Greetings

1. Halo

   Ha-lo

   Hello

   Usage

   Most common greeting, usable at any time of day

   Grammar Note

   Bislama is an English-based creole with French influence. English speakers will find the pronunciation familiar.

2. Tangkiu tumas

   Tang-kiu tu-mas

   Thank you very much

   Usage

   Polite thanks. "Tangkiu" alone also works

   Grammar Note

   "Tumas" is the standard intensifier in Bislama, derived from English "too much." Used widely to mean "very."

3. Gudbae

   Gud-bae

   Goodbye

   Usage

   Farewell greeting

   Grammar Note

   Bislama phonology tends to end words in vowels. "Goodbye" becomes "gudbae" following this pattern.

4. Yu oraet?

   Yu o-raet?

   Are you okay / How are you?

   Usage

   Casual check-in. Reply with "Mi oraet" (I'm fine)

   Grammar Note

   Bislama follows SVO word order. "Yu oraet?" means "You are okay?" Questions are formed by intonation, not word order change.

5. Mi oraet, tangkiu

   Mi o-raet, tang-kiu

   I'm fine, thank you

   Usage

   Response to "Yu oraet?"

   Grammar Note

   "Mi" is used as subject (English uses "I" as subject). Creole languages typically use the same form for all cases.

6. Nem blong mi...

   My name is...

   Usage

   Self-introduction. Fill in "..." with your name

   Grammar Note

   "Blong" (from "belong") is one of the most important words in Bislama, marking possession. "X blong Y" = "Y's X." Equivalent to Tok Pisin "bilong."

7. Sori

   So-ri

   Sorry / Excuse me

   Usage

   Used to apologize or to get someone's attention

   Grammar Note

   "Sori tumas" expresses a deeper apology. Used for everything from minor inconveniences to serious apologies.

8. Yu save toktok Inglis?

   Yu sa-ve tok-tok Ing-lis?

   Do you speak English?

   Usage

   Essential phrase to check if someone speaks English

   Grammar Note

   "Save" is a Portuguese-origin auxiliary verb (from "saber", via Pacific pidgin) for ability in Bislama. To speak a language is "toktok"; "tokbaot" means "talk about", so "tokbaot Inglis" would mean "talk about English".

9. Mi no save

   Mi no sa-ve

   I don't understand / I don't know

   Usage

   When you don't understand or don't know something

   Grammar Note

   Bislama negation places "no" before the verb. "Mi no save" covers both "I don't understand" and "I can't."

10. Plis

    Please

    Usage

    Added to requests to make them polite

    Grammar Note

    "Plis" can come at the start or end of a sentence. E.g., "Plis, yu givim mi..." (Please give me...).

11. Welkam long Vanuatu

    Wel-kam long Va-nu-a-tu

    Welcome to Vanuatu

    Usage

    Used to welcome visitors to Vanuatu

    Grammar Note

    "Long" is the all-purpose preposition in Bislama, equivalent to English at/in/to/on depending on context.

12. Lukim yu bihain

    Lu-kim yu bi-hain

    See you later

    Usage

    Casual farewell between friends

    Grammar Note

    Bislama often adds "-im" to transitive verbs (e.g., "lukim" = look + him). This is a characteristic transitive marker in creole languages.

13. Toelet i stap wea?

    Toe-let i stap we-a?

    Where is the toilet/bathroom?

    Usage

    Practical phrase for asking where the toilet is. Essential when traveling.

    Grammar Note

    Bislama is an English-based creole, but borrowings are respelt in Bislama orthography: "toelet", not "toilet". "Wea" (from "where") is the question word for location.

14. Mi no save toktok Bislama.

    Mi no sa-ve tok-tok Bis-la-ma.

    I can't speak Bislama

    Usage

    Used to explain you cannot speak Bislama. Helpful when someone addresses you in the language.

    Grammar Note

    "No save" means "cannot". "Save" (to know/be able) comes from Portuguese "saber" — a common Creole feature.

15. Bae mi kambak bakegen.

    I'll come again

    Usage

    Said when leaving a shop or restaurant

16. Mi harem gud tumas.

    Mi ha-rem gud tu-mas.

    I had a great time

    Usage

    Said as you part ways

    Grammar Note

    "Harem gud" (feel good) is a standard Bislama idiom

17. Tangkiu, lukim yu!

    Tang-kiu, lu-kim yu!

    Thanks, see you

    Usage

    A casual farewell

18. Gudnaet

    Gud-naet

    Good night

    Usage

    From English "good night." In Bislama it is used both as an evening greeting and a bedtime farewell

19. Yu welkam

    Yu wel-kam

    You're welcome

    Usage

    Reply to "Tangkiu" (thank you). From English "you're welcome"

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