oseyan
everyday
This page covers Haitian Creole (Kreyòl ayisyen), the most widely spoken creole. The word for "ocean" is oseyan. For the sea more generally, Haitians also say lanmè.
Oseyan is the large ocean, as in Oseyan Atlantik. In daily talk about going to the beach people usually say lanmè.
Meaning: large body of salt water (noun)
Which one should you use?
Lanmè is the sea and is much more common in speech. Oseyan sounds more like geography.
Did you know?
- Haiti sits between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.
Examples in context
- Oseyan Atlantik an gwo.The Atlantic Ocean is big.
- Nou pral bò lanmè.We are going to the sea.
Example conversation
A teacher, Mrs. Philippe, shows a map to her class.
- Mrs. PhilippeGade, sa a se oseyan Atlantik.Look, this is the Atlantic Ocean.
- JonasAyiti bò kote l?Is Haiti next to it?
- Mrs. PhilippeWi, li nan lanmè Karayib la.Yes, it is in the Caribbean Sea.
