Basic Nouns

1. Dlo

   Water

   Usage

   Ask for drinking water; pair it with “bottle” if you want sealed water

2. Manje

   Food

   Usage

   The general word for food; useful when hunting for somewhere to eat

   Grammar Note

   "Manje" is both the noun "food" and the verb "to eat"; word order tells them apart.

3. Lajan

   Money

   Usage

   The base word for paying and changing currency

4. Twalèt

   Toilet

   Usage

   Combine it with the “where” question

5. Papye mouchwa

   Tissue

   Usage

   Many toilets have no paper — use this word to buy some

   Grammar Note

   "Papye mouchwa" means "handkerchief paper," from French "mouchoir."

6. Medikaman

   Medicine

   Usage

   At a pharmacy; combine it with gestures for your symptom

7. Bagaj

   Luggage

   Usage

   For checking in, carrying on, or reporting lost bags

8. Kle

   Key

   Usage

   At hotel reception when collecting or returning it

9. Tikè

   Ticket

   Usage

   Covers both transport tickets and admission tickets

10. Paspò

    Passport

    Usage

    Comes up at check-in, currency exchange, and any police check

11. Telefòn

    Phone

    Usage

    When you need to borrow one or ask for a number

12. Chajè

    Charger

    Usage

    To borrow one at a hotel or café, or buy one in a shop

    Grammar Note

    Derived from French "chargeur."

13. Estasyon

    Station

    Usage

    A landmark word when asking for directions

14. Lopital

    Hospital

    Usage

    The first word you need if you fall ill

15. Lapolis

    Police

    Usage

    For theft or accidents; combine it with “where?”

    Grammar Note

    "Lapolis" has the French article "la" fused to the stem — a very common pattern in Haitian Creole (lopital, lakay …).

16. Magazen

    Shop

    Usage

    When looking for somewhere to buy something

17. Chanm

    Room

    Usage

    Use it when asking a hotel about vacancies

18. Wout

    Road

    Usage

    The base word when asking the way

19. Fanmi

    Family

    Usage

    A guaranteed small-talk topic; showing photos goes a long way

20. Non

    Name

    Usage

    For introductions and for giving your name at a counter

    Grammar Note

    "Non" means both "name" and "no"; when asking for a name use the full question "ki non ou?"

21. Tèt

    Head

    Usage

    A body part to point at when something hurts

22. Je

    Eye

    Usage

    A body part to point at when something hurts

23. Dan

    Tooth

    Usage

    When you need a dentist

24. Gòj

    Throat

    Usage

    A body part to point at when something hurts

25. Vant

    Belly

    Usage

    For stomach ache or food poisoning

26. Do

    Back

    Usage

    A body part to point at when something hurts

27. Ren

    Lower back

    Usage

    A body part to point at when something hurts

28. Pye

    Leg / foot

    Usage

    A body part to point at when something hurts

29. Men

    Hand

    Usage

    A body part to point at when something hurts

30. Pwatrin

    Chest

    Usage

    For chest pain or trouble breathing

31. Otèl

    Hotel

    Usage

    To name your destination to a driver or a passer-by

32. Ayewopò

    Airport

    Usage

    To name your destination to a driver or a passer-by

33. Estasyon bis

    Bus stop

    Usage

    When asking where to catch a bus

34. Anbasad

    Embassy

    Usage

    Where to head after a lost passport or a crime

35. Machin ATM

    ATM

    Usage

    To ask where you can withdraw cash

36. Biwo chanje lajan

    Currency exchange

    Usage

    To ask where money can be changed

37. Blanchisri

    Laundry

    Usage

    When you need clothes washed on a long trip

38. Kamyon ponpye

    Fire engine

    Usage

    kamyon (truck) + ponpye (firefighter): the vehicle that carries water to a fire

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