Internet & WiFi

1. Wanem password bilong WiFi?

   What is the WiFi password?

   Usage

   When asking for the WiFi password

   Grammar Note

   Tok Pisin "pas" means "closed" or "a letter / piece of mail" ("pas" = letter; "I pas" = closed). "Wanem pas bilong WiFi?" reads as "What is the WiFi's letter?". Tok Pisin has no settled word for a password, so the English word is used as-is. "Bilong WiFi" is the possessive/relational bilong phrase.

2. Intanet i no wok.

   The internet is not working.

   Usage

   When reporting that the internet connection is down

   Grammar Note

   "I no wok" (not working) is the Tok Pisin negation construction: predicate marker "i" + "no" (not) + "wok" (work). Negation in Tok Pisin always uses "no."

3. Mi laik baim wanpela SIM kat.

   I want to buy a SIM card.

   Usage

   When purchasing a local SIM card

   Grammar Note

   Tok Pisin "ka" is borrowed from English "car" and means a motor car. A card is "kat", as in "kredit kat" (credit card). The indefinite article is also "wanpela", not bare "wan".

4. Intanet i slo tumas.

   The internet is very slow.

   Usage

   When complaining about slow internet speed

   Grammar Note

   "Slo" (slow) drops the final "w" from English "slow," fitting Tok Pisin's consonant-drop tendencies. "Tumas" (very) intensifies the adjective.

5. Mi nidim wanpela chaja long fon bilong mi.

   I need a charger for my phone.

   Usage

   When looking for a phone charger

   Grammar Note

   "Charger" is chaja. "Long fon bilong mi" (for my phone) is a prepositional phrase of purpose. The numeral "one" is wanpela.

6. Mi laik salim wanpela imel.

   I want to send an email.

   Usage

   When wanting to send an email

   Grammar Note

   "Salim" (to send) contracted from "send him." "Imel" keeps the final "l" from English "email," showing Tok Pisin preserves liquids (l/r) more than stops.

7. Wanem namba bilong fon bilong yu?

   What is your phone number?

   Usage

   When asking for a phone number

   Grammar Note

   "Bilong yu" (your) expresses possession analytically in Tok Pisin. Unlike English "your," possession is marked by "bilong" + pronoun, always post-nominally.

8. Fon bilong mi i bagarap.

   My phone is broken.

   Usage

   When reporting that a phone is broken

   Grammar Note

   "Bagarap" (broken) is used for mechanical failures as well as injuries. "Fon bilong mi" (my phone) shows possession with "bilong mi" as the possessive marker.

9. Wea mi ken painim ples bilong internet?

   Where can I find an internet cafe?

   Usage

   When looking for an internet cafe

   Grammar Note

   "Painim" (to find) transitivized from "find him." "Wea" (where) from English "where" is a location question word typically placed at the beginning of the sentence.

10. Mi laik daunlodim dispela app.

    I want to download this app.

    Usage

    When wanting to download a smartphone app

    Grammar Note

    "Daunim" is a real word, but it means to lower / bring down / put down / prevent — nothing to do with downloading. "To download" is "daunlodim" ("download" + the transitive suffix -im). "Dispela" in "dispela app" is the proximal demonstrative.

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