Asia

a-Pac
cific Lingu
L uistic
cs
Open A
Access
s Monog
graphs
_________
__________
_________
____________________
_________
Studies in the Languagu
ues of Islland Mellanesia
Collage of A
Asia and the Pacific
The Austral ian National University

Maali (B
Bain
ning
g) diictioonarry
Mali-B
Bainin
ng Amthamo
on Ang
gtha T
Thvaik
k

Tonya N. Steb bbins

with thhe assisttance off Julius Tayul
T

A-PL 001
0
 Assia-Pa
acific Linguisttics
Op
pen Acce
ess Mono
ographs
___
_________
_________
_________
_________
___________
Stu
udies in the
t Langu
uagues of
o Island Melanesia
M ia

SLIM EDITO RD: Isabelle Bril

ORIAL BOAR
Bethwwyn Evans
Alexanndre Franois (foundeer and Manaaging Editoor of the seriies)
Bill Pa
almer

Published bby Asia-Paccific Linguiistics (SLIM

M)
College off Asia and thhe Pacific
The Austraalian Nationnal Universiity
Canberra ACT 26000
Australia

Copyright inn this edition iss vested with the

t author(s)
Released undder Creative Commons
C Liceence (Attributtion)

First publisheed: 2012

URL: http://hhdl.handle.nett/1885/9273

National Library of Austraalia Cataloguing-in-Publicaation entry:

Author: Stebbbins, Tonya N.

N

Title: Mali (Baining) dicctionary [electtronic resourcee] : Mali-Bain

ning amtham
mon angtha th
hvaik
/ Tonnya N. Stebbin
ns with the asssistance of Jullius Tayul.

ISBN: 9781922185006 (eebook)

Notes: Incluudes bibliograp

phical referennces.

Subjects: Papuuan languages---Dictionariess--English. Baaining languag

ge--Dictionariies--English
Bainiing language--Grammar. B Baining (Papua New Guineaan people)--Laanguages. Paapua
New Guinea--Lang guages--Gram mmar.

Other Authorrs/ Tayuul, Julius, 1942

2-
Contributors: Austrralian Nationaal University. Asia-Pacific Linguistics
L Op
pen Access.

Dewey Numb
mber: 499.112
For speakers of Mali: past, present and future.
Table of contents

Community preface ...................................................................................................... 5

Community acknowledgements ................................................................................... 7
General acknowledgements......................................................................................... 8
Part 1 About this dictionary.................................................................................... 9
1.1 Development of the dictionary..................................................................... 9
1.2 About the Mali language ............................................................................ 10
1.3 Vitality of Mali............................................................................................ 11
1.4 Word class labels used in this dictionary .................................................. 12
1.5 Note on the orthography ........................................................................... 16
1.6 Ordering of entries .................................................................................... 16
1.7 Structure of the entries ............................................................................. 17
1.8 Note on the translation of the example sentences .................................... 18

Part 2 Mali English dictionary ........................................................................... 21

Part 3 English Mali finderlist .......................................................................... 207

Part 4 Organisation of the thesaurus ................................................................. 357

Thesaurus................................................................................................. 362

4
Community preface
Diva ngi rm mamr svt kama
Mali-Baining gna, mamr diva ngi su ia
ngi rm nathva musnng nva bang,
ta tet pathm agia thondm, ta tt dul
minia dak ta vthana minia sathva
guangithong. Amusnngini chni svt
kama musneng nva mbang ma chama
Mali-Baining gna dai sok kama
amethamn angt kn, ma chuneng
ngmo tha tamn sthmna na ngt,
svt athva Deo, dak aguangithon pang
namt atha.
Sa tha askok mndu ve ia 1920, kama
Pater ama naruerka, Fr Alphonse
Mayerhoper, ama ndrm bmga nama
methamn, sa cha chut mk nchama
Malichana athva methamn. Ithang da
chok ta ithik da chok ta ve thi slameng
ura tvng nangt, da sai tha chut
mangt mchvs nani arutha ta ithik
nasot.
Ithik ama sa svt kama chutkut mamr
vathm kama Malichana athva mtha-
mon marik da so chama amthamoni-
thong da ngtha thuchunmes da sa ng
ve diva sik ngthi tuchunmes svtha ma
gia mthanomini ura amethamnbs dak
kama ngtkn ma chok kama Mali marik.
Amor ngini mamr nani kama Malichna
ma mithu nasot diva sik ta ndrm
nathva methamn nva bang.
Chok ta thal ngo ama Mali-Bainingga
marik, d ngua tamn nama Mali, chlan
da ithik i a naruerka nango mt ma
Sinivit LLG., East New Britain Province
To truly know the Mali people of the
Baining tribe, one can study their
culture, political, economic, and social
life. One aspect of the culture of the
Mali-Bainings is the language and
expressions they use daily to
communicate and inter-relate with
each other, their God, and nature
around them.
Attempts were made in the early
1920s by an anthropologist and
linguist priest, Fr Alphonse Mayer-
hofer to print the Mali language. He
published a Catholic hymn book and a
Catholic prayer and catechism book in
the Mali language. These are being
used today. There has been some
reprinting of these for todays
generation.
Obviously, to come up with the written
form of the Mali language, a dictio-
nary would serve as the basis for the
explanation, interpretation, defini-
tions, and pronunciation of words and
phrases. It is of fundamental import-
ance to the Mali people of future years
and of equal importance to non-Malis
interested in knowing about the Mali
people through understanding and
speaking their language.
As a born Mali-Baining man and
speaker of the language and as the
local government president of the
Sinivit LLG., East New Britain
5
peia Papua New Guinea, sok amr vtha
ngo savuit i sok ngua lu chama mtha-
monithong da ngtha thuchunmes nma
ngo ma Mali-Bainingga gua mthamon.
Auk sa sdamr da ngua tamn pthanas
s ma Tonya Stebbins. Da chik sai atha
lugutka ma Mark Planigale, ngua tamn
pthanas scha.
D chama thktk mamr iva achernas
mt ngt baiom dak nga nia nanggel
kama morka ma Julius Tayul ma cht np
na methamn d ch tuchunmes svt
kama mthamonithong. Ngua tamn
pthanas schama amatnthmbes
naggel kama Elementary atha sunas
vemiom ma Henry Lemka d ma Chris-
tophe Tayul dak arutha ath ma tha von
dachama asek dak chok vath ma tha
matnthm.
Sa chama methamn da ngtha
thuchunmes da ngu snan sanglm ngn
gua ruavek ma Mali-Baininggna ia sok
ngni slamendm da mr vtha ngen.
Boniface Michael Setavo, MPA.
President, Sinivit Local Level Government,
East New Britain Province, Papua New Guinea.
Province, Papua New Guinea, I am
really proud to see a dictionary in my
own Mali-Baining language. And I take
this opportunity to thank Tonya
Stebbins. I thank, too, her husband
Mark Planigale for his assistance.
The work would have been difficult
had it not been for the close assistance
of village elder, interpreter, and
advisor Julius Tayul. I acknowledge
the assistance of Marunga Elementary
teachers Henry Lemka and Christop
Tayul and many others who contri-
buted by submitting stories and
assistance in kind.
With the completion of the dictionary
I call on all good Mali-Bainings to use
the dictionary with pride.
6
Community acknowledgements
Arutha ma chdichn ta matnthm
schama buchm ta ithchem.
Kama amthamon angtha thvaik
da ng mumanas nagl ma Tonya
Stebbins da sai chok nagl ma Mark
Planigale.
Julius Tayul ka thk mamor ma cha
vonda thuchups ama chdichn svt
ka ma a msmes angt kn dchama
npna methamon saisath.
Arutha ma tha matnthm schama
thuchunms svt kama methamoni-
thong dai sai chok ma Julius Tayul,
Pius Demes, Pius Gusneng, Fidel
Lemka, Benedicta Guamrini dma
John Kaburnok.
Kama thuchupms svt kama
methamonithong d vt kama Yachun
ama chdichn dai ma Julien Tayul
dma Julius Tayul ta chut ma ngt dak
sai chok a matnthmbes nagl ma:
Julius Tayul Jnr, Henry Lemka,
Christopher Tayul, Norberta Robert,
Catherine Vasek dma Charles Vasek.
Many people helped in preparing this
book.
The dictionary was compiled by Tonya
Stebbins with her husband Mark
Planigale.
Julius Tayul worked very hard and gave
lots of advice about the spelling,
pronunciation and translation of the
entries.
People who helped by giving words on
particular topics included: Julius Tayul,
Pius Demes, Pius Gusneng, Fidel Lemka,
Benedicta Guamrini, and John
Kaburnok.
The example sentences were written
over many months by Julien Tayul and
Julius Tayul, with help from Julius Tayul
Jnr, Henry Lemka, Christopher Tayul,
Norberta Robert, Catherine Vasek, and
Charles Vasek.
7
General acknowledgements

Two people who have been central to the completion of this dictionary are my hus-
band Mark Planigale and our very good friend Mr Julius Tayul. Without Julius Tayul
it would have been impossible to compile such a wonderful corpus from which to
build the dictionary and to ensure that each entry was as complete and accurate as
possible. I could not have asked for a more generous, patient, or persistent partner
in my research on the language than gumamk, ma Julius Tayul. Without Mark I
would never have been brave enough to embark on this project and am not sure that
I would have been able to see it through. I would also like to acknowledge the con-
tribution Mark made to the dictionary by taking on the task of eliciting words in the
domains of flora and fauna. Very few of these words would have made it into the
dictionary without his dedicated efforts in this area since these words did not crop
up in other parts of the corpus.
I would also like to specifically thank several other members of the Mali commu-
nity who contributed directly to the dictionary. Julien Tayul deserves special mention
for all of the example sentences she wrote. Others who helped with this task were:
Julius Tayul Jnr, Henry Lemka, Christopher Tayul, Norberta Robert, Catherine Vasek
and Charles Vasek. Many others contributed to the research that led to the diction-
ary by writing or recording stories in Mali. The support of the Mali community as a
whole, and particularly in the village of Marunga, was also very important to this
project. Without the help and practical support many people in Marunga provided,
we would not have been able to complete this work.
Closer to home, I thank Jo Taylor and Bev Stebbins who assisted with the coding
associated with compiling the electronic version of the dictionary. Meifang Gu pro-
vided the technical expertise that moved the Toolbox database through LexiquePro
and into a word document and Alison Bennett made a huge contribution to format-
ting and proof-checking in the final stages. Thanks to Jeanette Coombes for her care
with typesetting the manuscript.
I would like to acknowledge the financial support of La Trobe University through
a Postdoctoral Fellowship in 200103. Particular thanks are due to Sasha Aikhen-
vald and Bob Dixon at the Research Centre for Linguistic Typology at La Trobe
University, who provided the generous encouragement and practical support that
made fieldwork in East New Britain possible. Thanks is also due to the Faculty of
Humanities and Social Sciences at La Trobe University who funded an additional
fieldtrip to make final checks to the dictionary in 2006.

8
About this dictionary

This is a dictionary of the Mali (Baining) language. It is presented in three parts. The
first section, MaliEnglish, contains entries organised around Mali headwords. This
section represents the Mali lexicon with English glosses and bilingual example sen-
tences. Other information about particular word classes, for example the inflectional
forms of verbs and the plural forms of nouns is also given here. (See 3.1 on word
class labels for further information on how each category is represented. This in-
formation is expanded in the Mali (Baining) grammar, also published by Pacific
Linguistics.) Many Mali words have alternate forms depending on their phonetic
context or grammatical value. The Mali-English section lists alternate forms in ad-
dition to the citation form where complete information is given.
The EnglishMali section contains much of the same information about the lan-
guage as the MaliEnglish section but it is organised in relation to English transla-
tions for Mali words. This section is designed to facilitate use by people who are not
familiar with Mali. This version of the dictionary was compiled manually, rather than
being generated mechanically, with the intention of maximising the likelihood that
the reader will be able to find the best match for an English word. The thesaurus is
organised into semantic groups see the guide at the start of that section for de-
tails. The thesaurus only indicates the sense of a word that is relevant for each par-
ticular semantic category. The reader should consult the Mali-English section in
order to ascertain other related senses and thus the broader semantic possibilities of
each word.

1.1 Development of the dictionary

During fieldwork in Papua New Guinea in 2001 and 2002, I worked on the three re-
lated tasks of compiling a corpus of Mali texts, doing preliminary grammatical
analysis, and preparing a draft dictionary of the language. A more detailed account
of the fieldwork and the resulting corpus is set out in the MaliBaining grammar
(Stebbins 2011) in 1.81.9. The remote location and difficult physical conditions
made on-going use of a laptop in the field impractical and so I made the decision to
work from paper while in the field after the first trip. This dictionary started life as a
card file.
The corpus of Mali texts I collected during this time eventually included over 60
texts, some recorded and transcribed by Julius Tayul, and others written down by the
authors. As I worked through the texts with Mr Tayul, I built up the card file.
After a new Mali word and its translation had been identified and recorded on a
card, and any relevant morphological information had been noted, Ms Julien Tayul
wrote an example sentence in Mali for each sense listed on the card. Towards the
end of the fieldtrip, several other people, and particularly Mr Tayul, assisted in this
work, either writing sentences in Mali or assisting me with the task of translating the

9
10 About this dictionary

examples. This method had the advantage of allowing direct contributions from a
wider group of people.
All of the material I collected was transferred to the software Shoebox (later up-
dated to Toolbox) once I returned from the field in late 2002. Since that time I have
continued to add entries and revise them for publication, adding new information as
the analysis of the grammar progressed, filling in missing example sentences with
extracts from texts, reorganising the entries into a more logical structure, coding for
semantic domains in order to produce the thesaurus, and so on. I was also able to
consult with Mr Tayul late in 2006 on some outstanding problems with the gram-
matical analysis and the material in the dictionary and, at the same time, we added a
few more entries.

1.2 About the Mali language

Mali is a member of the Baining language family. The language is spoken in roughly
the south east quadrant of the Gazelle Peninsula on the island of New Britain (Papua
New Guinea). See Map 1.

Map 1: Area map of East Papuan languages

 About this dictionary 11

At this time there are around 2200 speakers of Mali living in eleven villages
across Mali territory or in nearby villages and towns (see Map 2). There are two
dialects of Mali: a coastal dialect whose speakers are called Abilta those from the
old village and a mountain dialect whose speakers are called Arongda those from a
cold place. The dictionary includes words from both dialects. Differences between
them are most apparent at the level of phonology with Abilta speakers showing more
phonological reduction than Arongda speakers and inserting epenthetic consonants
in word final position after concordial pronouns.

Map 2: Local map of Papuan languages in East New Britain Province

1.3 Vitality of Mali

Only the oldest generation of Mali speakers (50 or more years of age) is fully fluent
in Mali; able to use it in all domains without ad hoc borrowings from Tok Pisin. These
people are the only ones with a thorough knowledge of Mali ethnobiology and cos-
mology. The next generation (3049 years of age) is fully fluent in Tok Pisin as a
result of time spent at boarding school and the increasing need for linguistic ac-
commodation within villages. They habitually speak Tok Pisin in many contexts but
are generally also fluent in Mali. Younger adults (1629 years of age) show even
more restricted vocabularies. Children (215 years of age) who are born to two Mali
12 About this dictionary

parents learn Mali as their first language; however, they do not acquire extensive
Mali vocabularies. Children are fully fluent in Tok Pisin by the middle of primary
school.

1.4 Word class labels used in this dictionary

Cross-references in this section refer the reader to relevant sections of the Mali
(Baining) grammar where additional information about each category may be found.

Verbs Verbs head the predicate and are associated with concordial pro-
(sa-vi.) nouns that cross-reference the person, number, and gender of
(vi-so.) core grammatical arguments (4.1). Most verbs show stem initial
(vt.) mutations for tense (4.2). Verbs do not take any of the morphol-
ogy associated with nouns (i.e. specifier articles or noun class
marking) and they may not function as the head of an NP.
Within the dictionary verbs are labelled to show their argument
structure. There are three possibilities:
(sa-vi.) indicates an active intransitive verb with a single argument
marked before the verb. Examples include: bang run, dang
catch fire, gum cough, tusavus wriggle, and vanim roll
(vi-so.) indicates a stative intransitive verb with a single argument
after the verb. Examples include: bubu be dull in colour,
disse faint, irs feel sad, and mnap sleep
(vt.) indicates a transitive verb with two arguments. Examples
include: bias step on, don throw away, kthep catch,
grab, pais bind, and tal carry.
Mutations for tense be ascertained by checking for variant
forms at the end of each main entry. Each variant form is listed in
a minor entry. There are three patterns of mutation:
Type A verbs: don go.in.PRES, mon go.in.PAST, and thon go.in.FUT
Type B verbs: don thow.away.PRES, thon thow.away.NPRES
Type C verbs: tlu see.PRES, lu see.NPRES
Type D verbs: su try.NI (non-inflecting)

Nouns Nouns head noun phrases (10) and take noun class marking (8).
(n.) Nouns also take the specifier article in many contexts (10.4). This
is sometimes indicated by stem initial mutation (3.4.1.A). Nouns
may occur as copula complements.
Information about the relationship of nouns to specifier articles
is incorporated into the entries. Variant forms are listed as minor
entries.

The specifier article is a proclitic that generally cliticises to the

head of the NP. All nouns may occur with or without the specifier
article. For a number of words, the specifier article is part of the
citation form and is presented here as part of the headword. In
other cases the use of the specifier article is not considered by
 About this dictionary 13

speakers to be part of the citation form and is not included in the

head word. In addition to this, the specifier article triggers pho-
nological changes when it precedes a voiceless stop. For example
the noun athinmga can be analysed as follows: {a=thinm-ka
SPEC=fish-M.SG}. Approximately one third of all common nouns
have the specifier article as part of their citation form; for exam-
ple, [arua] man {a=ru-cha SPEC=person-M.SG}. Nouns whose
stems begin in voiceless stops show the presence of the specifier
as a stem initial mutation. That is, the specifier article a= is not
overtly present on nouns beginning in /p/, /t/, /k/. Instead, these
stems show an initial mutation reflecting the phonological rule for
intervocalic lenition described in the grammar in 3.4.1.A. Thus,
the noun chthopki is the surface form of {a=kthop-ki SPEC=
pool-F.SG}. This is reflected in the way nouns are organised in the
dictionary; for nouns with citation forms containing overt specifier
articles or lenition triggered by an underlying article, the bare
form of the noun is listed as a variant form. Nouns that do not
show lenition of the stem are generally given only in their citation
form. The distribution of the specifier article is described in more
detail in the grammar in 10.4.
Also included in the entries is information about the plural form
of the noun. Singular nouns are given as citation forms. In Mali,
the singular and dual are the marked numbers. For example the
nouns athinmga {a=thinm-ka SPEC=fish-M.SG} (one) fish and
arucha man {a=ru-cha SPEC=person-M.SG} both take masculine
singular noun class marking and have the dual forms athinmiom
{a=thinm-iom SPEC=fish-M.DL} two fish and aruiom two men
{a=ru-iom SPEC=person-M.DL}. Generally speaking, plural human
nouns are marked with the human plural noun class marker -ta.
Non-human count nouns do not take plural marking; rather, the
unmarked form can (but does not necessarily) encode plural
athinm {a=thinm SPEC=fish} (one or more) fish. That is to say,
in some contexts a noun without singular noun class marking may
still be understood as singular. This is discussed in more detail in
the grammar in 8.6 on markedness patterns in the noun class
marking system. While most unmarked nouns have forms identical
to the stem of a noun class marked singular form, a small number
of nouns have different forms when the noun class marking is ab-
sent. For example, the noun chuar {a=kaur SPEC=vein} vein(s)
has the singular form churacha {a=kur-ka SPEC=vein-M.SG} (one)
vein). These alternations can be identified by consulting the plural
field in the entry.
14 About this dictionary

Adjectives The class of adjectives in Mali includes some numerals and quan-
(adj.) tifiers as distinctive subclasses. Like nouns, adjectives may take
(num.) the specifier article. Where this is part of the citation form or
(quant.) where the citation form has stem initial lenition reflecting the
presence of a specifier article, this is the form used as a headword
in the dictionary and the bare form is listed as a variant. The only
distinctive characteristic of this class is the tendency for redupli-
cation of the root to encode intensification.

Adverbs Two types of adverbs have been identified in Mali, distinguished

(adv.) by their distribution. Clause level adverbs encode temporal dis-
tinctions and occur at the periphery of the sentence (see 14.1 and
18.1). Manner adverbs modify the predicate and occur in predi-
cate final position. They are discussed in more detail in the
grammar in 13.2. The two types of adverbs can be distinguished
by consulting the example sentences associated with each entry.
A handful of manner adverbs with more epistemic meanings
also occur in clause initial position as discourse markers (see
5.2.10.B and 14.2.2).

Prepositions Prepositional phrases occur at the periphery of the clause or

(prep.) within an NP. They are used to introduce NPs typically expressing
temporal relations and locations at clause level and, within the NP,
they introduce location terms (see 7 and 10.6). Prepositions also
have an important role in derivational processes in Mali. This is
discussed in the grammar in 7.47.5. There are both simple and
morphologically complex prepositions. The morphologically simple
prepositions form clitic groups with an article, if one is present, or
with a pronoun. Complex prepositions are generally independent
phonological words.

Directionals Directionals occur in a paradigm based on orientation, involving

(dir.) the vertical up and down and horizontal across axes and the
type of relation involved (abstract, landform, terminal end point,
general direction). They have a similar distribution to preposi-
tional phrases and adverbial demonstratives expressing location,
usually occurring in clause-final position. Directionals also differ
from prepositions in not taking NP complements. Directionals are
discussed in detail in the grammar in 12.

Pronouns There are three series of pronouns that may head an NP: (A) an-
(pro.) aphoric pronouns, (B) interrogative pronouns, and (C) indefinite
pronouns. Each series follows the noun class system and distin-
guish three numbers (singular, dual, and plural). Concordial pro-
nouns and the possessive pronouns follow the gender system.
There are three classes of concordial pronouns (classes I, II, and
 About this dictionary 15

III). Classes I and II participate in tense marking (see 4.2 in the

grammar). Associative pronouns are required when NPs are coor-
dinated; they are based on a mixture of the class II and class III
concordial pronouns and the associative particle n (see 5.2.4.A
in the grammar for more information). Contrastive possessive
pronouns come in a range of forms, including clitic groups that
also contain indefinite articles. These are discussed in 11 of the
grammar.

Demon- Mali has the following types of demonstratives: proximate nominal

stratives demonstratives, distal nominal demonstratives, contrastive nomi-
(dem.) nal demonstratives, indefinite nominal demonstratives, and ad-
verbial demonstratives encoding time, manner, and direction
(distal and proximate forms). Nominal demonstratives encode the
noun class of the head noun and distinguish three numbers (sin-
gular, dual, and plural). In addition to the basic forms of the
demonstratives, each paradigm shows an emphatic and a abbre-
viated set of forms. The distribution and functions of demon-
stratives are set out in the grammar in 10.5.

Determiners Determiners in Mali include a set of NP articles and the specifier

(np art.) article a=. These forms are discussed in more detail in the gram-
(spec art.) mar in 10.3 and 10.4 respectively.

Markers of This category covers a diverse range of forms that are used in the
aspect and expression of aspect, modality, and illocutionary force in Mali. This
status includes: modality distinctions encoded within the predicate; par-
(modal.) ticles for encoding negation; and words for encoding interroga-
(neg.) tives. Additional discourse markers that encode epistemic distinc-
(interrog.) tions are discussed in the grammar in 5.2.10.

Clause There are three different sets of clause-linking devices in Mali:

combining relators, coordinators, and subordinators (see 1617 in the
morphology grammar for details).
(rel.)
(coord.)
(subord.)

Interjections Interjections occur as independent utterances, particularly in

(interj.) spontaneous speech.

Discourse PDiscourse markers fall into one of three groups based on their
markers form and distribution. This is discussed in 14.2 of the grammar.
(disc.) All discourse markers occur in clause-initial position. Negators
and the negative imperative are formally subclasses of discourse
markers. They are also discussed in 15 of the grammar.
16 About this dictionary

1.5 Note on the orthography

The orthography used in this dictionary was developed by members of the Mali
community. It has been used in the Mali (Baining) Grammar and Texts, as well as in
a number of publications within the community. Mali graphemes and their corre-
sponding phones are listed in Table 3.13. Note that the velar nasal [] ng is dis-
tinguished from an alveolar nasal, followed by a velar stop [ng] by the insertion of an
apostrophe ng.
Table 3.13: Graphemes in the current Mali orthography

Bilabial Alveolar Palatal Velar Vowels Diphthongs

// v // th /j/ y // ch /i/ i /i/ oi
/p/ p /t/ t /k/ k // e /ai/ ai
/b/ b /d/ d /g/ g // /au/ au
/m/ m /n/ n // ng // o
/s/ s /u/ u
/l/ l
/r/ r

See 3 of the Mali Grammar for more information about the phonetics and pho-
nology of the language. Given the highly productive nature of some phonological
processes in Mali, it is not surprising that writers vary in the way they represent
Mali.

1.6 Ordering of entries

The entries in the dictionary are organised in alphabetical order. The graphemes e
and are ordered together and the digraphs ng and th are sorted after n and
t respectively. The spaces between words in compounds, phrasal verbs and other
multi-word lexemes are ignored in sequencing of entries. Polysemous words that
belong to different parts of speech are generally treated as distinct head words.
Words that are related from a Mali perspective (e.g. vlmgi large pig and a species
of fish that appears to have a snout of the same name) are treated as different senses
of a single lexeme. If there are morphological differences between two uses of a stem
then these two uses are treated as different entries, following the principle that
different categories of polysemous stems are treated differently. Thus, nouns with
distinct plural forms are treated as different entries (e.g. chavatka adulterer and
bad spirit with the plurals chavatta and chavat respectively). There are also exam-
ples of pairs where in one case the specifier article is treated by speakers as part of
the citation form (for example chthopka pool) but another meaning of the same
stem does not use the specifier article in the citation form (for example kthopka
sap). These are treated as distinct entries because they have different citation
forms.
Note that in the English to Mali section of the dictionary there are a small number
of Tok Pisin words included because they are common in PNG English and a Stan-
dard International English translation is not readily predictable for these words, for
 About this dictionary 17

example achuithm (Mali) or mumu (TP) is translated in the dictionary as earth

oven but this is not an expression used within the Mali community. These entries in
the English to Mali section are indicated by single quotation marks around the Tok
Pisin term and the label (TP) following. For example, mumu (TP).
The organisation of the thesaurus is described at the beginning of that section.

1.7 Structure of the entries

Four sample entries from the dictionary are presented here. Each main entry con-
tains a series of fields (marked here with numbers) that are described in the list
below. Fairly extensive entries have been chosen so that all the relevant fields within
a record can be shown. Many of the entries within the dictionary are simpler than
the ones illustrated here but are organised along the same principles. Minor entries
showing variant forms contain only the Mali word and an English translation. The
English to Mali section can be used to identify the main entry for the word con-
cerned.
avchit1 dem.2 that large one4 Gram Note: Extended singular distal
demonstrative.6 Amngia avchit ba ngo iva ngu thal ngiat sva
bang.7 Bring that tall tree to me so that I can carry it home.8 Variant:
12
vchit.
diski1 n.2 dish;4 Usage: often refers to a large aluminium dish.5 Duraik
angthama slik ng muk mt kama diski.7 The chicken's meat is in
the dish.8 Plural: dis11 Borrowing from English, Tok Pisin: dish, dis.13
tu av snng1 vt.2 think4 Ngua tu gu snng ia sik ngian.7 I thought you
would come.8 Ngn du angn snng svtha cha.7 You all think of
him.8 Variant: thu av snng12 Variant: du av snng12 Variant: mu
12 14
av snng12 Variant: tu at snng See also: snngacha idea.
vaidebunggi1 n.2 13 tree sp.4 Usage: also known as wild orange tree.5
23 wild orange4 Vaidebunggi d ngbes thi na mski.7 They don't
eat the wild orange.8
33 ball; refers to something the size of a volleyball.4 Vaidebunggi
vaivaik ma thoes tha tugas thmgi.7 That ball that the kids are
playing with.8 Pl: vaidebung11 Infl Note: only v.15
vaki1 2
until. Kule cha va lat d ch tk vaki banganggi d cha
subord.
dn. He stays at the garden and he works until night, then he returns.
9 10
Morph: va=koki. Lit: purposive= also. Note: only v.15

Entries within the dictionary are organised as follows:

1. Headword: The Mali word at the head of the entry. Where there are different inflectional
possibilities, this is typically the singular form of a noun or the present tense form of a
verb.
2. Part of speech: The part of speech label, selected from the list presented above. Where
the same word occurs as different parts of speech, these are included as separate entries.
For example, the word tnen appears twice because there are two ways in which it is used.
As a transitive verb it means ask and as an active intransitive verb it means pray.
3. Sense number: If a word has multiple senses, a number is assigned to each sense.
18 About this dictionary

4. English Gloss: Possible translations of the Mali word into English are provided.
5. Usage note: Any additional information that may assist the readers understanding of
the word is included here.
6. Grammar note: Where a grammatical word that is not readily translated into English
occurs, it may have a description included here.
7. Example sentence: An example sentence in Mali has been included wherever possible
for illustrative purposes.
8. Translation of sentence: An English translation of the sentence is also provided.
9. Morphological analysis: For some more complex Mali words, a morphological analysis
is provided.
10. English Gloss: English glosses are provided for the morphological analyses.
11. Plural form: The plural forms of nouns are generally listed here.
12. Variant form: As described above, there are alternate forms. Verbs vary to reflect tense
and nouns vary depending on the presence of the specifier article. These alternate forms
are included here. Variant forms for other words, for example, phonologically reduced
forms, are also presented here.
13. Borrowing: If the word has been identified as a borrowing, the source, form, and lan-
guage are included here.
14. See also: If another Mali word is very similar to the headword, it is mentioned here. The
English gloss is also provided.
15. Inflectional note: Other inflectional information is provided here.

1.8 Note on the translation of the example sentences

Four particular issues relating to the translation of the example sentences are worth
noting here. In each case they concern difficulties in rendering the Mali into English.
Firstly, as we noted above, the singular and dual are marked numbers in Mali,
while a noun stem with no noun class marking can be read as plural. Entities that are
less salient in the discourse can be presented as a bare stem and read as singular.
There are a few nouns that take singular noun class marking but refer to something
that, strictly speaking, is plural in English. For example, vrsetki marks refers to a
small set of marks (for example, a place where an animal has been and left marks)
rather than necessarily referring to a single mark. In addition, the Mali convention
when referring to a generic class is to use a singular noun, whereas in English the
convention is to use a plural noun. Where following the convention of using a sin-
gular noun leads to a loss of the generic reading, the English translation keeps a
plural referent.
Secondly, Mali has several large sets of demonstratives that inflect for noun class.
The glosses for these demonstratives are written to clearly reflect the noun class
values and the pragmatic significance of the demonstratives, but these glosses are
not generally used in the translation of related examples sentences as the amount of
information involved creates confusing translations.
Thirdly, a number of differences between the semantics of tense marking in Eng-
lish and Mali have lead to fairly frequent issues with translating the example sen-
tences provided here. This is due to the fact that Mali uses past tense in many con-
texts where there is an overlap with the present at the same time as present tense in
English is strongly associated with habitual type readings.
 About this dictionary 19

In general, I have tried to reflect grammatical value of tense of the Mali sentence
in the English sentence as far as possible but where the resulting English sentence
sounds odd (for example reads as a habitual where none was intended) then I have
made use of other strategies. On the whole, the main strategy in the latter cases has
been to translate into the most semantically neutral tense in English. Because the
plain present tense is so often associated with other meanings such as the habit-
ual, I have often made use of the past tense in this context. In some cases another
strategy was used. For activity verbs, in the present tense I sometimes use the pro-
gressive. In the case of stative past tense verbs like mair wait where there is no
implication that the event is complete, I have sometimes used the present tense in
English where the original Mali sentence was actually in the past.
In order to determine the original tense of the example sentences then, the reader
would have to identify the verb for and the form of an A/SA pronoun and work out the
tense marking. See also 4.2 from the grammar.
Finally, there are quite different principles in Mali and English for determining
the distribution of the additive coordinator da and and the contrastive coordinator
dak but. In English but is used for situations that are counter expectation, where-
as in Mali this form is used primarily to signal a change in the key participants or the
perspective that is being given of them. Since using the literal translation was
causing problems for early readers of the dictionary, I have chosen the more idio-
matic English option where confusion may arise.
 Mali English dictionary
A -
a his; its. Usage: Abilta dialect.
a interj. Oh!; well; um; expression of
surprise or hesitation. A! Asingalka
cha mk ptka un'gi. Oh! The snake
is in the dark. Variant: au.
a spec art. the. Gram: Specifier article. Inos
ka met naimuani mmni a renggi.
Inos came over from the river.
abaringgi n. water that falls down a
waterfall. Kama abaringgi chi dona-
nas vt kama chspka. The waterfall
pours down the stony cliff. Pl: abaraing.
abmka n. large forest rat; brown; can
be caught for food; lives in a hole in
the ground with two entrances. Ka-
ma vaim ng nes kama abmka d
ng mska. The dogs bit the large
forest rat and ate it. Pl: abm.
abilm n. old place; a place where there
used to be a village. Kama abilm pe
ma Angini da sa choiku nanga rutha
ve. The old place for the village of
Angini, now nobody lives there.
Pl: abilvap.
Abilta n. coastal people; people from
the villages of Gar, Merai, Urai, Ili,
and Karong. Arura ma tha nva
gars d tha tes ta Bilta. People who
live on the coast are called Bilta. Morph:
a=bilka. Lit: SPEC=old.place-M.SG. Var-
iant: Bilta.
abilta athva methamn n. coastal
dialect of Mali. Kama arutha nave
ma Karong dai tha tamn nchama
bilta athva methamn. The people
from Karong speak the dialect of the
beach people. Morph: a=bilta athva
methamn. Lit: SPEC=old.place-H.PL 3H.
PL.POSS language.
abiulgi n. conch shell. Ngua nari ma
Peter ch pes mt kama abiulki. I
heard Peter blow the conch shell.
21
a
Pl: abiul. See: tavurki conchshell.
achabap adj. white. Baul avang ma
achabap inamuk. Bring that white
piece of material (laplap) over here.
Variant: chambap.
achabapka n. white man. Chabapta
tha mn diva thi thp manga th-
tk. The white people arrived in order
to do some work. Morph: a=chabapka.
Lit: SPEC=white-F.SG. Pl: achabapta. See:
chulumga white man.
achabapki n. white woman.
achabapta athva methamn n.
English. Augustine sok kia tamn
nchama chabapta athva metha-
nn mamr. Augustine really speaks
English well. Morph: a=chabapta ath-
va methamn. Lit: SPEC=white-H.PL
3H.PL.POSS language.
achabavs vt vi-so. be white. Gubarka
ama chabapves vt pchn. The
pigeon, he is white around his neck.
achais n. left side of something. Cha ve
cha mair snania chais. He was
standing on the left. Morph: a=chais. Lit:
SPEC=left. Variant: chais. From: Tok Pisin:
kais the left; the left side.
achammga n. scabies. Athoemini
ngthi tnaik smt angt chamm-
ga. The child drank something for their
scabies. Pl: achamm.
achapdetham n. fish sp.; plentiful at
the river mouth; silver in colour; have
thick lips and a stout shape; length
up to 50 cm. Pl: achapdangetham.
achchm that particular short one.
achchs that particular flat one.
achchit that particular large one.
achglem those particular two pieces.
acheglem those particular two short
ones.
achgleng
achgleng those particular pieces.
achk that particular one.
achkachk dem. 1 another. Gram:
Masculine singular contrastive demonstrative
and count neutral singular contrastive demon-
strative. Lams avang da ungiom klan
dak ngiat achkachk iva devaung.
There are two coconuts there, so you
get another to make three.
2 each. Gram: Masculine singular con-
trastive demonstrative and count neutral
singular contrastive demonstrative. Variant:
chkachk.
achkrang just those two particular
ones.
achlach soft.
achlacha n. reef fish sp.; small parrot-
fish; green with soft slippery skin and
scales. Morph: a=chlaka. Lit: SPEC=
soft-M. SG. Pl: achlak. Morph: a=chlak.
Lit: SPEC=soft.
achlach mt vi-so. be soft. Ngua ms
adigl taithgl da achelach mt
ngigl. I ate this piece of taro and it was
soft inside.
achlachuas n. 1 grass sp.; tends to
grow in old gardens; the seeds stick
to your legs. Morph: a=chlachuas. Lit:
SPEC=grass.sp.
2 seaweed; seagrass; plants that
usually grow in shallow water; up to
20 cm in length; fish use it to hide in.
Variant: chlachuas.
achlachuasini n. small area of grass
sp. Variant: chlachuasini.
achlachuaska n. area of grass sp.;
tends to grow in old gardens; seeds
stick to your legs. Variant: chlachu-
aska.
achlachuaski n. large area of grass
sp. Kama chlachuaski avaik sa
ngave chia dn da ulul chi. That
particular area of grass is growing
long. Variant: chlachuaski.
achelak adj. soft. Guiaik ka ts kama
msms ma chlak. My grandfather
eats soft food. Morph: a=chelak. Lit:
SPEC=soft. Variant: achlach.
achlel n. urine. Ka vias mt ka chlel.
He stepped in the urine. Morph: a=
chlel. Lit: SPEC=urine. Variant: chlel.
achlel angtha iska n. 1 urinary
22
achnanggolka
system. Chi nari aruan mt kama
chlel angtha iska. She feels pain in
her urinary system.
2 urethra. Morph: a=chlel angt=a
iska. Lit: SPEC=urine 3CN.POSS=SPEC
path-M.SG. Variant: chlel angtha iska.
achlmga seed pod.
achlsacha n. alert person; a person
who has been trained to be habitually
alert. Joachim sok koi guangini
ngna ngaip nmtka i sok ama
achlska mamr. Nothing can hide
from Joachim, for he is always alert.
Pl: achlsatha. Variant: chlsacha.
achlol adj. clean. Aut snng ia chlol
ngt sa ngia thn ngia thas vm
ngt. Our hearts are clean so you can
come and sleep in them. Variant: chlol.
achluangga n. tree sp.; is up to 20 cm
in diameter; light brown; the bark is
slippery inside; is especially found in
old gardens. Pl: achluang.
achluing black.
achluingbs vt be blackish.
achluinggi n. cloud. Kama chluing d
gisnia ngave sainggi. There are
clouds as if it is about to rain. Milani
da ngmbs nanga chluing. There
were no clouds yesterday. Pl: ach-
luing. Variant: chluinggi; cheluing;
chluing.
achluingini n. small cloud. Variant:
chluingini.
achelungurka n. tree sp.; tall with
large buttress roots and very hard
wood; bark is used as a purgative for
treating poisoning, it is grated and
washed in water and then the water
is drunk. Usage: An alternate name for
achesinbemga.
achmabarka n. mushroom sp.; edible;
grows profusely after rain; is brown
on top and white underneath; found
on softwood trees. Pl: achmabar.
achmlm just those particular two
flat ones.
achnanggolka n. tree sp.; grows in
the mountains; has very dense wood
and is hard to cut; grubs kill the tree;
people like to eat the grubs that live
in this tree. Pl: achnanggol. Variant:
chnanggolka.
achndichn
achndichn quant. many. Arura ath
ma chndichn natha da chaista.
Many people are left-handed. Morph: a=
chndichn. Lit: SPEC=many. Variant:
chndichn; chdichn. Note: only ch.
achnk those particular large ones.
achnm those particular two large
ones.
achni that particular small one.
achnget those particular ones; that
particular one.
achngl that particular piece.
achepki n. spear. Ka chut k plmga
ncha chepki. He shot the pig with
the spear. Morph: a=chepki. Lit: SPEC=
spear-F.SG. Pl: achep. Variant: chepki.
achep pt vi-so. be thorny. Ta mat ka
chenget ma achep pt ng mon
ptha ngo. The rope that was thorny
stuck into me. Variant: chep pt.
achrark adj. dry. Ta thn kama baul
diva achrark ngt. They hung out
the pieces of material (laplaps) in order
to dry them.
achrirka n. stream of falling drops.
Venansius k tor mt kama ch-
rirka. Venansius is washing in the
stream of drops. Variant: chrirka.
achernas hot.
achrnas hot.
achrot adj. 1 strong. Kvicha da
chrot ka d cha savuit. That one, he
is strong and he was victorious. Ta lu
da achrot. They saw that it was
strong.
2 tough. Achrot kama plmga ava
churnaing. The meat of the pig was
tough.
3 hard; difficult. Variant: chrot.
achrotka n. strong person.
achrotki n. 1 strength. Kvicha ma
Paulus d ava chrotki mamor. He,
Paul has great strength.
2 power. Dagu da ava chrotki ma
che tk nchama singal. Dagu chases
[Lit: works on] the evil spirits with his
magic power. Pl: chrot.
acheruacha side branch of river.
acheruacha Milky Way.
achruacha n. side branch of river;
dries up during the dry season.
23
achvam
Mndai atha chruacha da sok k
mbang mamor. The branch of the
Mendai River flows really fast.
Pl: achrau. Variant: acheruacha.
achruacha n. Milky Way. Pl: achrau.
Variant: acheruacha.
achsasek adj. dry. Pepavs ng ve
mt kama botolka da sok achsasek
ngas. There is paper in the bottle and
it is really dry. Ngia tet save ia
chsasek pe. You go to where it is dry.
Variant: chsasek. Note: only ch.
achsaskmtki n. bread. Tha naik
thmna nchama achsaskmtki.
They drank with the bread.
Pl: achsaskmt.
achsem those particular two long
ones.
achseng those particular long ones.
achesin adj. 1 rotten; festering. Kama
lalum da cha ts kama guangithong
ma achesin. The brown and white
hawk eats rotten things.
2 stinking. Sus dma Robin aves
da chesin. Robin farted silently and it
stank.
achesinbemga n. tree sp.; tall with
large buttress roots and very hard
wood; bark is used as a purgative for
treating poisoning, it is grated and
washed in water and then the water
is drunk. Usage: An alternate name for
achelungurka.
achthiavs adj. bluish. Ngua naingm
saimui da achthiavs. I can see
something bluish in the distance.
Variant: chthiavs; kthiavs.
achthom those particular two small
ones.
achthong those particular small ones.
achthoska n. coals of a fire. Kama
mundm angtha chthoska da
chok kave cha dang. The coals of the
fire are still burning. Pl: achthos.
achthoski n. charcoal. Ka chut vt
kama mngga nchama chthotki.
He wrote on a tree with a (piece of)
charcoal. Pl: achthos.
achvaik just that particular one.
achvak just that particular one.
achvam those particular two short
achevap
ones.
achevap those particular short ones.
achvcha n. 1 inside corner; e.g. the
inside of an elbow or the corner in a
room. Ka mu chama vethepki met
kama bangga ava achvcha. He put
the axe in the corner of the house.
Pl: achvk.
2 name of Mndas mask; concave
in shape; similar to an upside-down
canoe; has designs painted inside;
supported by a stick.
achvem those particular two.
achvs that particular flat one.
achvet that particular long one.
achevoracha betel pepper (daka)
plant.
achvoracha n. mustard plant. Andrew
cha vt kama achvoracha d cha ve
cha dn. Andrew planted the mustard
plant and it is growing. Pl: achvor.
Variant: achuvoracha.
achvor angthoes n. betel pepper
(daka); betelnut mustard. Arura
nath da thi plk chama chvor
angthoes. People from here like betel
pepper (daka).
achvorves betel pepper (daka) leaves;
mustard leaves.
achvulki n. testicle. Vis tchama
vaimga va chvulki. The dogs
testicle was swollen. Pl: achvul.
Variant: chvulki.
achvu mt vi-so. be overcooked;
especially when referring to greens
that have gone brown from cooking
too long. Kama auravu tha ithang
ma tha vs ngt da achvu mt
ngt. The native spinach (aibika) that
they cooked is overdone.
achevungga n. bamboo sp.; grows on
high ridges; grows when the
achultngga species is dying off.
Kama chevungga klan kama aio.
The chevungga is like bamboo.
Pl: achevung.
achikachik dem. 1 another. Gram:
Feminine singular contrastive demonstrative.
Cha vlng marupki achikachik. He
killed another cassowary.
2 each. Gram: Feminine singular contras-
tive demonstrative. Lvopkta tha tain d
24
achluing
chikachik kia thk atha viringgi.
The women dance and each one wears
her apron. Variant: chikachik.
achilaigl n. fish sp.; lives on the reef;
whitish with black vertical stripes; is
up to 15 cm long; does not have
scales. Pl: achila.
achilotki n. window. Kule chama
chilotki d chia nathar diva chama
aisiska cha thon. Leave the window
open for the cold (air) to come in.
Pl: achilot. See: manaingimgi
window.
achinggoinggi n. butterfly. Kama
achinggoinggi chia munggun vt
kama dradrachi. The butterfly sat on
the hibiscus flower. Pl: achinggoing.
achinggoingigl n. fish sp.; lives on
the reef; multi-coloured butterfly
fish: white, yellow, black; up to 20 cm
long; similar to angelfish. Pl: aching-
going.
achiragareska n. paddle. Tha thpms
vt ka chiragareska vak kinas. They
have just sharpened that paddle.
Pl: achiragares.
achirap n. salt. Angabas nanga chirap
mtka gunan. There is no salt at the
store. Variant: chirap.
achirka n. shellfish sp.; clam shell from
the sea; is purple and white; up to
8 cm across. Pl: achir.
achirksengga n. comb. Nmava
achirksengga vak? Whose comb is
that? Ava achirksengga da airiarka.
His comb is green. Pl: achirkseng.
achivulucha n. grasshopper sp.;
grey-brown colour; wings have a
yellow stripe at the tip; bores holes in
soft wood. Pl: achivulu.
achlacholachi n. grub sp.; edible;
white; up to 4 cm long and very fat
(like the top of a persons thumb);
eats the wood at the top of the
coconut palm and areca palm. Pl:
achlachol.
achlelachi n. large intestine. Ta chut
kama vlmga da v schama chu-
semgi ama chlelachi. They speared
the pig in its large intestine. Pl: achlel.
Variant: chlelachi.
achluing adj. black. Rura avath tha
achluingbs vt achun'gi

mu baul ma chuluing. Those people chama thlng. She covered her

wore black clothes. Variant: chluing; earth oven (mumu) with leaves. See:
achuluing; achluing. avithm earth oven (mumu).
achluingbs vt vi-so. be blackish. At achulbingga n. tongue. Mamga d
baulgi ma chluingbs vthachi. chuvt ava chulbingga. Dad has a
Her wraparound skirt (laplap) is a short tongue. Pl: achulubaing. Variant:
shade of black. Variant: achluingbs kulbingga; chulibingga.
vt. achulit vi-so. be wet. Tha m va vt d
achmlk those particular flat ones. achulit tha mo nmt k sainggi.
achrathe those particular people. They arrived home and all of them were
wet from the rain.
achrika n. lizard sp.; green back and
brown body; up to 8 cm long. achultngga n. bamboo sp.; grows on
Pl: achirk. high ridges; grows when the ache-
vungga species is dying off. Achul-
achririaski n. poisonous centipede.
tngga d chama changanga avama
Chririaska cha vlng kama vlmga
changgat ma ngthik klan kama
ma morka. The centipede killed the
kaivovo. The achultngga species
big pig. Pl: achririas. Variant: chririas-
grows on high ridges, its stem and
ka.
leaves are like the kaivovo species. Pl:
achrnas adj. hot. Kama chunngga cha achultng.
naingm snania ngo da chrnas.
achuluing black.
The sun shone on me and it was hot.
Variant: achernas; achrnas. achumer adj. clean. Achumer nge,
arktm nge ama muthms ptha-
achrnas mt vi-so. 1 be brave.
nge. You are clean, you are holy, you
Chrnas mtnge. You are brave.
are glorious.
2 be hard; be difficult. Chrnas
achumerkumer adj. very clean.
mtngt. They are difficult.
Athama sospen ma chia thor ngt
3 be salty. Chinap avang d achr-
sok achumerkumer ngt. Her sauce-
nas mt ngt. Those ashes are salty.
pans that she washed are very clean.
Variant: chrnas mt.
achums adj. male. Vaim daithang da
achrnasmtka n. brave man. Pl: achr-
achums. Those dogs are male.
nasmtta.
achumska n. male. Nanais thoemga
achrnasmtki n. brave woman. Achr-
ma chumska. Nanais's child is a boy.
nasmtki d chia vl chama maru-
Pl: achumsta (human plural). Pl:
pini. The brave woman killed a small
achums (non-human plural). Variant:
cassowary.
umask (Abilta dialect); chumska.
achrnas pt vi-so. try hard. Thoes
achumgi n. cough; cold. Sameng da
achrnas pthatha mt sunaski. The
chumgi mt ka. Sameng has a cough.
children try hard in school.
Pl: chum. Variant: chumgi.
achrnas tm vi-so. be hot. Amsms da
achunm n. packet of rice; especially a
achrnas tmngt. The food is hot.
1 kg bag of rice. In vondm mt aina
Variant: chrnas tm.
chunm. Those two bought a packet of
achuan n. rice. Ma Bruno cha svao rice. See: chuan rice; raism packet
thchama chuan nvt gua lat. of rice.
Bruno stole rice from my garden.
achun'ga n. sand. Nave sng arenggi
Variant: chuan. See: achun'ga sand.
da chun'ga ma mrka. Along the
Note: only ch.
river the sand is nice. Pl: achuan.
achutgielmtmon'ga n. deep sea Variant: chun'ga.
fish sp.; has a long, protruding, sharp
achun'ga voes n. sandflies. Note: no
upper jaw, and a short lower jaw.
endings.
Pl: achutgielmtmon.
achun'gi n. large area of sand.
achuithm n. earth oven (mumu). Kia
Pl: achuan.
mu mrang dm atha achuithm n-

25
achuravesik
achuravesik n. revelation.
achurepki n. dolphin. Churepki chi
don nanas mt kama garski. The
dolphin jumped in the sea. Pl: achurep.
Variant: churepki.
achurnaing n. meat; flesh; especially of
pigs, chickens or coconuts. Duraik
angtha churnaing da mr mt
ngt. Chicken meat tastes good. Note:
no endings.
achurningim n. muscle. Ngua met vt
ka aiska maululcha da aruan gua
churningvap. I went a long way on the
road and my muscles hurt. Pl: achur-
ningbap. Pl: achurniang.
achururka n. reef fish sp.; pink with
stout body; smaller than the gml-
cha species; easy to find on the reef
at night. Pl: achurchur.
achurvuchuvacha n. lungs. Tha ts
kama vlmga avama churvuchu-
vacha. They ate the lungs of the pig.
Pl: achurvuchuva.
achuskuska n. hissing noise; e.g. the
noise of pressurised air. Pl: achuskus.
achuskuska mt vi-so. make a hissing
sound; e.g. by shushing a child or the
sound made by a jet plane. Kama
vlmga ch bang da chuskuska
mtka. The pig runs and hisses. Purk
mni chama karki athama taiachi
da kosa achuskuska mtki. The tyre
of the car punctured and a hissing
noise came out.
achutathinmga n. seahawk. Chuta-
thinmga ch prap savama thinm-
ga. The seahawk flew with his fish.
Morph: achutthinmka. Lit: spear-fish-
M.SG. Pl: achutathinm.
achutdrir n. respect. Vea ngiaet da
giama chutdrir da ngi kur angt
svt atha. When you go, show your
respect for others. Note: no endings.
achutkut n. writing. Ngu suchup
schama chutkut. I erase the writing.
Variant: chutkut.
achutkutki n. drawing. Kama achut-
kut avang da ngt naingim mamr.
That drawing looks beautiful. Variant:
chutkutki. See: ailachi picture;
image.
achut ngthathengbt n. chair. Ava
26
adedr
vtka da thchp nchama achut
ngthathengngimlk. His house is
full of chairs. Variant: achut ngtha-
thengt (Abilta dialect).
achut ngthathengt chair. Usage:
Abilta dialect.
achuvel n. greens. Usage: Also known as
aupa in Tolai. Ngua ms kama
chuvel da amr mt ngt. I ate the
soft greens and they tasted nice.
achuvelithachn'ga n. reef fish sp.;
red and light brown colour; red inside
its mouth; up to 50 cm long.
Pl: achuvelithachn.
achuvt adj. short. Lamsavap ta
ithvap da achuvt ngavap. These
coconuts are short. Giama angthika
achk da achuvtka. One of your
fingers is short. Variant: chuvt.
achuvoracha n. betel pepper (daka)
plant. Andrew cha vt kama ache-
voracha d chave cha dn. Andrew
planted the betel pepper (daka) and it
is growing. Pl: achuvor. Variant: achevo-
racha; chevorachi.
achuvoracha mustard plant.
achuvorves n. betel pepper (daka)
leaves; mustard leaves. Kama amues
d ng ts kama achuvor. Grass-
hoppers eat mustard leaves. Variant:
achvorves. Pl: achuvor. See: ludng-
bs betel pepper (daka) leaves;
mustard leaves.
adamga n. name of Mndas mask; tall
and rounded; carried by the dancer
and supported by another man; has a
pointed top with feathers extending
up and a thick strong stem at the
bottom; designs on the front.
addn adj. 1 odd; strange. Daniel
dava musnng da ddn diva ch
tk samuk. Daniel had the strange
idea to say bad words.
2 confused; delirious; crazy; insane;
altered psychological states in
general. Kama chumska avik sok
ka naik da ddn'ga mamr. That
man there was really drunk and really
insane.
adedr adj. tight; e.g. fishing line that
has a large fish pulling on it. Adedr
kama seska schama baul. The rope
is tight because of the clothes (hanging
adeguank
off of it). Variant: dedr.
adeguank num. three large ones.
Gram: Extended plural. Kama karki chi
tal kama mngink ama adeguank.
The truck carried three large logs.
Variant: andeguank.
advaung num. three. Gram: Human plural
and count neutral. Cha ngip nmt ki
china thoes ma dvaung. He died
and left her with three children. Variant:
duvaung; andvaung.
adichi n. taro. Nma cha mn kama
dichi avaik? Who pulled out that taro?
Variant: ndichi. See: anot taro.
adigl n. 1 piece of taro. Ka ms kama
digl ma ngia von ngo. He ate the
piece of taro that you gave me.
2 palm of hand. Pl: adigleng.
adildil adj. dried up. Da sa uthi sp
kalan a tlng ama dildil. And we fall
like dried leaves. Variant: dildil.
adini n. small taro. Variant: taro. See:
adichi taro.
aduguagleng num. three pieces. Gram:
Excised plural. Ngiat kama duligleng
ma aduguagleng saglm ngo. You
get three flat stones for me.
aduguamlk num. three flat ones.
Gram: Flat plural. Thlngimlk ma
adugamlk ba ngo. There are three
leaves for me.
aduguaseng num. three long ones.
Gram: Long plural. Angama mngiseng
ma aduguaseng ba cha. There are
three poles for him.
aduguathong num. three small ones.
Gram: Diminutive plural. Duraiki chia
bkpt da thoes ngmo. Ngmo ng
ngip dak nvt kama aduguathong.
The chicken hatched her chicks. They
all died except three.
aduguavap num. three short ones.
Gram: Reduced plural. Kama vlembap
ma aduguavap ng ve mt kama
ichethachi. There are three piglets
inside the fenced area. Ut von cha
nchama singapo ma aduguavap.
We gave him three singapores. Variant:
anduguavap.
adulemga n. elbow. Glenda chinatha
lugutka ini benmna da chia vai m-
thaca dulemga nchama amngm.
27
agars
Glenda and her husband were fighting
and she hit his elbow with a piece of
wood. Pl: adulam. Variant: dulemga.
adungdung adj. empty. Sa cha
thechem nmthava ingipki ava
ven'gi a dungdunggi chlan. He
arose from his death so the grave is
empty. Ta thn kama urat ama
dungdung ve mt chama bangga
av chulem. They hung the empty
baskets in the corners of the house.
Variant: dungdung.
aduvanguik num. three. Gram: Feminine
plural. Lvop ma aduvanguik. Three
women.
ae interj. Oh!; expression of shock. Ae!
Sa ngua lu nge ma ngia svau
thguama sen'gi. Oh! I saw you, you
were stealing my knife.
aenm n. short iron spear for husking
coconuts. Variant: enm. From: English,
Tok Pisin: iron, ain.
aenilk tree sp. Usage: Abilta dialect.
aen'ga n. iron spear. Ka chut kama
vlmga nchama en'ga d chama
plmga cha ngip. He speared the pig
with the iron spear and the pig died.
Pl: aen. Variant: en'ga. From: English, Tok
Pisin: iron, ain.
aer adj. clear; light; especially of the
sky. Sa erki. It is clear.
aeraer n. dawn. Mrmr duraik ngthi
tnok peia aeraer. Roosters always
crow at dawn.
aerki n. light; brightness. Aer ama
chndichn. Lots of light(s). Sa ngave
aerki. It is clearing up [Lit: becoming
brighter]. Pl: aer.
againi pro. some small thing. Gram:
Diminutive singular indefinite pronoun. Ngi
bon dchama anggini avni ma
gaini d koi mamr ia ngi ni von
schama morini? Instead of giving a
little, why don't you give something
big? Variant: anggini; gaini.
agapgap adj. light; not heavy. Kama
mng da ithang da agapgap. These
trees are light in weight. Variant:
gapgap.
agares salty.
agars n. 1 coast. Kule ngaiom p
aina mbangm mano va nggars.
agars
The two of them stayed at their village
down on the coast.
2 beach. Kule sa in met in dugas
vagars. Then the two went and
played at the beach. Variant: gars;
nggars.
agars adj. salty. Ngua m nthm
chama msms taithang sok
agars. I tasted this food and it was
really salty. Variant: anggars; agares.
agarski n. sea. Urn nmt kama
garski amr mt ngt. Crayfish
from the sea taste good. Variant:
anggarski; garski.
agethon adj. yellow. ... da muk mt
ngt da agethon. ... and inside them
they were yellow. Ava sravtki ma
gethon nachi. His clothes are yellow.
Variant: agthon.
agthon yellow.
agethonas vt vi-so. be yellow. At
baulgi ma gethonas vthachi dei
ngua von gi. The piece of material
(laplap) I gave her is yellow. Variant:
gethon.
agia pro. something. Gram: Count neutral
indefinite pronoun. Kama angia
avakpik? What is that? Variant: anggia.
agicha pro. someone; something. Gram:
Masculine singular indefinite pronoun.
Anggicha cha thap ava lchar?
Which one cut his leg? Variant:
anggicha; gicha.
agichm pro. some short thing. Gram:
Reduced singular indefinite pronoun. Ngn
nari agichm muk va ur ma ngam
ngthi mbang? Did you hear some
short thing rushing through the
bushes? Variant: anggichm; gichm.
agichi pro. something; someone. Gram:
Feminine singular indefinite pronoun. Cha
lu anggichi ma chia tet mt
agarski? Which one did he see going
into the sea? Variant: anggichi; gichi.
agigl pro. some piece. Gram: Excised
singular indefinite pronoun. Ngia thu chi
na anggigl d chia ve chi tnok? What
did you throw at her that is making her
cry? Variant: anggigl; gigl.
agiglem pro. some two pieces. Gram:
Excised dual indefinite pronoun. Variant:
anggiglem; giglem.
28
agiom
agigleng pro. some pieces. Gram: Excised
plural indefinite pronoun. Variant: anggig-
leng; gigleng.
agimlk pro. some flat ones. Gram: Flat
plural indefinite pronoun. Tha vng bt
anga anggimlk klan ama pepa.
They covered (it with) something like
paper. Variant: anggimlk; gimlk.
agimlm pro. some two flat ones.
Gram: Flat dual indefinite pronoun. Ava
nank kia chuar nacha iva ch thap
schama nmblimlm. Cha met
d cha vat vthanas ia anggimlm
ma chat imlm. His mother told him
to cut off two leaves. He went and
forgot which two to cut. Variant:
anggimlm; gimlm.
aginait pro. some large one. Gram:
Extended singular indefinite pronoun.
Angginait ma vl vt sngait? What
long thing was it that broke? Variant:
angginait; ginait.
agink pro. some large ones. Gram:
Extended plural indefinite pronoun. Cha vt
anggink avi vtha va lat? What did
he plant in his garden? Variant:
anggink; gink.
aginm pro. some two large ones. Gram:
Extended dual indefinite pronoun. Peter
cha thap s angginm nani ava
bangga uvski? Which two trees did
Peter cut for his house? Variant:
anginm; ginm.
agini pro. some small thing. Gram:
Diminutive singular indefinite pronoun. Ngi
bon dchama anggini avni ma
gaini d koi mamr ia ngi ni von
schama morini? Instead of giving a
little, why dont you give something
big? Variant: anggini; gaini.
agingt pro. something. Gram: Count
neutral indefinite pronoun. Klan ia cha tet
nk aiska d sdamr anggingt vt
aiska v cheng, d ch tu ngt klan.
When he walks past something on the
road he happens to shoot at (it). Tha
met s chanasu d tha var sa
gingt? Did they catch something
when they went fishing? Variant:
anggingt; gingt; dingt (Abilta
dialect).
agiom pro. two of something; two
unidentified people. Gram: Masculine
agisem
dual indefinite pronoun. Ngi kuar nango
ia nguat anggiom nmt gi uratki?
Which two (things) did you tell me to
get from your basket? Variant: anggiom;
giom.
agisem pro. some two long ones. Gram:
Extended dual indefinite pronoun.
Anggisem ma in mk nank kama
botki? What are those two long objects
under the boat? Variant: anggisem;
gisem.
agiseng pro. some long ones. Gram: Long
plural indefinite pronoun. Achuret mt
kama amundm smni anggiseng
iva sok achuret klan avik. The flames
got into something and it was really
burning. Variant: anggiseng; giseng.
agit pro. what. Gram: Count neutral indefinite
pronoun. Agit ng ve mt gi uratki?
What is inside your basket? Ngua
thongms mthik ma choi ngua
ingim mamr ia nga gicha
vachvak. I turned myself around
without properly seeing what it was.
Variant: anggit; git; gicha.
agitha pro. some people. Gram: Human
plural indefinite pronoun. Arutha avath
ma tha mn da anggitha natha?
Which ones are the people who came?
Variant: anggitha; githa.
agithom pro. some two small ones.
Gram: Diminutive dual indefinite pronoun.
Kusek kama senithom in ve mt
kama thalka da ngmbs n
anggithom muk. Only two knives are
in the net bag (bilum) and nothing else.
Variant: anggithom; githom.
agithong pro. some small ones. Gram:
Diminutive plural indefinite pronoun. Chia
met sva lat d anggithong ma chi
tlu ngt kinai chok kia tthangt
klan. She went to the garden and
anything that she sees in the garden,
she just collects it. Variant: anggithong;
githong.
agivam pro. some two short ones. Gram:
Reduced dual indefinite pronoun. K snan
da v nank ia chat anggivam
bisketvam ura twistisvam. He asked
his mother whether to get two biscuits
or two (packets of) twisties. Ngi plk
anggivam nvt kama plmbm
dchama vaimbam? Which of the two
do you like best, the piglet or the
29
aguitagut
puppy? Variant: anggivam; givam.
agivap pro. some short things. Gram: Re-
duced plural indefinite pronoun. Klemun-
bap ngn anggivap angt aila ma
ut lu ngt. Pictures of foolish people
and something else, we saw them. Ngi
nangthik t anggivap d giaron
klan chama paimithong? What are
you holding that is like two puppies?
Variant: anggivap; givap.
agivem pro. some two people; some two
things. Gram: Feminine dual indefinite
pronoun. Kvingavem da anggivem
nngavem iva koi ina tk mt kama
Mande? What sort of people are those
two ladies who do not come to
Mondays work? Variant: anggivem;
givem.
agivs pro. some flat thing. Gram: Flat
singular indefinite pronoun. Variant:
anggivs.
agivet pro. some long thing. Gram: Long
singular indefinite pronoun. Ngiat kama
anggivet iva thi thik schama ma-
miapki? What long stick would you use
to shoot the pawpaw down? Variant:
anggivet; givet.
agraing adj. 1 overripe; especially of
tuber crops. Kule chama not maulul
peva lat da sik agraing. If taro stays
in the garden too long it will get
overripe.
2 overgrown. Variant: graing.
aguervaluski n. large wooden bowl.
Kama aguervaluski dai ta thp
machi nchama mng. The large
bowl, they made it out of wood.
Pl: aguervalus.
aguik pro. something; someone. Gram:
Feminine singular indefinite pronoun. Nguat
angguik kue nvt kama urat
taithang? Which one of these baskets
will I take? Variant: angguik.
aguikaguik dem. 1 another. Gram:
Feminine singular contrastive demonstrative.
Cha kuares ia chat avanga lung-
gutki angguikangguik. He said that
he would get another wife.
2 each. Gram: Feminine singular contras-
tive demonstrative. Variant: angguikang-
guik; aguitagut (Abilta dialect).
aguitagut another; each. Usage: Abilta
dialect.
agungagunng
agungagunng more.
agungagung dem. more. Gram: Count
neutral indefinite demonstrative. Ngiat
agungagung nvt kama lams ma
lel. Get some more of those small
coconuts. Variant: agungagunng.
agut husband; spouse. Usage: Abilta
dialect.
ai interj. Oh!; expression of happiness.
Ai avik! Oh, that's good!
aicha n. 1 branch of river; flows year
round. Ngua met ngu tor mni ma
Mundai atha aicha. I went for a wash
in a branch of the Mundai River.
2 tree sp.; has rough grey bark with
vertical serrations and plentiful,
small, spade-shaped leaves. Pl: aio. Pl:
ayo.
aichru adj. 1 new. Chia vondm
atha sravtki ma aichruchi nmt
kama gunan'ga. She bought her new
shirt at the store. Amr pthatha
nvt kama sunaski atha bang ma
aichru. They were happy about the
new school buildings.
2 uncooked; raw. Kama chuan ma
chia vs ngt da aichru. The rice
she made is not properly cooked.
aichi n. bamboo. Ka mangas kama
achia diva cha naik nmtki va lat.
He fetched a section of bamboo so that
he could drink from it at the garden.
Pl: aio. Pl: ayo.
aichil n. native spinach (aibika). Chi
thik tchama aichil. She will pick the
native spinach (aibika). See: auravu
native spinach (aibika).
aichilka n. native spinach (aibika) top
that is used for cooking.
aichilki n. native spinach (aibika);
refers to the whole plant.
aichilves n. native spinach (aibika) leaf.
aichua interj. ok; I see; Oh! Usage:
Expresses surprise or understanding.
Aichua, sa ngia mn nave ia Rabaul.
Oh, you have arrived from Rabaul.
aidthengmga n. reef fish sp.; light
brown with a black spot on either
side of its tail; up to 30 cm long.
Pl: aidthengm.
aidika n. reef fish sp.; silver (small ones
are greenish); very long and thin;
30
ainama
long mouth and sharp teeth. Pl: aidik.
aiding n. iodine. Mumtathop tha tu
chama aiding mt kama athop. The
nurses put iodine on the sore. From:
English, Tok Pisin: iodine, aidin.
aidrengga n. reef fish sp.; red emperor;
up to 80 cm long. Pl: aidreng.
aie interj. Careful! Variant: oo.
aigrongini sandfly sp.
aiguam n. ferns. Ngia thet svt kama
igumacha d ngi thik t guanga
iguam. You go and pick some ferns.
Variant: iguam. Note: no endings.
ailachi n. 1 image; picture; photo;
especially of a person. Aila cha lu d
amr ngt. The pictures he saw were
beautiful.
2 shadow; reflection; especially of a
person. Pl: aila. Variant: ilachi; iluchi.
See: ayauski shadow.
ailaing mt vi-so. be black. Kia ms
kama kalasunggi ama ilaing mt ki.
She ate the sweet potato (kaukau) with
the black bits.
ailasrka n. freshwater fish sp.; red;
has a big mouth and sharp teeth.
Pl: ailasr.
ailotka n. hundred. Thoemga ithak da
ch slamen dm save ia ailotka. That
boy can count to one hundred. Pl: ailot.
ain pro. 1 you two, your. Gram: Second
person dual possessive pronoun. Ain vlam
ma sa amor ngt. You two, your pigs
are big.
2 those two, their. Gram: Third person
dual possessive pronoun. Aviom ini ngiem
nani ainmamk. Those two are look-
ing for their father.
aina pro. 1 you two, your. Gram: Second
person dual possessive pronoun and
possessive pronoun and specific article. Aina
lat ma chdichn. You two have many
gardens. [Lit: You two, your gardens are
many.]
2 those two, their. Gram: Third person
dual possessive pronoun and possessive
pronoun and specific article. Aina ruavek
tha monel v vaim. Those two, their
friends hunted with dogs. Morph: ain=a.
Lit: 2/3DL.POSS=SPEC.
ainama pro. 1 you two, your. Gram:
Second person dual possessive pronoun and
ainanga
emphatic possessive pronoun.
2 those two, their. Gram: Third person
dual possessive pronoun and emphatic
possessive pronoun. Da in vulikdm sa
ainama asravtvem da in mu nga-
vem p chama renggi ath cheng...
They took off their clothes and put
them at the side of the river...
ainanga pro. 1 you two, some of your.
Gram: Second person dual possessive pronoun
and non-specific possessive pronoun.
Ainanga thinm ng ve? You two, (is)
some of your fish there?
2 those two, some of their. Gram:
Third person dual possessive pronoun and
non-specific possessive pronoun. Ainanga-
ma thangam ma mang ngt? You
two, (are) any of your bananas ripe?
Morph: ain=anga. Lit: 2/3DL.POSS=
NSPEC.
ainangama pro. 1 you two, some of
your. Gram: Second person dual possessive
pronoun and indefinite possessive pronoun.
2 those two, some of their. Gram:
Third person dual possessive pronoun and
indefinite possessive pronoun. Morph: ain=
angama. Lit: 2/3DL.POSS=INDEF.
ainangdchathachi n. saltwater eel
sp.; dark brown with a long yellowish
fin down the spine. Pl: ainangdcha-
tha.
aindut base of the inside of a container.
aini n. small bamboo. Pl: aithong. See:
aichi bamboo.
ainilka n. tree sp.; yields fibres used to
make nets and net bags (bilums); is
tall and narrow. Anilka avama tlng
da mr ngt iva thi kumer kama
sospen nangt. The leaves of the
ainilka species are good for cleaning
pots. Pl: ainil. Variant: anilk (Abilta
dialect); aenilk (Abilta dialect).
ainin vt vi-so. be charred; be burnt.
Kunngga ava chrnaska cha
mikina d ainin vt kama tangam.
The heat of the sun did something and
the bananas burnt. Kunngga cha vs
kama tlng da inin ptha ngt. The
sun burnt the leaves and they are
charred.
ainiricha n. bottle. Mangas kama
ainiricha diva tchpka. Fetch the
bottle in order to fill it. Iniricha vak da
31
airvthaualki
chmgmga. That bottle is empty.
Pl: ainiri. Variant: iniricha.
aingas adj. flimsy; particularly things
like paper. Aingas kama palangga
ithak. This plank is flimsy.
ainggrongini n. sandfly sp.; very tiny;
sits on sores and food. Kama aing-
grongini ng mon sk gu sachong.
The sandfly entered my eye. Pl: aing-
grong. Pl: ainggrongithong. Variant:
aigrongini.
aingipdchulka fish sp.; harlequin
fish.
aingipdulvulka n. fish sp.; harlequin
fish; lives in fresh or salt water; is
transparent (the bones are visible
through the skin); up to 10 cm long.
Pl: aingipduvul. Variant:
aingipdchulka.
aingipki n. death. Aingipki chia sur
nacha imani vt kurng. Death
pushed him over the mountainside.
Pl: aingip.
aingun'ga adj. hot. Tha met thi thor
mndu ma aingun'ga va vt. They
went to wash because it was hot at
home.
aingun'ga tm vi-so. be hot. Aingun'ga
tm ngo. I am hot.
airas n. lie. Kvicha d cha tamn
nchama airas. That one is telling
lies. Note: no endings.
airasvnaska n. liar. Kvicha d cha-
ma airasvnaska. That one, he is a
liar. Pl: airasvnasta.
airasvnaski n. female liar.
airiar adj. green. Tlng ma iriar
taithang. There are green leaves here.
Variant: iriar.
airiarvs vt vi-so. be green. Ngmbs
ngu baulgi achik ma airiarvs
vthachi. One of my green
wraparound skirts (laplaps) is missing.
airirki n. growth. Coluba athoemini
ngthi thir da amr ngini angt
airir. Colubas baby is growing fast
and her growth is good. Pl: airir.
airvthaualki n. sunshower. Sainggi
chi sp d chunngga cha naingim
da ut tes ia airvthaualki. When the
rain falls and the sun shines we call
that airvthaualki. Pl: airvthaual.
ais
ais n. wet. Kule ngia tet mt kama ais
peia arm nge. Do not go (out) in the
wet when you are sick.
ais n. 1 track. Kama rutha tha tu
chama baur smni chama vlam
angtha ais diva thi plng ngt.
The people put the traps on the pigs
tracks in order to kill them.
2 way; route. D smni ais sa
ngua tu gu snng... And on the way I
began to think...
3 transport. Ngu ngim ais nani gu
muli save ia town. I am looking for
transport to get my oranges to town.
Variant: is.
aisinggi n. 1 spark. Ka vn kama
mundm d vr dchama isinggi di
chia vus gu sarumgi. He hit the fire
and the spark flew up and burnt my
belly.
2 ember. Pl: aisaing.
aisiska n. cold. Kule chama chilotki d
chia nathar diva chama aisiska cha
thon. Leave the window open for the
cold (air) to come in.
aiska n. road. Ut met vt aiska save ia
arm angtha banggi. We went on
the road to the health centre. Arenggi
atha iska. Riverbed. [Lit: River its
road.]
aiski n. large road.
aiski waist rope used for tucking in
lade, viringgi, or simalachi.
aiski n. 1 car. Kama aiski da mavo
nachi da choiku tha met. The car was
not working so they did not go.
2 truck. Aiski chia thal amngink
guank nva ur. The truck carried
some logs from the bush. Pl: ais. Variant:
iski. See: araun'ga mtki car.
aiski n. cold. Aiski mt kdeng da arm
ama anguang. A chill in the body is a
bad sickness. Aiski mt kdng. Have
a chill. [Lit: Cold in body.] Morph: aiski
mt kdeng. Lit: cold-F.SG at body.
aiskias vi-so. be cold. Ngua va aiskias
ngo. I am cold now. Morph: aiskies.
Lit: cold-F-eat.
aiski thchng n. waist rope used for
tucking in lade, viringgi, or simalachi.
Chumska ch kthiknas nava iski
diva ch thk ava simalachi. The
32
alat
man tied his waist rope so he could put
on his bark cloth (tapa cloth). Morph:
aiski thchng. Lit: rope its-edge. Pl: ais
angt kng. Variant: aiski.
aiski vt vi-so. have a cold. Aiski
vthango. I have a cold.
aisoska n. crab yaws. Aisos ng thikina
nigia lchar da choi ngina met
mamr. Crab yaws will do something
to your feet and you will not be able to
walk properly. Pl: aisos. Variant: isoska.
aisvet n. path. Tha met nk aisvet save
sda dam. They went on the path to the
mountain. Pl: aisiseng.
aithir n. new growth; skin or bark that
grows in order to heal a cut. Vur
aithir mt kama mngga mndu tha
thap mcha. New bark is growing on
the tree that they cut. Ka thap mni
chama viulacha nchama vthpki
mundu da sa ithik sa vur aithir. He
made a cut on a mango tree before,
with an axe, but now the cut is healed
again with new bark.
aivaik that particular one.
aivang that particular one; those
particular ones.
aivang those particular flat ones.
aiyaungem tree tips.
aka n. one and only; special one. Guaka
sa ngia ndn. My one and only, you
have come. Pl: athei.
alam n. cane leaves. Kavudmgichna
da athva bang ma chvaik dak
Ilichna da athva bang ma alam.
The people at Kavudmgi, their houses
are made of sword grass (kunai) but at
Ili their houses are made of cane
leaves.
alanaski n. saltwater eel sp.; white with
sharp teeth; up to 1 m in length.
Ddr nma John ava chagethacha
d ka ndrm ia thinmga dak kine
chama lanaski. Johns string was very
tight and he thought it was a fish but
instead it was an eel. Pl: alanas.
alat n. 1 garden(s). Ngua vt kama
chalasung vt kama avram pe vt
gua lat. I planted sweet potato
(kaukau) in my plot in my garden.
Ngua mn nva lat da aruan ptha
ngo. I came back from the garden
alebrgiangga
feeling tired.
2 job. Gia, gia lat? Ngo da
amumtha thopka. What is your job?
I am a nurse.
alebrgiangga mushroom sp.
alchar interj. Oh dear! Variant: lcha.
alchar n. foot; leg; refers to the entire
limb. Ka thp ava lchar nchama
sen'gi. He cut his leg with the knife.
Variant: lchar. See: slvini leg;
snainggi thigh.
alcharacha n. 1 footprint; track.
Plam angtha lchar. Pigs tracks.
2 footstep. Sai thi puinem athva
lchracha vpuit. So they return
their footstep(s) up there. Pl: alchar.
alcharachi n. shoe. Ngua vondm
mt gualchar nave ia gunan'ga. I
bought my shoes from the store.
Pl: alchar.
alcharini n. leg; foot; refers to the
whole limb; this is a bit more polite
than just using lchar. Athopki mni
gua lcharini. There is a sore on my
leg. Pl: alcharithong.
alcharvet n. long leg.
alechi n. hole. Ngi vusding mt kama
lechi. You cover the hole. D chama
arenggi chia mon smt kama lechi
avaik pik. The water went into that
particular hole. Pl: alek. Variant: lechi;
alechit (Abilta dialect).
alechi pt kulim n. nostril. Genaing
mt kama alekvm pt kulim. Mucus
is in the nostrils.
alechit hole. Usage: Abilta dialect.
alek mt vi-so. 1 be hollow. Mt kama
aio da alek mtngt. Bamboo is
hollow inside.
2 relent; be compassionate. Vandi
ch vlng ava ruacha da sai chok
alek mtka. He wanted to kill his
friend but then he relented.
3 compromise. Auk, kule d tha ve
alek mt ta s cha. Well, then they
were willing to compromise with him.
alel adj. small. Ngo, gu duraik da alel
ngt. Me, my chickens are small.
Variant: lel.
almbrgiangga n. mushroom sp.;
edible, white, and flat; is very soft; up
33
alik tm
to 5 cm in diameter; grows in the
ground. Usage: An alternate name for
guringsasotka. Pl: almbrgiang.
Variant: alebrgiangga.
almga n. mushroom; generic term.
Cha mt kama almga ma sgk
diva chas nthm. He got one
mushroom in order to taste it. Kia
vng vt kama alm nchama
thangmbes. She wrapped the
mushrooms in a banana leaf. Pl: alm.
alengeiki n. truth. Gram: No plural form.
Sok kama lengeiki na ng? Are you
really telling the truth? Ngua tamon
da lengeiki nango. I tell the truth.
Variant: lengeiki.
alngini n. shoulder. Minia iva ngi thu
gua lngini? Why did you throw (a
stone at) my shoulder? Pl: alngithong.
See: langga shoulder.
alsacha n. grasshopper sp.; brown;
smaller than the mathongga species;
does not bore holes. Pl: alsavap.
altki n. large garden.
althini n. 1 small garden.
2 small job.
alevavet num. four. Ta vlng kama
vlam ama levavet. They killed four
pigs. Variant: levavet.
alicha n. carrying pole; two people
carry the pole together, one on either
end. Thi tal chama licha nchama
urat schama slik. They carried the
pole with the baskets of meat. Ini tal
kama vlmga mni chama licha.
The two are carrying the pig on the
carrying pole. Pl: ali. Variant: licha;
lichat (Abilta dialect).
alichini n. small younger sibling.
Pl: alikithong.
alik adj. narrow. Ambangga ithak da
sok alik klan muk pmga. This house
is really narrow inside.
alika n. younger brother. Baltasar ava
lika ma Bartholemews. Baltasar's
younger brother is Bartholemews.
Pl: alikpek.
aliki n. younger sister.
alik mt vi-so. be narrow. Gia mbangga
avamgi da alik mtki. The opening to
your house is narrow.
alik tm vi-so. be narrow. Alik tmgi. It
alilu
is narrow.
alilu quant. many. Usage: Abilta dialect.
Stonix chia chthp chama urn ma
alilu. Stonix caught many prawns.
alingga n. star. Kama lingga cha
naingim mamor. The star is shining
brightly. Pl: alaing. Variant: lingga.
alingga ava lm n. mushroom sp.;
luminous and shine brightly at night.;
look like fireflies; white and grow on
rotten trees; if two people are
walking together at night in the bush,
the one in front can wear one of these
mushrooms on the back of their head
for the person behind to follow; these
mushrooms are sticky and will stick
to the skin.
aloikngamgi n. jellyfish; generic term.
Pl: aloikngam.
alolka n. red. Ava baulki ama lolka-
lolka nachi. His wraparound cloth
(laplap) is really red.
alolves mt vi-so. be reddish. Lolves
mt avamgi nmt kama churem
ma cha sing ngt. His mouth is red
from the betelnut he has been chewing.
Variant: lolves mt.
aluat n. bark. A churet mt kama
mngga ava luat. The flame got onto
the bark of the tree.
aluchi n. penis. Achumska ava luchi
chia ve mugurup ava snaing. A
mans penis is in between his thighs.
Pl: alu. Variant: luchi.
alulitka n. poor man. Kama lulitka cha
mu chama baulm ama vrk mt
ngam. The poor man wore a wrap-
around cloth (laplap) which was torn.
Pl: alulitta. Variant: lulitka.
alulitki n. poor woman.
aluski n. 1 turtle shell. Tha chthp
kama avungi d tha thap sa tha
luski nave. They grabbed the turtle
and they cut its shell off.
2 wooden bowl. Angthuauchi
avaik d chia tu atha msms mt
kama luski. The grandmother put her
food in the wooden bowl. Pl: alus.
Variant: luski.
ama the.
ama rel. that. Gram: Relator that introduces
clauses or NPs that describe or refer to one
34
ambangga av amgi
particular characteristic of their head.
Aulan'gi chia vaimanas mni chama
kakaucha ava thiki ama chia namt
machuisr. The snake wound itself
around the branch of a cocoa tree that
goes out diagonally.
amang adj. 1 ripe; especially refers to
the ripeness of bananas, mangoes,
and pawpaws. Sa amang kama
thangam? Are the bananas ripe?
2 cooked. Sa chule chi sa amanggi
sa chi vraseng nachi. After it is
cooked she puts it aside. Variant: mang.
amangbchng n. plant sp. Kama la-
gun'ga chvak d thi kuar ia chama
amangbchng. That particular victo-
ry leaf plant, they call it amangb-
chng.
amangia n. trepang; sea cucumber.
Pl: amang. Pl: amanginnk. Variant:
mangia.
amarn problem.
amasithmgi n. dream. Ngi chuar
nango nigia masithmgi. Tell me
about your dream. Pl: amasithm.
Variant: masithmgi.
amasvmgi n. dormitory. Variant: ams-
masvmgi.
amatnthmbes n. help; assistance.
Tha vlk amatnthmbes save ia
aus sik iva thi von danguama dul.
They needed financial help for the
hospital. Variant: matnerembes.
ambangm n. village. Karla ava
bangm pe ma Karong. Charless
village is Karong. Pl: ambangbap.
Variant: bangem; mbangem.
ambangga n. house. Ka tas pava
bangga. He sleeps at his house.
Bangga avam. House front. Morph: a=
bangka. Lit: SPEC=house-M.SG. Pl: am-
bang. Variant: bangga; mbangga.
ambangga achusemga n. 1 centre
pole of the house. Ngi sangar tcha-
ma bangga achusemga. You hold on
to the centre pole of the house.
2 leader of the house. Arucha ama
mork a vm kama bangga achu-
semga. The big man is the leader of
the house. Pl: ambangga chusem.
ambangga av amgi n. house opening;
doorway. Ngia thon avi mt kama
ambangga ma thi ps vmga
ambangga av amgi. You go in there at
the opening to the house. Morph:
ambangga av amki. Lit: house
3M.SG.POSS mouth-F.SG.
ambangga ma thi ps vmga n.
kitchen; cooking hut. Ngi vs puk
pchama bangga ma thi ps vmga.
You cook up at the kitchen. Pl: ambang
ma thi ps vmngt. Variant: bangga
ma thi ps vmga. See: avsvsvmki
kitchen.
ambs nothing; not; no.
ambilar adj. old; referring to a person.
Kama rura ma bilar ndai achabap
athchseng. Old people have white
hair. Variant: bilar.
ambilki n. abandoned house or village.
Ambilki nama banggi ama mir
arektmgi. The Holy City is
abandoned. Pl: ambil.
amdalpka n. snake sp.; has white,
black, and yellow stripes; has a small
head; goes underwater to catch eels;
can kill other snakes. Pl: amndalp.
amchlingga n. 1 lizard sp.; large;
brown with a red neck and long tail;
serrated ridge down the back; short
head. Pl: amchlaing.
2 name of Mndas dancer; can
carry a guaremgi mask; body deco-
rated to look like a saw-backed lizard;
has a long tail; always dances in the
evening; dances a humorous dance;
scratches the ground, twisting its
knees; does not use rattles. Pl: am-
chling.
aml adj. 1 loose. Kama bogiski pr
mtki schama tinpis da kosa aml
glmna nangt mavangam. The box
broke and the tins of fish were all over
(the floor). Aml klan nangt. They
are loose.
2 foreign. Arutha ama ml ta tha
ve tha tas vet ma Basil ava mbang-
ga. The foreign people are there, they
are sleeping at Basils house. Variant:
ml.
amlm n. small island. Pl: aml. See:
amlka large island.
amlka n. 1 large island. Autha
mlka d tha tes ka ia East New
Britain. Our island is called East New
Britain. Pl: aml. See: amlm small
35
amrachuvacha
island.
2 foreign man; temporary visitor.
Amlkachna vama ruavek mn iva
tha thugas. The foreigner and his
friends arrived in order to play.
Pl: amlta. See: naingiska foreigner.
amlki n. foreign woman.
amlml adj. wobbly. Lavichi ithaik da
amlml chi. This bed is wobbly.
amnia interrog. how much. Amnia
mt kama sravt? How much for the
clothes?
amng n. wood. Tha met thi tal chama
mng. They went to carry the wood.
Variant: nng (Abilta dialect).
amngm n. tree stump. Cha mt ka
mngm bachi. He got the tree stump
for her. Pl: amngbap. Variant: mngm.
amngga n. tree. Kaurka cha vai d vel
scha mngga. The wind blew and
broke the tree. Pl: amng. Variant: nng
(Abilta dialect); mngga.
amnggaricha n. tree sp.; has soft
wood; makes you itch. Mnggaricha
sok ava thik ngdm. The mnggari-
chas leaves (make you) itchy.
Pl: amnggare. Variant: mnggariacha.
amnggi n. large tree. Pl: amng.
Variant: mnggi; nnggi (Abilta dialect).
amngia n. large log. Kama amngia
sok aulul ngait. The large log is really
long. Pl: amngink. Variant: mngia.
amngigl n. board. Choiku ut drm ia
nma ava mngigl ta ithgl. We
dont know whose board that is.
Pl: amngigleng. Variant: mngigl.
amngini n. small tree.
Pl: amngihtong. Variant: mngini;
nngini (Abilta dialect).
amngvet n. pole. Kama mngvet ta
ithvet sok aulul ngavet. That pole is
very long. Pl: amngiseng. Variant:
mngvet.
amr adj. good; pleasant; nice. Nave
sng arenggi da chun'ga ma mrka.
Along the river the sand is nice.
Mrmr amr nge nigia ruacha.
Always be good to your friends. Variant:
mr.
amrachuvacha n. tree sp.; has
multi-coloured bark; grows near
rivers. Pl: amrachuap. Pl: amrachop.
amr ba
amr ba vi-so. be happy. Mr ba rutha
ma tha tet nasot Jesus. Happy are the
people who follow Jesus. Variant: mr
ba.
amr glm vi-so. rejoice. Ithik, da
mr glm ut. Now we rejoice. Variant:
mr glm.
amrka n. good man. Aut Deo, nge sep
maut diva sik amrta naut. Our God,
you make us into good people.
Pl: amrta.
amrki n. good woman.
amrmr n. right side of something.
Ngia thair snani ava mrmr. You
stand on his right side. Variant: mrmr.
amr mt vi-so. taste good; be sweet.
Lvopta tha vus kama msms da
amr mtngt. The women cooked
the food and it tasted good.
amrochopink n. tree sp. Amro-
chopink pavnk pui d vathm
kama renggi da aululink. Those
particular amrachuavacha species up
along the river are very tall. Variant:
vavnk.
amr pt vi-so. be happy. Amr ptha-
tha nvt kama sunaski atha bang
ma aichru. They were happy about
the new school buildings.
ameru adj. old things. Kvicha da av
baul ma amuru. That ones clothes
are old. Kapaiglem avglem da
ameru ngiglem. Those two sheets of
corrugated iron are old. Variant: amuru.
amr vm vi-so. be happy. Da amr
vmut. And we are happy.
amrvs pt vi-so. 1 feel fine. Ngave
amrvs pthango. I am feeling fine.
2 heal; get better; get well. Ngave
amrvs vthachi nmt atha rm.
She is getting better after her illness.
3 feel peaceful.
amsmasvmgi dormitory.
amsms angtha iska n. digestive
system. Ut ts kama msms d ng
tet vathm chama msms angtha
iska. We eat the food and it goes along
the digestive system. Variant: msms
angtha iska.
amsmsini n. small party.
Pl: amsms. Variant: msmsini.
amsmska n. food. Athva msms
36
amethamnini
anguang ngt nmt kama saeng.
Their food is bad from the rain.
Pl: amsms. Variant: msms.
amsmski n. feast; party. Amsms
ma morki via Krismas. There will be
a big party at Christmas. Pl: amsms.
Variant: msmski.
amspthithong n. accompaniments;
food to eat alongside taro etc. Ut
thonel ivuit va gars nani chama
amspthithong. We will hunt along
the beach for food. Mt kama Kris-
mas ka ava monel da sik utht save
ia Mangliming nani authanga ms-
pthithong. During the Christmas
holidays we went to Mangliming for
our special foods. Morph: amspt
ithong. Lit: LNK-eat-LOC-small.PL.
amstmini side dish.
amstmna n. side-dish. Tha monel
nani anga mstmna. They hunted
for some side-dish. Ngia thu ngt
sthm chama mstmna. You put
them with the side-dishes. Variant:
amstmini. Pl: amstmnaithong.
ametpathm n. promises. In mu aina
metpathm sa glmna i sik sa
choiku ina gamar nana. The two
made promises to each other that they
would not fight any more. Variant:
metpathm.
amethamn ama dvthng n. Me-
lanesian Pidgin; Tok Pisin. PNG ch-
na d tha tamn nchama metha-
mon ama dvthng. People from
PNG speak Tok Pisin. See: ism ang-
tha methamn Melanesian Pidgin;
Tok Pisin.
amethamnbes n. 1 words. Lukas ka
tamm da chrot ava methamnbes
ia sok uthi pt kama kakau ama
chndichn. Luke speaks with strong
words that we should plant many cocoa
trees.
2 message. Ka methamn ma,
Gua methamonbes ng ve va sik
ngua thamn svt gua lunggutki.
He said, My message is there for me
to say to my wife. Variant: ametha-
mn'gi.
amethamnini n. word. Ngua nari
chama methamnini ia sik ngia thet
save ia Rome, ura? I heard a word
amethamn'gi
which said that you will be going to
Rome, right? Variant: methamnini. See:
amethamnbes words.
amethamn'gi n. 1 language. Arura
tha mo da athvema methamn'gi.
Every (group of) people has their own
language. Cha suk dm autha
methamn. He forgot our language.
Augustine sok kia tamn nchama
chabapta athva methann mamr.
Augustine really speaks the white
peoples language (English) well.
2 speech.
3 message. Karla cha mn scha-
ma methamon'gi ia guavek ta thet ti
vt ma Peterus ma cha ingip peia
Marunga. Charles came with a
message that some people would go
and bury Peterus who died at Marunga.
4 orders; instructions. Athoembm
da ithchm dai ngam ngthi nari
amethamn. This small child follows
orders. Pl: amethamn. Variant: ame-
thamon'gi.
amethamn'gi words; message.
amethamon'gi language; speech;
message; orders; instructions.
amthanaska n. disrespectful man;
specifically a person who takes things
without asking. Ma Bill sok kama
mthanaska. Bill is a man who takes
things without asking. Pl: amthanasta.
amthanaski n. disrespectful woman;
specifically a person who takes things
without asking.
amethanaski n. miraculous thing. Da
cha amethanaski schama mun-
dmbs avchs pik. And so (it was) a
miraculous thing, that particular huge
fire.
amthcha n. gift of food; something
that has come from someone else.
Ngua ts kama chalasung ama
mthk nanggl ma Tom. I ate the
sweet potato (kaukau) that was a gift
from Tom. Pl: mthk. Variant: mth-
cha.
amgi n. mouth. Ava amgi da tchpki
nchama kurem. His mouth is full of
betelnut. Pl: am.
amiglem n. pair of lips. Athop mt ava
amiglem nasot ava rm. He got sores
on his lips after his illness. Pl: amiglen.
37
amudmbs
amilatka n. 1 plate; dish. A msms
ng ve vm kama milatka. The food
is on the plate.
2 coconut shell. Kama lamsachi
at milatka ka dang mt ka mudm.
The coconut shell burnt in the fire.
Pl: milat. Variant: milatka.
amilatki n. large plate; large dish. Sa
chiat kama amilatki ama mor ki...
She gets a dish, a big one... Pl: milat.
Variant: milatki.
amndrmbemki n. clever woman.
amonelka n. 1 hunter. Johanes d
chama monelka nani chama vlam.
Johanes is a hunter for pigs.
2 traveller. Pl: amonelta.
amonelki n. female traveller.
amor adj. big. Ngia oemini sok
amorini. Your baby is really big.
Urn'ga ama morka. A big prawn.
Variant: mor.
amorka n. 1 adult man. As koiku, as
ka thoemga nango. Sa cha mun sa
morka nango. Not yet, I was still a
child. He arrived when I was (already)
an adult.
2 leader. Kule ma ngia tu ma
schama morka vak. You must not
make jokes about that leader.
3 ancestor. Autha morta thi kuar
ia chama mundmbs achvs pik
da methanaski chlan n ngas. Our
ancestors say that the huge fire was a
miraculous event.
4 God. Kusek kama morka ama
senggk ma cha mu aguvangithong
ng mo ith mni ivtki. There is
only one God who put everything here
on earth. Pl: morvap. Pl: morta.
amorki n. 1 adult woman.
2 leader.
3 female ancestor.
3 goddess. Lngaem d autha
morta athvama morki. Lngaem is
our ancestors goddess. Pl: morvap. Pl:
morta.
amudmbs n. 1 bonfire. Autha lotu
chi kuar naut ia chama mundmvs
ama mor ngas ma tha tes ngas ia
imperno. Our religion tells us that
there is a big fire called hell.
2 wildfire. ... da kosa chama
amudmga
amundmbs avchs pik ngthi
mbang. ... and that particular huge fire
just ran. Pl: amudm. Variant: amun-
dmbs; amundmvs. See: amudm-
ga fire.
amudmga n. fire; refers to a single
burning stick. Mudmga cha
dchm. The fire is still going.
Pl: amudm. Variant: amundmga;
mundmga; mudmga. See:
amudmbs bonfire.
amueska n. grasshopper; generic term.
Kama amues d ng ts kama
achuvor. Grasshoppers eat mustard
leaves. Pl: amues.
amumamrnacha n. spirit level. Kama
mumamrnacha da sik k sp ma
srtik nchama bangga diva sik
asrtika. The spirit level is used to
straighten the house. Pl: amumamr-
nangt.
amumthathopka n. male nurse;
orderly; medical assistant. Gia, gia
lat? Ngo da amumtha thopka. What
is your job? I am a nurse.
Pl: amumthathopta.
amumthathopki n. nurse; orderly;
medical assistant.
Pl: amumthathopta.
amunam n. holiday. Ut met save ia
Kokopo mt kama Krismaska ava
munam. We went to Kokopo in the
Christmas holidays. Note: no endings.
amunamga n. 1 non-worker; a person
who always stays home and rests,
they never go out and work. Auk,
tave thi don sok amunamithong ma
nave nvt ka bangm, ng ngmo
ng met d ng mun mono, va
gars. Well, when they arrive, all the
people who had stayed at home in the
village went and gathered down on the
beach.
2 invalid.
3 lame man. Mnap tchama
munamga. The lame man is sleeping.
Pl: amunamda. Pl: amunamithong.
amunamgi n. 1 female non-worker; a
woman who always stays home and
rests, she never goes out and works.
2 female invalid.
3 lame woman.
amundmbs bonfire; wildfire.
amurmes pt
amundmga fire.
amundmvs bonfire; wildfire.
amundika n. year. Atha mundik ma
chdichn. She is old. [Lit: She has
many years.] Pl: amundik. Variant:
mundik.
amundik ava laurka n. northwest
wind; named for the wild cane (pitpit)
season. Amundika ava laurka da cha
ndn pe vt ma December dma
January. The northwest wind comes in
December and January.
amundika v chunng n. calendar.
Ngi lu chama mundika v chunng.
You look at the calendar. Pl: amundik
angt kunng.
amundiki n. edible stalk of a wild cane
sp. (pitpit). Mundiki ithaik ma
ululchi. That piece of wild cane (pitpit)
is long. Pl: mundik. Variant: mendik.
amundrm n. 1 skill. Karla da ava
amundrm smt kama mugas ma
soka. Charles is good at soccer. [Lit:
Charles, his skill is in the game soccer.]
2 knowledge. Ka d cha ve scha-
ma amundrm. He is there with the
knowledge.
amundrmbemka n. clever man.
Kama amundrmbemka cha thk
nchama bangga. The clever man
built the house. Pl: amundrmbemta.
amun'gas n. game. Ta met smt
kama mun'gas. They went to the
game.
amunggunbs n. 1 chair. Ka mugun
mt kama munggunbs. He sat on
the chair. Pl: amunggunimlk.
2 meeting. Tha ve mt kama
munggunbs taithik. They are in the
meeting now. Ta ms kama duraik
peia mt athva munggunbs. They
ate the chicken when they had their
meeting. Pl: amunggunimlk.
3 sitting of parliament.
amurms decorations.
amurmeski n. glory. Ngua lu Jesus
ava ven'gi, dava murmeski, dava
erki. I saw Jesus grave, and his glory,
and his light. Pl: amuremes.
amurmes pt vi-so. be colourful. ... da
mrki mamr, ama amurmes
pthachi. ... they were very good,
38
amureng
colourful all over.
amureng adj. heavy. Chi mrng cha-
ma uratki schama msms. The
basket is heavy with food. Variant:
mrng.
amuru old.
amusnng n. 1 behaviour. Kvicha
d angguang ava musnng. He is
rude. [Lit: His behaviour is bad.]
Kvicha da amr ava musnng. He is
well-mannered. [Lit: His behaviour is
good.]
2 idea; thought. Amusnng ng
mun vt guauk klan da ithik ia,
Ngo da vandi ngu vlk ia ngu
vang. An idea came to my
grandmother like this, I want to try
and run away.
3 plan.
4 habit; custom. Ava musnng ma
chama morus da askoi ia ng sot
nvthacha. His habit of laziness
about gardening is still not finished.
Ma Nangathemes de sok
lengenacha sa utha morta athva
musnng nva mbang. Nangathemes
is the leader of the tribal customs.
Morph: a=musnng. Lit: SPEC=
put.PAST-heart. Variant: amusnngini.
amusnngini behaviour; idea; thought;
plan; habit; custom.
amuthms n. decorations. Kama lotu
vmgi atha murms ama mr. The
church has beautiful decorations.
Variant: amurms.
amuvtka n. 1 answer. Kama
muvtka nagl nma? The answer is
from whom?
2 punishment. Pl: amuvt. Variant:
muvtka.
-an arrive; come; reach; return.
ana interj. Ill take it!
anabuvm n. snake sp.; poisonous;
brown; up to 60 cm long; strikes fast
but runs away when it smells people;
sleeps under rubbish, leaves, or dead
wood; related to the amdalpka
species. Pl: anabuvap.
anamnamgi n. 1 wing. Ka thu chama
abrasaucha v namnamgi. He shot
the eagle in the wing. Kama brasocha
ava namnamgi ama morki. The
39
ansnes vt
eagles wing is big.
2 flipper of a turtle. Pl: anamnam.
ananachi n. glue. Dingdm chama
kaumatka mt kama ananachi. The
rat was stuck on the glue. Pl: anana.
andeguank three large ones.
andvaung three.
anduguavap three short ones.
anekethopki n. eel; generic term; also
refers to a species of river eel, which
is grey in colour with a white belly.
Nekethopki chia ve vt k dulgia
atha rem. The eel is there at the
bottom of the stones. Pl: nekthop.
anlka n. 1 shellfish sp.; mussel;
bivalve from the river that lives in the
mud at the bottom of the river; dark
brown outside and white inside;
people refine (mumu) these shells, by
fire, to get lime powder. Ka su cha
ms nthm chama nlka. He tried
to eat [Lit: eat from] a mussel.
2 money; coin; kina. Amnia nal
mt kama thinmmt? How many
kina for a tin of fish? Pl: anal.
annbs n. prayers.
annini n. prayer.
ann'gi n. prayer. Sei ngi nari autha
nn'gi dei ngi thu ut sanggl Jesus
Lengenachi Maria. Again you hear
our prayer and you present us to Jesus,
Mother Mary. Mubang, mathchasep
sa uthp ma cha nn mamor. The
next day, in the morning, we had a big
prayer meeting. Pl: ann.
ann'gi n. nausea. K nari nn'gi vt
pchn. He felt nausea in his throat.
Pl: annn.
anengachi n. emery wheel. Cha mn
vt kama nengachi avaik. He found
that emery wheel. Pl: aneng.
aneska n. crab sp.; land crab with black
shell and red claws; has a flat
elongated body; lives in holes or
under fallen wood. Pl: anes.
ansnes n. spikes. Note: no endings.
ansnes vt vi-so. be spiky. Kama
changgat ama nsnes vt ng mon
vt ngua thik. The spiky vines pierced
my hands. Nanaski ithaik d nesnes
vthachi. This pineapple is spiky.
anvmnacha
Variant: nesnes pt.
anvmnacha n. underground person.
Anvmnacha chna, mali sa thik
ngaip sa thik sa ngave chunenggu-
neng dmda. The underground
people, first they were hidden but now
they are becoming real (i.e. apparent to
everyone). Pl: nvmnachachna.
ani interj. Take this!
anilk tree sp. Usage: Abilta dialect.
aninicha n. earthworm; brown; up to
30 cm long. Pl: anini.
aningilka n. liver. Pl: aninggl. Variant:
nigl. Junior cha von ngo nachama
vlmga ava ningilka. Junior gave me
the pigs liver.
anongacha n. possum; cuscus. Chia
chthp chama nongacha. She
grabbed the possum. Pl: anuang.
anot n. taro. Julien chia met sva lat
nani chama not. Julien went to the
garden for taro. See: adichi taro.
anun n. semen. Koi ut drm ia agia va
nun. We dont know whose semen.
anun'ga n. 1 pus. Anun'ga nvt
kama thopki. Pus from the sore.
2 white sap from a breadfruit or fig
tree. Kama variachi da atha nun'ga
ama chambapka. The breadfruit tree
has got white sap.
anga np art. 1 some. Gram: Non-specific
indefinite NP article. Von ngo nanga
muli. Give me some oranges.
2 any. Gram: Non-specific indefinite NP
article. Anga muli bango? Any
orange(s) for me?
angabas nothing; not; no.
angabs nothing; not; no.
angama np art. 1 some. Gram:
Non-specific NP article. Vadi chiat
angama chleve. She wants to get
some beans.
2 any. Gram: Non-specific indefinite NP
article. Angama achuan anggung
bango? Is there any rice for me?
angan pro. your. Gram: Second person plural
possessive pronoun.
angana pro. your. Gram: Second person
plural possessive pronoun and possessive
pronoun and specific article. Morph: angan=
a. Lit: 2PL.POSS=SPEC.
40
angmngga
anganama pro. some of your. Gram:
Second person plural possessive pronoun and
non-specific possessive pronoun. Angana-
ma plet ngve mni arenggi. Your
plates are at the river. Morph: angan=
ma. Lit: 2PL.POSS= EMPH.
ang its; their.
angebes nothing; not; no.
angel adj. clever. Cha tugas sok
angelka. He played really cleverly.
angelenggi n. stone; small rounded
stone for using in a sling. Setavo cha
thu ma Ambros uvski nchama
ngelenggi. Setavo hit Ambross head
with the stone (thrown from a sling).
Pl: angeleng.
angelka vm vi-so. 1 be clever.
Kvicha sok angelka vm ga. That
man is really clever.
2 be talented. Ngi tk mamor iva
sik thoemga ma angelka vmga
nange. You work hard so that you will
be a talented student.
angelki n. knowledge. Andrew da ava
ngelki ama morki. Andrew has great
knowledge. Pl: angel.
angmbs neg. 1 nothing. Angmbs
nanga aguang taith. There is
nothing here.
2 not. Ngmbs tha met sva lat
mndu ma saing d ichum. They did
not go to the garden because of the
rain and floods.
3 no. Tangamtta tha ndn, das
koi angama Aulingalta, ura angitha,
angmbs. Tolais came, but still no
Sulkas or anyone, no. Variant: angabas;
angabs; angebes; ambs; mbs;
ngmbs.
angmng n. 1 wood. Tha met thi tal
chama mng. They went to carry the
wood.
2 trees. Sa ngmng ngave ng
dn. Then trees, they grew. Morph:
ang=mng. Lit: 3.CN.POSS=wood.
Variant: mng; nng (Abilta dialect).
angmngga n. 1 tree. Kama athing
avang piavik d chama angmngga
anengacha avak piavik. That particu-
lar fibre from a tree, a particular one.
2 stick; piece of wood. Kia ver ka
ngmngga nvt atha vuthchi di
angmnggi
chiave chi panist ngam mo. She
took the stick from her bundle of
firewood and she started to beat him.
Morph: ang=mngka. Lit: 3.CN.POSS=
wood-M.SG. Pl: angmng.
angmnggi n. 1 large tree. Di chia
mas mkama ngmnggi at lalt.
And she slept at the base of a big tree.
2 log. Kama angarski chia thon
kama ngmnggi save sva chuan.
The sea threw the log onto the sand.
Morph: ang=mngki. Lit: 3.CN.POSS=
wood-F.SG. Pl: angmng. Pl: mng.
Variant: nngaik (Abilta dialect).
angnanga pro. some of your. Gram:
Second person plural possessive pronoun and
non-specific possessive pronoun. Ngni
thal angnanga mamiap. You all
carry some of your pawpaws. Morph:
angn=anga. Lit: 2PL.POSS=NSPEC.
angenangama pro. any of your. Gram:
Second person singular possessive pronoun
and indefinite possessive pronoun. Morph:
angen=angama. Lit: 2PL.POSS=INDEF.
angt pro. its; their. Gram: Third person
neuter possessive pronoun. Koi ia chlan ia
kusek kama ngemeng ma vono va
angt sachong glan ngt ng
ndang. The trees burnt not only like
that, they burnt from their crowns on
top. Thi tor svt ka reng angps.
They are swimming at the head of the
river [Lit: the river its head]. Variant:
ang.
angtkn n. melody. Kama ngtken'gi
da chi mthik. The melody is
different. Note: no plural.
angtkn'gi n. 1 neck.
2 throat. Athop mt guachn'gi.
My throat is sore.
3 voice. Ava angtkn'gi da snani
ava mamk. His voice is like his
fathers. Morph: at=kn. Lit: 3F.SG.POSS
=throat. Pl: angtkn. Variant: tchn;
chn'gi.
angtkeng n. 1 edge.
2 bank; especially of a body of
water such as a river or pool. Tchp
nchama dul vt arenggi thcheng.
The riverbank is full of stones. Morph:
angtkeng. Lit: 3N.POSS-teeth. Variant:
cheng; keng; geng.
angtkenggi n. tooth. Ava angtkeng
41
angthanga
mo mar sngt dak nvt kama
sgk. All his teeth fell out but one.
Pl: angtkeng.
angtps n. 1 top. Pl vt kama
amng angtps. The top of the tree
broke. Kama pletka cha ve vt kama
sospen'gi thvus. The plate is there
on top of the saucepan.
2 roof. Bangga uvs. The roof of the
house. Morph: angt=ps. Lit: 3N.POSS=
head. Variant: angtpus; vs.
angtpus top; roof.
angtha pro. its; their. Gram: Third person
neuter possessive pronoun and possessive
pronoun and specific article. Dak ka lu
chama vlam angtha is. But he did
see some pigs tracks. Morph: angt=a.
Lit: 3N.POSS=SPEC. Variant: ngtha.
angthaik ama valpal n. fingers. Vis
dava angthaik ama valpal. His
fingers are swollen. Morph: angthaik
angtha valpal. Lit: arms 3PL.POSS twigs.
angthaik angtha chutkut n. script;
handwriting. Ka chut svtha ngo
nchama angthaik angtha chut-
kut. He wrote to me in handwriting.
Morph: angthaik angtha chutkut. Lit:
arms/hands 3PL.POSS writing.
angtham n. 1 shore; beach;
riverbank. Dul sna vt kama reng
angtham. There are many stones
altogether at the riverbank.
2 front. Ma Joseph kat mair dava
mbangga avam. Joseph stood in front
of his house. Morph: angtam. Lit:
3N.POSS-mouth. Variant: avam; vam.
angthama pro. some of its. Gram: Third
person neuter possessive pronoun and
emphatic possessive pronoun. Dak ka lu
chama vlam angtha is. But he did
see some pigs tracks. Morph: angt=
ma. Lit: 3N.POSS=EMPH.
angthamatki n. cockatoo. Kama ng-
thamatki chia ts kama lams. The
cockatoo ate the coconuts. Pl: ang-
thamat.
angthanga pro. some of their. Gram:
Third person neuter possessive pronoun and
non-specific possessive pronoun. Kama
vaim ng ms anthanga slik. The
dogs ate some of their meat. Morph:
angt=anga. Lit: 3N.POSS=NSPEC.
angthangama
angthangama pro. any of their. Gram:
Third person neuter possessive pronoun and
indefinite possessive pronoun. Morph: angt
=angama. Lit: 3N.POSS=INDEF.
angtharembem n. cause. Kama am-
bang ng mang dai angtharembem
nanggel ma nma? Who was the
cause of the burnt houses? Pl:
angtharembap.
angthn'ga n. odour; smell. Ang-
thn'ga nmt kama sipki da angu-
angga. The smell from the ship was
bad. Pl: angthn.
angthepki n. name. Tha tes atha
angthepki ia Namunas. They named
her [Lit: called her name] Namunas. Gia
angthepki mnia? What is your
name? Pl: ngthep. Variant: ngthepki.
angthiaik n. grandfather; grandfa-
ther-in-law. Gu iaik da mrmr asu-
rngga vt kama bangang. My
grandfather always snores at night.
Morph: angt=iaikkna. Lit: 3CN.POSS=
grandfather-H.PL. Pl: angthiaikna.
angthichm n. end of branch; specifi-
cally the part where the leaves are.
Ngmngga vak d vthichm ma
mor ngam. That tree, the ends of its
branches are very leafy. Pl: angthik-
vap. Variant: vthichm.
angthichini n. 1 hand; arm; refers
to the entire limb; more polite word
than angthiki. Atha angthichini
aruan ini. Her arm is hurting.
2 twig.
angthieik n. master. Paim angthie-
ik. A dogs master. Pl: angthieikna.
angthik n. side. Ka munggun seng
gama thoes angthik dak ti tk. He
sat beside his children and they
worked. [Lit: He sat close to her children
their sides but they work.]
angthika n. finger. Giama angthika
achk da achuvtka. Your particular
finger is short. Pl: angthaik.
angthika ama secha n. little finger.
Chia thap sa atha angthika ama
secha ava ravski. She cut off the nail
of her little finger.
angthiki n. 1 hand; arm; refers to
the entire limb. Kama angmnggi
chia sp d chia vai mni ava
42
anggarski atham
angthiki. A tree fell and (part of it)
landed heavily on his arm.
2 branch. Laur ng vai d vl
schama viulacha ava angthiki.
The wind blew and broke the branch of
the mango tree. Morph: ang=tikki. Lit:
3CN.POSS=hand-F.SG. Pl: angthaik.
angthiki ama lvopki n. thumb. Ava
angthiki ama lvopki da chuvtki.
His thumb is short.
angthikinggl n. palm of hand.
angthikism n. ten. Ka var schama
thinm ma angthikism. He caught
ten fish. Variant: ngithikisem.
angthikpet num. five. Chia von ngo
nchama thinm ma ngthikpet.
She gave me five fish. Variant:
ngthikpet.
angthuauk n. grandmother; grand-
mother-in-law. Ngu plk ma guauk
mndu ma chi choki chi plk ngo.
I love my grandmother because she
loves me. Morph: angt=uauk. Lit: 3.PL.
POSS=grandmother. Pl: angthuaukna.
Variant: angthuouk.
angthuouk grandmother;
grandmother-in-law.
angthut n. base or bottom of the in-
side of a container. Dung seng cha-
ma sospen'gi thut. The base of the
saucepan is burnt. D chule chama
renggi mk sng chama lechi thut.
And then the water stayed down in the
bottom of the hole. Morph: ang=thut.
Lit: 3CN.POSS=underneath. Variant: thut;
vut; aindut.
angthutki n. sheltered place; specifi-
cally an area in a valley below an
overhanging cliff. Kama vaim ng
vlng skama angthutki vt kama
renggi thcheng. The dogs killed a
pig down in a sheltered part of the
valley near the river. Pl: angthut.
anggars salty.
anggarski sea.
anggarski atham n. beach. Ngua tet
vt ka garski atham d ngua lu
kama vun'gi ma chia vat. I walked
along the beach and saw where the
turtle laid (its eggs). Morph: a=garski
at=am. Lit: SPEC=saltwater-F.SG 3F.POSS
=mouth.
anggethangacha
anggethangacha n. white ant. Kama
gethang ng slavo nchama tlng-
bap. White ants wrecked books.
Pl: angethang.
anggia np art. some. Gram: Specific indefi-
nite NP article. Kia sek kama anggia
rucha... She marries some man...
anggia something.
anggicha someone; something.
anggichm some short thing.
anggichi something; someone.
anggigl some piece.
anggiglem some two pieces.
anggigleng some pieces.
anggimlk some flat ones.
anggimlm some two flat ones.
angginait some large one.
anggink some large ones.
anggini some small thing.
anggini some small thing.
anggingt something.
anggiom something; someone.
anggisem some two long ones.
anggiseng some long ones.
anggit what.
anggitha some people.
anggithom some two small ones.
anggithong some small ones.
anggivam some two short ones.
anggivap some short things.
anggivem some two people; some two
things.
anggivs some flat thing.
anggivet some long thing.
angguang spoilt; bad.
angguik something; someone.
angguikangguik another; each.
anggulinggi n. crowd. Ngua lu chama
anggulinggi nchama rutha vt
kama amunggas angt luchupki. I
saw a crowd of people on the play-
ground.
anggung dem. 1 some. Gram: Count
neutral indefinite demonstrative.
2 any; anything. Gram: Count neutral
indefinite demonstrative. Angama achuan
anggung bango? Is there any rice for
43
arekrechi
me? Koiku na anggung mundu masa
chia vlng ngt. There wasn't any-
thing because it really killed them.
angguvang adj. 1 spoilt. Tangam
avang ma amang nagl malachu-
vsnia sa nga ve angguvang. Those
bananas that were ripe last time (I
checked) are spoilt.
2 bad. Kvicha d angguang ava
musnng. He is rude. [Lit: That one, his
behaviour is bad.] Variant: angguang;
guvang.
anginm some two large ones.
angitha pro. 1 anyone. Gram: Human
plural indefinite pronoun. Tangamtta
tha ndn, das koi angama Aulingal-
ta, ura angitha, angmbs. Tolais
came, but still no Sulkas or anyone, no.
2 someone. Gram: Human plural
indefinite pronoun.
angon flying fox.
arachtki n. spirit from a spirit mask;
these spirits can go into someone
(especially a woman) and make her
act crazy, e.g. shouting out and
taking her clothes off; someone who
knows an appropriate charm must
speak it into lime powder and then
spread the lime powder on the
womans face, ears, and body.
arareski n. blessing. Da amorka ava
rareski bange. And God bless you.
[Lit: And God his blessing on you.]
araun'ga mtki n. car; motorcycle.
Kama araun'ga mtki chia thal ut
save ia Kokopo. The car carried us to
Kokopo. Morph: araunka mt=ki. Lit:
sound-M.SG in=3F.SG. See: aiski car;
raun'ga sound.
Arausmt n. the accent of the
Mranachi and Dadul people (who
speak Mali). Kama rutha ma
Rausmt ta d ta nave ia Dadul d
ve ia Mranachi. The people who speak
with the Arausmt accent are from
Dadul and Mranachi.
aravr wide.
aravr mt be wide.
arekrechi n. sign on path to prohibit
people from going along it, and by
extension, a no entry sign or gate.
Ausupki atha rekrechi chia vusding
arktm
sthmka Jesus. Heavens gate was
closed to Jesus. Pl: arekrek.
arktm adj. holy. Thchnmucha
chusek ka arktm cha. Only God the
everlasting is holy.
arektmka n. holy man. Pl: arektmda.
arektmki n. holy woman.
arm adj. sick. Vadi kusek ngua
thamon sthm nge ngi mamk ia,
cha ve armga mamor. I just want to
tell you about your father, he is terribly
sick.
armali adj. clever. Ma Gulailang da
armalika smt kama monel vaur.
Gulailang is clever at hunting in the
bush.
armalika n. clever person. Kvicha da
armalika daer ma ngo. He is a more
clever person than me.
arm angtha banggi n. hospital;
health centre. Arm ngo mamor d
ngua mas vt arm angtha banggi.
I was really sick and I slept at the
hospital. Morph: arm angt=a bangki.
Lit: sick 3N.POSS=SPEC house-F.SG.
Pl: arm angtha bang.
arembm n. 1 buttock. Kama neski
chia chut gua rembm. The nurse
injected my buttock.
2 n. source; cause; reason. Nmga
angtha rembm? Who was the
cause? See: aremgi buttock; source;
cause; reason.
armga n. patient. Kama armga ka
vuk pa bang. The patient is in the
house. Pl: armda.
armgi n. illness; disease; sickness.
Ngim nani arm. Diagnose. [Lit: Look
for illness.] Pl: arm.
aremgi n. 1 buttock. Brem ng mn
mthava remgi. Boils came up on his
buttock. Arenggi atha remgi. The
mouth of the river. [Lit: The arse of the
river.]
2 base. Nekethopki chia ve vt k
dulgia atha rem. The eel is there at
the base of the stones. ... d samk,
chuk ngua ve ngu mbang mt ma
Uvlia angtha remgi. ... and (I went)
down, I kept on running in the bed of
Uvlia Creek.
3 source; cause; reason. Pl: arem.
44
aririp
Variant: rem. See: arembm buttock;
remini base; source; cause.
armgi n. female patient.
armgi ama ingun'ga n. fever. Kama
athoemini ng mt kama armgi
ama ingun'ga d ng mas vt arm
angtha banggi. The child got a fever
and was admitted to the hospital.
areng ama chrot n. alcohol. Areng
ama chrot da mamr ia ngthi
vlng aung. Alcohol can really kill
somebody.
arengga n. sweat. Ngave achrnsatm
ngo da rengga vtha ngo. I felt hot
and there was sweat on me. Note: no
plural.
arenggi n. 1 water. D chule chama
renggi mk sng chama lechi thut.
And then the water stayed down in the
bottom of the hole.
2 river. Nguaet smni arenggi. I
am going to the river. Pl: areng.
arengia n. creek. Ka met smni cha-
ma arengia diva ch vk kama
renggi. He went to the creek to fetch
some water. Pl: areng.
arerika n. saw. Pl: arerik. See: socha
saw.
areveikpmka n. saviour; redeemer.
Jesus aura reveikpmka. Jesus our
saviour. Aura reveikpmka d cha
mn nvtha usupki. Our redeemer
came from heaven.
arviachi n. monitor; similar to a lizard
with a black body and dull whitish
spots; up to 80 cm long; edible flesh;
skin is used for hand drums (kundus);
lives in the forest and climbs trees.
Pl: arvai.
aribumetka n. wild mountain pig.
Kama vlam naivono da dam d tha
tes ngt ia chama aribumet. The
mountain pigs are called aribumet.
Pl: aribumet.
arik adj. straight. Ais save ia Kokopo
sok arik klan. The road to Kokopo is
straight.
aringga n. freshwater prawn sp.; grey
with thin small hands; up to 5 cm
long. Pl: araing.
ariprip swollen.
aririp adj. swollen; e.g. when a limb is
arnacha
full of blood. Ngave aririp gi blinggi.
Your face is getting swollen. Variant:
ariprip.
arnacha n. middle finger. Guathika ma
arnacha. My middle finger.
aron adj. 1 satisfied. D cha ve ch
tnaik da ron'ga. And he started to
drink and was satisfied. Aron kama
vlmga nmt ka renggi. The pig
was satisfied by the water.
2 proud; self-satisfied. Da ma
mbensenasta da tha ron d cha
matmet ta. And those who were
proud, he scattered them. Variant: ron.
arten'gi n. jaw; refers to the lower jaw
bone. Ut tlu chama arucha ava
arten'gi p vaur. We saw a man's jaw
bone in the bush. Pl: arten.
aruacha n. friend; often used to refer to
spouses. Gua ruacha nange. You are
my friend. Pl: aruavek. Variant: ruacha.
See: lugutka husband.
aruachi n. female friend; wife. Gua
ruachi, mamr ia unmo uni vang
nmt kama kumngas? My friend,
would it be possible for us to run away
from the prison?
aruachingacha n. grasshopper sp. Pl:
aruachaing.
aruan mt vi-so. have pain. Gu
brethem da aruan mtngam. My
chest has a pain in it.
aruan pt vi-so. be tired. Ngua mn
nva lat da aruan pthango. I came
back from the garden feeling tired.
aruan'ga n. pain. Aruan'ga cha choe?
Where is the pain? Pl: aruan.
arucha n. man. Arutha athva mtmet
d chok nani chama alat, kakau
dchama monel vaur. The people's
ways are just for the garden, cocoa,
and hunting in the bush. John, ngi
snan vt ma Guido ia arucha nacha
ura thomga nacha. John, you ask
Guido whether he is a ghost or a man.
Pl: arutha. Pl: rura. Variant: rucha.
aruchm n. short person. Usage: Has a
depreciative sense. Sa chia mun bt
kama aruchm... She found a short
person... Pl: aruvap. Variant: ruchm.
aruchi n. woman. Naruer da sik kama
aruchi chia thet sva lat nani chama
45
asecha
amstmna ma tha tes ngt ia
auravu. First, the woman will go to the
garden for side-dishes that they call
auravu.
aruchusicha n. 1 tree sp.
2 type of fruit.
arumsngga n. lichen. Pl: arumsng.
arumtka n. moss; generic term. Dulki
ma chi pali chlan da choiku nanga
rumtka vtha chi. A rolling stone
will not gather any moss. Pl: rumt.
Variant: rumtka.
arura nmni ivtki athva sek n.
history. K kuar naut nchama rura
nmni ivtki athva sek svt
autha morta. He told us about our
ancestors history.
arus adj. unwilling. Arus ngo ia nma
cha thet. I am unwilling to be the one
who goes. Thoes arus ta ia thi thk
mt k chunngga. The children were
unwilling to work in the sun.
aruthk n. shellfish sp.; found at the
mouth of rivers. Usage: Abilta dialect.
See: kaliburburm shellfish sp. Note:
no endings.
aruves n. crowd.
-as eat.
as disc. 1 still. Ngni kuares ia sa cha
ingip d as ka dchm. You all say
that he died but he is still alive.
2 yet. Tha mt da as koiku tha
mn nva lat. They went to the garden
and they have not come back yet.
3 just. As ngi nari. You just feel this.
asalang n. greens; leaves are small and
heart shaped with yellow flowers;
grows in gardens after they have
been burnt off. Ngi vus kama
salang. You cook the greens.
asdemga n. ear. Athop mthava
sndemga. (He has got) a sore on his
ear. Rip muk pa sndem da ruan.
Otitis. Raun asndem. Ear-ache. Pl: as-
dem. Variant: asdemgi; asndem; as-
dem.
asdemgi ear.
asecha n. story. Ngia thesavt dcha-
ma secha. You tell a story. Asecha
svt kama chaelka chnchama
vaimga. The story of the wallaby and
the dog. Pl: asek. Variant: secha.
asecha svt kama ivtki
asecha svt kama ivtki n. geogr-
aphy. Tlngm taithchm da cha-
ma secha svt kama ivtki
tlngm. These books are geography
books.
asechaski n. yawn. Asechaski chi sek
guam. I yawned. [Lit: The yawn opened
my mouth.] Pl: asechas.
asechupka n. eraser. Ka rondem ava
suchupka nmt ka gunan. He
bought his eraser at the store.
Pl: asechup. Variant: suchupka.
asdem ear.
asgchm num. one short one. Gram:
Reduced singular. Kusek kama
vaimbm ma sgchm ng ve.
There is only one dog left.
asggl num. one piece. Gram: Excised
singular. Ngiat kama mngigl ma
asgl. Get one plank.
asgk num. one. Gram: Masculine singular
and count neutral. Kusek Deo asgk
klan. There is only one God. Variant:
snggk; sgk.
asgm num. one short one. Gram:
Reduced singular. Chia mt kama
mngm ma asgm diva chi thigil
tm ngam. She got the wood in order
to chop it up. Variant: sgm.
asgnacha n. net bag (bilum). Chia
ns kama anot mt at sgnacha.
She put the taro in her net bag (bilum).
Pl: asgn. Variant: sgnacha.
asgnachi n. large net bag (bilum). Ut
met nani giaik ava sgnachi. We
went for our grandfathers large net
bag (bilum). Pl: asgn.
asgni num. one small one. Gram:
Diminutive singular. Vaimgi chia thal
thoemini ma asgini. The dog carried
one puppy. Variant: sgni; asgini.
asgvs num. one flat one. Gram: Flat
singular. Kama pepavs ma asgvs
ng ve. There is one piece of paper
there. Variant: snggvs.
asgvt num. one long one. Gram: Long
singular. Thangmbt ma asgvt.
One long banana.
asen'ga n. thin knife; made of split
bamboo; used to cut pork etc. Asen'-
ga vak da ch tnes. That knife is
sharp. Pl: asen.
asevaik pt
asen'gi n. knife. Ka vondm mt gua
sen'gi. He bought my knife. Pl: asen.
Variant: sen'gi.
asnggeik one (feminine singular).
asnggik num. one. Gram: Feminine
singular. Netty d chusek kama
lvopki ma asnggik dak thamo da
chumsta. Netty was the only one who
was a woman and all the rest were
men. Variant: asnggeik.
asnggit num. one large one. Gram:
Extended singular. Kama mngga ava
ngthichi ama snggchit. The tree
has one long branch. Variant: sngg-
chit.
asrtik adj. straight. Kama suchut
taithang sok asrtik. These lines are
very straight.
asst adj. smooth; slippery. Saeng
dchama churem d asst ngt. It
rained and the betel palms are
slippery.
aseska n. rope; line. Sa chule sa ch
rut nchama ases muk pm diva sa
ngt ngthi sp samk. Afterwards
he will push the ropes from inside to let
them fall down. Ngia thu at baulki
mni chama seska. You put her
wraparound skirt (laplap) on the line.
Pl: ases.
asski n. childless woman. Naruer d
ma guauk ma Veronika Tchrnam
da asski. At that time my grandmoth-
er Veronica Tchrnam was childless.
Pl: ssta.
assurka n. blind man. Pl: assurta.
assurki n. blind woman. Da ma
ssurki aruski. But the blind woman
refused. Rose da manaingimgi dak
Grace da assurki. Rose can see but
Grace is blind.
ast adj. smooth. Amngga ma stka.
The tree is smooth. Variant: st.
asevaik n. joy. Asvaik angt kunng-
ga tiathik i autha reveikvmka sa
cha mn. This is a day of joy because
our redeemer has arrived.
asevaik pt vi-so. 1 rejoice; be happy;
be joyful. Koi ngia dn diva svaik
pthange. You do not come to rejoice.
Choiku ia asvaik pthatha mundu
ma ath mamk koi cha mn sanga
46
asik
thinm. They were not happy because
their father did not come back with any
fish.
2 feel proud. Asvaik pthachi
mamr nvt athoemga ma Hugh.
She is really proud of her son Hugh.
3 be a nuisance. Asvaik pthacha
ma sak. He was really being a
nuisance. Variant: sevaik pt.
asik disc. future; when. Gram: Irrealis
marker. Asik peia mathchasep da
chaet save ia Tol. When it is morning
he will go to Tol. Chia mn diva sik
chi su chama thoes. She came in
order to teach the children. Variant: sik.
asika subord. if. Gram: Irrealis marker used
to introduce conditional clauses. Asika
ngiaet d ngiaet pathm chama iska
ma arika. If you go you must follow the
right track. Sika chan d ngia
thamn sthm ngo. If he comes, you
tell me. Variant: sika.
asinir n. beam; referring to a beam of
light, e.g. from a torch or car at night,
or from sun sparkling off glass. Ngua
lu chama lamga ava sinir. I saw the
beam of the lamp.
asinir mt vi-so. be bright; be light.
Ch kuar vuk pa bang d asinir mt
airki svthivt. He shone (the torch)
up at the house and it made the outside
light.
asingal n. spirit world. Note: no endings.
asingalka n. 1 snake; worm; generic
term. Kama singalka cha vn vt
kama lamsachi. The snake climbed
the coconut tree.
2 dangerous spirit. D thi kuares
klan ia singalki. They said it was a
dangerous spirit. Kama singal d
ngt ng ve mt kama amng ama
mor d mt kama areng. The spirits
are in the big trees and the rivers.
3 Satan; devil. Singalka cha met
mavo. The devil went the wrong way.
Asingalka avoemga! Son of the devil!
(This expression was introduced by P.
Mayerhoffer.) Pl: asingal. Variant:
singalka.
asingalki n. 1 female spirit.
2 large snake; generic term.
asip disc. later. Variant: sip.
47
asok mt
asivlelki n. caterpillar sp.; has black
and yellow spots; is a bit hairy; eats
the leaves of the achluang plant.
Pl: asivlel.
askok disc. 1 still. Gram: Atelic realis.
Askok aunes, das uthi lotu np
bangang... (While it was) still dark, we
prayed at night...
2 yet. Gram: Atelic realis. D cha met
na ngt ng mo d cha met d
savuit askok. So he passed them all
and he went higher yet.
3 just. Gram: Atelic realis. Askok nge.
You just keep going. Morph: as=kok. Lit:
still=just.
aslamrki n. hospital; clinic; health
centre. Armga da cha met smt
kama slamrki. He was sick so he
went to the clinic. Arm ngo da ngua
met smt kama slamrki. I was sick
and I went to the clinic. Pl: aslamr.
Variant: slamrki.
aslavar n. tinea; ringworm (grile). Cha
da slavar vtha cha. He has got tinea
(grile).
aslek adj. cooperative; obedient. Ngia
that sngo dak aslecha ngo na nge.
You will get me and I will cooperate
with you.
aslek pt vi-so. be willing. Ronny aslek
pthacha diva chaet sva lat. Ronny
is willing to go to the garden.
asnan'ga n. question. Ka von dchama
asnan ama chndichn dak angm-
bs ngua ndrm. He gave lots of
questions but I did not know. Pl: asnan.
asndem ear.
asnngacha idea.
asnok n. excrement; faeces. Kaelcha
cha irastm sma vaimga da cha
ms ka snok. The wallaby lied to the
dog and he ate excrement.
asok adj. solid. Ka vtdm dcha
bangga ves da asok. He covered the
walls of the house and now it is solid.
asok mt vi-so. 1 be brave. David sok
asok mt ka d cha vlng ma
Goliath ama srucha. David was brave
and so he killed Goliath the giant.
2 be determined; be single-minded.
Kvichi d asok mtki iva chia
thortm mt ichumgi. That woman is
asokmtka
determined, she swam across the
flooded river.
3 be strong. Gi lams da asok mt.
Your coconut is strong.
4 be solid.
5 be challenging; e.g. a game.
asokmtka n. fearless man; stoic man;
someone who is solid inside. Karla
d chama asokmtka i choi chna
ndlen kama thombek. Charles is a
fearless person for he is not afraid of
ghosts.
asokmtki n. fearless woman.
asol n. salt. Da ithik sa ta ve thi bon
dm mt kama asol... And now they
are buying the salt... From: English, Tok
Pisin: salt, sol.
asongga n. rafter. Mbangga vama
song. The rafters of the house.
Pl: asong.
asru adj. huge; gigantic. Henry ka thap
schama mrunggi ama sruchi
samk. Henry cut down a large rose-
wood tree. Lamon'gi ama sruchi. A
huge wave. Variant: sru.
asuchut sign; mark; line; boundary.
asuchutka n. ruler. Asunaski thoes
tamo da achkachk da ava suchut-
ka. Each of the school students has a
ruler. Pl: asuchut.
asuremgi n. shellfish sp.; lives on the
reef; twisted cone with a spiky
mottled exterior and shiny white
interior; up to 10 cm long. Pl: asurem.
asureng vi-so. snore. Gu iaik da
mrmr asurengga vt kama
bangang. My grandfather always
snores at night.
asurngga n. snoring person. Joseph
pe ia munapka da asurngga.
Joseph, when he sleeps, he snores.
asurtka n. forest rat; lives in holes in
the ground. Asurt dchama
chaumat ama ngt nva ur ama
ngt tas mni chama ivitki. Asurt
are forest rats that live in holes in the
ground. Pl: asurt.
asusudamgi n. lizard sp.; black with
many small whitish spots; up to 1 m
or more long; lives in the forest near
pools in rivers; will dive to the bottom
of the river if chased. Pl: asusudam.
48
athama
asusur adj. blind. Ut drm ncha bilar
scha asusur. We know old people
become blind.
at pro. her; its. Gram: Third person singular
possessive pronoun. Ngia thu at baulki
mni chama seska. You put her
wraparound skirt (laplap) on the line.
Variant: te; ath.
atm adj. whole. Mundika ama tmga.
The whole year. Variant: tm. Note: only
t.
atpki n. 1 inferno; huge fire. Atpki
da sok kama amundmbs ama mor
ngas. Atpki is a really huge fire.
2 hell. Pl: atp.
atnes pt vi-so. be sharp. Ta meng
kanggat mnichi atnes pt kama
chep. They twisted ropes with sharp
thorns on them.
atun'gi n. fish sp.; yellowfin tuna.
Pl: atun. From: Tok Pisin: atun tuna.
atha pro. her; its. Gram: Third person
singular possessive pronoun. Kia ms dak
kule atha matki. She ate but her
sister did not. Ngua mu chama
peletka vuk vt kama tevolki atha
thng. I put the plate on the top of the
table [Lit: ... the table, its back]. Morph:
at=a. Lit: 3F.SG.POSS=SPEC.
athalep angthoes n. cocoa beans.
athalevacha n. 1 cocoa tree.
2 tree sp.; looks like a cocoa tree,
only taller with narrower leaves, and
bears small fruit rather than pods;
good for firewood; eating the ripe
green leaves is good for diarrhoea;
has larger leaves than the auska
species. Pl: athalep.
athalevachi n. cocoa pod. Pl: athalep.
athalevm n. cocoa bean.
Pl: athalevavap.
athalka n. small net bag (bilum). Lukas
k tal ava thalks schama churem.
Lukas is carrying his small net bag
(bilum) with betelnut in it. Pl: athal.
athama pro. her; its. Gram: Third person
singular possessive pronoun and emphatic
possessive pronoun. ... ti mbon d cha-
ma lvopki sanggl athama
chumska. ... they give the woman to
her husband. Morph: at=ma. Lit:
3F.SG.POSS=EMPH.
athanga
athanga pro. some of her; some of its.
Gram: Third person singular possessive
pronoun and non-specific possessive pronoun.
Ngia thu athanga chalasung vuk pa
mbang. You put some of her sweet
potatoes (kaukau) up at the house.
Morph: at=anga. Lit: 3F.SG.POSS= INDEF.
athangacha n. freshwater prawn sp.;
transparent or light brown; fat in
shape and has long hands; up to
10 cm long. Pl: athang.
athangama pro. her; its. Gram: Third
person feminine singular possessive pronoun
and indefinite possessive pronoun. Morph: at
=angama. Lit: 3F.SG.POSS=INDEF.
atharesbana n. promise. Aina thares-
bana ia asik in det sva lat. Their
promise was that they would go to
the garden.
atharesdemga n. contract.
athareska n. contract.
atharespet n. contract.
athavr adj. wide. Variant: aravr.
athavr mt vi-so. be wide. Athavr
mtka nemon'gi. The door is wide.
Variant: aravr mt.
ath pro. some people. Gram: Human plural
indefinite pronoun. Arura ath choiku tha
mn. Some people did not come.
ath her; its.
athchasp n. morning. Ka met sa
thchasp sva lat. He went to the
garden in the morning. Variant:
thchasp.
athektmna n. contract.
athmamberacha n. eel sp.; lives in
sand at the river mouth; up to 20 cm
long; used as bait; has a pointy mouth
that sticks out above the sand.
Pl: athmamber.
athemn thick.
athmga n. poisonous scorpion.
Athmga cha chut ngua thik da ruan.
The scorpion stung my hand and it
hurts. Pl: athm.
athemgi n. taro top; used for
replanting. Chia vt kama athemgi
vtha va lat d sa chia mn. She
planted the taro top at the garden
and it was already growing. Pl: athem.
athepmn adj. thick. Kama thlngm
49
athvngi
taithchm da athepmn ngam. This
book is thick. Variant: athemn.
athpmus n. activities. Ngia ndrm
nchama rutha nave ia Karong athva
thpmus? Do you know about the
activities of the people from Karong?
athv pro. their. Gram: Third person human
plural possessive pronoun. Ti tns ngt
mt athva sgn, mt athv urat d
thi tal ngt save sva mbang. They
put them in their net bags (bilums) or
their baskets and carry them to their
houses.
athva pro. their. Gram: Third person human
plural possessive pronoun and possessive
pronoun and specific article. Ngaiom in dat
nethem kama rura di ini tal athva
guangithong. They both helped the
people and they carried their things.
Morph: athv=a. Lit: 3H.PL.POSS=SPEC.
athvama pro. their. Gram: Third person
human plural possessive pronoun and
emphatic possessive pronoun. Ti svo sa
uthiaik kna, sa athvama achrotki
avaikpik. They would steal their
power, that particular one, from our
grandfather's people. Auk, asik peia
amor ngt sa veia thi tk seng
mngt, da sa chvitha athvama
viam paivang ama sik ta ts ngt.
Well, if they are big when people
work around them, then they are
theirs to eat. Morph: athv=ma. Lit:
3H.PL.POSS=EMPH.
athvanga pro. some of their. Gram:
Third person human plural possessive
pronoun and non-specific possessive pronoun.
Tha met nani athvanga urat ncha-
ma msms sva mbang. They
brought some of their baskets of food
to the house. Morph: athvanga. Lit:
3H.PL.POSS=NSPEC.
athvangama pro. their. Gram: Third
person human plural possessive pronoun and
indefinite possessive pronoun. Morph: athv
=angama. Lit: 3H.PL.POSS=INDEF.
athvatki n. digging stick. Ngua vt
kama chalasung nchama athvatki. I
planted the sweet potato (kaukau)
with a digging stick. Pl: athvat.
athvngi n. song; specifically the
songs used in conjunction with day
dances. Adamga ava thvng ama
athvuiki
devaunguik. The mountain's three
songs. Athvnggi ama naruerki. The
first song. Pl: athvng. Variant:
thvnggi.
athvuiki n. rain cloud. Athvuiki ia vo-
no vtka renggi thvus. Rainclouds
are gathering at the head of the river.
Pl: athvuik. Variant: athewiki.
athvuska n. thousand. Yakop ka tat
kama athvuska met ava thktk mt
kama kampani. Jacob gets one thous-
and (kina) for his job at the company.
Pl: athvus.
athewiki rain cloud.
athibunmachi n. reef fish sp.; light
green with black and yellow mark-
ings on face; is fat; up to 60 cm long.
Pl: athibunma.
athibunuchi n. sea snake sp.; black
and white; long with a small head;
has an aggressive temperament; lives
around reefs. Pl: athibunu.
athikoneng angt nank n. fish sp.;
refers to two different species that
are often found on the reef: one is
black, up to 20 cm long; the other is
light brown, up to 30 cm long; both
have a stinging spike on either side of
their tail and greasy flesh. Pl: athiko-
neng angt nankina. Variant: athiko-
neng angt nankigleng.
athikoneng angt nankigleng fish
sp.
athikonenginggl n. fish sp.; lives on
the reef; yellow and red with black
lengthwise stripes; is up to 20 cm
long; moves fast. Pl: athikoneng.
athilomga n. freshwater prawn sp.;
light brown with large head and large
short hands; up to 5 cm long.
Pl: athilom.
athinm angtha aloikngamgi n.
jellyfish sp.; identified by the many
small red and yellow striped fish that
hide in it. Pl: athinm angtha
aloikngam.
athinm angtha wan'ga n. reef fish
sp.; the spirit mask (tumbuan) of the
fish; multicoloured: red, yellow,
orange, and white, with many fins;
can sting. Pl: athinm angtha wan.
athinmga n. fish; generic term.
50
athoemgi
Choiku ia asvaik pthatha mundu
ma ath mamk koi cha mn sanga
thinm. They were not happy
because their father did not come
back with any fish. Pl: athinm.
athinmgi n. large fish; generic term.
D cha thia ch thk v kama achevs
angtpus, iva ch thonanas sthm
gama athinmgi avaik. And he touch-
ed the top of the spear in order to
jump onto that big fish.
athing n. fibres used for weaving. Kama
thing d thi tp mchama athal
nangt. They weave net bags (bilums)
from fibre.
athingga n. tree sp.; yields fibre. Kama
amngga ama thi tp v chdeng
mchama thing d tha tes ka ia
athingga. The tree that they make
fibre from, its bark is called athingga.
Pl: athing.
athinggiaras n. filthy or smelly place.
Kama luchupka ma veia thi don kama
thlng save da sok athinggiaras
klan. The place where they throw the
rubbish is filthy. Variant: tinggiaras.
athoemga n. 1 child. Athoemga vak
da choiku cha na nari nagl ava
mamkiom. That child does not listen
to his parents.
2 son. Ava thuvski nma ava
oemga ava lugutki. His daughter-in-
law is his sons wife.
3 student. Athoemga vak da ngu
nacha uni sunas. That particular
student and I learn together.
4 assistant. ... dak kama aun'giom
ama operator chn avama athoemga
achk. ... but the other two were the
operators, him and his assistant.
Morph: at=oemka. Lit: 3F.SG.POSS
child-M.SG. Pl: athoes. Variant: thoemga;
=oes; =emga; =oemga.
athoemga n. mound in a dancing
ground. Mndas ng tain namt kama
thoemga. The Mndas dance around
the mound. Note: no plural.
athoemgi n. daughter; female student;
female assistant. Gu chlucha cha
thk tichim ngo ma cha mes
nguaemgi vtha ngo. My brother-in-
law avoids me by calling me by my
daughters name. Morph: at=oemki.
athoemini
Lit: 3F.SG.POSS=child-F.SG. Variant: =
emgi.
athoemini n. baby. Coluba athoemini
ngthi thir da amr ngini angt airir.
Colubas baby grows fast and her
growth is good. Levopmasok da at
sarubem nchama thoemini dak as
ngini ngave vt kuvt. Levopmasok's
belly has a baby in it.
athoes pthacha n. man with children.
Solomon d chama athoes pthacha
d sei cha mt alugut sei. Solomon is
a man with children and he got married
again. Pl: athoes pthatha.
athoes pthachi n. woman with
children.
athoi interj. Ow!; exclamation of pain.
athom those two small ones. Usage:
Karong dialect.
athondmka law; rule.
athong those small things. Usage: Abilta
dialect.
athongga n. fruit sp.; must be cooked
before it is eaten. Da'ut ts kama
thong, ut ts kama galp ma
limbung. And we ate the thong, we ate
the nuts of the wild palm. Pl: athong.
athonggi n. 1 tree sp.; bears an
edible fruit. Athonggi dai chama
amnggi ma chi nva bil da ut ts
toes da amr mt ngt. The athonggi
species is a coastal tree and we eat its
fruit.
2 river crab sp.; brown; up to 5 cm
in diameter; flat feet for paddling.
Pl: athong.
athopthacha n. reef fish sp.; patchy
green and brown camouflage
colours; up to 1 m long; has a large
mouth; lives in holes in the reef;
another variety from the deep sea is
red. Pl: athopt.
athopki n. 1 cut; sore. Gua thopki chi
tnes. My cut hurts [Lit: is biting].
Athopki chia ingip. The sore is healed
[Lit: it died].
2 ulcer. Pl: athop.
athuares adj. young person. Alvop
taithathe da athuares klan. These
women are only young.
athucha n. hermit crab; generic term;
also used for small land-dwelling
51
aulmangachi
hermit crabs with bodies up to 4 cm
in diameter; changes shells. Kama
athucha d cha tet nva thng. The
hermit crab walks backwards. Pl: athu.
athunepki n. drum (small garamut);
sits on the ground and is hit with the
end of a stick held upright in a
womans hands. Thunepki avaik da
mndu nachi. That drum (small
garamut) is from (the time) before.
Pl: athunap. Variant: thunepki.
au oh; well; um; expression of surprise
or hesitation.
auathkam n. loop; eyelet. Kama
rucha cha rut nchama sangauchi
atha ses mt kama uathkvam. The
man put the rope of the net through the
loop. Pl: auathk.
auk interj. well. Auk, nge ngiet. Well,
you, you go.
aulan'gi n. python; snake; generic
term. Aulan'gi chia vais kama
vaimini. The python crushed the small
dog. Pl: aulan.
aulan'gi ama blbualki n. snake sp.;
black, long, and flat like a belt; does
not run away when approached.
Pl: aulan ama blbual.
aulan'gi ama vonbon'gi n. snake sp.;
silvery colour; edible. Pl: Aulan ama
vonbon.
aulmang tree sp.; native orange.
aulvkmtka coward; good
humoured man; reasonable man.
aulvkmtki coward; good humoured
woman; reasonable woman.
aulvk tm feel cold.
auligalka Sulka man. Ut tes kama
Sulkachna ia Auligal. We call the
Sulkas the Auligal. Pl: auligalta.
auligalka n. odd one out. Duraik ama
ailotka nangt, dak kusek kama pa-
tocha ama sgk. Patocha avakpik
d auligalka nacha. There are one
hundred chickens altogether, but only
one duck. It is the odd one out.
Pl: auligal.
auligalki n. Sulka woman.
aulmangachi n. native orange; refers
to both the tree and the fruit.
Ulmang da amr mt ngt. Native
oranges taste good. Pl: aulmang.
aulul
Variant: aulmang; ulmangachi.
aulul adj. long. Ais aulul save ia
Rabaul. The road to Rabaul is long.
Variant: ulul.
auluvk adj. cold. Via nbangang da
auluvk. It is cold at night.
auluvk mt vi-so. be timid; be
cowardly; be afraid. Kama chumsta
avath ama auluvk mtta. Some
men are afraid.
auluvkmtka n. 1 coward. Aulu-
vkmtka ura? Are you a coward?
2 good humoured man; reasonable
man. Pl: aulvkmtta. Variant: aul-
vkmtka.
auluvkmtki n. 1 female coward.
2 good humoured woman; reasona-
ble woman. Norberta da chama au-
luvkmtki. Norberta is a good hum-
oured woman. Variant: aulvkmtki.
auluvk tm vi-so. feel cold. Usage: Only
refers to a thing or another person.
Ngia thon sva bang, asik kule d
aulvk tmnge. Go inside the house
or you will (start to) feel cold. Variant:
aulvk tm.
aumga n. lobster sp.; brown with a
spiky back; up to 30 cm long. Pl: aum.
aun pro. our two. Gram: First person dual
possessive pronoun. Mliar ka chuar
nma charuvaik ia, Thik da ngu
slamen dm da unmo uni vt aun
bs sna vt kama chthopka ithak-
tik. The small parrot said to the
earlybird, I will count now and we will
both dive our heads under, into this
pool at the same time.
auna pro. us two, our. Gram: Possessive
pronoun and specific article. Auna matvk
tha met sva lat. Us two, our siblings
went to the garden. Morph: aun=a. Lit:
1DL.POSS=EMPH.
aunama pro. us two, our. Gram: First
person dual possessive pronoun and emphatic
possessive pronoun.
aunanga pro. us two, some of our. Gram:
First person dual possessive pronoun and non-
specific possessive pronoun. Un donel
nani aunanga urn. We hunt for some
(of our) prawns. Morph: aun=anga. Lit:
1DL.POSS= NSPEC.
aunangama pro. us two, our. Gram: First
52
aunuchi
person dual possessive pronoun and indefinite
possessive pronoun. Morph: aun=angama.
Lit: 1DL.POSS=INDEF.
aunbam num. two short ones. Gram:
Reduced dual. Barth ava thlngvam
ma aunbam. Bart has two books. Ngo
da gu ladmbam ma aunbam in be. I
have got two cut sticks.
aunbem num. two. Gram: Feminine dual.
Lams de tha mt aunbem nave.
Coconuts, they got two from there.
Variant: unbem.
aunbes n. evening. Veia sa unbes sa
cha mn nva lat. In the evening he
arrived from the garden. Variant: unbes.
aunbethachi n. freshwater fish sp.;
lives in large rivers; black spot on
each side of its belly and tail; tail is
yellowish; up to 1 m long; good
eating fish. Morph: a=unptki. Lit:
SPEC= dark-at-F.SG. Pl: aunbet.
aundenm num. two large ones. Gram:
Extended dual. Amnginm ma
aundenm nani ma Marcus. Those
two tall trees are for Marcus.
aundisem num. two long ones. Gram:
Long dual. Amngisem ma aundisem.
Two long poles.
aundom num. two small ones. Gram:
Diminutive dual. Athoemithom ma
aundom. Two small children. Variant:
undom.
aunes n. twilight. Usage: Abilta dialect.
Askok aunes, das uthi lotu np
bangang... (While it was) still dark, we
prayed at night... See: bngangbes
twilight.
aunia n. darkness; especially darkness
when there should be daylight, e.g.
during an eclipse or because of
volcano smoke. Kama aunia vt
kama aurki mo. Darkness was all over
the bush. Variant: unes (Abilta dialect).
aunmlm num. two flat ones. Gram: Flat
dual. Ngiat aunmlm dak kule
tlng chngt ve. You get two but
leave some leaves there. Variant: un-
mlm.
aunuchi n. female genitals; vulva;
vagina; a woman's private parts in
general. Kama lvopki atha unuchi
chia ve ia munggurup atha snaing.
A womans private parts are in between
aun'gi
her thighs. Pl: auna.
aun'gi n. 1 darkness. Ambangga ama
un'gi vmga. The house is dark inside
[Lit: darkness in it].
2 shade; shadow. Asika achernas
tmnge nmt kama chunngga da
ngia thon sk ama amnggi atha
aun'gi. If you are hot from the sun
then go and sit in the shade of a tree.
Pl: aun. Variant: un'gi. See: ayauski
shadow.
aun'giom num. two. Gram: Masculine dual
and count neutral dual. Aruiom ma
aun'giom ini tk pa lat. The two men
worked in the garden. Variant: un'giom.
aung dem. 1 someone; something.
Gram: Masculine singular indefinite demon-
strative. Areng ama chrot da mamr
ia ngthi vlng aung. Alcohol can
really kill somebody.
2 anyone; anything. Gram: Masculine
singular indefinite demonstrative. Askoiku
aung glan biavik. There was not
anything like that.
aung gue interrog. which one. Gram:
Masculine singular indefinite pronoun.
Nguat aung gue nvt ngaiom?
Which of the two will I get?
aungguik dem. 1 someone; some-
thing. Gram: Feminine singular indefinite
demonstrative.
2 anyone; anything. Gram: Feminine
singular indefinite demonstrative. Askoiku
aungguik glan biavik. There was
not anyone like that.
aungguik kue interrog. which one.
Gram: Feminine singular indefinite pronoun.
Nguat aungguik kue nvt kama
urat taithang? Which one will I take
from these baskets?
aunglem num. two pieces. Gram: Excised
dual. Chia thap mt ka digl ma
aunglem di chia matmet ngiglem.
She cut the taro in two and she shared
it.
aupia valley.
aupka n. valley floor. Kama areng
ngthi sp mchama up mugurup
kama gali. The rivers make valleys
between the ridges. Pl: aup.
aur adj. wild. Vlam avang dama aur.
Those are wild pigs. See: aurki bush.
53
autha
aurachi n. witch. Urachi da anguanggi
nchama rura. A witch is bad for
people. Cha mat malangeik ia chama
auravek ng ve mt kama arenggi.
He believed that the witches were in
the water. Pl: auravek. Variant: urachi.
See: rndamgi witch.
auravu n. native spinach (aibika). Usage:
This word is newer than aichil. Chi
thik tchama auravu. She will pick
the native spinach (aibika). See: aichil
native spinach (aibika).
auravucha n. native spinach (aibika)
top that is used for cooking.
auravuchi n. native spinach (aibika).
auravuves n. native spinach (aibika)
leaf.
aurigl n. bush side of the road, a less
pleasant place to stand.
aurithong n. bushes. Sa chule sa ma
Bernard ka ve ch kut na dak k kir
kama aurithong. So then Bernard
started to come down and he cleared
away the bushes.
aurka n. bush man. Ngu monel vaur d
ngua mn vt kama rucha ama urka
da kosa cha munggunango. I hunted
in the bush and I found a person who
was a bush man and he just chased me.
Pl: aurta.
aurki n. bush woman.
aurki n. bush. Uthet pa ur nani viam.
We will go to the bush for galip nuts
(Canarium indicums). Pl: aur. Variant:
ur; urki.
auska n. tree sp.; similar to the cocoa
tree and the athalevacha sp.; much
taller than a cocoa tree; bears small
fruit but has smaller leaves than the
athalevacha species.
aus kopra n. copra shed; hut used to
dry coconut and store copra. Kama
bek schama kopra ng vuk vm
kama aus kopra. The bags of copra
are up in the copra shed. Variant: us
kopra. From: Tok Pisin: haus kopra.
aut pro. our. Gram: First person plural poss-
essive pronoun. Aut kngt ng vuk va
vt. Our belongings are in the house.
autha pro. our. Gram: First person plural
possessive pronoun and possessive pronoun
and specific article. Ut mu autha gua-
authama
ngithong vt arenggi atham d ut
met uthi tor. We put our things on the
riverbank and we went to wash. Morph:
aut=a. Lit: 1PL.POSS=SPEC.
authama pro. our. Gram: First person plural
possessive pronoun and emphatic possessive
pronoun. Sa chule sa kule ut
machlak pe va chama chunngga
ch chrark authama mbaul. Then
we stayed for a short time so the sun
would dry our clothes. Morph: aut=ma.
Lit: 1PL.POSS=EMPH.
authanga pro. some of our. Gram: First
person plural possessive pronoun and non-
specific possessive pronoun. Mt kama
Krismas ka ava monel da sik utht
save ia Mangliming nani authanga
mspthithong. During the Christmas
holidays we went to Mangliming for
our special foods. Morph: aut=anga. Lit:
1PL.POSS=NSPEC.
authangama pro. our. Gram: First person
plural possessive pronoun and indefinite
possessive pronoun. Morph: aut=angama.
Lit: 1PL.POSS=INDEF.
auvrngachi n. fog. Avrngachi
chia vng pthaut da choiku ut
naingim snggel aulul. The fog
covered us and we could not see far.
Pl: auvrang. Variant: avrngachi.
auvia n. valley. Ava lat ng mano mt
kama auvia d sok ng ndn
mamr. His garden is down in the
valley and it is really growing well.
Pl: auvink. Variant: aupia.
av pro. his; its. Gram: Third person masculine
singular possessive pronoun. Thi kuares ia
av vlemgi d chia tes kama rura a-
thva lat. They said that his pig ate the
peoples garden. Variant: av; p; v; u.
ava pro. his; its. Gram: Third person mascu-
line singular possessive pronoun and possess-
ive pronoun and specific article. Angmbs
navama sen'gi nave nva mbang.
His knife is missing from his house.
Morph: av=a. Lit: 3M.SG.POSS=SPEC.
Variant: va; a (Abilta dialect).
avaik dem. that one. Gram: Feminine
singular distal demonstrative. Uratki avaik
ba ngo. (Bring) that basket to me.
Variant: vaik; avchit (Abilta dialect).
avak dem. that one. Gram: Masculine
singular distal demonstrative. Arucha avak
54
avarka
de ch swo. That man steals. Variant:
vak; pak.
avam shore; beach; riverbank; front.
avam n. point; e.g. a point of land or the
end of a stick. Ngua lu chama ba-
nglka muk pa gars pe d chama
mlka vam. I saw the shark down at
the beach at the end of the island.
Morph: avam. Lit: 3M.SG.POSS-mouth.
avama pro. his; its. Gram: Third person
masculine singular possessive pronoun and
emphatic possessive pronoun. Asecha vak
da chusek dng nacha avi svt ka-
ma ambrasocha chn avama arua-
vek ng mo... That is the end of the
story about the eagle and all his
friends... Achultngga d chama
changanga avama changgat ma
ngthik klan kama kaivovo. The
achultngga species grows on high
ridges, its stem and leaves are like the
kaivovo species. Morph: av=ma. Lit:
3M.SG.POSS=EMPH.
avan'ga name of dancer; masked
dancer, dressed in yellow leaves from
the victory leaf plant, who carries
beating sticks and punishes children.
avang dem. 1 that one; those ones.
Gram: Count neutral distal demonstrative.
Kulel kama baul avang dak vang ia.
Not those pieces of material (laplaps),
but the other ones.
2 those flat ones. Gram: Flat plural
distal demonstrative. Pelet avang ina-
muk. (Bring) those plates here. Variant:
vang; pang.
avanga pro. some of his; some of its.
Gram: Third person masculine singular
possessive pronoun and non-specific
possessive pronoun. Kave chaet sva ur
diva ka thonel nani avanga slik. He
is going to the bush to hunt for some
meat. Morph: av=anga. Lit: 3M.SG.POSS=
NSPEC.
avangama pro. his; its. Gram: Third person
masculine singular possessive pronoun and
indefinite possessive pronoun. Kave chaet
sva ur diva ka thonel nani avanga
slik. He is going to the bush to hunt
for some meat. Morph: av=angama. Lit:
3M.SG.POSS=INDEF.
avarka n. tree sp.; grows close to the
beach; branches bend down; has
avath
yellow flowers and useful fibres. Ti
pais mni chama ngmng ncha-
ma avar angt tngam. They tie the
firewood with the fibre of the avar
species. Pl: avar.
avath dem. those people. Gram: Human
plural distal demonstrative. Lvopta
avath nani thlng. Those ladies
(are coming) for leaves. Kama
chumsta avath ama auluvk
mtta. Some men are afraid. Variant:
vath.
av his; its.
avcham that short one.
avchm dem. that short one. Gram:
Reduced singular distal demonstrative.
Athoembm avchm dai ais ngam.
That small boy is wet. Thlngm
avchm ba ngo. (Bring) those books
to me. Variant: vchm; vcham; av-
cham.
avechenbechen'ga n. saltwater eel
sp.; very long and thin (only 1 or 2 cm
across); has brown spots. Pl: avechen-
bechen.
avchs dem. that flat one. Gram: Flat
singular distal demonstrative. Kama pepa-
vs avchs da ais ngas. That paper
is wet. Variant: vchs.
avchit that one. Usage: Abilta dialect.
avchit dem. that large one. Gram: Ex-
tended singular distal demonstrative. Am-
ngia avchit ba ngo iva ngu thal
ngiat sva bang. Bring that tall tree to
me so that I can carry it home. Variant:
vchit.
avgl dem. that piece. Gram: Excised
singular distal demonstrative. Amngigl
avgl da aululigl. That plank is long.
Variant: vgl.
avglem dem. those two pieces. Gram:
Excised dual distal demonstrative. Ka-
paiglem avglem da ameru
ngiglem. Those two sheets of corru-
gated iron are old. Variant: vglem.
avglng dem. those pieces. Gram:
Excised plural distal demonstrative.
Palangiglng avglng d brown; has a large shell; up to 20 cm
angembes ia asrtik. Those planks
are not straight. Variant: vglng.
avink dem. those large things. Gram:
Extended plural distal demonstrative. Thi tal
55
avngbngga
chama schulink avink nani
chama mbang. They carried the tall
posts for the house. Variant: venk.
avinm dem. those two large ones.
Gram: Extended dual distal demonstrative.
Kama mnginm avinm de nani
chama vutka. Those two tall trees
are for the house. Variant: venm.
avmlk dem. those flat things. Gram:
Flat plural distal demonstrative. Lamoni-
mlk avmlk da morinmlk.
Those waves are huge. Variant:
vmlk.
avmlm dem. those two flat ones.
Gram: Flat dual distal demonstrative. Pepai-
mlm avmlm d nani chama
secha. Those two papers are for the
story. Variant: vmlm.
avmgi n. end. Ngua thpms d cha-
ma mngga ava vmgi. I sharpened
the end of the stick. Morph: avamgi.
Lit: 3M.SG.POSS-mouth-F.SG. Pl: avm.
avni dem. that small one. Gram: Diminu-
tive singular distal demonstrative. Ngia et
avi nk aisini avni. You walk along
this small track. Variant: veni.
aveningga n. freshwater prawn sp.;
light brown with flat twisted hands.
Pl: avenaing.
avnmetna n. joints. Venansius da
aruan ava vn mtha d angmbs
mamr ia chna murik tmngt.
Venansius had pain in his joints and
could not stretch. Note: no endings.
aven'gi n. grave. Sa cha thechem
nmthava ingipki ava ven'gi a
dungdunggi chlan. He arose from
his death so the grave is empty.
Pl: aven.
avn'gi n. mound; e.g. the mound of an
earth oven (mumu) or the mound of a
grave. Ngua mu avithm sa ngua sot
d ngua veng vt kama vn'gi. I
made an earth oven (mumu) then I
finished and I covered the mound of the
earth oven (mumu). Pl: avn.
avngbeladiachi n. river crab sp.;
in diameter; lives in mud at the
mouth of rivers. Pl: avngbelade.
avngbngga n. envelope. Cha mt
ava vngbngga milani. He got his
envelope yesterday. Pl: avngbng.
avram
Variant: vngbngga.
avram garden plot.
avrngachi fog.
avsvs adj. associated with cooking.
Tangamga ama vsvska. A cooking
banana.
avsvs n. cooking. Ngn ma lvop s-
chama vsvs da ngni ps mamr.
You ladies who are doing the cooking
should cook well.
avsvesini n. 1 magic spell; curse.
Chule sa chama rura tha narimanas
nania cha sava vsves. Then the
people were listening for him with his
magic words.
2 charm; an object that carries
magical power. Variant: vsves.
avsvsvmki n. kitchen; cooking hut.
Mamk k ps kama msms vm
kama avsvsvmki. Dad is cooking
food in the cooking hut (haus kuk).
Pl: avsvsvm. See: ambangga ma thi
ps vmga kitchen.
avthapki n. axe. Kave ch mnaing
mthava vthapki. He is sharpening
his axe. Pl: avthap. Variant: vthapki.
See: thepka (Abilta dialect) axe.
avthepka ma lachengga n. hatchet.
Baltasar k tal avama vthepka ma
lachengga va chaet ka thp ma lat.
Baltasar carried his hatchet in order to
go and make a garden. Pl: avthap ama
lacheng.
avthom dem. those two small ones.
Gram: Diminutive dual distal demonstrative.
Chammga vt k vaimithom av-
thom. (There are) scabies on those two
puppies. Variant: vethom; athom
(Karong dialect).
avthong dem. those small things. Gram:
Diminutive plural distal demonstrative.
Guauk kia mr kama adithong av-
thong tiaithik. Grandmother pulled
out those particular taros. Variant:
vthong; athong (Abilta dialect).
avthong those particular small things.
avvam dem. those two short ones.
Gram: Reduced dual distal demonstrative.
Kama vaimbam avvam da achabap
ngavam. Those two dogs are white.
Ngiat kama vlmga ava snaingbam
avvam. You get that pig (by) his two
56
avirsithamngga
legs. Variant: vvam.
avvap dem. those short things. Gram:
Reduced plural distal demonstrative.
Athoembap avvap da ngavap navea
Merai. Those boys are from Merai.
Tlngvap avvap sok aguang avap.
Those short leaves are really bad.
Variant: vvap.
avvem dem. those two. Gram: Feminine
dual distal demonstrative. Mamiapvm
avvem da mor ngavem. Those two
pawpaws are really big. Variant: vvem.
avvs dem. that flat one. Gram: Flat
singular distal demonstrative. Tlngbs
avvs da airiar ngas. That leaf is
green. Variant: vvs. See: avchs that
flat one.
avvet dem. that long one. Gram: Long
singular distal demonstrative. Tha met vt
aisvet avvet sva lat. They went
along that road to the garden. Variant:
vvet.
avi dem. there. Gram: Count neutral distal
demonstrative. Ngia et avi nk aisini
avni. You go there along that small
track. Variant: vi.
avik dem. like that. Gram: Adverbial distal
demonstrative. Ngi ser klan avik. You
weave like that. Variant: vik.
avilucha n. snake sp.; grey, long and
thin; moves fast; eats eggs. Pl: avilu.
avinos vi-so. 1 play around. Kule ma
avinos nge avi mt kama
athchnmu. Do not play around
there in the sacred place.
2 vandalise. See: vinos destruction.
avingbingda n. Bainings. Tha tes ut ut
mo ia Vingbingda ura? They call us
Vingbingda don't they? See: vingbing-
bap Bainings.
avingnaska n. corner. Aiski chi mbang
d chia vang vt kama vaimga mt
kama vingnaska. The car was trav-
elling along and it ran over a dog at the
corner (of the road). Pl: avingnas.
aviom dem. those two. Gram: Masculine
dual distal demonstrative. Kuremiom
aviom inamuk. (Give me) those two
betelnut over there. Variant: viom.
avirsithamngga n. grasshopper sp.;
dark green; has a flat belly; lies flat
and straight against a tree back and
aviringgi
is well camouflaged.
Pl: avirsithamng.
aviringgi n. apron. Lvopkta tha tain
d chikachik kia thk atha viringgi.
The women dance and each one wears
her apron. Pl: aviraing.
avirki n. flat club; is like a cricket bat
but the handle is a bit longer. Acirki
da thi plng nachi. The flat club is
used for killing people. Pl: avir. See:
sapka rounded club.
avisaigl n. fish sp.; lives on the reef;
light brown colour; up to 20 cm long;
good meat; can sting with its fins.
Pl: avisa.
avisem dem. those two long ones. Gram:
Long dual distal demonstrative. Amngi-
sem avisem ba ngo. (Bring) those two
long poles to me. Variant: visem.
aviseng dem. those long things. Gram:
Long plural distal demonstrative.
Amngiseng aviseng saglem ngo.
(Bring) those two long poles close to
me. Variant: vseng.
avithm n. earth oven (mumu). Cha tar
tm chama avithm. He is
uncovering the earth oven (mumu). See:
achuithm earth oven (mumu).
avithingga n. freshwater eel sp.; flat
with yellow and black spots and a
small mouth.
aviui dir. up there. Markus kna tha
mt aviui. Markus and others went up
there (that way).
avivik dem. right there. Gram: Count
neutral emphatic distal demonstrative. Dak
ka lagun'ga vak pik dinasa cha
mun avivik piavik. And that
decorative plant, it really grew right
there like that. Variant: vivik.
avivui dir. up there. Da avivui viavik d
munggurup ma Warangoi chin ma
Menima. Up that way, in the middle
(of) Warangoi and Menima.
avlamgi n. lizard sp.; green head and
brown tail; lives in trees. Pl: avlam.
avlika n. sling. Guauk kia drm chi tp
mchama vlika. My grandmother
knows how to make a sling. David ka
thu ma Goliath avski n cha ma
dulchi nmt ka ma vlika. David shot
Goliaths head with a stone from a
57
avu
sling. Pl: avlaik. Note: only v.
avolacha n. leaf shoot. Lamschi atha
volacha ma aulul cha. The coconut
palm's new shoots are long. Pl: avol.
avolam n. rainy season. Mt kama
volam d ichum mt areng d
garski chi don chama amng. In
the rainy season the river floods and
the sea brings in wood.
avonbon'gi n. offering; payment. Da ut
tu avonbon'gi vthacha. And we
bring offerings to him. Uthi bon da
utha vonbon'gi sagl aut mamk ma
Deo. We give our offering to Father
God. Pl: avonbon. Variant: vonbon'gi.
avongavongacha n. orange and black
wasp. Avongavongacha ch tp m
ava vuet nchama ivtki ama
chlachi. The orange and black wasp
makes its house with soft earth.
Pl: avongavong.
avrachi n. section. Ka mu avar vt ava
ma nunggulia diva choki anot
angth varachi, kalasung angtha
vravap. He subdivided his garden into
sections to plant taro and sweet
potatoes (kaukau). Pl: avar. See: varka
boundary.
avrait n. long section.
avram n. garden plot; specifically a plot
within a larger section of garden that
has been assigned to a particular
person; the section is divided into
plots for different crops. Ngi von ngo
nanga vram diva ngu vt gu
chalasung. You give me a plot so I can
plant my sweet potato (kaukau). Ngua
vt kama chalasung vt kama avram
pe vt gua lat. I planted sweet potato
(kaukau) in my plot in my garden.
Pl: avar. Pl: avravap. Variant: avram.
avras adj. flat. Tevolki da avraski. The
table is flat. Duligel ama vras igl.
The stone is flat.
avrin'gi n. bamboo drum. Ngiat kama
vrin'gi bango. You get the bamboo
drum for me. Pl: avrin.
avu adj. bad or sinful person. Avu ut
duthi ndlen snas. We are sinful and
we must have fear (of God) in us.
avu n. sin. Kule ma ngi sep mchama
avu. Do not commit [Lit: make] sin.
Note: no endings.
avucha
avucha n. bad man. Mir avutha nama
rura. Long ago there were bad people
around. [Lit: Long ago bad people with
people.] Pl: avutha.
avuchi n. bad woman.
avulikpthachi n. gecko sp.; grey; up
to 10 cm long. Kama vulikpthachi
da achlak at kdengga. The gecko
has soft skin. Pl: avulikpet. Variant: vlik-
pthachi.
avunathepki n. fruit bat sp.; small.
Avunathepki chia ts kama vival.
The fruit bat eats mangoes. Pl: avuna-
thep.
avun'gi n. turtle. Ka lu chama vun'gi
atha iska mni chama chun'gi. He
saw a turtles track across the sand.
Pl: avun. Variant: vun'ga (Abilta dialect).
avuretki n. scar. Johanes ka thap
mchama vuretki ama morki mni
ava snaingini. Johanes has [Lit:
carved] a big scar in his thigh.
Pl: avuret. Variant: awret.
avusdingdchengarki n. freshwater
eel sp.; grey and up to 80 cm long;
lives in large rivers. Pl: avusding-
dchengar.
avuthchi n. bundle of firewood.
Lvopki chi tal atha vuthchi vatha
thng. The woman carried her bundle
of firewood on her back. Pl: avuthch.
Variant: vuthchi.
awal n. track; specifically the direction
of the undergrowth, like grasses,
which shows the direction a person
has gone. Uthon d cha wal nasot
kama asvo cha d ut vn mcha. We
followed the track of the thief and we
belted him.
awalngga n. wave; ripple. Uthi bang
mt kama botki da atha ma awa-
lngga cha np nchama kanucha.
We travelled in the boat and its wave
tipped the canoe over. Pl: awalng.
awalengiglem n. name of a pair of
Mndas masks; shield-shaped, flat,
and elongated; carried on a stick;
long edges on the bottom and top;
58
ayauski
designs on both sides. Pl:
awalengigleng.
awan'ga n. name of dancer; masked
dancer, dressed in yellow leaves from
the victory leaf plant, who carries
beating sticks and punishes children.
Kama awan'ga cha tain sava mambl.
The dancer dances with his sticks.
Chumsta thi nunguik vt chama
van. The men shout at the spirit masks
(tumbuans). Pl: awan. Variant: van;
avan'ga.
awithinggi n. ringworm; tinea that
appears as white spots on the skin.
Ngua mu chama awithaing angt
marasin mt kama awithinggi mni
ga sarumgi. I applied the tinea lotion
to the tinea on my belly. Pl: awithaing.
awlecha grandson; granddaughter.
awret scar.
ayachun'gi n. 1 moon. Vea yachun'gi
chia ndn d saeng nthi sep. When
the moon comes, the rain falls.
2 month. Kama yachun'gi ma
milatka vuauk d sok saeng mamor.
There is a lot of rain in the month of
August. Pl: ayachun.
ayar adj. alive; living. Du ut tes aut
mambuves i Jesus ama yarka. And
we sing for Jesus who is alive.
ayare n. saliva. Arm ngo d chama
yare ng dm. I am sick and my saliva
is sour.
ayaungem n. tree tips; the ends of the
branches where the leaves are. Kama
ayaungem ng sp nkama mngga
uvs. The leaf ends of the branches fell
from the top of the tree. Pl: ayaungbap.
Variant: aiyaungem.
ayauska n. spirit. Kama yauska ark-
tmka cha tu aerki vm ut. The Holy
Spirit gives us light. Pl: ayaus.
ayauski n. shadow. Mamr ia ngi tlu
gia yauski vea ngua mair mt kama
chunngga. You can see your shadow
if you stand in the sun. Pl: ayaus. See:
ailachi shadow.
 B -
ba at; on; over.
bachvang that particular one; those
particular ones; those particular flat
ones.
baiapka n. bush frog sp.; small and
brown. Usage: An alternate name for
baiavini. Pl: baiap.
baiavini n. frog sp. Usage: An alternate
name for baiapka.
baingdaurimanipka n. lizard sp.;
small and grey; up to 8 cm long.
Pl: baingdaurimanip.
baketki n. bucket. Baul ng muk mt
k baketki. The clothes are in the
bucket. Pl: baket. From: English, Tok
Pisin: bucket, baket.
baler n. 1 piece of wood. Ngu tal
kama mng angt baler. You carry
the pieces of wood.
2 piece of taro. Du chule d k
tchasp namano d cha ts kama
balerini chni. Then he took off very
early from the beach and he ate a
piece of taro. Variant: balerini.
balerbaler n. bits and pieces; espec-
ially of wood. Balerbaler tchep na-
ngt dagung nani chama mun-
dam. It is full of bits and pieces for the
fire.
balerini piece of wood; piece of taro.
balska n. tree sp.; large tree with soft
wood. Balska da amr ka diva tha
dnachi schama mundam. The ba-
lska species is good for them to start
fires with. Pl: bals.
bal t knock over.
bal tm vt. knock over. Laurka cha bal
tchama lamsink ama duguank.
The wind knocked over three coconut
palms. Variant: val tm; bal t; val t.
bana dir. among themselves. Ta mat-
mt kama thangam bana. They
shared the bananas among them-
selves.
banamathipes n. kitchen.
banas dir. for oneself. Chok ma chi ps
banas iva chia ts. She just cooked
for herself so she could eat.
59
b
baniska n. bandage. Ta chethik mt
gia thopki nchama baniska. They
bound your cut with a bandage.
Pl: banis. From: English, Tok Pisin:
bandage, banis.
bang sa-vi. 1 run; move quickly.
Usage: Refers to any kind of fast
movement. Kule ma ngi bang! Dont
run! D chama rutha tha vang
bthana. And the people ran every-
where. Kar ngthi bang mamor
nchama iska ma kolta vthacha.
Cars travel fast on roads that have
creosote on them. Da sik koiku ngn
na bang taith mono marik. And
you must not fly across in a straight
line. Kama luln'gi chi bang ma sok
set klan. The boat is very fast.
2 come. Ngi bang! Come here!
Variant: vang; pang; mbang.
bangangbes n. twilight; refers to low
light at either dusk or dawn. Ut tet
smni arenggi via sa bngangbes.
We went to the river at twilight.
Variant: bngangbes. See: aunes
(Karong dialect) twilight.
banganggi n. night. Amr banganggi.
Good night. (Greeting used from ap-
proximately 6 pm.) Seng bangang.
Good afternoon. (Used from roughly 2
pm to 6 pm.) Ngua tet inavuk dchi
ns ia amr banganggi svtha
ngo. I walk down and she calls out
good night to me. Petrus ka ingip
nchama banganggi. Petrus died
during the night. Pl: bangang. Variant:
bnganggi.
bangangini n. fish sp.; lives on the
reef; black in colour; up to 4 cm
long; has scales. Pl: bangang.
bang bt vt. take without permission.
Kule ma ngi bang bthango sugu-
viam. Do not try and take any more of
my galip nuts (Canarium indicum).
Variant: vang bt.
bangbinem wanderings.
bang binem sa-vi. roam; wander. Ngu
ngua roacha uni bang binem ivit
vtha garski atham. My friend and
I wandered along the beach. Variant:
banglka
vang binem.
banglka n. shark. Kama banglka
cha ms kama thinmgi. The shark
ate the big fish. Pl: bangl.
bangem village.
bangga house.
bangga ma thi ps vmga cook;
kitchen.
banggruanggi n. 1 pot; saucepan.
Tchp kama banggruanggi ncha-
ma renggi. The pot is full of water.
Ngi thor n chama renggi smt
kama banggruanggi. You pour the
water into the saucepan.
2 wooden bowl. Pl: banggruang.
bang pt vi-so. remember. Bang ptha
ngo n guama sen'gi ma ngua met
nmtki va lat. I remembered my
knife which I had left at the garden.
Note: only b.
bang vt vt. run over. Aiski chi mbang
d chia vang vt kama vaimga mt
kama vingnaska. The car was
running and it ran over a dog at the
corner (of the road). Variant: vang vt.
bar cook in an earth oven (mumu).
barathigl n. mushroom sp.; white and
inedible; grows into a semi-circular
shape; is found on trees. Pl: barat.
basiochi n. crocodile. Sa uni vang
nmt kama basiochi. Let's run
away from the crocodile. Pl: basio. See:
yamechi crocodile.
basiremgi n. wasp sp.; greenish colour;
makes a hole in the ground where it
lays eggs and buries caterpillars.
Pl: basirem.
basis n. passage between reef. Botki
chi par mano via basis. The boat
reached the passage (between the
reef). From: English, Tok Pisin: passage,
pasis.
baski n. barge. Kama baski chia ma-
thaut save ma Spalengan gel kama
Sulkachna. The barge took us to
Spalengan where the Sulkas are.
Pl: bas.
bathm along; according to; for.
bathm mes do by choice; do accord-
ing to ones own wishes; do un-
hurriedly; do in ones own time; act
60
bk pt
independently.
bathm na alongside; side by side;
with each other; for each other;
parallel.
baul n. clothes. Ngi thor gi baul
sathemk. You wash your clothes
further down there (along the river).
Sa chule sa kule ut machlak pe va
chama chunngga ch chrark
authama mbaul. Then we stayed for
a short time so the sun would dry our
clothes. Variant: mbaul.
baulcha snguvs n. snake sp.;
poisonous; black with a coloured
band around its neck; its head
breaks off if it bites you. Pl: baulcha
sngangtps.
baulgi n. wraparound skirt (laplap);
sarong; strip of cloth. Gi baulgi ama
chabapki. Your cloth (laplap) is white.
Pl: baul. Variant: mbaulgi.
baulvs n. flag. Kamam baulvs ng-
thit nam dchama nngga uvs.
The flag flew at the top of the tree.
Pl: baul.
baulvs angtha mngga n. flag-
pole. Baulvs angtha mngga ma
srtika. The flagpole is straight.
Pl: baul angtha mng.
baurka n. trap. Kotu cha mu ava
baurka d cha vlng vlmga chk.
Kotu set up his trap and he killed a
pig. Pl: baur. See: secha (Abilta dialect)
trap.
bavchm those particular short
things.
bavthong those particular small
things.
bavvem those particular two.
baviom those particular two.
be there.
bechi n. bag; sack. Kama bek skama
kopra ng vuk vm kama aus
kopra. The bags of copra are up in the
copra hut (haus kopra). Pl: bek. From:
English, Tok Pisin: bag, bek.
beia when.
bk pt vt. hatch. Duraiki chia bk pt
da thoes. Ngmo ng ngip dak n-
vt kama aduguathong. The chicken
hatched her chicks. They all died
except three. Variant: vk pt.
bk tm
bk tm break.
belka n. bell. Nma ng bn kama
belka? Who rang the bell? Pl: bel.
From: English, Tok Pisin: bell, belo.
bem in.
bm in.
bn vt. ring a bell. Kama sunasvmga
cha vn kama belcha. The teacher
rang the bell. Variant: vn; mbn.
ben vt. bend. Uthi mben aut kuam
svtha nge. We bow [Lit: bend our
knees] to you. Variant: ven; mben. From:
English: bend.
bn sa-vi. climb. D chule d ka vn
savuk svt ma thalias avama ul-
mangachi. He climbed up on to the
wizards native orange tree. Variant:
vn.
bna vt. make someone else guess.
Chia vna ngo natha ngthepki.
She made me guess her name. Variant:
vna.
bna muma make fun; joke.
benaseng sa-vi. start; begin. Cha
venaseng nchama mambu veia
Sande. He started the songs on
Sundays. Variant: venaseng.
bnbn'ga chin; lower jaw.
bn bt sa-vi. search out; gather some-
thing that is scarce, e.g. cocoa pods
when the season has already finish-
ed. Ka vn bt nani chama kakau-
vap diva ch thk nangt nani dul.
He gathered cocoa so that he could
process it for money. Variant: vn bt.
bncha muma sa-vi. make fun; joke.
Chi na atha ruavek thi bncha
muma d thi tamal. She and her
friends are joking around and laugh-
ing. Variant: vncha muma; vna
muma; bna muma.
bn dmna n vt. join. Bing mni
chama seska d tha vn dmna
nchama seska achk. The rope was
broken so they joined another rope to
it. Variant: vn dmna n.
bn ma vt. pile up. Ndi thi bn mangt
d thi kop mni ngt. They pile them
up and fasten them. Variant: vn ma.
bnmalivi sa-vi. writhe; thrash around;
especially something thrashing a-
round in death throws. Ta chut
61
bn slp sangglm mes
kama basiochi da kosa chi bnma-
livinanas iva sa chi ngip. They
speared the crocodile and it was
writhing, and so it died. Variant:
vnmalivi; bnmaliwi; vnmaliwi.
bnmaliwi writhe; thrash around;
espec. something thrashing around
in death throws.
bn m vt. beat. Ch guer ava oemga
ia asika ngmbs k na nari d cha
thichina mchvs sa ch vn
mcha. He scolded his son that if he
does the same thing again he would
beat him. Variant: mbn m; vn m.
bn mna sa-vi. fight each other.
Aluguthiom ini vn mna ve
nbngang. The married couple fight
each other at night. Variant: vn mna.
bn mt vt. join. Ngi vn mt via
nchama seski iva aulul. You join
the rope to make it big. Variant: vn
mt.
bn mtna n vt. join together. Ngua
vn mtna nchama seska iva aulul
cha. I joined the rope to make it long.
Variant: vn mtna.
bn mulau sa-vi. bang; make a loud
sound. Kama basiochi chia
nachang d chule d chia vs
atham vmna d chia vn mulau.
The crocodile opened its mouth then
shut it with a bang. Variant: vn mulau.
ben sachong sa-vi. 1 spy on. Chi ben
sachong svtha cha ma cha swo ta
tha guangithong. She spied on the
one who stole her things.
2 check with a glance.
ben s vt. honour; praise. Uthi ben
snge duthi nen snge. We praise
you and we pray to you. Variant: ven s.
bn slp vt. interrogate; question
repeatedly. D cha namu ch bn
slp sangglm gi... And he contin-
ued to interrogate her closely... Chia
iras d chok k bn slp nachi.
She lied and he questioned her
repeatedly. Variant: vn slp.
bn slp sangglm mes vt. check
something for one's own satis-
faction. Ki bn slp sangglm
mes ia cha mu chama baulki choe.
She checked for herself where he put
the piece of cloth (laplap). Variant: vn
bensenaska
slp sangglm mes.
bensenaska n. proud man. Da ma
bensenasta da tha ron d cha
matmet ta. And the proud people and
the satisfied, he shares with them.
Pl: bensenasta. Variant: mbensenaska;
nbensenaska.
bensenaski n. proud woman.
bensin n. benzene. Ut aut dramgi n-
chama bensin avaikpik. Us, our
drum of benzene is that one. From:
German, English, Tok Pisin: benzin,
benzene, bensin.
bensin'gi n. drum of petrol, benzene,
or gasoline. From: German, English,
Tok Pisin: benzin, benzene, bensin.
bn vt vt. climb on. Basiochi chia
mugunacha d cha vn vt kama
mngga. The crocodile chased him
and he climbed up the tree. Variant:
vn vt. See: beng vt climb up.
beng vt. have sex with. Usage: This has
developed into the most salient
sense of the stem beng; note its
earlier meaning continues in the
form beng vt climb up.
bngangbes twilight.
bnganggi night.
bng bt vt. 1 wrap up. Chia thorka
di chia vng bthacha. She washed
him and wrapped him up.
2 cover. Tha vng bt anga ang-
gimlk klan ama pepa. They
covered (it with) something like paper.
Variant: vng bt.
beng dm vt. get something down
from a high place; especially
referring to picking something from
a tree. Thi veng dm ngt da thi
plng ngt. They will get them down
and kill them. Variant: veng dm.
beng vt vt. climb up. Achk ch veng
vt kama amngga savuk. One man
will climb up the tree. Variant: veng
vt. See: bn vt climb on.
bep d ves vi-so. fart; a noisy fart. Bep
dchama vaimga ves. The dog
farted. Note: only b.
bpki fart.
bp mt vi-so. be closed. Aruchi ma
bp mt at sachong. The woman who
is blind. [Lit: The woman whose eyes
bing
are closed.]
bp pt vi-so. be constricted. Bp mt
gua thik. My hands are constricted
(e.g. because they are tied with a
rope).
bp scha sachong vi-so. temporarily
blind. Bp scha sachong nmt
kama sruban'ga. (His) eyes were
temporarily blinded by the sruban'ga
tree. Note: only b.
bramr sa-vi. 1 be rescued; be
saved.
2 recover. Thoemini ng vramr
nmt angtha armgi. The baby
has recovered from its illness. Variant:
vramr.
bremgi n. boil. Bremgi achik kia
mn sng vthik. There was a boil
under his arm. Pl: burem. Variant:
bremgi.
br t grab; catch; kidnap.
br tm grab; catch; kidnap.
bt at; on; over.
btha at; on; over.
bias vt. step on. Ngua vias kama
thangam. I stepped on the bananas.
Variant: vias.
bias angtha ais n. circulatory
system. Kama chuar d chama bias
angtha ais. The circulatory system
is made of veins.
biaska n. blood. Biaska cha ndn.
Bleed. [Lit: blood is coming (out).]
Kama biaska ch tk. Pulse. Vus sa
bias. Haemorrhage. Matmthm
ambias. Blood transfusion. Pl: bias.
Variant: mbiaska.
bias ng dn s vi-so. bleed. Bias ng
dn scha. He was bleeding.
bilar old.
bilarka n. old man. Bilarka cha sp
sava sgnacha. The old man fell
with his net bag (bilum). Pl: bilar.
Variant: mbilarka.
bilarki n. old woman.
bilta coastal people.
bing vt. roll; specifically to twist string
used to make net bags (bilums).
Patrica chi bing atha ses nani at
masarka. Patricia is rolling her string
for her net bag (bilum). Variant: ving.
62
bing
bing sa-vi. go around. Ka ve ch bing.
He is going to go around.
bing sa-vi. surround. Rura thi bing
namthacha ma ch bn ava
ruacha. People surrounded the one
who was beating his friend. Variant:
ving; ping.
bing d spy.
bing dm vt. spy. Athoes ngthi bing
dm ma Albinus sava ma tangamga
ma ch ngaipka. The children spied
(the place) where Albinus hid his
banana. Variant: ving dm; bing d;
ving d.
binggi vt. look. Gram: Takes a location PP as
a complement. Variant: vinggi.
binggi svt vt. peep; peek. Joseph ka
vinggi svt kama vaimgi thoes.
Joseph peeked at the puppies. Variant:
vinggi svt.
bingia sa-vi. debate; argue. Thoemga
vak d cha vingia nava mamk.
That boy argued with his father.
Variant: vingia.
bing mni vt. break or snap; especially
of a rope. Johanes ka bing mni
chama seska. Johanes broke the
rope. Arutha ma thi bing mni a
thondm da tha tu tha mt kama
kumngas. People who break the law
are put in gaol. Note: only b.
bing pthanas vt. circle around. Tha
tain ma thi bing pthanas. When
they dance, they circle around. Variant:
ving pthanas.
bing vt vt. 1 go around. Ngi ving
vt aiska ivi sva lat. You go along
the road around to the garden.
2 circle. D ch bing pthanas...
He circled round... Variant: ving vt.
birbirka n. 1 border of dancing
ground. Kama birbirka d chama
amng ama tha mu ngt p chama
Mndaska ava luchupki th cheng
diva asik kusek ka tain mungguru-
pu mngt. The birbirka is the name
for the border of sticks that encircles
the area where the Mndas dance.
2 frame for a net. Pl: birbir.
birut be short; be stumpy; e.g. a dog
with a cut off tail.
bisuchi n. anus. Kama duraika cha tr
63
bloka
nave ia ava bisuchi. The rooster
excretes from his anus. Pl: bisu.
biurka n. scar. Mndu ngua thap gu
blinggi d ithik d sa chama
biurka. Before, I cut my forehead and
now there is a scar. Kama biurka
mni uvski nmet kama asengi
ama cha thp nachi. The scar on his
head is from the knife which he cut
with. Pl: biur.
bivi over there.
blachoing vi-so. be weak; lacking any
strength. Blachoing ngo. I am weak.
Note: only b.
blachoingga n. weak man; refers to
someone who is physically wrung
out from a bad sickness. Ka nnn
ma ulual d blachoingga mamr.
He vomited for a long time, so he was
really weak. Pl: blachoingta.
blachoinggi n. weak woman.
blaenbs n. blind. Ngua ser kama
blaen skama bangga ava brtki. I
wove the blind for the wall of the
house. Ngu ser kama blaen. I am
weaving the blind. Pl: blaen. Variant:
blaenvs. From: English, Tok Pisin:
blind, blain.
blaenvs blind.
blakbotigel n. blackboard.
blakbotki n. blackboard. Ngi chut pt
kama blakbotki. You write on the
blackboard. Pl: blakbot. From: English,
Tok Pisin: blackboard, blakbot.
blbalka n. crow. Pl: blbal.
blingga n. bald head. Blingga d ma
Yakomo uvs. Yakomo has a bald
head. Pl: blaing.
blinggi n. 1 space. Blinggi avi? Is
there space there?
2 forehead. Inos ka thu ma Jakop
av blinggi. Inos threw something at
Jacobs forehead. Pl: blaing.
blingimga n. lightning; referring to a
bolt of lightning. Kama blingimga
cha thu chama mnggi. The light-
ning hit the tree. Pl: blingim.
bloka n. block and tackle; pulley. Ta
var dchama mnggi nchama
blok. They pulled the tree with the
pulley. Pl: blok. From: English, Tok
Pisin: block, blok.
bluston
bluston n. copper sulphate. Ta mu mt
kama aisoska nchama bluston.
They dressed the crab yaws with
copper sulphate. From: English, Tok
Pisin: blue stone, bluston.
boel sa-vi. boil. Glmna iva ki boel sa
chiat kama sospengi di chia thu
chi sa mthik. When it is almost
boiling, she gets the saucepan and she
puts it aside. Variant: bol. From: English,
Tok Pisin: boil, boilim. See: guaremga
mt boil; bubble.
bogiski n. box. Kama valo ng ve mt
kama bogiski. The eggs are in the
box. Pl: bogis. From: English, Tok Pisin:
box, bokis.
bol boil.
bomgi n. bomb. Chama isem ngthi tu
nchama bom. The planes shot with
bombs. Pl: bom. From: English, Tok
Pisin: bomb, bom.
bon vt. 1 give. Auk, d chi tal kama
anot d chi von ga thm ngt. Well,
she carries the taro and she will give it
to him.
2 thatch; put leaves on a roof.
Kama rura thi bon athva bangga.
The people thatch their houses with
leaves. Variant: von; mbon.
bon d pay.
bon dm vt. pay. Dak choiku thi na
bon dm na anga dul ura anga
gingt. And they did not pay with
money or anything. Variant: von dm;
mbon dm; bon d; von d; mbon d.
bon dm mt vt. buy. Chia vondm
mt atha baul nmt kama
gunan'ga. She bought her material
(laplap) from the store. Variant: von
dm mt.
bon mt vt. break apart, of taro or
bread. Cha von mt kama adichi ba
un. He broke the taro for us. Variant:
von mt.
bon nana vt. exchange. Ngaiom in von
nana naina sravt. The two men
exchanged clothes. Variant: von nana.
bono up; inland; shorewards.
bong vt. hit. Variant: mbong.
bor mt vt. bore. Ta bor mchama
lechi mni chama palangga. They
bored the hole through the plank. Note:
64
bui
only b.
botal gumi n. hot water bottle. Ta mu
chama renggi ama chrnastmgi
mt kama botal gumi. They put the
hot water in the hot water bottle. From:
Tok Pisin: botol gumi.
botki n. boat. Botki chia mn sma
Pater. The boat arrived with Father.
Pl: bot. From: English, Tok Pisin: boat,
bot. See: luln'gi boat.
braingia n. small creek. Avama ms-
tmna ng dn mamr mt kama
braingia vachit. His greens (kumu)
are growing well by the small creek.
Pl: braingink.
brasocha n. eagle. Brasocha cha chut
kama vangong'gi. The eagle caught
a flying fox. Pl: brasau. Variant: mbra-
socha.
brasochi n. saltwater crab sp.; large
and green; shell up to 20 cm in
diameter. Pl: brasau.
brembm feel angry.
brembm n be angry with.
bremgi boil.
brtki n. 1 rib. Aruan brt. Pleurisy
or pneumonia. [Lit: Sore ribs.]
2 wall. Tave thi tp mchama
bangga ava brtki. They are making
the wall of the house. Pl: brt. Pl:
brt.
brethem n. chest. Gu brethem da
aruan mtngam. My chest has a pain
in it. Pl: bret.
bubang tomorrow; next day.
bubu vi-so. be dull. Kama baulgi avaik
da bubuchi. That particular piece of
cloth (laplap) is dull. Note: only b.
buchm n. book. Asunasvmga ava
buchm avchm. The teachers
book is that one. Pl: buchvap. From:
English, Tok Pisin: book, buk. See:
tlngm book.
buel mt vi-so. be blunt. Noberta atha
sen'gi da buel mtki. Norberta's
knife is blunt.
buepki n. fart; especially noisy farts.
Ngua nari kama bpki nagl kama
vaimga. I heard the fart from the dog.
Pl: buep. Variant: bpki.
bui out there.
buinem
buinem sa-vi. return. Ngi vinem
kvsnia? When will you return?
Variant: vuinem; vinem; winem;
puinem.
buirut vi-so. be short; be stumpy; e.g. a
dog with a cut off tail. Vaimga ma
birutki daves k bang. The dog with
the stumpy tail is coming. Variant:
birut.
buit up.
buk above.
bukacha n. taro sp.; black singapore.
Ngiat k buka diva thi vus ka.
(You) get a black singapore in order
for them to cook it. Pl: buka.
bunacha n. 1 rich man. Asika buna-
cha nange mt giama gunn'ga da
sik a mumanaska nange. To become
a rich man with your store you must
be selfish. Da ma mbunatha d cha
mendem pathvus d choi cha na
vonta. The rich people, he left them
out and he did not give them anything.
2 selfish man. Arucha ma choiku
cha na bon da chama bunucha. A
person who does not give is a selfish
person. Pl: bunatha.
bunachi n. 1 rich woman.
2 selfish woman.
bungbungga firedancer; is concealed
inside a large, hollow, rectangular
panel that serves as his mask.
burembm vi-so. feel angry. Burem-
bm at nank d chia vanis tmgi.
Ch
cha he; it.
chabangaska n. freshwater fish sp.;
silver; has scales; rounded in shape;
these fish swim in groups; good for
bait. Pl: chabangas. Variant: kabangas-
ka.
chabolocha shellfish sp.; chiton.
chabunginngin'ga n. spider sp.;
black and yellow; similar to the chu-
mangdalska species but smaller;
builds a web. Pl: chabunginngin.
Variant: kabu-nginngin'ga.
chacham adj. empty. Ngua mat
chaelki
Her mother felt angry and she beat
her. Variant: brembm; mbrmbm.
burembm n vt. be angry with. Kule
d chama chaelka mbrembmka
nchama duraika. Afterwards, the
wallaby was angry with the rooster.
Variant: brembm n.
buremga n. knot. Ngi chop kama
buremga vt kama uratki thvus.
You tie the knot at the top of the
basket. Pl: burem.
burichi n. cleared area; flattened area;
e.g. a place in the bush where there
has been a dog fight or a crocodile
resting. Arura tha tain mt kama
burichi. People dance in the cleared
area. Pl: buri.
Butamgna n. Butams.
butki n. large fire; bonfire. Gunank
kia chuar nango ia ngu sas tcha-
ma ngmng nmt kama butki.
My mother told me to remove the
firewood from the large fire. Laurka
cha wae s chama imng nmt
kama butki. The wind blew the light
ashes from a garden fire. Pl: but.
buthicha n. spine; back. Aruan atha
buthicha. Her back was hurting.
Pl: buthi.
buthichi n. vertebra. Tha mn pt
kama buthichi ma choiku tha
ndrm ia gaia vachik. They found a
vertebra but they did not know what it
belonged to. Pl: buthi.
- ch
mchama chlom ama kacham. I got
the empty shells. Variant: kacham.
chacholka tapioca.
chadinngga fish sp.
chadumga shellfish sp.
chaelka n. wallaby; has grey fur; up to
60 cm tall when standing on hind
legs. Karla cha monel d cha
vlng kama chaelka. Charles went
hunting and he killed a wallaby.
Pl: chael. Variant: kaelka.
chaelki n. stingray sp.; two kinds: one
is large, up to 1 m across, brown,
65
chagthacha
and has a long tail; the other is
small, dark orange, and stays on
white sand. Pl: chael. Variant: kaelki.
chagthacha vine sp.; rope; fishing
line.
chais left side of something.
chais adj. left-handed. Arura athe ma
chdichn natha da chaista. Many
people are left-handed. From: Tok Pisin:
han kais left hand.
chalacha n. freshwater fish sp.; glue-
fish; can stick themselves to a rock
with their chests. Ka chut kama
chalacha dchama thinm ma
chndichn. He speared a gluefish
and many other fish. Pl: chala. Variant:
kalacha.
chalasunggi sweet potato (kaukau).
chalavurucha n. beach vines. Tchp
nchama chalavurucha via Gisia.
There are a lot of beach vines at Gisia.
Pl: chalavuru.
chalvanggrka n. rainbow. Kama
chalvanggrka ka vuk pt usupki.
The rainbow is up in the sky.
Pl: chalvanggr. Variant: kalvanggr.
chaliburburm shellfish sp.
chalipka n. lizard sp.; small and
grey-brown in colour; hides on tree
trunks and makes a squeaky noise
when people walk past; people say it
is the noise of the forest spirits. Pl:
chalip. Variant: kalipka.
chalukluka crab sp.
chalun'ga n. taro sp.; singapore. Chia
nges tchama chalun nva lat. She
dug up the singapores from the
garden. Pl: chalun. Variant: kalun'ga.
chama the.
chamangm crab sp.
chambap white.
chamerabpki n. evening star. Ut tes
kama lingga ma cha dn sa ba-
ngang ia chamerabpki. We call the
star that comes at night chame-
rabpki. Morph: a=kamerbpki. Lit:
SPEC=3M.SG.I-decline.PAST-fart-F.SG.
Variant: kamerabpki.
chamotki n. shellfish sp.; large black
shellfish from the river; lives in the
water during the day but crawls up
66
charekrecha
on stones at night to find food.
Pl: chamot. Variant: kamotki.
chanasucha n. hook. Banglka cha
chrtp schama chvulka dak
kulel kama chanashucha. The shark
grabbed the octopus (bait) but left the
hook. Pl: chanasu. Variant: kanasu.
chaninggulucha n. freshwater fish
sp.; yellow with white and black
spots; up to 20 cm long. Pl: chaning-
gulu. Variant: kaningguluch; ninggu-
lucha.
chan'gan'ga n. ridge top; the bound-
ary between two river catchments;
often very wet and mossy. Kama
chan'gan'ga dai chama galicha
mugurup kama areng ama mor
anga pus. The chan'gan'ga is the top
ridge between the head of two big
rivers. Kama saluchachi da chi nva
rong pe va changan, da chama
singal angtha mbangi nachi. The
wild mountain ridge palm is the place
where the mountain spirits live.
Pl: chan'gan. Note: only ch.
changska n. betelnut. Pl: changes.
Variant: kangska.
changska n. betelnut palm. Ch bn
d chama changs d chama
msongga cha nes ava sachong. He
climbed the betelnut palm and the
ants bit his eyes. Pl: changs. Variant:
kangski.
changgthacha n. 1 vine sp.; large,
thick vine. Usage: Arongda dialect.
2 rope; vine makes a good rope.
Ka mt kama kanggthacha diva
uthi chop pt chama vlmgi. He got
the rope in order for us to tie up the
pig.
3 fishing line. Ddr nma John
ava chagthacha d ka ndrm ia
thinmga dak kine chama lanaski.
Johns string was very tight and he
thought it was a fish but instead it was
an eel. Pl: changgt. Variant: kangg-
thacha; chagthacha. See: charoski
(Abilta dialect) vine sp.
changgthait n. 1 vine sp.; especial-
ly a long and narrow vine species.
2 rope. Pl: changgthink. Variant:
kagthait.
charekrecha crab sp.
charichetka
charichetka n. prawn sp.; transpar-
ent, light brown colour; found in
groups; plentiful at the new moon;
hatch in the sea and swim into river
mouths to stay on riverbanks. Pl:
charichet. Variant: karichetka. See:
charichethini prawn sp.
charichethini n. prawn sp.; transpar-
ent, light brown colour; found in
groups; plentiful at the new moon;
hatch in the sea and swim into river
mouths to stay on riverbanks. Pl:
charichet. Variant: karichethini. See:
charichetka prawn sp.
charidang n. call; a special sound,
ooo, is called from the bush to warn
that a Mndas is coming. Kama
charidang d chama paret ia cha-
ma Mndaska avak ka tet. The
charidang is the sound which tells that
the Mndaska is coming. Variant: kari-
dang.
charirot beetle sp.
charoski n. 1 vine sp.; large, thick
vine. Usage: Abilta dialect.
2 rope. Tha chop pt kama
vlmga nchama charotki ma
morki. They tied up the pig with a big
rope. Pl: charos. Variant: karoski. See:
changgthacha (Arongda dialect)
rope.
charuaika bird sp.; earlybird.
charucha n. bird sp.; black with red
spots on the chest and a white spot
at the throat; has quite a long tail; is
very shy; hides at the top of big trees
and calls kwek, kwek, kwek at
night. Pl: charu. Note: only ch.
charuvaika n. bird sp.; earlybird; sings
early in the morning; has dull co-
loured feathers. Charuvaika dma
mliar da aina ruaiom nana
mamr. The earlybird and the parrot
had a good friendship. Pl: charuvaik.
Variant: karuvaika; karuaika; cha-
ruaika.
chasrki n. malaria. Chasrki ptha-
ngo. I have malaria. Variant: kasrki.
chaseska n. spy. Kama chaseska cha
met d cha lu chama umang ang-
tha bangga va ur. The spy went and
saw his enemys house in the bush.
chasuacha n. lizard sp.; greenish
67
chebongbonggi
colour; long tail with serrated ridge
down the back; similar to the
amchlingga species but smaller.
chat he; it.
chatlchotka n. grasshopper sp.;
greyish in colour. Pl: chatlchot.
Variant: katlchotka.
chathachi n. taro sp.; wild singapore;
not edible. Usage: The word is some-
times also used to refer to edible
varieties. Ut mn bt kama chatha
nva ur. We found the wild singapore
in the bush. Pl: chatha. Variant:
kathachi.
chau uncle.
chaubocha plant sp.
chaumatka n. reef fish sp.;
yellow-white colour with scales; has
feelers on its chin. Pl: chuamat.
Variant: kaumat.
chaumatka rat; mouse.
chavatka n. spirit that causes illness.
Kavatka ka mthacha. The spirit got
him. Kama kavatka cha mu na
rmgi vt kama thoemga da sa
vandi cha ingip. The spirit that
causes illness made the child sick and
he was almost dead. Pl: chavat. Variant:
kavatka.
chavatka n. adulterer. Kama chavatka
cha chavat t ma Isidore ava lu-
gutki. The adulterer committed adult-
ery with Isidores wife. Pl: chavata.
Variant: kavatka.
chavatki n. female adulterer.
chavat tm commit adultery.
chavathm firedancer; they wear
masks with large, round, painted
eyes.
chavenggi n. river crab sp.; brown;
shell up to 4 cm in diameter; sits on
stones; hides when people approach.
Pl: chaveng. Variant: kalenggi.
chaverki palm sp.
chavithoski n. shellfish sp.; nautilus.
Chavithoski da chi nmt kama
garski. The nautilus is from the sea.
Pl: chavithos. Variant: kavithoski.
ch he; it.
ch the.
chebongbonggi crab sp.
chchm
chchm that particular short one.
chchs that particular flat one.
chchit that particular large one.
chdlka n. freshwater fish sp.; silver
with scales and many bones. Pl: ch-
dl. Variant: kdlka.
chdngm n. body. Chi thor at k-
dengm iva chumrkumr ngam.
She will wash her body to make it
clean. Pl: kdengvap. Variant: kde-
ngm.
chdenggi body; skin; bark; peel; rind.
chdichn many.
chglem those particular two pieces.
chglem those particular two short
ones.
chgleng those particular pieces.
chk that particular one.
chkachk another; each.
chkchm dem. just that particular
short one. Gram: Emphatic reduced
singular contrastive demonstrative. Kama
chalunm chkhm ndai
ithchm da amangam. This small
singapore is cooked. See: chchm
that particular short one.
chkchit dem. just that particular
large one. Gram: Emphatic extended
singular contrastive demonstrative. Kama
nekethovia chkchit dai amor
ngait daer chkchit ma milani
ngua lu ngait. This river eel is bigger
than the one I saw yesterday. See:
chchit that particular large one.
chkmlk dem. just those particular
flat ones. Gram: Emphatic flat plural
contrastive demonstrative. Kama pepa
imlk chmlk ndai sa tha chuet
vt ngimlk. Those papers have
been written on. See: chmlk those
particular flat ones.
chkmlm dem. just those particu-
lar flat two. Gram: Emphatic flat dual
contrastive demonstrative. Kama tha-
ngamga ava thik imlm chmlm
ndai aicheru imlm. Those two
banana leaves are new. See: chm-
lm just those particular two flat
ones.
chknk dem. just those particular
large ones. Gram: Emphatic extended
68
chkthom
plural contrastive demonstrative. Ve sng
arenggi sok kama lamon ink
chknk ma mor inek. Those
waves are large at the mouth of the
river. See: chnk those particular
large ones.
chknm dem. just those particular
two large ones. Gram: Emphatic extended
dual contrastive demonstrative. Ases inm
chknm dai ma ngo gu chnm.
Those two ropes are mine. See:
chnm those particular two large
ones.
chkni dem. just that particular small
one. Gram: Emphatic diminutive singular
contrastive demonstrative. Kama durai-
kini chkni ma vaimga cha ms
ini. That chick was eaten by the dog.
See: chni that particular small one.
chknggl dem. just that particular
piece. Gram: Emphatic excised singular
contrastive demonstrative. See: knggl
that particular piece.
chkngglem dem. just those partic-
ular two pieces. Gram: Emphatic excised
dual contrastive demonstrative. Ngiat ka-
ma palang iglm chkngglem
ma amuru iglm. You get those two
old pieces of plank. See: chngglem
those particular two pieces.
chknggleng dem. just those
particular pieces. Gram: Emphatic
excised plural contrastive demonstrative.
Ngiat kama plang igeleng chk-
gleng ma aicheru igeleng. You get
those new long planks. See: kgleng
those particular pieces.
chksem dem. just those particular
two long ones. Gram: Emphatic long dual
contrastive demonstrative. Kama asong
isem chksem ndai sa tha thal
isem. Then they carried those two
long rafters. See: chsem those
particular two long ones.
chekseng dem. just those particular
long ones. Gram: Emphatic long plural
contrastive demonstrative. Kama chums
iseng chkseng dai askoi ia ng
mt alugut. Those particular tall
men still have not married. See:
chseng those particular long ones.
chkthom dem. just those particular
two small ones. Gram: Emphatic diminu-
chkthong
tive dual contrastive demonstrative. Kama
vlmithom chkthom ma vus s
ngithom nmt kama ichethachi.
Those two piglets escaped from the
enclosure. See: chthom those
particular two small ones.
chkthong dem. just those particular
small ones. Gram: Emphatic diminutive
plural contrastive demonstrative. Kama
dlangithong chkthong diva nani
chama mugar. Those small sticks are
for the game. See: chthong those
particular small ones.
chkvam dem. just those particular
two short ones. Gram: Emphatic reduced
dual contrastive demonstrative. Kama
chalasungbam chkvam ndai ma
Chris av chvam. Those two small
sweet potatoes (kaukaus) belong to
Chris. See: chvam those particular
two short ones.
chkvap dem. just those particular
short ones. Gram: Emphatic reduced
plural contrastive demonstrative. Kama
vlembap chkvap dema Andrew
av chvap. Those are Andrews
small pigs. See: chvap those
particular short ones.
chkvem dem. just those particular
two. Gram: Emphatic feminine dual
contrastive demonstrative. Chkvem ma
indet naut mnia nenggi dasik
indet ini thal amng. Two women
went past us at the river to go and get
firewood. See: kvem those
particular two.
chkvs dem. just that particular flat
one. Gram: Emphatic flat singular contras-
tive demonstrative. Kama tlngbs
chkvs ndai amangngas. That leaf
is dry. See: kvs that particular flat
one.
chkvet dem. just that particular long
one. Gram: Emphatic long singular contras-
tive demonstrative. Kama songbet
chkvet ndai sok asrtik ngavet.
That long rafter is really straight. See:
chvet that particular long one.
chkiom dem. just those particular
two. Gram: Emphatic masculine dual
contrastive demonstrative. Chkiom ma
inmu chama sravt ma achluing.
Those two with the black shirts.
Aruiom chkiom in ngaip nmt ut.
69
chelanggum
Those two men hid from us. See: kiom
those particular two.
chkraik dem. just that particular one.
Gram: Emphatic feminine singular con-
trastive demonstrative. Chkraik ma
milani ngua luchi via mambuchi. I
saw that one yesterday in the singing
group. See: kraik just that particular
one.
chkrak dem. just that particular one.
Gram: Emphatic masculine singular con-
trastive demonstrative. Krak ma Joseph
ka ms kama thinm. That Joseph,
he ate fish. Choiku n chkrak
taith. That person is not here. See:
chrak that particular one.
chkrang dem. just those two
particular ones. Gram: Emphatic count
neutral contrastive demonstrative. Kama
anot chkrang ma Julien chinma
Salome ini thal ngt ndai nani
chama msmski. Julien and Salome
will carry those two taros for the feast.
Kama lams chkrang ma tha sek-
dm ngt. Those two coconuts, they
husked them. Variant: krang; kkrang;
achkrang.
chlachuas grass sp.; seaweed;
seagrass.
chlachuasini small area of grass sp.
chlachuaska area of grass sp.
chlachuaski large area of grass sp.
chlak adv. softly. Note: only ch.
chlaln'gi n. platform. Ch tk m-
chama chlaln'gi sng gama
mnggi. He made the platform
against the base of the large tree.
Pl: chlaln. Variant: klaln'ga.
chlamurki n. puddle. Karki chia
chuasin kama chlamurki mt kama
lechi d chama iska ava ron. The
car splashed the puddle from the
pothole in the middle of the road.
Pl: chlamurvap. Variant: chlamurki;
klamurki.
chlan only; just; for nothing; with
nothing.
chlan like; likewise; at the time;
when.
chlan be like; be similar.
chelanggum vi-so. be deserted. Thik
sa chule chi chalan ia
chlaska
chelanggumki. Now she stays alone
and she is deserted. Note: only ch.
chlaska n. tree sp.; has soft wood;
cassowaries eat the fruit. Marup
ng ts kama chlas angthoes.
Cassowaries eat the chlas fruit.
Pl: chlas. Variant: klaska.
chlel urine.
chlel angtha iska urinary system;
urethra.
chelelelcha n. freshwater prawn sp.;
dark brown; up to 5 cm long. Pl:
chelelel. Variant: kelelelcha.
chlmga n. seed pod of the chlmgi
tree. Kule d chama vaimga ka
chop schama achlm vthanas.
The dog tied chlmgi seed pods to
itself. Pl: chlm. Variant: achlmga.
Note: only ch.
chlmgi n. tree sp.; has pods that are
used as rattles. Kama chlmgi
thoes d veia ia choiku nanga
chelok muk mt ngt d ngthi
tnok tmes mamr. The chlmgi
species has seeds that rattle really
well, once the flesh in them has dried.
Pl: chlm. Note: only ch.
chlennggi n. rubbish; crumbs. Ka-
ma chlangithong pavthong ma
ng sp smt. Those particular
small crumbs fell into my food. Ngua
schup kama chlennggi nasot
kama thlnggi ama morki. I swept
the small rubbish after the big
rubbish. Pl: chlenng. Variant:
klennggi.
chlenngini n. speck. Kama chle-
nngini ng mon sk gu sachong.
The little speck of dirt went into my
eye. Pl: chlenngithong.
chlep be embarrassed.
chlepki n. shame; shyness; embarr-
assment. Chulel kama chlepki
nvtha nge veia ngi sunas. Get rid
of your shyness when you are
learning. Da ma rutha thamo thi lu i
gia chlep. And all of the people will
see your shame. Pl: chlep. Variant:
klepki.
chlrklr squawk.
chlrklr mt rattle.
chlr mt rattle.
chmlm
chlsacha alert person.
chlvachi maggot.
chlevecha n. bean. Vadi chiat anga-
ma chleve. She wants to get some
beans. Pl: chleve. Note: only ch.
chlevu adj. purple. Baulchi ma
chlevuchi. The piece of material
(laplap) is purple. Note: only ch.
chlochacha core; innermost part;
inside part of something; soul.
chlochachi large inside part of
something.
chlochaini small inside part of
something.
chloingga n. bush snail; brown and
white spiral shell; is up to 2 cm
across. Pl: chloing.
chlol clean.
chlol report.
chlucha n. brother-in-law; both the
address and reference term; used by
a male speaker; can be used for a
mans sisters husband or a mans
wifes brother. Karla da ava chelu-
cha ma Henry. Charless brother-in-
law is Henry. Pl: chluvek. Variant:
klucha.
chluchi n. sister-in-law; both the
address and reference term; used by
a female speaker; refers to both a
woman's husbands sister and her
brothers wife. Gu chluchi ma
Catherine. My sister-in-law is Cathe-
rine. Pl: chlutha. Variant: kluchi.
cheluing cloud.
chluinggi cloud.
chluingini small cloud.
chelumen'gi frog.
chlu vathm be shy.
chmbucha n. type of fruit. Usage: Also
known as ton in Tok Pisin. Vangon
cha ms chama chmbu milani n
bangang. A flying fox ate the fruit last
night. Pl: chmbu. Variant: kmbucha.
chmcha n. breast. Kama thoemini
ngthi mem angt nank at kmk.
The baby suckled at its mothers
breast. Pl: chmk. Variant: kmk.
chmlk those particular flat ones.
chmlm just those particular two
70
chmer
flat ones.
chmer n. steep mountainside covered
in bushes. Choiku mamr diva ngi
na vn vt kama chmer isok vuit
klan. It is impossible for you to climb
up a steep mountainside because it is
too steep. Variant: kmer. Note: no
endings.
chmga n. empty person. Sa ngua tet
sachama chmga nango chlan.
Then I went; then I was just an empty
person. Pl: chmda.
chmgm be empty.
chnagolchi n. strength. Rambo da
ava chnagolki ama morki. Rambo
has great strength. Pl: chnagol. Note:
only ch.
chnak n. breath; specifically exhaled
breath. Uthi pr aut knak scha-
ma sanggaska ama mrka diva ut
dchm. We breathe out our exhaled
breaths (in exchange) for good air, to
keep us alive. Variant: knak.
chnanggolka tree sp.
chndengga n. skin. Dak ka chut
kama chndengga chlan mni th
vuski d vtpt nacha samk. He
speared just the skin on its head and
the spear fell down. Pl: chndeng.
Variant: kndenggi. See: chndenggi
body, skin, bark, peel, rind.
chndenggi n. 1 body. Arucha cha
ingip dava chndenggi chia muk
mt kama bogiski. A person died and
his body is in the coffin.
2 skin; bark. Arucha ava chn-
denggi da achlachi dak amngga
ava chdenggi da achrotki. A
persons skin is soft but a trees skin is
strong.
3 peel; rind. Lams angvt kn-
deng avang d chrk pthangt.
Those coconuts have dry skin.
Pl: chndeng. Variant: kndenggi; k-
denggi; chdenggi. See: chngdengga
skin.
chndichn many.
chn him and.
chenechacha n. asthma; tuberculosis;
any condition principally involving
difficulty with breathing. Kama
srucha cha mt kama rmgi ma
71
chrechacha
chenechacha. The elderly man got
sick with asthma.
chnk those particular large ones.
chnm those particular two large
ones.
chni that particular small one.
chn'gn n. tremor. Peia Rabaul d
chama chn'gn ama mor. The
tremor at Rabaul was large. Note:
only ch.
chn'gn bt vi-so. 1 shiver.
Chn'gn bthango nmt kama
auluvk. I am shivering from the cold.
2 tremble. Ngu ndlen da chn'gn
ptha ngo. I felt afraid and I was
trembling. Variant: chn'gn pt. Note:
only ch.
chn'gn pt shiver; tremble.
chn'gn'gi n. earthquake. Chn'-
gn'gi chia bal tautha bangga. The
earthquake knocked down our house.
Pl: chn'gn. Note: only ch.
cheng edge; bank.
chngl that particular piece.
chngl that particular piece.
chngracha n. current; in either a
river or the sea. Ichumgi mt kama
renggi d chngar ma amor. The
river is in flood and the current is
strong. Pl: chngar. Variant: kngara-
cha.
chnget those particular ones; that
particular one.
chngi neck; throat; voice.
chepki spear.
chep pt be thorny.
chr that particular one.
chraik just that particular one.
chrak that particular one.
chrau subside.
chrechacha n. loose soil. Kunng d
chrk d chama chrchacha. It
was sunny and the loose soil was dry.
K nges d ch don chama chre-
chacha sagl aulul diva sik kama
vlam koiku ngna vrn dm ngt.
He digs and he throws the loose soil
far away so that the pigs will not smell
it. Pl: chrech. Variant: krechacha;
chrechacha.
chrk pt
chrk pt be dry.
chriduchi n. native spinach (aibika)
stem; used for replanting. Usage:
Abilta dialect. Ngi vt kama chridu
ta ithang pe va lat. You plant those
particular native spinach (aibika)
stems at the garden. Pl: chridu.
Variant: kriduchi.
chrirka stream of falling drops.
chernas adj. difficult; hard. Aslamen-
dm da chernas nani ma thoemini.
Counting is difficult for the child.
chrnaska n. heat; temperature. Tat
kama chrnaska. Take the tempera-
ture. Pl: achrnas. Note: only ch.
chernas pt vi-so. be difficult; be hard.
chrnas tm be hot.
cherorachi n. banana flower.
Tangamga vak da va chrorachi ma
lolcha nachi. That banana tree has a
red flower on it. Pl: cheror. Variant:
kerorachi; chrorachi.
cherorini n. calf; specifically the large
muscle in the lower part of the leg.
Athama chrorini da vis d ngini.
Her calf is swollen. Pl: cheror. Variant:
chrorini; kerorini.
chrot strong; tough; hard; difficult.
chrtpka halt; stop.
chrtp mn na slice into.
chrtp mt chop; cut up.
chrtp pt chop off; butcher.
chrtp s cut.
chsasek dry.
chsk be thirsty.
chsk pt be dry.
chsem those particular two long
ones.
chseng those particular long ones.
chseng n. hair. Kama rura ma bilar
ndai achabap athchseng. Old
people have white hair. Variant:
kseng. See: chekseng just those
particular long ones.
chsengdaiuika n. river crab sp.;
brown; shell up to 4 cm in diameter;
hairy legs; lives under stones in the
river. Pl: chsengdaiuik. Variant: k-
sengdaiuika.
chseng da vam n. beard; whiskers.
72
chthiavs
Amorka ma chseng da vam. His
beard is thick. Pl: chseng dath vam.
Variant: chsengga da vam; kseng da
vam.
chesengdm n. mushroom sp.; grows
on mango trees, feels furry, and is
edible.
chsengga da vam beard; whiskers.
chsengia n. long hair; specifically a
single strand of hair. Pl: chseng.
Variant: ksengia.
chsengvs n. feather. Arura tha
travet schama chseng nk
kama duraik diva thi vs ngt. The
people are removing the feathers from
the chickens in order to cook them.
Pl: chsngimlk. Pl: chseng.
Variant: ksengvs.
chspka n. high stony cliff with a
waterfall flowing down it. Pe vt ma
Umangmtki d chama chspka
ama baringgi chi donanas naivuk
samk. At the head of the Umang-
mtki River, the water falls from a
high cliff. Arenggi ma Mangliming
d chsap mt ki. The Mangliming
River has a stony cliff. Pl: chsap.
Variant: kspka.
chesias be thirsty.
chsin na stink.
chtikktika n. grasshopper sp.;
brown and short; flat area on the
back between the wing and the
head. Pl: chtikktik. Variant:
ktikktika.
chthcha n. hiccup. Athoemini
ngthi tnok nmt chthcha. The
baby is coughing from hiccups.
Pl: chthk. Note: only k.
chthcha mt hiccup.
chthep grab; catch.
chthiacha n. blue. Dulki chia mu
chama sravtki ama chthiacha
nachi. Dulki wore a blue shirt. Variant:
kthiacha.
chthiachi n. pancreas; the organ that
is close to the liver. Ka ms kama
thinmga ava chthiachi d chia
sren mtka. He ate the fish's
pancreas and it was bitter. Pl: chthai.
Variant: kthiachi.
chthiavs bluish.
chethik mt
chethik mt bind.
chethik p tie.
chethik pt tie.
chethik sthm fasten.
chethik t tie on.
chethik tm tie on.
chthom those particular two small
ones.
chthong those particular small ones.
chthopka sap.
chthopka n. pool. Kthopka avak
sok dur saimk. That pool is really
deep (down inside). Pl: chthop.
Variant: kthopka.
chethopka ava sachongachi n.
deepest part of a pool.
chthopka vt be fat; be obese.
chthopki n. 1 liquid.
2 large pool. Thoes thi plk ia thi
thor vt kama chthopki. The
children like to swim in the large pool.
Pl: chthop. Variant: kthopki.
chthopvm n. puddle. Pl: chthopvap.
Variant: kthopvm.
chvaik just that particular one.
chevaik dem. just that particular one.
Gram: Emphatic feminine singular contras-
tive demonstrative. Kvichi achvaik
dei chama sunasvmgi. She is a
teacher. Variant: chvaik; achvaik.
Note: only ch.
chvaik n. sword grass (kunai). Kavu-
dmgichna da athva bang ma
chvaik dak Ilichna da athva
bang ma alam. The people at Kavu-
dmgi, their houses are made of sword
grass (kunai) but at Ili their houses are
made of cane leaves. Variant: kvaik.
chvaika n. stalk of sword grass
(kunai). Guavek ta mr chama ch-
vika nainath. Some people pulled
out the sword grass (kunai) stems
from around here. Variant: kvaika.
chvaiki n. area of sword grass
(kunai). Pea Masarau da thchp
chama chviki. There is lots of sword
grass (kunai) at Masarau. Variant:
kvaiki.
chvak dem. just that particular one.
Gram: Emphatic masculine singular contras-
73
chiar vt
tive demonstrative. Kvicha chvak dai
chama Pater. That one, he is a priest.
Variant: achvak. Note: only ch.
chvam those particular two short
ones.
chvap those particular short ones.
chvarvarki crab sp.
chvek n. relatives. Giama chvek ta
met ta lu nge ura ngabs? Did your
relatives come and see you or not?
Ngo, gu chvek nave ia Takis. Me,
my relatives are from Takis. Variant:
kavek.
chvlki n. 1 piece; possibly a piece
of rope, wood, or tapioca runner etc.
Ngi vondm chama lavrki at ch-
vlki bachi. You give a piece of the
sugar-cane to her.
2 chapter. A slameng d ma
Matius ava methamon amr, ma
chvlki ama naruerki, a munggu-
lmga aungiom nacha save ia
levavet. Reading from the Good News
according to Matthew, chapter one,
verses two to four. Pl: chvl.
chvem those particular two.
chevs n. fishing spear; has many
prongs. Ka chut kama thinmgi
nchama chevs achevs. He caught
the fish with the fishing spear. Pl: che-
vimlk. Note: only ch.
chvs that particular flat one.
chvs when.
chvsnia when.
chvet that particular long one.
chvi= that one.
chevorachi betel pepper (daka) plant.
chvulki testicle.
chvulka n. octopus. Banglka cha
chrtp schama chvulka dak ku-
lel kama chanashucha. The shark
grabbed the octopus (bait) but left the
hook. Pl: chvul. Note: only ch.
chi she; it; she; it.
chia she; it.
chialetki n. river crab sp.; brown; has
a lumpy shell and flat chest; hatches
in pools. Pl: chialet. Variant: kialetki.
chiar scrape.
chiar vt scrape.
chier
chier first.
chier mes t push away.
chikachik another; each.
chilimski n. leech. Chilinski chia
nes ngo da aruan. A leech bit me and
it hurts. Pl: chilims. Variant: kilimski.
chilok tickle.
chinai actually; in contrast; instead; in
turn.
chinak just.
chinak yes; all right.
chinap n. ash. Chinap avang d a-
chrnas mt ngt. Those ashes are
salty. Variant: kinap. See: thabucha
dust; ash.
chinas just; recently.
chinasa really; already.
chin her and.
chine actually; in contrast; instead; in
turn.
chinipki n. fireplace; hearth. Chinipki
avaik d sa amuruchi. This
particular fireplace is old. Pl: chinap.
Variant: kinipki.
chir push away; clear away.
chirap salt.
chit she; it.
chivelacha lizard.
chivelachi n. lizard; generic term for
small lizards. Kama chivelachi chia
tuchun kama lmas. The small lizard
chases flies. Pl: chivel. Variant: kivela-
chi; chivelacha; kivelacha.
chiveligl n. young crocodile. Kama
basiochi ama thoemgi da ut teski ia
chiveligl. The crocodile's baby, we
call it chiveligl. Pl: chivel. Pl: chive-
ligleng. Variant: kiveligl.
chlamurki puddle.
chlan like; likewise; at the time; when.
chlan only; just; for nothing; with no-
thing.
chlan be like; be similar.
chlavonotki crab sp.
chlelachi large intestine.
chlelachun'ga n. driftwood. Garski
chia thon kama chlalachun. The sea
threw driftwood (on shore). Pl: chlela-
chun. Variant: klalachun.
74
chlomgi
chlmen fool.
chlmuen n. fool; name of a character
in many Mali stories. Klmuen cha
met ka monel da ngmbs ka vlng
anga slik. The fool went and hunted
but he did not kill any meat. Variant:
klmuen; chlmen; klmen.
chlvachi n. maggot. Kama chvachi
chia mon smt kama slikigl ama
chsinigl. The maggot got into the
smelly piece of pork. Pl: chlap. Variant:
klvachi; chlvachi.
chlochacha n. 1 core; innermost
part. Kama mngga av chlocha-
cha da achlacha cha. The
innermost part of a tree is soft.
2 inside part of something. Ka-
cholcha va chlochacha da chabap
mtka. The inside part of tapioca is
white. Ngias kama chlok dak kulel
kama chndeng. Eat the inside but
throw away the skins.
3 soul. Arucha ma mrka cha
ingip da va chlochacha chaet sv
usupki. The good man died and his
soul went to heaven. Pei ngi ingip da
gi chlochacha cha thet nemet gi
chndenggi. When you die, your soul
will leave your body. Pl: chlok. Variant:
chlochacha. Note: only ch.
chlochachi n. large inside part of
something. Veia vk t chama
vimga d thi pr ava chlochachi
namuk. When the galip nut
(Canarium indicum) breaks they take
out the inside part. Pl: chlok. Variant:
chlochachi; klochachi.
chlochaini n. small inside part of
something. Pl: chlok. Variant: chlo-
chaini; klochaini.
chlom angt nank n. shellfish sp.;
large shell, similar to a conch; up to
25 cm long; used to make buttons;
has a large door. Pl: chlom angt
nankina.
chlomga shellfish sp. Usage: Abilta
dialect.
chlomgi n. shellfish sp.; lives on the
reef; rounded spiral shell with
ridges; brown and white mottled
colour; up to 4 cm across; has a
door. Pl: chlom. Variant: klom;
chlomga (Abilta dialect).
chluangga chuasin

