Useful Phrases

1. Mi mekem app ia

   Mi me-kem app ia

   I made this app

   Usage

   Introduce the app in Bislama

   Grammar Note

   Bislama is the creole language of Vanuatu, derived largely from English with SVO order

2. App ia i fri

   This app is free

   Usage

   Explain the app is free

   Grammar Note

   "I" is a subject pronoun/marker in Bislama placed before verbs in third-person sentences

3. Traem daonlodem

   Traem daon-lo-dem

   Please try downloading it

   Usage

   Encourage someone to download the app

   Grammar Note

   Bislama transcribes English "try" and "download". "-em" is a transitivizing suffix

4. Mi man blong Japan

   Mi man blong Ja-pan

   I'm Japanese

   Usage

   Introduce your nationality. Women say "woman"

   Grammar Note

   "Blong" (from "belong") is Bislama's possessive/relational preposition meaning "of/from"

5. Mi wan travela

   Mi wan tra-ve-la

   I'm a traveler

   Usage

   Identify yourself as a traveler

   Grammar Note

   "Wan" is the Bislama indefinite article, derived from English "one"

6. Mi travelem wan man nomo

   Mi tra-ve-lem wan man no-mo

   I'm traveling alone

   Usage

   Tell others you are traveling solo

   Grammar Note

   "Nomo" (from "no more") means "only/just" in Bislama

7. Hemi fastaem mi kam

   He-mi fas-taem mi kam

   It's my first time here

   Usage

   Express that this is your first visit

   Grammar Note

   "Fastaem" comes from English "first time". A common Bislama time expression

8. Mi save tekem pija?

   Mi sa-ve te-kem pi-ja?

   May I take a photo?

   Usage

   Ask for permission to take a photo

   Grammar Note

   "Save" is the modal "can"; in a question it asks permission. Bislama uses "save" here rather than "inap", which is the Tok Pisin way of saying it

9. Yumi save tekem pija tugeta?

   Yu-mi sa-ve te-kem pi-ja tu-ge-ta?

   Shall we take a photo together?

   Usage

   Suggest taking a photo together

   Grammar Note

   "Yumi" is the inclusive "we" including both the speaker and the listener

10. Plis skanem QR code

    Plis ska-nem QR code

    Please scan the QR code

    Usage

    Ask someone to scan the QR code

    Grammar Note

    "Plis" from English "please". "-em" is the transitivizing suffix

11. Yu no giaman long mi

    Yu no gi-a-man long mi

    Don't cheat me

    Usage

    Used to protest being cheated or deceived

    Grammar Note

    "Yu no + verb" expresses a prohibition. "Giaman" (from English "gammon") means to cheat or lie

12. Yu no save andastendim mi

    Yu no sa-ve an-das-ten-dim mi

    You don't understand me

    Usage

    Used to tell someone they have misunderstood you

    Grammar Note

    "No save andastendim mi" means "you do not understand me". It is meant literally, not as an idiom for "don't underestimate me"

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