot, all 
the rage 
Nyouyok see Nouyôk 
nyouz n. [Eng.] news 
fè - to listen to the news (on radio 
etc.) 
ki - ? what's up? 
nywaj see nyaj 
66<5 
o -obsèvasyon 
o 
o conj. or; interj. hey! oh! (surprise; 
disapproval);prep. [Fr] in (the), 
at (the), on (the), to (the), with 
(the); see wo 
fè - to grow a goatee 
o, o interj. hey! oh! (surprise; 
disapproval) 
o conj. [Fr.] however, but 
o, lo n. gold 
santim ô U.S. cent, U.S. penny 
oaza adv. at random 
ob n. alb (ecc.) 
Obayprop.n. communal section of 
Dept. Center 
Obèprop.n. Aubert (3rd communal 
section of Port-de-Paix, Dept. 
North-West) 
obèj, lobèj n. inn 
obejin, obèj in n. [Fr.] eggplant; cf. 
berejèn 
obelis n. obelisk (monument) 
Oben (Filome)prop.n. Obin 
(Philomé) - founder of Cape 
Haitian art movement ("Funeral of 
Charlemagne Péralte"; 
"Crucifixion" and "Last Supper," 
Holy Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, 
PaP), b. 1892 
Oben (Senèk) prop.n. Obin 
(Sénèque) - Haitian painter ("Loge 
Haïtienne"), 1893-1977 
obèn n. windfall, bonanza 
obeyi v. to obey 
~ devan mistè to strike one's 
chest three times (Voodoo) 
obeyisan adj. obedient, docile 
obeyisans n. obedience, observance 
obèz adj. [Fr.] obese, corpulent 
obis n. shell (ammunition) 
obit n. orbit 
objè, lobjè n. object, purpose, goal 
objeksyon n. objection 
objèktif, objektif n. [Fr] objective, 
aim, goal; adj. objective, 
dispassionate 
objektivite n. objectivity 
objektivman adv. objectively, 
impartially 
Obla(t) ecc. prop.n. Oblate 
oblan dèzye [Fr.]: 
gade - - to look (s.o.) straight in 
the face/eye 
obli see oubli 
obligasyon, lobligasyon n. obligation; 
duty; debt, liability 
obligatwa adj. obligatory, required, 
compulsory 
obligatwaman adv. obligatorily 
oblijan adj. obliging, civil, helpful; 
demanding, insistent 
oblije adj. obligatory; see blije 
oblik adj. oblique, slanting 
oblong adj. oblong 
obouk adv. to/toward the village 
obout prep, at the end of 
pouse (yon moun) - to push (s.o.) 
to the edge, push to desperation 
Oboy, B6y prop.n. Le Borgne -
founded 1783 (Dept. North) 
obsede v. to be obsessed, be 
haunted; to obsess, haunt 
obsèn adj. [Fr.] obscene 
obsenite n. [Fr.] obscenity 
obsesyon n. obsession 
obsèvans n. observance 
obsèvasyon, opsèvasyon n. 
observation; reprimand, reproach, 
remark 
66<5 
obsèvatè - odle 
fè - to reprimand, scold 
obsèvatè n. observer; adj. observant 
obsèvatwa n. observatory 
obsève, opsève, opzève v. to 
observe, notice; to respect, obey 
(law); to reprimand, scold 
obstak n. obstacle, barrier 
obstetrik n. obstetrics 
obstetriko-jinekolojik adj. ob-gyn 
obstetrisyen n. obstetrician 
obtansyon n. obtaining 
obteni v. [Fr.] to obtain; cf. jwenn 
obti adj. obtuse (math.) 
obwa n. oboe 
ochan n. anthem; hymn; musical 
salute, special song or drum 
flourish to mark appearance of a 
Voodoo spirit or distinguished 
visitor 
bay - , bat - , pouse - to hail, 
salute 
ochapit see lavwa 
od n. order, command; order, 
establishment 
mete an - to classify, arrange in 
order 
an - in order 
ôdanje adv. out of danger; off the 
critical list 
odas, odasite, lodas n. daring, 
boldness, audacity, guts; 
impudence, insolence 
fè - to be bold, be daring; to be 
insolent, rude 
gen - , manche - li to dare 
odasye adj., odasyèz f.adj. insolent, 
presumptious, shameless; bold, 
audacious, reckless 
ôdbôd adj. outboard (motor) 
odè, lodè, lôdè, zodè n. odor, scent; 
(bad) smell; perfume, fragrance 
pran - to smell 
odebi adv. in/at the beginning (of) 
odeli see odle 
odènye: 
- jou on the last day, the end of 
the world 
odepa adv. [Fr.] from the start, at the 
outset 
odepann prep, at the expense of, 
dependent upon 
odetriman adv. to the detriment of 
odèv n. appetizer, hors d'oeuvre 
odeyid n. rags, old clothing 
Odibon (Jan Jak) prop.n. Audubon 
(Jean-Jacques/John James) -
painter of birds, born in Les 
Cayes, 1785-1851 
Odikap prop.n. Haut-du-Cap (near 
Cape Haitian) 
ôdinal adj. ordinal (number) 
odinasyon n. ordination 
odinatè n. [Fr.] computer 
mikwo - personal computer 
ôdinè adj., ôdinèz f.adj. ordinary, 
usual, normal; cheap, common, 
ordinary; vulgar, coarse, obscene; 
plain, familiar, usual, banal; n. 
red-neck, clod, lout; var. of mango 
ôdinèman adv. ordinarily, usually 
odinèz see ôdinè 
odisyon n. audition; hearing (jur.) 
odit n. audit 
fè - to audit 
oditè n. radio audience 
oditè n., oditris f.n. listener; radio 
listener; auditor 
oditif adj. auditory 
oditoryôm n. auditorium 
oditwa n. audience, listeners 
odjô n. auger, snake, flexible metal 
wire for cleaning drains 
odkolôy, okolôy n. eau de Cologne 
odle, ôdeli n. orderly (milit.) 
66<5 
ôdonans - ofiks 
èdonans, lôdonans, zôdonans n. 
prescription (med.); ordinance 
(rule); edict; court order, judicial 
ruling; authorization of payment; 
orderly (milit.); bodyguard 
odone, ôdonnen v. to order, 
command; to ordain, be ordained 
(priest etc.) 
ôdonk conj. thus, so, then 
ôdonnen see ôdone 
odontoloji n. dentistry 
ôdpôte, ôdpote adj. considerable, 
powerful 
san ~ limitless 
Odsenmakprop.n. Haut-de-Saint-
Marc (Dept. Artibonite) 
ôdsezon adj. produced out of season 
odsi, odsid, odsidmoun adj. 
arrogant, haughty, condescending; 
superior, high-class 
ODVA acron. (pronounced: o-de-
ve-a) (Ôganis Devlôpman Vale 
Latibonit/Organisation pour le 
Développement de la Vallée de 
l'Artibonite) Organization for the 
Development of the Artibonite 
Valley 
odyab: 
ale go to the devil! 
odyans, lodyans n. talk, 
conversation; funny stories, jokes, 
banter; story-telling session; 
oration, speech (in the country); 
court hearing 
bay - to tell funny stories, banter, 
visit with 
kraze kèk - to chew the fat, shoot 
the breeze 
mare yon - to strike up a 
conversation 
odyanse v. to tell jokes or funny 
stories 
odyansè, lodyansè n. entertaining 
person, joker, life of the party; 
raconteur, (accomplished) story-
teller; big windbag, big talker, s.o. 
who is all talk and no action 
odyansye see isye 
odyapazon adv. ready to fight, 
combative 
odyo adj. audio 
odyovizyèl adj. audio-visual 
OEA, LOEA acron. Ôganizasyon 
Eta Ameriken/Organization of 
American States, OAS 
of n. offer, proposition, bid; v. [Eng.] 
to be off, have time off (from 
work) 
ofans n. offense, injury, wrong 
ofanse v. to offend; to sin against 
ofansiv n. offensive, attack, assault 
OFATMA acron. Ofis Asirans 
Aksidan Travay, Maladi ak 
Matènite (Office d'Assurances, 
Accidents du Travail, Maladie et 
Maternité) Haitian government 
health insurance agency 
ofèb, ôfèb see ôfèv 
ôfelen, ôflen n. (male) orphan 
Ôfelen prop.n. Orphelin 
(disadvantaged area of PaP near 
Delmas 1 and 2) 
ofelin, ôflin f.n. orphan 
ofelina n. orphanage 
ofët adv. in fact, actually 
ofètwa n. offertory 
ofèv, lofèb, lofèm, lofèv, ofèb, ôfèb 
n. goldsmith, jeweler 
gen grenn zanno pa 1 kay - to 
have a skeleton in one's closet, 
have a shameful hidden secret 
ôfich n. oarfish; see grandyèl 
ofiks adv. at attention, standing 
straight 
66<5 
ofiramezi - Ogou(n) 
ofiramezi, filamezi, firamezi, 
firanmezi, oflyamezi, ofyamezi 
adv. gradually, little by little, step 
by step; as; progressively, in 
succession 
ofis n. activities, undertakings; trade, 
occupation, profession; duties, 
job; use, function; (administration) 
office; pantry, galley 
ofiskan adj. offensive, offending, 
disgusting, shocking 
ofiske v. to offend, shock; to be 
offended, be shocked 
ofisyalize v. to make official, 
officialize 
ofisyan n. (;rel.) officiant 
ofisye n. officer; rural section chief 
(same as chèf seksyon) 
ofisyèl n./adj. official 
woule nan - to drive about in a 
(fancy) government car 
ofisyèlman adv. officially 
oflyamezi see ofiramezi 
oflanbo: 
laretrèt - , mach - torchlight 
procession 
ôflen see èfelen 
èflin see èfelin 
ofon adv. really, actually, essentially, 
in reality 
ofondifon adv. fundamentally, 
essentially 
ofraj see nofray 
ofraje v. to wreck, demolish; to get 
hurt 
ofrann, lofrann n. offering 
ofray see nofray 
ofri v. to offer 
oftaknoloji n. ophtalmology 
ofyamezi see ofiramezi 
n. organ (music) 
ogadavou see gadavou 
kanpe - to stand at attention 
tounen - to come to attention, 
snap to attention (milit.) 
ogan n. rhythmic time-keeper,^ 
of iron struck with metal claç^ 
to mark rhythm in Voodoo 
ceremonies 
ôgàn n. organ (body); voice 
ôganigram n. organization chart 
oganik adj. organic 
oganis «.organization, agency; 
organism; organist; var. of snail 
songbird 
èganizasyon n. organization 
ôganizasyonèl, ôganizasyonaèiaj 
organizational 
oganizatè n. organizer; adj. 
organizational 
èganize, ôgannize v. to organize, 
arrange, put together 
ogantye n. player of ogan (q.t) 
ogatwa, loratwa, oratwa, mptin 
n. private altar, home altar (boa, 
stand or table with sacred objects) 
ôgèy n. pride, arrogance, conoeà; 
anger 
desann - to calm down 
fè - , gen - , moute - to be 
prideful; to be agitated, be 
overwrought 
ôgèye, ogeye, ôgeye adj. arrogant 
haughty 
Ogis prop.n. Augustus 
Ogis (Tankrèd) prop.n. Augure 
(Tancrède) - president of Haiti, 
1912-1913 
Ogisten prop.n. Augustin 
ogmantasyon n. increase; pay raise 
ogmante v. to increase, augment; to 
raise (salary) 
Ogou(n), Ogou(n) Feray prop* 
Voodoo spirit of war, energy, 
66<5 
Ogou(n) - Okebèk 
force, iron - even atomic energy 
- Badagri Voodoo spirit of 
lightning and storms 
- Balindjo Voodoo sea spirit and 
captain of the ship of Agwe (q.v). 
Also: - Demannyè, - Fè, - Feray 
ogounen, jagounen v. (obs.) to 
fight, battle 
ograba adj. very poor, destitute 
ogran: 
~jamè never on your life, never at 
all 
~jou openly, publicly 
ograten adj. covered with bread 
crumbs and cheese 
ohan interj. uh-huh 
oho! interj. oho! 
OIM acron. Ôganizasyon 
Entènasyonal pou Migrasyon 
International Organization for 
Migration 
oj see lôj 
Ojt prop.n. Ogé (3rd communal 
section of Dessalines, Dept. 
Artibonite) 
Oje (Vensan) prop.n. Ogé (Vincent) 
- Mulatto leader executed by 
French at start of Haitian 
Revolution, 1791 
ôje adj./adv. offside 
ôji n. orgy 
ojis adv. exactly, precisely; actually, 
as a matter of fact 
ojoulejou adv. from day to day 
àk n. ocher, ochre 
oka conj. in case, if, in the event of, 
supposing (cf. sizoka); interj. O.K. 
okabine, okabennen, okabinen n. 
Stool, excrement; v. to have a 
bowel movement 
~ kote li manje to befoul one's nest 
Okadè prop.n. Aux-Cadets (6th 
communal section of Pétion-Ville, 
Dept. West) 
Okaj see Okay 
okake conj. in case that 
Okanada, Kanadaprop.n. (to, in) 
Canada 
okanon: 
bayonnèt - with fixed bayonet 
Okap (Ayisyen), Kapayisyen 
prop.n. Cape Haitian, Cap-Haïtien 
- founded 1670 (administrative 
center of Dept. North); northern 
region of Haiti 
Okay (Difon), Kay, Okaj prop.n. 
(Aux/Les) Cayes - founded 1720 
(administrative center of Dept. 
South); southern region of Haiti 
- bwè Jeremi sou to suffer the 
consequences of s.o. else's 
misdeeds, pay for s.o. else's 
actions 
Okayjakmèl see Kayjakmèl 
okazou conj. in case, if (it happens 
that) 
okazyon, lokazyon n. chance, 
occasion, opportunity; 
transportation; suitable juncture 
(person, means of transportation 
etc.) 
okazyonèl, okazyonnèl adj. [Fr.] 
occasional, chance 
okazyonnen, lokazyone, okazyone, 
okazyonen v. to cause, bring 
about; to lead into, induce 
oke adv./interj. O.K., all right, 
agreed; well done 
bay - to approve 
- do! okey-doke! all right! 
ôke, hôki, oki n. hockey 
- sou glas ice hockey 
Okebèk, Kebèk prop.n. (to, in) 
Quebec 
66<5 
okenn - oksiyi 
okenn, ankenn, onkenn neg. adj. 
(not) any; pron. nothing, not one, 
none 
- kote nowhere 
- moun not a single person 
Okenya see Kenya 
ôkès, lôkès n. orchestra 
ôkestrasyon n. orchestration 
ôkestre v. to orchestrate 
okèt n. short melodic-rhythmic 
pattern played on bamboo flute(s) 
ôkèt, hokèt, ikèt, wôkèt n. 
hiccup(s) 
oki see ôke 
ôkide n. orchid 
okilè: 
temwen - [Fr.] eyewitness 
okipan n. occupier; squatter (on 
piece of land); occupant; adj. 
occupying 
okipasyon, lokipasyon n. 
occupation, work, business; task; 
care, attention, nursing; 
preoccupation, worry; utility, 
usefulness; impossible task 
assigned an evil spirit (Voodoo) 
okipe, ekipe v. to take care of, look 
after; to manage, tend; to pay 
attention to, take notice of; to 
occupy; to treat (water etc.); adj. 
busy; occupied, taken 
mal - slovenly, shabbily dressed; 
neglected 
- afè pa ou mind your own 
business 
pa - ou! don't worry! never mind! 
pa - yon moun kou chen to 
totally ignore s.o. 
okit n. orchitis, inflammation of the 
testicles 
Oklawomaprop.n. Oklahoma (USA) oklè: 
tire - , mete-to clarify, bring o«t 
into the open 
oklizyon entestinal n. intestinal 
obstruction 
okoloy see odkoloy 
okonmansman, okomansmaa oh 
in the beginning, at the very start 
okonngout adv. drop by drop 
okonplè adv. completely, totally, in 
full force 
okontrè conj. rather, on the 
contrary; in fact, as a matter of 
fact, even 
Okoto see Koto 
okou prep, during the course of 
okouran adj. informed, acquainted 
with, aware of, in the know 
mete (yon moun) - to inform 
(s.o.) of, let (s.o.) know 
Okozyas prop.n. [Bible] Ahaziah 
Oksfam acron. Oxfam (Oxford 
Committee for Famine Relief) 
Oksfôd prop.n. Oxford 
oksid n. oxide 
- (de) kabon carbon monoxide 
Oksidan, Loksidan prop.n. 
Occident 
oksidantal adj. occidental, western 
oksidantalize v. to westernize 
oksidasyon n. oxydation 
okside v. to oxidize 
oksijèn, oksijenn n. oxygen; oxygen 
tank 
oksijene see dlo oksijene 
oksilyè n. paramedic, practical 
nurse, nurse's aide, public health 
nurse, auxiliary, aide, primary 
health worker; adj. auxiliary, 
ancillary; ecc. adj. suffragan 
Oksitan prop.n./adj. Provençal 
oksiyi n. pinworm, threadworm, 
enterobius 
66<5 
okt - omaj 
oktabbrev. oktôb 
oktagôn n. octagon 
oktôb, ôktôb n. October 
okton n. door-keeper; sergeant-at-
arms; office messenger-boy 
bin. [Eng.] hall; adv. [Eng.] all, tied 
score (sports) 
ola! hola! interj. stop it! hold it! 
mete - nan yon lagè to declare a 
ceasefire 
mete (yon) - , jete yon pon - to 
put a stop, end, stop; to veto 
olala! interj. wow! 
ôlalwa n./adj. outlaw 
mete - to outlaw 
olandè, wolandè prop.n. Dutchman; 
prop. adj. Dutch 
Olandèz, Wolandèz f.prop.n. 
Dutchwoman 
Olann, Laolann, Lawolann, 
Peyiba, Wolann prop.n. Holland, 
Netherlands 
Ôlanndo, Ôlando prop.n. Orlando 
(Florida) 
ôldop, hôldôp, wôldôp n. [Eng.] 
holdup 
ôldôpay, hôldopay, wôldôpay n. 
staging holdups 
oldope, holdôpe, wôldôpe v. to 
holdup 
ôldopè, hôldopè, wôldôpè n. holdup 
man/woman/artist 
oie! interj. bravo! great! 
oie, wole adj. ripe, tender (coconut); 
young; weak, immature 
olè adj with milk or cream 
olèmen! interj. hands up! 
fe/mete (yon moun) - to stick 
(s.o.) up, rob at gunpoint 
olenpik prop. adj. Olympic 
01enpik/?rop.«. Olympique (var. of 
soft drink) 
ôlfiltè n. [Eng.] oil-filter 
Olideyin prop.n. (obs.) Holiday Inn, 
Plaza (Champs-de-Mars, PaP) 
olid mo n./adv. (on one's) deathbed 
oligachi n. oligarchy 
oligachik adj. oligarchic(al) 
oligati see fll aligati 
oliv see zoliv 
Olivyeprop.n. Oliver 
Oliwoudprop.n. Hollywood 
olobaso n. leading citizen; cf. notab 
Olofsonn prop.n. Grand Hotel 
Oloffson (PaP) 
ôloj, lôloj, lôlôy n. clock 
ôloje n. watch or clock repair 
person; horologist, watchmaker, 
clockmaker 
ôlojpalant n. masterclock (radio) 
olokôs, holokos n. Holocaust 
ololoy interj. to express admiration; 
see wololoy 
olon, olonprep. [Fr.] along 
- lanmè seashore, waterfront 
- - slowly, gradually 
ôlray! ôlrayt! interj. [Eng.]all right! 
ôltègèt, wôltègèt v. to scram, get 
lost, clear out; to chase out, evict 
olyana n. rubber sandal 
olye adv. instead of, rather than; n. 
toilet, outhouse; v. to go to the 
bathroom, defecate/urinate 
- (de) instead of, rather than 
om, worn n. man; see lom 
monte chwal a -to straddle a 
horse 
- dafè business man 
oma see wonma 
Omadlèn, Wotmadlèn prop.n. 
Haut-Madeleine (2nd southern 
communal section of Fort-Liberté, 
Dept. North-East) 
omaj, lomaj n. homage, respect 
66<5 
omaksimom - onè 
omaksimom adv. to the maximum, 
to the fullest, to the hilt 
Oman prop.n. Oman 
omaren n. rosemary (fragrant shrub) 
omdedwa, ômdelwa n. jurist 
omdefas n. leadwort (plant) 
omdeta n. statesman 
Omèprop.n. Homer (Greek epic 
poet, about 850 B.C.) 
Omeksik see Meksik 
omeli n. homily, sermon 
omelitik n. homiletics 
omilè see lanmilèt 
omilye adv./prep. in the middle (of), 
among, between 
ominimôm adv. to/at a minimum 
omlè, omlèt see lanmilèt 
Omni prop.n. [Book of Mormon] 
Omni 
omnipotan adj. omnipotent 
omnivo n. omnivorous creature; adj. 
omnivorous 
omojèn adj. homogeneous, alike 
omojenize v. to homogenize 
Omèl, Môlsennikola prop.n. Môle-
Saint-Nicolas (Dept. North-West) 
omoman adv. (at) the moment, just 
as, right as 
èmèn see omonn 
omonim n. homonym 
omonn adv. in the world 
èmonn, ômon n. hormone 
~ gason testosterone 
omonye (pronounced: omo-nye) n. 
chaplain 
omoplat n. shoulder blade, scapula 
omoseksyalite n. [Fr.] 
homosexuality 
omoseksyèl n./adj. [Fr.] homosexual 
Omoustik, Womoustik prop.n. 
Moustique (Dept. North-West) 
OMS acron. Ôganizasyon 
Mondyal (pou) LasanteWHQ 
(World Health Organization) 
omwen, omwens adv. at least 
omwenn, omwend adv. at the 
slightest, at the least 
- akasan - siwo at the slightest 
provocation - there will be 
retaliation 
on see yon 
- - oink oink (grunt of pig) 
on (pronounced: o-n), on see \m 
ON A acron. Ofis NasyonalAsin» 
Vyeyès (Haitian Social Security 
System) 
ONAK, ONAAK acron. ONAAC 
(Ofis Nasyonal Alfabetizasyoi 
ak Aksyon Kominotè), Haitian 
adult literacy and community 
development program, 1969-86 
onbraje adj. skittish, nervous 
(horse, donkey) 
onbrèl n. parasol 
onbwaj see lonbray 
ond see onn 
Onda see Onnda 
ondile adj. wavy (hair) 
Ondiras, Onndiras prop.n. 
Honduras 
ondire, ondirè v. [Fr.] one would 
say, it seems as if, they say 
Ondiryen prop.n., Ondiryèn 
f.prop.n. Honduran 
ondyanikon see oungenikonn 
one v. to ornament, decorate, adorn; 
adj. ornate 
onè, lonè, lènè, lonnè, onnè n. 
honor 
fè - to honor 
onè, onèlamezon, onnè interj. 
anybody home? 
... respè! honor (to announce 
one's desire to enter a home)... 
66<5 
ONÈK- ONPÈP 
respect (the reply to enter) 
ONÈK acron. ONEC (Ofis 
Nasyonal Edikasyon Kominotè), 
Haitian adult literacy program, 
1962-68 
onèkte, lonèkte, lonètete, 
lonnètete, onètete, onnèkte, 
onnètete n. honesty, integrity, 
probity; decency, propriety; 
helpfulness; good breeding; nice 
gesture or kindness (gift, favor, 
service) 
ôneman n. ornament 
onet adv. in the neuter 
onèt, onnèt adj. honest, honorable, 
upright, proper, worthy; kind, 
generous; polite, well-mannered 
onètete see onèkte 
onètman, onnètman adv. honestly, 
fairly 
onfo see ounfô 
onfwa adv. once 
ONG acron. {pronounced: o-enn-je) 
Ôganizasyon Non-
Gouvènmantal NGO, Non-
Governmental Organization 
ongan see oungan 
ongènikon(n) see oungenikonn 
Ong Kong, Onn Kong prop.n. 
Hong Kong 
Ongriprop.n. Hungary 
Oni acron. Ôganizasyon 
Nasyonzini United Nations 
Organization 
oniks n. onyx (stone) 
ônitoloji n. ornithology 
ônitolojis n. ornithologist 
onivo prep, on a level with, on/at the 
level of, on a par with 
mete - to level 
onjenikon see oungenikonn 
onka see (yon) ka 
onkenn see okenn 
onkoloji n. [Fr.] oncology 
onksyon, onsyon n. (rel.) unction, 
anointing 
estrèm - extreme unction, last rites 
onlôt see (yon) lot 
onm see lonm 
onmantal adj. [Fr.] ornamental 
onn, ond n. wave (radio; weather) 
Onnda, Onda, Wonnda prop.n. 
Honda (automobile) 
Onndiras see Ondiras 
onnè seeonè 
onnèkte see onèkte 
onnèt see onèt 
onnètete see onèkte 
onnètman see onètman 
Onn Kong see Ong Kong 
onnkout n./adj. short-wave 
onnlayn adv. [Eng.] on line 
(computer) 
onnondipè see onondipè 
onnorab see onorab 
onnore see onore 
onnpepli adv. [Fr.] extremely 
onô adv. on the north, to(ward) the 
north 
onomatope n. onomatopoeia 
onon prep, in the name of, in place of 
onondipanmbabaranm n. sign of 
the cross (fam.) 
onondipè, onnondipè n. sign of the 
cross 
ononm adv. in/at the number of 
onorab, onnorab adj. honorable 
onore, onnore v. to honor 
onorè adj. honorary 
onorifik adj. honorary, ceremonial 
ONPÈP acron. ONPEP (Ofis 
Nasyonal pou Patisipasyon ak 
Edikasyon Popilè), Haitian adult 
literacy program, 1986-88 
66<5 
ons - opotinis 
ons n. ounce 
onsi see ounsi 
onsyon see onksyon 
Ontariyo, Ontaryo prop.n. Ontario 
(Canada) 
onz, wonz num. eleven 
- ko to move (about), stretch 
- ko ou! move aside! 
- patou victorious 
tankou gen - nan yon douzèn 
average, like almost everybody 
else 
onzan n. eleven years 
onzè n. eleven o'clock; potherb 
onzyèm adj. eleventh 
op! interj. ouf! 
ÔP abbrev. Ôganizasyon Popilè 
people's/popular movement or 
group 
opa adv. in step; adj. up-to-date; n. 
starting line (marbles) 
mete - to put into shape, bring up-
to-date 
mete yon moun - to set s.o. 
straight, tell s.o. a few plain truths; 
to bring s.o. into line 
opak adj. opaque 
Opakprop.n. Opaque (7th 
communal section of Léogâne, 
Dept. West) 
opal n. opal 
opalè n. loudspeaker 
Opalmis, Palmis, Wopalmis 
prop.n. Haut-Palmiste (Tortuga 
Island, Dept. North-West) 
oparavan adv. [Fr.] previously, 
formerly 
Opèch, Lèpèch, Pèch prop.n. (Les) 
Perches (Dept. North-East) 
Opèl prop.n. Opel (vehicle) 
opera n. opera 
operasyon n. surgery; operation; 
tubal ligation; vasectomy; 
computation 
fè - to undergo surgery 
fè (yon moun) - to operate (on 
s.o.), perform surgery (on s.o.) 
tab - operating table; arithmetic 
tables 
operasyonalize v. [Fr.] to become or 
make operational 
operasyonèl adj. operational, 
functioning, performing 
operatè n. operator, technician; 
telephone operator; projectionist; 
studio engineer; navigator 
- machin a koud sewing-machine 
operator 
operatwa: 
blôk - surgical ward 
opere v. to undergo surgery; to 
operate on, perform surgery; to 
operate, be active 
Opiprop.n. Hopi Indian nation (USA) 
opikè see pikèt (mete ~) 
opilan adj. opulent, wealthy 
opilans, lopilans n. opulence, 
wealth, luxury 
opine v. to express one's opinion 
opinyon, lopinyon n. opinion 
opipiritchantan adv. at the crack of 
dawn 
opitalizasyon n. hospitalization 
oplima adj. hairy 
oplis adv. at the most 
oplita adv. [Fr.] at the latest 
opos adv. on duty 
oposom n. [Eng.] (o)possum 
opotab n. (good) drinking-water 
opèten adj. [Fr.] opportune, 
appropriate 
opotinis, pôtinis n. opportunist, 
profiteer; adj. opportunistic, self-
seeking 
66<5 
opôtinite - oratwa 
opotinite, lopôtinite n. opportunity, 
occasion; opportuneness 
opoto adj. desperate, hopeless 
Qpoto prop.n. Les Poteaux (Dept. 
Artibonite) 
opouvwa adv. in power, in office 
opozan n. opponent; adj. opposition 
opoze v. to oppose, thwart, hinder; 
adj. conflicting, opposing, 
contrary, contrasting 
opozisyon n. opposition; objection 
mete - , fè - to oppose 
oprè: 
- pou lagè combat-ready, ready 
for a fight 
opre(d), oprè(d): 
ale - to go see 
vin - to come see 
oprentan adv. in the spring (season) 
oprese v. to oppress 
opresè n. oppressor 
opresyon, lopresyon n. shortness of 
breath; asthma; hyperventilation; 
oppression, abuse 
oprime v. [Fr.] to oppress; n. victim 
of oppression 
opsèvasyon see obsèvasyon 
opsève see obsève 
opsyon n. option, decision, choice 
opti: 
- maten, - pipirit at (the crack 
of) dawn 
optik n. optics; perspective; adj. 
optic, optical 
optimal adj. [Fr.] optimal, optimum 
optimis n. optimist; adj. optimistic 
optiswen v. to be cared for, be well 
looked after 
optisyen n. optician 
optometris n. optometrist 
opwen adv. [Fr] at/to the point 
where 
opwendevi prep, from the point of 
view of, as for, concerning 
opwofi adv. to the advantage/benefit 
of 
opwôp adv. cleanly, honestly; 
properly 
mete - to clean up one's act; to 
make a final draft 
opye: 
mete - to put down, stamp out, do 
away with 
opyôm, lopyôm n. opium 
opzève see obsève 
orabè adv. at a reduced price/rate 
oragoutan(g) see oranwoutan 
orak n. oracle 
oral adj. oral; n. oral (exam) 
oralanti adv. in slow motion 
oralite n. oral nature, 
characteristic of a language not 
often written 
oraliti, loraliti, oralti n. oraliture, 
oral literature; oral tradition 
oralman adv. orally 
oran adj. bold, fresh; adv. in a row; 
on the same level 
orandevou adj. present, at the 
arranged meeting place/time 
oranj adj. orange (color) 
oranjad n. orangeade 
Oranje prop.n. Orangers (10th 
communal section of Croix-des-
Bouquets, Dept. West; 6th 
communal section of Léogâne, 
Dept. West; communal section of 
Bainet, Dept. South-East) 
oranwoutan, oragoutan(g), 
oranoutan n. orangutan 
orapo: 
vin - to make an official report 
oratè n. orator, (born) speaker 
oratwa see ogatwa 
66<5 
orè - osô 
orè n. schedule, timetable; adj. 
hourly, time 
orèg n. var. of plant 
Oregon, Oregonn prop.n. Oregon 
(USA) 
orepo adv. at ease (;milit.) 
Orès (Michèl)prop.n. Oreste 
(Michel) - president of Haiti, 
1913-1914 
orespe!, orespè! interj. hats off! 
wow! (admiration); with all due 
respect, pardon me but 
orevwa interj. good-bye 
oreye see zôrye 
oreyèt n. auricle (of heart) 
orezon, lorezon n. prayer; printed or 
handcopied prayers used as 
protective charm 
orib adj. horrible 
Oricha prop.n. Oricha (family of 
Voodoo spirits) 
oriflam n. [Fr.] banner, standard; cf. 
bànyè 
orijin n. origin 
orijinal n./adj. original 
orijinalite, lorijinalite n. originality 
orijine v. to originate 
orijinè adj. [Fr.] native to, born in 
orijinèl adj. primordial, original 
(sin) 
orikilè, ekilè, lorikilè n. [Fr.] little 
finger, pinky 
oriyante see oryante 
orizon, lorizon n. horizon 
orizontal adj. horizontal 
orizontalman adv. horizontally 
Oryan prop.n. Orient 
oryantal adj. oriental; eastern 
oryantasyon n. orientation 
oryante, oriyante v. to orient, direct 
(toward); to present offering etc. 
in the four directions of the 
compass (Voodoo) 
Oryonprop.n. Orion (constellation) 
ose see wose 
osekou! interj. help! 
apèl ~ distress signal 
vini - to provide assistance 
osen adv. within (the heart of), in the 
midst of 
oseny n. small bell used in Voodoo 
ceremonies 
oserye adv. seriously 
osèvis prep, in/at (the) service of, at 
the disposition of, available to 
oseyan, loseyan n. ocean 
Oseyani, Loseyani prop.n. Oceania 
osi adv. [Fr.] also, too; enough, as 
(before an adj.) 
osibyen conj. [Fr.] as well as 
osid adv. on the south, to(ward) the 
south 
osijè, osijède prep, on the subject of, 
concerning, regarding 
osilontan adv. as long as (time) 
osinon, osnon, ousinon, ousnon 
conj. or, or else, or rather, if not, 
otherwise 
osito see sito 
ositoke conj. [Fr.] as soon as 
ositou conj. thus, consequently 
osivit adv. so/as quickly 
Ôska prop.n. Oscar 
oskirite n. obscurity, darkness 
oslè, zoslè n. knuckle; knucklebones 
(children's game played with goat 
or pig knuckles) 
bat ~ to play knucklebones 
osman see ousman; wosman 
osmoz n. osmosis 
osnon see osinon 
oso: 
tiray - drawing or casting of lots 
tire ~ to draw or cast lots 
66<5 
ospitalite - otofonis 
ospitalite n. hospitality 
ospitalizaii adj. hospitable, 
welcoming 
ospitalize v. [Fr.] to hospitalize 
ospitalye adj. hospital 
ostak n. [N.] obstacle, hurdle, 
hindrance; misfortune 
ostanswa n. (ecc.) monstrance 
osteyopat n. osteopath 
osteyopati n. osteopathy 
osteyopatik adj. osteopathic 
ostil adj. [Fr.] hostile 
ostilite n. [Fr.] hostility 
Ostrali, Lostraliprop.n. Australia 
ostralyen prop.n./adj. Australian 
ostre adj. cross, irritable; angry, mad 
ostwogo see lostwogo 
oswa, ouswa conj. or else, either, or 
rather; see yè ~ 
~... ~ either ... or 
osyèl adv. in heaven 
ot adj. [Fr.] high, advanced 
otaj, otay n. hostage 
otan conj. as much as, so much as, 
as many as; interj. halt! stop (it)! 
hold it!; as you were! (milit.) 
~... - the more ... the more; as ... 
as 
pou ~ for all that 
sa pa vie di pou ~ that is not so 
much as to say 
OTAN acron. Ôganizasyon Akô 
ant Peyi Atlantik No NATO 
(North Atlantic Treaty 
Organization) 
otanba adv. from top to bottom 
otande adv. [Fr.] as many as, as 
much as 
otank(e) adv. [Fr.] as much as 
otanksa! interj. as much as that! is 
that all! 
otanp see tanp 
otansya n. glory bower (vine); 
hydrangea (shrub) 
otantifikasyon n. authentication 
otantik n. Haitian of pure black 
ancestry; adj. truly Haitian; adj. 
[Fr.] authentic, genuine, real; cf. 
natif natal 
otantikman adv. authentically 
otantisite, lotantisite n. authenticity 
Otawa prop.n. Ottawa (Canada) 
otay see otaj 
otdog n. [Eng.] hotdog 
ote v. [Fr.] to remove - cf. wete; see 
wo te 
otè, lotè n. author; cause, agent, 
person responsible; see wotè 
tire a otè dèm to shoot to kill 
otèl, lotèl n. hotel; altar 
~ devil [Fr.], ~ kominal city hall, 
town hall 
otelye n. hotel-keeper; adj. hotel 
otès f.n. hostess 
~ (de lè) (airplane) stewardess, 
flight attendant 
otesi see wotesi 
otfom, hotfôm n. top hat 
otit n. ear infection, otitis 
Otkou Jistis, Hotkou Jistis prop.n. 
High Court of Justice 
oto n. auto, car; prefix auto-; self-
otobis, bis n. bus (interurban) 
otobyografi, otobiyografi n. 
autobiography 
otobyografik adj. autobiographical 
ôtodèks adj. orthodox 
legliz Ôtodèks Greek Orthodox 
church 
otofonik n. gramophone; old-style 
Carnival group using megaphone 
Otofonik prop.n. large street band 
of PaP active esp. during Carnival 
ôtofonis n. speech therapist 
66<5 
otogol - ouf. 
otogol v. to score against oneself 
(sports) 
otograf n. autograph 
ôtograf, lôtograf n. spelling, 
orthography 
~ etimoiojik spelling system for 
Haitian language based essentially 
on French spellings 
- fonolojik, - ofisyèl spelling 
system for Haitian language based 
essentially on its pronunciation 
otoklav n. autoclave 
otokolan n. self-adhesive sticker, 
"Post-it" 
otokrak n. autocrat 
otokrasi n. autocracy 
otokritik n. self-criticism, self-
examination 
otokton n. (rare) native, autochthon 
otolan n. var. of dove 
otomatik adj. automatic 
otomatikman adv. automatically 
otomobil n. automobile, car 
otôn, lotôn n. autumn, fall 
otonom adj. autonomous; self-
sustaining, self-sufficient 
otonomi n. autonomy 
otonomize v. to grant autonomy; to 
develop a sense of independence 
otopedi n. orthopedics 
otopedik adj. orthopedic 
ètopedis n. orthopedist 
otopsi see topsi 
otoritaris n. authoritarianism 
otorite, lotorite n. authority, power; 
any public official (esp. if armed) 
mete ~ li sou li to assume 
command, take charge 
otoritè adj. authoritarian, 
overbearing 
otorizasyon n. authorization, 
permission; permit 
otorize v. to authorize, allow, 
empower 
otosine n. drive-in movie 
otoskop n. otoscope 
otostôp n. hitchhiking; cf. woulib 
fè ~ to hitchhike 
ototal adv. in all 
otou prep, around, surrounding; n. 
goshawk 
otovizè see retwovizè 
otowout n. freeway, expressway, 
turnpike 
otrè n. line on ground (when playing 
marbles) 
otrefwa adv. in the past, formerly 
otreman adv. otherwise 
otrich, lotrich n. ostrich 
Otrich, Lotrich prop.n. Austria 
Otrichyenprop.n., Otrichyèn 
f.prop.n. Austrian 
Ot Volta, Bikina Faso prop.n. 
Upper Volta (former name of 
Burkina Faso) 
Otwou(dino), Twoudino prop.n. 
(Le) Trou-du-Nord (Dept. North-
East) 
ou conj. or 
ou, wpron. (to) you (sing.), your (of 
one person); reflexive pron:, conj. 
or; see yon 
~ ... ~ either ... or 
- menm yourself 
- poko la! that's not it! you're not 
close! 
pa ~ yours; not you 
oubli, obli n. oversight, omission; 
forgetfulness 
oubyen conj. or, or else, otherwise 
ouch interj. wow! (in admiration) 
oudyenikon see oungenikonn 
ouf! youf! interj. ouch!; expression 
of relief 
66<5 
oufo - ounjenikonn 
- soulajman cry of relief 
oufô see ounfô 
ougan see oungan 
Ouganda, Ougannda prop.n. 
Uganda 
Ougandè prop.n./adj. Ugandan 
ougeve see oungeve 
ouke see wouke 
oukelele n. ukelele 
Oulanbatô prop.n. Ulan Bator 
(Mongolia) 
oulèt, oule see woulèt 
oulo see woulo 
oum! interj. wow! and how! 
oun n. very stiff penile erection; see 
houn; yon 
~~nah! nope! no! 
ounaye see kounaye 
oundjannikon, oundjenikon, 
oundjennikon see oungenikonn 
ounfô, honfô, houfô, hounfo, onfô, 
oufô, wonfo, woufô, wounfô n. 
general Voodoo temple complex, 
Voodoo compound 
lasosyete - faithful of a given 
Voodoo temple 
oungan, dj ougan, dyougan, ganga, 
gangan, hougan, houngan, ngan, 
ngangan, nganngan, ongan, 
ougan, wongan, wougan, 
woungan n. Voodoo priest/healer/ 
seer 
demachè koutye ~ assistant 
who finds clients for a ~ for paid 
consultations 
~ achte uninspired and 
uninspiring Voodoo priest 
~ ason Voodoo priest who has 
passed through and paid for 
formal instruction and kanzo rites 
~ diplôme Voodoo priest 
thoroughly versed in the true 
traditions of the religion 
~ fèy see dôktè fèy 
~ Ginen Voodoo priest who has 
had only informal and intuitive 
initiation (cf. ~ makout and ~ 
tchatcha) 
~ kanzo formally initiated Voodoo 
priest 
~ makout, ~ tchatcha Voodoo 
priest ordained directly instead of 
undergoing usual training (pej.); 
cf. ~ Ginen 
~ payèt Voodoo priest with only 
superficial knowledge of the 
religion 
~ pike-liv Voodoo priest directly 
inspired by the knowledgeable 
kongo spirits 
~ tchatcha same as ~ makout 
oungannize v. to serve as a Voodoo 
priest 
ounge see oungeve 
oungenikonn, adjanikon, 
adjenikon, adjennikon, 
andjenikonn, andjennikon, 
houndjenikon, houngenikon, 
houngenikonn, ondyanikon 
ongènikon(n), onjenikon, 
oundjannikon, oundjenikon, 
oundjennikon, oundyenikon, 
oungenikon, ounjenikonn n. 
leader of chants and dances at 
Voodoo service; person in charge 
of offerings (Voodoo) 
- katye mèt person in charge of 
offerings and ritual accessories in 
a Voodoo temple 
oungeve, houngèvè, ougeve, 
ounge, ounjeve n. large necklace 
inserted with varied stones 
(Voodoo); decor on an ason (q.v.) 
ounjenikonn see oungenikonn 
66<5 
ounjeve - ouvriye 
ounjeve see oungeve 
ounk see houn(k); hounk 
ounsa see mousa 
ounsi, honsi, hounsi, housi, onsi, 
ounsou, ousi, wansi, wonsi, 
wounsi, wousi n. Voodoo initiate 
(first or beginning degree of 
initiation); member of a particular 
Voodoo temple; Voodoo 
priest(ess)'s assistant 
~ bosal novice, usu. uninitiated 
Voodoo participant possessed by 
spirit 
~ kanzo Voodooist who has 
undergone second degree of 
initiation rites; see kanzo 
~ temerè highest degree of a 
Voodooist (without actually being 
a priest(ess) 
ountô, hounto n. spirit of Voodoo 
drums; lwa (q.v.) possessing a 
Voodoo drummer; largest of the 
three Rada drums (Voodoo) -
same as manman; ritual Voodoo 
dance (AT.); sacrificial goat in 
Voodoo (N.) 
ountogri, hountogi, hountôgri n. 
smallest of the three Rada drums 
of Voodoo (same as boula); 
drummer for same 
ounyô, hounyô, wounyè n. person 
undergoing Voodoo initiation 
ceremony 
manman ~ woman who cares for 
the ~ during their period of 
seclusion 
ouououn! interj. to express 
admiration 
oup! interj. oops! (to indicate a 
mistake, or rapid action) 
ouragan n. [Fr.] hurricane (cf. 
siklôn) 
Ouri prop.n. [Bible] Uri; Uriah 
Ourim prop.n. [Book of Mormon] 
Urim J 
ous see lous 
ousi see ounsi 
ousinon, ousnon see osinon 
ousman, osman conj. or 
ouswa see oswa 
out, dawou(t), dout n. August 
outadi v. you/one would say 
outou prop.n./adj. Hutu 
outraj n. insult, abuse; injury, 
ravages 
ouvè v. to open; to begin, open; to 
unwrap, unfold; to hang out 
(clothes); to display (merchandise 
on ground); to turn on (radio, TV); 
to thrash, beat up; to overwhelm 
(with blows, lies etc.); adj. 
impudent; open, frank; sore; 
lighted, on 
fè yon ~ to let out a hem, make 
looser (pants, skirt etc.) 
gran ~ wide open 
Ouvè prop.n. Hoover (Herbert) -
president of USA, 1929-1933 
ouvètay see ovètaym 
ouvèti, louvèti n. opening, starting 
up; hole, space, gap; opening (for 
door, window); new start, 
beginning; overture (music) 
ouvètman adv. frankly, openly 
ouvrab adj. working, business (days 
or times) 
ouvray, ouvraj n. needlework, 
embroidery; book, work (Fr. - cf. 
liv) 
~ da work of art 
ouvrebwat n. [Fr.] can opener 
ouvri see louvri 
ouvriye n. worker-bee 
ouvriye n., ouvriyèz/«.worker, 
66<5 
ouy! - Ozwal Diran (ri) 
laborer; adj. working(-class) 
ouy! interj. ouch! 
Ouzbékistan prop.n. Uzbekistan 
ouzi, wouzi, zouzi n. Uzi (compact 
submachine gun); (any) 
submachine gun 
oval adj. oval 
ovan n. awning; adv. in/with the 
wind 
ovasyon n. ovation, applause 
Ovazprop.n. communal section of 
Dept. West 
ovè n. ovary 
ovètaym, ouvètay, ovètay n. [Eng.] 
overtime 
fe ~ to work overtime 
ovèwôl n. overhaul, repairs; overalls 
(clothing) 
ovil n. ovule 
ovilasyon n. ovulation 
ovôl adv. in mid-flight, in mid-air 
Owayo see Oyo 
owoskôp n. horoscope 
owwou! owwou! owwou! onomat. 
cooing of dove or pigeon 
oy! interj. aw! 
ôyfîltè n. oil filter (mach.) 
oyikou n. beer-like drink of Arawak 
Indians 
Oyo, Owayo prop.n. Ohio (USA) 
oyoyoy! woyoyoy! yoyoy! interj. 
oops! 
ozabwa adv. in a fix, in a bad way, 
in desperate shape 
ozalantou n. vicinity, area; 
surroundings; prep, surrounding, 
round about; in the vicinity of 
ozalô conj. or 
ozana see ozanna 
Ozananaprop.n. imaginary place or 
country; traditional children's 
song 
ozanchè: 
vann nan ~ to auction off 
vant ~ auction 
Ozanglè see Zangle 
ozanj see ozany 
ozanna, ozana interj. hosanna 
(praising God) 
Ozantiy see Antiy 
ozanviwon adv. surrounding, 
around, nearby; approximately; n. 
surrounding area, outlying area 
ozany, ozanj adj. delighted, thrilled; 
dead 
ozarè: 
mete ~ to place under arrest 
oze v. to dare; adj. daring 
Oze prop.n. [Bible] Hosea 
ozekla: 
ri ~ to burst out laughing 
Ozend, Ozenn see Enn 
ozepav adv. in strict captivity 
Ozetazini (Amerik/Damerik), 
Etazini (Amerik/Damerik) 
prop.n. (in the, to the) United 
States (of America) 
ôzèy see lôzèy 
ozôd adv. acting under orders 
ozèn, ozonn n. ozone layer 
Ozwal Diran (ri)prop.n. rue 
Oswald Durand (between 
Boulevard Jean-Jacques 
Dessalines and Champs-de-Mars, 
PaP) - see also Diran (Ozwal) 
66<5 
P - Pa 
P 
p {pronounced: pe); sh.form pa 
p ou sh. form pou + ou 
pan. step; share, portion, part; 
cronyism, favoritism; connections, 
pull; pa, papa, pop (in direct 
address); v. to hit, shove hard; adv. 
not; prep, by; per, each; through; 
possessive indicator; see egzanp 
^ -... or not; or no (ex.: bon ~ 
bon good or not [good]; labou ~ 
labou mud or no mud) 
ak gran ~ with great strides, 
rapidly 
dis - kare not one step further 
fe lè san - to pace up and down, 
pace back and forth 
fe move ~ to regress 
fè ~ de to inform 
fè ~ (li) to pardon, forgive, have 
pity on; to share with; to do a 
favor for s.o.; to give s.o. a 
chance; to rant and rave, rampage, 
be out of control 
fe premye - a to make the first 
move 
gen ~ anba pye 1 to be active, be 
enterprising 
ki - (yon moun) gen anba pye li 
what (stuff) (s.o.) is made of, the 
measure of (s.o.'s) worth 
li ~ fè ni de ni twa he doesn't beat 
around the bush, he doesn't 
hesitate for a moment 
manke - to stumble, slip 
move - bad situation; bad stretch 
of road; impassible 
nan yon - kanpe rèd in dire 
straits 
~ ankô no longer, (not) any 
longer; no more, (not) any more 
~ annavan step forward 
~ bak, ~ do backwards, in reverse 
~ borisit around here 
~ de kwa you're welcome [Fr.]; 
cf. mérité 
~ fè sis ~ not to budge 
~ jaden stepping stone 
~ ka la not to be one's thing, not 
be good at 
~ kare a single step 
~ kite (yon moun) fè yon ~ not to 
leave (s.o.) alone, be attentive to 
~ ko see poko 
~ kont on the other hand 
~ li his, hers, its; (fut. + adj.) as, 
as he can be (for ex.: I a kontan ~ 
li he will be as happy as he can be) 
~ mwen mine 
~ nan li menm to be distracted; to 
be out of one's head 
~ nou ours; yours (pi.) 
~ ou yours (sing.); I'm not talking 
to you 
~ pale! you don't say! oh really! 
~ pran ~ ak (yon moun) to shun 
(s.o.) 
~ sa wrong, incorrect 
- sa? isn't it so? right? 
~ te ko see patko 
- tout djôl var. of mango 
~ yo theirs 
~... yon ^ not... a bit 
pran - ak to associate with, have 
dealings with 
pran ~ li to take one's side, side 
with s.o., come to s.o.'s defense; 
to accept one's lot/fate 
pran - (nan) to participate (in); to 
66<5 
pa - pak 
believe, go along with; to 
associate with 
retounen sou ~ li to retrace one's 
steps 
se ~ de ~ li gen anba pye li to be 
very active or enterprising 
ti ~ mache ti - rale little by little, 
haltingly 
ti ~ (pa) ti - step by step, little by 
little, gradually 
yon lot ~ in addition 
yon ~ ... yon lot ~ on the one hand 
... on the other hand; first(ly)... 
second(ly) 
pabon f.n. prostitute 
pach! onomat. whack! (sound of 
loud slap) 
pacha see bacha 
pachat n. escapade; (sexual) affairs; 
adv. discreetly 
fè - to sleep around, have affairs, 
cheat on one's spouse 
pachemen, pachmen n. parchment 
pachiman, pacbeman v. to make a 
mess of; adj. undercooked; badly 
washed; not up to par, badly done; 
ruined 
maleng ~ skin sore 
pachira n. Guiana chestnut tree, 
provision tree 
pachmen see pachemen 
pachoulout n. penis (fam.) 
padàn n. coltsfoot (herb) 
padekwa interj. you're welcome, 
don't mention it 
padesi, padsi n. raincoat; overcoat; 
plastic tablecloth 
padon n. pardon, apology, 
forgiveness; interj. excuse me, I 
beg your pardon; clear out!, 
scram! 
mande ~ pou to intercede 
padonab, padonnab adj. excusable 
pardonable 
padonnen, padone, padonne v. to 
forgive, pardon, condone, excuse 
padsi see padesi 
paf onomat. bam (sound of falling 
object at impact) 
pafè n. (gram.) perfect tense 
pafè, pafèt adj. perfect, excellent; 
thorough 
pafen n. perfume; odor, scent, smell 
lage - sou to praise to the skies 
pafètman adv. perfectly 
pafime, pafimen v. to perfume, give 
out fragrance; to wear perfume 
pafouten, fafouten, pafoten n 
sideburn(s) 
~ alonje long sideburns 
~ bèt short sideburns 
pafwa adv. sometimes, from time to 
time, occasionally 
pagay n. disorder, anarchy; oar, paddle 
pagaye v. to paddle, row 
paj, pay n. page 
pase ~ divination based upon 
random choice of passage from a 
printed text 
pajè n. pager (telephone) 
Pajewo prop.n. large expensive all-
terrain vehicle 
pak n. park; pen, corral; pigpen, 
pigsty; sheepfold; playpen; bed of 
a truck; railway freight car for 
sugarcane; var. of mango; onomat. 
sound of a slap; see pakt 
(de) - an - thoroughly, 
completely, through and through; 
in(to) small bits 
mete - an - to cut up/break up 
into small pieces 
- endistriyel industrial park or 
zone 
66<5 
Pak prop.n. Easter; Passover; 
Parques (7th communal section of 
Léogâne, Dept. West) 
fè - to take Holy Communion 
fè - anvan Karèm to be in bad 
shape 
lil ~ Easter Island 
- Endistriyèl Light Industry 
Complex (near airport, PaP) 
wè dimanch ~ anvan samdi dlo 
benit to be in bad shape 
pakalaw n. slap, blow 
pakapala n. indispensable person, 
key person 
pakapale adj. inarticulate 
pake v. to pen up, enclose; [Eng.] to 
park (cf . estasyonnen) 
pake, pakè n. package, parcel, 
bundle, packet, batch; civil court; 
husk, chaff 
pakè adv. by heart 
pakèmann n. (rote) memorizer 
pakennsonn, pakinnsonn n. 
Parkinson's disease; cf. maladi 
tranble 
pakèt n. package, bundle, parcel, 
packet, bunch 
fè - to pack; to bunch together, 
put together 
fè yon ~ afe to make a big deal of 
s.thg., blow s.thg. out of proportion 
mare ~ Voodoo ceremony where ~ 
kongo are made; see mare ~ 
pa ~ in droves 
~ afè, - zafè big shot, important 
person; big deal; big trouble 
~ fanm similar to a - kongo, but 
representing a woman with arms 
akimbo 
~ kongo small stuffed humanoid 
figure of cloth protecting against 
sickness and evil spirits (Voodoo); 
Pak - palabré 
see also biki 
~ nonm - ~ kongo representing a 
man with a single hom protruding 
from head 
yon ~ a bunch of, a lot of, much, 
many 
pakète, pakte v. to package, bundle 
pakin, paking v. to park; n. parking; 
parking space; parking lot 
~ kô to hang around 
pakinnsonn see pakennsonn 
Pakistan prop.n. Pakistan 
pakistanè prop.n./adj. Pakistani 
pako, pako see poko 
Pakoprop.n. Pacot (wealthy 
residential area of PaP) 
pakonsekan adv. consequently, 
therefore 
pakont conj. [Fr.] on the other hand 
pakontimas see kontimas 
pakoti n. cheaply or poorly made 
clothing; patchwork; adj. cheaply 
or poorly made (clothing) 
pakou n. route, course; distance 
covered 
fè ~ to go around, head around, 
circulate, wander 
pakouri v. [Fr.] to cover, travel 
pakt n. [Fr.] pact, treaty 
pakte see pakète 
pal adj. pale, faded; pale, light-
colored; dim, faint; short form pa 
+ li his, hers, its 
pala see pasipala 
palab n. jabber, chatter, talk, 
nonsense 
fè ~ to talk a lot; to scold; to incite 
an argument 
palabre v. to jabber, chatter, talk 
nonsense 
palabré n. blabbermouth, 
chatterbox; loudmouth; nitpicker 
paladè - pale 
paladè n., paladèz f in. slanderer 
paladè n. talker, chatterbox, 
gossiper; adj. talkative, gabby 
paladyôl n. talker, gossiper; bragger 
palafès adv. by force, forcedly 
palan n. trap, snare; slaughterhouse; 
bar used for carrying a load; 
pulley; v. speaking 
an ~ by/while talking 
an ~ de concerning, regarding 
tann ~ to set a trap 
palandjè adj., palandjèz f.adj. 
talkative 
palangrenn adj. brutal 
palanke, palantche, palenke adj. 
having sparse tail feathers (bird) 
palanpil n. chatterbox 
palante v. to fan or stir a fire 
palantremizprep. [Fr.] through, by 
means of 
palaso adj. narrow (belt, waistband); 
n. the Bump (var. of dance) 
pantalon ~ bell-bottom trousers 
(cfi patelefan) 
palaswit adv. afterwards, 
subsequently 
palavire n. slap, strike, blow 
bay - to slap, strike 
pale v. to speak, talk; to tell, report; 
to warn; to speak out, protest; to 
count, be of importance, be 
meaningful; to be in effect; to be 
very popular, be all the rage; n. 
speaking; talk, conversation; 
altercation, dispute 
fè anpil - (anpil) to cause a lot of 
talk, cause a lot of commotion 
fè - to grill, interrogate; to enjoy 
doing s.thg., do s.thg. with gusto 
fè yon ~ ak to have a talk with 
gwo - harsh words, severe 
criticism 
mal p o u - t o have trouble talking 
pa ~ muteness (suffered esp. by 
woman after childbirth) 
pa ~ pawol moun not to talk 
about other people's business, 
mind one's own business 
pa - sa! don't tell anyone! keep it 
to yourself. 
- ak bouch li to blurt out, say 
what one should not say; to talk a 
lot 
~ ak bounda li, - ak poch dèyèli 
to be completely ignored 
~ ak van to talk to oneself 
~ anpil to gossip; to have aloud 
mouth; to talk through one's hat, 
pay lip service; argument, dispute 
~ anpil mete la to be all talk and 
no action 
~ ba to whisper; to speak softly 
~ bèl, - bwodè, - byen pwôp,~ 
chèlbè to speak in an elegant 
fashion 
- chante to speak melodiously, 
modulate or vary greatly one's 
tone 
~ cho to talk fast 
- damou to talk of love; to try to 
seduce - dousman see ~ ba 
- egzat to speak clearly and 
precisely 
- fen to be deep in conversation 
- fo to speak loudly; to speak 
rudely or insolently; to quarrel, 
squabble; quarrel, squabble - gaye to speak in a jumbled or 
confusing manner 
- Ginen mystical ritual phrases 
originating in Africa (Voodoo) 
- gran gagann to talk frankly 
- jeswi to speak affectedly, speak 
66<5 
pale -palè 
with affectation(s) (cf. je suis in 
French) 
- kou rat (nan mayi) to speak 
fluently 
- kouwè wosiyôl, - kouwè pèpèt 
mayi k ap pete to talk a lot, talk 
too much 
- lanvè Haitian equivalent of "pig 
Latin" - same as bolit or j agon 
- lou to speak with a 
(pronounced) foreign accent 
- mal to malign, slander, backbite, 
speak ill of; to criticize; to have a 
foul mouth, curse frequently 
- met(e) la to talk through one's 
hat, pay lip service 
- moun mal to malign, slander; 
slander, criticism 
~ mwadsa!, - mwasa! see 
palemwadsa! 
~ nan bouch to be insincere 
~ nan (twou) dan to mumble 
~ nan nen to have a nasal tone; to 
nasalize 
~ nan zorèy to whisper; to talk 
too much; to talk too loudly 
~ pa lot to gossip, slander 
~ piti to speak softly, speak in a 
hushed tone 
~ plen vant li to have one's say; 
to talk a lot 
- pou to tell on, snitch, tattle 
~ pou anyen, ~ pou dan ri, - pou 
ryen to talk to no avail, waste 
one's time talking 
~ pou li grandi to be a big talker, 
be a blowhard 
~ pou - to talk for the sake of 
talking 
~ pou ryen see ~ pou anyen 
~ pwenti to speak affectedly, 
speak with affectation(s) 
- rèk to speak unrefined Haitian 
(Creole) 
- sou to discuss; to concern; to 
talk behind s.o.'s back, gossip 
about 
~ sou do moun to talk behind 
s.o.'s back, gossip about 
- sou lang to lisp 
~ swa to speak refined Haitian 
(Creole) 
- tou long ale to speak in a boring 
monotone 
~ tranble to have a wavering voice 
~ trennen to drawl 
- wannenm to speak with a nasal 
tone; to talk like a zombi 
~ wo to speak loudly 
~ yon lang fen, ~ yon lang kou 
rat to speak a language fluently 
- yon moun mal to slander, 
malign, speak ill of 
se pa - it's beyond words; it's 
amazing 
se pa sa k ap - la a that's beside 
the point, that's irrelevant 
se - anpil it's just a lot of (empty) 
talk 
ti ~ chat 
palè n,. palace, mansion; talker; 
palate 
- Labèlrivyè original name of ~ 
Twasan Swasannsenk P6t (see 
below) 
~ Ministè Palace of Ministries 
(grouping Ministries of Interior, 
Public Works etc. - PaP) 
- Nasyonal National Palace 
(office and official residence of 
President - PaP) 
- Twasan Swasannsenk Pot 
Palace of (King Henry Christophe 
at Petite-Rivière-de-1'Artibonite 
66<5 
palèdjktis - pam 
with an intended) Three Hundred 
and Sixty-Five Doors 
palèdjistis n. palace of justice 
palefè n. raising of one's voice 
palemante see palmante 
palemantè see palmantè 
palemwadsa! palemwasa! interj. 
bravo! good! great! fantastic! 
travay pou ~ to work in vain, 
work for nothing 
palendwôm n. palindrome 
palenke see palanke 
palepalàt n. gossip, slander 
Palestin, Lapalestin, Palèstin 
prop.n. Palestine 
Palestinyen prop.n./adj., 
Palestinyèn f.prop.n. Palestinian 
palèt n. palate; back of the throat; 
shank (lamb, goat etc.); pallet (for 
transferring goods); paddle; 
wooden ladle used for stirring; 
noise-making device attached to 
kite; puck (hockey) 
- do general shoulder area 
ti ~ spatula; tongue depressor 
paletivye n. [Fr.] mangrove (see 
mang) 
palfwenye (pronounced: pal-fwe-
nye) n. vagrant, low-class person 
pali v. to (become) pale; to lose 
luster 
pâlichon adj. light, weak 
palidis n. malaria 
palisad n. fence 
palisade v. to panel 
palm see pam 
Palma prop.n. Palma (1st communal 
section of Anse-à-Galets, La 
Gonâve Island) 
palmakristi n. [Fr.] Palma Christi, 
palm-oil palman n. parliament; legislature 
palmante, palemante v. to parley 
discuss, talk (over) 
palmantè, palemantè n., 
palmantèz/n. legislator; adj. 
parliamentary 
palmipèd adj. web-footed 
palmis n. (royal) palm tree; tails (of 
coin); var. of bird 
chou ~ palm heart 
gwo ~ mal big tall guy 
- chaplèt mountain palm 
- kanpe forerunner, trailblazer 
Palmis see Opalmis 
Palmis(taven), Palmis(aven) 
prop.n. Palmiste-à-Vin (15th 
communal section of Léogâne, 
Dept. West) 
Palmisyen prop.n., Palmisyèn 
f.prop.n. inhabitant of Haut-
Palmiste (Tortuga Island, Dept 
North-West) 
palmye n. [Fr.] palm tree 
~ a lwil oil palm 
Palo prop.n. Palau (Western Pacific) 
paloud, palout n. clam (seafood) 
palpa conj. let alone, much less; 
even more, all the more 
palpab: prèv - palpable proof, concrete 
proof 
palpe v. [Fr.] to palpate, feel 
palpitasyon n. [Fr.] abnormal 
heartbeat 
palpite v. to beat (heart) 
palto n. jacket, suitcoat; cloak 
gran - , gwo - big shot, VIP; var. 
of horsefly 
palwa: 
- finèb funeral parlor 
palye n. level, stage 
pam short form pa + mwen mine 
(pron.) 
66<5 
PAM - pandje 
- akademik award for services 
r e n d e r e d to education by France 
PAM acron. Pwogram Alimantè 
Mondyal World Food Program 
pam, palm, pat n. (rubber) flippers 
(for swimming) 
paman n. facings, lining, coverings 
(on garment); see chemizèt 
twa ~ 
Pambich, Pambitch prop.n. Palm 
Beach (Florida) 
pamesan n. Parmesan cheese 
pami prep, between, among 
nan - in, among; from among 
pampam see panmpanm 
pamwayen prep, by means of 
pan n. peacock; (section of) wall or 
mountain; side of bed frame; 
onomat. sound to express sudden 
action; short form pa + nou ours; 
yours (pi.) 
an plim de - see anplimdezwa 
- syèl patch of sky 
pàn, pann n. breakdown, 
mechanical malfunction; problem, 
trouble; see pann 
an - out of, lacking in; broken 
down, not functioning 
leve (yon) - to fix or repair 
(breakdown); to solve a problem 
pa gen - (there is) no problem; 
you're welcome 
- kawôtchou puncture, flat tire 
pran - to break down, stop 
functioning (mach.) 
pran - gaz to run out of gas 
pran ~ kawôtchou to have a flat 
tire 
panach n. tuft (of feathers); coral 
herb 
ti - see pyas kôlèt 
panad see pannad 
panafriken prop. adj. Panafrican 
panama, pananma, pannanma n. 
straw hat 
Panama m tonbe one of Haiti's 
most famous traditional songs 
Panama prop.n. Panama 
panameriken prop. adj. 
Panamerican 
Panameyen prop.n./adj., 
Panameyèn f.prop.n. Panamanian 
pananm n. var. of small bag with 
shoulder strap 
pananma see panama 
p a n a r i s pannari 
panch see pant 
panchan n. tendency, propensity 
panche v. to lean (over), bend over; 
to incline, tilt, slant; n. slant, 
slope; bias, propensity; adj. 
leaning, slanted, sloping 
machin li - his shoes are worn-
out on one side 
- sou to consider, weigh 
panda n. panda 
pandan, pannan conj. while, when; 
because, since; prep, during, for; 
n. earring 
pandanke conj. while, when 
pandansetan, pandanstan, 
pannansetan, pannanstan adv./ 
conj. meanwhile, in the meantime 
pandeng n. long loose dress or 
smock reaching to the ankle 
pandezon n. hanging (by neck) 
Pandiprop.n. Pendu (5th communal 
section of Gros-Morne, Dept. 
Artibonite) 
pandil n. pendulum; clock; 
testicle(s) 
kou - like clockwork 
pandjannen see pandyannen 
pandje see pandye 
66<5 
pandjôs - panno 
pandjôs, pandjoz, pandyôs n. dick, 
cock (penis); testicles; adj. 
unsteady, unsure 
pandri n. clothes rack; closet 
pandyannen, pandjannen v. to 
dangle, hang loose; to be idle 
Pandyasou prop.n. Pandiassou 
(Dept. Center) 
pandye, pandje v. to hang, hook; to 
hang onto; to dangle; to while 
away one's time, hang out; adj. 
hanging; sloping, sloped 
male - threat, imminent/ 
impending danger 
- kou li to give in, give up, 
surrender 
- sou tèt to be imminent 
pandyos see pandjos 
pane adj. panée, covered with dried 
bread-crumbs 
panèl n. [Eng.] lecture panel 
- brekè (electric) breaker box 
panelis n. [Eng.] panelist 
panenm see pannenm 
Panfiliprop.n. [Bible] Pamphylia 
panik n. panic 
mete - to spread panic, spread 
havoc 
pran - to panic 
panike v. to throw into a panic, 
terrify; to panic, go into a panic, 
be terrified 
panisik n. var. of cassava bread 
panisyè n. cupboard, pantry 
pankat, pannkat n. poster, sign, 
road marker; billboard 
panko, panko see poko 
pankreyas n. pancreas 
panm! onomat. pow! bang! 
Panm Bitch prop.n. Palm Beach 
(Florida) 
panmen v. to cry very loudly; to 
almost faint from crying 
panmpanm, pampam adv. all of a 
sudden 
pann v. to hang (up), hook; to hang 
down; to hang (a person); to wait 
around, be kept waiting; n. 
stomach, belly (of pig, cow); pod 
from lower part of hog; flab, fat; 
roll of skin (under chin esp.); 
prefix pan-; see pàn 
~ anba bouch (yon moun) to 
hang on to (one's) every word 
- tèt (li) to hang (person); to get 
oneself into trouble, get oneself 
into an embarrassing situation 
~ vant paunch, potbelly 
pannad (pen), panad n. bread soup 
(made with bread, vegetables, 
spices etc.) 
pannan see pandan 
pannanma see panama 
pannansetan, pannanstan see 
pandansetan 
pannari, panari n. felon, whitlow 
(inflammation of finger or toe) 
pannenm, pannèm, panenm n. var. 
of edible plant 
pannkat see pankat 
Pannkèt, Lapannkôt n. Pentecost; 
adj. Pentecostal 
Pannkotis n./adj. Pentecostal 
panno, pano n. wall, panel (of a 
house); backboard; saddle mat 
(made of banana bark etc.); 
signboard; bulletin board; lining 
fè konte - to be badly beaten 
j we - to play marbles using a wall 
kat ~ dump, unpleasing house 
- kont siklon (an metal) storm 
shutter 
- siyalizasyon traffic sign 
- solèy, ~ solè solar panel 
66<5 
panntyè - pantlon 
panntyè, pàntyè n. china cabinet, 
cupboard 
pano see panno 
panorama n. panorama 
panoramik adj. panoramic 
panpan see granpanpan 
an/ak gwo ~ with great ceremony, 
with much ado 
panpannen v. to strut, show off 
panpèzprop.n. [Eng.] Pampers, 
diapers 
panplemous n. grapefruit; cf. 
chadèk 
panpono n. [V.] organized 
agricultural work group 
pans n. belly, stomach, paunch, gut 
gwo manman ~ rumen, 
stomach of ruminants; big belly, 
big gut 
pansan: 
byen ~ exemplary, conscientious 
panse v. to think, believe; to reflect, 
consider; to bandage, dress a 
wound; n. thought, thinking; 
pansy (bot.) 
pansé n. thinker 
pansif adj. meditative, thoughtful, 
reflective 
pansman n. bandage, surgical 
dressing 
ti - Band-Aid 
pansyon n. boarding house; guest 
house; lodgings; dormitory; 
pension, retirement 
bay (yon moun) ~ to retire (s.o.) 
pran - to retire 
pansyona, pansyonna n. boarding 
house; lodgings; dormitory 
pansyonnè, pansyonè n. lodger, 
resident; boarder (in school); 
pensioner, retiree 
pant, panch n. slope, slant, incline 
Pantagôn, Pantagonn see 
Pentagon 
pantalèt n. (woman's) panties, 
briefs 
kè ~ Caspar Milquetoast, wimp 
~ chans quadri-colored panties 
worn to bring good luck 
- maldjôk tri-colored panties 
worn as protection against 
jealousy of other women 
pantalon, pantlon n. (pair of) pants, 
trousers, slacks 
bout ~ kout shorts, cutoffs 
mete ~ li nan tay li to assume 
one's responsibilities 
pa mete/pote - pou bèl twal not 
to wear pants for nothing, be a real 
man, be a real stud; to show what 
one is worth; to be a wheeler-
dealer 
- abako, ~ gwo ble (blue) jeans 
~ pat elefan bell-bottom trousers 
~ swèl tight-fitting pants 
~ twaka too-short pants, high-
water pants 
pye ~ pants leg 
pantan v. to jump, start, be startled; 
to be afraid; adj. scared; startled, 
surprised, dazed; astounded; n. 
fear, fright 
fè ~ to startle, astound 
~ sou to run into, chance upon 
Pantatèk, Penntatekprop.n. (Bible) 
Pentateuch 
pantè n. slope, slant (of land); 
panther 
Pantè prop.n. brand of condom 
panten n. puppet; (immature) kid 
panteyon n. pantheon 
Panteyon Nasyonal see Mipana 
panti n. door hinge; strap hinge 
pantlon see pantalon 
66<5 
pantouf - papa 
pantouf n. (bedroom-)slipper; 
sandal 
pantoufouye n. hammerhead shark 
pàntyè see panntyè 
pànye, panyen {pronounced: pan-
yen) n. basket; shopping-basket; 
ball-bearing race or groove 
(mack) 
bay (yon moun) ~ pou 1 ale nan 
dlo to give (s.o.) a bum steer, 
mislead 
~ barik large barrel-shaped basket 
~ baskèt basketball hoop 
~ fatra trash basket; garbage can, 
trash can 
~ pèse scatterbrain 
~ rad sal laundry basket/hamper 
~ woulèt shopping cart 
yon ~ a nobody, a person of no 
consequence 
pànye n. palmier (palmleaf-shaped 
pastry) 
panyôl, espanyol, espayol n. 
Spanish (lang.); var. of mango; 
prop. adj. Dominican; Hispanic; 
Spanish 
gen ~ nan kay la hush! s.o. may 
be listening 
gèp - yellowjacket 
kit li - kit li senp be it 
complicated or be it simple 
peyi ~ Dominican Republic 
Panyol prop.n. Dominican 
Republic; Dominican citizen; 
Hispanic person; Spaniard;/n. 
prostitute of Dominican 
background 
panzizi n. barred hamlet (fish); 
butter hamlet (fish) 
panzou n. slap on the hand (to get 
s.thg. out of s.o.'s hand); trick; 
theft; coup d'état, government 
overthrow; vetch, tare (small plant 
of bean family) 
bay - to slap; to surprise; to 
overthrow government, bring 
about a coup d'état 
koupe - , mare - children's game 
where they agree to grab s.thg. 
from each other 
pran nan - to be tricked 
panzou, panzo n. nightshade (plant) 
- cf. lanman 
panzouyè, panzouyis n./adj. 
putschist 
pap n. pope; "big man," dominant 
figure; sh. form papa; onomat. to 
express sudden action; contr. pa + 
ap; see pèpap 
p ap ko still not (referring to 
future) 
- — sound of flapping wings 
- seyè, - senyè potentate, 
overlord, grand mogul 
- sis to fail, flop 
ti - little buddy 
papa n. father; var. of large drum; 
winning cock in a cockfight; adj. 
huge, enormous; masterful; interj. 
man! wow! 
gran gran - great-grandfather 
gran - grandfather 
gwo - huge 
~ bon kè generous and 
sympathetic person (m.) 
~ chat thief, crook 
Papa Dok fam. name for Dr. 
François Duvalier (president of 
Haiti, 1957-71) 
~ fèy see doktè fèy 
- Legba see Legba 
~ - grandfather 
~ ~ ~ great-grandfather 
- pitit common-law husband; 
66<5 
papalwa - papye 
father of one's child 
papalwa n. (obs.) Voodoo priest 
papay n. papaya 
fey ~ var. of latex-yielding plant 
Papay prop.n. Papaille (center of 
strong peasant cooperative 
movement, Dept. Center) 
papayin n. papaya fruit "milk" 
p ape contr. pa + ape 
papèl n. goiter; double chin; var. of 
canine disease 
papelit n. casearia tree 
papi, papit n. pop, dad, daddy 
papile n. second-hand clothes; cf. 
kenedî; pèpè 
papiris n. papyrus; cf. jon 
papit see papi 
papita n. (usually plantain) chip 
papiyen, papiye v. to scatter, 
disburse 
papiyon n. butterfly; moth 
gwo - Carnival figure 
gwo - lannwit black witch 
butterfly 
~ adezif 'butterfly' bandage 
~ denwi (pronounced: de-nwi) 
moth 
~ kann small brown butterfly, 
sugarcane butterfly 
~ koton cotton leafworm 
- Ian wit, - lanp gnat, moth 
~ Lasenjan s.o. who goes 
everywhere 
papiyonnen v. to flit about, hop 
around (from one thing to another) 
papiyôt n. fine quality of paper 
(used in Haiti esp. in kite-making) 
papot n. doorstep, threshold; 
doorway; front (of house) 
papou adj. full-feathered (bird); in 
need of a haircut 
paprika n. paprika (cf. poud piman) 
papsis v. to fail, flop 
Papwazi Nouvèl Ginen prop.n. 
Papua New Guinea 
papye n. paper; bill (money); legal 
document, certificate, diploma; 
title 
blôk - note pad 
- aliminyom tin foil, aluminum 
foil 
- anbalaj, ~ anbalay wrapping 
paper 
~ antèt letterhead stationery 
- bèt animal registration 
certificate 
- bouyon scrap paper 
- dekalke carbon paper 
- doktè prescription 
- fen tissue paper 
- flit filter paper (chem.) 
~ glase glazed paper 
- grese wax paper 
- ijenik, - jenik, - twalèt toilet 
paper 
- kabon carbon paper 
- kado gift-wrapping paper 
- kadriye graph paper 
- kay deed 
- kole Scotch tape 
- lajan bank note, bill 
~ lèt stationery, writing paper 
- leta official document 
- machin car registration (papers) 
- maryaj marriage certificate 
- ofisyèl official stationery 
- panno wallpaper 
- poli fine sandpaper 
- pou vlope wrapping paper 
- resi receipt 
- sable, - sab sandpaper 
- tè deed, land title 
~ tenbre legal summons; official 
government form 
66<5 
papye - pare 
~ tès litmus paper 
- twalèt tissue, toilet paper 
pase - to transact (legal business); 
to bequeath; to get married (civil 
ceremony) 
poze - to arrange the marriage 
banns 
papyemache n. papier-mâché 
para n. patch (on tire inner tube); 
prefix para-
parabal n. bullet-proof vest 
parabôl n. parable; parabola (math.) 
parabolik adj. parabolic 
antèn/antenn ~ satellite dish 
parabriz n. side vent (of car 
window) 
parachit n. parachute 
parachite v. to parachute 
parachitis n. parachutist 
parad n. parade; review (milit.); see 
laparad 
bay ~ to perform, show off 
parade v. to parade, drill, march 
past; cf. defile 
paradi n. paradise, heaven 
paraf n. official signature 
parafe v. to initial; to sign 
paragraf n. paragraph 
Paragwe, Paragwey prop.n. 
Paraguay 
Paragwey en prop, n./adj., 
Paragweyèn f.prop.n. Paraguayan 
paraj, paray n. vicinity, area 
paralèl n./adj. parallel 
paralelepipèd n. parallelepiped 
(math.) 
paralèlman adv. parallel (to); at the 
same time; in the same way 
paralelogram n. parallelogram 
(math.) 
paralezi, paralizi n. paralysis 
~ enfantil infantile paralysis 
- serebral, ~ sèvo cerebral palsy 
paralitik n. paralytic; adj. 
paralyzed; cf. kokobe 
paralizay, paralizaj n. paralyzing, 
thwarting, hindering 
paralize v. to paralyze, be paralyzed; 
n. paralyzed person; cf. kokobe 
paralizi see paralezi 
paralyans adj. by marriage 
paramedik(al) n. paramedic; cf. 
sekouris 
paramilitè adj. paramilitary 
paran n. parent; relative, kin; 
derivative 
gran ~ grandparent; ancestor 
parantay n. family, relatives 
parantèz n. parenthesis 
ant ~ e kochèt just between us, 
confidentially 
parapè n. [Fr.] parapet, railing; cf. 
gadfou, balis 
parapli n. umbrella 
parapô adv. because of, on account of 
- a(k), ~ ta because of; compared 
to; concerning, with regard to, in 
relation to 
parapre adv. afterwards, thereafter 
parasol, paresôl n. parasol, 
umbrella; manjack tree 
~ chinwa umbrella palm 
parasolèy n. sun-visor (in vehicle) 
paratonè, paratonnè n. lightning 
rod 
paravan n. folding screen 
paray see paraj 
parayè adv. otherwise; besides, 
moreover 
paraza adv. by chance, haphazardly 
parazit n. parasite 
parazitis n. parasitism 
pare v. to be ready; to get ready, get 
set, prepare; to ward off, deflect, 
66<5 
pare - parye 
fend off; to dodge, protect oneself; 
to extend one's hands to receive or 
catch (s.thg.); to take cover, take 
shelter; to be awaiting, wait for; 
adj. ready, prepared; resolved, 
determined; overcast, threatening 
to rain 
- gôl to fend off ball (soccer) 
- kou to dodge 
- lapli to take shelter from the 
rain 
- midi, ~ solèy to take a lunch 
break 
- (yon) po kann ak tout fourni to 
get even with (s.o.), seek revenge 
paregzanp, parekzanp, parezanp 
adv. [Fr.] for example 
parèj see parèy 
parenaj, parenay n. sponsorship 
parene see parennen 
parenn n. godfather; best man (at 
wedding); backer, sponsor, patron, 
mentor 
parennen, parene v. to sponsor, 
back, support 
parés, laparès n. laziness, sloth; 
lethargy; idleness 
parese n. var. of plant 
parese, perese n./adj., paresèz, 
peresèz f.n./adj. lazy (person); 
lazybones, loafer, do-nothing 
fe - to loaf, laze about 
paresôl see parasol 
parespre adv. on purpose 
parèt v. to appear, arrive, show up; 
to stick out, extend; to appear, 
seem; to succeed; to be published; 
n. edition; appearance, arrival; 
publication 
fè - to publish 
fè yon (ti) ~ to put in an 
appearance 
ka - to measure up, challenge, 
match 
- sou to open out upon 
- tèt (li) to make an appearance, 
show up; to stick one's head out, 
look out (of doorway etc.) 
parèy, parèj n. peer, equal, 
companion; adj. alike, similar, 
identical; such; adv. just as well, 
just the same; prep, like; interj. the 
same to you! 
pran - to couple, mate (animals) 
san - peerless, unique, unequaled, 
unmatched; inimitable; 
remarkable, unusual 
pareyay n. organizing, assortment, 
grouping 
pareye v. to organize, assort, group 
parèyman adv. just the same; interj. 
the same to you! 
parezanp see paregzanp 
pari n. bet, wager, contest 
fè - nil cockfight where the two 
cocks refuse to fight 
koupe yon - to be witness to a bet 
Pari prop.n. Paris 
- Sendomeng "Paris of Saint-
Domingue" (former fam. name for 
Cape Haitian) 
parigol n. var. of Rada dance 
(Voodoo) 
Pariko prop.n. Paricot (1st 
communal section of Port-à-
Piment, Dept. South) 
parisyon n. publication 
Parizyen prop.n./adj., Parizyèn 
f.prop.n. Parisian 
parya n. pariah 
paryaj, paryay n. betting, bet, 
wager, contest 
parye v. to bet, wager; to pair, mate 
(animals) 
66<5 
paryè - pase 
paryè n. bettor, wagerer, gambler 
paryetal adj. parietal (anatomy) 
pas n. pass, passage, passageway, 
path; ford (in stream); pass, 
permit; difficult time, bad 
situation; pass (cards; sports); pass 
(sexual overture); lockjaw, 
tetanus; garage pit;fam. pastor; v. 
to pass in cards; adv. fine, OK 
fè - to pass, throw (ball in sports) 
mo ~ password 
~ dlo ford (in stream) 
- pou OK for 
~ valiz (coral) reef channel 
sa ~ that goes 
pasab adj. passable, acceptable, 
tolerable; average, not bad 
pasaj see pasay 
pasaje, pasajè n. passenger; 
stranger; adj. [Fr.] passing, 
transitory 
pasan n. passer-by; stranger; (belt) 
strap, (belt) loop 
an - by the way, incidentally, 
casually; while passing 
- blok (belt) loop 
pasasyon n. transferral, handing 
over 
Pasawôch prop.n. Passe-à-Roch 
(near Marchand-Dessalines, Dept. 
Artibonite) 
pasay, pasaj n. passage, 
passageway, corridor, opening; 
way, road; passage, ticket; 
passage, section; misery; hard 
time; annoyance; passage, 
excerpt 
de ~ passing through 
nan ~ location of baby about to be 
born 
~ a pye ford (in stream) 
~ dalyans method for ascertaining 
guilt using ring suspended on a 
string 
pasdlo n. ford 
pasdwa: 
fè - to withhold justice 
pase v. to pass; to pass by, go by, go 
through; to hand; to drop by, come 
by, visit; to go away; to cease; to 
pass, spend (time); to pass out, 
distribute; to put on (clothes); to 
smear on, put on; to do lightly, 
touch up (hair, painting etc.); to 
pass, succeed in (school etc.); to 
happen, occur, take place; to 
surpass, be more than; to pass, 
put; to have experienced, have 
already suffered, have been 
through already; to iron, press 
(clothing); to straighten, uncurl 
(hair); to sift, sieve, strain; to purge; 
to strike, deal (blows); to strike (a 
match); to show (film); to play 
(record, CD); to pass (card game; 
sports); n. visit, stop, passage; past; 
ironing; past tense (gram.); adj. 
last, past; overripe (fruit); out-of-
date; conj. than, more than; rather 
than, instead of; because 
bay (yon moun) - to let (s.o.) go by 
fè (li) ~ mizè to mistreat, abuse, 
give a rough time (to) 
fè (li) - nan yon je zegwi to 
mistreat, oppress, abuse, give a 
rough time (to) 
fè - to transmit, convey, dispatch 
fè - pay to annoy, bother 
fè yon - sou to review, go over 
fè yon (ti) - (nan) to pass by, 
make a quick stop (at); to pass by 
(s.o.), go/walk past (s.o.) 
jan li - li - whatever happens 
happens 
66<5 
pase - pase 
pa - to miss, fail 
pa - nan kat chemen not to beat 
around the bush, go directly 
- alaksyon to go into action, take 
action 
- aloryan (etènèl) to pass away, 
pass on, go to one's reward, die 
- anba baton to beat, give a 
beating 
- anba fil to enter illegally, sneak 
into 
- anba pay to pass unnoticed 
- anba pye to trample upon, 
desecrate 
- bale to sweep; method for 
ascertaining guilt using specially 
prepared chair 
~ bo bouch to have/take a drink 
(alcohol) 
~ chache to go look for 
~ cheve, ~ tèt to straighten one's 
hair (with hot comb etc.) 
~ dat to be expired, be past 
expiration date, be out-of-date 
- desann to head down, go down; 
to overflow, flood 
~ desann - moute to go up and 
down, go back and forth 
~ devan to supplant; to pass (s.o. 
in driving) 
~ fè to iron 
^ genyen exaggeration, falsehood 
~ kalvè to have a hard time, suffer 
~ konpoze past tense [Fr.] 
~ konsa to pass unnoticed 
~ kreyon sou to forgive 
- limyè to switch on a light 
~ l w e n mwen stay away from me 
~ tail to flow by, pass easily 
~ mal to fail 
~ men to make a small repair; to 
update, make small changes, do a 
minor touch-up; to recruit; to grab; 
to punish; revision, updating; 
fixing up; stop-gap measure, 
temporary solution 
- men nan to interfere with, take 
charge of; to look into, investigate 
- men pran to grab 
~ men sou to caress, soothe; to 
beat, strike 
~ mod to go out-of-style; 
antiquated 
~ moun nan betiz/jwèt/rizib/ 
derizyon to ridicule, make fun of 
s.o. 
- moute soti to erupt 
- nan bouch snack 
~ nan lide (yon moun) to slip 
one's mind, forget 
~ (n)an peny fen to pass through 
a fine-toothed comb; to verify, 
investigate thoroughly 
- nan yon je zegwi to have a lot 
of problems ; to be done in, be at 
one's wits' end 
~ ou isit! come here! 
- pa li to endure a lot, have a hard 
time 
- pou instead of, rather than; to be 
considered as, be taken for 
- pran m, m a pase rele/chache 
ou you scratch my back, and I'll 
scratch yours, work together 
- pwogresif past progressive 
tense (gram.) 
~ remoute to head back up, go 
back up 
- sa sou (yon moun) to take it out 
on (s.o.), blame (s.o.) 
- senp past definite tense [Fr.] 
~ sou to omit, skip; to cheat, trick; 
to pass ahead of (in line etc.); to 
disregard; to have sex with 
66<5 
pase - pastan 
~ sou ban lekol to receive a good 
education; to be a good learner 
- sou li to change the subject on 
s.o., try to turn away s.o.'s 
attention from the subject at hand; 
to pass, leave behind 
~ sou (yon) limyè wouj to run a 
red (traffic) light 
~ sove kouri ale to run away, 
disappear 
~ swaf li to quench one's thirst 
- tèt see ~ cheve 
- tout than all (used to express 
superlative degree of adjective) 
~ wè to visit 
~ yon anvi to fulfill a desire/need 
- yon bon tan to have a good 
time 
~ yon egzamen to take an exam 
- yon kou to take a drink 
(alcohol) 
~ yon liv to read/study/go through 
a book 
~ yon moun dèyè to oblige s.o. to 
go to the end of the line 
- yon pay pou to have a hard time 
doing s.thg. 
~ (yon) randevou to make an 
appointment or date 
sa k what's going on?, what's 
up? 
sa ki - li - whatever happens, 
come what may 
pasè n. smuggler of illegal aliens, 
"coyote"; bearer, porter, carrier 
(across stream, onto boat etc.); 
ferryman 
paseki adv. like no one 
pasèl n. parcel, portion, plot (of 
land) 
pasi see pasipala 
pasif n. liabilities (finances); adj. 
passive 
pasifik adj. pacific, peaceful 
Pasifik prop.n./adj. Pacific 
pasifikasyon n. pacification 
pasifikman adv. peacefully 
pasifye v. to pacify 
pasipala, pasi... pala adv. here and 
there 
pasiv adj. passive 
pasivite n. passivity, passiveness 
paskal n. var. of mango 
Paskal Twouyo (Èta) prop.n. 
Pascal-Trouillot (Ertha) -
provisional president of Haiti, 
1990-1991 (born 1943) 
paske, pase conj. because 
pasnip n. parsnip; cf. pèsi mawon, 
seleri mawon 
paspatou n. master key, passkey, 
skeleton key; coping saw; person 
one sees everywhere 
paspô n. passport 
paspouki n. bias, prejudice; 
partiality, favoritism, 
discrimination; adj. biased, 
prejudiced 
fè - to discriminate, play favorites 
gen - pou (yon moun) to give 
special consideration or treatment 
to (s.o.) 
nan - to play favorites 
nan - pou biased in favor of 
pa nan - , san - impartial 
san - impartially; impartiality, 
neutrality 
pasrèl n. bridge (of ship); boarding 
ramp (for airplane) 
Pasrèn, Ba Enriprop.n. Passe-
Reine, Bas-d'Ennery (2nd 
communal section of Ennery, 
Dept. Artibonite) 
pastan n. pastime, hobby 
66<5 
pastè - patans 
pastè n. pastor, Protestant minister, 
preacher 
pasterizasyon n. pasteurization 
pasterize v. to pasteurize, sterilize 
pasti n. lozenge, drop, pastille 
pastil see plastik 
pastoral n. (ecc.) pastoral letter; adj. 
(ecc.) pastoral 
pastorèl n. dance of the k o n g o rite 
paswa n. strainer, sieve, colander; 
adj. leaky 
pase nan - to strain, sieve; to 
purify, refine 
pasyal n. stroll, walk 
fe (yon) - to go for a stroll 
pasyalite n. partiality; see paspouki 
pasyan n./adj. patient 
pasyans n. patience; var. of plant 
(type of lozèy) 
pran - (ak), pran yon - (pou) to 
be patient (with), bear with 
pasyante v. to have patience, be 
patient 
pasyèl adj. partial, incomplete 
tan - part-time 
pasyon n. passion 
pasyonan adj. fascinating, 
enthralling, gripping 
pasyone, pasyonnen v. to be 
passionate 
~ de to have a passion for (s.thg.) 
pasyonèl adj. of passion 
patn. paw; foot (pej.); clutches, 
claws; tentacle; toothpaste; dough, 
batter, paste (bakery); (tomato) 
paste; (small) bunch (bananas, 
plantains); var. of freshwater fish; 
flippers (for swimming); adj. 
mushy; contr. pa + te; see lapat 
a kat - on all fours, on one's 
hands and knees 
anba - under the control of, under 
the influence of 
fè - kanna to wade 
grese - to grease s.o.'s palm, slip 
s.o. money 
mete men nan gagann/~ kasav, 
pran nan - kasav to seize, grab, 
arrest (s.o.) 
- alimantè pasta; noodles (in 
soup) 
- a modle modeling clay 
- atè barefoot; poor 
- brize pie crust 
- dan, - dantifris toothpaste 
- elefan bell-bottom trousers 
- farin dough 
- fri batter (cul.) 
~ gagann violent shove against 
upper body 
- men large hand 
- mouch illegible handwriting, 
chicken scratches 
- pou fri batter (cul.) 
~ pou - to be even, be quits; neck 
to neck, tied 
- pye foot, paw (fam.) 
~ zago large foot 
pran nan - kasav to seize, grab, 
arrest (s.o.) 
sou de - on foot (cf. apye) 
patach onomat. sound of sudden 
blow 
pataj, lapataj, lapatay, patay n. 
sharing, dividing up, division 
fè - to divide up, distribute 
pataje v. to share, divide, distribute; 
cf. séparé 
patan n. parting, departure 
an - from ... on; to start with, to 
begin with 
patans n. departure, leaving 
an - about to depart 
- lalin dark of the moon 
66<5 
patant - pati 
patant n. vendor's license, permit 
(to do business) 
patante v. to license, confirm; adj. 
dyed-in-the-wool 
patapouf n. fatso, butterball 
pataswèl n. slap in the face; insult, 
affront 
pataswele v. to slap in the face; to 
insult, affront 
patat (dous) n. sweet potato 
defann/sove - li to defend one's 
turf 
gwo- fat person 
- jôn, - apach yam 
- si fatso, butterball 
pen - sweet-potato pudding 
po - mere trifle, small sum (of 
money) 
san bit - completely flat 
Other var. are: - blanch, - kouri, 
- lanmè, - mari - , - mawon, -
sendou, - tisavyen, - wouj 
patati patata, epatati epatata, 
patiti patata interj. and so on and 
so forth 
patatis n./adj. opportunist 
patatsi n. fatso, fatty 
patay see pataj 
pataym n. [Eng.] part-time job 
patch n. patch (tire; clothes) 
patchatcha n. var. of dance 
patche v. to patch, patch up 
patchong n. var. of rubber shoe 
patdan(tifris) n. toothpaste 
pate n. meat pie, paté 
- bègè large meat pie 
- cho up and doing, hot, active 
- kôde var. of long twisted paté 
sold on street 
- mezon brand of commercially-
made paté 
(tan)kou - cho quickly, rapidly 
vann (tan)kou - cho to sell like 
hotcakes 
patè n. funeral wake; flowerbed, 
garden 
fè - to ask, beg (s.o. not to do 
s.thg.) 
Patè Nostè [Latin] Our Father, 
Lord's Prayer 
patekwè n. upstart, parvenu; show-
off, exhibitionist 
patelefan: 
pantalon - bell-bottom trousers 
paten, patinèt n. skate (metal) 
fè - , moute - to skate 
mete - nan pye to skate off, take 
off, clear out 
- a woulèt roller skates 
- (sou) glas ice-skate 
patènalis n. paternalism; adj. 
paternalistic 
patènalistik adj. paternalistic 
patenarya n. partnership 
patenè see patnè 
patènèl adj. fatherly, paternal 
Patenon prop.n. Parthenon 
patespere v. to show off; n. show-
off, bragger, boaster 
pati n. part, section; portion, share; 
bit, part, fraction; aspect; party, 
group; specialty; departure; 
(political) party; game; round of 
game; stakes (in card game etc.); 
genitals; (male) private parts; 
penis; v. to leave, depart, go off; to 
start (mach.); to let out (cry, 
scream etc.); interj. get! (to chase 
away dog etc.) 
fè - to start (a motor) 
fè (yon) - to join, belong to, take 
part in, be a member of; to go for 
a little walk 
lespri - crazy 
pati -patizan 
- ak to make off with, abduct 
- ale to leave for 
- al fe wout li to go on one's way, 
leave 
- anndan insides 
- devan genitals 
- dèyè to get after, go after, chase 
- fi vagina 
- gason penis 
- grenn testicles 
- kite to desert, abandon, run out, 
walk out on 
- ou! beat it! 
- prenant involved or responsible 
party (in negotiations) 
~ pri see patipri 
- (sansib) (Bondye ba li) 
genitals; (male) private parts; 
penis 
~ sôti to leave, go away 
- yon kous kouri to take off 
running 
san - pri without prejudice 
tèt - crazy 
ti ~ penis; groin 
vwal twou - yon fi hymen 
patidjodi a see apatandojodi 
patidzewo n. self-made person 
patikil n. particule; small 
(insignificant) political party 
patikilarite n. peculiarity, 
particularity 
patikilye, patikilyè adj. particular, 
separate; private, apart; particular, 
special; n. (private) individual 
an ~ apart, separately, privately; in 
particular 
patikilyèman, patikyèlman adv. 
particularly 
patinaj, patinay n. skid, skidding; 
skating 
~ sou glas ice-skating 
patiné n. skater 
patinen, patine v. to slide, slip; to 
skid; to stick in the mud; to 
fondle, paw over; to run one's 
fingers or hands all over (s.thg.); 
to roller-skate 
- anplas to mark time, spin one's 
wheels, not advance 
- sou glas to ice skate 
patinèt see paten 
patinwa n. skating rink 
patipa 72. chatter, prattle 
patipri n. bias, prejudice; 
favoritism, partiality 
fè - to show favoritism, take sides 
nan - to play favorites; biased, 
prejudiced 
san - without favoritism, 
impartiality, neutrality; impartial, 
unprejudiced, unbiased 
patiraj, patiray n. pasture 
patisip n. participle (gram.) 
patisipan n., patisipant fin. 
participant 
patisipasyon, lapatisipasyon n. 
participation; sharing 
patisipativ adj. participatory 
patisipe v. to participate, take part, 
be involved (in); to share with 
others 
fè - to include (s.o.) 
patisri n. pastry; pastry-making 
patisye n. pastry cook 
patisyon n. (musical) score; role 
(fig) 
jwe - li to play one's part, fulfill 
one's duty 
patiti patata see patati patata 
patizan n. disciple, follower, 
supporter; partisan; partner; adj. 
partisan, biased 
san - fair, without favoritism 
66<5 
patizànri - pawèl 
patizànri n. partisanship 
patko, pa te ko, patkô, pontko, 
pontkô, potko adv. not yet 
(referring to past); see poko 
patnè, patenè n. partner; buddy, pal 
fè - to form a partnership 
patoje v. to wade (about), splash 
about 
patojèn adj. pathogenic 
patolojis n. [Fr.] pathologist 
patou adv. everywhere, all around; 
cf. toupatou 
patouy see patwouy 
patpoupat v. to be entangled, be 
enmeshed 
patri, lapatri n. homeland, native 
country 
patrik adj. stunted 
Patrikprop.n. Patrick 
patrimwàn n. patrimony, heritage; 
property (jur.) 
patripoch, patripochis n. greedy 
so-called patriot; adj. venal, 
money-grubbing 
patriyach n. patriarch 
patriyakal adj. patriarchal 
patriyôt, patryot n. patriot 
patriyotik, patryotik adj. patriotic 
patriyotikman, patryotikman adv. 
patriotically 
patriyotis, patryotis n. patriotism 
patwa n. patois (pej. when referring 
to Haitian language) 
patwol n. jeep-like vehicle 
patwon n. boss; patron saint; pattern 
(sewing) 
patwon f.n. patron saint 
patwona n. employers, management 
patwonaj, patwonay n. patronage, 
sponsorship, support 
patwonal, patwonnal adj. 
employers, management, business 
fèt - festival in honor of the 
patron saint of a town 
patwone, patwonnen v. to sponsor 
patwouy, patouy, patwouj n. patrol 
fè - to patrol 
patwouye v. to patrol 
patwouyè n. patrol boat 
PauP abbrev. Port-au-Prince 
pav n. large flat stone 
pavay, pavaj n. pebble, stone; 
paving, cement 
pave v. to pave, cement; n. pavement 
Pave (ri) prop.n. rue Pavée 
(between avenue Marie-Jeanne 
and rue Lamarre, downtown PaP) 
paveni n. upstart, parvenu (pej.) 
paviyon, pavyon n. pavilion; flag, 
colors (nautical); courtyard of a 
Voodoo temple complex 
- maske sneaky or tricky person 
pavni n. upstart, parvenu (pej.); v. to 
raise with much care and affection 
pavo n. poppy 
- epine Jamaica yellow thistle 
pavweze see paweze 
pavyon see paviyon 
paw short form pa + ou yours; 
onomat. pow! bang! 
pawa n. [Fr.] wall, partition 
pawas n. parish 
pawasyal adj. parish 
pawasyen n. parishioner 
paweze, pavweze, pawaze v. to 
celebrate, rejoice; to play about, 
romp; to show off; to stroll; to 
dress ship, decorate ship with 
flags 
pawokèt see pèwokèt 
pawôl n. word, remark, statement; 
speech, enunciation; word, saying; 
see lapawôl 
antre nan - moun to meddle in 
pawôl - pay 
s.o.'s private conversation or 
business 
bon - absolutely, definitely 
dapre - ki pale according to what 
is said/reported 
gen de ~ to be two-faced, be 
double-dealing 
gen ~ to keep one's promises, be 
of one's word 
koupe - nan bouch to interrupt; 
to contradict 
manke - to fail to keep one's 
word 
moun ki gen - person of one's 
word 
pa gen de - to keep one's word, 
be reliable 
pa pale ~ moun not to talk about 
other people's business, mind 
one's own business 
~ anlè see ~ van 
~ anpil machwè gonfle a lot of 
talk results in a swollen jaw, big 
talk big trouble 
~ bidon bluff, deception, false 
promises 
~ daki parable, allusion, metaphor, 
unclear or ambiguous speech 
- debou, - kanpe short 
conversation 
~ di - fët no sooner said than 
done 
~ djôl dous sweet talk, flattery 
~ granmoun proverb 
~ granmoun lontan the wisdom 
of the ages 
~ kleren crazy talk 
- kode unclear or meaningless 
talk 
- la ap pale it is said that 
~ li pa tonbe atè foresighted, 
prescient 
- li pale nan zôrye to be secretive 
- (nan) bouch, - mete la wild 
rumor; just talk, baloney 
- nan kè unexpressed thought, 
unspoken word(s) 
- pa chita word is not slow to 
spread 
- pale it is said that, the word has 
it that 
- piman bouk gibes, invectives, 
insults 
- pôch dwat straight talk 
- pôch gôch talking through one's 
hat, deception 
- pou fè timoun dodo cock-and-
bull story, highly improbable tale 
- pwatann see ~ van 
- san sèl, - van nonsense talk 
- tafya crazy talk, drunken 
nonsense 
- van (mennen dlo pouse), -
anlè, - pwatann empty talk, false 
promises; nonsense, rubbish, 
baloney 
pèd - speechless; short of words 
yon sèl - a single subject/topic 
pawolè n. speaker 
pawoli see lapawoli 
pawoule n. herdsman (who leads 
cattle to market - cf. mawoule) 
pawoutin adv. by rote 
pay n. straw, chaff; thatch; hay; 
husk; bran; waste, scraps; misery, 
suffering; low, bad or losing card 
(games); (drinking) straw (Fr. - cf. 
chalimo); marijuana; 22adj. light 
(as a feather); light-colored; see paj 
achte sou - to buy in the 
marketplace 
an - shredded 
anba - hidden, in hiding; secretly; 
to be doing OK 
66<5 
pay - pè 
fè - to be frequent; to be 
numerous 
lejè kou yon - light as a feather 
maladi - nwa var. of blight 
affecting rice 
pase nan ~ to go through a lot 
(suffering etc.) 
- an ke white-tailed tropic bird 
~ ble fiber, wheat chaff 
- bwa siye sawdust 
- de fè steel wool; scouring pad 
- mayi corn husk 
rale yon - to smoke a joint, 
smoke a marijuana cigarette 
Paya prop.n. Paillard (communal 
section of Cayes-Jacmel, Dept. 
South-East) 
Payadèl (plaj) prop.n. Payardelle 
Beach (near Anse d'Hainault, 
Dept. Grand'Anse) 
payaj n. straw covering (for soil) 
Pay an prop.n. Paillant (6th 
communal section of Miragoâne, 
Dept. Grand'Anse) 
payas n. straw mattress; decoy; adj. 
wishy-washy, feeble, worthless 
fè - to splash; to connive 
payatè n. pellitory (plant) 
payaya adj. weak, frail; n. 
insignificant or worthless person 
paye v. to put a straw bottom on 
chair; to mate (poultry) 
payen n., payèn f.n. pagan, heathen; 
non-Protestant; non-Jewish, 
Gentile (Bible) 
payèt n. show-off; flashy clothes; 
sequin, spangle; see kongo ~ 
bay simen - , taye - to show 
off, strut, boast 
payis n. cronyism, favoritism 
pazapa adv. step by step, gradually 
pch! interj. sound to express 
disapproval or contempt 
pchii onomat. sound of air escaping 
from tire etc. c 
Pdg (pronounced: pe-de-je) abbrev. 
(président-directeur-général) CEO 
chief executive officer 
pe (letter) p; n. a little; Voodoo altar; 
v. to be quiet, keep quiet, shut up;' 
adj. low, unimportant; see ap 
fè (yon moun) - to shut (s.o.) up, 
silence (s.o.) 
lajan rele - djôl money (paid) 
ends the argument; money buys 
discretion 
- a - [Fr.] little by little, gradually 
- bouch li, - dan li to shut up, be 
quiet 
- djôl hush money 
- djôl! great! fantastic! 
- djôl ou! shut your fat mouth! 
shut your trap! 
- la! shut up! 
- pa cannot, can't 
pè n. priest, father (Roman Catholic, 
Protestant Episcopal); priesthood; 
pair, couple; old man (affectionate 
title); fear; peace; spotted drum 
(fish); var. of mango; v. to fear, be 
afraid (of); to be nervous; adj. 
afraid, frightened, scared, fearful; 
even (number) 
an - in/at peace 
antre nan - to enter the (Roman 
Catholic) seminary 
fè - to frighten, scare; to 
blackmail; to enter priesthood 
fôme yon - zo byen moute to 
make/form a good couple (persons) 
kenbe yon - las nan bounda 
(yon moun) to be a pain in (s.o.'s) 
ass 
kite - to leave the priesthood 
pè - pedale 
lage - sèt nan ko (yon moun) to 
harass (s.o.) 
nan ~ in the priesthood 
ni ~ ni pap no one at all 
pa - pap no one at all; to fear no 
one 
pa ~ san not to be afraid of 
anything, be fearless; not to back 
down 
pa vie wè ni ~ ni pap not to like, 
not tolerate 
- amô scared to death, deathly 
afraid 
~ antèman see prêt savann 
- de fami(y) father, pater familias 
- kantikè see prêt savann 
~ kou chat, ~ kou sourit scared 
silly, extremely frightened 
- las nuisance, pest 
~ Lebren see Lebren 
Pè Letènèl God, the Lord 
~ pap all-powerful; see pèpap 
~ pase fizi de kou/otomatik to be 
scared to death of 
- pou li pa chape scared to death 
~ savann see prêt savann 
~ sèt see pèsèt 
~ wozè see prêt savann 
~ zo byen moute inseparable 
friends; tweedledum and 
tweedledee 
pran ~ to become frightened 
san - san krenn without the 
slightest fear or hesitation 
yon ~ a big, a huge 
pèblichè n. [Eng.] publisher 
pèch n. fishing; peach; devil, 
malevolent spirit; onomat. whack! 
(sound of slap) 
~ mawon canela (bot.) 
~ mèlba peach melba 
Pèch see Opêch 
Pèch Bonèt, Pèchdibonèt prop.n. 
Perches du Bonnet (1st communal 
section of Milot, Dept. North) 
peche n. sin; fault; penis; v. to sin; to 
fish; to track down, ferret out 
fè ~ to commit sin 
pechè n. fisherman; sinner 
~ dlo, ~ lanmè, ~ pwason 
fisherman 
- (d)latè (de bra balanse) human 
being 
pèchè n. var. of bird 
pecherèz f.n.. sinner 
pechinen see pichkannen 
pèchon, pêcho n. var. of black bird 
Pèchwaprop.n., Pèchwaz f.prop.n. 
inhabitant of (Les) Perches (Dept. 
North-East) 
ped adj. any little; see pedchôz 
pèd: 
ki ~ genyen game using 
checkerboard 
pèd, pèt n. loss; deficit; see pêdi 
pedagog n. pedagogue 
pedagoji n. pedagogy, methodology 
pedagojik adj. pedagogical, 
educational; teacher-training 
pedal n. pedal (car; bicycle; piano); 
treadle (sewing-machine) 
bwa - bicycle pedal stem(s) 
pat ~ bicycle pedal pad(s) 
- fren brake pedal 
- klotch clutch pedal 
pèdi ~ to lose one's grip, lose 
one's initiative; to lose one's 
(social) standing 
pedale v. to pedal; to get along, 
cope; to simulate pedaling while 
lying on one's back 
~ ak to deal with 
- pa do to ride a bicycle sitting 
backwards 
66<5 
pedan - pèdi 
pedan n. pedant; bragger, show-off; 
pride, haughtiness; adj. pedantic; 
haughty, proud, stand-offish 
pèdan, lepèdan n. loser; adj. losing 
an pèdan (in/while) losing 
pèdans n. loss, deficit; miscarriage; 
continual flow of menstrual fluids, 
menorrhagia 
pedchôz n. small or insignificant 
thing 
pede, plede aux. to persist in, do 
s.thg. continually, do constantly, 
do again and again, keep on doing 
(s.thg.); to insist on (doing s.thg.); 
see pederas 
Pedènal prop.n. Pedernales, 
Dominican Republic (immediately 
across border from Anse-à-Pitre, 
Dept. South-East) 
- (larivyè) Pedernales River 
(Dept. South-East and Dominican 
Republic) 
pederas, pede n. (male) homosexual 
pedevi, petevi, potovi n. sickly 
undersized child; runt, weakling; 
adj. frail, puny 
pèdfami, pèdefanmi, pèdfanmi n. 
father, pater familias 
pèdi v. to lose; to get lost, be lost; to 
disappear from sight; to misguide, 
lead astray; to miss (flight etc.); to 
deflower, end virginity of 
- an lagan doomed from the start 
- anpil fèy to be really nuts or 
crazy 
- bann (li) to lose one's rank or 
social status; to be lost; to be out 
of place, be out of one's element; 
to be impotent 
- dlo dehydrated 
- (yon/kèk) fèy, - lôlôj to lose 
one's marbles, be a little crazy, 
looney 
- fil to regress, decline, go 
backward 
- kab ko li to lose one's self-
control 
- kat to be bewildered 
- konnesans, - lapawol to lose 
consciousness, faint, pass out 
- kou siyis madou to be lost to 
this very day, be completely lost 
- lakat to lose one's marbles, be a 
little crazy, looney 
- lèd to be crushed, be badly 
beaten (in a game) 
- li de vi to lose sight of, no 
longer see (s.o.) 
- lôlôj see ~ (yon/kèk) fèy 
~ nèt nan to be totally immersed/ 
involved in 
- ni krab ni sak, - ni sak ni 
krab, - ni sôs ni bouyon to lose 
the (whole) kit and caboodle, lose 
everything 
- pa to slip; to get out of step 
(while dancing) 
- pedal to lose one's grip, lose 
one's initiative 
- pou — nèt done for, 
completely wiped out 
- pye to stumble, trip; to lose 
one's footing (in deep water); to 
lose ground; to lose strength; to be 
ruined financially; to lose one's 
rank or social status 
- pye li not to have one's 
menstrual period 
- ran to lose rank or social status 
- souf out of breath; to die 
- tan to take one's time; to waste 
time - tè to be off the ground 
- tèt to go crazy 
66<5 
pediki - pektowo 
- WÔI to act in an unbecoming 
fashion or manner 
- yon fi to deflower 
se dezôm ~ to be at odds, be at 
war 
pediki n. pedicure 
pèdisyon n. continual flow of 
menstrual fluids, menorrhagia; 
false pregnancy (of long-
standing); (non-apparent) 
miscarriage; unusual menstrual 
periods and/or general pelvic 
discomfort; debauchery, 
dissipation; perdition, damnation; 
peril; decay 
ou se yon ~ you're on the road to 
hell 
pèdiyèm n./adv. per diem 
pedji, pèdji see badji 
pedjol, pedyôl adj. silent, 
speechless 
pedka: 
fè ~ (yon moun) to look down on, 
disdain 
pedodye: 
pete ~ to crow, caw 
pedofil n. pedophile, child molester 
pedonkil n. peduncle, stalk, stem 
pèdri n. quail; partridge 
~ fran ruddy quail-dove 
~ gri var. of dove 
- vant blan Key West quail-dove 
pèdvi adv. as fast as possible 
Pedwo prop.n. nickname for Pyè 
pedyat n. pediatrician 
pedyatri n. pediatrics 
pedyatrik adj. pediatric 
pedyôl see pedjol 
pèfèksyon n. perfection 
pèfèksyone, pèfeksyonnen v. [Fn] 
to perfect, improve 
pèfeksyonnman n. perfecting; 
improvement 
pèfîd adj. faithless, treacherous, 
perfidious; cunning, wily, crafty 
pèfoman adj. effective 
pèfômans n. [Fr.] performance 
pèfôme v. [Eng.] to perform 
pèforatè n. hole punch, paper 
punch, hand punch 
pèfore v. to perforate 
pègbod n. [Eng.] pegboard 
Pegivil prop.n. Péguyville (well-to-
do district of Pétion- Ville, Dept. 
West) 
Pejo prop.n. Peugeot (vehicle) 
péjoratif adj. pejorative, denigrating 
pèk! onomat. snap! (sound of 
sudden break) 
peka n. ipecac (bot.) 
pèkal, tègal n. percale (cotton or 
linen fabric) 
chire ~ to put up/on a false front 
pekaw n. var. of small lagoon fish 
Peken prop.n. Peking, Beijing 
(China) 
pèkisyon n. percussion (music) 
pekizisyon n. police search (of 
premises) 
pekizisyone, pekizisyonen v. to 
carry out a police search (of 
premises) 
pèkmèl see pèlmèl 
pèkolatè n. percolator 
pekosyon see prekosyon 
pekou n. barnacle 
pèksè n.. elegant person; adj. fancy, 
classy, elegant, fashionable 
pèkseswa pron. nobody, no one, 
(not) anybody, (not) anyone 
pektin n. pectin 
pektowo, pekto n. pectoral muscles, 
chest gwo ~ barrel-chested 
66<5 
pèl - pèmanant 
pèl n. shovel, spade; oar, paddle; 
spatula; shovelful, spadeful; pearl 
fè kèk kout - to shovel (pej.) 
mèt - mason's helper (who mixes 
cement on ground which is then 
bucketed up to pour cement roof) 
- dan (a) large tooth 
Pèl Dèzanti(y) Pearl of the 
Antilles (expression often used -
formerly - to describe Haiti) 
- mekanik backhoe 
ti - fatra dustpan 
pela adj. bald (rooster); v. to trim, 
cut off a little (hair) 
Pèlabè prop.n. Pearl Harbor 
(Hawaii) 
pelag, pelagra n. pellagra 
pelas n. series of lottery tickets (cf. 
biyèt); large piece of 
pele v. to shovel 
Peleprop.n. Pele (disadvantaged 
area of Site Solèy, q.v.) 
pelé n. shoveler 
Pelemann (Lwi)prop.n. Peleman 
(Lodewijk Frederik) - Belgian 
priest and scholar of the Haitian 
language, author of the pioneering 
Diksyonnè Kréyol-Fransé (1913-
1987) 
pèlen n. trap, snare; ambush; loose 
or promiscuous woman; prostitute 
- tèt trap with noose (for head); 
mind trap, mind games 
tann (yon) - to set a trap 
pèlenpenpen see grenn (gen grenn 
peleren, pèleren, pèlren n. pilgrim 
Pelerenprop.n. Pèlerin (wealthy 
community above Pétion-Ville) 
pèlerin, pèlrin n. cape (clothing) 
pelerinaj, pelerinay n. pilgrimage 
Pèletènèlprop.n. God, the Lord 
Peligprop.n. Péligre (dam) (Dept. 
