Semantic Fields

(Groups of words based on their meanings)

Body Parts ( = gupnin)

[first person plural forms]

   aamnin – face

   afaa – shoulder

   ambunin – body hair; fur; feathers

   andelak – pinky finger

   angguangguknin – ankle or wrist bone

   baanin – thigh

   benefe – palm (of hand or foot); sole

   benep kungkumiing – heart

   benepnin – liver

   benepnin faa – lungs

   biik – blood

   buanin – nape of the neck

   bupnin – torso

   dafunin – eye

   dafunin miam – eyebrow

   dalang – nail (of finger or toe); claw

   dalapnin – rib

   damanin – forehead

   dolo – armpit

   donomnin – mouth

   dunin – ear

   fafalang – cockatoo feathers

   feet – urine

   fli – wing; fin

   gadungnin – hip

   galammi – fish scales

   gebemembele – buttocks

   gengnin – jaw

   gibee – tail feathers

   gibek – faeces

   gigili – gums

   gulangi – object that protrudes from an animal's head, like a tusk or horn

   gupnin – skin

   kaitnin – arm

   kaligubang – head

   kangkalingnin – knee

   kakateknin – elbow

   kanfiding – hair that has been detached from the body

   kayabutnin – navel

   kolongnin – leg, including the foot

   kolongnin beknin – ankle

   koknin mii – stomach area

   koo – womb; internal organ

   koo ili – part of the body that covers the internal organs

   kook – faeces

   koo nanaa – intestines

   kopongnin – chest

   kotoknin – neck

   meenin – tooth

   meewong – breath

   membenin – tongue

   mendenin – back

   miam – hair on head, such as eyebrow or beard

   miing – thumb

   mom – breast

   mommi – nipple

   muk – pimple

   mun – ear area

   mundup – testicle

   naknakngi – oesophagus

   namitkalenin – cheek bone

   nangkapmuknin – throat

   puukpuuk – heartbeat

   sabut – bone

   salaa – external body part (hair, toe, finger); appendage

   tamanin – nose

   tabo – pus

   tusali – muscle

   uyangi – tail

   wong – sweat

   yalekobo – middle finger

   yaleyale – ring finger

   yegenin – calf; lower part of leg between knee and foot

   yomole – penis

Colour Terms

( = kodenkoden)

   faa – white

   fakotfakot – grey

   gegetaning – yellow

   giyonge – green

   gomone – red

   gonggomonyeng – pink

   kubuli – black; dark

   kukubityeng – blue

Kinship and Other Relationships

[first person plural forms]

   afa – grandfather; ancestor; grandson

   afetnin – daughter; female blood relation in the following generation (e.g. niece, cousin's daughter, etc.)

   alanin – grandchild; grandchild of one's brother or sister

   alung – clan

   amanin nanak – female's male sibling; brother; female's sister-in-law's husband

   ambek – grandmother; granddaughter

   anongnin – son; male blood relation in the following generation (e.g. nephew, cousin's son, etc.). Birth parents use the term nanak amani instead.

   apnin – husband

   Baa – name given to a fifth-born daughter; also used with tenth-born daughter

   Dabi – name given to a third-born daughter; also used with eighth-born daughter

   fuap kobolak – original ancestor of a particular clan

   fuapnin – ancestor

   Gek – name given to a third-born son; also used with seventh-born son

   Ine – name given to a second-born daughter; also used with seventh-born daughter

   ip – father-in-law; brother of one's spouse's parents; son-in-law; brother of one's son- or daughter-in-law

   kaanin – same generation male in-law; husband of someone's sister or brother of someone's wife

