Australian Kriol phrasebook

creole language developed in Australia from an English-pidgin

Kriol is an English-based creole language spoken in the Top End and Kimberley regions of Northern Australia. It is spoken mainly in remote communities by Australian Aboriginals. It is distinct from Torres Strait Creole and Aboriginal English. Australian Kriol is also the largest spoken language that is exclusively spoken in Australia. According to the 2011 census, it was said to have 4,000 native speakers, that being said, the numbers are largely believed to be underrepresented as the census data struggles to accurately capture high levels of multilingualism in remote Aboriginal communities meaning the numbers could be as high as 40,000 speakers.

A problem facing many communities in Northern Australia is that creole-speaking children are treated as though they speak English, but speak it so badly; and so they do not receive education in English as a second language. On the other hand, because they are not regarded as having a native mother tongue, they are denied access to education in their traditional language.

Pronunciation guide

Vowels

Consonants

Common diphthongs

Phrase list

Basics

Quick Facts
Hello.
Alo. ( )
Hello. (informal)
Gude. ( )
How are you?
 ? ( ?)
Fine, thank you.
. ( )
What is your name?
 ? ( ?)
My name is ______ .
______ . ( _____ .)
Nice to meet you.
. ( )
Please.
plij. (pli-dj)
Thank you.
teingkyu. (tei-ng-k-yoo)
You're welcome.
. ( )
Yes.
Ye. ( )
No.
No. ( )
No (none, no more).
Nomo. ( )
Excuse me. (getting attention)
. ( )
Excuseme. (begging pardon)
. ( )
I'm sorry.
. ( )
Goodbye
. ( )
Goodbye (informal)
. ( )
I can't speak Kriol [well].
Mi no tok Kriol [gud]. ( [ ])
Do you speak English?
Du yu tok Inglis? ( ?)
Is there someone here who speaks English?
 ? ( ?)
Help!
Help! ( !)
Look out!
 ! ( !)
Good morning.
. ( )
Good evening.
. ( )
Good night.
. ( )
Good night (to sleep)
. ( )
I don't understand.
. ( )
Where is the toilet?
 ? ( ?)

Problems

Leave me alone.
. ( .)
Don't touch me!
 ! ( !)
I'll call the police.
. ( .)
Police!
 ! ( !)
Stop! Thief!
 ! ! ( ! !)
I need your help.
. ( .)
It's an emergency.
. ( .)
I'm lost.
Ai am buj. ( .)
I lost my bag.
. ( .)
I lost my wallet.
. ( .)
I feel sick.
Ai filim jik. ( .)
I've been injured.
. ( .)
I need a doctor.
. ( .)
Can I use your phone?
 ? ( ?)

Numbers

1
wan ( )
2
tu ( )
3
thri ( )
4
fo (ph-o)
5
faib ( )
6
siks ( )
7
seben ( )
8
eit (ei-t)
9
nain (nein)
10
ten (ten)
11
leben (leb-n)
12
twelbala ( )
13
( )
14
( )
15
( )
16
( )
17
( )
18
( )
19
( )
20
( )
21
( )
22
( )
23
( )
30
( )
40
( )
50
( )
60
( )
70
( )
80
( )
90
( )
100
( )
200
( )
300
( )
1,000
( )
2,000
( )
1,000,000
( )
1,000,000,000
( )
1,000,000,000,000
( )
number _____ (train, bus, etc.)
( )
half
( )
less
( )
more
( )

Time

now
nau (na-oo)
later
( )
before
( )
morning
( )
afternoon
( )
evening
( )
night
( )

Clock time

one o'clock AM
( )
two o'clock AM
( )
noon
nun (n-un)/dina (dee-na)
one o'clock PM
( )
two o'clock PM
( )
midnight
midnait ( mid-neight)

Duration

_____ minute(s)
( )
_____ hour(s)
_____ awa(s_ ( )
_____ day(s)
_____ dei(s) ( )
_____ week(s)
_____ wik(s) ( )
_____ month(s)
_____ mans (mant if singular) ( )
_____ year(s)
( )

Days

today
tudei ( )
yesterday
yestadei ( )
tomorrow
tumara ( )
this week
( )
last week
( )
next week
( )
Sunday
Sandei ( )
Monday
Mandei ( )
Tuesday
Tyusdei ( )
Wednesday
Wensdei ( )
Thursday
Thesdei ( )
Friday
Fraidei ( )
Saturday
Sadadei ( )

Months


January
Jenyuweri ( )
February
Februweri ( )
March
Matj ( )
April
Eiprul ( )
May
Mei ( )
June
Jun ( )
July
Julai ( )
August
Ogis ( )
September
Septemba ( )
October
Oktoba ( )
November
Nobemba ( )
December
Disemba ( )

Writing time and date

The time and date is usually written the same way as it is in the rest of Australia, with usually with either the Mmm DD YYYY or DD Mmm YYYY format with both the 12 and the 24 hour clock being used.

