Tok Pisin phrasebook

Tok Pisin (or Pidgin) is spoken in Papua New Guinea, and is closely related to Pijin blong Solomon (Solomon Islands), Bislama (Vanuatu), and Ailan Tok (Torres Strait); these Bislamic languages are descended from a pidgin which formed in the early 1800s. The vocabulary is 5/6 Indo-European (mostly English, some German, Portuguese, and Latin), 1/7 Malayo-Polynesian, and the rest Trans-New-Guinea and other languages. The grammar is creolized and unlike those of the source languages.

Notable features of Tok Pisin include the frequent suffix -pela, which is used to pluralize personal pronouns and mark that an adjective or number is modifying a noun, and the suffix -im, which usually indicates a transitive verb. Many words are reduplicated, which may make a completely different word (sip ship, sipsip sheep), form a derivative (tok word, talk, language, toktok conversation, phrase), or just be part of the word (pukpuk means crocodile, but there is no word puk).

Vowels

 * a : like father
 * e : like set or name
 * i : like hit or machine
 * o : like squawk, fork, or home
 * u : like soup

Consonants

 * b : like bed
 * d : like dog
 * f : like fun or a bilabial fricative; often interchangeable with "p"
 * g : like go
 * h : like help
 * j : like judge; only word-initial
 * k : like keep
 * l : like love
 * m : like mother
 * n : like nice
 * p : like pig; often interchangeable with "f"
 * r : trill or flap
 * s : like sue or zoo
 * t : like top
 * v : like five
 * w : like weigh
 * y : like yes

Common diphthongs

 * ai : like time (taim), trying (traim), or offering (without the "r") (ofaim), depending on the word
 * au : like cow

Basics

 * Hello. : Gude. (goo-DAY)
 * Hello. (informal) : Hi. Hai. (HIGH)
 * How are you? : Yu stap gut? (yoo stahp goot?)
 * Fine, thank you. : Mi stap gut. (mee stahp goot)
 * What is your name? : Husat nem bilong yu? (HOO-zaht naym bee-LONG yoo?)
 * My name is ______ . : Nem bilong mi emi ______ . (naym bee-LONG mee em ee _____ .)
 * Nice to meet you. : Gutpela long bungim yu. (GOOT-peh-lah long BOONG-im YOO)
 * Please. : Plis. (plees)
 * Thank you. : Tenkyu. (TENK-yoo)
 * You're welcome. : Nogat samting. (NO-gaht sahm-ting)
 * Yes. : Yes. (YESS)
 * No. : Nogat. (noh-GAHT)
 * Excuse me. (getting attention) : Skius. (skyooz)
 * Excuse me. (begging pardon) : Skius. (skyooz)
 * I'm [very] sorry. : Mi sori [tumas]. (mee SOH-ree [too-MAHS])
 * Goodbye : Gutbai. (GOOT-bigh.)
 * Goodbye (informal) : Lukim yu bihain. (LOO-keem yoo bee-HIGHN)
 * I can't speak tok Pisin [well]. : Mi no save [gut] long Tok Pisin. (mee noh SAH-vay [goot] long tohk PIH-zin)
 * Do you speak English? : Yu save long tok Inglis, a? (yoo SAH-veh long tohk ING-glis ah?)
 * Is there someone here who speaks English? : Husat i save long tok Inglis? (hoo-ZAHT ee SAH-veh long tohk ING-glis?)
 * Help! : Help! (HEHLP!)
 * Good morning. : Moning/Moning tru/Moning nau (MOHN-ing/MOHN-ing troo/MOHN-ing now)
 * Good night. : Gut nait. (guhd NIGHT)
 * Good night (to sleep) : Gut nait. (good NIGHT)
 * I don't understand. : Mi no harim tok bilong yu. (mee noh HAH-reem tawk bee-LONG yoo)
 * Enough of all this talking! : Maski long planti toktok! (MAHS-kee long PLAHN-tee TOHK-tohk!)
 * Where is the toilet? : Smolhaus i stap we? (SMOLL-hows ee stahp WEH?)