chluangga n. tree sp.; has silky fibre.
Ti dng gama chluang angt kn-
deng iva nani chama thing. They
scrape the chluang for their silky
fibre. Pl: chluang. Note: only ch.
chluing cloud.
chluing black.
chluingga n. march fly; blue; usually
the first to arrive on a carcass in the
bush, or to sit on rubbish. Pl: chluing.
Note: only ch.
chlumen'gi n. frog; generic term.
Karki chia vlng chama
chelumen'gi. The truck killed the
frog. Pl: chlumen. Variant: kelemen'gi;
chelumen'gi.
chlumen'gi ama iriarki n. frog sp.;
large green river frog. Pl: chlumen
ama iriar. Variant: chlumen'gi ama
uras atha lchar; chlumen'gi ama
uras d ththik.
chlumen'gi ama uras atha l-
char frog sp.
chlumen'gi ama uras d th-
thik frog sp.
chnam old garden.
choe where.
choenei where.
choeng bt scrape; rub.
choi no.
choi no; not.
choiku no; not.
choir pt vi-so. rejoice. Usage: Borrow-
ing from Ura. Mrvm ngn da
choir pthangen. You are all happy
and you rejoice. Variant: chuarka pt.
chok just; already.
choki also; similarly.
chop dm hang up.
chop mni fasten.
chop s tie up.
chot spit.
chot pt spit on; spit at.
chra that particular one.
chraik just that particular one.
chrak that particular one.
chrare those particular people.
chrark dry.
chrath those particular people.
chrechacha loose soil.
chrek sthm close in; block off;
forbid.
chrtki n. policeman; the name comes
from the days of the German colony
when the police wore short pieces of
material (laplaps) with belts. Chrt-
ki cha sangaracha dak ka iras ia
cha da ngmbs. The policeman
arrested him but he pretended that he
was not the one. Pl: chrtkichna.
chrtkrt s rustle.
chririaska centipede.
chrnas mt be brave; be hard; be
difficult; be salty.
chrorachi banana flower.
chrorini calf; specifically the large
muscle in the lower part of the leg.
chrtp mt chop; cut up.
chuan rice.
chuanigl n. sandy area. Ka mu cha-
ma baul ama cha thor ngt mni
chama chuanigl. He put the clothes
he had washed, on the sandy area.
Note: only ch.
chuanik swallow.
chuar show.
chuar say.
chuaramgi n. black bird with red eyes.
Ka thu chama chuaramgi. He shot
the black bird with the red eyes.
Pl: chuaram. Variant: kuaramgi.
chuaramgi at sachong n. native
spinach (aibika) with red stems. Ka
vt kana chuaramgi at sachong ve
va lat. He planted the red-stemmed
native spinach (aibika) in his garden.
Pl: churam angt sachong.
chuares say.
chuares ithm mes sa confess.
chuarka pt vi-so. rejoice. Usage:
Borrowing from Ura.
chuarka pt rejoice.
chuar na tell.
chuar n tell.
chuar tm light up.
chuasin splash.
chuasin toss.

75
chubururucha
chubururucha brown ant.
chudicha n. freshwater prawn sp.;
dark brown; up to 5 cm long; easy to
catch because they do not move fast.
Pl: chudi. Variant: kudicha.
chudichi n. piece of rotten wood; e.g.
from a fallen tree that has rotted for
several years. Kia met nmt atha
uratki mni chama chudichi. She
left her basket on the rotten wood.
Mnapka da sok chudichi nacha
mamr. He is sleeping like a rotten
log. Pl: chudi. Variant: kudichi.
chueng scrape.
chuer go first; lead.
chuer s lead.
chut pierce; spear; inject.
chut ma draw.
chut pt write.
chuk just; already.
chuk na descend.
chule stay.
chule adv. later. Ka met d chule sa
ch vinm. He went and later he will
come back. In met sva lat sa chule
sa in met smmi arenggi. They
went to the garden, then afterwards
they went to the river. Variant: kule.
chule dont.
chulchulcham n. hoop. Ka rut n-
chama changat mt kama chul-
chulcham. He pushed the rope
through the hoop. Pl: chulchulvap.
Note: only ch.
chulel leave; throw away.
chulemgi n. corner. Ta thn kama
urat ama dungdung ve mt chama
bangga av chulem. They hung the
empty baskets in the corners of the
house. Pl: chulem. Variant: kulemgi.
See: avingnaska corner.
chule nge chlan interj. Bye! Usage:
This expression lets the hearer know
that they can go. Chule nge chlan,
bubuang sa ngu lu nge. You can go,
I will see you tomorrow.
chulp n. 1 pool. Tha chierms
thch vaimga svt chulp. They
pushed the dog into the pool.
2 liquid. Variant: kulp.
76
chumangacha
chulpka n. tear. Mamr ia k lu cha-
ma chulpka vt at sachongacha.
He could see the tear in her eye.
Pl: kulap. Variant: kulpka.
chulpki n. 1 bowl of water. Chia
thor n chama chulpki nmt
kama diski. She poured water out of
the bowl into the dish.
2 soup. Chulpki ama mrki.
Good soup. Duraika ava chulpki
sok amr mtki. Chicken soup is
really delicious. Variant: kulp.
chule sa interj. Wait a minute!
chulesia n. haze. Pus vm kama
adamgi d kulesia chlan. The
mountain erupted and it was hazy [Lit:
(there was) haze]. Variant: kulesia.
chulski n. 1 smoke. Barth, nma av
chulski avaik mano? Barth, whose
smoke is that down there?
2 steam. Pl: chuls. Variant: kulski.
chulibingga tongue.
chulibingga tongue of flame.
chulimbinggi n. tongue of flame. Dak
mir da chama amundmbs
athama chulimbinggi ama chia ve.
But long ago the huge fires tongue
was there. Pl: achulubaing. Variant:
kulbingga; chulibingga.
chulimgi n. nose. Ng da mor gi
chulimgi. You, your nose is big.
Pl: chulim.
chulumtka n. crab sp.; dark brown
with a white mouth and white claws;
shell 5 cm in diameter; lives above
the tide line. Pl: chulumt. Variant:
kulumtka.
chulumga n. shellfish sp.; white
cowrie shell. Ngia mnbt gia chu-
lumga nachoe? Where did you find
your cowrie shell? Pl: chulum. Variant:
kulumga.
chulumga n. white man. Chulumga
avak navuk cha tet. That white man
is walking down. Pl: chulumda. See:
achabapka white man.
chulumgi n. white woman.
chum cough.
chumangacha n. spider; generic
term. Chumangacha ava masar. The
spiders web. Pl: chumang. Variant:
chumang angt nank
kumangacha.
chumang angt nank n. insect sp.;
large grey insect without wings; has
claws like a crab. Pl: chumang angt
nankina. Variant: kumang angt
nank.
chumangdalska n. spider sp.; large
black spider with yellowish stripes;
builds a strong web that small bats
sometimes get caught in. Pl: chu-
mangdalas. Variant: kumangdalska.
chumbarka bird sp.; dove; Victoria
crowned pigeon.
chumngas gaol; prison.
chumer clean.
chumska male.
chumgi n. knee. Vis d ma nan'gi at
chumgi. Mother has a swollen knee.
Pl: chuam. Variant: kumgi.
chumgi cough; cold.
chunachacha n. shellfish sp.; found in
the river; pointy black shell; up to
5 cm long. Pl: chunak. Variant: kuna-
chacha.
chunmgi old garden.
chunmka n. rosary beads. Note: only
ch.
chunng n. 1 season. Saeng angt
kunng. Rainy season.
2 occasion. Arutha sok athva lu-
manaski ama morki ve ia chama
chunng ama mor. People really do
big preparations during important
occasions. Variant: kuneng.
chunengm n. morning star. Ut d-
chm nbngang d dng via
kunengm ka dn. We were awake
in the night until the morning star
appeared. Variant: kunengm.
chunngga sun; day; occasion.
chunngga ava iski clock.
chunengga cha don n. west. West
New Britain d chave i kunengga
cha ndon. West New Britain is to the
west. Variant: kunengga cha don.
chunengga cha ndn n. east. Kama
kinggna ma devaung ta met nave
ia kunengga cha ndn diva thi lu
ma Jesus. The three kings came from
the east to see Jesus.
chunnggunng dawn.
77
churemgi
chunengguneng dm be real.
chunngngrngrka n. shellfish sp.;
found on the reef; rounded spiral
with ridges; white in colour. Pl: chu-
nngngrngr. Variant: kunngngr-
ngrka. See: mros shellfish sp.
(alternate name).
chunia n. sandy beach. Arura ma
naingista da thi plk kama chunia
diva tha donel ve. The people from
other tribes like to wander on a sandy
beach. Pl: chunink. Note: only ch.
chun'ga sand.
chungacha n. 1 tree sp.; casuarina.
Kama chungacha cha ve d gua
vtka avam. The casuarina tree is in
front of my house.
2 sisterless man; sisterless boy; a
man or a boy who does not have any
sisters. Johanes ta thal ka d cha-
ma chungacha nacha i choiku
avanga lvopki. Johanes was born
and he is sisterless because there
were no girls. Ngi lu chama thoes
achums ama chuang i choiku
athvanga lvop. See those young
boys, they have got no sister.
Pl: chuang. Variant: kungacha.
chur show.
chur show.
churacha n. 1 root. Kama lamsachi
at churacha sok achrotka. The
coconut palm's root is really strong.
2 artery; vein. Sa cha ruchi ithaik
da at chuar ngmbs ng na tk.
This particular woman's veins are not
working. Pl: chuar. Variant: kuracha.
chura tm show; reveal.
chura tm light up.
churavesik na reveal.
churemga n. betelnut. Cha da chok k
sing churem dak chok achabap v
chng. He chews betelnut but his
teeth are white. Kama kuremga cha
ve mt gu uratki. The betelnut is in
my basket. Pl: churem. Variant: kurem-
ga.
churemgi n. 1 palm sp.; betel palm.
Kule ma ngi thap schama chu-
remgi! Do not cut down the betel
palm!
2 shellfish sp.; comes from the sea;
churngga
has an elongated spiral shell up to
10 cm long. Pl: churem. Variant:
kuremgi.
churngga n. mountainside. Aingipki
chia sur nacha imani vt kurng.
Death pushed him over the mountain-
side. Pl: churng. Variant: kurngga.
churepki dolphin.
chureski n. 1 leaf from an areca
palm.
2 bucket; made from an areca
palm leaf. Kama angthuauchi chia
thal atha msms mt kama
chureski nva lat. The grandmother
carried her food from the garden in
her bucket. Pl: chures. Variant: kureski.
churetka n. flame. Chokosa mamr ia
uthi tlu chama churet nvt atha
mundm. We could just see the
flames from her fire. Achuret mt
kama amundm smni anggiseng
iva sok achuret klan avik. The
flames got into something and it was
really burning. Pl: churet. Note: only
ch.
churetki n. large flame. Pl: churet. Note:
only ch.
churithong ama ngthi bang sa
methamn n. nerve. Sa cha ngip i
ava churithong ama ngthi bang sa
methamn koi ng na tk. He died
because his nerves stopped working.
Pl: chuar ama ngthi bang sa metha-
mn. Variant: kurithong ama ngthi
bang sa methamn.
chursachongem n. crab sp.; brown;
strong shell up to 6 cm in diameter;
has powerful legs; kicks when
someone holds it. Pl: chursachong.
Variant: kursachong.
chusa just; simply.
chusaricha n. name of the type of
Mndas dancer that has the adamga
mask. Variant: kusaricha.
chusek only; just.
chusem n. intestines. Tha chumr
kama vlam angthama chusem
diva thi var ngt. They cleaned the
pigs intestines in order to cook them
in an earth oven (mumu). Variant:
kusem. See: chusemia section of
intestines.
78
chutik namt
chusemga n. spinal cord. Kama
chusemga ama cha namt muk
vm kama buthi. The spinal cord
goes down inside the back. Variant:
kusemga.
chusemgi n. large intestine. Chi thon
chama sen'ga smni atha lungut-
ka va saremgi d smni chama
chusemgi d cha ngip. She threw
the knife at her husbands stomach
and it went into his large intestine and
he died. Pl: chusem. Variant: kusemgi.
See: achlelachi large intestine.
chusemgi ama chlelachi n. large
intestine. Ta chut kama vlmga da
v schama chusemgi ama chlela-
chi. They speared the pig in its large
intestine. Morph: chusemki ama
chlelakki. Lit: intestine-F.DG REL
soft-F.SG.
chusemia n. section of intestines.
Vaim ng nes kama vlmini d ng
nes angt chusemia. The dogs bit
the piglet, they bit its intestines.
chusemithong n. small intestine. Ut
mo da authama chusemithong muk
vm ut. We all have small intestines
inside us. Variant: kusemithong.
chusilka n. freshwater fish sp.; black;
small with a large mouth; live under
stones. Pl: chusil. Variant: kusilka.
chuski n. muddy ground. Asika ngi
ruk nigia lchar mt kama chuski
da sik ng thm da athop mt ngt.
If you push your feet into the mud,
they will be itchy and sore. Pl: chus.
Variant: kuski.
chut catch; specifically an eagle
catching its prey.
chut serve.
chut stack.
chut pierce; spear; inject.
chut dm get rid of.
chutm s sew.
chutgil tm butcher; chop.
chutigligl n. half. Ka von ngo chama
dichi atha chutigligl. He gave me
half of a taro. Pl: chutigiliglng.
Variant: kutigligl.
chutik namt poke repeatedly; stab
repeatedly.
chut ithm
chut ithm lean on.
chutkut writing.
chutkutki drawing.
chut ma draw.
chut mes shoot randomly.
chut mes be patchy.
D -
da coord. and. Gram: Addition marker. Ut
met vathm chama renggi du ut lu
chama marupki vthat valo ang-
thathng di chia mugun na ut. We
went along the river and we saw the
cassowary on her eggs and she chased
us. Variant: d; du; do; di.
daer prep. over. Kama srucha cha mu
chama sospen'gi daer kama mun-
dm. The elderly man put the
saucepan over the fire.
dai subord. thus; then. Asika aslek
pthachi ncha rucha vakpik, dei
thi vondmgi saglmga. If she is
willing to marry that particular man
then they will give her to him. Variant:
dei.
dai asik subord. so that. Ngia ts dai
asik aron nge. You eat so that you are
satisfied.
dain dance.
dair stand; wait.
dair pt walk with.
dair s make stand.
dair snas stand alone.
dair snania lean against.
daith right here.
daithik right now; just like this.
dak coord. but. Gram: Adversative marker.
Vadi uthet save ia town mt k
botki dak laur mamor da ngmbs
ut met. We wanted to go to town in
the boat but the wind was strong and
we did not go.
daki also; too; similarly.
dal carry; move; bear; give birth.
dalias adv. squatting. Ngia mugun
dalias. You are squatting. Note: only d.
dama and the.
79
das
chut pt write.
chuvt short.
chuvisacha n. chickenhawk. Chuvisa-
cha cha chut kama duraikini d
cha vrap sngini. The chickenhawk
grabbed the chicken and flew away
with it. Pl: chuvis. Variant: kuvisacha.
d
damga n. lump. Agit angtha dam vt
kama rucha vak? What are the lumps
on that man? Pl: dam.
damgi n. mountain. Damgi ma Everest
sok ki saivuk daer kama dam
ngmo. Mount Everest is really the
highest mountain of all. Pl: dam.
Variant: ndamgi.
damgi theves n. mountain peak. Ka
mair d chama damgi thvus. He
stood on the mountain peak.
danungga n. unproductive man; a
person who does not bring anything
home for the household (e.g. no
firewood, water, or food); someone
who cannot catch fish etc. Jackob
sok ama danungga mamr. Jackob
is really a person who does not bring
anything home. Pl: danungda.
danunggi n. unproductive woman.
dang sa-vi. 1 catch fire. Ambang ng
mang. The houses caught fire.
2 burn. Tiang atha mbangga cha
mang ve ia Karong. Tiangs house
burned at Karong. Variant: ndang;
thang; mang.
dang mt sa-vi. 1 burn; be on fire.
Kama ambangga cha dang mt. The
house is on fire.
2 be in a fire. Variant: ndang mt;
thang mt; mang mt.
dar fall; particularly of fruit.
dar s fall out.
dar s pour out; especially of water
from a tap.
das coord. 1 and still. Tangamtta
tha ndn, das koi angama Auli-
ngalta, ura angitha, angmbs.
Tolais came, but still no Sulkas or
anyone, no.
das
2 and yet.
3 and just. Cha met das ka mair
nani ava lunggutki iva in det sva
lat. He went and just waited for his
wife so they could go to the garden.
Morph: da=as. Lit: and=yet.
das sleep; lie down.
dasa coord. and so; then. Ka met da sa
cha mn. He went then he arrived.
Cha ves kama nangas ama ddn
d sa ngave ddn'ga mamr. He
smoked marijuana and so he felt
confused. Morph: da=sa. Lit: and=then.
Variant: dsa.
dasik coord. and maybe. Morph: da=asik.
Lit: and=irrealis.
dasika coord. and if. Dasika vandi ngia
thet... And if you want to go... Morph:
da=asika. Lit: and=if.
dat get; give birth.
dat d copy.
dat dm copy.
dat m na leave.
dat mt share; divide.
dat mt bump.
dat mt na leave.
dat nthm help.
d here.
d and.
d right here.
d at; along.
dcham start.
dcham wake up; be awake; be alive;
arise.
dchm wake up; be awake; be alive;
arise.
ddarin roar.
ddn vi-so. 1 be confused. Arura ma
choiku tha sunas da ut tes tha ia
ddn tha. People who do not learn,
we call them confused.
2 be insane; crazy. Aruchi achik
ma tha teski ia Sabrina da ddn'gi
d mamr ia chia thuchun nge.
That woman, who they call Sabrina, is
crazy and she might chase you.
3 be delirious.
ddn'gi n. madness. Pl: ddn.
ddng n. finish. At marasin ma chia
80
dn
tha ngt taithik d sa ddng. Her
medicine that she will take now will be
her last (dose).
ddng na vi-so. be last. Ddng
nacha. He is last.
dedr tight.
ddrin n. roar; a roaring sound.
Kama ddrin mt kama sipki ama
morki. The roaring sound of a big
ship. Variant: ddarin.
ddin n. thunder. Mali nbangang d
ddin masak. It really thundered at
night.
dgeling dir. to the side of. Kama
dulki chia vae dgeling nchama
srucha uvski. The stone hit to the
side of the elderly mans head.
deglingini n. ring finger. Pl: deglingi-
thong.
dei thus; then.
dldl n. ringing. Uthi nari dldl mt
kama belka. We will hear the ringing
of the bell.
dldlka n. scale of a fish. Athinmgi
ath dldl. A fish has scales. Pl: dl-
dl.
del vt vt. tap; e.g. hitting a galip nut
(Canarium indicum).
del vt s vi-so. strike. Ka thap mavo
nchama thinemgi da kosa del vt
scha sen'gi d chama dulki
thvus. He cut the fish clumsily and
the knife struck the top of the stone.
dm at; along.
dm sa-vi. be sour. Arm ngo d cha-
ma yare ng dm. I am sick and my
saliva is sour.
dm sa-vi. itch. Mrmr ngi thor
giama chdengm diva choi ia ng
dm. Always wash your skin so that it
does not itch. Variant: thm; mm.
dma coord. and the. Morph: da=kama.
Lit: and=ART. Variant: dama.
dmeska n. mosquito. Dmeska vak
d ch bond chama slp ma
vsvis. That mosquito gives people
swollen legs. Pl: dmes. Variant:
dmska.
dmska mosquito.
dmna together.
dn sa-vi. 1 arrive; come. Botki chia
dn
ndn. The boat arrived. Ut tet ina-
vuk, du ut dn be ma Kethopki. We
went down, then we came to Kethopki
Bay.
2 reach. Kvsnia ngia thn peia
Kokopo? When will you reach
Kokopo?
3 return. Chule tha vaur sa bu-
bang d than. They are staying in the
bush and tomorrow they will return.
Variant: ndn; thn; mn; mun; -an.
dn sa-vi. grow. Tltlcha vak d cha
ve cha dn da ulul cha. That
tltlcha tree is starting to grow tall.
Variant: thn; rn; ndn; rin (Abilta
dialect).
dn vt. grow; specifically make a baby
grow. Auk, kule sa ngaiom as ka
thoemiom, nngaiom, tave thi rin
ngaiom mt kama mormor. Well,
when they were still small, those two,
they made them grow in the special
place. Variant: thn; rn; ndn; rin
(Abilta dialect).
denachi sa-vi. start. Chia chuar nango
ia ngua denachi schama mambu.
She told me that I should start the
songs. Variant: ndenachi; thenachi;
memachi.
dn bt find.
dn d be stuck.
dn dm be stuck.
dn dmna sa-vi. gather together;
meet up. Gram: Takes a plural subject. Ta
dn dmna smt kama munggun-
bs. They gathered together for the
meeting. Variant: thn; mn.
dn dmna vt. meet together, usually
informally. Ut natha ut dn dmna
veia market. We met each other at
the market. Variant: ndm dmna; thn
dmna; mn dmna.
dendem p vt. leave out; exclude. Da
ma mbunatha d cha mendem pa-
thvus d choi cha na vonta. The
rich people, he left them out and he
did not give them anything. Variant:
thendem p; mendem p.
dn m vt. become. Valuacha bk
pthacha diva cha thn mchama
duraikini. The egg hatched to
become a chicken. Variant: thn m;
mn m.
81
dng na
dn pa ~ dn p reach; arrive.
dn pt sa-vi. reach; arrive. Asika ngia
thn pa mbang da sik ngias kama
thinm. When you arrive home you
should eat the fish. Variant: thn pt;
mn pt; dn p; thn p; mn p; dn
pa; thn pa; mn pa.
dn pthana vt. meet each other.
Akun ch mbang mava botki d
chnma Bonnie chnatha
dnpthana veia Karong. Akun
travelled with his boat and he and
Bonnie and his mob met each other at
Karong. Variant: thn pt; mn pt.
dn s vt. arrive with; bring. Asip sa
ngua thn s gianga viam. Later I
will come back with some of your galip
nuts (Canarium indicums). Variant:
thn s; mun s.
dn vt vt. find. Sa ngia mun vt
ngait? Did you find it? Sa ngua mun
vt ngait. I found it. Variant: thn vt;
mun vt; dn bt; thn bt; mun
bt.
deng vt. twist together; e.g. to make a
strong rope out of finer ones. Ta
meng kanggat mnichi. They
twisted ropes around her. Variant:
theng; meng.
dng n. end. Dng taithik. This is the
end.
dng adv. until. Thi tk pe va lat sa
dng asip sa tha dn. They work in
the garden until afternoon then they
return.
dng vt. process; specifically to scrape
the skin off wood fibre to make it
silky for rolling into string. Variant:
thng.
dngbm na vi-so. stop suddenly.
Kama aiska chi bang nk aiska d
chok kosa dngbm nachi. The car
ran on the road and then just stopped.
dngtham dir. in front; at the front.
Ngia thair dngtham. You stand at
the front.
dng na vi-so. stop; finish. Ka chuar
natha ia dng natha nmt kama
lat. He told them to stop working in
the garden. Asik nge d ngia vang,
d dng nange choe? When you ran
away, where did you stop?
Deo
Deo n. God. Kusek Deo asgk klan.
There is only one God. From: Latin: Deo.
dr excrete.
der refuse; decline.
dr pull out; uproot; clear.
dranas go; take off; leave.
dravt weed.
dravt s remove.
dr na lay; specifically of a turtle
laying eggs.
dr vthanas have diarrhoea.
des name; call by name.
des read.
ds eat.
dsa and so; then.
desavet da sek narrate; tell a story.
desavet dm narrate; tell about.
des nas call oneself.
ds nthm taste.
ds t shake.
ds tm shake.
dstmna n eat with.
dt get; give birth.
det walk; go.
det dm dry; desiccate; be dried out
from lying in the sun.
det kutna miss someone because each
person went by a different path.
dt mt uvski n. stupid person.
Kama dt mt uvski vaivak ma
choiku chna mu ava snng
mamr. That stupid person does not
think properly.
dt mtha musnng n. forgetful
person. Kvicha da mrmr kama
dt mtha musnng. That one is
always forgetful.
det na go past; pass.
det ngis n miss a target.
dt pa sndm n. deaf person. Axavier
da narur da chi nari. Dak ithik da
ut drm ia chi d chama dt pa
sndm. Axavier could hear before.
But now we know that she is deaf.
dt pthik let go of; drop.
dt s get.
dt sthm vi-so. be stuck. Kama
kaumatka dt sthm ga mugurp
82
dinas
kama palang. The rat is stuck be-
tween the planks. Variant: tht sthm;
mt sthm.
dethana be friends; be married; group
together.
dthanas help oneself; to take some-
thing without permission.
dththik beside.
dvthng adj. unconnected; some-
thing without a known source; e.g. a
fatherless child or Tok Pisin, which
is a language without a village. PNG
chna d tha tamn nchama me-
thamn ama dvthng. People
from PNG speak Tok Pisin.
dvthik dir. beside. Ava oemgi chia
met di shia mugun dvthik. His
daughter went and sat beside him.
Variant: dththik.
di and.
dichina do something (definite).
dichina n make something.
dik now.
dik this very one.
dildil dried up.
dil tm vi-so. be dried. Ingun'ga nmt
kama chunnggi da ch pus kama
achlachuaski da kosa dil tmgi.
The heat from the sun cooked the
grass and it was dried. Note: only d.
dinai coord. 1 in turn. Kama vaimga
cha er ka naik dinai chule di chama
vlmga. The dog was first to drink
and then it was the pigs turn.
2 instead. Auk, duraik, nge dinai
ngia thet save sdngtham dak ma
ngo nasot. Well, rooster, instead you
must go to the front but I (will sit at
the) back. Morph: da=kinai. Lit: and=
instead. Variant: dinei.
dinak coord. and just. Dai chvi thi
kuar ia chama mangbchng dinak
kvicha cha mun bivi viavik. So, as
they say, the decorative plant, and just
that one, it grows there like that.
Morph: da=kinak. Lit: and=just.
dinas coord. and just. Dak ka lagun'ga
vak pik dinasa cha mun avivik
piavik. And that decorative plant, it
just grew there like that. Morph: da=
kinas. Lit: and=just.
dinasa
dinasa adv. and really. Dak ka
lagun'ga vak pik dinasa cha mun
avivik piavik. And that decorative
plant, it really grew there like that.
Morph: da=kinasa. Lit: and=really.
dinei in turn; instead.
dini coord. and those two. ... dini tek
naina lat, ura in donel. ... and those
two work in their gardens or hunt.
Morph: da=ini. Lit: and=3DL class two.
din s vi-so. faint; collapse. Ddn'ga
nmt areng ama ddn d diss
cha. The man who collapsed was
affected by alcohol. Variant: diss.
din'ga n. boom; roar. Botki atha
din'ga vak. That is the roar of the
boat. Pl: ddin.
dingdm vi-so. be stuck. Dingdm
kama vaimga mt kama nanachi.
The dog was stuck in the glue.
dingdm pt vi-so. stick. Koi anga
vungt ding dm ngt ptha nge.
No sin sticks to you.
dingdingga n. bird sp.; very small;
some are black and some are yellow;
their call sounds like ding ding;
they like sitting in orange trees. ...
da ngini ng ngaip. Dei chama
dingdingga, cha ngaip. ... and the
little one hid. Thus the dingdingga, he
hid. Pl: dingding. See: dingdingini
bird sp. (alternate name).
dingdingini n. bird sp.; very small;
some are black and some are yellow;
their call sounds like ding ding;
they like sitting in orange trees.
Kama dingdingini, ps d ngini, d
ngthi mbang. The tiny dingdingini,
at once the small one flew. See: ding-
dingga bird sp. (alternate name).
dingt thing. Usage: Abilta dialect.
dingt something. Usage: Abilta dialect.
diski n. dish; often refers to a large
aluminium dish. Duraik angthama
slik ng muk mt kama diski. The
chickens meat is in the dish. Pl: dis.
From: English, Tok Pisin: dish, dis.
diss faint; collapse.
diva subord. in order to. Gram: Controlled
purposive. Mliar ka irastm sma
Karuaik diva chat ma Karuaik ava
sravtki. The parrot lied to the
don
earlybird in order to get his clothes.
Ngi ser kama urat diva? Why are
you weaving the baskets?
dlangga n. walking stick. Cha vl mni
chama dlangga. He broke the walk-
ing stick. Pl: dlang.
dlen sa-vi. be afraid; be frightened. Cha
donel vaur da ngbs chna dlen.
He wandered in the bush and was not
afraid. Variant: len.
do and.
dodm sa-vi. recount; narrate; tell.
Ngu dodm nchama secha. I will
tell a story. Ngu thodm svt kama
luln'gi ma chia mon sut. I will tell
about how the boat capsized with us in
it. Variant: thodm.
dok coord. and just. Tha namu inavuk,
inavuk, vaki tha mu athva chrot-
ki thaith, ma ith glm ut, mok
ithik dok kia ve glm ut taithik.
They continued down, down, until they
put our power here, close to us, where
(it is) just here and it is just with us
now. Morph: da=kok. Lit: and=just.
dok impregnate.
doki adv. 1 also; too. Ka d choki ch
tal ava vlika, da ava dul, doki
avama chepki. He also carries his
sling and his stones, also his spear.
Vandi ma chvi cha doki ch thk
saisavi. That one wanted to work
there too.
2 similarly. Achk ka munggun
doki achk ka munggun. One sat,
and similarly the other sat. Morph: da=
koki. Lit: and= also. Variant: daki.
dokta n. doctor. Cha met sava armgi
diva dokta ch lu cha. He went with
his sickness so that the doctor could
look at him. Pl: doktachna. From:
English, Tok Pisin: doctor, dokta.
dolngengga n. bang. Ngua nari
dolngeng mtkama pelet. I heard
the banging of a plate. Pl: dolngeng.
don vt. 1 throw away. Kule ma ngi
thon amethamn. Do not throw away
the advice. Ngi thon kama baulki
nevanas. You throw away the cloth
(laplap) from yourself.
2 subtract. Variant: thon.
don sa-vi. 1 go in; enter. Sunasvmda
83
don
tha chuar nathva thoes tha don
svt athva ulung dasika ngbs
d sik tharavt. The teachers said to
their students that they would go into
their rooms, and if not, they would do
the weeding.
2 sink. Kanucha cha mon scha-
ma msms. The canoe sank with the
food.
3 drown.
4 be stuck. Kama vlmga ka mon
mt kama baurka. The pig was stuck
in the trap. Variant: thon; mon.
don vt. bring in; specifically the sea
throwing things onto the shore. Mt
kama volam d ichum mt areng d
agarski chi don chama amng.
During the wet season the river floods
and the sea brings in wood. Variant:
thon.
donanas sa-vi. jump; throw oneself.
Ngua thonanas svt kulp. I
jumped into the pool. Variant:
thonanas.
donbathm na check; examine.
donbathm n vt. check; examine. Sa
chule sa nga ve ngu donbathm n
chama vrsetki vaik imono. Then I
started to examine around those
marks. Ngu don bathm ngu lagat
ma ngua vt ngt. I checked the corn
that I planted. Variant: thonbathm n;
donbathm na; thonbathm na.
don d follow.
don dm vt. follow. Ut thon dchama
basiochi atha iska d ut lu veia chia
ms kama vaimga. We followed the
crocodiles path and saw where it ate
the dog. Variant: thon dm; don d;
thon d.
don dmna sa-vi. gather together. Ku-
nngga achk, d tha mondmna.
One day they gathered together.
Variant: thon dmna; mon dmna.
donel sa-vi. 1 hunt. Kunngga ma
levavet nacha da arura nainath da
ta donel mtak nani athanga
mstmna. On Thursday the people
from here went hunting for their side-
dishes.
2 wander. Sa nasot sa kama
chaelka ka monel sa cha mun bt
kama isingga avoes. Later on the
84
dong mes
wallaby wandered off and he found
some yellow fruit. Variant: thonel;
monel.
don ma vt. heap up. Ngni thon ma-
chama vival angthik sthmna.
You all heap the mango branches
together. Variant: thon ma.
don ma sa-vi. 1 clear land for a new
garden. Anmamkiom ina ainoes
tha met thi donma vthathva val-
valcha. The parents and their children
went to clear out a patch for a garden.
2 throw away; abandon. John k
donma nani chalasung. John threw
away (everything) for the sweet potato
(kaukau). Variant: thon ma.
don meng vt. check. Fidel chia thon
meng at baul mndu ma kokoros
ng ms ngt. Fidel checked her
clothes because the cockroaches ate
them. Variant: thon meng.
don mt vt. 1 wear. Ngua mon mt
gua su. I wore my shoes.
2 put on. Ngia mon mt kama
singgliska di ngia np nachi ia na
vono sa muk. You put the shirt on and
(when you did) you turned it inside
out. Variant: thon mt; mon mt.
don na throw.
don n vt. throw. Ta thon nchama
bom savono ia Vaingait. They threw
bombs onto Vaingait. Variant: thon n;
don na; thon na.
don sk move to.
donsvanas tm vt. disown; dissoc-
iate from. Minia iva ngi thons-
vanas tm ga? Why did you disown
him? Variant: thonsvanas tm.
don svt sa-vi. move to. Ngt don
svt glingga snggk. They move
to one side. Variant: thon svt; mon
svt; don sk; thon sk; mon sk.
don vt vt. follow. Uthi tlen d uthi
bang d ut don vt aisini svt ma
Geor ava bangga. We got frightened
and we ran and we followed a small
path to Geors house. Variant: thon vt.
dong bewitch.
dong sa-vi. turn. Ngi thong diva gia
buthicha snania ut. You turn so that
your back is towards us. Variant: thong.
dong mes sa-vi. turn. Kama plmga
dorlaicha
cha thong mes svt aut peva ur d
ut len d ut vang. The pig turned to-
wards us in the bush and we felt afraid
and ran away. Variant: thong mes.
dorlaicha n. squid. Johanes ka chut
kama dorkaicha nva gars.
Johanes speared a squid from the sea.
Pl: dorlai.
dor na pour.
dradrachi n. hibiscus flower. Kama
achinggoinggi chia munggun vt
kama dradrachi. The butterfly sat on
the hibiscus flower.
dramgi n. drum; specifically a drum of
fuel, not a musical instrument. Ut
aut dramgi nchama bensin avaik-
pik. Us, our drum of benzene is that
one. Pl: dram. From: English, Tok Pisin:
drum, dram.
dranas go; take off; leave.
drm vt. know. Asik ngu rm mnia?
How will I know? Variant: ndrm; rm.
drm sa-vi. understand. Angmbs
ngua ndrm. I don't understand.
Variant: ndrm; rm.
drmanas na vt. recognise; know. Dak
ath, asik ath nmga cha lu ia sik
ti na rmanas na cha ura. But others
who saw, maybe they recognised him
or (something). Ngu lu cha d ngua
rmanas nacha. I saw him and I
knew him. Variant: rmanas na.
drm na vt. recognise. Asik ngu rm
nacha. I will recognise him. Variant:
rem na.
drm svanas sa-vi. realise. Sa ngua
rm svanas ia ngua met nmt gu
baulgi. I realised that I left without
my wraparound skirt (laplap). Variant:
rm svanas.
du put; wear; put on; lay.
du and.
du amethamn pt pass a message.
du amuvtka svt punish.
du av snng think.
du av snng mamr calm down;
settle down; relax.
du ba set rules.
du chelak tm please; soften.
duchun chase; hit.
85
du nas mk
duchun sit; settle.
du daruan hurt; injure.
du dm n lose.
du dng interrupt; fail to finish.
dudung pt vi-so. char. Ngave dudung
pt kama singapo mt kama mu-
dam. The singapores are charring in
the fire.
dugas play.
dugas s play a game.
dugas t play with.
dul n. money. Rascalchna tha svo
thavama dul nmt ava gunan'ga.
The rascals stole his money from the
store. Variant: ndul.
dule coord. and then. Kule ut va bang
dule d ut met sva lat. We stayed at
home and then we went to the garden.
Morph: da=chule. Lit: and=then.
dulem n. crab sp.; lives in holes in the
sand; white and brown shell; up to
5 cm in diameter. Pl: dulvap. See:
kiakkiaka crab sp. (alternate
name).
dulemga elbow.
duligl n. coin; especially a silver coin.
Ngua n vt kama duligl namk
nvt kama unpka. I found a coin in
the dust. Pl: duligleng. Pl: dul - Mali
has future tense.
dulini n. small stone. Pl: dulithong.
dulka n. stone; an average sized stone,
maybe a bit elongated. Dulka vak da
mrka iva thi bn chama paim. That
stone will be good to hit the pig with.
Pl: dul. Variant: ndulka.
dulki n. large stone; especially large
rounded stones. Pl: dul.
du ma joke; make fun.
du mamr sna level; straighten.
du mana arrange oneselves.
du manas prepare oneself; get ready.
du ma s joke about.
du mt set on fire.
du mrang dm cover.
dunaik na put; leave.
du nank grizzle; cry for something
for a long time.
du nas mk humble oneself.
dungdung
dungdung empty.
dunggas play.
dunggas s play a game.
dunggas t play with.
dung mt vi-so. get burnt. Dung mt
kama singapo mt kama mudm.
The singapore got burnt in the fire.
dung sng vi-so. be burnt. Dung sng
chama sospen'gi thut. The bottom of
the saucepan is burnt.
dur adv. deep. Kthopka avak sok dur
saimk. That pool is really deep
(down inside).
duraika n. rooster. Duraika vak ma
lolcha navama chseng dai ma Tim
ava chk. That rooster with the red
feathers belongs to Tim. Pl: duraik.
duraiki n. hen. Pl: duraik.
duraikini n. chick. Pl: duraikithong.
durik na punish.
dusachus wriggle because of irrita-
tion; toss and turn e.g. while trying
to sleep.
dusachus be irritating; feel uncomfor-
table.
dusachus nanas act funny.
E -
e there. Usage: Abilta dialect.
e interj. Oh!; exclamation of surprise. E!
Singalka ithak ma ngua viaska. Oh!
Heres a snake that I stepped on.
ei interj. Hey! Usage: To express concern
or annoyance. Ei, kule ma ngi tnok.
Hey, dont cry.
Ekaristia n. Eucharist. D cha mu a
Sakramento i chule cha mtka
mrmr ama Ekaristia. And he made
the sacrament by staying forever in
the Eucharist. From: Tok Pisin: Ekaris-
tia. Note: no endings.
en pro. you two. Gram: Second person dual
class three pronoun. Ut mn diva
uthaen. We came to get you. Ngua
thk mamr tmen da in ds. I ran
into you two when you were eating.
enm short iron spear.
enmula sa-vi. make the sound of a
86
-et
dusamon dm collect; gather things
together.
du samor s make fun.
du sa sothana change; especially of
changing clothes.
dusavus wriggle because of irritation;
toss and turn e.g. while trying to
sleep.
dusavus be irritating; feel uncomfor-
table.
dut coord. and we. Dak ath tha tat
kama is da ut tet dut dn mana va
nggars. And others cleared the road,
and we walked and arrived at the
coast. Morph: da=ut. Lit: and=1PL III.
du th decorate.
du thm decorate.
du thm mes decorate oneself.
du thm mes pt be glorious.
du thik dm beat.
duvaung three.
du vlk svt fall in love with.
duvet answer.
duvet mt answer; respond; recipro-
cate; take revenge; pay back.
e
bang. Kama basiochi chia vus atha
bemna sma, pau! Sok kia en-
mula. The crocodile closed its mouth,
whack! It really made a bang.
en'ga iron spear.
er adv. first. Ka er ka chuars, Kuk
ngni ndlen. He first said, Dont
you all be afraid. See: kuer s lead.
er go first; go ahead; go in front.
erna sa-vi. compete. Ini erna d nma
ma chaet nava ruacha da chat
angguangithong. The two of you
compete and the one who comes
ahead of his friend gets something.
erngthcha n. middle finger. Morph:
erngthkka. Lit: first-3N.I-touch-
MSG. Pl: erngthk. See: arnacha
middle finger.
-et walk; go.
 G -
ga he; it.
gaini some small thing.
gaini some small thing.
galpka n. freshwater fish sp.; silver;
up to 60 cm long; many bones inside
their flesh. Pl: galp.
galpki n. palm sp.; wild palm; used
for making axe handles and floors.
Ka thap pt kama galpki diva nani
chama karirot. He chopped the wild
palm for the black beetles. Pl: galp.
galicha n. mountain range; ridge. Ga-
licha vak monp da arura tha donel
ve nani vlam, ura gingt. That range
over there, people hunt there for pigs
or whatever. Kama chan'gan'ga dai
chama galicha mugurup kama
areng ama mor anga pus. The
chan'gan'ga is the top ridge between
the head of two big rivers. Pl: gali.
galumaing n. flower sp.; has small
red, yellow, white, and pink flowers
all in one flower head; light green
spear-shaped leaves. Kama
galumaing da purpur ma amr
ngt. The galumaing is a nice flower.
gama the.
gamar sa-vi. fight. Ti mbang dak ath
ma thi gamar. They ran and others
fought. Note: only g.
gamar nana sa-vi. fight each other. ...
dak minia diva thi nchama Bai-
ninggna tha gamar nana. ... and
why they and the Bainings fought with
each other. Note: only g.
gamar n vt. fight. Asik ti gamar n
chama arucha avak pik kn cha
lvopki avaik pik. They will fight
with that particular man, him and that
particular woman. Note: only g.
gamarvmga n. soldier. Kunngga
achk cha tal tchama Siapan'ga
agamarvmga. One day he was
carrying for a Japanese soldier.
gamracha n. fighting ground. Cha
mun smt ka gamracha. He
arrived at the fighting ground. Note: no
plural.
87
g
gamosachi n. food parcel; is wrapped
in leaves. Ka vng chama gamosa-
chi nchama viam. He wrapped the
packet of galip nuts (Canarium indi-
cum). Mndas ngt tain schama
gamos dchama ulan. Day dancers
dance with parcels of food and snakes.
Pl: gamos.
gamosini n. small food parcel. Fidel
chi bng bt at oes da achk av
gamosini doki achk. Fidel wraps a
small parcel of food for each of her
children. Pl: gamosithong.
gapgap light.
gar sa-vi. be noisy. Milani da thoes ti
gar dak taithik da munaman. Yes-
terday the children were noisy but
now they are quiet. Variant: munaman.
garang n. blossom.
garngacha n. bunch; e.g. a bunch of
bananas, coconuts or mangoes. Kia
thal atha garngacha nchama
viam. She carried a bunch of galip
nuts (Canarium indicum). Pl: garang.
garngachi n. large bunch; e.g. bana-
nas, coconuts, or mangoes. Pl:
garang.
gars coast; beach.
garski sea.
gathvacha n. beetle sp.; under-
ground beetles that bore holes in
root crops. Gathvacha cha slavo
ngua lat mo. The beetles ruined my
whole garden. Pl: gathap.
gavun n. fern. Tchp nchama ga-
wun, nge vadi ngiat agung? There
are lots of ferns, do you want to get
some? Variant: gawun.
gawtki n. crown; e.g. of a tree.
Amnggi atha gawtki. The crown of
the tree. Pl: gawt.
gawun fern.
g he; it.
g the.
gk pt vi-so. burp. Gk pt ngua
chn. I burped. [Lit: My neck burped.]
gl prep. with. Thik da chave gl kama
gelaulul
rutha. Now he is there with the
people.
gelaulul dir. far away; long way. Minia
diva ngia met sa gelaulul nani
chama chagat? Why did you go very
far to get the fibre?
glm prep. near; close. Ngia thon sa
glm diva ngua thamn sthm
nge. You come in close so I can tell
you something. Variant: glm.
glmna prep. near; next to each
other. Kama bafaloiom da ini tk
pia Yara, glmna nma Mevlu. The
two buffaloes worked at Yara, near the
Mevlu River. Morph: glm=na. Lit:
PREP=RECIP. Variant: glmna.
glingga place; side.
gl kuvet dir. be near to. Ngia thair
gl kuvet ngo. Stand close to me.
Sanggl kuvet nacha iva chathva.
Near to his arrival.
gelochna n. heavenly host.
gelucha n. angel. Dakama gelucha
cha dn. But an angel came. Pl: gelu-
tha. From: Latin, Tok Pisin: angelus,
angelo.
gmarucha n. freshwater fish sp.; has
a big head and is dark in colour;
shaped like a tadpole but bigger; can
stick itself to rocks with its chest;
side fins are whitish or yellowish; is
a lazy fish and stays under stones.
Gmarucha da chama thinmga ma
cha nmt kama renggi. The gma-
rucha is a fish from the river. Pl:
gmaru.
gml angt nank n. reef fish sp.;
similar to the gmlka species only
larger; up to 30 cm long; live on
reefs further out to sea. Pl: gml
angt nankina.
gmlcha n. reef fish sp.; dark red
with big eyes; has scales and greasy
flesh; is thin; up to 15 cm long.
Pl: gml. Variant: kmlka.
genaing n. 1 cerebrum. Ut mo ma
rura da autha ma genaing. All us
people have cerebrum.
2 phlegm; mucus. Genaing ng
tet. A runny nose. [Lit: Mucus, it goes.]
genaing genaing mt vi-so. have a
snotty nose; be heavily congested.
88
gethuaing angt nank
Chlmn ka lu chama urachi ama
genaing genaing mtki. The fool
saw the witch with the snotty nose.
gnngachi n. brain. Serimah da ma
armalaki. Guangithong ma chia
sunas tmngt veia sunaski sok
chia mu ngt mt ath gnngachi.
Serimah is a smart girl. Things that
she learnt at school are all kept in her
brain.
geneska white dove.
gnska n. white dove. Gns d mr-
mr ng tet ngthi naik agarski.
White doves always go and drink salt-
water. Pl: gns. Variant: geneska.
geng edge; bank.
gnget those particular ones; that
particular one.
ger sa-vi. bend over. Ngi ger manp.
You bend down.
grp anger.
grgrka n. pinpoint. Kama mulichi
atha nsnes sok a grgrka dm
ngt. The spikes of an orange tree are
really like pinpoints. Pl: grgr.
Gerkachna n. name of a group of
Mndas dancers; carry awaleng
masks; destroy the mound in the
centre of the dance ground; usually
the last dancers to appear during a
day dance.
gesik mt vi-so. smile. Gesik mthut
svt kama athoes ama chlp
ngt. We smiled at the shy children.
gethaingga cockroach.
gethainginggl n. cockroach. Kama
gethaingga cha mon smt ma
Tonya atha sndem d raik dmgi. A
cockroach went into Tonyas ear and
she screamed. Pl: gethaing. Variant:
gethaingga.
gthp n. anger. Dak ma Deo ava
gthp ka ma arektch usupki. But
God, in his anger, banned (them from)
heaven. Variant: grp.
gthep grab; catch.
gethon be yellow.
gethuaing angt nank n. fly sp.;
brown with big eyes and transparent
wings; similar to the murnalengeika
species but this one lays eggs. Pl: ge-
gi
thuaing angt nankina.
gi she; it.
gi pro. your. Gram: Second person singular
possessive pronoun. Ngi kuar nango ia
nguat anggiom nmt gi uratki?
Which two (things) did you tell me to
get from your basket?
gia pro. your. Gram: Second person singular
possessive pronoun and possessive pronoun
and specific article. Manabt cha mn-
bt gia chepki nva gars. Manabt
found your spear from the beach.
Morph: gi=a. Lit: 2SG.POSS=SPEC.
gia she; it.
giama pro. your. Gram: Second person
singular possessive pronoun and emphatic
possessive pronoun. Dak nge da gi
nank kia thal nge choe? And you,
where did your mother give birth to
you?
gianga pro. some of your. Gram: Second
person singular possessive pronoun and non-
specific possessive pronoun. Gianga ma
achuan ma ngi tk nangt? Are you
selling some of your rice? Morph: gi=
anga. Lit: 2SG.POSS=NSPEC.
giangama pro. your. Gram: Second person
singular possessive pronoun and indefinite
possessive pronoun. Morph: gi=angama.
Lit: 2SG.POSS=INDEF.
gicha what.
gicha someone; something.
gichm some short thing.
gichi something; someone.
giet she; it. Usage: Abilta dialect.
gigl some piece.
giglem some two pieces.
gigleng some pieces.
gilamucha plug.
gilamucha n. claws of a flying fox;
found on the elbows of the flying
fox; they use them to hang by. Kama
vangon'gi at gilamucha dai athama
dulemga achk ama chi kopsenas
nave. The flying foxs claws are on its
elbows for it to hang from. Pl: gilamu.
gilamuchi n. plug; e.g. the stopper in a
bamboo tube of water or a cork in a
bottle. Ngua thp mchama gila-
muchi smt kama aichi. I put the
stopper in the bamboo. Pl: gilamu.
89
githong
Variant: gilamucha.
gimlk some flat ones.
gimlm some two flat ones.
ginait some large one.
gink some large ones.
ginm some two large ones.
gingt something.
gingt n. thing. Gram: Count neutral
non-
specific. D ngu donbathm nangt
ia sik ngua lu angama basiochi ura
sik ngua lu ama gingt ta ithang da
ithik. And I checked them closely
because maybe I saw a crocodile or
maybe I saw some other particular
thing. Ngu pul d ngu tp mgua
musnng ia, Ama dingt tngt ta
ithik ama ngua lu ngt? I paddled
and I was thinking, What is this
particular thing that I saw? Variant:
dingt (Abilta dialect).
giom two of something; two unidenti-
fied people.
gisem some two long ones.
giseng some long ones.
gisia n. pebbly beach. Usage: Also the
proper name for a pebbly beach near
Marunga. Gisia d luchupka ma
amrka iva rutha thi piknik. Gisia is
a good place for people to picnic.
Pl: gisink. See: giska pebble.
giska n. pebble. Tchp nchama
giska ivi va gars. The beach is full of
pebbles. Pl: gis.
gisnng subord. as if. Tha mthanas
tchama msms nva lat gisnng
ia athev ngt. They got themselves
food from the garden as if they owned
it.
gisnia subord. as if; as though. Ngia
naingim ma gisnia arm nge. You
looked as if you were sick. Kivelacha
da morka gisnia chama basiochi.
The kivelacha (lizard) is as big as a
crocodile. [Lit: The kivelacha is big as if
(it was) a crocodile.]
git she; it.
git what.
githa some people.
githom some two small ones.
githong some small ones.
givam
givam some two short ones.
givap some short things.
givem some two people; some two
things.
givet some long thing.
glan like; likewise; at the time; when.
glas sa-vi. dive; go spearfishing. Ithik,
ut taithik da uthi kuares ia uthi
glas ura sik minia... Now, we say
that we dive or something... From: Tok
Pisin: glas go skin diving.
glaski n. thermometer. Glaski ama
chia tamon ithm kama armgi. A
thermometer measures a fever. Pl:
glas. From: English, Tok Pisin: glass,
glas.
glm near; close.
glmna near; next to each other.
glingga n. 1 place. Tha met save ia
glingga vak diva tha thonel. They
went to that particular place in order
to hunt.
2 side. Abangga ava glingga
achk ka mang dak achk da choi-
ku. One side of the house burnt but
the other did not. Pl: glaing. Variant:
glingga.
glinginggl n. place. Mali naruer d
choki cha tet gisnia ve kule cha ve
mni aut glinginggl. At first,
before, he had gone along as if he was
staying at our place.
gotka n. 1 bamboo sp.; large.
2 pole made of bamboo. Aviulacha
dai chama gotka ama tha tu cha d
thi ns nani chama thombek diva
thi natha tha tamon. The aviulacha
is a pole or a length of bamboo that
they call the dead with to come to talk
with them.
govacha n. guava tree; the leaves are
good for stomach aches. Angana
duraik d ng tas vuk vt k gova-
cha uvs. Your chickens sleep in the
top of the guava tree. Pl: gova. From:
English, Tok Pisin: guava, gova.
govachi n. guava. Pl: gova. From: English,
Tok Pisin: guava, gova.
graing overripe; overgrown.
grasia n. grace. Nge von ut ni ngia
grasia. You will give us your grace.
90
guagungmo
From: English, Tok Pisin: grace, grasia.
Note: no endings.
grtpes n. section of frame; e.g. one
side of a house frame. Abangga va-
ma grtps d sa tha mair nangas.
They have made the side of the house.
Pl: grtimlk.
gri n. anger. Ka d chok mrmr k
dodm nava lugutki schama gri.
He was always telling stories about his
wifes anger.
gris n. ointment. Athop angt gris.
Ointment for sores. From: English, Tok
Pisin: grease, gris.
grucha n. bandicoot; has spiky hair, a
long tail, and strong teeth; climbs
trees and eats galip nuts (Canarium
indicums). Kotpu cha monel d cha
chthp kama grucha. Kotpu hunted
and he caught a bandicoot. Pl: gru.
gu pro. my. Gram: First person singular
possessive pronoun. Gu vaim ng vlng
kama masn'ga. My dogs killed the
bandicoot.
gua pro. my. Gram: First person singular
possessive pronoun and possessive pronoun
and specific article. Ngua var s gua
thinmgi ma morki. I pulled in my
big fish. Morph: gu=a. Lit: 1SG=SPEC.
guachm dem. one short one. Gram:
Reduced singular indefinite demonstrative.
Ngi thu guachm nvt kama
mliarvam inavuk pt kama
lamsachi. You shot one of the two
small parrots up in the coconut palm.
guagl dem. one piece. Gram: Excised
singular indefinite demonstrative. Ngi
thon guagl nvt kama dul avang.
You throw one of those flat stones.
guaglem dem. two pieces. Gram: Excised
dual indefinite demonstrative. Gu mamk
ka thap schama mngigleng, ngi
thal nguaglem save gia vtka. My
father chopped the two pieces of
wood, you carry them to your house.
guagleng dem. some pieces. Gram:
Excised plural indefinite demonstrative.
Kalasung avang mt gi sipen'gi,
ngi von ngo n guagleng. The sweet
potato (kaukau) in your pot, you give
some to me.
guagungmo adj. greedy. Kama vaim-
ga ma guagungmo. The dog is
guaiachi
greedy.
guaiachi n. hoop. Ka rut nchama
sangauchi atha seska mt kama
guaiachi. He pushed the rope of the
net through the hoop. Pl: guaia.
guaiom dem. two. Gram: Masculine dual
indefinite demonstrative. Guaiom in svo
vt gua lat. Two (people) stole from
my garden.
guait dem. one large one. Gram: Extended
singular indefinite demonstrative. Ngi von
ngo n guait nvt kama mngisem
avsem. You give me one of those two
long poles there.
guama pro. my. Gram: First person singular
possessive pronoun and emphatic possessive
pronoun. Kule d ngua mt guama
chaelka d ngua met save sva
bang. Then I got my wallaby and I
went home. Morph: gu=ma. Lit: 1SG
.POSS=EMPH.
guamlk dem. some flat ones. Gram:
Flat plural indefinite demonstrative. Ngi
chuar nacha ia chat anga tlngi-
mlk guamlk iva ch thu
amundm mt ngt. Tell him to get
some papers to light the fire with.
guamlm dem. two flat ones. Gram:
Flat dual indefinite demonstrative. Pepai-
mlm guamlm bacha. Two more
pieces of paper for him.
guank dem. some large ones. Gram:
Extended plural indefinite demonstrative.
Aiski chia thal amngink guank
nva ur. The truck carried some logs
from the bush.
guanm dem. two large ones. Gram:
Extended dual indefinite demonstrative.
Mailu anga isinm guanm in ma
chut smni ma Chenangia. Maybe
some other two ridges go up to
Chenangia.
guani dem. one small one. Gram: Dimin-
utive singular indefinite demonstrative. Ngi
lr s guani nmt kama chur-
ningga vak. You tear a small piece
from that meat.
guang dem. something. Gram: Count
neutral indefinite demonstrative. Ka tu ava
snng svt anga guang dak sai
ngmbs ka rm. He thought of
something but then he did not know.
guanga pro. some of my. Gram: First
91
guathom
person singular possessive pronoun and
non-specific possessive pronoun. Ngua et
ngu vaondem mt guanga msms.
I am going to buy some food for
myself. Morph: gu=anga. Lit: 1SG.POSS=
NSPEC.
guangama pro. my. Gram: First person
singular possessive pronoun and indefinite
possessive pronoun. Morph: gu=angama.
Lit: 1SG.POSS=INDEF.
guangithong belongings; things.
guarem n. gurgle; a gurgling sound
such as the sound of a river going
between stones. Ngu nari chama
arenggi atha guarem nangt aulul.
I hear the gurgling sound of the river
from afar.
guaremga n. rapid; specifically rapids
in rivers. Ngi na sek mni chama
guaremga avak i sok a chrotka.
You should not cross that rapid
because it is so strong. Pl: guarem.
guaremga mt vi-so. boil; bubble;
specifically the sound: water boiling
or the sound of a waterfall. Arenggi
ama guaremga mtki. The water is
boiling. Note: only g.
guaremgi n. name of Mndas mask;
the mask is large and bell-shaped,
with a floor supported by a long
stick; designs are drawn underneath
and are visible when the mask is
held aloft.
guarguarka n. string of food such as
pork or nuts; hung from the roof for
storage. John cha vn svt kama
vimga d cha chutna sava
guarguarka save viam. John climbed
the galip tree (Canarium indicum) and
climbed down with his string of galip
nuts. Pl: guarguar.
guasem dem. two long ones. Gram: Long
dual indefinite demonstrative. Chat gua-
sem ura kusek kama mngga ma
sgk? Should he get one or two of
those poles?
guaseng dem. some long ones. Gram:
Long plural indefinite demonstrative. Ngn
dethanga mngiseng guaseng
bango. You all get some long planks
for me.
guathom dem. two small ones. Gram:
Diminutive dual indefinite demonstrative.
guathong
Ngiat guathom nvt kama
mngithong. You get two small bits
of wood.
guathong dem. some small ones. Gram:
Diminutive plural indefinite demonstrative.
Asika gianga athem ng ve da ngi
von ngo n guathong. If you have
any taro tops, give some to me.
guavam dem. two short ones. Gram:
Reduced dual indefinite demonstrative.
Achsask mt ngavap ng ve mt
kama diski, ngiat guavam nave. The
buns are there in the dish, you get a
couple from there. K kurs ia vadi
av guavam nvt kama vaimbap
avvap. He says he wants two of the
puppies.
guavap dem. some short ones. Gram:
Reduced plural indefinite demonstrative.
Ngua nges kama kalasung iva nani
ma nan'gi iva kiat guavap smt
athama uratki. I dug the sweet
potato (kaukau) so mum could put
some in her basket. Vadi gu guavap
nvt vaimbap avvap. I want one of
those puppies.
guavek dem. some people. Gram: Human
plural indefinite demonstrative. Guavek ta
mr chama chvika nainath. Some
people pulled out the sword grass
(kunai) stems from around here.
guavem dem. two. Gram: Feminine dual
indefinite demonstrative.
guavs dem. some flat ones. Gram: Flat
plural indefinite demonstrative. Guavs
ku nvt pepa ithang d ngas ng
mang. Some of these bits of paper got
burnt.
guavet dem. one long one. Gram: Long
singular indefinite demonstrative. Chuar
nacha ia chat guavet nvt kama
amng taithang. Tell him to get one
of those poles.
gubarka n. bird sp.; dove; Victoria
crowned pigeon. Ngu plk ia ngu
tlu chama gubarka ma cha tet iva
ch naik agarski. I like to see a
dove going to drink saltwater. Kama
kumbarka cha chunaik kama viam.
The Victoria crowned pigeon swallow-
ed the galip nuts (Canarium indicum).
Pl: gubar. Variant: kumbarka; chum-
barka.
92
gumoram
guenai where.
gueng vt. scrape. Chureski da amrki
iva thi chueng tapiok svm chi.
The leaf from the betelnut palm is
good to scrape tapioca into. Variant:
chueng.
gueng bt vt. 1 scrape. Ngua
choeng bt kama kachol. I scraped
the tapioca.
2 rub. Lvop ama mrta tha tet
diva sik ti choeng bthacha. The
good women go to anoint him. Variant:
choeng bt.
gur sa-vi. shout crossly. Mavo da ava
ron d ch gur ia vandi va ch
chthep ngini. He was angry and he
shouted crossly that he would grab the
ting bird.
gurnas sa-vi. repent; feel contrite. Da
ngu gurnas mamr. And I feel
terribly contrite.
guguk tm vi-so. bark intensively. D
gu vaim guguk tm ngt vt
ngaiom. My dogs barked at the two of
them.
guingini n. immature fruit; the buds of
fruit that appear after the flowers
have fallen off. Ti tvng nvtha
maguingini. They sing about the new
fruit. Kama viulacha ava vurvurki
diva nani avama giungithong. The
mango's blossom comes before [Lit:
(is) in order for] its immature fruit. Pl:
guingithong.
guk tm vi-so. bark of a dog. Atha
vaimga d mrmr guk tmga veia
ngia tet dathva vtka vam. Her dog
always barks when you go past their
two houses.
gulaingiseng n. stripes. Kama gulai-
ngiseng nchama rachuvigel vt
kama merachuvacha da ng nai-
ngm mamr. The stripes of colours
on the bark of the amrachuavacha
tree look beautiful.
gulinggi n. group. Agia gulinggi d
ngia ve mtki? Which group are you
in? Pl: gulaing.
gum sa-vi. cough. At thoemini ngthi
gum masa. Her baby is really
coughing. Variant: chum.
gumoram n. row; loud noise. Note: no
gumoram vt
endings.
gumoram vt vi-so. row; make a loud
noise. Gumoram vt kama arutha
ma tha tunggas schama ragbi.
People shout when they (others) are
playing rugby. Note: no endings.
gunan'ga n. store. Chia vondm atha
sravtki ma aichruchi nmt
kama gunan'ga. She bought her new
shirt at the store. Pl: gunan. Variant:
gunn'ga.
gunn'ga store.
gunengguneng dm be real.
gurguerka n. enemy. Ava gurguerka
ka mon nas d saisa ama ruaiom
nana. His enemy humbled himself and
they became friends. Pl: gurguerta.
H -
hatki n. hat. Tonya atha hatki ma
chthiacha nachi dak Mark da ava
chik ma chabapki. Tonyas hat is
blue and Marks is white. Pl: hat. From:
English, Tok Pisin: hat, hat.
I -
i interj. Oh!; expresses a strong emotion
such as anger. I! Ithak asik ngu
vlng nge! Oh! Now I am going to
kill you!
i interj. Oh no! Usage: Indicates the
speaker made a mistake in speaking.
i subord. because. Gram: Introduces reason
clauses. Ta vn mcha i cha iras. They
beat him because he lied. Mnap
mtki i sok mali chia main nba-
ngang. She slept because, before, she
really danced all night. Sa cha vinem
i sa cha met mamanp save ia Tol.
He had returned because he had gone
to Tol.
ia interj. yes. Cha methamn ia, Ia.
Dak ngmbs ka met nasothatha.
He said, Yes. But he did not follow
them. Kulel kama baul avang dak
vang ia. Leave those pieces of
material (laplaps) but the other ones
93
ichumigl
gurguerki n. female enemy.
guringsasotka n. mushroom sp.;
edible, white, and flat; is very soft;
up to 5 cm in diameter; grows in the
ground. Usage: An alternate name for
almbrgiangga. Guringsasot dai
chama almga ngmbs ia chrot-
ka. White mushrooms thus (are a kind
of) mushroom (that is) not strong. Pl:
guringsasot. See: almbrgiangga
mushroom sp.
guvang spoilt; bad.
guvangithong n. belongings; things.
Athva guangithong ng mon via
tha npnanas mt k botki. Their
belongings went down when they
capsized the boat. Variant: guangi-
thong; ngguvangithong.
h
Hositaigl n. Host; wafers used in
communion. Uthi tlu ingia ilachi i
nge ngaip pt Hosita. We see your
image because you hide in the Host.
Pl: Hosita. From: Tok Pisin: Hosita.
i
yes.
ia rel. that. Gram: Relator that introduces
clauses or NPs that have the same syntactic
status as their head. Ch kuares ia chia
svo nvt ava lat. He says that she
stole from his garden. Mamr nango
diva ngu pul save ia Karong. It is
possible for me to paddle to Karong.
ichthachi n. fence; enclosure. Vlam
angt ichthachi chia ve avi, d
chama vlam ng muk. The pigs
fence is there and the pigs are inside.
Pl: ichat.
ichumgi n. flood; flooded river. Kvi-
chi d asok mtki iva chia thortm
mt ichumgi. That woman is deter-
mined, she swam across the flooded
river. Pl: ichum.
ichumigl n. small flood. Sainggi ve vt
arenggi thvus da ithumigl. There
was rain at the head of the river and
ichurki
(it caused) a small flood. Pl: ichuming-
gleng.
ichurki n. tail. Vaim ng nes k
vlmga d cha su ia ch thap vtha
cha di chinai cha thp k vaimga
ava ichurki. The dog bit the pig and
tried to catch it but instead it (the pig)
bit the dog's tail. Pl: ichur.
igalechi n. glow of light; e.g. from a
distant fire or from the sun at dawn.
Kama igalechi nmt ma Namu
atha lamga. The glow of light is from
Namu's lamp. Pl: igale.
igl piece.
igl pro. piece. Gram: Excised singular
reduced nominal pronoun. Duligel ama
vras igl. The stone [Lit: piece of
stone] is flat. Variant: igl.
iglem pro. short two. Gram: Excised dual
reduced nominal pronoun. Ngi von ngo
nchama adiglem. You give me the
two pieces of taro.
igleng pro. piece. Gram: Excised plural
reduced nominal pronoun. Kama Sab-
chigleng ama lel igleng. The wood
chips are small.
iguam ferns.
igumacha n. ferny place; a place with
one kind of fern all around. Ngia
thet svt kama igumacha d ngi
thik t guanga iguam. You go to the
ferny place and pick some ferns. Kia
met ki tik ta thama iguam nvt
kama igumacha. She went to pick
ferns from the area of ferns. Pl: iguam.
ii interj. I dont know; maybe. Ki snan-
dvr nango nani at thoemgi dak
ngu kuares ii. She asked me about
her daughter but I said I did not know.
ilachi image; picture; photo; shadow;
reflection.
iluchi image; picture; photo; shadow;
reflection.
iluingm n. snake sp.; lazy boy snake;
grey; has a short tail; sleeps a lot;
has white blood that looks like milk;
people play with it by touching a
stick under their armpit then putting
the stick near the snakes nose to
make it jump. Pl: iluing.
imanp dir. downwards; straight
down. Uthi vangbinem imanp. We
94
in
will stroll downwards.
imani dir. down. Ut met na tha imani
ve mni aiska. We went past them,
down there on the road. Variant:
imuani; imoni.
imano dir. down over there.
imk dir. down from here. Tha ve imk
seng chama renggi. They are there,
down by the river.
imlm pro. the flat two. Gram: Flat dual
reduced nominal pronoun. Kama lamsi-
mlm da gthon imlm. The two
coconut fronds are yellow.
imng n. ash; especially ash from
paper and leaves that still have their
form; they are light grey and can
float on the wind. Tha mn nva lat
d tha lu athva bangga sa cha
mang mo d sa chama imng
chlan. They returned from the garden
and saw that their house had all burnt
(down) and there was only ash.
Laurka cha wae s chama imng
nmt kama butki. Wind blew the
ash from a garden fire.
imrki n. cowrie shell; various colours;
up to 10 cm across. Pl: imr.
imonp dir. on the other side. Variant:
imuanp.
imoni down.
imono dir. across. Ngu donbathm n
chi imono d sa manp. I examined
around [Lit: across] them and went to
the other side.
imperno n. hell. Autha lotu chi kuar
naut ia chama mundmvs ama
mor ngas ma tha tes ngas ia
imperno. Our religion tells us that
there is a big fire called hell. From:
English: inferno.
imuanp on the other side.
imuani down.
imuit dir. 1 across there; across a
valley. Athva lat ngve imuit. Their
garden is across there.
2 in a corner.
imuk dir. in there. Ka mu chama dul
imuk mt av ulunggi. He put the
money in his room.
in pro. 1 you two. Gram: Second person
dual class one pronoun. Ngua thk
ina
mamr tmen da in ds. I ran into
you two when you were eating.
2 those two, they. Gram: Third person
dual class one pronoun. Lugutvthaiom
in sek na. The couple got married. In
mt sva lat. Those two, they went to
the garden.
ina you two and; those two and.
inamk dir. upwards. Ngia tht ina-
mk. You come up.
inamuk dir. across towards speaker;
forward. Ngi von d chama v-
then'gi inamuk. You give the lime
powder towards here.
inangna vi-so. be popular. Mambuchi
avaik sa inangna chi. That song is
very popular.
inasa really; already.
inath dir. from here. Chi d chi na
inath. She is from here.
inavi dir. from there. Ngi von ngo
nanga thangam na inavi. You give
me some bananas from there.
inavuk dir. down towards speaker;
downwards. Ta met inavuk milani.
They came down yesterday.
inducha n. river crab sp.; small and
brown; has a hard shell; up to 4 cm
across; lives in small creeks and the
headwaters of rivers. Pl: indu.
in pro. 1 you two and.
2 those two and. Morph: in=n. Lit:
2/3DL.III=and. Variant: ina.
ink pro. the large ones. Gram: Extended
plural reduced nominal pronoun. A mngi-
nk ama mor ink. The tall trees are
big.
inm pro. the large two. Gram: Extended
dual reduced nominal pronoun. A ruinem
ama ulul inm. The two men are tall.
inski n. river fish sp.; has a flat head,
a very narrow mouth, and big ears;
can stick to a rock with its chest; up
to 15 cm long; stays in areas with a
fast current; makes a good soup.
Pl: ins. Variant: iniski.
ini pro. 1 you two. Gram: Second person
dual class two pronoun.
2 those two, they. Gram: Second
person dual class two pronoun. Ngaiom
ini bonana nchama not. Those two,
95
irski
they gave each other taros.
ini pro. small one. Gram: Diminutive
singular reduced nominal pronoun. Amng
ini ma alel ini. The tree is small.
inilcha n. freshwater eel sp.; looks like
the anekethopki species: grey with a
white belly, but has cloudy eyes;
meat is greasy. Pl: inil.
iniricha bottle.
iniski fish sp.
ing go around.
inggiarachi land crab sp.
ingguingga n. crab; generic term.
Inguingga avak da amorka ma ngia
mthacha. That crab you got is big.
Inguingga cha nes tthik. The crab
bit her hand. Pl: ingguingbap. Pl:
ingguaing.
ingim look; search; shine.
ingip die; be numb; faint.
ingun'ga n. heat. Ingun'ga nmt
kama chunnggi da ch pus kama
achlachuaski da kosa dil tmgi.
The heat from the sun cooked the
grass and it was dried. Pl: ingun.
iom pro. two things; two people. Gram:
Third person masculine dual reduced
nominal pronoun. Sa ch slamen dm
d in mo vuaik dm iom samuk sk
chulp. He counted and the two of
them jumped into the pool.
iras sa-vi. pretend. Chrtki cha sanga-
racha dak ka iras ia cha da ngm-
bs. The policeman arrested him but
he pretended that he was not the one.
iras tm vt. lie. Auk, da chok ka irs
tmda, ia sik kok ma chvicha cha
mun pthacha. Well, he just lied to
them that he had found it.
iras tm s vt. lie. Kaelka cha iras
tm sma vaimga dak kinai cha
ms kama isinggi. The wallaby lied
to the dog but actually it had eaten the
yellow fruit.
irs vi-so. 1 be sad. Irs kama
ngthuauchi nasot at thoemga ma
cha ingip. The old woman was sad
after her son died.
2 worry.
irski n. sadness. Pe ia aut mamk ka
ingip, sok ka mu di irski ththink
iriar
naut. When our father died, he really
left us with sadness. Pl: irs.
iriar green.
irikin vi-so. be terrified; be scared.
Irikin ngo nmt kama ulan'gi. I
am scared of the snake.
irikin'ga n. terror. Chunngga ma
irikin'ga. Day of terror. (Also refers to
Judgement Day.) Pl: irikin.
iri ma adv. very fast. Sok iri macha
imono d choi cha mugas. He was
moving along very fast and he was not
playing.
iringga n. insect sp.; large brown
crawling insect; has a hard shell and
six legs; can be roasted and eaten;
people say that when it crosses a
road or path it will die. Pl: iraing.
irit n. bad luck. Lengen nango sama
irit. I am renowned for (my) bad luck.
irocha n. rattan. Pl: irok. Tha thap
schama irok nva ur. They cut
rattan from the bush.
irok monmon'ga n. saltwater eel sp.;
slow moving; has sticky skin and no
teeth. Pl: irok monmon.
irokmonmonga n. sea worm sp.;
grows up to 60 cm; very slow
moving; can attach to things using
suction. Pl: irokmonmon.
is track; way; route; transport.
isa subord. in fact. D tha iras tmngo
ia aiska isa mrka. And they lied to
me that this road was in fact good.
Morph: i=sa. Lit: because= already.
isem pro. the long two. Gram: Long dual
reduced nominal pronoun. A mngisem
ama ulul isem. The two trees are
long.
ism angt luchupki n. airport.
Nguaet sa manp ma Tol diva ngu
lu chama ism angt luchupki. I am
going to Tol to see the airport. Pl: ism
angt luchuap.
ism angtha methamn n. Mela-
nesian Pidgin; Tok Pisin. Arura nave
ia PNG d tha tamn svathana
nchama ism angtha methamn.
People from PNG speak Tok Pisin to
each other.
ismga n. bird; generic term. Kama
ismga cha ve ch prap. The bird is
96
ithang
flying. Pl: ism.
ismgi n. 1 large bird; generic term.
2 aeroplane. Amorta vath tha
mn mt kama ismgi. Those im-
portant people arrived in an aero-
plane. Pl: ism.
iseng pro. the long ones. Gram: Long
plural nominal pronoun. Ngi thap scha-
ma amrachop iseng. You cut the
long amrachuavacha trees.
isia n. ridge; track (ridge lines are used
as tracks). Ut met vtka isia ivi save
ia Nmathng. We went along the
ridge up to Nmathng. Pl: isink. See:
aiska road.
isinggi n. tree sp.; similar to breadfruit
but brown on the outside and yellow
inside; refers to both the tree and
the fruit. Kaelcha cha irastm sma
vaimga dak kinai cha ms kama
isinggi. The wallaby lied to the dog
but actually it had eaten the yellow
fruit. Pl: isainng.
isis n. 1 baking powder.
2 yeast. From: English, Tok Pisin:
yeast, yis.
isiska n. fresh air. Kule chama
chiltoki d chia nathar diva chama
aisiska cha thon. Leave the window
open for the cold (air) to come in.
Pl: aisis.
iski car; truck.
isok subord. because really. Tha met
isok ath mamk ka thkna nani
atha. They went because their father
sent for them. Morph: i=sok. Lit: because
=really.
isoska crab yaws.
itha regarding; about.
ithaik dem. this one. Gram: Feminine
singular proximate demonstrative. Nguat
kama lamsachi ithaik. I will eat
this coconut. Variant: thaik; taik.
ithak dem. this one. Gram: Masculine
singular proximate demonstrative. Pencil-
ka ithak sa amrucha. This pencil
has gotten old. Variant: thak; tak; ithat
(Abilta dialect).
ithang dem. 1 these. Gram: Count
neutral proximate demonstrative. Ngiat
kama baul ithang d ngi von gi. You
get these clothes and give (them) to
ithat
her.
2 these flat ones. Gram: Flat plural
proximate demonstrative. Dul ithang da
amrngt nani chama avithm.
These flat stones are good for the
earth oven (mumu). Variant: thang;
tngt; ithngt; tang (Abilta dialect).
ithat this one. Usage: Abilta dialect.
ithath dem. these people. Gram: Human
plural proximate demonstrative. Arura
ithath tha mn diva thi lu chama
mungas. These people came in order
to watch the game. Variant: tathe.
ith dem. here. Gram: Proximate demon-
strative. Chule en d da asik ini vs
kama msms. The two are staying
here and they will cook some food.
Chulel giama thalchi ith va vt d
ngias sa. Leave your bucket here at
home and eat first. Variant: ni (Abilta
dialect); t; d.
ithcham this short one.
ithchm dem. this short one. Gram:
Reduced singular proximate demonstrative.
Athoembm ithchm dai ngam
ngthi nari amethamn. This small
child follows orders. Ngiat kama
buchm ithcham. You get this book.
Variant: ithcham; tcham.
ithchit dem. this large one. Gram:
Extended singular proximate demonstrative.
Ngi ven bt kama lamsait ith-
chit. You climb this tall coconut palm.
Avama sangachi ama mairki d
chia ve mni chama isia ithchit.
His net for catching birds is here on
this ridge. Variant: tchit.
ithm prep. regarding; about. Ngi na
methamn ithm gu dul. You must
not tell about my money. Variant: itha.
ithm dir. alongside; beside. Ka mair
ithm kama mngga. He stood
alongside the tree.
ithmlk dem. these flat ones. Gram:
Flat plural proximate demonstrative. Tl-
ngimlk ithmlk da aichrui-
mlk. These leaves are new. Variant:
tmlk.
ithmlm dem. these two flat ones.
Gram: Flat dual proximate demonstrative.
Ngi thap schama thlngimlm
ithmlm. You cut these two leaves.
Variant: tmlm.
97
ithvem
ithmna dir. side by side. Kama
botvem ini bang ithmna. The two
boats travelled side by side.
ithnk dem. these large ones. Gram:
Extended plural proximate demonstrative.
Kama rucha cha thap schama
mngink ithnk. The man cut
these tall trees. Variant: tnk.
ithnm dem. these two large ones.
Gram: Extended dual proximate demon-
strative. Baulvam ithnm d ma
Rosina at kvm. These two long
wraparound skirts (laplaps) belong to
Rosina. Kama aisinm itnm ma
Lawivia d ma Chenangia da aulu-
linm. The two ridges, Lawivia and
Chenangia, are long. Variant: tnm.
ithngt these; these flat ones.
ithepki n. birds tail. Kama ismga ava
ithepki ama bubuchi. The birds tail
is ugly. Pl: ithep.
ithsm dem. these two long ones.
Gram: Long dual proximate demonstrative.
Mamr ia ngu thap schama am-
ngism ithsm? Can I cut these two
long trees? Variant: tsm.
ithseng dem. these long ones. Gram:
Long plural proximate demonstrative. A-
thoemiseng ithseng ma koi ngna
nari amethamn. These youngsters
do not listen to instructions. Variant:
tseng.
iththik dem. right here. Gram: Emphatic
proximate demonstrative. Cha mu chama
amstmna taiththik nania ngo.
He put the side-dish right here for me.
iththong these small ones.
ithvam dem. these two short ones.
Gram: Reduced dual proximate demon-
strative. Chalunbam ithvam da mor
ngavam. These two short singapores
are large. Athoembam da ithvam
di in dugas savuit. These two boys
played a lot. Variant: tvam.
ithvap dem. these short ones. Gram:
Reduced plural proximate demonstrative.
Kama vlmbap ama mervap ith-
vap. The nice fat piglets are these
short ones. Variant: tvap.
ithvem dem. these two. Gram: Feminine
dual proximate demonstrative. Ngi chiar
vt kama lamsvam ithvem. You
scrape these two coconuts. Variant:
ithvs
tvem.
ithvs dem. this flat one. Gram: Flat
singular proximate demonstrative. Ngi
chut pt kama tlngbs ithvs.
You write on this piece of paper.
Variant: tvs.
ithvet dem. this long one. Gram: Long
singular proximate demonstrative. Kama
mngbet ithvet da aichru ngavet.
The small slender tree here is not dry.
Variant: tvt.
ithigl dem. this piece. Gram: Excised
singular proximate demonstrative. Ngias
kama digl ithgl. You eat this piece
of taro. Variant: tgl; tigl (Abilta dialect).
ithiglem dem. these two pieces. Gram:
Excised dual proximate demonstrative. Atha
naliglem ithglem nani anga
chunm. These two kinas of hers
(are) for a kilo of rice. Variant: tglem;
tiglem (Abilta dialect).
ithigleng dem. these pieces. Gram:
Excised plural proximate demonstrative. Thi
tal chama kapaigleng ithgleng
nani chama sunaski. They carry
these sheets [Lit: pieces] of corrugated
iron for the school. Variant: tgleng;
tiglen (Abilta dialect).
ithik dem. now. Gram: Adverbial proximate
demonstrative. Ngia thet ta ithik nani
gi tlngvap. You go now for your
books. Variant: thik; tik; dik.
ithini dem. this small one. Gram:
Diminutive singular proximate demon-
strative. Asenini ithni. The small
knife is here. Variant: tni; tini (Abilta
dialect).
ithiom dem. these two. Gram: Masculine
dual proximate demonstrative. Ngiat
kama angmngiom ithiom. You
get these two pieces of wood. Variant:
tiom.
ithithom dem. these two small ones.
Gram: Diminutive dual proximate demon-
strative. Namu at pussithom ithi-
thom ini plk kama thinm iva
indes ngt. Namu's two kittens want
a fish to eat. Variant: tithom.
ithithong dem. these small ones. Gram:
Diminutive plural proximate demonstrative.
Ngias kama thinmithong ithi-
thong. You eat these small fish.
Variant: tithong; iththong.
98
ivtki
ithom pro. small two. Gram: Diminutive
dual reduced nominal pronoun. Cha mt
sva lat de cha mn r chama anot
dak kama ainguam ithom. He went
to the garden and he came back with
taros and a few ferns.
ithong pro. small ones. Gram: Diminutive
plural reduced nominal pronoun. Chama
dsms ithong ng ts ngo. The
small mosquitoes bite me.
iva subord. PURP. Gram: Intentional purpo-
sive. Sa chule sa ka ve cha tet iva sai
chat tlu ia sa lagun amor. Then he
goes there to see whether the victory
leaf plants are big.
ivak that particular one.
ivangacha n. bush sp.; commonly
found in gardens; grows to 1.5 m tall
and has soft leaves; used to treat
dysentery by crushing half of a new
leaf with a very ripe leaf and wash-
ing them with water; water is
squeezed into a cup and drunk.
ivasa subord. so that. Boding natha iva
sa chule de thi katiket pekama
mbangbap. They went to boarding
school so that later they could be
catechists in the villages. Morph: iva=
sa. Lit: in.order.to=then.
ivasik subord. if. Dak ta ithik du un
unmo un drm svanas ia kulumga
da avama avilich, iva sik ka tat
kama ism ma namk n msng
da cha ndlu ngt puk. But now we
both know about the white man and
his gun for getting birds, when he is
on the ground and sees them up there.
Morph: iva=asik. Lit: in.order.to=irrealis.
ivathe those particular people.
ivngacha n. tree sp.; large tree from
the bush; is the home of spirits.
Ivngacha d chama mnggi ama
sruchi ama mchvs da thi kuares
ia chama sekvek ura thaliaskna
athva mbang. The airima, a very
large tree of the forest, is said to be
the home of the heroes or wizards.
Pl: ivang.
ivtki n. 1 earth; soil; dirt. Kama
dozer cha rer dchama ivitki. The
dozer crumbled the earth.
2 land. Ngo, gu ivitki taithaik.
Me, my land is here. Pl: ivt.
ivtki atha aila
3 world; planet earth. Kama rutha
ma chabapta alolki natha, ivitki
natha ura chluingda, d thamo ta
ve mni chama ivtki ta ithaik.
People who are white, red, brown, or
black are all on the earth. Variant:
ivitki.
ivtki atha aila n. map. Chi ngim
nani chama ivtki atha aila da
ngmbs. She looked for the map but
could not find it. Pl: ivt angtha ila.
ivtpes n. land.
ivi dir. along. Ngia thet sa ivi ia
Kubuia. You will go along to Kubuia.
ivit adv. along. Ngia tet ivit save ia
Ineska. You go on to Ineska. Variant:
ivuit.
ivit ivit adv. continuously; on and on.
Chok ka tamon ivit, ivit da chok
koiku ia mal mtha cha. He just
talked on and on and he did not rest.
Variant: ivuit ivuit.
K -
ka pro. he; it. Gram: Third person masculine
singular class one pronoun and third person
masculine singular class three pronoun. Ngi
ns nania cha inamuk. You call for
him (to come) over here. Ka met d
chule sa ch vinm. He went and
later he will come back. Variant: cha;
chat; ga.
ka the.
kabangaska fish sp.
kabolocha n. shellfish sp.; chiton;
found on reef close to the beach; has
a shell down the middle of its back
covered in small spiky hairs; sticks
to the reef; up to 8 cm long; is flat
and brown. Pl: kabolo. Variant: chabo-
locha.
kabunginngin'ga spider sp.
kacham empty.
kacholka n. tapioca. Alphonse cha var
chama kachol. Alphonse cooked the
tapioca in an earth oven (mumu).
Pl: kachol. Variant: chacholka. See:
tapioka tapioca.
kadinngga n. fish sp.; small; hatch in
99
kalacha
ivitki earth; soil; dirt; land; world;
planet earth.
ivitki n. brown.
ivono dir. upwards; inland; up there.
Ta met sva lat ivono ia Chnangia.
They went to the garden up at
Chnangia.
ivon'ga n. pandanus. Ngua thap
schama ivon'ga. I cut the pandanus.
Pl: ivon.
ivui dir. upwards away from speaker.
Botki chi bang ivi save ia Ili. The
boat is going along up to Ili.
ivuit along.
ivuit ivuit continuously.
ivuk dir. up there. ... ivono va ur, ivuk
mni ma Chenangia angt vuski. ...
up in the bush, up at the head of
Chenangia ridge.
k
the saltwater and move into rivers in
large schools. Pl: kadinng. Variant:
chadinngga.
kadumbm shellfish sp.
kadumga n. shellfish sp.; found in the
river; dark brown colour; round
shell; up to 2 cm across. Pl: kadum.
Variant: kadumbm; chadumga.
kaelka wallaby.
kaelki stingray sp.
kagthait vine sp.; rope.
kaivovocha n. bamboo sp.; small.
Achultngga d chama changanga
avama changgat ma ngthik klan
kama kaivovo. The achultngga
species grows on high ridges, its stem
and leaves are like the kaivovo
species. Pl: kaivovo. Note: only k.
kakau n. cocoa. Norberta chia thal
chama kakau. Norberta carried the
cocoa. Note: only k.
kakauigl n. 1 cocoa plantation.
2 piece of cocoa. Note: only k.
kalacha fish sp.; gluefish.
kalasunggi
kalasunggi n. sweet potato (kaukau).
Ngua ts chama kalasunggi. I am
eating sweet potato (kaukau). Pl: kala-
sung. Variant: chalasunggi.
kalenggi crab sp.
kalvanggr rainbow.
kaliburburm n. shellfish sp.; found in
the lowest reaches of the river;
small; light brown shell with spikes
on its back. Usage: Abilta dialect.
Pl: kaliburbur. See: aruthk (Abilta
dialect) shellfish sp. Variant: chali-
burburm.
kaliburburmaruthk n. shellfish
sp.; found at the mouth of rivers. See:
kaliburburm (Abilta dialect) shellfish
sp.; aruthk (Abilta dialect) shellfish
sp. Note: no endings.
kalipka lizard sp.
kalukluka n. land crab sp.; small;
grey-brown colour with red mouth
and claws; shell up to 3 cm in
diameter; often runs around on
paths near the coast. Pl: kalukluk.
Variant: chalukluka.
kalun'ga taro sp.; singapore.
kama np art. the. Gram: Functionally
unmarked NP article. Ut tamn svt
kama lat. We discussed the garden.
Kama avungi chia muit vtha
chuan. The turtle came ashore on the
sand. Variant: chama; ama; gama.
kamangm n. crab sp.; lives in the
saltwater; small and brown with
hairs growing on the inside of its
claws; up to 3 cm in diameter.
Pl: kamangvap. Variant: chamangm.
kamerabpki evening star.
kamotki shellfish sp.
kanasu hook.
kaningguluch fish sp.
kanucha n. canoe. Ut met s chanasu
mt chama kanucha. We went
fishing in the canoe. Pl: kanu. From:
English, Tok Pisin: canoe, kanu. See:
luln'ga canoe. Note: only k.
kangalcha n. 1 headdress. Gu
kangalcha ma amrka mamr ma
ngua thp macha. My headdress that
I made is really nice.
2 ornament; brightly coloured
100
karuvaika
things such as feathers that can be
used as head ornaments. Tha tain
sathvama kangal va thvus. They
dance with their decorations on their
heads. Pl: kangal. Note: only k.
kangska betelnut.
kangski betelnut palm.
kanggthacha vine sp.; rope; fishing
line.
kao n. uncle; specifically the mothers
brother. At kaochna tha met tha
vondmgi sagl atha lugutka. Her
uncles went and gave her to her
husband. Kama angkovap avap
dai ngavap ng mun nani chama
churem. The uncles came to collect
betelnut. Pl: kaochna. Pl: kaovap.
Variant: chau.
kapaigl n. corrugated iron; iron roof-
ing; especially a single sheet of cor-
rugated iron. Kapaiglem avglem
da ameru ngiglem. Those two sheets
of iron roofing are old. Pl: kakigleng.
From: Tok Pisin: kapa iron roofing.
kapenta n. carpenter. Kama kapenta
cha thek m chama bangga ama
mrka. The carpenter built a good
house. Pl: kapentachna. From: English
carpenter. Note: only k.
kapki n. cup. Ngi vk kama renggi
smt kama kapki. You fill the cup
with water. Pl: kap. From: English, Tok
Pisin: cup, kap. Note: only k.
karekrecha n. crab sp.; small black
beach crab; lives under stones;
strong shell up to 3 cm in diameter.
Pl: karekrek. Variant: charekrecha.
karichetka prawn sp.
karichethini prawn sp.
karidang call.
karirotki n. beetle sp.; is black and
edible; eats black palms and areca
palms once the grubs have finished
with them. Pl: karirot. Variant:
karirothm; charirot.
karirothm beetle sp.
karki n. car. Pl: kar. From: English, Tok
Pisin: car, ka. Note: only k.
karoski vine sp.; rope.
karuaika bird sp.; earlybird.
karuvaika bird sp.; earlybird.
kasrki
kasrki malaria.
kasrki pt vi-so. have a fever; have
malaria. Chasrki pthango. I have
a fever.
kasuel n. castor oil. Kasiel ng mano
via arem angtha banggi. Castor oil
is down at the hospital. From: English,
Tok Pisin: castor oil, kaswel. Note:
only k.
katenm n. cotton. Ka mu chama
katenm mt ava thopki. He put the
cotton on his sore. Pl: katen. From:
English, Tok Pisin: cotton, katen. Note:
only k.
katiketka n. catechist. Kama katiket-
ka ch ruer schama nn. The
catechist leads the prayers. Pl: kati-
ketkna. From: German: katechet.
katlchotka grasshopper sp.
kathachi taro sp.; wild singapore.
kaubocha n. plant sp.; has broad flat
leaves that are used to cover food.
Kaubo da tlng ma mr ngt va
thi vng vt kama msms. The
leaves of the kaubo are good for
wrapping food. Pl: kaubo. Variant:
chaubocha.
kaumat fish sp.
kaumat angtha lchar n. mush-
room sp.; very small; grows on the
branches of mango trees; is similar
in shape to a rats paw. Note: no
singular.
kaumatka n. rat; mouse; generic term;
also used specifically for domestic
rats and mice. Kaumatka cha ms
gua digal. The rat ate my piece of
taro. Pl: kaumat. Variant: chaumatka.
kavatka spirit.
kavatka adulterer.
kavat tm vt. commit adultery. Kama
chavatka cha chavat t ma Isidore
ava lugutki. The adulterer committed
adultery with Isidores wife. Variant:
chavat tm.
kavathm n. firedancer; they wear
masks with large, round, painted
eyes. Pl: karatvap. Variant: chavathm.
Kavathm ng tain s chama
ulangi mt pethik. The firedancer
dances with a snake in his hand. See:
chavatka spirit that causes illness.
101
kglem
kavek relatives.
kaverki n. wild palm sp.; trunks are
split and used to make floors. Cha
ser avama uratki nchama chaver-
ki tthik. He wove his basket with the
frond of a wild palm. Pl: kaver. Variant:
chaverki.
kavithoski shellfish sp.; nautilus.
k np art. the. Gram: NP article that marks
referents whose unique identity is
established by the discourse. Mir autha
morta d ta nvt ka mlka
thaithak... Long ago our ancestors,
they were from this island... Variant:
ch; g; ka (k + a (specifier article)).
k pro. he; it. Gram: Third person masculine
singular class two pronoun. Kave ch
sing. He is chewing (betelnut). Variant:
ch; g.
kebongbonggi n. river crab sp.;
brown; shell up to 5 cm in diameter;
lives near riverbanks; changes its
shell in pools along the road after
rain; used for bait. Pl: kebongbong.
Variant: chebongbonggi.
kchm dem. that particular short one.
Gram: Reduced singular contrastive demon-
strative. Ta chuar svt kama ru-
chm chchm mali nbengang.
They torched (spot-lighted) someone
short last night. Variant: km; ch-
chm; achchm.
kchit dem. that particular large one.
Gram: Extended singular contrastive demon-
strative. Kama aisia chchit da
kurng maulul. The other ridges
have long hills. Variant: chchit;
achchit. See: chkchit just that
particular large one.
kdlka fish sp.
kdengm body.
kdenggi body; skin; bark; peel; rind.
kglem dem. those particular two
pieces. Gram: Excised dual contrastive
demonstrative. Variant: chglem; kng-
glem; achglem.
kglem dem. those particular two
short ones. Gram: Reduced dual contras-
tive demonstrative. Uthal chama pa-
lang d nvt chglem ma unglem.
We carried some pieces of planks and
left the other two. Variant: chglem;
kgleng
acheglem.
kgleng dem. those particular pieces.
Gram: Excised plural contrastive demon-
strative. Gu duligleng chgleng ng
sep nvais. My coins dropped on the
road. Variant: chgleng; knggleng;
achgleng.
kk dem. that particular one. Gram:
Masculine singular contrastive demonstra-
tive. Achk nvt kama chumsta d
athvama urat nchama msms.
One of the men has got his basket of
food. Variant: chk; achk.
kkrang just those two particular
ones.
klaln'ga platform.
klamurki puddle.
klan like; likewise; at the time; when.
klan only; just; for nothing; with
nothing.
klan be like; be similar.
klaska tree sp.
kelelelcha prawn sp.
kelemen'gi frog.
klennggi rubbish; crumbs.
klep vi-so. be embarrassed. Klepka i
ava ruavek thi kuar nacha ia ch
panis tchama thoes mrmr. He
was embarrassed because his friends
said he beat the children all the time.
Ta iras svtha chi da kosa ch-
lepki di chia vang. They lied to her
and so she was embarrassed and ran
away. Variant: chlep.
klepki shame; shyness; embarrass-
ment.
klrklr sa-vi. squawk; make the cry
of a parrot. Variant: chlrklr.
klrklr mt vi-so. rattle. Athoe-
mini ngthi kuep kama tin'gi
schama dul d chlrklr mtki.
The child is shaking a tin with stones
in it and it is rattling. Variant: chlr-
klr mt.
klr mt vi-so. rattle. Klr mt
kama tin'gi vea cha tu chama gis
muk. The tin rattled when he put the
pebbles inside. Variant: chlr mt.
klol vt. report. Thoemga cha chlol
kama sunasvmga nava ruavek.
The student reported his friends to his
knak
teachers. Variant: chlol.
klucha brother-in-law.
kluchi sister-in-law.
klu vathm vi-so. be shy. Ambrosia
dai chama chlu vathmga.
Ambrosia is a shy man. Variant: chlu
vathm.
kem n. camp. Dak kama Siapangna
da tha thk ma athva mbang ura
tha tes ia athva kem peia Masa-
rau. And the Japanese, they built their
village, or they called it their camp, at
Masarau. From: English, Tok Pisin:
camp, kem.
km that particular short one.
kembecha n. soldier; specifically a
National soldier enlisted with the
Japanese during World War 2. Sia-
pan'gna athva ma kembechna
d tha vlng gu mamkiom.
National soldiers enlisted with the
Japanese during the war killed my
parents. Pl: kembechna.
kmbucha type of fruit.
kmk breast.
kmlk dem. those particular flat
ones. Gram: Flat plural contrastive demon-
strative. Aung ga thap s chama tha-
ngamga vthik imlk chmlk da
chule chmlk ve. Someone cut the
banana leaves and left the others.
chmlk; achmlk. See:
Variant:
chkmlk just those particular
flat ones.
kmlm dem. just those particular
two flat ones. Gram: Flat dual contrastive
demonstrative. Kama thangmga v-
thik imlm chmlm ndai ma
Elton cha thap se ugimlm. Those
two banana leaves were cut by Elton.
Variant: chmlm; achmlm. See:
chkmlm just those particular
flat two.
kmlka fish sp.
kmer mountainside.
kemgm be empty.
kmgm vi-so. be empty. Iniricha vak
da chmgmga. That bottle is empty.
Ngu tal kama aichi ama chmgm-
gi. I carried the empty bamboo.
Variant: chmgm; kemgm.
knak breath; specifically exhaled
102
kndenggi
breath.
kndenggi skin.
kndenggi body; skin; bark; peel;
rind.
kn pro. him and. Asik ti gamar n
chama arucha avak pik kn cha
lvopki avaik pik. They will fight
with that particular man, him and that
particular woman. Morph: k=n. Lit:
3M.SG.III=and. Variant: chn.
knk dem. those particular large
ones. Gram: Extended plural contrastive
demonstrative. Areng ink chnk d
sa chsk da nginng. Some creeks
are dried out. Variant: chnk; ach-
nk. See: chknk just those
particular large ones.
knm dem. those particular two large
ones. Gram: Extended dual contrastive
demonstrative. Tha surnanas vt kama
aisinm chnm diva angbs ta
mun via Raigl. They were mistak-
en about the two ridges and so they
did not reach Raigl. Variant: chnm;
achnm. See: chknm just those
particular two large ones.
kni dem. that particular small one.
Gram: Diminutive singular contrastive
demonstrative. Ngiat chni nvt
kama cake banas. You get a bit of
cake for yourself. Variant: chni; ach-
ni. See: chkni just that particular
small one.
keng edge; bank.
kngaracha current.
kngt dem. those particular ones;
that particular one. Gram: Count neutral
contrastive demonstrative. Cha mt
kngt nvt k kurem arang. He
got some of that betelnut. Ngait
kngt dak kule ngt mo. You get
those particular ones but leave the
rest. Variant: achnget; chnget;
gnget.
kngglem those particular two
pieces.
knggl dem. that particular piece.
Gram: Excised singular contrastive demon-
strative. Kama tapiokigl chnggl
da guangigl. That particular piece
of tapioca is bad. Variant: kngl; ch-
ngl; chngl; achngl. See: chkng-
gl just that particular piece.
103
kseng
knggleng those particular pieces.
kngl that particular piece.
krau sa-vi. subside; can refer to a
flood going down, wasting strength
during an illness, or petrol evapo-
rating. Arenggi chi chrau. The
river will subside. Variant: chrau.
krechacha loose soil.
krk pt vi-so. be dry. Lams angvt
kdeng avang d chrk ptha-
ngt. Those coconuts have dry skin.
Variant: chrk pt.
kriduchi native spinach (aibika)
stem.
kerorachi banana flower.
kerorini calf; specifically the large
muscle in the lower part of the leg.
krtpka n. halt; stop. Variant:
chrtpka.
krtp mn na vt. slice into. Ta
chrtp mn nachama thinmgi
smt kama chureski. They sliced
the fish into the palm leaf. Variant:
chrtp mn na.
krtp mt vt. chop; cut up. Variant:
chrtp mt; krtp mt; chrtp mt.
krtp pt vt. 1 chop off; e.g. to strip
a tree back to its trunk.
2 butcher; e.g. of a pig or a fish.
Variant: chrtp pt.
krtp s vt. cut. Ngi chrtp s cha-
ma viulacha ava trutki nigia sen'gi.
You cut the root of the mango tree
with your knife. Variant: chrtp s.
ksk vi-so. be thirsty. ... d choki
chama vlmga d chscha ia
vandi ch naik. ... and that pig was
also thirsty and wanting to drink.
Variant: chsk.
ksk pt vi-so. be dry. Sravtki ma
chsk pthachi. The shirt is dry.
Variant: chsk pt.
ksem dem. those particular two long
ones. Gram: Long dual contrastive demon-
strative. Asong ism chsem da vl
mni ngisem. The two rafters broke.
Variant: chsem; achsem. See:
chksem just those particular two
long ones.
kseng hair.
kseng dem. those particular long
ksengdaiuika
ones. Gram: Long plural contrastive demon-
strative. Ta thal chama asong iseng
chseng. They carried some long
rafters. Variant: chseng; achseng.
ksengdaiuika crab sp.
kseng da vam beard; whiskers.
ksengia long hair; specifically a
single strand of hair.
ksengvs feather.
kspka cliff.
kesias vi-so. be thirsty. Kesias chi d
kosa vandi chi naik. She was thirsty
and she just wanted a drink. Variant:
chesias.
ksin na vi-so. stink. Kama singalka
cha ngip d chsin nacha. The
snake died and it stank. Variant:
chsin na.
ktikktika grasshopper sp.
kthcha mt vi-so. hiccup; have the
hiccups. Chthcha mt kama
thoemini. The baby has the hiccups.
Variant: chthcha mt.
kthep vt. 1 grab. Chia chthp
chama nongacha. She grabbed the
possum.
2 catch. Stonix chia chthep cha-
ma urn malilu. Stonix caught many
prawns. Variant: chthep; gthep.
kthiacha blue.
kthiachi pancreas.
kthiavs bluish.
kethik mt vt. bind. Ta chethik mt
gia thopki nchama baniska. They
bound your wound with a bandage.
Variant: chethik mt.
kethik p tie.
kethik pt vt. tie. Kule sa uthi tp
kama angmngga sa utpe uthi
kthik pthachi duthi sot. After-
wards, we cut a long pole, then we
tied it, and we finished. Variant:
chethik pt; chethik p; kethik p.
kethik sthm vt. fasten. Ngi chethik
sthm gi vlmini mamr marik
ngini ngna vang. You fasten your
piglet or it will run away. Variant:
chethik sthm.
kethik t tie on.
kethik tm vt. tie on. Sa ut kthik
104
kvap
tchama mngbam ma unbam ma
livinbam pe mni chama lichat.
Then we tied the two pieces of wood,
the two crossbars, onto the carrying
pole. Variant: chethik tm; chethik t;
kethik t.
kthom dem. those particular two
small ones. Gram: Diminutive dual
contrastive demonstrative. Achun'ga ma
chabapka da mrka. Ngi thon
kthom ve di gia vtka vam. White
sand is nice. You throw some [Lit:
those particular two small ones] in front
of your house. Variant: achthom;
chthom. See: chkthom just those
particular two small ones.
kthong dem. those particular small
ones. Gram: Diminutive plural contrastive
demonstrative. Ut ms da navt
chthong. We ate and left some food.
Variant: chthong; achthong. See:
chkthong just those particular
small ones.
kthopka n. sap. Ngmng angk-
thop da ngthi sren. The trees sap
is bitter. Pl: kthop. Variant: chthop-
ka.
kthopka pool.
kthopka vt vi-so. be fat; be obese.
Vaimbam taithivam da kthopka
vt ngavam. Those two dogs are very
fat. Variant: chthopka vt.
kthopki liquid; large pool.
kthopvm puddle.
kvaik sword grass (kunai).
kvaika stalk of sword grass (kunai).
kvaiki area of sword grass (kunai).
kvam dem. those particular two short
ones. Gram: Reduced dual contrastive
demonstrative. Vaimbam chvam d in
ngip. Two other dogs died. Ismga
voembam chvam insp nvt ka
ngmnggi th vus. The two baby
birds fell off the tree. Variant: chvam;
achvam. See: chkvam just those
particular two short ones.
kvap dem. those particular short ones.
Gram: Reduced plural contrastive demon-
strative. Athoembam chvap nemt
ka sunaski uge munggas mali
nbngang. Some school children
played last night. Variant: chvap;
kvarvarki
achevap. See: chkvap just those
particular short ones.
kvarvarki n. reef crab sp.; spotty
green shell; up to 6 cm in diameter.
Pl: kvarvar. Variant: chvarvarki.
kvem dem. those particular two. Gram:
Feminine dual contrastive demonstrative.
Variant: chvem; achvem. See:
chkvem just those particular two.
kvs interrog. when. Variant: chvs.
See: kvsnia when; mchvs
sometime, sometimes, again.
kvs dem. that particular flat one.
Gram: Flat singular contrastive demon-
strative. Ka mt pepavs kvs da
kule chvs. He got one piece of
paper and left the other. Kama
pepavs chchs de chama saenggi
chia thor ngas. Rain wet the piece of
paper. Variant: chvs; kchs;
achvs; chchs. See: chkvs just
that particular flat one.
kvsnia interrog. when. Kvsnia sa
ngn tet sva lat? When did you all
go to the garden? Chiaet kvsnia
save ia Tol? When will she go to Tol?
Variant: chvsnia. See: kvs when.
kvet dem. that particular long one.
Gram: Long singular contrastive demon-
strative. Asongbet chvet ndai ngua
thal ngavet sva bang. I carried the
long rafter home. Variant: chvet;
achvet. See: chkvet just that
particular long one.
kvi= contrastive marker. that one.
Gram: Used to make contrastive pronouns.
Auk, da chok ka irs tmda, ia sik
kok ma chvicha cha mun ptha-
cha. Well, he just lied to them that he
had found it. Variant: chvi=.
ki pro. she; it. Gram: Third person feminine
singular class two and class three pronoun.
Chi masar kama athal. She will
weave the net bag (bilum). Cha ngip
nmt ki china thoes ma dvaung.
He died and left her with three
children. Variant: chi; chit; gi; git; giet
(Abilta dialect).
kia pro. she; it. Gram: Third person feminine
singular class one pronoun. Chia ve chia
ts. She is eating. Variant: chia; gia.
kiakkiaka n. crab sp.; lives in holes in
the sand; white and brown shell; up
kinai
to 5 cm in diameter. See: dulem crab
sp. (alternate name).
kialetki crab sp.
kiar sa-vi. scrape; specifically the
dance step when you scrape your
feet along the ground. Kama
chumsta thi tvng dak kama
lvop ta tain ama thi kiar. The men
sing but the women dance and scrape.
Variant: chiar.
kiar vt vt. scrape something like a
taro while roasting it. Ka chiar vt
kama anot. He scraped the taro.
Variant: chiar vt.
kibing kibing va sachong vi-so. be
dizzy; be giddy. Kibing kibing va
sachong d cha sp. He was dizzy
and fell. Note: only k.
kichi n. key. Kia mu dm nava ki. She
lost his keys. Pl: ki. From: English, Tok
Pisin: key, ki.
kierms t push away.
kies sa vi-so. sneeze. Kies sa ngo. I
sneezed. See: kiskisa sneeze
repeatedly. Note: only k.
kikisa sneeze.
kilimski leech.
kilok n. clock. Ngia vondm mt
giama kilok nachoe? Where did you
buy your clock? See: kunngga ava
iski clock. From: English, Tok Pisin:
clock, kilok or klok. Note: no endings.
kilok vt. tickle. Namunas kia chilok
ma Krista d chi tamal. Namunas
tickled Krista and she laughs. Variant:
chilok.
kinacha n. kina coin. Sa ngu pr kama
kinacha nmt kama tingi vaivaik.
So I pulled out a kina from that
particular tin. Pl: kina. From: Tok Pisin:
kina.
kinai disc. 1 actually. Munas chi
kuares ia snivichi atha lchar, dak
kinai ma Ludie atha chik. Munas
said it was her leg but actually it was
Ludies.
2 in contrast. D smni ais sa
ngua tu gusnng ia choi ia ut pe ut
tet save ia Marunga dak kinai ut pe ut
tet smt ka mundmbs... And on
the way I began to think that we were
not going to Marunga but in contrast
105
kinak
we were going to hell...
3 instead. ... choi ia ut pe ut tet
save ia Marunga dak kinai ut pe ut
tet smt ka mundmbs... ... we
were not going to Marunga but
instead we were going to hell...
4 in turn. Dak kinai kvicha
chinai cha ve ch tuthik mna tha
vik. And in turn, that one, he shoots
back at them. Variant: chinai; kinei;
chine.
kinak interj. yes; all right. Chinak kule
chlan iva mnap ka. All right, let him
sleep. Variant: chinak.
kinak disc. just. Cha met kinak
sdamr natha. He just went directly
from them. Kama vongavongacha da
chinak ma ngni nari cha imono a
mchvs. The orange wasp, it is the
one you just hear around sometimes.
Variant: chinak.
kinap ash.
kinas disc. just; recently. Tha thpms
vt ka chirgarska vak kinas. They
have just sharpened that paddle.
Kama luln'gi nas kia ndn nave ia
Milim. The boat just came from
Milim. Variant: chinas; nas.
kinasa disc. 1 really.
2 already. Ngu mn da chinasa
cha luln'gi chia met. I arrived but
the boat had already left. Variant:
chinasa; inasa; nasa.
kin pro. her and. ... dei thi von dm gi
saglm ga da kule chi chin cha.
... then they will give her to him and
she will stay with him. Morph: ki=n.
Lit: 3F.SG.III=and. Variant: chin.
kinei actually; in contrast; instead; in
turn.
kinipki fireplace; hearth.
kinggna n. kings. Kama kinggna
ma dvaung ta mt nave ia
kunengga cha ndn diva the lu ma
Jesus. The three kings came from the
east to see Jesus. From: English: king.
Note: only k.
kiom dem. those particular two. Gram:
Masculine singular contrastive demon-
strative. Sa chule sa chama athoes
ama levavet na tha, kiom nvt ka-
nucha achk, kiom nvt kanucha
achk. So then (there were) the four
106
klan
boys, two in one canoe, two in the
other canoe. See: chkiom just those
particular two.
kir vt. 1 push away. Cha vadi ch
vanistm ngo dak ngua chiracha.
He wanted to hit me but I pushed him
away.
2 clear away. Sa chule sa ma
Bernard ka ve ch kut na dak k kir
kama aurithong. So then Bernard
started to come down and he cleared
away the bushes. Variant: chir.
kirms t vt. push away. Variant: chier
mes t; kierms t.
kiskisa vi-so. sneeze repeatedly. Kiski-
sa ngo. I kept sneezing. Variant: kiki-
sa. See: kies sa sneeze. Note: only k.
kivelacha lizard.
kivelachi lizard.
kiveligl young crocodile.
klalachun driftwood.
klan adv. 1 like; likewise. Ngia thu
ngt chlan taithik. You put them
like this.
2 at the time; when. Klan ia cha
tet nk aiska d sdamr anggingt
vt aiska v cheng, d ch tu ngt
klan. When he walks past something
on the road he happens to shoot at (it).
Variant: chlan; glan; klan; chlan. See:
machlan at the time; when.
klan vt. be like; be similar. Kama che-
vungga klan kama aio. The che-
vungga species is like bamboo. Cha
sok cha chlan ava mamk. He is
really like his mother. Variant: chlan;
chlan; klan.
klan adv. 1 only. Banganggi di chi
tk vt klan. It was night and she
could only feel around. A! Nge ama
gaini chlan dak kina sok ngia
slavo nango. Oh! You are only a small
thing but you have degraded me.
2 just. Amusnng ng mun bt
guauk klan daithik ia, Ngo da
vandi ngu vlk ia ngu vang. An
idea just came to my grandmother like
this, I want to try and run away.
3 for nothing; with nothing.
Nandre cha thor klan. Nandre got
wet for nothing. Cha mn klan
svthik. He came back with nothing.
klavonotki
Variant: chlan; chlan; klan.
klavonotki n. reef crab sp.; large and
red; very hard shell up to 15 cm in
diameter; fat in shape; lives far out
on the reef. Pl: klavonot. Variant: chla-
vonotki.
klmen fool.
klmuen fool.
klvachi maggot.
klochachi large inside part of some-
thing.
klochaini small inside part of some-
thing.
klom shellfish sp.
koi no; not.
koi neg. no. Tangamtta tha ndn, das
koi angama Aulingalta, ura angi-
tha, angmbs. Tolais came, but still
no Sulkas or anyone, no. Variant: choi;
kuai.
koiku neg. 1 no. Choiku nanga rutha
ith. There are no people here.
2 not. Dak koiku mamr. But (it
was) not possible. Variant: choiku; koi;
choi; kuai; kuaiku.
kok disc. 1 just. Auk, da chok ka irs
tmda, ia sik kok ma chvicha cha
mun pthacha. Well, he just lied to
them that he had found it.
2 already. Julien chinama Nor-
berta in met mt chama iska ma
malo chok in met ka. Julien and
Norberta went on the road that they
had already been on. Variant: kuk;
chok; chuk.
koki disc. also; similarly. Cha vondm
chama twistis baut dchoki batha.
He gave the twisties to us and also to
them. Variant: choki; oki.
kokoros n. cockroach. Fidel chia thon
meng at baul mndu ma kokoros
ng ms ngt. Fidel checked her
clothes because the cockroaches ate
them. From: English, Tok Pisin: cock-
roach, kokoros.
koloski n. meri blouse; a loose fitting
dress worn by women in PNG, with a
wraparound skirt (laplap) worn
underneath. Goreti chia mon mt
kama koloski ama mrki. Goreti
wore a nice meri blouse. Pl: kolos.
107
krathe
From: English, Tok Pisin:clothes, klos.
Note: only k.
kolta n. creosote. Kar ngthi bang
mamor nchama iska ma kolta
vthacha. Cars travel fast on roads
that have creosote on them. From:
English, Tok Pisin: coal-tar, kolta. Note:
only k.
kop dm vt. hang up. Ka chop dm
avama viam iva chrek pthangt.
He hung up his galip nuts (Canarium
indicums) in order for them to dry.
Variant: chop dm.
kop mni vt. fasten. Ndi thi bn
mangt d thi kop mni ngt. They
pile them up and fasten them. Variant:
chop mni.
kop s vt. tie up. Ngi chop schama
ngmng diva ngu thal ngt sva
bang. You tie up the wood so that I
can carry it home. Variant: chop s.
kosa disc. just; simply; as the result of
something undesirable having
happened. Thomas ka thu chama
vaimga da kosa cha ingip. Thomas
shot the dog and it just died. Variant:
chusa.
kot sa-vi. spit. Variant: chot.
kot pt vt. spit on; spit at. Kule ma ngi
kot ptha ngo. Dont you spit at me.
Variant: chot pt.
kraik dem. just that particular one.
Gram: Feminine singular contrastive demon-
strative. Variant: chraik; chraik. See:
chkraik just that particular one.
krak dem. that particular one. Gram:
Masculine singular contrastive demon-
strative. Krak ma Joseph ka ms
kama thinm. That Joseph, he ate
fish. Choiku n chkrak taith. That
person is not here. Variant: chr; chra;
chrak; chrak. See: chkrak just that
particular one.
krang just those two particular ones.
krark vt. dry. Marianne chi krark at
baul ma chia thor ngt. Marianne
dried her clothes which she had
washed. Variant: chrark.
krathe dem. those particular people.
Gram: Human plural contrastive demon-
strative. Chrathe ava the dai chama
asvo tha. Those people are thieves.
kravum
Variant: chrath; chrare; achrathe.
kravum dem. that particular one. Gram:
Masculine singular contrastive demon-
strative. D kravum ka ngip
masgvs. And the bloke died
straight away.
krtkrt s vi-so. rustle. Arucha ch
pirs ithm chama amnggi
dokosa ut nari chama krtkrt
scha d ut lu cha. The man hid
behind the big tree but we heard him
rustling and we saw him. Variant:
chrtkrt s.
Krismas n. Christmas. Ut met smt
ka lotu mt kama Krismas. We went
to church at Christmas. From: English,
Tok Pisin: Christmas, Krismas. Note:
only k.
krtp mt chop; cut up.
kuai no; not.
kuai no.
kuaiku no; not.
kuaithu interj. Not yet! As kuaithu.
Still, not yet.
kuanik vt. swallow. Nge chuanik
kama marasin mamr. You swallow
the medicine properly. Variant: chua-
nik.
kuar vt. say. Kule d thave thi chuar
ia ta don sa malmalki. Then they
said that they would make peace.
Variant: chuar.
kuar show.
kuaramgi bird sp.
kuares vt. say. Timothy cha chuares
ia chave chnava ruavk taet
smni arenggi. Timothy said that he
and his friends would go to the river.
Variant: chuares; kurs.
kuares ithm mes sa vt. confess.
Arutha thi kuares ithm ms sa
athva slavo. People confess their
sins. Variant: chuares ithm mes sa.
kuar na vt. tell. Ngi kuar nango ia
nguat anggiom nmt gi uratki?
Which two did you tell me to get from
your basket? Variant: chuar na; kuar
n; chuar n.
kuar nana sa-vi. tell each other. Auk,
sa ini chuar nana ia, in det... Well,
they said to each other that they
108
kulaucha
should go...
kuar n tell.
kuar tm vt. light up; e.g. shine a torch
on something. Nge kuar tm ut sv
usupki. You light the way for us to
heaven. Variant: chuar tm; kura tm;
chura tm.
kuasin na vt. toss; especially referring
to throwing liquid from a container.
Kia mt ka lulengi avaik di chia
chuasin nachi... It got that boat and
it tossed it around... Variant: chuasin.
kuasin svt vt. splash. Ngave aiskias
ngo, da kule ma ngi chuasin
svtha ngo. I am cold and you may
not splash me. Variant: chuasin.
kubururucha n. brown ant. Kuburu-
rucha cha nes ngo da ruan. A brown
ant bit me and it hurts. Pl: kubururu.
Variant: chubururucha.
kudicha prawn sp.
kudichi piece of rotten wood.
kue interrog. where. Ngua thungt
choe? Where will I put it? Variant:
choe.
kuenai interrog. where. Nguan vtha
nge choenai? Where shall I meet
you? Variant: choenei; guenai.
kuer go first; go ahead; go in front.
kuer sa-vi. go first; lead. ... da cha
chuer schi. ... and he went first with
it. Variant: chuer.
kuer s vt. lead. Ngu kuer stha sva
lat. I lead them to the garden. Variant:
chuer s. See: er first.
kut pierce; spear; inject.
kut ma draw.
kut pt write.
kuevanas sa-vi. shake oneself. Kok ki
kuevanas. It still shook itself. Note:
only k.
kuiep sa-vi. shake. Kule ngn guenai,
machlan beia achn'gn'gi chia ve
chi kuiep? Where did you all stay
when the earthquake was shaking?
Note: only k.
kuk just; already.
kulaucha n. green coconut (kulau); for
drinking. Ngi von ngo nanga ku-
laucha diva ngu naik mtka. You
give me the green coconut (kulau) so I
kulbingga
can drink its juice. Pl: kulau. Note:
only k.
kulbingga tongue of flame.
kulbingga tongue.
kule later.
kule vi-so. stay. Chule tha vaur sa
bubang d than. They are staying in
the bush and tomorrow they will
return. Variant: chule.
kule disc. Dont. Gram: Negative imperative.
Kule ma ngi svau. Don't you steal.
Variant: chule.
kule klan interj. Never mind! Sa
choiku ut na munggas tik d sa
chok kule klan. So we will not play
now, never mind.
kulel vt. 1 leave. Chulel giama
thalchi ith va vt d ngias sa.
Leave your bucket here at home and
eat first.
2 throw away. Ngias kama chlok
dak kulel kama chndeng. Eat the
inside but throw away the skins.
Variant: chulel.
kulemgi corner.
kulp pool; liquid.
kulp bowl of water; soup.
kulpka tear.
kulesia haze.
kulski smoke; steam.
kulumtka crab sp.
kulumga shellfish sp.
kumangacha spider.
kumang angt nank insect sp.
kumangdalska spider sp.
kumbarka bird sp.; dove; Victoria
crowned pigeon.
kumngas n. gaol; prison. Arutha ma
thi bing mni a thondm da tha tu
tha mt kama kumngas. People
who break the law are put in gaol. Pl:
kumang. Variant: chumngas.
kumer vm vt. clean. Mamr ia ngi
chumer vm gama milatka bango?
Can you clean the plate for me?
Variant: chumer.
kumgi knee.
kunachacha shellfish sp.
kunduchi n. hand drum. Nm av
109
kunnggunng dm
kunduchi ta ithaik? Whose hand
drum is this? Pl: kundu. From: Tok
Pisin: kundu hand drum. Note: only k.
kunmgi n. old garden; a garden that
cannot be used again for two or
three years. Athva kunmgi da tha
lmuchi nani athva alat sei. Their
old garden, they left it to be their
garden again. Chunam avang d mir
nangt. That is an old garden from
long ago. Vlngacha da sok kama
mngga ma cha dn pt kama
chunam. The vlngacha is a tree that
grows in an old garden site. Pl: kunam.
Variant: chnam; chunmgi.
kuneng season.
kunengm morning star.
kunngga n. 1 sun. Vadi uthet save
ia Rabaul d sa chunngga cha
vn. We want to go to Rabaul but the
sun is already up.
2 day. Kunngga achk, d tha
mondmna. One day they gathered
together. Mni chunng. Good day.
(Greeting used from about midday to 2
pm.) Pl: kunng. Variant: chunngga.
3 occasion. Arutha sok athva
lumanaski ama morki ve ia chama
chunng ama mor. People really do
big preparations during important
occasions.
kunngga ava iski n. clock. Kunng-
ga ava iski chia tamon ia sa
asnggk nacha. The clock says it is
one oclock. Pl: kunngga ava ais.
Variant: chunngga ava iski. See: kilok
clock.
kunengga ava lm n. mushroom sp.;
large, white, umbrella shape; the
stalk is 30 cm in diameter; grows in
grassy fields after heavy rain.
kunengga cha don west.
kunnggunng n. dawn. Amlta thi
pinem svt bang via kunnggu-
nng. The foreigners went back to
their villages at dawn. Sa ngni
thcham! Sa ngave chunnggu-
nng. You people get up! (The day is)
dawning. Variant: chunnggunng.
kunnggunng dm vi-so. be real.
Anvmnacha chna, mali sa thik
ngaip sa thik sa ngave chuneng-
guneng dmda. The underground
kunngngrngrka
people, first they were hidden but now
they are becoming real (i.e. apparent
to everyone). Variant: chunengguneng
dm; gunengguneng dm.
kunngngrngrka shellfish sp.
kungacha tree sp.; casuarina; sister-
less man; sisterless boy.
kura vt. show. Vea ngiaet da giama
chutdrir da ngi kur angt svt
ath. When you go, show your respect
for them. Variant: chur.
kuracha root; artery; vein.
kura tm light up.
kuravesik na sa-vi. reveal. Jesus ka
churavesik nava methamon sang-
gl ma Johanes vtka mlka ma
Patmos. Jesus revealed his message
to Johanes on the island of Patmos.
Variant: churavesik na.
kuremga betelnut.
kuremgi palm sp.; betel palm; shellfish
sp.
kurngga mountainside.
kurs say.
kureski leaf; bucket.
kurithong ama ngthi bang sa
methamn nerve.
kursachong crab sp.
kur svt vt. 1 show. Vea ngiaet da
giama chutdrir da ngi kur angt
svt ath. When you go, show your
respect for them.
2 reveal; spot-light using a torch.
Ta chuar svt kama ruchm ch-
chm mali nbengang. They torched
(spot-lighted) someone short last
night. Variant: chur; kuar; chuar.
kur tm vt. show. Cha churatha thm
chama duraik ma ch tlu vtha
ngt. He showed them the chickens
he was looking for. Variant: chura tm.
kurupacha n. crowbar. Ngua nges
mcha lechi nchama kurupa. I dug
the hole with the crowbar. Pl: kurupa.
From: English, Tok Pisin: crowbar, kroba.
kusaricha name of Mndas dancer.
kusek adv. only; just. Chusek ka cha
met k tor. Only he went to wash.
Ngmbs nanga guang ve mt ka
gunan'ga dak chusek kama chuan
ng ve. There is nothing there in the
110
kut ithm
store, there is only rice. Ava nank
kia thk nacha nani anot d chama
tangam dak chusek ka mn scha-
ma anot. His mother sent him for taro
and bananas but he just brought back
taros. Variant: chusek.
kusem intestines.
kusemga spinal cord.
kusemgi large intestine.
kusilka fish sp.
kuski muddy ground.
kut vt. serve. Ngi chut kama msms
bachama morta vath iva thas. You
serve the food for those important
people so they can eat. Variant: chut.
kut vt. 1 pierce. Mir kama morta
nainath da tha chut athva
sndem. Long ago the ancestors used
to pierce their ears.
2 spear. Ka chut sndamr nch
plmga ava snngacha. He speared
the pig directly in the heart.
3 inject. Kama neski chia chut
gua rembm. The nurse injected my
buttock. Variant: chut; kut; chut.
kut vt. stack. Sa chule tha vtka us
kopra d thi kut lams. So they
stayed at the copra hut (haus kopra)
and stacked copra. Variant: chut.
kut vt. catch; specifically an eagle
catching its prey. Brasocha cha
chut kama vangong'gi. The eagle
caught a flying fox. Variant: chut.
kut dm vt. get rid of. Ka chut dm
ava lugutki china thoes. He got rid
of his wife and children. Variant: chut
dm.
kutm s vt. sew. Chutm schama
chdeng. Suture. [Lit: Sew the body.]
Variant: chutm s.
kutgil tm vt. butcher; chop. D cha
chutgiltm smt kama bang-
gruanggi. And he chopped it into the
pot. Variant: chutgil tm; vuigl tm
(Abilta dialect).
kutigligl half.
kutik namt vt. poke repeatedly; stab
repeatedly. Ka chutik namthacha.
It poked him repeatedly (with its
horns). Variant: chutik namt.
kut ithm vt. lean on. Kule ma ngi na
kut ma
chut ithmgi. Dont you lean on her.
Variant: chut ithm.
kut ma vt. draw. Ngu kut ma chama
achutkut. I drew the picture. Variant:
chut ma; chut ma; kut ma.
kut m vt. spear. Mali cha tet tcha-
ma renggi viavik d cha lu chi da
kosa chule d cha thia cha chut
mchi. Before, he went along that
particular river and he saw it and he
speared it at once.
kut mes vt. shoot randomly. Cha chut
mes kama urn. He shot randomly at
the prawns. Variant: chut mes.
kut mes ma vt. be patchy. Kama
vaimga cha chut mes ma chama
L -
lachski n. 1 fish sp.; have yellow
and brown stripes along the body;
up to 40 cm long.
2 sea cucumber sp.; brown and
edible.
3 cucumber. Pl: lachs.
lachuaska n. grass; an area of any
particular kind of grass. Paskalis k
tp kama lachuaska namt ava
mbangga. Pascal cut an area of one
kind of grass around his house.
Pl: luchuas.
lachuaski n. pool; specifically pools
made in the reef at low tide. Ksk
mt kama garski nemen kama
thinm mt kama lachuaski mt
kama sul. At low tide the fish were
trapped in the pool on the reef.
Pl: lachuasvap.
ladeigl n. apron of leaves worn by
women at the back. Johana chia
thk at lade. Johana made her lade.
Pl: lade. Variant: lande.
ladevthacha n. name of Mndas
mask; the mask has an elongated
shield shape with a rounded back,
dangling bark cloth (tapa cloth)
around the edges with designs under-
neath, and a stick with feathers on it
on top; it is carried flat side down on a
stick.
lagrka n. bird sp.; large parrot; steals
111
lalar pt
vlokpap pthacha mo. The dog was
patchy with spots all over it. Variant:
chut mes.
kut na sa-vi. descend. Uthi kutna
inavuk sva bang nva lat. We
descended from the garden to the
house. Ngi chutna s mseng. You
come down to the ground. Variant:
chuk na.
kut pt vt. write. Ngi chut pt kama
tlngbs ithvs. You write on this
piece of paper. Variant: chut pt; chut
pt; kut pt.
kuvisacha chickenhawk.
l
cocoa and food from gardens.
Langgrka cha ts kama kakau
masa. The large parrot eats cocoa a
lot. Pl: lagr. Variant: langgrka.
lagthacha n. corn. Ngu don bathm
ngu lagat ma ngua vt ngt. I
checked the corn that I planted.
Pl: lagat. Variant: langgthacha.
laguain'ga n. native spinach (aibika)
tip. Ngiat kama auravuchi at
laguain'ga bango. You bring the
native spinach (aibika) tip to me.
Pl: laguain.
laguain'gi n. gullet. Athop mt kama
rucha ava laguain'gi. The man has a
cut in his gullet. Pl: langguain.
lagun'ga n. cordyline sp.; victory leaf
(tanget); decorative plant. Ka rucha
cha thanger vt kama lagun'ga
uvs da kosa chave ch gamar
natha. The man broke the top off the
victory leaf and started to fight them.
Pl: lagun.
lairini n. small ridge between two
creeks. Marupki chia mair mni
lairini d chia ts kama chlaska
voes. The cassowary stood on the
ridge and eats the chlaska fruit.
Pl: lairithong.
lalar pt vi-so. be scrawny; be
emaciated; be very thin; especially
after a long illness. Paimga vak da
laltki
lalar pthacha. That dog is very thin.
laltki n. 1 root. Ngua chut ngua
lchar mt kama mngga ava lalt.
I stabbed my foot on the trees roots.
2 stump. D cha vn svt kama
ngemngi at lalt va cha vn sva
var. And he climbed onto the stump of
a tree so he could get up higher.
Pl: lalt. See: trutki small root of a
tree or plant.
lalumga n. bird sp.; brown and white
hawk. Kama lalum da ngt ts
kama guangithong ma chesin.
Brown and white hawks eat rotten
things. Pl: lalum.
lamn n. flat land.
lams n. copra. Sa chule tha vtka us
kopra d thi kut lams. So they
stayed at the copra hut (haus copra)
and stacked copra.
lamsachi n. 1 coconut. Ngi chiar
vt kama lamsvam ithvem. You
scrape these two coconuts. Ngia thet
ngi ngm nani lams. You go and
look for coconuts.
2 coconut palm. Bruno cha vt
kama lamsachi va lat. Bruno
planted the coconut palm in the
garden. Pl: lams.
lamsait n. tall coconut palm. Ka vn
vt kama lamsait nani chama
kulau. He climbed the tall coconut
palm for the green coconuts (kulau).
Pl: lamsink.
lamsas n. coconut leaf; the leaflets
that make up a coconut frond.
lamsigl n. spleen. Kama thoemga
armga scha ma lamsigl. The
boy has got a sickness in his spleen.
Pl: lamsinggleng. Variant:
lamsinggl.
lamsigl n. 1 coconut plantation.
2 piece of coconut.
lamsinggl spleen.
lamthain'ga n. tree sp.; large tree
species. Lamthain'ga da mrka
nani palang. The lamthain'ga
species is good for planks. Pl:
lamthain.
lamga n. lamp. Isidore, ngiat kama
lamga bango. Isidore, you bring the
lamp to me. Pl: lam.
112
lareng
lamini n. lamb; specifically the Lamb
of God. Deo ava lamini ama ng
thar aivitki atha slavo. Lamb of God
you take away the sins of the world.
From: English: lamb.
lamon angthaik n. saltwater eel sp.;
brown.
lamon'gi n. wave; specifically waves
that break. Lamon ama mor p sng
kama renggi. There are big waves at
the mouth of the river. Pl: lamon. See:
awalngga wave; ripple.
lamur n. white marks that are painted
onto people's faces, during dances,
using white powder or lime powder.
Dak ava ruavek chule tha k da thi
vel atha lamur. But his friends stayed
down there and rubbed white marks
(onto their faces).
lande apron.
landmbm n. short club; baton. D
tha vaingel tm nge mavo nama
landm. And they beat you badly with
a club. Pl: ladm.
langena be famous; be renowned.
langga n. shoulder. Ngu tal kama
ngmng d gua lang. I carried the
wood on my shoulder. Pl: alang. See:
alngini shoulder.
langgrka bird sp.; large parrot.
langgerki n. saltwater fish sp.;
brightly coloured: green, blue, or
red; two types: one lives on the reef,
the other lives in the deep sea, has a
lump on its head, and is up to 60 cm
long; both types have a mouth like a
parrot's beak and sharp teeth for
grinding coral. Pl: langger.
langgervereng'gi n. green cicada sp.;
found in coastal areas.
Pl: langgeveren.
langgthacha corn.
lareng vi-so. happy. Usage: This word is
a bit archaic; it is mainly used now
to describe the way dogs behave
when greeting their masters.
Larengango nvt guaoemga. I am
happy about my son. Ngua lu gi
sachongas da sok larengas glm
nge i ngia vlng kama thinmgi
ama morki. I saw your face was
happy because you caught a big fish.
lareng'ga vt
lareng'ga vt vi-so. be happy. Ngave
lareng'ga vthatha i athva matka
cha mn nave ia Mosbi. They are
happy because their elder brother
came back from Port Moresby.
lasrpthacha fish sp.
lasrvthacha n. freshwater fish sp.;
multi-coloured: brown, yellow, and
red; lives in still waters such as
billabongs; up to 20 cm long.
Pl: lasrvt. Variant: lasrpthacha.
latka n. gardener. Sok ma Paulus de
chama latka. Really, Paul is a
gardener. Pl: latta.
latki n. female gardener.
laurka n. wind. Laurka cha bal tcha-
ma lamsachi. The wind blew down
the coconut palm. Pl: laur.
lavaitigel n. placenta. Ta thon kama
thoemga ava lavaitigel smt kama
lechi. They threw the childs placenta
into the hole. Pl: lavaithigleng.
lavaitki n. navel. Athop mt ava
lavaitki. He has got a sore on his
navel. Pl: lavait.
lavrki n. sugar-cane. Ngi von ngo
nanga lavrki. You give me a sugar-
cane. Pl: lavr.
lavichi n. 1 bed. Ka namas mni ava
lavichi. He was lying down on his bed.
2 platform. Pl: lavi.
lcha oh dear!
lchar foot; leg; refers to the entire
limb.
lcharacha ama morka n. big toe.
Dulki chia thares gua lcharacha
ama morka. The stone pressed my
big toe.
lechi hole.
lechvs adv. in the air. Kama ismga
ch bang da lechvs. The bird flew in
the air. Variant: leps.
lgmetka n. freshwater fish sp.; looks
like a small shark but has no teeth;
eats moss; white with greasy flesh;
lives where the current is fast.
Pl: lgmet.
lel small.
lel s vi-so. pour out; run out; spill out.
Ka thar schama chthopka da
kosa lel schama mo. He opened the
113
lengeiki
pool [Lit: broke its bank] and (the
water) all poured out.
lel tm vi-so. drain out. Lel tmga. It
drained out.
lel tm vt. gather. Kave cha lel tm
avanga mngithong nva gars. He
is gathering his small pieces of wood
from the beach.
lmaska n. fly; generic term. Lmaska
cha mungun mt gua thopki. The
fly sat on my sore. Pl: lmas.
lmbut n. saliva. Kule ma ngi kot
ptha ngo ningia lmbut. Dont you
spit your saliva at me.
lmr vt. clean thoroughly. K lmr
avoemga ava sachong ma thopp
mt ngt. He will clean his sons eyes
which have sores in them.
lmr dm vt. carve. Secha cha lmr
dm ava chepki. The hero carved his
spear.
lmr nas sa-vi. clean oneself thor-
oughly. Ngi lmr nas. You clean
yourself thoroughly.
lmrnaski n. purgatory. Ngia
mthatha nmthama lmrnaski.
You get them from purgatory.
lmlmga n. pus; especially from
infected eyes. Tchp nchama
lmlm mthava sachong. His eyes
are full of pus. Pl: lmlm.
lmu vt. leave. Duthi lmu autha
slavo. And so we left our sins.
lmuacha n. friend; ally. Peia sa tha
mu chama thoemka auk sa ava
lmuacha nava morka ma cha
thpmues tmga. When a boy was
initiated by a man, the boy would call
the man his friend. Pl: lmutha.
lmuachi n. female friend; female ally.
lmu thm vt. look after; care for; take
care of. Mala nge thal Jesus di nge
lmu thmka. Before, you gave birth
to Jesus and you looked after him.
len be afraid; be frightened.
lenge angthieik n. leader. Alenge
angthieik chvicha ma asik ch
tp ma thondm svt kama ms-
mski. The leader is the one who
makes the rules for the feast.
lengeiki truth.
lengeini
lengeini n. event; function; meeting.
Koi aungka na mes anga mambu-
ves svtha tha lengithong. No one
sings any songs about their events.
Pl: lengithong.
lengemtka n. leader. Pl: lengemtta.
lengenacha n. a leader; a person who
takes leadership for organising a
particular event or project. Ma Na-
ngathemes de sok lengenacha sa
utha morta athva musnng nva
mbang. Nangathemes is the leader of
the tribal customs. Autha lengena
ndai ma Deo. Our leader is God.
Pl: lengenatha.
Lengenacha n. Lord; used to refer to
God. Autha Lengenacha ma Deo.
Our Lord God.
lengenachi n. female leader.
Lengenachi n. Our Lady; Mother
Mary. Sei ngi nari autha nn'gi dei
ngi thu ut sanggl Jesus Lengena-
chi Maria. Again you hear our prayer
and you present us to Jesus, Mother
Mary.
lengen na vi-so. be famous; be re-
nowned. Lengen nango sama irit. I
am renowned for (my) bad luck. Ama
chrot nge da lengenange. You are
strong and renowned. Variant: langena.
lenge scha n. miracle worker. Deo
alenge scha. God is a miracle
worker. Variant: lenge ves scha.
lenge ves scha miracle worker.
lngirka n. grasshopper sp.; brown
and short with big back thighs; is
plentiful in stony places and along
the beach. Pl: lngir.
leps in the air.
ler d break up.
ler d tear; split; chop.
lr dm vi-so. break up. Kama saeng
ama mor d achlak kama ivitki da
kosa lr dchama ivitki d ut tes ia
athemuanacha. The big rains make
the earth soft and the earth breaks
apart, so we call it a landslide. Variant:
ler d.
lr dm vt. 1 tear. Kama thoemgi
chia lr dchama baulgi. The girl
tore her wraparound skirt (laplap).
2 split. Ngua lrdm kama mng-
114
lialecha
ga. I split the wood.
3 chop. ... d ngu lr dm gi m
ch slik d ngu sot. ... and I chopped
the meat and I finished. Variant: ler d.
lr mt vi-so. torn. D chama ivtki lr
mtki chlan da ithik. And the earth
was all torn up like this.
lr snas sa-vi. split apart; as when
something breaks up from within.
Dak avi ti kuar ia ut mo ma Ving-
bingda, koi ut lr snas, ia nma,
nma. But they say we were all
Bainings, we had not split apart into
these ones and those ones.
lscha n. banana shoot. Ngi von ngo
nanga lsk diva ngu vt ngt. You
give me the banana shoots so that I
can plant them. Pl: lsk.
letacha n. stairs. Ki bn vt kama
letacha savuk sva bang. She
climbed up the stairs to the house.
Pl: leta.
lt t vt. light a fire; ignite something.
Ngi chuar nacha ia ch lt tchama
mundam. You tell him that he should
light the fire.
levavet four.
lviam n. fish sp.; stonefish; lives on
the reef; white with bones that stick
through the skin to form strong
spikes all over its back and sides;
swells up when touched. Pl: lvai.
lvop adj. female. Kama duraik ama
lvop. The chickens are female.
lvopki n. woman. Lvopki chi tal
atha vuthchi vatha thng. The
woman carried her bundle of firewood
on her back. Lvop ta met mt areng
nani urn. The women went to the
river for prawns. Pl: lvop. Pl: lvopta.
Variant: luvop; luop.
lvovaski n. lots of women.
lvur t vt. overturn. Ka lvur
tchama plangigl. He overturned the
plank.
lvur vt vi-so. tumble over. Sa
lvur vt kunngga. The sun has
gone over. [Lit: The sun has tumbled
over.]
lialecha n. roosters tail feather. Du-
raika ava liale ama mr ngt. The
roosters tail is beautiful. Pl: liale.
lialechi
Variant: lialevs.
lialechi n. roosters tail. Pl: liale.
lialevs rooster tail feather.
licha carrying pole.
lichat carrying pole. Usage: Abilta dialect.
likdm vi-so. at once; in no time; im-
mediately. Gram: Encodes punctual aspect
in sentence initial position. Always seems to
take a third person masculine singular
subject. Lik dmga d cha mt ava
sen'gi da kosa cha chrtep mani
chama thangamga. At once he got
his knife and chopped at the banana.
lik mt vt. 1 rip off; tear off. Chia lik
mt kama pepavs va chia nachi
schama mundam. She tore off the
paper to light the fire with it.
2 split; break apart. Ngi lik mt
kama lams. You break the coconut.
Cha lik mt kama dakacha baiom.
He split the betel pepper (daka) for
the two of them.
lik s vt. break or tear off something
small. Ngi lik schama pepaini
bango. Tear a piece of paper for me.
lingbes n. gauze; lint; compress. Ngia
thu chama lingbes mt gia thopki.
You put the gauze on your sore.
Pl: ling. From: English, Tok Pisin: lint,
lin.
lingga star.
liver sa-vi. hurry. Ngia met save ia Tol
da sok ngia liver. You really hurried
when you went to Tol. Ngi livr diva
sa un det. You hurry up so we can go.
Variant: livr.
livr hurry.
livinem n. cross pole; specifically the
short poles that attach to a longer
pole that something heavy has been
tied to; the pole helps people carry
heavy things. Ngaiom ini tal mni
chama livinem ama sgm. The two
carry one cross pole between them. Pl:
livinbap.
liviska n. betel pepper (daka) shoot.
Pl: livis. Ngi vt kama chevorachi
athama livis diva vur mt ngt. You
plant the shoot of the betel pepper
(daka) vine in order to grow it.
lolves mt be reddish.
115
ludngbs
lotu n. 1 Christian rituals. Nge
slamr naut ni gia lotu. You heal us
with your rituals.
2 religion. Autha lotu chi kuar
naut ia chama mundmks ama
mor ngas ma tha tes ngas ia
imperno. Our religion tells us that
there is a big fire called hell. From: Tok
Pisin: lotu worship.
lotu sa-vi. worship. Uthi lotu vt kama
lotu atha vtki. We worship at the
church. From: Tok Pisin: lotu worship.
lotu svt vt. worship; adore; praise.
Uthi lotu svt Deo vchama haus
lotu. We worship God in church. From:
Tok Pisin: lotu worship.
lotuvmgi n. church. Uthi nn pcha-
ma lotuvmgi. We pray at church.
Pl: lotuvm. From: Tok Pisin: lotu
worship.
lu see.
luanggareska n. tree sp.; very
straight and tall; is easy to split into
planks.
luchi penis.
luchi at kdngga n. foreskin. Ta
chrtp schama kndngga. They
cut the foreskin. Pl: lu angt kdng.
luchupka n. place. Gisia d luchupka
ma amrka iva rutha thi piknik.
Gisia is a good place for people to
picnic. Pl: luchap.
luchupki n. 1 space; e.g. the space of
a playground or dancing ground. Ta
tugas schama balki mni chama
luchupki. They play with the ball in
the space.
2 baldness; bald head. Andrew
Kotpu da luchupki du vs. Andrew
Kotpu has a bald head. Pl: luchuap.
luchuvini n. small space. Luchuvini
ng mk. There is a small space down
there. Pl: luchuvithong.
lu da notice.
ludngbs n. betel pepper (daka)
leaves; mustard leaves. Nguave ngu
thik tchama ludngludngithong
diva ngu sing. I am picking the small
betel pepper (daka) leaves so that I
can chew (betelnut). Pl: ludngludng
See: achuvorves betel pepper (daka)
leaves; mustard leaves.
lugutka
lugutka n. husband. Kia vlng atha
lugutka. She killed her husband.
Kama rutha thina thva lugutvek
nave ia Bulus ta mt kama dul
nmt athva mng. The people,
husbands and wives from Bulus, got
their money from their timber. Pl: lu-
gutvek. Variant: lunggutka; ungut
(Abilta dialect); agut (Abilta dialect). See:
aruacha friend; often used to refer
to spouses.
lugutvthaiom n. couple. Lugutv-
thaiom in sek na. The couple got
married.
luk n. cool place; comfortable place;
somewhere that is a good place to
rest. Jesus ngi lu gua snng i av
luk bange. Jesus you see my heart is a
comfortable place for you.
luln'ga n. 1 canoe. Johanes k pul
mt ava kanucha. Johanes paddled in
his canoe. See: kanucha canoe.
2 cradle. Ama luln'ga nder na-
cha. The cradle was uncomfortably
tight. Ngia thu chama thoemini
muk mt kama luln'ga. You put the
baby inside the cradle. Pl: luln.
luln'gi n. boat; especially a banana
boat. Kama luln'gi chia mun
schama guangithong. The boat
arrived with the things. Pl: lulen. See:
botki boat.
lulit adj. poor. Arutha ma nausta naut
da lulitha naut klan. We are like
specks of dust and we are only poor.
lulitka poor person; poor woman.
lul pt vi-so. be grazed; be scratched.
M -
ma rel. that; who. Gram: Relator that
introduces clauses or NPs that provide
additional information about their head.
Constructions involving the relator ma are
sometimes used to express uncertainty or
emphasis. Ut da uthi vlk kama aru-
cha vak ma cha ve sk ngtha-
thng. Us, we like that person who is
there at the back.
ma np art. the. Gram: The NP article that
marks inherently uniquely identifiable ref-
116
machlak machlak
Ngua sp d lul pthango nmt
kama dul. I fell and was scratched
from the stones.
lul s sa-vi. graze; scratch; scrape. Lul
scha d chama churngga uvs.
He scratched the mountain top.
lulul pt vi-so. be scratched up. Chia
dm d lulul pt athama kdengga.
She is itchy and her skin is all
scratched up.
lu ma prepare.
lumanaksi n. preparation. Arutha sok
athva lumanaski ama morki ve ia
chama chunng ama mor. People
really do big preparations during
important occasions. Pl: lumanas.
lu manas get ready; prepare oneself.
lunaski n. 1 mirror. Ava lunaski
sukdmgi da pk tmgi. His mirror
fell down and broke.
2 louvre glass. Ngua lu chama
kaumatka cha mon samuk svm
kama lunas. Ngua vsding sthm
ga. I saw the rat got into the louvre
glass. I blocked it inside. Pl: lunas.
lunggutka husband; spouse.
lunggutki wife.
luop woman.
lu svt hurt.
luski turtle shell; wooden bowl.
lu vathm na wait.
lu vt look after.
lu vthanas look after oneself.
luvop woman.
lu wirp glimpse.
m
erents. Ka mt kama sen'gi nangl
ma Henry. He got the knife from
Henry. Ngua mes ma Junior thm-
nas. I called Junior after myself.
maboracha grey wasp.
machavs sometime; sometimes;
again.
machlak adv. little bit. Ngia ts
machlak. You eat a little bit.
machlak machlak adv. slowly.
Ngia tamon machlak machlak.
ma chlan beia
You speak slowly.
ma chlan beia when.
machlan beia subord. when. Kule
ngn guenai, machlan beia achn'-
gn'gi chia ve chi kuiep? Where did
you all stay when the earthquake was
shaking? Variant: ma chlan beia. See:
klan at the time; when.
machuisr adv. diagonally. Aulan'gi
chia vaimanas mni chama kakau-
cha ava thiki ama chia namt ma-
chuisr. The snake wound itself
around the branch of a cocoa tree that
goes out diagonally.
madng adv. 1 carelessly. Manuel
ka thon ava sravetki madng sa
imk seng arenggi. Manuel care-
lessly left his clothes down at the river
mouth.
2 unconcernedly.
madin adj. deaf. Exsaviaur d chama
madingi. Exsaviaur is deaf.
maila maybe.
maila chuvsnia disc. 1 the other
day. Maila chuvsnia ngua met
save ia Bulus. The other day I went to
Bulus.
2 last time. Tangam avang ma
amang nagl malachuvsnia sa nga
ve angguvang. Those bananas that
were ripe last time (I checked) have
gone bad. Variant: malachuvsnia.
mailu disc. maybe. Asik mailu ngua
thet save ia Kokopo mumbang.
Maybe I will go to Kokopo tomorrow.
Variant: mala; maila; nmailu.
main dance.
main'gi n. dance. Aumesta thi tvng
da amain. Men sing and dance.
Pl: amain.
mair stand; wait.
mairk net. Usage: Abilta dialect.
mairki n. net that is used for catching
birds and flying foxes. Kama isem
angthama sangachi d tha teski ia
mairki. They call the net for catching
birds the mairki. Pl: mair. Variant:
mairk (Abilta dialect).
mair pt walk with.
mair s make stand.
mair snas stand alone.
117
malisacha
mair snania lean against.
mairvtka n. boss. Sa ngn rares
svthautha mairvtka. Then you all
bless our boss. Pl: mairvtta.
mairvtki n. female boss.
makaucha n. reef fish sp.; tilapia; grey
with scales; have no teeth; up to
30 cm long. Ve sng ma Mundai
ama renggi d ngua lu chama thi-
nmbs nchama makau. At the
mouth of the Mundai River I saw a
school of tilapia. Pl: makau. From: Tok
Pisin: makau tilapia. See: marumgi
reef fish sp. (alternate name).
makauchi n. large fish of the makau-
cha species.
makauves n. school of tilapia (makau).
mal sa-vi. stop. Sa mal. Stop.
mala maybe.
mala adv. if possible. Kia tamon ia
mala chia thet save ia Kokopo. She
said that if possible she would go to
Kokopo.
malachi n. wild fowl. Ngua mn vt
kama malachi at valuacha d sok
amr vtha ngo. I found a wild fowls
egg and I was really happy. Pl: mala.
malachuvsnia the other day; last
time.
malangeik belief.
malngeik n. belief. Cha mat mala-
ngeik ia chama auravek ng ve mt
kama arenggi. He believed that the
witches were in the water. Variant:
malangeik.
mali disc. before; earlier. Sa mali cha
met save ia Ili. Then, earlier, he went
to Ili. K ser mni chama athunepki
vachvaik mali ma sik ma thalias
k ser pe. He will tap on the drum
that the wizard tapped before.
malilu adv. many times. Aut Deo nge
lu ut nigia irski i uthi slavo
malilu. Our God, you will see us with
your sadness because we sin many
times.
malimgi n. trochus shell. Cha mn vt
kama malimgi d cha thk nachi.
He found the trochus shell and he sold
it. Pl: malim.
malisacha n. fish sp.; barracuda; deep
malisachi
sea fish; have a long mouth, sharp
teeth, and whitish flesh with scales;
are long and thin. Pl: malisa. From:
Tok Pisin: melisa barracuda. See:
malisachi large barracuda.
malisachi n. large barracuda. Pl: mali-
sa. From: Tok Pisin: melisa barracuda.
See: malisacha barracuda.
malmalcha n. reef fish sp.; grey; up to
15 cm long; no scales, slippery skin;
lives close to shore; good for bait.
Pl: malmal.
malmalki n. peace. Kule d thave thi
chuar ia ta don sa malmalki. Then
they said that they would make peace.
Gamar da choiku ia mr. A mal-
malki a amrki. War is not good.
Peace is good. Pl: malmal.
malolbanggi n. reef fish sp.; faded
colours: dim whitish, yellowish, and
brown stripes; similar to the molol-
chi species but a bit larger.
Pl: malolbang.
malos n. grass sp.; strong smelling;
grows to waist height; deters
snakes, relieves tiredness, and can
be used to wash dishes. Kama lvop
ta tain schama malos. The women
dance with the malos.
malum n. dough; wet stuff; typically
mud. Avonavongacha ch tpma
avama avtka nchama malum:
ivitki ama chlachi. The wasp builds
his house with wet stuff: earth that is
soft. From: Tok Pisin: malumalu soft,
muddy, swampy.
malumgi n. heap; especially a heap of
something like mud or dead fish in
the bottom of a boat. Kama vonga-
vongacha d ch bn mchama
malum nchama ivitki ama chla-
chi. The wasp makes heaps with soft
earth. Pl: malum.
malumgi na vi-so. be coiled; be piled
up. Malumgi nachama aulan'gi. The
snake is coiled up. Variant: malum na.
malum na vi-so. be soft; e.g. the
texture of bread dough. Malumgi
nachi. It is soft. From: Tok Pisin:
malumalu soft.
malum na heap; be coiled; be piled up.
mal vt vi-so. rest. In bar sa in sot, sa
ngave mal vt ngaiom. They cooked
118
mambumtka
it in an earth oven (mumu) then
finished, then the two of them rested.
Variant: mual vt.
mamaing n. fibre for making net bags
(bilums). Chi dng chama mamaing
iva nanai athama athalka. She
processed the fibres for her net bag
(bilum).
mamanp dir. downwards. Sa cha
vinem i sa cha met mamanp save
ia Tol. He had returned because he
had gone down to Tol.
mambl n. beating sticks. Kama
awan'ga cha tain sava mambl. The
dancer dances with his sticks. A
smn pthacha nmt kama
mambl. There are welts on his skin
from the beating sticks. Variant:
mambl.
mambet n. father. Mambet ka von ngo
nchama thangam. Father gave me
the bananas.
mambethiom n. parents.
Mambethiom in met sva lat. The
parents went to the garden. See:
mamkiom parents.
mambl beating sticks.
mamboracha n. grey wasp. Kama
maboracha d ch nges kama
ivtki diva cha thon samk. The
grey wasp digs the earth so it can go
down inside. Pl: mambor. Variant:
maboracha.
mambuchi n. 1 choir; orchestra; the
singers and drummers at a day
dance or night dance. Mambuchi
chia ve chi benaseng. The choir is
starting.
2 song. Thave thi tvng ncha-
ma mambuchi. They are singing the
song. Pl: mambu.
mambuini n. small song. Usage: Dimin-
utive use here is attenuative. Ama
mambuini vavni da chuseka ch
tvng piavik va chinai ch tk
mchama malumgi. That particular
small song, it (a wasp) only sings like
that, so that it builds the mud pile
(nest).
mambumtka n. singer. Raphael d
chama mambumtka. Raphael is a
singer. Pl: mambumtta.
mamk
mamk n. father. Gu mamk ka ingip.
My father died. Pl: mamkna.
mamkiom n. parents. Athoemga vak
da choiku cha na nari nagl ava
mamkiom. That child does not listen
to his parents. See: mambethiom
parents.
mamr adv. 1 well; fine. Gua manai-
ngimgi da choiku chia naingim
mamr. My flashlight does not shine
very well.
2 properly. Ngia munggun ma-
mr. You sit properly.
3 possible. D tha snan svt
authiaikna ia mamr thi thk
save. And they asked our ancestors if
it was possible for them to work there.
mamr na vi-so. be possible for; be
able to. Mamr nango diva ngu pul
save ia Karong. It is possible for me
to paddle to Karong.
mamr pet vi-so. be fit for; be able to;
be good for. Ngeni sunas iva sik
mamr vtha ngn nani atha via
ngn dugas. You train so that you will
be fit for the game. Koiku mamr
nange vtha ngo. You are not fit
enough (to fight) me. Variant: mamr
vet.
mamr vet be fit for; be able to; be
good for.
mamthm n. grasshopper sp.; has
grey and white patches; bores holes
in soft wood. Pl: mamvap.
mamga n. father; Dad; address and
reference term; it is also used by
children-in-law. Mamga cha met ka
monel chna vaim. Dad went to hunt
with his dogs. Pl: mamda.
mamiapki n. pawpaw. Mamiapki ama
manggi. The pawpaw is ripe.
Pl: mamiap.
maminggi n. vine sp.; yields fibre. Ti
krtp schama maminggi atha
volink diva nani chama athing
diva nani athva masar. They cut
the new maminggi for the fibre to
make net bags (bilums). Pl: mamaing.
mamor adv. 1 lots. Kama yachun'gi
ma milatka vuauk d sok saeng
mamor. There is lots of rain in the
month of August.
119
manaingimgi
2 excessively; very much; terribly.
Vadi kusek ngua thamon sthm
nge ngi mamk ia, cha ve armga
mamor. I just want to tell you about
your father, he is terribly sick. Ava
chdenggi chia mo mavo nachi i
ng mu daruan nacha mamor. His
body was all broken because they hurt
him terribly. Arm ngo mamor d
ngua mas vt arm angtha
banggi. I was very sick and I slept at
the hospital.
3 strongly. Vadi uthet save ia
town mt k botki dak laur mamor
da ngmbs ut met. We wanted to go
to town in the boat but the wind was
strong and we did not go.
4 hard. Arura naimonp da thi
tk mamor. The people from over
there work hard.
5 loudly. Ngi tvng mamor. You
sing loudly.
6 fast; quickly. Kar ngthi bang
mamor nchama iska ma kolta
vthacha. Cars travel fast on roads
that have creosote on them. Kama sul
ng ve ng ndn mamor mt autha
garski atham. The reef is growing
quickly along our beach.
7 brightly. Kama lingga cha nai-
ngim mamor. The star is shining
brightly.
mamuaing n. yaws. Athop ama ma-
muaing nga ts ka. He has sores
called yaws.
mamut adj. greasy; fatty. Ngthi par
kama vlmga avak pik da mamut
ka. They cook that particular pig in an
earth oven (mumu) and it (the pig) is a
greasy one.
mamut mt vi-so. be greasy; be fatty.
Vlam nva vt da mamut mt
ngt. Pigs from the village are fatty.
mamutki n. fat or grease from an
animal or fish. Ngu tlu ma Mark ka
ts kama vlmga ava mamutki da
vandi ngu nnn. I saw Mark eat the
pig's fat and I wanted to vomit.
Pl: mamut.
mana down there. Usage: Abilta dialect.
manaingimga n. sighted man. Pl:
manaingimda.
manaingimgi n. 1 window. Ngi
thar kama manaingimgi iva aerki.
manaingimgi
You open the window so it is light.
2 torch; flashlight. Gua manai-
ngimgi da choiku chia naingim
mamor. My flashlight does not shine
strongly. Pl: manaingim. See:
achilotki window.
manaingimgi n. sighted woman.
Rose da manaingimgi dak Grace
da assurki. Rose can see but Grace
is blind. Pl: manaingimda. Pl: manai-
ngim.
mandinen adj. silent. Patpathia
mandinen. Quiet darkness. (Silent
night.)
manp dir. down. Nguaet sa manp
ma Tol diva ngu lu chama isem
angt luchupki. I am going down to
Tol to see the airstrip. Variant: mani.
mani dir. over there. Paul ka met sai
mani ia Masarau. Paul went over
there to Masarau.
mani down.
manianotki n. lizard sp.; dark brown;
small. Pl: manianot.
mano dir. down there. Kule ngaiom p
aina mbangm mano va nggars.
The two of them stayed at their village
down on the coast. Variant: mana
(Abilta dialect).
manuringgl n. colourful sunset. Ku-
nngga cha don da alolves da
gethonas da ngt naingm mamr
da ut tes ia manuringgl. Sunsets
with red and yellow make a good sight
that we call manuringgl. Pl: manu-
ringgleng.
mang catch fire; burn.
mang ripe; cooked.
mangas vt. fetch water. Usage: Takes
the receptacle, such as a bucket, as
the direct object. Ngi mangas kama
baketki diva ngi thor gi baul. You
fetch water in the bucket so you can
wash your clothes. See: pk fetch
water. Note: only m.
mangbcheng n. victory leaf sp.; low
growing with narrow leaves that
have white patches on the edges.
Kama lagun'ga ma tha teska ia
mangbcheng da sok a mrka
mamr. The victory leaf called
mangbcheng is really beautiful.
120
marik
Pl: mang angt keng.
manggar nas na vi-so. feel calm. Sa
mali un gurna viavik da sa ithik
da mangarnas nango. We had an
argument before but now I am calm.
mangia trepang; sea cucumber.
mang mt burn; be on fire; be in a fire.
mar fall; particularly of fruit.
maraglilichi n. hermit crab sp.; large,
brown, land dwelling hermit crab;
does not have a shell; lives in holes
in rocks near the sea; body up to
15 cm across, 25 cm long; claws up
to 40 cm long; can husk coconuts
with its claws. Pl: maraglili.
maramatun'gi n. reef fish sp.; dark
grey with small whitish spots;
similar to the marumgi species but
larger. Pl: maramatun.
marasin n. medicine. Ngi von ngo
nanga marasin. You give me the
medicine. From: English, Tok Pisin:
medicine, marasin.
marski n. oil. Ka vel vthanas
nchama lams angt mars. He
rubbed himself with coconut oil.
Pl: mars.
mars mt vi-so. be greasy; be oily.
Ava thik d mars mt ngt nmt
kama slik. His hands are greasy
from the meat. Variant: mars pt.
mars pt be greasy; be oily.
maricha interj. Oh!; Hey!; exclamation
of strong feelings of surprise,
sympathy or anger. Maricha! Nma
ch chuar nange ia ngi svo th gu
duraika? Hey! Who told you to steal
my chicken?
marik disc. truly; really. Ta matha tha
nave ia Maslabe, d tha met stha
marik save ia Masarau, smt
kama kumngas, via Masarau. They
got them from Maslabe, and really,
they took them to Masarau, into the
prison there at Masarau. Variant:
marki.
marik adv. 1 straight. Da sik koiku
ngn na bang taith mono marik.
And you must not fly across in a
straight line.
2 properly; accurately. Ngia thu
chama nugulka marik. You put the
marki
boundary properly.
marki truly; really.
marmarki fish sp.
mar s fall out.
mar s pour out; especially of water
from a tap.
martir n. martyr. Jesus ava martir
nange. You are Jesus martyr. From:
English, Tok Pisin: martyr, martir.
maru adv. really. As koi tha thk kama
lotuvmgi maru, koiku. They really
had not made the church yet, no.
marumgi n. reef fish sp.; grey with
scales; have no teeth; up to 30 cm
long. Pl: marum. From: Tok Pisin:
makau tilapia. See: makaucha reef
fish sp.
marungga tree sp.; rosewood tree.
marupki n. cassowary. Marupki chia
chuanik kama viam. The cassowary
swallowed the galip nuts (Canarium
indicums). Pl: marup.
marupki atha lm n. mushroom sp.;
white; grows on certain trees in the
bush; eaten by cassowaries.
mas sleep; lie down.
masa disc. 1 certainly. Asevaik
pthacha ma sa. He was certainly
being a nuisance.
2 very much; a lot. Gram: In clause
final position only. Asen'gi ithaik tik
sok ki tnes masa. That knife is very
sharp. Langgrka cha ts kama
kakau masa. The large parrot eats
cocoa a lot.
masar n. spider web.
masarka n. net bag (bilum) that is still
being made; unfinished net bag
(bilum). Ngia ve ngi benaseng ni
gia masarka. You are starting your
net bag (bilum). Pl: masar.
masar mt vt. weave; making a net
bag (bilum) or weaving a net.
Lvopki ki masar mt atha
sgnacha. The woman is weaving a
net bag (bilum). Note: only m.
maschas adv. clearly; describes how
someone is speaking. Ngia tamn
maschas. You speak clearly.
masechen adv. 1 sideways. Ka thap
scha mngga da kosa cha sp d
121
mat nthm
cha namt masechen mni chama
thvtki. He cut the tree and it fell
and lay sideways across the garden.
2 unbalanced.
masgvs adv. at once; immediately.
D kravum ka ingip masgvs. The
guy died immediately.
masn'ga n. bandicoot; cannot climb;
eats fallen fruit; has spiky hair.
Kama masn'ga cha ms kama
thangam. The bandicoot ate the
banana. Pl: masn.
masin'gan'gi n. machine gun. Thi
gamar nana nchama masin'gan.
They fought each other with machine
guns. Pl: masin'gan. From: English, Tok
Pisin: machine gun, masin gan.
masithmgi dream.
maslevr adv. roughly; carelessly.
Kule ma ngia tu ngt maslevr. Do
not put them (down) carelessly.
mat get; give birth.
mat d copy.
mat dm copy.
matka n. mat. Chia ser kama matka.
She wove the mat. Pl: mat. From:
English: mat.
matka n. older brother. Gua matka
ch sunas vea Mosbi. My older
brother teaches at Port Moresby.
Auna matvek tha met sva lat. Our
older brothers went to the garden.
Pl: matvek.
matki n. older sister.
matma n. multiplication. Chama
sunasvmga ch su ava thoes
nchama matma. The teacher will
teach his students multiplication.
mat malngeik na vt. believe. Ngua
matmalngeik nan Deo. I believe in
God.
mat m na leave.
matmt n. division. Guama matmt
ng surnanas. My division was
wrong.
mat mt share; divide.
mat mt bump.
mat mt na leave.
matnerembes help; assistance.
mat nthm help.
mat s
mat s get.
mathaneng adv. pressing down. Ma
Conrad ka chut kama basiochi, da
choiku ia cha chut ma thaneng,
dak ka mt pthik. Conrad speared
the crocodile, but he did not stab it
pressing down, he let go (of the
spear). Kule ma ngia ts matha-
neng. Do not eat by pressing (your
face into the plate).
mathchasep adv. morning. Mum-
bang mathchasep mt kama
Sarere, kunngga ch ngim, askok
mathchasep. The next morning, on
Saturday, the sun was shining early in
the morning.
mathchasepka n. morning. Amr
mathchasepka. Good morning.
(Greeting used until midday.) Koi cha
ndrm ia chna methamn ia amr
mathchasepka svt kama rura.
He does not know how to say good
morning to people. Variant: mathecha-
sepka.
mathechasepka morning.
mathm n. older brother. Usage: A term
of address. Gua mathm ma Isi-
dore, ngiave ngia thet sa choe? My
big brother Isidore, where are you
going? Pl: matvek.
matholka n. tree sp.; new leaves from
this tree are used to treat sickness in
the spleen and for boils; for the
spleen, the leaves are chewed and
swallowed; for boils, the leaves are
heated and then placed over the
boil.
matholka avoes n. ant sp.; only live in
the matholka tree; they kill off the
surrounding bush.
mathongga n. 1 grasshopper sp.;
brown and long in shape; bores
holes in wood or bamboo; used as
bait for river fish.
2 hornbill. Kama mathongga cha
sp d cha ngip. The hornbill fell
down and died. Pl: mathong.
mathonggi n. female hornbill.
maulul adv. long time. Ngu mair
maulul nania nge. I waited a long
time for you.
maunmlm adv. twice. Cha thu
122
mben
maunmlm d cha met ngis
nchama lagrka. He shot twice but
he missed the parrot.
mavangam pro. anywhere; all over.
Gram: General indefinite form. Kama
bogiski pr mtki schama tinpis
da kosa aml glmna nangt
mavangam. The box broke and the
tins of fish were all over (the floor). D
vtpt naut mavangam. And we
scattered anywhere (all over the
place).
mavnacha n. green grasshopper sp.;
has a long head. Pl: mavan.
mavnachi n. ginger plant; roots can
be chewed to help with colds and flu.
Chia vt mavan pe vatha lat. She
planted ginger in her garden.
Pl: mavan.
mavnini n. 1 piece of ginger.
2 little finger. Pl: mavnithong. See:
secha little finger.
mavrt adv. suddenly; urgently; do
something without any warning and
give someone a shock. Ka mes ngo
mavrt da kosa ngua len. He called
me suddenly and I was really
frightened.
mavo adv. badly. Minia iva mavo nigia
aiski? Why is your car running badly?
mavo na vi-so. be broken down; not
working. Kama aiski da mavo nachi
da choiku tha met. The car was
broken down so they did not go.
mavo sna na vi-so. be in disorder; be
in disarray; be messy. Kama lavi
avang d mavo sna nangt. The
beds are messy.
mavo sna vt vi-so. be crippled.
Arucha vak d mavo sna vthacha
d ngmbs mamr ia chna met.
That man is a cripple and he cannot
walk.
mbang run; come.
mbangem village.
mbangga house.
mbaul clothes.
mbaulgi wraparound skirt (laplap);
sarong; strip of cloth.
mbn ring.
mben bend.
mbn m
mbn m beat.
mbensenas vi-so. be proud. Da ma
mbensenasta da tha ron d cha mat
mt ta. And those who were proud,
he scattered them. Variant: vensenas.
mbensenaska proud man.
mbeng vt. break.
mbs nothing; not; no.
mbiaska blood.
mbiaski n. large quantity of blood.
Morph: a=biaski. Lit: SPEC=blood-F.SG.
See: biaska blood.
mbilarka old man.
mbon give; thatch.
mbon d pay.
mbon dm pay.
mbong hit.
mbraingia n. small creek. Avama
mstmna ng dn mamr mt
kama braingia vachit. His greens
(kumu) are growing well by the creek.
Pl: braingink.
mbrasocha eagle.
mbrmbm feel angry.
me there. Usage: Abilta dialect.
m in; within; during; on; inside; into;
through.
mchvs adv. 1 sometime. Ngu lu
nge mchvs via nguaet. I will see
you sometime when I go. Auk,
mchvs sa chama vaimga chk...
Well, sometime a dog...
2 sometimes. Kama vongavonga-
cha da chinak ma ngni nari cha
imono a mchvs. The orange
wasp, it is the one you just hear
around sometimes.
3 again. Vandi ngu lu nge m-
chvs kvs. I want to see you again
sometime. Variant: machavs; mchu-
vs. See: kvs when.
mchuvs sometime; sometimes;
again.
mk dir. down. Cha ngaip avama dul
mk mthavama thalga. He hid his
money down in his net bag (bilum).
ml vt. 1 flip over. Kule d chama
vaimga ka ml kama dul nvt
kama avun'gi. Then the dog flipped
the stone off the turtle.
123
mnarivs
2 move aside.
ml loose; foreign.
mliarka n. bird sp.; small parrot that
is colourful: green and red. Chia thu
chama mliarka nchama dulki.
She shot the parrot with a stone.
Pl: mliar.
mlutki n. tree sp.; beach tree; grows
horizontally towards the water.
Pl: mlut.
mm itch.
mem vt. suckle. Kama thoemgi ngthi
mem angt nank at chmk. The
baby suckled at its mother's breast.
memachi start.
mn arrive; come; reach; return.
mn gather together; meet up.
mnaing mt vt. sharpen. Kave ch
mnaing mthava vthpki. He is
sharpening his axe.
mnaman n. quiet. Milani da thoes ti
gar dak taithik da munaman.
Yesterday the children were noisy but
now they are quiet. Variant: munaman.
mnaman na vi-so. 1 be quiet.
Mnaman nange d ngia tet marik
asik athvama vaim ngna nes nge.
Be quiet and walk properly so their
dogs do not bite you.
2 be silent. Kule ngia tamon dak
mnaman nange. Dont you talk, be
silent.
mnap vi-so. sleep. Mnap nge mni
chama lavichi. You sleep on the bed.
Ngiaet mnap nge. You go and sleep.
Variant: munap.
mnapki n. sleep. Mnap ngthi
plng ngo. Sleep is killing me.
Munpki vat sachong. She is
sleeping. [Lit: Sleep (is) at her eyes.] Pl:
mnap. Pl: munap. Variant: munpki.
mnap mt vi-so. be sleepy, drowsy.
Chia dchm nk k banganggi da
thik da mnap mtki. She was
awake during the night and now she is
sleepy. Mnap mtki i sok mali chia
main nbangang. She slept because,
before, she really danced all night.
mnarivs n. announcements;
messages. Tamo tha nari chama
mnarivs ia sik ta thet mtka
mnatm
sipki. They all heard the
announcement that they will go on the
ship. Note: no endings.
mnatm sleep.
mndas n. day dance. Note: no endings.
Mndaska n. day dancer. Mndas
ngt tain schama gamos dchama
ulan. The Mndas dance with gamos
and snakes. Pl: Mndas.
mendecha n. drop; a drop of water or
other liquid. Dak nge lmr vm
ngo, ni gia mbias i angt mendecha
asgk klan. But you clean me with
your blood because (even though)
there was only one drop. Pl: mendek.
mendem p leave out; exclude.
mendik edible stalk of a wild cane sp.
(pitpit).
mndinen adv. be silent. Ve mni
chama banganggi sok mndinen.
Angabs anga nunguik. In the night
it was really silent. There was no
shouting.
mn dmna meet together, usually
informally.
mndu disc. 1 before. Ka thap mni
chama viulacha nchama vthpki
mundu da sa ithik sa vur aithir. He
made a cut on a mango tree before,
with an axe, but now the cut is healed
again with new skin.
2 long ago. Mndu d chama
renggi avaik muani d amorki. That
river was large long ago. Variant:
mndu; mundu.
mndu ma subord. because. Ngmbs
tha met sva lat mndu ma saing
d ichum. They did not go to the
garden because of the rain and floods.
Variant: mundu ma.
mnk nanechigl n. crayfish sp.;
lives in the sea; brown; flat with a
mossy back and serrated sides; up to
20 cm long. Pl: mnk nanechigleng.
mnpka n. eyebrow. Agia mnpka
nvt gi sachongiom? Which
eyebrow of your two eyes? Elton ka
thu ma Namunas at mnpka n
chama dulki d visdmga. Elton
shot Namunass eyebrow with a stone
and it was swollen. Variant: munupka.
mni dir. 1 on. Di chia mun mano
124
mnumgi
mni cha iska. And she arrived down
there on the road.
2 onto. Sa chule sa ut ath ut pe
uthi tor du ut vias pe mni sulves.
Afterwards we, some of us, we swam
and we stepped onto the reef.
3 at. ... ivono va ur, ivuk mni ma
Chenangia angt vuski. ... up in the
bush, up at the head of Chenangia
ridge.
4 in. Sa chule sa chama mliarka
ka chuar n ma charuvaik ia in det
ini thor mni chama renggi. So then
the small parrot told the earlybird that
they should go for a wash in the river.
5 through. Ta bor mchama lechi
mni chama palangga. They bored
the hole through the plank.
6 across. ... diva cha nges mcha-
ma lechi ve mni chama vlam
angtha iska. ... in order to dig a hole
there across the pigs track.
mnia interrog. how. Ti ser kama urat
mnia viavik? How do they weave the
baskets? Variant: minia.
mnia iva interrog. why. Mnia iva ngi
thonsvanas tmga? Why do you
disown him? Minia iva ngni vang
sva ur? Why do you run to the bush?
Variant: minia iva.
mnia na interrog. what happened.
Mnia nange diva vis d gia lchar?
What happened to make your leg
swell?
mnina dir. across each other. Kule
ma ngia thu chama mngiom
menina. You must not put the two
woods across each other.
mni nugul sa-vi. do without permiss-
ion; to have crossed a boundary that
should not be crossed. Pashalis ka
vertm ma Sauna mni nugul.
Pashalis eloped with Sauna without
permission.
mn m become.
mn pa reach; find.
mn p reach; find.
mn pt meet each other.
mn pt reach; find.
mnumgi n. tree sp.; tall tree that
grows in the bush; a bit like the
mlutki species; good timber for
mng ms nthm

