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English creole spoken in Papua New Guinea
Phrasebooks > Tok Pisin phrasebook

Tok Pisin (or Pidgin) 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 in the early 1800s. 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

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Vowels

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a
like father
e
like set or name
i
like hit or machine
o
like squawk, fork, or home
u
like soup

Consonants

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b
like bed
d
like dog
f
like fun or a bilabial fricative; often interchangeable with "p"
g
like go
h
like help
j
like judge; only word-initial
k
like keep
l
like love
m
like mother
n
like nice
p
like pig; often interchangeable with "f"
r
trill or flap
s
like sue or zoo
t
like top
v
like five
w
like weigh
y
like yes

Common diphthongs

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ai
like time (taim), trying (traim), or offering (without the "r") (ofaim), depending on the word
au
like cow

Phrase list

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Basics

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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_____ 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

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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

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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

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Give some examples how to write clock times and dates if it differs from English.

Colors

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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

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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

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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)
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

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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

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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?
Sampla kain safe stap oh? (...)
...lockers?
...lockers? (...)
Is breakfast/supper included?
Is breakfast/supper included? (...)
What time is breakfast/supper?
Wanem taim bai yumi kaikai nau morning? (...)
supper
kaikai long nait (KIGH-kigh lohng night)
breakfast
kaikai long moningtaim (KIGH-kigh lohng MOH-ning-tighm)
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

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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

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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? (...) NEEDS TO BE TRANSLATED
Is there a local specialty?
Is there a local specialty? (...) NEEDS TO BE TRANSLATED
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. (...) NEEDS TO BE TRANSLATED
Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard)
Can you make it "lite", please? (...)NEEDS TO BE TRANSLATED
fixed-price meal
fixed-price meal (...) NEEDS TO BE TRANSLATED
à la carte
à la carte (...) NEEDS TO BE TRANSLATED, asking for a menu might help.
breakfast
kaikai long moningtaim (KIGH-kigh lohng MOH-ning-tighm)
lunch
kaikai bilong belo (KIGH-kigh bee-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 (...)
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

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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

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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. (prighs 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

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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 (SORI TUMAS NOKIN PARKIM KA HIA...)
speed limit
speed limit (...)
service (petrol, gas) station
sevis steisen (...)
petrol
bensin (BEHN-seen)
diesel
diesel (...)

Authority

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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? (...)

See also

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This Tok Pisin 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.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?title=Tok_Pisin_phrasebook&oldid=4608489"