Problems

 * Leave me alone. : Larim mi. (lah-rim mee)
 * Don't touch me! : Noken holim mi! (no-kehn hole-im mee)
 * I'll call the police. : Mi bai singautim polis. (mee buy sing-out-im pole-ees)
 * Police! : Polis! (Pole-ees!)
 * Stop! Thief! : Holim! Raskol! (hole-im! rahs-kohl)
 * I need your help. : Mi nidim halivim bilong yu. (mee nee-dim hah-lee-vim bee-long yoo)
 * It's an emergency. : Dispela em wanpela imegensi. (dis-pela em one-pela ee-meh-jen-see)
 * I'm lost. : Mi no inap painim rot bilong mi. (mee no ee-nahp phai-nim rote bee-long mee)
 * I lost my bag. : Mi lusim bek/bilum bilong mi. (mee loo-sim bek/bee-loom bee-long mee)
 * I lost my wallet. : Mi lusim hanpaus bilong mi. (mee loo-sim hahn-pows bee-long mee)
 * I'm sick. : Mi pilim sik. (mee pheel-im seek)
 * I've been injured. : Mi kisim birua/asua. (me kiss-im bee-roo-ah/ah-soo-ah)
 * I need a doctor. : Mi nidim dokta. (me need-eem dohk-tah)
 * Can I use your phone? : Inap mi yusim telefon bilong yu? (ee-nahp mee you-sim tele-fohn bee-long you?)

Numbers
The forms ending in -pela are used when the number is followed by a noun other than a unit of measurement and is counting that noun, unless the number already has -pela in it. So tu kilok is a time of day, but tupela kilok is a pair of timepieces.


 * 1 : wan(pela) (WAN(-peh-lah))
 * 2 : tu(pela) (TOO(-peh-lah))
 * 3 : tri(pela) (TREE(-peh-lah))
 * 4 : foa, fopela (FOH-ah, FOH-peh-lah)
 * 5 : faiv, faipela (FIGHV, FIGH-peh-lah)
 * 6 : sikis(pela) (SIH-kiss(-peh-lah))
 * 7 : seven(pela) (SEH-ven(-peh-lah))
 * 8 : et(pela) (AYT(-peh-lah))
 * 9 : nain(pela) (NIGHN(-peh-lah))
 * 10 : ten(pela) (TEN(-peh-lah))
 * 11 : wanpela ten wan (...), eleven
 * 12 : wanpela ten tu (...), twelv
 * 13 : wanpela ten tri (...), tetin
 * 14 : wanpela ten foa (...), fotin
 * 15 : wanpela ten faiv (...), fiftin
 * 16 : wanpela ten sikis (...), sikistin
 * 17 : wanpela ten seven (...), seventin
 * 18 : wanpela ten et (...), etin
 * 19 : wanpela ten nain (...), naintin
 * 20 : tupela ten (...), twenti
 * 21 : tupela ten wan (...), twentiwan
 * 22 : tupela ten tu (...), twentitu
 * 23 : tupela ten tri (...), twentitri
 * 30 : tripela ten (...), teti
 * 40 : fopela ten (...), foti
 * 50 : faipela ten (...), fifti
 * 60 : sikispela ten (...), sikisti
 * 70 : sevenpela ten (...), seventi
 * 80 : etpela ten (...), eti
 * 90 : nainpela ten (...), nainti
 * 100 : wan handet (...)
 * 200 : tu handet (...)
 * 300 : tri handet (...)
 * 1000 : tausen (...)
 * 2000 : tu tausen (...)
 * 1,000,000 : wan milien (...)
 * number _____ (train, bus, etc.) : namba _____ (...)
 * half : hap (...)
 * less : ananit (...)
 * more : antap (...)

