7
DOBU—ENGLISH
qa
(for words beginning with a only, see next section)
qaqa v.t. eat (in the future)
qaaqaala n. burden on shoulder
qaala carry on shoulder
qabatau n. plain
qabi v.t. build
qabisida n. woman mean with food
qabiyama n. wound, injury
qabo conj. if, when
qaboqagu pro. I
qabona nai conj. lest, in case
qadau n. & v. (to) travel at sea
qae- n. leg, foot and thigh
qaeqeduqedu-na n. heel
qaekuku-na n. ankle
qaekwasina n. leglet, kneelet from nipuna vine
qaeloqinana n. dusk
qaematagigi-na n. toe
qaematawaga-na n. toenail
qae-na n. leg, foot, thigh
qaene conj. that, in order that
qaepasapasa n. kneelet, anklet
qaetubwe-na n. knee
qaetulasa v. kneel
qagalauna n. under side of house
qaiqaila adj. true
qaidi adj. some of them
qaina adj. some
qala n. & v.i. shoulder; to carry on shoulder
qala v.t. to carry on the shoulder
qalabaula v.t. sting (insects)
qalabwau wail (people), howl (dogs)
qalagamosi v.t catch
qalagamota n. catching
qalalagata begin singing, speaking
qalamaqiqita n. & v.t. patience; to be patient
qalamutu pain
qala-na n. shoulder
qalaonaono n. & v.t.i. magic spells for fishing; hunting
qalapwasi v.i. explode
qalasana v.t. bite (animal, snake)
qalasuyasuya v.i. to be beautiful
qalata v.i. burn (fire)
qalawegawega n. & v.t.i. magic spells for fishing, hunting
qalena n. base of tree, source of happening
qali v. to fence, lock
qali n. fence
qaliqali n. grave
qaliqei n. servant
qaliboda v.t. to fortify, barricade
qalimana n. large, black crab
qaliupa n. & v.t. room in house
qamaiyaba n. & v.t. respect; to respect
qamweyai n. & v.t. perspiration; to perspire, sweat
qanabwaqayoi even though
qanawala v.i. to steal
qapana v.i. to copulate
qapwaiyama v.i. water to bubble in a spring
qasa n. village, district
qaseqase n. cheek, jaw
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qaseluwa v.t. take a second wife
qasu n. smoke
qasiyata n. day
qasuoleole n. about noon
qatai-na n. right hand
qatamana n. centre of village
qate n. liver
qateqeidaida n. fear
qatemwala n. green tree lizard
qatenuwaqoleqole n. & v.t. grace, mercy
qatepatu v.i. to be brave
qatesaqala n. & v.i. fear; to be afraid
qatowa n. roof, roofing materials
qatesaqala n. & v.i. fear; be anxious
qatububu v.t.i. to make ready, prepare
qatubwaila v.t. to fold arms round
qatui v.i. to dive
qatumaninisa v.t. to wash hands and face
qatuna n. seed
qatupiya v.t. to root out grass by hand
qatuwa conj. like, similar
qau v.t. to roof a house
qauboda n. & v.t. lid; to cover
qauequmula n. & v.t.i. bruise; to bruise
qaukeke v.t.i. to tap, knock
qaupa n. anchor rope, anchor
qaupisala v.t. to crack shell, bowl
qaupwasipwasi v.i. to clap hands, to applaud
qausepala v.t. to throw, to throw off, push away
qautui n. foundation, site of building
qauwauna adj. new
qawaboboqana v.t. to approve, to praise, to bless
qawamui v.t. to kiss
qawa-na n. mouth, door, passage through reef
qawanesinesi v.i. to be face to face
qawanoi v.t. to beseech, to pray, to beg for
qawasasa n. deep passage between reefs
qawasewa v.t.i. to abuse (person)
qawayalayala n. pleasant words
qawayauyauwa n. natural breath (as when speaking)
qawe n. fire
qaweqalaqalata n. fire, burning stick
qawesabelulu n. & v.i. flame; to flame
a
abala v.t. to cross over
abe adv. about to
abodaboda v.t. to defend, protect
adeli-na n. characteristic
adunakela adj. perfectly straight
agala n. & v.t.i. fish smoking rack; to smoke fish on rack
agesi v.i. to go astray, to get off path
agesi v.t. to lead others astray
ai v.t.i. to marry
ailaa n. a raid in war
ala n. heat of day
alai n. man’s perineal band
alasuyasuya v.i. to be beautiful
ale n. report, fame
aliyana n. mast
alolo v.t.i. to undress, to remove clothing from upper part of the body
anuwa n. house
anuwanuwa n. cold in head
apwala v.t. to cover
apwesa v.i. to arrive, appear
asepala v.t. to push, kick something
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aseye v.t. to select
asowa v.t. to plant (anything but yams)
asu-na n. forehead
ata four
atao v.t. to cross plain or mountain
ataya adv. for long indefinite period, forever
atepa v.t.i. to feel for something with the foot
atu-na n. any empty thing
auwauna adj. new
b
baqe v.t.i. to scold, upbraid
bababa n. & v.i. width; to become wide
babaga n. cliff, precipice
bada adv. here
badi a spear wound, an injection
badi v.t. to spear, prick skin, inject into flesh
badigega adv. from here
bado n. & v.i. thickness; to become thick
baga(i) adv. ‘as you say’’
bagi n. necklace of spondylus shell used in kula trading
bagula n. & v.t. garden; to garden
baila v.i. to be dirty
bala adv. across
balae n. rope from inner bark of tree
balau n. sorcery
balequ n. earth, land
balou n. sponge
