Religion & Temples

1. Wea nao i gat jos klosap?

   We-a nao i gat jos klo-sap?

   Where is there a church nearby?

   Usage

   Used to find a church. Vanuatu is a predominantly Christian nation

   Grammar Note

   "Where" is wea. The similar-looking wetem is the preposition "with" and cannot introduce a location question. "Jos" comes from English church; the vast majority of Vanuatu's population is Christian.

2. Prea i stat long wanem taem?

   Pre-a i stat long wa-nem taem?

   What time is the prayer service?

   Usage

   Used to ask the time of a church prayer service

   Grammar Note

   "To pray / prayer" is "prea". For the worship service itself use "wosip"

3. Kastom i impoten tumas long Vanuatu

   Kas-tom i im-po-ten tu-mas long Va-nu-a-tu

   Custom (tradition) is very important in Vanuatu

   Usage

   Used when talking about the importance of kastom (custom/tradition) in Vanuatu culture

   Grammar Note

   "kastom" = key Bislama concept referring to traditional practices, spirituality, and culture

4. Nakamal i stap wea?

   Na-ka-mal i stap we-a?

   Where is the nakamal (traditional meeting place)?

   Usage

   Used to find the nakamal, a traditional meeting/ceremony place in Vanuatu

   Grammar Note

   "Nakamal" is the traditional ceremonial and meeting ground in Vanuatu, a word from the Melanesian languages. The word for "where" is wea, not wetem (which means "with").

5. Olgeta i save danis long seremoni?

   Ol-ge-ta i sa-ve da-nis long se-re-mo-ni?

   Do they dance in the ceremony?

   Usage

   Used to ask if traditional dance is part of a ceremony or ritual

   Grammar Note

   The third person plural pronoun in Bislama is olgeta. Olketa is the Solomon Islands Pijin form

6. Mi wantem lanem kastom blong ples ia

   Mi wan-tem lanem kas-tom blong ples i-a

   I want to learn the custom of this place

   Usage

   Used to express a desire to learn about local traditions and customs

   Grammar Note

   "lanem" = from English "learn." "blong ples ia" = "of this place" (possessive)

7. Tabu ples i minim wanem?

   Ta-bu ples i mi-nim wa-nem?

   What does "tabu place" mean?

   Usage

   Used to ask about the concept of tabu (sacred/forbidden places) in Vanuatu

   Grammar Note

   "Tabu" is from Melanesian and means "sacred prohibition/taboo"; it is also the origin of English "taboo".

8. Wan naes wosip blong Sande i stap tumoro

   Wan naes wo-sip blong San-de i stap tu-mo-ro

   There is a nice Sunday service tomorrow

   Usage

   Used to inform someone about an upcoming Sunday church service

   Grammar Note

   A worship service is "wosip" (e.g. "taem yufala i mekem wosip long God"). Sunday church attendance is culturally significant in Vanuatu.

9. Pris ia i luksave tumas long kastom

   Pris i-a i luk-sa-ve tu-mas long kas-tom

   This priest knows a lot about custom

   Usage

   Used to describe a priest or religious leader who is knowledgeable about tradition

   Grammar Note

   "luksave" = compound of "luk" (look) + "save" (know) = "to understand/know well"

10. Yumi mas rispektim kastom blong ples

    Yu-mi mas ris-pek-tim kas-tom blong ples

    We must respect the customs of this place

    Usage

    Used to remind others to respect local customs and traditions

    Grammar Note

    "yumi" = inclusive "we" from "you and me." Bislama contrasts "yumi" (inclusive) and "mifala" (exclusive)

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