Bislama phrasebook Voyage Tips and guide

Bislama is a pidgin language used in Vanuatu and is now a creole in urban areas. Closely related but not identical to Tok Pisin in Papua New Guinea and Pijin in the Solomon Islands, it 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., a lady's brassiere 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

Bislama pronunciation is generally straightforward for English speakers, as much of the vocabulary is derived from English. However, spelling is very phonetic with Spanish/Italian vowels, which can be misleading to the English speaker: for example, save is "sah-veh", not "seiv" like "shave".

Vowels

a: like the 'a' in "father" (e.g., wan - one)
e: like the 'e' in "bet" (e.g., nem - name)
i: like the 'ee' in "see" (e.g., mi - me/I)
o: like the 'o' in "go" (e.g., no - no)
u: like the 'oo' in "food" (e.g., yu - you)

Diphthongs

In addition, there are four diphthongs (vowel pairs) with distinct pronunciation.

ae: like the 'igh' in "high" (e.g. olraet - alright)
ao: like the 'ow' in "towel" (e.g. flaoa - flower)
ei: like the 'ay' in "day" (e.g. sprei - spray)
oe: like the 'oy' in "joy" (e.g. voes - voice)

Consonants

Consonants are mostly similar to English, with a few key points:

g: always hard, like in "go" (e.g., gud - good)
j: like the 'ch' in "church" (e.g., jif - chief) - sometimes written as 'ch'.
h: often silent, especially at the beginning of words derived from English words starting with 'h' (e.g., ae - eye, from 'eye'). However, it is pronounced in words like halo (hello).
r: often rolled or tapped, similar to Spanish 'r'.
s: like the 's' in "sun" (e.g., save - know/understand)
t: Often unaspirated, sounding closer to 'd' between vowels sometimes.
ng: like the 'ng' in "sing" (e.g., long - in/at/on/belonging to)

Stress

Stress usually falls on the second-to-last syllable, but there are exceptions. Listen to native speakers to get the rhythm.

Grammar

Bislama grammar is surprisingly different from English. Putting together simple phrases is not hard, but you will not become a native speaker overnight.

Bislama has no plurals or conjugations, and it replaces most English prepositions with just two: long and blong.

Long, often pronounced lo. is mostly used to indicate place: next to (along), near, at, to, in, etc.

Stoa long haos: The store next to the house.
Mi stap long stoa: I am at the store.
Jea long haos: The chair in the house.

Blong, often pronounced blo, indicates possession: of, from, belong to.

Buk blong mi: The book that belongs to me, my book
Man blong Amerika: Man from America, American.
Man blong dring: Man of drinking (a drinker)

Most Bislama verbs are formed by taking an English stem and adding the suffix -im/em.

English	Bislama
	stem	verb
take	tek-	tekem
show	so-	soem
look	luk-	lukim
want	wand-	wandem

There are a few important exceptions:

kakae: 'eat, bite'
trink: 'drink'
save: 'know', 'able to'
se: 'say'

Verbs do not conjugate, but there is a complex set of markers used for tense, aspect, and mood:

Mi no kakae taro: I don't eat taro
Mi stap kakae taro: I'm eating taro (ongoing action)
Mi bin kakae taro: I was eating taro (past action that has finished)
Bae mi kakae taro: I will eat taro (future/hypothetical action)

The predicate marker i is frequently inserted between the pronoun and the subsequent verbal phrase in ways that defy easy explanation in English. Sometimes it can translated simply by "is/was":

plen i no bin fulap: the plane was not full

Sometimes it marks what the subject is doing:

fish ia i save kilim man: this fish can kill a person

It's often tacked onto the third person pronouns, making them hemi/emi/oli.

