Torres Strait Creole phrasebook



Torres Strait Creole (Yumplatok) is the main language of Queensland's Torres Strait Islands. It is very similar to Tok Pisin (Papua New Guinea, Bislama (Vanuatu) and Solomon Islands Pidgin. It is an English-based creole language. The language is well spoken by around 30,000 people, and is used in day to day life.

Pronunciation guide[edit]

Vowels[edit]

The language has the following vowels (with some dialect variation):

Front Central Back
Close i ⟨i⟩ u ⟨u⟩
Close-mid ɪ ⟨ì⟩ ʊ ⟨ù⟩
Mid e ⟨e⟩ ə ⟨œ⟩ o ⟨o⟩
Open-mid ɔ ⟨ò⟩
Open a ⟨a⟩

Consonants[edit]

Common diphthongs[edit]

Phrase list[edit]

Basics[edit]

Common signs


OPEN
CLOSED
ENTRANCE
EXIT
PUSH
PULL
TOILET
migi mhud
MEN
maan
WOMEN
geel
FORBIDDEN
Hello.
Gude. (Wiswai )
Hello. (informal)
. ( mid)
How are you?
? (Wan u makem ?)
Fine, thank you.
. (I rite )
What is your name?
? ( ?)
My name is ______ .
Nem blo mi ______ . ( _____ .)
Nice to meet you.
. ( )
Please.
Plis. (Gar )
Thank you.
Tenkyu. or Eso.( )
You're welcome.
. ( )
Yes.
wa. ( )
No.
lunghal. ( )
Excuse me. (getting attention)
. ( midakid)
Excuse me. (begging pardon)
. ( )
I'm sorry.
. ( yar gar)
Goodbye
Yawo. ( lakkin)
Goodbye (informal)
Bai. ( )
I can't speak name of language [well].
[ ]. ( [ ])
Do you speak English?
Yu sabe tok Inglis? ( ?)
Is there someone here who speaks English?
? ( ?)someone yah sabe tok inglis?
Help!
! ( !)
Look out!
! ( !)
Good morning.
Debe idim. ( )
Good evening.
. ( )
Good night.
. (Kapu kut )
Good night to sleep)
. ( utoye)
I don't understand.
Mi no sabe. ( )
Where is the toilet?
? ( una migi mhud?)

Problems[edit]

Leave me alone.
. ( par.)
Don't touch me!
! ( utakulza!)
I'll call the police.
. ( .)
Police!
! (Byedhum !)
Stop! Thief!
! ! ( ! !)
I need your help.
. ( .)
It's an emergency.
. ( .)
I'm lost.
. ( .)
I lost my bag.
. ( .)
I lost my wallet.
. ( .)
I'm sick.
. ( .)
I've been injured.
. ( .)
I need a doctor.
. ( .)
Can I use your phone?
? ( usse fone blo u r?)

Numbers[edit]

1
Wan ( )
2
Tu ( )
3
Tri ( )
4
Po ( )
5
Paib ( )
6
( )
7
( )
8
( )
9
( )
10
( )
11
( )
12
( )
13
( )
14
( )
15
( )
16
( )
17
( )
18
( )
19
( )
20
( )
21
( )
22
( )
23
( )
30
( )
40
( )
50
( )
60
( )
70
( )
80
( )
90
( )
100
( )
200
( )
300
( )
1,000
( )
2,000
( )
1,000,000
( )
1,000,000,000
( )
1,000,000,000,000
( )
number _____ (train, bus, etc.)
( )
half
( )
less
( )
more
( )
lots, plenty, heaps
plenti (whate stak )

Time[edit]

now
( )
later
( )
before
( )
morning
( )
afternoon
( )
evening
( )
night
( )

Clock time[edit]

one o'clock AM
( )
two o'clock AM
( )
noon
( )
one o'clock PM
( )
two o'clock PM
( )
midnight
( )

Duration[edit]

_____ minute(s)
( )
_____ hour(s)
( )
_____ day(s)
( )
_____ week(s)
( )
_____ month(s)
( )
_____ year(s)
( )

Days[edit]

today
( )
yesterday
( )
tomorrow
( )
this week
( )
last week
( )
next week
( )
Sunday
Sande ( )
Monday
Mande ( )
Tuesday
Tyusde ( )
Wednesday
Wensde ( )
Thursday
Thesde ( )
Friday
Fraide ( )
Saturday
Satade ( )

Months[edit]

January
( )
February
( )
March
( )
April
( )
May
( )
June
( )
July
( )
August
( )
September
( )
October
( )
November
( )
December
( )

Writing time and date[edit]

Colors[edit]

black
( )
white
( )
gray
( )
red
( )
blue
( )
yellow
( )
green
( )
orange
( )
purple
( )
brown
( )

Transportation[edit]

Bus and train[edit]

How much is a ticket to _____?
( )
One ticket to _____, please.
( )
Where does this train/bus go?
( )
Where is the train/bus to _____?
( )
Does this train/bus stop in _____?
( )
When does the train/bus for _____ leave?
( )
When will this train/bus arrive in _____?
( )

Directions[edit]