Center) 
lak - Péligre Lake (40 km2) 
pelikan n. pelican 
Pelikanèprop.n., Pelikanèz 
f prop.n. inhabitant of Grand-
Gosier (Dept. South-East) 
pelisilin see penisilin 
pèlit n. pearlite; perlite 
pèlmèl, pèkmèl adv. pell-mell, 
disorderly 
an - pell-mell, disorderly 
fè - to make a mess 
pelouz n. lawn, grass 
achte kat - , pran kat - to be only 
an on-looker, not play an active 
role 
pèlren see peleren 
Pèlren prop.n. Pèlerin (wealthy 
residential district situated above 
Pétion-Ville, Dept. West) 
pèlrin see pèlerin 
pèlvis n. pelvis 
pelvyen adj. pelvic 
peman, pèman, peyiman, 
pèyiman, peyman, pèyman n. 
payment 
jou - payday 
~-le-lwa Voodoo ceremony on 
Christmas Eve to ensure health for 
coming year 
pèmanan adj. permanent; constant 
pèmanans, lapèmanans n. 
permanence, permanency; 
continuity; adj. non-stop 
deklare - , dekrete - to have no 
intention of stopping (doing s.thg.) 
fè - to establish oneself 
ftm (an) - continuous showing (of 
film) 
pèmanant adj. permanent; n. 
permanent wave (for hair) 
66<5 
pèmanganat - penan 
- lavi li during his entire life 
pèmanganat n. permanganate 
Pemèlprop.n. Pémerle (4th 
communal section of Miragoâne, 
Dept. Grand'Anse; 2nd communal 
section of Cayes, Dept. South) 
pèmèsite n. insolence, impertinence, 
impudence; cf. frekansite 
pèmèt see penmèt 
pèmeyab adj. permeable; n. 
tarp(aulin) - cf. prela 
pèmi n. permit, license, pass; 
permission; leave (milit.) 
bay ~ to authorize 
- kondwi driver's license; cf. 
lisans 
pèmisyon, lapèmisyon n. 
permission, authorization (cf. 
dizon); leave (milit.) 
pèmitasyon n. [Fr.] permutation, 
transformation 
pen n. bread; loaf; pine tree 
bôs ~ baker 
boul ~ griye crouton 
jwenn - mande fwonmaj to 
always ask for more 
kase pwent - gouden to take 
one's time (doing s.thg.) 
kou - rasi completely; tightly 
mete ~ devan kochon to cast 
pearls before swine 
mit ~ soft part of bread 
myèt ~ breadcrumb 
~ bagèt loaf of French bread 
~ bie (antye), - konplè(t) whole-
wheat bread 
~ bôbôt var. of bun 
~ bwat flat roll 
~ depis gingerbread 
~ dou thick cassava bread; cf 
bobori 
~ enstantane quick bread 
~ gouden var. of inexpensive 
bread 
~ griye toast 
~ gwo mit unleavened bread 
~ kasav cassava pudding 
~ konplè(t) see ~ ble 
~ mayi cornbread 
~ mit loaf of bread 
~ Nôfok Norfolk Island pine tree 
~ nwa whole-wheat bread; 
pumpernickel 
~ Ostrali horsetail tree, beefwood 
tree 
~ patat sweet-potato pudding 
~ pèdi French toast 
~ pita pita bread 
~ pwason var. of long loaf of 
bread (almost always packaged) 
~ rale unleavened bread 
~ rasi dried-out old man/woman 
~ rezen raisin bread 
~ san ledven unleavened bread 
~ vennsenk, ~ senkant var. of 
low-cost white rolls 
~ won large roll 
ti - roll 
tout ~ li sou kouch lanmori li 
sou gri to have it made, be 
carefree 
yo bay yon - nan boutèy, kola 
nan panyen banbou traditional 
ending for Haitian folktale 
pèn see penn 
penal adj. penal 
Pénal prop.n. Pernal (Dept. Center) 
pénalité, penaliti, penalti, 
pennalite n. penalty, fine; penalty 
(sports); penalty kick (soccer) 
choute - to make a penalty kick 
penalize v. to penalize 
penalman adv. in a criminal court 
penan adj. painful, distressing 
66<5 
penba - penpennen 
penba see manpenba 
penbèch f.n. bitch; loose woman 
manman - big bitch 
pench n. pinch; children's game 
using five flat pebbles 
penche see pense 
penche, penchen, pencheng, 
penchenk, penchenn, 
penchennen, penchka see 
pichkannen 
penda f.n. loose woman 
pending n. kimono 
pendou n. thick cassava bread 
penensil n. peninsula 
penetrasyon n. penetration 
chemen - , wout - (secondary) 
connecting road (leading to main 
road) 
penetre v. to penetrate, enter; to 
break into; to infiltrate 
penetwo n. peppermint 
peng adj. stingy, miserly, tight 
penga n. form of wrestling seen esp. 
at Rara time; see piga 
pengle adj. striped, with stripes 
pengwen n. yucca (var. of tall 
cactus; cf. kandelab, rakèt); 
penguin (bird) 
peni, penich n. U.S. penny, one cent 
penib, pennib adj. painful, 
laborious, troublesome; 
distressing 
penich see peni 
penis n. penis 
fo - dildo 
penisilin, pelisilin n. penicillin 
pènisye adj. [Fr.] pernicious, 
harmful, injurious 
penitan adj. penitent 
penitans, lapenitans n. penitence; 
punishment; (school) detention; 
penis; see rad -
penitansye n. penitentiary 
penitansyè adj. penitentiary 
penitansyèl adj. penitential 
penkle see pentle 
penlenpenpen: 
poud - universal remedy, magic 
cure-all 
penmèt, pèmèt v. to permit, let, 
allow; may (permission); to 
enable; to dare, take liberties; to 
dare, challenge; n. permission; 
insolence, impudence, 
impertinence; adj. impudent, 
impertinent; daring 
penn, pèn v. to paint (picture); n. 
pain, suffering; grief, sorrow 
- de mô, - lanmo death penalty 
pije - li to serve one's time in 
prison 
- sik var. of mango 
pennalite see pénalité 
pennda n. scoundrel, villain 
pennib see penib 
pennsik see zannanna 
Pennsilvaniprop.n. Pennsylvania 
(USA) 
Penntagôn see Pentagon 
Penntatek see Pantatèk 
penntiklous n. parasite 
penntyôm see pentyom 
penp n. dude, sport 
penpan: 
an - in good shape, well-off 
penpe see pimpe 
penpenèl n. allspice (cf. malagèt) 
penpennay n. struggle, toil, travail, 
barely getting by; strolling, 
sauntering around 
penpennè n. hanger-on, ne'er-do-
well; stroller 
penpennen, penpenyen v. to 
struggle along, barely get by, have 
66<5 
penpenp - pentle 
a hard time; to stroll, saunter 
penpenp n. story, lie; game, trick 
se menm ~ (la) things are still the 
same, it's no different 
penpenyen see penpennen 
pens n. pincers, tweezers; pliers; 
tongs; forceps (,med.); hair pin, 
hair clip, bobby pin; clothes pin; 
clamp; tuck, pleat (sewing); pick 
(tool with point on only one side); 
iron rod, iron bar, straight bar; 
pincer, claw (crab, lobster etc.); 
see pench (children's game) 
- a bèk needle-nose pliers 
- grip vise grip 
~ klou crowbar 
~ koupan pliers 
- kravat tie clasp, tie clip 
~ mas ground clamp 
~ mekanik var. pliers 
~ nen nose pinchers (veterinary 
tool to hold nose of animal while 
administering medication) 
~ towo clamping wrench 
- woulo hair clip; wave clip 
se - ak pikwa it's a real struggle 
pense, penche n. pinch, small 
amount; children's game where 
winners pinch losers; v. to pinch; 
to arrange hair with clasp 
byen ~ sou to fit well (clothes) 
~ bouch (li) to pout 
pensèt n. tweezers, tongs, cotton 
pliers 
penso n. paintbrush 
bay ~ to rub one's penis up and 
down against s.o.'s body 
kout - sketch, outline 
~ atis artist's paintbrush 
~ (a) woulo paint roller 
pensôm n. chore, unpleasant task 
(school) 
pent n. artist, painter; (house) 
painter; pint (measure, container); 
adj. mottled, speckled, pinto 
atis ~ (studio) artist, painter 
bôs ~ (house) painter 
pa konnen ni an ~ ni an penti 
not to have the vaguest idea; not to 
know from Adam 
pa wè ni an ~ ni an penti not to 
see hide nor hair of 
zafe zenga si 1 too bad if you 
don't understand 
pentad n. guinea-fowl, guinea-hen; 
symbol of the Duvalier regime; 
adj. shy, bashful, withdrawn, 
reserved; hesitant 
~ kay, ~ dou white guinea-fowl 
~ mawon gray guinea-fowl 
~ ~ to lie low, keep a low profile 
pran metsin sou kont ~ mawon 
to spend money one doesn't have, 
make plans based on wishes only 
pentadin, pentado n. cock 
produced from chicken and 
guinea-hen (illegal in cockfight 
because of unusual strength) 
pentagèn n. pentagon 
Pentagon, Pantagôn, Pantagonn, 
Penntagôn, Penntagonnprop.n. 
Pentagon (Washington D.C., 
USA) 
pentèt see petèt 
penti n. paint; painting, picture 
pase ~ to paint overly lightly 
~ dlo, ~ alo water-based paint 
~ (a)lwil oil-based paint, glossy 
paint 
se (yon moun) an ~ to be the 
spitting image (of s.o.) 
pentire v. to paint (picture or 
building) 
pentle, penkle v. to streak, stripe, 
66<5 
pentyôm - perèz 
mark; adj. speckled (bird); 
freckled; variegated 
pentyôm, penntyôm n. pentium 
peny {pronounced: pen-y) n. comb 
(for hair); fin (of fish) 
kout - combing; hair-do 
pase (n)an - fen to pass through a 
fine-toothed comb; to verify, 
investigate thoroughly 
- anbavant pelvic fin, anal fin 
(fish) 
- anwodo dorsal fin (fish) 
- ti dan fine-toothed comb 
penyen {pronounced: pen-yen) v. to 
comb 
- de très to wear two pig-tails 
- lage to braid one's hair; to be 
irresponsible, neglect one's duties; 
to sleep with just anyone; 
irresponsibility, neglect of duty 
- lanvè way of braiding hair 
- tèt to comb one's hair 
tou - tou poudre rigged 
(election), fixed in advance 
pèp n. people, populace; people, 
nation 
gwo - common people, rabble, the 
masses 
ti - populace; kids, children 
pepa v. not to be able, cannot 
PEPADÈP acron. PEPPADEP 
(Projet d'Eradication de la Peste 
Porcine africaine et de 
Développement de l'Elevage 
porcin en Haïti) Porcine Fever 
Control Program 
pèpandikilè adj. perpendicular 
pèpap, ni pè ni pap pron. no one at 
all; see pè pap 
Pepeprop.n. nickname for Pyè 
pèpè n. imported secondhand 
clothing; cheap import, foreign 
castoff wares; grandpa (fam.)-
returning emigrant (pej.)- adj. 
second-rate, second-class, shoddy; 
imported {pej.) 
"manje - , rad -, legliz -, 
chanjman - , demokrasi -, 
zenglendo (Pierre Vemet) 
imported life, imported/second-
rate everything 
pepebaya n. guayabera, 
(embroidered) man's dress shirt 
usu. of light material (cf. safari, 
wayabèl) 
pèpet n. stilt-plover (bird) 
pèpèt mayi, pètpèt mayi, mayi 
pèpèt, mayi pètpèt n. popcorn 
pepètwa see repètwa 
pèpetye v. to perpetuate 
pèpetyèl, pèpetwèl adj. perpetual, 
continuous, constant 
pepinyè, pepinye n. nursery 
(garden) 
pepinyeris n. nurseryman 
(gardening) 
peple v. to people, populate; to bear 
children; to multiply, breed, 
increase, reproduce 
- anpil heavily populated; 
crowded 
- kou apoulaw to breed like flies 
peptazi n. strong herbal tea 
Peral(t), Perat (Chalmay) prop.n. 
Charlemagne Péralte - Caco leader 
(1886-1919) 
Pere prop.n. [Bible] Perea 
Peredo prop.n. Pérédo (near 
Marigot, Dept. South-East) 
pèremèyonorera, pèrenbè n. no 
one on earth, absolutely no one 
perese, peresèz see parese, paresèz 
perestil see peristil 
perèz, pèrèz n. fright, fear; adj. 
66<5 
perezi - peso 
fearful, skittish; shy, timid 
perezi see perizi 
peri v. to perish; to damage, destroy; 
to waste away; to drown 
perich n. Hispaniolan parakeet 
perik n. wig, toupee 
périme v. to lapse; to become out-
of-date 
perimèt n. perimeter, periphery 
perip n. [Fk] tour, trip, journey 
peripesi n. ordeal, hardship; 
troubles, difficulties 
perisab adj. perishable 
periskop n. periscope 
peristil, perestil n. Voodoo peristyle 
(large covered area partially open 
at sides where most Voodoo 
drumming, dancing, and chanting 
take place) 
peritonit n. peritonitis 
Perivyen, Perivyèn see Pewouvyen 
perizi, perezi, pirizi, plerezi, plirizi 
n. pleurisy 
peryod n. period, time; period, 
menstrual cycle 
peryodik adj. periodic; n. periodical 
(publication) 
pès n. pest, nuisance; drill, bore; 
prop.n./adj. Persian; adj. two-
faced, malicious 
~ pôsin African porcine fever 
Pès prop.n. Persia 
lanmè - Persian Gulf 
Pèsan prop.n./adj., Pèsàn f.prop.n. 
Persian 
pèse v. to show up, appear, arrive; to 
pierce, bore, drill; to soak; to 
penetrate; to perforate; to 
deflower, deprive of virginity; to 
break through or out; to sprout; to 
become noticeable; n. perforation 
koule kou panyen - to be leaky 
or full of holes 
pèsekisyon n. persecution 
pèsekite v. to persecute, harass 
pèsekitè n. persecutor 
Pèsepolis prop.n. Persepolis 
(ancient Persia) 
pèsepsyon n. outlook, perception; 
tax collecting 
pèseptè, preseptè n. tax collector 
pèsèt n. nuisance, pest; adj. 
unyielding, inflexible, stubborn; 
adv. unyieldingly, inflexibly, 
stubbornly 
lage ~ nan kô (yon moun) to 
harass (s.o.) 
pèseverans n. perseverance; regular 
church attendance 
pèsevere v. to persevere, persist, 
keep going; to go to church 
regularly 
pèsevwa v. to perceive 
pesi see epesi 
pèsi n. parsley 
~ mawon parsnip; cf. seleri 
mawon 
pesifik adj. [Fr.] specific 
pesifisite n. [Fr.] specificity 
Pèsik: 
gôf ~ Persian Gulf 
pèsikiste v. to persecute 
pesimis n. pessimist; adj. 
pessimistic 
pèsistan adj. persistent, stubborn 
pèsistans n. persistence, 
stubbornness 
pèsiste v. to persist, survive; to 
persist, insist; to keep on doing 
s.thg. 
pesmekè n. [Eng.] pacemaker 
peso, pèso n. peso (monetary unit of 
the Dominican Republic, Cuba, 
Mexico etc.) 
66<5 
pèsôn - pete 
pèsèn n. [Fr.] person; see pèsonn 
an - personally 
pèsonaj, pèsonay, pèsonnaj, 
pèsonnay n. character, individual; 
person of importance, personage, 
bigshot, VIP, (really) somebody; 
middle-aged person; character (in 
a play) 
pèsonalite, pèsonnalite n. 
personality; key figure, leader 
gen - to have one's pride or self-
respect 
pèsonèl, pèsonnèl adj. personal; 
private; egotistical; n. introverted 
person; personnel; adv. personally 
pèsonèlman, pèsonnèlman adv. 
personally 
pèsonifye v. to personify, embody, 
illustrate 
pèsonn (moun), pèsôn, pesonn 
pron. no one, nobody, anybody 
(neg.), anyone (neg.) 
pèsonnaj, pèsonnay see pèsonaj 
pèsonnalite see pèsonalite 
pèsonnèl see pèsonèl 
pèsonnèlman see pèsonèlman 
pèspektiv n. perspective, outlook 
Pestèlprop.n. Pestel (Dept. 
Grand'Anse) 
Pestèlwa, Pesteleyen prop.n., 
Pestèlwaz, Pesteleyèn f.prop.n. 
inhabitant of Pestel (Dept. 
Grand'Anse) 
pestisid n. [Fr.] pesticide 
pèswade, pèsyade v. to persuade 
pèsyèn n. outside wooden or iron 
window-blinds; Venetian blinds 
pès zôrèy n. earwig (parasite) 
pèt n. loss; deficit; nothing at all, not 
at all (iwith neg.); discharge; 
vaginal discharge 
pa fè - ka to pay no attention to, 
ignore completely 
- dlo dehydration 
- konfyans disfavor 
peta n. firecracker; cap (for toy 
pistol); trifle, trivial matter; var. of 
plant 
Se pa - , non! That's no joke! It's 
not easy! 
petadô n. (frequent) farter 
petal n. petal (bot.) 
petarad n. crackling, popping, 
snapping 
petas n. quarter, neighborhood; large 
piece of meat 
petay, petaw: 
se pa - ! it's a big deal! 
Petchon see Petyon 
Petchonvil see Petyonvil 
Petchonvilwa, Petchonvilwaz see 
Petyonvilwa, Petyonvilwaz 
pete v. to crack, split, break open, 
burst, rupture; to blow up, 
explode, erupt; to puncture, be 
punctured; to be enraged; to fart; 
to wheedle; to deceive, trick, 
cheat; to start, pick (fight, 
quarrel); to break out, burst out, 
occur suddenly; n. fart; escobita 
(plant) 
fè gran - to put on airs, show off 
fè - to cause, give rise to 
fè yon - , lage yon - to fart 
pa - nan (yon) koton bay santi 
not to pamper, not play up to; to 
pay absolutely no attention to 
pa vo yon kout - (nan bounda 
chwal) not to be worth a (tinker's) 
damn, not worth a plugged nickel 
- fal to do in; to overcome 
- figi moun to deceive 
- filèt to score, make a goal (sports) 
- fyèl to work hard, slave away; to 
66<5 
pete - Petyonvil 
do in, break the back of, wipe out, 
rub out, kill; backbreaking, 
ballbusting 
~goumen to start a fight, pick a 
fight 
-je to blind; to dazzle 
- kannkès to destroy; to beat up 
- kare bragger 
- koken to protest, revolt; to cheat 
~ kouri to break out in a run, take 
off running 
~ moun to deceive, mislead 
- nan po to explode with anger 
- pedodye to crow, caw 
- pi wo pase bounda li to be too 
big for one's britches, try to 
exceed one's limits 
~ rèl to burst out screaming/ 
shouting/wailing 
~ ren to do in; to fire, lay off 
~ sèvèl (yon moun) to blow 
(s.o.'s) brains out, kill 
~ tèt li to kid oneself, delude oneself 
~ yon kous (kouri) to take off 
running, dash away; to sprint 
~ yon pot to break down/force a 
door 
- zizye to do in, wipe out, kill 
petè n./adjpetèz fn./adj. sly or 
cunning (person) 
pètèpètè adj. soft, tender; languid, 
indifferent; limp, flaccid 
petèt, pentèt, pètèt adv. perhaps, 
maybe 
petevi see pedevi 
petèz see petè 
pètibe v. [Fr.] to perturb, disturb, 
disrupt 
Petikastiyè see Saltadè 
petinya n. petunia 
petisyon n. petition 
Petitans see Titans 
petitapeti adv. little by little 
petiye v. to spray, splash 
petodyè n. loud outcry, uproar 
petonvwa n. Bahamas nighthawk 
pètpèt n. black-necked stilt (bird); 
crotalaria (herb) 
(fè) ~ to abound, be numerous 
~ mayi popcorn 
pètpot n. pick-me-up (snack made 
of egg yolk, fruit etc.) 
petre see anpetre 
petren n. dough (bread); kneading-
trough 
(pye pran) nan ~ in trouble, in a 
jam, in a fix 
petri v. to knead; to shape, mold; to 
crush, mash; adj. mature, 
experienced 
Petwo n. category of often 
malevolent Voodoo spirits mostly 
originating in Hispaniola; rite for 
this category of Voodoo spirits; 
Voodoo dance characterized by 
extremely rapid foot movement 
with left hand on hip and right arm 
extended 
~ maji var. of Petwo dance 
petwôl n. petroleum; gas(oline) 
petwolye adj. petroleum; oil-
producing 
Petyon (Aleksann), Petchon 
prop.n. Pétion (Alexandre) (1770-
1818) - president of Southern 
Haiti, 1807-1818 
Petyonpoliten obs. prop.n., 
Petyonpolitèn obs. f.prop.n. 
inhabitant of Pétion-Ville (Dept. 
West) 
Petyonvil, Petchon vil prop.n. 
Pétion-Ville - founded 1831 
(above PaP, Dept. West) 
66<5 
Petyonvilwa - Peyiba 
Petyonvilwa, Petchonvilwa 
prop.n., Petyonvilwaz, 
Petchonvilwaz f.prop.n. 
inhabitant of Pétion-Ville (Dept. 
West) 
pèvès adj. perverse; perverted, 
depraved 
pevese n. PVC (polyvinylchloride 
tubing); often used as a makeshift 
flute (cf. banbou) 
pèvèsyon n. perversion 
pèvèti v. to pervert, lead astray, 
corrupt, deprave; adj. perverse, 
depraved 
Pewodenprop.n. Pérodin (5th 
communal section of Petite-
Rivière-de-1'Artibonite, Dept. 
Artibonite) 
pèwokèt, pawokèt n. parakeet; 
parrotfish 
- ble, - bride, - diven blue 
parrotfish 
~ jako rainbow parrotfish 
- vant wouj stoplight parrotfish 
pewôl n. payroll; menstruation 
if am) 
pewon n. stoop, small porch; 
landing (above steps); Voodoo 
altar 
Pewou prop.n. Peru 
Pewouvyen, Perivyen prop.n 
Pewouvyèn, Perivyèn f.prop.n. 
Peruvian 
pèy n. pay, wages 
bon ~ dependable credit risk 
move - poor credit risk 
peyab adj. payable 
peyaj n. toll, fee 
estasyon ~ toll booth 
peyan: 
an - by paying 
peye v. to pay (for) 
fè - to charge 
fe yon moun - bouch li to get 
back at s.o. for s.thg. he/she said - anba to bribe, corrupt 
- grenn je nan tèt li to pay an 
exorbitant price 
- kalanmplanm to make lump-
sum payment, pay cash 
- kontan temporary job 
- lajan anba to bribe 
- po kase a to pay for the damage, 
pick up the pieces 
- pote to be heavy, be fat; to be 
plentiful 
- soti gift to a Rara troupe 
peyè n. paymaster; payer 
peyi n. country, nation, land; birth-
place; region, district, zone, area; 
var. of plantain; adj. domestic, 
local; national 
ale nan - san chapo, fè vwal pou 
~ san chapo to kick the bucket, 
pass away, die 
bay ~ a to vanish, disappear 
gwo - malfini USA (pej.) 
nèg - compatriot 
- a Haiti 
- (a)meriken United States of 
America 
- anvwa devlopman [Fr.] 
developing country/nation 
- Gal see Peyid Gal 
- pèdi far-away, isolated or 
unpleasant place, hole 
- san chapo (the) hereafter, death 
- sou wout devlopman 
developing country/nation 
san - stateless person 
voye (al) nan - san chapo to do 
away with, kill 
yon - a huge amount of 
Peyiba, Laolann, Olann, Wolann 
66<5 
Peyid Gal-Pi 
prop.n. Netherlands 
Peyid Gal prop.n. Wales 
peyiman, pèyiman see peman 
peyipouriprop.n. Pays-Pourri (5th 
communal section of Ganthier, 
Dept. West) 
peyizaj, peyizay n. scenery, 
landscape 
peyizan n. peasant; person who 
lives in one's own locality 
ti - relatively disadvantaged (but 
not desperately poor) peasant 
peyizàn f.n. peasant woman 
peyizànri, peyizannri n. [Fr.] 
peasantry; cf. pèp 
peyizay see peyizaj 
peyman, pèyman see peman 
peynt remouvè n. [Eng.] paint 
remover 
pèz n. scales; weighing; weight, 
value, importance; net weight; 
burden; squeezer, press (for limes 
etc.) 
gen bon ~ to be of value 
~ ak mezi weights and measures 
- bannann utensil for flattening 
plantains (to prepare bannann 
peze, q.v.) 
~ lèt lactometer 
pran - to weigh, judge, examine 
pezantè n. gravity 
pezape adv. gradually, little by little, 
step by step 
pezay n. weighing 
peze v. to weigh; to press, squeeze, 
push down; to compress, crush; to 
be heavy; to depress; to oppress; 
to extort; to bear down hard; to do 
s.thg. strongly or quickly; to be 
worth; to pet (sexual); adj. heavy 
~ desann to press down 
- (gaz) to step on the gas, step on 
it, go fast 
Peze Kafe traditional children's 
song 
- kafe yo nan menm balans, ~ 
kafe yo ansanm to hit it off well 
with, get along well (together); to 
be birds of a feather, be two peas 
in a pod, be alike 
~ kou to strangle 
- lou to weigh heavily, be of 
consequence 
~ moun to mistreat, harm 
~ nan men to knead 
~ sou to apply pressure 
~ sou sa ou ap di weigh your 
words well, think twice before 
speaking 
~ sousay exploiting; extorting 
~ souse locally-made popsicle; to 
exploit; to extort; exploitation; 
extortion; exploitative 
~ sou yon mo to stress a word 
pezè, pèzè n. weigher (person) 
- sousè exploiter; extortionist, 
extortioner 
pezepe adv. little by little, gradually 
pezib, pèzib adj. peaceful, quiet, 
placid; adv. peacefully, quietly 
pezibleman, pezibman adv. 
peacefully, quietly 
pèzlèt n. lactometer 
pi n. well (water); pus, discharge; pi 
(math.); adj. pure; adv. more 
(comparative); most 
bay fë ~ to suppurate 
machin ~ drilling rig 
- atezyen artesian well 
~ ... pase more ... than 
~ ~ ~ cry to call chickens 
teknisyen ~ well-digger 
tou ~ purely, unmistakenly 
Pi prop.n. Pius 
66<5 
pibète - pigatwa 
pibète n. [Fr.] puberty; cf. fôme 
pibis n. [Fr.] pubes; pubis, pubic 
area 
piblik n. (general) public; audience; 
constituency; shared taxi; adj. 
public 
piblikasyon n. publication; public 
(oral) announcement or 
advertisement (on street corners, 
from loudspeakers etc.) 
fè - to talk about, publicize 
piblikman adv. publicly, openly 
pibliks n. shopping center, 
commercial center 
piblisite n. publicity, advertisement, 
commercial 
piblisitè adj. commercial, publicity 
piblisize v. to publicize 
pibliye v. to publish, announce, 
proclaim; to spread news; to 
publicize; cf. mete deyô 
pich onomat. sound to express air 
leaking; interj. sound to express 
disapproval 
pichkannen, bichkannen, 
pechinen, penche, penchen, 
pencheng, penchenk, penchenn, 
penchennen, penchka v. to pinch; 
to pull at, tug at 
- lespri yon moun to trouble, 
upset s.o. 
pichmiding; 
mizik an - background music 
pichon, plichon n. blight (plant or 
tree); soft scale, aphid, plant 
louse; misfortune, bad luck 
f è - t o be filthy 
fo - soft-scaled mealy bug 
Var. of soft scale (insect): - gri, -
jon, - nwa, - kokoye, - koton, -
papay, - sab, - sitwon, 
- vèt, - woz, - zannanna 
Pichon prop.n. Pichon (6th 
communal section of Belle-Anse 
Dept. South-East) 
pichout n. dick, cock (penis) 
pichpen n. pitch pine; resin 
pichpich v. to squint; onomat. sound 
of going through water 
je - beady eyes; swollen or 
squinting eye(s) 
pichtach see pistach 
pidè n. modesty, propriety 
san - shameless, brazen 
pidemi, epidemi n. epidemic 
pidetwal, pidewal n. Bengal light 
(fireworks) 
Pidi prop.n. Pidy (brand of peanut 
butter and jams, from Saint-Marc) 
pidjama see pijama 
pidjin n. pidgin 
pidza, pitza n. pizza 
pifô adj. most, the greater part of, 
the majority of 
pifpof onomat. croaking of a toad 
piga, penga, pigad, pigo, pinga, 
pingo, pringa interj. don't (you 
ever), watch out for (neg.\ be 
careful (not to); n. warning; stick 
(used in Voodoo ceremony, by 
gede esp.) 
bay - to set limits; to caution, 
warn 
mache sou - li to be wary, be 
cautious - nèg coltsfoot (herb) 
- seren slow-acting poison 
- sida condom 
pou - li threat; barrier, obstacle 
pran - to be careful, beware 
sou - li with care; on guard, wary, 
with distrust; alert 
pigatif n. commercial laxative 
pigatwa n. purgatory 
66<5 
pigô - pike 
pigô see piga 
pij n. purge, purgative, laxative; pus; 
secretion 
bay ~ to suppurate 
pijama, pidjama n. pajamas 
pije v. to pick up, understand; see 
prije 
- penn/pèn li to serve one's time 
in prison 
pijon n. pigeon; dove (cf. kolonm); 
penis 
- lanmè laughing gull (bird) 
~letan var. of bird 
pik n. pick (tool); ice pick; spike; 
spades (cards); peak, summit; 
wide-toothed comb; adj. several, a 
few; adv. quickly, rapidly; on the 
dot (time); v. to hurry towards; main 
marble (marble game) - cf boulpik 
mare ~ to get into position, get set 
(in marble game) 
~ aglas icepick 
~ kou mawo every last person 
pikan n. thorn, spine, barb; quill; 
stinger (of insect); adj. spicy (cf 
pike) 
mache sou ~ to walk on thin ice 
~ arada cockspur (bot.) 
ti - poultice (used by doktè fèy to 
treat headache) 
Var. of thorn are: ~ janm, ~ kare, 
~ kouzen, ~ kwok, ~ pye, ~ rada 
Pikan (ri) prop.n. rue Piquant 
(between rue Geffrard and avenue 
John Brown, near Champs-de-
Mars, PaP) 
pikankwenna(n), kwanna, 
kwenna, pikankrenna, 
pikankwena n. thorn-bush; 
obstacle, stumbling block, 
hindrance; adj. thorny, prickly; 
sharp, piercing 
pikay n. stinging, pricking; skirt-
chasing, womanizing 
pike v. to sting, prick; to hurt, be 
painful; to stick, prick, stab, jab; 
to burn, irritate (sun, medicine 
etc.); to tingle; to dig, turn up 
(soil); to stab, wound; to goad; to 
pick up s.thg. by spearing; to 
inoculate; to burst out or start 
(doing s.thg.); to offend; to hurry 
towards; to swoop down, pounce; 
to tap, tip, touch; to bite (fish); to 
plant (rice, millet etc.); to 
transplant (seedlings etc.); to draw 
a card; to swipe, steal; to insert 
marinade, cloves or tiny pieces of 
lard into meat before cooking; to 
kill by magical means; adj. spicy, 
hot; alcoholic; strong (alcohol); 
sharp, keen; shrill; dirty, off-color, 
salacious; decayed (wood; tooth); 
vermin-infested (crops); worm-
eaten; n. shot (of alcohol); 
informal wrestling bout 
pa gen kote pou ~ yon zepeng to 
be packed, be very crowded 
- an liy to do in-row tillage 
- desann to take a nose-dive, head 
down sharply 
~ devan, ~ pou pi douvan to spur 
ahead, forge ahead 
- dèyè to follow closely after 
~ deyô to lose 
- kat to read cards, tell the future 
~ kole to try one's chances; var. of 
children's game 
~ moute to rush up; to take on 
new life or energy 
- rat plant causing irritation to 
one's skin 
- tè to dig with a pickax or iron 
bar; to plow 
66<5 
pike - pil 
- tèt (fè yon bagay) to hurry (to 
do s.thg.) 
- tèt (li) to lower one's head (to 
one's knees while standing); to do 
oneself in 
- tèt li atè to lower one's head (in 
submission etc.) 
ti - pointy-assed 
pikè n. shoe repairman; fortune 
teller; piquet (s), Black populist 
fighter(s) from South of Haiti 
(19th and early 20th centuries); 
petty thief; skirt-chaser, 
womanizer; v. to hit against the 
rope while jumping rope 
pikèt n. (small wooden) stake, peg, 
picket, pike, post; drum peg; 
spear, sharpened stick; small stake 
or large thorn hidden in ground to 
penetrate foot of trespasser or 
enemy; picketer, protester [Eng.] 
kat (4) - uncomfortable bed/bunk/ 
pallet; tiny uncomfortable place to 
live 
mete sou - , mete opikè to force 
s.o. to stand on tip-toes leaning 
against wall touching only with 
tips of fingers; to discipline a 
recalcitrant konbit etc. member 
made to stand with one foot on a 
stake 
nan - yon moun in s.o.'s clutches 
plante - li to dig in, set up a line 
of defense; to demonstrate, protest 
piki n. injection, inoculation, 
vaccination, shot; (insect) bite, sting 
- planing contraceptive injection 
- rapèl booster shot 
pran - to be vaccinated 
pikiris n. injectionist 
pikliz n. spicy relish (usu. contains 
cabbage, hot pepper, green beans, 
carrots, shallots, onions, green 
peas, sweet pepper, vinegar and 
salt) 
- dous sweet relish 
Pikmiprop.n. Picmy (10th 
communal section of Anse-à-
Galets, La Gonâve Island) 
piknik, pinik n. picnic 
pikôp n. pick-up truck; record 
player 
pikotman, pikotman n. itch, prickly 
sensation, tingling; smarting, 
stinging; allergic reaction 
pikpôkèt n. pickpocket 
piktaj n. staking out (an area for 
planting or construction) 
pikwa n. pickax 
voye - to turn over the soil/earth 
pil n. pile, heap, stack; pill (med.)\ 
battery (radio etc.); adj. many, 
numerous; exact, sharp (time); see 
anpil 
fè - (sou -), mete - sou - to pile 
up; to crowd together 
fè - sou do yon moun to 
backbite, slander 
fè ti - gwo - to grow, increase; to 
gossip, backbite 
gwo - D battery 
gwo - ti - , ti - gwo - gossip; 
backbiting 
- ak pakèt, pa - e pa pakèt 
heaps of, piles of 
- de tèt 9-volt battery 
- kat deck of cards 
- kreyon AA battery 
- mwayen C battery 
- sab sand dune 
- sou - (piled up) one on top of 
the other, one after the other; in 
rapid succession; mess 
rete - to stop cold, stop dead in 
66<5 
pil -piman 
one's tracks 
senk - sharecropping agreement 
whereby worker receives 3/5 of 
produce and owner 2/5 
twa ~ sharecropping agreement 
whereby worker receives 2/3 of 
produce and owner 1/3 
yon ~ (ak yon pakèt/bann) many, 
much; heaps of, piles of, a heck of 
a lot of 
pilat n. demarcation line when 
playing marbles 
Pilat prop.n. Pilate (Dept. North) 
Pons ~ Pontius Pilate 
pran poz ~ to accept no 
responsibility (in a given situation) 
Pilatwa prop.n., Pilatwaz f.prop.n. 
inhabitant of Pilate (Dept. North) 
pilbowo adj. huge, whopping 
Pilbowo prop.n. Puilboreau 
(mountain, Dept. Artibonite and 
North; high mountain pass on 
main highway between Ennery 
and Cape Haitian; 4th communal 
section of Ennery, Dept. 
Artibonite) 
pile v. to crush, grind, mash, pound; 
to step on, stamp on, stomp on, 
trample; to hull; to pound (heart); 
to eat with gusto, eat heartily 
pa - second-hand clothes; cf 
kenedi; pèpè 
pa - si li te konnen to be careful 
so as not to have later regrets 
~ dlo nan pilon to do nothing 
useful 
~ fey Voodoo ceremony where dry 
leaves and a sacrificial chicken are 
crushed in a mortar 
~ tè to (touch) land 
pilil n. pill; contraceptive pill 
pilon n. mortar; hourglass (computer) 
manch ~ pestle 
pilonnay, pilonnaj n. trampling, 
stomping; mistreating 
pilonnen v. to tread on, trample on, 
walk on; to stomp on; to subdue; 
to mistreat 
pilèt n. pilot; sergeant major (fish); 
adj. experimental 
pilotaj n. piloting, flying 
pilote v. to guide, show (s.o.) 
around; to pilot, fly (airplane) 
~ yon kamyon to drive a truck 
pilouli see piwouli 
pilplan n. birth-control plan 
pilye n. pillar, post; mainstay, 
backbone; column; outstanding 
person 
- gason large muscular guy 
pim onomat. sound of blow given 
on face; bang 
piman n. red pepper, hot pepper, 
chili pepper, pimento; wit, spice; 
adv. purely 
dlo ~ var. home-made insecticide 
mete ~ ak sèl to spice up, add 
flavor 
- bouk, - pike red pepper, hot 
pepper; sharp, cutting, biting, 
reproachful 
- dan chen medium hot pepper 
- dlo var. of pepper 
- dou(s) green pepper, bell pepper 
- dou(s) emwèd emerald giant 
green pepper 
~ dou(s) nouwes new ace green 
pepper 
~ dou(s) yolo yolo wonder green 
pepper 
- fô hot pepper 
- zwazo, ~ zwezo very small red 
pepper poud ~ chili powder; paprika 
66<5 
Piman - pipi 
s6s - Tabasco; hot-pepper sauce 
Other terms for peppers: ~ jon, -
vèt, - wouj 
Piman prop.n. Piment (6th 
communal section of Pilate, Dept. 
North) 
pimantad n. hot-pepper sauce or stew 
pimante v. to spice, make spicy; adj. 
spicy (cf . pike) 
pimgèt adj. shrill 
pimnantchou see pinnantchou 
pimpanm pimpanm adv. blow after 
blow, one after the other 
pimpe, penpe v. to bounce, 
rebound; to fling, toss; to kick (a 
ball high in the air); to drive up, 
push up, cause to rise 
- pitit to breed like flies, have 
kids left and right 
- tounen to toss back, fling back, 
deport 
pin n. peg, pin; hub; penis 
pinanklou adj. backbreaking, killing 
pinankounan adv. slowly, lamely, 
poorly 
pine, pini n. var. of thorny tree 
- jôn yellow pine tree 
pinèz n. bedbug; plant bug; 
thumbtack; exploiter, profiteer, 
parasite; adj. exploitative, 
profiteering 
- bwa assassin (insect) 
- kabann bedbug 
- kôn horned treehopper (insect) 
- kouri squash bug 
- mayi leafhopper (insect) 
- santi stink bug 
- tabak leaf beetle 
-tôti stink bug 
- vèt green stink bug 
- zèl klè lace bug 
pinga see piga 
pingi n. small insect believed 
capable of indicating directions 
(north, south, important towns etc.) 
pingo see piga 
pingpang onomat. ding-dong 
(sound of bell) 
pingpong n. ping-pong 
rakèt - ping-pong paddle 
pini v. to punish; to forbid; to defy, 
challenge; to reprimand; see pine 
pinik n. var. of Voodoo dance; see 
piknik 
pinisyon n. punishment 
pinnantchou, pimnantchou, 
pinyantchou n. pain in the ass, 
royal pain; sexual intercourse 
(vulg.) 
pinokyo n. hard-on (erect penis) 
pip n. pipe (for smoking); onomat. 
sound of a fall or of any sudden 
action; sound of heartbeat 
bouch - , tèt - bowl (of a pipe) 
boure - (yon moun) to dress 
down, scold (s.o.) 
bwa - pipe (for smoking) 
manch - pipe stem 
pa bay - tabak not to give a red 
cent 
pa - pa tabak, pa ni - ni tabak 
nothing doing, nothing at all; 
nonsense, stupidity; to be broke 
and penniless and doing nothing 
about it 
pa (vo) (ni) - (ni) tabak to be 
worth nothing 
wi - ! wow! my gosh! 
pipcho n. dick, cock (penis) 
pipèt n. pipette (.chem.) 
pipi n. urine; penis; v. to urinate; to 
drip, trickle, dribble 
aparèy - , chemen - urinary tract 
blad - bladder (human or animal) 
66<5 
pipi - pisans 
fè ~ to urinate 
gen yon ~ ki kenbe li to have to 
take a leak 
kannal ~ urinary tract; urethra 
maladi la ~ pip (disease of 
poultry) 
- chat a few drops 
~ dous to have sugar in one's 
urine, be diabetic 
~ jôn jaundice 
- nètale incontinent; incontinence 
- nwa black-water fever 
~ rapid frequent urge to urinate 
~ tig raw rum (fam.) 
~ wouj dark urine; jaundice 
sak - bladder 
tou twou ~ meatus (of penis) 
pipich, pipij n,. cock, dick (penis) 
pipirit n. var. of small bird (see 
below); bamboo raft; U. S. 
residency card (fam.) 
anvan ~ bay bal, anvan ~ bay 
kalinda, anvan ~ mete kalson, 
anvan ~ met kanson before dawn 
depi - chante, o ~ chantan at the 
crack of dawn 
~ chandèl Hispaniolan pitchary 
~ chantan at the crack of dawn 
~ gri gray kingbird 
~ gwotèt Hispaniolan fly-catcher 
~ pa chante/vole in the dead of 
night 
~ rivyè belted kingfisher 
~ tètfou Hispaniolan woodpewee 
sou kou ~ plastered, dead drunk, 
drunk as a skunk 
Other var. of same bird: ~ lanmè, 
- titèt 
pipit n. penis; school-desk; pulpit 
piplis adv. more; most 
Pipoprop.n. nickname for Filip 
pipôp n. var. of ice-cream arranged 
in a tube; condom 
piramid n. pyramid 
piranpi n. var. of fish 
pirat n. pirate 
~ de lè (air) hijacker 
Pirat (zile) prop.n. "Pirate Island," 
Tortuga 
pirataj n. piracy; pirating 
pire n. puree; v. to squeeze, extract 
juice; to leak, discharge; adj. 
purulent 
~ ponmdetè mashed potatoes 
pirèd adv. worse; harder 
pirèks n. Pyrex (heat-resistant glass) 
piren n. liquid fertilizer 
Pirene (màn) prop.n. Pyrenees 
Mountains 
piresenp adv. (quite) simply 
pirifikasyon n. purification 
pirifikatwa adj. purifying, cleansing 
pirifye v. to purify; to cleanse, purge 
(soul) 
piriji: 
f6s ~ tetanus, lockjaw 
pirik kayik adj. out-of-date, obsolete 
piris n. purist 
piriten prop.n. Puritan (US history) 
pirizi see perizi 
pis n. flea; flea beetle; dance hall, 
night club; dance floor; track, 
trail; train of thought; airplane 
runway, airstrip 
long kou ke ~ by a hair's breadth 
pisa n. urine 
pisan, pwisan adj. powerful 
tou ~ omnipotent 
pisanlit n. dandelion (plant) 
pisannit n. bed-wetter 
pisans, pwisans n. power, authority; 
might, strength, vitality; magic 
power (Voodoo); group of strong 
men 
66<5 
pise - piti 
- gason virility 
pise v. to piss; to gush, spurt; n. piss; 
(fam. form of pipi, <7.v.) 
- chwal weak coffee 
pisetig n. very strong var. of cheap 
unrefined white rum 
Pisidiprop.n. [Bible] Pisidia 
pisikiltè n. fish breeder 
pisikiiti n. fishery; fish raising 
pisin n. swimming pool 
piske, pliske, pwiske conj. since, 
because 
piskèt n. whitebait (fish) 
machann - loser, failure, dud, 
incompetent 
nan - in the bushes or backwoods 
(pej-) 
~ saval larger var. of whitebait 
(fish) 
Piskô Ayitiprop.n. (United States) 
Peace Corps/Haiti (1982-1987, 
1990-91, 1995-2004) 
pislin: 
an ti - a little at a time 
pismiding: 
an - secretly; discreetly 
pispiding: 
an - bit by bit 
pistach, pichtach n. peanut 
marye kou - packed like 
sardines, packed together, 
crowded 
- dèzenn Panama tree 
- kale shelled peanut(s) 
- mawon panicled milkwort 
(plant) 
tablèt - peanut brittle-like candy 
pistachyo n. pistachio 
pistil n. pistula (bot.) 
pistolè n. pistol; dick, cock (penis) 
piston n. piston; rara (q.v.) trumpet; 
pull, personal/political 
connections, influence; prick, 
penis; plunger (of syringe) 
pistonis n. trumpeter 
pistonnaj n. pull, political 
connections, influence 
pistonnen v. to back up (s.o.); adj. 
sturdy, hefty (animal) 
piswa n. urinal 
piswon n. aphid plant louse 
- nwa citrus blackfly 
pit n. sisal, sisal hemp; var. of 
mango; see piten; pitit; trese 
chire - to quarrel, argue; dispute, 
argument; discord 
pa - pa tabak neither fish nor 
fowl, neither one nor the other 
- kou garata every last person 
- kou mawo every last person 
- peyi Lenn var. of sisal 
pita adv. later; see pen ~ 
n a wè ~ see you later on today 
- pi tris the worst is yet to come 
Pitagoprop.n. Pythagoras;prop. 
adj. Pythagorean (math.) 
pitans n. pittance, meager amount 
pou - for the slightest cause 
pitboul n. [Eng.] pit bull (terrier), 
Bull Terrier 
pitche see pitye 
piten, pit n. whore, slut 
piti adj. small, slight, little; thin, 
skinny; young, small; poor, 
disadvantaged; n. smallest of the 
three Rada drums (same as boula, 
kata) -Voodoo; smaller of the two 
Petwo drums - Voodoo 
fè li tou - to make oneself 
inconspicuous 
pi - smaller; less 
- - little by little; step by step; 
gradually, slowly but surely; tiny 
pou pi - at least 
66<5 
pitimi - pitit 
ton ~ tiny 
vin ~ to lose weight 
pitimi n. millet; sorghum 
kè li ap pile ~ his/her heart is 
beating pitter-patter 
li piti men li pa ~ (s)he is little 
but (s)he is not without protection/ 
influence/strength 
- san gadô person without 
protection or influence; 
abandoned child, orphan; helpless 
Var. of millet: gwo ~ chandèl, ~ 
diri, ~ ponpon 
pitit n. child (son, daughter; term of 
affection); young person; 
offspring, cub; offshoot, runner 
(of plant); interest (on loan or 
investment) 
bay kout ~ to attribute a child's 
birth to s.o. other than the true 
father; to make or get pregnant (to 
force marriage) 
bay ~ to give birth, deliver; to 
make pregnant; to have many 
babies 
bay yon fanm ~ to make pregnant 
de ~ an ~ from generation to 
generation 
fè - to give birth, deliver; to 
procreate; to breed, produce 
offspring (animals); to make 
profit, produce interest 
fè - devan dèyè to breed like flies 
jete ~ to abort, have an abortion 
manman ~ (unwed) mother; 
mother of one's children 
mare ~ see rete ~ 
mete ~ atè to give birth, deliver; 
to breed like flies 
mete ~ pou (yon) fanm to make 
pregnant 
pa kap fè - infertile 
~ ala manmèl all, without 
exception 
~ an ~ from father to son, from 
generation to generation 
~ aza child born from casual 
union 
- Bondye child of God, human 
being 
~ bouzen street urchin 
~ deyô , ~ degouden, - natirèl 
illegitimate child; child born 
outside of one's present union 
~ fèy client/patient of a Voodoo 
priest(ess); member of a given 
Voodoo temple; native-born child 
~ fi daughter (of any age) 
- frè yis (ak s ô yèt) poverty-
stricken, deprived or 
underprivileged person 
~ gason son (of any age) 
~ kay intimate member of a 
household, Voodoo temple, etc. 
- ki pa rekonèt illegitimate child; 
fatherless child 
~ lajan interest, dividend 
~ lwa client/patient of a Voodoo 
priest(ess); member of a given 
Voodoo temple 
~ natirèl see ~ deyô 
- - grandchild; offspring 
- fi granddaughter 
~ ~ gason grandson 
- ~ great-grandchild 
~ san papa child of unrecognized 
paternity 
~ sèt mwa (any) child born 
prematurely 
~ sôyèt poverty-stricken, deprived 
or underprivileged person 
pote ^ to be expecting, be 
pregnant 
premye ~ eldest child 
66<5 
pititral - piyay 
rete - , mare - to prevent the 
normal development of a fetus 
(through evil magic) 
se - papa li like father like son 
ti - baby; child 
pititral adj. prolific, fecund, fertile 
(having many children) 
pitmôs n. [Eng.] peat moss 
pito v. to prefer; to wish, hope; adv. 
rather, preferably, better, instead; 
may I suggest that... 
fè sa li - to do what one wants; to 
do no matter what; to be lawless 
pa - watch out that... does not; 
isn't it that...? 
- ta pase janmè better late than 
never 
piton n. small hill, hillock, mound; 
hook (of padlock); eye-hook 
- èl L-hook 
pitosa! interj. you better stop doing 
that! 
Pitsbègprop.n. Pittsburgh 
(Pennsylvania) 
pitwayab adj. pitiful, pathetic 
pitwit n. hayfever 
pitye, pitche n. pity, compassion, 
mercy 
gen - to be merciful 
san - pitiless, callous, unmerciful; 
mercilessly 
pitza see pidza 
pivè n. woodpecker 
pivo n. pivot, swivel pin 
pivotant: 
rasin - taproot 
pivote v. to swivel, pivot, wheel 
around 
piw! onomat. bang! 
piwèt n. pirouette; steps, measures, 
precautions; resourcefulness; 
weathervane 
f è - t o w h i r l r o u n d a n d round; to 
make a sudden turn around; to go 
out for a short while, go for a little stroll 
piwete v. to pirouette, whirl around; 
to guide, show around, show the ' 
sights to 
piwètman n. whirling around; 
commotion, coming and going 
piwili dick, cock (penis); see 
piwouli 
piwôg n. pirogue 
piwomàn n. pyromaniac, firebug 
piwouli, pilouli, piwili n. sucker, 
lollipop 
Piya prop.n. communual section of 
Dept. South-East 
piyaj see piyay 
piyajay n. rapaciousness, avidity, 
greed 
piyaj è, piyanis n. looter, pillager, 
plunderer, scavenger; adj. 
rapacious, plundering 
piyan see pyan 
piyanis see piyaj è; pyanis 
piyanp, piyank onomat. peep (of 
chickens) 
Piyat see Pyat 
piyay, piyaj, yay n. pillage, 
pillaging, looting; loot, plunder; 
real bargain, good deal, something 
for nothing; liquidation, sale, give-
away; overgenerosity, prodigality; 
abundance, plenty; adj. ample; 
very cheap, dirt cheap; interj. 
come and get it!, something for 
everybody! 
bay - to be loose, be liberal 
(money, sex etc.); to be easily 
taken advantage of; to discount, 
reduce in price, sell off cheaply 
fè - to give for free; to raid, 
plyay - plake 
plunder, pillage; to bleed dry, take 
all one's resources 
jwenn ~ to find a fantastic deal 
pa pou ~ not up for grabs, not free 
for the taking 
pou pri ~ very cheap, a dime a 
dozen 
pran pou ~ to take for granted; to 
do whatever one wants 
se ~ it's up for grabs, free for the 
taking 
yon ~ a lot of, much 
piye v. to plunder, pillage, loot, rob; 
to throw for (to see who is first in 
marbles, dice etc.); see apiye 
piyè n. plunderer, pillager 
piyit 72. var. of social dance 
piyon n. gable 
kay an - house with roof slanting 
in four directions 
Piyon prop.n. Pignon (Dept. North) 
piyong n. var. of tree 
Piyonnèprop.n., Piyonnèz f.prop.n. 
inhabitant of Pignon (Dept. North) 
piyonnen v. to construct gables on 
house 
piyonnye see pyonnye 
piyore n. pyorrhea 
pla n. dish (of food) (individual) 
portion (of food); course (food); 
serving dish; see apla 
~ manchèt flat part of a machete 
~ men palm (of hand) 
~ pye stooge, fool, (a) nobody; 
sole (of foot) 
~ sèk food offering to Voodoo 
spirits involving no animal 
sacrifice (same as manje sèk) 
plach! onomat. splash! (sound of 
object falling into water) 
plafôm n. plain, low flatland 
plafon n. ceiling 
plafonnen v. to construct a ceiling 
plafonnye n. ceiling lamp, ceiling 
light; adj. ceiling 
plagatôks, plakatôks n. anti-
mosquito coil 
plaj, laplaj, play n. beach 
plajya n. plagiarism, plagiary 
plaj ye v. to plagiarize 
plak n. (phonograph) record; license 
plate, license tag; patch, spot; 
welt; coating, film; slab, piece; 
plate, flat piece of metal; plate (of 
earth's tectonic surface); 
(identification) badge; joke; funny 
or thrilling story; denture 
èni ~ zo rèldo herniated disk 
limyè ~ light above license plate 
- di hard drive (computer) 
~ do disk 
~ fè shield 
- fleksib floppy disk (computer) 
~ fodan denture 
- imatrikilasyon license plate, 
license tag 
~ laboratwa, ~ an vit slide (for 
microscope) 
~ pwotèj shield 
~ zo do, ~ zo rèldo disk 
plaka n. closet; wardrobe (for 
keeping clothes) 
ti ~ small portion 
plakade v. to stick up, put up; to put 
up posters 
plakatap plakatap adv. ploddingly 
plakatoks see plagatôks 
plakay n. attaching, fastening; skirt-
chasing, womanizing 
plakbôl, blakbôl n. shoe polish 
plake v. to attach, fasten, affix; to 
stick (on wall etc.); to get rid of 
(s.o.); to stand s.o. up, not show 
up; to do a handstand or 
66<5 
plakè - plante 
headstand; to screw, have sex; n. 
tight clothing; adj. tight, clinging 
(clothing) 
- nan figi to stick in one's face, 
confront with 
plakè n. skirt-chaser, womanizer 
plakèt n. plaque, tablet; small book 
- fren brake pad (of vehicle) 
- vè glass slab (dental) 
plaksan n. (blood) platelet 
plamen, planmen n. palm (of hand) 
kou yon - to be small 
plan n. plan(s); program, pattern, 
outline; blueprint; trick, stratagem; 
seed; seedling, sapling; plant 
cutting; see plamen; plapye 
fè - to plan; to scheme 
gran - arrogant, haughty 
move - bad seed, black sheep 
- men palm (of hand) 
- pye sole (of foot) 
- rechanj contingency plan 
pran nan - to trick, cheat, 
deceive; to entrap, entice 
sou - to fake; to attempt to 
defraud or cheat 
tout- the whole... 
Plan (ministè) abbrev. (Ministè 
Planifikasyon ak Koperasyon 
Ekstèn/Ministère de la 
Planification et de la Coopération 
Externe) Haitian Ministry of 
Planning and Foreign Cooperation 
plàn adj. plane (geometry) 
plàn, plann n. pawnshop; leasing of 
land until repayment of specific 
debt 
mete nan - , ale nan - , pote nan 
- to pawn, hock 
planch n. board, plank; lumber 
fè - to float (person) 
moso - woodblock 
- (a) repase ironing board 
- ak woulèt skateboard 
- avwal windsurf board 
pote - to be thin 
planche n. (wooden) floor; ceiling 
planchèt n. ironing board; (small) 
cutting board 
- ak pens clipboard 
plancheye, anplanche v. to lay a 
floor 
plane, plannen v. to soar, glide, 
hover; to float; to leap, vault; to 
pawn, hock; to plan 
plané n. glider 
planèt, laplanèt, plannèt n. planet; 
plain, low flatland 
planetè adj. planetary 
plani, aplani, aplanni, planni v. to 
level, even off; to plane; to smooth 
out, flatten out; to resolve 
(problems) 
planifikasyon n. planning 
planifikatè n. planner 
planifye v. to plan 
planin, planing, plannin n. family 
planning, planned parenthood 
fè - , swiv - to practice birth-
control or family planning 
grenn - birth-control pill 
plankton n. plankton 
planmen see plamen 
plann see plàn 
plannen see plane 
plannèt see planèt 
planni see aplani 
plannin see planin 
planpye see plapye 
plant n. plant (vegetable), flora 
plantasyon n. planting, sowing; 
plantings, crop; plantation 
fè - to plant 
plante v. to plant, sow; to implant, 
66<5 
planté - plat 
drive (into ground); to stand; to 
leave s.o. standing 
planté n. planter, cultivator 
planten n. ribwort plantain (var. of 
med. plant) 
plantezon n. planting; planting 
season, time to plant 
plantil n. seedling 
planton n. orderly (hospital); sentry 
plap onomat. plop 
plapla: 
fè ~ to do quickly, do in a jiffy 
plapye, planpye n. sole (of foot), 
plantar surface 
plas n. place, space, room; location; 
seat; job, position; vacancy; town 
square, (public) square; field (for 
crops) 
ala ~ de in place of, instead of 
an ~ in function, in service 
bay ~ to give space to; to seat 
fè ~ to make room 
nan ~ in place of, instead of 
- Dam Place d'Armes, Town 
Square 
~ Lendepandans Independence 
Square (Gonaïves) 
- leta government job 
pran ~ to replace 
rete sou ~ to remain unchanged, 
make no progress 
sou - on the spot 
plasad n. positioning (in dominoes, 
chess etc.) 
plasaj, plasay n. common-law 
marriage; living together (without 
formal marriage), cohabitation 
- debou common-law union or 
visiting relationship where the two 
do not live together 
viv an/nan ~ to live together in a 
common-law union 
Plasakprop.n. Plassac (Dept. 
Artibonite) 
plasanta see plasenta 
Plasanten prop.n., Plasantin 
f.prop.n. inhabitant of Plaisance 
(Dept. North) 
plase v. to contract a common-law 
marriage, live together; to arrange 
a common-law marriage; to put, 
place; to deposit; to invest 
(money); to place (s.o. in a job); to 
be commissioned, be empowered 
li ~ (s)he has a common-law 
spouse 
~ nanm consecration ceremony 
for drum etc. (Voodoo) 
~ nivo common-law wife placed 
to oversee specific plot of land 
plasebo n. [Fr.] placebo 
plasenta, plasanta, plasennta n. 
placenta, afterbirth; cf. manman 
vant 
plasma n. plasma 
plasman n. investment; building 
site, location, lot, plot; placing, 
arrangement; butt, rear end 
plastè n. poultice, (mustard) plaster 
(med.); adhesive tape 
plastifikasyon n. lamination 
plastifye v. to laminate 
plastifyè n. laminator 
plastik, pastil, plastil n./adj. plastic 
operasyon ~ plastic surgery 
plastike v. to laminate 
plastwon n. chestpiece 
plasye n. usher 
plat n. plate, dish (receptacle); 
platter, serving dish; course (of 
food); plaster; plaster cast; v. to 
flatten, deflate (tire etc.); adj. thin, 
emaciated; flat; even, smooth 
(surface); horizontal; shallow 
66<5 
plat - plede 
lanmè a - the tide is out 
nan - li thriving, feeling great 
- atè totally, completely 
~ manje plateful 
- men palm (of hand) 
- pye sole (of foot) 
yon - manje plate of food 
plata v. to wipe out, kill off 
Platana prop.n. Platana (1st 
communal section of Saint-
Michel-de-F Attalaye, Dept. 
Artibonite) 
platatè adj. flat on the ground, 
prostrate 
platbann n. flowerbed; (small) 
vegetable garden; seed plot, 
seedbed, raised plot for seedlings 
in outdoor nursery; strip (of wood) 
platdepari n. plaster of Paris 
platfom n. platform, stand; plain, 
low flatland; coalition; luggage 
rack 
- chèz seat of chair 
- kay ceiling 
- soulye inner sole of shoe 
Platfom prop.n. Plate-Forme (1st 
communal section of 
Bombardopolis, Dept. North-
west) 
plati v. to flatten, even off 
platin n. griddle; platinum 
platinen v. to flatten (s.o.) out, 
pound on, beat on 
platitid n. platitude, cliché, truism 
platman adv. totally, completely 
plato n. flat bread pan; platter, sheet, 
plate, tray; wheel A-frame; 
medical instrument tray; round 
metal plate on an iron rod inserted 
into ground (for Voodoo 
offerings); panful; see platon 
Plato Santralprop.n. Central 
Plateau (parts of Dept. Artibonite 
and Dept. Center; another name 
for Dept. Center) 
platon, plato n. plateau; plain, low 
flat land; flat spot of ground; tray 
(usu. metal) 
Platon prop.n. Platon (3rd 
communal section of Marmelade, 
Dept. Artibonite; disadvantaged 
area of Jérémie, Dept. 
Grand'Anse); Platons (communal 
section of Petit-Goâve, Dept. 
West); Plato (ancient Greek 
philosopher, 4277-347 B.C.) 
fo - Fort des Platons (fortress 
ruins near Les Cayes, Dept. 
South) 
Platon Difrèn prop.n. Platon 
Dufrêne (15th communal section 
of Carrefour, Dept. West) 
platre v. to plaster 
plavant adj. flat on one's stomach, 
face down 
plaw onomat. whack 
play see plaj 
playwoud n. plywood 
- dekoratif paneling 
Plazanten prop.n., Plazantèn 
f.prop.n. inhabitant of Plaisance 
(Dept. North; Dept. Grand'Anse) 
plè v. to please; n. sore, injury; 
wound 
plebisit n. plebiscite 
plebôy n. [Eng.] playboy 
plèd, pledaj, plèdaj, pleday n. 
competition (sports); plea (jur.) 
fè - , leve - to compete (sports) 
pledaj n. contention, dispute 
pledan n. litigant 
plede aux. to persist in, do s.thg. 
continually, do constantly, do 
again and again, keep on doing 
pledè - plenye 
(s.thg.); to insist on (doing s.thg.); 
v. to dispute, plead, argue (a case); 
to implore; to protest (one's 
innocence), deny (charges) 
- pou to defend (s.o.) 
pledè n. litigant 
pledman, plèdman n. discussion; 
quarrel, argument; strife; 
competition; pleading; defense 
(speech), plea 
pledwari, pledwaye, plodari n. 
plea, appeal, defense 
plen adj. full (of); satiated; swollen, 
bloated; covered with; plump; 
cloudy, overcast; v. to fill, fill out; 
to fill up; to give a lot 
an ~ fully 
kè ~ nausea 
~ bol to give a lot 
~ bol (yon moun) to give (s.o.) 
his comeuppance, get (s.o.), fix 
(s.o.) 
~ debode filled to overflowing 
~ kou (yon) ze (lè sezon mayi), ~ 
tankou yon ze filled to the brim; 
in great shape 
~ lanmè ak wôch to attempt an 
impossible task 
~ minwi late at night 
~ ra bouch/gagann filled to the 
brim 
plèn see plenn 
Plènbino see Bino 
Plèndelab prop.n. Plaine-de-1'Arbre 
(1st communal section of Anse-
Rouge, Dept. Artibonite) 
Plèndino see Plenndinè 
Plèndoranje, Plènzoranje prop.n. 
Plaine-d'Orangers (3rd communal 
section of Bombardopolis, Dept. 
North-West) 
plèniche v. to whine, snivel 
Plènkildesak see Kildesak 
plenkwen adj. bothersome, 
annoying 
plenn, plèn n. plain, flatland; 
lowland; v. to pity, feel sorry for; 
to moan, groan; to impregnate 
(animal); adj. pregnant (animal); 
see senti 
an ~ è outdoors [Fr.] 
~ lin full moon 
~ nan kè to suffer in silence 
~ so yon moun to pity s.o. 
Plenn prop.n. [Bible] (Book of) 
Lamentations 
Plènndino, Plèndino prop.n. 
Northern Plain (of Haiti); Plaine-
du-Nord (town in Dept. North 
where mud bath at Basensenjak is 
site of annual Voodoo pilgrimage) 
Plennkildesak see Kildesak 
Plènselès(t) I*prop.n. Plaine-
Céleste I e r (1st communal section 
of Cornillon, Dept. West) 
Plènselès(t) 2 e prop.n. Plaine-
Céleste 2 e (2nd communal section 
of Cornillon, Dept. West) 
plènsenti adj. pregnant (advanced 
state) 
plent n. complaint, charge 
fè (yon) % depoze (yon) pote 
(yon) ~ to lodge a complaint 
plentan n. [Eng.] full-time job 
plentif adj. plaintive 
plenyadè (pronounced: plen-ya-dô) 
n. griper, grumbler, whiner, 
chronic complainer 
plenyan see pleyan 
plenyay, plenyaj (pronounced: 
plen-yay, plen-yaj) n. griping, 
grumbling 
plenye (pronounced: ple-nye) adj. 
[Fr.] plenary 
66<5 
plenyè - plim 
plenyè (pronounced: plen-yè) n. 
plaintiff, victim; complainer, 
whiner; adj. outdoor; cf. pleyan 
plenyen (pronounced: plen-yen) v. 
to complain, lament, moan; n. 
complaint, lament 
Plènzoranje see Plèndoranje 
plerèzfin. mourner 
plerezi see perizi 
plètil, eti, lètil, ti interj. yes? (polite 
reply); I beg your pardon? What 
did you say? 
nan lakou plètil of good manners, 
of good breeding; law-abiding, 
civil, polite 
reponn - to answer present 
plèv n. pleura 
pleyad n. pleiad 
yon - a large number of, a large 
quantity of 
pleyan, plenyan n. plaintiff 
pleyonas n. [Fr.] pleonasm, 
redundancy 
Plezans prop.n. Plaisance - founded 
1784 (Dept. North; 6th communal 
section of Petit-Trou-de-Nippes, 
Dept. Grand'Anse) 
chenn - Plaisance mountain range 
(Dept. North) 
plezante v. to kid, joke 
plezantri n. joke 
plezi n. pleasure, delight, 
amusement, fun; satisfaction; 
party, bash, shindig; trick, 
practical joke; sensual pleasure, 
sexual experience 
bat - sou to make fun of 
fè - to please, content; to satisfy, 
reward 
gen - nan ko li to be good 
company, be witty or amusing 
- solo masturbation 
pran - ak to make love with 
pran - ak/sou to tease, annoy, 
bother; to make fun of 
pran - (li) to enjoy oneself, have 
a good time 
plezire v. to live it up, have a good 
time 
pleziyis, plezyis n. pleasure seeker; 
adj. pleasure-ridden 
pli n. wrinkle, crease, fold, line 
(skin); pleat; curl; habit; flood of, 
avalanch of 
bay yon - makak to thrash, give 
a sound beating 
fè - , mare - to wrinkle, be 
wrinkled 
sèt - (mare) nan fwon, mare kat 
- nan fwon li to frown severely; 
to be angry or upset 
retire - to un wrinkle, smooth out 
plich n. beating 
pliche v. to peel; to beat up; to pull 
out, draw, unsheathe (knife, gun 
etc.); to fork over, hand over; to 
hold in readiness 
plichon see pichon 
plide adv. more than 
plidetwal adj. star-studded 
pligidip pligidip onomat. clippety-
clop (horse trot); cf. plôkôtôp 
plim n. feather; (writing-)pen; fluff, 
down; body hair; pubic hair; 
animal hair, fur; adj. light (weight) 
an - depan see anplimdezwa 
bwa - pen (pej.); penholder 
fè - to develop, prosper, come of 
age 
fèt tout - e ank (a) born writer 
leve/kanpe/moute - sou do to get 
one's hackles up, provoke, arouse, 
inflame 
maladi - kale var. of poultry 
66<5 
plim - pliyan 
disease 
menm - menm plimay one and 
the same 
moute - sou do see leve - sou do 
moute sou - li to take out one's 
pen 
pa fe yon - to come out empty-
handed; not to score 
pase - poul nan zorèy to clean 
one's ears; to open one's mind to; 
to excite, stimulate (intellectually) 
pèdi kèk - to suffer some losses 
- (a) rezèvwa fountain pen 
- divè down 
- fet felt-tipped pen 
- je, - zye eyelash 
~ pa gouye don't move!; you 
could hear a pin drop 
- pou make highlighter, marker 
~ senp straight pen 
pouse - to reach puberty 
pran - to fix up, dress up, get 
fancy 
rale ~ nan twou nen (yon moun) 
to worm information out (of s.o.) 
retire - to shave (woman) 
ti - steel-point pen 
tout ~ tout plimay all kinds, all 
types 
plimaj, plimay n. plumage, 
feathers; appearance, exterior 
characteristics 
pa wete yon - not take away a 
hair, not take away an iota 
tout - all kinds, all types 
plimè n. skirt-chaser, womanizer 
plimen v. to pluck; to do harm to 
(s.o.); to screw, fuck 
plimeyank adj. literate; literary; 
white-collar 
plimitif n. village scribe 
plim je n. eyelash 
bat - li to blink 
rete ak - yo rèd to remain 
illiterate 
plimo n. feather-duster; powder-puff 
Plimout (chenn) prop.n. Plymouth 
mountain range (south-central part 
of Dept. Grand'Anse); Plymouth 
(Massachusetts) 
plinatwè n. writer 
plip(lip) onomat. expression of 
sudden movement 
plirizi see perizi 
pliryalis, pliralis n. [Fr.] pluralism 
pliryèl n./adj. plural 
plis adj./adv. more; most; plus, and; 
conj. in addition to 
an - besides; in excess 
- . . . - the more ... the more 
- pase more than; superior to 
plise v. to fold, crease; to pleat, 
gather; to wrinkle (face, skin); to 
crease, wrinkle (clothes); adj. 
pleated; wrinkled 
pliske adv. more than; see piske 
- jamè more than ever 
pliskepafè n. pluperfect tense [Fr] 
pliskeposib n. maximum 
plit, plout onomat. sound of police-
type whistle 
Plitakprop.n. Plutarch (ancient 
Greek biographer and 
philosopher) 
Pliton prop.n. Pluto 
plitonyèm (pronounced: plito-
nyôm) n. plutonium 
plivye n. plover (bird) 
- dore American golden plover 
(bird) 
- kôt nwa American black-bellied 
plover 
- savann American golden plover 
pliyan adj. folding; pliable, pliant 
66<5 
pliyay - plôtonnen 
pliyay, pliyaj n. folding 
pliye, ploye, plwaye v. to bend; to 
fold (up) 
~ bagaj li to pack one's bags, take 
off, leave 
~ jouk atè to bow low 
~ (kom) an kat to do one's utmost 
plizoumwen(s), plizomwen(s) adv. 
more or less; more or less good 
shape, more or less acceptable/ 
livable 
(sa) ~ more or less OK 
plizyè adj. several, various; quite a 
few; many 
plo see plot 
plodari see pledwari 
plog n. plug, socket, electric outlet; 
plug (male); IUD, intrauterine 
device 
~ femèl female plug 
~ mal, tèt ~ male plug 
plogay n. plugging, connecting; 
skirt-chasing, womanizing 
ploge v. to plug in, connect; to dance 
tightly intertwined; to hug 
plogè n. skirt-chaser, womanizer 
plôk see plop 
plôkôtôp, plokotop onomat. 
clippety-clop (horse trot) 
plon n. lead (metal); bullet, lead 
shot; lead playing-marble; dough, 
bread, moolah, money (fam.); 
filling (dental); plummet, sinker 
(fishing); plumb bob 
fè - gaye to spare no one 
gaye yon - to fire a gun 
lage/vide - sou to shoot at 
liy a ~ plumb line 
- gaye buckshot; broad-spectrum 
san ~ unleaded (gasoline) 
plonbaj n. filling (dental) 
plonbe v. to fill (a tooth); to fortify; 
to weld together; to patch up with 
lead 
plonbri n. plumbing 
plonbye, bès plonbye n. plumber 
plonje v. to plunge, dive; to swoop 
down; to rush to; to dip, immerse; 
to get involved in; to baptize by 
immersion; n. plunge, dive 
~ desann to collapse, cave in, give 
way 
~ je fèmen to plunge blindly 
~ sou to lunge at; to pounce, 
swoop down 
~ tèt kale nan to dive headlong 
into 
plonjè n. diver 
plonjon n. dive (into water); grebe 
(bird) 
gran ~ pied-billed grebe (bird) 
~ fran Antillean grebe (bird) 
ti ~ West Indian grebe (bird) 
plop, plok onomat. plop (to express 
sudden fall) 
ploplop, plop plop, plop plop adv. 
quickly, in no time at all, in a jiffy 
plot, plo n. ball, reel, spool (of 
string, twine etc.); roll (of bandage 
etc.); glob, plug (excrement, 
spittle, phlegm); adj. loose, slack 
(skin) 
ploton, plôton n. platoon, squad 
gaye ~ to break up the group, 
spread out 
plotonad n. small squad 
plôtonay, plotonnay n. mess, 
confusion; mixing together; fusing 
plôtonnen, plotonnen v. to wrap, 
wind, roll up; to assemble, group 
- anba sèt kout kôd to be totally 
tied up, be bound and gagged 
(fig.) ~ ko li to curl (oneself) up; to 
66<5 
plouf! - po 
draw back, shrink back 
plouf, onomat. whack! bam! (sound 
of a blow) 
ploum n. bet, stake 
ala - cockfight where winner 
receives money and losing cock as 
well; losing cock which is thus 
received; quickly, in no time at all 
ploumabè (kok) n. cock with green 
and black wing feathers 
ploup ploup onomat. sound of fetus 
moving in womb 
plout see plit 
plow! onomat. to express sudden 
action 
ploye, plwaye see pliye 
PM abbrev. post meridiem, 
afternoon 
PNA/PNH acron. Polis Nasyonal 
Dayiti (Police Nationale d'Haïti) -
Haitian National Police 
PNUD acron. Pwogram 
Nasyonzini pou Devlopman -
United Nations Program for 
Development 
po n. skin, epidermis; hide, leather; 
covering, peel, shell, rind, husk, 
hull, pod; (gun) shell, cartridge; 
cover (book etc.); bark (tree); pot, 
jug; chamber pot, bedpan; flower-
pot, vase; pitcher; specimen cup; 
adj. unfortunate; empty; see djab 
ak (de) - dèyè li broke, penniless 
anba - hidden 
dôktè - dermatologist 
gwo - good quality fabric; heavy 
expensive suit; one's best 
clothing; well-oif (family) 
maladi ~ dermatology 
maladi - wouj var. of poultry 
disease 
mete (ou) nan ~/plas li to put 
(yourself) in s.o.'s shoes 
pete nan - to explode with anger 
peye - kase (a) to pick up the 
pieces, pay for the damage 
- ak zo skin and bones, emaciated 
- bal cartridge 
- bèt hide, pelt 
- blanch dry skin 
- bouch, - djôl lip 
- danj silk cloth 
- di hardback, bound (book) 
- fen var. of mango 
- figi complexion, face; cheek 
- flè flowerpot, flower vase 
- grenn scrotum 
- je see poje 
- kamyon/machin stripped 
remains of car or truck 
- kanzo, - tèt small earthen or 
china pot containing hair and/or 
nail clippings from living 
Voodooist, representing his/her 
spiritual essence, and placed on 
Voodoo altar of a given temple as 
a sign of adherence 
- kôk foreskin, prepuce 
- kowosôl goose bumps, goose 
pimples, goose flesh 
- lanvè light-skinned 
- li fè ti boul to have goose 
bumps 
- patat mere trifle, small sum (of 
money) 
- pistach "peanuts," "small 
potatoes," insignificant object 
- pou - there is no profit in it 
- rafrechiswa libation pitcher 
(Voodoo) 
~ rèd var. of mango 
- tèt scalp; see ~ kanzo 
- tôti turtle shell 
- ze eggshell 
66<5 
po - Pôdpezyen 
pote ~ kase pou yon moun to pay 
for s.o. else's mistakes, pick up the 
pieces for s.o. else 
pou ~ je, pou ~ patat, pou ~ 
pistach for peanuts, for a mere 
pittance, for almost nothing 
premye ~ epidermis 
rete ak ~ kô li to lose everything, 
be left destitute 
sou ~ dèyè penniless, completely 
broke 
po n. port, harbor; port of entry; 
haven; wharf; pore (of skin) 
~ dam bearing of weapons 
~ drapo flag-bearer 
pran ~ to take shelter (from sea) 
pobab see pwobab 
poban, pwoban n. small bottle, 
small jar, small flask, vial 
bannann ~ inferior var. of 
plantain 
blan ~ poor white trash, red-neck 
poblèm see pwoblèm 
pobouch n. lip 
pèch n. pocket; pack (cigarettes); 
scrotum; pouch; case, small 
container; holster 
enterè ~ personal profit 
gwo ~ hydrocele 
nan ~ yon moun to have s.o. in 
one's pocket, be assured of his/her 
support 
~ bouse, ~ bousèt, ~ gouse, ~ 
gousè, ~ gousèt fob, vest-pocket, 
watch-pocket (cf. bouse) 
~ dèzo bag of waters (in giving 
birth) 
~ grenn scrotum 
- lèt "milk sack" (folk belief) 
~ linèt (eye)glasses case 
~ pi abscess 
~ revolvè holster 
~ san hematoma 
- zam sheath, case, scabbard 
~ ze ovary 
Pochanm prop. n. Pot-de-Chambre 
(1 st communal section of Thiotte 
Dept. South-East) 
pochat adj. variegated, multi-
colored (clothing) 
poche v. to poach (cul.) 
pochen see pwochen 
pochèn see pwochèn 
pôchèt n. small pliable case 
pochri n. pig sty, hog pen 
podenwi (pronounced: pode-nwi), 
podchanm, podnwi n. chamber 
pot, bedpan 
Pôdepè, Pôdpe, Pôdpè prop.n. Port-
de-Paix - founded 1662 
(administrative center of Dept. 
North-West) 
Podepezyen prop.n., Podepezyèn 
f prop.n. inhabitant of Port-de-
Paix (Dept. North-West) 
Podespay prop.n. Port-of-Spain 
(Trinidad) 
podi n. beetle; weevil 
- bouton (gri; nwa) (gray; black) 
blister beetle 
~ fey leaf beetle 
- konkonm (gri; j6n; mawon; 
nwa; vèt) (gray; yellow; brown; 
black; green) cucumber beetle 
~ patat tortoise beetle 
~ piman pepper weevil 
~ pwa bean leaf beetle 
- tè ground beetle 
podjab see podyab 
podjol n. lip 
podjôm see podyôm 
podnwi see podenwi 
Pôdpe, Pôdpè see Pôdepè 
Pôdpezyen prop.n./adj., Pôdpezyèn 
66<5 
podyab- Polin 
f.prop.n. Port-de-Paisien, 
inhabitant of or pertaining to Port-
de-Paix 
podyab, podjab, podyab, pôvdjab, 
pôvdyab n. poor guy! poor devil! 
poor thing! 
podyèm, podjom n. podium 
pof onomat. thump, thud 
pofesè see pwofesè 
pofesyon see pwofesyon 
pofesyonèl see pwofesyonèl 
pofite see pwofite 
poflè n. flower-pot, vase 
pofpôf v. to puff up, blow hard, talk 
big 
pogram see pwogram 
pogrè see pwogrè 
pogrenn n. scrotum 
pogrese see pwogrese 
pogwôm n. pogrom 
poje n. eyelid 
anndan ~ inner side of eyelid 
bat - to blink 
pojè see pwojè 
pojerèd n. hick, hayseed, clod 
pok n. hog, swine, pig - cf. kochon; 
adj. crippled, deformed, withered 
(hand); clumsy, all thumbs 
mete (li) - , mennen toupi nan ~ 
to consent to place one's 
(spinning-)top in a vulnerable 
position (game) 
pokan n. ulcer caused by negative 
magic 
pokè n. poker (card game) 
pôkepik n. porcupine 
poklamasyon see pwoklamasyon 
poklame see pwoklame 
poko, pako, pakô, panko, pankè, 
pokè, pôkô, ponko, ponkô adv. 
not yet, still not; interj. not yet!; 
see ko; patko 
ou - la you don't get it, you don't 
understand 
pokok n. foreskin, prepuce 
pokosyon, pokosyon see 
prekosyon 
pôl n. (electric; magnetic) pole 
- No North Pole 
- Sid South Pole 
Pôl prop.n. Paul 
Pola f.prop.n. Paula 
polarizasyon n. polarization, sharp 
division 
polarize v. to polarize, divide 
sharply 
polè adj. polar 
polemi n. argument, controversy; 
competition 
polemik n. polemic, controversy, 
argument; adj. controversial; 
competitive 
polemis n. polemist 
polenn, polèn n. pollen 
Polèt prop.n. Paulette (Dept. North-
E a s t ) ; P a u l e t t e 
poletè see pwoletè 
poli n. polish; wax; varnish; 
polishing; waxing; varnishing; v. 
to polish; to wax; to varnish; to 
smooth out; adj. polite, kind; 
smooth 
poligam adj. polygamous 
poligami n. polygamy 
poliglèt nJadj. polyglot 
poligèn n. polygon (math.) 
polika TI. scarecrow (cf. jwif) 
poliklinik n. polyclinic 
polikopi n. duplicating; 
mimeo(graph) 
polikopye v. to duplicate, stencil, 
mimeograph 
polikwôm n./adj. polychrome 
Polin f.prop.n. Pauline 
743 
Polinezi - pon 
Polinezi prop.n. P o l y n e s i a 
polinizasyon n. p o l l i n a t i o n 
polinize v. t o p o l l i n a t e 
polinèm n. p o l y n o m i a l (math.) 
polipèd n. p o l y p o d y ( p l a n t ) 
polis n. p o l i c e m a n ; r u r a l d e p u t y 
s h e r i f f , a s s i s t a n t t o a chèf seksyon 
(q.v.) 
~ asirans i n s u r a n c e p o l i c y 
~ bout baton, r u r a l d e p u t y 
s h e r i f f , a s s i s t a n t t o a chèf seksyon 
(q.v.) 
~ kouche s p e e d b u m p 
~ sivil s a m e a s Tonton Makout 
(see makout) 
polisaj n. p o l i s h i n g ( u p ) 
polisye n. p o l i c e m a n ; adj. p o l i c e 
~ abiye u n i f o r m e d p o l i c e m a n 
~ an sivil p l a i n c l o t h e s p o l i c e m a n 
polisyè f.n. p o l i c e w o m a n 
polisyon n. p o l l u t i o n 
politeknik adj. p o l y t e c h n i c 
politeknisyen n. s t u d e n t a t a 
p o l y t e c h n i c i n s t i t u t e 
politès, lapolitès n. p o l i t e n e s s ; 
k i n d n e s s 
politik n. p o l i t i c s ; p o l i t i c a l 
s h e n a n i g a n s ; adj. p o l i t i c a l 
politikman adv. p o l i t i c a l l y 
politisyen npolitisyèn f.n. 
p o l i t i c i a n ; b a d g u y / w o m a n 
politizasyon n. p o l i t i c i z a t i o n , 
p o l i t i c i z i n g 
politize v. t o p o l i t i c i z e 
polivalan adj. [Fr.] p o l y v a l e n t , 
v a r i e d 
poliyestè see polyestè 
polka n. p o l k a 
bon - ak t o g e t a l o n g w e l l w i t h 
Polkowof prop.n. d i s a d v a n t a g e d 
a r e a o f G o n a ï v e s ( D e p t . 
A r t i b o n i t e ) 
polo n. v a r . o f p l a n t a i n ; sports shirt-
p o l o ( s p o r t ) 
Polo prop.n. n i c k n a m e f o r Pôl 
polochot see kolochôt 
pololop n. t r o u b l e , d i f f i c u l t 
s i t u a t i o n ; adj. t r o u b l e d , difficult; 
interj. t o e x p r e s s s u r p r i s e 
pololoy see wololoy 
Polonè prop.n., Polonèzf.prop.n. 
P o l i s h 
Polôy, Lapolôy prop.n. P o l a n d 
Polt (Karye) prop.n. P a u l t r e 
( C a r r i é ) - H a i t i a n - l a n g u a g e 
n o v e l i s t , f o u n d e r a n d ed i to r of the 
m o n t h l y Boukan, a u t h o r o f Tonton 
Liben (1924-1999) 
Polwiprop.n. P o r t L o u i s (Mauritius) 
polyan n. p o l l u t a n t 
polye v. t o p o l l u t e 
polyestè, poliyestè n. p o l y e s t e r 
polyo(melit) n. p o l i o ( m y e l i t i s ) 
pom see ponm 
pomad, ponmad n. p o m a d e ; 
o i n t m e n t , c r e a m , s a l v e 
~ solèy s u n t a n l o t i o n 
Pornago, Mago prop.n. P o r t - M a r g o t 
- founded 1630 ( D e p t . N o r t h ) 
Pomagosyen prop.n., Pomagosyèn 
f prop.n. i n h a b i t a n t o f P o r t - M a r g o t 
( D e p t . N o r t h ) 
pômdetè see ponmdetè 
pômkèt see ponmkèt 
pomkon n. p o p c o r n ; cf. mayi pèpèt 
pomon see poumon 
pomosyon see pwomosyon 
pômtè see ponmdetè 
p o n n. b r i d g e , o v e r p a s s ; ( d e n t a l ) 
b r i d g e ; d e c k 
- anvan f r o n t a x l e 
~ aryè r e a r a x l e 
- baskil d r a w b r i d g e 
- kanson f l y ( o f t r o u s e r s ) ; cf. 
66<5 
Ponbedè - ponnche 
bragèt 
- pantalon fly of trousers 
~ sispandi suspension bridge 
pran nan - to be taken in, be 
deceived, be duped 
Ponbedè, Ponbedèt see Bedè 
ponch n. punch (drink); caudle, 
warm spiced milk with egg and 
sugar 
ponchyanko see kwachyôko 
pondèz f.n. good layer (hen) 
pongongon n. pain in the neck, pest, 
nuisance; impossible problem; 
adj. annoying, disturbing, 
troubling 
pran nan - to be caught in an 
awkward or painful situation 
ponko, ponkô see poko 
ponktyasyon, ponktiyasyon n. 
punctuation 
ponktye v. to punctuate 
ponktyèl adj. punctual; cf. alè 
Ponlanaj prop.n. Pont-Larnage (site 
of assassination of Dessalines, 
later called Pont-Rouge, PaP) 
Ponlestè see Lesté 
ponm, pom n. apple 
fè - to form a head (lettuce, 
cabbage etc.) 
- damou solanum (bot.) 
~ frans apple 
- gagann Adam's apple 
~ kajou cashew-apple 
- kanèl, ~ kannèl, ~ kèbèf, - sik 
var. of sweetsop, sugar-apple 
~ lyann var. of passionfruit 
- malkadi jujube, Chinese date 
- nen point of nose 
- owoz, - èwôz, - woz rose apple 
- sitè otaheite apple 
- zikak coco-plum 
- zonbi manchineel (poisonous 
tree); solanum (bot.) 
sès - applesauce 
ponmad see pomad 
ponmdadan n. Adam's apple 
ponmdetè, pômdetè, pomtè, 
ponmtè n. potato 
pire ~ mashed potatoes 
pouse yon ~ to have a difficult 
time 
- fri French-fried potatoes 
Var. of potatoes found in Haiti are: 
alfa, anita, chiwoki, erèndira, 
kenebèk, merimak, ona, 
ontaryo, patwonès 
ponmen, ponme v. to show off, be 
well dressed; to inflate; to come to 
a full round head (lettuce etc.); 
adj. round and chubby (face); 
swollen 
ponmennen see pwonmennen 
ponmèt n. cheek(s) of face; cf. bè 
figi 
ponmkèt, pèmkèt n. muffin; 
cupcake 
ponmnad see pwomnad 
ponmnen n. schnoz, nose; see 
pwonmennen 
ponmnik n. tuberculosis 
Ponmorenprop.n. Pont Morin 
(bridge near main Teleco building, 
PaP) 
ponmtè see ponmdetè 
ponmzenk adj. fancy 
ponn v. to lay (an egg) 
fè (yon moun) - to deceive; to 
turn the tables on (s.o.), get back 
at (s.o.); to be caught; to 
disappoint; to stand (s.o.) up, fail 
to show up 
ou ~l you are a piece of shit! 
ponnche, ponntye v. to punch 
(time-clock); to hit, jab at, punch 
66<5 
Ponnèf - pontko 
Ponnèf prop.n. Pont-Neuf 
(disadvantaged area of Cape 
Haitian) 
poimtye: 
~ antre to clock in (factory 
worker) 
~ s6ti to clock out (factory 
worker) 
pônografi n. pornography 
pono(grafik) adj. pornographic 
pononse see pwononse 
ponp n. pump; eddy; pomp, 
ceremony 
mèt ~ finèb funeral director, 
undertaker 
~ aspèsyon spraying pump, 
garden sprayer 
~ a woze irrigation pump 
~ dife fire extinguisher 
~ dlo water pump (mach.) 
~ enjeksyon injection pump 
~ finèb funeral home, funeral 
parlor 
~ gaz(olin) gas pump; gas station 
~ nen suction bulb 
~ twalèt plunger 
~ van air pump 
- watè plunger (for clogged toilet, 
drain etc.) 
ponpadô adj. obstinate, stubborn; 
mean, kicking (mule etc.) 
ponpaj n. pumping 
ponpe, pwonpe to pump; to pump 
up, inflate; to pump out; to buck, 
kick, lash out (horse etc.); to jump 
up and down (joy; anger); to hop, 
skip; to romp, play; to well up, 
bubble up, gush forth (water, 
tears); to spring forth; to well up 
(tears) 
~ kou chwal to protest vigorously; 
to be furious 
- lib to have free rein, do as one 
wants; privileged character 
~ sôti to flow out, gush forth, 
squirt out 
Ponpejorop.n. Pompey (Roman 
general and statesman, 106-48 
B.C.) 
ponpeya f.n. prostitute 
Ponpeyi prop.n. Pompeii (Italy) 
Ponpilis (Pradèl) prop.n. Pompilus 
(Pradel) - Haitian scholar (1914-
2000) 
ponpis n. gas-station attendant 
ponpon n. tuft of hair at front of 
head; tassel; lion's-ear (mint) 
ti ~ acalypha (herb or shrub); cf. 
dégonflé 
ponponm n. walk, stroll; pompon 
(feathers, wool) 
ponponnen v. to pet, coddle (s.o.); 
to doll up, fix up, fancy up 
ponpôt see konpot 
ponpye n. firefighter, fireman; fire 
department 
kazèn ~ fire station 
ko ~ fire brigade 
machin - fire engine 
sévis ~ fire department 
Pons see Pilat 
Ponsonde prop.n. Pont-Sondé 
(Dept. Artibonite) 
Pontamaren prop.n. Pont-Tamarin 
(1st communal section of 
Gonaïves, Dept. Artibonite) 
Pontanbou prop.n. Pont-Tambour 
(communual section of Saint-
Marc, Dept. Artibonite) 
ponte adj. decked, having a deck 
(boat) 
pontif n. pontiff 
pontifikal adj. pontifical 
pontko, pontkd see patko 
66<5 
Ponwouj - popilè 
Ponwouj prop.n. Pont-Rouge (site 
of assassination of Dessalines, 17 
October 1806, PaP); see Ponlanaj 
pony n. grip, firm handedness 
ponya, pwaya, pwonya n. dagger; 
loan (at exorbitant interest rate), 
usury; deceitful or underhanded 
person; bastard; bitch 
bay (kout) - to lend money at 
exorbitant interest rate 
(kout) - loan (at exorbitant 
interest rate), usury 
pran (nan) - to borrow money at 
exorbitant interest rate 
ponyade, pwayade v. to stab, knife; 
to lend at exorbitant interest rate 
ponyadè n. knifer, stabber; loan 
shark, usurer, rapacious money-
lender 
ponyen n. handful; v. to grasp, 
clasp, grip, grab 
- (lan)men hearty handshake 
- plim tuft (of feathers) 
ponyèt, pwaye, pwayè, pwayèt n. 
wrist; forearm; upper arm; upper-
arm circumference; strength, 
force; shirt cuff 
an gwo - , gwo ponyètman 
brutally, abusively; arbitrarily; 
high-handedly 
anba - under the thumb/sway/ 
domination of 
bande/gonfle/manche - li to flex 
one's muscle(s); to exert influence 
bwa - forearm; force of one's 
arm, strength 
fè gwo - to use strong-arm tactics 
gen - to have strength, be 
effective 
gonfle - li to flex one's muscle(s); 
to exert influence 
gwo - strong-arm, powerful or 
influential person; despotic, 
overbearing; brutal, abusive; 
arbitrary; high-handed; brutality, 
violence 
gwo zo - humerus 
manche - see bande - li; twouse -
mezi - li within one's means 
moute - to strengthen (magically) 
- chemiz shirt cuff 
se - yon moun ki di li verite it's 
one's physical strength that proves 
one's worth 
twouse - , manche - , touse - to 
roll up one's sleeves (and get to 
work) 
ponyètman: 
gwo - brutally, abusively; 
arbitrarily; high-handedly 
pop, pôp onomat. pop (to express 
sudden action) 
pop n. pop music; adj. informal 
popagann see pwopagann 
popaje see pwopaje 
pope, poupe n. doll; puppet, 
figurehead, stooge 
gwo - Carnival figure 
- frans plastic doll 
- lakomedi puppet 
- magotonn large rag doll 
- pôslèn china doll 
- Rebeka porcelain doll 
- twèl cloth doll; puppet, stooge, 
figurehead 
pèpèt n. [Eng.] puppet 
popilarite n. popularity 
popilarize v. to popularize 
popilas, lapopilas n. mob, rabble; 
crowd 
popilasyon n. population, people 
popilè adj. popular, widespread; 
well-known; popular (of the 
people) 
66<5 
popilis - postal 
popilis n./adj. populist 
pôpkôn n. [Eng.] popcorn; cf. mayi 
pètpèt 
popo n. policeman 
gwo - big shot 
popolo n. big shot 
pôpôt, lapôpôt n. budding end of 
banana or plantain stalk; 'male' 
leaf of breadfruit tree; bread soup; 
trifle, nothing; cry-baby; adj. 
flabby, indolent 
Pôpôt see Kôkôt 
popouri n. mixture, medley; 
ritualistic potion prepared with 
blood of sacrificed animals, sugar, 
spices etc. (Voodoo) 
liv - anthology 
pôpôz see kè ~ 
popoze see pwopoze 
pôpyè, popyè n. eyelid; cf. poje 
popyetè see pwopriyetè 
Pôrapiman see Pôtapiman 
pore adj. porous 
Pôrepiblikenprop.n. Port-
Républicain (name of Port-au-
Prince during Revolutionary 
period) 
porye n. var. of mango 
pôs n. post; military post; police 
station; radio frequency; shop; 
prefix post-
a vôt ~ to your station(s)/post(s) 
(;milit.) 
anvan - military sub-station or 
outpost 
fè - to be on duty, stand guard 
leve - to go off duty 
- kômès, - machann merchants' 
center 
- medikal (avanse), - sekou 
first-aid station 
- radyo radio station 
~ de rasanbleman rally post; 
(informal temporary) clinic 
Pôsali prop.n. Port-Salut -founded 
1784 (Dept. South) 
Pôsaliten prop.n., Pôsalitèn 
f.prop.n. inhabitant of Port-Salut 
(Dept. South) 
pose see pwose 
posede v. to own, possess; to be 
possessed (by a Voodoo spirit); n. 
(person) possessed (by a Voodoo 
spirit); cf. chwal 
posesif adj. possessive (gram.) 
posesis see pwosesis 
poseswa adj. possessory (jur.) 
aksyon - action to take 
possession (of land) (jur.) 
posesyon n. procession; possession 
(property; Voodoo); see 
lapwosesyon 
- moun (whole) procession of 
people, many people 
posèvèbal see pwosèvèbal 
posib adj. possible; adv. possibly 
fè - li to do one's best 
posibilite, posiblite n. possibility 
bay ~ to make possible; to equip, 
outfit 
pôsin adj. porcine 
poskriptôm n. postscript 
pôslèn, pôslenn n. porcelain, 
china(ware) 
Pôsmachan prop.n. Poste-
Marchand (disadvantaged area of 
PaP) 
pôsmodèn adj. postmodern 
posperite see pwosperite 
Pôspyewo prop.n. Poste-Pierrot (4th 
communal section of Petite-
Rivière-de-1'Artibonite, Dept. 
Artibonite) 
postal adj. postal 
66<5 
postât - potasik 
bwat ~ mailbox 
kôd ~ zip code 
postât see pwostat 
poste v. to mail; to post (poster, sign; 
sentry); to position (oneself), 
station (oneself), take up a 
position; to announce, make 
known 
posté n. poster 
pôsteme, posteme v. to wear suit or 
jacket 
postène see pwostènen 
posteryè n. posterior, buttocks; cf. 
dèyè 
posti n. posture 
postila n. postulate 
postile v. [Fr.] to apply for, put in for 
postilè n. (jur.) postulant, applicant 
postim n. pus, discharge 
postitisyon see pwostitisyon 
postiyon n. spray of saliva 
posyon n. potion, dose (med.); 
solution, preparation, mixture 
posyon n. portion, share, part; 
section, segment 
bay ~ pa 1 to allot, allocate 
pot see pote 
pot n. door; doorway, entrance; 
(airport) gate; Watergate, lock, 
sluicegate; pot, jug; adj. wild, 
unruly, untamed 
beny - sponge bath 
bouton ~ doorknob 
devan ~ doorstep, threshold; front 
door; home; in front of s.o.'s 
house or property 
devan ~ tounen dèyè kay drastic 
change of situation, turnabout 
~ basen shower door 
~ de batan double door 
~ (de) sôti exit 
~ devan front door 
~ fenèt French window(s) 
~ gode toothbrush and tumbler 
holder 
~ (a) koulis sliding door 
~ magazen li louvri his/her fly (of 
trousers) is open 
- manto coat hook 
~ papye toilet-paper holder 
~ savon soap dish 
~ sèvyèt towel ring 
~ sèvyèt an longé towel bar 
~ soti exit 
~ sou kote, ~ soulèkote side door 
tou twou ~ keyhole 
potab adj. [Fr.] drinkable, potable 
potab adj. portable; n. cell(ular) 
telephone; laptop computer 
potaflè n. flower vase, flowerpot 
pôtaj n. (small) rack 
potajè, potaje n. rudimentary stove 
made of rocks, cement etc.; small 
kitchen or vegetable garden 
pôtakoulis n. sliding door 
pôtal see potay 
pôtan: 
(byen) ~ healthy, in good shape 
potans see enpôtans 
potansyalite n. potentiality 
potansyalize v. to develop one's 
potential(s) 
potansyèl n./adj. potential 
potanta n. potentate, despot, big 
shot 
Potapiman, Pôrapiman prop.n. 
Port-à-Piment (Dept. South; Dept. 
Artibonite; Dept. North-West) 
Pôtapimantè prop.n., 
PàtSLpimmtèzfprop.n. inhabitant 
of Port-à-Piment (Dept. South) 
potas n. potassium hydroxide, 
caustic potash, lye; var. of mango 
potasik adj. potassic 
66<5 
potasyôm - pote 
potasyèm n. potassium 
pôtatif adj. portable 
pètavyon n. aircraft carrier 
potawo n. water jug 
pôtay, pôtal n. portal, gate, barrier, 
entrance 
(kondi) mete lètbô - to ban, send 
away, exile 
Pôtay prop.n.: 
~ Gèp Portail-Guêpe (northern 
entrance to Saint-Marc, Dept. 
Artibonite) 
- Leyogàn Portail-Léogâne (near 
southern entrance of Boulevard 
Jean-Jacques Dessalines - PaP) 
- Monwi Portail-Montrouis 
(southern entrance to Saint-Marc, 
Dept. Artibonite) 
- Pivè Portail-Pivert (eastern 
entrance to Saint-Marc, Dept. 
Artibonite) 
- Sen-Jozèf Portail-Saint-Joseph 
(near northern entrance of 
Boulevard Jean-Jacques 
Dessalines, PaP) 
potbagaj n. luggage rack, luggage 
carrier 
pètbouji, potchandèl n. 
candlestick, candleholder 
potchanm n. chamber pot, bedpan 
Potchanmprop.n. Pot-de-Chambre 
(Dept. South-East) 
potchay n. luggage rack; bicycle 
rack; tailgate (truck, jeep); rear-
end, buttocks 
pètdrapo n. flag-bearer; standard-
bearer 
moun ki (ka) - nan madigra 
loser, failure, wash-out 
pote, pot v. to carry, bear, bring, 
take, transport; to forebear, 
endure; to affect, strike (sickness); 
66<5 to wear (clothes, glasses, hearing-
aid); to have (beard, mustache); n. 
range, scope, reach 
bay - (chay) to put the blame on 
s.o. else 
pa - anyen to have no results, be 
fruitless 
pa - kanson karabela pou bel 
twèl to be a man of courage, be a 
real man, be a he-man 
pa - wôb karabela pou bèl twèl 
to be a woman of courage, be a 
real woman, be a hell of a woman 
- ale to carry away, carry off, 
remove; to take out; to denounce, 
betray; to steal; to fire (s.o.); to get 
rid of (s.o.), do away with (s.o.); 
to kill 
- ale desann to flood 
- ale - mennen/vini to spread 
gossip; to act as a mediator 
- anba tè to put under, finish off, 
kill 
- bay to deliver; to bring to, take 
to 
- bol ble to beg 
- boure to rush forward; to 
support, back up; groundswell, 
gathering (of forces) 
- boure ak to work in cahoots 
with, work closely with 
- boure sou to oppose, organize 
against, confront 
- chat bay makou to be asking 
for trouble 
- chay to accept responsibility 
- fwi to bear fruit, come to 
fruition 
- kole to cooperate, work 
together; n. joint endeavor 
- labànye to excel 
- lamenfot to assist, help 
pote - poto 
~ mak to bear a scar 
- moute to carry up, bring up 
-nan men to take care of, protect 
- nan tèt to disturb, upset 
- non pou nouvèl to be an 
innocent victim 
- rad to wear clothes 
- sou to border on, be almost; to 
be partial, be biased toward; to be 
tilted toward 
- tèt li vini to turn oneself in (to 
police etc.) 
- tounen to return, bring back, 
take back 
- vini to bring (forth); imported, 
foreign 
~ (yon moun) nan tèt to admire 
(s.o.) 
si li pa - li ap trennen if it's not 
one thing it's another 
pote n. impact, bearing; range, 
scope; litter (puppies, kittens etc.); 
staff (music notation) 
pôtè n. porter, bearer, carrier 
~ dla lèt gossiper 
potèj see pwotèj 
poteje see pwoteje 
potèk see ipotèk 
poteke see ipoteke 
potekole v. to cooperate, work 
together; n. joint endeavor 
poteksyon see pwoteksyon 
poten n. cast iron 
Pôtespayprop.n. Port-of-Spain 
(Trinidad and Tobago) 
potestan see pwotestan 
potestantis see pwotestantis 
potestasyon see pwotestasyon 
poteste see pwoteste 
potèt n. scalp; see po kanzo 
potètsa see poutètsa 
poteyin see pwoteyin 
pôtfèy n. [Fr] wallet, billfold (cf. 
bous); portfolio; two-handled 
basket 
minis san - minister without 
portfolio 
pôtgoj n. brassiere 
potgrèf n. stake (for supporting 
young plant etc.) 
potich n. [iV.] (earthenware) pitcher 
or jug 
Pôtigal prop.n. Portugal 
Pôtigèprop.n./adj., Pôtigèz fprop.n. 
Portuguese 
potinis see opètinis 
potiwon: 
gwo ~ var. of gourd or pumpkin 
pôtkle n. key ring 
potko see patko 
potkrèm n. creamer 
pètkrich n. stand or cabinet for 
earthenware water jug 
pôtle, potle adj. strong, in good 
shape 
pôtlèy v. to keep an eye on, watch 
potliv n. bookend 
pôtmanto n. coat rack; garment bag; 
cloak-room 
potmonè, pôtmonnen n. coin-purse 
Potno prop.n. Poteneau (1st 
communal section of Grande-
Saline, Dept. Artibonite) 
poto 7i. pillar, post; pole, stake; 
mainspring (of an enterprise), 
pivot 
bay ~ to stand (s.o.) up, not 
appear for a pre-arranged meeting 
jwenn % pran ~ to be stood up, 
be left standing at the gate 
- kan goalpost 
- kwen cornerpost 
- limyè, - elektrik streetlight, 
streetlamp 
66<5 
poto - pou 
- mitan ritual centerpost of 
Voodoo peristyle - termed a nexus 
between spheres of the natural and 
the supernatural; centerpost, 
central pillar; backbone, mainstay, 
chief support; key man; same as 
Tonton Makout (see makout) 
Other terms for a Voodoo 
centerpost are: ~ Danbala, ~ 
demanbre, ~ gad, ~ kabès, -
kontra, - Legba, - mèt, ~ 
paviyon, - pewon, ~ tèt, - zen 
pran - see jwenn -
Poto prop.n. Les Poteaux (3rd 
communal section of Gonaïves, 
Dept. Artibonite) 
potokol, pwotokol n. snobbishness, 
conceit; protocol; ceremony, 
formalities, etiquette; way of 
doing things, routine; dignitary 
(fam.); high authorities (fam.) 
kenbe - to maintain one's dignity 
- dako formal agreement 
san - unpretentious, laid back 
Pôtokrim prop.n. Port-aux-Crimes 
(pej. name for Port-au-Prince) 
Potonovoprop.n. Porto-Novo (Benin) 
potop potop onomat. noise made by 
a boiling liquid 
fè - to boil 
Potoprens prop.n. Port-au-Prince -
founded 1749 (capital of Haiti, 
Dept. West) 
Gran - Greater Port-au-Prince 
Potoprensyen prop, n./adj., 
Pôtoprensyèn f.prop.n. Port-au-
Princian 
potorik gason n. big husky man, 
rugged, sturdy, hefty man; 
outstanding man 
Potorikenprop.n./adj., Pôtorikèn 
f.prop.n. Puerto Rican 
Pôtoriko prop.n. Puerto Rico 
potovi see pedexi 
pôtpawôl n. spokesman, 
spokesperson, press secretary 
potplim n. penholder 
potpôt n. Atlantic bumper (fish) 
potray, pwatray n. breadth of 
shoulders; breast, chest (person; 
horse); size; adj. big, strong, virile 
gason ~ barrel-chested guy 
pôtre, pôtrè n. portrait, drawing, 
illustration; photo, picture; 
figurehead, person of no 
importance; scarecrow; v. to be 
like, resemble; conj. like 
fè ~ to take or draw a picture; to 
describe 
~ sa ki sôti anba bouch bèf very 
rumpled, very wrinkled (clothing) 
tire - to take a picture; to draw aI 
the portrait of; to describe; to pose 
for a picture 
pôtrèl n. enclosure, pen, fenced-in 
area 
potri n. pottery, earthenware 
pot sèvyèt n. towel-rack 
pot sewôm n. intravenous pole, IV 
pole 
pot tep n. tape dispenser 
potvwa n. megaphone; loud-speaker 
(esp. on trucks etc.); 
spokesperson; blabbermouth, 
indiscreet person 
potwon adj. fearful, scared 
potye n. potter 
pôtye n. doorman, doorkeeper; 
bellboy 
potyè adj. port, harbor 
pou n. louse (pl.: lice); pulse; to 
express necessity or obligation; v. 
to belong to; conj. in order to, in 
order that, so that; prep, for; until; 
66<5 
on behalf of; per; possessive 
indicator; see ko 
gen ~ to have to, must 
- bwa giant termite 
- di so to speak, would you say 
that... 
sound of train whistle 
- sa because of that, for that 
reason 
- ti sak chafer beetle 
se ~ it is necessary 
Var. of lice: ~ blanch, ~ nwa 
poubèl n. trash basket, wastebasket; 
garbage can, trash can 
poubwa n. tip, gratuity 
pouch n. cat; onomat. to express 
sudden action 
~ ~ in the blink of an eye 
ti ~ kitten; sweetie 
pouchè dwôg n. [Eng.] drug pusher; 
cf. dilè 
pouchon: 
ti ~ dude; fat cat, wealthy man; 
old guy who looks and acts young 
poud n. powder; gunpowder; 
ammunition; magic powder 
(Voodoo); cocaine (fam.); adj. 
brittle 
an ~ powdered 
fè ... fè ~ to grind, crush, pulverize 
jete ~ nan je see voye ~ nan je 
kafe an kafe ground coffee; 
instant coffee 
kout ~ use of magical powder to 
harm s.o. (Voodoo) 
~ a pat baking powder 
~ bal gunpowder 
~ bwa termite; termite shavings 
~ dakte remedy for skin rash 
~ desounen powder that causes 
(s.o.) to lose emotional control 
~ detal talcum powder 
pou - poudriyè 
~ (e)levasyon, - elvasyon baking 
powder; yeast powder 
~ fôk ou vie, - fôvle, ~ fôwvle 
magic love potion (Voodoo) 
- jôn flè pollen 
- kafe little bit of money 
~ kafe, kafe an - ground coffee; 
instant coffee 
- lanmo see ~ mo 
~ lèt powdered milk 
~ mache prese magic powder 
~ majik curative powder against 
maladi lèzom (^.v.) 
~ mayi ground roasted corn 
~ mô, ~ lanmo, ^ lôj, ~ 
mechanste, ~ mod, ~ sen 
Vewonik powders meant to cast 
an evil spell and/or inflict bodily 
harm 
- piman chili powder; paprika 
- ri face powder, toilet powder 
- wanga magic powder (Voodoo) 
ti - heroin 
voye ~ to throw noxious powder 
on s.o. (to cause itching) 
voye ~ nan je, jete ~ nan je to 
pull the wool over s.o.'s eyes, 
deceive, blind, fool 
poudayè conj. moreover, 
furthermore, besides 
poudbwa, koudbwa, poulbwa, 
poutbwa n. termite 
poudin, pouding n. pudding 
- pen bread pudding 
poudre v. to powder, put on powder 
tou ~ raring to go, eager, 
enthusiastic 
poudriye n. powder box, compact 
(for cosmetics); dressing table, 
vanity 
poudriyè, lapoudriyè n. powder 
magazine; powder keg 
66<5 
pouf - poul 
pouf adj. flabby, soft; bloated, 
pufïy; swollen; onomat. to express 
sudden action; sound of air 
escaping 
figi ~ kou figi chat round-faced 
— sound of simmering food 
pouki adv. why 
poukipa adv. why not 
poukisa adv. why 
poukont see kont 
poul n. chicken, hen; cock (in 
cockfighting); s.o. who goes to 
bed very early; cheating; pulse; 
clue (to riddle or question); 
division of teams, conference 
(sports); adj. sorry, lousy, not very 
good; pron. oneself 
bay ~ to slip s.o. the answer (on 
an exam); to put words into s.o.'s 
mouth 
chape ~ li, mache ~ to fly the 
coop, slip away, take to one's 
heels 
depi ti ~ t ap fè dan from the far 
distant past, from long long ago 
lè manman ~ la kale when the 
lottery number is drawn; when 
things work out, when times are 
good 
lè (ti) - fè/pouse dan when hell 
freezes over 
mache ~ see chape ~ li 
manman ~ hen; coward 
mouri - li to calm down; to make 
oneself inconspicuous 
mouye ~ ou!, mouri ~ ou! cool it! 
calm down! 
pase ~ ritual contact with bird 
about to be sacrificed (Voodoo) -
not to be confused with vantaye 
(q.v.); to brush a live chicken 
against one's body to cure 
sickness (Voodoo) 
~ benezwèl see benezwèl 
~ bèl plump chicken 
~ bwa see poudbwa 
~ dlo coot, gallinule, marsh hen 
(bird) 
~ dlo dore northern jacana (bird) 
~ dlo jidèl American coot (bird) 
~ dlo tèt blan Caribbean coot 
(bird) 
~ dlo tèt ble purple gallinule 
(bird) 
- dlo tèt wouj Antillean gallinule 
(bird) 
~ etranje var. of large chicken 
~ grimèl white chicken 
~ gwo ras imported chicken 
~ kaye hen of two colors 
~ kayèt chicken with permanently 
ruffled feathers 
~ letan var. of bird 
~ mouri listless or lackluster 
person 
~ moute bwa dusk, twilight 
~ mouye coward, chicken 
~ ogèy chicken which has died of 
natural causes (rather than let 
itself be killed) 
- pent mottled or speckled 
chicken 
~ peyi var. of small chicken 
~ pou grann malfini pou grann 
it's all the same, it's all related; no 
harm done (cf. bèf pou wa 
savann pou wa) 
~ savann Hispaniolan thick-knee 
(bird) 
- siltàn var. of rail or coot (bird) 
~ sou chay innocent onlooker, s.o. 
who minds his/her own business 
- zenga speckled or spotted 
chicken 
66<5 
poul- pous 
pran ~ to copy, cheat (on exam); 
to imitate 
pye - drumstick (of chicken) 
se - kay she belongs here 
se - li ye to go to bed with the 
chickens (i.e., early) 
sèvèl ~ birdbrain 
ti - chick; clue, (helpful) hint 
ti - dèyè manman small fry, 
small potatoes, nonentity 
Other var. of chicken: ~ awoma, ~ 
bed/nezwèl, - bedezwè, - blan, ~ 
blan nèt, ~ djim, ~ gri, - kannèl, 
~ karèt, ~ nwa, ~ senis, ~ twa 
plim, ~ wouj, ~ wouj nèt 
poulajoli, pouljoli n. limpkin (bird) 
poulaplibèl adv. all the more (so) 
poulaye n. chicken-coop, hen-
house; "peanut gallery" (of 
theater); disorderly school, "zoo" 
poulbwa see poudbwa 
poulè n. chicken (in supermarket or 
restaurant) 
poulen n. colt, stallion, foal; 
protégé, favorite, pet 
gwo ~ lady-killer, seducer, Don 
Juan; macho 
poulèt f.n. pullet; chick, young girl 
(fam.) 
Ti Poulèt Sove traditional 
children's song 
pouli n. pulley; v-belt pulley (mach.) 
poulich TI. foal; filly (horse); chick, 
attractive woman 
poulin TI. chicken droppings or 
excrement 
pouljoli see poulajoli 
poulovè 72. [Fr.] sweater 
poulpoul n. poultry flea 
fè ~ to swarm, teem, be everywhere 
poum, pounm n. fart; onomat. 
boom! pow! bang! 
fè ~ to fart 
poumon, pomon n. lung; adj. 
pulmonary 
pounyak see pouyak 
poup n. purple (color); cf. mov 
poup! poup! poup! onomat. putt! 
putt! putt! (sound of boat motor 
etc.); fluttering of birds' wings 
poupale n. [Fr.] talks, negotiations, 
discussions 
poupe see pope 
Poupla (avni) prop.n. Avenue Jules 
Poupelard (downtown PaP, near 
Avenue John Brown/Lalue) 
pouplin 72. poplin (fabric) 
poupou n. poopoo, poop, stool, 
dung; v. to poop, have a stool, 
defecate 
fè ale ~ to have a stool, defecate 
~ bèt fertilizer, manure 
- dlo watery stool; to have watery 
stools 
~ san bloody stool; to have bloody 
stools 
poupoul: 
maladi ~ var. of poultry disease 
poupye see koupye 
pouri v. to rot, spoil, decay; to 
corrupt; adj. used (up), worn 
(out); rotten, spoiled, corrupted; 
infested 
pourisman n. rotting, decay 
pouriti, lapouriti n. rotting, rot, 
decay; rotten person 
pouryanis, pouriyanis, pouyanis n. 
irresponsible person; happy-go-
lucky 
pouryen adj. neutral, impartial, 
uninvolved; adv. for nothing; n. 
care-free person; retired thief (fam.) 
pous TI. thumb; inch; shoot, sprout, 
bud, young leaf 
66<5 
pousad - poutèt 
gwo ~ thumb; uninvolved 
maladi ~ var. of poultry disease 
manje gwo ~ to regret 
pousad n. push, shove 
pousade v. to push, shove 
(repeatedly or violently) 
pousan n. percent, percentage 
pousantay, pousantaj n. 
percent(age) 
pouse v. to grow, sprout; to grow up; 
to push, shove; to push away, 
chase away, repel; to bear down; 
to encourage, incite, urge on; to 
pressure; to develop; to continue 
(studies); to move a piece forward 
(checkers etc.); n. push; voluntary 
contraction (while giving birth); 
urge to defecate; bewitchment, 
bedevilment, evil temptation, evil 
voice; adj. advanced 
~ ale to push away 
~ bèl son to say nice words 
~ bourik li (pou) pi devan to 
head on further 
~ desann to push down 
- devan to follow behind (a 
donkey etc.); to challenge (s.o. to 
do s.thg.) 