hemi no wantem yam: he doesn't want yam

Phrase list

Basics

Hello: Halo
How are you?: Yu oraet? (lit. You alright?) / I gud? (lit. It good?)
Fine, thank you.: Mi oraet, tangkyu. / I gud, tangkyu.
What is your name?: Wanem nem blong yu?
My name is ______ .: Nem blong mi ______ .
Please: Plis
Thank you: Tangkyu
Thank you very much: Tangkyu tumas
You're welcome: I oraet / No wori
Yes: Yes
No: No
Excuse me. (getting attention): Skiusmi.
Excuse me. (begging pardon): Skiusmi. / Sori.
I'm sorry.: Mi sori. / Sori tumas.
Goodbye: Tata (informal) / Ale lukim yu (lit. OK see you)
I can't speak Bislama [well].: Mi no save tok Bislama [gud].
Do you speak English?: Yu save tok Inglis?
Is there someone here who speaks English?: I gat wan man/woman ia i save tok Inglis?
Help!: Helpem mi! / Help!
Good morning.: Moning / Gud moning
Good afternoon.: Aftenun / Gud aftenun
Good evening.: Gudnaet (also used for Good night)
Good night.: Gudnaet
I don't understand.: Mi no save. / Mi no harem. (lit. I don't hear/feel)
Where is the toilet?: Wea toilet i stap? / Toilet i stap wea?

Problems

Leave me alone.: Yu lego mi. / Livim mi.
Don't touch me!: Yu no tajem mi!
I'll call the police.: Bambae mi kolem polis.
Police!: Polis!
Stop! Thief!: Stop! Stilman!
I need your help.: Mi nidim help blong yu.
It's an emergency.: Hemia i wan emergency.
I'm lost.: Mi lus.
I lost my bag.: Mi lusum bag blong mi.
I lost my wallet.: Mi lusum wallet blong mi.
I'm sick.: Mi sik.
I've been injured.: Mi karem soa. (lit. I got sore/wound) / Mi foldaon. (If from a fall)
I need a doctor.: Mi nidim wan dokta.
Can I use your phone?: Mi save yusum fon blong yu?

Numbers

1: Wan
2: Tu
3: Tri
4: Foa
5: Faef
6: Sikis
7: Seven
8: Eit
9: Naen
10: Ten
11: Leven
12: Twelef
13: Totin
14: Fotin
15: Fiftin
16: Sikistin
17: Seventin
18: Eitin
19: Naentin
20: Twenti
21: Twenti wan
22: Twenti tu
23: Twenti tri
30: Teti
40: Foti
50: Fifti
60: Sikisti
70: Seventi
80: Eiti
90: Naenti
100: Wan handred
200: Tu handred
500: Faef handred
1,000: Wan taosen
2,000: Tu taosen
1,000,000: Wan milion
number _____ (train, bus, etc.): namba _____
half: haf
less: les
more: moa

Clock time

What time is it?: Wanem taem nao? / Taem i hamas?
It's _____ o'clock.: Hem i _____ klok.
It's half past _____.: Hem i haf pas _____.
It's quarter past _____.: Hem i kwota pas _____.
It's quarter to _____.: Hem i kwota tu _____.
morning: moningtaem / long moning
afternoon: aftenun / long aftenun
evening: naet / long naet
midnight: medol naet

Duration

_____ minute(s): _____ minit
_____ hour(s): _____ aoa
_____ day(s): _____ dei
_____ week(s): _____ wik
_____ month(s): _____ manis
_____ year(s): _____ yia

Days

today: tudei
yesterday: yestedei
tomorrow: tumora
this week: wik ia
last week: las wik
next week: nekis wik

Sunday: Sande
Monday: Mande
Tuesday: Tuste
Wednesday: Wenesde
Thursday: Tosde
Friday: Fraede
Saturday: Sarere

Months

Months are usually the English names, sometimes slightly adapted.

January: Janueri
February: Februeri
March: Maj
April: Epril
May: Mei
June: Jun
July: Julae
August: Ogis
September: Septemba
October: Oktoba
November: Novemba
December: Disemba

Writing time and date

Dates are typically written Day-Month-Year, e.g., 5 Epril 2025.

Colors

black: blak / blakbala
white: waet / waetbala
gray: grei / greibala
red: red / redfala
blue: blu / blufala
yellow: yelo / yelofala
green: grin / grinfala
orange: orenj / orenjfala
purple: pepol / pepolfala
brown: braon / braonfala

Note: The '-fala' suffix often acts like '-ish' or '-colored', or simply as an adjective marker.

Transportation

Bus and train

(Note: Vanuatu primarily relies on buses/minibuses and taxis, there are no trains.)

