How do you say in creole "What's the maximum/minimum amount"/"What's the most...."

What's the maximum amount
Ki kantite maksimòm
Ki pi plis/gwo
.... sometimes we say 'o maksimòm'

What's the maximum quatity I can order?
Ki kantite maksimòm ke mwen kapab kòmande?
Konbyen mwen kapab kòmande o maksimòm?

What's the maximum amount of money I can send?
Konbyen kòb mwen kapab voye o maksimòm?
Ki pi gwo montan lajan mwen kapab voye?

What's the minimum amount of calories do I need per day?
Konbyen kalori mwen bezwen pa jou o minimòm?
Ki pi piti kantite kalori mwen bezwen pa jou?




Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Mandaly, what is 'tonbe pip'? what is that word 'pip'

There's really no translation for that word 'pip' in the idiom 'tonbe pip', except perhaps the thump noise that's made once you fall.

tonbe pip - to fall like a log

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What does "Min Becky tololo" mean? I think the spelling might be off....

Men Becky tololo! .... basicallly Yay! here comes Becky :)

It's basically a chant that chiildren do when their favorite person comes home. For example when Dad comes home from work, or from a long trip children will say Men papa tololo ..men papa tololo!

Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

konbien distans ou dwe bay le yon tren ap pase ?

Distans an relasyon a kisa?

Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Hello Mandaly. How would you say in kreyol "I am on Gods team" Mesi anpil!

I am on God's team.
Mwen nan ekip Bondye a.
Mwen fè pati nan ekip Bondye a.

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Hi Mandalay, How would you say the word outspoken? My mother always uses the term 'mete dlo nan bouch' but is there just one word or two word phrase that can be used that I don't know of? I'm full of questions today Thanks for your help.

Bonjou wi!

I like the term 'mete dlo nan bouch ou' because it so descriptive :)
But we usually say 'kare' or 'kare bare'.

Li se yon moun ki kare.
Li se yon moun ki pale kare.
Li pale kare bare. (There's not specific translation for 'bare' here. It's mostly used because it rhymes with 'kare')
Dakò?
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

I know the meaning of siou konnen dwa ou fow konn devwa w means. Can you explain if there's more to it. Give me an example on how you'd use it. thanks.

Hi:)
It's pretty much what you hear. The beauty in this saying is that it seems to rhyme: Si w konn dwa w, fò w konn devwa w (If you know your rights, you must know your duty) meaning if you're going to advocate for your rights, be sure not to neglect your duty.

How it can be used -  This is an example: You provide 100% for your teenage boy who's living in your home. But he does not abide by house rules because he constantly claim that he's independent and should be allowed to do whatever he wants. You can tell him, Si w konn dwa w, fò w konn devwa w,  if you want to live like an adult, pay your bills like an adult.
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Mesi pou tout sa ou fè. Map etidye kreyòl y sejousi map etidye provèb yo. Mwen gen anpil kesyon men mwen pral mande ou yon sèl pwovèb ki mwen pa konprann chak jou. Jodi a se: "Anvan manglous vini, zagouti te ka viv. Mwen pa ka jwenn manglous ou zagouti nan diksyonè. Ede m tanpri.

Dakò :)

It's mangous (not manglous) which means mongoose
Zagouti - rodents (such as big rats)

Anvan mangous te vini, zagouti te ka viv. (It means something like "we were doing well until the big guns showed up")


Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

what does malere mean? a la traka pou malere

malere - the destitutes, the unfortunates, poor people
traka - problems, difficulty

Ala traka pou malere! is an interjection that means It is unfortunate what poor people are going through!
Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

What is the exact definition of the word "sakad"? "Epi, lè n anba eprèv k ap ban nou sakad, l ap difisil pou n pèdi jwa nou."

Sakad, sometimes we also say soukous means jerking motion (as if you were in a car driving on a bumpy (or jerky) road.
In this sentence it means the ups and downs of life's trials.

"Epi, lè n anba eprèv k ap ban nou sakad, l ap difisil pou n pèdi jwa nou."
Translated literally, it says: "And when you're under afflictions that are giving you jerky motion, it will be difficult to lose your joy."
"And, when you're going through the ups and downs of life's trials, it will be difficult to lose your joy."

Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Mèsi Frantz François

1.
Pi bon zanmi m se Jezi,
Amou I si gran, si vre;
Janmen Li abandonen m
Nan tout sa m ape fè.
Souvan mwen fè l lapenn nan vi m;
Pou mwen li bon Sovè;
Lè m repanti, li padonen m;
AIò mwen gen lapè.

Kè:
Pi bon zanmi mwen sou latè, se Jezi,
Pi bon zanmi mwen sou latè, se Jezi,
Li lave peche m pou l mennen m nan syèl;
Amou Jezi si bèl.

2.
Pafwa syèl mwen plen ak nuaj,
Tout chemen mwen fè nwa,
Fas li kache ak lonbraj
Lè mwen pa gen lafwa.
Nan lamou li priye pou mwen,
Kè mwen vin soulaje
Paske li wete tout chagren;
Tout lapenn mwen ale.

3.
Mwen vle chante amou li,
Amou Jezi pou mwen,
Bonte I, fidelite li,
Pou yon pechè kon mwen.
Kouman m kapab remèsye li
Pou amou l anvè mwen?
Se pou m renmen l e sèvi li,
Suiv li pre, janmen lwen. 

Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

What does je sech mean? What' does lentin actually means, when you respond to an elder calling your name?

je chèch is someone full of ruse, audacious, and barefaced.

'lentin' - I think you mean 'plètil', some people say 'lètil'. It's a polite way to answer to someone who calls your name. That's how kids answer to adults when their names are called. Some older people do it too, when you call on their name.

Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Thank you so much for your blog, I have learned so much!!! Men yon kesyon pou ou, Kijan yo di "birthmom or biological mom" nan kreyol? Is there a translation, or a way to get the concept across? Two of my boys are adopted and when I visit my friends in Haiti I want to explain they are adopted. Mesi anpil!!!

Hi. Thanks :)

There's not a specific word for birthmom

my birthmom - manman ki te ban m nesans
adoptive parent - paran adoptif
adoptive mom - manman adoptif
adopted child - pitit adoptif

I am not his birthmom. - Se pa mwen ki te ba li nesans.
I am not their birthmom. - Se pa mwen ki te ba yo nesans.
He's my adopted child. - Li se pitit adoptif mwen.
They are my adopted children. - Yo se pitit adoptif mwen

Some people tend to translate birthmom as vrè manman (true mom), do not use that translation.

Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

how would you translate the tall American girls

the tall American girls - ti fi Ameriken wo yo

Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words

Hi Mandaly! Can you help me find a saying in Creol about conscious spending?

You can use "Koke makout ou kote bra w ka rive", it says to hang your bag where your arm can reach. Basically, do not live beyond your means.

Haitian Creole ↔ English Reference, Look up Haitian Creole and English Words