Haitian Creole (Kreyòl ayisyen)

Haitian Creole is a creole language spoken by about 8.5 million people in Haiti. There are a further 3.5 million speakers in a number of countries, including Canada, the USA, France, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, the Bahamas and other Caribbean countries.

Haitian Creole is based largely on French, with influences from various West African languages, such as Wolof, Fon and Ewe. The are two dialects: Fablas and Plateau.

Haitian Creole has been one of Haiti's official languages, along with French, since 1961. It is used to some extent in literature, newpapers, radio and TV. Many speakers are bilingual in Haitian Creole and French.

Haitian Creole alphabet (Alfabè Kreyòl la)

Haitian Creole alphabet and pronunciation

Sample text in Haitian Creole

Tout moun fèt lib, egal ego pou diyite kou wè dwa. Nou gen la rezon ak la konsyans epi nou fèt pou nou aji youn ak lot ak yon lespri fwatènite.

Translation

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
(Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights)

Longer sample text (Tower of Babel)

Language learning materials for Haitian Creole and other Creoles (en français)

Links

Information about Haitian Creole
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haitian_Creole_language
http://www.ahadonline.org/eLibrary/creoleconnection/Number20/haitiancreole.htm
http://saxakali.com/caribbean/LanahL.htm
http://www.nvtc.gov/lotw/months/january2005/haitiancreole.html
http://www.angelfire.com/ky/LeCorde/krlprn.html

Kreyol Grammar
http://www.geocities.com/frenchcreoles/kreyol/

Haitian Creole phrases
http://www.travelinghaiti.com/haitian_kreyol.asp

Haitian Creole dictionaries
http://www.websters-online-dictionary.org/translation/Haitian+Creole/
http://www.freelang.net/dictionary/haitian_creole.html

Other creole languages

Aukaans/Ndjuká, Bislama, Cape Verdean Creole, Chavacano, Guadeloupean Creole, Haitian Creole, Jamaican Creole, Nagamese, Papiamento, Tok Pisin

Other languages written with the Latin alphabet