'''Tok Pisin''' 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 around 1820 or 1860. 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 f'''a'''ther
; e : like s'''e'''t or n'''a'''me
; i : like h'''i'''t or mach'''i'''ne
; o : like squ'''aw'''k, f'''o'''rk, or h'''o'''me
; u : like s'''ou'''p
Consonants
; b : like '''b'''ed
; d : like '''d'''og
; f : like '''f'''un or a bilabial fricative; often interchangeable with "p"
; g : like '''g'''o
; h : like '''h'''elp
; j : like '''j'''udge; only word-initial
; k : like '''k'''eep
; l : like '''l'''ove
; m : like '''m'''other
; n : like '''n'''ice
; p : like '''p'''ig; often interchangeable with "f"
; r : trill or flap
; s : like '''s'''ue or '''z'''oo
; t : like '''t'''op
; v : like fi'''v'''e
; w : like '''w'''eigh
; y : like '''y'''es
Common diphthongs
; ai : like t'''i'''me (''taim''), tr'''yi'''ng (''traim''), or off'''eri'''ng (without the "r") (''ofaim''), depending on the word
; au : like c'''ow'''
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'')<br>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? : Do you have a safe? (''...'')
; ...lockers? : ...lockers? (''...'')
; Is breakfast/supper included? : Is breakfast/supper included? (''...'')
; What time is breakfast/supper? : What time is breakfast/supper? (''...'')
; 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? (''...'')
; Is there a local specialty? : Is there a local specialty? (''...'')
; 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. (''...'')
; Can you make it "lite", please? (''less oil/butter/lard'') : Can you make it "lite", please? (''...'')
; fixed-price meal : fixed-price meal (''...'')
; a la carte : a la carte (''...'')
; breakfast : kaikai long moningtaim (''KIGH-kigh lohng MOH-ning-tighm'')
; lunch : kaikai bilong belo (''KIGH-kigh 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 (''...'')<br>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. (''pay 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 (''...'')
; 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? (''...'')
; I'm not a paedophile. : Mi no wok long holim ol pikinini. (''...'')
See also