Roméo et Julliette en Guernésiais

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, Thomas Martin translated many great literary works into Guernésiais. For Valentine’s Day, here are some of his quotes from Romeo and Juliet:

Mais douachemaen kai veux qui s’maonte à shute f’naietre là 
(But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks?)
Il aie l’Est et Julliette aie l’soleil
(It is the east, and Juliet is the sun. )
Leve té biau soleil et tue la lune enviaeux
(Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon)
Kaie daija malade et pale et paure
(Who is already sick and pale with grief)
Que té sa baisse aie biaen pu belle qu’elle
(That thou her maid art far more fair than she)
N’seit pouin sa baisse depie hal aie enviaeuse (Be not her maid, since she is envious;)
Saie hardes de fille sont malades et vertes
(Her vestal livery is but sick and green)
Et n’ya qu’ daie fous qui laie porte hahle laie
(And none but fools do wear it; cast it off.)
Sh’aie ma dame; O! sh’aie mn’amour
(It is my lady, O, it is my love!)
O! si a savait qu je sie ichin
O, that she knew she were!


O Romeo, Romeo pourqui qu’taie Romeo
(O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo?)
Denie ten père et abandonne ten nom
(Deny thy father and refuse thy name;)
Ou si tu n’vas pas pouint jure mé tn amour
(Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love,)
Et j’en srait pouin d’autre une Capulette
(And I’ll no longer be a Capulet.)

Island Language LBG – Learning Guernsey’s language together

Our goal is to create learning tools and a community of learners of Guernesiais, Guernsey’s native language — a variant of Norman French with a unique history and beauty that we want to pass onto future generations.

To help us achieve our goal of creating a new mobile app for beginners to learn Guernesiais, please consider donating to our Crowdfunding campaign: http://www.gofundme.com/GuernseyLanguageApp