Everyday Conversations | BBC Radio Guernsey

Here are 11 different conversations with translations and phonetic spellings, provided by BBC Radio Guernsey.

BBC Radio Guernsey also airs 'News in Guernesiais with Cynthia' every Wednesday between 11:30 and 12 and again on Saturday mornings at 6:55am.

The format for the sayings are as follows:

Written in Patois

Phonetic spelling

In English

Part 1 | Did you read the Guernsey Press?

Banjour, comme tchi que l'affaire va?

(banzhoor, kom tcheek laffair va?)

Good-day/hello, how are you?

En amas bien, merci.

(en ama byõ, mair-see.)

Very well, thank you.

Pas trop mal, merci, et dauve vous?

(pa tro mal mair-see, eh dohv voo?)

Not too bad, thank you. And you?

Vites-ous le Praesse, méquerdi?

(veetoo le Prasse, mekerdi?)

Did you see the Press on Wednesday?

Oui, i dit, "Le Guernésiais est-i difficile à llierre

(wee, ee dee, "leh jer-nez-yeah eh-tee di-fi-seel a yeahr?")

Yes, it said, "Is Guernsey-French difficult to read?"

Pas si tu l'llies dans l' Praesse.

(pah si-tul yeh dorl Prasse.)

Not if you read the Press.

V'là qui vaout!

(vla kee vow!)

That's good/Well done!

À la perchoine.

(a la pairshoyn.)

Good-bye/'til the next time.

Part 2 | Would you like a cup of tea?

Étes-ous bian, ogniet?

(ay-too byo, onyeh?)

Are you well today?

Oui, merci. Faus pas s'pllaindre.

(wee, mair-see. Fo pa spee-oynd.)

Yes, thank you. Mustn't complain.

Mais, fait-i, fré, ogniet!

(may fet-ee freh, onyeh)

But isn't it cold today.

Vère dja, mais pas tant comme hiaer.

(Vair dja, may pa tah kom ee-ahr)

Oh yes, but not as cold as yesterday.

Voul-ous enne coupaïe d'thee?

(voo-loo en koo-pye d tay?)

Do you want a cup of tea?

Oui, s'i'vous pllait.

(wee see voo pyay.)

Yes, please.

Pern-ous du lait?

(pern-oo du leh?)

Do you take milk?

Oui, mais pas du chucre.

(wee, may pa du shuk)

Yes, but not sugar.

Voul-ous enne p'tite goute?

(voo-loo en pteet goot?)

Do you want a little tipple?

Oui, s'i vous pllait. À vot' sàntaïe!

(wee, see voo pyay. Ah sah-tye)

Yes please. Your good health!

Part 3 | Coffee and Cake

I' fait pus bal ogniet.

(I feh pu bal, onyeh)

It's nicer weather, today.

Vair, mais le temps est couvaert.

(Vair, may le toh eh koo-var)

Yes, but it's overcast.

I' s'en va ventair, d'moin.

(I soh va voh-tye, d'moy)

It's going to be windy, tomorrow.

Vair, i'l' aont dit sus le wireless.

(wee, eel an dee sul wireless)

Yes, they said so on the radio.

Voul-ous enne coupaïe d'coffee?

(voo-loo en koo-pye d kofee?)

Do you want a cup of coffee?

Oh oui dja, et j'ai grànd fôim.

(oh wee dja, eh zhay grah foy)

Oh, yes, and I'm very hungry!

Pernaïz d'la gâche ou enne galaette, si vous en voulaïz.

(Pairn-eye dla garsh oo en gah-lat see vooz oh vool-eye)

Take some cake or a (Guernsey) biscuit if you like.

Merci, j'oïme en amas les galaettes, mais j'oïme mux la gâche.

(Mair-see. Zhoym en amah lay gah-lat, may zhoym muh la garsh)

Thank you, I like biscuits a lot, but I prefer cake.

Voul-ous acore du coffee ou d'la gâche?

(Voo-loo ah-core du kofee oo dla garsh)

Do you want more coffee or cake?

Nen-nin merci, j'en ai iaeux assaïz.

(Norn-eye mair-see. Zhen-ay eye ahs-eye)

No, thank you. I have had enough.

Part 4 | Pancake Day

Cor chapin, i plleut ogniet!

(Cor shapan, ee pyur onyeh!)

Good gracious, it's raining today!

Vère dja, i plleut a vaerse!

(Vair dja, ee pyur a varse!)

Oh yes, it's pouring.

Mardi, ch'tait Mardi Gras, -le jour des crêpes.

(Mahr-dee, shteh mahr-dee grah, -leh zhoor day krayp)

Tuesday, it was Shrove Tuesday, -pancake day.

