Public Transport

1. Wanem bas i go long taon?

   Wa-nem bas i go long taon?

   Which bus goes to the city center?

   Usage

   Used at a bus stop to find the correct bus to town

   Grammar Note

   Bislama is an English-based creole. "i" is the third person subject pronoun

2. Hamas stop i gat kasem [ples]?

   Ha-mas stop i gat ka-sem [ples]?

   How many stops to [destination]?

   Usage

   Used to ask how many stops to the destination

   Grammar Note

   "hamas" is the Bislama question word for quantity

3. Plis, mi wantem kamdaon long ples ia.

   Plis, mi wan-tem kam-daon long ples i-a.

   Please let me off here.

   Usage

   Used to ask the driver to let you off here

   Grammar Note

   Getting off is "kamdaon" (e.g. "Sakias, yu kamdaon kwik"). Bislama "here" is "long ples ia"

4. Samwan i stap long sit ia?

   Sam-wan i stap long sit i-a?

   Is this seat taken?

   Usage

   Used to check if a seat is occupied

   Grammar Note

   "ia" is a demonstrative meaning "this". "stap" expresses ongoing action or presence

5. Wanem taem las bas i kam?

   Wa-nem taem las bas i kam?

   What time is the last bus?

   Usage

   Used to find out when the last bus comes

   Grammar Note

   "las" comes from English "last" and means "last"; placed before a noun, "las bas" is "the last bus"

6. Wea mi save pem tiket?

   We-a mi sa-ve pem ti-ket?

   Where can I buy a ticket?

   Usage

   Used to ask where to purchase a transport ticket

   Grammar Note

   "save" is a modal verb expressing ability — a core word in Bislama

7. Bas ia i stap long maket?

   Bas i-a i stap long ma-ket?

   Does this bus stop at the market?

   Usage

   Used to confirm whether the bus stops at the market

   Grammar Note

   "long" is a multipurpose preposition in Bislama indicating location

8. Long wanem platform i lego?

   Long wa-nem plat-form i le-go?

   Which platform does it depart from?

   Usage

   Used at a station to find the correct departure platform

   Grammar Note

   "lego" is from English "let go" and means to depart or leave

9. I gat rod stret i go?

   Is there a direct route?

   Usage

   Used to ask if there is a direct route

   Grammar Note

   "i gat" is the existential expression meaning "there is/are"

10. Rod i laekem hamas taem?

    Rod i lae-kem ha-mas taem?

    How long does the journey take?

    Usage

    Used to ask the duration of the journey

    Grammar Note

    "laekem" derives from "like him" and means "to take/require"

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