Time

 * now : nau (now)
 * later : bihain (bee-HIGHN)
 * before : bipo (BEE-poh)
 * morning : moning (MOH-neeng)
 * afternoon : apinun (ah-pee-NOON)
 * night : nait (night)

Clock time

 * one o'clock PM : wan kilok (long san) AM (...)
 * two o'clock PM : tu kilok (long apinun) (...)
 * noon : belo (...)
 * one o'clock AM : wan kilok (long) biknait (...)
 * two o'clock AM : tu kilok (long) biknait (...)
 * midnight : biknait (BIK-night)

Duration

 * _____ minute(s) : _____ minit (MIH-nit)
 * _____ hour(s) : _____ aua (OW-ah)
 * _____ day(s) : _____ de (day)
 * _____ week(s) : _____ wik (week)
 * _____ month(s) : _____ mun (moon)
 * _____ year(s) : _____ yia (YEE-ah)

Days

 * today : tude (tu-deh)
 * yesterday : asde (as-deh)
 * tomorrow : tumora (tu-mora)
 * this week : dispela wik  (...)
 * last week : wik igo pinis ( )
 * next week : wik bihain ( )


 * Sunday : Sande (...)
 * Monday : Mande (...)
 * Tuesday : Tunde (...)
 * Wednesday : Trinde (...)
 * Thursday : Fonde (...)
 * Friday : Fraide (...)
 * Saturday : Sarere (sah-reh-reh)

Months

 * January : Jenueri / Wan mun (JEN-oo-eh-ree)
 * February : Februeri / Tu mun (FEB-roo-eh-ree)
 * March : Mars / Tri mun (mahrs)
 * April : Epril / Foa mun (EPP-reel)
 * May : Mei / Faif mun (may)
 * June : Jun / Sikis mun (joon)
 * July : Julai / Sewen mun (joo-LIGH)
 * August : Ogas / Eit mun (AW-goose)
 * September : Septemba / Nain mun (sep-TEM-bah)
 * October : Oktoba / Ten mun (ock-TOH-bah)
 * November : Novemba / Ilewen mun (noh-VEM-bah)
 * December : Disemba / Twelf mun (dee-SEM-bah)

Writing Time and Date
Give some examples how to write clock times and dates if it differs from English.

Colors

 * black : blak(pela) (...)
 * white : wait(pela) (...)
 * gray : gre(pela) (...)
 * red : ret(pela) (...)
 * blue : blu(pela) (...)
 * yellow : yelo(pela) (...)
 * green : grin(pela) (...)
 * orange : orange (...)
 * purple : hap ret (...)
 * brown : braun(pela) (...)

Bus

 * How much is a ticket to _____? : Hamas long baim tiket igo long _____? (...)
 * One ticket to _____, please. : Wanpela tiket long _____, plis. (...)
 * Where does this plane/bus go? : Displa balus/bas em i go long we? (...)
 * Where is the plane/bus to _____? : Balus/bas i go long _____ em we? (...)
 * Does this plane/bus stop in _____? : Dispela balus/bas bai go tu long _____? (...)
 * When does the plane/bus for _____ leave? : Wanem taim bas balus/bas i go? (...)
 * When will this plane/bus arrive in _____? : Wanem taim bai dispela balus/bas kamap long _____? (...)

Directions

 * How do I get to _____ ? : Bai mi go long _____ olsem wanem? (mee GO long _____ OLL-saym WAH-naym?)
 * ...the bus station? : ples bilong wetim bas? (PLAYS bee-long WAY-teem BUS)
 * ...the airport? : ples balus? (pleys BAH-loos) Note: balus also means "pigeon".
 * ...downtown? : namel long taun? (NAH-mel long TOWN?)
 * ...the _____ hotel? : ... _____ hotel? (...)
 * ...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate? : ...American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate? (...)
 * Where are there a lot of... : I gat planti ... we? (WEH ee gaht PLAHN-tee ...)
 * ...hotels? : ...hotel (...)
 * ...restaurants? : haus kaikai (hows KIGH-kigh?)
 * ...bars? : ...bars (...)
 * ...sites to see? : ...ol samting long lukim (...)
 * Can you show me on the map? : Yu inap soim me rot long pepa map? (...)
 * street : rot (...)
 * Turn left. : Tanim long lephan. (TAHN-ihm lehp)
 * Turn right. : Tanim long raithan. (TAHN-ihm right)
 * left : lephan (lehp-hahn)
 * right : raithan (right-hahn)
 * straight ahead : stret (strayt)
 * towards the _____ : go long _____ (...)
 * past the _____ : lusim _____ (...)
 * before the _____ : bipo long _____ (...)
 * Watch for the _____. : Lukaut long _____. (...)
 * intersection : intersection (...)
 * north : not (noht)
 * south : saut (sowt)
 * east : is (ees)
 * west : wes (wehs)
 * uphill : i go antap (...)
 * downhill : i go daun (...)

