Hotel

1. Mi wantem buk wan rum

   Mi wan-tem buk wan rum

   I want to book a room

   Usage

   Checking in at a hotel or guesthouse

   Grammar Note

   Vanuatu has accommodation from luxury hotels to bungalows. "Buk" (book) is used for all types of reservations.

2. Hamas long rum long wan naet?

   Ha-mas long rum long wan naet?

   How much is the room per night?

   Usage

   Asking the room rate

   Grammar Note

   Vanuatu's currency is the vatu (VT). "Hamas long rum long wan naet?" directly asks the room rate per night.

3. Mi gat buking

   Mi gat bu-king

   I have a booking

   Usage

   Informing reception of your reservation at check-in

   Grammar Note

   English gerunds (-ing forms) are often borrowed directly as nouns in Bislama. "Buking" functions as the noun "booking/reservation."

4. Rum blong mi i redi?

   Rum blong mi i re-di?

   Is my room ready?

   Usage

   Checking if the room is ready at check-in

   Grammar Note

   "I" in "rum blong mi i redi?" is the predicate marker. Questions are formed by rising intonation, not word order change.

5. Wea ples blong wasem klos?

   We-a ples blong wa-sem klos?

   Where is the laundry?

   Usage

   Asking for the laundry facilities

   Grammar Note

   "Wea ples blong...?" asks "Where is the place for...?" The pattern "ples blong [verb]" creates a noun phrase meaning "place for doing X."

6. AC i no wok

   The air conditioning is not working

   Usage

   Reporting a broken facility

   Grammar Note

   "X i no wok" is the standard way to say something is broken. Works for "laetem" (light), "fenis" (fan), etc.

7. Mi wantem narafala rum

   Mi wan-tem na-ra-fa-la rum

   I want a different room

   Usage

   Requesting a room change

   Grammar Note

   "Narafala" functions as an adjective meaning "another/different." It precedes the noun it modifies.

8. Wanem taem mi mas chekaot?

   Wa-nem taem mi mas chek-aot?

   What time do I need to check out?

   Usage

   Asking for the check-out time

   Grammar Note

   "Mas" is the obligation modal (must). "Wanem taem mi mas X?" means "At what time must I X?" — the standard way to ask a deadline.

9. Yu save lukaot long bakpak blong mi?

   Yu sa-ve lu-ka-ot long bak-pak blong mi?

   Can you look after my bag?

   Usage

   Asking staff to store luggage after check-out

   Grammar Note

   "Lukaot long X" means "take care of X." "Lukaot" (look out) covers both watching and caring for something.

10. Taon senta i klosap?

    Ta-on sen-ta i klo-sap?

    Is the town centre close?

    Usage

    Checking proximity to the town centre from your hotel

    Grammar Note

    "Klosap" (close up) is the antonym of "longwe" (far). Port Vila is Vanuatu's capital and main shopping/dining hub.

11. Tawel

    Towel

    Usage

    Point at it to ask for one in your room

12. Pilo

    Pillow

    Usage

    Point at it to ask for one in your room

13. Blangket

    Blanket

    Usage

    Point at it to ask for one in your room

14. Sop

    Soap

    Usage

    Point at it to ask for one in your room

15. Sampo

    Shampoo

    Usage

    Point at it to ask for one in your room

16. Tutbras

    Toothbrush

    Usage

    Point at it to ask for one in your room

17. Toelet pepa

    Toilet paper

    Usage

    Point at it to ask for one in your room

18. Plis klinim rum

    Please clean the room

    Usage

    Ask for the room to be cleaned

19. Rum we i kwaet

    A quiet room

    Usage

    Ask to be moved to a quieter room

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