Grammar - Using "pa" for possessive pronouns

Yes, "pa" indicates the negative in Haitian Creole.
But, the word "pa" also have other definitions/roles in Creole.

And one of them is to indicate the possessive pronouns.

Mine

Pa mwen (uncontracted)

Pa m (contracted)

Yours

Pa ou (uncontracted)

Pa w (contracted)

His/hers

Pa li (uncontracted)

Pa l (contracted)

Ours

Pa nou (uncontracted)

Pa n (contracted)

Theirs

Pa yo

Examples:

1. This is mine.

Sa se pa mwen.

or

Sa se pa m.

2. The house is yours.
Kay la se pa ou.
or

Kay la se pa w.

3. This is yours.
Sa se pa ou an*.
or

Sa se pa w la*.

* Sometimes you'll see a definite article after the possessive pronoun.

The definite articles will follow a set of rules.  See #3 & #4, the sentences are the same, except that one has a contracted pronoun and the other one does not.  The Creole definite article will change according to the word it follows.

4. This is mine.

Sa se pa mwen an*.

Sa se pa m nan*.

5. This is not mine.
Sa se pa pa mwen an.

Sa se pa pa m nan*.

In example #5, see how the first "pa" indicates the negative, and the second "pa" does not.

6. This is my own food.
Sa se manje pa mwen an.

Sa se manje pa'm nan.

7. Don't sit here. This is my own chair.

Pa chita la. Sa se chèz pa mwen.

Pa chita la. Sa se chèz pa m.

8. Are these your kids?

Eske sa yo se timoun pa ou yo?

Eske sa yo se timoun pa w yo?

Mine Yours and Ours- possessive pronouns
possessive pronouns 2
possesive pronouns 3

The following is FYI only:

FYI:  Other translations/definitions of "pa" in Haitian Creole.

pa  → indicates negative, as in: Mwen pa konprann. - I don't understand

pa → helps to indicate possessive, as in:  Tè sa a se pa m. - This land is mine.

pa (n.) → step, as in: I will take one step every day.  M'ap fè yon pa chak jou.

Grammar: Object Pronouns / Possessive Pronouns

Object pronouns

Me - Mwen (contracted form: m)

You - You (contracted form: w)

Him/her - Li (contracted form: l)

Us - Nou  (contracted form: n)

You (plural) - Nou (contracted form: n)

Them - Yo

Examples:

1. I love them - mwen renmen yo
2. she understands me - li konprann mwen 
3. we love you - nou renmen w
4. Sierra found it - Sierra te jwenn li
5. the people hated us - pèp la te rayi n
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Possessive Pronouns

The possessive pronouns: mine, yours, his, hers, ours, theirs are translated as the followings:

Mine - Pa mwen or  contracted form: Pa m

Yours - Pa ou or contracted form: Pa w

His / Hers - Pa li or contracted form: Pa l

Ours - Pa nou or contracted form: Pa n

Yours - Pa nou or contracted form: pa n

Theirs - Pa yo

Examples:

1. This book is mine - Liv sa se pa mwen

2. The house is his - Kay la se pa l.

3. The country is ours - Peyi a se pa n

4.  The money is theirs - lajan an se pa yo

5.  This is yours - Sa se pa w.

6. The babies are mine. - Bebe yo se pa mwen.

7. I love them very much. - Mwen renmen yo anpil.

8. The car is his. - Machi-n nan se pa li.

9. He likes it a lot. - Li renmen l anpil.

10. Give me liberty or death! - Ban m libète ou lanmò!
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Let's practice! Translate the following phrases.
1. The chairs are mine. Do not sit on them.

2. The house is mine. My daughter sleeps in it.

3. The shirts are his. He washes them every week.

4. God bless you.

5.  He told me the truth.

6.  He asked me to marry him.

Answer key at the bottom of this page



 1.chèz yo se pa m.Pa chita sou yo    2.kay la se pa-m.Piti fi mwen an dòmi ladan l    3.chemiz yo se pa-l.Li lave yo chak semèn.    4.Bondye beni w    5.Li di m la verite     6.li mande m maryaj