I see that sometimes the word "to" is translated as "bay" which is the verb to give.

That happens sometimes when some verbs are followed by the preposition "to". That word "to" is then translated as "bay" or "pou":

Examples:

Bring it to me.

Pote l *ban mwen. (uncontracted)

Pote l ban m. (contracted)

or

Pote l pou mwen. *(no contraction after "pou" when it indicates possession)

Read the book to her.

Li liv la ba li.

or

Li liv la pou li.

Send them to me.

Voye yo ban mwen

or

Voye yo pou mwen.

Return it to them.

Retounen li ba yo.

She came crying to me.

Li vin kriye ban mwen.

Explain it to them.

Eksplike l ba yo.

Let me hear it. Sing it to me.

Kite m tande l. Chante l ban mwen.

*Rules for using: ba, ban, or bay
*Rules for using contractions
Ask me anything

To give → ba,ban, bay

The verb "to give" is translated in Creole as "ba, ban, or bay"
To give → ba, ban, bay

"Ban" used before a nasally sounding pronouns MWEN  &  NOU.
You will say:
ban mwen → give me
ban nou → give us
ban nou (plural) → give you all

Examples:
1. Ban mwen yon ti dlo tanpri.
    Ban m yon ti dlo tanpri. (even when the pronoun is contracted, continue to follow this rule)
    Give me some water please.


2. Pou fèt mwen, Nadine te ban mwen yon kado.
    Pou fèt mwen, Nadine te ban m yon kado. (m is contracted form of mwen)
    For my birthday, Nadine gave me a gift.  


3. Li ban nou lavi.
    Li ban n lavi. (n is contraced form of nou)
    He gives us life.


4.  Ban mwen yon ti moso.
     Ban m yon ti moso.
     Give me a small piece.



Before the pronouns OU  & YO, always use "ba"
Mwen ba ou → I give you
Do not say: Mwen bay ou.
Do not say: Mwen ban ou.

Mwen ba yo → I give them.
Do not say:  Mwen bay yo.
Do not say:  Mwen ban yo.

Examples:
1. I gave them everyhing I had.
    Mwen ba yo tout sa m-te genyen.

2. Kisa mwen dwe ba ou?
    Kisa mwen dwe ba w? (Expect that Creole speakers will use contractions.  W is contracttion for ou)
    What must I give you?

3. Nou ba yo tout manje a.
    We gave them all he food.



Always use "bay" at the end of a sentence.
5. Konbyen pou m bay?
    How much should I give?

6. It is not correct to say:
    Konbyen pou m ba?
    Konbyen pou m ban?
    How much should I give?
    (Don't use "ba" or "ban" at the end of a sentence.)

7. But, you could say:   
    Konbyen pou m ba ou?
    How much should I give you?
    Konbyen li te ban mwen?
    How much did he/she give me?


Lastly, except in the above cases, you can interchangeably use "BA" or "BAY" everywhere else.

Examples:
You can say:
8.  Mwen bay Jacques liv la. or
     Mwen ba Jacques liv la.
     I gave the book to Jacques.


9.  An nou bay lanmen.  or
     An nou ba lanmen
     Let's shake hands.


10.  Nou te bay anpil liv gratis yè.  or
       Nou te ba anpil liv gratis yè.
       We gave away a lot of free books yesterday.

In the following five sentences, use ba, ban, or bay.
11.  I gave you a book.
       Mwen _____ ou yon liv.

12.  Give me your heart.
       ________ mwen kè ou.

13.  I gave them what they asked for.
      Mwen te  ________ yo sa yo te mande a.

14.  I gave blood today.
       Mwen te _________ san jodi a.

15.  I have no money to give.
       Mwen pa gen lajan pou m _________



  Answers:  11. ba    12. ban    13. ba    14.  bay/ba    15. bay

what does "bay" mean

You mean Haitian Creole word "bay"?

bay → to give

You will see the Haitian creole word "bay"written three different ways:
Bay, ba, & ban

"ban" comes before Haitian Creole pronouns "mwen" "m" "nou" & "n".
Example:
Li ban mwen yon liv. - He gives me a book.
Li ban m yon liv. - He gives me a book.
Li ban nou yon liv. - He gives us a book.
Li ban n yon liv. - He gives us a book.

"ba" comes almost exclusively before Haitian Creole pronouns "ou" "li" "yo".
Example:
Mwen ba ou yon liv. - I give you a book.
Mwen ba li yon liv. - I give her a book.
Mwen ba yo yon liv. - I give them a book.

Then,
You may use "ba" or "bay" most anywhere else.
Jezi bay lavi. - Jesus gives life.
Bay Joel liv la. - Give the book to Joel.
Revanj bay satisfaksyon - Revenge gives (brings) gratification
Ask me anything

bay

Haitian Creole word "bay" means "to give"

Bay, ba, ban → to give

Ask me anything

JEZI BAY-N LA JWA. WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

Jezi ban nou lajwa or Jezi ban n lajwa.
Jesus gives us joy.

Ask me anything