Kreyòl Language
In this chapter, we listen, speak, and explore Haitian Kreyòl as a complete language: a language of memory, identity, resistance, family, and story.
Èske W Te Konnen? · Did You Know?
Haitian Kreyòl is the language all Haitians share. In Article 5 of Haiti's 1987 Constitution, Kreyòl and French are named as the official languages of the Republic.
But Kreyòl is more than an official language. It is the language of daily life, memory, humor, prayer, music, and storytelling.
Source: Haiti Constitution of 1987, Article 5.
Haitian Kreyòl has a consistent writing system. Once you learn the sounds and spelling patterns, you can begin reading words with much more confidence than in French or English. Tap any card to listen.
Vwayèl · Vowels
Vwayèl Nazal · Nasal Vowels
⚠️ Why accents matter
In Kreyòl, the accent grave (`) is not decoration. It changes the sound, and the meaning.
Same letters. Different accent. Different word. In Haitian Kreyòl, accents are part of the spelling system. This is one of the things that shows the structure and precision of the language.
Choose a category, tap any card to flip it, press Listen to hear the word.
An Nou Pratike · For Beginners
Listen to a phrase, record yourself, then play back to compare.
Phrases for the moments that matter: talking to family, asking for help, expressing identity. Tap to listen. Tap record to practice. Play back to compare.
💭 De ti mo pou ou · A note for you
If you grew up hearing Kreyòl but never felt confident speaking it, this space is for you. Practice here, on your own, with no one watching. Your voice never leaves your device.
The phrases your grandmother will smile at.
When you don't know, ask. That's how you learn.
The small phrases that carry big feeling.
Say who you are. Out loud.
If you've ever been afraid to try, these are for you.
To every Haitian reading this: if a heritage learner tries to speak Kreyòl in front of you, encourage them. Do not laugh. Do not shame them. That encouragement may be the reason they keep going.
Your recordings stay on your device. Nothing is uploaded or saved.
Mo Jodi A · Word of the Day
Search the full Mo Jodi A collection: every Kreyòl word from our Haitian Heritage series, organized by theme, with audio.
Open the collection →🥄 Fason Nou Konnen · Haitian Ways of Knowing
“Moun ki kenbe kiyè bwa se li ki konnen si li cho.”
Whoever holds the wooden spoon knows if it is hot.
This proverb honors lived experience and firsthand knowledge. Those closest to the work — the cook, the farmer, the storyteller, the speaker — often understand it best. In language learning, the person who speaks knows things a textbook never will.
What kinds of knowledge can only come from experience — not from reading or watching?
Come practice your Haitian Kreyòl out loud, with people who understand exactly where you are. Free, and open to everyone.
A free monthly meeting to practice speaking together, guided and welcoming. Bring your voice, however ready it feels.
Register for the next RasanblemanPractice between meetings. Share a voice note, try a sentence, ask a question, and keep going all week with the group.
Join the WhatsApp groupWant to go further? Our six-week founding cohort opens this fall. Learn more and join the waitlist.
Next: Stories & Community · Stories