Cape Verdean Glossary/Kriolu Expressions

(taken from: http://www.umassd.edu/specialprograms/caboverde/)

 

Note: This is a rather arbitrary listing of a few Crioulo words. As Meintel [see Reference 15]

points out: "Crioulo is a largely unwritten language with no single recognized orthography,

though several grammars do exist, the best known being that of Balthasar Lopes da Silva.

"The present purpose of this page is to generate interest among and comments from those

with an an interest in the orthographics and linguistics of Crioulo.

by Manuel da Luz Gonçalves, Capeverdean Creole Institute


English

 Kriolu

 Yes

 Sin

 No

 Nau

 Perhaps

 Talves

 Please

 Pur favor

 Excuse me

 Kon Lisensa

 Pardon me

 Disculpa- m

 Thank you

 Obrigadu

 You´re welcome

 Es é ka nada

 Do you speak English ?

 Bu ta papia Inglês?

 I speak only English.

 N ta papia somenti Inglês.

 Capeverdean, Portuguese

 Kabuverdianu, Portugês

 I am from the United States

 Mi é di Mérka

 My address is

 Nha morada é:

 He/She is from

 El é di

 Please speak slowly

 Pur favor, papia dibagar

 I do not understand

 N ka ta konprende

 Repeat it, please

 Torna fla, pur favor

 Again

 Out bes, Novamenti

 Write it down, please

 Skrebe-l , pur favor

 What do you wish?

 Kuzé ki bu kre?

 How much is it?

 Kanté ?

 Come in , Come here.

 Entra , Ben li.

 Wait a minute.

 Spera un momentu

 Why? When?

 Pamódi? Kuandu?

 How? How long?

 Kumó? Kantu tenpu?

 Who? What?

 Ken? Kuzé?

 Where are you? Where is he?

 Undé-bu? Undé-l?

 Rest Room

 Kuartu Banhu.

 Here, There

 Li, La

 It is(not) all right

 Sta dretu / Ka sta dretu

 Empty, Full

 Vaziu, Xeiu

 To, From, With

 Pa, Di, Ku

 In, On, Near, Far

 Na, ruba/riba, Pertu, Lonji

 In front of, Behind

 Na frenti di, Tras di

 Beside, inside, outside

 Na ladu di, dentu di, fóra di

 Several, Few

 Txeu, Poku

 More, Less

 Mas, Menus

 A Little

 Un Poku

 Enough, too Much

 Dja Txiga, Dimas

 Something /nothing

 Algun kuza/nada

 Good, better

 Bon, midjor

 Bad, Worse

 mau, pior

 Right now

 Gosi li, Gurinha sin

 Soon, Later

 Sedu, mas tardi

 As soon as possible

 Mas dipresa pos=EDvel

 At the latest

 Mas tardar

 At least

 Pelomenus

 It is (too)late

 Dja sta tardi

 It is early

 Sta sedu

 Slowly, Slower

 Dibagar, mas dibagar

 Quickly, Faster

 Dipresa, mas dipresa

 I am not in a hurry

 N ka sta ku presa

 I am warm (cold)

 N sta ku kalor (friu)

 I am hungry (thirsty, sleep)

 N sta ku fomi (sedi, sonu)

 I am busy (tired, ill)

 N sta okupadu (kansadu, duenti)

 What's happening

 Kuzé ki sta fladu

 Be Careful

 Kudadu

 Take it easy

 kudadu!

 Listen, look here

 Obi, Djobe li

 Can you help me

 Bu pode djuda-m

 I am looking for

 N sta djobe

 I would like

 N ta gostaba

 Can you recommend a

 Bu pode rakumenda un

 Do you want

 Bu kre

 I am glad

 Nsta kontenti

 I am sorry

 Diskulpa -m

 It is not my fault

 É ka nha kulpa

 Whose fault is it?

 Kulpa é di kenha?

 I don't know

 N ka sabe

 I think (so, not)

 N ta pensa ki sin /nau

 What is that for?

 E' pa kuzé?

 What is that called in Kriolu?

 Kumó ki bu ta txoma-l na Kriolu?

 How do you say?

 Kumó ki bu ta fla/ modi ki bu ta fla?

 How do you spell?

 Kumó ki bu ta skrebe?

 I do not remember the street

 N ka ta lenbra di nómi di kel rua

 I have lost my friend

 Dja N perde nhas amiga

 I left my pen in the

 N dixa nha kaneta na

 I forgot my money (key)

 N diskise di nha dinheru /txabi

 I have missed my (train, plane)

 Dja N perde avion /konboiu

 What am I to do

 Kuzé ki N ta faze/

 You said it would cost

 Bu (nho, nha) fla me´l ta kustaba