Kwéyòl
Saint Lucian Creole
French creole
Saint Lucian Creole (Kwéyòl, also called Patwa or Patois) is a French-lexified Antillean creole spoken by most of the population of Saint Lucia, alongside English. Most vocabulary derives from French, while its development and grammar reflect plantation-era contact involving West African languages, French, and earlier Caribbean languages; English has also supplied many newer words. Kwéyòl uses preverbal particles to express tense, mood, and aspect and is closely related to the creoles of Dominica, Martinique, and Guadeloupe, with substantial mutual intelligibility. A phonemic Latin-based writing system is used in the Ministry of Education's Kwéyòl dictionary and other teaching materials. Although English is the official language, school classes, cultural programs, media, and a government-approved Kwéyòl national anthem support public use.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Saint Lucian Creole
Sources
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: French creole
| Meaning | Saint Lucian Creole | Haitian Creole | Guadeloupean Creole | French Guianese Creole | Réunion Creole | Seychellois Creole | Mauritian Creole |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | dlo /dlo/ | dlo /dlo/ | dlo /dlo/ | dlo /dlo/ | dlo /dlo/ | delo /delo/ | dilo /dilo/ |
| Fire | difé /dife/ | dife /dife/ | difé /dife/ | difé /dife/ | dofé /dofe/ | dife /dife/ | dife /dife/ |
| Sun | sòlèy /sɔlɛj/ | solèy /sɔlɛj/ | solèy /solɛj/ | solèy /sɔlɛj/ | soley /solej/ | soley /solej/ | soley /solej/ |
| Moon | lalin /lalin/ | lalin /lalin/ | lalin /lalin/ | lalin /lalin/ | lalinn /lalin/ | lalin /lalin/ | lalinn /lalin/ |
| Star | étwal /etwal/ | zetwal /zetwal/ | zétwal /zetwal/ | zétwèl /zetwɛl/ | zétoil /zetwal/ | zetwal /zetwal/ | zetwal /zetwal/ |
| Night | lannwit /lãnwit/ | lannwit /lãnwit/ | lannuit /lanɥit/ | lannwit /lãnwit/ | nwi /nwi/ | lannwit /lanwit/ | lanwit /lanwit/ |
| Rain | lapli /lapli/ | lapli /lapli/ | lapli /lapli/ | lapli /lapli/ | lapli /lapli/ | lapli /lapli/ | lapli /lapli/ |
| Snow | lannèj /lãnɛʒ/ | nèj /nɛʒ/ | lannèj /lanɛʒ/ | lanèj /lanɛʒ/ | nèj /nɛʒ/ | lannez /lanez/ | lanez /lanez/ |
| Wind | van /vã/ | van /vã/ | van /vã/ | van /vã/ | divan /diˈvã/ | divan /diˈvã/ | divan /diˈvã/ |
| Earth | tè /tɛ/ | tè /tɛ/ | tè /tɛ/ | tè /tɛ/ | later /latɛr/ | later /latɛr/ | later /latɛr/ |
