Money & Exchange

1. Hamas long dispela?

   How much is this?

   Usage

   When asking the price of an item

   Grammar Note

   "Hamas long" (how much for) is the most basic Tok Pisin price question. "Long" functions as the preposition "for" in price inquiries.

2. Bank i stap we?

   Where is the bank?

   Usage

   When asking for the location of a bank

   Grammar Note

   "Bank" is used directly from English without phonological adaptation. "I stap we" (where is it) is the standard Tok Pisin location question.

3. Wea ATM i stap?

   Where is the ATM?

   Usage

   When looking for an ATM to withdraw cash

   Grammar Note

   "Wea" (where) can appear at the beginning or end of the sentence; initial placement is more emphatic. "I stap" (is there) uses "i" as the predicate marker.

4. Mi laik senisim mani.

   I want to change/exchange money.

   Usage

   When wanting to exchange foreign currency

   Grammar Note

   "Senisim" (to exchange) transitivized from "change him." "Mani" adapts English "money" by simplifying the "ey" ending to "i," fitting CV syllable structure.

5. Yupela kisim kat?

   Do you accept cards?

   Usage

   When checking if card payment is accepted

   Grammar Note

   "Yupela kisim kat" (do you accept cards) is a second-person plural question. "Kisim" (from "catch him") is highly polysemous: to get, take, accept, receive. "Card" is spelled kat; ka on its own means "car".

6. Givim mi risit.

   Give me a receipt.

   Usage

   When requesting a receipt after a purchase

   Grammar Note

   "Givim" (to give) contracted from "give him." "Risit" retains the final "t" from English "receipt," showing Tok Pisin preserves some word-final stops.

7. Inap yu daunim prais liklik?

   Can you lower the price a little?

   Usage

   When trying to negotiate a lower price

   Grammar Note

   "Liklik" (a little) is the reduplication of "lik" (small), emphasizing smallness/minimality. "Daunim prais" (lower the price) follows the verb + object order.

8. Hamas olgeta?

   How much in total?

   Usage

   When asking for the total amount of all expenses

   Grammar Note

   "Olgeta" (all/total) contracted from English "all together." "Hamas olgeta" (how much altogether) is the concise way to ask for a total price.

9. Mi bai peim long kas.

   I will pay with cash.

   Usage

   When indicating payment by cash

   Grammar Note

   "Bai peim" (will pay) uses "bai" as the future marker. "Long kas" (with cash) shows "long" functioning as the instrumental preposition "with."

10. Givim mi senis.

    Give me the change.

    Usage

    When receiving change after a purchase

    Grammar Note

    "Senis" adapts English "change" phonologically ("ch→s," "-ange→-enis"). "Givim mi" (give me) places the indirect object immediately after the verb.

11. Kas

    Cash

    Usage

    Point at it to show how you will pay

12. Kredit kat

    Card (payment)

    Usage

    Point at it to show how you will pay

13. Yumi peim wanwan

    Split the bill

    Usage

    Ask to pay separately

14. Wanpela man i peim olgeta

    Pay all together

    Usage

    Ask to pay for everyone at once

15. Dia tumas

    That is too expensive

    Usage

    Use when bargaining

16. Senis

    Change (money back)

    Usage

    Ask for your change

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