~ dife to incite, instigate, sow 
dissension 
- do (mete deyô) to push out, 
chase away, expel 
- ko li to strut about, show off 
~ kou djondjon to sprout like 
mushrooms, grow like wild 
flowers 
~ manje to eat 
~ mete deyô to drive out 
~ moute to push ahead, promote, 
advance; to do push-ups 
- pitit to give birth, deliver; to 
breed like flies 
~ (pou) pi devan to make 
progress, get ahead (in life) 
~ son to put forth words, speak 
~ sôti to eject 
~ yon kri/rèl to utter a cry 
~ yon lafimen to puff on a 
cigarette etc. 
pousè n. herdsman (who leads cattle 
to market - cf. mawoule) 
pousèdife n. instigator; 
troublemaker 
pousèt n. baby carriage; stroller (for 
small child); shopping cart 
(supermarket) 
pousib, pousiv, pouswi, pouswiv v. 
to pursue, chase; to follow (up), 
continue; to persecute; to 
challenge (in court etc.); to bother, 
annoy 
pouso n. hog, swine, pig 
poustabak see boustabak 
pouswi, pouswiv see pousib 
pouswit n. pursuit; (legal) 
proceedings (jur.) 
pousyè n. dust; see lapousyè 
kouche ~ to settle/keep down the 
dust 
~ bwa sawdust 
ti - lajan chicken feed, trifling 
amount of money 
voye ~ agitation, tumult 
yon ti ~ an insignficant amount of 
pout see lagrannpout 
poutan adv. however, nevertheless, 
yet, still 
poutbwa see poudbwa 
poutch n. putsch 
poutchis n./adj. putschist 
poutèt conj. because (of), as a result 
(of), due to; for the sake of, for 
(the) love of; see tèt 
- pou in order to, so that 
66<5 
poutètsa - pozè 
poutètsa, potètsa adv. thus 
pouvi(ke) conj. [Fr.] provided that 
pouvwa n. power, authority; means, 
capability 
gen tout ~ to be all-powerful 
pouvwayè n. [Fr.] supplier, provider 
pouyak, pounyak n. var. of plantain 
pouyanis see pouryanis 
pôv n./adj. poor, impoverished, 
needy; unfortunate; n. poor/needy 
person; beggar 
m se lacharite ~ I'm reduced to 
begging 
~ djab! poor guy/gal! poor thing! 
poor devil! 
- malere/mizerab poor suffering 
soul 
sitèlman ~ li pa ka achte yon 
marinad poor as a church mouse, 
dirt poor 
povant n. midriff; belly 
povdjab, pôvdyab see podjab 
povèb see pwovèb 
povizyon see pwovizyon 
pôvrete, lapôvrete, povrete, pôvte 
n. poverty; cf. mizè 
pow! onomat. pow! bang! 
powèm, pwèm n. poem 
powèt, pwèt n. poet 
vil ~ "city of poets," Jeremy 
(Dept. Grand'Anse) 
powètès, pwètès f.n. poetess 
powetik, pwetik adj. poetic; n. 
poetics 
powezi, poyezi, pwezi n. poetry, 
poem 
powo, pwawo n. leek; scallion 
powouj n. Red Skin (notpej.), 
Indian 
powozite n. porosity 
pôy n. butt (cigarette, cigar); 
"roach," butt end of marijuana 
cigarette; core, central part (of 
boil); slut; equal, match; young 
rooster; last part of milk obtained 
from cow 
fè ~ to compete 
poyezi see powezi 
pôz n. bearing, appearance, attitude; 
pose (for photo); pretension; 
pause, break, rest, time-out; rest 
(music) 
anba ~ next (in turn) to the player 
blocking a domino game 
fè ~ to take a break 
gen yon ~ to have an air of, act as if 
pran ~ to pretend (to be), act as if, 
feign 
pran ~ granmoun to act in an 
adult fashion 
pran ~ sou to take on an air of 
superiority with, act uppity with 
pran ~ timoun to act childishly 
pran ~ yon moun fou pou pa 
peye dwa to act dumb 
pran yon ~ to take a break, take 
time out 
poze v. to rest, pause, take a break; 
to alight, perch on, come to rest 
on; to touch down, land (airplane); 
to place, put, set; to be at ease, be 
at rest; to ask (question); to pose 
(a problem); to put on airs, act 
uppity; to settle (liquid); adj. calm, 
sober 
fè/pran yon ti - to take a little 
rest 
- dèyè li to have a seat, sit down 
~ men laying on of hands 
~ pye to camp out 
- san li, - kô li, - tèt li to relax, 
calm down 
- yon kèsyon to ask a question 
pozè: 
66<5 
pozisyon - pran 
~ (de) bonm bomb terrorist 
pozisyon n. place, spot, site; 
position; point of view, opinion 
fè ~ to settle down, find a mate 
san ~ restless, fidgety; anxious; 
excited 
pozisyonnen, pozisyone v. to 
position, situate 
pozitif, pozitiv adj. positive; interj. 
you bet! definitely! 
~ pozitori I receive you well 
(Citizens' Band radio jargon) 
pozitivman adv. positively; 
affirmatively 
pozmèt n. light-meter 
pra, prat sh. form pratik regular 
customer; regular dealer 
Prag prop.n. Prague (Czech 
Republic) 
pragmatik adj. pragmatic, realistic 
pral, prale, pwal, pwale v. to be 
going (to) (usu. followed either by 
n. or by v.); to be dying 
pran v. to take, get; to seize, capture, 
grab, snare; to catch; to receive 
(blow, hit etc.); to possess; to eat; 
to receive, accept; to hit; to get to, 
reach; to start to, begin to; to 
arrive; to be trapped, be stuck; to 
contain, hold; to be in trouble, 
have troubles, have problems; to 
steal; to trap; to succeed, go, 
work; to catch on, become 
popular; to fool, trick; to answer, 
retort; to get back at, get even 
with; to consider as; to take root; 
to stay alive, take hold (plant); to 
be in full gear, be in full swing; to 
light (fire); to make love with; 
prep, from (in expressions of time) 
kan li ~ li konnen it's only when 
one gets into s.thg. that one knows 
what it's like, only experience will 
tell 
Kisa k i te~ ou? What came over 
you? What could you possibly 
have been thinking of? 
mache ~ yo to launch an offensive 
M ap ~ ou! I'll get you! I'll fix 
you! 
ou ~! you're in for it! you're in 
trouble! 
pa ~ invulnerable 
~ agôch ale adwat from left to 
right 
- ak de bra to welcome with open 
arms; to face with courage 
~ an chaj pou to assume 
responsibility for, take care of 
(debts etc.) 
~ an men to assume 
responsibility, take charge 
~ anba to quarrel with 
~ anwo desann anba from top to 
bottom 
- (bo) kote to take after, resemble 
(temperament or looks) 
- chenn to get into a routine 
- daso to (take by) storm; to gate-
crash, sneak in 
- devan to precede, go ahead (of); 
to take the lead, get ahead; to sit in 
front (of vehicle); to prevent 
- dlo to run away 
- fen to come to an end, come to a 
close; to fall due 
- ka to pay attention to; to take 
care of - kote see ~ (bo) kote 
- men (li) to get in line, shape up, 
pull oneself together 
~ nan to be entangled in, 
enmeshed in; to be taken in by, be 
misled by; to give in to 
66<5 
pran - pre 
- nan men to catch red-handed; to 
assume responsibility, take charge 
- nan presyon to give in to 
pressure 
- nan... rive nan from... to, 
beginning with... all the way to 
- nan si m te konnen to be 
caught unawares, be caught off 
guard 
- non to register, inscribe 
- nouvèl la to hear the news, 
receive word, hear from 
- pa li to take one's side, side with 
s.o., come to s.o.'s defense 
- pa (nan) to participate (in); to 
believe, go along with; to 
associate with 
~ peyi a to take the country by 
storm, become very popular 
~ pou to start to, get into; to favor, 
advantage; to side with, defend 
~ pou li to take over, occupy 
~ prizon to go to jail; to do time 
in jail 
~ (sa ki pa pou ou) to steal 
~ sa li pa mete to grab what does 
not belong to one, seize 
unlawfully 
~ sou to dock, withhold from 
(one's pay) 
~... sou plan to entrap, seduce 
~ tabak to use snuff 
~ tan to take time, go slowly 
~ tout to monopolize 
- tout bon to be in trouble 
~ yon moun to do (s.o.) in, kill 
(Voodoo) 
~ (yon moun) mennen ale to lead 
(s.o.) off, take (s.o.) away 
~ (yon moun) pou to mistake 
(s.o.) for; to get back at (s.o.), get 
even with (s.o.) 
sa li ~ se pa li to suffer the 
consequences of one's actions, get 
one's just deserts 
prat see pra 
pratik n. client, regular customer; 
clientele; regular dealer; practice, 
customary way; practice, tradition; 
adj. practical; convenient; 
pragmatic 
fè ~ to practice; to put into 
practice; to gain a customer 
fè - ak to deal regularly with 
mete an ~ to put into practice; to 
carry out 
pèdi ~ to be out of practice, be rusty 
pran ~ to subscribe to; to deal 
regularly with 
pratikan n. church-goer (of 
whatever religion); frequenter 
pratike v. to practice, play; to 
practice, exercise (a profession); 
to put into practice, actually do; to 
do (habitually) 
pratikman adv. practically, almost; 
for all practical purposes 
pray, apray (N.) var. pral, apral 
praymè n. [Eng.] primer, undercoat 
of paint 
Prays Mas (Jan) prop.n. Price-
Mars (Jean) - Haitian intellectual 
leader, author of So Spoke the 
Uncle (1876-1969) 
pre adv. near, nearby; prep, near, 
close to; adj. ready; prefix pre-
de ~ closely 
pa ni de - ni de lwen not at all, 
nothing like that 
- pou to be almost ready (to do 
s.thg.), be about to, be on the point 
of 
tou ~ quite near, nearby, quite 
close, around the corner 
66<5 
prè - prentè 
prè n. [Fr.] loan; prep, assigned to 
(jur.) 
prèch n. sermon, preaching 
fè ~ to preach 
preche v. to preach; to reprimand 
~ nan dezè to talk to deaf ears 
predatè n. predator 
Predayeprop.n. Prédailler (area of 
PaP off of Delmas 33) 
prède adv. [Fr.] nearly 
predesesè n. predecessor 
predezas: 
sévis ~ disaster prevention service 
predi v. to predict, foresee, foretell 
predikasyon n. preaching, sermon 
predîkatè n. preacher; aide to a 
Protestant minister, lay preacher 
prediksyon n. prediction, prophecy; 
forecast 
prefabrikasyon n. préfabrication 
prefabrike v. to prefabricate; adj. 
ready-made 
prefak adj. pre-university 
prefas n. preface; preamble 
prefè n. prefect (representative of 
the government in a given district) 
~ disiplin assistant principal 
prefekti n. prefecture 
preferab adj. [Fr.] preferable 
preferans n. preference, choice 
de ~ preferably 
preferansyèl adj. preferential 
prefere v. to prefer; cf. pito 
prefiks n. prefix 
prejije, prejidis n. prejudice, 
discrimination (cf patipri); adj. 
prejudicial 
fè ~ ak/kont to discriminate 
against 
prekè adj. [Fr.] precarious 
prekisè n. precursor 
prekosyon, pekosyon, pokosyon, 
pokosyon n. precaution, 
prudence, foresight; preventive 
measure(s) 
fè ~ to take precautions 
prela, pwela n. canvas, oilcloth, 
tarp(aulin); prelate 
gwo - bigwig, big shot, VIP 
prelèvman n. deduction, levy 
preliminè n. beginner, novice; adj. 
preliminary; elementary 
premis n. first-fruits, first-born 
premolè n. premolar 
premye, prenmye n. inner sole 
(shoe) 
premye, lapremye, prenmye n./adj. 
first, initial; eldest; first gear 
an ~ first (in order) 
bwat ~ swen first-aid kit 
~ minis prime minister 
~ swen first-aid 
premyèman adv. firstly, first of all; 
primarily 
prenè n. buyer; tobacco chewer 
prenga(d) see prigad 
prenmye, prenmyè see premye 
prennfèpa see pwennfèpa 
prenon n. [Fr.] first name, Christian 
name; cf. non 
prens n. prince 
prensès f.n. princess 
prensip n. principle, guideline; 
precept; morals, conduct; habit, 
custom 
prensipal n. principal, capital, sum; 
adj. principal, chief, major, main 
prensipalman adv. principally 
prent see pwent 
prentan n. spring(time); rainy 
season; acacia 
prentànye adj. spring(-like) 
prente see pwente 
prentè n. [Eng.] (computer) printer 
66<5 
preparasyon - presto 
preparasyon n. preparation; cooked 
food 
preparatè n. preparer 
preparatifpl.n. preparations 
preparatvva adj. preparatory 
- en first grade 
~ de second grade 
prepare v. to prepare; to get ready; 
adj. ready; see pare 
prepoze n. tax collector; official, 
officer; publican [Bible] 
prepozisyoii n. preposition {gram.) 
preri n. meadow 
près n. press, media; printing press; 
weight, press; pressing (of 
clothes); vise, clamp, c-clamp; see 
prèske 
~ zoranj orange juicer 
presan adj. pressing, urgent 
presantiman n. premonition 
presbit adj. farsighted, presbyopic 
presbitè n. presbytery, rectory, 
parsonage 
presbiteral adj. presbyterial, 
church-related 
presbiteryen, prezbiteryen nJadj. 
Presbyterian 
presbiteryôm n. presbyterium 
prese v. to hurry (up), rush, be in a 
hurry or rush; to do (s.thg.) 
quickly; to hurry or rush (s.o.); to 
press (clothes; manioc); n. hurry, 
rush; adj. urgent; adv. hurriedly 
fe ~ to hurry, rush 
mete mache ~ nan ko yon moun 
to spur on/rush s.o. 
~ desann to rush down; to get off/ 
down quickly 
~ ~ quickly, right away; extremely 
urgent 
san ~ at leisure, in no rush 
presedan n. (jur.) precedent, prior 
instance; adj. preceding, previous 
presede v. [Fr.] to precede, come 
before (gram, esp.) 
presèp n. [Fr.] precept 
preseptè see pèseptè 
presi adj. precise, exact 
presipis n. precipice, cliff 
presipitasyon n. precipitation 
presipite v. to precipitate, hasten; n. 
Voodoo substance to force s.o. to 
do s.thg. quickly 
presize v. to specify, make clear 
presizeman adv. [Fr.] precisely, 
exactly 
presizyon n. precision; further 
explanation 
mete ~ sou, pote ~ (sou) to 
clarify, make clear, specify 
prèske, près adv. almost, nearly, 
about 
~ jamè, ~ pa janm seldom, hardly 
ever 
~ pa hardly 
preskil, prèskil n. peninsula 
preskolè adj. pre-school; n. 
kindergarten 
preskri v. to prescribe; to 
recommend 
preskripsyon n. prescription (med.); 
recommendation; legal claim (usu. 
to land) 
prestans n. imposing bearing, 
presence 
prestasyon n. performance, 
appearance; legal or state benefits 
~ sèman swearing in (ceremony), 
taking of an oath 
prestij n. prestige 
Prestij prop.n. Prestige (brand of 
Haitian lager beer, since 1975) 
prestijye adj. prestigious 
presto adv. presto, instantly 
761 
preswa - prewogativ 
preswa n. press (for crushing fruit) 
Preswa (Chai Fènan) prop.n. 
Pressoir (Charles-Fernand) -
pioneer in Haitian-language 
movement (1910-1973) 
presye adj. precious, valuable 
presyon n. snap fasteners; pressure; 
stress 
fè - (sou), bay ~ to pressure (s.o.) 
fe ~ pou bay kob to extort 
pran ~ to be under pressure 
prêt n. priest 
gran - high priest 
~ pou about to; almost 
~ savann, pè savann, chant, 
chanté (de) priyè, lektè, mèt 
priyè, pè antèman, pè kantikè, 
pè wozè, priyatè, sakristen 
unordained "bush priest" who 
recites Roman Catholic litanies at 
Voodoo services and at burial 
services 
pretann v. to claim; to pretend, act 
as if 
pretansye adj. pretentious, vain, 
proud, arrogant 
pretansyon n. pretensions, 
pretentiousness; ambition; vanity, 
arrogance, haughtiness; claim, 
holding; lease, agreement 
achte ~ to lease farmland 
san ~ humble, unpretentious 
prètapote adj. ready-made; ready-
to-wear 
prete v. to lend, loan; to borrow; to 
check out (book from library) 
mande ~ to ask for a loan 
non ~ assumed name 
~ nan men (yon moun) to borrow 
from (s.o.) 
- sèman to take an oath (of 
office), be sworn in 
prêté n. lender 
pretèks, prêtés n. pretext, excuse 
pran - to find an excuse or alibi 
pretekstan: 
an ~ using as pretext/excuse 
Pretorya prop.n. Pretoria (South 
Africa) 
prètriz n. [Fr.] priesthood 
pretzèl n. pretzel 
prèv, laprèv n. proof, evidence 
bay - , fè ~ to demonstrate, prove; 
to document 
fè ~ li to prove oneself 
Preval (Rene) prop.n. Préval (René) 
(born 1943) - president of Haiti, 
1996-2001 
prevansyon n. prevention 
fe - to vaccinate 
prevantif adj. preventive 
Previle prop.n. Prévilé (Dept. 
Grand'Anse) 
previzyon n. forecast 
previzyonèl adj. foreseeable 
(<accounting) 
prevnan adj. thoughtful, 
considerate, kind 
prevnans n. thoughtfulness, 
consideration, kindness 
prevni v. to notify; to warn; to 
forestall, prevent; n. prisoner, (the) 
accused 
prevo n. prisoner on work detail 
gran - provost 
prevwa v. to foresee, forecast 
prevwayan adj. far-sighted, prudent 
pa ~ short-sighted 
prevwayans n. foresight, 
forethought; precaution, prudence 
don - ability to foresee the future 
prevyen: 
de ki how come? 
prewogativ n. [Fr.] prerogative 
762 
prewokipasyon - pri 
prewokipasyon see preyokipasyon 
prewokipe see preyokipe 
preyanbil n. preamble 
preyavi n. advance warning, 
advance notice 
preyistorik adj. prehistoric 
preyistwa n. prehistory 
preyokipasyon, prewokipasyon n. 
[Fr.] preoccupation, concern 
preyokipe, prewokipe v. [Fr.] to 
preoccupy 
~ sou to be concerned by, be 
troubled by 
prezaj n. omen, sign, forewarning 
prezan adj. present, in attendance; 
n. present tense (gram.) 
~ pwogresif, - imedya(t) present 
progressive tense (gram.) 
prezans n. presence 
prezantab adj. fit to be shown, 
presentable; acceptable 
prezantasyon n. presentation; 
introduction; formal request to 
woman's parents for union with 
their daughter 
prezantatè n. newscaster; master-of-
ceremonies 
prezantatris f.n. mistress-of-
ceremonies 
prezante v. to show up, appear; to 
offer, present; to introduce; n. 
presentation, exposé, report 
byen ~ well-dressed; to make a 
good appearance 
mal ~ badly dressed; to make a 
bad appearance 
- pou to make a formal request 
(on s.o.'s behalf) 
prezantè n. presenter (of speech or 
report) 
prezantwa n. display cabinet 
prezbiteryen see presbiteryen 
prezèvasyon n. preservation 
prezèvatif n. preservative, condom 
prezève v. to preserve, protect, 
guarantee 
prezidan n.y prezidant fn. 
president; chairperson 
depi (sou) - bann machwè (i.e., 
Philippe Guerrier, 1844-1845; 
Jean-Louis Pierrot, 1845-1846) 
since long long ago, from time 
immemorial 
- pa bèpè li to have no equal 
prezidans, laprezidans n. 
presidency; presidential staff and 
offices 
~ an doub government by 
understudies, figurehead 
presidency 
prezidansyab adj. likely to be a 
presidential candidate 
prezidansyèl adj. presidential 
preztde v. to preside, direct, conduct 
(meeting) 
prezime adj. [Fr.] presumed, 
supposed, alleged 
pri rt. price, cost, value, chaise, rate; 
prize; reward; v. to be in trouble; 
adj. [Fr.] taken, busy, occupied; 
done for, washed up 
bay - to discuss/set a price 
dènye ~ no (more) bargaining 
fè (jis) - to bargain, haggle, 
negotiate; to give a discount 
fè pote - to bring a good price, 
sell for a good price 
pa fè ~ to go for a low price 
pa gen - priceless; to have no set 
price 
pran ~ to compare prices 
- fiks fixed price, no bargaining 
~ (de) revyen cost price 
- (<ie) vant sales price 
763 
prewokipasyon - pri 
prewokipasyon see preyokipasyon 
prewokipe see preyokipe 
preyanbil n. preamble 
preyavi n. advance warning, 
advance notice 
preyistorik adj. prehistoric 
preyistwa n. prehistory 
preyokipasyon, prewokipasyon n. 
[Fr.] preoccupation, concern 
preyokipe, prewokipe v. [Fr.] to 
preoccupy 
~ sou to be concerned by, be 
troubled by 
prezaj n. omen, sign, forewarning 
prezan adj. present, in attendance; 
n. present tense (gram.) 
~ pwogresif, ~ imedya(t) present 
progressive tense (gram.) 
prezans n. presence 
prezantab adj. fit to be shown, 
presentable; acceptable 
prezantasyon n. presentation; 
introduction; formal request to 
woman's parents for union with 
their daughter 
prezantatè n. newscaster; master-of-
ceremonies 
prezantatris f.n. mistress-of-
ceremonies 
prezante v. to show up, appear; to 
offer, present; to introduce; n. 
presentation, exposé, report 
byen - well-dressed; to make a 
good appearance 
mal - badly dressed; to make a 
bad appearance 
~ pou to make a formal request 
(on s.o.'s behalf) 
prezantè n. presenter (of speech or 
report) 
prezantwa n. display cabinet 
prezbiteryen see presbiteryen 
prezèvasyon n. preservation 
prezèvatif n. preservative, condom 
prezève v. to preserve, protect, 
guarantee 
prezidan prezidantfn. 
president; chairperson 
depi (sou) ~ bann machwè (i.e., 
Philippe Guerrier, 1844-1845; 
Jean-Louis Pierrot, 1845-1846) 
since long long ago, from time 
immemorial 
~ pa bèpè li to have no equal 
prezidans, laprezidans n. 
presidency; presidential staff and 
offices 
~ an doub government by 
understudies, figurehead 
presidency 
prezidansyab adj. likely to be a 
presidential candidate 
prezidansyèl adj. presidential 
prezide v. to preside, direct, conduct 
(meeting) 
prezime adj. [Fr.] presumed, 
supposed, alleged 
pri n. price, cost, value, charge, rate; 
prize; reward; v. to be in trouble; 
adj. [Fr] taken, busy, occupied; 
done for, washed up 
bay ~ to discuss/set a price 
dènye ~ no (more) bargaining 
fè (jis) ~ to bargain, haggle, 
negotiate; to give a discount 
fè pote ~ to bring a good price, 
sell for a good price 
pa fè ~ to go for a low price 
pa gen ~ priceless; to have no set 
price 
pran ~ to compare prices 
- flks fixed price, no bargaining 
~ (de) revyen cost price 
- (de) vant sales price 
pridan - priz 
~ vwayaj fare 
pridan adj. prudent, cautious, wary; 
wise, discreet 
pridans n. prudence, caution, 
reserve 
prigad, prengad n. scolding, 
warning, reprimand; beating; 
notice, prefatory note 
bay mete sou ~ to warn 
mache/rete sou ~ to be careM, be 
wary 
prije, pije v. to squeeze, press out 
(juice; pus); to wring out 
(clothes); to mash; to purge; to 
oppress; to beat up 
~ grenn (yon moun) to cut 
(s.o.'s) balls off, do in 
prijè: 
~ soyèt exploiter; extortionist, 
extortioner 
prim n. prize, award; prime (math.); 
(insurance) premium; house take, 
owners' cut (gambling 
establishment) 
tire ~ to receive a cut/commission 
primati n. office of the prime 
minister; rank of prime minister 
prime v. to be of prime importance, 
take priority, prevail 
primé n. elementary school; adj. 
primary 
primitif adj. primitive 
primôdyal adj. primordial, essential 
prin n. plum; prune; var. of mango 
~ chèch prune 
pringa see piga 
printè n. [Eng.] computer printer 
pripri n. raft 
pris n. prism 
prit n. var. of bird 
prita v. to pressure, corner; to beat 
up; to fuck 
privatizasyon n. privatization 
privatize v. to privatize 
prive adj. private; private sector (as 
opposed to government position) 
privilèj n. privilege 
privilejye v. to favor, give greater 
place or importance to; adj. 
privileged, elitist 
privye n. string (fishing) net, 
cast(ing) net; bird net; sparrow 
hawk 
priyatè see prêt savann 
priye v. to pray; to beg, implore 
~ nan pye yon moun to plead, 
implore 
~ veye to remain vigilant/ 
watchful/wary 
priyè n. prayer; prayer-meeting; 
small Voodoo ceremony; Voodoo 
service for the dead, last rites 
bay ~ to sweet-talk, cajole 
dènye ~ final prayer for the dead, 
last rites 
pa pran ~ not to listen to 
complaints 
pran ~ to give in, acquiesce 
~ deyo prayers recited at 
beginning of Voodoo service 
~ Ginen Voodoo prayer consisting 
of both African and Roman 
Catholic elements 
~ lwa Voodoo service 
priyorite, priyote n. priority 
priyoritè adj. favored, having 
priority 
priyorize v. to prioritize 
priz n. hold, influence; electric 
power; electric outlet, wall socket; 
outlet from water piping; catch 
(from fishing or hunting); little bit 
of, pinch of (tobacco, snuff, 
coffee, salt etc.) 
5 
priz - pwa 
gen ~ sou to have power over; to 
have effect upon; to create traction 
jwenn - to find a way 
pran ~ to electrify; to cut into 
(water piping etc.); to use snuff 
pran ti ~ to experience a small 
high/rush 
~ ason, ~ je, ~ klôch initiation 
rites admitting to the Voodoo 
priesthood 
~ dlo water supply outlet or 
connection 
sou ~ tapping electricity from s.o. 
else's line (with their knowledge 
and sharing in the cost) 
~ konsyans realization, awareness 
~ kontak initial contact/meeting 
~ kouran electric outlet, plug 
~ pozisyon (taking a) stand 
~ san blood sample 
~ tè handful of earth/soil 
- tiyo water supply outlet or 
connection 
sou ~ tapping electricity from s.o. 
else's line (with their knowledge 
and sharing in the cost) 
prizanchaj n. management, 
supervision 
prizon n. prison, jail; see 
Granprizon 
bwè boule % manje pran ~ 
to go to jail; to do time in jail, do 
prison time 
tou - prison term; imprisonment 
prizonye (pronounced: pri-zo-nye), 
prizonnye n., prizonyèz 
(pronounced: pri-zo-nyèz) f.n. 
prisoner 
pst! interj. pst! hey! 
PVC see pevese 
pwa n. bean; pea; weight; (small 
metal) weights; pear 
ap antre ~ a to be cutting a 
conversation short, be in a hurry 
to leave 
ase kale ~ bôl la plen enough is 
enough 
bat - to sun dry and hull beans 
bwè ~ to give up, concede 
de ~ de mezi double standard, two 
scales of justice, one rule for the 
powerful another for the 
powerless 
dlo ~ very thin bean soup 
fè ~ (nan balans lan) to be of 
weight, be of consideration, play 
(an equal) role 
gen ~ to have weight, have 
influence 
gen yon ~ nan balans to have a 
say in, be able to help influence 
pa gen ~ meaningless; false; 
weak, poor (team etc.); to have a 
poor hand at cards 
pran ~ to gain weight; to size up, 
take note of 
pran nan yon ~ grate to get into 
trouble 
~ an sôs bean soup (with beans 
still intact) 
- bè butterbean, lima bean 
~ blan (round) navy bean 
~ chikann/chikàn chicory 
- chouk, ~ chous, ~ tchous lima 
bean, butterbean; two var.: ~ 
chouk blan, ~ chouk wouj 
- djangan black-eyed pea 
- dous guaba tree 
- enkonni, - ikoni black-eyed 
pea; three var.: ~ enkonni blan, ~ 
enkonni nwa, ~ enkonni wouj 
~ foule fava bean 
^ frans green pea 
- frans alaska Alaska green pea 
6 
pwa - pwasenkant 
~ frans mavèl little marvel green 
pea 
- frans wàndo wando green pea 
~ grate cowhage (vine causing 
skin irritation); thorn in one's side, 
continual nuisance; mildly 
harmful Voodoo fetish 
~ ikoni see ~ enkonni 
- je nwa black-eyed pea 
- kochon yam bean (plant) 
- konfiti locust tree 
- kongo pigeon pea 
~ koni black-eyed pea 
~ long green bean, string bean, 
snap (bean) 
~ lou heavy burden; large truck; 
large earth-moving equipment; 
heavyweight boxer or wrestler; 
person of importance or influence 
~ maldyok horse bean 
~ manyok yam bean, jicama 
~ mwayen middleweight boxer or 
wrestler 
~ nwa, ~ nèg black bean 
~ pinto pinto bean 
~ plim featherweight boxer or 
wrestler; insignificant person 
~ pyan(t) stinkweed (ingredient 
used to give extra flavor to coffee) 
~ senkant see pwasenkant 
~ sikren guaba tree 
~ soja, - soya soybean 
~ souch, - tchous lima bean, 
butterbean; two var.: ~ ~ odinè 
and - ~ zonbi 
~ tann see pwatann 
~ tchous see ~ chouk 
~ valèt blan/nwa white/black 
(flat) navy bean 
~ wouj kidney bean; pinto bean; 
palm weevil 
santi yon - senkant sou 
lestonmak to feel a tightness in or 
a weight upon one's chest 
Se - ! Baloney! Nonsense! 
ti - mawon crotalaria (herb) 
yon - senkant a heavy weight 
44 other var. of beans are: ~ 
boukousou/bousoukou, - chèch, 
- chich, - chinwa, - dekayèt, -
endyen, - gad jaden, - ginen, ~ 
gous, - gran gous, ~ izrayèl, ~ je 
chire, ~ jerizalèm, - kase, ~ kok, 
- kouri, - lamannyè, - lanti(y), 
- lèt, - lyann, - lyèn, - maldyok 
lanmè, ~ manje kochon, ~ 
mayami, - melanj, ~ mèvèy, ~ 
moudong, ~ nouris, - oie, ~ 
palmis, - pent, - pichpich, ~ 
pijon, - pistach (or ~ sèt semèn), 
- pwa, ~ savann, - sinistre, ~ 
tikatrin, - vach, - valèt, ~ valyè, 
~vèt/vè, ~ wouj tenèt, ~ zong 
pwadou n. guaba tree - cf. sikren 
pwafe see pyafe 
pwal, pwèl n. body hair; pubic hair; 
(animal) fur; down; fiber; see pral 
a ~ bareback 
bonjou ~ premature ejaculator 
menm - (of the) same type, (of 
the) same sort (pej.) 
~ bèt fur 
- siksak June beetle, June bug 
sou ~ secondary, unimportant 
tout - tout plimaj all kinds, all 
types 
pwale see pral 
pwalje, pwalzye n. eyelash 
pwalon see pwelon 
pwanyan, p way an adj. [Fr.] 
poignant, heartrending, agonizing 
pwapwa n. var. of plant 
pwasenkant n. iron weight (esp. 
attached to slaves); heavy load, 
pwason - Pwebla 
great burden; adj. weighty, 
burdensome 
pwason, pweson, pwèson n. fish; 
Pisces (zodiac) 
pile ~ to say the contrary 
- ame porcupine fish 
- davril April fool 
- dlo dous freshwater fish 
- fre fresh fish 
- kôf shellfish 
- kraze nan bouyon bosom 
buddies, inseparable friends 
- lanmè saltwater fish 
- makèt fish grown in ponds and 
preserved in ice for supermarkets 
- nèg black fish, large grouper 
~ pèwokèt red fish 
- plat turbot (fish) 
~ pouri old goat, old coot, geezer 
~ sale dried fish 
~ volan, ~ zèl flying fish 
- woz (red) snapper 
Pwason (Louvèti) prop.n. Poisson 
(Louverture) - Haitian painter 
("Toilette paysanne," "La 
Leçon"), 1914-1984 
pwatann n. green bean, string bean, 
snap (bean) 
li tann li tann jouk li tounen ~ to 
wait until the cows come home, 
wait until hell freezes over, wait 
endlessly 
pawôl ~ see pawèl van 
~ bouch Bush blue lake green 
bean 
~ dèbi derby green bean 
~ kenntèki Kentucky wonder 
green bean 
~ kontenndè contender green 
bean 
pwatchjôkô, pwatchwôkè see 
kwachyôko 
pwatray see potray 
pwatrin n. chest, bosom, breast; 
brisket (of animal); tuberculosis; 
adj. tubercular 
maladi ~ tuberculosis 
~ tonbe to have a sore chest; to be 
incapacitated (above waist); to 
suffer epigastric discomfort 
pwatrinè adj. tubercular; sickly, 
feeble; n. tuberculosis victim 
pwatrinen v. to suffer from 
tuberculosis; adj. tubercular 
pwatyôkè see kwachyèkô 
pwav, dipwav, pwèv n. pepper 
cheve ~ kinky twisted hair 
gwo ~ allspice 
~ ginen mixture prepared by 
sorcerer (Voodoo) 
~ vèt green pepper, bell pepper 
(icf. piman dou(s)) 
pwavriye n. pepper shaker 
pwawo see powo 
pway n. [Fr.] strong grip, firm-
handedness 
pwaya see ponya 
pwayade see ponyade 
pwayan see pwanyan 
pwayè, pwaye n. [Fr.] doorknob; 
see ponyèt 
pwayeri n. Rangoon creeper (vine) 
pwayèt see ponyèt 
pwazon, pwezon n. poison; venom; 
harmful Voodoo magic amulet; 
adj. poisonous 
- lazinèt wild/black tamarind tree 
pwazônman see anpwazonnman 
pwazonnen see anpwazonnen 
Pwebla prop.n. Puebla (Mexico; site 
of celebrated meeting of Roman 
Catholic church officials in 1979 
credited with having articulated 
the Liberation Theology movement) 8 
pwèl - Pwendèzwazo 
pwèl see pwal 
pwela see prela 
pwelon, pwalon, pwèlon n. frying-
pan, skillet 
pwèlyèm n. iota, tiny bit of; tiny 
drop of 
pwèm see powèm 
pwen n. (intangible) Voodoo charm 
(for good effects), spell; secret 
contract between a human and the 
devil; fist; point, mark (school); 
stitch (embroidery); aspect; 
station, post (of duty); point (of 
land); point (of view); point 
(sports or card playing); point, 
phase; degree, extent; pointed 
remark; critical or mocking song; 
point, dot; period (punct.) 
bay ~ ceremony to confer special 
powers (Voodoo); to grade 
de doub ~ colon (punct.) 
fè (de) ~ to make a gain, be 
successful, come out a winner; to 
do (s.o.) in 
fè dis ~ kach to be totally 
successful 
fè ~ to score points (exam, 
competition) 
fè yon ~ to make a pointed remark 
fo - brass knuckles 
ki ~ ou? how are you doing? 
kouche sou mache sou ~ to be 
in an intermediate stage between 
an ounsi kanzo (4.v.) and a full-
fledged Voodoo priest(ess) 
make ~ to score points, make 
progress 
mare ~ li to make a fist 
mete yon ~ ba nan to put an end 
to, finish off 
pran ~ to acquire special 
supernatural powers (Voodoo) 
pran - pou to be good at 
- alaliy to indent; indentation 
(punct.) 
~ ba final period (punct.); that's it' 
that's all! 
- chans good-luck charm 
(Voodoo) 
- chat ability to become invisible 
~ cho Petwo magic charm 
~ dapwi fulcrum 
~ deksklamasyon, ~ 
esklamasyon exclamation point 
(punct.) 
~ (d)entèwogasyon question mark 
(punct.) 
~ de près press conference 
~ de vant sales outlet 
~ depa point of departure, starting 
point 
~ disparèt magic power to 
become invisible (Voodoo) 
~ dmi target 
~ flks station, post (of duty) 
~ fil stitch 
- final end point; end of 
discussion! 
~ frèt Rada magic charm 
~ kouti stitches 
~ lougawou charm capable of 
transforming a human into an 
animal 
~ nwa blackhead 
~ près press conference 
~ repè point of reference; 
landmark 
~ vant sales outlet 
~ vigil semi-colon (punct.) 
~ zegwi stitch(es), suture 
twa ~ suspension points (punct.) 
voye tire ~ to make pointed 
remarks 
Pwendèzwazo, Pwentwazo, 
9 
pwendvi - Pwentsab 
Pwentzwazo prop.n. Pointe-des-
Oiseaux (communal section of 
Tortuga, Dept. North-West) 
pwendvi, pwenndvi, pwennvi n. 
point of view, standpoint 
pwennfèpa (morèd), prennfèpa 
adj. strict, unbending (rules, 
regulations); merciless, 
unforgiving; adv. mercilessly 
pwennprès, pwenndprès n. press 
conference 
pwenp onomat. honk (sound of horn) 
pwenpè, pwenpwen n. var. small 
white parasite affecting poultry 
pwensiyad n. Barbados pride 
(shrub) 
pwenson n. awl; paper punch; 
mechanic's punch 
pwensyana wayal n. royal 
poinciana, flamboyant 
pwent, prent n. point, tip, end; 
cutting or pointed remark, 
innuendo; short satirical poem; 
point of land; protuberance 
bay yon fè yon ~ to kick with 
the tip of the toe (soccer); to give 
a sharp thrust with one's penis in 
sexual intercourse 
chante ~ critical or mocking song 
fè mache sou ~ pye li to frighten, 
intimidate 
fè ~ to sharpen (pencil etc.) 
nan dènye ~ dèyè nan 
kamyonnèt la at the very tail end 
pa mete ~ pye li nan to not set 
foot in, have nothing to do with, 
dissociate oneself from; not to 
show up, never appear 
pa vie jwe de ~ sis not to give s.o. 
a chance (to win) 
~ dprès, ~ pou laprès press 
conference 
~ tèt head (fam.) 
~ tete, ~ tôtôt nipple 
sou ~ pye on tiptoes 
tire voye ~ to make allusions, 
insinuate, drop nasty hints 
pwentafile adj. pointed-toe (shoe) 
fôm ~ spindle-shaped 
Pwentapit prop.n. Pointe-à-Pitre 
(Guadeloupe) 
Pwentarakèt prop.n. Pointe-à-
Raquette (La Gonâve Island, Dept. 
West) 
pwentay n. checking off (items on 
list); sharpening (piece of wood 
etc.) 
Pwentdemang prop.n. Pointe-des-
Mangles (near Anse-Rouge, Dept. 
Artibonite) 
Pwentdisab (Janbatis) prop.n. 
Pointe-du-Sable (Jean-Baptiste) -
from Les Cayes, founder of 
Chicago (1745-1818) 
pwente, prente v. to show up, 
arrive, appear; to come up, 
approach (date); to score, win out; 
to point at, aim at; to be pointed at, 
be aimed at; to descend upon; to 
kick the ball with toes or front of 
shoe (soccer); to serve a volleyball 
~ pye li to show up, arrive, appear 
pwentè n. timekeeper 
pwenti v. to sharpen; adj. 
sharp(ened), pointed; affected (in 
speech); fresh, brash, sassy; n. 
size (shoes) 
pale ~ to speak with affectation(s) 
vin ~ ou come on show what 
you're made of 
pwentiye v. to draw a dotted line; 
adj. dotted (line) 
Pwentsab prop.n. Pointe-à-Sable 
(Grande-Cayemit(t)e Island, Dept. 10 
Pwentwazo - pwofesè 
Grand'Anse) 
Pwentwazo, Pwentzwazo see 
Pwendèzwazo 
pwepwe: 
fè yon moun ~ to stand s.o. up, 
fail to show up; to disappoint 
pwès adj. thick; rough, coarse, 
impolite, uncouth; plump, fleshy; 
hefty 
anba ~ bribe 
watè ~ loose stool 
yon k6b - a fat wallet, a wad of 
money 
pweson, pwèson see pwason 
pwèt onomat. sound made when 
farting; see powèt 
yon ~ nothing 
pwètès see powètès 
pwetik see powetik 
Pwèto Plata prop.n. Puerto Plata 
(Dominican Republic) 
Pwèto Reyal prop.n. Puerto Real 
(early Span, settlement in what is 
now the Dominican Republic) 
pwèv see pwav 
pwezi see powezi 
pwezon see pwazon 
pwezonnen see anpwazonnen 
pwi, pi n. well (water) 
pwisan see pisan 
pwisans see pisans 
pwiske see piske 
pwize v. to draw water 
pwo adv. pro, in favor of; prefix pro-
pwobab, pobab adj. probable 
pwobablite, pwobabilite n. 
probability 
pwobableman adv. probably 
pwoban see poban 
pwoblèm, poblèm, pwoblenm n. 
problem, difficulty, trouble; 
concern, care, worry ; math problem 
nèg san - laidback guy 
pa gen - you're welcome; no 
matter 
san - relaxed, easy-going, laid-
back 
pwoblematik adj. [Fr.] 
problematic(al) 
pwôch n. companion(s), 
associate(s), intimate(s) 
pwoche, apwoche v. to approach, 
come up to, draw near; to bring 
nearer; to affect 
pwochen, pochen n. neighbor, 
fellow human; adj. next, nearest; 
following 
pwochèn, pochèn, pwochenn adj. 
next 
pwochènman, pwochennman adv. 
soon, shortly 
Pwôch Oryan prop.n. Near East 
pwodi see pwodwi 
pwodig adj. prodigal, lavish, 
extravagant, wasteful 
pwodiksyon n. production 
pwodiktè n. producer 
pwodiktif adj. productive 
pwodiktivite n. productivity 
pwodiktris f.n. producer 
pwodwi, pwodi n. product, 
substance; v. to produce, generate 
fè ~ kwaze to cross-multiply 
~ agrikol agricultural produce 
~ bote cosmetics 
~ chimik chemicals 
~ kwaze cross-multiplication 
pwofàn n. layman, nonprofessional, 
amateur 
pwofanasyon n. desecration 
pwofane v. to desecrate, profane 
pwofese v. to profess 
pwofesè, pofesè, pwofèsè n., 
pwofesèz f.n. teacher, professor, 
11 
pwofesi - pwoklamasyon 
instructor, educator; schoolmaster 
(fish) 
- patikilye tutor 
pwofesi, lapwofesi n. prophecy 
pwofesyon, pofesyon n. profession, 
occupation, trade 
pwofesyonalis n. professionalism 
pwofesyonalizasyon n. 
professionalization, advanced 
training 
pwofesyonalize v. to professionalize 
pwofesyonèl, pofesyonèl, 
pwofesyonnèl n./adj. 
professional; adj. vocational 
(school) 
pwofesyonèlman adv. 
professionally 
pwofèt n., pwofètès f.n. prophet; 
charismatic evangelical leader 
pwofetik adj. [Ft:] prophetic 
pwofetize v. to prophesy, foretell 
pwofi n. profit, gain 
fè tire ~ to profit, benefit, gain 
o - to the advantage of 
pwofil n. profile 
pwofilaksi 72. prophylaxis 
pwofile n. square metal tubing 
pwofitab adj. profitable 
pwofite, pofite v. to make the most 
(out) of, make good use of, take 
advantage of, enjoy, profit from; 
to prosper; to thrive, develop 
(child, animal, plant etc.); to gain 
weight 
pwofitè 72. opportunist, profiteer, 
exploiter 
pwofon adj. profound, thought-
provoking 
pwofonde, pwonfonde v. to deepen, 
go thoroughly into; n./adj. 
profound; thoroughly versed in 
magic 
pwofondè n. depth 
gen ~ to have depth, have 
backbone, have inner strength 
pwofondeman adv. deeply, 
profoundly 
pwogram, pogram n. program, 
plan(s); show 
bat (yon) ~ to have fun 
pwogramasyon n. programming 
pwograme v. to program, plan; to 
program (computer) 
pwogramè (konpitè) n. computer 
programmer 
pwogrè, lepwogrè, pogrè n. 
progress 
fè ~ to progress, improve 
pwogrese, pogrese v. to progress 
pwogresis, pwogresif n./adj. 
progressive 
pwogresivman adv. progressively, 
gradually 
pwogresyon n. progression 
pwojè, pojè, pwoje n. project; plan 
(anvan) ~ lwa legislative bill or 
proposal 
fè ~ to plan 
Pwojè Douya prop.n. Projet 
Douillard (disadvantaged area of 
Site Solèy [q.v.]) 
pwojeksyon n. projection; showing 
(of movie) 
pwojekte, pwojete see pwojte 
pwojektè n. projector 
pwojektil 72. projectile, missile 
pwojte, pwojekte, pwojete v. to 
project; to plan; to schedule; to 
forecast 
pwokire v. to procure, provide 
pwokirè n. prosecutor 
- jeneral district attorney 
pwoklamasyon, poklamasyon n. 
proclamation 
12 
pwokiame - pwonya 
pwoklame, poklame v. to proclaim 
pwokonsil n. proconsul, high 
administrator 
pwokreyasyon n. procreation 
pwokreye v. to procreate; cf. fè pitit 
pwokzenèt n. [Fr.] procurer, pimp; 
cf makwo 
pwoletarya n. proletariat 
pwoletè, poletè n./adj. proletarian 
pwoliferasyon n. [Fr.] proliferation 
pwolog n. prologue 
pwolongasyon n. prolongation, 
extension; overtime (sports) 
pwolonje v. to prolong, extend 
pwolonjman n. prolongation, 
extension 
pwomenè see pwonmenè 
pwomennad see pwomnad 
pwomennay see pwonmennay 
pwomennen see pwonmennen 
pwomès, pwonmès n. promise 
fè ~ to pledge 
~ van vain/empty promise(s) 
pwomèt, pwonmèt v. to promise; to 
have potential, be promising 
pwomilge v. to promulgate 
pwomiz see latè 
pwomnad, ponmnad, 
pwomennad, pwonmnad n. 
walk, stroll; drive, ride; outing, 
excursion; short walk taken by 
cock to regain strength and 
deceive its opponent 
(cockfighting); see lapwomnad 
pwomne, pwomnen see 
pwonmennen 
pwomosyon, pomosyon n. 
(graduating) class, year (school); 
promotion, job advancement; 
promotion, publicizing; social 
advancement 
fè ~ to promote, publicize 
pwomote v. to promote, boost 
pwomotè n. promoter, booster 
pwomouvwa v. [Fr.] to promote, 
further, upgrade 
pwon adv. promptly; sh. form pran 
+ yon 
pwone v. [Fr.] to laud, extol 
pwonfonde see pwofonde 
pwonmenè, pwomenè n. stroller 
pwonmennay, pwomennay n. 
walking around, strolling 
pwonmennen, ponmennen, 
ponmnen, pwomennen, 
pwomne, pwonmnen v. to walk 
(around), stroll, go for a walk; to 
go around offering or selling; n. 
walk, stroll; drive 
al ~ to walk (dog etc.) 
~ mache moute desann to 
wander around 
~ nan machin to go for a drive/ 
ride 
~ sou bisiklèt to go for a bicycle 
ride 
- sou moun to be highly visible 
pwonmès see pwomès 
pwonmèt see pwomèt 
pwonmnad see pwomnad 
pwonmnen see pwonmennen 
pwonominal adj. pronominal 
pwonon n. pronoun 
pwononse, pononse v. to 
pronounce, articulate; to deliver, 
pass (judgment); adj. distinct, 
visible 
pwononsyasyon, pwononsiyasyon 
n. pronunciation 
pwonostik n. prediction, forecast 
pwonpe see ponpe 
pwonto adv. [Span.] pronto, right 
away 
pwonya see ponya 
13 
pwôp - pwotèj 
pwôp adj. clean, clear, pure; neat, 
tidy; own; appropriate, suitable 
for; able, fit; adv. properly, well; 
thoroughly; n. quality, attribute, 
characteristic 
sans ~ literal/true meaning 
sèl sa li ~ he is good only for that, 
he/it has no other use 
pwopagandis n. propagandist 
pwopagann, popagann n. 
propaganda; publicity 
fè ~ pou to advertise, publicize 
pwopagasyon n. propagation, 
spreading, spread 
pwopaje, popaje v. to propagate, 
multiply; to spread, diffuse; to 
promulgate 
pwopàn n./adj. propane 
gaz ~ propane gas 
pwoparyen n. good-for-nothing, 
bum 
pwopisyatwa adj. [Fr.] propitiatory 
pwopôsyon n. proportion; ratio 
pwopôsyonèl adj. proportional 
pwopoze, popoze v. to propose; to 
propose marriage 
pwopozisyon n. proposition; 
proposal; clause 
- lwa legislative bill 
pwôprete see pwôpte 
pwopriyete, pwopryete, pwopyete 
n. property; real estate, lot, piece 
of land (improved or unimproved) 
pwopriyetè, popyetè n. owner, 
proprietor, landlord 
~ fonsye landowner 
pwôptaj, pwôptay n. cleaning, 
cleansing, clearing 
pwôpte, pwôprete n. cleaning; 
cleanliness; purity; v. to clean, 
cleanse; to scrub (up) 
pwôpwôm n. short walk or stroll 
pwopyete see pwopriyete 
pwosè, pose, pwose n. lawsuit, trial; 
see pwosèvèbal 
fè ~ ak to take (s.o.) to court, sue 
(s.o.), bring suit against 
pwosede n. process 
~ (ak) to behave (toward), 
proceed (with) 
pwosedi n. procedure; proceedings 
(fur.) 
pwosekisyon n. prosecution 
pwosesè n. processor (computer) 
pwosesis, posesis n. process 
pwosesyon n. procession 
pwosèvèbal, posèvèbal, 
pwosèvèbal n. (police) report, 
citation, summons; statement; 
minutes, official record of 
proceedings 
tire ~ to write up a summons or 
statement (jur.) 
Pwosi prop.n. Procy (17th 
communal section of Carrefour, 
Dept. West) 
pwospè adj. prosperous 
pwospere v. to prosper, flourish 
pwosperite, lapwosperite, 
posperite n. prosperity 
pwostat, postât n. prostate 
pwostènen, postène, pwostène v. to 
prostrate oneself; to bow 
pwostitisyon, postitisyon n. 
prostitution 
pwostitye, pwostitiye n. prostitute 
pwotagonis n. [Fr.] protagonist, 
main character 
pwotèj, potèj n. protection; shelter; 
protector; protective amulet; 
condom 
- fanm diaphragm (for birth 
control) 
~ gason condom 14 
pwotèj e - pyange 
pwotej e, poteje v. to protect, shield; 
n. protégé(e), ward; adj. immune 
pwotejman n. protection, 
preservation 
pwoteksyon, lapwoteksyon, 
poteksyon, pwotejman, 
pwotesksyon n. protection, 
defense; immunity; condom; 
supernatural protection; amulet 
pwotektè, pwotèktè n. protector; 
body guard; one's protective 
Voodoo spirit; adj. protective 
pwotektris f.n. protector 
pwotestan, potestan n./adj. 
Protestant; n. Protestantism 
pwotestantis, potestantis n. 
Protestantism 
pwotestasyon, potestasyon n. 
protest 
pwotestatè n. protester; adj. protest 
pwoteste, poteste v. to protest, 
object, demonstrate 
pwoteyin, poteyin n. protein 
pwotèz n. denture 
pwotid n. protein 
pwotokèl see potokèl 
pwotokolè adj. formal 
pwototip n. prototype 
pwouve v. to prove, show, 
demonstrate 
pwovansal prop.n./adj. Provençal 
pwovèb, povèb n. proverb, saying 
pwovens n. province; anywhere 
outside of PaP; rural area 
pwovensyal adj. provincial; ecc.n. 
Provincial 
pwovidans, lapwovidans n. 
providence 
Pwovidansyèl, Pwovidens, Pwovo 
prop.n. Providenciales (Turks and 
Caicos Islands) 
pwovizwa adj. provisional, 
temporary, interim 
pwovizwaman adv. provisionally, 
temporarily 
pwovizyon, povizyon n. provisions, 
groceries, food(stuffs), supplies; ' 
provision, proviso, stipulation ' 
bay - to supply 
chèk san - bad check 
fè ~ to buy groceries, buy supplies 
- alimantè alimony; child support 
pwovnans n. [Fr.] provenance, 
origin, source 
pwovni v. to result from, come from, 
be derived from 
Pwovo see Pwovidansyèl 
pwovokasyon n. provocation, 
instigation, incitement 
fè ~ to incite, provoke 
pwovokatè n. agitator, instigator; 
adj. provocative 
pwovoke v. to provoke, instigate, 
incite, egg on; to cause; to tempt; 
(fam.) to vamp (a man) 
pwovolôn n. provolone (cheese) 
pwoyibe v. to prohibit 
pwoz, pwoz n. prose 
pwozelit n. proselyte, convert; cf. 
konvèti 
pwozodi n. prosody 
pyafe, pwafe v. to paw the ground, 
prance (horse); to jump up and 
down; to party, carouse 
~ sou to trample 
pyan, piyan n. yaws (med.)\ var. of 
poultry disease; see pyan(t) 
maladi ~ nan tèt var. of poultry 
disease 
pyang adj. stingy, tight 
pyange v. to live from hand to 
mouth, eke out a living, barely 
survive; to walk like s.o. who has 
yaws, walk very slowly 
15 
Pyangpyang - pye 
pyangpyang adv. slowly 
pyanis, piyanis n. pianist 
pyano n. piano 
- a ke grand piano 
pyan(t) adj. [Fr.] stinking; cf. santi 
fo 
pyapya v. to cut weeds carelessly; n. 
brat, annoying child 
pyas n. (fam. term for) Haitian 
gourde (formerly $.20 U.S.); scalp 
infection, tinea; ringworm 
~ kôlèt, tchonpwa Jamaican vireo 
(bird) 
Pyat, Piyat prop.n. Piatre (2nd 
communal section of Saint-Marc, 
Dept. Artibonite) 
pye n. foot; lower leg (from knee on 
down); foot (12 inches); tree; 
bush; plant; stalk; length of work 
period or shift; menstrual period; 
labor, birthing; interval between 
pregnancies; alternation between 
gender of children 
a ~ sèk without getting one's feet 
wet 
anba ~ nearby, at hand 
ba li ~ to support, reinforce (wall 
etc.) 
bay gwo ~ to be jealous 
bon - good fortune 
bout - stump of leg 
bwa ~ lower leg 
de - devan feet first, dead 
de ~ fèm, de ~ milité in great 
shape, firmly, strongly; resolutely, 
steadfastly 
de ~ gaye widely 
de - gôch stupid, idiotic 
de ~ kole bicycle kick (soccer) 
de ~ li mare to be hindered; to be 
trapped 
de ~ li nan yon sèl/grenn soulye 
helpless, crippled, useless 
de ~ long stretched out on the 
ground/floor 
de - nan yon janm pantalon two 
peas in a pod, birds of a feather, 
alike 
de ~ nou fèt pou rete atè one has 
to keep one's feet on the ground, 
one has to observe common sense 
do ~ instep, dorsum of foot 
fè - to (be able to) touch bottom 
(in water) 
fè ~ (yon moun) pèdi tè to grab 
(s.o.) under the crotch or back of 
pants (cf fouke); to arrest (s.o.) 
fè ~ plen to court (a woman) in 
vain 
fè yon kout ~ to pay a little visit 
(to), drop by 
gen ~ lejè to sleep around, have 
many lovers (woman) 
gwo - hick, redneck; 
elephantiasis, lymphedema 
jwenti ~ ankle-joint 
kase - to stumble, slip 
kenbe sou ~ to keep on the alert 
(army etc.) 
kite nan - li to keep at home 
konn ki ~ pou 1 met devan to 
know where to start 
konn - ak tèt (yon bagay) to 
know thoroughly; to get to the 
bottom (of s.thg.), investigate 
thoroughly 
konn sou ki ~ li ye to know where 
one stands 
koupe ~ (yon kote) to stop going 
(someplace) 
kwaze ~ li (sou lestonmak) to get 
a lock-hold on (wrestling); to 
crush, oppress; to cause 
indigestion, upset (one's stomach) 16 
pye - pyès 
leve ~ li to hurry up; to go get help 
leve ~ ou! shake it up! make it 
fast! 
leve sou de (2) ~ milité li to rise 
up (in opposition) 
leve sou move ~ li to get up on 
the wrong side of the bed 
mache sou pwent ~ to tiptoe 
mache sou yon ~ to hobble along, 
walk lamely 
mak ~ footprint 
maladi ~ chèch var. of poultry 
disease 
mete de ~ nan yon grenn soulye 
to hinder, create problems 
mete ~ to arrive, appear; to set 
foot (on); to start up, begin, take 
hold; to step in; to set in; to 
interfere 
mete ~ (li) nan dlo to consult a 
Voodoo priest(ess); to get 
involved 
mete ~ sou kou to suppress, keep 
down 
mete sou ~ to set up, organize, 
establish 
moun ~ blanch upper-crust, elite 
move ~ left foot (popular belief) 
nan ~ manman by one's mother's 
side 
nan ~ travay li on the job, on his/ 
her work shift 
pa gen menm ~ to vary, be 
different 
pa gen ni ~ ni tèt to be baseless/ 
unfounded/groundless; to be 
confusing 
pa ~ pa tèt in a hurry 
pa wè/konnen sou ki ~ danse, pa 
konnen nan ~ ki sen pou al 
lapriyè not to know what to do, 
not to know which way to turn 
pase - to get on, mount (horse, 
bicycle etc.) 
pèdi ~ see pèdi 
pla - stooge, fool, (a) nobody 
pla - , plan - sole (of foot), 
plantar surface 
poze ~ to set up camp 
pran ~ to take root, take hold, 
make good, become established or 
successful; to gain a footing, 
touch bottom (of lake etc.) 
pran - sou to dominate, take 
precedence over 
pran yon ti - to feel a little better 
pwent ~ tiptoe; ball of foot 
pwent - m my hide 
- atè barefoot; poor 
~ bankal, - brankal bowlegged 
- bate web-footed 
- baton scrawny-legged 
- bèf soup made with lower leg of 
ox; (supposed) aphrodisiac; 
element believed to strengthen 
cement 
~ bèf pou - bèf when it comes 
down to it, sticking to essentials 
- bekasin scrawny-legged 
- bot, - bo clubfoot 
~ brankal see ~ bankal 
- bwa tree 
~ byèl connecting-rod 
(automobile) 
~ chèch tuberculosis; scrawny-
legged 
- chik infected sole; poor, destitute 
- debou pole 
~ devan/douvan feet first, dead 
~ devan chen very short (person 
or object) 
- dous tender or sensitive foot 
- dwa folding ruler 
- fann yaws lesion (on foot) 
776 
pye - pyès 
- fen, ~ fin scrawny-legged 
- kabann footboard (of bed); 
stirrups (for pelvic exam) 
- kanbre, ~ kanbral bowlegged 
- kanbya deformed/twisted foot 
- kanna slew-footed 
~ kanson pants leg 
~ kase broken-down; handicapped 
~ kochon pig's foot; pistol, 
handgun; lie, falsehood 
~ kole bowlegged 
- kounan bow-legged (outward 
curvature) 
~ kout '"shorty"; slowpoke, 
dawdler 
~ krab redneck, hillbilly 
- kwochi bowlegged; pigeon-
toed; slew-footed 
~ lanvè knock-kneed 
~ lejè slut, whore 
- li mache to have one's 
menstrual period 
~ li pa nan soulye to be 
someplace illegally 
~ li pa touche tè to go as fast as 
one can 
~ li pati to slip 
- lou var. of insect 
~ mayas smelly feet 
- mèb furniture leg 
~ mele crazy, mixed-up 
- miwo miba uneven 
~ mouch bad handwriting 
Pye Nwa Blackfoot Indian nation 
(USA) 
~ pase dèyè tèt bowlegged 
~ plat flat feet 
~ pou ~ closely or immediately 
following 
~ poudre, - podre wanderer, 
roamer, s.o. who is always on the 
go, never at home 
- poul drumstick (of chicken) 
~ pran nan petren in trouble, in a 
jam, in a fix 
~ recho scrawny-legged 
sa m manje m pa ba ou to take 
to one's heels, make a run for it, 
run like crazy 
~ sal rascal, bum 
- santi smelly feet 
- tôde clubfoot 
~ tôtôy, ~ tôtôl bowlegged 
- vire bowlegged 
~ zo scrawny-legged 
rantre - li nan to get involved in 
sa (yon moun) gen anba ~ li 
what stuff (s.o.) is made of, the 
measure of (s.o.'s) worth 
san ~ kase without a hitch 
san ~ ni/san tèt without rhyme or 
reason, incomprehensible 
sou de ~ fèm/militè, sou bon ~ in 
great shape, firm, strong 
sou de ~ li on foot; on one's feet, 
up and about; on the alert 
sou menm - of the same mind, on 
the same page, in accord 
sou pwent ~ on tiptoes 
sou - underway, in progress; up, 
awake; going forward, making 
progress; spirited, vivacious 
ti - ti ~ step by step, gradually 
tire voye - to kick; to revolt, 
rebel 
twa ~ three feet, one yard 
(measurement) 
twa ~ dife charcoal burner, 
charcoal grill, brazier 
vin sou - to be established, take 
shape 
vini sou do - (yon moun) to get 
or go after (s.o. with intent to 
harm) 
776 
pye - pyès 
voye ~ to kick, lash out 
wè - to menstruate 
wè sou ki ~ li pral danse to see 
how he/she is going to (re)act 
wete - mete - to really take off, 
run away fast 
yon ~ anndan yon - dey6 to be 
on the outer fringes of, be vaguely 
connected, be almost out of 
yon ~ devan yon ~ dèyè to be 
quite hesitant, be half-hearted 
yon (ti) ~ yon (ti) dan (I'm 
feeling) pretty good, not too bad 
pyè, lapyè n. stone, rock; whetstone, 
flint; flash of lightning, lightning 
bolt 
~ dtè stone used as headrest 
during Voodoo initiations 
- koute chè precious stone 
- loray, ~ loraj lightning bolt, 
flash of lightning; thunderstone; 
Arawak ax-head used in Voodoo 
services; live-wire, go-getter 
(person) 
~ lwa stone in which a Voodoo 
spirit is believed to reside 
- manman large round stone 
protecting a homestead (Voodoo) 
~ nan fyèl, - nan (kannal) bil 
gallstone 
~ nan ren kidney stone 
~ solèy magic stone capable of 
bringing sunshine (Voodoo) 
~ tonné Arawak arrow-head 
(venerated in Voodoo), flint stone, 
celt 
twa - (dife) hearth (formed with 
the traditional three stones) 
Pyè prop.n. Peter 
ni - ni Jak pa no one 
Ti-~ quarrelsome and gluttonous 
Voodoo spirit 
Pyè (Andre) prop.n. Pierre (André) 
- Haitian painter often called the 
spiritual heir of Hector Hyppolite 
b. 1916 
Pyè-Lwi (Nemou) prop.n. Pierre-
Louis (Nemours) - provisional 
president of Haiti, 1956-1957 
Pyè Payen prop.n. Pierre-Payen (1st 
communal section of Saint-Marc, 
Dept. Artibonite) 
pyebwa n. tree 
dèyè ~ base of tree trunk; tree 
stump 
k6 - tree trunk 
ti - shrub 
pyèdachopman n. stumbling-block 
pyedestal n. pedestal 
pyedwa n. folding ruler 
pyèj n. trap, snare; pitfall; ambush; 
adj. hotheaded, quick-tempered 
pyeje v. to entrap, lay a trap for; adj. 
booby-trapped 
pyèloray see pyè 
pyelou n. var. of insect 
pyepen n. pinetree 
pôm - pinetree cone 
pyès n. room (of house or building); 
part, piece, component; patch; 
coin; document, paper; play, 
drama; vat (for fermenting sugar 
cane); adj. huge, enormous; 
extraordinary, capable of anything; 
neg. (not) at all, no, none 
detout - from start to finish, 
totally 
gran - master deed (usu. for land 
subsequently sub-divided) 
manman - tè master deed, 
collective deed 
~ a konviksyon exhibit, damaging 
evidence (jur.) 
~ anyen nothing 
776 
pyès - pyout 
- derechanj, - derechany spare 
part 
- ekri written statement 
- kanno cannon 
- kay (entèl) rented room 
- machin spare part(s) (for vehicle) 
- mè master deed, collective deed 
- monnen coin 
- moun pa no one, nobody; not a 
single person 
- tè property deed 
- teyat play, drama 
yon - kay a one-room house 
pyese v. to patch, patch together; to 
make longer, add to; to join 
together 
kraze ~ to patch up haphazardly 
pyesèt 72. sketch, short play 
pyetatè 72. pied-à-terre, part-time 
residence; stepping-stone (fig.) 
fè - to dismount (from horse etc.) 
pyete v. to measure (with human 
foot as unit); to do as much as one 
can; to encroach; see lapyete 
pyetine, pyetinen v. to trample, 
tread, stamp on 
pyetinman 72. trampling (on), 
stamping (on) 
pyeton 72. pedestrian; s.o. who does 
not own a car 
pyetren 72. var. of hoof disease 
pyèv 72. octopus 
Pyewo (Jan-Lwi) prop.n. Pierrot 
(Jean-Louis) - president of Haiti, 
1845-1846 
pyon 72. pawn (chess); man, piece 
(checkers) 
make - to score, make points, 
advance 
pouse ~ to say s.thg. good on 
s.o.'s behalf; to attempt, try; to 
flirt 
poze - yo to set up the initial 
markers, make tentative plans 
poze yon - to stake out a claim 
Pyongyang prop.n. Pyongyang 
(North Korea) 
pyonnen v. to checkmate, thwart, 
counter 
pyonnye, piyonnye, pyonye n. 
pioneer 
pyore n. pyorrhea; purulent 
discharge 
pyoske n. young whippersnapper 
pyout adj. cute, nice; admirable, 
fine; onomat./n. smack (sound of a 
kiss) 
20 
r - rabote 
R 
r (pronounced: èr) 
ra adj. rare, scarce; unusual; short, 
close-cropped; adv. seldom; prep. 
flush with, level with; on the edge 
of; v. to leave quickly, take off; 
interj. expression of sudden 
movement 
fè ~ to leave quickly, take off 
~ bo, - bôday, ~ bouch, ~ 
debode, - djôl, ~ dyôl, - gagann 
overflowing, to the brim 
~ pyetè see rapyetè 
~ tè very short or close to the 
ground (plant etc.); flat on the 
ground 
se ~ se ta! that's it! that does it! 
never again! 
Rabaprop.n. Rabat (Morocco) 
rabacha n. mess, poorly done work 
rabachay n. bungling, blundering, 
messing up; scanning, skimming 
through 
rabache v. to bungle, mess up, foul 
up; to scan, skim through 
rabadja n. nonsense, rubbish; v. to 
talk nonsense, blabber 
rabat v. to lower; to trim, cut close; 
to beat down (weeds etc.); to pull 
back on (an animal); to hem, 
whip-stitch; to overcast (seam in 
sewing); to lead s.o. into a trap, 
make s.o. rise to the bait; to turn 
over a knuckle (when playing oslè 
q.v.) 
~ tè to plow 
rabatè n. [Fr.] procurer, pimp 
rabay see raben 
rabè n. rebate, discount, reduction in 
price 
Rabèlwa prop.n., Rabèlwaz 
f.prop.n. inhabitant of Jean-Rabel 
(Dept. North-West) 
raben, rabay n. rabbi 
rabesan adj. demeaning, belittling 
rabese, rabèse v. to lower, lessen, 
humble 
rabèsman n. disparagement, 
running down, humbling (of s.o.) 
rabi v. to ruin; to stunt, impede 
growth; to undercook; adj. ruined; 
dingy; badly washed; musty; 
stunted, rachitic; not fully ripe; n. 
sandbox tree 
rablabla, ablabla v. to babble, 
blabber, talk nonsense; n. babbler, 
blabberer; adj. talkative 
rablado n. loudmouth 
rabo, rabot, rabotèz n. carpenter's 
plane; cf. valôp 
rabô n. rim, brim; adv. filled to the 
brim 
rabôday adj. makeshift, shoddy, 
inadequate; on the fringe, not in 
the mainstream; low-class; 
suggestive, lascivious; n. drum used 
esp. at Carnival time; bann rara 
(q.v.) and carnival dance rhythm 
bann - small Mardi Gras band 
using elementary musical 
instruments 
rabôl, rakou adj. filled to the brim, 
to the hilt, completely 
rabonnen adj. sparse (hair; 
feathers); v. to give a bad haircut 
rabot see rabo 
rabote v. to plane (wood etc.); to 
handle roughly; to spade, turn 
(the) soil 
781 
rabotèz - rada 
rabotèz see rabo 
Raboto prop.n. Raboteau 
(disadvantaged area of Gonaïves; 
mountain in Dept. Artibonite) 
rabougri adj. stunted, 
underdeveloped, puny 
rabouray n. bustle, stir, commotion 
raboure, rabwe, reboure v. to plow, 
turn over the soil; to shove; to stir, 
agitate; to scold, fuss at; to handle 
(s.o.) roughly, rough up 
rabourè n. plower; shover 
rach, ach, hach n. ax, hatchet 
rache v. to dig up, tear out, tear off, 
pull out; to pull up, uproot, 
extract; to pluck (feathers); to 
grab, snatch (from); to chop up, 
cut up, mince; to grate, grind; to 
ax 
pa - yon mo not to say a word 
~ ak manchèt to hack away; to 
hack to death 
- bab to oppress; oppression, 
persecution; cruel, oppressive 
~ desann to cut down, fell (trees) 
- do to tear apart, criticize 
severely 
~ kè to make one's heart bleed, 
break one's heart 
- koupe to take advantage of, 
profit from, exploit 
~ manyok see manyèk 
~ pwèl dishonest money-changer; 
taptap (q.v.) without protective 
top for passengers 
~ tonbe to cut down, fell, hew 
- yon mo to force s.o. to talk 
rachennen see rachonnen 
rachèt n. hatchet 
rachitik, racheti adj. dwarfish, 
stunted, scrawny; rachitic 
maladi - var. of poultry disease 
rachonnen, rachennen, 
ranchonnen v. to mangle, cut up; 
to hack, cut up sloppily; to beat ' 
up, whip, thrash 
rachèt adj. stunted; decayed (tooth); 
n. dull machete; hatchet, (small) 
cleaver; community feast held on 
Independence Day (January 1) 
se sa - ta di bèf nonsense, 
pointless 
rachte v. to redeem, save, atone 
(for); to ransom 
rad, had n. clothes, (piece of) 
clothing, garment; harbor, 
anchorage 
ak tout - travay li unprepared; 
uninvited; without preparation, 
suddenly 
depi li fè yon - mete sou ou, ~ la 
bon pou ou to accuse s.o. falsely 
and have it believed 
gwo - everyday clothing 
mete - sou to get dressed; to dress 
(s.o. else) 
- drive unsightly clothes 
- klè worn-out clothing 
~ makak prison stripes, convict's 
uniform 
- penitans, - ve special penitence 
clothing (usu. Voodoo) 
- pèpè secondhand clothing (from 
abroad) - sak sackcloth 
~ seremoni dress coat, tailcoat 
- soti dress clothes 
- tanbou special covering placed 
over a Voodoo drum 
~ tèt endyen var. of cloth 
(incorporating no specific design) 
- tou koud ready-made clothing 
- ve see ~ penitans 
rada n. radar 
782 
Rada - radyofonik 
Rada n. Voodoo rite; category of 
Voodoo spirits originating in 
Africa, usually benevolent; dance 
rhythm associated with same 
bèf ~ black and brown cattle 
radada v. to babble, ramble, get off 
track 
wôb - (short) miniskirt 
radaday see radotay 
radas n. ravine 
radèlpra n. nonsense, empty talk; v. 
to talk nonsense, waste one's time 
in silly talk 
radi, hadi n. radish; adj. insolent, 
impudent, impertinent; haughty, 
arrogant 
~ cheribèl cherry bell radish 
~ fo, ~ pike horseradish 
~ rèdboy red boy radish 
~ rèdprens red prince radish 
radikal adj. radical 
radikalize v. to radicalize, polarize 
radikalman adv. radically 
radiye see radye 
radiyès (mele ak yon grenn 
penmèt), radyès n. insolence, 
impudence, impertinence; 
impertinent or insolent person 
fè ~ to be rebellious, be defiant 
radiyis n. radius (bone) 
radjo see radyo 
radjodifize, radyodifize v. to 
broadcast (radio) 
radjodifizyon, radyodifizyon n. 
broadcasting 
radjografi see radyografi 
radjôl, radyôl adv. overflowing, to 
the brim 
radjolôg, radyolog n. radiologist 
radjoloji, radyoloji n. radiology 
radmare n. tidal wave 
fè ~ dèyè to sweep away; to start a 
mass movement against; to run out 
of town on a rail, send packing, 
kick out 
rado 72. raft; multitude, large 
quantity 
yon - a lot of, a bunch of, many 
radon n. radon 
radôt 72. nonsense, bullshit 
fè - to misbehave 
nan - ak to mess with, play with, 
have s.thg. to do with 
pa nan - not to be kidding 
radotay, radaday n. blabbering, 
nonsense 
radote v. to drivel, talk nonsense; to 
babble, gush (talk) 
radoté 72. radotèzf.n. babbler, 
jabberer 
radousi v. to sweeten 
radyasyon n. radiation 
radyatè n. radiator 
radye, radiye v. to erase s.o.'s name; 
to deny (as son, friend etc.), 
abandon; adj. radiant 
radyès see radiyès 
radyo, radjo n. radio; radio station; 
loudspeaker 
- bouch, ~ djèl, ~ dyèl, ~ 
trannde see radyodydl 
~ kominikasyon two-way 
portable radio 
- pil transistor radio 
radyoaktif adj. radio-active 
radyodifize see radjodifize 
radyodifizyon see radjodifizyon 
radyodyèl, radyobouch, 
radyodjôl, radyotrannde n. 
grapevine, word-of-mouth, 
"coconut wireless" (cf. teledyôl); 
gossip, rumors; talkative or 
gossipy person 
radyofonik adj. radio 
radyografi - rakèt 
radyografi, radjografî n. x-ray; x-
ray machine; radiology 
radyôl see radjol 
radyolog see radjolôg 
radyoloji see radjoloji 
radyom n. radium 
radyomann n. radio/TV repair 
technician; radio/TV speaker 
raf n. raffle 
rafal n. volley, round, burst (of 
shots); swarm (of insects); gust (of 
wind) 
yon - a bunch of, a lot of 
Rafayèl prop.n. Raphael 
Rafayelwa prop.n., Rafayelwaz 
f.prop.n. inhabitant of Saint-
Raphaël (Dept. North) 
rafèmi v. to strengthen, become 
stronger and sounder 
rafinay n. refining 
rafine, rafinen v. to refine; adj. 
refined, cultured 
rafinè n. thief 
rafinri n. refinery 
rafistolaj, refistolay n. [Fr.] 
temporary solution, makeshift 
repair 
rafistole, rapistole v. to patch (up), 
patch together 
rafle v. to scratch, graze; to barely 
miss; to raffle off (lottery) 
rafrechi, afrechi, lafrechi, refrechi 
v. to refresh; to cool off; to look/ 
feel younger; n. cool herbal drink; 
(any) cool refreshing drink; adj. 
booster (injection etc.) 
- tèt ceremony to increase the 
power of one's principal 
protective Voodoo spirit 
rafrechisan adj. refreshing 
rafrechisman, refrechisman n. 
refreshment, cool drink; looking/ 
feeling younger 
rafredi v. to cool (off/down), chill 
raftè n. [Eng.] rafter 
raga n. reggae (popular music of 
Jamaican origin) 
ragannak adv. completely, totally 
ragou n. stew; casserole 
raj n. rabies; rage, fury, madness; 
see laraj 
fè - to rage, wreck havoc 
pase - sou to take it out on 
raje, haje n. undergrowth, 
underbrush, weeds, bush, scrub; 
thicket; woods; backwoods, wilds; 
adj. wild 
kraze ~ to flee, go into hiding 
voye nan - to throw away, toss 
away 
rajeni, rajenni v. to look younger; 
to rejuvenate, make s.o. feel 
younger; to renew; to refurbish 
rajenisman n. rejuvenation 
rajoute v. to add (some) more 
rejwenn v. to recoup, regain, make 
up for 
rak n. brush, thicket, woods; sound 
of clearing one's throat; var. of 
banana; adj. acrid, bitter; sour; 
harsh, strident 
kraze pran - to flee, go into 
hiding 
- ak to have plenty of; to be fed 
up with 
rakastiye v. to smear, coat (a surface 
with) 
rakbwa n. woods, thicket; out-of-
the-way place, "hole" 
rakè n. short/little/stunted person 
rakèt n. nopal, var. of cactus (often 
used as type of natural fencing; cf. 
kandelab, pengwen); var. of 
prickly pear; racket, illegal 
784 
raketay - rale 
enterprise; racket (tennis, 
racketball, ping-pong etc.); raid 
pat ~ prickly pear (large cactus), 
nopal 
- panyôl var. of med. plant 
- plat var. of cactus 
raketay, raketaj, rakètay n. 
racketeering 
rakètbôl n. [Eng.] racquetball 
raketè, rakètè n. racketeer 
Raketwa prop.nRaketwaz 
fprop.n. inhabitant of Pointe-à-
Raquettes (La Gonâve Island) 
rakle v. to scrape; to snort; to cry out 
(as in agony or despair); to suffer 
from emphysema; to utter a death 
rattle; n. beating, whipping; see 
wakle 
rakleman n. scraping; loud cry; 
death rattle, agonal respirations 
rakô, akô n. joint (plumbing); hose, 
coupling (mach.) 
rakôde v. to connect, join, link up 
(pipes, piping) 
rakôdè n. plugman (firefighter who 
attaches fire hose to fire hydrant); 
cf. vanné 
rakokiye see akokiye 
rakomoday n. mending, darning; 
repairing 
rakomode v. to mend, darn; to patch 
up; to repair 
rakontay n. story-telling; nonsense, 
gossip 
rakonte v. to tell, relate, recount 
~ san lese kras to tell all 
rakontè n. gossiper 
rakou see rabôl 
rakoun n. raccoon; cf. rat dlo, 
raton lavé 
rakousi, kousi v. to shorten, 
abridge; n. shortcut 
an - in short 
rakwen n. nook, cranny; corner; 
out-of-the-way or remote place, 
backwoods 
nan ~ in a bad position 
tout ~ in every nook and cranny 
rakwoche v. to hang up (telephone) 
ral, hal n. warehouse, depot; 
wheezing, wheeze; undertow 
gen ~ to wheeze 
~ kay large impressive house 
ralanti v. to slow down; n. slow 
motion; slowdown 
ralantisè pot n. door closer (mach.) 
ralantisman n. slowing down 
ralay n. massage 
ralba n. wooden clasp binding cords 
of Petwo drum 
ralba, alba n. children's game 
played with a flattened bottle top 
(same as mayôl) 
rale v. to pull, drag, haul, tow; to 
extract, draw out; to stretch; to 
crawl, hobble; to seize, grab; to 
work, try; to massage (often quite 
forcibly); to inhale; to snort, 
sniffle, suck in phlegm; to attract; 
to zoom in on (camera); to attract 
or influence through magic; to 
utter a death rattle; n. discussion; 
summary; (long) distance, (long) 
walk; massage, rubdown; traction; 
unleavened bread; drag (on 
cigarette); adj. drawn, shrunken, 
emaciated (face); onomat. sound 
produced by the larger of the two 
Petwo drums (Voodoo) 
fè yon - (sou) to hold forth upon 
(a subject), dwell upon, enlarge 
upon, explain, discuss 
lanmè a ~ the tide is out (low tide) 
mache yon jan ~ to shuffle 
785 
rale - ralfô 
- anlè to be short of breath 
~ bak to rush back, withdraw 
quickly 
~ bounda dèyè to withdraw, draw 
back 
~ bounda ou! Move your ass! 
~ chapo to tip one's hat 
~ chèz anba (yon moun) to pull a 
chair out from under (s.o.) 
- desann to pull down 
~ dèyè to scram, get out of the 
way 
- di to insist (on), maintain 
~ dra discord; dispute, argument 
- fèmen to pull shut 
~ file to fly, get up (a kite) 
~ jaden to draw by magic the 
produce of a neighbor's field to 
one's own field 
~ kanpe to struggle up 
~ kô li dèyè to draw back, retreat, 
make oneself inconspicuous 
~ k6 (li nan) to pull out (of s.thg.), 
withdraw (from); withdrawal 
~ kô Ginen to call on the Voodoo 
spirits 
~ kô ou! oh come on now! that 
can't be so!; scram! clear out! get 
lost! 
~ kouto to engage in a knife fight 
~ larim to sniffle 
~ lè to breathe deeply 
- men to offer a helping hand, 
help get on one's feet 
~ mennen ansanm to pull 
together, give cohesion to 
~ mennen kase one thing leads to 
another; brawl, free-for-all; strife; 
exposé, summary 
- mennen vini to attract the 
opposite sex; attraction; love 
potion; small Voodoo-inspired 
charm to attract customers; 
summary, outline, analysis; 
discussion, useless arguing; 
plotting, scheming 
~ monte to pull up, hoist 
~ nan to call on (telephone; 
Voodoo spirit) 
~ pat to torment 
~ pen to knead bread 
~ po to pinch 
~ pre mennen lwen to analyze, 
probe, hold up to the light 
~ san figi to put on a sad face 
~ sôti to pull out, withdraw 
~ sou to border, be almost; to 
haggle over (price, deal etc.) 
~ sou kôd to lead by the nose 
~ sou (yon) pye to limp, hobble; 
limping; lame 
~ (gwo) souf, ~ souf li fon to take 
a (deep) breath; breather, 
breathing spell, relief 
~ ti chèz li to listen attentively 
- van to take a break 
- vini to import; Voodoo charm 
- voye brawl, scuffle, fray, free-
for-all 
~/wete yon grenn mayi nan fal 
yon moun to worm s.thg. out of 
s.o. 
- woule to struggle, work hard 
- wout la to struggle along the 
way 
- (wout la) remoute to trek/ 
trudge back up 
- yon kannal to dig a canal 
- yon (bout) souf to draw an easy 
breath, find relief; to take a break 
- zèl kat to play cards 
- zôrèy to scold, reprimand 
ralfô, alfô, halfô n. straw bag with 
shoulder strap [usu. carried by a 
786 
raliman - randevou 
woman; a man usu. carries a 
makout] 
raliman n. rally, rallying 
ralkou, galkou adj. fed up (with), 
have one's fill (of), disgusted 
(with) 
ralonj n. extension leaf, 
lengthening-piece; extension cord 
ralonje v. to lengthen, extend 
ralral n. bluehead (fish) 
ralye v. to reconcile, reunite; to 
bring together (again) 
ram, ranm n. oar, paddle; ream (500 
sheets of paper) 
Ramadan prop.n. Ramadan (fasting 
period of the Moslem religion) 
ramak, amak, anmak, ranmak n. 
hammock 
raman adv. rarely, hardly ever, 
seldom 
ramasaj, ramasay see ranmasay 
ramase see ranmase 
rame, ranme v. to row, paddle 
(boat); to flunk an exam (N.) 
ramne: 
~ lôd to restore order 
ramè n. oarsman, rower 
ramifikasyon n. [Fr.] ramification 
ramo, ranmo n. small branch; palm 
(for Palm Sunday); var. of plant 
dimanch (de) Ramo Palm 
Sunday 
~ van to take a break 
papa - scarecrow (cf. jwif) 
Ramo (Septimis) prop.n. Rameau 
(Septimus) - vice-president of 
Haiti and real ruler under his uncle 
Michel Domingue, 1874-1876 
ramoli v. to soften 
ramye see ranmye 
ran n. row, line; rank (milit.) 
ak de ~ dan li penniless, broke 
de ~ dlo/bav de ~ larim bathed in 
tears, weeping, tearful(ly) 
fè mete pran ~ to line up 
li toujou bezwen nan - (s)he 
always has to get into the act 
pèdi ~ to lose rank or social status 
~ sosyal social class 
Ran prop.n. Rang (1st communal 
section of Cerca-Carvajal, Dept. 
Center) 
ranbare v. to be able to look after 
oneself; to rail at, call someone 
names 
ranblè, ranble n. embankment; 
landfill; rubble, debris, trash, junk 
(esp. from construction work); 
useless person, "dead wood"; 
extra (in movie) 
ranbleyaj n. filling in (of hole) 
ranbleye, ranbloye v. to fill in 
(hole) 
ranbouraj n. stuffing, padding 
ranboure v. to stuff (cushion, chair 
etc.); to upholster 
ranbousab adj. refundable, 
repayable 
ranbouse v. to reimburse, refund 
ranbousman n. reimbursement, 
refund, refunding 
ranch, rannch n. ranch 
ranch, anch, hanch n. hip; pelvis 
rancheri v. [Fr.] to go further, go 
one better 
ranchonnen see rachonnen 
Randèl prop.n. Randel (1st 
communal section of 
Chardonnières, Dept. South) 
randevou n. appointment, date, 
meeting 
kase yon - , mare (yon) % pase 
(yon) - , pran (yon) - to make an 
appointment or date 
787 
Randevou - ranmasay 
Randevou: 
Tant - Tabernacle [Bible] 
randi see andwi 
randisaj, randisay see randwisay 
randman see rannman 
randwi see andwi 
randwisay, randisaj, randisay n. 
(act of) coating, plastering, 
surfacing; wall finish 
ranflouye v. to refloat, bail out 
(boat; fig.) 
ranfè n. help, relief, back-up; 
reinforcement(s), fresh supply (of 
troops etc.); counter (stiffener 
inserted between lining and 
outside of shoe or boot) 
ranfose v. to reinforce, strengthen; 
to intensify; to add to, supplement 
ranfosman n. reinforcement; 
strengthening; lever 
ranga n. warehouse, shed, barn 
rangèn, rangenn n. refrain, chorus 
(song); same old talk, same old 
(repetitive) story 
rangennen v. to hold one's tongue, 
restrain one's emotion(s) 
ranje n. row, line; extra measure, 
surplus, (little bit) extra (same as 
degi); evil spell (Voodoo); v. to 
arrange, put in order; to alter; to 
repair, fix, mend; to set up; to 
manage; to file (away); to settle; to 
increase; to poison; to imbue with 
a protective magic power; refl. to 
prepare oneself, be ready; adj. 
poisoned; evil, magic 
byen - neat 
manje - (deliberately) poisoned 
food; food poisoning 
- dife to bank a fire 
- kabann to make the bed; to plan 
ahead 
~ kô li to anticipate, be ready; to 
sit up straight; to step or stand 
aside 
- ko ou - ban m pase! look out -
here I come! 
- malèt/valiz to pack one's 
suitcase 
- tab to set the table 
~ (yon moun) to straighten (s.o.) 
out, give direction to (s.o.) 
~ zo to reduce a fracture; to get 
ready (for s.thg. bad) 
zo ~ loaded dice 
ranjèdzafè n. go-between, 
intermediary 
ranjman n. repairing, adjusting, 
fixing up; cupboard space, storage 
space; bonus, (little bit) extra (cf. 
degi, ranje) 
Ranjovè prop.n. Landrover 
(vehicle) 
ranka see renka 
sou ~ aside, on the side 
rankè n. rancor, resentment 
rankèrize u to fill with resentment 
ran kin n. rancor, grudge, spite, 
resentment, vindictiveness 
rankinye adj. vindictive, spiteful 
Rankit prop.n. Ranquitte (Dept. 
North) 
Rankitèprop.nRankitèz f.prop.n. 
inhabitant of Ranquitte (Dept. 
North) 
ranklo see anklo 
rankont n. meeting, encounter 
fè - ak to run into s.o., encounter 
rankontre n. meeting, encounter 
rankontre (ak) v. to meet, run into, 
encounter 
ranm see ram 
ranmak see ramak 
ranmasay, ramasaj, ramasay, 
788 
ranmase - ranpado 
ranmasaj n. assemblage, 
collection 
ranmase, ramase v. to pick up, 
gather up, collect; to pick, harvest; 
to find, acquire; to draft (for a 
cause); to embrace, accept, 
welcome, adopt; to put away; to 
save, pile up; to rake; to get ready; 
to condense, summarize; to gather, 
be forming, coming to a head 
(storm; pus etc.); n. summary; 
collection (of funds for charity 
etc.) 
- chita to sit properly (woman) 
~ eskanp flgi to defend one's 
reputation 
~ jete to waste; junk; rags, old 
clothing 
- karaktè (li) to become serious 
(about s.thg.), become strong or 
resolute; to become highly 
offended, become hurt and angry 
~ ko li to contract, constrict, 
tighten up 
- otorite li to exert one's authority 
- vin pile to pick up spinning top 
on one's palm and place on 
marked spot on ground 
ranmasè n. gatherer 
ranmasèd fatra n. garbage 
collector, sanitation worker 
ranme see rame 
ranmo see ramo 
Ranmsès prop.n. Rameses (name of 
12 rulers of Egypt) 
ranmye, ramye n. ring-dove, wood-
pigeon 
~ kou wouj scaled pigeon 
- mile plain pigeon 
- tèt blan white-crowned pigeon 
rann v. to give back; to produce, 
give off; to secrete, pass (blood, 
worms etc.); to yield (profit); to 
make, render; to throw up, spit up, 
vomit; refl. to get to, arrive at 
anvi - nausea 
li - (li) kont to realize 
- bèk see ~ tèt 
- dènye souf li to breathe one's 
last (breath) 
- fyèl li to heave, vomit repeatedly 
~ gaz to burp, belch 
- ji to sweat blood, work hard 
- kont to account for, explain; to 
give an account or explanation; to 
find out; to realize 
- repons to talk back 
- san to have blood in one's stools 
- san souf/somèy to harass, give 
(s.o.) a hard time 
- sévis to render service, do 
favors; to be useful to 
- souf li to breathe one's last, take 
one's last breath, die 
- tèt, - bèk to give in, give up, 
surrender 
- vè to have worms in one's stools 
rannafle, rannakle v. to snore 
loudly, saw wood; to snort; n. loud 
snoring 
rannch see ranch 
ranni, hanni v. to neigh, whinny, 
bray; to holler, yell, talk loudly; n. 
neigh, whinny 
- van to live on nothing 
rannman, randman n. output, 
return(s), profit; effect, result(s); 
productivity; produce, yield; crops 
ranp n. terrace, terracing; slope, 
incline; ramp, pad 
ranpa n. rampart; bulwark, safeguard, 
defense; curved frame of kite 
ranpado adj. groveling, servile, 
fawning 
78Q 
ranpay - rantre 
ranpay n. erosion barrier made with 
interwoven branches 
ranpaye v. to rebottom, recane 
(chair etc.) 
ranpe v. to crawl, creep; to slither; to 
fawn, grovel 
ranpè n. groveler, flatterer, 
bootlicker, brown-noser 
ranpire see anpire 
ranplasan n. substitute, replacement 
ranplase v. to replace; to substitute 
ranplasman n. replacement; 
substitute 
ranpli v. to fill, fill up, fill in, fill 
out; to fulfill; to comply with (a 
duty); adj. full 
- akrake/jiskobou filled to 
bursting 
~-le-devwa private ceremony in 
honor of one's own family Voodoo 
spirit 
ranpono, ranponon n. organized 
agricultural work group (usu. 
small team working half-day only 
and for pay) 
ranpote, ranpote v. to take away, 
take back 
- lamayôl, - laviktwa to be 
victorious, be the winner 
rans, ransay n. nonsense; stupid 
remark; foolishness, silliness, 
stupidity; stupid gossip; joke; 
triviality, trifle, detail; adj. trivial, 
insignificant, unimportant; rancid, 
sour, stale 
fè - to act stupidly 
nan - joking, kidding 
ranse, tchanse, tyanse v. to dawdle, 
trifle, waste time; to joke, kid 
around, act silly; to blabber, talk 
nonsense; to fool or delude 
oneself 
ransè, tchansè n. joker, clown, 
buffoon; practical joker; frivolous 
or irresponsible person 
ranseye v. to inform 
ranseyman, ransèyman n. 
information 
pran - to inquire 
ransi adj. rancid 
ranson n. ransom; (a) little 
something 
ransone, ransonnen v. to ransom, 
hold for ransom 
ransonnman n. ransoming, holding 
for ransom 
ranstay n. nonsense; stupid remark; 
foolishness, silliness, stupidity 
ransyon, rasyon n. ration(s), 
portion, share; snack; beating 
ransyonnè n. ransomer 
rant n. income, revenue; allowance 
(weekly, monthly etc.); annuity, 
pension; bribe 
rantab adj. profitable, profit-
making, advantageous 
rantabilite, rantablite n. 
profitability 
rantabilizasyon n. (successful) 
marketing, commercializing 
rantabilize v. to market, 
commercialize 
Rantmate prop.n. Renthe-Mathé 
(1st communal section of 
Belladère, Dept. Center) 
rantre n. income, proceeds; 
entrance; return; start of new 
school/academic year; v. to take in, 
make (money); see antre 
fè - sôti to go in and out, go back 
and forth 
gen ti - sôti li to have free or easy 
access to, come and go freely 
- lekôl opening of school year 
790 
ranvès - raple 
- nan karaktè li to fit in with 
one's wishes/thoughts 
- sôti to go in and out 
- (vin) sôti to come back from, get 
back from 
- yon kôb to take in some money 
ranvès n. edge 
ranvèse v. to knock down, turn over; 
to knock over, spill; to turn upside 
down; to overthrow, overturn; to 
overflow, spill over; to vomit 
ranvèsè n. revolutionary, 
insurrectionist 
ranvèsman n. overthrowing 
ranvoye see ranvwaye 
ranvwa, anvwa n. spirit, ghost; 
(magic) spell; ritual exorcism, 
defense against an espedisyon 
(q.v) by using even more powerful 
magic (Voodoo); dismissal (school 
etc.); postponement; sending, 
launching, initiating; "clinging 
vine," nuisance; reference, footnote 
fè yon - to belch, burp 
- mô practices at the death of one 
Voodooist to prevent death from 
striking another 
ranvwaye, ranvoye v. to send away, 
dismiss, lay off; to put off, defer; 
to suspend, expel; to postpone 
- mô to get rid of (s.o.) see 
ranvwa mô; 
- (yon) nanm to send off a dead 
soul (Voodoo) 
ranyon n. old clothing, rags; bum, 
good-for-nothing; castoff; adj. 
shabby, ragged, threadbare 
an - in tatters, in bad shape 
rap ti. grater; rasp; rough file; n./adj. 
rap (music); v. to leave quickly, 
take off; onomat. sound of 
snatching an object 
rapa v. to act stupidly, kid around; to 
ramble, talk nonsense 
rapadou, apadou n. brown sugar 
candy 
rapas adj. rapacious, grasping, 
predatory; n. bird of prey, raptor 
rapasite n. rapaciousness, rapacity 
rapatriman n. repatriation 
rapatriye v. to repatriate; n. returned 
refugee 
rapay: 
ti - annoying little kid; worthless 
person 
rape v. to snatch (up), grab, jerk; to 
grate; to rasp; to answer rudely; n. 
gratings, shavings; roasted 
shredded coconut 
rapè 72. thief; rap dancer 
rapèl 72. reminder; booster shot, 
repeat vaccination; var. of drum 
rhythm; call to work (esp. for 
konbit q.v.); recall; clapping of 
hands to help call forth Voodoo 
spirits 
rapid adj. rapid, fast, prompt, 
speedy; adv. rapidly, swiftly 
fè - to hurry (up), rush 
rapidfaya adj. [Eng.] rapid-fire, 
fast-acting; deadly 
rapidité n. speed, rapidity 
rapidman adv. rapidly, quickly 
rapido presto, rapido pwesto adv. 
in a jifly, in no time at all 
rapin see derapin 
fè - to loot, plunder, pillage 
rapistolaj, rapistolay n. [Fr.] 
temporary solution, makeshift 
repair 
rapistole, rafistole v. to patch (up), 
patch together 
raple v. to recall; to remind of; refl. 
to remember 
791 
rapô - rasanble 
- alôd to call (s.o.) to order, call 
(s.o.) down, set (s.o.) straight 
rapô n. report; dealings, relations, 
connections; relationship; ratio; 
yield, income; sexual relations; 
harmony; sediment; litter (puppies 
etc.); colostrum, foremilk; burp, 
belch; interj. bull! nonsense! 
rubbish!; see tè 
fè - , pote - to report (s.thg.); to 
lodge a complaint; to have an 
acidic belch or gastric reflux 
gen bon - ak to be on good terms 
with 
gen - to have sexual relations 
gen - ak to be associated with, be 
related to 
pa - (a, ak) because of, for the sake 
of; in relation to, in connection 
with; in comparison with 
pote - see fè -
- (de) fôs balance of power 
vin o - to make an official report 
rapôtay n. profiting; reporting 
rapète v. to profit, be of benefit; to 
yield, give fruit; to earn, bring in 
(money); to denounce, sell out; to 
report, disclose; n. gossip(er) 
- ak to relate to, refer to 
rapôtè n. gossip(er); informer; 
informant; reporter, summarizer 
(for proceedings); protractor 
(math.) 
rapouswiv, rapousib, rapousiv v. to 
go after, search for, pursue, chase 
(after); to continue, carry on with; 
to go meet or look for (s.o.); to 
persecute, harass; n. coconut 
brittle-like candy 
- zo grann li to be looking for 
trouble 
rapwoche v. to bring together, draw 
nearer; adj. close, near 
rapwochman, rapwôchman n. 
proximity, nearness; link, 
connection; reconciliation 
rapya n. miser; thief; adj. stingy 
rapyay n. riffraff, rabble, common 
herd; junk; bothersome kids, brats 
rapyesaj, rapyesay n. make-shift 
repair(s) 
rapyese v. to piece together, repair, 
mend, patch (up) 
rapyetè adv. to the ground, level 
with the ground; adj. destitute 
rara v. to talk nonsense, drivel, rave; 
to plow a field with a tractor; n. 
rattle, noise-maker; var. of deep-
sea fish 
bann - informal musical group 
parading esp. at Carnival time and 
sometimes also year-round 
kraze - to bring to a close the 
activities of a bann -
- bwa rattle, noise-maker; 
chatterbox 
- fèblan rattle, noise-maker 
tonbe nan - to be in a bad way, 
fall on evil days 
ras n. race, breed, species; 
nationality; kind, sort; relatives, 
extended family; forebears, roots, 
people of a given region 
gran - tall (and strong) 
- kabrit family where incest is 
practiced; inbred 
- moun human race, mankind 
ti - small, stunted, 
underdeveloped 
yon - a bunch of, a quantity of 
rasanblaj n. enlisting; regrouping; 
compilation 
rasanble v. to gather, be gathered, 
congregate, be assembled, get 
792 
rasanble - ratache 
together; to assemble, collect, put 
together, bring together, gather up; 
to pack; n. gathering, assembly; 
pulling things together, organizing 
fè yon - to pull things together, 
get organized (one's resources, 
money etc.) 
yon - a lot of, much 
rasanbleman n. assembling, 
gathering (papers; troops etc.); 
formation; meeting, gathering; 
assemblage; Voodoo ceremony; 
assembly (milit.) 
mande - to sound assembly 
(milit.) 
pôs - assembly point, meeting 
place; (informal temporary) clinic 
rasazye v. to satisfy, fill, satiate; to 
get tired of s.thg. 
rasi v. to get stale; n. dwarf, midget; 
runt; adj. stale; dwarfish, stunted; 
dried (meat); experienced; 
chronic, deeply rooted 
rasimann n. oldster, old-timer, old 
person; s.thg. that is old or 
antiquated 
rasin n. root; origin; n./adj. roots 
(music influenced by Voodoo and 
rara begun in 1980's) 
fè - to take root 
nan ~ properly; from the 
beginning, at the base 
- kare square root (math.) 
~ kibik cubic root (math.) 
~ pivotant taproot 
- san bout hopeless case (person) 
Rasin (Jan) prop.n. Racine (Jean) -
French dramatist (1639-1699) 
rasinen v. to take root 
rasire v. to reassure 
rasis n. racism; n./adj. racist 
raso, haso n. leather whip 
rasoye v. to whip 
rasta(farya), rastamann n./adj. 
Rastafarian 
rastakwèt n. flashy adventurer or 
wanderer 
rastamann see rasta(farya) 
rasyal adj. racial; hereditary 
rasyon see ransyon 
rasyonèl, rasyonnèl adj. rational 
rasyonèlman adv. rationally, 
logically 
rasyonnalite n. rationality 
rasyonnen v. to ration 
rasyonnman n. rationing 
rat n. rat; rat, louse (person); f.n. 
promiscuous woman 
ansyen - old experienced hand 
de - nan menm twou two men 
who share the same woman 
depi li - li resi pran nan pèlen 
he/she has always been a problem 
pale kou - to speak fluently 
- dlo raccoon 
- do kale old experienced hand; 
expert, connoisseur; dirty rat 
- legliz church mouse, overly 
assiduous church-goer 
- mode soufle hypocrite; 
hypocritical 
- panyol Haitian worker long 
resident in Dominican Republic or 
Cuba 
touye de - nan yon sèl twou to 
kill two birds with one stone 
twou - indentation in hairline 
(from faulty barbering) 
yon vye - Dayiti an old "Haiti 
hand," a foreigner with long 
experience in Haiti 
rata! interj. stop it! 
yon - a lot of, many 
ratache v. to reattach 
793 
ratata - Ravin Nômann 
ratata v. to babble, blabber 
ratatine adj. [Fr.] wrinkled, 
shriveled (up), wizened 
ratatouy n. riffraff, worthless 
person; worthless object, junk; 
ratatouille (stew) 
ratchè n. clitoris; see ratyè 
- fè prostitute 
rate v. to miss, fail, lose out; to miss 
(opportunity; plane etc.); to rake; 
n. shortage, lack, scarcity 
gwo - manje famine 
rate w., ratèz f.n. failure, loser, 
incompetent 
raté adj./adv. on a level with the 
ground, down to the ground 
ratelye n. rack, stand; denture, false 
teeth 
ratezon n. scarcity, shortage 
ratibwazay, ratibrazay, ratibwazaj 
n. ravaging, smashing, crushing, 
destroying 
fè ~ to ravage, smash, crush, 
destroy 
ratibwaze, ratibraze v. to demolish, 
ravage, devastate; to rake in 
(money); to run away, clear out 
ratibwazè n. demolisher, devastator 
ratifikasyon n. ratification 
ratifye v. to ratify 
ratifyole v. to fix up, patch up, mend 
ratman n. irregularity, 
malfunctioning; failure; shortage, 
scarcity 
bay - to be undependable or 
unreliable (person or machine) 
- silenn breakdown, failure 
rato n. rake (implement); rail (bird) 
- fran Hispaniolan clapper rail 
(bird) 
ti - sora (bird) 
ti - jôn yellow-bellied rail (bird) 
raton lavé [Fr.] .see rat dlo 
ratrapaj adj. remedial 
ratrape v. to catch, recapture, get 
back; to catch up, make up for 
ratresi see retresi 
ratye n. rat terrier (dog) 
ratyè, ratchè n. rat or mouse trap 
- krab crab trap 
rav see chouyerav 
rasin ~ var. of med. plant 
ravaj, ravay n. ravages, devastation, 
havoc; epidemic 
fè - to ravage, lay waste 
ravaje v. to ravage, devastate; to 
loot, steal 
ravajè adj., ravajèzf.adj. 
destructive; n. spendthrift; 
devastator, ravager 
ravay see ravaj 
ravèt n. (cock)roach 
- dlo giant water bug 
woch ~ basalt 
ravin: 
- do depression of backbone, 
spinal depression 
ravin, laravin, ravinaj, ravinay n. 
ravine, hollow, gully, gorge 
Ravinachal prop.n. Ravine-à-
Charles (5th communal section of 
Jérémie, Dept. Grand'Anse) 
Ravinakoulèv Ravine-à-Couleuvres 
(famous battle site February 23, 
1802 of Haitian Revolution, in 
Dept. Artibonite) 
Ravin Dewochprop.n. Ravine-
Desroches (7th communal section 
of Limbé, Dept. North) 
Ravin Gwomônprop.n. Ravine-
Gros-Morne (8th communal 
section of Gros-Morne, Dept. 
Artibonite) 
Ravin Nomann prop.n. Ravine-
Ravin Sèch - rebat 
Normande (1st communal section 
of Cayes-Jacmel, Dept. South-East) 
Ravin Sèch prop.n. Ravine-Sèche 
(llth communal section of Petit-
Goâve, Dept. West) 
Ravin Twonpètprop.n. Ravine-
Trompette (3rd communal section 
of Pilate, Dept. North) 
ravisé n. kidnapper, abductor 
ravitaye v. to resupply with food; to 
struggle, work hard 
rawonn n. [Eng.] round (boxing) 
Rawoulprop.n. Ralph 
ray n. rail, railroad track; rage, fury, 
madness 
kraze ~ to tear apart, splinter, 
smash 
mete sou - to put (back) on track, 
get going (again) 
pase ~ sou to take it out on 
- Makdonal railway constructed 
by James P. McDonald (PaP-St. 
Marc-Verrettes etc.) 
~ pou tren tren pou - it's all the 
same, it's all related; no harm done 
(cf. bèf pou wa savann pou wa) 
sou - on track, on course, in great 
shape 
Ray prop.n. Rail (disadvantaged 
area of Site Solèy, q.v.) 
raya n. riffraff, worthless person; 
adj. unsavory, unpalatable; mealy 
raye v. to mock, jeer 
rayi, hayi v. to hate, detest, abhor; to 
dislike, be disgusted with; n. 
hatred 
rayiman see rayisman 
rayisab, ayisab, raysab adj. 
hateful, obnoxious; selfish; n. 
enmity, hostility, antagonism; 
malcontent 
fe - (ak) to show hostility (toward) 
gen - to create envy 
marasa ~ twins who don't get 
along with each other 
rayisman, rayiman, rayisans n. 
hate, hatred; envy; persecution 
rayonnman see reyonnman 
raysab see rayisab 
raz adj. boring, uninteresting, dull; 
plain, simple; short, truncated 
(roof overhang etc.); inadequate, 
minimal; worthless, cheap; adv. 
level with, flush with; flatly, dully, 
coldly; prep, near 
pase - to narrowly miss 
pwal - short-haired (animal); 
short pubic hair 
razad n. edge, brim; serving, 
glassful; adv. on the edge; prep. 
close to 
raze v. to shave (off); to graze, touch 
lightly, brush against; to screw, 
lay, have sex 
razè adj. broke, penniless 
razibis v. to clean out, strip bare, 
fleece, plunder; n. clever thief 
razwa, razwè n. razor; razor blade 
(cf. jilèt); adj. sharp, cunning 
pase ~ anba pye to harm, hurt 
sal - gossiping place, center of 
character assassination 
razya n. raid, foray 
re n. ray-fish; D (music); see rè 
~ lanj spotted eagle ray (fish) 
- pikan sting-ray (fish) 
re- prefix re-, again 
rè, re n. stripe, streak; part(ing) of 
hair; interj. to call a dog 
kat - four o'clock 
reba, reban see rebay 
rebat v. to reshuffle (cards); to beat 
(up) again 
- kat to reshuffle the cards; to 
795 
rebâti - rechite 
come up with a new deal 
rebâti v. to rebuild, reconstruct 
rebatisman n. rebuilding, 
reconstruction 
rebatize v. to rebaptize, rename 
rebay, reba, reban v. to give back, 
give again; to repeat 
Rebeka f.prop.n. [Bible] Rebecca, 
Rebekah 
rebèl n./adj. rebel, insurgent; adj. 
rebellious, disobedient 
fè - to rebel, disobey 
rebele v. to rebel, disobey 
rebelyon n. rebellion, uprising; 
refusal to follow will of a Voodoo 
spirit; adj. rebellious 
san - according to orders/ 
instructions 
rebil n. reconditioned vehicle part; v. 
to recondition a vehicle part 
rebise v. to repeat once again 
rebitan adj. sickening, disgusting 
(food); satiating (food) 
rebite v. to disgust, be repelled by; 
to eat one's fill 
rebloke v. to reblock or obstruct 
again 
rebo n. edge, side, rim, brim; bank, 
border; seashore, waterfront; 
hem(line); see sanrebo 
- fenèt window-sill 
- lanmè, - mè a seashore, 
waterfront 
rebonbe v. to bounce (back), 
rebound 
rebondaj n. pruning, thinning out 
rebondi v. to bounce (back); to 
spring back to life, get going again 
rebondisman n. (sudden new) 
development, sudden revival 
rebondong v. to reverberate, 
resound; to be reflected; n. 
reverberation, resonance 
rebouche v. to refill (hole etc.); to 
replug; to recork 
reboujonnen v. to sprout again, 
spring forth again 
reboure see raboure 
rebouziye, rebouzye v. to fill in 
cracks of wall, redaub (with mud 
or concrete) 
rebranche v. to reconnect 
rebrasaj n. rearrangement; 
reapportionment 
rebrase v. to rearrange, adjust 
rebwaze v. to reforest 
rebwazman n. reforestation 
rebwè v. to have another drink 
rebyen v. to reconcile, reconciliate, 
make up, become friends again 
fè (moun) ~ to reconcile, 
reconciliate 
rechaje v. to recharge, reload, boost 
rechanj, derechanj, derechany, 
rechany n. spare (part, tire etc.); 
man's shirt and trousers made of 
matching material; ritual clothing 
(Voodoo); trade, swap, exchange 
- lagè battle dress 
rechap n. escape; haven; cure 
san ~ incurable, terminally ill 
rechapante v. to restructure 
rechape v. to come through, escape, 
survive; n. survivor 
rechèch n. research; search, 
investigation 
Rechèch (Kriminèl) Bureau of 
Criminal Investigation (PaP) 
rechèchè, rechèchis n. researcher 
rechinye see rechiyen 
rechinyè see rechiyè 
rechit n. relapse, setback 
rechita v. to sit down again 
rechite v. to have a relapse 
796 
reflj - regade 
reflj n. refuge, asylum 
refijye, refije n. refugee; refl. to take 
refuge 
refikse, refiske v. to readjust 
refinanse v. to refinance 
refiz n. refusal, denial 
refize v. to refuse, reject; cf. dereflze 
reflè n. reflection (image, light) 
réfléchi v. to reflect (upon), 
consider, deliberate, think about; 
n. review, examination; reflection, 
meditation; adj. well thought out, 
considered; thoughtful, reflective; 
reflexive (gram.) 
fè yon - to reflect (upon), 
consider, think about 
- yon moun to make s.o. think or 
consider 
san - instinctively; impulsively 
reflèks n. reflex 
refleksyon, reflesyon n. reflection, 
thought, meditation; reflection 
(image, light) 
reflektè n. reflector 
refleri v. to flower or blossom again, 
spring up again 
reflesyon see refleksyon 
reflete v. to reflect 
refôm h. reform, change; 
Reformation (rel. ) 
fè - to reform, bring about change 
refomasyon n. reformation 
refômatè n. reformer; adj. 
reformative 
refôme, refômen v. to reorganize, 
reform (group etc.); to renew; to 
reconstitute 
refèmile v. to reformulate 
refômis n./adj. reformist 
refonksyone(n), refonksyonne(n) 
v. to function again, resume 
operations 
refonn v. to remelt; to recast, 
overhaul 
refoule v. to turn back, force back 
(refugees); to suppress 
refoulman n. turning back, forcing 
back (of refugees); suppression 
refoure je v. to reexamine, 
rescrutin ize 
refouye v. to dig up again, re-
excavate; to reopen (a well) 
refraksyon n. refraction 
refraktè adj. [Fr.] resistant, 
stubborn; n. resister, antagonist 
refrechi see rafrechi 
refrechisman see rafrechisman 
refren n. refrain, chorus (music) 
refrijerasyon n. refrigeration 
refrijeratè n. refrigerator; cf. frijidè 
refrijere v. to refrigerate 
refwadi v. to cool (off), chill 
refwadisman n. chill, common cold 
(illness); cooling, drop in 
temperature 
règ n. rule; regulation; (straight-
edge) ruler; period, menstruation, 
menses, menstrual flow; one's fill; 
adj. many, numerous 
an % nan - in order; in 
compliance with; properly, 
sufficiently 
gen % wè - to have one's period, 
menstruate 
li manje - manje li he eats his fill 
~ do backbone 
rega n. [Fr] expression, look, glance 
regadan adj. stingy; nagging, 
pestering, critical 
fè - to be stingy 
regadans: 
san ~ without consideration, 
without concern 
regade v. to concern, be of one's 
799 
regal - rejèt 
business; to regard, consider; to 
look at again 
regal n. treat, delight 
reganisaj n. refilling of seedling 
trays (bot.) 
Regann (Wonal)prop.n. Reagan 
(Ronald) - president of USA, 
1981-1989 
regazonnen v. to replant with grass 
or turf 
rege n. reggae (var. of popular dance 
rhythm from Jamaica) 
regilarite n. regularity 
regilarizasyon n. regularization; 
putting in order 
regilarize v. to regularize, control; to 
standardize 
regilatè n. regulator (mach.); adj. 
regulating 
regilve, regilyè adj. regular; 
consistent; adv. regularly 
regilyèman adv. regularly; 
consistently 
reglab adj. adjustable 
reglay, reglaj n. adjustment, 
adjusting 
regie v. to resolve, settle, arrange; to 
accomplish; to regulate, guide, 
direct; to count; to get even with, 
take revenge on; to punish, treat 
harshly; to menstruate 
Kisa 1 ap What's become of 
him/her? 
pa - byen to have irregular 
menstrual periods 
~ kont to settle accounts, seek 
revenge 
~ zafè/enterè li to take care of 
one's business, settle one's affairs; 
to feather one's nest 
~ zafè (yon moun) to settle 
(s.o.'s) hash, take care of (s.o.) 
regleman, règleman n. settlement 
of accounts; accounting (debt, 
obligation; quarrel); regulation, 
law, rule(s); menstruation; proper 
order of Voodoo ceremony 
fè ~ to settle (debt, obligation; 
quarrel) 
~ (de) kont settling of scores, 
getting even 
- sikilasyon traffic control 
reglemantasyon n. control, 
regulation 
reglemante v. to regulate 
reglemantè adj. regulatory, statutory 
reglis n. licorice 
rego, regou see egou 
regoris: 
fè ~ ak to talk back to, be rude to 
regrè, regre n. regret(s), sorrow 
regrenpe v. to climb back up 
regrese v. to regress 
regrèt, regrete v. to regret, be sorry 
Sa byen regrèt mwen I am quite 
sorry 
regretab, regretan adj. regrettable, 
deplorable; unfortunate 
regrete see regrèt 
regretman, regrètman n. regret 
regwoupe v. to regroup, reform; to 
group together, assemble; to 
reassemble 
regwoupman n. assemblage, 
grouping/bringing/gathering 
together 
rejayi v. [Fr.] to rebound on, effect 
rejè n. reject, discard; rejection; 
garbage, waste; shoot, sprout 
rejenbe v. to rebel 
rejenerasyon n. regeneration, 
renewal 
rejenere v. to regenerate, renew 
rejèt: 
800 
rejete - rekeyi 
kanpay mouvman ~ anti-
Voodoo campaign 
rejete, rejte v. to reject; to formally 
renounce one's Voodoo beliefs 
and practices; n. anti-Voodoo 
campaign; act of renouncing 
Voodoo; person who renounces or 
has renounced Voodoo; see rechte 
rejetman n. vomiting; social 
rejection 
rejeton, rejton n. shoot, sprout, 
offshoot 
reji n. excise; administration, state 
management; v. to govern (jur.) 
rejim n. stalk or stem (bananas, 
plantains); diet; (political) regime 
fè ~ to go on a diet 
jete ~ to sprout (bananas etc.) 
rejiman, rejman n. regiment (milit.) 
