MEDICAL CREOLE

Describing an illness is often difficult even when being done in one’s native tongue. Trying to do so in
a foreign language can be at best very frustrating. This is meant to be a guide to non-speaking Creole
medical personal.
In Creole, as a general rule each letter has one sound and one sound only and every letter is pronounced.
Exceptions are the combinations ou, an, en, and on.

These pronunciation examples are based on US

English. a is sounded like o in lot
*
e is sounded like the first half of the long a in day
Haiti Ayiti ah-yee- è is sounded like e in let
tee i is sounded like ee in seed
can kapab kah – o is sounded like the first half of the long o in go*
pahb ò is sounded like o in or
give bay by ay is sounded like I in ice
ou is sounded like o in movie (u is only used as ou)

• In English, the sounds of the long a in day and cake and of the long o in go and boat are stretched out
and the lips are gradually closed as the letters are pronounced. In Creole, only the first part of the sound
is made for e and o, with the lips remaining open.
From: Creole Made Easy Workbook by lightmessages.com Page 2

Conditions and ailments

anemia anemi hernia èni
appendicitis apenndisit hives bouton
arthritis atrit hypertension rappe wo
asthma opresyon hypotension rappe ba
bladder infection enfeksyon blad indigestion gonfleman
bloated gonflè jaundice lajònis
colic kolik malaria palidis
diabetes sik, dyabèt nausea vomisman
diarrhea djare mumps malmouton
eczema egzema pneumonia nemoni
heart attack kriz kadyak pregnancy gwosès
heartburn zègrè rash gratèl
heat rash bouton chalè tetanus tetanòs
hemorrhoid emowoyid typhoid tifoyid

The body
abdomen vant liver fwa
ankle koud pye lungs poumon
arm bra mouth bouch
back do muscle misk, chè
bladder blad pise navel lonbrit
breast tete, sen neck kou
chest pwatrin, lestomak nose nen
ear zòrèy palm pla men
elbow koud bra rib kòt
eye je, zye* penis pati gason
eyelid po je shoulder zepòl
face figi spine rèl do
finger dwèt stomach vant
fingernail zong sternum biskèt
foot pye tooth dan
gall bladder fyèl throat gòj
hair cheve toe zòtèy
hand men toenail zong pye
head tèt tongue lang
heart kè vagina bòbòt, pati fi
hip ranch vein venn
kidney ren waist tay
knee jenou wisdom tooth dan zòrèy
knuckle jwenti dwèt womb matris
leg janm wrist ponyèt
From: Creole Made Easy Workbook by lightmessages.com Page 3

TRIAGE
GENERAL INFORMATION
What is your name? Ki jan ou rele?
What is your address? Ki adrès ou?
do you have your name and address Eske ou gen adrès ou ekri sou yon papye
written down for me to see? pou mwen wè li?
What is your phone number? Ki nimewo telefòn ou?
Are you married? Eske ou marye?
Are you the parent? Eske se ou ki paran?
Are you the guardian? Eske se ou ki responsab?
Can you read Kreyòl? Eske ou kapab li kreyòl?
Can you read French? Eske ou kapab li fransè?
Can you read English? Eske ou kapab li rapp?
What is the name of your doctor? Ki jan doktè ou rele?
Did a doctor tell you to come here? Eske se doktè ou ki di ou vini isist la?

POSITIONS:
Please stand up Tanpri kanpe
Please sit down Tanpri shita
Please lean forward Tanpri panche devan
Please lean back Tanpri panche dèyè
Please lean to the right Tanpri panche a dwat
Please lean to the left Tanpri panche a gosh
Please lie down Tanpri kouche
Please bend your knee Tanpri koube jenou ou
Please lean your knees Tanpri panche jenou ou
Please wiggle your toe Tanpri fè dwet pye ou mache
Please wiggle toes Tanpri fè dwet pye ou yo mache
Please move your finger Tanpri fè dwet ou mache
Please move your fingers Tanpri fè dwet ou yo mache
Please raise your arm Tanpri leve bra ou
Please raise your arms Tanpri leve tou le de bra ou
Please raise your leg Tanpri leve janm ou
Put your head down to your chest Panche tèt ou sou lestomak ou
Look up Gade anlè
Look down Bese tèt ou
Look to the left Gade a gosh
Look to the right Gade a dwat
Turn to the left Vire a gosh
Turn to the right Vire a dwat
Jump up and down several times Sote de twa fwa
Walk a few steps Mashe de twa pa
Cough a few times. Touse de twa fwa
Cover your mouth when you cough please. Tanpri kouvri boush ou lè ou touse
Do not move please. Pa bouje
Please be still Rete trankil
Turn towards me Vire gade mwen
Turn away from me Vire ban’m do
From: Creole Made Easy Workbook by lightmessages.com Page 4

