Haitian Creole is spoken by about 10 million people in Haiti and the diaspora. Its lexicon is French-based and its structure shaped by West African languages: a living, expressive and vivid language. With this kit, you have the bare minimum to get by in Port-au-Prince, Cap-Haitien or Jacmel.
Haitian Creole (kreyol ayisyen) is a French-based creole language spoken by about 10 million people in Haiti and several million more in the diaspora across the United States, Canada, France, the Dominican Republic and Brazil. Born in the 17th and 18th centuries in the colonial context of Saint-Domingue, it emerged from the encounter between colonists' French and the West African languages (Gbe, Kongo, Yoruba, Fon) spoken by deported people. Creole borrows most of its words from French but transformed pronunciation, dropped complex conjugations and restructured grammar with a simpler, very regular logic.
Since 1987, Haitian Creole has been one of Haiti's two official languages alongside French. It is the only mother tongue of about 95% of Haitians. The spelling was standardized in 1979 on a strictly phonetic basis, making reading very accessible: every letter is pronounced consistently. For a French speaker, many words feel familiar (Bonjou, Mèsi, Orevwa), but grammar holds surprises: no conjugations, tense markers (te, ap, va) placed before the verb, and a reduced pronoun system.
Traveling in Haiti with a few Creole words changes everything. Greeting in kreyol in a tap-tap, at a market or at a restaurant table instantly opens warm conversations. This kit gathers the essentials to greet, ask for directions, order food, handle an emergency and leave respectfully. You will also find cultural tips to decode Haitian hospitality, Creole cuisine, kompa music and the central role of proverbs in conversation.
Here is how these phrases play out in real life. Each scene sets the stage and gathers the useful expressions.
You arrive at Toussaint Louverture airport in the early morning. You give a warm Bonjou to the agent checking your passport, then greet the crowd of drivers with Bonjou tout moun. Later in the day, you will say Bonswa and Bòn nwit to your host.
You hop in a tap-tap in Petion-Ville. You ask the driver to drop you near a well-known house (kay) on the street, then spot the room (chanm) of your accommodation. The shared kitchen (kuizin) is right behind the front door (pòt).
You sit down in a small local restaurant for lunch. You order water (dlo) and coffee with milk (lèt), then ask for rice (diri) on the side. For tomorrow's breakfast, you grab fresh bread (pen) with butter.
After an overly spicy meal, you feel unwell. You explain to the pharmacist that you have pain in your head (tèt) and eyes (je), your ears (zòrèy) are ringing, and you have strange sensations in your mouth (bouch). He quickly directs you to a doctor.
On the morning of departure, you leave your accommodation with gratitude. You thank your host with a big Mèsi followed by a warm Mèsi anpil. When he asks if everything was perfect, you reply Wi with a big smile, and Non when he worries you might have missed something.
What you need to know before travelling to a créole haïtien-speaking country.
Haitian Creole has been one of Haiti's two official languages since 1987, alongside French. Nearly the entire population speaks it, while French remains reserved for administration and part of the elite.
The orthography was standardized in 1979 on a phonetic basis: what is written is pronounced. The "ou" reads like the French "ou" (u sound), "è" like an open e, and "ò" like an open o.
Greeting is essential in Haiti. You always say hello when entering a shop, an office or a taxi. Failing to do so is felt as a glaring lack of manners.
Haitians use many proverbs and images in conversation. Learning a few colorful expressions like Piti piti zwazo fe nich li ("little by little the bird builds its nest") always pleases your hosts.
Tap-taps (colorful pickup taxis) are the most common transport. You shout thank you (Mèsi) before getting off to signal the driver to stop, and you hand the fare directly.
Haitian cuisine is flavorful and spicy. Rice (diri) accompanies almost every meal. Griot (fried pork), saucy chicken and plantains are must-tries. Accepting what is offered is a sign of hospitality.
Avoid discussing politics, the economic situation or poverty-related topics with strangers. These themes remain sensitive and historically charged. Listen before sharing your opinion.
Kompa music is the soul of Haiti, present at parties, on radios and in transport. Knowing a few names (Tabou Combo, Carimi) opens warm conversations.
Preview. The full glossary (30 words) and all the phrases are in the PDF.
Tanpri
please
Eskize m
excuse me
Padon
sorry, pardon
Orevwa
goodbye
Mwen byen
I am well
Byenveni
welcome
Bòn ane
happy new year
Bon anivèsè
happy birthday
Bon vwayaj
good trip
mwen
I, me
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Every translation is cross-checked against at least two concordant sources among the references below.
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