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Greetings in Languages of Vanuatu

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Ethnologue lists 110 languages spoken in Vanuatu.

There are 46 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 minuk general greeting

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
Kom kabis? how are you? in the Suru Rabwanga and Suru Kavian dialects
Te kabis nge reply to Kom kabis in the Suru Rabwanga dialect
Te kabis nga reply to Kom kabis in the Suru Kavian 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

 

Araki [akr] (Vanuatu: Araki Island, south Santo.)

Om ro ro? how are you?

 

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 dei daytime greeting
Gudmoning morning greeting
Moning morning greeting
Moning tufala morning greeting spoken to two people
Moning tufala morning greeting spoken to two people
Moning olgeta morning greeting spoken to a group of four or more people
Gudaftanun afternoon greeting
Gudnaet evening and nighttime greeting
Gunaet evening and nighttime greeting
Olsem wanem? how are you?
Olsem wanem long yu? how are you?
Olsem wanem long yu tede ya? how are you?
Yu olsem wanem? how are you?
Yu oraet? how are you?
Mi gud reply to Olsem wanem and Yu oraet
Mi gud nomo reply to Olsem wanem and Yu oraet
I gud nomo reply to Olsem wanem and Yu oraet
I olraet reply to Olsem wanem and Yu oraet
I olraet nomo reply to Olsem wanem and Yu oraet
Welkam welcome greeting

 

Daakaka [bpa] (Vanuatu: southwest Ambrym.)
  Kom meu kyun? how are you?
  Kom yas kyun? how are you?
  Ma gevi? how are you? informal
  Mu vu kyun reply to Kom meu kyun, Kom yas kyun, and Ma gevi
Arve? greeting to a person going somewhere, "where are you going?"
  Pepelyen na mu vu morning greeting
Pepelyen na tu wu morning greeting

 

Dorig [wwo] (Vanuatu: Gaua Island.)
Rorwor vawē morning greeting
  Rorwor vawē min kmi dōl morning greeting spoken to a group
  Daksa? how are you?
  Bek, vawē wor reply to Daksa

© 1995 - 2012 by Jennifer Runner. www.elite.net/~runner/jennifers/

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

© 1995 - 2012 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.)

  Alofa general greeting
Jinisa greeting spoken to one person
Jinesa greeting spoken to one person
Rinisa greeting spoken to two people
Rinesa 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
Niganesa greeting spoken to a group of four or more people
  E rufie ta po general daytime greeting
  Rufie ta hpo morning greeting
  E rufie taotea afternoon greeting
  Rakomai welcome greeting

 

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?

 

Hiw [hiw] (Vanuatu: Hiw Island.)

Metave wye morning greeting
  Metave wye tekn̄wa morning greeting spoken to a group
N̄wëna? how are you?
  Tego, në mer̄awe n̄wutuye reply to N̄wëna

 

Koro [krf] (Vanuatu: Gaua island.)
Rorwor vwē morning greeting
  Rorwor vwē mun kimi morning greeting spoken to a group

 

Kwamera [tnk] (Vanuatu: Southeast Tanna.)

Ramasan nĭpnĭpĭn

 morning greeting

Ramasan ya nĭpnĭpĭn

 morning greeting

Ramasan ya napĭnapĭn

 morning greeting

Ramasan ya narvarav

 evening greeting

 

Lakon [lkn] (Vanuatu: Gaua island.)

Matpäh gawē morning greeting
  Matpäh gawē mun gamu pah morning greeting spoken to a group

 

Lemerig [lrz] (Vanuatu: Vanua Lava island.)

Mā'āv gewi morning greeting
  Mäkäväne? how are you?
  Niv, ge wi qogor reply to Mäkäväne

 

Lenakel [tnl] (Vanuatu: Tanna.)

Rawɨt general greeting
Rawɨt lakapnəpɨn morning greeting
Rawɨt lenaiu nighttime greeting
Rado? how are you?
Rawɨtam 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

 

Lo-Toga [lht] (Vanuatu: Torres Islands.)

Metave gëwie morning greeting
Metave gëwie hi kemi pah morning greeting spoken to a group

 

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

Tebo mareae nighttime greeting

 

Mota [mtt] (Vanuatu: Mota island.)

Qon̄ wia general greeting
  Tam̄avea? how are you?
  Tagai, we wia gap reply to Tam̄avea

  

Mwerlap [mrm] (Vanuatu: Mere Lava and Merig islands)

Tōlō nuwea morning greeting

 

Mwesen [msn]/[msn-mwe] (Vanuatu: Vanua Lava.)

Matav ga wē general greeting
Matav ga wē min kimi greeting to a group of people
  Nēk me van me welcome greeting, "you've come"

 

Mwotlap [mlv] (Vanuatu: Mota Lava.)

Lemtap nēwē morning greeting
  Lemtap nēwē nēk morning greeting spoken to one person
  Lemtap nēwē yohe morning greeting spoken to two people
  Lemtap nēwē ige del morning greeting spoken to a group
  Lemtap nēwē hiy kimi del morning greeting spoken to a group
  Lempyēpyep nēwē afternoon greeting
  Lēlwomyen nēwē midday greeting
  An̄qōn̄  nēwē nighttime greeting
  Qele ave? how are you?
  Ohoo, tateh, itōk reply to Qele ave
  Nēk so van ave? where are you going?
  Tateh, tatal ēwē reply to Nēk so van ave
  Ohoo, tateh, nok tatal ēwē reply to Nēk so van ave
  Nēk mēdēn̄ welcome greeting, "you've arrived"
  Bulsal, nēk mēdēn̄ welcome greeting, "you've arrived, my friend"
  Mōlm̄ol me ēnōk? welcome greeting spoken to a person returning ("you're back?)
  Mōlm̄ol me ēgēn reply to Mōlm̄ol me ēnōk, "we're back")

 

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?

 

Nume [tgs] (Vanuatu: northeast Gaua island)

  Talōw vebōn morning greeting
  Talōw vebōn min kimi dōl morning greeting spoken to a group

 

Olrat [olr] (Vanuatu: Gaua island)

  Matvas gawē morning greeting
  Matvas gawē mun kimi morning greeting spoken to a group

 

Paama [pma] (Vanuatu: east Epi.)                      Compilation © 1995 - 2012 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 abis

 morning greeting
  Bwông abis nighttime greeting
  Biông abis nighttime greeting
  Kmwê ba ebeh? where are you going?
  Ki me ebeh? 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.)

Tawɨr general greeting

Tawɨr loulaugɨn general greeting
  Tawɨr lenaiu nighttime greeting

 

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

Rhuvə general greeting
  Rhuvə namsuk general greeting
  Thuvə general greeting in the Vaha dialect
  Thuvə yenpɨgenpɨg morning greeting in the Vaha dialect

 

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

Eris general greeting in the Rano dialect
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

 

V'ënen Taut [nmb] (Vanuatu: northwest Malekula.)

  Ipas general greeting
  Ipas metavaren morning greeting
  Ipas kenarev evening greeting
  Ipas lirate nighttime greeting

 

Vurës [msn]/[msn-vur] (Vanuatu: Vanua Lava.)

  Timiak avē? how are you?
Odian̄ gōwē gem reply to Timiak avē

 

Whitesands Napuanmen [tnp] (Vanuatu: Tanna)

Tawɨr laplapɨn morning greeting
  Tawɨr lənaiyu evening greeting

 

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Last updated on January 19, 2013.