Learn Basic Creole of Seychelles
Saturday in Market Street, Mahe.
Letters
The Alphabet of Seychelles:
A B D E F G I K L M N O P R S T U V W Y Z
English letters not included: C H J Q X
How have they been replaced:
C. The letter C is replaced by K
H. The letter H or the sound does not exist in the language.
J. The letter J is replaced by letters dy. eg. English Joke is Creole Dyok.
Q. The letter Q is replaced by letters kw. eg. English Quack is Creole Kwak.
X. The letter X is replaced by the letters ks. eg. English Taxi is Creole Taksi.
Note: U is only used with “O”. eg. Tou, Nou and Poul.
First ten numbers
1 Enn
2 De
3 Trwa
4 Kat
5 Senk
6 Sis
7 Set
8 Ywit
9 Nef
10 Dis
Days of the week
Monday Lendi
Tuesday Mardi
Wednesday Merkredi
Thursday Zedi
Friday Vandredi
Saturday Sanmdi
Sunday Dimans
Months of the year
January Zanvye
February Fevriye
March Mars
April Avril
May Me
June Zen
July Zilyet
August Out
September Septanm
October Oktob
November Novanm
December Desanm
Pronunciations
A lot of letters combination changes the sound of a word. For example:
En: Sounds like the word end in English but without pronouncing the “ND”.
Enn: Sounds like the word end in English pronouncing the “N” as well.
An: Sounds like the letter “O” in the word come in English but without pronouncing the “M”.
Ann: Sounds like the letter “O” in come in English pronouncing the letter “N” at the end.
On: Sounds like the letter “O” in bomb in English but without pronouncing the “MB”.
Onn: Sounds like the word on in English.
E on its own is always pronounced as Play
Lets write and practice the combined letters:
English Creole Pronunciation
Rabbit Lapen (Don’t pronounce the N)
Sad Lapenn (Pronounce the N)
Balance Balans ( Don’t pronounce the N)
Bandage Bann (Pronounce the N)
Bridge Pon (Don’t pronounce the N)
Lay an egg Ponn ( Pronounce the N)
Useful phrases
Good morning Bon zour
Good afternoon Bonn apremidi
Good evening Bon swar
Thank you Mersi
Please Sil vou ple
My name is…. Mon apel ….
I come from… Mon sorti…
What is your name? Ki manyer ou apele?
How old are you? Ki laz ou annan?
Do you speak English? Ou koz Angle?
Where are you going? Kote ou pe ale?
Which bus do I take for… Ki bis ki mon pran pou …
How much? Konbyen?
Call the Police Apel Gard
That’s wrong Sa i mal
That’s right Sa i byen
Excuse me Eskiz mwan
Where is the …..? Kote ….. i ete?
Where can I get a drink? Kote mon kapab ganny en bwar?
Can I have the bill, please? Mon kapab ganny mon bil sil vou ple?
I am looking for my Hotel Mon pe rod mon lotel
Where is …. Hotel? Kote lotel …. i ete?
I need a Taxi Mon bezwen en Taksi
Let me taste it Les mwan goute
Where is our Guide? Oli nou Gid?
Its too expensive I tro ser
Its cheap I bon marse
I don’t understand Mon pa konpran
I am hungry Mon lafen
I am thirsty Mon swaf
I am tired Mon fatige
I am sleepy Mon ansonmey
I am angry Mon ankoler
I am happy Mon kontan
Watch me Vey mwan
Hold this Atrap sa
Look Gete
Quick Vit
A glass of ….. En ver …...
This … is nice Sa … i zoli