~ dan zôrèy secret society of 
evildoers 
yon ~ many, a lot of; a gang, a 
bunch 
rejis n. birth certificate; register, 
registry, log; voter registration list; 
account book, entry book; 
registration 
rejisè n. administrator, supervisor 
rejistre v. to register 
rejman see rejiman 
rejte see rechte; rejete 
rejton see rejeton 
rejwe v. to replay a game, make up a 
game; to repeat a (theatrical) 
performance 
rejwenn v. to find again, recover; to 
regain; to rejoin, meet again, 
reunite; to agree with, confirm, 
substantiate 
rejwi v. to cheer up, gladden; to 
rejoice 
rejwisans n. rejoicing, festivities, 
merry-making 
rejyon n. region, district 
rejyonal, rejyonnal adj. regional 
rejyonalis adj. regionalist(ic), 
parochial, limited 
rèk, hèk adj. almost ripe, ready to 
be picked (fruit); older than one 
looks; colloquial, down-to-earth, 
familiar; powerful; experienced 
REKA acron. Rezo Entènèt 
Kreyolis Ayisyen - Internet 
Network of Haitian Creolists 
rekadre v. to reorganize, reshape, 
redirect 
rekale v. to fail (an exam); n. s.o. 
who has failed (an exam); s.o. 
who is repeating a school year 
rekalsitran, kalsitran adj. 
recalcitrant, refractory, stubborn; 
rebellious; n. rebel 
fe - ak to put up a fight against, 
struggle against 
rekanpe v. to stand up again; to set 
up again, start up again; to stop 
again 
rekare: 
~ batay to reenter battle, take up 
arms again 
rekase v. to fold back 
rèkè, kèkè n. runt, shrimp; adj. 
underdeveloped, small for one's 
age 
reken n. shark 
- blan lemon shark 
~ mato smooth hammerhead shark 
~ sab sand shark 
rekenbe v. to recapture 
rekeran n. [jur.] applicant 
rekètw. request; petition (jur.; rel.) 
rekèy n. collection, book 
rekeyi v. [Fr.] to win (support), reap 
(rewards); to gather, collect 
801 
rekèyman - rekonmanse 
rekèyman n. [Fr.] reflection, 
meditation, contemplation 
rekil n. regression, retreat, decline; 
hindsight; sense of perspective 
pran yon ~ to look at in 
perspective, reconsider 
rekile, ekile v. to move back; to back 
down, retreat; adj. remote 
rekiperasyon n. [Fr.] recovery 
rekipere v. to make up (for time 
lost); to get back, recover (money, 
object); to recuperate; to reprocess 
rekiyèm, rekriyèm, rekwiyèm n. 
requiem 
rekize v. to retract, recant, take back 
rekizisyon n. requisition 
fè ~ to requisition, commandeer 
rekizitwa n. accusation, indictment; 
closing speech for the prosecution 
reklam, reklanm n. publicity, 
advertisement, commercial 
fè ~ to advertise, promote 
reklamasyon n. claim, demand 
kaye dosye ~ list of complaints 
~ malèt baggage claim area 
sévis ~ complaint department 
reklame v. to claim, insist on 
reklamè n. [jur.] claimant 
reklanm see reklam 
reklase v. to reclassify 
reklasman n. reclassification 
rekloure v. to nail back down 
reko n. record, best performance 
pote ~ to beat the record 
rekoke see rekwoke 
rekèl see rekot 
rekole v. to glue back together 
rekoleksyon n. spiritual meditation 
rekèlt see rekot 
rekôlte, rekote v. to harvest, reap, 
gather, pick 
rekèmandasyon, rekonmandasyon 
n. recommendation 
rekèmande, rekonmande v. to 
recommend, urge; adj. registered 
(mail) 
rekômanse see rekonmanse 
rekonbine v. to recombine 
rekondwi, rekondi v. to show out (a 
visitor); to renew, continue (in 
political office etc.) 
rekonekte v. to reconnect, plug in 
again; to reinsert (IV tube etc.); to 
reunite 
rekonesan, rekonnesan adj. 
grateful, thankful, appreciative 
rekonesans, larekonesans, 
rekonnesans n. gratitude, 
gratefulness; recognition 
gen ~ grateful 
~ dèt acknowledgment of a debt 
san ~ ungrateful 
rekonèt, rekonnèt v. to recognize, 
perceive; to know, be acquainted 
with; to acknowledge, admit; to 
acknowledge paternity; to meet, 
make the acquaintance of; to 
recognize (status of a new 
government); reft, to catch one's 
breath, regain one's composure; to 
accept responsibility for 
pa ~ to deny 
rekonfô n. consolation 
rekonfôtan adj. comforting, 
consoling 
rekonfôte v. to comfort, console 
rekoni, rekonni v. to recognize 
(jur.); adj. [Fr.] well-known, 
recognized 
rekonmandasyon see 
rekèmandasyon 
rekonmande see rekomande 
rekonmanse, rekômanse, 
rekoumanse v. to begin again, 
802 
rekonnesan - rèl 
recommence 
- nèt to start all over again 
rekonnesan see rekonesan 
rekonnesans see rekonesans 
rekonnèt see rekonèt 
rekonni see rekoni 
rekonpans n. reward, recompense 
rekonpanse v. to reward, 
recompense 
rekonpoze v. to retake an 
examination 
rekonsakre v. to reconsecrate, 
rededicate 
rekonsidere v. to reconsider, 
reexamine 
rekonsilyasyon, larekonsilyasyon 
Ti. reconciliation 
rekonsilyatè n. reconciler; adj. 
reconciliatory 
rekonsilye v. to make up, make 
peace, become reconciled; to 
reconcile, reconciliate 
rekonstitisyon n. reconstitution, 
reconstruction, reformation 
rekonstitye v. to reconstitute 
rekonstri v. to reconstruct, rebuild 
rekonstriksyon n. reconstruction 
rekonte v. to recount, count again 
rekonvèti v. to reconvert 
rekopye v. to recopy, copy over 
rekôt, rekôl, rekôlt n. harvest; crop 
fè ~ to harvest, reap 
~ kafe, ~ zaboka years (of age) 
rekôte see rekôlte 
rekou n. recourse, resort; appeal 
(jur.) 
rekouche v. to lie down again, go 
back to bed 
rekoud v. to sew up again, mend 
rekoule v. to refilter, resift 
rekoumanse see rekonmanse 
rekoupe v. to reçut, cut again 
rekouvreman n. collection, levying 
(of taxes); recovery 
rekouvri v. to cover again; to re-roof 
rekrache v. to spit out (again) 
rekrepi v. to replaster 
rekreyasyon n. recess (school), 
break; re-creation 
rekreyatif adj. [Fr.] recreational 
rekreye v. to recreate 
rekri n. recruit, rookie; draftee; 
newly arrived (person) 
rekriminasyon n. recrimination, 
retribution, vengeance 
rekrimine, rekriminen v. to 
recriminate 
rekrisifye v. to recrucify 
rekrite v. to draft; to recruit, enroll 
rekritè n. recruiter 
rekritman n. draft; recruitment 
fè - to draft; to recruit 
rekriyèm see rekiyèm 
Rèks Teyat prop.n. Rex Theatre (on 
rue Capois near Champs-de-Mars, 
PaP-built in 1935) 
rektang n. rectangle; adj. 
rectangular; right (triangle) 
rektangilè adj. rectangular 
rekte v. to vomit bile 
rektè n. rector 
rektifikasyon, rektifikatif n. 
rectification 
rektifye v. to rectify 
rektora n. rectorship; university 
administration; university 
administration office or building 
rekwit v. to recook, cook again 
rekwiyèm see rekiyèm 
rekwoke, rekoke v. to hang back up, 
put back up 
rèl, hèl n. scream, shout, cry, yell; 
wail, howl; stripe 
dènye ~ death rattle 41 
rèl - releng 
fè ~ to begin mourning/weeping/ 
wailing 
kenbe ~ to mourn, weep, wail 
pete - screaming, shouting, 
wailing 
pouse yon ~ to utter a cry 
- do backbone, vertebrae 
~ pijon cooing of pigeon 
relach n. break, time out; haven, 
port, harbor 
relâche v. to utter, pronounce, say; to 
liberate; to relax, loosen; to fart 
relaks! inter]. relax! cool it! 
relaksan n. relaxant 
relakse v. to relax 
ti ~ short break, short rest 
relans, relansman n. renewal, 
revival, revitalization (economy 
etc.) 
relanse v. to restart, relaunch; to 
renew, revive, revitalize (economy 
etc.) 
relansman see relans 
relasyon, relyasyon n. relations, 
relationship; pull, political 
connections, influential friends; 
nepotism; sexual relations, coitus, 
copulation 
antre/ale an ~ to have sexual 
relations 
gran ~ pull, political connections, 
influential friends 
nan ~ in a sexual relationship 
~ piblik public relations 
relasyonne v. to develop a 
relationship; to use pull or 
connections 
relate v. [Fr.] to relate, tell, recount 
relatif adj. relative 
rèldo n. backbone, vertebrae 
nan - spinal 
rele v. to cry (out), call out, yell, 
shout; to weep; to scream; to roar, 
rumble (floodwaters esp.); to call, 
hail, summon, invoke; to call, 
name, be named; to telephone; to 
greet; to tempt, attract; to moo 
(cow); n. yelling, shouting; 
screaming; limpkin (bird) 
pa gen ni - ni reponn to have no 
say, be without influence; to be 
alone in the world, be without 
anyone to help you 
~ anmwe (gras lamizerikod) cry 
for help, distress signal 
~ anmwe kont to rise up against 
~ apre ko to take care of oneself 
~ bak to call back, return a 
telephone call 
~ chèmèt chèmètrès to be the 
owner or proprietor 
~ dèyè, ~ koukouwouj to get 
after, reprimand, scold; to harass; 
to thunder, rage against (s.o.) 
~ di to call out, shout 
~ fo to shout; to roar 
~ kriye to wail, bawl 
~ lwa yo to invoke the Voodoo 
spirits 
~ nan ko li to cry out 
- nan leta, ~ nan tribinal to 
summon, subpoena; to sue 
~ sou to rebuke, yell at, scream at 
~ sou ko li to strive, endeavor 
- (tèl bagay) pa li to be one's 
thing, be very good at 
~ viv to acclaim, applaud 
si m pa ~ m a toufe if I don't 
scream I'll die 
relè n. relay; shift (job) 
releng, rèleng n. small bit of; 
narrow strip; shabby clothes, rags; 
adj. insignificant; inconspicuous; 
refl. to hide (from s.o.), avoid (s.o.) 
804 
relèv - remimenaj 
an ~ in rags, in tatters; ruined, 
penniless; in bad shape; on the 
edge of (crowd, group); bit by bit, 
little by little; furtively 
relèv see larelèv 
pa ~ in shifts 
relèvman n. recovery, 
reconstruction, rebuilding 
releye v. to relay, pass on; to relay, 
retransmit (radio, TV); see relye 
reli v. to reread 
relijye adj. religious, devout, pious; 
n. priest, brother 
relijyèz, relijyez f.n. nun 
relijyezman adv. religiously 
relijyon, larelijyon, relizyon n. 
religion, cult, sect 
relik n. (obs.) (holy) relic 
relika n. remainder, outstanding 
balance, money still due 
relikè n. reliquary; family treasure 
chest 
reliks n. radiator fan (mach.) 
relimen v. to relight; to rekindle; to 
restart (motor) 
relizyon see relijyon 
relojman n. rehousing 
relouvri v. to reopen 
reive v. to revive; to arise; to raise, 
increase; to perpetuate; to take a 
bearing; n. (academic) transcript 
relvednôt n. (academic) transcript 
relwe v. to sublease 
relyan prep, connecting, linking 
relyasyon see relasyon 
relye v. to bind (book); to connect, 
link; see releye 
relyè n. bookbinder 
remâche v. to ruminate, chew the 
cud 
remak, renmak n. remark, 
observation; mark, sign, symptom; 
trace, spot (blood etc.) 
bay ~ to look like, give the 
appearance of 
remakab adj. remarkable, striking, 
outstanding, noteworthy 
remake, renmake v. to remark, 
notice, observe 
fè ~ to point out 
remakonen v. to renew ties, rekindle 
friendship 
remanbray n. strengthening, 
reaffirmation 
remanbre v. to strengthen 
remanbreman n. strengthening 
remande v. to ask again, rerequest 
remaniman n. reshaping, 
reorganization, revision 
remanyen, remanye (pronounced: 
re-ma-nye) v. to modify, reshape, 
revamp 
remare v. to refasten, tie up again; to 
rearrest, recapture 
remarye v. to remarry, marry again 
remaye v. to mend (fishnets) 
remeble v. to refurnish 
remèd, rèmèd see renmèd 
remedye v. to remedy; to give or 
take medicine 
~ (a) to cure, remedy, put right 
remennen v. to bring back 
remere see vant a ~ 
remèsi see renmèsye 
remèsiman n. thanks, 
acknowledgment 
remèsye see renmèsye 
remèt see renmèt 
remete v. to bring back; to restore; to 
give back, put back; to put on 
again, wear again (clothes) 
- (kanpe) sou pye to reestablish, 
reconstitute, reform 
remimenaj n. clean-up 
805 
remisyon - ren 
remisyon n. remission, forgiveness 
irel) 
remiz n. garage; (over-night) 
parking space; awarding, 
presentation; remission (of debt) 
nan ~ put away (an object) 
~ a sè paran [Fk] to be 
permanently expelled from school 
~ an kèsyon calling into question 
~ diplom graduation ceremony 
remizajou n. updating 
remize v. to park (in a garage); to 
stow away, shelve 
remo, renmè n. remorse 
bay ~ to quit while one is winning 
(in card game etc.) 
remok n. tow; use of calf to start 
milk-flow from cow 
remôkay, remokaj n. towing, 
towage 
remoke, remoke v. to tow (away); to 
use a calf to start milk-flow from 
cow 
remokè n. tow truck; tugboat 
remolin, rimolen n. current (river 
etc.); tide; eddy 
Remonprop.n. Raymond; (1st 
communal section of Petit-Trou-
de-Nippes, Dept. Grand'Anse) 
Remonleben prop.n. Raymond-les-
Bains (beach near Jacmel in Dept. 
South-East) 
remonsin n. var. of mango 
remontan n. stimulant, tonic, pick-
me-up 
remonte see remoute 
remontrans, remoutrans n. 
reproach, reprimand 
remoulen v. to ruminate, chew the 
cud 
remoute, remonte v. to climb again, 
go up again, come back up again; 
to ruminate, chew the cud; to put 
back up; to rebuild, reassemble, 
put back together; to repair, 
recondition; to have the hiccups; 
to cheer up, restore spirits, 
comfort; to go back to; to 
reconstruct; to invigorate, fortify, 
revive 
~ kouran to make a come-back 
~ man je to chew the cud 
~ moral (yon moun) to reassure, 
cheer (s.o.) up 
remye v. to break the soil, plow 
ren n. kidney; waist; loin(s); hip(s); 
lower back; side, flank (of 
mountain etc.); middle of, center of 
brase ~ (li), devise ~ (li) to 
undulate or grind the hips 
chwal ~ long long-suffering 
doulè nan ~ lower-back pain 
fè ~ to undulate the hips (in 
dancing) 
gen ~ bloke, gen ~ frèt to lose 
one's virility 
gen ~ louvri to have a sprained 
back; to be barren (woman) 
gen ~ pitit to be able to father 
children 
kase ~ to break the back of, wear 
down; to fire, lay off; to dilute 
with water (rum etc.) 
kraze ~ to cream, do well, do 
thoroughly 
mache sou ~ to limp 
maladi nan ~ kidney disease 
mare ~ to tighten one's belt 
mare - li to resign oneself, steel 
oneself, show fortitude 
pa ret - anko to be worn out or 
exhausted 
pete ~ to fire, lay off 
~ bloke kidney failure 
806 
ren - renmèt 
- fè mal lower-back pain 
- gèp, ~ flanman, ~ marengwen, 
- zangi tiny-waisted 
- pou ~ evenly, equally, half and 
half 
tiyo ~ ureter 
10 ~ hip 
Ren prop.n. Rhine (river) 
rèn see renn 
rena, renna n. fox 
Rena prop.n. Renard 
renal adj. renal, kidney 
Rench, Ench, Hench prop.n. 
Hinche (administrative center of 
Dept. Center) 
Renchwa, Renchwaz see Enchwa, 
Enchwaz 
rendengot see redengôt 
rendong adj. difficult 
renega n. renegade, deserter 
renesans n. rebirth; prop.n. 
Renaissance 
renèt v. to come back to life, be 
renewed 
fè ~ to bring back to life, revive 
renk adv. just, only; so much, to 
such a degree (that) 
fè - to have just (done s.thg.) 
renka, ranka v. to withdraw, draw 
back, be elusive, be distant, be 
evasive; to hesitate, be diffident; 
adj. shy, retiring, reserved, 
reticent; fearful 
nan ~ with great care or skill 
~ ko li to withdraw, fall back, 
hesitate; to blend into the crowd 
~ k6 ou get out of the/my way 
~ sou dèyè to roll back down (car, 
truck); to retreat, draw back, be 
reticent or retiring 
renleng: 
an ~ in tatters, in bad shape 
807 
renmak see remak 
renmake see remake 
renmèd, remèd, rèmèd n. remedy, 
medicine, medication; adj. 
medicinal 
~ chwal horse medicine, very 
strong potent medication 
~ fèy, ~ kôs herbal remedy, home 
remedy, folk medicine 
san ~ incurable 
renmen v. to love, like, care for; to 
be in love; to like (to do), enjoy; to 
be susceptible to, be subject to; n. 
girl-friend, boy-friend, lover; love; 
love affair; adj. in love 
gate ~ ak, kase ~ ak to break off a 
(love) relationship 
mâche fè ~ to sleep around 
nan ~ to be in love 
~ adwat agôch to sleep around 
~ ak to be in love with; to go 
steady with 
~ amè to adore 
- pase/kou de (grenn) je nan tèt 
lî to love with all one's heart, lose 
one's heart to, adore 
tonbe - pou to have a crush on; to 
fall for, fall in love with 
renmentout adj. voracious, 
ravenous, insatiable 
renmèsye, remèsi, remèsye, 
renmèsi v. to thank; to dismiss, 
discharge 
renmèt, remèt v. to return, give 
back; to repay, refund; to get in 
return; to deliver, hand in, hand 
over, remit; to award; to get even 
pa ~ anyen to fail (at a task) 
- chaj to resign 
- monnen to give back change 
(money); to trifle, kid around, not 
do one's job; to fail 
renmô - repantans 
renmô see remo 
renn, rèn n. queen; hussy; reins 
kenbe ~ to lead 
konkou ~ Mardi Gras queen 
contest 
~ bosal makeshift reins 
~ chantrèl, larenn/larèn chantrèl 
lead female singer (Voodoo) 
~ dirijèz, ~ konba, - panye, 
Viktôya honorary titles for 
officers of certain collective work 
groups 
~ drapo woman in charge of 
Voodoo banners 
~ kobèy (f.) treasurer of a Voodoo 
temple; money-collector in Rara 
band 
~ myèl queen bee 
~ silans woman in charge of 
enforcing order during Voodoo 
service 
renna see rena 
rennen v. to restrain, constrain, rein 
in, slow down (horse, ox etc.) 
rennove see renove 
rennye see renye 
Reno prop.n. Renault (vehicle) 
Renoden prop.n. Renaudin (2nd 
communal section of Roche-à-
Bateau, Dept. South) 
Ren61(s) prop.n. Reynolds Metals 
Company (which mined bauxite 
near Miragoâne, Dept. 
Grand'Anse) 
renome, renonme, renonmen n. 
fame, renown, reputation; v. to 
rename, reappoint; to re-elect; adj. 
well-known, famous 
renon n. renown, fame, celebrity 
renonkil n. buttercup (plant) 
renonmen, renonme v. to rename, 
re-elect; see renome 
renonse v. to renounce, give up, 
waive 
renonsman n. renouncement 
renonsyasyon n. renunciation; 
abandonment 
renouvèlman n. renewal 
- manda reappointment 
renouvlab adj. renewable 
renouvle v. to renew; to express a 
renewal of one's faith 
renouvo n. renewal, revival 
renovasyon n. renovation 
renove, rennove v. to renovate, 
modernize 
renpouren adv. evenly, equally, half 
and half 
rensbouch n. mouthwash 
rense v. to rinse; to wash lightly in 
soapy water; to bless out, tell off, 
insult; n. rinse 
~ je li sou to feast one's eyes on 
rentan adj. hard, difficult 
rente v. to work hard, slave away; to 
exhaust, tire out; to stunt; adj. very 
tired, exhausted; stunted 
reny {pronounced: ren-y), rèy n. 
reign (of ruler), term (of president 
etc.); era, period; realm 
renye {pronounced: re-nye), rennye 
v. to reign; to deny 
renyen {pronounced: ren-yen) n. 
perimeter (of house); eaves, 
overhang (of roof); wooden rain 
or sun awning 
repa n. meal, repast 
repaie v. to discuss again later 
repanche sou v. to reconsider 
repann v. to spread 
repanse v. to rethink, re-examine; to 
rebandage 
repantans, larepantans n. 
repentance 
80S 
repanti - repite 
fè - to repent 
repanti v. to repent; adj. repentant 
reparasyon n. repair; alteration; 
restoration; compensation, 
restitution; redress; cf 
dedomajman 
reparatè n. repairer 
repare v. to repair, fix; to mend; to 
restore 
reparèt v. to reappear, come out 
again; n. reappearance, return 
repas n. review 
fè ~ to review 
repasay f.n. ironing 
repase v. to pass by again; to pass 
again, put again; to happen again; 
to review, look at again; to think 
about (the past); to replay, play 
again (record, CD etc.); to take 
food or drink that one had first 
refused; to ruminate, chew the 
cud; to reuse; to iron (hair) (N.); n. 
review, summary; adj. elderly 
fè yon ~ po kann to review 
briefly 
repasèz, repasez f.n. ironing woman 
repati v. to leave again, depart again; 
to start up again; to divide up, 
allot, allocate, apportion 
repatisyon n. apportionment, 
distribution, allotment 
repavman n. repaving 
repè n. line, mark; marker, indicator 
pwen ~ point of reference; 
landmark 
repechay n. allowing a student to 
pass (when slightly below official 
passing grade) 
repeche v. to pass a student (who is 
slightly below official passing 
grade); to give (s.o.) a second 
chance 
repedale v. to start over 
repèkisyon n. repercussion, 
consequence, aftermath 
repentire v. to repaint 
repèplay see repèpleman 
repeple, repèple v. to repopulate, 
restock 
repèpleman, repèplay n. 
repopulating, restocking 
repere v. to spot, locate 
repèse v. to repierce, pierce again 
repetan adj. nagging 
repete v. to repeat, go around 
repeating; to recur, be repeated; to 
resound, echo; to practice, 
rehearse; to nag, reproach 
repetisyon n. rehearsal; repetition 
fè ~ to rehearse 
repetitè n. tutor 
repètwa, pepètwa n. repertory 
repeye v. to pay again, pay a second 
time 
repeze v. to weigh again 
repi n. respite, rest 
repiblik, larepiblik n. republic 
Repiblik Dominikèn/Dominikenn 
prop.n. Dominican Republic 
repibliken n./adj. republican 
Repiblik Santrafrikèn/ 
Santrafrikenn, Afrik Santral, 
Santafrik, Santafriken, 
Santrafrikprop.n. Central 
African Republic 
Repiblik Tchèkprop.n. Czech 
Republic 
repibliye v. to republish 
repikay, repikaj n. transplanting 
repike v. to transplant 
repimpe v. to toss back, fling back 
repitasyon n. reputation, fame 
repite adj. famous, well-known; 
infamous, notorious 
809 
repiyan - reprann 
repiyan adj. repugnant 
repiyans, larepiyans n. repugnance, 
repulsion; nausea; powder used in 
Voodoo-inspired remedies 
repiyen, repiye v. to repel, disgust, 
be repugnant 
replane v. to pawn (s.thg.) again 
replante v. to transplant, replant 
replase v. to return (an object) to its 
proper place 
replè adj., replèt f.adj. plump, 
chubby; hefty, stocky, heavy-set 
replen v. to refill, replenish 
replik n. retort, rejoinder; backtalk 
replike v. to talk back, answer back 
repliye, replwaye v. to refold; to 
hem; to withdraw, move away, fall 
back 
fè yon ~ to withdraw, move away, 
fall back 
replonje v. to replunge; to dive again 
replwaye see repliye 
repo n. rest; peace, quiet; break, 
pause, rest period 
Kite m an Leave me alone! 
at ease! (milit.) 
repô n. carrying over, carrying 
forward ([accounting) 
repodiksyon see repwodiksyon 
repodwi see repwodwi 
repoli v. to repolish, refurbish, 
embellish 
repondè n. (telephone) answering 
machine 
repondong, repondonn(g) n. 
competence, skill, expertise; 
means, wherewithal; response, 
retort, rejoinder; correspondence, 
similarity, analogy 
gen bon ~ to give tit for tat; to 
handle things well 
gen ~ to have support, be backed 
up (by s.o.) 
kenbe - to face up to, get along, 
survive 
san ~ alone, abandoned; weak, 
feeble 
reponn v. to answer, reply, respond; 
to respond (to treatment); to fit, 
suit, go with 
~ nan to reverberate, resound, 
echo 
~ prezan to be present 
repons n. answer, response, reply 
fè ~ to answer back; to write back 
rann ~ to talk back 
repôtay, repôtaj n. report, article; 
reporting 
repôte v. to make a report; to file a 
report (journalist); to set at a later 
date, put off; to carry over, carry 
forward (accounting) 
repotè n. reporter, journalist 
repous n. shoot (plant) 
repousan adj. repulsive, forbidding; 
repellent, loathsome 
repouse v. to push away, push out of 
the way; to chase away, repel, 
reject, drive back; to put off, 
postpone, defer; to grow back, 
regrow, resprout; n. powder used 
in Voodoo-inspired remedies 
repousman n. repulsion 
repoze v. to rest, get some rest; to 
put down (s.thg.), rest (s.thg.) on; 
to ask again (question); n. rest 
fè yon ~ to take a rest, take a 
break 
repozwa n. temporary repository 
(tree, rock, cave - or person's 
head) for a Voodoo spirit; station, 
wayside altar (Catholic); arbor, 
bower, outdoor shelter - cf. tonnèl 
reprann, repran v. to take back, get 
810 
reprann - resantre 
back, reclaim, regain; to resume, 
take up again; to reinstate, put 
back (in office or job); to begin 
again, come back, return; to 
improve, recover, get well, feel 
better; to regain consciousness; to 
pluck up; to come to life again 
(plant); to rebuke 
- ko li to recover, feel better; to 
come back to one's senses 
- lari to take to the streets, 
demonstrate (again) 
- san li to recover, feel better; to 
calm down, regain one's 
composure 
represif adj. repressive 
represyon, larepresyon n. 
repression 
fè - to repress, put down 
reprezantan n. representative, 
emissary, envoy 
reprezantasyon n. representation; 
marriage proposal (pop.); 
(theatrical) performance; 
delegation, diplomatic 
representation 
reprezantatif adj. representative 
reprezante v. to represent, stand for 
reprezay n. reprisal, retaliation 
fè ~ to retaliate 
repridjistis n. [Fr.] ex-prisoner, ex-
con(vict) 
réprimandé v. to reprimand, scold 
reprimann n. reprimand 
reprime v. to repress 
repriz n. resumption; re-opening; 
repeat; (economic) recovery 
a plizyè ~ on several occasions, 
several times [F*] 
~ an men reconsideration, re-
evaluation, re-examination 
reprize v. to mend, darn 
reptil n. reptile 
repwente v. to reappear, show up 
again 
repwôch n. reproach, blame 
fè ~ to reproach, blame 
repwochab adj. reproachable 
repwochan adj. reproachful, 
scolding 
repwoche, repwôche v. to reproach, 
remind; to blame 
repwodiksyon, repodiksyon n. 
reproduction, photocopy; breeding 
repwodiktif adj. reproductive 
repwodwi, repodwi, repwodi v. to 
reproduce; to photocopy; to repeat 
repwograme v. to reschedule 
repyese v. to patch back together 
rèrèk n. oldster, old-timer, old 
person; cf. rèk 
rès n. rest, remainder, residue; 
surplus; (food) leftovers; (mortal) 
remains 
dènye ~ balance, remainder 
fè - to do all one can 
fè li ~ to do all one can (to 
persuade or force s.o. to do s.thg.) 
- bab leftover food, scraps (cf 
lasibab) 
resaman adv. recently 
resan adj. [Fr.] recent, up-to-date 
resanblans, laresanblans, sanblans 
n. resemblance, similarity, likeness 
resanm v. to seem, appear 
resanse v. to take the census; to 
verify; to make/take inventory of; 
to compile a registry of 
resansè n. census taker 
resansman n. census; inventory 
Resansman prop.n. [Bible] Numbers 
resanti v. [Fr] to feel, experience 
resantre: 
- balon an to kick off again, go 
811 
resele - reskiye 
back to the start 
resele v. to receive stolen goods, act 
as a fence 
reselè n. receiver of stolen goods, 
fence 
~ zenglendo criminal accomplice 
reselèz fn. receiver of stolen goods, 
fence; procuress 
resemelaj n. soling, resoling 
resemele v. to sole, resole 
resepise, resipise n. bill, receipt 
resèpsyon, resepsyon n. reception, 
social gathering; front desk 
(hotel); receiving (of ball in 
sports) 
resepsyonis, resepsyonnis n. 
receptionist 
reseptè n. receiver (person); 
(telephone) receiver 
reseptif adj. receptive 
resere v. to (re)tighten, (re)fasten 
resesyon n. recession 
resèt n. earnings, receipts, collection 
(of money); recipe; magic power 
fè - to take in earnings or profits; 
to utter Voodoo incantations 
resètifikasyon n. recertification 
resètifye v. to recertify 
resevabilite n. [Fr.] admissibility 
(bill that can be considered by 
Parliament according to the 
Constitution) 
resèvi v. to serve again, present 
again; to serve again, act in the 
same capacity; to reuse 
resevwa v. to receive, get; to 
welcome, receive, entertain, host 
(guests); to serve refreshments (to 
guests); to take in, lodge 
~ ak men to welcome with open 
arms 
~ nan tèt to welcome with honor 
resezi refl. to catch oneself, 
withdraw, draw back; v. to present 
again a case in court (jur.) 
resi n. receipt 
papye ~ receipt 
~ kitans tax receipt 
- nan men received from 
~ sou jenou informal contract 
resi, reyisi v. to succeed, be 
successful, prosper, achieve; adv. 
finally, at last 
residive v. [Fr.] to commit a second 
or subsequent offense 
residivis n. jerk, bum; second-time 
offender; retired thief if am.) 
resif n. reef; difficulty, obstacle 
monte sou ~ to run into 
difficulties, fail 
resikitans n. tax receipt 
resiklay, resiklaj n. retraining, 
reorientation; recycling 
resikle v. to retrain, reorient; to 
recycle 
resinyol see wosiyol 
resipèl n. erysipelas 
resipid adj. stupid (person) 
resipise see resepise 
resipwôk adj. reciprocal, mutual 
resipyan n. recipient, vessel 
resisitasyon n. resuscitation 
~ kè CPR, cardiopulmonary 
resuscitation 
resisite v. to resurrect, raise from the 
dead; to resuscitate, revive 
resital n. recital 
resitasyon n. recitation, reciting 
resite v. to recite 
resiyôl see wosiyol 
reskape n. survivor; coconut brittle-
like candy 
reskiye v. to scrounge, freeload, 
mooch, sponge 
812 
reskiyè - restoran 
reskiyè, eskiyè, rèskiyè n. sponger, 
moocher, freeloader; gate-crasher; 
parasite; see restavèk 
reskonsab, rèskonsab, responsab, 
rèsponsab adj. responsible (for); 
accountable; n. person in charge; 
v. to be in charge of 
rann/bay (yon moun) ~ to hold 
(s.o.) responsible, hold (s.o.) 
accountable 
reskonsabilite, laresponsabilte, 
reskonsablite, responsabilité, 
responsablite n. responsibility, 
obligation, commitment 
reskonsabilize v. [Fr.] to make s.o. 
aware of his/her responsibilities 
resô n. spring, coil; leaf spring 
(mack.) 
fè ~ to be springy, be elastic 
lanm ~ (single) leaf of leaf spring 
(mac h.) 
resôti, resoti v. to come back out; to 
protrude, stick out, jut out; to 
emerge, be the result; to be set in 
bas-relief 
fè ~ to make (s.thg.) stand out, 
bring out, stress 
resètisan n. [F/:] citizen 
resouri v. to smile again 
resous n. resource 
resouse v. to renew 
respè, respe n. respect, dignity; 
small goatee; genitals; interj. come 
in!; see onè ... respè 
fè ~ to pay one's respects 
fè - li to have self-respect; to be 
prudent, be cautious 
fè - ou! behave! 
pa fè - li to bother/annoy s.o. 
~ m dwe ou, pa - figi ou, ~ m 
gen pou ou, sof vôt ~ begging 
your pardon but, excuse me but 
respektab adj. respectful; 
respectable, honorable 
respekte v. to respect 
fè ~ lalwa to enforce the law 
respektye adj. respectful 
respèktyèzman, respektyezman 
adv. respectfully 
respirasyon n. respiration, breathing 
aparèy ~ respiratory system 
pran ~ to breathe 
~ atifîsyèl artificial respiration 
respiratè n. respirator 
respiratwa adj. [Fr.] respiratory 
respire, espire v. to breathe; to 
inhale; to take a puff, blow smoke 
(cigarette etc.) 
fè yon ti - to have a little 
breathing spell 
~ anlè anlè, ~ vit to pant; 
shortness of breath 
~ fô to take a deep breath 
- grangou to yawn 
responsab, rèsponsab see 
reskonsab 
responsabilité, responsablite see 
reskonsablite 
responsabilize v. to develop a sense 
of responsibility 
restan, rèstan n. remainder, rest 
- lanmo person who has cheated 
or narrowly escaped death 
restavèk, eskiyè, reskiyè, rèskiyè, 
rèstavèk, retamoun n. unpaid 
live-in servant; hanger-on; 
dependent; overly submissive or 
subservient person; adj. 
subservient; dependent (upon) 
mantalite - welfare mentality 
restitisyon n. restitution, 
compensation, repayment 
restoran n. restaurant 
- anpote carry-out restaurant 
813 
restoran - rete 
~ chen janbe, ~ sen akwoupi 
outdoor food vendor's stand (or in 
Iron Market etc. - where there is 
no seating) 
~ dansan dinner and dance club 
- dezavèg greasy-spoon restaurant 
restorasyon n. restoration (building 
etc.); re-establishment, revival 
restore v. to restore, repair 
restren adj. limited, restricted 
restrenn v. to restrain, restrict, limit 
restriksyon n. restriction, restraint; 
restriction, limitation 
restriktirasyon n. restructuring, 
reorganization 
restriktire v. to restructure, 
reorganize 
ret see rete 
reta n. delay; tardiness; 
backwardness; mental retardation 
an ~ late, tardy; slow (watch, 
clock) 
bay ~ to delay; to keep (s.o.) 
waiting 
fè ~ to waste time, delay; to cause 
(s.o.) to be late 
gen (yon ti) - to be (slightly) late, 
fall (somewhat) behind 
pran ~ to be delayed or detained 
rétabli v. to restore; to re-establish; 
to recover, get well 
retablisman n. re-establishment, 
restoration 
retadatè n. latecomer, late arrival, 
dawdler 
fè ~ to be a latecomer; to be 
backward 
retade v. to delay, setback, detain; 
adj. backward, underdeveloped 
~ (mantal) mentally retarded 
person; mental retardation 
retadè n. s.o. habitually late; 
slowpoke, dawdler 
retamoun see restavèk 
retande v. to hear again 
retanmen v. to start over, begin 
again 
retansyon n. [Fr.] retention; 
continuation in office 
retanti v. to resound, ring out 
retape v. to strike again; to fix up; n. 
top-hat 
retay n. scraps, leftovers, cuttings; 
remnant, trimming 
- fanm/gason shorty, runt 
(woman/man) 
retaye v. to reçut, retrim; to 
resharpen 
retcheke, retyeke v. to recheck, 
reverify 
rete, ret v. to stop, stay, remain; to 
hold, maintain; to continue to do/ 
be; to live, reside, inhabit; to be 
left over, still have; to reach 
menopause, be past menopause; to 
cut off top (tree, plant etc.); to 
castrate; n. break, rest period; stop, 
stay; staying; interj. oh! oh! stop! 
anyen pa ~ to be able to keep 
down no food, vomit continually 
fè yon - anplas to remain 
motionless/inactive/passive 
fè yon ti - to stay a moment, pay a 
short visit 
pa ~ ak to be outstanding, be 
superior to, be beyond comparison 
pa ~ ak moun to be independent 
pa ~ atè to sell like hot-cakes; be 
sold easily; to grow up fast 
- ak to live with, be live-in lovers; 
to be s.o.'s unpaid domestic 
servant; to be subservient to 
~ ak lapé! peace be with you! 
~ ak moun to be dependent, be 
814 
rete - retire 
subservient 
- an repo to be quiet, quiet down 
- anba djôl to snoop, be nosy, spy 
on 
- anlè to float 
- bèbè, ~ bèkèkè, ~ bouch be 
speechless, flabbergasted 
- chita (gade) to do nothing, 
remain idle 
- dat to set a date 
- (de) bra kwaze to do nothing, 
remain passive 
- de twa kout kanno toujou the 
old fart still has a lot of life left in 
him 
- dèyè to remain behind; to fall 
behind 
~ diskite, ~ koute, ~ koze, ~ pale, 
~ tande to discuss, confer 
~ fe to stay for (period of time) 
~ gade to wait and see; to do 
nothing, look on passively 
~ kanpe to stand still 
~ kanpe gade to (just) stand by, 
stand around looking; to just let 
(s.thg.) happen 
~ ko li kal to calm down 
~ kole ak to remain tied to; to 
observe closely 
~ konsa all of a sudden; to come 
out empty-handed 
~ koute, ~ koze see ~ diskite 
~ kwè to keep on believing, 
continue to believe; to be/remain 
convinced, firmly believe 
~ la! don't make a move!; see~ 
sou plas 
~ pale see ~ diskite 
~ pil to stop cold, stop dead in 
one's tracks 
~ pou to be on the verge of, stop 
just short of 
~ pran to accept one's fate 
~ rèd! don't make a move! 
~ sèk to stop suddenly 
~ sezi to be dazed or stunned 
~ sou to stop (doing s.thg.) 
~ sou moun to be visible, be in 
view, be in sight 
~ sou pinga/piga to be cautious 
~ sou plas, ~ la to remain 
unchanged, make no progress 
~ tande to discuss, confer 
~ tann to wait (for); to delay, hold 
back, wait and see 
~ wo to live far away 
~ yon grenn to be the last 
survivor, be the last remaining 
person 
- yon men devan yon men dèyè 
to be totally destitute 
~ yon ti souf to be almost at an 
end 
san ~ continual; continually, 
endlessly, unceasingly 
se sa ki ta ~ atô! that's all we 
would need! (sarcastic) 
retèl adv. in addition 
retif adj. stubborn, pig-headed; 
rebellious 
fè ~ to be rebellious or stubborn 
retin n. retina 
~ dekole detached retina 
retire, etire, tire v. to remove, take 
out, delete, withdraw; to take off, 
strip, take away, skim; to exclude; 
to subtract 
- anba dlo ceremony for 
reclaiming souls of the dead 
~ chapo devan to take one's hat 
off to, give homage to 
~ dômi (yon moun) to keep (s.o.) 
from sleeping 
~ grenn yo to castrate 
815 
retire - retrèt 
- ko li to leave, depart, withdraw 
~ li lavi to kill 
- mete to change for s.thg. new 
~ mo/pawol nan bouch yon 
moun to interrupt or cut s.o. off 
~ nan kôsay (li) to get rid of 
~ pat li nan kolèt (yon moun) to 
distance oneself from (s.o.) 
- sou tè a to kill 
~ trip mete/pran pay see wete 
trip mete/pran pay 
- twa de mwa Satan leave me 
alone, get away 
~ van to deflate, let out the air 
(tire etc.) 
retisan adj. reticent, reluctant, 
hesitant; reserved 
retisans n. reluctance, hesitation; 
reserve 
retni v. to retain, remember; to 
detain, imprison; to retain, 
continue in office; to restrain, 
stop, hold back; to carry over 
(math.); n. detention (school); 
carry over (math.) 
reto, retorik n. sixth (next to last) 
year of secondary school 
retôde v. to wring out again 
retôke v. to retort, reply 
retonbe v. to fall (down) again; n. 
repercussion(s), consequence(s), 
effect(s) 
retorik n. rhetoric; see reto 
retorisyen n., retorisyèn f.n. student 
in reto (q.v.) 
retou n. return, going back, coming 
back 
~ alôd return to order 
~ daj rejuvenation, regained youth 
retouch n. retouching, touching up, 
sprucing up 
retouche v. to touch up 
retoudaj, retouday n. reliving of 
the past; second childhood 
retoufman see etoufman 
retounan: 
an ~ by/while returning 
retounen v. to return, give back, 
bring back; to return, go back, 
come back; to become again; to 
rewind (tape); n. return 
~ ak de men li to return empty-
handed 
- dèyè to regress, lose ground, 
degenerate 
~ pi rèd to come back all the 
stronger, bounce back with force 
~ soti (nan) to come back from 
~ sou desizyon li to reverse one's 
decision 
~ sou pa li to retrace one's steps 
retovizè see retwovizè 
retranche v. [Fr.] to remove, cut out; 
to entrench 
retranpe v. reimmerse (fig.) 
retranskripsyon n. retranscription 
retransmèt v. to rebroadcast, 
retransmit; to hand over, pass on 
retranspote v. to retransport, 
reconvey 
retrase v. to redraw; to retrace 
retrè n. pass (or kick) to the rear 
with ball (sports); withdrawal, 
removal; (financial) draft, 
withdrawal 
fè - to draw back, withdraw 
retresi, ratresi, tresi v. to shorten, 
pull up; to shrink, contract, recede 
dans ~ slow or controlled dance 
retrèt n. retirement; pension; retreat 
bat an ~ to beat a retreat, fall 
back, withdraw 
pran ~ to retire, enter into 
retirement 
816 
retrete - reveyè 
- anvan lè, ~ antisipe early 
retirement; forced retirement 
retrete v. to retire, be retired; to 
retreat; n. retiree, retired person 
retwograd adj. reactionary, 
retrograde 
retwouse v. to turn up, roll up 
(sleeves etc.); to hem 
po bouch ~ thick lips 
retwouvay n. reunion 
retwouve v. to find again, 
rediscover; to regain; refl. to end/ 
wind up in 
retwovizè, otovizè, retovizè n. 
rearview mirror 
~ anndan inside rearview mirror 
~ deyô sideview mirror 
retyeke see retcheke 
retyôt adj. rebellious 
fè ~ to be rebellious, stubborn 
rev. abbrev. reveran (q.v.) 
rèv n. dream 
fè ~ to dream, have a dream 
fè bon ~ to foresee the future in 
one's dreams (esp. concerning 
winning lottery numbers) 
~ doubout, ~ je klè daydream; 
illusion 
~ madichon bad dream 
vye ~ nightmare 
revalorizasyon n. revaluation; fresh 
promotion 
revalorize v. to revalue, restore 
value to 
revanch see revanj 
revandè n. retailer, seller 
revandèz f.n. market woman, 
retailer 
revandikasyon n. claim, demand, 
protest 
revandikatif adj. protesting 
revandike v. to claim, demand, protest 
~ dwa li to claim one's rights 
revandikè n. [fur.] claimant 
revanj, revanch, revany n. revenge; 
rematch (sports) 
pran/tire ~ to get revenge, avenge 
revanje v. to avenge, seek or take 
revenge 
revanj è n. avenger 
revann v. to resell; to retail; to 
slander 
revany see revanj 
reve v. to dream 
~ je klè to daydream 
revè n. inverse number (lottery); 
reverse side; change of fortune, 
sudden reversal; lapel 
rèvè n. reverse, misfortune; trouble, 
nuisance, bother 
revèbè n. [Fr.] streetlight 
revelasyon n. vision, dream; 
revelation 
Revelasyon prop.n. [Bible] 
Revelation 
revelatè n. (rel.) revelator 
revele v. to reveal 
revenan n. ghost, devil, evil spirit 
reveran n. reverend 
reverans see lareverans 
revèsè n. daydreamer 
revètman n. coating, surfacing 
revèy n. (any type of) clock; alarm 
clock; reveille (milit.); revival 
(evangelistic) 
reveye v. to awake, wake up; to get 
up; to awaken (s.o.), wake up 
(s.o.); to arouse; adj. awake 
fè yon ~ to awake, wake up 
- chat k ap dômi to dig up the 
past, bring up what is best 
forgotten; to review, go over in 
one's mind 
reveyè n. awakener 
817 
reveyoii - reyalite 
reveyon n. Christmas Eve or New 
Year's Eve party; celebration 
revi n. journal, magazine, review 
pase an ~ to review (troops etc.) 
revide v. to pour back 
reviman n. reversal (of opinion or 
policy) 
revin v. to become again 
revini, revni v. to regain 
consciousness, come to; to revive; 
to bring back to life 
revire v. to turn around again 
revise v. to screw back on 
revitalizasyon n. revitalization, 
renewal 
revitalize v. to revitalize, renew 
reviv v. to live again; to come alive 
again; to relive, live through again 
revize v. to review; to revise, rewrite, 
redraft; to repeal, abrogate 
revizè n. corrector, reviewer 
revizyon n. revision; review; 
auditing 
revnan n. zombi, living dead 
revni n. revenue, income; see revini 
revokab adj. revocable; dismissible, 
removable 
revokasyon rt. revocation; dismissal, 
firing, removal; breaking off (love 
affair) 
revoke v. to revoke, annul, cancel; to 
fire, dismiss, lay off; to impeach; 
to break up, cut off relations (love 
affair) 
revèl see revôlt 
revolisyon n. revolution, uprising 
revolisyonè, revolisyonnè n. 
revolutionary, revolutionist, 
insurgent; adj. revolutionary, 
insurgent 
revôlt, revôl, revôt n. revolt 
revôltan adj. revolting, disgusting 
revolte v. to revolt, rebel, rise up; to 
mutiny; to disgust; n. rebel; adj. 
rebellious 
revolvè n. revolver, pistol, handgun 
ak de ~ bô kote 1 very very thin 
(with both hips showing because 
of thinness) 
pôch ~ holster 
~ dlo water pistol 
~ 38 bouda nwa (polisye) .38 
caliber (service) revolver 
revôt see revolt 
revwa v. [Fr.] to see again (cf . rewè) 
revyen v. [Fr.] to be the due, have 
the right to, deserve 
rewè v. to see again; to check over, 
review; to recollect, remember 
rewôganizasyon see 
reyôganizasyon 
rewoule v. to rehem (sewing) 
rewouvèti, reyouvèti n. re-opening 
rèy see reny 
reyabilitasyon n. rehabilitation; 
repairing 
reyabilite v. to restore; to 
rehabilitate 
reyachte v. to repurchase, buy back 
reyadapte v. to readapt 
reyafime v. to reaffirm 
reyaji v. to react, respond; to 
rebound; to reflect 
reyajiste v. to readjust 
reyajisteman n. readjustment 
reyakeyi v. to greet again, welcome 
again 
reyaksyon, lareyaksyon n. reaction 
reyaksyonè, reyaksyonnè n./adj. 
reactionary 
reyaktè n. reactor; jet engine 
reyalis n. realist; adj. realistic 
reyalite, lareyalite n. reality, fact 
an ~ actually 
818 
reyalizab - rèz 
reyalizab adj. feasible, attainable 
reyalizasyon n. fulfillment, 
achievement, attainment, 
accomplishment, completion, 
creation, bringing about; dramatic 
production 
reyalizatè n.m., reyalizatris f.n. 
film-maker, film director 
reyalize v. to realize; to fulfill, 
achieve, accomplish, bring about, 
make, come to be, bring to 
fruition; to earn, make; to trap, get 
(s.o.) 
reyamenaje v. to reconvert, 
redevelop; to refurbish, renovate 
reyamenajman n. reconversion, 
renovation; refurbishing, 
renovating 
reyanalize v. to reanalize, reappraise 
reyanbake v. to reembark 
reyangaje v. to re-enlist 
reyaparèt v. to reappear 
reyaparisyon n. resurgence 
reyaprantisaj n. relearning 
reyarete v. to rearrest 
reyasfalte v. to repave 
reye v. to rule, govern, reign 
reyedikasyon n. reeducation, 
retraining, rehabilitation 
reyekri v. to rewrite, revise, redraft 
reyèl adj. real, actual 
reyeleksyon n. re-election 
reyeli v. to re-elect 
reyèlman, reyèlteman adv. really, 
actually, truly 
~ vre indeed, certainly; actually 
reyenprime v. to reprint 
reyenstalasyon n. reinstallation, 
reinstatement 
reyenstale v. to reinstall, reinstate 
reyenstore v. to restore 
reyenstwi v. to reinvestigate, 
reexamine 
reyentegrasyon n. reinstatement 
reyentegre v. to reinstate, restore 
(s.o. to a position) 
reyenvante v. to reinvent 
reyenvesti v. to reinvest 
reyevalye v. to reevaluate, 
reconsider 
reyini v. to get together, gather, 
collect, assemble, congregate; to 
reunite 
reyinifikasyon n. reunification 
reyinyon n. meeting, assembly; 
reunion 
fè yon - to hold a meeting 
Reyinyon see Lareyinyon 
Reyinyonè, Reyinyonnè prop.n J 
adj. of or pertaining to Réunion 
reyisi see resi 
reyisit, lareyisit n. success 
reyôganizasyon, rewôganizasyon 
n. reorganization 
reyôganize v. to reorganize 
reyon n. ray, beam; spoke (of 
wheel); radius (math.); rayon 
(fabric); shelf; department (in 
store) 
~ iks x-ray 
tretman ak - radiation therapy 
reyonnen v. to shine forth, radiate 
light; to be influential; to put 
spokes on a bicycle/motorcycle 
rim 
reyonnman, rayonnman n. 
influence, impact, prominence; 
extension 
reyoryante v. to reorient 
reyouvè v. to reopen 
reyouvèti see rewouvèti 
rèz n. standing (s.o.) up, failing to 
show up; disappointment 
bay (yon moun) ~ to stand (s.o.) 
rezanen - rezon 
up, fail to show up; to disappoint 
pran ~ to be disappointed 
rezanen obs. see larezonnen 
reze v. to stand (s.o.) up, fail to show 
up; to disappoint; to deceive 
rezen n. grape 
pye ~ grapevine (bot.) 
~ gran fèy grand leaf seagrape 
(shrub or small tree) 
~ lanmè/bodmè seagrape (shrub 
or small tree) 
~ mawon pigeon plum tree 
~ chèch/sèch/sèk raisin 
rezèv n. reserve(s), stores, stock on 
hand, provisions; back-up; 
reserve, savings; reserve, restraint; 
second team (sports) 
fè ~ to store up 
fè ~ sou to express reservations 
concerning, doubt 
~ fyèl great endurance 
san ~ indiscreet 
Rezèv, Tiparadiprop.n. Réserve, Ti 
Paradis (3rd communal section of 
Baie-de-Henne, Dept. North-West) 
rezèvasyon n. reservation 
fè ~ to reserve, make a reservation 
rezève v. to reserve, make a 
reservation; to reserve, put away, 
save; adj. reserved; polite; 
distinguished 
rezèvis n. member of second team 
(sports) 
rezèvwa n. (gas) tank; storage tank 
(for gas etc.); reservoir; public 
bath; pool, pond 
~ watè toilet tank 
rezidan n. resident; resident 
(physician receiving specialized 
clinical training); permanent 
resident, legal alien 
rezidans n. legal residency; 
(physician's) residency; residence 
(ambassador etc.) 
~ siveye house arrest 
rezidansyèl adj. residential 
rezide v. to reside (jur.) 
rezidi n. residue 
rezilta n. result, outcome 
~ sa a li te bwè (s)he got what was 
coming to him/her 
rezime, rezimen v. to summarize, 
sum up; n. résumé, summary 
o dènye ~ in the final analysis 
rezinyasyon see reziyasyon 
rezinyen see reziyen 
rezirèksyon, larezirèksyon n. 
resurrection 
rezistan n. resister, opponent, 
adversary; adj. resistant, strong 
rezistans n. resistance; stamina, 
endurance; resistor (component in 
electrical circuitry) 
reziste (nan) v. to resist, withstand, 
remain firm 
reziyasyon, lareziyasyon, 
rezinyasyon n. resignation, 
submissiveness 
reziyen, rezinyen, reziye, rezye 
refl. to resign oneself, acquiesce, 
give up 
rezo n. [Fr.] network 
rezoli adj. resolute, firm 
rezolisyon n. resolution, resolve, 
determination; resolution, decree 
rezon n. reason, cause, motive; 
purpose; see larezon 
bay ~ to say or find that (s.o.) is 
right; to decide in one's favor; to 
concede 
gen ~ to be right or correct 
gen ~ devan to get the better of 
san ~ groundless 
se - that's right, that's correct 
820 
rezonab - Ridike 
tire yon ~ to draw or cast lots 
rezonab, rezonnab adj. reasonable, 
logical 
rezonans, rezonnans n. resonance 
rezondètw. [Fr.] raison d'être, 
reason for existing 
rezone, rezonne, rezonnen v. to 
reason; to ring, resound, resonate 
rezônman, rezonnman n. reasoning 
rezonnab see rezonab 
rezonnans see rezonans 
rezonnen, rezonne see rezone 
rezonnman see rezônman 
rezotay, rezotaj n. networking, 
forming useful relationships 
rezoud v. to resolve, solve, decide 
rezye see reziyen 
ri n. street; laugh, laughter; v. to 
laugh, chuckle; to laugh at, 
ridicule 
Gran ~ main street; Avenue Jean-
Jacques Dessalines (PaP) 
pete yon ekla kase yon kout ~ 
to burst out laughing 
~ a gôj deplwaye, ~ fo to laugh 
heartily 
~ anbachal to snigger, titter, smirk 
~ dan griyen to laugh heartily; to 
grin; to growl 
~ gra, - jape to laugh heartily 
~ jôn to give a forced laugh 
~ jouk li elas to die laughing 
~ jouk nan dan zôrèy, ~ jisko 
blan je, ~ kè kontan to laugh 
heartily 
~ ko pèdi, - kôlèt debraye to 
shake with laughter 
- nan dan to grit/gnash one's 
teeth 
~ nan kè, ~ nan mouchwa, ~ nan 
moustach to laugh/chuckle to 
oneself, laugh up one's sleeve 
821 
- ozekla, ~ ra zorèy to burst out 
laughing 
~ poul chuckle 
~ senp one-way street 
~ vant deboutonnen to roar with 
laughter 
ribab n. rhubarb (bot.) 
riban n. ribbon; band, strip 
~ mezi tape measure 
ribanbèl n. party, bash; feast; 
disorder, mess 
fè ~ to be plentiful; to carouse; to 
mess up; to be noisy 
ribannye n. Mardi Gras ribbon 
dancer 
Riben prop.n. [Bible] Reuben 
fanmi ~ Reubenites 
ribeyôl n. German measles, rubella 
ribi n. ruby 
ribrik n. (newspaper) column; 
heading, caption 
rich adj. rich, wealthy; rich, good 
(food etc.); n. [Fr.] beehive 
- pye atè content(ed) 
richa n. rich person 
Richa prop.n. Richard 
Riche (Jan-Batis) prop.n. Riché 
(Jean-Baptiste) - president of 
Haiti, 1846-1847 
richès, larichès n. wealth, fortune, 
riches 
rid n. wrinkle 
ride adj. wrinkled; see ede 
Ridèfonfô, Ridèfwonfôprop.n. rue 
des Fronts-Forts (downtown PaP) 
Ridèkazèn prop.n. rue des Casernes 
(downtown PaP) 
Ridèmirakprop.n. rue des Miracles 
(downtown PaP) 
Ridèsezaprop.n. rue des Césars 
(downtown PaP) 
Ridike prop.n. rue du Quai 
ridikil - rimé 
(downtown PaP) 
ridikil, redikil, reditil adj. 
ridiculous, ludicrous, absurd; n. 
ridiculousness, absurdity 
pase nan ~ to make fun of, 
ridicule 
ridikilize v. [Fr.] to ridicule; cf. pase 
nan betiz 
Ridipèp prop.n. rue du Peuple 
(street in downtown PaP) 
Ridisant prop.n. rue du Centre 
(downtown PaP) 
Ridlareyinyon prop.n. rue de la 
Réunion (downtown PaP) 
rido n. curtain, drape; cloth which 
hangs in open door 
bwa fè soutyen ~ curtain-rod 
~ basen shower curtain 
Ridomil prop.n. var. of fungicide 
rif 72. (carpenter's) plane, jack plane 
~ bwa woodshavings 
rifla n. carpenter's plane; cf. valop 
riflàn n. planer (wood tool) 
rifle v. to scratch lightly 
rifte v. to rivet 
rifyen, rifyan n. accomplice, 
companion, buddy 
rigè n. rigor, severity, harshness 
Rigo (Andre) prop.n. Rigaud 
(André) 1761-1811 - revolutionary 
leader of the Mulattoes of 
Southern Haiti and head of the 
ephemeral State of the South, 
1810-1811 
rigèl n. drain, gutter (in street); open 
sewer, ditch, trench; furrow; gully; 
irrigation ditch; stream 
(perspiration, tears etc.); var. of 
dance 
nen ~ runny nose 
~ do depression of backbone, 
spinal depression 
rigole v. to flow, drain 
~ desann, - tonbe to flow down 
rigwaz, igwaz, rigwèz, wigwèz n. 
horsewhip (made with cowhide); 
braided leather whip 
rigwaze, rigweze v. to horsewhip; to 
whip, lash 
rijid adj. rigid, stiff, strict; cf. rèd 
rijidite n. rigidity, stiffness, 
strictness 
rik n. donkey (fam. for bourik q.v.) 
rikannen v. to snicker, sneer; to 
giggle 
rikannman n. snicker, snickering; 
giggle, giggling 
Rikapwa prop.n. rue Capois 
(between Lalue and Hotel 
Oloffson, PaP) 
rikoche n. ricochet, rebound 
rikrak n. ornamentation (on 
uniform, dress etc.) 
rilaks v. to relax; adj. easy-going, 
relaxed 
Rilantèman prop.n. rue de 
l'Enterrement (downtown PaP) 
rilib see woulib 
rim n. (common) cold; mucus, snot, 
phlegm; rhyme; var. of poultry 
disease 
~ chalè hayfever 
~ sèvo head cold 
~ sezon, ~ dèfwen [Fr.] hayfever, 
allergy 
rimatis, womatis, woumatis n. 
rheumatism; arthritis 
lafyèv ~ rheumatic fever 
~ defômen rheumatoid arthritis 
rimay n. gesture, movement; 
rubbish, junk 
rimba n. rumba 
rime, rimen v. to rhyme; see arimen 
rimé n. [Eng.] rumor 
R7? 
rimen - rive 
lage ~ nan lari to spread rumors 
rimen, rime v. to loosen, plough up, 
turn over (earth); to put away, 
stow away; to rhyme 
riminan n. ruminant 
riminen v. to ruminate, chew the 
cud; to ponder, meditate, ruminate 
rimolen see remolin 
rimôt: 
- kontwôl [Eng.] remote control 
rin, larin n. ruin(s) 
- tonbe sou to be ruined 
rinen, rine v. to ruin, wreck, destroy, 
ravage; to urinate 
ring n. ring, enclosure (sports) 
rinosewôs n. rhinoceros 
rip onomat. sound of ripping or 
tearing 
rip, ripay, ripbwa n. woodshavings 
ripôs n. counter, retort; counter-
attack; reprisal, revenge 
fè yon ~ to counter, ripost 
riposte v. to answer back, retaliate 
ripti n. [Fr.] rupture 
riral adj. rural 
ris n. risk 
Ris prop.n./adj. Russian 
ris, risk n. risk 
risen n. castor bean 
Risi, Larisi, Wisi prop.n. Russia 
risinin n. ricin 
risit: 
(pa) bô ~ around here, over here 
risk see ris 
riskab adj. risky, uncertain, 
dangerous; adv. at stake 
riskan adj. risky, uncertain, dangerous 
riske, iske v. to risk, venture 
ristoun n. rebate, refund 
Riswik see Rizwik 
rit, ritm n. rhythm, cadence; rite, 
ceremony 
sou menm ~ la in the same way 
Rit prop.n. Ruth 
Ritchi prop .72. Rich, nickname for 
Richa 
Ritimasprop.n. rue Tiremasse 
(downtown PaP) 
ritm see rit 
ritme v. to mark/beat the rhythm 
rityèl n./adj. ritual 
rivaj see rivay 
rival n. rival 
rivalité n. rivalry 
Rivanôdè prop.nRivanèdèz 
fprop.n. inhabitant of Grande-
Rivière-du-Nord (Dept. North) 
Rivatibonisyen prop.n 
Rivatibonisyèn f.prop.n. 
inhabitant of Petite-Rivière (-de-
l'Artibonite) (Dept. Artibonite) 
rivay, rivaj n. shore, bank 
Rivdwat see Agwayedyonn 
rive, arive v. to arrive (at), reach, 
come to, attain; to happen, occur, 
take place; to succeed (at, in); to 
prosper, have financial success, 
make it; n. arrival; prep, toward; 
(all the way) to, up to 
ap - to be on one's way 
fè ~ to succeed (at, in) 
fè yon (ti) - to drop by, stop by 
(pou) ~ to (expression of time) 
~ bout (nan) to result in 
~ deyô to become public 
knowledge, be revealed 
~ jwenn to reach 
~ lwen lekôl to go far in school 
~ wè de jou to survive 
~ (yon jou) yon lè there came a 
time, there will finally come a 
time, at one point 
sa ki ~ li ~ whatever happens 
happens, come what may 
823 
rivèt - Rwannda 
rivèt n. rivet; v. to rivet 
Rivgôch see Agwayedyonn 
Rivnipwa prop.n., Rivnipwaz 
f.prop.n. inhabitant of Petite-
Rivière-de-Nippes (Dept. 
Grand'Anse) 
rivyè, ivyè, larivyè n. river; stream, 
brook 
ti ~ stream, creek 
Rivyè Bayonèprop.n. Rivière-de-
Bayonnais (2nd communal section 
of Gonaïves, Dept. Artibonite) 
Rivyè Blanch prop.n. Rivière-
Blanche (3rd communal section of 
Gros-Morne, Dept. Artibonite) 
Rivyè Debaprop.n. Rivière-de-
Barre (4th communal section of 
Saint-Louis-du-Nord, Dept. North-
west) 
Rivyèdènèg prop.n. Rivière-des-
Nègres (communual section of 
Saint-Louis-du-Nord, Dept. North-
West) 
Rivyè Era (Chai) prop.n. Rivière-
Hérard (Charles) - president of 
Haiti, 1843-1844 
Rivyè Fè prop.n. Rivière-de-Fer 
(Dept. North) 
Rivyè Fwad prop.n. Rivière-Froide 
(llth communal section of 
Carrefour, Dept. West) 
Rivyè Kano prop.n. Rivière-Canot 
(1st communal section of Saut-
d'Eau, Dept. Center) 
Rivyè Lapôt prop.n. Rivière-
Laporte (7th communal section of 
Pilate, Dept. North) 
Rivyè Mansèlprop.n. Rivière-
Mancelle (2nd communal section 
of Gros-Morne, Dept. Artibonite) 
Rivyè Sale prop.n. Rivière-Salée 
(5th communal section of 
Baradères, Dept. Grand'Anse) 
Riyadprop.n. Riyadh (Saudi 
Arabia) 
riyal n. var. of yam 
riyè n. joker, kidder, laugher 
riyèl n. small street, lane 
Riyo (de Djaneywo) prop.n. Rio de 
Janeiro (Brazil) 
riz n. ruse, trick, subterfuge; 
cunning, slyness 
rize adj. cunning, crafty, sly, 
deceitful; light, slight (breeze); v. 
to use trickery or cunning 
rizèz, rizyèz f.n. hypocrite, prude; 
f.adj. cunning, crafty, sly, deceitful 
fè - sou ~ to be hypocritical 
rizib adj. funny, humorous; 
laughable, ridiculous, silly; n. 
mockery, ridicule, taunting; weird 
or funny person 
fè sou ~ to act like a fool; to 
mock, ridicule 
pase nan ~ to make fun of 
rizibye v. to ridicule, mock 
rizobyôm n. rhizobium (bot.) 
rizok n. var. blight affecting plant 
roots 
Rizwik, Riswikprop.n. Ryswick 
(Netherlands) 
akô kontra ~ Treaty of 
Ryswick (ceding to France the 
western third of Hispaniola, 1697) 
rizyè n. rice paddy; drain, gutter 
rizyèz see rizèz 
ro- see wo-
RTNH acron. (pronounced: è-te-
enn-ach) (Radyo Televizyon 
Nasyonal Dayiti/Radio Télévision 
Nationale d'Haïti) National Radio 
and Television of Haiti 
rwa see wa 
Rwannda see Wanda 
824 
rwayal - ryennafè 
rwayal see wayal 
rwe v. to flog, beat, thrash 
Ryarib prop.n. Riaribes (3rd 
communal section of Belladère, 
Dept. Center) 
ryenpron. [Fr.] nothing; cf. anyen 
kôm si ~ netè [Fr.] as though 
nothing were happening/wrong 
ou pou ~ none of your business 
ryennafè interj. nothing doing, no 
way; cf. anyennafè 
| 
t 
825 
s - sad 
S 
s (pronounced: ès); sh.form se 
sa demonst. this, that; pron. that, 
what, whatever, the one; who, 
whom; that one, that person; adj. 
true; v. can, to be able (to do 
s.thg.); see ki sa; interj. sick 'em 
(to incite a dog to attack); just so! 
correct! 
fè ~ to have sexual intercourse 
nenpôt ~ whatever 
pa ~ wrong, incorrect, false 
~ a this, that; this one, that one 
~ fè, ~ gen ago, it has been 
~ ki pa ~ that which is wrong/evil 
~ li fè li fè what (s)he does (s)he 
does, what happens happens 
- m di se sa powder used in 
Voodoo-inspired remedies 
~ yo these, those 
se ~ that's true, that's correct 
se ~ menm that's it exactly 
sou ~ interested (in); to be willing 
to do s.thg., feel like doing s.thg.; 
with it, alert; to want sex, be horny 
S.A. abbrev. (sosyete anonim) 
corporation; incorporated 
Saara prop.n. Sahara 
saaryen prop.adj. Saharan 
sab n. sand; sandy soil; sandpaper; 
saber; adj. sandy 
grenn ~ grain of sand 
min twou ~ sand quarry 
pil ~ sand dune 
saba n. sabbath 
Saba prop.n. [Bible] Sheba; Saba 
(Netherlands Antilles) 
sabatik n./adj. sabbatical 
Sabkabare prop.n. Sable-Cabaret 
(near Jacmel, Dept. South-East) 
sable n. sandpaper; v. to sand, 
sandpaper; to pumice; to cover 
with sand; to guzzle (down), swill 
(down); to strip clean, rob (fam.)\ 
adj. sandy 
fèy ~ sandpaper 
papye ~ sandpaper; cassava 
~ chanpay to guzzle champagne 
~ grayndè sanding disc 
~ riban sanding belt 
sablèz n. electric sander (tool) 
sabliye n. sandbox tree; rafter, roof 
beam 
sabo n. clog (footwear); brake pad 
(mach.)\ see zago 
sabô n. slap, smack 
sabotay, sabotaj n. slapping, 
beating; sabotage 
sabote v. to sabotage; to undermine, 
discourage; to slap (repeatedly) 
saboté n. saboteur 
sabre v. to hack, chop down weeds 
sabré n. fighting cock; brawler, 
scrapper, scufïler, quarreler 
sache, chache, sachè n. bag (paper, 
plastic); packet, sachet 
sad n. (red) snapper (fish); string of 
tobacco leaves 
- ajante lane snapper (fish) 
~ dan chen dog snapper (fish) 
~ gri gray snapper (fish) 
- je klè glasseye snapper (fish) 
~ jôn yellowtail snapper (fish) 
- klè mutton snapper (fish) 
~ pag var. of red snapper (fish) 
~ wouj, ~ wouy vermilion snapper 
(fish) 
- woulèz dog snapper (fish) 
- woz, ~ solèy red snapper (fish) 
Sad - saka 
Sad prop.n. (Bible) Sardis (in 
present-day Turkey) 
sadepan adv. that depends, it all 
depends 
Sadèyprop.n. Sardinia 
sadi v. which is to say, which means 
sadik n. sadist; adj. sadistic 
sadin n. sardine; silverfish (insect); 
saw mark (on wood) 
Sadiseyen prop.n. [Bible] Sadducee 
sadonis n. sardonyx (semi-precious 
stone) 
sadwa see kômsadwa 
sadwàn n. [Bible] sardius (stone) 
sadwatèt see kômsadwa 
saela adv. everywhere, all over 
saf n. glutton; gluttony; greed; adj. 
gluttonous, voracious; greedy 
safari n. (embroidered) man's dress 
shirt, usu. of heavy material (cf. 
wayabèl) 
safetida, asafetida n. asafetida 
safi n. sapphire 
safira n. black and yellow-mantled 
weaver bird (same as madansara) 
safran n. saffron (crocus); turmeric 
(herb) 
safrete, safrite, safte n. gluttony; 
voracity, voraciousness; greed 
safye n. var. of fish 
sagou n. sago, arrowroot flour 
~ mawon canna (herb) 
Sahèl prop.n. Sahel 
Sa Ira see Sayira 
saj, say adj. wise, sensible; well-
behaved; good, obedient 
Sajè (Nisaj) prop.n. Saget (Nissage) 
-president of Haiti, 1870-1874 
sajès, lasajès n. wisdom; good 
behavior 
sajfanm, sajfam, sayfam, 
sayfanm f.n. midwife; cf. fanm 
saj, fanm say 
sajitè n. Sagittarius (zodiac) 
saj man adv. quietly, sensibly 
s ak contr. se + ak 
sa k, sak contr. sa + ki; kisa + ki 
sak n. sack, bag; see sakpay 
pote ~ bay la to coerce, compel 
~ bil gallbladder 
~ dechay, ~ dechaj seminal 
vesicles 
~ dlo lachrymal gland 
~ fyèl gallbadder 
~ grenn scrotum; produce bag 
~ kôk hood (for fighting cock) 
- kolèt burlap bag; hood (for 
fighting cock) 
~ kouchaj, ~ kouchay sleeping 
bag 
- lèt "milk sack" (folk belief) 
~ manje stomach 
~ pay straw mattress; see sakpay 
~ pipi, ~ pise bladder (human or 
animal) 
~ pitit womb, uterus; placenta, 
afterbirth 
~ pou dômi sleeping bag 
~ tete bra(ssiere) 
~ van airbag 
~ vant abdominal cavity 
~ ze ovary 
~ zôrye pillowcase 
san ~ ni krab without a darn thing 
ti ~ (any) repository of liquids (in 
human body) 
saka n. big consumer of, big user of; 
drunkard; v. to winnow (slowly) 
sa pa ~ m that doesn't tell me 
anything 
~ dènye limit to be on one's last 
leg, be with one foot in the grave 
and the other on a banana peel, be 
very old and decrepit 
sakad - sal 
sakad n. jolt, jerk, shake; cramp 
bay ~ to jerk, jolt 
sakadev. to jolt, jerk, shake 
sakado n. backpack, knapsack 
sakaj, sakajay n. plundering, laying 
waste; havoc, devastation; jolting, 
jarring 
sakaje v. to upset, bother, worry; to 
mess up (s.o., s.thg.); to torment; 
to jerk (s.thg.); to jolt; to sack, 
plunder; see bil 
~ ko li to be restless 
sakamen n. handbag, purse 
sakaplon n. cartridge-pouch; bag for 
carrying rocks etc. for slingshot 
sakatafya n. old sot, lush, heavy 
drinker 
sakatay, zakatay n. barbecue with 
spicy sauce 
sakdo n. backpack 
sake v. to place hood over head of a 
fighting cock 
sakèt see sakit 
sakilèj see sakrilèj 
sakit, sakèt n. small cloth bag, 
satchel; coin purse, small purse, 
small cloth money bag; sac, pocket 
(of pus etc.); hood (for fighting 
cock) 
~ digo small red and black coin 
purse attached to one's neck 
~ gwoble, ~ maldjok small purse 
with magic elements to protect 
against theft 
saklaj see seklaj 
sakle see sekle 
sakôch n. satchel 
sakpasa n. wrong, misdeed, 
injustice, transgression 
sakpay n. straw saddlebag; belly; 
doormat, milquetoast, wimp, s.o. 
who puts up with anything 
sakre n. (the) sacred; adj. holy, 
sacred; tonsured; anointed; v. to 
crown; to ordain, consecrate (ecc.) 
sakreman n. sacrament; adj. 
sacramental 
bay - to perform last rites, give 
extreme unction 
dènye ~ last rites, extreme unction 
sakrifikatè n. sacrificer 
sakrifis n. sacrifice; effort 
sakrifye v. to sacrifice 
sakrilèj, sakilèj n. sacrilege 
sakristen, sakris, sakriten n. 
sexton, sacristan, beadle; see prêt 
savann 
sakristi n. sacristy 
saks(ofon), sakstofon, sastofon n. 
saxophone 
saksofônis n. saxophonist 
saktrip n. stomach of ruminant; 
(human) stomach 
sakwètf.n. witch, sorceress; cf. 
lougawou 
sal n. room; front room (of typical 
two-room peasant hut); hospital 
ward; v. to dirty, soil; to defile, 
taint, sully; to profane, desecrate; 
adj. dirty, soiled, filthy; dirty, off-
color, salacious; sordid, squalid; 
cf lasal 
- bal ballroom 
~ bounda li to make an ass of 
oneself, act stupidly 
- dans see peristil 
~ datant waiting room 
- (d)ijans emergency room, 
emergency ward 
- (d)operasyon operating room 
~ jarèt li to mess up 
- konsiltasyon examining room 
- kou yon peny ti dan filthy 
~ resepsyon reception hall 
829 
salad - Salnav 
~ teyat auditorium, theater 
salad n. salad 
- dlo water lettuce (floating plant) 
sos ~ salad dressing 
salade v. to beat, beat up; to swear 
at, cuss out 
salamabit! inter]. son of a bitch! 
salamanje n. dining room 
salamann n. salamander 
salami n. salami 
salan: 
mare ~ salt marsh, salt flats 
salanbe v. to insult, swear at; to beat 
up (s.o.); to lick 
salange v. to butcher 
salango n. var. of Petwo dance 
salaryal adj. salaried 
salarye n. wage-earner 
salbab, salba see soloba 
salbada n. lice-powder 
saldatant n. [Fr.] waiting-room 
saldeben n. bathroom 
saldegad n. guardroom 
saldeklas, salklas n. classroom 
sale v. to salt excessively; to insult; 
to scold; adj. salty; too salty; 
difficult, tough (fam.) 
dlo ~ seawater 
tè ~ saline soil; salt flats 
ti ~ salt pork 
Sale: 
fon ~ [Bible] Valley of Salt 
lanmè - Dead Sea 
larivyè - Salée river (near Saint-
Marc, Dept. Artibonite) 
salé n. salary, wage(s), pay; reward, 
repayment 
aryere ~ back pay, back wages 
salenpenpen adj. low-class 
salèz n. salty spicy fried meat or fish 
salezon n. beef jerky; fish preserved 
in salt 
Salezyen prop.n. Salesian (member 
of the Society of St. Francis of 
Sales) 
sali n. salvation, redemption; salute, 
greeting, salutation; salvo (milit.) 
v. to sully, soil, dirty; to play the 
first domino (game of dominoes); 
adj. [Fr.] soiled 
salibrite n. salubrity, healthiness 
salid see saliv 
salin n. salt mine, salt pit; salt marsh, 
salt flats 
Salinyen/?ro/?.«., Salinyèn fprop. n. 
inhabitant of Grande-Saline (Dept. 
Artibonite) 
salisan adj. easily soiled; messy, 
dirty (work) 
salisilat n. salicylic acid (against 
rheumatism etc.) 
salitasyon n. [Fr.] salutation, 
greeting (esp. between Voodoo 
clergy, or collective work-session 
leaders); salute 
salitè adj. salutary 
saliv, salid n. saliva; cf. krache 
fè anpil ~ koule to cause a lot of 
talk 
glann ~ salivary gland 
salive v. to salivate 
saliye a pron. whatsoever 
salklas see saldeklas 
salman adv. dirtily, filthily 
salmanaza, salmannaza n. 
problem, annoyance, bother; 
interj. damn! hell! 
salmis n. psalmist (esp. David) 
salmoneloz n. salmonellosis, food 
poisoning 
Salnav (Silven) prop.n. Salnave 
(Sylvain) - president of Haiti, 
1867-1869 
M ap rele - deyo That's too 
830 
Salome - samdi 
much! I've had enough! I can't 
take it anymore! 
Salomef.prop.n. [Bible] Salome 
Salomon see salonmon 
Salomon prop.n. [Bible] Solomon 
zile ~ Solomon Islands 
(Southwest Pacific) 
Salomon (Lisyis/Liziyis) prop.n. 
Salomon (Lysius) - president of 
Haiti, 1879-1888 
salon n. living-room; lounge (hotel) 
- bote beauty parlor 
~ finèb funeral parlor; cf. palwa 
fmèb 
- konplè complete set of living-
room furniture 
salondkwafi n. beauty parlor; barber 
shop 
salonmon, Salomon n. stupidity, 
foolishness, absurdity; swine, 
bastard, scum 
Salonmon (Liziyis) see Salomon 
(Lisyis) 
salôp n. slovenly person (of either 
sex); immoral or unscrupulous 
person; coward 
salope see salopete 
salopèt n. overalls; split-skirt; 
slovenly woman; (morally) loose 
woman 
salopetay n. dirty dealings 
salopete, salope v. to dirty, soil; to 
disgrace 
salopri n. dirty trick, low behavior; 
scoundrel; trash, filth (person, 
thing) 
solouwe see salye 
salpèt n. saltpeter; dirty unkempt 
person 
salsa see salza 
saisi n. dirty person 
salta v. to string together tobacco 
leaves 
Saltadè, Petikastiyèprop.n. 
Saltadère (Dept. Center) 
salte n. dirtiness; dirt, filth; dirty 
trick; profanity, dirty language; 
low-down person 
saltenbank n. jerk, fool; charlatan; 
unfortunate event or happening 
Saltwou, Bèlans prop.n. Belle-Anse 
(Dept. South-East) 
Salvadè prop.n. El Salvador 
Salvadoryen prop.n., Salvadoryèn 
f.prop.n. Salvadoran 
salye, salouwe, salwe v. to greet; to 
give one's regards to; to salute; to 
bow; n. salute; greeting 
~ lasosyete to get (formally) 
married 
salyè n. collarbone, clavicle; 
collarbone area; salt-shaker; var. 
of fish; see bèt ~ 
salza, salsa, zalza n. salsa, var. of 
popular Hispanic dance rhythm 
(Cuban and Puerto Rican esp.) 
Sam (Tirezyas Simon)prop.n. Sam 
(Tirésias Simon) - president of 
Haiti, 1896-1902 
Sam (Vilbren Giyôm) prop.n. Sam 
(Vilbrun Guillaume) - president of 
Haiti, 1915 
Samana (larivyè) prop.n. Samana 
River (Depts. North-East and 
Center) 
Samariprop.n. [Bible] Samaria 
samariten n. Samaritan 
samdi, sanmdi n. Saturday 
anba pou ~ put aside for one's 
personal expenses 
- dlo benit, - sen Holy Saturday 
(Saturday before Easter) 
twa ~ var. of pill believed to help 
gain weight 
811 
Samdi - san 
Samdi see Bawon Samdi 
Samôs prop.n. Samos 
Samotras prop.n. [Bible] 
Samothrace 
Samowa prop.n. Samoa 
Samson prop.n. [Bible] Samson 
Samyèl prop.n. [Bible] Samuel 
san n. blood; heredity; blood 
sausage; adj. circulatory (system); 
num. (one) hundred; prep. 
without; sh. form se + an 
ak ~ rare (cooked meat) 
an ~ bloody 
aparèy ~ circulatory system 
bay ~ to bleed; to donate or sell 
blood; to give a blood sample; to 
give a blood transfusion 
boul ~ blood clot 
fè gwo ~ to get very angry, 
become enraged 
fè kout fè move ~ to fret, fume, 
get angry 
fè Iè ~ pa to pace up and down, 
pace back and forth 
fè ~ li mache to make one's skin 
crawl 
fè ~ li monte li to make one's 
blood boil, make one very angry 
fè ~ soti nan wôch to get blood 
out of a turnip, do the impossible 
gate ~ to immunize new-born 
against lougawou etc.; pigeon pea 
(herb) 
gate ~ li to make s.o. angry 
gen bon ~ ak to get along well 
with 
gen gwo ~ to anger easily, be hot-
tempered; to be coarse, vulgar, 
crude 
gen ~ (cho) to be impatient, be 
restless; to be hot-blooded, be hot-
tempered, anger easily 
gen - frèt to be calm or 
composed; to have self-restraint 
gen - pou to like s.o. 
gen - sipôtan to be patient; to be 
long-suffering 
gen twôp - to anger easily, be hot-
tempered 
gwoup ~ blood type 
kannal ~ wouj artery 
kout - sudden surge of blood; 
stroke 
mache nan ~ to be pleasing to 
make ~ to forebode evil 
manke ~ to be pale and anemic 
mete ~ deyô to cause bloodshed 
mete ~ li sou li to take one's time; 
to take it easy, relax, keep calm 
mete tout - li to give one's all, try 
hard 
move ~ emotional upsets; bad 
conduct; anger; rascal, bum 
nan bon ~ in a good mood 
nan ~ (li) to have in one's genes 
pa gen ~ to be pale and anemic 
pa gen ~ li to fail to menstruate 
pa gen yon (ti) ~ pou to dislike; 
to hate 
pa koute ~ ou! don't get excited/ 
angry! 
pa nan/sou ~ li to be in a bad 
mood, be grouchy 
pou ~ percent 
poze ~ li to relax, calm down 
pran nan ~ to inherit (character 
traits etc.) 
pran ~ to have a blood transfusion 
pran ~ li to take one's time; to be 
careful or methodical; to take it 
easy, relax, calm down, regain 
one's composure 
ranje ~ pigeon pea (herb) 
rann ~ to vomit blood; to have 
832 
san -sanble 
blood in one's stools; to have 
vaginal bleeding 
- blag! no kidding! 
- bouyi blood sausage 
- cho aggressive, impatient; 
menstrual period at an earlier than 
normal age 
- dlo hemophilia 
- dou patience; submissiveness 
- frèt chills; calm, composed 
- gate blood poisoning; syphilis; 
furious, enraged 
- grate itch, rash, skin irritation 
- kaye bruise; blood clot 
- koule bloodshed 
~ krapo cool-headed, calm, 
unflappable 
~ kwit blood sausage 
- lè likely to; almost ready to, 
about to 
~ li ale avè li to go for s.o., like 
s.o. 
~ li manje li to be speechless with 
anger 
~ li moute nan tèt to have a 
seizure; to become angry 
~ li pa janm ale ak not to be 
enthusiastic about 
~ li tounen dlo to be anemic 
~ moute nan tèt li to become 
enraged 
~ nan je with much regret 
~ nan venn li tounen dlo to be 
disgusted; to become angry 
~ pwèl, ~ pwal secret society of 
evildoers; member of same 
~ remonte to fret, fume, get angry 
~ sa otherwise 
~ sal bad blood (belief blood is 
soiled due to toxic condition in 
body) 
~ sipotan patience, fortitude 
~ tèt dumb, stupid 
~ ven many, countless 
~ volé kleptomaniac 
sou/nan (bon) - li to be in a good 
mood 
swe ~ ak dlo to sweat blood 
tès ~ blood test; blood count 
tip ~ blood type, blood group 
wè ~ devan je yo to foresee a 
bloodbath 
sana(toryom), sana(toriyèm) n. 
sanatorium 
sanba, sanmba n. improvisational 
singer at a konbit or with a bann 
rara; writer, poet, bard; var. of 
popular dance rhythm 
sanbenyen n. street urchin 
sanblab n. fellow human; adj. like, 
similar, kindred 
sanblan n. semblance 
fè ~ to pretend, fake 
~ (ak) similar 
sanblans see resanblans 
sanble v. to gather, gather together, 
assemble, convene; to seem, 
appear; to be alike, look alike, 
resemble; adj. similar; adv. 
apparently, evidently 
fè yon ~ ak to resemble 
li pa ~ sa that doesn't seem like 
him/her; that does not fit him/her 
- ak to resemble, look like 
- boukan, ~ dife to start a fire or 
bonfire; to burn off weeds and 
grasses (for preparing land) 
- de gout dlo ak to be the spitting 
image of 
- fèy to rake leaves 
~ janm to put one's legs together 
- tèt koupe (ak), - tèt pou tèt 
(ak), - kou de gout dlo (ak), -
kou jimo/marasa/tokay to be the 
833 
sandal - sankoutyasite 
spitting image (of), look exactly 
like 
tou ~ collected, gathered together 
sandal n. sandal; slipper; float(s) 
(for fishing net) 
kole ~ ak to live with, be 
(sexually) involved with 
~ penitans special sandals worn 
as penitence 
sandich see sandwitch 
sandinis prop.n. Sandinista 
sandout adv. without a doubt, 
undoubtedly 
sandrèz adj. ashen, gray 
sandriye n. ashtray 
Sandriyon, Chandriyon f.prop.n. 
Cinderella; raggedy or shabby girl/ 
woman 
an ~ in bad shape, in ruins 
sandwitch, sandich, sandwich n. 
sandwich 
~ woule (sandwich) wrap 
sanfason adj. naturally good and 
helpful (person); adj./adv. without 
formality or pretensions 
sanfil n. wireless 
Sanfil prop.n. Sans-Fil 
(disadvantaged street and area of 
PaP near Fort-National) 
sanfon adj. bottomless 
Sanfransisko prop.n. San Francisco 
(California) 
sanfwa n. cool, calm, composure, 
level-headedness; self-control; see 
fwa 
sang n. cinch, saddle-girth 
sangadè adj. abandoned (person, 
dog etc.) 
sangen adj. blood; bloody 
gwoup - blood type 
sanginè adj. bloodthirsty; n. bad guy 
sanglan adj. bloody 
sangle v. to girth, put or hold a 
saddle etc. in place 
- (moun) to tie (s.o.) down, 
corner 
sangliye, sanglye n. tail harness (for 
horse etc.); wild boar [Fr.] 
sanglo n. sob 
sangou adj. tasteless, dull, bland; 
without taste (in clothes etc.) 
sangri n. sangria 
Sangri (mon) prop.n. Mount 
Sangris (near Petite-Rivière-de-
Nippes, Dept. Grand'Anse) 
sangtifikasyon, sanktifikasyon, 
sanntifikasyon n. sanctification 
sangtifye, sanktifye, sanntifye v. to 
sanctify, hallow 
sangtyè, sanktyè, sanntyè n. 
sanctuary, shrine 
sangwen n. filthy or shameless 
person; adj. slovenly, dirty, 
shameless 
sangwènman adv. slovenly, 
shamelessly 
sangwennri n. slovenliness, 
sloppiness 
sanitasyon n. sanitation; cf. pwôpte 
sanitè adj. sanitary; hygienic; n. 
bathroom [Fr.]; health inspector 
ajan ofisye otorite - public 
hygiene officer, health inspector 
sanjèn adj. shameless; 
inconsiderate; n. shamelessness 
sankonprann adj. thoughtless, 
irresponsible; adv. thoughtlessly, 
irresponsibly 
sankoutcha, koutcha, sankoutya 
adj. uncouth, unkempt, slovenly; 
shameless 
sankoutyaman, sankoutchaman 
adv. slovenly; shamelessly 
sankoutyasite n. uncouthness, 
834 
sanksyon - sansal 
slovenliness; shamelessness 
sanksyon n. sanction 
sanksyonnen, sanksyone v. to 
discipline, punish; to sanction, 
approve 
sanktiflkasyon see sangtifikasyon 
sanktifye see sangtifye 
sanktyè see sangtyè 
sankwa conj. without which, 
otherwise 
sanlè adv. in no time; almost; almost 
ready to, about to; likely to 
sanlizay n. hick, hayseed 
sanmande n. rape; cf. kadejak 
fè ~ sou to rape 
sanmanman n. scum, trash, outlaw; 
sadist; adj. lowdown, dirty, no-
good; shameless; lawless, 
barbarous; merciless, sadistic; 
unscrupulous; adv. extremely, very 
sanmaye v. to resemble, be like 
sanmba see sanba 
sanmdi see samdi 
sanmele n./adj. half-caste 
sanmsanm see chanmchanm 
sann n. var. of mango 
sann (dife) n. ashes, cinder; adj. 
ashen 
sannanm adj. brainless; faint-
hearted; listless, apathetic 
Sann Domingo, Sannto 
Domenngo, Sannto Domingo, 
Santo (Domingo) prop.n. Santo 
Domingo (Dominican Republic) 
sannètase! adv. [Fr.] enough is 
enough! 
Sannta Mariya prop.n. Santa Maria 
(flagship of Christopher 
Columbus) 
sannteriya see santeriya 
sanntifikasyon see sangtifikasyon 
sanntifye see sangtifye 
Sanntyago, Santiyago, Santyago 
prop.n. Santiago de los Caballeros 
(Dominican Republic); Santiago 
de Cuba; Santiago (Chile) 
sanntyè see sangtyè 
Sannwann prop.n. San Juan (Puerto 
Rico) 
Sannwozeprop.n. San Jose (Costa 
Rica) 
Sannyago prop.n. San-Yago (4th 
communal section of Saint-
Raphaël, Dept. North) 
sanparèy adj. peerless, unique; 
inimitable 
sanpo n. slug (mollusk) (reg.) 
sanpousan num./adv. one hundred 
percent, completely 
sanpwèl, chanprèl, chanpwèl n. 
secret society of evildoers; 
member of such a society (reputed 
to have power of changing form at 
will, esp. into animals); adj. shady, 
dubious 
sanrebô adj. uncouth, unkempt, 
slovenly; shameless 
sanrechap adj. inescapable; 
irreparable 
Sanrezonprop.n. Sans Raison 
(disadvantaged area of Cape 
Haitian, Dept. North) 
sans n. sense; meaning; direction; 
sense (of touch etc.) 
bon ~ common sense; sanity 
fè - to have a meaning, be 
meaningful, be logical 
nan ~ toward(s), in the direction 
of 
san - senseless, illogical, 
irrational, meaningless 
~ inik one way, one-way street 
sansa conj. otherwise 
sansal n. rascal, bum; see san sal 
835 
Sansalvadô - santi 
Sansalvadô prop.n. San Salvador 
(El Salvador) 
sansasyon n. sensation, feeling; 
sensation, excited interest 
sansasyonalis n. sensationalism 
sansasyonalize v. to sensationalize 
sanse v. to be supposed to; adv. 
supposedly; adj. sane, logical 
sansè n. censor; assistant principal 
or dean of instruction (high 
school) 
sansès n. periwinkle (flower); adv. 
continually, incessantly, 
unceasingly 
sansi, chansi n. bloodsucker, leech; 
exploiter; censure, official rebuke 
pa gen yon ~ nan boutèy pou 1 
bay chabon to be carefree, be free 
of responsibility 
sansib, sansiv adj. sensitive; tender, 
sore; ticklish; tender-hearted, 
compassionate 
~ pou to be very fond of 
sansibilizasyon n. sensitizing, 
consciousness-raising 
sansibilize v. to sensitize, make 
aware 
sansibleman adv. perceptibly, 
noticeably, markedly 
sansiblite n. sensitiveness, 
sensitivity, feeling, tenderness, 
compassion 
sansinè see ansasen 
sansinen see ansasinen 
sansire v. to censor; to censure 
sansiv see sansib 
sanskri prop.n./adj. Sanskrit 
sansoryèl adj. sensory 
Sansousi prop.n. Sans-Souci (palace 
of Henry Christophe in Milot, 
Dept. North - begun in 1806, 
greatly damaged in earthquake of 
1842; 1st communal section of 
Mombin Crochu, Dept. North-East) 
sansyalite n. sensuality 
sant n. center; smell, odor, aroma, 
fragrance; scent; stench 
pran (yon) - to have a foretaste 
of; to smell out, sniff out 
Sant Bizniz Mondyal World 
Trade Center 
~ dapèl telephone exchange 
~ kominotè, ~ kominote 
community building 
~ konmès, ~ dacha shopping 
mall, shopping center 
~ menaje home economics 
training center 
Sant, Santral: 
(depatman) ~ prop.n. 
(Department of the) Center 
Santafrik, Santafriken see 
Repiblik Santrafrikèn 
santan n. one hundred years 
santans n. judgment, sentence, 
verdict; consequence; fate, lot 
bay ~ to sentence, pass judgment 
santay n. small profit 
sante n. health; adj. healthy; interj. 
bless you! (when s.o. sneezes) 
an ~ healthy, in good shape 
ti ~ sickly 
santèn, santenn n. about a hundred; 
hundreds 
santennè, santenè n. centenary; adj. 
hundred-year-old 
santenye see santiryon 
santeriya, sannteriya n. santeria 
santèt adj. brainless, dumb; absent-
minded 
santi v. to smell, sniff (at); to stink, 
smell bad; to feel, experience; refl. 
to feel; to feel like; n. smelling; 
(sense of) smell; adj. stinking, 
836 
santi - sanwont 
foul-smelling, smelly, fetid 
pa ka ~ not to be able to stand 
(s.o. or s.thg.), dislike intensely 
pa pete bay ~ to ignore 
completely, pay no attention to 
- bouk (kabrit) to stink like a 
goat 
~ cho to have hot flashes 
- fèy unripe; to smell of 
perspiration 
- fô, - di, ~ fandanman, ~ frize, 
~ gwo bèt, - gwo chwal, ~ gwo 
koulèv, ~ jaden, ~ kri, ~ 
makawon, ~ move, ~ swe, ~ wen 
(an), ~ yon chawony (to be) 
smelly, stink 
~ mayas to have smelly feet 
~ pise brat, ill-behaved kid 
~ van an to get a feeling for 
what's going on, sense out the lay 
of the land 
santibon adj. sweet-smelling 
santidous n. sickly-sweet smell 
santigrad n. centigrade, Celsius 
santilit n. centiliter 
santim n. (Haitian) centime (1/100 
of a gourde; formerly worth 1/5 of 
a U.S. penny) 
~ o U.S. penny, one cent 
santiman n. feeling, sensation, 
sentiment; intimacy, closeness; 
strength of character 
bon ~ naturally good, grateful 
pa rantre nan ~ not to meet with 
the approval of 
san ~ aimless, purposeless, 
unambitious; shameless 
santimantal adj. sentimental 
santimantalite n. sentimentality 
santimèt n. centimeter; tape 
measure, measuring tape 
santinèl n. sentinel, sentry; 
watchman, security guard (cf 
sekirite); lookout; leader of a rara 
group 
fe ~ to keep watch 
santipis adj. flea-ridden 
santiryon, santenye n. centurion 
(Roman officer commanding 100 
men) 
Santiyago see Sanntyago 
santnè n./adj. centennial, centenary; 
n. centenarian 
Santo (Domingo) see Sann 
Domingo 
santô n. stench, putrid smell 
Santos prop.n. Santos (Dept. South) 
Santrafrik (Repiblik) prop.n. 
Central African Republic 
santral adj. central, main; n. main 
distribution point; plant (electric 
power; sugar-producing); 
telephone exchange 
Santral see Sant 
santralis adj. middle-of-the-road, 
moderate (politically) 
santralizasyon n. centralization 
santralizatè n. centralizer 
santralize v. to centralize 
santre v. to center; to set (s.o.) up 
for a goal (soccer); to adjust (lens) 
santrifij n. centrifuge 
santriflje v. to centrifuge 
santris n./adj. centrist, moderate 
santya n. centiar, square meter 
Santyago see Sanntyago 
santye n. footpath; see chantye 
santyèm adj. hundredth 
sanvègôy n. shameless person; adj. 
shameless 
sanvègôyman adv. shamelessly 
sanvègôyri n. shamelessness 
sanwont adj. shameless; adv. 
shamelessly; n. unprincipled or 
sanzatann - satisfaksyon 
hardened person, "bad ass"; var. 
of insect 
sanzatann adv. suddenly, 
unexpectedly; at once; adj. 
sudden, unexpected 
sanzave n. good-for-nothing, bum, 
bastard; juvenile delinquent 
sanzavèz f.n. loose woman 
sanzavni adj. without a future, 
hopeless 
sanzazil n. homeless person; drifter, 
wanderer; adj. homeless 
sanzespwa adj. hopeless 
sanzodè adj. odorless 
sanzègèy adj. shameless 
sap n. [TV.] fir (tree) 
sapantye see sèpantye 
sapat, zapat n. sandal; slipper 
~ penitans special sandals worn 
as penitence 
~ tach yaws lesion (on foot) 
Other var. of sandals: ~ k6d nan 
pye, - trese, ~ zong nan pye 
sapata, zapata n. blow, hit; spur; v. 
to trample; to beat, hit; to soak, 
steep (in); to dampen 
sapatèt: 
fè ~ to dip up and down (kite) 
sapatonn n. illegal steel spurs 
(cockfighting); slaps, blows 
sapen n. fir (tree) 
sapèponpye n. fireman 
Sapibon prop.n. var. Popsicle 
sapolen n. enamel paint 
sapoti, sapotiy (N.) n. sapodilla, 
chicle (tree; plum) 
~ jôndèf mammee sapota, red 
mammee (tree) 
~ mawon bustic (tree) 
sara see madansara 
fè ~ to engage in trade 
Sara prop.n. Sarah 
sarafen n. var. of mango 
saranpyon, charanpyon n. 
chickenpox 
Sarayevo prop.n. Sarajevo (Bosnia 
and Herzegovina) 
Sarazen prop.n. Sarrasin (4th 
communal section of Sainte-
Suzanne, Dept. North-East; 6th 
communal section of Mirebalais, 
Dept. Center) 
Saridon prop.n. brand of aspirin 
sasèdôs n. priesthood 
sasèl n. var. of duck 
sasen see ansasen 
sasina, sasinaj, sasinay see asasina 
sasine, sasinen see ansasinen 
sasiyèt see zatouyèt 
sastofôn see saksofôn 
Sat prop.n. Sarthe (rural section near 
Damien, in Dept. West) 
Sat (Janpol) prop.n. Sartre (Jean-
Paul) - French writer (1905-1980) 
satan n. demon, devil 
Satan prop.n. Satan 
rejte ~ to convert to Protestantism 
satanik adj. satanic, diabolic 
satanize v. to demonize 
satanjerenôs, satanjonos n. pariah, 
outcast; difficult person 
ti ~ rebellious child 
satànye n. var. of med. plant 
satelit, satilit n. satellite; satellite 
dish 
saten n. satin 
sati n. [Fr.] satire 
satilfaksyon see satisfaksyon 
satilfè see satisfè 
satilit see satelit 
Satin prop.n. Saturn 
satire v. to saturate, overfill; adj. 
saturated (chem.) 
satisfaksyon, satilfaksyon, 
838 
satisfè - savant 
satispaksyon n. satisfaction, 
contentment, happiness, peace; 
service, favor 
bay ~ to satisfy; to do a favor 
satisfè, satilfè, satispè v. to satisfy, 
be satisfied; adj. satisfied, content 
pa ka ~ unquenchable 
satisfezan adj. satisfactory 
satispaksyon see satisfaksyon 
satispè see satisfè 
satiyèt, satouyèt see zatouyèt 
satrap n. satrap, subordinate or petty 
official 
saval n. tarpon (fish) 
savaloure v. to congratulate, praise 
savan n. scientist; scholar; learned 
person, intellectual; adj. scholarly, 
learned 
savàn see savann 
Savana prop.n. Savannah (Georgia) 
- where future Haitians aided the 
U.S. to win its independence from 
British tyranny, 1779 
savanèt n. majestic angel (fish) 
Savanètprop.n. Savanette (1st 
communal section of Pignon, 
Dept. North; 1st communal section 
of Mont-Organisé, Dept. North-
East) 
Savanèt, Kolonbye prop.n. 
Savanette, Colombier (communal 
section, Dept. Center) 
Savanètyen prop.n., Savanètyèn 
f.prop.n. inhabitant of Savanette 
(Dept. Center) 
savann, savàn n. savanna, grassland, 
grassy clearing, grazing land; 
meadow; plain; free-range area; 
adj. stray, roaming; see prêt ~ 
~ dezole desert 
- glase tundra 
Savann, Grannsavann prop.n. 
Grande-Savane (1st communal 
section of Maïssade, Dept. Center) 
Savann Bwa prop.n. Savane-Bois 
(communal section, Dept. South-
East) 
Savann Dezole prop.n. Savane-
Désolée (area immediately 
southeast of Gonaïves, Dept. 
Artibonite) 
Savann Dibwa prop.n. Savane-
Dubois (5th communal section of 
Marigot, Dept. South-East) 
Savann Gouvènman prop.n. former 
name for Champ-de-Mars (PaP) 
Savannkare prop.n. Savane-Carrée 
(1st communal section of Ennery, 
Dept. Artibonite; 6th communal 
section of Gros-Mome, Dept. 
Artibonite) 
Savannkare 2 t prop.n. Savane-
Carrée 2 e (communal section, 
Dept. Artibonite) 
Savannlong prop.n. Savane-Longue 
(3rd communal section of 
Ouanaminthe, Dept. North-East) 
Savannolè prop.n. Savane-au-Lait 
(6th communal section of 
Ouanaminthe, Dept. North-East) 
Savannpistach prop.n. Savane-
Pistache (disadvantaged area of 
Carrefour-Feuilles, PaP) 
Savannwôch Y prop.n. Savane-à-
Roche (4th communal section of 
Petite-Rivière-de-1'Artibonite, 
Dept. Artibonite) 
Savannwèch 2 e prop.n. Savane-à-
Roche (communal section of 
Petite-Rivière-de-r Artibonite, 
Dept. Artibonite) 
Savann Zonbi prop.n. Savane-
Zombi (Dept. South-East) 
savant adj. knowledgeable 
819 
save - Sechèlwa 
save adj. learned, educated; 
knowledgeable, scholarly 
(moun) % (nèg) - intellectual, 
learned person; scholar; scientist 
savè n. taste, savor 
savledi conj. which means 
savon n. soap; bar of soap 
ba - long bar of laundry soap 
gwo ~ lave laundry bar soap 
pran yon ~ to have an illegitimate 
child (pej. ) 
san ~ illegitimate child (pej. ) 
savènèt see savonnèt 
savonnay, savonad n. soaping, 
lathering; shampooing; dressing 
down, cussing out 
savonnen v. to soap, lather; to 
shampoo; to brainwash; to 
reprimand; to beat up, do in 
savonnèt, savènèt n. bar of soap; 
var. of fish 
bwa ~ peyi soapberry tree, 
(used as) loofa 
savwafè n. [Fr.] savoir-faire, social 
know-how 
Sawo Polo prop.n. Sao Paulo (Brazil) 
savoure v. to savor 
savwa n. knowledge, learning 
Savwa see Lasavwa 
savwafè n. [Fr.] know-how 
savwaviv n. savoir-vivre, good 
manners 
Sawodyen, Sawoudyen, Sayodyen 
prop.n./adj., Sawodyèn, 
Sawoudyèn, Sayodyèn f.prop.n. 
Saudi 
say see saj 
interj. sick 'em! (to incite 
a dog to attack) 
saybèd, sayibôd n. sideboard 
(foreign style) 
sayfam, sayfanm see sajfanm 
Say il prop.n. Saul 
Say ira prop.n. Ça Ira (Dept. West) 
Sayodyen, Sayodyèn see 
Sawodyen, Sawodyèn 
Sayotome e Prensip prop.n. Sâo 
Tomé and Principe 
sazinè n. destroyer, killer 
se v. to be; (letter) c; see be 
~ pa de quite a few, quite an 
amount, quite a lot 
~ pa pou it is forbidden to 
~ pou it is necessary; to have to; 
must 
~ pou sa therefore 
~ te yon fwa once upon a time 
si ~ pa sa otherwise, if not 
s h f.n. sister; nun; term of affection 
or respect, esp. for unmarried 
woman; n. sir (British title) 
demi ~ half-sister (by same father 
only) 
~ batèm woman with whom one 
shares same godfather or 
godmother 
~ bra soul sister (through shared 
experiences, common suffering 
etc.) 
~ menm manman half-sister 
sèb prop.n./adj. Serb, Serbian 
sèbè n. watch-dog, brutal guard 
sèbès n. [Span.] beer 
Sèbi prop.n. Serbia 
sèbokwowat n./adj. Serbo-Croatian 
sèch see chèch 
sechaj n. drying 
sechalèt see echalôt 
seche see cheche 
sechèch see sechrès 
Sechèl, Sesèl prop.n. (the) 
Seychelles 
Sechèlwa, Seselwa prop.n./adj. 
Seychellois 
840 
sechrès - sèk 
sechrès, checherès, chechrès, 
chesrès, lasechrès, sechèch, 
secherès, sèchrès, sesrès n. 
drought 
sechwa see chechwa 
sèd n. cedar 
- wouj Burma toon 
sedantè adj. stationary; attached to 
one's home or country; n. local 
person; stay-at-home, homebody 
sédatif n. sedative 
sede v. to lend; to sell on credit; to 
yield, give in, concede; abbrev. 
CD, compact disc 
sèdènyetan adv. recently 
sedi see sedwi 
sediksyon n. seduction 
sediktè n. seducer 
sedisyon n. [Fr.] sedition, 
insurrection, rebellion 
sediy n. cedilla (<diacritic) 
Sedras (Rawoul) prop.n. Cédras 
(Raoul) - military dictator of 
Haiti, 1991-1994 
Sedrèn, Sedrenn acron. Sedren 
(Société d'Exploitation et de 
Développement des Ressources 
Naturelles - US/Canadian copper-
mining company in Gonaïves 
region, 1960-1972) 
sedwi, sedi v. to seduce 
sèf n. deer 
sefwe, sefre v. to get away, run away, 
escape 
~ dèyè to run after, pursue 
sèg n. rye (grain) 
Segen prop.n. Séguin (Dept. South-
East) 
segman n. segment 
segmante v. to segment, break into 
segments 
segon n. second in command; 
middle-sized of the three Rada 
drums (Voodoo) 
segonde v. [Fr] to help, aid, assist 
segondhn. high school; adj. secondary 
segondye n. player of the segon 
(q.v.) drum 
segonn n. second (l/60th of a 
minute); short (period of) time; 
fifth year of secondary school; 
second hand (of watch) 
segrè see sekrè 
segregasyon n. segregation 
segretè see sekretè 
Sèj prop.n. Serge 
sèjan n. sergeant 
sejou n. sojourn, stay 
Sejoune (Bèna)prop.n. Séjourné 
(Bernard) - Haitian painter 
("Mosaïque Haïtienne" - featured 
on cover of 1981 Haitian phone 
directory), b. 1947 
sèjousi, sejousi adv. these days, 
nowadays 
sèjwen n. wood clamp (hardwear) 
sek abbrev. second, short time 
sèk n. circle, ring; hoop; halo; 
milieu, social club, crowd, circle 
of friends; dry season; (woman's) 
headband; sect; reef; adj. dry; 
dehydrated; arid; brittle, crisp; 
sharp; harsh, hard; empty (pocket); 
sudden; skinny; adv. immediately; 
abruptly, suddenly; completely; 
sharply, disagreeably; see chèch 
an ~ circular 
demi - half-circle 
fri ~ crisp, well-fried 
kouri % woule ~ roll a hoop 
pa nan - li not in one's place, not 
in one's social position 
~ wouj any secret society of 
evildoers 
841 
sèka - sekrè 
sèka n. pen, corral; pigpen, sty; play-
pen 
Sèka(kavajal), Sèkakabaral, 
Sèkakavaral prop.n. Cerca-
Carvajal (Dept. Center) 
Sèka(lasous) prop.n. Cerca-la-
Source (Dept. Center) 
sekans n. sequence; continuity, flow, 
order 
gen swiv ~ to be logical or 
consistent 
Sèkasousyen prop.n., Sèkasousyèn 
f.prop.n. inhabitant of Cerca-la-
Source (Dept. Center) 
sekatè n. (pair of) pruning shears, 
clippers 
sèke, seke v. to encircle; to put a 
circle around; to fence off, 
enclose; conj. it's because, it's that 
sekètlawouze see soukèdlawouze 
sèkèy n. coffin, casket 
djôb ~ dead-end job; grueling job 
kouri pou ~ tonbe sou kadav, 
sôti nan ~ tonbe nan twou to go 
from bad to worse 
mache ak ~ li anba bra 1 to live 
dangerously 
~ madoulè awful burden, bed of 
nails 
wè lanvè ~ li to live a long life 
sèkèyliye n. supplier of coffins 
sekife conj. thus, consequently; and 
so 
sèkilasyon see sikilasyon 
sèkile see sikile 
sekilè, sekoulè adj. [Fr.] secular; 
age-old 
sekirite n. security, assurance; 
safety; security guard; safety lock 
(on firearm) 
ajan ~ security guard 
an ~ safe, secure 
fè - to work as a security guard 
sekiritè adj. secure, safe 
sekirizan adj. reassuring, 
comforting 
sekirizasyon n. safeguarding, 
rendering safe or secure 
sekirize v. to give (a feeling of) 
security, make (s.o.) feel secure; to 
reassure, comfort; to safeguard; to 
make safe 
seklaj, saklaj, seklay n. weeding, 
clearing off of ground; mowing, 
reaping 
sekle, sakle, sèkle v. to weed, clear 
off ground; to work with a hoe; n. 
weeding, clearing off of ground; 
see ansèkle 
bay ~ to lend land for temporary 
use 
~ ak wou to hoe 
sekèm n. cecum 
sekonsa adv. thus, in this way 
sekou, soukou n. help, assistance, 
aid, relief 
bay/pote/prete ~ to lend a helping 
hand 
sekoulè see sekilè 
sekoup see soukoup 
sekourab adj. helpful 
sekoure, sekouri v. to rescue; to aid, 
help, assist 
sekouris n. first-aid worker, 
paramedic 
sekous see soukous 
sekoya n. sequoia, redwood (tree) 
sekrè, segrè n. secret; adj. secret, 
hidden, confidential; occult, 
mysterious 
bay - a, mete ~ a deyô to give 
away the secret 
jwenn ~ dlo anndan joumou an 
to discover the incomprehensible 
842 
sekresyon - sèl 
pa gen ~ not to be able to keep a 
secret 
sekresyon n. [Fr.] secretion, 
discharge; cf. swentay 
sekretarya, sekreteri, sekretèri n. 
secretariat; secretarial work 
sekretè, segretè n. helper, assistant, 
aide, handyman; secretary; local 
scribe 
~ deta secretary, official in charge 
of a ministerial department 
sou ~ deta under-secretary 
sekreteri, sekretèri see sekretarya 
sekrètman adv. secretly 
sèks n. sex, gender; sexual organ 
fè ~ to have sexual relations, have 
intercourse; cf. fè bagay 
zon anwo ~ pubic area 
seksi, sèksi adj. [Eng.] sexy 
sekstan n. sextant 
seksyalite n. sexuality, sex life 
seksyèl adj. sexual, sex 
seksyèlman adv. sexually 
seksyon n. section, district (smallest 
rural administrative district, 
subdivision of a commune); 
section, part, segment; (hospital) 
ward 
adjwen èd ~ rural deputy 
sheriff, assistant to a chèf seksyon 
(obs.) 
chèf - rural section chief, rural 
sheriff (obs.) 
sèkt n. sect, faction 
~ wouj secret societies of 
evildoers 
sektanm, septanm, sèptanm n. 
September 
sektaris n. sectarianism 
sektè n. sector, area; sectarian, 
partisan, follower 
~ enfômèl informal sector (street 
vendors, open-air market 
merchants etc.) 
~ fomèl formal sector (merchants 
with established houses of 
business) 
sektoryèl adj. sectional, sector-
based 
sekwa n. pretentious person; adj. 
proud, haughty, conceited, 
condescending 
pran pôz - li to act high and 
mighty 
sekwe see souke 
sèl n. salt; wit, spice; saddle; seat (of 
bicycle); laxative, puigative; stool, 
feces (for lab work); adj. alone, 
only; single, only one; lonely, 
lonesome; apart; tremendous, 
huge, violent; exceptional 
bay kout ~ to plot, scheme; to 
give s.o. a hard-luck stoiy (in 
order to obtain money) 
bwat ~ salt shaker, saltcellar 
dlo ~ water containing salt (not 
seawater) 
fad ~ not enough salt 
fè ~ to have a bowel movement 
fè yon ~ to unite, unify, combine, 
come together; to be one and the 
same 
fè yon ~ ak to be at one with, be 
united with, be together with; to be 
the same thing as 
goute - to awaken (zombi); to lose 
one's virginity; to have s.thg. to 
eat 
grenn ~ salt tablet 
gwo ~ rock salt, coarse-grained 
salt 
- depsonn, ~ gason Epsom salts 
- fanm Glauber's salts 
~ fen table salt 
84^ 
sèl - selotèks 
~ joure yo fè all they do is swear/ 
curse 
- kôk (ki) chante king of the 
barnyard, "big man" 
tou ~ only 
twou ~ salt marsh 
yon ~ a single (one), one only; a 
tremendous, a huge, a violent 
Sèl see Fonmelon 
sela see sesi... sela 
Selan, Seylan, Sri Lanka prop.n. 