Vère, fites-ous des crêpes, ciz vous?

(Vair, feet-oo day krayp, see voo?)

Yes, did you make pancakes, at your house?

Oui dja, les enfànts les oïment en amas.

(Wee dja, layz efang layz oym en amah)

Oh yes, (certainly), the children like them a lot. (/love them).

Tchiqu'i'faut pour faire des crêpes?

(Cheek ee fow poor fair day krayp)

What is needed to make pancakes. (What do you need-)

I faut d'la fyeur, du lait, en oeu et aen p'ti d'sail.

(Ee fow dla fyuhr, du leh, en er eh a pteed sile)

You need some flour, some milk, an egg and a little salt.

Et i faut d'la graisse dans la pêle pour les fricachier.

(Eh ee fow dla grace doh la payl poor lay free-kash-ee-yeh)

And you need some fat in the frying pan to fry them.

I saont raide bouannes dauve du chucre et du limaon.

(Ee san red bwohn dohv du shuk eh du limang)

They are very (rather) good with sugar and lemon.

Cor! Tout chéna me fait aver fôim! Buon appétit!

(Cor! Too shena meh feh aveh foy! Bwon apaytee!)

Cor! All that makes me feel hungry! Enjoy!

Part 5 | Ormering

Là là! Quaï mauvais temps, ogniet!

(La la! Kye mohvay toh onyeh!)

Heavens! What awful weather today!

Vère dja, i fait aen fré d'tchen, et i plleut!

(Vair dja, ee feh a fred tcho, eh ee pyur!)

Oh yes, it's bitterly cold, and it's raining!

I'n f'ra pas bal pour allaïr ès ormés. (-pour allaïr à basse- iaoux)

(Een fra pa bal poor a-lye ayz ormay) (poor a-lye ah barss yow)

It won't be fine to go ormering.

Na dj, nous s'ra g'laïs et trempaïs.

(Nadja, noo sra zhlye eh tropye)

No indeed, we will be frozen and soaked to the skin.

Oïm-ous les ormés?

(Oy-moo layz ormay?)

Do you like ormers?

Ah, oui dja, j'oïme aen bouan fricot, cuit dans le four.

(Ah wee dja, zhoym ay bwoh free-ko, kwee dorl foor)

Ah yes, I like a good feed cooked in the oven.

Éiouque vous allaïz trachier vos ormés?

(Ay - ook vooz a-lye trashy-ay vose ormay?)

Where do you go to look for your ormers?

J'vais à la bànque à Pleinmont / à l'Érée / à Cobo

(Zh 'vay ah la bahk a pyaymang / ah lehray / ah ko-bo)

I go to the beach at Pleinmont / at l'Eree / at Cobo.

Mais, méfi-ous d'la maraïe!

(May mefee oo dla ma-rye!)

But, beware of the tide!

Merci, j'espère averr enne bouanne pêque.

(Mair-see, zhespair aveh en bwon pake)

Thank you, I hope to have a good catch.

Part 6 | Breakfast and Lunch

Av-ous mangi vot'déjunaï, à matin?

(Av-oo morzhi vot dezhernye ah matah-ee?)

Have you eaten your breakfast this morning?

Qui, j'ai mangi du pôin tôtaï.

(Wee, jeh morzhi du poy toe-tye)

Yes, I have eaten some toast.

Ôim-ous du beurre et d'la g'laïe sus vot'pôin?

(Oy-moo du bur eh dla zhl-eye su vot poy?)

Do you like butter and jam on your bread?

Oui, j'ôime la marmélade, mais j'ôime mux la g'laïe de frâises.

(Wee, zhoym la marmelard, may zhoym mu la zhl-eye deh farz.)

Yes, I like marmelade, but I prefer strawberry jam.

Parfeis, j'mange en oeu bouilli, ou en oeu fricachi.

(Parfay, zhe morzh en er boo-yi, oo en er free-kashee)

Sometimes, I eat a boiled egg, or a fried egg.

A quaï haeure mange-ous vot' dénaïr?

(Ah kye ire morzh-oo vot day nye?)

At what time do you eat lunch?

Ichi'in en Guernési nous mange not' désnaïr à méjeu.

(Ee-shah-ee djair-nayzi noo morzh not day-nye ah mezher)

Here in Guernsey we eat our lunch at mid day.

Tchi que vous mangeaïz pour vot' dénaïr?

(Ckeek voo morzh-eye poor vot day-nye?)

What do you eat for your lunch?

Je mange d'la viànde ou du païssaon, dauve des patates et des légumes.

