Throughout this novel, the Haitian language is used without direct in-line translation. The history of Kreyòl Ayisyen (Haitian Creole) is as rich as the rest of Haiti’s history. The events of Blan Fou occurred when Haitian Creole was first being adopted as an official language along with French.
In 1991, non-Haitians (blan) would referred to the language as “Haitian Creole” while Haitians were referring to it as “Kreyòl Ayisyen”. So without further negotiation, both sides settled into “Creole” and “Kreyòl” since they sound the same audibly and no one wrote much down anyway.
Key Kreyòl words and phrases
In order of appearance in the novel…
Escape (2 of 2)
Mal leve
English: Not a direct translation. Similar to “Someone not raise properly”
Usage: General use term for anyone who is causing trouble for someone else. Often followed by “bastard” or other slur.
Arrival (3 of 3)
Koupe tet. Boule kay.
English: “Cut off their heads. Burn their houses.”
Missonaries (1 of 3)
Kompran?
English: “Understood?”
Tout sanble.
English: “Everything looks the same.”
Usage: Literal or in this case, “I hear you, but my mind remains unchanged.”
Missonaries (3 of 3)
Sak pase?
English: “What’s up?” or “What’s happening?”
Usage: Casual greeting. Less formal than “How are you?”
M’a boule!
English: No direct translation, but generally “I am maintaining.”
Usage: Usually ironic, with “just barely” implied.
Networks (1 of 3)
Gro neg
English: “Big man”
Usage: Not a direct translation. General term for any man, regardless of skin color (not just a “black” man)
Komo o ye? Non mwen se…
English: “How are you doing? My name is…”
Kay
English: “House” or place to live
Loa
English: No direct translation. Spiritual beings or forces in Haitian Vodou.
Usage: Loa are spiritual figures rooted in West African religious traditions, often mapped to Catholic saints during the colonial era. In Haitian spiritual practice, a loa and a saint may share the same identity depending on context. The term “voodoo” is widely considered a Western distortion. Haitian practitioners use “Vodou” or “Vodoun.”
Tap-Tap or Camion
English: “Taxi” or “Truck” (Public transit)
Usage: Used interchangeably to describe the public transport vehicles painted with vivid decorations.
- “Tap-tap usually refers to the small Toyota pickup vehicles
- “Camion” is often used to describe the larger school bus or truck sized vehicles
Ti kob
English: “A little bit”
Usage: Implies a financial donation. Similar to English phrase, “Can you spare some change?”.
M pa gen anye pou ou.
English: “I don’t have anything for you.”
Usage: Not, “I don’t have anything”. Acknowledges that the request was fair and valid, but indicates no help will be provided at this time.
Alternative usage: Each word can be emphasized for different effect. For example, if “anye” is emphasized it is much more emphatic, “I don’t have ANYTHING for you.”
Networks (2 of 3)
Andeyo
English: “Over there”
Usage: Not a direct translation. Refers to anywhere other than Haiti
Mayin moulin
English: “Corn meal”
Usage: Term for a meal of beans over corn meal (instead of with rice).
Networks (3 of 3)
Ki kote
English: “Where is”
Usage: Followed by a noun
Protect and Serve (2 of 4)
Cherie, pi belle peyi, pase lot peyi
English: “Haiti my dear, my beautiful country. More beautiful than any other country…”
Usage: Opening stanza to Haiti’s national song
Tout blan sanble
English: “All white people (foreigners) look the same”
Usage: Ironic reversal of the racist phrase used by southern American Marines during the US invasion and occupation of Haiti (1915 – 1934).
Protect and Serve (3 of 4)
Ti Mon
English: “Little Man”
Usage: Common general nickname. Can be dismissive or affectionate.
Ou vle dlo coconut?
English: “Would you like water of coconut?”
Usage: Coconut water (not milk) which is lost in the processing of coconut for export.
Self-Defense (1 of 4)
Ti vagabon
English: “Little thief”
Tet cho
English: “Hot head”
Usage: A crazy person with very bad judgment.
M pa pale Angle
English: “I don’t speak English”
Titid
English: “Little one”
Usage: Fond nickname for President Aristide, because he’s so diminutive in size.
Self-Defense (2 of 4)
Bouki net
English: “Maximum Bouki”
Usage: Reference to a Haitian proverb where “Bouki” constantly gets himself in trouble due to stupidity and gullibility
Tet cho
English: “Hot head”
Usage: A crazy person with very bad judgment.
Self-Defense (3 of 4)
Pale cho
English: “Hot talk”
Usage: Dangerous or particularly heated speech.
Self-Defense (4 of 4)
M ale
English: “I’m going”
Usage: Anywhere else, not specific. Can be followed by place, as in “M ale Zeta Zuni”.
Safety First (2 of 3)
Dako
English: “Agreed” or “OK”
Bagay
English: “Thing”
Usage: Singular or plural. Can refer to a single item or a whole collection of “stuff”
Resilience
Ti legliz
English: “Little church”
Usage: Little is used to emphasize that this church is not necessarily a part of the “big” Catholic church hierarchy.
Ti groupma
English: “Little group”
Usage: “Little” emphasizes the relationship of the small group to the small church, without the hierarchy.
Choices
Mwen regret sa. M’ bezuin ale.
English: “I’m sorry. I must go.”
Ou ap tounen
English: “I will return”