Post Office

1. Pos ofis i stap wea?

   Where is the post office?

   Usage

   Used to ask for the location of the post office

   Grammar Note

   Bislama is an English-based creole. "Stap" from English "stop," means "to be/stay" (location)

2. Mi wantem sanem leta ia

   I want to send this letter

   Usage

   Used at the post office when sending a letter

   Grammar Note

   "Wantem" comes from English "want him," meaning "to want." "-em" is a common transitive suffix

3. Hamas blong sanem leta long Japan?

   How much does it cost to send a letter to Japan?

   Usage

   Used to ask about international postage rates

   Grammar Note

   "Blong" is Bislama's versatile genitive/relator, from English "belong," meaning "of/for/belonging to"

4. Mi save pem stamp long ples ia?

   Can I buy stamps here?

   Usage

   Used to ask if stamps are available for purchase

   Grammar Note

   "Save" means "can/know" in Bislama. "Pem", from "pay him", is the transitive verb "to buy"

5. Mi wantem sanem pasel long narafala kantri

   I want to send a parcel abroad

   Usage

   Used when sending an international parcel

   Grammar Note

   "Kantri" is from English "country." "Narafala" means "another/other," so "narafala kantri" is "another country" (abroad)

6. Bambae i tekem hamas taem?

   How long will it take?

   Usage

   Used to ask about delivery time

   Grammar Note

   "Bambae" (or "bae") is the Bislama future tense marker, derived from English "by and by"

7. Mi wantem namba blong trakem

   I want a tracking number

   Usage

   Used when requesting a tracking number

   Grammar Note

   "Trakem" comes from "track him" — transitive form. "Blong trakem" = "for tracking"

8. Olgeta i gat postekat long ples ia?

   Do they have postcards here?

   Usage

   Used to ask if postcards are available

   Grammar Note

   "I gat" comes from "it got," meaning "has/there is." "Olgeta" is the third-person plural pronoun

9. Pasel ia i hevi hamas kilo?

   How many kilos does this package weigh?

   Usage

   Used to ask about the weight of a package

   Grammar Note

   "Hevi" comes from English "heavy." "Pasel ia i hevi hamas kilo?" is literally "this parcel is heavy how many kilos?" "Kilo" is the international unit for weight

10. Plis sanem long ekspres

    Please send it by express

    Usage

    Used when requesting express mail service

    Grammar Note

    Bislama has relatively flexible word order. "Plis" is from English "please." "Long" is a versatile preposition

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