pa | Express Negation in Haitian Creole
Learn how to use the word “pa” in Haitian Creole to express negation. This guide provides clear examples and explanations, making it easy for you to understand and apply this essential aspect of the language.
Word order
Noun 1 + Pa + Action …
Noun 1 + Pa + Description …
Noun 1 + Pa + Time / Place / Location …
Subject + Pa + Verb / Adjective / Preposition …
When to use this type of sentence?
Things that are not truths or facts
Negative sentences | Negation
Explanation
We’ve explored the basics of forming sentences in Haitian Creole. But what if the facts are untrue or events didn’t occur? In English, we use “not” for this purpose, as in “cats do not swim” or “we are not doctors.” These are examples of negative sentences. In Haitian Creole, the word “pa” is used to indicate negation. It’s placed immediately after the noun, pronoun, or subject to convey that something is not true or did not happen.
Important rules to make Negative Sentences
Noun 1 + Se + Noun 2
becomes
Noun 1 + Pa + Noun 2
Add ‘janm’ to emphasis things that never happen
Noun 1 + Pa Janm …
Add ‘non’ at the end of the sentence for extra emphasis
Noun 1 + Pa … Non
* use the rules above one at a time. Once you understand them and listen to how natives use them, then you can mix and match them
Sample Sentences
Nou pa doktè.
We’re not doctors.
Jan pa janm manje diri.
John never eats rice.
Papa m pa rete Nouyòk non.
My father does not lives in New York.
Etazini pa yon zile.
The U.S.A. is not an island.
Chat la pa janm manje vyann.
The cat never eats meat.
Ti chen yo pa nan chanm nan non.
The small dogs are not in the room.
Flè a pa bèl.
The flower is not beautiful.
Li pa a uitè.
It is not at 8 o’clock.
Telefòn nan pa sou biwo a non.
The telephone is not on the desk.