# 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) (...)

### Transportation
#### 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? (...)