Haitian cuisine is much more than a collection of delicious dishes. It is a reflection of Haiti’s history, culture, family traditions, and creativity. From the aroma of epis filling the kitchen to a plate of diri ak pwa served with griot and pikliz, food plays an important role in Haitian life.

One of the best ways to connect with Haitian cuisine is to learn the Haitian Creole words used around the kitchen and the dining table.

Whether you grew up eating Haitian food or you are discovering it for the first time, these 25 words will help you understand the language behind some of Haiti’s most beloved foods.

1. Manje — Food / To Eat

The word manje is one of the most common words you will hear around a Haitian kitchen. Depending on the context, it can refer to food or the act of eating.

2. Diri — Rice

Rice is an important part of Haitian cuisine. It can be prepared in many different ways, including diri kole, diri djondjon, and other flavorful rice dishes.

3. Pwa — Beans

Beans are another staple of Haitian cooking. They are commonly prepared into a flavorful sauce and served with rice.

4. Poul — Chicken

Chicken is widely used in Haitian cooking and can be prepared in several ways, including in sauces, stews, or grilled dishes.

5. Vyann — Meat

Vyann simply means meat. Haitian cuisine includes many different meat preparations, each with its own seasoning and cooking style.

6. Pwason — Fish

Fish is an important part of Haitian coastal cuisine. It can be seasoned, fried, stewed, or prepared with a flavorful sauce.

7. Bannann — Plantain

Plantains are a beloved ingredient in Haitian cuisine. They can be boiled, fried, or prepared in other traditional ways.

8. Bannann Peze — Fried Plantain

Bannann peze refers to plantain that is flattened and fried. It is often served as a side dish with meat, seafood, or other Haitian favorites.

9. Legim — Vegetable Stew

Haitian legim is a flavorful vegetable-based stew. Families may use different combinations of vegetables and ingredients, making each version unique.

10. Griot — Fried Pork

Griot is one of Haiti’s best-known dishes. Pieces of seasoned pork are cooked and then fried, creating a dish commonly enjoyed with rice, plantains, and pikliz.

11. Tassot — Seasoned Fried Goat

Tassot is traditionally prepared by seasoning meat, cooking it, and then frying it. Depending on the preparation, different types of meat can be used.

12. Pikliz — Spicy Pickled Vegetables

Pikliz is a spicy Haitian condiment typically made with cabbage, carrots, peppers, vinegar, and seasonings. Its bright, spicy flavor is a perfect complement to many Haitian dishes.

13. Epis — Haitian Seasoning

Epis is an essential part of many Haitian kitchens. It is a seasoned blend used to add flavor to meats, seafood, rice, beans, stews, and other dishes.

14. Mayi Moulen — Cornmeal

Mayi moulen is a traditional Haitian cornmeal dish. It can be served with different sauces, vegetables, beans, meat, or seafood.

15. Kasav — Cassava Flatbread

Kasav is a traditional flatbread made from cassava. It has a long history throughout the Caribbean and remains part of Haitian food traditions.

16. Akra — Fried Fritters

Akra are savory fritters traditionally made with grated malanga and seasonings. They are commonly enjoyed as a snack, appetizer, or part of a larger meal.

17. Diri Djondjon — Black Mushroom Rice

Diri djondjon gets its distinctive dark color and earthy flavor from Haitian djondjon mushrooms. It is a special dish often associated with celebrations and gatherings.

18. Soup Joumou — Haitian Pumpkin Soup

Soup joumou holds a special place in Haitian history and culture. It is traditionally enjoyed on January 1, Haiti’s Independence Day, and represents freedom and independence.

19. Sòs — Sauce

Sòs means sauce. Haitian meals often include flavorful sauces or gravies that bring together rice, meat, vegetables, and other components of the meal.

20. Bouyon — Hearty Soup or Stew

Bouyon is a hearty Haitian dish that can include meat, vegetables, and other ingredients cooked together into a comforting meal.

21. Dous Makòs — Haitian Fudge

Dous makòs is a traditional Haitian sweet known for its distinctive layered appearance and rich flavor.

22. Pen Patat — Sweet Potato Pudding

Pen patat is a traditional Haitian dessert made primarily with sweet potatoes and aromatic spices. It is a favorite example of Haiti’s rich dessert traditions.

23. Tablet — Haitian Brittle

Tablet is a traditional Haitian sweet made with ingredients such as coconut or peanuts and sugar. It is enjoyed as a snack or dessert.

24. Ji — Juice

Ji means juice. Fresh fruit juices are enjoyed throughout Haiti and are often served alongside meals or at gatherings.

25. Bon Manje — Enjoy Your Meal!

Finally, there is a phrase every food lover should know: Bon manje!

It is a warm way of wishing someone an enjoyable meal.

More Than Words: A Taste of Haitian Culture

Learning Haitian food vocabulary is about more than memorizing translations. These words connect us to the people, kitchens, traditions, and memories behind Haitian cuisine.

A simple word like diri can bring back memories of Sunday dinner. Pikliz can remind someone of a family gathering. Epis can bring back the smell of a Haitian kitchen. And soup joumou can connect generations to Haiti’s history and independence.

Haitian cuisine continues to travel across the world, introducing new people to the flavors and traditions of Ayiti.

So the next time you sit down to enjoy griot, diri ak pwa, bannann peze, legim, or pikliz, remember that you’re not just eating a meal you’re experiencing a piece of Haitian culture.

🇭🇹 Manje se kilti. Manje se tradisyon. Manje se Ayiti.

What Haitian food word did you grow up hearing in your home? Share it in the comments and tell us what it means to you.