Like many of you who are studying the Haitian Creole language with me, one of my goals is to read the Bible in Creole. Learning vocabulary is key. I decided to start with the four Gospels and the book of Acts. I did an analysis and determined that there were about 120,202 words in these five books (depending on how you count). However, there were only 2,331 unique words. Some basic words being used over and over. In fact, just by knowing the top 100 most frequently used words, you would know about 72% of all the text! Unfortunately, you would be reaching for your dictionary every third or forth word… not much fun.
So I decided to do the work, and list out each of the 2,331 words and create my own dictionary. What if I could learn the top 250 words? That would give me about 86% of the text. Maybe 500 words? That would equate to 93% of the text. I bet I could learn 1,ooo words… then I would have 98% of the text!
I also realized that there were some key phrases that are often repeated, and some word combinations that are used to express some Bible terms for which there is no equivalence in Creole. For example, “peyi kote Bondya wa a” is the “Kingdom of God.” And “moun Bondye voye nan lachè a” is “Son of Man.”
Below and attached are the first 500 words and key phrases. You can also download in Excel and either learn the words based on order of occurrence, or sort it alphabetically and create y0ur own dictionary. I’m working on translating the rest of the list, so please check back. I’m also going to upload the list to Brainscape to make flashcards.
Enjoy! Bondye beni nou!
Word Counts for the 4 Gospels + Acts – Haitian Creole New Testament | |
Number of words (or contractions) : | 120,202 |
Number of unique words (or contractions): | 2,331 |
Number of sentences : | 8,298 |
Top 1000 words | 98% |
Top 500 words | 93% |
Top 250 words | 86% |
Top 100 words | 72% |
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Some top phrases or unique translations | Occurencies | English |
sa m’ap di nou | 89 | This I am saying to you |
moun bondye voye nan lachè a | 81 | Son of Man |
Jesi reponn yo, “sa m’ap di nou la a, se vre wi” | 62 | Jesus answered them, This I am telling you is true, yes; For assuredly I say to you; Jesus replied, “For truly I tell you.” |
peyi kote bondye wa a | 40 | the kingdom of God |
tout bagay sa yo | 40 | All these things |
leve soti vivan nan lanmò | 37 | rise from the dead |
moun lòt nasyon yo | 32 | people from other nations; Gentiles |
peyi wa ki nan syèl la | 31 | Kingdom of Heaven |
ki bò | 31 | where |
mwen menm moun bondye voye nan lachè a | 29 | I myself am the person God sends in the flesh; I am the Son of Man |
ki p’ap janm fini an | 29 | that will never end |
tounen vin jwenn bondye | 29 | turn come find God; repent |
bèl pouvwa | 25 | glory |
moutre moun yo anpil bagay | 24 | show people many things |
gen yon move lespri sou | 15 | has an evil spirit; demon-possessed |
frè parèy | 14 | neighbor |
peyi wa ki nan syèl la se tankou | 9 | The kingdom of heaven is like… |
antre nan peyi kote bondye wa a | 9 | enter the kingdom of God |
ak moun k’ap fè sa ki mal | 9 | with people who are doing things bad; sinners |
ki pou ta fè ou tonbe nan peche | 7 | … makes you stumble in sin… |
dirèktè lalwa ak farizyen | 7 | teachers of the law and Pharisees |
