Bislama phrasebook

Bislama is a pidgin language used in Vanuatu and is now a creole in urban areas. It essentially combines a typically Melanesian grammar with a mostly English vocabulary. It is the only language that can be understood and spoken by the whole population of Vanuatu, generally as a second language.

It is a mixture of phonetic English woven in a loose French sentence structure spoken with ‘local sound' producing some comical outcomes e.g., ladies brassieres or bathing top is called "Basket blong titi"; no offense intended. An excellent Bislama dictionary is available from good book shops: 'A New Bislama Dictionary,' by the late Terry Crowley.

Pronunciation guide

Vowels

Consonants

Common diphthongs

Phrase list

Basics

Hello.: . (Halo )
Hello. (informal): . ( )
How are you?: afta? yu oraet? ( ?)
Fine, thank you.: . ( )
What is your name?: ? (Wanem nem blong yu?)
My name is ______ .: ______ . (Mi, nem blong mi _____ .)
Nice to meet you.: . ( )
Please.: . ( plis)
Thank you.: . (tankui )
You're welcome.: . (welkam )
Yes.: . (yes )
No.: . (no )
Excuse me. (getting attention): . ( )
Excuse me. (begging pardon): . ( )
I'm sorry.: . (sori )
Goodbye: . (lukim yu )
Goodbye (informal): . ( ale tata)
I can't speak Bislama [well].: [ mi save toktok smol bislama nmo]. ( [ ])
Do you speak English?: ? (yu save toktok ingish ?)
Is there someone here who speaks English?: ? ( ?)
Help!: ! ( !)
Look out!: ! ( !)
Good morning.: . (Gud moning)
Good evening.: . (afanoon )
Good night.: . (Gud naet)
Good night (to sleep): . ( )
I don't understand.: . ( mi no kasem save)
Where is the toilet?: wem toilet? ? ( ?)

Problems

Leave me alone.: . ( .)
Don't touch me!: ! ( !)
I'll call the police.: . ( .)
Police!: ! ( polis!)
Stop! Thief!: ! ! ( stop! Stilman!)
I need your help.: Mi needm help blong yu. ( .)
It's an emergency.: . ( .)
I'm lost.: . ( .)
I lost my bag.: . (Mi lusem basket blong mi.)
I lost my wallet.: . ( .)
I'm sick.: . ( mi sik.)
I've been injured.: . ( .)
I need a doctor.: mi needm wan dokta. ( .)
Can I use your phone?: mi save usum fone blong yu ? ( ?)

Numbers

1: ( )
2: ( )
3: ( )
4: ( )
5: ( )
6: ( )
7: ( )
8: ( )
9: ( )
10: ( )
11: ( )
12: ( )
13: ( )
14: ( )
15: ( )
16: ( )
17: ( )
18: ( )
19: ( )
20: ( )
21: ( )
22: ( )
23: ( )
30: ( )
40: ( )
50: ( )
60: ( )
70: ( )
80: ( )
90: ( )
100: ( )
200: ( )
300: ( )
1,000: ( )
2,000: ( )
1,000,000: ( )
1,000,000,000: ( )
1,000,000,000,000: ( )
number _____ (train, bus, etc.): ( )
half: ( )
less: ( )
more: ( )

Time

now: ( a)
later: ( )
before: ( )
morning: ( )
afternoon: ( )
evening: ( )
night: ( )

Clock time

one o'clock AM: ( )
two o'clock AM: ( )
noon: ( )
one o'clock PM: ( )
two o'clock PM: ( )
midnight: ( )

Duration

_____ minute(s): ( )
_____ hour(s): ( )
_____ day(s): ( )
_____ week(s): ( )
_____ month(s): ( )
_____ year(s): ( )

Days

today: ( )
yesterday: ( )
tomorrow: ( )
this week: ( )
last week: ( )
next week: ( )

Sunday: ( )
Monday: ( )
Tuesday: ( )
Wednesday: ( )
Thursday: ( )
Friday: ( )
Saturday: ( )

Months

January: Januware ( )
February: Februrari ( )
March: Maj ( )
April: Epril ( )
May: Mei ( )
June: Jun ( )
July: Julae ( )
August: Ogis ( )
September: Septemba ( )
October: Oktoba ( )
November: Novemba ( )
December: Desemba ( )

Writing time and date

Colors

black: ( )
white: ( )
gray: ( )
red: ( )
blue: ( )
yellow: ( )
green: ( )
orange: ( )
purple: ( )
brown: ( )

Transportation

Bus and train

How much is a ticket to _____?: ( )
One ticket to _____, please.: ( )
Where does this train/bus go?: ( )
Where is the train/bus to _____?: ( )
Does this train/bus stop in _____?: ( )
When does the train/bus for _____ leave?: ( )
When will this train/bus arrive in _____?: ( )

Directions

How do I get to _____ ?: ( )
...the train station?: ( )
...the bus station?: ( )
...the airport?: ( )
...downtown?: ( )
...the youth hostel?: ( )
...the _____ hotel?: ( )
...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate?: ( )
Where are there a lot of...: ( )
...hotels?: ( )
...restaurants?: ( )
...bars?: ( )
...sites to see?: ( )
Can you show me on the map?: ( )
street: ( )
Turn left.: ( )
Turn right.: ( )
left: ( )
right: ( )
straight ahead: ( )
towards the _____: ( )
past the _____: ( )
before the _____: ( )
Watch for the _____.: ( )
intersection: ( )
north: ( )
south: ( )
east: ( )
west: ( )
uphill: ( )
downhill: ( )

