kómnzo zókwasi kómnzo zókwasi

kómnzo zókwasi a first dictionary of kómnzo Christian Döhler version #2 - August 2013

compiled with the assistance of members of Rouku village, including: Abia Bai, Lucy Abia, Railey Abia, Ruth Abia, Daure Kaumb, Marua Bai, Greg Marua, Caspar Mokai, Karo Abia, Moses Abia, Abraham Maembu and many more

This is an early and preliminary attempt at producing a dictionary of Kómnzo (1400 entries so far). This version is based on fieldwork carried out by Christian Döhler in Rouku village in 2010 (two months), 2011 (5 months) and 2012 (3 months).

do not quote without permission

please direct comments at: [email protected]

24.08.13 1 kómnzo zókwasi kómnzo zókwasi

2 24.08.13 kómnzo zókwasi kómnzo zókwasi

Kómnzo orthography page 4

Kómnzo - English dictionary page 5

English - Kómnzo index page 61

map of the languages

24.08.13 3 kómnzo zókwasi kómnzo zókwasi

Kómnzo Orthography

symbol beginning of a word middle of a word end of a word a ama 'mother' sami 'eagle' yaka 'digging stick' ä ätraf 'type of tree' mät 'twins' kofä 'fish' b brubru 'drum' ---- bob 'lagoon' mb mbä 'you' mombo 'from where' nḡémb 'black palm' e emoth 'girl' fézenz 'wife' kambe 'man' é ---- férék 'blood' yé '(he) is' f fath 'yard' afa 'father' karaf 'paddle' i ---- fisor 'turtle' mbi 'sago' k ker 'tail' fakérsok 'arrow blade' fék 'buttocks' kw kwayan 'white' sakwér 'hit him!' ---- nḡ nḡiri 'knife' ntunḡa 'taro' nanḡ 'grass skirt' nḡw nḡwä 'mosquito' fönḡwath 'tree snake' ---- m mésar 'ant' mamu 'pidgin' kam 'bone' n no 'water' mane 'which' térén 'chest' ng ngare 'woman' tinga 'red parrot' ---- o ofa 'light (not ororo 'hill, slope' warfo 'above' heavy)' ö ---- fönzési 'to burn' yéfö 'hole' r rata 'ladder' térén 'chest' kar 'village' s si 'eye' nasi 'long yam' fis 'husband' th thämbu 'hair' réthé 'when' méth 'path' t trikasi 'story' tuti 'branch' kut 'trap' nt ntasi 'lump, bulge' nanti 'stone' thént 'middle' z zér 'tooth' wazi 'side' féz 'forest' nz nzäthe 'namesake' wanzo 'dream' ténz 'short' u ---- turama 'python' fértu 'scar' ü ---- tüfér 'many' zérzü 'knee' w wawa 'round yam' théwé 'eel' nḡäw 'fishing spear' y yüsi 'grass' mayawa 'clan name' ----

4 24.08.13 a ayo Kómnzo - English dictionary

A - a a conjunction. and. aki kinship noun. FLEXIBLE father-in- afa kinship noun. MASCULINE father. law (used between a woman and her parents in-law instead of their afa kéfo kéfo noun. MASCULINE hooded names). nzone aki ngare rä. butcherbird. “She is my mother-in-law | she is afa séku OR: afa sékru. preverb. carry my daughter-in-law.” a child with their legs around the ama kinship noun. FEMININE mother. hip. afa sékume wézänzér . noun. “He carries her on the back with amkéf OR: ambkéf breath. her legs around his hip.” ane demonstrative. this (the one that aiwa interjection. sign of surprise, has already been mentioned). NOTE: this demonstrative has lost its usually something unpleasant; spatial reference something sad: "oh no" see also: anema conjunction. because (of that). ayo aneme conjunction. therefore. akam noun. FLEXIBLE cough, fast breath. anḡar noun. MASCULINE roof beam. ake ake noun. tree type. alphitonia numeral. incana. NOTE: used for firewood, asar four. yamsticks atétö noun. tree type. pouteria sp. NOTE: aki noun. MASCULINE moon. fruit eaten by cassowaries, empty shell is used for decoration ngarénta sräzin yaniyak ausi kinship noun. FEMININE old woman. aki kwayanen. “He put down interjection. the canoe and comes in the aw kót sign of sudden moonlight.” suprise: 'oh lord'.

ayaw OR: ayow. interjection. watch out!

ayo interjection. sign of surprise; usually something unpleasant.

24.08.13 5 än mbatha Ä - ä

än noun. plant type. ficus chrysantha. äthénḡam noun. nonda plum, parinari. NOTE: used for timber, leaves used like parinari nonda. NOTE: edible fruit, used sand-paper for firewood ätraf noun. tree type. gonocaryum littoralis. NOTE: used for timber B - b

kinship noun. FLEXIBLE babai uncle (used bramewé OR: bramöwé. indefinite between a person and her/his pronoun. every, all. mother's brothers and sisters). bru OR: béru. noun. FEMININE comb- NOTE: possibly a loanword spined catfish. cinetodus carinatus. bara noun. paddle. brubru noun. kundu drum. bäbä adjective. numb. buay / buai interjection. going off, OR: . noun. MASCULINE bäwäk mbäwäk away there are (buai krefare (let's

olive-backed oriole. go), buay mb'räro - they are bébreko noun. earthquake. going). biskar noun. cassava. NOTE: staple food bus noun. FLEXIBLE cat. NOTE: loanword from English bob noun. lagoon. bübü kwan noun. sound made by OR: . manner adverb. empty, bra béra hitting the ground (to attract

finished. wallabies). Mb - mb mbafen demonstrative. in that place. mbanḡu kinship noun. FLEXIBLE clan mbané postposition. poor, pityful. name. noun. FEMININE mbanmban postposition. under. mbarénti mbórsi hockey game. mbant noun. FEMININE ground, soil. mbatha noun. FEMININE concave goby. kinship noun. mbanta mbanta glossogobius concavifrons. FLEXIBLE ancestor.

6 24.08.13 mbawai mbérüzi mbawai noun. MASCULINE magpie mbenme possessive pronoun. your (dual, goose. anseranas semipalmata. plural). mbenme kar “your mbawar noun. FEMININE curse. nze village”. mbun mbawar mbénazési 1 • reflexive verb. wake up. fi narakéthkwé. “I put a curse on ngambénazér. “He wakes up.”

you.” 2 • transitive verb. wake up. nze fi deictic. mbä there (a bit away). sambénafé. “I started to wake mbä absolutive pronoun. you (can be him up.” singular, dual or plural). 3 • ditransitive pattern. wake up (for mbäingaf kinship noun. MASCULINE someone). nze fi nafan uncle (maternal uncle in a direct yambénazé. “I wake him/her sister exchange). up for him.” mbäingam kinship noun. FEMININE aunt mbénä comitative pronoun. with you (paternal aunt in a direct sister (dual, plural).

exchange). mbéné ergative pronoun. you (plural). mbäne demonstrative. that, these (the mbénrér comitative pronoun. with you one over there). (singular). mbänémér conjunction. until mbéngutham noun. FEMININE ebony (temporal). gudgeon. eleotris melanosoma. mbänḡwérém noun. butterfly. mbér OR: mbór. noun. flower or stalk mbänzü OR: mbenzü. noun. tree type. (of a banana, pineapple, plachonia sp. NOTE: used for chestnut). houseposts mbéréntuyam noun. plant type. anon mbärmbär noun. half. (vine) sp. NOTE: bark used for ségeru mbäwzö OR: méni mbäwzö. noun. mbérénze noun. lips. 1 • wall (made of bark). mbéri mbéri noun. weeding. mbéri 2 • tree type. xanthostemon sp. NOTE: bark is heated over the fire and then used mbéri znsä “weeding work”. for house walls mbérmbér noun. FLEXIBLE spirit (of a ergative pronoun. mbe you (singular). dead person). dative pronoun. mbeném for you (dual, mbérsi transitive verb. scoop water. plural). mbérüzi noun. anona muricata.

24.08.13 7 mbéthakési mbont mbont mbéthakési mbinḡonḡo noun. 1 • middle verb. finish. MASCULINE 1 • jew's harp. imperative: kämbéth! “You MASCULINE 2 • crested pitohui / stop it!” imperative: ya spotted catbird. kämbéth! “You stop crying!” mbira noun. axe. 2 • transitive verb. finish. mbiri mbiri noun. plant type. danella sp. imperative: sambéth! “You NOTE: medical use, mixed with fämbü fämbü and eaten to sooth the throat finish him off!” mbis noun. FEMININE azure kingfisher. 3 • ditransitive pattern. finish (for someone). mbito noun. FLEXIBLE rat. mbéthamer noun. FEMININE papuan mbith noun. gauvina. oxyleleotris herwerdenii. 1 • honey. mbéthan noun. magic. 2 • bee. mbéthan kambe noun. MASCULINE mbiwak noun. tree type. flinderisia sp. sorcerer. NOTE: sign of good (high) ground, used for timber mbéthézü noun. tree type. ternstromia mbiya nzérü nzérü noun. FEMININE cheryii. NOTE: bark is used for poison fishing white-shouldered fairywren. mbéwir fisor noun. FEMININE long neck mbomba aki time adverb. last month, turtle. next month. mbézwär proper noun. place name. mbomba yésokwér time adverb. last year, next year. mbi noun. sago. mbomba zafat time adverb. last week, mbiatoto noun. FEMININE common next week. kingfisher. mbombathém deictic. at the end. kar mbikwértä noun. MASCULINE

moustached tree swift. mbombathém “at the end of the village”. mbimbinas noun. FEMININE bat (large- conjunction. footed bat). myotis adversus. mbombomér until (spatial). mbintér noun. FEMININE flying fox. pteropus alecto. mbone possessive pronoun. your (singular). noun. mbont mbont island.

8 24.08.13 mbonzi et mbräkénsi mbonzi et noun. MASCULINE shell, mbótér mbótér manner adverb. right small, dark shell from the river. angled. mbótér mbótérme mbormbor noun. storm. sartém! “Cut it straight / right- mbóko noun. MASCULINE splender-billed angled!” cuckoo-dove. mbök noun. FEMININE water rat. mbónar noun. FEMININE bull shark. mböm noun. sprout, shoot. carcharhinus leucas. mbranḡési mbóntkér adjective. stench, stinking. 1 • middle verb. follow. nzä with kwósi mbóntkér fewa ngambranḡwé. “I follow yéthorakwér. (something/somebody).” mbór OR: mbér. noun. MASCULINE rat. 2 • transitive verb. follow. nze fi mbórsi yémbranḡwé. “I follow him.” 1 • middle verb. laugh, play. imperative: sambrém! “You kambe soka follow him!” ngambórwéréth 3 • ditransitive pattern. follow. moreheaden “the men are nafane wanḡa yam playing soccer in morehead”. fi yambranḡwé. “I follow his ngambórwér. “He laughs / footprints.” nze tauri nafan plays.” imperative: yambranḡwé. “I follow the kämbóth! “You start laughing!” wallabz for him.” 2 • ditransitive pattern. laugh. nze mbräkénsi nafane yambórwé. “I laugh 1 • reflexive verb. call out, call about him.” nze mbun name. nambórwé. “I laugh at/towards 2 • transitive verb. call out, call name. you.” nze mbonema 3 • ditransitive pattern. call out, call nambórwé. “I laugh because of

you/you joke.” name. nafane yéf yambräkénwé. “I call out his mbórüzi noun. FEMININE catfish type. name.” fi mbun nambräkénwé. “I call him for you.”

24.08.13 9 mbrinḡési emoth mbrinḡési 3 • transitive verb. submerge,

1 • middle verb. return. drown. imperative: sambrüs!

imperative: kämbrim “You “You drown him!” come back!” 4 • ditransitive pattern. submerge,

2 • transitive verb. return sth. drown. nafane nḡarénta imperative: sambrim “You yambrüzé. “I submerge his bring him back”. canoe.” mbrü mbrü noun. MASCULINE grass mbukmu et noun. MASCULINE shell, type. black shell from the river. mbrüzési mbun dative pronoun. for you (singular). 1 • positional verb. be submerged. mburam noun. FEMININE frill-necked nḡarénta yémbrüsthanḡér. lizard.

“The canoe is submerged.” mbürä OR: mbüra. noun. baby animal. 2 • middle verb. dive, drown. mbürénḡ noun. plant type. diplanchea sp. NOTE: shoots use with betel, flower are eaten by wallabies D - d dibura noun. prisoner. NOTE: loanword from Motu durua noun. help. NOTE: loanword from Motu E - e efä efä noun. FEMININE swathe; the ekri noun. flesh, meat. cleared lines where the grass has ekwar noun. MASCULINE white-faced been cut down in order to build a heron (or pied heron). fence. embar noun. FLEXIBLE head. efoth noun. emoth noun. FEMININE girl. 1 • sun. 2 • day. efthar noun. FEMININE dry season.

10 24.08.13 enat farsi enat kinship noun. FLEXIBLE parents-in- etwäsi ngare noun. FEMININE frogatt's law | son-in-law (used between a catfish. cinetodus froggatti.

man and his wife's parents instead etha 1 • numeral. three. of their respective names). 2 • quantifier. few. enta numeral. two. ezi noun. morning. namä ezi “good manner adverb. erame together. morning”. et noun. MASCULINE shell. ezi zir noun. morning dew. etféth preverb. sleep. ezi zürén noun. morning mist. ngambrinḡwéro mbombo etféth znfo. “She|He returns to the sleeping place.” fi etféth yérunḡér. “She|He is sleeping.” F - f faf noun. yard, house area. farét farét noun. plant type. liliaceae sp. used for decoration faikore noun. MASCULINE orange-footed NOTE: scrubfowl. farka noun. shin. fakérsok noun. arrow blade. farkési middle verb. set off. nze fakéth noun. FEMININE yam (middle nafanema ngafarkwé. “I set

sized round yam). off / leave because of him.” 1 • middle verb. fam noun. thought, feeling. farkési lift up bag for her (to set off). fam fam adjective. shallow. 2 • ditransitive pattern. lift up bag fanḡwathé adjective. wide. for her (to set off). nze yare noun. MASCULINE stem, post. far nafan wäfarkwé. “I lift the farasi noun. FEMININE kind of shield bag for her (to go).”

(looks like a paddle). farsi 1 • transitive verb. fell, chop. farem proper noun. name for the Kómnzo imperative: mbe wäméne speaking people in and around safath! “You fell the tree!” Rouku village. farem kar proper noun. place name.

24.08.13 11 fartéki fämbü fämbü

2 • ditransitive pattern. fell, chop. fath noun. FEMININE clear place. “I fell nafane ngazi yafarwé. fath nteya noun. FLEXIBLE bushland his coconut.” tree wallaby (spectacled hare- fartéki noun. sago type. metroxyllon sagu. wallaby). lagorchestes conspicillatus. faryasi 1 • reflexive verb. dry. nzä fathasi OR: fathési. ngafaryanzé. “I dry myself.” 1 • reflexive verb. imperative: mbä hold. nzä “I hold myself.” kärfayoféth! “You dry ngafathwé. yourself!” 2 • transitive verb. hold. naf 2 • transitive verb. dry. nze nambi wéfathwé. “He is

nḡwónyame efaryanzé. “I holding the bow.” dry the clothes.” fathasi middle verb. marry. nze ngare 3 • ditransitive pattern. dry. ngafathwé. “I marry the nḡwónyame mbun woman.” nafaryanzé. “I dry the clothes fathasi numeral. six counted yams (lit. for you.” "one holding"). fasisi 1 • middle verb. attract attention. faw noun. payment.

käfasir “Bang it!” naf fä deictic. over there (some distance ngafasinzér. “He is attracting away; out of sight).

attention.” fäk noun. jaw. 2 • ditransitive pattern. attract fäkési 1 • middle verb. sneak. attention. naf nafan ngafänkénzé. “I am sneaking yafasinzér. “He attracts his around.” attention.” 2 • ditransitive pattern. sneak. manner adverb. angled. fat fat nambi yafäkénsath “They were

fat fatme sartém! “You cut sneaking up on him.” the bamboo angled.” fämbü noun. stone axe. fatam noun. plume, feather. wérai fämbü fämbü noun. tree type. syzygium

fatam wathéma yé. “the sp. NOTE: medical use, leafes mixed with heron feathers are for the dance.” mbiri mbiri against sore throat fatér noun. fishtail, albert palm. caryota rumphiana. NOTE: used for timber

12 24.08.13 fämés kambe fätfakési fämés kambe kinship noun. MASCULINE fäsi noun. shame. oroman fäsi yé exchange man (used between two mbänema wéri no kayé men who have exchanged sisters kwanathér “the oldman is instead of their name). ashmed because he drunk alcohol kinship noun. FEMININE fämés ngare yesterday”. fi fäsithé kambe exchange woman (used for the yékonḡér “the shameful man sisters that gets exchanged, used stands over there”. between the two exchanged fäskor noun. part of sago palm used for women instead of the name). making sago. fänizési 1 • reflexive verb. move, shift fät noun. friend, mate. location. nzä ngafänizé. “I adjective. move places.” fätér left. 2 • transitive verb. move, shift location. nze mbuk wéfänizé. “I put the book to another place.” fätfakési OR: fätéfakési. 3 • ditransitive pattern. move, shift 1 • positional verb. be across location. mbone mbuk something. wäméne nafänizé. “I move your book.” yéfätéthénḡér méthen. “The 1 • reflexive verb. fänzési show, present. tree lies across the road.”

nzä ngafänzé. “I show myself.” 2 • middle verb. to get into a 2 • transitive verb. show, present. crossing position (e.g.: block the mbuk wéfänzé. “I present the road). fi méthen book.” ngafätéfakwé. “I lie down 3 • ditransitive verb. show. nze across the road.” mbun nafänzé. “I show 3 • transitive verb. put something (something) to you.” across something. naf wäméne fäséri noun. tree type. NOTE: used as glue yéfätfakwé. “He put the tree tree, bark used for ségeru across.” 4 • ditransitive pattern. put something across on somebody's behalf. nafan wäméne yafätéfakwé tétfön. “I put the tree across the creek for him.”

