Halo (Pronounced: Ha-low) = Means “Hello.” This is usually followed by “Yu orait ah?” meaning “How are you?”
Yu = You,
Orait = Alright,
Ah = huh? (Implies a question).
Informally, you can also shorten it in saying “Orait ah?”
The response is; “Mi orait” = I am alright.
Mi = Me,
Orait = Alright.
The respondent can also add “…na yu?” (…and you?) or “…mi orait, na yu orait?” (I’m good, and how are you?) at the end of his reply.
Person 1: Halo, yu orait ah? (Hello, how are you?)
Person 2: Mi orait, na yu? (I’m good, and yourself?)
Person 1: Mi orait. (I’m ok.)
Times of the day
In Tok Pisin, time after the sun set until it rises again is night. Greetings in those time would be gut/gud nait (good night). You can also start greeting in the morning starting from 3am.
Moning (Morning) – around 4am to 11:30am
Greeting is: Moning/ Moning tru. Means “Morning”/ “(Very) good morning.”
Moning = Morning
Tru = True (In this sense it means “very” to emphasise the morning greeting.)
Avinun/ apinun (Afternoon) – 12pm – 6pm
Greeting is: Avinun/ Avinun tru. Means “Afternoon”/ “(Very) good afternoon.”
* Similar structure as the morning greeting.
Nait (Night) – 6pm – 3am
Greeting is: Gut/Gud nait. Means “Good night.”
You can also say Gud nait tru (Very good night).
Gut (rhymes with boot)/ Gud = Good
Nait = Night.
So, a regular greeting would go like this;
Person 1: Avinun tru, yu orait ah? (Good afternoon, how are you?)
Person 2: Avinun, mi orait, na yu? (Afternoon, I’m alright and how are you?)
Person 1: Mi orait. (I’m ok.)