Beach & Activities

1. Solwara i stap we?

   sol-wa-ra i stap we

   Where is the sea/beach?

   Usage

   Used to ask for the location of the sea or beach

   Grammar Note

   Tok Pisin is one of the official languages of Papua New Guinea. An English-based creole where many words derive from English. "solwara" (sea) comes from "salt water".

2. Ples bilong swim i stap we?

   ples bi-long swim i stap we

   Where is the swimming area?

   Usage

   Used to find a safe area for swimming

   Grammar Note

   "bilong" is one of the most important prepositions in Tok Pisin, indicating possession or purpose. It derives from English "belong".

3. Risif bilong korel i naispela tumas.

   ri-sif bi-long ko-rel i nais-pe-la tu-mas

   The coral reef is very beautiful.

   Usage

   Used to express admiration for the coral reef

   Grammar Note

   "tumas" derives from "too much" and means "very". "naispela" evolved from "nice fella" and functions as an adjective meaning beautiful or good.

4. Yu save daiving hia?

   yu sa-ve dai-ving hi-a

   Can you do diving here?

   Usage

   Used to ask if diving is available here

   Grammar Note

   "save" is a modal verb in Tok Pisin expressing ability or knowledge. It may derive from Portuguese "saber" (to know).

5. Lukaut long jelipis! Igat planti jelipis long solwara.

   lu-kaut long je-li-pis ig-at plan-ti je-li-pis long sol-wa-ra

   Watch out for jellyfish! There are many jellyfish in the sea.

   Usage

   Used to warn about jellyfish danger

   Grammar Note

   "lukaut" derives from "look out" and is used as a verb or imperative. "igat" comes from "it got" and expresses existence.

6. Dispela ples i gat wanpela naispela ples bilong painim pis.

   dis-pe-la ples i gat wan-pe-la nais-pe-la ples bi-long pai-nim pis

   This place has a beautiful fishing village.

   Usage

   Used to describe a coastal fishing village

   Grammar Note

   "dispela" evolved from "this fella" and functions as a demonstrative adjective. The suffix "-pela" became a common adjective marker in Tok Pisin.

7. Mi laik baim kokonas.

   mi laik bai-im ko-ko-nas

   I want to buy a coconut.

   Usage

   Used when you want to purchase a coconut

   Grammar Note

   Transitive verbs in Tok Pisin often take the suffix "-im". "baim" comes from "buy him". "laik" from "like" expresses desire.

8. San i go daun. Em i naispela tumas!

   san i go daun em i nais-pe-la tu-mas

   The sun is setting. It is very beautiful!

   Usage

   Used to express admiration for the sunset

   Grammar Note

   Tok Pisin often forms verb phrases from English compound verbs. Directional verbs like "go daun" (to go down/set) are common.

9. Dispela bot bai kisim yumi go long ailan.

   dis-pe-la bot bai ki-sim yu-mi go long ai-lan

   This boat will take us to the island.

   Usage

   Used when explaining boat transport to an island

   Grammar Note

   "bai" is the future tense marker derived from "by and by". "yumi" is the inclusive first person plural (speaker + listener) from "you" + "me".

10. Solwara i seif long swim?

    sol-wa-ra i seif long swim

    Is the sea safe for swimming?

    Usage

    Used to check if swimming in the sea is safe

    Grammar Note

    "Safe" is "seif" (e.g. "em i stap seif" = he is safe). Yes/No questions in Tok Pisin are formed simply by adding a question mark at the end; word order does not change.

11. San i hat tumas. Mi laik sindaun aninit long tri.

    san i hat tu-mas mi laik sin-daun a-ni-nit long tri

    The sun is very hot. I want to sit under a tree.

    Usage

    Used when seeking shade from the sun at the beach

    Grammar Note

    "sindaun" comes from "sit down" and means to sit. Tok Pisin frequently fuses two-word English phrases into single words.

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