24.08.13 13 fätü férséth fätü noun. MASCULINE plant type fék noun. buttocks. looks like saka (vine). NOTE: fékasi 1 • reflexive verb. masturbate fäth noun. small ones (children, (swearword).

animals). 2 • transitive verb. peel. ntunḡa noun. MASCULINE fäth fäth sticks that yéfkathé. “I peel the taro.”

hold the bark wall. imperative: wawa zafkath! fäw noun. pit-pit (arrow part). “You peel the yam!” fäy noun. payment. NOTE: loanword from 3 • ditransitive pattern. peel. naf English wawa mbun nafkathér. “He . noun. FEMININE fäyé OR: fäyä estuary peel the yam for you.” stingray / feshwater whipray. noun. dasyatis fluviorum / himantura férék blood. chaophraya. férékthé adjective. red.

féréntéth noun. poison tree. derris fefe OR: féfé. 1 • adjective. real, very. pinata. 2 • noun. body. férénzakési transitive verb. mess up, fefe yüzi noun. MASCULINE pinon beat, rip. naf biskar imperial pidgeon. yéfrénzakwér. “He rips out the ferar noun. tree type. acacia sp. NOTE: casava.” nze kwa fi fath used for timber (housepost, fence), bark wéfrénzakwé. “I will beat her used for ségeru on the head (with stick or some fetér adjective. dangerous. fetérthé implement).” runḡa yé “It is a dangerous férkat noun. stick (short and thin). pig.” fetér yam wäfiyokwér 1 • middle verb. brag, boast. “That is a dangerous thing to do.” férkési fi kwaférkwér. “I bragged (about fethakési himself).” nzä zäférthé. “I 1 • positional verb. be dipped in started bragging (about myself).” water. biskar yare 2 • ditransitive pattern. brag, boast. yéfethénḡér. “The cassawa bag nze fi yaférkwé. “I brag about is dipped in the water.” him.” 2 • transitive verb. dip in water. férme adjective. straight. fewa noun. smell, bad smell. fewa férséth noun. stick (long and thin). kafar “big stinking smell”.

14 24.08.13 férsi fiaroro férsi 1 • reflexive verb. bite, pinch. fét noun. MASCULINE tree (dried up 2 • transitive verb. bite, pinch. and without leafes). kambothéf zwäfrénz. “The féta numeral. thirty-six, 36, six to the snake started biting me.” nze fi power of six. yéférthé. “I pinch him.” fétéfakési verb. 3 • ditransitive pattern. bite pinch. 1 • pull off, out. sénḡu zaftéf 4 • experiencer object. bite, pinch. “pull the lid off!”. zürnéf si waférthé. “The 2 • take off.

smoke is biting my eyes.” fétrak noun. banana leaf (green). fértotombe noun. MASCULINE long- féthé OR: thé; férthé. conjunction. jawed river garfish OR fly river when. garfish. zenarchopterus noun. eucalyptus type. eucalyptus caudovittatus OR zenarchopterus féthér novaeguineae. sp. NOTE: used for timber (canoe, house) fértu OR: fórtu. noun. scar. féthér fér nteya noun. FLEXIBLE brown tree wallaby (red-legged férthar noun. FEMININE echidna (short- pademelon). thylogale stigmatica. beaked echidna). tachyglossus aculeatus. féthér wokuthé adjective. brown. verb. férzési catch fish with a net. féthi proper noun. place name. kambe kafar féthiker proper noun. place name. thwawekwéréméth féyüsi verb. swallow. férzésir. “They invited the old féz noun. FEMININE forest. people for catching fish.” noun. FLEXIBLE forrest fés noun. FEMININE greenback féz nteya wallaby (dusky pademelon). gudgeon. bunaka gyrinoides. thylogale brunii. fésan proper noun. place name. fézasi transitive verb. dig out. fésénḡési verb. blow. fézenz kinship noun. FEMININE wife. fésisi verb. count. fézü preverb. movment of one's arms féskénsi middle verb. doze. krüférma (e.g.: used for swimming).

nzä “Because of the cold I was fi absolutive pronoun. he, she, they. dozing, I was not sleeping fi conjunction. but. properly.” fiaroro noun. PLURAL flute (panpipe).

24.08.13 15 fifize fönḡwath fifize noun. FEMININE wandering whistle fisor noun. FEMININE turtle.

duck. fisor fefe noun. FEMININE turtle. verb. clean. fifrési fitot noun. MASCULINE yam vine stick fifthakési (long). NOTE: is planted later when the zafa zafa stick is not long enough and 1 • positional verb. be lying straight. when the wind turns

kambe yéfifthénḡér. “The fitwä noun. taro sucker, taro shoot. man lies down straight.” fithak noun. ashes. 2 • middle verb. lie down straight. fithéwonḡési transitive verb. pull out (if käfiféth “you lie down!” stuck or hidden). fifthéwonḡési transitive verb. take out fiyénsi middle verb. line up. from underneath (opposite of tharasi). fiyokési 1 • middle verb. make. 2 • transitive verb. fikénsi transitive verb. touch. make. noun. finént noun. MASCULINE giant glassfish. fiyor bow with a slight curve (in parambassis gulliveri. opposition to nér). fint noun. bush cane, whip vine, false fofosa noun. heart. rattan. flagelaria indica. NOTE: used fokam noun. grave house. as rope . adjective. fintäth noun. tree type. semecarpus sp. fombäwé OR: fombäwä

NOTE: fruit eaten by cassowaries medium sized. finḡéthkési verb. lick. fonḡési intransitive verb. dawn, to get finzo noun. MASCULINE lorentz's dark. zmbär féthé archerfish. toxotes lorentzi. zufonḡwérém “When the night was breaking... OR When it got fira noun. betelnut. dark...” fi yéfonḡwér. “He is firakési transitive verb. take out or pull away. / He is out.” zmbär out of a trap, fishnet, fishhook. zwäfonz. “nightbreak caught nze kofä zézarfa yéfirkwé. me.” “I take the fish out of the net.” noun. nze shirt Ivanén yafirakwé. fór place by the riverbank. “I take Ivan's shirt off him.” ngarake fór rä. “It is a rivergarden.” firra proper noun. place name. fönḡwath noun. MASCULINE snake type. fis kinship noun. MASCULINE husband.

16 24.08.13 fönzési kakru fönzési transitive verb. burn. frénzakési transitive verb. hit someone frafér noun. FLEXIBLE corn, clavus (with a stick). nti fof safrénza (medical). “She hit him on the back of the head.” frar noun. FEMININE fishtrap; small verb. basket that is inserted into the fufési reheat. larger fishtrap. fuk noun. group. nambi fukme frasi noun. hunger. no frasi nérä. erfikwér. “The bamboos grows “we are thirsty.” frasif in a group.” kambe fuken wortémakwér. “I am very yékonḡér. “The man stands in a hungry.” group.” frathén noun. coconut skin (the part fumakési verb. pull out.

that people chew). futh noun. greenbrier, red china wood. frazési 1 • middle verb. extinguish. smilax lanceolata. NOTE: medical use, liquid from stem is applied 2 • transitive verb. extinguish. fümnzakési transitive verb. pull over, fräsi transitive verb. singe. pull down; NOTE: pull down (e.g.: a tree that has been cut is pulled down / over with a noun. airplane. NOTE: loanword from fren rope). English füri proper noun. place name. frezési verb. pull up, take out of water. füsfüs noun. wind, breeze. frémnzési transitive verb. prepare, fix. fütha proper noun. place name. K - k kafar adjective. big. kakési transitive verb. opening by kafara noun. plant type. bromeleacea sp. splitting something. NOTE: used for wrapping food imperative: embaren kaimät kinship noun. FEMININE sister-in- sakasir! “You cut him on the law (used between a woman and head!” yamér kwa nékasinzé the sisters of her husband instead embaren! “I will look for lice

of their name). on your head. (lit. open your head/hair for lice)”.

kakru noun. FEMININE australian magpie.

24.08.13 17 kambe kathér kathér kambe noun. MASCULINE man. karkési 1 • middle verb. pull. ni kamboth noun. MASCULINE snake ngakarkwére. “We are (general). pulling.” 2 • transitive verb. kamboth kamboth noun. tuckeroo. take away from

cupaniopsis sp. NOTE: used for timber somebody. (house post) karku noun. tree type. pouteria sp. NOTE: kam noun. bone, backbone. used for timber kamfa postposition. behind. karo noun. 1 • kanathér proper noun. place name. ground oven. 2 • anthill. kanmotha noun. FEMININE snake type noun. (river). karo nambi insect type. noun. MASCULINE kantakanta noun. yamcake. karokaro goanna type. kantangar adjective. rich, wealthy. karwäsi noun. lie. kanz kanz noun. plant type. clematis novo-guinensis. NOTE: medical use, kata noun. bamboo knife. leaves are put on skin (grille), forehead (headache), nose (running nose) kata kata noun. sedge (grass type). carex sp. used for cleaning, transitive verb. NOTE: kanzési wait (wait for mixed with ashes and used like a sponge some event that will happen). kata wiwi noun. tree type. . kanzkanzthé OR: kanzkanz adjective. pentaphalangium sp. NOTE: edible fruit (like mango) crooked, bent. katan adjective. small. kar noun. place, village. katan zafat noun. saturday. NOTE: karaf noun. paddle. loanword from Hebrew ('shabát' = karesa noun. Saturday) noun. FEMININE 1 • roof. katif trout mogurnda. mogurnda mogurnda. 2 • tree type. melaleuca sp. NOTE: bark used for roofing and as torch katra noun. palm type. hydriastele sp. NOTE: used for flooring kari ntrrau ntrrau noun. FEMININE noun. large-tailed nightjar. kath ankle. karifthe proper noun. place name. kathér kathér noun. plant type. bridelia sp. NOTE: edible fruit, leafes used for rolling smoke

18 24.08.13 kau kau kifa kau kau noun. MASCULINE almighty kénikéni noun. work. (mouth almighty, sande's mouth ként OR: knt. noun. PLURAL stars. almighty). glossamia aprion / glossamia sandei. kéntewawa OR: kntewawa. noun. MASCULINE firefly. kauwira noun. MASCULINE drum, big drum. kérémbu noun. swelling. fäk . kay noun. MASCULINE shell, large, kérémbu “swollen jaw” white shell from the ocean. kérén noun. yamcake (yams are scraped kayé OR: kayä. time adverb. yesterday, with shell). tomorrow. kérénḡ türi noun. MASCULINE rat (that käfe noun. MASCULINE sulphur-crested lives in the coconut). cockatoo. kérkafu noun. MASCULINE pied kämnḡési transitive verb. make it up to comorant. sb. kérsi transitive verb. block off, surround. käwä noun. FEMININE carving tool with a kési kar noun. FEMININE bushy place. c-shaped edge. két noun. MASCULINE grass type. keke preverbal particle. no. két két noun. crowd. keke kwófiyak. noun. kembi kembi grille, fungal wäméne két kétme disease. ekonḡér. “I did not walk kemäri noun. tree type. xanthostemon sp. (through). The trees stand in a medical use, bark is mixed with NOTE: water, drink it crowd / very close.” kambe két két rä. “The people are ker noun. tail. crowded.” keräfi noun. 1 • kéti kéti noun. MASCULINE red-cheeked 2 • palm type. hydriastele sp. NOTE: used for flooring parrot. 3 • floor. kéti thar thar noun. MASCULINE spangled drongo. kerko noun. headdress. NOTE: braided, long streaks made from pandanus kéyu preverbal particle. no. NOTE: archaic, not used anymore kesri noun. tree type. melaleuca sp. NOTE: bark used for roofing and as torch kifa noun. woven rattan. kifa zurwér kéma OR: kma. preverbal particle. “He has woven the kifa.” should, must.

24.08.13 19 kifikifi kütü kifikifi noun. MASCULINE whistle which krär noun. kava. piper methysticum. NOTE: root is grinded an mixed with water, is made from a rolled up coconut relaxing effect leaf. krärkrär noun. plant type. leea indica. noun. kiki tambrai evening star in the NOTE: medical use, the root is cooked west (possibly Venus). and applied to dogs (put on wounds) noun. oriocalis sp. kintara noun. MASCULINE big kundu krätär tree type. NOTE: used for timber (paddles, steps) drum. kromäti noun. plant type. amomum sp. kirakira noun. PLURAL fence type NOTE: edible fruit (like passionfruit) (vertical sticks with many krüfér adjective. cold. horizontal bamboos tied to it). kufak noun. FEMININE helmeted kiri noun. MASCULINE tree type. NOTE: big tree, also used for canoe friarbird. NOTE: afternoon bird that triggers melancholy. people remember kirikiri noun. MASCULINE club (stone those who are not present at the time or have passed away disc attached to the end of a noun. handle). kufraru bamboo pipe. kisér noun. MASCULINE lizard type. kukufasi noun. FEMININE grey shrike- trush. kithuma noun. PLURAL sago pulp noun. FEMININE leftovers after beating it. kumnta basket, bag (with a flat bottom). NOTE: made noun. MASCULINE kofä fish. from zras (grass type) proper noun. kondomarin name for kumnḡési middle verb. smell. kanum and marind people. kursi transitive verb. split. kore noun. FEMININE swampy area, not kuruba noun. iron rod. NOTE: loanword

completed covered by water. from Motu kowi noun. FLEXIBLE chicken. kut noun. FEMININE trap, made out of kómnzo manner adverb. only, just, still. a loop that is under tension. kómnzo kämés “Just sit kütü noun. MASCULINE bird type. down!” kómnzo zókwasi “only speech, just language”. krara noun. MASCULINE eclectus parrot.

20 24.08.13 nḡafar nḡémb Nḡ - nḡ nḡafar noun. FEMININE spoon-snouted nḡartan nambi noun. FEMININE bow catfish. doiichthys novaeguineaee. type, bamboo points are left on nḡafas noun. MASCULINE kundu drum the outside, the bowstring stays

(medium sized drum). on the the bow. noun. MASCULINE nḡafi noun. tree type. syzygium sp. NOTE: nḡaru australian white edible fruit ibis. nḡamba noun. FEMININE eating yams. nḡasén mitafo noun. holy spirit. nḡamberam noun. tree type. syzygium nḡaso adjective. wrong, not good. sp. nḡatha fam mär phrase. you're nḡambérku noun. tree type. ficus welcome ! septica. NOTE: medical use nḡatha nḡatha adjective. bad. nḡame noun. turner made from bamboo split bamboo. nḡathikési 1 • middle verb. leave, stop. nḡamo noun. magic. imperative: zänḡathif! “Leave it!, Stop it!” nḡan nḡan noun. MASCULINE white- 2 • transitive verb. leave, stop. bellied sea eagle. imperative: sanḡathif! “Stop nḡani noun. tree type. endiandra brassii. him!” NOTE: fruit is eaten by cassowaries nḡaunḡau noun. plant type. cleisthantos nḡani zéféth proper noun. place name. myrianthus. NOTE: leaves used to roll nḡanḡa noun. hand, finger. smoke . adjective. nḡanḡa yam noun. MASCULINE finger nḡauya OR: nḡauyé young,

print. fresh. noun. MASCULINE nḡar noun. waterlily. nḡaw nakeen night heron. nḡarafü noun. blackboard tree, proper noun. milkwood pine. alstonia scholaris. nḡawe place name. NOTE: used for glue nḡäw noun. FEMININE fish harpoon. noun. nḡarénta canoe. nḡes noun. leech (water). transitive verb. break. nḡarsi nḡémb OR: nḡmb. noun. black palm. coryphas sp. NOTE: used for flooring, fruit is eaten

24.08.13 21 nḡémärémbü nḡursi nḡémärémbü noun. MASCULINE ant nḡonḡath noun. MASCULINE yellow- (big black). faced myna. nḡénor noun. FEMININE striped-cheek nḡonḡär noun. black-faced bowerbird. bostrychus strigongenys. gudgeon. nḡonz noun. FEMININE black, drie mud nḡént OR: nḡnt. noun. clay|mud mixed pieces.

with water. nḡonz proper noun. place name. noun. clearing the forest, nḡénḡarsi nḡosrin noun. storing yams (to be eaten cutting the sticks. during wetseason / from about nḡénḡérémb OR: nḡnḡrmb. noun. march on).

coconut (small, unripe). nḡranḡér noun. MASCULINE darter. nḡér noun. MASCULINE sling knot (pull nḡrau OR: nḡraw. noun. red cloud. itself tight like a hangman's knot). nḡrä noun. slowness. nḡérénzéri noun. tree type. chantium sp. OR: . adjective. soft, easy. NOTE: edible fruit nḡräthé nḡrä noun. nḡérri noun. tree type. acacia sp. NOTE: nḡri nḡri worms, maggots. bark used for ségeru nḡru noun. shooting star. nḡéthath noun. MASCULINE red-winged nḡursi transitive verb. break off (banana parrot. or pineapple). nḡéthzi noun. armpit.

noun. FEMININE nḡimb tawasri bow

bracer made from woven cane. noun. nḡint soft flesh|soft skin at the back of the thigh, underneath the buttocks.

noun. plant type. NOTE: used for nḡintum grey color nḡiri noun. FEMININE knife. nḡith noun. sago wrapper.

noun. grass type. cyperus sp. NOTE: nḡo used for weaving and tieing nḡombér noun. plant type. NOTE: yellow fruit

22 24.08.13 kwa kwiténz Kw - kw kwa OR: ka. preverbal particle. future kwazür noun. MASCULINE narrow- marker. nzä kwa wiyak fronted tandan. neosilurus ater. muidfo “I will go to Morehead.” kwazür kwérman kwa . kwan 1 • noun. voice, shout. katan änathé “I will eat the kwazür” kwanzo yanor. “It only makes kwazür kwazür noun. plant type a small sound.” (kamraj). helminthostachis IRREGULAR VERB 2 • intransitive verb. zeylanica. NOTE: flower is eaten by fish (kwazür) which then becomes greasy shout. kwéf noun. MASCULINE club (stone disc). kwaném preverbal particle. expresses . noun. uncertainty about sth. in the kwénam OR: kwónam srew pandanus future. kambe kwaném yak pine, pandanus palm. spiralis. seeds of the fruit are NOTE: “maybe the man will go.” eaten noun. kwanz bald head. kwér kwér noun. bushfire. noun. FEMININE kwara kwara hooded kwérnar noun. strength. pitta. kwéthenzési 1 • middle verb. turn postposition. kwarék late, deceased. around, change (in appearance). kwari kwari noun. top of the head. 2 • transitive verb. turn around, kwari kwari efoth time adverb. noon, change (in appearance). midday. kwéthéri noun. tree type (bintangur). calophyllum sp. NOTE: used for timber noun. MASCULINE kwarsa black-billed (canoe) brush turkey. kwétho noun. FEMININE handle. kwath noun. MASCULINE torresian crow. kwik adjective. sick. kwath kwath noun. fringetree. kwim noun. black wattle, mangium. chionathus ramiflorus. NOTE: bark used sometimes chewed with betel acacia mangium. NOTE: used for bush rope kwathathér noun. plant type. tretracera kwisi transitive verb. argue, debate. sp. NOTE: used for rope kwiténz noun. yamhouse (yam are kwayan noun. light, bright. stored on the ground). kwayanthé adjective. white, bright.