MEDICAL HISTORY:
Are you allergic to any medication? Eske ou gen alèji oken medikaman?
Tell be all medications you are allergic to. Di mwen tout medikaman ou ge alèji yo.
Tell me the names of medications you Di mwen tout medikaman ou pa kapab
cannot take. pran.
Are you a Diabietic? Eseke ou dyabèt? / Eske ou fè sik?
Do you have low blood sugar? Eske ou manke sik nan san?
Do you have a history of coughing a lot? Eske ou toujou touse anpil?
Do you have a history of high blood Eske ou fe tansyon?
pressure?
Do you have history of low blood pressure? Eske tansyon ou bese?
Do you have a history of eye problems? Eske ou konn gen pwoblèm nan je?
Hoh many times has this happened to you Konbye fwa sa konn rive ou rap?
before?
Are the immunization shots being taken on Eske ou toujou pran vaksen?
time?
Do you have immunization records here? Eske ou genyen kat vaksen ou?

TIME IT HAPPENED:
Did it happen today? Eske sa rive jodi a?
Did it happen a few days ago? Eske sa gen de twa jou depi sa rive?
Did it happen a few weeks ago? Eske sa gen de twa semen depi sa rive?
Did it happen a few months ago? Eske sa gen de twa mwa depi sa rive?

MORE HELPFUL PHRASES

I have a fever. Mwen genyen lafyèv.
Do you have a fever? Eske ou genyen lafyèv?
It hurts. Li fè mal.
Where does it hurt? Ki kote li fè mal?
We need a doctor right away! Nou bezwen yon doktè toutswit!
Does the doctor speak English? Eske doktè a pale angle?
I am sick. Mwen malad.
I have a head ache. Mwen genyen yon maltèt.
I have diarrhea. Mwen genyen djare.
I have no appetite. Mwen pa genyen apeti.
I have pain. Mwen gen doulè.
Do you have pain? Eske ou genyen doulè?
I have a toothache. Mwen gen maldan.
I have something in my eye. Mwen gen yon baygay nan je mwen.
I have indigestion. Mwen gonfle.
I have my period. Mwen gen règ mwen.
I vomited. Mwen te vomi.
I am allergic to that. Mwen gen alèji ak sa.
She fainted. Li endispoze.
He is hurt (injured). Li blese.
It hurts here. Li fè mal isit.
Do not move him. Pa deplase li.
I need to buy (some) medicine. Mwen bezwen achte remèd.
From: Creole Made Easy Workbook by lightmessages.com Page 5

I am a diabetic. Mwen dyabèt.

There was an accident. Te genyen yon aksidan.
Please call the nurse. Tanpri, rele mis la.
Where does it hurt? Ki kote li fè mal?
Do you have sanitary napkins? Eske ou genyen kotèks?
Where is the pharmacy? Ki kote famasi a ye?
Do you have a bandage? Eske ou genyen yon pansman?
Take 2 tablets 3 times a day. Bwè de gren twa fwa pa jou.
Take 1 teaspoon once daily. Bwè yon ti kiyè yon fwa pa jou.
Apply topically each morning and night. Pase rappe chak maten e swa.

Note: To say “it hurts” in Creole, one says “li fè mal” or literally, “it makes bad.”
Note: Genyen (have) may be shortened to gen. Both forms are used above, but they are interchangeable.

A general practitioner is a doktè. Other specialist are listed below:

cardiologist kadyològ, doktè kè optometrist doktè je
dentist dantis orthopedist òtopedis, doktè zo
gynecologist doktè fanm pediatrician pedyat, doktè timoun
neurologist doktè niwoloji podiatrist doktè pye
obstetrician doktè fanm surgeon chirijyen
Note: In rural areas, the more common way to refer to a specialist is to say “doktè” and then state the area
of specialty. For example: An orthopedist might be known as an òtopedis near a city, but as a doktè zo
(bone doctor) in more rural areas.
From: Creole Made Easy Workbook by lightmessages.com Page 6

