Alphabet

The Haitian Creole language uses the 25 of the 26 letters that are used to write the English language. The
main difference is that letters and letter combinations are pronounced differently.

Let’s say the name of the letters in Haitian Creole:

A–b–c–d–e–f–g–h–i–j–k–l–m–n–o–p–q–r–s–t–u–v–w–x–y–z

Some letters may have diacritic or accent on them. These letters are; a, e and o

With accent they are called: à (a aksangrav) - ò (o aksangrav) – è (e aksangrav)

Pronunciation

Vowels and combinations

“a” as in “dad” example: papa, matla, rad, dra

“à” (always before a voiced “n”) example: bekàn, pàn, vàn

“an” …. Example: ansanm - anba - anwo

“e” as the first “e” in “elephant” example: elaji – etaj – espwa

“È” is pronounced “è” example: bè – tè – kè – chè – lanmè - anmè

“en” is pronounced “en” example: Endyen – pen - byen – benyen

“i” is pronounce “i” example: Lanbi – beki – mèsi – ji –

“o” is pronounced “o” example: bo – moso – zanno – poto –

“ò” is pronounced “ò” example: fò – lanmò – pò – lò

“ón” is pronounced “ón” example: ikón, jón,

“on” is pronounced “on” example: bon – pon – bonbon – bonswa –

“ou” is pronounced “ou” example: bijou – kou – lakou – joumou – banbou

Consonants and combinations

“b” as in “bat” example: baton – batri – mabi – bab

“ch” as “sh” in “shot” example: chat – chen – chèz – cho – kach – kacho-

“d” as in “dig” example: dis – madi – kab – tab – katab –

‘f” as in “feed” example: fini – fè – zafè – bèf – chèf –

“g” always as in “girl” example: bag – gaz – gason – bougon

“j” is pronounced “j” example: jaden – ji – Jan – je – bèje – jij

“k” as “c” in “cash”: kas – beki – zak – mak – makak – ekspòte

“l” as in “leave” example: laj – ale – mal – lajan – anlè

“m” as in “Monday” example: manje – manman – dam – lam – salami

“n” as in “no” example: Nou – nwa – bannan – kann

“p” as in “park” example: papa – pate – peye – kepi – taptap – jip

“r” … “rad” – ranje – baraj – marye

“s” as in “south” example: sik – siwo – espyon – espwa – slip – kis

“t” as in “teach” example: tèt – twa – beton – patat – kat

“v’ as in “victim” example: valiz – kav – kavo – lave – vle – vwa

“w” … wowoli – wout – nwa – pwa – bwa – twa – chwa – lwa –

“y” as in “yes” example: yè – fyè – byen – pyas – byenyen

“z” as in “zoo” example: zonyon – zo – gaz – wozo –

Pratice

1- Mwen byen kontan wè ou.

2- Mari te ale lekòl lendi a.
3- Kann lan pa dous ditou.
4- Nou se wozo, nou ap pliye, men nou pap kase.
5- Sa ki nan vant ou se li ki pa w.
6- Mwen renmen ou anpil.
7- Mwen pa ka viv san ou.
8- Mwen pral achte yon kabann.
9- Ou dwe rele m pi souvan.
10- Mèsi pou tan w.
11- Kouzen m lan te al wè kouzin li an madi pase a.