travay
everyday, Haitian Creole
In Haitian Creole, the language most people mean by "Creole", "work" is travay. It is both the noun for a job and the verb "to work".
As a verb it stays the same for every person: Mwen travay means "I work" and Li travay means "he works" or "she works".
Meaning: job or labor, and the act of working (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
Creole verbs do not change with the subject. Tense is shown with small words placed before the verb, such as ap for something in progress.
Did you know?
- The noun and the verb share one spelling, travay, so context is the only clue to which one you hear.
Examples in context
- Mwen travay chak jou.I work every day.
- Mwen gen anpil travay jodi a.I have a lot of work today.
- Ou ap travay kote?Where do you work?
Example conversation
Marie and Jean talk after a long day.
- JeanOu fatige?Are you tired?
- MarieWi, mwen gen anpil travay.Yes, I have a lot of work.
- JeanRepoze ou kounye a.Rest now.
