Vanuatu Language

With more than 100 local languages along with English and French, Bislama (Pidgin English) is used as a vital communications tool. It allows the 40% who were educated in French to talk with the 60% who were educated in English. The colourful language reflects the friendliness of the people as well as the fact that it has to exist with only 2500 words (English and French each have more than 35,000 words). It's pretty much a phonetic language, so try saying the words out loud to get the feel of it.

And so, to a few words in Bislama - (Smol tok tok long Bislama)

Hello - Alo
Goodbye - Tata
Please - Plis
Good morning - Gud morning
Good night - God naet
Excuse me - Skiusmi
Thank you very much - Tank yu tumas
And - Mo
How much? - Hamas
Do you have…? - Yu gat…?
I don't understand - Mi no savee
Child - Pikinini
Drunk - Fuldrong
Fish - Fis
See you - Lukim yu
I am very sorry - Sori tumas
What is your name? - Wanem nem blong yu?
My name is… - Nem blong mi…
Big - Bigfala
Food - Kakae
This food is delicious - Kakae emi gud
Drinking water - Kolwater
Seawater - Solwater
Seagull - Pigeon blong solwater
Excellent - Nambawan
I am hungry/thirsty - Mi wantem samting long kakae/dring
Call a doctor/police! - Singalot doctor/polis!
You must do good work every day - Yu mas makem gud work evri dai

All in all a pretty simple language, but it's simplicity is also what gives it its eccentricity… for example:

His Royal Highness, Prince Charles is known as nambawan pikinini blong Missus Kwin…
a super supreme pizza will come with evri samting…
a bra is - basket blong titi…
a piano is black fala box we igat black teeth, hemi gat white teeth you faetem hard I singout…
a violin - wan smol box blong white man, oli scratchem beli I singout gudfala…
A saw - Pulem I kam, pushem I go, wood I fall down
A helicopter - mixmaster blong Jesus Christ

As you can see, it's fun and pretty easy to pick up. The locals will be happy to teach you a few words!