Baaba ana talisi ana buki

Vavahan u hol 
wana kom elana. 
Pour 
the hot water into his cup.
 
Bagol i hol likalika 
guledau gamwanaa. 
The 
waves were washing over 
into the canoe.
 
hona
  
push
. 
Tulak wana endin i 
bolu  yaka  hi  hone. 
The 
truck's engine stopped so 
they pushed it.
 
hopahopa
  
lips
. 
Galok hoho-
pena i bon. 
The girl's 
lips have sores on them.
 
hot
  
very, real, true
. 
I waisi 
hot. 
It is very good.
 
Ateu 
hot owa 
Thank you very 
much.
 
houhouwena
  
first, early
. 
Bateli houhouwena ana 
papasi-kal i pulowan. 
Translat-ing the Old 
Testament is hard.
 
Sauga 
houhouwena hot 
In the 
very early times/in the 
past
 
houwa
  
(go) first, firstly
. 
Ahili 
ta an houwan 
The pig 
stew made from its 
intestines is the first thing 
to be eaten.
 
howa
  
pierce, spear (to), 
injection, She went to see 
the aid post orderly and 
got an injection.
 
Gau i 
ahe bobu i howa. 
He got 
a spear and speared the 
pig.
 
I na medikol elana 
yaka howahowa i ahe. 
hua
  
angry (be), anger
. 
Wana 
huga i mweyaha. 
She is 
quickly angered.
 
Tinena i 
lut, i huga natuna elana 
yaka i nibihi. 
She got 
angry (her stomach woke 
up) at her son so she beat 
him.
 
hul
  
mother's breast, milk 
from the breast
. 
Hul u 
pek wa-waya ni im, i 
galebu. 
Give your breast 
to the child to drink, she 
is hungry.
 
Galok ya 

44 
hulina abwe i pit. 
The 
girl's breasts have just 
developed.
 
huwal
  
comb (to), comb (a)
. 
Huwal u ahe kaunum u 
huwal. 
Get the comb and 
comb your hair.
 
huwo
  
there
. 
Buki ga? Iya 
huwoko... 
Where is the 
book? It's over there.
 
Variant: hiwo. 
 
I  -  i 
 
i
  
he, she, it
. 
Lagona abwe i 
vin. 
His wife just arrived.
 
io
  
bamboo
. 
ik
  
cut down several trees
. 
I 
na uleya ebwakil i ik, 
wana limi ana ginol. 
He 
went to bush and cut 
down trees for use as his 
house timbers.
 
ike
  
see, visit someone
. 
Variant: kite. 
im
  
drink
. 
Tab i bosowaina 
wewel etega nu pem na 
im? 
Could you give me 
some water to drink?
 
imomona
  
sharp
. 
Kaini 
imomona. 
A sharp knife
 
imu
  
sharp
. 
(be) 
Gau i imu te. 
The spear is sharp!
 
imwim
  
drinking, (be) drink 
beer
. 
Toimwim hi im 
kokona bulina. 
The 
drunkards got very drunk 
during the night.
 
ine
  
is that right? (showing 
surprise)
. 
Ine alou, nolu 
u na Bwagaoia? 
Is that 
right my friend, did you 
go to Bwagaoia 
yesterday?
 
inoke
  
and then, and so, 
therefore
. 
Ebw'akil ya 
ah'e, ya n'e wan'uka 
el'ana in'oke i l'ou. 
I got 
a stick, shook it at the 
dog and it ran away.
 
isela
  
decorate, dressed up
.
 (be)
 
Yowau hi isela bubun 
sagasaga kaiwena. 
The 
women have decorated 
themselves well for the 
dance.
 
itawa
  
fish with spear
. 
Gemanau 
hi na hi itawa hogaa. 
The young boys went 
fishing with a spear in the 
sea.
 
iwas
  
untangle, (second) mor-
tuary feast in a series
. 
Yawon i samwa-
yagayaga, ta iwas. 
The 
fishing line is tangled, 
let's untangle it.
 
iwauka
  
hunt with dogs
. 
Nolu 
ha na ha iwauka yaka 
bobu etega ha lol. 
Yesterday we went 
hunting and killed a pig.
 
iya
  
he/him, she/her, it
. 

45 
iyahe
  
over here
. 
Buki iyahe te. 
The book is over here.
 
iyaho/iyoho
  
over there
. 
Tab 
gamagal etega iyoho 
limiya? 
Is there anyone 
over there in the house?
 
iyaka
  
already
. 
Iyaka wali 
tuwalali hi pwamowasi? 
Have they already 
finished their work?
 
 
K  -  k 
 
kaba
  
kind of
. 
Hauna kaba 
kasiyebwa? 
What kind of 
sickness?
 
kabole
  
sago, sago palm
. 
Kabole ebo hi vikuhu 
alona niu ge hi liga, 
amnana i waisi. 
If they 
mix sago with coconut 
and cook it, it tastes 
good.
 