ki te konvèti nan relijyon jwif yo | 7 | who was converted to Judaism; devout Greeks |
jezi reponn li: se ou ki di li | 5 | Jesus answered him, “It is you who said so”; you said it |
nou tande ki jan nan tan lontan yo te di | 5 | You heard how a long time ago they said; You have heard that it was said to those of old |
se konfyans ou nan bondye ki geri ou | 5 | Your faith has made you well |
men mwen menm men sa m’ap di nou | 5 | But I am saying to you |
fete fèt Delivrans la | 3 | celebrate the Passover |
bò solèy leve | 1 | side the sun rises (east) |
bò solèy kouche | 1 | side the sun sets (west) |
lè sa a | then | |
fèt Pen san ledven yo | Feast of Unleavened Bread | |
fè jèn | to fast | |
jou repo a | day of rest; the Sabbath |
List of 500 Top Words occuring in the four Gospels and Acts
Order | Occurrences | Creole | English |
1 | 6869 | yo | they; theirs; the (plural) |
2 | 4938 | li | he/she/it; his/hers/its; to read |
3 | 3175 | te | was (past tense marker) |
4 | 2880 | a | the |
5 | 2850 | nan | in; into; of; from; through; the |
6 | 2770 | sa | this; that |
7 | 2723 | nou | we/you (plural); ours/yours (plural) |
8 | 2661 | ki | who; what (not the subject) |
9 | 2507 | pou | for; to |
10 | 2312 | l’ | He/she/it contraction |
11 | 2232 | la | the |
12 | 2208 | moun | person |
13 | 1893 | di | to say |
14 | 1735 | se | is (to be) |
15 | 1727 | pa | not; negative indicator; possessive indicator |
16 | 1668 | fè | to do; to make |
17 | 1641 | yon | one; a |
18 | 1537 | mwen | I/me/mine |
19 | 1518 | ou | you/yours (singular) |
20 | 1297 | Jezi | Jesus |
21 | 1293 | ak | with |
22 | 1237 | lè | when |
23 | 1211 | men | hand; but, however; here (men li – “here it is”) |
24 | 1156 | tout | all |
25 | 1065 | gen | to have |
26 | 1057 | Bondye | God |
27 | 1024 | t’ap | past progressive indicator (was… ing) |
28 | 1004 | menm | same; even |
29 | 928 | sou | on; over; up |
30 | 898 | m’ | I/me/mine contraction |
31 | 771 | an | the |
32 | 711 | konsa | so; thus |
33 | 634 | tou | too; also |
34 | 596 | wè | to see |
35 | 544 | pran | to take |
36 | 535 | vin | to become; to come (abbr.) |
37 | 505 | jan | how; way |
38 | 493 | lòt | other |
39 | 491 | lan | the |
40 | 453 | paske | because |
41 | 424 | pitit | small |
42 | 424 | nonm | man |
43 | 423 | bay | to give |
44 | 416 | si | if |
45 | 404 | konnen | to know |
46 | 402 | rive | to arrive |
47 | 399 | kote | where |
48 | 395 | mete | to put, put on, to wear |
49 | 382 | voye | to send |
50 | 378 | apre | after; next |
51 | 377 | va | future indicator |
52 | 377 | anpil | a lot of; many; much; very |
53 | 375 | t’ | past tense indicator contraction (te) |
54 | 371 | bò | side (ki bò – where) |
55 | 371 | peyi | country |
56 | 369 | soti | exit; from |
57 | 368 | bagay | thing |
58 | 359 | disip | disciple |
59 | 356 | lavil | city |
60 | 347 | reponn | to answer |
61 | 338 | mande | to ask |
62 | 335 | pase | to pass; than (plis… pase); past |
63 | 330 | pale | to speak |
64 | 327 | jwenn | to find |
65 | 325 | papa | father |
66 | 319 | epi | then; and then |
67 | 316 | rele | to call |
68 | 316 | mèt | master |
69 | 315 | ankò | again |
70 | 310 | ale | to go |
71 | 309 | k’ap | (ki ap) who + progressive (ing) indicator |
72 | 300 | ka | can; able (kapab) |
73 | 299 | byen | well |