24.08.13 23 kwiyési makwri mbórsi kwiyési transitive verb. leave alone. kwras noun. MASCULINE brolga.

imperative: sakwiyéféth! kwrfar OR: kwérfar. noun. MASCULINE “Leave him alone!” wallaby (big wallaby). adjective. kwosi dead, rotten. kwrman OR: kwérman. noun. wrapped kwosiya noun. MASCULINE white-bellied sago, biskar with fish.

cuckou-shrike. kwrro OR: kwérro. noun. FEMININE kwot manner adverb. properly, again. blue-winged kookaburra. kwr OR: kwér. noun. lime. Nḡw - nḡw nḡwar nḡwar noun. mud. nḡwéth noun. FEMINIE bird's nest. nḡwara noun. MASCULINE goanna type. yémént ngafänzér nḡwéth nḡwä noun. mosquito. znfo “The bird flies to the nest.” noun. FEMININE nḡwäném noun. tree type. syzygium nḡwi nḡwi snake type. furfuraceum. edible fruit NOTE: nḡwónyame OR: nḡwényame. noun. nḡwéfiyar noun. FEMININE fishtrap clothes.

(woven bamboo basket). nḡwra noun. MASCULINE macculloch's nḡwéntin OR: nḡwóntin. noun. saw rainbowfish. melanotaenia maccullochi. method making fire. nḡwre nḡwre noun. FEMININE noisy friarbird. M - m maf interorative pronoun. who maikasi middle verb. wash.

(singular). imperative: kämayuf! “wash mafa interorative pronoun. who (dual, yourself!”

plural). makénsi transitive verb. store, keep. interorative pronoun. mafane whose. makwri mbórsi noun. FEMININE cricket mafrér interorative pronoun. with whom. game.

24 24.08.13 mamu mefa mamu noun. MASCULINE torres strait mazo noun. ocean, sea.

imperial pidgeon. mä interorative pronoun. where. noun. feather on the headdress manar mämbü 1 • noun. eucalyptus type.

(bouncing part of the headdress). eucalyptopsis sp. NOTE: used for timber (canoe) mane interorative pronoun. which. 2 • proper noun. place name. maneme conjunction. while. mäm noun. food (taro, yam, long yam, mantéma adjective. female. cassawa). noun. collarbone. mantérari mäme noun. breast (male/female). . middle manzikénsi OR: mónzikénsi mänḡési transitive verb. lead. verb. prepare, get ready. mänzü noun. initiation. marasi transitive verb. see. märko noun. stick (short and thick). imperative: samar! “Look at noun. him!” märmär slope, hill. noun. dillenea sp. maru noun. MASCULINE sugar glider. märo plant type. NOTE: medical use, put on a centipede bite petaurus breviceps. noun. FEMININE masu proper noun. place name. märo fisor turtle (red bellied). matai noun. mät noun. twin, double. MASCULINE 1 • tree type (cornbeefwood). barringtonia mätrakési transitive verb. bring out. apiculata. NOTE: used for timber imperative: samätér! “Bring 2 • freshwater longtom. strongylura him out!” krefftii. mäthzénḡési transitive verb. spin matak negative pronoun. not, nothing. (vertical axis). matar manner adverb. quiet. kar matar mäyonḡési verb. repeat. wéthen. “The village lies mefa noun. quietly.” MASCULINE 1 • australian chashew. verb. wiggle. matukénsi semecarpus sp. NOTE: fruit is eaten, nuts are roasted mathkwi proper noun. name of the MASCULINE 2 • ritual to resolve an ancestor of the mayawa from argument (culprit is hit with a Rouku / Masu. small yam on the head). mayawa kinship noun. FLEXIBLE clan name.

24.08.13 25 mefa mefa mérramb mefa mefa noun. tree type. semecarpus ménḡéthkési OR: mónḡéthkési. sp. NOTE: like mefa but smaller fruit 1 • positional verb. be in the mouth. mefa théwä noun. FEMININE giant nzä kofä waménḡéthénḡér. catfish. cochlefelis dioctes. “The fish is in my mouth.” mentothér noun. MASCULINE brush 2 • transitive verb. feed. cuckou. ménḡéthkési nénḡe yé. “He menḡé noun. leaf, young palm leaf. is an adopted child.” naf runḡa menz noun. story man. yéménḡéthkwér. “He is feeding the pig.” mer OR: mér. noun. brain. ménz OR: mnz. noun. house. mew mew noun. FLEXIBLE someone verb. fall alseep. wearing a mourning costume. ménzerakési proper noun. mezési verb. bring. ménzerfér place name. verb. mezü noun. widow, widower. ménzokénsi 1 • dance. mékukar noun. MASCULINE sooty 2 • grunter. hephaestus species. jump up and down. mér OR: mar. noun. méni OR: méni. noun. 1 • FEMININE 1 • fire. neck. 2 • planting yams. FEMININE 2 • firewood. méni noun. MASCULINE wéthoménwath a méramb zifär bamboo cage for roasting fish. zräföféth. “They made the fire verb. and lit it up.” méräsi stroll.

IRREGULAR VERB 4 • cook. naf mérenzési transitive verb. straighten. mbun nasinzér. “He cooks it mérén kinship noun. for you.” imperative: nafan PLURAL 1 • family. safüs! “Cookt it for him!” PLURAL 2 • clan. méni thamin noun. flame (fire tongue). mériméri noun. sweat. ménto noun. tree type. maranthis mérinzési verb. chase out. corimbosa. tree is burned to NOTE: postposition. fertilise the ground mérmér inside. . noun. méntrikénsi verb. shake. mérramb OR: mrramb bamboo type. bambusa sp.

26 24.08.13 méryókési méyonḡési méryókési transitive verb. heat. méthénzési transitive verb. cause. ane mésakési 1 • intransitive verb. be sitting, nof wét wétér dwell. mbä fi swamnzérém wóméthénzér. “This water is “He was living there.” ni making me itchy.” imperative: namrén “we two are sitting”. mbe fi nókur saméthés!

imperative: matar kmnzo “You start making him angry!” nḡnamnzé “You just sit nénḡe naf suméthénzér

quietly!” frasi etféthar. “He caused the

2 • middle verb. sit down. small boy to sleep hungry.” fiwä imperative: kämés “You sit rétémakésir kwaméthénzér down!” mbänema keke 3 • transitive verb. sit sb. down. yarenzérém. “He caused nénḡe yémsakwé “I sit the himself to get cut because he was

child down”. imperative: looking.” samés “You sit him down!” méthi adjective. whole. mésar noun. ant (light brown). méthizési intransitive verb. rest. métök noun. pouteria tree, eggfruit. imperative: nḡäméthif! “You

pouteria ferma. NOTE: leaves used for (1) rest!” rolling smoke méthkénsi verb. méth noun. path. 1 • jolt. 1 • positional verb. méthekési be raised. 2 • jiggle. kamboth tékwi tékwi karä méthzanḡési verb. circle, walk around yéthén. embar sth. yaméthethén “The snake lies méyo 1 • adjective. sweet. rolled up. The (snake's) is lifted 2 • noun. desire. up.” méyonḡési verb. 2 • transitive verb. lift up. 1 • imperative: samtheth! “Lift beg. 2 • him up!” ask for. méthénḡasi OR: méthkasi. verb. hollow out. brubru yéméthkanzér

24.08.13 27 méyukénsi monz méyukénsi 1 • positional verb. be misokési verb. look up.

twisted. fiyasi mitafo OR: mitafa. noun. FLEXIBLE yéméyuthénḡér. “The (rolled) spirit.

rope is twisted.” mitwasi verb. swing. 2 • transitive verb. twist. thü mith noun. forehead. méyukénsikaf yéthén “The miyakin adjective. beautiful. mane rope lays already twisted.” zókwasi miyakin fefe imperative: saméyukén! wärenzér mbuntmbo? “You twist it!” “Which is the most beautiful méze noun. MASCULINE python type. language for you?” ane noun. MASCULINE nasal septum mifum miyakin yé. “This one is ornament. beautiful.” kwayan woku mifum noun. MASCULINE toothed river miyakin thräkoréth. “They herring / kubuna hardyhead. say that white skin is beautiful.” clupeoides papuensis / craterocephalus randi. miyamér preverb. ignorance, not min min noun. MASCULINE coroneted knowing. ni miyamér nérä. fruit dove. “We don|t know.”

1 • positional verb. minḡési be hanging. miyanzési OR: miyasi. verb. fetch, get, nambi wémithanḡér “The bring.

bow is hanging.” miyathé preverb. know, knowledge. fi 2 • transitive verb. hang. nambi miyathé yé. “He knows.” wéminḡwé “I hang the bow”. miyathé kma thrarä. “They minzakési transitive verb. paint. should know.” interorative pronoun. minzü manner adverb. very, too much. momba where

nḡwéth minzü warfo rä. from. “The (bird's) nest is very high mombo interorative pronoun. where to.

up.” monenḡési verb. middle verb. mirakési wade ("waten"). 1 • wait. nze nafan

non kämis! “you wade in yamonenḡwé “I wait for him."

water!” nze non ngamirakwé 2 • take care of. “I wade in water.” monz noun. trench, ditch.

28 24.08.13 monzé müz monzé interjection. "yes" sign of muki noun. MASCULINE sawfish. pritis agreement. microdon. noun. mora mora noun. tree type. timonius muramura medicine. timon. moramora wäméne muramura zn noun. hospital. ane mane yé fefe zi. woku mus noun. leech.

yéfkathéréth. srarwéréth. muthérata proper noun. place name.

nofo srärsizénwéréth ane münénḡési verb. mumble. keke kwot

fof kräzénomb “the moramora nafan yarizérém fi tree is the one for big pain. they ngamünénḡwérém “I didn't peel the bark. they will srape it. hear him properly, he mumbled”. they will squeeze in the water and verb. drink it.” NOTE: medical use, bark münzakési allow. nze mbä shavings mixed with water applied orally namünzakwé “I allow you (to (soothing effect), also used for pigs to calm them down do something)”. morakési 1 • positional verb. be leaning. mür noun. grass type. cyprus sp. NOTE: used for weaving nambi yémothanḡér “The noun. dodonia viscosa. bow is leaning.” müraf tree type. NOTE: used for arrows, yamsticks 2 • transitive verb. lean. nambi müz noun. MASCULINE coconut shell for yémorakwé “I lean the bow”. men to cover their penis. 1 • verb. mosisi gather. kérénḡu karänzo 2 • positional verb. be gathered. mbikonḡér. “He stands there

wawa emosithénḡér. “The only with the coconut shell. He is

yams are gathered.” otherwise naked.” móni noun. necklace (shell necklace). mónme interorative pronoun. how. mónómthé interorative pronoun. how much. mónómthé no ngarünza mbomba

yésokwéren? “How much rain fell in the last year?” móyósi transitive verb. wrinkle, shrink, grow thin.

24.08.13 29 naf narsi N - n naf ergative pronoun. he, she. nambi noun. bow. bambusa sp. nafa ergative pronoun. they. nambi thém noun. FEMININE little pied nafan dative pronoun. for her, for him. comorant. time adverb. nafaném dative pronoun. for them. nama day before yesterday, day after tomorrow. nafä comitative pronoun. with them. namä adjective. good. naféne possessive pronoun. his / her. namä efoth greeting. good day. nafénéme OR: nafénme. possessive greeting. pronoun. their. namä ezi good morning. greeting. nafér preverb. sadness. nzä nafér namä zizi good afternoon. worä. “I am sad.” nzä nafér namä zmbär greeting. good night. karä worä. “I am sad.” namnḡési intransitive verb. breath nafrér comitative pronoun. with her, with quickly, pant for air. akaméf him. wanamnḡwér “I am out of nai nai noun. sweet potatoe. ipomoea breath.” wawa namnḡésikaf batatas. staple food NOTE: yé “the yam has cooled down”. naifa noun. machete. NOTE: loanword from ni nanamnḡérén. “We (2) are English out of breath.” naku kinship noun. MASCULINE cousin nane noun. FLEXIBLE elder sibling. (between two individuals whose noun. mothers are sisters). nanti stone. noun. nakum kinship noun. MASCULNE brother- nanḡ grass skirt. in-law (used between two men nanḡusi verb. who are married to sisters). 1 • stab. nze tauri verb. nakumnḡési cool down. mbi yénanḡunzé “I stab the

kwa nganakumnḡwér “the wallaby”. . sago will cool down” 2 • poke. kenakuméth “you cool down!” narsi transitive verb. press down, step nambi noun. bamboo type. bambusa on. vulgaris.

30 24.08.13 nasi no nasi noun. yam (long yam). NOTE: staple nénḡemäku kinship noun. adopted food, special significance parent (used between adopted nawan noun. FEMININE waterhole dug by parent and real parent).

pigs or deer. nénḡéth kinship noun. FLEXIBLE younger nawin noun. MASCULINE mountain sister or brother. hephaestus habbemai. grunter. nénḡom kinship noun. MASCULINE nä OR: nea. indefinite pronoun. some, brother-in-law (used between the another. nä kayé ... “the other sister's husband and the brother day, ...” instead of their name). nä kayé time adverb. some day, another nér noun. 1 • day. 2 • belly. nä mbun indefinite pronoun. another 3 • bow with a round curve (in one, others. opposition to fiyor). nämbi numeral. one. nér kwóth kwóth adjective. upset. nämbüsi transitive verb. hit, beat, nafanema nér kwóth

smash. kwóth worä- “I am upset nänzüthzési verb. because of him.” nér kwóth “I am really 1 • cover with mud / soil. kwóthéf zwefaf. upset.” 2 • paint with mud. ni 1 • ergative pronoun. we. nemba opposite. 2 • absolutive pronoun. we. nezä manner adverb. in return. nima conjunction. like this. néfi noun. breadfruit. arthocarpus atilis. OR . manner NOTE: edible fruit nimäwä : nimamewä adverb. likewise, the same way. némbrok noun. mushroom. NOTE: edible ninä comitative pronoun. with us. némoi OR: némai. preverbal particle. always, often. ninrér comitative pronoun. with me. nénḡath kinship noun. MASCULINE mate, no noun. close friend (would "lend" each MASCULINE 1 • water. nor yak

other their wifes). “He goes to fetch water / for nénḡe kinship noun. FLEXIBLE child. water”.

24.08.13 31 no kézi ngazi ngazi

FEMININE 2 • rain. kafar no nönzési

kwarünzér “It rained a lot.” 1 • verb. recede. tétfö nganözér nor yé “It will rain.” “the creek is receding; the water . no kézi noun. tray for rain magic. level in going down” 2 • noun low tide. no zér sam noun. bubbles. nümé OR: nümä. time adverb. last week, nono noun. breast. next week (more than 3 days). nömä noun. yamcake (made from long nümnḡar noun. MASCULINE crocodile. yams). Ng - ng ngafe kinship noun. MASCULINE father. ngasarü noun. star formation, small ngambram OR: ngambrém. noun. group of stars. MASCULINE greenback mullet. liza ngatér noun. string. subviridis. ngatér si noun. MASCULINE rope from a ngame kinship noun. FEMININE mother. thick vine. used for example to tie noun. MASCULINE ngamün papuan black the bark to the posts. ngatér si snake (big). ane fof yé. “This is the rope.” ngant noun. rope. ngatha noun. FLEXIBLE dog. nganz noun. row in the garden. ngatha ngatha noun. MASCULINE ngar ngar noun. FEMININE bamboo striped possum. dactylopsila pieces for paddling. trivirgata. noun. FEMININE ngarake noun. PLURAL fence, garden. ngaw great billed heron (smaller type). ngare noun. woman. ngazäthe proper noun. place name. ngare wéth wéth noun. plant type. helica latifolia. ngazi noun. cocos nucifera. ngarénte manner adverb. for the first ngazi ntir ntir noun. MASCULINE time. orange-breasted fig-parrot. ngarér noun. FLEXIBLE bandicoot. ngazi ngazi noun. tree type. exocarpus sp. bark used for yellow colour, noun. river. NOTE: ngarés dried resin chewed like gum

32 24.08.13 ngazi woku ntäfi ngazi woku noun. MASCULINE tiger ngénz noun. MASCULINE papuan black grunter. amniataba affinis. bass. lutjanus goldei. ngäwi kinship noun. FLEXIBLE uncle, ngofo ngofo noun. bullroarer.

nephew, niece (used between a ngongoyam noun. voice, loud voices. person and her/his mother's ngoti noun. FEMININE common spotted brothers and sisters). cuscus. spilocuscus maculatus.

Nt - nt ntai ntai noun. PLURAL women's grass ntanḡu noun. MASCULINE python type. skirt which one cover the front of ntanḡu zéthé noun. cone of a tree and the back of the body. (ntangu). NOTE: oncy lit, it will be ntambethé adjective. thick. smoldering for several hours, it is used carry fire ntambethkak mbórsi noun. FEMININE ntanḡwas noun. FLEXIBLE ellbow. grass dart game. ntao noun. garden. ntamarki noun. dynamite. ntamarki ntao ntér ntér noun. old garden after yéfö “dynamite water well”. NOTE: loanword from English the harvest. ntao ntér ntér rä. ntamno numeral. one thousand two “It is an old garden (left fallow).” hundred nintysix (1296). ntananḡ noun. weeds eaten by fish. ntarämbü noun. FEMININE plant type. ntanḡal noun. dugon. ntarämbü ane no yonasima ntanḡon PLURAL 1 • noun. food. rä. “This ntarämbü is for drinking water.” NOTE: used as water “The food is ntanḡon z'erä. container here.” ntarémbu noun. plant type. anthorhiza IRREGULAR VERB 2 • transitive verb. sp. NOTE: used like grinding stone to eat. kwérman yanathé “I eat remove hard skin (e.g. on one's foot) the kwérman”. sukufa ntasi noun. lump, bulge. “Will ntanḡon kwa änathér? ntathnḡir noun. FEMININE lizard type. you smoke the tobacce ”. ntäfi noun. MASCULINE freshwater imperative: thäwomb “You anchovy. thryssa scratchleyi. eat it (plural)!”

