Money & Exchange

1. Hamas long hemia?

   Ha-mas long he-mi-a?

   How much does this cost?

   Usage

   Basic phrase used to ask the price of something in a market or shop

   Grammar Note

   Prices use the frame "Hamas long X?" ("how much for X?"), e.g. "Hamas long emia?" (how much for this?), "Hamas long wan?" (how much for one?), "Hamas long wan rum long wan naet?" (how much per room per night?).

2. Mi wantem senis mane

   Mi wan-tem se-nis ma-ne

   I want to exchange money

   Usage

   Used when wanting to exchange foreign currency

   Grammar Note

   "wantem" derives from English "want him/it." "-em/-im" acts as a transitive verb suffix

3. Olsem wanem blong pem long kad?

   Ol-sem wa-nem blong pem long kad?

   Is it possible to pay by card?

   Usage

   Used to check if card payment is accepted

   Grammar Note

   "blong" = Bislama preposition meaning "of/for." Derived from English "belong"

4. I gat ATM long ples ia?

   I gat ATM long ples i-a?

   Is there an ATM in this place?

   Usage

   Used when looking for an ATM to withdraw cash

   Grammar Note

   Existential questions are formed with clause-initial i gat. "Long" is the general locative preposition.

5. Praes blong hemia i hae tumas

   Praes blong he-mi-a i hae tu-mas

   The price of this is too high

   Usage

   Used when the price is too high

   Grammar Note

   "tumas" derives from English "too much." "hae tumas" = "too high"

6. Yu save givim senis long mi?

   Yu sa-ve gi-vim se-nis long mi?

   Can you give me change?

   Usage

   Used to ask for change when paying with large bills

   Grammar Note

   "save" = Bislama modal "can/know how to." Derived from English "savvy"

7. Wanem mane oli yusum long Vanuatu?

   Wa-nem ma-ne o-li yu-sum long Va-nu-a-tu?

   What currency is used in Vanuatu?

   Usage

   Used to ask about the currency used in Vanuatu — the Vatu

   Grammar Note

   "Money, currency" is mane. Kaon means "debt, credit", not "currency".

8. Mi nidim risit

   Mi ni-dim ri-sit

   I need a receipt

   Usage

   Used to request a receipt after a purchase

   Grammar Note

   "nidim" derives from English "need him/it." "-m" is a transitivizing suffix

9. I gat bank klosap?

   I gat bank klo-sap?

   Is there a bank nearby?

   Usage

   Used to ask if there is a bank in the vicinity

   Grammar Note

   "i gat" = "there is" from "it got/has." "klosap" = "nearby" from English "close up"

10. Plis, mi wantem spenem smol mane

    Plis, mi wan-tem spe-nem smol ma-ne

    Please, I want to spend a little money

    Usage

    Used when wanting to make a small purchase or spend a little money

    Grammar Note

    "spenem" = from English "spend him/it." "smol" = from English "small"

11. Kas

    Cash

    Usage

    Point at it to show how you will pay

12. Kad

    Card (payment)

    Usage

    Point at it to show how you will pay

13. Wanwan i pem blong hem

    Split the bill

    Usage

    Ask to pay separately

14. Wan man i pem olgeta

    One person pays for everything

    Usage

    Ask to pay for everyone at once

15. I sas tumas

    That is too expensive

    Usage

    Use when bargaining

16. Senis

    Change (money back)

    Usage

    Ask for your change

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