Pijin phrasebook

Pijin is the main language of the Solomon Islands.

Pronunciation guide

Vowels

a: like 'a' in "father"
e: like 'a' in "baby"
i: like 'ee' in "week"
o: like 'oa' in "boat"
u: like 'oo' in "moon"

Consonants

Common diphthongs

Phrase list

Some phrases in this phrasebook still need to be translated. If you know anything about this language, you can help by plunging forward and translating a phrase.

Basics

Hello.: Halo.
How are you?: Iu hao?
Fine, thank you.: Mi gud tumas. (Me olrite, tangio )
What is your name?: Hao nao nem blo yu?
My name is ______ .: Nem blo me ______ .
Nice to meet you.: Gud tumas fo mitim you.
Please.: Plis.
Thank you.: Tanggio. / Tagio Tumas
You're welcome.: . ( )
Yes.: Yes / Ya ba.
No.: No / Nomoa.
Excuse me. (getting attention): TsssTsss. ( sound made by hissing through teeth. Also used to tell a bus driver to stop)
You’re beautiful.: Yu nicebola
Excuse me. (begging pardon): Excuse mi/ Sorry missus/sir. (Ae fren )
I'm sorry.: Mi sore / sore tumas.
Goodbye: Gutbae
Goodbye (informal): Lukim iu. / Bae
I can't speak Pijin [well].: Mi no save [gud] stori lo Pijin/ me no save pijin gud
Do you speak English?: Iu save stori lo inglish?/ iu save inglis
Is there someone here who speaks English?: Aniwan lo hia save stori lo Inglis?/ aniwan save inglis lo hea
Help!: Help!
Look out!: Luk aot!
Good morning.: Moning.
Good evening.: Ivinin ( )
Good night.: Gudnaet. ( )
Good night (to sleep): Gudnaet bae mi go fo slip.
I don't understand.: Mi no save / Mi no understandim / Mi no minim
Where is the toilet?: Wea na toilet/loo?

Problems

Leave me alone.: . (iu go.) - go awe
Don't touch me!: No holem mi
I'll call the police.: Bae mi kolem polis.
Police!: Polis!
Stop! Thief!: Stop! Beliga!
I need your help.: Yu save helpim mi?
It's an emergency.: Hem emergency ia.
I'm lost.: Mi lus.
I lost my bag.: Mi lusim basket blo mi.
I lost my wallet.: Mi lusim wallet blo mi.
I'm sick.: Mi siki.
I've been injured.: Mi garem soa.
I need a doctor.: Mi nidim dokta.
Can I use your phone?: Mi save usim fon blo iu?

Numbers

0: siro ( )
1: wan ( )
2: tu ( )
3: tri ( )
4: foa ( )
5: faev ( )
6: siks / sikis ( )
7: seven ( )
8: eit ( )
9: naen ( )
10: ten ( )
11: leven ( )
12: tuel ( )
13: tetin ( )
14: fotin ( )
15: fiftin ( )
16: sikstin ( )
17: seventin ( )
18: eitin ( )
19: naentin ( )
20: tuenti ( )
21: tuenti wan ( )
22: tuenti tu ( )
23: tuentu tri ( )
30: teti ( )
40: foti ( )
50: fifti ( )
60: siksti ( )
70: seventi ( )
80: eiti ( )
90: naenti ( )
100: handred ( )
200: tu handred ( )
300: tri handred ( )
1,000: taosen ( )
2,000: tu taosen ( )
1,000,000: million ( )
1,000,000,000: ( )
1,000,000,000,000: ( )
number _____ (train, bus, etc.): namba _____
half: haf ( )
less: led ( )
more: moa

Time

now: distaem
later: afta
before: bifo
morning: mone / moningtaem
afternoon: aftanun (afta-n-oo-n)
evening: ivinin
night: naet / naet taem

Clock time

one o'clock AM: (" ")
two o'clock AM: ( )
noon: melewan dia
one o'clock PM: ( )
two o'clock PM: ( )
midnight: melewan naet

Duration

_____ minute(s): minut
_____ hour(s): awa
_____ day(s): dei
_____ week(s): wik
_____ month(s): ( )
_____ year(s): yia

Days

today: tude
yesterday: yestade
tomorrow: ( )
this week: ( )
last week: ( )
next week: ( )

Sunday: ( )
Monday: ( )
Tuesday: ( )
Wednesday: ( )
Thursday: ( )
Friday: ( )
Saturday: ( )

Months

January: Januari
February: Februari
March: Mas
April: Epril / Eprol / Eprolo
May: Mei
June: Jun
July: Julai
August: Ogast / Ogas
September: Septemba
October: Oktoba
November: Novemba
December: Disemba

Writing time and date

Colors

black: (blak)
white: (waet)
gray: ( )
red: ( )
blue: (blu)
yellow: ( )
green: ( )
orange: ( )
purple: ( )
brown: ( )

Transportation

Bus and train

How much is a ticket to _____?: Hao mas na ticket fo _____?
One ticket to _____, please.: Onefa ticket lo _____, plis
Where does this train/bus go?: Disfala bus go lo (wea)?
Where is the train/bus to _____?: Disfala bus go lo _____?
Does this train/bus stop in _____?: Bae disfala bus stap lo _____?
When does the train/bus for _____ leave?: Disfala bus go wat taem?
When will this train/bus arrive?: Wataem bae bus kasem lo hia?