bani n. & v.i. fishing line; to fish with line
batu about to hapen, certain to
batuwa n. today (yet to come)
baubau n. bamboo
baula adv. still, quiet
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bawe n. pig
be conj. and
bequ v.i. to fall
bebai n. yams
bebeya v.i. to become thin
bemi adv. first (do something first)
besobeso adv. carelessly
bewa v.i. to roll round in pain
bewabewa n. sago leaf bark used in walling
biqi v.i. to become dirty
bibi v.t.i. to squeeze
bila v.i. to rot (wood)
bilabilana adj. rotten
binama n. hornbill
biyakasu v.i. to become muddy
boqasa n. village pig
boboqana v.i. to be good, to be well
boboqana adj. good
boboloe n. estate of deceased person
boda n. group, crowd, herd
bodaita n. hot water for drinking
boga n. yesterday
bogamo adv. recently
boiqunu n. evening, first nightfall
boiboi n. night
boko v.i. to be bent
bokobokona adj. crooked, bent
bolausa n. poison
bolimana n. S.E. wind
bolo n. taro
boluma v.t. to be sulky, bad tempered
bomatu n. N.E. wind
bomitawa n. wild pig
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bonu n. & v.i. ulcer, sore; to contract an ulcer
bosasa adj. fierce, savage
botana n. & v.i. hunger; to be hungry
boyowa n. & v.t.i. dream; to dream (not used)
buquna n. person of same totem
bubu v.t.i. to make
bubugewana adj. naked
bubula n. plaited coconut leaf mat
bubuna n. character
bubuta n. ridgecapping for house
bulabulana adj. white
bulolowa n. & v.t. anger; to be angry
bulomakau n. cattle, cow, bull
bulubulu-na n. head
bunama n. coconut oil
bunebune n. pigeon (general term)
buni v.t.i. to roll (canoe at sea)
busa n. & v.i. faeces; to defecate
busabusana adj.
busobuso n. & v.i. froth, foam
buyuwa n. octopus
bw
bwaqa n. earth, land
bwaqa degudeguna n. clay
bwaqo v.t. to call
bwaqomatana n. public discussion of a crime
bwaqomatana v.t. to consider a person’s actions in public
bwabwale n. mortuary feast
bwada n. &. v.t.i. caulking; to caulk
bwadaqai n. plank above hull of canoe
bwadabwada n. & v.t. patch; to patch sail, cloth
bwadaga-na n. thigh
bwaduwe n. bandicoot
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bwagabwaga n. ocean
bwagila n. & v.t. bundle; to make into a bundle
bwago v.i. to bend body, to bend low
bwagogona v.i. to shrink
bwaima n. verandah, platform
bwala-na n. skin, bark of tree
bwale v.t. to pierce
bwalu v.t. to cut, accidentally injure person or animal
bwaluwada n. salt water eel
bwasa n. a cover
bwasa v.t. to cover a person or article
bwasepala v.t. to make someone go by shouting at him
bwasi n. water, river, creek
bwasigaula n. water hole in village
bwasila n. & v.i. new shoots on tree; send up new shoots
bwasisala n. water hole in village
bwasiuwama n. water hole in bush
bwasiya n. father-in-law of man, sister's daughter's husband
bwau n. & v.t.i. call, shout, bark (dogs)
bwaudidiga v.i. to roar
bwautoila v.i. to roar, call loudly
bwayobwayo crow
bweyabweyalina adj. red, dark brown
bweyala v.i. to become red
d
da verbl. part of verb meaning can, could, may, able to
daba v.t. to cut
dabala n. coast, beach, sandy shallows
dabu v.t. to root out weeds (with the hand)
dadana adv. about
daewa n. breadfruit
dagula n. feather
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dagwakilikili n. sandfly
dagwalala n. sandfly
dai v.t. to mash food
daisinamo adj. alone
daita adv. without reason
daita adv. to do a thing without help or instructions
daita adj. uninhabited (salu daita: uninhabited island)
daka adj. rough, serrated
dalala v.i. to sink in water
dalalamwawasa v.i. to drown & to sink
dalele adj. & v.i. bitter; to be bitter
damana v.i. to sink but float just under surface
dau v.i. to run (of water), flow, pour
daula v.i. to rot with dampness, decay
dauna v.t. to plant (yams only)
daune n. kite for catching garfish
dayagi v.t. to carve, carving
deba-na n. head
debaose n. man mean with food
dedela v.i. to shake, tremble
dedewaga n. wooden box, or chest
dedoi v.i. to cry, weep
degudeguna sticky, glutinous
deina adv. at the back
deiyega adv. afterwards
dena v.t.i. to escape, run away
deu n. raft
dibi n. leaf of tree used as counter irritant
dibidibina adj. sweet
dibidibi v.i. to become sweet
didi v.t. to pull tightly
didibeyabeya n. small bat
didiemwawasa v.t. to kill by parasite vine on tree
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didiga adj. awesome in appearance or sound
didiga v.t to overcome opposition by fear
didiluwaluwa n. twins
didimaga v.t. to strangle with rope
didimwana n. earth worms, small lizards
didinegula n. midrib of coconut leaf
didiuyauya n. small ant
digayagaya early adolescence
diliwaquma n. stone axe
dilu n. forked stick for gathering fruit