Ta na ta 
awakabole. 
Let's go and 
make sago.
 
kahin
  
cry, crying
. 
Wawaya i 
kahin, anana i bwata. 
The child is crying, with 
a loud voice.
 
Wana 
kahikahin i esowal hot. 
She cries too much.
 
Kokoleko i kahin. 
The 
rooster is crowing.
 
kai
  
blind
. 
Matana i kai. 
She 
is blind.
 
kaini
  
knife
. 
Kaini kekeisi i but 
hot. 
The little knife is 
very blunt.
 
kaini
  
cut (flesh)
. 
Bobu hi 
kaine. 
They cut up the 
pig.
 
Yova kakaini i ahe. 
The woman had an 
operation.
 
kaise
   
refuse, deny someone 
something
. 
Wana bugul i 
kaise nige i pepek 
tubuna elana. 
He 
refused to give his 
possession to his 
grandson.
 
kaiwa 
  
because
. 
Hi nem 
kaiwemiu. 
They came 
for your sake.
 
Ami kaiwa 
te hi nem e. 
They came 
for you.
 
kakanun
  
picture, photo, 
shadow, Stand there 
while I take your photo.
 
Ku talmilil ga, 
kakanunumiu na gube. 
kakawi
  
(tell a) lie, deceive, 
trick, trickery
. 
Lokakakawi iya pagan 
nanakina. 
Lying is a bad 
habit.
 
U kakaweyau. 
You 
lied to me.
 
Bahi nu 
kukululuwek yabowaine 
kakakawel elal. 
Don't 
worship false gods.
 
kala
  
without (be), short (be), 
lack
. 
Nige luvi etega i 

46 
gagan elau ya kala hot. 
I 
don't have any sweetness/ 
sugar, I am really short.
 
kalakalas
  
hot (be)
. 
Panuwa i 
kalakalas kaiwena 
sabwe-lu i yana nabi. 
The village is hot because 
the sun is shining a lot.
 
kalaopop
  
full (be)
. 
Wewel i 
kalaopop ulugomwa 
elana yaka i maligin. 
The water in the bucket is 
full, and it's overflowing.
 
Yaliyaya i kalaopopwi. 
She is filled with joy.
 
kalapanet
  
cross over (of water, 
life), die, transfer
. 
Wewel 
ya kalapanetan. 
I 
crossed over the river.
 
kalas
  
burn something, burn 
someone with fire, burnt 
up, burn yourself
. 
Nimwau i kalas. 
I burnt 
my hand (my hand is 
burnt).
 
Laesi i kalas, 
ulun gunina i pap. 
The 
rice is burnt and the 
bottom of the claypot is 
sticky.
 
kalehe
  
mango
. 
kaliko
  
material, clothes
. 
No 
kaliko na senisi ga. 
I'll 
change my clothes first.
 
kalipoi
  
mortar and pestel for 
grinding up betel nut, 
grind up betel nut with 
powder
. 
Toliki i misiyo 
ge i kalipoi. 
The old man 
sat down and ground up 
his betel nut.
  Variant: 
kalidoi. 
kalivai
  
carry, load
. 
U labeyau 
dis ta kalivai. 
Help me to 
carry the dish.
 
Ana 
kalikalivai i pulowan. 
She carries a load (her 
load is heavy); She has a 
lot of problems.
 
kalolu
  
(kind of edible) greens
. 
Kalolu u labu ligaliga 
kaiwena. 
Pick the greens 
for cooking.
 
kamakuku 
  
orange, citrus 
fruit
. 
kamkam
  
hen, rooster
. 
Kamkam 
aanan hi somwi. 
Chickens are eating the 
food.
 
kamwasa
  
path, way, road, 
transport, (go to the) 
toilet
. 
Kamwasa u pan-
kiteyau. 
Show me the 
path.
 
Wawaya nuwa-na 
ni kakamwasa. 
The child 
wants to go to the toilet.
 
Na na ga kamwa-saa. 
I 
will go to the toilet (to 
the path).
 
Sauga ya 
kamwasa i pulowan. 
At 
this time it's hard to get 
transport.
 
kanonom 
  
spider
. 
Ululu i pap 
kanonom wana 
nawinawi elana. 
The fly 
stuck to the spiderweb.
 
 
 
 
 
 
kaoma
  
steal, rob, theft
. 
Kaoma 
i gasisi hot eyowaa. 
Lots 
of thieving is going on in 
the gardens.
 
Galok no 

47 
kaliko i kaome. 
The girl 
stole my clothes.
 
kasiyebwa
  
sickness, illness, 
sick (be)
. 
Wana 
kasiyebwa abwe i 
mowasi, iyaka i molu. 
Her sickness has just 
finished, she is well.
 
