Papua New Guinea is a truly a country of diverse cultures and languages. It is the only country in the world with over 800 native languages, making it one of the unique country in terms of linguistic diversity.
Historical background of TokPisin in PNG
However for visitors and foreigners living in the country have to speak only two languages for business and to get around. English and Tok Pidgin or TOK PISIN (commonly known). Tok Pisin is the language that unites the country . Almost everyone from offices down to street level speak the language. It doesn’t have a formal grammar and pronunciation rules. It originated from the colonial days when German merchants settled in the New Guinea Islands Region and started cocoa and copra plantations, while the British and Australians settled in the Southern Papuan Region. The Dutch and Portuguese settled in the Northern part of mainland partly due to their presence in Indonesia and island of East Timor.
These settlers need a way to communicate with the locals in these different regions so they started inventing words to in their native languages like German, English and etc but twisted the pronunciations to fit into the local accent and dialect and off course accompanied by lots of hand gestures and facial expressions to communicate the meaning of their expressions.
As the country eventually became united after the World War 2 and become a British Protectorate governed by Australia and eventually got Independence in 1975, the language become so popular around all the regions. Today, Tok Pisin is the common language that is spoken in all the 21 provinces of the country.
So, here is the most common phrases which may be useful to visitors who are in the country for the first time or short visit.
Common Greetings in Tok Pisin
Daily Greetings
Gutpela = Good or also mean nice/pleasant. .
So it can be used in combinations to say things phrases like the following
Gutpela monin = Good Morning
Gutpela Aipinun = Good evening
Gut nait = Good night
Introducing Yourself or Someone with you to someone.
Introducing Yourself
Mi means me/I/I am/myself/My. Use MI to say common phrases like the following.
Naim bilon mi…… = My name is…. Name example, My name is Andrew Samuel.
Mi bilon………= .I am from …. Example, I am from Germany
Mi wok olsem….. = I work as… Example, I work as Missionary
Mi wok wantaim = I work with
Mi laik lukim…… I want to see ….Example I want to See John.
Mi marit man or Mi marit meri = I am married man/woman
Mi no marit man or mi no marit meri = I am not married
Mi gat boi/gal fren = I have a boy or girl friend or engaged friend.
Introducing others in Tok Pisin
Em = him/her/she/he
Dispela = This/that
Examples
Naim bilong em……..= His/her Name is…
Em bilong………… = He/she is from……
Em marit man/meri = He/She is married
Em no marit yet = He/she is single
Em work olsem = He/She is working as……
Em boss man/meri = He/She has authority, like Manager, Director, CEO etc of
Expressing Gratitude In Tok Pisin
Tenkyu stret = Thank you very much
Tenkyu = Thanks (informal)
Mi hamamas = I am happy/Grateful
Mi hamamas lon = I am happy/grateful for
Mi wan bel = I agree on this or I am happy for …./I am satisfied with the outcome.
Tenkyu long yu kam = Thank you for coming
Asking for Directions in TokPisin
Wei = Where?
Wanem hap = Where is it?
Example Phrases
Yu go wei? = Where are you going?
Wanem hap yu putim? = Where did you put it?
Em wei? = Where is he/she/it ?
When asking for directions or places in TokPisin.
Stap = Location
Wei = where
Painim = looking for
Mi = me, Iam, I
Yu = you
Yumi = you and me or together
Examples Phrases
Bank stap wei ? = Where is the bank?
Wanem hap bank stap? =Where is location of the bank
Mi painim bank? = I am looking for the bank?
Inap you tokim mi wei bank stap? = Can you tell me where the bank is?
Wanem haus? = Which building?
Wanem street ? = Which street?
Common verbs to get you started in TokPisin
Go = Go
Come = Kam
Tell = Tokim
Get =Kisim
Bring = Karem kam
Take = Karem
Take it with you or take it with you = Karem go
Eat = Kaikai
Drink = Drink
Sit = Sidaun
Stand = sanap
Sleep = silip
Write = rait (note, Rait can also mean “Correct”)
Read = Rit
Sing = sing (song = singsing)
Run = ran
Quick/Fast = hariap
Push = pusim
Leave = lusim
Close = pasim
Open = opim
Tokpisin is very easy to speak but it has no grammar rules, so you can make mistakes, laugh about it and keep trying. The more you speak, the locals will love to chip in and help you .