dimdim n. white man, European, belonging to white people
dimeme v.i. to wither but still be useful
dimumu n. bubbles rising from water
dinagwala v.i. to breakfast
diya n. Papuan tubenosed bat
diya-na n. bowels, intestine
doqemataselu v.i. to weep
dobe n. woman's skirt made from coconut leaves
dodoegu n. floating rubbish, object in the sea
dodola n. small drum
doe n. & v.t.i. flag; to float at anchor, drift away on tide
doelu n. brackish water
dolo v.i. to go towards sea
domusimusi v.t.i. to sob
dona n. necklace with one row of red shell discs
doonaona v.t.i. to cry and tell deeds of dead person
doyauyaula v.i. to cry to get rid of troubles
dudu v.i. to rumble (thunder, engine)
dudula n. & adj. length, long
duluwa n. cave
dumadumana adj. different, apart
dumo n. bamboo (wild)
dune v.t.i. to stare
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dunemataqilili v.t. to stare out of corner of eyes
duwala v.t. to root in ground (pigs)
duwatete n. ridges on mountain side
duwe n. general name for insect
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qe
(for words beginning with e only, see next section)
qeqa n. & v.t.i. food; to eat
qeqai food, to eat
qeqabi rub oil on body
qeyala v.i. to dry one's self in the sun
qebadidoe visit other villages with new canoe
qebe instrument for, place for
qebegoi n. large coconut cup for drawing water
qebemi n. seat, residence
qebesa v.t.i. to seek, to search
qebetetebala n. a bridge
qebudi n. yam sticks
qebui v.i. to fall (house)
qebunibuni v.i. to roll
qebwagena v.i. to become jagged
qebwaya (qebwaea) v.t. to give
qebwayadaita v.t. to give freely with no thought of return
qebweu adj. one
qebweuna adj. another
qebweuna qebweuna adj. each
qeda n. track, path, road, course, method
qeda qeda method, behaviour
qedagi v.t.i. to laugh
qedamomo v.i. to travel with following sea
qedasisiluwaluwa meeting of 2 paths
qedasola v.i. to be far off, distant
qeqewa adv. hiding
qegaga n. fat, dripping, oil
qegeqegegena adj. open
qegesi v.t. to miss mark with spear
qegido v.t. to pluck flowers, green food
qeguma conj. if
qeisa how many? how much?
qekake v.i. to be stripped off of its own accord
qeladi v.t. to cut one's flesh for blood letting
qelaga v.t. to glean, gather fallen nuts
qelasa v.i. to snap off
qelelewana v.i. to disperse of crowd, people, birds
qelo prefix on verb, all, altogether
qeluwa two
qemataselu v.t.i. to weep
qemutu v.i. to cease (wind), fall to powder (burnt coral)
qena n. language
qena prep. in, to
qenaqi n. title of respect to old men
qenaqina adv. exceedingly
qenagologololo n. thick, deep speech
qenalaga v. to speak boastfully of self
qena-na n. voice, language
qenapaqala v.t.i. to scold
qenaya prep. to, in
qenega prep. from, through, out of, by means of
qenega conj. therefore, and so
qenina v.t. to bite (it)
qeno v.i. to lie down
qenoboi v.i. to sleep till nightfall
qenobwagetu v.i. to lie in huddled position
qenoedeedei v.i. to lie on one's side
qenoepaqi lie firmly on object
qenogulewa v.i. to sleep heavily
qenoilaila v.i. to lie in reclining position
qenokabokabo v.i. to lie with closed eyes pretending sleep
qenokokoma v.i. to lie in huddled position
qenokwaiya v.i. to lie hidden
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qenomasali v.i. to sleep through the night
qenomwataya v.i. to sleep
qenosanaqoyaqa v.i. to lie on one's back
qenosanaelata v.i. to lie on one's back
qenosanakabobo v.i. to lie face down
qenosanamwaquta v.i. to lie face down
qenoyai v.i. to lie on object
qeosi women's dance
qepaqepa n. triangular wooden fishnet floats
qepata n. an equal, same generation
qepo n. & v.i. landslide
qepoi n. large canoe
qesa adv. exactly
qesasa v.i. to be pure, clean, bright
qeseseli adj. split
qesi n. hand of bananas
qesido adv. in direction of sea
qetagena v.i. to fall (fruit)
qetagowa v.t. to peel vegetables
qetai v.t. to harvest
qetalasiwa v.t. to disembark cargo, passengers
qetalausa v.t. to embark cargo, passengers
qetamo adv. later
qetamona adv. before during the day
qetauluna n. outside (house, village)
qetete v.t. to mimic, jokes, do work carelessly
qeto vbl. prefix, by instrument
qetoboda v.t.i. to forbid, check, hinder, prevent
qetobwale v.t. to pierce hole in object
qetoi adj. three
qetoladi n. & v.t.i. write; to write
qetolupe v.t. to lever and roll an object
qetomeqe v.t. to draw object to one's self by means of instrument
qetomwa v.i. to break in pieces (food)
qetonina adj. third
qetopwapwa n. & v.t. length; to measure length
qetoseyana n. & v.t. salvation; to save person
qetoweyala v.t. break object by hitting with point of stick
qetupwa n. stump of tree
qetutu v.t. to break shells to get nuts, beat bark before removing it.