24.08.13 33 nteya ntunḡa nteya noun. FLEXIBLE wallaby (forest). ntérü OR: ntrü. noun. tree type. melaleuca sp. NOTE: used for timber nték nini noun. praying mantis. nti noun. back of the head. ntémbän noun. tree type. lamiodendron MASCULINE sp. NOTE: used for timber (paddles) ntimbath noun. hockey ntémbäzéri noun. tree type. schizomeria stick. serrota. NOTE: brown, sour tasting fruit ntimbä ntimbä noun. tree type. timonius sp. edible fruit, eaten by ntémbérthé noun. plant type. melochea NOTE: cassowaries sp. NOTE: medical use, root is cooked, powerful plant against all kinds of ntimbö noun. FEMININE smoking pipe. sickness ntinnḡwä noun. tree type. abrus sp. NOTE: noun. MASCULINE ntémbirko club seeds were used to write in the dust in (stone disc). the mission school noun. timonius sp. ntémbömsé adjective. blunt. ntinḡ ntinḡ tree type. NOTE: medical use, bark mixed with ntémnḡwér noun. orchid. dentrobium sp. water for women after giving birth ntémnḡwéri noun. waria waria oil ntir ntir noun. MASCULINE lory. melaleuca sp. plant. ntokre noun. FEMININE frog. manner adverb. ntémnzü silently. ntombakwér noun. MASCULINE indian

ntémnzü kärmés. “Sit down short-finned eel. anguilla bicolor.

quietly!” nzémnzü ntowä noun. MASCULINE brush cuckoo. ngarafinzéréth. “They paddle ntö noun. MASCULINE goanna type. silently.” ntö ntö noun. ntént noun. worm. 1 • plant type. NOTE: used as a broom nténtak noun. blue tongue. melastoma 2 • broom. afine. NOTE: medical use, leafes chewed against pain ntrantér noun. MASCULINE taboo. noun. nténḡa ntrari noun. FEMININE container made of 1 • bifurcation. wawa nténḡa bamboo. . kaf rä “the yam is split” ntrint OR: ntérint. noun. scales. 2 • gills. ntunḡa noun. taro. colocasia sp. NOTE: staple food ntérén noun. FEMININE duck. ntérénḡathé adjective. dry.

34 24.08.13 ntü ntü nzikaka ntü ntü adjective. in good condition / ntümbram noun. FEMININE cassowary shape. runḡa ntü ntüthé yé. (big).

“The pig is in good shape.” ntünḡäm noun. bird type. NOTE: (yellow kambe ntü ntü karä yé. beak, black feathers, flies in small groups) “The man is in good condition.” ntürthé adjective. fat. ntüfér noun. headdress made from cassowary feathers. little bundles of feathers are pointing upward from the forehead.

Nz - nz nzafa nzafa noun. baby basket. nzenme possessive pronoun. our. nzafar noun. nzémär noun. grease. 1 • sky. nzénḡa noun. vagina. 2 • cloud. nzénḡa yawi noun. vagina / clitoris. nzambu noun. wing. NOTE: used as a swearword! nzanḡum noun. fly. nzénzén adjective. smooth. wawa nzanza noun. MASCULINE insect type nzénzénthé rä “the yam is that eats bamboo. smooth (-like).” wawa nzarénḡa noun. tree type (cardamom?) nzénzén karä rä “the yam is amomum aculeatum. NOTE: no use (with) smooth (-ness).” kómnzo nzarwan OR: nzarwón. noun. nzénzénzo féthé fof kräkor. MASCULINE barramundi. lates “that is when it would become calcarifer. just very smooth.” absolutive pronoun. nzä I. nzérémbu noun. noun. polyosma nzäfö plant type. 1 • knuckle. integrifolia. NOTE: bark is used against 2 • snakes to poison their habitats joint of a bamboo. NOTE: masculine nzäthe kinship noun. FLEXIBLE namesake. nzikaka noun. MASCULINE whistling ergative pronoun. nze I. kite. nzeném dative pronoun. for us.

24.08.13 35 nzinḡém rafisi nzinḡém adjective. sticky. mésar nzone interjection. "sorry", "pity on you" yawi nzinḡémnzo yé. “The sign of empathy towards

rice is very sticky.” nzinḡémthé somebody. . noun. FEMININE wawa rä. “The yam is sticky.” nzoyar OR: nzöyär fawn-breasted bowerbird. nzinḡfu noun. rainmaking stone. nzönz noun. tree type. terminalia nzinzimam noun. dragonfly. megalocarpa. NOTE: nuts are eaten, soaked in water for some days, baked in nzirét noun. plant type. anon sp. NOTE: ground oven medical use, leafes are eaten against general sores nzönz nzönz noun. tree type. terminalia =nzo clitic. only, just. sp. NOTE: nuts to small to eat noun. MASCULINE nzokta noun. doctor. NOTE: loadword from nzram flower. English nzun dative pronoun. for me. nzom noun. tree type. NOTE: used for grass . noun. skirt nzürna ngare OR: nzürna FEMININE devil woman, spirit nzone possessive pronoun. my. woman.

O - o

conjunction. o or. ororo noun. slope, hill. NOTE: Loanword from Motu ofa adjective. light, not heavy. ospitor noun. hospital. NOTE: loanword or noun. MASCULINE emerald dove. from English R - r ra interorative pronoun. what. 2 • transitive verb. put on top. raf noun. tide. rafisi middle verb. paddle. ngarénta raf térkér noun. high tide. ngarafinzé. “I paddle the canoe.” rafinḡési 1 • positional verb. be on top. nḡiri séki sékin wérafithénḡér. “The knife is on top of the platform.”

36 24.08.13 rakéthkési réfuthrakési rakéthkési 1 • positional verb. be on top. 2 • spread out. nḡiri séki sékin réfäsi verb. hop. wérakéthénḡér. “The knife in réfekési verb. limp. kambe

on top of the platform.” ngarfekwér “The man is 2 • transitive verb. put on top. limping.” raksi middle verb. crawl (of a baby). réfenzakési transitive verb. miss. tauri tosai ngarakénzér “The baby tonze sarfrenzé. “I missed the crawls.” wallaby closely.” rar interorative pronoun. réfezési verb. lever, lift. ni wawa zé 1 • what for. thurfeze. “We have lifted up the 2 • why, for what. yams.” wawa zarfes! “Lift up rata noun. ladder. the yams!” ratu ratu noun. bamboo pipes référsi transitive verb. trim. razé interjection. "oh yes", "absolutely" réfézüthzési verb. stumble, trip (could sign of overwelming agreement. be caused by someone who kicks you from behind). räkumnḡési 1 • middle verb. distract. 1 • intransitive verb. tosai mborme réfikési grow. srak . ngaräkumnḡwér yama. “The yérfikwér “the boy grows (up)” child distracts himself with the 2 • transitive verb. nuture. nze ball because of crying.” srak yérfikwé “I nuture the 2 • transitive verb. attract, lure. boy”.

rusa eräkumnḡwére kifa réfitfakési verb. respond, answer; respond, answer in a verbal fight, argue. kifame. “We attract the deer with the coconut leaf whistle.” réfizési transitive verb. tease, make fun. räzési 1 • positional verb. be erected, be réfthakési verb. burst sth. ngazi planted. ménz yérästhanḡér wérféthakwé “I poke / burst “The house is standing.” the coconut”. 2 • transitive verb. erect. réfukénsi verb. hug. zarfukénéth rensi verb. sweep. “they (2) grabbed each other / hugged each other”. réfakusi OR: réfakwési. verb. réfuthrakési 1 • sprinkle.

24.08.13 37 rékäkési rénémnḡési 1 • positional verb. be heaped up, be 1 • positional verb. be side by side. piled up. wawa ärfuthénḡér. nḡarénta erménzüthanḡér. “The yams are in a pile.” “The canoes are side by side.” 2 • transitive verb. pile, heap. 2 • transitive verb. join along an rékäkési verb. advice. axis, side by side. rémérsi verb. rub, grind. rékäsi verb. singe. réminḡési verb. stitch, sow. rékonḡési transitive verb. distribute equally. réminzüfakési transitive verb. rékusi verb. knock down, pick up (from exchange. above). rémithrakési 1 • positional verb. be rémbänzési verb. untie. ngant joined together. ménz kam yérémbänzé “I untie the rope”. ermithrénḡér. “The house roof

imperative: sarémbäs! “You beams are joined together.” untie him!” 2 • transitive verb. join. rémbäzési verb. forbid. kwamithrakwéréth wäménen sonḡasir “They rémbenḡési verb. gathered/joined by the tree for 1 • protect. wérémbenḡwé “I climbing.” protect her”. rémunḡési verb. 2 • separate. 1 • stare. mbinḡonḡo kwanen rémbétfakési transitive verb. comb. ngarmunḡérnéth “the two transitive verb. rémbéthkési snap off birds (crested pitohui) are (with fingers). wawa nḡémb watching each other singing”. tharémbéthén! “snap off the 2 • envy.

yzm shoots!” 3 • beg. mbä ngarmunḡwér interorative pronoun. réma why. wawar nzuntmbo. “you are rémänsi verb. close. zérfö begging me for yams.” nze wérmänwé “I close the door”. mbun nanérmunḡwé réménḡési verb. drill, pierce. wawar “I beg you for yams.” réménzüfakési rénäthési verb. get stuck. rénémnḡési verb. strip off.

38 24.08.13 rénénḡéthkési réthémbrakési rénénḡéthkési OR: rénanḡéthkési. résérsi verb. poison the swamp. 1 • positional verb. be in the résizénsi transitive verb. squeeze. ngazi branches, be in a treefork. runḡa sam wérzizénwére “We

fäk ernéngéthanḡér “The pig squeeze the coconut juice.” yaws are in the tree fork.” résokési middle verb. shock. fi kwa 2 • transitive verb. put in a tree fork. ngarésokwér “she/he will be verb. réninzési shocked”. 1 • smile. résörsi middle verb. descend, climb 2 • make a face. down. rénḡenḡési verb. rétémakési 1 • take off. 1 • verb. cut. tuti yértémakwér 2 • pull off. “He cut the branch”. verb. rénḡéfakési recognise, realise. 2 • experiencer object. cut. sukufa rénḡési 1 • positional verb. be wearing ntürnéf wórtémakwér

something / be on someone. kwanen. “The tobacco smoke

nḡwényame yarkénḡér. cuts my throat.” nzéréméf “The clothes are on him / He is wortémakwér kwanen. wearing the clothes.” “Sourness cuts my throat.” 2 • transitive verb. put on (clothes or réténsi verb. pull off leaves. carry something with a sling verb. overthe shoulder). réthakusi spray (liquid). nze rénḡosi transitive verb. poke through. zérsam yérthakwunzé “I spray / spit the saliva”. rénz OR: rnz. noun. embers. réthärsi verb. share, distribute. rénzém interorative pronoun. how many interorative pronoun. when. / how much. réthé conjunction. rénzémzési verb. press together. réthé if. rér kwan noun. sound of speech. verb. réréw noun. person that is limping. fi réthémbrakési 1 • réréw yé “He is a cripple.” write. 2 • réwéw fi yérfikwér “He is put sth. on a wall. growing as a limping man.”

24.08.13 39 réthémbrénḡési riyozési réthémbrénḡési OR: riféthzési verb. hide. ngazi réthambrakési. 1 • positional wériféthzé “I hide the coconut”. verb. be sticking (adhesive). rifthakési verb. send. mbith yérthambranḡér rifthonzési verb. erase. yamyam ane brubrun “The Honey sticks on fof zwäriféthonzé. “You keep the drum.” removing the marks of this one 2 • transitive verb. stick sth. on. (the bow).” verb. heal. réwokési naf fi rikénsi verb. destroy. yérwokwér “He heals him.” rinakési 1 • positional verb. be inside rézarsi 1 • positional verb. be tied (liquid). no wérithénḡér together. ngant wozen. “The water is filled in

yérzafthénḡér. “The string is the bottle.” tied (to something).” 2 • verb. pour, fill with water. 2 • verb. tie, adopt. fi yérzarwé rirfakési verb. kill. yérirfakwé “I kill

“I adopt him.” him”. verb. rézasi bake in ground oven. rirkési transitive verb. avoid, respect. verb. réziféthakési push down, push risokési verb. look down. over. nafa nzä zwärziféth. ritakési verb. “They have pushed me down.” 1 • cross over. nzä krärizé rézirakési middle verb. bending against ngares “I will cross over the a tension/force. river”. rézömbnzési verb. close the ground 2 • change. zokwasi ritakési oven. “translate the language”. rézwäsi OR: rézüwäsi. verb. ritüsi transitive verb. grab someone. 1 • complain about. naf fi riwa noun. FEMININE pig-fender, long yérzüwänzérém “He stick with a ring and its end to complained about him”. catch and hold a pig. 2 • attract attention. mane riyozési transitive verb. pull up (lift up

mbombo ngarzuwänzér? grass, that has been beaten down “who is making so much noise OR liftin up someone that is

over there?” sleeping).

40 24.08.13 rokar sarawiyé rokar noun. things, stuff. rusi transitive verb. shoot, spear. tauri rot noun. PLURAL fence (built up saménḡé “I shot the wallaby”. type). rusi middle verb. bark. royakési transitive verb. decorate. yawi rünanḡési verb. slag off, backbite. naf

aneme mb'wéroyakwér. kambe yarünanḡwér “he “She decorates it (the nest) with slags him off.” rma these fruit.” ngarünanḡwér? “why are you noun. FEMININE róku róku riverbank. gossiping?” noun. runḡa pig. rürä manner adverb. alone, leave runḡa bénḡu OR: runḡa bónḡu. behind. nzä zä noun. FEMININE chestnut rail. zwänḡathiféth rürä “They runḡa runḡa noun. tree type. gmelina left me here here alone / behind.” ledermanii. NOTE: used for kundu rürü kwan OR: ruru kwan. noun. drums thunder (close). runḡa tarku noun. FEMININE pig's hole. rüt rüt noun. FEMININE, PLURAL sticks for rusa noun. FLEXIBLE deer. the ground oven.

S - s safak noun. MASCULINE saratoga. sami noun. MASCULINE eagle type. scleropages jardinii. sanḡafa noun. stone axe. saisai noun. drizzle, light rain. sanḡara kinship noun. FLEXIBLE clan saka OR: sakar. noun. mustard (used name. for chewing betel). sanḡu sanḡu noun. yams (for planting, samböm noun. MASCULINE twig (green). small ones to be tied on the roof samböm noun. MASCULINE grass type. of the yamhouse). sambu kinship noun. FLEXIBLE sister-in- saraka noun. PLURAL fence (vertical law (used between a woman and sticks with few horizontal ones). the older brothers of her husband sarawai noun. FEMININE little friarbird. instead of their name). sarawiyé noun. FEMININE brown oriole. sam noun. liquid.

24.08.13 41 sas sét sas noun. plant type. pouteria sp. NOTE: sénḡambum noun. twig (without nuts are used for decoration leaves). satéf noun. PLURAL sago pulp (before sénḡu noun. MASCULINE plug (rolled up beating it) bark used like a cork). satéf mént noun. PLURAL sago pulp sénzä noun. MASCULINE crayfish (river). leftovers after beating it. sérar noun. MASCULINE common sayäfi noun. prawn. sandpiper. sämbéthzési transitive verb. cover with sére mbi noun. sago type. metroxyllon

ground. sagu. NOTE: staple food verb. säminzési séréf noun. MASCULINE fringe-lipped 1 • teach. kamben yasäminzé mullet. crenimugil heterocheilos. “I teach the man”. sérizési verb. push an object into 2 • whisper. kambe yésäminzé something. nḡiri withen “I whisper to the man”. wäsérizér. “He pushed the säsä noun. FEMININE australian owlet- knife into the banana.” nḡiri nightjar. yame mban mbanen se noun. bark used for fire and wäsérizér. “he pushed knife lighting up the dancing place. underneath the mat.” séfintam proper noun. place name. sérizési transitive verb. send sombody to séki séki noun. sitting platform. do something. nze Iven sékwri noun. coconut flesh mixed with yasrizé moreheadfo sukufa

water. eaten cold. ngazi sékwri zrinér. “I am sending Ivan to Morehead to bring tobacco.” wäfiyokwér “You make the coconut soup.” sérminz noun. rainbow. sémbü sémbü noun. pleomele, song of sésaméthé noun. milkwood. taberna montana orientalis. medical use, india. dracaena angustifolia. NOTE: NOTE: used for decorations (grass skirts, liquid from stalk is applied to the navel headdresses) of a new-born noun. choriceras sémärki proper noun. name for weam sésämbéth plant type. sp. people. sét noun. doughwood. melicope sp. sén OR: sn. noun. taro stem. NOTE: dried resin is chewed by children, bark shaving are sprinkled in the yamhouse to deter rats

42 24.08.13 séthä süfi séthä noun. MASCULINE goanna type. sisifäféth noun. charcoal. séthékäs proper noun. place name. sisthénḡési 1 • positional verb. be séthnḡe OR: séthénḡe. noun. pinkie, sticking out. nḡiri small finger. wésithénḡér wäménen. “The séwi noun. MASCULINE great egret. knife sticks out of the tree.” 2 • transitive verb. stick out. sézési transitive verb. call, ask. noun. soccer. NOTE: loanword from imperative: sas “You call soka English him!” yiszé “He calls him.” sonḡ noun. small spear from bamboo. si noun. PLURAL eye. sonḡési verb. ascend, climb up. nze si brubru adjective. blind. nafan zwasonḡwé. “I have si kwan kwan preverb. secretly. fi brought it up for her.”

sikwankwan zuzir zéfiyak sosfen noun. saucepan. NOTE: loanword “she went secretly fishing”. from English sikwankwanme zefara “she srak noun. boy. . left secretly” srima kambe noun. MASCULINE scout, si rore rore interjection. shouted out spy. srima kambe mbäne while washing the roots in the zukérkwéréméth kar fof.

water for poison fishing. “Those spies were really blocking si sam noun. tear. off the village.” si yawar yawar noun. tree type. sukrat manner adverb. firmly. sukrat syzygium sp. edible, sour fuit NOTE: yékonḡér. “He stands firmly.” sibuni noun. spoon. NOTE: loanword from sukratme ngnäkuk! “You English stand firmly.” sifraku noun. PLURAL flute (panpipe). surita noun. tree type. endiandra sp. NOTE: sifrén noun. grassknife. no use noun. MASCULINE sirä noun. yamhouse (with shelves for susa sharp point, storing the yams). spear-like object (used to make holes or planted behind gaps in siroro noun. FEMININE yellow-headed the fence as a wallaby trap). susa kingfisher. ane fof yé “This is the susa.” sirsir noun. MASCULINE feathertail noun. setaria sp. glider. süfi floating grass. NOTE: no use

24.08.13 43 sümrakési thanzési sümrakési 1 • positional verb. be open. süsümbäth adjective. dark (no light).

no yéfö wésümthénḡér. sütér noun. FLEXIBLE wallaby (middle “The waterhole is open.” woz sized wallaby). wésümthénḡér sénḡumäre. swäri noun. milkwood. astonia “The bottle is open without a lid.” actenephyla. NOTE: used for glue 2 • transitive verb. open, widen. sweki noun. FEMININE brown quail. sün noun. dirt. süsüfér noun. plant type. polyathia sp. NOTE: used spring for a trap, medical use, bark mixed with water against shortwind Th - th thaf adjective. bitter. thamin thamin noun. FEMININE thafrakési verb. mix. flickering sensation in the air above a fire. thamin thamin thaifakési transitive verb. bring out to

the open, bring to everyone's wékonḡér mbanten. “The

attention, to arrive in a village. heat is standing on the ground.” thamin thamin wémarwé. thak noun. place (ashes). “I see the "hot air".” thak thak noun. law. thamsakési OR: thémsakési. tham tham preverb. struggling, trying 1 • positional verb. be spread out.

one's best. nze tham tham yame wéthamésthénḡér.

wäruthé. “I am struggling.” “The mat is spread out.” thame thame noun. person that doesnt 2 • transitive verb. spread out a mat speak properly. or coconut leaves on the ground. thamin OR: thämin. noun. tongue. thanzési transitive verb. open, remove thamin noun. FEMININE freshwater the barks from oven or house

tongue sole. cynoglossus roof. ménz thanzési kaf rä. heterolepis. “The house has some holes in the roof.”