74 | 298 | jou | day |
75 | 286 | vle | to want |
76 | 283 | tande | to hear |
77 | 282 | al | go |
78 | 279 | avèk | with |
79 | 279 | m’ap | I + progressive indicator (ing) |
80 | 274 | p’ap | will not; negative + continuing indicator (ing), or future |
81 | 268 | ansanm | together |
82 | 264 | devan | in front |
83 | 264 | bon | good |
84 | 263 | tèt | head |
85 | 256 | ti | little |
86 | 256 | ye | to be (at end of sentence) |
87 | 255 | manje | to eat |
88 | 252 | non | no; name |
89 | 251 | leve | to get up; arise |
90 | 250 | pawòl | word |
91 | 246 | kite | to quit; allow; permit |
92 | 244 | wa | king |
93 | 243 | yonn | one |
94 | 235 | Jwif | Jew |
95 | 221 | ba | to give |
96 | 216 | ta | conditional indicator |
97 | 213 | pral | will; future indicator |
98 | 212 | ap | progressive tense (ing) |
99 | 207 | kwè | to believe |
100 | 205 | trè | very |
101 | 202 | tounen | to turn; back |
102 | 198 | syèl | heaven |
103 | 194 | pi | more |
104 | 193 | vre | true |
105 | 192 | fin | finished |
106 | 188 | kay | house |
107 | 187 | pyè | stone |
108 | 185 | gwo | great; big |
109 | 184 | lespri | spirit |
110 | 181 | rete | to stay; to remain; to stop |
111 | 180 | chèf | chief |
112 | 179 | antre | enter |
113 | 176 | fèt | born; celebration; feast |
114 | 172 | move | bad; evil |
115 | 172 | frè | brother |
116 | 171 | kè | heart |
117 | 171 | tan | time; weather; while |
118 | 170 | resevwa | to receive; to serve (as in hospitality) |
119 | 169 | mouri | to die |
120 | 168 | de | two; of; from; about |
121 | 168 | wi | yes |
122 | 167 | pèp | people |
123 | 166 | pouvwa | power |
124 | 162 | san | without |
125 | 159 | kapab | can; able (kapab) |
126 | 157 | vini | to come |
127 | 156 | touye | to kill |
128 | 154 | kèk | some |
129 | 152 | lalwa | law |
130 | 152 | janm | never (pa janm); leg |
131 | 150 | kò | body |
132 | 150 | ban | to give |
133 | 146 | tankou | like; as |
134 | 146 | renmen | to like; to love |
135 | 145 | chache | to search |
136 | 145 | l’ap | he/she/it with progressive indicator (ing) |
137 | 144 | y’a | they will (future) |
138 | 142 | moutre | to teach |
139 | 141 | mache | to go; market |
140 | 137 | mitan | among, middle, center |
141 | 136 | mennen | to lead |
142 | 135 | ni | nor; neither |
143 | 134 | tonbe | to fall |
144 | 134 | koulye | now |
145 | 133 | pye | foot; feet |
146 | 133 | Jerizalèm | Jerusalem |
147 | 131 | foul | crowd |
148 | 129 | jouk | until |
149 | 129 | chita | to sit |
150 | 127 | n’a | we/you will |
151 | 127 | n’ap | we/you are …ing (progressive or future tense) |
152 | 127 | lavi | to live |
153 | 126 | n’ | we/you; contracted ours/yours contracted |
154 | 125 | pwofèt | prophet |
155 | 122 | anyen | nothing |
156 | 120 | lakay | home |
157 | 117 | gade | to look |
158 | 117 | pesonn | none; no one |
159 | 115 | depi | since, ever since |
160 | 115 | toujou | always; still |
161 | 114 | avè | with |
162 | 112 | y’ap | they are (ing) |
163 | 111 | poutèt | because |
164 | 111 | pote | to bring; to carry |
165 | 110 | geri | healing; to cure |
166 | 109 | sèvi | to use |
167 | 108 | konn | to know how; to be in the habit of |
168 | 108 | moute | up |
169 | 107 | ekri | to write |
170 | 106 | lajan | money |
171 | 105 | anba | under |
172 | 104 | travay | work; to work |
