Bislama phrasebook Voyage Tips and guide

Contents

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.

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? ? ( ?)

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 ? ( ?)

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30

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40

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50

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60

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70

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80

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90

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100

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200

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300

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1,000

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2,000

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1,000,000

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1,000,000,000

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1,000,000,000,000

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number _____ (train, bus, etc.)

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half

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less

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more

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now

( a)

later

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before

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morning

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afternoon

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evening

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night

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one o'clock AM

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two o'clock AM

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noon

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one o'clock PM

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two o'clock PM

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midnight

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_____ minute(s)

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_____ hour(s)

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_____ day(s)

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_____ week(s)

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_____ month(s)

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_____ year(s)

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today

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yesterday

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tomorrow

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this week

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last week

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next week

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Sunday

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Monday

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Tuesday

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Wednesday

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Thursday

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Friday

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Saturday

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January

Januware ( )

February

Februrari ( )

March

Maj ( )

April

Epril ( )

May

Mei ( )

June

Jun ( )

July

Julae ( )

August

Ogis ( )

September

Septemba ( )

October

Oktoba ( )

November

Novemba ( )

December

Desemba ( )

black

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white

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gray

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red

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blue

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yellow

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green

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orange

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purple

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brown

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How much is a ticket to _____?

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One ticket to _____, please.

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Where does this train/bus go?

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Where is the train/bus to _____?

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Does this train/bus stop in _____?

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When does the train/bus for _____ leave?

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When will this train/bus arrive in _____?

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How do I get to _____ ?

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...the train station?

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...the bus station?

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...the airport?

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...downtown?

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...the youth hostel?

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...the _____ hotel?

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...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate?

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Where are there a lot of...

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...hotels?

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...restaurants?

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...bars?

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...sites to see?

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Can you show me on the map?

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street

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Turn left.

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Turn right.

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left

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right

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straight ahead

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towards the _____

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past the _____

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before the _____

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Watch for the _____.

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intersection

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north

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south

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east

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west

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uphill

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downhill

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Taxi!

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Take me to _____, please.

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How much does it cost to get to _____?

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Take me there, please.

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Do you have any rooms available?

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How much is a room for one person/two people?

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Does the room come with...

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...bedsheets?

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...a bathroom?

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...a telephone?

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...a TV?

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May I see the room first?

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Do you have anything quieter?

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...bigger?

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...cleaner?

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...cheaper?

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OK, I'll take it.

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I will stay for _____ night(s).

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Can you suggest another hotel?

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Do you have a safe?

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...lockers?

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Is breakfast/supper included?

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What time is breakfast/supper?

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Please clean my room.

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Can you wake me at _____?

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I want to check out.

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Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars?

(yu save tekm american dola? )

Do you accept British pounds?

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Do you accept euros?

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Do you accept credit cards?

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Can you change money for me?

(yu save changem money blo mi? )

Where can I get money changed?

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Can you change a traveler's check for me?

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Where can I get a traveler's check changed?

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What is the exchange rate?

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Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)?

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A table for one person/two people, please.

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Can I look at the menu, please?

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Can I look in the kitchen?

( mi save luk insaed kitchen)

Is there a house specialty?

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Is there a local specialty?

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I'm a vegetarian.

( mi no save kakai mit)

I don't eat pork.

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I don't eat beef.

(mi no save kakai beef )

I only eat kosher food.

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Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard)

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fixed-price meal

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a la carte

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breakfast

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lunch

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tea (meal)

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supper

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I want _____.

(mi wantem )

I want a dish containing _____.

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chicken

( faoul)

beef

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fish

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ham

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sausage

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cheese

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eggs

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salad

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(fresh) vegetables

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(fresh) fruit

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bread

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toast

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noodles

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rice

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beans

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May I have a glass of _____?

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May I have a cup of _____?

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May I have a bottle of _____?

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coffee

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tea (drink)

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juice

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(bubbly) water

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(still) water

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beer

(bia )

red/white wine

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May I have some _____?

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salt

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black pepper

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butter

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Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server)

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I'm finished.

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It was delicious.

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Please clear the plates.

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The check, please.

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Do you serve alcohol?

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Is there table service?

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A beer/two beers, please.

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A glass of red/white wine, please.

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A pint, please.

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A bottle, please.

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_____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please.

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whiskey

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vodka

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rum

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water

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club soda

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tonic water

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orange juice

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Coke (soda)

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Do you have any bar snacks?

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One more, please.

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Another round, please.

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When is closing time?

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Cheers!

( )

Do you have this in my size?

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How much is this?

( hao mas lo hemia?)

That's too expensive.

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Would you take _____?

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expensive

( )

cheap

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I can't afford it.

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I don't want it.

(mi no wantem )

You're cheating me.

( )

I'm not interested.

(..)

OK, I'll take it.

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Can I have a bag?

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Do you ship (overseas)?

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I need...

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...toothpaste.

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...a toothbrush.

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...tampons.

. ( )

...soap.

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...shampoo.

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...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen)

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...cold medicine.

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...stomach medicine.

... ( )

...a razor.

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...an umbrella.

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...sunblock lotion.

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...a postcard.

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...postage stamps.

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...batteries.

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...writing paper.

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...a pen.

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...English-language books.

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...English-language magazines.

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...an English-language newspaper.

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...an English-English dictionary.

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I want to rent a car.

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Can I get insurance?

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stop (on a street sign)

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one way

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yield

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no parking

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speed limit

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gas (petrol) station

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petrol

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diesel

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I haven't done anything wrong.

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It was a misunderstanding.

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Where are you taking me?

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Am I under arrest?

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I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen.

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I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate.

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I want to talk to a lawyer.

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Can I just pay a fine now?

( )