44 24.08.13 tharéfka théfäsi tharéfka noun. thäfrési 1 • positional verb. be covering MASCULINE 1 • rib. something. nḡwényame MASCULINE 2 • thin sticks right ethäfrésthénḡér. “The clothes underneath the karesa bark on the are covering (something).”

roof. 2 • transitive verb. cover. noun. tharémbar cage for the pig. thäkénsi verb. tharési 1 • positional verb. be underneath. 1 • jolt. nḡiri wétharthénḡér 2 • shake. yamen. “The knife is thämbu noun. hair. underneath the mat.” thärkusi 1 • middle verb. crawl. 2 • verb. go underneath. ngathärkunzé kethärkuf ! noun. thari style. or kathärkunzé ! transitive verb. tharisi dig. ntunḡa 2 • verb. drag. “I dig the taro.” yétharinzé thäsi verb. split in half. wawa postposition. tharthar side. zathäf! “split the yam in half!” noun. MASCULINE tharthar ufaf roof thäzürakési 1 • transitive verb. bump beams on the side. into. tharukési 1 • positional verb. be in a 2 • ditransitive verb. help, support.

open container. rokar thefath noun. burning (first cycle).

nḡaréntan etharuthénḡér. thei thei noun. mucking around, jump “The things are in the canoe.” around. katan nénḡe thei 2 • transitive verb. put something in thei ngafiyokwér “the small a open container (e.g.: in a dish, child is jumping/fooling around.” in the canoe). thenzénḡési transitive verb. roll. thatha thatha noun. grass type. 1 • poaceae sp. NOTE: edible (like théfäsi intransitive verb. jump. sugarcane), eaten by wallabies, used to soften the ground under a mat imperative: nḡnethéfär “You thäfém noun. wave. jump!” fi äthéfän “They (2) are jumping.”

24.08.13 45 théfinḡési thm nténzü

2 • middle verb. fly. thérsi transitive verb. tear, widen.

ngathérfänzéréth “They (3) yéthérwé “I tear it.” trutruf

fly.” imperative: kethéfär ane fof zathérfako “The

“You fly!” current widened it.” théfinḡési verb. push. théthakési 1 • positional verb. be théfitar noun. FEMININE swamp eel. attached, be sticking in. faren ophisternon gutturale. wéththanḡér “It is attached to adjective. thékarthé hard, difficult. the post.” thékäfékési transitive verb. start, begin. 2 • transitive verb. attach, pin, nail. thékér thékér noun. calf. théthé manner adverb. similar. biskar thémboth OR: thmboth. noun. ant tin théthé kwa mbäne (small black). wäfiyokwére. “We make it like the cassawa tin / cassawa thém OR: thm. noun. nose. scraper.” thém sam noun. snot, mucus. théthéfér adjective. crazy, funny, clown- thémntér noun. MASCULINE beetle (big, like. lives on the coconut). théwai théwai noun. tree type. noun. MASCULINE trap; NOTE: trap, thénin elaeocarpus sp. NOTE: medical use, cage in order to catch animals. bark is mixed with water against shortwind thént noun. middle. théwä noun. FEMININE triangular shield thénḡ noun. soft part above the catfish. sciades leptaspis. collarbone. théwä fefe noun. FEMININE berney's thénḡusi 1 • intransitive verb. forget. catfish. neoarius berneyi. yéthénḡuntér “He forget.” théwekési middle verb. be happy. fi 2 • transitive verb. forget, mix up. ngathwekwéréth anema fof mbone yéf nze ngamnzokwéréth. “They are wéthénḡunzé “I forget your happy and therefore they are name.” jumping.” thénzös noun. bark of the kwim tree thézi noun. FEMININE sugar glider. (when dry). thikyasi verb. tie the fence. thérfam noun. FEMININE daniel's catfish. cochlefelis danielsi. thm nténzü noun. MASCULINE bar thérma time adverb. later. across the front of a house.

46 24.08.13 thm nḡénḡérémb tambuthui nimbo thm nḡénḡérémb noun. nasal septum 2 • transitive verb. fill, put inside (a (lit. nose soft-part). closed space). nḡiri wéthorthé thofikési transitive verb. disturb. nzä “I put the knife inside.” ngathayé wathofikwéréth thräkési transitive verb. stop, block. ntanḡon ménin. “The dogs thru thru noun. bamboo type. bambusa sp. disturb me in cooking the food.” kinship noun. FLEXIBLE thoménsi transitive verb. make fire, pile thuféth in-law, tambu (the family the one gets up the firewood. méni married to). nzu thuféth nérä. käthomén! “You (go and) make “You are my in-law.” fire!” thusi middle verb. fold. thomnḡési ditransitive verb. help. thuwak OR: théwak. noun. shoulder. thorakési 1 • intransitive verb. appear. thü noun. 2 • transitive verb. search, make appear. MASCULINE 1• waria waria, melaleuca. melaleuca sp. NOTE: 1 • positional verb. thorsi be inside a medical use (steam is inhaled)

closed container. nḡiri MASCULINE 2 • rope from a bark, wéthkanḡér “The knife is thin rope to tie posts together. inside.” thü méyukénsikaf yéthén. “The rope laying there is twisted.” T - t taba riri mbórsi noun. FEMININE game tafotafo noun. yams (small yams that where children shoot arrow are tied up in bundles and then through a ring that rolls on the hung to the roof of the ground. yamhouse). numeral. tabru five. tak noun. pandanus. pandanus sp. NOTE: used for making grassskirts, roots are tafét noun. tree type. NOTE: bark is used for soaked and then smashed grass skirts tambrü noun. navel. tafo adjective. dried, shrunk. tambuthui numeral. five.

tambuthui nimbo OR: nimbo. numeral. six.

24.08.13 47 tamén térénsi tamén OR: tämén. noun. pandanus. tek noun. while, time. tekmär pandanus sp. used for weaving NOTE: zänḡathinz. “The is not much tanḡa noun. leaf. time left.” tar kinship noun. FLEXIBLE friend. terén noun. melaleuca sp. tarawat noun. law, taboo. NOTE: loanword téf noun. spot. from Motu téfér téfér noun. tree type. fegria sp. tarazü noun. NOTE: used for timber (house posts) 1 • headdress (cassowary). téfiyéy OR: téféy. noun. small bandicoot 2 • pandanus sp. pandanus. NOTE: kind. used for weaving téfkak noun. grass type. tarku noun. FEMININE crocodile's hole. téfö téfö manner adverb. almost. tarumba numeral. two hundred and sixteen (216). tékrafet noun. sailfin glassfish. ambassis agrammus. tatkwénam OR: tatkwónam. noun. tékwi tékwi preverb. meander. ngarés tree type. endiandra sp. NOTE: no use recorded tékwi tékwi karä rä. “The tauri OR: tawri. noun. FLEXIBLE wallaby river is meandering.” (bush wallaby). témana noun. big bandicoot (sharp tauri zm noun. mourning costume (for a nose). woman / coevrs the upper body tématém noun. method, way, time. part). témä noun. strength. tawako OR: tétawako. noun. FEMININE ténänḡési transitive verb. lose. grey-crowned babbler. ténezési 1 • middle verb. train. tawar noun. inside of a yam. 2 • transitive verb. test, try, taste. tawasri noun. bow bracer. ténorakési transitive verb. shape adjective. ripe, dry. tayo somthing from mud. noun. MASCULINE talapia climbing téntari adjective. yellow. perch. anabas testudineus. NOTE: introduced species téngafü noun. club (wooden). tätü noun. coconut shell. ténz adjective. short. täwämb noun. bamboo type. bambusa sp. térén noun. chest. térénsi verb. carry.

48 24.08.13 térént toku térént noun. black palm. licuala sp. téwtéw OR: tétéw. preverb. closed up, térkér noun. FEMININE flood. without any space. wiram zókwasi keke ngarizére. térna OR: térnä. noun. stalk of a cocnut

leaf. téw téw nérén. “We don't understand Suki. We two are tértha 1 • noun. life. closed up.” kar tétéw 2 • adjective. raw. zwermänéth. “They (the tétauri noun. spider. headhunters) closed up the village tétäw preverb. no space, no escape. without escape.”

tétäw zwermänéth. “They tif tif noun. counting tally. kambef closed it up completely.” wawa tif tif yéfathwér “the tétfö noun. FEMININE creek. man is holding the yam counting . tétfö zéféth noun. FEMININE mouth of a tally”

creek. timer noun. tree type. mallotus sp. NOTE: bark with water is given to dogs in order tétrayém noun. MASCULINE goanna to bite better type. timur noun. saptree, mangosteen. tétüsi 1 • positional verb. be printed. ként garcinia huntstenii. NOTE: bark used for ségeru brubrun yéttüthénḡér. “The tinga noun. MASCULINE eclectus parrot star is printed on the drum.” (red). 2 • middle verb. write. tiwanḡési transitive verb. break through, 3 • transitive verb. write. poke through. nzä keräfi téthe noun. burning (second cycle). zätiwéthé “I broke throught the téwi téwi noun. MASCULINE grey floor”. goshawk. tiyar noun. spear for fishing. téwir noun. MASCULINE earring / plug noun. FEMININE bird type. ornament. tiyaw tofar noun. sago type. metroxyllon sp. NOTE: staple food toku preverb. carry somebody on the shoulders (with their legs around the neck). tokume wézänzér “He carries her on the shoulders.”

24.08.13 49 toku toku tufarawa toku toku noun. FEMININE bar- 1 • treefork. shouldered dove. 2 • bifurcation (eg. of a path). tokuya OR: tokuyé. noun. MASCULINE trikasi 1 • noun. story. palm cockatoo. 2 • transitive verb. report. tonḡ tonḡ noun. MASCULINE sound of a ngafentmbo fi kwa small kundu drum, sometimes yétrikwé “I will report him to used to describe the small kundu father.”

drum "nḡénḡafas". 3 • ditransitive verb. tell. tonze adjective. close. imperative: satrif “You tell tosai noun. baby. him!” totoman noun. cockroach. trisi transitive verb. scratch. nambi tothe tothe preverb. tickle, tingle. ker féthé férékthé zrarä

tothe tothe wäfiyokwé “I féthé fof zatrinz zmbo. “When the end of the bamboo is tickle her.” red, then you scratch here.” tosai toya OR: toyé. noun. lightning. wétrinzé “I scratch the small töna noun. FEMININE inland, high girl.” ground (part of the land that is tro noun. MASCULINE python type. not flodded during the wet season). tro OR: téro. noun. tree type. melaleuca sp. NOTE: used for timber 1 • middle verb. trakési fall. nzä (canoe), bark used as torch (bark) ngatrakwé “I fall”. kayé nzä tro OR: téro. noun. MASCULINE . zätré “I fell yesterday” southern tandan. neosilurus equinus. 2 • transitive verb. drop. nḡiri . noun. FEMININE wétrakwé “I drop the knife”. trraw OR: térraw rufous-bellied kingfisher. imperative: satér “You drop noun. it!” tru tree type, palm type. cyrtostachys sp. NOTE: used for flooring trakumnḡési transitive verb. smash. tru tru noun. current / stream. transi transitive verb. tuba noun. tree type. flinderisia sp. NOTE: 1 • sharpen. dried resin burns like candles, used for timber 2 • carve. noun. MASCULINE bird masc. tranḡ noun. tufarawa

50 24.08.13 tumbanḡ wara nambi tumbanḡ noun. harpoon. tuth noun. paddy oats, melinjo. gnetum gnemon. used for firewood, noun. NOTE: tumbatumb mount, small hill. young tree used for fishing nets, edible fruit tuof noun. heat. tuwari tuwari noun. plant type. adjective. tuofthé schizaea sp. 1 • hot. tüf noun. soft ground by the river 2 • dry. (walking in the floating grass). noun. MASCULINE turama python tüfér quantifier. many. (general). tümanḡa proper noun. place name. turarémb noun. plant type. bridelia sp. tütü noun. FEMININE lesser black NOTE: edible fruit coucal. turatu noun. bamboo cage for roasting twari noun. MASCULINE comb. fi fish. NOTE: masculine twarime ngarémbétfakwér. tuti noun. MASCULINE branch. “He combing himself with a noun. tutufri coconut (small and comb.” unripe).

U - u u kwan noun. sound of fire in the bamboos. W - w wakusi transitive verb. evaporate. want noun. tree type. carallia brachiata. efothéf no yéwakunzér. NOTE: burned bark is used for black paint “The sun is evaportaing the rain wanḡrési transitive verb. meet. (puddles).” wanzo noun. dream. wambat noun. spade, shovel. war noun. top part (soft part of the wani wani noun. ground or soil). 1 • picture. wara nambi noun. FEMININE bow type, 2 • shadow. the bowstring is taken off.

24.08.13 51 warék wäsi warék noun. size. wathkénsi middle verb. pack up. warfo postposition. above, up. wauka noun. red coloured cloud / sky. wari noun. indian coral tree, tiger's wawa noun. yam (round yam). NOTE: staple food claw. erytrina vareagata. wawér noun. wind (from the east). warikénsi transitive verb. stir. no méni noun. wéwarikénwé. “I stir the hot wayoth cover (for ground oven). leaves or branches that are put

water.” between the hot stones and the barks on the ground oven. warkési middle verb. howl. ngatha . noun. ngawarkwéréth. “The dogs wazi OR: wózi side. are howling.” wäkési intransitive verb. dawn on sb. waro noun. theft, stealing. wäméne OR: wämne. noun. tree warsi middle verb. (general). 1 • chew. wänt noun. penis. 2 • suck. wär kwan noun. thunder (far). waru noun. FEMININE turtle. wäramäka numeral. seven thousand wasi noun. MASCULINE marbled seven hundred and seventysix

frogmouth (owl). (7776). middle verb. wasisi verb. flash light. wärezési shoot, aim, throw. ntunzi ngawärezé “I shoot watéma preverb. daytrip. ni the arrow”. zäwäresé “I was moreheadfo niyan starting to aim.” watémame. “We (2) go to noun. Morehead for a daytrip.” wäro wäro small fish that floats close to the surface. watik OR: wati. conjunction. then, so, noun. enough. wärwär fatigue, drowsy feeling from too much heat|sun. katan wath 1 • noun. dance, singsing. wathér ngatha wärwärma kwa wiyak “I go for the

dance.” yérunḡér. “The small dog sleeps IRREGULAR VERB 2 • middle verb. because of the heat of the sun.” dance. ngarénzürwé “I dance.” wäsi verb. watha noun. tree type. endiandra 1 • crack. fragrans. yellow fruit NOTE: 2 • break.

52 24.08.13 wäsi worätthé wäsi noun. tree type. ficus sp (strangler). 1 • banana leaf (dry). NOTE: used for rope 2 • paper. wäsi middle verb. happen, take place. wés wés noun. leafflower. phyllanthus sp. no use (there is a plant used for wätku noun. MASCULINE pelican. NOTE: rope called wés) 1 • positional verb. wäthési be tied wéswés zra proper noun. place name. around. yéwäthénḡér. “It is wéth noun. PLURAL feces, shit. tied around.” wéth nḡanḡa noun. diarrhea. 2 • middle verb. tie around. wéthzak noun. foot. wekési transitive verb. invite. wélat OR: ikan lele. noun. MASCULINE wezér wezér noun. MASCULINE obbe's walking catfish. clarias batrachus. tandan. porochilus obbesi. NOTE: introduced species wéf noun. FEMININE shirt, blouse wi numeral. fourty six thousand six (garment for the upper body). hundred and fifty six (46.656). wéfmär wékonḡér. “She wifaza noun. MASCULINE seven-spot stands bare-breasted.” archerfish. toxotes chatareus. wémbäk noun. vomit. wimés noun. mango. mangifera minor. noun. wémbér wind (from the west). NOTE: edible fruit, bark mixed with water applied orally against snakebites wém noun. stone. winu winu noun. madness. wém wém noun. tree type. endiandra sp. proper noun. NOTE: scraped roots are put on tobacco wiram name for suki leafes to make it stronger people. wémsi noun. menstruation. with noun. banana. NOTE: staple food OR: . noun. whirlpool. wént wónt with with noun. plant type. anon (vine) wérémbin noun. MASCULINE oxeye sp. NOTE: edible fruit (like small banana) herring. megalops cyprinoides. wokéfakési middle verb. change colour. wéri noun. drunk, intoxicated. wokrakési intransitive verb. be floating. wérsi 1 • positional verb. be planted. nḡarénta yéwokrakwér. wawa erwérthénḡér. “The “The canoe is floating.” yams are planted.” woksi verb. choose. 2 • transitive verb. plant. woku noun. skin. noun. wérwér worätthé adjective. thin.

24.08.13 53 wotér yaryómnḡési wotér noun. tree type (cornbeefwood). woz noun. bottle. barringtonia sp. sign of good NOTE: proper noun. (high) ground, flower are a sign for wónta place name. planting wóthém noun. MASCULINE woodworm. wotu noun. stick (walking stick).

Y - y ya noun. cry, tear. yamit kinship noun. FLEXIBLE cousin yabun adjective. big. (used between the children of a direct sister exchange). yafüsi transitive verb. open. yamü yamü noun. bamboo yak intransitive verb. IRREGULAR VERB construction which consist of two walk. bent bamboos above the pig cage. noun. yaka small yams will be tied to this for 1 • yamstick, digging stick. a feast.

2 • tree type. fontania papuana. NOTE: yanḡusi transitive verb. pour out used for yam sticks (general). yaka tüfér noun. MASCULINE lesser yare noun. bag. black coucal. yarenzési intransitive verb. look around. yakési transitive verb. help. nze mbä imperative: nayakwé wäméne zrinér. “I nḡnäzinḡérthém “You look help you carring the sticks.” around!” yakme manner adverb. fast. yarisi ditransitive verb. give. yakwér noun. wound, sore. imperative: sar “You give it to noun. yam louse lice. him!” noun. yam yam shape. yamyam ane yarizési transitive verb. hear. fof “You keep on making the yarokési transitive verb. escort, guide. shape for this one (the bow).” yarsi noun. sleepiness from staying yamayama OR: yama. adjective. poor. awake during the night. yame noun. mat. yaryómnḡési OR: riyémnḡési. middle verb. scream.