houses. Pl: mnum. merkuas n. shellfish sp.; found in the

mng large tree; log.
mng wood; trees.
meng twist together.
mngm tree stump.
mngga tree.
mnggariacha tree sp.
mnggariachi n. reef crab sp.; dark
brown; have hard, rough, wrinkly
shells; meat is inedible and can
make you itchy. Pl: mnggare.
mnggi large tree.
mngia large log.
mngigl board.
mngini small tree.
mngvet pole.
mpmpki n. track; made by people.
Ut thon d chama svautha athv
mpmpki save sva ur. We followed
the thieves track into the bush.
Pl: mpmp.
mr good.
mer refuse; decline.
mr pull out; uproot; clear.
merachuvm n. short piece of the
amrachuavacha tree. Kama senso
cha chrtp schama merachuvam
ama unbam nmni chama mra-
chuvachi ama ululki. The chainsaw
cut two pieces of amrachuavacha
from the large trunk of amrachua-
vacha. Pl: merachop.
mranas go; take off; leave.
mravt weed.
mravt s remove.
mr ba be happy.
mrnka n. injury. Di s nge mi ivt,
i mrnka vtha nge. And you fell to
the ground because you were injured.
Pl: mrn.
mrn'ga n. problem. Muk mt kama
schi da amrn ama chdichn.
There were many problems in the
marriage. Pl: mrn. Variant: amarn.
mrng heavy.
mr glm rejoice.
merkios shellfish sp.
merkos shellfish sp.
muddy part of deep water in a river;
have a black, short, twisted cone.
Variant: merkios; merkos. Note: no
endings.
mrmarki n. fish sp.; deep sea fish
that sometimes visits the reef;
colour varies from silver to bluish or
greenish; body is very narrow close
to the tail; silver ones are short and
stout; greenish ones are longer in
shape; have very small scales.
Pl: mrmar. Variant: marmarki.
mrmr right side of something.
mrmr adv. always. Cha d mrmr
k plk iva cha tugas. He always
likes to play.
mr na lay; specifically of a turtle
laying eggs.
mernas be frightened.
merpathm promises.
mervmka n. benevolent man; a
person who is a source of good
things. Gia morka nango, di gia
mervmka. I am your leader and your
source of good things. Pl: mervmta.
mervmki n. benevolent woman.
mes read.
ms eat.
-mes derivational suffix. Gram: Reduces
the valency of the stem. Sa chok ka
methamon ithm mes. So he just
talked about himself.
mes name; call by name.
msana do something (indefinite).
mesavet da sek narrate; tell a story.
mesavet dm narrate; tell about.
msng n. ground. Lamsachi chia
sp s msng. The coconut tree fell
to the ground.
msgubarka n. reef fish sp.; white
with scales; up to 40 cm long.
Pl: msgubar.
msms food.
msms angtha iska digestive
system.
msmsini small party.
msmski feast; party.
mes nas call oneself.
ms nthm taste.

125
mesongga
mesongga n. large red ant. Ch bn
d chama changs d chama
msongga cha nes ava sachong. He
climbed the betelnut palm and a large
red ant bit his eye. Pl: mesong. Variant:
msongga.
msongga large red ant.
mstmna n eat with.
mt prep. 1 in; within. Auk, sa ut
sekmes navui mt kama lulengi...
Well, we headed off from there in the
boat... Ka vias mt ka chlel. He
stepped in the urine.
2 during; on. Gram: This sense available
with temporal expressions. Ngua ve ngu
thodm svt ma guauk ma Vero-
nika Tchrnam mir mt kama
gamar. I am going to recount about
my grandmother, Veronica Tchr-
nam, long ago, during the war. ... i ut
met nania chi ve mt kama Sarere.
... because we got it on Saturday.
3 inside. Kama valo ng ve mt
kama bogiski. The eggs were inside
the box.
4 into. Sa chia thu chi mt kama
amundm. Then she puts it into the
fire.
5 through. Sa chi suchut nanas
mt ki. Then she tried to go through
it. Variant: mtha; m.
mt get; give birth.
met walk; go.
mt agut be married; get married.
Usage: Abilta dialect.
met dm dry; desiccate; be dried out
from lying in the sun.
met kutna miss someone because
each person went by a different
path.
metmavocha n. lame man. Ma Gabriel
d chama metmavocha i bing sava
lcherini ama chaisini. Gabriel is a
lame man because his left leg was
broken. Pl: metmavotha.
metmavochi n. lame woman.
mtmet n. 1 movements.
2 ways. Arutha athva mtmet d
chok nani chama alat, kakau
dchama monel vaur. The peoples
ways are just for the garden, cocoa,
and hunting in the bush.
126
minminga
met na go past; pass.
met ngis n miss a target.
mt pthik let go of; drop.
mt s get.
mt sthm be stuck.
mtha in; within; during; on; inside;
into; through.
methamn speak.
methamn dm sanctify; bewitch.
methamnini word.
methamn ithm mes confess.
methamn sthm tell.
methamon speak.
methamon ithm mes confess.
methana be friends; be married;
group together.
mthanas help oneself; to take
something without permission.
methanasia n. miracle. D thi kuar ia
methanasia. And they said it was a
miracle.
mthcha gift of food.
mthik dir. 1 aside.
2 beside. Chia mair mthik
snania chama bangga. She stood
beside the house.
mvem prep. inside. Vus scha
naimk mvem k chthopka. He
came up from inside the pool.
michina n make something.
milani adv. yesterday. Cha mn milani
nave ia taun. He arrived from town
yesterday.
milatka plate; dish; coconut shell.
milatka avuouk n. large flood that
washes away all the plants along the
riverbanks. Ut tes kama ichumgi
ama morki ve mt kama volam ia
miltka avuouk. We call the big flood
that comes in the rainy season the
grandmother of scrapers. Morph:
milatka avuouk. Lit: coconut.shell-M.
3M.SG.POSS-grandmother. Pl: milatka
angthuouk.
milatki large plate; large dish.
minia how.
minia iva why.
minminga n. tree sp.; a softwood tree
with red flowers. Pl: minmin.
mir
mir disc. long ago. Achep avang d mir
nangt. Those spears are from long
ago. Variant: mur (Abilta dialect).
misa n. mass. Mt kama chunng
ngmo ngia ndn mthama misa,
nge chutna. On every day you come
during mass, you will descend. From:
Latin, Tok Pisin: missa, misa mass.
Note: no endings.
mit ashore; shorewards; across on
same level; towards.
mithu disc. later on. Ch kuares ia
mithu sa chaet klu ava nank. He
said that later he would go and see his
mother.
mluacha n. lizard sp.; small and
brown; up to 20 cm long. Pl: mlu.
mndu before; long ago.
mo adv. all. Achumsvap pavvap da
ngavap ng thor mo. Those young
boys got wet all over. Gathvacha
cha slavo ngua lat mo. The beetles
ruined my whole garden. Cha mt
kama kurem ng mo nmt ta. He
got all of the betelnut from them.
mok impregnate.
mok disc. that just. Tha namu inavuk,
inavuk, vaki tha mu athva chrot-
ki thaith, ma ith glm ut, mok
ithik dok kia ve glm ut taithik.
They continued down, down, until they
put our power here, close to us, where
(it is) just here and it is just with us
now. Morph: ma=kok. Lit: REL=just.
moki disc. that also; that similarly; that
another. Dak krathe ma Uramt ta
doki mailu tha vang bathm mes
moki sa vono. And those ones, the
Uramts, they also, maybe they ran by
choice over to the top. Morph: ma=
koki. Lit: REL=also.
mololchi n. fish sp.; lives on the reef;
has white and dark brown stripes;
short stout shape with scales; up to
15 cm long. Pl: molol. See: mololm
fish sp. (alternate name).
mololm n. fish sp.; lives on the reef;
has white and dark brown stripes;
short stout shape with scales; up to
15 cm long. Ka vlng kama
mololm diva chas ngam. He killed
the mololm so he could eat it.
Pl: molol. See: mololchi fish sp.
127
moruska
(alternate name).
momono dir. back towards. Ngi su ia
ngiaet momono sng chama
mnggi. You try and walk back
towards the base of the tree.
mon go in; enter; sink; drown; be
stuck.
mondaremga n. backwards moving
animal; specifically crayfish, prawns,
squid, and hermit crabs. Athucha
dai chama mondaremga vaivak.
Kama urn'ga da chok ka chlan.
The hermit crab is an animal that
moves backwards. The lobster does
the same. Pl: mondarem.
mon dmna gather together.
monel hunt; wander.
monp down the side; over the side.
moni across.
mon mt wear; put on.
mono dir. 1 across. Ngia thon mono.
You move across.
2 over. ... sa save ia alevavet
nacha sa asip da chunngga thak
mono... ... then at four oclock the sun
had gone over...
mononamucha n. crossbeam. Ngi
thp mangama mononamucha. You
make the crossbeam. Pl: mononamu.
mon sk move to.
mon svt move to.
mor big.
mormorki n. flower garden; special
garden containing healing plants
like ginger; you can put someone
there to encourage healing or
growth. Ta vr kama thoes mt
kama mormorki diva sik athva
munmun'gi ama mrki. They put
the children in the special garden so
their growth would be good.
Pl: mormor.
morus n. laziness; particularly being
reluctant to work in the garden. Ava
musnng ma chama morus da
askoi ia ng sot nvthacha. His
habit of laziness about gardening is
still not finished.
moruska n. lazy man; person who is
not willing to do garden work; used
as an insult. Kama chumska ivak
moruski
da chama moruska ma choiku che-
na tk pa lat. That man in particular
does not work in the garden. Kama
lvoki avaik da chama moruski ma
choiku china tk pa lat. That woman
in particular does not work in the
garden. Pl: morusta.
moruski n. lazy woman.
motochi n. motor. Luln'gi at motochi
da mavo nachi mamr. The boats
motor was not working properly.
Pl: moto. From: English, Tok Pisin:
motor, moto.
mranas go; take off; leave.
mros n. shellfish sp.; lives on the reef.
See: chunngngrngrka shellfish
sp. (alternate name). Note: no
endings.
mrunggi n. tree sp.; rosewood tree.
Henrik ka thap schama mrunggi
ama sruchi samk. Henry cut down a
large rosewood tree. Pl: mrung.
Variant: marungga.
mu put; wear; put on; lay.
mual tm vi-so. slow down. Dak ut
naingim pt kama laurka ia sika
cha mual tm ga sa ut tet. But we
would watch the wind, if it slowed
down then we would go.
mual vt rest.
mual vt vi-so. 1 stop. Peia cha
thanger vt k lagunga uvs da
kosa kinai mual ptha tha. When he
breaks the top off the victory leaf then
they stop.
2 rest. Ngi su ia mual vtha nge
nmt kama reng ma chrot. You
try and rest from (overusing) the
alcohol.
mu amethamn pt pass a message.
mu amuvtka svt punish.
muanp dir. down the side; over the
side. Galicha vak monp da arura
tha donel n nani vlam. The ridge
over that side, people hunt there for
pigs. Variant: monp.
muani dir. across. Kia met sai moni
smni cha renggi. She went across
to the river. Variant: moni.
mu avar section.
mu av snng think.
128
mugurp
mu av snng mamr calm down;
settle down; relax.
mu av snng mamr calm down;
settle down; relax.
mu ba set rules.
mubang adv. 1 tomorrow. Chiaet
mubang sva lat. She will go to the
garden tomorrow. Ut ve uthet
bubang nani viam. We will go for
galip nuts (Canarium indicums)
tomorrow.
2 next day. Dak ka tu asnng ia
mubang sa cha vinem diva cha
nges m chama lechi. But he
decided that the next day he would
return in order to dig a hole. Variant:
bubang; mumbang.
mu chelak tm please; soften.
muchun sit; settle.
muchun chase; hit.
mu daruan hurt; injure.
mudmga fire.
mu dm n lose.
mu dng interrupt; fail to finish.
mun arrive; come; reach; return.
mun bt find.
munmun'gi n. growth. Ta vr kama
thoes mt kama mormorki diva sik
athva munmun'gi ama mrki.
They put the children in the special
garden so their growth would be good.
Pl: munmun.
mun s arrive with; bring.
mun vt find.
mur excrete.
mur long ago. Usage: Abilta dialect.
mur na mbias n. dysentery. John ka
mt kama rmgi ma mur na
mbias. John got sick with dysentery.
mur vthanas have diarrhoea.
mugas play.
mugas s play a game.
mugas t play with.
mugun sit; settle.
mugurp dir. 1 in the middle. Ngia
thair mugurp. You stand in the
middle.
2 between. ... d cha nia k
chthep ngini dak ps s ngini
mui
munggurup pthik... ... he was
about to grab it but it suddenly got out
from between his claws... Variant:
munggurup.
mui dir. 1 over there; away from
speaker on the same level. Ngia
thuchun avi mui mni chama
lavichi. You sit there on the bed.
2 around. Sa ut preng angt
mui... Then we spread them around...
muialka n. crab sp.; soft-shelled crab
with greenish body; if it clamps a
claw on you the claw may break off
and it can grow a new one. Pl: muial.
muit dir. 1 ashore; shorewards.
Kama avungi chia muit vetha
chuan. The turtle came ashore on the
sand.
2 across on same level; towards.
Sa uthi mbang inavuk, inavuk, sa
save ia chama ples balus at tung-
gumgi ma Tokua pe sndamr nachi
muit, motochi chia ingip. We went
down, down to there, the bottom of the
airport at Tokua, in line with it there,
the motor died. Variant: mit.
muk dir. inside. Arenggi chia muk mt
kama sospen'gi. The water is in the
saucepan.
muk savono dir. inside out. Ka mu ava
snaingbam d cha nunggring mt-
ki ma namuk savono. He put on his
trousers and he (had) turned them
inside out.
mulen'ga n. frightened man. Pl: mu-
lenda.
mulen'gi n. frightened woman.
mulen'gi n. fear. Mt kama mulen. In
(a time of) fear. Pl: mulen.
mulen'gi vt vi-so. 1 be anxious;
typically through having a fear of
something unknown. Mulen'gi
vthacha via ka monel vaur. He
feels anxious when he goes hunting in
the bush.
2 panic. Note: only m.
mulicha n. orange segment. Mulicha
nvt kama mulichi. An orange
segment from an orange. Pl: muli.
From: Tok Pisin: muli orange (any citrus
fruit).
mulichm n. spike of an orange tree.
129
munaman
Mulichm ng mon vthat slp d
vis dtha ve thi per m ngam
namuk. The spike from the orange
tree went into her leg and it swelled
up, and they got it out. Pl: mulivap.
From: Tok Pisin: muli orange (any citrus
fruit).
mulichi n. orange; both the tree and
the fruit. Pl tchama mulichi. The
orange tree is broken. Mulichi ithaik
da srpki. This orange is ripe.
Pl: muli. From: Tok Pisin: muli orange
(any citrus fruit).
mu ma joke; make fun.
mu mamr sna level; straighten.
mu mana arrange oneselves.
mu manas prepare oneself; get ready.
mumanaska n. 1 selfish man. Asika
bunacha nange mt giama gunn'-
ga da sik a mumanaska nange. To
become a rich man with your store you
must be selfish.
2 rich man; someone with lots of
money or pigs etc. Antonius Kuang
d chama mumanaska. Anthony
Kuang is a rich man. Pl: mumanasta.
mumanaski n. selfish woman; rich
woman.
mu ma s joke about.
mumbang tomorrow; next day.
mumeninacha n. cross; crucifix;
especially referring to the cruci-
fixion of Christ. Tha lu Jesus autha
morka t mtha mumenina. They
saw Jesus, our big man, here on the
cross. Pl: mumenina.
mu mt set on fire.
mu mrang dm cover.
mumunatm vi-so. keep sleeping. Sa
chunngga cha vuk d chok
mumunatmga. Then the sun was up
and he kept sleeping.
munaik na put; leave.
munam sa-vi. rest. Chia munam
tiathik. She is resting today.
munaman be noisy.
munaman quiet.
munaman sa-vi. be quiet. Milani da
thoes ti gar dak taithik da muna-
man. Yesterday the children were
noisy but now they are quiet.
munambs
munambs n. feast; religious holiday.
Atha is savur nvem ngt i choi thi
nat mon smthatha munambs.
Her road was overgrown [Lit: over-
grown in it] because they were not
going along it (to church) on religious
holidays. Pl: munamimlk.
mu nank grizzle; cry for something
for a long time.
munap sleep.
munap tm vi-so. sleep. Munatmga
ve vt mar Petrus ava bangga. He is
sleeping at Petruss house. Variant:
mnatm; munatm.
mu nas mk humble oneself.
munatm sleep.
mundmga fire.
mundik year.
mundros na vi-so. stop instantly.
Athucha cha tet d cha lu chama
rucha d mundros nacha. The
hermit crab was walking when he saw
a person and he stopped instantly.
mundu before; long ago.
mundu ma because.
munpki sleep.
munupka eyebrow.
munggas play.
munggas s play a game.
munggas t play with.
munggulmga n. verse. A slameng d
ma Matius ava methamon amr,
ma chvlki ama naruerki, a
munggulmga aungiom nacha save
ia levavet. Reading from the Good
News according to Matthew, chapter
one, verses two to four. Pl: mung-
gulm.
munggun sit; settle.
munggurup in the middle; between.
murapka n. wild dog. Murapka vak k
nes kama rura. That wild dog bites
people. Pl: murap.
murik na punish.
130
muvet mt
mu rik t straighten; stretch out.
mu rik tm straighten; stretch out.
murnalengeika n. fly sp.; large brown
fly; does not lay eggs but puts its
maggots straight into waste. Pl: mur-
nalengeik.
musachus be irritating; feel uncom-
fortable.
musachus wriggle because of
irritation; toss and turn e.g. while
trying to sleep.
musachus nanas act funny.
musamon dm collect; gather things
together.
mu samor s make fun.
mu sa sothana change; especially of
changing clothes.
musavaucha n. wizard.
musavauchi n. witch.
musavu n. poison. Chule sa chama
rura tha mt ngaiom aina vsves.
Then the people went to get those two
their poison.
musavumtka n. poisoner.
musavumtki n. female poisoner.
musavus be irritating; feel
uncomfortable.
musavus wriggle because of irritation;
toss and turn e.g. while trying to
sleep.
mutucha n. reef fish sp.; yellow and
white stripes lengthwise along its
body; up to 50 cm long. Pl: mutu.
mu th decorate.
mu thm decorate.
mu thm mes decorate oneself.
mu thm mes pt be glorious.
mu thik dm beat.
mu vlk svt fall in love with.
muvet answer.
muvtka answer; punishment.
muvet mt answer; respond; recipro-
cate; take revenge; pay back.
-na
N -
-na derivational suffix. each other. Gram:
Reciprocal marker. Kama lvop thi sur
nana smt k kthopka. The
women push each other into the pool.
-na derivational suffix. Gram: Reduces the
valency of the stem. Sa chule sa ma
Bernard ka ve ch kut na dak k kir
kama aurithong. So then Bernard
started to come down and he cleared
away the bushes.
na prep. 1 from. ... asik tha naingim
momono save ia chama lvopki
chia met na choe. ... they will look
back to where the woman came from.
Kulski chia ndn nai nathmani.
Smoke comes up from down there.
Arenggi chia ndn nai nathmui.
Water comes out from over there. Kia
met nai nathvui a Ineska. She
came from over there at Ineska.
2 with. Ka thap schama mngga
nchama vthepki. He cut the tree
with the axe. Variant: n; ni.
na and.
na modal. not. Gram: Irrealis focus marker.
Koi chi na tp mat chdenggi
mamr. She does not keep her body
clean properly. Cha na thchi
svtha cha Siapan'ga cha ns ia,
Chule ngia na thu ngo! While he
was pointing at him, the Japanese man
shouted, Don't shoot me!
nachang sa-vi. open ones mouth. Ngia
nachang diva ngi naik kama
marasin. You open your mouth so you
can drink the medicine. Variant:
nachong.
nachong open.
naenggi n. hunger. Ithik d nga ve
nainggi vt kama rura. Now the
people are starving. [Lit: Now hunger is
at the people.] Pl: naeng. Variant:
nenggi.
naengias vi-so. be hungry. Naingias
kama vaimga. The dog is hungry.
Variant: naingias; nengias.
naeng mt vi-so. be hungry. Naeng
mngo. I am hungry. Variant: noeng
mt.
131
naimuit
n
nagl prep. 1 from. Ngua mt gu
thlng nangl ma Namunas. I got
my letters from Namunas.
2 by. Asecha nagl ma Bernard
Merngo. Story by Bernard Merngo.
Variant: nangl.
naglm prep. from close to. Kia met
nanglm ngo milani. She left me
yesterday. [Lit: She went from close to
me yesterday.] Variant: nangglm.
naglmna prep. back to. Ngua vinem
nanglmna nma Kavudmgi. I
returned to near Kavudmgi. Variant:
nanglmna.
nager be bent.
naik drink.
naimanp dir. from down there. Ka
met naimanp ma Lamarain. He
came from down there at Lamarain.
naimano dir. from down at. Ka met
naimano nva gars. He came from
down at the beach.
naimek dir. up from inside. Vus scha
naimk mvem k chthopka. He
came up from inside the pool.
naimni dir. over from. Ngua met
naimari ia Masarau. I came over
from Masarau.
naimonp from over there.
naimono dir. over from. Ngua tet
naimono nangl ma Joachim. I
came over here from Joachim.
naimuanp dir. from over there. Ka
tet naimuanp ma Open Bay. He
came over from Open Bay. Arura
naimonp da thi tk mamor. The
people from over there work hard.
Variant: naimonp.
naimuani dir. from over there. Inos ka
met naimuani mmni a renggi.
Inos came over from the river.
naimui dir. from over there (distant).
Fidel kia naimui ia Ivonbemga.
Fidel came from over there at
Ivonbemga.
naimuit dir. from the other side. Ka
met naimuit nka renggi thcheng.
He came over from the other
naimuk
riverbank. Nma ch nunguik
naimuit? Who is shouting from the
other side?
naimuk dir. from inside. Ka chut cha-
ma thinmgi naimuk nva gars.
He speared a fish from inside the sea.
nainamk dir. up. Kama luln'gi chia
mn nainamk. The boat came up
this way.
nainamuk dir. from over there (to-
wards speaker). Ka met nainamuk
nva gars. He came from there
along the beach.
nainath dir. from around here.
Guavek ta mr chama chvika
nainath. Some people pulled out the
sword grass (kunai) stems from
around here.
nainavi dir. from there. Ka rhal kama
thangamga nainavi. He carried the
banana from there.
nainavuk dir. from up. Ka met
nainavuk d cha mn taith. He
came from up this way and arrived
here.
naingm sa-vi. 1 look around. Du ut
naingim ia autha ngguvangithong
ng choe. And we looked for our
things.
2 see. Asik un naingim ia sik
nma da chier vusecha sa sik nma
d cha nasot. We will see who comes
out first and who comes out last.
3 watch. Chia naingm svtha
ngo. She watched me.
4 appear; look like. Chi da athama
ulunggi da chia muthmgi d chia
naingim mamr. She decorated her
room and it looked nice (had a
pleasant appearance).
5 shine. Kama lingga cha nai-
ngim mamor. The star is shining
brightly. Variant: naingim.
naingias be hungry.
naingim look around; see; watch;
appear; look like; shine.
naingim pt vt. 1 look after. Ta
naingim pt kama rmga ama ava
rmgi ama morki. They look after
the patient whose fever is high. Ka
naingim vt kama msms. He
looked after the food.
132
namk
2 watch. Dak ut naingim pt
kama laurka... But we would watch
the wind...
naingini n. chiton sp.; small in size, up
to 4 cm; black. Pl: naingithong.
naingiska n. foreigner. Kama nai-
ngiska cha tas gl ma Petrus. The
foreigner is sleeping at Petrus's.
Pl: naingista. See: amlka foreign
man; temporary visitor.
naingiski n. female foreigner.
naivono dir. from up there. Kia met
naivono nva lat. She came from the
garden up there.
naivui dir. over from (middle distance).
Ngua tet naivui ia Gisia. I came over
from Gisia.
naivuit dir. over from. Ka met naivuit
ia Gisia. He came over from Gisia.
naivuk dir. from up. Kia met naivuk ia
Maslambe. She came down from up
at Maslambe.
naknochi misery; distress.
nam sa-vi. flap; especially of wings.
Ismga ch nam. The bird is
flapping.
namana from down there.
namanp dir. from down there. Ka
met namanp ma Bulus. He came
from down there at Bulus. Variant:
namani; namana.
namani from down there.
namano dir. from down over there. Ka
met namano nva gars. He came
from down over there at the beach. Ka
ms kama msms namono nva
mbang. He ate the food from down
over there from the house.
namas sa-vi. 1 lie down. Sa chule sa
chia namas di chia nachang. And
then it lay down and opened its mouth.
2 be lying down. Chia namas. She
was lying down.
namaski n. sleeping place. Atluvmda
tha tas p namaski da thi nari a
mambu thvuk. The shepherds lay in
their sleeping place and heard songs
up there (in the sky). Pl: namas.
namk dir. from down. Ngi liver
namk. You hurry up from down
there. Tom ka mt kama lams
namn
namk nk kama lamsachi atha
rem. Tom got the coconut from the
base of the coconut tree.
namn aside; away.
namna away from.
namni from down.
namt from.
namt prep. at something. Kule ma
ngi tuthik namt kama duraik. Do
not shoot (throw things) at the
chickens.
namethik dir. from the other side. Ngi
sangar kama sen'gi namethik. Hold
the knife from the other side.
nam na vt. beckon; get someone to
come over by flapping ones hand.
Ngi nam nacha. You beckon him.
namon aside; away.
namonp dir. over from the side.
Patrick ka tet namonp i Kubuia.
Patrick came over from Kubuia.
Variant: namoni; namuanp.
namoni across from.
namoni over from the side.
namono dir. from over there; across.
Ka tet namono nva mbang. He has
come over from his house. Ngiat anga
urathi namono. You get a basket
from over there.
namu sa-vi. continue. Gram: May function
as minor verb in serial verb construction
encoding durative aspect. Thave tha
namu thi tk. They are continuing to
work. Paimga cha namu schama
vlmga. The dog kept (chasing) the
pig.
namuanp over from the side.
namuani dir. across from. Ka tet na
muani ia Kavudmki. He came
across from Kavudmki. Variant:
namoni.
namui dir. from over there; same level
as speaker. Ka tet namui ia Kavu-
dmki. He comes over from Kavu-
dmki.
namuit dir. over from.
namuk dir. from in. Ngiat guama
baulki namuk nmt guama athal-
ka. You get my wraparound skirt
(laplap) from my net bag (bilum).
namu sna sa-vi. keep struggling; e.g.
133
nan'gi
in a fight or in a sporting
competition. Sa klmn kave
chnma rndam inbe in namu sna.
So the fool and the witch kept on
(fighting each other).
nanaik dir. under. Marupki chia
namas nanik kama ngmnggi. The
cassowary was lying under the tree.
nanamk dir. back up. Ka vt uves sa
mk sa chule sa vus scha
nanamk. He dove down then later
he came back up.
nanamuk dir. back across. Ngia thet
smni chama mugas angt
luchupki sa chule sa ngia thet
nanamuk. You will go to the playing
field then you will come back.
nanasgi n. pineapple. Ka ms kama
nanaski. He ate the pineapple.
Pl: nanas. From: German, Tok Pisin:
ananas. See: painapki pineapple.
nanavuk dir. back down from. Luln'gi
chi mbang nanavuk nave ia
Kokopo. The boat is coming down
from Kokopo.
nank n. mother. Gu nank kia met
sva lat. My mother went to the
garden. Pl: nankina.
nanet n. mother; Mum; address and
reference term. Ngbs n ma
nanet. Mum is not here.
nani prep. for. Gram: Appears before full
noun phrases. Thi pus nani athva
oes. They cook for their children. See:
nania for.
nania prep. for. Gram: Appears before
pronouns. Asik peia thi ns nania cha
smt kama gamracha... When
they call him to the fighting ground...
Asok aunes, das uthi lotu np
bangang i ut met nania chi ve mt
kama Sarere. (While it was) still
dark, we prayed at night because we
went for it on Saturday. See: nani for.
nania vik adv. somewhere. Kama
vaimga d cha monel nania vik. The
dog hunted somewhere.
nan'gi n. mother; Mum; address and
reference term; it is also used by
children-in-law. Nan'gi chi ns ia,
Kule. Mum called out, Stop it. Gu
nan'gi, sa un det smni arenggi.
Mummy, lets go to the river. Nan'gi
nangasacha
avaik sa bilarki. That mother is an
old woman. Pl: nanbek.
nangasacha n. 1 tobacco plant.
Nangas ng ndn. Tobacco is
growing.
2 cigarette. Ava nangasacha ka ve
mthava thalka. His cigarette is in
his net bag (bilum). Pl: nangas.
nangasachi n. smoke. Kama nanga-
sachi chia dn met kama paipki.
The smoke is coming out of the
chimney. Pl: nangas.
nangathm s vt. trick. Usage: Abilta
dialect. Kule d chama aumsta tha
nangathm schama aumska.
Then the men tricked the man.
nangl from; by.
nanglmna back to.
nanger sa-vi. be bent. Kama ichumgi
chia vunak dm kama mng ama
warep da kosa ngt nanger klan.
The flood bent the river trees and they
were all bent over. Variant: nager.
nangsacha ava lmga n. mushroom
sp.; greyish in colour; edible; grows
on rotting trees; is flat on top with
many small holes underneath.
Pl: nangsacha ava lm.
nangglm from close to.
nap na wave; signal by using hand
gestures to communicate.
narchi yam.
nari hear; feel; taste.
narichi n. yam. Narichi ma morki. A
big yam. Pl: nark. Variant: narchi.
narimanas listen.
narimanas t listen.
narimunanas listen.
nari nagl obey.
naruer vi-so. be first. Deo ava
thondmga ama naruerka ia, Ngi
lotu svt Deo ama snggk k-
lan. Gods first law is, You worship
only one God. Sik ngia thet n cha
laurka chrak ama naruerka... You
must go beyond the first wind...
naruer adv. first; firstly. Kia met
naruer smni arenggi. She went to
the river first.
naruer veia adv. before. Naruer da sik
134
nasothanas
kama aruchi chia thet sva lat nani
chama amstmna ma tha tes ngt
ia auravu. First the woman will go to
the garden for side-dishes that they
call auravu. Naruer veia chia thet
sva lat di chiat kama uratki dma
asen'gi di chia thet sva lat. Before
she goes to the garden, she gets the
basket and the knife, then she goes to
the garden.
-nas derivational suffix. oneself. Gram:
Reflexive marker. Kule ma ngi sp
mamor nanas. Do not make yourself
big.
nas just; recently.
nasa really; already.
nasa and so.
nasek vt. lift up. Ka nasek ava thalka
vuk, asik k na thor mt kama
garski. He lifted his net bag (bilum)
up so it would not get wet from the
saltwater.
nasot dir. 1 behind. Ut tet imani sa
chule sa tha tet nasotha ngo. We
went over, then they walked behind
me.
2 at the back. Auk, duraik, nge
dinai ngia thet save sdngtham
dak ma ngo nasot. Well, rooster,
instead you must go to the front but I
(will sit at the) back. Variant: nasotha.
nasot adv. 1 later. Kule tha veia
Masarau d kunngga achk
nasot... They stayed there at Masarau
and one day later...
2 last. Ngua mn nasot. I arrived
last.
3 after. Irs kama ngthuauchi
nasot at thoemga ma cha ingip. The
old woman was sad after her son died.
4 afterwards. Sa nasot sa choi
nguna met pk angna iska ithak
tik. So after that I wont ever walk on
your particular road again. Variant:
nasoth.
nasoth later; last; after; afterwards.
nasotha behind; at the back.
nasothana adv. one after another. Ta
tet nasothana smni cha renggi.
They followed each other to the river.
nasothanas dir. back in place; e.g. as
with crop rotation. John ka mu cha-
nathar
ma baulki nasothanas da as koi cha
thor ki. John put the wraparound
cloth (laplap) on again [Lit: back in
place] but he still had not washed it.
nathar sa-vi. be open. Kule chama
chilotki d chia nathar diva chama
aisiska cha thon. Leave the window
open for the cold (air) to come in.
nath dir. from here. Ka tet nath
tiathik. He went from here today.
nathmanp dir. from down there. Ka
met nathmanp. He came from
down there. Kulski chia ndn nai
nathmani. Smoke comes up from
down there. Variant: nathmani.
nathmani from down there.
nathmano dir. from down there.
Kulski chia ndn nathmano.
Smoke comes from down there.
nathmk dir. from down at. Paul ka
met nathmk seng ga renggi. Paul
came from down the rivers base.
nathmonp from side.
nathmoni from side.
nathmono dir. from over there. Ka
met nathmono de cha mon
saisath. He came from over there
and came in here.
nathmuanp dir. from side. Ki nges
at kalasung nathmuanp. She dug
her sweet potato (kaukau) from that
side. Variant: nathmoni; nathmonp.
nathmui dir. from over there.
Arenggi chia ndn nai nathmui.
Water comes out from over there.
nathmuit dir. from over there. Ngua
tet nathmuit nva lat. I came from
the garden over there.
nathmuk dir. from in there. Kia mt
kama lams nathmuk nanggl ma
Tomas. She got the coconuts from in
there from Tomas.
nathvachi n. fence. Duraik ng muk
mt kama nathvachi. The chickens
were inside the fence. Pl: nathevap.
nathvit from out there.
nathvono dir. from up there. Ka met
nathvono da dam. He came from up
there on the mountain.
nathvui dir. from over there. Kia met
nai nathvui a Ineska. She came
135
ndang
from over there at Ineska.
nathvuit dir. from out there. Luln'gi
chi bang nathvit ma Ineska. The
boat runs from out there at Ineska.
Variant: nathvit.
nathvuk dir. from up there. Ngua
mt gu gavun nathvuk. I got my
ferns from up there.
nathong sa-vi. look away; hide one's
face. Dak nge ngaip gi sachong
nvthaut di nge nathong. But you
hide your eyes from us and you look
away.
nauska n. speck. Ngua lu anga
guangga ama nauska nanga muk
pa ngars. I saw a speck of something
on the ocean. Variant: nauski.
nauski speck.
navam short two.
navar manas sa-vi. be stretched. Ka
navar manas dama chepki chia
chut mcha. He was stretched out
and the spear shot into him.
navar n vt. pull; hold tight in a
stretch. Athinmgi chia navar
ngua seska. A big fish pulled on my
line.
nave dir. from there. Laurence ka met
nave ia Ili. Laurence came from Ili.
navi dir. from there. Mir, uer kvi tha,
sok ti kuar ia tha na vi ma Rabaul.
Long ago, those ones, they really say
that they were from Rabaul. Sa ch
gamar ngthi benaseng navi vuit.
So the fighting started from there on.
navit over from.
navono dir. from up there. Petrus ka
met navono nva mbang. Petrus
came from the house up there.
navui dir. over from (distant). Ngua tet
navui ia Kokopo. I came over from
Kokopo.
navuit dir. over from. Ka tet navuit ma
Karong. He came over from Karong.
Variant: navit.
navuk dir. down. Ngi var nchama
baulki navuk. You pull the cloth
(laplap) down.
nbensenaska proud man.
ndamgi mountain.
ndang catch fire; burn.
ndang mt
ndang mt burn; be on fire; be in a
fire.
ndm dmna meet together, usually
informally.
ndn grow; specifically make a baby
grow.
ndn grow.
ndn arrive; come; reach; return.
ndenachi start.
nder na vi-so. be uncomfortable be-
cause something is too tight. Kama
luln'ga nder nacha. The cradle was
uncomfortably tight.
ndichi taro.
ndlu see.
ndrm understand.
ndrm know.
ndrir sa-vi. shine. Kunngga cha ndrir
d sok achrnas. The sun shone and
it was really hot. Variant: niria.
ndul money.
ndulka stone.
n associative marker. and. Gram: Used to
make associative pronouns. Julien china-
ma Norberta in met mt chama
iska ma malo chok in met ka. Julien
and Norberta went on the road that
they had already been on. Variant: na.
n from; with.
ndngetham dir. in front. Peia thi
gamar dai cha mair ndngetham.
When they fought, he stood at the
front.
ndvethik dir. beside. Ka mair
ndvethik diva inmo ini gamar. He
stood by his side so they both could
fight.
neik drink.
nk from.
neknochi n. misery; distress; suffering
in either an emotional or financial
sense. Sa tha thalka d chave
glem ut vama naknochi atha
bangm. So they carried him and he
is here with us in the village of misery.
Pl: neknok. Variant: naknochi.
nma pro. who. Gram: Interrogative
pronoun. Nma cha svauo th gi
thangam? Who stole your bananas?
nmailu maybe.
136
nmna
nmava pro. whose. Gram: Third person
masculine singular possessive interrogative
pronoun. Ma nmava ma uratki
avaik? Whose basket is that?
nmav pro. whose. Gram: Third person
masculine singular possessive interrogative
pronoun. Nmav viam avang? Whose
dogs are they?
nmbam pro. any small two; some
small two. Gram: Reduced dual
interrogative pronoun. Ngua mnbt
maila nmbam sng kakau. I found
maybe two kids under a cocoa tree.
nmbap pro. any short two; some short
two. Gram: Reduced plural interrogative
pronoun. Nmbap avap nmk? Who
are those short people coming up?
nmblvs n. banana leaf. Ngua var
kama anot d ngua vstm vt
kama vithm nchama nmbl. I
cooked the taro in the earth oven
(mumu) and I covered the earth oven
(mumu) with banana leaves.
Pl: nmbl.
nmbem pro. any two people; any two
things; some two people. Gram: Femi-
nine dual interrogative pronoun. Nmbem
ini tal kama urat? Which two are
carrying the baskets?
nmbm pro. any short one. Gram:
Reduced singular interrogative pronoun.
Nmbm ba vchm ma chthopka
vt ngam? Who is that short person,
the fat one?
nmbingga n. tree sp.; strong trees
that grow on top of mountain ridges.
Ngu tap s chama nmbingga da
kosa buel mt gua vthpki. I cut
the nmbingga tree and it really made
my axe blunt. Pl: nmbaing.
nmda pro. who. Gram: Human plural
interrogative pronoun. Barth chn
nmeda thi tor? Who is Barth
swimming with?
nmn prep. aside; away. Ngi srik
nmn kama morka. You move aside
for the big man. Variant: namon;
namn.
nmna prep. away from; e.g. used to
describe the way a flood leaves
rubbish behind as the water
subsides. Ngia thair namna ngo.
You will stand away from me. Variant:
nmni
namna.
nmni prep. aside; to the side. Ngia
thair nmni chama iska. You stand
to the side of the road.
nmni dir. from down. Ka met
nmni cha renggi. He came from
the river. Variant: namni.
nemenia adv. instead. Ta von ma
Petra nchama baulki dak kinai ma
Anna chia vertmgi nemenia. They
gave Petra the wraparound skirt
(laplap) but Anna got it instead.
nmt prep. from. Sa cha mun nmt
kama anggarski sa va thinm. He
came from the sea with his fish.
Variant: namt.
nmtna dir. from each other. Ini
sangar aindikana diva sa indet
nmtna. The two shake hands
because they are leaving each other.
nmga pro. who. Gram: Masculine singular
interrogative pronoun; can be used in
indefinite contexts. Nmga vak? Whos
that?
nmgi pro. who. Gram: Feminine singular
interrogative pronoun; can be used in
indefinite contexts. Ma nmgi chia ms
guanot? Who ate my taro?
nemiavchit pro. which large one.
Gram: Extended singular interrogative
pronoun; can be used in indefinite contexts.
Ngua lu cha sok nemiavchit. I saw
a really fit man. [Lit: I saw him really
some large one.]
nmigl pro. which piece; some piece.
Gram: Excised singular interrogative
pronoun; used in a joking way to refer to
people and implies something about their
large size; can be used in indefinite contexts.
Nmigl avgl ma ulul igl? Who
is that tall large woman? Variant:
neminggl.
nmiglem pro. which two pieces; some
two pieces. Gram: Excised dual interroga-
tive pronoun; used in a joking way to refer to
people and implies something about their
large size; can be used in indefinite contexts.
Ma nmiglem bavglem? Who are
those two large women?
nmigleng pro. which pieces; some
pieces. Gram: Excised plural interrogative
pronoun; used in a joking way to refer to
people and implies something about their
137
nemithom
large size; can be used in indefinite contexts.
Nmigleng avglng mk ng
tuguas? Who are those large women
who are playing?
nemink pro. which large ones; some
large ones. Gram: Extended plural
interrogative pronoun; used in a joking way
to refer to people and implies something
about their large size; can be used in
indefinite contexts. Nmink avnk
vui? Who are those fit men up there?
nminm pro. which large two; some
large two. Gram: Extended dual
interrogative pronoun; used in a joking way
to refer to people and implies something
about their large size; can be used in indefi-
nite contexts. Ngua mnbt ngaiom
sok! Nminm dnm. I really met
those two men! Those two fit ones.
nemini pro. which small one; some
small one. Gram: Diminutive singular
interrogative pronoun; also used to refer to
people; can imply attenuative meaning; can
be used in indefinite contexts. Ngua lu
maila nemini tha ith. I saw
someone small here.
neminggl which piece; some piece.
nemiom pro. which two people; which
two things; some two people. Gram:
Masculine dual interrogative pronoun; can be
used in indefinite contexts. Ngn met
ngn nemiom? Who did you all go
with?
nemisem pro. which two long ones;
some two long ones. Gram: Long dual
interrogative pronoun; used in a joking way
to refer to people and implies something
about their large size; can be used in indefi-
nite contexts. Ma nemisem bavsem?
Who are those two tall men?
nmiseng pro. which long ones. Gram:
Long plural interrogative pronoun; can be
used in indefinite contexts. Ngina
nmiseng ngn det ngni thap? You
and who will go and cut the trees?
nemithom pro. which two small ones;
some two small ones. Gram: Diminutive
dual interrogative pronoun; also used to refer
to people; can imply attenuative meaning;
can be used in indefinite contexts.
Nemithom in mairthmga sva lat?
Which two were waiting for him in the
garden?
nemithong
nemithong pro. which small ones;
some small ones. Gram: Diminutive
plural interrogative pronoun; also used to
refer to people; can imply attenuative
meaning; can be used in indefinite contexts.
Nemithong avthong mk? Who are
those people down there?
nm melia roll over; flip.
nemon'gi n. door. Aravr mt ka
nemon'gi. The door is wide.
Pl: nemon.
nen pray.
nen ask.
nnn vomit.
nng tree. Usage: Abilta dialect.
nng wood. Usage: Abilta dialect.
neng avoid; dodge.
nng wood; trees. Usage: Abilta dialect.
nenga chalu disc. maybe; who knows.
Nmga cha svo thchama duraika?
Nenga chalu ma Peter. Who stole
the rooster? Maybe Peter. Variant:
nenggala.
nngaik large tree; log. Usage: Abilta
dialect.
neng dm choose.
nenggala maybe; who knows.
nenggi hunger.
nnggi large tree. Usage: Abilta dialect.
nngguik sa-vi. shout. Thi tvng, thi
nngguik, tha tu amor vthanas.
They sang, they shouted, they made
themselves happy.
nengias be hungry.
nngini small tree. Usage: Abilta dialect.
neng n spread; rub; massage.
neng n dodge.
nngurka n. plant sp.; strong smelling
plant with long green leaves; deters
snakes; relieves tiredness; used as a
decoration for dancing because of
the smell. Tha mu chama nngur
diva tha thain sngt. They put on
the nngur in order to dance with it.
Pl: nngur.
np prep. at; during. Ka met s
chanasu np bangang. He went
fishing at night. Kule ma ngi bang
buinem np bangang. Dont roam
around during the night.
138
nvem
np na turn; tip out; translate.
np na change; make different; mix.
np nanas change oneself; become
different; capsize.
np n turn; tip out; translate.
ns call out; shout.
ns pack; put in.
nes bite.
nes be sharp.
nesabiung n. gossip. Nesabiung d
ngmbes musnng amr. Gossip is
not a good (kind of) behaviour.
neski n. nurse. Kama neski chia chut
gua rembm. The nurse injected my
buttock. Pl: neskina. From: English, Tok
Pisin: nurse, nes.
ns m call for.
nesnes pt be spiky.
nethachi n. bright light. Gia nethachi
nanas. Your light is yourself. Note: no
plural.
nethem from; about.
nthm prep. 1 from. Ka su cha ms
nthm chama nlka. He tried to eat
[Lit: eat from] a mussel.
2 about. Ta v thi snandvr
nacha nthm kama lagun'ga
vachvak. They were asking him
about that decorative plant. Variant:
nethem.
nthm na vi-so. be new to a place.
Nthm nacha smt town. He was
new to town.
nva prep. from. Ka met nva bang. He
came from home.
nvana dir. from each other. Sulka
chena de chama Mengengena da sa
thi sk nvana. Sulkas and the
Mengens intermarry with each other.
nevanas dir. away from oneself. Ngi
thon kama baulki nevanas. You
throw away the cloth (laplap) from
yourself.
nva thng adv. because of that.
Kaburnok k nma Alphonse ini
bn mna sva in mamk avathng.
Kaburnok and Alphonse fought each
other because of their father(s death).
nvem prep. in; on. Atha is savur
nvem ngt i choi thi nat mon
nvt
smthatha munambs. Her road
was overgrown [Lit: overgrown in it]
because they were not going along it
(to church) on religious holidays.
nvt prep. from. Ngua n vt kama
duligl namk nvt kama unpka. I
found a coin in the dust. Agia
mnpka nvt gi sachongiom?
Which eyebrow of your two eyes?
Arura tha travet schama chseng
nk kama duraik diva thi vs ngt.
The people are removing the feathers
from the chickens in order to cook
them. Variant: nk; nvtha.
nvtha from.
ni right here. Usage: Abilta dialect.
ni here. Usage: Abilta dialect.
ni from; with.
nia modal. 1 just; suddenly; surpris-
ingly. Gram: Mirative marker with present
tense or past tense verbs. Ka sangar
kama chepki d cha nia ka chut
kama thinmgi. He held the spear
and, surprisingly, he speared the fish.
2 tried. Gram: Frustrative marker with
future tense verbs. Di chia nia kia thet
inamk da ngmbs. And she tried
to go around but no (she could not
manage).
niare n. sap. Ka thap mni chama
variacha da vus schama niare
nmt ava chndeng. He cut the
breadfruit tree and the sap came out
of its bark.
niare adj. watery.
niare vt vi-so. be watery. Kama thoe-
mini ng naik mt kama marasin
da kosa niare vt ngini angtham.
The baby drank the medicine and its
mouth was all watery.
niavi sa-vi. about to arrive. Kama
athoes ta niavi. The children are
about to arrive.
nigl liver.
nik coord. so. Sa chule sa ngi sot
nainavi, nik kule sa thik d kosa
chule da mbs ngias vuinem save
ia Marunga? Then after you finished
there, so up till now, you just never
returned to Marunga?
niki coord. and so. Namunas kia lu ma
Elton sa vama vaedbunggi niki chi
139
nunggring mt
chlan ki tnok ia vandi atha guik.
Namunas saw Elton with a ball and so
she cried that she wanted one.
nilka n. nail. Norberta chia vondm
mt chama nil. Norberta bought the
nail. Pl: nil. From: English, Tok Pisin:
nail, nil.
nimulichi n. slut; a woman who sleeps
around. Aruchi avaik de chama
nimulichi ma chi tk nanas mava-
ngam gl kama chumsta. That
woman sells [Lit: processes] her body
around to men. Pl: nimulitha.
ninggulucha fish sp.
niria sa-vi. shine. Kunngga cha ndrir
d sok achrnas. The sun shone and
it was really hot.
niria shine.
nisa coord. and so. Ka tet ithcha
renggi ivi nisa save sk kama
chthopka achk. He went along the
river and came to a pool. Dak ka
lagun'ga vakpik nasa cha mun
avivik piavik. And so, that victory leaf
really grew there like that. Nguaet
sva lat niska chule sa nguaet ngu
thor. I am going to the garden and so
afterwards I will go to wash. Variant:
nasa; niska.
niska and so.
noeng mt be hungry.
noingmtka n. saltwater eel sp.;
black, short, and slender. Pl: noing-
mt.
nok cry.
nok tichim whinge; cry.
nugul angtpus adv. do without
permission; an action that breaks
across a (possibly metaphorical)
boundary. Ma Edward ka vr tma
Rosa d nugul angtpus. Edward
eloped with Rosa without permission.
Morph: nugul angtpus. Lit: boundary
3N.POSS-head.
nugulka n. boundary; either a
boundary between villages or a
boundary between different people's
plots within a garden. Marunga
dma Karong ain nugulka cha
choe? Where is the boundary between
Marunga and Karong? Pl: nugul.
nunggring mt vt. turn inside out. Ka
nungguik vt
mu ava snaingbam d cha nung-
gring mtki ma namuk savono. He
put on his trousers and he (had)
turned them inside out.
nungguik vt vt. shout at. Chumsta
thi nunguik vt chama van. The
men shout at the spirit masks
(tumbuans).
nunggulia n. garden section; section
Ng
nga he; she; it; they.
ngaiom pro. two things; two people.
Gram: Third person masculine dual nominal
pronoun. Sa tha met s ngaiom. They
went with the two of them. Ngaiom
aina msms. The two (men), their
food.
ngaip vt. hide. Cha ngaip avama dul
mk mthavama thalga. He hid his
money in his net bag (bilum).
ngaip sa-vi. hide. Laurence ka ngaip
nmt ma Kotpu. Lawrence hid from
Kotpu. Uthi tlu gia ilachi i nge
ngaip ptha Hosita. We see your
image because you hide in the Host.
ngaipka n. hidden man; invisible man.
Ngua lotu svthange Deo, ma
ngaipka i nge ngaipnas bango mt
ilachi thaik. I worship you, the
hidden God, because you hide yourself
in this picture. Pl: ngaipta.
ngaipki n. hidden woman; invisible
woman.
ngaip nas sa-vi. hide oneself. Nge
ngaip nas baut vtha Hosita. You
hide yourself for us in the Host.
ngaipnas mt vt. hide oneself in. Cha
ngaipnas mtha rucha ava
chdeng. He hid himself in a mans
body.
ngait pro. the long one. Gram: Extended
singular nominal pronoun. Lamsait ta
ithichit d aul ngait. This tall
coconut, it is a tall one.
ngalengm n. freshwater fish sp.; has
brown stripes; makes the sound
nguk nguk when shot with a spear.
Pl: ngaleng.
ngalengga n. lizard sp.; small with
140
ng
within a garden that has been
assigned to a particular person.
Avama nunggulia ng namt na
mono d savono. His section of the
garden goes from down there to up
there. Ka da avama nungulia nava
ma chalasung pe va lat. He has got
an area of sweet potatoes (kaukau) in
the garden. Pl: nunggul.
- ng
white and blue-green stripes; up to
8 cm long. Pl: ngaleng.
ngam pro. short one. Gram: Reduced
singular nominal pronoun. Kama vaim-
bm dai ngam ng met nasot ma
Namunas. The puppy followed
Namunas. Amngm avchm d
ngua mt ngam nva gars. That
short stick, I got it from the beach.
ngas pro. the flat one. Gram: Flat singular
nominal pronoun. Kama pepavs ta
ithchs da agthon ngas. This
paper is yellow.
ngavam pro. short two. Gram: Reduced
dual nominal pronoun. Kama vainbam
avam ngavam in ms gua msms.
Those two small puppies there ate my
food. Aung cha met d cha mt ava
tlngam d cha thon ngaram.
Someone went and got his two books
and threw them away.
ngavap pro. short ones. Gram: Reduced
plural nominal pronoun. Angn schu-
vap d ngn tu ngavap mamr. You
put your brooms properly. Kama
angkovap avap dai ngavap ng
mun nani chama churem. The
uncles came to collect betelnut.
ngavem pro. two people; two things.
Gram: Third person feminine dual nominal
pronoun. Nanasvem ma mor ngavem.
Two big pineapples. Tha met mt
ngavem. They travelled with those
two.
ngavet pro. the long one. Gram: Long
singular nominal pronoun. Ngiat kama
mngvet d ngi thon ngavet smt
kama mudm. You get the long stick
and put it into the fire.
ng pro. he; she; it; they. Gram: Third
nge
person neuter class one pronoun. Vaim
ng sar schama plet sai. The dogs
messed up the plates again. Variant:
nga.
nge you.
nge pro. you. Gram: Second person singular
class three pronoun. Kinai cha ngu iras
tm nge. Actually, I lied to you. Sok
kama lengeiki nange. You really
must tell the truth.
ngk d vi-so. gasp; grunt. Ngk d-
chama vaimga via tha
srmumacha. The dog grunted
when they surprised it.
ngelka n. wise man. Pl: ngelta.
ngelki n. wise woman. Nge vusnas
pthaut autha ngelki Maria. You
shelter us, our wise woman Mary.
ngmbs nothing; not; no.
ngn pro. you all. Gram: Second person
class one pronoun and second person class
three pronoun. Ngn det inamuk. You
all come here. Sa ngua mn btha
ngn. I have found you all.
ngna you all and.
ngna them and; it and.
ngn pro. you all and. Morph: ngn=n.
Lit: 2PL.III=and. Variant: ngna.
ngn pro. them and; it and. Julien
chinama Norberta in met mt cha-
ma iska ma malo chok in met ka.
Julien and Norberta went on the road
that they had already been on. Morph:
ng=n. Lit: 3N.III=and. Variant: ngna.
ngni pro. you all. Gram: Second person
plural class two pronoun. Asik ngnbe
ngni thk? Are you all going to
work?
ngngeng d vi-so. squeak; squeal.
Ngngeng dchama vaimini. The
small dog is squealing.
ngerik ta vt. hold on to.
nges m dig a new hole where there
was not one before.
nges mt vt. dig a new hole where
there was not one before. Dak ka tu
asnng ia mubang sa cha vinem
diva cha nges m chama lechi. But
he decided that the next day he would
return in order to dig a hole. Tha
nges mchama lechi. They dug in
141
ngiem nani
the hole. Variant: nges m.
nges t vt. dig for. Bath k nges
tchama ingguingga. Bart dug for a
crab.
ngt pro. him; her; it; them. Gram: Third
person neuter class three pronoun. Ka
vondm mt kama achuan d ka
vus ngt baut. He bought the rice
and cooked it for us.
ngtha its; their.
ngthathng dir. at the back. Ngi
sepmes d ngia thair sek
ngthathng. You get up and stand
at the back.
ngthepki name.
ngthi pro. he; she; it; they. Gram: Third
person neuter class two pronoun.
Ngmng angkthop d ngthi
sren. The trees sap is bitter.
ngthikpet five.
nggars coast; beach.
ngguvangithong belongings; things.
ngi pro. you. Gram: Second person singular
class two pronoun. Ngi thal kama
lams saisathe. You carry the
coconuts over here. Ngi thonanas
inavuk iva ngi naik. You jump down
so you can drink. Variant: nge.
ngia pro. 1 you. Gram: Second person
singular class one pronoun. Ngia thair
nmni chama iska. You stand to the
side of the road.
2 your. Gram: Second person singular
possessive pronoun. Chule ma nge
sunas masa, asik marik ddn ngia
vuski. You must not study too hard or
your head might get confused.
ngiem sa-vi. 1 look; search. Ngi
ngiem saisath. You look over here.
Ngi ingim imono d mamr ia ngi
lu chama botki va gars. You look
over there and you will see a boat on
the sea. Kule ma ngia na ngim
imono. Dont you look over there.
2 shine, only of the sun. Mumbang
mathchasep mt kama Sarere,
kunngga ch ngim, askok math-
chasep. The next morning, on
Saturday, the sun was shining early in
the morning. Variant: ingim; ngim.
ngiem nani sa-vi. look for. Uthi ngiem
nani ma John ava paimini. We were
ngimngimgi
looking for John's puppy.
ngimngimgi n. lookout; e.g. at the
top of a hill. Malumaluan d chama
ngimngimgi ama sok ta naingim
mamr sa mano ve ma Rabaul. At
Malumaluan lookout they could really
see down to Rabaul. Pl: ngimngim.
ngiem sravo adv. look worried; look
surprised; look shocked; people look
like this, e.g. if there is a fight
happening but no-one knows what is
going on. Arura ti ngiem sravo mt
ngaiom. The people looked surprised
by the two of them.
ngigl pro. piece. Gram: Excised singular
nominal pronoun. Vaimga cha ms nk
kama frying pan igl d ngigl ng
sp. The dog ate out of the frying pan
and it fell down. Variant: ngigl.
ngigl piece.
ngiglem pro. short two. Gram: Excised
dual nominal pronoun. Gi tray iglem
inve da ngmbs tha thor ngiglm
as. Your tray is there and they have
not washed it yet.
ngigleng pro. short ones. Gram: Excised
plural nominal pronoun. Averas
ngigleng. They are flat.
ngim look; search; shine, only of the
sun.
ngimlm pro. the flat two. Gram: Flat
dual nominal pronoun. Tlng imlm
ma airiar ngimlm. Those two
leaves are green.
ngim mk sa-vi. search around. Sa cha
ngim mk kama luln'gi nani ava
ma baulki. He looked around in the
boat for his clothes.
ngim melia vi-sa. roll over; flip. Di
chia ve chit ngim melia... Then it
started to flip flop... Variant: nm
melia.
ngim melia vt. roll over; flip. Ta ngim
melia chama basiochi diva atha
ronas sa vono. They rolled the
crocodile over so its belly was up.
Variant: nm melia.
ngina you and.
ngin pro. you and. Morph: ngi=n. Lit:
2SG.III=and. Variant: ngina.
ngink pro. the long ones. Gram:
Extended plural nominal pronoun. John
142
ngis
ava lamsink ma cha vt ngink.
John planted his coconut palms which
are tall.
nginm pro. the long two. Gram:
Extended dual nominal pronoun. Nginm
in namas ithmna. Those two tall
ones were lying side by side.
ngini pro. small one. Gram: Diminutive
singular nominal pronoun. Asenini de
cha svo th ngini nave ia gunan'ga.
He stole that small knife from the
store.
nging vt. go around. Usage: Abilta dialect.
Kama aimga ch nging d chama
thinmgit. The dog is going around
the big fish. Variant: ing. See: bing vt
go around.
nging dm vi-so. bend; duck down.
Nging dmngi. Bend yourself. [Lit:
Work hard.]
ngip sa-vi. 1 die. Cha kuares ia vadi
ch lu ava ruachi dava oes kosa
chule d cha ingip. He said the he
wanted to see his wife and children
but later he died.
2 be numb. Atha slp ng inip
mundu ma chia mugun vtha ngt.
His bones were numb because she sat
on them.
3 faint. Variant: ingip.
ngipngip n. grass sp.; dies if someone
touches it. Kama aur ama ngipngip
ng var vt gualchar da athop. The
ngipngip grass pulled at my legs and
made sores.
ngipngip vi-so. be dying. Ta thal kama
rucha mt kama aruan'gamtki da
sa vachvak ama ngipngipka
mamr. They carried the man in the
car but he was already half dead.
Arucha cha thal kama raun'ga
mtki da kosa vaivak ama ngip-
ngipka mamr. The man carried the
car and he was really half dead (as a
result).
ngis adv. 1 aside. Ngia thu chama
anot ngis dak kule chama
chalasung be. You put the taro aside
but leave the sweet potato (kaukau)
there.
2 apart. Sa ithik da sik kule nge
ngis da choki chule ngo ngis. Now
you stay apart (from me) and I will
ngisem
stay apart (from you).
3 different. Adelaide kia naingim
ngis nmt atha matvek d atha
likvek. Adelaide appeared different to
her brothers and sisters.
ngisem pro. the long two. Gram: Long
dual nominal pronoun. Kama mngisem
d ngisem nani chama bangga. The
two long pieces of wood are for the
house.
ngiseng pro. the long ones. Gram: Long
plural nominal pronoun. Mnglseng nani
chama vutka uvski. The long
pieces of wood are for the roof.
ngithikisem ten.
ngithom pro. small two. Gram: Diminutive
dual nominal pronoun. Draikithom ma
ngu tlu vt ngithom. The two chicks
that I am looking after.
ngithong pro. small ones. Gram: Diminu-
tive plural nominal pronoun. Thoemi-
thong ma chdichn ngithong.
There are many small children.
ngo pro. me. Gram: First person singular
class three pronoun. Ngi von ngo
O -
oerna vt. 1 compete. Ta oerna da
kosa ma Peter d cha mn savuit.
They competed with each other and
Peter came first.
2 race. Peter de ma Paul ini oerna
ma ini bang dak ma Paul ka mun
naruer. Peter and Paul ran a race and
Paul came first.
oer na race each other.
oerna sa methamn n. debate.
oes mamk n.brother-in-law; husband;
address and reference term; used by
a female speaker. Gua oes mamk
143
oo
nchama schutka. You give me the
ruler.
ngu pro. me. Gram: First person singular
class two pronoun. Ngi von ngo ncha-
ma renggi d ngu naik. You give me
the water and I will drink.
ngua pro. 1 I. Gram: First person singular
class one pronoun. Ngua lu nge pe va
lat. I saw you at the garden.
2 my. Gram: First person singular
possessive pronoun. Ngua ve ngu thor
ngua vuski. I am washing my head.
nguainggi n. grasshopper sp.; brown
and white with long hind legs;
people play with it by breaking one
leg and pulling the tendon to make
the leg move. Pl: nguaing.
nguatki n. clumsy person; especially
someone who walks in a clumsy way.
Ma Daniel Boon da cha tet klan ma
nguatki. Daniel Boon walks like a
clumsy person. Pl: nguatkigna.
nguna me and.
ngun pro. me and. Morph: ngu=na. Lit:
1SG.III=and. Variant: nguna.
o
ma Henry mndu ma cha sek gua
matki ma Fidel. My brother-in-law is
Henry because he married my older
sister Fidel. Pl: oes mamkna.
oes nank n. sister-in-law; wife;
address and reference term, used by
a male speaker or male ego. Cha
tuvt mt ava oes nank ia cha
niavi. He answers his wife that he is
coming. Pl: oes nankina.
oki also; similarly.
oo interj. Goodbye!
oo Careful!
pa
P - p
pa at; on; over.
pa prep. at; on; over. Ngi vt kama
chridu ta ithang pe va lat. You
plant those particular native spinach
(aibika) stems at the garden. Ngia thu
athanga chalasung vuk pa mbang.
You put some of her sweet potatoes
(kaukau) up at the house. Variant: va.
pachvaik dem. that particular one.
Gram: Feminine singular distal demon-
strative emphatic. Variant: vachvaik. See:
paivaik that particular one.
pachvak dem. that particular one.
Gram: Masculine singular distal demon-
strative emphatic. Tave thi snandvr
nacha nthm kama lagun'ga va-
chvak. They are asking him about
the victory leaf. Variant: vachvak. See:
paivak that particular one.
pachvang dem. 1 that particular
one; those particular ones. Gram:
Count neutral distal demonstrative emphatic.
Thoes ngthi chuet pt kama sleit
pachvang. The children write on
those particular slates.
2 those particular flat ones. Gram:
Flat plural distal demonstrative emphatic.
Variant: vachvang; bachvang. See:
paivang those particular flat ones.
pae vt. tap. Dak ka met samuk smt
ma thalias avama ichathachi d
chule d cha ve ch pae. So he went
into the wizards enclosure and then
he started to tap. Variant: vae; wae.
paelka n. file. Ngua mu dm nchama
paelka. I lost the file. Pl: pael. From:
English, Tok Pisin: file, fail or pail. Note:
only p.
pai sa-vi. 1 fall down; hit the ground.
Lamsachi chia vai d pk mtki.
The coconut tree fell and broke.
2 land heavily. Kama angmnggi
chia sp d chia vai mni ava
angthiki. A tree fell and (part of it)
landed heavily on his arm. Variant: vai.
pai sa-vi. blow; only of the wind. Laur
ng vai d vl schama viulacha
ava angthiki. The wind blew and
broke the branch of the mango tree.
144
pai mt
Dsa ti kuares ia chama laurka ch
wae. And so they say that the wind
blew. Variant: vai; vae; wae.
pai dm vt. 1 hit at. Dak achk cha
vaithava chn. And the other one hit
at his neck.
2 kick. Sok Madung ga vai dm
ma Bagr ava lugutki. Madung
really kicked Bagrs wife. Variant: vai
dm.
pai dm pt vt. crucify. Da thi vaidm
pthange. And they crucified you.
Variant: vai dm pt; voe dm pt.
pai dm s vt. hammer. Cha vai dm
schama nil mt kama palangga.
He hammered the nail into the plank.
Variant: vai dm s.
paigel tm vt. beat up. Ava nank kia
vaigeltmga mndu ma cha
valkachuik. His mother beat him
because he was disobedient. Variant:
vaigel tm. See: panis tm beat up.
paik sa-vi. jump. Ka lu chama basiochi
mk da kosa chania vaik puk
smni chama mnggi. He saw a
crocodile down below and he just
jumped up into a tree. Variant: vaik;
vuaik.
paik d jump.
paik dm vi-so. jump. Vuaik dm nge
vuit diva ngi lu mamr. Jump up so
you can see properly. Vuaik dm ga
nmt kama karki da kosa cha
vang. He jumped from the car and
then ran away. Variant: vaik dm; vuaik
dm; vuaik d; vaik d; paik d.
paim vt. fold. Ki paim at baul smt at
uratki. She is folding her clothes into
her basket. Variant: vaim.
paimanas sa-vi. wind itself. Aulan'gi
chia vaimanas mni chama kakau-
cha ava thiki ama chia namt
machuisr. The snake wound itself
around the branch of a cocoa tree that
goes out diagonally. Variant: vaimanas.
paim atha nmga large forest rat.
pai mt vt. slap. Kama angmnggi
chia sp d chia vai mni ava
angthiki. The tree fell down and
paimga
slapped his arm. Variant: vai mt.
paimga dog.
paim m vt. wind around. Kama
athoemga ka vaim mchama
kagthacha vt kama mnggi. The
boy wound the rope around the tree.
Variant: vaim m.
painapki n. pineapple. Painapki avaik
pik da amorki da amr mt ki. That
particular pineapple is big and sweet.
Pl: painap. See: nanasgi pineapple.
From: English, Tok Pisin: pineapple,
painapol or painap. Note: only p.
paipki n. chimney; pipe. Kama
nangasachi chia dn met kama
paipki. The smoke is coming out of
the chimney. Pl: paip. From: English,
Tok Pisin: pipe, paip. Note: only p.
pais vt. crush. Aulan'gi chia vais kama
vaimini. The python crushed the
small dog. Variant: vais.
paisdm pt vt. enclose; encircle.
Kama chagat ng vaisdm pt
kama mngga. The vine grew around
the tree. Variant: vaisdm pt.
pai s vt. blow. Laurka cha wae s
chama imng nmt kama butki.
Wind blew the ash from a garden fire.
Variant: vai s; vae s; wae s.
pais pt vt. tie up. Sa chule sa ngua
vais pt pthik ngnva lchar.
Then afterwards, I tied his arms and
legs. Variant: vais pt.
paithm vt. pat. Maria chia vaithmga
diva Jesus kat mnap. Mary patted
him so that Jesus could sleep. Variant:
vaithm.
paivaik dem. that particular one. Gram:
Feminine singular distal demonstrative
emphatic. Namunas paivaik ma chia
mn. That is Namunas who arrived.
Variant: aivaik; vaivaik. See: pachvaik
that particular one.
paivak dem. that particular one. Gram:
Masculine singular distal demonstrative
emphatic. Ngiat kama plastika
paivak ma chabapka. You get that
particular container, the white one.
Variant: ivak; vaivak. See: pachvak
that particular one.
paivang dem. those particular flat
ones. Gram: Flat plural distal demonstrative
145
pali
emphatic. Ngua lu chama dul
paivang ma ngia mu ngt. I saw
those particular stones that you set
out. Variant: aivang; vaivang. See:
pachvang those particular flat
ones.
paivang dem. that particular one;
those particular ones. Gram: Count
neutral distal demonstrative emphatic.
Lams taithang d ngt paivang
ma tha mu ngt nania ut. These
particular coconuts, they got those
particular ones for us. Nge, ngn det
taivit ngn dt kama en paivang
inavuk. You, you all go up, you get
that particular iron spear up there.
Variant: aivang; vaivang.
paivathe dem. those particular people.
Gram: Human plural distal demonstrative
emphatic. Markus kn voes paiva-
th. That is Markus and his children.
Variant: ivathe; vaivathe.
pai vt vt. slap. Ngu wae vt gia
sndem. I will slap your ears. Ka mair
snania chi dokosa chia vai vtha va
sdem. He leaned on her and so she
slapped his ears. Variant: vai vt; vae
vt; wae vt.
pai vthanas sa-vi. slap oneself. D ini
tluchi ia chia pai vthanas natha
namnambem. And they saw it when it
slapped itself with its two flippers.
Variant: vai vthanas.
paivthong dem. those particular
small things. Gram: Diminutive plural
distal demonstrative emphatic. Ngo gu
dulithong paivthong. My particular
small stones. Variant: avthong; vaiv-
thong; pavthong; bavthong.
pak that one.
palangga adj. flimsy; particularly
things like paper. Aingas kama
palangga ithak. This plank is flimsy.
Pl: plang. Pl: palang. Variant: plangga.
palangga n. plank. Aingas kama
palangga ithak. This plank is flimsy.
Ka mt kama palangga nave ia
somil. He got the plank from the
sawmill. Pl: plang. From: English, Tok
Pisin: plank, palang. Note: only p.
pali vt. roll. Ch vali chama dulgi iva
ch thor av baul. He will roll the
stone along so that he can wash his
palkachuik
clothes (on it). Variant: vali.
palkachuik sa-vi. be disobedient;
refuse to follow instructions. Ava
nank kia vaigeltmga mndu ma
cha valkachuik. His mother beat him
because he was disobedient. Variant:
valkachuik.
palkachuik na vt. disobey. Ch valka-
chuik nava nank. He disobeyed his
mother. Variant: valkachuik na.
palmmka hook.
paluacha egg.
panis t beat up.
panis tm vt. beat up. Kule ma ngi
vanis tmgi. Dont you beat her up.
Variant: vanis tm; panis t; vanis t.
See: paigel tm beat up.
pang run; come.
pang that one; those ones; those flat
ones.
panggal sa-vi. suck in stomach. Ka
vanggal da kosa choiku nanga
chusem dava ron. He sucked in his
stomach and there were not any
intestines in his belly. Variant: vanggal.
panggalvs n. wall; specifically a wall
made of leaf stems. Cha thap s-
chama panggalvs. He cut the walls
made of leaf stems. Pl: panggalimlk.
Note: only p.
pangon'ga flying fox.
pangon'gi stingray sp.
par sa-vi. arrive. Uthi bang mt kama
botki d ut var veia Nongia. We
travelled in the boat and we arrived at
Nongia. Sa chule sa ngo imani, sa
ngu par pono mni ch sul. Then I
continued down; then I arrived
shorewards on the reef. Variant: var.
par vt. cook in an earth oven (mumu).
Kave ch par ava not. He is cooking
his taro in an earth oven (mumu).
Variant: var; bar.
paranda n. porch; verandah. Athoem-
ga cha sp nvt kama paranda.
The boy fell from the verandah. Variant:
varanda. From: English: verandah.
parat vt. mess up; displace. Pusicha
cha varat nchama milat. The cat
messed up the plates. Variant: varat.
par d drag.
146
pat pthanas
par dm vt. drag. Ngi var dm chama
aseska sva vt. You drag the rope
home. Ch par davama vaimga
nasothanas. He dragged his dog
behind him. Variant: var dm; par d;
var d.
par dm mes sa-vi. crawl. Sa ngua tet
ngua thik, ngn gua lchar ma
snggvs ma sok ngu par dm
mes. So I went on my hands and legs,
flat, I really crawled. Variant: var dm
mes.
paret n. warning sound. Kama
charidang d chama paret ia cha-
ma Mndaska avak ka tet. The call
is the warning sound which tells that
the Mndaska is coming.
pariachi breadfruit tree; breadfruit.
par mana svt sa-vi. gather around.
Arura tha var mana svt kama
thinm. People gathered around the
fish. Variant: var mana svt.
par na vt. call; specifically to call for a
domestic animal. Save mathchasep
sa ini par naina vaim. In the morning
the two of them called their dogs.
Variant: var na.
par s vt. 1 invite.
2 ask for someone; call for some-
one. Ut var snge Maria kalan ma
Gabriel ama mir ka mn ptha nge.
We called for you Mary, like Gabriel
long ago found you.
3 lead. Ti par su ut nk anga
isithong pavthong. They led us
along some of those small paths.
4 pull in a fish; refers to a fish
which is caught on a hook. Nant
chia var schama thinm. Mother
pulled in a fish. Variant: thar (Abilta
dialect); var s.
pat plant; bury; plunge.
patocha n. duck. Pl: pato. From: Tok
Pisin: pato duck.
patochi n. female duck. Pl: pato.
patpathia n. pitch black; complete
darkness. Patpathia mandinen.
Quiet darkness. (Silent night.) Variant:
vatpathia.
pat pthanas sa-vi. forget. Ava nank
kia chuar nacha iva ch thap s-
chama nmblimlm. Cha met d
pathm
cha vat vthanas ia anggimlm
ma chat imlm. His mother told him
to cut off two leaves. He went and
forgot which two to cut. Variant: vat
pthanas.
pathm prep. 1 along. Chia met
vathm cha iska diva svthava lat.
She went along the road in order to
get to his garden.
2 according to. ... ngi thonbathm
na ut ama Vingbingda pathm
autha chrotki avaik pik. ... you
check on us, the Bainings, according
to our particular power.
3 for. ... d tha thet pathm ka
guvangithong... ... they go for these
things... Variant: vathm; bathm.
pathm mes sa-vi. 1 do by choice; do
according to ones own wishes. Chok
mange vathm mes ia ngiat angit.
Just according to your choice, you will
get something.
2 do unhurriedly; do in ones own
time.
3 act independently. Ki da chi
vathm mes, ngmbs ki na met
nasot guavek. She does her own
thing, she does not follow others.
Variant: bathm mes; vathm mes.
pathm na dir. 1 alongside; side by
side. Chi na matki da in det
pathmna chlan. She and her sister
walk side by side.
2 with each other; for each other.
Ut mair pathmna sa chule sa ut
tet. We waited for each other and then
we went.
3 parallel. Kama mng bem in
namas vathmna. The two trees lay
parallel to each other. Variant: vathm
na; bathm na.
pathik mes sa-vi. fall down. Sok ngua
vathik mes d achn'gn vtha
ngo. I fell over and I was really
shaking. Variant: vathik mes.
pau interj. Bang!; imitates the sound of
a stone from a sling hitting a target.
Ngua tet nasot gua matka ma
Vithulki saun baimithom, ts ts
pau! I walk behind my older brother
Vithulki with our two dogs, swish
swish bang!.
pavar dir. top. Ch tu chama ism
147
pavnm
navuk n vovar nvt amngga. He
shot the birds from up at the top of the
tree. Variant: vavar; vovar; povar.
pavchm dem. that particular short
thing. Gram: Reduced singular distal
demonstrative emphatic. Kama dlangm
pavchm ma ngua matmt ngam
d ngua sp. That particular short
stick is the one I bumped and lost my
balance on. Variant: vchm; vav-
chm; bavchm.
pavchit dem. that particular large
thing. Gram: Extended singular distal
demonstrative emphatic. Kia vus kama
amngit pavchit. She burned out
that particular tall tree. Variant:
vavchit; vchit.
pavgl dem. that particular piece. Gram:
Excised singular distal demonstrative
emphatic. Vaimga cha ms gua digl
pavgl ma ngua mu ngigl. The dog
ate that particular piece of taro of
mine that I put down. Variant: vavgl.
pavglem dem. those two particular
pieces. Gram: Excised dual distal demon-
strative emphatic. Duliglem pavglem
di chia mt ngiglem nmni
arenggi. Those two particular flat
stones, she got them from the river.
Variant: vavglem.
pavgleng dem. those particular
pieces. Gram: Excised plural distal demon-
strative emphatic. Gu mamk ka thap
schama mngigleng pavgleng.
My father cut those particular planks.
Variant: vavgleng.
pavmlm dem. those particular two
flat ones. Gram: Flat dual distal demon-
strative emphatic. Mar schama tl-
ngimlm pavmlm kinas tia-
thik. Those two leaves have just fallen
off now. Variant: vavmlm.
pavnk dem. those particular large
ones. Gram: Extended plural distal demon-
strative emphatic. Amrochopink pa-
vnk pui d vathm kama renggi
da aululink. Those particular trees,
up along the river, are very tall.
Variant: vavnk.
pavnm dem. those particular two
large ones. Gram: Extended dual distal
demonstrative emphatic. Variant: vnm;
vavnm.
pavni
pavni dem. that particular small one.
Gram: Diminutive singular distal demon-
strative emphatic. Gua latini pavni
snani aurki. My particular garden is
in the bush. Variant: vavni; vaivni.
pavsem dem. those particular two
long ones. Gram: Long dual distal demon-
strative emphatic. Ngiat kama mngi-
sem pavsem saglm ngo. You bring
those two particular planks to me.
Variant: vavsem.
pavseng dem. those particular long
ones. Gram: Long plural distal demon-
strative emphatic. Asongiseng pav-
seng nani chama vutka. Those
particular rafters are for the house.
Variant: vavseng.
pavthom dem. those particular two
small ones. Gram: Diminutive dual distal
demonstrative emphatic. Kama marupi-
thom pavthom d cha chthp
ngithom nvaur. He caught the two
small cassowaries in the bush. Variant:
vavthom; vaivthom.
pavthong those particular small
things.
pavvam dem. these two particular
short ones. Gram: Reduced dual distal
demonstrative emphatic. Kama chalun-
bam pavvam d sa amang
ngavam. Those two particular taros
are cooked. Variant: vavvam.
pavvap dem. those particular short
ones. Gram: Reduced plural distal demon-
strative emphatic. Ngua thp mchama
mugunbap pavvap. I will make
those short chairs. Achumsvap
pavvap da ngavap ng thor mo.
Those young boys got wet all over.
Variant: vavvap.
pavvem dem. those particular two.
Gram: Feminine dual distal demonstrative
emphatic. Gu nank at uratvem
pavvem ma chia mu ngavem. My
mother has those two particular
baskets that she put there. Variant:
vavvem; bavvem.
pavvs dem. that particular flat one.
Gram: Flat singular distal demonstrative
emphatic. Lr mt kama pepavs
pavvs. That particular piece of
paper is torn. Variant: vavvs.
pavvet dem. that particular long one.
148
pelal vm
Gram: Long singular distal demonstrative
emphatic. Choiku nanga mngvet
chlan pavvet taith. There is no
particular long plank here. Variant:
vavvet.
paviom dem. those particular two.
Gram: Masculine dual distal demonstrative
emphatic. Kama slp ma ngu kut
nangt d paviom ma chthiacha
nngaiom d guiom. There are some
biros I am writing with and those two
particular blue ones are mine. Variant:
vaviom; baviom.
pe dem. there. Gram: Anaphoric demon-
strative. Vandi ithik da ngni tlu ve.
Maybe now you can see there. Variant:
ve; be; e (Abilta dialect); me (Abilta
dialect).
p his; its.
pe be there.
pea when.
pdm vi-so. pinch; nip. Vdm kama
vaimga mni guchrorini. The dog
nipped my calf. Variant: vdm.
pdm sa-vi. fence; make a fence
around an area. Ka vdm sthm
ava lat. He made a fence around his
garden. Variant: vdm.
peia when.
pk at; on; over.
pk sa-vi. fetch water. Nguaet ngu vk
mni arenggi. I went and fetched
water over at the river. Variant: vk;
vuak. See: mangas fetch water.
pekato sa-vi. sin. D nge mrmr nge
pekato. But you, you always sin. From:
Latin, Tok Pisin: paccatus, pekato sin.
pk mt vi-so. break. Lamsachi chia
vai d pk mtki. The coconut tree
fell and broke. Variant: vk mt.
pknas sa-vi. drown. Paul cha np-
nanas mt k botki d cha vknas
mt kama garski d cha ngip. Paul
overturned in the boat and he
drowned in the sea, he died. Variant:
vknas.
pk tm vt. break. Ava lunaski
sukdmgi da pk tmgi. His mirror
fell down and broke. Nma cha bk
tm kama valo? Who broke the eggs?
Variant: vk tm; bk tm.
pelal vm vt. comfort someone in
plk
distress. Da choi nathe nvtha tha
ruavek iva thi velal vmki. And none
of her friends comforted her. Variant:
velal vm.
plk love.
plk like; want; love; need.
plmga pig.
plmgi sow; large pig; reef fish sp.
plng vt. kill. Kave chaet k vlng
anga vlmga. He is going to kill a pig.
Variant: vlng; vlng.
plikdm vi-so. slip away. Vulik dm
kama nkethopki nvt pethik da
kosa chia vang. The eel slipped from
his hands and ran away. Variant:
vulikdm.
plik s vi-so. slip over. Saen'gi chia
thor kama ivitki dama Bosco cha
tet da kosa vulik scha d cha sp.
It rained on the earth and Bosco
walked and he slipped and fell. Variant:
vulik s; plaik s.
pl mni vi-so. snap. Pl mni slp. A
broken bone. Variant: vl mni.
pl mt vi-so. break off. Kama variachi
vthik sok pl mt ka svoes. The
branch of the breadfruit tree broke off
along with its fruit (because the fruit
was too heavy for the branch to
support). Variant: vl mt.
pl s vi-so. be broken. Pl sgua
chenggi. My tooth is broken. Variant:
vl s.
pl t bend over; flatten out; be
broken.
pl tm vi-so. be broken; be bent over;
be flattened out; e.g. of grass that
has been walked on. Pl tchama
mulichi. The orange tree is broken.
pel vt vt. 1 rub. Ka vel vthanas
nchama lams angt mars. He
rubbed himself with coconut oil.
2 wipe. Ngua vel vt gu ch-
dengm nchama tauchi. I wipe my
skin with the towel. Variant: vel vt.
pl vt vi-so. break. Pl vt kama
mngga avs. A branch of the tree
broke off. Variant: vl vt.
pem prep. in. Klennggi vem ngo,
neng gua snng. The rubbish in me,
in my heart. Kama thoes ngthi
149
prddung
tortm vmga renggi. The children
swam in the river. Variant: bem; vem;
pm; bm; vm.
pm in.
pnak dm vt. bend; use force to bend
something. Kama ichumgi chia
vunak dm kama mng ama warep
da kosa ngt nanger klan. The flood
bent the river trees and they were all
bent over. Variant: vunak dm.
pen d vi-so. fall. D thi kuar ia pen d
chama isaing. And they say that the
embers fell.
pn dm vi-so. 1 bite someone out of
anger. Pn dchama vaimga mni
gu slp. The dog bit (me) on my leg.
2 singe; burn. Pn dchama
isaing ma puthm. The embers burnt
where they fell. Variant: vn dm.
peneng dm s vt. 1 prepare. Ngua
veneng dm schama lavi nani
chama mlta. I prepared the beds for
the visitors.
2 make a bed; make a platform.
Auk, ut veneng dm schi savuk.
Well, we made a platform to keep it up
on. Variant: veneng dm.
pr vt. 1 get something out of a
pocket or a similar place. Chia vr at
dul nmt at sgnacha. She got her
money out of her net bag (bilum).
2 breathe out. Uthi pr aut knak
schama sanggaska ama mrka
diva ut dchm. We breathe out our
exhaled breaths (in exchange) for
good air, to keep us alive.
3 put; e.g. to put someone in a
particular place. Ta vr kama thoes
mt kama mormorki diva sik
athva munmun'gi ama mrki.
They put the children in the special
garden so their growth would be good.
Variant: vr.
peramr vt vt. pick out the good ones
from a set of things. Ngi veramr
vt kama thangam. You pick out the
good bananas. Variant: veramr vt.
prddung sa-vi. go backwards; eg.
move backwards into hiding. Ka lu
ngaiom va gars d cha vrddung
ithm chama mnggi. He saw two
people at the beach and he moved
backwards into hiding, behind a tree.
prk mt
Variant: vrddung.
prk mt vt. rip. Ngua vrk mt gu
baulgi. I tore my wraparound skirt
(laplap). Variant: vrk mt.
prk mt vi-so. 1 be torn; be ripped.
Sa vrk mt gu baulki. My
wraparound skirt (laplap) is torn.
Kama lulitka cha mu chama
baulm ama vrk mt ngam. The
poor man wore a wraparound cloth
(laplap) which was torn.
2 shout; yell. Vrk mt ka vt ma
Christoph. He shouted at Christoph.
Variant: vrk mt.
prn dm vt. sniff; smell. Vaim ng
vrn svt kama vlam. The dogs
sniffed the pigs. Variant: vrn dm.
prn svt vt. smell. Vaim ng vrn
svt kama vlmga d ng
tuchunacha. The dogs smelt the pig
and chased it. Variant: vrn svt.
pr ma vt. 1 pull along.
2 talk into; tempt. Ngt ng vr
mut sva ma slavo. They talked us
into sinning. Variant: vr ma.
pr m vt. grab; catch; kidnap. Ta vr
mcha. They grabbed him. Variant: vr
m.
pr t grab; catch; kidnap.
pr tm vt. grab; catch; kidnap. Cha
vr tm chama lvopki d cha vang
schi. He kidnapped the woman and
ran away with her. K pr tchama
balgi nmt ut. He grabbed the ball
away from us. Variant: vr tm; br
tm; pr t; vr t; br t.
prvr dm vi-so. skip; either a person
making a small jump or someone
skipping rocks on the water. Ka thu
nchama dulki d vrvrdmgi. He
threw the stone and it skipped. Variant:
vrvr dm.
pes sa-vi. blow. Laurka ch pes. The
wind is blowing. Ngua nari ma Peter
ch pes mt kama abiulki. I heard
Peter blow the conch shell. Variant: ves.
ps cook.
ps d vi-so. jump out. Kama ding-
dingini, ps d ngini, d ngthi
mbang. The tiny dingding, the small
one, jumped out and it flew.
psding vt. close; e.g. close a book, a
150
pt
door, or a meeting. Ngi vusding
chama nemon'gi nmt kama
laurka. Close the door from the wind.
Variant: vsding; vusding; wusding;
pusding.
psding mt vt. cover. Ngi vsding
mt kama sospen'gi. You cover the
saucepan. Variant: vsding mt;
vusding mt; wusding mt; pusding
mt.
psding sthm vt. 1 block. Ngua
lu chama kaumatka cha mon
samuk svm kama lunas. Ngua
vsding sthm ga. I saw the rat got
into the louvre glass. I blocked it
inside.
2 stop someone from doing some-
thing. Variant: vsding sthm.
pes mt vt. blow on. Ngi pes mt
kama mundm. You blow on the fire.
Variant: ves mt.
ps s vi-so. get out. Ludie chia rek
sthm chama duraiki sa chule d
sa vs schi. Ludie shut the door on
the chicken, then it got out anyway. ...
d cha nia k chthep ngini dak
ps s ngini munggurup pthik... ...
he was about to grab it but it suddenly
got out from between his claws...
Variant: vs s.
pestm svt vt. whisper charms;
charms can be whispered over ob-
jects, e.g.: lime powder, water,
ginger, and cooked banana. Sa in ve
ini vestm svthacha. They started
whispering charms on him. Variant:
vestm svt.
pes vt vt. charm; do magic. Cha d
cha drm ch pes vt kama rura.
He knows how to do magic on people.
Cha ves pt ava alat diva ng thn
mamr. He put a charm on his garden
so it would grow well. Variant: ves vt.
pt vt. 1 plant. K pt kama tangam.
He plants the bananas.
2 bury. Tha vt ath vaimga ma
cha ngip. They buried their dog which
died.
3 plunge. Variant: vt; pat; vat.
pt prep. 1 at. Ki ngim nani at
thoemini vt kariva athva vt. She
found her baby at the peoples house.
2 on. Alam btha chi. It had cane
pt balam na
leaves on it. Ngia thu chama pletka
vk kama tevolchi atha thng. You
put the plates on top of the table.
3 over. Da mr ki mamr, ama
amurmes ptha chi. They were
very good, colourful all over. Variant:
vt; pa; ba; ptha; btha; vtha; bt;
vk; pk.
pt balam na vt. blink; wink. Ka vut
balam nango ia mnaman nango.
He blinks his eyes to let me know that
I must be quiet. Variant: vut balam na.
ptpt na vi-so. 1 fall. Asen'gi vtpt
nachi d chia thp ava lchar. The
knife fell and cut his leg.
2 scatter. D vtpt naut mava-
ngam. And we scattered anywhere
(all over the place). Variant: vtpt.
pt uves sa-vi. dive. Ngua vt ngua ves
vm kama renggi. I dived in the
river. Morph: pt av=vus. Lit: dive
3M.SG.POSS head.
ptha at; on; over.
pethaindik mtna sa-vi. grapple; two
people grappling with each other.
Da sa uthi tlu ngaiom klan ia ini
pethaindik mtna. Now we see those
two grapple with each other. Variant:
vethaindik mtna.
pthana sa-vi. relate socially; interact.
Karonggna dma Ilichna d tha
vthana. Karong people and Ili people
interact. Variant: vthana.
pethana dir. head to tail; back to front.
Uthi np nchama kanuiom petha-
na. We will turn the two canoes front
to back. Variant: vethana.
pthanas to oneself.
pthen lime powder.
pthenm fish sp.
pethik beside.
pia when.
piam vt. 1 rotate; e.g. shake ones
head. Sok k piam uvs klan. So he
just shook his head. [Lit: Really, he only
rotated his head.]
2 wave; e.g. wave ones hands.
Variant: viam.
pilk crack of lightening.
pilichi gun.
pimga galip nut (Canarium indicum).
151
plangves
ping surround.
pirs ithm vt. 1 hide behind; duck
behind something to hide oneself.
Ka virs ithm chama mngga d
ngmbs tha lucha. He hid behind
the tree and they did not see him.
2 make way; move aside.
3 move along. Cha virs ithm
chama sul iva cha met samthik.
He moved along (the side of) the reef
to get around to its other side. Variant:
virs ithm.
piru sa-vi. writhe. Petrus cha chot ka
singalki d chia viru. Petrus shot the
snake and it writhed. Variant: viru.
piru nana sa-vi. tussle. Chlumn k
nma rndam in viru nana sa chule
sa ma chlumn ka vlng ma
rndam. The fool and the witch tussled
with each other, then the fool killed
the witch. Variant: viru nana; runa.
pis d vi-so. be swollen. Usage: The
expression pis d sarum have a
swollen belly is not normally used
with reference to women, but can be
used to talk about pregnant animals,
especially dogs. Its use in the
following example is derogatory. Vis
dava angthaik ama valpal. His
fingers are swollen. In met in dain,
nasot sa pis da chama sarum. They
went and danced, afterwards the
(woman) was pregnant. Variant: vis d.
piskthopka fish sp.
pithia na vt. overcome; conquer. Jesus
ka vithia nama ingipki. Jesus
overcame death. Variant: vithia na;
withia na.
pivi dir. over there. Auk, vivi ma ve
vkama lat pachvang. Well, over
there, there at that garden. Variant:
bivi; vivi.
plaik s slip over.
plamasareng grasshopper sp.
plangigel n. board; plank. K tor tm
vt kama plangigl angtha thng.
He swam on top of the plank. Pl: pla-
ngigleng. Variant: plangigl. From:
English, Tok Pisin: plank, palang or
plang. See: baler piece of wood. Note:
only p.
plangves n. piles of planks; especially
plastika
somewhere like a sawmill where
there are lots of planks all around.
plastika n. plastic bag; plastic bottle;
specifically a bottle between 1 and 5
litres in size, or a medium sized
plastic bag. Ngia thu chama kurem
muk mt k plastika. You put the
betelnut in the plastic bag. Pl: plastik.
From: English, Tok Pisin: plastic, plastik.
plastiki n. large plastic bottle; large
plastic bag. Pl: plastik. From: English,
Tok Pisin: plastic (bottle, bag), plastik.
plastikini n. small plastic bottle; small
plastic bag. Pl: plastik. From: English,
Tok Pisin: plastic (bottle, bag), plastik.
plk vt. 1 like. Cha d mrmr k
plk iva cha tugas. He always likes
to play.
2 want. Ngua vlk iva nguas
kama viam. I wanted to eat galip nuts
(Canarium indicums).
3 love. Ngu plk ma guauk m-
ndu ma chi choki chi plk ngo. I
love my grandmother because she
loves me.
4 need. Tha vlk amatnthmbes
save ia aus sik iva thi von da-
nguama dul. They needed financial
help for the hospital. Variant: vlk;
vlk; plk.
plmbm piglet.
plmga pig.
plmgi sow; large pig; reef fish sp.
plnini trigger; knob.
plngacha tree sp.
ples balus n. airport. Sa uthi mbang
inavuk, inavuk, sa save ia chama
ples balus at tunggumgi ma Tokua.
We went down, down to there, the
bottom of the airport at Tokua. From:
Tok Pisin: ples balus airport.
plochm spot.
ploltem sa vt. remove; take off.
Karuvaik dma mliar in vloltem sa
ain baul iva ini thor. The earlybird
and the parrot removed their clothes
in order to wash. Variant: vloltem sa.
ploltem s vt. loosen. Ngi vloltem
schama bremga nmt kama
seska. You loosen the knot in the
rope. Variant: vloltem s.
pono up; inland; shorewards.
152
puk mt
pono sa muk inside out.
povar top.
praioik d vt. sip; suck. Ngua vraioik
d chama renggi. I sipped the water.
Variant: vraioik.
prang spread.
prap sa-vi. fly. Ismga cha vrap d cha
mugun vt amnggi at tthik. The
bird flew and sat on the branch of the
tree. Variant: vrap.
praseng na put aside.
praseng n vt. put aside. Ngi vrasng
nchama sospen'gi nmt kama
mundm. You put the saucepan aside
from the fire. Variant: vraseng n;
praseng na; vraseng na.
prendem vi-so. wake up. Ma Joachim
sa vrendem ga mali mathchasep.
Joachim woke up early in the morning.
Variant: vrendem.
preng vt. spread. Kia vreng at baul vt
kama chun'gi. She spread her
clothes on the sand. K preng chama
matka iva cha thuchun. He spread
the mat in order to sit down. Variant:
vreng; vrang; prang.
prsetki marks.
prur pt vi-so. have goose bumps; have
ones hair stand on end. Vrur pt ma
Leo vea cha lu chama tomga nk
kama un'gi. Leo got goose bumps
when he saw the ghost in the dark.
Variant: vrur pt.
pus vt. cook. Ngu pus kama ms-
ms. I am cooking the food. Variant:
vus; ps; vs. See: avsvsvmki
kitchen.
pui out there.
puik na vi-so. come out. Vuik nacha
mt kama nemon'gi. He came out (of
the house) through the door. Variant:
vuik na.
puinem return.
puit up.
puk above.
puk mt vt. fire a gun. Cha rares kama
vilchi atha vlnini da pu mtkama
vilchi da kosa cha thu chama
Siapan'ga. He pressed the trigger of
the gun and the gun fired and then
just shot the Japanese man. Variant:
puk tm
vuk mt.
puk tm sa-vi. 1 erupt. Adamgi vuk
tmgi vea Rabaul. The mountain at
Rabaul erupted.
2 shatter; burst. Variant: vuk tm.
pul sa-vi. paddle. Ngi pul d ngia thi
ngia thi. You have to paddle quickly.
From: English, Tok Pisin: pull, pulim.
Note: only p.
pulka n. paddle. From: Tok Pisin: pul
paddle.
pungngan'ga n. ridgepole. Choiku
nanga pungngan taith. There are
no ridgepoles here. Pl: pungngan. See:
sutka ridgepole. Note: only p.
pupuik n vi-so. sprout. D chok
vuvuik nchama ngmng. And the
trees sprout. Variant: vuvuik n.
pupurik sa-vi. squirt excreta. D chia
nia pupurik. And it squirted excreta.
pur vi-so. grow; especially of new skin
or bark growing over a cut. Ka thap
mni chama viulacha nchama
vthpki mundu da sa ithik sa vur
aithir. He made a cut on a mango tree
before, with an axe, but now the cut is
healed again with new skin. Variant:
vur.
purk mni vi-so. puncture. Purk
mni chama karki athama taiachi
da kosa achuskuska mtki. The tyre
of the car punctured and a hissing
noise came out. Variant: vurk mni.
purk mt vt. break open. Kule ma
ngi vurk mt kama plastika. Do
not break open the bottle. Variant:
vurk mt.
puren vt vi-so. wake up; stir. Kama
thoemini vepuren vt ini d ngthi
tnok. The baby is stirring in its sleep
and crying. Variant: vuren vt; vepuren
vt (Abilta dialect).
pur mt vi-so. germinate. Sa vur mt
gu pinat ama ngua vt ngt. My
peanuts that I planted have germi-
nated. Variant: vur.
purvur vi-so. sprout. Sa vurvura
rosachi mni at laltka. The rose
sprouts on her roots. Variant: vurvur.
pusding close.
153
puvs
pusding mt cover.
pusicha n. cat; wild or domestic. Pusi-
cha cha ms gu slikigl. The cat ate
my piece of pork. Pusicha ava
ravski da aululki. A cat's claw is
very long. Pl: pusi. From: English, Tok
Pisin: pussy (informal term), pusi. Note:
only p.
puski head.
puski head.
pus mk vi-so. 1 leap up; especially
referring to flames. D ngas d vus
mk ngas pui, ura? And it leapt up
over there, didnt it?
2 explode. Kama dramgi vus
mtki schama bensin. The drum
exploded with benzene. Variant: vus
mk.
pusnas pt vt. shelter. Nge vusnas
pthaut autha ngelki Maria. You
shelter us, our wise woman Mary.
Variant: vusnas pt.
pus pm vi-so. erupt; burst out. Kama
adamgi vuspmgi d chia vlng
arutha ma chndichn. The moun-
tain erupted and killed many people.
Variant: vus pm.
puspmgi n. eruption. Kama vuspm-
gi d kia don gama ivtki. The
eruption threw up the earth. Pl: pus-
pm. Variant: vuspmgi.
pus s vi-so. come up; emerge. Ka vt
uves sa mk sa chule sa vus scha
nanamk. He dove his head under;
then he came up. Variant: vus s.
pustm vt vt. cover. Ngua var kama
anot d ngua vstm vt kama
vithm nchama nmbl. I cooked
the taro in the earth oven (mumu) and
I covered the earth oven (mumu) with
banana leaves. Variant: vustm vt.
puthm vi-so. fall. Vuthm ga s cha-
ma balgi ma cha tugas tmgi. He
fell with the ball that he was playing
with. Variant: vuthm.
puvs vi-so. come out. Ngave vuvs
chama inguingga nmt ava lechi.
The crab was coming out of its hole.
Variant: vuvs.
rachan'ga
R -
rachan'ga n. tree sp.; hardwood tree
used for timber; very large, is both
tall and broad; burns well good for
firewood; was logged extensively by
the Catholic Mission for use in its
post-war building program. Pl: ra-
chan.
rachocha n. land crab sp.; whitish-
brown shell and red claws; up to
5 cm in diameter; live in holes in
swampy places. Pl: rachok.
rachumga n. land crab sp.; black and
red belly and claws; shell up to 8 cm
in diameter; live in dry places in
holes; they go to the sea and back
every evening to drink and wash;
appear in large numbers in April.
Pl: rachum.
rachumkumbarka n. land crab sp.;
live in swampy places in holes;
whitish-brown shell up to 10 cm in
diameter. Pl: rachumkumbar.
rachuvigel n. colours; specifically the
colours from the bark of the amra-
chuvacha tree. Kama gulaingiseng
nchama rachuvigel vet kama
mrachuvacha da ng naingm
mamr. The stripes of colours on the
bark of the tree look beautiful.
radmga n. cave. Ta vlng kama
vangon nmt kama radmga. They
killed the flying foxes from the cave.
Pl: radm.
ragbi n. rugby. Gumoram vt kama
arutha ma tha tunggas schama
ragbi. People shout when they
(others) are playing rugby. From:
English, Tok Pisin: rugby, ragbi. Note: no
endings.
raik dm vi-so. scream. Kama
gethaingga cha mon smt ma
Tonya atha sndem d raik dmgi. A
cockroach went into Tonyas ear and
she screamed.
raingga seed.
rais n. rice. Da bas kia vonda tha rais
ura gia msms... A barge brought
them rice or other food... From:
English, Tok Pisin: rice, rais.
154
rek sthm
r
raism n. packet of rice; especially a 1
kg bag of rice. Dorothy chia vondm
met kama raism nave ia Kalistus
ava gunn'ga. Dorothy bought a
packet of rice from Kalistuss store.
See: chuan rice; achunm packet of
rice.
raisgi n. bale of rice.
raiycha n. 1 tree sp.; grows along
the coast and in the mountains in the
bush; the sap is fragrant and burns
like wax.
2 fragrant sap from the tree with
the same name. Pl: raiyk.
rarpka n. 1 strong inner part of
tree. Anemelengachi at rarpka da
achluingga da sok achrotka
mamr. The kwila trees inner part is
black and is really strong.
2 gun. Cha mt kama rarpka. He
got the gun. Pl: rarp.
rares press.
raresbana promise.
rares pt praise; worship.
rares svt note; bless.
raun'ga n. sound. A raun'ga mtha
gia, karki ura sipki? The sound of
what, car or ship? Pl: raun.
ravan'ga n. faithful man. Usage: This
word compares a faithful person
with a clam, something that does not
move around. Aerki ama mrki sa
ngia thn svaut snng i gia
ravanda naut. Good Light, come into
our hearts because we are your
faithful people. Pl: ravanda.
ravan'gi n. faithful woman.
ravski n. nail; claw. Pusicha ava
ravski da aululki. The cats claw is
very long. Pl: ravs.
ravt weed.
ravt s remove.
rek sthm vt. 1 close in. Ngi rek
sthm ngt. (You) close them in.
2 block off; e.g. to obstruct
someones view. Chule ma ngia rek
sthm ngo. Do not block me off.
3 forbid. Variant: trek sthm; chrek
rek tm
sthm. See: trek tm prohibit,
forbid.
rek tm prohibit; forbid.
rm understand.
rm know.
rem n. protection. Du ut var snge d
chule ut pt gia rem. We asked you
that we stay under your protection.
rem buttock; base; source; cause;
reason.
rmanas na recognise; know.
remini n. base; source; cause.
rem na recognise.
rm svanas realise.
rn grow.
rn grow; specifically make a baby
grow.
rndamgi n. witch. Kama rndam
chia vr tchama thoemini smt
atha vutka. The witch grabbed the
baby (and took it) away to her house.
Pl: rndam. Pl: rndamgina. Variant:
rndam. See: aurachi witch.
rn s stand up; unbend.
rngska n. scraper; grater. D plaik
scha sngini, ngnvama rngs-
ka sai vuk. So he came out with it,
with his scraper, outside. Pl: rngs.
rengga cha mn na sa-vi. sweat.
Manuel k tk pa va lat da sok
arengga cha mn nacha. Manuel
was working in his garden and he
really sweated.
rprpka n. fencepost. Ngo thap
schama rprpka nani chama
ichthachi. I cut the fencepost for the
fence. Pl: rprp.
rer d crumble.
res dm agree.
rveikpmka n. redeemer; refers
specifically to Jesus. Avolam angt
laurka d cha dn schama saeng
ama mor. The southeast wind comes
with heavy rain. Aura rveikpmka
d cha mn nvtha usupki. Our
redeemer came from heaven. See:
tvaik namn redeem.
rin grow; specifically make a baby
grow. Usage: Abilta dialect.
rin grow. Usage: Abilta dialect.
155
rulacha
rip n. swell.
rip da chvl n. orchitis. Cha mt ama
rip da chvl d cha met svt
arm angtha banggi. He got
orchitis and he went to the hospital.
rip d chmk n. mastitis. Lvop tha
tt rip d chmk da aem tha
mamor. Women get mastitis and it is
really painful.
rndam witch.
ron satisfied.
ronas n. front of torso; belly and chest
of an animal. Ta nm melia chi da
atha ronas savono. They turned it
with its belly upwards. Note: no
endings.
rong be stiff with cold.
rongga n. man from the mountains;
anyone who comes from a cold place
at high altitudes. Rongda d ama
rura ma achrot ta. It is hard for
people form the mountains (to make a
living). Pl: rongda.
ronggi n. woman from the mountains.
ronggi n. area at high altitude. Vt
kama ronggi da choiku na nga
dums. At the high cold places there
are no mosquitoes. Pl: rong.
roret drag.
roret crawl.
rosachi n. rose bush. Sa vurvura
rosachi mni at laltka. The rose
bush sprouts on her roots. Pl: ros.
From: English: rose.
ruacha friend; often used to refer to
spouses.
ruaiom nana n. a friendship between
two people. ... aina ruaiom nana
mamr. ... their friendship was good.
rucha man.
ruchm short person.
ruchusimacha n. green praying
mantis. Pl: aruchusim.
ruer before; first.
ruer go first; go ahead; go in front.
ruer na race each other.
rukuska n. grasshopper sp.; greyish in
colour. Pl: rukus.
rulacha n. ruler. Cha von ngo ncha-
ma rulacha. He gave me the ruler.
rumtka
Pl: rula.
rumtka moss.
runa tussle.
rurubuan'ga n. hermit crab sp.; large
body up to 15 cm across and 25 cm
long; lives in the sea; can change
shells. Pl: rurubuan.
rutka stalk; specifically the central
S -
sa disc. 1 then. Gram: Clause initial
discourse marker. Introduces a new event
frame. Ngi thor nathuer sa ngia thet
save ia haus sik. You will wash first
then you will go to the hospital. In
met sva lat sa chule sa in met
smmi arenggi. They went to the
garden, then afterwards they went to
the river.
2 so. Sa chia met di chia mun
btha tha veia athva bangm peia
tha tes ia Chroria. So she went and
she found them there at their village
there, which they call Chroria.
3 already. Gram: Resultative marker.
As koiku, as ka thoemga nango. Sa
cha mun sa morka nango. Not yet,
I was still a child. He arrived when I
was (already) an adult. Sa cha met
milani. He already left yesterday.
4 for a while. Gram: In clause final
position. Ngia mair sa. You waited for
a while.
5 Gram: Imperative marker. Sa ngia
tet nainath! You must go away from
here!
sa prep. 1 to. Ngia thet sa ivi ia
Kubuia. You will go along to Kubuia.
2 with. Kama luln'gi chia mun
schama guangithong. The boat
arrived with the things. Variant: s.
sabcha n. wood chip. Amnggi at sa-
bkigleng. Chips of wood. Pl: sabk.
sachong gaze; worried face; depths.
sachong n. 1 vision; dream; day-
dream. Ka tluchi vasachong. He saw
her in his vision.
2 glasses. Chia vondm m at
sachong ma aichru. She bought
new glasses.
156
saemga
stalk in some fruits; there is one
inside tapioca and pau nuts grow
along one.
rutki small root of a tree or plant,
especially banana, native spinach
(aibika), or peanut plant.
rut na put in; push in.
rut n put in; push in.
s
3 crown of a tree.
4 surface; e.g. the surface of the
sea, the face of the earth, the top of
a sore, the opening of a pot. Ivtki at
sachong. The surface of the earth.
sachongacha n. eye. Athop mt
giama sachongacha. There is a sore
on your eye. Ambangga ava
sachongachi. Opening beneath the
eaves. Pl: sachong.
sachongachi n. 1 gaze. Ngua lu cha
na d gu sachongachi chia sp. I
saw him come towards me and my
gaze dropped.
2 worried face. Ut tlu av sacho-
ngachi d choi ia amr vthacha.
We saw his worried face and he was
not happy.
3 depths of a pool. Variant: sachong.
sachong angt kseng n. eyelashes.
At sachong angt kseng da amr
ngt. Her eyelashes are nice.
sachong angtha chilot n. corneas.
sachongas n. face. Ngua lu gi
sachongas da sok larengas glm
nge i ngia vlng kama thinmgi
ama morki. I saw your happy face
because you caught a big fish.
Pl: sachong.
sachongini n. 1 eye. Usage: Polite
form.
2 ember. Amundmga ava sacho-
ngi. An ember from the fire.
saecha n. shellfish sp.; found on the
reef; rounded cone up to 3 cm
across; mottled brown colour with
small ridges. Pl: saek.
saemga n. uncle-in-law; nephew-in-
law; specifically: ones wifes mo-
saemgi
thers brother, one's husbands
sisters son, and ones husbands
mothers brother. Ka met nasot ava
saemga sva lat. He followed his
uncle-in-law to the garden.
Pl: saembek.
saemgi n. aunty-in-law; niece-in-law;
specifically ones mothers brothers
wife, husbands sisters daughter, or
husbands mothers brothers wife.
Gia saemgi de chama vathchi ma
choiku china tor atha lugutka ava
baul. Your aunty-in-law is lazy for she
does not wash her husbands clothes.
Pl: saembek.
saengbap n. storm; heavy rain.
Saengbap ma sok ngi suchup
dngia naingim. The rain is so heavy
that you really have to wipe your face
to see.
saenggi n. rain. Mali nbangang
soenggi chia sp. Earlier in the night
it was raining [Lit: the rain it fell].
Pl: saeng. Variant: soenggi; seinggi.
sagl prep. to. Ngua et sangl ma
Peter ve ia Karong. I will go to Peter
at Karong. Variant: sanggl.
saglm prep. close to. Kia thet
saglm ga ve ia Bulus. She will go
to him there at Bulus. Variant: sang-
glm.
saglmna prep. nearer to; closer to.
D in det saglmna nchama
mbangm. And they will go nearer to
the village. Variant: sangglmna.
sai disc. again. Sai chok ta mair mano
va nggars... Again there were
people standing on the beach... Vaim
ng sar schama plet sai. The dogs
messed up the plates again. Variant:
sei.
saika disc. possibly. Ngua tu gusnng
ia saika angama marupki sik mailu
chia mat angama sechithom ma
mndu ngua munaik nithom bono. I
thought that possibly one of the
cassowaries, maybe it got one of the
traps that I left there.
saik da ves vi-so. squirt excreta. Sok
saik da ves nchama chalasung.
Someone is really squirting sweet
potato (kaukau) faeces.
saimanp dir. down there. Ka met
157
saisath
saimanp ma Lamarain. He went
down there to Lamarain.
saimano dir. down to. Ka met saimano
sva gars. He went down to the
beach.
saimk dir. down inside. Kthopka
avak sok dur saimk. That pool is
really deep (down inside).
saimni dir. over to; down to. Ngua
met saimni ia Masarau. I went
down to Masarau.
saimono dir. over to. Ngia thet
saimono sangel ma Rosa. You go
over there to Rosa.
saimuanp dir. to the other side;
across to. Ithik sa ngi thonanas
sathmga ngmnggi saimuanp.
Now you must get over the tree to the
other side.
saimuani dir. over there. Inos ka met
saimuani smni cha renggi. Inos
went over to the river.
saimui dir. over there distant. Fidel
kia met saimui ia Ivonbemga. Fidel
went over to Ivonbemga.
saimuit dir. to the other side. Ngi sek
kama renggi saimuit. You cross the
river to the other side.
saimuk dir. into. Ka thon kama dulki
saimuk sva gars. He threw the
stone into the sea.
sainamk dir. down that way. Sa tha
met sainamk ma Pomio. They have
gone down to Pomio.
sainamuk dir. to this side. Ka sek
kama renggi sainamuk. He crossed
the river to this side.
sainavuk dir. from up there. Ngi nari-
manas sainavuk sok anunguikigel
klan. You listen to the shouting from
up that way.
saisa adv. later on again. Ngua met
smni arenggi saisa chule sa ngua
vinem. I went to the river, then later
on I returned.
sai sai adv. repeatedly; again and
again. Kaet k thor sai sai. He is
going to wash again and again.
saisath dir. over here. Ngia thet
saisath. You come [Lit: go] over
here.
saisave
saisave dir. to there. Ka thal kama
thangamga saisave. He carried the
banana to there.
saisavi interj. Look out! Saisavi! Kave
ch tu. Look out! Hes shooting.
saisavi dir. there. Vandi ma chvi cha
doki ch thk saisavi. That one
wanted to work there too.
saivono dir. upwards. Kia met saivono
sva lat. She went up to the garden.
saivui dir. over to. Nguaet saivui ia
Gisia. I will go over to Gisia.
saivuit dir. over to. Ka met saivuit ma
Gisia nani ava sen'gi. He went over
to Gisia for his knife.
saivuk dir. up to. Ka met saivuk ia
Maslambe. He went up to Maslambe.
Sakramento n. Sacrament. D cha mu
a Sakramento i chule cha mtka
mrmr ama Ekaristia. And he made
the sacrament by staying forever in
the Eucharist. From: English, Tok Pisin;
Sacrament, Sakrament.
saksaki n. sago palm. Tha ts kama
saksak. They eat sago. Pl: saksak.
From: Tok Pisin: saksak sago.
sa kuat na interj. something is going to
happen to someone. Cha mu asnng
vm mes ia, Sok taithik sa kot
nachama rucha ithak. He thought
to himself, Something is really going
to happen to this man now.
salilibonggi n. snake sp.; greenish
with rainbow colours and a white
belly; hunts around small pools in
creeks; eats frogs and prawns; if
disturbed it will hiss, swell up, and
hit you with its tail to frighten you,
then it runs away. Pl: salilibong.
salorachi n. stomach. Vlmga ava
salorachi. The pig's stomach.
Pl: salor.
saluchachi n. palm sp.; similar to the
areca or black palm (limbum); has a
mountain spirit living inside it.
Kama saluchachi da chi nva rong
pe va changan, da chama singal
angtha mbangi nachi. The wild
mountain ridge palm is the place
where the mountain spirits live.
Pl: saluk.
saluk athoemga n. spirit; mountain
158
samuit
spirit that lives in the wild palm; if
you touch the leaves of the palm you
become confused and wander off in
the wrong direction. Saluk athoem-
ga d cha tas mt kama saluchachi.
The wild mountain palms spirit lives
in the saluchachi species. Pl: saluk
athoes.
salve interj. Greetings! Usage: This word
was introduced by the priests in the
Mali community. Uthi var snge,
salve Jesus thoemini. We invite you,
greetings baby Jesus. From: Latin:
salve.
samana down to; down there.
samanp dir. to down there. Ka met
samanp sva mbang. He went
down to the house. Variant: samani.
samani to down there.
samano dir. down to; down there.
Thon kama thlng samano sva
gars. Throw the rubbish down to the
sea. Variant: samana.
samk dir. to down. Kia thonanas
samk. She jumped down. Chi tik
schama lams navuk sa d nge sa
mk. She picked the coconuts on top,
then they fell to the ground.
samt prep. into. Ka mon samt kama
lotuvmgi. He went into the church.
samethik dir. to other side. Chi tor
tm scha imono d chia mn
samethik. She swam across with it
and arrived at the other side.
samonp over to.
samoni to over the side.
samono dir. over; across. Ngia thon
kama lavichi samono. You move the
bed over a bit.
samuanp dir. over to; over there.
Kama sen'gi chia muanp seng
kama mngga. The knife is over
there by the tree. Variant: samonp.
samuani dir. over to the side. Kule ma
ngia et samuani. Dont you go over
that side. Variant: samoni.
samui dir. over to. Kia thet samui ia
Kavudmki. She will go over to
Kavudmki.
samuit dir. over to; across. Ka met
samuit sk ka renggi thchng. He
went over to the riverbank.
samuk
samuk dir. into. Dak ka met samuk
smt ma talias avama ichthachi.
So he went into the wizards
enclosure.
sana sa-vi. do something (indefinite).
Ngn sana avi? What are you doing
there? Variant: msana. See: tichina do
something (definite).
sanamuk dir. up here.
sanas forever.
sandricha n. sentry. Kia tet ivi kia
met sa svt kama sandricha chk
ma aungiom nacha via Chlasachi.
She went along to the second sentry at
Chlasachi Creek. From: English, Tok
Pisin: sentry, sentri.
sangachi net.
sangaik net. Usage: Abilta dialect.
sangar vt. 1 hold. Ka sangar atha
luski d chama lamon'gi ama
morki chia chuasin svthacha
chnachi. He held its shell and a big
wave splashed over the two of them.
2 arrest. Chrtki cha sangaracha
dak ka iras ia cha da ngmbs. The
policeman arrested him but he
pretended that he was not the one.
sangaravun'gi n. thumb. Pl: sangara-
vun. Variant: sangaravun'ga.
sangar glem na sa-vi. shake hands. Ut
tet svtha autha bangbap d uthi
sangar glem na d sa ut tet. We will
go to our village and shake hands and
then we will go again.
sangarka n. tongs. Kia tt kama dul
ama chrnas tm nchama sangar-
ka. She picked up the hot stones with
the tongs. Pl: sangar.
sangar pt vt. hold on to. Di nge
sangar pthacha. And you held on to
him.
sangar t hold on to.
sangar tm vt. hold on to. Dasik kama
lvopki chi sangar tchama chu-
msta ava iski thchn. So the
woman will hold on to the man's waist
rope. Variant: sangar t.
sangaska n. breath. Ava sangaska cha
sot. He ran out of breath. Pl: sangas.
sangaska ava iska n. respiratory
system. Gua ma sangaska ava iska
159
sari
ch tk mamr. My respiratory
system is working well.
sangauchi n. net. Ka thet ka thuchun
schama sangauchi. He will go and
sit with the net. Pl: sangau. Variant:
sangachi; sangaik (Abilta dialect).
sangecha n. pliers. Cha mt kama
sange. He got the pliers. Pl: sange.
sangel kuvt adv. almost. Sangel
kuvt iva ch ingip. He almost died.
sanggas sa-vi. breathe. Kama rucha
ch sanggas. The man breathes.
sanggas ithms sa-vi. lose ones
breath. Ti sanggas inthms snge.
They lose their breath because of you.
sanggaska n. air. Uthi pr aut knak
schama sanggaska ama mrka
diva ut dchm. We breathe out our
exhaled breaths (in exchange) for
good air, to keep us alive. Pl: sanggas.
sanggaska ava lechi n. windpipe.
Paim ng ns kam plmga dokosa
ng bing mthava sangaska ava
lechi. The dogs bit the pig and broke
its windpipe. Pl: sanggas angtha lek.
sanggas machuvt sa-vi. gasp for
breath. Cha tugas d cha sangas
muchuvt. He played and he gasped
for breath.
sanggl to.
sangglm close to.
sangglmna nearer to; closer to.
sangravun'ga thumb.
sapka n. rounded club; looks like a
softball bat. Aruachi atha sapka.
The witch has a club. Pl: sap. See:
avirki flat club.
saremgi belly; stomach.
sarengacha n. 1 pandanus sp.; small
with long leaves; used for making
mats.
2 green grasshopper sp.; lies flat
between the leaves of the sarenga-
cha pandanus species. Pl: sareng.
sarnggi n. bush. Ka monel va
sarnggi sa vama vaim da choiku
cha vlng anga guang. He hunted
in the bush with his dogs but he did
not kill anything. Pl: sarng.
sari vi-so. forget. Sariango thm gu
ngt. I forgot my things.
sar s
sar s vt. 1 mess up. Vaim ng sar
schama plet sai. The dogs messed
up the plates again.
2 knock over.
sarumbm n. 1 conception. Mndu
at sarumbm nma Elton. Earlier on
she conceived Elton. [Lit: Before was
her conception of Elton.]
2 pregnancy. Ngave at sarum-
bm. She is pregnant. [Lit: There is
now her pregnancy.] See: pis d be
swollen, used to refer to pregnant
animals.
sarumga n. belly; paunch. Ngi lu ava
sarumga! Look at his big belly! Pl:
sarum.
sarumgi n. belly; stomach. Aruan
sarumgi. A painful stomach, a
stomach-ache. Pl: sarum. Variant:
saremgi.
sasongacha n. black ant. Kama saso-
ngacha cha mon smt gu sacho-
ngacha. The black ant got into my
eye. Pl: sasong.
sas t vt. 1 dig out. Auk, nasot sa cha
sas tchama vun'gi at palo. Well,
afterwards he dug out the turtles
eggs.
2 remove. Gunank kia chuar
nango ia ngu sas tchama
ngmng nmt kama butki. My
mother told me to remove the
firewood from the large fire.
sathm to.
sathmanp dir. down there. Ngia
thon sathmanp. You move down
there.
sathmani dir. down this way. Ngia
naingim sathmani. You looked
down this way.
sathmano dir. into there. Ka mon
sathmono de cha ts. He went into
there and he ate.
sathmk dir. down there. Ngi thor gi
baul sathmk. You wash your
clothes further down there (along the
river).
sathmonp over to the other side;
over there.
sathmono dir. over there. Ngia
thuchun sathmono. You sit over
there.
160
savuit
sathmuanp dir. over to the other
side; over there. Ngia thas sath-
muanp You sleep over there. Variant:
sathmonp.
sathmui dir. over there. Ngia thet sai
sathmui. You go over there.
sathmuit dir. over on the other side.
Ki tor sathmuit. She washed on the
other side.
sathmuk dir. in to there. Ngiaet
sathmuk sk kulp. You go into the
water there.
sathvono dir. up there to. Ngia thor
sathvono sva ur. You move up
there to the bush.
sathvui dir. over there. Stephan ka
met sai sathvui ia Ili. Stephan went
there to Ili.
sathvuit dir. out there. Kule ngo
sathvuit da mr ptha ngo. I stay
out there and I feel fine.
sathvuk dir. up there. Ngi thor gi
baul sathvuk. You wash your
clothes up there (along the river).
sauk up; to the top.
sauthuchi n. infertile woman. Aruchi
avaik da chama sauthuchi ma
choiku chi na tal athonga oes. That
woman is infertile for she has no
children. Pl: sauthu.
savangini n. bird sp.; sparrow. George
ka chthp kama savangini. George
caught the sparrow with his hands.
Pl: savang.
save dir. to there. Joseph ka met save
ia Ili. Joseph went to Ili.
savono dir. 1 upwards. Di chia ve chi
bn p puit savono... And then it
started to go upwards... Petrus ka
met savono sva mbang. Petrus
went up to the house.
2 inland. Da sik ti ns ngt mt
kama aio vasik ti tal ngt savono.
And they put them into the bamboo so
that they can carry them inland.
3 shorewards. ... kama duraika d
cha vrap d cha vang savono. ... the
rooster, he flew and he went to shore.
savui dir. over to distant. Ngua et
savui ia Kokopo. I will go over to
Kokopo.
savuit adv. 1 more. Nge d tha von
savuit
nge n dul savuit. You, they gave you
more money.
2 first. Ta oerna da kosa ma Peter
d cha mn savuit. They competed
with each other and Peter came first.
savuit dir. up. Di chia nia savuit sa
manp. And she hit him up and down.
savuk dir. up; to the top. Ngi sek kama
uratki savuk sd gua lang. You lift
the basket up onto my shoulder.
Variant: sauk.
savur nvem vi-so. overgrown. Atha is
savur nvem ngt i choi thi nat
mon smthatha munambs. Her
road was overgrown [Lit: overgrown in
it] because they were not going along
it (to church) on religious holidays.
sda to.
sdamr adv. correctly; right. Ka
methamn nagt sdamr. He said it
correctly. Ka mu ngt sdamr. He
put them the right way. Variant:
sndamr.
sdamr n dir. 1 right by. Ngia thu
chama seska sdamr nchama
schulchi. You put the rope right by
the post.
2 directly to. D ch bn scha ivi
vtka ngmnggi sdamr ncha
langgrka vuk. It climbed with it up
along the tree, directly to the parrot at
the top. Variant: sndamr n.
sdamr veia adv. at the same time as;
while. Kia mn sdamr veia ut ts.
She arrived at the same time as we
were eating. Variant: sndamr veia.
sde to.
sd prep. to. ... ng thal kama lulngi
avaik sa muit sd ch sulves
angtha thng. ... they carried that
boat towards the shore, to the reef.
Variant: sda; sde; snd; snda.
sdngtham dir. in front. Peia thi
gamar dai cha mair sdngtham.
When they fought, he stood at the
front. Variant: sndngetham.
sdvthik dir. beside. Ka mair
sdvthik diva inmo ini gamar. He
stood by his side so they could both
fight. Ngia thuchun sdvthik. You
sit next to him. Variant: sndvthik.
s to; with.
161
seinggi
secha n. 1 orphaned boy, he is one
who often grows up to be a person
who can do many good things.
Pl: sekpek.
2 hero; a skilful clever person who
does many good things. Kama secha
cha vlng chama aurachi. The hero
killed the witch. Pl: sekpek.
3 little finger. See: mavnini little
finger.
secha n. trap. Usage: Abilta dialect.
Manuel ka vlng kama marupki
nmt ava secha. Manuel killed a
cassowary which was caught in his
trap. Pl: sek. See: baurka trap.
secha story.
sechabangga n. boisterous man;
someone who is always talking and
laughing loudly. Nge da sok kama
sechabangga nange ta ith. You are
a boisterous man. Pl: sechabangda.
sechabanggi n. boisterous woman.
schi n. marriage. Muk mt kama
schi da amarn ama chdichn.
There were many problems in the
marriage.
sechi n. 1 orphaned girl.
2 female hero.
schlchi large post.
schup vt. sweep. Ngi schup kama
chinpki. You sweep the ashes.
schup mt vt. cross out. Ka schup
mt kama chutkut. He crossed out
the writing.
schup pt vt. sweep. Ngi su ia ngi
schup vt gia vtka. You try and
sweep your house.
schup s vt. erase. Ngu suchup
schama chutkut. I erase the
writing. Variant: suchup s.
schuvm n. broom. Ngua thp
mchama schup sva mbang. I
worked with the broom in the house.
Pl: schup. Variant: suchupvm.
sgk one.
sgm one short one.
sgnacha net bag (bilum).
sgni one small one.
sei again.
seinggi rain.
sk
sk to; about; at; onto.
sek vt. 1 lift. Sek kama mnggi. Lift
up the wood.
2 raise. Sek pthik. Raise his hand.
3 pick up. Ngi sek giuratki. You
pick up your basket.
sek alugut sa-vi. 1 be married.
Ngmbs in sek alugut. They are
not married.
2 get married. Asik pia vandi ki
sek alugut... When she wants to get
married... Variant: mt agut (Abilta
dialect).
sek d vt. husk coconuts. Sa chi sek d
chama lams... She husks the
coconuts...
sek mni vt. walk through; walk
across; especially of walking across,
that is, through a river. Ngi na sek
mni chama guaremga avak i sok a
chrotka. You should not cross that
rapid because it is so strong.
sekmes sa-vi. get up. Ngi sekmes diva
ut tet. You get up so we can go.
Variant: sepmes.
sek na sa-vi. marry each other.
Lugutvthaiom in sek na. The
couple got married.
sek nanas sa-vi. be lonely. Kama
rucha thaithak da ch sp ma sek
nanas. This man is lonely.
sek pt vt. peel; e.g. a banana or an
orange. Chia sek pt at thoemini
angt thangemgi. She peeled her
babys banana. See: sem bt peel (e.g.
taro...).
slp bone.
slpki bone.
slichigl piece of meat.
slik meat from pigs, fish, cassowaries
etc.
slika n. body; especially a dead body.
Ta thar tm sava slika nmtha
mumenina. They took his body off the
cross.
sm vt. trim; especially of hair. Sa
ngavem in sm na. The two of them
trimmed each other(s hair).
sem bt vt. peel; e.g. taro or sweet
potato (kaukau). Ngu sem bt kama
kalasung. You peel the sweet potato
162
snas
(kaukau). See: sek pt peel (e.g. a
banana...).
smk into; down into. Usage: Abilta
dialect.
smni prep. 1 across. Ka met
smni cha renggi. He went across
to the river.
2 onto. Amnggi chia sp smni
cha renggi. The tree fell onto the
river.
smnina dir. up and down; across;
from one to another; e.g. across a
series of valleys and ridges. Ka
monel va ur ma cha met kama gali
smnina. He hunted in the bush
where he went from ridge to ridge.
smn pt vi-so. 1 be lumpy. Kama
chlumen'gi ama smn pthachi.
The toad is lumpy.
2 have welts. Ta vanis tmga da
smn pthacha. They beat him and
he got welts.
smn'gi n. welts on the skin. A smn
pthacha nmt kama mambl.
There are welts on his skin from the
beating sticks. Pl: smn.
smsng dir. to the ground;
downwards. Ch su ia cha that
kama lams smsng. He will try to
get the coconuts down to the ground.
smt prep. 1 into. Auk, sa ngni
donanas smt kama lulengi. Well,
you all jump into the boat. Ngi thor
n chama renggi smt kama
banggruanggi. You pour the water
into the saucepan.
2 down into. Ithik nge ama
chumska ngia thon samuk smt
kama lechi. Now, you man, you get
down into the hole. Variant: smk
(Abilta dialect).
smga n. distant cousin. Gu smgi ma
urngi, ngi tvng aun mndas dak
ngu ni alikmt ngo. My cousin the
prawn, you sing our Mndas song but
not me, I have got a narrow mouth.
Pl: smbek.
smgi n. distant female cousin.
sna altogether.
snas adv. forever. Da kosa peia ma
unmlm kosa chia ingip snas. The
second time, it just died forever.
snas
Variant: sanas.
snas dir. to oneself; about oneself.
Sok chlep ma malachi snas. The
wild fowl felt really embarrassed
about herself.
senbes n. blind; refers to a woven cane
wall. Chumsta tha ser kama
senbes. The men wove the blind.
Pl: sen.
snngacha n. heart. Snngacha
ch tk smt chdengm mo. The
heart works inside all bodies.
Pl: snng.
senpepa n. sandpaper. Angbs nanga
senpepa. There is no sandpaper.
From: English, Tok Pisin: sandpaper,
sanpepa.
sensocha n. chainsaw. Kama senso
cha chrtp schama mrachuvam
ama unbam nmni chama mra-
chuvachi ama ululki. The chainsaw
cut two pieces from the large trunk.
Pl: senso. From: English, Tok Pisin:
chainsaw, senso.
sen'ga n. executioner. Morph: senka. Lit:
knife-M.SG.
sen'ga n. necklace; chain. Chia mu
atha sen'ga vthat kn. She put the
chain around her neck. Pl: sen. From:
English, Tok Pisin: chain, sen.
sen'gi knife.
seng at the base; in the vicinity of;
close to.
sng prep. 1 at the base. Cha monel
maulul, sa vaim ng vn kama
vlmga sng gama ngmngga. He
hunted for a long time, then the dogs
stopped the pig at the foot of a tree.
2 in the vicinity of; close to. Cha
mair sng ngaiom aindik. He stood
to the side of them. Tha ve imk seng
chama renggi. They are there, down
by the river. Variant: seng; snng
(Abilta dialect).
sengangthaik angt vus n. wrist.
Aruan sengangthaik angt vus. A
sore wrist.
sng av vus n. nape; the place where
the head joins the neck. Sng ngua
vus. The nape of my neck.
snggk one.
snggvs one flat one.
163
ser ma
sengglavrki n. grey lizard sp.; up to
8 cm long. Pl: sengglavr.
snggratki n. freshwater fish sp.;
silver with scales; has two black
spots on its tail. Pl: snggrat.
sp sa-vi. fall. Kama lamsachi chia
sp. The coconut palm fell.
sp ma make.
sepmaron vm mes sa-vi. settle ones
stomach. Ka spmaron vm mes
dasa mnap ka. His stomach settled
and he slept.
sp m vt. make. Cha sp mchama
avtka ava luchupka. She made a
space for the house. Kule ma ngi sp
ma sek nanas. Do not make yourself
lonely. Kule ma ngi sp mamor
nanas. Do not make yourself big.
Variant: sp ma.
sepmes get up.
sp samk sa-vi. 1 fall down. Vlmga
cha sp samk smt ka lechi. The
pig fell down into the hole.
2 faint.
spsp glm duck down; fall down.
spsp na vi-so. 1 duck down. Sp-
sp na ut dut pang mavangam. We
ducked and ran everywhere.
2 fall down. Spsp nacha. He fell
down. Variant: spsp glm.
ser sa-vi. knock; tap; e.g. by hitting a
drum. Ki ser da ut nari nva lat. She
beat (the drum) and we heard it from
the garden.
ser vt. weave; process of making a
blind or a basket. Gu mamk ka
drm ch ser urat. My father knows
how to weave baskets.
sr adv. first. Asik nma da chule cha
maulul da asik nma da sr vus
scha? Who would stay under longest
and who would come out first?
sravtki shirt; clothes; uniform.
sren sa-vi. be bitter. Ngmng
angkthop da ngthi sren. The
tree's sap is bitter. Ka ms kama
thinmga ava chthiachi d chia
sren mtka. He ate the fish's
pancreas and it was bitter.
ser ma vi-so. first. Ut vang da ser ma
ngo ngua mn. We ran and I was first
srpm na
to arrive. Variant: chier.
srpm na vi-so. stop suddenly; stop
with a jolt; e.g. when a car brakes
suddenly. Srpm nango mundu ma
koi ngua ndrm ia nma. I stopped
with a jolt because I did not know who
it was.
ser t shell.
ser tm vt. shell; e.g. peanuts, beans
etc. Ngu ser tchama pinatvap
smt kama kapki. I am shelling the
peanuts into the cup. Variant: ser t.
srtik na vt. 1 settle. Ngi oemka k
tnok, ngi thu ma srtik nacha sa.
Your son is crying, you should settle
him.
2 straighten out. Ithik d thi
kuares ia tha tu chama varkurai
ura amethamon diva sik ti sp ma
srtik na methamon. Now they say
that they go to court or (have a)
discussion to straighten out the
dispute.
sskpes adv. readily; easily. Ta met
mt ka luln'gi save ia Kokopo da
sskpes klan. They went to Kokopo
in the boat without difficulty.
seseraik n. splash. Sok agia seseraik
klan avik! Really, what a great splash
that was!
sska n. childless man. Philip da sska
nacha ma choiku cha sk alugut.
Philip is childless, he has not married.
Pl: ssta.
sski n. childless woman.
ssur vi-so. be blind. Vaimga da ssur
ka. The dog is blind.
set adv. very fast. Kama luln'gi chi
bang ma sok set klan. The boat is
very fast.
st smooth.
sth to.
sthm prep. to. Ngi ns ngt sthm
kama baul. You put them in with the
clothes. Variant: sathm; sth.
sthmna dir. to each other. D chule
d ve ut tamon sthmna. And then
we talked to each other.
sva prep. to. Chia met sva lat. She
went to the garden.
sevaik pt rejoice; be happy; be joyful;
164
sichirdot
feel proud; be a nuisance.
svana dir. to each other. Kule ma
ngn damn svana veia ngni
sunas. Do not talk to each other when
you are learning.
svanas dir. to oneself; about oneself.
Ngo d ngua ndrm svanas ia choi
ngo nai nath. Me, I know about
myself that I am not from here.
svau steal.
svau t steal.
svautha thief.
svk to; about; at; onto. Usage: Abilta
dialect.
svm prep. into. Cha thon cha-
mathinm svm kama renggi. He
threw the fish into the river.
svt prep. 1 to. Ka tet ithcha
renggi ivi nisa save sk kama
chthopka achk. He went along the
river and came to a pool.
2 about. Ut tamn svt kama lat.
We talked about the garden.
3 at. Ki ngim sai svt av
sachong. She looked again at his
eyes.
4 onto. Auk, ki thor na chama
arenggi svt kama lams... Well,
she pours the water onto the
coconut... Variant: sk; svk (Abilta
dialect); svtha.
svtha to; about; at; onto.
svocha n. thief. Peter sok kama
svocha mamr ma mrmr k
svo thmga ma arura athva
duraik. Peter was really a thief, he
was always stealing peoples chickens.
Pl: svotha. Variant: svaucha.
svochi n. female thief.
siait n. chair. Ngia thuchun mni cha-
ma siait. You sit in the chair.
Pl: siaink. From: English, Tok Pisin:
chair, sia.
sichirki dirt.
sichirdot vi-so. shrink back, as for an
octopus that realises it has been
seen; make yourself inconspicuous,
e.g. if you are ashamed or to avoid
being volunteered to do something.
Ngua mn pthacha vt gua
mbangga da kosa sichirdotka. I
found him in my house and he just
sichirki
shrunk back.
sichirki n. dirt. Pl: sichir. Variant:
sichirki.
sichirki mt vi-so. be dirty; especially,
but not exclusively, to have a dirty
face. Giama baul d sichirki vtha
ngt. Your clothes are dirty.
sichirki mt be dirty all over.
sichirki vt vi-so. be dirty all over.
Giama baul d sichirki vtha ngt.
Your clothes are dirty all over. Variant:
sichirki mt.
sik future; when.
sika if.
silingim n. old net bag (bilum). Da
nasot tat kama dulki da thi neski
vam kama silingim. Then later they
would get the stone and they would
put it in an old net bag (bilum).
Pl: silingbap.
siluigl n. freshwater fish sp.; brown;
flat, rounded shape like a flounder;
up to 30 cm across; can sting with a
sharp barb on either side of its tail.
Pl: silu.
simalachi n. 1 tapa cloth; traditional
covering worn by men; a strip of
bark cloth that goes between the
legs, attached to a waistband. Chu-
msta tha mo da achkachk da va
simalachi. Each man has his bark
cloth (tapa cloth).
2 underpants. Ka mu ava
simalachi. He put on his underpants.
Pl: simal.
simen'gi n. cement; especially a bag of
cement or a block of cement. Tha
met tha mt kama gis iva thi np
nangt ngn chama simen. They
went and got the pebbles in order to
mix them in the cement. Pl: simen.
From: English, Tok Pisin: cement, simen.
sing sa-vi. chew. Thi sing masa. They
chew (betelnut) a lot.
singal spirit world.
singalka snake; worm; dangerous
spirit; Satan; devil.
singgliski n. t-shirt; shirt. Ngia mon
mt kama singgliska di ngia np
nachi ia na vono sa muk. You put the
shirt on and (when you did) you turned
it inside out. Petrus ka vondm met
165
skoi
ava singiliski nave ia Tropicana.
Petrus bought his t-shirt from Tropi-
cana. Pl: singglis. Variant: singiliski.
From: English, Tok Pisin: singlet, singlis.
singiliski t-shirt; shirt.
Sion n. Zion. From: English, Tok Pisin:
Zion, Sion.
siotki n. shirt. Paulus ka thor ava
siotki mni cha renggi. Paul washed
his shirt at the river. Pl: siot. From:
English, Tok pisin; shirt, siot.
sip later.
sipen'gi n. pot; saucepan. Ngo, gu
sipen'gi avaik. Me, that is my pot.
Pl: sipen. Variant: sospen'gi. From:
English, Tok Pisin: saucepan, sospen.
sipki n. ship. D chama sip ma
misingna athvama sip ng mt
kama rutha nave ia Matupit. And
the mission's ship got the people from
Matupit. Pl: sip. From: English, Tok
Pisin: ship, sip.
sipunini n. small spoon; teaspoon.
sipun'ga n. spoon; especially some-
thing about the size of a dessert
spoon or soup spoon. At sipun'ga
chave mt atha thalka. Her spoon is
in her small net bag (bilum). Pl: sipun.
From: English, Tok Pisin: spoon, spun.
sipun'gi n. large spoon; e.g. a serving
spoon. Pl: sipun.
sirachi n. name of Mndas mask;
similar to the adamga but the front
is flat and the back is rounded like
half a pawpaw.
sis sa-vi. swell. Kama variachi chiave
chi sis mamor diva morki. The
breadfruit is swelling up to be big.
sisel n. chisel. Ka mt kama sisel
naglm ngo. He got the chisel from
me. From: English, Tok Pisin: chisel,
sisel.
sisiska n. scissors. Ta sm uvski
nchama sisiska. They trimmed his
head with scissors. Pl: sisis. From:
English, Tok Pisin: scissors, sisis.
sisit na vt. sneak up; creep up; refers
to moving quietly and slowly without
being seen. Da chule di chia nai
sisit nacha inamuk. And then it tried
to sneak up on him.
skoi disc. still not. Sa chule sa maulul,
skruchm
skoi ngua ndrm ia asika mndik
ama minia, ti kuar ia amorta thi
kuar sa maulul. Then a long time
afterwards, I still do not know how
many years it was, they say that the
ancestors say a long time. Morph: as=
koi. Lit: still=not.
skruchm n. bolt. Ka vondm chama
skruchm. He bought the bolt.
Pl: skru. From: English, Tok Pisin: screw,
skru.
skrudraiva n. screwdriver. Koi nanga
skrudraiva taith. There is no
screwdriver here. From: English, Tok
Pisin: screwdriver, skrudraiva.
slabar n. racket. Kule ma ngia tt gia
slabar smt kama thoemini. Do
not disturb the baby with your racket.
slamen dm vt. 1 read. Ngi slamen
dm chama tlngm. You read the
books.
2 count. Ngi slamen dm chama
lams. You count the coconuts.
slameng vt vt. read. Ka slameng vt
kama tlng nangl ava nank. He
read the letter from his mother.
slamrki n. treatment; cure. Pl: slamr.
slamrki hospital; health centre.
slamr n vt. 1 cure.
2 save. Sa cha ve cha slamr
nangn. He was saving you all.
slamr vm vt. 1 fix. Chia ve chi
slamr vm kama vtka. She is
tidying the house.
2 tidy. Chia ve chi slamr vm
kama vtka. She is tidying the house.
slavarki n. shell; skin; specifically the
discarded shell of a crab, prawn,
lobster, or a snake skin. Ka lu cha-
ma ulan'gi atha slavarki mni ava
lavichi. He saw the discarded skin of
a snake on his bed. Pl: slavar.
slavar pt vi-so. have ringworm. Isaac
d slavar pthacha. Isaac has ring-
worm.
slavirochi n. large net bag (bilum);
made from split bush canes; used for
carrying food. Ki tal atha not mt
atha ma slavirochi. She carried her
taro in her large net bag (bilum).
Pl: slaviroch.
166
slvs
slavo sa-vi. sin. Kule ma ngi slavo. You
should not sin.
slavocha n. sin. Gua slavocha. My sin.
Pl: slavo.
slavochi n. mess; disarray. Athoes ta
munggas p chama vtka sok
aslavochi chlan. Children played in a
house and it was really in a mess.
Pl: slavo.
slavo na vt. 1 degrade. A! Nge ama
gaini chlan dak kina sok ngia
slavo nango. Oh! You are only a small
thing but you have degraded me.
2 damage. Kama kaumatka cha
nes ava chulimgi d cha slavo
nacha. The rat bit its nose and really
damaged it.
slavovmka n. sinner. Aslavovmka
cha npnanas sa mrka. The sinner
changed himself into a good person.
Pl: slavovmta.
slavovmki n. female sinner.
sleitigl n. slate. Thoes ngthi chut
pt kama sleit pachvang. The
children write on those particular
slates. Pl: sleit. From: English, Tok Pisin:
slate, slet.
slpka n. pencil. Slpka ithak k kut
mamr. This pencil writes well.
Pl: slp.
slpka vamgi n. nib; pen point; pencil
point. Vl mt kama slpka vamgi.
The pencil point broke. Pl: slpka
angtham.
slpki n. bone. Vaimga cha tet mavo
mndu ma vl savama slpki va
vathng. The dog walks badly
because it broke a bone in its back.
Slp aruan nangt ngmo. Grippe.
[Lit: Bones are all pain(ful).] Pl: slp.
Variant: slp; slpki.
slpki ama ngpuski n. skull. Ngua
lu chama slpki ama ngpuski vaur
ma vaimga va chik. I saw the skull of
a dog in the bush. Pl: slp ama
ngpus.
slp pt vi-so. be skinny; be bony. Kule
ut pa ur. Nengias ut da slp ptha
ut. We stayed in the bush. We were
hungry and we were skinny.
slvs n. skeleton. Arucha av slvs.
A persons skeleton. Note: no endings.
slvini
slvini n. leg. Pl: slvithong. See:
alchar foot; leg (the whole limb);
snainggi thigh.
slichigl n. piece of meat. Cha tt
kama dichi vachvaik d cha va ka
tstmna nchama slichigl. He
has got that taro and he is eating it
with one of the pieces of meat.
Pl: slichiglng. Variant: slichigl.
slichini n. bit of meat. Sa ut met save
sva vt sauthaman slichithong.
Then we went to our house with our
bits of meat. Pl: slichithong.
slik n. meat from pigs,
cassowaries etc. Ngo vandi nguas
ama vlmga v slik. I want to eat pig
meat. Variant: slik.
sna adv. 1 altogether. Ut mo uthi
slamen dm sna... We all counted
together... Dul sna vt kama reng
angtham. There are many stones
altogether at the riverbank.
2 simultaneously. Thik da ngu
slamen dm da un mo uni vt aun
bs sna. I will count now and we will
both dive under simultaneously.
Variant: sna.
snaingbam n. trousers. Atha snaing-
bam ma mrvam. Her trousers are
nice. Pl: snaingbap.
snainggi n. thigh. Duraika vasnaing-
gi. The rooster's thigh. Pl: snaing. See:
slvini leg.
snaingithini n. small thigh. Pl: snai-
ngithong.
snan vt. ask. Ki snan nani agit. She is
asking for something.
snandvr na vt. ask. K snandvr
nango nani ava sen'gi. He is asking
me for his knife.
snani dir. 1 on. Ngia thair snani ava
mrmr. You stand on his right side.
2 in. Gua latini pavni snani
aurki. My particular garden is in the
bush.
3 at.
snania prep. 1 against. Ngua mu-
ngun snani chama palanga. I sat
against the plank.
2 right beside. Ngia tuchun
snania ngo. You sit right beside me.
snas dir. for themselves; about them-
sot na
selves. Tha mn snas gl atheva
sunasvmga. They report about
themselves to their teacher.
snda to.
sndamr correctly; right.
sndamr vt. be aware. Dak ngia
sndamr d ma Pater d cha ndrm
mamr. And you are aware that
Father knew it properly.
sndamr n right by; directly to.
sndamr veia at the same time as;
while.
fish, snd to.
sndngetham in front.
sndvthik beside.
sne prep. in; within. Ti ngim mk sne a
mbanga aluat. They searched around
in the bark (walls) of the house.
snggchit one large one.
snng at the base; in the vicinity of;
close to. Usage: Abilta dialect.
snngacha n. idea. Ka tu asnng ia
sik k vlng avanga vlmga. He got
the idea that he would kill a pig.
Pl: snng. Variant: asnngacha. See: tu
av snng think.
snos ama mor n. large sea urchin sp.
snoska n. sea urchin sp.; is covered in
many spikes. Pl: snos.
socha n. saw. Gu mamk da v socha.
My father has a saw. Socha av
unpka. Sawdust. Pl: so. From: English,
Tok Pisin: saw, so. See: arerika saw.
soenggi rain.
sok disc. really; truly. Sok ka lu cha ma
cha vn. He really saw him climbing.
solmarasin n. Epsom salts. Tha
vondm solmarasin save ia arm
angtha banggi. They brought
Epsom salts to the hospital. From:
English, Tok Pisin: salt medicine,
solmarasin.
sospen'gi pot; saucepan.
sot sa-vi. be finished. Sa ng sot. It
(food) is finished. Sa chia sot. It
(water) is finished. Uthi kthik
pthachi duthi sot. We tied it up and
we finished.
sot na vt. have a break from. Athoes ta
sot na sunaski. The kids had a break
167
sot na sunaski
from school.
sot na sunaski sa-vi. graduate. Ngua
sot na sunaski vt ka mudika vak
mali. I graduated last year.
sprinm n. aspirin. Ngi naik kama
asprinm. You drink the aspirin.
From: English, Tok Pisin: aspirin, asprin.
sragan'gi n. large net bag (bilum);
made from bush vines; usually used
for carrying food. Pl: sragan.
sravtki n. shirt; clothes; uniform. Gu
sravtki avaik. That is my shirt.
Pl: sravt. Variant: sravtki.
srbaingbaingga n. gliding possum;
grey with a yellow belly. Ngua lu
chama srbaingbaingga vt kama
lamsachi chi thvus. I saw the
gliding possum on the top of a coconut
tree. Pl: srbaingbaing.
srebaingbainggi n. spider sp.;
greyish brown; lives in trees;
stretches its legs out to the front and
back so that it looks thin; up to 6 cm
long, including its legs; builds a
small web on the tree.
Pl: srebaingbaing.
srmn vt. surprise. Ngk d chama
vaimga via tha srmunacha. The
dog grunted when they surprised it.
Variant: srmun.
srmn vt vi-so. be surprised.
Srmn vtha ut nmt kama
umngachi. We were surprised by
the flash flood.
srmn gl vi-so. get a shock.
Mchvs, kunngga achk,
srmn gl kama rura. Once, one
day, people got a shock.
srmun surprise.
srendm vt. sting. Kama waingimachi
chia srendm ngo. The bee stung
me. Amngga ma ch srendm. A
tree that stings.
srp adj. ripe. Mulichi ithaik da
srpki. This orange is ripe.
srvm n. dwarf. Ka lu chama srvem
vt kama renggi atham. He saw the
dwarf at the riverbank. Pl: srvap.
srik sa-vi. move aside. Ngi srik nmn
kama morka. You move aside for the
big man. From: Tok Pisin: surik move.
srongachi n. grub sp.; white and
168
suarki
edible; different types vary in size,
up to 6 cm long; eats the wood of
trees including pawpaw, galip nut
(Canarium indicum), and cocoa
trees. Pl: srong.
sru huge; gigantic.
sruban'ga tree sp.
srubn'ga n. tree sp.; if you touch it
your skin swells. Bp scha sachong
nmt kama sruban'ga. (His) eyes
were temporarily blinded by the
sruban'ga tree. Pl: srubn. Variant:
sruban'ga.
srucha n. 1 giant. Kama thaliaska
ma srucha cha ms ma secha. The
wizard, who was a giant, ate the hero.
Pl: srutha.
2 old man. Ka srucha avak da
aulabungacha i choiku nava nga
baulki. That old man is naked for he
has no wraparound cloth (laplap).
Pl: srutha.
sruchi n. 1 female giant.
2 old woman.
sruk vt. pour; spill; tip out; specifically
of dry things such as gravel. Sruk
kama msms nmt kama urat.
Tip the food out of the basket.
srumn'ga n. dangerous man; one
who reacts violently and impulsively
to a sudden shock or noise. Lukas d
chama srumnga. Av'oes da sok koi
ngna munggas namtha cha ve ia
mnapka. Luke is a man who reacts
violently to any sudden noise. His
children really do not play near him
when he sleeps. Pl: srumnda. Note: no
feminine.
su vt. 1 try. Uthi su ia ut tugas. We
are trying to play.
2 teach. Gu mamk k su ut ve
vavt. My father teaches us at home.
Cha sucha thmngt. He taught him
about them.
suacha n. shellfish sp.; found in the
river; rounded black shell with red
inside; lays its eggs on the outside of
its shell; up to 2 cm across. Pl: suak.
suarki n. mistletoe; grows on the
branches of trees; has green leaves,
grey stalks, and red flowers; seeds
are sticky; kills the trees that it
su ba
grows on. Kama suarki chia dn
puk klan chama mng angthi-
kink. Mistletoe only grows on tree
branches.
su ba vt. sign; make signs. Thi su ba
chi chlan mndu ma ngmbs ki na
nari. They make signs for her because
she cannot hear.
subicha n. mute. Ngmbes nanga
subicha taith. There are no mutes
here.
suchi n. shoe. Ka mon mt kama suchi
ama snggeik klan. He wore one
shoe only. Pl: su. From: English, Tok
Pisin: shoe, su. See: alcharachi shoe.
suchulia n. long post. Kusek kama
suchulia ma snggit. There is only
one long post. Pl: suchulink.
suchulki n. large post. Kama suchulki
ithaik nani chama mbangga. This
large post is for the house. Pl: suchul.
Variant: schlchi.
suchulvet n. slender post. Cha thap
schama suchulvet. He cut the
slender post. Pl: suchuliseng.
suchupka eraser.
suchup s erase.
suchupvm broom.
suchutka n. 1 sign; mark. Chia tu
asuchut s saglm nge ia asika
rucha cha ingip. It will give you signs
that someone is going to die.
2 line; boundary. Kama suchut
taithong sok asrtik. These lines are
very straight. Pl: suchut. Variant:
asuchut.
suchutki n. water line or flood line
that shows how high a river flows.
Pl: suchut.
suchut ma vt. appoint. Cha suchut
matha mt kama thktk. He
appointed them to the jobs.
suchut m vt. 1 measure. Ka suchut
mchama nungulka va lat nani ava
matka. He measured the boundary of
his garden for his older brother.
2 set out or define an area.
suchut nanas mt vt. 1 try. Sa chi
suchut nanas mt ki. Then she tried
to go through it.
2 try on; e.g. try new clothes on
169
sunasvmgi
yourself. Ka suchut nanas
mthavama baul. He tried on the
clothes.
suk dm vt. forget. Cha suk dm
autha methamn. He forgot our
language.
suk dm vi-so. fall down. Ava lunaski
sukdmgi da pk tmgi. His mirror
fell down and broke.
sukderut n vi-so. wither; die from the
roots up. Sukderut nchama rut
ama tha vt ngt. The stalk that they
planted withered.
sukderut s vi-so. be stillborn; a baby
that dies before birth. Sukderut
schama thoemini da angt nank
atha ron. The baby died inside its
mother's belly.
sul n. reef. Kama sul ng ve ng ndn
mamor mt autha garski atham.
The reef is growing rapidly along our
beach.
sulka n. 1 piece of coral.
2 sore on the head. Sul d chama
ngpski atha thop. Sul are sores on
the head. Kama sul pt uvski. The
sores are on his head. Pl: sul.
sulki n. large piece of reef.
sulves n. area of reef. Sa chule sa ut
ath ut pe uthi tor du ut vias p
mni sulves. Afterwards we, some of
us, we swam and we stepped onto the
area of reef.
sumsumigl n. fish sp.; lives on reef;
brown with tiny scales; up to 20 cm
long. Pl: sumsum.
sunas vt. learn; train; study. Ngi sunas
ia ngi pai dchama balchi mamr.
You learn how to hit the ball properly.
sunaski n. school. Chia met smt
kama sunaski tiathik. She went to
this school. Pl: sunas.
sunaski at kvl n. lesson. Kule cha-
ma sunaski at kvl iva mubang.
The lesson is for tomorrow. Pl: sunas
angt kvl.
sunasvmga n. teacher. Autha
sunasvmga ma ch su ut mamr.
Our teacher teaches us well.
Pl: sunasvmda.
sunasvmgi n. female teacher.
sunthmbes
sunthmbes n. temptation. Asika
thuchul nge ia vandi ngi vang si gia
ruacha ava lugutki da sok kama
sunthmbes pa vvs. If you are
craving that you want to run away
with your friend's wife, really that is a
temptation. Pl: sunthm.
sup vm vt. lick. Ngi sup vm kama
peletka. You lick the plate.
sur vt. be blindfolded. Sa chave ch sur
da sa choiku cha naingim. He is
blindfolded and he cannot see.
sur na push.
surnanas sa-vi. be wrong. Guama
matmt ng surnanas. My division
was wrong.
sur n vt. push. Cha sur nma Peter
d cha sp. He pushed Peter and he
fell. Variant: sur na.
sus da thes hiss; fart.
T -
ta pro. they; them. Gram: Third person
human plural class one pronoun and third
person human plural class three pronoun.
Choiku natha dak ta met sva lat.
They were not here but they had gone
to the garden. Arura ma choiku tha
sunas da ut tes tha ia ddn tha.
People who do not learn, we call them
confused. Variant: tha.
tabu angt nank insect sp.
tabucha tree sp.
tachski n. armband. Kvicha da
avama tachski. He has an armband.
Pl: tachs. Variant: thachski.
taembem child; young animal.
tagumacha grasshopper sp.
taiachi n. tyre. Purk mni chama
karki athama taiachi da kosa
achuskuska mtki. The tyre of the
car punctured and a hissing noise
came out. Pl: taia. From: English, Tok
Pisin: tyre, taia. Note: only t.
taik this one.
tain sa-vi. dance. Tha met tha tain.
They went to dance. Variant: thain;
dain; main.
tair sa-vi. 1 stand. Sai chok ta mair
170
tair snania
sus d ves vi-so. hiss; refers to silent
but bad smelling farts. Sus dma
Robin aves da chesin. Robin farted
silently and it stank. Variant: sus da
thes.
sutka n. ridgepole. Ngi thapschama
sutka nave. You cut the ridgepole
from there. Pl: sut. See: pungngan'ga
ridgepole.
sutka glm vi-so. jump in surprise.
Ka chut at sarumgi da kosa sutka
glmgi. He poked her stomach and
she jumped in surprise.
svo sa-vi. steal. Arucha vak d ch swo.
That man steals. Variant: swo; svau.
svo t vt. steal. D tha met iva sa thi
svo thcha mundm. They went to
steal the fire. Variant: svau th; svo t.
svo th steal.
swo steal.
t
mano va nggars... Again there were
people standing on the beach...
2 wait. Ngia mair naniango sa.
You waited for me for a while. Variant:
thair; dair; mair.
tair pt vt. walk with; e.g. to help a
sick person. Maria chinma Joseph
in dair pthange. Mary and Joseph
walked alongside you. Variant: thair
pt; dair pt; mair pt.
tair s vt. make stand. Ta mair scha
d choiku cha liver ka mun. They
stood him up and he did not hurry up
and come. Variant: thair s; dair s;
mair s.
tair snas sa-vi. stand alone. Da sik
kok mamr ia ngia mair snas ura?
And was it possible for you to stand up
by yourself? Ka tair snas diva ngu
lu cha. He stood up in order for me to
see him. Variant: thair snas; dair
snas; mair snas.
tair snania vt. lean against something
while standing. Ka mair snania chi
dokosa chia vai vtha va sdem. He
leaned on her and so she slapped his
ears. Variant: thair snania; dair snania;
mair snania.
taithaik
taithaik dem. this particular one. Gram:
Feminine singular proximate demonstrative
emphatic. Ngua chuar nange ncha-
ma botki taithaik ma lamon ng
thonachi. I said to that you this
particular boat was washed by the
waves. Variant: thaithaik.
taithak dem. this particular one. Gram:
Masculine singular proximate demonstrative
emphatic. Gi pensilka taithak. This
particular pencil is yours. Variant:
thaithak.
taithang dem. 1 this particular one;
these particular ones. Gram: Count
neutral proximate demonstrative emphatic.
Aung avama vaim thaithang? Who
owns this particular dog?
2 these particular flat ones. Gram:
Flat plural proximate demonstrative em-
phatic. Kama tlng taithang da
chama gamos nchama slik. These
particular leaves are used to wrap
meat [Lit: are packets for meat]. See:
taithmlk these particular flat
ones.
3 these particular long ones. Gram:
Long plural proximate demonstrative em-
phatic. Ngni thp mchama schup
taithang iva nani sunaski. You make
this particular broom for school.
Variant: thaithang.
taithath dem.these particular people.
Gram: Human plural proximate demon-
strative emphatic. Arutha taithath tha
met inavuk. These particular people
went down. Variant: thaithath.
taith dem. right here. Gram: Proximate
demonstrative emphatic. Chule en d da
asik ini vs kama msms. The two
are staying here and they will cook
some food. Chulel giama thalchi
ith va vt d ngias sa. Leave your
bucket here at home and eat first.
Variant: thaith; daith; ni (Abilta
dialect); t; d.
taithchm dem. this particular short
one. Gram: Reduced singular proximate
demonstrative emphatic. Kama aulan'gi
chia chthik kama vaimbm tai-
thchm d ngam ng ingip. The
snake squeezed this particular dog
and it died. Gua senm taithchm
da ngua vondm mtngam nave ia
Walaria Treiding. I bought this
171
taithvam
particular knife from Walaria Treiding.
Variant: thaithchm.
taithchit dem. this particular large
one. Gram: Extended singular proximate
demonstrative emphatic. Kama arengia
taithchit da arm chama rutha
nmt ngait. This particular creek,
people have become sick from it.
Variant: thaithchit.
taithmlk dem. these particular flat
ones. Gram: Flat plural proximate demon-
strative emphatic. Amungunimlk
taithmlk dai nani chama
saunasvmda. These particular seats
are for the teachers. Variant:
thaithmlk. See: taithang these
particular flat ones.
taithmlm dem. these particular
flat two. Gram: Flat dual proximate demon-
strative emphatic. Ngmbs ut drm ia
ta thap schama nmblimlm
thithmlm nmt nma avama
tangam. We did not know that they
cut these two particular banana leaves
from someones banana plant. Variant:
thaithmlm.
taithnk dem. these particular large
ones. Gram: Extended plural proximate
demonstrative emphatic. Amngink
taithnk iva nani chama amng
angtha sipki. These particular logs
are for the timber ship. Variant:
thaithnk.
taithnm dem. these particular two
large ones. Gram: Extended dual proxi-
mate demonstrative emphatic. Arenginm
taithnm da ini pr ain bs
masgvs. These two particular
creeks are joined at the top. Variant:
thaithnm.
taithsem dem. these particular two
long ones. Gram: Long dual proximate
demonstrative emphatic. Cha thap sava-
ma asongisem taithsem milani.
He cut these two particular rafters
yesterday. Variant: thaithsem.
taiththong these particular small
ones.
taithvam dem. these particular two
short ones. Gram: Reduced dual proximate
demonstrative emphatic. Kama vaimbam
taithvam dai ma Chris avchvam.
These two particular puppies are
taithvap
Chriss. Bukvam taithvam dai nani
ma Elton. These two particular books
are for Elton. Variant: thaithvam.
taithvap dem. these particular short
ones. Gram: Reduced plural proximate
demonstrative emphatic. Athama vaimgi
at thoembam taithvap. These
particular puppies belong to her dog.
Cha vt ava lamsvap taithvap d
ng dn mamr. He planted these
particular coconut saplings and they
are growing well. Variant: thaithvap.
taithvem dem. these particular two.
Gram: Feminine dual proximate demon-
strative emphatic. Aung cha vt kama
lavrve, taithvem vea gua lat.
Someone planted this particular
sugar-cane in my garden. Variant:
thaithvem.
taithvs dem. this particular flat one.
Gram: Flat singular proximate demonstrative
emphatic. Kama pepavs taithvs ba
ngo diva ngu chut nchama aila.
This particular paper is mine for me to
draw a picture on. Variant: thaithvs.
taithvet dem. this particular long one.
Gram: Long singular proximate demon-
strative emphatic. Amngvet taithvet
da nani chama ichthachi. This
particular felled tree is for the fence.
Variant: thaithvet.
taithigl dem. this particular piece.
Gram: Excised singular proximate demon-
strative emphatic. Adigl taithigl da nge
ngias nave. You eat this particular
piece of taro. Variant: thaithigl.
taithiglem dem. these particular two
pieces. Gram: Excised dual proximate
demonstrative emphatic. Mamk ka thap
schama amng angtha ma bale-
riglem taithiglem. Father cut the
wood into these two particular pieces.
Variant: thithiglem.
taithigleng dem. these particular
pieces. Gram: Excised plural proximate
demonstrative emphatic. Palangigleng
taithigleng da nani chama sunaski
atha vt. These particular pieces of
plank are for the school building.
Variant: thaithigleng.
taithik dem. 1 right now. Gram:
Emphatic adverbial proximate demon-
strative. Chia ve chiaet taithik save
172
talngacha
ia taun. She is going to town now.
2 just like this. Gram: Emphatic
adverbial proximate demonstrative. Ngia
thu ngt chlan taithik. You put
them like this. Variant: thaithik;
daithik.
taithini dem. this particular small one.
Gram: Diminutive singular proximate demon-
strative emphatic. Vaimini taithini da
renggi chia thal angtha rocha.
This particular puppy, the river
carried away its friend. Variant: thai-
thini.
taithiom dem. these particular two.
Gram: Masculine dual proximate demon-
strative emphatic. Avama lamsiom
taithiom. These are his two particular
coconuts. Variant: thaithiom.
taithithom dem. these particular two
small ones. Gram: Diminutive dual
proximate demonstrative emphatic. Ngua
mt kama chaluniom taithiom
nagl gua ruacha. I got these two
particular small singapores from my
friend. Variant: thaithithom.
taithithong dem. these particular
small ones. Gram: Diminutive plural proxi-
mate demonstrative emphatic. Kama
lagr ng ms kama tangam d
kusek kule taithithong. The parrots
ate the bananas and only left these
particular small ones. Variant: thaithi-
thong; taiththong.
tak this one.
tal vt. 1 carry. Ngua thal anot mt
kama uratki. I will carry the taros in
the basket. Ngu tal gua msms. I
carried my food. Ki tal kama diski
dthe vus. She carried the dish on her
head.
2 move. Mithu sa ta thal avama
slp. Later they moved his bones.
3 bear; specifically to bear fruit.
Avival ngve ngthi tal ang thoes.
The mangoes are bearing fruit.
4 give birth. Maria chia thal ma
Jesus peia Bethlehem. Mary gave
birth to Jesus in Bethlehem. Variant:
thal; dal.
talalki palm sp.
talechachi bush sp.
talngacha n. earthworm sp.; light
brown or reddish colour; up to
talias
15 cm long; lives in soft ground.
Plmga cha ts kama talngacha.
The pig ate the earthworm. Pl: talang.
Variant: thalngacha.
talias wizard.
tamal sa-vi. laugh. Chinatha ruavek
thi bn cha muma d thi tamal. She
and her friends are making fun and
laughing. Variant: thamal.
tamal t vt. laugh at. Thi tamal tcha-
ma rura ma tha tusavus nanas.
They laughed at the people who were
acting funny. Variant: thamal t.
tamasnggi n. cleared area; a place
where the ground has been cleared
(except for big trees); the first stage
in making a garden. Pl: tamasng.
tamn sa-vi. speak. Nge vik iva ngia
tamn. You now, your turn to speak.
Variant: thamn; methamn; tamon;
thamon; methamon.
tamn dm vt. 1 sanctify; in
Christian religious contexts.
2 bewitch; refers to speaking
power into something by sorcery.
Kule sa chave cha mr kama
mavan, d cha tamn dm ngt.
Afterwards, he pulled out some ginger
and bewitched it. Variant: thamn dm;
methamn dm.
tamn ithm mes vt. confess. Sa
chule sa asik ka methamn ithm
mes ava iska. Later on he confessed
his road. Variant: thamn ithm mes;
methamn ithm mes; tamon ithm
mes; thamon ithm mes; methamon
ithm mes.
tamn pthanas s vt. give thanks.
Ut tamn pthanas s Deo vuk. We
give thanks to God above. Variant:
thamn pthanas s.
tamn sthm vt. tell. Kia methamn
sthm ngo ia sik kia thet save ia
Kokopo. She told me that she would
go to Kokopo. Variant: thamn sthm;
methamn sthm.
tamon speak.
tamon ithm mes confess.
tang these; these flat ones. Usage: Abilta
dialect.
tangabs n. 1 banana block; an area
planted with bananas. Ka vt kama
173
tapioka
thangabs glmna nava vtka. He
planted the block of bananas near his
house.
2 banana leaf. Kia vng vet kama
alm nchama thangmbes. She
wrapped the mushrooms in a banana
leaf. Variant: thangabs.
tangamga banana.
tangamgi n. 1 banana. Paimga
chave cha ts kama tangamgi. The
dog is eating a banana.
2 banana plant. Pl: tangam. Variant:
thangamgi; tangamga; thangamga.
tangamigl n. 1 banana block;
banana plantation; referring to an
area planted with bananas.
2 piece of banana. Variant: thanga-
minggel.
tangammtka n. Tolai man.
Tangammtta avama gunan'ga.
The Tolais store. Pl: tangammtta.
tangammtki n. Tolai woman.
tanger vt vt. 1 snap; break off. ... d
cha ndn bono, d ch tanger vt
k lagun'ga uvs. ... and he reaches
the top, and he breaks the top off the
victory leaf. Ka rucha cha thanger
vt kama lagun'ga uvs da kosa
cha ve ch gamar natha. The man
broke off the top of the victory leaf and
started to fight them.
2 spear. Sa ka thanger vt kama
vlemga. He already speared the pig.
Variant: thanger vt.
tangirka n. deep sea fish sp.; looks like
the malisacha species; whitish with
very sharp teeth; up to 2 m long; no
scales. Pl: tangir. Note: only t.
tap sa-vi. make a cut. Ka thap mni
chama variacha da vus schama
niare nmt ava chndeng. He cut
the breadfruit tree and the sap came
out of its bark. Kama biurka mni
uvski nmet kama asengi ama cha
thp nachi. The scar on his head is
from the knife which he cut with.
Variant: thap. See: tp cut.
tapeligl n. slate. Ava tapeligl ma
achru ngigl. His slate is new.
Pl: tapel. Note: only t.
tapioka n. tapioca. Ut ts kama
tapiok. We ate the tapioca. Pl: tapiok.
tap s
From: English, Tok Pisin: tapioca,
tapioka. See: kacholka tapioca.
tap s vt. 1 cut down; especially of
trees; also used to refer to the act of
clearing an area of bush. Kule ma
ngi thap schama churemgi! Don't
cut down the betel palm! Ka thap
schama thchusachi nava
vthapki. He cut down the fig tree
with his axe.
2 cut off. Chia thap sa atha
angthika ama sacha ava ravski.
She cut off the nail of her little finger.
Ava nank kia chuar nacha iva ch
thap schama nmblimlm. Cha
met d cha vat vthanas ia
anggimlm ma chat imlm. His
mother told him to cut off two leaves.
He went and forgot which two to cut.
Variant: thap s; thap sa.
tar sa-vi. fall; particularly of fruit.
Avivual ng ve ng tar. The mangoes
are falling to the ground. Variant: thar;
dar; mar.
tareracha grasshopper sp.
tares vt. press. Cha rares kama vilchi
atha vlnini. He pressed the trigger
of the gun. Variant: thares; rares.
taresbana vt. promise. John knava
lugutki in raresbana ia ini sek na
da dng beia ini ingip. John and his
wife promised that they would stay
married until they die. Variant:
tharesbana; raresbana.
tares dm vt. agree. Tha mo tha res
dm ia asik kama bangga ma
umska cha thair. They all agreed
that there should be a mens house.
Variant: thares dm; res dm.
taresini trouble.
tares pt vt. praise; worship. Ut tet
dut rares pthacha. We go and we
worship him. Variant: rares pt; thares
pt.
tares svt vt. 1 note. Cha dares
svt avama msms ma cha ngaip
ngt nank kama dis. He noted his
food that his mother had hidden under
the dish.
2 bless. Sa ngn rares
svthautha mairvtka. Then you all
bless our boss. Variant: thares svt;
rares svt.
174
tat mt
tar mt vt. open. Chule maulul
machlak sa ngua thar mt kama
lunas. A bit later I opened the louvre.
Variant: thar mt.
tar s vt. pour out; especially of water
from a tap. Kule ma ngi tar scha-
ma renggi. Do not let the water pour
out. Variant: thar s; dar s; mar s.
tar s vi-so. fall out. Ava angtkeng mo
mar sngt dak nvt kama sgk.
All his teeth fell out but one. Variant:
thar s; dar s; mar s.
tar tm vt. 1 remove; take off. Ta
thar tm sava slika nmtha
mumenina. They took his body off the
cross.
2 uncover. Da chule sa nasot sa ta
thartm ga vn bachvang.
Afterwards, they uncovered those
earth ovens (mumus). Variant: thar
tm.
tas sa-vi. 1 sleep. Kia mun beia tha
tas ve... She arrived there where they
sleep...
2 lie down. Ngia thas mmi gi
lavichi. You lie on your bed. Variant:
thas; das; mas.
tasingl n. starfish sp.; live on the reef;
two types, both with four arms: one
is red and covered in poisonous
spikes, the other is blue and has
spikes on its back. Pl: task. Pl:
tasigleng.
tat vt. 1 get. Ngua tat banas. I get (it)
for myself. Ch su ia cha that kama
lams smsng. He will try to get
the coconuts down to the ground.
2 give birth. Usage: Note that the
present tense is not used because it
would make a command Have your
baby now!; only that and mat are
usually used. Variant: that; dat; mat;
tht; tt; dt; mt.
tat d copy.
tat dm vt. copy. Thoemga vak ka tat
dm nge. That boy is copying you.
Variant: that dm; dat dm; mat dm;
that d; tat d; dat d; mat d.
tat mt vt. 1 share. Chia thap mt ka
digl ma aunglem di chia mat mt
ngiglem. She cut the taro in two and
she shared it.
tat mt
2 divide. Ngua mat mt kama
churem ba ut. I divided the betelnut
for us.
3 scatter. Da ma mbensenasta da
tha ron d cha mat mt ta. And
those who were proud, he scattered
them. Variant: that mt; dat mt; mat
mt.
tat mt vt. bump. Kama dlangm
pavchm ma ngua matmt ngam
d ngua sp. That particular short
stick is the one I bumped and lost my
balance on. Variant: that gt; dat mt;
mat mt.
tat mt na sa-vi. leave. Ta tat mt na
nmt kama munggunbs. They left
the meeting. Variant: that mt na; dat
mt na; mat mt na; that m na; dat
m na; mat m na.
tat nthm vt. help. Ngaiom in dat
nthm kama rura di ini tal athat
nthmva guangithong. The two of
them help the people and they carry
their things. Ngia that nthm ngo
sat nthm gua mbangga. You help
me with my house. Variant: that
nthm; dat nthm; mat nthm.
tat sa get.
tathe these people.
tauchi n. towel. Ngua vel vt gu
chdengm nchama tauchi. I
rubbed my skin with the towel. From:
English, Tok Pisin: towel, taul.
taunamgi n. mosquito net. Ngia thas
vm chama taunamgi nmt kama
dms. You sleep inside the mosquito
net, away from the mosquitoes.
Pl: taunam. Note: only t.
tavan'ga n. shellfish sp.; clam. Chi
pus kama tavan'ga mt kama
mudm. She cooks the clams on the
fire. Pl: tavan. Variant: thavan'ga;
tawan'ga.
tavulka vine sp.; rope.
tavurki n. 1 conch shell.
2 bugle. Uthi tnari chama tavurki
chit nok. We heard the bugle sound.
Pl: tavur. See: abiulgi conch shell.
Note: only t.
tawan'ga shellfish sp.; clam.
t here.
t right here.
175
tchen
te her; its.
t at; along.
tbr nanm n. little forest person. D
cha nari chama tbr nanbap. And
he heard the little men of the forest.
Pl: tbr nanbap. Variant: thbr
nanm.
tbut tbut n. stamping. Mamr ia
ngu nari gua lchar ia tbut tbut.
I can hear the stamping of my foot.
Note: only t.
tbut tbut s vi-so. stamp. Kama
awan'ga k bang dma tbut tbut
scha. The awan'ga comes and he
stamps (his feet). Variant: thbut tbut
s.
tcham wake up; be awake; be alive;
arise.
tcham this short one.
tchasp sa-vi. get up early. Du chule
d k tchasp namano d cha ts
kama balerini chni. Then he took
off very early from the beach and he
ate a piece of taro. Variant: thchasp.
tchm vt. start. Ch tchm chama
karki. He started the car. Variant:
thcham; dcham.
tchm sa-vi. 1 wake up. Sa ngua
thcham. I already woke up.
2 be awake. Chia dchm nk k
banganggi da thik da mnap mtki.
She was awake during the night and
now she is sleepy.
3 be alive. Ngni kuares ia sa cha
ingip d as ka dchm. You all say
that he died but he is still alive.
4 arise; specifically referring to
Jesus rising from the dead. Ka
thcham da muthms pthacha.
He arose and he was glorious. Variant:
thchm; dchm; tcham; thcham;
dcham.
tchm svthanas vt. realise. Ve ma
in det nka iska sa ma secha cha
thchm svthanas ia thi talga.
When the two were walking along the
road with the hero, he realised they
were carrying him. Variant: thchm
svthanas.
tchen sa-vi. groan. Arm ngo d ngu
thchen. I am sick and I am groaning.
Variant: thchan.
tchn
tchn neck; throat; voice.
tchp vt. fill. Mangas kama ainiricha
diva thchpka. Fetch water in the
bottle in order to fill it. Variant:
thchp.
tchp vi-so. be full. Ava amgi da th-
chpki nchama kurem. His mouth
is full of betelnut. Variant: thchp n.
tchr vt. command; order. Sok ngua
thchr guvam nacha. I ordered my
dogs on it. Variant: thchr.
tcheria vt. agree. Tha mu amung-
gunbs d tha thcheria ia thi
vlng chama basiochi. They had a
meeting and agreed that they would
kill the crocodile. Variant: thcheria.
tcheria ba vt. agree with. Thamo ta
thcheria ba cha savama sn-
ngacha. They all agreed with his idea.
Variant: thcheria ba.
tcheria bana sa-vi. agree. Tha
tcheria bana iva thi vn mna.
They agreed to fight each other.
Variant: thcheria bana.
tchit this large one.
tchusacha n. fig tree. Kama idm
ng ms kama tchusacha voes.
The birds ate the fruit of the fig tree.
Pl: tuchuas. Variant: thuchuas.
tgl this piece.
tglem these two pieces.
tgleng these pieces.
tk sa-vi. 1 do.
2 work. Sei tha vuinem smk
veia thi tk pe. They returned again
to there where they worked. Variant:
thk.
tk vt. wear; specifically the apron of
leaves worn by women at the front of
their bodies. Lvopkta tha tain d
chikachik kia thk atha viringgi.
The women dance and each one wears
her apron. Variant: thk.
tk dngtham sa-vi. expand. Ava lat
ama muru dak sai chave cha thk
dngtham. He is expanding his old
garden. Mndu ngua mu gua lat ta
ith, auk ithik sai ngua thk
dngtham. Before, I made a garden
here, well now am I extending it again.
Variant: thk dngtham.
176
tk tk mt
tk ma work in.
tk ma vt. 1 make. Ka mu rik te
chama vaiait diva che thk mava
chevs nani chama thinm. He
straightened the strand of wire to
make his spear to catch fish.
2 heap up. Kama mamboracha
ch tk mavama malumgi. The wasp
heaps up his mud. Variant: thk m.
tk mamr tm vt. meet someone
accidentally; run into. Ngua thk
mamr tmen da in ds. I ran into
you two when you were eating. Variant:
thk mamr tm.
tk m work in.
tk mu n vt. prepare. D chi thk mu
nchama avithm. And she will
prepare the earth oven (mumu).
Variant: thk mu n.
tk na send; work on.
tk na vt. process. Ka vn bt nani
chama kakauvap diva ch thk
nangt nani dul. He gathered cocoa
so that he could process it for money.
Aruchi avaik de chama nimulichi
ma chi tk nanas mavangam gl
kama chumsta. That woman sells
[Lit: processes] her body around to
men. Variant: thk na.
tk n vt. 1 send. Chia thk ncha
save ia gunan'ga. She sent him to the
store.
2 work on. Cha thk nchama
lavichi. He worked on the bed. Dagu
da ava chrotki ma che tk ncha-
ma singal. Dagu chases [Lit: works
on] the evil spirits with his magic
power. Variant: thk n; tk na; thk
na.
tk pm vt. shove. Ka thk pm ngo
d ngua sp. He shoved me and I fell.
Variant: thk pm.
tk s vt. work with. Ka thk schama
baul ama icheru. He worked with the
new wraparound cloth (laplap) (on).
Variant: thk s.
tk svt vt. point at. Chana thechi
svthacha Siapan'ga cha ns ia,
Chule ngia na thu ngo! He then
pointed it at the Japanese who called,
Dont shoot me! Variant: thk svt.
tk tk mt vi-so. click. Kama
tk tichim
vulikpthachi tktk mtki. The
gecko is clicking. Note: only t.
tk tichim vt. avoid. Gu chlucha cha
thk tichem ngo ma cha mes
nguaemgi vtha ngo. My brother-in-
law avoids me by calling me by my
daughters name. Variant: thk tichim.
tk v touch; feel.
tk vt vt. 1 touch. Kule ma ngi thk
v kama rutha athva
guangithong. Dont you touch
peoples things.
2 feel. Ngi su ngi thk vt kama
thangam ia mang ngt. You check to
feel if the bananas are ripe. Variant:
thk vt; thk v; tk v.
tlng n. letter. Ngu chut gu tlng
sagl gua ruachi. I will write a letter
to my friend. Note: no endings.
tlng angt uratki n. rubbish bin.
Tlng angt uratki nani chama
tlng. The rubbish bin is for rubbish.
Pl: tlng angt urat. Variant: thlng
angt uratki.
tlngbs n. 1 leaf. Tlngbs
ngthi sp. The leaf is falling.
2 piece of paper. Ch kut vt ka-
ma tlngbs. He wrote on the piece
of paper. Pl: tlng. Variant: thlng.
tlngbes n. fish sp.; lives on the reef;
brown and very flat; up to 20 cm
long; moves to and fro like a floating
leaf. Pl: tlng. Variant: thlng.
tlngm n. book. Tonya chia von ngo
nchama tlngm diva ngo tes vt
ngam. Tonya gave me a book to read.
Pl: tlngvap. See: buchm book.
tlngga n. parcel of banana leaves.
tlnggi n. rubbish. Chi pues mt
kama tlnggi. She burnt the
rubbish. Pl: tlng. Variant: thlnggi.
tltlcha n. tree sp.; grows near the
beach; has edible fruit. Tltlcha
vak d cha ve cha dn da ulul cha.
That tltlcha tree is starting to grow
tall. Pl: tltl.
tm prep. at; along. Sei chule sa
angmbs tm ta, sai chok ta thet
samana... Afterwards, when they
have no more [Lit: nothing at them],
they go down there... Variant: t; thm;
dm; d.
177
tn dm
tm whole.
tmana lower down; often used to
refer to down on the coast.
tmanp dir. down there. Ngia thon
thmanp nani chama sen'gi ma
ngua ngaipki. You go down there for
the knife I hid. Variant: thmanp.
tmano dir. lower down; often used to
refer to down on the coast. Alat
ngve sa thmano. The garden is
down by the coast. Variant: tmana;
thmano; thmana.
tmlk these flat ones.
tmlm these two flat ones.
tms vt vt. carve. Cha thms vt
kama ngmngga. He carved the
tree. Variant: thms vt.
tmna dir. together. Ngia thu thmna
nchama kalasung. You put the
sweet potatoes (kaukaus) together.
Variant: thmna; dmna.
tmnas dir. after oneself. Ngua mes
ma Junior thmnas. I called Junior
after myself. Variant: thmanas.
tmono dir. 1 along. Sa cha tet
tmono. Then he walked along (a bit
further).
2 across.
3 that way. Variant: thmono.
tmuit dir. sidewards; to the side. Ngia
thu chama baulki sa thmuit. You
put the wraparound skirt (laplap) to
that side. Variant: thmuit.
tn vt. hang. Chia thn kama uratki
dth vuski. She hung the basket
from her head. Variant: thn.
tnamk dir. up a bit from towards
speaker. Kia tet inamk sa save ia
Bulus tnamk. She kept going up to
Bulus, a little further up.
tnavuk dir. down a bit from towards
speaker. Ngia thet tnavuk iva ngu
lu nge. You come down a bit this way
in order that I can see you. Variant:
thnavuk.
tn dm vi-so. be stuck. Sa chule sa
chia nia chi wusvmni dak tn
dathama vnbnga. Then it was
going to close its mouth but its bottom
jaw was stuck. Variant: thn dm; dn
dm; thn d; dn d.
tnk
tnk these large ones.
tnm these two large ones.
tni this small one.
ten pthanas sa-vi. be smelly. D
ngua then pthanas nama
iritithong. And I am smelly from bad
luck. Variant: then pthanas.
tngt these; these flat ones.
tp vt. cut. Mndu ngua thap gu
blinggi d ithik d sa chama
biurka. Before, I cut my forehead and
now there is a scar. Asen'gi vtpt
nachi d chia thp ava lchar. The
knife fell and cut his leg. Variant: thp.
See: tap make a cut.
tp ma vt. 1 make; build. Cha ve ch
thp mava bangga. He is building his
house.
2 carve. Lawrence ka thp ma
chama kanucha. Lawrence carved
the canoe. Variant: thp ma; tp m;
thp m.
tpma methamn s vt. discuss. Thi
tp ma methamn schama
thuareska vak iva ch sk anga
lugutki. They are discussing (the idea
that) the young man will marry [Lit:
will marry a wife]. Variant: thpma
methamn.
tp ma musnng vt. 1 plan. Ch tp
ma musnng ia cha thet ka thonel
nani vlam. He planned to go and hunt
for pigs.
2 have an idea. Variant: thp ma
musnng.
tp ma s vt. respect; keep to the rules
about something. Kama sangachi da
thi tp ma schi. The net, they
respect it. Variant: thp ma s.
tp m make; build; carve.
tp m chdenggi sa-vi. keep clean.
Koi chi na tp mat chdenggi
mamr. She does not keep herself
properly clean. Variant: thp m
chdenggi.
tpms vt vt. sharpen. Tha thpms
vt ka chirgarska vak kinas. They
have just sharpened that paddle.
Variant: thpms vt.
tepmuan vt. squeeze. Chi tepmaun
chama lams smt kama
sospen'gi. She squeezed the coconut
178
travt
into the saucepan. Variant: thepmuan.
tepmuan s vt. press. Ta mungt
mni ngia vuski d tha thepmuan
sngt. They put them around your
head and pressed them (in). Variant:
thepmuan s.
tepmuan vt vt. digest. Kusem ngthi
temuan vt kama msms. The
intestines digest food. Variant:
thepmuan vt.
tp mus t vt. 1 work. Ngua ve ngu
thpmus tgua guangithong pa
lat. I am going to work on some of my
things in the garden.
2 initiate. Peia sa tha mu chama
thoemka auk sa ava lmuacha nava
morka ma cha thpmues tmga.
When a boy was initiated by a man,
the boy would call the man his friend.
Variant: thp mus t; tp mus tm;
thp mus tm.
tp mus tm work; initiate.
tp pt vt. inform. Sa chule sa tha
thp pthana mo. They informed
everyone. Variant: thp pt.
tr vt. 1 pull out. D thi tr kama
chepki vuit. And they pull the spear
out.
2 uproot. Ngu mr guama not. I
uprooted up my taros.
3 clear; especially of small weeds
etc. Ngua tr aur. I am going to clear
the bush. Variant: thr; dr; mr.
ter vt. refuse; decline. Ka ter ka
msms nvt tthik. He refused the
food she offered. Variant: ther; der;
mer.
tr sa-vi. excrete. Kama duraika cha
tr nave ia ava bisuchi. The rooster
excretes from his anus. Variant: thr;
dr; mur.
tranas sa-vi. go; take off; leave. D ut
mranas save ia Karong. And we took
off for Karong. Ut ndn nasot atha
d tha tranas sva vut. We arrived
after the others had left for home. Sa
cha luln'gi chia mranas save ia
Kokopo. The boat has gone to
Kokopo. Variant: thranas; dranas;
mranas; thranas; dranas; mranas.
travt sa-vi.weed. Chia travt
namt athama purpur. She weeded
travt s
around her flowers. Variant: thravt;
ravt; dravt; mravt.
travt s vt. remove. Arura tha
travt schama chsng nk
kama duraik diva thi vs ngt. The
people are removing the feathers from
the chickens in order to cook them.
Variant: thravt s; ravt s; dravt
s; mravt s.
tr na vt. lay; specifically of a turtle
laying eggs. Kama vun'gi chia mur
nat valo ama chndichn. The turtle
laid many eggs. Variant: thr na; dr
na; mr na.
ternas sa-vi. be frightened. Lulu cha
ternas nmt kama thomga. Lulu is
frightened of the ghost. Variant:
thernas; mernas.
tr vthanas sa-vi. have diarrhoea.
Sok aruan av sarumgi d cha
mur vthanas. He had a very sore
stomach and diarrhoea. Variant: mur
vthanas; thr vthanas; dr
vthanas.
tes vt. name; call by name. Ta tes ka ia
John. They call him John. Da kama
lvopki tha teski ia Miranem. But
the woman is called Miranem. Variant:
thes; des; mes.
ts interj. swish; whoosh; imitates the
sound of a stone from a sling hitting
a target. Ngua tet nasot gua matka
ma Vithulki saun baimithom, ts
ts pau! I walk behind my older
brother Vithulki with our two dogs,
swish swish bang!.
ts vt. eat. Ngua ts kama slik. I am
eating the meat. Ngi chut kama
msms bachama morta vath iva
thas. You serve the food for those
important people so they can eat.
Chulel giama thalchi ith va vt d
ngias sa. Leave your bucket here at
home and eat first. Variant: ds; ths;
ms; -as.
tesavet dm narrate; tell about.
tsm these two long ones.
tseng these long ones.
tes nas sa-vi. call oneself. Ngia tes nas
ia nmanachi? What do you call
yourself? Nge nari ut mo i ut tes nas
bange. You hear all of us calling
ourselves to you. Variant: thes nas; des
179
tet dm
nas; mes nas.
ts nthm vt. taste. Cha mt kama
almga ma sgk diva chas
nthm. He got one mushroom in
order to taste it. Variant: thas nthm;
ds nthm; ms nthm.
tes svt vt. tell. Ngua thes svet
bange svt ma thalias. I will tell
you about the wizard.
tes svt da sek sa-vi. narrate; tell a
story. Chia mes svt da sek ama
mrngt. She told interesting stories.
Variant: thesavet da sek; desavet da
sek; mesavet da sek.
tes svt dm vt. narrate; tell about.
Ngua ve ngu thes svt dm chama
secha svt ma chlmuen. I am
telling a story about a fool. Variant:
thesavet dm; desavet dm; mesavet
dm; tesavet dm.
ts t chulim sa-vi. blow nose. Ka ts
t v chulim schama genaing. He
blew his nose because of the mucus.
Variant: ths t chulim.
ts tm vt. shake. Chumsta tha tain
d thi ts tchama chlm. The men
dance and shake the seed pods.
Variant: ths tm; ds tm; ths t; ds
t.
tstmna n vt. eat with. Cha tt
kama dichi vachvaik d cha va ka
tstmna nchama slichigl. He
has got that taro and he is eating it
with one of the pieces of meat. Variant:
thstmna n; dstmna n; ms-
tmna n.
tes vt vt. read. Ngua ve ngua tes vt
kama tlngm. I am reading the
book. Variant: thes; des; mes.
tt get; give birth.
tet sa-vi. 1 walk. Sa cha tet tmono.
Then he walked along (a bit further).
2 go. Ut tet sva lat. We are going
to the garden. Timothy cha chuares
ia chave chnava ruavk taet
smni arenggi. Timothy said that he
and his friends would go to the river.
Variant: thet; det; met; -et.
tet dm vt. dry; desiccate; be dried out
from lying in the sun. Cha chut k
urn'ga chvak d cha thonacha
saivono smni cha chun'ga, va sik
tet kutna
kunngga cha that dmga. He shot
that crayfish and he threw it up onto
the sand so that the sun would dry it.
Variant: thet dm; det dm; met dm.
tet kutna sa-vi. miss someone because
each person went by a different
path. Bala d ma Bath in met kutna
da ngbs inluna. Bala and Bath
went on different paths and did not
see each other. Variant: thet kutna; det
kutna; met kutna.
tet na vt. go past; pass. Ut tet na tha
via Tol. We passed them at Tol.
Variant: thet na; det na; met na.
tet ngis n vt. miss a target. Cha thu
maunmlm d cha met ngis
nchama lagrka. He shot twice but
he missed the parrot. Cha tet ngis
nchama ismga maulul. He missed
the bird by a long way. Variant: thet
ngis n; det ngis n; met ngis n.
tt pthik tm vt. 1 let go of. Ka tt
pthik tchama sangachi atha ses.
He let go of the net's ropes. Milani ka
mt pthik tm ngo. Yesterday he let
me go. Kule ngia tt ngia thik tm
ngo. Dont you let go of me.
2 drop. Ngua mt ngua thik
tchama sen'gi. I dropped the knife.
Variant: tht pthik; dt pthik; mt
pthik; tt tthik.
tt s vt. get. Tha tt s chi save ia
arm angtha banggi. They got her
to the hospital. Ka tat sava oemka
Israel i cha rm svthava irski.
He got his son Israel, because he knew
of his sadness. Variant: tht s; dt s;
tat sa; mt s; mat s.
tt tthik let go of; drop.
tethana sa-vi. 1 be friends. Peter d
ma John da in methana mamr ia
sunaski. Peter and John were friends
at school.
2 be married. Sarah chinatha
lunggutka in methana sa yachun-
bem in met. Sarah and her husband
got married a couple of months ago.
3 group together. Tha tethana
svt athva thktk. They got
together over their work. Variant:
thethana; dethana; methana.
tthanas t vt. help oneself; to take
something without permission. Kule
180
tvono
ma ngn tthanas tchama rutha
athva guangithing. Do not help
yourselves to peoples things. Variant:
ththanas; dthanas; mthanas.
tthuk vi-so. slide; especially of
something like a landslide. Saeng d
ththuk pt kama galicha vak.
There was rain and the ridge slid
away. Variant: ththuk.
tvaik ba vt. explain. Mamr diva ngi
thvaik bango ia thi pus kama not
minia? Can you explain to me how
they cook taro? Variant: thvaik.
tvaik namn vt. redeem. ... diva cha
thvaik namnaut. ... in order to
redeem us. Variant: thvaik namn.
tvaik t loosen; unwrap; remove.
tvaik tm vt. 1 loosen. Ngu tvaik
tchama stringga. I loosened the
string.
2 unwrap.
3 remove. Sa chule sa inbe ini
tvaik tch plmga chavak.
Afterwards, they were going to take
the pig out of the earth oven (mumu).
Variant: thvaik tm; tvaik t; thvaik
t.
tvam these two short ones.
tvap these short ones.
tvlka shellfish sp.; small abalone.
tvem these two.
tvng sa-vi. sing. Amr vthaut d
uthi tvng. We are happy and we
sing. Variant: thvng.
tvng mt vt. sing in. Ngua nari ma
Oscar k tvng mt k mambuchi.
I heard Oscar sing in the orchestra.
Variant: thvng mt.
tvrchinggl louse.
tvs this flat one.
tvt this long one.
tevolki n. table. Gu mamk ka thp
mchama tevolki ma mrki. My
father made the nice table. Pl: tevol.
From: English, Tok Pisin: table, tebol.
Note: only t.
tvono dir. higher up; often used to
refer to up on the mountain(s). Cha
met sva lat dak thvono da ava
latini. He went to the garden but
higher up (to) his small garden. Variant:
tevuit mo
thvono.
tevuit mo dir. forever more. Chlan
mir, dak chlan dik, da chlan
tevuit mo. The same before, the same
now, and the same forever more.
Variant: thevuit mo.
tvuk dir. up there. Atluvmda tha tas
p namaski da thi nari a mambu
thvuk. The shepherds lay in their
sleeping place and heard songs up
there (in the sky). Variant: thvuk.
ti pro. they. Gram: Third person human plural
class two pronoun. Tha met ti thor
vagars. They went to swim at the
beach. Variant: thi; thik (Abilta dialect).
tichina vt. do something (definite).
Ch gur ava oemga ia asika
ngmbs k na nari d cha
thichina mchvs sa ch vn
mcha. He scolded his son that if he
does the same thing again he would
hit him. Variant: dichina; thichina. See:
sana do something (indefinite).
tichina n vt. make something (defi-
nite). Tha tikina nchama hat klan
minia viavik? How do they make hats
like that? Variant: thichina n; dichina
n; michina n. See: sana do some-
thing (indefinite).
tigil mt vt. split. Kule sa chia tigil
mt kama churemga. Then she split
a betelnut in half. Variant: thigil mt.
tigil s vt. chop up. Ngu thigil scha-
ma mng nnggua vthapki. I will
chop up the wood with my axe. Variant:
thigil s.
tigl this piece. Usage: Abilta dialect.
tiglem these two pieces. Usage: Abilta
dialect.
tiglen these pieces. Usage: Abilta dialect.
tigl tm vt. 1 split. Chia thigl tcha-
ma mngbam pavvam nani chama
mng. She split two logs into pieces
for wood.
2 cut up. Chia mt kama mngm
diva chi thigl tm ngam. She got the
wood in order to cut it up. Variant: thigl
tm.
tik now.
tik vt. get down. Kule d cha thik
kama gurguarka achk nchama
slik. Then he got down another string
181
tir
with meat on it. Variant: thik.
tik dem. this very one. Gram: Proximate
demonstrative emphatic particle. Kama
dulki taithaik tik. This particular
stone, this very one. Variant: dik; thik.
tik s vt. 1 pick. Sa chule sa cha met
savuk d ch tik s chama ulmang.
Then afterwards, he went up and
picked the native oranges.
2 knock down. Ngu tik s chama
kurem. I knocked down the betelnut.
Variant: thik s.
tik t pick; break; snap off.
tik tm vt. 1 pick. Ngua met ngu tik
tm chama auravu. I went and
picked some native spinach (aibika).
Sa chian be va lat sa chi thik
tchama auravu. When she reaches
the garden she picks the native
spinach (aibika).
2 break.
3 snap off. Variant: thik tm; tik t;
thik t.
tina them and.
tin pro. them and. Morph: ti=n. Lit:
3H.PL.III=and. Variant: thin; tina;
thina.
tini this small one. Usage: Abilta dialect.
tin'gi n. tin. Klr mt kama tin'gi vea
cha tu chama gis muk. The tin
rattled when he put the pebbles
inside. Ka vondm mt kama tin'gi
ama thinm mtki. He bought a tin
of fish. Pl: tin. From: English: tin. Note:
only t.
tinggiar vi-so. be disgusted; be
revolted. Paul da thinggiaracha
nmt ava oemka ava chl. Paul is
revolted by his sons urine. Thing-
giaracha nmt ava thopki ama
morki mni ava snaing. He is
revolted by his own large sore on his
thigh. Variant: thinggiar.
tinggiaras filthy or smelly place.
tinggiaras repulsive thing; scary
thing; something you do not want to
see or smell.
tiom these two.
tir sa-vi. grow fast. Coluba athoemini
ngthi thir da amr ngini angt
airir. Colubas baby grows fast and
her growth is good. Variant: thir.
tithom
tithom these two small ones.
tithong these small ones.
tlavuchi n. kindness; mercy. Ut tamon
pthanas s Deo vuk sa tlavuchi.
We give thanks to God above for his
kindness. Pl: tlavu.
tlavuchi na vt. pity; feel sorry. Auk,
kama chumska cha chuares ia, ka
d chave ch tlavuchi nachi. Well,
the man said that he feels sorry for it.
tlu vt. see. Ut tlu chama sipki imuk
vagars. We saw the ship down at the
beach. Variant: lu; ndlu.
tlu da vt. notice. Ngua lu da agarski
chia mana. I noticed the saltwater
down there. Variant: lu da.
tlu ma vt. prepare. Sa tha lu mangt.
Then they prepared them. Variant: lu
ma.
tlu manas sa-vi. get ready; prepare
oneself. Ngni tlu manas iva ut tet
vea mathchasep. You all get ready
so we can go in the morning. Ngi tlu
manas. Prepare yourself. Variant: lu
manas.
tlu svt sa-vi. hurt. Gua thopki chi tlu
svt. My sore is hurting. Variant: lu
svt.
tlu vathm na sa-vi. wait for a chance
to do something. Ngu nma Paul
uni tlu vathmna nma Peter iva sa
cha that sa un ds kama ulan'gi.
Me and Paul were waiting for a chance
when Peter would go so we could eat
the snake. Variant: lu vathm na. See:
tair wait.
tluvmka n. 1 watchman.
2 shepherd. Atluvmda tha tas p
namaski da thi nari a mambu
thvuk. The shepherds lay in their
sleeping place and heard songs up
there (in the sky). Pl: tluvmda.
tlu vt vt. look after. Gu lunggutki
asik ngi tlu vthanas mamr. My
wife, you must look after yourself
properly. Variant: lu vt.
tlu vthanas sa-vi. look after oneself.
Ngia tet d nge tlu vthanas
mamr. You go and look after yourself
properly. Variant: lu vthanas.
tlu wirp vi-so. glimpse; catch sight of
something because it moves. Ngua
182
tnnn
lu wirp saung. I saw someone move.
Variant: lu wirp.
tnaik sa-vi. drink. Ngu naik nmt ka
arenggi ma sok auluvk. I drank
from the river which was really cold.
Kule de cha thon nanas samk
smt ka lechi de cha ve ch tnaik
da ron ga. Then it jumped down into
the hole and it drank and it was
satisfied. Variant: naik; tneik; neik.
tnap na vt. wave; signal by using hand
gestures to communicate. Ut tet
saglmka duthi tnap nacha. We go
and signal to him. Variant: nap na.
tnari vt. 1 hear. Ngua nari dolngeng
mtkama pelet. I heard the banging
of a plate.
2 feel. As ngi nari. You just feel
this. K nari nn'gi vt pchn. He
felt nauseous in his throat.
3 taste. Da thi su batha ia tha tu
vatha chulubaing, d chule d tha
tichina chlan va sik ta nari... And
they made signs to them that they
should put it on their tongues, and
they did that in order to taste (it)...
Variant: nari.
tnarimanas sa-vi. listen. Dak ka ngaip
d cha narimanas. But it hid and it
listened. Variant: narimanas.
tnarimanas t vt. listen. Ch
narimanas tchama ism. He
listened to the birds. Variant:
narimanas t.
tnarimunanas sa-vi. listen. Kia tha-
mon sthm nge sa ngia narimu-
nanas, pe ma ngi thn pa mbang
ngia narimunanas. It tells you so you
will keep an ear open, when you go
home you will listen out. Variant:
narimunanas.
tnari nagl vt. obey. Kama thoes
ngthi nari nagl athva
mamkna. Children obey their
parents. Variant: nari nagl.
tneik drink.
tnen sa-vi. pray. Ut met uthi nen. We
went to pray. Variant: nen.
tnen vt. ask. Ngu nen nge. I ask you.
Variant: nen.
tnnn sa-vi. vomit. Vaimga chi nnn
smt thoes. The dog vomited for her
tneng
puppies. Variant: nnn.
tneng sa-vi. avoid; dodge. Ngi su d
ngi neng. You try and avoid (it).
Variant: neng.
tneng dm vt. choose. Jesus ka neng
dm ut. Jesus chose us. Variant: neng
dm.
tneng n vt. dodge. Cha neng ncha-
ma kus mni chama bangga. He
dodged the mud in the house. Variant:
neng n.
tneng n vt. 1 spread. Chi tneng
nchama bata mt kama achsa-
skmt. She spread the butter on the
bread. Variant: neng n.
2 rub; massage. Ch tneng n-
chama aruan angt marasin v-
thatha thng. He massaged the
medicine for pain onto her back.
Variant: neng n.
tnp na turn; tip out; translate.
tnp na vt. 1 change; make different.
Kama msms ma ngn ds ngt
d ngni su ia ngni np nangt.
The food that you all eat, you should
try and change it.
2 mix. Tha met tha mt kama gis
iva thi np nangt ngn chama
simen. They went and got the pebbles
in order to mix them in the cement.
Variant: np na.
tnp nanas sa-vi. 1 change oneself;
become different. Aslavovmka cha
np nanas sa mrka. The sinner
changed himself into a good person.
2 capsize. Asecha svt kama
lulengi ma chia np nanas. The
story of the boat which capsized.
Variant: np nanas.
tnp n vt. 1 turn. Auk, uthi np
nchama kanuiom pethana. Well,
we will turn the two canoes front to
back [Lit: at each other]. Chia np
natha baulgi samuk svm. She
turned her wraparound skirt (laplap)
upside down.
2 tip out. Ngi np nchama diski
schama renggi. You tip out the dish
with the water (in it).
3 translate. Ngaiom in np
nchama methamon pe ma Rara.
The two of them translated the
183
tor
language at Rara. Variant: np n; tnp
na; np na.
tns vt. pack; put in. Ch tns chama
kakau smt kama uratki. He put
the cocoa into the basket. Ngi ns gia
msms smt k uratki. You put
your food into the basket. Variant: ns.
tnes sa-vi. be sharp. Asen'gi ithaik tik
sok ki tnes masa. That knife is really
sharp. Variant: nes.
tns sa-vi. call out; shout. Ch tns
nania ngo. He called out for me.
Arutha thi ns pt athva ruavek
ama tha tunggas s chama ragbi
ma sok gumoram. People shout at
their friends who are playing rugby
and it is a really loud noise. Variant:
ns.
tnes vt. bite. Kama vaimga cha nes
ngo. The dog bit me. Variant: nes.
tns m vt. call for. Das kule thi ns
mcha rucha avakpik. And so, then
they call for that particular man.
Variant: ns m.
tnok sa-vi. cry; people crying; sounds
made by roosters, frogs etc. Chia ve
chi tnok. She is crying. Variant: nok.
tnok tichim vt. whinge; cry. K tnok
tichim ga iva ch vonga nanga slik.
He whinged to him so that he would
give him some meat. Variant: nok
tichim.
tobekathva muska grasshopper
sp.
tok vt. impregnate. Cha d chama
rucha ma tok mavngam. He is a
person who would impregnate anyone.
Variant: thok; dok; mok.
tomga n. spirit; ghost. Vrur pt ma
Leo vea cha lu chama tomga nk
kama un'gi. Leo got goose bumps
when he saw the ghost in the dark.
Lulu cha ternas nmt kama
thomga. Lulu is frightened of the
ghost. Variant: thomga.
tor vt. wash. Nguave ngu thor gu
chdengam. I am washing my body.
Variant: thor.
tor sa-vi. 1 bathe. Tha ve thi tor mni
chama renggi. They are bathing in
the river. Thi tor svt ka reng
angps. They are swimming at the
tor na
head of the river [Lit: the river its
head].
2 get wet. Nandre cha thor
klan. Nandre got wet for nothing.
Variant: thor.
tor na sa-vi. pour. Renggi chi tor na
nmt kama sospen'gi. Water
poured from the saucepan. Variant:
thor na; dor na.
tor tm sa-vi. swim. Chi tor tm scha
imono. She swam across with it. Ch
tor tm mt ichumgi. He swam in
the flood. K tor tm vt kama
plangigl angtha thng. He swam
on top of the plank. Variant: thor.
traingga n. seed. Cha vt kama
pankin angt traingga va lat. He
planted the pumpkin seeds at the
garden. Pl: traing. Variant: raingga.
trek sthm close in; block off; forbid.
trek tm vt. prohibit; forbid. Ka rek
tchama thangemga nmt voes.
He prohibited the children from the
banana tree. Variant: rek tm.
trn s vi-so. stand up; unbend;
something that had been bent over
but is released so it can stand again.
Kama mngga sa chave rn scha i
mali cha nanger. The tree is standing
up where once it was bent. Variant: rn
s.
Trinitas n. Trinity. Amurems bama
Lengenacha dama Trinitas a
Rektemka. Glory to the Lord and the
Holy Trinity. Note: no endings.
trip sa-vi. fish with a hook and line from
a canoe or a boat. Sa ngu trip pivi.
So I fished at that place.
trip glaski n. float from a gillnet. Cha
tet samana ma Namuli diva chat
kama trip glaski athama ses. He is
going down to Namuli in order to get
the rope from the float.
trong vi-so. be stiff with cold. Trong
ngua thik nmt kama sainggi. My
hands are stiff with cold from the rain.
Variant: rong.
trutka n. stalk; specifically the central
stalk in some fruits; there is one
inside tapioca and pau nuts grow
along one. Ka ms kama tapioka da
sa nvt kama rutka muk. He ate
184
tu av snng
the tapioca and left the inside stalk.
Pl: trut. Variant: rutka.
trutki n. 1 small root of a tree or
plant, especially banana, native
spinach (aibika), or peanut plant.
Ngi chrtp schama viulacha ava
trutki nigia sen'gi. You chop the root
of the mango tree with your knife.
2 native spinach (aibika) stem;
used for planting. Thi pt trut pa
lat. They planted native spinach
(aibika) stems at the garden. Pl: trut.
Variant: rutki.
trut na put in; push in.
trut n vt. put in; push in. Ka rut nava
mstmna smt ava thalcha. He
put his food in his net bag (bilum).
Variant: rut n; trut na; rut na.
tu vt. shoot; throw something at
someone. Ch tu ngo nama ndul. He
threw a stone at me. [Lit: He shot me
with a stone.] Variant: thu.
tu vt. 1 put. Cha tu chama sospen'gi
scha renggi vono via tevolki. He
put the saucepan of water up on the
table.
2 wear; put on. Ngia tu gi baul iva
utet save ia lotu. You put on your
clothes so we can go to church.
3 lay; specifically of birds laying
eggs. Duraikvm in tu valo thmna.
The two hens laid (their eggs)
together. Variant: thu; du; mu.
tu amethamn pt vt. pass a message
about someone or something. Diva
tha tu amethamn pthange iva thi
vlng nge. So they passed a
message about you in order to kill you.
thu amethamn pt; du
Variant:
amethamn pt; mu amethamn pt.
tu amuvtka svt vt. punish. Ka mu
muvtka svt avoemga. He pun-
ished his son. Variant: du amuvtka
svt; thu amuvtka svt; mu
amuvtka svt.
tu at snng think.
tu ath snng mamr calm down;
settle down; relax.
tu av snng vt. think. Ngua tu gu
snng ia sik ngian. I thought you
would come. Ngn du angn snng
svtha cha. You all think of him.
tu av snng mamr
Variant: thu av snng; du av snng;
mu av snng; tu at snng. See:
snngacha idea.
tu av snng mamr sa-vi. calm
down; settle down; relax. Sa chule
sa ngua mugusnng mamr. Then
afterwards, I calmed down. Morph: tu
av snng mamr. Lit: put 3M.SG.POSS
thoughts properly. Variant: du av snng
mamr; thu av snng mamr; mu
av snng mamr; tu ath snng
mamr.
tu ba vt. set rules. Dak ka mu bangt.
But he set the rules. Variant: thu ba; du
ba; mu ba.
tu chelak tm vt. please; do some-
thing to soften the other person.
Thoemini angt nank kia tu che-
lak tmgi diva ngmbs kina tnok.
The childs mother comforts her so
that she will not cry. Variant: thu
chelak tm; du chelak tm; mu
chelak tm.
tu chuar s vt. call; calling out to
someone to follow you. D ch tu
chuar sa vaim d tha met. And he
called for his dogs and they went.
Variant: thu chuar s.
tuchul throat.
tuchul sa-vi. crave. Tuchul ngo snani
athinm. I am craving fish [Lit:
craving for fish]. Asika thuchul nge ia
vandi ngi vang si gia ruacha ava
lugutki da sok kama sunthmbes
pa vvs. If you are craving that you
want to run away with your friend's
wife, really that is a temptation.
Variant: thuchul.
tuchun sa-vi. 1 sit. Chave cha
tuchun sng guathik. He is sitting
next to me.
2 settle. Sa chule nasot sa cha
mugun mamr. Then later he really
settled in. Variant: thuchun; duchun;
muchun; mugun; munggun.
tuchun vt. 1 chase. Ut tuchun cha-
ma plmga sva ur. We chase the pig
to the bush.
2 hit. Ngua mugun gu vandok
dchama vaimga uvs. I hit the dog
with my knuckles. Variant: thuchun;
duchun; muchun.
tuchun mes vt. instruct. Sa mali gia
185
tu mamr sna na
morta thi tuchun mes ng d tha
ndrm svanas. So before that, your
leaders instructed you as they know.
Variant: thuchun mes.
tuchupki n. edible stalk of a wild cane
sp. (pitpit). Chia vt kama tuchuap
ma chndichn. She planted a lot of
pitpit. Pl: tuchuap. Variant: thuchupki.
tu daruan vt. hurt; injure. Ava ch-
denggi chia mo mavo nachi i ng
mu daruan nacha mamor. His body
was all broken because they hurt him
terribly. Variant: thu daruan; du d-
aruan; mu daruan.
tu dm n vt. lose. Ngua mu dm
nchama paelka. I lost the file.
Variant: thu dm n; du dm n; mu
dm n.
tu dng vt. 1 interrupt. Ka mu dng
sthm ava thktk. He interrupted
his work.
2 fail to finish. Ngua tu dng
schama secha. I did not finish my
story. Variant: thu dng; du dng; mu
dng.
tugas sa-vi. play. Cha d mrmr k
plk iva cha tugas. He always likes
to play. Variant: thugas; dugas; mugas;
thunggas; dunggas; munggas.
tugas s vt. play a game. Gumoram
vt kama arutha ma tha tunggas
schama ragbi. People shout when
they (others) are playing rugby.
Variant: thugas s; dugas s; mugas s;
tunggas s; dunggas s; munggas s.
tugas t vt. play with. Ut tugas t
volleyball. We play with the volley-
ball. Variant: thugas t; dugas t;
mugas t; thunggas t; dunggas t;
munggas t.
tugumga fish sp.
tuingga oyster.
tu ma sa-vi. joke; make fun. Uthi
dondm bana d likdm ma Venan
d cha tu ma d uthi tamal. We
were telling stories to each other
when Venan came and made a joke
and we laughed. Chule ma ngia tu
ma. Do not make fun (of me). Variant:
thu ma; du ma; mu ma.
tu mamr sna na vt. 1 level.
2 straighten. D cha thu mamr
tu mana
sna naut. And he will straighten us
out. Variant: thu mamr sna; du
mamr sna; mu mamr sna.
tu mana sa-vi. arrange oneselves. Gram:
Must have a plural subject. Sa chule sa
uthi tu mana. So then we started to
arrange ourselves. Variant: thu mana;
du mana; mu mana.
tu manas sa-vi. prepare oneself; get
ready. Ngn tu manas va uthat
uthonel. You all get ready so we can
go and hunt. Variant: thu manas; du
manas; mu manas.
tu ma s vt. joke about. Kule ma ngia
tu ma schama morka vak. You
must not make jokes about that
leader. Variant: thu ma s; du ma s;
mu ma s.
tu mt vt. set on fire. K kumr ava lat
d cha tu mt kama amng. He
cleared the garden and set fire to the
trees. Variant: thu mt; du mt; mu
mt.
tu mrang dm vt. cover. Kia mu
mrang dm atha achuitm ncha-
ma thlng. She covered her earth
oven (mumu) with leaves. Variant: thu
mrang dm; du mrang dm; mu
mrang dm.
tu na vt. shoot with. Chama ism
ngthi tu nachama bom. The planes
shot with bombs. Variant: thu na.
tunaik na vt. 1 put in place.
2 leave. Kule ma ngn dunaik
nangnama asen imono, asik aung
cha tha ngt. Dont you all leave your
knives over there, someone might take
them. Variant: thunaik na; munaik na;
dunaik na.
tu nank sa-vi. grizzle; cry for
something for a long time. Namu
chia tu nank sa at mamk iva ch
talki chlan. Namu grizzled for her
father to carry her. Variant: thu nank;
du nank; mu nank.
tu nas mk sa-vi. humble oneself.
Autha Jesus, nge mu nas mk. Our
Jesus, you humbled yourself. Variant:
thu nas mk; du nas mk; mu nas
mk.
tunggas s play a game.
tunggumgi n. 1 base of a cup,
186
tu salel n
house, or tree. Ngua met nmt gua
thalka veia ngmnggi at tung-
gumgi. I left my basket at the base of
that tree.
2 back of a boat. Pl: tunggum.
Variant: thunggumgi.
tuong vt. bewitch. K tuong gama
rucha nchama thaliaska diva ch
vlng ga. He bewitched the man for
the wizard so the wizard would kill
him. Variant: thuong; dong.
turik na vt. punish. Kama kaunsila
cha turik nacha sava musnng ama
vu. The councillor punished him for
his bad behaviour. Variant: thurik na;
durik na; murik na.
tu rik t straighten; stretch out.
tu rik tm vt. 1 straighten. Ka mu
rik t chama vaiait diva che thk
mava chevs nani chama thinm.
He straightened the strand of wire to
make his spear to catch fish.
2 stretch out. Venansius da aruan
ava vn mtha d angmbs
mamr ia chna murik tmngt.
Venansius had pain in his joints and
could not stretch them. Variant: thu rik
tm; mu rik tm; tu rik t; thu rik t;
mu rik t.
tusachus sa-vi. be irritating; feel
uncomfortable. Ngu tal kama uratki
d chi tusachus vono vt guathng.
I carried the basket and it felt uncom-
fortable on my back. Variant: thusa-
chus; dusachus; musachus; thusavus;
tusavus; dusavus; musavus.
tusachus sa-vi. wriggle around be-
cause of irritation; toss and turn e.g.
while trying to sleep. K tal kama
vlmga d cha tusachus i sok
amrn. He carried the pig and he
wriggled around because it (the pig)
was heavy. Variant: thusachus; dusa-
chus; musachus; thusavus; tusavus;
dusavus; musavus.
tusachus nanas sa-vi. act funny; e.g.
in a concert or in a burst of high
spirits. Thi tamal tchama rura ma
tha tusavus nanas. They laughed at
the people who were acting funny.
Variant: thusachus nanas; dusachus
nanas; musachus nanas.
tu salel n vt. shrink. Ngia thu salel
tusamon dm n
nigia vtka. You shrink your house.
Variant: thu salel n.
tusamon dm n vt. collect; gather
things together. Ka tusamon dm
nchama viam smt avama uratki.
He collected the galip nuts (Canarium
indicums) (and put them) into his
basket. Variant: thusamon dm; dusa-
mon dm; musamon dm.
tu samor s vt. make fun. Ngia mu
samor si chi da kosa chia gur. You
made fun of her and now she is angry.
Variant: thu samor s; du samor s; mu
samor s.
tu sa sothana n vt. change; espec-
ially of changing clothes. Asik ngua
thu sa sothana nguama sravtki. I
will change my shirt. Variant: thu sa
sothana; du sa sothana; mu sa
sothana.
tu sathver n vt. widen. Ngia thu
sathver ni gia mbangga. You widen
house. Variant: thu sathver n.
tusavus wriggle because of irritation;
toss and turn e.g. while trying to
sleep.
tusavus be irritating; feel uncom-
fortable.
tu th decorate.
tu thm vt. decorate. Ti ler kama
chaver tha thu thchama sgna-
cha. They break the wild palms and
they decorate the net bag (bilum).
Variant: thu thm; du thm; mu thm;
tu th; thu th; du th; mu th.
tu thm mes sa-vi. decorate oneself.
Nasot sa chama duraika chk ama
chumska cha mu thm mes ma-
mr. Later the male rooster decorated
himself beautifully. Variant: thu thm
mes; du thm mes; mu thm mes.
tu thm mes pt vi-so. be glorious. Ka
thu thchm da muthm mes
pthacha. He arose and was glorious.
Variant: thu thm mes pt; du thm
187
tuvet mt
mes pt; mu thm mes pt.
tu thik dm vt. beat. Ngua tu thik
dm nge diva ngua tu rik tm nge. I
beat you in order to straighten you
(make you obedient). Variant: thu thik
dm; du thik dm; mu thik dm.
tuthik mna vt. shoot at. Dak kinai
kvicha chinai cha ve ch tuthik
mna tha vik. And in turn, that one,
he shoots at them. Variant: thuthik
mna.
tuthik namt vt. throw something at
someone; shoot. Kule ma ngi tuthik
namt kama duraik. Do not throw
(things) at the chickens. Morph: tu=tik
na=mt. Lit: put=hand from=within.
Variant: thuthik namt.
tu vlk svt vt. fall in love with.
Jennifer chia tu vlk svt kama
thoemga achk ma tha teska ia
Tom. Jennifer fell in love with a boy
called Tom. Variant: thu vlk svt; du
vlk svt; mu vlk svt.
tuvet sa-vi. answer. Vaimga angbs
ka muvet i angbs cha drm. The
dog did not answer because he did not
know. Variant: thuvet; duvet; muvet.
tuvet mt vt. 1 answer; respond. Cha
tuvet mt ava oesnank ia cha
niavi. He responded to his wife that
he was coming.
2 reciprocate. Ivit da sika mali
lvopki chia met nainavi d choki
ta thuvet mtki ma thi vonda l-
vopki save... And so on, so if one
woman came from there they will also
reciprocate for her by giving another
woman there...
3 take revenge; pay back. Ka ve
cha thuvet mt ma Klmen klan
mali ma chlumn ka tamon svm
ga. He was going to pay back the fool
for what the fool said to him earlier.
Variant: thuvet mt; duvet mt; muvet
mt.
tha
Th
tha they; them.
thabu angt nank n. insect sp.; flat
and black; 3 cm long; lives under
bark; smells if you touch it. Kama
thabu angt nank da achluing
ngt da angthn pthanas. The
insect is black and it smells. Pl: thabu
angt nank kna. Variant: tabu angt
nank.
thabucha n. tree sp.; used for making
canoes. Ka thap savama thabucha
diva ch thms dava kanucha. He
cut down the thabucha tree in order to
carve his canoe. Pl: thabu. Variant:
tabucha.
thabucha n. dust; ash; specifically
white ash from a fire. Thabucha
vetha cha nmt kama volkano
athama unpka. Dust is all over him
from the volcanos ash. Pl: thabu. See:
unpka dust; chinap ash.
thachski armband.
thaembm n. 1 child. Morph: at=oem
vm. Lit: 3F.SG.POSS child-reduced.SG.
2 young animal; especially puppies
or piglets. Pl: thaembap. Variant:
taembem. See: thoemga child; son;
student; assistant.
thagumacha n. grasshopper sp.;
brown. Pl: thagum. Variant: taguma-
cha.
thaik this one.
thain dance.
thair stand; wait.
thair pt walk with.
thair s make stand.
thair snas stand alone.
thair snania lean against something
while standing.
thaithaik this particular one.
thaithak this particular one.
thaithang this particular one; these
particular ones; these particular flat
ones; these particular long ones.
thaithath these particular people.
thaith right here.
thaithchm this particular short one.
188
thamon
- th
thaithchit this particular large one.
thaithmlk these particular flat
ones.
thaithmlm these particular flat
two.
thaithnk these particular large
ones.
thaithnm these particular two large
ones.
thaithsem these particular two long
ones.
thaithvam these particular two short
ones.
thaithvap these particular short
ones.
thaithvem these particular two.
thaithvs this particular flat one.
thaithvet this particular long one.
thaithigl this particular piece.
thaithigleng these particular pieces.
thaithik right now; just like this.
thaithini this particular small one.
thaithiom these particular two.
thaithithom these particular two
small ones.
thaithithong these particular small
ones.
thak this one.
thal carry; move; bear; give birth.
thalechachi n. bush sp.; used for
decoration; grows in the bush.
Pl: thalek. Variant: talechachi.
thalngacha earthworm sp.
thaliaska n. wizard. Ma secha cha
vlng ma thalias. The hero killed
the wizard. Pl: thalias. Variant: talias.
thamal laugh.
thamal t laugh at.
thamn speak.
thamn dm sanctify; bewitch.
thamn ithm mes confess.
thamn pthanas s give thanks.
thamn sthm tell.
thamon speak.
thamon ithm mes thchnmuvs