MEDICAL VOCABULARY
The following vocabulary is included to help the medical professional communicate with limited Creole
language knowledge. These terms will be understood by all Haitian medical personnel, including orderlies
and nurses’ aides and by most patients in urban areas although not every term will be understood by all
patients in rural areas.
A: childbirth akouchman
Abcès abse cirrhosis siwoz
abrasion fwote clinic klinik
abstain (food) pa manje cold grip (n), rap (v)
accident aksidan colic kolik
administer (give) bay collapse (v) endispoze
apply pase cough tous (n), touse (v)
affliction maladi congestion konjesyon, toufe
AIDS, HIV SIDA consent konsanti, dakò
ailing malad console rekonfòte, bay kouraj
alergic genyen alèji cramp lakranp
allergy alèji critical (grave) grav
ambulance anbilans D:
anesthsia anestezi daze, dazed toudi
anesthetize andòmi deceased mouri
antibiotic antibyotik dead mouri
antidote antidòt, remèd kont deaf soud
pwazon
appendicitis apenndisit dehydrated kò sèch, dezidrate
appetite apeti delusion foli
artery, vein venn denture atelye, danti
assist asiste, ede detach detache
B: diabetes dyabèt, sik
Bandage, bandaid pansman diaphragm dyafram
basin kivèt diarrhea djare,dyare
bedwetter pisannit diet rejim
belch rann gaz, degobye digest dijere, pase nan vant
bellyache vant fè mal diphtheria difteri
bicarbonate bikabonak directions (instructions) eksplikasyon
bite kout dan (n), mode (v) disinfect dezenfekte
bleeding senyen disrobe dezabiye
blood pressure tansyon dislocated dejwente
blow (hit) kou dizziness toudisman, vètij, tèt
vire
breathe respire doctor doktè
broken kase doctor’s office biwo doktè, klinik
bronchitis bwonchit dosage, dose dòz
bruise metri drain (v) degoute
bug ti bèt drainage drenaj
bump rappe (v) E:
bump on head konkonm, bòs earache malzòrèy
C: effect efè
cap (for bottle) bouchon electrocardiogram kontwòl kè
care for swen, okipe emergency, urgency ijans
careful (be careful) veye, fè atansyon emaciated mèg
centipede/millipede annipye, milpye, milpat enrich, enriched anrichi
cervix bouch matris epidemic epidemi
From: Creole Made Easy Workbook by lightmessages.com Page 7

epistaxis, nen senyen inspection enspeksyon

exam, examination egzamen install, put mete
examine (a patient) konsilte instruct enstwi, montre
exhaustion kòkraz, fatig instruction ansèyman
expert ekspè, spesyalis invalid malad
explanation eksplikasyon iodine yòd, tentidyòd
F: irritable rechiya
faint endispoze irritated eksite, irite
fatigue fatig, feblès isolated izole
feeling sansasyon itch gratèl (n)
fever lafyèv J:
fill a tooth plonbe jaw machwè
flu grip jaundice lajònis
fracture kase, fractire jellyfish lagratèl
frail enfim joint jwenti
G: K:
gall bladder fyèl keep an eye on voye je sou
gargle gagari kidney ren
germ mikwòb kidney stone pyè nan ren
gonorrhea grantchalè knock out blayi, degrennen
gout lagout knuckle jwenti dwèt
H: L:
headache maltèt, tèt fè mal laboratory laboratwa
hemorrhage emoraji laceration blese
hospital lopital latrine latrin, watè
hospitalize entène lessen bese
hourly chak inè de tan let (permit) kite, pèmèt
hurts fè mal lethal mòtel
hydrogen peroxide dlo oksijene lethargic fèb, manfouben
hygiene ijyèn listless molas
hypertension tansyon, tansyon wo loose lache
hypotension tansyon ba loosen lage, desere
hysteria krizdenè lotion krèm, losyon
I: lumpy gen ti boul
illness maladi M:
immobile san mouvman médicine remèd, medikaman
impossible enposib membrane manbran
improvement alemye, miyò meningitis menenjit
improvement amelyorasyon, pwogrè menopause menopòz
incisor dan devan menstral cycle, period règ
incurable san gerizon, engerisab migraine migrèn, tèt fè mal
inebriated sou, gri mixture melanj
infect bay maladi molar dan dèyè
infected enfekte motionless san mouvman
infection enfeksyon mouthwash dezenfektan pou
bouch
infectious atrapan muscle misk , chè
inflamed wouj, anfle muscular miskle, manbre
inflammation anflamasyon N:
influenza gwo grip nausea gen vomisman
injury blese, domaj nervous ajite, enève
insomnia paka dòmi nervousness ajitasyon, enèvyman
inspect enspekte, kontwole newborn nouvone, fèk fèt
From: Creole Made Easy Workbook by lightmessages.com Page 8