173 | 104 | Farizyen | Pharisee |
174 | 101 | manman | mother |
175 | 101 | kanpe | to stand |
176 | 101 | bezwen | to need |
177 | 101 | sèl | only; single |
178 | 101 | latè | earth |
179 | 100 | osinon | or (only really used in Bible) |
180 | 100 | fanm | woman |
181 | 99 | pè | fright; pair |
182 | 99 | seyè | Lord |
183 | 99 | jaden | field; garden |
184 | 99 | tanp | temple |
185 | 99 | pen | bread |
186 | 98 | pati | to depart; part |
187 | 98 | kisa | what |
188 | 98 | lòd | order |
189 | 97 | kont | against |
190 | 96 | gason | boy |
191 | 95 | konprann | to understand |
192 | 95 | lage | to drop; release; forsake |
193 | 94 | desann | to descend |
194 | 93 | peche | sin |
195 | 93 | domestik | servant; domestic |
196 | 93 | dlo | water |
197 | 92 | koute | to listen |
198 | 91 | anvan | before |
199 | 91 | mal | wrong |
200 | 90 | lapriyè | to pray |
201 | 89 | swiv | to follow |
202 | 89 | prèt | priest |
203 | 89 | rad | clothing; dress |
204 | 88 | lachè | flesh; fleshly |
205 | 86 | poukisa | why? |
206 | 85 | zanj | angel |
207 | 85 | antan | while |
208 | 83 | genyen | to have |
209 | 82 | eske | question indicator |
210 | 82 | bèl | beautiful |
211 | 81 | ladan | including |
212 | 81 | viv | to live |
213 | 80 | wete | to remove |
214 | 79 | tè | earth |
215 | 79 | konfyans | faith; trust |
216 | 79 | sentespri | spirit |
217 | 78 | vivan | alive |
218 | 78 | Simon | Simon |
219 | 78 | bouch | mouth |
220 | 76 | Moyiz | Moses |
221 | 75 | kontan | happy |
222 | 75 | mari | husband |
223 | 74 | deyò | outside |
224 | 74 | bann | stripe; strips; band |
225 | 74 | sak | bag |
226 | 72 | sinagòg | synagogue |
227 | 71 | madanm | wife |
228 | 71 | twa | three |
229 | 70 | lanmè | sea; ocean |
230 | 70 | nouvèl | news |
231 | 70 | m’a | I will |
232 | 68 | isit | here |
233 | 68 | wòch | rock |
234 | 68 | fanmi | family |
235 | 68 | pandan | during |
236 | 68 | plis | more |
237 | 68 | Galile | Galilee |
238 | 67 | w’ap | you are… ing (contraction) |
239 | 67 | dwat | right |
240 | 66 | dirèktè | director |
241 | 66 | malad | sick |
242 | 66 | liv | book |
243 | 65 | jete | throw |
244 | 65 | pèdi | to lose; lost |
245 | 65 | pwoche | near |
246 | 64 | mirak | miracle |
247 | 64 | Kris | Christ |
248 | 64 | grenn | seeds |
249 | 64 | bwè | to drink |
250 | 63 | kenbe | keep, hold (kenbe fem – stand firm) |
251 | 63 | repo | to break; rest |
252 | 63 | dèyè | behind |
253 | 63 | nèt | entirely |
254 | 62 | sezi | to marvel; to seize |
255 | 61 | Izrayèl | Israel |
256 | 61 | chemen | path |
257 | 61 | nasyon | nation |
258 | 61 | sanble | similar; resemble |
259 | 61 | mouton | sheep |
260 | 61 | atè | ground; floor |
261 | 60 | lanmò | death |
262 | 60 | kannòt | canoe, boat |
263 | 60 | David | David |
264 | 60 | fini | to be finished |
265 | 60 | parèt | to appear |
266 | 60 | fwa | time (occasion) |
267 | 59 | prizon | prison |
268 | 59 | apòt | apostles |
269 | 59 | avèg | blind |
270 | 58 | chak | each |
271 | 58 | louvri | to open |
272 | 57 | wout | road |
273 | 57 | bat | to beat |
274 | 57 | chwazi | to choos |
275 | 56 | lontan | long (time); longtime |
276 | 55 | dapre | according |
277 | 55 | Ewòd | Herod |
278 | 54 | y’ | they/their (contracted) |
279 | 54 | pare | ready |
280 | 54 | limyè | light |
281 | 54 | poze | to ask; to lay |