qequle v.t. to cook, to boil
qeulaula v.i. to spear fish from canoe
qeupena v.i. to snap (as string, rope)
qeuwana v.i. to be pregnant
qewa v.t. to take
qewaqewa n. portion, pole for carrying pigs
qewabamu n. & v.i. death wail by women
qewala n. canoe pole
qeyaba v.t. to incite to anger
qeyala v.i. to dry one's self in the sun
e
eqa n. & v.t.i food; to eat
eqale v.t. & n. to begin; a beginning
eqawasayasaya v.t. to whisper
eqewa n. & v.t. blame; to accuse
eqidiqidi v.t. to refuse to have person, thing
eqina excl. "serves you right"
eqinaqinana v.t. to guess
eqipiqipi n. & v.t.i. jealousy, envy
eqisa n. & v.t.i answer, payment, revenge
eqisaqisawana v.t.i. to be envious of someone
eqita n. & v.t.i. to teach, teaching, instruction
eqolowa v.t. to annoint
eqote dress another
eqowa v.t. to seek revenge
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eboi adv. until nightfall
ebusi v.i. to come down, descend
edadama v.i. in travail in childbirth
edale v.t.i. to compose a song, chant
edeedede n. miracle, something unexplainable
edididi v.t. to wrestle, struggle (2 people)
edidigula v.t.i. to observe any taboo
eduduilaila adv. backwards
eese v.t. to name village, person or thing
egagala v.t. to withold permission, thing, person
egamwagamwagu v.t. to be angry
egewagewana v.i. to argue, squabble
egila adv. despisingly
egogona v.t. to gather things, people together
egosigosiyana n. & v.t.i. friendship; to be friendly
egueguyai n. portion, what’s due
egumwala adv. completely
eguyai v.t. to divide, apportion
egwama n. childhood
eidaida v.i. to be crushed
einisa v.t. to mix things together
eiyala v.t. to decorate with carving, colours
elata n. & v.t.i. adultery
elaya n. day after tomorrow
eleleleya v.i. to be alike, similar, equal
elisi v.i. to stretch one’s self
elisilisi v.i. to pull, pulling in oposite directions
elisowa v.t. to outrun, outstrip, excell, win
eliya n. & v.t. abuse with words; to curse
elowaqelu v.i. to be alike, similar
emataluwa v.t. to inform, give orders
ematamatana v.t. to obey
ematasabu v.t. to cause someone to regret his actions, words
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emisa v.t. to trust, rely on
emwagemwage v.t. to be ignorant of
emwasala n. & v.t.i. story, fable, news
emwemwela v.t. to show affection playfully, wag tail (dog)
enaida n. & v.t.i. ask, question; to enquire about
enao v.i. to cause rain, wind, starvation by magic
enatuna v.t. to give birth to
ene adv. to where
eneya v.i. to paddle canoes in contest
enimaqabi v.t.i. to shake hands
enimasusu v.t. to point by hand or instrument
eniniyanayoge v.i. to wait in vain
enono v.t. to listen, like to hear
enuwanaluwa n. & v.i. doubt; to hesitate
enuwasaqu v.t. suggest, cause someone to think of something
eona v.t. to inform, tell
epaqi vbl. suffix. firmly
epidupidu v.i. to crumble, fret away
epili v.i. to run in contest
epopo adv. all together
esaesa n. wealth, wealthy man
esaesasala n. & v.i. games; to play
esalaqiqita v.i. to close jaws tightly
esa-na n. name
esena n. place, district
esanaqepoi n. original personal name
esenasenama n. splinters of wood, shavings
esepwasepwala adj. be covered with mud
esetupe v.t.i. to stumble, fall, collide
esi on the other hand, but rather
esilae v.i. to meet with accident
esimudula v.t. to converse quietly
esinuwa v.t. to choose, choice
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esipolo v.t. to grumble, to whimper for food
esiwe v.i. to bathe
esiyo-na n. flesh, muscle
eso n. & v.t. clean leaves, mats spread for food
esobusobu v.i. to jump from height into sea
esuwala n. & v.t. to make marriage settlement after marriage
etai v.i. to become man
etala v.i. to engage in woodcutting contest
etalakedewa v.t. to hunt pigs with dogs and spears
etaliya v.t. to make treaty, sacrifice
etana n. upper part of anything
etapewa v.i. to move, be active
etetela v.t.i. to tell story, incident
etotowana n. & v.t. copy; to mimic, to imitate
etubukoyakoya v.i. to make mounds in garden for planting, make
small heaps of stone, food
etune v.t. to send
etuwe v.t. to carry food, goods from one place to another
equpwa v. to fight, quarrel
eusa v.t. to embark cargo, passengers
eusana n. & v.t. barter; to barter
ewaiwai v.i. to become strong
ewana n. seed yams
eyaeyabala adj. foster (parent, child)
eyaiyai v.i. to become hot
eyaseyase v.t. to deny
eyau v.t.i. to increase, multiply
eyawaiqata n. & v.i. rest; to rest
eyawasilagalaga v.i. to pant
eyawasipelapela v.i. to breathe heavily
eyowa n. & v.t. to give instructions regarding duties, work
g
ga conj. and (used with past)
gaba v.t. to call, name
gabaita n. heavy rain storm
gabu v.t. to roast, burn, bake
