Basic Nouns

1. Wara

   Water

   Usage

   The basic word for drinking water; works with a gesture

2. Kaikai

   Food

   Usage

   The general word to use when you are looking for something to eat

3. Mani

   Money

   Usage

   The basic word when talking about paying or changing money

4. Smolhaus

   Toilet

   Usage

   This single word is usually enough for someone to point the way

   Grammar Note

   The toilet is smolhaus (little house); toilet is understood too

5. Tisu

   Tissue

   Usage

   For asking for paper at an eatery or a public toilet

6. Marasin

   Medicine

   Usage

   The general word to lead with at a pharmacy

7. Bek

   Luggage

   Usage

   For storing, carrying, or collecting your bags. "Bek" means "bag"; for checked luggage as a whole, use "kago" (cargo/goods). Note "bek" is also the word for "back", so point at the item as you say it

8. Ki

   Key

   Usage

   At a hotel front desk when handing over or collecting a key

9. Tiket

   Ticket

   Usage

   Covers both travel tickets and entry tickets

10. Paspot

    Passport

    Usage

    Comes up at check-in, money changers, and immigration

11. Telefon

    Phone

    Usage

    Used both for the device and for making a call

12. Chaja

    Charger

    Usage

    When you want to borrow one at a hotel or café, or buy one

13. Stesen

    Station

    Usage

    The most common landmark word when asking for directions

14. Haus sik

    Hospital

    Usage

    The first word to say when you feel seriously unwell

    Grammar Note

    A hospital is haus sik — literally "sick house"

15. Polis

    Police

    Usage

    Who to ask for after a theft or an accident

16. Stua

    Shop

    Usage

    The general word when asking where you can buy something

17. Rum

    Room

    Usage

    For booking, changing, or checking availability at a hotel

18. Rot

    Road

    Usage

    For asking the way, usually while showing a map

19. Famili

    Family

    Usage

    Comes up constantly in introductions and small talk

20. Nem

    Name

    Usage

    For confirming a booking or introducing yourself

21. Het

    Head

    Usage

    Point at it to show where it hurts

22. Ai

    Eye

    Usage

    Point at it to show an eye problem

23. Tit

    Tooth

    Usage

    Point at it to show a toothache

24. Nek

    Neck

    Usage

    Point at the neck; the same word also covers the throat

25. Bel

    Stomach / belly

    Usage

    Point at the belly; "bel" also means feelings, so point as you show it

26. Baksait

    Back

    Usage

    Point at it to show back pain

27. Lek

    Leg / foot

    Usage

    Point at it to show leg or foot pain; gesture at your own body for the exact spot

28. Han

    Hand / arm

    Usage

    "Han" covers both hand and arm; gesture at the exact spot

29. Bros

    Chest

    Usage

    Point at it to show chest pain or tightness

30. Yau

    Ear

    Usage

    Point at it to show an ear problem

31. Skru bilong lek

    Knee

    Usage

    Point at it to show knee pain

32. Pinga

    Finger

    Usage

    Point at it to show a finger injury

33. Skin

    Usage

    Point at the skin; "skin" can also mean the body as a whole

34. Nus

    Nose

    Usage

    Point at it to show a nose problem

35. Blut

    Blood

    Usage

    Use when reporting bleeding

36. Bun

    Bone

    Usage

    Use when you suspect a broken bone

37. Hotel

    Usage

    Point at it to show where you are going

38. Ples balus

    Airport

    Usage

    Point at it to show a taxi where to go

39. Bas stop

    Bus stop

    Usage

    Point at it when asking for directions

40. Ofis bilong kantri

    Embassy

    Usage

    Point at it in an emergency such as a lost passport

    Grammar Note

    The US Embassy in PNG calls itself "Ofis bilong America long Papua New Guinea". Australia, NZ and the UK are represented in PNG by high commissions ("hai komisen") rather than embassies, so the generic "ofis bilong kantri" is the safe term.

41. Ples bilong senisim mani

    Money changer

    Usage

    Ask where you can change money

42. Maket

    Market

    Usage

    Point at it to show where you are going

43. Bank

    Usage

    Point at it to show where you are going

44. Haus marasin

    Pharmacy

    Usage

    Ask where you can buy medicine

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