How much is a ticket to _____?: Tiket i go long _____ hem i hamas?
One ticket to _____, please.: Wan tiket i go long _____, plis.
Where does this bus/minibus go?: Bus/Minibus ia i go wea?
Where is the bus stop?: Wea bus stop i stap?
Does this bus stop in _____?: Bus ia i stop long _____?
When does the bus for _____ leave?: Wanem taem bus blong _____ i aot?
Bus: Bus / Minibus
Taxi: Taksi

Directions

How do I get to _____ ?: Olsem wanem mi go long _____? / Rod i go long _____ i olsem wanem?
...the airport?: ...epot?
...the market?: ...maket?
...the tourist information office?: ...turis ofis?
...the post office?: ...pos ofis?
...the bank?: ...bank?
Where are there a lot of...: Wea i gat plante...
...hotels?: ...hotel?
...restaurants?: ...restaurant? / ...ples blong kakae?
...bars?: ...bar?
Can you show me on the map?: Yu save soem mi long map?
Street: Rod / Stret
Turn left.: Yu tanem lef.
Turn right.: Yu tanem raet.
left: lef / lefsaed
right: raet / raetsaed
straight ahead: stret / stretahed
towards the _____: go long _____
past the _____: pas long _____
before the _____: bifo long _____
Intersection: janksen / ples wea tu rod i mit
North: Not
South: Saot
East: Is
West: Wes
uphill: antap long hil / go antap
downhill: daon long hil / go daon

Taxi

Taxi!: Taksi!
Take me to _____, please.: Yu tekem mi i go long _____, plis.
How much does it cost to go to _____?: Hamas blong go long _____? / Charge blong go long _____ i hamas?
Take me there, please.: Tekem mi i go long ples ia, plis.

Accommodation

Do you have any rooms available?: I gat rum i stap yet? / Yu gat rum?
How much is a room for one person/two people?: Wan rum blong wan man/tu man hem i hamas?
Does the room come with...: Long rum ia i gat...
...a bathroom?: ...toilet/bathroom?
...a shower?: ...shaoa?
...a telephone?: ...telefon?
...a TV?: ...TV?
May I see the room first?: Mi save luk rum fastaem?
Do you have anything quieter?: Yu gat samting wea i kwaet moa?
...bigger?: ...i bigwan moa?
...cleaner?: ...i klin moa?
...cheaper?: ...i jip moa?
OK, I'll take it.: Oraet, bambae mi tekem.
I will stay for _____ night(s).: Bambae mi stap long _____ naet.
Can you suggest another hotel?: Yu save talem nem blong narawan hotel?
Do you have a safe?: Yu gat sef?
Is breakfast/supper included?: Brekfast/sapa i stap insaed? (lit. Breakfast/supper is inside?)
What time is breakfast/supper?: Wanem taem blong brekfast/sapa?
Please clean my room.: Yu klinim rum blong mi, plis.
Can you wake me at _____?: Yu save wekem mi long _____ klok?
I want to check out.: Mi wantem jek aot. / Mi wantem finis.

Money

The currency is the Vanuatu Vatu (VUV).

Do you accept credit cards?: Yu save tekem kredit kad?
Can you change money for me?: Yu save jenjem mani blong mi?
Where can I change money?: Wea mi save jenjem mani?
Where is an ATM?: Wea ATM i stap? / Wea maşin blong kas i stap?
Money: Mani
Bank: Bank
Vatu (currency): Vatu

Eating

A table for one person/two people, please.: Wan tebol blong wan man/tu man, plis.
Can I look at the menu, please?: Mi save luk menu, plis?
I'm a vegetarian.: Mi vegeterian. / Mi no kakae mit.
I don't eat pork.: Mi no kakae pig.
I don't eat beef.: Mi no kakae bif.
breakfast: brekfast
lunch: lanj
supper/dinner: sapa
I want _____.: Mi wantem _____.
I want a dish containing _____.: Mi wantem kakae wea i gat _____ insaed.
chicken: jikin
beef: bif / buluk
fish: fis
pork: pig
cheese: jis
eggs: eg
salad: salad
(fresh) vegetables: (fres) vejtabol / gras (leafy greens)
(fresh) fruit: (fres) frut
bread: bred
rice: raes
beans: bin
May I have a glass of _____?: Mi save karem wan glas _____?
May I have a cup of _____?: Mi save karem wan kap _____?
May I have a bottle of _____?: Mi save karem wan botel _____?
coffee: kofi
tea (drink): ti
juice: jus
(bubbly) water: (gas) wota
water: wota
beer: bia
red/white wine: red/waet waen
May I have some _____?: Mi save karem smol _____?
salt: sol
black pepper: blak pepa
butter: bata
Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention): Skiusmi weita/wetres! (or just call 'boe'/'gel' informally but politely)
I'm finished.: Mi finis.
It was delicious.: I bin gud tumas. / Kakae i bin swit. (lit. Food was sweet/tasty)
Please clear the plates.: Yu tekemaot plet, plis.
The check, please.: Bil, plis. / Mi save pem nao? (lit. Can I pay now?)

