Language

Greetings in Languages of Vanuatu

Ethnologue lists 110 languages spoken in Vanuatu.

There are 33 of these languages on this page.

Bislama, English, and French are the official languages of Vanuatu.

Akei [tsr] (Vanuatu: Southwestern Santo.)

Ran panihi

morning greeting

Poni panihi

evening greeting

Mo panihi tahu?

how are you?

Ambae, East [omb] (Vanuatu: Ambae Island.)

Rani karea
morning greeting

Zerobong karea
morning greeting

Bon karea
evening greeting

Ambrym, North [mmg] (Vanuatu: northern Ambrym Island.)

Fangren evening greeting

Ambrym, Southeast [tvk] (Vanuatu: southern Ambrym Island.)

Bos maqwe morning greeting

Bos vongien nighttime greeting

Bos wongien evening greeting in the Eastern dialect

Aneityum [aty] (Vanuatu: Aneityum Island.)

Kik epu

general greeting

Nujalang dupni morning greeting

Intschupura dupni evening greeting

Et echa? how are you?

Apma [app] (Vanuatu: Central Raga Island.)

Tsuubung mwamak morning greeting in the Suru Mwerani dialect

Ren mwamak afternoon greeting in the Suru Mwerani dialect

Bung mwamak evening greeting in the Suru Mwerani dialect

Mak oh informal greeting in the Suru Mwerani dialect

Kom gabis? how are you? in the Suru Mwerani dialect

Te gabis nge reply to Kom gabis in the Suru Mwerani dialect

Ko ban ibeh? where are you going? in the Suru Mwerani dialect

Ko tepma ibeh? where have you come from? in the Suru Mwerani dialect

Ko ban imbeh? where are you going? in the Suru Rabwanga dialect

Ko tepma imbeh? where have you come from? in the Suru Rabwanga dialect

Ko ban al beh? where are you going? in the Suru Kavian dialect

Kot vama al beh? where have you come from? in the Suru Kavian dialect

Bislama [bis] (Vanuatu.)

Halo general greeting spoken to one person

Halo tufala general greeting spoken to two people

Halo trifala general greeting spoken to three people

Halo olgeta general greeting spoken to a group of four or more people

Gud morning morning greeting

Mone morning greeting

Gud aftenon afternoon greeting

Olsem wanem? how are you?

Mi gud reply to Olsem wanem

Welkam welcome greeting

© 1995 - 2011 by Jennifer Runner. www.elite.net/~runner/jennifers/

Efate, North [llp] (Vanuatu: Efate Island.)

Malbong morning greeting

Malbong wia morning greeting

Rammel wia afternoon greeting

Bon wia nighttime greeting

© 1995 - 2011 by Jennifer Runner. www.elite.net/~runner/jennifers/

Efate, South [erk] (Vanuatu: Efate Island.)

Aliat wi general greeting

Pulpog wi morning greeting

Pog wi morning greeting

Kotfan wi afternoon greeting

Iwi ko? how are you?

Pa fak eswa? where are you going?

Ku to ewan mai? where are you coming from?

English [eng] (United Kingdom, United States of America, Canada, Australia, various other countries.)

Hello formal greeting

Hi informal greeting

Good morning morning greeting

Good afternoon afternoon greeting

Good evening formal evening greeting

Good day formal daytime greeting

How are you? how are you?

Fine reply to how are you

Fine, how're you? reply to how are you

Fine, and you? reply to how are you

I'm fine, thank you, and you? formal reply to how are you

Welcome formal greeting spoken to a person who is arriving

French [fra] (France. Canada: Quebec. Various other countries in Europe and Africa.)

Bonjour general greeting

Salut informal greeting

Bon matin morning greeting

Bon après-midi afternoon greeting

Bonsoir evening greeting after sunset

Comment allez-vous? how are you? formal

Comment vas-tu? how are you? informal

Très bien, merci reply to Comment allez-vous and Comment vas-tu

Comment ça va? how are you?

Ça va? how are you?

Ça va bien reply to Comment ça va and Ça va

Bienvenue welcome greeting

Futuna Aniwa [fut] (Vanuatu: Futuna and Aniwa Islands.)

