Bislama phrasebook

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Bislama phrasebook



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.

Pronunciation guide

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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 "savvy", not "seiv" like "shave".

Vowels

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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)

Consonants

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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

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

Grammar

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Pronoun blong yumi


  • Me / you - mi / yu
  • Him / her / it (neither masculine nor feminine)
  • this here - hem/ hemia
  • Us /we / all of us - mifala / mifala evriwan
  • You / you (plural) - yu / yufala

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 nearly all English prepositions with just two: long and blong.

Long 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 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.

EnglishBislama
stemverb
taketek-tekem
showso-soem
lookluk-lukim
wantwand-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 stap kakae taro
I'm eating taro (ongoing action)
Mi bin kakae taro
I have eaten 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. It's often tacked onto the third person pronouns, making them hemi/emi/oli.

hem i no wantem yam
he doesn't want yam
plen i no bin fulap
the plane was not full
fish ia i save kilim man
this fish can kill a person

Phrase list

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Basics

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Common signs


OPEN
CLOSED
ENTRANCE
EXIT
PUSH
PULL
TOILET
MEN
WOMEN
FORBIDDEN
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

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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

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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

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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

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

Days

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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

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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

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

Colors

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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

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Bus and train

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(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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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(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

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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

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  • Listen to locals speak. Many Ni-Vanuatu are happy to help you learn a few words.
  • Look for Bislama dictionaries or phrasebooks in bookshops in Port Vila or Luganville.
  • 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.
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