(Zhe morzh dla vee-ahd oo du pye-sang, dohv day patat eh day lejerm)

I eat meat or fish, with potatoes and vegetables.

Part 7 | Evening meals

Pour finir vot' r'pas av-ous d'la houichepotte?

(Poor fee-nee vot rpah av-oo dla wishpot?)

To finish your meal do you have pudding?

Oui dja, j'ôime la houichepotte à riz!(Wee dja, zhoym la wishpot ah rees!)Oh yes, I like rice pudding!

Pern-ous enne coupaïe d'thée durànt l'arlevaïe?(Pair-nop en koo-pyed tay durah lahr-lev-eye?)Do you have a cup of tea during the afternoon?

Mais oui, à treis haeures, dauve aen morcé d'gâche.(May wee, ah trayz ire, dohv ah mor-sehd garsh).Oh yes, at three o'clock, with a piece of cake.

Mange-ous derchier au saer?(Morzh-oo dair-sheh oh sar?)Do you eat again in the evening?

Mais, oui dja, nous a fôime par six haeures et d'mie.(May wee dja, nooz ah foy par seez ire eh dmee.)Certainly, we are hungry by half past six.

Tchi qu'vous mangeaïz daonc pour vot' soupaïr?(Cheek voo morzh-eye dang poor vot soop-eye?)What do you eat, then, for your supper?

Nous mange d'la soupe ou p'tête des doraïes.(Noo morzh dla soop oo ptayt day dohr-eye.)We eat soup or perhaps sandwiches.

A quaï haeure qu'vous s'couchaïz?(Ah kye ire kvoo skoosh-eye?)At what time do you go to bed?

Pas trop tard. Quaend nous est lâssaï. Bouan gniet!(Pah troh tahr. Kah nooz ay lars-eye. Bwoh-nyeh!)Not to late. When we are tired. Good night!

Part 8 | Grocery Shopping

I'faut allaïr à la choppe pour acataïr d'la màng'rie à matin.

(Ee fow al-eye a la shop poor akat-eye dla morzhri a matah-ee)

I must (it is necessary to) go to the shop and buy some food this morning.

Tchi qu'i' vous faut?

(Cheek ee voo fow?)

What do you need?

I'm' faut du burre, du fromage, d'la g'laïe et des paommes.

(Eem fow du bur, du fromarj dla zhl-eye eh day powm.)

I need butter, cheese, jam and apples.

Pour tchi qu'i'vous faut des paommes?

(Poor cheek ee voo fow day powm?)

Why do you need some apples?

J'veur faire enne gâchemêlaïe.

(Zh'vuhr fair en garsh may-lye).

I want to make an apple cake (gâche mêlaïe).

Cor chapin, all'est raide bouanne, la gâche mêlaïe!

(Cor shapan, al ay red bwon, la garsh may-lye.)

Good gracious, it is very good, gâche mêlaïe.

I'm'faut des légeumes étout.

(Eem fow day lejerm etoo).

I need some vegetables as well.

Éiouque vous les acataïz?

(Ay-ook voo layz akat-eye?)

Where do you buy them?

De couteume, j'les acate dé d'sus lé fossaï, près d'ciz naon

(Deh koo-term, zh'layz akat deh dsul foss-eye, prayd see nang).

Usually, I buy them from on the hedge, near us (near our house).

I'saont à pus bouan marcho là, est-che puis?

(Ee sang ah pu bwon marshee lah, aysh-pwee?)

They are cheaper there, aren't they?

Part 9 | Going into St. Peter Port

All-ous souvent à la ville?

(All-oo soo-voh a la veel?)

Do you often go to town?

Oui j'y vais chaque samedi dans la bosse.

(Wee zhee vay shark samdee dor la boss.)

Yes I go there every Saturday on the bus.

Pour-tchi que vous n'allaïr pas dans vot'e moto?

(Poor cheek voo nall-eye par doh mohtoh?)

Why do you not go in the car?

J'peux pas trouvïar d'la parc'rie près des choppes.

(Zhpuhr pah troo-vye dla pah-kree pray day shorp.)

I can't find any parking near the shops.

Il est trop llian à marchier à la Salerie.

(Eel eh trop yoh ah marsh-yeh ah la sal-ee)

It is too far to walk to the Salerie.

Oiu dja, supareillement si nous a amas d'tché à portaïr.

(Wee dja, soo-pah-rail-moh see nooz ah en amah tcheh ah port-eye.)

Oh yes, especially if we have a lot of things to carry.

Et quend i'plleut ou i'vente, ch'est pière!

(Eh kah ee ooo ee voht, shay pee-air!)

And when it's raining or windy, it's worse!