Jinisa greeting spoken to one person

Rinisa greeting spoken to two people

Jikanisa greeting spoken to a group of three people

Jikanesa greeting spoken to a group of three people

Jikanesa kokautau greeting spoken to a group of three people

Niganisa greeting spoken to a group of four or more people

Hano [lml] (Vanuatu: North Pentecost, Maewa.)

Rantavahu morning greeting

Rani morning greeting

Bontavahu nighttime greeting

Bongi nighttime greeting

Kun hanigi? how are you?

Nu tavuha reply to Kun hanigi

Gom ban behe? where are you going?

Gom ban hala behe? where are you going?

Gom mai behe? where have you come from?

Gom mai hala behe? where have you come from?

Kwamera [tnk] (Vanuatu: Southeast Tanna.)

Ramasan ya nĭpnĭpĭn
morning greeting

Ramasan ya napĭnapĭn
morning greeting

Ramasan ya narvarav
evening greeting

Lenakel [tnl] (Vanuatu: Tanna.)

Rawit general greeting

Rawit lakap nipen morning greeting

Rawit lenaiu nighttime greeting

Rado? how are you?

Rawitam reply to Rado

Lewo [lww] (Vanuatu: East Epi.)

Pokolu lang morning greeting

Pokolu malo nighttime greeting

Lonwolwol [crc] (Vanuatu: West Ambrym and Efate Islands.)

Omrowabe?
general greeting, "where are you going?"

Omebwe?
general greeting, "where have you come from?"

Palen evening greeting

Mele-Fila [mxe] (Vanuatu: Efate and Ifara Islands.)

Tebo mareae nighttime greeting

Mosina [msn] (Vanuatu: Vanua Lava.)

Wo matav ga we min kami greeting to a group of people, literally "good day to you all"

Motlav [mlv] (Vanuatu: Mota Lava.)

Lemtap newe morning greeting

Lemtap newe nek morning greeting spoken to one person

Lemtap newe yohe morning greeting spoken to two people

Lemtap newe ige del morning greeting spoken to a group

Lempyepyep newe afternoon greeting

Anqon newe nighttime greeting

Qele ave? how are you?

Ohoo, tateh, itok reply to Qele ave

Nek so van ave? where are you going?

Tateh, tatal ewe reply to Ne so van ave

Namakura [nmk] (Vanuatu: North Efate, Tongoa, and Tongariki.)

Eleat awoh general daytime greeting

Mangorise awoh morning greeting

Daravih awoh afternoon and evening greeting

Ebong awoh nighttime greeting

Ebong nighttime greeting

Obeah ko pa row? where are you going?

Nambas, Big [nmb] (Vanuatu: northwest Malekula.)

Ipas general greeting

Ipas metavaren morning greeting

Ipas kenarev evening greeting

Ipas lirate nighttime greeting

Paama [pma] (Vanuatu: east Epi.) Compilation © 1995 - 2011 by Jennifer Runner. www.elite.net/~runner/jennifers/

More general greeting

More visocon
morning greeting

More tavie afternoon greeting

More vongien nighttime greeting

Kovahave? where are you going?

Port Vato [ptv] (Vanuatu: southwestern Ambrym Island.)

Fangfang ränändú morning greeting

Dábliäländú afternoon greeting

Fángrän evening greeting

Sa [sax] (Vanuatu.)

Ranpangran entô morning greeting in the Panngi dialect

Ranlopwas entô nighttime greeting in the Panngi dialect

O mbetô nga? how are you? in the Panngi dialect

I mbetô nga reply to O mbetô nga in the Panngi dialect

O metea bê? where are you going? in the Panngi dialect

O mamra bê? where have you been? in the Panngi dialect

O metea be? where are you going? in the Harop dialect

O mamra be? where have you been? in the Fatsare and Harop dialects

O mfa be? where are you going? in the Fatsare dialect

Sakao [quv] (Vanuatu: Espiritu Santo Island.)

Tyavwar o greeting spoken when passing by someone but not stopping

Ge, i mge ye? general greeting, literally "where are you going?"