thamon ithm mes confess. thas nthm taste.

thanng adj. firmly in place. Kama that get; give birth.
amng ama thanng. That tree is thatalvmga n. carrier. Chama Sia-
firmly in place. Note: only th. pan'gna tha mthacha diva athva
thanngga n. local man; a person from thtalvmga. The Japanese got him
the village where the speaker is. Ma for their carrier. Pl: thatalvmda.
Elly da sa chave athanngga ith ve Variant: thtalvmga.
ia Marunga. Elly is a local man from thatalvmgi n. female carrier.
Marunga. Pl: thanngda.
that d copy.
thannggi n. local woman. Note: only
that dm copy.
th.
that gt bump.
thang catch fire; burn.
that m na leave.
thang these; these flat ones.
that mt share; divide.
thangabs banana block; banana leaf.
that mt na leave.
thangamga banana.
that nthm help.
thangamgi banana; banana plant.
thavan'ga shellfish sp.; clam.
thangaminggel banana block; banana
plantation; piece of banana. thavuligl n. split rope. Di chia vunak
mni cha en'ga di gisnia chama
thanger vt snap; break off; spear.
thawlk. And it twisted the iron spear
thang mt burn; be on fire; be in a as if it was split rope. Variant: thawlk.
fire.
thavulka n. 1 vine sp.; makes a good
thap make a cut. rope. Thawlka da chama
thap sa cut down; cut off. chagthacha ma chrot ka. Thawlka
thap s cut down; cut off. vine is a strong (type of) rope.
thar invite; ask for someone; call for 2 rope. Pl: thavu. Variant: tavulka;
someone; lead; pull in a fish. Usage: thawlka.
Abilta dialect. thawlk split rope.
thar fall; particularly of fruit. thawlka vine sp.; rope.
thareracha n. green grasshopper sp.; thbr nanm little forest person.
makes a loud rasping noise at night. thbut tbut s stamp.
Pl: tharer. Variant: tareracha.
thcham wake up; be awake; be alive;
thares press. arise.
tharesbana promise. thcham start.
thares dm agree. thchan groan.
tharesini n. trouble. Di nge dlu ut thchasp get up early.
ptha utha tharesithong diva nge
thchasp morning.
tlavuchi ni gia thoes. So you see us
in our troubles and be merciful to your thchm wake up; be awake; be alive;
children. Pl: tharesithong. Variant: arise.
taresini. thchm svthanas realise.
thares pt praise; worship. thchnmucha n. sacred being; God
thares svt note; bless. the Everlasting. Thchnmucha
chusek ka arktm cha. Only God
thar mt open.
the Everlasting is holy. Pl: thchnmu.
thar s fall out. Note: only th.
thar s pour out; especially of water thchnmuvs n. taboo place. Kule
from a tap. ma avinos nge avi mt kama ath-
thar tm remove; take off; uncover. chnmu. Do not play around there in
thas sleep; lie down. the sacred place. Pl: thchnmu. Note:
only th.

189
thchp thng

thchp fill. thm itch.

thchp n be full. thm at; along.
thchr command; order. thmana lower down; often used to
thcheria agree. refer to down on the coast.
thcheria ba agree with. thmanas after oneself.
thcheria bana agree. thmanp down there.
thgumga n. fish sp.; two types of thmano lower down; often used to
stonefish: one is a saltwater fish and refer to down on the coast.
a good eating fish, the other lives in thms vt carve.
fresh water; both are brown and can thmna together.
sting with poisonous spines. Pl:
thmono across; along; that way.
thgum. Variant: tugumga; thugumga.
themuanacha n. landslide. Kama
thk wear; specifically the apron of
saeng ama mor d achlak kama
leaves worn by women at the front of
ivitki da kosa lr dchama ivitki d
their bodies.
ut tes ia athemuanacha. The big
thk do; work. rains make the earth soft and the
thk dngtham expand. earth breaks apart, so we call it a
thk ma work in. landslide. Pl: athemuan. Note: only th.
thk mamr tm meet someone thmuit sidewards.
accidentally; run into. thn gather together; meet up.
thk m work in. thn arrive; come; reach; return.
thk m make; heap up. thn grow; specifically make a baby
thk mt work in. grow.
thk mu n prepare. thn grow.
thk na process. thn hang.
thk na send; work on. thenachi start.
thk n send; work on. thnavuk down a bit from towards
speaker.
thk pm shove.
thn bt find.
thk s work with; work in.
thn d be stuck.
thk svt point at.
thn dm be stuck.
thktk n. job; work. Kama thktk
nani chama rura iva thi thal thn dmna meet together, usually
palang. The work for the people is to informally.
carry planks. Pl: thktk. thendem p leave out; exclude.
thektm adj. whole. Ta von'ga ncha- thn m become.
ma thinmgi ama thektmgi. They thn pa reach; find.
gave him the whole fish. Note: only th.
thn p reach; find.
thk tichim avoid.
thn pt meet each other.
thk v touch; feel.
thn pt reach; find.
thk vt touch; feel.
then pthanas be smelly.
thelelki n. palm sp.; has small leaves;
thn s arrive with; bring.
looks a bit like a betelnut palm, only
smaller; fronds are good to use as thn vt find.
thatch. Pl: thelel. Variant: talalki. thng process; specifically to scrape
thlng fish sp. the skin off wood fibre to make it
silky for rolling into string.
thlng leaf; piece of paper.
thng n. 1 back. Kama athucha d
thlng angt uratki rubbish bin.
cha tet nva thng. The hermit crab
thlnggi rubbish.

190
theng thvrchinggl

walks backwards [Lit: ... from his back]. thes name; call by name.
2 top. Ngia thas vt kama lavichia thes bottom.
atha thng. You lie down on top of ths eat.
the bed [Lit: ... the bed, its back]. Ngua
thesavet da sek narrate; tell a story.
mu chama peletka vuk vt kama
tevolki atha thng. I put the plate on thesavet dm narrate; tell about.
the top of the table [Lit: ... the table, its thes nas call oneself.
back]. ths t shake.
3 behalf. K gur svt ava
ths t chulim blow nose.
duraiki aththng. He got angry on
behalf of his chicken. Note: only th. ths tm shake.
Note: no endings. thstmna n eat with.
theng twist together. thet walk; go.
thp cut. tht get; give birth.
thepka n. axe. Usage: Abilta dialect. Ngi thtalvmga carrier.
von ngo nchama thepka diva ngu thet dm dry; desiccate; be dried out
thap schama nngachit. Give me from lying in the sun.
the axe so that I can cut down the tree.
thet kutna miss someone because
Pl: athap. See: avthapki axe. Note:
each person went by a different
only th.
path.
thp ma make; carve.
thet na go past; pass.
thpma methamn discuss.
thet ngis n miss a target.
thp ma musnng plan; have an idea.
tht pthik let go of; drop.
thp ma s respect; keep to the rules
tht s get.
about something.
tht sthm be stuck.
thp m make; build; carve.
thethana be friends; be married;
thp m chdenggi keep clean.
group together.
thpms vt sharpen.
ththanas help oneself; to take
thepmuan squeeze. something without permission.
thepmuan s press. ththuk slide; especially of something
thepmuan vt digest. like a landslide.
thp mus t work; initiate. thvaik explain.
thp mus tm work; initiate. thvaik namn redeem.
thp pt inform. thvaik t loosen; unwrap; remove.
thr excrete. thvaik tm loosen; unwrap; remove.
ther refuse; decline. thvlka n. shellfish sp.; small
thr pull out; uproot; clear. abalone; shell is brown outside and
mother-of-pearl inside; is flat; up to
thranas go; take off; leave.
6 cm long; shell covers its entire
thravt weed. back; can stick strongly to the reef;
thravt s remove. lives out on the reef where the sea
ther d vt. crumble. Kama dozer cha breaks. Pl: thvl. Variant: tvlka.
rer dchama ivitki. The dozer thvng sing.
crumbled the earth. Variant: rer d. thvnggi song; specifically the songs
thr na lay; specifically of a turtle used in conjunction with day dances.
laying eggs. thvng mt sing in.
thernas be frightened. thvrchinggl n. louse. Cha mn vt
thr vthanas have diarrhoea. kama tvrchinggl vthuvs. He
thes read. found the louse on his head. Pl: thv-
rk. Variant: tvrchinggl.

191
thvtki
thvtki n. burnt and cleared area; an
area being prepared for a garden, it
needs one more clean before plant-
ing. Ngu lmr mchama thvtki
diva ngu vt gu chalasung. I will
clean the cleared area so I can plant
my sweet potato (kaukau). Pl: thvt.
thvika n. explanation; meaning. Koi-
ku ngua ndrm nchama metha-
mnini angtha thvika. I don't
know the meaning of the word.
Pl: thvaik. Note: only th.
thvono higher up; often used to refer
to up on the mountain(s).
thevuit mo forever more.
thvuk up there.
thi they.
thi sa-vi. do quickly. Ngi pul d ngia thi
ngia thi. You have to paddle quickly.
thia modal. FOC. Gram: Realis focus marker.
Kama rucha cha lu chama thinm
d cha thia ka chut sumugurup da
kosa cha chut kama thinmgi ama
morki. The man saw the fish and at
once he shot into them and he just
shot a big fish.
thichina do something (definite).
thichina n make something
(definite).
thigil mt split.
thigil s chop up.
thigl tm split; cut up.
thik this very one.
thik get down.
thik they. Usage: Abilta dialect.
thik now.
thik s pick; knock down.
thik t pick; break; snap off.
thik tm pick; break; snap off.
thina them and.
thin them and.
thinmbs school of fish.
thinmbes n. school of fish. Ve sng
ma Mundai ama renggi d ngua lu
chama thinmbs nchama makau.
At the mouth of the Mundai River I
saw a school of tilapia. Variant: thi-
nmbs. Note: only th.
thinmmtki n. tinned fish. Amnia
192
thondmga
nal mt kama thinmmt? How
many kina for a tin of fish? Pl:
thinmmt.
thinggiar be disgusted; be revolted.
thinggiarachi n. land crab sp.; up to
6 cm in diameter; lives under piles of
stones near the beach; can regrow a
lost pincer. Pl: thinggar. Variant:
inggiarachi.
thinggiaras n. repulsive thing; scary
thing; something you do not want to
see or smell. Pl: thinggiar. Variant:
tinggiaras.
thir grow fast.
thithiglem these particular two
pieces.
thobakathva muska n. grass-
hopper sp.; green with large back
legs; if it flies into a house, people
may ask it questions to find out
whether bad luck is coming, or if
someone will die. Pl: thobekathva
mues. Variant: tobekathva muska.
thodm recount; narrate; tell.
thoemga child; son; student; assistant.
thok impregnate.
thombek athva sdm n. mushroom
sp.; very thin, brown, and semi-
transparent; feel like plastic; round
and grow up to 5 cm in diameter;
found growing on rotting trees.
thomga spirit; ghost.
thon go in; enter; sink; drown; be
stuck.
thon bring in; specifically the sea
throwing things onto the shore.
thon throw away; subtract.
thonanas jump; throw oneself.
thonbathm na check; examine.
thonbathm n check; examine.
thon d follow.
thon dm follow.
thondmga n. 1 law. Deo ava
thondmga ama naruerka ia, Ngi
lotu svt Deo ama snggk
klan. Gods first law is, You
worship only one God. Ambangm
angtha thondm. The law of the
village.
2 rule. Alenge angthieik chvi-
thondmka
cha ma asik ch tp ma thondm
svt kama msmski. The leader is
the one who makes the rules for the
feast. Pl: thondm. Pl: athondm.
Variant: athondmka; thondmka.
thondmka law; rule.
thon dmna gather together.
thonel hunt; wander.
thon ma clear land for a new garden;
throw away; abandon.
thon ma heap up.
thon meng check.
thon mt wear; put on.
thon na throw.
thon n throw.
thon sk move to.
thonsvanas tm disown; dissociate
from.
thon svt move to.
thon vt follow.
thong turn.
thong mes turn.
thor bathe; swim; get wet.
thor wash.
thor swim.
thoret vt. drag. Sa chule sa uthi
thoret ki imanp klan. Afterwards,
we just dragged it down. Variant: roret.
thoret sa-vi. crawl. Christa sa chiave
chi thoret. Christa is starting to
crawl. Chia roret sva vut. She
crawled to the house. Variant: roret.
thor na pour.
thranas go; take off; leave.
thu put; wear; put on; lay.
thu shoot.
thu amethamn pt pass a message.
thu amuvtka svt punish.
thuareska n. young man. Thi tp ma
methamn schama thuareska vak
iva ch sk anga lugutki. They are
discussing (the idea that) the young
man will marry [Lit: will marry a wife].
Pl: thuaresta. Note: only th.
thuareski n. young woman.
thu av snng think.
thu av snng mamr calm down;
settle down; relax.
193
thu mamr sna
thu ba set rules.
thu chelak tm please; do something
to soften the other person.
thu chuar s call; calling out to
someone to follow you.
thuchuas fig tree.
thuchul crave.
thuchulki n. throat. Pl: thuchul. Variant:
tuchul.
thuchun sit; settle.
thuchun chase; hit.
thuchun mes instruct.
thuchunmska n. 1 explanation.
2 instructions. Ka tt kama thu-
chunmska mrmr da chok koi ia
chna met pathmga. He always
gets the instructions and then he just
does not follow them. Pl: thuchuns.
thuchupki edible stalk of a wild cane
sp. (pitpit).
thu daruan hurt; injure.
thu dm n lose.
thu dng interrupt; fail to finish.
thuer before; first.
thuer sa-vi. 1 go first. Mubang ngu
er. I will go first tomorrow. Dak kvi
tha ma thi thuer s chama chrot...
And those who went first with the
power...
2 go ahead. Sa cha thuer da sik
ngni lu cha. He went ahead and you
all will see him.
3 go in front. Kama chumska ch
ruer di indet ivi. The man walks in
front and the two of them go up.
Variant: ruer; er; kuer.
thuer na sa-vi. race each other. Ini
ruer na smni arenggi. The two
race to the river. Variant: ruer na; oer
na; uer na.
thugas play.
thugas s play a game.
thugas t play with.
thugumga fish sp.; two types of
stonefish.
thuingga n. oyster. Pl: thuaing. Variant:
tuingga.
thu ma joke; make fun.
thu mamr sna level; straighten.
thu mana ulunggi

thu mana arrange oneselves. thu sa sothana change; especially of

thu manas prepare oneself; get ready.
thu ma s joke about.
thu mt set on fire.
thu mrang dm cover.
thu na shoot with.
thunaik na put in place; leave.
thu nank grizzle; cry for something
for a long time.
thu nas mk humble oneself.
thunepki drum (small garamut).
thunggas play.
thunggas s play a game.
thunggas t play with.
thunggumgi base of a cup, house, or
tree; back of a boat.
thuong bewitch.
thurik na punish.
thu rik t straighten; stretch out.
thu rik tm straighten; stretch out.
thusachus wriggle because of irrita-
tion; toss and turn e.g. while trying
to sleep.
thusachus be irritating;
uncomfortable.
thusachus nanas act funny.
thu salel n shrink.
thusamon dm collect; gather things
together.
thu samor s make fun.
changing clothes.
thu sathver n widen.
thusavus be irritating; feel
uncomfortable.
thusavus wriggle because of irritation;
toss and turn e.g. while trying to
sleep.
thut base of the inside of a container.
thu th decorate.
thu thm decorate.
thu thm mes decorate oneself.
thu thm mes pt be glorious.
thu thik dm beat.
thuthik mna shoot at.
thuthik namt throw at; shoot.
thu vlk svt fall in love with.
thuvska n. father-in-law; brother-in-
law; uncle-in-law; any in-laws except
ones wifes mothers brother and
his wife. Chris avama thvuska ma
Pius. Chriss father-in-law is Pius. Ava
thuvski nma ava oemga ava
lugutki. His daughter-in-law is his
sons wife. Pl: thuvsvek.
feel
thuvski n. mother-in-law; sister-in-
law; aunt-in-law; any in-laws except
ones wifes mothers brother and
his wife.
thuvet answer.
thuvet mt answer; respond;
reciprocate; take revenge; pay back.

U - u

u his; its. ulabungacha n. naked boy or man.

ubatki n. reef fish sp.; various colours:
blue, brown, or black with whitish
fins; up to 30 cm long; have sharp
teeth and very tough skin which
must be burnt off before eating.
Pl: ubat.
uer adv. before. Di chia suchut nanas,
uer kia rut na atha lchrithom...
She tried, first she pushed her two
small legs... Variant: ruer; thuer.
uer na race each other.
ulabung n. nakedness.
Elton d chama ulabungacha. Elton
is a naked boy. Pl: ulabungatha.
ulabungachi n. naked girl or woman.
ulmangachi tree sp.; native orange.
ulul long.
ulunggi n. 1 room. Chi da athama
ulunggi da chia muthmgi d chia
naingim mamr. She decorated her
room and it looked nice.
2 class; grade. Kave ia ulunggi ma
dvaguik nachi. He is in grade three.
Pl: ulung.

194
ulutka
ulutka n. reef fish sp.; grey with
slippery skin, no scales, and a big
belly; lies on the reef. Ulutka da cha
tas mt kama sul. The ulutka species
lies on the reef. Pl: ulut.
umask male. Usage: Abilta dialect.
umngacha n. enemy; raider. Kama
umngacha cha vlng arucha pe va
lat. The raider killed a man at the
garden. Pl: umang.
umngachi n. flash flood. Srmn
vtha ut nmt kama umngachi.
We were surprised by the flash flood.
Pl: umang.
un pro. 1 we. Gram: First person dual class
three pronoun. Un met smni
arenggi. We went to the river.
2 us. Gram: First person dual class three
pronoun. Cha von mt kama adichi
ba un. He broke the taro for us.
una us two and.
unbem two.
unbes evening.
undrki n. forest. Kama undrki avaik
da as koiku tha thep manga lat
vemgi. That forest has not yet had any
gardens in it. Pl: undr.
undom two small ones.
un pro. us two and. Morph: un=n. Lit:
1DL.III=and. Variant: una.
unpka n. dust. Socha av unpka.
Sawdust. Pl: unap. See: thabucha
dust; ash.
unes darkness. Usage: Abilta dialect.
uni pro. we two. Gram: First person dual
class two pronoun. Uni tal kama
marupki ma un vlng gi. We carry
the cassowary that we killed.
unmlm two flat ones.
un'gi darkness; shade; shadow.
un'giom two.
ungut husband. Usage: Abilta dialect.
ur bush.
ura coord. or. Gram: Disjunction marker.
Tha met sva lat ura mailu smni
arenggi. They went to the garden or
maybe the river.
195
uthi
urachi witch.
uras n. wing of a flying fox. See: urasvs
leaf (taro _ or Singapore _ ).
urasvs n. leaf; specifically of a taro or
singapore plant. Pl: uras.
uratki n. basket. Cha drm ia cha ser
uratki. He knows how to weave a
basket. Pl: urat.
uratps n. coconut frond; stem is used
to make a basket. Pl: uratimlk.
urn'ga n. crayfish; prawn; generic
term; refers to both salt water and
freshwater species. Chi pus kama
urn'ga nmt agarski. She cooks
the crayfish from the sea. Pl: urn.
urn'gi n. large crayfish; large prawn;
generic term; refers to both salt
water and freshwater species.
Pl: urn.
urki bush.
urumbucha n. abandoned house.
Ngni lu vama urumbucha autha
thoemka Jesus. You all see our baby
Jesus in the abandoned house.
Pl: urumbu.
us kopra copra shed; hut used to dry
coconut and store copra.
usupki n. 1 sky. Usupki ma
chthiacha nachi. The sky is blue.
2 heaven. Dak ma Deo ava gthp
ka ma arektch usupki. But God, in
his anger, banned (them from) heaven.
Pl: usp.
ut pro. 1 we. Gram: First person plural
class one pronoun. Ut met nani
amsms va lat. We went for the food
in the garden.
2 us. Gram: First person plural class
three pronoun. Nge ngaip nas baut
vtha Hosita. You hide yourself for us
in the Host.
utna us and.
utn pro. us and. Morph: ut=n. Lit:
1PL.III=and. Variant: utna.
uthi pro. we. Gram: First person plural class
two pronoun. Uthi tvng da amr
vthaut. We sing and we are happy.
va
V -
va at.
va subord. PURP. Gram: Basic purposive. Cha
met va cha thonel. He went so he
could hunt. Note: only v.
va his; its.
vachvaik that particular one.
vachvak that particular one.
vachvang that particular one; those
particular ones; those particular flat
ones.
vadechi n. bow. Andrew cha drm ch
tp mchama vadechi. Andrew
knows how to make a bow. Pl: vadek.
Note: only v.
vadechi atha chepki n. arrow. Chave
ch tpms vt kama vadechi atha
chepki. He is sharpening the arrow.
Pl: vadek angtha chep. Note: only v.
vadi want to; intend to; try to; nearly;
almost; maybe.
vae blow; only of the wind.
vae tap.
vae s blow.
vae vt slap.
vai fall down; hit the ground; land
heavily.
vai blow; only of the wind.
vaiait n. wire; specifically a single
strand of wire. Ka mu rik tchama
vaiait diva che thk mava chevs
nani chama thinm. He straightened
the strand of wire to make his spear to
catch fish. Pl: vaia. Note: only v.
vaiaves n. arc mesh; sheet of wire
fencing. Ka vondm mt kama
vaiaves nave ia RMI. He bought the
arc mesh from RMI (Rabaul Metal
Industries). Note: only v.
vaidebunggi n. 1 tree sp.; known as
wild orange tree.
2 wild orange. Vaidebunggi d
ngbes thi na mski. They dont eat
the wild orange.
3 ball; refers to something the size
of a volleyball. Vaidebunggi vaivaik
ma thoes tha tugas thmgi. That ball
that the kids are playing with.
196
vaivthom
v
Pl: vaidebung. Note: only v.
vaidebungini n. small ball; something
the size of a tennis ball.
vai dm hit at; kick.
vai dm pt crucify.
vai dm s hammer.
vaigel tm beat up.
vaik jump.
vaik that one.
vaik d jump.
vaik dm jump.
vaim fold.
vaimanas wind itself.
vaim atha nmga n. large forest rat;
has tan fur; lives in holes. Kama vaim
ng nes kama vaim atha nmga
nva ur. The dog bit the large forest
rat from the bush. Pl: vaim atha nm.
Variant: paim atha nmga.
vaimbem n. puppy. Pl: vaimbap.
vai mt slap.
vaimga n. dog. Vaim ng vlng kama
vlmga. The dogs killed a pig.
Pl: vaim. Variant: paimga.
vaimgi n. bitch.
vaim m wind around.
vair pt vi-so. be proud. Vair ptha ngo
sama mthk. I am proud about the
gifts. Note: only v.
vais crush.
vaisdm pt enclose; encircle.
vai s blow.
vais pt tie up.
vaithm pat.
vaivaik that particular one.
vaivak that particular one.
vaivang those particular flat ones.
vaivang that particular one; those
particular ones.
vaivathe those particular people.
vaivni that particular small one.
vai vt slap.
vai vthanas slap oneself.
vaivthom those particular two small
vaivthong
ones.
vaivthong those particular small
things.
vak that one.
vaki subord. until. Kule cha va lat d
ch tk vaki banganggi d cha dn.
He stays at the garden and he works
until night, then he returns. Morph: va=
koki. Lit: purposive= also. Note: only v.
valachi n. blister. Vthik ng mang da
valachi chia mn. His hand got burnt
and a blister formed. Pl: valak.
valmka n. hook. Tha thn gama
thangamga dchama valmka. They
hung the bananas on the hook.
Pl: valm. Variant: palmmka.
vali roll.
valing sa-vi. turn over. Variant: waling.
valing s vi-so. flip over. Valing
schama vaimga ava sdem. This
dog's ears flip over. Variant: waling s.
valkachuik be disobedient; refuse to
follow instructions.
valkachuik na disobey.
valocha egg.
valpal twigs.
val t knock over.
val tm knock over.
valuacha n. egg. Duraiki chia mu at
paluacha mt kama bogiski. The
chicken laid her egg in the box. Pl: valo.
Variant: paluacha; valocha.
valvalka n. clear area; an area that has
been cleared for a garden but which
is not clean yet, all the big trees have
been removed but the small plants
are still there. Angmamkiom ina
ainoes tha met thi donma vtha-
thva valvalka. The parents and their
children went to clear out a patch for a
garden. Pl: valval. Variant: walwal. Note:
only v.
valvalka n. finger; toe; generic term of
the extremities of the hands and feet.
Aruan guama valval. My toes hurt.
Pl: valval.
valvalki n. twigs. Cha mt kama valval
diva cha nachi schama mudam. He
got the twigs so he could start a fire
with them. Pl: valval. Variant: valpal.
Note: only v.
197
vangon'ga
vam pro. short two. Gram: Reduced dual
nominal pronoun. Vaimbam taithvam
da kethopka vthavam. These two
dogs are very fat.
vam shore; beach; riverbank; front.
van name of dancer; masked dancer,
dressed in yellow leaves from the
victory leaf plant, who carries
beating sticks and punishes children.
vandi disc. 1 want to; intend to. Gram:
Desiderative marker. Ka tu avsnng ia
vandi chaet save ia Masarau. He
thought that he wanted to go to
Masarau.
2 try to. Vandi vangam ngthi
thonanas sthm gi. The short one
tried to block her.
3 nearly; almost. Kama kavatka
cha mu na rmgi vet kama thoemga
da sa vandi cha ingip. The spirit that
causes illness made the child sick and
he was almost dead.
4 maybe. Vandi ithik da ngni tlu
ve. Maybe now you can see there.
Variant: vadi.
vandok n. knuckles. Ngua mugun gu
vandok dchama vaimga uvs. I hit
the dog with my knuckles. Note: only v.
Note: no endings.
vanim vt. roll around; turn over; e.g.
movements of waves and fabric. Ngi
vanim chama matka d ngia thu cha
vuk povar. You roll the mat over and
put it on top. Variant: wanim.
vanis t beat up.
vanis tm beat up.
vang run; come.
vang that one; those ones; those flat
ones.
vang bt take without permission.
vangbinem n. wanderings. Kule
ngaiom dmna mt aina
vangbinem. The two stay together in
their wanderings. Variant: bangbinem.
vang binem roam; wander.
vanggal suck in stomach.
vangon'ga n. flying fox. Kama va-
ngon'ga cha vuk ka chop pchama
mngga uvs. The flying fox is up
there, hanging at the top of the tree.
Pl: vangon. Variant: pangon'ga; angon.
vangon'gi
vangon'gi n. stingray sp.; medium size;
greenish back and white belly; its
head looks like a birds head; leaps
from the water. Pl: vangon. Variant:
pangon'gi.
vang vt run over.
vap pro. short ones. Gram: Reduced plural
nominal pronoun. Vaimbap ama
chthopka vtha vap. Those puppies
are fat.
var cook in an earth oven (mumu).
var reach; arrive.
var dir. higher. D cha vn svt kama
ngemngi at lalt va cha vn sva
var. And he climbed onto the stump of
a tree so he could get up higher. Note:
only v.
varanda porch; verandah.
varat mess up; displace.
var d drag.
var dm drag.
var dm mes crawl.
variachi n. 1 breadfruit tree.
2 breadfruit. Ngu plk ia ngua ts
kama var. I want to eat breadfruit.
Pl: var. Variant: pariachi. See: vaski
breadfruit tree and fruit.
varka n. boundary between sections
within an area of garden belonging to
one person; used for planting diffe-
rent crops. Sa kama lat avang bik,
d choki chama nunggul, de chama
var d tha mu thchama lat pach-
vang, d tha vt kama lagun. That
particular garden, just at the boundary,
and inside the boundary they decorated
that garden, and they planted victory
leaf (there). Pl: var. Note: only v.
varkurai n. court. Aruiom ma in svo
in met smt kama varkurai. The
two men who stole went to court. Note:
only v. Note: no endings.
var mana svt gather around.
var na call; specifically to call for a
domestic animal.
var na mngga n. pulley. Angmbs
nanga var na mngga iva nani cha
mnggi ithaik. There is no pulley for
this large tree.
var s invite; ask for someone; call for
someone; lead; pull in a fish.
198
vathm mes
varuchi n. lizard sp.; brown and up to
8 cm long. Pl: varu. Note: only v.
va sa subord. so that. Tha thik schama
viam va sa vadi thas ngt dokosa
arucha achk ka mugunatha. They
were picking galip nuts (Canarium
indicums) so that they could eat them
but another man chased them. Note:
only v.
va sik subord. so that. Ch kumer av
viam va sik k thk nangt. He
cleaned his galip nuts (Canarium
indicums) so that he could sell them.
vasik subord. in order to. Da sik ti ns
ngt mt kama aio vasik ti tal ngt
savono. And they put them into the
bamboo in order to carry them inland.
Morph: va=asik. Lit: purposive= irrealis.
vaski n. 1 breadfruit tree. Gua lika
cha vnd chama vaski avaik. My
brother climbed that breadfruit tree.
2 breadfruit. Pl: vas. See: variachi
breadfruit. Note: only v.
vat plant; bury; plunge; dive.
vatkivatki na vi-so. walk clumsily;
especially to describe a person
walking along and looking down as
they walk. Thoemga cha tet d
vatkivatki nacha nasot av nank.
The child walked clumsily over to his
mother. Note: only v.
vatpathia pitch black; complete
darkness.
vat pthanas forget.
vath those people.
vathecha n. lazy man; a person who
does not like to do any work, they just
sit and chew betelnut all day. Ma
Gulemanas d chama vathecha.
Gulemanas is a lazy person. Gia saem-
gi de chama vathchi ma choiku
china tor atha lugutka ava baul.
Your aunty-in-law is lazy for she does
not wash her husband's clothes.
Pl: vathekta.
vathechi n. lazy woman. Note: only v.
vathk pt vi-so. be lazy. Ngave vathk
ptma Namu d mnatmgi. Namu
is being lazy and sleeping. Note: only v.
vathm along; according to; for.
vathm mes do by choice; do
according to ones own wishes; do
vathm na
unhurriedly; do in ones own time;
act independently.
vathm na alongside; side by side; with
each other; for each other; parallel.
vathik mes fall down.
vathik pt vt. hit; e.g. bash a fish
against the reef to make it die. Chia
vathik pt kama thinmga snani
chama sul. She hit the fish against the
reef. Variant: wathik pt. Note: only v.
vathik tm vt. hit a person; strike. Asik
k vathik tmga. He will strike him.
Variant: wathik tm. Note: only v.
vavar top.
vavchm those particular short
things.
vavchit that particular large thing.
vavgl that particular piece.
vavglem those two particular pieces.
vavgleng those particular pieces.
vavmlm those particular two flat
ones.
vavnk those particular large ones.
vavnk tree sp.
vavnm those particular two large
ones.
vavni that particular small one.
vavsem those particular two long
ones.
vavseng those particular long ones.
vavthom those particular two small
ones.
vavvam this particular short one.
vavvap those particular short ones.
vavvem those particular two.
vavvs that particular flat one.
vavvet that particular long one.
vaviom those particular two.
vavu interj. Wow!
ve sa-vi. be there. Gram: May function as
minor verb in serial verb construction
encoding imperfective aspect. Cha ve sng
arenggi. He is there by the river. Chia
ve va lat. She is there at the garden.
Kama vlmbap ma aduguavap ng
ve mt kama ichthachi. There are
three piglets inside the fenced area.
Asik ngnbe ngni thk? Are you all
going to work? Variant: pe; be.
199
vlmgi
ve there.
v his; its.
vea when.
vcham that short one.
vchm that short one.
vchm those particular short things.
vchs that flat one.
vchit that large one.
vchit that particular large thing.
vdm pinch; nip.
vdm n. borers; similar to white ants
but they do not make tunnels on the
outside of wood; are black. Kama
vdm ng ms kama amng. Borers
eat wood. Note: only v. Note: no endings.
vdm fence; make a fence around an
area.
vgl that piece.
vglem those two pieces.
vglng those pieces.
veia subord. when. Aiski avaik da chi
tk dak veia mavo nachi dasik
maulul. The car works but when it
breaks, it is broken for a long time.
Morph: ve=ia. Lit: there=relator. Variant:
peia; beia; pia; pea; via; vea.
vk at; on; over.
vk fetch water.
vk mt break.
vknas drown.
vk pt hatch.
vk tm break.
velal vm comfort someone in distress.
vlk like; want; love; need.
vlk n. love. Jennifer chia tu vlk
svt kama thoemga achk ma tha
teska ia Tom. Jennifer fell in love with
[Lit: put love to] a boy called Tom.
Variant: plk.
vlmga n. pig. Ngo da ngu tluvt
kama vlmga da sa amorka. Me, I
looked after the pig and it got big.
Pl: vlam. Variant: plmga; plmga;
vlmga.
vlmgi n. 1 sow.
2 large pig.
3 reef fish sp.; brown; has a nose
like a pigs; is up to 1 m long. Pl: vlam.
Variant: plmgi; plmgi; vlmgi.
vlng vr

vlng kill. vn dm bite someone out of anger;

vl mni snap. singe; burn.
vl mt break off. vn dmna n join.
vl s be broken. venk those large things.
vl t bend over; flatten out; be broken. venm those two large ones.
vl tm bend over; flatten out; be vnm those particular two large ones.
broken. vnngacha n. taro shoots. Athemgi at
vl vt break. vnang d sa amor. The taro shoots
are big. Pl: vnang. Note: only v.
vel vt rub; wipe.
veneng dm prepare; make a bed;
vem pro. two things; two people. Gram:
make a platform.
Third person feminine dual reduced nominal
pronoun. veni that small one.
vem in. vn ma pile up.
vm in. vnmalivi writhe; thrash around; es-
pecially something thrashing around
vema as.
in death throws.
ve ma subord. as; when. Ka mn ve ma
vnmaliwi writhe; thrash around; es-
chunngga cha mair. He came when
pecially something thrashing around
it was noon. Morph: ve ma. Lit: there
in death throws.
relator. Variant: vema.
vn m beat.
vmlk those flat things.
vn mna fight each other.
vmlm those two flat ones.
vn mt join.
vmgi n. doorway; opening. Morph: av=
amki. Lit: 3M.SG.POSS=mouth-F.SG. vn mtna join together.
Morph: av=amvem. Lit: 3M.SG.POSS= vn mulau bang; make a loud sound.
mouth-F.DL. ven s honour; praise.
vn climb. vn slp interrogate; question repeat-
vn ring a bell. edly.
ven bend. vn slp sangglm mes check
vna make guess. something for ones own satisfaction.
vna muma make fun; joke. vensenas be proud.
venaseng start; begin. vn vt climb on.
vnbenbs n. step. Ka thk m chama vn'gachi n. passage in a reef. Mliar
vnbenbs dava vtka vam. He made knma karuaik ini tor mt kama
a step at the front of his house. Pl: vn'gachi. The parrot and the early-
vnbenimlk. Note: only v. bird swam in the passage in the reef.
Pl: avang. Note: only v.
vnbn'ga n. chin; lower jaw. Kama
bremgi chia mn vt gua vnbn'ga. vngbngga envelope.
A boil came up on my chin. Morph: a= vng bt wrap up; cover.
bnbn'ga. Lit: SPEC=chin-M.SG. veng dm get something down from a
Pl: vnbn. Variant: bnbn'ga. high place; especially referring to
vn bt search out; gather something picking something from a tree.
that is scarce. veng vt climb up.
vnbon'ga n. generous man. Inosna- vpuit dir. upwards. Cha naingim
den d chama rucha ama vnbon'- vpuit svtha va ruacha. He looked
ga. Inosnaden is a generous person. upwards to his friend. Note: only v.
Pl: vnbonda.
vepuren vt wake up; stir. Usage: Abilta
vnbon'gi n. generous woman. Note: dialect.
only v.
vr get something out of a pocket or a
vncha muma make fun; joke.

200
vramr
similar place; breathe out; put.
vramr be rescued; be saved; recover.
veramr vt pick out the good ones
from a set of things.
vrddung go backwards.
vrk mt be torn; be ripped; shout;
yell.
vrk mt rip.
vrn dm sniff; smell.
vrn svt smell.
vereverechi n. cicada sp.; silvery
colour; found on mountain ranges. Pl:
verevere. Note: only v.
vr ma pull along; talk into; tempt.
vr m grab; catch; kidnap.
vrmngacha n. lizard sp.; is brown
and up to 50 cm long. Pl: vrmang.
vr t grab; catch; kidnap.
vr tm grab; catch; kidnap.
vrvr dm skip.
ves n. bottom. Usage: A euphemism for
anus. Alechi dchama uratki athes.
There is a hole in the bottom of the
basket. Bp dchama vaimga ves.
The dogs anus farted. Morph: at=ves.
Lit: 3F.SG.POSS=bottom. Variant: thes.
vs cook.
ves blow.
vsding close.
vsding mt cover.
vsding sthm block; stop someone
from doing something.
vseng those long things.
veski head.
vski head.
ves mt blow on.
vesnas sa-vi. find nothing where you
expect to find something; e.g. ripe
bananas you were planning to pick
but someone came along and took
them. Ngua met ngu ngini viam da
sa ngua vesnas. I went to find galip
nuts (Canarium indicums) but I found
none. Note: only v.
vs pm vt. close. Sa chule sa chia nia
chia vs pmgi. So then it was going
to close its mouth. Note: only v.
vs pm na vt. close; referring to
something with equal sides that is
201
vthen
hinged; e.g. a book or a mouth. Ngua
tet ve d sul d ngua lu chama
tawan'ga d cha wus vm na vamgi.
I walked on the reef and saw a clam
close its mouth. Variant: wus vm (Abilta
dialect). Note: only v.
vs s get out.
ves tmna na vi-so. be combined.
Kama arutha ma Baininggna, Sul-
kagna, ut mo ves tmna naut mt
kama mugunbs. The people, the
Bainings and Sulkas, we were all
combined at the meeting.
vestm svt whisper charms.
vsves magic spell; curse; charm.
ves vt charm; do magic.
vsvis adj. swollen. Dmska vak d
ch bond chama slp ma vsvis.
That mosquito gives people swollen
legs. Note: only v.
vt at; on; over.
vt plant; bury; plunge.
vt dm d vt. put the walls on a house.
Ka vt dm dcha bangga da asok.
He put up the walls of the house and
now it is solid. Note: only v.
vtka house; village.
vtpt fall; scatter.
vtha at; on; over.
vethachi n. fin, flipper, or tail of a
dolphin. Kama churepki chi tortm
d uthi tlu athama vethachi. The
dolphin swam and we saw its tail.
Pl: avet. Note: only v.
vethaindik mtna grapple; two people
grappling with each other.
vethana head to tail; back to front.
vthana relate socially; interact.
vthanas prep. to oneself; on oneself.
Ka mu chi vthanas d cha met. He
put them on himself and he went.
Morph: vt=nas. Lit: PREP=REFL. Variant:
pthanas.
vthapki axe.
vthm n. village. Stephan ava vthm
ma Ili. Stephan's village is Ili.
Pl: avutvap. Note: only v.
vthen n. lime powder. Arura nave ia
PNG d thi sing chama kurem
ngnchama vthen. People from
vthenm
PNG chew betelnut with lime powder.
Ngi von d chama vthen'gi ina-
muk. You give the lime powder
towards here. Variant: pthen.
vthenm n. freshwater fish sp.; white;
up to 10 cm long. Pl: vthen. Variant:
pthenm.
vethik dir. beside. Ngua mair d ma
David vethik. I stood beside David.
Variant: pethik.
vthivt dir. outside. Choi ngina
munaik ni giama msms vthirt
asik aung cha thangt. Do not leave
your food outside or someone might
take it.
vethom those two small ones.
vthong those small things.
vvam those two short ones.
vvap those short things.
vvem those two.
vvs that flat one.
vvet that long one.
vi there.
via when.
viam rotate; wave.
vias step on.
vik like that.
vilcha n. crack of lightning; the sound
of lightning, rather than the flash of
light. Kama sainggi d chama
vilcha sei. The rain and the lightning
are here again. Kama vilcha cha thu
chama lamsachi da vinggulini. The
lightning struck a coconut with a bolt
of lightning. Pl: vilk. Variant: pilk.
vilchi n. gun. Ava vilchi chia ve va
mbang. His gun is at his house.
Pl: vilik. Variant: pilichi.
vimga n. galip nut (Canarium indicum).
Ngua ms kama vimga da amr
mtka. I ate the galip nut (Canarium
indicum) and it was sweet. Pl: viam.
Variant: pimga.
vinem return.
vinos n. destruction. Kule ma ngi sep
mchama vinos. Dont you make
destruction. See: avinos play around,
vandalise. Note: only v.
vinoska n. vandal. Ma Elton sok kama
vinoska. Elton is a vandal. Pl: vinsota.
202
viskthopka
vinoski n. female vandal. Note: only v.
ving roll; specifically to twist string
used to make net bags (bilums).
ving surround.
vingbm adj. disobedient. Kama athoes
ama vingbm. The children are
disobedient. Note: only v.
vingbmga n. 1 vandal.
2 naughty boy or man. Michael sok
kama vingbmga. Michael is a
naughty boy. Pl: vinbmda.
vingbmgi n. 1 female vandal.
2 naughty girl or woman. Note: only
v.
vingbing adj. crooked. Kama mngga
da vingbing cha. The tree is crooked.
Note: only v.
vingbingbap n. Bainings. Vingbingbap
mir tha nave ia Rabaul. Long ago the
Bainings came from Rabaul. See:
avingbingda Bainings.
ving d spy.
ving dm spy.
vinggi look.
vinggi svt peep; peek.
vinggulini n. bolt of lightning. Kama
vilcha cha thu chama lamsachi da
vinggulini. The lightning struck a
coconut with a bolt of lightning.
Pl: vinggulithong. Pl: vinggul.
vingia debate; argue.
vingloinggi n. whirlpool. Kia ingip de
chama renggi mt kama ving-
loinggi. She died from the whirlpool.
Pl: vinglong. Note: only v.
ving pthanas circle around.
ving vt go around; circle.
viom those two.
virs ithm hide behind; duck behind;
make way; move aside; move along.
viru writhe.
viru nana tussle.
vis d be swollen.
visem those two long ones.
viskthopka n. reef fish sp.; all white;
covered in very soft spikes; when
touched or speared, it swells up by
drinking saltwater. Pl: viskthop.
Variant: piskthopka.
vit
vit up.
vitvitka n. grasshopper sp.; two types of
grasshoppers: one is green and the
other is brown; they make a pleasant
chirping sound at night. Pl: vitvit. Note:
only v.
vithia na overcome; conquer.
viulacha n. mango tree. Laur ng vai
d vl schama viulacha av
angthiki. The wind blew and broke
the branch of the mango tree. Pl: vival.
Note: only v.
viulachi n. mango; refers only to the
fruit. Kama vlmga cha ms guama
viulachi ma ngua muchi iva manggi.
The pig ate my mango that I put aside
to ripen. Pl: vival. Note: only v.
vivi over there.
vivik right there.
vlamasarengacha n. grasshopper sp.
Pl: vlamasareng. Variant: plamasareng.
vlavalka n. 1 pole.
2 tower. Mir kama morta thi thp
mchama vlavalka ma thi kuar ia
save sva usupki. Long ago the
ancestors built a tower which they say
went to the sky. Pl: vlaval. Note: only v.
vlchachi n. 1 choice; preference.
Mir autha morta da choiku thina
sek na chlan taithik ia vathm kama
vlkachi. Long ago our ancestors did
not marry like today when we follow
our own preference.
2 wish. Pl: vlch. Variant: vlkachi.
Note: only v.
vlk like; want; love; need.
vlkachi choice; preference; wish.
vlmbm n. piglet. Ngi plk anggivam
nvt kama plmbm dchama
vaimbam? Which of the two do you
like best, the piglet or the puppy?
Variant: plmbm. See: vlmga pig.
vlmga pig.
vlmgi sow; large pig; reef fish sp.
vlnini n. trigger; knob; including the
ears of a saucepan that the handle is
hooked into. Pl: vlnithong. Variant:
plnini.
vlng kill.
vlngacha n. tree sp.; grows in old
garden sites; has very thick bark,
203
vono sa muk
small white leaves, and very small
flowers. Vlngacha da sok kama
mngga ma cha dn pet kama
chunam. The vlngacha tree is a
species that grows in an old garden
site. Pl: vlang. Variant: plngacha.
vlikpethachi gecko.
vlochm n. spot. John ka vlng kama
vlmga ama vlok ama chdichn
pthacha. John killed a pig with many
spots on it. Kama vlochm nchama
sichirki mni gi baulki. The spot of
dirt is on your wraparound skirt
(laplap). Pl: vlok. Variant: plochm.
vlochithong n. rash.
vloltem sa remove; take off.
vloltem s loosen.
voe dm pt crucify.
von give; thatch.
vonbon'gi offering; payment.
vonbon'gi n. vine sp.; thick bush vine.
Vonbon'gi da sok kama changatha-
chi ama chrotki. The vonbon'gi
species is really a very strong bush
vine. Pl: vonbon. Note: only v.
von d pay.
von dm pay.
vondmgi n. 1 payment. Asik mir da
angabs na angama vondmgi. Long
ago there were no payments.
2 price. Aguangithong angthama
vondmgi sok kia vuk. The price of
goods has gone up.
3 prize. Da mbs anga vondmgi
chia mun. So there were not any
prizes given. Pl: vondm. Note: only v.
von dm mt buy.
von mt break apart, of taro or bread.
von nana exchange.
vono dir. 1 up. Masa cha vono sng
angmng. He was really up under
the trees.
2 inland. Ch nava lugutki in met
sa vono sda dam. He and his wife
went inland to the mountains.
3 shorewards. Sa chule sa cha
mun vono... Afterwards he reached
the shore... [Lit: Afterwards he arrived
shorewards...] Variant: bono; pono.
vono sa muk dir. inside out. Ngia mon
mt kama singgliska di ngia np
vovar
nachi ia na vono sa muk. You put the
shirt on and (when you did) you turned
it inside out. Variant: pono sa muk.
vovar top.
vraioik sip; suck.
vrang spread.
vrap fly.
vraseng na put aside.
vraseng n put aside.
vrendem wake up.
vreng spread.
vrsetki n. marks; any strange kind of
marks. Conrad ka lu chama basiochi
atha vrsetki vt kama rengia
angtham. Conrad saw the strange
marks of the crocodile at the bank of
the creek. Pl: vrset. Variant: prsetki.
vrucha n. enemy. Ngaiom aina vruiom
nana mamr. The two of them are real
enemies. Pl: vrutha.
vruchi n. female enemy. Note: only v.
vrur pt have goose bumps; have ones
hair stand on end.
vuachtka n. gecko sp.; large; brown
with white stripes along the body and
around the neck; lives in houses.
Pl: vuacht. Note: only v.
vuaik jump.
vuaik d jump.
vuaik dm jump.
vuak fetch water.
vuch above.
vus cook.
vutka n. 1 house. Francis ka thk
mava vutka. Francis built his house.
2 village. Sa Baltasar ka met sva
vut. Then Baltasar went to the village.
Pl: vut. Variant: vtka. Note: only v.
vutka n. coconut gratings. Kama
lams angtha vutka chave vm
kama diski. The grated coconut is in
the dish. Note: only v.
vuetki n. large amount of coconut
gratings.
vutves n. many dishes of grated
coconut.
vuthom n. grated coconut to be eaten
raw. Note: only v.
vui dir. out there. Kia thet sa vui ia
204
vungbungga
Karong. She is going there to Karong.
Variant: pui; bui.
vuigl tm butcher; chop. Usage: Abilta
dialect.
vuik above.
vuik na come out.
vuinem return.
vuit dir. up. Ngi sek ngia vuski vuit.
You lift up your head. Ngi vn vuit vet
kama churemgi. You climb up the
betelnut palm. Variant: buit; vit; puit.
vuk dir. above. Ngua mu chama
peletka vuk vt kama tevolki atha
thng. I put the plate on the top of the
table [Lit: above at the table its back].
Variant: puk; buk; vuik; vuch.
vuk mt fire a gun.
vuk tm erupt; shatter; burst.
vulecha n. grandson; includes in-laws.
Kama bilarki atha vulecha cha von
gi nathama rais. The old womans
grandson gave her some rice.
Pl: vulekpek. Variant: awlecha.
vulechi n. granddaughter. Note: only v.
vulikdm slip away.
vulik s slip over.
vum n. friend, the address term. Gua
vum, sa ngiave ngia thet nvtha
ngo. My friend, you are going to leave
me. Pl: vuap. Note: only v.
vunak vt. twist. Karla cha chut kama
nkthopki d chia wunak kama
chepki. Charles speared the eel and it
twisted the spear. Variant: wunak.
vunak dm bend; use force to bend
something.
vunakdmga n. first flood; makes
plants bend over. Kama ichumgi
ama morki ama naruerki mt kama
volam da ut teski ia vunakdmga.
The first big flood of the rainy season
we call vunakdmga. Pl: vunakdm.
Note: only v.
vun'ga turtle. Usage: Abilta dialect.
vungbungga n. firedancer; is con-
cealed inside a large, hollow, rec-
tangular panel that serves as his
mask. Ngua lu chama vungbungga
cha tain namt kama mundm. I
saw a firedancer who danced around
the fire. Pl: vungbung. Variant: bung-
vur wus vm

bungga. his head]. Pl: vs. Variant: puski; waski;

vur grow; especially of new skin or bark buski; vski; veski.
growing over a cut. vus mk leap up; explode.
vur germinate. vusnas pt shelter.
vurchacha n. ant. Kama vurchacha vus pm eruption.
cha nes ma Lotu at chulimgi. The vus pm erupt; burst out.
ant bit Lotus nose. Pl: vurk. Note: only
vus s get up; come up; emerge.
v.
vustm vt cover.
vurk mni puncture.
vut base of the inside of a container.
vurk mt break open.
vut balam na blink; wink.
vuren vt wake up; stir.
vuthchi bundle of firewood.
vurvur sprout.
vuthm fall.
vurvurki n. blossom. Kama viulacha
ava vurvurki diva nani avama vuvs come out.
giungithong. The mangos blossom vuvuik up above.
(is) for its small fruits. Pl: vurvur. See: vuvuik n sprout.
garang blossom. Note: only v.
vuvuit dir. up above. Chok ka ve chlan
vusding close. nas ma chlan ia ichum, d chok
vusding mt cover. vuvuik nchama ngmng. It is just
vuski n. head. Aruan ava vuski. He has like that, when it floods, the trees come
got a headache [lit: (There is) pain (in) out (of the pool). Variant: vuvuik.

W - w

wae blow; only of the wind.
wae tap.
wae s blow.
wae vt slap.
wain n. wine. Pthama ilachi thaik, ia
mbretka na wain. In this image is the
bread and the wine.
waingimachi vt. bee. Kama waingi-
machi chia srendm ngo. The bee
stung me. Pl: waingiam.
waioi interj. Ow!; exclamation of pain.
waling turn over.
waling s flip over.
walwal clear area.
wanim roll around; turn over.
warevacha n. tree sp.; grows by the
river; has small leaves. Warevacha
d chama renggi atha mngga ma
cha dn pt kama reng angt keng.
The warevacha is a river tree that
grows by the river. Pl: warep.
warnacha n. index finger. Pl: warna.
waski head.
wathik pt hit.
wathik tm hit a person; strike.
winem return.
wirep pt vi-so. move; give yourself
away when you are hiding because
you move. Kule ma wirp pthange.
Dont move (so no one will see you).
withia na overcome; conquer.
wunak twist.
wusding close.
wusding mt cover.
wus vm close. Usage: Abilta dialect.

205
yamechi yavacha

Y - y

yamechi n. crocodile. Pius ka chut dangerous tree after the ceremony

kama yamechi nave sng arenggi.
Pius speared the crocodile at the
mouth of the river. Pl: yame. See:
basiochi crocodile.
yaungga n. tree sp.; used in the
cleansing ceremony that follows a
raid on another village; becomes a
and must not be touched. Pl: yaung.
yavacha n. banana sp.; ladyfinger
banana. Tchp nchama yava ith
mailu ia aung cha vt ngt. There
are a lot of ladyfinger bananas here,
maybe someone planted them.
Pl: yava.

206
 EnglishMali finderlist
A -
abalone thvlka. n. shellfish sp.;
small abalone; shell is brown outside
and mother-of-pearl inside; is flat; up
to 6 cm long; shell covers its entire
back; can stick strongly to the reef;
lives out on the reef where the sea
breaks. Pl: thvl. Variant: tvlka.
abandon don ma. sa-vi. 1 clear land
for a new garden. 2 throw away;
abandon. Variant: thon ma.
abandoned house urumbucha. n.
abandoned house. Pl: urumbu.
abandoned house or village ambilki.
n. abandoned house or village. Pl:
ambil.
able to, be ~ mamr na. vi-so. be pos-
sible for; be able to.
able to, be ~ mamr pet. vi-so. be fit
for; be able to; be good for. Variant:
mamr vet.
about ithm. prep. regarding; about.
Variant: itha.
about nthm. prep. 1 from.
2 about. Variant: nethem.
about svt. prep. 1 to. 2 about.
3 at. 4 onto. Variant: sk; svk
(Abilta dialect); svtha.
about oneself snas. dir. to oneself;
about oneself.
about oneself svanas. dir. to oneself;
about oneself.
about themselves snas. dir. for them-
selves; about themselves.
above vuk. dir. above. Variant: puk; buk;
vuik; vuch.
above, up ~ vuvuit. dir. up above.
a
Variant: vuvuik.
accent, Dadul ~, Mranachi ~ Araus-
mt. n. the accent of the Mranachi
and Dadul people (who speak Mali).
accompaniments amspthithong. n.
accompaniments; food to eat along-
side taro etc. Morph: amsptithong.
Gloss: LNK-eat-LOC-small.PL.
according to pathm. prep. 1 along.
2 according to. 3 for. Variant:
vathm; bathm.
accurately marik. adv. 1 straight.
2 properly; accurately.
across imono. dir. across.
across mni. dir. 1 on. 2 onto.
3 at. 4 in. 5 through.
6 across.
across mono. dir. 1 across. 2 over.
across muani. dir. across. Variant: moni.
across namono. dir. from over there;
across.
across samono. dir. over; across.
across samuit. dir. over to; across.
across smni. prep. 1 across.
2 onto.
across smnina. dir. up and down;
across; from one to another; e.g.
across a series of valleys and ridges.
across tmono. dir. 1 along.
2 across. 3 that way. Variant:
thmono.
across a valley imuit. dir. 1 across
there; across a valley. 2 in a corner.
across, back ~ nanamuk. dir. back
across.
207
across each other aibika [TP]

across each other mnina. dir. across nasoth.

each other. after, one ~ another nasothana. adv.
across from namuani. dir. across from. one after another.
Variant: namoni. after oneself tmnas. dir. after oneself.
across on same level muit. dir. Variant: thmanas.
1 ashore; shorewards. 2 across on afterwards nasot. adv. 1 later.
same level; towards. Variant: mit. 2 last. 3 after. 4 afterwards.
across there imuit. dir. 1 across Variant: nasoth.
there; across a valley. 2 in a corner. again mchvs. adv. 1 sometime.
across to saimuanp. dir. to the other 2 sometimes. 3 again. Variant:
side; across to. machavs; mchuvs. See: kvs
across towards speaker inamuk. dir. when.
across towards speaker; forward. again sai. disc. again. Variant: sei.
act independently pathm mes. sa-vi. again and again sai sai. adv. repeat-
1 do by choice; do according to ones edly; again and again.
own wishes. 2 do unhurriedly; do in again, later on ~ saisa. adv. later on
ones own time. 3 act independ- again.
ently. Variant: bathm mes; vathm
mes.
against snania. prep. 1 against.
2 right beside.
activities athpmus. n. activities.
ago, long ~ mndu. disc. 1 before.
actually kinai. disc. 1 actually. 2 in 2 long ago. Variant: mndu; mundu.
contrast. 3 instead.
4 in turn. Variant: chinai; kinei; chine.
ago, long ~ mir. disc. long ago. Variant:
mur (Abilta dialect).
adore lotu svt. vt. worship; adore;
praise. agree tares dm. vt. agree. Variant:
thares dm; res dm.
adult man amorka. n. 1 adult man.
2 leader. 3 ancestor. 4 God. Pl:
agree tcheria. vt. agree. Variant:
thcheria.
morvap. Pl: morta.
adult woman amorki. n. 1 adult agree tcheria bana. sa-vi. agree.
Variant: thcheria bana.
woman. 2 leader. 3 female an-
cestor. 4 goddess. Pl: morvap. Pl: agree with tcheria ba. vt. agree with.
morta. Variant: thcheria ba.

adulterer chavatka. n. adulterer. Pl: ahead, go ~ thuer. sa-vi. 1 go first.

chavata. Variant: kavatka.
adulterer, female ~ chavatki. n. female
adulterer.
adultery, commit ~ kavat tm. vt.
commit adultery. Variant: chavat tm.
2 go ahead. 3 go in front. Variant:
ruer; er; kuer.
aibika [TP] aichil. n. native spinach
(aibika). See: auravu native spinach
(aibika).

aeroplane ismgi. n. 1 large bird; aibika [TP] aichilki. n. native spinach

generic term. 2 aeroplane. Pl: ism. (aibika); refers to the whole plant.

afraid, be ~ auluvk mt. vi-so. be aibika [TP] auravu. n. native spinach

timid; be cowardly; be afraid.
afraid, be ~ dlen. sa-vi. be afraid; be
frightened. Variant: len.
after nasot. adv. 1 later. 2 last.
3 after. 4 afterwards. Variant:
(aibika). Usage: This word is newer
than aichil. See: aichil native spinach
(aibika).
aibika [TP] auravuchi. n. native
spinach (aibika).

208
aibika leaf also

aibika leaf [TP] aichilves. n. native
spinach (aibika) leaf.
aibika leaf [TP] auravuves. n. native
spinach (aibika) leaf.
aibika stem (TP) chriduchi. n. na-
tive spinach (aibika) stem; used for
replanting. Usage: Abilta dialect. Pl:
chridu. Variant: kriduchi.
aibika stem [TP] trutki. n. 1 small
root of a tree or plant, especially ba-
nana, native spinach (aibika), or pea-
nut plant. 2 native spinach (aibika)
stem; used for planting. Pl: trut. Variant:
rutki.
aibika tip [TP] laguain'ga. n. native
spinach (aibika) tip. Pl: laguain.
aibika top [TP] aichilka. n. native
spinach (aibika) top that is used for
cooking.
aibika top [TP] auravucha. n. native
spinach (aibika) top that is used for
cooking.
aibika with red stems [TP] chuaramgi
at sachong. n. native spinach (ai-
bika) with red stems. Pl: churam angt
sachong.
air sanggaska. n. air. Pl: sanggas.
air, fresh ~ isiska. n. fresh air. Pl: aisis.
air, in the ~ lechvs. adv. in the air.
Variant: eps.
airport ism angt luchupki. n. air-
port. Pl: ism angt luchuap.
airport ples balus. n. airport.
alcohol areng ama chrot. n. alcohol.
alert person achlsacha. n. alert
person; a person who has been train-
ed to be habitually alert. Pl: achl-
satha. Variant: chlsacha.
alive ayar. adj. alive; living.
alive, be ~ tchm. sa-vi. 1 wake up.
2 be awake. 3 be alive. 4 arise;
specifically referring to Jesus rising
from the dead. Variant: thchm;
dchm; tcham; thcham; dcham.
all mo. adv. all.
all over mavangam. pro. anywhere; all
over. Gram: General indefinite form.
all right kinak. interj. yes; all right.
Variant: chinak.
ally lmuacha. n. friend; ally. Pl:
lmutha.
ally, female ~ lmuachi. n. female
friend; female ally.
almost sangel kuvt. adv. almost.
almost vandi. disc. 1 want to; intend
to. Gram: Desiderative marker. 2 try to.
3 nearly; almost. 4 maybe.
Variant: vadi.
alone, stand ~ tair snas. sa-vi. stand
alone. Variant: thair snas; dair snas;
mair snas.
along ivi. dir. along.
along ivit. adv. along. Variant: ivuit.
along pathm. prep. 1 along. 2 ac-
cording to. 3 for. Variant: vathm;
bathm.
along tm. prep. at; along. Variant: t;
thm; dm; d.
along tmono. dir. 1 along.
2 across. 3 that way. Variant:
thmono.
alongside ithm. dir. alongside; beside.
alongside pathm na. dir. 1 along-
side; side by side. 2 with each
other; for each other. 3 parallel.
Variant: vathm na; bathm na.
already kinasa. disc. 1 really.
2 already. Variant: chinasa; inasa;
nasa.
already kok. disc. 1 just. 2 already.
Variant: kuk; chok; chuk.
already sa. disc. 1 then. Gram: Clause ini-
tial discourse marker. Introduces a new event
frame. 2 so. 3 already. Gram: Re-
sultative marker. 4 for a while. Gram: In
clause final position. 5 Gram: Imperative
marker.
also doki. adv. 1 also; too. 2 simi-
larly. Morph: da=koki. Gloss: and=also.
Variant: daki.
also koki. disc. also; similarly. Variant:
choki; oki.