| Stone | wòch /wɔʃ/ | wòch /wɔtʃ/ | wòch /wɔʃ/ | ròch /ʁɔʃ/ | galé /ɡale/ | ros /ros/ | ros /ros/ |
| Mountain | mòn /mɔn/ | mòn /mɔn/ | mòn /mɔn/ | — | montagn /mɔ̃taɲ/ | montanny /mɔ̃taɲ/ | montagn /mõˈtaɲ/ |
| Sea | lanmè /lãmɛ/ | lanmè /lãmɛ/ | lanmè /lãmɛ/ | lanmè /lãmɛ/ | lamer /lamɛr/ | lanmer /lãmɛr/ | lamer /lamer/ |
| Mother | manman /mãmã/ | manman /mãmã/ | manman /mãmã/ | manman /mãmã/ | manmon /mãmõ/ | manman /mãmã/ | mama /mama/ |
| Father | papa /papa/ | papa /papa/ | papa /papa/ | papa /papa/ | papa /papa/ | papa /papa/ | papa /papa/ |
| Daughter | tifi /tifi/ | pitit fi /pitit fi/ | fi /fi/ | tifi /tifi/ | fiy /fij/ | fiy /fij/ | tifi /tifi/ |
| I | mwen /mwɛ̃/ | mwen /mwɛ̃/ | an /ã/ | mo /mo/ | mwin /mwɛ̃/ | mon /mɔ̃/ | mo /mo/ |
| You | ou /u/ | ou /u/ | ou /u/ | to /to/ | ou /u/ | ou /u/ | to /to/ |
| We | nou /nu/ | nou /nu/ | nou /nu/ | nou /nu/ | nou /nu/ | nou /nu/ | nou /nu/ |
| Name | non /nɔ̃/ | non /nɔ̃/ | non /nɔ̃/ | non /nɔ̃/ | nom /nɔm/ | non /nɔ̃/ | nom /nom/ |
| Person | moun /mun/ | moun /mun/ | moun /mun/ | moun /mun/ | moun /mun/ | dimoun /dimun/ | dimounn /dimun/ |
| Head | tèt /tɛt/ | tèt /tɛt/ | tèt /tɛt/ | tèt /tɛt/ | latèt /latɛt/ | latet /latɛt/ | latet /latet/ |
| Eye | zyé /zje/ | je /ʒe/ | zyé /zje/ | wéy /wej/ | zié /zje/ | lizye /lizje/ | lizie /lizje/ |
| Ear | zòwèy /zɔwɛj/ | zòrèy /zɔɾɛj/ | zorey /zɔʁɛj/ | zòrè /zɔʁɛ/ | zorey /zɔʁɛj/ | zorey /zɔʁɛj/ | zorey /zɔʁɛj/ |
| Nose | né /ne/ | nen /nɛn/ | nen /nɛ̃/ | nen /nɛ̃/ | né /ne/ | nennen /nɛ̃nɛ̃/ | nene /nene/ |
| Mouth | bouch /buʃ/ | bouch /buʃ/ | bouch /buʃ/ | bouch /buʃ/ | labous /labus/ | labous /labus/ | labous /labus/ |
| Tooth | dan /dã/ | dan /dã/ | dan /dã/ | dan /dã/ | dan /dã/ | ledan /lədã/ | ledan /lədã/ |
| Tongue | lanng /lãŋ/ | lang /lãɡ/ | lang /lãɡ/ | lang /lãɡ/ | lang /lãɡ/ | lalang /lalãɡ/ | lalang /lalãɡ/ |
| Hand | lanmen /lãmɛn/ | men /mɛ̃/ | men /mɛ̃/ | lanmen /lãmɛ̃/ | lamin /lamɛ̃/ | lanmen /lãmɛ̃/ | lame /lame/ |
| Foot | pyé /pje/ | pye /pje/ | pyé /pje/ | pyé /pje/ | pié /pje/ | lipye /lipje/ | lipie /lipje/ |
| Heart | tjè /tʃɛ/ | kè /kɛ/ | kè /kɛ/ | tchò /tʃɔ/ | ker /kɛʁ/ | leker /lekeʁ/ | leker /lekeɾ/ |
| Bone | zo /zo/ | zo /zo/ | zo /zo/ | zo /zo/ | zo /zo/ | lezo /lezo/ | lezo /lezo/ |
| Blood | san /sã/ | san /sã/ | san /sã/ | disan /disã/ | san /sã/ | disan /disã/ | disan /disã/ |