   Kaap – name given to a fourth-born daughter; also used with ninth-born daughter

   kadek – same generation female in-law; sister-in-law; daughter-in-law; child's spouse's sisters

   kangkaning – descendant

   kuyaknin – same-sex sibling; opposite sex sibling-in-law's spouse

   maanin – extended family, not including one's immediate family

   Mene – name given to a second-born son; also used with sixth and tenth-born son

   meng – mother; mother's sister or father's brother's wife; grandparents of wife

   Mok – name given to a first-born daughter; also used with sixth-born daughter

   nambonin – in-law from another generation; mother/father-in-law; son/daughter-in-law

   nanak – child

   nanaknin ibe – male's female sibling; sister; male's brother-in-law's wife

   nanak tamenin – daughter, as referenced by birth parents

   nemenin – father's sister's child; mother's brother's child; cousin

   nen – father; father's brother or mother's sister's husband; grandparents of husband

   oongnin – mother's brother; father's sister's husband; uncle

   samengsenen – parents; mothers and fathers

   Sawo – name given to a fourth-born boy; also used with eighth-born son

   tamonin – wife

   Tu – name given to first-born male child; also used with fifth, ninth, etc.

   waak – father's sister; mother's brother's wife; aunt

Biblical and Religious Key Terms

   Afini Baayabo – Exodus, the second book of the Old Testament

   Amun Man – Deuteronomy, the fifth book of the Old Testament

   aningge – holy

   aningge it – church building

   Aningge Wong – Holy Spirit

   ayung – kingdom

   bak – peace

   bangkup – communion

   benep ayun – repent

   benep gafuni – grace; kindness

   benep olone – love

   Benyele – Lord

   Bubusap – Christian

   bingam olone – Gospel; Scripture

   bungbaga – cross

   daanggidi ama – cherub

   daangkasaa man – law

   Dabote – Genesis, the first book of the Old Testament

   damenambaning – just; righteous

   dindilim – bondage of sin

   Dum Sese Fee – Leviticus, the third book of the Old Testament

   dum sese gelem – altar

   fee amanii – angel

   fee nanak – servant

   fop – cross

   gidongofongami – worship; honour

   gubam – heaven

   Ibot – God

   Ilangi bua – Easter

   iningkalehaning – apostle

   Iningkalehaning – Acts, the fifth book of the New Testament

   Inte Temek – Psalms

   kalis – chariot

   kasat faa – heaven

   kukuluk – sin

   kupmip – king

   Malan – Jesus

   man babaa ama – angel

   Man Bingam – Chronicles, two numbered books of the Old Testament

   mananin - joy

   mendekmendee – filthy; wicked

   nandembaamta – love

   nandendabli – obey

   nandengkumunta – believe; faith

   ninimbaamta – praise us

   Sadang – Satan

   sagua – prophet

   taantongkaat – disciple

   Tobole – Lord

   tontoong – parable

   tum – sin

   Ulak – Lord Most High; Creator

   usu – blessing

   usu ame gonggom – baptism

   usu ame gonggom tege – baptise

   utangi bingam kot – glory

   Utangi Taang – Numbers, the fourth book of the Old Testament

   wameng – sin

   yabodaningkale – judge

   yaboyaan feeni – reign

   Yawe – LORD; God's name in the Old Testament, Yahweh

   yesasa – pray

   yesefele – confess sins

   Yesu – Jesus

Fauna ( = kalem)

   but – pig

   but-dodoni – donkey

   but-fongolo tabaning – goat

   but-gafuni – sheep

   but-tobole – cow

   dafunggeng – small rodent species; bandicoot

   dinoop – bandicoot

   gepmeng – cuscus that lives in cold areas

   gisiba – bat

   gonggomon – rat with brown fur

   gusep – tree kangaroo

   inenggam – black cuscus

   kamok – big rat with white tail

   kamokbeng – kind of large rat

   kanum – large cuscus with rust-coloured fur and a bushy tail which lives in the bush

   kwegabuk – house rat

   kweham – small rat with grey fur

   kwesak – large bush rat with short nose

   maam – rodent

   pusip – cat

   sangampang – medium-large grey rodent with furry tail

   sap – dog

   yeksaa – large white and black cuscus found in warm areas

Birds ( = yup)

   aluap – egret

   amesahulin – little ringed plover [Charadrius dubius]

   babiit – ornate honeyeater [Melidectes torquatus]

   bagiyup – imperial-pigeon [Ducula zoeae & pinon]

   baimi – male variety of the Raggiana bird of paradise [Paradisaea raggiana]

   baiwan – palm cockatoo

   banggila – shovel-billed kingfisher [Clytoceyx rex]

