Numbers

1. wan, tu, tri, fo, faef

   One, two, three, four, five

   Usage

   Basic numbers from one to five

   Grammar Note

   Bislama numbers are adapted from English. They differ slightly from Tok Pisin (4 is fo vs foa, 5 is faef vs faiv).

2. sikis, seven, eit, naen, ten

   si-kis, se-ven, eit, naen, ten

   Six, seven, eight, nine, ten

   Usage

   Numbers from six to ten

   Grammar Note

   Bislama's 9 is "naen" (Tok Pisin uses "nain"). Creole languages develop regional phonological variations over time. Eight is "eit" ("et" is the Tok Pisin spelling)

3. wan hanred

   wan han-red

   One hundred

   Usage

   Used to express one hundred

   Grammar Note

   Combine: "wan hanred" (100), "tu hanred" (200). Bislama uses "hanred" while Tok Pisin uses "handet".

4. wan taosen

   wan tao-sen

   One thousand

   Usage

   Used to express one thousand

   Grammar Note

   "taosen" from "thousand". Vanuatu's currency is the vatu (VUV), approximately 115 VUV per 1 USD.

5. Hamas?

   ha-mas

   How much?

   Usage

   The simplest way to ask about price or quantity

   Grammar Note

   "Hamas?" alone means how much. Bislama frequently uses context-dependent abbreviated expressions.

6. haf haf

   Half

   Usage

   Used to express half a quantity

   Grammar Note

   "haf haf" is the reduplication of "half". Similar to Tok Pisin's "hap hap", illustrating shared Melanesian Pidgin patterns.

7. plante

   plan-te

   Many/plenty

   Usage

   Used to express a large quantity

   Grammar Note

   "plante" from "plenty" is the same origin as Tok Pisin's "planti" but with slightly different final consonant.

8. smol smol

   A little/few

   Usage

   Used to express a small quantity

   Grammar Note

   "smol smol" is the reduplication of "small" meaning just a little. Reduplications in Bislama express emphasis or diminutiveness.

9. Hamas vatu?

   ha-mas va-tu

   How many vatu does it cost? (Vanuatu's currency)

   Usage

   Used to ask about prices in Vanuatu's currency vatu

   Grammar Note

   Vatu (VUV) is Vanuatu's official currency. The word "vatu" comes from indigenous Vanuatu languages meaning stone or rock.

10. Mi wantem pem tri blong hem.

    mi wan-tem pem tri blong hem

    I want to buy three of those.

    Usage

    Used to specify the quantity you want to purchase

    Grammar Note

    "tri blong hem" means three of those. "blong" indicates possession/relation. Numbers can also be placed directly before nouns.

11. Namba blong rum blong mi i wanem?

    nam-ba blong rum blong mi i wa-nem

    What is my room number?

    Usage

    Used to ask or confirm a hotel room number

    Grammar Note

    "wanem" as question word at sentence end. "Namba blong rum blong mi i wanem?" is a complete question for room number.

12. Plis givim mi senis.

    plis giv-im mi se-nis

    Please give me change.

    Usage

    Used to request change when shopping

    Grammar Note

    "Plis" (from please) adds politeness.Chens is avoided because it collides with English "chance".

13. Mi gat twanteseven yia

    Mi gat twan-te-se-ven yi-a

    I'm 27 years old

    Usage

    How to answer with your age. Swap the number to give any other age.

    Grammar Note

    Bislama states age with "gat" (have).

14. Long yia ya, bambae mi gat twanteeit yia

    Long yi-a ya, bam-bae mi gat twan-te-eit yi-a

    I turn 28 this year

    Usage

    Used to state the age you reach in the current year.

    Grammar Note

    "Bambae" marks the future and stands before the subject. "Ya" is a post-posed demonstrative that pins down the preceding noun, so "yia ya" = this year.

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