M la literally, “I’m there” (or: “I survived another day”), i.e., “I’m OK.” Many of the usual replies to the greetings “Ki jan ou ye?” or “Kouman ou ye?” are inherently pessimistic: “M pa pi mal” (“I’m no worse”), “M ap kenbe toujou” (“I’m still holding on,” “I’m hanging in there”). Remember the role of the 18th-century slave community in the formation of what has become the Haitian language.

Isit la literally, “here there,” but the la in this expression is used simply to give somewhat greater emphasis to isit.

M ap etidye “I am studying.” ap is the present progressive indicator, equivalent to the English ending “-ing.”

Ta “would,” the conditional indicator.

Kote Kiba “in the direction of Cuba,” or “near Cuba.”

Bò isit la literally, “near here there,” i.e., “around here,” “in these parts.”

The word for “with” has three forms: avèk, avè, and ak.