How to Learn Haitian Creole, Step by Step

To learn Haitian Creole, start with how its letters sound, because its spelling was set in 1979 and no letter is silent. It is one of Haiti's two official languages, with French, and about 13 million people spoke it as their first language in 2020.

How to Learn Haitian Creole, Step by Step

Start with steps 1 to 4, and carry on with steps 5 and 6 after that.

• 🔤Learn the Sounds OnceEach letter or pair of letters always stands for the same sound. Learn the sounds one time, and every new word is easy to read out loud.
• 🎧Read Along With AudioPick short stories that come with a recording, and follow the words while you listen.
• 🧩Learn te, ap and pralVerbs never change their form. Small words show the time: te for the past, ap for right now, and pral for “going to,” as in mwen te manje (I ate).
• 🚫Say “Not” With paPut pa before the verb and before any time word to say “not,” as in Rose pa vle ale (Rose doesn't want to go).
• 📖Read and Listen at Your LevelSpend most of your study time on stories you can mostly follow, and move up one level of Storybooks Haiti at a time.
• 🗣️Talk With PeopleBook a tutor or find a language partner, and ask them to repeat anything you miss.

For steps 1 and 2, Storybooks Haiti has 40 stories with text and audio, sorted into levels. The guide to Haitian Creole you can follow suggests what to read next. For step 6, italki lists Haitian Creole tutors, and HelloTalk helps you find language partners.

Find Where You Are

Bubblegum is a language app with Haitian Creole lessons at six levels, and every line has audio. Poppy, your AI tutor, writes each lesson about a topic you choose. Look for the sentence that fits you best, then follow that row.

1. Level 1

   I'm just starting out or know only a few words.

   Read short stories along with their audio, and learn greetings and the words for family.

   Level 1 lessons about welcoming family and friends →
2. Level 2

   I can handle simple exchanges.

   Use te, ap and pral in sentences of your own, and write a short message to a friend.

3. Level 3

   I follow conversations on familiar topics.

   Add a podcast or video series made in Haitian Creole, and start talking with a tutor or partner once a week.

4. Level 4

   I understand most content but miss some nuance.

   Listen to a Haitian radio newscast once a week, and write down two expressions to try with your tutor.

5. Level 5

   I read complex topics but rare words slow me down.

   Follow long interviews and debates, and check a word only when you lose track of the point.

6. Level 6

   I can read almost anything.

   Read articles written in Kreyòl, and notice how writers explain new ideas.

   • MIT-Ayiti

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