How to Say More or Less in Haitian Creole

Beginner Lessons

What You Will Learn

1. How to say more and less in Haitian Creole

2. The difference between plis, mwens, and pi

3. How to say that you want even more of something

How to Say More and Less

1. The Haitian Creole word for more is plis.
2. The Haitian Creole word for less is mwens.
3. Plis and mwens can describe amounts or how frequently an action is performed.

The Haitian Creole word plis means more, and the Haitian Creole word mwens means less.

Use plis for more and mwens for less.

Using Plis and Mwens with Nouns

1. I want more food.

Mwen vle plis manje.

2. I want less food.

Mwen vle mwens manje.

3. We need more time.

Nou bezwen plis tan.

4. Put less salt in the food.

Mete mwens sèl nan manje a.

Using Plis and Mwens with Verbs

When plis or mwens describes an action, it usually comes after the verb.

1. I need to work more.

Mwen bezwen travay plis.

2. I need to work less.

Mwen bezwen travay mwens.

3. Roseline talks more than her sister.

Roseline pale plis pase sè l.

4. Jimmy exercises less than Walner.

Jimmy fè egzèsis mwens pase Walner.

The Difference Between Pi and Plis

Plis commonly expresses a greater amount or a greater degree of an action.
Pi commonly comes before an adjective or adverb to form a comparison.
Although both words can sometimes be translated as more, they are not always interchangeable.

The Haitian Creole words pi and plis can both relate to the English word more, but they have different grammatical uses.

The expression pi plis exists, but its exact meaning depends on the sentence and context.

Using Pi with Adjectives and Adverbs

1. This house is bigger.

Kay sa a pi gwo.

2. This car is more expensive than the other one.

Machin sa a pi chè pase lòt la.

3. Walk more slowly.

Mache pi dousman.

4. She sings better than I do.

Li chante pi byen pase mwen.

How to Say Even More

One clear way to express even more is to use plis with toujou.

1. I want even more food.

Mwen vle plis manje toujou.

2. I need even more time.

Mwen bezwen plis tan toujou.

3. She is working even more now.

Kounye a, l ap travay plis toujou.

Note: You may also hear or read pi plis. Depending on the sentence, it can mean more, even more, or the most.

For example:

Mwen bezwen pratike pi plis. — I need to practice more.

However, do not automatically place pi before plis every time you want to say even more.

So, Do Pi and Plis Both Mean More?

Both pi and plis can correspond to the English word more, but they usually perform different jobs in a sentence.

Use plis when referring to a greater amount:

Mwen vle plis dlo. — I want more water.

Use plis after a verb when an action is performed to a greater degree:

Li bezwen etidye plis. — He or she needs to study more.

Use pi before an adjective or adverb when making a comparison:

Kay sa a pi gwo. — This house is bigger.

Li mache pi vit. — He or she walks faster.

The phrase pi plis should be learned through complete sentences and context. It does not simply have the literal meaning more more.