   bengkotofet – common koel [Eudynamys scolopacea]

   bihum – Astrapia birds of paradise [Astrapia stephaniae & splendidissima]

   bitnamdofoyange – long-tailed buzzard [Henicopernis longicausa]

   bobon – chicken

   butkali – cuckoo-shrikes [Coracina navaehollandiae, papuensis, caeruleogrisea & boyeri]

   dabigep – Pesquet's parrot, black lory and brown lory [Psittrichus fulgidus & Chalcopsitta atra & duivenbodei]

   diinggak – mottled whistler [Rhagolgus leucostigma]

   dolobangi – hawk with a white head and breast with a brown body [Haliastur indus]

   donohamun – regent whistler [Pachycephala schlegelli]

   dundulung – Southern cassowary [Casuarius casuarius] ; white-shouldered fairy wren

   duutungyup – orange-cheeked honeyeater [Lichenostomus chrusogenys]

   faani – larger variety of two similar species of birds

   gafu – blue bird of paradise

   galisa – feline owlet-nightjar [Aegotheles insignis]

   gamelak – chestnut forest-rail [Rallina rubra]

   gekbogom – brown cuckoo-dove [Macropygia ambroinesis]

   gekngafut – red-knobbed imperial-pigeon [Ducula rubricera]

   gekolok – hooded butcherbird [Cracticus cassicus]

   gektaleyup – mimetic honeyeater [Meliphaga analoga]

   gengkokobat – hooded pitohui [Pitohui kirhocephalus]

   gengkusa – fawn-breasted bowerbird [Chlamydera cerviniventris]

   giboon – graceful honeyeater [Meliphaga gracilis]

   gisuak – helmeted friarbird [Philemon buceroides]

   gomoneni – smaller of two similar species of birds

   gongondek – hornbill [Aceros plicatus]

   gulagup – yellow-faced myna [Mino dumontii]

   gutiit – great cuckoo-dove [Reinwardtoena reinwadtii]

   inehusi – variable goshawk, specifically referring to the white morph [Accipitar novaehollandiae leucosomus]

   inengakngak – red-necked crake and the New Guinea tiger-heron [Rallina tricolar & Zonerodius heliosylus]

   kaadibin – fig-parrots [Psittaculirostris desmarestii, edwardsii, salvadorii & gulielmiterti]

   kaaginang – yellow-billed lorikeet [Neosittacus musschenbroekii]

   kabuhangkang – black butcherbird [Cracticus quoyi]

   kadangka – bare-eyed crow [Corvus tristis]

   kahamu – streak-headed, hooded, grand and black-breasted manikins [Lonchura tristissima, spectabilis, grandis & teerinki]

   kahase – variable goshawk, specifically referring to the grey morph [Accipiter novaehollandiae lavongai]

   kaliha – orange-footed scrubfowl [Megaposius reinwardt]

   kalingkakat – bat hawk [Macheirhamphus alcinus]

   kanakyup – yellow-bellied longbill [Toxorhamphus novaeguineae]

   kolasisip – Pacific swallow [Hirundo tahitica]

   komeyup – emerald and Stephan's doves, the cinnamon ground-dove and the New Guinea bronzewing [Chalcophaps indica & stephani, Gallicolumba rufigula & Henicophaps albifrons]

   kotkot – Torresian crow [Corvus orru]

   kuluwakuk – bar-tailed cuckoo dove

   kungkang – male emperor bird of paradise [Paradisaea guilielmi]

   kungkangtefet – female Raggiana and emperor birds of paradise [Paradisaea raggiana & guilielmi]

   kutniyet – palm cockatoo [Probosciber aterrimus]

   kwesangulang – sooty, white-bellied, chestnut-bellied, northern & rufous-backed fantails [Rhipidura threnothorax, leucothorax, hyperthyra, rufiventris & rufidorsa]

   mambangi – black kite [Milvus migrans]

   mambongkaluang – Meyer's friarbird [Philemon meyeri]

   mambotfifii – Papuan boobook [Ninox theomacha]

   manatuk – azure kingfisher [Alxedo azurea]

   meneben – long-bearded honeyeater [Melionyx princeps]

