Read the Bible in Haitian Creole

IMG_3654 (1)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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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