282 | 54 | lwanj | praise |
283 | 53 | mare | to tie |
284 | 53 | ase | enough |
285 | 53 | kou | course, lecture |
286 | 51 | dwe | must; should; owe |
287 | 51 | mòn | mountain |
288 | 50 | fò | strong |
289 | 50 | Jozèf | Joseph |
290 | 50 | Abraram | Abraham |
291 | 50 | parabòl | parable |
292 | 50 | marye | to marry |
293 | 50 | kot | coast; rib; quota |
294 | 49 | dòmi | to sleep |
295 | 49 | benediksyon | blessing; blessed |
296 | 49 | kòmanse | to begin |
297 | 49 | kouri | to run |
298 | 49 | rakonte | to recount |
299 | 48 | batis | baptist |
300 | 48 | plas | place |
301 | 48 | gran | great |
302 | 47 | padonnen | to forgive |
303 | 47 | Pilat | Pilat |
304 | 47 | solèy | sun |
305 | 47 | plen | full |
306 | 47 | toupatou | everywhere |
307 | 46 | zansèt | ancestor |
308 | 46 | keksyon | question |
309 | 46 | batize | to baptize |
310 | 45 | Jida | Judah |
311 | 45 | sove | to save; to flee |
312 | 45 | tann | to wait |
313 | 45 | mesye | sir; man; guy |
314 | 45 | delivre | to save; to deliver |
315 | 45 | kwa | cross |
316 | 44 | kilès | which |
317 | 44 | jije | to judge |
318 | 44 | chase | to chase |
319 | 44 | sèlman | only |
320 | 44 | pòt | door |
321 | 43 | tapral | would |
322 | 43 | lemonn | world |
323 | 43 | douz | twelve |
324 | 43 | lwen | far |
325 | 43 | lide | idea |
326 | 42 | deja | already; yet |
327 | 42 | denmen | tomorrow |
328 | 42 | Jide | Judea |
329 | 42 | toupre | near |
330 | 42 | Satan | Satan |
331 | 42 | Filip | Philip |
332 | 42 | dife | fire |
333 | 42 | sot | from |
334 | 41 | okenn | none |
335 | 41 | zanmi | friend |
336 | 41 | granprèt | High Priest |
337 | 41 | apa | apart |
338 | 41 | kouche | to lay down |
339 | 40 | premye | first |
340 | 40 | sèvis | service |
341 | 40 | anonse | to announce |
342 | 39 | vire | to turn; back |
343 | 39 | mesaj | message |
344 | 39 | delivrans | deliverance |
345 | 39 | batiman | ships |
346 | 39 | vwa | voice |
347 | 38 | verite | truth |
348 | 38 | fi | girl |
349 | 38 | Banabas | Barnabas |
350 | 37 | lamenm | immediately |
351 | 37 | bouk | village |
352 | 37 | jòdi | today |
353 | 37 | bèt | animal; beast |
354 | 36 | mò | dead |
355 | 36 | zòrèy | ear |
356 | 36 | Seza | Caesar |
357 | 36 | sòl | soil |
358 | 35 | timoun | child |
359 | 35 | Jak | James |
360 | 35 | pwason | fish |
361 | 35 | sèt | seven |
362 | 34 | moso | piece |
363 | 34 | diven | wine |
364 | 34 | rekonèt | to recognize |
365 | 34 | manke | missing; to miss |
366 | 34 | nenpòt | any |
367 | 34 | peye | to pay |
368 | 34 | tanpri | please |
369 | 34 | sòlda | soldier |
370 | 34 | renmèt | to deliver |
371 | 33 | lèzòm | men; the people |
372 | 33 | ranmase | to gather |
373 | 33 | enben | thus |
374 | 33 | piti | small |
375 | 33 | van | wind |
376 | 33 | pòv | poor |
377 | 33 | pwòp | clean; own (as in ‘your own’) |
378 | 33 | kalite | quality |
379 | 32 | kòmandan | commander |
380 | 32 | kriye | to cry |
381 | 32 | gouvènman | government |
382 | 32 | envite | to invite; guest |
383 | 32 | tab | table |
384 | 32 | lave | to wash |
385 | 32 | patizan | followers |
386 | 31 | veye | to watch |
387 | 31 | dezè | desert |
388 | 31 | malè | woe |
389 | 31 | konsèy | advice; to counsel |
390 | 31 | klere | bright; shine |
391 | 31 | kloure | to nail |
392 | 31 | arete | to arrest |