   menehasak – variable dwarf kingfisher [Ceyx lepidus]

   menehubeng – common cicadabird [Coracina tenuirostrus]

   menemonge – Papuan and marbled frogmouth [Podarus papuensis & ocellatus]

   menewoo – pheasant pigeon [Otidiphaps nobilis]

   menggelep – eclectus parrot [Eclectus roratus]

   mipdalang – Papuan flowerpecker [Dicaeum pectorale]

   mohombokmi – New Guinea wood-swallow [Artamus maximus]

   monggok – owls; nightjars

   munduu – pheasant coucal [Centropus phasianinus]

   nganga – kind of nocturnal bird

   ngiong – biak red, western black-capped and eastern black-capped lories being marked by a predominant red colouration [Eos cyanogenia & Lorius lory & hypoinochrous]

   pato amani – goose

   saatolon – magnificent bird of paradise [Cicinnurus magnificus]

   saatolon oonge – spangled honeyeater [Melipotes ater]

   sahudit – Goldie's, rainbow, red-flanked, red-fronted, and orange-billed lorikeets and the double-eyed fig parrot [Psitteuteles goldiei, Trichoglossus haemetodus, Charmosyna placentis & runbronotata, Neosittacus pullicauda & Cyclopsitta diopthalma]

   sasibi – northern cassowary; a black cassowary with a helmet-like part on its head [Casuarius unappendiculatus]

   sibap – cassowary, a large flightless bird

   sololo – Pacific black duck that lives in ponds [Anas superciliosa]

   somseleleng – rufous-bellied kookaburra [Dacelo gaudichaud]; hooded monarch [Monarcha manadensis]

   songak mii – brown sicklebill [Epimachus meyeri]

   soodang yup – singing and metallic starlings [Aplonis cantoroides & metallica]

   taga – yellow-legged brush-turkey [Talegalla fuscirostris]

   tampalangan – chestnut-backed, brown-capped, spotted and blue jewel-babblers [Ptilorrhoa castanonotus, geislerorum, leucisticta & caerulescens]

   tantian – spangled drongo [Dicrurus bracteatus]

   tatalak yup – admiralty pied monarch [Monarcha infelix]

   tataluk – large-tailed nightjar [Caprimulgus macrurus]

   tibitetet – mountain, black-backed and rusty mouse-warblers and the pale-billed, Papuan, large, Beccari's, buff-face and grey-green scrub-wrens [Crateroscelis robusta, nigrorufa murina; Sericornis spilodera, papuensis, nouuysi, beccarii, perspicillatus & arfakianus]

   tintong – willie wagtail [Clytomyias insignis]

   totyelengkomok – rainbow bee-eater [Merops ornatus]

   tulum – coroneted and superb fruit-doves [Ptilinopus coronulatus & superbus]

   tuseek – white-eared and spotted catbirds [Ailuroedus buccoides & crassirostris]

   uyambalang – swallow

   wiambalang – moustached tree-swift [Hemiprocne mystacea]

   wiinsok – grey-headed goshawk [Accipiter poliocephalus]

   yupaa – cockatoo

   yupkubuli – common koel [Eudynamys scolopacea]

   yupkumi – Papuan harrier [Circus spilothorax]

Reptiles

   alimpum – large snake, brown in colour, able to eat pigs and kill men

   amenggop – green snake with a white pattern

   dalak – small lizard

   gimat – snake

   masabo – off-white poisonous snake

   menembua – lizard

   mindinok – earthworm

   momnak – gecko

   mongayang – brown and black snake

   monggomo – light brown snake

   saham – light brown snake with black mouth and nose

   woonkale – animals which shed their skin: includes snakes, dragonfly, praying mantis, spider, etc.

