The Creole of CAPE VERDE is based on Portuguese and African, although the official language is Portuguese, the majority of the island’s inhabitants speak only Creole ( krioulu). That’s why you need a basic vocabulary for your immersion.
IMPORTANT, when addressing an elderly person we always start by saying: Nhu/Nha dam benço which means word for word give me the blessing. In culture this is a mark of respect towards the elders.
Grettings
| English | Criolo |
|---|---|
| Good morning | bom dia / boms hora |
| Bonjour | boms hora |
| Good afternoon | boa tarde |
| Hello | Oi / ola |
| Good night | boa noite (at night) |
| Goodbye | adeus / tchao/ até logo |
| Thank you | obrigado (for a men), obrigada (for a woman) |
| Your welcome | Di nada |
| Please | por favor, se faz favor. |
| Sorry | Nhu/Nha dam licensa |
Presentation
| English | Criolo |
|---|---|
| What’s your name | Modi ki bu tchoma |
| My name is | Nha nomi é / Um tchoma … |
| Nice to meet you | Prazer |
| How are you | Modi ki bo sta (for young people) |
| How are you | Modi ki stado (for old people) |
| How are you | Fixe? ( street language) |
| I am fine | Um sta bom |
| Not so bad | Mas o menos / alem li |
Usual words
| English | Criolo |
|---|---|
| Yes | si |
| No | não |
| Open | aberto |
| Close | fechado |
| Where it is ? | onde e, onde fica ? |
| What time is ? | a que horas ? |
| Quelle heure est-il ? | Que horas sta ? |
| Aujourd’hui | hoje |
| Demain | amanha |
| Hier | ontem |
| Maintenant | agora |
| Après | Desposs |
| Il est tard | Sta tarde |
| Il est tôt | Sta cèdo |
| Demain de bonne heure | Amanha cèdo |
: onde e, onde fica ?
: a que horas ?
What time is it? : Que horas sta?
Today : hoje – Tomorrow : amanha – Yesterday : ontem.- Now: goci – After: Despos
It is late : Sta tarde
It is to early : Sta cèdo
Tomorrow morning : Amanha cèdo
On the shops
How much it costs ? : quanto custa ?
I want a bottle of water : Um cré uma garafa d’agua
It is too expensive : E muito caro
I want to buy cigarette : Um cré compra cigaros
Do you have smatches?: Bo tem fos?
Biscuits : Bolachas
Juice: Sumo
Alcohol drink: Bebida
Tooth brush: Scova de dente
Hygienic towel: Penso
Shower gel: Gel de banho
Soap: Sabom
Desinfectant: Disinfetante
At the restaurant
Breakfast : Pequeno almoço
Lunch : Almoço
Diner : Jantar
Knife : Uma faca
Fork: Um garfo
Spoon: Um colher
Tea spoon : Uma colherinha
Bread : Pão
Salt/ Sugar: Sal / Açucra
Beer: Cerveja
Water : Agua
Coffee/ Tea: Café/ Chá
White wine/ Red wine : Vinho branco / Tinto
Plate : Um prato
Rice with fish : Arroz com peixe (peiche)
Fish and chips: Arroz com batata frito
With salsa : Com molho
Meat : Carne
Fish: Peixe
Grilled : Assado
Salad : Salada
Steack : Bife
hard eggs : Ovo cozido
fried eggs : Ovos estrelados
Omelet : Omeletas
Pork : Porco
Chicken: Frango
Shark : Tubarão
Lobster : Lagosta
French fries : Batatas fritas
Fish stew : Caldo de peixe
Octopus : Polvo
Cheese: Qeijo
Desert : Sobremesa (sobremeza)
The bill please : Conta por favor