Useful Mauritian Creole for your trip.

A few words to keep handy

Bonzour

Hello / good day

Mersi

Thank you

Silvouple

Please

Orevwar

Goodbye

Bienveni

Welcome

Komie sa koute?

How much does it cost?

Non mersi

No, thank you

Eski mo kapav gagn…

Could I have…

Mo pa konpran

I do not understand

Kapav repet, silvouple?

Could you repeat, please?

San piman, silvouple

No chilli, please

Kot twalet?

Where is the toilet?

Lor gos

On the left

Lor drwat

On the right

Start with a greeting and a thank-you

Bonzour is a daytime greeting. Mersi means thank you, and silvouple adds please to a request. Orevwar is a way to say goodbye. These small words work well when entering a shop, paying for food or finishing a conversation.

Bienveni means welcome. You may hear it before you need to say it yourself. Let a greeting be an opening rather than rushing straight into a question.

Ask one clear question at a time

Komie sa koute? asks the price. Point to the item so it is clear what you mean, then confirm the amount before paying. Non mersi lets you decline politely.

Eski mo kapav gagn… can introduce a request for something. In a café or at a counter, the item you want can follow the phrase. A short request and a gesture are often more practical for a beginner than a long memorised sentence.

Keep a phrase ready when you lose the thread

Mo pa konpran means that you do not understand. Kapav repet, silvouple? asks the person to repeat. Use either early in the conversation rather than agreeing to something you have not understood.

If a booking time, price or meeting point matters, have it written down as well. A few beginner phrases are useful for everyday exchanges, but an important arrangement deserves a clear shared understanding.

Use a food request without assuming the ingredients

San piman, silvouple is a request for no chilli. Use it before the food is prepared where possible. It does not establish what ingredients or sauces are already in a dish.

For a food allergy or a strict dietary requirement, explain the full requirement in a language both you and the person serving you understand. Ask about the actual ingredients and preparation. A phrase meaning no chilli is not an allergy instruction.

Recognise a few words for finding your way

Kot twalet? asks where the toilet is. Lor gos and lor drwat refer to the left and right. Have the place name or address on your phone when asking for a more involved route.

You do not need to continue in Creole if the answer becomes difficult to follow. English, French and Creole are all part of the language landscape of Mauritius, but the language someone prefers is theirs to choose.

Use a polite form when you are unsure

Mauritian Creole distinguishes ou from the more familiar to. The official grammar describes ou as the polite or more distant form of address. Start there with someone you do not know and follow their lead.

Written Creole has its own conventions; it is not French with altered spelling. You will also hear variation in speech. Treat this short list as a starting point for listening and everyday courtesy, then build your vocabulary through the conversations you have.

Your planning checklist

• Start with bonzour and mersi.
• Confirm prices and meeting details clearly.
• Explain dietary requirements in full.
• Listen to how people around you speak.

A few useful answers