393 | 30 | vann | to sell |
394 | 30 | do | back; reverse |
395 | 30 | kondannen | condemned |
396 | 30 | separe | to separate |
397 | 30 | bati | to build |
398 | 30 | manyen | to touch |
399 | 30 | gaye | to spread |
400 | 30 | plede | to plead |
401 | 29 | senk | five |
402 | 29 | èske | question indicator |
403 | 29 | kase | to break |
404 | 29 | bwa | wood; wild |
405 | 29 | Nazarèt | Nazareth |
406 | 29 | pyès | piece |
407 | 28 | lonje | to stretch |
408 | 28 | kontribisyon | contribution (tax) |
409 | 28 | soufri | to suffer |
410 | 28 | jenn | young |
411 | 28 | simen | to sow |
412 | 28 | anwo | upstairs; upwards |
413 | 28 | ann | let’s… |
414 | 28 | fòs | strength |
415 | 28 | Eli | Eli |
416 | 28 | goud | talents; money |
417 | 27 | sitèlman | so |
418 | 27 | achte | to buy |
419 | 27 | fèmen | to close |
420 | 27 | kondisyon | condition |
421 | 27 | dwa | entitled (gen dwa) |
422 | 27 | pito | rather |
423 | 27 | piga | to do; shall |
424 | 26 | legliz | church |
425 | 26 | mèsi | thanks |
426 | 26 | kòmandman | command |
427 | 26 | dakò | to be ok with something; agree |
428 | 26 | lannwit | night |
429 | 26 | batèm | baptism |
430 | 26 | pèmèt | to allow; permit |
431 | 26 | gad | guard |
432 | 26 | grannèg | great |
433 | 26 | rezen | grape |
434 | 26 | grangou | to be hungry |
435 | 25 | vè | glass; or “around” |
436 | 25 | rayi | hate |
437 | 25 | bout | end |
438 | 25 | kraze | to break |
439 | 25 | souke | to shake |
440 | 25 | mechan | evil; wicked |
441 | 25 | kavo | cave |
442 | 25 | chonje | to remember |
443 | 25 | trayi | to betray |
444 | 25 | lang | language |
445 | 25 | lapenn | to mourn |
446 | 24 | vant | belly; abdomen |
447 | 24 | asepte | to assume |
448 | 24 | obeyi | to obey |
449 | 24 | Antiòch | Antioch |
450 | 24 | Samari | Samaria |
451 | 24 | ofri | to offer |
452 | 24 | ala | there is… |
453 | 24 | chanje | to change |
454 | 24 | kilè | when; time |
455 | 24 | fòk | must |
456 | 24 | poko | not yet |
457 | 24 | koupe | to cut |
458 | 24 | Jakòb | Jacob |
459 | 24 | Laza | Lazarus |
460 | 23 | rich | rich |
461 | 23 | anndan | inside |
462 | 23 | prale | going |
463 | 23 | pèseptè | collector (tax collector) |
464 | 23 | pami | among |
465 | 23 | fig | fig |
466 | 23 | otorite | authorities |
467 | 22 | kache | to hide |
468 | 22 | kichòy | anything |
469 | 22 | akize | to accuse; accused |
470 | 22 | manti | lie; to lie (bay manti) |
471 | 22 | reyini | to assemble |
472 | 22 | Lejip | Egypt |
473 | 22 | favè | favor |
474 | 21 | msye | sir |
475 | 21 | temwen | witness |
476 | 21 | frape | to hit |
477 | 21 | frans | flour |
478 | 21 | fènwa | darkness |
479 | 21 | lapawòl | speech (pran lapawòl – answered) |
480 | 21 | merite | to merit |
481 | 21 | kochon | pig |
482 | 21 | gode | cup |
483 | 21 | Sezare | Caesarea |
484 | 21 | chante | to sing |
485 | 21 | kat | four |
486 | 21 | maladi | sickness |
487 | 21 | donnen | fruit |
488 | 21 | pouse | to push |
489 | 21 | rèd | tough; stiff |
490 | 21 | diskite | discuss; argue; debate |
491 | 21 | rekòt | crop |
492 | 20 | lènmi | enemy |
493 | 20 | rann | to render |
494 | 20 | rale | to pull |
495 | 20 | pitye | mercy; pity |
496 | 20 | jijman | judgment |
497 | 20 | kout | short |
498 | 20 | dènye | last |
499 | 20 | figi | figures; face |
500 | 20 | bourik | donkey |