Colours

black
blek (bl-eck)
white
wait (wei-t)
grey
grei (gr-ay)
red
red (read)
blue
blu (blu)
yellow
yela (ye-lla)
green
grin (gr-i-n)
orange
arinj (å-riñ-j)
purple
pepul (pep-ool)
brown
braun/bran (br-awn)

Transportation

Bus and train

How much is a ticket to _____?
( )
One ticket to _____, please.
( )
Where does this train/bus go?
( )
Where is the train/bus to _____?
( )
Does this train/bus stop in _____?
( )
When does the train/bus for _____ leave?
( )
When will this train/bus arrive in _____?
( )

Directions

How do I get to _____ ?
( )
...the train station?
( )
...the bus station?
( )
...the airport?
( )
...CBD?
( )
...the youth hostel?
( )
...the _____ hotel?
( )
...the American/Canadian/British consulate?
( )
Where are there a lot of...
( )
...hotels?
( )
...restaurants?
( )
...bars?
( )
...sites to see?
( )
Can you show me on the map?
( )
street
( )
Turn left.
( )
Turn right.
( )
left
lef (le-f)
right
raitwan (ra-i-t-waan)
straight ahead
( )
towards the _____
( )
past the _____
( )
before the _____
( )
Watch for the _____.
( )
intersection
( )
north
Noth ( )
south
sauth ( )
east
sangidap/is ( )
west
sangodan/wes ( )
uphill
( )
downhill
( )

Taxi

Taxi!
( )
Take me to _____, please.
( )
How much does it cost to get to _____?
( )
Take me there, please.
( )

Lodging

Do you have any rooms available?
( )
How much is a room for one person/two people?
( )
Does the room come with...
( )
...bedsheets?
( )
...a bathroom?
( )
...a telephone?
( )
...a TV?
( )
May I see the room first?
( )
Do you have anything quieter?
( )
...bigger?
( )
...cleaner?
( )
...cheaper?
( )
OK, I'll take it.
( )
I will stay for _____ night(s).
( )
Can you suggest another hotel?
( )
Do you have a safe?
( )
...lockers?
( )
Is breakfast/supper included?
( )
What time is breakfast/supper?
( )
Please clean my room.
( )
Can you wake me at _____?
( )
I want to check out.
( )

Money

Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars?
( )
Do you accept British pounds?
( )
Do you accept euros?
( )
Do you accept credit cards?
( )
Can you change money for me?
( )
Where can I get money changed?
( )
Can you change a traveler's check for me?
( )
Where can I get a traveler's check changed?
( )
What is the exchange rate?
( )
Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)?
( )

Eating

A table for one person/two people, please.
( )
Can I look at the menu, please?
( )
Can I look in the kitchen?
( )
Is there a house specialty?
( )
Is there a local specialty?
( )
I'm a vegetarian.
( )
I don't eat pork.
( )
I don't eat beef.
( )
I only eat kosher food.
( )
Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard)
( )
fixed-price meal
( )
a la carte
( )
breakfast
( )
lunch
( )
tea (meal)
( )
supper
( )
I want _____.
( )
I want a dish containing _____.
( )
chicken
( )
beef
( )
fish
( )
ham
( )
sausage
( )
cheese
( )
eggs
( )
salad
( )
(fresh) vegetables
( )
(fresh) fruit
( )
bread
( )
toast
( )
noodles
( )
rice
( )
beans
( )
May I have a glass of _____?
( )
May I have a cup of _____?
( )
May I have a bottle of _____?
( )
coffee
( )
tea (drink)
( )
juice
( )
(bubbly) water
( )
(still) water
( )
beer
( )
red/white wine
( )
May I have some _____?
( )
salt
( )
black pepper
( )
butter
( )
Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server)
( )
I'm finished.
( )
It was delicious.
( )
Please clear the plates.
( )
The check, please.
( )

Bars

Do you serve alcohol?
( )
Is there table service?
( )
A beer/two beers, please.
( )
A glass of red/white wine, please.
( )
A pint, please.
( )
A bottle, please.
( )
_____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please.
( )
whiskey
( )
vodka
( )
rum
( )
water
woda (wo-da)
club soda
( )
tonic water
( )
orange juice
( )
Coke (soda)
( )
Do you have any bar snacks?
( )
One more, please.
( )
Another round, please.
( )
When is closing time?
( )
Cheers!
( )

Shopping

Do you have this in my size?
( )
How much is this?
( )
That's too expensive.
( )
Would you take _____?
( )
expensive
( )
cheap
( )
I can't afford it.
( )
I don't want it.
( )
You're cheating me.
( )
I'm not interested.
(..)
OK, I'll take it.
( )
Can I have a bag?
( )
Do you ship (overseas)?
( )
I need...
( )
...toothpaste.
( )
...a toothbrush.
( )
...tampons.
. ( )
...soap.
( )
...shampoo.
( )
...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen)
( )
...cold medicine.
( )
...stomach medicine.
... ( )
...a razor.
( )
...an umbrella.
( )
...sunblock lotion.
( )
...a postcard.
( )
...postage stamps.
( )
...batteries.
( )
...writing paper.
( )
...a pen.
( )
...English-language books.
( )
...English-language magazines.
( )
...an English-language newspaper.
( )
...an English-English dictionary.
( )
is your bill not right?
Yor bill not riet? ( ) (you won't ever need to use this phrase, but you might hear it)

Driving

I want to rent a car.
( )
Can I get insurance?
( )
stop (on a street sign)
( )
one way
( )
yield
( )
no parking
( )
speed limit
( )
service station
( )
petrol
( )
diesel
( )

Authority

I haven't done anything wrong.
( )
It was a misunderstanding.
( )
Where are you taking me?
( )
Am I under arrest?
( )
I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen.
( )
I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate.
( )
I want to talk to a lawyer.
( )
Can I just pay a fine now?
( )

Learn more

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