nosebleed nen senyen probably siman

nostril twou nen, narin procedure pwosede
nourishing nourisan prolong pwolonje, lonje
nurse enfimyè prostate glann pwostat
O: psychiatric sikyatrik
obstruction angòje, bouche psychiatrist sikyat
occupation okipasyon, metye pull a tooth rache dan
operate on fè operasyon, opere sou pulmonary pilmonè, nan poumon
optician optisyen pulse poul, batmankè
organ ògan, pati purify pirifye, dezenfekte
orthopedist òtopedis pus pi
ovary ovè Q:
overdose twòp remèd quarantine karantèn
overdue anreta quickly vit, byen vit
overnight pase nwit quiet trankil, san bri
overweight twò gwa R:
ovulation ovilasyon rabies raj, laraj
oxygen oksijèn radiation reyonnman
P: radiograph (v) radyografye, fè radyografi
p.m. apremidi 12-6, diswa 7- rash, heat rash gratèl, chofi
12
pain doulè reaction reyaksyon
painful fè mal reassure rasire
painkiller kalman, remèd pou doulè recline kouche
painless san penn, san doulè records (file) dosye, dokiman
palpitate bat rectum rektòm, twou dèyè
palpitation palpitasyon, batman reddened wouji
pancreas pankre refill (v) replen
panic panic, panike (v) reflex reflèks
paralyze paralize refusal refi
parasite parazit relapse tonbe malad ankò
pathology patoloji relationship relasyon
patient malad, pasyan release (from bay egzeyat
hospital)
payment peyman relief soulajman
pediatrician pedyat, doktè timoun respiration respirasyon, souf
pee (urinate) fè pipi, irinen, pise respond reponn
penicillin penisilin rest (relax) poze
personal prive rheumatism rimatis
perspiration swe rhythm kadans
pharmacist famasyen rickets rachitis
phobia lapè, laperèz right-handed dwatye
plastic surgery chiriji estetik rigid rijid, rèd
posture posti, kanpe ringworm lateng
powerful fò, pisan rock (v) baskile, balanse
pregnant ansent roll over vire sou lòt bò
premature avan lè, prematire routine woutin
premenstrual anvan règ S:
prenatal avan nesans safely byen, san malè
pressure presyon sanatorium sanatoryòm
preventable evitab sane sèn, gen bon tèt
From: Creole Made Easy Workbook by lightmessages.com Page 9

save (keep) sere tingling pikotman

scabies gal tinnitus tande bri nan zòrèy
scald chode tiredness fatig
scream rèl, rele (v), kriye (v) to cough touse
scrotum sak grenn to vomit rechte, vomi
scrub foubi toilet watè, latrin
seizure kriz topical remèd po
seriously seryezman touth dan
severely grav touthache malden
severety severite toxicity toksisite
sex m/f sèks train (v) montre, antrene
sex (have sex) fè baygay, kouche tranquilizer kalman, trankilizan
shot (injection) piki transfer transfere
sick malad transfuse bay san
sickness maladi transfusion transfizyon
sinus sinis transmissible transmisib
sleep with kouche ak transmission transmisyon
sleeping nan dòmi treatable ki kapab trete
sleepy gen dòmi nan je triceps trisèp, misk dèyè ponyèt
smallpox vèrèt trimester trimès, chak twa mwa
smelly santi turn around virewon
sore throat, gòj fè mal, malgòj, twisted tòde, kokobe
laryngitis anwe
sperm dechay, jèm U:
spine rèl do ulcer ilsè
spleen larat uncap ouvri
spot tach unclothed dezabiye
sprain antòs uncommon ra
stammer bege uncooked kri, san kwit
sternum biskèt uncross dekwaze
stomachache vant fè mal underarm anba bra
suddenly sibitman, briskeman underdeveloped soudevlope, rasi (child)
suffer soufri undernourished malnouri
suffering soufrans underweight mèg, pa peze ase
suffocate (v) toufe undigested pa dijere
suffocation etoufman undress dezabiye
survive siviv, pase uneducated malapri
T: unhealthy malsen
tablespoon gwo kiyè upper part anlè
take off clothes dezabiye ureter irèt, kanal marasa
technique teknik urgency, emergency ijans
tenderness tandrès urine pipi
tepid tyèd urinate pipi
term tèm, limit use (v) sèvi
therapy trètman V:
thermometer tèmomèt vagina bòbòt, vajin
thorax pwatrin, lestomak vaginal discharge pèt blanch
throb bat vague vag
throw up rejte, vomi vaporizer vaporizatè
thrush chit variable chanje, varyab
tibia zo janm varicose vein varies
ticklish sansib vegetative vejetatif, sans konensans
vein, artery venn
From: Creole Made Easy Workbook by lightmessages.com Page 10

venereal veneryèn
venom pwazon
ventilate ayere, vante
ventricle vantrikil
vertebra vètèb, zo do
vertigo vètij, tèt vire
violence vyolans
virgin vyèj, ti fi
virus viris
vision good/bad wè byen / wè mal
visitor vizitè
visual vizyèl
vital enpòtan, vital
vocal chord kòd vokal
vomiting vomisman
vulva pati fi, bouboun
W:
waist tay, senti
ward (surgical) sal chiriji
warm tyèd (adj), chofe (v)
warmth chalè
warning avètisman
wart vèri
watch over veye
weight loss pèdi pwa
well (not sick) pa malad
wet nurse nouris
womb matris
wonderful mèvèye
wounded, injured blese
X:
x-ray radyografi
Y:
yawn baye
yaws pyan
you are welcome padkwa, ou merite
yourself ou menm