gabula n. under part of anything
gada n. stalk of fruit
gadala n. handle (axe, knife)
gadilulu adj. fearsome (sound, character, appearance)
gadiwana n. belt for perineal band
gadoi n. door made of matting
gaeba n. wooden dish
gagaa n. spider lily
gagaba n. cliff, precipice
gagala v.i. to be barren
gagasa n. & v.i. to be proud, haughty
gagi v.t. to wean
gaguna n. dew
gai v.i. to become black
gaigaitutuna adj. black
gaigaina black
galagala n. remains of coconut left in shell after scraping
galala n. & v.i. unnecessary noise
galewa n. sky
galibui v.t. to allow canoe to overturn
galiyana adj. unripe (also kiliwe, kanibo, galiyasekukuyana)
galiyasekukuyana adj. unripe
galuna n. topmost part of tree
gamala v.i. to throb, to beat (heart)
gamwabilabila n. colic
gamwagamwa n. middle, centre
gamwa-na n. abdomen
gamwa-naqai n. stomach
21
gamwasowala n. & v.t.t. anger; to be angry (also siau,
egamwagamwagu, buloloa)
ganala n. coral reef just below surface, sudden shoal
ganibwala n. charcoal, charred wood
ganiyala n. embers burning
gasisi v.i. to blow (heavy wind)
gasu v.i. to bark (dog)
gau adv. secretly
gaula n. hole
gayo v.t.i. to wade
gedu n. pillow
gegela n. king parrot
gegeumi-na n. left hand
geigeikwa n. pumice
gelaboi n. flying witch
gelasa adv. in exchange
gelu v.t.i. to board canoe
gesi adv. wrongly
gesigesikwa n. pumice
gesoma v.t. to husk coconuts
gesowa v.t.i. to dig garden for planting; to plunge a knife or spear into
person
gete adj. this
getedi adj. these
gewana v.i. to persist
gewana n. species of teak tree
geya not (short form)
geyaqabo adv. future negative, prohibition
geyada n. & v.t. stone for sharpening; to sharpen on stone
geyageyada n. pumice
geyanuwa-na v.t. don't want, don't like
geyogeyoi adj. bad, evil, darkness
gi verbl. part. by hand
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giqiqila wipe dry
gibali v.t. to open mouth by hand
gibaula v.t. to pinch
gibibi v.t. to squeeze something
gibilabila v.t. to crush food before eating, mash food
gibilibili v.t. to tangle, crumple anything
giboda v.t. to close door, box
gibubu v.t. to prepare, make ready
gibui n. translation
gibuni v.t. to turn over, translate
gibwage v.t. to remove tooth
gibwaqi n. tomorrow
gibwale v.t. to break outside covering to see inside
gidala v.t. to become small
gidalina adj. small, little
gidobwa v.t. to pinch
gie by hand, by fingers
giebaibaila v.t. to make dirty, soil
gieboboqana v.t. to make good, cure, repair
giedau v.t. to make flow
giededoni v.t. to make cry
gieqesasa v.t. to make clean, purify
giegamwasowala v.t. to make angry
giegwamumu v.t. to overcome strong village in fight, do a thing
thought to be difficult
gieidosa v.t. to sweeten something bitter, sour; heal skin
giekweu v.t. to put out light, fire by hand
giemaedana v.t.i. to enlighten, illumine
giemaiwa v.t. to make one vomit
giematauta v.t. to frighten
giepaqala v.t. to strengthen, make fast
giepaqi v.t. to hold together, hold several things at once
giepalu v.t. to straighten
giepwasi v.t. to moisten, to dampen
giesaqi v.t. to grip wrongly so person or thing escapes
giesalimomo v.t. to lose grasp
gieseeseli v.t. to interfere with person's work
giesiesinuwa v.t. to turn things over to make a choice
giesinabwa v.t. to make bigger, increase, enlarge, rear child
giesiwalowa v.t.i. to make peace
gietabe v.t. to carry something hanging from hand (bag, basket)
gietasiwa v.t. to spill
gietoolo v.t. to raise upright, erect
giewaiwai v.t. to make strong, strengthen
gieyadayada v.t. to dry, make dry
gieyata v.t. to soothe, to speak soothingly
gigagaba v.i. to climb cliff
gigaila v.t. to touch to attract attention
gigege v.t. to open box, house
gigesi v.t. to take away wrong thing by mistake
gigisa v.i. to escape sickness, trouble
gigisolasola adj. long (arms, legs)
gigiwasi adv. gracefully (walking, paddling canoe)
gigo v.t. to bleach
giguwa v.t. to pluck by twisting (coconuts)
giidaida v.t. crush with hand
giiwa v.t. to pull out (stick from ground, nail from wood)
gikwaiya v.t. to hide something in hand
gikwaiya n. kidneys
gikwakwala v.t.i. to scratch with fingers
gilagasi v.t. to lift up, raise
gileqwasa v.t. cure someone from sickness
gilelena adj. narrow
gileleu n. hermit crab
gili n. coral
gilibou n. large coral
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giliegomana n. coral
giligili n. broken coral
gilimana v.t. to mend
gilisi v.t. to pull out of bundle
gilolo v.t. to pull another's garment off
gilomweii n. & v.t. coil; to coil
gilosipwa v.t.i. to secure, bind, tie tightly
giluma sew (sail, mat)
gimaga v.t. to strangle
gimanimanini v.i. to work quickly
gimasula n. & v.i. to prepare food
