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).

Pronunciation Guide

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

Phrase list

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? (...)