Tok Pisin Phrases to Learn

Tok Pisin also known as Neo-Melanesian is a creole combining gramatical elements of indigenous languages, some German, and, increasingly, English. In addition to Tok Pisin, Papua New Guinea speaks 840 difference languages, the most languages spoken for a single country in the world! This is more than twice the number of languages use across all of Europe according to SBS.

Before you travel to PNG, here are a few Tok Pisin phrases and words from the PNG Tourism Authority that you can learn. It is quite simple!

PHRASES

What is your name? - Wanem nem bilong yu? Who are you? - Yu whosait? My name is (Joe) - Nem bilong mi (Joe) Thank you very much - tenk yu tru(e) No thank you - sori nogut How are you? - yu orait ? (you alright) I’m fine - mi orait tasol How much is that? - em hamas? How much is this? - dispela em hamas?

Where is the toilet? Toilet stap weh? I’d like one please - mi laikim wanpela plis I would like to go to the (Airport) - mi laik go long Airport Can you come with me? - inap yu kam wantaim mi? Sorry No, I don’t want to/this/that - sori nogut, mi less Please, can you help me with this? - plis, inap ya halivim mi wantaim dispela samting? What is that? - em wanem? That is/was very good - em i gutpela stret! That is/was bad! - em no gut Where are you from? - yu bilong wanem hap? I’m from (Australia) - mi bilong Australia I’d like lots please - mi laikim planti plis I need a rest - lait malolo liklik

WORDS

ketch - see you later plis - please sori - sorry wanem - what Dispela - this nogut - no em nau - yes/that’s right bagarup - broken meri - woman/girl Haus meri - housekeeper liklik pikinini meri - little girl Man- man boy - boi sista/brata - sister/brother (can also denote cousins or friends) mama/papa - mother/father bubu - grand person / Older family Aunty/uncle - respectful term for other adults/wantoks Pikinini - child/children malolo - rest/sleep/holiday silip - sleep Haus - house raus/rausim - remove/throw out itambu - forbidden sindaun - sit down sanap - stand up dring - drink/drinking kaikai - food kaibar - place to buy food Laikim - like/ would like wantaim - together, with halivim - help noken - do not no i nap - not enough, I can’t inap - enough, can risit - receipt pulap - full up/full yu - you mi - me em - him / her / it / that blong, bilong - long belong liklik - little bikpela - big planti - plenty, lots pinis - finished