How do I get to _____ ?
( )
...the train station?
( )
...the bus station?
( )
...the airport?
( )
...downtown?
( )
...the youth hostel?
( )
...the _____ hotel?
( )
...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate?
( )
Where are there a lot of...
( )
...hotels?
( )
...restaurants?
( )
...bars?
( )
...sites to see?
( )
Can you show me on the map?
( )
street
( )
Turn left.
( )
Turn right.
( )
left
( )
right
( )
straight ahead
( )
towards the _____
( )
past the _____
( )
before the _____
( )
Watch for the _____.
( )
intersection
( )
north
( )
south
( )
east
( )
west
( )
uphill
( )
downhill
( )

Taxi[edit]

Taxi!
( )
Take me to _____, please.
( )
How much does it cost to get to _____?
( )
Take me there, please.
( )

Lodging[edit]

Do you have any rooms available?
( )
How much is a room for one person/two people?
( )
Does the room come with...
( )
...bedsheets?
( )
...a bathroom?
( )
...a telephone?
( )
...a TV?
( )
May I see the room first?
( )
Do you have anything quieter?
( )
...bigger?
( )
...cleaner?
( )
...cheaper?
( )
OK, I'll take it.
( )
I will stay for _____ night(s).
( )
Can you suggest another hotel?
( )
Do you have a safe?
( )
...lockers?
( )
Is breakfast/supper included?
( )
What time is breakfast/supper?
( )
Please clean my room.
( )
Can you wake me at _____?
( )
I want to check out.
( )

Money[edit]

Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars?
( )
Do you accept British pounds?
( )
Do you accept euros?
( )
Do you accept credit cards?
( )
Can you change money for me?
( )
Where can I get money changed?
( )
Can you change a traveler's check for me?
( )
Where can I get a traveler's check changed?
( )
What is the exchange rate?
( )
Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)?
( )

Eating[edit]

A table for one person/two people, please.
( )
Can I look at the menu, please?
( )
Can I look in the kitchen?
( )
Is there a house specialty?
( )
Is there a local specialty?
( )
I'm a vegetarian.
( )
I don't eat pork.
( )
I don't eat beef.
( )
I only eat kosher food.
( )
Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard)
( )
fixed-price meal
( )
a la carte
( )
breakfast
( )
lunch
( )
tea (meal)
( )
supper
( )
I want _____.
( )
I want a dish containing _____.
( )
chicken
( )
beef
( )
fish
( )
ham
( )
sausage
( )
cheese
( )
eggs
( )
salad
( )
(fresh) vegetables
( )
(fresh) fruit
( )
bread
( )
toast
( )
noodles
( )
rice
( )
beans
( )
May I have a glass of _____?
( )
May I have a cup of _____?
( )
May I have a bottle of _____?
( )
coffee
( )
tea (drink)
( )
juice
( )
(bubbly) water
( )
(still) water
( )
beer
( )
red/white wine
( )
May I have some _____?
( )
salt
( )
black pepper
( )
butter
( )
Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server)
( )
I'm finished.
( )
It was delicious.
( )
Please clear the plates.
( )
The check, please.
( )

Bars[edit]

Do you serve alcohol?
Yu gad eni grog? ( )
Is there table service?
( )
A beer/two beers, please.
( )
A glass of red/white wine, please.
( )
A pint, please.
( )
A bottle, please.
( )
_____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please.
( )
whiskey
( )
vodka
( )
rum
( )
water
wata (waa-taa)
club soda
( )
tonic water
( )
orange juice
( )
Coke (soda)
( )
Do you have any bar snacks?
( )
One more, please.
( )
Another round, please.
( )
When is closing time?
( )
Cheers!
( )

Shopping[edit]

Do you have this in my size?
( )
How much is this?
( )
That's too expensive.
( )
Would you take _____?
( )
expensive
( )
cheap
( )
I can't afford it.
( )
I don't want it.
( )
You're cheating me.
( )
I'm not interested.
(..)
OK, I'll take it.
( )
Can I have a bag?
( )
Do you ship (overseas)?
( )
I need...
( )
...toothpaste.
( )
...a toothbrush.
( )
...tampons.
. ( )
...soap.
( )
...shampoo.
( )
...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen)
( )
...cold medicine.
( )
...stomach medicine.
... ( )
...a razor.
( )
...an umbrella.
( )
...sunblock lotion.
( )
...a postcard.
( )
...postage stamps.
( )
...batteries.
( )
...writing paper.
( )
...a pen.
( )
...English-language books.
( )
...English-language magazines.
( )
...an English-language newspaper.
( )
...an English-English dictionary.
( )

Driving[edit]

I want to rent a car.
( )
Can I get insurance?
( )
stop (on a street sign)
( )
one way
( )
yield
( )
no parking
( )
speed limit
( )
gas (petrol) station
( )
petrol
( )
diesel
( )

Authority[edit]

I haven't done anything wrong.
( )
It was a misunderstanding.
( )
Where are you taking me?
( )
Am I under arrest?
( )
I am an American/British/Canadian citizen.
( )
I want to talk to the American/British/Canadian embassy/consulate.
( )
I want to talk to a lawyer.
( )
Can I just pay a fine now?
( )

Learn more[edit]

This Torres Strait Creole phrasebook is an outline and needs more content. It has a template, but there is not enough information present. Please plunge forward and help it grow!