Basic Words

1. Wi

   Yes

   Usage

   Simple "yes"; nod as you say it to be sure

   Grammar Note

   Plain "yes"; close to French "oui"

2. Non

   No

   Usage

   "No"; also handy for turning down touts and offers

   Grammar Note

   "Non" means "no"; the same spelling also means "name", which context tells apart

3. Silvouple

   Please

   Usage

   "Please"; add it to requests and orders in shops and offices

   Grammar Note

   From French "s'il vous plaît". Listed in the Lalit dictionary and a learner book, but not in the official grammar

4. Mersi

   Thank you

   Usage

   "Thank you"; "Mersi boukou" is warmer

   Grammar Note

   From French "merci", respelled phonemically with no accent mark

5. Pardon

   Excuse me

   Usage

   "Excuse me" for getting attention or passing by

   Grammar Note

   "Pardon" covers both "excuse me" and "sorry" in the dictionary

6. Dezole

   Sorry

   Usage

   "Sorry", for a small apology

   Grammar Note

   From French "désolé", written without accents

7. Korek

   It's OK / I'm fine

   Usage

   Answers "I'm fine" or "that's fine"

   Grammar Note

   "Korek" means "fine, OK"; learner dialogues use it as "Mo korek"

8. Mo pa konpran

   I don't understand

   Usage

   When you did not follow; then ask them to speak slowly

   Grammar Note

   Negative "pa" goes before the verb; "konpran" has one fixed form

9. Mo konpran

   I understand

   Usage

   To say you understood the explanation

   Grammar Note

   Just subject plus verb; no tense marker is needed for present understanding

10. Mo finn fini

    I'm finished / Done

    Usage

    To say you are done with a meal or task

    Grammar Note

    Perfect marker "finn" goes before the verb. Sentence composed from dictionary-verified words

11. Atann, silvouple

    Please wait

    Usage

    Asking someone to wait

    Grammar Note

    "Atann" has a single form; an imperative is just the bare verb

12. Atann enn kou

    Just a moment

    Usage

    "Hold on a moment", as in a learner dialogue

    Grammar Note

    "Enn kou" means "a short while"; the phrase appears in a learner-book dialogue

13. Enn adilt, silvouple

    One adult, please

    Usage

    For ticket or tour counts

    Grammar Note

    Numeral comes before the noun. Sentence composed from dictionary-verified words

14. Mo pena rezervasion

    I don't have a reservation

    Usage

    For hotels and restaurants without a booking

    Grammar Note

    "Pena" is the fused form of "pa ena". Sentence composed from dictionary-verified words

15. Mo ena enn rezervasion

    I have a reservation

    Usage

    To say you have a booking

    Grammar Note

    "Ena" expresses both having and existing. Sentence composed from dictionary-verified words

16. Ed mwa, silvouple

    Please help me

    Usage

    A request for help

    Grammar Note

    The short form "ed" is used before an object; "ede" stands alone

17. Ankor enn fwa, silvouple

    Once more, please

    Usage

    To ask for a repeat

    Grammar Note

    "Enn fwa" means "once"; the official grammar also contains "ankor enn fwa"

18. Koz dousman, silvouple

    Please speak slowly

    Usage

    Ask this when the speech is too fast

    Grammar Note

    "Koz" is the short form of "koze" (speak); a learner book gives exactly this phrase for asking someone to speak slowly

19. Mo koz enn tigit

    I speak a little

    Usage

    To say you speak only a little

    Grammar Note

    "Enn tigit" means "a little". Sentence composed from dictionary-verified words

20. Eski ou koz Angle?

    Do you speak English?

    Usage

    To check whether English works

    Grammar Note

    Initial "eski" turns a statement into a question; language names are capitalised

21. Sa

    This one

    Usage

    Say it while pointing

    Grammar Note

    "Sa" means "this"; before a noun it is "this ..."

22. Sa laba

    That one over there

    Usage

    To point at something farther away

    Grammar Note

    "Laba" means "over there". Sentence composed from dictionary-verified words

23. Isi

    Here

    Usage

    Pointing to the spot you mean

    Grammar Note

    "Isi" is "here"; "vinn isi" means "come here"

24. Laba

    Over there

    Usage

    For somewhere a little way off

    Grammar Note

    "Laba" means "over there" and is in the dictionary

25. Mwa

    I / me

    Usage

    Emphatic "me"; in ordinary sentences use "mo"

    Grammar Note

    "Mo" before a verb; "mwa" alone or after a verb/preposition

26. Ou

    You (polite)

    Usage

    Polite "you"; "to" is for close friends

    Grammar Note

    "Ou" is polite "you"; it also means "or" and "your"

27. Ansam

    Together

    Usage

    For travelling, rooming or paying together

    Grammar Note

    An adverb that can follow the verb

28. Plis

    More

    Usage

    When you want more

    Grammar Note

    "Plis" means "more"

29. Enn tigit

    Just a little

    Usage

    For a small amount

    Grammar Note

    A learner book says "tigit" comes from "ti" (small)

30. Lamwatie

    Half

    Usage

    When half is enough

    Grammar Note

    The dictionary writes "lamwatye"; rewritten with "i" to follow the official orthography

31. Tou

    All of it

    Usage

    When you want the whole lot

    Grammar Note

    "Tou" means "all" and precedes the noun

32. Ase, mersi

    That's enough

    Usage

    To stop a refill or a hard sell

    Grammar Note

    "Ase" means "enough". Sentence composed from dictionary-verified words

33. Deswit

    Right now

    Usage

    When it is urgent

    Grammar Note

    An adverb meaning "immediately" in the dictionary

34. Enn dimounn

    One person

    Usage

    For a table, room or ticket

    Grammar Note

    "Dimounn" means person; it does not inflect

35. De dimounn

    Two people

    Usage

    For a table, room or ticket

    Grammar Note

    "De" is the numeral two

36. Trwa dimounn

    Three people

    Usage

    For a table, room or ticket

    Grammar Note

    "Trwa" is the numeral three

Browse all TravelPhrases languages