Blue Jellyfish Press. Learn Bislama. Pidgin English Vanuatu. Free learning page. The bare necessities, essential phrases, minimum. Beginners. For travellers. For tourists.

Essential Bislama Phrases
Sometimes you don't have time to learn long lists of words and phrases.
All you want to know are the bare essentials for communicating to get
what you need, or where you need to go.
Here are the bare minimum of Bislama words and phrases you need
to know to survive.
Learn the Top 10 Phrases if you only have time for the barest minimum.
If you need or want more, then take a look at the Top 20 Phrases,
Top 30 Phrases and the Extra Phrases.

Here are ten easy phrases to get you started ...
The Top 10 ...

Yes!
Halo.
Hello.
Gudbae.
Tata.
Lukim yu.
Goodbye.
Yu save toktok Inglis?
Do you speak English?
Mi no save.
I don't understand.
Lelebet.
A little.
Yes. No.
Yes. No.
Hem i hamas?
How much is it?
Sas tumas. Ale/Oraet.
Too expensive. OK.
Plis.
Please.
Tangkiu (tumas).
Ta.
Thank you (very much).

Here are ten more phrases that will help you
make new friends and ask for directions.
The Top 20 ...

Huia nem blong yu?
What is your name?
Nem blong mi ...
My name is ...
Olsem wanem?
How are you?
I gud. Mo yu?
Fine. And you?
... i stap wea?
Wehem ...?
Where is ...?
Toelet i stap we? Man/Woman
Where is the toilet? Men/Women
Sore. Eskius/Skiusmi.
Sorry. Excuse me.
I olraet.
No problem.
No problem.
Mi wantem ...
I want ...
Mi no wantem ...
I don't want ...

Here are another ten phrases to help you make a
little more conversation and to get around.
The Top 30 ...

Yu kam long we?
Where are you from?
Mi kam long Ostrelia.*
I am from Australia.
Yu save givim bil blong mi plis.
The bill, please.
Mi lus.
I'm lost.
Stap! Wet!
Stop! Wait!
Ples ia, longwe.
Here, over there.
Taksi. Hotel. Epot. Bastop.
Taxi. Hotel. Airport. Bus stop.
Mi laekem ...
I like ...
Mi no laekem ...
I don't like ...
wan, tu, tri, fo, faev.
one, two , three, four, five.
sikis, seven, eit, naen, ten.
six, seven, eight, nine, ten.
*Or choose your country:
Amerika - America
Kanada - Canada
Inglan - England
Aealan - Ireland
Niusilan - New Zealand

Here are some extra words and phrases you might find useful,
especially if you have dietary needs or allergies.
Useful extras ...

Jis!
Cheers!
gud / nogud
good / bad
big / smol
big / small
klosap / longwe
near / far
smol / mo
less / more
narafala / naf
another one / enough
Mi wan vejeterien.
I am vegetarian.
Mi no kakae mit.
I don't eat meat.
... jikin.
... chicken.
... fis.
... fish.
Mi alerjik long nat.
Mi sik long nat.
I am allergic to nuts.
... pinat/pistas.
... peanuts.
... fis.
... fish.
... kakae long solwota.
... seafood.
... eg.
... eggs.