209
also, that ~
also, that ~ moki. disc. that also; that
similarly; that another. Morph: ma=
koki. Gloss: REL=also.
altitude, area at high ~ ronggi. n. area
at high altitude. Pl: rong.
altogether sna. adv. 1 altogether.
2 simultaneously. Variant: sna.
always mrmr. adv. always.
amrachuavacha tree, short piece of
the ~ merachuvm. n. short piece of
the amrachuavacha tree. Pl: mera-
chop.
among themselves bana. dir. among
themselves.
ancestor amorka. n. 1 adult man.
2 leader. 3 ancestor. 4 God. Pl:
morvap. Pl: morta.
and da. coord. and. Gram: Addition marker.
Variant: d; du; do; di.
and n. associative marker. and. Gram:
Used to make associative pronouns. Variant:
na.
and, her ~ kin. pro. her and. Morph: ki=
n. Gloss: 3F.SG.III=and. Variant: chin.
and, him ~ kn. pro. him and. Morph: k
=n. Gloss: 3M.SG.III=and. Variant: chn.
and if dasika. coord. and if. Morph: da=
asika. Gloss: and=if.
and, it ~ ngn. pro. them and; it and.
Morph: ng=n. Gloss: 3N.III=and. Variant:
ngna.
and just das. coord. 1 and still.
2 and yet. 3 and just. Morph: da=as.
Gloss: and=yet.
and just dinak. coord. and just. Morph:
da=kinak. Gloss: and=just.
and just dinas. coord. and just. Morph:
da=kinas. Gloss: and=just.
and just dok. coord. and just. Morph: da=
kok. Gloss: and=just.
and maybe dasik. coord. and maybe.
Morph: da=asik. Gloss: and=irrealis.
and, me ~ ngun. pro. me and. Morph:
ngu=na. Gloss: 1SG.III=and. Variant:
nguna.
210
angry, feel ~
and really dinasa. adv. and really.
Morph: da=kinasa. Gloss: and=really.
and so dasa. coord. and so; then. Morph:
da=sa. Gloss: and=then. Variant: dsa.
and so niki. coord. and so.
and so nisa. coord. and so. Variant: nasa;
niska.
and still das. coord. 1 and still.
2 and yet. 3 and just. Morph: da=as.
Gloss: and=yet.
and the dma. coord. and the. Morph: da
=kama. Gloss: and=ART. Variant: dama.
and, them ~ ngn. pro. them and; it
and. Morph: ng=n. Gloss: 3N.III=and.
Variant: ngna.
and, them ~ tin. pro. them and. Morph:
ti=n. Gloss: 3H.PL.III=and. Variant: thin;
tina; thina.
and then dule. coord. and then. Morph:
da=chule. Gloss: and=then.
and those two dini. coord. and those
two. Morph: da=ini. Gloss: and=3DL class
two.
and, us two ~ un. pro. us two and.
Morph: un=n. Gloss: 1DL.III=and. Variant:
una.
and, us ~ utn. pro. us and. Morph: ut=
n. Gloss: 1PL.III=and. Variant: utna.
and we dut. coord. and we. Morph: da=ut.
Gloss: and=1PL III.
and yet das. coord. 1 and still.
2 and yet. 3 and just. Morph: da=as.
Gloss: and=yet.
and, you all ~ ngn. pro. you all and.
Morph: ngn=n. Gloss: 2PL.III=and.
Variant: ngna.
and, you ~ ngin. pro. you and. Morph:
ngi=n. Gloss: 2SG.III=and. Variant: ngina.
angel gelucha. n. angel. Pl: gelutha.
anger gthp. n. anger. Variant: grp.
anger gri. n. anger.
angry, be ~ with burembm n. vt. be
angry with. Variant: brembm n.
angry, feel ~ burembm. vi-so. feel
angry. Variant: brembm; mbrmbm.
animal, backwards moving ~
animal, backwards moving ~ monda-
remga. n. backwards moving animal;
specifically crayfish, prawns, squid,
and hermit crabs. Pl: mondarem.
animal, young ~ thaembm. n.
1 child. Morph: at=oemvm. Gloss:
3F.SG.POSS child-reduced.SG. 2 young
animal; especially puppies or piglets.
Pl: thaembap. Variant: taembem. See:
thoemga child; son; student; assis-
tant.
announcements mnarivs. n. an-
nouncements; messages. Note: no
endings.
another achkachk. dem. 1 another.
Gram: Masculine singular contrastive demon-
strative and count neutral singular contrastive
demonstrative. 2 each. Gram: Masculine
singular contrastive demonstrative and count
neutral singular contrastive demonstrative.
Variant: chkachk.
another achikachik. dem. 1 another.
Gram: Feminine singular contrastive demon-
strative. 2 each. Gram: Feminine singular
contrastive demonstrative. Variant: chika-
chik.
another aguikaguik. dem. 1 another.
Gram: Feminine singular contrastive demon-
strative. 2 each. Gram: Feminine singular
contrastive demonstrative. Variant: anggui-
kangguik; aguitagut (Abilta dialect).
another, that ~ moki. disc. that also;
that similarly; that another. Morph: ma
=koki. Gloss: REL=also.
answer amuvtka. n. 1 answer.
2 punishment. Pl: amuvt. Variant:
muvtka.
answer tuvet. sa-vi. answer. Variant:
thuvet; duvet; muvet.
answer tuvet mt. vt. 1 answer; re-
spond. 2 reciprocate. 3 take
revenge; pay back. Variant: thuvet mt;
duvet mt; muvet mt.
ant vurchacha. n. ant. Pl: vurk. Note:
only v.
ant, black ~ sasongacha. n. black ant.
Pl: sasong.
211
any two people, things
ant, brown ~ kubururucha. n. brown
ant. Pl: kubururu. Variant: chuburu-
rucha.
ant, large red ~ mesongga. n. large
red ant. Pl: mesong. Variant: msongga.
ant sp. matholka avoes. n. ant sp.;
only live in the matholka tree; they kill
off the surrounding bush.
ant, white ~ anggethangacha. n.
white ant. Pl: angethang.
anus bisuchi. n. anus. Pl: bisu.
anxious, be ~ mulen'gi vt. vi-so. 1 be
anxious; typically through having a
fear of something unknown.
2 panic. Note: only m.
any anga. np art. 1 some. Gram: Non-
specific indefinite NP article. 2 any.
Gram: Non-specific indefinite NP article.
any angama. np art. 1 some. Gram:
Non-specific NP article. 2 any. Gram:
Non-specific indefinite NP article.
any anggung. dem. 1 some. Gram:
Count neutral indefinite demonstrative.
2 any; anything. Gram: Count neutral in-
definite demonstrative.
any large one nemiavchit. pro. which
large one. Gram: Extended singular inter-
rogative pronoun; can be used in indefinite
contexts.
any of their angthangama. pro. any
of their. Gram: Third person neuter posses-
sive pronoun and indefinite possessive pro-
noun. angt=angama.
Morph: Gloss:
3N.POSS= INDEF.
any short one nmbm. pro. any short
one. Gram: Reduced singular interrogative
pronoun.
any short two nmbap. pro. any short
two; some short two. Gram: Reduced
plural interrogative pronoun.
any small two nmbam. pro. any small
two; some small two. Gram: Reduced dual
interrogative pronoun.
any two people, things nmbem. pro.
any two people; any two things; some
two people. Gram: Feminine dual interroga-
tive pronoun.
anyone
anyone angitha. pro. 1 anyone. Gram:
Human plural indefinite pronoun.
2 someone. Gram: Human plural indefinite
pronoun.
anyone aung. dem. 1 someone; some-
thing. Gram: Masculine singular indefinite
demonstrative. 2 anyone; anything.
Gram: Masculine singular indefinite demon-
strative.
anyone aungguik. dem. 1 someone;
something. Gram: Feminine singular indefi-
nite demonstrative. 2 anyone; any-
thing. Gram: Feminine singular indefinite
demonstrative.
anything anggung. dem. 1 some.
Gram: Count neutral indefinite demonstrative.
2 any; anything. Gram: Count neutral
indefinite demonstrative.
anything aung. dem. 1 someone;
something. Gram: Masculine singular in-
definite demonstrative. 2 anyone; any-
thing. Gram: Masculine singular indefinite
demonstrative.
anything aungguik. dem. 1 someone;
something. Gram: Feminine singular indefi-
nite demonstrative. 2 anyone; any-
thing. Gram: Feminine singular indefinite
demonstrative.
anywhere mavangam. pro. anywhere;
all over. Gram: General indefinite form.
apart ngis. adv. 1 aside. 2 apart.
3 different.
appear naingm. sa-vi. 1 look around.
2 see. 3 watch. 4 appear; look
like. 5 shine. Variant: naingim.
appoint suchut ma. vt. appoint.
apron aviringgi. n. apron. Pl: aviraing.
apron ladeigl. n. apron of leaves worn
by women at the back. Pl: lade. Variant:
lande.
arc mesh vaiaves. n. arc mesh; sheet of
wire fencing. Note: only v.
area, burnt and cleared ~ thvtki. n.
burnt and cleared area; an area being
prepared for a garden, it needs one
more clean before planting. Pl: thvt.
area, clear ~ valvalka. n. clear area; an
arrest
area that has been cleared for a gar-
den but which is not clean yet, all the
big trees have been removed but the
small plants are still there. Pl: valval.
Variant: walwal. Note: only v.
area, cleared ~ tamasnggi. n. cleared
area; a place where the ground has
been cleared (except for big trees);
the first stage in making a garden. Pl:
tamasng.
area, flattened ~, cleared ~ burichi. n.
cleared area; flattened area; e.g. a
place in the bush where there has
been a dog fight or a crocodile rest-
ing. Pl: buri.
argue bingia. sa-vi. debate; argue.
Variant: vingia.
arise sekmes. sa-vi. get up. Variant:
sepmes.
arise tchm. sa-vi. 1 wake up.
2 be awake. 3 be alive. 4 arise;
specifically referring to Jesus rising
from the dead. Variant: thchm;
dchm; tcham; thcham; dcham.
arm angthichini. n. 1 hand; arm;
refers to the entire limb; more polite
word than angthiki. 2 twig.
arm angthiki. n. 1 hand; arm; refers
to the entire limb. 2 branch. Morph:
ang=tikki. Gloss: 3CN.POSS=hand-F.SG.
Pl: angthaik.
armband tachski. n. armband. Pl:
tachs. Variant: thachski.
around mui. dir. 1 over there; away
from speaker on the same level.
2 around.
around, go ~ bing. sa-vi. go around.
around, go ~ bing vt. vt. 1 go
around. 2 circle. Variant: ving vt.
around, go ~ nging. vt. go around.
Usage: Abilta dialect. Variant: ing. See:
bing vt go around.
arrange oneselves tu mana. sa-vi. ar-
range oneselves. Gram: Must have a plural
subject. Variant: thu mana; du mana; mu
mana.
arrest sangar. vt. 1 hold. 2 arrest.
212
arrive
arrive dn. sa-vi. 1 arrive; come.
2 reach. 3 return. Variant: ndn;
thn; mn; mun; -an.
arrive dn pt. sa-vi. reach; arrive.
Variant: thn pt; mn pt; dn p; thn
p; mn p; dn pa; thn pa; mn pa.
arrive par. sa-vi. arrive. Variant: var.
arrive, about to ~ niavi. sa-vi. about to
arrive.
arrive with dn s. vt. arrive with;
bring. Variant: thn s; mun s.
arrow vadechi atha chepki. n. arrow.
Pl: vadek angtha chep. Note: only v.
artery churacha. n. 1 root.
2 artery; vein. Pl: chuar. Variant:
kuracha.
as ve ma. subord. as; when. Morph: ve
ma. Gloss: there relator. Variant: vema.
as if gisnng. subord. as if.
as if, as though gisnia. subord. as if; as
though.
ash chinap. n. ash. Variant: kinap.
thabucha dust; ash.
ash imng. n. ash; especially ash from
paper and leaves that still have their
form; they are light grey and can float
on the wind.
ash thabucha. n. dust; ash; specifically
white ash from a fire. Pl: thabu. See:
unpka dust; chinap ash.
ashore muit. dir. 1 ashore; shore-
wards. 2 across on same level; to-
wards. Variant: mit.
aside mthik. dir. 1 aside.
2 beside.
aside nmn. prep. aside; away. Variant:
namon; namn.
aside nmni. prep. aside; to the side.
aside ngis. adv. 1 aside. 2 apart.
3 different.
aside, move ~ ml. vt. 1 flip over.
2 move aside.
aside, move ~ srik. sa-vi. move aside.
aside, put ~ praseng n. vt. put aside.
Variant: vraseng n; praseng
at something
vraseng na.
ask snan. vt. ask.
ask snandvr na. vt. ask.
ask tnen. vt. ask. Variant: nen.
ask for someone par s. vt. 1 invite.
2 ask for someone; call for someone.
3 lead. 4 pull in a fish; refers to
a fish which is caught on a hook.
Variant: thar (Abilta dialect); var s.
aspirin sprinm. n. aspirin.
assistance amatnthmbes. n. help;
assistance. Variant: matnerembes.
assistant athoemga. n. 1 child.
2 son. 3 student. 4 assistant.
Morph: at=oemka. Gloss: 3F.SG.POSS
child-M.SG. Pl: athoes. Variant: thoemga;
=oes; =emga; =oemga.
assistant, female ~ athoemgi. n.
daughter; female student; female as-
sistant. Morph: at=oemki. Gloss:
3F.SG.POSS=child-F.SG. Variant: =emgi.
See: asthma chenechacha. n. asthma; tu-
berculosis; any condition principally
involving difficulty with breathing.
at mni. dir. 1 on. 2 onto. 3 at.
4 in. 5 through. 6 across.
at np. prep. at; during.
at pa. prep. at; on; over. Variant: va.
at pt. prep. 1 at. 2 on. 3 over.
Variant: vt; pa; ba; ptha; btha; vtha;
bt; vk; pk.
at svt. prep. 1 to. 2 about.
3 at. 4 onto. Variant: sk; svk
(Abilta dialect); svtha.
at snani. dir. 1 on. 2 in. 3 at.
at tm. prep. at; along. Variant: t; thm;
dm; d.
at once likdm. vi-so. at once; in no
time; immediately. Gram: Encodes punc-
tual aspect in sentence initial position. Always
seems to take a third person masculine singu-
lar subject.
at once masgvs. adv. at once; im-
mediately.
na; at something namt. prep. at some-
213
at the back
thing.
at the back ngthathng. dir. at the
back.
at the base sng. prep. 1 at the base.
2 in the vicinity of; close to. Variant:
seng; snng (Abilta dialect).
at the front dngtham. dir. in front;
at the front.
aunt-in-law thuvski. n. mother-in-law;
sister-in-law; aunt-in-law; any in-laws
except ones wifes mothers brother
and his wife.
aunty-in-law saemgi. n. aunty-in-law;
niece-in-law; specifically ones
mothers brothers wife, husbands
sisters daughter, or husbands
mothers brothers wife. Pl: saembek.
avoid tk tichim. vt. avoid. Variant: thk
tichim.
avoid tneng. sa-vi. avoid; dodge. Variant:
neng.
awake, be ~ tchm. sa-vi. 1 wake up.
2 be awake. 3 be alive.
B -
baby athoemini. n. baby.
back buthicha. n. spine; back. Pl: buthi.
back thng. n. 1 back. 2 top.
3 behalf. Note: only th. Note: no endings.
back tunggumgi. n. 1 base of a cup,
house, or tree. 2 back of a boat. Pl:
tunggum. Variant: thunggumgi.
back across nanamuk. dir. back
across.
back, at the ~ nasot. dir. 1 behind.
2 at the back. Variant: nasotha.
back, at the ~ ngthathng. dir. at the
back.
back in place nasothanas. dir. back in
place; e.g. as with crop rotation.
back to naglmna. prep. back to.
Variant: nanglmna.
back to front pethana. dir. head to tail;
back to front. Variant: vethana.
214
bag, large net ~
4 arise; specifically referring to Jesus
rising from the dead. Variant: thchm;
dchm; tcham; thcham; dcham.
aware, be ~ sndamr. vt. be aware.
away nmn. prep. aside; away. Variant:
namon; namn.
away, far ~ gelaulul. dir. far away; long
way.
away from nmna. prep. away from;
e.g. used to describe the way a flood
leaves rubbish behind as the water
subsides. Variant: namna.
away from oneself nevanas. dir. away
from oneself.
away, look ~ nathong. sa-vi. look away;
hide ones face.
axe avthapki. n. axe. avthap.
Pl:
Variant: vthapki. See: thepka (Abilta
dialect) axe.
axe thepka. n. axe. Usage: Abilta dialect.
Pl: athap. See: avthapki axe. Note: only
th.
b
back towards momono. dir. back to-
wards.
back up nanamk. dir. back up.
backwards, go ~ prddung. sa-vi. go
backwards; e.g. move backwards into
hiding. Variant: vrddung.
bad angguvang. adj. 1 spoilt.
2 bad. Variant: angguang; guvang.
bad avu. adj. bad or sinful person.
bad luck irit. n. bad luck.
bad man avucha. n. bad man. Pl:
avutha.
bad woman avuchi. n. bad woman.
badly mavo. adv. badly.
bag bechi. n. bag; sack. Pl: bek.
bag, large net ~ asgnachi. n. large
net bag (bilum). Pl: asgn.
bag, large net ~ slavirochi. n. large net
bag, large net ~
bag (bilum); made from split bush
canes; used for carrying food. Pl:
slaviroch.
bag, large net ~ sragan'gi. n. large net
bag (bilum); made from bush vines;
usually used for carrying food. Pl:
sragan.
bag, large plastic ~ plastiki. n. large
plastic bottle; large plastic bag. Pl:
plastik.
bag, net ~ asgnacha. n. net bag
(bilum). Pl: asgn. Variant: sgnacha.
bag, plastic ~ plastika. n. plastic bag;
plastic bottle; specifically a bottle
between 1 and 5 litres in size, or a
medium sized plastic bag. Pl: plastik.
bag, small net ~ athalka. n. small net
bag (bilum). Pl: athal.
bag, small plastic ~ plastikini. n. small
plastic bottle; small plastic bag. Pl:
plastik.
Bainings avingbingda. n. Bainings.
See: vingbingbap Bainings.
Bainings vingbingbap. n. Bainings.
See: avingbingda Bainings.
baking powder isis. n. 1 baking pow-
der. 2 yeast.
bald head blingga. n. bald head. Pl:
blaing.
bald head luchupki. n. 1 space; e.g.
the space of a playground or dancing
ground. 2 baldness; bald head. Pl:
luchuap.
baldness luchupki. n. 1 space; e.g.
the space of a playground or dancing
ground. 2 baldness; bald head. Pl:
luchuap.
ball vaidebunggi. n. 1 tree sp.;
known as wild orange tree. 2 wild
orange. 3 ball; refers to something
the size of a volleyball. Pl: vaidebung.
Note: only v.
ball, small ~ vaidebungini. n. small
ball; something the size of a tennis
ball.
bamboo aichi. n. bamboo. Pl: aio. Pl: ayo.
215
banana plantation
bamboo drum avrin'gi. n. bamboo
drum. Pl: avrin.
bamboo, small ~ aini. n. small bamboo.
Pl: aithong. See: aichi bamboo.
bamboo sp. achevungga. n. bamboo
sp.; grows on high ridges; grows when
the achultngga species is dying off.
Pl: achevung.
bamboo sp. achultngga. n. bamboo
sp.; grows on high ridges; grows when
the achevungga species is dying off.
Pl: achultng.
bamboo sp. gotka. n. 1 bamboo sp.;
large. 2 pole made of bamboo.
bamboo sp. kaivovocha. n. bamboo
sp.; small. Pl: kaivovo. Note: only k.
banana tangamgi. n. 1 banana.
2 banana plant. Pl: tangam. Variant:
thangamgi; tangamga; thangamga.
banana block tangabs. n. 1 banana
block; an area planted with bananas.
2 banana leaf. Variant: thangabs.
banana block tangamigl. n. 1 banana
block; banana plantation; referring to
an area planted with bananas.
2 piece of banana. Variant: thanga-
minggel.
banana flower cherorachi. n. banana
flower. Pl: cheror. Variant: kerorachi;
chrorachi.
banana, ladyfinger ~ yavacha. n. ba-
nana sp.; ladyfinger banana. Pl: yava.
banana leaf nmblvs. n. banana le-
af. Pl: nmbl.
banana leaf tangabs. n. 1 banana
block; an area planted with bananas.
2 banana leaf. Variant: thangabs.
banana, piece of ~ tangamigl. n.
1 banana block; banana plantation;
referring to an area planted with ba-
nanas. 2 piece of banana. Variant:
thangaminggel.
banana plant tangamgi. n. 1 banana.
2 banana plant. Pl: tangam. Variant:
thangamgi; tangamga; thangamga.
banana plantation tangamigl. n.
1 banana block; banana plantation;
banana shoot
referring to an area planted with ba-
nanas. 2 piece of banana. Variant:
thangaminggel.
banana shoot lscha. n. banana
shoot. Pl: lsk.
bandage baniska. n. bandage. Pl: banis.
bandicoot grucha. n. bandicoot; has
spiky hair, a long tail, and strong
teeth; climbs trees and eats galip nuts
(Canarium indicums). Pl: gru.
bandicoot masn'ga. n. bandicoot;
cannot climb; eats fallen fruit; has
spiky hair. Pl: masn.
bang bn mulau. sa-vi. bang; make a
loud sound. Variant: vn mulau.
bang dolngengga. n. bang.
dolngeng.
bang, make a ~ enmula. sa-vi. make the
sound of a bang.
Bang! pau. interj. Bang!; imitates the
sound of a stone from a sling hitting a
target.
bank angtkeng. n. 1 edge.
2 bank; especially of a body of water
such as a river or pool. Morph:
angtkeng. Gloss: 3N.POSS-teeth. Variant:
cheng; keng; geng.
barge baski. n. barge. Pl: bas.
bark aluat. n. bark.
bark chndenggi. n. 1 body.
2 skin; bark. 3 peel; rind. Pl: chn-
deng. Variant: kndenggi; kdenggi;
chdenggi. See: chngdengga skin.
bark guk tm. vi-so. bark of a dog.
bark cloth simalachi. n. 1 tapa cloth;
traditional covering worn by men; a
strip of bark cloth that goes between
the legs, attached to a waistband.
2 underpants. Pl: simal.
bark intensively guguk tm. vi-so.
bark intensively.
bark, new ~ aithir. n. new growth; skin
or bark that grows in order to heal a
cut.
barracuda malisacha. n. fish sp.; bar-
racuda; deep sea fish; have a long
beach vines
mouth, sharp teeth, and whitish flesh
with scales; are long and thin. Pl:
malisa. See: malisachi large barracu-
da.
barracuda, large ~ malisachi. n. large
barracuda. Pl: malisa. See: malisacha
barracuda.
base angthut. n. base or bottom of
the inside of a container. Morph: ang=
thut. Gloss: 3CN.POSS=underneath.
Variant: thut; vut; aindut.
base aremgi. n. 1 buttock. 2 base.
3 source; cause; reason. Pl: arem.
Variant: rem. See: arembm buttock;
remini base; source; cause.
base remini. n. base; source; cause.
Pl:
base tunggumgi. n. 1 base of a cup,
house, or tree. 2 back of a boat. Pl:
tunggum. Variant: thunggumgi.
base, at the ~ sng. prep. 1 at the
base. 2 in the vicinity of; close to.
Variant: seng; snng (Abilta dialect).
basket uratki. n. basket. Pl: urat.
bathe tor. sa-vi. 1 bathe; swim.
2 sa-vi. get wet. Variant: thor.
baton landmbm. n. short club; ba-
ton. Pl: ladm.
be stuck don. sa-vi. 1 go in; enter.
2 sink. 3 drown. 4 be stuck.
Variant: thon; mon.
beach agars. n. 1 coast. 2 beach.
Variant: gars; nggars.
beach angtham. n. 1 shore; beach;
riverbank. 2 front. Morph: angtam.
Gloss: 3N.POSS-mouth. Variant: avam; vam.
beach anggarski atham. n. beach.
Morph: a=garski at=am. Gloss: SPEC=
saltwater-F.SG 3F.POSS=mouth.
beach, pebbly ~ gisia. n. pebbly beach.
Usage: Also the proper name for a
pebbly beach near Marunga. Pl:
gisink. See: giska pebble.
beach, sandy ~ chunia. n. sandy beach.
Pl: chunink. Note: only ch.
beach vines chalavurucha. n. beach
vines. Pl: chalavuru.
216
beads, rosary ~
beads, rosary ~ chunmka. n. rosary
beads. Note: only ch.
beam asinir. n. beam; referring to a
beam of light, e.g. from a torch or car
at night, or from sun sparkling off
glass.
bean chlevecha. n. bean. Pl: chleve.
Note: only ch.
bear tal. vt. 1 carry. 2 move.
3 bear; specifically to bear fruit.
4 give birth. Variant: thal; dal.
beard chseng da vam. n. beard;
whiskers. Pl: chseng dath vam.
Variant: chsengga da vam; kseng da
vam.
beat bn m. vt. beat. Variant: mbn m;
vn m.
beat tu thik dm. vt. beat. Variant: thu
thik dm; du thik dm; mu thik dm.
beat up paigel tm. vt. beat up. Variant:
vaigel tm. See: panis tm beat up.
beat up panis tm. vt. beat up. Variant:
vanis tm; panis t; vanis t. See: paigel
tm beat up.
because i. subord. because. Gram: Intro-
duces reason clauses.
because mndu ma. subord. because.
Variant: mundu ma.
because of that nva thng. adv. be-
cause of that.
because really isok. subord. because
really. Morph: i=sok. Gloss: because=
really.
beckon nam na. vt. beckon; get some-
one to come over by flapping ones
hand.
become dn m. vt. become. Variant:
thn m; mn m.
bed lavichi. n. 1 bed. 2 platform. Pl:
lavi.
bed, make a ~ peneng dm s. vt.
1 prepare. 2 make a bed; make a
platform. Variant: veneng dm.
bee waingimachi. vt. bee. Pl:
waingiam.
beetle sp. gathvacha. n. beetle sp.;
217
benevolent man
underground beetles that bore holes
in root crops. Pl: gathap.
beetle sp. karirotki. n. beetle sp.; is
black and edible; eats black palms and
areca palms once the grubs have fin-
ished with them. Pl: karirot. Variant:
karirothm; charirot.
before mali. disc. before; earlier.
before mndu. disc. 1 before.
2 long ago. Variant: mndu; mundu.
before naruer veia. adv. before.
before uer. adv. before; first. Variant:
ruer; thuer.
begin benaseng. sa-vi. start; begin.
Variant: venaseng.
behalf thng. n. 1 back. 2 top.
3 behalf. Note: only th. Note: no endings.
behaviour amusnng. n. 1 behaviour.
2 idea; thought. 3 plan.
4 habit; custom. Morph: a=musnng.
Gloss: SPEC=put.PAST-heart. Variant:
amusnngini.
behind nasot. dir. 1 behind. 2 at
the back. Variant: nasotha.
belief malngeik. n. belief. Variant:
malangeik.
believe mat malngeik na. vt. believe.
bell belka. n. bell. Pl: bel.
belly sarumga. n. belly; paunch. Pl:
sarum.
belly sarumgi. n. belly; stomach. Pl:
sarum. Variant: saremgi.
belly and chest of an animal ronas. n.
front of torso; belly and chest of an
animal. Note: no endings.
belongings guvangithong. n. belong-
ings; things. Variant: guangithong;
ngguvangithong.
bend ben. vt. bend. Variant: ven; mben.
bend nging dm. vi-so. bend; duck
down.
bend pnak dm. vt. bend; use force to
bend something. Variant: vunak dm.
bend over ger. sa-vi. bend over.
benevolent man mervmka. n. be-
benevolent woman
nevolent man; a person who is a
source of good things. Pl: mervmta.
benevolent woman mervmki. n. be-
nevolent woman.
bent, be ~ nanger. sa-vi. be bent.
Variant: nager.
bent over, be ~ pl tm. vi-so. be bro-
ken; be bent over; be flattened out;
e.g. of grass that has been walked on.
benzene bensin. n. benzene.
beside dvthik. dir. beside. Variant:
dththik.
beside ithm. dir. alongside; beside.
beside mthik. dir. 1 aside. 2 be-
side.
beside ndvethik. dir. beside.
beside sdvthik. dir. beside. Variant:
sndvthik.
beside vethik. dir. beside. Variant:
pethik.
beside, right ~ snania. prep.
1 against. 2 right beside.
betel palm churemgi. n. 1 palm sp.;
betel palm. 2 shellfish sp.; comes
from the sea; has an elongated spiral
shell up to 10 cm long. Pl: churem.
Variant: kuremgi.
betel pepper achvor angthoes. n.
betel pepper (daka); betelnut mus-
tard.
betelnut changska. n. betelnut. Pl:
changes. Variant: kangska.
betelnut churemga. n. betelnut. Pl:
churem. Variant: kuremga.
betelnut mustard achvor angthoes.
n. betel pepper (daka); betelnut mus-
tard.
betelnut palm changska. n. betelnut
palm. Pl: changs. Variant: kangski.
better, get ~ amrvs pt. vi-so.
1 feel fine. 2 heal; get better; get
well. 3 feel peaceful.
between mugurp. dir. 1 in the mid-
dle. 2 between. Variant: munggurup.
bewitch tamn dm. vt. 1 sanctify; in
218
bird sp.
Christian religious contexts. 2 be-
witch; refers to speaking power into
something by sorcery. Variant: thamn
dm; methamn dm.
bewitch tuong. vt. bewitch. Variant:
thuong; dong.
big amor. adj. big. Variant: mor.
bilum asgnacha. n. net bag (bilum).
Pl: asgn. Variant: sgnacha.
bilum, incomplete ~ masarka. n. net
bag (bilum) that is still being made;
unfinished net bag (bilum). Pl: masar.
bilum, large ~ asgnachi. n. large net
bag (bilum). Pl: asgn.
bilum, large ~ slavirochi. n. large net
bag (bilum); made from split bush
canes; used for carrying food. Pl:
slaviroch.
bilum, large ~ sragan'gi. n. large net
bag (bilum); made from bush vines;
usually used for carrying food. Pl:
sragan.
bilum, old ~ silingim. n. old net bag
(bilum). Pl: silingbap.
bilum, small ~ athalka. n. small net bag
(bilum). Pl: athal.
bind kethik mt. vt. bind. Variant:
chethik mt.
bird ismga. n. bird; generic term. Pl:
ism.
bird, large ~ ismgi. n. 1 large bird;
generic term. 2 aeroplane. Pl: ism.
bird sp. charucha. n. bird sp.; black
with red spots on the chest and a
white spot at the throat; has quite a
long tail; is very shy; hides at the top
of big trees and calls kwek, kwek,
kwek at night. Pl: charu. Note: only ch.
bird sp. charuvaika. n. bird sp.; early-
bird; sings early in the morning; has
dull coloured feathers. Pl: charuvaik.
Variant: karuvaika; karuaika; charuaika.
bird sp. chuaramgi. n. black bird with
red eyes. Pl: chuaram. Variant:
kuaramgi.
bird sp. dingdingga. n. bird sp.; very
bird sp.
small; some are black and some are
yellow; their call sounds like ding
ding; they like sitting in orange trees.
Pl: dingding. See: dingdingini bird sp.
(alternate name).
bird sp. dingdingini. n. bird sp.; very
small; some are black and some are
yellow; their call sounds like ding
ding; they like sitting in orange trees.
See: dingdingga bird sp. (alternate
name).
bird sp. gubarka. n. bird sp.; dove;
Victoria crowned pigeon. Pl: gubar.
Variant: kumbarka; chumbarka.
bird sp. lagrka. n. bird sp.; large
parrot; steals cocoa and food from
gardens. Pl: lagr. Variant: langgrka.
bird sp. lalumga. n. bird sp.; brown
and white hawk. Pl: lalum.
bird sp. mliarka. n. bird sp.; small
parrot that is colourful: green and red.
Pl: mliar.
bird sp. savangini. n. bird sp.; spar-
row. Pl: savang.
birds tail ithepki. n. birds tail. Pl:
ithep.
birth, give ~ tal. vt. 1 carry. 2 move.
3 bear; specifically to bear fruit.
4 give birth. Variant: thal; dal.
birth, give ~ tat. vt. 1 get. 2 give
birth. Usage: Note that the present
tense is not used because it would
make a command Have your baby
now!; only that and mat are usually
used. Variant: that; dat; mat; tht; tt;
dt; mt.
bit of meat slichini. n. bit of meat. Pl:
slichithong.
bitch vaimgi. n. bitch.
bite pn dm. vi-so. 1 bite someone
out of anger. 2 singe; burn. Variant:
vn dm.
bite tnes. vt. bite. Variant: nes.
bits and pieces balerbaler. n. bits and
pieces; especially of wood.
bitter, be ~ sren. sa-vi. be bitter.
219
block off
black achluing. adj. black. Variant:
chluing; achuluing; achluing.
black, be ~ ailaing mt. vi-so. be black.
black singapore bukacha. n. taro sp.;
black singapore. Pl: buka.
blackboard blakbotki. n. blackboard.
Pl: blakbot.
blackish, be ~ achluingbs vt. vi-so.
be blackish. Variant: achluingbs vt.
bleed bias ng dn s. vi-so. bleed.
bless tares svt. vt. 1 note.
2 bless. Variant: thares svt; rares
svt.
blessing arareski. n. blessing.
blind asusur. adj. blind.
blind blaenbs. n. blind. Pl: blaen.
Variant: blaenvs.
blind senbes. n. blind; refers to a
woven cane wall. Pl: sen.
blind, be ~ ssur. vi-so. be blind.
blind man assurka. n. blind man. Pl:
assurta.
blind, temporarily ~ bp scha
sachong. vi-so. temporarily blind.
Note: only b.
blind woman assurki. n. blind
woman.
blindfolded, be ~ sur. vt. be blindfolded.
blink pt balam na. vt. blink; wink.
Variant: vut balam na.
blister valachi. n. blister; bruise. Pl:
valak.
block psding sthm. vt. 1 block.
2 stop someone from doing some-
thing. Variant: vsding sthm.
block and tackle bloka. n. block and
tackle; pulley. Pl: blok.
block, banana ~ tangabs. n.
1 banana block; an area planted with
bananas. 2 banana leaf. Variant:
thangabs.
block off rek sthm. vt. 1 close in.
2 block off; e.g. to obstruct some-
ones view. 3 forbid. Variant: trek
sthm; chrek sthm. See: trek tm
blood bottle, large plastic ~

prohibit, forbid. boil bremgi. n. boil. Pl: burem. Variant:

blood biaska. n. blood. Pl: bias. Variant: bremgi.
mbiaska. boil boel. sa-vi. boil. Variant: bol. See:
blood, large quantity of ~ mbiaski. n. guaremga mt boil; bubble.
large quantity of blood. Morph: a= boil guaremga mt. vi-so. boil; bubble;
biaski. Gloss: SPEC=blood-F.SG. See: specifically the sound: water boiling
biaska blood. or the sound of a waterfall. Note: only g.
blossom garang. n. blossom. boisterous man sechabangga. n.
blossom vurvurki. n. blossom. Pl: vur- boisterous man; someone who is al-
vur. See: garang blossom. Note: only v. ways talking and laughing loudly. Pl:
sechabangda.
blouse, meri ~ koloski. n. meri blouse;
a loose fitting dress worn by women in boisterous woman sechabanggi. n.
PNG, with a wraparound skirt (laplap) boisterous woman.
worn underneath. Pl: kolos. Note: only k. bolt skruchm. n. bolt. Pl: skru.
blow pai s. vt. blow. Variant: vai s; vae bomb bomgi. n. bomb. Pl: bom.
s; wae s. bone slpki. n. bone. Pl: slp. Variant:
blow pes. sa-vi. blow. Variant: ves. slp; slpki.
blow nose ts t chulim. sa-vi. blow bonfire amudmbs. n. 1 bonfire.
nose. Variant: ths t chulim. 2 wildfire. Pl: amudm. Variant: amun-
blow on pes mt. vt. blow on. Variant: dmbs; amundmvs. See: amudmga
ves mt. fire.

blow; only of the wind pai. sa-vi. blow; bonfire butki. n. large fire; bonfire. Pl:
only of the wind. Variant: vai; vae; wae. but.

blue chthiacha. n. blue. Variant: bony, be ~ slp pt. vi-so. be skinny; be

kthiacha. bony.

bluish achthiavs. adj. bluish. Variant: book buchm. n. book. Pl: buchvap. See:
chthiavs; kthiavs. tlngm book.

blunt, be ~ buel mt. vi-so. be blunt. book tlngm. n. book. Pl: tlngvap.
See: buchm book.
board amngigl. n. board. Pl: amngi-
gleng. Variant: mngigl. boom din'ga. n. boom; roar. Pl: ddin.
board plangigel. n. board; plank. Pl: border birbirka. n. 1 border of danc-
plangigleng. Variant: plangigl. See: baler ing ground. 2 frame for a net. Pl:
piece of wood. Note: only p. birbir.

boat botki. n. boat. Pl: bot. See: luln'gi bore bor mt. vt. bore. Note: only b.
boat. borers vdm. n. borers; similar to
boat luln'gi. n. boat; especially a ba- white ants but they do not make
nana boat. Pl: lulen. See: botki boat. tunnels on the outside of wood; are
black. Note: only v. Note: no endings.
body chdngm. n. body. Pl: kdeng-
vap. Variant: kdengm. boss mairvtka. n. boss. Pl: mairvtta.
body chndenggi. n. 1 body. 2 boss, female ~ mairvtki. n. female
skin; bark. 3 peel; rind. Pl: chn- boss.
deng. Variant: kndenggi; kdenggi; bottle ainiricha. n. bottle. Pl: ainiri.
chdenggi. See: chngdengga skin. Variant: iniricha.
body slika. n. body; especially a dead bottle, large plastic ~ plastiki. n. large
body. plastic bottle; large plastic bag. Pl:

220
bottle, plastic ~
plastik.
bottle, plastic ~ plastika. n. plastic
bag; plastic bottle; specifically a bottle
between 1 and 5 litres in size, or a
medium sized plastic bag. Pl: plastik.
bottle, small plastic ~ plastikini. n.
small plastic bottle; small plastic bag.
Pl: plastik.
bottom angthut. n. base or bottom of
the inside of a container. Morph: ang=
thut. Gloss: 3CN.POSS=underneath. Var-
iant: thut; vut; aindut.
bottom ves. n. bottom. Usage: A euphe-
mism for anus. Morph: at=ves. Gloss:
3F.SG.POSS= bottom. Variant: thes.
boundary nugulka. n. boundary; either
a boundary between villages or a
boundary between different peoples
plots within a garden. Pl: nugul.
boundary suchutka. n. 1 sign; mark.
2 line; boundary. Pl: suchut. Variant:
asuchut.
boundary varka. n. boundary between
sections within an area of garden be-
longing to one person; used for
planting different crops. Pl: var. Note:
only v.
bow vadechi. n. bow. Pl: vadek. Note:
only v.
bowl, large wooden ~ aguervaluski. n.
large wooden bowl. Pl: aguervalus.
bowl, wooden ~ aluski. n. 1 turtle
shell. 2 wooden bowl. Pl: alus.
Variant: luski.
bowl, wooden ~ banggruanggi. n.
1 pot; saucepan. 2 wooden bowl.
Pl: banggruang.
box bogiski. n. box. Pl: bogis.
boy, sisterless ~ chungacha. n. 1 tree
sp.; casuarina. 2 sisterless man;
sisterless boy; a man or a boy who
does not have any sisters. Pl: chuang.
Variant: kungacha.
brain gnngachi. n. brain.
branch angthiki. n. 1 hand; arm;
refers to the entire limb. 2 branch.
Morph: ang=tikki. Gloss: 3CN.POSS=
221
break
hand-F.SG. Pl: angthaik.
branch, end of ~ angthichm. n. end
of branch; specifically the part where
the leaves are. Pl: angthikvap. Variant:
vthichm.
branch, side ~ of a river achruacha.
n. side branch of river; dries up during
the dry season. Pl: achrau. Variant:
acheruacha.
brave, be ~ achrnas mt. vi-so. 1 be
brave. 2 be hard; be difficult.
3 be salty. Variant: chrnas mt.
brave, be ~ asok mt. vi-so. 1 be
brave. 2 be determined; be sin-
gle-minded. 3 be strong. 4 be
solid. 5 be challenging; e.g. a
game.
brave man achrnasmtka. n. brave
man. Pl: achrnasmtta.
brave woman achrnasmtki. n. brave
woman.
bread achsaskmtki. n. bread. Pl:
achsaskmt.
breadfruit variachi. n. 1 breadfruit
tree. 2 breadfruit. Pl: var. Variant:
pariachi. See: vaski breadfruit tree
and fruit.
breadfruit vaski. n. 1 breadfruit tree.
2 breadfruit. Pl: vas. See: variachi
breadfruit. Note: only v.
breadfruit tree variachi. n.
1 breadfruit tree. 2 breadfruit. Pl:
var. Variant: pariachi. See: vaski
breadfruit tree and fruit.
breadfruit tree vaski. n. 1 breadfruit
tree. 2 breadfruit. Pl: vas. See:
variachi breadfruit. Note: only v.
break bing mni. vt. break or snap;
especially of a rope. Note: only b.
break lik s. vt. break or tear off
something small.
break mbeng. vt. break.
break pk mt. vi-so. break. Variant: vk
mt.
break pk tm. vt. break. Variant: vk
tm; bk tm.
break
break pl vt. vi-so. break. Variant: vl
vt.
break tik tm. vt. 1 pick. 2 break.
3 snap off. Variant: thik tm; tik t;
thik t.
break apart bon mt. vt. break apart,
of taro or bread. Variant: von mt.
break apart lik mt. vt. 1 rip off; tear
off. 2 split; break apart.
break, have a ~ from sot na. vt. have a
break from.
break off pl mt. vi-so. break off.
Variant: vl mt.
break off tanger vt. vt. 1 snap; break
off. 2 spear. Variant: thanger vt.
break open purk mt. vt. break open.
Variant: vurk mt.
break up lr dm. vi-so. break up.
Variant: ler d.
breast chmcha. n. breast. Pl:
chmk. Variant: kmk.
breath chnak. n. breath; specifically
exhaled breath. Variant: knak.
breath sangaska. n. breath. Pl: sangas.
breath, gasp for ~ sanggas machu-
vt. sa-vi. gasp for breath.
breath, lose ones ~ sanggas ithms.
sa-vi. lose ones breath.
breathe sanggas. sa-vi. breathe.
breathe out pr. vt. 1 get something
out of a pocket or a similar place.
2 breathe out. 3 put; e.g. to put
someone in a particular place. Variant:
vr.
bright, be ~ asinir mt. vi-so. be bright;
be light.
bright light nethachi. n. bright light.
Note: no plural.
brightly mamor. adv. 1 lots.
2 excessively; very much; terribly.
3 strongly. 4 hard. 5 loudly.
6 fast; quickly. 7 brightly.
bring dn s. vt. arrive with; bring.
Variant: thn s; mun s.
bring in don. vt. bring in; specifically
222
bugle
the sea throwing things onto the
shore. Variant: thon.
broken, be ~ pl s. vi-so. be broken.
Variant: vl s.
broken, be ~ pl tm. vi-so. be broken;
be bent over; be flattened out; e.g. of
grass that has been walked on.
broken down, be ~ mavo na. vi-so. be
broken down; not working.
broom schuvm. n. broom. Pl: schup.
Variant: suchupvm.
brother, older ~ mathm. n. older
brother. Usage: A term of address. Pl:
matvek.
brother, older ~ matka. n. older
brother. Pl: matvek.
brother, younger ~ alika. n. younger
brother. Pl: alikpek.
brother-in-law chlucha. n. brother-in-
law; both the address and reference
term; used by a male speaker; can be
used for a mans sisters husband or a
mans wifes brother. Pl: chluvek.
Variant: klucha.
brother-in-law oes mamk. n. brother-
in-law; husband; address and refer-
ence term; used by a female speaker.
Pl: oes mamkna.
brother-in-law thuvska. n. father-in-
law; brother-in-law; uncle-in-law; any
in-laws except ones wifes mothers
brother and his wife. Pl: thuvsvek.
brown ivitki. n. brown.
bruise valachi. n. blister; bruise. Pl:
valak.
bubble guaremga mt. vi-so. boil;
bubble; specifically the sound: water
boiling or the sound of a waterfall.
Note: only g.
bucket baketki. n. bucket. Pl: baket.
bucket chureski. n. 1 leaf from an
areca palm. 2 bucket; made from
an areca palm leaf. Pl: chures. Variant:
kureski.
bugle tavurki. n. 1 conch shell.
2 bugle. Pl: tavur. See: abiulgi conch
build
shell. Note: only t.
build tp ma. vt. 1 make; build.
2 carve. Variant: thp ma; tp m; thp
m.
bump tat mt. vt. bump. Variant: that
gt; dat mt; mat mt.
bunch garngacha. n. bunch; e.g. a
bunch of bananas, coconuts or man-
goes. Pl: garang.
bunch, large ~ garngachi. n. large
bunch; e.g. bananas, coconuts, or
mangoes. Pl: garang.
burn dang. sa-vi. 1 catch fire.
2 burn. Variant: ndang; thang; mang.
burn dang mt. sa-vi. 1 burn; be on
fire. 2 be in a fire. Variant: ndang
mt; thang mt; mang mt.
burn pn dm. vi-so. 1 bite someone
out of anger. 2 singe; burn. Variant:
vn dm.
burnt, be ~ ainin vt. vi-so. be charred;
be burnt.
burnt, be ~ dung sng. vi-so. be burnt.
burnt, get ~ dung mt. vi-so. get burnt.
burp gk pt. vi-so. burp.
burst puk tm. sa-vi. 1 erupt.
2 shatter; burst. Variant: vuk tm.
burst out pus pm. vi-so. erupt; burst
out. Variant: vus pm.
bury pt. vt. 1 plant. 2 bury.
3 plunge. Variant: vt; pat; vat.
bush aurki. n. bush. Pl: aur. Variant: ur;
urki.
bush sarnggi. n. bush. Pl: sarng.
bush man aurka. n. bush man. Pl: aurta.
bush side aurigl. n. bush side of the
road, a less pleasant place to stand.
bush sp. ivangacha. n. bush
Bye!
commonly found in gardens; grows to
1.5 m tall and has soft leaves; used to
treat dysentery by crushing half of a
new leaf with a very ripe leaf and
washing them with water; water is
squeezed into a cup and drunk.
bush sp. thalechachi. n. bush sp.; used
for decoration; grows in the bush. Pl:
thalek. Variant: talechachi.
bush woman aurki. n. bush woman.
bushes aurithong. n. bushes.
but dak. coord. but. Gram: Adversative
marker.
Butams Butamgna. n. Butams.
butcher krtp pt. vt. 1 chop off;
e.g. to strip a tree back to its trunk.
2 butcher; e.g. of a pig or a fish.
Variant: chrtp pt.
butcher kutgil tm. vt. butcher; chop.
Variant: chutgil tm; vuigl tm (Abilta
dialect).
butterfly achinggoinggi. n. butterfly.
Pl: achinggoing.
buttock arembm. n. 1 buttock.
2 n. source; cause; reason. See:
aremgi buttock; source; cause; rea-
son.
buttock aremgi. n. 1 buttock.
2 base. 3 source; cause; reason.
Pl: arem. Variant: rem. See: arembm
buttock; remini base; source; cause.
buy bon dm mt. vt. buy. Variant: von
dm mt.
by nagl. prep. 1 from. 2 by. Variant:
nangl.
Bye! chule nge chlan. interj. Bye!
Usage: This expression lets the hearer
know that they can go.
sp.;
223
 C -
calendar amundika v chunng. n.
calendar. Pl: amundik angt kunng.
calf cherorini. n. calf; specifically the
large muscle in the lower part of the
leg. Pl: cheror. Variant: chrorini;
kerorini.
call charidang. n. call; a special sound,
ooo, is called from the bush to warn
that a Mndas is coming. Variant:
karidang.
call par na. vt. call; specifically to call
for a domestic animal. Variant: var na.
call tes. vt. name; call by name. Variant:
thes; des; mes.
call tu chuar s. vt. call; calling out to
someone to follow you. Variant: thu
chuar s.
call for tns m. vt. call for. Variant: ns
m.
call for someone par s. vt. 1 invite.
2 ask for someone; call for someone.
3 lead. 4 pull in a fish; refers to
a fish which is caught on a hook.
Variant: thar (Abilta dialect); var s.
call oneself tes nas. sa-vi. call oneself.
Variant: thes nas; des nas; mes nas.
call out tns. sa-vi. call out; shout.
Variant: ns.
calm down tu av snng mamr.
sa-vi. calm down; settle down; relax.
Morph: tu av snng mamr. Gloss: put
3M.SG.POSS thoughts properly. Variant: du
av snng mamr; thu av snng
mamr; mu av snng mamr; tu ath
snng mamr.
calm, feel ~ manggar nas na. vi-so.
feel calm.
camp kem. n. camp.
Canarium indicum vimga. n. galip nut
(Canarium indicum). Pl: viam. Variant:
pimga.
cane leaves alam. n. cane leaves.
224
c
cane sp., wild ~ amundiki. n. edible
stalk of a wild cane sp. (pitpit). Pl:
mundik. Variant: mendik.
canoe kanucha. n. canoe. Pl: kanu. See:
luln'ga canoe. Note: only k.
capsize tnp nanas. sa-vi. 1 change
oneself; become different.
2 capsize. Variant: np nanas.
car aiski. n. 1 car. 2 truck. Pl: ais.
Variant: iski. See: araun'ga mtki car.
car araun'ga mtki. n. car; motorcy-
cle. Morph: araunka mt=ki. Gloss:
sound-M.SG in=3F.SG. See: aiski car;
raun'ga sound.
car karki. n. car. Pl: kar. Note: only k.
care, ~ for, take ~ of lmu thm. vt.
look after; care for; take care of.
Careful! aie. interj. Careful! Variant: oo.
carelessly madng. adv. 1 carelessly.
2 unconcernedly.
carelessly maslevr. adv. roughly;
carelessly.
carpenter kapenta. n. carpenter. Pl:
kapentachna. Note: only k.
carrier thatalvmga. n. carrier. Pl:
thatalvmda. Variant: thtalvmga.
carrier, female ~ thatalvmgi. n. fe-
male carrier.
carry tal. vt. 1 carry. 2 move.
3 bear; specifically to bear fruit.
4 give birth. Variant: thal; dal.
carve lmr dm. vt. carve.
carve tms vt. vt. carve. Variant:
thms vt.
carve tp ma. vt. 1 make; build.
2 carve. Variant: thp ma; tp m; thp
m.
cassowary marupki. n. cassowary. Pl:
marup.
castor oil kasuel. n. castor oil. Note:
only k.
casuarina
casuarina chungacha. n. 1 tree sp.;
casuarina. 2 sisterless man; sister-
less boy; a man or a boy who does not
have any sisters. Pl: chuang. Variant:
kungacha.
cat pusicha. n. cat; wild or domestic. Pl:
pusi. Note: only p.
catch kthep. vt. 1 grab. 2 catch.
Variant: chthep; gthep.
catch kut. vt. catch; specifically an ea-
gle catching its prey. Variant: chut.
catch pr m. vt. grab; catch; kidnap.
Variant: vr m.
catch pr tm. vt. grab; catch; kidnap.
Variant: vr tm; br tm; pr t; vr t;
br t.
catch fire dang. sa-vi. 1 catch fire.
2 burn. Variant: ndang; thang; mang.
catechist katiketka. n. catechist. Pl:
katiketkna.
caterpillar sp. asivlelki. n. caterpillar
sp.; has black and yellow spots; is a bit
hairy; eats the leaves of the achluang
plant. Pl: asivlel.
cause angtharembem. n. cause. Pl:
angtharembap.
cause arembm. n. 1 buttock.
2 source; cause; reason. See: aremgi
buttock; source; cause; reason.
cause aremgi. n. 1 buttock. 2 base.
3 source; cause; reason. Pl: arem.
Variant: rem. See: arembm buttock;
remini base; source; cause.
cause remini. n. base; source; cause.
cave radmga. n. cave. Pl: radm.
cement simen'gi. n. cement; especially
a bag of cement or a block of cement.
Pl: simen.
centipede achririaski. n. poisonous
centipede. Pl: achririas. Variant:
chririaska.
cerebrum genaing. n. 1 cerebrum.
2 phlegm; mucus.
certainly masa. disc. 1 certainly.
2 very much; a lot. Gram: In clause final
position only.
check
chain sen'ga. n. necklace; chain. Pl: sen.
chainsaw sensocha. n. chainsaw. Pl:
senso.
chair achut ngthathengbt. n.
chair. Variant: achut ngthathengt
(Abilta dialect).
chair amunggunbs. n. 1 chair. Pl:
amunggunimlk. 2 meeting. Pl:
amunggunimlk. 3 sitting of
parliament.
chair siait. n. chair. Pl: siaink.
challenging, be ~ asok mt. vi-so.
1 be brave. 2 be determined; be
single-minded. 3 be strong. 4 be
solid. 5 be challenging; e.g. a
game.
change tnp na. vt. 1 change; make
different. 2 mix. Variant: np na.
change tu sa sothana n. vt. change;
especially of changing clothes. Variant:
thu sa sothana; du sa sothana; mu sa
sothana.
change oneself tnp nanas. sa-vi.
1 change oneself; become different.
2 capsize. Variant: np nanas.
chapter chvlki. n. 1 piece; possibly
a piece of rope, wood, or tapioca
runner etc. 2 chapter. Pl: chvl.
char dudung pt. vi-so. char.
charcoal achthoski. n. charcoal. Pl:
achthos.
charm avsvesini. n. 1 magic spell;
curse. 2 charm; an object that car-
ries magical power. Variant: vsves.
charm pes vt. vt. charm; do magic.
Variant: ves vt.
charms, whisper ~ pestm svt. vt.
whisper charms; charms can be
whispered over objects, e.g.: lime
powder, water, ginger, and cooked
banana. Variant: vestm svt.
charred, be ~ ainin vt. vi-so. be
charred; be burnt.
chase tuchun. vt. 1 chase. 2 hit.
Variant: thuchun; duchun; muchun.
check ben sachong. sa-vi. 1 spy on.
225
check
2 check with a glance.
check bn slp sangglm mes. vt.
check something for ones own satis-
faction. Variant: vn slp sangglm
mes.
check don meng. vt. check. Variant:
thon meng.
check donbathm n. vt. check; ex-
amine. Variant: thonbathm n; donba-
thm na; thonbathm na.
chest brethem. n. chest. Pl: bret.
chest and belly of an animal ronas. n.
front of torso; belly and chest of an
animal. Note: no endings.
chew sing. sa-vi. chew.
chick duraikini. n. chick.
duraikithong.
chickenhawk chuvisacha. n. chicken-
hawk. Pl: chuvis. Variant: kuvisacha.
child athoemga. n. 1 child. 2 son.
3 student. 4 assistant. Morph: at=
oemka. Gloss: 3F.SG.POSS child-M.SG. Pl:
athoes. Variant: thoemga; =oes; =emga;
=oemga.
child thaembm. n. 1 child. Morph: at=
oemvm. Gloss: 3F.SG.POSS child-reduc-
ed.SG. 2 young animal; especially
puppies or piglets. Pl: thaembap.
Variant: taembem. See: thoemga child;
son; student; assistant.
childless man sska. n. childless man.
Pl: ssta.
childless woman asski. n. childless
woman. Pl: ssta.
childless woman sski. n. childless
woman.
children, man with ~ athoes ptha-
cha. n. man with children. Pl: athoes
pthatha.
children, woman with ~ athoes
pthachi. n. woman with children.
chimney paipki. n. chimney; pipe.
paip. Note: only p.
chin vnbn'ga. n. chin; lower jaw.
Morph: a=bnbn'ga. Gloss: SPEC=
chin-M.SG. Pl: vnbn. Variant:
church
bnbn'ga.
chip, wood ~ sabcha. n. wood chip. Pl:
sabk.
chisel sisel. n. chisel.
chiton kabolocha. n. shellfish sp.; chi-
ton; found on reef close to the beach;
has a shell down the middle of its back
covered in small spiky hairs; sticks to
the reef; up to 8 cm long; is flat and
brown. Pl: kabolo. Variant: chabolocha.
chiton sp. naingini. n. chiton sp.; small
in size, up to 4 cm; black. Pl:
naingithong.
choice vlchachi. n. 1 choice; pref-
erence. 2 wish. Pl: vlch. Variant:
vlkachi. Note: only v.
Pl:
choice, do by ~ pathm mes. sa-vi.
1 do by choice; do according to ones
own wishes. 2 do unhurriedly; do in
ones own time. 3 act independ-
ently. Variant: bathm mes; vathm
mes.
choir mambuchi. n. 1 choir; orches-
tra; the singers and drummers at a
day dance or night dance. 2 song.
Pl: mambu.
choose tneng dm. vt. choose. Variant:
neng dm.
chop krtp mt. vt. chop; cut up.
Variant: chrtp mt; krtp mt; chrtp
mt.
chop kutgil tm. vt. butcher; chop.
Variant: chutgil tm; vuigl tm (Abilta
dialect).
chop lr dm. vt. 1 tear. 2 split.
3 chop. Variant: ler d.
chop off krtp pt. vt. 1 chop off;
e.g. to strip a tree back to its trunk.
2 butcher; e.g. of a pig or a fish.
Variant: chrtp pt.
chop up tigil s. vt. chop up. Variant:
thigil s.
Pl:
Christmas Krismas. n. Christmas. Note:
only k.
church lotuvmgi. n. church. Pl:
lotuvm.
226
cicada sp.
cicada sp. langgervereng'gi. n. green
cicada sp.; found in coastal areas. Pl:
langgeveren.
cicada sp. vereverechi. n. cicada sp.;
silvery colour; found on mountain
ranges. Pl: verevere. Note: only v.
cigarette nangasacha. n. 1 tobacco
plant. 2 cigarette. Pl: nangas.
circle bing vt. vt. 1 go around.
2 circle. Variant: ving vt.
circle around bing pthanas. vt. circle
around. Variant: ving pthanas.
circulatory system bias angtha ais.
n. circulatory system.
clam tavan'ga. n. shellfish sp.; clam. Pl:
tavan. Variant: thavan'ga; tawan'ga.
clam shell achirka. n. shellfish sp.;
clam shell from the sea; is purple and
white; up to 8 cm across. Pl: achir.
class ulunggi. n. 1 room. 2 class;
grade. Pl: ulung.
claw ravski. n. nail; claw. Pl: ravs.
claws of a flying fox gilamucha. n.
claws of a flying fox; found on the
elbows of the flying fox; they use
them to hang by. Pl: gilamu.
clean achlol. adj. clean. Variant: chlol.
clean achumer. adj. clean.
clean kumer vm. vt. clean. Variant:
chumer.
clean, keep ~ tp m chdenggi. sa-vi.
keep clean. Variant: thp m chdenggi.
clean oneself thoroughly lmr nas.
sa-vi. clean oneself thoroughly.
clean thoroughly lmr. vt. clean
thoroughly.
clean, very ~ achumerkumer. adj.
very clean.
clear aer. adj. clear; light; especially of
the sky.
clear don ma. sa-vi. 1 clear land for a
new garden. 2 throw away; aban-
don. Variant: thon ma.
clear tr. vt. 1 pull out. 2 uproot.
3 clear; especially of small weeds
227
clock
etc. Variant: thr; dr; mr.
clear away kir. vt. 1 push away.
2 clear away. Variant: chir.
cleared area burichi. n. cleared area;
flattened area; e.g. a place in the bush
where there has been a dog fight or a
crocodile resting. Pl: buri.
cleared area tamasnggi. n. cleared
area; a place where the ground has
been cleared (except for big trees);
the first stage in making a garden. Pl:
tamasng.
cleared area valvalka. n. clear area; an
area that has been cleared for a gar-
den but which is not clean yet, all the
big trees have been removed but the
small plants are still there. Pl: valval.
Variant: walwal. Note: only v.
clearly maschas. adv. clearly; de-
scribes how someone is speaking.
clever angel. adj. clever.
clever armali. adj. clever.
clever, be ~ angelka vm. vi-so. 1 be
clever. 2 be talented.
clever man amundrmbemka. n.
clever man. Pl: amundrmbemta.
clever person armalika. n. clever
person.
clever woman amndrmbemki. n.
clever woman.
click tk tk mt. vi-so. click. Note: only
t.
cliff chspka. n. high stony cliff with a
waterfall flowing down it. Pl: chsap.
Variant: kspka.
climb bn. sa-vi. climb. Variant: vn.
climb on bn vt. vt. climb on. Variant:
vn vt. See: beng vt climb up.
climb up beng vt. vt. climb up. Variant:
veng vt. See: bn vt climb on.
clinic aslamrki. n. hospital; clinic;
health centre. Pl: aslamr. Variant:
slamrki.
clock kilok. n. clock. See: kunngga ava
iski clock. Note: no endings.
clock
clock kunngga ava iski. n. clock. Pl:
kunngga ava ais. Variant: chunngga
ava iski. See: kilok clock.
close glm. prep. near; close. Variant:
glm.
close psding. vt. close; e.g. close a
book, a door, or a meeting. Variant:
vsding; vusding; wusding; pusding.
close vs pm. vt. close. Note: only v.
close vs pm na. vt. close; referring to
something with equal sides that is
hinged; e.g. a book or a mouth. Variant:
wus vm (Abilta dialect). Note: only v.
close in rek sthm. vt. 1 close in.
2 block off; e.g. to obstruct some-
ones view. 3 forbid. Variant: trek
sthm; chrek sthm. See: trek tm
prohibit, forbid.
close to saglm. prep. close to. Variant:
sangglm.
close to sng. prep. 1 at the base.
2 in the vicinity of; close to. Variant:
seng; snng (Abilta dialect).
close to, from ~ naglm. prep. from
close to. Variant: nangglm.
closed, be ~ bp mt. vi-so. be closed.
closer to saglmna. prep. nearer to;
closer to. Variant: sangglmna.
cloth, bark ~ simalachi. n. 1 tapa
cloth; traditional covering worn by
men; a strip of bark cloth that goes
between the legs, attached to a
waistband. 2 underpants. Pl: simal.
clothes baul. n. clothes. Variant: mbaul.
clothes sravtki. n. shirt; clothes; uni-
form. Pl: sravt. Variant: sravtki.
cloud achluinggi. n. cloud. Pl: ach-
luing. Variant: chluinggi; cheluing;
chluing.
cloud, rain ~ athvuiki. n. rain cloud.
Pl: athvuik. Variant: athewiki.
cloud, small ~ achluingini. n. small
cloud. Variant: chluingini.
club, flat ~ avirki. n. flat club; is like a
cricket bat but the handle is a bit
longer. Pl: avir. See: sapka rounded
228
cocoa tree
club.
club, rounded ~ sapka. n. rounded
club; looks like a softball bat. Pl: sap.
See: avirki flat club.
club, short ~ landmbm. n. short
club; baton. Pl: ladm.
clumsily, walk ~ vatkivatki na. vi-so.
walk clumsily; especially to describe a
person walking along and looking
down as they walk. Note: only v.
clumsy person nguatki. n. clumsy
person; especially someone who walks
in a clumsy way. Pl: nguatkigna.
coals of a fire achthoska. n. coals of a
fire. Pl: achthos.
coast agars. n. 1 coast. 2 beach.
Variant: gars; nggars.
coastal people Abilta. n. coastal peo-
ple; people from the villages of Gar,
Merai, Urai, Ili, and Karong. Morph: a=
bilka. Gloss: SPEC=old.place-M.SG.
Variant: bilta.
cockatoo angthamatki. n. cockatoo.
Pl: angthamat.
cockroach gethainginggl. n. cock-
roach. Pl: gethaing. Variant: gethaingga.
cockroach kokoros. n. cockroach.
cocoa kakau. n. cocoa. Note: only k.
cocoa bean athalevm. n. cocoa bean.
Pl: athalevavap.
cocoa beans athalep angthoes. n.
cocoa beans.
cocoa, piece of ~ kakauigl. n. 1 cocoa
plantation. 2 piece of cocoa. Note:
only k.
cocoa plantation kakauigl. n. 1 cocoa
plantation. 2 piece of cocoa. Note:
only k.
cocoa pod athalevachi. n. cocoa pod.
Pl: athalep.
cocoa tree athalevacha. n. 1 cocoa
tree. 2 tree sp.; looks like a cocoa
tree, only taller with narrower leaves,
and bears small fruit rather than pods;
good for firewood; eating the ripe
green leaves is good for diarrhoea;
coconut comfort

has larger leaves than the auska spe- coin, kina ~ kinacha. n. kina coin. Pl:
cies. Pl: athalep. kina.
coconut lamsachi. n. 1 coconut. cold achumgi. n. cough; cold. Pl: chum.
2 coconut palm. Pl: lams. Variant: chumgi.
coconut, grated ~ vuthom. n. grated cold aisiska. n. cold.
coconut to be eaten raw. Note: only v. cold aiski. n. cold. Morph: aiski mt
coconut gratings vutka. n. coconut kdeng. Gloss: cold-F.SG at body.
gratings. Note: only v. cold auluvk. adj. cold.
coconut gratings, large amount of ~ cold, be ~ aiskias. vi-so. be cold.
vuetki. n. large amount of coconut Morph:aiskies. Gloss: cold-F-eat.
gratings.
cold, feel ~ auluvk tm. vi-so. feel
coconut, green ~ kulaucha. n. green cold. Usage: Only refers to a thing or
coconut (kulau); for drinking. Pl: another person. Variant: aulvk tm.
kulau. Note: only k.
cold, have a ~ aiski vt. vi-so. have a
coconut leaf lamsas. n. coconut leaf; cold.
the leaflets that make up a coconut
frond. collapse din s. vi-so. faint; collapse.
Variant: diss.
coconut, many dishes of grated ~
vutves. n. many dishes of grated collect tusamon dm n. vt. collect;
coconut. gather things together. Variant:
thusamon dm; dusamon dm;
coconut palm lamsachi. n. musamon dm.
1 coconut. 2 coconut palm. Pl:
lams.
colourful, be ~ amurmes pt. vi-so.
be colourful.
coconut palm, tall ~ lamsait. n. tall
coconut palm. Pl: lamsink. colours rachuvigel. n. colours; spe-
cifically the colours from the bark of
coconut, piece of ~ lamsigl. n. the amrachuvacha tree.
1 coconut plantation. 2 piece of
coconut. comb achirksengga. n. comb. Pl:
achirkseng.
coconut plantation lamsigl. n.
1 coconut plantation. 2 piece of
combined, be ~ ves tmna na. vi-so. be
coconut. combined.

coconut shell amilatka. n. 1 plate;
dish. 2 coconut shell. Pl: milat.
Variant: milatka.
coiled, be ~ malumgi na. vi-so. be
coiled; be piled up. Variant: malum na.
coin anlka. n. 1 shellfish sp.; mussel;
bivalve from the river that lives in the
mud at the bottom of the river; dark
brown outside and white inside; peo-
ple refine (mumu) these shells, by fire,
to get lime powder. 2 money; coin;
kina. Pl: anal.
coin duligl. n. coin; especially a silver
coin. Pl: duligleng. Pl: dul - Mali has
future tense.
come bang. sa-vi. 1 run; move quickly.
Usage: Refers to any kind of fast
movement. 2 come. Variant: vang;
pang; mbang.
come dn. sa-vi. 1 arrive; come.
2 reach. 3 return. Variant: ndn;
thn; mn; mun; -an.
come out puik na. vi-so. come out.
Variant: vuik na.
come out puvs. vi-so. come out.
Variant: vuvs.
come up pus s. vi-so. come up;
emerge. Variant: vus s.
comfort pelal vm. vt. comfort some-
one in distress. Variant: velal vm.

229
comfortable place
comfortable place luk. n. cool place;
comfortable place; somewhere that is
a good place to rest.
command tchr. vt. command; order.
Variant: thchr.
compassionate, be ~ alek mt. vi-so.
1 be hollow. 2 relent; be compas-
sionate. 3 compromise.
compete erna. sa-vi. compete.
compete oerna. vt. 1 compete.
2 race.
complete darkness patpathia. n. pitch
black; complete darkness. Variant:
vatpathia.
compress lingbes. n. gauze; lint; com-
press. Pl: ling.
compromise alek mt. vi-so. 1 be
hollow. 2 relent; be compassionate.
3 compromise.
conception sarumbm. n.
1 conception. 2 pregnancy. See:
pis d be swollen, used to refer to
pregnant animals.
conch shell abiulgi. n. conch shell.
abiul. See: tavurki conch shell.
conch shell tavurki. n. 1 conch shell.
2 bugle. Pl: tavur. See: abiulgi conch
shell. Note: only t.
confess kuares ithm mes sa. vt.
confess. Variant: chuares ithm mes sa.
confess tamn ithm mes. vt. confess.
Variant: thamn ithm mes; methamn
ithm mes; tamon ithm mes; thamon
ithm mes; methamon ithm mes.
confused addn. adj. 1 odd; strange.
2 confused; delirious; crazy; in-
sane; altered psychological states in
general.
confused, be ~ ddn. vi-so. 1 be
confused. 2 be insane; crazy.
3 be delirious.
congested, be heavily ~ genaing
genaing mt. vi-so. have a snotty
nose; be heavily congested.
conquer pithia na. vt. overcome; con-
quer. Variant: vithia na; withia na.
copy
constricted, be ~ bp pt. vi-so. be
constricted.
continue namu. sa-vi. continue. Gram:
May function as minor verb in serial verb con-
struction encoding durative aspect.
continuously ivit ivit. adv. continu-
ously; on and on. Variant: ivuit ivuit.
contract atharesdemga. n. contract.
contract athareska. n. contract.
contract atharespet. n. contract.
contract athektmna. n. contract.
contrite, feel ~ gurnas. sa-vi. repent;
feel contrite.
cook par. vt. cook in an earth oven
(mumu). Variant: var; bar.
cook pus. vt. cook. Variant: vus; ps;
vs. See: avsvsvmki kitchen.
cooked amang. adj. 1 ripe; especially
refers to the ripeness of bananas,
mangoes, and pawpaws. 2 cooked.
Variant: mang.
cooking avsvs. n. cooking.
Pl: cooking, associated with ~ avsvs.
adj. associated with cooking.
cooking hut ambangga ma thi ps
vmga. n. kitchen; cooking hut. Pl:
ambang ma thi ps vmngt. Variant:
bangga ma thi ps vmga. See:
avsvsvmki kitchen.
cooking hut avsvsvmki. n. kitchen;
cooking hut. Pl: avsvsvm. See:
ambangga ma thi ps vmga kitchen.
cool place luk. n. cool place; comfort-
able place; somewhere that is a good
place to rest.
cooperative aslek. adj. cooperative;
obedient.
copper sulphate bluston. n. copper
sulphate.
copra lams. n. copra.
copra shed aus kopra. n. copra shed;
hut used to dry coconut and store
copra. Variant: us kopra.
copy tat dm. vt. copy. Variant: that
dm; dat dm; mat dm; that d; tat d;
230
coral, piece of ~
dat d; mat d.
coral, piece of ~ sulka. n. 1 piece of
coral. 2 sore on the head. Pl: sul.
cordyline sp. lagun'ga. n. cordyline
sp.; victory leaf (tanget); decorative
plant. Pl: lagun.
core chlochacha. n. 1 core; inner-
most part. 2 inside part of some-
thing. 3 soul. Pl: chlok. Variant:
chlochacha. Note: only ch.
corn lagthacha. n. corn. Pl: lagat.
Variant: langgthacha.
corneas sachong angtha chilot. n.
corneas.
corner avingnaska. n. corner. Pl:
avingnas.
corner chulemgi. n. corner. Pl: chulem.
Variant: kulemgi. See: avingnaska cor-
ner.
corner, in a ~ imuit. dir. 1 across
there; across a valley. 2 in a corner.
corner, inside ~ achvcha. n.
1 inside corner; e.g. the inside of an
elbow or the corner in a room. Pl:
achvk. 2 name of Mndas mask;
concave in shape; similar to an up-
side-down canoe; has designs painted
inside; supported by a stick.
correctly sdamr. adv. correctly; right.
Variant: sndamr.
corrugated iron kapaigl. n. corrugated
iron; iron roofing; especially a single
sheet of corrugated iron. Pl: kakigleng.
cotton katenm. n. cotton. Pl: katen.
Note: only k.
cough achumgi. n. cough; cold. Pl:
chum. Variant: chumgi.
cough gum. sa-vi. cough. Variant: chum.
count slamen dm. vt. 1 read.
2 count.
couple lugutvthaiom. n. couple.
court varkurai. n. court. Note: only v.
Note: no endings.
cousin, distant female ~ smgi. n. dis-
tant female cousin.
231
crab, hermit ~ sp.
cousin, distant ~ smga. n. distant
cousin. Pl: smbek.
cover bng bt. vt. 1 wrap up.
2 cover. Variant: vng bt.
cover psding mt. vt. cover. Variant:
vsding mt; vusding mt; wusding
mt; pusding mt.
cover pustm vt. vt. cover. Variant:
vustm vt.
cover tu mrang dm. vt. cover. Variant:
thu mrang dm; du mrang dm; mu
mrang dm.
coward auluvkmtka. n. 1 coward.
2 good humoured man; reasonable
man. Pl: aulvkmtta. Variant:
aulvkmtka.
coward, female ~ auluvkmtki. n.
1 female coward. 2 good hu-
moured woman; reasonable woman.
Variant: aulvkmtki.
cowardly, be ~ auluvk mt. vi-so. be
timid; be cowardly; be afraid.
cowrie shell chulumga. n. shellfish
sp.; white cowrie shell. Pl: chulum.
Variant: kulumga.
cowrie shell imrki. n. cowrie shell;
various colours; up to 10 cm across. Pl:
imr.
crab ingguingga. n. crab; generic
term. Pl: ingguingbap. Pl: ingguaing.
crab, hermit ~ athucha. n. hermit crab;
generic term; also used for small
land-dwelling hermit crabs with bod-
ies up to 4 cm in diameter; changes
shells. Pl: athu.
crab, hermit ~ sp. maraglilichi. n.
hermit crab sp.; large, brown, land
dwelling hermit crab; does not have a
shell; lives in holes in rocks near the
sea; body up to 15 cm across, 25 cm
long; claws up to 40 cm long; can husk
coconuts with its claws. Pl: maraglili.
crab, hermit ~ sp. rurubuan'ga. n.
hermit crab sp.; large body up to
15 cm across and 25 cm long; lives in
the sea; can change shells. Pl:
rurubuan.
crab sp.
crab sp. aneska. n. crab sp.; land crab
with black shell and red claws; has a
flat elongated body; lives in holes or
under fallen wood. Pl: anes.
crab sp. athonggi. n. 1 tree sp.; bears
an edible fruit. 2 river crab sp.;
brown; up to 5 cm in diameter; flat
feet for paddling. Pl: athong.
crab sp. avngbeladiachi. n. river
crab sp.; brown; has a large shell; up
to 20 cm in diameter; lives in mud at
the mouth of rivers. Pl: avngbelade.
crab sp. brasochi. n. saltwater crab
sp.; large and green; shell up to 20 cm
in diameter. Pl: brasau.
crab sp. chavenggi. n. river crab sp.;
brown; shell up to 4 cm in diameter;
sits on stones; hides when people ap-
proach. Pl: chaveng. Variant: kalenggi.
crab sp. chsengdaiuika. n. river crab
sp.; brown; shell up to 4 cm in di-
ameter; hairy legs; lives under stones
in the river. Pl: chsengdaiuik. Variant:
ksengdaiuika.
crab sp. chialetki. n. river crab sp.;
brown; has a lumpy shell and flat
chest; hatches in pools. Pl: chialet.
Variant: kialetki.
crab sp. chulumtka. n. crab sp.; dark
brown with a white mouth and white
claws; shell 5 cm in diameter; lives
above the tide line. Pl: chulumt.
Variant: kulumtka.
crab sp. chursachongem. n. crab sp.;
brown; strong shell up to 6 cm in di-
ameter; has powerful legs; kicks
when someone holds it. Pl: chursa-
chong. Variant: kursachong.
crab sp. dulem. n. crab sp.; lives in
holes in the sand; white and brown
shell; up to 5 cm in diameter. Pl:
dulvap. See: kiakkiaka crab sp. (al-
ternate name).
crab sp. inducha. n. river crab sp.;
small and brown; has a hard shell; up
to 4 cm across; lives in small creeks
and the headwaters of rivers. Pl: indu.
crab sp. kalukluka. n. land crab sp.;
232
crab sp.
small; grey-brown colour with red
mouth and claws; shell up to 3 cm in
diameter; often runs around on paths
near the coast. Pl: kalukluk. Variant:
chalukluka.
crab sp. kamangm. n. crab sp.; lives
in the saltwater; small and brown with
hairs growing on the inside of its
claws; up to 3 cm in diameter. Pl:
kamangvap. Variant: chamangm.
crab sp. karekrecha. n. crab sp.; small
black beach crab; lives under stones;
strong shell up to 3 cm in diameter. Pl:
karekrek. Variant: charekrecha.
crab sp. kebongbonggi. n. river crab
sp.; brown; shell up to 5 cm in di-
ameter; lives near riverbanks;
changes its shell in pools along the
road after rain; used for bait. Pl:
kebongbong. Variant: chebongbonggi.
crab sp. kvarvarki. n. reef crab sp.;
spotty green shell; up to 6 cm in di-
ameter. Pl: kvarvar. Variant: chvar-
varki.
crab sp. kiakkiaka. n. crab sp.; lives in
holes in the sand; white and brown
shell; up to 5 cm in diameter. See:
dulem crab sp. (alternate name).
crab sp. klavonotki. n. reef crab sp.;
large and red; very hard shell up to
15 cm in diameter; fat in shape; lives
far out on the reef. Pl: klavonot. Variant:
chlavonotki.
crab sp. mnggariachi. n. reef crab
sp.; dark brown; have hard, rough,
wrinkly shells; meat is inedible and
can make you itchy. Pl: mnggare.
crab sp. muialka. n. crab sp.;
soft-shelled crab with greenish body;
if it clamps a claw on you the claw
may break off and it can grow a new
one. Pl: muial.
crab sp. rachocha. n. land crab sp.;
whitish-brown shell and red claws; up
to 5 cm in diameter; live in holes in
swampy places. Pl: rachok.
crab sp. rachumga. n. land crab sp.;
black and red belly and claws; shell up
crab sp.
to 8 cm in diameter; live in dry places
in holes; they go to the sea and back
every evening to drink and wash; ap-
pear in large numbers in April. Pl:
rachum.
crab sp. rachumkumbarka. n. land
crab sp.; live in swampy places in
holes; whitish-brown shell up to 10 cm
in diameter. Pl: rachumkumbar.
crab sp. thinggiarachi. n. land crab
sp.; up to 6 cm in diameter; lives un-
der piles of stones near the beach; can
regrow a lost pincer. Pl: thinggar.
Variant: inggiarachi.
crab yaws aisoska. n. crab yaws.
aisos. Variant: isoska.
cradle luln'ga. n. 1 canoe. See:
kanucha canoe. 2 cradle. Pl: luln.
cradle luln'ga. n. 1 canoe. See:
kanucha canoe. 2 cradle. Pl: luln.
crave tuchul. sa-vi. crave. Variant:
thuchul.
crawl par dm mes. sa-vi. crawl.
Variant: var dm mes.
crawl thoret. sa-vi. crawl. Variant: roret.
crayfish urn'ga. n. crayfish; prawn;
generic term; refers to both salt water
and freshwater species. Pl: urn.
crayfish, large ~ urn'gi. n. large cray-
fish; large prawn; generic term; refers
to both salt water and freshwater
species. Pl: urn.
crayfish sp. mnk nanechigl. n.
crayfish sp.; lives in the sea; brown;
flat with a mossy back and serrated
sides; up to 20 cm long. Pl: mnk
nanechigleng.
crazy addn. adj. 1 odd; strange.
2 confused; delirious; crazy; insane;
altered psychological states in gen-
eral.
crazy ddn. vi-so. 1 be confused.
2 be insane; crazy. 3 be delirious.
creek arengia. n. creek. Pl: areng.
creek, small ~ braingia. n. small creek.
Pl: braingink.
crucify
creek, small ~ mbraingia. n. small
creek. Pl: braingink.
creep up sisit na. vt. sneak up; creep
up; refers to moving quietly and
slowly without being seen.
creosote kolta. n. creosote. Note: only k.
crippled, be ~ mavo sna vt. vi-so. be
crippled.
crocodile basiochi. n. crocodile. Pl:
basio. See: yamechi crocodile.
crocodile yamechi. n. crocodile. Pl:
yame. See: basiochi crocodile.
crocodile, young ~ chiveligl. n. young
Pl: crocodile. Pl: chivel. Pl: chiveligleng.
Variant: kiveligl.
crooked vingbing. adj. crooked. Note:
only v.
cross mumeninacha. n. cross; cruci-
fix; especially referring to the cruci-
fixion of Christ. Pl: mumenina.
cross out schup mt. vt. cross out.
cross pole livinem. n. cross pole; spe-
cifically the short poles that attach to
a longer pole that something heavy
has been tied to; the pole helps people
carry heavy things. Pl: livinbap.
crossbeam mononamucha. n. cross-
beam. Pl: mononamu.
crow blbalka. n. crow. Pl: blbal.
crowbar kurupacha. n. crowbar. Pl:
kurupa.
crowd anggulinggi. n. crowd.
crowd aruves. n. crowd.
crown gawtki. n. crown; e.g. of a tree.
Pl: gawt.
crown sachong. n. 1 vision; dream;
daydream. 2 glasses. 3 crown of
a tree. 4 surface; e.g. the surface of
the sea, the face of the earth, the top
of a sore, the opening of a pot.
crucifix mumeninacha. n. cross; cru-
cifix; especially referring to the cruci-
fixion of Christ. Pl: mumenina.
crucify pai dm pt. vt. crucify. Variant:
vai dm pt; voe dm pt.
233
crumble
crumble ther d. vt. crumble. Variant:
rer d.
crumbs chlennggi. n. rubbish;
crumbs. Pl: chlenng. Variant:
klennggi.
crush pais. vt. crush. Variant: vais.
cry tnok. sa-vi. cry; people crying;
sounds made by roosters, frogs etc.
Variant: nok.
cry tnok tichim. vt. whinge;
Variant: nok tichim.
cry tu nank. sa-vi. grizzle; cry for
something for a long time. Variant: thu
nank; du nank; mu nank.
cucumber lachski. n. 1 fish sp.; have
yellow and brown stripes along the
body; up to 40 cm long. 2 sea cu-
cumber sp.; brown and edible.
3 cucumber. Pl: lachs.
cup kapki. n. cup. Pl: kap. Note: only k.
cure slamr n. vt. 1 cure. 2 save.
cure slamrki. n. treatment; cure.
slamr.
current chngracha. n. current; in
either a river or the sea. Pl: chngar.
Variant: kngaracha.
curse avsvesini. n. 1 magic spell;
curse. 2 charm; an object that car-
ries magical power. Variant: vsves.
Dad mamga. n. father; Dad; address
and reference term; it is also used by
children-in-law. Pl: mamda.
daka [TP] achvor angthoes. n.
betel pepper (daka); betelnut mus-
tard.
daka leaves [TP] achuvorves. n. betel
pepper (daka) leaves; mustard leaves.
Variant: achvorves. Pl: achuvor. See:
ludngbs betel pepper (daka) leaves;
mustard leaves.
daka leaves [TP] ludngbs. n. betel
pepper (daka) leaves; mustard leaves.
dance
cuscus anongacha. n. possum; cuscus.
Pl: anuang.
custom amusnng. n. 1 behaviour.
2 idea; thought. 3 plan.
4 habit; custom. Morph: a=musnng.
Gloss: SPEC=put.PAST-heart. Variant:
amusnngini.
cut athopki. n. 1 cut; sore. 2 ulcer.
Pl: athop.
cry. cut krtp s. vt. cut. Variant: chrtp
s.
cut tp. vt. cut. Variant: thp. See: tap
make a cut.
cut down tap s. vt. 1 cut down; es-
pecially of trees; also used to refer to
the act of clearing an area of bush.
2 cut off. Variant: thap s; thap sa.
cut, make a ~ tap. sa-vi. make a cut.
Variant: thap. See: tp cut.
cut off tap s. vt. 1 cut down; espe-
cially of trees; also used to refer to the
act of clearing an area of bush.
Pl:
2 cut off. Variant: thap s; thap sa.
cut up krtp mt. vt. chop; cut up.
Variant: chrtp mt; krtp mt; chrtp
mt.
cut up tigl tm. vt. 1 split. 2 cut up.
Variant: thigl tm.
D - d
be-
Pl: ludngludng. See: achuvorves
tel pepper (daka) leaves; mustard
leaves.
daka plant [TP] achuvoracha. n. be-
tel pepper (daka) plant. Pl: achuvor.
Variant: achevoracha; chevorachi.
daka shoot [TP] liviska. n. betel
pepper (daka) shoot. Pl: livis.
damage slavo na. vt. 1 degrade.
2 damage.
dance main'gi. n. dance. Pl: amain.
dance tain. sa-vi. dance. Variant: thain;
dain; main.
234
dance, day ~
dance, day ~ Mndas. n. day dance.
Note: no endings.
dancer, day ~ Mndaska. n. day
dancer. Pl: Mndas.
dancer, name of ~ awan'ga. n. name of
dancer; masked dancer, dressed in
yellow leaves from the victory leaf
plant, who carries beating sticks and
punishes children. Pl: awan. Variant:
van; avan'ga.
dangerous man srumn'ga. n. dan-
gerous man; one who reacts violently
and impulsively to a sudden shock or
noise. Pl: srumnda. Note: no feminine.
darkness aun'gi. n. 1 darkness.
2 shade; shadow. Pl: aun. Variant:
un'gi. See: ayauski shadow.
darkness aunia. n. darkness; especially
darkness when there should be day-
light, e.g. during an eclipse or be-
cause of volcano smoke. Variant: unes
(Abilta dialect).
daughter athoemgi. n. daughter; fe-
male student; female assistant. Morph:
at=oemki. Gloss: 3F.SG.POSS=child-F.SG.
Variant: =emgi.
dawn aeraer. n. dawn.
dawn kunnggunng. n. dawn. Variant:
chunnggunng.
day kunngga. n. 1 sun. 2 day. Pl:
kunng. Variant: chunngga.
3 occasion.
day, next ~ mubang. adv. 1 tomorrow.
2 next day. Variant: bubang;
mumbang.
day, the other ~ maila chuvsnia.
disc. 1 the other day. 2 last time.
Variant: malachuvsnia.
daydream sachong. n. 1 vision;
dream; daydream. 2 glasses.
3 crown of a tree. 4 surface; e.g.
the surface of the sea, the face of the
earth, the top of a sore, the opening of
a pot.
deaf madin. adj. deaf.
deaf person dt pa sndm. n. deaf
person.
235
destruction
death aingipki. n. death. Pl: aingip.
debate bingia. sa-vi. debate; argue.
Variant: vingia.
debate oerna sa methamn. n. de-
bate.
decline ter. vt. refuse; decline. Variant:
ther; der; mer.
decorate tu thm. vt. decorate. Variant:
thu thm; du thm; mu thm; tu th;
thu th; du th; mu th.
decorate oneself tu thm mes. sa-vi.
decorate oneself. Variant: thu thm
mes; du thm mes; mu thm mes.
decorations amuthms. n. decora-
tions. Variant: amurms.
decorative plant lagun'ga. n. cordyline
sp.; victory leaf (tanget); decorative
plant. Pl: lagun.
deep dur. adv. deep.
deepest part of a pool chethopka ava
sachongachi. n. deepest part of a
pool.
define an area suchut m. vt.
1 measure. 2 set out or define an
area.
degrade slavo na. vt. 1 degrade.
2 damage.
delirious addn. adj. 1 odd; strange.
2 confused; delirious; crazy; in-
sane; altered psychological states in
general.
delirious, be ~ ddn. vi-so. 1 be con-
fused. 2 be insane; crazy. 3 be
delirious.
depths sachongachi. n. 1 gaze.
2 worried face. 3 depths of a pool.
Variant: sachong.
descend kut na. sa-vi. descend. Variant:
chuk na.
deserted, be ~ chelanggum. vi-so. be
deserted. Note: only ch.
desiccate tet dm. vt. dry; desiccate;
be dried out from lying in the sun.
Variant: thet dm; det dm; met dm.
destruction vinos. n. destruction. See:
avinos play around, vandalise. Note:
determined, be ~
only v.
determined, be ~ asok mt. vi-so.
1 be brave. 2 be determined; be
single-minded. 3 be strong. 4 be
solid. 5 be challenging; e.g. a
game.
devil asingalka. n. 1 snake; worm;
generic term. 2 dangerous spirit.
3 Satan; devil. Pl: asingal. Variant:
singalka.
diagonally machuisr. adv. diagonally.
dialect, coastal ~ of Mali abilta ath-
va methamn. n. coastal dialect of
Mali. Morph: a=bilta athva methamn.
Gloss: SPEC= old.place-H.PL 3H.PL.POSS
language.
diarrhoea, have ~ tr vthanas. sa-vi.
have diarrhoea. Variant: mur vthanas;
thr vthanas; dr vthanas.
die ngip. sa-vi. 1 die. 2 be numb.
3 faint. Variant: ingip.
different ngis. adv. 1 aside. 2 apart.
3 different.
different, become ~ tnp nanas. sa-vi.
1 change oneself; become different.
2 capsize. Variant: np nanas.
different, make ~ tnp na. vt.
1 change; make different. 2 mix.
Variant: np na.
difficult achrot. adj. 1 strong.
2 tough. 3 hard; difficult. Variant:
chrot.
difficult chernas. adj. difficult; hard.
difficult, be ~ achrnas mt. vi-so. 1 be
brave. 2 be hard; be difficult.
3 be salty. Variant: chrnas mt.
difficult, be ~ chernas pt. vi-so. be
difficult; be hard.
dig nges mt. vt. dig a new hole where
there was not one before. Variant: nges
m.
dig for nges t. vt. dig for.
dig out sas t. vt. 1 dig out.
2 remove.
digest tepmuan vt. vt. digest. Variant:
thepmuan vt.
236
disorder, be in ~
digestive system amsms angtha
iska. n. digestive system. Variant:
msms angtha iska.
digging stick athvatki. n. digging
stick. Pl: athvat.
directly to sdamr n. dir. 1 right by.
2 directly to. Variant: sndamr n.
dirt ivtki. n. 1 earth; soil; dirt.
2 land. Pl: ivt. 3 world; planet
earth. Variant: ivitki.
dirt sichirki. n. dirt. Pl: sichir. Variant:
sichirki.
dirty, be ~ sichirki mt. vi-so. be dirty;
especially, but not exclusively, to have
a dirty face.
dirty, be ~ sichirki vt. vi-so. be dirty
all over. Variant: sichirki mt.
disarray slavochi. n. mess; disarray. Pl:
slavo.
disarray, be in ~ mavo sna na. vi-so.
be in disorder; be in disarray; be
messy.
discuss tpma methamn s. vt.
discuss. Variant: thpma methamn.
disease armgi. n. illness; disease;
sickness. Pl: arm.
disgusted, be ~ tinggiar. vi-so. be dis-
gusted; be revolted. Variant: thinggiar.
dish amilatka. n. 1 plate; dish.
2 coconut shell. Pl: milat. Variant:
milatka.
dish diski. n. dish; often refers to a
large aluminium dish. Pl: dis.
dish, large ~ amilatki. n. large plate;
large dish. Pl: milat. Variant: milatki.
disobedient vingbm. adj. disobedient.
Note: only v.
disobedient, be ~ palkachuik. sa-vi. be
disobedient; refuse to follow instruc-
tions. Variant: valkachuik.
disobey palkachuik na. vt. disobey.
Variant: valkachuik na.
disorder, be in ~ mavo sna na. vi-so.
be in disorder; be in disarray; be
messy.
disown
disown donsvanas tm. vt. disown;
dissociate from. Variant: thonsvanas
tm.
displace parat. vt. mess up; displace.
Variant: varat.
disrespectful man amthanaska. n.
disrespectful man; specifically a per-
son who takes things without asking.
Pl: amthanasta.
disrespectful woman amthanaski. n.
disrespectful woman; specifically a
person who takes things without ask-
ing.
dissociate from donsvanas tm. vt.
disown; dissociate from. Variant: thon-
svanas tm.
distress neknochi. n. misery; distress;
suffering in either an emotional or fi-
nancial sense. Pl: neknok. Variant:
naknochi.
dive glas. sa-vi. dive; go spearfishing.
dive pt uves. sa-vi. dive. Morph: pt av=
vus. Gloss: dive 3M.SG.POSS head.
divide tat mt. vt. 1 share.
2 divide. 3 scatter. Variant: that
mt; dat mt; mat mt.
division matmt. n. division.
dizzy, be ~ kibing kibing va sachong.
vi-so. be dizzy; be giddy. Note: only k.
do tk. sa-vi. 1 do. 2 work. Variant:
thk.
do something sana. sa-vi. do something
(indefinite). Variant: msana. See:
tichina do something (definite).
do something tichina. vt. do something
(definite). Variant: dichina; thichina.
See: sana do something (indefinite).
doctor dokta. n. doctor. Pl: doktachna.
dodge tneng. sa-vi. avoid; dodge.
Variant: neng.
dodge tneng n. vt. dodge. Variant: neng
n.
dog vaimga. n. dog. Pl: vaim. Variant:
paimga.
dog, wild ~ murapka. n. wild dog.
murap.
down, get ~
dolphin achurepki. dolphin.
n. Pl:
achurep. Variant: churepki.
dont kule. disc. dont. Gram: Negative im-
perative. Variant: chule.
door nemon'gi. n. door. Pl: nemon.
doorway ambangga av amgi. n. house
opening; doorway. Morph: ambangga av
amki. Gloss: house 3M.SG.POSS
mouth-F.SG.
doorway vmgi. n. doorway; opening.
Morph: av=amki. Gloss: 3M.SG.POSS=
mouth-F.SG. Morph: av=amvem. Gloss:
3M.SG.POSS= mouth-F.DL.
dormitory amasvmgi. n. dormitory.
Variant: amsmasvmgi.
dough malum. n. dough; wet stuff;
typically mud.
dove gubarka. n. bird sp.; dove; Victo-
ria crowned pigeon. Pl: gubar. Variant:
kumbarka; chumbarka.
dove, white ~ gnska. n. white dove.
Pl: gns. Variant: geneska.
down imani. dir. down. Variant: imuani;
imoni.
down manp. dir. down. Variant: mani.
down mk. dir. down.
down navuk. dir. down.
down a bit from towards speak-
er tnavuk. dir. down a bit from
towards speaker. Variant: thnavuk.
down at, from ~ naimano. dir. from
down at.
down at, from ~ nathmk. dir. from
down at.
down, back ~ from nanavuk. dir. back
down from.
down from here imk. dir. down from
here.
down, from ~ namk. dir. from down.
down, from ~ nmni. dir. from down.
Variant: namni.
down, get ~ beng dm. vt. get some-
thing down from a high place; espe-
Pl:
cially referring to picking something
from a tree. Variant: veng dm.
237
down inside drum

down inside saimk. dir. down inside. downwards mamanp. dir. down-
down into smt. prep. 1 into. wards.
2 down into. Variant: smk (Abilta downwards smsng. dir. to the
dialect). ground; downwards.
down over there imano. dir. down over drag par dm. vt. drag. Variant: var dm;
there. par d; var d.
down over there, from ~ namano. dir. drag thoret. vt. drag. Variant: roret.
from down over there. drain out lel tm. vi-so. drain out.
down, straight ~ imanp. dir. down- draw kut ma. vt. draw. Variant: chut
wards; straight down. ma; chut ma; kut ma.
down that way sainamk. dir. down drawing achutkutki. n. drawing.
that way. Variant: chutkutki. See: ailachi picture;
down the side muanp. dir. down the image.
side; over the side. Variant: monp. dream amasithmgi. n. dream. Pl:
down there mano. dir. down there. amasithm. Variant: masithmgi.
Variant: mana (Abilta dialect). dream sachong. n. 1 vision; dream;
down there saimanp. dir. down there. daydream. 2 glasses. 3 crown of
down there samano. dir. down to; a tree. 4 surface; e.g. the surface of
down there. Variant: samana. the sea, the face of the earth, the top
of a sore, the opening of a pot.
down there sathmanp. dir. down
there. dried, be ~ dil tm. vi-so. be dried. Note:
only d.
down there sathmk. dir. down there.
dried up adildil. adj. dried up. Variant:
down there tmanp. dir. down there. dildil.
Variant: thmanp.
driftwood chlelachun'ga. n. drift-
down there, from ~ naimanp. dir. wood. Pl: chlelachun. Variant:
from down there. klalachun.
down there, from ~ namanp. dir. from drink tnaik. sa-vi. drink. Variant: naik;
down there. Variant: namani; namana. tneik; neik.
down there, from ~ nathmanp. dir. drop mendecha. n. drop; a drop of
from down there. Variant: nathmani. water or other liquid. Pl: mendek.
down there, from ~ nathmano. dir. drop tt pthik tm. vt. 1 let go of.
from down there. 2 drop. Variant: tht pthik; dt
down this way sathmani. dir. down pthik; mt pthik; tt tthik.
this way. drops, stream of falling ~ achrirka. n.
down to saimano. dir. down to. stream of falling drops. Variant:
down to saimni. dir. over to; down to. chrirka.

down to samano. dir. down to; down drown don. sa-vi. 1 go in; enter.
there. Variant: samana. 2 sink. 3 drown. 4 be stuck.
Variant: thon; mon.
down towards speaker inavuk. dir.
down towards speaker; downwards. drown pknas. sa-vi. drown. Variant:
vknas.
downwards imanp. dir. downwards;
straight down. drowsy, be ~ mnap mt. vi-so. be
sleepy; be drowsy.
downwards inavuk. dir. down towards
speaker; downwards. drum athunepki. n. drum (small

238
drum earlier

garamut); sits on the ground and is hit
with the end of a stick held upright in
a womans hands. Pl: athunap. Variant:
thunepki.
drum dramgi. n. drum; specifically a
drum of fuel, not a musical instru-
ment. Pl: dram.
drum, bamboo ~ avrin'gi. n. bamboo
drum. Pl: avrin.
drum, hand ~ kunduchi. n. hand drum.
Pl: kundu. Note: only k.
drum of petrol bensin'gi. n. drum of
petrol, benzene, or gasoline.
dry achrark. adj. dry.
dry achsasek. adj. dry.
chsasek. Note: only ch.
dry krark. vt. dry. Variant: chrark.
dry tet dm. vt. dry; desiccate; be dried
out from lying in the sun. Variant: thet
dm; det dm; met dm.
dry, be ~ krk pt. vi-so. be dry.
Variant: chrk pt.
dry, be ~ ksk pt. vi-so. be dry.
Variant: chsk pt.
duck patocha. n. duck. Pl: pato.
duck behind pirs ithm. vt. 1 hide
behind; duck behind something to
hide oneself. 2 make way; move
aside. 3 move along. Variant: virs
ithm.
duck down nging dm. vi-so. bend;
duck down.
duck down spsp na. vi-so. 1 duck
down. 2 fall down. Variant: spsp
glm.
duck, female ~ patochi. n. female duck.
Pl: pato.
dull, be ~ bubu. vi-so. be dull. Note:
only b.
during mt. prep. 1 in; within.
2 during; on. Gram: This sense available
Variant: with temporal expressions. 3 inside.
4 into. 5 through. Variant: mtha;
m.
during np. prep. at; during.
dust thabucha. n. dust; ash; specifi-
cally white ash from a fire. Pl: thabu.
See: unpka dust; chinap ash.
dust unpka. n. dust. Pl: unap. See:
thabucha dust; ash.
dwarf srvm. n. dwarf. Pl: srvap.
dying, be ~ ngipngip. vi-so. be dying.
dysentery mur na mbias. n. dysen-
tery.

E - e

each achkachk. dem. 1 another. contrastive demonstrative. Variant:

Gram: Masculine singular contrastive demon- angguikangguik; aguitagut (Abilta
strative and count neutral singular contrastive dialect).
demonstrative. 2 each. Gram: Masculine each other -na. derivational suffix. each
singular contrastive demonstrative and count other. Gram: Reciprocal marker.
neutral singular contrastive demonstrative.
each other, from ~ nmtna. dir. from
Variant: chkachk.
each other.
each achikachik. dem. 1 another.
each other, from ~ nvana. dir. from
Gram: Feminine singular contrastive demon-
each other.
strative. 2 each. Gram: Feminine singular
contrastive demonstrative. Variant: chika- eagle brasocha. n. eagle. Pl: brasau.
chik. Variant: mbrasocha.

each aguikaguik. dem. 1 another. ear asdemga. n. ear. Pl: asdem. Variant:
Gram: Feminine singular contrastive demon- asdemgi; asndem; asdem.
strative. 2 each. Gram: Feminine singular earlier mali. disc. before; earlier.

239
early, get up ~
early, get up ~ tchasp. sa-vi. get up
early. Variant: thchasp.
earlybird charuvaika. n. bird sp.; ear-
lybird; sings early in the morning; has
dull coloured feathers. Pl: charuvaik.
Variant: karuvaika; karuaika; charuaika.
earth ivtki. n. 1 earth; soil; dirt.
2 land. Pl: ivt. 3 world; planet
earth. Variant: ivitki.
earth, planet ~ ivtki. n. 1 earth; soil;
dirt. 2 land. Pl: ivt. 3 world;
planet earth. Variant: ivitki.
earthquake chn'gn'gi. n. earth-
quake. Pl: chn'gn. Note: only ch.
earthworm aninicha. n. earthworm;
brown; up to 30 cm long. Pl: anini.
earthworm sp. talngacha. n. earth-
worm sp.; light brown or reddish col-
our; up to 15 cm long; lives in soft
ground. Pl: talang. Variant: thalngacha.
easily sskpes. adv. readily; easily.
east chunengga cha ndn. n. east.
eat ts. vt. eat. Variant: ds; ths; ms;
-as.
eat with tstmna n. vt. eat with.
Variant: thstmna n; dstmna n;
mstmna n.
edge angtkeng. n. 1 edge.
2 bank; especially of a body of water
such as a river or pool. Morph:
angtkeng. Gloss: 3N.POSS-teeth. Variant:
cheng; keng; geng.
eel anekethopki. n. eel; generic term;
also refers to a species of river eel,
which is grey in colour with a white
belly. Pl: nekthop.
eel sp. ainangdchathachi. n. salt-
water eel sp.; dark brown with a long
yellowish fin down the spine. Pl:
ainangdchatha.
eel sp. alanaski. n. saltwater eel sp.;
white with sharp teeth; up to 1 m in
length. Pl: alanas.
eel sp. athmamberacha. n. eel sp.;
lives in sand at the river mouth; up to
20 cm long; used as bait; has a pointy
mouth that sticks out above the sand.
240
empty
Pl: athmamber.
eel sp. avechenbechen'ga. n. saltwa-
ter eel sp.; very long and thin (only 1
or 2 cm across); has brown spots. Pl:
avechenbechen.
eel sp. avithingga. n. freshwater eel
sp.; flat with yellow and black spots
and a small mouth.
eel sp. avusdingdchengarki. n.
freshwater eel sp.; grey and up to
80 cm long; lives in large rivers. Pl:
avusdingdchengar.
eel sp. inilcha. n. freshwater eel sp.;
looks like the anekethopki species:
grey with a white belly, but has cloudy
eyes; meat is greasy. Pl: inil.
eel sp. irok monmon'ga. n. saltwater
eel sp.; slow moving; has sticky skin
and no teeth. Pl: irok monmon.
eel sp. lamon angthaik. n. saltwater
eel sp.; brown.
eel sp. noingmtka. n. saltwater eel
sp.; black, short, and slender. Pl:
noingmt.
egg valuacha. n. egg. Pl: valo. Variant:
paluacha; valocha.
elbow adulemga. n. elbow. Pl: adulam.
Variant: dulemga.
emaciated, be ~ lalar pt. vi-so. be
scrawny; be emaciated; be very thin;
especially after a long illness.
embarrassed, be ~ klep. vi-so. be
embarrassed. Variant: chlep.
embarrassment chlepki. n. shame;
shyness; embarrassment. Pl: chlep.
Variant: klepki.
ember aisinggi. n. 1 spark.
2 ember. Pl: aisaing.
ember sachongini. n. 1 eye. Usage:
Polite form. 2 ember.
emerge pus s. vi-so. come up; emerge.
Variant: vus s.
emery wheel anengachi. n. emery
wheel. Pl: aneng.
empty adungdung. adj. empty. Variant:
dungdung.
empty
empty chacham. adj. empty. Variant:
kacham.
empty, be ~ kmgm. vi-so. be empty.
Variant: chmgm; kemgm.
empty person chmga. n. empty per-
son. Pl: chmda.
encircle paisdm pt. vt. enclose; en-
circle. Variant: vaisdm pt.
enclose paisdm pt. vt. enclose; en-
circle. Variant: vaisdm pt.
enclosure ichthachi. n. fence; enclo-
sure. Pl: ichat.
end avmgi. n. end. Morph: avamgi.
Gloss: 3M.SG.POSS-mouth-F.SG. Pl: avm.
end dng. n. end.
enemy gurguerka. n. enemy.
gurguerta.
enemy umngacha. n. enemy; raider.
Pl: umang.
enemy vrucha. n. enemy. Pl: vrutha.
enemy, female ~ gurguerki. n. female
enemy.
enemy, female ~ vruchi. n. female
enemy. Note: only v.
English achabapta athva
methamn. n. English. Morph: a=
chabapta athva methamn. Gloss: SPEC
=white-H.PL 3H.PL.POSS language.
enter don. sa-vi. 1 go in; enter.
2 sink. 3 drown. 4 be stuck.
Variant: thon; mon.
envelope avngbngga. n. envelope.
Pl: avngbng. Variant: vngbngga.
Epsom salts solmarasin. n. Epsom
salts.
erase schup s. vt. erase. Variant:
suchup s.
eraser asechupka. n. eraser.
asechup. Variant: suchupka.
erupt puk tm. sa-vi. 1 erupt.
2 shatter; burst. Variant: vuk tm.
erupt pus pm. vi-so. erupt; burst out.
Variant: vus pm.
eruption puspmgi. n. eruption.
puspm. Variant: vuspmgi.
eyebrow
Eucharist Ekaristia. n. Eucharist. Note:
no endings.
evening aunbes. n. evening. Variant:
unbes.
event lengeini. n. event; function;
meeting. Pl: lengithong.
examine donbathm n. vt. check;
examine. Variant: thonbathm n;
donbathm na; thonbathm na.
excessively mamor. adv. 1 lots.
2 excessively; very much; terribly.
3 strongly. 4 hard. 5 loudly.
6 fast; quickly. 7 brightly.
exchange bon nana. vt. exchange.
Variant: von nana.
exclude dendem p. vt. leave out; ex-
Pl:
clude. Variant: thendem p; mendem p.
excrement asnok. n. excrement; fae-
ces.
excreta, squirt ~ pupurik. sa-vi. squirt
excreta.
excreta, squirt ~ saik da ves. vi-so.
squirt excreta.
excrete tr. sa-vi. excrete. Variant: thr;
dr; mur.
executioner sen'ga. n. executioner.
Morph: senka. Gloss: knife-M.SG.
expand tk dngtham. sa-vi. expand.
Variant: thk dngtham.
explain tvaik ba. vt. explain. Variant:
thvaik.
explanation thvika. n. explanation;
meaning. Pl: thvaik. Note: only th.
explanation thuchunmska. n.
1 explanation. 2 instructions. Pl:
thuchuns.
explode pus mk. vi-so. 1 leap up;
especially referring to flames.
Pl:
2 explode. Variant: vus mk.
eye sachongacha. n. eye. Pl: sachong.
eye sachongini. n. 1 eye. Usage: Polite
form. 2 ember.
eyebrow mnpka. n. eyebrow. Variant:
munupka.
Pl:
241
eyelashes
eyelashes sachong angt kseng. n.
eyelashes.
F -
face sachongas. n. face. Pl: sachong.
face, hide ones ~ nathong. sa-vi. look
away; hide ones face.
face, worried ~ sachongachi. n.
1 gaze. 2 worried face.
3 depths of a pool. Variant: sachong.
faeces asnok. n. excrement; faeces.
fail to finish tu dng. vt. 1 interrupt.
2 fail to finish. Variant: thu dng; du
dng; mu dng.
faint din s. vi-so. faint; collapse. Variant:
diss.
faint ngip. sa-vi. 1 die. 2 be numb.
3 faint. Variant: ingip.
faint sp samk. sa-vi. 1 fall down.
2 faint.
faithful man ravan'ga. n. faithful man.
Usage: This word compares a faithful
person with a clam, something that
does not move around. Pl: ravanda.
faithful woman ravan'gi. n. faithful
woman.
fall pen d. vi-so. fall.
fall ptpt na. vi-so. 1 fall.
2 scatter. Variant: vtpt.
fall puthm. vi-so. fall. Variant: vuthm.
fall sp. sa-vi. fall.
fall tar. sa-vi. fall; particularly of fruit.
Variant: thar; dar; mar.
fall down pai. sa-vi. 1 fall down; hit the
ground. 2 land heavily. Variant: vai.
fall down pathik mes. sa-vi. fall down.
Variant: vathik mes.
fall down sp samk. sa-vi. 1 fall
down. 2 faint.
fall down spsp na. vi-so. 1 duck
down. 2 fall down. Variant: spsp
glm.
fall down suk dm. vi-so. fall down.
242
fatty
eyelet auathkam. n. loop; eyelet. Pl:
auathk.
f
fall in love with tu vlk svt. vt. fall
in love with. Variant: thu vlk svt; du
vlk svt; mu vlk svt.
fall out tar s. vi-so. fall out. Variant: thar
s; dar s; mar s.
famous, be ~ lengen na. vi-so. be fa-
mous; be renowned. Variant: langena.
far away gelaulul. dir. far away; long
way.
fart bep d ves. vi-so. fart; a noisy fart.
Note: only b.
fart buepki. n. fart; especially noisy
farts. Pl: buep. Variant: bpki.
fast mamor. adv. 1 lots.
2 excessively; very much; terribly.
3 strongly. 4 hard. 5 loudly.
6 fast; quickly. 7 brightly.
fast, very ~ iri ma. adv. very fast.
fast, very ~ set. adv. very fast.
fasten kethik sthm. vt. fasten.
Variant: chethik sthm.
fasten kop mni. vt. fasten. Variant:
chop mni.
fat, be ~ kthopka vt. vi-so. be fat; be
obese. Variant: chthopka vt.
fat from an animal or fish mamutki. n.
fat or grease from an animal or fish. Pl:
mamut.
father mambet. n. father.
father mamk. n. father. Pl: mamkna.
father mamga. n. father; Dad; address
and reference term; it is also used by
children-in-law. Pl: mamda.
father-in-law thuvska. n. father-in-
law; brother-in-law; uncle-in-law; any
in-laws except ones wifes mothers
brother and his wife. Pl: thuvsvek.
fatty mamut. adj. greasy; fatty.
fatty, be ~
fatty, be ~ mamut mt. vi-so. be
greasy; be fatty.
fear mulen'gi. n. fear. Pl: mulen.
fearless man asokmtka. n. fearless
man; stoic man; someone who is
solid inside.
fearless woman asokmtki. n. fearless
woman.
feast amsmski. n. feast; party.
amsms. Variant: msmski.
feast munambs. n. feast; religious
holiday. Pl: munamimlk.
feather chsengvs. feather. Pl:
n.
chsngimlk. Pl: chseng. Variant:
ksengvs.
feel tk vt. vt. 1 touch. 2 feel.
Variant: thk vt; thk v; tk v.
feel tnari. vt. 1 hear. 2 feel.
3 taste. Variant: nari.
female lvop. adj. female.
female ancestor amorki. n. 1 adult
woman. 2 leader. 3 female an-
cestor. 4 goddess. Pl: morvap. Pl:
morta.
fence ichthachi. n. fence; enclosure.
Pl: ichat.
fence nathvachi. n. fence. Pl: nathe-
vap.
fence pdm. sa-vi. fence; make a fence
around an area. Variant: vdm.
fence, make a ~ pdm. sa-vi. fence;
make a fence around an area. Variant:
vdm.
fencepost rprpka. n. fencepost.
rprp.
fencing, sheet of wire ~ vaiaves. n. arc
mesh; sheet of wire fencing. Note:
only v.
fern gavun. n. fern. Variant: gawun.
ferns aiguam. n. ferns. Variant: iguam.
Note: no endings.
ferny place igumacha. n. ferny place; a
place with one kind of fern all around.
Pl: iguam.
festering achesin. adj. 1 rotten; fes-
finger
tering. 2 stinking.
fetch water mangas. vt. fetch water.
Usage: Takes the receptacle, such as a
bucket, as the direct object. See: pk
fetch water. Note: only m.
fetch water pk. sa-vi. fetch water.
Variant: vk; vuak. See: mangas fetch
water.
Pl: fever armgi ama ingun'ga. n. fever.
fever, have a ~ kasrki pt. vi-so. have
a fever; have malaria.
fibre for making net bags mamaing.
n. fibre for making net bags (bilums).
fibres used for weaving athing. n. fi-
bres used for weaving.
fig tree tchusacha. n. fig tree. Pl:
tuchuas. Variant: thuchuas.
fight gamar. sa-vi. fight. Note: only g.
fight gamar n. vt. fight. Note: only g.
fight each other bn mna. sa-vi. fight
each other. Variant: vn mna.
fight each other gamar nana. sa-vi.
fight each other. Note: only g.
fighting ground gamracha. n. fight-
ing ground. Note: no plural.
file paelka. n. file. Pl: pael. Note: only p.
fill tchp. vt. fill. Variant: thchp.
filthy place athinggiaras. n. filthy or
smelly place. Variant: tinggiaras.
fin of a dolphin vethachi. n. fin, flip-
per, or tail of a dolphin. Pl: avet. Note:
only v.
Pl:
find dn vt. vt. find. Variant: thn vt;
mun vt; dn bt; thn bt; mun bt.
find nothing vesnas. sa-vi. find nothing
where you expect to find something;
e.g. ripe bananas you were planning
to pick but someone came along and
took them. Note: only v.
fine mamr. adv. 1 well; fine.
2 properly. 3 possible.
fine, feel ~ amrvs pt. vi-so. 1 feel
fine. 2 heal; get better; get well.
3 feel peaceful.
finger angthika. n. finger. Pl: ang-
243
finger
thaik.
finger valvalka. n. finger; toe; generic
term of the extremities of the hands
and feet. Pl: valval.
finger, index ~ warnacha. n. index
finger. Pl: warna.
finger, little ~ angthika ama secha.
n. little finger.
finger, little ~ mavnini. n. 1 piece of
ginger. 2 little finger. Pl: mavni-
thong. See: secha little finger.
finger, little ~ secha. n. 1 orphaned
boy, he is one who often grows up to
be a person who can do many good
things. Pl: sekpek. 2 hero; a skilful
clever person who does many good
things. Pl: sekpek. 3 little finger.
See: mavnini little finger.
finger, middle ~ arnacha. n. middle
finger.
finger, middle ~ erngthcha. n. mid-
dle finger. Morph: erngthkka. Gloss:
first-3N.I-touch-M.SG. Pl: erngthk. See:
arnacha middle finger.
finger, ring ~ deglingini. n. ring finger.
Pl: deglingithong.
fingernail ravski. n. nail; claw.
ravs.
fingers angthaik ama valpal. n.
fingers. Morph: angthaik angtha
valpal. Gloss: arms 3PL.POSS twigs.
finish ddng. n. finish.
finish dng na. vi-so. stop; finish.
finish, fail to ~ tu dng. vt.
1 interrupt. 2 fail to finish. Variant:
thu dng; du dng; mu dng.
finished, be ~ sot. sa-vi. be finished.
fire amudmga. n. fire; refers to a sin-
gle burning stick. Pl: amudm. Variant:
amundmga; mundmga; mudmga.
See: amudmbs bonfire.
fire a gun puk mt. vt. fire a gun.
Variant: vuk mt.
fire, be in a ~ dang mt. sa-vi. 1 burn;
be on fire. 2 be in a fire. Variant:
ndang mt; thang mt; mang mt.
fish
fire, be on ~ dang mt. sa-vi. 1 burn;
be on fire. 2 be in a fire. Variant:
ndang mt; thang mt; mang mt.
fire, catch ~ dang. sa-vi. 1 catch fire.
2 burn. Variant: ndang; thang; mang.
fire, huge ~ atpki. n. 1 inferno; huge
fire. 2 hell. Pl: atp.
fire, large ~ butki. n. large fire; bonfire.
Pl: but.
fire, set on ~ tu mt. vt. set on fire.
Variant: thu mt; du mt; mu mt.
firedancer kavathm. n. firedancer;
they wear masks with large, round,
painted eyes. Pl: karatvap. Variant:
chavathm. See: chavatka spirit that
causes illness.
firedancer vungbungga. n. firedancer;
is concealed inside a large, hollow,
rectangular panel that serves as his
mask. Pl: vungbung. Variant:
bungbungga.
fireplace chinipki. n. fireplace; hearth.
Pl: chinap. Variant: kinipki.
firewood, bundle of ~ avuthchi. n.
bundle of firewood. Pl: avuthch.
Variant: vuthchi.
Pl: firmly in place thanng. adj. firmly in
place. Note: only th.
first er. adv. first. See: kuer s lead.
first savuit. adv. 1 more. 2 first.
first sr. adv. first.
first ser ma. vi-so. first. Variant: chier.
first uer. adv. before; first. Variant: ruer;
thuer.
first uer. adv. before; first. Variant: ruer;
thuer.
first, be ~ naruer. vi-so. be first.
first, firstly naruer. adv. first; firstly.
first, go ~ kuer. sa-vi. go first; lead.
Variant: chuer.
first, go ~ thuer. sa-vi. 1 go first.
2 go ahead. 3 go in front. Variant:
ruer; er; kuer.
fish athinmga. n. fish; generic term.
Pl: athinm.
244
fish
fish trip. sa-vi. fish with a hook and line
from a canoe or a boat.
fish, large fish of the makaucha spe-
cies makauchi. n. large fish of the
makaucha species.
fish, large ~ athinmgi. n. large fish;
generic term.
fish, pull in a ~ par s. vt. 1 invite.
2 ask for someone; call for someone.
3 lead. 4 pull in a fish; refers to
a fish which is caught on a hook.
Variant: thar (Abilta dialect); var s.
fish, school of ~ thinmbes. n. school
of fish. Variant: thinmbs. Note: only th.
fish sp. achapdetham. n. fish sp.;
plentiful at the river mouth; silver in
colour; have thick lips and a stout
shape; length up to 50 cm. Pl:
achapdangetham.
fish sp. achlacha. n. reef fish sp.;
small parrotfish; green with soft slip-
pery skin and scales. Morph: a=
chlaka. Gloss: SPEC=soft-M. SG. Pl:
achlak. Morph: a=chlak. Gloss: SPEC=
soft.
fish sp. achilaigl. n. fish sp.; lives on
the reef; whitish with black vertical
stripes; is up to 15 cm long; does not
have scales. Pl: achila.
fish sp. achinggoingigl. n. fish sp.;
lives on the reef; multi-coloured but-
terfly fish: white, yellow, black; up to
20 cm long; similar to angel fish. Pl:
achinggoing.
fish sp. achutgielmtmon'ga. n.
deep sea fish sp.; has a long, pro-
truding, sharp upper jaw, and a short
lower jaw. Pl: achutgielmtmon.
fish sp. achururka. n. reef fish sp.;
pink with stout body; smaller than the
gmlcha species; easy to find on the
reef at night. Pl: achurchur.
fish sp. achuvelithachn'ga. n. reef
fish sp.; red and light brown colour;
red inside its mouth; up to 50 cm long.
Pl: achuvelithachn.
fish sp. aidthengmga. n. reef fish
245
fish sp.
sp.; light brown with a black spot on
either side of its tail; up to 30 cm long.
Pl: aidthengm.
fish sp. aidika. n. reef fish sp.; silver
(small ones are greenish); very long
and thin; long mouth and sharp teeth.
Pl: aidik.
fish sp. aidrengga. n. reef fish sp.; red
emperor; up to 80 cm long. Pl: aidreng.
fish sp. ailasrka. n. freshwater fish
sp.; red; has a big mouth and sharp
teeth. Pl: ailasr.
fish sp. aingipdulvulka. n. fish sp.;
harlequin fish; lives in fresh or salt
water; is transparent (the bones are
visible through the skin); up to 10 cm
long. Pl: aingipduvul. Variant:
aingipdchulka.
fish sp. athibunmachi. n. reef fish sp.;
light green with black and yellow
markings on face; is fat; up to 60 cm
long. Pl: athibunma.
fish sp. athikoneng angt nank. n.
fish sp.; refers to two different species
that are often found on the reef: one is
black, up to 20 cm long; the other is
light brown, up to 30 cm long; both
have a stinging spike on either side of
their tail and greasy flesh. Pl:
athikoneng angt nankina. Variant:
athikoneng angt nankigleng.
fish sp. athikonenginggl. n. fish sp.;
lives on the reef; yellow and red with
black lengthwise stripes; is up to
20 cm long; moves fast. Pl: athikoneng.
fish sp. athinm angtha wan'ga. n.
reef fish sp.; the spirit mask (tum-
buan) of the fish; multicoloured: red,
yellow, orange, and white, with many
fins; can sting. Pl: athinm angtha
wan.
fish sp. athopthacha. n. reef fish sp.;
patchy green and brown camouflage
colours; up to 1 m long; has a large
mouth; lives in holes in the reef; an-
other variety from the deep sea is red.
Pl: athopt.
fish sp. atun'gi. n. fish sp.; yellowfin
fish sp.
tuna. Pl: atun.
fish sp. aunbethachi. n. freshwater
fish sp.; lives in large rivers; black
spot on each side of its belly and tail;
tail is yellowish; up to 1 m long; good
eating fish. Morph: a=unptki. Gloss:
SPEC=dark-at-F.SG. Pl: aunbet.
fish sp. avisaigl. n. fish sp.; lives on
the reef; light brown colour; up to
20 cm long; good meat; can sting with
its fins. Pl: avisa.
fish sp. bangangini. n. fish sp.; lives on
the reef; black in colour; up to 4 cm
long; has scales. Pl: bangang.
fish sp. chabangaska. n. freshwater
fish sp.; silver; has scales; rounded in
shape; these fish swim in groups;
good for bait. Pl: chabangas. Variant:
kabangaska.
fish sp. chalacha. n. freshwater fish
sp.; gluefish; can stick themselves to a
rock with their chests. Pl: chala. Variant:
kalacha.
fish sp. chaninggulucha. n. freshwa-
ter fish sp.; yellow with white and
black spots; up to 20 cm long. Pl: cha-
ninggulu. Variant: kaningguluch; ning-
gulucha.
fish sp. chaumatka. n. reef fish sp.;
yellow-white colour with scales; has
feelers on its chin. Pl: chuamat. Variant:
kaumat.
fish sp. chdlka. n. freshwater fish
sp.; silver with scales and many
bones. Pl: chdl. Variant: kdlka.
fish sp. chusilka. n. freshwater fish sp.;
black; small with a large mouth; live
under stones. Pl: chusil. Variant:
kusilka.
fish sp. galpka. n. freshwater fish sp.;
silver; up to 60 cm long; many bones
inside their flesh. Pl: galp.
fish sp. gmarucha. n. freshwater fish
sp.; has a big head and is dark in
colour; shaped like a tadpole but big-
ger; can stick itself to rocks with its
chest; side fins are whitish or yellow-
ish; is a lazy fish and stays under
246
fish sp.
stones. Pl: gmaru.
fish sp. gml angt nank. n. reef
fish sp.; similar to the gmlka species
only larger; up to 30 cm long; live on
reefs further out to sea. Pl: gml
angt nankina.
fish sp. gmlcha. n. reef fish sp.; dark
red with big eyes; has scales and
greasy flesh; is thin; up to 15 cm long.
Pl: gml. Variant: kmlka.
fish sp. inski. n. river fish sp.; has a
flat head, a very narrow mouth, and
big ears; can stick to a rock with its
chest; up to 15 cm long; stays in areas
with a fast current; makes a good
soup. Pl: ins. Variant: iniski.
fish sp. kadinngga. n. fish sp.; small;
hatch in the saltwater and move into
rivers in large schools. Pl: kadinng.
Variant: chadinngga.
fish sp. lachski. n. 1 fish sp.; have
yellow and brown stripes along the
body; up to 40 cm long. 2 sea cu-
cumber sp.; brown and edible.
3 cucumber. Pl: lachs.
fish sp. langgerki. n. saltwater fish sp.;
brightly coloured: green, blue, or red;
two types: one lives on the reef, the
other lives in the deep sea, has a lump
on its head, and is up to 60 cm long;
both types have a mouth like a par-
rots beak and sharp teeth for grind-
ing coral. Pl: langger.
fish sp. lasrvthacha. n. freshwater
fish sp.; multicoloured: brown, yellow,
and red; lives in still waters such as
billabongs; up to 20 cm long. Pl:
lasrvt. Variant: lasrpthacha.
fish sp. lgmetka. n. freshwater fish
sp.; looks like a small shark but has no
teeth; eats moss; white with greasy
flesh; lives where the current is fast.
Pl: lgmet.
fish sp. lviam. n. fish sp.; stonefish;
lives on the reef; white with bones
that stick through the skin to form
strong spikes all over its back and
sides; swells up when touched. Pl:
fish sp.
lvai.
fish sp. makaucha. n. reef fish sp.; ti-
lapia; grey with scales; have no teeth;
up to 30 cm long. Pl: makau. See:
marumgi reef fish sp. (alternate
name).
fish sp. malisacha. n. fish sp.; barra-
cuda; deep sea fish; have a long
mouth, sharp teeth, and whitish flesh
with scales; are long and thin. Pl:
malisa. See: malisachi large barra-
cuda.
fish sp. malmalcha. n. reef fish sp.;
grey; up to 15 cm long; no scales,
slippery skin; lives close to shore;
good for bait. Pl: malmal.
fish sp. malolbanggi. n. reef fish sp.;
faded colours: dim whitish, yellowish,
and brown stripes; similar to the
mololchi species but a bit larger. Pl:
malolbang.
fish sp. maramatun'gi. n. reef fish sp.;
dark grey with small whitish spots;
similar to the marumgi species but
larger. Pl: maramatun.
fish sp. marumgi. n. reef fish sp.; grey
with scales; have no teeth; up to
30 cm long. Pl: marum. See: makaucha
reef fish sp.
fish sp. mrmarki. n. fish sp.; deep sea
fish that sometimes visits the reef;
colour varies from silver to bluish or
greenish; body is very narrow close to
the tail; silver ones are short and
stout; greenish ones are longer in
shape; have very small scales. Pl:
mrmar. Variant: marmarki.
fish sp. msgubarka. n. reef fish sp.;
white with scales; up to 40 cm long. Pl:
msgubar.
fish sp. mololchi. n. fish sp.; lives on
the reef; has white and dark brown
stripes; short stout shape with scales;
up to 15 cm long. Pl: molol. See:
mololm fish sp. (alternate name).
fish sp. mololm. n. fish sp.; lives on
the reef; has white and dark brown
stripes; short stout shape with scales;
247
fish sp.
up to 15 cm long. Pl: molol. See:
mololchi fish sp. (alternate name).
fish sp. mutucha. n. reef fish sp.; yel-
low and white stripes lengthwise
along its body; up to 50 cm long. Pl:
mutu.
fish sp. ngalengm. n. freshwater fish
sp.; has brown stripes; makes the
sound nguk nguk when shot with a
spear. Pl: ngaleng.
fish sp. snggratki. n. freshwater fish
sp.; silver with scales; has two black
spots on its tail. Pl: snggrat.
fish sp. siluigl. n. freshwater fish sp.;
brown; flat, rounded shape like a
flounder; up to 30 cm across; can
sting with a sharp barb on either side
of its tail. Pl: silu.
fish sp. sumsumigl. n. fish sp.; lives
on reef; brown with tiny scales; up to
20 cm long. Pl: sumsum.
fish sp. tangirka. n. deep sea fish sp.;
looks like the malisacha species;
whitish with very sharp teeth; up to 2
m long; no scales. Pl: tangir. Note: only t.
fish sp. tlngbes. n. fish sp.; lives on
the reef; brown and very flat; up to
20 cm long; moves to and fro like a
floating leaf. Pl: tlng. Variant: thlng.
fish sp. thgumga. n. fish sp.; two
types of stonefish: one is a saltwater
fish and a good eating fish, the other
lives in fresh water; both are brown
and can sting with poisonous spines.
Pl:thgum. Variant: tugumga; thu-
gumga.
fish sp. ubatki. n. reef fish sp.; various
colours: blue, brown, or black with
whitish fins; up to 30 cm long; have
sharp teeth and very tough skin which
must be burnt off before eating. Pl:
ubat.
fish sp. ulutka. n. reef fish sp.; grey
with slippery skin, no scales, and a big
belly; lies on the reef. Pl: ulut.
fish sp. vlmgi. n. 1 sow. 2 large
pig. 3 reef fish sp.; brown; has a
nose like a pigs; is up to 1 m long. Pl:
fish sp.
vlam. Variant: plmgi; plmgi; vlmgi.
fish sp. vthenm. n. freshwater fish
sp.; white; up to 10 cm long. Pl:
vthen. Variant: pthenm.
fish sp. viskthopka. n. reef fish sp.;
all white; covered in very soft spikes;
when touched or speared, it swells up
by drinking saltwater. Pl: viskthop.
Variant: piskthopka.
fish, tinned ~ thinmmtki. n. tinned
fish. Pl: thinmmt.
fishing line changgthacha. n.
1 vine sp.; large, thick vine. Usage:
Arongda dialect. 2 rope; vine
makes a good rope. 3 fishing line.
Pl: changgt. Variant: kanggthacha;
chagthacha. See: charoski (Abilta
dialect) vine sp.
fishing spear chevs. n. fishing spear;
has many prongs. Pl: chevimlk. Note:
only ch.
fit for, be ~ mamr pet. vi-so. be fit for;
be able to; be good for. Variant: mamr
vet.
five angthikpet. num. five. Variant:
ngthikpet.
fix slamr vm. vt. 1 fix. 2 tidy.
flag baulvs. n. flag. Pl: baul.
flagpole baulvs angtha mngga. n.
flagpole. Pl: baul angtha mng.
flame churetka. n. flame. Pl: churet.
Note: only ch.
flame, large ~ churetki. n. large flame.
Pl: churet. Note: only ch.
flame, tongue of ~ chulimbinggi. n.
tongue of flame. Pl: achulubaing.
Variant: kulbingga; chulibingga.
flap nam. sa-vi. flap; especially
wings.
flash flood umngachi. n. flash flood.
Pl: umang.
flashlight manaingimgi. n.
1 window. 2 torch; flashlight. Pl:
manaingim. See: achilotki window.
flat avras. adj. flat.
flat land lamn. n. flat land.
flat ones, some ~
flat one, just that particular ~
chkvs. dem. just that particular
flat one. Gram: Emphatic flat singular con-
trastive demonstrative. See: kvs that
particular flat one.
flat one, that particular ~ kvs. dem.
that particular flat one. Gram: Flat sin-
gular contrastive demonstrative. Variant:
chvs; kchs; achvs; chchs. See:
chkvs just that particular flat one.
flat one, that particular ~ pavvs.
dem. that particular flat one. Gram: Flat
singular distal demonstrative emphatic.
Variant: vavvs.
flat one, that ~ avvs. dem. that flat
one. Gram: Flat singular distal demonstrative.
Variant: vvs. See: avchs that flat
one.
flat one, the ~ ngas. pro. the flat one.
Gram: Flat singular nominal pronoun.
flat one, this particular ~ taithvs.
dem. this particular flat one. Gram: Flat
singular proximate demonstrative emphatic.
Variant: thaithvs.
flat one, this ~ ithvs. dem. this flat
one. Gram: Flat singular proximate demon-
strative. Variant: tvs.
flat ones, just those particular two ~
kmlm. dem. just those particular
two flat ones. Gram: Flat dual contrastive
demonstrative. Variant: chmlm; ach-
mlm. See: chkmlm just those
particular flat two.
flat ones, just those particular ~
chkmlk. dem. just those par-
ticular flat ones. Gram: Emphatic flat plural
contrastive demonstrative. See: chmlk
those particular flat ones.
flat ones, some two ~ agimlm. pro.
of
some two flat ones. Gram: Flat dual in-
definite pronoun. Variant: anggimlm;
gimlm.
flat ones, some ~ agimlk. pro. some
flat ones. Gram: Flat plural indefinite pro-
noun. Variant: anggimlk; gimlk.
flat ones, some ~ guamlk. dem.
some flat ones. Gram: Flat plural indefinite
demonstrative.
248
flat ones, some ~
flat ones, some ~ guavs. dem. some
flat ones. Gram: Flat plural indefinite de-
monstrative.
flat ones, these particular ~ taithang.
dem. 1 this particular one; these par-
ticular ones. Gram: Count neutral proximate
demonstrative emphatic. 2 these par-
ticular flat ones. Gram: Flat plural proxi-
mate demonstrative emphatic. See: taith-
mlk these particular flat ones.
3 these particular long ones. Gram:
Long plural proximate demonstrative em-
phatic. Variant: thaithang.
flat ones, these particular ~ taith-
mlk. dem. these particular flat
ones. Gram: Flat plural proximate demon-
strative emphatic. Variant: thaithmlk.
See: taithang these particular flat
ones.
flat ones, these two ~ ithmlm.
dem. these two flat ones. Gram: Flat dual
proximate demonstrative. Variant: tmlm.
flat ones, these ~ ithang. dem.
1 these. Gram: Count neutral proximate
demonstrative. 2 these flat ones. Gram:
Flat plural proximate demonstrative. Variant:
thang; tngt; ithngt; tang (Abilta
dialect).
flat ones, these ~ ithmlk. dem.
these flat ones. Gram: Flat plural proximate
demonstrative. Variant: tmlk.
flat ones, those particular two ~
pavmlm. dem. those particular
two flat ones. Gram: Flat dual distal demon-
strative emphatic. Variant: vavmlm.
flat ones, those particular ~ kmlk.
dem.those particular flat ones. Gram:
Flat plural contrastive demonstrative. Variant:
chmlk; achmlk. See: chkmlk
just those particular flat ones.
flat ones, those particular ~ pach-
vang. dem. 1 that particular one;
those particular ones. Gram: Count neu-
tral distal demonstrative emphatic.
2 those particular flat ones. Gram: Flat
plural distal demonstrative emphatic. Variant:
vachvang; bachvang. See: paivang
those particular flat ones.
flesh
flat ones, those particular ~ paivang.
dem. those particular flat ones. Gram:
Flat plural distal demonstrative emphatic.
Variant: aivang; vaivang. See: pachvang
those particular flat ones.
flat ones, those two ~ avmlm. dem.
those two flat ones. Gram: Flat dual distal
demonstrative. Variant: vmlm.
flat ones, two ~ guamlm. dem. two
flat ones. Gram: Flat dual indefinite demon-
strative.
flat, that ~ one avchs. dem. that flat
one. Gram: Flat singular distal demonstrative.
Variant: vchs.
flat, the ~ two ngimlm. pro. the flat
two. Gram: Flat dual nominal pronoun.
flat thing, some ~ agivs. pro. some flat
thing. Gram: Flat singular indefinite pronoun.
Variant: anggivs.
flat things, those ~ avmlk. dem.
those flat things. Gram: Flat plural distal
demonstrative. Variant: vmlk.
flat, those ~ ones avang. dem. 1 that
one; those ones. Gram: Count neutral distal
demonstrative. 2 those flat ones. Gram:
Flat plural distal demonstrative. Variant:
vang; pang.
flat two, just those particular ~ chk-
mlm. dem. just those particular flat
two. Gram: Emphatic flat dual contrastive
demonstrative. See: chmlm just those
particular two flat ones.
flat two, the ~ imlm. pro. the flat
two. Gram: Flat dual reduced nominal pro-
noun.
flat two, these particular ~ taithm-
lm. dem. these particular flat two.
Gram: Flat dual proximate demonstrative em-
phatic. Variant: thaithmlm.
flattened area burichi. n. cleared area;
flattened area; e.g. a place in the bush
where there has been a dog fight or a
crocodile resting. Pl: buri.
flattened out, be ~ pl tm. vi-so. be
broken; be bent over; be flattened out;
e.g. of grass that has been walked on.
flesh achurnaing. n. meat; flesh; es-
249
flimsy
pecially of pigs, chickens, or coconuts.
Note: no endings.
flimsy aingas. adj. flimsy; particularly
things like paper.
flimsy palangga. adj. flimsy; particu-
larly things like paper. Pl: plang. Pl:
palang. Variant: plangga.
flip ngim melia. vi-sa. roll over; flip.
Variant: nm melia.
flip ngim melia. vt. roll over; flip.
Variant: nm melia.
flip over ml. vt. 1 flip over. 2 move
aside.
flip over valing s. vi-so. flip over.
Variant: waling s.
flipper of a dolphin vethachi. n. fin,
flipper, or tail of a dolphin. Pl: avet.
Note: only v.
flipper of a turtle anamnamgi. n.
1 wing. 2 flipper of a turtle. Pl:
anamnam.
float from a gillnet trip glaski. n. float
from a gillnet.
flood ichumgi. n. flood; flooded river.
Pl: ichum.
flood milatka avuouk. n. large flood
that washes away all the plants along
the riverbanks. Morph: milatka
avuouk. Gloss: coconut.shell-M.
3M.SG.POSS-grandmother. Pl: milatka
angthuouk.
flood, first ~ vunakdmga. n. first
flood; makes plants bend over. Pl:
vunakdm. Note: only v.
flood, flash ~ umngachi. n. flash
flood. Pl: umang.
flood line suchutki. n. water line or
flood line that shows how high a river
flows. Pl: suchut.
flood, small ~ ichumigl. n. small flood.
Pl: ichuminggleng.
flooded river ichumgi. n. flood; flooded
river. Pl: ichum.
flower sp. galumaing. n. flower sp.;
has small red, yellow, white, and pink
flowers all in one flower head; light
250
foot
green spear-shaped leaves.
fly lmaska. n. fly; generic term. Pl:
lmas.
fly prap. sa-vi. fly. Variant: vrap.
fly, March ~ chluingga. n. march fly;
blue; usually the first to arrive on a
carcass in the bush, or to sit on rub-
bish. Pl: chluing. Note: only ch.
fly sp. ainggrongini. n. sandfly sp.;
very tiny; sits on sores and food. Pl:
ainggrong. Pl: ainggrongithong. Variant:
aigrongini.
fly sp. gethuaing angt nank. n. fly
sp.; brown with big eyes and trans-
parent wings; similar to the mur-
nalengeika species but this one lays
eggs. Pl: gethuaing angt nankina.
fly sp. murnalengeika. n. fly sp.; large
brown fly; does not lay eggs but puts
its maggots straight into waste. Pl:
murnalengeik.
flying fox vangon'ga. n. flying fox. Pl:
vangon. Variant: pangon'ga; angon.
FOC thia. modal. FOC. Gram: Realis focus
marker.
fog auvrngachi. n. fog. Pl: auvrang.
Variant: avrngachi.
fold paim. vt. fold. Variant: vaim.
follow don dm. vt. follow. Variant: thon
dm; don d; thon d.
follow don vt. vt. follow. Variant: thon
vt.
food amsmska. n. food. Pl: amsms.
Variant: msms.
food parcel gamosachi. n. food parcel;
is wrapped in leaves. Pl: gamos.
food parcel, small ~ gamosini. n. small
food parcel. Pl: gamosithong.
fool chlmuen. n. fool; name of a
character in many Mali stories. Variant:
klmuen; chlmen; klmen.
foot alchar. n. foot; leg; refers to the
entire limb. Variant: lchar. See: slvini
leg; snainggi thigh.
foot alcharini. n. leg; foot; refers to
the whole limb; this is a bit more po-
footprint
lite than
just using lchar.
alcharithong.
footprint alcharacha. n. 1 footprint;
track. 2 footstep. Pl: alchar.
footstep alcharacha. n. 1 footprint;
track. 2 footstep. Pl: alchar.
for nani. prep. for. Gram: Appears before full
noun phrases. See: nania for.
for nania. prep. for. Gram: Appears before
pronouns. See: nani for.
for pathm. prep. 1 along.
2 according to. 3 for. Variant:
vathm; bathm.
for each other pathm na. dir.
1 alongside; side by side. 2 with
each other; for each other.
3 parallel. Variant: vathm na; bathm
na.
for oneself banas. dir. for oneself.
for themselves snas. dir. for them-
selves; about themselves.
forbid rek sthm. vt. 1 close in.
2 block off; e.g. to obstruct some-
ones view. 3 forbid. Variant: trek
sthm; chrek sthm. See: trek tm
prohibit, forbid.
forbid trek tm. vt. prohibit; forbid.
Variant: rek tm.
forehead blinggi. n. 1 space.
2 forehead. Pl: blaing.
foreign aml. adj. 1 loose.
2 foreign. Variant: ml.
foreign man amlka. n. 1 large is-
land. Pl: aml. See: amlm small is-
land. 2 foreign man; temporary
visitor. Pl: amlta. See: naingiska for-
eigner.
foreign woman amlki. n. foreign
woman.
foreigner naingiska. n. foreigner. Pl:
naingista. See: amlka foreign man;
temporary visitor.
foreigner, female ~ naingiski. n. fe-
male foreigner.
foreskin luchi at kdngga. n. fore-
skin. Pl: lu angt kdng.
friends, be ~
Pl: forest undrki. n. forest. Pl: undr.
forest person, little ~ tbr nanm. n.
little forest person. Pl: tbr nanbap.
Variant: thbr nanm.
forever snas. adv. forever. Variant:
sanas.
forever more tevuit mo. dir. forever
more. Variant: thevuit mo.
forget pat pthanas. sa-vi. forget.
Variant: vat pthanas.
forget sari. vi-so. forget.
forget suk dm. vt. forget.
forgetful person dt mtha
musnng. n. forgetful person.
forward inamuk. dir. across towards
speaker; forward.
four alevavet. num. four. Variant: leva-
vet.
fowl, wild ~ malachi. n. wild fowl. Pl:
mala.
fragrant sap raiycha. n. 1 tree sp.;
grows along the coast and in the
mountains in the bush; the sap is fra-
grant and burns like wax.
2 fragrant sap from the tree with the
same name. Pl: raiyk.
frame birbirka. n. 1 border of dancing
ground. 2 frame for a net. Pl: birbir.
frame, section of ~ grtpes. n. section
of frame; e.g. one side of a house
frame. Pl: grtimlk.
friend aruacha. n. friend; often used to
refer to spouses. Pl: aruavek. Variant:
ruacha. See: lugutka husband.
friend lmuacha. n. friend; ally. Pl:
lmutha.
friend vum. n. friend, the address term.
Pl: vuap. Note: only v.
friend, female ~ aruachi. n. female
friend; wife.
friend, female ~ lmuachi. n. female
friend; female ally.
friends, be ~ tethana. sa-vi. 1 be
friends. 2 be married. 3 group
together. Variant: thetana; dethaa;
251
friendship
methaa.
friendship ruaom nna. n. a friendship
between two people.
frightened, be ~ dlen. sa-vi. be afraid;
be frightened. Variant: len.
frightened, be ~ ternas. sa-vi. be
frightened. Variant: thernas; mernas.
frightened man mulen'ga. n. fright-
ened man. Pl: mulenda.
frightened woman mulen'gi.
frightened woman.
frog chlumen'gi. n. frog; generic term.
Pl: chlumen. Variant: kelemen'gi;
chelumen'gi.
frog sp. baiapka. n. bush frog sp.;
small and brown. Usage: An alternate
name for baiavini. Pl: baiap.
frog sp. baiavini. n. frog sp. Usage:
alternate name for baiapka.
frog sp. chlumen'gi ama iriarki. n.
frog sp.; large green river frog. Pl:
chlumen ama iriar. Variant: chlumen'gi
ama uras atha lchar; chlumen'gi ama
uras d ththik.
from na. prep. 1 from. 2 with.
Variant: n; ni.
from nagl. prep. 1 from. 2 by.
Variant: nangl.
from nmt. prep. from. Variant: namt.
from nthm. prep. 1 from.
2 about. Variant: nethem.
from nva. prep. from.
from nvt. prep. from. Variant: nk;
nvtha.
from, across ~ namuani. dir. across
from. Variant: namoni.
from around here nainath. dir. from
around here.
from, away ~ nmna. prep. away
from; e.g. used to describe the way a
flood leaves rubbish behind as the
water subsides. Variant: namna.
from, back down ~ nanavuk. dir. back
down from.
from close to naglm. prep. from
from over there
close to. Variant: nangglm.
from down namk. dir. from down.
from down nmni. dir. from down.
Variant: namni.
from down at naimano. dir. from down
at.
from down at nathmk. dir. from
down at.
from down over there namano. dir.
n. from down over there.
from down there naimanp. dir. from
down there.
from down there namanp. dir. from
down there. Variant: namani; namana.
from down there nathmanp. dir.
from down there. Variant: nathmani.
from down there nathmano. dir.
An from down there.
from each other nmtna. dir. from
each other.
from each other nvana. dir. from each
other.
from here inath. dir. from here.
from here ath. dir. from here.
from in namuk. dir. from in.
from in there nathmuk. dir. from in
there.
from inside naimuk. dir. from inside.
from inside, up ~ naimek. dir. up from
inside.
from one to another smnina. dir. up
and down; across; from one to an-
other; e.g. across a series of valleys
and ridges.
from oneself, away ~ nevanas. dir.
away from oneself.
from out there nathvuit. dir. from out
there. Variant: nathvit.
from over there naimuanp. dir. from
over there. Variant: naimonp.
from over there naimuani. dir. from
over there.
from over there namono. dir. from
over there; across.
252
from over there
from over there namui. dir. from over
there; same level as speaker.
from over there nathmono. dir. from
over there.
from over there nathmui. dir. from
over there.
from over there nathmuit. dir. from
over there.
from over there nathvui. dir. from
over there.
from over there (distant) naimui. dir.
from over there (distant).
from over there (towards speaker)
nainamuk. dir. from over there (to-
wards speaker).
from, over ~ naimni. dir. over from.
from, over ~ naimono. dir. over from.
from, over ~ naivuit. dir. over from.
from, over ~ namui. dir. from over
there; same level as speaker.
from, over ~ namuit. dir. over from.
from, over ~ navuit. dir. over from.
Variant: navit.
from, over ~ (distant) navui. dir. over
from (distant).
from side nathmuanp. dir. from
side. Variant: nathmoni; nathmonp.
from the other side naimuit. dir. from
the other side.
from the other side namethik. dir.
from the other side.
from the side, over ~ namonp. dir.
over from the side. Variant: namoni;
namuanp.
from there inavi. dir. from there.
from there nainavi. dir. from there.
from there nave. dir. from there.
from there navi. dir. from there.
from up nainavuk. dir. from up.
from up naivuk. dir. from up.
from up there naivono. dir. from up
there.
from up there nathvono. dir. from up
253
fun, make ~
there.
from up there nathvuk. dir. from up
there.
from up there navono. dir. from up
there.
from up there sainavuk. dir. from up
there.
from (middle distance), over ~ naivui.
dir. over from (middle distance).
frond, coconut ~ uratps. n. coconut
frond; stem is used to make a basket.
Pl: uratimlk.
front angtham. n. 1 shore; beach;
riverbank. 2 front. Morph: angtam.
Gloss: 3N.POSS-mouth. Variant: avam; vam.
front, at the ~ dngtham. dir. in
front; at the front.
front, in ~ dngtham. dir. in front; at
the front.
front, in ~ ndngetham. dir. in front.
fruit isinggi. n. tree sp.; similar to
breadfruit but brown on the outside
and yellow inside; refers to both the
tree and the fruit. Pl: isainng.
fruit bat avunathepki. n. fruit bat sp.;
small. Pl: avunathep.
fruit, immature ~ guingini. n. imma-
ture fruit; the buds of fruit that appear
after the flowers have fallen off. Pl:
guingithong.
fruit sp. athongga. n. fruit sp.; must be
cooked before it is eaten. Pl: athong.
fruit, type of ~ aruchusicha. n. 1 tree
sp. 2 type of fruit.
fruit, type of ~ chmbucha. n. type of
fruit. Usage: Also known as ton in Tok
Pisin. Pl: chmbu. Variant: kmbucha.
full, be tchp. vi-so. be full. Variant:
thchp n.
fun, make ~ bncha muma. sa-vi.
make fun; joke. Variant: vncha muma;
vna muma; bna muma.
fun, make ~ tu ma. sa-vi. joke; make
fun. Variant: thu ma; du ma; mu ma.
fun, make ~ tu samor s. vt. make fun.
function
Variant: thu samor s; du samor s; mu
samor s.
function lengeini. n. event; function;
meeting. Pl: lengithong.
funny, act ~ tusachus nanas. sa-vi. act
G -
galip nut vimga. n. galip nut (Canarium
indicum). Pl: viam. Variant: pimga.
game amun'gas. n. game.
gaol kumngas. n. gaol; prison.
kumang. Variant: chumngas.
garden, flower ~ mormorki. n. flower
garden; special garden containing
healing plants like ginger; you can put
someone there to encourage healing
or growth. Pl: mormor.
garden, large altki. n. large garden.
garden, old ~ kunmgi. n. old garden;
a garden that cannot be used again for
two or three years. Pl: kunam. Variant:
chnam; chunmgi.
garden plot avram. n. garden plot;
specifically a plot within a larger sec-
tion of garden that has been assigned
to a particular person; the section is
divided into plots for different crops.
Pl: avar. Pl: avravap. Variant: avram.
garden section nunggulia. n. garden
section; section within a garden that
has been assigned to a particular
person. Pl: nunggul.
garden, small ~ althini. n. 1 small
garden. 2 small job.
gardener latka. n. gardener. Pl: latta.
gardener, female ~ latki. n. female
gardener.
garden(s) alat. n. 1 garden(s).
2 job.
gasp ngk d. vi-so. gasp; grunt.
gasp for breath sanggas machuvt.
sa-vi. gasp for breath.
gate arekrechi. n. sign on path to pro-
hibit people from going along it, and
get
funny; e.g. in a concert or in a burst of
high spirits. Variant: thusachus nanas;
dusachus nanas; musachus nanas.
future asik. disc. future; when. Gram: Ir-
realis marker. Variant: sik.
g
by extension, a no entry sign or gate.
Pl: arekrek.
gather lel tm. vt. gather.
Pl: gather around par mana svt. sa-vi.
gather around. Variant: var mana svt.
gather together dn dmna. sa-vi.
gather together; meet up. Gram: Takes a
plural subject. Variant: thn; mn.
gather together don dmna. sa-vi.
gather together. Variant: thon dmna;
mon dmna.
gauze lingbes. n. gauze; lint; compress.
Pl: ling.
gaze sachongachi. n. 1 gaze.
2 worried face. 3 depths of a pool.
Variant: sachong.
gecko sp. avulikpthachi. n. gecko
sp.; grey; up to 10 cm long. Pl:
avulikpet. Variant: vlikpthachi.
gecko sp. vuachtka. n. gecko sp.;
large; brown with white stripes along
the body and around the neck; lives in
houses. Pl: vuacht. Note: only v.
generous man vnbon'ga. n. generous
man. Pl: vnbonda.
generous woman vnbon'gi. n. gen-
erous woman. Note: only v.
genitals, female ~aunuchi. n. female
genitals; vulva; vagina; a womans
private parts in general. Pl: auna.
geography asecha svt kama
ivtki. n. geography.
germinate pur mt. vi-so. germinate.
Variant: vur.
get tat. vt. 1 get. 2 give birth. Usage:
Note that the present tense is not
used because it would make a com-
254
get
mand Have your baby now!; only that
and mat are usually used. Variant: that;
dat; mat; tht; tt; dt; mt.
get tt s. vt. get. Variant: tht s; dt s;
tat sa; mt s; mat s.
get burnt dung mt. vi-so. get burnt.
get down tik. vt. get down. Variant: thik.
get out pr. vt. 1 get something out of
a pocket or a similar place.
2 breathe out. 3 put; e.g. to put
someone in a particular place. Variant:
vr.
get out ps s. vi-so. get out. Variant: vs
s.
get up sekmes. sa-vi. get up. Variant:
sepmes.
get up early tchasp. sa-vi. get up
early. Variant: thchasp.
ghost tomga. n. spirit; ghost. Variant:
thomga.
giant srucha. n. 1 giant. Pl: srutha.
2 old man. Pl: srutha.
giant, female ~ sruchi. n. 1 female
giant. 2 old woman.
giddy, be ~ kibing kibing va
sachong. vi-so. be dizzy; be giddy.
Note: only k.
gift of food amthcha. n. gift of food;
something that has come from some-
one else. Pl: mthk. Variant: mthcha.
gigantic asru. adj. huge; gigantic.
Variant: sru.
ginger, piece of ~ mavnini. n.
1 piece of ginger. 2 little finger.
Pl: mavnithong. See: secha little fin-
ger.
ginger plant mavnachi. n. ginger
plant; roots can be chewed to help
with colds and flu. Pl: mavan.
give bon. vt. 1 give. 2 thatch; put
leaves on a roof. Variant: von; mbon.
glasses sachong. n. 1 vision; dream;
daydream. 2 glasses. 3 crown of
a tree. 4 surface; e.g. the surface of
the sea, the face of the earth, the top
of a sore, the opening of a pot.
good for, be ~
glimpse tlu wirp. vi-so. glimpse; catch
sight of something because it moves.
Variant: lu wirp.
glorious, be ~ tu thm mes pt. vi-so.
be glorious. Variant: thu thm mes pt;
du thm mes pt; mu thm mes pt.
glory amurmeski. n. glory. Pl:
amuremes.
glow igalechi. n. glow of light; e.g.
from a distant fire or from the sun at
dawn. Pl: igale.
glue ananachi. n. glue. Pl: anana.
gluefish chalacha. n. freshwater fish
sp.; gluefish; can stick themselves to a
rock with their chests. Pl: chala. Variant:
kalacha.
go tranas. sa-vi. go; take off; leave.
Variant: thranas; dranas; mranas;
thranas; dranas; mranas.
go tet. sa-vi. 1 walk. 2 go. Variant:
thet; det; met; -et.
go around bing. sa-vi. go around.
go around nging. vt. go around. Usage:
Abilta dialect. Variant: ing. See: bing vt
go around.
go in don. sa-vi. 1 go in; enter.
2 sink. 3 drown. 4 be stuck.
Variant: thon; mon.
go in front thuer. sa-vi. 1 go first.
2 go ahead. 3 go in front. Variant:
ruer; er; kuer.
God amorka. n. 1 adult man.
2 leader. 3 ancestor. 4 God. Pl:
morvap. Pl: morta.
God Deo. n. God.
God the Everlasting thchnmucha.
n. sacred being; God the Everlasting.
Pl: thchnmu. Note: only th.
goddess amorki. n. 1 adult woman.
2 leader. 3 female ancestor.
4 goddess. Pl: morvap. Pl: morta.
good amr. adj. good; pleasant; nice.
Variant: mr.
good for, be ~ mamr pet. vi-so. be fit
for; be able to; be good for. Variant:
mamr vet.
255
good humoured man grasshopper sp.

good humoured man auluvkmtka. grandmother. Pl: angthuaukna. Variant:

n. 1 coward. 2 good humoured angthuouk.
man; reasonable man. Pl: aulvk- grandson vulecha. n. grandson; in-
mtta. Variant: aulvkmtka. cludes in-laws. Pl: vulekpek. Variant:
good humoured woman auluvkmt- awlecha.
ki. n. 1 female coward. 2 good grapple pethaindik mtna. sa-vi.
humoured woman; reasonable wom- grapple; two people grappling with
an. Variant: aulvkmtki. each other. Variant: vethaindik mtna.
good man amrka. n. good man. Pl: grass lachuaska. n. grass; an area of
amrta. any particular kind of grass. Pl:
good woman amrki. n. good woman. luchuas.
Goodbye! oo. interj. Goodbye! grass sp. achlachuas. n. 1 grass sp.;
goose bumps, have ~ prur pt. vi-so. tends to grow in old gardens; the
have goose bumps; have ones hair seeds stick to your legs. Morph: a=
stand on end. Variant: vrur pt. chlachuas. Gloss: SPEC=grass.sp.
2 seaweed; seagrass; plants that
gossip nesabiung. n. gossip. usually grow in shallow water; up to
grab kthep. vt. 1 grab. 2 catch. 20 cm in length; fish use it to hide in.
Variant: chthep; gthep. Variant: chlachuas.
grab pr m. vt. grab; catch; kidnap. grass sp. malos. n. grass sp.; strong
Variant:vr m. smelling; grows to waist height; de-
grab pr tm. vt. grab; catch; kidnap. ters snakes, relieves tiredness, and
Variant: vr tm; br tm; pr t; vr t; can be used to wash dishes.
br t. grass sp. ngipngip. n. grass sp.; dies if
grace grasia. n. grace. Note: no endings. someone touches it.
grade ulunggi. n. 1 room. 2 class; grass sp., area of ~ achlachuaska. n.
grade. Pl: ulung. area of grass sp.; tends to grow in old
gardens; seeds stick to your legs.
graduate sot na sunaski. sa-vi.
Variant: chlachuaska.
graduate.
grass sp., large area of ~ achla-
granddaughter vulechi. n. grand-
chuaski. n. large area of grass sp.
daughter. Note: only v.
Variant: chlachuaski.
grandfather angthiaik. n. grand-
grass sp., small area of ~ achlachua-
father; grandfather-in-law. Morph:
sini. n. small area of grass sp. Variant:
angt=iaikkna. Gloss: 3CN.POSS=
chlachuasini.
grandfather-H.PL. Pl: angthiaikna.
grasshopper amueska. n. grasshop-
grandfather-in-law angthiaik. n.
per; generic term. Pl: amues.
grandfather; grandfather-in-law.
Morph: angt=iaikkna. Gloss: 3CN.POSS grasshopper sp. achivulucha. n.
=grandfather-H.PL. Pl: angthiaikna. grasshopper sp.; grey-brown colour;
wings have a yellow stripe at the tip;
grandmother angthuauk. n. grand-
bores holes in soft wood. Pl: achivulu.
mother; grandmother-in-law. Morph:
angt=uauk. Gloss: 3.PL.POSS=grand- grasshopper sp. alsacha. n. grass-
mother. Pl: angthuaukna. Variant: hopper sp.; brown; smaller than the
angthuouk. mathongga species; does not bore
holes. Pl: alsavap.
grandmother-in-law angthuauk. n.
grandmother; grandmother-in-law. grasshopper sp. aruachingacha. n.
Morph: angt=uauk. Gloss: 3.PL.POSS= grasshopper sp. Pl: aruachaing.

256
grasshopper sp.
grasshopper sp. avirsithamngga.
n. grasshopper sp.; dark green; has a
flat belly; lies flat and straight against
a tree back and is well camouflaged.
Pl: avirsithamng.
grasshopper sp. chatlchotka. n.
grasshopper sp.; greyish in colour. Pl:
chatlchot. Variant: katlchotka.
grasshopper sp. chtikktika. n.
grasshopper sp.; brown and short; flat
area on the back between the wing
and the head. Pl: chtikktik. Variant:
ktikktika.
grasshopper sp. lngirka. n. grass-
hopper sp.; brown and short with big
back thighs; is plentiful in stony
places and along the beach. Pl: lngir.
grasshopper sp. mamthm. n. grass-
hopper sp.; has grey and white
patches; bores holes in soft wood. Pl:
mamvap.
grasshopper sp. mathongga. n.
1 grasshopper sp.; brown and long in
shape; bores holes in wood or bam-
boo; used as bait for river fish.
2 hornbill. Pl: mathong.
grasshopper sp. mavnacha. n. green
grasshopper sp.; has a long head. Pl:
mavan.
grasshopper sp. nguainggi. n. grass-
hopper sp.; brown and white with long
hind legs; people play with it by
breaking one leg and pulling the ten-
don to make the leg move. Pl: nguaing.
grasshopper sp. rukuska. n. grass-
hopper sp.; greyish in colour. Pl:
rukus.
grasshopper sp. sarengacha. n.
1 pandanus sp.; small with long
leaves; used for making mats.
2 green grasshopper sp.; lies flat
between the leaves of the sarengacha
pandanus species. Pl: sareng.
grasshopper sp. thagumacha. n.
grasshopper sp.; brown. Pl: thagum.
Variant: tagumacha.
grasshopper sp. thareracha. n. green
grasshopper sp.; makes a loud rasping
257
grile [TP]
noise at night. Pl: tharer. Variant:
tareracha.
grasshopper sp. thobakathva mus-
ka. n. grasshopper sp.; green with
large back legs; if it flies into a house,
people may ask it questions to find out
whether bad luck is coming, or if
someone will die. Pl: thobekathva
mues. Variant: tobekathva muska.
grasshopper sp. vitvitka. n. grass-
hopper sp.; two types of grasshop-
pers: one is green and the other is
brown; they make a pleasant chirping
sound at night. Pl: vitvit. Note: only v.
grasshopper sp. vlamasarengacha. n.
grasshopper sp. Pl: vlamasareng.
Variant: plamasareng.
grater rngska. n. scraper; grater. Pl:
rngs.
grave aven'gi. n. grave. Pl: aven.
graze lul s. sa-vi. graze; scratch;
scrape.
grazed, be ~ lul pt. vi-so. be grazed;
be scratched.
grease from an animal or
fish mamutki. n. fat or grease from
an animal or fish. Pl: mamut.
greasy mamut. adj. greasy; fatty.
greasy, be ~ mamut mt. vi-so. be
greasy; be fatty.
greasy, be ~ mars mt. vi-so. be
greasy; be oily. Variant: mars pt.
greedy guagungmo. adj. greedy.
green airiar. adj. green. Variant: iriar.
green, be ~ airiarvs vt. vi-so. be
green.
greens achuvel. n. greens. Usage: Also
known as aupa in Tolai.
greens asalang. n. greens; leaves are
small and heart shaped with yellow
flowers; grows in gardens after they
have been burnt off.
Greetings! salve. interj. Greetings!
Usage: This word was introduced by
the priests in the Mali community.
grile [TP] aslavar. n. tinea; ringworm
grizzle
(grile).
grizzle tu nank. sa-vi. grizzle; cry for
something for a long time. Variant: thu
nank; du nank; mu nank.
groan tchen. sa-vi. groan.
thchan.
ground msng. n. ground.
ground, fighting ~ gamracha. n.
fighting ground. Note: no plural.
ground, hit the ~ pai. sa-vi. 1 fall
down; hit the ground. 2 land heav-
ily. Variant: vai.
ground, to the ~ smsng. dir. to the
ground; downwards.
group gulinggi. n. group. Pl: gulaing.
group together tethana. sa-vi. 1 be
friends. 2 be married. 3 group
together. Variant: thethana; dethana;
methana.
grow dn. sa-vi. grow. Variant: thn; rn;
ndn; rin (Abilta dialect).
grow dn. vt. grow; specifically make a
baby grow. Variant: thn; rn; ndn; rin
(Abilta dialect).
grow pur. vi-so. grow; especially of new
skin or bark growing over a cut.
Variant: vur.
grow fast tir. sa-vi. grow fast.
thir.
growth airirki. n. growth. Pl: airir.
growth munmun'gi. n. growth.
munmun.
habit amusnng. n. 1 behaviour.
2 idea; thought. 3 plan.
4 habit; custom. Morph: a=musnng.
Gloss: SPEC=put.PAST-heart.
amusnngini.
hair chseng. n. hair. Variant: kseng.
See: chekseng just those particular
long ones.
hair, long strand of ~ chsengia. n.
long hair; specifically a single strand
hand
growth, new ~ aithir. n. new growth;
skin or bark that grows in order to
heal a cut.
grub sp. achlacholachi. n. grub sp.;
Variant: edible; white; up to 4 cm long and
very fat (like the top of a persons
thumb); eats the wood at the top of
the coconut palm and areca palm. Pl:
achlachol.
grub sp. srongachi. n. grub sp.; white
and edible; different types vary in
size, up to 6 cm long; eats the wood of
trees including pawpaw, galip nut
(Canarium indicum), and cocoa trees.
Pl: srong.
grunt ngk d. vi-so. gasp; grunt.
guava govachi. n. guava. Pl: gova.
guava tree govacha. n. guava tree; the
leaves are good for stomach aches. Pl:
gova.
guess, make ~ bna. vt. make someone
else guess. Variant: vna.
gullet laguain'gi. n. gullet. Pl:
langguain.
gun rarpka. n. 1 strong inner part of
tree. 2 gun. Pl: rarp.
gun vilchi. n. gun. Pl: vilik. Variant:
pilichi.
Variant:
gurgle guarem. n. gurgle; a gurgling
sound such as the sound of a river
going between stones.
Pl:
H - h
of hair. Pl: chseng. Variant: ksengia.
half chutigligl. n. half. Pl:
chutigiliglng. Variant: kutigligl.
Variant:
halt krtpka. n. halt; stop. Variant:
chrtpka.
hammer pai dm s. vt. hammer.
Variant: vai dm s.
hand angthichini. n. 1 hand; arm;
refers to the entire limb; more polite
258
hand
word than angthiki. 2 twig.
hand angthiki. n. 1 hand; arm; re-
fers to the entire limb. 2 branch.
Morph: ang=tikki. Gloss: 3CN.POSS=
hand-F.SG. Pl: angthaik.
hand, palm of the ~ adigl. n. 1 piece of
taro. 2 palm of hand. Pl: adigleng.
hand, palm of the ~ angthikinggl. n.
palm of hand.
hands, shake ~ sangar glem na. sa-vi.
shake hands.
handwriting angthaik angtha
chutkut. n. script; handwriting.
Morph: angthaik angtha chutkut. Gloss:
arms/hands 3PL.POSS writing.
hang tn. vt. hang. Variant: thn.
hang up kop dm. vt. hang up. Variant:
chop dm.
happened, what ~ mnia na. interrog.
what happened.
happy lareng. vi-so. happy. Usage: This
word is a bit archaic; it is mainly used
now to describe the way dogs behave
when greeting their masters.
happy, be ~ amr ba. vi-so. be happy.
Variant: mr ba.
happy, be ~ amr pt. vi-so. be happy.
happy, be ~ amr vm. vi-so. be happy.
happy, be ~ asevaik pt. vi-so.
1 rejoice; be happy; be joyful.
2 feel proud. 3 be a nuisance.
Variant: sevaik pt.
happy, be ~ lareng'ga vt. vi-so. be
happy.
hard achrot. adj. 1 strong.
2 tough. 3 hard; difficult. Variant:
chrot.
hard chernas. adj. difficult; hard.
hard mamor. adv. 1 lots. 2 excessi-
vely; very much; terribly. 3 strong-
ly. 4 hard. 5 loudly. 6 fast;
quickly. 7 brightly.
hard, be ~ achrnas mt. vi-so. 1 be
brave. 2 be hard; be difficult.
3 be salty. Variant: chrnas mt.
259
health centre
hard, be ~ chernas pt. vi-so. be diffi-
cult; be hard.
harlequin fish aingipdulvulka. n. fish
sp.; harlequin fish; lives in fresh or
salt water; is transparent (the bones
are visible through the skin); up to
10 cm long. Pl: aingipduvul. Variant:
aingipdchulka.
hat hatki. n. hat. Pl: hat.
hatch bk pt. vt. hatch. Variant: vk pt.
hatchet avthepka ma lachengga. n.
hatchet. Pl: avthap ama lacheng.
hawk, brown and white ~ lalumga. n.
bird sp.; brown and white hawk. Pl:
lalum.
haze chulesia. n. haze. Variant: kulesia.
he ka. pro. he; it. Gram: Third person mascu-
line singular class one pronoun and third per-
son masculine singular class three pronoun.
Variant: cha; chat; ga.
he k. pro. he; it. Gram: Third person mascu-
line singular class two pronoun. Variant: ch;
g.
he ng. pro. he; she; it; they. Gram: Third
person neuter class one pronoun. Variant:
nga.
he ngthi. pro. he; she; it; they. Gram:
Third person neuter class two pronoun.
head vuski. n. head. Pl: vs. Variant:
puski; waski; buski; vski; veski.
head, sore on the ~ sulka. n. 1 piece
of coral. 2 sore on the head. Pl: sul.
head to tail pethana. dir. head to tail;
back to front. Variant: vethana.
headdress kangalcha. n. 1 head-
dress. 2 ornament; brightly col-
oured things such as feathers that can
be used as head ornaments. Pl: kangal.
Note: only k.
heal amrvs pt. vi-so. 1 feel fine.
2 heal; get better; get well. 3 feel
peaceful.
health centre arm angtha banggi.
n. hospital; health centre. Morph: arm
angt=a bangki. Gloss: sick 3N.POSS=
SPEC house-F.SG. Pl: arm angtha
health centre
bang.
health centre aslamrki. n. hospital;
clinic; health centre. Pl: aslamr.
Variant: slamrki.
heap malumgi. n. heap; especially a
heap of something like mud or dead
fish in the bottom of a boat. Pl: malum.
heap up don ma. vt. heap up. Variant:
thon ma.
heap up tk ma. vt. 1 make. 2 heap
up. Variant: thk m.
hear tnari. vt. 1 hear. 2 feel.
3 taste. Variant: nari.
heart snngacha. n. heart. Pl: snng.
hearth chinipki. n. fireplace; hearth. Pl:
chinap. Variant: kinipki.
heat chrnaska. n. heat; temperature.
Pl: achrnas. Note: only ch.
heat ingun'ga. n. heat. Pl: ingun.
heaven usupki. n. 1 sky. 2 heaven.
Pl: usp.
heavenly host gelochna. n. heavenly
host.
heavy amureng. adj. heavy. Variant:
mrng.
hell atpki. n. 1 inferno; huge fire.
2 hell. Pl: atp.
hell imperno. n. hell.
help amatnthmbes. n. help; assis-
tance. Variant: matnerembes.
help tat nthm. vt. help. Variant: that
nthm; dat nthm; mat nthm.
help oneself tthanas t. vt. help
oneself; to take something without
permission. Variant: ththanas; dtha-
nas; mthanas.
hen duraiki. n. hen. Pl: duraik.
her at. pro. her; its. Gram: Third person
singular possessive pronoun. Variant: te;
ath.
her atha. pro. her; its. Gram: Third person
singular possessive pronoun. Morph: at=a.
Gloss: 3F.SG.POSS=SPEC.
her athama. pro. her; its. Gram: Third
person singular possessive pronoun and em-
260
hero
phatic possessive pronoun. Morph: at=ma.
Gloss: 3F.SG.POSS=EMPH.
her athangama. pro. her; its. Gram:
Third person feminine singular possessive
pronoun and indefinite possessive pronoun.
Morph: at=angama. Gloss: 3F.SG.POSS=
INDEF.
her ngt. pro. him; her; it; them. Gram:
Third person neuter class three pronoun.
her and kin. pro. her and. Morph: ki=n.
Gloss: 3F.SG.III=and. Variant: chin.
her, some of ~ athanga. pro. some of
her; some of its. Gram: Third person sin-
gular possessive pronoun and non-specific
possessive pronoun. Morph: at=anga. Gloss:
3F.SG.POSS=INDEF.
here ith. dem. here. Gram: Proximate de-
monstrative. Variant: ni (Abilta dialect); t;
d.
here, from around ~ nainath. dir.
from around here.
here, from ~ nath. dir. from here.
here, right ~ iththik. dem. right here.
Gram: Emphatic proximate demonstrative.
here, right ~ taith. dem. right here.
Gram: Proximate demonstrative emphatic.
Variant: thaith; daith; ni (Abilta
dialect); t; d.
hermit crab athucha. n. hermit crab;
generic term; also used for small
land-dwelling hermit crabs with bod-
ies up to 4 cm in diameter; changes
shells. Pl: athu.
hermit crab sp. maraglilichi. n. her-
mit crab sp.; large, brown, land
dwelling hermit crab; does not have a
shell; lives in holes in rocks near the
sea; body up to 15 cm across, 25 cm
long; claws up to 40 cm long; can husk
coconuts with its claws. Pl: maraglili.
hermit crab sp. rurubuan'ga. n. her-
mit crab sp.; large body up to 15 cm
across and 25 cm long; lives in the
sea; can change shells. Pl: rurubuan.
hero secha. n. 1 orphaned boy, he is
one who often grows up to be a person
who can do many good things. Pl: sek-
hero, female ~
pek. 2 hero; a skilful clever per-
son who does many good things. Pl:
sekpek. 3 little finger. See: mav-
nini little finger.
hero, female ~ sechi. n. 1 orphaned
girl. 2 female hero.
Hey! ei. interj. Hey! Usage: To express
concern or annoyance.
Hey! maricha. interj. Oh!; Hey!; ex-
clamation of strong feelings of sur-
prise, sympathy or anger.
hibiscus flower dradrachi. n. hibiscus
flower.
hiccup chthcha. n. hiccup. Pl:
chthk. Note: only k.
hiccup kthcha mt. vi-so. hiccup;
have the hiccups. Variant: chthcha
mt.
hidden man ngaipka. n. hidden man;
invisible man. Pl: ngaipta.
hidden woman ngaipki. n. hidden
woman; invisible woman.
hide ngaip. sa-vi. hide.
hide ngaip. vt. hide.
hide behind pirs ithm. vt. 1 hide
behind; duck behind something to
hide oneself. 2 make way; move
aside. 3 move along. Variant: virs
ithm.
hide ones face nathong. sa-vi. look
away; hide ones face.
hide oneself ngaip nas. sa-vi. hide
oneself.
hide oneself in ngaipnas mt. vt. hide
oneself in.
higher var. dir. higher. Note: only v.
higher up tvono. dir. higher up; often
used to refer to up on the moun-
tain(s). Variant: thvono.
highland man rongga. n. man from the
mountains; anyone who comes from a
cold place at high altitudes. Pl: rongda.
highland woman ronggi. n. woman
from the mountains.
him ngt. pro. him; her; it; them. Gram:
261
hit at
Third person neuter class three pronoun.
him and kn. pro. him and. Morph: k=
n. Gloss: 3M.SG.III=and. Variant: chn.
his av. pro. his; its. Gram: Third person
masculine singular possessive pronoun.
Variant: av; p; v; u.
his ava. pro. his; its. Gram: Third person
masculine singular possessive pronoun and
possessive pronoun and specific article. Morph:
av=a. Gloss: 3M.SG.POSS=SPEC. Variant:
va; a (Abilta dialect).
his avama. pro. his; its. Gram: Third person
masculine singular possessive pronoun and
emphatic possessive pronoun. Morph: av=ma.
Gloss: 3M.SG.POSS=EMPH.
his avangama. pro. his; its. Gram: Third
person masculine singular possessive pronoun
and indefinite possessive pronoun. Morph: av=
angama. Gloss: 3M.SG.POSS=INDEF.
his, some of ~ avanga. pro. some of his;
some of its. Gram: Third person masculine
singular possessive pronoun and non-specific
possessive pronoun. Morph: av=anga. Gloss:
3M.SG.POSS=NSPEC.
hiss sus d ves. vi-so. hiss; refers to
silent but bad smelling farts. Variant:
sus da thes.
hissing noise achuskuska. n. hissing
noise; e.g. the noise of pressurised air.
Pl: achuskus.
hissing sound, make a ~ achuskuska
mt. vi-so. make a hissing sound; e.g.
by shushing a child or the sound made
by a jet plane.
history arura nmni ivtki athva
sek. n. history.
hit bong. vt. hit. Variant: mbong.
hit tuchun. vt. 1 chase. 2 hit.
Variant: thuchun; duchun; muchun.
hit vathik pt. vt. hit; e.g. bash a fish
against the reef to make it die. Variant:
wathik pt. Note: only v.
hit vathik tm. vt. hit a person; strike.
Variant: wathik tm. Note: only v.
hit at pai dm. vt. 1 hit at. 2 kick.
Variant: vai dm.
hold
hold sangar. vt. 1 hold. 2 arrest.
hold on to ngerik ta. vt. hold on to.
hold on to sangar pt. vt. hold on to.
hold on to sangar tm. vt. hold on to.
Variant: sangar t.
hole alechi. n. hole. Pl: alek. Variant:
lechi; alechit (Abilta dialect).
holiday amunam. n. holiday.
endings.
holiday, religious ~ munambs. n.
feast; religious holiday. Pl: munami-
mlk.
hollow, be ~ alek mt. vi-so. 1 be
hollow. 2 relent; be compassionate.
3 compromise.
holy arktm. adj. holy.
holy man arektmka. n. holy man.
arektmda.
holy woman arektmki. n. holy woman.
honour ben s. vt. honour; praise.
Variant: ven s.
hook chanasucha. n. hook. Pl: chanasu.
Variant: kanasu.
hook valmka. n. hook. Pl:
Variant: palmmka.
hoop chulchulcham. n. hoop.
chulchulvap. Note: only ch.
hoop guaiachi. n. hoop. Pl: guaia.
hornbill mathongga. n.
1 grasshopper sp.; brown and long in
shape; bores holes in wood or bam-
boo; used as bait for river fish.
2 hornbill. Pl: mathong.
hornbill, female ~ mathonggi. n. fe-
male hornbill.
hospital arm angtha banggi. n.
hospital; health centre. Morph: arm
angt=a bangki. Gloss: sick 3N.POSS=
SPEC house-F.SG. Pl: arm angtha
bang.
hospital aslamrki. n. hospital; clinic;
health centre. Pl: aslamr. Variant:
slamrki.
Host Hositaigl. n. Host; wafers used
in communion. Pl: Hosita.
hunter
hot achrnas. adj. hot. Variant: achernas;
achrnas.
hot aingun'ga. adj. hot.
hot, be ~ achrnas tm. vi-so. be hot.
Variant: chrnas tm.
hot, be ~ aingun'ga tm. vi-so. be hot.
hot water bottle botal gumi. n. hot
Note: no water bottle.
house ambangga. n. house. Morph: a=
bangka. Gloss: SPEC=house-M.SG. Pl:
ambang. Variant: bangga; mbangga.
house vutka. n. 1 house. 2 village.
Pl: vut. Variant: vtka. Note: only v.
house, abandoned ~ ambilki. n. aban-
doned house or village. Pl: ambil.
house, abandoned ~ urumbucha. n.
Pl: abandoned house. Pl: urumbu.
house, centre pole of the ~ ambangga
achusemga. n. 1 centre pole of the
house. 2 leader of the house. Pl:
ambangga chusem.
house opening ambangga av amgi. n.
house opening; doorway. Morph:
ambangga av amki. Gloss: house
valm. 3M.SG.POSS mouth-F.SG.
how mnia. interrog. how. Variant:
Pl: minia.
how much amnia. interrog. how
much.
huge asru. adj. huge; gigantic. Variant:
sru.
humble oneself tu nas mk. sa-vi.
humble oneself. Variant: thu nas mk;
du nas mk; mu nas mk.
hundred ailotka. n. hundred. Pl: ailot.
hunger naenggi. n. hunger. Pl: naeng.
Variant: nenggi.
hungry, be ~ naeng mt. vi-so. be
hungry. Variant: noeng mt.
hungry, be ~ naengias. vi-so. be hun-
gry. Variant: naingias; nengias.
hunt donel. sa-vi. 1 hunt. 2 wander.
Variant: thonel; monel.
hunter amonelka. n. 1 hunter.
2 traveller. Pl: amonelta.
262
hurry in, from ~

hurry liver. sa-vi. hurry. Variant: livr. (Abilta dialect); agut (Abilta dialect).
hurt tlu svt. sa-vi. hurt. Variant: lu See: aruacha friend; often used to re-
svt. fer to spouses.

hurt tu daruan. vt. hurt; injure.
thu daruan; du daruan; mu daruan.
husband aruacha. n. friend; often used
to refer to spouses. Pl: aruavek. Variant:
ruacha. See: lugutka husband.
husband lugutka. husband. Pl:
n.
lugutvek. Variant: lunggutka; ungut
Variant: husband oes mamk. n. brother-in-
law; husband; address and reference
term; used by a female speaker. Pl: oes
mamkna.
husk coconuts sek d. vt. husk coco-
nuts.

I - i

I ngua. pro. 1 I. Gram: First person singular 2 shadow; reflection; especially of a

class one pronoun. 2 my. Gram: First person. Pl: aila. Variant: ilachi; iluchi.
person singular possessive pronoun. See: ayauski shadow.

I dont know ii. interj. I dont know; immediately likdm. vi-so. at once; in
maybe. no time; immediately. Gram: Encodes
punctual aspect in sentence initial position.
I see aichua. interj. Ok; I see; Oh! Usage:
Always seems to take a third person masculine
Expresses surprise or understanding.
singular subject.
idea amusnng. n. 1 behaviour.
2 idea; thought. 3 plan. immediately masgvs. adv. at once;
4 habit; custom. Morph: a=musnng.
immediately.
Gloss: SPEC=put.PAST-heart. Variant: impregnate tok. vt. impregnate. Variant:
amusnngini. thok; dok; mok.
idea snngacha. n. idea. Pl: snng. in mni. dir. 1 on. 2 onto. 3 at.
Variant: asnngacha. See: tu av snng 4 in. 5 through. 6 across.
think. in mt. prep. 1 in; within. 2 during;
idea, have an ~ tp ma musnng. vt. on. Gram: This sense available with temporal
1 plan. 2 have an idea. Variant: expressions. 3 inside. 4 into.
thp ma musnng. 5 through. Variant: mtha; m.

if asika. subord. if. Gram: Irrealis marker in nvem. prep. in; on.
used to introduce conditional clauses. Variant: in pem. prep. in. Variant: bem; vem; pm;
sika. bm; vm.
if ivasik. subord. if. Morph: iva=asik. Gloss: in snani. dir. 1 on. 2 in. 3 at.
in.order.to=irrealis.
in sne. prep. in; within.
if, and ~ dasika. coord. and if. Morph: da
in a corner imuit. dir. 1 across there;
=asika. Gloss: and=if.
across a valley. 2 in a corner.
ignite lt t. vt. light a fire; ignite
in contrast kinai. disc. 1 actually.
something.
2 in contrast. 3 instead. 4 in
Ill take it! ana. interj. Ill take it! turn. Variant: chinai; kinei; chine.
illness armgi. n. illness; disease; in fact isa. subord. in fact. Morph: i=sa.
sickness. Pl: arm. Gloss: because=already.
image ailachi. n. 1 image; picture; in, from ~ namuk. dir. from in.
photo; especially of a person.