Taliu i kasiyebwa nabi, 
kelau-bwa ni aliga. 
My 
sister was very sick, she 
almost died.
 
kasu
  
smoke, (to be made) 
smoky, There is a great 
deal of smoke inside the 
house.
 
Hiwo kasona i 
balu hot limi 
gamwanaa. 
kaubwa
  
short (be), lack
. 
Wana 
kaubwa i gan. 
He is 
lacking (in certain 
things).
 
Iya tau 
kaukaubwaina. 
He is a 
short man.
 
kauli
  
lime
. 
Kauli ana galeleu u 
payane sabweluwa. 
Put 
the lime pouch out in the 
sun (so it won't get 
damp).
 
kaun
  
head, head up
. 
Kaunum 
hi tomwa lowan. 
They 
trimmed your hair.
 
Iya 
wala boda i kauni. 
He is 
the head of our group.
 
kaus
  
close (to), obstruct (to), 
hide from view, closure
. 
Bahi matamiu naha 
mimikaus. 
Don’t let us 
obstruct your view.
 
Mande abwe abavavasili 
nihi kaukaus. 
They will 
close up on Monday.
 
Laewa ana kaukaus tab 
u atena? 
Do you know 
how to finish off weaving 
the mat?
 
kaval
  
carry, carry on shoulders, 
load (that is carried)
. 
Am 
kaval i pulowan. 
Your 
load is heavy.
 
Wawaya u 
kavalai vevelamwa. 
Carry the child on your 
shoulders.
 
Variant: 
kalivai. 
kawananana
  
(cause) stinging, 
sting (to)
. 
Seyala ebo ta 
an nasi gamwala ni 
kawa-nanana hot. 
If we 
eat chili the inside of our 
mouth will really sting.
 
kaya
  
fire
. 
Kaya u ton ni tau 
bubun. 
Light the fire so 
it will burn well.
 
kehe
  
rain, wet with rain (be)
. 
Kehe i mimilaulau, yaka 
banata i sani. 
The rain 
continued to come down 
and it was flooding.
 
Ebo 
kaliko nu eguluwana 
noleleya, nasi kehe ni 
kehi. 
If you leave the 
clothes outside, then the 
rain will wet them.
 
Tab u 
an kehe? 
Did you get 
wet (by the rain)?
 
kekehe
  
(temporary) baskets 
made out of coconut 
leaves
. 
Tonowak etega 
bagiyewa lamwana i 
gove wana kekehe i 
palul. 
A man cut coconut 
leaves and wove his 
basket.
 
kekeisi
  
small, little
. 
Buki 

48 
kekeisi ana liwaliwan i 
waisi. 
The stories in the 
small book are good.
 
Hauna sauga ni nem? 
Sauga kekeisi ya. 
When 
will he come? In just a 
little while.
 
Wawaya i 
kekeisisi hot, abwe hi 
ab ya. 
The child is very 
small, she was just born.
 
Kusai u tomwa 
pakekeisisi. 
Cut up the 
kusai (for cooking) very 
small.
 Variant: kekeisisi. 
kekepa
  
dried up (of water)
. 
Wewel abwe i kekepa 
kaiwena yaumai 
bwabwa-tana hot. 
The 
spring has dried up 
because (we have had) a 
huge drought.
 
keketina
   
red
. 
kela
  
path, road, way
. 
Limi 
kekeisi ana kela ga? 
Where is the path to the 
toilet?
 
kelaubwa
  
near (be), nearly
. 
Wana limi i kelaubwa, 
nige ana bwaga i gagan. 
His house is nearby, it's 
not very far.
 
Kelaubwa ni 
gaisogu. 
She nearly fell 
down.
 
kemanana
  
chili
. 
Kemanana i 
kawananana. 
The chili is 
hot.
 
ken
  
dig, dig up (of food)
. 
Kenken ana sauga. 
The 
time for digging up yams.
 
Evenak i laken hagali 
kaiwena. 
The woman is 
digging yams for a 
hagali.
 
kenu
  
sleep
. 
Wawayau ga nihi 
kenu abwe ta mina-
mina, ta liwaliwan. 
Get 
the children to sleep first 
then let’s sit around and 
talk.
 