gimatuwa v.t. to make strong, firm
gimi adj. old, first in order
gimomota v.t. to work till job is done
gimoni v.t. to untie string
gimutu v.t. to hold firmly (maybe cause pain)
gimwane v.t. to barter, to buy
gimwaquta v.t. to place down, reach down
ginao v.t.i. begin (sickness), stretch out and touch someone
gini v.t. to tickle
giniyube n. large mother of pearl shell
ginupinupila v.t. to crumple
gipalama v.i. to remove midrib of sago to prepare for roofing
gipisala v.i. to crack something (plate, cooking pot)
gipiyapiya v.i. to roll into small ball
gisalasala v.t. to make hole in ground with hand
gisine v.t. to lose hold of, let go
gisiusiu v.t. to bury something small with hand, cover small object
with earth
gisoqisoqi v.t.i. to work slowly
gisuwe v.t. to uncover
gita n. spear
gitaga v.t. to pluck flowers
25
gitoila v.t. to handle roughly
gitomwa v.t. to break in pieces
gitoo v.t. to touch
gitubwe v.t. to join, unite
giupa v.t. to break off piece with hand
giwa v.t. to bore, pierce
giwaga v.t. to repair canoe
giwala n. & v.t.i. spit; to spit
giwasi v.t. to twist, wring
giyaqila lick
giyai v.t. to hold
giyausa v.t. to repair floor, fence
giyou v.t. to bend
gobwasi v.i. to draw water
gogai n. & v.i. cold (weather)
gogama n. children
gogama didiluwaluwa n. twins
gogo v.t. to take all
golagola n. crocodile
gololo v.i. to rumble (stomach), purr (cat), sound of rain, waves.
golu n. owl
goma n. man of certain place
gomaqala n. monitor lizard, tree used in housebuilding
gomabeso n. poverty
gomabwaina n. good looks (male)
gomageyogeyoi n. ugliness (male)
gomagomabesona adj. poor
gomagweine n. girl, maid
gomana n. & v.i. fishnet; to fish with net
gomwagomwa n. bay
gomwatana adj. cool, cold (also gonitu-)
gonagona n. early morning, 6-8 a.m.
goni v.t. to draw water
26
gonituna adj. cold(things)
gosiyana n. friend
gote adj. that
gotedi adj. those
gowa v.i. to be inedible
goyuyuwana adj. cold(water)
guda v.t. to chew
gudala n. coconut leaf torch
gudu v.t. to close door, house
gugula v.i. to be overcast(sky)
gugupiya v.t. to strike or kill many people, break many things
guguya n. & v.t.i. peace; to exhort, to preach
guguyoi n. & v.t.i. darkness, night
guibwatebwatete-na n. spine, backbone
gui-na n. back
guinuwa n. & v.t.i. work, business
guitoyasa v.t. to refuse
gula v. to cut sago, coconut leaves in large numbers
gulewa n. stone, rock
gulumwawa n. brain coral
guluwana n. last night
gumana n. hermit crab
gumugumu v.t. to break something into many pieces
gumwala v.i. to finish
guna n. canoe pole
gw
gwae n. & v.t.i. speech; to speak, to say
gwagwana n. upright posts in fence, studs in house
gwala n. & v.t. coconuts, betelnut, bananas under taboo for feast
gwama n. child
gwama meyameyana n. a suckling child
gwamutulina n. ripe coconut
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gwane n. & v.i. whistle, growl; to grunt (animals, birds)
gwau-na n. back
gwaunuwa v.t.i. to be industrious
gwausowala n. & v.t.i. joy, happiness; to delight
gwautoyasa v.t.i. to be lazy
gwaya n. rash, skin disease
gwegwe n. things, belongings
gwenala n. cross joists below flooring
qi
(for words beginning with i only, see next section)
qiqima v.t. to coax
qigu pro. my
qila n. stone axe
qina pro. his, hers, its
qinana v.t. to pronounce name or word
qinapwana n. old man (title of respect)
qipo v.t. to carry something on back
qipwala v.t.i. to steal
qisawa n. forehead
qisi v.t. to rub, make fire, sharpen knife
qita v.t.i. & n. to see, look; appearance, sight
qitaqa v.t. to fail to see, look in vain
qitaqiqita v.t. to look carefully, take care
qitaqiqisi look after
qitaqitaloba n. something that remains forever (great rocks,
mountains)
qitaesae v.t. to watch person to report on his character
qitaesiesinuwa v.t. to look carefully before choosing
qitaila v.i. to look back
qitaloba discover
qitamatatau v.t. to look over and past object while searching for it
2
qitasepala v.t. to signal person to go by motion of the eyes
qitayauyaula v.t. to see all there is to be seen
qitu n. & v.t. enemy; to become enemy
i
igoda n. & v.t. shellfish
ila v.t. to return, come back, take back
ilama v.i. to return here to place of speaker
ilawa v.i. to return there to place of hearer
ilemwaya n. old woman (title of respect)
ili v.t. to mix, stir food in pot
ilolo n. bunch of fruit, nuts but not bananas
imo n. centre of aerial root of pandanus used for string
ina v.t. to prepare cane for lashing
inawa n. digging stick
ipwaipwa n. maggot
iwa v.t. to pull out(spear from wound, nail from wood)
iyabweyabwe n. adopted child, pet bird, animal; small clams placed
on reef to grow
iyae excl. “is that so?”
