Transportation

1. Mi wantem go long...

   Mi wan-tem go long...

   I want to go to...

   Usage

   Basic phrase for stating your destination

   Grammar Note

   "Long" is the all-purpose directional/locative preposition. Use "Mi wantem go long [place]" to state your destination.

2. Hamas long tiket?

   Ha-mas long ti-ket?

   How much is the ticket?

   Usage

   Asking the fare for transport

   Grammar Note

   "Hamas long X?" is the standard price question in Bislama. Usable for transport fares, shopping, and more.

3. Bas i stap wea?

   Bas i stap we-a?

   Where is the bus stop?

   Usage

   Finding the bus stop

   Grammar Note

   "X i stap wea?" is the standard location question. Transport on Vanuatu's islands is mainly by minibus or boat.

4. Mi wantem wan taksi

   Mi wan-tem wan tak-si

   I want a taxi

   Usage

   Looking for a taxi

   Grammar Note

   "Wan" serves as the indefinite article in Bislama, equivalent to "a/an." Definite reference is often marked by "ia" (this).

5. Stopem long ples ia, plis

   Sto-pem long ples i-a, plis

   Stop here, please

   Usage

   Telling a taxi or bus driver to stop

   Grammar Note

   "Stopem" is the transitive imperative form.

6. Ples blong mi i longwe?

   Ples blong mi i long-we?

   Is my destination far?

   Usage

   Checking if your destination is far

   Grammar Note

   "Longwe" (far) from "long way" and "klosap" (near) from "close up" are examples of Bislama collapsing English phrases into single words.

7. Bot i lego wanem taem?

   Bot i le-go wa-nem taem?

   What time does the boat leave?

   Usage

   Asking departure time for inter-island boat travel

   Grammar Note

   Island-hopping in Vanuatu relies on speedboats and ferries. "Lego" (let go) is the standard verb for departure.

8. Epot i stap wea?

   E-pot i stap we-a?

   Where is the airport?

   Usage

   Finding the airport

   Grammar Note

   Bislama simplifies final consonant clusters (airport → epot). The main international airport is Bauerfield in Port Vila.

9. Yu save tekem mi go long...

   Yu sa-ve tek-em mi go long...

   Can you take me to...?

   Usage

   Asking a taxi driver or acquaintance for a ride

   Grammar Note

   "Save" is the ability modal, traced to Portuguese "saber" (via Pacific Pidgin English). Bislama's vocabulary is mostly English, with some French words from Vanuatu's history as a joint British-French Condominium.

10. Mi lus rod

    I am lost

    Usage

    When you are lost

    Grammar Note

    "Mi lus rod" literally means "I have lost the road." Follow with "Yu save givhan mi?" (Can you help me?) to ask for directions.

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