Bars

Kava i strong tumas Most bars in Vanuatu serve kava, not alcohol. Kava bars are also known as nakamals and kava is traditionally sold by the coconut shell, although these days plastic bowls filled to order by price (100 vatu, 200 vatu etc) are also common.

Do you serve alcohol?: Yu salem alkahol? / Yu gat bia/waen?
Is there table service?: Servis i stap long tebol?
A beer/two beers, please.: Wan bia/tu bia, plis.
A glass of red/white wine, please.: Wan glas red/waet waen, plis.
A bottle, please.: Wan botel, plis.
whisky: wiski
vodka: vodka
rum: ram
water: wota
orange juice: orenj jus
Coke (soda): Kok (or brand name) / soft drink
Do you have any bar snacks?: Yu gat washemaot? (lit. "wash the mouth", chaser)
One more, please.: Wan moa, plis.
Another round, please.: Nara raon, plis.
When is closing time?: Wanem taem yu klos?
Cheers!: Jeas!

Shopping

Do you have this in my size?: Yu gat hemia long saes blong mi?
How much is this?: Hamas long hemia?
That's too expensive.: Hemia i sas tumas.
Would you take _____?: Yu save tekem _____? (Offering a lower price)
expensive: sas
cheap: jip
I can't afford it.: Mi no gat naf mani long hemia. / Mi no save pem.
I don't want it.: Mi no wantem.
You're cheating me.: Yu trikim mi. / Yu lai long mi.
I'm not interested.: Mi no intres. / Mi no wantem.
OK, I'll take it.: Oraet, bambae mi tekem.
Can I have a bag?: Mi save karem wan bag?
I need...: Mi nidim...
...toothpaste.: ...tutpes.
...a toothbrush.: ...tutbras.
...soap.: ...sop.
...shampoo.: ...shampu.
...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or paracetamol): ...medesin blong hed/so. (medicine for head/sore)
...cold medicine.: ...medesin blong kolkol.
...stomach medicine.: ...medesin blong bel.
...a razor.: ...resa.
...batteries.: ...batri.
...writing paper.: ...pepa blong raet.
...a pen.: ...pen.
...English-language books.: ...buk long Inglis.
...English-language magazines.: ...magasin long Inglis.
...an English-language newspaper.: ...niuspepa long Inglis.
...an English-Bislama dictionary.: ...wan diksonari Inglis-Bislama.

Driving

(Note: Driving is on the right in Vanuatu.)

I want to rent a car.: Mi wantem haerem wan kar.
Can I get insurance?: Mi save karem insurens?
stop (on a street sign): STOP
one way: WAN WEI
no parking: NO PAKING
speed limit: SPID LIMIT
gas (petrol) station: gas stesen / petrol stesen
petrol: petrol / gas
diesel: disel

Authority

I haven't done anything wrong.: Mi no mekem wan samting we i rong.
It was a misunderstanding.: Hemia i wan mistek nomo. / Mifala i no harem gud nomo.
Where are you taking me?: Yu tekem mi i go wea?
Am I under arrest?: Mi stap anda long ares? / Yu arestem mi?
I am an Australian/British/Canadian/American citizen.: Mi wan man Ostrelia/Inglan/Kanada/Amerika.
I want to talk to the Australian/British/Canadian/American embassy/consulate.: Mi wantem tok tok wetem embasi/konsulet blong Ostrelia/Inglan/Kanada/Amerika.
I want to talk to a lawyer.: Mi wantem tok tok wetem wan loya.
Can I just pay a fine now?: Mi save pem wan faen naoia nomo?

Learning more

Bislama Workbook by the Peace Corps, an excellent free book about the language
Listen to locals speak. Many Ni-Vanuatu are happy to help you learn a few words.
Radio Vanuatu's Lisen Live can be streamed for free online.

This Bislama phrasebook is a usable article. It explains pronunciation and the bare essentials of travel communication. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.