iyaela qinana n. dusk (early), light enough to see
iyae-na n. footprints
iyaeulu n. dusk (late), too dark to distinguish people
iyala n. adornment
iyana n. fish
k
kabaleya n. foolishness, madness, dumbness
kabo n. & v.t.i. deceit, lying; to lie
kabobo v.t. to cover up
kaboma n. wooden dish
kabu v.t.i. to splash
kabwabwa n. & v.i. gurgling of water
kadede v.i. to walk slowly
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kadekadeli v.i. to be old, aged (things, not people)
kadekadelina adj. old, aged (of things, not people)
kadii v.i. to be sulky
kagutoki phrase "thankyou"
kaiba n. bad smell
kaikaiyale v.i. to be old (people)
kaikaiyalena adj. to be old (people)
kaila n. mother of pearl shell, peeler made from same
kainumu n. anything of iron, steel
kaito n. sharks (general name)
kaiwala n. snakes (general name)
kaiwe n. tree, wood, fire
kaiwe uwauwa n. fruit bearing tree
kaiyoni n. farewell, goodbye
kakaa v.t. to fail to grasp
kakae v.i. & adj. to be empty
kakala v.t. to clean road, village
kakaleko n. fowl
kakanewa v.i. & adj. to be slippery
kakaowa adj. carefully
kalabwau n. & v.i. wail (people), howl (dogs)
kalakalawina adj. green, blue
kalawe n. witch
kaleya n. war, fight (also saiya)
kalikau n. ashes
kalimana n. large, black crab
kalita n. sea, salt water, salt
kalitabu n. large clam shell
kaluwabu n. S.E. wind
kamatoki "we thank you"
kamukamu n. domestic fowl
kamuyope n. pawpaw
kamwakuku n. citrus trees, fruit
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kamwamwa n. & v.t.i. adopted child; to adopt child
kamwasusu v.i. to suck fingers(child)
kanagala n. parrots (red, green, lory)
kanibona adj. unripe
kanuwe n. beche de mer
kaokao n. crow
kapayawa n. flying fox
kapekapeyana adj. light, easy
kapekapeyana v.i. can, possible
kapwautete v.i. to throw something in the air and catch
kasawe n. mango
kasikasi n. mangrove
kasiyala n. black palm used for flooring
kasuwa n. basket made from coconut frond
kau n. dust
kaukau n. sand, sandy bottom of sea or river
kaukauwa v.i. to be curved
kaula v.t.i. to go out and challenge enemies to fight
kausala adj. very good
kaususu n. bed for fire in house
kawagololo adj. partly filled
kawala v.i. to crawl
kawekawega n. earrings
kayokayo n. large water gourd
kebo v.i. to be blind
kebwanigita n. charred wood
kedewa n. dog
kegabugabu n. log
keiga n. coconut shell cup
keigaiga n. coconut shell
keigwana n. swamp oak
keke v.t.i. to tap
kekeu n. little finger
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kelei n. wallaby
kelepa n. club
kenakena n. hibiscus
kepula v.t.i. to rattle, tap
kesakwa n. fishing spear with many points
kesola v.i. to be high, tall (trees)
ketala v.t.i. to rattle, tap
keuteute n. coconut husk
keweliwelili n. walking stick
kewou n. small canoe
keyata n. beche de mer (edible)
keyeso n. leaves for covering food in cooking pot
keyoi n. sulphur crested cockatoo
kii n. aerial root of pandanus used in sago roofing
kikiyalu n. mouse, rat
kiliwena unripe
kisikisi n. mange
kiwali n. trochus shell
kiyama n. & v.t.i. wound; to wound
koda v.t. to eat raw, uncooked food
kodo n. round coconut leaf basket
koita n. octopus
kokolaka n. rat, mouse
kokowa n. corpse
kokoyuwe n. intestinal worms
kolagina n. sharks (general term)
koli v.t.i. to scrape (coconut, wood)
kolokolona adj. hairy (person, vegetables)
komwakomwa n. earrings
komwala n. sweet potatoes
kona n. scoop fish net
kopi n. fishnet hung from large float and weighted
kopu v.i. to bend with head down, stoop
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kosi v.i. to become firm (fruit before ripening)
kotola v.t.i. to struggle to escape
kubwana n. morning star
kude adj. loose
kuge n. & v.t.i. swing; to swing
kuke v.i. to hoist sail
kukupa v.i. to be short
kukupana adj. short
kulaboka n. crayfish, lobster
kulaeya n. cold food left from previous meal
kulakoko v.t. to tap a nut to see if it is good
kulapisi v.i. to throb (of pain), to tap on wall
kulapwasi v.i. to spark
kuliga n. & v.t. stern of boat; to steer
kulikuli n. scabies
kulikuliya n. dolphin
kulunu v.t.i. to groan
kumata n. widower
kunana n. horn (animal), knot on tree, elbow, wrist joint
kunuwadawada n. riddle, problem
kunuwai n. axe
kuwa v.i. be blunt
kw
kuwaka n. top of taro plant for resowing
kwabula n. widow
kwadidi n. & v.i. spark; to spark
kwadidiwa n. lizards (general name)
kwadima n. star
kwadoya n. opposum
kwadoyaluluna n. lianas, creepers