| Poop | kaka /kaka/ | kaka /kaka/ | chyé /ʃje/ | kaka /kaka/ | mèrd /mɛrd/ | kaka /kaka/ | kaka /kaka/ |
| Love | lanmou /lãmu/ | lanmou /lãmu/ | lanmou /lãmu/ | renmen /ʁɛ̃mɛn/ | lamour /lamuʁ/ | lanmour /lãmuʁ/ | lamour /lamuɾ/ |
| Tree | pyé bwa /pje bwa/ | pyebwa /pjebwa/ | pyé bwa /pje bwa/ | pyébwa /pjebwa/ | pyébwa /pjebwa/ | pye dibwa /pje dibwa/ | pye /pje/ |
| Dog | chyen /ʃjɛn/ | chen /ʃɛ̃/ | chyen /ʃjɛ̃/ | chyen /ʃjɛ̃/ | lisien /lisjɛ̃/ | lisyen /lisjɛ̃/ | lisien /lisjɛ̃/ |
| Cat | chat /ʃa/ | chat /ʃat/ | chat /ʃat/ | chat /ʃa/ | shat /ʃat/ | sat /sat/ | sat /sat/ |
| Fish | pwéson /pwesɔ̃/ | pwason /pwasɔ̃/ | pwason /pwasɔ̃/ | pwason /pwasɔ̃/ | pwason /pwasɔ̃/ | pwason /pwasɔ̃/ | pwason /pwasɔ̃/ |
| Bird | jibyé /ʒibje/ | zwazo /zwazo/ | zwazo /zwazo/ | zozo /zozo/ | zwazo /zwazo/ | zwazo /zwazo/ | zwazo /zwazo/ |
| Butterfly | papiyòt /papijɔt/ | papiyon /papijɔ̃/ | papiyon /papijɔ̃/ | papiyon /papijɔ̃/ | papiyon /papijɔ̃/ | papiyon /papijɔ̃/ | papiyon /papijɔ̃/ |
| Egg | zé /ze/ | ze /ze/ | zé /ze/ | dizé /dize/ | zé /ze/ | dizef /dizɛf/ | dizef /dizef/ |
| Bear | bè /bɛ/ | lous /lus/ | lous /lus/ | lous /lus/ | lours /luʁs/ | lours /lurs/ | lours /lurs/ |
| Horse | chouval /ʃuval/ | chwal /ʃwal/ | chouval /ʃuval/ | chouval /ʃuval/ | soval /soval/ | seval /seval/ | seval /seval/ |
| House | kay /kaj/ | kay /kaj/ | kaz /kaz/ | kaz /kaz/ | kaz /kaz/ | lakaz /lakaz/ | lakaz /lakaz/ |
| Milk | lèt /lɛt/ | lèt /lɛt/ | lèt /lɛt/ | lèt /lɛt/ | dolé /dole/ | dile /dile/ | dile /dile/ |
| Honey | siwo myèl /siwo mjɛl/ | siwo myèl /siwo mjɛl/ | siwo myèl /siwo mjɛl/ | myèl /mjɛl/ | domiel /domjɛl/ | dimyel /dimjɛl/ | dimiel /dimjɛl/ |
| Salt | sèl /sɛl/ | sèl /sɛl/ | sèl /sɛl/ | sèl /sɛl/ | dosèl /dosɛl/ | disel /disel/ | disel /disel/ |
| Wine | diven /divɛ̃/ | diven /divɛ̃/ | diven /divɛ̃/ | diven /divɛ̃/ | vin /vɛ̃/ | diven /divɛ̃/ | divin /divɛ̃/ |
| Rice | diwi /diwi/ | diri /diˈɾi/ | diri /diʁi/ | douri /duʁi/ | diri /diʁi/ | diri /diri/ | diri /diri/ |
| Iron | fè /fɛ/ | fè /fɛ/ | fè /fɛ/ | fè /fɛ/ | fer /fɛr/ | fer /fer/ | fer /fer/ |
| Wheel | woul /wul/ | wou /wu/ | wou /wu/ | rou /ʁu/ | rou /ru/ | larou /laru/ | larou /laru/ |
| Silk | swa /swa/ | swa /swa/ | swa /swa/ | — | — | laswa /laswa/ | laswa /laswa/ |
| Book | liv /liv/ | liv /liv/ | liv /liv/ | liv /liv/ | liv /liv/ | liv /liv/ | liv /liv/ |
