Traveling with Kids

1. Wea graun bilong ol pikinini i ken pilai?

   Where is the playground for children?

   Usage

   When looking for a place for children to play

   Grammar Note

   "Pikinini" (child) comes from English "piccaninny." "Ol pikinini i ken" (the children can) = "ol" (plural marker) + noun + "i" (predicate marker) + "ken" (can).

2. Yupela gat kaikai spesol bilong pikinini?

   Do you have a special menu for children?

   Usage

   When asking for a children's menu at a restaurant

   Grammar Note

   "Spesol" is a phonologically adapted form of English "special." "Yupela gat" (do you all have) is the second-person plural question form.

3. Mi nidim wanpela sia bilong pikinini.

   I need a chair for the child.

   Usage

   When requesting a child's chair at a restaurant

   Grammar Note

   "Sia" adapts English "chair" by changing "ch" to "s" and dropping final "r." "Bilong pikinini" (for the child) shows purpose or belonging.

4. Em i safe long pikinini?

   Is it safe for children?

   Usage

   When checking if an activity or place is safe for children

   Grammar Note

   "Em i safe" (it is safe) is a third-person predicate sentence. "Long pikinini" (for children) uses "long" as the general preposition for relation and purpose.

5. Pikinini bilong mi i lus.

   My child is lost.

   Usage

   When seeking help because a child is missing

   Grammar Note

   "Pikinini bilong mi" (my child) uses "bilong mi" as the possessive. "I lus" (is lost) — "i" is the predicate marker for third-person subjects.

6. Wea rum bilong givim susu?

   Where is the breastfeeding room?

   Usage

   When looking for a room for nursing or breastfeeding

   Grammar Note

   "Susu" means milk or breast. "To breastfeed" is givim susu (to give milk); stilim is a different verb meaning "to steal" and cannot stand here. "Rum bilong" (room for) is a compound noun phrase of purpose.

7. Yupela gat pris daun bilong pikinini?

   Do you have a discounted price for children?

   Usage

   When asking about children's discount rates

   Grammar Note

   "Pris daun" (price down) = "pris" (price) + "daun" (down) = discount. This shows how Tok Pisin compounds English phrases directly into new lexical items.

8. Wanem kain geim ol pikinini i laik?

   What kind of games do children like?

   Usage

   When asking about activities and games for children

   Grammar Note

   "Ol pikinini" (children) — "ol" is the plural marker in Tok Pisin. "I laik" (likes) uses "laik" from English "like" to express preference.

9. Hamas krismas bilong pikinini ia?

   How old is this child?

   Usage

   When checking a child's age (for pricing or entry restrictions)

   Grammar Note

   "Krismas" (year/age) shows semantic extension: Christmas happens once a year, so "krismas" became the way to count years. "Hamas krismas" means "how many years old."

10. Ol pikinini i amamas tumas.

    The children are very happy.

    Usage

    When describing how happy or excited the children are

    Grammar Note

    "Amamas" (to be happy/joyful) is a Tok Pisin word derived from local languages rather than English, showing the substrate influence. "Ol i" marks the plural third person.

Browse all TravelPhrases languages