Weather & Climate

1. Tude em i hat tumas, a?

   It's really hot today, isn't it?

   Usage

   Weather conversation in Papua New Guinea

   Grammar Note

   Tok Pisin is PNG's lingua franca — an English-based creole

2. Em i laik ren

   It looks like it will rain

   Usage

   When rain seems likely

   Grammar Note

   "Em i" is the third-person subject marker. Tok Pisin grammar is much simplified from English

3. Bikpela win i kamap

   A big storm is coming

   Usage

   Warning about an approaching storm

   Grammar Note

   "Bikpela" = big (from English "big fellow"). "Kamap" from "come up"

4. Tude em i kul gut

   It's nicely cool today

   Usage

   Comment on cool weather

   Grammar Note

   "Kul" from English "cool". "Gut" from "good". Tok Pisin has many English origins

5. Tokim mi long tok bilong weta

   Please tell me the weather forecast

   Usage

   Politely asking for the weather forecast

   Grammar Note

   "Bilong" (from "belong") is Tok Pisin's genitive/purposive marker. "Weather" is weta; sande means "Sunday", not "weather"

6. Mi nidim san krim?

   Do I need sunscreen?

   Usage

   Ask on sunny days

   Grammar Note

   Tok Pisin uses many English words directly. "San krim" from "sun cream"

7. Mi mas karim umbrela?

   Should I bring an umbrella?

   Usage

   Before going out in uncertain weather

   Grammar Note

   "Mas" from English "must". "Karim" from "carry him" = to carry/bring

8. Taim bilong drai em i wanem taim?

   When is the dry season?

   Usage

   Travel planning question

   Grammar Note

   "Taim" = time, "drai" = dry, "wanem" = what. PNG dry season: May–October

9. Taim bilong ren em i wanem taim?

   When is the rainy season?

   Usage

   Ask about the rainy season

   Grammar Note

   PNG rainy season: November–April. Tropical rainforest with heavy annual rainfall

10. San em i strongpela tumas

    The sun is really strong

    Usage

    Exclamation about intense sunshine

    Grammar Note

    "Strongpela" from "strong fellow". "-pela" is an adjectival suffix in Tok Pisin

11. Ren

    Rain

    Usage

    Ask or talk about the weather

12. Win

    Wind

    Usage

    "Win" also means breath or air

13. Klaut

    Cloudy

    Usage

    Ask or talk about the weather

14. San i sain

    Sunny

    Usage

    Ask or talk about the weather

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