Directions

How do I get to _____?: Hao nao mi save kasem _____?
...the bus station?: ( )
...the airport?: ( )
...downtown?: ( )
...the youth hostel?: ( )
...the _____ hotel?: ( )
...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate?: wan konsulat blo Amerika/Kanada/Astrelia/Yunaeted Kingdom
Where are there a lot of...: Wea nao staka...
...hotels?: ( )
...restaurants?: ( )
...bars?: ( )
...sites to see?: ( )
Can you show me on the map?: Iu save showim mi lo map?
street: strit
Turn left.: Turnim left.
Turn right.: Turnim raet.
left: left
right: raet
straight ahead: go go
towards the _____: go kasem _____
past the _____: ( )
before the _____: saed cam lo (this side of)
Watch for the _____.: Lookim _____.
intersection: ( )
north: ( )
south: ( )
east: ( )
west: ( )
uphill: go ap lo hil
downhill: go down lo hil

Taxi

Taxi
Take me to _____, please.: Yu save tekem mi lo _____, plis.
How much does it cost to get to _____?: Haomas for kasem lo _____?
Take me there, please.: Mi laek fo go lo dea, plis.

Lodging

Do you have any rooms available?: Yu garem ani room fo slip?
How much is a room for one person/two people?: Hao mas fo wanfala room fo wan/tu pipol?
Does the room come with...: Disfala room garem...
...bedsheets?: ani bed cover?
...a bathroom?: smol haos
...a telephone?: ( fon)
...a TV?: (TV )
May I see the room first?: Mi save lukluk lo room fastaem?/ Mi sae lukim room yah fastaem?
Do you have anything quieter?: Iu garem anyting lelebet quiet moa?
...bigger?: ( ) Bik
...cleaner?: ( ) haus mere
...cheaper?: ( )
OK, I'll take it.: Oraet, ba me tekem
I will stay for _____ night(s).: Ba me stay fo ____ naet
Can you suggest another hotel?: Ani nara hotel moa
Do you have a safe?: iu garem safe?
...lockers?: loka
Is breakfast/supper included?: Kakai redi na
What time is breakfast/supper?: kakai redi na
Please clean my room.: klinim room blo me plis
Can you wake me at _____?: u save wek upum me lo _____?
I want to check out.: Me laek go chekm

Money

Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars?: iu akseptm slen blo US/Ossy/Kananda tu?
Do you accept British pounds?: iu akseptm slen blo britis tu?
Do you accept euros?: Iu akseptim euro?
Do you accept credit cards?: Iu akseptim pei lo credit card tu?
Can you change money for me?: iu save sensim slen fo me
Where can I get money changed?: Lo wea na me sae (save) changim slen blo me?
Can you change a traveler's check for me?: iu save sensim traveler's check fo me
Where can I get a traveler's check changed?: lo wea na ba me save sensim traveler's check
What is the exchange rate?: wat na exchange rate?
Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)?: lo wea na ATM?

Eating

A table for one person/two people, please.: ( ) wanfa table for wanfala/tufala
Can I look at the menu, please?: me laek lukim menu plis
Can I look in the kitchen?: me laek luk lo kitchen
Is there a house specialty?: ( )
Is there a local specialty?: ( )
I'm a vegetarian.: Mi no kai kai mit
I don't eat pork.: Mi no kai kai pik pik
I don't eat beef.: Mi no kai kai bulmacow
I only eat kosher food.: ( )
Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard): ( )
fixed-price meal: ( )
à la carte: ( )
breakfast: ( )
lunch: ( )
tea (meal): ( )
supper: ( )
I want _____.: Mi laekim
I want a dish containing _____.: Mi laekim kai kai wetem ___
chicken: cukarakao
beef: bulmacow
fish: fis
ham: ( )
sausage: ( )
cheese: ( )
eggs: ( )
salad: ( )
(fresh) vegetables: ( )
(fresh) fruit: ( )
bread: ( )
toast: ( )
noodles: ( )
rice: rais
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: bia
red/white wine: ( )
May I have some _____?: ( )
salt: ( )
black pepper: ( )
butter: bata
Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server): ( )
I'm finished.: Mi ful up./Mi finis nao.
It was delicious.: Hemi naes tumas.
Please clear the plates.: ( )
The check, please.: ( )

Bars

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

Shopping

Do you have this in my size?: Iu garem nada saez?
How much is this?: Hao mas na diswan?
That's too expensive.: Hem expensiv tumas
Would you take _____?: ( )
expensive: ( )
cheap: ( )
I can't afford it.: Mi no save pem.
I don't want it.: Mi no laekem.
You're cheating me.: ( )
I'm not interested.: me less
OK, I'll take it.: ok, ba me tekem
Can I have a bag?: me laekem basket
Do you ship (overseas)?: save sendem ovasee
I need...: Mi nidim...
...toothpaste.: ( )
...a toothbrush.: ( )
...tampons.: samting wea hem go inside ladi
...soap.: sop.
...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.: pepa.
...a pen.: biro
...English-language books.: ( )
...English-language magazines.: ( )
...an English-language newspaper.: ( )
...an English-English dictionary.: ( )

Driving

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

Authority

I haven't done anything wrong.: Mi nating duim anyting rong.
It was a misunderstanding.: Hem misundastanding. / Misundastanding nomoa/ no minim ba
Where are you taking me?: Wea na iu tekem me? / Iu tekem me go lo wea yah?
Am I under arrest?: ( )
I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen.: Mi sitisen blo Amerika/Astrelia/Yunaeted Kingdom/Kanada.
I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate.: me laek tok wetem man lo US/ Osy/ UK/ Kanada consulate
I want to talk to a lawyer.: Mi mas stori witim lawya.
Can I just pay a fine now?: Me save pem fine distaem