Taxi

 * Taxi! : Taxi! (...)
 * Take me to _____, please. : Mi laik go long _____, plis. (...)
 * How much does it cost to get to _____? : Bai kostim hamas long go long _____? (...)
 * Take me there, please. : Karim mi i go, plis. (...)

Lodging

 * Do you have any rooms available? : I gat sampela rum? (...)
 * How much is a room for one person/two people? : Rum long wanpela man/tupela man bai kostim hamas? (...)
 * Does the room come with... : Rum igat... (...)
 * ...bedsheets? : ...bedsit? (...)
 * ...a bathroom? : ...smolhaus? (...)
 * ...a telephone? : ...telefon? (...)
 * ...a TV? : ...TV? (...)
 * May I see the room first? : Inap mi lukim rum pastaim? (...)
 * Do you have anything quieter? : Igat wanpela rum i no gat planti nois? (...)
 * ...bigger? : Igat wanpela rum i moa bikpela? (...)
 * ...cleaner? : Igat wanpela rum i moa klin? (...)
 * ...cheaper? : Igat wanpela rum we prais i go daun liklik? (...)
 * OK, I'll take it. : Gutpela, mi laikim. (...)
 * I will stay for _____ night(s). : Bai mi stap long _____ nait. (...)
 * Can you suggest another hotel? : Inap yu tokim mi long narapela gutpela hotel? (...)
 * Do you have a safe? : Sampla kain safe stap oh? (...)
 * ...lockers? : ...lockers? (...)
 * Is breakfast/supper included? : Is breakfast/supper included? (...)


 * What time is breakfast/supper? : Wanem taim bai yumi kaikai nau morning? (...)
 * supper : kaikai long nait (KIGH-kigh lohng night)
 * breakfast: kaikai long moningtaim (KIGH-kigh lohng MOH-ning-tighm)


 * Please clean my room. : Inap yu klinim rum bilong mi? (...)
 * Can you wake me at _____? : Bai yu kirapim mi long _____, a? (...)
 * I want to check out. : I want to check out. (...)

Money

 * Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars? : yupla save kisim moni bilong America/Ostrelia/Keneda ? (...)
 * Do you accept British pounds? : Yupla save kisim moni bilong Inglan? (...)
 * Do you accept credit cards? : Yupla save kisim kredit kad? (...)
 * Can you change money for me? : Inap yu senisim moni bilong mi? (...)
 * Where can I get money changed? : Bai mi inap senisim moni bilong mi long we? (...)
 * Can you change a traveler's check for me? : Inap yu senisim dispela trevelas sek bilong mi? (...)
 * Where can I get a traveler's check changed? : Bai mi senisim trevelas sek we? (...)
 * What is the exchange rate? : What is the exchange rate? (...)
 * Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)? : ATM i stap we? (...)

