Markets & Souvenirs

1. Wea nao maket i stap?

   Where is the market?

   Usage

   Basic phrase to find the location of a market

   Grammar Note

   "I stap" is the Bislama verb phrase expressing existence or location

2. Hamas long hemia?

   How much is it?

   Usage

   Basic phrase to ask the price at a market

   Grammar Note

   "Hamas" derives from "how much." "Long hemia" means "for this one". "Hamas long hemia?" is the set way to ask the price of an item

3. Hemia i hamas?

   How much is this?

   Usage

   Used to ask the price of a specific item

   Grammar Note

   "Hemia" means "this one". "I" is the predicate marker placed after a third-person subject. "Hemia i hamas?" means "How much is this?"

4. Yu save daon praes?

   Can you lower the price?

   Usage

   Used to negotiate a lower price at a market

   Grammar Note

   "Save" in Bislama means "can/know how to" — used as a modal verb

5. Mi wantem pem wan.

   I'd like to buy one

   Usage

   Used to buy one item at a market

   Grammar Note

   "Mi wantem" expresses "I want to". "Buy" is "pem" in Bislama; "bai" is a variant of the future marker "bae", not the verb "buy"

6. Gat wan moa?

   Is there another one?

   Usage

   Used to ask if more stock is available

   Grammar Note

   "Gat" comes from "got," expressing existence or possession. "Moa" is from English "more"

7. Ol samting ya oli fres?

   Are these goods fresh?

   Usage

   Used to check if products at the market are fresh

   Grammar Note

   "Ol" is the plural marker. "Oli" is the plural pronoun "they." "Fres" is from English "fresh"

8. Wea mi save faendem ol lokol handikraft?

   Where can I find local handicrafts?

   Usage

   Used to find local handcrafted goods at a market

   Grammar Note

   "Faendem" is "find" with the Bislama transitive verb suffix "-em"

9. Maket i open oltaem?

   Is the market open every day?

   Usage

   Used to ask about market opening days

   Grammar Note

   "Oltaem" comes from "all time" meaning "always/all the time"

10. Yu save givim wan bag long mi?

    Can I have a bag?

    Usage

    Used to request a bag for purchased items

    Grammar Note

    "Yu save givim ... long mi?" means "Can you give me ...?". "Givim" is "give" plus the transitive ending "-im". "Long" is the preposition "to"

11. Mi laek lukluk nomo, tangkiu.

    Just browsing, thank you

    Usage

    Used to tell a vendor you are just looking

    Grammar Note

    "Nomo" comes from "no more" meaning "just/only." "Tangkiu" is from English "thank you"

12. Yu save putum ol samting long bag?

    Can you wrap/pack these items?

    Usage

    Used to ask a vendor to wrap or pack purchased items

    Grammar Note

    "Putum" is the transitive verb "put" (put + -um). "Putum ol samting long bag" means "put the things in a bag". "Ol" marks the plural

13. Yu tekem card blong pei?

    Do you accept card payment?

    Usage

    Used to ask if a vendor accepts card payment

    Grammar Note

    "Pei" is borrowed from English "pay"

14. Wea nao mi save kasem ol fres veg?

    Where can I get fresh vegetables?

    Usage

    Used to find where to buy fresh vegetables

    Grammar Note

    "Kasem" derives from "catch him" and means "to get/reach/obtain"

15. Tangkiu tumas! Bae mi kambak.

    Thank you very much! I'll come back

    Usage

    Used to thank a vendor and indicate you will return

    Grammar Note

    "Tumas" comes from "too much" meaning "very/a lot." "Kambak" is from English "come back"

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