Sri Lanka, Ceylon 
selaraj! inter]. awful! 
selavi n. street urchin; cf. kokorat 
sèldepsonn n. Epsom salts 
sele v. to saddle; to dominate, 
master; to seal up; to affix a seal; 
to hit for a loan; to possess, 
temporarily take over one's mind 
and body (of Voodoo spirit) - same 
as monte; n. seal, stamp 
leve ~ sou to remove official seals 
from (house etc. after legal 
inheritance is settled, or rent is 
paid) 
poze/mete ~ sou to seal off 
officially (house etc. - cf. above) 
~ bride to harness; fully 
harnessed; see selebride 
~ chwal li to become organized; to 
come of age, become independent, 
become self-respecting; see chwal 
selèb adj. famous, well-known 
selebral see serebral 
selebran rein, celebrant; rel. adj. 
officiating 
selebrasyon n. celebration 
selebre v. to celebrate; to feast, 
party, rejoice 
selebride n. strong alcoholic drink 
of Cape Haitian; see sele 
selebrite n. celebrity, fame 
seleksyon n. selection; varsity team; 
national championship team 
seleksyone, seleksyonne(n) v. to 
select, pick, choose; to highlight 
(computer) 
seleksyonè n. selector (sports) 
selera n. scoundrel, rascal, villain; 
adj. wicked, evil 
seleri n. celery 
~ florida sisankatreventwa 
Florida 683 celery 
- mawon parsnip; cf. pèsi mawon 
~ stalèt starlet celery 
tij pye ~ stalk of celery 
selès adj. heavenly, celestial 
Selesten Meji (Emil) prop.n. 
Célestin-Mégie (Emile) - Haitian-
language writer, born 1922, author 
of Lanmou pa gen Baryè 
(pseudonym: Togiram - his native 
Marigot spelled backwards) 
sèlf: 
~ drilin self-drilling screw 
~ tepin self-tapping screw 
seliba n. celibacy, unmarried state, 
single life; old-maid; bachelor 
selibatè n. bachelor; spinster; adj. 
single, unmarried 
sèlil n. prison cell; cell (of plant or 
animal) 
~ san corpuscle 
selilè adj. cellular; n. cell(ular) 
telephone 
selina n. old maid; woman who runs 
after younger men 
selipi n. breadfruit (fam.) 
sèlman adv. only, but; really 
selofàn, selofann n. cellophane 
selon prep, depending on, according 
to 
se - it all depends, that depends 
selotèks n. Celotex (building board 
844 
sèlsiyis - sènay 
made of compressed sugarcane 
pulp) 
sèlsiyis, sèsiyis n. Celsius 
selya n. zinnia (flower) 
selye n. saddlemaker, harness-maker 
semafô n. semaphore 
semafot, semafôt, sèmafôt n. 
confession 
bat ~ to proclaim one's guilt 
semagri see simagri 
sèman n. oath, vow 
fè ~ to swear, take an oath 
fè fo ~ to perjure 
prete ~ take an oath 
~ tafya unreliable promise 
semans n. seed 
fè ~ to sow 
~ gason sperm, ejaculate 
semanse v. to seed 
sèmante v. to swear, assert under 
oath; to vow, pledge; to swear, 
curse 
~ (swasanndisèt fwa) sèt fwa to 
solemnly swear 
semantik n. semantics; adj. 
semantic 
semay n. sowing, seeding 
semé n. sower 
semèl, senmèl n. sole (shoe); footer 
under a cement pillar 
(construction) 
bout ~ half-sole 
doub ~ var. of sandal 
semèn, semenn see senmenn 
semen kontra, semèn kontra, 
senmenn kontra, simen kontra, 
simèn kontra n. Mexican tea 
(pigweed); wormseed (plant); 
stinking weed 
semés n. semester 
semestriyèl adj. semester 
semetyè see simityè 
semi n. sowing; seedbed, seed plot 
semi- prefix semi-
seminaris n. seminarian 
seminè n. seminary; seminar 
Ti Seminè Kolèj Senmasyal Petit 
Séminaire Collège Saint-Martial (a 
leading PaP elementary and 
secondary school) 
semityè see simityè 
sèmon n. sermon 
semoul n. semolina 
semoyidezo n. quarrel, brawl 
sen n. breast, bosom; saint; statue; 
birthmark; Voodoo spirit (N.); adj. 
holy, sacred, saintly; healthy; see 
lesen; senk 
bay ~ to breast-feed 
gen yon ~ pouse dèyè li to act 
compulsively (pej.) 
nan ~ within 
pa konn ki ~ pou li rele/priye not 
to know which way to turn, not 
know what to do 
~ e sôf safe and sound 
~ patwon patron saint 
~ Toma doubting Thomas, 
doubter, skeptic; see Sen Toma 
sou ~ prive private agreement (not 
certified by law) 
sèn, senn n. scene, quarrel; stage 
(theater); scene (theater); senna 
(bot.); see Lasèn; senn 
- monte put-up job, frame-up, 
plot 
sena, senna n. Senate 
senaj adj. stage (theater) 
senak n. literary society or group 
senaryo n. scenario, script 
senatè, sennatè n., senatèz, 
senatris f.n. senator 
senatoryal adj. senatorial 
sènay n. ambush, entrapment 
845 
senbal - Senjan 
senbal n. cymbal 
Senbatèlmiprop.n. Saint-
Barth(elemy) 
senbol n. symbol 
senbolik adj. symbolic 
senbolikman adv. symbolically 
senboiis n. symbolism 
senbolize v. to symbolize 
Senbris (Wobè) prop.n. Saint-Brice 
(Robert) - Haitian painter ("La 
Reine Erzulie"), 1893-1973 
senbyoz, senbyoz n. symbiosis 
Senchalprop.n. St. Charles 
(evaporated milk) 
sendenden n. insignificant person, 
nobody; prostitute; grimace 
sendik n. managing agent; irrigation 
worker 
sendika n. labor union; local 
political group to provide support 
for the government - replaced by 
the Volontaires de la Sécurité 
Nationale 
prezidan ~ union leader 
sendikal adj. labor, union 
sendikalis n. union organizer, union 
official; labor movement; adj. 
union 
sendikalman adv. as a labor union 
sendike v. to unionize 
Sendjonn see Senjan 
Sendonmeng, Sendomeng prop.n. 
Hispaniola; Dominican Republic; 
Santo Domingo (capital of the 
Dominican Republic); Saint-
Domingue (Haiti during French 
colonial period) 
bourik ~ unruly or rebellious 
person 
sendwom n. [Fr.] syndrome 
sene, senne n. senna 
Var.: - ti fèy, ti ~ 
sène see sènen 
Senegal prop.n. Senegal 
Senegalè prop.n./adjSenegalèz 
f.prop.n. Senegalese 
Senèkprop.n. Seneca (Lucius 
Annaeus) - 4 B.C. - A.D. 65 
sènen, sène, sennen v. to corner, 
surround, encircle, hem in; to 
besiege; to define, outline [Fr] 
senèryen adj. minor, unimportant 
boule an ~ to be totally 
unconcerned 
yon ~ a nobody, an unimportant 
person 
seneson n. ragwort, groundsel (herb) 
senèt n. playlet, sketch 
Sen Filip: 
di ~ ~ ak Sen Jak to tell one and 
all 
senfoni n. symphony 
senfonik adj. symphony, symphonic 
Sen Franswa Dasiz prop.n. Saint 
Francis of Assisi 
sengalè prop.n./adj. Singhalese 
Sengapou prop.n. Singapore 
sengilye adj. singular 
sengle adj. [Fr.] screwy, nutty, crazy 
sengo: 
rale ~ to take a little nap; cf. 
kabicha 
Sengregwa (gwôt) prop.n. Saint-
Grégoire grottoes (near Aquin, 
Dept. South) 
senik adj. theatrical 
senj n. monkey, ape; cf. makak 
Senjak Majè prop.n. Saint James 
the Elder - identified with the 
Voodoo spirit Ogoun 
senjan n. var. of med. plant 
Senjan, Sendjonn prop.n. Saint 
John (U.S. Virgin Islands); Saint 
John's (Antigua and Barbuda) 
846 
Senjan Bosko - Senlwizyen 
Senjan Bosko prop.n. Saint-Jean-
Bosco (former church of Jean-
Bertrand Aristide, PaP, attacked 11 
September 1988) 
Senjandisid prop.n. Saint-Jean-du-
Sud (Dept. South) {formerly 
Etwondpô q.v.) 
sen je v. [Fr.] to ape, mimic 
Senjera prop.n. Saint-Gérard 
(middle-class area of PaP) 
Senjid prop.n. Saint-Jude (Dept. 
West) 
senjôy, senjôj n. var. of large 
centipede 
Senjèy, Senjôj prop.n. Saint-
Georges (Dept. South); Saint 
George's (Grenada) 
senk, sen num. five 
kon yon grenn ~ all by oneself, 
lonely 
mete (ban m) ~ ou la (n a fè 1 fè 
dis) let's shake hands (to 
congratulate you) 
pa depanse - not to spend a 
penny 
pa (gen) ~ (kob), san ~ not to 
have a red cent, be penniless, be 
broke; not to have a bit of 
pa ... pou ~ kob a lot, very 
~ kob wouj U.S. penny, one cent 
~ pou ~ to be plentiful, abound 
senkan n. five years 
senkann num. fifty {preceding de, 
twa, kat, senk, sis, sèt); see 
senkant 
~ de var. of card game 
senkant num. fifty; see degouden; 
senkann 
~-kenz-dis the three different 
sums of gourdes which can be 
won in bôlèt (q.v.) 
~ k6b ak degouden (kole) six of 
one half dozen of the other, the 
same thing 
senkantèn, senkantenn n. fifties; 
approximately fifty 
senkanteyen num. fifty-one 
senkantnè n. fiftieth year; golden 
jubilee 
senkantyèm adj. fiftieth 
senkè n. five o'clock 
senkèdtan n. five hours 
Senkit, Senkits, Senkristôf, Sentkit 
prop.n. Saint Kitts, Saint 
Christopher 
~ e Nevis Saint Kitts and Nevis 
senkôb: 
pa ~ not a single pexmy 
senkope adj. syncopated 
senkretik adj. syncretic 
senkretis n. syncretism 
senksan, sensan num. five hundred 
senkwonize v. [Fr.] to synchronize 
senkyèm n. second year of 
secondary school; adj. fifth 
~ kolôn traitor, spy 
senkyèmman adv. fifthly 
Senloranprop.n. Saint Lawrence 
(river) 
fè ~ Fort Saint-Laurent (above 
Anse-à-Veau, Dept. Grand'Anse) 
Senlwi(dinô) prop.n. Saint-Louis-
du-Nord - founded 1670 (Dept. 
North-West) 
Senlwi(disid) prop.n. Saint-Louis-
du-Sud-founded 1698 (Dept. South) 
Senlwi Gonzag prop.n. Saint-Louis 
de Gonzague (prestigious private 
school, - Delmas 33, PaP) 
Senlwizyen prop.n., Senlwizyèn 
f.prop.n. inhabitant of Saint-Louis-
du-Nord (Dept. North-West); 
inhabitant of Saint-Louis-du-Sud 
(Dept. South) 
847 
senmafô - senplifye 
senmafo n. semaphore; tall pole; 
beanpole (person); Voodoo 
peristyle (cf. peristil) 
Senmakprop.n. Saint-Marc -
founded 1677 (Dept. Artibonite) 
Senmakwa prop.nSenmakwaz 
f.prop.n. inhabitant of Saint-Marc 
(Dept. Artibonite) 
sènman n. circles (under eyes) 
Senmaren prop.n. San Marino 
Senmasyal see Seminè 
Senmaten prop.n. Saint-Martin 
(disadvantaged area, 5th 
communal section of Delmas, PaP; 
French and Dutch Caribbean 
island) 
Senmeda (tablèt) prop.n. Saint-
Médard peanut-brittle (speciality 
of l'Arcahaie region, made of 
peanuts and ginger) 
senmèl see semèl 
senmenn, semèn, semenn n. week 
chak ~ each week, weekly 
fen ~ weekend 
lot ~ next week 
~ pase anwo two weeks ago, week 
before last 
~ pwochen next week 
~ sent Holy Week (week before 
Easter) 
senmichèl n. var. of mango 
Senmichèl(disid) prop.n. Saint-
Michel(-du-Sud) (Dept. South) 
Senmichèl(latalay), 
Senmichèl(delatalay) prop.n. 
Saint-Michel(-de-r Attalaye) 
(Dept. Artibonite) 
Senmichelwa prop.n., 
Senmichelwaz f prop.n. inhabitant 
of Saint-Michel(-de-l'Attalaye) 
(Dept. Artibonite) 
senmityè see simityè 
senn n. trawling net, triangular 
fishing dragnet (made of cord); 
see sèn 
tou ~ se pa all that wouldn't have 
happened (if) 
senna see sena 
sennatè see senatè 
senne see sene 
sennen v. to cast nets (fishing); see 
sènen 
sennesof adj. safe and sound 
senngo see singo 
Sennikola (Kap) prop.n. Cape 
Saint-Nicolas (at south entrance of 
Môle Saint-Nicolas, Dept. North-
west) 
sennis see sinis 
Sennsinati see Sensinati 
senntè/2. [Eng.] (commercial) center 
or mall 
senp adj. simple, modest, 
unassuming; single, individual; 
ordinary time (rel. - i.e., not Lent 
etc.); n. ritual gesture and words 
(having supernatural effect), 
incantation; magic cure; magic 
substance to protect a dead body 
fè ~ to set a bone 
ri ~ one-way street 
senpa adj. likeable 
senpati n. sympathy; liking, 
congeniality, warmth, friendship 
senpatik adj. likeable; sympathetic 
senpatizan n. sympathizer, adherent, 
supporter 
senpatize v. to sympathize 
senpleman, senpliman, senpman 
adv. simply, only, just 
senplifikasyon n. simplification; 
cancellation (math.) 
senplifye v. to simplify; to cancel out 
(math.) 
848 
senpliman - sentiwonnen 
senpliman see senpleman 
senplisite n. simplicity, modesty 
senpman see senpleman 
senpozyom n. symposium 
senptonm see sentôm 
Senpyè e Mikelon prop.n. Saint-
Pierre and Miquelon 
Senrafayèl prop.n. Saint-Raphaël -
founded 1780 (Dept. North) 
chenn - Saint-Raphaël mountain 
range (includes Bonnet-à-1'Evêque 
- site of the Citadel Laferrière, 
Dept. North) 
Senrafelyen prop.nSenrafeiyèn 
f prop.n. inhabitant of Saint-
Raphaël (Dept. North) 
sensan, senksan num. five hundred 
sensé adj. sincere 
sensèman adv. sincerely 
senserite n. sincerity, frankness 
Sensi (ri) prop.n. rue Saint-Cyr 
(street adjoining Champs-de-Mars, 
PaP) 
Sensilvès see Silvès 
Sensinati, Sennsinati prop.n. 
Cincinnati (Ohio) 
Sensyèj prop.n. Holy See, Vatican 
sent f.n. saint; fadj. holy, sacred, 
saintly; consecrated; m. adj. when 
preceding saints name beginning 
with a vowel, ex: ~ Antwàn; cent 
(U.S.) - cf. peni 
bon ~ paradi blessed be the 
memory (for a dear departed 
person) 
- nitouch hypocritical; holier than 
thou 
Senta prop.n. Saintard (north of 
l'Arcahaie, Dept. West) 
sentaks n. syntax 
sentaksik adj. syntactic 
Sentàn prop.n. Saint Anne 
sentaniz f.n. servant girl 
Sentantwàn prop.n. Saint Anthony; 
Saint-Antoine (church in PaP) 
Sentelèn prop.n. Sainte-Hélène 
(disadvantaged area of Jérémie, 
Dept. Grand'Anse); Saint Helena 
(island in south Atlantic) 
sententewonp n. annoying or 
bothersome person/thing 
sentespri n. sapa, rat bean, church 
blossom (bot.) 
Sentespri, Lesentespri prop.n. Holy 
Spirit, Holy Ghost 
Sentestach prop.n. Saint Eustatius, 
Statia (Netherlands Antilles) 
sentete, sentètè n. holiness, sanctity 
sentetik adj. synthetic 
sentetize v. to synthesize 
sentetizè n. synthesizer (music) 
sentetyenn, sentetyèn n. var. of 
machete 
sentèz n. synthesis 
seyans ~ wrap-up session 
Sentfllomèn prop.n. Sainte-
Philomène (disadvantaged area of 
Cape Haitian, Dept. North) 
senti n. waist; lower back; woman's 
belt; strip, band; truss 
an plenn ~ in an advanced state of 
pregnancy 
mete ~ li nan tay li to assume 
one's responsibilities 
- do lower back 
- fè mal lower-back pain 
~ louvri, ~ ouvè sprained back 
- pwoteksyon guardrail 
- (sekirite) seatbelt 
youn pase men nan - lôt to be 
packed in like flies 
sentiwon n. man's belt 
~ bal cartridge-pouch 
sentiwonnen v. to belt, beat 
849 
Sentkit - sèpantye 
Sentkit see Senkit 
Sentkwaprop.n. Saint Croix (U.S. 
Virgin Islands) 
lopital ~ Sainte-Croix/Holy Cross 
hospital (Léogâne, Dept. West) 
Sentlisiprop.n. Saint Lucia 
sentlisyen prop.n./adj. Saint Lucian 
sentôm, senptonm n. symptom; cf. 
siy 
Sentoma prop.n. Saint Thomas 
(U.S. Virgin Islands); n. doubting 
Thomas, doubter 
sentonnize v. to tune in, listen to 
(radio); cf. kapte 
Sentonore (ri) prop.n. rue Saint-
Honoré (between rue du Magasin 
de l'Etat and rue Capois, PaP) 
Sentpit prop.n. (fam.) Saint 
Petersburg (Florida) 
sentre v. to comer; to watch s.o. 
closely; to tie; to fit closely 
(clothes); to grab by the body, 
tackle; to tighten; adj. tight-fitting 
bann ~ bas torture squad, death 
squad 
~ bas to comer (s.o.), get at (s.o.); 
to shape up (s.o.), keep (s.o.) on 
their toes; to hassle, harass; to 
persecute; vindictive, punitive 
Sentsizàn prop.n. Sainte-Suzanne 
(Dept. North-East) 
Sent Terèzprop.n. Sainte-Thérèse 
(disadvantaged area of Cape 
Haitian, Dept. North) 
Sent Trinité prop.n. Holy Trinity 
Protestant Episcopal Cathedral 
(PaP) 
Sentya f.prop.n. Cynthia 
Senvalanten (fèt) prop.n. (Saint) 
Valentine's Day 
Senvensan prop.n. Saint Vincent 
(crippled children's hospital, PaP) 
Senvensan e Grenadin prop.n. 
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 
senyatè see siyatè 
senyati see siyati 
Senyè (pronounced: Se-nyè or Sen-
yè), Leseyè, Lesenyè 
(pronounced: Le-se-nyè or Le-
sen-yè), Seyèprop.n. Lord, God 
bay ~ san konfese/konfesyon to 
bluff, lie, deceive 
Senyèmèt prop.n. Lord and Master, 
God 
senyen v. to bleed; to draw blood; to 
kill by bleeding (animal); n. 
bleeding 
fè ~ to let blood 
maladi 1 ap ~ var. of poultry 
disease 
~ pèdi formula indicating one 
cock is bleeding severely and 
declaring fight at an end 
(cockfighting) 
senyman n. bleeding 
Senzano prop.n. Cinzano 
(vermouth) 
sèp n. shackle, fetter, chain; 
machete; triangular wooden collar 
for goats etc.; straitjacket 
Sèp prop.n. mystical prison 
(Voodoo) 
sepa interj. if it isn't..., isn't it that..., 
look how..., imagine...!; cf. apa 
sèpan n. serpent, snake; cf. koulèv 
gen lang ~ to have a sharp tongue; 
to backbite, malign, slander 
~ a linèt cobra 
~ a sonèt rattlesnake 
sepandan adv. however, yet, 
nevertheless, but, still 
sèpanten n. coil (chem.) 
sèpantye, chapantye, sapantye n. 
woodpecker 
a™ 
sèpantye - serebwôm 
fèy ~ var. of leaf (often mixed 
with tobacco) 
~ bwa, ~ montany Hispaniolan 
piculet (bird) 
~ fran Hispaniolan woodpecker 
- nwa yellow-bellied woodpecker 
Other var.: ~ jôn, ~ mawon 
separasyon n. separation; divider, 
barrier; distribution, sharing; 
divorce 
separatè n. concrete road divider 
separatis n./adj. separatist 
separe v. to separate; to share, divide 
(up), distribute; to sort (out); to 
break up (a fight); to dish out 
(food); to part (one's hair); to 
separate, divorce; adj. separate, 
detached, apart; adv. separately 
~ tè to parcel out land 
separeman adv. separately 
sèpèt n. sickle, pruning knife 
sepetèt: 
san ~ without doubt, without 
hesitation 
sepètfil n. leap frog; jumping, 
moving around 
sèpida n. malicious person, backbiter 
septanm, sèptanm see sektanm 
Septantprop.n. (the) Septuagint (rei) 
septantriyon n. [Fr.] north 
septantriyonal adj. northern; 
prop.n. name of well-known dance 
band 
Repiblik Septantriyonal -
provisional government of 
Northern Haiti under Florvil 
Hyppolite, 1888-1889 
septik adj. septic 
septisemi n. septicemia 
serafen n. seraph; skinflint, tightwad 
anfen ~! finally! at long last! 
seraj n. tightening 
seramik n. ceramic tile; ceramics; 
adj. ceramic 
sera seta!, seta sera! interj. that's it! 
that does it! never again! 
seray n. hiding place 
sere v. to save, put away, keep; to 
store; to hoard; to hide, conceal 
(s.thg.); to reserve; to tighten, 
fasten; to clench, grit (teeth); to 
jam; to comer or overwhelm (s.o.) 
with questions; to counteract 
diarrhea; adj. tight, snug, trim; 
taut; narrow; constipated; adv. 
tight, tightly; in close proximity; n. 
interrogation, the third degree 
~ bas to tighten up 
~ boulon to tighten up; to hold 
tight; to tighten the screws, clamp 
down on (s.o.), tighten control; to 
jam, wedge; to mistreat; 
repressive, restrictive 
- boulon li to pressure s.o., corner 
S.O. 
~ dan li to clench/grit one's teeth 
- dan li nan michan to get down 
to hard work; to face up to hard 
reality 
- grenn to grab by the crotch 
~ kô li to tighten, contract 
~ kole to close ranks, pull 
together, cooperate 
~ koze ou (pou 1 pa vante)! shut 
your trap (or people will hear)! 
~ kras to mince words; to sweep 
things under the carpet, cover 
one's tracks 
- men to make a fist 
- ran to close ranks (.milit.) 
serebelôm n. cerebellum 
serebral, selebral adj. cerebral, of 
the brain 
serebwôm n. cerebrum 
851 
seremoni - sèt 
seremoni, seremonni n. ceremony, 
ritual; pomp; Voodoo ceremony 
seren n. damp night air, evening 
dew, night mist; adj. serene, quiet, 
tranquil 
bèt ~ wild animals that come out 
at night; domestic animals that can 
be left out all night; drifter, loafer 
~ dan saliva 
- lapli drizzle, sprinkle, light rain 
ti ~ bananaquit (bird) 
serenad n. serenade 
sereng n. syringe 
serenge v. to annoy, bother 
serenite n. serenity, peace of mind 
serès f.n. Mardi Gras doll 
sereyal n. cereal, grain; cereal (for 
breakfast etc. - cf. kônfleks) 
seri n. (door) lock; doorknob; series, 
set; season, period 
bôs ~ locksmith 
~ a boul round doorknob lock 
~ a manch flat doorhandle lock 
~ krapo retractable door lock 
~ plat deadbolt 
~ sekirite security chain, chain in 
slot 
yon ~ a bunch of, a lot of 
seriz n. cherry; acerola, Barbados 
cherry 
~ kafe coffee bean 
~ Kayenn Surinam cherry tree 
~ lanmè false sandalwood tree, 
hog plum tree 
Other var. of cherry are: ~ Antiy, 
~ Babad, ~ Nwèl, ~ Pôtoriko, 
~ Sendonmeng 
serizye n. [Fr.] cherry tree 
Serizyeprop.n. Cerisier 
(disadvantaged zone of Pétion-
Ville, Dept. West) 
serye adj. seryèz, seryez f.adj. 
serious; serious-minded, earnest; 
sincere, trustworthy, reliable, 
dependable, honest; vital, 
essential, solemn; virtuous; n. 
seriousness; sincerity; adv. 
seriously; really; acutely 
pa ~ unreliable 
seryezite see seryozite 
seryezman, seryèzman adv. 
seriously, in earnest 
seryozite, seryezite n. dependability, 
reliability; seriousness 
fè yon - ak to get at, do in, fight 
with 
sès: 
san ~ continually, constantly, 
incessantly 
sese n. sissy, effeminate man; sister; 
aunt; old woman 
sèsè n. sis (fam. for sister) 
Sesèl see Sechèl 
sèsèl n. var. of bird 
seselwa see sechèlwa 
sesi... selapron. this ... that 
ki sesi ki sela whether it's this or 
that 
sesin n. sun-dried salted meat (usu. 
with lime juice) 
sèsiyis see sèlsiyis 
sèso, chèso n. coathanger, clothes 
hanger 
fè pran ~ to ride bus/taptap 
standing in aisle or hanging on at 
back 
m pa gen ~ pou kwoke ou! get 
lost! (said esp. by woman to man) 
sesrès see sechrès 
seswa conj. either 
sesyon n. session 
sèt num. seven; n. set (tennis, 
volleyball); see sètase; 
swasanndisèt fwa ~ fwa 
852 
sètadi - sévi 
lage pè ~ nan ko (yon moun) to 
harass (s.o.) 
pè ~ nuisance, pest 
sètadi conj. that is to say, meaning, 
i.e., that is 
sètakôz prep, because of 
sètalô adv. thereupon, then 
setan n. seven years 
sètansi adv. nowadays 
sètaprèmidi adv. [Fr.] this afternoon 
sètase! interj. enough! 
seta sera! see sera seta! 
sete combination se + te 
setè n. seven o'clock 
setèdtan n. seven hours 
sètèlman see sitèlman 
sèten adj. certain, sure; some; adv. 
assuredly; really, effectively; 
certainly, indeed 
sètènman adv. certainly, assuredly 
sètensi adv. thus, accordingly 
sètfwasi adv. [Fr] this time 
sètifika (etid primé) n. certificate; 
last grade of elementary school; 
comprehensive final exam of 
elementary school; certificate 
(primary school etc.) 
ale nan ~ to take the exam for the 
sètifika 
sètifikasyon n. certification 
sètifye v. to certify, guarantee, assure 
sètitid, lasètitid n. confidence; 
assurance; certitude, certainty 
setoblije, sètoblije v. to be 
compelled to, be forced to 
setouve see setwouve 
setpechekapito: 
lèd kou ~ ugly as sin 
sètsan num. seven hundred 
setwouve, setouve, sètwouve adv. it 
so happened that 
setyèm adj. seventh 
sèv n. sap (bot.) 
Sèvprop.n. Sèvre (2nd communal 
section of Tiburon, Dept. South) 
sevan see souvan 
sèvan n. server, waiter 
sèvant f.n. servant; maid; server, 
waitress 
- lwa (f.n.) Voodooist 
sevè, sèvè adj. severe, harsh, stem, 
strict, exacting; adv. severely, 
harshly 
sèvè n. waiter 
sèvèl n. brain; intelligence; brains 
(food) 
boule % gaye pete ~ (yon 
moun) to blow (s.o.'s) brains out, 
kill 
~ akasan, ~ labou, ~ wôwôt 
puddinghead, fathead, numbskull 
- poul birdbrain 
sevèman adv. severely, sternly 
Seven prop.n. Sevin (brand of 
insecticide) 
Sevenôp, Sevennôp prop.n. Seven-
Up (pop. soft drink) 
severite n. severity; harshness; 
strictness; gravity; rigidity 
sèvèz f.n. waitress 
sévi v. to serve, be of use; to use; to 
act, conduct (oneself); to serve 
(food); to serve (in sports); to 
serve (as), act (as); to worship, 
serve; to be a Voodoo worshiper 
fè ti ~ to pay homage (to Voodoo 
spirits) 
~ ak to use, make use of, employ; 
to treat; to associate with, do 
business with 
- ak de men to engage in both 
good and evil (Voodoo); to serve 
(coffee, tea etc.) along with bread 
or cassava 
853 
sèvikal - Seylan 
~ lwa to practice the Voodoo 
religion 
- temwen to witness; to testify 
sèvikal adj. cervical 
Sevin, Kabarilprop.n. Sevin 
(commercial insecticide) 
sévis n. favor, service; use; duty; tip, 
service; Christian church service, 
worship service; Voodoo service, 
Voodoo ceremony; set of nesting 
or interfitting tin containers 
de ~ on duty 
fè ~ to be on duty 
fè ~ li to do one's job or duty 
fè ~ lwa to conduct a Voodoo 
ceremony 
fè ~ remèsye to do s.thg. without 
thanks, do s.thg. in vain 
rann ~ to render service, help out, 
do a favor 
~ an blan Voodoo service 
conducted without drums 
~ lapriyè prayer-meeting 
~ lwa Voodoo service, Voodoo 
ceremony 
~ piblik public utilities 
- prese urgency 
sou ~ on duty 
Sévis Kretyen prop.n. Church 
World Services 
sèvitè n. servant, disciple; Voodooist 
fè ~ to greet s.o. by touching one's 
forehead (Voodoo) 
~ (lwa/lespri Ginen) Voodooist 
sèvitid n. servitude, slavery 
Seviy prop.n. Seville 
sèvla n. saveloy, dried spicy pork 
sausage 
sèvo n. brain; brains, intelligence 
enfeksyon ~ meningitis 
fè - to be insolent 
kout ~ sudden inspiration 
- plim, ~ zotolan featherbrain, 
scatterbrain; birdbrain, nitwit 
tl ~ cerebellum 
sèvolan n. [Fr.] kite (cf. kap); stag-
beetle 
sevraj, sevray n. weaning 
sevre v. to wean, stop nursing 
(baby); to abandon, desert (s.o.); 
n. weaning 
Sevre prop.n. Sevré (communal 
section of Tiburon, Dept. South) 
sèvyab adj. obliging, helpful 
sèvyèt n. towel, hand towel; (cloth) 
napkin (cf. napkin - paper 
napkin); bath mat 
~ babouyèt washcloth 
~ pôv dishcloth gourd (plant) 
~ tab (cloth) napkin 
sewom n. serum; intravenous tube; 
intravenous fluid (IV) 
mete ~ to run an intravenous tube 
~ djare, ~ nan bouch, ~ oral oral 
rehydration solution (ORS) 
~ nan venn intravenous fluid (IV) 
sewon n. large straw bag 
sewonegatif adj. HIV negative, free 
from the AIDS virus 
sewopozitif adj. HIV positive 
(AIDS) 
sewosi see asowosi 
Sewoul prop.n. Seoul (South Korea) 
seyans n. meeting, session; theatrical 
performance; movie showing 
leve - to end proceedings, bring 
the meeting to an end 
seyanstenan adv. on the spot, 
immediately 
seye, eseye v. to try, attempt; to try 
on, try out; to give it a try; to test, 
experiment; n. try, attempt 
Seyè see Senyè 
Seylan see Selan 
854 
sèz - sibaltèn 
sèz num. sixteen 
seza n. dough, money 
Sezaprop.n. Caesar 
sèzan n. sixteen years 
Sezareprop.n. [Bible] Caesarea 
sezaryèn n. Caesarean section, C-
section 
sezi v. to seize, grab; to possess 
(Voodoo); (jur.) to submit to, refer 
to, place before (a court or 
tribunal); n. seizure, confiscation; 
adj. astonished, surprised, 
amazed; dismayed; startled 
fè - to foreclose, repossess 
fè yon moun ~ to surprise s.o.; to 
startle s.o. 
~ arè(t) n. repossession (for non-
payment of goods etc.) 
~ konsèvatwa (jur.) seizure of 
goods (to prevent sale etc.) 
sezisman n. surprise, astonishment; 
shock; fright, violent emotion; 
emotional upset or crisis, hysteria 
fè (yon) % pran (yon) ~ to 
become emotionally upset; to be in 
shock 
~ tèt kabann, ~ men nan bouch 
amazement, astonishment 
sezon n. season; (length of) time; 
harvest (time); mood 
aryè ~ off-season, major dry 
season 
fie ~ changeable person 
gen ~ moody, temperamental 
gran ~ primary planting season 
~ grangou dry season (lit. hunger 
season) 
~ kap kite-flying season (summer 
months esp.) 
~ lapli rainy season 
~ sèch/chèch dry season 
~ topi (spinning) top season 
(Easter esp.) 
ti - secondary growing season 
sezonnen see sizonnen 
sezonnman, asezônman, 
asezonnay, asezonnman n. 
seasoning, condiment(s) 
sezonye (pronounced: se-zo-nye) n. 
seasonal worker 
sèzyèm adj. sixteenth 
Shada acron. (Société haïtiano-
américaine de Développement 
agricole) former U.S. rubber and 
sisal company in Haiti 
si conj. if; that; whether; adj. sure, 
certain; sour (fruit); acidic, tart; 
dour, stem, gloomy; spoiled 
(food); adv. so, so much; n. wax; 
large saw (tool); eye matter, sleep; 
B (music); see sis 
se menm kout ~ it's all the same 
~ a chantonnen jigsaw 
~ a meto, siyameto, ~ metal, ~ 
pou fè hacksaw 
~ an ka (just) in case, if by chance 
~ bouche butcher's saw 
~ e sèten absolutely certain 
~... ke [Fr.] as... as, as much ... as 
~ m te m ta if only I could 
- metal see ~ a meto 
~ myèl beeswax 
~ ou konn just like 
~ pou fè see ~ a meto 
- se pa ou if it were not for you 
- se pa sa otherwise, if not 
~ se pa t pou ou if it had not been 
for you 
- se pou mwen for all I care, it's 
all the same to me 
sib n. target; chives - cf. siv; prefix 
sub-; see swiv 
sibab see lasibab 
sibaltèn n./adj. subordinate 
855 
Sibawo - sidyeve 
Sibawo (larivyè) prop.n. Cibao 
River (source of the Artibonite 
River, Dominican Republic) 
Sibèprop.n. Sibert (immediately 
north of PaP) 
sibèkafe n. cyber cafe 
sibèlgwens adj. pitiless, merciless 
sibemol n. B-flat (music) 
an ~ in bad shape; disorganized 
Siberiprop.n. Siberia 
sibi v. to undergo, experience; to 
suffer, endure, put up with; to 
suffer damage(s); n. CB radio, 
Citizens' Band radio 
sibit adj. sudden, unexpected; adv. 
suddenly, unexpectedly 
sibitman adv. suddenly, 
unexpectedly 
sibito presto adv. in a jiffy, in no 
time at all 
sibjonktif n./adj. subjunctive mood 
(gram.) 
sibkonsyan adj. subconscious 
sibkonsyans n. subconscious 
sible v. to target 
sibodinasyon n. subordination 
Sibolèt see Chibolèt 
Sibone, Sibonne prop.n./adj. 
Ciboney (Indian) 
siboulèt n. chives (cul.)\ cf. siv 
sibreka see soubreka 
sibsistans, lasibsistans, sibzistans 
n. subsistence; provisions, 
supplies 
sibsiste, sibziste v. to subsist, exist 
sibstans, sistans n. substance 
gen - to have backbone, have 
inner strength 
sibstiti, sibtiti, sistiti n., sibtityèn 
f.n. deputy public prosecutor; 
substitute 
sibtil adj. subtle 
sibtilite n. subtlety, finesse 
sibtiti, sibtitiyèn see sibstiti 
sibtitisyon n. substitution 
sibvansyon n. subsidy 
sibvansyone v. to subsidize 
sibvèsif n./adj. subversive 
sibvèsyon n. subversion 
sibwa n. ciborium, pyx 
sibzistans see sibsistans 
sibziste see sibsiste 
Sichèmprop.n. [Bible] Shechem 
sichik n. psyche; adj. psychic 
sichofe v. to overheat 
sid n. south; cider 
Sid: 
(depatman) ~prop.n. 
(Department of the) South 
SÏDAacron. (syndrome d'immuno-
déficience acquis) AIDS (acquired 
immune deficiency syndrome) 
fè ~ to contract/have AIDS 
jèm viris ~ HIV positive 
(AIDS) 
Sidafriken prop.n./adj., Sidafrikèn 
f.prop.n. South African 
sidès n. southeast 
Sidès: 
(depatman) ~ prop.n. 
(Department of the) South-East 
sideyen n. AIDS victim 
sidi acron. [Eng.] CD, compact disc 
- worn CD ROM 
Sidlwizyen prop.n., Sidlwizyèn 
f.prop.n. inhabitant of Saint-Louis-
du-Sud (Dept. South) 
Sidon prop.n. [Bible] Sidon 
sidorye n. pillowcase; (cf. sak 
zorye) 
sidwès n. southwest 
sidyeve, si (Bon)Dye vie adv. God 
willing; often used as future tense 
indicator 
856 
sifas -sik 
sifas n. surface, area 
fè ~ to surface 
sife!, sifè! interj. [TV.] yes! of 
course!; really! is that so! (to 
express surprise); really? is that 
true? (to express doubt); conj. the 
result is 
sifi v. to suffice, be enough; adj. 
sufficient, ample, enough 
sifiks n. suffix 
sifllis n. syphilis 
sifizaman adv. sufficiently 
sifizan adj. sufficient, adequate, 
ample 
sifle see soufle; souflèt 
siflèt see souflèt 
sifokan, sivokan adj. suffocating, 
stifling 
sifokasyon, sivokasyon n. 
suffocation 
sifoke, sivoke v. to suffocate, choke 
sifon n. siphon 
sifonnen v. to siphon (off) 
sifrajVsifray dirèk n. direct suffrage 
(jur.) 
Sifrayèl: 
~ ak Chimèn Romeo and Juliet, 
lovers (cf. Kôkot ak Figaro) 
sig n. acronym 
siga, sika n. cigar 
bay (yon moun) ~ (dèyè tèt li) to 
make fun of (s.o.) 
pa pran ~ li mete dèyè zôrèy li to 
be still hanging in there, not ready 
to give up the ghost yet 
yon ~ limen nan de bout between 
a rock and a hard place, an 
impossible situation 
sigal see lasigal 
sigalye n. cigar-maker; small biting 
winged insect 
sigarèt n. cigarette; spool, reel, 
cylinder 
yon - limen nan de pwent 
between a rock and a hard place, 
impossible situation 
sige v. to try, struggle, cope; to 
continue, go on; to go away 
[Span.] 
sigèl: 
~ lanmè var. of large lobster 
sigin n. var. of yam 
sigjere see sijere 
sigma n. piston ring 
~ konpresyon compression piston 
ring 
~ lwil oil piston ring 
Signo prop.n. Sigueneau 
(tuberculosis sanitorium near 
Léogane) 
sigo see siyo 
Sigonn, Dimetoyat prop.n. Cygon 
(commercial insecticide) 
sigôy n. stork (bird) 
sigwann, lasigwav, sigwav n. 
legendary monster (body of wolf 
with human head) 
sije, sijè n. subject, topic; subject 
(gram.) 
move ~ bad character, bad person 
sijere, sigjere, sikjere v. to suggest 
sijesyon n. suggestion 
sijte v. to overcast (sewing) 
sik n. sugar; circus; cycle; diabetes; 
var. of mango 
baton ~ small paper container of 
sugar 
boul - sugar cube 
fè ~ to be diabetic 
fè ~ li to complete its cycle 
(insects etc.) 
maladi ~ diabetes 
mete ~ sou bonbon to put icing 
on the cake, outdo oneself 
857 
sik - sikriyè 
mete ~ sou bonbon yon fi to have 
sex with a woman 
- an poud powdered sugar 
~ dôy, ~ doj barley sugar, barley 
candy 
- gato cake frosting 
~ glase powdered sugar, 
confectioners' sugar 
~ jon, - krèm brown sugar 
- kann unrefined sugar cane 
~ mant candy mint 
- popilè, - wouj, ~ wouy brown 
sugar 
tout ~ fin sèti sou bonbon li to be 
old and worn out 
sika see siga 
sikadèl n. var. of noxious insect 
(same as ti kok) 
sikanaliz n. psychoanalysis 
sikatri n. psychiatry; adj. psychiatric 
sant ~ psychiatric ward; insane 
asylum 
sikatris n. [Fr.] scar; cf. mak 
Sikawolprop.n. Sucarol (artificial 
sweetner) 
sikay n. gourd bowl, calabash bowl 
or dish; cf. kwi 
sikè n. hired killer, henchman 
sikilasyon, sèkilasyon n. traffic; 
circulation (blood; press) 
(sévis) ~ (official) division of 
motor vehicles 
sikilatwa adj. [Fr.] circulatory 
sikile, sèkile v. to circulate, move 
around, move on; to circulate, pass 
around; to circulate (blood); to 
sleep with numerous women 
fè ~ to emit, send forth 
sildlè n. circular, notice, 
administrative memorandum 
sikisal n. branch office, outlet 
sikiyat see sikyat 
sikjere see sijere 
siklis n. (skillful) bicycle rider, 
cyclist; hoop (toy) - cf. sèk 
siklon, siklonn n. hurricane, 
cyclone, tropical storm 
peryôd ~ hurricane season 
siklonik adj. hurricane, cyclone 
siklop n. Cyclops (Greek mythology) 
siko- prefix psycho-
sikolog n. psychologist 
sikoloji ti. psychology 
sikolojik adj. psychological 
sikolojikman adv. psychologically 
sikomo n. sycamore 
sikonbe v. to succomb, yield, fail, 
fall (to) 
sikonferans n. circumference 
sikonflèks adj. circumflex (accent) 
sikonsi v. to circumcise 
sikonsizyon n. circumcision 
sikonskripsyon n. electoral district, 
constituency 
sikonstans n. circumstance 
sikonstansye adj. [Fr.] detailed 
sikonstansyèl adj. circumstantial; 
incidental 
sikopat n. psychopath 
sikopenmèt n. lazybones 
sikotik adj. psychotic 
sikre v. to sweeten, sugar; adj. 
sugary, sweet 
sikren n. guaba tree; cf. pwadou 
sikreri n. sugar refinery 
Sikreri see Sikri Anri 
sikri n. sweets, candy 
Sikri Anri, Sikreri prop.n. Sucrerie 
Henri (5th communal section of 
Saint-Louis-du-Sud, Dept. South) 
sikriye n. sugar-bowl; hogbush 
(same as bwakochon); adj. sugar-
producing 
sikriyè adj. sugar-refining 
858 
siksè - simaye 
siksè n. success 
pote ~ to be successful 
siksesè n. successor 
siksesiv adv. successively 
siksesyon n. inheritance, estate (Jur.) 
sikwi n. circuit, course, round; 
circuit (mach.) 
sikyat, sikiyat n. psychiatrist 
sikyatri n. psychiatry 
sikyatrik adj. psychiatric 
sil short form si + il 
sila demonst. [N.] this, that 
~ a this, that 
~ yo these, those 
silab n. syllable 
silabè n. primer, elementary reading 
book 
silans n. silence; interj. hush! be 
quiet! shut up! 
fè - to remain silent 
silansye n. silencer (for gun) 
silè adv. right away, immediately 
Silègprop.n. Silleigue (3rd 
communal section of Petite-
Rivière-de-Nippes, Dept. 
Grand'Anse) 
silèks n. flint 
silema, silenma see sinema 
silenn n. cylinder 
machin ~ steam roller 
silfa n. var. of med. plant; sulfa drug 
medikaman poud ~ sulfa 
silfat n. sulfur; sulfate 
~ peyi gale-of-wind (med. plant) 
silfid n. sulfide 
silfirik adj. sulfuric 
silfonamid n. sulfonamide 
Sili (Pyè) prop.n. Sully (Pierre) -
only Haitian soldier killed by U.S. 
forces in July 1915, at beginning 
of first Occupation 
silid n. var. of small noxious yellow-
green insect 
silikonn, silikôn n. silicon; caulk 
pôt ~ caulking gun 
Silisiprop.n. Cilicia 
silo n. silo; dice game (same as 
tildtik) 
ti - an fè metal can 
Silowe, Siloye prop.n. [Bible] 
Shiloah, Siloam 
siltefo adv. [Fr.] were it necessary 
Silven (Frank)prop.n. Sylvain 
(Franck) - provisional president of 
Haiti, 1957 
Silven (J5j) prop.n. Sylvain 
(Georges) - patriot and Haitian-
language writer, author of Krik? 
Krak! (1866-1925) 
Silvèsprop.n. Silvester 
chak sen ~ once in a blue moon, 
very rarely 
silvildlti n. [Fk] forestry 
silvikèl adj. [Fr.] forestry 
silvouplè see souple 
simagri, semagri, simagre n. 
foolishness, nonsense; grimace, 
gesture; bum, jerk, good-for-
nothing; ugly person 
simalo n. goat; cf. kabrit 
siman n. cement, concrete; concrete 
floor; (sniffing) glue; cement 
filling (for bicycle tire; dental); 
adv. surely, certainly; maybe 
fibwo ~ asbestos cement 
- kaka rat rough-surface concrete 
simantay, simantaj n. cementing; 
joining together, unifying 
simante v. to cement, pave; to unify, 
consolidate 
simantri n. cement works 
simaye, simanyen v. to scatter, 
spread (out), strew; to distribute; 
to sow (seed) 
859 
simayè - Sinayi 
simayè n., simayèz f.n. sower; 
disseminator 
~ laterè terrorist 
- latwoublay rabble-rouser, 
trouble-maker, instigator 
simbi adj. rust-colored 
Simbi, Simbi-Yan-Dezo, Simbi-
Yan-Kita f.prop.n. Voodoo spirit 
of fountains, springs and ponds 
Simè prop.n. Sumer 
simen, soumen v. to sow, seed, 
plant; to scatter, disperse; to 
spread, distribute 
~ baton, ~ makak to beat (with a 
stick or club) 
- dèy to plunge into mourning/ 
grief, cast a (tragic) shadow over 
~ kontra see semen kontra 
~ pitit to have/father one baby 
after another 
~ pwav to sow discord, create 
disunity 
simenaj, simenay n. overwork, 
over-exertion 
simentyè see simityè 
simeryenprop.n./adj. Sumerian 
simetri n. symmetry 
simetrik adj. symmetric 
simetyè see simityè 
Simeyonprop.n. [Bible] Simeon 
simido n. composer/singer at 
konbit, popular dances etc.; cf. 
sanba 
similak n. pretense, sham; v. to 
simulate, pretend, affect, bluff 
fè - to simulate, pretend, affect, 
bluff 
similarité n. [Eng.] similarity; cf. 
resanblans 
similtane adj. simultaneous 
Simisidin prop.n. Sumicidin 
(commercial insecticide) 
simityè, semetyè, semityè, 
senmityè, simentyè, simetyè, 
simitchè, simtyè n. cemetery, 
graveyard 
Bawon Mèt - see Bawon 
Samdi 
Simityè Esteryè Exterior 
Cemetery (main cemetery of PaP) 
~ machin, ~ môflè salvage yard, 
jalopy junkyard 
SIMO acron. CIMO (Compagnie 
d'Intervention Mobile/Corps 
d'Intervention et de Maintien de 
l'Ordre), rapid intervention force 
of the Haitian National Police, 
swat team 
Simon prop.n. [Bible] Simon 
Simon (Antwàn) prop.n. Simon 
(Antoine) - president of Haiti, 
1908-1911 
Simon f.prop.n. Simone 
"manman Simone Ovide 
Duvalier (wife of president 
François Duvalier) 
simonnis, simonis v. to simonize, 
wax, polish (car) 
simonns n. high-quality mattress 
simtyè see simityè 
simwa n. poinsettia 
sin see siy 
sinagog n. synagogue 
sinakwa, sinlakwa, siydekwa, 
siydelakwa, siylakwa n. sign of 
the cross 
fè ~ to make the sign of the cross; 
to pray 
sinapis n. mustard plaster 
sinas n. premonition, omen, portent; 
warning, admonition 
sinatirèl, sipènatirèl n./adj. 
supernatural; cf. mistik 
Sinayi prop.n. Sinai 
860 
sine - siplis 
sine n. (fam.) movies, cinema 
sinekiris n. sinecurist, free-loader, 
parasite 
sinema, silema, silenma n. movies, 
cinema 
sal ~ movie theater 
- gratis public spectacle, 
ridiculous scene 
sinematografi n. cinematography, 
film-making 
sineyas n. film-maker, moviemaker 
singo, senngo v. to doze, doze off, 
nod; n. snooze, catnap 
bay rale yon ~ to doze, doze 
off 
sinifi, sinyifi v. to mean, signify 
sinifikasyon n. meaning, sense 
Sinigaprop.n. sub-category of 
Voodoo spirits 
sinigal n. var. of freshwater fish 
sinik adj. cynical; austere; n. cynic 
sinis, sennis n. cynicism; adj. ashen 
(skin color); sinister; cynical; n. 
sinus; sine (math.); gray fighting 
cock 
sinistre n. emergency-relief food/ 
aid; any food donated from 
abroad; disaster victim; adj. 
victimized 
sinizit n. sinus trouble or 
inflammation, sinusitis 
sinlakwa see sinakwa 
sinôd n. synod 
sinon adv. otherwise, if not, or else 
sinonim n. synonym 
sinyatè see siyatè 
sinyati see siyati 
sinye see siyen 
sinyifi see sinifi 
sipa n. buffalo 
sipaka see sizoka 
sipè n. super (high-quality gasoline); 
prefix super-
sipèb adj. superb; haughty 
sipèfisi n. area, surface 
sipèfisyèl adj. superficial 
sipèfosfat n. superphosphate 
(fertilizer) 
sipekeryen n. snack; cf. soloba 
sipèmache, sipèmakèt n. [Eng.] 
supermarket; cf. makèt 
Sipèmann prop.n. Superman 
sipènatirèl see sinatirèl 
sipèpisans n. superpower 
sipèrentandan, sirentandan n. 
superintendent (Protestant 
churches esp.; construction team) 
siperyè adj. superior, better; 
excellent; ecc.n. (Father) Superior, 
(Mother) Superior 
lak Siperyè Lake Superior (USA) 
pi ~ the best 
siperyorite n. superiority 
sipèstisyon see sipètisyon 
sipèstrikti n. superstructure 
sipètisye, sipèstisye adj. 
superstitious 
sipètisyon, sipèstisyon n. 
superstition 
sipèvize v. to supervise, oversee 
sipèvizè n. supervisor 
sipèvizyon n. supervision 
sipire v. to fester, discharge pus 
sipleman n. supplement 
siplemantè n. over-time pay; adj. 
supplementary 
sipletif adj. (jur.) additional 
sipleyan n. substitute (teacher, 
judge) 
siplikasyon n. supplication, plea, 
entreaty 
siplis n. [Fr.] torture, torment 
- lawou breaking on the wheel 
(limbs broken while tied to a 
siplis - Sirinamyen 
horizontal wheel - method of 
death by torture during colonial 
period) 
siplis, sipli n. surplus; surplice (rel.) 
siplisye v. [Fr.] to torture, torment 
sipliye see sipriye 
sipô n. support, assistance; backing, 
subsidy; stand, rack, support, 
holder, prop; braces; cup (male 
genital protection in sports) 
~ lavabo bathroom sink support 
~ volan steering column 
sipôtab adj. bearable, tolerable 
sipotan adj. long-suffering, patient; 
intrepid, unflinching; supportive 
sipote v. to bear, put up with, 
endure; to tolerate; to withstand; 
to hold up, support; to 
substantiate; to support, subsidize; 
to lend moral support to, sponsor 
sipotè n. supporter, fan; sponsor; 
financial supporter 
sipozan see sipozon 
sipoze v. to suppose, assume, 
imagine; to be supposed to; adj. 
hypothetical; conj. supposing that, 
just suppose that 
sipozeman adv. supposedly 
sipozisyon n. supposition, 
assumption, hypothesis, guess 
a ~ in the eventuality that, should 
it happen that 
sipozitwa n. suppository; vaginal 
insert 
sipozon, sipozan conj. [Fr.] let's 
suppose, let's assume, in the case 
that 
siprann, souprann v. to surprise; to 
catch in the act; adj. sudden, 
surprising; acute 
kou ~ surprise attack, unexpected 
blow; unexpected event; shock 
siprè n. cypress tree 
siprèm adj. supreme 
sipremasi n. supremacy 
siprerabougri adj. tiny, puny, frail 
siprime v. to suppress, remove, 
delete; to stunt (one's growth); to 
prevent one's sexual development; 
to prevent normal menstruation 
sipriye, sipliye, soupliye, soupriye 
v. to beseech, beg, implore, plead 
sipriz n. (pleasant) surprise; adj. 
surprise, unexpected 
fè (yon moun) ~ to surprise (s.o.) 
Sirak, Chira, Chirakprop.n. 
[Apocrypha] Sirach 
Sirakiz prop.n. [Bible] Syracuse 
siray, siraj n. shoe polish; wake (of 
ship etc.); see siyay 
sire v. to wax; to shine, polish; adj. 
waxed; shiny, glittering; shiny 
with dirt 
sirè: 
~ soulye shoeshine boy/man; cf. 
chany 
sirèn n. siren, alarm 
sirenal adj. adrenal 
sirentandan see sipèrentandan 
sirèt n. hard candy; 
mispronunciation of certain vowel 
sounds; var. of mango; adj. 
sensitive, sore (tooth) 
~ pou tous cough drop(s) 
sireyalis n. surrealism; adj. surrealist 
siri n. sawmill, lumbermill 
Siri see Lasiri 
sirijen n. var. of fish 
sirik, sirit n. saltwater crab; stingy 
person 
sirilik adj. Cyrillic 
Sirinam prop.n. Surinam 
Sirinamyen prop.n./adj 
Sirinamyèn f.prop.n. Surinamese 
862 
Sins - Site Batis 
Sirisprop.n. [Bible] Cyrus 
sirit see sirik 
sirte n. security 
Siryenprop.n./adj., Siryèn f.prop.n. 
Syrian; Haitian of Syrian or 
Lebanese ancestry (esp. when 
active in commerce) 
sis, si, siz num. six; v. to succeed 
an ~ kat de in a jiffy, in a wink 
de ~ (kole), pè ~ homosexual; 
homosexuality 
pa gen ~ nan douzèn to be/fall 
far short of (s.thg.) 
pap ~ to fail, flop 
pè ~ see de ~ (kole) 
yon ~ k ap joure yon nèf kwochi 
the pot calls the kettle black 
sisan num. six hundred 
sisani see zizani 
sise see souse 
sisè see sousè 
siseptib adj. touchy, thin-skinned; 
sensitive; susceptible, vulnerable 
siseptibilite n. susceptibility, 
vulnerability 
Sisewon prop.n. Cicero 
sisi, sisib see masisi 
~ zèb March's grassquit (bird) 
sisid see swisid 
siside see swiside 
sisil see masisi 
Sisilprop.n. Sicily 
sisin see lasisin 
Sisinprop.n. traditional children's 
song 
sismik adj. seismic 
sismograf n. seismograph 
sison n. pacifier (for baby) 
sispandi v. to hang up, suspend 
sispann v. to quit, stop, cease, 
suspend, adjourn, let up, abandon, 
interrupt, discontinue, eliminate 
fè yon ti ~ to come to a 
momentary halt 
- by en, - zanmi to no longer be 
friends, break off (a) friendship 
sispans, sispenns n. suspense, 
uncertainty 
sispanswa n. athletic supporter, 
jockstrap 
sispansyon n. suspension (school; 
job; car); adjournment (jur.) 
sispèk v. to suspect; n. suspect; 
prowler; adj. suspect; suspicious, 
guilty-looking; afraid, uneasy 
sispekte v. to suspect, be suspicious 
of 
sispenns see sispans 
sispisyon n. suspicion, distrust 
sispouvennsenk n. var. of roll 
(bread) 
sistans see sibstans 
sistèm, sistenm n. system; habit 
~ volan steering shaft 
sistematik adj. systematic 
sistematikman adv. systematically 
sistiti see sibstiti 
siswafè adv. certainly 
sisyon n. aspirator, saliva ejector 
sit n. site, setting; website (Internet); 
see isit 
sitadèl n. citadel, fortress, stronghold 
Sitadèl (Lafèryè) prop.n. the 
Citadel (Laferrière) (Dept. North) 
sitaden n. city or town dweller 
sitan adv. so, so much, so many 
sitasyon n. citation, legal summons; 
quotation 
site n. housing development; 
security, safety; site; v. to summon 
(before a court); to mention, cite; 
to quote 
Site Batis prop.n. Cité-Baptiste 
(disadvantaged area of PaP) 
863 
Site Bôstonn - Site Solèy 
Site Bostonn/Bôston prop.n. Cité-
Boston (disadvantaged area of 
Site Solèy [q.v.]) 
Site Bwanèf prop.n. Cité-Bois-Neuf 
(disadvantaged area of Site Solèy 
[î.v.]) 
Site Chalmay Peraltprop.n. City of 
Charlemagne Péralte (fam. name 
for Hinche, Dept. Center) 
Site (di) Drapo prop.n. City of the 
Flag (fam. name for l'Arcahaie 
(Dept. West), where the Haitian 
flag was created 18 May 1803) 
Site Ekspozisyon prop.n. Cité de 
l'Exposition (same as Bisantnè, 
q.v.) 
Site Endepandans prop.n. City of 
Independence (fam. name for 
Gonaïves, Dept. Artibonite) 
Site Ewoprop.n. Cité Héros 
(disadvantaged area of Cape 
Haitian, Dept. North) 
Site Fôsenmichèl prop.n. Cité-Fort-
Saint-Michel (area of Cape 
Haitian, Dept. North) 
Site Fosten Souloukprop.n. City of 
Faustin Soulouque (fam. name for 
Petit-Goâve, Dept. West) 
Site Jera prop.n. Cité-Gérard 
(disadvantaged area of Site Solèy 
[î-v.]) 
Site Kadèprop.n. Cité-Cadet 
(disadvantaged area of PaP) 
Site Kapwa Lanmôprop.n. City of 
Capois-la-Mort (fam. name for 
Port-de-Paix, Dept. North-West) 
Site Katonprop.n. Cité-Carton 
(most disadvantaged area of Site 
Solèy [q.v]) 
Site Lapé prop.n. Cité-La Paix 
(disadvantaged area between port 
and Cité-Soleil, Pap) 
Site Lendepandans see Site 
Endepandans 
Site Lento prop.n. area of Site 
Solèy (q.v.) 
Site Lesko prop.n. Cité-Lescot 
(disadvantaged area of Cape 
Haitian) 
Site Letènèlprop.n. Cité-1'Eternel 
(disadvantaged area of PaP) 
Site Libète prop.n. Cité-Liberté 
(disadvantaged area of PaP) 
Site Limyè prop.n. Cité-Lumière 
(disadvantaged area of PaP) 
sitèlman, sètèlman adv. so very, so 
very much, so much 
nan - li in good spirits, in a very 
good mood 
Site Louvèti see Site Tousen 
Louvèti 
Site Makprop.n. Cité-Marc 
(disadvantaged area of PaP) 
Site Milité prop.n. Cité-Militaire 
(disadvantaged area of PaP) 
Site Pèp prop.n. Cité-du-Peuple 
(disadvantaged area of Cape 
Haitian, Dept. North) 
Site Plis, Vilaj Site Plis prop.n. 
Cité-Plus (disadvantaged area of 
PaP) 
Site Poltwon prop.n. former name 
of Gwomôn (<7.v.), Dept. 
Artibonite 
Site Senjôj prop.n. Cité-Saint-
Georges (area of PaP east of 
Delmas 33) 
Site Simon (Divalye) prop.n. Cité-
Simone(-Duvalier), until 1986 
name of Site Solèy, q.v. 
Site Solèy prop.n. Cité-Soleil - vast 
disadvantaged area of Delmas/PaP, 
formerly Cité-Simone, consisting 
of 34 sections or areas such as: 
864 
Site Solèy - sitwon 
Belekou, Bôstonn, Bwanèf, 
Douya, Solèy 19, Tokyo 
Among other disadvantaged areas 
of the PaP region are the 50 
following: Bayakou, Bèlè, Breda, 
Bwadchèn, Bwa Pikan, Chen 
Mouri, Darilya, Dèyè Simityè, 
Fôfyèl, Fônasyonal, Fô Senklè, 
Fô Twouwon, Fourni, Frize, 
Gran Ravin, Inosan, Kafou Fèy, 
Kôkras, Kwadepre, Lako, 
Lakou Breya, Lasalin, Lido, 
Lôjina, Madigra, Malval, 
Marasa, Marengwen, Mizè, 
Monben, Mon joli, Môrèd, 
Nivana, Ponwouj, Rigobèf 117, 
Savann Bredi, Sètkoutponya, 
Site Kanado, Site Letènèl, Site 
Mak, Sou Kannal, Sou Pôtay, 
Ticheri, Tidekayèt, Twalatrin, 
Twousab, Vila Woza, Vilaj de 
Dye, Vilaj Site Plis, Zôn Solino 
Site Tousen Louvèti prop.n. Cité-
Toussaint-Louverture 
(disadvantaged area of southeast 
PaP, in Portail Léogâne zone) 
Site Vensan prop.n. Cité Vincent 
(name of Lasalin [q.v.] under 
President Sténio Vincent, c. 1938) 
sitèn, sitenn n. cistern, reservoir, 
water tank, water tower; pool, 
pond 
kamyon ~ tanker truck 
Sitènremi prop.n. Citerne-Rémy (1st 
communal section of Baie-de-
Henne, Dept. North-West) 
Siti prop.n. City (as in Kannzas 
Siti, Nouyok Siti, Oklawoma Siti 
etc.) 
sitin, siting n. [Eng.] sit-in, passive 
demonstration 
fè ~ to take part in a sit-in 
sitiran adj. complacent; overly 
tolerant or indulgent 
sitirans, soutirans n. spoiling, 
indulgence, pampering; 
complicity; complacency; 
(excessive) tolerance 
koupe yon - to no longer put up 
with, get rid of 
sitirasyon, sitiyasyon, sityasyon n. 
situation, case 
sitire, soutire v. to spoil, pamper; to 
tolerate, put up with, condone, 
overlook; to allow, permit; to 
conceal, hide; to receive stolen 
goods, act as a fence 
sitirè, soutiré adj., sitirèz, soutirèz 
f.adj. permissive, overly tolerant 
or indulgent; n. accomplice; 
fellow-traveler; overly tolerant or 
overly indulgent person; receiver 
of stolen goods, fence 
sitiyasyon see sitirasyon 
sitiye v. to locate, situate; to be 
located, be situated 
sitkèm n. situation comedy, sitcom 
sito, osito adv. immediately, as soon 
as 
sitou, soutou adv. especially, above 
all, mostly, even more 
sitovle n. uncomfortable bed/bunk/ 
pallet 
sitrat n. citrate 
sitrik adj. citric 
sitris n. [Eng.] citrus fruit; adj. citrus 
sitwayen n., sitwayèn f.n. citizen 
sitwayènte n. citizenship 
sitwè n. sou'wester (wind) 
sitwèb n. (computer) web site 
sitwon n. lime (fruit) [which is often 
used as deodorant]; adj. 
mumbling, inarticulate 
- dous, ~ j6n lemon 
865 
sitwonad - siwo 
~ vèt lime 
ti ~ short person, shorty 
sitwonad, sitwonnad n. limeade 
sitwonèl, sitwonnèl n. citronella, 
lemon-grass tea 
~ mawon rue (herb) 
Sitwonyeprop.n. Citronniers (9th 
communal section of Léogâne, 
Dept. West) 
sitwouy n. var. of gourd or pumpkin 
Sitwoyènprop.n. Citroën (vehicle) 
sityasyon see sitirasyon 
siv v. to follow; n. chives 
Sivadye (plaj) prop.n. Cyvadier 
Beach (near Jacmel, Dept. South-
East) 
sivan see souvan; swivan 
siveyan n. monitor, proctor; 
watchman, guard; overseer; 
lifeguard; police informer 
siveyans, souveyans n. vigilance, 
cautiousness, watchfulness; 
surveillance, scrutiny, inspection; 
confinement 
siveye v. to watch (over), guard, 
keep an eye on; to supervise; to 
watch (for), pay attention to; to 
monitor, check out 
~ rapote to spy (upon), infiltrate 
siveyè rapôtè n. spy, infiltrator, 
informer 
sivik n. civics; adj. civic 
sivil n./adj. civilian; adj. civil (law 
etc.) 
an ~ in civilian clothes 
sivilite n. [Fr.] civility; courtesy 
sivilizasyon n. civilization 
sivilize v. to civilize; adj. civilized; 
sociable 
sivilman adv. civilly; in a civil court 
sivis n. civics; public-spiritedness 
siviv v. to survive 
sivivan n. survivor 
sivivans n. survival 
sivokan see sifokan 
sivokasyon see sifokasyon 
sivoke see sifoke 
sivouplè see souple 
sivyè n. [Fr.] stretcher 
siwa n. sou'wester (wind) 
siwèl, siwal n. red mombin, hogplum 
tree, loquat (tree with edible plum-
like fruit); var. of sucker or 
lollipop; ass, butt 
grenn ~ loquat fruit; small 
ambulant Cuban-style musical 
group 
siwèle adj. sugary 
siwo n. syrup; molasses; liquid 
medicine; elder tree; jointwood 
tree; adj. straight and silky, 
smooth and sleek (hair) 
bay gwo ~ to turn the rope fast (in 
jump rope) 
bay ti ~ to turn the rope slowly (in 
jump rope) 
dlo ~ low-quality syrup 
gwo ~ cane syrup; molasses 
mache - " - to swish, mince, prance 
maladi tèt ~ AIDS 
(mwenn akasan) ~ mete pye at 
the slightest provocation 
~ derab maple syrup 
~ doja, ~ loja amaretto, syrupy 
drink using almond-base liquid 
~ flè nectar 
~ fotifyan tonic 
~ kann molasses 
~ kanpèch, - lyann savon var. of 
honey 
~ kè kontan anti-depressant syrup 
- lôja see ~ dôja 
~ melas molasses 
~ myèl honey 
tan kou ~ ak fourni like flies to 
honey 
ti ~ refined syrup 
woule ~ to extract honey from 
honeycomb 
siwolin v. to sip slowly, savor; to 
sweet talk, cajole; n. syrup; adj. 
syrupy; sweet; silky, smooth 
an ~ like sweethearts, like lovers 
siwon n. wood louse, mite 
siwote v. to savor 
siwoz n. cirrhosis 
siy n. handsaw, saw (tool); cf. si, 
goyin 
siy, sin n. sign, indication; omen; 
symptom; gesture, signal; 
birthmark, beauty mark; wart, 
mole; swan; see sinakwa 
fè ~ to signal; to gesture; to wink 
knowingly at 
fe pale ak/pa ~ to sign, use sign 
language (for deaf) 
lang ~ (pou soud), langaj pa ~ 
sign language 
siyad n. light brushing against, light 
contact 
siyaj see siyay 
siyaka see sizoka 
siyal n. signal, sign; turn signal, 
blinker (mach.); sign, seal; var. of 
drum rhythm 
~ pou leve wake-up call 
siyale v. to signal, indicate, point out; 
to watch closely; n. ritual gesture 
extending an offering toward the 
four cardinal points while 
indicating intended Voodoo spirit 
siyalizasyon n. signal system 
panno ~ traffic sign 
sévis ~ air-traffic control 
~ sikilasyon traffic lights 
~ woutye roadsigns 
siwolin - siye 
siyalman n. description, particulars 
(of police suspect etc.) 
siyam see syanm 
siyameto, si a meto n. hacksaw 
siyatè, senyatè, sinyatè n. signer 
Siyatèl prop.n. Seattle (Washington) 
siyati, senyati, sinyati n. last name, 
family name, surname; signature; 
autograph 
siyay, siyaj n. path, trail, wake, 
footsteps 
fann nan ~ (yon moun), lage (de 
gidon) nan ~ (yon moun) to 
pursue, go after; to keep after 
(s.o.), be on (s.o.'s) tail, be all out 
after (s.o.); to get on s.o.'s case, 
bother, annoy 
nan ~ under the influence of 
siydekwa, siydelakwa see sinakwa 
siye, swiye v. to wipe (off), diy; to 
saw; to dust, mop; to be 
resourceful, be a go-getter; n. 
effect obtained by rubbing fingers 
across drumhead; see siyekole 
~ ak to get along with, fit in with 
~ bèk ou atè! never say that to me 
again! 
~ bèk sou yon moun to insult s.o. 
~ bouch li nan panno kizin to 
always show up around mealtime 
~ dan to fail to keep a promise 
- dan (yon moun) to grate on 
(s.o.'s) nerves; to fool, deceive, 
mislead; to retaliate, get back at 
(s.o.) 
~ kajou ak to have dealings with, 
work together with 
- kôn ak to lock horns with, oppose 
~ ponpe no matter what, come 
what may 
- pye small informal dance party; 
to dance 
867 
siyè - sizonnen 
~ ~ ti bobin kare Mardi Gras 
song sung while dancing around 
two poles 
siyè, siyèdlon n. sawyer, wood-
cutter; go-getter 
siyekole n. humdinger, lollapalooza 
li mèt ~ bèk li atè whatever (s)he 
does (pej. ) 
~ ak to associate with; to be in 
accordance with 
- bèk ou atè! don't you ever dare 
say/do that again! 
- kole children's game played 
with a flattened bottle top (same as 
mayôl or ralba) 
~ pye hop, informal dance 
(session) 
siyen, sinye v. to sign (one's name); 
to autograph; to be surnamed 
(family name) 
kijan li what's his/her last 
name? 
~ dan to fail to keep a promise 
- lajan to be made of money, be 
very wealthy 
siyeri see syeri 
siyifi, siyifye v. to signify, mean 
siyiflkasyon n. meaning 
siyifikatif adj. significant, 
meaningful 
siyifye see siyifi 
siylakwa see sinakwa 
siyo, sigo n. signal; see syo 
fè voye ~ to signal; to wink 
knowingly at 
siyoka see sizoka 
siyon n. furrow; track (in road); 
wake (of ship); signal; sign, 
indication; sign language 
fè voye ~ to signal; to call 
discreetly 
Siyon prop.n. [Bible] Zion 
siyonnen, siyone, siyonen v. to 
furrow; to follow in the wake of; 
to cross, criss-cross 
Siyoudad prop.n. [Span.] Ciudad 
siz see sis 
sizal n. sisal 
sizan n. six years 
Sizàn, Sizannf.prop.n. Susan, 
Suzanne 
Sizanè, Sizannè prop.n., Sizanèz, 
Sizannèz f.prop.n. inhabitant of 
Sainte-Suzanne (Dept. North-East) 
sizanka see sizoka 
sizay n. parings, scraps (of metal); 
shears; heavy metal cutter, bolt 
cutter 
sizè n. six o'clock 
sizèdtan n. six hours 
sizle v. to chisel, carve 
sizo n. (pair of) scissors; chisel; 
plant bug; frigate bird; fall, 
tumble, trip; drop-spindle for 
spinning cotton and candle wicks; 
dance step where feet are crossed 
bay ~ to perform a Caesarean 
section/C-section 
gwo ~ shears 
pran ~ to undergo an operation 
(med.); to undergo a Caesarean 
section/C-section 
~ bwa wood chisel 
~ jaden hedge clippers 
~ toi tin snips, tin shears 
sizoka (pa ka), sipaka, siyaka, 
siyoka, sizanka, syoka n. var. of 
small straw bag; conj. in case, if (it 
happens that), if by chance 
sizonnad n. seasoning; spicy dish 
sizonnen, asezonnen, asizonnen, 
sezonnen v. to season, spice; to 
put dressing on (salad); v. to anger, 
rile up 
R6K 
sizyèm - sodyom 
sizyèm adj. sixth; n. first year of 
secondary school 
sizyèmman adv. sixthly 
sk- see esk-
sl- see esl-
sl. abbrev. centiliter 
sm- see esm-
sm. abbrev. centimeter 
sn- see esn-
SNÈP see ESNÈP 
so n. waterfall; fall, tumble; bound, 
jump, leap; seal, mark; emblem; 
rubber stamp; postmark; 
trademark; pail; see syo 
bay yon ~ kabann to be 
unfaithful (woman) 
fè yon ~ to leap, bound 
fè yon ~ rive to pay a little visit 
(to), drop by 
lage ~ to make an accusation 
mete ~ to stamp (passport etc.); to 
seal 
pa pran okenn move ~ bourik 
not to have any mishap/misfortune 
pran ~ to be hit, suffer loss 
pran yon ~ to take a fall (judo 
etc.) 
premye ~ pa ~ the first defeat is 
no defeat, try again 
~ ala pèch pole vaulting 
~ an longé long jump 
~ an otè high jump 
~ kabrit somersault; knockdown 
blow 
~ lapôs postmark 
~ trip triple jump 
so n. fate, destiny, lot; situation; 
sister; term of affection or respect, 
esp. for unmarried woman; that 
woman ... (pej.); sh.form sa + ou 
bay move ~ to mistreat, give a 
hard time to 
se ~ Lira (li bay byen) she's an 
easy touch, she's a push-over 
~ bèbè woman's genitals; ass (5.) 
~ w tande a all of a sudden 
~ yèt see sôyèt 
sôb adj. sober (not a heavy drinker); 
moderate 
soba, sobadji, sobagi, sobagwi, 
sobaji see badji 
Sobari(l) prop.n. Saut-de-Baril 
(communal section of Anse-à-
Veau, Dept. Grand'Anse) 
sôbè n. sherbet 
sôbètyè n. ice-cream container (obs,) 
Sobo prop.n. Rada Voodoo spirit of 
thunder and lightning 
pa di ~ pa di Badè to say neither 
this nor that 
Sobôn, Lasôbôn prop.n. Sorbonne 
(Paris) 
sobreka see soubreka 
sobtyè see soptyè 
sôb we n. [Eng.] subway 
sèche see chftche 
sèchè see chèchè 
soda n. cracker; soda (chem.)\ soda 
water; carbonated drink 
Sodebaril prop.n. Saut-de-Baril (7th 
communal section of Anse-à-Veau, 
Dept. Grand'Anse) 
Sodlè, Sodolè prop.nSodlèz, 
Sodolèz fprop.n. inhabitant of 
Saut-d'Eau (Dept. Center) 
sodo n. waterfall, cascade 
Sodo prop.n. Saut-d'Eau (Dept. 
Center, site of Voodoo pilgrimage 
each mid-July) 
Sodolè, Sodolèz Sodlè, Sodlèz 
Sodôm, Sôdôm prop.n. [Bible] 
Sodom 
sodomize v. to sodomize 
sodyèm n. sodium 
869 
sof - solèy 
sof, sôf adj. safe; prep, except 
- kondwi safe-conduct 
- si unless, except if 
sofa n. sofa 
~ de plas loveseat 
sôfbôl n. softball 
soflstikasyon n. advanced 
technology 
sofistike adj. sophisticated 
Sofôk prop.n. Sophocles (5th 
century B.C.) 
Sofoniprop.n. [Bible] Zephaniah 
softaj see sovtay 
sôfwè n. [Eng.] software 
Sofya prop.n. Sofia (Bulgaria) 
Sogbo prop.n. Voodoo spirit of 
lightning, thunder and storms 
sogo n. friendly tap on shoulder etc. 
when leaving s.o. 
~ mannigo (n a wè denmen - tèt 
bèf - w ap dômi ak lafyèv) 
children s saying accompanied by 
a playful tap usu. as leaving 
sogo n. sorgo, sorghum 
sogwe see asogwe 
soj n. sage (bot.) 
soja, soya n. soybean, soya 
sok n. base, pedestal, socle 
sôkay n. laying a pedestal/socle 
soke v. to lay a pedestal/socle 
sôkèt n. socket (electric); socket 
wrench, rachet; bobby socks 
sôko n. sickle, pruning knife 
sokoy n. [TV.] stew 
Sokrat prop.n. Socrates (ancient 
Greek philosopher) 
sol n./adj. soul (music) 
sol n. ground, soil; floor; foundation 
wall; G (music); willow (tree); 
sole (fish); reciprocal group-
lending; balance outstanding 
(accounting) 
kle ~ treble clef (music) 
manman ~ organizer of a 
reciprocal group-lending 
agreement 
men - pa ou! here's what's 
coming to you! 
~ ôdinè weekly or monthly 
reciprocal group-lending 
agreement 
- plerè (weeping) willow tree 
- sable, ~ sablone sandy soil 
~ sabotay daily reciprocal group-
lending agreement 
yon men ~ total sum of money of 
a reciprocal group-lending 
agreement 
Sôl prop.n. [Bible] Saul, Paul 
solaj see solay 
solanèl adj. solemn 
solanèlman adv. solemnly 
solay, solaj n. wall base (of house -
just above foundations) 
sold n. balance outstanding, 
remaining balance 
sèlda n. soldier; worker in certain 
collective work groups; hermit-
crab; pawn (chess) 
senp ti ~ army private 
vye ~ retired thief (fam.) 
sole see solèy 
solè adj. solar 
solennite, solènite n. solemnity, 
ceremony 
solesis n. [Fr.] solecism, misusage 
solèy, sole, solèy n. sun; sunlight, 
sunshine; sunflower; adj. sunny; 
solar 
atak ~ sunstroke; sunburn 
bay ~ to expose to the sun, dry in 
the sun 
bo ~ kouche on/to the west 
bo ~ leve on/to the east 
870 
solèy - somèy 
boule - to work or sweat in the 
sun 
chofe ~ to warm oneself in the sun 
flè ~ sunflower 
gwo ~ direct sunlight; in broad 
daylight; unrelenting sun 
kote ~ kouche a west 
kote ~ leve a east 
kout ~ sunstroke; sunburn 
leve ~ sunrise 
pase ~ [same as bay 
pran ~ to stay out in the sun 
Site Solèy Cité-Soleil 
(disadvantaged area of PaP) -
formerly Cité-Simone 
~ kouchan west 
~ kouche sunset; dusk, twilight 
~ levan rising sun; east 
~ leve sunrise 
~ pa leve the sun is not shining, it 
is cloudy 
~ pa ~ (lapli pa lapli) come rain 
or shine, come what may 
ti ~ wild sage (shrubby mint); 
cordia tree, geiger tree 
wè ~ la leve tou nwa to foresee a 
dark future 
sôlfèj n. solfeggio; music theory; 
music notation 
solid adj. solid, sturdy, durable, 
strong, firm, steady; in great 
shape, fine; n. solid 
kouvèti ~ hard-cover (book) 
solidarité n. solidarity; support, 
backing 
solidarize (ak) v. to join together 
(with), make common cause (with) 
solidè adj. united, allied; supportive 
solidifye v. to solidify 
solidité n. solidity, solidness, 
firmness 
solidman adv. solidly 
Solino, Ticheri prop.n. Solineau, 
Petit-Chéri (disadvantaged area of 
PaP) 
solis, soloyis n. soloist 
solisitasyon n. solicitation; cf. 
demann 
solisite v. to solicit 
solisyon, lasolisyon n. solution, 
remedy, answer; solution, 
infusion, mixture 
solisyone v. to solve, resolve 
solitè n. solitary 
solitid n. [Fr.] solitude 
solo n./adj. solo 
soloba, salba, salbab, solobab n. 
snack 
sôlôkètè n. sorcerer 
Solon prop.n. Solon (2nd communal 
section of Grande-Rivière-du-
Nord, Dept. North; 6th communal 
section of Saint-Louis-du-Sud, 
Dept. South; 3rd communal 
section of Torbeck, Dept. South) 
soloyis see solis 
sôlseri see sèsèlri 
solvabilité n. solvency, 
creditworthiness 
Solyèt see sèyèt 
sôm n. psalm; sum 
fè ti - to nap; cf kabicha 
Somali prop.n. Somalia 
somalyen prop.nJadj. Somalian 
Somat (letan) see Azweyi 
Somatirin prop.n. Saut-Mathurine 
(Dept. South) 
somay adj. salty 
somè n. apex, vertex (math.); peak, 
summit; summit conference; adj. 
summary, expedient 
somèy, sonmèy n. sleep 
ant ~ e revèy groggy, still half-
asleep 
871 
someye - sôs 
gwo ~ deep sleep 
nan fon ~ sound asleep, fast 
asleep, in a deep sleep 
pa gen ~ to suffer from insomnia 
someye v. [Fr.] to doze 
somi n. (salt)brine 
somon n. salmon 
somyè, somye n. (box) spring 
mattress 
son n. sound, noise; acoustics; 
sawdust; contr. se + yon 
pouse bèl ~ to say nice words 
pran ~ to comprehend, realize 
sonan: 
a midi ~ high noon, at noon sharp 
sonb see sonm 
sonbre v. to sink (boat) 
sonday, sondaj n. (opinion) poll; 
glance, quick look at; dry run, 
trial, test, probe; check-up (med.) 
sonde v. to probe, pry, test, feel out; 
to take a sounding, measure depth; 
to diagnose; to auscultate; to 
verify, check out; n. diagnosis 
sondeble n. wheat shorts 
sone see sonnen 
sonèt, sonnèt n. small bell; buzzer; 
call button; doorbell; sonnet 
songwe see asogwe 
sonj, sony n. dream 
fè ~ to dream 
sonje see chonje 
sonm, sonb adj. somber, dark; 
solemn; gloomy, dreary, sad, glum; 
cloudy 
sonmasyon n. injunction 
sonmèy see somèy 
sonn n. stethoscope; probe; 
(nautical) soundings; (dental) 
explorer 
aparèy ~ speculum 
sonnekselans n. his excellency 
sonnen, sone, sonne v. to ring, 
sound, peal; to call, phone; to 
blow a horn; to brandish a Voodoo 
rattle 
~ ak to rhyme with 
~ fô to attract much attention 
- non vanyan li to blow one's 
own trumpet, give oneself airs, 
show off 
sonnèt see sonèt 
sono adj. sonorous, resonant, 
resounding; electronically amplified 
sonorizasyon n. sound effects; 
sound system 
Sontonaks, Sonntonaks, 
Sontonnaks (Leje-Felisite) 
prop.n. Sonthonax (Léger-Félicité) 
(1763-1813)-French 
commissioner who 29 August 
1793 decreed end of slavery in 
Saint-Domingue 
sony see sonj 
sonyen see swenyen 
sopagi see badji 
soprano n. soprano 
soptyè, sobtyè, sôptyè n. ice-cream 
freezer 
sore see sowe 
sori n. very small reciprocal work 
group (Grand'Anse esp.) 
soryante v. to find one's bearings; to 
take a compass reading 
sôs n. sauce; puree; gravy; dressing; 
juice; secretion, discharge; (liquid) 
snot 
bay fè ~ to secrete, discharge 
fè - to be soaking wet 
mango ~ var. of mango 
nan tout ~ meddlesome 
pa nan ~ not to fit in; not to be 
successful 
~ bechamèl see bechamèl 
872 
sôs - sote 
- piman Tabasco; hot-pepper 
sauce 
- ponmdetè potato soup 
~ pwa bean puree 
- salad salad dressing 
- Timalis hot spicy sauce 
- tonmat ketchup 
~ vinegrèt vinaigrette sauce 
S-O-S (pronounced: ès-o-ès) n. 
SOS, call for help 
sôsèlri, solseri, soselri, sosèlri n. 
[Fr] sorcery 
fè ~ to hex, curse 
sosi, sosis see asowosi 
sosis n. frank(furter), hotdog, 
wiener, sausage; plot, scheme; 
poison (for dogs) 
bay ~ to fool, trick 
bouyi yon ~ to plot, scheme 
gwo ~ salami 
sosison n. chitterlings (made into 
sausage) 
soso gloso n. puffer fish 
sosyab adj. sociable, companionable 
sosyal adj. social; n. social security; 
social security card 
sosyalis n. socialism; adj. socialist 
sosyalize v. to socialize, place under 
government ownership or control 
sosyalman adv. socially 
sosye see asosye 
sôsye see chôche 
sôsyè see chôchè 
sosyete n. society, association, 
corporation; organized agricultural 
and general work group; 
(commercial) company; society, 
general public; company, 
presence; group of evildoers; cf. 
lasosyete 
~ anonim corporation 
~ dyab organized group of 
evildoers (e.g., Bizango, 
Vlengbendeng) 
~ soutyen support group for a 
Voodoo temple 
~ wouj any of various groups of 
evildoers 
Var. of organized agricultural and 
general work groups: ~ baka, ~ 
bokal, - boutka, ~ kongo, ~ 
madigra, ~ nago, ~ vaksin, 
~ vyelon, ~ zouya (see our 
Bibliography under J. M. Smith) 
sosyetè n. shareholder; member 
sosyo prefix socio-; pl.adj. see 
sosyal 
sosyolôg n. sociologist 
sosyoloji n. sociology 
sosyolojik adj. sociological 
sot see sôti 
sôt adj. dumb, stupid, senseless; 
uneducated, illiterate; ignorant; n. 
fool, imbecile; stupidity; sort, 
kind; aux. to have just; prep, from; 
see sôti 
fè ~ to act stupidly 
fè ~ ak to be ridiculous, act 
ridiculously 
pa fè ~ avè m don't play dumb 
with me, don't take me for a fool, 
don't try to put me on 
- kou/pase (yon) panyen pèsi as 
dumb as an ox, dumb as a doornail 
~ moun to mislead, deceive 
sôtan adj. outgoing, leaving (from 
official position etc.) 
sotay n. love-making session if am.) 
sote v. to start, jump, be startled; to 
jump (over), leap, spring; to skip, 
omit; to explode, blow up; to burn 
out (light bulb); to sauté, fry 
lightly in fat in open skillet; to lay, 
screw (sexually) (vulg.); n. jump, 
873 
sote - sôti 
start; jump, leap; adj. startled, 
surprised; medium (cooked meat); 
adv. irregularly, intermittently 
fè - to startle, amaze, astound; to 
blow up, explode 
kè ~ worries 
ou mèt ~ ponpe! nothing doing! 
forget it! 
- kôd to jump or skip rope 
- ponpe at any rate, no matter 
what, come what may; for sure; to 
jump up and down; to express 
great joy 
~ sôti to jump out of 
- tèt to behead 
~ tounen nan to jump back into 
~ yon klas to skip a grade in 
school (e.g., go directly from third 
to fifth grade) 
sotè n. skirt-chaser, womanizer; var. 
of sweet-water shrimp 
sotèz n. leafhopper (insect) 
sôti, sot, sot, soti v. to go out (from), 
leave, come from, come out, get 
out; to drop out (school etc.); to 
emerge; to protrude; to become; to 
take out; to lead, play the first card 
(in card game); to win (lottery 
number); aux. to have just; adj. 
issued from; dressy, fancy; prep. 
from; interj. out! shoo! (to chase 
away dogs); see sôti, soti below 
byen ~ to turn out well; to succeed 
fè ~ to proclaim; to promulgate 
fè yon (ti) ~ to go for a little 
outing/walk 
pa ~ pou to have no intention of 
(doing s.thg.); to be determined 
not to (do s.thg.) 
~ a kat pat to crawl out 
~ ... pou bout..., ~... (pou) rive... 
from... to.... 
~ ale to go away, go off 
~ anba dlo to become a Voodoo 
priest(ess) 
- anba (yon bagay/yon moun) to 
get out of (s.thg.); to get away 
from (s.o.), distance oneself from 
(s.o.), escape (s.o.); to have 
nothing to do with (s.o.) 
~ anba yon maladi to recover 
from an illness 
~ anlè k ap desann to be imposed 
from above 
~ anwo desann anba from top to 
bottom, in descending order 
~ de beny bathrobe 
~ deyô to go to the bathroom 
(euphemism) 
~ ho see ~ wo 
~ kite to leave, depart 
~ ko ou la! get out of here! 
~ kote li ~ to come out of nowhere 
~ kouri to run out, run outside 
~ moute anlè to evaporate 
~ nan to come from, originate in 
- (nan) ... (pou) rive from ... to, 
between... and 
~ nan lapli tonbe nan larivyè, ~ 
nan sèkèy tonbe nan twou, ~ 
nan zôtèy (pou) al nan talon to 
go from bad to worse 
~ nan lotri to win in lottery 
(number) 
~ nan vant to be born 
~ pou to be determined to, be out 
to, be bent on; willing to, ready to 
~ sou to jump out at 
~ tonbe to fall (from), drop off, 
fall off 
~ tou pi ak to take after, look like, 
resemble 
~ wo, - ho to be a hillbilly or hick 
sôti, soti n. stroll, drive, outing; exit; 
874 
sotiz - souf 
outcome, solution; outburst; 
appearance, publication 
fe yon - to consult a Voodoo 
priest(ess) 
sotiz n. foolishness, folly; blunder, 
mistake, slip 
sôtô see asôtô 
sotrèl, sôtrèl n. grasshopper 
sotwa n. chain (jewelry) 
sou adj. drunk, intoxicated; assistant 
(before title); n. money, cent; conj. 
(connects a repeated verb) and, 
again and again; prep, on, in, 
along, over, on top of, at, upon; 
interested in, feel like; with, in the 
presence of; during the time of; 
about, of; among, out of; towards, 
in the direction of; concerning; 
under the administration of, under 
the reign of; prefix sub-; assistant-; 
under-; v. to come at, come to; to 
have an upper hand or edge on; 
contr. si + ou 
li pa ka, li pa ~ children s saying 
to dare one another 
pa gen yon ~ without a cent, 
broke, penniless 
pa ~ not to want to, not to be 
interested in 
pa ~ sa not to be sexually 
interested 
~ deyô outward(s) 
~ kou Lapoloy, ~ kou makak, ~ 
kou pipirit drunk as a skunk, dead 
drunk 
- sa horny (sexually); to feel like 
(doing s.thg.); in the mood 
- san per cent 
Soubawou prop.n. Subaru 
soubreka, sibreka, sobreka n. 
ipej.) sidekick, lackey, hired-hand 
(who assumes no responsibility); 
navigator, mariner 
soubwè(y) n. [Eng.] subway 
souch see chouk 
souchany see chany 
souchay n. embedding, establishing 
souche v. to be rooted in, be well 
established 
soud adj. deaf; n. deafness; medium-
sized biting lizard; weld; storage 
compartment, storeroom, 
storehouse 
Soudai (wout) prop.n. route des 
Dalles (PaP) 
Soudan prop.n. Sudan 
soude v. to solder, weld, forge, join 
together 
fè a - soldering iron 
soudé n. deaf person; deafness; 
welder; tinsmith; adj. deaf 
soudènte n. suddenness 
soudevlope adj. underdeveloped 
soudevlèpman n. 
underdevelopment 
soudi v. to braze; n. brazing rod; 
soldering, welding 
soudin n. mute (for string or brass 
instrument) 
an ~ secretly, stealthily 
soudistri n. sub-district 
soudwaye v. to bribe, buy over 
souf n. breath; breathing; 
inspiration; respite, pause, break; 
sulfur 
aparèy ~ respiratory system 
bay (yon) ~ to give a break, give a 
breather, give relief 
gen (yon) ~ to have caught one's 
breath; to have a breather, find 
respite 
kannal ~ windpipe, trachea 
kenbe - to hold one's breath 
kenbe san ~ to get a stranglehold on 
875 
souf - sougwoup 
kite san ~ to bother, annoy 
koupe ~ li to kill 
lage ~ to exhale 
pa gen pèdi ~ to be out of 
breath, be short of breath; to find 
no respite 
pa tande ~ not to hear a peep 
pèdi ~ out of breath; to die 
pran (yon) rale (yon) ~ to 
pause, catch one's breath, take a 
breathing spell; to be relieved; to 
breathe in, inhale 
rale (gwo) rale ~ li fon to take 
a (deep) breath 
rann san ~ to harass, give (s.o.) a 
hard time 
repran ~ to regain one's 
composure; to be relieved 
san pran ~ without (a) pause, 
incessant, unceasing 
san ~ breathless; restless 
~ anlè wheezing; bronchitis; to be 
short of breath, be out of breath; to 
wheeze, breathe with difficulty 
~ koupe breathless, out of breath; 
breathlessly 
~ kout, ~ wo shortness of breath, 
rapid breathing 
~ poud Voodoo hex 
tiyo ~ windpipe, trachea 
soufèmye n. sublessee (of farmland) 
souflantchou, souflantyou, 
soufnantchou, soufnantyou n. 
brown-noser, ass-kisser, bootlicker 
soufle n. soufflé (cul.) 
soufle, sifle v. to whistle; to blow 
(on); to blow out, extinguish; to 
whisper (an answer); to prompt 
(an actor/actress); to tip off 
(police); to breathe; n. whistling, 
whistle 
~ ak to metal-plate or coat 
~ anlè to be short of breath, 
breathe with difficulty, wheeze 
~ banbou, ~ vaksin to play a 
bamboo flute 
~ dife to fan the fire; to stir up 
trouble 
~ mode hypocrite; traitor; to be 
hypocritical; to betray 
~ (van) nan banbou to waste 
one's efforts, piddle away one's 
time 
souflè n. prompter (who whispers 
answers for another in school; 
theater) 
souflèt, sifle, siflèt n. whistle 
(instrument); slap; affront 
pran ~ to sustain a blow, suffer 
~ jimo, ~ marasa simultaneous 
blows to the ears often resulting in 
permanent deafness 
soufletay, soufletaj n. slapping 
souflete v. to slap 
soufnantchou, soufnantyou see 
souflantchou 
Soufo prop.n. particularly 
disadvantaged area of Fônasyonal 
(q.v.) (PaP) 
soufrans, lasoufrans n. suffering, 
distress 
soufri v. to suffer, be in distress; to 
endure, suffer; n. weakling; 
starveling 
fè (yon moun) ~ to make (s.o.) 
suffer; to keep (s.o.) in suspense 
soufrisken n. undernourished 
person; sufferer 
Soufriyè, Soufyè prop.n. Soufrière 
(6th communal section of Acul-
du-Nord, Dept. North; 6th 
communal section of Limbé, Dept. 
North) 
sougwoup n. subgroup; subgrouping 
876 
soujèm - soule/on 
soujèm, soujèmen n. second cousin; 
distant cousin 
soujen, sou ri j en n. var. of 
freshwater fish 
souk see chouk 
Soukay prop.n. Soucailles (2nd 
communal section of Kenscoff, 
Dept. West) 
souke, sekwe, soukwe v. to shake, 
wiggle; to wake (s.o.) up; to rock 
(cradle); to nod (head); to wag 
(tail); n. some little effort, small 
action or movement; adj. shaken, 
startled; loose (tooth) 
~ bil, ~ brenn to torment; to upset, 
stir up, agitate 
- ke to wag (tail) 
~ kô to move (body); to move in 
one's sleep; twitch, jerk, slight 
movement 
~ ko li to get ready; to shake it up, 
get a move on; to get active; to 
agitate; to get hold of oneself, pull 
oneself together 
- lawouze to clear the way, clear 
the path 
~ tè a to separate clods of earth 
from weeds 
- tèt to nod 
~ zorèy to be getting along OK 
soukèdlawouze, choukètlawouze, 
sekètlawouze, soukètlawouze n. 
rural deputy sheriff, assistant to a 
chèf seksyon (q.v.) (obs.) 
soukekouche n. cheap sleeping-mat; 
cf. atèmiyô 
soukètlawouze see soukèdlawouze 
soukitani adj. subcutaneous 
soukomisarya n. auxiliary police 
station 
soukote n. illicit (?) lover 
soukou see sekou 
soukoun v. (obs.) to weed, clear off 
ground 
soukoup, sekoup n. saucer 
~ volan flying saucer, UFO 
(Unidentified Flying Object) 
soukous, sekous n. shock, blow; 
jolt, jerk; tremor, reverberation; 
commotion; labor contraction s ) 
soukouyan n. evildoer (Voodoo) 
Soukri (Danach) prop.n. village 
near Gonaïves famous for Voodoo 
Kongo rite (Dept. Artibonite) 
soukwe see souke 
soula, souladô n. drunkard 
soulaje v. to relieve, soothe, comfort, 
ease 
soulajman n. relief, consolation, 
comfort 
bay ~ to relieve 
soulamen adv. on-hand, readily 
available 
soulasèldèdo adj. flat on one's back 
soulay n. dizziness, wooziness, 
lightheadedness 
soule adj. drowsy; drunk; v. to make 
tipsy, make dizzy, daze; to be on 
the verge of being possessed by a 
Voodoo spirit 
soulè n. drunkard 
soulechan adv. immediately 
soulèkote adv. illegally, 
surreptitiously; on the side 
soulekou adv. [Fr.] outright; 
instantly; at the time 
souleve see soulve 
soulèvman n. uprising, revolt 
soulèzèl, lèzèl, soulezèl, souzèl adj. 
second-class, shoddy, inferior; 
sleazy; adv. on the side, 
secondarily, subordinately; shoddily 
soulezon n. tipsiness, slight 
intoxication; lightheadedness 
877 
souliyen - soupson 
souliyen, soulinye, souliye v. to 
underline, stress, emphasize 
soulkou adv. instantly, suddenly 
Soulouk (Fosten), Choulouk 
prop.n. Soulouque (Faustin) -
president, then emperor of Haiti, 
1847-1859 
souloukis n. partisan of Faustin 
Soulouque 
souloukwa fam. prop.n./adj. of or 
pertaining to Petit-Goâve (Dept. 
West) 
soulve, souleve v. to raise up, lift; to 
raise, bring up (question); to 
revolt, rebel 
soulwe v. to sublease, sublet 
soulye n. shoe 
gen de pye nan yon grenn ~ to be 
in a jam 
gwo ~ crude, uncouth; rude, ill-
mannered; hick, red-neck 
mete nan ti ~ li to put s.o. down, 
put s.o. in his/her place 
mete ~ li lanvè to put one's shoe 
on the wrong foot 
nan ti ~ li to have cares or worries 
pye li pa nan - to be someplace 
illegally 
~ dekouvè open or exposed shoe 
~ klwe hobnailed shoe 
~ tirayè badly-made shoe (obs.) 
yon grenn ~ one shoe 
yon ~ a pair of shoes 
soulyebôt n. boot(s) 
soulyetnan n. second lieutenant 
soumaren n. submarine; hypocrite; 
spy; speculator's accomplice or 
assistant; adj. hypocritical 
~ topiyè traitor, betrayer 
soumarin, soumaren n. submarine 
soumen n. desk pad, desk blotter; 
see simen 
soumèt v. to submit, present; to 
subordinate; to submit, give in; to 
submit, comply with, obey; to 
subdue, subjugate 
soumi adj. [Fr.] submissive 
soumisyon n. submission 
sounwa adj. timid, shy, quiet; sly, 
deceitful, shifty 
sounwazri n. timidity, shyness; 
slyness, deceitfiilness, shiftiness 
soup n. soup; adj. supple, flexible, 
lithe; docile 
- Ginen soup offering to a var. of 
Voodoo spirits 
- joumou, ~ jôn, ~ jouwoumou, 
~ Lendepandans pumpkin soup 
(rich soup composed of meat, 
tropical pumpkin and other 
vegetables, served traditionally on 
New Year's Day) 
~ pen thin soup of soaked bread 
and spices 
~ peyizan thick meat soup with 
leeks, potatoes, onions etc. 
soupap n. valve 
soupe n. supper; v. to eat supper 
soupi n. sigh; to sigh 
pouse fè yon ~ to sigh 
soupire v. to sigh 
~ pou to love, adore 
soupla n. placemat 
souple, silvouplè, sivouplè interj. 
please 
tanpri please! 
souplès n. suppleness, flexibility 
soupliye see sipriye 
soupoudre v. to sprinkle (powder, 
sugar etc.); n. salt pork 
souprann see siprann 
soupriye see sipriye 
soupson n. suspicion, doubt, 
distrust 
878 
soupsonnen - sousou 
soupsonnen v. to suspect, have 
suspicions 
soupwodwi n. by-product 
soupyè n. (soup-)tureen 
Souray prop.n. Sous-Rail 
(disadvantaged area of Site Solèy, 
q.v.) 
souri n. smile; v. to smile 
~ ak tout trannde li to give a big 
broad smile, beam 
- jôn ironic smile; to smile 
ironically 
~ nan moustach to snicker, laugh 
up one's sleeve 
sourijen see soujen 
sourit 72. mouse (pl.: mice); mouse 
(computer); see bourik 
souriyan adj. smiling 
sous n. spring (of water); source, 
origin 
Sousafilip prop.n. Source-à-Philippe 
(La Gonâve Island, Dept. West) 
sousaflè, zwazo mouch n. 
Hispaniolan vervain 
hummingbird 
Sous Bovwa prop.n. Source-
Beauvoir (2nd communal section 
of Chansolme, Dept. North-West; 
5th communal section of Port-de-
Paix, Dept. North-West) 
Sous Chod, Lasous prop.n. 
Sources-Chaudes (2nd communal 
section of Anse-Rouge, Dept. 
Artibonite; 2nd communal section 
of Moron, Dept. Grand'Anse) 
Sous Donmaj, Nansous prop.n. 
Source-Dommage (section of 
Jérémie, Dept. Grand'Anse) 
souse adj. (area) rich in (water) 
springs 
souse, sise v. to suck; to suck off, 
drain; to drain away (one's 
strength); to abuse, trick (a 
person); to well up (water); to 
suck the blood from a young child 
(witch); n. sucking 
~ jis nan mwèl to suck dry 
~ lage permission to attend to a 
bleeding cock (cockfighting) 
~ lang to French kiss 
- san to suck out (s.o.'s) blood 
(sorcery); to exploit, impoverish 
~ trennen see sousetrennen 
sousè, sisè n. exploiter, profiteer, 
parasite 
souseka n. heavy drinker (of rum) 
sousèt n. sucker, lollipop; pacifier 
(baby); sucking; exploitation; 
witch, sorceress (cf. lougawou); 
var. of fish 
fè ~ to suck on 
~ san blood-sucking, bloodthirsty 
sousetrennen n. sponger, leech, 
parasite 
sousi n. eyebrow; care, worry, 
anxiety; marigold 
fè ~ to worry, care 
mare ~ li, fonse - li to knit one's 
brow, frown 
souskri v. to pledge (contribution); 
to be in agreement with, be in 
favor of 
souskripsyon n. (public) 
subscription, contributions, 
donations 
Sous Matla prop.n. Source-Matelas 
(9th communal section of Cabaret, 
Dept. West) 
sousèl n. basement; foundations) 
(of house) 
sousou n. flatterer, bootlicker, abject 
follower; servileness, 
obsequiousness; adj. subservient, 
servile, slavish; puppet 
879 
sousoupannan - souzestimasyon 
fè ~ (nan pye yon moun) to 
grovel, kowtow 
- beke flatterer, bootlicker, flunky 
sousoupannan adj. listless, dull; n. 
sacrificial animal (Voodoo) 
Souspiyant, Souspyant prop.n. 
Sources Puantes (sulphur springs 
north of PaP, Dept. West) 
soustraksyon n. subtraction 
soustrè v. to subtract 
sousye v. to care about, show 
concern 
sout n. hold (boat); warehouse, 
storehouse, store-room; luggage 
section (airplane) 
soutàn, soutann n. cassock, soutane 
souteren n. underground passage; 
adj. underground 
soutèt see tèt 
soutirans see sitirans 
soutire see sitire 
soutirè(z) see sitirè(z) 
soutit n. subtitle 
soutnans n. financial support 
soutnè n. helper, supporter (meaning 
entirely different from French); 
receptacle, container 
soutni v. to support, back up, 
collaborate; to reinforce; to 
protect; to support (financially), 
sustain; to uphold, keep from 
falling; n. support, sustenance; 
snack 
~ tèz li to defend one's thesis 
soutou see sitou 
soutoutlaliy adv. across the board, 
without exception 
soutretans n./adj. subcontracting 
endistri - assembly industry 
soutyen n. bra(ssiere); protector; 
support 
mè pè ~ financial supporter of a 
Voodoo priest 
sosyete ~ supportive council or 
group for a Voodoo temple 
soutyengôj n. brassiere 
souvan, sevan, sivan, souvanman 
adv. often, frequently 
souvantfwa, souvanfwa adv. 
oftentimes 
souvè n. coaster; doily 
Souvenans see Souvnans 
souverènte, souverennte n. 
sovereignty 
souvètman n. underclothing, 
underwear 
souveyans see siveyans 
souvnans n. memory, recollection, 
remembrance 
Souvnans, Nansouvnans, 
Souvenans prop.n. Souvenance 
(town and Voodoo center famous 
for the rada rite, near Gonaïves, 
Dept. Artibonite) 
souvni n. memory, recollection; 
souvenir, remembrance; refl. [Fr.] 
to remember, recall 
souvren adj. sovereign; effective 
(remedy); courageous, hard-
working 
souwè n. wish; see swè 
souye v. to wipe (off), dry; to dust, 
mop; to soil, dirty 
~ bouch ou atè! don't you ever 
dare say/do that again! 
~ pye small informal dance party; 
to dance 
Souz prop.n. [Bible] Susa 
souzansanm n. subset (math.) 
souzantandi n. implication; adj. 
implied 
souzèl see soulèzèl 
souzenspektè n. assistant inspector 
souzestimasyon n. underestimate 
880 
souzestime - swa 
souzestime v. to underestimate 
souzôd adj. subordinate; dependent 
upon 
souzofisye n. non-commissioned 
officer 
Souzoukiprop.n. Suzuki (vehicle) 
sovado n. habitual runaway; 
escapee; deserter 
sovaj see sovay 
sovajman, sovayman adv. savagely, 
brutally 
sovaj ri n. savagery, wildness, 
brutality; unsociability 
sovay, chovay, sovaj adj. savage, 
wild, rough, brutal, fierce, 
barbarian; rude, impolite, coarse; 
bad-tempered 
sovayman see sovajman 
sove v. to run away, flee, escape; to 
save, rescue, salvage; to save, 
reform, convert; to survive, 
recover; n. escape, flight; adj. 
safe; in good shape, well-off 
~ ak to abduct, kidnap 
~ ale, ~ (kouri) kite to flee, run 
away 
~ blese to just pick up the pieces, 
take care of non-essentials 
~ ko li to flee, run away 
~ site little bit of money 
~ sou (yon moun) to sneak out 
(on s.o.) 
~ yon lavi to eke out a living 
sovè, lesovè n. savior 
sovetaj see sovtay 
sovgad n. safeguard; preservation 
sovgade v. to safeguard 
sovkipe n. stampede, mad rush; 
interj. run for your life! 
sovsouri see chovsourit 
sovtay, softaj, sovetaj, sovtaj n. 
rescue; lifeboat; inner tube etc. 
(used for floating in swimming 
pool) 
sovtè n. rescuer 
Sovyèt prop.n./adj. Soviet 
sovyetikprop.n./adj. Soviet 
sowe, sore n. coward; big fat idiot; 
good-for-nothing, bum 
gwo ~ big fat coward; crude, 
uncouth 
sowo n. sorrow, sadness; booze, 
liquor 
sowosi, sôwôsi see asowosi 
soya see soja 
soye adj. unclean, dirty; see 
swenyen 
sôyèt, s6 Yèt, yèt f.n. poverty-
stricken, deprived or 
underprivileged woman 
pitit ~ child of above 
Sô Yèt, Solyèt (larivyè) Soliet (river 
in Dominican Republic and 
southeast Haiti) 
sp- see esp-
spanè see espanè 
Splandid see Esplandid 
Srilankaprop.n. Sri Lanka 
st- see est-
stann see estann 
statè see estatè 
statikwo n. status quo 
Stèpovè see Estèpovè 
stidyo see estidyo 
stil see estil 
Stokèm prop.n. Stockholm 
(Sweden) 
Strasbou prop.n. Strasbouig 
(France) 
strik see estrik 
swa n. evening; silk; luster; adj. 
silky; soft, supple; sleek; very 
good, excellent (quality); smooth, 
straight, even; adv. easily, 
881 
swa - swentay 
smoothly; conj. either (... or) 
cheve ~ straight silky hair 
mache ~ to run smoothly (mach.) 
se ~ jamè never again; not on your 
life, nothing doing 
~ ... - , - ... osinon, - ... oubyen, ~ 
... oswa either... or, whether ... or 
~ maren var. of silk cloth 
swadizan, swedizan adv. so-called; 
pseudo; adv. supposedly 
swaf, swèf n. thirst; adj. thirsty 
pase - li to quench one's thirst 
swake conj. either, whether 
swanye see swenyen 
sware, lasware n. evening; entire 
evening; party; dancing, theatrical 
presentation 
swasann num. sixty (preceding de, 
twa, kat, senk, sis, sèt); see 
swasant 
swasanndis num. seventy 
swasanndisèt num. seventy-seven 
- fwa sèt fwa, sèt fwa - fwa 
umpteen times, innumerable times 
swasanndizyèm adj. seventieth 
swasannsis num. sixty-six; n. 
homosexual (cf. de sis kole) 
swasant num. sixty; see swasann 
swasantèn n. sixties; approximately 
sixty 
swasanteyen num. sixty-one 
swasantonz num. seventy-one 
swasantyèm adj. sixtieth 
swate see swete 
swatim n. [Eng.] swat team; cf 
SIMO 
swav adj. mellow, smooth, sweet 
swaye, swayen see swenyen 
swayili n. Kiswahili 
Swazilannprop.n. Swaziland 
swe, sye v. to sweat, perspire; to 
secrete; n. sweat, perspiration 
- frèt to break out into a cold 
sweat 
- kon kokobe/Nonk/pitit Bouki 
to sweat buckets, sweat profusely 
- mouton var. of plant 
(clerodendron spinosum) 
~ nan dômi night sweats 
~ vyann to simmer meat in water 
with spices etc. 
swè n. wish, desire; evening; sweat, 
perspiration; secretion 
grenn ~ bead of sweat/perspiration 
Swèd see Laswèd 
swedizan see swadizan 
Swedwa, Syedwa prop.n., 
Swedwaz, Syedwaz f.prop.n. 
Swede; prop.n./adj. Swedish 
swèf see swaf 
swèl n. jab a rooster gives with its 
spur (cockfight); beating; small or 
insignificant effort; adj. short, 
narrow; mild, gentle, easy; sheer, 
filmy, gauzy (fabric); fancy, 
elegant; tight [Span.] 
swele v. to swipe at, hit 
swen n. care, attention; treatment; v. 
to care for, take care of; to 
support; to nourish well; adj. well-
nourished 
ale pran - to seek medical help 
pa pran ~ to neglect 
pran - to care for, take care of, 
look after 
premye ~ first-aid 
- djondjon pou lagon to do s.thg. 
in vain 
~ kok pou Fizeme (kare) to 
knock oneself out to s.o. else's 
advantage, further s.o. else's 
career 
swentay, swentaj n. discharge, 
secretion 
882 
swente - syè 
swente v. to seep (out), ooze (out); 
to have a discharge; to wet one's 
pants; to defecate on oneself; to 
emerge, come to light, appear 
swenyay, laswenay, laswennyay, 
laswenyaj, laswenyay, lasweyay, 
swenyab, sweyay n. (good) care, 
health care, treatment; magic 
healing bath (Voodoo) 
pran - to be under medical care, 
be convalescent 
swenyen, sonyen, soye, swanye, 
swaye, swayen v. to care for, look 
after, nurse, treat (medically) 
swèt n. wish, desire; sou'easter 
(wind) 
swetab adj. [Fr.] desirable 
swete, swate, swète v. to wish, wish 
for, hope 
~ labyenveni to welcome 
swètè n. [Eng.] sweater 
sweyay see swenyay 
swibab see lasibab 
swif n. tallow; reprimand, scolding, 
talking-to; mild punishment 
swife v. to smear with grease or 
tallow; to punish (mildly); adj. 
greasy, slippery; see maswife 
- bounda to beat, hit 
swis n. slave fighting on side of ex-
slaves at beginning Haitian 
Revolution; see switch 
Swis prop.n./adj. Swiss; see Laswis 
swisid, sisid n. [Fr.] suicide 
swiside, siside (tèt li); v. [Fr.] to 
commit suicide; cf. touye/pann 
tèt li 
swit n. follow-up, continuation, 
sequel; (hotel) suite; adj. 
continued 
fè bay ~ to take further action, 
do a follow-up, follow through 
~ a following, subsequent to 
~ an - one by one, one after the 
other 
swit, laswit n. continuation 
switch, swis n. ignition (switch); 
light switch 
~ santral circuit breaker 
swiv, sib v. to follow; to track (cf 
trake); to imitate; to take note, 
notice; to attend, be present at 
M ap I'm OK! I'm getting 
along! 
~ doktè, ~ lopital to have periodic 
medical check-ups; to be under 
medical care 
~ tras to track; to follow in the 
footsteps of 
- tretman to undergo treatment 
swivan, sivan prep, according to, 
depending on; adj. (the) next, 
following 
swivi n. continuity, follow-up, 
follow-through, continuation; adv. 
in succession, one immediately 
after the other 
fè ~ to follow through, see 
through, proceed 
komite - oversight committee 
swiye see siye 
Syam prop.n. Siam, Thailand 
syanm, siyam n. unbleached muslin 
syans n. science; knowledge, 
learning 
- imèn, ~ zimèn social sciences, 
liberal arts 
~ sosyal social studies 
syantifik n. scientist; adj. scientific 
syantifikman adv. scientifically 
syantis n. scientist 
syatik adj. sciatic 
sye see swe 
syè n. sweat, perspiration; secretion 
Syèd - syouwa 
Syèd see Laswèd 
syedwa see swedwa 
syèg n. one-eyed fighting cock 
syèj, syèz n. candle (used esp. for 
religious purposes); seat (in 
elected assembly etc.); exam site; 
siege 
- twalèt toilet seat 
syeje to sit, assemble (legal 
assembly) 
syèk (lanne), syèk (tan) n. century; 
era, period 
depi - since an awfully long time 
gen (yon) - m pa wè ou I haven't 
seen you in a long long time 
pou ~ de ~ for ever and ever, for 
all time 
syèl n. sky; heaven, paradise 
Syera Leyôn prop.n. Sierra Leone 
syeri, siyeri n. sawmill 
syès see lasyès 
syèz see syèj 
syo, siyo, so n. (any type of) bucket, 
pail 
syoka see sizoka 
syouwa n. sou'wester (wind) 
884 
t - tabliye 
T 
t (pronounced: te); short form ta; te 
ta (conditional marker) would; 
would like; adv. late; overdue; 
supposedly, allegedly, purportedly 
nan - late in life 
pi ~ pi tris the worst is yet to come 
- vie magic substance for 
attracting opposite sex (Voodoo) 
yon ~ many, much 
tab n. table; pubic area or region 
anba - in secret, surreptitiously 
mete - to set the table 
moute sou ~ to sit down at the 
table; to be presentable 
~ (a) repase ironing board 
- Bondye altar 
~ de matyè table of contents 
~ denwi(t) bedside table, 
nightstand 
~ konminyon, - métrés special 
Voodoo service in honor of Ezili 
~ konsiltasyon examining table 
(med.) 
