Nature & Outdoors

1. Volkeno ia i danjeris?

   Vol-ke-no i-a i dan-je-ris?

   Is this volcano dangerous?

   Usage

   Used to check the safety of a volcano. Vanuatu has many active volcanoes

   Grammar Note

   "ia" = demonstrative "this/here," referring to something nearby or just mentioned

2. Ples ia i gat sanbij nomo

   Ples i-a i gat san-bij no-mo

   This place only has beach

   Usage

   Used to describe a place where the beach is the main natural feature

   Grammar Note

   "Nomo" comes from English "no more" and means "only, just".Bif means "beef", not "beach".

3. Rif ia i ful long fis

   Rif i-a i ful long fis

   This reef is full of fish

   Usage

   Used to describe the rich marine life in a coral reef

   Grammar Note

   "i ful long" = "is full of." "long" serves as a multi-purpose preposition including "of"

4. Wan bigfala bus i stap klosap

   Wan big-fa-la bus i stap klo-sap

   There is a big jungle nearby

   Usage

   Used to describe the presence of a large jungle or rainforest nearby

   Grammar Note

   "bigfala" = adjective from English "big fella." "wan bigfala" = "a big (one)"

5. Wanem kaen animol i stap long bus?

   Wa-nem kaen a-ni-mol i stap long bus?

   What kind of animals are in the forest?

   Usage

   Used to ask about the animals found in the forest or bush

   Grammar Note

   "kaen" = from English "kind." "wanem kaen" = "what kind of" (question expression)

6. Wota ia i klin blong swim?

   Wo-ta i-a i klin blong swim?

   Is this water clean for swimming?

   Usage

   Used to check if the water is clean and safe for swimming

   Grammar Note

   "blong swim" = "for swimming" (purpose). "blong" also functions to mark purpose

7. San i go daon long 5 klok

   The sun sets at 5 o'clock

   Usage

   Used to tell someone the time of sunset

   Grammar Note

   "go daon" = compound verb from English "go down." Used to describe the sun setting

8. Blong lukluk long naet skai i naes tumas

   Blong lu-kluk long naet skai i naes tu-mas

   Looking at the night sky is very nice

   Usage

   Used to express appreciation for the beauty of the night sky

   Grammar Note

   "lukluk" = reduplication of "look." Reduplication in Bislama can emphasize or extend meaning

9. Rod blong go long wotafol i stap wea?

   Rod blong go long wo-ta-fol i stap we-a?

   Where is the road to the waterfall?

   Usage

   Used to ask for directions to a waterfall

   Grammar Note

   "Wotafol" comes from English waterfall; "rod blong go long X" means "the road to X". The word for "where" is wea, not wetem (which means "with").

10. Saeklon i save kam long wanem taem?

    Sae-klon i sa-ve kam long wa-nem taem?

    When does cyclone season come?

    Usage

    Used to ask about cyclone season. Vanuatu is a cyclone-prone region

    Grammar Note

    "save" = modal expressing ability or habitual action "can/usually does"

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