Working our way through a new language can be a daunting task. Therefore, if not motivated by a strong goal or desire, only few are able to reach mastery in learning a new language. The great thing about languages is that they are always transforming, driven by social, cultural, political and other changes. The gender inclusivity movement brought the pronouns into the picture and threw a spotlight on the way pronouns associate with the identity of a person. In this article we will be focusing on Haitian Creole Pronouns, Possessive Pronouns and Plural of Nouns, how they change with the sentence and what you can do to use them productively and effectively. Let’s begin by looking at a list of all Haitian Pronouns.
I Mwen
You Ou
He li
She li
We nou
They Yo
Me m’
Him I’
Her li
Us nou
them yo
My Mwen
Your Ou
His Li
Her Li
Our Nou
Their Yo
Mine pa’m
Yours pa ou
His pa li
Hers pa li
Ours pa nou
Theirs pa yo
Here’s a sample conversation between a company representative and a prospective customer in order for you to make sense of how we can use pronouns in Haitian Creole.
In English
Customer: I am Rita. Nice to meet you.
Company Representative: Pleasure’s mine, Rita. We are the oldest furniture company in northern Haiti and our work has been recognised worldwide. How can we help you?
Customer: I am here to find a suitable dining table for our home. We saw a good one at a friend’s place. Their furniture looked so regal; we want ours to look the same.
In Haitian Creole
Kliyan: mwen se Rita. Bon pou rankontre ou.
Reprezantan Konpayi an: Min plezi, Rita. Nou se pi ansyen konpayi mèb nan nò Ayiti e yo rekonèt travay nou atravè lemond. Ki jan nou ka ede ou?
Kliyan: Mwen isit la pou mwen jwenn yon tab manje apwopriye pou kay nou an. Nou te wè yon bon nan plas yon zanmi. Mèb yo te sanble Regal, nou vle nou yo gade menm bagay la.
Another conversation between a parent and their child will help you see Haitian Creole pronouns with a different set of eyes.
In English
Parent: We want you to excel in your studies. After that what is ours will be yours. You can go on to combine skills you gain from your education to expand the business.
Child: But my ambition is to become a doctor. My friends are already looking to apply at various medical schools. Their drive inspires me.
Parent: But medical schools are expensive, and we cannot pay for them. Your father earns limited money. His earnings pay the bills of the house and provide for each one of us. Look at your sister. She has done pretty well in business. Your friend Steve too applied for medical school, but he couldn’t continue due to the pressure of the studies.
Child: Well, I will be different. I have other friends who are doing well in medical school, and I look at them for inspiration. I am confident of succeeding.
Parent: If you are so confident, we can pool our resources and get our extended family to help. They will definitely help us.
In Haitian Creole
Paran: Nou vle ou briye nan etid ou yo. Aprè sa sa ki pou nou ap pou ou. Ou ka ale nan konbine ladrès ou jwenn nan edikasyon ou yo elaji biznis la.
Timoun: Men anbisyon mwen se vin doktè. Zanmi mwen yo deja kap aplike nan divès lekòl medikal. Kondwi yo enspire m ‘.
Paran: Men lekòl medikal yo chè e nou pa ka peye pou yo. Papa ou touche lajan limite. Salè li peye bòdwo yo nan kay la ak bay pou chak youn nan nou. Gade sè ou. Li te fè trè byen nan biznis. Zanmi ou Steve tou aplike pou lekòl medikal men li pa t ‘kapab kontinye akòz presyon nan syans yo.
Timoun: Bon, mwen pral diferan. Mwen gen lòt zanmi ki ap mache byen nan lekòl medikal e mwen gade yo pou enspirasyon. Mwen konfidan ke mwen reyisi.
Paran: Si ou se konsa konfyans, nou ka pisin resous nou yo epi pou yo jwenn fanmi pwolonje nou yo ede. Yo pral definitivman ede nou.
Hope these conversations help you understand how possessive nouns, plural of nouns etc. work in Haitian Creole. As usual, practicing how to use the pronouns in different situations will help with the language immensely. Learn more about Haitian Creole via this link https://m.haitiopen.com/country/haitian-creole/ on Haiti Open magazine.