Eating

 * A table for one person/two people, please. : Wanpela tebol bilong wanpela/tupela, plis. (...)
 * Can I look at the menu, please? : Inap mi lukim menyu plis? (ee-NAHP mee LOOK-im MEHN-yoo plees)
 * Can I look in the kitchen? : Inap mi lukluk insait long kitsen (...)
 * Is there a house specialty? : Is there a house specialty? (...) NEEDS TO BE TRANSLATED
 * Is there a local specialty? : Is there a local specialty? (...) NEEDS TO BE TRANSLATED
 * I'm a vegetarian. : Mi no kaikai mit. (mee noh KIGH-kigh meet)
 * I don't eat pork. : Mi tambu long kaikai pik. (mee TAHM-boo long pik)
 * I don't eat beef. : Mi tambu long kaikai bulmakau. (mee TAHM-boo long BOOL-mah-kow)
 * I only eat kosher food. : I only eat kosher food. (...)  NEEDS TO BE TRANSLATED
 * Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard) : Can you make it "lite", please? (...)NEEDS TO BE TRANSLATED
 * fixed-price meal : fixed-price meal (...) NEEDS TO BE TRANSLATED
 * à la carte : à la carte (...) NEEDS TO BE TRANSLATED, asking for a menu might help.
 * breakfast : kaikai long moningtaim (KIGH-kigh lohng MOH-ning-tighm)
 * lunch : kaikai bilong belo (KIGH-kigh bee-lohng beh-LOH)
 * tea (meal) : ti (...)
 * supper : kaikai long nait (KIGH-kigh lohng night)
 * I want _____. : Mi laikim _____. (...)
 * I want a dish containing _____. : Mi laikim kaikai igat _____. (...)
 * chicken : kakaruk (KAH-kah-rook)
 * beef : bulmakau (BOOL-mah-kow)
 * fish : pis (pis)
 * lamb/mutton : sipsip (SEEP-seep)
 * ham : lek bilong pik (lek bee-long PIK)
 * sausage : sosis (...)
 * milk : susu (SOO-soo)
 * cheese : sis (seess)
 * eggs : kiau (kyow)
 * salad : salad (...)
 * (fresh) vegetables : kumu
 * (fresh) fruit : (nupela) prut ((NOO-peh-lah) proot)
 * lemon : moli (MOLL-ee)
 * orange : switmoli (SWEET-moll-ee)
 * pineapple : painap (PIGH-nahp), ananas (ah-nah-NAHS)
 * bread : bret (bret)
 * biscuit : drai bisket (DRIGH-bis-ket)
 * noodles : nudal (NOO-dahl)
 * rice : rais (righs)
 * beans : bin (been)
 * May I have a glass of _____? : Mi laikim wanpela glas _____? (...)
 * May I have a cup of _____? : Mi laikim wanpela kap _____? (...)
 * May I have a bottle of _____? : Mi laikim wanpela botol _____? (...)
 * coffee : kofi (...)
 * tea (drink) : ti (...)
 * juice : jus (...)
 * (bubbly) water : mineral wara (...)
 * water : wara (WAH-rah)
 * beer : bia (BEE-ah)
 * red/white wine : retpela/waitpela wain (REHT-peh-lah/WIGHT-peh-lah wighn)
 * May I have some _____? : Mi laikim sampela _____ (...)
 * salt : sol (...)
 * black pepper : Bilakpla pepa (...) This also means betel ; butter : bata (BAH-tah)
 * Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server): Sori, weta? (SOH-ree, WEH-tah)
 * I'm finished. : Mi kaikai pinis. (mee KIGH-kigh PIH-nis)
 * It was delicious. : Kaikai em swit nogut tru (...)
 * Please clear the plates. : Plis inap yu rausim ol pelet. (...)
 * The check, please. : Mi laik baim bil blong kaikai bilong mi. (')

Bars

 * Do you serve alcohol? : Yu save salim alkahol? (...)
 * Is there table service? : Igat tabel sevis? (...)
 * A beer/two beers, please. : Wanpla bia/tupla bia, plis. (...)
 * A glass of red/white wine, please. : Wanpla galas-ret wain plis. (...)
 * A pint, please. : Wanpela pint bia, plis. (...)
 * A bottle, please. : Wanpela botol, plis. (...)
 * _____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please. : _____ na _____, plis. (...)
 * whiskey : wiski (WIH-skee)
 * vodka : vodka (...)
 * rum : rum (...)
 * water : wara (WAH-rah)
 * club soda : club soda (...)
 * tonic water : tonic wara (...)
 * orange juice : orange juice (...)
 * Coke (soda) : Coke, lolli wara (...)
 * Do you have any bar snacks? : Do you have any bar snacks? (...)
 * One more, please. : wanpela moa, plis. (...)
 * Another round, please. : Wanpla raun ken/gen, plis. (...)
 * When is closing time? : Wanem taim bai yupela pas? (...)