~ salon coffee table 
~ tounan(t) séance table 
~ twalèt dressing table 
~ woulan serving cart 
ti ~ (sou kote) endtable; bedside 
table 
vini sou - to be accepted 
Taba prop.n. Tabarre (outskirts of 
PaP) 
tabak n. tobacco 
dlo ~ var. strong home-made 
insecticide 
kaka ~ not to get a damn thing, 
come out empty-handed 
pa bay - not to give a damn thing 
pip - little bit of money 
pran - to use snuff 
priz - pinch of snuff 
- an poud snuff 
~ mannôk, - mannôt tobacco 
~ mawon salvia, pluchea (herb or 
shrub) 
Var: - (a) Jako, ~ dyab 
tabako falta n. poor-quality tobacco 
tabamanje n. dining-room table 
tabase v. [Fr.] to beat (up) 
Tabasko prop.n. Tabasco 
tabatyè n. snuffbox 
~ bounda butt, rear end 
- (jenou) kneecap, patella; cf. zo 
jenou 
tabènak n. tabernacle 
yon - a bunch of, much, many 
tabèno see tavèno 
tablati n. trouble, trials, tribulations 
koze - nonsense, bullshit 
yon ~... a laxge a big... 
tableman, tablisman n. eaves, 
overhand (of roof); wooden rain 
or sun awning 
tablèt n. tablet, pill; candy bar 
- lakôl chewy peanut-brittle; 
coconut brittle 
- (pistach) chewy peanut-brittle 
~ vijinal spermicidal suppository 
tabli, établi v. to establish, set up; to 
settle down (at a place), establish 
a home; to live together (out of 
wedlock); to start, begin; n. 
installation, facility; work-bench; 
stand for storing corn; adj. settled 
tablisman n. establishment; land-
holding; see tableman 
tabliye n. apron; table pad (put 
under tablecloth) 
885 
tablo - talan 
tablo n. painting, picture; 
illustration; chart; blackboard, 
chalkboard, board; bulletin board 
- afich bulletin board 
- devan dashboard (of vehicle) 
- flèch dartboard 
- kontwôl control panel 
- nwa blackboard - very often 
consisting of boards painted black 
- pwen scoreboard 
tabok n. slap, smack, swat 
tabou adj. taboo 
tabourè, taboure n. (foot)stool 
tach n. stain; spot; scar; blemish; 
palm thatch; [Fr.] try, attempt; 
[Fr.] task 
san - spotless, pure 
- ki leve rash 
ti - freckle 
tachan adj. easily soiled 
tache v. to fasten, attach, affix; to 
pin (up); to stain, smudge, spot, 
soil, blemish; [Fr.] to try, attempt 
tachte adj. speckled, spotted 
tade v. to delay; to take too long (to 
do s.thg.), waste time; cf. mize 
Tade prop.n. [Bible] Thaddaeus 
Tadjikistan prop.n. Tadzhikistan 
tafta n. taffeta (fabric) 
tafya n. booze, moonshine, liquor 
moun ~ alcoholic, drunkard 
tafyatè, tafyamann n. drunkard, 
alcoholic, boozer, old sot 
tagadap tagadap onomat. clippety-
clop clippety-clop (sound of 
horses' hooves) 
tak n. (tiny) drop, spot; tact, 
discretion; trip, tripping (sports) 
- - drip, drip (onomat.) 
(ti) - pa (ti) - drop by drop, little 
by little 
takadô adj. mocking, teasing 
takantak see tenkantenk 
take v. to latch, bolt, hook (door, 
window); to lock; see atake 
takè n. tab setting (typewriter, 
computer) 
taken adj. teasing, kidding 
takèt n. hasp, bolt, latch, bar (of 
door, window); clothespin 
pase ~ to hook, bolt, latch 
takinè n., takinèz fn. banterer, 
ribber, kidder 
takinen, kakinen, takine v. to tease, 
rib, kid 
takle v. to tackle, trip (sports) 
tako n. cuckoo; taco (Mexican dish); 
adj. thin, emaciated 
~ fran Hispaniolan lizard cuckoo 
- kabrit Hispaniolan hyctornis 
- savann desert owl 
ti ~ mangrove cuckoo 
ti - vant blan yellow-billed 
cuckoo 
taks n. tax, duty; cf enpo 
taksasyon n. taxation 
takse v. to tax 
taksè n. tax collector 
taksi n. taxi, cab; prostitute 
fè ~ to be a taxicab driver 
~ moto motorcycle taxi 
takte n. freckle; speckling; spot; adj. 
freckled; speckled; spotted, dotted 
- kodenn freckle 
taktik n. tactic(s); method, way of 
doing s.thg.; rapid intervention 
force, swat team (cf. SIMO); adj. 
tactical 
taktisyen n. tactician 
takwèt onomat. sound made by a 
guinea-fowl 
Talahasi prop.n. Tallahassee 
(Florida) 
talan n. talent, skill, ability; talent 
886 
talatàn - tan 
(monetary unit, Bible); see étalon 
talatàn, talatann n. tarlatan (cloth) 
talé, kitalè, titalè, toutalè adv. soon, 
in a while, presently, shortly; 
interj. (wait) just a minute! 
~ a (just) a moment ago, a little 
while ago, just recently 
ti ~ in a moment (from now) 
tali n. embankment 
talk n. talc; adj. talcum 
Talmidprop.n. Talmud 
Taloprop.n. Talo (inexpensive 
liquid soap) 
talèch n. mason's trowel 
taloche v. to trowel, spread or 
smooth with a trowel 
talon n. heel 
ban m - ou! clear out! get lost! 
bay - (li) (blanch) to clear out, 
leave, get lost 
mande li - li to ask s.o. to leave; 
to evict 
~ boujwa, - wo high heels 
~ fann crack in skin of heel 
- kikit, ~ kitkit, ~ pikèt, -
pwenti spike heels, high heels 
~ kikit dyôl woze fancy, 
highfalutin 
vire - li to turn on one's heels 
talonnen v. to tail, follow closely, 
pursue; to step on s.o.'s heels; to 
harass; to spy on (s.o.); to 
challenge 
tamaren, tanmaren, temaren, 
tomaren, tonmaren n. tamarind 
(tree); dark yellow-brown 
~ si var. of tamarind 
tami see tanmi 
tamize v. to sift; to filter, soften 
(light) 
tamtam see tanmtanm 
tan n. time; time, instance; period, 
times; weather; season; hurricane; 
years; verb tense; horsefly [Fr.] 
(cf. tanwan); conj. while, as, 
when; instead of, rather than; adv. 
this much, so much, so many, as 
much as, a certain amount; see 
gentan; tank 
a ~ in time 
a - pasyèl part-time 
ansyen - lontan long long ago, in 
ancient times 
apre yon - se yon 16t one thing 
leads to another; times change 
bon - an appreciable amount of 
time 
bon - move - come rain or shine, 
through thick and thin 
de - cut-time (music) 
de - twa/kat mouvman in no 
time at all, in a jiffy 
depi ~ benbo since long long ago 
depi ~ m pa wè ou I haven't seen 
you in a long time 
fe - pase to dawdle; to kill time 
kat - common time, four-four 
time (music) 
kout ~ severe weather 
li lè li - it's about time, it's high 
time 
mete - to take time 
move - severe weather; famine 
nan ~ lontan long ago 
pa pran - not to hesitate, lose no 
time in, do right away 
pase yon bon ~ to have a good 
time; to spend a good bit of time 
pase yon bonkou ~ to spend a lot 
of time 
pou tout - (va/ki) gen - for ever 
and ever, there is always a 
possibility pran - to take time, go slowly 
tan - tanbou 
pran yon bann - to take a lot of 
time 
san pran - wasting/losing no 
time, without hesitation 
- ale ~ vini time goes by, time 
passes; slowly, hesitatingly 
- an chaje, - an demwazèl 
threatening weather 
- ansyen long ago 
~ antikite in ancient times 
- ayisyen period before 1915-
1934 U.S. Occupation (obs.) 
~ bare cloudy, overcast 
~ benbo, - bimbo colonial times; 
olden days, years and years ago 
- bouche, - boude, - bouye 
cloudy, overcast 
- byenkemal so-so, as well as can 
be expected [Fr.] 
~ demwazèl threatening weather 
~ fèmen, - gonfle cloudy, 
overcast 
- granmoun lontan long ago, in 
olden times 
- jodi present day, present times 
~ ke as long as; instead of 
- kouvri cloudy, overcast 
~ lib spare time; leisure 
- lontan long ago, in olden days; 
age-old, ancient 
- mare (djôl li), ~ maske cloudy, 
overcast 
- mo time-out (sports) 
~ ouvè clear sky 
- pare gathering storm 
~ pasyèl part-time 
~ pou rather than, instead of 
~ sal, - sonm cloudy, overcast 
~ ... ~ the more ... the more 
- vini future tense (gram.) 
tout ~ all the time; as long as; for 
all time(s) 
888 
travay pou bon - to work for 
free, work for nothing 
yon bon (bout) - a good while, a 
long while 
tana n. consecrated raw rum 
(kleran) for Voodooists 
tanblanntè see tranblemanntè 
tanbou n. drum; sound, air, rhythm 
(fig-) 
bat ~ to beat/play the drum; to 
hold a Voodoo service; to tap 
one's fingers (on table etc.) 
bat ~ danse pou ko li to have no 
following 
bat ~ epi danse li to ask a 
question and then answer it 
oneself 
bat - pou tande son li to put s.o. 
to the test; to test s.o.'s reaction 
bat ~ rasanbleman to call 
together, assemble 
frape ~ to beat/play the drum 
gwo - bass drum 
kata ~ see kata 
klewonnen ~ to sound/beat/play 
the drum 
ko ~ barrel of a drum 
kouche - , manje - ritual in honor 
of Voodoo drums 
kout ~ drumbeat 
manman - largest of the three 
drums used in Rada and Kongo 
rites ( Voodoo); larger of the two 
drums used in Petwo rite 
mate - to play the drum (well) 
san - ni twonpèt without fanfare 
se - ak bagèt it's the same thing 
sonnen - to sound/beat/play the 
drum 
- de bounda/bouda hypocrite, 
traitor 
- fren brake drum (mach.) 
tanbou - tank 
- konga conga drum 
- marengwen elementary single-
stringed musical instrument using 
as resonance chamber either a hole 
dug in ground covered with palm 
thatch, or a tin can 
- matinik see matinik 
- myèl beehive 
- panyôl tambourine-like drum 
played by rubbing one's thumb in 
rapid spiral motions 
woule - to roll/beat/play the drum 
tanboula n. raffle; see tonbola 
tanboura lwanj n. special single-
headed Kongo drum (Voodoo) 
tanbourè n. small flat drum; 
drummer - cf. tanbourinè 
tanbouren n. tambourine 
tanbourinè, tanbourè, tanbourye, 
tanbouye, tanbouyè n. drummer 
tandans n. tendency, persuasion 
tandantan adv. yesteryear, long ago 
depi - ages ago 
tande v. to hear, hear about, listen 
(to); to overhear; to understand; to 
obey; n. inner ear, eardrum; (sense 
of) hearing 
gen - to be a good listener 
kannal - ear canal 
pa gen ~ to be inattentive, be like 
talking to a wall 
pa pa gen - stubborn, 
headstrong 
pa - (+ verb) to never want to (do 
s.thg.) 
pa ~ ni wo ni la not to listen to 
reason, be stubborn 
pa - pa wè pase to be completely 
engrossed in, be single-minded 
pa - souf not to hear a peep 
pa - van (yon moun) to have no 
news (of s.o.) 
sa ou ~ a no sooner said than 
done, immediately 
se - pale pa wè you have to see it 
to believe it 
- ak wè se de! don't believe 
everything you hear! seeing is 
believing! 
- bèf ale wè k6n! just talk! cock 
and bull story! 
- de sonn kloch to hear/perceive 
in two divergent ways 
- di to be hard of hearing; 
stubborn, headstrong 
- pa wè hearing is not believing 
- swiv to comprehend, take in 
- (zôrèy) eardrum 
tandi adj. tense, agitated 
tandiske, tandike conj. while, 
whereas 
tandèt pron. so many others 
tandrès n. tenderness, affection 
tane see tannen 
tanè see tanné 
tanen n. tannin, tannic acid 
tanga n. rag; old clothes, rags; 
loincloth 
kllèt - bikini panties 
tangay n. pitching, tossing (boat) 
tange v. to pitch, plunge (boat); to 
waver 
tango n. tango 
tanjant n. tangent {math.) 
tanjib adj. [Fr.] tangible 
tank n. (gas)tank; tank (mtiit) 
~ flotè toilet float (mack) 
~ levèl toilet lever 
- petwôl oil tanker 
- presyon pressure tank 
tank, tan, tanke adv. so much, to 
such a degree (that); inasmuch as; 
as long as, while 
- . . . - the more ... the more; as ... 
889 
tankè - Tanpiko 
as; as ... at the same time; for 
every ... the same number; see 
tankou 
tankè n. tanker (ship) 
tankgaz n. gas tank, fuel tank 
tankou, kankou, kon, kou, tank, 
tankom conj./prep, like, just like, 
as, as if, the same as 
fè - to pretend, make believe 
- wè like, as 
tanmaren see tamaren 
tanmen v. to begin to, start to 
tanmi, tami n. sieve, sifter, strainer 
tanmpra n. tempera 
tanmtanm, tamtam n. tom-tom, 
tam-tam 
tanmye! interj. so much the better! 
tann v. to wait, wait for, await, 
expect; to spread out, display; to 
hang out (clothes); to lay, set (trap, 
fishnet); adj. tender, soft; loving; 
adv. let alone, not even 
fè yon ti - to wait a minute, wait a 
second 
pa ka - urgent 
ret(e) - to wait (for); to delay 
sou - on hold 
- dat, - tan long time ago; for a 
long time, for so long 
- jouk li tounen pwa - , - depi 
tan patko tan to wait until the 
cows come home, wait endlessly 
- kabann to make the bed 
- kô li to stretch out (one's body) 
- tan see ~ dat 
tannatè n. second-hand clothes 
(obs.); cf. kenedi; pèpè 
tanné, tanè n. tanner 
tannen, tane v. to tan (leather); to 
weather (face) 
tannfwa adv. so many times, so 
often 
tannman n. hearing (auditory) 
~ di hearing impairment 
tannri, tànri n. tannery 
Tannzani see Tanzani 
tannzànyen see tanzànyen 
tanp n. temple; temple (head); 
Voodoo temple; Protestant church 
(building) 
bô - temple (head) 
o - (to the) Voodoo temple; (to 
the) Protestant church 
Tanpabeprop.n. Tampa Bay 
(Florida) 
tanpe, etanpe v. to brand, mark (an 
animal); to stamp, cancel, mark 
with rubber stamp; to stigmatize 
tanperaman n. temperament, 
character, nature 
move - ill-tempered 
ti - tender nature 
tanperan adj. calm, cool, sober 
tanperans n. temperance 
tanperati n. temperature 
metèd - rhythm method (family 
planning) 
- kay la room temperature 
tanpere adj. temperate, moderate; v. 
to temper, soothe, calm; to 
constrain, keep in check; to calm 
down, quiet down 
tanpèt n. storm, tempest; adj. 
stormy, tempestuous 
- nan yon vè dlo tempest in a 
teapot 
tanpete v. to storm, rage, rant and 
rave 
tanpetè n. troublemaker 
tanpi! interj. too bad! so much the 
worse! 
Tanpiko prop.n. Tampico Island 
Punch (fruit-based non-alcoholic 
bottled drink) 
8QH 
tanpliyekadôch - tantln 
tanpliyekadôch n. sign used by 
Freemasons 
tanpon n. tampon; cloth pad; wash 
cloth; sponge cloth; ironing pad; 
ink-pad; (rubber) stamp; (official) 
stamp, seal; buffer zone 
uiponnen, tanpone, taponnen v. 
to mop up; to dampen (with 
washcloth, sponge etc.); to 
sponge, bathe (wound); to stamp, 
cancel, mark with rubber stamp 
tnporè adj. temporary; n. 
temporary worker 
anporèl adj. temporal, secular 
anporèman adv. temporarily 
ianporizasyon n. [Fr.] 
temporization, delaying, stalling, 
playing for time 
tanporize v. [Fr.] to temporize, 
delay, stall, play for time 
tanpou prep, rather than, instead of 
tanpri interj. please 
nan - souple bowing and 
scraping, kowtowing, servility; 
constantly asking for money etc. 
~ souple! ( a very polite) please! 
pretty please! 
tànri see tannri 
tansèlman adv./conj. however, 
nevertheless, yet, but; interj. watch 
out! 
tanson n. support, prop, brace, 
buttress 
tansonnen v. to prop up, shore up, 
support 
tansyomèt n. blood pressure 
apparatus, pressure cuff 
tansyon n. tension, strain, stress; 
tension, voltage; blood pressure; 
high blood pressure, hypertension; 
low blood pressure, hypotension 
aparèy - blood pressure apparatus 
fè - , gen - to have high blood 
pressure 
pran - to measure blood pressure 
sou - tense, anxious, nervous, 
stressed, under pressure 
- nan je glaucoma 
wot - high tension (electric 
current) 
tant n. aunt (cf. matant); tent; 
awning, canopy 
Tant Randevou [Bible] 
Tabernacle 
- . . . - the more... the more 
tanta, tantan n. [N.] temptation 
bay - to tempt 
fè (gwo) % gen - (sou biskèt) to 
be greedy; to be envious 
tantafè n. busybody, snoop; pimp, 
procurer 
tantafèz fn. busybody, snoop; 
procuress 
tantakil n. tentacle 
tantan [N.] see tanta 
tantanès see tetanôs 
tantann, tan tant see matant 
tantasyon, latantasyon n. 
temptation 
bay - to tempt 
- nèg sèt solanum (bot.) 
tantatè n. tempter 
tantativ, tantatif il attempt, endeavor 
fè - to attempt, endeavor 
- asasina attempted murder, 
assassination attempt 
tante v. to attempt, try; to tempt, 
entice; to be tempted, be attracted 
- chans 11 to take/try one's 
chances 
tantin see matant 
- meyèt woman who acts as go-
between for young people 
- tann tonton magic trap to 
891 
tanto - tata 
protect one's field against theft 
tanto adv. sometimes, at times; 
almost, approximately 
- ... - first... then, now ... now 
tanwan [pronounced: tan-wan), 
tan won {pronounced: tan-won) n. 
horsefly 
tanyen see latànye 
Tanzani, Tannzani prop.n. Tanzania 
tanzantan, detanzantan adv. from 
time to time, at times, now and 
then, once in a while, sometimes, 
occasionally 
tanzànyen, tannzànyen prop.n./adj. 
Tanzanian 
tanzawôt adv. from time to time, 
now and then 
tap n./onomat. tap, slap, swat, 
whack; n. punch; spank; contr. ta 
+ ap (would, would have); te + ap 
(was... -ing) 
bay dèyè ou twa get a move 
on! 
- nan bouda spank 
tapaj n. brawl, quarrel, row; noise 
tapajè n. troublemaker 
tapajèz f.n. fiery girl or woman 
tapan adj. exactly, on the dot, sharp 
(time) 
tape v. to slap, hit, strike, beat; to 
spank; to tap (on); to type; n. 
typing; contr. ta + ape; te + ape 
- kat to shuffle cards 
- nan sôs delightful, terrific; fast, 
quick; see tonmtonm 
tapi n. rug, carpet; mat; tablecloth 
(usu. plastic) 
- chanm twalèt bath mat 
- pye floor mat (of vehicle) 
- soupla place mat 
- woulan conveyor belt 
tapise v. to carpet; to wallpaper 
tapisri n. tapestry; upholstery 
fè - to be a wallflower, not be 
invited to dance 
tapisye n. upholsterer 
taponnen see tanponnen 
tapral(e): 
contr. t ap pral(e) was/were going 
(past progressive) 
tapta n. var. of fish 
taptap adj. rapid, quick, fast; n. 
small passenger truck, small pick-
up truck used for public 
transportation; adv. in a jiffy, in 
the blink of an eye; onomat. to 
express a knocking sound 
tapyoka n. tapioca 
tapyon n. small seaside mountain 
Tapyon prop.n. Tapion (1st 
communal section of Saint-Jean-
du-Sud, Dept. South; see Anôt) 
Tapyon (mon) prop.n. Mount 
Tapion (between Léogâne and 
Grand-Goâve, Dept. West) 
tari, teri v. to dry up (spring, well) 
tarif n. tariff, rate; price list 
taryè n. auger; drill 
tas n. cup 
gwo - mug 
~ amezire measuring cup 
Tas, Tasis prop.n. [Bible] Tarsus 
tase v. to pack down (soil); to shake 
down (objects in container); to 
settle in, become established 
Tasis see Tas 
tasit adj. tacit, unspoken 
taso n. beef jerky, dried meat; skinny 
person (fam.) 
tat n. pie; plaque (on tooth) 
- ositwon lemon-meringue pie; 
key-lime pie 
ti - tart 
tata n. doo-doo, poop, poo-poo; v. to 
892 
tatadwèt - Tayllanii 
poop, have a bowel movement 
- chat secret doings, hidden 
undercurrents 
tatadwèt fin. lesbian; cf. madivinèz 
tatalolo adj. huge, enormous; 
grandiose; n. extravaganza 
Tatàn prop.n. nickname for Antwàn 
0q.v.) 
tatanos see tétanos 
tatapyout n. smallpox 
tatawèl, tatayèl n. distant ancestors 
tate v. to touch, feel; to palpate; to 
feel out; to grope, feel one's way 
tatezoflando n. torturer, tormentor 
tatonnen v. to hesitate; to grope, 
advance haltingly, feel one's way; 
to try to find fault (with s.o.) 
tatou n. tattoo; armadillo 
tatouni n. var. of pork dish 
tavèno, tabèno, tavènon n. sabicu 
tree 
tavle n. magie love-potion 
taw! onomat. bang! 
- like a shot, like lightning 
tawo, machin a filyè n. rod-threader 
(mach.) 
tawod n. quality (of object, person) 
tawode v. to tap, pierce; to plane 
(board); to thread, cut connecting 
grooves in (pipe); to annoy, irritate 
tay, day n. size; height, stature; 
waist, waistline; waistband; lower 
back; pruning, trimming, clipping; 
adj. huge, immense; onomat. 
sound produced by the smaller of 
the two Petwo drums (Voodoo) 
gran - tall 
- dife, - bwa kindling wood 
~ fè mal lower-back pain 
- kreyon pencil sharpener 
~ louvri, - ouvè sprained back 
- zong nail clippers 
ti - short 
yon - a huge, strapping; a huge 
amount of 
tayay n. cutting, slicing; beating, 
whipping; skirt-chasing, 
womanizing 
taye v. to cut, slice, trim, clip, shear, 
prune; to beat, thrash, whip; to 
dance well, cut a mean step; to 
make love (with); to make, create; 
to sharpen (pencil); to cut or hew 
(stone) 
byen - sou to fit well (clothes) 
- banda, - bobis to act fancy, 
strut around, show off, put on airs; 
to run amuck, act crazy; strutting, 
showing off 
~ bonnèt to frame, double-cross 
- bonnèt pou tèt (yon moun) to 
pretend to be s.thg. other than 
what one is 
- dèyè to follow 
- fwèt kach, - rigwaz to snap/ 
crack the whip 
- jès li to put on airs (girl, woman) 
- leve to show off, strut 
- pa to position one's feet in 
dancing; to take action 
- tèt to give a haircut 
- tèt li to get a haircut 
- tou fèt ready-made (fig.) 
~ yon rad/kanson/wôb mete sou 
to make up a pack of lies 
tayè n. tailor; tailoring; woman's 
two-piece suit 
bôs - tailor 
tayekwondo n. tae-kwon-do 
(Korean form of karate) 
tayfèmal n. lower-back pain 
tayilandè prop.nJadjtayilandèz 
f.prop.n. Thai 
Tayilann, Taylann prop.n. Thailand 
RQ1 
Tayino - tchatcha(tcha) 
Tayino, Taynoprop.n. Taino 
(Indian); Taïno Beach (near 
Grand-Goâve, Dept. West) 
tayis n. bosom 
Tayiti prop.n. Tahiti 
taykreyon n. pencil sharpener 
Taylann see Tayilann 
tayminbèl(t) n. [Eng.] timing belt 
(mach.) 
tayminchenn n. [Eng.] timing chain 
(mach.) 
Tayno see Tayino 
tayo, tayôv n. taro, malanga, 
dasheen; cf. karayib 
Var.: - blan(ch), - fè, - grate, -
jôn, - legliz, - mawon, ~ 
mazonbèl, ~ wouj 
tayôt n. inferior var. of taro (usu. fed 
only to pigs) 
tayoud see taywôd 
tayôv see tayo 
Taypeprop.n. Taipei (Taiwan) 
taypis n. [Eng.] typist 
Taywanè, Tayiwanè prop.n J adj., 
Taywanèz, Tayiwanèz fiprop. n. 
Taiwanese 
Taywann, Tayiwann prop.n. 
Taiwan 
taywôd, tayoud, taywoud n. tie rod 
(of vehicle) 
tayzong n. nail clippers 
taza n. king mackerel (fish) 
Tazan prop.n. Tarzan 
Tchad prop.n. Chad 
tchak, tchyak, tyak adj. nasty, 
surly, bad-tempered; strict; severe; 
strong, potent (alcohol); see 
latchak 
- - sound of chopping (onomat ); 
to make fast work of, kill 
tchaka n. stew with meat, beans, 
com, pumpkin etc.; mess, 
confusion; v. to crush, pound, 
grind; see dan 
— gede special stew served on fèt 
Gede (2 November) 
tchakade v. to chop up; to do in, kill 
tchake, tchakannen, tyaka, 
tyakannen, tyake v. to chop, cut 
up; to plow up; to push food 
around on one's plate; to go from 
one task to another without ever 
finishing one 
~ ~ by fits and starts, disjointedly, 
haltingly 
tchaktchak, dyakdyak, tyaktyak 
n. mud puddle; messy concoction; 
v. to make a mess (of); to chop up, 
cut up; to cut s.o.'s hair badly or 
unevenly 
tchala, chala, tyala n. book 
indicating lottery numbers 
corresponding to dreams 
tchana, tyana n. china cupboard 
tchanmtchanm see chanmchanm 
tchanpan, chanpan, tyanpan n. 
junk, bad thing (in general); 
unappetizing food; junk food; 
useless person, good-for-nothing 
tchans, tyans n. wishful thinking, 
useless talk; nonsense, bullshit 
tchanse see ranse 
tchansè see ransè 
tchansi n. metal rattle used in Rara 
and in some Kongo rites (Voodoo) 
tchap, tyap n. military or scout cap; 
onomat. chop! 
— in a jiffy, in the blink of an eye 
— - tramp ! tramp! tramp! (sound 
of marching feet) 
tchara n. var. of fish 
tchas, tiyas, tyas n. razor trim 
(around hairline), trim-line 
tchatcha(tcha), kwakwa, 
894 
tchatcha(tcha) - tchit sara 
tyatya(tya) n. maraca; sacred 
calabash rattle used in Petwo and 
Kongo rites (Voodoo); (baby) 
rattle; locust tree; lebbek tree; 
(euphemism for kaka) doo-doo, 
poop, poo-poo; var. Hispanic 
dance; v. to eke out a living; to act 
stupidly; to sin; adj. silly; loony, 
crazy; senile; adv. excitedly 
- ko to dance excitedly 
~ mawon leadtree 
tchaw, tyaw, tyawou n. 
unappetizing food; junk food; 
interj. ciao! [Italian], good-bye! 
~ ko to say bye-bye, skip out 
~ - tchomp-tchomp (noise made 
while eating) 
Tchaykovski (Pyè) prop.n. 
Tchaikovsky (Peter) - Russian 
composer (1840-1893) 
tche, ke, latche, latye, tye n. tail; 
see ke 
~ koche/kochi/kwochi var. of 
insect similar to scorpion 
tchè, kè n. heart 
tchebe see kenbe 
Tchèchil prop.n. Churchill 
tchèd see tyèd 
tchèk, tyèk n. check, verification; 
check mark; prop.n./adj. Czech; 
interj. OK, yes 
bay yon - to get in touch with, 
contact 
fè yon - to check out, verify 
Repiblik ~ Czech Republic 
sou - checking, inquiring, 
verifying 
tchekay, tchekaj n. checking (out), 
verifying 
tcheke, cheke, tyeke v. to check 
(out), verify, look into, find out; to 
contact; to gauge; to check off 
~ ak to get in touch with, contact 
~ grenn to cruise, girl 
watch, check out the chicks 
~ malèt to check baggage (airport) 
tchekè, tyekè n. meddler, busybody; 
spy 
tchèkin, tyèkin v. [Eng.] to check in 
(at airport counter) 
tchèkop, tyekop n. [Eng.] (medical) 
check-up 
Tchekoslovaki prop.n. 
Czechoslovakia 
tchèl n. small change [Span.] 
tchèlè f.n. passionate young woman 
tchen interj. sound to call chickens 
tchenbe see kenbe 
tchengtcheng see tchlntchin 
tchenk n./adj. tiny bit of 
tchenkon adj. small 
an - in bits and pieces, piecemeal 
tchenpwèt adj. quarrelsome, 
cantankerous, contentious 
tchentchen, tyentyen n. finely-
ground com; cf. chanmchanm 
tcherache n. loose woman, 
prostitute 
Tchetcheni prop.n. Chechnya 
tchi onomat. tweet, chirp (of bird) 
tchik onomat. sound made when 
spitting; see chik 
t i - p a d - l i t t l e by little 
tchikin see chikin 
tchim see kim 
tchiman see asètè 
tchimen see kimen 
tchin adj. bare, barren 
tchintchin, tchengtcheng, 
tchingtching v, to tease, annoy 
tchip adj. [Eng.] cheap 
tchip, tchipe see tchwipe 
tchit sara n. Hispaniolan honey-
creeper (bird) 
895 
tchitchile - te 
tchitchile see titibe 
tchobol see tchouboum 
tchok n. choke (mach.); var. of 
plantain 
tchoka, tyoka v. to crush, pound 
(esp. coffee); to mess up, bungle 
tchonèl, tchonnèl, tyônèl, tyonnèl 
n. parasite (insect; person) 
tchonpwa see pyas kôlèt 
tchop tchôp onomat. plunk, plop 
tchotcho, chocho, tchôtchô, 
tichoutchou, tyotyo, tyotyo n. 
little bit of dough or cash; dick 
(penis); onomat. sound of 
rumbling of stomach 
tchotchorit, tchôtchôt see 
chovsourit 
tchôtchôwè, tyôtyôwè n. busybody, 
snoop, meddler; blue shark; adj. 
nosey; worthless 
tchou n. bottom; ass, tail, rear 
~ pou - back to back, touching 
tchouboum, chouboum, tchobol, 
tchoubouloung, tyôbol, 
tyouboum n. trouble, fix, mess, 
predicament; onomat. kerplunk 
(sound of object falling into water) 
fè - , pike - to splash water noisily 
tchouk! onomat. sound of sudden 
blow 
tchouko n. friend, buddy (fam.) 
tchoul, choul, tyoul n. hanger-on, 
follower, servant, underling, 
stooge; tourist guide (pej.); 
excellent dancer; pimp, procurer; 
gigolo, kept man 
houla, tyoula v. to manage, direct, 
be responsible for; adj. (pertaining 
to an habitual) woman chaser or 
womanizer 
houle, kyoule, twoule, tyoule v. to 
regress, lose ground, degenerate; 
to move back, make (sitting) room 
(for s.o.); to age, get old; to court, 
woo 
- ko li (nan) to push by, slip by, 
slip past; to clear out of, leave; to 
back up, move back 
tchoulis adj. subservient 
tchoulit, tyoulit n. diminutive form 
of tchoul 
tchouloulou(t) n. diarrhea; adj. cute, 
charming 
tchoup onomat. plunk (sound of 
object striking water); sound to 
express sudden action 
tchoupe see tchwipe 
tchovi see ayovi 
tchutchu interj. indicates French or 
affected speech 
tchwe see touye 
tchwè onomat. sound of grease 
sizzling 
tchwi see kwi 
Ou kwè se It's really difficult! 
tchwipe, chwip, chwipe, kipe, 
kwipe, tchip, tchipe, tchoupe, 
tchwip, twipe n. disdainful noise 
made with the mouth; v. to make a 
disdainful noise with the mouth, 
smack one's lips disdainfully or 
contemptuously; to scorn, mock 
tchwit onomat. peep, cheep; see kwit 
tchwitchwi(tchwi) see 
chwichwi(chwi) 
tchya see chya 
tchyak see tchak 
tchyatchya v. to eke out a living 
te n. (letter) t; tea; infusion; T-
square; T-shaped pipe (plumbing); 
v. past tense indicator; to let, 
permit, allow; sh. form kite 
bwè - vèvenn to be very 
disappointed 
8Q6 
te-tè 
fè yon ti - to do the slightest thing 
si m - m ta ... if only I had... 
(done so and so) 
~ endijèn, - Meksik, - peyi, -
swis goatweed (plant) 
- fèy herbal tea 
- kloch, - twa zôm fo varieties of 
tea used as hallucinogenic drug 
- nan je white opacity of cornea, 
leukoma 
- peyi var. of med. plant 
~ sezisman soothing tea 
tè n. soil, ground, earth, land; field; 
clay; adj. earthen; adv. o'clock; 
see latè 
an - earthen 
bay ~ a to depart this earth, die; to 
leave, clear out 
bay - a (blanch) to clear out, 
leave 
bay - pou krab to exchange 
s.thg. of great value for s.thg. of 
no value 
bay yon plant - to bank up, 
provide additional soil around plant 
boule - to burn off a field 
fè ~ to land, come ashore 
fè - pwa - mayi to be left to one's 
own resources, be ignored; to lust 
gran - mainland (of Haiti - as 
termed by off-shore dwellers) 
grate ~ mete moun to bury (s.o.) 
grès - loose topsoil 
krèm - rich topsoil 
manman pyès ~ master deed, 
collective deed 
mèt - landowner 
papye - deed, land title 
priz - handful of earth/soil 
pwosè - land dispute 
se ~ ki pou geri li irreducible or 
hopeless case 
sou - fèm on dry land 
- abandonnen worthless 
uncultivated land 
- ajil, - glèz clay 
- ale, - anfale depleted soil 
~ anlè, - arab topsoil 
~ asosye land held in shared 
proprietorship 
~ awouzay, - awozaj irrigated 
land 
- basrak, - bas, ~ bastrak 
lowlands 
~ bati hard-packed surface 
~ blanch unproductive land 
- bota land left fallow for 
considerable time 
- boukan recently cleared land 
- bwa debou heavily forested land 
- bwanèf land recently cleared 
after having lain fallow long 
enough to grow young saplings 
- bwaze woodland 
- chita land retaining its rich 
topsoil 
- cho fertile soil; soil needing 
regular rainfall to be productive 
- danre (productive) farmland 
- dlo moist humid soil; marshland 
- endivizyon land held in 
common (not divided - as yet -
among heirs) 
- eritay inherited land 
- esteril arid/barren/desolate land 
- ewozyon eroded land 
- fètrès irrigated land 
- frèt, - frè, - lanèj fertile soil 
with high moisture-retaining 
qualities 
- glèz, - ajil clay 
- glise eroded land; slippery/ 
perilous place 
- gra rich fertile soil 
897 
tè - tègal 
- grennen unfaithful 
- grès rich fertile soil 
- grizon, - grizonnen pebbly soil 
- jaden farmland 
- jeran land managed for absentee 
owner (often a form of 
sharecropping but where owner is 
financially responsible for all 
investment costs; cf. demwatye 
where each party is equally 
responsible for investment costs) 
- labou muddy land 
- lage bèt grazing land 
- lagon marshland 
- lanèj see ~ frèt 
- lave depleted soil 
- lawouzay irrigated land 
- lonbrit place of birth, real home 
- makay, - marekaj marshy land 
- mèg poor soil 
- miné inherited land not yet 
divided among heirs 
- môn, - montay steep rocky land 
- nil land-holding without a 
property deed 
- nwa, - nwè dark rich soil 
- p and je, - pandye hillside 
- pi rich fertile soil 
- pla plain, low flatlands 
- plenn flatlands 
- poze fallow land 
- pwomiz la the promised land 
(rel) 
~ pyere rocky soil 
- rak brushland 
- rapô, - rapète alluvial soil, 
sediment; soil prevented from 
eroding (by rock barrier etc.); rich 
fertile soil 
~ rèd unproductive soil 
- redont poor soil 
- rich rich fertile soil 
- sab, - sablèz sandy soil 
- sale saline soil; salt flats 
- savann see savann 
- senp flatlands 
Tè Sent Holy Land 
- separe inherited land already 
divided among heirs 
- tif white hard soil, tuff 
- toutouni, - touni soil without 
plant cover 
- vakan unoccupied land 
- volaj, - volay rich fertile soil 
- wôch, - wôche, ~ wôk rocky 
soil 
- wouze, - wouzay irrigated land 
- zo land eroded almost to 
bedrock 
travay - agriculture; to farm 
venn ~ strip or section of land 
vye - worthless uncultivated land 
wont - dirt road 
yon - a plot, a piece of land 
Other terms used to describe land 
or soil: - blan(ch), - gravwa, -
gri(z), - kole, - letan, - ma, ~ 
mayi, - okay, - pat, - pitimi, ~ 
si, ~ sous, - wouj 
Tèb prop.n. [Bible] Thebes 
tebe n. TB, tuberculosis; adj. 
tubercular 
Tèblanch, Basen Kayiman prop.n. 
Terre-Blanche (Dept. South) 
tebonn n. T-bone steak 
tedeyèm, tedeyoum n. Te Deum, 
memorial service 
tèdoreye, tèdôreye, tètzôrye n. 
pillow case 
Tèfè prop.n. Taifer (16th communal 
section of Carrefour, Dept. West) 
Tèfwad prop.n. Terre-Froide (Dept. 
West) 
tègal see pèkal 
R98 
Tegisigalpa - telefôn 
Tegisigalpaprop.n. Tegucigalpa 
(Honduras) 
Tegsas, Tegzas see Teksas 
tèk n. hit (in marbles); teak(wood); 
onomat. drip! (sound of 
waterdrop); clack! 
fè - bo wonn to play it cool, be 
discreet (usu. concerning sexual 
relationships) 
pa di - not to say a word 
pa yon - not a bit, not a whit 
- an - , - pou - tit for tat 
Tèk ak Kayiko see Ziltik 
teke v. to tap; to flick; to strum 
(guitar etc.); to bump into, hit, 
collide (lightly); to hit s.o. else's 
marble (game of marbles) 
san - bo wonn without skirting/ 
avoiding an issue 
- fren to touch the brakes 
- mab to play marbles 
- mo to know a smattering of a 
language 
- nan wonn to attack a problem 
gradually or bit by bit 
tekè v. [Eng.] to take care of 
Tèki see Tiki 
tekitizi, tekelizi, tekilizi [Eng.] take 
it easy 
teknik w./adj. technique, know-how, 
skill; adj. technical 
teknikalite n. technicality 
teknikman adv. technically; on the 
technical level 
teknikolô n./adj. technicolor 
teknisyen n., teknisyèn fin. 
technician 
- medikal medic 
teknokrat n. technocrat 
teknoloji n. technology 
teknolojik adj. technological 
teknolojis n. technologist 
tèks n. text 
Teksanprop.n., Teksàn f.prop.n. 
Texan 
Teksas, Tegsas, Tegzas, Tekzas 
prop.n. Texas (USA) 
tekstyèlman adv. textually, literally, 
exactly 
tekstil n. [Fr./Eng.] textile 
tèktègèdèk, tèktèktègèdèk adv. 
totally, completely; firmly, 
steadfastly; onomat. drip drip drip 
(sound of leaky faucet) 
tèktèk adj. eccentric, a bit odd; 
active, agile, alert 
tèktèktègèdèk see tèktègèdèk 
Tekzako prop.n. Texaco 
Tekzas see Teksas 
tèl adj. such a; a certain 
- di - fè no sooner said than done 
- jan (fè) - mannyè this and that, 
such and such a thing 
- ke [Fr.] such as; such that 
tele n. TV 
teledifize v. to telecast 
teledifizyon n. telecast 
teledyôl, telebouch, teledjôl, 
telefôn san fil, n. grapevine, 
word-of-mouth, "coconut 
wireless"; gossip, rumors 
teledyôlè, teledjôlè n. gossip(er), 
rumor-monger 
telefôn, telefonn n. telephone, 
phone 
bouch - mouthpiece (telephone) 
dekwoche - to pick up the 
telephone 
fèmen - to hang up the telephone 
kônè - receiver (telephone) 
kout - telephone call 
Iwe - to use a pay phone 
- flks (ak fil) wired telephone 
- pôtab, - selilè, - détaché, -
telefônen - temwaye 
deyô, ~ mobil cell(ular) telephone 
~ san fil see teledyôl 
telefônen, telefone, telefône, 
telefônen, telefonnen v. to 
telephone, phone, call 
telefonik adj. telephone 
telegide v. to radio-control; to 
operate by remote control; n. 
remote (control) (for TV); adj. 
teleguided 
telegraf n. telegraph; telegraph office 
telegrafl n. telegraphy 
telegrafik adj. telegraphic 
telegrafye v. to telegraph, wire 
telegram n. telegram 
telejounal n. t(ele)v(ision) news 
tèleka, teleka conj. such as, for 
example, supposing, for instance; 
this is so in the case of... 
Teleko(minikasyon Dayiti) 
S[osyeteJ A[nonim] acron. Téléco 
(Télécommunications d'Haïti 
S.A.) telephone company of Haiti 
telekômande v. to operate by remote 
control 
telekômann n. remote control (for 
TV) 
telekominikasyon n. 
telecommunications 
telekopi, faks n. (tele)fax 
telekopye v. to (tele)fax 
telekopyè n. fax machine 
telèks n. Telex 
telele v. to dance and jump about; to 
be rowdy (group, crowd); n. 
confusion, disorder 
teleskôp n. telescope 
teleskriptè n. Telex 
telespektatè n. television viewer 
televize v. to televise 
televizyon n. television, TV; large 
metal trunk 
tèlke adv. such as 
tèlman adv. so, so much, so many, to 
such an extent (that) 
tèlole v. to interact 
tèm n. term, word; term (of office); 
terminology; theme; translation 
into a foreign language; adj. 
sound, healthy (body); sane 
a kou ~ short-term 
a long ~ long-term 
anvan - , pa - premature (infant) 
gran ~ tall and strong 
tèmal, tèmik adj. thermal 
tèmantfn n. var. of mango 
temaren see tamaren 
tematik adj. [Fr.] thematic 
temerè, temere, tenmèrè adj. rash, 
bold, reckless, foolhardy; see 
ounsi 
temerite n. [Fr.] temerity, audacity, 
boldness 
tèmik see tèmal 
tèminal n. ending, end; senior year 
(of secondary school); last two/ 
three digits in lottery number; 
computer terminal; battery cable 
terminal (much.); adj. terminal 
tèmine, tèminen v. to terminate, 
finish, bring to an end 
tèmînezon n. suffix, ending; last two 
digits of lottery number 
tèminoloji n. [Fr.] terminology 
tèmit n. termite; cf. poudbwa 
tèmomèt, tèmonmèt n. thermometer 
- bouch oral thermometer 
- twou dèyè rectal thermometer 
tèmôs n. thermos (bottle) 
tèmosta n. thermostat 
temwanyaj, temwavaj, 
temwànyaj, tern way av n. 
testimony 
temwaye v. to testify, bear witness, 
900 
temwen -tenis 
give evidence; to attend, observe, 
witness (childbirth) 
temwen n. witness 
sévi ~ to serve as a witness 
~ a chaj witness for the 
prosecution 
~ a dechaj witness for the defense 
~ okilè [Fr.] eyewitness 
Temwen Jewova/Jeyova prop.n. 
Jehovah's Witnesses 
ten n. thyme; complexion, coloring 
bon - young for one's age, well-
preserved 
move ~ prematurely old 
- mawon sagerose (bot.) 
~ vre thyme 
tèn see katèn 
tena adj. last (in line) 
tenan: 
~ kont [Fr.] taking into account, 
considering 
tenas adj. tenacious, obstinate 
tenasite, tennasite n. tenacity, 
perseverance 
tenay, tennay n. pliers, pincers; 
tongs 
tenaye v. to torment 
tenbal n. tall drinking cup, tumbler 
(usu. plastic or aluminum); 
stomach (fam.); large double-
headed cylindrical drum; middle-
sized of the three Kongo rite 
drums (Voodoo); tympani, 
kettledrum 
tenbre v to (affix a) stamp; to stamp, 
postmark; see papye ~ 
tendeng: 
bal ~ popular dance (gathering) 
tenè n. teacher's aid 
- liv bookkeeper, accountant 
tenèb, letenèb, tennèb n. darkness, 
dark; gloom; Roman Catholic 
evening service during Holy Week 
in mourning over the Crucifixion 
bat ~ to make loud anonymous 
public protest or celebration (usu. 
by hitting metal against metal or 
by horns); see also fè: bat -
larivyè Tenèb Ténèbres River 
(Depts. North-East and Center, 
bordering on the Dominican 
Republic) 
tenès see tennès 
Tenesi see Tenisi 
Tènètprop.n. Terre-Nette (6th 
communal section of Verrettes, 
Dept. Artibonite) 
Tènèv prop.n. Terre-Neuve (Dept. 
Artibonite); Newfoundland 
Tènevyen prop.n., Tènevyèn 
f.prop.n. inhabitant of Terre-Neuve 
(Dept. Artibonite) 
teng: 
~ degoute tak tit for tat 
tengendeng see tengtengendeng 
tengfas see tennfas 
tengstèn n. tungsten 
tengtengendeng, tengendeng, 
tengtengdeng adj. spectacular, 
dramatic; adv. totally, completely 
teni v. to owe, be obliged to, be 
compelled to; n. outfit, costume 
an bon ~ in good shape 
an - appropriately dressed 
byen - well cared for, well 
maintained 
pa kenbe ~ li to let oneself go, 
become sloppy 
- kont (de) to take into account 
- lagè war dress 
tèni v. [Fr] to dull, tarnish 
tenik adj. ethnic 
tenis n. tennis; (pair of) tennis 
shoes; sneakers 
901 
Tenisi - tenyen 
Tenisi, Tenesiprop.n. Tennessee 
(USA) 
tenismann n. tennis player 
tenkantenk, takantak adv. 
immediately, directly; tit for tat, 
rapid-fire exchange of words 
tenkdegoutetak adv. directly; at any 
time 
tenm n. stamp (postage; tax); timbre, 
tone 
tenmèrè see temerè 
tenmfas see tennfas 
tenmplaw, tenmpla, tenpla adj. 
distinguished; solid, reliable 
(person); stationary; at the same 
level; in agreement 
rete - to hold one's ground, stand 
firm, remain steady; to remain 
untouched 
tenmpo u to calm down, moderate 
tenn v. to dye 
tennasite see tenasite 
tennay see tenay 
tennèb see tenèb 
tennen: 
pale ~ to drawl 
tennès, tenès n. piles, hemorrhoids; 
tenesmus 
bay ~ to constipate 
tennfas, tengfas, tenmfas, tinfas 
adj. still, motionless; steady, 
constant, firm, steadfast, 
unwavering; untouched (food, 
money); adv. firmly, steadfastly 
tennon, tenon n. tenon 
tenô n. tenor 
tenpan n. [Fr.] eardrum; see tande 
zèrèy 
tenpla v. to calm down; adj. calm; 
see tenmplaw 
~ ak in accordance with, in 
agreement with, at one with 
tensèl see etensèl 
tentanôs see tetanôs 
tente v. to dye, tint; to swap, 
exchange 
~ sann pou lapousyè to make no 
progress, tread water 
vit ~ tinted window (in véhiculé) 
tenten n. fool, idiot, moron; 
foolishness, stupidity, silliness, 
nonsense; worthless person or 
object; uproar, din, racket; adj. 
ridiculous, absurd 
fè - , fè kont - li to act like an 
idiot, clown around, act silly; to 
make a grimace, make a face 
grennen - to mess up, make a 
mess of things 
kafou ~ ridiculousness 
lage nan (won) - to make fun of, 
mock 
leve yon - , pete yon - to cause an 
uproar; to quarrel, dispute 
pa nan - not to be kidding or 
joking 
(pase) nan (won) - to make fun 
of, mock; to bluff, deceive 
pete (yon) - to fight, quarrel 
tentennad, tentennadri, tentennay 
n. nonsense, foolishness, 
ridiculousness; mess (fig.) 
tenti n. dye, dyeing; tincture; 
coloring, hue 
tentidyèd, tentidjod n. tincture of 
iodine 
tentize v. to kid around, joke 
teny see lateng 
tenya {pronounced: te-nya) n. 
tapeworm 
tenyen v. to put out, extinguish, turn 
off; to wink 
limen - to flicker, blink (light) 
- je to wink 
902 
tep - testé 
- lavi to snuff out (s.o.'s) life, kill 
tep n. tip, gratuity; tape (adhesive; 
measuring; magnetic; cassette; 
video; Scotch; insulating); tape 
recorder 
tepe v. to tape (up); to tape, record; 
to leave a tip or gratuity 
Tepetese acron. TPTC, Ministè 
Travo Piblik, Transpô ak 
Kominikasyon (Ministère des 
Travaux Publics, Transports et 
Communications) Ministry of 
Public Works, Transportation and 
Communications 
teprikodè n. tape recorder 
terapi n. therapy 
terapis n. physical therapist 
teras, lateras n. terrace, balcony; 
street, road; terrace, terracing, 
level area in mountainous region 
terasman n. terrace, terracing; 
leveling (for roadwork or 
construction); (main) road 
tèratè adj. low, obsequious; down-
to-earth, matter-of-fact, everyday, 
commonplace 
tere see antere 
tèrè, latèrè, terè n. terror 
terebantin n. turpentine; paint thinner 
terebent n. terebinth (tree) 
teren, tèren n. lot, plot, piece of 
land; terrain; building site; 
(playing-)field (soccer etc.); court 
(tennis etc.); (running) track; rink 
(hockey, ice-skating) 
bay - an (blanch) to leave, clear 
out 
gen - lib pou to have free reign to 
- ak min minefield 
- (d)aterisaj landing field 
~ (d)avyasyon airfield 
- espè athletic field, playing field 
~ glise landslide 
- lib vacant lot 
- louvri landfault 
terès adj. terrestrial, earthly 
teresan see enteresan 
Terèz f.prop.n. T(h)eresa 
ten, ateri v. to land, arrive, get to, 
show up; to come ashore, wash 
up; see tari 
terib, tèrib adj. terrible, awful, 
dreadful, tragic; fierce, ferocious, 
wild 
terifyan adj. terrifying, fearsome 
terifye v. to terrify, terrorize 
term n. (shallow) bowl, basin; 
earthen pan; vase where dead 
souls are placed (Voodoo) 
teritoryal adj. territorial 
teritwa, tèritwa n. territory, 
premises 
tèryen n. earthling, dweller on the 
planet earth; adj. land; land-
owning 
Tèryewouj, Tèwouj prop.n. Terrier-
Rouge -founded 1707 (Dept. 
North-East) 
Tèryewoujycn prop.n., 
Tèryewoujyèn f.prop.n. 
inhabitant of Terrier-Rouge (Dept. 
North-East) 
tès n. test; testing 
fè - to test; to be tested (med.) 
Tesalonikprop.n. [Bible] 
Thessalonica 
Tesalonisyen prop.n. [Bible] 
Thessalonians 
testaman n. will, testament; [Bible] 
Testament 
teste v. to check out, try out, test 
testé n. tester (electronic gauge used 
in testing and repairing 
equipment) 
903 
testikil - tèt 
testikil n. [Fr.] testicle (<extremely 
polite expression) 
testostewèn n. testosterone 
tèsyè adj. tertiary 
tèt n. head; hair; mind, brain, 
intellect, intelligence; top, summit, 
peak; roof; important person; 
bunch (straw etc.); head (lettuce 
etc.); cap (of pen etc.); chaff, 
residue (corn, millet etc.); header 
(soccer); reflexive pron. 
an - in the front row; at the head 
of; in the lead; in one's mind 
antre - bese (nan) to enter whole-
heartedly into, rush into; to enter 
shamefacedly 
ban m - mwen! leave me alone! 
bat - li to beat one's brains, rack 
one's brains 
bay kout - to nod off, doze 
bay - to be financially self-
sufficient 
bay - grate to puzzle 
bay - li jistis to wreak vengeance; 
to carry out vigilante justice 
bay - li pwoblèm pou to get 
upset about 
bay - sou to face, head toward 
bese - li to lower oneself, degrade 
oneself 
bon - see gen bon -
chanje - sacrifice of one human 
life to save another (Voodoo) 
depi nan - rive nan pye from 
head to toe, from top to bottom 
dèyè - li, tou dèyè - li in the back 
of one's mind 
fè - ansanm to cooperate, unite 
fè (yon) - to do or style hair; to 
give a haircut; to get a haircut; see 
tire -
fè - (ak) to be stubborn, resist; to 
coach, prepare s.o.; to tell s.o. 
what to say 
fè - di, fè - fè to be stubborn, 
resist 
fè - li mal to commit suicide 
fè - nèg to cost an arm and a leg, 
be very expensive 
fè - ou to get a haircut 
fè - rèd to be stubborn, resist 
fè - syèl to be/get dead drunk 
fè - yon moun to give s.o. a 
haircut; see moute/monte -
fè yon - to hit the ball with one's 
head (soccer) 
fè yon - ansanm to unite, join 
together 
fo - deceiver, pretender, hypocrite 
gen bon - , gen - klè to be able to 
foresee future winners through 
dreams (lottery esp.) 
gen - ak pye to be coherent or 
logical 
gen - di to be stubborn, be 
headstrong 
gen - dwat, gen - li sou zepôl li 
to be level-headed, have good 
common sense 
gen ... lanne sou - li to be ... years 
old 
gen - klè see gen bon -
gwo - problem, headache; large 
head; intellectual; big shot, VIP, 
bigwig; mongolism, mongoloid, 
Down's Syndrome; lion's-ear 
(mint); Carnival mask satirizing 
some well-known political figure 
kabès - , kabôch - , kalbas - , 
kôkôwos - head, noggin, noodle, 
bean (fam.) 
kase - to turn back; to make a big 
effort; to break s.o.'s head; puzzle 
kase - tounen to make a U-turn, 
904 
tèt-tèt 
head back in the same direction 
kenbe - (ak) to rebel; to oppose; 
to hang on to one's position; to 
resist, be stubborn 
kôkôwos - see kabès -
kole - to work together, join 
forces, cooperate; to neck, kiss 
leve - to raise the standing (of) 
mache - atè dèyè to follow 
blindly or subserviently 
maladi - anfle meningitis 
maladi - nwè var. of poultry 
disease 
maladi - siwo AIDS 
mande - li to wonder 
mete nan - to imagine 
mete - ak to join (together) with; 
to huddle 
mete - ansanm to cooperate, 
work together, team up 
mete - deyô to appear, arrive (on 
the scene) 
mete - li anplas to come to one's 
senses, reflect 
mete - li sou to put one's mind to 
mete - li sou zepôl li to be alert, 
be responsive 
mete - pou to head toward, go in 
the direction of 
mete - sou to face, head toward 
mouri - nwè to die a violent death 
moute/monte ~ moun, fè - yon 
moun influence; to agitate, incite 
moute/monte - nèg to go skyhigh 
(prices) 
nan - in the presence of 
nan - a - ak in close cooperation 
with 
(nan) - ansanm in unison, 
together, as one 
nan - bann at the head of, active 
as leader 
905 
nan - cho irresponsibly, 
carelessly, without forethought 
nan - jwèt at the head of the 
game, winning 
nan ~ jwèt li to be in one's element 
nan - kole ak in cooperation with 
nannan - brain 
pa gen - forgetful, absent-minded 
parèt - to stick one's head out, 
look out (of doorway etc.) 
pase sou - kan to pass the ball 
over the goalpost (soccer) 
pèdi - (li) to go crazy 
pete - li to kid oneself, delude 
oneself 
pou ~ see poutèt 
pou - pa li as for him/her, he 
himself, she herself 
pran - to influence, persuade, 
convince; to take chaige of; to 
lead; to preoccupy; to brain-wash; 
to be addictive 
pran - bese to blindly accept 
pran - li to calm down, ease off; 
to come to one's senses; to reflect, 
think 
pran - li (pou) to be careful not 
to, beware (of) 
pran - ou keep your calm/cool 
pwent - head (fam.) 
rann - to give in, give up, 
surrender 
san grate - without batting an eye 
san ~ di without resistance 
san - fè mal without a problem, 
without a hitch 
santi - vid to feel an overall 
weakness; to feel like one is losing 
one's mind 
seye fè - li mal to attempt suicide 
sou - above, atop, on top of; right 
away; over the head of, in 
tèt - tete 
defiance of; to be superior to (in 
rank); at s.o. else's expense 
- a - face to face; private 
conversation 
- anba, - anlè upside down; 
headfirst; excited, worked up; 
topsy-turvy, crazy, mixed-up; in 
chaos, chaotic; in shambles; shy, 
timid 
- anlè head held high, proudly 
- anplas firmness; 
levelheadedness; level-headed 
- ansanm unison; unity, 
solidarity; togetherness; 
cooperation; coalition 
- ap vire to feel giddy 
- apa apartness, non-cooperation 
- atè ashamed; brainless, mindless 
- bèf Toyota logo; any Toyota 
vehicle 
- bèf sévis head disproportion-
ately large for one's body 
- bese humiliation; humiliated, 
humbled 
- bese nan headlong into, wholly 
into, entirely into 
- bèt animals (usu. domestic) 
- bika large head or skull 
- bôbèch small oil lamp (made 
from tin can and without glass 
chimney); sparse kinky hair 
(woman); junk, trash; worthless 
- bobis shaved head 
~ bôchèt short, sparse hair 
(woman) 
- bol balding 
- bopè var. of yam 
- bouch lip(s) 
- bourik! asshole! 
- boutèy bald 
- bouye confusion 
- byen sane 
- chaje worry, trouble, concern, 
burden, cares, hassle, difficult 
situation; stress; nuisance, pain in 
the neck; controversial; unreliable, 
unsafe 
- chankre receding hairline 
- chanmôt oval headed; pointed 
head 
- chat dishonest, rigged 
- chèch neglected hair 
- chèz headrest (dentist's chair 
etc.) 
- cho irresponsible, careless; 
loony, cracked 
- cho kou vè lanp hothead, rash 
or impetuous person 
~ chou cabbage 
- chôv bald person; dupe 
- deranje nutty, screwy, cracked 
- di hard-headed, stubborn; slow-
witted, dull; sceptical, 
unbelieving; stubbornness 
- dlo spring (water) 
- dwat, - drèt level-headed 
- dwèt fingertip 
- fè hard-headed, obstinate 
- fè mal headache; migraine 
- fèb weak-willed 
- fele loony, cracked 
- flèch upper part, very top (corn 
stalk etc.); crest, peak; spire 
- frèt cool, poised, composed 
- graton sparse kinky hair (woman) 
- grenn untidy kinky hair 
- gridap sparse kinky hair 
(woman); cheap, shabby, shoddy; 
dowdy, third-rate; see lanp -
gridap 
- jennfi var. of toxic plant 
- jiwof cloves (spice); untidy 
kinky hair 
- jôn blond(e) 
906 
tèt - tete 
- kabann headboard (of bed); key 
or valuable person 
- kalbas having an unusually 
large head; dumb, stupid 
- kale shaved head; bald; head 
with very little hair; fool, stupid 
person; whole-heartedly; (in) full 
force, full-fledged; totally, 
completely; in good standing 
- kale bobis bare to the bone 
- kale san tchas boldly, without 
reserve, without hesitation 
- kann disgusting person 
- kanna worthless 
- kapèt hair weave (pej.); wig 
(fam.) 
~ kare place from which one 
reenters ball into play (soccer) 
~ kay roof 
- klè lucid, clear-headed see gen 
bon ~ 
- kôk glans penis; dickhead, 
bonehead, meathead 
- kôk bounda pentad phony, 
fake, impostor 
- kokolo ungainly head (large, 
sparse hair, misshapen etc.); 
stupid; var. of insect 
- kole unison; togetherness, 
solidarity; cooperation; cheek-to-
cheek (dancing) 
~ kolokent round-headed 
- koupe ak, - pou - ak 
completely identical to, spitting 
image of, carbon copy of 
- krèk clitoris 
- kwos shaved head 
- kwôt short kinky hair (woman) 
- lanm crest of wave 
- lave person easily subject to 
Voodoo possessions 
- li ap vire to be out of one's head 
- li dwat, - li byen chita sou 
zepôl li to have one's head 
screwed on right, be level-headed 
- li fè laviwonn to be giddy 
- li gaye/vid to be slightly off, be 
not quite right (in the head) 
- li pati to go crazy, be insane 
- li sou zepol li to be level-
headed, be of good sense 
- lôbiz deformed head 
~ loke crazy, loony, insane 
- lou drowsy, lethargic, sluggish 
- louvri unclosed fontanel 
- malèt area in a soccer game 
from which penalty shots are made 
- mare simple-minded, empty-
headed; peasant woman 
- matla shock or mop of hair 
- mato knucklehead, blockhead, 
fathead; reckless driver; clumsy 
person, klutz 
- mo skull; death's-head 
- mon summit, peak 
- nan sak stupid 
- nèg exorbitant, very expensive 
- ni bareheaded 
- nob bald 
~ pa anplas, ~ pa drèt unstable; 
loony, cracked, nuts 
- pa byen insane 
- pa la out-of-it, distracted; 
absent-minded; absent-mindedness 
- palmis sky-high, very expensive 
- pansant 'brains,' planner, 
designer 
- patche badly done, mixed-up, 
dumb 
- pati to become disenchanted, 
leave, desert (a political party 
etc.); cracked, looney, nutty 
- pay uncombed, disheveled 
- polis tyrant flycatcher (bird) 
907 
tèt - tete 
- polo shaved head; bald head 
~ pot lintel 
- pou - neck to neck; evenly 
- pou - ak see ~ koupe ak 
- poul forgetful person 
- poze, - repoze calm, 
levelheaded; reflection, meditation 
- pwav kinky twisted hair 
- rèd stubborn; stubbornness 
- repoze see ~ poze 
- san ko demon, devil; big head 
on a small body; kwashiorkor; 
formless, shapeless 
- sèk sparse kinky hair (woman) 
- sèkèy person of complete 
confidence; key or valuable person 
- siman receding hairline 
- souke crazy 
- sous spring (water) 
- swa straight silky hair, smooth 
sleek hair 
- tiyo spigot, faucet 
- varye crazy 
- vid depression 
- vire dizziness, giddiness; crazy 
- woch stubborn 
- woz shaved head 
- zegwi, pwent zegwi point of a 
needle 
- zo with little hair; bonehead, 
numbskull, stupid person 
- zonyon onion 
- zôrye pillowcase 
- zotèy tip of the toe 
- zôtolan birdbrain, nitwit 
ti rès pwent - li one's small bit of 
intelligence 
ti - birdbrain 
tire - , fè - to induce a kite to dive 
in order to cut string of another 
kite; to head the ball (soccer) 
touye - li to knock oneself out 
(doing s.thg.), work very hard at; 
to commit suicide 
venn - fontanel 
zo (kokolo) - skull, cranium 
teta, tèta n. tadpole 
- dlo dous white bass (fish) 
- lanmè clingfish 
Tètabèf 1% Tètbèf I eprop.n. Tête-à-
Bœuf 1 e r (1st communal section of 
Grand-Goâve, Dept. West) 
Tètabèf 2% Tètbèf 2eprop.n. Tête-à-
Bœuf 2 e (2nd communal section of 
Grand-Goâve, Dept. West) 
tètanke adv. upside down 
tétanos, tantanos, tatanos, 
tentanôs, tétanos n. tetanus, 
lockjaw 
tètansanm n. unison; solidarity; 
togetherness; coalition; 
cooperation 
tètatèt n. face to face; private 
conversation 
nan - ak to mingle with 
tetatou n. prostitute 
Tètbèf prop.n. Tête-Bœuf (former 
disadvantaged area of PaP); 
Toyota Land Cruiser (particularly 
expensive model) 
mon - Mount Tête-Bœuf (north of 
Saint-Louis-du-Sud, Dept. South) 
Tètbèf I e see Tètabèf I e 
Tètbèf 2 e see Tètabèf 2 e 
tètchè see tetyè 
tetchin n. tea (from Sri Lanka or 
China) 
Tètdlo prop.n. Tête-de-l'Eau 
(section of Pétion-Ville); Tête-
d'Eau (2nd communal section of 
Baradères, Dept. Grand'Anse) 
tete n. breast, bosom; nipple, teat; 
udder, dug; nipple-shaped part (of 
fruit etc.); var. of mango; v. to 
908 
tete - teyat 
breast-feed, nurse, suckle; to 
succeed; to finish up (s.thg.) very 
rapidly 
bay - to breast-feed, nurse 
blad ~ very large bra(ssiere) 
bouch % bouton - nipple 
egzamen ~ mammogram 
fè ~ to reach puberty (girl); to 
become chubby in the face 
koupe ~ to rob 
nan - to be breast-feeding 
nan ~ lang ak to be on intimate 
terms with; see ~ lang 
nan ~ vè (ak) to be in cahoots 
(with) 
pran - to suckle, take the breast; 
to French-kiss, kiss intimately 
pwent - nipple, teat 
rale ~ to suckle, take the breast 
sak ~ bra(ssiere) 
~ digèt, - doubout firm erect 
breasts 
~ flgi cheeks (of face) 
~ jennfi solanum (bot.); var. of 
mango 
- kanpe firm erect breasts 
~ kreyon to take note 
~ lang to French kiss; to conspire 
(with), scheme (with); favoritism; 
connivence 
~ machwè cheeks (of face) 
~ pikèt, ~ pwenti firm erect 
breasts 
~ (ran)gôje breasts overly full of 
milk 
~ tifl var. of mango 
~ tonbe inverted nipple 
~ topi firm erect breasts 
- zôrèy earlobe 
vôlè ~ to return (surreptitiously) to 
the breast after having been 
weaned 
wonn - areola (of nipple) 
tètèch n. (pej.) buddy, pal, friend, 
accomplice 
tètendyen n. var. of cotton cloth 
tètfèmal n. headache 
san ~ intact, undamaged, 
untouched 
teti adj. stubborn, headstrong 
tetin n. nipple (bottle); pacifier 
Tetliy prop.n. Tête-Ligne (Tortuga 
Island, Dept, North-West) 
tetrasiklin n. tetracycline 
tetrayèd n. tetrahedron 
tètsankè n. demon, devil; big head 
on a small body; formless, 
shapeless 
tetyè, tètchè, tètyè, tyètyè n. sisal 
head harness (horse, donkey) 
tètzôrye see tèdoreye 
teve acron. TV, television 
fè ~ to watch TV 
tewoloji see teyoloji 
teworèm see teyorèm 
teworik see teyorik 
teworis, teyoris n./adj. terrorist; n. 
terrorism 
teworisyen see teyorisyen 
teworize v. to terrorize 
Tèwouj prop.n. Terre-Rouge (Dept. 
South-East); see Tèryewouj 
Tèwoujè prop.n., Tèwoujèz 
f.prop.n. inhabitant of Terrier-
Rouge (Dept. North-East) 
teyat n. theater, drama; (theatrical) 
play; show, pretense; spectacle, 
scandal 
fè - to put on a (stage-) play; to 
act, perform (theater); to engage in 
theatrics, put on a show, pretend 
~ anwon theater in the round 
- Vèdi Théâtre de Verdure 
(outdoor theater in PaP) 
909 
tèyatè - tibonm 
tèyatè adv. down-to-earth 
teyatral adj. theatrical 
teyatralite n. theatricality 
teyè n. teakettle, teapot 
Teyeran prop.n. Tehran (Iran) 
Teyo prop.n. nickname for Teyodo 
Teyodo prop.n. Theodore 
Teyodo (Davilma) prop.n. Théodore 
(Davilmar) - president of Haiti, 
1914-1915 
teyoloji, tewoloji n. theology 
teyolojik adj. theological 
teyolojyen n. theologian 
teyorèm, teworèm n. theorem 
(math.) 
teyori n. theory 
teyorik, teworik adj. theoretical 
teyoris see teworis 
teyorisyen, teworisyen n. 
theoretician, theorist 
tèz n. thesis 
ti adj. (used only before noun) little, 
small; poor, disadvantaged; 
elementary; familiar diminutive 
prefix, but which does not 
necessarily indicate that the 
person in question is still a child; 
n. B (music - usu. si); see plètil 
se pa ~ it's quite a bit/quite a lot 
Ti Apon prop.n. Petit-Harpon (13th 
communal section of Léogâne, 
Dept. West) 
tib n. tube, thin pipe; catheter 
~ floresan florescent light 
~ mezi graduated cylinder (chem.) 
- nan nen naso-gastric (NG) tube 
~ plak hit song on a given 
phonograph record or long-playing 
disc 
~ van poumon trachea 
tiba n. (small) tuba 
tibè n. small roll (bread) 
Tibèprop.n. Tibet; Tiberius [Bible] 
tibebe n. baby, infant 
tankou yon ~ nan vant in a fetal 
position 
~ ki fenk fèt newborn, neonate 
~ ki fèt anvan tèm infant born 
prematurely, preemie 
~ ki fèt tou mouri stillborn; 
stillbirth 
tibèk n. var. of mango 
tibèkil n. tuber 
tibèkile n. tuberculosis victim 
tibèkiloz n. tuberculosis 
fè ~ to have tuberculosis 
tiberez n. tuberose (herb) 
Tiberyad prop.n. [Bible] Tiberias 
tibèt n. insect, bug 
Tibetenprop.n./adj., Tibetèn 
fprop. n.Tibetan 
Tibi prop.n. Tiby (2nd communal 
section of Petit-Trou-de-Nippes, 
Dept. Grand'Anse) 
Tibi Daveza(k) prop.n. Tiby 
Davezac (3rd communal section of 
Camp-Perrin, Dept. South) 
tibilan adj. turbulent, unruly 
tibilans n. turbulence, commotion, 
disturbance; [Eng.] air turbulence 
tibilon n. var. of mango 
tibin n. turbine 
Tibiwon prop.n. Tiburon - founded 
1742 (Dept. South) 
Tibiwonnè prop.n., Tibiwonnèz 
f prop.n. inhabitant of Tiburon 
(Dept. South) 
tiblak n. var. of mango 
tiblès adj. [Eng.] tubeless (tire) 
vav ~ valve stem (of tubeless tire) 
tibom see tibonm 
tibèn n. maid, servant-girl; nursemaid 
tibonm, tibom n. peppermint; 
spearmint 
910 
Tiboukan - tiglôt 
~ mawon mentha (mint) 
Other var.: gran piti - fran 
Tiboukan prop.n. Petit-Boucan 
(24th communal section of 
Gressier, Dept. West; La Gonâve 
Island, Dept. West) 
Tiboukobôy, Tiboukdibôy prop.n. 
Petit-Bourg-du-Borgne (3rd 
communal section of Le Borgne, 
Dept. North) 
Tiboukpômago prop.n. Petit-Bourg 
de Port-Margot (Dept. North) 
tiboul n. roll (cul.) 
tibourik n. support under hips of 
woman during childbirth; rude 
person 
tibout adj. short and fat 
tibozo n. var. of mango 
tibray see tibway 
Tibriprop.n. Tibry (Dept. 
Grand'Anse) 
tibwa n. twig 
- chinwa chopsticks 
Tibwa I eprop.n. Petit-Bois I e r (1st 
communal section of Croix-des-
Bouquets, Dept. West) 
Tibwa 2 eprop.n. Petit-Bois 2C (2nd 
communal section of Croix-des-
Bouquets, Dept. West) 
Tibwa y prop.n. Petit-Bois 3 e (3rd 
communal section of Croix-des-
Bouquets, Dept. West) 
tibwason n. var. of mango 
tibway, tibray n. little boy, little 
guy; servant boy 
tibya n. tibia 
Ticheri see Solino 
tichin see chin 
tichouk n. runt, shrimp (person) 
tichoutchou see tchotcho 
tidejene see dejnen 
tidevan n. child's genitals (either sex) 
tif n. tuff (geol.) 
wôch - crumbly or friable rock 
tife: 
an - slowly, gradually 
tife, tife n. heat rash 
tifi f.n. young girl; daughter; virgin; 
term of affection; unpaid servant 
girl; n. var. of mango; adj. chaste, 
virginal; spotless, radiant, 
immaculate 
fè li vin - to make (s.thg.) as good 
as new 
Li se gran ~ nan lakou madan 
Plètil She's not as innocent as she 
looks 
mete ~ to clean up, put things in 
order 
retire ~ li to deflower, break the 
hymen 
~-ban-m-pye bed built into wall 
usu. 3 feet or more above floor 
~ fisèl innocent virgin 
~ fisèl matmwazèl gran twou 
cunning or deceitful woman, 
hypocrite (f.) 
tifis n. typhus 
title v. to eat too much, gorge 
(oneself) 
Tifon prop.n. Petit-Fond (1st 
communal section of Lascahobas, 
Dept. Center) 
tifoyid, tifreyis see lafyèv tifoyid 
tifrè n. little brother, little buddy 
tig n. tiger 
ti ~ tiger cub 
Tig: 
larivyè ~ Tigris River 
tigason n. boy, lad; unpaid servant 
boy 
tigaye v. to wheedle, coax 
tiglise n. var. of mango 
tiglôt v. to gobble down 
911 
tigoj - Tilazi 
tigoj n. trachea, windpipe 
tigrés fin. tigress 
Tigwavprop.n. Petit-Goâve -
founded 1665 (Dept. West) 
Tigwavyen prop.nTigwavyèn 
f.prop.n. inhabitant of Petit-Goâve 
(Dept. West) 
tij n. stem, stalk {bot.) 
Tijakprop.n. Jim 
tijanit n. cockscomb (plant) 
~ filte all-thread rod (hardware) 
tije n. person with small eyes; 
Oriental person (pej.); adj. squint-
eyed 
tijezi n. godchild; see Jezi 
Tijo prop.n. Turgeau (wealthy 
residential area, 6th communal 
section of PaP); name often used 
for Avenue Jean-Paul II (PaP) 
~ anwo, Anwotijo Haut-Turgeau 
(wealthy residential area of PaP) 
tij ou n. early morning (light); see 
toujou 
tijozèf n. var. of mango 
tik n. tick (parasite); tic, involuntary 
twitching; prop. adj. Turkish 
Tik prop.n. Turk 
Tik ak Kekôs (zile) .see Ziltik 
tikal n. (a) tiny bit, (a) very little; 
small crumb 
~ (pa) ~ slowly, bit by bit 
tikap: 
kè fè ~ to be startled, be scared, be 
afraid 
tikatkat, katkat n. toddler, little kid 
depi - since long ago 
tikatkatay n. childhood 
tikatrin n. var. of bean 
Tikawo see Fyefye 
tikawôl n. small plastic bag 
(containing water or juice) 
tikay n. game played with small 
round seeds (wari) 
maladi ~ tuberculosis 
tikè n. ticket (transportation, movies 
etc.); traffic ticket 
~ aleretou round-trip ticket 
Tiki, Latiki, Tèkiprop.n. Turkey 
tikitik n. dice game (same as silo) 
tiklip tap tiklip tap onomat. sound 
of rocking-chair going back and 
forth 
tiklo n. var. of mango 
Tikmenistan prop.n. Turkmenistan 
tikôk n. little buddy; var. of shrub 
tikokodjaka n. thingamajig, 
whatchamacallit 
tikole n. prairie lily, blazing star 
(plant); desmodium (herb) 
tikoulou(t) adj. thrifty; greedy; 
stingy; n. miser 
tikoyo n. var. of mango 
tikras n. (a) tiny bit, (a) very little 
tikrik: 
pou (nenpôt) ~ tikrak at the 
slightest provocation, for the 
slightest reason 
tiktak n. ticktock; v. to tick; onomat. 
patter (sound of raindrops) 
tikwaz n. turquoise 
til, twil n. (wire) screen; tile; tulle 
(fabric) 
~ nwa black plastic covering with 
holes to shield seedlings from 
intense sunlight but permit 
rainwater to pass 
~ poulaye chicken wire 
~ twati clay rooftile 
tilaj adj. young, immature 
tilandeng n. small parasite affecting 
crops; pest, nuisance 
tilapya, lapya, tirapya n. tilapia 
(fish) 
Tilazi prop.n. Asia Minor, Near East 
tiledjè - timoun 
tiledjè see tinedyè 
Tilenôl prop.n. Tylenol 
tilip n. tulip 
tilititi, tilitchwitchwi, tilitutu, 
titintwèt, tuili tui tui, tulututu n. 
upper crust, elite, ruling class; 
adj./adv. with a very strong French 
accent, affected(ly) 
fè ~ to speak with affectation(s) or 
mannerisms 
tilodat n. var. of mango 
tilolit adj. greedy, voracious (from 
Tilolit, character of Haitian 
folklore known for his gluttonous 
appetite) 
tilong n. var. of mango 
tiloran n. var. of mango 
tiloulout n. penis (of small boy) 
gen ~ to always be hungry 
tim n. pile, heap 
tim? tim?/bwa chèch!; tim?/bwa! 
interj., traditional ojfer for posing 
a riddle (see tim? tim?), followed 
by audience s acceptance (bwa 
chèch! or bwa zaboka!) to listen; 
cf. krik? krak! 
Timadanm prop.n. Petite-Madame 
(one of six forts built by 
Dessalines surrounding Haiti's 
first capital, Marchand, Dept. 
Artibonite) 
timal n. male donkey; little buddy 
si ou koute - just listen to that big 
talker 
timalis n. finger banana, var. of 
small sweet banana; cunning or 
shrewd person 
Timalis, Malis prop.n. famous 
character of Haitian folklore, 
usually characterized by 
shrewdness; cf. Bouki; sôs 
timamay, timanmay see maymay 
Timari: 
~ pa moute - pa desann nothing 
changes 
- rantre li p ap sôti what's given 
is given and not to be returned; 
there is a policy of no-return 
Timas (ri) prop.n. rue Tiremasse 
(downtown PaP) 
timaymay see maymay 
Timbôktou prop.n. Timbuktu (Mali) 
timè n. tumor 
timedam n. (young) girls; (young) 
women 
timelis n. var. of banana 
timen see trimen 
timès n. dissoluteness 
timesye n. (young) boys; (young) 
men 
timichèl n. var. of mango 
timid adj. timid, shy, bashful 
timidité n. timidity, shyness 
timidman adv. timidly 
timinè n. minor (child, adolescent) 
Timô Oryantal prop.n. East Timor 
Timontay prop.n. Petite-Montagne 
(1st communal section of Boucan-
Carré, Dept. Center) 
timoso adv. barely, just, almost 
Timoteprop.n. Timothy 
timoun n. child, kid; young person; 
childhood; virgin 
doktè ~ pediatrician 
fè tounen ~ to treat s.o. as a child 
gran % gwo ~ child usu. 9-14 
years of age 
gwo ~ chape child who has 
survived the high-risk age (usu. 
birth to five years of age); grown-
up child 
pran pôz - to act childishly 
- abandone street urchin 
- an vant unborn child 
Q11 
timoun - Tir 
- anfle kwashiorkor victim 
- dola ~ dis kôb rich kids (and/or) 
poor kids 
- fèt anvan lè 1 premature baby 
~ granmoun prematurely old 
child, street-smart kid 
~ (ki leve) ka madan/nan lakou 
Plètil polite well-mannered child 
- (ki rete ak moun) child serving 
as a live-in unpaid domestic 
servant; any live-in unpaid 
domestic servant 
~ lage, ~ lari street urchin 
~ lekèl pupil 
~ piti infant; small child (usu. no 
older than five years of age) 
~ san gadô/repondong street 
urchin 
tout ~ se ~ all children are created 
equal 
timoura n. AIDS (acquired immune 
deficiency syndrome); see SIDA 
Timouyaj, Timouyay prop.n. Petit-
Mouillage (beach near Cayes-
Jacmel, Dept. South-East) 
timtim adj. enigmatic; see tim? 
tim?; tonmtonm 
tinè n. [Eng.] paint thinner 
tinedyè, tiledjè, tinedjè n. [Eng.] 
teen-ager 
tinèg n. little guy; black hamlet 
(fish) 
tinèl n. tunnel 
tinen, nen n. dwarf, midget 
Tinèsprop.n. nickname for Ernst 
tinfas see tennfas 
tinglôt v. to guzzle, gulp 
tingting, dingding v. to bother, 
distress; n. tingling; see zingzing 
tinik n. tunic 
Tinis prop.n. Tunis (Tunisia) 
Tiniziprop.n. Tunisia 
Tinizyenprop.n./adj., Tinizyèn 
f.prop.n. Tunisian 
tinon n. nickname; cf. non gate, non 
jwèt 
tinonm n. young boy 
tinouris n. confinement or lying-in 
period (after giving birth); nursing 
mother whose child has not yet 
begun to walk 
Tinye (Lis) f.prop.n. Turnier (Luce) 
- often considered Haiti's foremost 
woman painter, b. 1924 
Ti Ovara, Lafanj prop.n. Petit-
Hovara, Lafange (2nd communal 
section of Bas-Limbé, Dept. 
North) 
tip n. guy, fellow; type, kind; tip, 
gratuity; onomat: sound of heart 
beat 
~ san blood type, blood group 
tipap n. buddy, man 
Tiparadi see Rezèv 
tipatipa adv. little by little, gradually 
Tipen prop.n. Petit-Pain (1st 
communal section of Saut-d'Eau, 
Dept. Center) 
tipichout n. penis (of small boy) 
tipik adj. typical 
tipika n. var. of arabika coffee 
tipis n. annoying child 
tipislin adj. sly, malicious 
tipiti n. humble, meek 
tipitip tipitap onomat. sound of 
rapid heartbeat 
tipitit n. infant 
tipograf n. typographer, compositor 
tipografi n. typography 
tipografik adj. typographical 
tiporèd n. var. of mango 
tipramawon n. var. of plant 
tipwav n. var. of mango 
Tir prop.n. [Bible] Tyre 
914 
tirad - Tïrivyè 
tirad n. monologue, speech 
tiraj see tiray 
tiran n. tyrant 
tirani, latirani, tiranni n. tyranny 
tiranik adj. tyrannical 
tiranize v. to tyrannize, oppress; to 
reply curtly and/or violently 
tiranni see tirani 
tirapya see tilapya 
tiray, tiraj n. drawing (lottery); 
printing (off); circulation 
(newspaper etc.); withdrawal (of 
money) 
- oso drawing or casting of lots 
tiraye v. to tug at; to bother, annoy; 
to squabble; to answer sharply, 
rebuff 
tirayè n. infantryman 
tirayman n. annoyances, squabbles, 
frustrations 
tire v. to pull; to stretch, pull on, 
make taut; to draw (water; lottery); 
to suckle; to milk; to shoot, shoot 
at; to deliver a blow; to take (a 
photo); to print; to benefit, reap; to 
jerk (in convulsions); n. shot, 
discharge (from gun etc.); gunfire, 
shooting; shoot-out; traction; see 
retire 
~ a boulé wouj to go after (s.o.) 
tooth and nail 
~ baton to club, beat; clubbing, 
beating; contest where two 
persons oppose each other with 
clubs 
~ bode to tack when sailing 
~ fil to unravel, become unraveled 
(fabric) 
~ fisèl to pull strings, exert 
influence 
~ grenn (yon moun) to cut (s.o.'s) 
balls off, do in 
~ jete to throw away 
~ kô to stretch (oneself) 
~ kôd to pull strings, exert 
influence or pressure 
~ kont, - istwa to tell stories; to 
ask riddles 
~ kout woch to throw rocks 
~ lajan to withdraw money (from 
bank etc.) 
~ lèt to milk 
~ li jete! throw it away! 
~ manchèt nan dlo to waste one's 
time 
~ oklè to clarify, bring out into the 
open 
~ osé to draw or cast lots 
~ po to pinch; cf. pichkannen 
~ pwen to make pointed remarks 
~ pye to kick, lash out; argument 
~ sou to border on, verge on, be 
almost 
- vèvè to trace ritual design(s) on 
ground (Voodoo) 
~ voye argument, dispute, quarrel 
~ yon rezon to draw or cast lots 
tiré n. dash; storyteller (sh. form)] 
shooter, marksman 
ti ~ hyphen 
tirèdkont n. storyteller 
tirèkè n. runt, shrimp (person) 
tirés n. (little bit) extra 
tiri (kochon), tri, twi fin. sow (pig) 
cf. mè kochon 
Tirisid, Dipèlprop.n. Thuricide 
(commercial insecticide) 
Tirivyè prop.n. Petite-Rivière (2nd 
commimal section of Léogâne, 
Dept. West; 6th communal section 
of Dame-Marie, Dept. 
Grand'Anse; smaller river in south 
part of Saint-Marc, Dept. 
Artibonite) 
915 
Tirivyèbayonè - Titous 
Tirivyèbayonèprop.n. Petite-
Rivière-des-Bayonnais (3rd 
communal section of Gonaïves, 
Dept. Artibonite) 
Tirivyè(denip), Tirivyènip prop.n. 
Petite-Rivière-de-Nippes -
founded 1780 (Dept. Grand'Anse) 
Tirivyè(latibonit) prop.n. Petite-
Rivière(-de-l'Artibonite) Dept. 
Artibonite; site of Henry 
Christophe's Palace of (intended) 
365 Doors 
Tirivyen prop.n., Tirivyèn fprop.n. 
inhabitant of (the various) Petite-
Rivière (see preceding entries) 
Tisak: 
plenn ~ Plaine du Cul-de-Sac 
(Dept. West) 
tisay, tisaj n. weaving 
~ Leta structure/basis of 
government 
tise v. to weave 
tisi n. tissue (animal, plant) 
Tisidid prop.n. Thucydides (Greek 
historian, 471-400 B.C.) 
tisik n. var. of mango 
tisipe n. small meal 
tisoufri n. destitute and half-starved 
child 
Tisous prop.n. Petite-Source (2nd 
communal section of Anse-à-
Galets, La Gonâve Island) 
tisya n. var. of mango 
tit n. title, heading; ownership; title 
(preceding name); family name, 
last name, surname (cf. siyati) 
gran ~ main heading 
peep! peep! peep! (sound 
made by chicks) 
Tit prop.n. [Bible] Titus 
titak n. tiny drop, spot 
titalè, titalè a see talé, talé a 
Titanikprop.n. Titanic (maximum-
security section of National 
Penitentiary, PaP) 
Titans, Petitans prop.n. Petite-Anse 
(3rd communal section of Cape 
Haitian, Dept. North; 11th 
communal section of Anse-à-
Galets, La Gonâve Island) 
Titanyen prop.n. Titanyen (small 
hamlet north of PaP, Dept. West) 
titato n. children's game played with 
small rocks (not tick-tack-toe); var. 
of candy; see môpyon 
titchè n. [Eng.] teacher 
titèl n. tutelage, guardianship 
titès n. narrow-minded person, 
picky person, childish person; 
childhood 
titi n. tutu 
fè ~ to put on airs 
titibe, tchitchile v. to reel, lurch; to 
struggle, drudge, toil; to be on the 
go; to be doing fine 
Titid fam. name for Aristid (q.v.) 
titile v. to struggle, make ends meet; 
to goof off, have fun; to work at 
one's own pace 
~ bo wonn to shoot a marble 
slowly around the circle 
titile n. incumbent, holder (of office 
or position); adj. titular 
titilitit onomat. chirping of small 
bird 
Titim prop.n. fam. name for 
Dumarsais Estimé - president of 
Haiti 1946-1950 
titintwèt see tilititi 
titit n. baby, toddler; kiddo, little one 
titiyay n. pleasure, fun 
tito n. candy stick 
Titoma see Ayiti Toma 
Titous n. Little Dipper (in sky) 
916 
titre-TKL 
titre v. to title, give a title to (book, 
film etc.) 
titré n. hyphen 
Titwou, Nip, Titwoudenip prop.n. 
Petit-Trou-de-Nippes - founded 
1730 (Dept. Grand'Anse) 
Titwouyen prop.n., Titwouyèn 
f prop.n. inhabitant of Petit-Trou-
de-Nippes (Dept. Grand'Anse) 
tivant n. lower abdomen 
anba ~ genitals; prostitute 
tivewôl n. smallpox 
tiwa, tiwat, tiwèt n. drawer (table, 
chest etc.) 
manje nan ~ tab to be very stingy 
mete nan ~ to file away and forget 
nan - bogus, fake 
~ lajan cash register 
- moulen kneading-trough 
tiwèl n. trowel 
tiwèt see tiwa 
tiwon n. roll (bread) 
fè ~ rale to argue, debate 
~ rale var. of loaf of unleavened 
bread 
~ san fon ring (for finger) 
Tiwowôz, Lafaj prop.n. communal 
section of Dept. North 
tiwoyid n. thyroid 
tiwoz n. var. of mango 
wè ~ to menstruate 
tiy n. adz(e) 
tiyas see tchas 
tiyatwa see touyatwa 
tiyay see touyay 
tiyaya n. dwarf, midget; var. offish 
tiye v. to strip, prepare (sisal, 
timber); see touye 
~ 1 rache 1 no matter what (you do) 
tiyè see touyè 
tiyèl n. linden tree 
tiyeme n. var. of mango 
tiyen n. little bit, little piece 
tiyo n. water-pipe; (garden-)hose; 
piped water fountain; spigot, 
faucet; drain; line, pipe (mach.) 
gwo fè ~ pipeline 
manman ~ water main 
tèt - spigot, faucet 
~ koub elbow pipe 
~ môflè tailpipe, exhaust pipe 
~ te T-pipe 
~ vidany drain(pipe) (in bathtub) 
tiyon, chiyon n. way of tying a 
headscarf; headscarf; overflow, 
spillage; overhang of roof or 
balcony 
fè ~ to be full to overflowing 
san ~ level (teaspoonful etc.) 
tiyonnen v. to fill to overflowing 
Tiyôt see Tyôt 
tiyotaj, tiyotay n. networking 
(among useful friends and 
associates) 
tiyotaye v. to network (among useful 
friends and associates) 
tiz v. to be influenced by; to be 
attracted to, be tempted by 
tizago adj. mean, spiteful, nasty 
tizanfan n. [Fr] small child 
tizann, tizàn n. herbal tea; broth 
tizè n. fan, supporter, enthusiast (cf 
fanatik) 
tizon n. ember(s); spark; nuisance, 
bother 
- dife ember(s) 
tizonnay n. teasing, bothering; 
annoying, harassment 
- seksyèl sexual harassment 
tizonnen v. to tease, bother; to 
annoy, harass, irritate 
tizwit adj. very tiny 
TKL acron. (TI Kominote Legliz) 
small Catholic action group 
917 
TNH - toksikomàn 
TNH acron. Televizyon Nasyonal 
Dayiti (Télévision Nationale 
d'Haïti) Haitian National 
Television 
to n. rate; interest rate; obs.form of 
2nd person sing, subject pron. 
thou 
~ (w)ou ta sooner or later 
tô, ditô n. wrong, injustice, harm, 
injury 
bay (yon moun) ~ to blame, fault, 
criticize 
gen ~ to be wrong 
To see Tèlann 
Tobago prop.n. Tobago 
Tôbèk prop m. Torbeck - founded 
1660 (near Cayes, Dept. South) 
Tobèkwa, Tôbèkè prop.n./adj., 
Tobèkwaz, Tôbèkèz fprop.n. 
inhabitant of Torbeck (Dept. 
South) 
tobi n. male mule 
Tobi prop.n. [Apocrypha] Tobit 
Tobi Maslen (Filip) prop.n. Thoby-
Marcelin (Philippe) - Haitian 
novelist (1904-1975) 
tobo n. var. of fish 
tobogan(n) n. toboggan; sliding-
board 
tobout n. prison cell; tough guy, 
hard ass; adj. tough, hard, 
rebellious 
rive nan ~ li to go all the way, 
reach the last extremity; to get to 
the bottom line 
tôch n. torch; blowtorch, acetylene 
torch 
tochon n. cloth, rag; dishcloth, dish 
towel; hot pad; dishcloth gourd 
(plant) 
~ ap boule trouble is brewing, 
there is discord 
~ pye bathmat; doormat (person; 
mat) 
- (sal) cirrus, tendril (bot.) 
tochonnen v. to soil; to wipe up the 
floor with, trash, trample upon, 
treat badly; adj. dirty; wrinkled 
tôd n. rope of tobacco leaves 
tode, tôdje, tôdye v. to twist; to 
sprain; to wring (out); to squirm, 
wriggle; to writhe (in pain); adj. 
crooked, bent 
~ desann to twist down(ward) 
tôftôf, tôptôp n. winter cherry, 
alkekengi (plant) 
Togiram prop.n. pseudonym for 
Selesten Meji (Emil), q.v. 
Togo prop.n. Togo 
Togolè prop.n./adjTogolèz 
fprop.n. Togolese 
tôj n. robe (forjudge, choir, 
academic procession etc.) 
tôk n. straw saddle 
- li byen sangle (ap tann) to be 
ready and waiting 
knock! knock! knock! 
tokad n. whim, craze, fad; infatuation 
tokay n. eponym, person having the 
same first name as another; 
namesake; buddy, pal; guinea-
fowl; adj. alike, similar 
mo (sans) ~ synonym 
toke adj. crazy, loony, nuts; see 
twoke; twôkèt 
token adj. stunted 
tokèt, tokèt see twôkèt 
tokmol n. passiflora (vine) 
toko n. cuckoo (bird); cf. tako 
tôksen n. alarm, alarm bell; var. of 
med. plant 
toksik, toksik adj. toxic 
toksikomàn, toksikomann n. drug 
addict; cf dwoge 
918 
toksikomani - tan 
toksikomani n. drug addiction 
tôksikwest n. [Eng.] toxic waste 
tèktèk v. to hit or strike repeatedly; 
adj. loony, nuts; interj. bang! 
bang!; cf. tôtôp 
Tokyo prop.n. Tokyo (disadvantaged 
area of Site Solèy <7. v.); Tokyo 
(Japan) 
tôl n. sheet metal; metal roofing; 
corrugated iron or tin cookie 
sheet; bucket; bucketful; toll 
[Eng.]; var. of very small seafish; 
v. to rage, be furious; adj. destitute 
~ paswa leaky metal roof 
tolalito (-tomantô) n. children's 
game (similar to tag); run-around, 
evasive treatment 
fè ~ to be given the run-around 
~ latoudlin crazy, out of one's 
head; disarray, confusion 
Tôlann, Tè prop.n. Thor-le-Volant 
(disadvantaged community 
immediately west of PaP, 10th 
communal section of Carrefour, 
Dept. West) 
tole n. [Fr.] general outcry or protest 
Tolemeprop.n. [Apocrypha] Ptolemy 
tolerab adj. tolerable 
toleran adj. tolerant 
tolerans, latolerans n. pampering; 
tolerance 
tolere v. to tolerate, put up with 
toli n. type of mint candy; wagon, 
truck 
flè - var. of med. plant 
tolit onomat. cry of small lizard 
(zandolit) 
tolo adj. drunk 
toloke v. to get (s.o.) drunk; to drive 
(s.o.) crazy 
tèlèkôtè(k), kôlôkôtèk, tèlèkèltèk 
n. blabbermouth 
tololo n. faraway place; interj. wow! 
tolomonèl, tolomannwèl n. lemon-
flavored kleren (q.v.) 
tôltèi, tôytôy adj. flabby, weak; v. to 
importune, bother, annoy; see 
latôltôl 
tèm ti. tome, volume 
Toma prop.n. Thomas; doubting 
Thomas, doubter; see Ayiti ~ 
tomak: 
(ti) - glise blabbermouth, 
indiscreet person 
Toman prop.n. Thoman (3rd 
communal section of Ganthier, 
Dept. West) 
tomaren see tamaren 
Tomasen prop.n. Thomassin 
(wealthy residential district 
situated above Pétion-Ville, Dept. 
West) 
Tomasik, Tonmasik prop.n. 
Thomassique (Dept. Center) 
Tommslkwa prop.n„ Tomasikwaz 
f prop.n. inhabitant of 
Thomassique (Dept. Center) 
Tomaslè, Tomazlè prop.n 
Tomaslèz, Tomazlèz fprop.n. 
inhabitant of Thomazeau (Dept. 
West) 
tomat see tonmat 
Tomazo, Tonmazo prop.n. 
Thomazeau (Dept. West); set 
kabrit ~ 
tomi atkins n. var. of mango 
Tomonn prop.n. Thomonde (Dept. 
Center) 
Tomondwa prop.n., Tomondwaz 
f prop.n. inhabitant of Thomonde 
(Dept. Center) 
ton n. tone; pitch; shade, tone 
(color); tuna [Fr.]; sh.form 
tonton; contr. te + yon 
919 
ton - tonm 
ton n. ton (2,000 pounds) 
tonbe v. to fall (down), trip, slip, 
tumble; to drop; to collapse, give 
way; to sink; to subside (wind); to 
start (doing s.thg.); to fail; to fall 
from power; to befall, fall on, 
occur; to boil over; n. fall, drop, 
collapse; entrails, intestines 
(animal); edible part of coconut; 
var. plant blight 
byen ~ to come out well or ahead 
byen ~ sou to fit well, suit well 
(clothes etc.) 
fè ~ to knock over, upset 
jan li ~ li ~ whatever happens 
happens 
mal ~ to end up in a bad situation 
or job 
maladi ~ epilepsy 
se ~ ak grengole to be the same 
person or thing 
~ ak degrengole one and the 
same, no difference 
~ alo to flop, fail 
~ dakô to agree 
~ damou pou to fall in love with 
~ (d)aplon to be in complete 
accord or agreement 
~ égal to harmonize, fall in place, 
fit 
~ feblès to become weak; to 
collapse 
~ glise to slip down 
~ jis to be (exactly) right, fit 
~ leve to persist, persevere, keep 
at (it); busy; ups and downs, on 
and off, mood swings, instability; 
melastoma (med. shrub) 
- menm lè to coincide 
~ mouri rèd to drop dead 
~ nan to fall to, descend to, get 
into 
~ nan lanmè, ~ nan dlo to go 
under, go down, touch bottom, fail 
~ nan si li te konnen to have 
regrets 
~ plat atè to fall flat, collapse 
- pou to fall in love with 
~ (renmen) pou to have a crush 
on; to fall for, fall in love with 
~ sôti to fall out, come out; to 
overflow (toilet esp.) 
- sou to bump into, meet by 
chance 
travay la ~ toutbon the work 
really piles up 
tonbo n. tomb, grave; cart; cart-load 
tonbola n. heap of, pile of; raffle; 
church or school gathering where 
various games are played 
tonbolokoto(w) adj. huge, immense; 
odd, strange, bizarre, zany; adv. in 
a big way 
tonbwo n. oxcart 
tondèz n. clippers; barber's clippers; 
shears; lawn-mower 
tondil n. var. of large container 
tone, tonen, tonne, tonnen v. to 
thunder 
tonè, tônè see tonné 
tonèl see tonnèl 
Tonga prop.n. Tonga 
Toniprop.n. Tony, nickname for 
Antwàn 
tonik see tonnik 
tonikè, tonikèt, tonikèz see 
tonnikèt 
tonken adj. short and hefty 
bannann ~ var. of banana 
tonm, latonm n. tomb, grave; 
tombstone 
resevwa ~ Voodoo ceremony to 
consecrate a tomb 
~ repozwa family tomb for the 
920 
tonmaren - tonton 
Gede (q.v.) 
yon tonm a heap, a pile, a lot of 
tonmaren see tamaren 
Tonmasik see Tomasik 
tonmat, tomat n. tomato 
sos ~ ketchup 
~ tijoslin, ~ josin var. of very 
small tomato 
~ vèt! heck! 
Other var. are: bigbif, floradèl, 
floramerika, manalisi, ~ mawon, 
napolis, peto 98, rèdtôp, ~ 
wonma 
Tonmazo see Tomazo 
Tonmgato prop.n. Tombe-Gâteau 
(community between Carrefour 
Dufort and Jacmel) 
tonmsonn n. Thompson submachine 
gun 
tonmtonm, foufou (iV.), tape nan 
sôs, timtim n. mashed breadfruit 
(or sweet potato, plantain etc.), 
meat and seafood eaten with okra 
sauce (well-known specialty of 
Jérémie); onomat. sound of food 
being pounded (esp. in laige 
mortar and pestle) 
tonn v. to clip (sheep etc.); to cut 
one's hair too short; to pluck 
(feathers of a rooster) 
tonnafich see tounafich 
tonnavis see tounvis 
tonne, tonnen see tone 
tonné, tonè, tônè n. thunder; inter]. 
damn (it)! 
di yon kout ~ to cuss, swear 
profusely 
pa fout tande ~ not to hear a 
damned thing, not receive the 
slightest damn word 
~ boule chen, - boule m (an 
sann), ~ kraze (m an sann), ~ 
krisboul, ~ krisboulanm, -
krisboulit strike me dead (if that 
isn't true)! 
tonnèl, tonèl n. arbor, bower, 
outdoor shelter; awning or 
covering for outdoor market seller; 
sacred bower; (improvised) 
Voodoo peristyle (see peristil); 
temporary shelter or structure 
anba - under the sponsorship of; 
informal outdoor music 
depi nan leve ~ since the very 
beginning 
~ oungan see peristil 
tonnik, tonik n. tonic water 
tonnikèt, tonikè, tonikèt, tonikèz, 
tounikè, tounikèt, tounikèz n. 
spool, spindle, bobbin; turnstile, 
half-gate (for keeping out 
animals); tourniquet; corkscrew; 
high rack 
tonnis! interj. heck! 
tonnvis see tounvis 
tono n. barrel, cask 
tonpe see twonpe 
tontèn mitonn n. closeness, 
friendship, intimacy; promiscuity 
tonton n. uncle; old man, old boy, 
fellow; heads (on coin); adj. big, 
important; see makout 
gwo ~ huge 
ti ~ small carved wooden figure; 
little fellow, little guy 
~ jwèt puppet 
Tonton Nô fam. name for Haitian 
President Nord Alexis (1902-
1908) 
- (Nô) head (of coin) 
- Nwèl Santa Claus; bluff, 
deception; empty promises 
- osnon palmis? heads or tails? 
(in tossing a coin) 
921 
to(w)outa - Totolomannwèl 
- Sam Uncle Sam, USA 
~ ~ great-uncle 
to(w)outa adv. sooner or later 
top! onomat. pow! 
t6p n. authority, expert 
se ~ it's the greatest 
Topalè prop.n. Topalais (2nd 
communal section of Mirebalais, 
Dept. Center) 
topay n. agreement, accord 
topaz n. topaz 
tope v. to agree (on), shake on it; to 
compete; to oppose, place face to 
face for combat; to cement 
topi, toupi n. (spinning) top; router 
(device for cleaning out pipes 
etc.); var. of water chestnut 
danse kèm yon - krik to dance 
stiffly or ungracefully 
jwe ~ alenperatris/alamonatris 
to spin a top first in the hand 
before placing it on the ground 
kout ~ right on the mark 
manman ~ nan manman large 
spinning top made from a gourd 
and making a loud humming 
sound 
~ krik rough spinning top due to 
blunt needle 
topinanbou n. Jerusalem artichoke 
(plant) 
~ blan bomarea (vine) 
tôpiy n. torpedo 
tôpiyay, tôpiyaj n. torpedoing; 
beating, battering 
tôpiye v. to torpedo; to do in, beat 
thoroughly 
tôpiyè n. destroyer; grasping or 
destructive person 
topografi n. land survey 
topsi, lotopsi, otopsi n. autopsy; v. 
to do an autopsy 
toptop adv. right away; onomat. 
sound of rapid footsteps 
tôptôp see tèftôf 
toraks n. thorax 
tèran n. [Fr.] torrent; cf. lavalas 
toreyadô n. toreador, bull-fighter 
tory a (N.) see toy a 
toryen, toryan: 
gran/gwo - big shot, VIP 
tôs n. torso 
~ ni bare chest 
tostè n. [Eng.] toaster 
tôsyonè n. torturer 
tôt adj. taut, tight; firm, steady; 
tough, hard (person); great, 
perfect; destitute, broke; adv. 
firmly, steadily; v. to deprive (s.o.); 
to bother (s.o.); to be made tired; 
n. white-winged dove 
total n. total (amount); adj. first-rate, 
perfect; exceptional, great; mature, 
intelligent, skillful; total, complete 
totalité n. totality 
totalité, totalitaris adj. totalitarian 
totalito n. constant bickering 
totalize v. to total, add up to 
totalkapital adj. outstanding, 
complete, total, comprehensive 
totalman adv. totally 
tôti n. turtle, tortoise; torture 
po - turtle shell 
Tôtigèprop.n., Tôtigèz f.prop.n. 
Tortugan 
tôtikoli n. torticollis, stiff neck 
tôtire v. to torture 
toto n. var. of edible fungus 
Toto prop.n. nickname for Antoni; 
nickname for Emànyél; traditional 
name for dogs 
totolo adv. far away 
Totolomannwèl n. Podunkville, 
nowhere place, far away place 
922 
tôtèp - touché 
tètop v. to hit or strike repeatedly; cf. 
tèktôk 
tètèt v. to suck; to finish up rapidly; 
n. sucker, lollipop; breast (baby 
talk); weewee, penis 
fè ~ to suck (esp. with fruit) 
~ mwèl tèt (yon moun) to sway, 
lead to believe, brainwash (s.o.) 
totouta, towouta adv. [Fr.] sooner 
or later 
tôtôy adj. bowlegged; convex 
tou n. hole, opening; perforation; 
puddle; socket (tooth etc.); 
pothole; tower; rook (chess); tour; 
turn (in succession); electoral 
round; potter's wheel; wood lathe; 
trick; leak; adv. also, too; either 
(with neg.); immediately, right 
away; obviously; at the same time 
(preceding a verb); already; 
besides; quite, all, entirely, wholly, 
completely, altogether; conj. 
although, even though; see twou 
dezyèm - run-off election 
fè yon ~ to go for a (little) walk 
je li nan - to have bags under 
one's eyes 
ni ~ neither 
premye ~ first round (of election) 
~ a ~ in turn, in succession 
~ bdnman directly, 
straightforwardly 
~ bote dimple 
~ dèyè see twou dèyè 
- dwat see toudwat 
~ gwôt grotto, cave 
~ kaka asshole 
~ le, ~ lè every, all 
~ lonbrit navel 
- marekay mudpuddle 
~ (nan dan) cavity 
- nen nostril 
~ nwa pupil (of eye) 
~ pèt keyhole 
~ pou van vent (mack) 
~ prizon prison term; 
imprisonment 
~ sa pa sa if all that were not true 
~ sanfon bottomless pit 
~ wèch cave 
toub see twoub 
toubadou see twoubadou 
toubiyon see toubouyon 
toubiyonnen, toubouyonnen v. to 
whirl around, swirl (around), 
become turbulent 
touble see twouble 
toubônman adv. quite simply, in 
fact 
toubote see twoubote 
touboulin, atoutboulin, toutboulin 
adv. at full speed 
toubouyon, toubiyon n whirlwind; 
whirlpool; vortex; confusion 
toubouyonnen see toubiyonnen 
touch n. key (piano, typewriter, 
computer); hide-and-seek; out of 
bounds (sports); throw-in (soccer) 
fè ~ to place within bounds 
(sports) 
touchan adj. touching, moving 
touchatou ru s.o. who has to touch 
everything; meddler, busybody 
touche v. to touch, feel; to touch, 
move, affect; to touch up, 
improve, correct; to be paid, 
receive money; to cash (check); to 
border upon; n. touching; touch 
- j is nan zo to hit home, make a 
deep impression 
~ tounen quick or brief trip 
touché n. faith healer (through 
laying on of hands etc.; not the 
same as a dôktè fèy) 
923 
toucho toubouke - toulong 
toucho toubouke adv. self-
assuredly, aggressively; prep. 
straight from, directly from 
toudabô adv. first of all, firstly 
toude, toulede, toulède pron./adj. 
both 
toudeblan adv. dressed/decorated 
completely in white 
toudebè adv. on both sides 
toudenkou adv. suddenly, all of a 
sudden 
toudi v. to stun, daze; adj. giddy, 
dizzy; scatterbrained 
se pa ~ it's not enough 
toudin see toudlin 
toudinpyès adj. simple, plain, 
unadorned; adv. all at once 
toudisman, etoudisman n. 
dizziness, lightheadedness, 
giddiness, vertigo 
gen ~ to be dizzy 
toudlin, latoudin, latoudlin, toudin 
n. dizziness, giddiness, vertigo 
toudren n. slip, fall (affecting waist 
area); sprained back 
toudswit see touswit 
toudwat, toudrèt, toudwa adv. 
straight ahead; upright, vertical 
touf n. tuft, clump, small bunch, 
handful; flock (of birds); onomat. 
ptui! (sound of spitting) 
~ raje, ~ bwa clump of bushes 
toufa n. curse; adj. cursed 
~ vamalore to hell with you! go to 
hell! 
toufay n. grub, eats 
toufe v. to suffocate, asphyxiate, 
smother, choke; to strangle, 
throttle, choke; to suppress 
(scandal); to stew, braise; to let 
simmer; to put in a place to ripen; 
n. stew; adj. bushy, thick 
toufè! interj. a curse on you! 
di ~ madichon dèyè to call down 
a hex on 
toufèt adj. ready-made 
toufi adj. bushy, thick, full 
toufounay, toufounaj n. roughing 
up, beating (up); tormenting 
toufounè n. tough, roughneck 
toufounen v. to rough up, beat (up); 
to torment 
touglout onomat. glub glub (sound 
of drinking) 
touhing see twouhing 
toujou, tijou adv. always, ever; still, 
yet 
touk! onomat. pow! 
toukan n. toucan (var. of tropical 
bird) 
toukou adv. simply, merely; and 
nothing more 
toukoutap ploukoutap onomat. 
clippety-clop (sound of hooves) 
toule adj. each, every 
toulede, toulède see toude 
touledis pron./adj. all ten 
touledouz pron./adj. all twelve, 
dozen 
toulejou, toulèjou adv. everyday; 
adj. daily 
toulekat pron./adj. all four 
toulematen adv. every morning 
toulesèt pron./adj. all seven 
touleswa adv. every evening 
toulètan adv. at all times, always 
touletwa pron./adj. all three 
toulewit pron./adj. all eight 
toulèzane adv. every year 
toulèzèm pl.n. all men 
toulezôt pron. all the others 
toulimen fin. loose woman 
toulong: 
~ atè flat on the ground 
924 
toulonsay - tounen 
~ say(d) adv. alongside, beside; 
straight ahead; at full length; flat 
on its side 
toulonsay: 
travay ~ to work non-stop 
touloulou(s) n. small red sea-crab 
Toumann see Twoumann 
touman(t), latoumant n. torment, 
pain; adversity, misfortune; 
restlessness 
tournante v. to torment; to annoy, 
disturb; to tease; adj. restless, 
agitated 
~ bil to torment, worry 
~ ko li, ~ zèl li to be restless; to be 
agitated 
Toumawo prop.n. Twou Mahot 
(Dept. South-East) 
Toumim prop.n. [Book of Mormon] 
Thummim 
toumouri adj. dying, moribund; 
stillborn 
Tounad prop.n. Tournade (3rd 
communal section of L'Asile, 
Dept. Grand'Anse) 
tounafich, tonnafich n. [Eng.] 
tunafish 
tounan(t): 
tab ~ séance table 
tounanwon, tounenanwon n. going 
in circles, marking time, getting 
nowhere 
tounavis see tounvis 
toundisk, toundis n. turntable; 
record player, phonograph 
toundra n. tundra 
toune n. tour; see tounen 
tounèf adj. brand new 
tounen, toune v. to turn; to turn 
around; to return, come back; to 
send back; to become, turn out, 
change into; to turn sour, curdle, 
go bad; (followed by another v.) to 
do s.thg. again, repeat an action; n. 
return; small tour, small trip; 
nostril; round (of drinks); see 
tounanwon 
fè yon - to go for a little walk, 
take a stroll 
je - cross-eyed 
pote ~ to return (s.thg.), take 
(s.thg.) back 
prese ~ to hurry back 
~ an won see tounanwon 
- desann to go back down 
~ dèyè, ~ pa bounda to regress; to 
go astray, come to no good; 
regression, retreat, decline 
~ mal to turn out badly; to 
backfire 
~ men low or menial job; small 
business (selling inexpensive 
wares etc.); cf. ti degaje 
- mennen to bring/take back 
again 
~ monte/moute to come back up 
- pa bounda see ~ dèyè 
~ pwa tann (nan rete tann) to 
wait for a long time, wait till the 
cows come home 
~ rantre anndan to go back 
inside 
- san bitter drink to make one's 
blood repulsive to a vampire 
- sôti to return from, come back 
from 
- sou desizyon li to reverse one's 
decision 
~ sou do pye li to come back, 
return 
~ sou ray to get back on track 
- timoun dèyè to abort; cf jete 
pitit - vin chache to come back to get 
925 
tounenanwon - tout 
- vini to return, come back 
vin ~ to become 
tounenanwon see tounanwon 
touni n. lack of clothing; adj. bare, 
exposed, nude; see toutouni 
~ evènman turn of events 
- kou/pase boutèy naked as the 
day one was bom 
tounikè, tounikèt, tounikèz see 
tonnikèt 
tounvis, tonnavis, tonnvis, 
tounavis n. (flat) screwdriver 
- etwal, zetwal Phillips head 
screwdriver 
~ kare square-headed screwdriver 
- plat flat-tipped screwdriver 
tounwa n. tournament 
tounwaye v. to whirl around, spin 
around, wheel about 
toup! interj. to express sudden 
dramatic action 
toupandan adv. while, meanwhile, 
at the same time 
toupare adj. completely ready;f.n. 
loose woman 
toupatou adv. everywhere, all over, 
all around 
toupèt n. tuft (hair; bushes) 
toupi adj. exactly alike; see topi 
toupisan, toupwisan adj. all-
powerful, omnipotent 
toupiti adj. tiny; adv. slightly 
toupizay, toupizaj n. mistreatment; 
beating up 
toupizayè, toupizè n. tormentor, 
abuser, bully 
toupizi v. to beat up; to mistreat, 
make (s.o.) suffer, do in; adj. 
puny, sickly 
toupizis adj. cruel, brutal, vicious 
toupre adv. (quite) near, nearby, 
quite close, around the comer 
toupwèt: 
an ~ meddling 
toupwisan see toupisan 
tour n. [Fr. ] tower 
Tourefèlprop.n. Eiffel Tower 
(Paris) 
touris n./adj. tourist; n. tourism 
biwo - Government Tourist Office 
touristik adj. tourist 
Touriyo see Twouyiyo 
tous, latous n. cough; var. of poultry 
disease 
touse v. to cough; to have 
tuberculosis; to roll up, tuck up 
(sleeves etc.); n. cough, coughing 
maladi - tuberculosis 
moun - tuberculosis victim 
~ bouch li to ready oneself 
~ (janm) kanson (li) to get ready, 
prepare oneself (for a difficult 
task) 
- manch (chemiz (li)) to roll up 
one's sleeves and get to work; to 
get ready for a fight 
~ nen li to stick up one's nose, be 
haughty 
tousèl adv. alone 
Tousen Louvèti, Tousen Breda 
prop.n. Toussaint Louverture (c. 
