Difference between revisions of "Creole phrasebook"

Revision as of 07:46, 26 September 2012

For other Creole languages, see Creole.

Creole of Guinea-Bissau is the main language of Guinea-Bissau. It is based on Portuguese and local African languages. The grammar is very simple, but the lack of an official orthography makes written Creole complicated, as it is spelled differently in every text.

Pronouns

Personal pronouns when subject of a verb

I 

N

You (sing) 

Bu

He, she, it 

I

We 

No

You (pl) 

Bo

They 

E

Personal pronouns used for emphasis.

I 

Ami

You (sing.) 

Abo

He, she, it 

El

We 

Anos

You (pl.) 

Abos

They 

Elis

Pronunciation guide

Vowels

Consonants

Common diphthongs

Phrase list

Basics

Hello. 

Bon dia, boa tarde, boa noite. ( )

Hello. (informal) 

Kuma? ( )

How are you? 

Kuma ku bu sta? ( ?)

How are you? 

I kuma? ( ?)

Fine, thank you. 

Sta bom, obrigado. ( )

What is your name? 

Kuma ku bu nome? ( ?)

My name is ______ . 

Nha nome i ______ . ( _____ .)

Nice to meet you. 

. ( )

Please. 

. ( )

Thank you. 

Obrigado. ( )

You're welcome. 

Nada. ( )

Yes. 

Si. ( )

No. 

Não. ( )

Excuse me. (getting attention) 

. ( )

Excuse me. (begging pardon) 

Skulpa. ( )

I'm sorry. 

Skulpa. ( )

Goodbye 

Tchau. ( )

Goodbye (informal) 

Na bai. ( )

I can't speak creole [well]. 

N ka ta papia kriol [bem]. ( [ ])

Do you speak English? 

Bu ta papia inglés? ( ?)

Is there someone here who speaks English? 

Alguem li ta papia inglés? ( ?)

Help! 

 ! ( !)

Look out! 

 ! ( !)

Good morning. 

Bon dia. ( )

How have you slept? 

Kuma ku bu mansi?

I slept well, thank you. 

N mansi bem, obrigado.

Good afternoon. 

Boa tarde. ( )

Good night. 

Boa noite. ( )

Good night (to sleep) 

Boa noite. ( )

I don't understand. 

N ka persibi. ( )

Where is the toilet? 

Nunde i kasa de banho? ( ?)

Problems

Numbers

un - 1

dus - 2

tris - 3

kuatru- 4

cinco - 5

Time

Clock time

Duration

Days

today 

aos

yesterday 

aonti

tomorrow 

amanha

this week 

es semana

last week 

semana passada

next week 

próssima semana

Sunday 

dumingu

Monday 

segunda-fera

Tuesday 

tersa-fera

Wednesday 

kuarta-fera

Thursday 

kinta-fera

Friday 

sesta-fera

Saturday 

sabadu

Months

january 

janeiru

february 

fevreiru

march 

marsu

april 

abril

may 

maio

june 

junhu

july 

julhu

august

agustu

september 

sitembru

october 

outubru

november 

novembru

december 

dizembru

Writing time and date

Colors

Transportation

Bus and train

Directions

Taxi

Lodging

Money

Eating

Bars

Shopping

Driving

Authority

Learning more