   yababak – light brown or black viper that grows up to 2m in length and eats rats

Insects

   amanggibe – small black beetle that lives in the ground

   amongamong – honeybee

   bitnam – bee

   dabikangkang – praying mantis

   didaat – insect

   digelek – cicada

   duamok – large bee

   faimba – dragonfly

   gebelem – fly

   gekonandeng

   gibagibaa – ant lion

   gilisuut – millipede

   ginok – beetle; grub

   iba – leech

   kabek – ant

   kabek topmon – kind of ant with a painful bite

   kantak mii – large insect with a tree bark-like exoskeleton, resembling a praying mantis

   mandauk – spider

   manggabulum – kind of large grasshopper

   masisap – butterfly

   melemeng – brown hairy caterpillar of medium size

   mepmep – beetle

   misinak – centipede

   sangafang – mosquito

   soon – louse

   sup kailong – scorpion

   toom – grasshopper

   tumun – flea

Water creatures

   imiyak – eel

   kamak – frog

   muang – crab

   mulin – small fish; tadpole

   siifuk – shrimp; crayfish

   talasia – turtle

   weensabun – kind of fish

Plants and Parts of Plants ( = fomsaksak)

   babeng – kind of vine

   baadam – type of wild banana

   bop – orchid

   dabionge – red appendage hanging down on a banana plant

   dabungdabung – kind of plant with red flowers

   danggulak – kind of non-edible cane

   dekdalek – fern

   digongdik – shrub, commonly used to make pig enclosures

   dongga – kind of shrub

   doole – root

   faan – cane

   fomsakgomon – plant with purplish leaves and small white flowers

   fop – plant

   fopsak – non-edible tree leaves

   fua – kind of reed used as an arrow shaft

   galasi – grass

   godofe – outer layer of a banana, pandanus or betelnut stalk

   goloo – plant shoot

   inimbu – kind of grass, used in traditional dances

   kadang – bamboo

   kafele – large tree fork

   kaluu – seedling

   kanak – hibiscus

   kangkasing – thorn

   kayabuk – kind of plant

   kokbede – kind of grass

   kudip – wild betelnut

   kungkaangi – small branches

   maleng – kind of vine with thorns

   mambinam – wild taro plant

   mangkale – shrub whose sap produces sores when in contact with skin

   membele – trunk

   mentebeng – kind of vine

   minteleng – kind of plant used in fence building and as posts for houses

   mufu – pandanus

   nampak – sap from the breadfruit tree

   ololoni – flower

   palangka – stick

   sak – leaf

   salaa – leaf

   salading – fern

   suhuluk – kind of fern

   suup – wild cane, used in flooring

   taba – palm used for making bows and house posts

   taba – large main branch on a tree

   tabanini – small tree branch

   tafalang – kind of grass; cogon; alang-alang grass

   temek – banana leaf

   tomatogomon – poinsettia [Euphorbia pulcherrima]

   uuli – kind of scratchy grass

   watnuk – nut

   woden – weed

   wogen – kind of grass

   wot – stinging nettle plant

Edible Plants

   afak – coconut

   ayo – kind of banana that is eaten cooked

   ayong – papaya

   bainap – pineapple

   banakeng – pumpkin

   batete – potato

   bilini – edible part of a tree or plant, such as yams, coconuts, oranges, etc.

   bodong – betelnut; the seed of the fruit of the betel palm

   dafungeng – kind of yam with white flesh

   fidim – edible wild cane grass

   fomsak – edible leaves

   galip – peanut

   geet – banana, generic term

   guselen – round, white wild yam

   ibapgomon – kind of yam with light purple flesh

   kafek – bean

   kafugek – kind of yam with white flesh

   kamun – cucumber

   kat – betel pepper

   katem – kind of edible greens

   kokonek – kind of short cucumber

   kudaa – mango

   kuktaun – long slender banana usually eaten raw

   kumbung – cassava

   kumit – fruit from the pandanus plant

   kwek – sweet potato, generic term [Ipomea]

   mac – round taro

   meneyaula – long white wild yam

   miimyit – kind of banana which can be eaten cooked or uncooked when ripe

   saat – ginger

   sako – kind of edible greens; choko

   samong – kind of banana that is usually eaten cooked

   sanggom – corn

   salading – fern

   seben – kind of wild yam with a yellow meat

   singgapu – Singapore taro

   suhuluk – kind of fern

   toot – yam, generic term

   tutung – large round wild yam with white meat

   wop – edible cane grass

   yabut – mushroom

Kinds of Trees ( = fop)