Segren vogvog morning greeting

Pôr vogvog evening greeting

Seke [ske] (Vanuatu: Central Raga Island.)

Ren a^mbis
morning greeting

Bwông a^mbis nighttime greeting

Biong a^mbis nighttime greeting

Kmwê ^mba e^mbeh? where are you going?

Ki me e^mbeh? where have you been?

Sie [erg] (Vanuatu: Erramanga Island.)

Pwacah general greeting

Armai pwacah general greeting

Pruvcum morning greeting

Armai pruvcum morning greeting

Pwarap afternoon greeting

Armai pwarap afternoon greeting

Pumroc nighttime greeting

Armai pumroc nighttime greeting

Pau greeting spoken when meeting a person or seeing a person after an absence

Kik pau greeting spoken to a loved one or respected person, literally "I love you"/"I admire you"

Sowa [sww] (Vanuatu: Central Raga Island.)

Ran awê daytime greeting

Ran adwus daytime greeting

Bông awê nighttime greeting

Bông adwus nighttime greeting

Ki mwa ba sawôt? where are you going?

Mwa ba sawôt? where are you going?

Ki ti maê sawôt? where have you been?

Ti maê sawôt? where have you been?

Tangoa [tgp] (Vanuatu: Tangoa Island.)

Mo řuhu
general greeting

Mangorise awoh morning greeting

Tanna, North [tnn] (Vanuatu: north Tanna.)

Təwɨr general greeting

Təwɨr lenaiu nighttime greeting

Tanna, Southwest [nwi] (Vanuatu: southwest Tanna.)

Rhuvə general greeting

Uripiv-Wala-Rano-Atchin [upv] (Vanuatu.)

Ipij meteveren morning greeting in the Tape dialect

Eres rolbong morning greeting in the Tautu dialect

Eres natanbong evening greeting in the Tautu dialect

Er pese? how are you? in the Tautu dialect

© 2011 - 2012 Jennifer Runner. All rights reserved.

Copyright information
Site: http://www.elite.net/~runners/jennifers/Country Greetings Vanuatu.htm

Last updated on January 1, 2012.

Akei [tsr] (Vanuatu: Southwestern Santo.)
	Ran panihi	morning greeting
	Poni panihi	evening greeting
	Mo panihi tahu?	how are you?

Ambae, East [omb] (Vanuatu: Ambae Island.)
	Rani karea	morning greeting
	Zerobong karea	morning greeting
	Bon karea	evening greeting

Ambrym, North [mmg] (Vanuatu: northern Ambrym Island.)
	Fangren	evening greeting

Ambrym, Southeast [tvk] (Vanuatu: southern Ambrym Island.)
	Bos maqwe	morning greeting
	Bos vongien	nighttime greeting
	Bos wongien	evening greeting in the Eastern dialect

Aneityum [aty] (Vanuatu: Aneityum Island.)
	Kik epu	general greeting
	Nujalang dupni	morning greeting
	Intschupura dupni	evening greeting
	Et echa?	how are you?

Apma [app] (Vanuatu: Central Raga Island.)
	Tsuubung mwamak	morning greeting in the Suru Mwerani dialect
	Ren mwamak	afternoon greeting in the Suru Mwerani dialect
	Bung mwamak	evening greeting in the Suru Mwerani dialect
	Mak oh	informal greeting in the Suru Mwerani dialect
	Kom gabis?	how are you? in the Suru Mwerani dialect
	Te gabis nge	reply to Kom gabis in the Suru Mwerani dialect
	Ko ban ibeh?	where are you going? in the Suru Mwerani dialect
	Ko tepma ibeh?	where have you come from? in the Suru Mwerani dialect
	Ko ban imbeh?	where are you going? in the Suru Rabwanga dialect
	Ko tepma imbeh?	where have you come from? in the Suru Rabwanga dialect
	Ko ban al beh?	where are you going? in the Suru Kavian dialect
	Kot vama al beh?	where have you come from? in the Suru Kavian dialect