1743-7 April 1803) - great leader 
of Haitian Revolution 
boulva - Louvèti - Boulevard 
Toussaint Louverture (formerly 
Boulevard Haïlé Sélassié, or 
simply "airport road"; renamed 
April 2003) 
tousi n. trouser cuff 
touskilfo n./adj. ideal 
touswit, toudswit, toutswit, 
touzwit adv. right away, 
immediately, at once 
tout adj. all, every, any; whole, 
926 
toutafê - Touwilyo 
entire, total; pron. everything 
ak ~ together with 
fè ~ (rès) li to do one's best 
pase ~ than all (used to express 
superlative degree of adjective) 
~ ... (ke) as ... as, as much ... as 
~ menm all the same, nonetheless 
toutafè adv. completely, entirely, 
absolutely, quite 
toutaklè adj. clear, explicit; adv. 
clearly, explicitly 
toutalantou adv. all around, 
everywhere around here/there 
toutalè, toutalè a see talé 
toutan adv. all the time; as long as; 
always, regularly, constantly 
~ pou ~ forever, eternally 
toutanka conj. just in case, if in 
case 
toutansanm adv. altogether 
toutantye adj. [Fr.] entire, complete; 
adv. entirely, completely 
toutbon, toutbonvre adj. real, true, 
authentic; adv. really, truly, 
actually, completely, indeed; for 
real, for good, seriously 
toutboulin see touboulin 
toutè n. intermediary, go-between, 
agent 
touteditout n. absolutely everything 
toutespre adv. on purpose, 
deliberately, intentionally 
toutfwa conj. [Fr.] nevertheless, 
nonetheless, however 
toutis adj. universal, all-purpose; 
versatile 
~ patatis opportunist 
toutjan adv. however, nonetheless, 
nevertheless 
toutlajounen adv. all day long 
toutlamiwit adv. all night long 
toutlasentjounen adv. all day long, 
all the live-long day 
toutmenm adv. all the same, 
nonetheless 
touto n. residue from castor-oil plant 
toutokontrè conj. on the contrary, 
just the opposite 
toutolon(g) prep, all during; all 
along 
toutomwens adv. at (the very) least 
toutoplis adv. at the (very) most 
toutotan conj. as long as; (not) until 
~... ~ the sooner... the sooner 
toutotou prep, all around, around 
toutou n. pooch, dog, puppy; darling 
(m.); weewee, penis (fam.); var. of 
mango 
~ lanmè var. of small shark 
toutoun n. female pubic region, 
vulva 
toutouni, dotouni, kètouni, ni, 
nikè, touni adj. naked, nude; 
bare; half-dressed, in one's 
underwear; n. nudity, nakedness 
~ tankou yon boutèy naked as the 
day one was bom 
toutous n. pooch, dog, puppy 
toutoustèn. doggy (fam.) 
toutpoumwen n. "everything-for-
me," grabbiness 
toutrèl n. turtledove, dove; chick, 
attractive woman 
- ke fen West Indian mourning 
long-tailed dove 
- wouj Zenaida dove 
- zèl blan, tôt white-winged dove 
toutsi prop.nJadj. Tutsi 
toutswit see touswit 
toutwanlan n. var. of bird 
Touvalou prop.n. Tuvalu 
(Southwest Pacific) 
touve see twouve 
Touwilyo see Twouyiyo 
927 
touyatwa - toya 
touyatwa, tiyatwa adj. killing, 
devastating 
touyay, tiyay n. killing; 
extinguishing 
touye, tchwe, tiye, tye v. to kill; to 
put out, extinguish (lamp, fire); to 
turn off, turn out 
pa ka ~ yon fourni not to be able 
to kill a fly, gentle 
seye ~ tèt li to attempt suicide 
~ anba to bowl over, dazzle 
- de rat nan yon sèl twou to kill 
two birds with one stone 
~ de vivan leve yon mô whatever 
it takes 
- dife to extinguish (a) fire 
~ frèt to wipe out, kill; to stun 
- j e to wink 
- je li sou to overlook, turn a blind 
eye to, close one's eyes to (a given 
situation) 
~ lanp see touyelanp 
~ leve process of creating a zombi, 
zombification 
~ li rache li no matter what they 
do to him 
~ manman chape pitit to take 
care of non-essentials and neglect 
what is most important 
~ moun to murder 
- sou - overkill 
- tèt li to knock oneself out (doing 
s.thg.), work very hard at; to 
commit suicide 
~ tèt li anba ri to die laughing 
- tèt nwè to kill (s.o.) dead in his 
tracks 
touyè, tiyè n. killer 
- a gaj hired killer, hit man 
touyelanp n. long jacket; jacket 
which is ridiculously long for its 
wearer 
Touyo (Èta Paskal) see Twouyo 
touzw it see touswit 
tow see towtow 
towblip onomat. plunk, plop, splat 
towè: 
~ bèlmè dirty neglected person 
toweze v. to cube 
towo n. bull (animal); ox; "winner," 
unbeatable person; stubborn or 
rebellious person; large handsaw, 
saw (tool); trunkfish; ox beetle; 
Taurus (zodiac); adj. strong, 
powerful 
gwo ~ rich person (esp. with much 
land) 
sèl ~ ki kèmande savann lan king 
of the mound, ruler of the roost 
ti - calf 
- bankèt bully, tormentor 
~ bèf bull; ox 
- gason tough guy; imposing man 
~ gwonde, ~ kôn siye, - savann 
stubborn or rebellious person 
- kokoye rhinoceros beetle 
~ lagon bullfrog 
~ tig coltsfoot (herb) 
Towo-Twa-Grenn prop.n. greatly 
feared Voodoo spirit of Jacmel 
region 
towobann n. leader, chief 
Towonto prop.n. Toronto (Canada) 
towosipa n. buffalo; big fat man 
towouta, totouta adv. [Fr.] sooner 
or later 
towtow, tow adv. rapidly, in the 
blink of an eye 
toya, torya (TV.), toyan n. big shot, 
VIP, bigwig; diatribe, invective; 
smoke (from guns etc.) 
voye ~ sou/kont (yon moun) to 
dig at (s.o.), make cutting or 
sarcastic remarks concerning (s.o.) 
928 
Toyota - tranble 
Toyota prop.n. Toyota (vehicle) 
tôytoy see latôltôl; tôltôl 
Tozya prop.n. Tozia (4th communal 
section of Pestel, Dept. 
Grand'Anse) 
TPTC see Tepetese 
trabde see trapde 
trabou(k) n. blunderbuss 
trache n. trachea 
tradi see tradwi 
tradiksyon n. translating; translation 
tradiktè n., tradiktèz f.n. translator 
tradisyon, latradisyon n. tradition 
tradisyonèl, tradisyonnèl adj. 
traditional 
tradisyonèlman adv. traditionally 
tradwi, tradi v. to translate, interpret 
trafik n. doings, dealings, scheme; 
trade, small commerce, business; 
traffic; traffic jam (cf . blokis); 
traffic policeman 
fè ~ to traffic in, buy and sell in 
fè ~ kamyon to be in the trucking 
business (as owner rather than as 
driver) 
traflkan, trafikè n. drug dealer; cf. 
dilè 
~ nèg slave trader 
trafikay, trafikaj n. drug dealing; 
illegal dealings 
traflke v. to trade, do business; to 
conduct illegal business 
trafikè see trafikan 
trajè n. distance, journey, course 
fè ~ to go back and forth 
(between), commute (between) 
fè (yon moun) pase yon ~ to give 
a hard time to (s.o.) 
pase yon ~ (ak) to have a hard 
time (with) 
trajedi n. tragedy 
trajektwa n. trajectory, path 
trajik adj. tragic 
trajikomedi n. [Fr.] tragi-comedy 
trajikomik adj. [Fr.] tragi-comic 
trak n. tract, leaflet, pamphlet 
traka n. cares, worry, trouble, 
hardship, nuisance 
bay - to give a hard time to; to 
cause problems 
pase ~ to suffer, go through much 
hardship 
trakase v. to torment, harass; to 
trouble, bother 
trake v. to track, trail; adj. having 
stage fright 
trakoma n. trachoma 
traksyon n. traction 
~ anvan front-wheel drive 
traktasyon n. negotiations, dealings, 
bargaining 
trakte v. to publish a tract or 
pamphlet 
traktè n. tractor 
tralala n. show, display, frills, ado; 
scandal 
fè ~ to be everywhere 
tralalap tralalap onomat. sound of 
bare feet walking 
tralye: 
yon ~ many 
trame v. [Fr.] to plot, conspire 
tramwe n. streetcar, trolley 
tran: 
4 ~ four years 
tranbedetè see tranblemanntè 
tranblad see latranblad; 
tranblemanntè 
tranbladlatè, tranblandetè, 
tranblanntè see tranblemannte 
tranble v. to tremble, shiver, 
shudder, shake; to quake; to 
vibrate; n. trembling, shivering; 
vibrating 
tranbleman - transfizyon (san) 
maladi - Parkinson's disease 
tranbleman n. trembling, shaking; 
tremor; vibration 
tranblemanntè, latètranble, 
latranblad, latranblanntè, 
tanblanntè, tranbedetè, 
tranblad, tranbladlatè, 
tranblandetè, tranblemandetè, 
tranblemandtè, tranbmantè, 
trannmandetè, trannmandtè, 
trannmantè n. earthquake (in 
Haiti: 1770, 1842, 1887,1888, 
1910, 1924, 1962, 1966) 
tranch n. slice, section 
pa - in installments 
tranchan adj. sharp, cutting; cf. file 
tranche v. to slice, cut off, sever; to 
cut off, end; to settle, decide, 
resolve; to cause abdominal pain; 
n. labor contractions or pains; 
abdominal pains, cramps, 
cramping; trench 
pitit - one's very own child 
~ cho intense labor (in birthing) 
- frèt interval between series of 
labor contractions 
- kabann uterine contractions 
after birth; pains felt by infant 
~ kare to cube 
~ sou to settle, decide, resolve 
tranché n. shoemaker's knife 
tranchman(n vant) n. stomach 
pains; menstrual cramps; labor 
contractions or pains 
trangle v. to strangle, choke, gag; to 
strangulate; n. choking 
trangleman n. strangulation 
trankil adj. quiet, calm, peaceful, 
tranquil, restful; adv. quietly, 
peacefully 
kite m - leave me alone 
trankilite, latrankilite n. quiet, 
calm, peace, tranquillity; peace of 
mind 
trankilizan n. tranquilizer 
trankilize v. to calm down, quiet 
trankilman adv. quietly, calmly, 
peacefully 
tranmay n. var. fish net 
trann num. thirty {preceding de, 
twa, kat, senk, sis, sèt); see trant 
trannde n. teeth; num. thirty-two 
griyen - to mock, scoff, laugh 
derisively 
souri ak tout - li to give a big 
broad smile, beam 
trannmandetè, trannmandtè, 
trannmantè see tranblemanntè 
trannzaksyon see tranzaksyon 
trannzitwa see tranzitwa 
tranp n. soaking, drenching; adj. 
soaked, drenched 
fè - to be soaking wet 
tranpe v. to soak; to dip, dunk; to 
infuse, steep; to be drenched; to 
marinate (meat, poultry); n. 
alcoholic drink infused with herbs, 
fruit, bark, roots etc.; adj. 
undercooked; see kleren 
nanm byen - , karaktè byen ~ 
sturdy/strong character 
- lèv to drink; to quench one's 
thirst 
- nan to be involved in (pej.) 
tranpèt n. marinated meat or fish 
tranplen n. trampoline 
trans n. trance, possession 
transandantal adj. [Fr.] 
transcendental 
transande v. to transcend 
transfè n. transfer, transferal; 
remittance, money transfer 
transféré v. to transfer 
transfizyon (san) n. (blood) 
930 
transfômasyon - iras 
transfusion 
transfômasyon n. transformation 
~ ak mikwôb biodegradable 
~ byolojik bioconversion 
transfômatè n. transformer (mack) 
transfôme v. to transform 
transfwontalye adj. border, 
adjoining 
transgrese v. to transgress 
transgresyon n. transgression 
transkontinantal adj. 
transcontinental 
transkri v. [Fr.] to transcribe 
transkripsyon n. [Fr.] transcription; 
transcribing 
translisid adj. translucent 
transmèt v. to transmit, convey; to 
pass on (disease) 
transmetè n. transmitter 
transmisib adj. transmittable 
transmisyon n. transmission 
(bwat) ~ gearbox 
- mànyèl manual transmission 
~ otomatik automatic 
transmission 
transnasyonal adj. transnational 
transparan adj. transparent; open, 
above board 
transparans, latransparans n. 
transparency; openness; 
accountability 
transpirasyon n. perspiration; cf. 
swè 
transpire v. to perspire (cf swe); to 
influence, affect 
transplantasyon n. transplant; 
transplanting 
transplante v. to transplant 
transpô n. transport, transportation; 
strong emotion, transport 
transpôtasyon n. transportation 
transpôte v. to transport, convey 
transpètè n. transporter, carrier, 
teamster, truck driver 
transpoze v. to transpose 
transvèsal n./adj. transversal 
trant num. thirty; see trann 
trantèn n. thirties 
yon ~ some thirty, approximately 
thirty 
trantenè /I. thirtieth anniversary 
tranteyen num. thirty-one 
trantyèm adj. thirtieth 
tranzaksyon, trannzaksyon, 
trazaksyon n. transaction (usu. 
pej.); economic operation 
(iaccounting) 
tranzistô n. transistor (radio) 
tranzisyon n. transition 
tranzisyonnèl adj. transitional 
tranzit n. transit (surveying 
instrument) 
an ~ in transit, passing through 
tranzitif adj. transitive (verb) 
tranzitwa, trannzitwa adj. [Fr.] 
transitory, provisional 
trap n. trap (cf. pèlen); fork (branch 
of tree or shrub) serving as perch 
for combat cocks; v. to grab, pick 
up; to grab (s.o.) violentiy; see 
atrap 
ès - s-trap (for sink) 
tramp! tramp! tramp! 
(sound of marching or walking) 
trapan see atrapan 
trapde, trabde adv. quickly, in no 
time at all 
trape see atrap 
trapè n. trapper 
trapèz n. trapeze; trapezoid (math.) 
trapisprop.n./adj. Trappist 
tras n. trace, track, trail, vestige; 
clue, hint; footprint; line; part (in 
hair) 
931 
Tras - tray 
swiv - to track 
- pye footprint (in sand etc.) 
Tras prop.n. [Bible] Thrace 
trase v. to trace, sketch; to design, 
lay out (building); to mark off, 
stake out (for building); n. staking 
out (an area for planting or 
construction - cf. piktaj) 
- cheve to part (hair) 
- (yon) egzanp to set an example/ 
a precedent 
travay n. work, job, task, toil; 
employment; enterprise, 
undertaking; labor, childbirth; v. to 
work; to exert (oneself); to 
function (mach.); to ferment 
bay - to hire, employ 
bay - yon tè to lease one's land 
for sharecropping 
fè - to achieve, accomplish, 
perform 
fin - worn-out 
pa - ankô to retire 
ti ~ small job, chore; low-paid job 
- anpeyan see ~ sou kouray (li) 
- de wat!, - de wèl!, kèl you 
can take this job and shove it! 
- dorni leve live-in job 
- jis venn kou li pete to break 
one's neck working, slave away 
- jouk dwèt li fè ko to work one's 
fingers to the bone 
- kole kole ak to work in close 
collaboration with 
- kontra see ~ sou kouray (li) 
- kou bèf chawa/chenn/kabrèt, ~ 
kou bèt, - kou bourik to work 
like a dog 
- lespri li to prey on one's mind 
- leswa to be a thief 
- sou kouray (li), - anpeyan, -
(sou) kontra, - sou/pou mezi (sa 
li fè), - sou volonté li piecework, 
work paid for according to the 
number of items turned out (rather 
than by hour) 
- tè agriculture; to farm 
Travay: 
- Apot yo [Bible] The Acts of the 
Apostles 
travayan adj. hardworking, 
industrious 
travayè n. worker-bee 
travayè travayèz fin. worker, 
employee, laborer; adj. hard-
working 
- lasante community health 
worker, paramedic 
- latè farmer 
- machin, - kamyon helper on a 
truck (cf. bèf chenn) 
- min miner 
travè n. crosspiece, crossbar 
fil - knitted 
travès, travè n. crossbeam, ceiling 
beam; crossbar, crosspiece; 
railway crosstie, sleeper; crossing, 
trip, journey; crosspath, shortcut; 
trials, tribulations 
- chemenfè railway crosstie, 
sleeper 
travèse v. to cross, cross over, cross 
into, pass over, pass through; n. 
short distance; crossing, trip (over) 
travesti n. transvestite 
travo n. work, labor; community 
labor; finishing up, final touches; 
food for work 
- fôse hard labor, forced labor 
- piblik public works (roads, 
bridges, dams etc.) 
tray n. suffering, misery; turmoil, 
anxiety 
Ala de What a lot of misery! 
trayi - trese 
pase (yon) ~ to suffer 
trayi v. to betray, deceive 
trayizan n. traitor; adj. treacherous 
trayizon, latrayizon n. treachery, 
betrayal; treason 
trazaksyon see tranzaksyon 
tre 72. job, duty, business 
trè 72. line; features; adv. very 
4 ~ four o'clock 
4 ~ dtan four hours 
pase ~ sou to cross out, cancel 
ti ~ hyphen 
~ bon very good, excellent 
24 ~ twenty-four hours 
trebanten n. var. of mango 
trebiche see tribiche 
trèbyento adv. [Fr.] very soon, very 
shortly 
tredin n. [Eng.] trade-in 
trèdinyon n. [Fr.] hyphen; link (fig.) 
trèf 72. clover; club (cards) 
trèj see trèy 
trelè 72. trailer, van; trailer, mobile 
home 
trema n. dieresis (diacritic) 
tren n. train; subway; manner, way, 
pace; noise, commotion; cock, 
dick, penis 
fè ~ to roar, rumble (floodwaters 
esp.) 
ti ~ streetcar, trolley (cf. tramwe) 
~ pou ray ray pou ~ it's all the 
same, it's all related; no harm done 
(cf. bèf pou wa savann pou wa) 
~ vapè steam-engine train 
trenbale v. to drag around 
treng, trenn n. rod; lath, slat 
trengle v. to trellis 
trening (pronounced: tre-ning) n. 
(job) training 
trenke v. to clink glasses, toast; n. 
toast (homage) 
933 
trenn n. train (trailing part of a 
dress); dragnet (fishing); see treng 
trennay, trennaj n. dawdling; 
loafing, loitering, hanging out 
trennaye v. to dawdle; to loaf, loiter 
trannè n. wanderer, roamer 
trennen v. to wander, roam about; to 
drag, pull; to drag on, take too 
much time; to leave lying around; 
to crawl around, drag oneself; n. 
drifter, wanderer, good-for-
nothing; adj. drawling (way of 
speaking) 
- bôl li to beg, live on charity 
~ pye li to shuffle, drag one's feet 
~ zèl to eke out a living 
~ zèl li to hang out, frequent; to be 
lazy, do nothing 
treno n. sled 
trense see trese 
trepa n. death, dying, demise 
trepase v. to be in extremis, be 
dying; to pass away, die 
trepasman n. decease, demise, 
death 
trepye n. tripod; trivet; easel 
très n. braid, plait (of hair), pig-tail, 
tress(es), strand; lock of hair; 
flexible molding (architectural 
embellishment) 
~ fren brake lining 
tresayi v. to flinch, give a start, give 
a jump (from surprise); to quiver; 
to cringe, shudder (from fear); to 
wince; to thrill (with joy) 
san li ~ to quiver; to shudder 
tresayman n,, thrill, quiver, 
quivering; shudder, shuddering 
trese, trense v. to braid, plait; to 
intertwine, interlace; to weave 
(basket, mat, wreath etc,) 
- pa to stagger, weave 
trese - tribinen 
- pit pouri to act up, do bad 
things 
- pye to limp; to wander around; 
to procrastinate 
- riban Carnival celebration 
consisting of collective wrapping 
of ribbons around a pole 
- yon bon chapo pou to reproach, 
rebuke, reprimand 
- yon k6d to make rope 
tresi see retresi 
trèt n. traitor, betrayer 
- dè nwa, - negriye slave trade 
trete v. to treat, behave toward, deal 
with; to discuss, treat; to treat 
(medically), care for; to call (s.o. 
names); to purify, treat (water 
etc.); n. tract, pamphlet; treaty; 
treatise 
- de to call (s.o. names) 
tretman, trètman n. treatment; 
medical treatment 
nan - therapy 
swiv - to undergo treatment 
- sèvo psychoanalysis 
- tèks word processor (computer 
program) 
treto n. (street merchant's) stand; 
trestle 
tretriz n. treachery, treacherousness 
trèv n. truce 
trèy, trèj n. mesh, grating, screen; 
(set of objects connected by a) 
string (AT.) 
yon - a heap of, many 
trèz num. thirteen; adv. very (occ. 
preceding adj. beginning with 
vowel) 
trèzan n. thirteen years 
trezaksyon n. exaction, extortion, 
shake-down, blackmail 
trèzè n. point of no return, disaster 
trèzenpotan adj. very important 
trezo n. treasure; treasury 
trezori n. cash flow 
trezorye, trezorye, trezôye 
trezoryè, trezoryèz f.n. treasurer 
trèzyèm adj. thirteenth 
tri n. screening, sorting out, vetting; 
large comb (for horses); see tiri 
trib: 
bay - to feint (sports) 
tribal adj. tribal 
Triban prop.n. Truban (var. of 
fungicide for roots and stems) 
tribi n. tribe; tribute, contribution 
tribiche, trebiche v. to stumble, trip, 
slip 
tribilan adj. misbehaving, disorderly 
tribilasyon n. tribulations, trials, 
troubles 
tribile v. to go through trials/ 
troubles, struggle 
tribin n. tribune, rostrum, speaker's 
stand; gallery (of church); (sports) 
stands 
tribinal n. court, courtroom, 
tribunal; courthouse 
- depè court of justice of the 
peace 
Tribinal Kasasyon see Kasasyon 
- koreksyonèl/koreksyonnèl 
criminal court 
- kou dapèl, - pou dezyèm 
jijman court of appeals, appellate 
court 
~ premye enstans court of first 
instance 
- teryen land-claims court 
- timoun juvenile court 
- travay labor-relations court 
tribinen: 
- lespri yon moun to trouble, 
upset s.o. 
tribie - tripotav 
trible v. to feint (sports) 
tribo n. starboard 
tribèbabô, babotribô, tribôrebabô 
adv. on all sides, on both sides, 
every which way; adj. general, 
across-the-board 
triche v. to cheat 
Triché prop.n. Trichet (3rd 
communal section of Saint-Jean-
du-Sud, Dept. South) 
trichin n. whipworm; threadworm; 
trichinosis 
trifafouye v. to ransack, rummage 
about, search thoroughly 
trigonometri, trigo n. 
trig(onometry) 
trik n. [Eng.] ruse, trickery, 
deception, deceit; trick, artifice 
trikay n. illusion, trick effect, 
special effect 
trike v. to trick, play a trick on; to 
deceive, cheat 
trikè n. trickster, liar, deceiver, cheat 
trikèt see krikèt 
triko n. knitting; knitted sweater 
fè ~ to knit 
trikolô adj. tricolored; n. the French 
flag 
trikosefal n. whipworm 
trikote v. to knit 
trikotè n. knitter 
trileng adj. trilingual 
trimay n. lowly or humble task 
trimaye v. to have it hard, have a 
miserable life, slave away, grind, 
toil 
trimen, timen, trime v. to slave 
away, grind, toil 
trimès n. trimester; very small 
business (with negligible profits) 
trimèse v. to work hard 
trimestriyèl adj. trimestral 
triminay n. trials, tribulations, 
troubles 
triminen v. to mistreat, abuse, 
handle roughly 
Trinidad (e Tobago) prop.n. 
Trinidad (and Tobago) 
trinidadyenprop.n./adj. Trinidadian 
trinite n. trinity 
fèt Trinite Trinity Sunday 
(Sunday after Pentecost) 
trip n. bowels, intestines, entrails, 
guts; (one's own) family (fig); 
tripe, chitterlings; worthless 
person or thing; adj. triple 
dènye bout gwo - rectum 
gen ~ li mare ak to be vitally 
concerned with, be very wrapped 
up in 
gwo sak ~ gut, stomach (pej.) 
gwo ~ large intestine; voracious, 
insatiable 
gwo ~ ap vale ti - to be ravenous 
mèt ~ umbilical cord 
mete ~ deyè to disembowel 
ti ~ small intestine 
- k6de, - tode abdominal pains; 
hunger pains 
- pouri (frequent) farter; cf. 
petadè 
tripatit adj. tripartite 
tripay n. waste, scraps; guts, tripe, 
intestines; junk food 
triple v. to triple; to repeat (a school 
grade) for the third time 
tripèt adj. nosey, inquisitive; 
gossipy; n. gossiper, busybody, 
meddler; rocking chair (cf. dodin) 
fè - to gossip, slander 
tripotay, tripotaj n. gossip, slander, 
chatter, rumor, idle talk, hot air 
bay ~ la pote kildt to mess up, 
foul up, do badly 
935 
tripote - twal 
fè - to gossip, slander 
tripote v. to slander; to paw at (s.o.), 
touch; to bother, annoy, trouble, 
give a hard time to 
tripotye, tripoté n., tripotèz/«. 
gossiper, busybody, meddler 
trips n. thrips (plant insect) 
tris adj. sad, glum, dejected; pitiful; 
serene, calm 
trisantnè n. tercentenary 
trisenkantnè n. one hundred fiftieth 
anniversary 
trisik n. tricycle 
tristès, latristès n. sadness, sorrow 
se yon tristès! how sad! it's a 
pity! 
tritri n. small whitebait (fish) 
Trivanôdè, Trivyen prop.n 
Trivanôdèz, Trivyèn f.prop.n. 
inhabitant of Trou-du-Nord (Dept. 
North-East) 
trivyal adj. trivial, unimportant; 
foul-mouthed, profane 
Trivyen, Trivyèn see Trivanôdè 
triyaj, triyay n. sorting, selection; 
triage, screening 
triyal n. sinew, tendon 
triyang n. triangle 
tèt - apex 
triyangilè adj. triangular 
Triyanon prop.n. Trianon (Dept. 
Center) 
triyay see triyaj 
triye v. to sort, sort out, screen, vet; 
to choose, select, pick out; to 
groom (horse) 
triyè n., triyèz f.n. sorter (esp. for 
coffee beans) 
triyo n. trio 
triyon n. udder, dug, teat (of cow 
etc.) 
triyonf n. triumph 
triyonfal adj. triumphant 
triyonfalis n. triumphant attitude, 
self-congratulations 
triyonfalman adv. triumphantly 
triyonfe v. to triumph 
tsetse n. tsetse fly (Africa) 
tsinami n. [Japanese] tsunami, huge 
tidal wave 
tuili tui tui, tulututu see tilititi 
twa num. three; n. roof; see retire ~... 
Twa Bebe prop.n. area of Site Solèy 
(q.v) 
twade n. peanut butter on cassava 
bread (three centimes worth of 
cassava bread and two centimes of 
peanut butter) 
twadegout n. strong poison; 
disgusting person; adj. disgusting 
twafèy, twapawôl n. allophyllus 
(bot.) (plant renowned for its 
supposedly magical powers) 
twagouden n. three-fourths of a 
gourde, 75 centimes, (formerly 15 
US cents) 
twaka num. three-fourths; adv. 
almost 
twakadè, twakadèdtan n. three-
quarters of an hour, forty-five 
minutes 
twakay n. roof 
twakot n. miconia (shrub or small 
tree) 
twal, twèl n. cloth, fabric, tissue, 
textile, material; (artist's) canvas; 
painting, picture; sanitary napkin 
or pad (for women) 
fè - to make up (story etc.); to 
exaggerate 
pou bèl ~ for nothing, to no avail 
- adra cloth used for making 
bedsheets 
- arenyen spiderweb, cobweb 
twal - tweze 
- asyèt dishcloth, dishtowel 
- fen linen 
- gaz gauze; bandage, dressing 
- gwo ble denim 
- kat fil high-quality cloth 
- Legba blue-and-white 
checkered cloth 
- lenj (woman's) sanitary napkin 
- metalik wire gauze, screen 
- san, - lenj sanitary napkin or 
pad (for women) 
twalèt n. bathroom, toilet, restroom; 
need to go to the bathroom; 
washing, grooming, dressing etc.; 
v. to have a bowel movement 
fè - deba washing of pubic region 
(woman esp.) 
fè ~ (li) to wash up (oneself or s.o. 
else) 
sal - restroom 
- konfô, ~ modèn, - otomatik 
flush toilet 
twaletay n. washing, grooming, 
dressing etc. 
twanap n. var. fish net 
Twapalmis prop.n. Trois-Palmistes 
(1st communal section of 
Vallières, Dept. North-East) 
twapawôl see twafèy 
Twa Pèl, Twa Pikwa see Bawon 
Samdi 
twapouvennsenk n. var. of roll 
(bread) 
twapye n. hearth formed of three 
rocks; tripod; (artist's) easel; small 
stand for painting; manjack cordia 
tree 
Twarivyè, Letwarivyè prop.n. 
Trois-Rivières (converging rivers 
in Dept. Artibonite and Dept. 
North-West) 
twasan num. three hundred 
Twasan Swasannsenk Pôt see palè -
twasèt n. var. of card game 
twati n. roof, roofing 
twawa n. trouble, jam, fix; see wa 
Twa Wou see Bawon Samdi 
twayen prop.n./adj. Trojan 
twaz see twa 
twaz, twèz n. toise (6 1/2 feet); 
standard, gauge, measure 
twazan n. three years 
twaze, tweze v. to stare disdainfully 
or contemptuously; to cube 
twazè n. three o'clock 
twazèdtan n. three hours 
Twazile prop.n. Trois îlots (three 
reefs near PaP used in Voodoo 
ceremonies) 
twazman n. disdainful or 
contemptuous stare 
twazom fô n. var. of plant 
twazon pin. two aunes, two ells (see 
lonn) 
twazyèm adj. third; n. fourth year in 
secondary school 
twazyèmman adv. thirdly 
twè, twe obs. form of 2nd person 
sing, object pron. thee; obs. form 
of 2nd person sing. poss. pron. 
thy, thine 
twèl see twal 
Twen prop.n. Trouin (Dept. South-
East) 
twenn dèyè v. to shrink back, 
withdraw 
twenze v. to cut into sections 
twenzi v. to blink; to squint 
twèt see je -
twey n. [N.] unpaid labor to maintain 
public footpaths on or near one's 
property 
twèz see twaz 
tweze see twaze 
<n7 
twi! twi! - twonpèt 
twl! twi! onomat. tsk! tsk! 
(expression of mild disapproval) 
twi, tiri f.n. sow (pig) 
twil see til 
twipe see tchwipe 
twis n. [Eng.] twist (dance) 
twit n. trout (fish); interj. jocular 
expression attributed to older 
women unwilling to admit their 
age (from trantwit, karantwit etc.) 
~ ~ cry of mouse whose tail is 
caught in trap 
twitwitwi: 
nan ~ (ak) in cahoots (with) 
two adv. {preceding an adj. or adv.) 
too, excessively 
- dous var. of mango 
~ ta procrastination, delay 
twofe n. trophy 
twogann see tyogàn 
twôk n. trade, barter, swap, 
exchange; [Eng.] truck 
twokay n. bartering, trading 
twoke, toke v. to trade, barter, swap, 
exchange; see twôkèt 
~ kiyè pou ti bwa, ~ kôn pou 
zago to trade s.thg. of value for 
s.thg. worthless, give away one's 
birthright; to live from hand to 
mouth 
~ kôn to fight, struggle; to 
confront, face; confrontation, fight 
~ lalin pou fwonmaj to pull off 
shady deals 
~ lide to exchange ideas, engage 
in a dialogue 
~ wout to change the subject/topic 
of conversation 
twokè n. dealer, trader 
twôkèt, toke, tokèt, tôkèt, twoke, 
twôkèt, twoukèt n. head-cushion, 
pad (used to cushion loads carried 
on the head); small part of the 
whole 
sa se ~ chay la dèyè the worst is 
yet to come, that's only the tip of 
the iceberg 
twomatize v. [Fr.] to traumatize 
twon n. tree trunk 
twôn n. altar (Voodoo); (royal) 
throne; toilet seat 
sou ~ to be on the toilet 
twonblon n. blunderbuss 
twonbôn, twonbonn n. trombone; 
one-note brass instrument used in 
folk festivals 
~ akoulis slide trombone 
twone v. to sit enthroned, sit 
imposingly 
twonm n. waterspout (formation 
over water); cloudburst, downpour 
twonp n. visual deception, trompe-
l'oeil; Fallopian tube; elephant 
trunk 
twonpe, tonpe v. to deceive, trick, 
fool, mislead, cheat; to be 
unfaithful to; re/7, to be mistaken, 
make a mistake, be wrong 
dômi ~ li to doze off, fall asleep 
~ nimewo to get the wrong 
number (telephone) 
~ solèy to shield from the sun 
~ wout li to be headed in the 
wrong direction, be barking up the 
wrong tree 
twonpè n. deceiver, cheat; impostor; 
adj. deceitful; deceptive; false, 
misleading 
~ pèp demagogue, hypocrite 
twonpèt n. trumpet; tin trumpet; 
trumpetfish 
bwa ~ trumpetwood tree 
pran ~ to proclaim loudly and 
clearly 
twonpete - twoublan 
twonpete v. to announce loudly, go 
around saying 
twonpetis n. trumpeter 
twonpèz f.n. unfaithful woman 
twonpri n. trickery, deceit, 
deception; infidelity, 
unfaithfulness; mistake, error 
twons n. cylindrical section 
twonse v. to cut off; to cut up, saw 
up, slice up 
twonson n. stretch, section (of 
road); big piece (usu. of wood) 
twèp adv. {preceding a noun, 
following a verb, or at end of 
phrase) too much, too many, 
excessively 
fè ~ to go too far, exceed the bounds 
~ pou tè holy terror, brat, scamp, 
troublemaker 
twopigaz n. propane (gas) 
twopik n. tropics 
twopikal adj. tropical 
twoplen n. overflow 
twot n. trot (horse); distance 
twôta n. delay; procrastination 
twote v. to trot 
twôtè n. trotter (horse) 
twotine, twotinen v. to jog 
twôtinèt, twotinèt n. child's walker 
(on rollers); child's scooter 
twotwa n. sidewalk 
twou n. hole, opening, slot; cave, 
grotto; perforation; socket (tooth 
etc.); gap, lack; drain; leak; pond, 
basin; pit; predicament; see tou 
gen ~ hollow 
gen ~ nan manch to be sly or 
deceitful 
je li nan ~ to have bags under 
one's eyes 
nan ~ to be in a hole, have a 
problem 
~ basen drain 
~ bote dimple 
~ dan cavity 
~ dè pocket(s) of air turbulence 
~ dèyè, - bouboun, ~ bouda, ~ 
bouden, ~ bounda, ~ evatye, ~ 
fès, - kaka, ~ matyè fekal, ~ 
poupou, ~ tata, ~ watè anus 
~ egou sewer, sewer hole, mouth 
of sewer; drainage; cesspool 
~ foban isolated town or area; 
vagina (fam.) 
~ koukou isolated or forsaken 
place; hick town, one-horse town 
- lonbrit navel 
~ lyon lions' den 
~ nan bwa outhouse 
~ (nan dan) cavity 
~ nan manch slyness, deceit; sly, 
deceitful 
~ nen nostril 
~ nwa pupil (of eye) 
~ pôt keyhole 
~ (pou) van vent (mach.) 
~ regou, ~ rego sewer 
~ san fon bottomless pit; ring 
~ seri keyhole 
~ vonvon deep hole; nose (fam.) 
~ wôch, - tif cave, grotto 
twoub, toub adj. muddy, murky, 
blurred, misty, cloudy, fuzzy; 
agitated, disturbed; n. confusion, 
trouble, chaos 
wè ~ to have blurred vision 
twoubadou, toubadou n. 
troubadour; var. of music 
introduced to Haiti from Cuba in 
early twentieth century; small 
ambulant Cuban-style musical 
group 
twoublan adj. troubling, 
disquieting, disturbing; alluring 
939 
twonpèt - Twousyen 
twonpèt n. unrest, disturbance, 
agitation 
twouble, touble v. to bother, disturb, 
confuse, annoy, upset, trouble; to 
make a mistake; to blur, cloud, 
mist; adj. troubled, upset; 
disoriented, flustered; confused, 
mixed up 
Twoubondye prop.n. Trou-Bondieu 
(grotto near Port-de-Paix, Dept. 
North-West) 
twoubote, toubote n. dimple 
Twouchouchou prop.n. Trou-
Chouchou (3rd communal section 
of Petit-Goâve, Dept. West) 
Twoudanfè prop.n. Trou-d'Enfer 
(communal section of Le Borgne, 
Dept. North) 
Twoudinô, Otwou(dinô) prop.n. 
(Le) Trou-du-Nord - founded 1700 
(Dept. North-East) 
Twoudlo prop.n. Trou-d'Eau (6th 
communal section of Thomazeau, 
Dept. West) 
Twoudo prop.n. Trou-d'Eau 
Mountains (Depts. West and 
Center) 
twouhing, touhing n. bottomless 
pit, chasm; deep well (water) 
Twoujakprop.n. Trou-Jacques (La 
Gonâve Island, Dept. West) 
Twoukanari X prop.n. Trou-Canari 
A (5th communal section of Petit-
Goâve, Dept. West) 
Twoukanari B prop.n. Trou-Canari 
B (6th communal section of Petit-
Goâve, Dept. West) 
Twoukayiman prop.n. Trou-Caïman 
(small - 0.8 km - marshy lake near 
Etang-Saumâtre, Dept. West) 
twoukèt see twôkèt 
Twoulanfë prop.n. Trou-d'Enfer 
(4th communal section of Le 
Borgne, Dept. North) 
twoule see tchoule 
Twoulwi prop.n. Trou-Louis (8th 
communal section of Pointe-à-
Raquette, La Gonâve Island) 
Twoumann, Toumann (Ari) 
prop.n. Truman (Harry) - president 
of USA, 1945-1953 
boulva Ari ~ Boulevard Harry 
Truman (Bisantnè, downtown PaP 
along waterfront) 
Twoumawo(t) prop.n. Trou-Mahot 
(2nd communal section of Bainet, 
Dept. South-East) 
twounen, tounen n. nostril 
Twounipwa prop.n., Twounipwaz 
f prop.n. inhabitant of Petit-Trou-
de-Nippes (Dept. Grand'Anse) 
Twounôdè prop.n. Twounôdèz 
f prop.n. inhabitant of (Le) Trou-
du-Nord (Dept. North-East) 
twoup n. troup, team, flock 
twoupè n. trooper 
twoupo n. herd, flock, drove 
twoupot n. crack, hole in door; key-
hole 
Twourilyo see Twouyiyo 
twous n. case, kit 
nan - li on s.o. 's trail, going after s.o. 
Twousab prop.n. Trou-Sable (large 
shantytown in southern part of 
Gonaïves, Dept. Artibonite) 
twouse, touse v. to roll up, tuck up 
(sleeves etc.); to get down to 
(serious) work 
- zèl nen li to be haughty or proud 
twouso n. trousseau, outfit 
- kle key-holder 
Twousyen prop.n., Twousyèn 
f.prop.n. inhabitant of (Le) Trou-
du-Nord (Dept. North-East) 
940 
twouvay - tyovi 
twouvay n. discovery, find; stroke of 
inspiration 
twouve, touve v. [Fr.] to find, 
discover, encounter; to find, 
conclude, realize; to happen, 
occur, come to pass; it so happens 
that; re/7, to be located, be situated 
se ~ it so happens that, it turns out 
that 
Twouvital prop.n. Trou-Vital 
(disadvantaged area of PaP) 
twouye adj. full of holes 
Twouyiyo, Touriyo, Touwilyo, 
Twourilyo, Twouyilyo prop.n. 
(Rafael Leonidas) Trujillo 
(Molina) (1891-1961 - president 
of the Dominican Republic) 
Twouyo (Enok) prop.n. Trouillot 
(Hénock) - contemporary Haitian 
historian 
tyak see tchak 
tyaka see tchaka 
tyakannen, tyake see tchake 
tyaktyak see tchaktchak 
tyala see tchala 
tyana see tchana 
lyaniz prop.n. pop. var. Haitian-
made shoe 
tyanpan see tchanpan 
tyans see tchans 
tyanse see ranse 
tyap see tchap 
tyas see tchas 
tyatya(tya) see tchatcha(tcha) 
tyaw, tyawou see tchaw 
tye see tche; touye 
tyè num. third (fraction); n. heart 
tyèd, kèd, kyèd, tchèd adj. 
lukewarm, tepid 
tyedè n. luke-warmness, half-
heartedness 
tyedi v. to become/make lukewarm 
tyèk see tchèk 
tyeke see tcheke 
tyekè see tchekè 
tyèkin see tchèkin 
tyekop see tchèkèp 
tyèmann see chèmann 
tyèmondis adj. Third-World 
lyèmonn prop.n./adj. Third World 
tyenbe see kenbe 
tyentyen see tchentchen 
lyera Mouskadi, T^era Miskadi 
prop.n. Tierra Mouscady, Tierra 
Muscady (2nd communal section 
of Thomonde, Dept. Center) 
tyès n. thirds, close harmony (music) 
tyèson n. tierce, half-cask (about 42 
gallons) 
tyètyè see tetyè 
tyôbôl see tchouboum 
tyogàn, twogann n. banana weevil 
tyôk n. [Eng.] (very large) truck 
tyoka see tchoka 
tyônèl, tyonnèl see tchènèl 
tyôt onomat. to express sudden 
action 
1ybt, Tiyôt prop.n. Thiotte, Tiote 
(Dept. South-East) 
Tyôtlwa, Tyètlè prop.nlyètlwaz, 
lyôtlèz f.prop.n. inhabitant of 
Tiote/Thiotte (Dept. South-East) 
tyotyo, tyôtyô see tchotcho 
tyôtyôwè see tchôtchôwè 
tyoubèf n. var. of mango 
tyouboum see tchouboum 
tyoul see tchoul 
tyoula see tchoula 
tyoule see tchoule 
tyoulit see tchoulit 
tyoup onomat. to express sudden 
action 
tyovi n. member of a particular 
Voodoo temple; see ayovi 
941 
u 
UCG-vag 
UCG acron. Inite Santral Jesyon 
(Unité Centrale de Gestion) 
General Accounting Office of 
Haitian Government 
UE acron. Linyon Ewôp(eyen), 
Linyon Lewop (Union 
Européenne) European Union 
UEH acron. Inivèsite Deta Dayiti 
(Université d'Etat d'Haïti) - State 
University of Haiti 
ui- see w-
uisan, wisan num. eight hundred 
uit, ui, wi, wit num. eight 
uitan, witan n. eight years 
uitè, witè n. eight o'clock 
uitèdtan, witèdtan n. eight hours 
uitèn, witèn n. group of eight 
uityèm, wityèm adj. eighth 
uityèmman, wityèmman adv. 
eighthly 
UNESKO acron. ÔganizasyoH 
Nasyonzini pou Edikasyon, 
Syans ak Kilti United Nations 
Organization for Education, 
Science and Culture 
UNISÈF acron Fon Nasyonzini 
pou Timoun United Nations 
Children's Fund 
us see you ès 
USAID acron. Ajans Ameriken 
pou Devlôpman Entènasyonal 
United States Agency for 
International Development 
y 
v (pronounced: ve); sh. form va 
ta v al would go 
va n. leap, attack; verbal assault; 
dagger (metal or wooden); prod, 
goad; curse, malediction; interj. be 
gone! away with thee! (to an evil 
spirit - see vamalore); sick'em! 
(to incite a dog to attack); see a 
(fut. tense indicator) 
fè (yon) - sou to jump on, pounce 
on; to rebuke; to take by surprise; 
to invade 
vach n. cow (cf. manman bèf); 
thresher shark; adj. rude 
manje - anraje to have a tough 
time of it 
peryôd - mèg lean/hard times 
- bèf cow (cf. manman bèf) 
- (lanmè) manatee 
- lèt meal ticket (fig.) 
~ rapè dairy cow 
Vachyen, Vachyèn see Davacbwa, 
Ilavachwaz 
vadwouye v. to roam, wander about 
vadwouyè n. loafer, drifter 
vaevyen see vayevyen 
vag n. wave (ocean); finger waves 
(hair style); v. to ignore s.o., slight 
s.o.; to skip, miss, cut, forget about; 
adj. vague; unconcerned, aimless, 
directionless; unrestrained; 
negligent, lax; interj. forget it! 
943 
vag - vakye 
ba 1~! never mind! 
bay - to dismiss, discard; to 
ignore, disregard, not pay attention 
to 
kale yon bèl ~ to totally ignore, 
disdain 
leve ~ to grow up without parental 
guidance 
travay pou ~ to work for free, 
work for nothing 
forget it! 
- ke ~ careless, erratic, haphazard 
vagabon see vakabon 
vagabôn see vakabôn 
vagabondaj, vagabonday see 
vakabonday 
vagabonde see vakabonnen 
vagman adv. vaguely 
vagon see wagon 
vajen n. vagina 
bouch ~ vulva 
douch lavaj ~ vaginal douchc 
vajinal adj. vaginal 
vakabon, vagabon n. good-for-
nothing, rascal, bum, bastard; 
scoundrel, shameless person; 
playboy; drifter, vagabond, 
vagrant; vagrancy; prostitution; 
adj. worthless, shiftless; 
boisterous, unruly 
fè - to wander around, loaf; to 
play hooky 
~ abiye pretentious jerk 
vakabôn, vagabôn f.n. slut, loose 
woman; prostitute 
tonbe nan ~ to go astray, fall into 
prostitution 
vakabonday, vagabondaj, 
vagabonday, vakabondaj n. 
soliciting, streetwalking, 
prostitution; vagrancy; wandering; 
pilfering; vandalism 
vakabonnen, vagabonde, 
vakabonde v. to wander around, 
loaf, drift 
vakam n. uproar, fuss, hubbub 
vakan adj. unoccupied 
vakans n. vacation; holiday; 
vacancy 
fè % pase ~ to spend one's 
vacation, go on vacation 
gran ~ twa mwa summer 
vacation 
vakansye n. vacationer 
vakasyon n. program or group of 
university courses; (morning or 
afternoon) school session 
an doub ~ in double (morning and 
afternoon) sessions (school) 
vake: 
~ a okipasyon li \Fr.} to attend to 
one's (own) affairs, go about one's 
business 
~ kô li to have breathing space, 
have some room 
vaksen n. vaccine, serum, shot; 
vaccination, immunization 
bay ~ to vaccinate; inoculate, 
immunize 
kat ~ immunization record 
pran ~ to be vaccinated 
vaksin n bamboo flute sounding 
only one note and struck on side 
with stick - usu. used in set of 
three of varied lengths (cf. 
banbou) 
vaksinasyon n. vaccination, 
inoculation, immunization, shots; 
cf. piki 
vaksinen, vaksine v. to vaccinate, 
immunize 
vakye: 
maladi li pa - var. of poultry 
disease 
944 
vakyôm - valorizasyon 
vakyôm n. vacuum; vacuum cleaner; 
v. to vacuum 
val sh. form va + al 
valab, valad adj. valid, legal, 
applicable; valuable, important, 
meaningful, worthwhile 
valabman adv. validly 
valad see valab 
Valadon prop.n. brand of aspirin 
valans n. valence, valency (chem.) 
Valanten: 
fèt Sen - Saint Valentine's Day 
vale v. to swallow; to gulp, stuff 
down, gobble down; to swallow 
(s.o.) up, be too large for (s.o.); n. 
valley; contr. va + ale 
pa - krache li to insult 
- bouche doub to eat rapidly, 
gobble up; to advance rapidly, tear 
ahead, take giant strides 
- glôt to gulp down, gobble up 
- kèk chat to be hoarse 
- pawôl to say nothing, keep quiet 
- san kraze to gulp down 
- teren, - planche to advance 
rapidly, make progress, make 
headway 
- van to live on nothing; to 
blabber; to talk to no avail; to 
yawn; to waste time, do nothing; 
to loaf 
- yon koulèv to swallow an 
affront; to swallow a lot of 
baloney, be taken in 
Vale a see Lavale(-Jakmèl) 
valè n. value, rate; worth, importance, 
strength; amount, quantity (of), 
number (of); stock, supply; one's 
due, one's worth; valet; jack, joker 
(cards); adj. numerous 
bay - to value, esteem; to 
enhance; to overestimate 
ki how much? 
san - worthless 
yon - a lot of, much 
valèdbouwo n. var. of bird 
valeryann n. valerian (plant); 
wandering around, roaming, 
meandering 
fè - to wander, go about aimlessly 
valèt n. jack, joker (cards); ibis 
(bird) 
Valeyenprop.n., Valeyènfprop.n. 
inhabitant of La Vallée-(de-
Jacmel) (Dept. South-East) 
valgande see valkande 
valid adj. valid 
validasyon n. validation, 
authentication 
valide v. to validate; to vouch for 
validité n. validity 
valiz n. briefcase, attaché case; 
bookbag, school bag; (woman's) 
handbag, purse; (coral) reef 
fè - li to pack one's bags, leave, 
clear out 
- lekôl bookbag, backpack 
yon - a lot of, much 
valize tou v. to take possession of, 
seize, grasp 
valkanday, valkandaj n. loitering, 
loafing 
valkande, valgande, valkanize, 
valkannen, valkanse, vôlkannize 
v. to wander around, loaf, loiter 
Valodon prop.n. brand of aspirin 
valôp, gale, galè, galèt, galèp, 
rabo, rabot, rifla n. carpenter's 
plane, large plane 
valope v. to plane (carpentry); to 
defeat resoundingly 
valorizasyon n. (economic) 
development; enhancement; 
enrichment 
945 
valorize - van 
valorize v. to give worth to, enhance 
the value of, develop 
valpa n. good-for-nothing, worthless 
person 
Valparezo prop.n. Valparaiso 
(Spanish colonial name for 
present-day Port-de-Paix) 
valpay, lavaltay, valtay n. servant; 
worthless person; trash (person; 
thing) 
/als n. waltz 
/alse v. to waltz 
fè ~ to drive (s.o.) up the wall, 
really annoy 
Valsen (Jera) prop.n. Valcin 
(Gérard) - Haitian painter 
("Cérémonie à Agoué"), 1925-
1988 
valtay see valpay 
valye see evalye 
Valyè prop.n. Vallières - founded 
1773 (Dept. North-East) 
chenn ~ Vallières mountain range 
(Dept. North-East) 
Fè ~ Fort Vallières (fortress 
immediately south of town of 
Môle Saint-Nicolas, Dept. North-
West) 
mâche mâche Fè Vallières 
Market, Iron Market (PaP) 
Valyewa prop.n., Valyewaz f.prop.n. 
inhabitant of Vallières (Dept. 
North-East) 
valyèm prop.n. Valium 
vamalore, malore n. curse, 
malediction; adj. evil; interj. be 
gone! away with thee! (to an evil 
spirit) 
van n. wind, breeze; draft; fart; 
sprain; onomat. whack! (sound of 
a blow); suffix years; cf. vlan; see 
diznevan; nevan 
ba - wind barrier forming a 
rudimentary kitchen 
ban m give me a break! get off 
it! 1 don't believe a word! 
baryè - windbreak 
bay - to leave alone; to give an 
opportunity to; to inflate, pump 
up, put air in; to air out 
bay - pou ale Lagonav/Ilavach 
to leave s.o. alone, not to push s.o. 
chache - (pou ale Lagonav/ 
llavach) to look for a way out, 
look for an excuse or alibi 
fè (yon) ~ to be windy; to fart; to 
fan 
gen ~ to be spongy (sugarcane, 
radish etc.) 
gran/gwo ~ ti lapli all talk and no 
action; blowhard, braggart, big 
talker 
gwo ~ gale, windstorm 
kou - like the wind, quickly, 
rapidly 
kout ~ gust, flurry (of wind) 
mete - nan vwal li to scamper 
off, run off, flee 
pèdi ~ to become deflated 
ponpe ~ to inflate, put air in 
pouse ~ to blow 
pran ~ to take off, succeed; to get 
a breath of fresh air 
pran (bon jan) - to go for a 
breath of fresh air; to go for an 
outing; to vacation; to evaporate 
retire ~ to deflate, take air out of 
se pa ~ pouse dlo mennen he's 
not just some nobody 
ti ~ breeze 
- an leve the wind is strong 
~ gren windstorm, squall, gale 
~ nan grenn, ~ nan lenn 
hydrocele 
946 
van - vann 
- nan kou sore neck 
- nan lestonmak (intestinal) gas 
- nan lonbrit umbilical hernia 
- nan tèt headache 
- nan zorèy pressure on the ears; 
headache 
- noran northwest wind 
- tanpèt gale, windstorm 
- - very weak (from hunger) 
- vire pilon things get really bad 
vàn, vann n. sluice, floodgate, water 
gate; fire hydrant; air-hole in side 
of charcoal pile (to regulate 
combustion) 
louvri - to open the floodgates 
(to), open the way (to) (fig.) 
vandab adj. saleable; venal, 
corruptible 
vandalis n. vandalism 
vandalizay, vandalizaj n. 
vandalizing 
vandalize v. to vandalize 
vandè n., vandèz f.n. vendor, seller; 
salesperson 
- peyi, machann pèp, machann 
peyi traitor, Benedict Arnold, 
Quisling; cf. konze 
vandèpo n. renegade, traitor 
vandikatif, vendikatif adj. 
vindictive, revengeful 
vandèm n. var. of prickly plant 
vandredi n. Friday 
~ Sakre Kè Feast of the Sacred 
Heart (last Friday in June) 
~ sen Good Friday (Friday before 
Easter) 
vandrès, vantraj, vantray, vantrès, 
vantrèy, vantrèz n. plantain or 
banana bark (used for making 
mats) 
disèt ~ dangerous, threatening 
vani, vaniy n. vanilla 
esans ~ vanilla extract 
gous pwa ~ vanilla bean 
vanipye n. good-for-nothing, bum; 
wanderer; adj. barefoot 
vanite n. vanity, conceit 
vaniy see vani 
vanjans, lavanjans n. vengeance, 
revenge; reprisal, retaliation 
tire ~ to get revenge 
vanje v. to avenge, take revenge, 
retaliate, get even, make up for 
vanjè n. avenger; adj. (re)vengeful 
vanjou see devanjou 
vanmennen n. stranger, outsider; 
parvenu, upstart 
vann v. to sell; to sell out, betray, 
denounce; to give away s.o.'s 
secret; to have s.o. done in 
(Voodoo); to have one's 
underpants showing; n. van 
(truck); see vàn 
fin ~ bak li chavire to have much 
experience; to not be a good role 
model for a young girl 
li ta ~ ou li ta achte ou, ki fin ~ 
ki fin achte s/he knows more than 
one would give him/her credit for 
li - li bay to sleep around 
(woman) 
- an detay to retail 
~ an gwo to wholesale 
~ di, ~ sevè to exact a high price 
~ gwo to sell at discount prices 
- jistis to sell justice, accept 
bribes (for judicial rulings) 
- kanè to sell grades (school); to 
promote (a student) for a bribe 
- kay li pou dômi deyè to give no 
thought to the future, not foresee 
one's needs 
~ kô li to turn on the charm; to 
work as a prostitute; to be 
947 
vann - vant 
inattentive or negligent (soldier 
esp.) 
~ kredi to sell on credit 
- nan sanpwèl/zobop to be in a 
bad fix, be in real trouble 
- nan ti gôdèt (san mezire) to 
sell off cheaply 
- nanm li to sell one's soul, sell 
out to 
~ pa tèt to sell separately or 
individually 
~ piti to sell at high price 
- pôch li to be negligent in 
business dealings 
~ sevè see ~ di 
~ sou pye to sell (crop) before 
harvested 
~ (tan)kou pate cho/patat 
tisavyen to sell like hotcakes 
~ tèt li to sell one's soul, sell out 
to 
~ tèt nèg to sell at a very high 
price 
~ timoun to place a child as a 
live-in unpaid domestic servant 
voye ~ tôt kote to export 
vanne, vannri n. winnowing tray; 
tray (for merchandise) 
vanné n. plugman (firefighter who 
unscrews fire hydrant) 
vannen v. to thrash, beat thoroughly, 
do in; to winnow; to sift 
vannèz n. winnower (person or 
mach.) 
vannivan n. donkey if am.); v. to 
whinny, neigh; to be really hungry, 
be starved 
vannri see vanne 
Vanouwatou prop.n. Vanuatu 
(Southwest Pacific) 
vanp n. vamp (woman) 
vanpi n. vampire 
vànri n. basketry, basketwork 
vanse adv. almost, nearly 
vanse, avanse v. to advance, move 
forward, go ahead, come closer; to 
progress; to move forward, pull 
up; to loan in advance of one's 
pay; adj. late; advanced (student) 
fè ~ to promote 
~ bourik li pi devan to advance 
one's cause or efforts 
~ dèyè to move back; to regress, 
lose ground 
~ rive to go forward, arrive 
~ sou to go to meet; to advance in 
a menacing way 
vansman n. advance, forward 
movement, headway 
vant n. belly, stomach; abdomen; 
womb; diarrhea; sale, selling; see 
lavant; vante 
anba ~ hidden 
anba ~ li under the protection 
(of); under the influence of 
bat ~ (yon moun) to pump (s.o. 
for information) 
dènye (tikras) ~ last-born child 
fè ~ to become well off 
(financially); to get a swollen belly 
fè ~ bouyi to scare, alarm, upset 
gen ~ to have a good appetite; to 
have diarrhea 
grenn ~ cervix of uterus; 
confidant, intimate, trusted friend 
gwo ~ pregnant; pot belly; 
kwashiorkor 
manman ~ uterus, womb; 
invisible organ attached physically 
to the womb and emotionally to 
the fetus (folk belief) 
mè ~ afterbirth, placenta 
mete ~ atè pou ri to double up 
with laughter, laugh hysterically 
948 
vant - vanyan 
moun ~ m pa fye m I do not trust 
a flatterer 
nan ~ bèf in the grand scheme of 
things 
sak ~ abdominal cavity 
ti ~ lower abdomen 
tranchman(n ~) stomach pains; 
menstrual cramps; labor 
contractions or pains 
- a remere sale with option to 
rebuy 
~ ak trip gastrointestinal 
- ba afflicted, distressed 
~ bèf astounding, amazing 
~ bouyi diarrhea 
~ deboutonnen, ~ debraye full 
stomach, stuffed 
~ fè mal stomach ache 
~ kalbas pregnant (fam.) 
~ kôde painful, torturing, piercing 
~ kondi, - kondwi, ~ kouri 
diarrhea 
~ li gwo to be pregnant 
~ li mare (disèt ne) in/with 
(extreme) anguish or suffering 
~ li vann to have one's placenta 
sold (to be used for evil magic) 
~ lib, ~ mennen, ~ pase, ~ pouri, 
~ rale, - tchouloulou(t) diarrhea 
~ mare harsh, difficult; painful 
~ mode acute and intermittent 
abdominal pain 
~ mou loose bowels 
~ ozanchè auction 
~ paswa insatiable appetite 
~ pwoteje first option to buy land 
of deceased relative 
~ sere constipated 
~ siyati author signing party (for 
new book) 
~ tonbe inverted or tipped uterus 
vanta, vantadô n. boaster, bragger 
vantay see evantay 
vantaye v. to fan (with hands); to 
blow on (with mouth); to whirl a 
sacrificial bird around at arm's 
length (Voodoo) 
vante, vant v. to blow (wind), be 
windy; to fart; to fan; to stir a fire; 
to evaporate; to go flat (wine etc.); 
to lose one's appeal (woman); to 
praise, exalt; to brag about, boast; 
to leak (news story); adj. stale, flat 
~ poze to blow gently (wind) 
~ tèt (li) to show off, brag 
vanté n. braggart 
vantèz: 
ti ~ gentle breeze 
vantfèmal n. stomach ache, 
indigestion 
vantilasyon n. separate valuation 
(accounting) 
vantilatè n. fan, ventilator (mach.) 
vantile v. to ventilate; to break 
down, value separately 
(accounting) 
fè ~ to let ring forth, resound 
vantize v. to apply a cupping-glass 
to s.o., cup (a patient) 
vantouz n. cupping-glass; plunger 
(for clogged toilet) 
vantraj, vantray see vandrès 
vantre, evantre v. to stab; to 
disembowel, eviscerate; to gut 
vantrès, vantrèy, vantrèz see 
vandrès 
vantrikil n. ventricle 
vanvan adj. very weak (from 
hunger) 
vanyan, vayan adj. robust, sturdy, 
rugged; hardworking, industrious; 
heroic, valiant, courageous 
Maladi gate Don't worry, 
you'll get better soon! 
949 
vanyans - vavit 
mete ~ sou li to summon up one's 
strength 
non ~ ritual Voodoo name 
- gason courageous man; strong 
guy; var. of plant 
vanyans n. strength, valor, courage 
vànye n. basket-maker; floodgate 
keeper 
vaoutchè n. [Eng.] (school) voucher 
vap future progressive indicator; 
onomat. zap! whack! 
fè ~ to jump for joy 
~ men li! suddenly! all of a 
sudden! 
~ presto! 
vapè, lavapè, vwapè n. steam, mist, 
vapor; cloud; fumes; steamboat 
kwit nan/ala ~ to steam (cooking) 
pran ~ to take an herbal bath 
tounen ~ to evaporate 
vaporasyon, evaporasyon n. 
evaporation 
vapore, evapore v. to destroy one's 
self-confidence; to evaporate; adj. 
easily rattled, easily distracted; 
surprised, startled; evaporated 
vaporizatè n. vaporizer 
vare v. to stab; to stick, push; to 
jump over; to rebuff, brush off 
~ sou to attack (physically); to 
take by force 
Vare I e prop.n. Varreux I e r (1st 
communal section of Delmas, 
Dept. West; 1st communal section 
of Croix-des-Bouquets, Dept. 
West) 
Vare 2 e prop.n. Varreux 2 e (2nd 
communal section of Delmas, 
Dept. West; 2nd communal section 
of Croix-des-Bouquets, Dept. 
West) 
varèz, varèy n. "Mother Hubbard," 
woman's typical peasant dress 
(with high waistline and full skirt); 
coveralls; clothes which are too 
large 
varis n. varicose veins 
varisèl n. chickenpox 
variye see varye 
varyab n./adj. variable 
varyant n. variant 
varyasyon n. variation 
varye, evarye, variye v. to vary; to 
spoil, rot; adj. broken down; 
cracked, nuts, crazy; varied 
varyete n. variety 
varyol, lavaryôl n. smallpox 
vas adj. vast, immense, enormous, 
huge 
Vasal prop.n. Vassale (4th 
communal section of Petit-Trou-
de-Nippes, Dept. Grand'Anse) 
vasektomi see vazektomi 
vasiye v. [Fr.] to vacillate, waver; to 
sway (to and fro), wobble 
vaskilè adj. vascular 
Vasovi prop.n. Warsaw (Poland) 
Vastè (bawon Ponpe Valanten) 
prop.n. Vastey (baron Pompée 
Valentin) - Haitian writer and 
secretary of Henry Christophe 
(1735-1820) 
vat see adyovat 
vatèryen see voryen 
vatevyen see vayevyen 
vatfèfout! interj. [Fr.] go fuck 
yourself, fuck you! 
Vatikan prop.n. Vatican; Vatican 
City 
vatye, evatye v. to have a bowel 
movement; cf. watè 
vav n. valve 
flôch ~ flush valve 
vavit n. diarrhea 
950 
vay - vè 
vay (bèf) f.n. cow (cf. vach; 
manman bèf) 
vayaii see vanyan 
vayans, vayantiz n. courage, 
bravery; valor, gallantry 
vaye v. to scratch soil to form a sort 
of nest (chicken, dog) 
vayevyen, vaevyen, vatevyen n. 
comings and goings; business trip; 
vagabond, vagrant 
fè - to come and go, go back and 
forth; to commute; to engage in 
trade; to serve as liaison 
vaykevay adv. carelessly, 
haphazardly 
vayzgrip n. vise grip (mach.) 
vaz n. chamber pot, bedpan 
~ grip vise grip 
Vaz prop.n. Des Vases (2nd 
communal section of Arcahaie, 
Dept. West) 
vazektomi, vasektomi n. vasectomy 
vazlin n. vaseline, petroleum jelly 
VCR n. VCR, video cassette 
recorder 
ve (letter) v; n. vow, promise; wish; 
chevron 
an ~ bound by a vow 
fè ~ to take vows (as priest etc.) 
meyè ~ best wishes 
si Dye ~ God willing 
~ pa to refuse (to), be unwilling 
(to) 
~ sak vow to wear burlap 
underclothing as protection 
against evil eye (Voodoo) 
vè n. glass (substance; drinking); 
(eye)glasses; lens; worm; maggot; 
nerve; verse; adj. green; prep. 
around, about; [Fr.] toward(s); 
adv. approximately; o'clock 
fè ~ to become infested with worms 
gwo - won roundworm, ascaris 
jete pase ~ to pass worms 
kou ~ nan vyann to squirm, toss 
and turn 
kriz - parasitic infestation 
maladi ti ~ won, maladi 
maladi ~ wouj various var. of 
poultry disease 
manman ~ very large worm 
nan ~ fake, phony 
poze ~ to apply a cupping-glass 
(to. s.o.) 
pran bon ~ dlo mete la to be 
ready for trouble, be prepared for 
the worst 
rann ~ to vomit worms; to pass 
worms 
renmèd - worm medicine 
se pa premye ~ ki kraze nan 
kabare this is not the first time 
(this has happened), it's not all 
that serious 
sou ~ coaster; doily 
ti ~ kwôk hookworm 
- ak bèk beaker (chem.) 
~ akwok hookworm 
~ aswa silkworm 
~ byè beer mug 
~ di wire worm 
~ ditè see ~ tè 
- farin mealworm 
- fouye leafminer (worm) 
~ fwi fruitworm 
~ konkonm cucumber worm 
~ kontak contact lenses 
~ koup wine glass 
~ nan gôj to have worms 
~ pitimi sorghum midge 
- rasin cabbage maggot 
- solitè(s) tapeworm; threadworm, 
pinwoim 
- soudé welding-helmet goggles 
951 
vanyans - Venezyelyen 
~ tè, ~ ditè earthworm 
- zepeng pinworm, threadworm 
~ (zepi) mayi corn ear maggot 
voye yon ~ monte to down a 
glass, take a drink (of alcohol) 
vanyans n. verb 
vèbal adj. verbal; (verbally) 
disrespectful or unrestrained; 
uncouth, vulgar 
vèble n. acne 
vèbyaj n. verbiage, wordiness, long-
windedness 
vèdegri n. misery, suffering; adj. 
verdigris 
vedèt n. popular actor/actress, star; 
sports star; launch; patrol boat 
mete an ~ to highlight, put in the 
limelight 
mo ~ headword 
vèdi, lavèdi n. greenery; verdure 
vèdik, vendik n. verdict 
vedin n. var. of mango 
vèditè n. person, human being 
(Voodoo) 
vèdvenn see vèvenn 
vèf n. widower 
vèg n. yardarm (ship) 
vegle, avegle v. to blind; to dazzle, 
bedazzle 
vègôy: 
san ~ shameless; shamelessly 
VEH see kat-ve-e-ach (4VEH) 
vèj n. [Fr.] penis 
vejetal adj. vegetal 
vejetaryen n./adj. vegetarian; cf. 
moun ki pa manje vyann 
vejetasyon n. vegetation 
vejetatif adj. vegetative 
vejete v. to vegetate; to barely 
survive, barely hang on 
vèjin, dèj n. man's thimble 
(supposedly larger) 
veksan adj. insulting, humiliating 
veksasyon n. insult, humiliation 
vekse, vèkse v. to offend, upset, ve 
humiliate; to insult; to mortify; to 
harass; adj. disappointed 
vektè n. carrier, vector (of a virus) 
Velekete f.prop.n. ugly female 
Voodoo spirit 
velo n. [Fr.] bike, bicycle; cf. bekàn 
vèlvètbin n. var. of fertilizer 
vèmichèt n. kestrel, small hawk 
vèmifij n. vermifuge 
vèmikilit. vermiculite (for aiding in 
growth of seedlings) 
vèmin n. vermin, pest, parasite; 
worm; louse; rascal; prostitute 
vèmisèl, vemisèl, venmisèl n. 
vermicelli; Spanish moss 
vèmiyon n. vermilion, scarlet 
Vèmontprop.n. Vermont (USA) 
vèmouchèt n. Ridgway's hawk 
ven adj. [Fr.] vain 
an ~ in vain, fruitlessly 
~ jen kat avril envy, longing 
~ kann sugarcane juice 
ven, vent num. twenty; see venn 
fè ~ pa fè venteyen to go not a 
step further 
vènakilè, venakilè n./adj. 
vernacular 
vendik see vèdik 
vendikatif see vandikatif 
venen n. venom 
venerab, vennerab adj. venerable 
venerasyon, vennerasyon n. 
veneration 
venere, vennere v. to venerate 
veneryèn adj. venereal 
Venezyela, Venezwela prop.n. 
Venezuela 
Venezyelyen, Venezwelyen prop.n., 
Venezyelyèn, Venezwelyèn 
952 
vèni - vere 
f.prop.n. Venezuelan 
vèni n. varnish; calumny; cavity 
varnish sealer (dentistry); v. to 
varnish; to discredit, disparage; 
adj. glazed; polished, shiny, glossy 
bay jete ~ sou, lage ~ sou, 
lanse ~ sou, pase ~ sou, voye ~ 
sou to discredit, disparage; to 
curse, put a hex on, jinx 
soulye ~ patent-leather shoe 
~ do to slander, backbite 
~ pou zong nail polish 
Venisprop.n. Venus 
vènisaj n. preview at art gallery 
Venizprop.n. Venice 
venk v. to vanquish, defeat, 
overcome; to conquer 
venkann n. sugarcane juice (before 
boiling) 
vènkatrè see vennkatrè 
venkè n. winner; conqueror, victor; 
adj. victorious 
venmisèl see vèmisèl 
venn n. vein; artery; blood vessel; 
tendon; frenum of penis; muscle; 
strip, vein (land; ore etc.); num. 
twenty (preceding de, twa, kat, 
senk, sis, sèt); see ven 
gwo ~ artery 
gwo ~ nan janm varicose vein(s) 
nan ~ intravenous 
pa gen - to be impotent 
~ chantrèl vocal cords 
~ dèyè pye Achilles tendon 
~ fole swollen lymphatics 
~ foule bruise, contusion; sprain 
~ kè artery 
~ latè root 
~ san fonse vein 
~ san wouj artery 
~ sansib sensitive point, tender 
spot; male appendage, penis 
~ tèt fontanel 
venndegede, venndegende adj. 
staunch, steadfast, firm 
vennde(gôl) n. uncomfortable bed/ 
bunk/pallet 
vennerab see venerab 
vennerasyon see venerasyon 
vennere see venere 
vennkat num. twenty-four 
~ sou ~ day and night, twenty-four 
hours a day 
vennkatrè, vènkatrè n. twenty-four 
hours; scorpionfish; var. of beetle-
like poisonous insect (whose bite 
supposedly leads to death within 
twenty-four hours) 
Vennvendeng, Vennwendeng see 
Vlengbendeng 
Vensan (mon) prop.n. Mount 
Vincent (2,024 meters), Dept. 
Grand'Anse 
Vensan (Estenyo - pronounced: Es-
te-nyo) prop.n. Vincent (Sténio) -
president of Haiti, 1930-1941 
vent see ven 
ventan n. twenty years 
ventèn n. about twenty 
nan ~ in one's twenties 
venteyen num. twenty-one; n. 
blackjack (var. of card game) 
travèse ~ pas dlo ak ~ kafou to 
travel far and wide 
venteyinyèm, venteennyèm adj. 
twenty-first 
ventyèm adj. twentieth 
venyèl (pronounced: ve-nyèl) adj. 
venial 
vèp n. vespers 
vepa v. to refuse (to), be unwilling 
(to) 
vèpita adv. a little bit later 
vere adj. worm-ridden 
953 
Veresyen - vètebre 
Veresyen, Veresyèn see Veretyen, 
Veretyèn 
vèrèt, verèt n. smallpox; var. of 
poultry disease 
grave ~ pockmark 
Vèrèt prop.n. Verrettes - founded 
1720 (Dept. Artibonite) 
Veretyen, Veresyen prop.n., 
Veretyèn, Veresyèn fprop.n. 
inhabitant of Verrettes (Dept. 
Artibonite) 
veri n. wart 
veridik adj. utterly frank, truthful; 
true 
verifikasyon n. verification 
verifye v. to check, verify, inspect, 
audit 
veritab adj. real, actual, true; see 
lamveritab 
veritableman adv. [Fr.] truthfully 
verite, laverite n. truth 
an ~ truly, frankly; indeed, quite 
bay ~ to level with 
di (yon moun) de ~ to cuss out, 
swear at 
mete ~ sou tanbou to bring out 
into the open, reveal the truth 
~ parèt sou tanbou the truth 
comes out into the open 
- sou tanbou, kout tanbou ~ 
tou pi self-evident truth; absolute 
truth, real story 
vès n. (suit) coat, sports coat, jacket; 
cf. levit 
~ kwaze blazer (clothing) 
vèsan n. [Fr.] slope, embankment 
Vèsay prop.n. Versailles (France) 
vèse n. verse (Bible); v. to vomit; to 
pour; to spill; to make a payment; 
n. ritual pouring of drops of liquid 
on ground for the dead (Voodoo) 
~ anba to have vaginal discharge 
~ nan to go deeply into, examine 
thoroughly; to be an expert in 
~ san to shed blood 
vèsè, vèse n. verse (Bible) 
vesèl, vèsèl n. dishes; chinaware 
fè lave ~ to do (the) dishes 
machin ~ dishwasher 
vèselye, veselye n. china cabinet, 
cupboard 
vesi n. bladder; inner lining of 
soccer ball etc. 
~ glas ice pack (med.) 
vèsis prep, versus 
vèsivèsa adj. versatile 
vèsman n. payment; deposit; 
installment; vomit; vomiting 
~ san bloodshed 
veso, vèso n. vessel or container (for 
cooking and eating); blood vessel; 
vessel, ship; Aquarius (zodiac) 
~ pye sandal 
Vespazyen prop.n. Vespasian 
(emperor of Rome, 69-79 A.D.) 
veste v. to wear jacket or (suit) coat 
vestibil n. vestibule, lobby 
vestij n. vestige, remnant, remains 
veston n. [Fr.] (dress) coat 
vestyè n. locker room, dressing 
room 
vèsyon n. version; translation into 
one's native language 
vet see veterinè 
vèt adj. green; green, unripe; lush; 
livid (with anger) 
kadav ~ fresh corpse 
- kou mi both young and old; 
everything goes, without 
exception 
vètè n. earthworm 
vètèb n. vertebra 
vètebral adj. vertebral 
vètebre n./adj. vertebrate 
954 
vètèks - vidany 
vètèks n. vertex (math.) 
veteran n. veteran 
veterinè, vet n. veterinarian; 
veterinary science; adj. veterinary 
ajan ~ livestock inspector 
vèti n. virtue; see avèti 
vètij n. dizziness, vertigo, light-
headedness 
gen ~ to be dizzy 
vètikal adj. vertical; candid, 
forthright, direct 
vètikalman adv. vertically 
vetivè, vètivè n. vetiver grass 
vètman n. [Fr.] clothes; cf. rad 
veto n. veto 
vètoliv adj. olive-green 
vetriyol see vitriyôl 
Vètyèprop.n. Vertières (site above 
Cape Haitian of final French 
defeat, 18 Nov. 1803) 
vèv f.n. widow 
an ~ in fine fettle, in high spirits 
vèvè, desen n. ritual design traced 
with cornmeal on ground of 
peristyle to invoke a specific 
Voodoo spirit 
pa konn ki ~ pou li trase not to 
know which way to turn, not know 
what to do 
vèvenn, vèdvenn, vèven n. vervain, 
verbena 
fèy ~ calming potion 
Var.: ~ blan, ~ karayib/ke rat, ~ 
krèt kôk, ~ pyan(t), - vyolèt 
Vewitprop.n. V-8 juice 
vewôl n. syphilis 
ti ~ smallpox 
vewon: 
je - cross-eyed 
Vewon prop.n. Vérone (1st 
communal section of Les Anglais, 
Dept. South) 
Vewonik f.prop.n. Veronica 
Vewonyè prop.n. Véronière (2nd 
communal section of Chantai, 
Dept. South) 
vèwouye v. [Fr.] to bolt, lock 
vèy n. (funeral) wake; watch, vigil; 
dick, cock (penis) 
fè ~ to participate in a funeral wake 
~ denwi {pronounced: de-nwi) 
eventide prayer service 
veyatif adj. vigilant, watchful, alert, 
cautious, wary, prudent, careful; 
attentive; distrustful, mistrustful 
veye n. (funeral) wake; v. to be 
careful, watch out for; to look 
after, watch over, guard, keep an 
eye on; to attend, pay attention to; 
to spy on; to participate in a 
funeral wake 
~ ko ou! ~ zo ou! watch out! be 
careful! 
veyèz n. night-light 
an ~ on a back shelf, semi-
forgotten 
veyikil n. [Fr.] vehicle; cf. machin 
veyikile v. [Fr.] to convey, transport 
vezikil bilyè n. [Fr] gallbladder 
Veziv prop.n. Vesuvius 
vezou n. sugarcane beverage 
vi n. view; prep, considering [Fr.]; 
see lavi; pèdi 
fè ~ li to get along, make out 
pa gen gran - sickly, frail 
vibrasyon n. vibration 
vibre v. to vibrate; adj. vibrant; 
strong, resistant 
vibreken see vilbreken 
vid adj. empty, bare; vacant; hollow; 
n. empty spot; emptiness; vacancy; 
void; vacuum 
vidany, vidanj n. (overly) large 
quantity; emptying 
955 
vide - Vikwès 
dlo ~ polluted waste water, 
contaminated water 
ponp ~ sump pump 
vide v. to empty, dump; to pour 
(out); to rain hard; to deal (blows); 
to drain, secrete; to spill; to 
collapse, cave in; to be run down, 
be emaciated; to overwhelm; to 
rush in on 
- anba (kalot ets.) to beat long 
and hard 
- atè to drop or fall on ground; 
to knock down; to gun down, 
kill 
~ baton sou to cane, beat 
~ bwa sou to beat with a stick 
~ desann to collapse, cave in, sink 
- dlo glase nan/sou to calm 
down, pacify, placate (person; 
situation) 
~ kè/konsyans li to open one's 
heart, pour out one's soul, get 
(s.thg.) off one's chest 
~ ko li to rush away, rush off 
- (ko li) atè to fall down 
~ lanmo to shed blood 
~ sou to overwhelm, submerge, 
engulf; to rush aggressively 
toward (s.o.) 
~ vant to have a bowel movement 
~ wôch (sou) to stone, throw 
rocks (at) 
~ yon kamyon to empty out, steal 
everything 
~ yon kay to search thoroughly; to 
empty out, steal everything 
vidé: 
~ latrin person who cleans privies 
or outhouses; cf. bayakou 
videyo(tep) n. video (cassette), 
videotape 
vidiran(t) n. lifetime; adj. lifelong 
vif adj. lively, animated; intense; 
adv. intensely 
viga v. to wait for scraps, wait for 
handouts 
vigè n. vigor 
an ~ in force 
bay ~ to invigorate, fortify 
vigil n. comma (punct.) 
veye tout ~ to pay attention to 
every last detail 
VIH acron. viris iminodefisyans 
moun (virus d'immunodéficience 
humaine) HIV 
vijil n. vigil 
Vijilprop.n. Virgil; Virgile (Dept. 
South) 
vijilan adj. vigilant, watchful 
mete li ~ to be on the alert 
vijilans n. vigilance, watchfulness 
brigad ~ citizens' vigilance patrol, 
neighborhood watch group 
Vijini, Vijinya prop.n. Virginia 
(USA) 
~ Oksidantal, ~ Delwès, Wès ~ 
West Virginia (USA) 
vijinite, vijinte n. virginity 
vikè n. vicar, curate 
viking prop, n./adj. Viking 
Viks prop.n. Vicks 
viktim n. victim, prey; v. to be 
victimized 
Viktô prop.n. Victor; see madan 
Viktorin (larivyè) prop.n. Victorine 
river (near Cerca-la-Source, 
Depts. North-East and Center) 
viktorye adj. victorious 
Viktôryen prop.n., Viktôryèn 
f prop.n. inhabitant of La Victoire 
(Dept. North) 
viktwa see laviktwa 
pote ~ sou to defeat 
Vikwès, Vyekes (zile) prop.n. 
956 
vil-vini 
Vieques (Island) - southeast of 
Puerto Rico 
vil n. city, town 
vila n. villa 
Vila prop.n. Villars (1st communal 
section of Petite-Rivière-de-
l'Artibonite, Dept. Artibonite) 
Vila Dakèy prop.n. Villa d'Accueil 
(building housing office of the 
Prime Minister of Haiti, at route 
Pan-Américaine and Delmas 60) 
vilaj n. village 
Vilaj de Dye prop.n. Village de Dieu 
(disadvantaged area of PaP) 
Vilaj Demokrasiprop.n. Village 
Démocratie (disadvantaged area of 
PaP, on site of former Fort-
Dimanche) 
Vilaj (Istorik) Charyeprop.n. 
Village (Historique) Charrier 
(disadvantaged area of Cape 
Haitian, Dept. North) 
Vilaj Lamotprop.n. Village 
Lamothe (area of PaP off Delmas 
33) 
Vilaj Lapé prop.n. Village de la 
Paix (disadvantaged area of PaP) 
Vilaj Site Plis see Site Plis 
vilaj wa n. [Fr.] villager; adj. village 
vilay, vilaj n. village; cf. bouk 
Vilbonè prop.n. Ville-Bonheur 
(Dept. Center) 
vilbreken, vibreken n. brace and 
bit; drill (tool); crankshaft 
Vilè (Etzè)prop.n. Vilaire (Etzer) -
Haitian poet (1872-1951) 
vilganize, vilkanize v. to vulcanize 
(tires) 
vilgarite n. [Fr.] vulgarity 
vilgarizasyon n. [Fr.] popularization 
(making s.thg. become common 
knowledge) 
vilgarize v. to popularize (make 
s.thg. become common 
knowledge) 
vilgè adj., vilgèzf.adj. vulgar, 
coarse, obscene 
vilipandans n. vilification 
vilipande v. to vilify, revile, inveigh 
against 
vilipandé n. vilifier, reviler 
vilkanize see vilganize 
vilnerab adj. [Fr.] vulnerable 
Vilniyis prop.n. Vilnius (Lithuania) 
vilodwôm n. rickety old house 
Vilokan, Lavilokan prop.n. Ville-
aux-Camps (mythical capital of 
the Voodoo spirits; place of origin 
of the Voodoo spirits) 
vilv n. [Fr] vulva 
viman n. transfer of funds 
vin see vini 
- jwenn in addition, given that, 
seen that 
- m pa lo (contr. vini pou m pale 
ak ou) come here and let me talk 
to you 
vinèg n. vinegar; home-made spiced 
vinegar 
bay ~ to turn the rope fast (in 
jump rope) 
pran - to jump the rope fast 
vinegrèt: 
sôs ~ vinaigrette sauce (mixture of 
vinegar, olive oil, salt, pepper, and 
occ. mustard powder) 
vinffè v. to become, turn out to be 
vini, vin v. to come; to become; to 
come, ejaculate, reach orgasm (cf 
voye); to overflow (water); awe. to 
happen to (by chance), be lucky 
enough to; used to indicate 
movement towards the speaker; n. 
coming, arrival 
957 
vini - vire 
(byen) ~ to grow or develop 
satisfactorily, flourish, thrive 
fè ~ to order, send for; to import 
mal (pou) ~ to experience 
difficulty in growth 
moun nèg ~ outsider, stranger, 
newcomer 
Pa vini ou ap vini? You'll see 
(when you're older and wiser) 
se pa vini ou ki pou sove ou there 
is no way out; to be past the point 
of no return; be careful! 
~ ak to present, put forth 
- ak li sou to touch upon (in 
discussion), discuss in passing, 
mention 
~ anvan to precede 
- byen robust, hale, hearty 
~ byen ak to become friends with 
- dèyè to come (to) get, come for, 
go after 
~ do mi mouri to become fixed or 
established 
~ donk! come on now! 
~ dwa(t) to straighten up (one's 
body) 
- gen(yen) there comes along 
~ jwenn in addition; as it happens, 
incidentally 
~ konnen to find out, learn about 
~ mwens, - pi pit! to decrease 
- nan tèt (of a Voodoo spirit) to 
possess, temporarily take over 
one's mind and body (same as 
monte) 
~ pa byen ak (yon moun) to 
break off relations with (s.o.) 
- pale to come up, come under 
discussion 
~ pi lou to put on weight 
~ pi mal to worsen, deteriorate 
- pi piti to shrink 
~ pou to intend, be out to; to 
belong to 
~ pou bon to show promise, show 
potential 
~ pran come and get it!; to be a 
go-getter; to be aggressive 
~ soti to come out of 
- sou do pye (yon moun) to fall 
back on, rely on once again, come 
crawling back 
~ sou moun to become 
acceptable; to become popular or 
in style 
~ sou (yon koze) to mention, 
bring up (a subject) 
~ tèt anba to turn upside down 
~ tonbe to come down (with) 
- tounen to become 
~ wè to visit; needless to say, let 
alone; what if, but suppose 
~ wè devan to surpass, outdo 
vinyèt see viyèt 
vip! onomat. pow! whack! 
~ ay tit for tat, one thing leads 
necessarily to another 
~ pip zip (to express sudden fall) 
~ pip kalebouyi breadfruit (fam.; 
cf. lamveritab); no count, 
unimportant, anything goes 
vipè, vlipè n. [Fr.] viper 
viraj n. turn, swerve 
viray n. dizziness, giddiness; turn, 
swerve 
vire n. turn, change of direction; 
walk, stroll; drive; pirouette; v. to 
turn, change direction; to turn, 
spin; to turn around; to fidget; to 
deceive, fool; adj. spiral; see bil 
fè yon (ti) ~ to take a stroll, go for 
a (little) walk; to step out for a 
moment 
fè yon - to make a turn; to go 
958 
vire - visye 
around (s.thg.); to go for/take a 
walk 
pa ~ lang li not to mince words 
san ~ gade dèyè immediately; 
fast; without restraint; without a 
second thought, without 
hesitation, all the way; without 
remorse 
tèt li ~ he is dizzy or giddy 
ti ~ short stroll/walk 
~ ale to turn around and leave 
- bouch (li) to go back on one's 
word 
- chapo li dèyè tèt li to get mad, 
get angry 
- do (bay) to turn one's back on, 
ignore, give (s.o.) the cold 
shoulder; to desert 
- gade to turn around, turn to look 
- kè li to turn (oneself) around; to 
squirm 
~ lang li to change one's story 
- lanvè to turn inside out 
~ li de bè to make one indecisive 
or uncertain 
~ li vire every time one turns 
around 
~ pawèl (li) to go back on one's 
word; to misquote, distort (what 
was said) 
~ pôs la to change the radio 
station 
~ talon li to turn on one's heels 
~ tè to turn over the soil, plow 
~ tèt gade to look back, turn 
around 
~ tèt (yon moun) to attract, 
charm, captivate (s.o.) 
~ tètanba to turn upside-down; to 
spoil, mess up; to ransack 
~ tounen see viretounen 
~ ~ to turn around and around 
- voye goings-on, lifestyle (usu. 
Pej) 
~ won see virewon 
viretounen v. to turn back, turn 
around, make a U-turn; to move 
back and forth; to pull back and 
forth; to come and go; to turn 
round and round, turn in circles, 
turn every which way; to give 
(s.o.) the run-around; to pester, 
annoy; comings and goings, 
running around, activities; ups and 
downs; errands; events, 
happenings; very small business; 
adv. at every moment, unceasingly, 
incessantly 
ale nan ~ to flee Haiti by boat 
(illegally) 
fè - to go back and forth 
virewon n. U-turn; tour; electoral 
campaign tour; v. to go for a walk 
or drive; to go around, circulate, 
look at things; to go around in 
circles, get nowhere, spin one's 
wheels 
fè yon - to wander around 
viril adj. virile, strong; cf. gason 
virilité n. [Fr.] virility 
viiis if. virus 
-SIDA HIV positive 
vis n. vice, sin; screw; vise; adj. 
vice, deputy 
gen - to be thievish; to be dissolute 
nan - dissolute 
tout - tout kondisyon anything 
goes (in games) 
vise v. to screw (on, in) 
- vèsa vice versa 
viswa n. viceroy 
visye adj., visyèz fadj. bad, greedy; 
crooked, dishonest, thievish, 
thieving; n. small-time thief, crook 
9SQ 
vit - vivan 
fè - to engage in fraudulent or 
illegal acts 
ti ~ petty thief; small woodcarved 
figure with erect penis hidden by a 
barrel 
vit n. glass; window; windowpane; 
vehicle window; adv. fast, quickly, 
rapidly 
fè - to hurry (up), rush 
- devan windshield (car) 
~ dèyè rear window (car) 
~ e prese right away, promptly 
- fimen, ~ fime tinted car window 
~ (machin) windshield; car 
window 
- tente tinted window (in 
véhiculé) 
vital adj. vital, essential 
vitalité n. vitality, energy 
vitalize v. to vitalize, energize; cfi 
dinamize 
vitametènam, vitametènanm adv. 
eternally, forever, forever and 
ever; and so on ... and so forth; 
adj. eternal 
vitamin n. vitamin 
vitchelo, vitelyo see vityelo 
viteprese adv. right away, promptly 
vitès n. speed, haste, swiftness, 
rapidity; rate; speeding; gear 
(mach.); domestic bliss 
an a gran ~ fast, immediately 
ba ~ gearshift lever 
chanje antre ~ to shift gears 
chanjman ~ gearshift, (stick) 
shift; shifting (of gears) 
fè (twôp) ~ to speed 
gen menm ~ to live in harmony 
pase/pran (yon lot) ~ to shift 
gears 
pase/pran yon ~ siperyè to go 
into high gear (fig.) 
~ la pa rantre to slip a gear, slip 
gears (mach.) 
~ siperyè high gear 
vitman adv. quickly 
vito n. stained-glass window(s) 
vitre v. to glaze, put in glass; adj. 
glass (door etc.) 
vitrin n. glass cabinet; shop window, 
display window, display case 
vitriye n. glazier 
vitriyôl, vetriyol n. vitriol 
bay kout ~ illegal action of 
putting a poisonous acid under the 
wings and feathers of a cock, so as 
to blind the other cock and to 
irritate its wounds 
vityelo, vitchelo, vitelyo: 
vini sou de ~ li to come on foot 
(from name of shoes 
manufactured by Vitiello family) 
vityoz n. virtuoso 
viv v. to live, exist; to inhabit; to live 
on, subsist; to experience, live 
through; interj. long live!; n. 
starchy vegetables or grains (rice, 
millet, cornmeal, sweet potato, 
manioc, yam, plantain etc.); 
weever (fish) 
pa mande pase ~ to just want to 
live; to want to really live it up 
rele ~ to acclaim, approve 
~ byen to live in harmony 
~ pou moun to care overly about 
what people think or say about 
oneself 
~ tankou chen ak chat to be 
constantly quarreling 
viv, vivanno, vivano n. sand 
tilefish; var. of butterfish 
vivab adj. livable 
vivan n. human being; adj. alive, 
living; lively, animated 
Qfin 
vivandyè - vie 
kretyen ~ human being 
nan ~ li during his/her lifetime 
vivandyè f.n. [Fr.] vivandière, 
woman who accompanies troops 
selling food and drink 
vivanno, vivano see viv 
vivasite n. vivacity 
vivasyon n. affection, warmth 
vivè n. high-liver, pleasure seeker, 
hedonist 
vivi n. zombi; soul magically 
extracted from its body (Voodoo) 
~ (dangriyen/dekonpwèt) 
habitual giggler, silly goose, 
airhead 
Vivimichèl prop.n. Vivy-Mitchell 
(wealthy area between Delmas and 
Pétion-Ville, Dept. West) 
viwôl n. sisal ring for head harness 
(donkey etc.); washer (for bolt) 
viwonan adj. surrounding, nearby 
viwondèl see iwondèl 
viwonen see viwonnen 
viwonman see anviwônman 
viwonn n. perimeter; neighborhood; 
see laviwonn 
fè ~ to circle, go around 
viwonnay n. surroundings, 
environment 
viwonndede see laviwonndede 
fè yon ~ to walk around, go 
around 
viwonnen, viwonen, viyonnen v. to 
circle, go around; to surround, 
encircle 
Viye prop.n. Vignier (Dept. West) 
viyèt, vinyèt: 
~ enspeksyon machin auto 
inspection sticker 
Viyi see Lyèv 
viyonnen see viwonnen 
viza n. visa 
vizaj see vizay 
vizavi prep. facing, opposite, across 
from; concerning, about, in 
relation to 
vizay, vizaj n. face; cf. figi 
de ~ by face 
~ pou ~ face to face 
vize v. to target, aim (at), take aim; 
[Fr.] to stamp, approve; [Fr.] to 
grant or affix a visa; n. taiget 
vizè n. sharpshooter, good shot; 
skillful marble-player 
vizib adj. visible, clear 
viziblite, vizibilite n. visibility 
vizit n. visit; visitor, guest 
fè (yon) ~ to visit, pay a visit 
fè ~ delye to visit the scene of the 
crime 
rann (yon moun yon) ~ to visit, 
pay a visit 
~ doktè (any) short visit 
vizite v. to visit, call on; to visit, see, 
explore 
vizitè 72., vizitèz fn. visitor, guest 
vizyalize v. [Fr] to visualize 
vizyè n. visor 
vizyèl adj. visual 
vizyon n. vision, dream, fantasy, 
apparition, revelation(s); eyesight, 
vision; viewpoint 
fè ~ to have a vision/revelation 
vizyonè, vizyonnè n. visionary, 
dreamer, romanticist 
vizyonnen v. to envision; to have a 
vision 
vlan!, van! onomat. whack! (sound 
of a blow) 
vlap! onomat. sound of a whiplash; 
see vloup! 
vie v. to want, wish, will; to begin to, 
tend to, be inclined to 
pa - wè (ni pè ni pap), pa -
961 
vlen - volan 
tande, pa ~ wè ak je to dislike; to 
despise, hate; to chase off, chase 
away 
- di to mean, signify, prove; to 
imply 
~ ou pa, ~ pa ~ like it or not 
vlen n. membrane; tendon, sinew 
~ ~ sinewy, lean, devoid of fat 
Vlengbendeng, Blengbendeng, 
Blengendeng, Blennvendeng, 
Mafwendeng, Vennvendeng, 
Vennwendengprop.n. secret 
society of evildoers; member of 
same 
vlengenden adj. shabby, shoddy, 
scrubby 
vlimè n. phlegm, mucus 
vling! see vloup! 
vlipè see vipè 
vlope v. to wrap (up); to envelop, 
cover; to entwine; to fold (up); to 
deceive; adj. ineffectual 
fè yon ~ ak to have sexual 
relations with 
papye ~ wrapping paper 
vlou n. velvet; adj. velvety, smooth 
vloup! floup! foup! kloup! vlap! 
vling! voup! onomat. zip! swoop! 
zap! pop! (to express sudden 
action) 
vmm onomat. sound of motor 
accelerating 
vo n. calf; veal; v. to be worth; to 
cost; to equal; to be valid; adj. 
valuable, worthy 
pa ~ useless person or animal 
pa ~ (ni) pip (ni) tabak to be 
worth nothing 
pa ~ yon kout pete (nan bounda 
chwal) not to be worth a (tinker's) 
damn, not worth a plugged nickel 
- anyen good-for-nothing 
~ lapenn to be worth the trouble 
vodou, vodoun n. dance to the 
sacred spirits; Voodoo; cf. the 
more colloquial afè lwa, sévis lwa 
fè ~ to perform a Voodoo dance 
[not to be confused with sévi lwa 
to practice the Voodoo religion] 
papa ~ Voodoo spirit one is 
addressing or singing about 
~ an mwen my protector, my 
guardian angel 
vodouyizan n./adj. Voodooist; cf. 
sèvitè 
Vodrèyprop.n. Vaudreuil (above 
Cape Haitian, Dept. North) 
vôg n. bragging 
an ~ stylish, fashionable; in big 
supply 
fè ~ to brag, boast 
voge v. to sail, drift 
vokabilè n. vocabulary; glossary 
vokal adj. vocal 
vokalis n. vocalist 
vokasyon n. vocation, calling 
vokatif n./adj. vocative (gram.) 
voksal n. obscenity; bad or dirty 
action; trash, crud; uproar, 
commotion, hubbub; adj. dirty, 
unclean; huge, enormous 
fè ~ to swear, cuss, use foul 
language 
vôl n. theft, robbery; rip-off; flight; 
volt 
fè ~ to depart, die 
pran ~ to take off, take flight 
(airplane) 
~ (a) men ame armed robbery; 
mugging 
volaj see volay 
volan n. steering wheel; flounce, 
frill; var. of fish; adj. temporary; 
see soukoup 
962 
volay - Voltè 
bwa ~ steering column 
bwat ~ power-steering gear box 
kout ~ sudden turn, swerve 
volay, volaj: 
bèt ~ poultry, fowl 
voldefas see voltefas 
Vôldwogprop.n. Voldrogue (1st 
communal section of Jérémie, 
Dept. Grand'Anse) 
Bas ~ Basse-Voldrogue 
Ot ~ Haute-Voldrogue 
Vôldwèg, Lavôdwèg, Lavôldwèg 
(larivyè) prop.n. Voldrogue river 
(between Jérémie and Roseaux, 
Dept. Grand'Anse) 
Vôldwogè prop.n., Vôldwogèz 
f.prop.n. inhabitant of Voldrogue 
(Dept. Grand'Anse) 
vole v. to fly; to leave, depart; to 
spring forward, leap, jump up; to 
jump over, leap over; to steal, rob; 
n. beating, whipping 
fè ~ to chase away/off 
tout ~ at high speed 
~ ale to fly to 
~ gadyè, - gagé to fly the coop, 
flee, escape 
~ kite to fly off 
~ moute desann to fly up and 
down 
~ moute sou to jump onto 
~ nan kolèt yon moun to grab 
s.o. by the collar, aggress 
- ponpe like it or not 
- ponpe danse to jump up and 
down (for joy) 
~ sôti to fly up, fly away; to rush 
out of 
~ sove kite to scamper away 
~ tounen to fly back 
volé n. Venetian blinds; section, part; 
heading 
vôlè, volé, vôlô n. thief, robber, 
crook; v. to steal, rob 
~ bous pickpocket 
~ je gade to steal a glance 
- mo, ~ ko grave-robber 
~ twa jou anvan ehat/anvan 
lapousyè kale bom thief, very 
experienced thief 
volebôl n. volleyball 
vôlèz f.n. thief 
volim n. volume, quantity; volume, 
loudness; volume, book 
bay ~ to increase the volume 
yon ~ many, much, a lot of, a 
number of 
volin n. volley of blows, thrashing 
volkan, volkan n. volcano 
vàlkanik adj. volcanic, igneous 
vôlkannen v. to erupt 
volkannize v. to vulcanize; see 
valkande 
vôlô see vôlè 
~ kôk var. of bird 
volontaris n. voluntaiyist 
volontarya n. voluntary service 
volonté, lavolonte n. will, 
determination, desire; will power 
bon ~ willingness; goodwill; 
volunteerism 
fè ~ to decide to 
volonté n./adj. volunteer; adj. 
willful, stubborn, obstinate, 
opinionated; headstrong; voluntary 
- lapé Peace Corps volunteer 
- Sekirite Nasyonal (Volontaires 
de la Sécurité Nationale) militia 
volontèman adv. voluntarily, 
willingly 
volt n. (electric) volt 
vôltaj n. voltage 
voltay n. unstable person 
Voltè, Vôltèprop.n. Voltaire (French 
963 
voltefas - voumvoum 
thinker and writer, 1694-1778) 
voltefas, voldefas, voltefas n. 
about-face, about turn 
fè ~ to turn around 
voltij n. leap, jump, hop; small 
group of revelers walking in front 
of a bann madigra (q.v.) 
voltije v. to leap, jump, hop, flit 
about; to throw; to splash (up); to 
spurt; n. leap, jump, hop 
~ soti nan to jump out of, spring 
out of 
vôltijè n. secret society of evildoers; 
member of same; speculator's 
assistant 
Volvo prop.n. Volvo 
vomi see vonmi 
vomisans, vomisman see 
vonmisman 
vomye v. it is preferable that 
vonmi, vomi, vwomi, vwonmi n. 
vomit; vomiting; v. to vomit, 
heave, throw up 
anvi - nausea; nauseous 
~ fyèl li to puke one's guts out 
~ kouwè ma kafe/goudwon to 
have gastric hemorrhaging 
vonmisman, vomisans, vomisman 
n. vomiting, retching; vomit 
~ chen creep, nerd, ass 
vonmiste n. vomit 
vonmitif n. emetic 
vonvon n. flying beetle 
lasal ~ extremely wide nostrils 
(pej-) 
twou ~ very remote place 
vonvonnen v. to buzz, hum 
vop! onomat. to express sudden 
action 
voras adj. ravenous, voracious; n. 
glutton, pig 
vorasite n. voraciousness, voracity 
vorasman adv. voraciously 
voryen, vatèryen, voryen n. good-
for-nothing, jerk 
vosiferans n. vociferation, cry of 
protest or rage 
vosifere v. to vociferate, cry out in 
protest or rage 
Vôsvagenn, Vôskvagenn prop.n. 
Volkswagon 
vot n. vote; voting, election; ballot; 
see respè 
a ~ sévis would you join us (usu. 
for eating) 
votan adj. voting; n. voter 
votasyon n. voting 
vote v. to vote; to vote for; to elect 
voté n. voter 
votou n. vulture; adj. cruel, inhuman 
vouf: 
aj i~~ to act impulsively 
vouli adj. [Fr.] deliberate, 
intentional 
voulwa n. willpower, determination 
bon ~ goodwill 
selon ~ li according to his/her 
wish(es) 
voum n. indiscriminate sound; 
onomat. zoom 
ale ou to heck with you! 
li pa ~ li pa pwèt to be neither 
this nor that 
pa ~ pa do to do nothing at all 
tout ~ se do, tout ~ se sol (N.) any 
old thing will do, anything goes 
[any old sound can stand for the 
first note of the music scale] 
yon ~ much, many 
voumtakw. [TV.] umbrella 
(ihumorous) 
voumvoum, vounvoun, vouvou n. 
carpenter bee; scarab beetle, 
rhinoceros beetle; strip of paper 
964 
voup - voye 
attached to a kite to make a 
roaring sound 
- kafe coffee beetle 
~ ~ sound of car being started 
voup v. to pounce; onomat. sound of 
sudden blow; see vloup! 
vout n. firmament, vault or arch of 
sky; vault, archway 
voute adj. concave 
vouvari n. confusion, uproar, 
commotion 
vouvou see voumvoum 
vouzan! interj. fuck off! 
ale ou go screw yourself! 
~ pou ou! go to hell! 
vouzèt n. var. of mango 
voyaj see vwayaj 
voyaje see vwayaj e 
voyan see lèzye 
voyay see vwayaj 
voye v. to send; to send out, send 
off; to broadcast; to throw, fling, 
toss; to cast (fishing net); to 
initiate, start, begin (song, story 
etc.); to refer (s.o. to s.o. else); to 
postpone, reschedule; to swing 
(club, ax etc.); to cum, ejaculate; 
to reach a sexual climax (male or 
female); to lash (rain); n. 
ejaculation 
~ (yon moun) alabouchri to set 
(s.o.) up for a downfall; to set 
(s.o.) up to be killed 
~ ale to dismiss, send away, get rid 
of, expel; to send off (letter etc.); 
to gobble down, wolf down 
(food); to export; to kill 
~ ale de pye devan, ~ ale bwa 
chat, ~ al fè wout san chapo to 
do away with, kill 
~ anlè to hurl; to put forth, 
suggest; coitus interruptus 
~ anvan lè premature ejaculation 
~ bay (yon moun) to send to (s.o.) 
~ bwa to cast blows, beat on 
~ bwachat to rub out, kill 
~ chache to send (s.o.) for 
~ chen sou chat to stir up trouble 
- chita to dismiss 
~ deplase to send for, call for 
~ dèyè to throw at; to send for 
~ deyô to practice the withdrawal 
method or coitus interruptus 
~ di to let (s.o.) know, send word 
~ dife to incite, egg on, encourage 
~ dlo to splash; to calm (s.o.) 
down 
~ dlo san mouye pèsonn not to 
accuse anyone in particular 
~ dlo sou to criticize, attack 
~ fè to initiate, set into motion 
~ flè to flatter; to talk nonsense; to 
skirt or evade an issue, beat 
around the bush; to show off; to 
fail miserably, bomb (exam, test) 
~ je (gade) to look (around), 
glance; to take a good look; to 
keep an eye on, watch, guard 
~ je sou to keep an eye on, watch 
over 
~ jete to throw away, discard; to 
throw out, reject, deny 
- jete byen Iwen to discard 
forever; to categorically reject 
~ ko li to get into, turn to 
- kô li atè to fall down 
~ labou to splatter with mud 
- lekôl to pawn, hock 
~ mande to ask for; to inquire, 
want to know 
~ men to greet; to beg 
~ men (bay) to wave (to/at) 
~ mô (sou) to cast an evil spell 
(on) (Voodoo) 
965 
voye - vwa 
- moute/monte to use a lot of, do 
a lot of, eat a lot of; to keep on 
doing s.thg.; to show off, display, 
exhibit; to promote, advance, push 
to the forefront; to evoke, cite, 
bring up; to proclaim, declare; to 
play, broadcast (music etc.); to be 
very active (in doing s.thg.); to set 
up, establish; to put together 
hastily or in a slipshod manner; to 
get high (on drugs); clamor, 
outcry; senseless talk, empty 
rhetoric, political hogwash 
- monte/moute devan dèyè to 
distribute in quantity 
~ nan dômi nocturnal emission, 
wet dream 
~ nan peyi san chapo, ~ nan syèl 
to do away with, kill 
~ pale to inform 
- pitit moute to have many 
children, breed like flies 
~ (pou) pi ta to postpone 
~ poud nan je to pull the wool 
over s.o.'s eyes, deceive, blind, 
fool 
~ pousyè agitation, tumult 
- pran to send for 
~ pwen(t) to make pointed 
remarks; to speak or sing 
conveying veiled meaning 
- pye to kick, lash out; to criticize; 
kicking, lashing out 
~ rele yon anbasadè to recall/ 
withdraw an ambassador 
~ sou ban touch to place on the 
sidelines, eliminate 
- tèt li moute to toot one's own 
hom, sing one's own praises, 
boast 
~ tounen (sôti) to send back; to 
deport 
~ vini to send back 
~ woch kache men to act 
deceitfully, work underhandedly; 
hypocritical, deceitful, two-faced 
~ (yon moun) anba to knock 
(s.o.) down 
~ (yon moun) anlè epi atrap li to 
bluff, deceive, cheat 
~ zen, ~ fisèl, ~ kôd, - liy to cast a 
line (fishing) 
yo - ou you're trying to set me up; 
you're after me, you were sent to 
get me 
vrak: 
an ~ in bulk; in a jumble 
vre adj. true, real, actual, authentic, 
genuine; adv. really, truly; in fact, 
actually, certainly, definitely; 
definitively, for good; do (for 
emphasis following a verb) 
pa isn't that so? right? 
se ~ that's right 
tout bon ~ completely, totally, 
fully 
vrè adj. true, real 
vrèman, vreman adv. really, truly, 
actually 
vremanvre adv. really and truly, 
actually, indeed 
vrèsanblans n. likelihood, 
plausibility 
vri n. drill, auger, bit 
vrip! onomat. whack! bang! splat! 
VSN acron. (pronounced: ve-ès-
enn) (Volontaires de la Sécurité 
Nationale) militia, national guard; 
fam.: tonton makout 
vwa n. voice; vote; road, way, route, 
course; voice, part (music) 
fè ~ dlo to spring a leak 
gwo ~ deep powerful voice; loud 
harsh voice 
vwa - vyann 
ti - chat high shrill voice 
voye pa ~ postal to send by mail 
- chat sharp-voiced, shrill 
- dfe, ~ de fè (jur.) assault and 
battery 
- loray loud harsh voice 
- nan nen nasal twang 
- piman sharp-voiced, shrill 
- rara loud harsh voice 
vwal, vwèl n. sail; veil; hymen; web 
(between toes of ducks etc.) 
fè pran - to set sail; to leave, 
clear out 
fè ~ (pou peyi san chapo) to 
depart this earth, die 
gran ~ main sail 
mete ~ nan janm/pye li, mete 
van nan ~ li to rush away, run off, 
flee 
vwala adv. once upon a time; here is 
(used only in relating or telling); 
interj. exactly! right! there you 
are! 
~ yon jou there comes/came a day 
when 
vwalatilpa v. it (so) happens that 
vwale v. to veil; to cloud up; to 
complicate; adj. veiled 
vwalye n. sailboat 
vwapè see vapè 
vwari n. garbage collection 
travayè ~ sanitation worker, 
garbage collector 
vwati n. car, automobile 
vwatirab adj. passable by motor 
vehicle (road, stream) 
vwayaj, voyaj, voyay, vwayay n. 
trip, voyage, journey; travel; load 
(for one trip) 
pati pou - etènèl la to depart this 
earth, die 
~ baton beating 
vwayaje, voyaje v. to travel, 
journey, go; to depart this life, die 
~ pou to travel to 
vwayajè n., vwayajèz f.n. traveler, 
passenger 
vwayan n. seer, prophet 
vwayay see vwayaj 
vwayèl n. vowel 
~ bouch oral vowel 
~ (bouch) nen nasal vowel 
vwayou n. [Fr.] hoodlum, thug 
vwazen vwazin f.n. neighbor 
vwazinay, vwazinaj, vwezinay n. 
neighbor; neighborhood, vicinity 
vwazinen v. to visit neighbors 
vwe v. to vow 
vwèl see vwal 
vwèlta see bwèlta 
vwezinay see vwazinay 
vwomi, vwonmi see vonmi 
vwouuunn bwouuunn onomat. 
sound of truck or other large 
vehicle 
vyagra n. viagra 
Vyalè prop.n. Vialet (Dept. West) 
vyann n. meat; high protein foods 
(meat, fish, eggs, milk); flesh; 
tissue; muscle; pulp (fruit); var. of 
mango 
fil ~ tendon, sinew; ligament 
gen ~ heavy-set (person) 
machann ~ butcher 
manke % pa gen ~ skinny 
san ~ skin and bones, emaciated 
~ bèf beef 
~ bouyon stew meat 
~ dan gum(s) 
- fasi meatloaf 
~ kochon pork 
- li gen atè li pa ka fin sale 1 to 
be already too busy, not be able to 
take care of what one already has 
vyannen - vyolonsèl 
- moulen ground beef, hamburger 
~ mouton mutton 
- pi, ~ senp boneless meat 
~ rache ground round (beef) 
vyannen adj. heavy-set (person); 
plump, good-looking; fleshy, 
corpulent 
vye adj. old, aged, ancient; old, 
shabby, worn out; decrepit, 
dilapidated; ugly; worthless, 
ridiculous; disgusting, obnoxious, 
despicable, hateful; bad, impure; 
adv. very; see vyepti 
ap fin ~ to be getting very old 
Vyeboujwa prop.n., Vyeboujwaz 
fprop.n. inhabitant of Vieux-
Bourg-d'Aquin (Dept. South) 
Vyebouk (Daken), Vye Boudaken 
prop.n. Vieux-Bourg-d'Aquin 
(Dept. South) 
vyeho see vyewo 
vyèj see vyèy 
~ timenn! damn! 
Vyèj (zile) prop.n. Virgin Islands 
Vyekes see Vikwès 
vyelon see vyolon 
Vyènprop.n. Vienna (Austria) 
Vyènsyàn prop.n. Vientiane (Laos) 
vyenvyen n. street urchin; person of 
no importance; ghost; supposed 
descendant of Blacks and Arawaks 
vyepti adj. tiny, small, little; mild, 
benign 
Vyetnam prop.n. Vietnam 
vyetnamyen prop.n./adj. 
Vietnamese 
vyewo, vyeho n. Haitian cane-cutter 
long resident in Dominican 
Republic or Cuba; old timer, old 
hand; elderly man 
vyèy f.adj. [N. ] old 
vyèy, vyèj n. virgin; Virgo (zodiac); 
var. of fish; adj. blank; innocent 
pran - to lose four times in a row 
(in dominos etc.) 
- Mirak, - Monkamèl Virgin of 
Miracles: Our Lady of Mount 
Carmel 
vyeya n. [Fr.] old man, elderly 
person; cf. vye granmoun 
Vyeyat, Vyèyratprop.n. Vieille-
Hatte (3rd communal section of 
Jean-Rabel, Dept. North-West) 
vyeyès, lavyeyès, vyèyès n. old age 
vyèyfi f.n. old maid, spinster 
fè ~ to become a nun 
vyeyi v. to age, get old, grow old; 
adj. aged, old 
Vyèyrat see Vyeyat 
vyèytimenn mwen! interj. oh my 
gosh! by golly! 
vyôl n. violation; rape, ravish (cf. 
kadejak) 
vyola n. [Eng.] viola 
vyolan adj. violent 
vyolans, lavyolans n. violence 
vyolasyon n. violation; rape (cf. 
kadejak) 
vyole v. to violate; to rape, ravish (cf. 
fè kadejak sou) 
vyolèt adj. violet, purple (cf mov); 
n. violet (flower); var. of mango 
~ sovaj wild violet 
vyolon, vyelon n. violin 
se ~ nan men blan to perform 
with the greatest of ease; to be a 
master of one's trade 
vyolonis, vyolonnis n. violinist 
vyolonsèl n. cello, violoncello 
w -Wanament 
W 
w (pronounced: doubleve); often 
usedfor ou (q.v.) when immediately 
preceding or following a vowel 
wa n. king, sovereign; king (chess); 
combination ou + a 
bèf pou ~ savann pou ~ it's all 
the same, it's all related; no harm 
done 
depi (lè) ~ te kaporal since time 
immemorial 
fè ~ to reign, take over, take 
charge 
pran nan twa ~ to be in big 
trouble, be in a jam, be in a fix 
(some explain this as: ~ kaka, ~ 
kite sot, - gentan konnen) 
sèl ~ in total control 
sèl - e senyè only lord and master 
Twa Wa constellation Orion 
vis ~ viceroy 
~ a a! wow! 
~ bwa, bwa sou bwa, mèt bwa 
var. parasitical plant 
~ chat accomplished thief (male) 
~ dè ~ King of Kings (rel.) 
~ disyèl God; cf Bondye 
~ djab Carnival figure 
characterized by a large horned 
papier-mache crown 
~ maj yo the three Magi 
~ pa kouzen li (prezidan pa bôpè 
li) to have no equal, be proud and 
haughty, be stuck-up 
~ yan see wayan 
Wa prop.n. [Bible] Kings 
Wa (Bèna)prop.n. Wah (Bernard) -
Haitian painter known for his 
monumental abstract drawings 
("Hallucinations"), 1939-1981 
Wa (Lwi Ejèn) prop.n. Roy (Louis-
Eugène) - provisional president of 
Haiti, 1930 
wach see wachwach 
Wachintonnprop.n. Washington 
(USA) 
eta ~ Washington state (USA) 
~ Dese/Disi Washington, District 
of Columbia (USA) 
Wachintonn (Jôj) prop.n. 