Shopping

 * Do you have this in my size? : Yu gat dispela long sais blong mi tu? (...)
 * How much is this? : Hamas long dispela? (hah-MAHS lohng DIS-pe-lah)
 * That's too expensive. : Prais i antap tumas. (prighs ee ahn-TAHP too-MAHS)
 * Would you take _____? : Inap mi baim long _____? (...)
 * expensive : dia tumas (DEE-yah too-MAHS)
 * cheap : daun (down)
 * I can't afford it. : moni bilong mi no nap. (...)
 * I don't want it. : Mi les long dispela. (...)
 * You're cheating me. : Yu wok long giamanim mi!. (...)
 * I'm not interested. : Mi no laikim tumas. (..)
 * OK, I'll take it. : Koan, bai mi kisim. (koh-ahn, bigh mee KEE-sim)
 * Can I have a bag? : Can I have a bag? (...)
 * Do you ship (overseas)? : Yu save salim (ovasis)? (...)
 * I need... : Mi laikim... (mee LIGH-keem)
 * ...toothpaste. : ...sop bilong tit. (sohp bi-LOHNG teet)
 * ...a toothbrush. : ...bras bilong tit. (brahs bi-LOHNG teet)
 * ...tampons. : ...ol tampon. (...)
 * ...soap. : ...sop. (sohp)
 * ...shampoo. : ...sop blong garas. (sohp blhong gah-rahs)
 * ...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen) : ...marasin long rausim pen. (...)
 * ...cold medicine. : ...marasin bilong kus. (...)
 * ...stomach medicine. : ...marasin bilong bel i pen. (...)
 * ...a razor. : ...resa. (RAY-sah)
 * ...an umbrella. : ...umbarela. (...)
 * ...sunblock lotion. : ...sunblock lotion. (...)
 * ...a postcard. : ...poskat. (POHS-kaht)
 * ...postage stamps. : ...stem. (stehm)
 * ...batteries. : ...betri. (...)
 * ...writing paper. : ...pepa. (peh-pah)
 * ...a pen. : ...pen. (pehn)
 * ...English-language books. : ...buk long tok Inglis. (...)
 * ...English-language magazines. : ...magasin long tok Inglis. (...)
 * ...an English-language newspaper. : ...niuspepa long tok Inglis. (...)
 * ...an English-English dictionary. : ...dikseneri long tok Inglis. (...)

Driving

 * I want to rent a car. : Mi laik rentim kar. (...)
 * Can I get insurance? : Inap mi kisim insurens? (...)
 * stop (on a street sign) : stop (...)
 * one way : one way (...)
 * yield : give way (...)
 * no parking : no parking (SORI TUMAS NOKIN PARKIM KA HIA...)
 * speed limit : speed limit (...)
 * service (petrol, gas) station : sevis steisen (...)
 * petrol : bensin (BEHN-seen)
 * diesel : diesel (...)

Authority

 * I haven't done anything wrong. : Mi no wokim wanpela samting i rong. (...)
 * It was a misunderstanding. : mipela faul olgeta (...)
 * Where are you taking me? : Yu kisim mi go long we? (...)
 * Am I under arrest? : Am I under arrest? (...)
 * I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen. : Mi manmeri bilong Amerika/Ostrelia/Briten/Kanada. (...)
 * I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate. : Mi mas toktok wantaim American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate. (...)
 * I want to talk to a lawyer. : Mi laik toktok long wanpela loia. (...)
 * Can I just pay a fine now? : Inap mi baim fain nau tasol? (...)