Bislama [bis] (Vanuatu.)
	Halo	general greeting spoken to one person
	Halo tufala	general greeting spoken to two people
	Halo trifala	general greeting spoken to three people
	Halo olgeta	general greeting spoken to a group of four or more people
	Gud morning	morning greeting
	Mone	morning greeting
	Gud aftenon	afternoon greeting
	Olsem wanem?	how are you?
	Mi gud	reply to Olsem wanem
	Welkam	welcome greeting

Efate, North [llp] (Vanuatu: Efate Island.)
	Malbong	morning greeting
	Malbong wia	morning greeting
	Rammel wia	afternoon greeting
	Bon wia	nighttime greeting

Efate, South [erk] (Vanuatu: Efate Island.)
	Aliat wi	general greeting
	Pulpog wi	morning greeting
	Pog wi	morning greeting
	Kotfan wi	afternoon greeting
	Iwi ko?	how are you?
	Pa fak eswa?	where are you going?
	Ku to ewan mai?	where are you coming from?

English [eng] (United Kingdom, United States of America, Canada, Australia, various other countries.)
	Hello	formal greeting
	Hi	informal greeting
	Good morning	morning greeting
	Good afternoon	afternoon greeting
	Good evening	formal evening greeting
	Good day	formal daytime greeting
	How are you?	how are you?
	Fine	reply to how are you
	Fine, how're you?	reply to how are you
	Fine, and you?	reply to how are you
	I'm fine, thank you, and you?	formal reply to how are you
	Welcome	formal greeting spoken to a person who is arriving

French [fra] (France. Canada: Quebec. Various other countries in Europe and Africa.)
	Bonjour	general greeting
	Salut	informal greeting
	Bon matin	morning greeting
	Bon après-midi	afternoon greeting
	Bonsoir	evening greeting after sunset
	Comment allez-vous?	how are you? formal
	Comment vas-tu?	how are you? informal
	Très bien, merci	reply to Comment allez-vous and Comment vas-tu
	Comment ça va?	how are you?
	Ça va?	how are you?
	Ça va bien	reply to Comment ça va and Ça va
	Bienvenue	welcome greeting

Futuna Aniwa [fut] (Vanuatu: Futuna and Aniwa Islands.)
	Jinisa	greeting spoken to one person
	Rinisa	greeting spoken to two people
	Jikanisa	greeting spoken to a group of three people
	Jikanesa	greeting spoken to a group of three people
	Jikanesa kokautau	greeting spoken to a group of three people
	Niganisa	greeting spoken to a group of four or more people

Hano [lml] (Vanuatu: North Pentecost, Maewa.)
	Rantavahu	morning greeting
	Rani	morning greeting
	Bontavahu	nighttime greeting
	Bongi	nighttime greeting
	Kun hanigi?	how are you?
	Nu tavuha	reply to Kun hanigi
	Gom ban behe?	where are you going?
	Gom ban hala behe?	where are you going?
	Gom mai behe?	where have you come from?
	Gom mai hala behe?	where have you come from?

Kwamera [tnk] (Vanuatu: Southeast Tanna.)
	Ramasan ya nĭpnĭpĭn	morning greeting
	Ramasan ya napĭnapĭn	morning greeting
	Ramasan ya narvarav	evening greeting

Lenakel [tnl] (Vanuatu: Tanna.)
	Rawit	general greeting
	Rawit lakap nipen	morning greeting
	Rawit lenaiu	nighttime greeting
	Rado?	how are you?
	Rawitam	reply to Rado

Lewo [lww] (Vanuatu: East Epi.)
	Pokolu lang	morning greeting
	Pokolu malo	nighttime greeting

Lonwolwol [crc] (Vanuatu: West Ambrym and Efate Islands.)
	Omrowabe?	general greeting, "where are you going?"
	Omebwe?	general greeting, "where have you come from?"
	Palen	evening greeting

Mele-Fila [mxe] (Vanuatu: Efate and Ifara Islands.)
	Tebo mareae	nighttime greeting

Mosina [msn] (Vanuatu: Vanua Lava.)
	Wo matav ga we min kami	greeting to a group of people, literally "good day to you all"

Motlav [mlv] (Vanuatu: Mota Lava.)
	Lemtap newe	morning greeting
	Lemtap newe nek	morning greeting spoken to one person
	Lemtap newe yohe	morning greeting spoken to two people
	Lemtap newe ige del	morning greeting spoken to a group
	Lempyepyep newe	afternoon greeting
	Anqon newe	nighttime greeting
	Qele ave?	how are you?
	Ohoo, tateh, itok	reply to Qele ave
	Nek so van ave?	where are you going?
	Tateh, tatal ewe	reply to Ne so van ave

© 2011 - 2012 Jennifer Runner. All rights reserved.