Taxi

Taxi!: ( )
Take me to _____, please.: ( )
How much does it cost to get to _____?: ( )
Take me there, please.: ( )

Lodging

Do you have any rooms available?: ( )
How much is a room for one person/two people?: ( )
Does the room come with...: ( )
...bedsheets?: ( )
...a bathroom?: ( )
...a telephone?: ( )
...a TV?: ( )
May I see the room first?: ( )
Do you have anything quieter?: ( )
...bigger?: ( )
...cleaner?: ( )
...cheaper?: ( )
OK, I'll take it.: ( )
I will stay for _____ night(s).: ( )
Can you suggest another hotel?: ( )
Do you have a safe?: ( )
...lockers?: ( )
Is breakfast/supper included?: ( )
What time is breakfast/supper?: ( )
Please clean my room.: ( )
Can you wake me at _____?: ( )
I want to check out.: ( )

Money

Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars?: (yu save tekm american dola? )
Do you accept British pounds?: ( )
Do you accept euros?: ( )
Do you accept credit cards?: ( )
Can you change money for me?: (yu save changem money blo mi? )
Where can I get money changed?: ( )
Can you change a traveler's check for me?: ( )
Where can I get a traveler's check changed?: ( )
What is the exchange rate?: ( )
Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)?: ( )

Eating

A table for one person/two people, please.: ( )
Can I look at the menu, please?: ( )
Can I look in the kitchen?: ( mi save luk insaed kitchen)
Is there a house specialty?: ( )
Is there a local specialty?: ( )
I'm a vegetarian.: ( mi no save kakai mit)
I don't eat pork.: ( )
I don't eat beef.: (mi no save kakai beef )
I only eat kosher food.: ( )
Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard): ( )
fixed-price meal: ( )
a la carte: ( )
breakfast: ( )
lunch: ( )
tea (meal): ( )
supper: ( )
I want _____.: (mi wantem )
I want a dish containing _____.: ( )
chicken: ( faoul)
beef: ( )
fish: ( )
ham: ( )
sausage: ( )
cheese: ( )
eggs: ( )
salad: ( )
(fresh) vegetables: ( )
(fresh) fruit: ( )
bread: ( )
toast: ( )
noodles: ( )
rice: ( )
beans: ( )
May I have a glass of _____?: ( )
May I have a cup of _____?: ( )
May I have a bottle of _____?: ( )
coffee: ( )
tea (drink): ( )
juice: ( )
(bubbly) water: ( )
(still) water: ( )
beer: (bia )
red/white wine: ( )
May I have some _____?: ( )
salt: ( )
black pepper: ( )
butter: ( )
Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server): ( )
I'm finished.: ( )
It was delicious.: ( )
Please clear the plates.: ( )
The check, please.: ( )

Bars

Do you serve alcohol?: ( )
Is there table service?: ( )
A beer/two beers, please.: ( )
A glass of red/white wine, please.: ( )
A pint, please.: ( )
A bottle, please.: ( )
_____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please.: ( )
whiskey: ( )
vodka: ( )
rum: ( )
water: ( )
club soda: ( )
tonic water: ( )
orange juice: ( )
Coke (soda): ( )
Do you have any bar snacks?: ( )
One more, please.: ( )
Another round, please.: ( )
When is closing time?: ( )
Cheers!: ( )

Shopping

Do you have this in my size?: ( )
How much is this?: ( hao mas lo hemia?)
That's too expensive.: ( )
Would you take _____?: ( )
expensive: ( )
cheap: ( )
I can't afford it.: ( )
I don't want it.: (mi no wantem )
You're cheating me.: ( )
I'm not interested.: (..)
OK, I'll take it.: ( )
Can I have a bag?: ( )
Do you ship (overseas)?: ( )
I need...: ( )
...toothpaste.: ( )
...a toothbrush.: ( )
...tampons.: . ( )
...soap.: ( )
...shampoo.: ( )
...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen): ( )
...cold medicine.: ( )
...stomach medicine.: ... ( )
...a razor.: ( )
...an umbrella.: ( )
...sunblock lotion.: ( )
...a postcard.: ( )
...postage stamps.: ( )
...batteries.: ( )
...writing paper.: ( )
...a pen.: ( )
...English-language books.: ( )
...English-language magazines.: ( )
...an English-language newspaper.: ( )
...an English-English dictionary.: ( )

Driving

I want to rent a car.: ( )
Can I get insurance?: ( )
stop (on a street sign): ( )
one way: ( )
yield: ( )
no parking: ( )
speed limit: ( )
gas (petrol) station: ( )
petrol: ( )
diesel: ( )

Authority

I haven't done anything wrong.: ( )
It was a misunderstanding.: ( )
Where are you taking me?: ( )
Am I under arrest?: ( )
I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen.: ( )
I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate.: ( )
I want to talk to a lawyer.: ( )
Can I just pay a fine now?: ( )

Learning more

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