Festivals & Events

1. Hapi Kastom Faesta!

   Ha-pi Kas-tom Faes-ta!

   Happy Custom Festival!

   Usage

   Greeting for Vanuatu's traditional custom (kastom) festivals

   Grammar Note

   Bislama is a creole based on English, French, and local languages. Most vocabulary derives from English.

2. Faesta i stat wanem taem?

   Faes-ta i stat wa-nem taem?

   When does the festival start?

   Usage

   Used to ask when a festival begins

   Grammar Note

   "i" is the Bislama predicate marker placed before verbs; plural subjects take "oli".

3. Faesta i stap wea?

   Faes-ta i stap we-a?

   Where is the festival held?

   Usage

   Used to ask the location of a festival

   Grammar Note

   "Stap" derives from English "stop" but means "to be located/staying" in Bislama.

4. Mi save joen long faesta?

   Mi sa-ve jo-en long faes-ta?

   Can I join the festival?

   Usage

   Used to ask permission to join a local festival

   Grammar Note

   "Save" comes from English "savvy" and serves as a modal verb meaning "can/know how to" in Bislama.

5. Wanem kaen kakae oli kakae long faesta ia?

   Wa-nem kaen ka-kae o-li ka-kae long faes-ta i-a?

   What traditional food do they eat at this festival?

   Usage

   Used to inquire about traditional festival foods

   Grammar Note

   "Kakae" (reduplicated form, Pacific pidgin origin) means both "food" and "to eat" in Bislama.

6. Mi mas werem wanem klos long faesta?

   Mi mas we-rem wa-nem klos long faes-ta?

   What should I wear to the festival?

   Usage

   Used to ask about appropriate attire for a festival

   Grammar Note

   "Mas" comes from English "must" and expresses obligation or necessity in Bislama.

7. I gat pe blong entri?

   I gat pe blong en-tri?

   Is there an entrance fee?

   Usage

   Used to ask if there is a cost to enter a festival

   Grammar Note

   "Blong" derives from "belong to" and functions as a possessive/relational preposition in Bislama.

8. Mi wantem pem wan samting blong faesta

   Mi wan-tem pem wan sam-ting blong faes-ta

   I would like to buy something from the festival.

   Usage

   Used when wanting to buy a souvenir at a festival

   Grammar Note

   "Wantem" derives from "want" + object suffix "-em," functioning as "want to" in Bislama.

9. Wanem kastom blong faesta ia?

   Wa-nem kas-tom blong faes-ta i-a?

   What are the traditional customs of this festival?

   Usage

   Used to ask about the customs and traditions of a festival

   Grammar Note

   "Kastom" means "tradition/culture" broadly in Vanuatu and comes from English "custom."

10. Ples ia i nambawan naes!

    Ples i-a i nam-ba-wan naes!

    This place is absolutely beautiful!

    Usage

    Used to express admiration for the beauty of a festival venue or decorations

    Grammar Note

    "Nambawan" comes from "number one" and means "the best" or intensifies adjectives.

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