All-ous jomais ès choppes à St. Samsaon?

(All-o zhom-ay shorp ah sahi sasang?)

Do you ever got to the shops in St. Sampson's?

Parfeis, mais ch'est aen p'tit llian d'ciz naon.

(Par-feh, may shay a ptee yohd see nang.)

Sometimes, but it's a little far from our house.

Mais vère, eh de ciz naon, étout. J'vous verrai biètaot!

(May vair, ayd-see nang eh-too. Zhvoo veh-reh byeh-tow!)

Oh yes, that's right and from our house too. I'll see you soon!

Part 10 | Sowing vegetables

Banjour, nous r'velo, Quaï magnifique temps à matin!

(Ban-zhoor, noor vlo. Kye manifeek tor ah matah-ee!!)

Hello, here we are again. What lovely weather this morning!

Vère dja. Je m'en vais dans mon gardin pus tard.

(Vair dja. Zhmor vay dor mah gardah-ee pu tahr.)

Oh yes. I am going in my garden later.

Tchique vous avaïs dans vot' gardin?

(Cheek vooz av-eye dor vot gardah-ee?)

What have you got in your garden?

Oh, toutes sortes de pllantes, - des légeumes et des flleurs.

(Oh, toot sort deh pyaht, - day ledjerm eh day fyuhr.)

Oh, all sorts of plants, - vegetables and flowers.

Av-ous des patates et des ouagniaons?

(Av-oo day patat eh days oon-yang?)

Do you have any potatoes and onions?

Mais oui dja, et des caboches et des cârottes étout.

(May wee dja, eh day cahbosh eh day pay shtorn-eye?)

But of course, and cabbage and carrots.

S'en all-ous s'mair des pônais et des peis ch't' onnaïe?

(Sorn alloo sm-eye day pornay eh day pay shtorn-eye?)

Are you going to sow parsnips and peas this year?

Oui, aen p'ti pus tard. J'oïme mes pônais à la graisse!

(Wee, a ptee pu tahr. Zhoym may pornay a la grayce!)

Yes, a little later. I like my parsnips cooked in fat!

Cor chapin, chena n'vous f'ra pas maigrir!

(Cor shapan, shena ne voo fra pah may-gree!)

Good heavens, that won't make you lose weight!

J'saïs bian, mais je les oïme, et les moussaettes au four étout!

(Zhe sye byo, may zhe layz oym, eh lay moozat oh foor eh-too!)

I know, but I like them, and bean jar as well!

Part 11 | Flowers in the Garden

La s’moine passaïe nous parlit des légeumes dans vot’ gardin.

(La smoyn pahs-eye noo parlee day ledjerm dor vol gardah-ee!)

Last week we talked about the vegetables in your garden.

Vère, et chutte semôine nous s’en va parlaïr atour les flleurs.

(Vair, eh shut semoyn noo sor va parl-eye atoor lay fyuhr.)

Yes, and this week we are going to talk about flowers.

Creiss-ous en amas de flleurs dans vot’ gardin?

(Krayss –oo en amahd fyuhr dor vot gardah-ee?)

Do you grow a lot of flowers in your garden?

Oh, pas trop, vous savaïz, parce que je n’ai pas grand reun.

(Oh, pah troh, vooz sav-eye, parskeh zhe nay pah grah ruhr).

Oh, not too many, you know, because I haven’t got much room.

Mais quànd –mesme, vous avaïz aen biau gardin!

(May kah maym, vooz av-eye a byo gardah-ee!)

But all the same, you’ve got a beautiful garden!

Vère, en saisaon, j’ai du mudget, des raoses, des élliets.

(Vair, or sayzang, zhay du mudjay, day rowz , days eh-yay.)

Yes, in season, I have lily of the valley, roses, carnations.

Et vous avaïz des potaïes de djérainiums partout.

(Eh vooz av-eye day pot-eye deh djeray-nee-um parto.)

And you have pots of geraniums everywhere.

Oui, i’ baïllent d’la couleur, mais i’ faut les errousaïr souvent.

(Wee, ee byle dla kooluhr, may ee fow layz ehrooz-eye soo voh.)

Yes, they give some colour, but you must water them often.

Y a-t-i acore d’la serclle? Ch’est le r’nouvé oprèes tout!

(Yat-ee akor dla sahrk? Shayl r ‘nooveh opray too!)

Are there any weeds yet? It’s Spring after all!

A’ c’menche à v’nir. Y a terjous du travas dans aen gardin!

(A kmorsh a vnee. Ya terzhoo du travah dor a gardah-ee.!)

They are starting to grow. There is always work in a garden!