54 24.08.13 yase

yase noun. animal, meat from animals. yémént OR: yémnt. noun. MASCULINE yathizési (?) intransitive verb. die. zi bird. noun. eucalyptus wathistér “I am dying from the yémi eucalyptus type. sp. used for timber pain.” NOTE: yémór yémór noun. desire, want. nze yawambü noun. MASCULINE tree type. NOTE: used for big kundu drums yémór yémór wémarwé. “I yawéth noun. FEMININE mount; mount in desire her" (lit.: "I look desirous at which the yams are growing. her”. nzun ngaref yémór yawo greeting. farewell. yémór warzér. “I desire the yem noun. FEMININE cassowary. woman" (lit.: "the woman throws yémór yémór for me)”. nzun yem yem noun. tree type. aceratium sp. NOTE: cassowaries eat the small red fruit mbone tosinéf yémór yéf OR: yif. noun. name. yémór warithér. “I desire your torch (lit.: "your torch gives yéfér noun. tree type. syzygium sp. NOTE:

for black colour me yémór yémór)”. yéférsé adjective. black. yénakési transitive verb. put down (non- animate). yéfö noun. hole. yénk kékrü noun. FEMININE bird type. yémbäth yémbäth noun. plant type. hornstedtia lycostoma. NOTE: edible yénzérü noun. FEMININE storch. seeds yérsi transitive verb. scrape the coconut yémanz efoth noun. intense heat with or cassava. high humidity during dry season. yérsi transitive verb. weave, build. nä kayä yémanz efoth intransitive verb. IRREGULAR féthé kwasinzérém karesa yérunḡér VERB sénḡu erzarnake wanḡan sleep. nzä etféth “I was sleeping." wfoth tuofma. “some days, kwófrunḡér. when the heat of the sun was yérü noun. burning, we tied bark pieces on 1 • sign (often a piece of grass tied our feet because of the sun heat.” to a tree or a broken twig). yémämü noun. FEMININE feline owlet- 2 • christian cross.

nightjar (owl). yérwi yawi noun. MASCULINE hockey ball.

24.08.13 55 yés yüzi yés OR: yis. noun. thorn. yofi noun. FEMININE custome, law, holy

thing. middle verb. IRREGULAR VERB yésokwér noun. yonasi drink. ségeru ngonathéréth. 1 • rainy season. “They drink palm wine”. 2 • year. yonḡanai adjective. tired. yéti noun. ritual to break the mourning noun. syzygium sp. period of a woman. NOTE: a small yorär tree type. NOTE: amont of grease is put on the woman to edible, sour fruit break the mounring period yufakési 1 • positional verb. be bending. yéthama noun. FEMININE raggiana bird tuti äyufthanḡér “The of paradise. branches are bending.” intransitive verb. IRREGULAR VERB yéthén 2 • transitive verb. bend. lie down. kar matar wéthén. yukrasi 1 • positional verb. be standing. “The village lies quietly." kambe yékonḡér “The man is intransitive verb. IRREGULAR yéwaythék standing”. VERB to come to an end. trikasi 2 • intransitive verb. stand up.

fof zwaythék. “The story come imperative: nḡnäkuk “You

to an end.” stand up!” yéwänḡér positional verb. IRREGULAR 3 • transitive verb. stand up. VERB to be precariously up high, imperative: sakuk “You stand

unbalanced. him up”. noun. syzygium sp. yifu tree type. NOTE: yumant kinship noun. FLEXIBLE sister-in- fruit eaten by cassowaries law (used between a woman and . noun. yir OR: yér urine. the younger brothers of her yirér noun. MASCULINE short-finned husband in their of their name). neosilurus brevidorsalis. tandan. yumar noun. MASCULINE eagle type.

noun. plant type. gravelia sp. NOTE: yirwi yusi OR: yüsi. noun. grass (general). nuts used for hockey game yür yür noun. veins. yirzési transitive verb. throw. yüzi noun. MASCULINE fruit dove. yizér yizér noun. ant.

56 24.08.13 zafa zafa zéf

Z - z zafa zafa noun. MASCULINE yam vine zarzési 1 • positional verb. be tied. ngant planted first until stick (short). NOTE: yérzarthénḡér “The rope is the vine grows up tied.” zafat noun. 1 • 2 • transitive verb. tie. 2 • week. zath kinship noun. MASCULINE 3 • sunday. NOTE: loanword from

Arabic via Bahasa grandfather. kinship noun. FEMININE zafe adjective. old, long ago. zath ngare grandmother. zambari nambi noun. FEMININE bow noun. MASCULINE type, the bowstring is taken off zath zath papuan nematalosa papuensis. the bow. herring. noun. melaleuca sp. zamenzo adjective. naked. zathar tree type. NOTE: bark is used for roofing and as zan transitive verb. IRREGULAR VERB hit. torch tauri yéfnzé “I hit/kill the zawafi noun. armband (woven rattan). . wallaby” imperative: zawe adjective. right. sakwér! “You hit him!” zä deictic. here (close by). zane demonstrative. this, these (the one zär OR: zäre. noun. FEMININE shade. close by). käthéfo mbombo kämés zanfér adjective. tall. mbombo zären. “Go and sit in adjective. zanḡér far. the shade!”. zar noun. MASCULINE edge. zärethé adjective. shady. zarfa noun. ear. zena time adverb. today. zaru noun. candlenut. aleutrites zenta noun. joint of the two legs. mollucana. zaru yawi zé preverbal particle. already. yékonzéréth. “They call it the zéf deictic. right here. zaru fruit.” NOTE: nuts are boiled, dried and then sold in Sota

24.08.13 57 zéféth zimu zéféth noun. 1 • base of sth. wäméne zér kuku noun. roof extension from zéféth “base of the tree". tétfö house to sit, sleep under. zéféthen mbombo zér sam noun. spit. zéfkérkwéréméméth. “They zérfa postposition. in front of. blocked it by the mouth of the zérminz noun. roots (tooth + vine). creek". zérthé adjective. sharp. 2 • reason ane zéféthen nénzä zérwar noun. FEMININE turtle (ocean). safafath? “Maybe they captured him for this reason?". zérzü noun. knee. zéféthen postposition. below, down. zéthé noun. MASCULINE penis. zéfro noun. tree type. syzygium sp. NOTE: zézar noun. FEMININE fish net. used for timber zézarfa noun. plant type. ?. NOTE: used like zéfu noun. bundle (bundle of yams tied ginger

together). zézémenḡési verb. zékénsi 1 • middle verb. move. 1 • accuse. 2 • transitive verb. move sth. 2 • blaim. zéki zéki noun. calf. zézére zézére noun. FEMININE willy zémbär noun. night, darkness. wagtail. noun. MASCULINE zémbärthé noun. MASCULINE papuan zézin campbell's datnioides campbelli. black snake. tigerperch. noun. MASCULINE zémén noun. hip. zézuaku fly river anchovy. thryssa rastrosa. zéném preverbal particle. expresses noun. uncertainty about sth. in the past. zi pain. zi wathizér “The

ngare zéném zwaniyak. pain is killing me." “maybe the woman came.” zifär noun. MASCULINE wrapped package (usually wrapped in zénsä noun. work. either bark or split bamboo). zénzéréf noun. MASCULINE lake grunter. 1 • intransitive verb. variichthys lacustris. zikési go of the side. 2 • transitive verb. zér noun. tooth. put someone to the side (of the road). zér kam ufaf noun. MASCULINE roof noun. snot, mucus. beam. zimu

58 24.08.13 zinakési züyärén zinakési transitive verb. put down FLEXIBLE 1 • widow, widower,

(animate). orphan. 2 • zinzrakési middle verb. replace. mourning costume. zuwe zuwe noun. FEMININE blue-faced zirthé adjective. wet. honeyeater. zisé adjective. strong. zuyak noun. zith zith noun. slipping, slippery. MASCULINE 1 • python type. ziyasi verb. roll (string on the knee). MASCULINE 2 • tree type. rhodania ngant yiziyanzé. “I roll the sp. NOTE: glue tree, inner bark (red) is chewed at saliva is used as glue string.” zuzi ngant noun. FEMININE fishing line. zizi noun. afternoon. namä zizi “good afternoon”. zuzi zér noun. FEMININE fishing hook. zon noun. plant type (legume). züfi noun. bee, wasp. fabaceae sp. medical use, liquid NOTE: noun. from shoots is eaten zümb depth. zümb yéfö rä. “It is a deep hole”. zümbthé yéfö zókwasi noun. language, speech. rä. “It is a deep hole.” zümben zöfathak proper noun. place name. ngambrüzér “He dives to the zök noun. FEMININE broad-snouted deep.” catfish. potamosilurus latirostris. zümbrakési 1 • middle verb. close eyes. zöt noun. MASCULINE 1 • tree type. NOTE: used for grass skirts 2 • middle verb. pray. MASCULINE 2 • rope (made out of 3 • noun. prayer. inner bark of the tree zöt) züm noun. centipede. centipede. noun. FEMININE zra swamp, billabong. züni züni preverb. shock, surprise. nze zras noun. MASCULINE grass type. züni züni thufathwé. “I was cyperasus sp. NOTE: used for weaving shocked, surprised. (lit. "I held the or instead of a mat tsuni tsuni")”. zrin verb. IRREGULAR VERB carry. fitot zürémb noun. tree type (cornbeefwood). “I carry the yam- yézänzé barringtonia sp. NOTE: medical use, planting-stick”. leafes are put on wounds noun. zrin OR: zrinthé. adjective. heavy. zürén smoke. zuaku noun. züyärén OR: zwärén. noun. choriceras sp. NOTE: used for yamsticks

24.08.13 59 zwäf zwäf zwäf adjective. warm.

60 24.08.13 warfo mbis English - Kómnzo Index

A - a above, up postposition. warfo anthill noun. karo accuse verb. zézémenḡési appear intransitive verb. thorakési advice verb. rékäkési argue, debate transitive verb. kwisi afternoon noun. zizi armband (woven rattan) noun. zawafi airplane noun. fren armpit noun. nḡéthzi allow verb. münzakési arrow blade noun. fakérsok almighty (mouth almighty, sande's mouth ascend, climb up verb. sonḡési almighty) noun. kau kau ashes noun. fithak almost manner adverb. téfö téfö ask for verb. méyonḡési alone, leave behind manner adverb. rürä at the end deictic. mbombathém already preverbal particle. zé attach, pin, nail transitive verb. théthakési always, often preverbal particle. némoi attract attention ditransitive pattern. fasisi ancestor kinship noun. mbanta mbanta middle verb. fasisi conjunction. and a verb. rézwäsi angled manner adverb. fat fat attract, lure transitive verb. räkumnḡési animal, meat from animals noun. yase australian chashew noun. mefa ankle noun. kath australian magpie noun. kakru anona muricata noun. mbérüzi australian owlet-nightjar noun. säsä another one, others indefinite pronoun. nä australian white ibis noun. nḡaru mbun avoid, respect transitive verb. rirkési ant noun. yizér yizér axe noun. mbira ant (big black) noun. nḡémärémbü azure kingfisher noun. mbis ant (light brown) noun. mésar ant (small black) noun. thémboth

24.08.13 61 tosai tharukési

B - b

baby noun. tosai bark of the kwim tree (when dry) noun. thénzös baby animal noun. mbürä bark used for fire and lighting up the dancing baby basket noun. nzafa nzafa place noun. se back of the head noun. nti barramundi noun. nzarwan bad adjective. nḡatha nḡatha bar-shouldered dove noun. toku toku bag noun. yare base of sth. noun. zéféth verb. bake in ground oven rézasi basket, bag (with a flat bottom) bald head noun. kwanz noun. kumnta bamboo cage for roasting fish noun. méramb bat (large-footed bat) noun. mbimbinas zifär be across something positional noun. turatu verb. fätfakési be attached, be sticking in positional bamboo knife noun. kata verb. théthakési bamboo pieces for paddling noun. ngar ngar be bending positional verb. yufakési bamboo pipe noun. kufraru be covering something positional bamboo pipes (2) noun. ratu ratu verb. thäfrési bamboo type noun. mérramb be dipped in water positional noun. nambi verb. fethakési noun. thru thru be erected, be planted positional verb. räzési

noun. täwämb be floating intransitive verb. wokrakési banana noun. with be gathered positional verb. mosisi banana leaf (dry) noun. wérwér be hanging positional verb. minḡési banana leaf (green) noun. fétrak be happy middle verb. théwekési positional bandicoot noun. ngarér be heaped up, be piled up verb. réfuthrakési bar across the front of a house noun. thm be in a open container positional nténzü verb. tharukési bark middle verb. rusi

62 24.08.13 rénénḡéthkési férsi be in the branches, be in a treefork positional be wearing something / be on someone verb. rénénḡéthkési positional verb. rénḡési positional be in the mouth beautiful adjective. miyakin verb. ménḡéthkési because (of that) conjunction. anema be inside (liquid) positional verb. rinakési bee noun. mbith be joined together positional noun. verb. rémithrakési bee, wasp züfi beetle (big, lives on the coconut) be leaning positional verb. morakési noun. thémntér be lying straight positional verb. fifthakési beg verb. méyonḡési positional verb. be on top rafinḡési verb. rémunḡési positional verb. rakéthkési behind postposition. kamfa be open positional verb. sümrakési belly noun. nér be planted positional verb. wérsi below, down postposition. zéféthen be printed positional verb. tétüsi bend transitive verb. yufakési be raised positional verb. méthekési berney's catfish noun. théwä fefe be side by side positional noun. verb. réménzüfakési betelnut fira bifurcation noun. tranḡ be sitting, dwell intransitive verb. mésakési noun. nténḡa be spread out positional verb. thamsakési big adjective. kafar be standing positional verb. yukrasi adjective. yabun be sticking (adhesive) positional verb. réthémbrénḡési big bandicoot (sharp nose) noun. témana noun. be sticking out positional verb. sisthénḡési bird yémént noun. be submerged positional verb. mbrüzési bird masc tufarawa noun. be tied positional verb. zarzési bird type kütü noun. tiyaw be tied around positional verb. wäthési noun. ntünḡäm be tied together positional verb. rézarsi noun. yénk kékrü be twisted positional verb. méyukénsi bird's nest noun. nḡwéth be underneath positional verb. tharési bite OR: pinch ditransitive pattern. férsi

24.08.13 63 férsi ngofo ngofo bite, pinch experiencer object. férsi brag, boast middle verb. férkési transitive verb. férsi ditransitive pattern. férkési reflexive verb. férsi brain noun. mer adjective. bitter thaf branch noun. tuti adjective. black yéférsé breadfruit noun. néfi noun. black palm nḡémb break transitive verb. nḡarsi noun. térént verb. wäsi black wattle, mangium noun. kwim break through, poke through transitive verb. tiwanḡési black, drie mud pieces noun. nḡonz breast noun. nono black-billed brush turkey noun. kwarsa blackboard tree, milkwood pine breast (male/female) noun. mäme noun. nḡarafü breath noun. amkéf black-faced bowerbird noun. nḡonḡär breath quickly, pant for air intransitive verb. namnḡési blaim verb. zézémenḡési bring verb. mezési blind adjective. si brubru bring out transitive verb. mätrakési block off, surround transitive verb. kérsi broad-snouted catfish noun. zök blood noun. férék brolga noun. kwras blow verb. fésénḡési broom noun. ntö ntö blue tongue noun. nténtak brown adjective. féthér wokuthé blue-faced honeyeater noun. zuwe zuwe brown oriole noun. sarawiyé blue-winged kookaburra noun. kwrro brown quail noun. sweki blunt adjective. ntémbömsé brown tree wallaby (red-legged pademelon) body noun. fefe noun. féthér fér nteya bone, backbone noun. kam brush cuckoo noun. ntowä bottle noun. woz brush cuckou noun. mentothér bow noun. nambi bubbles noun. no zér sam bow bracer noun. tawasri bull shark noun. mbónar boy noun. srak bullroarer noun. ngofo ngofo

64 24.08.13 thäzürakési nénḡe bump into transitive verb. thäzürakési bushfire noun. kwér kwér bundle (bundle of yams tied together) bushland tree wallaby (spectacled hare-wallaby) noun. zéfu noun. fath nteya burn transitive verb. fönzési bushy place noun. kési kar burning (first cycle) noun. thefath but conjunction. fi burning (second cycle) noun. téthe butterfly noun. mbänḡwérém burst sth. verb. réfthakési buttocks noun. fék bush cane, whip vine, false rattan noun. fint

C - c cage for the pig noun. tharémbar cassava noun. biskar calf noun. thékér thékér cassowary noun. yem noun. zéki zéki cassowary (big) noun. ntümbram call out, call name reflexive cat noun. bus verb. mbräkénsi catch fish with a net verb. férzési ditransitive pattern. mbräkénsi noun. transitive verb. mbräkénsi catfish type mbórüzi cause transitive verb. call, ask transitive verb. sézési méthénzési centipede noun. campbell's tigerperch noun. zézin züm change verb. candlenut noun. zaru ritakési change colour middle verb. canoe noun. nḡarénta wokéfakési charcoal noun. carry verb. térénsi sisifäféth verb. zrin chase out verb. mérinzési carry a child with their legs around the hip chest noun. térén preverb. afa séku chestnut rail noun. runḡa bénḡu carry somebody on the shoulders (with their legs chew middle verb. warsi around the neck) preverb. toku chicken noun. kowi carve transitive verb. transi child kinship noun. nénḡe carving tool with a c-shaped edge noun. käwä

24.08.13 65 woksi sénzä choose verb. woksi cold adjective. krüfér christian cross noun. yérü collarbone noun. mantérari circle, walk around sth verb. méthzanḡési comb transitive verb. rémbétfakési noun. clan kinship noun. mérén twari noun. clan name kinship noun. mbanḡu comb-spined catfish bru kinship noun. mayawa common kingfisher noun. mbiatoto kinship noun. sanḡara common sandpiper noun. sérar noun. clay|mud mixed with water nḡént common spotted cuscus noun. ngoti verb. clean fifrési complain about verb. rézwäsi clearing the forest, cutting the sticks concave goby noun. mbatha noun. nḡénḡarsi cone of a tree (ntangu) noun. ntanḡu zéthé climbing perch noun. talapia container made of bamboo noun. ntrari close verb. rémänsi cook noun. méni adjective. tonze cool down verb. nakumnḡési close eyes middle verb. zümbrakési corn, clavus (medical) noun. closed up, without any space frafér preverb. téwtéw coroneted fruit dove noun. min min clothes noun. nḡwónyame cough, fast breath noun. akam cloud noun. nzafar count verb. fésisi club (stone disc) noun. kwéf counting tally noun. tif tif

noun. ntémbirko cover transitive verb. thäfrési club (wooden) noun. téngafü cover (for ground oven) noun. wayoth transitive cockroach noun. totoman cover with ground verb. sämbéthzési coconut (small and unripe) noun. tutufri cover with mud verb. nänzüthzési coconut (small, unripe) noun. nḡénḡérémb coconut flesh mixed with water. eaten cold. crack verb. wäsi

noun. sékwri crawl middle verb. thärkusi noun. coconut shell tätü crawl (of a baby) middle verb. raksi coconut skin (the part that people chew) crayfish (river) noun. sénzä noun. frathén

