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