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Sunday, March 24, 2013

Machande nan Mache → Haggling at the Market (AUDIO)

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Madanm… Eske w gen anana pou vann?
Ma’am… Do you have pineapples for sale?

Wi mesye.   Mwen gen twa sèlman ki rete.
Yes I do.  I only have three left.

Dakò.  Vann mwen YOUN!
Great.  Let me have ONE!

O non!… se touletwa m’ap vann ansanm.  M p’ap ka degrennen yo.
No… I am selling all three together.  I won’t separate them.

O…Konbyen w mande pou twa yo?
Oh… How much do you ask for the three?

Sèt dola.
Seven dollars.

Eske w ka bay yo pou twa dola senkant?
Can you give them for three dollars fifty?

O! ou debòde monchè!  Pou w ta panse pou m ta ba w zannana yo pou mwatye pri mwen mande w la? Non, non, non!  m pa sa fè sa.
You must be insane!  To think that I would give you the pineapples for half the price that I asked for.  No no no,  I can’t do that.

Enben, m’a ba w $4.00 pou yo.
Well, I’ll give you $4.00 for them.

Non mesye, mwen p’ap desann pri a.
No sir,  I won’t reduce the price.

E si m ajoute senkant kòb sou li.  …..Eske w’ap bay li pou kat dola senkant santim?
How about if I add 50 cents to it…..  Will you give it for $4.50 cents?

O o! mwen regrèt sa mesye.  Mwen p’ap vann zannana yo pou pi piti pase sèt dola.
Sorry sir. I won’t sell the pineapples for less than $7.00

Madanm! Mwen vrèman bezwen moso anana pou m pote lakay.  Eske w ta vann yo pou senk dola.?
Ma’am! I truly need to bring some pineapple home.  Would you sell them for $5.00?

Zannana yo twa pou sèt dola, ... san wete san mete.  M p’ap chanje lide’m.
The pineapples are 3 for $7, ...no more no less.  I won’t change my mind.

Bèl ti cheri a! Li gentan fin ta.  Mache a pral fèmen toutalè.  Dayè, Jan m wè anana sa yo la a, y’ap fin pouri nan men w si ou pa vann yo jodi a.  Lèkonsa, se jete ou pral oblije jete yo.
Beautiful darling! It’s already getting late.  The market will close soon.  In fact, from the looks of it, these pineapples will become rotten if you don’t sell them today.  Then you’ll have to throw them away.

Enben, si m pa vann yo, m’a manje yo ak fanmi mwen.  E si fanmi m pa vle yo, m ka toujou lonje yo bay mandyan yo nan lari a.  Men mwen p’ap ba ou yo pou senk dola.
Well, if I don’t sell them, I’ll eat them with my family.  And If my family don’t want them, I could always hand them to beggars in the street.  But I won’t give them to you for $5.00


Enben Makòmè, senk dola senkant! Dènye òf!  Se tout sa m genyen.
Well my comrade, $5.50!  Last offer!  That’s all I have.

Monkonpè, ban m si dola pou yo, enpi ou mèt pran yo!
My comrade, you give me six dollars and you may have them!

Dakò…. Mèsi anpil.  Mwen apresye sa.    Men lajan ou.  …. Mete yo nan yon sache pou mwen silvouplè.
Agree… Thanks a lot.  I appreciate this.  Here’s your money….  Put them in a bag for me please.

Men wi!... Men zannana ou yo.  Pase yon bon jounen mesye.
Of course!  Here are your pineapples.    Have a great day sir.

Kout chapo madanm!
Hats off ma’am!

Track ANANA by Issa El Saieh

Anana sila bon pou manje!
This pineapple is good to eat!
Se paske li bèl, li gwo, li lou, e li peze
That’s because it looks good, it’s heavy, and it has weight
Men pratik, di mwen, konbyen w mande?
But my clientele, tell me how much do you ask?
Li mèt nenpòt pri, cheri, ou konnen m’ape peye
Whatever the price, honey, you know I’ll pay.
O ala yon bèl anana! (bis)
Oh what beautiful pineapple!
Se paske li bèl, li gwo, li lou, e li peze
That’s because it’s beautiful, it’s heavy, and it has weight
Ban m moso pou m pot lakay
Give me some to bring home
Li mèt pouri, li mèt gate
Whether it’s rotten or spoiled
Ban m moso pou m pot lakay!
Give me some to bring home!
Li mèt pouri, li mèt pa bon
Whether it’s rotten or not good
Ban m moso pou m pot lakay!
Give me some to bring home!

Anana sila bon pou manje!
This pineapple is good to eat!
Se paske li bèl, li gwo, li lou, e li peze.
That’s because it looks good, it’s heavy, and it has weight.
Men madanm, di mwen, konbyen w mande?
But lady, tell me how much do you ask?
Li mèt nenpòt pri, cheri, ou konnen m’ape peye.
Whatever the price, honey, you know I’ll pay.
O ala yon bèl anana! (bis)
Oh what beautiful pineapple!
Se paske li bèl, li gwo, li lou, e li peze.
That’s because it’s beautiful, it’s heavy, and it has weight.
Ban m moso pou m pot lakay.
Give me some to bring home.
Li mèt pouri, li mèt gate
Whether it’s rotten or spoiled
Ban m moso pou m pot lakay!
Give me some to bring home!
Li mèt pa bon, li mèt pa bon
Whether it’s good or not
Ban m moso pou m pot lakay!
Give me some to bring home!

Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

6 comments:

  1. I really enjoy hearing conversational Creole... thanks for taking the time to do this. And I also appreciate the links.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Tough negotiation.

    Lots of good stuff in here.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Awesome :)

      I remember my days of "machande". When my dad sends me to the market, I would haggle just so that I'll have money left over to buy candy or fried plantains :)

      Delete
  3. se jete ou pral oblije jete yo.
    (Can u plz explain ?)

    Kamsa hamnida

    ReplyDelete
  4. This one of terms or expressions that use "double words". Examples:

    1. Se pale m'ap pale.
    It's talking I am talking. (literally)
    I am talking.

    You can use this term with other verbs, Such as:

    2. Se pale "mwen vle" pale.
    It's talking I want to talk. (literally)
    I want to talk.

    3. Se pale "ou pral oblije" pale.
    It's talk you will have to talk. (Literally)
    You will have to talk.

    SO

    Se jete "ou pral blije" jete li.
    It's discard you will have to dsicard it. (Literally)
    You will have to discard it.

    ReplyDelete