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 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 ).
[edit ] Pronunciation Guide [edit ] Vowels a like fa ther
e like se t or na me
i like hi t or machi ne
o like squaw k, fo rk, or ho me
u like sou p
[edit ] 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 fiv e
w like w eigh
y like y es
[edit ] Common diphthongs ai like ti me (taim ), tryi ng (traim ), or offeri ng (without the "r") (ofaim ), depending on the word
au like cow
[edit ] Phrase list [edit ] 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? )
[edit ] 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? )
[edit ] 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 (... )
now nau (now )
later bihain (bee-HIGHN )
before bipo (BEE-poh )
morning moning (MOH-neeng )
afternoon apinun (ah-pee-NOON )
night nait (night )
[edit ] 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 )
[edit ] 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 )
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 )
[edit ] 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 )
[edit ] Writing Time and Date Give some examples how to write clock times and dates if it differs from English.
[edit ] 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) (... )
[edit ] Transportation 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 _____? (... )
[edit ] 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 )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! (... )
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. (... )
[edit ] 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? 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. (... )
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? (... )
[edit ] 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? (... ) 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 (... )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. (')
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? (... )
[edit ] 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. (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. (... )
[edit ] 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 (SORI TUMAS NOKIN PARKIM KA HIA... )
speed limit speed limit (... )
service (petrol , gas ) station sevis steisen (... )
petrol bensin (BEHN-seen )
diesel diesel (... )
[edit ] 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? (... )
[edit ] See also
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