66 24.08.13 théthéfér mbrüzési crazy, funny, clown-like adjective. théthéfér crowd noun. két két creek noun. tétfö cry, tear noun. ya crested pitohui / spotted catbird current / stream noun. tru tru noun. mbinḡonḡo curse noun. mbawar cricket game noun. makwri mbórsi custome, law, holy thing noun. yofi crocodile noun. nümnḡar cut experiencer object. rétémakési noun. crocodile's hole tarku verb. rétémakési crooked, bent adjective. kanzkanzthé cross over verb. ritakési

D - d dance verb. ménzokénsi descend, climb down middle verb. résörsi middle verb. wath desire noun. méyo dance, singsing noun. wath desire, want noun. yémór yémór dangerous adjective. fetér destroy verb. rikénsi daniel's catfish noun. thérfam devil woman, spirit woman noun. nzürna dark (no light) adjective. süsümbäth ngare darter noun. nḡranḡér diarrhea noun. wéth nḡanḡa dawn on sb. intransitive verb. wäkési die intransitive verb. yathizési (?) dawn, to get dark intransitive verb. fonḡési dig transitive verb. tharisi day noun. efoth dig out transitive verb. fézasi day before yesterday, day after tomorrow time dip in water transitive verb. fethakési adverb. nama dirt noun. sün daytrip preverb. watéma distract middle verb. räkumnḡési dead, rotten adjective. kwosi distribute equally transitive verb. rékonḡési decorate transitive verb. royakési disturb transitive verb. thofikési deer noun. rusa dive, drown middle verb. mbrüzési depth noun. zümb

24.08.13 67 nzokta wakusi doctor noun. nzokta drum, big drum noun. kauwira dog noun. ngatha drunk, intoxicated noun. wéri doughwood noun. sét dry transitive verb. faryasi ditransitive pattern. doze middle verb. féskénsi faryasi reflexive verb. faryasi drag verb. thärkusi adjective. tuofthé dragonfly noun. nzinzimam adjective. ntérénḡathé dream noun. wanzo dry season noun. efthar dried, shrunk adjective. tafo duck noun. ntérén drill, pierce verb. réménḡési dugon noun. ntanḡal drink middle verb. yonasi dynamite noun. ntamarki drizzle, light rain noun. saisai drop transitive verb. trakési

E - e eagle type noun. yumar ellbow noun. ntanḡwas eagle type noun. sami embers noun. rénz ear noun. zarfa emerald dove noun. or earring / plug ornament noun. téwir empty, finished manner adverb. bra earthquake noun. bébreko envy verb. rémunḡési eat transitive verb. ntanḡon erase verb. rifthonzési eating yams noun. nḡamba erect transitive verb. räzési ebony gudgeon noun. mbéngutham escort, guide transitive verb. yarokési echidna (short-beaked echidna) noun. férthar estuary stingray / feshwater whipray noun. fäyé eclectus parrot noun. krara eucalyptus type noun. féthér eclectus parrot (red) noun. tinga noun. mämbü edge noun. zar noun. yémi elder sibling noun. nane evaporate transitive verb. wakusi

68 24.08.13 bramewé ekri every, all indefinite pronoun. bramewé extinguish transitive verb. frazési middle verb. exchange transitive verb. réminzüfakési frazési eye noun. si

F - f fall middle verb. trakési fetch, get, bring verb. miyanzési fall alseep verb. ménzerakési few quantifier. etha far adjective. zanḡér finger print noun. nḡanḡa yam farewell greeting. yawo finish transitive verb. mbéthakési fast manner adverb. yakme middle verb. mbéthakési finish (for someone) ditransitive fat adjective. ntürthé pattern. mbéthakési father kinship noun. afa fire noun. méni kinship noun. ngafe fatigue, drowsy feeling from too much heat|sun firefly noun. kéntewawa

noun. wärwär firewood noun. méni fawn-breasted bowerbird noun. nzoyar firmly manner adverb. sukrat feather on the headdress (bouncing part of the fish harpoon noun. nḡäw headdress) noun. manar fish net noun. zézar feathertail glider noun. sirsir fishing hook noun. zuzi zér feces, shit noun. wéth fishing line noun. zuzi ngant feed transitive verb. ménḡéthkési fishtail, albert palm noun. fatér feline owlet-nightjar (owl) noun. yémämü fishtrap (woven bamboo basket) fell, chop transitive verb. farsi noun. nḡwéfiyar ditransitive pattern. farsi five numeral. tabru female adjective. mantéma numeral. tambuthui fence (built up type) noun. rot flame (fire tongue) noun. méni thamin fence (vertical sticks with few horizontal ones) flash light verb. wasisi noun. saraka flesh, meat noun. ekri fence, garden noun. ngarake

24.08.13 69 thamin thamin flickering hot air over a fire noun. thamin for you (singular) dative pronoun. mbun

thamin forbid verb. rémbäzési noun. floating grass süfi forehead noun. mith noun. flood térkér forest noun. féz noun. floor keräfi forget intransitive verb. thénḡusi noun. flower nzram forget, mix up transitive verb. thénḡusi flower or stalk (of a banana, pineapple, chestnut) forrest wallaby (dusky pademelon) noun. féz noun. mbér nteya flute (panpipe) noun. fiaroro four numeral. asar noun. sifraku fourty six thousand six hundred and fifty six middle verb. fly théfäsi (46.656) numeral. wi noun. nzanḡum freshwater anchovy noun. ntäfi fly river anchovy noun. zézuaku freshwater longtom noun. matai flying fox noun. mbintér freshwater tongue sole noun. thamin fold middle verb. thusi friend kinship noun. tar follow ditransitive pattern. mbranḡési friend, mate noun. fät transitive verb. mbranḡési frill-necked lizard noun. mburam middle verb. mbranḡési fringe-lipped mullet noun. séréf food noun. ntanḡon fringetree noun. kwath kwath food (taro, yam, long yam, cassawa) noun. mäm frog noun. ntokre noun. foot noun. wéthzak frogatt's catfish etwäsi ngare noun. for her, for him dative pronoun. nafan fruit dove yüzi preverbal particle. for me dative pronoun. nzun future marker kwa for the first time manner adverb. ngarénte for them dative pronoun. nafaném for us dative pronoun. nzeném for you (dual, plural) dative pronoun. mbeném

70 24.08.13 ntao fuk

G - g garden noun. ntao grass dart game noun. ntambethkak gather verb. mosisi mbórsi get stuck verb. rénäthési grass skirt noun. nanḡ giant catfish noun. mefa théwä grass type noun. mbrü mbrü noun. giant glassfish noun. finént két noun. nḡo gills noun. nténḡa noun. mür girl noun. emoth noun. samböm give ditransitive verb. yarisi noun. thatha thatha intransitive verb. go of the side zikési noun. téfkak go underneath verb. tharési noun. zras noun. goanna type karokaro grassknife noun. sifrén noun. nḡwara grave house noun. fokam noun. séthä grease noun. nzémär noun. tétrayém great billed heron (smaller type) noun. ngaw noun. ntö great egret noun. séwi going off, "away there are" interjection. buay noun. / bway greenback gudgeon fés greenback mullet noun. ngambram good adjective. namä greenbrier, red china wood noun. futh good afternoon greeting. namä zizi grey goshawk noun. téwi téwi good day greeting. namä efoth grey shrike-trush noun. kukufasi good morning greeting. namä ezi grey-crowned babbler noun. tawako good night greeting. namä zmbär grille, fungal disease noun. kembi kembi grab someone transitive verb. ritüsi ground oven noun. karo grandfather kinship noun. zath ground, soil noun. mbant grandmother kinship noun. zath ngare group noun. fuk grass (general) noun. yusi

24.08.13 71 réfikési mónme grow intransitive verb. réfikési

H - h hair noun. thämbu hide verb. riféthzési half noun. mbärmbär high tide noun. raf térkér hand, finger noun. nḡanḡa hip noun. zémén handle noun. kwétho his / her possessive pronoun. naféne hang transitive verb. minḡési hit transitive verb. zan transitive happen, take place middle verb. wäsi hit someone (with a stick) verb. frénzakési hard, difficult adjective. thékarthé hit, beat, smash transitive verb. nämbüsi harpoon noun. tumbanḡ hockey ball noun. yérwi yawi he, she ergative pronoun. naf hockey game noun. mbarénti mbórsi he, she, they absolutive pronoun. fi hockey stick noun. ntimbath head noun. embar hold transitive verb. fathasi headdress noun. kerko reflexive verb. fathasi headdress (cassowary) noun. tarazü hole noun. yéfö heal verb. réwokési hollow out verb. méthénḡasi hear transitive verb. yarizési holy spirit noun. nḡasén mitafo heart noun. fofosa honey noun. mbith heat transitive verb. méryókési hooded butcherbird noun. afa kéfo kéfo noun. tuof hooded pitta noun. kwara kwara heavy adjective. zrin hop verb. réfäsi helmeted friarbird noun. kufak hospital noun. muramura zn help noun. durua noun. ospitor ditransitive verb. thomnḡési adjective. transitive verb. yakési hot tuofthé help, support ditransitive house noun. ménz verb. thäzürakési how interorative pronoun. mónme

72 24.08.13 rénzém ménzokénsi

interorative how many / how much hug verb. réfukénsi pronoun. rénzém hunger noun. frasi how much interorative kinship noun. pronoun. mónómthé husband fis howl middle verb. warkési

I - i

I absolutive pronoun. nzä initiation noun. mänzü ergative pronoun. nze inland, high ground noun. töna if conjunction. réthé insect type noun. karo nambi if you're bit sad about sometimes inside postposition. mérmér interjection. ayo inside of a yam noun. tawar ignorance, not knowing preverb. miyamér invite transitive verb. wekési in front of postposition. zérfa iron rod noun. kuruba in good condition / shape adjective. ntü ntü island noun. mbont mbont in return manner adverb. nezä in that place demonstrative. mbafen indian coral tree, tiger's claw noun. wari indian short-finned eel noun. ntombakwér

J - j jaw noun. fäk jolt verb. méthkénsi jew's harp noun. mbinḡonḡo verb. thäkénsi jiggle verb. méthkénsi jump intransitive verb. théfäsi join transitive verb. rémithrakési jump up and down verb. ménzokénsi joint of a bamboo noun. nzérémbu joint of the two legs noun. zenta

24.08.13 73 krär yaka tüfér

K - k

kava noun. krär knock down, pick up (from above) verb. rékusi kill verb. rirfakési kind of shield (looks like a paddle) know, knowledge preverb. miyathé

noun. farasi knuckle noun. nzérémbu knee noun. zérzü kundu drum noun. brubru knife noun. nḡiri kundu drum (medium sized drum) noun. nḡafas

L - l ladder noun. rata laugh, play middle verb. mbórsi lagoon noun. bob law noun. thak thak lake grunter noun. zénzéréf law, taboo noun. tarawat language, speech noun. zókwasi lead transitive verb. mänḡési large-tailed nightjar noun. kari ntrrau leaf noun. tanḡa

ntrrau leaf, young palm leaf noun. menḡé last month, next month time leafflower noun. wés wés adverb. mbomba aki lean transitive verb. morakési last week, next week time adverb. mbomba leave alone transitive verb. kwiyési zafat middle verb. last week, next week (more than 3 days) time leave, stop nḡathikési adverb. nümé transitive verb. nḡathikési last year, next year time adverb. mbomba leech noun. mus

yésokwér leech (water) noun. nḡes late, deceased postposition. kwarék left adjective. fätér later time adverb. thérma lesser black coucal noun. tütü laugh ditransitive pattern. mbórsi noun. yaka tüfér

74 24.08.13 réfezési wimés lever, lift verb. réfezési liquid noun. sam lick verb. finḡéthkési little friarbird noun. sarawai lie noun. karwäsi little pied comorant noun. nambi thém lie down intransitive verb. yéthén lizard type noun. kisér noun. lie down straight middle verb. fifthakési ntathnḡir noun. life noun. tértha long neck turtle mbéwir fisor long-jawed river garfish / fly river garfish lift up transitive verb. méthekési noun. fértotombe lift up bag for her (to set off) ditransitive pattern. farkési look around intransitive verb. yarenzési middle verb. farkési look down verb. risokési light, bright noun. kwayan look up verb. misokési light, not heavy adjective. ofa lorentz's archerfish noun. finzo lightning noun. toya lory noun. ntir ntir like this conjunction. nima lose transitive verb. ténänḡési manner likewise, the same way louse lice noun. yam adverb. nimäwä low tide noun. nönzési lime noun. kwr lower verb. nönzési limp verb. réfekési lump, bulge noun. ntasi line up middle verb. fiyénsi lips noun. mbérénze

M - m macculloch's rainbowfish noun. nḡwra make transitive verb. fiyokési machete noun. naifa middle verb. fiyokési madness noun. winu winu make a face verb. réninzési magic noun. mbéthan make it up to sb. transitive verb. kämnḡési

noun. nḡamo man noun. kambe magpie goose noun. mbawai mango noun. wimés

24.08.13 75 tüfér many quantifier. tüfér mount, small hill noun. tumbatumb marbled frogmouth (owl) noun. wasi mountain grunter noun. nawin marry middle verb. fathasi mourning costume noun. zuaku masturbate (swearword) reflexive mourning costume (for a woman / coevrs the verb. fékasi upper body part) noun. tauri zm mat noun. yame moustached tree swift noun. mbikwértä meander preverb. tékwi tékwi mouth of a creek noun. tétfö zéféth medicine noun. muramura move middle verb. zékénsi medium sized adjective. fombäwé move sth. transitive verb. zékénsi meet transitive verb. wanḡrési move, shift location transitive verb. fänizési ditransitive pattern. melaleuca sp noun. terén fänizési reflexive verb. fänizési menstruation noun. wémsi movment of one's arms (e.g.: used for swimming) mess up, beat, rip transitive preverb. verb. férénzakési fézü mucking around, jump around noun. thei method, way, time noun. tématém thei middle noun. thént mud noun. nḡwar nḡwar milkwood noun. sésaméthé verb. noun. swäri mumble münénḡési mushroom noun. némbrok miss transitive verb. réfenzakési mustard (used for chewing betel) noun. saka mix verb. thafrakési my possessive pronoun. nzone moon noun. aki morning noun. ezi morning dew noun. ezi zir morning mist noun. ezi zürén mosquito noun. nḡwä mother kinship noun. ama

kinship noun. ngame mount noun. yawéth

76 24.08.13 zamenzo o

N - n naked adjective. zamenzo neck noun. mér nakeen night heron noun. nḡaw necklace (shell necklace) noun. móni name noun. yéf night, darkness noun. zémbär name for kanum and marind people proper no preverbal particle. keke noun. kondomarin preverbal particle. kéyu name for suki people proper noun. wiram no space, no escape preverb. tétäw name for the Kómnzo speaking people in and noun. around Rouku village proper noisy friarbird nḡwre nḡwre

noun. farem nonda plum, parinari noun. äthénḡam name for weam people proper noon, midday time adverb. kwari kwari noun. sémärki efoth namesake kinship noun. nzäthe nose noun. thém narrow-fronted tandan noun. kwazür not, nothing negative pronoun. matak nasal septum (lit. nose soft-part) noun. thm numb adjective. bäbä nḡénḡérémb nuture transitive verb. réfikési navel noun. tambrü

O - o

obbe's tandan noun. wezér wezér one thousand two hundred nintysix (1296) numeral. ntamno ocean, sea noun. mazo only, just clitic. =nzo old garden after the harvest noun. ntao ntér transitive verb. ntér open yafüsi transitive verb. old woman kinship noun. ausi open, widen sümrakési old, long ago adjective. zafe opposite nemba conjunction. olive-backed oriole noun. bäwäk or o one numeral. nämbi

24.08.13 77 ngazi ntir ntir fór orange-breasted fig-parrot noun. ngazi ntir orchid noun. ntémnḡwér

ntir our possessive pronoun. nzenme noun. orange-footed scrubfowl faikore oxeye herring noun. wérémbin

P - p pack up middle verb. wathkénsi payment noun. faw paddle noun. bara peel ditransitive pattern. fékasi noun. karaf transitive verb. fékasi middle verb. rafisi pelican noun. wätku paddy oats, melinjo noun. tuth penis noun. zéthé pain noun. zi noun. wänt paint transitive verb. minzakési person that doesnt speak properly noun. thame thame paint with mud verb. nänzüthzési person that is limping noun. réréw palm cockatoo noun. tokuya picture noun. wani wani palm type noun. katra noun. noun. keräfi pied comorant kérkafu noun. pandanus noun. tak pig runḡa noun. tamén pig's hole noun. runḡa tarku

noun. tarazü pile, heap transitive verb. réfuthrakési paper noun. wérwér pinkie noun. séthnḡe papuan black bass noun. ngénz pinon imperial pidgeon noun. fefe yüzi papuan black snake noun. zémbärthé pit-pit (arrow part) noun. fäw papuan black snake (big) noun. ngamün place (ashes) noun. thak papuan gauvina noun. mbéthamer place by the riverbank noun. fór papuan herring noun. zath zath part of sago palm used for making sago noun. fäskor path noun. méth

78 24.08.13 mbézwär yirwi place name proper noun. mbézwär plant type noun. än proper noun. farem kar noun. mbéréntuyam proper noun. fésan noun. mbiri mbiri proper noun. féthi noun. mbürénḡ proper noun. féthiker noun. farét farét proper noun. firra noun. kafara proper noun. füri noun. kathér kathér proper noun. fütha noun. kanz kanz proper noun. kanathér noun. krärkrär proper noun. karifthe noun. kromäti proper noun. gunana noun. nḡaunḡau proper noun. nḡani zéféth noun. nḡintum proper noun. nḡawe noun. nḡombér proper noun. nḡonz noun. kwathathér proper noun. masu noun. märo proper noun. mämbü noun. ngare wéth wéth proper noun. ménzerfér noun. sas proper noun. muthérata noun. sésämbéth proper noun. ngazäthe noun. süsüfér proper noun. séfintam noun. turarémb proper noun. séthékäs noun. tuwari tuwari proper noun. tümanḡa noun. ntarämbü proper noun. zöfathak noun. ntarémbu proper noun. wéswés zra noun. ntémbérthé proper noun. wónta noun. ntö ntö noun. place, village noun. kar zézarfa noun. nzäfö plant transitive verb. wérsi noun. nzirét noun. with with noun. yémbäth yémbäth noun. yirwi

