'''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