Matau kekenona 
nige ga i momowasi. 
My 
sleepiness is not yet 
finished.
 
kenukenu
  
(have a) sleep, 
(have) rest
. 
Ya na ya 
kenukenu no abakenu 
elana. 
I went and had a 
rest on my bed.
 
kenumu
  
axe
. 
ket
  
red (be)
. 
Matana i ket. 
His eyes are red (from 
conjunctivitis).
 
kevakeva
  
dry (be)
. 
Kaliko tab 
i kevakeva? 
Are the 
clothes dry?
 
kewa
  
carry on the shoulders, 
carry a pig on a pole
. 
Gemanau bobu etega hi 
kewa hi houwa gama-
galau elal. 
The young 
men carrying the pig 
went ahead of the people.
 
ki
  
chew (sugar cane)
. 
kibwa
  
pick fruit
. 
U na ga 
bwamosi nu kibwa, 
iyaka hi boisi. 
Go and 
pick the pawpaws, they 
are already ripe.
 
kidikidi
  
(Chinese) taro, Taro 

49 
Kongkong
. 
kiki
  
sugar cane
. 
Kiki u pem 
na kiki. 
Give me the 
sugar cane, I will chew it.
 
kikital
  
mushroom
. 
kila
  
we/us, including the 
hearer
. 
Nige ama wama 
bugul i oola, yaa kila 
wala bugul, iyaka ha 
talamwan. 
This is not 
just our thing, it is for all 
of us, we have said so.
 
kilepa
  
knife (bush), machete
. 
Wana kilepa i imu hot. 
His bushknife is very 
sharp.
 
kin
  
bundle (of wood, sago), 
(to) bundle together, 
summarise, summary
. 
Nasi kin ehila ge abwe 
limi ta pwamowasi? 
How many more bundles 
(of sago leaves) will it 
take to finish the house?
 
Wala nuwatu ta kin 
pamaisena. 
Let's 
summarise our thoughts.
 
kinai
  
nut (kind of edible), tree 
(kind of)
. 
Kinai hi 
ambub. 
They are 
cracking open the outside 
husk of the kinai.
 
kisakisa
  
eagle
. 
kite
  
see, look at, visit, realise
. 
Gamagal toto o abwe ya 
kite pamaisena. 
I only 
just saw that person for 
the first time.
 
Wam kite 
pwawa ga i ola? 
What 
have you discovered 
(what is your look-find 
like)?
 
koiman
  
ant (red), ants (red) 
on/in it
. 
Kaliko ya 
payane nole-leya, iyaka 
i koiman. 
I hung the 
clothes up outside, so 
now they have red ants 
on them.
 
koka
  
eel found in the sea
. 
kokola
  
post
. 
kokoleko
    
rooster
. 
Kokoleko 
i kahin mweluluga 
kekei-si elana. 
The 
rooster crowed in the 
early morning.
 
kokona
  
mad, crazy, mad 
person
. 
Ebo bia hi im, hi 
kokokona. 
If they drink 
beer, they will act like 
crazy people.
 
kokoyavi
  
afternoon
. 
Nasi 
koko-yavi na nem. 
I will 
come this afternoon.
 
kol
  
scrape a coconut, scratch
. 
Niu nu kol ga. 
Scrape the 
coconut first.
 
Bahi 
tuwam nu kokol eba ni 
bon. 
Don't scratch your 
skin, it might get sores on 
it.
 
kom
  
bent, crooked
. 
kom
  
coconut shell (half), cup
. 
komiu
  
you (plural)
. 
Nau ya 
egon, komiu nuku mina. 
I am going, you stay.
 

50 
konin
  
medicine, tablet
. 
kos
  
fish with a line, catch 
fish, fishing
. 
Hi na moti 
hi gewi hi kosil. 
They 
went and caught lots of 
fish.
 
Hi  na  hi  koskos. 
They went fishing.
 
kot
  
court (take to), judge
. 
Toginol naknak hi kotil. 
They made a judgement 
on the criminals.
 
kota
  
tie a rope around
. 
Bobu 
mwamwalina hi kota. 
They tied a rope around 
the pig's neck.
 
kowakowa
  
head
. 
Kokowau i 
lomwan. 
I have a head-
ache.
Kokowana hi 
tomwa .
He had a haircut 
(they cut his head).
 
koyai
  
last night
. 
Koyai ya 
minabi, nige etimwawa 
ya kekenu. 
I stayed up a 
while last night, I didn't 
go to sleep quickly.
 
ku
  
you (pl)
. 
Wawayau, ku 
egon ga, belo iyaka hi 
lol. 
Children, go now, 
they have rung the bell 
already.
 
kuibai
    
shellfish
. 
kuki
  
swing
. 
Bugul etega 
iyoho i kukuki 
hawawala. 
There is 
something over there 
swinging in space.
 
kuki
  
sail off, go off (by boat, 
plane, truck)
. 
Waga iyaka 
i kuki? 
Has the boat 
sailed?
 
kulawa
  
nut (kind of edible), 
tree
. 
kululu
  
bow down, bow the 
head in prayer
. 
Bahi ta 
kuku-luluek yabowaine 
kaka-kawena elal. 
We 
must not bow down to 
false gods.
 
kuluvi
    
spit
.