| Eat | manjé /mãʒe/ | manje /mãʒe/ | manjé /mãʒe/ | manjé /mãʒe/ | manz /mãz/ | manze /mãze/ | manze /mãze/ |
| Drink | bwè /bwɛ/ | bwè /bwɛ/ | bwè /bwɛ/ | bwè /bwɛ/ | bwar /bwaʁ/ | bwar /bwaʁ/ | bwar /bwaɾ/ |
| Sleep | dòmi /dɔmi/ | dòmi /dɔmi/ | dòmi /dɔmi/ | dronmi /dʁɔ̃mi/ | dormi /dɔrmi/ | dormi /dɔrmi/ | dormi /dɔrmi/ |
| One | yonn /jɔn/ | youn /jun/ | yonn /jõn/ | roun /ʁun/ | inn /in/ | enn /ɛn/ | enn /ɛn/ |
| Two | dé /de/ | de /de/ | dé /de/ | dé /de/ | dé /de/ | de /de/ | de /de/ |
| Three | twa /twa/ | twa /twa/ | twa /twa/ | trwa /tʁwa/ | trwa /trwa/ | trwa /trwa/ | trwa /trwa/ |
| Four | kat /kat/ | kat /kat/ | kat /kat/ | kat /kat/ | kat /kat/ | kat /kat/ | kat /kat/ |
| Five | senk /sɛ̃k/ | senk /sɛ̃k/ | senk /sɛ̃k/ | senk /sɛ̃k/ | sink /sɛ̃k/ | senk /sɛ̃k/ | senk /sɛ̃k/ |
| Hundred | san /sã/ | san /sã/ | san /sã/ | san /sã/ | san /sã/ | san /sã/ | san /sã/ |
| Hello | bonjou /bɔ̃ʒu/ | bonjou /bɔ̃ʒu/ | bonjou /bõʒu/ | bonjou /bõʒu/ | bonzour /bõzuʁ/ | bonzour /bõzuʁ/ | bonzour /bõzuɾ/ |
| Thank you | mèsi /mɛsi/ | mèsi /mɛsi/ | mèsi /mɛsi/ | mèsi /mɛsi/ | mersi /mɛʁsi/ | mersi /mɛʁsi/ | mersi /meɾsi/ |
| Good | bon /bɔ̃/ | bon /bɔ̃/ | bon /bõ/ | bon /bõ/ | bon /bõ/ | bon /bõ/ | bon /bõ/ |
| New | nèf /nɛf/ | nouvo /nuvo/ | nèf /nɛf/ | nouvo /nuvo/ | nouvo /nuvo/ | nouvo /nuvo/ | nouvo /nuvo/ |
| Red | wouj /wuʒ/ | wouj /wuʒ/ | wouj /wuʒ/ | rouj /ʁuʒ/ | rouz /ruz/ | rouz /ruz/ | rouz /ruz/ |
| White | blan /blã/ | blan /blã/ | blan /blã/ | blan /blã/ | blan /blã/ | blan /blã/ | blan /blã/ |
| Black | nwè /nwɛ/ | nwa /nwa/ | nwè /nwɛ/ | nwè /nwɛ/ | nwar /nwar/ | nwar /nwar/ | nwar /nwar/ |
| Green | vèt /vɛt/ | vèt /vɛt/ | vè /vɛ/ | vèrt /vɛʁt/ | vèr /vɛr/ | ver /ver/ | ver /vɛr/ |
| Blue | blé /ble/ | ble /ble/ | — | blé /ble/ | blë /blɛ/ | ble /ble/ | ble /ble/ |
| Computer | konpyouta /kɔ̃pjuta/ | òdinatè /ɔdinaˈtɛ/ | òwdinatè /ɔwdinatɛ/ | òrdinatò /ɔʁdinatɔ/ | — | konpiter /kɔ̃pitɛr/ | ordinater /ɔrdinatɛr/ |
| Tea | dité /dite/ | te /te/ | té /te/ | té /te/ | — | dite /dite/ | dite /dite/ |
| Coffee | kafé /kafe/ | kafe /kaˈfe/ | kafé /kafe/ | kafé /kafe/ | kafé /kafe/ | kafe /kafe/ | kafe /kafe/ |
| Sugar | sik /sik/ | sik /sik/ | sik /sik/ | sik /sik/ | sik /sik/ | disik /disik/ | disik /disik/ |
| Orange | zowanj /zowãʒ/ | zoranj /zoɾãʒ/ | zowanj /zowãʒ/ | zoranj /zoʁãʒ/ | zoranj /zoʁãʒ/ | zoranz /zoʁãz/ | zoranz /zoʁãz/ |
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