263
in front
in front dngtham. dir. in front; at
the front.
in front ndngetham. dir. in front.
in front sdngtham. dir. in front.
Variant: sndngetham.
in no time likdm. vi-so. at once; in no
time; immediately. Gram: Encodes punc-
tual aspect in sentence initial position. Always
seems to take a third person masculine singu-
lar subject.
in order to diva. subord. in order to.
Gram: Controlled purposive.
in order to vasik. subord. in order to.
Morph: va=asik. Gloss: purposive=irrealis.
in place, back ~ nasothanas. dir. back
in place; e.g. as with crop rotation.
in the vicinity of sng. prep. 1 at the
base. 2 in the vicinity of; close to.
Variant: seng; snng (Abilta dialect).
in there imuk. dir. in there.
in there, from ~ nathmuk. dir. from in
there.
in to there sathmuk. dir. in to there.
in turn dinai. coord. 1 in turn.
2 instead. Morph: da=kinai. Gloss: and=
instead. Variant: dinei.
in turn kinai. disc. 1 actually. 2 in
contrast. 3 instead. 4 in turn.
Variant: chinai; kinei; chine.
independently, act ~ pathm mes.
sa-vi. 1 do by choice; do according to
ones own wishes. 2 do unhur-
riedly; do in ones own time. 3 act
independently. Variant: bathm mes;
vathm mes.
inferno atpki. n. 1 inferno; huge fire.
2 hell. Pl: atp.
infertile woman sauthuchi. n. infertile
woman. Pl: sauthu.
inform tp pt. vt. inform. Variant: thp
pt.
initiate tp mus t. vt. 1 work.
2 initiate. Variant: thp mus t; tp
mus tm; thp mus tm.
inject kut. vt. 1 pierce. 2 spear.
3 inject. Variant: chut; kut; chut.
264
inside
injure tu daruan. vt. hurt; injure.
Variant: thu daruan; du daruan; mu
daruan.
injury mrnka. n. injury. Pl: mrn.
inland ivono. dir. upwards; inland; up
there.
inland savono. dir. 1 upwards.
2 inland. 3 shorewards.
inland vono. dir. 1 up. 2 inland.
3 shorewards. Variant: bono; pono.
in-law thuvska. n. father-in-law;
brother-in-law; uncle-in-law; any
in-laws except ones wifes mothers
brother and his wife. Pl: thuvsvek.
innermost part chlochacha. n.
1 core; innermost part. 2 inside
part of something. 3 soul. Pl: chlok.
Variant: chlochacha. Note: only ch.
insane addn. adj. 1 odd; strange.
2 confused; delirious; crazy; insane;
altered psychological states in gen-
eral.
insane, be ~ ddn. vi-so. 1 be con-
fused. 2 be insane; crazy. 3 be
delirious.
insect sp. chumang angt nank. n.
insect sp.; large grey insect without
wings; has claws like a crab. Pl:
chumang angt nankina. Variant:
kumang angt nank.
insect sp. iringga. n. insect sp.; large
brown crawling insect; has a hard
shell and six legs; can be roasted and
eaten; people say that when it crosses
a road or path it will die. Pl: iraing.
insect sp. thabu angt nank. n. in-
sect sp.; flat and black; 3 cm long;
lives under bark; smells if you touch
it. Pl: thabu angt nank kna. Variant:
tabu angt nank.
inside chlochacha. n. 1 core; inner-
most part. 2 inside part of some-
thing. 3 soul. Pl: chlok. Variant:
chlochacha. Note: only ch.
inside mt. prep. 1 in; within.
2 during; on. Gram: This sense available
with temporal expressions. 3 inside.
inside
4 into. 5 through. Variant: mtha;
m.
inside mvem. prep. inside.
inside muk. dir. inside.
inside corner achvcha. n. 1 inside
corner; e.g. the inside of an elbow or
the corner in a room. Pl: achvk.
2 name of Mndas mask; concave in
shape; similar to an upside-down ca-
noe; has designs painted inside; sup-
ported by a stick.
inside, down ~ saimk. dir. down in-
side.
inside, from ~ naimuk. dir. from inside.
inside, large ~ part chlochachi. n.
large inside part of something. Pl:
chlok. Variant: chlochachi; klochachi.
inside out muk savono. dir. inside out.
inside out vono sa muk. dir. inside out.
Variant: pono sa muk.
inside out, turn ~ nunggring mt. vt.
turn inside out.
inside, small ~ part chlochaini. n.
small inside part of something. Pl:
chlok. Variant: chlochaini; klochaini.
inside, up from ~ naimek. dir. up from
inside.
instead dinai. coord. 1 in turn.
2 instead. Morph: da=kinai. Gloss: and=
instead. Variant: dinei.
instead kinai. disc. 1 actually. 2 in
contrast. 3 instead. 4 in turn.
Variant: chinai; kinei; chine.
instead nemenia. adv. instead.
instruct tuchun mes. vt. instruct.
Variant: thuchun mes.
instructions amethamn'gi. n. 1 lan-
guage. 2 speech. 3 message.
4 orders; instructions. Pl: ametha-
mn. Variant: amethamon'gi.
instructions thuchunmska. n.
1 explanation. 2 instructions. Pl:
thuchuns.
intend to vandi. disc. 1 want to; intend
to. Gram: Desiderative marker. 2 try to.
3 nearly; almost. 4 maybe.
265
invisible man
Variant: vadi.
interact pthana. sa-vi. relate socially;
interact. Variant: vthana.
interrogate bn slp. vt. interrogate;
question repeatedly. Variant: vn slp.
interrupt tu dng. vt. 1 interrupt.
2 fail to finish. Variant: thu dng; du
dng; mu dng.
intestine, large ~ chusemgi. n. large
intestine. Pl: chusem. Variant: kusemgi.
See: achlelachi large intestine.
intestine, large ~ chusemgi ama
chlelachi. n. large intestine. Morph:
chusemki ama chlelakki. Gloss: intes-
tine-F.DG REL soft-F.SG.
intestine, small ~ chusemithong. n.
small intestine. Variant: kusemithong.
intestines chusem. n. intestines.
Variant: kusem. See: chusemia section
of intestines.
intestines, section of ~ chusemia. n.
section of intestines.
into mt. prep. 1 in; within.
2 during; on. Gram: This sense available
with temporal expressions. 3 inside.
4 into. 5 through. Variant: mtha;
m.
into saimuk. dir. into.
into samt. prep. into.
into samuk. dir. into.
into smt. prep. 1 into. 2 down
into. Variant: smk (Abilta dialect).
into svm. prep. into.
into there sathmano. dir. into there.
invalid amunamga. n. 1 non-worker;
a person who always stays home and
rests, they never go out and work.
2 invalid. 3 lame man. Pl: amu-
namda. Pl: amunamithong.
invalid, female ~ amunamgi. n.
1 female non-worker; a woman who
always stays home and rests, she
never goes out and works. 2 female
invalid. 3 lame woman.
invisible man ngaipka. n. hidden man;
invisible man. Pl: ngaipta.
invisible woman
invisible woman ngaipki. n. hidden
woman; invisible woman.
invite par s. vt. 1 invite. 2 ask for
someone; call for someone. 3 lead.
4 pull in a fish; refers to a fish
which is caught on a hook. Variant: thar
(Abilta dialect); var s.
iodine aiding. n. iodine.
iron, corrugated ~ kapaigl. n. corru-
gated iron; iron roofing; especially a
single sheet of corrugated iron. Pl:
kakigleng.
iron roofing kapaigl. n. corrugated
iron; iron roofing; especially a single
sheet of corrugated iron. Pl: kakigleng.
irritating, be ~ tusachus. sa-vi. be ir-
ritating; feel uncomfortable. Variant:
thusachus; dusachus; musachus; thu-
savus; tusavus; dusavus; musavus.
island amlm. n. small island. Pl: aml.
See: amlka large island.
island amlka. n. 1 large island. Pl:
aml. See: amlm small island.
2 foreign man; temporary visitor. Pl:
amlta. See: naingiska foreigner.
it ka. pro. he; it. Gram: Third person mascu-
line singular class one pronoun and third per-
son masculine singular class three pronoun.
Variant: cha; chat; ga.
it k. pro. he; it. Gram: Third person mascu-
line singular class two pronoun. Variant: ch;
g.
it ki. pro. she; it. Gram: Third person feminine
singular class two and class three pronoun.
Variant: chi; chit; gi; git; giet (Abilta
dialect).
it kia. pro. she; it. Gram: Third person femi-
nine singular class one pronoun. Variant:
chia; gia.
it ng. pro. he; she; it; they. Gram: Third
person neuter class one pronoun. Variant:
nga.
it ngt. pro. him; her; it; them. Gram:
Third person neuter class three pronoun.
it ngthi. pro. he; she; it; they. Gram:
Third person neuter class two pronoun.
it and ngn. pro. them and; it and.
266
its, some of ~
Morph: ng=n. Gloss: 3N.III=and. Variant:
ngna.
itch dm. sa-vi. itch. Variant: thm; mm.
its angt. pro. its; their. Gram: Third per-
son neuter possessive pronoun. Variant: ang.
its angtha. pro. its; their. Gram: Third
person neuter possessive pronoun and posses-
sive pronoun and specific article. Morph:
angt=a. Gloss: 3N.POSS=SPEC. Variant:
ngtha.
its at. pro. her; its. Gram: Third person sin-
gular possessive pronoun. Variant: te; ath.
its atha. pro. her; its. Gram: Third person
singular possessive pronoun. Morph: at=a.
Gloss: 3F.SG.POSS=SPEC.
its athama. pro. her; its. Gram: Third per-
son singular possessive pronoun and emphatic
possessive pronoun. Morph: at=ma. Gloss:
3F.SG.POSS=EMPH.
its athangama. pro. her; its. Gram: Third
person feminine singular possessive pronoun
and indefinite possessive pronoun. Morph: at=
angama. Gloss: 3F.SG.POSS=INDEF.
its av. pro. his; its. Gram: Third person mas-
culine singular possessive pronoun. Variant:
av; p; v; u.
its ava. pro. his; its. Gram: Third person
masculine singular possessive pronoun and
possessive pronoun and specific article.
Morph: av=a. Gloss: 3M.SG.POSS=SPEC.
Variant: va; a (Abilta dialect).
its avama. pro. his; its. Gram: Third person
masculine singular possessive pronoun and
emphatic possessive pronoun. Morph: av=ma.
Gloss: 3M.SG.POSS=EMPH.
its avangama. pro. his; its. Gram: Third
person masculine singular possessive pronoun
and indefinite possessive pronoun. Morph: av=
angama. Gloss: 3M.SG.POSS=INDEF.
its, some of ~ angthama. pro. some of
its. Gram: Third person neuter possessive
pronoun and emphatic possessive pronoun.
Morph: angt=ma. Gloss: 3N.POSS=EMPH.
its, some of ~ athanga. pro. some of
her; some of its. Gram: Third person sin-
gular possessive pronoun and non-specific
possessive pronoun. Morph: at=anga. Gloss:
its, some of ~
3F.SG.POSS=INDEF.
its, some of ~ avanga. pro. some of his;
some of its. Gram: Third person masculine
J -
jaw arten'gi. n. jaw; refers to the lower
jaw bone. Pl: arten.
jaw, lower ~ vnbn'ga. n. chin; lower
jaw. Morph: a=bnbn'ga. Gloss: SPEC=
chin-M.SG. Pl: vnbn. Variant:
bnbn'ga.
jellyfish aloikngamgi. n. jellyfish; ge-
neric term. Pl: aloikngam.
jellyfish sp. athinm angtha aloik-
ngamgi. n. jellyfish sp.; identified by
the many small red and yellow striped
fish that hide in it. Pl: athinm angtha
aloikngam.
job alat. n. 1 garden(s). 2 job.
job thktk. n. job; work. Pl: thktk.
job, small ~ althini. n. 1 small gar-
den. 2 small job.
join bn dmna n. vt. join. Variant: vn
dmna n.
join bn mt. vt. join. Variant: vn mt.
join together bn mtna n. vt. join
together. Variant: vn mtna.
joints avnmetna. n. joints. Note: no
endings.
joke bncha muma. sa-vi. make fun;
joke. Variant: vncha muma; vna
muma; bna muma.
joke tu ma. sa-vi. joke; make fun. Variant:
thu ma; du ma; mu ma.
joke about tu ma s. vt. joke about.
Variant: thu ma s; du ma s; mu ma s.
joy asevaik. n. joy.
joyful, be ~ asevaik pt. vi-so.
1 rejoice; be happy; be joyful.
2 feel proud. 3 be a nuisance.
Variant: sevaik pt.
jump donanas. sa-vi. jump; throw one-
self. Variant: thonanas.
267
just, and ~
singular possessive pronoun and non-specific
possessive pronoun. Morph: av=anga. Gloss:
3M.SG.POSS=NSPEC.
j
jump paik. sa-vi. jump. Variant: vaik;
vuaik.
jump paik dm. vi-so. jump. Variant: vaik
dm; vuaik dm; vuaik d; vaik d; paik
d.
jump sutka glm. vi-so. jump in sur-
prise.
jump out ps d. vi-so. jump out.
just as. disc. 1 still. 2 yet. 3 just.
just askok. disc. 1 still. Gram: Atelic re-
alis. 2 yet. Gram: Atelic realis. 3 just.
Gram: Atelic realis. Morph: as=kok. Gloss:
still=just.
just kinak. disc. just. Variant: chinak.
just kinas. disc. just; recently. Variant:
chinas; nas.
just klan. adv. 1 only. 2 just.
3 for nothing; with nothing. Variant:
chlan; chlan; klan.
just kok. disc. 1 just. 2 already.
Variant: kuk; chok; chuk.
just kosa. disc. just; simply; as the re-
sult of something undesirable having
happened. Variant: chusa.
just kusek. adv. only; just. Variant:
chusek.
just nia. modal. 1 just; suddenly; sur-
prisingly. Gram: Mirative marker with pre-
sent tense or past tense verbs. 2 tried.
Gram: Frustrative marker with future tense
verbs.
just, and ~ das. coord. 1 and still.
2 and yet. 3 and just. Morph: da=as.
Gloss: and=yet.
just, and ~ dinak. coord. and just. Morph:
da=kinak. Gloss: and=just.
just, and ~ dinas. coord. and just. Morph:
da=kinas. Gloss: and=just.
just, and ~
just, and ~ dok. coord. and just. Morph:
da=kok. Gloss: and=just.
just that particular flat one chkvs.
dem. just that particular flat one. Gram:
Emphatic flat singular contrastive demon-
strative. See: kvs that particular flat
one.
just that particular large one chk-
chit. dem. just that particular large
one. Gram: Emphatic extended singular con-
trastive demonstrative. See: chchit that
particular large one.
just that particular long one chkvet.
dem. just that particular long one.
Gram: Emphatic long singular contrastive de-
monstrative. See: chvet that particular
long one.
just that particular one chkraik.
dem. just that particular one. Gram:
Emphatic feminine singular contrastive de-
monstrative. See: kraik just that par-
ticular one.
just that particular one chkrak. dem.
just that particular one. Gram: Emphatic
masculine singular contrastive demonstrative.
See: chrak that particular one.
just that particular one chevaik. dem.
just that particular one. Gram: Emphatic
feminine singular contrastive demonstrative.
Variant: chvaik; achvaik. Note: only ch.
just that particular one chvak. dem.
just that particular one. Gram: Emphatic
masculine singular contrastive demonstrative.
Variant: achvak. Note: only ch.
just that particular one kraik. dem.
just that particular one. Gram: Feminine
singular contrastive demonstrative. Variant:
chraik; chraik. See: chkraik just that
particular one.
just that particular piece chknggl.
dem. just that particular piece. Gram:
Emphatic excised singular contrastive demon-
strative. See: knggl that particular
piece.
just that particular short one chk-
chm. dem. just that particular short
one. Gram: Emphatic reduced singular con-
trastive demonstrative. See: chchm that
268
just those particular two
particular short one.
just that particular small one chkni.
dem. just that particular small one.
Gram: Emphatic diminutive singular contras-
tive demonstrative. See: chni that par-
ticular small one.
just, that ~ mok. disc. that just. Morph:
ma=kok. Gloss: REL=just.
just those particular flat ones chk-
mlk. dem. just those particular flat
ones. Gram: Emphatic flat plural contrastive
demonstrative. See: chmlk those par-
ticular flat ones.
just those particular flat two chk-
mlm. dem. just those particular flat
two. Gram: Emphatic flat dual contrastive
demonstrative. See: chmlm just those
particular two flat ones.
just those particular large ones ch-
knk. dem. just those particular
large ones. Gram: Emphatic extended plural
contrastive demonstrative. See: chnk
those particular large ones.
just those particular long ones chek-
seng. dem. just those particular long
ones. Gram: Emphatic long plural contrastive
demonstrative. See: chseng those par-
ticular long ones.
just those particular pieces chkng-
gleng. dem. just those particular
pieces. Gram: Emphatic excised plural con-
trastive demonstrative. See: kgleng those
particular pieces.
just those particular short ones ch-
kvap. dem. just those particular
short ones. Gram: Emphatic reduced plural
contrastive demonstrative. See: chvap
those particular short ones.
just those particular small ones chk-
thong. dem. just those particular
small ones. Gram: Emphatic diminutive
plural contrastive demonstrative. See: ch-
thong those particular small ones.
just those particular two chkvem.
dem. just those particular two. Gram:
Emphatic feminine dual contrastive demon-
strative. See: kvem those particular
two.
just those particular two
just those particular two chkiom.
dem. just those particular two. Gram:
Emphatic masculine dual contrastive demon-
strative. See: kiom those particular
two.
just those particular two large ones
chknm. dem. just those particular
two large ones. Gram: Emphatic extended
dual contrastive demonstrative. See: chnm
those particular two large ones.
just those particular two long ones
chksem. dem. just those particular
two long ones. Gram: Emphatic long dual
contrastive demonstrative. See: chsem
those particular two long ones.
just those particular two pieces ch-
kngglem. dem. just those particu-
lar two pieces. Gram: Emphatic excised
K -
kaukau [TP] kalasunggi. n. sweet
potato (kaukau). Pl: kalasung. Variant:
chalasunggi.
keep struggling namu sna. sa-vi. keep
struggling; e.g. in a fight or in a
sporting competition.
key kichi. n. key. Pl: ki.
kick pai dm. vt. 1 hit at. 2 kick.
Variant: vai dm.
kidnap pr m. vt. grab; catch; kidnap.
Variant: vr m.
kidnap pr tm. vt. grab; catch; kid-
nap. Variant: vr tm; br tm; pr t;
vr t; br t.
kill plng. vt. kill. Variant: vlng; vlng.
kina anlka. n. 1 shellfish sp.; mussel;
bivalve from the river that lives in the
mud at the bottom of the river; dark
brown outside and white inside; peo-
ple refine (mumu) these shells, by fire,
to get lime powder. 2 money; coin;
kina. Pl: anal.
kina coin kinacha. n. kina coin. Pl: kina.
kindness tlavuchi. n. kindness; mercy.
269
knock
dual contrastive demonstrative. See: chng-
glem those particular two pieces.
just those particular two short ones
chkvam. dem. just those particular
two short ones. Gram: Emphatic reduced
dual contrastive demonstrative. See: chvam
those particular two short ones.
just those particular two small ones
chkthom. dem. just those particu-
lar two small ones. Gram: Emphatic di-
minutive dual contrastive demonstrative. See:
chthom those particular two small
ones.
just those two particular ones ch-
krang. dem. just those two particular
ones. Gram: Emphatic count neutral contras-
tive demonstrative. Variant: krang; k-
krang; achkrang.
k
Pl: tlavu.
kings kinggna. n. kings. Note: only k.
kitchen ambangga ma thi ps
vmga. n. kitchen; cooking hut. Pl:
ambang ma thi ps vmngt. Variant:
bangga ma thi ps vmga. See:
avsvsvmki kitchen.
kitchen avsvsvmki. n. kitchen;
cooking hut. Pl: avsvsvm. See:
ambangga ma thi ps vmga kitchen.
kitchen banamathipes. n. kitchen.
knee chumgi. n. knee. Pl: chuam.
Variant: kumgi.
knife asen'gi. n. knife. Pl: asen. Variant:
sen'gi.
knife, thin ~ asen'ga. n. thin knife;
made of split bamboo; used to cut
pork etc. Pl: asen.
knob vlnini. n. trigger; knob; includ-
ing the ears of a saucepan that the
handle is hooked into. Pl: vlnithong.
Variant: plnini.
knock ser. sa-vi. knock; tap; e.g. by hit-
ting a drum.
knock down
knock down tik s. vt. 1 pick.
2 knock down. Variant: thik s.
knock over bal tm. vt. knock over.
Variant: val tm; bal t; val t.
knock over sar s. vt. 1 mess up.
2 knock over.
knot buremga. n. knot. Pl: burem.
know drm. vt. know. Variant: ndrm;
rm.
know drmanas na. vt. recognise;
know. Variant: rmanas na.
knowledge amundrm. n. 1 skill.
2 knowledge.
knowledge angelki. n. knowledge.
Lady, Our Lengenachi. n. Our Lady;
Mother Mary.
ladyfinger banana yavacha. n. banana
sp.; ladyfinger banana. Pl: yava.
lamb lamini. n. lamb; specifically the
Lamb of God.
lame man amunamga. n. 1 non-
worker; a person who always stays
home and rests, they never go out and
work. 2 invalid. 3 lame man. Pl:
amunamda. Pl: amunamithong.
lame man metmavocha. n. lame man.
Pl: metmavotha.
lame woman amunamgi. n. 1 female
non-worker; a woman who always
stays home and rests, she never goes
out and works. 2 female invalid.
3 lame woman.
lame woman metmavochi. n. lame
woman.
lamp lamga. n. lamp. Pl: lam.
land ivtki. n. 1 earth; soil; dirt.
2 land. Pl: ivt. 3 world; planet
earth. Variant: ivitki.
land ivtpes. n. land.
land, flat ~ lamn. n. flat land.
land heavily pai. sa-vi. 1 fall down; hit
large one, some ~
angel.
knuckles vandok. n. knuckles. Note: only
v. Note: no endings.
kulau [TP] kulaucha. n. green coco-
nut (kulau); for drinking. Pl: kulau.
Note: only k.
kunai grass [TP] chvaik. n. sword
grass (kunai). Variant: kvaik.
kunai grass, area of ~ [TP] chvaiki.
n. area of sword grass (kunai). Variant:
kvaiki.
kunai, stalk of ~ [TP] chvaika. n.
stalk of sword grass (kunai). Variant:
kvaika.
Pl:
L - l
the ground. 2 land heavily. Variant:
vai.
landslide themuanacha. n. landslide.
Pl: athemuan. Note: only th.
language amethamn'gi. n.
1 language. 2 speech. 3 mess-
age. 4 orders; instructions. Pl:
amethamn. Variant: amethamon'gi.
laplap [TP] baulgi. n. wraparound
skirt (laplap); sarong; strip of cloth. Pl:
baul. Variant: mbaulgi.
large intestine achlelachi. n. large
intestine. Pl: achlel. Variant: chlelachi.
large one, any ~, some ~
nemiavchit. pro. which large one.
Gram: Extended singular interrogative pro-
noun; can be used in indefinite contexts.
large one, just that particular ~
chkchit. dem. just that particular
large one. Gram: Emphatic extended singu-
lar contrastive demonstrative. See: chchit
that particular large one.
large one, one ~ guait. dem. one large
one. Gram: Extended singular indefinite de-
monstrative.
large one, some ~ aginait. pro. some
large one. Gram: Extended singular indefi-
nite pronoun. Variant: angginait; ginait.
270
large one, that particular ~
large one, that particular ~ kchit.
dem. that particular large one. Gram:
Extended singular contrastive demonstrative.
Variant: chchit; achchit. See: chk-
chit just that particular large one.
large one, this particular ~ taithchit.
dem. this particular large one. Gram:
Extended singular proximate demonstrative
emphatic. Variant: thaithchit.
large one, this ~ ithchit. dem. this
large one. Gram: Extended singular proxi-
mate demonstrative. Variant: tchit.
large ones, just those particular two ~
chknm. dem. just those particular
two large ones. Gram: Emphatic extended
dual contrastive demonstrative. See: chnm
those particular two large ones.
large ones, just those particular ~
chknk. dem. just those particular
large ones. Gram: Emphatic extended plural
contrastive demonstrative. See: chnk
those particular large ones.
large ones, some two ~ aginm. pro.
some two large ones. Gram: Extended
dual indefinite pronoun. Variant: anginm;
ginm.
large ones, some ~ agink. pro. some
large ones. Gram: Extended plural indefinite
pronoun. Variant: anggink; gink.
large ones, some ~ guank. dem. some
large ones. Gram: Extended plural indefinite
demonstrative.
large ones, the ~ ink. pro. the large
ones. Gram: Extended plural reduced nominal
pronoun.
large ones, these particular two ~ tai-
thnm. dem. these particular two
large ones. Gram: Extended dual proximate
demonstrative emphatic. Variant: thaith-
nm.
large ones, these particular ~ taith-
nk. dem. these particular large ones.
Gram: Extended plural proximate demon-
strative emphatic. Variant: thaithnk.
large ones, these two ~ ithnm. dem.
these two large ones. Gram: Extended
dual proximate demonstrative. Variant:
tnm.
271
large things, those ~
large ones, these ~ ithnk. dem. these
large ones. Gram: Extended plural proxi-
mate demonstrative. Variant: tnk.
large ones, those particular two ~
knm. dem. those particular two
large ones. Gram: Extended dual contrastive
demonstrative. Variant: chnm; achnm.
See: chknm just those particular
two large ones.
large ones, those particular two ~
pavnm. dem. those particular two
large ones. Gram: Extended dual distal de-
monstrative emphatic. Variant: vnm;
vavnm.
large ones, those particular ~ knk.
dem. those particular large ones. Gram:
Extended plural contrastive demonstrative.
Variant: chnk; achnk. See: chknk
just those particular large ones.
large ones, those particular ~ pav-
nk. dem. those particular large ones.
Gram: Extended plural distal demonstrative
emphatic. Variant: vavnk.
large ones, those two ~ avinm. dem.
those two large ones. Gram: Extended
dual distal demonstrative. Variant: venm.
large ones, two ~ guanm. dem. two
large ones. Gram: Extended dual indefinite
demonstrative.
large ones, which ~, some ~ nemink.
pro. which large ones; some large
ones. Gram: Extended plural interrogative
pronoun; used in a joking way to refer to people
and implies something about their large size;
can be used in indefinite contexts.
large pool chthopki. n. 1 liquid.
2 large pool. Pl: chthop. Variant:
kthopki.
large, that ~ one avchit. dem. that
large one. Gram: Extended singular distal
demonstrative. Variant: vchit.
large thing, that particular ~ pavchit.
dem. that particular large thing. Gram:
Extended singular distal demonstrative em-
phatic. Variant: vavchit; vchit.
large things, those ~ avink. dem.
those large things. Gram: Extended plural
distal demonstrative. Variant: venk.
large two, the ~
large two, the ~ inm. pro. the large
two. Gram: Extended dual reduced nominal
pronoun.
large two, which ~, some ~ nminm.
pro. which large two; some large two.
Gram: Extended dual interrogative pronoun;
used in a joking way to refer to people and im-
plies something about their large size; can be
used in indefinite contexts.
last nasot. adv. 1 later. 2 last.
3 after. 4 afterwards. Variant:
nasoth.
last, be ~ ddng na. vi-so. be last.
last time maila chuvsnia. disc.
1 the other day. 2 last time.
Variant: malachuvsnia.
later asip. disc. later. Variant: sip.
later chule. adv. later. Variant: kule.
later nasot. adv. 1 later. 2 last.
3 after. 4 afterwards. Variant:
nasoth.
later on mithu. disc. later on.
later on again saisa. adv. later on
again.
laugh tamal. sa-vi. laugh. Variant:
thamal.
laugh at tamal t. vt. laugh at. Variant:
thamal t.
law thondmga. n. 1 law. 2 rule.
Pl: thondm. Pl: athondm. Variant:
athondmka; thondmka.
lay tr na. vt. lay; specifically of a turtle
laying eggs. Variant: thr na; dr na;
mr na.
lay tu. vt. 1 put. 2 wear; put on.
3 lay; specifically of birds laying
eggs. Variant: thu; du; mu.
laziness morus. n. laziness; particularly
being reluctant to work in the garden.
lazy, be ~ vathk pt. vi-so. be lazy.
Note: only v.
lazy man moruska. n. lazy man; person
who is not willing to do garden work;
used as an insult. Pl: morusta.
lazy man vathecha. n. lazy man; a
person who does not like to do any
272
lean against
work, they just sit and chew betelnut
all day. Pl: vathekta.
lazy woman moruski. n. lazy woman.
lazy woman vathechi. n. lazy woman.
Note: only v.
lead kuer. sa-vi. go first; lead. Variant:
chuer.
lead kuer s. vt. lead. Variant: chuer s.
See: er first.
lead par s. vt. 1 invite. 2 ask for
someone; call for someone. 3 lead.
4 pull in a fish; refers to a fish
which is caught on a hook. Variant: thar
(Abilta dialect); var s.
leader amorka. n. 1 adult man.
2 leader. 3 ancestor. 4 God. Pl:
morvap. Pl: morta.
leader amorki. n. 1 adult woman.
2 leader. 3 female ancestor.
4 goddess. Pl: morvap. Pl: morta.
leader lenge angthieik. n. leader.
leader lengemtka. n. leader. Pl:
lengemtta.
leader lengenacha. n. a leader; a per-
son who takes leadership for organ-
ising a particular event or project. Pl:
lengenatha.
leader, female ~ lengenachi. n. female
leader.
leader of the house ambangga
achusemga. n. 1 centre pole of the
house. 2 leader of the house. Pl:
ambangga chusem.
leaf tlngbs. n. 1 leaf. 2 piece of
paper. Pl: tlng. Variant: thlng.
leaf urasvs. n. leaf; specifically of a
taro or singapore plant. Pl: uras.
leaf, palm ~ chureski. n. 1 leaf from
an areca palm. 2 bucket; made
from an areca palm leaf. Pl: chures.
Variant: kureski.
leaf shoot avolacha. n. leaf shoot. Pl:
avol.
lean against tair snania. vt. lean
against something while standing.
Variant: thair snania; dair snania; mair
lean on
snania.
lean on kut ithm. vt. lean on. Variant:
chut ithm.
leap up pus mk. vi-so. 1 leap up;
especially referring to flames.
2 explode. Variant: vus mk.
learn sunas. vt. learn; train; study.
leave kulel. vt. 1 leave. 2 throw
away. Variant: chulel.
leave lmu. vt. leave.
leave tat mt na. sa-vi. leave. Variant:
that mt na; dat mt na; mat mt na;
that m na; dat m na; mat m na.
leave tranas. sa-vi. go; take off; leave.
Variant: thranas; dranas; mranas;
thranas; dranas; mranas.
leave tunaik na. vt. 1 put in place.
2 leave. Variant: thunaik na; munaik
na; dunaik na.
leave out dendem p. vt. leave out;
exclude. Variant: thendem p; mendem
p.
leech chilimski. n. leech. Pl: chilims.
Variant: kilimski.
left achais. n. left side of something.
Morph: a=chais. Gloss: SPEC=left. Variant:
chais.
left-handed chais. adj. left-handed.
leg alchar. n. foot; leg; refers to the
entire limb. Variant: lchar. See: slvini
leg; snainggi thigh.
leg alcharini. n. leg; foot; refers to
the whole limb; this is a bit more po-
lite than just using lchar. Pl:
alcharithong.
leg slvini. n. leg. Pl: slvithong. See:
alchar foot; leg (the whole limb);
snainggi thigh.
leg, long ~ alcharvet. n. long leg.
lesson sunaski at kvl. n. lesson. Pl:
sunas angt kvl.
let go of tt pthik tm. vt. 1 let go
of. 2 drop. Variant: tht pthik; dt
pthik; mt pthik; tt tthik.
letter tlng. n. letter. Note: no endings.
273
like
level tu mamr sna na. vt. 1 level.
2 straighten. Variant: thu mamr sna;
du mamr sna; mu mamr sna.
liar airasvnaska. n. liar. Pl:
airasvnasta.
liar, female ~ airasvnaski. n. female
liar.
lichen arumsngga. n. lichen. Pl:
arumsng.
lick sup vm. vt. lick.
lie airas. n. lie. Note: no endings.
lie iras tm. vt. lie.
lie iras tm s. vt. lie.
lie down namas. sa-vi. 1 lie down.
2 be lying down.
lie down tas. sa-vi. 1 sleep. 2 lie
down. Variant: thas; das; mas.
lift sek. vt. 1 lift. 2 raise. 3 pick
up.
lift up nasek. vt. lift up.
light aer. adj. clear; light; especially of
the sky.
light aerki. n. light; brightness. Pl: aer.
light agapgap. adj. light; not heavy.
Variant: gapgap.
light lt t. vt. light a fire; ignite
something.
light, be ~ asinir mt. vi-so. be bright;
be light.
light, bright ~nethachi. n. bright light.
Note: no plural.
light up kuar tm. vt. light up; e.g.
shine a torch on something. Variant:
chuar tm; kura tm; chura tm.
lightning blingimga. n. lightning; re-
ferring to a bolt of lightning. Pl:
blingim.
lightning, bolt of ~vinggulini. n. bolt of
lightning. Pl: vinggulithong. Pl: vinggul.
lightning, crack of ~ vilcha. n. crack
of lightning; the sound of lightning,
rather than the flash of light. Pl: vilk.
Variant: pilk.
like klan. adv. 1 like; likewise. 2 at
like
the time; when. Variant: chlan; glan;
klan; chlan. See: machlan at the
time; when.
like plk. vt. 1 like. 2 want.
3 love. 4 need. Variant: vlk; vlk;
plk.
like, be ~ klan. vt. be like; be similar.
Variant: chlan; chlan; klan.
like that avik. dem. like that.
verbial distal demonstrative. Variant: vik.
like this, just ~taithik. dem. 1 right
now. Gram: Emphatic adverbial proximate
demonstrative. 2 just like this. Gram:
Emphatic adverbial proximate demonstrative.
Variant: thaithik; daithik.
likewise klan. adv. 1 like; likewise.
2 at the time; when. Variant: chlan;
glan; klan; chlan. See: machlan at
the time; when.
lime powder vthen. n. lime powder.
Variant: pthen.
line aseska. n. rope; line. Pl: ases.
line suchutka. n. 1 sign; mark.
2 line; boundary. Pl: suchut. Variant:
asuchut.
line, fishing ~ changgthacha. n.
1 vine sp.; large, thick vine. Usage:
Arongda dialect. 2 rope; vine
makes a good rope. 3 fishing line.
Pl: changgt. Variant: kanggthacha;
chagthacha. See: charoski
dialect) vine sp.
lint lingbes. n. gauze; lint; compress. Pl:
ling.
lips, pair of ~ amiglem. n. pair of lips.
Pl: amiglen.
liquid chthopki. n. 1 liquid.
2 large pool. Pl: chthop.
kthopki.
liquid chulp. n. 1 pool. 2 liquid.
Variant: kulp.
listen tnarimanas. sa-vi. listen.
narimanas.
listen tnarimanas t. vt. listen.
narimanas t.
listen tnarimunanas. sa-vi.
lizard sp.
Variant: narimunanas.
little bit machlak. adv. little bit.
liver aningilka. n. liver. Pl: aninggl.
Variant: nigl.
living ayar. adj. alive; living.
lizard, small ~ chivelachi. n. lizard;
generic term for small lizards. Pl:
chivel. Variant: kivelachi; chivelacha;
Gram: Ad- kivelacha.
lizard sp. achrika. n. lizard sp.; green
back and brown body; up to 8 cm long.
Pl: achirk.
lizard sp. amchlingga. n. 1 lizard
sp.; large; brown with a red neck and
long tail; serrated ridge down the
back; short head. Pl: amchlaing.
2 name of Mndas dancer; can carry
a guaremgi mask; body decorated to
look like a saw-backed lizard; has a
long tail; always dances in the eve-
ning; dances a humorous dance;
scratches the ground, twisting its
knees; does not use rattles. Pl:
amchling.
lizard sp. asusudamgi. n. lizard sp.;
black with many small whitish spots;
up to 1 m or more long; lives in the
forest near pools in rivers; will dive to
the bottom of the river if chased. Pl:
asusudam.
(Abilta lizard sp. avlamgi. n. lizard sp.; green
head and brown tail; lives in trees. Pl:
avlam.
lizard sp. baingdaurimanipka. n. liz-
ard sp.; small and grey; up to 8 cm
long. Pl: baingdaurimanip.
lizard sp. chalipka. n. lizard sp.; small
and grey-brown in colour; hides on
Variant:
tree trunks and makes a squeaky
noise when people walk past; people
say it is the noise of the forest spirits.
Pl: chalip. Variant: kalipka.
Variant: lizard sp. chasuacha. n. lizard sp.;
greenish colour; long tail with ser-
Variant: rated ridge down the back; similar to
the amchlingga species but smaller.
listen. lizard sp. manianotki. n. lizard sp.;
274
lizard sp.
dark brown; small. Pl: manianot.
lizard sp. mluacha. n. lizard sp.; small
and brown; up to 20 cm long. Pl: mlu.
lizard sp. ngalengga. n. lizard sp.;
small with white and blue-green
stripes; up to 8 cm long. Pl: ngaleng.
lizard sp. sengglavrki. n. grey lizard
sp.; up to 8 cm long. Pl: sengglavr.
lizard sp. varuchi. n. lizard sp.; brown
and up to 8 cm long. Pl: varu. Note: only
v.
lizard sp. vrmngacha. n. lizard sp.;
is brown and up to 50 cm long. Pl:
vrmang.
lobster sp. aumga. n. lobster sp.;
brown with a spiky back; up to 30 cm
long. Pl: aum.
local man thanngga. n. local man; a
person from the village where the
speaker is. Pl: thanngda.
local woman thannggi. n.
woman. Note: only th.
log angmnggi. n. 1 large tree.
2 log. Morph: ang=mngki. Gloss:
3.CN.POSS=wood-F.SG. Pl: angmng. Pl:
mng. Variant: nngaik (Abilta dialect).
log, large ~ amngia. n. large log.
amngink. Variant: mngia.
lonely, be ~ sek nanas. sa-vi. be lonely.
long aulul. adj. long. Variant: ulul.
long ago mndu. disc. 1 before.
2 long ago. Variant: mndu; mundu.
long ago mir. disc. long ago. Variant:
mur (Abilta dialect).
long away gelaulul. dir. far away; long
way.
long one, just that particular ~ chk-
vet. dem. just that particular long one.
Gram: Emphatic long singular contrastive de-
monstrative. See: chvet that particular
long one.
long one, one ~ guavet. dem. one long
one. Gram: Long singular indefinite demon-
strative.
long one, that particular ~ kvet. dem.
that particular long one. Gram: Long
long ones, these particular two ~
singular contrastive demonstrative. Variant:
chvet; achvet. See: chkvet just
that particular long one.
long one, that particular ~ pavvet.
dem. that particular long one. Gram:
Long singular distal demonstrative emphatic.
Variant: vavvet.
long one, that ~ avvet. dem. that long
one. Gram: Long singular distal demon-
strative. Variant: vvet.
long one, the ~ ngait. pro. the long one.
Gram: Extended singular nominal pronoun.
long one, the ~ ngavet. pro. the long
one. Gram: Long singular nominal pronoun.
long one, this particular ~ taithvet.
dem. this particular long one. Gram:
Long singular proximate demonstrative em-
phatic. Variant: thaithvet.
long one, this ~ ithvet. dem. this long
one. Gram: Long singular proximate demon-
strative. Variant: tvt.
local
long ones, just those particular two ~
chksem. dem. just those particular
two long ones. Gram: Emphatic long dual
contrastive demonstrative. See: chsem
those particular two long ones.
long ones, just those particular ~
Pl:
chekseng. dem. just those particu-
lar long ones. Gram: Emphatic long plural
contrastive demonstrative. See: chseng
those particular long ones.
long ones, some two ~ agisem. pro.
some two long ones. Gram: Extended dual
indefinite pronoun. Variant: anggisem;
gisem.
long ones, some ~ agiseng. pro. some
long ones. Gram: Long plural indefinite
pronoun. Variant: anggiseng; giseng.
long ones, some ~ guaseng. dem. some
long ones. Gram: Long plural indefinite de-
monstrative.
long ones, the ~ iseng. pro. the long
ones. Gram: Long plural nominal pronoun.
long ones, these particular two ~
taithsem. dem. these particular two
long ones. Gram: Long dual proximate de-
monstrative emphatic. Variant: thaithsem.
275
long ones, these particular ~
long ones, these particular ~ taithang.
dem. 1 this particular one; these par-
ticular ones. Gram: Count neutral proximate
demonstrative emphatic. 2 these par-
ticular flat ones. Gram: Flat plural proxi-
mate demonstrative emphatic. See: taith-
mlk these particular flat ones.
3 these particular long ones. Gram:
Long plural proximate demonstrative em-
phatic. Variant: thaithang.
long ones, these two ~ ithsm. dem.
these two long ones. Gram: Long dual
proximate demonstrative. Variant: tsm.
long ones, these ~ ithseng. dem.
these long ones. Gram: Long plural proxi-
mate demonstrative. Variant: tseng.
long ones, those particular two ~
ksem. dem. those particular two
long ones. Gram: Long dual contrastive de-
monstrative. Variant: chsem; achsem.
See: chksem just those particular
two long ones.
long ones, those particular two ~
pavsem. dem. those particular two
long ones. Gram: Long dual distal demon-
strative emphatic. Variant: vavsem.
long ones, those particular ~ kseng.
dem. those particular long ones. Gram:
Long plural contrastive demonstrative.
Variant: chseng; achseng.
long ones, those particular ~
pavseng. dem. those particular long
ones. Gram: Long plural distal demonstrative
emphatic. Variant: vavseng.
long ones, those two ~ avisem. dem.
those two long ones. Gram: Long dual
distal demonstrative. Variant: visem.
long ones, two ~ guasem. dem. two
long ones. Gram: Long dual indefinite de-
monstrative.
long ones, which ~, some ~ nemisem.
pro. which two long ones; some two
long ones. Gram: Long dual interrogative
pronoun; used in a joking way to refer to people
and implies something about their large size;
can be used in indefinite contexts.
long ones, which ~, some ~ nmiseng.
pro. which long ones. Gram: Long plural
276
Look out!
interrogative pronoun; can be used in indefi-
nite contexts.
long, the ~ ones ngink. pro. the long
ones. Gram: Extended plural nominal pro-
noun.
long, the ~ ones ngiseng. pro. the long
ones. Gram: Long plural nominal pronoun.
long, the ~ two nginm. pro. the long
two. Gram: Extended dual nominal pronoun.
long, the ~ two ngisem. pro. the long
two. Gram: Long dual nominal pronoun.
long things, some ~ agivet. pro. some
long thing. Gram: Long singular indefinite
pronoun. Variant: anggivet; givet.
long things, those ~ aviseng. dem.
those long things. Gram: Long plural distal
demonstrative. Variant: vseng.
long time maulul. adv. long time.
long two, the ~ isem. pro. the long two.
Gram: Long dual reduced nominal pronoun.
look binggi. vt. look. Gram: Takes a location
PP as a complement. Variant: vinggi.
look ngiem. sa-vi. 1 look; search.
2 shine, only of the sun. Variant:
ingim; ngim.
look after lmu thm. vt. look after;
care for; take care of.
look after naingim pt. vt. 1 look af-
ter. 2 watch.
look after tlu vt. vt. look after. Variant:
lu vt.
look after oneself tlu vthanas. sa-vi.
look after oneself. Variant: lu vthanas.
look around naingm. sa-vi. 1 look
around. 2 see. 3 watch.
4 appear; look like. 5 shine.
Variant: naingim.
look away nathong. sa-vi. look away;
hide ones face.
look for ngiem nani. sa-vi. look for.
look like naingm. sa-vi. 1 look
around. 2 see. 3 watch. 4 ap-
pear; look like. 5 shine. Variant:
naingim.
Look out! saisavi. interj. Look out!
lookout
lookout ngimngimgi. n. lookout;
e.g. at the top of a hill. Pl: ngimngim.
loop auathkam. n. loop; eyelet. Pl:
auathk.
loose aml. adj. 1 loose. 2 foreign.
Variant: ml.
loosen ploltem s. vt. loosen. Variant:
vloltem s.
loosen tvaik tm. vt. 1 loosen.
2 unwrap. 3 remove. Variant: th-
vaik tm; tvaik t; thvaik t.
loosen tvaik tm. vt. 1 loosen.
2 unwrap. 3 remove. Variant:
thvaik tm; tvaik t; thvaik t.
Lord Lengenacha. n. Lord; used to
refer to God.
lose tu dm n. vt. lose. Variant: thu
dm n; du dm n; mu dm n.
lot, a ~ masa. disc. 1 certainly.
2 very much; a lot. Gram: In clause final
position only.
lots mamor. adv. 1 lots.
2 excessively; very much; terribly.
3 strongly. 4 hard. 5 loudly.
6 fast; quickly. 7 brightly.
loudly mamor. adv. 1 lots.
M -
machine gun masin'gan'gi. n. ma-
chine gun. Pl: masin'gan.
madness ddn'gi. n. madness. Pl:
ddn.
maggot chlvachi. n. maggot. Pl: chlap.
Variant: klvachi; chlvachi.
magic, do ~ pes vt. vt. charm; do
magic. Variant: ves vt.
magic spell avsvesini. n. 1 magic
spell; curse. 2 charm; an object
that carries magical power. Variant:
vsves.
make sp m. vt. make. Variant: sp ma.
make tk ma. vt. 1 make. 2 heap
up. Variant: thk m.
277
make something
2 excessively; very much; terribly.
3 strongly. 4 hard. 5 loudly.
6 fast; quickly. 7 brightly.
louse thvrchinggl. n. louse. Pl:
thvrk. Variant: tvrchinggl.
louvre glass lunaski. n. 1 mirror. 2
louvre glass. Pl: lunas.
love plk. vt. 1 like. 2 want.
3 love. 4 need. Variant: vlk; vlk;
plk.
love vlk. n. love. Variant: plk.
love, fall in ~ with tu vlk svt. vt.
fall in love with. Variant: thu vlk
svt; du vlk svt; mu vlk svt.
lower down tmano. dir. lower down;
often used to refer to down on the
coast. Variant: tmana; thmano;
thmana.
luck, bad ~ irit. n. bad luck.
lump damga. n. lump. Pl: dam.
lumpy, be ~ smn pt. vi-so. 1 be
lumpy. 2 have welts.
lungs achurvuchuvacha. n. lungs. Pl:
achurvuchuva.
lying down, be ~ namas. sa-vi. 1 lie
down. 2 be lying down.
m
make tp ma. vt. 1 make; build.
2 carve. Variant: thp ma; tp m; thp
m.
make a bed peneng dm s. vt.
1 prepare. 2 make a bed; make a
platform. Variant: veneng dm.
make a hissing sound achuskuska
mt. vi-so. make a hissing sound; e.g.
by shushing a child or the sound made
by a jet plane.
make a platform peneng dm s. vt.
1 prepare. 2 make a bed; make a
platform. Variant: veneng dm.
make something tichina n. vt. make
something (definite). Variant: thichina
n; dichina n; michina n. See: sana
malaria
do something (indefinite).
malaria chasrki. n. malaria.
kasrki.
malaria, have ~ kasrki pt. vi-so. have
a fever; have malaria.
male achums. adj. male.
male achumska. n. male. Pl: achu-
msta (human plural). Pl: achums (non-
human plural). Variant: umask (Abilta
dialect); chumska.
man arucha. n. man. Pl: arutha. Pl: rura.
Variant: rucha.
man, adult ~ amorka. n. 1 adult man.
2 leader. 3 ancestor. 4 God.
Pl: morvap. Pl: morta.
man, sisterless chungacha. n.
~ other.
2 sisterless
1 tree sp.; casuarina.
man; sisterless boy; a man or a boy
who does not have any sisters. Pl:
chuang. Variant: kungacha.
man, white ~ achabapka. n. white
man. Morph: a=chabapka. Gloss: SPEC=
white-F.SG. Pl: achabapta. See: chulumga
white man.
man with children athoes pthacha.
n. man with children. Pl: athoes
pthatha.
mango viulachi. n. mango; refers only
to the fruit. Pl: vival. Note: only v.
mango tree viulacha. n. mango tree. Pl:
vival. Note: only v.
many achndichn. many.
quant.
Morph: a=chndichn. Gloss: SPEC=many.
Variant: chndichn; chdichn. Note:
only ch.
many alilu. quant. many. Usage:
dialect.
many times malilu. adv. many times.
map ivtki atha aila. n. map.
angtha ila.
March fly chluingga. n. march fly;
blue; usually the first to arrive on a
carcass in the bush, or to sit on rub-
bish. Pl: chluing. Note: only ch.
mark suchutka. n. 1 sign; mark.
2 line; boundary. Pl: suchut. Variant:
me
asuchut.
Variant: marks vrsetki. n. marks; any strange
kind of marks. Pl: vrset. Variant: prsetki.
marriage schi. n. marriage.
married, be ~ sek alugut. sa-vi. 1 be
married. 2 get married. Variant: mt
agut (Abilta dialect).
married, be ~ tethana. sa-vi. 1 be
friends. 2 be married. 3 group
together. Variant: thethana; dethana;
methana.
married, get ~ sek alugut. sa-vi. 1 be
married. 2 get married. Variant: mt
agut (Abilta dialect).
married, get ~ sek na. sa-vi. marry each
marry each other sek na. sa-vi. marry
each other.
martyr martir. n. martyr.
Mary, Mother ~ Lengenachi. n. Our
Lady; Mother Mary.
mass misa. n. mass. Note: no endings.
massage tneng n. vt. 1 spread.
Variant: neng n. 2 rub; massage.
Variant: neng n.
master angthieik. n. master. Pl:
angthieikna.
mastitis rip d chmk. n. mastitis.
mat matka. n. mat. Pl: mat.
maybe ii. interj. I dont know; maybe.
maybe mailu. disc. maybe. Variant: mala;
maila; nmailu.
maybe nenga chalu. disc. maybe; who
knows. Variant: nenggala.
Abilta
maybe vandi. disc. 1 want to; intend
to. Gram: Desiderative marker. 2 try to.
3 nearly; almost. 4 maybe.
Pl: ivt Variant: vadi.
maybe, and ~ dasik. coord. and maybe.
Morph: da=asik. Gloss: and=irrealis.
me ngo. pro. me. Gram: First person singular
class three pronoun.
me ngu. pro. me. Gram: First person singular
class two pronoun.
278
me and
me and ngun. pro. me and. Morph: ngu
=na. Gloss: 1SG.III=and. Variant: nguna.
meaning thvika. n. explanation;
meaning. Pl: thvaik. Note: only th.
measure suchut m. vt. 1 measure.
2 set out or define an area.
meat achurnaing. n. meat; flesh; es-
pecially of pigs, chickens, or coconuts.
Note: no endings.
meat slik. n. meat from pigs, fish, cas-
sowaries etc. Variant: slik.
meat, bit of ~ slichini. n. bit of meat. Pl:
slichithong.
meat, piece of ~ slichigl. n. piece of
meat. Pl: slichiglng. Variant: slichigl.
medical assistant amumthathopka.
n. male nurse; orderly; medical assis-
tant. Pl: amumthathopta.
medical assistant amumthathopki.
n. nurse; orderly; medical assistant. Pl:
amumthathopta.
medicine marasin. n. medicine.
meet tk mamr tm. vt. meet some-
one accidentally; run into. Variant: thk
mamr tm.
meet each other dn pthana. vt.
meet each other. Variant: thn pt; mn
pt.
meet together dn dmna. vt. meet
together, usually informally. Variant:
ndm dmna; thn dmna; mn dmna.
meet up dn dmna. sa-vi. gather to-
gether; meet up. Gram: Takes a plural
subject. Variant: thn; mn.
meeting amunggunbs. n. 1 chair. Pl:
amunggunimlk. 2 meeting. Pl:
amunggunimlk. 3 sitting of
parliament.
meeting lengeini. n. event; function;
meeting. Pl: lengithong.
Melanesian Pidgin amethamn ama
dvthng. n. Melanesian Pidgin;
Tok Pisin. See: ism angtha metha-
mn Melanesian Pidgin; Tok Pisin.
Melanesian Pidgin ism angtha
methamn. n. Melanesian Pidgin;
279
Mndas dancer, name of ~
Tok Pisin.
melody angtkn. n. melody. Note: no
plural.
mercy tlavuchi. n. kindness; mercy. Pl:
tlavu.
meri blouse koloski. n. meri blouse; a
loose fitting dress worn by women in
PNG, with a wraparound skirt (laplap)
worn underneath. Pl: kolos. Note: only k.
mess slavochi. n. mess; disarray. Pl:
slavo.
mess up parat. vt. mess up; displace.
Variant: varat.
mess up sar s. vt. 1 mess up.
2 knock over.
message amethamnbes. n.
1 words. 2 message. Variant:
amethamn'gi.
message amethamnbes. n.
1 words. 2 message. Variant:
amethamn'gi.
message amethamn'gi. n. 1 lan-
guage. 2 speech. 3 message.
4 orders; instructions. Pl:
amethamn. Variant: amethamon'gi.
message, pass a ~ tu amethamn pt.
vt. pass a message about someone or
something. Variant: thu amethamn
pt; du amethamn pt; mu ametha-
mn pt.
messages mnarivs. n. announce-
ments; messages. Note: no endings.
messy, be ~ mavo sna na. vi-so. be in
disorder; be in disarray; be messy.
Mndas dancer, name of ~ amch-
lingga. n. 1 lizard sp.; large; brown
with a red neck and long tail; serrated
ridge down the back; short head. Pl:
amchlaing. 2 name of Mndas
dancer; can carry a guaremgi mask;
body decorated to look like a saw-
backed lizard; has a long tail; always
dances in the evening; dances a hu-
morous dance; scratches the ground,
twisting its knees; does not use rat-
tles. Pl: amchling.
Mndas dancer, name of ~ chusa-
Mndas dancers, name of a group of ~
richa. n. name of the type of Mndas
dancer that has the adamga mask.
Variant: kusaricha.
Mndas dancers, name of a group of ~
Gerkachna. n. name of a group of
Mndas dancers; carry awaleng
masks; destroy the mound in the cen-
tre of the dance ground; usually the
last dancers to appear during a day
dance.
Mndas mask, name of ~ achvcha.
n. 1 inside corner; e.g. the inside of
an elbow or the corner in a room. Pl:
achvk. 2 name of Mndas mask;
concave in shape; similar to an up-
side-down canoe; has designs painted
inside; supported by a stick.
Mndas mask, name of ~ adamga. n.
name of Mndas mask; tall and
rounded; carried by the dancer and
supported by another man; has a
pointed top with feathers extending
up and a thick strong stem at the
bottom; designs on the front.
Mndas mask, name of ~ ladev-
thacha. n. name of Mndas mask; the
mask has an elongated shield shape
with a rounded back, dangling bark
cloth (tapa cloth) around the edges
with designs underneath, and a stick
with feathers on it on top; it is carried
flat side down on a stick.
Mndas mask, name of ~ sirachi. n.
name of Mndas mask; similar to the
adamga but the front is flat and the
back is rounded like half a pawpaw.
Mndas masks, name of a pair of ~
awalengiglem. n. name of a pair of
Mndas masks; shield-shaped, flat,
and elongated; carried on a stick; long
edges on the bottom and top; designs
on both sides. Pl: awalengigleng.
Mndas masks, name of ~ guaremgi.
n. name of Mndas mask; the mask is
large and bell-shaped, with a floor
supported by a long stick; designs are
drawn underneath and are visible
when the mask is held aloft.
middle, in the ~ mugurp. dir. 1 in
280
moon
the middle. 2 between. Variant:
munggurup.
Milky Way achruacha. n. Milky Way.
Pl: achrau. Variant: acheruacha.
miracle methanasia. n. miracle.
miracle worker lenge scha. n. mira-
cle worker. Variant: lenge ves scha.
miraculous thing amethanaski. n.
miraculous thing.
mirror lunaski. n. 1 mirror.
2 louvre glass. Pl: lunas.
misery neknochi. n. misery; distress;
suffering in either an emotional or fi-
nancial sense. Pl: neknok. Variant:
naknochi.
miss sa-vi. miss someone because each
person went by a different path.
Variant: thet kutna; det kutna; met
kutna.
miss a target tet ngis n. vt. miss a
target. Variant: thet ngis n; det ngis n;
met ngis n.
mistletoe suarki. n. mistletoe; grows
on the branches of trees; has green
leaves, grey stalks, and red flowers;
seeds are sticky; kills the trees that it
grows on.
mix tnp na. vt. 1 change; make dif-
ferent. 2 mix. Variant: np na.
money anlka. n. 1 shellfish sp.;
mussel; bivalve from the river that
lives in the mud at the bottom of the
river; dark brown outside and white
inside; people refine (mumu) these
shells, by fire, to get lime powder.
2 money; coin; kina. Pl: anal.
money dul. n. money. Variant: ndul.
monitor arviachi. n. monitor; similar
to a lizard with a black body and dull
whitish spots; up to 80 cm long; edible
flesh; skin is used for hand drums
(kundus); lives in the forest and
climbs trees. Pl: arvai.
month ayachun'gi. n. 1 moon.
2 month. Pl: ayachun.
moon ayachun'gi. n. 1 moon.
2 month. Pl: ayachun.
more
more agungagung. dem. more.
Count neutral indefinite demonstrative.
Variant: agungagunng.
more savuit. adv. 1 more. 2 first.
morning athchasp. n. morning.
Variant: thchasp.
morning mathchasep. adv. morning.
morning mathchasepka. n. morning.
Variant: mathechasepka.
mosquito dmeska. n. mosquito.
dmes. Variant: dmska.
mosquito net taunamgi. n. mosquito
net. Pl: taunam. Note: only t.
moss arumtka. n. moss; generic term.
Pl: rumt. Variant: rumtka.
mother nank. n. mother. Pl: nankina.
mother nanet. n. mother; Mum; ad-
dress and reference term.
mother nan'gi. n. 1 mother; mum;
address and reference term; it is also
used by children-in-law. 2 mother.
Pl: nanbek.
Mother Mary Lengenachi.
Lady; Mother Mary.
mother-in-law thuvski. n. mother-in-
law; sister-in-law; aunt-in-law; any
in-laws except ones wifes mothers
brother and his wife.
motor motochi. n. motor. Pl: moto.
motorcycle araun'ga mtki. n. car;
motorcycle. Morph: araunka mt=ki.
Gloss: sound-M.SG in=3F.SG. See: aiski
car; raun'ga sound.
mound athoemga. n. mound in a
dancing ground. Note: no plural.
mound avn'gi. n. mound; e.g. the
mound of an earth oven (mumu) or the
mound of a grave. Pl: avn.
mountain damgi. n. mountain.
Variant: ndamgi.
mountain peak damgi theves.
mountain peak.
mountain ridge galicha. n. mountain
range; ridge. Pl: gali.
mountainside chmer. n. steep moun-
Mum
Gram: tainside covered in bushes. Variant:
kmer. Note: no endings.
mountainside churngga. n. moun-
tainside. Pl: churng. Variant: kurngga.
mouse kaumatka. n. rat; mouse; ge-
neric term; also used specifically for
domestic rats and mice. Pl: kaumat.
Variant: chaumatka.
mouth amgi. n. mouth. Pl: am.
Pl: move tal. vt. 1 carry. 2 move.
3 bear; specifically to bear fruit.
4 give birth. Variant: thal; dal.
move wirep pt. vi-so. move; give
yourself away when you are hiding
because you move.
move along pirs ithm. vt. 1 hide
behind; duck behind something to
hide oneself. 2 make way; move
aside. 3 move along. Variant: virs
ithm.
move aside ml. vt. 1 flip over.
2 move aside.
move aside pirs ithm. vt. 1 hide
n. Our behind; duck behind something to
hide oneself. 2 make way; move
aside. 3 move along. Variant: virs
ithm.
move aside srik. sa-vi. move aside.
move quickly bang. sa-vi. 1 run; move
quickly. Usage: Refers to any kind of
fast movement. 2 come. Variant:
vang; pang; mbang.
move to don svt. sa-vi. move to.
Variant: thon svt; mon svt; don sk;
thon sk; mon sk.
movements mtmet. n. 1 movements.
2 ways.
mucus genaing. n. 1 cerebrum.
2 phlegm; mucus.
Pl: dam. mud malum. n. dough; wet stuff; typi-
cally mud.
n. muddy ground chuski. n. muddy
ground. Pl: chus. Variant: kuski.
multiplication matma. n. multiplica-
tion.
Mum nanet. n. mother; Mum; address
281
mum
and reference term.
mum nan'gi. n. 1 mother; mum; ad-
dress and reference term; it is also
used by children-in-law. 2 mother.
Pl: nanbek.
mumu [TP] achuithm. n. earth oven
(mumu). See: avithm earth oven
(mumu).
mumu [TP] avithm. n. earth oven
(mumu). See: achuithm earth oven
(mumu).
muscle achurningim. n. muscle.
achurningbap. Pl: achurniang.
mushroom almga. n. mushroom; ge-
neric term. Pl: alm.
mushroom sp. achmabarka. n.
mushroom sp.; edible; grows pro-
fusely after rain; is brown on top and
white underneath; found on softwood
trees. Pl: achmabar.
mushroom sp. almbrgiangga. n.
mushroom sp.; edible, white, and flat;
is very soft; up to 5 cm in diameter;
grows in the ground. Usage: An alter-
nate name for guringsasotka. Pl:
almbrgiang. Variant: alebrgiangga.
mushroom sp. alingga ava lm. n.
mushroom sp.; luminous and shine
brightly at night.; look like fireflies;
white and grow on rotten trees; if two
people are walking together at night
in the bush, the one in front can wear
one of these mushrooms on the back
of their head for the person behind to
follow; these mushrooms are sticky
and will stick to the skin.
mushroom sp. barathigl. n. mush-
room sp.; white and inedible; grows
into a semi-circular shape; is found on
trees. Pl: barat.
mushroom sp. chesengdm. n. mush-
room sp.; grows on mango trees, feels
furry, and is edible.
mushroom sp. guringsasotka. n.
mushroom sp.; edible, white, and flat;
is very soft; up to 5 cm in diameter;
grows in the ground. Usage: An alter-
nate name for almbrgiangga. Pl:
mute
guringsasot. See: almbrgiangga
mushroom sp.
mushroom sp. kaumat angtha
lchar. n. mushroom sp.; very small;
grows on the branches of mango
trees; is similar in shape to a rats
paw. Note: no singular.
mushroom sp. kunengga ava lm. n.
mushroom sp.; large, white, umbrella
shape; the stalk is 30 cm in diameter;
grows in grassy fields after heavy
rain.
Pl:
mushroom sp. marupki atha lm. n.
mushroom sp.; white; grows on cer-
tain trees in the bush; eaten by cas-
sowaries.
mushroom sp. nangsacha ava
lmga. n. mushroom sp.; greyish in
colour; edible; grows on rotting trees;
is flat on top with many small holes
underneath. Pl: nangsacha ava lm.
mushroom sp. thombek athva
sdm. n. mushroom sp.; very thin,
brown, and semi-transparent; feel like
plastic; round and grow up to 5 cm in
diameter; found growing on rotting
trees.
mussel anlka. n. 1 shellfish sp.;
mussel; bivalve from the river that
lives in the mud at the bottom of the
river; dark brown outside and white
inside; people refine (mumu) these
shells, by fire, to get lime powder.
2 money; coin; kina. Pl: anal.
mustard leaves achuvorves. n. betel
pepper (daka) leaves; mustard leaves.
Variant: achvorves. Pl: achuvor. See:
ludngbs betel pepper (daka) leaves;
mustard leaves.
mustard leaves ludngbs. n. betel
pepper (daka) leaves; mustard leaves.
Pl: ludngludng. See: achuvorves be-
tel pepper (daka) leaves; mustard
leaves.
mustard plant achvoracha. n. mus-
tard plant. Pl: achvor. Variant:
achuvoracha.
mute subicha. n. mute.
282
my native spinach (aibika) with red stems

my gu. pro. my. Gram: First person singular son singular possessive pronoun and indefinite
possessive pronoun. possessive pronoun. Morph: gu=angama.
my gua. pro. my. Gram: First person singular Gloss: 1SG.POSS=INDEF.
possessive pronoun and possessive pronoun my ngua. pro. 1 I. Gram: First person sin-
and specific article. Morph: gu=a. Gloss: 1SG gular class one pronoun. 2 my. Gram:
=SPEC. First person singular possessive pronoun.
my guama. pro. my. Gram: First person my, some of ~ guanga. pro. some of my.
singular possessive pronoun and emphatic Gram: First person singular possessive pro-
possessive pronoun. Morph: gu=ma. Gloss: noun and non-specific possessive pronoun.
1SG.POSS= EMPH. Morph: gu=anga. Gloss: 1SG.POSS=
my guangama. pro. my. Gram: First per- NSPEC.

N - n

nail nilka. n. nail. Pl: nil. native spinach aichilki. n. native

naked boy or man ulabungacha. n.
naked boy or man. Pl: ulabungatha.
naked girl or woman ulabungachi. n.
naked girl or woman.
nakedness ulabung. n. nakedness.
name angthepki. n. name.
ngthep. Variant: ngthepki.
name tes. vt. name; call by name.
Variant: thes; des; mes.
nape sng av vus. n. nape; the place
where the head joins the neck.
narrate dodm. sa-vi. recount; narrate;
tell. Variant: thodm.
narrate tes svt da sek. sa-vi. nar-
rate; tell a story. Variant: thesavet da
sek; desavet da sek; mesavet da sek.
narrate tes svt dm. vt. narrate; tell
about. Variant: thesavet dm; desavet
dm; mesavet dm; tesavet dm.
narrow alik. adj. narrow.
narrow, be ~ alik mt. vi-so. be narrow.
narrow, be ~ alik tm. vi-so. be narrow.
native orange aulmangachi. n. native
orange; refers to both the tree and the
fruit. Pl: aulmang. Variant: aulmang;
ulmangachi.
native spinach aichil. n. native spinach
(aibika). See: auravu native spinach
(aibika).
spinach (aibika); refers to the whole
plant.
native spinach auravuchi. n. native
spinach (aibika).
native spinach leaf aichilves. n. native
Pl: spinach (aibika) leaf.
native spinach leaf auravuves. n. na-
tive spinach (aibika) leaf.
native spinach stem chriduchi. n.
native spinach (aibika) stem; used for
replanting. Usage: Abilta dialect. Pl:
chridu. Variant: kriduchi.
native spinach stem trutki. n. 1 small
root of a tree or plant, especially ba-
nana, native spinach (aibika), or pea-
nut plant. 2 native spinach (aibika)
stem; used for planting. Pl: trut. Variant:
rutki.
native spinach tip laguain'ga. n. na-
tive spinach (aibika) tip. Pl: laguain.
native spinach top aichilka. n. native
spinach (aibika) top that is used for
cooking.
native spinach top auravucha. n. na-
tive spinach (aibika) top that is used
for cooking.
native spinach (aibika) with red stems
chuaramgi at sachong. n. native
spinach (aibika) with red stems. Pl:
churam angt sachong.

283
naughty boy or man
naughty boy or man vingbmga. n.
1 vandal. 2 naughty boy or man.
Pl: vinbmda.
naughty girl or woman vingbmgi. n.
1 female vandal. 2 naughty girl or
woman. Note: only v.
nausea ann'gi. n. nausea. Pl: annn.
nautilus chavithoski. n. shellfish sp.;
nautilus. Pl: chavithos. Variant:
kavithoski.
navel lavaitki. n. navel. Pl: lavait.
near glm. prep. near; close. Variant:
glm.
near glmna. prep. near; next to each
other. Morph: glm=na. Gloss: PREP=
RECIP. Variant: glmna.
near to, be ~ gl kuvet. dir. be near to.
nearer to saglmna. prep. nearer to;
closer to. Variant: sangglmna.
nearly vandi. disc. 1 want to; intend
to. Gram: Desiderative marker. 2 try to.
3 nearly; almost. 4 maybe.
Variant: vadi.
neck angtkn'gi. n. 1 neck.
2 throat. 3 voice. Morph: at=kn.
Gloss: 3F.SG.POSS=throat. Pl: angtkn.
Variant: tchn; chn'gi.
necklace sen'ga. n. necklace; chain. Pl:
sen.
need plk. vt. 1 like. 2 want.
3 love. 4 need. Variant: vlk; vlk;
plk.
nephew-in-law saemga. n. uncle-in-
law; nephew-in-law; specifically: ones
wifes mothers brother, ones hus-
bands sisters son, and ones hus-
bands mothers brother. Pl: saembek.
nerve churithong ama ngthi bang
sa methamn. n. nerve. Pl: chuar
ama ngthi bang sa methamn. Variant:
kurithong ama ngthi bang sa
methamn.
net mairki. n. net that is used for
catching birds and flying foxes. Pl:
mair. Variant: mairk (Abilta dialect).
net sangauchi. n. net. Pl: sangau.
nip
Variant: sangachi; sangaik (Abilta
dialect).
net bag asgnacha. n. net bag (bi-
lum). Pl: asgn. Variant: sgnacha.
net bag, incomplete ~ masarka. n. net
bag (bilum) that is still being made;
unfinished net bag (bilum). Pl: masar.
net bag, large ~ asgnachi. n. large
net bag (bilum). Pl: asgn.
net bag, large ~ slavirochi. n. large net
bag (bilum); made from split bush
canes; used for carrying food. Pl:
slaviroch.
net bag, large ~ sragan'gi. n. large net
bag (bilum); made from bush vines;
usually used for carrying food. Pl:
sragan.
net bag, old ~ silingim. n. old net bag
(bilum). Pl: silingbap.
net bag, small ~ athalka. n. small net
bag (bilum). Pl: athal.
Never mind! kule klan. interj. Never
mind!
new aichru. adj. 1 new.
2 uncooked; raw.
new, be ~ to nthm na. vi-so. be new
to a place.
next day mubang. adv. 1 tomorrow.
2 next day. Variant: bubang;
mumbang.
next to each other glmna. prep.
near; next to each other. Morph: glm
=na. Gloss: PREP=RECIP. Variant: glmna.
nib slpka vamgi. n. nib; pen point;
pencil point. Pl: slpka angtham.
nice amr. adj. good; pleasant; nice.
Variant: mr.
niece-in-law saemgi. n. aunty-in-law;
niece-in-law; specifically ones mo-
thers brothers wife, husbands sis-
ters daughter, or husbands mothers
brothers wife. Pl: saembek.
night banganggi. n. night. Pl: bangang.
Variant: bnganggi.
nip pdm. vi-so. pinch; nip. Variant:
vdm.
284
no
no angmbs. neg. 1 nothing.
2 not. 3 no. Variant: angabas; anga-
bs; angebes; ambs; mbs; ngmbs.
no koi. neg. no. Variant: choi; kuai.
no koiku. neg. 1 no. 2 not. Variant:
choiku; koi; choi; kuai; kuaiku.
noise, loud ~ gumoram. n. row; loud
noise. Note: no endings.
noise, make a loud ~ gumoram vt.
vi-so. row; make a loud noise. Note: no
endings.
noisy, be ~ gar. sa-vi. be noisy. Variant:
munaman.
non-worker amunamga. n. 1 non-
worker; a person who always stays
home and rests, they never go out and
work. 2 invalid. 3 lame man. Pl:
amunamda. Pl: amunamithong.
non-worker, female ~ amunamgi. n.
1 female non-worker; a woman who
always stays home and rests, she
never goes out and works. 2 female
invalid. 3 lame woman.
northwest wind amundik ava laurka.
n. northwest wind; named for the wild
cane (pitpit) season.
nose chulimgi. n. nose. Pl: chulim.
nose, blow ~ ts t chulim. sa-vi. blow
nose. Variant: ths t chulim.
nostril alechi pt kulim. n. nostril.
not angmbs. neg. 1 nothing.
2 not. 3 no. Variant: angabas;
angabs; angebes; ambs; mbs;
ngmbs.
not koiku. neg. 1 no. 2 not. Variant:
choiku; koi; choi; kuai; kuaiku.
not na. modal. not. Gram: Irrealis focus
marker.
O -
obedient aslek. adj. cooperative; obe-
dient.
obese, be ~ kthopka vt. vi-so. be fat;
be obese. Variant: chthopka vt.
285
occasion
Not yet! kuaithu. interj. Not yet!
note tares svt. vt. 1 note.
2 bless. Variant: thares svt; rares
svt.
nothing angmbs. neg. 1 nothing.
2 not. 3 no. Variant: angabas; anga-
bs; angebes; ambs; mbs; ngmbs.
nothing, find ~ vesnas. sa-vi. find no-
thing where you expect to find some-
thing; e.g. ripe bananas you were
planning to pick but someone came
along and took them. Note: only v.
nothing, with ~, for ~ klan. adv.
1 only. 2 just. 3 for nothing;
with nothing. Variant: chlan; chlan;
klan.
notice tlu da. vt. notice. Variant: lu da.
now ithik. dem. now. Gram: Adverbial
proximate demonstrative. Variant: thik; tik;
dik.
now, right ~ taithik. dem. 1 right now.
Gram: Emphatic adverbial proximate demon-
strative. 2 just like this. Gram: Em-
phatic adverbial proximate demonstrative.
Variant: thaithik; daithik.
nuisance, be a ~ asevaik pt. vi-so.
1 rejoice; be happy; be joyful.
2 feel proud. 3 be a nuisance.
Variant: sevaik pt.
numb, be ~ ngip. sa-vi. 1 die. 2 be
numb. 3 faint. Variant: ingip.
nurse amumthathopki. n. nurse;
orderly; medical assistant. Pl:
amumthathopta.
nurse neski. n. nurse. Pl: neskina.
nurse, male ~ amumthathopka. n.
male nurse; orderly; medical assis-
tant. Pl: amumthathopta.
o
obey tnari nagl. vt. obey. Variant: nari
nagl.
occasion chunng. n. 1 season.
2 occasion. Variant: kuneng.
occasion
occasion kunngga. n. 1 sun.
2 day. Pl: kunng. Variant: chunngga.
3 occasion.
octopus chvulka. n. octopus. Pl:
chvul. Note: only ch.
odd addn. adj. 1 odd; strange.
2 confused; delirious; crazy; insane;
altered psychological states in gen-
eral.
odd one out auligalka. n. odd one out.
Pl: auligal.
odour angthn'ga. n. odour; smell. Pl:
angthn.
offering avonbon'gi. n. offering; pay-
ment. Pl: avonbon. Variant: vonbon'gi.
Oh dear! alchar. interj. Oh dear!
Variant: lcha.
Oh no! i. interj. Oh no! Usage: Indicates
the speaker made a mistake in
speaking.
Oh! a. interj. Oh!; well; um; expression
of surprise or hesitation. Variant: au.
Oh! ae. interj. Oh!; expression of shock.
Oh! ai. interj. Oh!; expression of happi-
ness.
Oh! aichua. interj. ok; I see; Oh! Usage:
Expresses surprise or understanding.
Oh! e. interj. Oh!; exclamation of sur-
prise.
Oh! i. interj. Oh!; expresses a strong
emotion such as anger.
Oh! maricha. interj. Oh!; Hey!; excla-
mation of strong feelings of surprise,
sympathy or anger.
oil marski. n. oil. Pl: mars.
oily, be ~ mars mt. vi-so. be greasy;
be oily. Variant: mars pt.
ointment gris. n. ointment.
ok aichua. interj. ok; I see; Oh! Usage:
Expresses surprise or understanding.
old ameru. adj. old things. Variant:
amuru.
old man bilarka. n. old man. Pl: bilar.
Variant: mbilarka.
old man srucha. n. 1 giant. Pl: srutha.
286
one short one
2 old man. Pl: srutha.
old woman bilarki. n. old woman.
old woman sruchi. n. 1 female giant.
2 old woman.
older sister matki. n. older sister.
old; referring to a person ambilar. adj.
old; referring to a person. Variant: bilar.
on mni. dir. 1 on. 2 onto. 3 at.
4 in. 5 through. 6 across.
on nvem. prep. in; on.
on pa. prep. at; on; over. Variant: va.
on pt. prep. 1 at. 2 on. 3 over.
Variant: vt; pa; ba; ptha; btha; vtha;
bt; vk; pk.
on snani. dir. 1 on. 2 in. 3 at.
on the other side imonp. dir. on the
other side. Variant: imuanp.
one asgk. num. one. Gram: Masculine
singular and count neutral. Variant: snggk;
sgk.
one asnggik. num. one. Gram: Feminine
singular. Variant: asnggeik.
one and only aka. n. one and only; spe-
cial one. Pl: athei.
one flat one asgvs. num. one flat
one. Gram: Flat singular. Variant:
snggvs.
one large one asnggit. num. one large
one. Gram: Extended singular. Variant:
snggchit.
one large one guait. dem. one large
one. Gram: Extended singular indefinite de-
monstrative.
one long one asgvt. num. one long
one. Gram: Long singular.
one long one guavet. dem. one long
one. Gram: Long singular indefinite demon-
strative.
one piece asggl. num. one piece.
Gram: Excised singular.
one piece guagl. dem. one piece. Gram:
Excised singular indefinite demonstrative.
one short one asgchm. num. one
short one. Gram: Reduced singular.
one short one
one short one asgm. num. one short
one. Gram: Reduced singular. Variant:
sgm.
one short one guachm. dem. one
short one. Gram: Reduced singular indefinite
demonstrative.
one small one asgni. num. one small
one. Gram: Diminutive singular. Variant:
sgni; asgini.
one small one guani. dem. one small
one. Gram: Diminutive singular indefinite
demonstrative.
one, the small ~ ini. pro. small one.
Gram: Diminutive singular reduced nominal
pronoun.
oneself -nas. derivational suffix. oneself.
Gram: Reflexive marker.
oneself, for ~ banas. dir. for oneself.
oneself, to ~, on ~ vthanas. prep. to
oneself; on oneself. Morph: vt=nas.
Gloss: PREP=REFL. Variant: pthanas.
oneslf, away from nevanas. dir. away
from oneself.
only klan. adv. 1 only. 2 just.
3 for nothing; with nothing. Variant:
chlan; chlan; klan.
only kusek. adv. only; just. Variant:
chusek.
onto mni. dir. 1 on. 2 onto. 3 at.
4 in. 5 through. 6 across.
onto smni. prep. 1 across.
2 onto.
onto svt. prep. 1 to. 2 about.
3 at. 4 onto. Variant: sk; svk
(Abilta dialect); svtha.
open nachang. sa-vi. open ones mouth.
Variant: nachong.
open tar mt. vt. open. Variant: thar mt.
open, be ~ nathar. sa-vi. be open.
opening vmgi. n. doorway; opening.
Morph: av=amki. Gloss: 3M.SG.POSS=
mouth-F.SG. Morph: av=amvem. Gloss:
3M.SG.POSS= mouth-F.DL.
or ura. coord. or. Gram: Disjunction marker.
orange mulichi. n. orange; both the
orphaned boy
tree and the fruit. Pl: muli.
orange, native ~ aulmangachi. n. na-
tive orange; refers to both the tree
and the fruit. Pl: aulmang. Variant:
aulmang; ulmangachi.
orange segment mulicha. n. orange
segment. Pl: muli.
orange tree, spike of an ~ mulichm.
n. spike of an orange tree. Pl: mulivap.
orange tree, wild ~ vaidebunggi. n.
1 tree sp.; known as wild orange
tree. 2 wild orange. 3 ball; re-
fers to something the size of a vol-
leyball. Pl: vaidebung. Note: only v.
orange, wild ~ vaidebunggi. n. 1 tree
sp.; known as wild orange tree.
2 wild orange. 3 ball; refers to
something the size of a volleyball. Pl:
vaidebung. Note: only v.
orchestra mambuchi. n. 1 choir; or-
chestra; the singers and drummers at
a day dance or night dance. 2 song.
Pl: mambu.
orchitis rip da chvl. n. orchitis.
order tchr. vt. command; order.
Variant: thchr.
orderly amumthathopka. n. male
nurse; orderly; medical assistant. Pl:
amumthathopta.
orderly amumthathopki. n. nurse;
orderly; medical assistant. Pl: amum-
thathopta.
orders amethamn'gi. n. 1 language.
2 speech. 3 message. 4 ord-
ers; instructions. Pl: amethamn.
Variant: amethamon'gi.
ornament kangalcha. n. 1 headdress.
2 ornament; brightly coloured
things such as feathers that can be
used as head ornaments. Pl: kangal.
Note: only k.
orphaned boy secha. n. 1 orphaned
boy, he is one who often grows up to
be a person who can do many good
things. Pl: sekpek. 2 hero; a skilful
clever person who does many good
things. Pl: sekpek. 3 little finger.
287
orphaned girl over there distant

See: mavnini little finger. over daer. prep. over.

orphaned girl sechi. n. 1 orphaned over mono. dir. 1 across. 2 over.
girl. 2 female hero. over pa. prep. at; on; over. Variant: va.
other, each ~ -na. derivational suffix. over pt. prep. 1 at. 2 on. 3 over.
each other. Gram: Reciprocal marker. Variant: vt; pa; ba; ptha; btha; vtha;
other side, on the ~ imonp. dir. on the bt; vk; pk.
other side. Variant: imuanp. over samono. dir. over; across.
our aut. pro. our. Gram: First person plural over, all ~ mavangam. pro. anywhere;
possessive pronoun. all over. Gram: General indefinite form.
our autha. pro. our. Gram: First person over from naimni. dir. over from.
plural possessive pronoun and possessive pro-
noun and specific article. Morph: aut=a.
over from naimono. dir. over from.
Gloss: 1PL.POSS=SPEC. over from naivuit. dir. over from.
our authama. pro. our. Gram: First person over from namuit. dir. over from.
plural possessive pronoun and emphatic pos- over from navuit. dir. over from. Variant:
sessive pronoun. Morph: aut=ma. Gloss: navit.
1PL.POSS= EMPH.
over from the side namonp. dir. over
our authangama. pro. our. Gram: First from the side. Variant: namoni;
person plural possessive pronoun and indefi- namuanp.
nite possessive pronoun. Morph: aut=
over from (distant) navui. dir. over
angama. Gloss: 1PL.POSS=INDEF.
from (distant).
our, some of ~ authanga. pro. some of
over from (middle distance) naivui.
our. Gram: First person plural possessive
dir. over from (middle distance).
pronoun and non-specific possessive pronoun.
Morph: aut=anga. Gloss: 1PL.POSS= over here saisath. dir. over here.
NSPEC. over on the other side sathmuit. dir.
our two aun. pro. our two. Gram: First over on the other side.
person dual possessive pronoun. over the side muanp. dir. down the
out, come ~ puik na. vi-so. come out. side; over the side. Variant: monp.
Variant: vuik na. over there mani. dir. over there.
out, come ~ puvs. vi-so. come out. over there mui. dir. 1 over there;
Variant: vuvs. away from speaker on the same level.
out, get ~ ps s. vi-so. get out. Variant: 2 around.
vs s. over there pivi. dir. over there. Variant:
out there sathvuit. dir. out there. bivi; vivi.

out there vui. dir. out there.
bui.
out there, from ~ nathvuit. dir. from
out there. Variant: nathvit.
outside vthivt. dir. outside.
oven, earth ~ achuithm. n. earth oven
(mumu). See: avithm earth oven
(mumu).
oven, earth ~ avithm. n. earth oven
(mumu). See: achuithm earth oven
(mumu).
Variant: pui; over there saimuani. dir. over there.
over there samuanp. dir. over to;
over there. Variant: samonp.
over there sathmono. dir. over there.
over there sathmuanp. dir. over to
the other side; over there. Variant:
sathmonp.
over there sathmui. dir. over there.
over there sathvui. dir. over there.
over there distant saimui. dir. over

288
over there, from down ~
there distant.
over there, from down ~ namano. dir.
from down over there.
over there, from ~ naimuanp. dir.
from over there. Variant: naimonp.
over there, from ~ naimuani. dir. from
over there.
over there, from ~ namono. dir. from
over there; across.
over there, from ~ nathmono. dir.
from over there.
over there, from ~ nathmui. dir. from
over there.
over there, from ~ nathmuit. dir.
from over there.
over there, from ~ nathvui. dir. from
over there.
over there (distant), from ~ naimui.
dir. from over there (distant).
over there (towards speaker), from ~
nainamuk. dir. from over there (to-
wards speaker).
over to saimni. dir. over to; down to.
over to saimono. dir. over to.
over to saivui. dir. over to.
over to saivuit. dir. over to.
over to samuanp. dir. over to; over
there. Variant: samonp.
over to samui. dir. over to.
over to samuit. dir. over to; across.
pack tns. vt. pack; put in. Variant: ns.
packet of rice achunm. n. packet of
rice; especially a 1 kg bag of rice. See:
chuan rice; raism packet of rice.
paddle achiragareska. n. paddle.
achiragares.
paddle pul. sa-vi. paddle. Note: only p.
paddle pulka. n. paddle.
pain aruan'ga. n. pain. Pl: aruan.
pain, have ~ aruan mt. vi-so. have
palm sp.
over to distant savui. dir. over to dis-
tant.
over to the other side sathmuanp.
dir. over to the other side; over there.
Variant: sathmonp.
over to the side samuani. dir. over to
the side. Variant: samoni.
over, tumble ~ lvur vt. vi-so. tumble
over.
overcome pithia na. vt. overcome;
conquer. Variant: vithia na; withia na.
overcooked, be ~ achvu mt. vi-so. be
overcooked; especially when referring
to greens that have gone brown from
cooking too long.
overgrown agraing. adj. 1 overripe;
especially of tuber crops. 2 over-
grown. Variant: graing.
overgrown savur nvem. vi-so. over-
grown.
overripe agraing. adj. 1 overripe; es-
pecially of tuber crops.
2 overgrown. Variant: graing.
overturn lvur t. vt. overturn.
Ow! athoi. interj. Ow!; exclamation of
pain.
Ow! waioi. interj. Ow!; exclamation of
pain.
oyster thuingga. n. oyster. Pl: thuaing.
Variant: tuingga.
P - p
pain.
palm of the hand adigl. n. 1 piece of
taro. 2 palm of hand. Pl: adigleng.
palm of the hand angthikinggl. n.
Pl: palm of hand.
palm sp. churemgi. n. 1 palm sp.;
betel palm. 2 shellfish sp.; comes
from the sea; has an elongated spiral
shell up to 10 cm long. Pl: churem.
Variant: kuremgi.
289
palm sp.
palm sp. galpki. n. palm sp.; wild
palm; used for making axe handles
and floors. Pl: galp.
palm sp. kaverki. n. wild palm sp.;
trunks are split and used to make
floors. Pl: kaver. Variant: chaverki.
palm sp. saluchachi. n. palm sp.;
similar to the areca or black palm
(limbum); has a mountain spirit living
inside it. Pl: saluk.
palm sp. thelelki. n. palm sp.; has
small leaves; looks a bit like a betelnut
palm, only smaller; fronds are good to
use as thatch. Pl: thelel. Variant: talalki.
pancreas chthiachi. n. pancreas; the
organ that is close to the liver. Pl:
chthai. Variant: kthiachi.
pandanus ivon'ga. n. pandanus. Pl:
ivon.
pandanus sp. sarengacha. n. 1 pand-
anus sp.; small with long leaves; used
for making mats. 2 green grass-
hopper sp.; lies flat between the
leaves of the sarengacha pandanus
species. Pl: sareng.
panic mulen'gi vt. vi-so. 1 be anx-
ious; typically through having a fear of
something unknown. 2 panic. Note:
only m.
paper, piece of ~ tlngbs. n. 1 leaf.
2 piece of paper. Pl: tlng. Variant:
thlng.
parallel pathm na. dir. 1 alongside;
side by side. 2 with each other; for
each other. 3 parallel. Variant:
vathm na; bathm na.
parcel of banana leaves tlngga. n.
parcel of banana leaves.
parents mambethiom. n. parents. See:
mamkiom parents.
parents mamkiom. n. parents. See:
mambethiom parents.
parliament, sitting of ~ amunggun-
bs. n. 1 chair. Pl: amunggunimlk.
2 meeting. Pl: amunggunimlk.
3 sitting of parliament.
parrot, large ~ lagrka. n. bird sp.;
290
payment
large parrot; steals cocoa and food
from gardens. Pl: lagr. Variant:
langgrka.
parrot, small ~ mliarka. n. bird sp.;
small parrot that is colourful: green
and red. Pl: mliar.
part, large inside ~ chlochachi. n.
large inside part of something. Pl:
chlok. Variant: chlochachi; klochachi.
part, small inside ~ chlochaini. n.
small inside part of something. Pl:
chlok. Variant: chlochaini; klochaini.
party amsmski. n. feast; party. Pl:
amsms. Variant: msmski.
party, small ~ amsmsini. n. small
party. Pl: amsms. Variant: msmsini.
pass tet na. vt. go past; pass. Variant:
thet na; det na; met na.
passage vn'gachi. n. passage in a
reef. Pl: avang. Note: only v.
passage between reef basis. n. pas-
sage between reef.
past, go tet na. vt. go past; pass. Variant:
thet na; det na; met na.
pat paithm. vt. pat. Variant: vaithm.
patchy, be ~ kut mes ma. vt. be
patchy. Variant: chut mes.
path aisvet. n. path. Pl: aisiseng.
patient armga. n. patient. Pl: armda.
patient, female ~ armgi. n. female
patient.
paunch sarumga. n. belly; paunch. Pl:
sarum.
pawpaw mamiapki. n. pawpaw. Pl:
mamiap.
pay bon dm. vt. pay. Variant: von dm;
mbon dm; bon d; von d; mbon d.
pay back tuvet mt. vt. 1 answer;
respond. 2 reciprocate. 3 take
revenge; pay back. Variant: thuvet mt;
duvet mt; muvet mt.
payment avonbon'gi. n. offering; pay-
ment. Pl: avonbon. Variant: vonbon'gi.
payment vondmgi. n. 1 payment.
2 price. 3 prize. Pl: vondm. Note:
peace
only v.
peace malmalki. n. peace. Pl: malmal.
peaceful, feel ~ amrvs pt. vi-so.
1 feel fine. 2 heal; get better; get
well. 3 feel peaceful.
pebble giska. n. pebble. Pl: gis.
pebbly beach gisia. n. pebbly beach.
Usage: Also the proper name for a
pebbly beach near Marunga. Pl:
gisink. See: giska pebble.
peek binggi svt. vt. peep; peek.
Variant: vinggi svt.
peel chndenggi. n. 1 body.
2 skin; bark. 3 peel; rind. Pl: chn-
deng. Variant: kndenggi; kdenggi;
chdenggi. See: chngdengga skin.
peel sek pt. vt. peel; e.g. a banana or
an orange. See: sem bt peel (e.g.
taro...).
peel sem bt. vt. peel; e.g. taro or
sweet potato (kaukau). See: sek pt
peel (e.g. a banana...).
peep binggi svt. vt. peep; peek.
Variant: vinggi svt.
pen point slpka vamgi. n. nib; pen
point; pencil point. Pl: slpka
angtham.
pencil slpka. n. pencil. Pl: slp.
pencil point slpka vamgi. n. nib; pen
point; pencil point. Pl: slpka
angtham.
penis aluchi. n. penis. Pl: alu. Variant:
luchi.
people, any two ~, some two ~ nm-
bem. pro. any two people; any two
things; some two people. Gram: Feminine
dual interrogative pronoun.
people, some ~ ath. pro. some people.
Gram: Human plural indefinite pronoun.
people, some ~ agitha. pro. some peo-
ple. Gram: Human plural indefinite pronoun.
Variant: anggitha; githa.
people, some ~ guavek. dem. some
people. Gram: Human plural indefinite de-
monstrative.
people, the two ~ iom. pro. two things;
291
petrol drum of
two people. Gram: Third person masculine
dual reduced nominal pronoun.
people, the two ngaiom. pro. two
things; two people. Gram: Third person
masculine dual nominal pronoun.
people, the two ~ ngavem. pro. two
people; two things. Gram: Third person
feminine dual nominal pronoun.
people, the two ~ vem. pro. two things;
two people. Gram: Third person feminine
dual reduced nominal pronoun.
people, these particular ~ taithath.
dem. these particular people. Gram:
Human plural proximate demonstrative em-
phatic. Variant: thaithath.
people, these ~ ithath. dem. these
people. Gram: Human plural proximate de-
monstrative. Variant: tathe.
people, those particular ~ krathe. dem.
those particular people. Gram: Human
plural contrastive demonstrative. Variant:
chrath; chrare; achrathe.
people, those particular ~ paivathe.
dem. those particular people. Gram:
Human plural distal demonstrative emphatic.
Variant: ivathe; vaivathe.
people, those ~ avath. dem. those
people. Gram: Human plural distal demon-
strative. Variant: vath.
people, which two ~, some two ~
nemiom. pro. which two people;
which two things; some two people.
Gram: Masculine dual interrogative pronoun;
can be used in indefinite contexts.
permission, do without ~ mni nugul.
sa-vi. do without permission; to have
crossed a boundary that should not be
crossed.
permission, do without ~ nugul
angtpus. adv. do without permis-
sion; an action that breaks across a
(possibly metaphorical) boundary.
Morph: nugul angtpus. Gloss: boundary
3N.POSS-head.
person arucha. n. man. Pl: arutha. Pl:
rura. Variant: rucha.
petrol drum of bensin'gi. n. drum of
phlegm
petrol, benzene, or gasoline.
phlegm genaing. n. 1 cerebrum.
2 phlegm; mucus.
photo ailachi. n. 1 image; picture;
photo; especially of a person.
2 shadow; reflection; especially of a
person. Pl: aila. Variant: ilachi; iluchi.
See: ayauski shadow.
pick beng dm. vt. get something down
from a high place; especially referring
to picking something from a tree.
Variant: veng dm.
pick tik s. vt. 1 pick. 2 knock
down. Variant: thik s.
pick tik tm. vt. 1 pick. 2 break.
3 snap off. Variant: thik tm; tik t;
thik t.
pick out peramr vt. vt. pick out the
good ones from a set of things. Variant:
veramr vt.
pick up sek. vt. 1 lift. 2 raise.
3 pick up.
picture ailachi. n. 1 image; picture;
photo; especially of a person.
2 shadow; reflection; especially of a
person. Pl: aila. Variant: ilachi; iluchi.
See: ayauski shadow.
piece chvlki. n. 1 piece; possibly a
piece of rope, wood, or tapioca runner
etc. 2 chapter. Pl: chvl.
piece igl. pro. piece. Gram: Excised singular
reduced nominal pronoun. Variant: igl.
piece, just that particular ~ definite contexts. Variant: neminggl.
chknggl. dem. just that particu-
lar piece. Gram: Emphatic excised singular
contrastive demonstrative. See: knggl that
particular piece.
piece of cocoa kakauigl. n. 1 cocoa
plantation. 2 piece of cocoa. Note:
only k.
piece of coconut lamsigl. n.
1 coconut plantation. 2 piece of
coconut.
piece of meat slichigl. n. piece of
meat. Pl: slichiglng. Variant: slichigl.
piece, one ~ guagl. dem. one piece.
Gram: Excised singular indefinite demon-
292
pieces, some two
strative.
piece, some ~ agigl. pro. some piece.
Gram: Excised singular indefinite pronoun.
Variant: anggigl; gigl.
piece, that particular ~ knggl. dem.
that particular piece. Gram: Excised sin-
gular contrastive demonstrative. Variant:
kngl; chngl; chngl; achngl. See:
chknggl just that particular piece.
piece, that particular ~ pavgl. dem.
that particular piece. Gram: Excised sin-
gular distal demonstrative emphatic. Variant:
vavgl.
piece, that ~ avgl. dem. that piece.
Gram: Excised singular distal demonstrative.
Variant: vgl.
piece, the ~ igleng. pro. piece. Gram:
Excised plural reduced nominal pronoun.
piece, the ~ ngigl. pro. piece. Gram:
Excised singular nominal pronoun. Variant:
ngigl.
piece, this particular ~ taithigl. dem.
this particular piece. Gram: Excised sin-
gular proximate demonstrative emphatic.
Variant: thaithigl.
piece, this ~ thigl. dem. this piece. Gram:
Excised singular proximate demonstrative.
Variant: tgl; tigl (Abilta dialect).
piece, which ~, some ~ nmigl. pro.
which piece; some piece. Gram: Excised
singular interrogative pronoun; used in a jok-
ing way to refer to people and implies some-
thing about their large size; can be used in in-
pieces, just those particular two ~
chkngglem. dem. just those par-
ticular two pieces. Gram: Emphatic ex-
cised dual contrastive demonstrative. See:
chngglem those particular two
pieces.
pieces, just those particular ~
chknggleng. dem. just those
particular pieces. Gram: Emphatic excised
plural contrastive demonstrative. See:
kgleng those particular pieces.
pieces, some two ~ agiglem. pro. some
two pieces. Gram: Excised dual indefinite
pieces, some two ~, which two
pronoun. Variant: anggiglem; giglem.
pieces, some two ~, which two ~
nmiglem. pro. which two pieces;
some two pieces. Gram: Excised dual in-
terrogative pronoun; used in a joking way to
refer to people and implies something about
their large size; can be used in indefinite con-
texts.
pieces, some ~ agigleng. pro. some
pieces. Gram: Excised plural indefinite pro-
noun. Variant: anggigleng; gigleng.
pieces, some ~ guagleng. dem. some
pieces. Gram: Excised plural indefinite de-
monstrative.
pieces, these particular two ~
taithiglem. dem. these particular
two pieces. Gram: Excised dual proximate
demonstrative emphatic. Variant:
thithiglem.
pieces, these particular ~ taithigleng.
dem. these particular pieces. Gram: Ex-
cised plural proximate demonstrative em-
phatic. Variant: thaithigleng.
pieces, these two ~ ithiglem. dem.
these two pieces. Gram: Excised dual
proximate demonstrative. Variant: tglem;
tiglem (Abilta dialect).
pieces, these ~ ithigleng. dem. these
pieces. Gram: Excised plural proximate de-
monstrative. Variant: tgleng; tiglen
(Abilta dialect).
pieces, those particular two ~
kglem. dem. those particular two
pieces. Gram: Excised dual contrastive de-
monstrative. Variant: chglem;
kngglem; achglem.
pieces, those particular ~ kgleng.
dem. those particular pieces. Gram: Ex-
cised plural contrastive demonstrative.
Variant: chgleng; knggleng; ach-
gleng.
pieces, those particular ~ pavgleng.
dem. those particular pieces. Gram: Ex-
cised plural distal demonstrative emphatic.
Variant: vavgleng.
pieces, those two particular ~
pavglem. dem. those two particular
pieces. Gram: Excised dual distal demon-
293
pineapple
strative emphatic. Variant: vavglem.
pieces, those ~ avglng. dem. those
pieces. Gram: Excised plural distal demon-
strative. Variant: vglng.
pieces, two ~ guaglem. dem. two
pieces. Gram: Excised dual indefinite demon-
strative.
pieces, which ~, some ~ nmigleng.
pro. which pieces; some pieces. Gram:
Excised plural interrogative pronoun; used in a
joking way to refer to people and implies
something about their large size; can be used
in indefinite contexts.
pierce kut. vt. 1 pierce. 2 spear.
3 inject. Variant: chut; kut; chut.
pig vlmga. n. pig. Pl: vlam. Variant:
plmga; plmga; vlmga.
pig, large ~ vlmgi. n. 1 sow.
2 large pig. 3 reef fish sp.; brown;
has a nose like a pigs; is up to 1 m
long. Pl: vlam. Variant: plmgi; plmgi;
vlmgi.
pig, wild mountain ~ aribumetka. n.
wild mountain pig. Pl: aribumet.
pigeon, victoria crown ~ gubarka. n.
bird sp.; dove; Victoria crowned pi-
geon. Pl: gubar. Variant: kumbarka;
chumbarka.
piglet thaembm. n. 1 child. Morph: at
=oemvm. Gloss: 3F.SG.POSS child-
reduced.SG. 2 young animal; espec.
puppies or piglets. Pl: thaembap.
Variant: taembem. See: thoemga child;
son; student; assistant.
piglet vlmbm. n. piglet. Variant:
plmbm. See: vlmga pig.
pile up bn ma. vt. pile up. Variant: vn
ma.
piled up, be ~ malumgi na. vi-so. be
coiled; be piled up. Variant: malum na.
pinch pdm. vi-so. pinch; nip. Variant:
vdm.
pineapple nanasgi. n. pineapple. Pl:
nanas. See: painapki pineapple.
pineapple painapki. n. pineapple. Pl:
painap. See: nanasgi pineapple. Note:
only p.
pinpoint
pinpoint grgrka. n. pinpoint. Pl:
grgr.
pipe paipki. n. chimney; pipe. Pl: paip.
Note: only p.
pitch black patpathia. n. pitch black;
complete darkness. Variant: vatpathia.
pitpit [TP] amundiki. n. edible stalk of
a wild cane sp. (pitpit). Pl: mundik.
Variant: mendik.
pitpit stalk [TP] tuchupki. n. edible
stalk of a wild cane sp. (pitpit). Pl:
tuchuap. Variant: thuchupki.
pity tlavuchi na. vt. pity; feel sorry.
place glingga. n. 1 place. 2 side. Pl:
glaing. Variant: glingga.
place glinginggl. n. place.
place luchupka. n. place. Pl: luchap.
place, old ~ abilm. n. old place; a
place where there used to be a village.
Pl: abilvap.
placenta lavaitigel. n. placenta. Pl:
lavaithigleng.
plan amusnng. n. 1 behaviour.
2 idea; thought. 3 plan.
4 habit; custom. Morph: a=musnng.
Gloss: SPEC=put.PAST-heart. Variant:
amusnngini.
plan tp ma musnng. vt. 1 plan.
2 have an idea. Variant: thp ma
musnng.
plane ismgi. n. 1 large bird; generic
term. 2 aeroplane. Pl: ism.
plank palangga. n. plank. Pl: plang.
Note: only p.
plank plangigel. n. board; plank. Pl:
plangigleng. Variant: plangigl. See: baler
piece of wood. Note: only p.
planks, piles of ~ plangves. n. piles of
planks; especially somewhere like a
sawmill where there are lots of planks
all around.
plant pt. vt. 1 plant. 2 bury.
3 plunge. Variant: vt; pat; vat.
plant, banana ~ tangamgi. n.
1 banana. 2 banana plant. Pl:
tangam. Variant: thangamgi; tangamga;
294
platform, make a ~
thangamga.
plant sp. amangbchng. n. plant sp.
plant sp. kaubocha. n. plant sp.; has
broad flat leaves that are used to
cover food. Pl: kaubo. Variant: chaubo-
cha.
plant sp. nngurka. n. plant sp.; strong
smelling plant with long green leaves;
deters snakes; relieves tiredness;
used as a decoration for dancing be-
cause of the smell. Pl: nngur.
plantation, banana ~ tangamigl. n.
1 banana block; banana plantation;
referring to an area planted with ba-
nanas. 2 piece of banana. Variant:
thangaminggel.
plastic bag plastika. n. plastic bag;
plastic bottle; specifically a bottle
between 1 and 5 litres in size, or a
medium sized plastic bag. Pl: plastik.
plastic bag, large ~ plastiki. n. large
plastic bottle; large plastic bag. Pl:
plastik.
plastic bag, small ~ plastikini. n. small
plastic bottle; small plastic bag. Pl:
plastik.
plastic bottle plastika. n. plastic bag;
plastic bottle; specifically a bottle
between 1 and 5 litres in size, or a
medium sized plastic bag. Pl: plastik.
plastic bottle, large ~ plastiki. n. large
plastic bottle; large plastic bag. Pl:
plastik.
plastic bottle, small ~ plastikini. n.
small plastic bottle; small plastic bag.
Pl: plastik.
plate amilatka. n. 1 plate; dish.
2 coconut shell. Pl: milat. Variant:
milatka.
plate, large ~ amilatki. n. large plate;
large dish. Pl: milat. Variant: milatki.
platform chlaln'gi. n. platform. Pl:
chlaln. Variant: klaln'ga.
platform lavichi. n. 1 bed.
2 platform. Pl: lavi.
platform, make a ~ peneng dm s. vt.
1 prepare. 2 make a bed; make a
play
platform. Variant: veneng dm.
play tugas. sa-vi. play. Variant: thugas;
dugas; mugas; thunggas; dunggas;
munggas.
play a game tugas s. vt. play a game.
Variant: thugas s; dugas s; mugas s;
tunggas s; dunggas s; munggas s.
play around avinos. vi-so. 1 play
around. 2 vandalise. See: vinos de-
struction.
play with tugas t. vt. play with. Variant:
thugas t; dugas t; mugas t;
thunggas t; dunggas t; munggas t.
pleasant amr. adj. good; pleasant;
nice. Variant: mr.
please tu chelak tm. vt. please; do
something to soften the other person.
Variant: thu chelak tm; du chelak tm;
mu chelak tm.
pliers sangecha. n. pliers. Pl: sange.
plug gilamuchi. n. plug; e.g. the stop-
per in a bamboo tube of water or a
cork in a bottle. Pl: gilamu. Variant:
gilamucha.
plunge pt. vt. 1 plant. 2 bury.
3 plunge. Variant: vt; pat; vat.
point avam. n. point; e.g. a point of land
or the end of a stick. Morph: avam.
Gloss: 3M.SG.POSS-mouth.
point at tk svt. vt. point at. Variant:
thk svt.
poison musavu. n. poison.
poisoner musavumtka. n. poisoner.
poisoner, female ~ musavumtki. n.
female poisoner.
poke repeatedly kutik namt. vt. poke
repeatedly; stab repeatedly. Variant:
chutik namt.
pole amngvet. n. pole. Pl: amngiseng.
Variant: mngvet.
pole vlavalka. n. 1 pole. 2 tower. Pl:
vlaval. Note: only v.
pole, carrying ~ alicha. n. carrying
pole; two people carry the pole to-
gether, one on either end. Pl: ali.
Variant: licha; lichat (Abilta dialect).
295
possum
pole, centre ~ of the house ambangga
achusemga. n. 1 centre pole of the
house. 2 leader of the house. Pl:
ambangga chusem.
pole, cross ~ livinem. n. cross pole;
specifically the short poles that attach
to a longer pole that something heavy
has been tied to; the pole helps people
carry heavy things. Pl: livinbap.
pole made of bamboo gotka. n.
1 bamboo sp.; large. 2 pole made
of bamboo.
policeman chrtki. n. policeman; the
name comes from the days of the
German colony when the police wore
short pieces of material (laplaps) with
belts. Pl: chrtkichna.
pool chthopka. n. pool. Pl: chthop.
Variant: kthopka.
pool chulp. n. 1 pool. 2 liquid.
Variant: kulp.
pool lachuaski. n. pool; specifically
pools made in the reef at low tide. Pl:
lachuasvap.
pool, deepest part of a ~ chethopka
ava sachongachi. n. deepest part of
a pool.
pool, large ~ chthopki. n. 1 liquid.
2 large pool. Pl: chthop. Variant:
kthopki.
poor lulit. adj. poor.
poor man alulitka. n. poor man. Pl:
alulitta. Variant: lulitka.
poor woman alulitki. n. poor woman.
popular, be ~ inangna. vi-so. be popu-
lar.
porch paranda. n. porch; verandah.
Variant: varanda.
possible mamr. adv. 1 well; fine.
2 properly. 3 possible.
possible, be ~ for mamr na. vi-so. be
possible for; be able to.
possible, if ~ mala. adv. if possible.
possibly saika. disc. possibly.
possum anongacha. n. possum; cus-
cus. Pl: anuang.
possum, gliding ~
possum, gliding ~ srbaingbaingga.
n. gliding possum; grey with a yellow
belly. Pl: srbaingbaing.
post, large ~ suchulki. n. large post. Pl:
suchul. Variant: schlchi.
post, long ~ suchulia. n. long post. Pl:
suchulink.
post, slender ~ suchulvet. n. slender
post. Pl: suchuliseng.
pot banggruanggi. n. 1 pot; sauce-
pan. 2 wooden bowl. Pl:
banggruang.
pot sipen'gi. n. pot; saucepan. Pl: sipen.
Variant: sospen'gi.
potato, sweet ~ kalasunggi. n. sweet
potato (kaukau). Pl: kalasung. Variant:
chalasunggi.
pour sruk. vt. pour; spill; tip out; spe-
cifically of dry things such as gravel.
pour tor na. sa-vi. pour. Variant: thor na;
dor na.
pour out lel s. vi-so. pour out; run out;
spill out.
pour out tar s. vt. pour out; especially
of water from a tap. Variant: thar s;
dar s; mar s.
power achrotki. n. 1 strength.
2 power. Pl: chrot.
praise ben s. vt. honour; praise.
Variant: ven s.
praise lotu svt. vt. worship; adore;
praise.
praise tares pt. vt. praise; worship.
Variant: rares pt; thares pt.
prawn urn'ga. n. crayfish; prawn;
generic term; refers to both salt water
and freshwater species. Pl: urn.
prawn, large ~ urn'gi. n. large cray-
fish; large prawn; generic term; refers
to both salt water and freshwater
species. Pl: urn.
prawn sp. aringga. n. freshwater
prawn sp.; grey with thin small hands;
up to 5 cm long. Pl: araing.
prawn sp. athangacha. n. freshwater
prawn sp.; transparent or light brown;
296
pregnant, be ~
fat in shape and has long hands; up to
10 cm long. Pl: athang.
prawn sp. athilomga. n. freshwater
prawn sp.; light brown with large
head and large short hands; up to
5 cm long. Pl: athilom.
prawn sp. aveningga. n. freshwater
prawn sp.; light brown with flat
twisted hands. Pl: avenaing.
prawn sp. charichethini. n. prawn sp.;
transparent, light brown colour; found
in groups; plentiful at the new moon;
hatch in the sea and swim into river
mouths to stay on riverbanks. Pl:
charichet. Variant: karichethini. See:
charichetka prawn sp.
prawn sp. charichetka. n. prawn sp.;
transparent, light brown colour; found
in groups; plentiful at the new moon;
hatch in the sea and swim into river
mouths to stay on riverbanks. Pl:
charichet. Variant: karichetka. See:
charichethini prawn sp.
prawn sp. chelelelcha. n. freshwater
prawn sp.; dark brown; up to 5 cm
long. Pl: chelelel. Variant: kelelelcha.
prawn sp. chudicha. n. freshwater
prawn sp.; dark brown; up to 5 cm
long; easy to catch because they do
not move fast. Pl: chudi. Variant:
kudicha.
pray tnen. sa-vi. pray. Variant: nen.
prayer ann'gi. n. prayer. Pl: ann.
prayer annini. n. prayer.
prayers annbs. n. prayers.
praying mantis ruchusimacha. n.
green praying mantis. Pl: aruchusim.
preference vlchachi. n. 1 choice;
preference. 2 wish. Pl: vlch. Variant:
vlkachi. Note: only v.
pregnancy sarumbm. n.
1 conception. 2 pregnancy. See:
pis d be swollen, used to refer to
pregnant animals.
pregnant, be ~ pis d. vi-so. be swollen.
Usage: The expression pis d sarum
have a swollen belly is not normally
preparation puncture

used with reference to women, but promise taresbana. vt. promise. Variant:
can be used to talk about pregnant tharesbana; raresbana.
animals, especially dogs. Its use in the promises ametpathm. n. promises.
following example is derogatory. Variant: metpathm.
Variant: vis d.
properly mamr. adv. 1 well; fine.
preparation lumanaksi. n. prepara- 2 properly. 3 possible.
tion. Pl: lumanas.
properly marik. adv. 1 straight.
prepare peneng dm s. vt. 2 properly; accurately.
1 prepare. 2 make a bed; make a
platform. Variant: veneng dm. protection rem. n. protection.

prepare tk mu n. vt. prepare. Variant:

proud aron. adj. 1 satisfied.
2 proud; self-satisfied. Variant: ron.
thk mu n.
prepare tlu ma. vt. prepare. Variant: lu
proud, be ~ mbensenas. vi-so. be
ma.
proud. Variant: vensenas.

prepare oneself tlu manas. sa-vi. get proud, be ~ vair pt. vi-so. be proud.
Note: only v.
ready; prepare oneself. Variant: lu
manas. proud, feel asevaik pt. vi-so.
1 rejoice; be happy; be joyful.
prepare oneself tu manas. sa-vi. pre-
2 feel proud. 3 be a nuisance.
pare oneself; get ready. Variant: thu
Variant: sevaik pt.
manas; du manas; mu manas.
press tares. vt. press. Variant: thares;
proud man bensenaska. n. proud man.
Pl: bensenasta. Variant: mbensenaska;
rares.
nbensenaska.
press tepmuan s. vt. press. Variant:
thepmuan s.
proud woman bensenaski. n. proud
woman.
pressing down mathaneng. adv.
pressing down. puddle chlamurki. n. puddle. Pl:
chlamurvap. Variant: chlamurki;
pretend iras. sa-vi. pretend. klamurki.
price vondmgi. n. 1 payment. puddle chthopvm. n. puddle. Pl:
2 price. 3 prize. Pl: vondm. Note: chthopvap. Variant: kthopvm.
only v.
pull navar n. vt. pull; hold tight in a
prison kumngas. n. gaol; prison. Pl: stretch.
kumang. Variant: chumngas.
pull along pr ma. vt. 1 pull along.
prize vondmgi. n. 1 payment. 2 talk into; tempt. Variant: vr ma.
2 price. 3 prize. Pl: vondm. Note:
only v.
pull in a fish par s. vt. 1 invite.
2 ask for someone; call for someone.
problem mrn'ga. n. problem. Pl: 3 lead. 4 pull in a fish; refers to
mrn. Variant: amarn. a fish which is caught on a hook.
process dng. vt. process; specifically Variant: thar (Abilta dialect); var s.
to scrape the skin off wood fibre to pull out tr. vt. 1 pull out. 2 uproot.
make it silky for rolling into string. 3 clear; especially of small weeds
Variant: thng. etc. Variant: thr; dr; mr.
process tk na. vt. process. Variant: thk pulley bloka. n. block and tackle; pul-
na. ley. Pl: blok.
prohibit trek tm. vt. prohibit; forbid. pulley var na mngga. n. pulley.
Variant: rek tm.
puncture purk mni. vi-so. puncture.
promise atharesbana. n. promise.

297
punish
Variant: vurk mni.
punish tu amuvtka svt. vt. punish.
du amuvtka svt; thu
Variant:
amuvtka svt; mu amuvtka svt.
punish turik na. vt. punish. Variant:
thurik na; durik na; murik na.
punishment amuvtka. n. 1 answer.
2 punishment. Pl: amuvt. Variant:
muvtka.
puppy thaembm. n. 1 child. Morph: at
=oemvm. Gloss: 3F.SG.POSS
child-reduced.SG. 2 young animal;
especially puppies or
piglets. Pl:
thaembap. Variant: taembem. See:
thoemga child; son; student; assis-
tant.
puppy vaimbem. n. puppy. Pl: vaimbap.
purgatory lmrnaski. n. purgatory.
PURP iva. subord. PURP. Gram: Intentional
purposive.
PURP va. subord. PURP. Gram: Basic pur-
posive. Note: only v.
purple chlevu. adj. purple. Note: only ch.
pus anun'ga. n. 1 pus. 2 white sap
from a breadfruit or fig tree.
pus lmlmga. n. pus; especially from
infected eyes. Pl: lmlm.
push sur n. vt. push. Variant: sur na.
push away kir. vt. 1 push away.
Q -
question asnan'ga. n. question.
asnan.
question repeatedly bn slp. vt. in-
terrogate; question repeatedly. Variant:
vn slp.
quickly mamor. adv. 1 lots.
2 excessively; very much; terribly.
3 strongly. 4 hard. 5 loudly.
quiet, be ~
2 clear away. Variant: chir.
push away kirms t. vt. push away.
Variant: chier mes t; kierms t.
push in trut n. vt. put in; push in.
Variant: rut n; trut na; rut na.
put pr. vt. 1 get something out of a
pocket or a similar place. 2 breathe
out. 3 put; e.g. to put someone in a
particular place. Variant: vr.
put tu. vt. 1 put. 2 wear; put on.
3 lay; specifically of birds laying
eggs. Variant: thu; du; mu.
put aside praseng n. vt. put aside.
Variant:vraseng n; praseng na;
vraseng na.
put in tns. vt. pack; put in. Variant: ns.
put in trut n. vt. put in; push in.
Variant: rut n; trut na; rut na.
put in place tunaik na. vt. 1 put in
place. 2 leave. Variant: thunaik na;
munaik na; dunaik na.
put on don mt. vt. 1 wear. 2 put
on. Variant: thon mt; mon mt.
put on tu. vt. 1 put. 2 wear; put on.
3 lay; specifically of birds laying
eggs. Variant: thu; du; mu.
python aulan'gi. n. python; snake; ge-
neric term. Pl: aulan.
q
Pl: 6 fast; quickly. 7 brightly.
quickly, do ~ thi. sa-vi. do quickly.
quiet mnaman. n. quiet. Variant:
munaman.
quiet, be ~ mnaman na. vi-so. 1 be
quiet. 2 be silent.
quiet, be ~ munaman. sa-vi. be quiet.
298
race reason

R - r

race oerna. vt. 1 compete. 2 race. 2 uncooked; raw.

race each other thuer na. sa-vi. race reach dn. sa-vi. 1 arrive; come.
each other. Variant: ruer na; oer na; uer 2 reach. 3 return. Variant: ndn;
na. thn; mn; mun; -an.
racket slabar. n. racket. reach dn pt. sa-vi. reach; arrive.
Variant: thn pt; mn pt; dn p; thn
rafter asongga. n. rafter. Pl: asong.
p; mn p; dn pa; thn pa; mn pa.
raider umngacha. n. enemy; raider.
Pl: umang.
read slamen dm. vt. 1 read.
2 count.
rain saenggi. n. rain. Pl: saeng. Variant:
soenggi; seinggi.
read slameng vt. vt. read.

rain cloud athvuiki. n. rain cloud. Pl:

read tes vt. vt. read. Variant: thes; des;
mes.
athvuik. Variant: athewiki.
rain, heavy ~ saengbap. n. storm; readily sskpes. adv. readily; easily.
heavy rain. ready, get ~ tlu manas. sa-vi. get
rainbow chalvanggrka. n. rainbow. ready; prepare oneself. Variant: lu
manas.
Pl: chalvanggr. Variant: kalvanggr.

rainy season avolam. n. rainy season. ready, get ~ tu manas. sa-vi. prepare
oneself; get ready. Variant: thu manas;
raise sek. vt. 1 lift. 2 raise. du manas; mu manas.
3 pick up.
real, be ~ kunnggunng dm. vi-so.
rapid guaremga. n. rapid; specifically be real. Variant: chunengguneng dm;
rapids in rivers. Pl: guarem. gunengguneng dm.
rash vlochithong. n. rash. realise drm svanas. sa-vi. realise.
rat kaumatka. n. rat; mouse; generic Variant: rm svanas.
term; also used specifically for do- realise tchm svthanas. vt. real-
mestic rats and mice. Pl: kaumat. ise. Variant: thchm svthanas.
Variant: chaumatka.
really kinasa. disc. 1 really.
rat, forest ~ asurtka. n. forest rat; 2 already. Variant: chinasa; inasa;
lives in holes in the ground. Pl: asurt. nasa.
rat, large forest ~ abmka. n. large really marik. disc. truly; really. Variant:
forest rat; brown; can be caught for marki.
food; lives in a hole in the ground with
two entrances. Pl: abm. really maru. adv. really.

rat, large forest ~ vaim atha nmga. really sok. disc. really; truly.
n. large forest rat; has tan fur; lives in really, and ~ dinasa. adv. and really.
holes. Pl: vaim atha nm. Variant: paim Morph: da=kinasa. Gloss: and=really.
atha nmga. reason arembm. n. 1 buttock. 2 n.
rattan irocha. n. rattan. Pl: irok. source; cause; reason. See: aremgi
rattle klr mt. vi-so. rattle. Variant:
buttock; source; cause; reason.
chlr mt. reason aremgi. n. 1 buttock.
2 base. 3 source; cause; reason.
rattle klrklr mt. vi-so. rattle.
Pl: arem. Variant: rem. See: arembm
Variant: chlrklr mt.
buttock; remini base; source; cause.
raw aichru. adj. 1 new.

299
reasonable man
reasonable man auluvkmtka. n.
1 coward. 2 good humoured man;
reasonable man. Pl: aulvkmtta.
Variant: aulvkmtka.
reasonable woman auluvkmtki. n.
1 female coward. 2 good hu-
moured woman; reasonable woman.
Variant: aulvkmtki.
recently kinas. disc. just; recently.
Variant: chinas; nas.
reciprocate tuvet mt. vt. 1 answer;
respond. 2 reciprocate. 3 take
revenge; pay back. Variant: thuvet mt;
duvet mt; muvet mt.
recognise drm na. vt. recognise.
Variant: rem na.
recognise drmanas na. vt. recognise;
know. Variant: rmanas na.
recount dodm. sa-vi. recount; narrate;
tell. Variant: thodm.
recover bramr. sa-vi. 1 be rescued;
be saved. 2 recover. Variant:
vramr.
red alolka. n. red.
red emperor aidrengga. n. reef fish
sp.; red emperor; up to 80 cm long. Pl:
aidreng.
reddish, be ~ alolves mt. vi-so. be
reddish. Variant: lolves mt.
redeem tvaik namn. vt. redeem.
Variant: thvaik namn.
redeemer areveikpmka. n. saviour;
redeemer.
redeemer rveikpmka. n. redeemer;
refers specifically to Jesus. See: tvaik
namn redeem.
reef sul. n. reef.
reef, area of ~ sulves. n. area of reef.
reef, large piece of ~ sulki. n. large
piece of reef.
reef, passage between ~ basis. n. pas-
sage between reef.
reflection ailachi. n. 1 image; picture;
photo; especially of a person.
2 shadow; reflection; especially of a
person. Pl: aila. Variant: ilachi; iluchi.
300
renowned, be ~
See: ayauski shadow.
refuse ter. vt. refuse; decline. Variant:
ther; der; mer.
regarding ithm. prep. regarding;
about. Variant: itha.
rejoice amr glm. vi-so. rejoice.
Variant: mr glm.
rejoice asevaik pt. vi-so. 1 rejoice;
be happy; be joyful. 2 feel proud.
3 be a nuisance. Variant: sevaik pt.
rejoice choir pt. vi-so. rejoice. Usage:
Borrowing from Ura. Variant: chuarka
pt.
rejoice chuarka pt. vi-so. rejoice.
Usage: Borrowing from Ura.
relate pthana. sa-vi. relate socially;
interact. Variant: vthana.
relatives chvek. n. relatives. Variant:
kavek.
relax tu av snng mamr. sa-vi. calm
down; settle down; relax. Morph: tu av
snng mamr. Gloss: put 3M.SG.POSS
thoughts properly. Variant: du av snng
mamr; thu av snng mamr; mu av
snng mamr; tu ath snng mamr.
relent alek mt. vi-so. 1 be hollow.
2 relent; be compassionate.
3 compromise.
religion lotu. n. 1 Christian rituals.
2 religion.
remember bang pt. vi-so. remember.
Note: only b.
remove ploltem sa. vt. remove; take
off. Variant: vloltem sa.
remove sas t. vt. 1 dig out.
2 remove.
remove tar tm. vt. 1 remove; take
off. 2 uncover. Variant: thar tm.
remove travt s. vt. remove. Variant:
thravt s; ravt s; dravt s;
mravt s.
remove tvaik tm. vt. 1 loosen.
2 unwrap. 3 remove. Variant:
thvaik tm; tvaik t; thvaik t.
renowned, be ~ lengen na. vi-so. be
famous; be renowned. Variant: langena.
repeatedly
repeatedly sai sai. adv. repeatedly;
again and again.
repent gurnas. sa-vi. repent; feel
contrite.
reply tuvet. sa-vi. answer. Variant:
thuvet; duvet; muvet.
report klol. vt. report. Variant: chlol.
repulsive thing thinggiaras. n. repul-
sive thing; scary thing; something you
do not want to see or smell. Pl:
thinggiar. Variant: tinggiaras.
rescued, be ~ bramr. sa-vi. 1 be
rescued; be saved. 2 recover.
Variant: vramr.
respect achutdrir. n. respect. Note: no
endings.
respect tp ma s. vt. respect; keep to
the rules about something. Variant:
thp ma s.
respiratory system sangaska ava
iska. n. respiratory system.
respond tuvet mt. vt. 1 answer; re-
spond. 2 reciprocate. 3 take
revenge; pay back. Variant: thuvet mt;
duvet mt; muvet mt.
rest mal vt. vi-so. rest. Variant: mual
vt.
rest mual vt. vi-so. 1 stop. 2 rest.
rest munam. sa-vi. rest.
return buinem. sa-vi. return. Variant:
vuinem; vinem; winem; puinem.
return dn. sa-vi. 1 arrive; come.
2 reach. 3 return. Variant: ndn;
thn; mn; mun; -an.
reveal kur svt. vt. 1 show.
2 reveal; spot-light using a torch.
Variant: chur; kuar; chuar.
reveal kuravesik na. sa-vi. reveal.
Variant: churavesik na.
revelation achuravesik. n. revelation.
revenge, take ~ tuvet mt. vt.
1 answer; respond. 2 reciprocate.
3 take revenge; pay back. Variant:
thuvet mt; duvet mt; muvet mt.
revolted, be ~ tinggiar. vi-so. be dis-
301
right by
gusted; be revolted. Variant: thinggiar.
rib brtki. n. 1 rib. 2 wall. Pl: brt.
Pl: brt.
rice achuan. n. rice. Variant: chuan. See:
achun'ga sand. Note: only ch.
rice rais. n. rice.
rice, bale of ~ raisgi. n. bale of rice.
rice, packet of ~ achunm. n. packet of
rice; especially a 1 kg bag of rice. See:
chuan rice; raism packet of rice.
rice, packet of ~ raism. n. packet of
rice; especially a 1 kg bag of rice. See:
chuan rice; achunm packet of rice.
rich man bunacha. n. 1 rich man.
2 selfish man. Pl: bunatha.
rich man mumanaska. n. 1 selfish
man. 2 rich man; someone with lots
of money or pigs etc. Pl: mumanasta.
rich woman bunachi. n. 1 rich
woman. 2 selfish woman.
rich woman mumanaski. n. selfish
woman; rich woman.
rid of, get ~ kut dm. vt. get rid of.
Variant: chut dm.
ridge galicha. n. mountain range;
ridge. Pl: gali.
ridge isia. n. ridge; track (ridge lines
are used as tracks). Pl: isink. See:
aiska road.
ridge, small ~ lairini. n. small ridge
between two creeks. Pl: lairithong.
ridge top chan'gan'ga. n. ridge top;
the boundary between two river
catchments; often very wet and
mossy. Pl: chan'gan. Note: only ch.
ridgepole pungngan'ga. n. ridgepole.
Pl: pungngan. See: sutka ridgepole.
Note: only p.
ridgepole sutka. n. ridgepole. Pl: sut.
See: ungngan'ga ridgepole.
right amrmr. n. right side of some-
thing. Variant: mrmr.
right sdamr. adv. correctly; right.
Variant: sndamr.
right by sdamr n. dir. 1 right by.
right here
2 directly to. Variant: sndamr n.
right here iththik. dem. right here.
Gram: Emphatic proximate demonstrative.
right here taith. dem. right here. Gram:
Proximate demonstrative emphatic. Variant:
thaith; daith; ni (Abilta dialect); t;
d.
right now taithik. dem. 1 right now.
Gram: Emphatic adverbial proximate demon-
strative. 2 just like this. Gram: Em-
phatic adverbial proximate demonstrative.
Variant: thaithik; daithik.
right there avivik. dem. right there.
Gram: Count neutral emphatic distal demon-
strative. Variant: vivik.
rind chndenggi. n. 1 body.
2 skin; bark. 3 peel; rind.
chndeng. Variant: kndenggi;
kdenggi; chdenggi. See:
chngdengga skin.
ring bn. vt. ring a bell. Variant: vn;
mbn.
ringing dldl. n. ringing.
ringworm aslavar. n. tinea; ringworm
(grile).
ringworm awithinggi. n. ringworm;
tinea that appears as white spots on
the skin. Pl: awithaing.
ringworm, have ~ slavar pt. vi-so.
have ringworm.
rip prk mt. vt. rip. Variant: vrk
mt.
rip off lik mt. vt. 1 rip off; tear off.
2 split; break apart.
ripe amang. adj. 1 ripe; especially re-
fers to the ripeness of bananas, man-
goes, and pawpaws. 2 cooked.
Variant: mang.
ripe srp. adj. ripe.
ripped, be ~ prk mt. vi-so. 1 be
torn; be ripped. 2 shout; yell.
Variant: vrk mt.
ripple awalngga. n. wave; ripple.
awalng.
rituals lotu. n. 1 Christian rituals.
2 religion.
Roosters tail
river arenggi. n. 1 water. 2 river.
Pl: areng.
river, branch of a ~ aicha. n. 1 branch
of river; flows year round. 2 tree
sp.; has rough grey bark with vertical
serrations and plentiful, small,
spade-shaped leaves. Pl: aio. Pl: ayo.
river, flooded ~ ichumgi. n. flood;
flooded river. Pl: ichum.
river, side branch of a ~ achruacha.
n. side branch of river; dries up during
the dry season. Pl: achrau. Variant:
acheruacha.
riverbank angtham. n. 1 shore;
beach; riverbank. 2 front. Morph:
angtam. Gloss: 3N.POSS-mouth. Variant:
Pl: avam; vam.
road aiska. n. road.
road, large ~ aiski. n. large road.
roam bang binem. sa-vi. roam; wan-
der. Variant: vang binem.
roar ddrin. n. roar; a roaring sound.
Variant: ddarin.
roar din'ga. n. boom; roar. Pl: ddin.
roll bing. vt. roll; specifically to twist
string used to make net bags (bilums).
Variant: ving.
roll pali. vt. roll. Variant: vali.
roll around vanim. vt. roll around; turn
over; e.g. movements of waves and
fabric. Variant: wanim.
roll over ngim melia. vi-sa. roll over;
flip. Variant: nm melia.
roll over ngim melia. vt. roll over; flip.
Variant: nm melia.
roof angtps. n. 1 top. 2 roof.
Morph: angt=ps. Gloss: 3N.POSS=head.
Variant: angtpus; vs.
roofing, iron ~ kapaigl. n. corrugated
iron; iron roofing; especially a single
sheet of corrugated iron. Pl: kakigleng.
room ulunggi. n. 1 room. 2 class;
Pl: grade. Pl: ulung.
rooster duraika. n. rooster. Pl: duraik.
Roosters tail lialechi. n. roosters tail.
302
roosters tail feather
Pl: liale.
roosters tail feather lialecha. n.
roosters tail feather. Pl: liale. Variant:
lialevs.
root churacha. n. 1 root. 2 artery;
vein. Pl: chuar. Variant: kuracha.
root laltki. n. 1 root. 2 stump. Pl:
lalt. See: trutki small root of a tree or
plant.
root, small ~ trutki. n. 1 small root of
a tree or plant, especially banana, na-
tive spinach (aibika), or peanut plant.
2 native spinach (aibika) stem;
used for planting. Pl: trut. Variant: rutki.
rope aseska. n. rope; line. Pl: ases.
rope changgthacha. n. 1 vine sp.;
large, thick vine. Usage: Arongda dia-
lect. 2 rope; vine makes a good
rope. 3 fishing line. Pl: changgt.
Variant: kanggthacha; chagthacha.
See: charoski (Abilta dialect) vine sp.
rope changgthait. n. 1 vine sp.; es-
pecially a long and narrow vine spe-
cies. 2 rope. Pl: changgthink.
Variant: kagthait.
rope charoski. n. 1 vine sp.; large,
thick vine. Usage: Abilta dialect.
2 rope. Pl: charos. Variant: karoski. See:
changgthacha (Arongda dialect) rope.
rope thavulka. n. 1 vine sp.; makes a
good rope. 2 rope. Pl: thavu. Variant:
tavulka; thawlka.
rope, split ~ thavuligl. n. split rope.
Variant: thawlk.
rosary beads chunmka. n. rosary
beads. Note: only ch.
rose bush rosachi. n. rose bush. Pl: ros.
rosewood tree mrunggi. n. tree sp.;
rosewood tree. Pl: mrung. Variant:
marungga.
rotate piam. vt. 1 rotate; e.g. shake
ones head. 2 wave; e.g. wave ones
hands. Variant: viam.
rotten achesin. adj. 1 rotten; fester-
ing. 2 stinking.
rotten wood, piece of ~ chudichi. n.
303
run into
piece of rotten wood; e.g. from a fallen
tree that has rotted for several years.
Pl: chudi. Variant: kudichi.
roughly maslevr. adv. roughly; care-
lessly.
route ais. n. 1 track. 2 way; route.
3 transport. Variant: is.
row gumoram. n. row; loud noise. Note:
no endings.
row gumoram vt. vi-so. row; make a
loud noise. Note: no endings.
rub gueng bt. vt. 1 scrape. 2 rub.
Variant: choeng bt.
rub pel vt. vt. 1 rub. 2 wipe.
Variant: vel vt.
rub tneng n. vt. 1 spread. Variant:
neng n. 2 rub; massage. Variant:
neng n.
rubbish chlennggi. n. rubbish;
crumbs. Pl: chlenng. Variant:
klennggi.
rubbish tlnggi. n. rubbish. Pl: tlng.
Variant: thlnggi.
rubbish bin tlng angt uratki. n.
rubbish bin. Pl: tlng angt urat.
Variant: thlng angt uratki.
rugby ragbi. n. rugby. Note: no endings.
rule thondmga. n. 1 law. 2 rule.
Pl: thondm. Pl: athondm. Variant:
athondmka; thondmka.
ruler asuchutka. n. ruler. Pl: asuchut.
ruler rulacha. n. ruler. Pl: rula.
rules, keep to the ~ about some-
thing tp ma s. vt. respect; keep to
the rules about something. Variant:
thp ma s.
rules, set ~ tu ba. vt. set rules. Variant:
thu ba; du ba; mu ba.
run bang. sa-vi. 1 run; move quickly.
Usage: Refers to any kind of fast
movement. 2 come. Variant: vang;
pang; mbang.
run into tk mamr tm. vt. meet
someone accidentally; run into. Variant:
thk mamr tm.
run out say

run out lel s. vi-so. pour out; run out; vang vt.
spill out. rustle krtkrt s. vi-so. rustle. Variant:
run over bang vt. vt. run over. Variant: chrtkrt s.

S - s

sack bechi. n. bag; sack. Pl: bek. sandpaper senpepa. n. sandpaper.

Sacrament Sakramento. n.
ment.
sacred being thchnmucha. n. sa-
cred being; God the Everlasting. Pl:
thchnmu. Note: only th.
sad, be ~ irs. vi-so. 1 be sad.
2 worry.
sadness irski. n. sadness. Pl: irs.
sago palm saksaki. n. sago palm.
saksak.
saliva ayare. n. saliva.
saliva lmbut. n. saliva.
salt achirap. n. salt. Variant: chirap.
salt asol. n. salt.
salty agars. adj. salty.
anggars; agares.
salty, be ~ achrnas mt. vi-so. 1 be
brave. 2 be hard; be difficult.
3 be salty. Variant: chrnas mt.
same time, at the ~ as sdamr veia.
adv. at the same time as; while. Variant:
sndamr veia.
sanctify tamn dm. vt. 1 sanctify; in
Christian religious contexts.
2 bewitch; refers to speaking power
into something by sorcery. Variant:
thamn dm; methamn dm.
Sacra- sandy area chuanigl. n. sandy area.
Note: only ch.
sandy beach chunia. n. sandy beach. Pl:
chunink. Note: only ch.
sap anun'ga. n. 1 pus. 2 white sap
from a breadfruit or fig tree.
sap kthopka. n. sap. Pl: kthop. Variant:
chthopka.
Pl: sap niare. n. sap.
sap, fragrant ~ raiycha. n. 1 tree sp.;
grows along the coast and in the
mountains in the bush; the sap is fra-
grant and burns like wax.
2 fragrant sap from the tree with the
same name. Pl: raiyk.
Variant: sarong baulgi. n. wraparound skirt
(laplap); sarong; strip of cloth. Pl: baul.
Variant: mbaulgi.
Satan asingalka. n. 1 snake; worm;
generic term. 2 dangerous spirit.
3 Satan; devil. Pl: asingal. Variant:
singalka.
satisfied aron. adj. 1 satisfied.
2 proud; self-satisfied. Variant: ron.
saucepan sipen'gi. n. pot; saucepan. Pl:
sipen. Variant: sospen'gi.
save slamr n. vt. 1 cure. 2 save.

sand achun'ga. n. sand. Pl: achuan.

saved, be ~ bramr. sa-vi. 1 be res-
Variant: chun'ga.
cued; be saved. 2 recover. Variant:
vramr.
sand, large area of ~ achun'gi. n. large
area of sand. Pl: achuan. saviour areveikpmka. n. saviour;
redeemer.
sandflies achun'ga voes. n. sandflies.
Note: no endings.
saw arerika. n. saw. Pl: arerik. See:
socha saw.
sandfly sp. ainggrongini. n. sandfly
sp.; very tiny; sits on sores and food. saw socha. n. saw. Pl: so. See: arerika

Pl: ainggrong. Pl: ainggrongithong.

saw.
Variant: aigrongini. say kuar. vt. say. Variant: chuar.

304
say
say kuares. vt. say. Variant: chuares;
kurs.
scabies achammga. n. scabies. Pl:
achamm.
scale dldlka. n. scale of a fish. Pl:
dldl.
scar avuretki. n. scar. Pl: avuret. Variant:
awret.
scar biurka. n. scar. Pl: biur.
scared, be ~ irikin. vi-so. be terrified;
be scared.
scary thing thinggiaras. n. repulsive
thing; scary thing; something you do
not want to see or smell. Pl: thinggiar.
Variant: tinggiaras.
scatter ptpt na. vi-so. 1 fall.
2 scatter. Variant: vtpt.
scatter tat mt. vt. 1 share.
2 divide. 3 scatter. Variant: that
mt; dat mt; mat mt.
school sunaski. n. school. Pl: sunas.
school of tilapia makauves. n. school
of tilapia (makau).
scissors sisiska. n. scissors. Pl: sisis.
scorpion athmga. n. poisonous scor-
pion. Pl: athm.
scrape gueng. vt. scrape. Variant:
chueng.
scrape gueng bt. vt. 1 scrape.
2 rub. Variant: choeng bt.
scrape kiar. sa-vi. scrape; specifically
the dance step when you scrape your
feet along the ground. Variant: chiar.
scrape kiar vt. vt. scrape something
like a taro while roasting it. Variant:
chiar vt.
scrape lul s. sa-vi. graze; scratch;
scrape.
scraper rngska. n. scraper; grater.
Pl: rngs.
scratch lul s. sa-vi. graze; scratch;
scrape.
scratched, be ~ lul pt. vi-so. be
grazed; be scratched.
scratched up, be ~ lulul pt. vi-so. be
305
search out
scratched up.
scrawny, be ~ lalar pt. vi-so. be
scrawny; be emaciated; be very thin;
especially after a long illness.
scream raik dm. vi-so. scream.
screwdriver skrudraiva. n. screw-
driver.
script angthaik angtha chutkut.
n. script; handwriting. Morph: ang-
thaik angtha chutkut. Gloss: arms/hands
3PL.POSS writing.
sea agarski. n. sea. Variant:
anggarski; garski.
sea cucumber amangia. n. trepang;
sea cucumber. Pl: amang. Pl:
amanginnk. Variant: mangia.
sea cucumber sp. lachski. n. 1 fish
sp.; have yellow and brown stripes
along the body; up to 40 cm long.
2 sea cucumber sp.; brown and edi-
ble. 3 cucumber. Pl: lachs.
sea urchin sp. snoska. n. sea urchin
sp.; is covered in many spikes. Pl: snos.
sea urchin sp., large ~ snos ama mor.
n. large sea urchin sp.
sea worm sp. irokmonmonga. n. sea
worm sp.; grows up to 60 cm; very
slow moving; can attach to things us-
ing suction. Pl: irokmonmon.
seagrass achlachuas. n. 1 grass sp.;
tends to grow in old gardens; the
seeds stick to your legs. Morph: a=
chlachuas. Gloss: SPEC= grass.sp.
2 seaweed; seagrass; plants that
usually grow in shallow water; up to
20 cm in length; fish use it to hide in.
Variant: chlachuas.
seahawk achutathinmga. n. sea-
hawk. Morph: achutthinmka. Gloss:
spear-fish-M.SG. Pl: achutathinm.
search ngiem. sa-vi. 1 look; search.
2 shine, only of the sun. Variant:
ingim; ngim.
search around ngim mk. sa-vi. search
around.
search out bn bt. sa-vi. search out;
gather something that is scarce, e.g.
season
cocoa pods when the season has al-
ready finished. Variant: vn bt.
season chunng. n. 1 season.
2 occasion. Variant: kuneng.
season, rainy ~ avolam. n. rainy sea-
son.
seaweed achlachuas. n. 1 grass sp.;
tends to grow in old gardens; the
seeds stick to your legs. Morph: a=
chlachuas. Gloss: SPEC=grass.sp.
2 seaweed; seagrass; plants that
usually grow in shallow water; up to
20 cm in length; fish use it to hide in.
Variant: chlachuas.
section avrachi. n. section. Pl: avar. See:
varka boundary.
section, long ~ avrait. n. long section.
see naingm. sa-vi. 1 look around.
2 see. 3 watch. 4 appear; look
like. 5 shine. Variant: naingim.
see tlu. vt. see. Variant: lu; ndlu.
seed traingga. n. seed. Pl:
Variant: raingga.
seed pod of the chlmgi
tree chlmga. n. seed pod of the
chlmgi tree. Pl: chlm. Variant:
achlmga. Note: only ch.
self, one ~ -nas. derivational suffix.
oneself. Gram: Reflexive marker.
selfish man bunacha. n. 1 rich man.
2 selfish man. Pl: bunatha.
selfish man mumanaska. n. 1 selfish
man. 2 rich man; someone with lots
of money or pigs etc. Pl: mumanasta.
selfish woman bunachi. n. 1 rich
woman. 2 selfish woman.
selfish woman mumanaski. n. selfish
woman; rich woman.
self-satisfied aron. adj. 1 satisfied.
2 proud; self-satisfied. Variant: ron.
semen anun. n. semen.
send tk n. vt. 1 send. 2 work on.
Variant: thk n; tk na; thk na.
sentry sandricha. n. sentry.
serve kut. vt. serve. Variant: chut.
shake hands
set on fire tu mt. vt. set on fire. Variant:
thu mt; du mt; mu mt.
set out an area suchut m. vt.
1 measure. 2 set out or define an
area.
set rules tu ba. vt. set rules. Variant: thu
ba; du ba; mu ba.
settle srtik na. vt. 1 settle.
2 straighten out.
settle tuchun. sa-vi. 1 sit. 2 settle.
thuchun; duchun;
Variant: muchun;
mugun; munggun.
settle down tu av snng mamr.
sa-vi. calm down; settle down; relax.
Morph: tu av snng mamr. Gloss: put
3M.SG.POSS thoughts properly. Variant: du
av snng mamr; thu av snng
mamr; mu av snng mamr; tu ath
snng mamr.
settle ones stomach sepmaron vm
mes. sa-vi. settle ones stomach.
traing. sew kutm s. vt. sew. Variant: chutm
s.
sex, have ~ with beng. vt. have sex
with. Usage: This has developed into
the most salient sense of the stem
beng; note its earlier meaning con-
tinues in the form beng vt climb up.
shade aun'gi. n. 1 darkness.
2 shade; shadow. Pl: aun. Variant:
un'gi. See: ayauski shadow.
shadow ailachi. n. 1 image; picture;
photo; especially of a person.
2 shadow; reflection; especially of a
person. Pl: aila. Variant: ilachi; iluchi.
See: ayauski shadow.
shadow aun'gi. n. 1 darkness.
2 shade; shadow. Pl: aun. Variant:
un'gi. See: ayauski shadow.
shadow ayauski. n. shadow. Pl: ayaus.
See: ailachi shadow.
shake kuiep. sa-vi. shake. Note: only k.
shake ts tm. vt. shake. Variant: ths
tm; ds tm; ths t; ds t.
shake hands sangar glem na. sa-vi.
shake hands.
306
shake oneself
shake oneself kuevanas. sa-vi. shake
oneself. Note: only k.
shame chlepki. n. shame; shyness;
embarrassment. Pl: chlep. Variant:
klepki.
share tat mt. vt. 1 share. 2 divide.
3 scatter. Variant: that mt; dat mt;
mat mt.
shark banglka. n. shark. Pl: bangl.
sharp, be ~ atnes pt. vi-so. be sharp.
sharp, be ~ tnes. sa-vi. be sharp. Variant:
nes.
sharpen mnaing mt. vt. sharpen.
sharpen tpms vt. vt. sharpen.
Variant: thpms vt.
shatter puk tm. sa-vi. 1 erupt.
2 shatter; burst. Variant: vuk tm.
she ki. pro. she; it. Gram: Third person
feminine singular class two and class three
pronoun. Variant: chi; chit; gi; git; giet
(Abilta dialect).
she kia. pro. she; it. Gram: Third person
feminine singular class one pronoun. Variant:
chia; gia.
she ng. pro. he; she; it; they. Gram: Third
person neuter class one pronoun. Variant:
nga.
she ngthi. pro. he; she; it; they. Gram:
Third person neuter class two pronoun.
shed, copra ~ aus kopra. n. copra
shed; hut used to dry coconut and
store copra. Variant: us kopra.
shell ser tm. vt. shell; e.g. peanuts,
beans etc. Variant: ser t.
shell slavarki. n. shell; skin; specifi-
cally the discarded shell of a crab,
prawn, lobster, or a snake skin. Pl:
slavar.
shell, clam ~ achirka. n. shellfish sp.;
clam shell from the sea; is purple and
white; up to 8 cm across. Pl: achir.
shell, turtle ~ aluski. n. 1 turtle shell.
2 wooden bowl. Pl: alus. Variant:
luski.
shellfish sp. anlka. n. 1 shellfish sp.;
mussel; bivalve from the river that
307
shellfish sp.
lives in the mud at the bottom of the
river; dark brown outside and white
inside; people refine (mumu) these
shells, by fire, to get lime powder.
2 money; coin; kina. Pl: anal.
shellfish sp. aruthk. n. shellfish sp.;
found at the mouth of rivers. Usage:
Abilta dialect. See: kaliburburm
shellfish sp. Note: no endings.
shellfish sp. asuremgi. n. shellfish sp.;
lives on the reef; twisted cone with a
spiky mottled exterior and shiny white
interior; up to 10 cm long. Pl: asurem.
shellfish sp. chamotki. n. shellfish sp.;
large black shellfish from the river;
lives in the water during the day but
crawls up on stones at night to find
food. Pl: chamot. Variant: kamotki.
shellfish sp. chavithoski. n. shellfish
sp.; nautilus. Pl: chavithos. Variant:
kavithoski.
shellfish sp. chlom angt nank. n.
shellfish sp.; large shell, similar to a
conch; up to 25 cm long; used to make
buttons; has a large door. Pl: chlom
angt nankina.
shellfish sp. chlomgi. n. shellfish sp.;
lives on the reef; rounded spiral shell
with ridges; brown and white mottled
colour; up to 4 cm across; has a door.
Pl: chlom. Variant: klom; chlomga (Abilta
dialect).
shellfish sp. chulumga. n. shellfish sp.;
white cowrie shell. Pl: chulum. Variant:
kulumga.
shellfish sp. chunachacha. n. shellfish
sp.; found in the river; pointy black
shell; up to 5 cm long. Pl: chunak.
Variant: kunachacha.
shellfish sp. chunngngrngrka. n.
shellfish sp.; found on the reef;
rounded spiral with ridges; white in
colour. Pl:chunngngrngr. Variant:
kunngngrngrka. See: mros shell-
fish sp. (alternate name).
shellfish sp. churemgi. n. 1 palm sp.;
betel palm. 2 shellfish sp.; comes
from the sea; has an elongated spiral
shellfish sp.
shell up to 10 cm long. Pl: churem.
Variant: kuremgi.
shellfish sp. kabolocha. n. shellfish
sp.; chiton; found on reef close to the
beach; has a shell down the middle of
its back covered in small spiky hairs;
sticks to the reef; up to 8 cm long; is
flat and brown. Pl: kabolo. Variant:
chabolocha.
shellfish sp. kadumga. n. shellfish sp.;
found in the river; dark brown colour;
round shell; up to 2 cm across. Pl:
kadum. Variant: kadumbm; chadumga.
shellfish sp. kaliburburm. n. shell-
fish sp.; found in the lowest reaches of
the river; small; light brown shell with
spikes on its back. Usage: Abilta dia-
lect. Pl: kaliburbur. See: aruthk (Abilta
dialect) shellfish sp. Variant:
chaliburburm.
shellfish sp. kaliburburmaruthk.
n. shellfish sp.; found at the mouth of
rivers. See: kaliburburm (Abilta dialect)
shellfish sp.; aruthk (Abilta dialect)
shellfish sp. Note: no endings.
shellfish sp. merkuas. n. shellfish sp.;
found in the muddy part of deep water
in a river; have a black, short, twisted
cone. Variant: merkios; merkos. Note: no
endings.
shellfish sp. mros. n. shellfish sp.; lives
on the reef. See: chunngngrngrka
shellfish sp. (alternate name). Note: no
endings.
shellfish sp. saecha. n. shellfish sp.;
found on the reef; rounded cone up to
3 cm across; mottled brown colour
with small ridges. Pl: saek.
shellfish sp. suacha. n. shellfish sp.;
found in the river; rounded black shell
with red inside; lays its eggs on the
outside of its shell; up to 2 cm across.
Pl: suak.
shellfish sp. tavan'ga. n. shellfish sp.;
clam. Pl: tavan. Variant: thavan'ga;
tawan'ga.
shellfish sp. thvlka. n. shellfish sp.;
small abalone; shell is brown outside
308
shoot
and mother-of-pearl inside; is flat; up
to 6 cm long; shell covers its entire
back; can stick strongly to the reef;
lives out on the reef where the sea
breaks. Pl: thvl. Variant: tvlka.
shelter pusnas pt. vt. shelter. Variant:
vusnas pt.
sheltered place angthutki. n. shel-
tered place; specifically an area in a
valley below an overhanging cliff. Pl:
angthut.
shepherd tluvmka. n. 1 watchman.
2 shepherd. Pl: tluvmda.
shine naingm. sa-vi. 1 look around.
2 see. 3 watch. 4 appear; look
like. 5 shine. Variant: naingim.
shine ndrir. sa-vi. shine. Variant: niria.
shine niria. sa-vi. shine.
shine, only of the sun ngiem. sa-vi.
1 look; search. 2 shine, only of the
sun. Variant: ingim; ngim.
ship sipki. n. ship. Pl: sip.
shirt singgliski. n. t-shirt; shirt. Variant:
singiliski. Pl: singglis.
shirt siotki. n. shirt. Pl: siot.
shirt sravtki. n. shirt; clothes; uni-
form. Pl: sravt. Variant: sravtki.
shiver chn'gn bt. vi-so. 1 shiver.
2 tremble. Variant: chn'gn pt. Note:
only ch.
shock, get a ~ srmn gl. vi-so. get a
shock.
shocked, look ~ ngiem sravo. adv. look
worried; look surprised; look shocked;
people look like this, e.g. if there is a
fight happening but no-one knows
what is going on.
shoe alcharachi. n. shoe. Pl: alchar.
shoe suchi. n. shoe. Pl: su. See:
alcharachi shoe.
shoot tu. vt. shoot; throw something at
someone. Variant: thu.
shoot tuthik namt. vt. throw some-
thing at someone; shoot. Morph: tu=tik
na=mt. Gloss: put=hand from=within.
Variant: thuthik namt.
shoot at
shoot at tuthik mna. vt. shoot at.
Variant: thuthik mna.
shoot, leaf ~ avolacha. n. leaf shoot. Pl:
avol.
shoot randomly kut mes. vt. shoot
randomly. Variant: chut mes.
shoot with tu na. vt. shoot with. Variant:
thu na.
shore angtham. n. 1 shore; beach;
riverbank. 2 front. Morph: angtam.
Gloss: 3N.POSS-mouth. Variant: avam; vam.
shorewards muit. dir. 1 ashore;
shorewards. 2 across on same
level; towards. Variant: mit.
shorewards savono. dir. 1 upwards.
2 inland. 3 shorewards.
shorewards vono. dir. 1 up.
2 inland. 3 shorewards. Variant:
bono; pono.
short achuvt. adj. short. Variant:
chuvt.
short, be ~ buirut. vi-so. be short; be
stumpy; e.g. a dog with a cut off tail.
Variant: birut.
short one, any ~ nmbm. pro. any
short one. Gram: Reduced singular inter-
rogative pronoun.
short one, just that particular ~
chkchm. dem. just that particular
short one. Gram: Emphatic reduced singular
contrastive demonstrative. See: chchm
that particular short one.
short one, one ~ guachm. dem. one
short one. Gram: Reduced singular indefinite
demonstrative.
short one, that particular ~ kchm.
dem. that particular short one. Gram:
Reduced singular contrastive demonstrative.
Variant: km; chchm; achchm.
short one, the ~ ngam. pro. short one.
Gram: Reduced singular nominal pronoun.
short one, this particular ~ taith-
chm. dem. this particular short one.
Gram: Reduced singular proximate demon-
strative emphatic. Variant: thaithchm.
short one, this ~ ithchm. dem. this
309
short ones, these ~
short one. Gram: Reduced singular proxi-
mate demonstrative. Variant: ithcham;
tcham.
short ones, just those particular two ~
chkvam. dem. just those particular
two short ones. Gram: Emphatic reduced
dual contrastive demonstrative. See: chvam
those particular two short ones.
short ones, just those particular ~
chkvap. dem. just those particular
short ones. Gram: Emphatic reduced plural
contrastive demonstrative. See: chvap
those particular short ones.
short ones, some two ~ agivam. pro.
some two short ones. Gram: Reduced dual
indefinite pronoun. Variant: anggivam;
givam.
short ones, some ~ guavap. dem. some
short ones. Gram: Reduced plural indefinite
demonstrative.
short ones, the two ~ vam. pro. short
two. Gram: Reduced dual nominal pronoun.
short ones, the ~ ngavap. pro. short
ones. Gram: Reduced plural nominal pronoun.
short ones, the ~ ngigleng. pro. short
ones. Gram: Excised plural nominal pronoun.
short ones, the ~ vap. pro. short ones.
Gram: Reduced plural nominal pronoun.
short ones, these particular two ~ tai-
thvam. dem. these particular two
short ones. Gram: Reduced dual proximate
demonstrative emphatic. Variant: thaith-
vam.
short ones, these particular ~ taith-
vap. dem. these particular short ones.
Gram: Reduced plural proximate demon-
strative emphatic. Variant: thaithvap.
short ones, these two particular ~
pavvam. dem. these two particular
short ones. Gram: Reduced dual distal de-
monstrative emphatic. Variant: vavvam.
short ones, these two ~ ithvam. dem.
these two short ones. Gram: Reduced dual
proximate demonstrative. Variant: tvam.
short ones, these ~ ithvap. dem. these
short ones. Gram: Reduced plural proximate
demonstrative. Variant: tvap.
short ones, those particular two ~
short ones, those particular two ~
kglem. dem. those particular two
short ones. Gram: Reduced dual contrastive
demonstrative. Variant: chglem;
acheglem.
short ones, those particular two ~
kvam. dem. those particular two
short ones. Gram: Reduced dual contrastive
demonstrative. Variant: chvam; achvam.
See: chkvam just those particular
two short ones.
short ones, those particular ~ kvap.
dem. those particular short ones. Gram:
Reduced plural contrastive demonstrative.
Variant: chvap; achevap. See: chkvap
just those particular short ones.
short ones, those particular ~ pav-
vap. dem. those particular short ones.
Gram: Reduced plural distal demonstrative
emphatic. Variant: vavvap.
short ones, those two ~ avvam. dem.
those two short ones. Gram: Reduced dual
distal demonstrative. Variant: vvam.
short ones, two ~ guavam. dem. two
short ones. Gram: Reduced dual indefinite
demonstrative.
short person aruchm. n. short per-
son. Usage: Has a depreciative sense.
Pl: aruvap. Variant: ruchm.
short, that one avchm. dem. that
short one. Gram: Reduced singular distal
demonstrative. Variant: vchm; vcham;
avcham.
short thing, some ~ agichm. pro.
some short thing. Gram: Reduced singular
indefinite pronoun. Variant: anggichm;
gichm.
short thing, that particular ~ pav-
chm. dem. that particular short
thing. Gram: Reduced singular distal demon-
strative emphatic. Variant: vchm;
vavchm; bavchm.
short things, some ~ agivap. pro. some
short things. Gram: Reduced plural indefi-
nite pronoun. Variant: anggivap; givap.
short things, those ~ avvap. dem.
those short things. Gram: Reduced plural
distal demonstrative. Variant: vvap.
310
sick
short two, any ~, some ~ nmbap. pro.
any short two; some short two. Gram:
Reduced plural interrogative pronoun.
short two, the ~ iglem. pro. short two.
Gram: Excised dual reduced nominal pronoun.
short two, the ~ ngavam. pro. short
two. Gram: Reduced dual nominal pronoun.
short two, the ~ ngiglem. pro. short
two. Gram: Excised dual nominal pronoun.
shoulder alngini. n. shoulder. Pl:
alngithong. See: langga shoulder.
shoulder langga. n. shoulder. Pl: alang.
See: alngini shoulder.
shout nngguik. sa-vi. shout.
shout prk mt. vi-so. 1 be torn; be
ripped. 2 shout; yell. Variant: vrk
mt.
shout tns. sa-vi. call out; shout. Variant:
ns.
shout at nungguik vt. vt. shout at.
shout crossly gur. sa-vi. shout crossly.
shove tk pm. vt. shove. Variant: thk
pm.
show kur svt. vt. 1 show.
2 reveal; spot-light using a torch.
Variant: chur; kuar; chuar.
show kur tm. vt. show. Variant: chura
tm.
show kura. vt. show. Variant: chur.
shrink tu salel n. vt. shrink. Variant:
thu salel n.
shrink back sichirdot. vi-so. shrink
back, as for an octopus that realises it
has been seen; make yourself incon-
spicuous, e.g. if you are ashamed or to
avoid being volunteered to do some-
thing.
shy, be ~ klu vathm. vi-so. be shy.
Variant: chlu vathm.
shyness chlepki. n. shame; shyness;
embarrassment. Pl: chlep. Variant:
klepki.
sibling, small younger ~ alichini. n.
small younger sibling. Pl: alikithong.
sick arm. adj. sick.
sickness
sickness armgi. n. illness; disease;
sickness. Pl: arm.
side angthik. n. side.
side glingga. n. 1 place. 2 side.
glaing. Variant: glingga.
side by side ithmna. dir. side by side.
side by side pathm na. dir.
1 alongside; side by side. 2 with
each other; for each other.
3 parallel. Variant: vathm na; bathm
na.
side, from the other ~ naimuit. dir.
from the other side.
side, from the other ~ namethik. dir.
from the other side.
side, from ~ nathmuanp. dir. from
side. Variant: nathmoni; nathmonp.
side, on the other ~ imonp. dir. on the
other side. Variant: imuanp.
side, to the ~ nmni. prep. aside; to
the side.
side, to the ~ tmuit. dir. sidewards; to
the side. Variant: thmuit.
side, to the ~ of dgeling. dir. to the
side of.
side-dish amstmna. n. side-dish.
Variant: amstmini. Pl: amstm-
naithong.
sidewards tmuit. dir. sidewards; to
the side. Variant: thmuit.
sideways masechen. adv. 1 sideways.
2 unbalanced.
sighted man manaingimga.
sighted man. Pl: manaingimda.
sighted woman manaingimgi. n.
sighted woman. Pl: manaingimda. Pl:
manaingim.
sign su ba. vt. sign; make signs.
sign suchutka. n. 1 sign; mark.
2 line; boundary. Pl: suchut. Variant:
asuchut.
sign, no entry ~ arekrechi. n. sign on
path to prohibit people from going
along it, and by extension, a no entry
sign or gate. Pl: arekrek.
single-minded, be ~
signal tnap na. vt. wave; signal by us-
ing hand gestures to communicate.
Variant: nap na.
Pl: signs, make ~ su ba. vt. sign; make
signs.
silent mandinen. adj. silent.
silent, be ~ mnaman na. vi-so. 1 be
quiet. 2 be silent.
silent, be ~ mndinen. adv. be silent.
similar, be ~ klan. vt. be like; be simi-
lar. Variant: chlan; chlan; klan.
similarly doki. adv. 1 also; too.
2 similarly. Morph: da=koki. Gloss: and=
also. Variant: daki.
similarly koki. disc. also; similarly.
Variant: choki; oki.
similarly, that ~ moki. disc. that also;
that similarly; that another. Morph: ma
=koki. Gloss: REL=also.
simply kosa. disc. just; simply; as the
result of something undesirable hav-
ing happened. Variant: chusa.
simultaneously sna. adv. 1 altogether.
2 simultaneously. Variant: sna.
sin avu. n. sin. Note: no endings.
sin pekato. sa-vi. sin.
sin slavo. sa-vi. sin.
sin slavocha. n. sin. Pl: slavo.
sinful avu. adj. bad or sinful person.
sing tvng. sa-vi. sing. Variant: thvng.
sing in tvng mt. vt. sing in. Variant:
thvng mt.
n.
singapore chalun'ga. n. taro sp.; sin-
gapore. Pl: chalun. Variant: kalun'ga.
singapore, black ~ bukacha. n. taro
sp.; black singapore. Pl: buka.
singe pn dm. vi-so. 1 bite someone
out of anger. 2 singe; burn. Variant:
vn dm.
singer mambumtka. n. singer. Pl:
mambumtta.
single-minded, be ~ asok mt. vi-so.
1 be brave. 2 be determined; be
single-minded. 3 be strong. 4 be
311
sink
solid. 5 be challenging; e.g. a
game.
sink don. sa-vi. 1 go in; enter.
2 sink. 3 drown. 4 be stuck.
Variant: thon; mon.
sinner slavovmka. n. sinner.
slavovmta.
sinner, female ~ slavovmki. n. female
sinner.
sip praioik d. vt. sip; suck.
vraioik.
sister, older ~ matki. n. older sister.
sister, younger ~ aliki. n. younger sis-
ter.
sister-in-law chluchi. n. sister-in-law;
both the address and reference term;
used by a female speaker; refers to
both a womans husbands sister and
her brothers wife. Pl: chlutha. Variant:
kluchi.
sister-in-law oes nank. n. sister-in-
law; wife; address and reference term,
used by a male speaker or male ego.
Pl: oes nankina.
sister-in-law thuvski. n. mother-in-
law; sister-in-law; aunt-in-law; any
in-laws except ones wifes mothers
brother and his wife.
sisterless man, ~ boy chungacha. n.
1 tree sp.; casuarina. 2 sisterless
man; sisterless boy; a man or a boy
who does not have any sisters. Pl:
chuang. Variant: kungacha.
sit tuchun. sa-vi. 1 sit. 2 settle.
thuchun; duchun;
Variant:
mugun; munggun.
skeleton slvs. n. skeleton. Note: no
endings.
skill amundrm. n. 1 skill.
2 knowledge.
skin chndengga. n. skin. Pl: chndeng.
Variant: kndenggi. See: chndenggi
body, skin, bark, peel, rind.
skin chndenggi. n. 1 body.
2 skin; bark. 3 peel; rind.
chndeng. Variant: kndenggi;
kdenggi; chdenggi.
sling
chngdengga skin.
skin slavarki. n. shell; skin; specifically
the discarded shell of a crab, prawn,
lobster, or a snake skin. Pl: slavar.
skin, new ~ aithir. n. new growth; skin
Pl: or bark that grows in order to heal a
cut.
skinny, be ~ slp pt. vi-so. be skinny;
be bony.
Variant: skip prvr dm. vi-so. skip; either a
person making a small jump or
someone skipping rocks on the water.
Variant: vrvr dm.
skull slpki ama ngpuski. n. skull.
Pl: slp ama ngpus.
sky usupki. n. 1 sky. 2 heaven. Pl:
usp.
slap pai mt. vt. slap. Variant: vai mt.
slap pai vt. vt. slap. Variant: vai vt; vae
vt; wae vt.
slap oneself pai vthanas. sa-vi. slap
oneself. Variant: vai vthanas.
slate sleitigl. n. slate. Pl: sleit.
slate tapeligl. n. slate. Pl: tapel. Note:
only t.
sleep mnap. vi-so. sleep. Variant:
munap.
sleep mnapki. n. sleep. Pl: mnap. Pl:
munap. Variant: munpki.
sleep munap tm. vi-so. sleep. Variant:
mnatm; munatm.
sleep tas. sa-vi. 1 sleep. 2 lie down.
Variant: thas; das; mas.
muchun;
sleeping, keep ~ mumunatm. vi-so.
keep sleeping.
sleeping place namaski. n. sleeping
place. Pl: namas.
sleepy, be ~ mnap mt. vi-so. be
sleepy; be drowsy.
slice into krtp mn na. vt. slice into.
Variant: chrtp mn na.
slide tthuk. vi-so. slide; especially of
something like a landslide. Variant:
Pl:
ththuk.
See: sling avlika. n. sling. Pl: avlaik. Note:
312
slip away
only v.
slip away plikdm. vi-so. slip away.
Variant: vulikdm.
slip over plik s. vi-so. slip over.
Variant: vulik s; plaik s.
slippery asst. adj. smooth; slippery.
slow down mual tm. vi-so. slow down.
slowly machlak machlak. adv.
slowly.
slut nimulichi. n. slut; a woman who
sleeps around. Pl: nimulitha.
small alel. adj. small. Variant: lel.
small one, just that particular ~
chkni. dem. just that particular
small one. Gram: Emphatic diminutive sin-
gular contrastive demonstrative. See: chni
that particular small one.
small one, one ~ guani. dem. one small
one. Gram: Diminutive singular indefinite
demonstrative.
small one, that particular ~ kni. dem.
that particular small one. Gram: Diminu-
tive singular contrastive demonstrative.
Variant: chni; achni. See: chknijust
that particular small one.
small one, that particular ~ pavni.
dem. that particular small one. Gram:
Diminutive singular distal demonstrative em-
phatic. Variant: vavni; vaivni.
small one, that ~ avni. dem. that small
one. Gram: Diminutive singular distal demon-
strative. Variant: veni.
small one, the ~ ini. pro. small one.
Gram: Diminutive singular reduced nominal
pronoun.
small one, the ~ ngini. pro. small one.
Gram: Diminutive singular nominal pronoun.
small one, this particular ~ taithini.
dem. this particular small one. Gram:
Diminutive singular proximate demonstrative
emphatic. Variant: thaithini.
small one, this ~ ithini. dem. this small
one. Gram: Diminutive singular proximate
demonstrative. Variant: tni; tini (Abilta
dialect).
small one, which ~, some ~ nemini.
313
small ones, these two ~
pro. which small one; some small one.
Gram: Diminutive singular interrogative pro-
noun; also used to refer to people; can imply
attenuative meaning; can be used in indefinite
contexts.
small ones, just those particular two ~
chkthom. dem. just those par-
ticular two small ones. Gram: Emphatic
diminutive dual contrastive demonstrative.
See: chthom those particular two
small ones.
small ones, just those particular ~
chkthong. dem. just those par-
ticular small ones. Gram: Emphatic di-
minutive plural contrastive demonstrative.
See: chthong those particular small
ones.
small ones, some two ~ agithom. pro.
some two small ones. Gram: Diminutive
dual indefinite pronoun. Variant: anggithom;
githom.
small ones, some ~ agithong. pro.
some small ones. Gram: Diminutive plural
indefinite pronoun. Variant: anggithong;
githong.
small ones, some ~ guathong. dem.
some small ones. Gram: Diminutive plural
indefinite demonstrative.
small ones, the ~ ithong. pro. small
ones. Gram: Diminutive plural reduced
nominal pronoun.
small ones, the ~ ngithong. pro. small
ones. Gram: Diminutive plural nominal pro-
noun.
small ones, these particular two ~ tai-
thithom. dem. these particular two
small ones. Gram: Diminutive dual proxi-
mate demonstrative emphatic. Variant: thai-
thithom.
small ones, these particular ~ taithi-
thong. dem. these particular small
ones. Gram: Diminutive plural proximate
demonstrative emphatic. Variant:
thaithithong; taiththong.
small ones, these two ~ ithithom. dem.
these two small ones. Gram: Diminutive
dual proximate demonstrative. Variant:
tithom.
small ones, these ~
small ones, these ~ ithithong. dem.
these small ones. Gram: Diminutive plural
proximate demonstrative. Variant: tithong;
iththong.
small ones, those particular two ~
kthom. dem. those particular two
small ones. Gram: Diminutive dual contras-
tive demonstrative. Variant: achthom;
chthom. See: chkthom just those
particular two small ones.
small ones, those particular two ~
pavthom. dem. those particular two
small ones. Gram: Diminutive dual distal
demonstrative emphatic. Variant: vavthom;
vaivthom.
small ones, those particular ~ k-
thong. dem. those particular small
ones. Gram: Diminutive plural contrastive
demonstrative. Variant: chthong; ach-
thong. See: chkthong just those
particular small ones.
small ones, those two ~ avthom. dem.
those two small ones. Gram: Diminutive
dual distal demonstrative. Variant: vethom;
athom (Karong dialect).
small ones, two ~ guathom. dem. two
small ones. Gram: Diminutive dual indefinite
demonstrative.
small ones, which ~, some ~ nemi-
thom. pro. which two small ones;
some two small ones. Gram: Diminutive
dual interrogative pronoun; also used to refer
to people; can imply attenuative meaning; can
be used in indefinite contexts.
small ones, which ~, some ~ nemi-
thong. pro. which small ones; some
small ones. Gram: Diminutive plural inter-
rogative pronoun; also used to refer to people;
can imply attenuative meaning; can be used in
indefinite contexts.
small thing, some ~ againi. pro. some
small thing. Gram: Diminutive singular in-
definite pronoun. Variant: anggini; gaini.
small thing, some ~ agini. pro. some
small thing. Gram: Diminutive singular in-
definite pronoun. Variant: anggini; gaini.
small things, those particular ~
paivthong. dem. those particular
314
~
small things. Gram: Diminutive plural distal
demonstrative emphatic. Variant: avthong;
vaivthong; pavthong; bavthong.
small things, those ~ avthong. dem.
those small things. Gram: Diminutive plu-
ral distal demonstrative. Variant: vthong;
athong (Abilta dialect).
small two, any ~, some ~ nmbam.
pro. any small two; some small two.
Gram: Reduced dual interrogative pronoun.
small two, the ~ ithom. pro. small two.
Gram: Diminutive dual reduced nominal pro-
noun.
small two, the ~ ngithom. pro. small
two. Gram: Diminutive dual nominal pronoun.
smell angthn'ga. n. odour; smell. Pl:
angthn.
smell prn dm. vt. sniff; smell.
Variant: vrn dm.
smell prn svt. vt. smell. Variant:
vrn svt.
smelly, be ~ ten pthanas. sa-vi. be
smelly. Variant: then pthanas.
smelly place athinggiaras. n. filthy or
smelly place. Variant: tinggiaras.
smile gesik mt. vi-so. smile.
smoke chulski. n. 1 smoke.
2 steam. Pl: chuls. Variant: kulski.
smoke nangasachi. n. smoke. Pl:
nangas.
smooth asst. adj. smooth; slippery.
smooth ast. adj. smooth. Variant: st.
snail sp. chloingga. n. bush snail;
brown and white spiral shell; is up to
2 cm across. Pl: chloing.
snake asingalka. n. 1 snake; worm;
generic term. 2 dangerous spirit.
3 Satan; devil. Pl: asingal. Variant:
singalka.
snake aulan'gi. n. python; snake; ge-
neric term. Pl: aulan.
snake, large ~ asingalki. n. 1 female
spirit. 2 large snake; generic term.
snake, lazy boy ~ iluingm. n. snake
sp.; lazy boy snake; grey; has a short
snake sp.
tail; sleeps a lot; has white blood that
looks like milk; people play with it by
touching a stick under their armpit
then putting the stick near the snakes
nose to make it jump. Pl: iluing.
snake sp. amdalpka. n. snake sp.; has
white, black, and yellow stripes; has a
small head; goes underwater to catch
eels; can kill other snakes. Pl:
amndalp.
snake sp. anabuvm. n. snake sp.;
poisonous; brown; up to 60 cm long;
strikes fast but runs away when it
smells people; sleeps under rubbish,
leaves, or dead wood; related to the
amdalpka species. Pl: anabuvap.
snake sp. aulan'gi ama blbualki. n.
snake sp.; black, long, and flat like a
belt; does not run away when ap-
proached. Pl: aulan ama blbual.
snake sp. aulan'gi ama vonbon'gi. n.
snake sp.; silvery colour; edible. Pl:
Aulan ama vonbon.
snake sp. avilucha. n. snake sp.; grey,
long and thin; moves fast; eats eggs.
Pl: avilu.
snake sp. baulcha snguvs. n. snake
sp.; poisonous; black with a coloured
band around its neck; its head breaks
off if it bites you. Pl: baulcha
sngangtps.
snake sp. iluingm. n. snake sp.; lazy
boy snake; grey; has a short tail;
sleeps a lot; has white blood that looks
like milk; people play with it by
touching a stick under their armpit
then putting the stick near the snakes
nose to make it jump. Pl: iluing.
snake sp. salilibonggi. n. snake sp.;
greenish with rainbow colours and a
white belly; hunts around small pools
in creeks; eats frogs and prawns; if
disturbed it will hiss, swell up, and hit
you with its tail to frighten you, then it
runs away. Pl: salilibong.
snake sp., sea ~ athibunuchi. n. sea
snake sp.; black and white; long with a
small head; has an aggressive tem-
315
so that
perament; lives around reefs. Pl:
athibunu.
snap bing mni. vt. break or snap;
especially of a rope. Note: only b.
snap pl mni. vi-so. snap. Variant: vl
mni.
snap tanger vt. vt. 1 snap; break off.
2 spear. Variant: thanger vt.
snap off tik tm. vt. 1 pick.
2 break. 3 snap off. Variant: thik
tm; tik t; thik t.
sneak up sisit na. vt. sneak up; creep
up; refers to moving quietly and
slowly without being seen.
sneeze kies sa. vi-so. sneeze. See:
kiskisa sneeze repeatedly. Note: only k.
sneeze kiskisa. vi-so. sneeze repeat-
edly. Variant: kikisa. See: kies sa
sneeze. Note: only k.
sniff prn dm. vt. sniff; smell. Variant:
vrn dm.
snore asureng. vi-so. snore.
snoring person asurngga. n. snoring
person.
snotty nose, have a ~ genaing
genaing mt. vi-so. have a snotty
nose; be heavily congested.
so nik. coord. so.
so sa. disc. 1 then. Gram: Clause initial
discourse marker. Introduces a new event
frame. 2 so. 3 already. Gram: Re-
sultative marker. 4 for a while. Gram: In
clause final position. 5 Gram: Imperative
marker.
so, and ~ dasa. coord. and so; then.
Morph: da=sa. Gloss: and=then. Variant:
dsa.
so, and ~ niki. coord. and so.
so, and ~ nisa. coord. and so. Variant:
nasa; niska.
so that dai asik. subord. so that.
so that ivasa. subord. so that. Morph: iva
=sa. Gloss: in.order.to=then.
so that va sa. subord. so that. Note: only v.
so that va sik. subord. so that.
soft
soft achelak. adj. soft. Morph: a=chelak.
Gloss: SPEC=soft. Variant: achlach.
soft, be ~ achlach mt. vi-so. be soft.
soft, be ~ malum na. vi-so. be soft; e.g.
the texture of bread dough.
soften tu chelak tm. vt. please; do
something to soften the other person.
Variant: thu chelak tm; du chelak tm;
mu chelak tm.
softly chlak. adv. softly. Note: only ch.
soil ivtki. n. 1 earth; soil; dirt.
2 land. Pl: ivt. 3 world; planet
earth. Variant: ivitki.
soil, loose ~ chrechacha. n. loose soil.
Pl: chrech. Variant: krechacha;
chrechacha.
soldier kembecha. n. soldier; specifi-
cally a National soldier enlisted with
the Japanese during World War 2. Pl:
kembechna.
solid asok. adj. solid.
solid, be ~ asok mt. vi-so. 1 be brave.
2 be determined; be single-minded.
3 be strong. 4 be solid. 5 be
challenging; e.g. a game.
soldier gamarvmga. n. soldier.
some anga. np art. 1 some. Gram:
Non-specific indefinite NP article. 2 any.
Gram: Non-specific indefinite NP article.
some angama. np art. 1 some. Gram:
Non-specific NP article. 2 any. Gram:
Non-specific indefinite NP article.
some anggia. np art. some. Gram: Specific
indefinite NP article.
some anggung. dem. 1 some. Gram:
Count neutral indefinite demonstrative.
2 any; anything. Gram: Count neutral in-
definite demonstrative.
some flat ones agimlk. pro. some
flat ones. Gram: Flat plural indefinite pro-
noun. Variant: anggimlk; gimlk.
some flat ones guamlk. dem. some
flat ones. Gram: Flat plural indefinite de-
monstrative.
some flat ones guavs. dem. some flat
ones. Gram: Flat plural indefinite demon-
316
some of your
strative.
some flat thing agivs. pro. some flat
thing. Gram: Flat singular indefinite pronoun.
Variant: anggivs.
some large one aginait. pro. some
large one. Gram: Extended singular indefi-
nite pronoun. Variant: angginait; ginait.
some large one nemiavchit. pro.
which large one. Gram: Extended singular
interrogative pronoun; can be used in indefi-
nite contexts.
some large ones agink. pro. some
large ones. Gram: Extended plural indefinite
pronoun. Variant: anggink; gink.
some large ones guank. dem. some
large ones. Gram: Extended plural indefinite
demonstrative.
some large ones nemink. pro. which
large ones; some large ones. Gram: Ex-
tended plural interrogative pronoun; used in a
joking way to refer to people and implies
something about their large size; can be used
in indefinite contexts.
some large two nminm. pro. which
large two; some large two. Gram: Ex-
tended dual interrogative pronoun; used in a
joking way to refer to people and implies
something about their large size; can be used
in indefinite contexts.
some long ones agiseng. pro. some
long ones. Gram: Long plural indefinite
pronoun. Variant: anggiseng; giseng.
some long ones guaseng. dem. some
long ones. Gram: Long plural indefinite de-
monstrative.
some long ones nmiseng. pro. which
long ones. Gram: Long plural interrogative
pronoun; can be used in indefinite contexts.
some long thing agivet. pro. some long
thing. Gram: Long singular indefinite pro-
noun. Variant: anggivet; givet.
some of my guanga. pro. some of my.
Gram: First person singular possessive pro-
noun and non-specific possessive pronoun.
Morph: gu=anga. Gloss: 1SG.POSS=
NSPEC.
some of your anganama. pro. some of
some of your
your. Gram: Second person plural possessive
pronoun and non-specific possessive pronoun.
Morph: angan=ma. Gloss: 2PL.POSS=
EMPH.
some of your angnanga. pro. some of
your. Gram: Second person plural possessive
pronoun and non-specific possessive pronoun.
Morph: angn=anga. Gloss: 2PL.POSS=
NSPEC.
some of your gianga. pro. some of
your. Gram: Second person singular posses-
sive pronoun and non-specific possessive pro-
noun. Morph: gi=anga. Gloss: 2SG.POSS=
NSPEC.
some people ath. pro. some people.
Gram: Human plural indefinite pronoun.
some people guavek. dem. some peo-
ple. Gram: Human plural indefinite demon-
strative.
some piece agigl. pro. some piece.
Gram: Excised singular indefinite pronoun.
Variant: anggigl; gigl.
some piece nmigl. pro. which piece;
some piece. Gram: Excised singular inter-
rogative pronoun; used in a joking way to refer
to people and implies something about their
large size; can be used in indefinite contexts.
Variant: neminggl.
some pieces agigleng. pro. some
pieces. Gram: Excised plural indefinite pro-
noun. Variant: anggigleng; gigleng.
some pieces guagleng. dem. some
pieces. Gram: Excised plural indefinite de-
monstrative.
some pieces nmigleng. pro. which
pieces; some pieces. Gram: Excised plural
interrogative pronoun; used in a joking way to
refer to people and implies something about
their large size; can be used in indefinite con-
texts.
some short one nmbm. pro. any
short one. Gram: Reduced singular inter-
rogative pronoun.
some short ones guavap. dem. some
short ones. Gram: Reduced plural indefinite
demonstrative.
some short thing agichm. pro. some
317
some two long ones
short thing. Gram: Reduced singular indefi-
nite pronoun. Variant: anggichm; gichm.
some short things agivap. pro. some
short things. Gram: Reduced plural indefi-
nite pronoun. Variant: anggivap; givap.
some short two nmbap. pro. any short
two; some short two. Gram: Reduced
plural interrogative pronoun.
some small one nemini. pro. which
small one; some small one. Gram: Di-
minutive singular interrogative pronoun; also
used to refer to people; can imply attenuative
meaning; can be used in indefinite contexts.
some small ones agithong. pro. some
small ones. Gram: Diminutive plural indefi-
nite pronoun. Variant: anggithong;
githong.
some small ones guathong. dem. some
small ones. Gram: Diminutive plural indefi-
nite demonstrative.
some small ones nemithong. pro.
which small ones; some small ones.
Gram: Diminutive plural interrogative pronoun;
also used to refer to people; can imply attenu-
ative meaning; can be used in indefinite con-
texts.
some small thing againi. pro. some
small thing. Gram: Diminutive singular in-
definite pronoun. Variant: anggini; gaini.
some small thing agini. pro. some
small thing. Gram: Diminutive singular in-
definite pronoun. Variant: anggini; gaini.
some small two nmbam. pro. any
small two; some small two. Gram: Re-
duced dual interrogative pronoun.
some two flat ones agimlm. pro.
some two flat ones. Gram: Flat dual in-
definite pronoun. Variant: anggimlm;
gimlm.
some two large ones aginm. pro.
some two large ones. Gram: Extended
dual indefinite pronoun. Variant: anginm;
ginm.
some two long ones agisem. pro. some
two long ones. Gram: Extended dual in-
definite pronoun. Variant: anggisem;
gisem.
some two long ones something

some two long ones nemisem. pro. people. Gram: Feminine dual interrogative
which two long ones; some two long pronoun.
ones. Gram: Long dual interrogative pronoun; some two things nemiom. pro. which
used in a joking way to refer to people and im- two people; which two things; some
plies something about their large size; can be two people. Gram: Masculine dual inter-
used in indefinite contexts. rogative pronoun; can be used in indefinite
some two people agivem. pro. some contexts.
two people; some two things. Gram: someone agicha. pro. someone; some-
Feminine dual indefinite pronoun. Variant: thing. Gram: Masculine singular indefinite
anggivem; givem. pronoun. Variant: anggicha; gicha.
some two people, things nmbem. someone agichi. pro. something; some-
pro. any two people; any two things; one. Gram: Feminine singular indefinite pro-
some two people. Gram: Feminine dual noun. Variant: anggichi; gichi.
interrogative pronoun.
someone agiom. pro. two of something;
some two people, things nemiom. pro. two unidentified people. Gram: Mascu-
which two people; which two things; line dual indefinite pronoun. Variant:
some two people. Gram: Masculine dual anggiom; giom.
interrogative pronoun; can be used in indefi-
nite contexts.
someone aguik. pro. something;
someone. Gram: Feminine singular indefinite
some two pieces agiglem. pro. some pronoun. Variant: angguik.
two pieces. Gram: Excised dual indefinite
pronoun. Variant: anggiglem; giglem.
someone angitha. pro. 1 anyone.
Gram: Human plural indefinite pronoun.
some two pieces nmiglem. pro. 2 someone. Gram: Human plural indefinite
which two pieces; some two pieces. pronoun.
Gram: Excised dual interrogative pronoun;
used in a joking way to refer to people and im-
someone aung. dem. 1 someone;
plies something about their large size; can be
something. Gram: Masculine singular in-
definite demonstrative. 2 anyone; any-
used in indefinite contexts.
thing. Gram: Masculine singular indefinite
some two short ones agivam. pro. demonstrative.
some two short ones. Gram: Reduced dual
indefinite pronoun. Variant: anggivam;
someone aungguik. dem. 1 someone;
givam.
something. Gram: Feminine singular indefi-
nite demonstrative. 2 anyone; any-
some two small ones agithom. pro. thing. Gram: Feminine singular indefinite
some two small ones. Gram: Diminutive demonstrative.
dual indefinite pronoun. Variant: anggithom;
githom.
something agia. pro. something. Gram:
Count neutral indefinite pronoun. Variant:
some two small ones nemithom. pro. anggia.
which two small ones; some two small
ones. Gram: Diminutive dual interrogative something agicha. pro. someone;
pronoun; also used to refer to people; can imply
something. Gram: Masculine singular in-
definite pronoun. Variant: anggicha; gicha.
attenuative meaning; can be used in indefinite
contexts. something agichi. pro. something;
some two things agivem. pro. some someone. Gram: Feminine singular indefinite
pronoun. Variant: anggichi; gichi.
two people; some two things. Gram:
Feminine dual indefinite pronoun. Variant: something agingt. pro. something.
anggivem; givem. Gram: Count neutral indefinite pronoun.
Variant: anggingt; gingt; dingt
some two things nmbem. pro. any
(Abilta dialect).
two people; any two things; some two

318
something spear

something agiom. pro. two of some- ative.

thing; two unidentified people. Gram: sore athopki. n. 1 cut; sore.
Masculine dual indefinite pronoun. Variant: 2 ulcer. Pl: athop.
anggiom; giom.
sore on the head sulka. n. 1 piece of
something aguik. pro. something; coral. 2 sore on the head. Pl: sul.
someone. Gram: Feminine singular indefinite
pronoun. Variant: angguik.
sorry, feel ~ tlavuchi na. vt. pity; feel
sorry.
something aung. dem. 1 someone;
something. Gram: Masculine singular in- soul chlochacha. n. 1 core; innermost
definite demonstrative. 2 anyone; any-
part. 2 inside part of something.
3 soul. Pl: chlok. Variant: chlochacha.
thing. Gram: Masculine singular indefinite
Note: only ch.
demonstrative.
something aungguik. dem. sound raun'ga. n. sound. Pl: raun.
1 someone; something. Gram: Feminine sound, warning ~ paret. n. warning
singular indefinite demonstrative. sound.
2 anyone; anything. Gram: Feminine soup chulpki. n. 1 bowl of water.
singular indefinite demonstrative. 2 soup. Variant: kulp.
something guang. dem. something. sour, be ~ dm. sa-vi. be sour.
Gram: Count neutral indefinite demonstrative.
source arembm. n. 1 buttock. 2 n.
something is going to happen to source; cause; reason. See: aremgi
someone sa kuat na. interj. some- buttock; source; cause; reason.
thing is going to happen to someone.
source aremgi. n. 1 buttock.
sometime mchvs. adv. 2 base. 3 source; cause; reason.
1 sometime. 2 sometimes. Pl: arem. Variant: rem. See: arembm
3 again. Variant: machavs; mchuvs. buttock; remini base; source; cause.
See: kvs when.
source remini. n. base; source; cause.
sometimes mchvs. adv.
sow vlmgi. n. 1 sow. 2 large pig.
1 sometime. 2 sometimes.
3 reef fish sp.; brown; has a nose
3 again. Variant: machavs; mchuvs.
like a pigs; is up to 1 m long. Pl: vlam.
See: kvs when.
Variant: plmgi; plmgi; vlmgi.
somewhere nania vik. adv. some-
space blinggi. n. 1 space.
where.
2 forehead. Pl: blaing.
son athoemga. n. 1 child. 2 son.
space luchupki. n. 1 space; e.g. the
3 student. 4 assistant. Morph: at=
space of a playground or dancing
oemka. Gloss: 3F.SG.POSS child-M.SG. Pl:
ground. 2 baldness; bald head. Pl:
athoes. Variant: thoemga; =oes; =emga;
luchuap.
=oemga.
space, small ~ luchuvini. n. small
song athvngi. n. song; specifically
space. Pl: luchuvithong.
the songs used in conjunction with
day dances. Pl: athvng. Variant: spark aisinggi. n. 1 spark.
thvnggi. 2 ember. Pl: aisaing.

song mambuchi. n. 1 choir; orches- sparrow savangini. n. bird sp.; spar-

tra; the singers and drummers at a row. Pl: savang.
day dance or night dance. 2 song. speak tamn. sa-vi. speak. Variant:
Pl: mambu. thamn; methamn; tamon; thamon;
song, small ~ mambuini. n. small song. methamon.
Usage: Diminutive use here is attenu- spear achepki. n. spear. Morph: a=

319
spear
chepki. Gloss: SPEC=spear-F.SG. Pl:
achep. Variant: chepki.
spear kut. vt. 1 pierce. 2 spear.
3 inject. Variant: chut; kut; chut.
spear kut m. vt. spear.
spear tanger vt. vt. 1 snap; break
off. 2 spear. Variant: thanger vt.
spear, fishing ~ chevs. n. fishing
spear; has many prongs. Pl:
chevimlk. Note: only ch.
spear, iron ~ aen'ga. n. iron spear. Pl:
aen. Variant: en'ga.
spear, short iron ~ aenm. n. short iron
spear for husking coconuts. Variant:
enm.
spearfishing, go ~ glas. sa-vi. dive; go
spearfishing.
special one aka. n. one and only; spe-
cial one. Pl: athei.
speck chlenngini. n. speck. Pl:
chlenngithong.
speck nauska. n. speck. Variant: nauski.
speech amethamn'gi. n.
1 language. 2 speech.
3 message. 4 orders; instructions.
Pl: amethamn. Variant: amethamon'gi.
spell, magic ~ avsvesini. n. 1 magic
spell; curse. 2 charm; an object
that carries magical power. Variant:
vsves.
spider chumangacha. n. spider; ge-
neric term. Pl: chumang. Variant:
kumangacha.
spider sp. chabunginngin'ga. n. spi-
der sp.; black and yellow; similar to the
chumangdalska species but smaller;
builds a web. Pl: chabunginngin.
Variant: kabunginngin'ga.
spider sp. chumangdalska. n. spider
sp.; large black spider with yellowish
stripes; builds a strong web that small
bats sometimes get caught in. Pl:
chumangdalas. Variant: kumangdalska.
spider sp. srebaingbainggi. n. spider
sp.; greyish brown; lives in trees;
stretches its legs out to the front and
320
spinal cord
back so that it looks thin; up to 6 cm
long, including its legs; builds a small
web on the tree. Pl: srebaingbaing.
spider web masar. n. spider web.
spike of an orange tree mulichm. n.
spike of an orange tree. Pl: mulivap.
spikes ansnes. n. spikes. Note: no
endings.
spikey, be ~ ansnes vt. vi-so. be
spiky. Variant: nesnes pt.
spill sruk. vt. pour; spill; tip out; spe-
cifically of dry things such as gravel.
spill out lel s. vi-so. pour out; run out;
spill out.
spinach leaf, native ~ aichilves. n. na-
tive spinach (aibika) leaf.
spinach, native ~ aichil. n. native
spinach (aibika). See: auravu native
spinach (aibika).
spinach, native ~ aichilki. n. native
spinach (aibika); refers to the whole
plant.
spinach, native ~ auravu. n. native
spinach (aibika). Usage: This word is
newer than aichil. See: aichil native
spinach (aibika).
spinach, native ~ auravuchi. n. native
spinach (aibika).
spinach, native ~ leaf auravuves. n.
native spinach (aibika) leaf.
spinach stem, native ~ chriduchi. n.
native spinach (aibika) stem; used for
replanting. Usage: Abilta dialect. Pl:
chridu. Variant: kriduchi.
spinach stem, native ~ trutki. n.
1 small root of a tree or plant, espe-
cially banana, native spinach (aibika),
or peanut plant. 2 native spinach
(aibika) stem; used for planting. Pl:
trut. Variant: rutki.
spinach tip, native ~ laguain'ga. n.
native spinach (aibika) tip. Pl: laguain.
spinach top, native ~ aichilka. n. na-
tive spinach (aibika) top that is used
for cooking.
spinal cord chusemga. n. spinal cord.
spine squawk

Variant: kusemga.
spine buthicha. n. spine; back.
buthi.
spirit arachtki. n. spirit from a spirit
mask; these spirits can go into some-
one (especially a woman) and make
her act crazy, e.g. shouting out and
taking her clothes off; someone who
knows an appropriate charm must
speak it into lime powder and then
spread the lime powder on the
womans face, ears, and body.
spirit ayauska. n. spirit. Pl: ayaus.
spirit saluk athoemga. n. spirit;
mountain spirit that lives in the wild
palm; if you touch the leaves of the
palm you become confused and wan-
der off in the wrong direction. Pl: saluk
athoes.
spirit tomga. n. spirit; ghost. Variant:
thomga.
spirit, dangerous ~ asingalka. n.
1 snake; worm; generic term.
2 dangerous spirit. 3 Satan; devil.
Pl: asingal. Variant: singalka.
spirit, female ~ asingalki. n. 1 female
spirit. 2 large snake; generic term.
spirit level amumamrnacha. n. spirit
level. Pl: amumamrnangt.
split lik mt. vt. 1 rip off; tear off.
Pl: 2 split; break apart.
split tigil mt. vt. split. Variant: thigil
mt.
split tigl tm. vt. 1 split. 2 cut up.
Variant: thigl tm.
split apart lr snas. sa-vi. split apart;
as when something breaks up from
within.
spoilt angguvang. adj. 1 spoilt.
2 bad. Variant: angguang; guvang.
spoon sipun'ga. n. spoon; especially
something about the size of a dessert
spoon or soup spoon. Pl: sipun.
spoon, large ~ sipun'gi. n. large spoon;
e.g. a serving spoon. Pl: sipun.
spoon, small ~ sipunini. n. small spoon;
teaspoon.
spot vlochm. n. spot. Pl: vlok. Variant:
plochm.
spotlight kur svt. vt. 1 show.
2 reveal; spot-light using a torch.
Variant: chur; kuar; chuar.
spouse lugutka. n. husband. Pl:
lugutvek. lunggutka; ungut
Variant:
(Abilta dialect); agut (Abilta dialect).
See: aruacha friend; often used to re-
fer to spouses.

spirit that causes illness chavatka. n. spread preng. vt. spread. Variant: vreng;
vrang; prang.
spirit that causes illness. Pl: chavat.
Variant: kavatka. spread tneng n. vt. 1 spread. Variant:
neng n. 2 rub; massage. Variant:
spirit world asingal. n. spirit world.
neng n.
Note: no endings.
spit kot. sa-vi. spit. Variant: chot. sprout pupuik n. vi-so. sprout. Variant:
vuvuik n.
spit at kot pt. vt. spit on; spit at.
Variant: chot pt.
sprout purvur. vi-so. sprout. Variant:
vurvur.
spit on kot pt. vt. spit on; spit at.
Variant: chot pt.
spy bing dm. vt. spy. Variant: ving dm;
bing d; ving d.
splash kuasin svt. vt. splash. Variant:
chuasin.
spy chaseska. n. spy.

splash seseraik. n. splash. spy on ben sachong. sa-vi. 1 spy on.