   balabek – kind of tree with distinctive red leaves

   bom – kind of tree characterised by pairs of opposing edible leaves [Gnetum gnemon]

   bumam – kind of tree with leaves that cause prolonged intense itching and pain

   fufulusu – kind of tree with white trumpet-like flowers

   gektale – short tree species

   gifom – kind of strong tree that bears capped fruit

   gimam – kind of tree: breadfruit [Artocarpus altilis]

   ginduk - kind of tree: casuarina

   idam – kind of tree which has yellow leaves during dry season (May to August)

   kaluka – kind of tree whose roots are used in flooring houses

   kangi – tree that is bent as a spring for a trap

   kone – kind of tree which traditionally marks the beginning of planting season when the leaves fall and new shoots turn red

   kusip – kind of tree used in house building for making studs and planks. The cooked bark is used to reduce swelling.

   kwali – kind of tree whose bark is placed in running water for treatment of scabies

   libis – kind of tree which provides shade in coffee gardens

   meneng

   mungguli – kind of tree used for house building

   sawo – kind of tree used in making fences

   tekbam – kind of tree with leaves and white sticky juice, similar to breadfruit

   wagem – kind of tree used in making hourglass drums

   wodang – kind of tree whose leaves cause intense prolonged itching and pain

Traditional Counting System

   (The modern counting system goes up through five. Some alternates are listed.)

   1 – kobo/kobolak – one

   2 – ilambok/yale – two

   3 – yalekobo – two and one

   4 – yaleyale – two and two

   5 – menggonggom – five

   6 – menggonggom kait kusani kobolak – five hand side one

   7 – menggonggom kait kusani ilambok – five hand side two

   8 – menggonggom kait kusani yalekobo – five hand side three

   9 – menggonggom kait kusani yaleyale – five hand side four

   10 – kait (kusani) fengge – both (sides) hands

   11 – kait fengge kolong nanaa kobolak– both hands one toe

   12 – kait fengge kolong nanaa ilambok – both hands two toes

   13 – kait fengge kolong nanaa yalekobo – both hands three toes

   14 – kait fengge kolong nanaa yaleyale – both hands four toes

   15 – kait fengge kolong nanaa menggonggom – both hands five toes

   16 – kait fengge kolong nanaa menggonggom kobolak – both hands six toes

   17 – kait fengge kolong nanaa menggonggom ilambok – both hands seven toes

   18 – kait fengge kolong nanaa menggonggom yalekobo – both hands eight toes

   19 – kait fengge kolong nanaa menggonggom yaleyale – both hands nine toes

   20 – kait fengge ilambok – both hands two

   20 – kait kolong fengge – both hands both legs

   30 – kait fengge yalekobo – both hands three

   40 – kait fengge yaleyale – both hands four

   40 – ama ilambok kanen kait kolong fengge – two men's hands and legs

   50 – kait fengge menggonggom – five both hands

Carry Verbs ( = bibili)

   babalembili – carry (someone or something) in arms in the front

   bok – carry (someone or something) resting on top of shoulders

   dablimbili – carry on top of one shoulder

   dodo – carry on shoulders and waist, like a backpack or child

   doombili – command to be carried on the back

   fiimbili – carry away with the wind

   kasii – carry on a stick over the shoulder

   manbiligeku – carry a message

   mantalangane – carry something over the head on the shoulder like a purse

   mepmet – carry on the head, as in a net bag

   saambili – carry one object using one's mouth

   samangane – carry on one's side or hip

   tagek – carry on shoulder, like a purse

   takambili – carry something heavy on a stick between two people

   tiitbili – carry in hand

   ulabembili – carry on back over shoulder

   usaambili – carry away by water

   yufutbili – carry impaled on a stick

Sounds ( = mumuni)

   denempapak – noise of someone chopping a tree

   kaing – animal noise

   nanangmumu – noise made by eating

   ngululung – sound, often associated with thunder

   pampan – noise made when breaking something, like a stick

   papak – clap

   pelelet – noise a small animal makes when running

   plokplok – noise a chicken makes

   pupup – sound made to call a chicken

   susuak – whistle

   woom – sound an angry pig makes