Contacts & SNS

1. Wanem namba blong fon blong yu?

   wa-nem nam-ba blong fon blong yu

   What is your phone number?

   Usage

   Used to ask for someone's phone number

   Grammar Note

   "wanem" is the question word for "what". "Wanem namba blong fon blong yu?" asks for your phone number.

2. Wanem email blong yu?

   wa-nem e-mail blong yu

   What is your email address?

   Usage

   Used to ask someone for their email address

   Grammar Note

   "wanem" from "what name" is the question word for "what". It shares the same origin as Tok Pisin's "wanem".

3. Yu gat WhatsApp?

   yu gat Whats-App

   Do you have WhatsApp?

   Usage

   Used to check if someone uses WhatsApp

   Grammar Note

   "Yu gat...?" asks if someone has or uses something. WhatsApp is widely used in Vanuatu as a communication tool.

4. Yumi mas stap long kontakt.

   yu-mi mas stap long kon-takt

   We must stay in contact.

   Usage

   Used when suggesting to stay in touch

   Grammar Note

   "yumi" is the inclusive first person plural including both speaker and listener, identical in form and meaning to Tok Pisin's "yumi".

5. Bae yumi mitim agen taem.

   bae yu-mi mi-tim a-gen taem

   We will meet again sometime.

   Usage

   Used when promising to meet again when parting

   Grammar Note

   "bae" is Bislama's future tense marker from "by and by", sharing the same origin as Tok Pisin's "bai".

6. Hemia namba blong mi.

   he-mi-a nam-ba blong mi

   This is my number.

   Usage

   Used when sharing your own contact number

   Grammar Note

   "hemia" from "here him" is a demonstrative pronoun meaning this or here. Placed at the start, it means this is...

7. Yu gat Facebook?

   yu gat Face-book

   Do you have Facebook?

   Usage

   Used to connect on Facebook in Vanuatu

   Grammar Note

   Facebook is the most widely used social media in Vanuatu. Its use has grown with mobile internet, especially among youth.

8. Mi save ringim yu?

   mi sa-ve ring-im yu

   Can I call you?

   Usage

   Used to ask permission to call someone

   Grammar Note

   "save" functions as a modal verb for ability in Bislama, the same usage as in Tok Pisin.

9. Bae yumi jenisim namba blong yumi.

   bae yu-mi jen-i-sim nam-ba blong yu-mi

   We will exchange our numbers.

   Usage

   Used to suggest exchanging phone numbers

   Grammar Note

   "jenisim" from "change him" means to exchange. The "-im/em" suffix is Bislama's transitive verb marker.

10. Yu stap long wanem social media?

    yu stap long wa-nem so-cial me-di-a

    What social media are you on?

    Usage

    Used to ask which social media someone uses

    Grammar Note

    "stap long" is identical to Tok Pisin usage, meaning to be at or using something. Bislama and Tok Pisin share very similar grammatical structures.

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