Tok Pisin

noun

Tok Pis·​in ˈtȯk-ˈpi-zən How to pronounce Tok Pisin (audio)
-sən
: an English-based creole that is a national language of Papua New Guinea

Examples of Tok Pisin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
There are countless examples like these, in which English scaffolding has adapted to the demands and the cultural heritage of its speakers, from Jamaican patois to Tok Pisin, of New Guinea. Manvir Singh, The New Yorker, 23 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Tok Pisin, literally, pidgin talk

First Known Use

1974, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Tok Pisin was in 1974

Dictionary Entries Near Tok Pisin

Cite this Entry

“Tok Pisin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Tok%20Pisin. Accessed 26 Dec. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!