24.08.13 79 kwazür kwazür turama plant type (kamraj) noun. kwazür protect verb. rémbenḡési

kwazür pull middle verb. karkési noun. plant type (legume) zon pull off "abreissen" verb. rénḡenḡési noun. plant type (vine) fätü pull off leaves verb. réténsi noun. planting yams mér pull off, out verb. fétéfakési noun. pleomele, song of india sémbü pull out verb. fumakési sémbü pull out (if stuck or hidden) transitive verb. plume, feather noun. fatam fithéwonḡési pull over, pull down transitive poison the swamp verb. résérsi verb. fümnzakési poison tree noun. féréntéth pull up, take out of water verb. frezési poke verb. nanḡusi push verb. théfinḡési poke through transitive verb. rénḡosi push down, push over verb. réziféthakési poor adjective. yamayama put down (animate) transitive verb. zinakési poor, pityful postposition. mbané put down (non-animate) transitive pour out (general) transitive verb. yanḡusi verb. yénakési pour, fill with water verb. rinakési put in a tree fork transitive verb. rénénḡéthkési pouteria tree, eggfruit noun. métök put on top transitive verb. rafinḡési prawn noun. sayäfi transitive verb. rakéthkési pray middle verb. zümbrakési put someone to the side (of the road) transitive prayer noun. zümbrakési verb. zikési praying mantis noun. nték nini put something across on somebody's behalf ditransitive pattern. prepare, fix transitive verb. frémnzési fätfakési prepare, get ready middle put something across something transitive verb. manzikénsi verb. fätfakési verb. press down, step on transitive verb. narsi put sth. on a wall réthémbrakési noun. press together verb. rénzémzési python (general) turama prisoner noun. dibura properly, again manner adverb. kwot

80 24.08.13 méze thenzénḡési python type noun. méze noun. ntanḡu noun. tro noun. zuyak

Q - q quiet manner adverb. matar

R - r raggiana bird of paradise noun. yéthama replace middle verb. zinzrakési rain noun. no report transitive verb. trikasi rainbow noun. sérminz respond, answer verb. réfitfakési rainmaking stone noun. nzinḡfu rest intransitive verb. méthizési rainy season noun. yésokwr return middle verb. mbrinḡési rat noun. mbito return sth. transitive verb. mbrinḡési noun. mbór rib noun. tharéfka rat (that lives in the coconut) noun. kérénḡ rich, wealthy adjective. kantangar türi right adjective. zawe raw adjective. tértha right angled manner adverb. mbótér adjective. real, very fefe mbótér recede verb. nönzési right here deictic. zéf recognise, realise verb. rénḡéfakési ripe, dry adjective. tayo red adjective. férékthé ritual to break the mourning period of a woman noun. red cloud noun. nḡrau yéti ritual to resolve an argument (culprit is hit with a red coloured cloud / sky noun. wauka small yam on the head) noun. mefa red-cheeked parrot noun. kéti kéti river noun. ngarés red-winged parrot noun. nḡéthath riverbank noun. róku róku reheat verb. fufési roll transitive verb. thenzénḡési repeat verb. mäyonḡési

24.08.13 81 ziyasi zärethé roll (string on the knee) verb. ziyasi rope noun. ngant roll, twist verb. méyukénsi rope (thin rope made out of inner bark of the tree zöt) noun. zöt roof noun. karesa rope from a bark, thin rope to tie posts together noun. roof beam anḡar noun. thü noun. zér kam ufaf row in the garden noun. nganz roof beams on the side noun. tharthar ufaf rub, grind verb. rémérsi roof extension from house to sit, sleep under noun. noun. zér kuku rufous-bellied kingfisher trraw roots (tooth + vine) noun. zérminz

S - s sadness preverb. nafér scoop water transitive verb. mbérsi sago noun. mbi scout, spy noun. srima kambe sago pulp noun. satéf scratch transitive verb. trisi sago type noun. fartéki scream middle verb. yaryómnḡési noun. sére mbi search, make appear transitive noun. tofar verb. thorakési sago wrapper noun. nḡith secretly preverb. si kwan kwan sailfin glassfish noun. tékrafet sedge (grass type) noun. kata kata saptree, mangosteen noun. timur see transitive verb. marasi saratoga noun. safak send verb. rifthakési saturday noun. katan zafat separate verb. rémbenḡési saucepan noun. sosfen set off middle verb. farkési seven thousand seven hundred and seventysix saw method making fire noun. nḡwéntin (7776) numeral. wäramäka sawfish noun. muki seven-spot archerfish noun. wifaza scales noun. ntrint shade noun. zär scar noun. fértu shadow noun. wani wani

82 24.08.13 zärethé yérunḡér shady adjective. zärethé short-finned tandan noun. yirér shake verb. méntrikénsi shoulder noun. thuwak verb. thäkénsi shout intransitive verb. kwan shallow adjective. fam fam shouted out while washing the roots in the water for poison fishing interjection. si shame noun. fäsi rore rore shape noun. yam yam show ditransitive verb. shape somthing from mud transitive fänzési verb. ténorakési show, present reflexive verb. fänzési transitive verb. share, distribute verb. réthärsi fänzési adjective. sharp adjective. zérthé sick kwik sharp point, spear-like object (used to make holes side postposition. tharthar or planted behind gaps in the fence as a noun. wazi wallaby trap) noun. susa sign noun. yérü sharpen transitive verb. transi silently manner adverb. ntémnzü shell noun. et similar manner adverb. théthé shell, black shell from the river noun. mbukmu et singe transitive verb. fräsi shell, large, white shell from the ocean verb. rékäsi noun. kay sit down middle verb. mésakési shell, small, dark shell from the river sit sb. down transitive verb. mésakési noun. mbonzi et sitting platform noun. séki séki shin noun. farka six numeral. tambuthui nimbo shirt, blouse (garment for the upper body) six counted yams (lit. "one holding") noun. wéf numeral. fathasi shock middle verb. résokési size noun. warék shock, surprise preverb. züni züni skin noun. woku shoot, aim, throw middle verb. wärezési sky noun. nzafar shoot, spear transitive verb. rusi slag off, backbite verb. rünanḡési shooting star noun. nḡru sleep preverb. etféth short adjective. ténz intransitive verb. yérunḡér

24.08.13 83 zith zith réfakusi slipping, slippery noun. zith zith soft, easy adjective. nḡräthé slope, hill noun. märmär some day, another day time adverb. nä kayé noun. ororo some, another indefinite pronoun. nä slowness noun. nḡrä someone wearing a mourning costume noun. mew mew small adjective. katan sooty grunter noun. mékukar small bandicoot kind noun. téfiyéy small fish that floats close to the surface sorcerer noun. mbéthan kambe noun. wäro wäro sound made by hitting the ground (to attract wallabies) noun. bübü kwan small ones (children, animals) noun. fäth sound of fire in the bamboos noun. u kwan small spear from bamboo noun. sonḡ sound of speech noun. rér kwan smash transitive verb. trakumnḡési southern tandan noun. tro smell middle verb. kumnḡési spade, shovel noun. wambat smell, bad smell noun. fewa spangled drongo noun. kéti thar thar smile verb. réninzési spear for fishing noun. tiyar smoke noun. zürén spider noun. tétauri smoking pipe noun. ntimbö spin (vertical axis) transitive smooth adjective. nzénzén verb. mäthzénḡési snake (general) noun. kamboth spirit noun. mitafo snake type noun. fönḡwath spirit (of a dead person) noun. mbérmbér noun. nḡwi nḡwi spit noun. zér sam snake type (river) noun. kanmotha splender-billed cuckoo-dove noun. mbóko sneak ditransitive pattern. fäkési split in half verb. thäsi middle verb. fäkési spoon noun. sibuni snot, mucus noun. thém sam spoon-snouted catfish noun. nḡafar noun. zimu spot noun. téf soccer noun. soka soft flesh|soft skin at the back of the thigh, spray (liquid) verb. réthakusi

underneath the buttocks noun. nḡint spread out verb. réfakusi noun. soft part above the collarbone thénḡ sprinkle verb. réfakusi

84 24.08.13 mböm warsi sprout, shoot noun. mböm stone axe noun. fämbü noun. squeeze transitive verb. résizénsi sanḡafa transitive verb. srew pine, pandanus palm noun. kwénam stop, block thräkési noun. stab verb. nanḡusi storch yénzérü transitive verb. stalk of a cocnut leaf noun. térna store, keep makénsi storing yams (to be eaten during wetseason / from stand up transitive verb. yukrasi about march on) noun. nḡosrin intransitive verb. yukrasi storm noun. star formation, small group of stars mbormbor noun. ngasarü story noun. trikasi stare verb. rémunḡési story man noun. menz stars noun. ként straight adjective. férme start, begin transitive verb. thékäfékési straighten transitive verb. mérenzési stem, post noun. far strength noun. kwérnar noun. stench, stinking adjective. mbóntkér témä noun. stick (long and thin) noun. férséth string ngatér verb. stick (short and thick) noun. märko strip off rénémnḡési noun. stick (short and thin) noun. férkat striped possum ngatha ngatha noun. stick (walking stick) noun. wotu striped snakehead gastor noun. stick out transitive verb. sisthénḡési striped-cheek gudgeon nḡénor stick sth. on transitive stroll verb. méräsi verb. réthémbrénḡési strong adjective. zisé sticks for the ground oven noun. rüt rüt struggling, trying one's best preverb. tham sticks that hold the bark wall noun. fäth fäth tham adjective. sticky nzinḡém style noun. thari stir transitive verb. warikénsi submerge, drown ditransitive pattern. mbrüzési stitch, sow verb. réminḡési transitive verb. mbrüzési stone noun. nanti middle verb. noun. wém suck warsi

24.08.13 85 maru tothe tothe sugar glider noun. maru swamp, billabong noun. zra noun. thézi sweat noun. mériméri noun. sulphur-crested cockatoo käfe sweep verb. rensi noun. sun efoth sweet adjective. méyo noun. sunday zafat sweet potatoe noun. nai nai verb. swallow féyüsi swelling noun. kérémbu noun. swamp eel théfitar swing verb. mitwasi

T - t taboo noun. ntrantér theft, stealing noun. waro tail noun. ker their possessive pronoun. nafénéme take away from somebody transitive then, so, enough conjunction. watik verb. karkési therefore conjunction. aneme take care of verb. monenḡési they ergative pronoun. nafa take off verb. fétéfakési thick adjective. ntambethé verb. rénḡenḡési thin adjective. worätthé take out from underneath (opposite of tharasi) transitive verb. fifthéwonḡési thin sticks right underneath the karesa bark on the roof noun. tharéfka tall adjective. zanfér things, stuff noun. rokar taro noun. ntunḡa thirty-six, 36, six to the power of six noun. taro stem sén numeral. féta taro sucker, taro shoot noun. fitwä thorn noun. yés teach verb. säminzési thought, feeling noun. fam tear noun. si sam three numeral. etha transitive verb. tear, widen thérsi throw transitive verb. yirzési transitive verb. tease, make fun réfizési thunder (close) noun. rürü kwan tell ditransitive verb. trikasi thunder (far) noun. wär kwan test, try, taste transitive verb. ténezési tickle, tingle preverb. tothe tothe

86 24.08.13 raf yorär tide noun. raf tree type noun. ake ake noun. tie transitive verb. zarzési atétö noun. ätraf tie around middle verb. wäthési noun. mbänzü tie the fence verb. thikyasi noun. mbäwzö tie, adopt verb. rézarsi noun. mbéthézü tiger grunter noun. ngazi woku noun. mbiwak adjective. tired yonḡanai noun. fämbü fämbü intransitive to come to an end noun. fäséri verb. yéwaythék noun. ferar to get into a crossing position (e.g.: block the noun. fintäth road) middle verb. fätfakési noun. karesa today time adverb. zena noun. karku manner adverb. together erame noun. kata wiwi tongue noun. thamin noun. kemäri tooth noun. zér noun. kesri toothed river herring / kubuna hardyhead noun. kiri noun. mifum noun. krätär top of the head noun. kwari kwari noun. nḡamberam top part (soft part of the ground or soil) noun. nḡambérku noun. war noun. nḡafi torres strait imperial pidgeon noun. mamu noun. nḡani torresian crow noun. kwath noun. nḡérénzéri noun. touch transitive verb. fikénsi nḡérri noun. nḡwäném train middle verb. ténezési noun. mefa mefa trap noun. thénin noun. ménto tray for rain magic noun. no kézi noun. mora mora noun. tree (dried up and without leafes) fét noun. müraf tree (general) noun. wäméne noun. ngazi ngazi noun. runḡa runḡa

24.08.13 87 si yawar yawar tarumba noun. si yawar yawar noun. yifu noun. surita noun. yorär noun. théwai théwai tree type (bintangur) noun. kwéthéri noun. tafét tree type (cardamom?) noun. nzarénḡa noun. tatkwénam tree type (cornbeefwood) noun. matai noun. téfér téfér noun. zürémb noun. timer noun. wotér noun. tro tree type, palm type noun. tru noun. tuba treefork noun. tranḡ noun. ntémbän noun. noun. ntémbäzéri trench, ditch monz noun. ntérü triangular shield catfish noun. théwä

noun. ntimbä ntimbä trim transitive verb. référsi noun. ntinḡ ntinḡ trout mogurnda noun. katif noun. ntinnḡwä tuckeroo noun. kamboth kamboth noun. zathar turner made from bamboo split bamboo noun. zéfro noun. nḡame noun. zöt turtle noun. fisor noun. zuyak noun. fisor fefe noun. nzom noun. waru noun. nzönz turtle (ocean) noun. zérwar noun. nzönz nzönz turtle (red bellied) noun. märo fisor noun. watha twig (green) noun. samböm noun. want noun. wäsi twig (without leaves) noun. sénḡambum noun. wém wém twin, double noun. mät

noun. yaka twist transitive verb. méyukénsi noun. yawambü two numeral. enta noun. yem yem two hundred sixteen (216) noun. yéfér numeral. tarumba

88 24.08.13 mbanmban ni

U - u under postposition. mbanmban until (temporal) conjunction. mbänémér untie verb. rémbänzési upset adjective. nér kwóth kwóth until (spatial) conjunction. mbombomér urine noun. yir

V - v vagina noun. nzénḡa voice, loud voices noun. ngongoyam veins noun. yür yür voice, shout noun. kwan very, too much manner adverb. minzü vomit noun. wémbäk

W - w wade ("waten") middle verb. mirakési wallaby (middle sized wallaby) noun. sütér wait verb. monenḡési wandering whistle duck noun. fifize wait (wait for some event that will happen) waria waria oil plant noun. ntémnḡwéri transitive verb. kanzési waria waria, melaleuca noun. thü wake up reflexive verb. mbénazési warm adjective. zwäf transitive verb. mbénazési wash middle verb. maikasi wake up (for someone) ditransitive pattern. mbénazési watch out! interjection. ayaw walk intransitive verb. yak water noun. no walking catfish noun. wélat water container noun. ntarämbü wall noun. mbäwzö water rat noun. mbök wallaby (big wallaby) noun. kwrfar waterlily noun. nḡar wallaby (bush wallaby) noun. tauri wave noun. thäfém wallaby (forest) noun. nteya we ergative pronoun. ni absolutive pronoun. ni

24.08.13 89 yérsi nḡri nḡri weave, build transitive verb. yérsi whose interorative pronoun. mafane weeding noun. mbéri mbéri why interorative pronoun. réma weeds eaten by fish noun. ntananḡ why, for what interorative pronoun. rar week noun. zafat wide adjective. fanḡwathé wet adjective. zirthé widow, widower noun. mezü what interorative pronoun. ra widow, widower, orphan noun. zuaku what for interorative pronoun. rar wife kinship noun. fézenz when conjunction. féthé wiggle verb. matukénsi interorative pronoun. réthé willy wagtail noun. zézére zézére interorative pronoun. where mä wind (from the east) noun. wawér interorative pronoun. where from momba wind (from the west) noun. wémbér interorative pronoun. where to mombo wind, breeze noun. füsfüs interorative pronoun. which mane wing noun. nzambu while conjunction. maneme with her, with him comitative pronoun. nafrér while, time noun. tek with me comitative pronoun. ninrér whirlpool noun. wént with them comitative pronoun. nafä whisper verb. säminzési with us comitative pronoun. ninä whistling kite noun. nzikaka with whom interorative pronoun. mafrér white, bright adjective. kwayanthé with you (dual, plural) comitative white-bellied cuckou-shrike noun. kwosiya pronoun. mbénä white-bellied sea eagle noun. nḡan nḡan with you (singular) comitative white-faced heron (or pied heron) pronoun. mbénrér noun. ekwar woman noun. ngare white-shouldered fairywren noun. mbiya woodworm noun. wóthém nzérü nzérü work noun. kénikéni who (dual, plural) interorative noun. pronoun. mafa zénsä worm noun. ntént who (singular) interorative pronoun. maf worms, maggots noun. nḡri nḡri whole adjective. méthi

90 24.08.13 yakwér mbone transitive wound, sore noun. yakwér wrinkle, shrink, grow thin verb. móyósi woven rattan noun. kifa write verb. wrapped package (usually wrapped in either bark réthémbrakési middle verb. or split bamboo) noun. zifär tétüsi wrapped sago, biskar with fish transitive verb. tétüsi noun. kwrman wrong, not good adjective. nḡaso

Y - y yam (long yam) noun. nasi yellow-headed kingfisher noun. siroro yam (middle sized round yam) noun. fakéth yesterday, tomorrow time adverb. kayé yam (round yam) noun. wawa you (plural) ergative pronoun. mbéné yam vine stick (long) noun. fitot you (singular) ergative pronoun. mbe yam vine stick (short) noun. zafa zafa you're welcome ! phrase. nḡatha fam yamcake noun. kantakanta mär yamcake (made from long yams) noun. nömä young, fresh adjective. nḡauya yamhouse (with shelves for storing the yams) your (dual, plural) possessive noun. sirä pronoun. mbenme yamhouse (yam are stored on the ground) your (singular) possessive pronoun. mbone noun. kwiténz yams (for planting, small ones to be tied on the roof of the yamhouse) noun. sanḡu sanḡu yams (small yams that are tied up in bundles and then hung to the roof of the yamhouse) noun. tafotafo yamstick, digging stick noun. yaka yard, house area noun. faf year noun. yésokwr yellow adjective. téntari yellow-faced myna noun. nḡonḡath

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