How to Use the Definite Article in Haitian Creole

Things to Keep in Mind

Creole has five words for the definite article "the" (e.g. the car).

They are a, la, an, lan and nan.

The definite article you use depends if the noun ends with nasal or non nasal vowel.

Please see our lesson on nasal and non-nasal vowels.

Pay Attention to the Word Order

In Creole, the definite article always comes after the noun.

For example, the Creole expression Machin nan word-for-word means Car the.

Of course, the real meaning is The car.

How to Use the Definite Article "a"

Use a when the noun ends with a non-nasal vowel.

Let us consider the Creole expression Kafe a (The coffee).

You should use the definite article a because the word kafe ends with the non-nasal vowel e.

Consider These Examples

The underlined letters stand for non-nasal vowels

1. Bwa a → The wood

2. Ke a → The tail

3. Ji a → The juice

How to Use the Definite Article "la"

Use la when the noun ends with a non-nasal vowel, followed by a consonant.

Let us consider the Creole expression Bib la (The Bible).

You should use the definite article la because the word Bib ends with the non-nasal i, followed by the consonant b.

Consider These Examples

The underlined letters stand for the non-nasal vowel, followed by the consonant

1. Bwat la → The wood

2. Fwèt la → The whip

3. Kòb la → The money

How to Use the Definite Article "an"

Use an when the noun ends with a nasal vowel.

Let us consider the Creole expression Reken an (The shark).

You should use the definite article an because the word Reken ends with the nasal vowel en.

Consider These Examples

The underlined letters stand for nasal vowels

1. Ban an → The bench

2. Pen an → The bread

3. Son an → The sound

Also use an when the noun ends as mi, mou, ni or nou

Consider These Examples

1. Foumi an → The ant

2. Lanmou an → The love

3. Jenou an → The knee

How to Use the Definite Article "lan"

Use lan when the noun ends with a nasal vowel followed by a consonant.

Let us consider consider the Creole expression Ponp lan (The pump).

You should use the definite article lan because the word ponp ends with the nasal on, followed by the consonant p.

Consider These Examples

The underlined letters stand for the nasal vowel, followed by the consonant

1. Kanp lan → The camp

2. Pwent lan → The point

3. Konsyans lan → The conscience

Also use lan when the noun ends as iy or uit (very few nouns end like this)

Consider These Examples

1. Nuit lan → The night

2. Siy lan → The sign

3. Liy lan → The line

How to Use the Definite Article "nan"

Use the definite article nan when the noun ends with m or as nn.

Let us consider the Creole expression Fim nan (The film).

You should use the definite article nan because the word fim ends with the letter m.

Consider These Examples

1. Chanm nan → The room

2. Kodenn nan → The turkey

3. Fim nan → The film

Also use nan when the noun ends as èn or òn

Consider These Examples

1. Chèn nan → The necklace

2. Kouwòn nan → The crown

3. Lalin nan → The moon

Definite Article in Plural - "Yo" is All You Need to Know

When the noun is plural, you should always put yo after it.

You don't have to worry about nasal or non-nasal vowels.

Suppose that you want to say The cars in Haitian Creole (machin yo).

Because the Creole word machin is plural, you need to put yo after it.

Consider These Examples

In Creole, plural words don't end with the letter s.

1. Bato yo → The boats

2. Wòch yo → The rocks

3. Direksyon yo → The directions

Practice Makes Perfect

As you have seen in this lesson, Haitian Creole definite articles rely on rhyming. So, as you become more familiar with the definite articles in Creole, you will naturally know which one to use.

Therefore, this lesson is not as hard as you think it is if truly you apply yourself. If you practice these lessons daily, you can understand how to use the definite article in Creole in a few months, if not less than that.