At one point considered by some Mauritians as a language spoken by only those at the bottom of the social ladder, Mauritian Creole or Kreol Morisien, has gained popularity when the Mauritian began to proudly endorse his identity. We have painted the picture of Mauritius as an island for you. Now we take you through the colourful phrases found in its mother tongue.
Twisted French
Firstly, it is important to note that the Mauritian Creole is very close to French; it is in fact a readjustment of the language. Understanding the Mauritian Creole is very easy if you speak French. The Mauritian Creole is made up of mispronounced French words. “Ch” (equivalent to the pronunciation of “sh” in English) is pronounced as “s”, therefore causing a word like “chaise” (chair) to be said as “sez”, or “séchoir” (hairdryer) as “sesswar”. “U”s sound like “I”s. French “bus” would become “bis”, and “ulcer” would be said as “ilcer”. Some words are shortened, like “essayer” (try) which becomes “seye”.
Words/phrases derived from other languages
Since Mauritians have Indian indentured labourers, Creole slaves and Chinese merchants as ancestors respectively, it is not surprising to find terms used in the mother tongues of forefathers in the Mauritian’s. Hindi words such as “paisa” (money), “duk” (sadness) punctuate Mauritian sentences. Words such as “stop”, “right” and “bye” from the English language are often used in Mauritian Creole (let’s not forget that the island was colonised by the British). The phrase “fer sentry”, meaning to act like a sentry, a soldier on patrol, is commonly used.
Phrases related to food
The Mauritian Creole is so full of catchphrases that it is definitely worth exploring. Here are some of the funniest, associated to food and cooking. It would do no good translating them into English; they would make no sense. We will tell you their meanings.
- “to dal napa pou kwi” – “you won’t achieve the end that you are seeking” (you must have understood through this article that the dhal is essential to Mauritian cuisine)
- “latet kokom” – someone who is forgetful
- “kamarad kamaron” – a friend that does not act like one. This phrase is in reference to the stealth of the Caridean Shrimp.
Emphasis
When seeking to highlight a word, the Mauritian will repeat it in his sentence. For instance: “fer sa vit vit” (do this quickly). Moreover, his tone will indicate the importance and he will stress on part of a word. In order to express the seriousness of the situation of when he slipped, he would say “monn gliiiiiiiser”.
To remember
Upon your visit to Mauritius, surprise your driver or host by asking “ki manier”, the Creole equivalent for “how are you?”. Even better, go ahead with: “kot pou alle vakaner?”, meaning “where will we go for a drive?”. The last word is interchangeable with “chaker”, which has the same meaning. The “ch” is pronounced as the English one.
If you wish to perfect your Mauritian Creole, interact with those to whom it is their mother tongue. Meanwhile you can refer to the Mauritian Creole dictionary to help you out.