2 check with a glance.
spleen lamsigl. n. spleen. Pl:
lamsinggleng. Variant: lamsinggl.
squatting dalias. adv. squatting. Note:
only d.
split lr dm. vt. 1 tear. 2 split.
3 chop. Variant: ler d.
squawk klrklr. sa-vi. squawk;

321
squeak still not

make the cry of a parrot. Variant: 3M.SG.I-decline.PAST-fart-F.SG. Variant:

chlrklr. kamerabpki.
squeak ngngeng d. vi-so. squeak; star, morning ~ chunengm. n.
squeal. morning star. Variant: kunengm.
squeal ngngeng d. vi-so. squeak; starfish sp. tasingl. n. starfish sp.;
squeal. live on the reef; two types, both with
squeeze tepmuan. vt. squeeze. Variant: four arms: one is red and covered in
thepmuan. poisonous spikes, the other is blue
and has spikes on its back. Pl: task. Pl:
squid dorlaicha. n. squid. Pl: dorlai. tasigleng.
squirt excreta pupurik. sa-vi. squirt start benaseng. sa-vi. start; begin.
excreta. Variant: venaseng.
squirt excreta saik da ves. vi-so. squirt start denachi. sa-vi. start. Variant:
excreta. ndenachi; thenachi; memachi.
stab repeatedly kutik namt. vt. poke start tchm. vt. start. Variant: thcham;
repeatedly; stab repeatedly. Variant: dcham.
chutik namt.
stay kule. vi-so. stay. Variant: chule.
stack kut. vt. stack. Variant: chut.
steal svo. sa-vi. steal. Variant: swo; svau.
stairs letacha. n. stairs. Pl: leta.
steal svo t. vt. steal. Variant: svau th;
stalk trutka. n. stalk; specifically the svo t.
central stalk in some fruits; there is
one inside tapioca and pau nuts grow steam chulski. n. 1 smoke.
along one. Pl: trut. Variant: rutka. 2 steam. Pl: chuls. Variant: kulski.

stalk of sword grass chvaika. n. stalk step vnbenbs. n. step. Pl:

of sword grass (kunai). Variant:
kvaika.
stamp tbut tbut s. vi-so. stamp.
Variant: thbut tbut s.
stamping tbut tbut. n. stamping.
Note: only t.
vnbenimlk. Note: only v.
step on bias. vt. step on. Variant: vias.
stick angmngga. n. 1 tree.
2 stick; piece of wood. Morph: ang=
mngka. Gloss: 3.CN.POSS=wood-M.SG.
Pl: angmng.

stand tair. sa-vi. 1 stand. 2 wait.
Variant: thair; dair; mair.
stand alone tair snas. sa-vi. stand
alone. Variant: thair snas; dair snas;
mair snas.
stand, make ~ tair s. vt. make stand.
Variant: thair s; dair s; mair s.
stand up trn s. vi-so. stand up; un-
bend; something that had been bent
over but is released so it can stand
again. Variant: rn s.
star alingga. n. star. Pl: alaing. Variant:
lingga.
star, evening ~ chamerabpki. n.
evening star. Morph: a=kamerbpki.
Gloss: SPEC=
stick dingdm pt. vi-so. stick.
stick, digging ~ athvatki. n. digging
stick. Pl: athvat.
sticks, beating ~ mambl. n. beating
sticks. Variant: mambl.
stiff, be ~ trong. vi-so. be stiff with cold.
Variant: rong.
still as. disc. 1 still. 2 yet. 3 just.
still askok. disc. 1 still. Gram: Atelic re-
alis. 2 yet. Gram: Atelic realis. 3 just.
Gram: Atelic realis. Morph: as=kok. Gloss:
still=just.
still, and ~ das. coord. 1 and still.
2 and yet. 3 and just. Morph: da=as.
Gloss: and=yet.
still not skoi. disc. still not. Morph: as=

322
stillborn, be ~
koi. Gloss: still=not.
stillborn, be ~ sukderut s. vi-so. be
stillborn; a baby that dies before birth.
sting srendm. vt. sting.
stingray sp. chaelki. n. stingray sp.;
two kinds: one is large, up to 1 m
across, brown, and has a long tail; the
other is small, dark orange, and stays
on white sand. Pl: chael. Variant: kaelki.
stingray sp. vangon'gi. n. stingray sp.;
medium size; greenish back and white
belly; its head looks like a bird's head;
leaps from the water. Pl: vangon.
Variant: pangon'gi.
stink ksin na. vi-so. stink. Variant:
chsin na.
stinking achesin. adj. 1 rotten; fes-
tering. 2 stinking.
stir puren vt. vi-so. wake up; stir.
Variant: vuren vt; vepuren vt (Abilta
dialect).
stoic man asokmtka. n. fearless man;
stoic man; someone who is solid in-
side.
stomach salorachi. n. stomach.
salor.
stomach sarumgi. n. belly; stomach. Pl:
sarum. Variant: saremgi.
stomach, settle ones ~ sepmaron
vm mes. sa-vi. settle ones stomach.
stomach, suck in ~ panggal. sa-vi. suck
in stomach. Variant: vanggal.
stone angelenggi. n. stone; small
rounded stone for using in a sling. Pl:
angeleng.
stone dulka. n. stone; an average sized
stone, maybe a bit elongated. Pl: dul.
Variant: ndulka.
stone, large ~ dulki. n. large stone;
especially large rounded stones. Pl:
dul.
stone, small ~ dulini. n. small stone.
dulithong.
stonefish lviam. n. fish sp.; stonefish;
lives on the reef; white with bones
that stick through the skin to form
straighten out
strong spikes all over its back and
sides; swells up when touched. Pl:
lvai.
stonefish thgumga. n. fish sp.; two
types of stonefish: one is a saltwater
fish and a good eating fish, the other
lives in fresh water; both are brown
and can sting with poisonous spines.
Pl: thgum. Variant: tugumga;
thugumga.
stop dng na. vi-so. stop; finish.
stop krtpka. n. halt; stop. Variant:
chrtpka.
stop mal. sa-vi. stop.
stop mual vt. vi-so. 1 stop. 2 rest.
stop psding sthm. vt. 1 block.
2 stop someone from doing some-
thing. Variant: vsding sthm.
stop instantly mundros na. vi-so. stop
instantly.
stop suddenly dngbm na. vi-so. stop
suddenly.
stop suddenly srpm na. vi-so. stop
suddenly; stop with a jolt; e.g. when a
Pl: car brakes suddenly.
store gunan'ga. n. store. Pl: gunan.
Variant: gunn'ga.
storm saengbap. n. storm; heavy rain.
story asecha. n. story. Pl: asek. Variant:
secha.
straight arik. adj. straight.
straight asrtik. adj. straight.
straight marik. adv. 1 straight.
2 properly; accurately.
straight down imanp. dir. down-
wards; straight down.
straighten tu mamr sna na. vt.
1 level. 2 straighten. Variant: thu
mamr sna; du mamr sna; mu
mamr sna.
Pl:
straighten tu rik tm. vt.
1 straighten. 2 stretch out. Variant:
thu rik tm; mu rik tm; tu rik t; thu
rik t; mu rik t.
straighten out srtik na. vt. 1 settle.
323
strange
2 straighten out.
strange addn. adj. 1 odd; strange.
2 confused; delirious; crazy; insane;
altered psychological states in gen-
eral.
stream of falling drops achrirka. n.
stream of falling drops. Variant:
chrirka.
strength achrotki. n. 1 strength.
2 power. Pl: chrot.
strength chnagolchi. n. strength. Pl:
chnagol. Note: only ch.
stretch navar n. vt. pull; hold tight in
a stretch.
stretch out tu rik tm. vt.
1 straighten. 2 stretch out. Variant:
thu rik tm; mu rik tm; tu rik t; thu
rik t; mu rik t.
stretched, be ~ navar manas. sa-vi. be
stretched.
strike del vt s. vi-so. strike.
strike vathik tm. vt. hit a person;
strike. Variant: wathik tm. Note: only v.
string guarguarka. n. string of food
such as pork or nuts; hung from the
roof for storage. Pl: guarguar.
stripes gulaingiseng. n. stripes.
strong achrot. adj. 1 strong.
2 tough. 3 hard; difficult. Variant:
chrot.
strong, be ~ asok mt. vi-so. 1 be
brave. 2 be determined; be sin-
gle-minded. 3 be strong. 4 be
solid. 5 be challenging; e.g. a
game.
strong person achrotka. n. strong
person.
strongly mamor. adv. 1 lots.
2 excessively; very much; terribly.
3 strongly. 4 hard. 5 loudly.
6 fast; quickly. 7 brightly.
struggling, keep ~ namu sna. sa-vi.
keep struggling; e.g. in a fight or in a
sporting competition.
stuck, be ~ dt sthm. vi-so. be stuck.
Variant: tht sthm; mt sthm.
sugar-cane
stuck, be ~ dingdm. vi-so. be stuck.
stuck, be ~ tn dm. vi-so. be stuck.
Variant: thn dm; dn dm; thn d;
dn d.
student athoemga. n. 1 child.
2 son. 3 student. 4 assistant.
Morph: at=oemka. Gloss: 3F.SG.POSS
child-M.SG. Pl: athoes. Variant: thoemga;
=oes; =emga; =oemga.
student, female ~ athoemgi. n.
daughter; female student; female as-
sistant. Morph: at=oemki. Gloss:
3F.SG.POSS= child-F.SG. Variant: =emgi.
study sunas. vt. learn; train; study.
stump laltki. n. 1 root. 2 stump.
Pl: lalt. See: trutki small root of a tree
or plant.
stumpy, be ~ buirut. vi-so. be short; be
stumpy; e.g. a dog with a cut off tail.
Variant: birut.
stupid person dt mt uvski. n. stu-
pid person.
saucepan banggruanggi. n. 1 pot;
saucepan. 2 wooden bowl. Pl:
banggruang.
subside krau. sa-vi. subside; can refer
to a flood going down, wasting
strength during an illness, or petrol
evaporating. Variant: chrau.
subtract don. vt. 1 throw away.
2 subtract. Variant: thon.
suck praioik d. vt. sip; suck. Variant:
vraioik.
suck in stomach panggal. sa-vi. suck in
stomach. Variant: vanggal.
suckle mem. vt. suckle.
suddenly mavrt. adv. suddenly; ur-
gently; do something without any
warning and give someone a shock.
suddenly nia. modal. 1 just; suddenly;
surprisingly. Gram: Mirative marker with
present tense or past tense verbs. 2 tried.
Gram: Frustrative marker with future tense
verbs.
sugar-cane lavrki. n. sugar-cane. Pl:
lavr.
324
Sulka man take off

Sulka man auligalka; Sulka man. Pl: swallow kuanik. vt. swallow. Variant:
auligalta. chuanik.
Sulka woman auligalki. n. Sulka sweat arengga. n. sweat. Note: no plural.
woman. sweat rengga cha mn na. sa-vi.
sun kunngga. n. 1 sun. 2 day. Pl: sweat.
kunng. Variant: chunngga. sweep schup. vt. sweep.
3 occasion.
sweep schup pt. vt. sweep.
sunset, colourful ~ manuringgl. n.
colourful sunset. Pl: manuringgleng. sweet, be ~ amr mt. vi-so. taste
good; be sweet.
sunshower airvthaualki. n. sun-
shower. Pl: airvthaual. sweet potato kalasunggi. n. sweet
potato (kaukau). Pl: kalasung. Variant:
surface sachong. n. 1 vision; dream; chalasunggi.
daydream. 2 glasses. 3 crown of
a tree. 4 surface; e.g. the surface of swell rip. n. swell.
the sea, the face of the earth, the top swell sis. sa-vi. swell.
of a sore, the opening of a pot. swim tor. sa-vi. 1 bathe; swim. 2 get
surprise srmn. vt. surprise. Variant: wet. Variant: thor.
srmun. swim tor tm. sa-vi. swim. Variant: thor.
surprised, be ~ srmn vt. vi-so. be swish ts. interj. swish; whoosh; imi-
surprised. tates the sound of a stone from a sling
surprised, look ~ ngiem sravo. adv. hitting a target.
look worried; look surprised; look swollen aririp. adj. swollen; e.g. when a
shocked; people look like this, e.g. if limb is full of blood. Variant: ariprip.
there is a fight happening but no-one
swollen vsvis. adj. swollen. Note: only v.
knows what is going on.
swollen, be pis d. vi-so. be swollen.
surprisingly nia. modal. 1 just; sud-
Usage: The expression pis d sarum
denly; surprisingly. Gram: Mirative
have a swollen belly is not normally
marker with present tense or past tense verbs.
used with reference to women, but
2 tried. Gram: Frustrative marker with
can be used to talk about pregnant
future tense verbs.
animals, especially dogs. Its use in the
surround bing. sa-vi. surround. Variant: following example is derogatory.
ving; ping. Variant:vis d.

T - t

table tevolki. n. table. Pl: tevol. Note:
only t.
taboo place thchnmuvs. n. taboo
place. Pl: thchnmu. Note: only th.
tail ichurki. n. tail. Pl: ichur.
tail, birds ~ ithepki. n. birds tail. Pl:
ithep.
tail feather, roosters ~ lialecha. n.
roosters tail feather. Pl: liale. Variant:
lialevs.
tail of a dolphin vethachi. n. fin, flip-
per, or tail of a dolphin. Pl: avet. Note:
only v.
tail, roosters ~ lialechi. n. roosters
tail. Pl: liale.
take off ploltem sa. vt. remove; take
off. Variant: vloltem sa.
take off tar tm. vt. 1 remove; take
off. 2 uncover. Variant: thar tm.
take off tranas. sa-vi. go; take off;

325
Take this!
leave. thranas; dranas;
Variant:
mranas; thranas; dranas; mranas.
Take this! ani. interj. Take this!
take without permission bang bt. vt.
take without permission. Variant: vang
bt.
talented, be ~ angelka vm. vi-so.
1 be clever. 2 be talented.
talk into pr ma. vt. 1 pull along.
2 talk into; tempt. Variant:vr ma.
tanget [TP] lagun'ga. n. cordyline sp.;
victory leaf (tanget); decorative plant.
Pl: lagun.
tap del vt. vt. tap; e.g. hitting a galip
nut (Canarium indicum).
tap sa-vi. pae. sa-vi. tap. Variant: vae; wae.
tap ser. sa-vi. knock; tap; e.g. by hitting
a drum.
tapa cloth [TP] simalachi. n. 1 tapa
cloth; traditional covering worn by
men; a strip of bark cloth that goes
between the legs, attached to a
waistband. 2 underpants. Pl: simal.
tapioca kacholka. n. tapioca. Pl: kachol.
Variant: chacholka. See: tapioka tapi-
oca.
tapioca tapioka. n. tapioca. Pl: tapiok.
See: kacholka tapioca.
taro adichi. n. taro. Variant: ndichi. See:
anot taro.
taro anot. n. taro. See: adichi taro.
taro, piece of ~ adigl. n. 1 piece of
taro. 2 palm of hand. Pl: adigleng.
taro, piece of ~ baler. n. 1 piece of
wood. 2 piece of taro. Variant:
balerini.
taro shoots vnngacha. n. taro
shoots. Pl: vnang. Note: only v.
taro, small ~ adini. n. small taro. Variant:
taro. See: adichi taro.
taro sp. bukacha. n. taro sp.; black
singapore. Pl: buka.
taro sp. chalun'ga. n. taro sp.; singa-
pore. Pl: chalun. Variant: kalun'ga.
taro sp. chathachi. n. taro sp.; wild
326
tell each other
singapore; not edible. Usage: The word
is sometimes also used to refer to
edible varieties. Pl: chatha. Variant:
kathachi.
taro top athemgi. n. taro top; used for
replanting. Pl: athem.
taste ts nthm. vt. taste. Variant: thas
nthm; ds nthm; ms nthm.
taste tnari. vt. 1 hear. 2 feel.
3 taste. Variant: nari.
taste good amr mt. vi-so. taste good;
be sweet.
teach su. vt. 1 try. 2 teach.
teacher sunasvmga. n. teacher. Pl:
sunasvmda.
teacher, female ~ sunasvmgi. n. fe-
male teacher.
tear chulpka. n. tear. Pl: kulap. Variant:
kulpka.
tear lr dm. vt. 1 tear. 2 split.
3 chop. Variant: ler d.
tear lik s. vt. break or tear off some-
thing small.
tear off lik mt. vt. 1 rip off; tear off.
2 split; break apart.
tease tu samor s. vt. make fun. Variant:
thu samor s; du samor s; mu samor
s.
teaspoon sipunini. n. small spoon;
teaspoon.
tell dodm. sa-vi. recount; narrate; tell.
Variant: thodm.
tell kuar na. vt. tell. Variant: chuar na;
kuar n; chuar n.
tell tamn sthm. vt. tell. Variant:
thamn sthm; methamn sthm.
tell tes svt. vt. tell.
tell a story tes svt da sek. sa-vi.
narrate; tell a story. Variant: thesavet
da sek; desavet da sek; mesavet da sek.
tell about tes svt dm. vt. narrate;
tell about. Variant: thesavet dm;
desavet dm; mesavet dm; tesavet
dm.
tell each other kuar nana. sa-vi. tell
temperature
each other.
temperature chrnaska. n. heat;
temperature. Pl: achrnas. Note: only ch.
tempt pr ma. vt. 1 pull along.
2 talk into; tempt. Variant: vr ma.
temptation sunthmbes. n. tempta-
tion. Pl: sunthm.
ten angthikism. n. ten. Variant:
ngithikisem.
terribly mamor. adv. 1 lots.
2 excessively; very much; terribly.
3 strongly. 4 hard. 5 loudly.
6 fast; quickly. 7 brightly.
terrified, be ~ irikin. vi-so. be terrified;
be scared.
terror irikin'ga. n. terror. Pl: irikin.
testicle achvulki. testicle.
n.
achvul. Variant: chvulki.
thanks, give ~ tamn pthanas s. vt.
give thanks. Variant: thamn pthanas
s.
that ama. rel. that. Gram: Relator that in-
troduces clauses or NPs that describe or refer
to one particular characteristic of their head.
that ia. rel. that. Gram: Relator that intro-
duces clauses or NPs that have the same syn-
tactic status as their head.
that ma. rel. that; who. Gram: Relator that
introduces clauses or NPs that provide addi-
tional information about their head. Construc-
tions involving the relator ma are sometimes
used to express uncertainty or emphasis.
that also moki. disc. that also; that
similarly; that another. Morph: ma=
koki. Gloss: REL=also.
that another moki. disc. that also; that
similarly; that another. Morph: ma=
koki. Gloss: REL=also.
that flat one avchs. dem. that flat
one. Gram: Flat singular distal demonstrative.
Variant: vchs.
that flat one avvs. dem. that flat one.
Gram: Flat singular distal demonstrative.
Variant: vvs. See: avchs that flat
one.
that just mok. disc. that just. Morph: ma=
that particular large one, just ~
kok. Gloss: REL=just.
that large one avchit. dem. that large
one. Gram: Extended singular distal demon-
strative. Variant: vchit.
that, like ~ avik. dem. like that. Gram:
Adverbial distal demonstrative. Variant: vik.
that long one avvet. dem. that long
one. Gram: Long singular distal demon-
strative. Variant: vvet.
that one avaik. dem. that one. Gram:
Feminine singular distal demonstrative.
Variant: vaik; avchit (Abilta dialect).
that one avak. dem. that one. Gram:
Masculine singular distal demonstrative.
Variant: vak; pak.
that one avang. dem. 1 that one; those
ones. Gram: Count neutral distal demon-
Pl:
strative. 2 those flat ones. Gram: Flat
plural distal demonstrative. Variant: vang;
pang.
that one kvi=. contrastive marker. that
one. Gram: Used to make contrastive pro-
nouns. Variant: chvi=.
that particular flat one kvs. dem.
that particular flat one. Gram: Flat sin-
gular contrastive demonstrative. Variant:
chvs; kchs; achvs; chchs. See:
chkvs just that particular flat one.
that particular flat one pavvs. dem.
that particular flat one. Gram: Flat sin-
gular distal demonstrative emphatic. Variant:
vavvs.
that particular flat one, just ~
chkvs. dem. just that particular
flat one. Gram: Emphatic flat singular con-
trastive demonstrative. See: kvs that
particular flat one.
that particular large one kchit. dem.
that particular large one. Gram: Ex-
tended singular contrastive demonstrative.
Variant: chchit; achchit. See:
chkchit just that particular large
one.
that particular large one, just ~
chkchit. dem. just that particular
large one. Gram: Emphatic extended singu-
lar contrastive demonstrative. See: chchit
327
that particular large thing
that particular large one.
that particular large thing pavchit.
dem. that particular large thing. Gram:
Extended singular distal demonstrative em-
phatic. Variant: vavchit; vchit.
that particular long one kvet. dem.
that particular long one. Gram: Long
singular contrastive demonstrative. Variant:
chvet; achvet. See: chkvet just
that particular long one.
that particular long one pavvet. dem.
that particular long one. Gram: Long
singular distal demonstrative emphatic.
Variant: vavvet.
that particular long one, just ~
chkvet. dem. just that particular
long one. Gram: Emphatic long singular
contrastive demonstrative. See: chvet that
particular long one.
that particular one kk. dem. that par-
ticular one. Gram: Masculine singular con-
trastive demonstrative. Variant:
achk.
that particular one kngt. dem. those
particular ones; that particular one.
Gram: Count neutral contrastive
strative. Variant: achnget; chnget;
gnget.
that particular one krak. dem. that
particular one. Gram: Masculine singular
contrastive demonstrative. Variant:
chra; chrak; chrak. See: chkrak just
that particular one.
that particular one kravum. dem. that
particular one. Gram: Masculine singular
contrastive demonstrative.
that particular one pachvaik. dem.
that particular one. Gram: Feminine sin-
gular distal demonstrative emphatic. Variant:
vachvaik. See: paivaik that particular
one.
that particular one pachvak. dem.
that particular one. Gram: Masculine sin-
gular distal demonstrative emphatic. Variant:
vachvak. See: paivak that particular
one.
that particular one pachvang. dem.
1 that particular one; those particu-
that particular piece
lar ones. Gram: Count neutral distal demon-
strative emphatic. 2 those particular
flat ones. Gram: Flat plural distal demon-
strative emphatic. Variant: vachvang;
bachvang. See: paivang those par-
ticular flat ones.
that particular one paivaik. dem. that
particular one. Gram: Feminine singular
distal demonstrative emphatic. Variant:
aivaik; vaivaik. See: pachvaik that
particular one.
that particular one paivak. dem. that
particular one. Gram: Masculine singular
distal demonstrative emphatic. Variant: ivak;
vaivak. See: pachvak that particular
one.
that particular one paivang. dem. that
particular one; those particular ones.
Gram: Count neutral distal demonstrative em-
phatic. Variant: aivang; vaivang.
that particular one, just ~ chkraik.
chk; dem. just that particular one. Gram:
Emphatic feminine singular contrastive de-
monstrative. See: kraik just that par-
ticular one.
demon- that particular one, just ~ chkrak.
dem. just that particular one. Gram:
Emphatic masculine singular contrastive de-
monstrative. See: chrak that particular
one.
chr; that particular one, just ~ chevaik.
dem. just that particular one. Gram:
Emphatic feminine singular contrastive de-
monstrative. Variant: chvaik; achvaik.
Note: only ch.
that particular one, just ~ chvak.
dem. just that particular one. Gram:
Emphatic masculine singular contrastive de-
monstrative. Variant: achvak. Note: only ch.
that particular one, just ~ kraik. dem.
just that particular one. Gram: Feminine
singular contrastive demonstrative. Variant:
chraik; chraik. See: chkraik just that
particular one.
that particular piece knggl. dem. that
particular piece. Gram: Excised singular
contrastive demonstrative. Variant: kngl;
chngl; chngl; achngl. See: ch-
328
that particular piece their, some of ~

knggl just that particular piece. that small one avni. dem. that small
that particular piece pavgl. dem. that one. Gram: Diminutive singular distal demon-
particular piece. Gram: Excised singular strative. Variant: veni.
distal demonstrative emphatic. Variant: that way tmono. dir. 1 along.
vavgl. 2 across. 3 that way. Variant:
that particular piece, just ~ chkng- thmono.
gl. dem. just that particular piece. thatch bon. vt. 1 give. 2 thatch; put
Gram: Emphatic excised singular contrastive leaves on a roof. Variant: von; mbon.
demonstrative. See: knggl that particu- the a. spec art. the. Gram: Specifier article.
lar piece.
the kama. np art. the. Gram: Functionally
that particular short one kchm. unmarked NP article. Variant: chama; ama;
dem. that particular short one. Gram: gama.
Reduced singular contrastive demonstrative.
Variant: km; chchm; achchm.
the k. np art. the. Gram: NP article that
marks referents whose unique identity is es-
that particular short one, just ~ ch- tablished by the discourse. Variant: ch; g;
kchm. dem. just that particular ka (k + a (specifier article)).
short one. Gram: Emphatic reduced singular
contrastive demonstrative. See: chchm
the ma. np art. the. Gram: The NP article
that marks inherently uniquely identifiable
that particular short one.
referents.
that particular short thing pavchm.
dem. that particular short thing. Gram: the, and ~ dma. coord. and the. Morph:
da=kama. Gloss: and=ART. Variant: dama.
Reduced singular distal demonstrative em-
phatic. Variant: vchm; vavchm; bav- their angt. pro. its; their. Gram: Third
chm. person neuter possessive pronoun. Variant:
ang.
that particular small one kni. dem.
that particular small one. Gram: Diminu- their angtha. pro. its; their. Gram: Third
tive singular contrastive demonstrative. person neuter possessive pronoun and posses-
Variant: chni; achni. See: chkni just sive pronoun and specific article. Morph:
that particular small one. angt=a. Gloss: 3N.POSS=SPEC. Variant:
ngtha.
that particular small one pavni. dem.
that particular small one. Gram: Diminu- their athv. pro. their. Gram: Third person
tive singular distal demonstrative emphatic. human plural possessive pronoun.
Variant: vavni; vaivni. their athva. pro. their. Gram: Third per-
that particular small one, just ~ son human plural possessive pronoun and
chkni. dem. just that particular possessive pronoun and specific article.
small one. Gram: Emphatic diminutive sin- Morph: athv=a. Gloss: 3H.PL.POSS=SPEC.
gular contrastive demonstrative. See: chni their athvama. pro. their. Gram: Third
that particular small one. person human plural possessive pronoun and
that piece avgl. dem. that piece. Gram: emphatic possessive pronoun. Morph: athv=
Excised singular distal demonstrative. Variant: ma. Gloss: 3H.PL.POSS=EMPH.
vgl. their athvangama. pro. their. Gram:
that short one avchm. dem. that Third person human plural possessive pronoun
short one. Gram: Reduced singular distal and indefinite possessive pronoun. Morph:
demonstrative. Variant: vchm; vcham; athv=angama. Gloss: 3H.PL.POSS=
avcham. INDEF.

that similarly moki. disc. that also; that their, some of ~ angthanga. pro.
similarly; that another. Morph: ma= some of their. Gram: Third person neuter
koki. Gloss: REL=also. possessive pronoun and non-specific possessive

329
their, some of ~
pronoun. Morph: angt=anga. Gloss:
3N.POSS= NSPEC.
their, some of ~ athvanga. pro. some
of their. Gram: Third person human plural
possessive pronoun and non-specific possessive
pronoun. Morph: athvanga. Gloss:
3H.PL.POSS NSPEC.
their; those two, ~ ain. pro. 1 you two,
your. Gram: Second person dual possessive
pronoun. 2 those two, their. Gram:
Third person dual possessive pronoun.
their; those two, ~ aina. pro. 1 you
two, your. Gram: Second person dual pos-
sessive pronoun and possessive pronoun and
specific article. 2 those two, their.
Gram: Third person dual possessive pronoun
and possessive pronoun and specific article.
Morph: ain=a. Gloss: 2/3DL.POSS=SPEC.
their; those two, ~ ainama. pro. 1 you
two, your. Gram: Second person dual pos-
sessive pronoun and emphatic possessive pro-
noun. 2 those two, their. Gram: Third
person dual possessive pronoun and emphatic
possessive pronoun.
them ngt. pro. him; her; it; them. Gram:
Third person neuter class three pronoun.
them ta. pro. they; them. Gram: Third per-
son human plural class one pronoun and third
person human plural class three pronoun.
Variant: tha.
them and ngn. pro. them and; it and.
Morph: ng=n. Gloss: 3N.III=and. Variant:
ngna.
them and tin. pro. them and. Morph: ti=
n. Gloss: 3H.PL.III=and. Variant: thin;
tina; thina.
themselves, among ~ bana. dir. among
themselves.
then dai. subord. thus; then. Variant: dei.
then dasa. coord. and so; then. Morph: da
=sa. Gloss: and=then. Variant: dsa.
then sa. disc. 1 then. Gram: Clause initial
discourse marker. Introduces a new event
frame. 2 so. 3 already. Gram: Re-
sultative marker. 4 for a while. Gram: In
clause final position. 5 Gram: Imperative
marker.
330
these large ones
then, and ~ dule. coord. and then.
Morph: da=chule. Gloss: and=then.
there avi. dem. there. Gram: Count neutral
distal demonstrative. Variant: vi.
there pe. dem. there. Gram: Anaphoric de-
monstrative. Variant: ve; be; e (Abilta
dialect); me (Abilta dialect).
there saisavi. dir. there.
there, be ~ ve. sa-vi. be there. Gram: May
function as minor verb in serial verb construc-
tion encoding imperfective aspect. Variant: pe;
be.
there, down ~ saimanp. dir. down
there.
there, from ~ nainavi. dir. from there.
there, from ~ nave. dir. from there.
there, from ~ navi. dir. from there.
there, out ~ vui. dir. out there. Variant:
pui; bui.
there, over ~ saimuani. dir. over there.
there, over distant saimui. dir. over
there distant.
there, right ~ avivik. dem. right there.
Gram: Count neutral emphatic distal demon-
strative. Variant: vivik.
there, to ~ saisave. dir. to there.
there, up ~ aviui. dir. up there.
there, up ~ avivui. dir. up there.
thermometer glaski. n. thermometer.
Pl: glas.
these ithang. dem. 1 these. Gram: Count
neutral proximate demonstrative. 2 these
flat ones. Gram: Flat plural proximate de-
monstrative. Variant: thang; tngt;
ithngt; tang (Abilta dialect).
these flat ones ithang. dem. 1 these.
Gram: Count neutral proximate demonstrative.
2 these flat ones. Gram: Flat plural
proximate demonstrative. Variant: thang;
tngt; ithngt; tang (Abilta dialect).
these flat ones ithmlk. dem. these
flat ones. Gram: Flat plural proximate de-
monstrative. Variant: tmlk.
these large ones ithnk. dem. these
large ones. Gram: Extended plural proxi-
these long ones
mate demonstrative. Variant: tnk.
these long ones ithseng. dem. these
long ones. Gram: Long plural proximate
demonstrative. Variant: tseng.
these particular flat ones taithang.
dem. 1 this particular one; these
particular ones. Gram: Count neutral
proximate demonstrative emphatic.
2 these particular flat ones. Gram: Flat
plural proximate demonstrative emphatic. See:
taithmlk these particular flat
ones. 3 these particular long ones.
Gram: Long plural proximate demonstrative
emphatic. Variant: thaithang.
these particular flat ones taithmlk.
dem. these particular flat ones. Gram:
Flat plural proximate demonstrative emphatic.
Variant: thaithmlk. See: taithang
these particular flat ones.
these particular flat two taithmlm.
dem. these particular flat two. Gram:
Flat dual proximate demonstrative emphatic.
Variant: thaithmlm.
these particular large ones taithnk.
dem. these particular large ones. Gram:
Extended plural proximate demonstrative em-
phatic. Variant: thaithnk.
these particular long ones taithang.
dem. 1 this particular one; these
particular ones. Gram: Count neutral
proximate demonstrative emphatic.
2 these particular flat ones. Gram: Flat
plural proximate demonstrative emphatic. See:
taithmlk these particular flat
ones. 3 these particular long ones.
Gram: Long plural proximate demonstrative
emphatic. Variant: thaithang.
these particular ones taithang. dem.
1 this particular one; these particu-
lar ones. Gram: Count neutral proximate
demonstrative emphatic. 2 these par-
ticular flat ones. Gram: Flat plural proxi-
mate demonstrative emphatic. See: taith-
mlk these particular flat ones.
3 these particular long ones. Gram:
Long plural proximate demonstrative em-
phatic. Variant: thaithang.
these particular people taithath.
dem. these particular people. Gram:
331
these people
Human plural proximate demonstrative em-
phatic. Variant: thaithath.
these particular pieces taithigleng.
dem. these particular pieces. Gram: Ex-
cised plural proximate demonstrative em-
phatic. Variant: thaithigleng.
these particular short ones taithvap.
dem. these particular short ones. Gram:
Reduced plural proximate demonstrative em-
phatic. Variant: thaithvap.
these particular small ones taithi-
thong. dem. these particular small
ones. Gram: Diminutive plural proximate
demonstrative emphatic. Variant: thaithi-
thong; taiththong.
these particular two taithvem. dem.
these particular two. Gram: Feminine dual
proximate demonstrative emphatic. Variant:
thaithvem.
these particular two taithiom. dem.
these particular two. Gram: Masculine
dual proximate demonstrative emphatic.
Variant: thaithiom.
these particular two large ones taith-
nm. dem. these particular two large
ones. Gram: Extended dual proximate demon-
strative emphatic. Variant: thaithnm.
these particular two long ones taith-
sem. dem. these particular two long
ones. Gram: Long dual proximate demon-
strative emphatic. Variant: thaithsem.
these particular two pieces taithi-
glem. dem. these particular two
pieces. Gram: Excised dual proximate de-
monstrative emphatic. Variant: thithiglem.
these particular two short ones taith-
vam. dem. these particular two short
ones. Gram: Reduced dual proximate demon-
strative emphatic. Variant: thaithvam.
these particular two small
ones taithithom. dem. these par-
ticular two small ones. Gram: Diminutive
dual proximate demonstrative emphatic.
Variant: thaithithom.
these people ithath. dem. these peo-
ple. Gram: Human plural proximate demon-
strative. Variant: tathe.
these pieces think

these pieces ithigleng. dem. these they ta. pro. they; them. Gram: Third per-
pieces. Gram: Excised plural proximate de- son human plural class one pronoun and third
monstrative. Variant: tgleng; tiglen person human plural class three pronoun.
(Abilta dialect). Variant: tha.
these short ones ithvap. dem. these they ti. pro. they. Gram: Third person human
short ones. Gram: Reduced plural proximate plural class two pronoun. Variant: thi; thik
demonstrative. Variant: tvap. (Abilta dialect).
these small ones ithithong. dem. these they; those two, ~ in. pro. 1 you two.
small ones. Gram: Diminutive plural proxi- Gram: Second person dual class one pronoun.
mate demonstrative. Variant: tithong; 2 those two, they. Gram: Third person
iththong. dual class one pronoun.
these two ithvem. dem. these two. they; those two, ~ ini. pro. 1 you two.
Gram: Feminine dual proximate demonstrative. Gram: Second person dual class two pronoun.
Variant: tvem. 2 those two, they. Gram: Second per-
these two ithiom. dem. these two. Gram: son dual class two pronoun.
Masculine dual proximate demonstrative. thick athepmn. adj. thick. Variant:
Variant: tiom. athemn.
these two particular short ones pav- thief svocha. n. thief. Pl: svotha.
vam. dem. these two particular short Variant: svaucha.
ones. Gram: Reduced dual distal demon- thief, female ~ svochi. n. female thief.
strative emphatic. Variant: vavvam.
thigh snainggi. n. thigh. Pl: snaing. See:
these two flat ones ithmlm. dem. slvini leg.
these two flat ones. Gram: Flat dual
proximate demonstrative. Variant: tmlm.
thigh, small ~ snaingithini. n. small
thigh. Pl: snaingithong.
these two large ones ithnm. dem.
these two large ones. Gram: Extended thin, be very ~ lalar pt. vi-so. be
dual proximate demonstrative. Variant:
scrawny; be emaciated; be very thin;
tnm.
especially after a long illness.

these two long ones ithsm. dem. thing gingt. n. thing. Gram: Count neutral

these two long ones. Gram: Long dual non-specific. Variant: dingt (Abilta
proximate demonstrative. Variant: tsm.
dialect).

these two pieces ithiglem. dem. these things guvangithong. n. belongings;

two pieces. Gram: Excised dual proximate things. Variant: guangithong; ngguva-
ngithong.
demonstrative. Variant: tglem; tiglem
(Abilta dialect). things, the two iom. pro. two things;
these two short ones ithvam. dem. two people. Gram: Third person masculine
dual reduced nominal pronoun.
these two short ones. Gram: Reduced dual
proximate demonstrative. Variant: tvam. things, the two ~ ngaiom. pro. two
these two small ones ithithom. dem. things; two people. Gram: Third person
masculine dual nominal pronoun.
these two small ones. Gram: Diminutive
dual proximate demonstrative. Variant: things, the two ~ ngavem. pro. two
tithom. people; two things. Gram: Third person
feminine dual nominal pronoun.
they ng. pro. he; she; it; they. Gram:
Third person neuter class one pronoun. things, the two ~ vem. pro. two things;
Variant: nga. two people. Gram: Third person feminine
dual reduced nominal pronoun.
they ngthi. pro. he; she; it; they. Gram:
Third person neuter class two pronoun. think tu av snng. vt. think. Variant:

332
thirsty, be ~
thu av snng; du av snng; mu av
snng; tu at snng. See: snngacha
idea.
thirsty, be ~ ksk. vi-so. be thirsty.
Variant: chsk.
thirsty, be ~ kesias. vi-so. be thirsty.
Variant: chesias.
this flat one ithvs. dem. this flat one.
Gram: Flat singular proximate demonstrative.
Variant: tvs.
this, just like ~ taithik. dem. 1 right
now. Gram: Emphatic adverbial proximate
demonstrative. 2 just like this. Gram:
Emphatic adverbial proximate demonstrative.
Variant: thaithik; daithik.
this large one ithchit. dem. this large
one. Gram: Extended singular proximate de-
monstrative. Variant: tchit.
this long one ithvet. dem. this long
one. Gram: Long singular proximate demon-
strative. Variant: tvt.
this one ithaik. dem. this one. Gram:
Feminine singular proximate demonstrative.
Variant: thaik; taik.
this one ithak. dem. this one. Gram:
Masculine singular proximate demonstrative.
Variant: thak; tak; ithat (Abilta dialect).
this particular flat one taithvs. dem.
this particular flat one. Gram: Flat sin-
gular proximate demonstrative emphatic.
Variant: thaithvs.
this particular large one taithchit.
dem. this particular large one. Gram:
Extended singular proximate demonstrative
emphatic. Variant: thaithchit.
this particular long one taithvet.
dem. this particular long one. Gram:
Long singular proximate demonstrative em-
phatic. Variant: thaithvet.
this particular one taithaik. dem. this
particular one. Gram: Feminine singular
proximate demonstrative emphatic. Variant:
thaithaik.
this particular one taithak. dem. this
particular one. Gram: Masculine singular
proximate demonstrative emphatic. Variant:
thaithak.
333
those large things
this particular one taithang. dem.
1 this particular one; these particu-
lar ones. Gram: Count neutral proximate
demonstrative emphatic. 2 these par-
ticular flat ones. Gram: Flat plural proxi-
mate demonstrative emphatic. See:
taithmlk these particular flat
ones. 3 these particular long ones.
Gram: Long plural proximate demonstrative
emphatic. Variant: thaithang.
this particular piece taithigl. dem. this
particular piece. Gram: Excised singular
proximate demonstrative emphatic Variant:
thaithigl.
this particular short one taithchm.
dem. this particular short one. Gram:
Reduced singular proximate demonstrative
emphatic. Variant: thaithchm.
this particular small one taithini. dem.
this particular small one. Gram: Diminu-
tive singular proximate demonstrative em-
phatic. Variant: thaithini.
this piece ithigl. dem. this piece. Gram:
Excised singular proximate demonstrative.
Variant: tgl; tigl (Abilta dialect).
this short one ithchm. dem. this
short one. Gram: Reduced singular proxi-
mate demonstrative. Variant: ithcham;
tcham.
this small one ithini. dem. this small
one. Gram: Diminutive singular proximate
demonstrative. Variant: tni; tini (Abilta
dialect).
this very one tik. dem. this very one.
Gram: Proximate demonstrative emphatic par-
ticle. Variant: dik; thik.
thorny, be ~ achep pt. vi-so. be
thorny. Variant: chep pt.
those flat ones avang. dem. 1 that
one; those ones. Gram: Count neutral distal
demonstrative. 2 those flat ones. Gram:
Flat plural distal demonstrative. Variant:
vang; pang.
those flat things avmlk. dem. those
flat things. Gram: Flat plural distal demon-
strative. Variant: vmlk.
those large things avink. dem. those
large things. Gram: Extended plural distal
those long things
demonstrative. Variant: venk.
those long things aviseng. dem. those
long things. Gram: Long plural distal de-
monstrative. Variant: vseng.
those ones avang. dem. 1 that one;
those ones. Gram: Count neutral distal de-
monstrative. 2 those flat ones. Gram:
Flat plural distal demonstrative. Variant:
vang; pang.
those particular flat ones kmlk.
dem. those particular flat ones. Gram:
Flat plural contrastive demonstrative. Variant:
chmlk; achmlk. See: chkmlk
just those particular flat ones.
those particular flat ones pachvang.
dem. 1 that particular one; those
particular ones. Gram: Count neutral distal
demonstrative emphatic. 2 those par-
ticular flat ones. Gram: Flat plural distal
emphatic. Variant: vach-
demonstrative
vang; bachvang. See: paivang those
particular flat ones.
those particular flat ones paivang.
dem. those particular flat ones. Gram:
Flat plural distal demonstrative emphatic.
Variant: aivang; vaivang. See: pachvang
those particular flat ones.
those particular flat ones, just ~
chkmlk. dem. just those par-
ticular flat ones. Gram: Emphatic flat plural
contrastive demonstrative. See: chmlk
those particular flat ones.
those particular flat two, just ~
chkmlm. dem. just those par-
ticular flat two. Gram: Emphatic flat dual
contrastive demonstrative. See: chmlm
just those particular two flat ones.
those particular large ones knk.
dem. those particular large ones. Gram:
Extended plural contrastive demonstrative.
Variant: chnk; achnk. See: chknk
just those particular large ones.
those particular large ones pavnk.
dem. those particular large ones. Gram:
Extended plural distal demonstrative emphatic.
Variant: vavnk.
those particular large ones, just ~
chknk. dem. just those particular
those particular pieces
large ones. Gram: Emphatic extended plural
contrastive demonstrative. See: chnk
those particular large ones.
those particular long ones kseng.
dem. those particular long ones. Gram:
Long plural contrastive demonstrative. Var-
iant: chseng; achseng.
those particular long ones pavseng.
dem. those particular long ones. Gram:
Long plural distal demonstrative emphatic.
Variant: vavseng.
those particular long ones, just ~
chekseng. dem. just those particu-
lar long ones. Gram: Emphatic long plural
contrastive demonstrative. See: chseng
those particular long ones.
those particular ones kngt. dem.
those particular ones; that particular
one. Gram: Count neutral contrastive demon-
strative. Variant: achnget; chnget;
gnget.
those particular ones pachvang.
dem. 1 that particular one; those
particular ones. Gram: Count neutral distal
demonstrative emphatic. 2 those par-
ticular flat ones. Gram: Flat plural distal
emphatic. Variant: vach-
demonstrative
vang; bachvang. See: paivang those
particular flat ones.
those particular ones paivang. dem.
that particular one; those particular
ones. Gram: Count neutral distal demon-
strative emphatic. Variant: aivang; vaivang.
those particular people krathe. dem.
those particular people. Gram: Human
plural contrastive demonstrative. Variant:
chrath; chrare; achrathe.
those particular people paivathe. dem.
those particular people. Gram: Human
plural distal demonstrative emphatic. Variant:
ivathe; vaivathe.
those particular pieces kgleng. dem.
those particular pieces. Gram: Excised
plural contrastive demonstrative. Variant:
chgleng; knggleng; achgleng.
those particular pieces pavgleng.
dem. those particular pieces. Gram: Ex-
cised plural distal demonstrative emphatic.
334
those particular pieces, just
Variant: vavgleng.
those particular pieces, just chkng-
gleng. dem. just those particular
pieces. Gram: Emphatic excised plural con-
trastive demonstrative. See: kgleng those
particular pieces.
those particular short ones kvap.
dem. those particular short ones. Gram:
Reduced plural contrastive demonstrative.
Variant: chvap; achevap. See: chkvap
just those particular short ones.
those particular short ones pavvap.
dem. those particular short ones. Gram:
Reduced plural distal demonstrative emphatic.
Variant: vavvap.
those particular short ones, just ~
chkvap. dem. just those particular
short ones. Gram: Emphatic reduced plural
contrastive demonstrative. See: chvap
those particular short ones.
those particular small ones kthong.
dem. those particular small ones. Gram:
Diminutive plural contrastive demonstrative.
Variant:chthong; achthong. See:
chkthong just those particular
small ones.
those particular small ones, just ~
chkthong. dem. just those par-
ticular small ones. Gram: Emphatic di-
minutive plural contrastive demonstrative.
See: chthong those particular small
ones.
those particular small things paiv-
thong. dem. those particular small
things. Gram: Diminutive plural distal de-
monstrative emphatic. Variant: avthong;
vaivthong; pavthong; bavthong.
those particular two kvem. dem.
those particular two. Gram: Feminine dual
contrastive demonstrative. Variant: chvem;
achvem. See: chkvem just those
particular two.
those particular two kiom. dem. those
particular two. Gram: Masculine singular
contrastive demonstrative. See: chkiom
just those particular two.
those particular two pavvem. dem.
those particular two. Gram: Feminine dual
335
those particular two long ones
distal demonstrative emphatic. Variant:
vavvem; bavvem.
those particular two paviom. dem.
those particular two. Gram: Masculine
dual distal demonstrative emphatic. Variant:
vaviom; baviom.
those particular two flat ones pav-
mlm. dem. those particular two flat
ones. Gram: Flat dual distal demonstrative
emphatic. Variant: vavmlm.
those particular two flat ones, just ~
kmlm. dem. just those particular
two flat ones. Gram: Flat dual contrastive
demonstrative. Variant: chmlm;
achmlm. See: chkmlm just
those particular flat two.
those particular two, just ~ chkvem.
dem. just those particular two. Gram:
Emphatic feminine dual contrastive demon-
strative. See: kvem those particular
two.
those particular two, just ~ chkiom.
dem.just those particular two. Gram:
Emphatic masculine dual contrastive demon-
strative. See: kiom those particular
two.
those particular two large ones k-
nm. dem. those particular two large
ones. Gram: Extended dual contrastive de-
monstrative. Variant: chnm; achnm.
See: chknm just those particular
two large ones.
those particular two large ones pav-
nm. dem. those particular two large
ones. Gram: Extended dual distal demon-
strative emphatic. Variant: vnm; vav-
nm.
those particular two large ones, just ~
chknm. dem. just those particular
two large ones. Gram: Emphatic extended
dual contrastive demonstrative. See: chnm
those particular two large ones.
those particular two long ones ksem.
dem. those particular two long ones.
Gram: Long dual contrastive demonstrative.
Variant: chsem; achsem. See: chk-
sem just those particular two long
ones.
those particular two long ones
those particular two long ones pav-
sem. dem. those particular two long
ones. Gram: Long dual distal demonstrative
emphatic. Variant: vavsem.
those particular two long ones, just ~
chksem. dem. just those particular
two long ones. Gram: Emphatic long dual
contrastive demonstrative. See:
those particular two long ones.
those particular two pieces kglem.
dem. those particular two pieces. Gram:
Excised dual contrastive demonstrative.
Variant: chglem; kngglem;
achglem.
those particular two pieces, just ~
chkngglem. dem. just those par-
ticular two pieces. Gram: Emphatic ex-
cised dual contrastive demonstrative. See:
chngglem those particular
pieces.
those particular two short ones
kglem. dem. those particular two
short ones. Gram: Reduced dual contrastive
demonstrative. Variant: chglem;
glem.
those particular two short ones kvam.
dem. those particular two short ones.
Gram: Reduced dual contrastive
strative. Variant: chvam; achvam. See:
chkvam just those particular two
short ones.
those particular two short ones, just ~
chkvam. dem. just those particular
two short ones. Gram: Emphatic reduced
dual contrastive demonstrative. See: chvam
those particular two short ones.
those particular two small
ones kthom. dem. those particular
two small ones. Gram: Diminutive dual
Variant: ach-
contrastive demonstrative.
thom; chthom. See: chkthom just
those particular two small ones.
those particular two small ones pav-
thom. dem. those particular two
small ones. Gram: Diminutive dual distal
demonstrative emphatic. Variant: vavthom;
vaivthom.
those particular two small ones, just ~
those two particular pieces
chkthom. dem. just those par-
ticular two small ones. Gram: Emphatic
diminutive dual contrastive demonstrative.
See: chthom those particular two
small ones.
those people avath. dem. those peo-
ple. Gram: Human plural distal demonstrative.
chsem Variant: vath.
those pieces avglng. dem. those
pieces. Gram: Excised plural distal demon-
strative. Variant: vglng.
those short things avvap. dem. those
short things. Gram: Reduced plural distal
demonstrative. Variant: vvap.
those small things avthong. dem.
those small things. Gram: Diminutive plu-
ral distal demonstrative. Variant: vthong;
athong (Abilta dialect).
two
those two avvem. dem. those two.
Gram: Feminine dual distal demonstrative.
Variant: vvem.
those two aviom. dem. those two. Gram:
Masculine dual distal demonstrative. Variant:
ache-
viom.
those two and in. pro. 1 you two and.
2 those two and. Morph: in=n. Gloss:
2/3DL.III=and. Variant: ina.
demon-
those two, and ~ dini. coord. and those
two. Morph: da=ini. Gloss: and=3DL class
two.
those two flat ones avmlm. dem.
those two flat ones. Gram: Flat dual distal
demonstrative. Variant: vmlm.
those two large ones avinm. dem.
those two large ones. Gram: Extended
dual distal demonstrative. Variant: venm.
those two long ones avisem. dem.
those two long ones. Gram: Long dual
distal demonstrative. Variant: visem.
those two particular ones, just ~
chkrang. dem. just those two par-
ticular ones. Gram: Emphatic count neutral
contrastive demonstrative. Variant: krang;
kkrang; achkrang.
those two particular pieces pavglem.
dem. those two particular pieces. Gram:
Excised dual distal demonstrative emphatic.
336
those two pieces through

Variant: vavglem. those two, they ini. pro. 1 you two.

those two pieces avglem. dem. those Gram: Second person dual class two pronoun.
two pieces. Gram: Excised dual distal de- 2 those two, they. Gram: Second per-
monstrative. Variant: vglem. son dual class two pronoun.

those two short ones avvam. dem. thought amusnng. n. 1 behaviour.

those two short ones. Gram: Reduced dual 2 idea; thought. 3 plan.
distal demonstrative. Variant: vvam. 4 habit; custom. Morph: a=musnng.
Gloss: SPEC=put.PAST-heart. Variant:
those two small ones avthom. dem. amusnngini.
those two small ones. Gram: Diminutive
dual distal demonstrative. Variant: vethom; thousand athvuska. n. thousand. Pl:
athom (Karong dialect). athvus.

those two, some of their ainanga. pro.
1 you two, some of your. Gram: Second
person dual possessive pronoun and
non-specific possessive pronoun. 2 those
two, some of their. Gram: Third person
dual possessive pronoun and non-specific pos-
sessive pronoun. Morph: ain=anga. Gloss:
2/3DL.POSS=NSPEC.
those two, some of their ainangama.
pro. 1 you two, some of your. Gram:
Second person dual possessive pronoun and
indefinite possessive pronoun. 2 those
two, some of their. Gram: Third person
dual possessive pronoun and indefinite posses-
sive pronoun. Morph: ain=angama. Gloss:
2/3DL.POSS=INDEF.
those two, their ain. pro. 1 you two,
your. Gram: Second person dual possessive
pronoun. 2 those two, their. Gram:
Third person dual possessive pronoun.
those two, their aina. pro. 1 you two,
your. Gram: Second person dual possessive
pronoun and possessive pronoun and specific
article. 2 those two, their. Gram: Third
person dual possessive pronoun and possessive
pronoun and specific article. Morph: ain=a.
Gloss: 2/3DL.POSS=SPEC.
those two, their ainama. pro. 1 you
two, your. Gram: Second person dual pos-
sessive pronoun and emphatic possessive pro-
noun. 2 those two, their. Gram: Third
person dual possessive pronoun and emphatic
possessive pronoun.
those two, they in. pro. 1 you two.
Gram: Second person dual class one pronoun.
2 those two, they. Gram: Third person
dual class one pronoun.
thrash around bnmalivi. sa-vi. writhe;
thrash around; especially something
thrashing around in death throws.
Variant: vnmalivi; bnmaliwi; vnma-
liwi.
three advaung. num. three. Gram: Hu-
man plural and count neutral. Variant:
duvaung; andvaung.
three aduvanguik. num. three. Gram:
Feminine plural.
three flat ones aduguamlk. num.
three flat ones. Gram: Flat plural.
three large ones adeguank. num.
three large ones. Gram: Extended plural.
Variant: andeguank.
three long ones aduguaseng. num.
three long ones. Gram: Long plural.
three pieces aduguagleng. num. three
pieces. Gram: Excised plural.
three short ones aduguavap. num.
three short ones. Gram: Reduced plural.
Variant: anduguavap.
three small ones aduguathong. num.
three small ones. Gram: Diminutive plural.
throat angtkn'gi. n. 1 neck.
2 throat. 3 voice. Morph: at=kn.
Gloss: 3F.SG.POSS=throat. Pl: angtkn.
Variant: tchn; chn'gi.
throat thuchulki. n. throat. Pl: thuchul.
Variant: tuchul.
through mni. dir. 1 on. 2 onto.
3 at. 4 in. 5 through.
6 across.
through mt. prep. 1 in; within.
2 during; on. Gram: This sense available
with temporal expressions. 3 inside.

337
throw
4 into. 5 through. Variant: mtha;
m.
throw don n. vt. throw. Variant: thon
n; don na; thon na.
throw away don. vt. 1 throw away.
2 subtract. Variant: thon.
throw away don ma. sa-vi. 1 clear
land for a new garden. 2 throw
away; abandon. Variant: thon ma.
throw away kulel. vt. 1 leave.
2 throw away. Variant: chulel.
throw oneself donanas. sa-vi. jump;
throw oneself. Variant: thonanas.
throw something at someone tu. vt.
shoot; throw something at someone.
Variant: thu.
throw something at someone tuthik
namt. vt. throw something at
someone; shoot. Morph: tu=tik na=mt.
Gloss: put=hand from=within. Variant:
thuthik namt.
thumb angthiki ama lvopki. n.
thumb.
thumb sangaravun'gi. n. thumb.
sangaravun. Variant: sangaravun'ga.
thunder ddin. n. thunder.
thus dai. subord. thus; then. Variant: dei.
tickle kilok. vt. tickle. Variant: chilok.
tidy slamr vm. vt. 1 fix. 2 tidy.
tie kethik pt. vt. tie. Variant: chethik
pt; chethik p; kethik p.
tie on kethik tm. vt. tie on. Variant:
chethik tm; chethik t; kethik t.
tie up kop s. vt. tie up. Variant: chop s.
tie up pais pt. vt. tie up. Variant: vais
pt.
tight adedr. adj. tight; e.g. fishing line
that has a large fish pulling on it.
Variant: dedr.
tight, be ~ nder na. vi-so. be uncom-
fortable because something is too
tight.
tilapia makaucha. n. reef fish sp.; tila-
pia; grey with scales; have no teeth;
up to 30 cm long. Pl: makau. See:
to, across
marumgi reef fish sp. (alternate
name).
tilapia, school of ~ makauves. n.
school of tilapia (makau).
time, at the same ~ as sdamr veia.
adv. at the same time as; while. Variant:
sndamr veia.
time, at the ~ klan. adv. 1 like; like-
wise. 2 at the time; when. Variant:
chlan; glan; klan; chlan. See:
machlan at the time; when.
time, last ~ maila chuvsnia. disc.
1 the other day. 2 last time.
Variant: malachuvsnia.
time, long ~ maulul. adv. long time.
times, many ~ malilu. adv. many times.
timid, be ~ auluvk mt. vi-so. be
timid; be cowardly; be afraid.
tin tin'gi. n. tin. Pl: tin. Note: only t.
tinea aslavar. n. tinea; ringworm
(grile).
tinea awithinggi. n. ringworm; tinea
that appears as white spots on the
Pl: skin. Pl: awithaing.
tip out sruk. vt. pour; spill; tip out;
specifically of dry things such as
gravel.
tip out tnp n. vt. 1 turn. 2 tip out.
3 translate. Variant: np n; tnp na;
np na.
tips, tree ~ ayaungem. n. tree tips; the
ends of the branches where the leaves
are. Pl: ayaungbap. Variant: aiyaungem.
tired, be ~ aruan pt. vi-so. be tired.
to sa. prep. 1 to. 2 with. Variant: s.
to sagl. prep. to. Variant: sanggl.
to sd. prep. to. Variant: sda; sde; snd;
snda.
to sthm. prep. to. Variant: sathm;
sth.
to sva. prep. to.
to svt. prep. 1 to. 2 about.
3 at. 4 onto. Variant: sk; svk
(Abilta dialect); svtha.
to, across ~ saimuanp. dir. to the
338
to, back
other side; across to.
to, back ~ naglmna. prep. back to.
Variant: nanglmna.
to down samk. dir. to down.
to down there samanp. dir. to down
there. Variant: samani.
to, down ~ saimano. dir. down to.
to, down ~ saimni. dir. over to; down
to.
to each other sthmna. dir. to each
other.
to each other svana. dir. to each
other.
to, in order ~ vasik. subord. in order to.
Morph: va=asik. Gloss: purposive=irrealis.
to oneself snas. dir. to oneself; about
oneself.
to oneself svanas. dir. to oneself;
about oneself.
to oneself vthanas. prep. to oneself;
on oneself. Morph: vt=nas. Gloss: PREP=
REFL. Variant: pthanas.
to other side samethik. dir. to other
side.
to, over ~ saimni. dir. over to; down
to.
to the other side saimuanp. dir. to
the other side; across to.
to the other side saimuit. dir. to the
other side.
to the top savuk. dir. up; to the top.
Variant: sauk.
to there saisave. dir. to there.
to there save. dir. to there.
to this side sainamuk. dir. to this side.
tobacco plant nangasacha. n.
1 tobacco plant. 2 cigarette. Pl:
nangas.
toe valvalka. n. finger; toe; generic
term of the extremities of the hands
and feet. Pl: valval.
toe, big ~ lcharacha ama morka. n.
big toe.
toenail ravski. n. nail; claw. Pl: ravs.
339
torn, be ~
together tmna. dir. together. Variant:
thmna; dmna.
together, group ~ tethana. sa-vi. 1 be
friends. 2 be married. 3 group
together. Variant: thethana; dethana;
methana.
Tok Pisin amethamn ama dv-
thng. n. Melanesian Pidgin; Tok
Pisin. See: ism angtha methamn
Melanesian Pidgin; Tok Pisin.
Tok Pisin ism angtha methamn.
n. Melanesian Pidgin; Tok Pisin.
Tolai man tangammtka. n. Tolai man.
Pl: tangammtta.
Tolai woman tangammtki. n. Tolai
woman.
tomorrow mubang. adv. 1 tomorrow.
2 next day. Variant: bubang; mum-
bang.
tongs sangarka. n. tongs. Pl: sangar.
tongue achulbingga. n. tongue. Pl:
achulubaing. Variant: kulbingga; chuli-
bingga.
tongue of flame chulimbinggi. n.
tongue of flame. Pl: achulubaing.
Variant: kulbingga; chulibingga.
too doki. adv. 1 also; too. 2 simil-
arly. Morph: da=koki. Gloss: and=also.
Variant: daki.
tooth angtkenggi. n. tooth. Pl:
angtkeng.
top angtps. n. 1 top. 2 roof.
Morph: angt=ps. Gloss: 3N.POSS=head.
Variant: angtpus; vs.
top pavar. dir. top. Variant: vavar; vovar;
povar.
top thng. n. 1 back. 2 top.
3 behalf. Note: only th. Note: no endings.
top, native spinach ~ auravucha. n.
native spinach (aibika) top that is used
for cooking.
torch manaingimgi. n. 1 window.
2 torch; flashlight. Pl: manaingim.
See: achilotki window.
torn lr mt. vi-so. torn.
torn, be ~ prk mt. vi-so. 1 be torn;
torso, front of ~ tree sp.

be ripped. 2 shout; yell. Variant: (Abilta dialect) trap.

vrk mt. trap secha. n. trap. Usage: Abilta dialect.
torso, front of ~ ronas. n. front of torso; Pl: sek. See: baurka trap.
belly and chest of an animal. Note: no traveller amonelka. n. 1 hunter.
endings. 2 traveller. Pl: amonelta.
toss kuasin na. vt. toss; especially re- traveller, female ~ amonelki. n. female
ferring to throwing liquid from a con- traveller.
tainer. Variant: chuasin.
treatment slamrki. n. treatment;
toss and turn tusachus. sa-vi. wriggle cure. Pl: slamr.
around because of irritation; toss and
turn e.g. while trying to sleep. Variant: tree amngga. n. tree. Pl: amng.
Variant: nng (Abilta dialect); mngga.
thusachus; dusachus; musachus;
thusavus; tusavus; dusavus; musavus. tree angmngga. n. 1 tree.
2 stick; piece of wood. Morph: ang=
touch tk vt. vt. 1 touch. 2 feel.
mngka. Gloss: 3.CN.POSS=wood-M.SG.
Variant: thk vt; thk v; tk v.
Pl: angmng.
tough achrot. adj. 1 strong.
2 tough. 3 hard; difficult. Variant:
tree angmnggi. n. 1 large tree.
2 log. Morph: ang=mngki. Gloss:
chrot.
3.CN.POSS=wood-F.SG. Pl: angmng. Pl:
towards muit. dir. 1 ashore; shore- mng. Variant: nngaik (Abilta dialect).
wards. 2 across on same level; to-
wards. Variant: mit. tree, breadfruit ~ variachi. n.
1 breadfruit tree. 2 breadfruit. Pl:
towards, back ~ momono. dir. back var. Variant: pariachi. See: vaski
towards. breadfruit tree and fruit.
towel tauchi. n. towel. tree, breadfruit ~ vaski. n.
tower vlavalka. n. 1 pole. 2 tower. 1 breadfruit tree. 2 breadfruit. Pl:
Pl: vlaval. Note: only v. vas. See: variachi breadfruit. Note: only
track ais. n. 1 track. 2 way; route. v.
3 transport. Variant: is. tree, large ~ amnggi. n. large tree. Pl:
track awal. n. track; specifically the amng. Variant: mnggi; nnggi (Abilta
direction of the undergrowth, like dialect).
grasses, which shows the direction a tree, small ~ amngini. n. small tree.
person has gone. Pl: amngihtong. Variant: mngini;
track isia. n. ridge; track (ridge lines nngini (Abilta dialect).
are used as tracks). Pl: isink. See: tree sp. achluangga. n. tree sp.; is up
aiska road. to 20 cm in diameter; light brown; the
track mpmpki. n. track; made by bark is slippery inside; is especially
people. Pl: mpmp. found in old gardens. Pl: achluang.

tracks alcharacha. n. 1 footprint; tree sp. achelungurka. n. tree sp.; tall

track. 2 footstep. Pl: alchar.
train sunas. vt. learn; train; study.
translate tnp n. vt. 1 turn. 2 tip
out. 3 translate. Variant: np n; tnp
na; np na.
transport ais. n. 1 track. 2 way;
route. 3 transport. Variant: is.
trap baurka. n. trap. Pl: baur. See: secha
with large buttress roots and very
hard wood; bark is used as a purgative
for treating poisoning, it is grated and
washed in water and then the water is
drunk. Usage: An alternate name for
achesinbemga.
tree sp. achnanggolka. n. tree sp.;
grows in the mountains; has very
dense wood and is hard to cut; grubs

340
tree sp.
kill the tree; people like to eat the
grubs that live in this tree. Pl:
achnanggol. Variant: chnanggolka.
tree sp. achesinbemga. n. tree sp.; tall
with large buttress roots and very
hard wood; bark is used as a purgative
for treating poisoning, it is grated and
washed in water and then the water is
drunk. Usage: An alternate name for
achelungurka.
tree sp. aicha. n. 1 branch of river;
flows year round. 2 tree sp.; has
rough grey bark with vertical serra-
tions and plentiful, small, spade-
shaped leaves. Pl: aio. Pl: ayo.
tree sp. ainilka. n. tree sp.; yields fi-
bres used to make nets and net bags
(bilums); is tall and narrow. Pl: ainil.
Variant: anilk (Abilta dialect); aenilk
(Abilta dialect).
tree sp. amnggaricha. n. tree sp.;
has soft wood; makes you itch. Pl:
amnggare. Variant: mnggariacha.
tree sp. amrachuvacha. n. tree sp.;
has multi-coloured bark; grows near
rivers. Pl: amrachuap. Pl: amrachop.
tree sp. amrochopink. n. tree sp.
Variant: vavnk.
tree sp. aruchusicha. n. 1 tree sp.
2 type of fruit.
tree sp. athalevacha. n. 1 cocoa tree.
2 tree sp.; looks like a cocoa tree,
only taller with narrower leaves, and
bears small fruit rather than pods;
good for firewood; eating the ripe
green leaves is good for diarrhoea;
has larger leaves than the auska spe-
cies. Pl: athalep.
tree sp. athingga. n. tree sp.; yields
fibre. Pl: athing.
tree sp. athonggi. n. 1 tree sp.; bears
an edible fruit. 2 river crab sp.;
brown; up to 5 cm in diameter; flat
feet for paddling. Pl: athong.
tree sp. aulmangachi. n. native or-
ange; refers to both the tree and the
fruit. Pl: aulmang. Variant: aulmang;
ulmangachi.
341
tree sp.
tree sp. auska. n. tree sp.; similar to
the cocoa tree and the athalevacha
sp.; much taller than a cocoa tree;
bears small fruit but has smaller
leaves than the athalevacha species.
tree sp. avarka. n. tree sp.; grows close
to the beach; branches bend down;
has yellow flowers and useful fibres.
Pl: avar.
tree sp. balska. n. tree sp.; large tree
with soft wood. Pl: bals.
tree sp. chlaska. n. tree sp.; has soft
wood; cassowaries eat the fruit. Pl:
chlas. Variant: klaska.
tree sp. chlmgi. n. tree sp.; has pods
that are used as rattles. Pl: chlm.
Note: only ch.
tree sp. chluangga. n. tree sp.; has
silky fibre. Pl: chluang. Note: only ch.
tree sp. chungacha. n. 1 tree sp.;
casuarina. 2 sisterless man; sis-
terless boy; a man or a boy who does
not have any sisters. Pl: chuang. Variant:
kungacha.
tree sp. ivngacha. n. tree sp.; large
tree from the bush; is the home of
spirits. Pl: ivang.
tree sp. lamthain'ga. n. tree sp.;
large tree species. Pl: lamthain.
tree sp. luanggareska. n. tree sp.;
very straight and tall; is easy to split
into planks.
tree sp. matholka. n. tree sp.; new
leaves from this tree are used to treat
sickness in the spleen and for boils;
for the spleen, the leaves are chewed
and swallowed; for boils, the leaves
are heated and then placed over the
boil.
tree sp. mlutki. n. tree sp.; beach
tree; grows horizontally towards the
water. Pl: mlut.
tree sp. mnumgi. n. tree sp.; tall tree
that grows in the bush; a bit like the
mlutki species; good timber for
houses. Pl: mnum.
tree sp. minminga. n. tree sp.; a soft-
tree sp.
wood tree with red flowers.
minmin.
tree sp. mrunggi. n. tree sp.; rosewood
tree. Pl: mrung. Variant: marungga.
tree sp. mulichi. n. orange; both the
tree and the fruit. Pl: muli.
tree sp. nmbingga. n. tree sp.; strong
trees that grow on top of mountain
ridges. Pl: nmbaing.
tree sp. rachan'ga. n. tree sp.; hard-
wood tree used for timber; very large,
is both tall and broad; burns well
good for firewood; was logged exten-
sively by the Catholic Mission for use
in its post-war building program. Pl:
rachan.
tree sp. raiycha. n. 1 tree sp.; grows
along the coast and in the mountains
in the bush; the sap is fragrant and
burns like wax. 2 fragrant sap from
the tree with the same name. Pl:
raiyk.
tree sp. srubn'ga. n. tree sp.; if you
touch it your skin swells. Pl: srubn.
Variant: sruban'ga.
tree sp. tltlcha. n. tree sp.; grows
near the beach; has edible fruit. Pl:
tltl.
tree sp. thabucha. n. tree sp.; used for
making canoes. Pl: thabu. Variant:
tabucha.
tree sp. vaidebunggi. n. 1 tree sp.;
known as wild orange tree. 2 wild
orange. 3 ball; refers to something
the size of a volleyball. Pl: vaidebung.
Note: only v.
tree sp. vlngacha. n. tree sp.; grows
in old garden sites; has very thick
bark, small white leaves, and very
small flowers. Pl: vlang. Variant:
plngacha.
tree sp. warevacha. n. tree sp.; grows
by the river; has small leaves. Pl:
warep.
tree sp. yaungga. n. tree sp.; used in
the cleansing ceremony that follows a
raid on another village; becomes a
truth
Pl: dangerous tree after the ceremony
and must not be touched. Pl: yaung.
tree, strong inner part of ~ rarpka. n.
1 strong inner part of tree. 2 gun.
Pl: rarp.
tree stump amngm. n. tree stump.
Pl: amngbap. Variant: mngm.
trees angmng. n. 1 wood.
2 trees. Morph: ang=mng. Gloss:
3.CN.POSS=wood. Variant: mng; nng
(Abilta dialect).
tremble chn'gn bt. vi-so. 1 shiver.
2 tremble. Variant: chn'gn pt.
Note: only ch.
tremor chn'gn. n. tremor. Note: only
ch.
trepang amangia. n. trepang; sea cu-
cumber. Pl: amang. Pl: amanginnk.
Variant: mangia.
trick nangathm s. vt. trick. Usage:
Abilta dialect.
tried nia. modal. 1 just; suddenly; sur-
prisingly. Gram: Mirative marker with pre-
sent tense or past tense verbs. 2 tried.
Gram: Frustrative marker with future tense
verbs.
trigger vlnini. n. trigger; knob; in-
cluding the ears of a saucepan that
the handle is hooked into. Pl: vlni-
thong. Variant: plnini.
trim sm. vt. trim; especially of hair.
Trinity Trinitas. n. Trinity. Note: no
endings.
trochus shell malimgi. n. trochus shell.
Pl: malim.
trouble tharesini. n. trouble. Pl:
tharesithong. Variant: taresini.
trousers snaingbam. n. trousers. Pl:
snaingbap.
truck aiski. n. 1 car. 2 truck. Pl: ais.
Variant: iski. See: araun'ga mtki car.
truly marik. disc. truly; really. Variant:
marki.
truly sok. disc. really; truly.
truth alengeiki. n. truth. Gram: No plural
form. Variant: lengeiki.
342
try
try su. vt. 1 try. 2 teach.
try suchut nanas mt. vt. 1 try.
2 try on; e.g. try new clothes on
yourself.
try hard achrnas pt. vi-so. try hard.
try on suchut nanas mt. vt. 1 try.
2 try on; e.g. try new clothes on
yourself.
try to vandi. disc. 1 want to; intend to.
Gram: Desiderative marker. 2 try to.
3 nearly; almost. 4 maybe. Variant:
vadi.
t-shirt singgliski. n. t-shirt;
Variant: singiliski. Pl: singglis.
tuberculosis chenechacha. n. asthma;
tuberculosis; any condition principally
involving difficulty with breathing.
tumble over lvur vt. vi-so. tumble
over.
tuna, yellowfin ~ atun'gi. n. fish sp.;
yellowfin tuna. Pl: atun.
turn dong. sa-vi. turn. Variant: thong.
turn dong mes. sa-vi. turn.
thong mes.
turn tnp n. vt. 1 turn. 2 tip out.
3 translate. Variant: np n; tnp na;
np na.
turn inside out nunggring mt. vt.
turn inside out.
turn over valing. sa-vi. turn over.
Variant: waling.
turn over vanim. vt. roll around; turn
over; e.g. movements of waves and
fabric. Variant: wanim.
turtle avun'gi. n. turtle. Pl: avun. Variant:
vun'ga (Abilta dialect).
tussle piru nana. sa-vi. tussle.
viru nana; runa.
twice maunmlm. adv. twice.
twig angthichini. n. 1 hand; arm;
refers to the entire limb; more polite
word than angthiki. 2 twig.
twigs valvalki. n. twigs. Pl:
Variant: valpal. Note: only v.
twilight aunes. n. twilight. Usage:
two long ones, some ~
dialect. See: bngangbes twilight.
twilight bangangbes. n. twilight; re-
fers to low light at either dusk or
dawn. Variant: bngangbes. See: aunes
(Karong dialect) twilight.
twist vunak. vt. twist. Variant: wunak.
twist together deng. vt. twist together;
e.g. to make a strong rope out of finer
ones. Variant: theng; meng.
two aunbem. num. two. Gram: Feminine
dual. Variant: unbem.
two aun'giom. num. two. Gram: Masculine
shirt. dual and count neutral dual. Variant:
un'giom.
two guaiom. dem. two. Gram: Masculine
dual indefinite demonstrative.
two guavem. dem. two. Gram: Feminine
dual indefinite demonstrative.
two, and those ~ dini. coord. and those
two. Morph: da=ini. Gloss: and=3DL class
two.
two flat ones aunmlm. num. two flat
Variant: ones. Gram: Flat dual. Variant: unmlm.
two flat ones guamlm. dem. two flat
ones. Gram: Flat dual indefinite demon-
strative.
two flat ones, some ~ agimlm. pro.
some two flat ones. Gram: Flat dual in-
definite pronoun. Variant: anggimlm;
gimlm.
two large ones aundenm. num. two
large ones. Gram: Extended dual.
two large ones guanm. dem. two
large ones. Gram: Extended dual indefinite
demonstrative.
two large ones, some ~ aginm. pro.
some two large ones. Gram: Extended
Variant:
dual indefinite pronoun. Variant: anginm;
ginm.
two long ones aundisem. num. two
long ones. Gram: Long dual.
two long ones guasem. dem. two long
ones. Gram: Long dual indefinite demon-
valval. strative.
two long ones, some ~ agisem. pro.
Abilta some two long ones. Gram: Extended dual
343
two people, some ~
indefinite pronoun. Variant: anggisem;
gisem.
two people, some ~ agivem. pro. some
two people; some two things. Gram:
Feminine dual indefinite pronoun. Variant:
anggivem; givem.
two people, the ~ iom. pro. two things;
two people. Gram: Third person masculine
dual reduced nominal pronoun.
two people, the ~ ngaiom. pro. two
things; two people. Gram: Third person
masculine dual nominal pronoun.
two people, the ~ ngavem. pro. two
people; two things. Gram: Third person
feminine dual nominal pronoun.
two people, the ~ vem. pro. two things;
two people. Gram: Third person feminine
dual reduced nominal pronoun.
two pieces aunglem. num. two pieces.
Gram: Excised dual.
two pieces guaglem. dem. two pieces.
Gram: Excised dual indefinite demonstrative.
two pieces, some ~ agiglem. pro. some
two pieces. Gram: Excised dual indefinite
pronoun. Variant: anggiglem; giglem.
two pieces, those ~ avglem. dem.
those two pieces. Gram: Excised dual distal
demonstrative. Variant: vglem.
two short ones aunbam. num. two
short ones. Gram: Reduced dual.
two short ones guavam. dem. two
short ones. Gram: Reduced dual indefinite
demonstrative.
two short ones, some ~ agivam. pro.
some two short ones. Gram: Reduced dual
indefinite pronoun. Variant: anggivam;
givam.
two short ones, the ~ vam. pro. short
two. Gram: Reduced dual nominal pronoun.
two small ones aundom. num. two
small ones. Gram: Diminutive dual. Variant:
undom.
two small ones guathom. dem. two
small ones. Gram: Diminutive dual indefinite
demonstrative.
two small ones, some ~ agithom. pro.
344
two, those particular ~
some two small ones. Gram: Diminutive
dual indefinite pronoun. Variant: anggithom;
githom.
two, the flat ~ imlm. pro. the flat
two. Gram: Flat dual reduced nominal pro-
noun.
two, the flat ~ ngimlm. pro. the flat
two. Gram: Flat dual nominal pronoun.
two, the large ~ inm. pro. the large
two. Gram: Extended dual reduced nominal
pronoun.
two, the long ~ isem. pro. the long two.
Gram: Long dual reduced nominal pronoun.
two, the long ~ nginm. pro. the long
two. Gram: Extended dual nominal pronoun.
two, the long ~ ngisem. pro. the long
two. Gram: Long dual nominal pronoun.
two, the short ~ iglem. pro. short two.
Gram: Excised dual reduced nominal pronoun.
two, the short ~ ngavam. pro. short
two. Gram: Reduced dual nominal pronoun.
two, the short ~ ngiglem. pro. short
two. Gram: Excised dual nominal pronoun.
two, the small ~ ithom. pro. small two.
Gram: Diminutive dual reduced nominal pro-
noun.
two, the small ~ ngithom. pro. small
two. Gram: Diminutive dual nominal pronoun.
two things, some ~ agivem. pro. some
two people; some two things. Gram:
Feminine dual indefinite pronoun. Variant:
anggivem; givem.
two things, the ~ iom. pro. two things;
two people. Gram: Third person masculine
dual reduced nominal pronoun.
two things, the ~ ngaiom. pro. two
things; two people. Gram: Third person
masculine dual nominal pronoun.
two things, the ~ ngavem. pro. two
people; two things. Gram: Third person
feminine dual nominal pronoun.
two things, the ~ vem. pro. two things;
two people. Gram: Third person feminine
dual reduced nominal pronoun.
two, those particular ~ kiom. dem.
those particular two. Gram: Masculine
two, those ~
singular contrastive demonstrative.
chkiom just those particular two.
two, those ~ avvem. dem. those two.
Gram: Feminine dual distal demonstrative.
Variant: vvem.
ulcer athopki. n. 1 cut; sore.
2 ulcer. Pl: athop.
um a. interj. Oh!; well; um; expression of
surprise or hesitation. Variant: au.
unbalanced masechen.
1 sideways. 2 unbalanced.
unbend trn s. vi-so. stand up; un-
bend; something that had been bent
over but is released so it can stand
again. Variant: rn s.
uncle kao. n. uncle; specifically the
mothers brother. Pl: kaochna. Pl:
kaovap. Variant: chau.
uncle-in-law saemga. n. uncle-in-law;
nephew-in-law; specifically: ones
wifes mothers brother, ones hus-
bands sisters son, and ones hus-
bands mothers brother. Pl: saembek.
uncle-in-law thuvska. n. father-in-
law; brother-in-law; uncle-in-law; any
in-laws except ones wifes mothers
brother and his wife. Pl: thuvsvek.
uncomfortable, be ~ nder na. vi-so. be
uncomfortable because something is
too tight.
uncomfortable, feel ~ tusachus. sa-vi.
be irritating; feel uncomfortable. Var-
iant: thusachus; dusachus; musachus;
thusavus; tusavus; dusavus; musavus.
unconcernedly madng. adv.
1 carelessly. 2 unconcernedly.
unconnected dvthng. adj. uncon-
nected; something without a known
source; e.g. a fatherless child or Tok
Pisin, which is a language without a
village.
uncooked aichru. adj. 1 new.
2 uncooked; raw.
up
See: two, those ~ aviom. dem. those two.
Gram: Masculine dual distal demonstrative.
Variant: viom.
tyre taiachi. n. tyre. Pl: taia. Note: only t.
U - u
uncover tar tm. vt. 1 remove; take
off. 2 uncover. Variant: thar tm.
under nanaik. dir. under.
underground person anvmnacha.
adv. n. underground person. Pl: nvmna-
chachna.
underpants simalachi. n. 1 tapa
cloth; traditional covering worn by
men; a strip of bark cloth that goes
between the legs, attached to a
waistband. 2 underpants. Pl: simal.
understand drm. sa-vi. understand.
Variant: ndrm; rm.
unhurriedly, do ~ pathm mes. sa-vi.
1 do by choice; do according to ones
own wishes. 2 do unhurriedly; do in
ones own time. 3 act independ-
ently. Variant: bathm mes; vathm
mes.
uniform sravtki. n. shirt; clothes;
uniform. Pl: sravt. Variant: sravtki.
unproductive man danungga. n. un-
productive man; a person who does
not bring anything home for the
household (e.g. no firewood, water, or
food); someone who cannot catch fish
etc. Pl: danungda.
unproductive woman danunggi. n.
unproductive woman.
until dng. adv. until.
until vaki. subord. until. Morph: va=koki.
Gloss: purposive=also. Note: only v.
unwilling arus. adj. unwilling.
up nainamk. dir. up.
up savuit. dir. up.
up savuk. dir. up; to the top. Variant:
sauk.
345
up
up vono. dir. 1 up. 2 inland.
3 shorewards. Variant: bono; pono.
up vuit. dir. up. Variant: buit; vit; puit.
up a bit from towards speaker tna-
mk. dir. up a bit from towards
speaker.
up above vuvuit. dir. up above. Variant:
vuvuik.
up and down smnina. dir. up and
down; across; from one to another;
e.g. across a series of valleys and
ridges.
up, back ~ nanamk. dir. back up.
up from inside naimek. dir. up from
inside.
up, from ~ nainavuk. dir. from up.
up, from ~ naivuk. dir. from up.
up here sanamuk. dir. up here.
up there aviui. dir. up there.
up there avivui. dir. up there.
up there ivono. dir. upwards; inland; up
there.
up there ivuk. dir. up there.
up there sathvuk. dir. up there.
up there tvuk. dir. up there. Variant:
thvuk.
up there, from ~ naivono. dir. from up
there.
up there, from ~ nathvono. dir. from
up there.
up there, from ~ nathvuk. dir. from
up there.
up there, from ~ navono. dir. from up
there.
up there to sathvono. dir. up there to.
up to saivuk. dir. up to.
uproot tr. vt. 1 pull out. 2 uproot.
3 clear; especially of small weeds
etc. Variant: thr; dr; mr.
upwards inamk. dir. upwards.
upwards ivono. dir. upwards; inland;
up there.
upwards saivono. dir. upwards.
346
us two, some of our
upwards savono. dir. 1 upwards.
2 inland. 3 shorewards.
upwards vpuit. dir. upwards. Note:
only v.
upwards away from speaker ivui. dir.
upwards away from speaker.
urethra achlel angtha iska. n. 1
urinary system. 2 urethra. Morph: a
=chlel angt=a iska. Gloss: SPEC=urine
3CN.POSS=SPEC path-M.SG. Variant:
chlel angtha iska.
urgently mavrt. adv. suddenly; ur-
gently; do something without any
warning and give someone a shock.
urinary system achlel angtha iska.
n. 1 urinary system. 2 urethra.
Morph: a=chlel angt=a iska. Gloss:
SPEC=urine 3CN.POSS=SPEC path-M.SG.
Variant: chlel angtha iska.
urine achlel. n. urine. Morph: a=chlel.
Gloss: SPEC=urine. Variant: chlel.
us un. pro. 1 we. Gram: First person dual
class three pronoun. 2 us. Gram: First
person dual class three pronoun.
us ut. pro. 1 we. Gram: First person plural
class one pronoun. 2 us. Gram: First per-
son plural class three pronoun.
us and utn. pro. us and. Morph: ut=n.
Gloss: 1PL.III=and. Variant: utna.
us two and un. pro. us two and. Morph:
un=n. Gloss: 1DL.III=and. Variant: una.
us two, our auna. pro. us two, our.
Gram: Possessive pronoun and specific article.
Morph: aun=a. Gloss: 1DL.POSS=EMPH.
us two, our aunama. pro. us two, our.
Gram: First person dual possessive pronoun
and emphatic possessive pronoun.
us two, our aunangama. pro. us two,
our. Gram: First person dual possessive pro-
noun and indefinite possessive pronoun. Mrph:
aun=angama. Gloss: 1DL.POSS=INDEF.
us two, some of our aunanga. pro. us
two, some of our. Gram: First person dual
possessive pronoun and non-specific possessive
pronoun. Morph: aun=anga. Gloss: 1DL.
POSS=NSPEC.
 V -
vagina aunuchi. n. female genitals;
vulva; vagina; a womans private parts
in general. Pl: auna.
valley auvia. n. valley. Pl: auvink.
Variant: aupia.
valley floor aupka. n. valley floor. Pl:
aup.
vandal vingbmga. n. 1 vandal.
2 naughty boy or man. Pl: vinbmda.
vandal vinoska. n. vandal. Pl: vinsota.
vandal, female ~ vingbmgi. n.
1 female vandal. 2 naughty girl or
woman. Note: only v.
vandal, female ~ vinoski. n. female
vandal. Note: only v.
vandalise avinos. vi-so. 1 play around.
2 vandalise. See: vinos destruction.
vein churacha. n. 1 root. 2 artery;
vein. Pl: chuar. Variant: kuracha.
verandah paranda. n. porch; verandah.
Variant: varanda.
verse munggulmga. n. verse. Pl:
munggulm.
vertebra buthichi. n. vertebra. Pl:
buthi.
very much mamor. adv. 1 lots.
2 excessively; very much; terribly.
3 strongly. 4 hard. 5 loudly.
6 fast; quickly. 7 brightly.
very much masa. disc. 1 certainly.
2 very much; a lot. Gram: In clause final
position only.
victory leaf lagun'ga. n. cordyline sp.;
victory leaf (tanget); decorative plant.
Pl: lagun.
victory leaf sp. mangbcheng. n. vic-
tory leaf sp.; low growing with narrow
leaves that have white patches on the
edges. Pl: mang angt keng.
village ambangm. n. village. Pl: am-
bangbap. Variant: bangem; mbangem.
village vthm. n. village. Pl: avutvap.
Note: only v.
347
v
village vutka. n. 1 house. 2 vill-
age. Pl: vut. Variant: vtka. Note: only v.
village, abandoned ~ ambilki. n.
abandoned house or village. Pl: ambil.
vine sp. changgthacha. n. 1 vine
sp.; large, thick vine. Usage: Arongda
dialect. 2 rope; vine makes a good
rope. 3 fishing line. Pl: changgt.
Variant: kanggthacha; chagthacha.
See: charoski (Abilta dialect) vine sp.
vine sp. changgthait. n. 1 vine sp.;
especially a long and narrow vine
species. 2 rope. Pl: changgthink.
Variant: kagthait.
vine sp. charoski. n. 1 vine sp.; large,
thick vine. Usage: Abilta dialect.
2 rope. Pl: charos. Variant: karoski. See:
changgthacha (Arongda dialect) rope.
vine sp. maminggi. n. vine sp.; yields
fibre. Pl: mamaing.
vine sp. thavulka. n. 1 vine sp.; makes
a good rope. 2 rope. Pl: thavu.
Variant: tavulka; thawlka.
vine sp. vonbon'gi. n. vine sp.; thick
bush vine. Pl: vonbon. Note: only v.
vines, beach ~ chalavurucha. n. beach
vines. Pl: chalavuru.
vision sachong. n. 1 vision; dream;
daydream. 2 glasses. 3 crown of
a tree. 4 surface; e.g. the surface of
the sea, the face of the earth, the top
of a sore, the opening of a pot.
visitor, temporary ~ amlka. n.
1 large island. Pl: aml. See: amlm
small island. 2 foreign man; tem-
porary visitor. Pl: amlta. See: naingis-
ka foreigner.
voice angtkn'gi. n. 1 neck.
2 throat. 3 voice. Morph: at=kn.
Gloss: 3F.SG.POSS=throat. Pl: angtkn.
Variant: tchn; chn'gi.
vomit tnnn. sa-vi. vomit. Variant:
nnn.
vulva
vulva aunuchi. n. female genitals;
vulva; vagina; a womans private parts
W -
waist rope aiski thchng. n. waist
rope used for tucking in lade, viringgi,
or simalachi. Morph: aiski thchng.
Gloss: rope its-edge. Pl: ais angt kng.
Variant: aiski.
wait tair. sa-vi. 1 stand. 2 wait.
Variant: thair; dair; mair.
wait tlu vathm na. sa-vi. wait for a
chance to do something. Variant: lu
vathm na. See: tair wait.
Wait a minute! chule sa. interj. Wait a
minute!
wake up prendem. vi-so. wake up.
Variant: vrendem.
wake up puren vt. vi-so. wake up; stir.
Variant: vuren vt; vepuren vt (Abilta
dialect).
wake up tchm. sa-vi. 1 wake up.
2 be awake. 3 be alive. 4 arise;
specifically referring to Jesus rising
from the dead. Variant: thchm;
dchm; tcham; thcham; dcham.
walk tet. sa-vi. 1 walk. 2 go. Variant:
thet; det; met; -et.
walk across sek mni. vt. walk
through; walk across; especially of
walking across, that is, through a
river.
walk through sek mni. vt. walk
through; walk across; especially of
walking across, that is, through a
river.
walk with tair pt. vt. walk with; e.g. to
help a sick person. Variant: thair pt;
dair pt; mair pt.
walking stick dlangga. n. walking
stick. Pl: dlang.
wall brtki. n. 1 rib. 2 wall. Pl: brt.
Pl: brt.
wall panggalvs. n. wall; specifically a
wall made of leaf stems. Pl: pangga-
348
water
in general. Pl: auna.
w
limlk. Note: only p.
wall in vt dm d. vt. put the walls on
a house. Note: only v.
wallaby chaelka. n. wallaby; has grey
fur; up to 60 cm tall when standing on
hind legs. Pl: chael. Variant: kaelka.
wander bang binem. sa-vi. roam;
wander. Variant: vang binem.
wander donel. sa-vi. 1 hunt.
2 wander. Variant: thonel; monel.
wanderings vangbinem. n. wander-
ings. Variant: bangbinem.
want plk. vt. 1 like. 2 want.
3 love. 4 need. Variant: vlk; vlk;
plk.
want to vandi. disc. 1 want to; intend
to. Gram: Desiderative marker. 2 try to.
3 nearly; almost. 4 maybe.
Variant: vadi.
warning sound paret. n. warning sound.
wash tor. vt. wash. Variant: thor.
wasp, grey ~ mamboracha. n. grey
wasp. Pl: mambor. Variant: maboracha.
wasp, orange and black ~ avonga-
vongacha. n. orange and black wasp.
Pl: avongavong.
wasp sp. basiremgi. n. wasp sp.;
greenish colour; makes a hole in the
ground where it lays eggs and buries
caterpillars. Pl: basirem.
watch naingm. sa-vi. 1 look around.
2 see. 3 watch. 4 appear; look
like. 5 shine. Variant: naingim.
watch naingim pt. vt. 1 look after.
2 watch.
watchman tluvmka. n. 1 watchman.
2 shepherd. Pl: tluvmda.
water arenggi. n. 1 water. 2 river.
Pl: areng.
water, bowl of ~
water, bowl of ~ chulpki. n. 1 bowl
of water. 2 soup. Variant: kulp.
water line suchutki. n. water line or
flood line that shows how high a river
flows. Pl: suchut.
water that falls down a water-
fall abaringgi. n. water that falls
down a waterfall. Pl: abaraing.
watery niare. adj. watery.
watery, be ~ niare vt. vi-so. be watery.
wave awalngga. n. wave; ripple.
awalng.
wave lamon'gi. n. wave; specifically
waves that break. Pl: lamon. See:
awalngga wave; ripple.
wave piam. vt. 1 rotate; e.g. shake
ones head. 2 wave; e.g. wave ones
hands. Variant: viam.
wave tnap na. vt. wave; signal by using
hand gestures to communicate. Variant:
nap na.
way ais. n. 1 track. 2 way; route.
3 transport. Variant: is.
way, long ~ gelaulul. dir. far away;
long way.
way, make ~ pirs ithm. vt. 1 hide
behind; duck behind something to
hide oneself. 2 make way; move
aside. 3 move along. Variant: virs
ithm.
ways mtmet. n. 1 movements.
2 ways.
we un. pro. 1 we. Gram: First person dual
class three pronoun. 2 us. Gram: First
person dual class three pronoun.
we ut. pro. 1 we. Gram: First person plural
class one pronoun. 2 us. Gram: First per-
son plural class three pronoun.
we uthi. pro. we. Gram: First person plural
class two pronoun.
we, and ~ dut. coord. and we. Morph: da=
ut. Gloss: and=1PL III.
we two uni. pro. we two. Gram: First per-
son dual class two pronoun.
weak, be ~ blachoing. vi-so. be weak;
lacking any strength. Note: only b.
what happened
weak man blachoingga. n. weak man;
refers to someone who is physically
wrung out from a bad sickness. Pl:
blachoingta.
weak woman blachoinggi. n. weak
woman.
wear don mt. vt. 1 wear. 2 put on.
Variant: thon mt; mon mt.
wear tk. vt. wear; specifically the
apron of leaves worn by women at the
front of their bodies. Variant: thk.
Pl:
wear tu. vt. 1 put. 2 wear; put on.
3 lay; specifically of birds laying
eggs. Variant: thu; du; mu.
weave masar mt. vt. weave; making a
net bag (bilum) or weaving a net. Note:
only m.
weave ser. vt. weave; process of making
a blind or a basket.
weed travt. sa-vi. weed. Variant:
thravt; ravt; dravt; mravt.
well a. interj. Oh!; well; um; expression
of surprise or hesitation. Variant: au.
well auk. interj. well.
well mamr. adv. 1 well; fine.
2 properly. 3 possible.
well, get ~ amrvs pt. vi-so. 1 feel
fine. 2 heal; get better; get well.
3 feel peaceful.
welt smn'gi. n. welts on the skin. Pl:
smn.
welts, have ~ smn pt. vi-so. 1 be
lumpy. 2 have welts.
west chunengga cha don. n. west.
Variant: kunengga cha don.
wet ais. n. wet.
wet, be ~ achulit. vi-so. be wet.
wet, get ~ tor. sa-vi. 1 bathe; swim.
2 get wet. Variant: thor.
wet stuff malum. n. dough; wet stuff;
typically mud.
what agit. pro. what. Gram: Count neutral
indefinite pronoun. Variant: anggit; git;
gicha.
what happened mnia na. interrog.
349
wheel, emery ~
what happened.
wheel, emery ~ anengachi. n. emery
wheel. Pl: aneng.
when asik. disc. future; when. Gram: Ir-
realis marker. Variant: sik.
when kvs. interrog. when. Variant:
chvs. See: kvsnia when; mchvs
sometime, sometimes, again.
when kvsnia. interrog. when. Variant:
chvsnia. See: kvs when.
when klan. adv. 1 like; likewise.
2 at the time; when. Variant: chlan;
glan; klan; chlan. See: machlan at
the time; when.
when machlan beia. subord. when.
Variant: ma chlan beia. See: klan at the
time; when.
when ve ma. subord. as; when. Morph: ve
ma. Gloss: there relator. Variant: vema.
when veia. subord. when. Morph: ve=ia.
Gloss: there=relator. Variant: peia; beia;
pia; pea; via; vea.
where kue. interrog. where. Variant:
choe.
where kuenai. interrog. where. Variant:
choenei; guenai.
which large ones nemink. pro. which
large ones; some large ones. Gram: Ex-
tended plural interrogative pronoun; used in a
joking way to refer to people and implies
something about their large size; can be used
in indefinite contexts.
which large two nminm. pro. which
large two; some large two. Gram: Ex-
tended dual interrogative pronoun; used in a
joking way to refer to people and implies
something about their large size; can be used
in indefinite contexts.
which long ones nmiseng. pro. which
long ones. Gram: Long plural interrogative
pronoun; can be used in indefinite contexts.
which one aung gue. interrog. which
one. Gram: Masculine singular indefinite
pronoun.
which one aungguik kue. interrog.
which one. Gram: Feminine singular indefi-
nite pronoun.
350
while
which piece nmigl. pro. which piece;
some piece. Gram: Excised singular inter-
rogative pronoun; used in a joking way to refer
to people and implies something about their
large size; can be used in indefinite contexts.
Variant: neminggl.
which pieces nmigleng. pro. which
pieces; some pieces. Gram: Excised plural
interrogative pronoun; used in a joking way to
refer to people and implies something about
their large size; can be used in indefinite con-
texts.
which small one nemini. pro. which
small one; some small one. Gram: Di-
minutive singular interrogative pronoun; also
used to refer to people; can imply attenuative
meaning; can be used in indefinite contexts.
which small ones nemithong. pro.
which small ones; some small ones.
Gram: Diminutive plural interrogative pronoun;
also used to refer to people; can imply attenu-
ative meaning; can be used in indefinite con-
texts.
which two long ones nemisem. pro.
which two long ones; some two long
ones. Gram: Long dual interrogative pronoun;
used in a joking way to refer to people and im-
plies something about their large size; can be
used in indefinite contexts.
which two people, things nemiom.
pro. which two people; which two
things; some two people. Gram: Mascu-
line dual interrogative pronoun; can be used in
indefinite contexts.
which two pieces nmiglem. pro.
which two pieces; some two pieces.
Gram: Excised dual interrogative pronoun;
used in a joking way to refer to people and im-
plies something about their large size; can be
used in indefinite contexts.
which two small ones nemithom. pro.
which two small ones; some two small
ones. Gram: Diminutive dual interrogative
pronoun; also used to refer to people; can imply
attenuative meaning; can be used in indefinite
contexts.
while sdamr veia. adv. at the same
time as; while. Variant: sndamr veia.
while, for a ~ wild singapore

while, for a ~ sa. disc. 1 then. Gram: who nma. pro. who. Gram: Interrogative
Clause initial discourse marker. Introduces a pronoun.
new event frame. 2 so. 3 already. who nmda. pro. who. Gram: Human plural
Gram: Resultative marker. 4 for a while. interrogative pronoun.
Gram: In clause final position. 5 Gram:
Imperative marker.
who nmga. pro. who. Gram: Masculine
singular interrogative pronoun; can be used in
whinge tnok tichim. vt. whinge; cry. indefinite contexts.
Variant: nok tichim.
who nmgi. pro. who. Gram: Feminine
whirlpool vingloinggi. n. whirlpool. Pl: singular interrogative pronoun; can be used in
vinglong. Note: only v. indefinite contexts.
whiskers chseng da vam. n. beard; who knows nenga chalu. disc. maybe;
whiskers. Pl: chseng dath vam. who knows. Variant: nenggala.
Variant: chsengga da vam; kseng da
vam.
whole atm. adj. whole. Variant: tm.
Note: only t.
whisper charms pestm svt. vt.
whisper charms; charms can be whole thektm. adj. whole. Note: only th.
whispered over objects, e.g. lime whoosh ts. interj. swish; whoosh; imi-
powder, water, ginger, and cooked tates the sound of a stone from a sling
banana. Variant: vestm svt. hitting a target.
white achabap. adj. white. Variant: whose nmava. pro. whose. Gram: Third
chambap. person masculine singular possessive inter-
rogative pronoun.
white ant anggethangacha. n. white
ant. Pl: angethang. whose nmav. pro. whose. Gram: Third
person masculine singular possessive inter-
white, be ~ achabavs vt. vi-so. be
rogative pronoun.
white.
white man achabapka. n. white man. why mnia iva. interrog. why. Variant:
minia iva.
Morph: a=chabapka. Gloss: SPEC=
white-F.SG. Pl: achabapta. See: chulumga wide athavr. adj. wide. Variant: aravr.
white man. wide, be ~ athavr mt. vi-so. be wide.
white man chulumga. n. white man. Pl: Variant: aravr mt.
chulumda. See: achabapka white man. widen tu sathver n. vt. widen.
white marks lamur. n. white marks Variant: thu sathver n.
that are painted onto peoples faces, wife aruachi. n. female friend; wife.
during dances, using white powder or
wife oes nank. n. sister-in-law; wife;
lime powder.
address and reference term, used by a
white spots awithinggi. n. ringworm; male speaker or male ego. Pl: oes
tinea that appears as white spots on nankina.
the skin. Pl: awithaing.
wild aur. adj. wild. See: aurki bush.
white woman achabapki. n. white
wild orange vaidebunggi. n. 1 tree
woman.
sp.; known as wild orange tree.
white woman chulumgi. n. white 2 wild orange. 3 ball; refers to
woman. something the size of a volleyball. Pl:
who ma. rel. that; who. Gram: Relator that vaidebung. Note: only v.
introduces clauses or NPs that provide addi- wild singapore chathachi. n. taro sp.;
tional information about their head. Construc- wild singapore; not edible. Usage: The
tions involving the relator ma are sometimes word is sometimes also used to refer
used to express uncertainty or emphasis. to edible varieties. Pl: chatha. Variant:

351
wildfire wood, piece of ~

kathachi. witch rndamgi. n. witch. Pl: rndam.

wildfire amudmbs. n. 1 bonfire. Pl: rndamgina. Variant: rndam. See:
2 wildfire. Pl: amudm. Variant: aurachi witch.
amundmbs; amundmvs. See: amu- with gl. prep. with.
dmga fire. with na. prep. 1 from. 2 with.
willing, be ~ aslek pt. vi-so. be willing. Variant: n; ni.
wind laurka. n. wind. Pl: laur. with sa. prep. 1 to. 2 with. Variant:
wind around paim m. vt. wind s.
around. Variant: vaim m. with each other pathm na. dir.
wind itself paimanas. sa-vi. wind itself. 1 alongside; side by side. 2 with
Variant: vaimanas. each other; for each other.
3 parallel. Variant: vathm na; bathm
wind, northwest ~ amundik ava na.
laurka. n. northwest wind; named for
the wild cane (pitpit) season. wither sukderut n. vi-so. wither; die
from the roots up.
window achilotki. n. window. Pl:
achilot. See: manaingimgi window. within mt. prep. 1 in; within.
2 during; on. Gram: This sense available
window manaingimgi. n. 1 window. with temporal expressions. 3 inside.
2 torch; flashlight. Pl: manaingim. 4 into. 5 through. Variant: mtha;
See: achilotki window.
m.
windpipe sanggaska ava lechi. n. within sne. prep. in; within.
windpipe. Pl: sanggas angtha lek.
wizard musavaucha. n. wizard.
wine wain. n. wine.
wizard thaliaska. n. wizard. Pl: thalias.
wing anamnamgi. n. 1 wing. Variant: talias.
2 flipper of a turtle. Pl: anamnam.
wobbly amlml. adj. wobbly.
wing of a flying fox uras. n. wing of a
flying fox. See: urasvs leaf (taro ~ or woman aruchi. n. woman.
singapore). woman lvopki. n. woman. Pl: lvop. Pl:

wink pt balam na. vt. blink; wink.
Variant: vut balam na.
wipe pel vt. vt. 1 rub. 2 wipe.
Variant: vel vt.
wire vaiait. n. wire; specifically a single
strand of wire. Pl: vaia. Note: only v.
wire fencing, sheet of ~ vaiaves. n. arc
mesh; sheet of wire fencing. Note: only
v.
lvopta. Variant: luvop; luop.
woman, adult ~ amorki. n. 1 adult
woman. 2 leader. 3 female an-
cestor. 4 goddess. Pl: morvap. Pl:
morta.
woman with children athoes
pthachi. n. woman with children.
women, lots of ~ lvovaski. n. lots of
women.

wise man ngelka. n. wise man. Pl: wood amng. n. wood. Variant: nng
ngelta. (Abilta dialect).

wise woman ngelki. n. wise woman. wood angmng. n. 1 wood.

2 trees. Morph: ang=mng. Gloss:
wish vlchachi. n. 1 choice; prefer- 3.CN.POSS=wood. Variant: mng; nng
ence. 2 wish. Pl: vlch. Variant: (Abilta dialect).
vlkachi. Note: only v.
wood chip sabcha. n. wood chip. Pl:
witch aurachi. n. witch. Pl: auravek.
sabk.
Variant: urachi. See: rndamgi witch.
wood, piece of ~ angmngga. n.
witch musavauchi. n. witch.

352
wood, piece of ~
1 tree. 2 stick; piece of wood.
Morph: ang= mngka. Gloss: 3.CN.POSS
=wood-M.SG. Pl: angmng.
wood, piece of ~ baler. n. 1 piece of
wood. 2 piece of taro. Variant:
balerini.
word amethamnini. n. word. Variant:
methamnini. See: amethamnbes
words.
words amethamnbes. n. 1 words.
2 message. Variant: amethamn'gi.
work tk. sa-vi. 1 do. 2 work. Variant:
thk.
work tp mus t. vt. 1 work.
2 initiate. Variant: thp mus t; tp
mus tm; thp mus tm.
work thktk. n. job; work. Pl: thktk.
work on tk n. vt. 1 send. 2 work
on. Variant: thk n; tk na; thk na.
work with tk s. vt. work with. Variant:
thk s.
world ivtki. n. 1 earth; soil; dirt.
2 land. Pl: ivt. 3 world; planet
earth. Variant: ivitki.
worm aninicha. n. earthworm; brown;
up to 30 cm long. Pl: anini.
worm asingalka. n. 1 snake; worm;
generic term. 2 dangerous spirit.
3 Satan; devil. Pl: asingal. Variant:
singalka.
worm talngacha. n. earthworm sp.;
light brown or reddish colour; up to
15 cm long; lives in soft ground. Pl:
talang. Variant: thalngacha.
worm, sea ~ sp. irokmonmonga. n.
sea worm sp.; grows up to 60 cm; very
slow moving; can attach to things us-
Y -
yam narichi. n. yam. Pl: nark. Variant:
narchi.
yawn asechaski. n. yawn. Pl: asechas.
yaws mamuaing. n. yaws.
yaws, crab ~ aisoska. n. crab yaws. Pl:
353
yeast
ing suction. Pl: irokmonmon.
worried face sachongachi. n. 1 gaze.
2 worried face. 3 depths of a
pool. Variant: sachong.
worried, look ~ ngiem sravo. adv. look
worried; look surprised; look shocked;
people look like this, e.g. if there is a
fight happening but no-one knows
what is going on.
worry irs. vi-so. 1 be sad. 2 worry.
worship lotu. sa-vi. worship.
worship lotu svt. vt. worship; adore;
praise.
worship tares pt. vt. praise; worship.
Variant: rares pt; thares pt.
Wow! vavu. interj. Wow!
wrap up bng bt. vt. 1 wrap up.
2 cover. Variant: vng bt.
wriggle around tusachus. sa-vi. wrig-
gle around because of irritation; toss
and turn e.g. while trying to sleep.
Variant: thusachus; dusachus; musa-
chus; thusavus; tusavus; dusavus;
musavus.
wrist sengangthaik angt vus. n.
wrist.
write kut pt. vt. write. Variant: chut
pt; chut pt; kut pt.
writhe bnmalivi. sa-vi. writhe; thrash
around; especially something thrash-
ing around in death throws. Variant:
vnmalivi; bnmaliwi; vnmaliwi.
writhe piru. sa-vi. writhe. Variant: viru.
writing achutkut. n. writing. Variant:
chutkut.
wrong, be ~ surnanas. sa-vi. be wrong.
y
aisos. Variant: isoska.
year amundika. n. year. Pl: amundik.
Variant: mundik.
yeast isis. n. 1 baking powder.
2 yeast.
yell
yell prk mt. vi-so. 1 be torn; be
ripped. 2 shout; yell. Variant: vrk
mt.
yellow agethon. adj. yellow. Variant:
agthon.
yellow, be ~ agethonas vt. vi-so. be
yellow. Variant: gethon.
yellowfin tuna atun'gi. n. fish sp.; yel-
lowfin tuna. Pl: atun.
yes ia. interj. yes.
yes kinak. interj. yes; all right. Variant:
chinak.
yesterday milani. adv. yesterday.
yet as. disc. 1 still. 2 yet. 3 just.
yet askok. disc. 1 still. Gram: Atelic realis.
2 yet. Gram: Atelic realis. 3 just.
Gram: Atelic realis. Morph: as=kok. Gloss:
still=just.
yet, and ~ das. coord. 1 and still.
2 and yet. 3 and just. Morph: da=as.
Gloss: and=yet.
you nge. pro. you. Gram: Second person
singular class three pronoun.
you ngi. pro. you. Gram: Second person sin-
gular class two pronoun. Variant: nge.
you ngia. pro. 1 you. Gram: Second person
singular class one pronoun. 2 your. Gram:
Second person singular possessive pronoun.
you all ngn. pro. you all. Gram: Second
person class one pronoun and second person
class three pronoun.
you all ngni. pro. you all. Gram: Second
person plural class two pronoun.
you all and ngn. pro. you all and.
Morph: ngn=n. Gloss: 2PL.III=and.
Variant: ngna.
you and ngin. pro. you and. Morph: ngi
=n. Gloss: 2SG.III=and. Variant: ngina.
you two en. pro. you two. Gram: Second
person dual class three pronoun.
you two in. pro. 1 you two. Gram: Second
person dual class one pronoun. 2 those
two, they. Gram: Third person dual class one
pronoun.
you two ini. pro. 1 you two. Gram: Sec-
354
young man
ond person dual class two pronoun.
2 those two, they. Gram: Second person
dual class two pronoun.
you two and in. pro. 1 you two and.
2 those two and. Morph: in=n. Gloss:
2/3DL.III=and. Variant: ina.
you two, some of your ainanga. pro.
1 you two, some of your. Gram: Second
person dual possessive pronoun and
2 those
non-specific possessive pronoun.
two, some of their. Gram: Third person
dual possessive pronoun and non-specific pos-
sessive pronoun. Morph: ain=anga. Gloss:
2/3DL.POSS=NSPEC.
you two, some of your ainangama.
pro. 1 you two, some of your. Gram:
Second person dual possessive pronoun and
2 those
indefinite possessive pronoun.
two, some of their. Gram: Third person
dual possessive pronoun and indefinite posses-
sive pronoun. Morph: ain=angama. Gloss:
2/3DL.POSS=INDEF.
you two, your ain. pro. 1 you two,
your. Gram: Second person dual possessive
pronoun. 2 those two, their. Gram:
Third person dual possessive pronoun.
you two, your aina. pro. 1 you two,
your. Gram: Second person dual possessive
pronoun and possessive pronoun and specific
article. 2 those two, their. Gram: Third
person dual possessive pronoun and possessive
pronoun and specific article. Morph: ain=a.
Gloss: 2/3DL.POSS=SPEC.
you two, your ainama. pro. 1 you two,
your. Gram: Second person dual possessive
pronoun and emphatic possessive pronoun.
2 those two, their. Gram: Third person
dual possessive pronoun and emphatic posses-
sive pronoun.
young athuares. adj. young person.
young animal thaembm. n. 1 child.
Morph: at=oemvm. Gloss: 3F.SG.POSS
2 young animal;
child-reduced.SG.
especiallypuppies or piglets. Pl:
thaembap. Variant: taembem. See:
thoemga child; son; student; assis-
tant.
young man thuareska. n. young man.
young woman Zion

Pl: thuaresta. Note: only th. your, some of ~ anganama. pro. some
young woman thuareski. n. young of your. Gram: Second person plural posses-
woman. sive pronoun and non-specific possessive pro-
noun. Morph: angan=ma. Gloss: 2PL.POSS=
younger sister aliki. n. younger sister. EMPH.
your angan. pro. your. Gram: Second per-
your, some of ~ angnanga. pro.
son plural possessive pronoun.
some of your. Gram: Second person plural
your angana. pro. your. Gram: Second possessive pronoun and non-specific possessive
person plural possessive pronoun and posses- pronoun. Morph: angn=anga. Gloss:
sive pronoun and specific article. Morph: 2PL.POSS= NSPEC.
angan=a. Gloss: 2PL.POSS=SPEC.
your, some of ~ gianga. pro. some of
your gi. pro. your. Gram: Second person your. Gram: Second person singular posses-
singular possessive pronoun. sive pronoun and non-specific possessive pro-
your gia. pro. your. Gram: Second person noun. Morph: gi=anga. Gloss: 2SG.POSS=
singular possessive pronoun and possessive NSPEC.
pronoun and specific article. Morph: gi=a. your; you two, ~ ain. pro. 1 you two,
Gloss: 2SG.POSS=SPEC. your. Gram: Second person dual possessive
your giama. pro. your. Gram: Second per- pronoun. 2 those two, their. Gram:
son singular possessive pronoun and emphatic Third person dual possessive pronoun.
possessive pronoun. your; you two, ~ aina. pro. 1 you two,
your giangama. pro. your. Gram: Second your. Gram: Second person dual possessive
person singular possessive pronoun and in- pronoun and possessive pronoun and specific
definite possessive pronoun. Morph: gi= article. 2 those two, their. Gram: Third
angama. Gloss: 2SG.POSS=INDEF. person dual possessive pronoun and possessive
pronoun and specific article. Morph: ain=a.
your ngia. pro. 1 you. Gram: Second
Gloss: 2/3DL.POSS=SPEC.
person singular class one pronoun.
2 your. Gram: Second person singular pos- your; you two, ~ ainama. pro. 1 you
sessive pronoun. two, your. Gram: Second person dual pos-
sessive pronoun and emphatic possessive pro-
your, any of ~ angenangama. pro. any
noun. 2 those two, their. Gram: Third
of your. Gram: Second person singular pos-
person dual possessive pronoun and emphatic
sessive pronoun and indefinite possessive
possessive pronoun.
pronoun. Morph: angen=angama. Gloss:
2PL.POSS= INDEF.

Z - z

Zion Sion. n. Zion.

355
Organisation of the thesaurus

The thesaurus is organised into the following categories:

THE NATURAL WORLD

A Landscape, country and water
A0 General
A1 Topographical features (valley, hill, river, road)
A2 Celestial features (moon, stars, northern lights)
A3 Water
A3.0 General (drown, splash, wet)
A3.1 Precipitation (hail, mist, dew)
A3.2 Water sources (springs, puddles, lakes)
A3.3 The ocean (waves, tides)
A4 Geological, other substances (sand, plastic, charcoal)
B Weather and cyclic time
B1 Meteorological conditions (wind, cloud, thunder)
B2 Cyclical time
B2.1 Diurnal cycle (early morning, evening)
B2.2 Lunar cycle (new moon, high moon)
B2.3 Seasonal cycle (seasons, months, holidays)
B2.4 Weekly cycle (names of days)
B3 Geological events (volcanic eruption, earthquake)
C Location and direction
C1 Relative location and direction (from the top, middle)
C2 Absolute direction (north, south, from the west)
C3 Nominal demonstratives (these two, that flat one)
C4 Distance and proximity (nearby, towards)
C5 Pronouns (him, who, my, yours, herself)
C6 Adverbial demonstratives (this, here, this far)
C7 Interrogatives (where, when)
D Plants
D0 General (thorn, twig, leaf, bark)
D1 Trees and palms (rosewood, bush palm, orange tree)
D2 Shrubs and vines
D3 Smaller plants (vegetable plants, herbs)
D4 Grasses and bamboo
D5 Tubers and roots
D6 Water plants (seaweed, algae)
D7 Fungi and truffles (mushrooms)
D8 Mosses and lichens

357
E Fauna
E0 General (categories of animals)
E1 Animals that go on land (pigs, wallaby)
E2 Animals that fly (parrots, seagulls, bats)
E3 Reptiles
E3.0 Other reptiles
E3.1 Snakes
E3.2 Lizards
E4 Water creatures
E4.0 Large sea creatures (sharks, dolphins)
E4.1 Fish
E4.2 Eels
E4.3 Prawns and crayfish
E4.4 Shell fish (oysters, shells)
E4.5 All other sea and shore life (sea cucumber, jellyfish)
E5 Crabs (hermit crabs)
E6 Amphibians (frogs, toads)
E7 Insects, other land arthropods, grubs
E7.0 General
E7.1 Flies
E7.2 Spiders
E7.3 Ants
E7.4 Grasshoppers
F Physical properties
F0 General
F1 Appearance
F1.1 Visibility and colour (clear, bright, invisible)
F1.2 Size, shape, arrangement, pattern (cracked)
F2 Temperature, weight, texture (hard, spongy, oily)
F3 Sounds their types and qualities (loud, crackle)
F4 Tastes and smells (sour, bitter, sweet, stink)
F5 Value (precious, worthless)
G Quantification
G1 Quantity (lots, another of the same type, nothing)
G2 Numerals

HUMANS, HUMAN QUALITIES

H Human classification
H0 General (names, to name someone)
H1 Spirits and devils (ghosts, witches, monsters)
H2 Peoples and language groups (Mali, Europeans)
H3 People by age, development, life cycle
H3.0 General (adolescent, infant)
H3.1 Male (young boy, adolescent male)
H3.2 Female (young girl, adolescent female)
H4 Roles and status terms (shaman, jack of all trades)
H5 Types of people not related to status/profession

358
 H6 Address terms
I Human qualities and emotions
I1 Personality and moral evaluations (funny, talkative)
I2 Skill, ability, power (strong, courageous, skilled)
I3 Feelings, and emotions (homesickness, jealous)
J Body parts and products (animal and human)
J0 General (egg)
J1 Non-localised parts (fur, body hair, fat, wart, scar)
J2 Head (brain, eyeball, tears, earwax, clean shaven)
J3 Torso (intestines, tail, stomach, throat, neck, genitals)
J4 Limbs (wing, thigh, fingernail, footprint)
K Body states and functions
K1 Physiological reactions (breath, suck, cry, lay eggs)
K2 Body states
K2.1 Temporary (sleep, tired, thirsty, pregnant, bleed)
K2.2 Permanent (blind, deaf)
K3 Sickness, death, disease, injury (unconscious, vomit)
K4 Other things done with the body (blow, chew, cry)
L Stance and motion
L1 Stance, position
L1.0 Stance, position general (rest, crouch, wait)
L1.1 Stance, position vertical axis (stand)
L1.2 Stance, position horizontal axis (sit, lie down)
L2 Movement
L2.0 Movement general (arrive, fly, paddle, chase)
L2.1 Movement vertical axis (walk, up, climb, dive)
L2.2 Movement horizontal axis (roll, go across)
L3 Open and close
L3.1 Open (hole, gap, orifice, expose, empty)
L3.2 Close (block, obstruct, finish, switch off, fill)
L4 Exist (be, be lost)
L5 Do (attempt, succeed, make)
L6 Change of state (become)
M Artefacts, material culture and manufactured things
M0 General (to fix, mend, wash clothes)
M1 Tools, weapons, belongings
M2 Built environment
M2.0 General (build a house, housework, fence)
M2.1 Parts of a building (house posts, doorway)
M2.2 Furniture
M3 Clothes, materials and decorations (coat, headdress)
M4 Nautical (canoe, paddle, sail, anchor)
M5 Transfer of goods (sell, trade, steal)
M6 Vehicles (car, truck, motorcycle, aeroplane)

359
HUMAN INTER-RELATING, HUMANS SOCIALLY
N Kinship
N1 Kin terms
O Marriage, sex, nurturing
O1 Marriage and sexual relations
O2 Pregnancy and childbirth (birth, stages of pregnancy)
O3 Rearing babies and children (adoption, look after)
P Speaking, communication and sounds
P1 Speaking (call out, ask, stutter, explain)
P2 Interjections, imperatives, function words
P2.1 Functional affixes and particles
P2.2 Interjections
P2.3 Conjunctions
P2.4 Subordinators
P2.5 Articles
P2.6 Discourse markers
P3 Negations, assertions, possibility (perhaps, true, no)
P4 Non-verbal communication (write, sign language)
P5 Sounds (dog growl, whistle, clapping, onomatopoeia)
Q Social interaction, relationships and behaviour
Q0 General (behave, warn someone of trouble)
Q1 Fighting (enemy, get revenge)
Q2 Verbal quarrelling (provoke, ridicule, tease, annoy)
Q3 Making peace, maintaining social harmony
Q4 Games, entertainment, laughter, joking (play)
Q5 Being affected (being helped)
Q6 Permission and prohibition
Q7 Community

HUMAN INTERACTION WITH THE NATURAL WORLD

R Religion, ceremony, law and the supernatural
R0 General
R1 Law, sacred places, legends
R2 Ceremony and rituals
R2.1 Ceremonial objects
R2.2 Symbols
R3 Death and mourning
R4 Taboos, strictures and secret knowledge
R5 Healing and medicine
R5.1 Traditional and ritual healing
R5.2 Modern medicine (injection)
R6 Singing and dancing
R7 Feasting
R8 Christianity

360
S Gathering, farming, hunting, tracking
S1 Gathering (collection, pick up, sort out)
S2 Hunting
S3 Fishing
S4 Farming and propagation (clearing land, planting)
T Fire and cooking
T1 Fire (cooking fire, matches, burn, smoke)
T2 Food preparation, cooking, distribution (ripe)
U Human uses of natural resources
U1 Food (meat, berries, bread)
U2 Narcotics (alcohol, tobacco)
U3 Medicines
U4 Building materials, weaving, basket materials
U5 Things that are bad for you (poisons, stings)
V Thinking, perception and attention
V1 Sense and perception
V1.1 Seeing (look out, inspect, search)
V1.2 Hearing (listen)
V1.3 Tasting (try, taste)
V1.4 Smell (sniff)
V1.5 Physical sensations (feel)
V2 Cognition
V2.1 Mental states (be calm, be delirious)
V2.2 Mental processes and experiences (think, dream)
V2.3 Knowledge and learning (try, graduate)
W Handling and physical transfer
W0 General
W1 Taking, touching, obtaining (snatch, receive, put on)
W2 Holding, carrying, moving something around (lead)
W3 Letting go, giving, leave be (pour, transfer, spread)
X Impact and surface contact
X0 General (split apart, throw, rip, break, dismantle)
X1 With an instrument (spear, mark, chop)
X2 Due to pressure (grind, snap, twist, burst)
X3 Sticking, tying, untying (tie up, cover)
X4 Surface contact (rub, peel, scrape, wipe)
Y Speed, manner and relative time
Y0 General (how, like this, manner)
Y1 Speed and manner (fast, carefully, fiercely)
Y2 Relative time and duration (when, previously, new)
Y3 Serialisation (before doing something else, last)
Y4 Degree

361
Thesaurus

ambangm n. village
A LANDSCAPE, COUNTRY AND ambilki n. abandoned house or village.
WATER
amlm n. small island.
A0 General amlka n. large island.
angtkeng n. 1 edge. 2 bank; es-
glingga n. place.
pecially of a body of water such as a
glinginggl n. place. river or pool.
ivtki n. 1 earth; soil; dirt. 2 land. angtham n. shore; beach; riverbank.
3 world; planet earth. angthutki n. sheltered place; specifi-
ivtpes n. land. cally an area in a valley below an
luchupka n. place. overhanging cliff.
luchupki n. space; e.g. the space of a anggarski atham n. beach.
playground or dancing ground. arekrechi n. sign on path to prohibit
luchuvini n. small space. people from going along it, and by
extension, a no entry sign or gate.
A1 Topographical features arenggi n. 1 water. 2 river.
abilm n. old place; a place where arengia n. creek.
there used to be a village. athinggiaras n. filthy or smelly place.
achlachuasini n. small area of grass aupka n. valley floor.
sp. aurigl n. bush side of the road, a less
achlachuaska n. area of grass sp.; pleasant place to stand.
tends to grow in old gardens; seeds aurki n. bush.
stick to your legs.
auvia n. valley.
achlachuaski n. large area of grass
sp. avam n. point; e.g. a point of land or the
end of a stick.
achruacha n. side branch of river;
dries up during the dry season. avrachi n. section.

agars n. 1 coast. 2 beach. avrait n. long section.

aicha n. branch of river; flows year avram n. garden plot; specifically a plot
round. within a larger section of garden that
has been assigned to a particular
ais n. 1 track. 2 way; route. person; the section is divided into
aiska n. road. plots for different crops.
aiski n. large road. awal n. track; specifically the direction
aisvet n. path. of the undergrowth, like grasses,
which shows the direction a person
alat n. garden(s).
has gone.
altki n. large garden. basis n. passage between reef.
althini n. small garden.

362
 A Landscape, country and water

braingia n. small creek. msng n. ground.

burichi n. cleared area; flattened area;
e.g. a place in the bush where there
has been a dog fight or a crocodile
resting.
chan'gan'ga n. ridge top; the boundary
between two river catchments; often
very wet and mossy.
chmer n. steep mountainside covered
in bushes.
chspka n. high stony cliff with a wa-
terfall flowing down it.
chvaiki n. area of sword grass (kunai).
mormorki n. flower garden; special
garden containing healing plants like
ginger; you can put someone there to
encourage healing or growth.
namaski n. sleeping place.
nugulka n. boundary; either a boundary
between villages or a boundary be-
tween different peoples plots within a
garden.
nunggulia n. garden section; section
within a garden that has been as-
signed to a particular person.

chuanigl n. sandy area. ngimngimgi n. lookout; e.g. at the

top of a hill.
chunia n. sandy beach.
ples balus n. airport.
churngga n. mountainside.
radmga n. cave.
chuski n. muddy ground.
ronggi n. area at high altitude.
damgi n. mountain.
sarnggi n. bush.
damgi theves n. mountain peak.
suchutki n. water line or flood line that
galicha n. mountain range; ridge. shows how high a river flows.
gamracha n. fighting ground. sul n. reef.
gisia n. pebbly beach. Usage: Also the sulki n. large piece of reef.
proper name for a pebbly beach near
Marunga. sulves n. area of reef.

igumacha n. ferny place; a place with tamasnggi n. cleared area; a place

one kind of fern all around. where the ground has been cleared
(except for big trees); the first stage in
ism angt luchupki n. airport.
making a garden.
isia n. ridge; track (ridge lines are used tangabs n. banana block; an area
as tracks). planted with bananas.
kakauigl n. cocoa plantation. tangamigl n. banana block; banana
kem n. camp. plantation; referring to an area
kunmgi n. old garden; a garden that planted with bananas.
cannot be used again for two or three themuanacha n. landslide.
years. thvtki n. burnt and cleared area; an
lairini n. small ridge between two area being prepared for a garden, it
creeks. needs one more clean before planting.
lamn n. flat land. undrki n. forest.
lamsigl n. coconut plantation. valvalka n. clear area; an area that has
luk n. cool place; comfortable place; been cleared for a garden but which is
somewhere that is a good place to not clean yet, all the big trees have
rest. been removed but the small plants are
still there.
mbraingia n. small creek.
varka n. boundary between sections
mpmpki n. track; made by people.
within an area of garden belonging to

363
A Landscape, country and water

one person; used for planting different auvrngachi n. fog.

crops. avolam n. rainy season.
vn'gachi n. passage in a reef. saengbap n. storm; heavy rain.
vthm n. village. saenggi n. rain.
vutka n. village.
A3.2 Water sources
A2 Celestial features
achruacha n. side branch of river;
achruacha n. Milky Way. dries up during the dry season.
alingga n. star. aicha n. branch of river; flows year
ayachun'gi n. moon.
round.

chamerabpki n. evening star. arenggi n. river.

chunengm n. morning star. arengia n. creek.

kunngga n. sun.
braingia n. small creek.

usupki n. sky.
chngracha n. current; in either a
river or the sea.
A3 Water chthopka n. pool.
chethopka ava sachongachi n.
A3.0 General
deepest part of a pool.
abaringgi n. water that falls down a chthopki n. large pool.
waterfall. chthopvm n. puddle.
achrirka n. stream of falling drops. chulp n. pool.
ais n. wet.
guaremga n. rapid; specifically rapids
arenggi n. water. in rivers.
chlamurki n. puddle. ichumgi n. flood; flooded river.
chthopki n. liquid. ichumigl n. small flood.
chulp n. liquid. lachuaski n. pool; specifically pools
chulpki n. bowl of water. made in the reef at low tide.
chulski n. steam. mbraingia n. small creek.
krau sa-vi. subside; can refer to a flood milatka avuouk n. a large flood that
going down, wasting strength during washes away all the plants along the
an illness, or petrol evaporating. riverbanks.
kuasin svt vt. splash. sachongachi n. depths of a pool.
mendecha n. drop; a drop of water or umngachi n. flash flood.
other liquid. vunakdmga n. first flood; makes
pknas sa-vi. drown. plants bend over.
seseraik n. splash. A3.3 The ocean
tor sa-vi. get wet.
agarski n. sea.
vingloinggi n. whirlpool.
awalngga n. wave; ripple.
A3.1 Precipitation chngracha n. current; in either a
river or the sea.
airvthaualki n. sunshower.
lamon'gi n. wave; specifically waves
athvuiki n. rain cloud.

364
 B Weather and cyclic time

that break. sulka n. piece of coral.

vanim vt. roll around; turn over; e.g. tlnggi n. rubbish.
movements of waves and fabric. thabucha n. dust; ash; specifically
white ash from a fire.
A4 Geological, other substances
unpka n. dust.
achthoska n. coals of a fire. vthen n. lime powder.
achthoski n. charcoal.
achirap n. salt. B WEATHER AND CYCLIC TIME
achun'ga n. sand.
B1 Meteorological conditions
achun'gi n. large area of sand.
ananachi n. glue. achluinggi n. cloud.

asol n. salt. achluingini n. small cloud.

bensin n. benzene. aer adj. clear; light; especially of the sky.
bluston n. copper sulphate. airvthaualki n. sunshower.

chrechacha n. loose soil. amundik ava laurka n. northwest

wind; named for the wild cane (pitpit)
chthopki n. 1 liquid. 2 large pool.
season.
chinap n. ash.
athvuiki n. rain cloud.
chuanigl n. sandy area.
auvrngachi n. fog.
chulesia n. haze.
avolam n. rainy season.
chulski n. 1 smoke. 2 steam.
blingimga n. lightning; referring to a
dulini n. small stone. bolt of lightning.
dulka n. stone; an average sized stone, chalvanggrka n. rainbow.
maybe a bit elongated.
chulesia n. haze.
dulki n. large stone; especially large
ddin n. thunder.
rounded stones.
ichumgi n. flood; flooded river.
giska n. pebble.
ichumigl n. small flood.
imng n. ash; especially ash from paper
and leaves that still have their form; laurka n. wind.
they are light grey and can float on milatka avuouk n. large flood that
the wind. washes away all the plants along the
isiska n. fresh air. riverbanks.
kolta n. creosote. pai sa-vi. blow; only of the wind.
malum n. dough; wet stuff; typic. mud. pes sa-vi. blow.

mamutki n. fat or grease from an ani- saengbap n. storm; heavy rain.

mal or fish. saenggi n. rain.
nangasachi n. smoke. umngachi n. flash flood.
sabcha n. wood chip. vilcha n. crack of lightning; the sound
sanggaska n. air. of lightning, rather than the flash of
light.
sichirki n. dirt.
vinggulini n. bolt of lightning.
simen'gi n. cement; especially a bag of
cement or a block of cement. vunakdmga n. first flood; makes
plants bend over.

365
C Location and direction

B2 Cyclical time pus pm vi-so. erupt; burst out.

puspmgi n. eruption.
B2.1 Diurnal cycle

aeraer n. dawn. C LOCATION AND DIRECTION

athchasp n. morning.
C1 Relative location and direction
aunbes n. evening.
aunes n. twilight. Usage: Abilta dialect. achais n. left side of something.
bangangbes n. twilight; refers to low achvcha n. inside corner; e.g. the in-
light at either dusk or dawn. side of an elbow or the corner in a
banganggi n. night.
room.

kunngga n day.
amrmr n. right side of something.

kunnggunng n. dawn.
angtkeng n. edge.

manuringgl n. colourful sunset. angtps n. top.

mathchasep adv. morning.

angtham n. front.

mathchasepka n. morning.
angthik n. side.
angthut n. base or bottom of the in-
B2.2 Lunar cycle side of a container.

ayachun'gi n. month.
aremgi n. base.

aurigl n. bush side of the road, a less

B2.3 Seasonal cycle pleasant place to stand.

amunam n. holiday.
avmgi n. end.

amundika n. year.
avingnaska n. corner.

amundik ava laurka n. northwest aviui dir. up there.

wind; named for the wild cane (pitpit) avivui dir. up there.
season. birbirka n. border of dancing ground.
amundika v chunng n. calendar. chethopka ava sachongachi n.
avolam n. rainy season. deepest part of a pool.
chunng n. season. chlochacha n. 1 core; innermost part.
Krismas n. Christmas.
2 inside part of something.
vunakdmga n. first flood; makes chulemgi n. corner.

plants bend over. daer prep. over.

dgeling dir. to the side of.
B2.4 Weekly cycle
dngtham dir. in front; at the front.
maila chuvsnia disc. 1 the other day. dvthik dir. beside.
2 last time.
gl prep. with.
mubang adv. 1 tomorrow. 2 next
day.
glmna prep. next to each other.
gl kuvet dir. be near to.
B3 Geological events glingga n. side.

chn'gn n. tremor. imanp dir. downwards; straight down.

chn'gn'gi n. earthquake. imani dir. down.

puk tm sa-vi. erupt. imano dir. down over there.

366
 C Location and direction

imk dir. down from here. muit dir. 1 ashore;

shorewards.
imonp dir. on the other side. 2 across on same level; towards.

imono dir. across. muk dir. inside.

imuit dir. 1 across there; across a val- muk savono dir. inside out.
ley. 2 in a corner. na prep. 1 from. 2 with.
imuk dir. in there. nagl prep. 1 from. 2 by.
inamk dir. upwards. naglm prep. from close to.
inamuk dir. across towards speaker; naglmna prep. back to.
forward. naimanp dir. from down there.
inavuk dir. down towards speaker; naimano dir. from down at.
downwards.
naimek dir. up from inside.
ithm dir. alongside; beside.
naimni dir. over from.
ithmna dir. side by side.
naimono dir. over from.
ivi dir. along.
naimuanp dir. from over there.
ivit adv. along.
naimuani dir. from over there.
ivono dir. upwards; inland; up there.
naimui dir. from over there (distant).
ivui dir. upwards away from speaker.
naimuit dir. from the other side.
ivuk dir. up there.
naimuk dir. from inside.
lechvs adv. in the air.
nainamk dir. up.
mamanp dir. downwards.
nainamuk dir. from over there (towards
manp dir. down. speaker).
mani dir. over there. nainath dir. from around here.
mano dir. down there. nainavi dir. from there.
masechen adv. sideways. nainavuk dir. from up.
mk dir. down. naivono dir. from up there.
mni dir. 1 on. 2 onto. 3 at. naivui dir. over from (middle distance).
4 in. 5 through. 6 across.
naivuit dir. over from.
mnina dir. across each other.
naivuk dir. from up.
mt prep. 1 in; within. 2 inside.
3 into. 4 through.
namanp dir. from down there.

mthik dir. 1 aside. 2 beside. namano dir. from down over there.

momono dir. back towards. namk dir. from down.

mono dir. 1 across. 2 over. namethik dir. from the other side.

muanp dir. down the side; over the namonp dir. over from the side.
side. namono dir. from over there; across.
muani dir. across. namuani dir. across from.
mugurp dir. 1 in the middle. namui dir. from over there; same level
2 between. as speaker.
mui dir. 1 over there; away from namuit dir. over from.
speaker on the same level. namuk dir. from in.
2 around.
nanaik dir. under.

367
C Location and direction

nanamk dir. back up. pem prep. in.

nanamuk dir. back across. pt prep. 1 at. 2 on. 3 over.
nanavuk dir. back down from. pethana dir. head to tail; back to front.
nania vik adv. somewhere. pivi dir. over there.
nasot dir. 1 behind. 2 at the back. remini n. base.
nasothanas dir. back in place; e.g. as sa prep. 1 to. 2 with.
with crop rotation. sachong n. surface; e.g. the surface of
nath dir. from here. the sea, the face of the earth, the top
nathmanp dir. from down there. of a sore, the opening of a pot.

nathmano dir. from down there. sachongachi n. depths of a pool.

nathmk dir. from down at. sagl prep. to.

nathmono dir. from over there. saimanp dir. down there.

nathmuanp dir. from side. saimano dir. down to.

nathmui dir. from over there. saimk dir. down inside.

nathmuit dir. from over there. saimni dir. over to; down to.

nathmuk dir. from in there. saimono dir. over to.

nathvono dir. from up there. saimuanp dir. to the other side; across
to.
nathvui dir. from over there.
saimuani dir. over there.
nathvuit dir. from out there.
saimui dir. over there distant.
nathvuk dir. from up there.
saimuit dir. to the other side.
nave dir. from there.
saimuk dir. into.
navi dir. from there.
sainamk dir. down that way.
navono dir. from up there.
sainamuk dir. to this side.
navui dir. over from (distant).
sainavuk dir. from up there.
navuit dir. over from.
saisath dir. over here.
navuk dir. down.
saisave dir. to there.
ndngetham dir. in front.
saisavi dir. there.
nmn prep. aside; away.
saivono dir. upwards.
nmni dir. from down.
saivui dir. over to.
nmt prep. from.
saivuit dir. over to.
nthm prep. 1 from. 2 about.
saivuk dir. up to.
nva prep. from.
samanp dir. to down there.
nvana dir. from each other.
samano dir. down to; down there.
nevanas dir. away from oneself.
samk dir. to down.
nvt prep. from.
samethik dir. to other side.
ngthathng dir. at the back.
samono dir. over; across.
ngis adv. aside.
samuanp dir. over to; over there.
pathm na dir. 1 alongside; side by
side. 2 parallel. samuani dir. over to the side.

pavar dir. top. samui dir. over to.

368
 C Location and direction

samuit dir. over to; across. svt prep. 1 to. 2 about. 3 at.
samuk dir. into. 4 onto.

sanamuk dir. up here. snani dir. 1 on. 2 in. 3 at.

sathmanp dir. down there. snania prep. 1 against. 2 right be-

side.
sathmani dir. down this way.
tmanp dir. down there.
sathmano dir. into there.
tmano dir. lower down; often used to
sathmk dir. down there. refer to down on the coast.
sathmono dir. over there. tmono dir. 1 along. 2 across.
sathmuanp dir. over to the other 3 that way.
side; over there. tmuit dir. sidewards; to the side.
sathmui dir. over there. tnamk dir. up a bit from towards
sathmuit dir. over on the other side. speaker.
sathmuk dir. in to there. tnavuk dir. down a bit from towards
sathvono dir. up there to. speaker.
sathvui dir. over there. tvono dir. higher up; often used to re-
fer to up on the mountain(s).
sathvuit dir. out there.
tvuk dir. up there.
sathvuk dir. up there.
tunggumgi n. 1 base of a cup, house,
save dir. to there.
or tree. 2 back of a boat.
savono dir. 1 upwards. 2 inland.
thng n. top.
3 shorewards.
var dir. higher.
savui dir. over to distant.
vpuit dir. upwards.
savuit dir. up.
ves n. bottom. Usage: A euphemism for
savuk dir. up; to the top.
anus.
sdamr n dir. directly to.
vthanas prep. to oneself; on oneself.
sd prep. to.
vethik dir. beside.
sdngtham dir. in front.
vthivt dir. outside.
smni prep. 1 across. 2 onto.
vono dir. 1 up. 2 inland.
smnina dir. up and down; across; 3 shorewards.
from one to another; e.g. across a se-
vono sa muk dir. inside out.
ries of valleys and ridges.
vui dir. out there.
smsng dir. to the ground; down-
wards. vuit dir. up.

smt prep. 1 into. 2 down into. vuk dir. above.

snas dir. to oneself; about oneself. vuvuit dir. up above.

sng prep. 1 at the base. 2 in the vi- C2 Absolute direction
cinity of; close to.
sthm prep. to. chunengga cha don n. west.

sthmna dir. to each other. chunengga cha ndn n. east.

sva prep. to.

C3 Nominal demonstratives
svana dir. to each other.
achkachk dem. 1 another. Gram:
svanas dir. to oneself; about oneself.

369
C Location and direction

Masculine singular contrastive demonstrative tive singular distal demonstrative.

and count neutral singular contrastive demon- avthom dem. those two small ones.
strative. 2 each. Gram: Masculine singu- Gram: Diminutive dual distal demonstrative.
lar contrastive demonstrative and count neu-
tral singular contrastive demonstrative.
avthong dem. those small things. Gram:
Diminutive plural distal demonstrative.
achikachik dem. 1 another. Gram: Femi-
nine singular contrastive demonstrative. avvam dem. those two short ones. Gram:
Reduced dual distal demonstrative.
2 each. Gram: Feminine singular contras-
tive demonstrative. avvap dem. those short things. Gram:
Reduced plural distal demonstrative.
aguikaguik dem. 1 another. Gram:
Feminine singular contrastive demonstrative. avvem dem. those two. Gram: Feminine
2 each. Gram: Feminine singular contras- dual distal demonstrative.
tive demonstrative. avvs dem. that flat one. Gram: Flat sin-
agungagung dem. more. Gram: Count gular distal demonstrative.
neutral indefinite demonstrative. avvet dem. that long one. Gram: Long
avaik dem. that one. Gram: Feminine singular singular distal demonstrative.
distal demonstrative. aviom dem. those two. Gram: Masculine dual
avak dem. that one. Gram: Masculine singular distal demonstrative.
distal demonstrative. avisem dem. those two long ones. Gram:
avang dem. 1 that one; those ones. Long dual distal demonstrative.
Gram: Count neutral distal demonstrative. aviseng dem. those long things. Gram:
2 those flat ones. Gram: Flat plural distal Long plural distal demonstrative.
demonstrative.
chkchm dem. just that particular
avath dem. those people. Gram: Human short one. Gram: Emphatic reduced singular
plural distal demonstrative. contrastive demonstrative.
avchm dem. that short one. Gram: Re- chkchit dem. just that particular
duced singular distal demonstrative. large one. Gram: Emphatic extended singu-
avchs dem. that flat one. Gram: Flat lar contrastive demonstrative.
singular distal demonstrative. chkmlk dem. just those particular
avchit dem. that large one. Gram: Ex- flat ones. Gram: Emphatic flat plural con-
tended singular distal demonstrative. trastive demonstrative.

avgl dem. that piece. Gram: Excised singu- chkmlm dem. just those particular
lar distal demonstrative. flat two. Gram: Emphatic flat dual contras-
tive demonstrative.
avglem dem. those two pieces. Gram:
Excised dual distal demonstrative. chknk dem. just those particular
avglng dem. those pieces. Gram: Excised large ones. Gram: Emphatic extended plural
contrastive demonstrative.
plural distal demonstrative.
avink dem. those large things. Gram: chknm dem. just those particular
Extended plural distal demonstrative.
two large ones. Gram: Emphatic extended
dual contrastive demonstrative.
avinm dem. those two large ones.
Gram: Extended dual distal demonstrative.
chkni dem. just that particular small
one. Gram: Emphatic diminutive singular
avmlk dem. those flat things. Gram: contrastive demonstrative.
Flat plural distal demonstrative.
chknggl dem. just that particular
avmlm dem. those two flat ones. piece. Gram: Emphatic excised singular con-
Gram: Flat dual distal demonstrative. trastive demonstrative.
avni dem. that small one. Gram: Diminu-

370
 C Location and direction

chkngglem dem. just those par- demonstrative.

ticular two pieces. Gram: Emphatic ex- chvak dem. just that particular one.
cised dual contrastive demonstrative. Gram: Emphatic masculine singular contrastive
chknggleng dem. just those par- demonstrative.
ticular pieces. Gram: Emphatic excised guachm dem. one short one. Gram: Re-
plural contrastive demonstrative. duced singular indefinite demonstrative.
chksem dem. just those particular guagl dem. one piece. Gram: Excised singu-
two long ones. Gram: Emphatic long dual lar indefinite demonstrative.
contrastive demonstrative.
guaglem dem. two pieces. Gram: Excised
chekseng dem. just those particular dual indefinite demonstrative.
long ones. Gram: Emphatic long plural con-
trastive demonstrative.
guagleng dem. some pieces. Gram: Ex-
cised plural indefinite demonstrative.
chkthom dem. just those particular
two small ones. Gram: Emphatic diminutive guaiom dem. two. Gram: Masculine dual in-
definite demonstrative.
dual contrastive demonstrative.
chkthong dem. just those particular guait dem. one large one. Gram: Extended
singular indefinite demonstrative.
small ones. Gram: Emphatic diminutive
plural contrastive demonstrative. guamlk dem. some flat ones. Gram: Flat
plural indefinite demonstrative.
chkvam dem. just those particular
two short ones. Gram: Emphatic reduced guamlm dem. two flat ones. Gram: Flat
dual contrastive demonstrative. dual indefinite demonstrative.

chkvap dem. just those particular guank dem. some large ones. Gram: Ex-
short ones. Gram: Emphatic reduced plural tended plural indefinite demonstrative.
contrastive demonstrative. guanm dem. two large ones. Gram: Ex-
chkvem dem. just those particular tended dual indefinite demonstrative.
two. Gram: Emphatic feminine dual contras- guani dem. one small one. Gram: Diminu-
tive demonstrative. tive singular indefinite demonstrative.
chkvs dem. just that particular flat guang dem. something. Gram: Count neutral
one. Gram: Emphatic flat singular contrastive indefinite demonstrative.
demonstrative.
guasem dem. two long ones. Gram: Long
chkvet dem. just that particular long dual indefinite demonstrative.
one. Gram: Emphatic long singular contras-
guaseng dem. some long ones. Gram:
tive demonstrative.
Long plural indefinite demonstrative.
chkiom dem. just those particular two.
guathom dem. two small ones. Gram: Di-
Gram: Emphatic masculine dual contrastive
minutive dual indefinite demonstrative.
demonstrative.
guathong dem. some small ones. Gram:
chkraik dem. just that particular one.
Diminutive plural indefinite demonstrative.
Gram: Emphatic feminine singular contrastive
demonstrative. guavam dem. two short ones. Gram: Re-
duced dual indefinite demonstrative.
chkrak dem. just that particular one.
Gram: Emphatic masculine singular contrastive guavap dem. some short ones. Gram: Re-
demonstrative. duced plural indefinite demonstrative.

chkrang dem. just those two particular guavek dem. some people. Gram: Human
ones. Gram: Emphatic count neutral contras- plural indefinite demonstrative.
tive demonstrative. guavem dem. two. Gram: Feminine dual in-
chevaik dem. just that particular one. definite demonstrative.
Gram: Emphatic feminine singular contrastive

371
C Location and direction

guavs dem. some flat ones. Gram: Flat ithiglem dem. these two pieces. Gram:
plural indefinite demonstrative. Excised dual proximate demonstrative.
guavet dem. one long one. Gram: Long ithigleng dem. these pieces. Gram: Ex-
singular indefinite demonstrative. cised plural proximate demonstrative.
inath dir. from here. ithini dem. this small one. Gram: Diminutive
inavi dir. from there. singular proximate demonstrative.

ithaik dem. this one. Gram: Feminine singu- ithiom dem. these two. Gram: Masculine
lar proximate demonstrative. dual proximate demonstrative.

ithak dem. this one. Gram: Masculine singu- ithithom dem. these two small ones.
lar proximate demonstrative. Gram: Diminutive dual proximate demon-
strative.
ithang these. Gram: Count neutral
dem. 1
proximate demonstrative. 2 these flat ithithong dem. these small ones. Gram:
ones. Gram: Flat plural proximate demon- Diminutive plural proximate demonstrative.
strative. kchm dem. that particular short one.
ithath dem. these people. Gram: Human Gram: Reduced singular contrastive demon-
plural proximate demonstrative. strative.

ithchm dem. this short one. Gram: Re- kchit dem. that particular large one.
duced singular proximate demonstrative. Gram: Extended singular contrastive demon-
strative.
ithchit dem. this large one. Gram: Ex-
tended singular proximate demonstrative. kglem dem. those particular two
pieces. Gram: Excised dual contrastive de-
ithmlk dem. these flat ones. Gram: monstrative.
Flat plural proximate demonstrative.
kglem dem. those particular two short
ithmlm dem. these two flat ones. ones. Gram: Reduced dual contrastive de-
Gram: Flat dual proximate demonstrative.
monstrative.
ithnk dem. these large ones. Gram: Ex- kgleng dem. those particular pieces.
tended plural proximate demonstrative.
Gram: Excised plural contrastive demon-
ithnm dem. these two large ones. strative.
Gram: Extended dual proximate demonstrative.
kk dem. that particular one. Gram: Mas-
ithsm dem. these two long ones. Gram: culine singular contrastive demonstrative.
Long dual proximate demonstrative.
kmlk dem. those particular flat ones.
ithseng dem. these long ones. Gram: Gram: Flat plural contrastive demonstrative.
Long plural proximate demonstrative.
kmlm dem. just those particular two
ithvam dem. these two short ones. flat ones. Gram: Flat dual contrastive de-
Gram: Reduced dual proximate demonstrative. monstrative.
ithvap dem. these short ones. Gram: Re- knk dem. those particular large ones.
duced plural proximate demonstrative. Gram: Extended plural contrastive demon-
ithvem dem. these two. Gram: Feminine strative.
dual proximate demonstrative. knm dem. those particular two large
ithvs dem. this flat one. Gram: Flat sin- ones. Gram: Extended dual contrastive de-
gular proximate demonstrative. monstrative.

ithvet dem. this long one. Gram: Long kni dem. that particular small one.
singular proximate demonstrative. Gram: Diminutive singular contrastive demon-
strative.
ithigl dem. this piece. Gram: Excised singu-
lar proximate demonstrative. kngt dem. those particular ones; that
particular one. Gram: Count neutral con-

372
 C Location and direction

trastive demonstrative. tral distal demonstrative emphatic.

knggl dem. that particular piece. Gram: 2 those particular flat ones. Gram: Flat
Excised singular contrastive demonstrative. plural distal demonstrative emphatic.

ksem dem. those particular two long paivaik dem. that particular one. Gram:
ones. Gram: Long dual contrastive demon- Feminine singular distal demonstrative em-
strative. phatic.

kseng dem. those particular long ones. paivak dem. that particular one. Gram:
Gram: Long plural contrastive demonstrative. Masculine singular distal demonstrative em-
phatic.
kthom dem. those particular two small
ones. Gram: Diminutive dual contrastive de- paivang dem. those particular flat ones.
monstrative. Gram: Flat plural distal demonstrative em-
phatic.
kthong dem. those particular small
ones. Gram: Diminutive plural contrastive paivang dem. that particular one; those
demonstrative. particular ones. Gram: Count neutral distal
demonstrative emphatic.
kvam dem. those particular two short
ones. Gram: Reduced dual contrastive de- paivathe dem. those particular people.
monstrative. Gram: Human plural distal demonstrative em-
phatic.
kvap dem. those particular short ones.
Gram: Reduced plural contrastive demon- paivthong dem. those particular small
strative. things. Gram: Diminutive plural distal de-
monstrative emphatic.
kvem dem. those particular two. Gram:
Feminine dual contrastive demonstrative. pavchm dem. that particular short
thing. Gram: Reduced singular distal demon-
kvs dem. that particular flat one. Gram: strative emphatic.
Flat singular contrastive demonstrative.
pavchit dem. that particular large
kvet dem. that particular long one. thing. Gram: Extended singular distal demon-
Gram: Long singular contrastive demon-
strative emphatic.
strative.
pavgl dem. that particular piece. Gram:
kiom dem. those particular two. Gram: Excised singular distal demonstrative em-
Masculine singular contrastive demonstrative.
phatic.
kraik dem. just that particular one. Gram: pavglem dem. those two particular
Feminine singular contrastive demonstrative.
pieces. Gram: Excised dual distal demon-
krak dem. that particular one. Gram: strative emphatic.
Masculine singular contrastive demonstrative.
pavgleng dem. those particular pieces.
krathe dem. those particular people. Gram: Excised plural distal demonstrative
Gram: Human plural contrastive demon- emphatic.
strative.
pavmlm dem. those particular two
kravum dem. that particular one. Gram: flat ones. Gram: Flat dual distal demon-
Masculine singular contrastive demonstrative. strative emphatic.
pachvaik dem. that particular one. pavnk dem. those particular large
Gram: Feminine singular distal demonstrative ones. Gram: Extended plural distal demon-
emphatic. strative emphatic.
pachvak dem. that particular one. pavnm dem. those particular two
Gram: Masculine singular distal demonstrative large ones. Gram: Extended dual distal de-
emphatic. monstrative emphatic.
pachvang dem. 1 that particular one; pavni dem. that particular small one.
those particular ones. Gram: Count neu- Gram: Diminutive singular distal demonstrative

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C Location and direction

emphatic. one. Gram: Reduced singular proximate de-

pavsem dem. those particular two long monstrative emphatic.
ones. Gram: Long dual distal demonstrative taithchit dem. this particular large
emphatic. one. Gram: Extended singular proximate de-
pavseng dem. those particular long monstrative emphatic.
ones. Gram: Long plural distal demonstrative taithmlk dem. these particular flat
emphatic. ones. Gram: Flat plural proximate demon-
pavthom dem. those particular two strative emphatic.
small ones. Gram: Diminutive dual distal taithmlm dem. these particular flat
demonstrative emphatic. two. Gram: Flat dual proximate demonstrative
pavvam dem. these two particular emphatic.
short ones. Gram: Reduced dual distal de- taithnk dem. these particular large
monstrative emphatic. ones. Gram: Extended plural proximate de-
pavvap dem. those particular short monstrative emphatic.
ones. Gram: Reduced plural distal demon- taithnm dem. these particular two
strative emphatic. large ones. Gram: Extended dual proximate
pavvem dem. those particular two. demonstrative emphatic.
Gram: Feminine dual distal demonstrative taithsem dem. these particular two
emphatic. long ones. Gram: Long dual proximate de-
pavvs dem. that particular flat one. monstrative emphatic.

Gram: Flat singular distal demonstrative em- taithvam dem. these particular two
phatic. short ones. Gram: Reduced dual proximate
pavvet dem. that particular long one. demonstrative emphatic.
Gram: Long singular distal demonstrative em- taithvap dem. these particular short
phatic. ones. Gram: Reduced plural proximate de-
paviom dem. those particular two. Gram: monstrative emphatic.
Masculine dual distal demonstrative emphatic. taithvem dem. these particular two.
taithaik dem. this particular one. Gram: Gram: Feminine dual proximate demonstrative
Feminine singular proximate demonstrative emphatic.
emphatic. taithvs dem. this particular flat one.
taithak dem. this particular one. Gram: Gram: Flat singular proximate demonstrative
Masculine singular proximate demonstrative emphatic.
emphatic. taithvet dem. this particular long one.
taithang dem. 1 this particular one; Gram: Long singular proximate demonstrative
these particular ones. Gram: Count neu- emphatic.
tral proximate demonstrative emphatic. taithigl dem. this particular piece. Gram:
2 these particular flat ones. Gram: Flat Excised singular proximate demonstrative
plural proximate demonstrative emphatic. emphatic.
3 these particular long ones. Gram: taithiglem dem. these particular two
Long plural proximate demonstrative em- pieces. Gram: Excised dual proximate de-
phatic. monstrative emphatic.
taithath dem. these particular people. taithigleng dem. these particular
Gram: Human plural proximate demonstrative pieces. Gram: Excised plural proximate de-
emphatic. monstrative emphatic.
taith dem. right here. Gram: Proximate taithini dem. this particular small one.
demonstrative emphatic. Gram: Diminutive singular proximate demon-
taithchm dem. this particular short strative emphatic.

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 C Location and direction

taithiom dem. these particular two. naimuani dir. from over there.
Gram: Masculine dual proximate demon- naimui dir. from over there (distant).
strative emphatic.
naimuit dir. from the other side.
taithithom dem. these particular two
small ones. Gram: Diminutive dual proxi- naimuk dir. from inside.
mate demonstrative emphatic. nainamuk dir. from over there (towards
taithithong dem. these particular small speaker).
ones. Gram: Diminutive plural proximate nainath dir. from around here.
demonstrative emphatic. nainavi dir. from there.
tik dem. this very one. Gram: Proximate de- nainavuk dir. from up.
monstrative emphatic particle.
naivono dir. from up there.
C4 Distance and proximity naivui dir. over from (middle distance).
naivuit dir. over from.
bana dir. among themselves.
naivuk dir. from up.
bing sa-vi. surround.
namanp dir. from down there.
dur adv. deep.
namano dir. from down over there.
gl prep. with.
namk dir. from down.
gelaulul dir. far away; long way.
namt prep. at something.
glm prep. near; close.
namethik dir. from the other side.
glmna prep. near; next to each other.
namonp dir. over from the side.
gl kuvet dir. be near to.
namono dir. from over there; across.
inamuk dir. across towards speaker;
forward. namuani dir. across from.
inavuk dir. down towards speaker; namui dir. from over there; same level
downwards. as speaker.
ithm dir. alongside; beside. namuit dir. over from.
ithmna dir. side by side. namuk dir. from in.
ivui dir. upwards away from speaker. nanavuk dir. back down from.
mnina dir. across each other. nathmanp dir. from down there.
mt prep. 1 in; within. 2 inside. nathmano dir. from down there.
3 into. 4 through. nathmk dir. from down at.
mvem prep. inside. nathmono dir. from over there.
na prep. with. nathmuanp dir. from side.
nagl prep. from. nathmui dir. from over there.
naglm prep. from close to. nathmuit dir. from over there.
naglmna prep. back to. nathmuk dir. from in there.
naimanp dir. from down there. nathvono dir. from up there.
naimano dir. from down at. nathvui dir. from over there.
naimek dir. up from inside. nathvuit dir. from out there.
naimni dir. over from. nathvuk dir. from up there.
naimono dir. over from. nave dir. from there.
naimuanp dir. from over there. navi dir. from there.

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C Location and direction

navono dir. from up there. saivuit dir. over to.

navui dir. over from (distant). saivuk dir. up to.
navuit dir. over from. samanp dir. to down there.
ndvethik dir. beside. samano dir. down to; down there.
nmna prep. away from; e.g. used to samt prep. into.
describe the way a flood leaves rub- sanamuk dir. up here.
bish behind as the water subsides.
sas t vt. remove.
nmni prep. aside; to the side.
sathmanp dir. down there.
nmtna dir. from each other.
sathmani dir. down this way.
np prep. at.
sathmk dir. down there.
nevanas dir. away from oneself.
sathmono dir. over there.
nvem prep. in; on.
sathmui dir. over there.
ngis adv. apart.
sathmuit dir. over on the other side.
pa prep. at; on; over.
sathvono dir. up there to.
pathm prep. 1 along. 2 for.
sathvui dir. over there.
pathm na dir. alongside; side by side.
sathvuit dir. out there.
pem prep. in.
sathvuk dir. up there.
pt prep. 1 at. 2 on. 3 over.
save dir. to there.
sa prep. 1 to. 2 with.
savui dir. over to distant.
saglm prep. close to.
sdamr n dir. 1 right by. 2 directly
saglmna prep. nearer to; closer to. to.
saimanp dir. down there. sd prep. to.
saimano dir. down to. sdvthik dir. beside.
saimk dir. down inside. smt prep. 1 into. 2 down into.
saimni dir. over to; down to. sng prep. in the vicinity of; close to.
saimono dir. over to. sva prep. to.
saimuanp dir. to the other side; across svm prep. into.
to.
svt prep. 1 to. 2 at. 3 onto.
saimuani dir. over there.
snania prep. 1 against. 2 right be-
saimui dir. over there distant. side.
saimuit dir. to the other side. sne prep. in; within.
saimuk dir. into. tair snania vt. lean against something
sainamk dir. down that way. while standing.
sainamuk dir. to this side. tk tichim vt. avoid.
sainavuk dir. from up there. tm prep. at; along.
saisath dir. over here. tmanp dir. down there.
saisave dir. to there. tnamk dir. up a bit from towards
saisavi dir. there. speaker.

saivono dir. upwards. tnavuk dir. down a bit from towards

speaker.
saivui dir. over to.

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 C Location and direction

tstmna n vt. eat with. indefinite pronoun.

tet na vt. go past; pass. agisem pro. some two long ones. Gram:
tet ngis n vt. miss a target. Extended dual indefinite pronoun.

tethana sa-vi. group together. agiseng pro. some long ones. Gram: Long
plural indefinite pronoun.
tvuk dir. up there.
agit pro. what. Gram: Count neutral indefinite
tneng n vt. dodge.
pronoun.
tu dm n vt. lose.
agitha pro. some people. Gram: Human
vethik dir. beside. plural indefinite pronoun.
vui dir. out there. agithom pro. some two small ones. Gram:
Diminutive dual indefinite pronoun.
C5 Pronouns
agithong pro. some small ones. Gram:
againi pro. some small thing. Gram: Di- Diminutive plural indefinite pronoun.
minutive singular indefinite pronoun. agivam pro. some two short ones. Gram:
agia pro. something. Gram: Count neutral Reduced dual indefinite pronoun.
indefinite pronoun. agivap pro. some short things. Gram: Re-
agicha pro. someone; something. Gram: duced plural indefinite pronoun.
Masculine singular indefinite pronoun. agivem pro. some two people; some two
agichm pro. some short thing. Gram: things. Gram: Feminine dual indefinite pro-
Reduced singular indefinite pronoun. noun.

agichi pro. something; someone. Gram: agivs pro. some flat thing. Gram: Flat
Feminine singular indefinite pronoun. singular indefinite pronoun.

agigl pro. some piece. Gram: Excised singu- agivet pro. some long thing. Gram: Long
lar indefinite pronoun. singular indefinite pronoun.

agiglem pro. some two pieces. Gram: Ex- aguik pro. something; someone. Gram:
cised dual indefinite pronoun. Feminine singular indefinite pronoun.

agigleng pro. some pieces. Gram: Excised ain you two, your. Gram: Second
pro. 1
plural indefinite pronoun. 2 those
person dual possessive pronoun.
two, their. Gram: Third person dual posses-
agimlk pro. some flat ones. Gram: Flat
sive pronoun.
plural indefinite pronoun.
aina pro. 1 you two, your. Gram: Second
agimlm pro. some two flat ones. Gram:
person dual possessive pronoun and possessive
Flat dual indefinite pronoun.
pronoun and specific article. 2 those
aginait pro. some large one. Gram: Ex- two, their. Gram: Third person dual posses-
tended singular indefinite pronoun. sive pronoun and possessive pronoun and spe-
agink pro. some large ones. Gram: Ex- cific article.
tended plural indefinite pronoun. ainama pro. 1 you two, your. Gram:
aginm pro. some two large ones. Gram: Second person dual possessive pronoun and
Extended dual indefinite pronoun. emphatic possessive pronoun. 2 those
two, their. Gram: Third person dual posses-
agini pro. some small thing. Gram: Di-
sive pronoun and emphatic possessive pro-
minutive singular indefinite pronoun.
noun.
agingt pro. something. Gram: Count neu-
ainanga pro. 1 you two, some of your.
tral indefinite pronoun.
Gram: Second person dual possessive pronoun
agiom pro. two of something; two uni- and non-specific possessive pronoun.
dentified people. Gram: Masculine dual 2 those two, some of their. Gram: Third

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C Location and direction

person dual possessive pronoun and athama pro. her; its. Gram: Third person
non-specific possessive pronoun. singular possessive pronoun and emphatic
ainangama pro. 1 you two, some of possessive pronoun.
your. Gram: Second person dual possessive athanga pro. some of her; some of its.
pronoun and indefinite possessive pronoun. Gram: Third person singular possessive pro-
2 those two, some of their. Gram: Third noun and non-specific possessive pronoun.
person dual possessive pronoun and indefinite athangama pro. her; its. Gram: Third per-
possessive pronoun. son feminine singular possessive pronoun and
angan pro. your. Gram: Second person plural indefinite possessive pronoun.
possessive pronoun. ath pro. some people. Gram: Human plural
angana pro. your. Gram: Second person plu- indefinite pronoun.
ral possessive pronoun and possessive pronoun athv pro. their. Gram: Third person human
and specific article. plural possessive pronoun.
anganama pro. some of your. Gram: Sec- athva pro. their. Gram: Third person human
ond person plural possessive pronoun and plural possessive pronoun and possessive pro-
non-specific possessive pronoun. noun and specific article.
angnanga pro. some of your. Gram: athvama pro. their. Gram: Third person
Second person plural possessive pronoun and human plural possessive pronoun and emphatic
non-specific possessive pronoun. possessive pronoun.
angenangama pro. any of your. Gram: athvanga pro. some of their. Gram: Third
Second person singular possessive pronoun person human plural possessive pronoun and
and indefinite possessive pronoun. non-specific possessive pronoun.
angt pro. its; their. Gram: Third person athvangama pro. their. Gram: Third per-
neuter possessive pronoun. son human plural possessive pronoun and in-
angtha pro. its; their. Gram: Third person definite possessive pronoun.
neuter possessive pronoun and possessive aun pro. our two. Gram: First person dual
pronoun and specific article. possessive pronoun.
angthama pro. some of its. Gram: Third auna pro. us two, our. Gram: Possessive
person neuter possessive pronoun and em- pronoun and specific article.
phatic possessive pronoun.
aunama pro. us two, our. Gram: First per-
angthanga pro. some of their. Gram: son dual possessive pronoun and emphatic
Third person neuter possessive pronoun and possessive pronoun.
non-specific possessive pronoun.
aunanga pro. us two, some of our. Gram:
angthangama pro. any of their. Gram: First person dual possessive pronoun and
Third person neuter possessive pronoun and non-specific possessive pronoun.
indefinite possessive pronoun.
aunangama pro. us two, our. Gram: First
anggung some. Gram: Count neu-
dem. 1 person dual possessive pronoun and indefinite
tral indefinite demonstrative. 2 any; possessive pronoun.
anything. Gram: Count neutral indefinite
demonstrative.
aung dem. 1 someone; something.
Gram: Masculine singular indefinite demon-
angitha pro. 1 anyone. Gram: Human plu- strative. 2 anyone; anything. Gram:
ral indefinite pronoun. 2 someone. Masculine singular indefinite demonstrative.
Gram: Human plural indefinite pronoun.
aung gue interrog. which one. Gram:
at pro. her; its. Gram: Third person singular Masculine singular indefinite pronoun.
possessive pronoun.
aungguik dem. 1 someone; something.
atha pro. her; its. Gram: Third person singular Gram: Feminine singular indefinite demon-
possessive pronoun.

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 C Location and direction

strative. 2 anyone; anything. Gram: person singular possessive pronoun and

Feminine singular indefinite demonstrative. non-specific possessive pronoun.
aungguik kue interrog. which one. Gram: giangama pro. your. Gram: Second person
Feminine singular indefinite pronoun. singular possessive pronoun and indefinite
aut pro. our. Gram: First person plural posses- possessive pronoun.
sive pronoun. gu pro. my. Gram: First person singular pos-
autha pro. our. Gram: First person plural sessive pronoun.
possessive pronoun and possessive pronoun gua pro. my. Gram: First person singular pos-
and specific article. sessive pronoun and possessive pronoun and
authama pro. our. Gram: First person plural specific article.
possessive pronoun and emphatic possessive guama pro. my. Gram: First person singular
pronoun. possessive pronoun and emphatic possessive
authanga pro. some of our. Gram: First pronoun.
person plural possessive pronoun and guanga pro. some of my. Gram: First person
non-specific possessive pronoun. singular possessive pronoun and non-specific
authangama pro. our. Gram: First person possessive pronoun.
plural possessive pronoun and indefinite pos- guangama pro. my. Gram: First person sin-
sessive pronoun. gular possessive pronoun and indefinite pos-

av pro. his; its. Gram: Third person masculine sessive pronoun.

singular possessive pronoun. igl pro. piece. Gram: Excised singular reduced
ava pro. his; its. Gram: Third person masculine nominal pronoun.
singular possessive pronoun and possessive iglem pro. short two. Gram: Excised dual
pronoun and specific article. reduced nominal pronoun.
avama pro. his; its. Gram: Third person igleng pro. piece. Gram: Excised plural re-
masculine singular possessive pronoun and duced nominal pronoun.
emphatic possessive pronoun. imlm pro. the flat two. Gram: Flat dual
avanga pro. some of his; some of its. reduced nominal pronoun.
Gram: Third person masculine singular pos- in pro. 1 you two. Gram: Second person dual
sessive pronoun and non-specific possessive class one pronoun. 2 those two, they.
pronoun. Gram: Third person dual class one pronoun.
avangama pro. his; its. Gram: Third person in pro. 1 you two and. 2 those two
masculine singular possessive pronoun and and.
indefinite possessive pronoun.
ink pro. the large ones. Gram: Extended
dini coord. and those two. plural reduced nominal pronoun.
dut coord. and we. inm pro. the large two. Gram: Extended
en pro. you two. Gram: Second person dual dual reduced nominal pronoun.
class three pronoun. ini pro. small one. Gram: Diminutive singular
gi pro. your. Gram: Second person singular reduced nominal pronoun.
possessive pronoun. ini pro. 1 you two. Gram: Second person
gia pro. your. Gram: Second person singular dual class two pronoun. 2 those two,
possessive pronoun and possessive pronoun they. Gram: Second person dual class two
and specific article. pronoun.
giama pro. your. Gram: Second person sin- iom pro. two things; two people. Gram:
gular possessive pronoun and emphatic pos- Third person masculine dual reduced nominal
sessive pronoun. pronoun.
gianga pro. some of your. Gram: Second isem pro. the long two. Gram: Long dual

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C Location and direction

reduced nominal pronoun. contexts.

iseng pro. the long ones. Gram: Long plural nemiavchit pro. which large one. Gram:
nominal pronoun. Extended singular interrogative pronoun; can
ithom pro. small two. Gram: Diminutive dual be used in indefinite contexts.
reduced nominal pronoun. nmigl pro. which piece; some piece.
ithong pro. small ones. Gram: Diminutive Gram: Excised singular interrogative pronoun;
plural reduced nominal pronoun. used in a joking way to refer to people and im-
plies something about their large size; can be
ka pro. he; it. Gram: Third person masculine used in indefinite contexts.
singular class one pronoun and third person
masculine singular class three pronoun. nmiglem pro. which two pieces; some
two pieces. Gram: Excised dual interroga-
k pro. he; it. Gram: Third person masculine tive pronoun; used in a joking way to refer to
singular class two pronoun.
people and implies something about their large
kn pro. him and. size; can be used in indefinite contexts.
ki pro. she; it. Gram: Third person feminine nmigleng pro. which pieces; some
singular class two and class three pronoun. pieces. Gram: Excised plural interrogative
kia pro. she; it. Gram: Third person feminine pronoun; used in a joking way to refer to people
singular class one pronoun. and implies something about their large size;
can be used in indefinite contexts.
kin pro. her and.
nemink pro. which large ones; some
mavangam pro. anywhere; all over.
large ones. Gram: Extended plural inter-
Gram: General indefinite form.
rogative pronoun; used in a joking way to refer
nma pro. who. Gram: Interrogative pronoun. to people and implies something about their
nmava pro. whose. Gram: Third person large size; can be used in indefinite contexts.
masculine singular possessive interrogative nminm pro. which large two; some
pronoun. large two. Gram: Extended dual interroga-
nmav pro. whose. Gram: Third person tive pronoun; used in a joking way to refer to
masculine singular possessive interrogative people and implies something about their large
pronoun. size; can be used in indefinite contexts.

nmbam pro. any small two; some small nemini pro. which small one; some small
two. Gram: Reduced dual interrogative pro- one. Gram: Diminutive singular interrogative
noun. pronoun; also used to refer to people; can imply
attenuative meaning; can be used in indefinite
nmbap pro. any short two; some short
contexts.
two. Gram: Reduced plural interrogative
pronoun. nemiom pro. which two people; which
two things; some two people. Gram:
nmbem pro. any two people; any two
Masculine dual interrogative pronoun; can be
things; some two people. Gram: Feminine
used in indefinite contexts.
dual interrogative pronoun.
nemisem pro. which two long ones;
nmbm pro. any short one. Gram: Re-
some two long ones. Gram: Long dual in-
duced singular interrogative pronoun.
terrogative pronoun; used in a joking way to
nmda pro. who. Gram: Human plural inter- refer to people and implies something about
rogative pronoun. their large size; can be used in indefinite con-
nmga pro. who. Gram: Masculine singular texts.
interrogative pronoun; can be used in indefi- nmiseng pro. which long ones. Gram:
nite contexts. Long plural interrogative pronoun; can be used
nmgi pro. who. Gram: Feminine singular in- in indefinite contexts.
terrogative pronoun; can be used in indefinite nemithom pro. which two small ones;

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 C Location and direction

some two small ones. Gram: Diminutive gular class one pronoun. 2 your. Gram:
dual interrogative pronoun; also used to refer Second person singular possessive pronoun.
to people; can imply attenuative meaning; can ngigl pro. piece. Gram: Excised singular
be used in indefinite contexts. nominal pronoun.
nemithong pro. which small ones; some ngiglem pro. short two. Gram: Excised dual
small ones. Gram: Diminutive plural inter- nominal pronoun.
rogative pronoun; also used to refer to people;
can imply attenuative meaning; can be used in
ngigleng pro. short ones. Gram: Excised
plural nominal pronoun.
indefinite contexts.
ngaiom pro. two things; two people. ngimlm pro. the flat two. Gram: Flat
dual nominal pronoun.
Gram: Third person masculine dual nominal
pronoun. ngin pro. you and.
ngait pro. the long one. Gram: Extended ngink pro. the long ones. Gram: Extended
singular nominal pronoun. plural nominal pronoun.

ngam pro. short one. Gram: Reduced singu- nginm pro. the long two. Gram: Extended
lar nominal pronoun. dual nominal pronoun.

ngas pro. the flat one. Gram: Flat singular ngini pro. small one. Gram: Diminutive sin-
nominal pronoun. gular nominal pronoun.

ngavam pro. short two. Gram: Reduced dual ngisem pro. the long two. Gram: Long dual
nominal pronoun. nominal pronoun.

ngavap pro. short ones. Gram: Reduced ngiseng pro. the long ones. Gram: Long
plural nominal pronoun. plural nominal pronoun.

ngavem pro. two people; two things. ngithom pro. small two. Gram: Diminutive
Gram: Third person feminine dual nominal dual nominal pronoun.
pronoun. ngithong pro. small ones. Gram: Diminu-
ngavet pro. the long one. Gram: Long sin- tive plural nominal pronoun.
gular nominal pronoun. ngo pro. me. Gram: First person singular class
nge pro. you. Gram: Second person singular three pronoun.
class three pronoun. ngu pro. me. Gram: First person singular class
ng pro. he; she; it; they. Gram: Third per- two pronoun.
son neuter class one pronoun. ngua pro. 1 I. Gram: First person singular
ngn pro. you all. Gram: Second person class class one pronoun. 2 my. Gram: First
one pronoun and second person class three person singular possessive pronoun.
pronoun. ngun pro. me and.
ngn pro. them and; it and. ta pro. they; them. Gram: Third person human
ngn pro. you all and. plural class one pronoun and third person hu-
man plural class three pronoun.
ngni pro. you all. Gram: Second person
plural class two pronoun. ti pro. they. Gram: Third person human plural
class two pronoun.
ngt pro. him; her; it; them. Gram: Third
person neuter class three pronoun. tin pro. them and.
ngthi pro. he; she; it; they. Gram: Third un pro. 1 we. Gram: First person dual class
person neuter class two pronoun. three pronoun. 2 us. Gram: First person
dual class three pronoun.
ngi pro. you. Gram: Second person singular
class two pronoun. un pro. us two and.
ngia pro. 1 you. Gram: Second person sin- uni pro. we two. Gram: First person dual class

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C Location and direction

two pronoun. nmav pro. whose. Gram: Third person

ut we. Gram: First person plural class
pro. 1 masculine singular possessive interrogative
one pronoun. 2 us. Gram: First person pronoun.
plural class three pronoun. nmbam pro. any small two; some small
utn pro. us and. two. Gram: Reduced dual interrogative pro-
noun.
uthi pro. we. Gram: First person plural class
two pronoun. nmbap pro. any short two; some short
two. Gram: Reduced plural interrogative
vam pro. short two. Gram: Reduced dual pronoun.
nominal pronoun.
nmbem pro. any two people; any two
vap pro. short ones. Gram: Reduced plural things; some two people. Gram: Feminine
nominal pronoun.
dual interrogative pronoun.
vem pro. two things; two people. Gram: nmbm pro. any short one. Gram: Re-
Third person feminine dual reduced nominal
duced singular interrogative pronoun.
pronoun.
nmda pro. who. Gram: Human plural inter-
C6 Adverbial demonstratives rogative pronoun.
nmga pro. who. Gram: Masculine singular
avi dem. there. Gram: Count neutral distal interrogative pronoun; can be used in indefi-
demonstrative.
nite contexts.
avivik dem. right there. Gram: Count neutral nmgi pro. who. Gram: Feminine singular in-
emphatic distal demonstrative.
terrogative pronoun; can be used in indefinite
ith dem. here. Gram: Proximate demon- contexts.
strative.
nemiavchit pro. which large one. Gram:
iththik dem. right here. Gram: Emphatic Extended singular interrogative pronoun; can
proximate demonstrative. be used in indefinite contexts.
pe dem. there. Gram: Anaphoric demonstrative. nmigl pro. which piece; some piece.
Gram: Excised singular interrogative pronoun;
C7 Interrogatives used in a joking way to refer to people and im-
plies something about their large size; can be
amnia interrog. how much.
used in indefinite contexts.
aung gue interrog. which one. Gram:
nmiglem pro. which two pieces; some
Masculine singular indefinite pronoun.
two pieces. Gram: Excised dual interroga-
aungguik kue interrog. which one. Gram: tive pronoun; used in a joking way to refer to
Feminine singular indefinite pronoun. people and implies something about their large
kvs interrog. when. size; can be used in indefinite contexts.

kvsnia interrog. when. nmigleng pro. which pieces; some

pieces. Gram: Excised plural interrogative
kue interrog. where.
pronoun; used in a joking way to refer to people
kuenai interrog. where. and implies something about their large size;
mnia interrog. how. can be used in indefinite contexts.

mnia iva interrog. why. nemink pro. which large ones; some
large ones. Gram: Extended plural inter-
mnia na interrog. what happened.
rogative pronoun; used in a joking way to refer
nma pro. who. Gram: Interrogative pronoun. to people and implies something about their
nmava pro. whose. Gram: Third person large size; can be used in indefinite contexts.
masculine singular possessive interrogative nminm pro. which large two; some
pronoun. large two. Gram: Extended dual interroga-

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 D Plants

tive pronoun; used in a joking way to refer to alam n. cane leaves.

people and implies something about their large aluat n. bark.
size; can be used in indefinite contexts.
amang adj. ripe; especially refers to the
nemini pro. which small one; some small ripeness of bananas, mangoes, and
one. Gram: Diminutive singular interrogative pawpaws.
pronoun; also used to refer to people; can imply
attenuative meaning; can be used in indefinite
amng n. wood.

contexts. amngm n. tree stump.

nemiom pro. which two people; which amngia n. large log.
two things; some two people. Gram: amilatka n. coconut shell.
Masculine dual interrogative pronoun; can be
anun'ga n. white sap from a breadfruit
used in indefinite contexts.
or fig tree.
nemisem pro. which two long ones;
angmng n. wood.
some two long ones. Gram: Long dual in-
terrogative pronoun; used in a joking way to angmngga n. stick; piece of wood.
refer to people and implies something about angmnggi n. log.
their large size; can be used in indefinite con-
angthichm n. end of branch; spe-
texts.
cifically the part where the leaves are.
nmiseng pro. which long ones. Gram:
angthichini n. twig.
Long plural interrogative pronoun; can be used
in indefinite contexts. angthiki n. branch.

nemithom pro. which two small ones; aruchusicha n. type of fruit.

some two small ones. Gram: Diminutive athalep angthoes n. cocoa beans.
dual interrogative pronoun; also used to refer
athalevachi n. cocoa pod.
to people; can imply attenuative meaning; can
be used in indefinite contexts. athalevm n. cocoa bean.

nemithong pro. which small ones; some athing n. fibres used for weaving.
small ones. Gram: Diminutive plural inter- athongga n. fruit sp.; must be cooked
rogative pronoun; also used to refer to people; before it is eaten.
can imply attenuative meaning; can be used in aulmangachi n. native orange; refers
indefinite contexts. to both the tree and the fruit.
auravucha n. native spinach (aibika)
D PLANTS top that is used for cooking.
auravuves n. native spinach (aibika)
D0 General
leaf.
achvor angthoes n. betel pepper avolacha n. leaf shoot.
(daka); betelnut mustard.
ayaungem n. tree tips; the ends of the
achuvorves n. betel pepper (daka) branches where the leaves are.
leaves; mustard leaves.
baler n. 1 piece of wood. 2 piece of
adigl n. piece of taro. taro.
agraing adj. overgrown. balerbaler n. bits and pieces; especially
aichilka n. native spinach (aibika) top of wood.
that is used for cooking. changska n. betelnut.
aichilves n. native spinach (aibika) leaf. chlmga n. seed pod of the chlmgi
aithir n. new growth; skin or bark that tree.
grows in order to heal a cut. chlevecha n. bean.

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D Plants

chmbucha n. type of fruit. Usage: Also lagthacha n. corn.

known as ton in Tok Pisin. laguain'ga n. native spinach (aibika)
chndenggi n. 1 skin; bark. 2 peel; tip.
rind. lagun'ga n. cordyline sp.; victory leaf
chriduchi n. native spinach (aibika) (tanget); decorative plant.
stem; used for replanting. Usage: Abilta laltki n. 1 root. 2 stump.
dialect.
lams n. copra.
cherorachi n. banana flower.
lamsachi n. coconut.
chvaika n. stalk of sword grass
(kunai). lamsas n. coconut leaf; the leaflets
that make up a coconut frond.
chvlki n. piece; possibly a piece of
rope, wood, or tapioca runner etc. lamsigl n. piece of coconut.

chlelachun'ga n. driftwood.
lscha n. banana shoot.

chlochachi n. large inside part of liviska n. betel pepper (daka) shoot.

something. ludngbs n. betel pepper (daka)
chlochaini n. small inside part of leaves; mustard leaves.
something. mamaing n. fibre for making net bags
chudichi n. piece of rotten wood; e.g. (bilums).
from a fallen tree that has rotted for mamiapki n. pawpaw.
several years. merachuvm n. short piece of the
churacha n. root. amrachuavacha tree.
churemga n. betelnut. mulicha n. orange segment.
chureski n. leaf from an areca palm. mulichm n. spike of an orange tree.
dn sa-vi. grow. mulichi n. orange; both the tree and the
dradrachi n. hibiscus flower. fruit.

galumaing n. flower sp.; has small red, nanasgi n. pineapple.

yellow, white, and pink flowers all in nmblvs n. banana leaf.

one flower head; light green niare n. sap.
spear-shaped leaves.
painapki n. pineapple.
garang n. blossom.
pur vi-so. grow; especially of new skin or
gawtki n. crown; e.g. of a tree. bark growing over a cut.
guingini n. immature fruit; the buds of pur mt vi-so. germinate.
fruit that appear after the flowers
purvur vi-so. sprout.
have fallen off.
raiycha n. fragrant sap from the tree
isinggi n. tree sp.; similar to breadfruit
with the same name.
but brown on the outside and yellow
inside; refers to both the tree and the rarpka n. strong inner part of tree.
fruit. sabcha n. wood chip.
kacholka n. tapioca. sachong n. crown of a tree.
kakauigl n. piece of cocoa. savur nvem vi-so. overgrown.
kthopka n. sap. sukderut n vi-so. wither; die from the
kulaucha n. green coconut (kulau); for roots up.
drinking. tal vt. bear; specifically to bear fruit.
lachski n. cucumber. tangabs n. banana leaf.