Washington (George) - first 
president of the USA, 1789-1797 
wachi wacha adv. wishy-washy; 
negligently, haphazardly 
wachmann, watchmann n. 
watchman; cf. gadyen, sekirite 
wachwach, wach adj. careless, 
slipshod, slapdash, haphazard 
~ baton beating, whipping 
waf n. wharf, dock, pier; makeshift 
bed built up off of floor 
angle ~ broken English 
wafôl, wafèl, wafo n. [Eng.] waffle 
Waga(dougou) prop.n. 
Ouaga(dougou) (Burkina Faso) 
wagon, vagon, wagonn n. wagon; 
railroad car 
wak n. red clay soil (used esp. for 
building roads); wattling, lattice 
wakitaki see wokitôki 
wakle, rakle v. to wattle, do the 
wickerwork (for a house); cf. klise 
walayach adj. supreme 
wan adj. roan 
~ bè ~ mantèg nothing gets done 
wàn onomat. sound of tearing or 
ripping 
Wanament prop.n. Ouanaminthe 
(Dept. North-East) - founded 
969 
Wanamentè - watè 
1731, from former Span, name 
Juana Méndez 
- Dajabon important border 
crossing 
Wanamentè prop.n., Wanamentèz 
f.prop.n. inhabitant of 
Ouanaminthe (Dept. North-East) 
Wanaryaprop.n. Juanaria (1st 
communal section of Hinche, 
Dept. Center) 
Wanda, Rwannda, Wannda, 
Wouanda prop.n. Rwanda 
wanègès f.n. hell of a woman, 
fantastic woman 
wanga n. magic charm, fetish, 
amulet, talisman (for either good 
or bad magic; always tangible) 
boule ~ dèyè to use magic against 
boule ~ pou to use magic for 
fè ~ to cast a spell, engage in 
occult magic 
gate ~ to exorcize 
pile ~ to set an evil magic trap 
~ a mo death curse 
~ nègès hummingbird 
~ nègès fran Hispaniolan mango 
hummingbird 
~ nègès mon Hispaniolan emerald 
hummingbird 
wangatè, wongatè wangatèz, 
wongatèz f.n. fetishist, person 
who continually uses wanga 
(q.v.)\ maker of wanga (q.v.) 
Wangôlprop.n. group or 'nation' 
(nanchon) of Voodoo spirits 
wankankan! interj. nothing 
changes! 
Wannprop.n. [Span.] Juan 
Wannda see Wanda 
Wanntanamo see Gwanntanamo 
wann tou tri adj. [Eng.] military-
like, militaristic 
wannenm, wannem v. to speak in a 
nasal tone; adj. nasal 
wanp! onomat. wack! (sound of 
sudden blow) 
Wanpas prop.n. Juampas (2nd 
communal section of Lascahobas, 
Dept. Center) 
wansi see ounsi 
wap onomat. wap! wham!; contr. ou 
+ ap (you ... -ing) 
wape contr. ou + ape (you ... -ing) 
wap wap adj. abrupt, rude; onomat. 
woof! woof! (sound of dog 
barking) 
wari, ware n. var. of tree 
grenn ~ small round black seed 
(used in "marble" games) 
Wasèkprop.n. Roy-Sec (2nd 
communal section of Belladère, 
Dept. Center) 
wat n. watt; interr. [Eng.] What?; 
see koton 
lajan de what money (are you 
talking about)? 
ti ~ low-voltage 
watapana, gwatapana n. mesquite 
(shrub or small tree); divi-divi 
(small tree) 
watapeng f.n. loose woman 
watchmann see wachmann 
watè n. bathroom, restroom, toilet, 
latrine, outhouse; bowel 
movement; feces, excrement, 
stool; v. to have a bowel 
movement 
ale (nan) ~ to have a bowel 
movement, defecate 
fè ~ to have a bowel movement, 
defecate; to build an outhouse 
gen ~ to need to have a bowel 
movement 
~ dlo to have watery stools 
970 
watè - wè 
- fouye latrine, outhouse 
-je sleep, eye matter; eye 
discharge; conjunctival discharge 
- kenbe mwen I need to have a 
bowel movement 
- klozèt, ~ ijenik (flush) toilet 
- koulè water-cooler, water 
fountain 
- ma to have seedy stools 
- pwès to have loose or thick stools 
watèget n. [Eng.] Watergate; fraud, 
deceit, deception 
watè itè, watèhitè see chofo 
watèpwouf adj. water-proof 
waw! interj. wow! 
wawa n. var. of rattle used in Mardi 
Gras dances; see blende; manje 
wawèz f.n. loose or promiscuous 
woman 
way! interj. ouch! (cry of pain or 
despair) 
~ mèch reinforcement wire 
wayabèl, gwayabèl n. guayabera, 
(embroidered) man's dress shirt 
usu. of light material ( c f . 
pepebaya; safari) 
wayal, wôyal adj. royal 
(kasav) ~ èfôs, ~ senp peanut 
butter on cassava bread 
~ konplè peanut butter on cassava 
bread with lettuce, tomatoes, 
watercress, and salt water 
wayalach adj. royal, supreme; n. 
high rank in Freemasons 
chato ~ pretentious house 
wayalis n./adj. royalist 
Wayamouk see Gwayamouk 
wayan! interj. heck! 
waya waya n. abandoned person 
wayom n. kingdom, realm 
Wayôm Ini United Kingdom, Great 
Britain 
Wayomingprop.n. Wyoming (USA) 
wayote n. monarchy 
waypè n. [Eng.] windshield wiper 
(cf wouchin) 
motè ~ windshield-wiper motor 
Wayt Liliprop.n. White Lily 
(powdered milk) 
wazif adj. idle 
wazipay n. bum, good-for-nothing 
wazivte n. idleness 
wazo see zwazo 
we v. to flog, beat, thrash; interj. my 
(usu. preceded by papa or 
manman); see wey 
wè v. to see; to view, observe; to 
witness; to realize; n. seeing; 
(sense of) sight, vision; interj. 
yeah! 
Ala kote moun How terrible! 
fè m pa ~ ou! get out of my sight! 
get lost! 
fè ~ to show, point out, indicate; to 
show one's stuff, show what one 
is made of; to show off, flaunt 
fè ~ pou fè kwè to put on a show/ 
pretense 
fè (yon moun) - koulè san 1 to 
work over, knock the daylights out 
of, beat 
genyen pou ~ ak to have to do 
with, be related to, be in regard to, 
have connection with 
Kilè n ap - ankô? When will we 
see each other again? 
Kote ou ta ~ sa? How could that 
be? 
lè n a - n a kwè we'll believe it 
when we see it, seeing is believing 
li ka fè ou - Nwèl anvan janvye 
oubyen li ka fè ou ~ janvye 
anvan Nwèl he can let you live or 
die 
971 
wè - wè 
m a ~ ou! I'll be watching you! 
I've got my eye on you! (Jinx) 
na~! see you! bye! 
pa gen anyen pou li ~ nan to 
have no connection with 
pa gen byen pou li ~ to have no 
good outcome; not to get away 
with s.thg. 
pa ka pa vie ~ (ni pè ni pap) to 
dislike; to despise, hate; to chase 
off, chase away 
pa ~ to be illiterate 
pa ~ anwo pa ~ anba, pa ~ 
devan ni dèyè not to know which 
way to turn, be confused; in dire 
straits; to be stubborn 
pa ~ chat not to see a soul 
pa - kote yo gad not to know 
which way to look/turn 
pa ~ koulè senk kob kwiv not to 
see a single penny, not to see a 
dime 
pa ~ limyè (yon moun) never to 
catch sight of (s.o.) 
pa - moun not to care about 
anyone else, pay no attention to 
anyone else 
pa ~ ni anpent ni anpenti not to 
see hide nor hair of 
pa - ni pye ni tèt li, pa ~ ni 
devan ni dèyè not to understand 
anything, be at a total loss 
pa ~ pa tande pase to wish for 
nothing else than 
pa ~ pi lwen pase pwent nen li to 
see no further than the end of 
one's nose, be short-sighted 
pa ~ si li monte si li desann to 
disappear without a trace 
pa ~ van (yon moun) not to see 
hide nor hair of (s.o.) 
pou sa nou pa ~ yo for our 
departed ones; for the Voodoo 
spirits (as one pours onto the 
ground a few drops of one's drink) 
vini ~ devan to surpass, outdo 
~ ak to meet, run into, see; to 
confer with 
- ak (de grenn) je li to see with 
one's own eyes, verify; to lay eyes 
on 
~ byen to be prosperous 
- de (bagay), - doub to have 
double vision 
~ delwen, pa wè pre to be 
farsighted, be presbyopic 
~ depre, pa wè lwen to be 
nearsighted, be myopic 
- devan zafè yo to be reasonably 
well off, be able to manage, get 
along 
~ doub to have double vision 
~ dwat to see clearly/correctly 
~ fen (yon moun) to finish (s.o.) 
off, do (s.o.) in 
~ je (yon moun) to meet up with 
(s.o.) 
~ jou to be born 
~ klè to see clearly; to become 
educated 
~ lanvè sèkèy li to live a long life 
~ lè to be born 
~ kwochi to misunderstand, 
misjudge 
~ lwen to be prophetic 
~ mo to rage, storm, fume; to 
exaggerate 
~ nan jwèt to comprehend, fathom 
~ nan fèy bannann, ~ nan 
gonbo, ~ nan kokiyay ets. to 
practice divination using plantain 
leaves, okra, seashells etc. 
~ nan pwent pye to be compared 
with 
972 
wè - wete 
- nwa not to have a ghost of a 
chance 
- pa li sou yon moun to pick on 
s.o., to take it out on s.o. 
- pa ~ (vie pa vie) come what 
may, in any case 
- po yon moun pa konn kè 1 to 
(have to) judge on appearance 
alone 
- règ, ~ tiwoz to have one's 
period, menstruate 
- sèt koulè lakansyèl to go 
through all kinds of suffering 
- tan to be born 
- tout bagay an de to have 
double vision 
- twoub to have blurred vision 
~ wouj to see red, become 
incensed, become infuriated 
wèb: 
- entènèt Internet web 
wede see ede 
wèdko see rèdkô 
wèkchôp n. workshop, seminar, 
colloquium 
wèl n. ass, butt; interj. [Eng.] well! 
fine! 
nan ~ (yon moun) to be out to get 
(s.o.) 
wele wele n. ruckus, uproar, din 
wèlfè n. [Eng.] welfare 
Welintonnprop.n. Wellington (New 
Zealand) 
wèmô, mande wèmô n. rage, fury 
wen onomat. oink (sound of pig); 
[N.] see mwen 
santi ~ to smell like a pig 
wench n. winch 
wendeng adj. stinking 
wenstrip n. var. of plastic seed tray 
(cf. woutrenè) 
wenwen-wenwen-pôf-touf-pof-
touf onomat. sound of rattletrap 
car chugging along 
wès see lwès 
Wès Enndiz, Wèstindiz prop.n. 
[Eng.] West Indies 
wesleyenprop.n. Wesleyan, 
Methodist 
Wèspam(bitch)prop.n. West Palm 
Beach (Florida) 
westèn adj. Western (movies etc.) 
Wèstindiz see Wès Enndiz 
Wès Vijini, Vijini Oksidantal, 
Vijinya Oksidantal, Wès Vijinya 
prop.n. West Virginia (USA) 
wetan v. taking off, removing; see 
anwetan 
wete, wet v. to remove, take off, 
clear out, take away, take out; to 
withdraw; to subtract 
san ~ entirely 
san ~ san mete, san ~ ni mete 
neither more nor less, exactly; 
with changing a word 
se ~ nechèl! that takes the cake! 
that's it! nothing more to be said! 
~ avantay to handicap 
- chapo tops, first class 
- chapo devan to take one's hat 
off to, give homage to 
- chwal (nan tèt) to baptize 
(Catholic church) 
- ko li to leave, depart, withdraw 
- ko ou! scram! get out of my 
way! 
- ko ou ban m mete pa m! get 
out of the way and let me take 
over! 
- ko ou la! Get out of here!; 
You're putting me on! That can't 
be true! - li ajenou to raise up again 
- mayi nan fal (yon moun) to 
Q7? 
wete - woaw! 
take s.thg. from s.o.; to spoil one's 
game, mess s.o. up 
- mete intermittent, sporadic, on 
and off; to change clothes often; to 
dispose of at will 
~ mo nan dlo see mo 
- nan kôsay to get rid of 
- nan men to take away from, 
dispossess 
- nanm to stupefy, daze; to 
intimidate (cf. kraponnen) 
~ odè deodorize 
~ pye (mete pye) to really take 
off, run away fast 
~ sa nan san ou! get that out of 
your head! don't even think about 
it! 
~ trip mete/pran pay to be 
merciless, be without compassion; 
to forsake one's relative for an 
outsider 
-/rale yon grenn mayi nan fal 
yon moun to get s.thg. out of s.o. 
~ yon moun nan dlo to get s.o. 
out of trouble 
wetè n. [Eng.] waiter; waitress 
wètwèt nwè n. var. of thrush (bird) 
wev: 
fè ~ to have waves or undulations 
put in one's hair 
wey! we e! interj. yeah! 
wi adv. yes; (used either to reinforce 
or soften a request or order, 
almost the equivalent of 
'please "); see wit 
men - yes indeed, certainly 
~ dan see adye 
~ fout! wow! on my goodness! 
~ pa moute môn "yes" does not 
necessarily mean "yes" 
- pip! wow! my gosh! 
wichin see wouchin(g) 
wichinen see wouchinen 
~ widan see adje 
widan see adye 
wigwèz see rigwaz 
wikenn n. weekend 
wile v. to oil, lubricate 
wilibè n. children's game played 
with a wheel 
Wily am prop.n. William 
win n. ruin 
winchil n. windshield wiper; cf 
wouchin(g) 
wis n. knitting wool, knitting yarn 
wisan, uisan num. eight hundred 
Wisi see Risi 
wiski n. whiskey 
wiskimann n. big whiskey drinker; 
drunkard, alcoholic; cf. tafyatè 
Wiskonnsin, Wiskonnsenn prop.n 
Wisconsin (USA) 
wististi, wistiti n. marmoset (var. o 
small monkey); very ugly person 
wisye, yisye n. bailiff (jur.) 
wit, ui, uit, wi num. eight 
ti ~ (paske yo pa nèf) second-
hand clothes; cf. kenedi; pèpè 
witan, uitan n. eight years 
witèn, uitèn n. group of eight 
witè, uitè n. eight o'clock 
witèdtan, uitèdtan n. eight hours 
witi adv. (rare) where 
wityèm, uityèm adj. eighth 
wityèmman, uityèmman adv. 
eighthly 
wizbin: 
an ~ devious, crooked 
wo, ho, o adj. tall; high, elevated; 
upper; advanced; loud; adv. far 
away; interj. oh!; whoa! 
san ~ excited; angry 
~ grade high officer (milit.) 
woaw! interj. wow! 
974 
wob n. dress, gown 
kot - short apron 
pran ~ to take one's final vows 
(as a nun) 
- de chanm dressing-gown, 
bathrobe 
- desôti fancy dress 
- jip a kôsaj two-piece dress 
(blouse and skirt) 
- penitans special dress worn as 
penitence 
~ sak penitential dress 
Wobh prop.n. Robert 
woben n. robin (bird) 
Wobèta f.prop.n. Roberta 
wobinèt, wobinè, wèbinèt n. faucet, 
tap, spigot 
wobis adj. robust; stubborn; angry, 
rebellious 
fè ~ to be unpredictable or 
difficult 
wobista n. var. of coffee 
Wobiyaprop.n. Robillard (Dept. North) 
wobo n. robot 
Woboramprop.n. [Bible] 
Rehoboam 
wôch n. stone, rock; calculus (med.); 
hardened or insensitive person; 
cocaine (fam.) 
dan - sharp rock, protruding rock 
fè de - goumen to tell tall tales 
gen yon - sou lestonmak li to be 
hard-hearted 
gwo - boulder 
min ~ stone quarry 
ti ~ pebble 
tou twou - cave 
twa ~ dife hearth; three solid 
bases (by analogy to the three 
stones traditionally used to 
support the cooking pot); basis, 
foundation 
975 
wob - wode 
voye ~ sou to criticize harshly 
~ apyè silica 
~ dife hearthstone 
~ galèt pebble, stone 
- nan dlo blessed, favored 
~ nan dlo pa konn doulè - nan 
solèy insensitivity (to others' 
suffering) 
~ nan ren kidney stone 
~ nan solèy wretched, pitiable 
~ pou file sharpening stone 
~ sab sandstone 
Wèchabato prop n. Roche-à-Bateau 
(Dept. South) 
Wochanbo prop.n. Rochambeau 
(Donatien-Marie-Joseph de 
Vimeur, 1750-1813) - successor to 
Leclerc as commander of French 
forces in Saint-Domingue, 1802-
1803 
wèchawa n. [Eng.] rush-hour 
wôche adj. rocky, barren 
Wochèzprop.n. Rocky Mountains 
(USA) 
Wèchlwa prop.n,Wèchlwaz 
f.prop.n. inhabitant of Roche-à-
Bateau (Dept. South) 
Wèchplat prop.n. Roche-Plate (3rd 
communal section of Trou-du-
Nord, Dept. North-East) 
wôd adv. extremely, veiy ; adj. extreme 
Wod (zile) prop.n. Rhodes (Greek 
island) 
wodantisid n. [Fr.] rodenticide; cf. 
mowora 
wodaye v. to prowl, lurk, roam; to 
loaf, laze, lie around 
Wodaylann prop.n. Rhode Island 
(USA) 
wode v. to prowl, lurk, roam; to 
grind down, smooth down; to be 
evasive 
Wodèmoustik - wôl 
Wodèmoustikprop.n. Haut-des-
Moustiques (3rd communal 
section of Bassin-Bleu, Dept. 
North-West) 
Wodèpèch prop.n. Haut-des-
Perches (1st communal section of 
Perches, Dept. North-East) 
Wodeziprop.n. Rhodesia (today 
Zimbabwe) 
Wodikap, Hodikap prop.n. Haut-
du-Cap (2nd communal section of 
Cape Haitian, Dept. North) 
Woditwou prop.n. Haut-du-Trou 
(5th communal section of Dondon, 
Dept. North) 
wodmezi adj. excessive; adv. 
excessively 
wodo n. Bermuda chub (fish) 
~ aj ante silver Jenny (fish) 
Wodo (basen) prop.n. Haut-d'Eau 
inlet (near La Fossette section of 
Cape Haitian, Dept. North) 
wododendwon n. rhododendron 
Wodof prop.n. Rudolf, Rudolph 
wodonn see redong 
wodpote, hodpot, hôdpôte, wôdpôt 
adj. powerful, strong, resistant; 
excessive; outstanding; adv. 
extremely; too much; out of line, 
uncalled for 
Wodrigprop.n. Rodriguez (Indian 
Ocean island) 
wodtay adj. tall 
woga adj. short of breath 
wogatwa see ogatwa 
komisyon ~ investigative 
commission 
Woginode prop.n. Haut-Guinaudée 
(communal section of Dept. 
Grand'Anse) 
wograde n. high officer (milit.) 
Wograndou prop.n. Haut-Grandou 
(4th communal section of Bainet, 
Dept. South-East) 
wôhèt see wôwèt 
Woje prop.n. Roger 
wèk adj. harsh, hoarse, raucous, 
rough; rocky; n. rock (music) 
Wokapwouj prop.n. Haut-Cap-
Rouge (3rd communal section of 
Cayes-Jacmel, Dept. South-East) 
woke v. to hiccup 
wôkennwôl n. rock-and-roll 
wôkèt n. rocket; see 6kèt 
Wôkfèlè prop.n. Rockefeller 
wôkitèki, wakitaki n. [Eng.] 
walkie-talkie, two-way portable 
radio 
wôklè adj. rebellious, obstinate, 
recalcitrant; tough, rough 
fè ~ (ak/devan) to be rebellious 
(against) 
wokmann (sidi) n. walkman (tiny 
portable radio/record player with 
earphones) 
Wok6kchant(e) prop.n. Haut-Coq-
Chante (9th communal section of 
Jacmel, Dept. South-East) 
wokou see woukou 
wol n. role, place, function, part; 
rank, social position, status; stone 
fè ~ to be a part of, play a part in 
fè ~ li to behave oneself; to act 
(theater) 
mete nan ~ li to make one behave 
oneself; to put (s.o.) in his/her 
place 
nan ~ li in trouble, in bad straits 
pa rete nan - li to forget one's 
place, forget one's (inferior) social 
standing 
pèdi ~ li to get out of line, act up; 
to behave in a manner out of 
keeping with one's status 
976 
Wolakwa - won 
rete nan ~ li to behave oneself; to 
keep to oneself, not to associate 
with others 
~ modèl [Eng.] role model 
Wolakwa prop.n. Haut-La-Croix 
(Dept. South-East) 
Wolan prop.n. Roland 
wolandè see olandè 
Wolann see Olann 
Wôl(d) Tred Sen(n)tè World Trade 
Center (New York City) 
Wold Vizyonn prop.n. World Vision 
(relief and aid services) 
woldôp see ôldop 
woldôpay see èldopay 
woldôpe see ôldôpe 
woldôpè see ôldopè 
wole see oie 
wolèmen, holèmen interj. (put your) 
hands up! 
fè ~ to hold up, rob 
Wolenbe, Akiljano prop.n. Haut-
Limbé, Acul-Jeannot (3rd 
communal section of Limbé, Dept. 
North) 
wolmodèl n. [Eng.] role model 
Wolôfprop.n. Wolof 
wololoy, ololoy, pololoy, wololo, 
wololow, wouloulouy, wowoloy 
adj. outstanding, stellar; beautiful, 
great; flashy, showy, gaudy; n. 
class, distinction 
Wolswôys prop.n. Rolls-Royce 
(luxury automobile) 
wôltègèt see èltègèt 
worn see 6m; wonm 
Worn prop.n. Rome (Italy) 
woma see wonma 
woman n. novel 
~ feyton serialized novel, serial 
womàn: 
lang ~ Romance language 
Womanaprop.n. La Romana 
(Dominican Republic) 
womanch prop.n./adj. Romansch 
womans n. short sentimental song, 
love ballad 
tire ~ to sing or recite a ~ 
womansye n. novelist 
womantik adj. romantic 
womaren, wonmaren rosemary 
(herb) 
Womaribawou prop.n. Haut-
Maribaroux (1st communal 
section of Ouanaminthe, Dept. 
North-East) 
womatis see rimatis 
women n. euphorbia (cactus-like 
plant); prop.n./adj. Roman 
Women prop.n. [Bible] Romans 
Womoustik see Omoustik 
won adj. round, circular; round, 
even (number); n. circle, ring; 
dance; children's game (ring 
around the rosie etc.); var. of 
mango; adv. sharp, exactly, on the 
dot (time) - cf. pil 
antre nan rantre nan - to get 
into the swing of things, get into 
the thick of things, join in; to go 
into action 
fè ~ to dance 
mete (yon moun) nan ~ to get 
(s.o.) involved or in trouble 
nan ~ in trouble 
pran nan menm - an to be 
caught in the same vicious circle 
pran nan ~ to get into trouble 
rantre nan - see antre nan ~ 
rantre/antre nan ~ san baton/ 
tanbou to be defenseless, be ill-
prepared 
tout bon nan - things are getting 
tougher/worse 
won - wonnon 
- bè ~ mantèg no matter what (is 
done) 
- bèbè! no way! nothing doing! 
~ kou yon (ba)boul exactly, 
precisely 
- san baton see rantre/antre above 
won, wonn n. var. of fish 
Wonal, Wonèl prop.n. Ronald 
wondè n. roundness 
wondèl n. ring, band; washer (for 
bolt); slice, round (of lime etc.); 
(round) coin (fam.); name tag; see 
iwondèl 
- fandi lock washer (for bolt) 
~ plat flat washer (for bolt) 
wonden n. log, thick stick 
wondi see awondi 
wondjowoun adj. influential 
wondo: 
~ jôn, ~ katlaj var. of mojarra 
(fish) 
wondondon n. obstinacy 
wondong see redong 
wondonmon, wondonman adj. 
rebellious, obstinate, recalcitrant; 
n. rebel 
fè ~ to be rebellious; to express 
objections 
Wonèl see Wonal 
wonf n. snore, snoring; rumbling 
(mach.); roar, roaring; hum, 
humming (mach. or voice) 
wonflan: 
gwo mo ~ empty fancy-sounding 
words 
wonfle v. to snore; to rumble; to hum 
(spinning top); to buzz; to beat up; 
n. snoring; beating 
wonfô see ounfè 
wong n. sterile male; adj. [Eng.] 
wrong 
wongan see oungan 
wongatè, wongatèz see wangatè, 
wangatèz 
wongol n. short poem meant to 
startle 
wonivo adj. high-level 
wonize see iwonize 
wonje v. to undermine, erode, eat 
away at, gnaw at 
wonjè n. rodent 
wonm, worn n. rum 
wonma, oma, woma n. lobster; 
langouste 
manman ~ var. of large lobster 
wonmann, wonmmann n. big rum 
drinker; drunkard, alcoholic; cf. 
tafyatè 
wonmaren see womaren 
wonmble see woumble 
wonn n. circle, ring; center of 
activity; round(s), tour; type of 
konbit (q.v.); turn, walk or ride 
around; neck of pig (meat); round, 
ring-dance; beat, rounds (guard's, 
policeman's); butterfish; whole 
note (music); see won 
fè ~ to encircle, run around; to 
dance in a circle; to make the 
rounds, go around visiting 
fè ~ pot to return, go back; to get/ 
become involved 
leve ~ to win big, make a killing, 
be on top of the heap 
p ap fè ~ pot to be going nowhere 
~ dèzanfan, ~ ti poulèt sove 
children dancing in a circle 
- fin Gulf butterfish 
~ kou (kochon) pork rind (cf. 
kwann) 
- tenten vicious circle 
Wonnda, Onda, Onnda prop.n. 
Honda (automobile) 
wonnon v. to buzz, hum 
978 
wonntonn - wotasyon 
Aonntonn adv. copiously; perfectly, 
easily 
Wonpaprop.n. 2nd communal 
section of Lascahobas (Dept. 
Center) 
wonpe! interj. dismissed!, fall out! 
(milit.) 
wonpi v. to beat savagely, beat up, 
do in; to resoundingly defeat 
(sports) 
wonpwen n. traffic circle 
wons n. briar, bramble, thorn 
wonsi see ounsi 
wont, hont n. shame, 
embarrassment; sensitive plant 
(retracts petals when touched - cf. 
mouri leve); adj. ashamed, 
embarrassed; v. to be ashamed 
fè ~ to embarrass; to shame, 
humiliate 
fè/pran ~ sévi kôlè see kèlè 
san ~ shameless; cf. malpouwont 
sôti ~ to be ashamed or 
embarrassed 
~ bèbè defeated; empty-handed 
~ je shame; shamefully 
wonte, honte see wont 
wontèz n. shame; embarrassment; 
sensitive plant (herb) cf. mouri 
leve; fadj. shy, retiring 
wonwon n. buzz, buzzing; hum, 
humming; purr, purring 
wonwonnen v. to purr 
wonyay n. clipping, trimming; 
immediate vicinity, proximity 
ala ~ furtively, on the sly 
wonyen v. to gnaw at, nibble on, 
chew on 
wonyon, noyon, woyon n. kidney 
(of animal); v. to mumble 
wonz v. to move (about), stretch; see 
onz 
~ kè li to clear out, leave 
woo!, woow! interj. wow! 
wop!, wôp! interj. oops! 
wopalè n. loudspeaker; public 
address system 
Wopalniis see Opalmis 
wopèche v. to perch, roost (in high 
spot or place) 
Wopiton (chenn) prop.n. Haut-
Piton mountain range (Depts. 
North-West and North) 
wès n. rise, increase; instep, dorsum 
of foot; lift or inside sole (of 
shoe); worn-out horse, hack; adj. 
expensive 
wosbif n. roastbeef 
wose, hose, ose, wouse v. to raise, 
heighten, elevate; to rise (prices); 
to stand on tiptoes; to crane one's 
neck; to raise oneself (in life), pull 
oneself up by the bootstraps 
~ zepôl li to shrug one's shoulders 
wosiyèl, resinyôl, resiyèi, woseny&l 
n. Hispaniolan mockingbird; 
nightingale 
sanble - to be very talkative 
~ montany var. of thrush (bird) 
wosman, hosman, osman n. 
promotion, advancement; first 
initiation into Voodoo; raising to 
any higher rank in \foodoo; final 
consecration to the Voodoo 
priesthood 
wosole see wozok 
wot, hot, wôt adj. high; advanced 
wèt n. belch, buip; adj. (pertaining 
to) big shot or VIP; see chromé*; 
gwôt 
ant- among others 
Wotari: 
Klib - Rotary Club 
wotasyon n. rotation, exchange; 
979 
wotativ - wouj 
crop rotation; rotation (sports) 
wotativ adj. rotary (printing press) 
wôtdôg see hôtdôg 
wote, ote v. to belch, burp; n. belch, 
burp 
- si to have an acidic belch or 
gastric reflux 
wotè, hotè, hôtè, lawotè, otè, wôtè 
n. height, stature; elevation; 
highlands; level 
bèl - , men - very tall; ever so high 
moute ~ syèl la to go skyhigh 
(prices) 
nan ~ in the mountains 
pran - to grow taller 
sèt - syèl sky-high 
tire a - dom/moun to shoot to kill 
woten n. rattan wickerwork 
wotenon n. rotenone (home-made 
insecticide) 
wotesi, otesi n. acidic belch; gastric 
reflux 
Wotginode prop.n. Haute-
Guinaudée (3rd communal section 
of Jérémie, Dept. Grand'Anse) 
woti v. to roast; n. roast; roast beef 
fè - to roast 
Wotiboyprop.n. Haut-Petit-Borgne 
(4th communal section of Port-
Margot, Dept. North) 
Wotijoprop.n. Haut-Turgeau 
(wealthy area of PaP) 
wotine, wotinen v. to install 
wickerwork (in seat of chairs etc.) 
Wotmadlèn see Omadlèn 
wotô n. rotor 
Wotvôldwog prop.n. Haute-
Voldrogue (2nd communal section 
of Jérémie, Dept. Grand'Anse) 
wôtwayilè n. Rottweiler (dog) 
Wotwou prop.n. Haut-Trou 
(communal section, Dept. North) 
wou, hou n. hoe; wheel, tire; holly; 
occ. used for ou 
kapo - hubcap 
kat - motris four-wheel drive 
voye - to hoe 
- lib see woulib 
- sekou spare tire 
wou! wou! interj. woof! woof! 
Wouanda see Wanda 
woubewol n. German measles, 
rubella 
woubi n. ruby 
woublon n. hop (bot.); hops (for 
beer) 
wouch! interj. ugh! yuck! 
fè - to surround s.o. 
fè - dèyè to take out after, chase 
after 
wouchin(g), wichin n. small switch, 
rod; windshield wiper 
wouchinen, wichinen v. to switch, 
whip 
woudsilè n. [Eng.] wood sealer 
woufin n. asphalt shingle 
- izolan fiberglass wall insulation 
woufô see ounfo 
wouf wouf adv. all of a sudden 
wougan see oungan 
wouj adj. red; scarlet; rust-colored; 
bloodshot, inflamed; ardent; n. 
redness; mulatto (cf milat); adv. 
completely, entirely; see lewouj 
bwa - var. of small tree 
dan - discolored teeth 
Lanmè Wouj Red Sea 
ti - field fire; poor or destitute 
Mulatto 
tou ~ red-hot 
vin ~ to blush 
- blan reddish-white 
- g6j robin (bird) 
- grena, - grenna garnet-red, claret 
980 
woujalèv - woule 
- vyolèt burgundy(-colored) 
- ze egg yolk (c f . jôn ze) 
woujalèv n. lipstick 
wouj at adj. reddish; very light-
skinned 
wouji v. to blush; to redden 
- bouch to put on lipstick 
wouji, wouze, woze, wozle v. to put 
on make-up (cf. fade) 
woujôl see lawoujôl 
woukay, woukaj n. howling, crying, 
lamenting 
wouke, houke, ouke v. to yell at, 
holler at, call repeatedly and 
loudly; to work hard; to coo; to 
howl, yelp, bark (dog which 
supposedly senses an evil spirit) 
- lapenn, - soufrans to yell out in 
pain 
woukou, wokou n. annatto, lipstick 
bush (used to produce red dye, 
with seeds used in cooking) 
Woukou prop.n. Roucou (3rd 
communal section of Limonade, 
Dept. North; 2nd communal 
section of Trou-du-Nord, Dept. 
North-East) 
woukoule v. to warble, coo 
woul n. wheel; truancy 
fè - to play hooky, cut class 
woulala! interj. wow! yikes! man! 
woulawoup n. hula hoop (dance); 
swaying; curling inward (as in 
breaking of a wave) 
woulay n. deception, cheating 
woule v. to roll, roll up; to roll along; 
to ride, drive around; to go, run 
(mach.); to turn over, circulate 
(funds); to beat, strike; to beat (in 
fight); to beat, roll (drum); to roll 
(dice); to roll (boat); to grind (corn 
etc.); to deceive, cheat, take in, 
981 
fool; to put (s.o.) off, give (s.o.) 
the runaround; to lead a dissolute 
life (woman); to hem; n. drumroll; 
adj. curly 
byen ~ sou to fit well (clothes) 
~ bô a to hem 
- de bô to rock from side to side; 
to play both sides, sit on both 
sides of the fence; to be 
hypocritical; scam 
- desann to roll down; to rush 
down 
- desann sôti to roll down out of 
- ko to make an effort, do one's best 
- ko li to swing one's hips and 
buttocks in walking 
- lang to embellish 
- m de bô hypocritical; hypocrisy 
- machin to drive around; to use a 
sewing machine 
- moute sôti to rise (smoke) 
- nan to have plenty of, be rolling 
in 
- nan/sou lwil to be rolling in 
clover, have it made, be well-off 
~ pawôl nan bouch li to hedge, 
dodge, not speak clearly 
- sèk to roll a wheel rim or hoop 
using a stick (children's pastime) 
~ siwo to extract honey from 
honeycomb 
- sou to be centered upon (lesson, 
conversation etc.) 
- sou lô to be prosperous, be very 
well off 
- sou lwil to succeed, prosper 
- tantin tann tonton take it easy, 
don't push it, take things as they 
come 
- tèt kôk to masturbate (male) 
- tèt vant to turn head over heels, 
do somersaults 
woulè - woumble 
- tete to caress, flatter 
yon - isit - lotbô sending/ 
bouncing back and forth; using 
delaying tactics 
woulè n. bluffer; truant; herdsman 
(who leads cattle to market - cf. 
mawoule); see woulèt 
woulèdbourèt n. man who pushes 
or pulls wheelbarrows or carts 
woulemdebo n. hypocrite 
woulèt, oule, oulèt, woulè n. hem; 
trouser cuffs; roller, small wheel; 
caster (furniture); pastry (cutting) 
wheel; tracing wheel (sewing); see 
lawoulèt 
fè - to hem 
- kaka dung beetle 
woulezon n. sugarcane harvesting 
wouli n. roll(ing) (of ship) 
woulib, rilib n. (free) ride, lift 
an - , sou - coasting (downhill); 
without motor/sail 
bay - to give (s.o.) a ride; to walk 
(s.o.) back home; (for a woman) to 
let a man spend the night (pej.) 
fè - to coast (driving); to take 
advantage of a situation 
mande - to ask for a ride; to 
hitchhike 
pran - sou do (yon moun) to 
take advantage of (s.o.) 
pran (yon) - to get a free ride, 
hitch a ride; to glide; to take 
advantage of a situation 
sou - to be buying time; see an -
woulibè n. hitchhiker, rider; 
freeloader, moocher, sponger; 
opportunist 
woulipin: 
- dèyè to beat, strike 
woulman n. rotation, exchange; ball 
bearings; tread (tire); drum roll; 
movement, activity; circulation, 
turn-over (funds) 
fè yon - to make an attempt, try, 
look around (for job etc.) 
woulo, oulo n. roller, cylinder, 
spool; paint roller; roll (paper, 
bandages, material, film); reel 
(movies); rolling-pin; hair-roller, 
curler; scroll; somersault 
fè ~ to somersault; to roll over, 
turn over (car) 
lapli a tonbe a - it's raining cats 
and dogs 
- asfat roll roofing 
-cheve hair curler 
- kasèt cassette tape 
- (konpresè) steamroller; big 
crowd, political demonstration; PaP 
proletariat; outstanding, unbeatable 
- pat rolling pin 
- penti paint roller 
yon - a lot of, much 
woulobi n. ball bearing 
Woulôfprop.n. Wolof 
woulong, moulong, woulon n. 
mongoose; cf zagouti 
wouloulouy see wololoy 
Woum (Filip-Woz)prop.n. Roume 
(Philippe-Rose) - French 
commissioner sent to Saint-
Domingue during Revolutionary 
period 
Woumaniprop.n. Romania 
woumatis see rimatis 
woumba n. rumba (dance) 
woumble, houmble, wonmble n. 
ritual sounding of drums and 
rattles to call forth the Voodoo 
spirits; public meeting (usu. 
political); get-together, general 
meeting; v. to perform ritual 
sounding (see above) 
982 
Woumè (Emil) - woutin 
Woumè (Emil)prop.n. Roumer 
(Emile) - Haitian poet (1903-
1985) 
Woumen prop.n./adj., Woumèn 
f.prop.n. Rumanian 
Woumen (Jak) prop.n. Roumain 
(Jacques) - leading Haitian writer, 
author of Masters of the Dew 
(1907-1944) 
wounfô seer ounfo 
woungan see oungan 
wounk see houn(k); hounk 
wounouwounou n. grumbling, 
griping; mumbling; v. to grumble, 
gripe; to mumble 
wounsi see ounsi 
wounyô see ounyo 
woup n. splash of water (when 
playing in stream etc.) 
tire - to splash water (when 
playing) 
woupe v. to hit, beat 
wous n. cover, dust cover 
wouse see wose 
wousi v. to brown (in oil or 
margarine); see ounsi 
wouskaye v. to rove around, drift 
about 
Wouso (Janjak) prop.n. Rousseau 
(Jean-Jacques) - French writer 
(1712-1778) 
wouspetay n. complaining, griping, 
grumbling 
wouspete v. to complain, gripe, 
grumble 
Wousvèlt see Wouzvèl 
wout n. road, route, way; track, 
course, path, trail; journey, trip 
ale fè ~ li to go on one's way, go 
away, disappear; to make one's way 
ale fè - ou! get out of here! 
scram! 
an - on one's way 
bay - to set out the path, show the 
way 
fè move - to conduct oneself 
badly, go astray; to be 
misappropriated (funds) 
fè - to travel 
fè - ak to go along with; to be on 
the same side or cause 
fè - detounen, fè - kwochi, pran 
- kwochi to take a shortcut; to be 
misappropriated (funds) 
fè - dwôl to be misappropriated 
(funds) 
fè - li to go on one's way, take off 
on one's own, go it alone 
fè ~ raje to go astray, disappear 
(under mysterious or dubious 
circumstances) 
fè yon - to go for a walk 
gran - highway, main road 
mwatye - half-way 
nan - on the way 
nan - (pou) to be about to 
pran - to set off/out, head out 
sou - (pou) on the way to, in the 
process of 
sou (yon) bon - in the right 
direction; well underway, well 
begun 
- apye footpath 
- dekoupe shortcut 
- machin road suitable/possible 
for motor vehicles 
~ tè dirt road (in country) 
- wôch unpaved road (in town) 
woutcha, awoutcha v. to excite, stir 
up; to spur on; to breed and train 
fighting cocks 
woutchado n. breeder and trainer of 
fighting cocks; fighter (esp. cock) 
woutin n. routine, habit 
woutinye - Wozàn 
aprann pa - to learn informally, 
pick up 
jwe pa - to play by ear (music) 
woutinye n. s.o. who has learned a 
task only by imitation and not by 
study; s.o. who has learned to play 
a musical instrument by ear only 
woutrenè n. var. of plastic seed tray 
(cf. wenstrip) 
woutye adj. road, highway 
wouve v. to open; to turn on (radio 
etc.) 
wouwoupe v. to squawk, screech 
- telefonen to talk endlessly on 
the telephone 
wouy! interj. ouch! (pain); see woy! 
- lavyèj! Heavens! 
wouy, lawouj, lawouy n. rust, 
corrosion 
wouye v. to rust, corrode; adj. rusty; 
well-established; out-of-practice, 
rusty 
pi - pi koupe the older the better 
Wouyonn, Lawouyôn, Wouyôn 
(larivyè) prop.n. Rouyonne river 
(near Léogâne, Dept. West) 
wouzay, awouzay, awozaj, awozay, 
lawouzay n. watering, sprinkling, 
irrigation 
wouze, awoze, woze v. to water, 
irrigate; to sprinkle; to add sauce; 
to baste (meat); to beat up; to 
whip; to blow raw rum on a game 
cock; n. sprinkle, light rain; adj. 
with sauce; see wouji 
wouzi see ouzi 
Wouzvèl(t), Wousvèlt, Wozvèl 
(Franklen Delano) prop.n. 
Roosevelt (Franklin Delano) -
president of USA, 1933-1945 
Wouzye (Semeksan) prop.n. 
Rouzier (Semexant) - author of 
Dictionnaire Géographique et 
Administratif d 'Haïti, 1846-1924 
Wovôldwôg prop.n. Haut-Voldrogue 
(communal section of Dept. 
Grand'Anse) 
wowo (ti) n. "good little Haitian 
peasant boy" (cf. choun, ti) 
wowoli, hoholi, jijiri n. sesame 
wowoloy see wololoy 
wôwôt, hohot, wohot adj. unripe, 
green; inexperienced, immature, 
young, green; crude, rough, 
rudimentary 
woy! hoy! wôy! wouy! interj. hey! 
hi!; wow!; whoa!; alas! 
woyal see wayal 
Woyesèkprop.n. Royé-Sec 
(communal section of Belladère, 
Dept. Center) 
woyi! woyi! woyi! interj. boohoo! 
boohoo! boohoo! (sound of 
weeping) 
woyon see wonyon 
woyoyoy! see yoyoy! 
woywoy, wôywôy n. uproar, din; 
street food, cooked food sold on 
street; badly-cooked food; bum, 
good-for-nothing; adj. noisy, 
boisterous 
woz, woz n. rose; menstruation, 
menstrual period; var. of fish; adj. 
pink, rose; rosy, cheerful, 
optimistic 
an - ak blossoming with 
(ti) - menstruation, menstrual 
period 
wè ti - to have one's period, 
menstruate 
- fonse hot pink 
wozab, awozab adj. irrigable 
wozali n. var. of mango 
Wozàn fprop.n. Rose-Ann(e) 
wozas - wozye 
wozas n. (cathedral) rose window 
wozbif n. [Eng.] roast beef 
Wozbonitprop.n. Rose-Bonite (2nd 
communal section of Carice, Dept. 
North-East) 
woze, wozle v. to redden; to water; 
n. dew; rosé (wine); adj. soaked in 
rose petals; see wouji; wouze 
- bouch to put on lipstick 
- figi to put on make-up (on face) 
- zong to paint one's toenails; to 
waste time 
wozè n. rosary 
degrennen - , woule grenn 
chaplè - li to say one's rosary 
wozèl n. roselle, sorrel (bot.) 
wozèt, wôzèt n. bow tie 
chita sou - bounda li to sit on 
one's tail, do nothing 
chita sou - li to rest on one's 
laurels 
mare an - to tie a bow-knot 
tire - sou to grab (s.o.) by the 
throat 
Wozitaprop.n. Rosita (pop. brand 
of bar laundry soap) 
Woz Kwa prop.n. Rosicrucian 
wozle see wouji; woze 
Wozlèprop.n., Wozlèz f.prop.n. 
inhabitant of Roseaux (Dept. 
Grand'Anse) 
Wôzlèn f.prop.n. Roselyn 
wozo n. reed, rush, cattail; three and 
one-half meters [Bible] 
Wozo prop.n. Roseaux (Dept. 
Grand'Anse); Roseau (Dominica) 
wozole, wosole v. to roast (esp. corn 
on cob); to place horizontal pole 
in constructing roof of thatch hut 
Wozoyen prop.n., Wozoyèn 
f.prop.n. inhabitant of Roseaux 
(Dept. Grand'Anse) 
985 
Wozvèl see Wouzvèl(t) 
wozwa, awozwa n. watering can; 
sprinkler; garden hose 
wozye n. [Fr.] rosebush 
X 
x (pronounced: iks) 
986 
y - yason 
Y 
y (pronounced: igrèg); sh.form yo 
(pron.)\ [TV.] see li (pron.) 
ya interj. yeah! yes! okay! contr. yo 
+ a 
Ya see Yawe 
yad n. yard (3 feet or 36 inches) 
- an bwa yardstick 
yadepafwa adv. sometimes 
yakoukout see djak(oukout) 
y al contr. yo + al, yo + aie 
yal, ol n. [Eng.] hall 
yam see yanm 
yamengan n. curative medicine 
bundle 
yan, yann adj. tricked, cheated; 
interj. to express suddenness of a 
ray of light or any sudden action 
fè - - to flash, spark, sparkle, 
glitter 
ou a you're out of luck! forget 
it! 
... a - to heck with ... 
Yàn f.prop.n. nickname for Jozyàn 
Yangoun prop.n. Yangon, Rangoon 
(Myanma) 
yanki, yannki n./adj. Yankee 
yanm, inyam, yam n. yam; var. of 
mango; adj. rough, jagged 
kouche - initial rites of manje -
when offerings are laid out 
(Voodoo) 
leve - closing rites of manje ~ 
with sacrifices and consumption 
of offerings (Voodoo) 
manje - annual harvest ceremony 
offering yams, bananas and dried 
fish to the Voodoo spirits in thanks 
for successful crops 
~ - slurp (noise made while eating) 
27 var. of yam are: - angle, -
bakala, ~ blan, - chat, - chin, ~ 
dala, - diven, - dlo, - frans(e), 
- ginen, - ibo, - irai, - jôn, -
kawokol, - kôdenn, - kouch 
kouch, - mabiden, - masoko(s), 
- matinik, ~ mawon, - pastè, ~ 
poul, - sigin, - tantanèg - tèt 
bôpè, - toutan, - wouj 
yann see yan 
yannki see yanki 
yanvalou n. traditional Rada dance 
(body leaning forward, hands on 
bent knees with shoulders rolling, 
feet sliding sideways with a pause 
on the fourth beat) - Voodoo; var. 
of plant 
- debou, dawome zepol same as 
- but with more shoulder action 
and body more upright 
- do ba considerably faster form 
of the -
yanyan, nyannyan v. to light up sky 
(lightning); adj. brightly colored 
fè - to flash, spark, sparkle, glitter; 
to be plentiful, be everywhere 
y ap contr. yo + ap (they ... -ing) 
y ape contr. yo + ape (they... -ing) 
yapokonn n. plant of southern Haiti 
used for feeding domestic animals 
(same as bawôn) 
yas! interj. yep! yes!; n. bump (in 
road); grind or bump (belly-
dancing) 
Mwen ta gade ou mwen ta I'd 
like to kill you! I could kill you! 
yasent n. hyacinth (semi-precious 
stone) 
yason see gason 
987 
yat - yeye 
yat, yatch n. yacht 
Yawe, Jawe, Ya, Yave prop.n. 
Jehovah, Jahveh, Jahve 
Yawoundeprop.n. Yaoundé 
(Cameroon) 
yawout see yogout 
yay see piyay 
yaya n. var. of dance; var. of fish; 
var. of mango; v. to walk around 
quietly; to dance 
balanse - to be shaky or rickety; 
to dance the yaya 
kôde - to writhe, double up (in 
pain); to suffer, be in misery 
- ko li to establish oneself; to 
enjoy oneself, have a good time 
- lôloj li to get one's mind going, 
work one's mind 
Yaya f.prop.n. nickname for Àn, 
Ana-Lwiz, Jana 
yayad see gouyad 
yayay! see ayayay! 
ye v. to be (used only at end of 
phrase or sentence) 
1 - (pronounced: pre-mye) first 
yè, ayè adv. yesterday; only 
yesterday, recently; adj. recent 
anvan - , avant - , avanz - the 
day before yesterday; recently 
dimanch - (ets.) last Sunday 
(etc.) 
pa ni - ni jodi a since a long time 
ago 
(se) pa - (ni jodi) not just since 
yesterday, it's been a long time 
- swa, - oswa last night 
Yel (inivèsite) prop.n. Yale 
University (New Haven, Conn.) 
yèl: 
travay de - ! What a stupid 
meaningless job! 
-yèm ordinal suffix -th 
ex.: 
5-yèm fifth 
16-yèm sixteenth 
18-yèm eighteenth 
Yemenitprop.n./adj. Yemeni 
Yemenn, Yemèn prop.n. Yemen 
yèn n. hyena; see yenn 
yenk n. tiny bit (of) 
yenn, yèn n. yen (Japanese 
monetary unit) 
Yènwa, Yènwaz see Ènwa, Ènwaz 
yenyen(yen), nyennyen v. to whine, 
complain; to drizzle; n. whiner; 
extremely slow talker; adj. whiny, 
complaining; spoiled 
ti - drizzle, sprinkle, light rain 
timoun - cry-baby 
yerachi n. hierarchy 
yerachik adj. hierarchical; senior in 
rank 
yerachize v. to stratify, classify by 
rank or authority 
yèreswa see yèswa 
yès interj. [Eng.] yes, agreed; adj. 
great, wonderful 
fanmi - family pull, family 
connections 
pa - not so good 
yèsken, èsken, yesken n. balsam 
apple (vine used for making a 
med. tea - same as asowosi) 
Var.: - anmè, - dous 
yèsmann, yèssè n. yes man, 
subservient person 
yèstède n. left-over food 
yèswa, yèreswa, yeswa adv. last 
night, preceding night 
yèt see sôyèt 
yewoglif n. hieroglyph 
yeye n. loser, washout; small lady's 
bag; rock-and-roll derived 
ensembles popular in Haiti during 
988 
yèyè - youyou 
early 1960's;f.n. woman 
kou - te ye as she was 
ti - girl 
yèyè v. to whine, snivel, cry 
yi interj. giddyap! (command to 
donkey etc. to speed up); pron. 
[A^ .] see li 
yidichprop.n. Yiddish 
yik, nyik n. tiny bit, tiny piece; small 
quantity 
Yikatann prop.n. Yucatan (Mexico) 
yil n. var. of mango 
yingyang, hinghang, ing ang, 
zingzang n. feud, quarrel, discord 
yip onomat. to express sudden 
action 
Yis: 
frè ~ poverty-stricken, deprived or 
underprivileged man (male 
equivalent of sôyèt) 
Frè - ak Sô Yèt John Doe and 
Jane Doe 
yisye see wisye 
yo pi. definite article the; pron. they, 
their, (to) them; reflexive pron.; 
impersonal pron. they, it; often 
used as a euphemistic reference to 
the Voodoo spirits 
pa ~ theirs; not they, not them 
- chak each (of them), every 
- menm themselves 
- youn a single one; one (of them) 
~ youn pa neither one; not a 
single one, none (of them) 
yod, iyôd n. iodine 
yôde, iyôde adj. iodized 
yoga n. yoga 
yogann: 
ti - potato weevil 
Yogann see Leyogàn 
yogout, yawout n. yogurt 
yôl n. minivan 
Yolfprop.n. nickname for Yôlann 
or Yolenn 
yon, en, gnou, ion, iou, nyon, on, 
ou, oun, you indefinite article a, 
an 
yonn see youn 
yonyon n. shorty (person) 
yota n. iota, very small amount 
you see yon 
- ès U.S. 
youf! ouf! interj. ouch! 
yougann: 
rele - - to plead poverty 
Yougoslav prop.n. Yugoslavian; 
prop. adj. Yugoslave 
Yougoslaviprop.n. Yugoslavia 
youn, yonn pron. one; num. one 
(when counting) 
fè - to be as one 
nou - each one of us; each one of 
you 
pa fè ni - ni de not to hesitate for 
a moment, not beat around the 
bush 
pa ni - ni de neither this nor that; 
quite a large number of 
- an - one by one 
- apre lot, - dèyè lôt 
successively, consecutive; in a 
row; one after the other, single file 
- lot one (to) another 
- pa - one by one 
- pou lot reciprocal 
- - one here and there, an 
occasional one 
yououow onomat. sound of waves 
Youstonn prop.n. Houston (Texas) 
Youta prop.n. Utah (USA) 
youwann n. [Eng.] new one; adj. 
new, nice 
youyou, loulou(t) n. tapeworm 
gen - nan vant to be greedy; to 
Yowa - yoyoy! 
have a good appetite 
Yowa prop.n. Iowa (USA) 
yowouba prop.n./adj. Yoruba 
yoyo, yôyô n. yo-yo (toy); penis; 
var. of bread 
kode fè - to writhe, double up 
(in pain); to suffer, be in misery 
tounen - to be manipulated by 
yôyôl n.fam.for kreyôl (<7.v.) 
yôyôt see bibit sou ~ 
yoyoy! oyoyoy! woyoyoy! interj. 
oops! 
z -zakasya 
Z 
z (pronounced: zèd or izèd) 
A ak Z [M>/e] Alpha and Omega 
za onomat. to express a sudden 
movement 
zabèlbok n. avocado (fam.) 
Zabèt prop.n. nickname for 
Elizabèt 
Zabilon prop.n. [Bible] Zebulun 
zaboka, lavoka, zavoka n. avocado; 
shyster, shady lawyer; vagina (pej.) 
~ etranje var. of avocado 
zabri see abri 
san - without shelter; defenseless 
zabriko, abriko n. mammee, 
tropical apricot; var. of mango 
Zacheprop.n. [Bible] Zacchaeus 
zade v. to dare, venture 
zadô n. var. small blood-sucking tick 
zafe interj. so what! whatever! who 
cares!, that's your problem!; 
«.business affairs; genitals; see afè 
fè - ak to live with, have sex with 
gwo - important matter, big deal; 
formal, elegant 
mennen - to conduct business 
movè - bad deal; miscarriage 
pa - ni Jak (ni Pyè) ni Pôl 
belonging to no one in particular 
sa fè - li that's just what (s)he 
wants or needs; that comes in 
handy for him/her 
ti - vagina 
- (a) yo that's their business, 
that's their problem; every man for 
himself 
- fanm ak gason sexual favors 
- klase closed matter 
- ou! Who cares! That's your 
problem! 
991 
zafèlezôt! interj. that's their 
problem! tough shit! 
zafèpabon n. down-and-outer 
zafra, lazafra n. cane-cutting (in 
Dominican Republic) 
zagalo n. var. of small insect 
zago, sabo, zag n. hoof; foot (pej.); 
hand, paw (pej.); see anvi 
ale sou - to hoof it, go on foot 
gwo - hillbilly, hick 
pat - large foot 
voye - to kick 
- loray clap of thunder; terror; 
terrifying, fearsome 
zagonnen v. to torment, harass 
zagôt n. zygote; adj. tiny 
zagoudi see zagouti 
zagouloupe v. to yell, scream 
zagouti, zagoudi n. mongoose; cf. 
woulong 
zagribay n. scraps, odds and ends; 
snack; entrails, intestines (animal); 
junk, trash; loafer, bum, punk, 
deadbeat 
zagripan n. jerk; good-for-nothing 
zaj: 
anba - see anbazay 
zak n. act, action, deed; evil deed, 
misdeed, crime 
fè yon - sou to get at, fight with 
poze - to commit an action 
- ak zam armed robbery 
- Bizango sorcery 
- vwa dfè (jur.) assault and 
battery 
Zaka (Mede) see Azaka 
Zakari prop.n. [Bible] Zachariah, 
Zechariah 
zakasya see akasya 
zakatay - zanj 
zakatay see sakatay 
zakato n. magnetic Voodoo charm 
zakè n. aggressive or quarrelsome 
person; criminal 
zakolit see akolit 
zaksyon pl.n. see aksyon 
zalanna see zannanna 
zalantou n. surroundings (c f . 
alantou); prep, about, around 
zalenn, zalèn see alèn 
zalimèt, alimèt n. (safety) match 
pase - to strike a match 
zalin (bwa) n. kindling wood 
Zalp see Lèzalp 
zalza see salza 
zam, lezam, lèzam, zanm n. 
weapon(s), arm(s); interj. start 
firing, keep on shooting 
bay - to arm 
depo - arsenal 
fè - chante to use force of arms 
o to arms! 
ouvè - sou to fire upon, shoot at 
pran - to take up arms, revolt 
rale - to pull out a weapon 
- afe firearm 
- blanch knives, machetes etc. 
~ fann fwa dangerous weapon, 
heavy weapon 
- ki ka touye moun pa bann e 
pa pakèt weapons of mass 
destruction 
- kreyôl home-made weapon(s) 
(clubs, knives etc.) 
- pèp rock, stone 
zamann see zanmann 
Zamô (Orès)prop.n. Zamor 
(Oreste) - president of Haiti, 1914 
zan pi. n. years 
gen - to be very old, be ancient 
gen - depi it's been ages since 
zanana see zannanna 
Zanbiprop.n. Zambia 
zandèzan: 
depi - for a long time; years ago 
zando n. sores on tips of toes or heel 
(from stumbling etc.) 
Zandô prop.n. group or "nation" 
(nanchon) of Voodoo spirits 
zandolit, zanzolit n. gecko (small 
lizard) 
zandwa pl.n. see andwa 
zandwi(y) see andouyèt 
zandye n. place, status, social 
position 
zanfanpl.n. [Fr.] children 
zangi, angi n. eel; adj. slippery, 
slimy 
gen ~ anba wôch s.thg. is going 
on around here (not necessarily 
pej.) 
move - lowdown slimy individual 
Zangle, Lèzanglè, Ozanglè, Zanglè 
prop.n. Les Anglais, Zanglais (4th 
communal section of Saint-Louis-
du-Sud, Dept. South) 
zangwi n. prepared tobacco 
enclosed in a straw sheath 
zanj, anj, jany, lanj, lany, lezanj, 
lèzanj, lezany, lèzany, zany n. 
angel; very attractive woman; 
spotted eagle ray (fish); Voodoo 
spirits; spirit of a dead person; 
Christian saints 
danse - to participate in a Voodoo 
ceremony 
manje - ceremony of ritual food 
and drink offering to nourish, 
pacify, thank one or more Voodoo 
spirits 
~ gadyen guardian angel; see 
bonnanj 
- kondiktè French prayerbook 
and hymnal used in Voodoo 
992 
zanm - zantray 
services and in divination 
- rebèl Satan; devil; rebellious child 
zanm see zam 
zanma n. top part of sugar-cane 
stalk; rind of fruit (after 
squeezing); adj. worthless 
zanmann, zamann n. almond 
pye - tropical almond tree 
- gwo fèy island cherry tree 
- ti fèy West Indian cherry tree 
zanmi n. friend, buddy, companion 
pa - ak to dislike (s.thg.); be 
allergic to (s.thg.) 
trete kou/an/kon - to befriend 
- kè sweetheart 
- lekôl classmate 
- mango changeable or unreliable 
friend 
zanmilèttt. idol 
zanminasyon n. reflection, 
rumination, pondering 
zanmitay, zanmiray, zanmitaj, 
zanmiyaj n. friendship, 
comradeship, fellowship; 
friendliness 
zanmitaye v. to become friends, 
develop a bond 
zanmizèl n. dragonfly, butterfly fish; 
cf. demwazèl 
zanmore see anmoure 
zanmôrèt, zanmourèt n. berengena, 
wild eggplant (inedible); sensitive 
plant (herb) 
- bata var. of med. plant 
zanmorèz see anmourèz 
zanmoure see anmoure 
zanmourèz see anmourèz 
zannanna, anana, annana, 
annanna, zalanna, zanana, 
zannana n. pineapple 
bay - pou sizàn/tizann to 
mislead, deceive 
pran - pou sizàn/tizann to be 
misled, be deceived 
- kochon var. of pineapple 
- kou pengwen every last person 
- pennsik especially sweet and 
juicy var. of pineapple 
zannimo n. animal; beast (person); 
adj. beastly, savage, disgusting 
- kat pat a real beast of a person 
zannivre see annivre 
zanno n. earring, pair of earrings; 
ring (nose of ox; shower curtain; 
gymnastics) 
gen grenn ~ pa i kay ôfèv to have 
a skeleton in one's closet, have a 
shameful hidden secret 
zanpèt, anpèt n. shackle(s) (for 
animal) 
mete - to hobble (an animal) 
zanpoud, zanpoul n. blister; com, 
callus; wart 
zansestral adj. ancestral 
zansèt, ansèt n. ancestor, forefather 
zansiv see jansiv 
zansyen, ansyen n. ancestors, 
forefathers; old folks, old people 
in a family 
zantay see antay 
- bwa kindling wood 
Zantiy see Andy 
zantolan see zôtolan 
zantouray n. surroundings; 
neighborhood; environment; 
entourage, companions 
zantray n. intestines, entrails, guts; 
stomach; bosom; off-spring; 
intimate friend, buddy, pal; 
ancestors, forefathers 
fwi - mwen my child, fruit of my 
loins/womb 
san - cruel, heartless; weak, 
debilitated 
993 
Zantray - ze 
- manman ou! see gèt manman 
ou! 
Zantray acron. Zanfan Tradisyon 
Ayisyen (Children of the Haitian 
Tradition) - important Voodoo 
center and organization for the 
defense of the Voodoo religion 
(near Gonaives, Dept. Artibonite) 
zanviwon n. environs, surrounding 
or nearby area 
zany see zanj 
Zanziba prop.n. Zanzibar 
zanzolit see zandolit 
zap! onomat. zap! (sound to express 
sudden action) 
zaparèy see aparèy 
zapat see sapat 
zapata see sapata 
zapatonn n. var. of popular dance 
rhythm 
zap zap onomat. to express rapid 
action 
Zaragwaprop.n. Xaragua (kingdom 
of pre-Columbian Haiti) 
zarenyen, zaren, zareye, zareyen, 
zarinyen, zariye, zariyen, 
zaryen, zayen, zeryen see 
arenyen; krab 
zatolan see zotolan 
zatouyèt, chatiyèt, chatouye, 
chatouyèt, sasiyèt, satiyèt, 
satouyèt, zatiyèt n. tickling; 
ticklishness; v. to tickle; to touch, 
affect 
zatrap n. trap, snare 
- nigo see atrapnigo 
zaviwon, chaviwon, javiwon, 
zaviyon, zayivon n. oar, paddle 
naje - to row, paddle 
zavni: 
san - without a future, doomed 
zavoka see zaboka 
zayen see arenyen; krab 
Zayi, Kongo prop.n. Zaire, 
Democratic Republic of the Cong( 
zayivon see zaviwon 
Zayiwa prop.n./adj., Zayiwaz 
f.prop.n. Zairian 
zaza adj. overly elegant, overdressec 
ze n. egg; ovum; larva; var. of mange 
blan - egg white 
bon - good egg (person), likeable 
person 
chante - to cackle, prattle 
jôn - egg yolk 
kal - eggshell 
konte - nan vant poul to count 
one's eggs before they are hatched 
pa ka kase - to remain silent 
(from emotion, awe etc.) 
plen kou - filled to the brim 
po - eggshell 
poch - ovary 
touye nan - to nip (s.thg.) in the 
bud 
- alakok soft-boiled egg 
- blan an nèj floating islands 
(soft custard with mounds of 
beaten egg whites) 
- bouye, - brase, - bwouye 
scrambled egg 
~ bouyi hard-boiled egg 
- chode soft-boiled egg 
- di hard-boiled egg 
- eskranbol [Eng.] scrambled egg 
~ fele fragile, sickly 
- fre non-fertilized egg 
- fri fried egg 
- kodenn var. of mango 
- lanmè sea urchin 
- lav larva(e) 
- mol partially developed egg; 
stillborn, dead at birth 
- mole, - ole soft-boiled egg; 
994 
ze - zebisyè 
stillborn, dead at birth 
- nouvo, - pa plen, - pa tèm 
non-fertilized egg 
- ole poached egg; immature; see 
~ mole 
- poche poached egg 
- poul cohoba tree 
- sou pla fried egg 
- toke black sheep (of the family) 
zè n. peel, twist, liquid in skin (of 
orange, lime etc.); hours; adv. 
o'clock 
move - evil spirits; bad guy, bad 
gal 
zèb n. grass; herb; hay; lawn; pot, 
marijuana (fam.); zebra 
baryè - grass planted in strips as 
conservation measure 
koupe/kase/taye ~ anba pye to 
cut the ground from under s.o.'s 
feet; to exploit; to compete with, 
challenge 
move - weed(s) 
simen - nan mayi (yon moun) to 
mess up/complicate (s.o.'s) 
situation, spoil (s.o.'s) game 
ti - yellow-faced grassquit (bird) 
- able see zèbable 
~ aklo, aklok, aklou cape 
gooseberry, winter cherry, 
alkekengi; cf. lanman (manman) 
- aplon wild sage (shrubby mint) 
- atè cockscomb (plant) 
- bourik stachys (mint) 
- chapantye carpenter's herb 
- chèch hay 
- demann var. of grass (used for 
making wishes - cf chicken 
wishbone) 
- djab stachys (mint) 
- dlo var. of weed 
- elefan fodder grass 
- fen sporobolus (grass) 
- flèch uniola (grass) 
- ginen guinea grass 
- Gwatemala tripsacum (tall 
grass used as fodder) 
- kikit panicum grass 
- kôtlèt melastoma (med. shrub) 
- lanmè seaweed 
- madan/man Bouven milkweed 
- manmzèl sensitive plant (herb) 
- natal Natal grass 
- panach andropogon (grass) 
- para water grass, buffalo grass 
- pentad panicum grass 
- poul guinea-hen weed (med. 
herb - same as ave) 
- pyepoul wire grass 
- sennikola yellow elder (shrub) 
- Sent-Mari nakedwood tree 
- si paspalum grass 
- simityè sagerose (bot.) 
~ wozo giant reed, reed grass 
- yagidi Mean's grass, Johnson 
grass 
Other var. of grass or herb: -
afanm, - afè, - anmè, - apise, -
apyan, - bèt legliz, - chadwon, -
dragon, - dyab, - gal, - katrè, ~ 
kay, - kont lafyèv, - koulèv, -
kourès, - kout, - krab, - lavyèy, 
- madan/man Michèl, - malen, 
- malnomen, - maltèt, -
papiyon, - pyan(t), - razwa, -
solèy - sôsye, - tènite, - vè 
zèbable, zebab n. yellow-face 
grasskit (bird); beard grass 
zebi n. zebu (ox) 
zebichèt, bichèt, jebichèt n. 
winnowing tray; cf. laye 
zèbisid n. weed-killer, herbicide 
zebisyè, jebisyè n. game bag, pouch 
(for carrying game) 
995 
zechalôt - zèl 
zechalôt see echalôt 
zèd, izèd (letter) z 
zedikasyon: 
sait ~ uncouth lout; ill-bred, impolite 
zèdtan pl. n. hours 
zefè, zèfèpin. belongings, 
possessions (see zafè); n. stand-in 
demonstration 
zefele adj. fragile, sickly 
zèfeyis n. busybody, nosey person; 
slanderer 
zefi n. light-textured cloth (widely 
used by Haitian peasants) 
zefo see jefô 
zèfolè see èfôlè 
zege, zègè, zèkè n. tumblebug; 
shrimp, runt (person); puny or 
sickly child; var. of mango 
zegele, zègèlè see zekele 
zegi see zegwi 
zègrè, egrè, zegrè n. heartburn; 
hunger pains 
zegrèt n. var. of fish 
~ blan snowy heron (bird) 
~ ble reddish egret (bird) 
zegwi, egi, egiy, egwi, egwiy, zegi n. 
needle (sewing; hypodermic; used 
to inflate soccer bal^asketball); 
hand (of watch or clock); dial 
(control knob of radio etc.); peg, 
pin; var. of fish; shepherd's needle 
(bot.) 
fè (yon moun) pase nan yon je/ 
twou ~ to give (s.o.) a hard time, 
make (s.o.) suffer 
fëy zèb ~ shepherd's needle 
(bot.) 
kout ~ stitch (for cut etc.), suture 
nan sans ~ mont yo mache 
clockwise 
pase nan yon je ~ to have a hard 
time 
travay ~ needlepoint 
zèb ~ see fey ~ 
~ minit/segonn minute/second 
hand (watch, clock) 
Var. of shepherd's needle (bot.): ~ 
femèl, ~ mal 
zekay, zèkay see ekay 
zèkè see zege 
zekele, zegele, zègèlè, zèkèlè adj. 
tiny 
zekla: 
louvri ~ li to show off, strut 
san ~ quietly, without fanfare 
zèklè, eklè, zeklè n. lightning; flash; 
spark 
fè ~ lightning strikes 
kou ^ fast as lightning 
kout ~ flash of lightning, lightning 
bolt 
wè ~ to see stars (after a severe 
blow etc.); not to understand 
clearly 
zekolye, kolye doub fran, zokolye 
n. rufous-naped plover (bird) 
~ savann var. of bird 
zekos see ekôs 
zekourèl see zekwèl 
zekribich n. scorpion 
zekwèl, zekourèl n. scrofula (med.); 
stiff neck 
zèl n. wing (bird; airplane); zeal, 
ardor; fender; (single) playing-
card; detached or torn piece 
(cardboard etc.); brim (of hat); fin 
(of fish); eaves, overhang (of 
roof); wooden rain or sun awning 
bat (ti) ~ li to split, leave; to flap 
one's wings; to act foolishly, 
agitate; to keep busy; to manage, 
cope; to do one's best; to make 
oneself noticed 
bat (ti) ~ ou! scram! beat it! 
996 
zèl - zen 
fèmen - to back down, admit 
defeat 
jwe - li to play one's card, make 
one's move 
kase ~ li to give in, retreat 
kenbe - chemiz (yon moun) to 
hold (s.o.) back 
louvri de - nen li to flare one's 
nostrils 
mete - (nan pye) to rush off, 
scurry away 
sou - see soulèzèl 
trennen - to eke out a living 
- adwat right fender (of vehicle) 
- agôch left fender (of vehicle) 
- anbavant pelvic fin, anal fin (of 
fish) 
- anwodo dorsal fin (of fish) 
- chemiz shirttail 
- dantèl jôn lacewing (insect); ant 
lion (insect) 
~ dantèl vèt green lacewing 
(insect) 
- do dorsal fin (of fish) 
- evantay ray-finned (fish) 
- kat playing-card (lit. and Jig.) 
~ lamye see lamye 
~ louvri eager, enthusiastic, alert 
- machin (car) fender; running-
board 
- matiren large winged Carnival 
figure 
- nan pye rapid, fast 
- nen (sides or ala of) nostrils; 
nose 
- planch board, plank 
- pwason fin 
- rache prostitute 
- ravèt loose woman; wandering 
Jew (plant); nothing at all 
- sapat thongs, flip-flops 
- sou kote pectoral fin, median fin 
- vèt loose or promiscuous 
woman 
- won fin (of fish) 
zele adj. zealous; overly zealous 
zèlèt n. tiny bit 
zelewon n. dorsal fin; cf. zèl do 
zelôt n. zealot 
zèltrennen n. thongs, flip-flops 
zemi, zemès, zèmès n. small carved 
stone fetish or sacred object of 
Taino Arawak Indians 
zen n. news; gossip; rumor; 
fishhook; zinc; famous person, 
quite a guy; great or extraordinary 
thing; trouble; iron or clay pot 
used in kanzo initiation rites 
(Voodoo); evil water spirits 
(Voodoo); see zenk 
bat - ou j an ou vie say whatever 
you want, whatever you say is 
meaningless 
bay - sou to laugh at, tell funny 
stories about 
bon ~ correct information 
boule - "all-purpose" Voodoo 
ritual of initiation, consecration 
and funeral ceremony 
boule - kay ritual to increase the 
powers of a family's special 
Voodoo spirit 
boule - lemô ritual in honor of the 
dead (Voodoo) 
bouyi - to gossip 
byen - in great shape 
fè - to gossip; to make noise 
kote je 1 fè - an what (s)he is 
thinking about 
kouri - dance around the 
centerpost of a Voodoo peristil 
(q.v.) 
mèt - expert fisherman mete (yon moun) nan - ak (yon 
997 
zen - zepeng 
lot moun) to put (one person) at 
odds with (another), create 
problems between (one person and 
another) 
move ~ false information 
poto pye ~ tripod to support an 
iron or clay pot used in Kanzo 
initiation rites (Voodoo) 
pran nan ~ to be in trouble 
tann -11 (nan lanmè) to cast a 
(fishing) line; to set a trap (fig.) 
voye ~ monte to spread rumors 
~ an pral mele things are 
beginning, things are getting started 
- mouch fishhook with fly as bait 
zenba n. guts, intestines; f.n. loose 
or promiscuous woman 
mare - to take s.thg. with courage 
or fortitude, take it on the chin 
zenboum see zengoun 
zeng see zenk 
an ~ chawolen ready to fight 
~ chawolen move (in one form of 
martial arts) 
zenga, jenga n. damselfish; adj. 
speckled, spotted (usu. chicken); 
see kôk lwa ~ 
zafe - si li pent it is what it is, be 
it as it may, what happens happens 
zenge ko v. to dance excitedly 
zenglen n. (fragment of) broken 
glass, shard 
pran ~ pou dyaman to be fooled 
~ dife spark 
Zenglen prop.n. militia formed circa 
1847 by Faustin Soulouque, 
similar to François Duvalier's 
Tonton Makout (see makout) 
zenglendinaj, zenglenday, 
zenglendinay n. banditry, thievery 
zenglendize v. to thieve, plunder, 
loot, strip 
zenglendo, zenglendou(n) n. thug, 
armed bandit, violent criminal 
zenglenglen adj. of little or no 
importance, insignificant 
zengoun, zenboum n. blow, hit 
zengredyan n. ingredient 
zengzeng v. to annoy, bother, distress 
zenk, zen, zeng n. zinc 
zenofôb n. xenophobe; cf. blankofob 
zenofobi n. [Fk] xenophobia, hatred 
of foreigners 
Zenon prop.n. Zeno (ancient Greek 
philosopher) 
zenpotan: 
trè ~ very important 
zenpotans: 
san ~ of no importance, 
unimportant 
zenya (pronounced: ze-nya) n. 
zinnia (flower) 
zenzè, zenyè, zenzenyè n., zenyèz, 
zenzèz, zenzenyèz f.n. gossip(er); 
rumor-monger 
zenzen n. cannon powder; 
dragonfly; sickly or puny person 
zenzenn: 
bon ~ good thing, good stuff; s.o. 
or s.thg. very special, great find 
zenzenyè, zenzenyèz see zenzè 
zèp n. leapfrog (game) 
zepav n. animal pound, animal shelter 
zèpèlen n. trap, pitfall 
zepeng, epeng n. pin; staple 
chache kou ~ to look thoroughly 
(for s.thg.) 
kat ~ elegant, chic; proper, 
respectable 
san - pa pike 1 without a scratch 
tankou yon tèt ~ ki anfouye like 
a needle in a haystack 
~ atache safety pin 
~ cheve bobby pin 
99R 
zepenglèt - zetwal 
- kouchèt, ~ kwôchèt, - kwôk, -
nouris (large) safety pin, diaper 
pin 
- ti tèt straight pin 
zepenglèt n. small safety pin 
zèpèpè n. ornament on ridge of roof 
zepi, epi n. ear (of com) 
vini ak de - bra li to come with 
nothing 
zepin n. thorn 
zepina, epina n. spinach 
- gran fèy Swiss chard 
- kochon, - pikan pigweed 
Other var. of spinach: - chen, -
etranje, - kabrit, - peyi, - wouj 
Zepina see manman 
zepis see epis 
zepôl, epôl, zèpèl n. shoulder; Rada 
dance emphasizing shoulder 
movement (Voodoo) 
kole - to work together, cooperate 
moute - li, wose - li to shrug 
one's shoulders; to brag 
- kare tuberculosis; U.S. football 
player 
zo - shoulder blade, scapula; 
clavicle 
zepole, epole v. to aid, help, assist 
zepolèt, zèpôlèt n. epaulet(te), 
shoulder braid 
ak tout - li with all his/her honors 
and distinctions 
mete - sou to give recognition to 
zepôlman n. column, pillar 
zepon, zepwon n. spur (to urge a 
horse etc.); spur (of cock etc.) 
djôb - influential governmental 
position 
fè -, grate - , rale - to sharpen the 
spurs (of fighting cock) 
file - , fè - to show one's ability, 
go for it 
gran - influential person; var. of 
fish 
zeponnen v. to spur (cockfighting; 
horseback-riding) 
zepoul n. cohoba tree 
zeprèv n. trial, ordeal 
zepwon see zepon 
zeryen see arenyen; krab 
zès n. zest, peel, twist, liquid in skin 
(of orange, lime etc.); var. of 
mango; category of sexually 
suggestive dances for the spirits of 
the dead (Voodoo) 
zesèl, anba esèl, anbazesèl, esèl, 
zèsèl n. armpit, axilla; influence 
plim -, cheve -, pwal -, pwèl -
underarm hair 
Zèsès prop.n. Xerxes (name of two 
rulers of Persia) 
zespwa: 
san - hopeless 
zèt n. (human) being; cf. kretyen 
vivan 
zeta: 
nan yon move - in a bad state, in 
a bad way 
Zetazini see Etazini 
zetid see etid 
zètôk, zetôk n. down (soft biid 
feathers); root of a feather; 
unhuskcd part of millet 
zètolan see zètolan 
zetrenn, etrèn, zetrèn n. Christmas 
or New-Year's gift 
zetriye see etriye 
Zetwa prop.n. Etroits (La Gonâve) 
zetwal, etwal, zètwal, zetwèl n. star 
desann - to call on occult forces, 
call on magic powers 
- ak bann stars and stripes (U.S. 
flag) 
- dimaten morning star 
999 
zetwale - Ziltik 
- filant, - file, - koule, - pati 
falling star, shooting star (often 
interpreted as sign of s.o.'s 
approaching death) 
- lanmè, - demè starfish 
- polè north star 
zetwale adj. starry, star-studded, 
star-spangled 
zèv, èv n. deed, action; good deed(s); 
charity; works, achievements 
zewo n. zero, nil; nonentity, dead 
loss, a nobody 
a - down and out, destitute 
fè - tounen nèf/dis to fix the 
numbers, cheat; to exploit 
pati a - to start from zero, start 
from nothing, start from scratch 
- bare flat zero, complete failure 
zewofot, zewofot adj. impeccable, 
perfect, totally innocent 
zewôks n. xerox machine; xerox 
copy; to xerox, photocopy 
zeye, eye, eyè, zeyè, zèye n. eyelet, 
small opening (clothing, shoe etc.) 
zeyè n. blinders, blinkers (on horse) 
Zeyisprop.n. Zeus (principal god of 
the Greek pantheon) 
zèz see èz 
zeze v. to lisp 
mouch - tsetse fly (Africa) 
zezwa: 
fen kou - very elegant, highly 
fashionable 
fre kou - rested, refreshed 
zezye see zizye 
ziblin n. carambola tree, Chinese 
gooseberry tree 
zibye see jibye 
zidôl, idol n. idol 
zîg* jig n> mitt> paw, hand (fam.); 
gam, leg (fam.) 
zigonnen v. to bother, pester, plague; 
to tickle; to prick, stick 
zigzag n. zigzag 
fè - to zigzag 
zigzage v. to zigzag (along) 
zigzani see zizani 
zikak, zikap n. jerking movement 
(kite, bicycle); partial turn of a 
bicycle pedal; nothing at all, not a 
thing; coco-plum; adj. stingy 
bay - to nod, doze off; to pull on 
string of a kite 
fè - not to advance, remain 
stationary 
pa di - not to say a word 
zikok, zikôp n. small tap on the 
head made with the finger 
pran - to lose out 
Zilblanch prop.n. Îles-Blanches (6th 
communal section of Jérémie, 
Dept. Grand'Anse) 
zile, il, lil, zil n. island, isle 
kolye - archipelago 
lan ~ mystic site in the sea where 
the sun sets (Voodoo) 
- anba dlo island below the sea 
inhabited by Voodoo spirits and 
souls of the dead 
- Anba Van Leeward Islands 
- Anwo Van Windward Islands 
- Menfo island below the sea 
where Agwe (q.v.) resides 
(Voodoo) 
Zileavach see Ilavach 
Zilè(t)apyèjozèf see Ilè(t)apyèjozèf 
Zili see Ezili 
zilo n. tiny isle 
zilofèn n. xylophone 
Zilokèn see Iloakon 
Ziltik, zile Tèk ak Kayiko, zile Tik 
ak Kekos prop.n. Turks and 
Caicos Islands 
nan ~ faraway; in a distant or 
1000 
Zilvyèj - zo 
remote place 
Zilvyèj see Ilvyèj 
Zim see Basenzim 
Zimbabwe prop.n. Zimbabwe 
zimè see imè 
zimen, zimèn pl. adj. human; see 
syans ~ 
zing, zin n. tiny bit, small piece; 
threatening gesture with fist; 
mysterious beings associated with 
water; child born with long rust-
colored hair 
cheve ~ rust-colored hair; 
dreadlocks [S.] 
zingdekontraryete, 
anzigdekontraryete, 
anzingdekontraryete, 
anzingdekontrayete adj. lively, 
animated; fancy, elegant; moody, 
in a bad mood; adv. elegantly, 
elaborately 
zingèt n. tiny bit, small piece 
zingzang see yingyang 
zingzing v. to bother, harass; see 
tingting 
zinpa see jennpa 
zip n. zipper 
pran nan ~ to be caught in a trap 
~ kod [Eng.], kod lapos zip code 
zipe v. to zip (up) 
zipzip n. supposed descendant of 
Blacks and Arawaks (cf. 
vyenvyen) 
zistwa see istwa 
Ziwa see Lèziwa 
Ziwayenprop.nZiwayèn fprop.n. 
inhabitant of Les Irois (Dept. 
Grand'Anse) 
ziwondèl see iwondèl 
zizani, sisani, zigzani, zizanni n. 
bickering, squabbling, contention, 
discord 
mete ~ to divide, sow dissension 
(family etc.) 
zizanmak adj. varied, diverse, all 
kinds of 
zizawèl see bizawèl 
zizi n. affected and pretentious 
person; weewee, penis of small 
boy; see sisi; zizye; zozo 
bonbon ~ var. of cookie 
zizipan n. middle-sized drum of the 
batri maskawon (q.v.) 
ziziwèl n. clitoris; cf. langèt 
zizye, jizye, zezye, zizi n. gizzard, 
innards; vagina 
gen gwo ~ to be greedy; to be 
envious 
pete ~ to do in, wipe out, kill 
ZLEA acron. (Zone de Libre-
Exchange des Amériques/Zôn 
Echanj Lib Peyi Ameriken) Free 
Trade Area of the Americas 
zo, zôs n. bone; die (pl.: dice); 
domino (for playing dominoes); 
adj. skinny, thin; bony; bare, hard 
blôk ~ walking skeleton, very 
skinny person 
chache ~ nan kalalou to split 
hairs 
depi nan ~ jouk nan mwèl 
totally, completely 
doktè ~ bone-setter (folk 
medicine); orthopedist 
fè kout ~ to play to win 
fè vye ~ to live a long life, grow 
old; to spend a long time 
fè yon moun wè ~ grann li to 
give s.o. what he deserves, punish 
fin jwe tout ~ li to be on one's last 
leg, be with one foot in the grave 
and the other on a banana peel, be 
very old and decrepit 
forne yon pè ~ byen moute to 
1001 
zo - zo 
make/form a good couple 
(people), be birds of a feather, be 
well suited (to one another) 
gen - ladann to be a catch, hit a 
snag 
gwo - brawn, vigor; big for one's 
age 
jwe - to shoot dice 
jwenn/kontre ak ~ grann li, pile 
- grann li to get into/be in 
trouble, come to no-good end; to 
get what one deserves 
jwèt - dice game 
kon - dice cup 
machwè li - his/her cheeks are 
hollow 
magazen - bag of bones, walking 
skeleton, very skinny person 
pa fè vye - not to live long, not 
long for this life 
pa gen - nan lang li not to be 
tongue-tied, be quite articulate 
pati - dice game 
pè - byen moute inseparable 
friends; tweedledum and 
tweedledee 
pile - grann li see jwenn ak -
grann li 
san - lithe, supple; "swisher," 
"nothing but net" (when ball 
enters hoop without touching rim 
in basketball) 
se pa pou - pou m di chen 
"Bonjou bopè" I will not stoop to 
doing s.thg. degrading for no good 
reason 
souse yon ~ to put up with an 
unpleasant situation for a long 
time; to have a good thing going 
(at least for the present) 
souse - pa li to get one's turn at or 
participate in the good life 
veye - li to beware, be careful 
vin - to go down to skin and 
bones 
- ak po skin and bones, emaciated 
- basen pelvis 
- bèf nan kôn dice game 
- bogi very thin or emaciated 
person 
- bisket breastbone, sternum 
- bouke dog-tired, weary, beat 
- bouke chen incorrigible person; 
shameless 
- bwado charge, responsibility 
- bwa fèy nervure, vascular ridges 
of a leaf 
- bwakou neck bone 
- bwanen nose; nasal bone, 
bridge of nose 
- bwatèt skull, cranium 
- chenn do, - chini do backbone, 
vertebral column, spinal column; 
spine, spinal cord 
- chwal lonbray lazy, do-nothing 
- dan soti emaciated 
- dan woch sharp rock, 
protruding rock 
- devan, - douvan nakedwood 
(shrub or small tree); var. of 
liquor; drink which prevents one 
from perceiving reality 
- dèyè tèt occipital bone 
- dèyè tonbe to have lower-back 
pain 
- do spine, backbone 
- douvan see ~ devan 
- figi cheekbone 
- frèt weak muscles 
~ fwon frontal bone 
~ gagann Adam's apple 
- gôjèt uvula; cf. lalwèt 
- grann provocation, trouble 
- janm leg; shin, tibia 
1002 
- (jwenti) jenou, ~ jarèt, ~ 
kakôn jenou kneecap, patella 
- kalbas tèt head, noggin, noodle, 
bean if am.) 
~ klo see zoklo 
- kloukloum nasal bone, bridge 
of nose 
~ ko skeleton; skeleton-like, 
walking skeleton; (one's) main 
support, provider 
- (kokolo) tèt, - kôkôwôs tèt 
skull, cranium 
~ kôn var. of card game 
~ kôt rib 
~ kôt griyen protruding ribs, skin 
and bones 
~ kou cervical vertebrae 
~ koupyon tailbone, coccyx; 
sacrum 
~ krap cartilage 
~ kraze extreme fatigue, pains and 
stiffness in joints 
~ krikrit straight pointed nose 
bone 
~ kwis thighbone, femur 
~ li pa bon pou fè bouton, ~ li 
blanch long since pushing up 
daisies by the roots, long since 
dead and buried 
~ machwè anba mandible 
~ machwè anwo maxilla 
~ make kase hairline fracture 
~ marasa bone consorts: tibia and 
fibula, radius and ulna 
~ mayanba var. of card game 
~ men knuckle(s) 
~ mis tonbe to have lower-back 
pain 
~ mon bedrock 
~ nen nose; nasal bone, bridge of 
nose 
~ ole tender young child 
1003 
zo - zôd 
~ pa bon pou fè bouton ankô to 
be long since dead, be completely 
desiccated 
~ plonbe loaded dice 
~ pope skinny person; puppet, 
stooge, figurehead; flowing dance 
form (as though dancer had no 
bones); sexy woman (ironic); var. 
round flat paté 
~ poul leftovers, remains, dregs 
~ pwason fish bone; 
complications; annoyance, irritant; 
trap; cowhage (vine) 
~ pye kneecap, patella; tibia 
~ rachitik rickets 
- ranch hip bone, ilium 
~ ranje loaded dice 
~ rèldo same as ~ chenn do 
~ salyè collarbone, clavicle 
~ talas skin and bones, very 
skinny 
~ tanp temporal bone 
~ tay hip; pelvis; cf. ranch 
- tèt skull, cranium 
~ zepôl shoulder blade, scapula 
zoban adj. skeleton-like; n. walking 
skeleton; main-sail cord of boat; 
see kèt 
tanbou ~ var. of drum 
zobangi adj. painful, backbreaking 
zoble n. var. of fish 
zobop, zôbok, zobôp n. secret 
society of evildoers; member of 
same; sorcerer; demon, man-eating 
ogre; wound on foot caused by a 
stake; magic spirit contained in a 
bottle to protect one's house 
(Voodoo) 
zèbôy, kôkoy n. bunion; callus, corn 
pran/resevwa gwo ~ to be hard 
hit 
zodpl.n. orders, command 
zôd - zonbi 
a vo - [Fr.] at your disposal, at 
your service; yes sir! 
zôd, lèzôd n. order, command 
zodè see odè 
san - odorless 
zodevan see zodouvan 
zôdi n. dirt, filth, dung 
zôdis adj. bad, wicked; n. rotten 
person, jerk 
zôdonans see ôdonans 
zodouvan, zodevan n. nakedwood 
tree 
zodyak n. zodiac 
sentiwon - metal-tipped belt 
soulye - metal-studded shoe 
zoe n. temporary filling (<dentistry) 
zôgèy: 
san - without arrogance or conceit 
zogodô adj. evil, demonic, diabolical 
zôk, bôk, zop n. slap on face or head 
zoklimo adj. disreputable, shady, 
seamy 
zoklo n. rap (with knuckles, usu. on 
head); cuckoldry, marital infidelity 
bay - to deceive one's spouse, be 
unfaithful, cuckold; to hit s.o. on 
the head with one's knuckles 
pran - to have an unfaithful 
spouse 
zokloyis, zoklomann n. unfaithful 
spouse, adulterer 
zokolye see zekolye 
zokong adj. tough, resistant 
zokop, kokom n. marble game using 
five holes dug in ground 
zokrit n. toddler, little kid 
zoliv, oliv n. (Caribbean) wild olive 
zom pl.n. men 
de - pèdi no longer friends 
zomangay, zomanga n. skin and 
bones, walking skeleton; skinny 
old nag (horse) 
zôn, zonn n. neighborhood, area, 
vicinity; zone, area, region; 
hemisphere; (radio) waves; see 
lonn 
nan/vè - approximately; around, 
about (place; time) 
- dijans disaster area 
- franch free trade zone 
zona n. shingles, herpes zoster 
zônay n. zoning 
zonbi n. zombi, living dead, body 
without its soul; phantom, ghost; 
mindless slave; idiot, imbecile; 
symbolic servitude; fictitious 
person; speculator's accomplice or 
assistant; gwo bonnanj (q.v.) 
when detached from its possessor; 
soul of unbaptized young child; 
soul of s.o. who has accidentally 
died before his/her prescribed 
time; soul of a woman who has 
died a virgin; see chèk ~ 
kaptenn - se yon nonm tou we 
all have a right to be here, we are 
all created equal (cf. tout moun se 
moun) 
kite - pete sou li to be submissive 
lache - (yon moun) to give (s.o.) 
a rest, give (s.o.) a break 
fè lakilbit ~ to do a somersault 
- ap bat/kale madanm li (dèyè 
kay) rain is falling while the sun is 
shining 
- astral, - efas zombi of one's ti 
bonnanj (q.v.) 
Zonbi Bann Mannan Wi Wa 
traditional children's song 
- dousman one who suffers in 
silence 
~ goûte sèl (li pa mande rete) 
once s.o. has taken a taste to s.thg. 
there's no stopping him/her 
1004 
zonbi -zôrèy 
- grenn zombi trained to steal 
coffee buds and place them on the 
plants of his/her master 
- jaden, ~ (ko) kadav zombi of 
one's physical being which can be 
used for work 
- mannan (true) zombi 
~ mannmannan, ~ men li wa var. 
of children's game 
~ mo vivan dimwit, nitwit, 
numbskull 
~ nanbwa sagerose (bot) 
~ pete sou to become indolent, be 
spineless 
~ savann former zombi who has 
returned to normalcy 
zonbifikasyon n. zombification; 
political paralysis (of leader in 
crisis) 
zonbifikatè n. zombifier, zombi-
maker 
zonbifye v. to zombify; to brainwash 
zong n. fingernail; toenail; claw; tiny 
bit (food) 
anba ~ quick (of nail); 
underhandedly 
chè nan ~ ingrown nail 
fè/taye ~ li to cut one's fingernails 
manje ~ to bite one's fingernails 
po ~ cuticle 
tay ~ nail clippers 
~ chat cat's-claw (shrub) 
~ dwèt, ~ men fingernail 
~ enkane, ~ nan chè, ~ nan 
vyann ingrown nail 
~ pye toenail 
~ (rantre) nan chè ingrown nail 
zongle v. to claw at (s.o.); to pinch, 
snip off; to steal 
zongonvi n. very thin no-count 
person 
zonkal n. tiny bit 
Zôn Kannal prop.n. Canal Zone 
zonn see zôn 
zonrany see zoranj 
zons n. ounce 
zonyon n. onion; sore (which leaves 
scar); bulb (bot.) 
ti ~ blan pearl onion 
~ dilin var. of flower 
~ granèks granex onion 
~ li spider lily (plant) 
zonzon, zonzonyè n. low-class 
person; var. of mango; adj. 
unattractive, ugly; scrawny (child) 
zop, bôk, zok n. slap on face or 
head 
zopope see zo pope 
zoranj, zonrany, zorany n. orange 
(fruit; color) 
konfiti ~ marmalade 
- anmè, ~ si bitter orange 
~ dous (sweet) orange 
~ konmen, ~ konmenn very 
sweet orange 
~ lachin very large var. of orange 
~ mandarin tangerine 
~ si bitter orange 
Other var. of orange: ~ gwo po, ~ 
po jôn, - po vèt 
zoranje n. [Fr.] orange tree 
Zoranjeprop.n. Orangers (6th 
communal section of Léogâne, 
Dept. West; 8th communal section 
of Bainet, Dept. South-East) 
zoray see loray 
zoren n. sisal-like fiber (used in 
rope-making); rope to attach 
livestock; heavy whip 
zôrèy, zorèy n. ear, auricle, pinna; 
gill (of fish); handle, strap (of 
bag); coleus (herb of mint family) 
anndan % fon -, nannan -
middle ear; inner ear 
1005 
zôrèy - zoslè 
Ayisyen ti - average Haitian 
bay yon moun - li to give s.o. 
peace and quiet 
fè - long not to listen to, not pay 
attention to 
fèy - outer ear 
gade - (li) an twonpèt see mete -
(li) an twonpèt 
gen - di to be hard of hearing; to 
be rebellious or unyielding 
gonm - see kaka -
gwo - hick, redneck; big shot 
kaka -, gonm -, kal - , kras -, si 
-, tata -, watè - earwax, cerumen 
kenbe -, rale -, tire - to engage 
in male homosexual behavior 
kenbe - (li) an twonpèt see mete 
- (li) an twonpèt 
kole/kouche/prete - to perk up 
one's ears, listen intently 
kouvèti - earmuff 
kras - see kaka -
mal - earache 
mete/gade/kenbe - (li) an 
twonpèt to listen up, listen closely 
pa gen - to be inarticulate, be 
incapable of expressing oneself 
prete -, pwoche - to listen 
intently 
rale - to scold, reprimand; see 
kenbe -
rantre nan - gôch e soti nan -
dwat to go in one ear and out the 
other, pay no attention to 
si - see kaka -
tande nan - li to hear with one's 
very own ears 
tande -, tandi - auditory canal 
tata - see kaka -
tete - earlobe 
ti - evildoer, criminal; see 
Ayisyen ti -
ti - di... a little birdie says it is 
said that... 
tire - to scold, reprimand; see 
kenbe -
tiyo - ear (opening) 
tou - , twou - auditory canal; 
middle ear; inner ear; ear 
watè - see kaka -
- bourik worthless money 
(expression from period of 
Sylvain Salnave, 1867-1869); 
cocuisa (giant lily) 
- bout tande outer ear 
- di hard of hearing; 
stubbornness, perverseness; 
stubborn, disobedient 
- fèmal earache 
- kouri dlo to have otorrhea 
- lapen large ears 
- sonnen ringing in ear(s), tinnitus 
- sourit small ears 
Other terms used to describe the 
human outer ear: gran - , gwo -
pwès, po - lanvè, ti - piti, -
antre, - bèf, - bourik, -
dekoupe, - djondjon, - doub, 
- double, - dwat, - kago, - kale, 
- kanpe, - kare (twôp), - klabo, 
- kochi, - kolboso, - kole, 
- koube, - koubi, - kouche, 
- krabo, - krake, - labapen, 
- lanvè, - moko, - pa double, 
- pa dwa, - plat, - pwès, 
- tchotchôt, - tôde, - twonpèt, 
-won 
zôrye, oreye, zoreye, zoreye, zorye 
n. pillow 
sak -, tèd -, tèk -, tèt -
pillowcase 
ti - cushion 
zôs see zo 
zoslè see oslè 
1006 « 
zosman - zwazo 
zosman n. bones (skeleton); skeletal 
remains; walking skeleton, skin 
and bones; rattletrap, jalopy 
zôt, lezôt, lèzot pron. (the) others; 
pl.n. strangers, outsiders 
zotèt n. skull, cranium 
zôtèy n. toe 
dis - atè barefoot 
dwèt ~ toe 
fant - flip-flops (sandals) 
gwo ~ big toe; hillbilly, country 
hick; peasant; uncouth, unrefined 
peze gwo - to be insincere 
pwent % tèt - tip of the toe 
~ jenjanm hillbilly, country hick; 
peasant (toes resembling a ginger 
root) 
zotobre n. big shot, VIP, bigwig 
gwo - big shot, VIP; powerful, 
influential 
- afokol big shot; pretentious 
person 
zôtolan, zantolan, zatolan, zètolan 
n. Cuban ground dove 
tèt - , sèvo - birdbrain, nitwit 
zotorite pin. authorities, the 
Establishment, officialdom 
zou n. zoo 
de - twa some, several 
zougounou adj. small, short, squat 
zouk n. pimple; unevenness, 
irregularity; var. of popular dance 
rhythm from Trinidad 
bay - to advance irregularly, go 
forward in starts and stops 
zoukap zoukap onomat. irregular 
movement 
zoukloum n. welt, swelling, bump 
zoukoim n. stunted specimen of 
potato, yam etc. 
zoukoutak adj. limping, lame, 
faltering 
zoulou prop.n./adj. Zulu 
zoulou(t) n. ugly person; low-class 
person 
zoum n. zoom lens; v. to use zoom 
lens 
zoumba see krab zoumba 
zoumzou n. bee; cf. myèl 
zounzoun see zouzoim 
zoup onomat. sound of a sudden 
action 
- toup! bingo! 
zouti n. tool, implement; penis 
magazen - hardware store 
- bounda paddle, whip etc. 
zoutiye v. to outfit, equip 
zouzi see ouzi 
zouzoun, zounzoun n. well-to-do 
person;/^. rich, powerful, 
influential woman; stout or plump 
woman 
gwo - rich woman, Mrs. 
Gotrocks; prosperous woman 
merchant 
zowoloji n. zoology 
zowolojis n. zoologist 
zozo, zizi n. dick, cock (penis) 
fo - dildo 
- bèf leather horsewhip 
- lanmè sea slug 
zwa fn. goose; seductive woman 
mal - gander 
ti - gosling 
zwav n. idle person; fast liver, 
reveler 
zwazo, jwazo, lwazo, wazo, zwezo 
n. bird 
ti - manglye yellow warbler 
(bird) 
- flan var. of bird 
- granpè tanager (bird) 
- kann Dominican grasshopper 
sparrow (bird) 
zwazo - zyèm 
- lapli swift (bird) 
- lapli fran Antillean black swift 
(bird) 
~ lapli ke kout chimney swift 
(bird) 
- lapli kou blan Antillean cloud 
swift (bird) 
- Latousen swift (bird) 
- lemo, ~ limô West Indian jacana 
(bird) 
- mouch, sousaflè Hispaniolan 
vervain hummingbird 
- palmis, esklav palm-chat (bird) 
- seren cardinal (bird) 
- wanga hummingbird 
zwèz fadj. [N.] silky 
zwing n. short poem drawing 
attention to an individual or group; 
onomat. sound of a sting (bee, 
wasp etc.) 
zwing, zwit n. tiny bit 
zwinge v. to pinch; to sting 
zwit n. oyster; tiny bit; adj. skinny; 
interj. damn it! 
piti - shorty 
zye eye; see je 
-zyèm ordinal suffix 
ex: 
dezyèm second 
twazyèm third 
sizyèm sixth 
1008 
Chif Arab / Arabic Numerals 
Chif Kadinal Cardinal Numbers Chif Odinal Ordinal Numbers 
0 zewo zero - -
l en/youn one premye first 
2 de two dezyèm second 
3 twa three twazyèm third 
4 kat four katriyèm fourth 
5 senk five senkyèm fifth 
6 sis six sizyèm sixth 
7 sèt seven setyèm seventh 
8 wit eight wityèm eighth 
9 nèf nine nevyèm ninth 
10 dis ten dizyèm tenth 
11 onz eleven onzyèm eleventh 
12 douz twelve douzyèm twelfth 
13 trèz thirteen trèzyèm thirteenth 
14 katôz fourteen katôzyèm fourteenth 
15 kenz fifteen kenzyèm fifteenth 
16 sèz sixteen sèzyèm sixteenth 
17 disèt seventeen disetyèm seventeenth 
18 dizwit eighteen dizwityèm eighteenth 
19 diznèf nineteen diznevyèm nineteenth 
20 ven twenty ventyèm twentieth 
21 venteyen twenty-one venteyinyèm twenty-first 
22 vennde twenty-two venndezyèm twenty-second 
23 venntwa twenty-three venntwazyèm twenty-third 
24 vennkat twenty-four vennkatriyèm twenty-fourth 
25 vennsenk twenty-five vennsenkyèm twenty-fifth 
26 vennsis twenty-six vennsizyèm twenty-sixth 
27 vennsèt twenty-seven vennsetyèm twenty-seventh 
28 ventwit twenty-eight ventwityèm twenty-eighth 
29 ventnèf twenty-nine ventnevyèm twenty-ninth 
30 trant thirty trantyèm thirtieth 
31 tranteyen thirty-one tranteyinyèm thirty-first 
32 trannde thirty-two tranndezyèm thirty-second 
33 tranntwa thirty-three tranntwazyèm thirty-third 
34 trannkat thirty-four trannkatriyèm thirty-fourth 
35 trannsenk thirty-five trannsenkyèm thirty-fifth 
1009 
Chif Arab / Arabic Numerals 
Chif Kadinal Cardinal Numbers Chif Odinal Ordinal Numbers 
36 trannsis thirty-six trannsizyèm thirty-sixth 
37 trannsèt thirty-seven trannsetyèm thirty-seventh 
38 trantwit thirty-eight trantwityèm thirty-eighth 
39 trantnèf thirty-nine trantnevyèm thirty-ninth 
40 karant forty karantyèm fortieth 
41 karanteyen forty-one karanteyinyèm forty-first 
42 karannde forty-two karanndezyèm forty-second 
43 karanntwa forty-three karanntwazyèm forty-third 
44 karannkat forty-four karannkatriyèm forty-fourth 
45 karannsenk forty-five karannsenkyèm forty-fifth 
46 karannsis forty-six karannsizyèm forty-sixth 
47 karannsèt forty-seven karannsetyèm forty-seventh 
48 karantwit forty-eight karantwityèm forty-eighth 
49 karantnèf forty-nine karantnevyèm forty-ninth 
50 senkant fifty senkantyèm fiftieth 
51 senkanteyen fifty-one senkanteyinyèm fifty-first 
52 senkannde fifty-two senkanndezyèm fifty-second 
53 senkanntwa fifty-three senkanntwazyèm fifty-third 
54 senkannkat fifty-four senkannkatriyèm fifty-fourth 
55 senkannsenk fifty-five senkannsenkyèm fifty-fifth 
56 senkannsis fifty-six senkannsizyèm fifty-sixth 
57 senkannsèt fifty-seven senkannsetyèm fifty-seventh 
58 senkantwit fifty-eight senkantwityèm fifty-eighth 
59 senkantnèf fifty-nine senkantnevyèm fifty-ninth 
60 swasant sixty swasantyèm sixtieth 
61 swasanteyen sixty-one swasanteyinyèm sixty-first 
62 swasannde sixty-two swasanndezyèm sixty-second 
63 swasanntwa sixty-three swasanntwazyèm sixty-third 
64 swasannkat sixty-four swasannkatriyèm sixty-fourth 
65 swasannsenk sixty-five swasannsenkyèm sixty-fifth 
66 swasannsis sixty-six swasannsizyèm sixty-sixth 
67 swasannsèt sixty-seven swasannsetyèm sixty-seventh 
68 swasantwit sixty-eight swasantwityèm sixty-eighth 
69 swasantnèf sixty-nine swasantnevyèm sixty-ninth 
70 swasantdis seventy swasantdizyèm seventieth 
71 swasannonz seventy-one swasannonzyèm seventy-first 
1010 
Chif Arab / Arabic Numerals 
Chif Kadinal Cardinal Numbers Chif Odinal Ordinal Numbers 
72 swasanndouz seventy-two s was anndouzy èm seventy-second 
73 swasanntrèz seventy-three swasanntrèzyèm seventy-third 
74 swasannkatôz seventy-four swasannkatôzyèm seventy-fourth 
75 swasannkenz seventy-five swasannkenzyèm seventy-fifth 
76 swasannsèz seventy-six swasannsèzyèm seventy-sixth 
77 swasaimdisèt seventy-seven swasanndisetyèm seventy-seventh 
78 swasanndizwit seventy-eight swasanndizwityèm seventy-eighth 
79 swasanndiznèf seventy-nine swasanndiznevyèm seventy-ninth 
80 katreven eighty katreventyèm eightieth 
81 katreven-en eighty-one katreven-inyèm eighty-first 
82 katrevende eighty-two katrevendezyèm eighty-second 
83 katreventwa eighty-three katreventwazyèm eighty-third 
84 katrevenkat eighty-four katrevenkatriyèm eighty-fourth 
85 katrevensenk eighty-five katrevensenkyèm eighty-fifth 
86 katrevensis eighty-six katrevensizyèm eighty-sixth 
87 katrevensèt eighty-seven katrevensetyèm eighty-seventh 
88 katreven-wit eighty-eight katreven-wityèm eighty-eighth 
89 katrevennèf eighty-nine katrevennevyèm eighty-ninth 
90 katrevendis ninety katrevendizyèm ninetieth 
91 katreven-onz ninety-one katreven-onzyèm ninety-first 
92 katrevendouz ninety-two katrevendouzyèm ninety-second 
93 katreventrèz ninety-three katreventrèzyèm ninety-third 
94 katrevenkatôz ninety-four katrevenkatôzyèm ninety-fourth 
95 katrevenkenz ninety-five katrevenkenzyèm ninety-fifth 
96 katrevensèz ninety-six katrevensèzyèm ninety-sixth 
97 katrevendisèt ninety-seven katrevendisetyèm ninety-seventh 
98 katrevendizwit ninety-eight katrevendizwityèm ninety-eighth 
99 katrevendiznèf ninety-nine katrevendiznevyèm ninety-ninth 
100 san one hundred santyèm one hundredth 
101 san-en one hundred 
(and) one 
san-inyem one hundred 
(and) first 
102 sande one hundred (and) two 
sandezyèm one hundred 
(and) second 
200 desan two hundred desantyèm two hundredth 
201 desan-en two hundred (and) one 
desan-inyèm two hundred 
(and) first 
1011 
Chif Arab/ Arabic Numerals 
Chif Kadinal Cardinal Numbers Chif Odinal Ordinal Numbers 
202 desande two hundred (and) two 
desandezyèm two hundred 
(and) second 
300 twasan three hundred twasantyèm three hundredth 
301 twasan-en three hundred (and) one 
twasan-inyèm three hundred 
(and) first 
302 twasande three hundred 
(and) two 
twasandezyèm three hundred 
(and) second 
400 katsan four hundred katsantyèm four hundredth 
401 katsan-en four hundred 
(and) one 
katsan-inyèm four hundred 
(and) first 
402 katsande four hundred 
(and) two 
katsandezyèm four hundred 
(and) second 
500 senksan five hundred senksantyèm five hundredth 
501 senksan-en five hundred 
(and) one 
senksan-inyèm five hundred 
(and) first 
502 senksande five hundred 
(and) two 
senksandezyèm five hundred 
(and) second 
600 sisan six hundred sisantyèm six hundredth 
601 sisan-en six hundred 
(and) one 
sisan-inyèm six hundred (and) 
first 
602 sisande six hundred 
(and) two 
sisandezyèm six hundred (and) 
second 
700 sètsan seven hundred sètsantyèm seven hundredth 
701 sètsan-en seven hundred 
(and) one 
sètsan-inyèm seven hundred 
(and) first 
702 sètsande seven hundred 
(and) two 
sètsandezyèm seven hundred 
(and)second 
800 wisan eight hundred wisantyèm eight hundredth 
801 wisan-en eight hundred 
(and) one 
wisan-inyèm eight hundred 
(and) first 
802 wisande eight hundred 
(and) two 
wisandezyèm eight hundred 
(and) second 
1012 
Chif Arab / Arabic Numerals 
Chif Kadinal Cardinal Numbers Chif Ôdinal Ordinal Numbers 
900 nèfsan nine hundred nèfsantyèm nine hundredth 
901 nèfsan-en nine hundred 
(and) one 
nèfsan-inyèm nine hundred 
(and) first 
902 nèfsande nine hundred 
(and) two 
nèfsandezyèm nine hundred 
(and) second 
1000 mil one thousand milyèm (one) thousandth 
1001 milen one thousand 
(and) one 
mileinyèm one thousand 
and first 
1002 milde one thousand 
(and) two 
mildezyèm one thousand 
and second 
2000 demil two thousand demilyèm two thousandth 
2001 demilen two thousand 
(and) one 
demileinyèm two thousand 
and first 
2002 demilde two thousand 
(and) two 
demildezyèm two thousand 
and second 
3000 twamil three thousand twamilyèm three thousandth 
4000 katmil four thousand katmilyèm four thousandth 
5000 senkmil five thousand senkmilyèm five thousandth 
6000 simil six thousand similyèm six thousandth 
7000 sètmil seven thousand sètmilyèm seven thousandth 
8000 wimil eight thousand wimilyèm eight thousandth 
9000 nèfmil nine thousand nèfmilyèm nine thousandth 
10 000 dimil ten thousand dimilyèm ten thousandth 
100 000 sanmil one hundred 
thousand 
sanmilyèm one hundred 
thousandth 
100 001 sanmilen one hundred 
thousand and one 
sanmileinyèm one hundred 
thousand and first 
100 002 sanmilde one hundred 
thousand and two 
sanmildezyèm one hundred 
thousand and 
second 
1013 
Chif Arab / Arabic Numerals 
Chif Kadinal Cardinal Numbers Chif Odinal Ordinal Numbers 
200 000 desanmil two hundred 
thousand 
desanmilyèm two hundred 
thousandth 
1 000 000 milyon one million milyonyèm (one) millionth 
2 000 000 demilyon two million demilyonyèm two millionth 
1 000 000 000 milya one billion milyadyèm (one) billionth 
1014 
Chèf Deta Ayiti / Rulers of Haiti 
Jean-Jacques Dessalines 
(empereur) 
Jan-Jak Desalin (lanperè) 
ljan. 1804-17 oct. 1806 
Henry Christophe (roi) 
Anri Kristôf (wa) 
fév. 1807 - oct. 1820 
Alexandre Pétion 
Aleksann Petyon 
mars 1807-mars 1818 
Jean-Pierre Boyer 
Jan-Pyè Bwaye 
mars 1818-mars 1843 
Jean-Louis Pierrot 
Jan-Lwi Pyewo 
avril 1845-mars 1846 
Jean-Baptiste Riché 
Jan-Batis Riche 
mars 1846-fév. 1847 
Faustin Soulouque 
(empereur) 
Fosten Soulouk 
(lanperè) 
mars 1847-jan. 1859 
Fabre Geffrard 
Fab Jefra 
jan. 1859-mars 1867 
Rivière Hérard 
Rivyè Era 
mars 1843-mai 1844 
Sylvain Salnave 
Silven Salnav 
juin 1867-déc. 1869 
Philippe Guerrier 
Filip Gèrye 
mai 1844-avril 1845 
Nissage Saget 
Nisaj Sajè 
mars 1870-mai 1874 
1017 
Michel Domingue 
Michèl Domeng 
juin 1874-avril 1876 
Boisrond Canal 
Bwawon Kanal 
juil. 1876-juil. 1879 
Nord Alexis 
NôAleksi 
déc. 1902-déc. 1908 
Antoine Simon 
Antwàn Simon 
déc. 1908-août 1911 
Lysius Salomon 
Lisyis Salomon 
oct. 1879-août 1888 
Cincinnatus Leconte 
Sensinatis Lekont 
août 1911-août 1912 
François Légitime 
Franswa Lejitim 
déc. 1888-août 1889 
Tancrède Auguste 
Tankrèd Ogis 
août 1912-mai 1913 
Florvil Hyppolite 
Flôvil Ipolit 
oct 1889-mars 1896 
Michel Oreste 
Michèl Orès 
mai 1913-jan. 1914 
Tirésias Simon Sam 
Tirezyas Simon Sam 
mars 1896-mai 1902 
Oreste Zamor 
Orès Zamo 
fév. 1914-nov. 1914 
1018 
Davilmar Théodore 
DavilmaTeyodô 
nov. 1914-fév. 1915 
Élie Lescot 
Eli Lesko 
mai 1941 - jan. 1946 
Vilbrun Guillaume Sam 
Vilbren Giyôm Sam 
mars 1915-juil. 1915 
Sudre Dartiguenave 
Sid Datignav 
août 1915-mai 1922 
Louis Borno 
Lwi Bôno 
mai 1922-mai 1930 
Louis Eugène Roy 
LwiEjènWa 
mai 1930-nov. 1930 
Sténio Vincent 
Stenyo Vensan 
nov. 1930-mai 1941 
1019 
Comité exécutif militaire 
Komite egzekitif mihtè 
jan. 1946-août 1946 
Dumarsais Estimé 
Dimasè Estime 
août 1946-mai 1950 
Junte militaire de 
gouvernement 
Jent milité gouvènman 
mai 1950 -déc. 1950 
Paul Magloire 
Pôl Maglwa 
déc. 1950-déc. 1956 
Nemours Pierre-Louis 
NemouPyè-Lwi 
déc. 1956-fév. 1957 
Franck Sylvain 
Frank Silven 
fév. 1957-avril 1957 
Leslie Manigat 
Lesli Maniga 
fév. 1988 - juin 1988 
Daniel Fignolé 
Dànyèl Fiyole 
mai 1957-juin 1957 
Henri Namphy II 
AnriNanfill 
juin 1988-sept. 1988 
Conseil militaire de 
Gouvernement 
Konsèy milité gouvènman 
juin 1957-oct. 1957 
Prosper Avril 
Pwospè Avril 
sept. 1988-mars 1990 
François Duvalier 
Franswa Divalye 
oct. 1957-avril 1971 
Ertha Pascal-Trouillot 
Eta Paskal-Twouyo 
mars 1990-fév. 1991 
Jean-Claude Duvalier 
Jan-Klod Divalye 
avril 1971-fév. 1986 
Jean-Bertrand Aristide 
Jan-Bètran Aristid 
fév. 1991-fév. 1996 
fév. 2001-fév. 2004/ 
2006 
Henri Namphy I 
AnriNanfïI 
fév. 1986-fév. 1988 
René Préval 
Rene Preval 
fév. 1996-fév. 2001 
1020