fou
everyday, Haitian Creole
In Haitian Creole, the best known French-based creole, crazy is fou. To tell someone they are crazy, say Ou fou! The word is the same for men and women.
Meaning: mentally unwell or acting wildly (adjective)
Ways to say it
| French | Note |
|---|---|
| fou | everyday, Haitian Creole |
| Ou fou ! | casual, exclamation |
Friends use Ou fou! playfully when someone does something wild or surprising. Said in anger, it can still be hurtful, so tone matters.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Other French-based creoles, such as those of Martinique, Guadeloupe, Louisiana or Mauritius, share many words with Haitian Creole but have their own spelling and some different words. This page gives the Haitian form.
How does it change in a sentence?
Haitian Creole does not change adjectives for gender or number. It puts the pronoun before the adjective, so Li fou means he is crazy or she is crazy.
Did you know?
- Haitian Creole is an official language of Haiti together with French, and it is the first language of nearly all Haitians.
Examples in context
- Mwen pa fou.I am not crazy.
- Li fou pou foutbòl.He is crazy about soccer.
Example conversation
Jean says he will swim in the sea on a cold morning and his friend Marie reacts.
- JeanMwen pral naje nan lanmè a nan fredi sa a.I am going to swim in the sea in this cold.
- MarieOu fou!You are crazy!
- JeanMwen pa fou, dlo a bon.I am not crazy, the water is good.