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 D Plants

tangamgi n. banana. achesinbemga n. tree sp.; tall with

tangamigl n. piece of banana. large buttress roots and very hard
wood; bark is used as a purgative for
tapioka n. tapioca.
treating poisoning, it is grated and
tlngbs n. leaf. washed in water and then the water is
tlnggi n. rubbish. drunk. Usage: An alternate name for
achelungurka.
traingga n. seed.
aicha n. tree sp.; has rough grey bark
trutka n. stalk; specifically the central
with vertical serrations and plentiful,
stalk in some fruits; there is one inside
small, spade-shaped leaves.
tapioca and pau nuts grow along one.
ainilka n. tree sp.; yields fibres used to
tunggumgi n. base of a cup, house, or
make nets and net bags (bilums); is
tree.
tall and narrow.
urasvs n. leaf; specifically of a taro or
amngga n. tree.
singapore plant.
amnggaricha n. tree sp.; has soft
uratps n. coconut frond; stem is used
wood; makes you itch.
to make a basket.
amnggi n. large tree.
vaidebunggi n. wild orange.
amngini n. small tree.
valvalki n. twigs.
amrachuvacha n. tree sp.; has
variachi n. breadfruit.
multi-coloured bark; grows near riv-
vaski n. breadfruit. ers.
vnngacha n. taro shoots. amrochopink n. tree sp.
vimga n. galip nut (Canarium indicum). angmng n. trees.
viulachi n. mango; refers only to the angmngga n. tree.
fruit.
angmnggi n. large tree.
vurvurki n. blossom.
aruchusicha n. tree sp.
yavacha n. banana sp.; ladyfinger ba-
athalevacha n. 1 cocoa tree. 2 tree
nana.
sp.; looks like a cocoa tree, only taller
with narrower leaves, and bears small
D1 Trees and palms
fruit rather than pods; good for fire-
achluangga n. tree sp.; is up to 20 cm wood; eating the ripe green leaves is
in diameter; light brown; the bark is good for diarrhoea; has larger leaves
slippery inside; is especially found in than the auska species.
old gardens. athingga n. tree sp.; yields fibre.
achelungurka n. tree sp.; tall with athonggi n. tree sp.; bears an edible
large buttress roots and very hard fruit.
wood; bark is used as a purgative for
aulmangachi n. native orange; refers
treating poisoning, it is grated and
to both the tree and the fruit.
washed in water and then the water is
drunk. Usage: An alternate name for auska n. tree sp.; similar to the cocoa
achesinbemga. tree and the athalevacha sp.; much
taller than a cocoa tree; bears small
achnanggolka n. tree sp.; grows in
fruit but has smaller leaves than the
the mountains; has very dense wood
athalevacha species.
and is hard to cut; grubs kill the tree;
people like to eat the grubs that live in avarka n. tree sp.; grows close to the
this tree. beach; branches bend down; has yel-
low flowers and useful fibres.

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D Plants

balska n. tree sp.; large tree with soft mulichi n. orange; both the tree and the
wood. fruit.
changska n. betelnut palm. nmbingga n. tree sp.; strong trees
chlaska n. tree sp.; has soft wood; that grow on top of mountain ridges.
cassowaries eat the fruit. rachan'ga n. tree sp.; hardwood tree
chlmgi n. tree sp.; has pods that are used for timber; very large, is both tall
used as rattles. and broad; burns well good for
firewood; was logged extensively by
chluangga n. tree sp.; has silky fibre. the Catholic Mission for use in its
chungacha n. tree sp.; casuarina. post-war building program.
churemgi n. palm sp.; betel palm. raiycha n. tree sp.; grows along the
galpki n. palm sp.; wild palm; used for coast and in the mountains in the
making axe handles and floors. bush; the sap is fragrant and burns
like wax.
govacha n. guava tree; the leaves are
good for stomach aches. saksaki n. sago palm.
govachi n. guava. saluchachi n. palm sp.; similar to the
areca or black palm (limbum); has a
isinggi n. tree sp.; similar to breadfruit
mountain spirit living inside it.
but brown on the outside and yellow
inside; refers to both the tree and the srubn'ga n. tree sp.; if you touch it
fruit. your skin swells.
ivngacha n. tree sp.; large tree from tangamgi n. banana plant.
the bush; is the home of spirits. tap s vt. cut down; especially of trees;
ivon'ga n. pandanus. also used to refer to the act of clearing
an area of bush.
kaverki n. wild palm sp.; trunks are split
and used to make floors. tchusacha n. fig tree.
lamsachi n. coconut palm. tltlcha n. tree sp.; grows near the
beach; has edible fruit.
lamsait n. tall coconut palm.
thabucha n. tree sp.; used for making
lamthain'ga n. tree sp.; large tree
canoes.
species.
thelelki n. palm sp.; has small leaves;
luanggareska n. tree sp.; very straight
looks a bit like a betelnut palm, only
and tall; is easy to split into planks.
smaller; fronds are good to use as
matholka n. tree sp.; new leaves from thatch.
this tree are used to treat sickness in
vaidebunggi n. tree sp.; known as wild
the spleen and for boils; for the
orange tree.
spleen, the leaves are chewed and
swallowed; for boils, the leaves are variachi n. breadfruit tree.
heated and then placed over the boil. vaski n. breadfruit tree.
mlutki n. tree sp.; beach tree; grows viulacha n. mango tree.
horizontally towards the water. vlngacha n. tree sp.; grows in old
mnumgi n. tree sp.; tall tree that garden sites; has very thick bark,
grows in the bush; a bit like the m- small white leaves, and very small
lutki species; good timber for houses. flowers.
minminga n. tree sp.; a softwood tree warevacha n. tree sp.; grows by the
with red flowers. river; has small leaves.
mrunggi n. tree sp.; rosewood tree. yaungga n. tree sp.; used in the clean-

386
 D Plants

sing ceremony that follows a raid on D3 Smaller plants

another village; becomes a dangerous
tree after the ceremony and must not achuvel n. greens. Usage: Also known as
be touched. aupa in Tolai.
yavacha n. banana sp.; ladyfinger ba- achuvoracha n. betel pepper (daka)
nana. plant.
aichil n. native spinach (aibika).
D2 Shrubs and vines
aichilka n. native spinach (aibika) top
achvoracha n. mustard plant. that is used for cooking.

amangbchng n. plant sp. aichilki n. native spinach (aibika); re-

fers to the whole plant.
aurithong n. bushes.
aiguam n. ferns.
chalavurucha n. beach vines.
amstmna n. side-dish.
changgthacha n. vine sp.; large, thick
vine. Usage: Arongda dialect. asalang n. greens; leaves are small and
heart shaped with yellow flowers;
changgthait n. vine sp.; especially a grows in gardens after they have been
long and narrow vine species. burnt off.
charoski n. vine sp.; large, thick vine. athemgi n. taro top; used for replant-
Usage: Abilta dialect.
ing.
galumaing n. flower sp.; has small red, auravu n. native spinach (aibika). Usage:
yellow, white, and pink flowers all in This word is newer than aichil.
one flower head; light green
spear-shaped leaves. auravuchi n. native spinach (aibika).

ivangacha n. bush sp.; commonly found chuaramgi at sachong n. native

in gardens; grows to 1.5 m tall and spinach (aibika) with red stems.
has soft leaves; used to treat dysen- gavun n. fern.
tery by crushing half of a new leaf kaubocha n. plant sp.; has broad flat
with a very ripe leaf and washing leaves that are used to cover food.
them with water; water is squeezed
into a cup and drunk. mangbcheng n. victory leaf sp.; low
growing with narrow leaves that have
lagun'ga n. cordyline sp.; victory leaf white patches on the edges.
(tanget); decorative plant.
nanasgi n. pineapple.
maminggi n. vine sp.; yields fibre.
nangasacha n. tobacco plant.
nngurka n. plant sp.; strong smelling
plant with long green leaves; deters painapki n. pineapple.

snakes; relieves tiredness; used as a suarki n. mistletoe; grows on the

decoration for dancing because of the branches of trees; has green leaves,
smell. grey stalks, and red flowers; seeds are
rosachi n. rose bush. sticky; kills the trees that it grows on.

thalechachi n. bush sp.; used for trutki n. native spinach (aibika) stem;
decoration; grows in the bush. used for planting.

thavulka n. vine sp.; makes a good vnngacha n. taro shoots.

rope.
D4 Grasses and bamboo
vonbon'gi n. vine sp.; thick bush vine.
achlachuas n. grass sp.; tends to grow
in old gardens; the seeds stick to your
legs.

387
D Plants

achevungga n. bamboo sp.; grows on mavnachi n. ginger plant; roots can be

high ridges; grows when the chewed to help with colds and flu.
achultngga species is dying off. mavnini n. piece of ginger.
achultngga n. bamboo sp.; grows on narichi n. yam.
high ridges; grows when the ache-
vungga species is dying off. trutki n. small root of a tree or plant,
especially banana, native spinach (ai-
aichi n. bamboo. bika), or peanut plant.
aini n. small bamboo.
amundiki n. edible stalk of a wild cane D6 Water plants
sp. (pitpit). achlachuas n. seaweed; seagrass;
chvaik n. sword grass (kunai). plants that usually grow in shallow
chvaika n. stalk of sword grass water; up to 20 cm in length; fish use
(kunai). it to hide in.
chvaiki n. area of sword grass (kunai). D7 Fungi and truffles
gotka n. bamboo sp.; large.
achmabarka n. mushroom sp.; edible;
irocha n. rattan.
grows profusely after rain; is brown
kaivovocha n. bamboo sp.; small. on top and white underneath; found
lachuaska n. grass; an area of any par- on softwood trees.
ticular kind of grass. almbrgiangga n. mushroom sp.; edi-
lavrki n. sugar-cane. ble, white, and flat; is very soft; up to
5 cm in diameter; grows in the
malos n. grass sp.; strong smelling;
ground. Usage: An alternate name for
grows to waist height; deters snakes,
guringsasotka.
relieves tiredness, and can be used to
wash dishes. almga n. mushroom; generic term.
ngipngip n. grass sp.; dies if someone alingga ava lm n. mushroom sp.; lu-
touches it. minous and shine brightly at night.;
look like fireflies; white and grow on
sarengacha n. pandanus sp.; small with
rotten trees; if two people are walking
long leaves; used for making mats.
together at night in the bush, the one
tuchupki n. edible stalk of a wild cane in front can wear one of these mush-
sp. (pitpit). rooms on the back of their head for
the person behind to follow; these
D5 Tubers and roots mushrooms are sticky and will stick to
the skin.
adichi n. taro.
barathigl n. mushroom sp.; white and
adini n. small taro.
inedible; grows into a semi-circular
anot n. taro. shape; is found on trees.
bukacha n. taro sp.; black singapore. chesengdm n. mushroom sp.; grows
chalun'ga n. taro sp.; singapore. on mango trees, feels furry, and is
chathachi n. taro sp.; wild singapore; edible.
not edible. Usage: The word is some- guringsasotka n. mushroom sp.; edi-
times also used to refer to edible va- ble, white, and flat; is very soft; up to
rieties. 5 cm in diameter; grows in the
churacha n. root.
ground. Usage: An alternate name for
almbrgiangga.
kalasunggi n. sweet potato (kaukau).
kaumat angtha lchar n. mushroom

388
 E Fauna

sp.; very small; grows on the branches grucha n. bandicoot; has spiky hair, a
of mango trees; is similar in shape to a long tail, and strong teeth; climbs
rats paw. trees and eats galip nuts (Canarium
kunengga ava lm n. mushroom sp.; indicums).
large, white, umbrella shape; the stalk kaumatka n. rat; mouse; generic term;
is 30 cm in diameter; grows in grassy also used specifically for domestic rats
fields after heavy rain. and mice.
marupki atha lm n. mushroom sp.; marupki n. cassowary.
white; grows on certain trees in the masn'ga n. bandicoot; cannot climb;
bush; eaten by cassowaries. eats fallen fruit; has spiky hair.
nangsacha ava lmga n. mushroom murapka n. wild dog.
sp.; greyish in colour; edible; grows
on rotting trees; is flat on top with pusicha n. cat; wild or domestic.
many small holes underneath. vaim atha nmga n. large forest rat;
thombek athva sdm n. mushroom has tan fur; lives in holes.
sp.; very thin, brown, and vaimbem n. puppy.
semi-transparent; feel like plastic; vaimga n. dog.
round and grow up to 5 cm in diame-
vaimgi n. bitch.
ter; found growing on rotting trees.
vlmga n. pig.
D8 Mosses and lichens vlmgi n. 1 sow. 2 large pig.
arumsngga n. lichen. vlmbm n. piglet.

arumtka n. moss; generic term.

E2 Animals that fly

E FAUNA achutathinmga n. seahawk.

angthamatki n. cockatoo.
E0 General avunathepki n. fruit bat sp.; small.
aluski n. turtle shell. blbalka n. crow.

masar n. spider web. brasocha n. eagle.

mondaremga n. backwards moving charucha n. bird sp.; black with red

animal; specifically crayfish, prawns, spots on the chest and a white spot at
squid, and hermit crabs. the throat; has quite a long tail; is very
thaembm n. young animal; especially shy; hides at the top of big trees and
puppies or piglets. calls kwek, kwek, kwek at night.
charuvaika n. bird sp.; earlybird; sings
E1 Animals that go on land early in the morning; has dull col-
oured feathers.
abmka n. large forest rat; brown; can
be caught for food; lives in a hole in chuaramgi n. black bird with red eyes.
the ground with two entrances. chuvisacha n. chickenhawk.

anongacha n. possum; cuscus. dingdingga n. bird sp.; very small;

aribumetka n. wild mountain pig. some are black and some are yellow;
their call sounds like ding ding; they
asurtka n. forest rat; lives in holes in like sitting in orange trees.
the ground.
dingdingini n. bird sp.; very small;
chaelka n. wallaby; has grey fur; up to some are black and some are yellow;
60 cm tall when standing on hind legs. their call sounds like ding ding; they

389
E Fauna

like sitting in orange trees. cies.

duraika n. rooster. asingalka n. snake; worm; generic
duraiki n. hen. term.

duraikini n. chick. asingalki n. large snake; generic term.

gnska n. white dove. athibunuchi n. sea snake sp.; black and

white; long with a small head; has an
gubarka n. bird sp.; dove; Victoria aggressive temperament; lives around
crowned pigeon. reefs.
ismga n. bird; generic term. aulan'gi n. python; snake; generic term.
ismgi n. large bird; generic term. aulan'gi ama blbualki n. snake sp.;
lagrka n. bird sp.; large parrot; steals black, long, and flat like a belt; does
cocoa and food from gardens. not run away when approached.
lalumga n. bird sp.; brown and white aulan'gi ama vonbon'gi n. snake sp.;
hawk. silvery colour; edible.
malachi n. wild fowl. avilucha n. snake sp.; grey, long, and
mathongga n. hornbill. thin; moves fast; eats eggs.
mathonggi n. female hornbill. baulcha snguvs n. snake sp.; poi-
sonous; black with a coloured band
mliarka n. bird sp.; small parrot that is
around its neck; its head breaks off if
colourful: green and red.
it bites you.
patocha n. duck.
iluingm n. snake sp.; lazy boy snake;
patochi n. female duck. grey; has a short tail; sleeps a lot; has
savangini n. bird sp.; sparrow. white blood that looks like milk; peo-
ple play with it by touching a stick
srbaingbaingga n. gliding possum;
under their armpit then putting the
grey with a yellow belly.
stick near the snakes nose to make it
vangon'ga n. flying fox. jump.

E3 Reptiles salilibonggi n. snake sp.; greenish with

rainbow colours and a white belly;
E3.0 Other reptiles hunts around small pools in creeks;
eats frogs and prawns; if disturbed it
avun'gi n. turtle. will hiss, swell up, and hit you with its
basiochi n. crocodile. tail to frighten you, then it runs away.
chiveligl n. young crocodile. E3.2 Lizards
yamechi n. crocodile.
achrika n. lizard sp.; green back and
E3.1 Snakes brown body; up to 8 cm long.
amchlingga n. lizard sp.; large;
amdalpka n. snake sp.; has white, brown with a red neck and long tail;
black, and yellow stripes; has a small
serrated ridge down the back; short
head; goes underwater to catch eels;
head.
can kill other snakes.
arviachi n. monitor; similar to a lizard
anabuvm n. snake sp.; poisonous; with a black body and dull whitish
brown; up to 60 cm long; strikes fast
spots; up to 80 cm long; edible flesh;
but runs away when it smells people;
skin is used for hand drums (kundus);
sleeps under rubbish, leaves, or dead
lives in the forest and climbs trees.
wood; related to the amdalpka spe-
asusudamgi n. lizard sp.; black with

390

many small whitish spots; up to 1 m or
more long; lives in the forest near
pools in rivers; will dive to the bottom
of the river if chased.
avlamgi n. lizard sp.; green head and
brown tail; lives in trees.
avulikpthachi n. gecko sp.; grey; up
to 10 cm long.
baingdaurimanipka n. lizard
small and grey; up to 8 cm long.
chalipka n. lizard sp.; small and
grey-brown in colour; hides on tree
trunks and makes a squeaky noise
when people walk past; people say it
is the noise of the forest spirits.
chasuacha n. lizard sp.; greenish col-
our; long tail with serrated ridge down
the back; similar to the amchlingga
species but smaller.
chivelachi n. lizard; generic term for
small lizards.
manianotki n. lizard sp.; dark brown;
small.
mluacha n. lizard sp.; small and brown;
up to 20 cm long.
ngalengga n. lizard sp.; small with
white and blue-green stripes; up to
8 cm long.
sengglavrki n. grey lizard sp.; up to
8 cm long.
varuchi n. lizard sp.; brown and up to
8 cm long.
vrmngacha n. lizard sp.; is brown
and up to 50 cm long.
vuachtka n. gecko sp.; large; brown
with white stripes along the body and
around the neck; lives in houses.
E4 Water creatures
E4.0 Large sea creatures
achurepki n. dolphin.
banglka n. shark.
chaelki n. stingray sp.; two kinds: one is
large, up to 1 m across, brown, and
has a long tail; the other is small, dark
E Fauna
orange, and stays on white sand.
dorlaicha n. squid.
vangon'gi n. stingray sp.; medium size;
greenish back and white belly; its
head looks like a birds head; leaps
from the water.
E4.1 Fish
sp.; achapdetham n. fish sp.; plentiful at
the river mouth; silver in colour; have
thick lips and a stout shape; length up
to 50 cm.
achlacha n. reef fish sp.; small parrot-
fish; green with soft slippery skin and
scales.
achilaigl n. fish sp.; lives on the reef;
whitish with black vertical stripes; is
up to 15 cm long; does not have
scales.
achinggoingigl n. fish sp.; lives on
the reef; multi-coloured butterfly fish:
white, yellow, black; up to 20 cm long;
similar to angel fish.
achutgielmtmon'ga n. deep sea fish
sp.; has a long, protruding, sharp up-
per jaw, and a short lower jaw.
achururka n. reef fish sp.; pink with
stout body; smaller than the gmlcha
species; easy to find on the reef at
night.
achuvelithachn'ga n. reef fish sp.;
red and light brown colour; red inside
its mouth; up to 50 cm long.
aidthengmga n. reef fish sp.; light
brown with a black spot on either side
of its tail; up to 30 cm long.
aidika n. reef fish sp.; silver (small ones
are greenish); very long and thin; long
mouth and sharp teeth.
aidrengga n. reef fish sp.; red emperor;
up to 80 cm long.
ailasrka n. freshwater fish sp.; red;
has a big mouth and sharp teeth.
aingipdulvulka n. fish sp.; harlequin
fish; lives in fresh or salt water; is
transparent (the bones are visible
through the skin); up to 10 cm long.
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E Fauna
atun'gi n. fish sp.; yellowfin tuna.
athibunmachi n. reef fish sp.; light
green with black and yellow markings
on face; is fat; up to 60 cm long.
athikoneng angt nank n. fish sp.;
refers to two different species that are
often found on the reef: one is black,
up to 20 cm long; the other is light
brown, up to 30 cm long; both have a
stinging spike on either side of their
tail and greasy flesh.
athikonenginggl n. fish sp.; lives on
the reef; yellow and red with black
lengthwise stripes; is up to 20 cm
long; moves fast.
athinm angtha wan'ga n. reef fish
sp.; the spirit mask (tumbuan) of the
fish; multi-coloured: red, yellow, or-
ange, and white, with many fins; can
sting.
athinmga n. fish; generic term.
athinmgi n. large fish; generic term.
athopthacha n. reef fish sp.; patchy
green and brown camouflage col-
ours; up to 1 m long; has a large
mouth; lives in holes in the reef; an-
other variety from the deep sea is red.
aunbethachi n. freshwater fish sp.;
lives in large rivers; black spot on
each side of its belly and tail; tail is
yellowish; up to 1 m long; good eating
fish.
avisaigl n. fish sp.; lives on the reef;
light brown colour; up to 20 cm long;
good meat; can sting with its fins.
avusdingdchengarki n. freshwater
eel sp.; grey and up to 80 cm long;
lives in large rivers.
bangangini n. fish sp.; lives on the reef;
black in colour; up to 4 cm long; has
scales.
chabangaska n. freshwater fish sp.;
silver; has scales; rounded in shape;
these fish swim in groups; good for
bait.
chalacha n. freshwater fish sp.; glue-
fish; can stick themselves to a rock
392
with their chests.
chaninggulucha n. freshwater fish sp.;
yellow with white and black spots; up
to 20 cm long.
chaumatka n. reef fish sp.; yel-
low-white colour with scales; has
feelers on its chin.
chdlka n. freshwater fish sp.; silver
with scales and many bones.
chusilka n. freshwater fish sp.; black;
small with a large mouth; live under
stones.
galpka n. freshwater fish sp.; silver; up
to 60 cm long; many bones inside
their flesh.
gmarucha n. freshwater fish sp.; has a
big head and is dark in colour; shaped
like a tadpole but bigger; can stick
itself to rocks with its chest; side fins
are whitish or yellowish; is a lazy fish
and stays under stones.
gml angt nank n. reef fish sp.;
similar to the gmlka species only
larger; up to 30 cm long; live on reefs
further out to sea.
gmlcha n. reef fish sp.; dark red with
big eyes; has scales and greasy flesh;
is thin; up to 15 cm long.
inski n. river fish sp.; has a flat head, a
very narrow mouth, and big ears;
can stick to a rock with its chest; up to
15 cm long; stays in areas with a fast
current; makes a good soup.
kadinngga n. fish sp.; small; hatch in
the saltwater and move into rivers in
large schools.
lachski n. fish sp.; have yellow and
brown stripes along the body; up to
40 cm long.
langgerki n. saltwater fish sp.; brightly
coloured: green, blue, or red; two
types: one lives on the reef, the other
lives in the deep sea, has a lump on its
head, and is up to 60 cm long; both
types have a mouth like a parrots
beak and sharp teeth for grinding
coral.

lasrvthacha n. freshwater fish sp.;
multi-coloured: brown, yellow, and
red; lives in still waters such as billa-
bongs; up to 20 cm long.
lgmetka n. freshwater fish sp.; looks
like a small shark but has no teeth;
eats moss; white with greasy flesh;
lives where the current is fast.
lviam n. fish sp.; stonefish; lives on the
reef; white with bones that stick
through the skin to form strong spikes
all over its back and sides; swells up
when touched.
makaucha n. reef fish sp.; tilapia; grey
with scales; have no teeth; up to
30 cm long.
makauchi n. large fish of the makaucha
species.
makauves n. school of tilapia (makau).
malisacha n. fish sp.; barracuda; deep
sea fish; have a long mouth, sharp
teeth, and whitish flesh with scales;
are long and thin.
malisachi n. large barracuda.
malmalcha n. reef fish sp.; grey; up to
15 cm long; no scales, slippery skin;
lives close to shore; good for bait.
malolbanggi n. reef fish sp.; faded
colours: dim whitish, yellowish, and
brown stripes; similar to the mololchi
species but a bit larger.
maramatun'gi n. reef fish sp.; dark
grey with small whitish spots; similar
to the marumgi species but larger.
marumgi n. reef fish sp.; grey with
scales; have no teeth; up to 30 cm
long.
mrmarki n. fish sp.; deep sea fish that
sometimes visits the reef; colour var-
ies from silver to bluish or greenish;
body is very narrow close to the tail;
silver ones are short and stout;
greenish ones are longer in shape;
have very small scales.
msgubarka n. reef fish sp.; white with
scales; up to 40 cm long.
mololchi n. fish sp.; lives on the reef;
393
E Fauna
has white and dark brown stripes;
short stout shape with scales; up to
15 cm long.
mololm n. fish sp.; lives on the reef;
has white and dark brown stripes;
short stout shape with scales; up to
15 cm long.
mutucha n. reef fish sp.; yellow and
white stripes lengthwise along its
body; up to 50 cm long.
ngalengm n. freshwater fish sp.; has
brown stripes; makes the sound nguk
nguk when shot with a spear.
snggratki n. freshwater fish sp.; silver
with scales; has two black spots on its
tail.
siluigl n. freshwater fish sp.; brown;
flat, rounded shape like a flounder; up
to 30 cm across; can sting with a
sharp barb on either side of its tail.
sumsumigl n. fish sp.; lives on reef;
brown with tiny scales; up to 20 cm
long.
tangirka n. deep sea fish sp.; looks like
the malisacha species; whitish with
very sharp teeth; up to 2 m long; no
scales.
tlngbes n. fish sp.; lives on the reef;
brown and very flat; up to 20 cm long;
moves to and fro like a floating leaf.
thgumga n. fish sp.; two types of
stonefish: one is a saltwater fish and a
good eating fish, the other lives in
fresh water; both are brown and can
sting with poisonous spines.
thinmbes n. school of fish.
ubatki n. reef fish sp.; various colours:
blue, brown, or black with whitish
fins; up to 30 cm long; have sharp
teeth and very tough skin which must
be burnt off before eating.
ulutka n. reef fish sp.; grey with slip-
pery skin, no scales, and a big belly;
lies on the reef.
vlmgi n. reef fish sp.; brown; has a
nose like a pigs; is up to 1 m long.
vthenm n. freshwater fish sp.; white;
E Fauna
up to 10 cm long.
viskthopka n. reef fish sp.; all white;
covered in very soft spikes; when
touched or speared, it swells up by
drinking saltwater.
E4.2 Eels
ainangdchathachi n. saltwater eel
sp.; dark brown with a long yellowish
fin down the spine.
alanaski n. saltwater eel sp.; white with
sharp teeth; up to 1 m in length.
anekethopki n. eel; generic term; also
refers to a species of river eel, which
is grey in colour with a white belly.
athmamberacha n. eel sp.; lives in
sand at the river mouth; up to 20 cm
long; used as bait; has a pointy mouth
that sticks out above the sand.
avechenbechen'ga n. saltwater eel
sp.; very long and thin (only 1 or 2 cm
across); has brown spots.
avithingga n. freshwater eel sp.; flat
with yellow and black spots and a
small mouth.
inilcha n. freshwater eel sp.; looks like
the anekethopki species: grey with a
white belly, but has cloudy eyes; meat
is greasy.
irok monmon'ga n. saltwater eel sp.;
slow moving; has sticky skin and no
teeth.
lamon angthaik n. saltwater eel sp.;
brown.
noingmtka n. saltwater eel sp.; black,
short, and slender.
E4.3 Prawns and crayfish
aringga n. freshwater prawn sp.; grey
with thin small hands; up to 5 cm
long.
athangacha n. freshwater prawn sp.;
transparent or light brown; fat in
shape and has long hands; up to
10 cm long.
athilomga n. freshwater prawn sp.;
394
light brown with large head and large
short hands; up to 5 cm long.
aumga n. lobster sp.; brown with a
spiky back; up to 30 cm long.
aveningga n. freshwater prawn sp.;
light brown with flat twisted hands.
charichetka n. prawn sp.; transparent,
light brown colour; found in groups;
plentiful at the new moon; hatch in the
sea and swim into river mouths to stay
on riverbanks.
charichethini n. prawn sp.; transpar-
ent, light brown colour; found in
groups; plentiful at the new moon;
hatch in the sea and swim into river
mouths to stay on riverbanks.
chelelelcha n. freshwater prawn sp.;
dark brown; up to 5 cm long.
chudicha n. freshwater prawn sp.; dark
brown; up to 5 cm long; easy to catch
because they do not move fast.
mnk nanechigl n. crayfish sp.;
lives in the sea; brown; flat with a
mossy back and serrated sides; up to
20 cm long.
urn'ga n. crayfish; prawn; generic
term; refers to both salt water and
freshwater species.
urn'gi n. large crayfish; large prawn;
generic term; refers to both salt water
and freshwater species.
E4.4 Shell fish
abiulgi n. conch shell.
achirka n. shellfish sp.; clam shell from
the sea; is purple and white; up to
8 cm across.
anlka n. shellfish sp.; mussel; bivalve
from the river that lives in the mud at
the bottom of the river; dark brown
outside and white inside; people re-
fine (mumu) these shells, by fire, to
get lime powder.
aruthk n. shellfish sp.; found at the
mouth of rivers. Usage: Abilta dialect.
asuremgi n. shellfish sp.; lives on the
reef; twisted cone with a spiky mot-
 E Fauna

tled exterior and shiny white interior; mros n. shellfish sp.; lives on the reef.
up to 10 cm long. naingini n. chiton sp.; small in size, up
chamotki n. shellfish sp.; large black to 4 cm; black.
shellfish from the river; lives in the saecha n. shellfish sp.; found on the
water during the day but crawls up on reef; rounded cone up to 3 cm across;
stones at night to find food. mottled brown colour with small
chavithoski n. shellfish sp.; nautilus. ridges.
chlom angt nank n. shellfish sp.; snos ama mor n. large sea urchin sp.
large shell, similar to a conch; up to snoska n. sea urchin sp.; is covered in
25 cm long; used to make buttons; has many spikes.
a large door.
suacha n. shellfish sp.; found in the
chlomgi n. shellfish sp.; lives on the river; rounded black shell with red in-
reef; rounded spiral shell with ridges; side; lays its eggs on the outside of its
brown and white mottled colour; up to shell; up to 2 cm across.
4 cm across; has a door.
tavan'ga n. shellfish sp.; clam.
chulumga n. shellfish sp.; white cowrie
shell. tavurki n. conch shell.

chunachacha n. shellfish sp.; found in thvlka n. shellfish sp.; small abalone;

the river; pointy black shell; up to shell is brown outside and
5 cm long. mother-of-pearl inside; is flat; up to
6 cm long; shell covers its entire back;
chunngngrngrka n. shellfish sp.; can stick strongly to the reef; lives out
found on the reef; rounded spiral with on the reef where the sea breaks.
ridges; white in colour.
thuingga n. oyster.
churemgi n. shellfish sp.; comes from
the sea; has an elongated spiral shell E4.5 All other sea and shore life
up to 10 cm long.
imrki n. cowrie shell; various colours; aloikngamgi n. jellyfish; generic term.
up to 10 cm across. amangia n. trepang; sea cucumber.
kabolocha n. shellfish sp.; chiton; found athinm angtha aloikngamgi n.
on reef close to the beach; has a shell jellyfish sp.; identified by the many
down the middle of its back covered in small red and yellow striped fish that
small spiky hairs; sticks to the reef; up hide in it.
to 8 cm long; is flat and brown. chvulka n. octopus.
kadumga n. shellfish sp.; found in the irokmonmonga n. sea worm sp.; grows
river; dark brown colour; round shell; up to 60 cm; very slow moving; can
up to 2 cm across. attach to things using suction.
kaliburburm n. shellfish sp.; found in lachski n. sea cucumber sp.; brown
the lowest reaches of the river; small; and edible.
light brown shell with spikes on its
tasingl n. starfish sp.; live on the reef;
back. Usage: Abilta dialect.
two types, both with four arms: one is
kaliburburmaruthk n. shellfish sp.; red and covered in poisonous spikes,
found at the mouth of rivers. the other is blue and has spikes on its
malimgi n. trochus shell. back.
merkuas n. shellfish sp.; found in the
E5 Crabs
muddy part of deep water in a river;
have a black, short, twisted cone. aneska n. crab sp.; land crab with black

395
E Fauna
shell and red claws; has a flat elon-
gated body; lives in holes or under
fallen wood.
athonggi n. river crab sp.; brown; up to
5 cm in diameter; flat feet for pad-
dling.
athucha n. hermit crab; generic term;
also used for small land-dwelling
hermit crabs with bodies up to 4 cm in
diameter; changes shells.
avngbeladiachi n. river crab sp.;
brown; has a large shell; up to 20 cm
in diameter; lives in mud at the mouth
of rivers.
brasochi n. saltwater crab sp.; large
and green; shell up to 20 cm in di-
ameter.
chavenggi n. river crab sp.; brown;
shell up to 4 cm in diameter; sits on
stones; hides when people approach.
chsengdaiuika n. river crab sp.;
brown; shell up to 4 cm in diameter;
hairy legs; lives under stones in the
river.
chialetki n. river crab sp.; brown; has a
lumpy shell and flat chest; hatches in
pools.
chulumtka n. crab sp.; dark brown
with a white mouth and white claws;
shell 5 cm in diameter; lives above the
tide line.
chursachongem n. crab sp.; brown;
strong shell up to 6 cm in diameter;
has powerful legs; kicks when
someone holds it.
dulem n. crab sp.; lives in holes in the
sand; white and brown shell; up to
5 cm in diameter.
inducha n. river crab sp.; small and
brown; has a hard shell; up to 4 cm
across; lives in small creeks and the
headwaters of rivers.
ingguingga n. crab; generic term.
kalukluka n. land crab sp.; small;
grey-brown colour with red mouth and
claws; shell up to 3 cm in diameter;
often runs around on paths near the
396
coast.
kamangm n. crab sp.; lives in the
saltwater; small and brown with hairs
growing on the inside of its claws; up
to 3 cm in diameter.
karekrecha n. crab sp.; small black
beach crab; lives under stones; strong
shell up to 3 cm in diameter.
kebongbonggi n. river crab sp.; brown;
shell up to 5 cm in diameter; lives
near riverbanks; changes its shell in
pools along the road after rain; used
for bait.
kvarvarki n. reef crab sp.; spotty
green shell; up to 6 cm in diameter.
kiakkiaka n. crab sp.; lives in holes in
the sand; white and brown shell; up to
5 cm in diameter.
klavonotki n. reef crab sp.; large and
red; very hard shell up to 15 cm in
diameter; fat in shape; lives far out on
the reef.
maraglilichi n. hermit crab sp.; large,
brown, land dwelling hermit crab;
does not have a shell; lives in holes in
rocks near the sea; body up to 15 cm
across, 25 cm long; claws up to 40 cm
long; can husk coconuts with its
claws.
mnggariachi n. reef crab sp.; dark
brown; have hard, rough, wrinkly
shells; meat is inedible and can make
you itchy.
muialka n. crab sp.; soft-shelled crab
with greenish body; if it clamps a claw
on you the claw may break off and it
can grow a new one.
rachocha n. land crab sp.; whit-
ish-brown shell and red claws; up to
5 cm in diameter; live in holes in
swampy places.
rachumga n. land crab sp.; black and
red belly, and claws; shell up to 8 cm
in diameter; live in dry places in holes;
they go to the sea and back every
evening to drink and wash; appear in
large numbers in April.
 E Fauna

rachumkumbarka n. land crab sp.; lays eggs and buries caterpillars.

live in swampy places in holes; whit- chloingga n. bush snail; brown and
ish-brown shell up to 10 cm in di- white spiral shell; is up to 2 cm
ameter. across.
rurubuan'ga n. hermit crab sp.; large chilimski n. leech.
body up to 15 cm across and 25 cm
long; lives in the sea; can change chlvachi n. maggot.

shells. chumang angt nank n. insect sp.;

thinggiarachi n. land crab sp.; up to large grey insect without wings; has
6 cm in diameter; lives under piles of claws like a crab.
stones near the beach; can regrow a dmeska n. mosquito.
lost pincer. gathvacha n. beetle sp.; underground
beetles that bore holes in root crops.
E6 Amphibians
gethainginggl n. cockroach.
baiapka n. bush frog sp.; small and iringga n. insect sp.; large brown
brown. Usage: An alternate name for crawling insect; has a hard shell and
baiavini. six legs; can be roasted and eaten;
baiavini n. frog sp. Usage: An alternate people say that when it crosses a road
name for baiapka. or path it will die.
chlumen'gi n. frog; generic term. karirotki n. beetle sp.; is black and
edible; eats black palms and areca
chlumen'gi ama iriarki n. frog sp.;
palms once the grubs have finished
large green river frog.
with them.
E7 Insects, other land arthropods, kokoros n. cockroach.
grubs langgervereng'gi n. green cicada sp.;
found in coastal areas.
E7.0 General
mamboracha n. grey wasp.
achinggoinggi n. butterfly.
ruchusimacha n. green praying man-
achlacholachi n. grub sp.; edible; tis.
white; up to 4 cm long and very fat srongachi n. grub sp.; white and edible;
(like the top of a persons thumb); eats different types vary in size, up to 6 cm
the wood at the top of the coconut long; eats the wood of trees including
palm and areca palm. pawpaw, galip nut (Canarium indi-
achririaski n. poisonous centipede. cum), and cocoa trees.
aninicha n. earthworm; brown; up to talngacha n. earthworm sp.; light
30 cm long. brown or reddish colour; up to 15 cm
asingalka n. snake; worm; generic long; lives in soft ground.
term. thabu angt nank n. insect sp.; flat
asivlelki n. caterpillar sp.; has black and black; 3 cm long; lives under
and yellow spots; is a bit hairy; eats bark; smells if you touch it.
the leaves of the achluang plant. thvrchinggl n. louse.
athmga n. poisonous scorpion. vdm n. borers; similar to white ants
avongavongacha n. orange and black but they do not make tunnels on the
wasp. outside of wood; are black.
basiremgi n. wasp sp.; greenish colour; vereverechi n. cicada sp.; silvery col-
makes a hole in the ground where it our; found on mountain ranges.

397
E Fauna

waingimachi vt. bee. E7.4 Grasshoppers

E7.1 Flies achivulucha n. grasshopper sp.;

grey-brown colour; wings have a yel-
achun'ga voes n. sandflies. low stripe at the tip; bores holes in
ainggrongini n. sandfly sp.; very tiny; soft wood.
sits on sores and food. alsacha n. grasshopper sp.; brown;
chluingga n. march fly; blue; usually smaller than the mathongga species;
the first to arrive on a carcass in the does not bore holes.
bush, or to sit on rubbish. amueska n. grasshopper; generic term.
gethuaing angt nank n. fly sp.; aruachingacha n. grasshopper sp.
brown with big eyes and transparent avirsithamngga n. grasshopper sp.;
wings; similar to the murnalengeika dark green; has a flat belly; lies flat
species but this one lays eggs. and straight against a tree back and is
lmaska n. fly; generic term. well camouflaged.
murnalengeika n. fly sp.; large brown chatlchotka n. grasshopper sp.;
fly; does not lay eggs but puts its greyish in colour.
maggots straight into waste. chtikktika n. grasshopper sp.; brown
and short; flat area on the back be-
E7.2 Spiders
tween the wing and the head.
chabunginngin'ga n. spider sp.; black lngirka n. grasshopper sp.; brown and
and yellow; similar to the chumang- short with big back thighs; is plentiful
dalska species but smaller; builds a in stony places and along the beach.
web.
mamthm n. grasshopper sp.; has
chumangacha n. spider; generic term. grey and white patches; bores holes in
chumangdalska n. spider sp.; large soft wood.
black spider with yellowish stripes; mathongga n. grasshopper sp.; brown
builds a strong web that small bats and long in shape; bores holes in wood
sometimes get caught in. or bamboo; used as bait for river fish.
srebaingbainggi n. spider sp.; greyish mavnacha n. green grasshopper sp.;
brown; lives in trees; stretches its legs has a long head.
out to the front and back so that it
nguainggi n. grasshopper sp.; brown
looks thin; up to 6 cm long, including
and white with long hind legs; people
its legs; builds a small web on the
play with it by breaking one leg and
tree.
pulling the tendon to make the leg
move.
E7.3 Ants
rukuska n. grasshopper sp.; greyish in
anggethangacha n. white ant. colour.
kubururucha n. brown ant. sarengacha n. green grasshopper sp.;
matholka avoes n. ant sp.; only live in lies flat between the leaves of the
the matholka tree; they kill off the sarengacha pandanus species.
surrounding bush. thagumacha n. grasshopper sp.;
mesongga n. large red ant. brown.
sasongacha n. black ant. thareracha n. green grasshopper sp.;
makes a loud rasping noise at night.
vurchacha n. ant.
thobakathva muska n. grasshopper
sp.; green with large back legs; if it

398
 F Physical properties

flies into a house, people may ask it airiarvs vt vi-so. be green.

questions to find out whether bad luck alolka n. red.
is coming, or if someone will die.
alolves mt vi-so. be reddish.
vitvitka n. grasshopper sp.; two types of
grasshoppers: one is green and the amurmes pt vi-so. be colourful.
other is brown; they make a pleasant asinir n. beam; referring to a beam of
chirping sound at night. light, e.g. from a torch or car at night,
vlamasarengacha n. grasshopper sp. or from sun sparkling off glass.
asinir mt vi-so. be bright; be light.
F PHYSICAL PROPERTIES aun'gi n. 1 darkness. 2 shade;
shadow.
F0 General aunia n. darkness; especially darkness
when there should be daylight, e.g.
agraing adj. overripe; especially of tu-
during an eclipse or because of vol-
ber crops.
cano smoke.
aichru adj. 1 new. 2 uncooked;
ayauski n. shadow.
raw.
bubu vi-so. be dull.
ambilar adj. old; referring to a person.
chlevu adj. purple.
ameru adj. old things.
chthiacha n. blue.
atm adj. whole.
dung sng vi-so. be burnt.
mavo na vi-so. be broken down; not
working. igalechi n. glow of light; e.g. from a
distant fire or from the sun at dawn.
thektm adj. whole.
ivitki n. brown.
F1 Appearance kuar tm vt. light up; e.g. shine a torch
on something.
F1.1 Visibility and colour
kur svt vt. 1 show. 2 reveal;
achabap adj. white. spot-light using a torch.
achabavs vt vi-so. be white. lamur n. white marks that are painted
onto peoples faces, during dances,
achlol adj. clean.
using white powder or lime powder.
achthiavs adj. bluish.
mamor adv. brightly.
achluing adj. black.
naingm sa-vi. 1 appear; look like. 2
achluingbs vt vi-so. be blackish. shine.
achumer adj. clean. ndrir sa-vi. shine.
achumerkumer adj. very clean. nethachi n. bright light.
aer adj. clear; light; especially of the sky. niare adj. watery.
aerki n. light; brightness. niria sa-vi. shine.
agethon adj. yellow. ngaip vt. hide.
agethonas vt vi-so. be yellow. ngaipka n. hidden man; invisible man.
ailachi n. 1 image; picture; photo; es- ngaipki n. hidden woman; invisible
pecially of a person. 2 shadow; re- woman.
flection; especially of a person.
ngiem sa-vi. shine, only of the sun.
ailaing mt vi-so. be black.
patpathia n. pitch black; complete
airiar adj. green. darkness.

399
F Physical properties

rachuvigel n. colours; specifically the gulaingiseng n. stripes.

colours from the bark of the amra- kmgm vi-so. be empty.
chuvacha tree.
kthopka vt vi-so. be fat; be obese.
sichirki mt vi-so. be dirty; especially,
but not exclusively, to have a dirty kut mes ma vt. be patchy.
face. lalar pt vi-so. be scrawny; be emaci-
sichirki vt vi-so. be dirty all over. ated; be very thin; especially after a
long illness.
F1.2 Size, shape, arrangement, pattern malumgi n. heap; especially a heap of
something like mud or dead fish in the
achuvt adj. short.
bottom of a boat.
adungdung adj. empty.
malumgi na vi-so. be coiled; be piled
agraing adj. overgrown. up.
alek mt vi-so. be hollow. marik adv. straight.
alel adj. small. mavo sna na vi-so. be in disorder; be in
alik adj. narrow. disarray; be messy.
alik mt vi-so. be narrow. nauska n. speck.

alik tm vi-so. be narrow. niare adj. watery.

amor adj. big. paim m vt. wind around.

ansnes n. spikes. pl s vi-so. be broken.
arik adj. straight. pis d vi-so. be swollen. Usage: The ex-
pression pis d sarum have a swollen
asrtik adj. straight.
belly is not normally used with ref-
asru adj. huge; gigantic. erence to women, but can be used to
athavr adj. wide. talk about pregnant animals, espe-
cially dogs. Its use in the following
athavr mt vi-so. be wide.
example is derogatory.
athepmn adj. thick.
pur vi-so. grow; especially of new skin or
athinggiaras n. filthy or smelly place. bark growing over a cut.
auligalka n. odd one out. sis sa-vi. swell.
aulul adj. long. slavochi n. mess; disarray.
avn'gi n. mound; e.g. the mound of an slp pt vi-so. be skinny; be bony.
earth oven (mumu) or the mound of a
suchutka n. line; boundary.
grave.
tk dngtham sa-vi. expand.
avras adj. flat.
tr vt. 1 pull out. 2 uproot.
buirut vi-so. be short; be stumpy; e.g. a
3 clear; especially of small weeds
dog with a cut off tail.
etc.
buremga n. knot.
tu rik tm vt. straighten.
chacham adj. empty.
thanng adj. firmly in place.
chlenngini n. speck.
ves tmna na vi-so. be combined.
damga n. lump.
vsvis adj. swollen.
garngacha n. bunch; e.g. a bunch of
vingbing adj. crooked.
bananas, coconuts or mangoes.
vlochm n. spot.
garngachi n. large bunch; e.g. ba-
nanas, coconuts, or mangoes. vrsetki n. marks; any strange kind of

400
 F Physical properties

marks. refers to a thing or another person.

avam n. point; e.g. a point of land or the
F2 Temperature, weight, texture end of a stick.
achlach mt vi-so. be soft. buel mt vi-so. be blunt.
achelak adj. soft. chrnaska n. heat; temperature.
achep pt vi-so. be thorny. dil tm vi-so. be dried.
achrark adj. dry. grgrka n. pinpoint.

achrot adj. 1 strong. 2 tough. ingun'ga n. heat.

3 hard; difficult. krk pt vi-so. be dry.
achsasek adj. dry. ksk pt vi-so. be dry.
achesin adj. rotten; festering. malum na vi-so. be soft; e.g. the texture
achrnas adj. hot. of bread dough.
achrnas mt vi-so. be hard; be difficult. mamor adv. hard.

achrnas tm vi-so. be hot. mamut adj. greasy; fatty.

achulit vi-so. be wet. mamut mt vi-so. be greasy; be fatty.
adedr adj. tight; e.g. fishing line that mars mt vi-so. be greasy; be oily.
has a large fish pulling on it. nder na vi-so. be uncomfortable because
adildil adj. dried up. something is too tight.
agapgap adj. light; not heavy. niare vt vi-so. be watery.
ainin vt vi-so. be charred; be burnt. palangga adj. flimsy; particularly things
aingas adj. flimsy; particularly things like paper.
like paper. prk mt vi-so. be torn; be ripped.
aingun'ga adj. hot. smn pt vi-so. be lumpy.
aingun'ga tm vi-so. be hot. tnes sa-vi. be sharp.
ais n. wet. tor sa-vi. get wet.
aisiska n. cold. trong vi-so. be stiff with cold.
aiskias vi-so. be cold.
F3 Sounds their types and qualities
alechi n. hole.
aml adj. loose. achuskuska n. hissing noise; e.g. the
noise of pressurised air.
amlml adj. wobbly.
achuskuska mt vi-so. make a hissing
amureng adj. heavy.
sound; e.g. by shushing a child or the
ansnes vt vi-so. be spiky. sound made by a jet plane.
asst adj. smooth; slippery. bn mulau sa-vi. bang; make a loud
ast adj. smooth. sound.
asok adj. solid. ddrin n. roar; a roaring sound.
asok mt vi-so. 1 be strong. gar sa-vi. be noisy.
2 be solid. guarem n. gurgle; a gurgling sound
such as the sound of a river going
atnes pt vi-so. be sharp.
between stones.
auluvk adj. cold.
guguk tm vi-so. bark intensively.
auluvk tm vi-so. feel cold. Usage: Only
gumoram n. row; loud noise.

401
G Quantification

gumoram vt vi-so. row; make a loud G QUANTIFICATION

noise.
mamor adv. loudly. G1 Quantity
mandinen adj. silent. achkachk dem. another. Gram: Mascu-
mnaman n. quiet. line singular contrastive demonstrative and
count neutral singular contrastive demon-
mnaman na vi-so. 1 be quiet. 2 be
strative.
silent.
achndichn quant. many.
mndinen adv. be silent.
achikachik dem. another. Gram: Feminine
munaman sa-vi. be quiet.
singular contrastive demonstrative.
nngguik sa-vi. shout.
aguikaguik dem. another. Gram: Feminine
raik dm vi-so. scream. singular contrastive demonstrative.
slabar n. racket. agungagung dem. more. Gram: Count
sus d ves vi-so. hiss; refers to silent but neutral indefinite demonstrative.
bad smelling farts. alilu quant. many. Usage: Abilta dialect.
tns sa-vi. call out; shout. amnia interrog. how much.

F4 Tastes and smells anggung dem. 1 some. Gram: Count neu-

tral indefinite demonstrative. 2 any;
achesin adj. 1 rotten; festering. anything. Gram: Count neutral indefinite
2 stinking. demonstrative.

achrnas mt vi-so. be salty. aung dem. someone; something. Gram:

Masculine singular indefinite demonstrative.
agars adj. salty.
aungguik dem. someone; something.
amr mt vi-so. taste good; be sweet.
Gram: Feminine singular indefinite demon-
angthn'ga n. odour; smell. strative.
athinggiaras n. filthy or smelly place. chutigligl n. half.
dm sa-vi. be sour. machlak adv. little bit.
ksin na vi-so. stink. malilu adv. many times.
sren sa-vi. be bitter. mamor adv. lots.
ten pthanas sa-vi. be smelly. maunmlm adv. twice.

F5 Value mo adv. all.

savuit adv. more.
achrot adj. hard; difficult.
thektm adj. whole.
amr adj. good; pleasant; nice.
angguvang adj. bad. G2 Numerals
mamr adv. well; fine. adeguank num. three large ones. Gram:
thinggiaras n. repulsive thing; scary Extended plural.
thing; something you do not want to advaung num. three. Gram: Human plural
see or smell. and count neutral.
vondmgi n. price. aduguagleng num. three pieces. Gram:
Excised plural.
aduguamlk num. three flat ones.
Gram: Flat plural.

402
 H Human classification

aduguaseng num. three long ones. aunmlm num. two flat ones. Gram: Flat
Gram: Long plural. dual.
aduguathong num. three small ones. aunglem num. two pieces. Gram: Excised
Gram: Diminutive plural. dual.
aduguavap num. three short ones. Gram:
Reduced plural. H HUMAN CLASSIFICATION
aduvanguik num. three. Gram: Feminine
plural. H0 General
ailotka n. hundred. angthepki n. name.
aka n. one and only; special one. tes vt. name; call by name.
alevavet num. four.
H1 Spirits and devils
angthikism n. ten.
angthikpet num. five. amchlingga n. name of Mndas
dancer; can carry a guaremgi mask;
asgchm num. one short one. Gram:
body decorated to look like a
Reduced singular.
saw-backed lizard; has a long tail;
asggl num. one piece. Gram: Excised always dances in the evening; dances
singular. a humorous dance; scratches the
asgk num. one. Gram: Masculine singular ground, twisting its knees; does not
and count neutral. use rattles.
asgm num. one short one. Gram: Re- amorka n. 1 ancestor. 2 God.
duced singular. amorki n. 1 female ancestor.
asgni num. one small one. Gram: Di- 2 goddess.
minutive singular. anvmnacha n. underground person.
asgvs num. one flat one. Gram: Flat arachtki n. spirit from a spirit mask;
singular. these spirits can go into someone
asgvt num. one long one. Gram: Long (especially a woman) and make her
singular. act crazy, e.g. shouting out and taking
asnggik num. one. Gram: Feminine singu- her clothes off; someone who knows
lar.
an appropriate charm must speak it
into lime powder and then spread the
asnggit num. one large one. Gram: Ex- lime powder on the womans face,
tended singular.
ears, and body.
athvuska n. thousand.
areveikpmka n. saviour; redeemer.
aunbam num. two short ones. Gram: Re- asingalka n. 1 dangerous spirit.
duced dual.
2 Satan; devil.
aunbem num. two. Gram: Feminine dual.
asingalki n. female spirit.
aundenm num. two large ones. Gram: aurachi n. witch.
Extended dual.
awan'ga n. name of dancer; masked
aundisem num. two long ones. Gram: Long dancer, dressed in yellow leaves from
dual.
the victory leaf plant, who carries
aundom num. two small ones. Gram: Di- beating sticks and punishes children.
minutive dual.
ayauska n. spirit.
aun'giom num. two. Gram: Masculine dual chavatka n. spirit that causes illness.
and count neutral dual.
chlochacha n. soul.

403
H Human classification

chusaricha n. name of the type of abilta athva methamn n. coastal

Mndas dancer that has the adamga dialect of Mali.
mask. achabapka n. white man.
Deo n. God. achabapki n. white woman.
gelochna n. heavenly host. aml adj. foreign.
gelucha n. angel. amlka n. foreign man; temporary visi-
Gerkachna n. name of a group of tor.
Mndas dancers; carry awaleng amlki n. foreign woman.
masks; destroy the mound in the cen-
tre of the dance ground; usually the amethamn ama dvthng n.

last dancers to appear during a day Melanesian Pidgin; Tok Pisin.

dance. auligalka Sulka man.
kavathm n. firedancer; they wear auligalki n. Sulka woman.
masks with large, round, painted eyes. avingbingda n. Bainings.
lamini n. lamb; specifically the Lamb of Butamgna n. Butams.
God.
chulumga n. white man.
Lengenacha n. Lord; used to refer to
chulumgi n. white woman.
God.
dvthng adj. unconnected; something
Lengenachi n. Our Lady; Mother Mary.
without a known source; e.g. a fa-
musavaucha n. wizard. therless child or Tok Pisin, which is a
musavauchi n. witch. language without a village.
rndamgi n. witch. ism angtha methamn n. Melane-
saluk athoemga n. spirit; mountain sian Pidgin; Tok Pisin.
spirit that lives in the wild palm; if you naingiska n. foreigner.
touch the leaves of the palm you be- naingiski n. female foreigner.
come confused and wander off in the
rongga n. man from the mountains;
wrong direction.
anyone who comes from a cold place
srvm n. dwarf. at high altitudes.
srucha n. giant. ronggi n. woman from the mountains.
sruchi n. female giant. tangammtka n. Tolai man.
tbr nanm n. little forest person. tangammtki n. Tolai woman.
tomga n. spirit; ghost. thanngga n. local man; a person from
Trinitas n. Trinity. the village where the speaker is.
thaliaska n. wizard. thannggi n. local woman.
thchnmucha n. sacred being; God vingbingbap n. Bainings.
the Everlasting.
H3 People by age, development, life
vungbungga n. firedancer; is con-
cycle
cealed inside a large, hollow, rectan-
gular panel that serves as his mask. H3.0 General
H2 Peoples and language groups ambilar adj. old; referring to a person.
Abilta n. coastal people; people from the arucha n. man.
villages of Gar, Merai, Urai, Ili, and aruchi n. woman.
Karong. athoemga n. child.

404
 H Human classification

athoemini n. baby. amumthathopki n. nurse; orderly;

athuares adj. young person. medical assistant.

thaembm n. child. angthieik n. master.

arektmka n. holy man.
H3.1 Male
arektmki n. holy woman.
achums adj. male. armga n. patient.
achumska n. male. armgi n. female patient.
amorka n. adult man. athoemga n. 1 student. 2 assistant.
athoemga n. son. athoemgi n. 1 female student.
athoes pthacha n. man with children. 2 female assistant.
bilarka n. old man. chlmuen n. fool; name of a character
chungacha n. sisterless man; sisterless in many Mali stories.
boy; a man or a boy who does not have chrtki n. policeman; the name comes
any sisters. from the days of the German colony
sska n. childless man. when the police wore short pieces of
material (laplaps) with belts.
srucha n. old man.
dokta n. doctor.
thuareska n. young man.
gamarvmga n. soldier.
H3.2 Female kapenta n. carpenter.

amorki n. adult woman. katiketka n. catechist.

asski n. childless woman. kembecha n. soldier; specifically a Na-

tional soldier enlisted with the Japa-
athoemgi n. daughter.
nese during World War 2.
athoes pthachi n. woman with chil-
kinggna n. kings.
dren.
latka n. gardener.
bilarki n. old woman.
latki n. female gardener.
lvopki n. woman.
lenge angthieik n. leader.
lvovaski n. lots of women.
lengemtka n. leader.
sauthuchi n. infertile woman.
lengenacha n. a leader; a person who
sski n. childless woman.
takes leadership for organising a par-
sruchi n. old woman. ticular event or project.
thuareski n. young woman lengenachi n. female leader.
mairvtka n. boss.
H4 Roles and status terms
mairvtki n. female boss.
ambangga achusemga n. leader of the
mambumtka n. singer.
house.
martir n. martyr.
amonelka n. 1 hunter. 2 traveller.
Mndaska n. day dancer.
amonelki n. female traveller.
musavaucha n. wizard.
amorka n. leader.
musavauchi n. witch.
amorki n. female leader.
musavumtka n. poisoner.
amumthathopka n. male nurse; or-
derly; medical assistant. musavumtki n. female poisoner.

405
H Human classification

neski n. nurse. amorki n. female ancestor.

sandricha n. sentry.
secha n. 1 orphaned boy, he is one who
often grows up to be a person who can
do many good things. 2 hero; a
skilful clever person who does many
good things.
sechi n. 1 orphaned girl. 2 female
hero.
amunamga n. 1 non-worker; a person
who always stays home and rests, they
never go out and work. 2 invalid.
3 lame man.
amunamgi n. 1 female non-worker; a
woman who always stays home and
rests, she never goes out and works.
2 female invalid. 3 lame woman.

sen'ga n. executioner. amundrmbemka n. clever man.

sunasvmga n. teacher. armalika n. clever person.

sunasvmgi n. female teacher. aruacha n. friend; often used to refer to

spouses.
tluvmka n. 1 watchman.
2 shepherd. aruachi n. female friend; wife.

thatalvmga n. carrier. aruchm n. short person. Usage: Has a

depreciative sense.
thatalvmgi n. female carrier.
assurka n. blind man.
H5 Types of people not related to assurki n. blind woman.
status/profession asokmtka n. fearless man; stoic man;
achlsacha n. alert person; a person someone who is solid inside.
who has been trained to be habitually asokmtki n. fearless woman.
alert. auluvkmtka n. 1 coward. 2 good
achrotka n. strong person. humoured man; reasonable man.
achrnasmtka n. brave man. auluvkmtki n. 1 female coward.
achrnasmtki n. brave woman. 2 good humoured woman; reason-
able woman.
airasvnaska n. liar.
aurka n. bush man.
airasvnaski n. female liar.
aurki n. bush woman.
alulitka n. poor man.
avucha n. bad man.
alulitki n. poor woman.
avuchi n. bad woman.
aml adj. foreign.
bensenaska n. proud man.
amlka n. foreign man; temporary visi-
tor. bensenaski n. proud woman.

amlki n. foreign woman. blachoingga n. weak man; refers to

someone who is physically wrung out
amrka n. good man. from a bad sickness.
amrki n. good woman. blachoinggi n. weak woman.
amthanaska n. disrespectful man; bunacha n. 1 rich man. 2 selfish
specifically a person who takes things man.
without asking.
bunachi n. 1 rich woman. 2 selfish
amthanaski n. disrespectful woman; woman.
specifically a person who takes things
without asking. chavatka n. adulterer.

amndrmbemki n. clever woman. chavatki n. female adulterer.

amorka n. ancestor. chmga n. empty person.

406
 H Human classification

danungga n. unproductive man; a per- a clam, something that does not move
son who does not bring anything home around.
for the household (e.g. no firewood, ravan'gi n. faithful woman.
water, or food); someone who cannot
catch fish etc. sechabangga n. boisterous man;
someone who is always talking and
danunggi n. unproductive woman. laughing loudly.
dt mt uvski n. stupid person. sechabanggi n. boisterous woman.
dt mtha musnng n. forgetful per- svocha n. thief.
son.
svochi n. female thief.
dt pa sndm n. deaf person.
srumn'ga n. dangerous man; one who
gurguerka n. enemy. reacts violently and impulsively to a
gurguerki n. female enemy. sudden shock or noise.
lmuacha n. friend; ally. subicha n. mute.
lmuachi n. female friend; female ally. thuvska n. father-in-law; brother-in-
manaingimga n. sighted man. law; uncle-in-law; any in-laws except
ones wifes mothers brother and his
manaingimgi n. sighted woman. wife.
mervmka n. benevolent man; a person thuvski n. mother-in-law; sister-in-law;
who is a source of good things. aunt-in-law; any in-laws except ones
mervmki n. benevolent woman. wifes mothers brother and his wife.
metmavocha n. lame man. ulabungacha n. naked boy or man.
metmavochi n. lame woman. ulabungachi n. naked girl or woman.
moruska n. lazy man; person who is not umngacha n. enemy; raider.
willing to do garden work; used as an vathecha n. lazy man; a person who
insult. does not like to do any work, they just
moruski n. lazy woman. sit and chew betelnut all day.
mulen'ga n. frightened man. vathechi n. lazy woman.
mulen'gi n. frightened woman. vnbon'ga n. generous man.
mumanaska n. 1 selfish man. vnbon'gi n. generous woman.
2 rich man; someone with lots of
vingbmga n. 1 vandal. 2 naughty
money or pigs etc. boy or man.
mumanaski n. selfish woman; rich vingbmgi n. 1 female vandal.
woman. 2 naughty girl or woman.
nimulichi n. slut; a woman who sleeps vinoska n. vandal.
around.
vinoski n. female vandal.
ngaipka n. hidden man; invisible man.
vrucha n. enemy.
ngaipki n. hidden woman; invisible
woman. vruchi n. female enemy.

ngelka n. wise man. H6 Address terms

ngelki n. wise woman.
chlucha n. brother-in-law; both the
nguatki n. clumsy person; especially address and reference term; used by a
someone who walks in a clumsy way.
male speaker; can be used for a mans
ravan'ga n. faithful man. Usage: This sisters husband or a mans wifes
word compares a faithful person with brother.

407
I Human qualities and emotions

chluchi n. sister-in-law; both the ad- asokmtka n. fearless man; stoic man;
dress and reference term; used by a someone who is solid inside.
female speaker; refers to both a asokmtki n. fearless woman.
womans husbands sister and her
brothers wife. auluvk mt vi-so. be timid; be cow-
ardly; be afraid.
mamga n. father; Dad; address and
reference term; it is also used by auluvkmtka n. 1 coward. 2 good
children-in-law. humoured man; reasonable man.

matki n. older sister. auluvkmtki n. 1 female coward.

2 good humoured woman; reason-
mathm n. older brother. Usage: A term able woman.
of address.
aur adj. wild.
nan'gi n. 1 mother; mum; address and
reference term; it is also used by avu adj. bad or sinful person.
children-in-law. 2 mother. avucha n. bad man.
oes mamk n. brother-in-law; husband; avuchi n. bad woman.
address and reference term; used by a bensenaska n. proud man.
female speaker.
bensenaski n. proud woman.
oes nank n. sister-in-law; wife; ad-
bunacha n. selfish man.
dress and reference term, used by a
male speaker or male ego. bunachi n. selfish woman.
vum n. friend, the address term. danungga n. unproductive man; a per-
son who does not bring anything home
for the household (e.g. no firewood,
I HUMAN QUALITIES AND water, or food); someone who cannot
EMOTIONS catch fish etc.

I1 Personality and moral evaluations danunggi n. unproductive woman.

dt mt uvski n. stupid person.
achrnas pt vi-so. try hard.
dt mtha musnng n. forgetful per-
addn adj. 1 odd; strange. son.
2 confused; delirious; crazy; insane;
gar sa-vi. be noisy.
altered psychological states in gen-
eral. guagungmo adj. greedy.

airasvnaska n. liar. inangna vi-so. be popular.

alek mt vi-so. 1 be hollow. 2 be irit n. bad luck.
compassionate. klu vathm vi-so. be shy.
amrka n. good man. lengen na vi-so. be famous; be re-
amthanaska n. disrespectful man; nowned.
specifically a person who takes things madng adv. 1 carelessly.
without asking. 2 unconcernedly.
arus adj. unwilling. mamr adv. well; fine.
asevaik pt vi-so. 1 be happy; be joyful. marik adv. properly; accurately.
2 be a nuisance.
maslevr adv. roughly; carelessly.
aslek adj. cooperative; obedient.
mavo adv. badly.
aslek pt vi-so. be willing.
mbensenas vi-so. be proud.
asok mt vi-so. be determined; be sin-
mnaman na vi-so. be quiet.
gle-minded.

408
 I Human qualities and emotions

mervmka n. benevolent man; a person alert.

who is a source of good things. achrot adj. strong.
mervmki n. benevolent woman. achrotka n. strong person.
morus n. laziness; particularly being achrotki n. 1 strength. 2 power.
reluctant to work in the garden.
achrnas mt vi-so. be brave.
moruska n. lazy man; person who is not
willing to do garden work; used as an achrnasmtka n. brave man.
insult. amundrm n. skill.

moruski n. lazy woman. amundrmbemka n. clever man.

mumanaska n. selfish man. amurmeski n. glory.

munaman sa-vi. be quiet. angel adj. clever.

nugul angtpus adv. do without per- angelka vm vi-so. 1 be clever. 2 be

mission; an action that breaks across talented.
a (possibly metaphorical) boundary. armali adj. clever.
palkachuik sa-vi. be disobedient; refuse armalika n. clever person.
to follow instructions.
asok mt vi-so. 1 be brave. 2 be
ravan'ga n. faithful man. Usage: This strong.
word compares a faithful person with
chnagolchi n. strength.
a clam, something that does not move
around. mamr pet vi-so. be fit for; be able to;
be good for.
ravan'gi n. faithful woman.
ngelka n. wise man.
sdamr adv. correctly; right.
ngelki n. wise woman.
sechabangga n. boisterous man;
someone who is always talking and nguatki n. clumsy person; especially
laughing loudly. someone who walks in a clumsy way.
sechabanggi n. boisterous woman. surnanas sa-vi. be wrong.
srumn'ga n. dangerous man; one who tlavuchi n. kindness; mercy.
reacts violently and impulsively to a vatkivatki na vi-so. walk clumsily; es-
sudden shock or noise. pecially to describe a person walking
tu nas mk sa-vi. humble oneself. along and looking down as they walk.
tusachus nanas sa-vi. act funny; e.g. in
I3 Feelings and emotions
a concert or in a burst of high spirits.
vathecha n. lazy man; a person who addn adj. confused; delirious; crazy;
does not like to do any work, they just insane; altered psychological states in
sit and chew betelnut all day. general.
vathechi n. lazy woman. alek mt vi-so. 1 be hollow. 2 relent;
be compassionate. 3 compromise.
vathk pt vi-so. be lazy.
amr ba vi-so. be happy.
vnbon'ga n. generous man.
amr pt vi-so. be happy.
vnbon'gi n. generous woman.
amr vm vi-so. be happy.
vingbm adj. disobedient.
amrvs pt vi-so. 1 feel fine. 2 feel
I2 Skill, ability, power peaceful.
aron adj. 1 satisfied. 2 proud;
achlsacha n. alert person; a person
self-satisfied.
who has been trained to be habitually

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J Body parts and products

asevaik n. joy. pening but no-one knows what is go-

asevaik pt vi-so. 1 rejoice; be happy; ing on.
be joyful. 2 feel proud. plk vt. 1 like. 2 want. 3 love.
auluvk mt vi-so. be timid; be cow- 4 need.
ardly; be afraid. sachongachi n. worried face.
bensenaska n. proud man. sek nanas sa-vi. be lonely.
bensenaski n. proud woman. srtik na vt. 1 settle. 2 straighten
burembm vi-so. feel angry. out.

burembm n vt. be angry with. sichirdot vi-so. shrink back, as for an

octopus that realises it has been seen;
chlepki n. shame; shyness; embar- make yourself inconspicuous, e.g. if
rassment. you are ashamed or to avoid being
chmga n. empty person. volunteered to do something.
dlen sa-vi. be afraid; be frightened. srmn vt. surprise.
gthp n. anger. srmn gl vi-so. get a shock.
gri n. anger. srmn vt vi-so. be surprised.
gur sa-vi. shout crossly. tares pt vt. praise; worship.
gurnas sa-vi. repent; feel contrite. ternas sa-vi. be frightened.
irs vi-so. 1 be sad. 2 worry. tinggiar vi-so. be disgusted; be revolted.
irski n. sadness. tlu svt sa-vi. hurt.
irikin vi-so. be terrified; be scared. tu chelak tm vt. please; do something
irikin'ga n. terror. to soften the other person.
klep vi-so. be embarrassed. tuchul sa-vi. crave.

klu vathm vi-so. be shy. tu nas mk sa-vi. humble oneself.

lareng vi-so. happy. Usage: This word is a tuong vt. bewitch.
bit archaic; it is mainly used now to tu vlk svt vt. fall in love with.
describe the way dogs behave when vair pt vi-so. be proud.
greeting their masters.
vandi disc. want to; intend to. Gram: De-
lareng'ga vt vi-so. be happy. siderative marker.
lotu svt vt. worship; adore; praise. vlk n. love.
manggar nas na vi-so. feel calm. vlchachi n. 1 choice; preference.
mulen'ga n. frightened man. 2 wish.
mulen'gi n. frightened woman.
mulen'gi n. fear. J BODY PARTS AND PRODUCTS
mulen'gi vt vi-so. 1 be anxious; typi-
J0 General
cally through having a fear of some-
thing unknown. 2 panic. achlel n. urine.
neknochi n. misery; distress; suffering aluski n. turtle shell.
in either an emotional or financial
anun n. semen.
sense.
anun'ga n. pus.
ngiem sravo adv. look worried; look
surprised; look shocked; people look arengga n. sweat.
like this, e.g. if there is a fight hap- asnok n. excrement; faeces.

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 J Body parts and products

ayare n. saliva. discarded shell of a crab, prawn, lob-

biaska n. blood. ster, or a snake skin.

chdngm n. body. slpki n. bone.

chnak n. breath; specifically exhaled slvs n. skeleton.

breath.
J2 Head
chndenggi n. body.
chlochacha n. core; innermost part. achulbingga n. tongue.

chulpka n. tear. alechi pt kulim n. nostril.

genaing n. phlegm; mucus. amgi n. mouth.

lmbut n. saliva. amiglem n. pair of lips.

lmlmga n. pus; especially from in- angtkenggi n. tooth.
fected eyes. arten'gi n. jaw; refers to the lower jaw
mbiaski n. large quantity of blood. bone.
slika n. body; especially a dead body. asdemga n. ear.

valuacha n. egg. blingga n. bald head.

blinggi n. forehead.
J1 Non-localised parts chseng da vam n. beard; whiskers.
achurningim n. muscle. chulimgi n. nose.
aithir n. new growth; skin or bark that genaing n. cerebrum.
grows in order to heal a cut. gnngachi n. brain.
avuretki n. scar. luchupki n. bald head.
bias angtha ais n. circulatory system. mnpka n. eyebrow.
biurka n. scar. sachong angt kseng n. eyelashes.
chndengga n. skin. sachong angtha chilot n. corneas.
chndenggi n. skin. sachongacha n. eye.
chseng n. hair. sachongachi n. worried face.
chsengia n. long hair; specifically a sachongas n. face.
single strand of hair.
sachongini n. eye. Usage: Polite form.
chsengvs n. feather.
slpki ama ngpuski n. skull.
chlochacha n. 1 inside part of some-
thing. 2 soul. vnbn'ga n. chin; lower jaw.

chlochachi n. large inside part of vuski n. head.

something.
J3 Torso
chlochaini n. small inside part of
something. achlel angtha iska n. 1 urinary

churacha n. artery; vein. system. 2 urethra.

churithong ama ngthi bang sa achvulki n. testicle.

methamn n. nerve. achlelachi n. large intestine.

dldlka n. scale of a fish. achurvuchuvacha n. lungs.

mamutki n. fat or grease from an ani- aluchi n. penis.

mal or fish. amsms angtha iska n. digestive
slavarki n. shell; skin; specifically the system.

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J Body parts and products

aningilka n. liver. the head joins the neck.

angtkn'gi n. 1 neck. 2 throat. thng n. back.
angthik n. side. thuchulki n. throat.
arembm n. buttock. ves n. bottom. Usage: A euphemism for
aremgi n. buttock. anus.

aunuchi n. female genitals; vulva; va- J4 Limbs

gina; a womans private parts in gen-
eral. adigl n. palm of hand.
bisuchi n. anus. adulemga n. elbow.
brethem n. chest. alchar n. foot; leg; refers to the entire
brtki n. rib. limb.
buthicha n. spine; back. alcharacha n. 1 footprint; track.
2 footstep.
buthichi n. vertebra.
alcharini n. leg; foot; refers to the
chmcha n. breast.
whole limb; this is a bit more polite
chthiachi n. pancreas; the organ that than just using lchar.
is close to the liver.
alcharvet n. long leg.
chusem n. intestines.
alngini n. shoulder.
chusemga n. spinal cord.
anamnamgi n. 1 wing. 2 flipper of
chusemgi n. large intestine. a turtle.
chusemgi ama chlelachi n. large in- angthaik ama valpal n. fingers.
testine.
angthichini n. hand; arm; refers to
chusemia n. section of intestines. the entire limb; more polite word than
chusemithong n. small intestine. angthiki.
ichurki n. tail. angthika n. finger.

ithepki n. birds tail. angthika ama secha n. little finger.

laguain'gi n. gullet. angthiki n. hand; arm; refers to the
entire limb.
lamsigl n. spleen.
angthiki ama lvopki n. thumb.
lavaitki n. navel.
angthikinggl n. palm of hand.
lialecha n. roosters tail feather.
arnacha n. middle finger.
lialechi n. roosters tail.
avnmetna n. joints.
luchi at kdngga n. foreskin.
cherorini n. calf; specifically the large
ronas n. front of torso; belly and chest
muscle in the lower part of the leg.
of an animal.
chumgi n. knee.
salorachi n. stomach.
deglingini n. ring finger.
sangaska ava iska n. respiratory sys-
tem. erngthcha n. middle finger.
sanggaska ava lechi n. windpipe. gilamucha n. claws of a flying fox;
found on the elbows of the flying fox;
sarumga n. belly; paunch.
they use them to hang by.
sarumgi n. belly; stomach.
langga n. shoulder.
snngacha n. heart.
lcharacha ama morka n. big toe.
sng av vus n. nape; the place where

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 K Body states and functions

mavnini n. little finger. hiccups.

ravski n. nail; claw. kibing kibing va sachong vi-so. be
sangaravun'gi n. thumb. dizzy; be giddy.

secha n. little finger. kies sa vi-so. sneeze.

sengangthaik angt vus n. wrist. kiskisa vi-so. sneeze repeatedly.

slvini n. leg. kuanik vt. swallow.

snainggi n. thigh. mem vt. suckle.

snaingithini n. small thigh. munmun'gi n. growth.

uras n. wing of a flying fox. neknochi n. misery; distress; suffering

in either an emotional or financial
valvalka n. finger; toe; generic term of sense.
the extremities of the hands and feet.
ngk d vi-so. gasp; grunt.
vandok n. knuckles.
ngngeng d vi-so. squeak; squeal.
vethachi n. fin, flipper, or tail of a dol-
phin. ngip sa-vi. faint.

warnacha n. index finger. pr vt. breathe out.

pt balam na vt. blink; wink.
K BODY STATES AND FUNCTIONS piru sa-vi. writhe.

prendem vi-so. wake up.

K1 Physiological reactions
prur pt vi-so. have goose bumps; have
achumgi n. cough; cold. ones hair stand on end.
airirki n. growth. pupuik n vi-so. sprout.

aithir n. new growth; skin or bark that pupurik sa-vi. squirt excreta.
grows in order to heal a cut. puren vt vi-so. wake up; stir.
arengga n. sweat. rengga cha mn na sa-vi. sweat.
asechaski n. yawn. rip n. swell.
asnok n. excrement; faeces. saik da ves vi-so. squirt excreta.
asureng vi-so. snore. sangaska n. breath.
asurngga n. snoring person. sanggas sa-vi. breathe.
bk pt vt. hatch. sanggas ithms sa-vi. lose ones
bep d ves vi-so. fart; a noisy fart. breath.
bramr sa-vi. recover. sanggas machuvt sa-vi. gasp for
breath.
buepki n. fart; especially noisy farts.
sp samk sa-vi. faint.
chn'gn bt vi-so. 1 shiver.
2 tremble. sis sa-vi. swell.

chthcha n. hiccup. sus d ves vi-so. hiss; refers to silent but

bad smelling farts.
dm sa-vi. itch.
sutka glm vi-so. jump in surprise.
dn sa-vi. grow.
tamal sa-vi. laugh.
din s vi-so. faint; collapse.
tchm sa-vi. wake up.
gk pt vi-so. burp.
tchen sa-vi. groan.
gum sa-vi. cough.
tk tk mt vi-so. click.
kthcha mt vi-so. hiccup; have the

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K Body states and functions

tepmuan vt vt. digest. don sa-vi. be stuck.

tr sa-vi. excrete. genaing genaing mt vi-so. have a
tr na vt. lay; specifically of a turtle snotty nose; be heavily congested.
laying eggs. krau sa-vi. subside; can refer to a flood
tr vthanas sa-vi. have diarrhoea. going down, wasting strength during
an illness, or petrol evaporating.
tir sa-vi. grow fast.
ksk vi-so. be thirsty.
tnnn sa-vi. vomit.
ksk pt vi-so. be dry.
tnok sa-vi. cry; people crying; sounds
made by roosters, frogs etc. kesias vi-so. be thirsty.

tu vt. lay; specifically of birds laying kthopka vt vi-so. be fat; be obese.

eggs. lalar pt vi-so. be scrawny; be emaci-
tu av snng mamr sa-vi. calm down; ated; be very thin; especially after a
settle down; relax. long illness.

tu nank sa-vi. grizzle; cry for some- lul pt vi-so. be grazed; be scratched.
thing for a long time. lulul pt vi-so. be scratched up.
mamr adv. well; fine.
K2 Body states
mnap vi-so. sleep.
K2.1 Temporary mnap mt vi-so. be sleepy; be drowsy.
aiskias vi-so. be cold. mnapki n. sleep.

aririp adj. swollen; e.g. when a limb is mrnka n. injury.

full of blood. mumunatm vi-so. keep sleeping.
aron adj. satisfied. munap tm vi-so. sleep.
aruan mt vi-so. have pain. naeng mt vi-so. be hungry.
aruan pt vi-so. be tired. naenggi n. hunger.
asok mt vi-so. 1 be strong. 2 be naengias vi-so. be hungry.
solid. nder na vi-so. be uncomfortable because
auluvk tm vi-so. feel cold. Usage: Only something is too tight.
refers to a thing or another person. ngip sa-vi. be numb.
bp pt vi-so. be constricted. pis d vi-so. be swollen. Usage: The ex-
bp scha sachong vi-so. temporarily pression pis d sarum have a swollen
blind. belly is not normally used with ref-
bias ng dn s vi-so. bleed. erence to women, but can be used to
talk about pregnant animals, espe-
blachoing vi-so. be weak; lacking any cially dogs. Its use in the following
strength.
example is derogatory.
blachoingga n. weak man; refers to
rip n. swell.
someone who is physically wrung out
from a bad sickness. sarumbm n. pregnancy.

blachoinggi n. weak woman. smn pt vi-so. 1 be lumpy. 2 have

welts.
ddn vi-so. 1 be confused. 2 be in-
sane; crazy. 3 be delirious. smn'gi n. welts on the skin.
dn vt. grow; specifically make a baby slp pt vi-so. be skinny; be bony.
grow. sulka n. sore on the head.

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 K Body states and functions

tas sa-vi. 1 sleep. 2 lie down. arm adj. sick.

tchm sa-vi. be awake. armgi n. illness; disease; sickness.
tlu svt sa-vi. hurt. armgi ama ingun'ga n. fever.
trong vi-so. be stiff with cold. aruan'ga n. pain.
tuchul sa-vi. crave. aslavar n. tinea; ringworm (grile).
tusachus sa-vi. be irritating; feel un- athopki n. 1 cut; sore. 2 ulcer.
comfortable. avuretki n. scar.
ulabung n. nakedness. awithinggi n. ringworm; tinea that ap-
valachi n. blister. pears as white spots on the skin.
vsvis adj. swollen. bremgi n. boil.
vlochithong n. rash. biurka n. scar.
blachoing vi-so. be weak; lacking any
K2.2 Permanent
strength.
achums adj. male. blachoingga n. weak man; refers to
achumska n. male. someone who is physically wrung out
from a bad sickness.
assurka n. blind man.
chasrki n. malaria.
assurki n. blind woman.
chenechacha n. asthma; tuberculosis;
asusur adj. blind.
any condition principally involving
chais adj. left-handed. difficulty with breathing.
ddn vi-so. 1 be confused. 2 be in- ddn'gi n. madness.
sane; crazy. 3 be delirious.
don sa-vi. drown.
dt pa sndm n. deaf person.
kasrki pt vi-so. have a fever; have
lvop adj. female. malaria.
luchupki n. baldness; bald head. krau sa-vi. subside; can refer to a flood
madin adj. deaf. going down, wasting strength during
an illness, or petrol evaporating.
mavo sna vt vi-so. be crippled.
mamuaing n. yaws.
ssur vi-so. be blind.
mrnka n. injury.
subicha n. mute.
mur na mbias n. dysentery.
K3 Sickness, death, disease, injury ngip sa-vi. 1 die. 2 be numb.
3 faint.
achammga n. scabies.
ngipngip vi-so. be dying.
achumgi n. cough; cold.
pknas sa-vi. drown.
aingipki n. death.
plng vt. kill.
aiski n. cold.
rip n. swell.
aiski vt vi-so. have a cold.
rip da chvl n. orchitis.
aisoska n. crab yaws.
rip d chmk n. mastitis.
amrvs pt vi-so. 1 feel fine.
2 heal; get better; get well. slika n. body; especially a dead body.
ann'gi n. nausea. smn'gi n. welts on the skin.
anun'ga n. 1 pus. 2 white sap from sepmaron vm mes sa-vi. settle ones
a breadfruit or fig tree. stomach.

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L Stance and motion

slamr n vt. 1 cure. 2 save. tk svt vt. point at.

slavar pt vi-so. have ringworm. ts vt. eat.
sukderut s vi-so. be stillborn; a baby ts t chulim sa-vi. blow nose.
that dies before birth. tstmna n vt. eat with.
sulka n. sore on the head. tvng sa-vi. sing.
tchm sa-vi. 1 be alive. 2 arise; tnaik sa-vi. drink.
specifically referring to Jesus rising
from the dead. tnes vt. bite.

tr vthanas sa-vi. have diarrhoea. tnok tichim vt. whinge; cry.

tlu vthanas sa-vi. look after oneself. tor sa-vi. 1 bathe. 2 get wet.

tnnn sa-vi. vomit.

tu rik tm vt. stretch out.

valachi n. blister.
tusachus sa-vi. wriggle around because
of irritation; toss and turn e.g. while
vlochithong n. rash. trying to sleep.
K4 Other things done with the body
L STANCE AND MOTION
amusnng n. behaviour.
bnmalivi sa-vi. writhe; thrash around; L1 Stance, position
especially something thrashing
around in death throws. L1.0 Stance, position general

gesik mt vi-so. smile. ben vt. bend.

guguk tm vi-so. bark intensively. dalias adv. squatting.
guk tm vi-so. bark of a dog. dingdm vi-so. be stuck.
kot sa-vi. spit. don sa-vi. be stuck.
kot pt vt. spit on; spit at. gl kuvet dir. be near to.
kuanik vt. swallow. kuer sa-vi. go first; lead.
mual vt vi-so. rest. kule vi-so. stay.
nachang sa-vi. open ones mouth. machuisr adv. diagonally.
navar manas sa-vi. be stretched. mal vt vi-so. rest.
panggal sa-vi. suck in stomach. marik adv. straight.
pdm vi-so. pinch; nip. masechen adv. unbalanced.
prn dm vt. sniff; smell. munam sa-vi. rest.
prn svt vt. smell. nania vik adv. somewhere.
pes sa-vi. blow. nanger sa-vi. be bent.
pes mt vt. blow on. nasothanas dir. back in place; e.g. as
pt balam na vt. blink; wink. with crop rotation.
praioik d vt. sip; suck. nathar sa-vi. be open.
sing sa-vi. chew. navar manas sa-vi. be stretched.
sup vm vt. lick. pur vi-so. grow; especially of new skin or
bark growing over a cut.
tamal t vt. laugh at.
tair sa-vi. wait.
tamn sa-vi. speak.
tn dm vi-so. be stuck.
tat mt vt. bump.

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 L Stance and motion

tethana sa-vi. group together. dng na vi-so. stop; finish.

tlu vathm na sa-vi. wait for a chance to do dngbm na vi-so. stop suddenly.
something. don sa-vi. go in; enter.
tuchun sa-vi. 1 sit. don dm vt. follow.
2 settle. don dmna sa-vi. gather together.
tu mana sa-vi. arrange oneselves. donel sa-vi. wander.
tu mamr sna na vt. level; straighten. don svt sa-vi. move to.
tu rik tm vt. straighten. don vt vt. follow.
thanng adj. firmly in place. dong sa-vi. turn.

L1.1 Stance, position vertical axis dong mes sa-vi. turn.

ger sa-vi. bend over.
lechvs adv. in the air.
krtpka n. halt; stop.
tair sa-vi. stand.
kuevanas sa-vi. shake oneself.
tair snas sa-vi. stand alone.
kuiep sa-vi. shake.
tair snania vt. lean against something
while standing. mal sa-vi. stop.
ml vt. 1 flip over. 2 move aside.
L1.2 Stance, position horizontal axis mtmet n. 1 movements. 2 ways.
namas sa-vi. be lying down. mual vt vi-so. stop.

tas sa-vi. lie down. mundros na vi-so. stop instantly.

nam sa-vi. flap; especially of wings.
L2 Movement
ngim mk sa-vi. search around.
L2.0 Movement general nging vt. go around. Usage: Abilta dia-
lect.
amlml adj. wobbly.
paik sa-vi. jump.
bang sa-vi. 1 run; move quickly. Usage:
Refers to any kind of fast movement. paimanas sa-vi. wind itself.
2 come. par sa-vi. arrive.
bang binem sa-vi. roam; wander. pk sa-vi. fetch water.
bnmalivi sa-vi. writhe; thrash around; plik s vi-so. slip over.
especially something thrashing plikdm vi-so. slip away.
around in death throws.
prvr dm vi-so. skip; either a person
bias vt. step on. making a small jump or someone
bing sa-vi. go around. skipping rocks on the water.
buinem sa-vi. return. ps s vi-so. get out.
dn sa-vi. 1 arrive; come. 2 reach. ptpt na vi-so. scatter.
3 return. piam vt. 1 rotate; e.g. shake ones
dn dmna sa-vi. gather together; meet head. 2 wave; e.g. wave ones
up. Gram: Takes a plural subject. hands.
dn pt sa-vi. reach; arrive. pirs ithm vt. 1 hide behind; duck
dn pthana vt. meet each other. behind something to hide oneself. 2
make way; move aside. 3 move
dn s vt. arrive with; bring. along.

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L Stance and motion

piru sa-vi. writhe. 3 go in front.

prap sa-vi. fly. thuer na sa-vi. race each other.
puik na vi-so. come out. valing sa-vi. turn over.
pul sa-vi. paddle. valing s vi-so. flip over.
pupuik n vi-so. sprout. vanim vt. roll around; turn over; e.g.
puren vt vi-so. wake up; stir. movements of waves and fabric.

puvs vi-so. come out. vangbinem n. wanderings.

sek mni vt. walk through; walk across; vunak vt. twist.
especially of walking across, that is, wirep pt vi-so. move; give yourself
through a river. away when you are hiding because
srpm na vi-so. stop suddenly; stop you move.
with a jolt; e.g. when a car brakes
L2.1 Movement vertical axis
suddenly.
sichirdot vi-so. shrink back, as for an bn sa-vi. climb.
octopus that realises it has been seen; bn vt vt. climb on.
make yourself inconspicuous, e.g. if
you are ashamed or to avoid being beng dm vt. get something down from
a high place; especially referring to
volunteered to do something.
picking something from a tree.
sisit na vt. sneak up; creep up; refers to
moving quietly and slowly without
beng vt vt. climb up.
being seen. din s vi-so. faint; collapse.
tain sa-vi. dance. don sa-vi. 1 sink. 2 drown.
tat mt vt. bump. donanas sa-vi. jump; throw oneself.
tat mt na sa-vi. leave. krau sa-vi. subside; can refer to a flood
going down, wasting strength during
tk mamr tm vt. meet someone ac-
an illness, or petrol evaporating.
cidentally; run into.
tk tichim vt. avoid.
kut na sa-vi. descend.

tranas sa-vi. go; take off; leave.

namas sa-vi. lie down.

tet sa-vi. 1 walk. 2 go. nging dm vi-so. bend; duck down.

tet kutna sa-vi. miss someone because pai fall down; hit the ground.
sa-vi. 1
2 land heavily.
each person went by a different path.
tet na vt. go past; pass.
paik sa-vi. jump.

tet ngis n vt. miss a target.

paik dm vi-so. jump.

tthuk vi-so. slide; especially of some- pathik mes sa-vi. fall down.
thing like a landslide. pl tm vi-so. be broken; be bent over;
be flattened out; e.g. of grass that has
tneng sa-vi. avoid; dodge.
been walked on.
tnp nanas sa-vi. capsize.
pen d vi-so. fall.
tnp n vt. turn.
ps d vi-so. jump out.
tuchun vt. chase.
pt vt. plunge.
tusachus sa-vi. wriggle around because
of irritation; toss and turn e.g. while
ptpt na vi-so. fall.

trying to sleep. pt uves sa-vi. dive.

thuer sa-vi. 1 go first. 2 go ahead. pus mk vi-so. leap up; especially refer-

418
 L Stance and motion

ring to flames. L3 Open and close

pus s vi-so. come up; emerge.
L3.1 Open
puthm vi-so. fall.
sek vt. 1 lift. 2 raise. 3 pick up. adungdung adj. empty.

sekmes sa-vi. get up. alechi n. hole.

sp sa-vi. fall.
alek mt vi-so. be hollow.

sp samk sa-vi. fall down. benaseng sa-vi. start; begin.

spsp na vi-so. 1 duck down. 2 fall blinggi n. space.

down. chacham adj. empty.

suk dm vi-so. fall down. denachi sa-vi. start.

tair s vt. make stand. dur adv. deep.

tar sa-vi. fall; particularly of fruit. kmgm vi-so. be empty.

tar s vi-so. fall out. lel s vi-so. pour out; run out; spill out.
tar s vt. pour out; especially of water lel tm vi-so. drain out.
from a tap. luchupki n. space; e.g. the space of a
tchasp sa-vi. get up early. playground or dancing ground.
tik vt. get down. nachang sa-vi. open ones mouth.
tnp nanas sa-vi. capsize. nathar sa-vi. be open.
trn s vi-so. stand up; unbend; some- niavi sa-vi. about to arrive.
thing that had been bent over but is nges mt vt. dig a new hole where there
released so it can stand again. was not one before.
L2.2 Movement horizontal axis pr vt. get something out of a pocket or
a similar place.
bang vt vt. run over. sas t vt. dig out.
bing pthanas vt. circle around. tar mt vt. open.
bing vt vt. 1 go around. 2 circle. vesnas sa-vi. find nothing where you
lvur vt vi-so. tumble over. expect to find something; e.g. ripe
ngim melia vi-sa. roll over; flip. bananas you were planning to pick but
someone came along and took them.
ngim melia vt. roll over; flip.
pali vt. roll. L3.2 Close
par dm mes sa-vi. crawl.
bp mt vi-so. be closed.
prddung sa-vi. go backwards; e.g. bing sa-vi. surround.
move backwards into hiding.
dng na vi-so. stop; finish.
praseng n vt. put aside.
dt sthm vi-so. be stuck.
srik sa-vi. move aside.
paisdm pt vt. enclose; encircle.
tair pt vt. walk with; e.g. to help a sick
person. par mana svt sa-vi. gather around.

tneng n vt. dodge.

psding vt. close; e.g. close a book, a
door, or a meeting.
tor tm sa-vi. swim.
psding sthm vt. 1 block. 2 stop
thoret vt. drag.
someone from doing something.
thoret sa-vi. crawl.
rek sthm vt. 1 close in. 2 block

419
L Stance and motion

off; e.g. to obstruct someones view. tk ma vt. make.

tchp vi-so. be full. tk mu n vt. prepare.
vs pm vt. close. tk n vt. work on.
vs pm na vt. close; referring to tk s vt. work with.
something with equal sides that is tp ma vt. make; build.
hinged; e.g. a book or a mouth.
tp mus t vt. work.
L4 Exist tt s vt. get.

ayar adj. alive; living.

tichina vt. do something (definite).

chelanggum vi-so. be deserted.

tichina n vt. make something (defi-
nite).
klan vt. be like; be similar.
thktk n. job; work.
kunnggunng dm vi-so. be real.
thi sa-vi. do quickly.
tchm sa-vi. be alive.
vandi disc. try to.
tu dm n vt. lose.
L6 Change of state
L5 Do
aichru adj. 1 new. 2 uncooked;
achrnas pt vi-so. try hard. raw.
alat n. job. angtharembem n. cause.
althini n. small job. benaseng sa-vi. start; begin.
athpmus n. activities. dang sa-vi. 1 catch fire. 2 burn.
benaseng sa-vi. start; begin. denachi sa-vi. start.
denachi sa-vi. start. dn m vt. become.
lumanaksi n. preparation. krark vt. dry.
nugul angtpus adv. do without per- munmun'gi n. growth.
mission; an action that breaks across
a (possibly metaphorical) boundary.
nthm na vi-so. be new to a place.

ngis adv. apart.

pupuik n vi-so. sprout.

pathm mes sa-vi. 1 do by choice; do pur mt vi-so. germinate.

according to ones own wishes. purvur vi-so. sprout.

2 do unhurriedly; do in ones own sot sa-vi. be finished.
time. 3 act independently.
sot na vt. have a break from.
peneng dm s vt. 1 prepare.
sot na sunaski sa-vi. graduate.
2 make a bed; make a platform.
sukderut n vi-so. wither; die from the
pithia na vt. overcome; conquer.
roots up.
remini n. base; source; cause.
tchm vt. start.
sana sa-vi. do something (indefinite).
tk na vt. process.
sp m vt. make.
tp ma vt. carve.
su vt. try.
tet dm vt. dry; desiccate; be dried out
suchut nanas mt vt. 1 try. 2 try from lying in the sun.
on; e.g. try new clothes on yourself.
tnp na vt. 1 change; make different.
tat dm vt. copy. 2 mix.
tk sa-vi. 1 do. 2 work. tnp nanas sa-vi. change oneself; be-

420
 M Artefacts, material culture and manufactured things

come different. angelenggi n. stone; small rounded

tu nas mk sa-vi. humble oneself. stone for using in a sling.

tu rik tm vt. straighten. arerika n. saw.

tu salel n vt. shrink. asechupka n. eraser.

tu sathver n vt. widen. asgnacha n. net bag (bilum).

asgnachi n. large net bag (bilum).
M ARTEFACTS, MATERIAL CULTURE asen'ga n. thin knife; made of split
AND MANUFACTURED THINGS bamboo; used to cut pork etc.
asen'gi n. knife.
M0 General
aseska n. rope; line.
balerbaler n. bits and pieces; especially asuchutka n. ruler.
of wood. athalka n. small net bag (bilum).
chlennggi n. rubbish; crumbs. athvatki n. digging stick.
gingt n. thing. Gram: Count neutral
athunepki n. drum (small garamut);
non-specific.
sits on the ground and is hit with the
lulit adj. poor. end of a stick held upright in a
peneng dm s vt. 1 prepare. womans hands.
2 make a bed; make a platform. auathkam n. loop; eyelet.
slamr vm vt. 1 fix. 2 tidy. avngbngga n. envelope.
tp ma vt. make; build. avthapki n. axe.
vinos n. destruction. avthepka ma lachengga n. hatchet.

avirki n. flat club; is like a cricket bat

M1 Tools, weapons, belongings
but the handle is a bit longer.
achepki n. spear. avlika n. sling.
achirksengga n. comb. avrin'gi n. bamboo drum.
aenm n. short iron spear for husking baketki n. bucket.
coconuts. banggruanggi n. 1 pot; saucepan.
aen'ga n. iron spear. 2 wooden bowl.
aguervaluski n. large wooden bowl. baulvs n. flag.
ainiricha n. bottle. baurka n. trap.
alicha n. carrying pole; two people bechi n. bag; sack.
carry the pole together, one on either belka n. bell.
end.
bensin n. benzene.
aluski n. wooden bowl.
bensin'gi n. drum of petrol, benzene, or
amngigl n. board. gasoline.
amngvet n. pole. birbirka n. frame for a net.
amilatka n. plate; dish. blakbotigel n. blackboard.
amilatki n. large plate; large dish. blakbotki n. blackboard.
amumamrnacha n. spirit level. bloka n. block and tackle; pulley.
ananachi n. glue. bogiski n. box.
anengachi n. emery wheel. bomgi n. bomb.

421
M Artefacts, material culture and manufactured things

botal gumi n. hot water bottle. masarka n. net bag (bilum) that is still
buchm n. book. being made; unfinished net bag
(bilum).
chanasucha n. hook.
masin'gan'gi n. machine gun.
changgthacha n. 1 rope; vine makes
a good rope. 2 fishing line. Usage: matka n. mat.
Arongda dialect. nilka n. nail.
changgthait n. rope. paelka n. file.
charoski n. rope. Usage: Abilta dialect. palangga n. plank.
chulchulcham n. hoop. plangigel n. board; plank.
chureski n. bucket; made from an areca plangves n. piles of planks; especially
palm leaf. somewhere like a sawmill where there
diski n. dish; often refers to a large are lots of planks all around.
aluminium dish. plastika n. plastic bag; plastic bottle;
dlangga n. walking stick. specifically a bottle between 1 and 5
litres in size, or a medium sized plas-
dramgi n. drum; specifically a drum of tic bag.
fuel, not a musical instrument.
plastiki n. large plastic bottle; large
gilamuchi n. plug; e.g. the stopper in a plastic bag.
bamboo tube of water or a cork in a
bottle. plastikini n. small plastic bottle; small
plastic bag.
glaski n. thermometer.
rarpka n. gun.
gotka n. pole made of bamboo.
rngska n. scraper; grater.
guaiachi n. hoop.
rulacha n. ruler.
guvangithong n. belongings; things.
sachong n. glasses.
ivtki atha aila n. map.
sangarka n. tongs.
kapki n. cup.
sangauchi n. net.
katenm n. cotton.
sangecha n. pliers.
kichi n. key.
sapka n. rounded club; looks like a
kilok n. clock.
softball bat.
kunduchi n. hand drum. secha n. trap. Usage: Abilta dialect.
kunngga ava iski n. clock.
schuvm n. broom.
kurupacha n. crowbar.
senpepa n. sandpaper.
lamga n. lamp.
sensocha n. chainsaw.
landmbm n. short club; baton. silingim n. old net bag (bilum).
livinem n. cross pole; specifically the sipen'gi n. pot; saucepan.
short poles that attach to a longer
pole that something heavy has been sipun'ga n. spoon; especially something
tied to; the pole helps people carry about the size of a dessert spoon or
heavy things. soup spoon.

mairki n. net that is used for catching sipun'gi n. large spoon; e.g. a serving
birds and flying foxes. spoon.

mambl n. beating sticks. sipunini n. small spoon; teaspoon.

manaingimgi n. torch; flashlight. sisel n. chisel.

422
 M Artefacts, material culture and manufactured things

sisiska n. scissors. vilchi n. gun.

skruchm n. bolt. vlnini n. trigger; knob; including the
skrudraiva n. screwdriver. ears of a saucepan that the handle is
hooked into.
slavirochi n. large net bag (bilum);
made from split bush canes; used for M2 Built environment
carrying food.
sleitigl n. slate. M2.0General
slpka n. pencil. achvcha n. inside corner; e.g. the in-
slpka vamgi n. nib; pen point; pencil side of an elbow or the corner in a
point. room.
socha n. saw. achuithm n. earth oven (mumu).
sragan'gi n. large net bag (bilum); amasvmgi n. dormitory.
made from bush vines; usually used ambangm n. village.
for carrying food.
ambangga n. house.
taiachi n. tyre.
ambangga ma thi ps vmga n.
tapeligl n. slate. kitchen; cooking hut.
tauchi n. towel. ambilki n. abandoned house or village.
taunamgi n. mosquito net. arekrechi n. sign on path to prohibit
tavurki n. 1 conch shell. 2 bugle. people from going along it, and by
tlng angt uratki n. rubbish bin. extension, a no entry sign or gate.
tlngbs n. piece of paper. arm angtha banggi n. hospital;
health centre.
tlngm n. book.
aslamrki n. hospital; clinic; health
tin'gi n. tin.
centre.
trip glaski n. float from a gillnet. aus kopra n. copra shed; hut used to
thavuligl n. split rope. dry coconut and store copra.
thavulka n. rope. avsvsvmki n. kitchen; cooking hut.
thepka n. axe. Usage: Abilta dialect. avithm n. earth oven (mumu).
uratki n. basket. baulvs angtha mngga n. flagpole.
vadechi n. bow. chlaln'gi n. platform.
vadechi atha chepki n. arrow. gunan'ga n. store.
vaiait n. wire; specifically a single ichthachi n. fence; enclosure.
strand of wire. ism angt luchupki n. airport.
vaiaves n. arc mesh; sheet of wire kapaigl n. corrugated iron; iron roofing;
fencing. especially a single sheet of corrugated
vaidebunggi n. 1 tree sp.; known as iron.
wild orange tree. 2 wild orange. kumngas n. gaol; prison.
3 ball; refers to something the size of
a volleyball. lavichi n. platform.

vaidebungini n. small ball; something lotuvmgi n. church.

the size of a tennis ball. nathvachi n. fence.
valmka n. hook. palangga n. plank.
var na mngga n. pulley. pdm sa-vi. fence; make a fence around

423
M Artefacts, material culture and manufactured things

an area. pungngan'ga n. ridgepole.

plangigel n. board; plank. remini n. base.
plangves n. piles of planks; especially senbes n. blind; refers to a woven cane
somewhere like a sawmill where there wall.
are lots of planks all around. suchulia n. long post.
ples balus n. airport. suchulki n. large post.
rprpka n. fencepost. suchulvet n. slender post.
simen'gi n. cement; especially a bag of sutka n. ridgepole.
cement or a block of cement.
ulunggi n. room.
sunaski n. school.
vmgi n. doorway; opening.
urumbucha n. abandoned house.
vnbenbs n. step.
vt dm d vt. put the walls on a house.
vthm n. village. M2.2Furniture
vlavalka n. 1 pole. 2 tower. achut ngthathengbt n. chair.
vutka n. house. amunggunbs n. chair.

M2.1Parts of a building lavichi n. bed.

luln'ga n. cradle.
achilotki n. window.
lunaski n. mirror.
ambangga achusemga n. centre pole
of the house. matka n. mat.

ambangga av amgi n. house opening; siait n. chair.

doorway. tevolki n. table.

angtps n. roof.
M3 Clothes, materials, and decora-
asongga n. rafter. tions
banamathipes n. kitchen.
aiski thchng n. waist rope used for
blaenbs n. blind. tucking in lade, viringgi, or simalachi.
bon vt. thatch; put leaves on a roof. alcharachi n. shoe.
brtki n. wall. amuthms n. decorations.
chinipki n. fireplace; hearth. aviringgi n. apron.
chulemgi n. corner. baul n. clothes.
grtpes n. section of frame; e.g. one baulgi n. wraparound skirt (laplap);
side of a house frame. sarong; strip of cloth.
letacha n. stairs. chlom angt nank n. shellfish sp.;
lunaski n. louvre glass. large shell, similar to a conch; up to
manaingimgi n. window. 25 cm long; used to make buttons; has
a large door.
mononamucha n. crossbeam.
hatki n. hat.
nemon'gi n. door.
kangalcha n. 1 headdress.
paipki n. chimney; pipe. 2 ornament; brightly coloured things
panggalvs n. wall; specifically a wall such as feathers that can be used as
made of leaf stems. head ornaments.
paranda n. porch; verandah. koloski n. meri blouse; a loose fitting

424
 N Kinship

dress worn by women in PNG, with a tunggumgi n. back of a boat.

wraparound skirt (laplap) worn un-
derneath. M5 Transfer of goods
ladeigl n. apron of leaves worn by amthcha n. gift of food; something
women at the back. that has come from someone else.
nngurka n. plant sp.; strong smelling anlka n. money; coin; kina.
plant with long green leaves; deters
snakes; relieves tiredness; used as a avonbon'gi n. offering; payment.
decoration for dancing because of the bon vt. give.
smell. bon dm vt. pay.
sen'ga n. necklace; chain. bon dm mt vt. buy.
simalachi n. 1 tapa cloth; traditional bon nana vt. exchange.
covering worn by men; a strip of bark
dul n. money.
cloth that goes between the legs, at-
tached to a waistband. duligl n. coin; especially a silver coin.
2 underpants. gunan'ga n. store.
singgliski n. t-shirt; shirt. kinacha n. kina coin.
siotki n. shirt. svo t vt. steal.
snaingbam n. trousers. tuvet mt vt. reciprocate.
sravtki n. shirt; clothes; uniform. vondmgi n. payment.
suchi n. shoe.
M6 Vehicles
tachski n. armband.
tu vt. wear; put on. ais n. transport.

tu thm vt. decorate. aiski n. 1 car. 2 truck.

tu thm mes sa-vi. decorate oneself. araun'ga mtki n. car; motorcycle.
thalechachi n. bush sp.; used for ismgi n. aeroplane.
decoration; grows in the bush. karki n. car.
ulabung n. nakedness. motochi n. motor.

M4 Nautical
N KINSHIP
achiragareska n. paddle.
baski n. barge.
N1 Kin terms
botki n. boat. alichini n. small younger sibling.
chevs n. fishing spear; has many alika n. younger brother.
prongs. aliki n. younger sister.
kanucha n. canoe.
amorka n. ancestor.
luln'ga n. canoe.
amorki n. female ancestor.
luln'gi n. boat; especially a banana angthiaik n. grandfather; grandfa-
boat. ther-in-law.
motochi n. motor.
angthuauk n. grandmother; grand-
pulka n. paddle. mother-in-law.
sipki n. ship. athoemga n. son.
trip glaski n. float from a gillnet. athoemgi n. daughter.

425
O Marriage, sex, nurturing

chlucha n. brother-in-law; both the law; uncle-in-law; any in-laws except

address and reference term; used by a ones wifes mothers brother and his
male speaker; can be used for a mans wife.
sisters husband or a mans wifes thuvski n. mother-in-law; sister-in-law;
brother. aunt-in-law; any in-laws except ones
chluchi n. sister-in-law; both the ad- wifes mothers brother and his wife.
dress and reference term; used by a vulecha n. grandson; includes in-laws.
female speaker; refers to both a
womans husbands sister and her vulechi n. granddaughter.

brothers wife.
chvek n. relatives. O MARRIAGE, SEX, NURTURING
kao n. uncle; specifically the mothers O1 Marriage and sexual relations
brother.
mambet n. father. aruacha n. friend; often used to refer to
spouses.
mambethiom n. parents.
aruachi n. female friend; wife.
mamk n. father.
beng vt. have sex with. Usage: This has
mamkiom n. parents.
developed into the most salient sense
mamga n. father; Dad; address and of the stem beng; note its earlier
reference term; it is also used by meaning continues in the form beng
children-in-law. vt climb up.
mathm n. older brother. Usage: A term chavatka n. adulterer.
of address.
chavatki n. female adulterer.
nank n. mother.
kavat tm vt. commit adultery.
nanet n. mother; Mum; address and
lugutka n. husband.
reference term.
lugutvthaiom n. couple.
nan'gi n. mother; Mum; address and
reference term; it is also used by schi n. marriage.
children-in-law. sek alugut sa-vi. 1 be married. 2 get
oes mamk n. brother-in-law; husband; married.
address and reference term; used by a sek na sa-vi. marry each other.
female speaker.
tethana sa-vi. be married.
oes nank n. sister-in-law; wife; ad- tok vt. impregnate.
dress and reference term, used by a
male speaker or male ego. O2 Pregnancy and childbirth
saemga n. uncle-in-law; nephew-in-law;
specifically: ones wifes mothers athoemini n. baby.
brother, ones husbands sisters son, lavaitigel n. placenta.
and ones husbands mothers brother. pis d vi-so. be swollen. Usage: The ex-
saemgi n. aunty-in-law; niece-in-law; pression pis d sarum have a swollen
specifically ones mothers brothers belly is not normally used with ref-
wife, husbands sisters daughter, or erence to women, but can be used to
husbands mothers brothers wife. talk about pregnant animals, espe-
smga n. distant cousin. cially dogs. Its use in the following
example is derogatory.
smgi n. distant female cousin.
sarumbm n. 1 conception.
thuvska n. father-in-law; brother-in-
2 pregnancy.

426
 P Speaking, communicaton, and sounds

sukderut s vi-so. be stillborn; a baby atharesbana n. promise.

that dies before birth. bn slp vt. interrogate; question re-
tal vt. give birth. peatedly.
tat vt. give birth. Usage: Note that the charidang n. call; a special sound,
present tense is not used because it ooo, is called from the bush to warn
would make a command Have your that a Mndas is coming.
baby now!; only that and mat are choir pt vi-so. rejoice. Usage: Borrowing
usually used. from Ura.
O3 Rearing babies and children chuarka pt vi-so. rejoice. Usage: Bor-
rowing from Ura.
dvthng adj. unconnected; something dodm sa-vi. recount; narrate; tell.
without a known source; e.g. a fa-
therless child or Tok Pisin, which is a
gur sa-vi. shout crossly.
language without a village. iras sa-vi. pretend.

lmu thm vt. look after; care for; take iras tm vt. lie.
care of. iras tm s vt. lie.
naingim pt vt. look after. klol vt. report.
secha n. orphaned boy, he is one who kuar vt. say.
often grows up to be a person who can
kuar na vt. tell.
do many good things.
kuar nana sa-vi. tell each other.
sechi n. orphaned girl.
kuares vt. say.
tlu vt vt. look after.
kuares ithm mes sa vt. confess.

P SPEAKING, COMMUNICATON, AND maschas adv. clearly; describes how

SOUNDS
someone is speaking.
mnarivs n. announcements; mes-
P1 Speaking sages.
nangathm s vt. trick. Usage: Abilta
abilta athva methamn n. coastal
dialect.
dialect of Mali.
nngguik sa-vi. shout.
achabapta athva methamn n.
English. nungguik vt vt. shout at.
airas n. lie. oerna sa methamn n. debate.

amr glm vi-so. rejoice. par na vt. call; specifically to call for a
domestic animal.
amethamnbes n. 1 words.
2 message. par s vt. 1 invite. 2 ask for some-
one; call for someone.
amethamn'gi n. 1 language.
2 speech. 3 message. prk mt vi-so. shout; yell.
amethamnini n. word. pr ma vt. talk into; tempt.
amuvtka n. answer. pestm svt vt. whisper charms;
charms can be whispered over ob-
angtkn'gi n. voice.
jects, e.g.: lime powder, water, ginger,
Arausmt n. the accent of the Mranachi and cooked banana.
and Dadul people (who speak Mali).
raik dm vi-so. scream.
asevaik pt vi-so. rejoice.
snan vt. ask.
asnan'ga n. question.

427
P Speaking, communicaton, and sounds

snandvr na vt. ask. Used to make contrastive pronouns.

tamn sa-vi. speak. -mes derivational suffix. Gram: Reduces the
tamn ithm mes vt. confess. valency of the stem.

tamn pthanas s vt. give thanks. -na derivational suffix. each other. Gram: Re-
ciprocal marker.
tamn sthm vt. tell.
-na derivational suffix. Gram: Reduces the
tares pt vt. praise; worship. valency of the stem.
taresbana vt. promise.
namu sa-vi. continue. Gram: May function as
tchr vt. command; order. minor verb in serial verb construction encoding
tp pt vt. inform. durative aspect.

tpma methamn s vt. discuss. -nas derivational suffix. oneself. Gram: Re-
flexive marker.
ter vt. refuse; decline.
nia modal. 1 just; suddenly; surpris-
tes vt. name; call by name.
ingly. Gram: Mirative marker with present
tes nas sa-vi. call oneself. tense or past tense verbs. 2 tried. Gram:
tes svt vt. tell. Frustrative marker with future tense verbs.

tes svt da sek sa-vi. narrate; tell a thia modal. FOC. Gram: Realis focus marker.
story. ve sa-vi. be there. Gram: May function as mi-
tes svt dm vt. narrate; tell about. nor verb in serial verb construction encoding
imperfective aspect.
tes vt vt. read.
tvaik ba vt. explain. P2.2 Interjections
tnen vt. ask.
a Oh!; well; um; expression of
interj.
tnen sa-vi. pray. surprise or hesitation.
tnp n vt. translate. ae interj. Oh!; expression of shock.
tns sa-vi. call out; shout. ai interj. Oh!; expression of happiness.
tns m vt. call for. aichua interj. Ok; I see; Oh! Usage: Ex-
tu amethamn pt vt. pass a message presses surprise or understanding.
about someone or something. aie interj. Careful!
tu chuar s vt. call; calling out to alchar interj. Oh dear!
someone to follow you.
ana interj. Ill take it!
tuchun mes vt. instruct.
ani interj. Take this!
tuvet sa-vi. answer.
athoi interj. Ow!; exclamation of pain.
tuvet mt vt. answer; respond.
auk interj. well.
thvika n. explanation; meaning.
chule nge chlan interj. Bye! Usage:
thuchunmska n. 1 explanation. This expression lets the hearer know
2 instructions. that they can go.

P2 Interjections, imperatives, func- chule sa interj. Wait a minute!

tion words e interj. Oh!; exclamation of surprise.
ei interj. Hey! Usage: To express concern
P2.1 Functional affixes and particles or annoyance.
ithm prep. regarding; about. i Oh!; expresses a strong emotion
interj.

kvi= contrastive marker. that one. Gram: such as anger.

428
 P Speaking, communicaton, and sounds

i Oh no! Usage: Indicates the

interj. kin pro. her and.
speaker made a mistake in speaking. n associative marker. and. Gram: Used to
ia interj. yes. make associative pronouns.
ii interj. I dont know; maybe. nik coord. so.
kinak interj. yes; all right. niki coord. and so.
kuaithu interj. Not yet! nisa coord. and so.
kule klan interj. Never mind! ngn pro. them and; it and.
maricha interj. Oh!; Hey!; exclamation ngn pro. you all and.
of strong feelings of surprise, sympa- ngin pro. you and.
thy or anger.
ngun pro. me and.
oo interj. Goodbye!
tin pro. them and.
saisavi interj. Look out!
un pro. us two and.
sa kuat na interj. something is going to
happen to someone. ura coord. or. Gram: Disjunction marker.

salve interj. Greetings! Usage: This word utn pro. us and.

was introduced by the priests in the
P2.4 Subordinators
Mali community.
vavu interj. Wow! ama rel. that. Gram: Relator that introduces
clauses or NPs that describe or refer to one
waioi interj. Ow!; exclamation of pain.
particular characteristic of their head.
P2.3 Conjunctions asika subord. if. Gram: Irrealis marker used to
introduce conditional clauses.
da coord. and. Gram: Addition marker.
dai subord. thus; then.
dak coord. but. Gram: Adversative marker.
dai asik subord. so that.
das coord. 1 and still. 2 and yet.
3 and just.
diva subord. in order to. Gram: Controlled
purposive.
dasa coord. and so; then.
gisnng subord. as if.
dasik coord. and maybe.
gisnia subord. as if; as though.
dasika coord. and if.
i subord. because. Gram: Introduces reason
dma coord. and the. clauses.
dinai coord. 1 in turn. 2 instead. ia rel. that. Gram: Relator that introduces
dinak coord. and just. clauses or NPs that have the same syntactic
dinas coord. and just. status as their head.

dinasa adv. and really. isa subord. in fact.

dini coord. and those two. isok subord. because really.

dok coord. and just. iva subord. PURP. Gram: Intentional pur-
posive.
doki adv. 1 also; too. 2 similarly.
ivasa subord. so that.
dule coord. and then.
ivasik subord. if.
dut coord. and we.
ma rel. that; who. Gram: Relator that intro-
in pro. 1 you two and. 2 those two duces clauses or NPs that provide additional
and. information about their head. Constructions
kn pro. him and. involving the relator ma are sometimes used to
express uncertainty or emphasis.

429
P Speaking, communicaton, and sounds

machlan beia subord. when. P3 Negations, assertions, possibility

mndu ma subord. because.
angmbs neg. 1 nothing. 2 not.
nva thng adv. because of that. 3 no.
va subord. PURP. Gram: Basic purposive. ii interj. I dont know; maybe.
va sa subord. so that. kinai disc. 1 actually. 2 in contrast.
va sik subord. so that. 3 instead. 4 in turn.

vaki subord. until. kinasa disc. really.

vasik subord. in order to. koi neg. no.

ve ma subord. as; when. koiku neg. 1 no. 2 not.

veia subord. when. kule disc. dont. Gram: Negative imperative.
mailu disc. maybe.
P2.5 Articles
mala adv. if possible.
a spec art. the. Gram: Specifier article. mamr adv. possible.
anga np art. 1 some. Gram: Non-specific mamr na vi-so. be possible for; be able
indefinite NP article. 2 any. Gram: to.
Non-specific indefinite NP article.
marik disc. truly; really.
angama some. Gram: Non-specific
np art. 1
maru adv. really.
NP article. 2 any. Gram: Non-specific in-
definite NP article. na modal. not. Gram: Irrealis focus marker.

anggia np art. some. Gram: Specific indefinite nenga chalu disc. maybe; who knows.
NP article. sa disc. Gram: Imperative marker.
kama np art. the. Gram: Functionally un- saika disc. possibly.
marked NP article. skoi disc. still not.
k np art. the. Gram: NP article that marks sok disc. really; truly.
referents whose unique identity is established
by the discourse.
vandi disc. 1 nearly; almost.
2 maybe.
ma np art. the. Gram: The NP article that marks
inherently uniquely identifiable referents. P4 Non-verbal communication

P2.6 Discourse markers atharesbana n. promise.

kinasa disc. really.

atharesdemga n. contract.

kosa disc. just; simply; as the result of athareska n. contract.

something undesirable having hap- atharespet n. contract.

pened. athektmna n. contract.
mok disc. that just. avngbngga n. envelope.
moki disc. that also; that similarly; that blakbotigel n. blackboard.
another.
blakbotki n. blackboard.
sa disc. 1 then. Gram: Clause initial discourse
buchm n. book.
marker. Introduces a new event frame.
2 so. 3 already. Gram: Resultative chvlki n. chapter.
marker. nam na vt. beckon; get someone to
skoi disc. still not. come over by flapping ones hand.
pt balam na vt. blink; wink.

430
 Q Social interaction, relationships, and behaviour

piam vt. 1 rotate; e.g. shake ones ngk d vi-so. gasp; grunt.
head. 2 wave; e.g. wave ones ngngeng d vi-so. squeak; squeal.
hands.
pae vt. tap.
sleitigl n. slate.
paret n. warning sound.
slpka n. pencil.
pau interj. Bang!; imitates the sound of a
slpka vamgi n. nib; pen point; pencil stone from a sling hitting a target.
point.
raik dm vi-so. scream.
su ba vt. sign; make signs.
raun'ga n. sound.
tapeligl n. slate.
tbut tbut n. stamping.
tlng n. letter.
tbut tbut s vi-so. stamp.
tlngm n. book.
tchen sa-vi. groan.
tnap na vt. wave; signal by using hand
gestures to communicate. tk tk mt vi-so. click.
ts interj. swish; whoosh; imitates the
P5 Sounds sound of a stone from a sling hitting a
target.
achuskuska n. hissing noise; e.g. the
noise of pressurised air.
tnok sa-vi. cry; people crying; sounds
made by roosters, frogs etc.
achuskuska mt vi-so. make a hissing
sound; e.g. by shushing a child or the
tnok tichim vt. whinge; cry.
sound made by a jet plane. tu nank sa-vi. grizzle; cry for some-
thing for a long time.
ddrin n. roar; a roaring sound.
ddin n. thunder.
Q SOCIAL INTERACTION,
dldl n. ringing.
RELATIONSHIPS, AND
din'ga n. boom; roar. BEHAVIOUR
dolngengga n. bang.
enmula sa-vi. make the sound of a bang. Q0 General

guarem n. gurgle; a gurgling sound ametpathm n. promises.

such as the sound of a river going amethamnbes n. message.
between stones.
amethamn'gi n. 1 language.
guaremga mt vi-so. boil; bubble; spe- 2 speech. 3 message. 4 orders;
cifically the sound: water boiling or instructions.
the sound of a waterfall.
amusnng n. 1 behaviour. 2 habit;
guguk tm vi-so. bark intensively. custom.
guk tm vi-so. bark of a dog. angtharembem n. cause.
gumoram n. row; loud noise. anggulinggi n. crowd.
gumoram vt vi-so. row; make a loud atharesbana n. promise.
noise.
atharesdemga n. contract.
klr mt vi-so. rattle.
athareska n. contract.
klrklr sa-vi. squawk; make the cry
of a parrot. atharespet n. contract.

klrklr mt vi-so. rattle.

athektmna n. contract.

krtkrt s vi-so. rustle.

athpmus n. activities.

nngguik sa-vi. shout.

banas dir. for oneself.

431
Q Social interaction, relationships, and behaviour

chunng n. occasion. gurguerka n. enemy.

dn pthana vt. meet each other. gurguerki n. female enemy.
dendem p vt. leave out; exclude. namu sna sa-vi. keep struggling; e.g. in
kunngga n. occasion. a fight or in a sporting competition.

lumanaksi n. preparation. nathong sa-vi. look away; hide ones

face.
mrn'ga n. problem.
pai dm pt vt. crucify.
nva thng adv. because of that.
pai vt vt. slap.
ngaip sa-vi. hide.
paigel tm vt. beat up.
ngaip nas sa-vi. hide oneself.
panis tm vt. beat up.
ngaipnas mt vt. hide oneself in.
pethaindik mtna sa-vi. grapple; two
pathm na dir. with each other; for people grappling with each other.
each other.
piru nana sa-vi. tussle.
pirs ithm vt. hide behind; duck be-
hind something to hide oneself. pithia na vt. overcome; conquer.

snas dir. for themselves; about them- tu daruan vt. hurt; injure.
selves. tu thik dm vt. beat.
surnanas sa-vi. be wrong. tuthik mna vt. shoot at.
tk tichim vt. avoid. tuvet mt vt. take revenge; pay back.
tmna dir. together. umngacha n. enemy; raider.
tmnas dir. after oneself. vinos n. destruction.

tes svt da sek sa-vi. narrate; tell a vrucha n. enemy.

story. vruchi n. female enemy.
tes svt dm vt. narrate; tell about.
tstmna n vt. eat with. Q2 Verbal quarrelling

tu vlk svt vt. fall in love with. bingia sa-vi. debate; argue.
tuvet mt vt. 1 answer; respond. gur sa-vi. shout crossly.
2 reciprocate. iras sa-vi. pretend.
tharesini n. trouble. iras tm vt. lie.
thng n. behalf.
iras tm s vt. lie.

Q1 Fighting nangathm s vt. trick. Usage: Abilta

dialect.
avinos vi-so. vandalise. nesabiung n. gossip.
bn m vt. beat. nungguik vt vt. shout at.
bn mna sa-vi. fight each other. oerna sa methamn n. debate.
chaseska n. spy. prk mt vi-so. shout; yell.
donsvanas tm vt. disown; dissociate tu ma s vt. joke about.
from.
tu samor s vt. make fun.
gamar sa-vi. fight.
gamar nana sa-vi. fight each other. Q3 Making peace, maintaining social
gamar n vt. fight.
harmony

gamracha n. fighting ground. achutdrir n. respect.

432
 Q Social interaction, relationships, and behaviour

alek mt vi-so. 1 relent; be compas- a fight or in a sporting competition.

sionate. 2 compromise. oerna vt. 1 compete. 2 race.
amatnthmbes n. help; assistance. ragbi n. rugby.
ametpathm n. promises. tamal sa-vi. laugh.
ben s vt. honour; praise. tamal t vt. laugh at.
bon vt. give. tu ma sa-vi. joke; make fun.
lmuacha n. friend; ally. tu ma s vt. joke about.
lmuachi n. female friend; female ally. tugas sa-vi. play.
malmalki n. peace. tugas s vt. play a game.
pthana sa-vi. relate socially; interact. tugas t vt. play with.
ruaiom nana n. a friendship between tusachus nanas sa-vi. act funny; e.g. in
two people. a concert or in a burst of high spirits.
sangar glem na sa-vi. shake hands. thuer na sa-vi. race each other.
srtik na vt. straighten out. vaidebunggi n. ball; refers to some-
tares dm vt. agree. thing the size of a volleyball.
tat mt vt. share. vaidebungini n. small ball; something
tcheria vt. agree. the size of a tennis ball.

tcheria ba vt. agree with. vondmgi n. prize.

tcheria bana sa-vi. agree. Q5 Being affected

tk mamr tm vt. meet someone ac-
cidentally; run into. amatnthmbes n. help; assistance.
tpma methamn s vt. discuss. angtharembem n. cause.

tp ma s vt. respect; keep to the rules arembm n. source; cause; reason.

about something. aremgi n. source; cause; reason.
tethana sa-vi. be friends. bramr sa-vi. be rescued; be saved.
tu chelak tm vt. please; do something kuar nana sa-vi. tell each other.
to soften the other person. kur svt vt. 1 show. 2 reveal;
vum n. friend, the address term. spot-light using a torch.
kur tm vt. show.
Q4 Games, entertainment, laughter,
joking kura vt. show.
kut vt. serve.
amsmsini n. small party.
lmu thm vt. look after; care for; take
amsmski n. feast; party. care of.
amun'gas n. game. naingim pt vt. look after.
asok mt vi-so. be challenging; e.g. a nani prep. for. Gram: Appears before full noun
game. phrases.
avinos vi-so. play around. nania prep. for. Gram: Appears before pro-
bncha muma sa-vi. make fun; joke. nouns.
erna sa-vi. compete. par s vt. 1 invite. 2 ask for some-
kilok vt. tickle. one; call for someone. 3 lead.
namu sna sa-vi. keep struggling; e.g. in pelal vm vt. comfort someone in dis-
tress.

433
R Religion, ceremony, law and the supernatural

peneng dm s vt. make a platform. tnari nagl vt. obey.

pr ma vt. talk into; tempt. tnen vt. ask.
pusnas pt vt. shelter. trek tm vt. prohibit; forbid.
rem n. protection. tu amuvtka svt vt. punish.
remini n. base; source; cause. tu ba vt. set rules.
slamr n vt. 1 cure. 2 save. turik na vt. punish.
slavo na vt. degrade. thondmga n. 1 law. 2 rule.
suchut ma vt. appoint.
Q7 Community
sunthmbes n. temptation.
tair pt vt. walk with; e.g. to help a sick amunggunbs n. 1 meeting.
person. 2 sitting of parliament.

tat mt vt. share. aruves n. crowd.

tat nthm vt. help. chelanggum vi-so. be deserted.

tlavuchi na vt. pity; feel sorry. dn dmna sa-vi. gather together; meet
up. Gram: Takes a plural subject.
tlu vt vt. look after.
dn dmna vt. meet together, usually
Q6 Permission and prohibition informally.
don dmna sa-vi. gather together.
amethamn'gi n. orders; instructions.
gulinggi n. group.
amuvtka n. punishment.
lengeini n. event; function; meeting.
bang bt vt. take without permission.
mnarivs n. announcements; mes-
kinak interj. yes; all right. sages.
kumngas n. gaol; prison. pthana sa-vi. relate socially; interact.
mni nugul sa-vi. do without permis- tethana sa-vi.group together.
sion; to have crossed a boundary that
should not be crossed. tu amethamn pt vt. pass a message
about someone or something.
nugul angtpus adv. do without per-
mission; an action that breaks across ulunggi n. class; grade.
a (possibly metaphorical) boundary. varkurai n. court.
palkachuik sa-vi. be disobedient; refuse
to follow instructions. R RELIGION, CEREMONY, LAW AND
palkachuik na vt. disobey. THE SUPERNATURAL
pathm mes sa-vi. 1 do by choice; do
R0 General
according to ones own wishes.
2 act independently. alengeiki n. truth. Gram: No plural form.
psding sthm vt. 1 block. 2 stop amethanaski n. miraculous thing.
someone from doing something.
amunam n. holiday.
rek sthm vt. forbid.
asecha n. story.
sangar vt. arrest.
asingalka n. dangerous spirit.
suchutka n. line; boundary.
asingalki n. female spirit.
tchr vt. command; order.
charidang n. call; a special sound,
tthanas t vt. help oneself; to take ooo, is called from the bush to warn
something without permission. that a Mndas is coming.

434
 R Religion, ceremony, law and the supernatural

chvlki n. chapter. achvcha n. name of Mndas mask;

lotu n. religion. concave in shape; similar to an up-
side-down canoe; has designs painted
malngeik n. belief.
inside; supported by a stick.
methanasia n. miracle.
adamga n. name of Mndas mask; tall
and rounded; carried by the dancer
R1 Law, sacred places, legends
and supported by another man; has a
amuvtka n. punishment. pointed top with feathers extending
up and a thick strong stem at the
asingal n. spirit world.
bottom; designs on the front.
atharesbana n. promise.
amchlingga n. name of Mndas
atharesdemga n. contract. dancer; can carry a guaremgi mask;
athareska n. contract. body decorated to look like a
saw-backed lizard; has a long tail;
atharespet n. contract.
always dances in the evening; dances
athektmna n. contract. a humorous dance; scratches the
chalipka n. lizard sp.; small and ground, twisting its knees; does not
grey-brown in colour; hides on tree use rattles.
trunks and makes a squeaky noise arachtki n. spirit from a spirit mask;
when people walk past; people say it these spirits can go into someone
is the noise of the forest spirits. (especially a woman) and make her
imperno n. hell. act crazy, e.g. shouting out and taking
her clothes off; someone who knows
ivngacha n. tree sp.; large tree from
an appropriate charm must speak it
the bush; is the home of spirits.
into lime powder and then spread the
lmrnaski n. purgatory. lime powder on the womans face,
saluchachi n. palm sp.; similar to the ears, and body.
areca or black palm (limbum); has a awan'ga n. name of dancer; masked
mountain spirit living inside it. dancer, dressed in yellow leaves from
taresbana vt. promise. the victory leaf plant, who carries
thchnmuvs n. taboo place. beating sticks and punishes children.

thobakathva muska n. grasshopper chlmga n. seed pod of the chlmgi

sp.; green with large back legs; if it tree.
flies into a house, people may ask it chlmgi n. tree sp.; has pods that are
questions to find out whether bad luck used as rattles.
is coming, or if someone will die. chunmka n. rosary beads.
thondmga n. law. chusaricha n. name of the type of
varkurai n. court. Mndas dancer that has the adamga
yaungga n. tree sp.; used in the clean- mask.
sing ceremony that follows a raid on gotka n. pole made of bamboo.
another village; becomes a dangerous guaremgi n. name of Mndas mask; the
tree after the ceremony and must not mask is large and bell-shaped, with a
be touched. floor supported by a long stick; de-
signs are drawn underneath and are
R2 Ceremony and rituals visible when the mask is held aloft.
R2.1 Ceremonial objects ladevthacha n. name of Mndas
mask; the mask has an elongated
abiulgi n. conch shell. shield shape with a rounded back,

435
R Religion, ceremony, law and the supernatural

dangling bark cloth (tapa cloth) R4 Taboos, strictures, and secret

around the edges with designs un- knowledge
derneath, and a stick with feathers on
it on top; it is carried flat side down on avsvesini n. 1 magic spell; curse.
a stick. 2 charm; an object that carries
magical power.
Mndaska n. day dancer.
pes vt vt. charm; do magic.
mumeninacha n. cross; crucifix; espe-
cially referring to the crucifixion of tamn dm vt. bewitch; refers to
Christ. speaking power into something by
sorcery.
sirachi n. name of Mndas mask; simi-
lar to the adamga but the front is flat tp mus t vt. initiate.
and the back is rounded like half a tuong vt. bewitch.
pawpaw. thchnmuvs n. taboo place.
tavurki n. conch shell. yaungga n. tree sp.; used in the clean-
vungbungga n. firedancer; is con- sing ceremony that follows a raid on
cealed inside a large, hollow, rectan- another village; becomes a dangerous
gular panel that serves as his mask. tree after the ceremony and must not
yaungga n. tree sp.; used in the clean- be touched.
sing ceremony that follows a raid on
another village; becomes a dangerous R5 Healing and medicine
tree after the ceremony and must not
R5.1 Traditional and ritual healing
be touched.
mormorki n. flower garden; special
R2.2 Symbols garden containing healing plants like
achutkut n. writing.
ginger; you can put someone there to
encourage healing or growth.
achutkutki n. drawing.
pestm svt vt. whisper charms;
angthaik angtha chutkut n. script; charms can be whispered over ob-
handwriting. jects, e.g.: lime powder, water, ginger,
awalengiglem n. name of a pair of and cooked banana.
Mndas masks; shield-shaped, flat, slamrki n. treatment; cure.
and elongated; carried on a stick; long
edges on the bottom and top; designs R5.2 Modern medicine
on both sides.
kut ma vt. draw.
aiding n. iodine.

kut pt vt. write.

arm angtha banggi n. hospital;
health centre.
suchutka n. sign; mark.
aslamrki n. hospital; clinic; health
R3 Death and mourning centre.
baniska n. bandage.
aven'gi n. grave.
gris n. ointment.
neknochi n. misery; distress; suffering
kut vt. inject.
in either an emotional or financial
sense. lingbes n. gauze; lint; compress.
ngip sa-vi. die. marasin n. medicine.

pt vt. bury. slamrki n. treatment; cure.

slika n. body; especially a dead body. sprinm n. aspirin.

436
 R Religion, ceremony, law and the supernatural

R6 Singing and dancing tvng mt vt. sing in.

angtkn n. melody. R7 Feasting

athvngi n. song; specifically the
songs used in conjunction with day amsmski n. feast; party.
dances. munambs n. feast; religious holiday.
athoemga n. mound in a dancing
R8 Christianity
ground.
athunepki n. drum (small garamut); achuravesik n. revelation.
sits on the ground and is hit with the amr glm vi-so. rejoice.
end of a stick held upright in a
amethanaski n. miraculous thing.
womans hands.
amorka n. God.
avrin'gi n. bamboo drum.
annbs n. prayers.
birbirka n. border of dancing ground.
annini n. prayer.
Gerkachna n. name of a group of
Mndas dancers; carry awaleng ann'gi n. prayer.
masks; destroy the mound in the cen- arareski n. blessing.
tre of the dance ground; usually the
arktm adj. holy.
last dancers to appear during a day
dance. areveikpmka n. saviour; redeemer.
kavathm n. firedancer; they wear asevaik pt vi-so. rejoice; be happy; be
masks with large, round, painted eyes. joyful.
kiar sa-vi. scrape; specifically the dance asingalka n. Satan; devil.
step when you scrape your feet along atpki n. 1 inferno; huge fire. 2 hell.
the ground.
avonbon'gi n. offering; payment.
kunduchi n. hand drum.
avu n. sin.
lamur n. white marks that are painted chlochacha n. soul.
onto peoples faces, during dances,
using white powder or lime powder. choir pt vi-so. rejoice. Usage: Borrowing
from Ura.
main'gi n. dance.
chuarka pt vi-so. rejoice. Usage: Bor-
mambl n. beating sticks.
rowing from Ura.
mambuchi n. 1 choir; orchestra; the chunmka n. rosary beads.
singers and drummers at a day dance
or night dance. 2 song. Deo n. God.

mambuini n. small song. Usage: Diminu- Ekaristia n. Eucharist.

tive use here is attenuative. gelochna n. heavenly host.
mambumtka n. singer. gelucha n. angel.
mndas n. day dance. grasia n. grace.
nngurka n. plant sp.; strong smelling Hositaigl n. Host; wafers used in
plant with long green leaves; deters communion.
snakes; relieves tiredness; used as a imperno n. hell.
decoration for dancing because of the
smell. Krismas n. Christmas.

tain sa-vi. dance.

kuares ithm mes sa vt. confess.

tvng sa-vi. sing.

kuravesik na sa-vi. reveal.
lamini n. lamb; specifically the Lamb of

437
S Gathering, farming, hunting, tracking

God. the Everlasting.

lmrnaski n. purgatory. usupki n. heaven.
Lengenacha n. Lord; used to refer to
God. S GATHERING, FARMING, HUNTING,
Lengenachi n. Our Lady; Mother Mary. TRACKING
lenge scha n. miracle worker.
S1 Gathering
lotu n. Christian rituals.
lotu sa-vi. worship.
asgnacha n. net bag (bilum).

lotu svt vt. worship; adore; praise. asgnachi n. large net bag (bilum).

lotuvmgi n. church.
athalka n. small net bag (bilum).

martir n. martyr.
bn bt sa-vi. search out; gather some-
thing that is scarce, e.g. cocoa pods
methanasia n. miracle.
when the season has already finished.
misa n. mass.
nges t vt. dig for.
mumeninacha n. cross; crucifix; espe- sas t vt. dig out.
cially referring to the crucifixion of
Christ. slavirochi n. large net bag (bilum);
made from split bush canes; used for
munggulmga n. verse.
carrying food.
pai dm pt vt. crucify.
sragan'gi n. large net bag (bilum);
pekato sa-vi. sin. made from bush vines; usually used
rveikpmka n. redeemer; refers spe- for carrying food.
cifically to Jesus. tangabs n. banana leaf.
Sakramento n. Sacrament. tlngga n. parcel of banana leaves.
Sion n. Zion. tusamon dm n vt. collect; gather
slavo sa-vi. sin. things together.
slavocha n. sin.
S2 Hunting
slavovmka n. sinner.
aen'ga n. iron spear.
slavovmki n. female sinner.
angelenggi n. stone; small rounded
sunthmbes n. temptation.
stone for using in a sling.
tamn dm vt. sanctify; in Christian re-
avlika n. sling.
ligious contexts.
baurka n. trap.
tamn ithm mes vt. confess.
donel sa-vi. hunt.
tamn pthanas s vt. give thanks.
kut m vt. spear.
tares pt vt. praise; worship.
kut mes vt. shoot randomly.
tares svt vt. bless.
mairki n. net that is used for catching
tchm sa-vi. arise; specifically refer-
birds and flying foxes.
ring to Jesus rising from the dead.
plng vt. kill.
tvaik namn vt. redeem.
rarpka n. gun.
tnen sa-vi. pray.
secha n. trap. Usage: Abilta dialect.
Trinitas n. Trinity.
sisit na vt. sneak up; creep up; refers to
tu thm mes pt vi-so. be glorious.
moving quietly and slowly without
thchnmucha n. sacred being; God being seen.

438
 S Gathering, farming, hunting, tracking

tuthik mna vt. shoot at. within a larger section of garden that
vadechi n. bow. has been assigned to a particular
person; the section is divided into
vadechi atha chepki n. arrow.
plots for different crops.
vilchi n. gun.
burichi n. cleared area; flattened area;
e.g. a place in the bush where there
S3 Fishing
has been a dog fight or a crocodile
birbirka n. frame for a net. resting.
bloka n. block and tackle; pulley. chrechacha n. loose soil.
chanasucha n. hook. chriduchi n. native spinach (aibika)
stem; used for replanting. Usage: Abilta
changgthacha n. fishing line.
dialect.
chevs n. fishing spear; has many
don ma sa-vi. clear land for a new gar-
prongs.
den.
glas sa-vi. dive; go spearfishing.
guingini n. immature fruit; the buds of
kebongbonggi n. river crab sp.; brown; fruit that appear after the flowers
shell up to 5 cm in diameter; lives have fallen off.
near riverbanks; changes its shell in
kakauigl n. cocoa plantation.
pools along the road after rain; used
for bait. kunmgi n. old garden; a garden that
cannot be used again for two or three
malmalcha n. reef fish sp.; grey; up to
years.
15 cm long; no scales, slippery skin;
lives close to shore; good for bait. lamsigl n. coconut plantation.
mathongga n. grasshopper sp.; brown lscha n. banana shoot.
and long in shape; bores holes in wood liviska n. betel pepper (daka) shoot.
or bamboo; used as bait for river fish. mormorki n. flower garden; special
par s vt. pull in a fish; refers to a fish garden containing healing plants like
which is caught on a hook. ginger; you can put someone there to
sangauchi n. net. encourage healing or growth.
trip sa-vi. fish with a hook and line from nugulka n. boundary; either a boundary
a canoe or a boat. between villages or a boundary be-
tween different peoples plots within a
valmka n. hook.
garden.
S4 Farming and propagation nunggulia n. garden section; section
within a garden that has been as-
agraing adj. overgrown. signed to a particular person.
aithir n. new growth; skin or bark that nges mt vt. dig a new hole where there
grows in order to heal a cut. was not one before.
alat n. garden(s). pt vt. plant.
althini n. small garden. pupuik n vi-so. sprout.
altki n. large garden. pur mt vi-so. germinate.
athemgi n. taro top; used for replant- purvur vi-so. sprout.
ing.
suchut m vt. set out or define an area.
athvatki n. digging stick.
sukderut n vi-so. wither; die from the
avolacha n. leaf shoot. roots up.
avram n. garden plot; specifically a plot tal vt. bear; specifically to bear fruit.

439
T Fire and cooking

tamasnggi n. cleared area; a place athalevacha n. tree sp.; looks like a

where the ground has been cleared cocoa tree, only taller with narrower
(except for big trees); the first stage in leaves, and bears small fruit rather
making a garden. than pods; good for firewood; eating
tangabs n. banana block; an area the ripe green leaves is good for di-
planted with bananas. arrhoea; has larger leaves than the
auska species.
tangamigl n. banana block; banana
plantation; referring to an area avuthchi n. bundle of firewood.
planted with bananas. balska n. tree sp.; large tree with soft
tap s vt. cut down; especially of trees; wood.
also used to refer to the act of clearing butki n. large fire; bonfire.
an area of bush. chinap n. ash.
tr vt. 1 pullout. 2 uproot. chinipki n. fireplace; hearth.
3 clear; especially of small weeds
etc. chulski n. smoke.

travt sa-vi. weed.

chulimbinggi n. tongue of flame.

traingga n. seed.
churetka n. flame.

trutki n. native spinach (aibika) stem; churetki n. large flame.

used for planting. dang sa-vi. 1 catch fire. 2 burn.
thvtki n. burnt and cleared area; an dang mt sa-vi. 1 burn; be on fire.
area being prepared for a garden, it 2 be in a fire.
needs one more clean before planting. dudung pt vi-so. char.
valvalka n. clear area; an area that has dung mt vi-so. get burnt.
been cleared for a garden but which is
dung sng vi-so. be burnt.
not clean yet, all the big trees have
been removed but the small plants are lt t vt. light a fire; ignite something.
still there. nangasachi n. smoke.
varka n. boundary between sections pn dm vi-so. singe; burn.
within an area of garden belonging to
pus mk vi-so. leap up; especially refer-
one person; used for planting different
ring to flames.
crops.
sachongini n. ember.
vnngacha n. taro shoots.
tu mt vt. set on fire.

T FIRE AND COOKING thabucha n. dust; ash; specifically

white ash from a fire.
T1 Fire valvalki n. twigs.

achthoska n. coals of a fire. T2 Food preparation, cooking, dis-

achthoski n. charcoal. tribution
ainin vt vi-so. be charred; be burnt. achesin adj. rotten; festering.
aisinggi n. 1 spark. 2 ember. achvu mt vi-so. be overcooked; espe-
amudmbs n. 1 bonfire. cially when referring to greens that
2 wildfire. have gone brown from cooking too
amudmga n. fire; refers to a single long.
burning stick. achirap n. salt.

atpki n. inferno; huge fire. agraing adj. overripe; especially of tu-

440
 U Human uses of natural resources

ber crops. tangabs n. banana leaf.

aichru adj. uncooked; raw. tlngga n. parcel of banana leaves.
amang adj. 1 ripe; especially refers to tet dm vt. dry; desiccate; be dried out
the ripeness of bananas, mangoes, from lying in the sun.
and pawpaws. 2 cooked.
angguvang adj. spoilt. U HUMAN USES OF NATURAL
asol n. salt. RESOURCES
avsvs n. cooking.
U1 Food
avsvs adj. associated with cooking.
boel sa-vi. boil.
abmka n. large forest rat; brown; can
be caught for food; lives in a hole in
dudung pt vi-so. char.
the ground with two entrances.
gamosachi n. food parcel; is wrapped achmabarka n. mushroom sp.; edible;
in leaves. grows profusely after rain; is brown
gamosini n. small food parcel. on top and white underneath; found
guarguarka n. string of food such as on softwood trees.
pork or nuts; hung from the roof for achsaskmtki n. bread.
storage. achirap n. salt.
kaubocha n. plant sp.; has broad flat achlacholachi n. grub sp.; edible;
leaves that are used to cover food. white; up to 4 cm long and very fat
krtp pt vt. butcher; e.g. of a pig or a (like the top of a persons thumb); eats
fish. the wood at the top of the coconut
lumanaksi n. preparation. palm and areca palm.
malum n. dough; wet stuff; typically achuan n. rice.
mud. achunm n. packet of rice; especially a
mamut adj. greasy; fatty. 1 kg bag of rice.
mamut mt vi-so. be greasy; be fatty. achurnaing n. meat; flesh; especially of
pigs, chickens or coconuts.
mamutki n. fat or grease from an ani-
mal or fish. achurvuchuvacha n. lungs.

mars mt vi-so. be greasy; be oily. achuvel n. greens. Usage: Also known as

aupa in Tolai.
marski n. oil.
adichi n. taro.
nmblvs n. banana leaf.
adigl n. piece of taro.
par vt. cook in an earth oven (mumu).
adini n. small taro.
pus vt. cook.
aichil n. native spinach (aibika).
sek d vt. husk coconuts.
aichilka n. native spinach (aibika) top
sek pt vt. peel; e.g. a banana or an
that is used for cooking.
orange.
aichilves n. native spinach (aibika) leaf.
sem bt vt. peel; e.g. taro or sweet po-
tato (kaukau). aiguam n. ferns.

ser tm vt. shell; e.g. peanuts, beans alanaski n. saltwater eel sp.; white with
etc. sharp teeth; up to 1 m in length.
slichini n. bit of meat. almbrgiangga n. mushroom sp.; edi-
ble, white, and flat; is very soft; up to
srp adj. ripe.
5 cm in diameter; grows in the

441
U Human uses of natural resources

ground. Usage: An alternate name for light brown colour; up to 20 cm long;

guringsasotka. good meat; can sting with its fins.
almga n. mushroom; generic term. baler n. piece of taro.
amsmska n. food. bukacha n. taro sp.; black singapore.
amspthithong n. accompaniments; chaelka n. wallaby; has grey fur; up to
food to eat alongside taro etc. 60 cm tall when standing on hind legs.
amstmna n. side-dish. chalun'ga n. taro sp.; singapore.
amundiki n. edible stalk of a wild cane chathachi n. taro sp.; wild singapore;
sp. (pitpit). not edible. Usage: The word is some-
anot n. taro. times also used to refer to edible va-
rieties.
arviachi n. monitor; similar to a lizard
with a black body and dull whitish chlevecha n. bean.
spots; up to 80 cm long; edible flesh; chmbucha n. type of fruit. Usage: Also
skin is used for hand drums (kundus); known as ton in Tok Pisin.
lives in the forest and climbs trees. chesengdm n. mushroom sp.; grows
aruchusicha n. type of fruit. on mango trees, feels furry, and is
asalang n. greens; leaves are small and edible.
heart shaped with yellow flowers; chuaramgi at sachong n. native
grows in gardens after they have been spinach (aibika) with red stems.
burnt off. chulpki n. soup.
asol n. salt. chusem n. intestines.
athalep angthoes n. cocoa beans. dorlaicha n. squid.
athalevm n. cocoa bean. gamosachi n. food parcel; is wrapped
athongga n. fruit sp.; must be cooked in leaves.
before it is eaten. gamosini n. small food parcel.
athonggi n. tree sp.; bears an edible gavun n. fern.
fruit.
govachi n. guava.
aulan'gi ama vonbon'gi n. snake sp.;
silvery colour; edible. guringsasotka n. mushroom sp.; edi-
ble, white, and flat; is very soft; up to
aulmangachi n. native orange; refers 5 cm in diameter; grows in the
to both the tree and the fruit. ground. Usage: An alternate name for
aunbethachi n. freshwater fish sp.; almbrgiangga.
lives in large rivers; black spot on inski n. river fish sp.; has a flat head, a
each side of its belly and tail; tail is very narrow mouth, and big ears;
yellowish; up to 1 m long; good eating can stick to a rock with its chest; up to
fish. 15 cm long; stays in areas with a fast
auravu n. native spinach (aibika). Usage: current; makes a good soup.
This word is newer than aichil. inilcha n. freshwater eel sp.; looks like
auravucha n. native spinach (aibika) the anekethopki species: grey with a
top that is used for cooking. white belly, but has cloudy eyes; meat
auravuchi n. native spinach (aibika). is greasy.

auravuves n. native spinach (aibika) iringga n. insect sp.; large brown

leaf. crawling insect; has a hard shell and
six legs; can be roasted and eaten;
avisaigl n. fish sp.; lives on the reef; people say that when it crosses a road

442
 U Human uses of natural resources

or path it will die. saksaki n. sago palm.

isinggi n. tree sp.; similar to breadfruit slichigl n. piece of meat.
but brown on the outside and yellow slik n. meat from pigs, fish, cassowaries
inside; refers to both the tree and the etc.
fruit.
srongachi n. grub sp.; white and edible;
isis n. 1 baking powder. 2 yeast. different types vary in size, up to 6 cm
kacholka n. tapioca. long; eats the wood of trees including
kakau n. cocoa. pawpaw, galip nut (Canarium indi-
cum), and cocoa trees.
kakauigl n. piece of cocoa.
tangamgi n. banana.
kalasunggi n. sweet potato (kaukau).
tangamigl n. piece of banana.
karirotki n. beetle sp.; is black and
edible; eats black palms and areca tapioka n. tapioca.
palms once the grubs have finished tltlcha n. tree sp.; grows near the
with them. beach; has edible fruit.
kulaucha n. green coconut (kulau); for tuchupki n. edible stalk of a wild cane
drinking. sp. (pitpit).
lachski n. 1 sea cucumber sp.; brown thgumga n. fish sp.; two types of
and edible. 2 cucumber. stonefish: one is a saltwater fish and a
lagthacha n. corn. good eating fish, the other lives in
fresh water; both are brown and can
laguain'ga n. native spinach (aibika) sting with poisonous spines.
tip.
thinmmtki n. tinned fish.
lamsachi n. coconut.
ubatki n. reef fish sp.; various colours:
lamsigl n. piece of coconut. blue, brown, or black with whitish
lavrki n. sugar-cane. fins; up to 30 cm long; have sharp
mamiapki n. pawpaw. teeth and very tough skin which must
be burnt off before eating.
mamutki n. fat or grease from an ani-
mal or fish. vaidebunggi n. wild orange.
marski n. oil. variachi n. breadfruit.

mavnini n. piece of ginger. vaski n. breadfruit.

mulicha n. orange segment. vimga n. galip nut (Canarium indicum).

mulichi n. orange; both the tree and the viulachi n. mango; refers only to the
fruit. fruit.
nanasgi n. pineapple. interj n. grated coconut to be eaten raw.
nangsacha ava lmga n. mushroom vutka n. coconut gratings.
sp.; greyish in colour; edible; grows vuetki n. large amount of coconut grat-
on rotting trees; is flat on top with ings.
many small holes underneath. vutves n. many dishes of grated coco-
narichi n. yam. nut.
painapki n. pineapple. yavacha n. banana sp.; ladyfinger ba-
rais n. rice. nana.
raism n. packet of rice; especially a 1 U2 Narcotics
kg bag of rice.
raisgi n. bale of rice. achvoracha n. mustard plant.

443
U Human uses of natural resources
achvor angthoes n. betel pepper
(daka); betelnut mustard.
achuvoracha n. betel pepper (daka)
plant.
achuvorves n. betel pepper
leaves; mustard leaves.
anlka n. shellfish sp.; mussel; bivalve
from the river that lives in the mud at
the bottom of the river; dark brown
outside and white inside; people re-
fine (mumu) these shells, by fire, to
get lime powder.
areng ama chrot n. alcohol.
changska n. betelnut.
churemga n. betelnut.
liviska n. betel pepper (daka) shoot.
ludngbs n. betel pepper (daka)
leaves; mustard leaves.
nangasacha n. 1 tobacco plant.
2 cigarette.
vthen n. lime powder.
wain n. wine.
U3 Medicines
achelungurka n. tree sp.; tall with
large buttress roots and very hard
wood; bark is used as a purgative for
treating poisoning, it is grated and
washed in water and then the water is
drunk. Usage: An alternate name for
achesinbemga.
achesinbemga n. tree sp.; tall with
large buttress roots and very hard
wood; bark is used as a purgative for
treating poisoning, it is grated and
washed in water and then the water is
drunk. Usage: An alternate name for
achelungurka.
athalevacha n. 1 cocoa tree. 2 tree
sp.; looks like a cocoa tree, only taller
with narrower leaves, and bears small
fruit rather than pods; good for fire-
wood; eating the ripe green leaves is
good for diarrhoea; has larger leaves
than the auska species.
govacha n. guava tree; the leaves are
good for stomach aches.
ivangacha n. bush sp.; commonly found
in gardens; grows to 1.5 m tall and
has soft leaves; used to treat dysen-
(daka) tery by crushing half of a new leaf
with a very ripe leaf and washing
them with water; water is squeezed
into a cup and drunk.
kasuel n. castor oil.
malos n. grass sp.; strong smelling;
grows to waist height; deters snakes,
relieves tiredness, and can be used to
wash dishes.
marasin n. medicine.
matholka n. tree sp.; new leaves from
this tree are used to treat sickness in
the spleen and for boils; for the
spleen, the leaves are chewed and
swallowed; for boils, the leaves are
heated and then placed over the boil.
mavnachi n. ginger plant; roots can be
chewed to help with colds and flu.
nngurka n. plant sp.; strong smelling
plant with long green leaves; deters
snakes; relieves tiredness; used as a
decoration for dancing because of the
smell.
solmarasin n. Epsom salts.
sprinm n. aspirin.
U4 Building materials, weaving,
basket materials
ainilka n. tree sp.; yields fibres used to
make nets and net bags (bilums); is
tall and narrow.
alam n. cane leaves.
alingga ava lm n. mushroom sp.; lu-
minous and shine brightly at night.;
look like fireflies; white and grow on
rotten trees; if two people are walking
together at night in the bush, the one
in front can wear one of these mush-
rooms on the back of their head for
the person behind to follow; these
mushrooms are sticky and will stick to
the skin.
athing n. fibres used for weaving.
444
 U Human uses of natural resources

athingga n. tree sp.; yields fibre. athikoneng angt nank n. fish sp.;
avarka n. tree sp.; grows close to the refers to two different species that are
beach; branches bend down; has yel- often found on the reef: one is black,
low flowers and useful fibres. up to 20 cm long; the other is light
brown, up to 30 cm long; both have a
chvaik n. sword grass (kunai). stinging spike on either side of their
chluangga n. tree sp.; has silky fibre. tail and greasy flesh.
chureski n. bucket; made from an areca avisaigl n. fish sp.; lives on the reef;
palm leaf. light brown colour; up to 20 cm long;
galpki n. palm sp.; wild palm; used for good meat; can sting with its fins.
making axe handles and floors. barathigl n. mushroom sp.; white and
irocha n. rattan. inedible; grows into a semi-circular
shape; is found on trees.
kaverki n. wild palm sp.; trunks are split
and used to make floors. baulcha snguvs n. snake sp.; poi-
sonous; black with a coloured band
lamthain'ga n. tree sp.; large tree
around its neck; its head breaks off if
species.
it bites you.
mamaing n. fibre for making net bags
lviam n. fish sp.; stonefish; lives on the
(bilums).
reef; white with bones that stick
maminggi n. vine sp.; yields fibre. through the skin to form strong spikes
masar mt vt. weave; making a net bag all over its back and sides; swells up
(bilum) or weaving a net. when touched.
mnumgi n. tree sp.; tall tree that mnggariachi n. reef crab sp.; dark
grows in the bush; a bit like the m- brown; have hard, rough, wrinkly
lutki species; good timber for houses. shells; meat is inedible and can make
you itchy.
sarengacha n. pandanus sp.; small with
long leaves; used for making mats. musavu n. poison.

ser vt. weave; process of making a blind siluigl n. freshwater fish sp.; brown;
or a basket. flat, rounded shape like a flounder; up
to 30 cm across; can sting with a
thabucha n. tree sp.; used for making
sharp barb on either side of its tail.
canoes.
srendm vt. sting.
thelelki n. palm sp.; has small leaves;
looks a bit like a betelnut palm, only srubn'ga n. tree sp.; if you touch it
smaller; fronds are good to use as your skin swells.
thatch. tasingl n. starfish sp.; live on the reef;
uratps n. coconut frond; stem is used two types, both with four arms: one is
to make a basket. red and covered in poisonous spikes,
the other is blue and has spikes on its
U5 Things that are bad for you back.
thgumga n. fish sp.; two types of
achlachuas n. grass sp.; tends to grow
stonefish: one is a saltwater fish and a
in old gardens; the seeds stick to your
good eating fish, the other lives in
legs.
fresh water; both are brown and can
achririaski n. poisonous centipede. sting with poisonous spines.
amnggaricha n. tree sp.; has soft
wood; makes you itch.
athmga n. poisonous scorpion.

445
V Thinking, perception and attention

V THINKING, PERCEPTION AND V1.4 Smell

ATTENTION
prn dm vt. sniff; smell.
V1 Sense and perception prn svt vt. smell.

V1.1 Seeing V1.5 Physical sensations

ben sachong sa-vi. 1 spy on. auluvk tm vi-so. feel cold. Usage: Only
2 check with a glance. refers to a thing or another person.
bn slp sangglm mes vt. check nder na vi-so. be uncomfortable because
something for ones own satisfaction. something is too tight.
bing dm vt. spy. tk vt vt. feel.

binggi vt. look. Gram: Takes a location PP as a tnari vt. feel.

complement. tusachus sa-vi. be irritating; feel un-
binggi svt vt. peep; peek. comfortable.
donbathm n vt. check; examine.
V2 Cognition
don meng vt. check.
drm na vt. recognise. V2.1 Mental states
naingm sa-vi. 1 look around. 2 see. addn adj. confused; delirious; crazy;
3 watch. insane; altered psychological states in
naingim pt vt. watch. general.
nathong sa-vi. look away; hide ones asevaik pt vi-so. be happy; be joyful.
face. ddn vi-so. 1 be confused. 2 be in-
ngiem sa-vi. look; search. sane; crazy. 3 be delirious.
ngiem nani sa-vi. look for. ddn'gi n. madness.

ngim mk sa-vi. search around. manggar nas na vi-so. feel calm.

sachongachi n. gaze. ngiem sravo adv. look worried; look
surprised; look shocked; people look
tk svt vt. point at.
like this, e.g. if there is a fight hap-
tlu vt. see. pening but no-one knows what is go-
tlu da vt. notice. ing on.
tlu wirp vi-so. glimpse; catch sight of srmn vt. surprise.
something because it moves. srmn vt vi-so. be surprised.

V1.2 Hearing tu av snng mamr sa-vi. calm down;

settle down; relax.
tnari vt. hear.
V2.2 Mental processes and experiences
tnarimanas sa-vi. listen.
tnarimanas t vt. listen. alek mt vi-so. relent; be compassionate.
tnarimunanas sa-vi. listen. amasithmgi n. dream.

amrvs pt vi-so. feel peaceful.

V1.3 Tasting
amusnng n. 1 idea; thought.
ts nthm vt. taste. 2 plan.
tnari vt. taste. bang pt vi-so. remember.
bna vt. make someone else guess.

446
 W Handling and physical transfer

don vt. subtract. arura nmni ivtki athva sek n.

drm sa-vi. understand. history.

drm vt. know. asecha svt kama ivtki n. geogra-

phy.
drmanas na vt. recognise; know.
buchm n. book.
drm na vt. recognise.
chvlki n. chapter.
drm svanas sa-vi. realise.
chernas adj. difficult; hard.
malngeik n. belief.
sot na sunaski sa-vi. graduate.
matma n. multiplication.
su vt. 1 try. 2 teach.
mat malngeik na vt. believe.
suchut nanas mt vt. try.
matmt n. division.
sunas vt. learn; train; study.
neknochi n. misery; distress; suffering
in either an emotional or financial sunaski n. school.
sense. sunaski at kvl n. lesson.
pat pthanas sa-vi. forget. tlngm n. book.
sachong n. vision; dream; daydream. tnp n vt. translate.

sari vi-so. forget. tuchun mes vt. instruct.

slamen dm vt. 1 read. 2 count. vandi disc. try to. Gram: Desiderative marker.
slameng vt vt. read.

sndamr vt. be aware. W HANDLING AND PHYSICAL

TRANSFER
snngacha n. idea.
suchut m vt. measure. W0 General
suk dm vt. forget.
tk na vt. process.
tares svt vt. note.
tlu ma vt. prepare.
tchm svthanas vt. realise.
tlu manas sa-vi. get ready; prepare
tp ma musnng vt. 1 plan. 2 have oneself.
an idea.
tu manas sa-vi. prepare oneself; get
tes vt vt. read.
ready.
tneng dm vt. choose.
tu av snng vt. think.
W1 Taking, touching, obtaining
tu av snng mamr sa-vi. calm down; bang bt vt. take without permission.
settle down; relax. dn pt sa-vi. reach; arrive.
vlchachi n. 1 choice; preference. dn vt vt. find.
2 wish.
don mt vt. put on.
V2.3 Knowledge and learning kthep vt. 1 grab. 2 catch.
achrnas mt vi-so. be hard; be difficult. kut vt. catch; specifically an eagle
catching its prey.
achrnas pt vi-so. try hard.
lel tm vt. gather.
alengeiki n. truth. Gram: No plural form.
mangas vt. fetch water. Usage: Takes the
amundrm n. knowledge.
receptacle, such as a bucket, as the
angelka vm vi-so. be clever. direct object.
angelki n. knowledge. par s vt. pull in a fish; refers to a fish

447
W Handling and physical transfer

which is caught on a hook. bananas you were planning to pick but

pdm vi-so. pinch; nip. someone came along and took them.

pk sa-vi. fetch water. W2 Holding, carrying,

pr vt. 1 get something out of a pocket moving something around
or a similar place. 2 put; e.g. to put
someone in a particular place. bn ma vt. pile up.
peramr vt vt. pick out the good ones bon vt. thatch; put leaves on a roof.
from a set of things. dn s vt. arrive with; bring.
pr m vt. grab; catch; kidnap. don ma vt. heap up.
pr tm vt. grab; catch; kidnap. don ma sa-vi. clear land for a new gar-
sangar vt. arrest. den.
sas t vt. 1 dig out. 2 remove. don mt vt. wear.

suchut nanas mt vt. try on; e.g. try kuer s vt. lead.
new clothes on yourself. kut vt. serve.
svo sa-vi. steal. kut vt. stack.
svo t vt. steal. lvur t vt. overturn.
tar tm vt. 1 remove; take off. nasek vt. lift up.
2 uncover. navar n vt. pull; hold tight in a stretch.
tat vt. get. nunggring mt vt. turn inside out.
tk vt. wear; specifically the apron of ngerik ta vt. hold on to.
leaves worn by women at the front of
their bodies. ngim melia vi-sa. roll over; flip.

tk vt vt. touch.
ngim melia vt. roll over; flip.

tr vt. pull out. pai s vt. blow.

travt sa-vi. weed.

pali vt. roll.

travt s vt. remove.

parat vt. mess up; displace.

tt s vt. get.
par dm vt. drag.
par s vt. lead.
tthanas t vt. help oneself; to take
something without permission. peneng dm s vt. make a bed; make a
platform.
tvaik tm vt. remove.
pr ma vt. pull along.
tik vt. get down.
ploltem sa vt. remove; take off.
tik s vt. pick.
sangar vt. hold.
tik tm vt. 1 pick. 2 break.
3 snap off.
sangar pt vt. hold on to.

trut n vt. put in; push in. sangar tm vt. hold on to.

tu vt. 1 put. 2 wear; put on. sek vt. 1 lift. 2 raise. 3 pick up.

tu sa sothana n vt. change; especially slamr vm vt. 1 fix. 2 tidy.

of changing clothes. tair s vt. make stand.
tusamon dm n vt. collect; gather tal vt. 1 carry. 2 move.
things together. tat mt vt. scatter.
vesnas sa-vi. find nothing where you tchp vt. fill.
expect to find something; e.g. ripe
tk ma vt. heap up.

448
 X Impact and surface contact

tk pm vt. shove. tk n vt. send.

tr vt. 1 uproot. 2 clear; especially tn vt. hang.
of small weeds etc. tt pthik tm vt. 1 let go of.
travt sa-vi. weed. 2 drop.
ts tm vt. shake. tneng n vt. spread.
tnp na vt. mix. tnp na vt. mix.
tnp n vt. turn. tnp n vt. tip out.
tns vt. pack; put in. tor na sa-vi. pour.
thoret vt. drag. tunaik na vt. 1 put in place. 2 leave.
thoret sa-vi. crawl. tuthik namt vt. throw something at
vanim vt. roll around; turn over; e.g. someone; shoot.
movements of waves and fabric.
X IMPACT AND SURFACE CONTACT
W3 Letting go, giving, leave be
X0 General
bon vt. give.

bon dm vt. pay. avinos vi-so. vandalise.

don vt. throw away. bal tm vt. knock over.

don vt. bring in; specifically the sea bon mt vt. break apart, of taro or
throwing things onto the shore. bread.
don ma sa-vi. throw away; abandon. bong vt. hit.

don n vt. throw. dng vt. process; specifically to scrape

the skin off wood fibre to make it silky
kir vt. 1 push away. 2 clear away.
for rolling into string.
kirms t vt. push away.
enmula sa-vi. make the sound of a bang.
kuasin na vt. toss; especially referring
kutik namt vt. poke repeatedly; stab
to throwing liquid from a container.
repeatedly.
kuasin svt vt. splash.
kut ithm vt. lean on.
kulel vt. 1 leave. 2 throw away.
kut mes vt. shoot randomly.
kut dm vt. get rid of.
lr dm vi-so. break up.
lel s vi-so. pour out; run out; spill out.
lr dm vt. 1 tear. 2 split.
lel tm vi-so. drain out.
lr mt vi-so. torn.
lmu vt. leave.
lr snas sa-vi. split apart; as when
nasek vt. lift up. something breaks up from within.
ngis adv. aside. lik mt vt. 1 rip off; tear off. 2 split;
pt vt. bury. break apart.
preng vt. spread. lik s vt. break or tear off something
sruk vt. pour; spill; tip out; specifically small.
of dry things such as gravel. mbeng vt. break.

sur n vt. push. pai sa-vi. land heavily.

tar s vt. pour out; especially of water pai dm vt. 1 hit at. 2 kick.
from a tap. pai mt vt. slap.
tat mt vt. divide. pai vt vt. slap.

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X Impact and surface contact

pai vthanas sa-vi. slap oneself. kut ma vt. draw.

pk mt vi-so. break. kut m vt. spear.
pk tm vt. break. kut pt vt. write.
pl mni vi-so. snap. kutgil tm vt. butcher; chop.
pl mt vi-so. break off. lmr dm vt. carve.
pl s vi-so. be broken. lr dm vt. chop.
pl tm vi-so. be broken; be bent over; mnaing mt vt. sharpen.
be flattened out; e.g. of grass that has nges mt vt. dig a new hole where there
been walked on. was not one before.
pl vt vi-so. break. pai dm pt vt. crucify.
pnak dm vt. bend; use force to bend pai dm s vt. hammer.
something.
puk mt vt. fire a gun.
prk mt vt. rip.
sm vt. trim; especially of hair.
purk mt vt. break open.
sur vt. be blindfolded.
sar s vt. 1 mess up. 2 knock over.
tap sa-vi. make a cut.
ser sa-vi. knock; tap; e.g. by hitting a
drum. tanger vt vt. spear.

slavo na vt. damage.

tap s vt. 1 cut down; especially of
trees; also used to refer to the act of
tigil mt vt. split. clearing an area of bush. 2 cut off.
tik s vt. knock down. tms vt vt. carve.
tu vt.shoot; throw something at some- tp vt. cut.
one.
tp ma vt. carve.
tu mamr sna na vt. level; straighten.
tpms vt vt. sharpen.
tuthik mna vt. shoot at.
tigil s vt. chop up.
ther d vt. crumble.
tigl tm vt. 1 split. 2 cut up.
vathik pt vt. hit; e.g. bash a fish
against the reef to make it die. tuchun vt. hit.

vathik tm vt. hit a person; strike. tu na vt. shoot with.

X1 With an instrument X2 Due to pressure

bn vt. ring a bell. bing mni vt. break or snap; especially

of a rope.
bor mt vt. bore.
bon mt vt. break apart, of taro or
del vt vt. tap; e.g. hitting a galip nut bread.
(Canarium indicum).
mathaneng adv. pressing down.
del vt s vi-so. strike.
pais vt. crush.
krtp mn na vt. slice into.
pn dm vi-so. bite someone out of an-
krtp mt vt. chop; cut up. ger.
krtp pt vt. 1 chop off; e.g. to strip a puk tm sa-vi. shatter; burst.
tree back to its trunk. 2 butcher;
e.g. of a pig or a fish. purk mni vi-so. puncture.

krtp s vt. cut.

pus mk vi-so. explode.

kut vt. 1 pierce. 2 spear. 3 inject. pus pm vi-so. erupt; burst out.

450
 X Impact and surface contact

tanger vt vt. snap; break off. X4 Surface contact

tares vt. press.
bang vt vt. run over.
tepmuan vt. squeeze.
bias vt. step on.
tepmuan s vt. press.
gueng vt. scrape.
tnes vt. bite.
gueng bt vt. 1 scrape. 2 rub.
X3 Sticking, tying, untying kiar sa-vi. scrape; specifically the dance
step when you scrape your feet along
bn dmna n vt. join. the ground.
bn mt vt. join. kiar vt vt. scrape something like a taro
bn mtna n vt. join together. while roasting it.
bng bt vt. 1 wrap up. 2 cover. kumer vm vt. clean.

bing vt. roll; specifically to twist string lmr vt. clean thoroughly.
used to make net bags (bilums). lmr nas sa-vi. clean oneself thor-
deng vt. twist together; e.g. to make a oughly.
strong rope out of finer ones. lul pt vi-so. be grazed; be scratched.
dingdm pt vi-so. stick. lul s sa-vi. graze; scratch; scrape.
kethik mt vt. bind. lulul pt vi-so. be scratched up.
kethik pt vt. tie. paithm vt. pat.
kethik sthm vt. fasten. plikdm vi-so. slip away.
kethik tm vt. tie on. plik s vi-so. slip over.
kop dm vt. hang up. pel vt vt. 1 rub. 2 wipe.
kop mni vt. fasten. schup vt. sweep.
kop s vt. tie up. schup mt vt. cross out.
kutm s vt. sew. schup pt vt. sweep.
masar mt vt. weave; making a net bag schup s vt. erase.
(bilum) or weaving a net. sek d vt. husk coconuts.
paim vt. fold.
sek pt vt. peel; e.g. a banana or an
paim m vt. wind around. orange.
pais pt vt. tie up. sem bt vt. peel; e.g. taro or sweet po-
psding mt vt. cover. tato (kaukau).
ploltem s vt. loosen. ser tm vt. shell; e.g. peanuts, beans
etc.
pusnas pt vt. shelter.
sup vm vt. lick.
pustm vt vt. cover.
tp m chdenggi sa-vi. keep clean.
ser vt. weave; process of making a blind
or a basket. tthuk vi-so. slide; especially of some-
thing like a landslide.
tar tm vt. 1 remove; take off.
2 uncover. tneng n vt. rub; massage.
tvaik tm vt. 1 loosen. 2 unwrap. tor vt. wash.

tu mrang dm vt. cover. tor sa-vi. 1 bathe. 2 swim.

451
Y Speed, manner and relative time

Y SPEED, MANNER AND RELATIVE madng adv. 1 carelessly.

TIME 2 unconcernedly.
mamr adv. properly.
Y0 General
mamor adv. 1 strongly. 2 hard.
arembm n. source; cause; reason. 3 loudly. 4 fast; quickly.
5 brightly.
aremgi n. source; cause; reason.
marik disc. truly; really.
as disc. just.
marik adv. 1 straight. 2 properly;
askok disc. just. Gram: Atelic realis.
accurately.
avik dem. like that. Gram: Adverbial distal
maschas adv. clearly; describes how
demonstrative.
someone is speaking.
kinak interj. yes; all right.
masechen adv. sideways.
klan adv. like; likewise.
maslevr adv. roughly; carelessly.
klan adv. 1 only. 2 just. 3 for
mavrt adv. suddenly; urgently; do
nothing; with nothing.
something without any warning and
kok disc. just. give someone a shock.
koki disc. also; similarly. mavo adv. badly.
kusek adv. only; just. mual tm vi-so. slow down.
maru adv. really. nasothana adv. one after another.
moki disc. that also; that similarly; that nia modal. just; suddenly; surprisingly.
another. Gram: Mirative marker with present tense or
nemenia adv. instead. past tense verbs.

ngis adv. different. pathm mes sa-vi. do unhurriedly; do in

ones own time.
sok disc. really; truly.
sdamr adv. correctly; right.
taithik dem. just like this. Gram: Emphatic
adverbial proximate demonstrative. srpm na vi-so. stop suddenly; stop
with a jolt; e.g. when a car brakes
Y1 Speed and manner suddenly.
sskpes adv. readily; easily.
asok mt vi-so. be challenging; e.g. a
game. set adv. very fast.
chlak adv. softly. tchasp sa-vi. get up early.
chernas adj. difficult; hard. tir sa-vi. grow fast.
chernas pt vi-so. be difficult; be hard. thi sa-vi. do quickly.
dalias adv. squatting. vatkivatki na vi-so. walk clumsily; es-
pecially to describe a person walking
dngbm na vi-so. stop suddenly.
along and looking down as they walk.
doki adv. similarly.
iri ma adv. very fast. Y2 Relative time and duration
ivit adv. along. as disc. 1 still. 2 yet.
kut mes vt. shoot randomly. asik disc. future; when. Gram: Irrealis
liver sa-vi. hurry. marker.

machlak machlak adv. slowly. asip disc. later.

machuisr adv. diagonally. askok disc. 1 still. Gram: Atelic realis.

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 Y Speed, manner and relative time

2 yet. Gram: Atelic realis. finish.

gl kuvet dir. be near to. ve sa-vi. be there. Gram: May function as minor
ivit ivit adv. continuously; on and on. verb in serial verb construction encoding im-
perfective aspect.
kvs interrog. when.
kvsnia interrog. when. Y3 Serialisation
kinas disc. just; recently.
benaseng sa-vi. start; begin.
klan adv. at the time; when.
chule adv. later.
kutik namt vt. poke repeatedly; stab
ddng n. finish.
repeatedly.
ddng na vi-so. be last.
likdm vi-so. at once; in no time; imme-
diately. Gram: Encodes punctual aspect in denachi sa-vi. start.
sentence initial position. Always seems to take dng n. end.
a third person masculine singular subject.
dng adv. until.
malilu adv. many times. dule coord. and then.
masgvs adv. at once; immediately. er adv. first.
maulul adv. long time. ithik dem. now. Gram: Adverbial proximate
mavrt adv. suddenly; urgently; do demonstrative.
something without any warning and kinasa disc. already.
give someone a shock.
kok disc. already.
mchvs adv. sometime.
kosa disc. just; simply; as the result of
mrmr adv. always. something undesirable having hap-
mt prep. during; on. Gram: This sense pened.
available with temporal expressions.
kuaithu interj. Not yet!
milani adv. yesterday.
kuer sa-vi. go first; lead.
mok disc. that just. machlan beia subord. when.
mumunatm vi-so. keep sleeping. maila chuvsnia disc. 1 the other day.
namu sa-vi. continue. Gram: May function as 2 last time.
minor verb in serial verb construction encoding
mali disc. before; earlier.
durative aspect.
maunmlm adv. twice.
namu sna sa-vi. keep struggling; e.g. in
a fight or in a sporting competition. mchvs adv. 1 sometimes.
2 again.
nasot adv. later.
mndu disc. 1 before. 2 long ago.
np prep. during.
mir disc. long ago.
sa disc. for a while. Gram: In clause final po-
sition.
mithu disc. later on.

sai sai adv. repeatedly; again and again. mubang adv. 1 tomorrow. 2 next
day.
snas adv. forever.
naruer adv. first; firstly.
skoi disc. still not.
naruer vi-so. be first.
taithik dem. right now. Gram: Emphatic
adverbial proximate demonstrative.
naruer veia adv. before.

tevuit mo dir. forever more. nasot dir. behind.

tu dng vt. 1 interrupt. 2 fail to nasot adv. 1 last. 2 after. 3 after-

wards.

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Y Speed, manner and relative time

niavi sa-vi. about to arrive. ously.

sa disc. 1 then. Gram: Clause initial discourse thuer sa-vi. 1 go first. 2 go ahead.
marker. Introduces a new event frame. 3 go in front.
2 so. uer adv. before.
3 already. Gram: Resultative marker.
sai disc. again.
Y4 Degree

saisa adv. later on again. kinak disc. just.

sai sai adv. repeatedly; again and again. machlak adv. little bit.
savuit adv. first. mamor adv. excessively; very much;
sdamr veia adv. at the same time as; terribly.
while. masa disc. 1 certainly. 2 very much;
sr adv. first. a lot. Gram: In clause final position only.
ser ma vi-so. first. mo adv. all.

sna adv. 1 altogether. 2 simultane- sangel kuvt adv. almost.

454