Essential Bislama Phrases

Sometimes you don't have time to learn long lists of words and phrases. All you want to know are the bare essentials for communicating to get what you need, or where you need to go.

Here are the bare minimum of Bislama words and phrases you need to know to survive.

Learn the Top 10 Phrases if you only have time for the barest minimum. If you need or want more, then take a look at the Top 20 Phrases, Top 30 Phrases and the Extra Phrases.

If you need help with pronunciation,
please see the Pronunciation Guide below.

Here are ten easy phrases to get you started ...

The Top 10 ...

Yes!
Halo.

Hello.
Gudbae.
Tata.
Lukim yu.
Goodbye.
Yu save toktok Inglis?
Do you speak English?
Mi no save.
I don't understand.
Lelebet.
A little.
Yes. No.
Yes. No.
Hem i hamas?

How much is it?
Sas tumas. Ale/Oraet.
Too expensive. OK.
Plis.
Please.
Tangkiu (tumas).
Ta.
Thank you (very much).

Here are ten more phrases that will help you make new friends and ask for directions ... The Top 20 ...
	Huia nem blong yu? What is your name? Nem blong mi ... My name is ... Olsem wanem? How are you? I gud. Mo yu? Fine. And you? ... i stap we? Wehem ...? Where is ...? Toelet i stap we? Man/Woman Where is the toilet? Men/Women Sore. Eskius/Skiusmi. Sorry. Excuse me. I olraet. No problem. No problem. Mi wantem ... I want ... Mi no wantem ... I don't want ...

Here are another ten phrases to help you make a little more conversation and to get around ...

The Top 30 ...

Yu kam long we?
Yu blong we?
Where are you from?
Mi kam long Ostrelia.*
Mi blong Ostrelia.*
I am from Australia.
Yu save givim bil blong mi plis.
The bill, please.
Mi lus.
I'm lost.
Stap! Wet!
Stop! Wait!
Ples ia, longwe.
Here, over there.
Taksi. Hotel. Epot. Bastop.
Taxi. Hotel. Airport. Bus stop.
Mi laekem ...
I like ...
Mi no laekem ...
I don't like ...

wan, tu, tri, fo, faev.
one, two, three, four, five.
sikis, seven, eit, naen, ten.
six, seven, eight, nine, ten.

*Or choose your country:
Amerika - America
Kanada - Canada
Inglan - England
Aealan - Ireland
Niusilan - New Zealand

Here are some extra words and phrases you might find useful, especially if you have dietary needs or allergies ...

Useful Extras ...

Jis!
Cheers!

gudfala / nogud
good / bad
bigfala / smol
big / small
klosap / longwe
near / far
smol / mo
less / more
narafala / naf
another / enough

Mi wan vejeterien.
I am vegetarian.
Mi no stap kakae mit.
Mi no save kakae mit.
I don't eat meat.
... jikin.
... chicken.
... fis.
... fish.

Mi alerjik long nat.
Mi sik long nat.
I am allergic to nuts.
... pinat/pistas.
... peanuts.
... fis.
... fish.
... kakae long solwota.
... seafood.
... eg.
... eggs.

Pronunciation Guide

Vowels:
ae is pronounced as ai as in aisle
ao is pronounced as au as in house
oe is pronounced as oi as in boil

Please note:
huia is pronounced as huya
ia is pronounced as ya

aotsaed is commonly pronounced as aosaed or afsaed
blong is commonly pronounced as blo (or bl before a vowel)
For example: blong hem may be reduced to blo em or blem
hem is commonly pronounced as em
klosap is commonly pronounced as kolosap
long is commonly pronounced as lo (or l before a vowel)
longwe is commonly pronounced as lowe
narasaed is commonly pronounced as narsaed
sapos is commonly pronounced as spos, sos or pos
save is commonly pronounced as sae
solwota is sometimes pronounced as solwora
stap is commonly pronounced as sta
wanem is sometimes pronounced as wenem
wantem is commonly pronounced as wandem or wande
we often appears as wea
wehem is commonly pronounced as wem