Copyright information Site: http://www.elite.net/~runners/jennifers/Country Greetings Vanuatu.htm

Copyright information
Site: http://www.elite.net/~runners/jennifers/Country Greetings Vanuatu.htm

Namakura [nmk] (Vanuatu: North Efate, Tongoa, and Tongariki.)
	Eleat awoh	general daytime greeting
	Mangorise awoh	morning greeting
	Daravih awoh	afternoon and evening greeting
	Ebong awoh	nighttime greeting
	Ebong	nighttime greeting
	Obeah ko pa row?	where are you going?

Nambas, Big [nmb] (Vanuatu: northwest Malekula.)
	Ipas	general greeting
	Ipas metavaren	morning greeting
	Ipas kenarev	evening greeting
	Ipas lirate	nighttime greeting

Paama [pma] (Vanuatu: east Epi.) Compilation © 1995 - 2011 by Jennifer Runner. www.elite.net/~runner/jennifers/
	More	general greeting
	More visocon	morning greeting
	More tavie	afternoon greeting
	More vongien	nighttime greeting
	Kovahave?	where are you going?

Port Vato [ptv] (Vanuatu: southwestern Ambrym Island.)
	Fangfang ränändú	morning greeting
	Dábliäländú	afternoon greeting
	Fángrän	evening greeting

Sa [sax] (Vanuatu.)
	Ranpangran entô	morning greeting in the Panngi dialect
	Ranlopwas entô	nighttime greeting in the Panngi dialect
	O mbetô nga?	how are you? in the Panngi dialect
	I mbetô nga	reply to O mbetô nga in the Panngi dialect
	O metea bê?	where are you going? in the Panngi dialect
	O mamra bê?	where have you been? in the Panngi dialect
	O metea be?	where are you going? in the Harop dialect
	O mamra be?	where have you been? in the Fatsare and Harop dialects
	O mfa be?	where are you going? in the Fatsare dialect

Sakao [quv] (Vanuatu: Espiritu Santo Island.)
	Tyavwar o	greeting spoken when passing by someone but not stopping
	Ge, i mge ye?	general greeting, literally "where are you going?"
	Segren vogvog	morning greeting
	Pôr vogvog	evening greeting

Seke [ske] (Vanuatu: Central Raga Island.)
	Ren a^mbis	morning greeting
	Bwông a^mbis	nighttime greeting
	Biong a^mbis	nighttime greeting
	Kmwê ^mba e^mbeh?	where are you going?
	Ki me e^mbeh?	where have you been?

Sie [erg] (Vanuatu: Erramanga Island.)
	Pwacah	general greeting
	Armai pwacah	general greeting
	Pruvcum	morning greeting
	Armai pruvcum	morning greeting
	Pwarap	afternoon greeting
	Armai pwarap	afternoon greeting
	Pumroc	nighttime greeting
	Armai pumroc	nighttime greeting
	Pau	greeting spoken when meeting a person or seeing a person after an absence
	Kik pau	greeting spoken to a loved one or respected person, literally "I love you"/"I admire you"

Sowa [sww] (Vanuatu: Central Raga Island.)
	Ran awê	daytime greeting
	Ran adwus	daytime greeting
	Bông awê	nighttime greeting
	Bông adwus	nighttime greeting
	Ki mwa ba sawôt?	where are you going?
	Mwa ba sawôt?	where are you going?
	Ki ti maê sawôt?	where have you been?
	Ti maê sawôt?	where have you been?

Tangoa [tgp] (Vanuatu: Tangoa Island.)
	Mo řuhu	general greeting
	Mangorise awoh	morning greeting