kwadudu v.t. to close one’s eyes (also kwaidudu)
kwaibwaga n. West wind
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35
kwaidudu v.t. to close one’s eyes (also kwadudu)
kwaime n. reddish brown tree ant
kwaiya v.i. to die, to be lost
kwaiyai n. vegetable soup, hot water for bathing
kwakwakwala n. thorns
kwakwala v.t.i. to scratch, scrape
kwakwanogu v.i. to say little, but be thoughtful
kwalama v.t.i. to husk coconut
kwalawa n. sharks (general term)
kwali v.t.i. to haul in rope, fishline, anchor
kwalisi n. rough coconut basket
kwani v.i. to be lost, difficult to understand
kwanou n. gable at end of house
kwanubu n. & v.i. mildew
kwateya n. yams (smooth skin types)
kwau n. heavy rainstorm
kwausa n. coconut husk burnt to blacken body
kwekwe n. frog
kwekwela v.i. to squeal (pigs)
kweno v.i. to unable to rise because of weakness, sickness
kwesala v.i. to rattle (stones on beach)
kweu v.t.i. to put out (light)
kweyeudobwa n. full moon
l
laba n. line
laba v.t.i. divisions in garden
labiya n. sago
lada n. small drum
ladi v.t.i. to cut skin to let blood out
laga v.t.i. to go in direction of bush
lagae v.t. to take something in direction of bush
lagata upwards
lagolagowa n. pets (birds, animals)
lagwa n. cost, price
lagwa v.t.i. to buy or sell
laita n. float of canoe
laitu adv. day before yesterday, recently
laitunei adv. some time past
lakasewa n. wild duck
lakuwa n. crabs (general name)
lalaeta n. blackhead
lala-na n. blood
lalawaa n. a boil
lamuna n. root
lasa v.i. to break, snap
lasalasana adj. broken
lasalele v.i. to sail quickly, blow fiercely (wind)
lasalobu n. hurricane, cyclone
latu v.i. to come
latuma v.i. to come
lau v.i. to become yellow
laulauna adj. yellow
lausa n. & v.i. dance
lausa v.t. to poisen, to make ill
lausa apwesa n. big mortuary feast for whole community
lawa n. shield
leqawa n. shore, coast
leqwa break taboos on coconuts, betelnut
leqwaloina transgression of law
leqwasa n. & v.i. sickness; to be sick
lebwaga n. precipice, cliff
leleleya adj. & v.t.i. equal
lelesa v.t. to hang something up to mend or dry
lelewana v.t. to scatter things about
leleya v.i. to stand in line
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footer
leleyana for, because
lema n. & v.t. help; to assist
lesa v.i. to bend down towards
lesulesu-na n. side
lewa n. accent, pronunciation of language
lewaesaqiqi n. simile, metaphor
lewaila v.t. to refer back to some past happening
liqama v.t.i. to unloose, untie, unbind
libi n. rubbish, refuse
lido v.i. to speak indistinctly
ligeya v.t. to demolish house, fence
ligogo n. adze
lima adv. again
limalimana adv. over and over again
limwana v.i. to blush, flush with anger, shame
lisi v.t. to pull
lisiiwa v.t. to pull out
lisilaga v.i. to breathe, pull anything in direction of laga
lisipape v.t. to pull a person forcibly
lisisapipi v.t. to snatch, to seize
lisiupa v.t. to pull and snap (string)
lisu n. wave of sea
loqae by word of mouth
loqaebodaboda n. & v.t.i. defend one's self by speech
loqaedebadeba v.t. to criticise
loqaegila v.t. to despise, to be sarcastic
loqaelaga v.t. to terrify by telling a story
loqaelima v.t. to reply rudely
loqaematabubuna v.t. to scold a person by speaking of his village,
poor garden, lack of food
loqaematauta v.t. to cause fear by relating some incident
loqaenuwaboboqana v.t. to speak comfortingly
loqaenuwaqoleqole v.t. to speak kindly to person in trouble
loqaepulu n. elepahantiasis of leg
loqaesabwalena v.t. to make someone understand
loqaesamasama v.t. to bring a person to his senses by speaking to
him
loqaesepala v.t.i. to make person go away by speaking rudely
loqaesiwalowa v.t. to speak and make peace after strife
loqaetoo v.t. to ask for something, try someone out by asking
loqaetupu v.t.i. to falsely praise another
loqameqame v.i. to be physically tired
loqanuqanunu v.i. to be shiny (sea)
loqasa v.i. to dwell
loqawasewa v.t. to steal, damage another’s property
loasuasu n. violent headache
loba v.t.i. to find, to meet person on track
lobinama n. & v.i. disease; to get same (gangosa)
lobodaboda n. shelter from wind, rain
lobunibuni v.t. to make roll over
lobutobuto v.i. to have “pins and nedles”, have bad blood circulation
lobwai v.i. to be fruitful, good bearing (of garden)
lobwale n. eye of needle, hole
lobwebwai n. & v.i. leprosy
lobwene-na v.t.i. to be suitable
lodakadaka v.i. to be rough to touch
loqelaqelagana v.t. to glean after harvest
loe verbl. prefix. cause to be, become
loeqabi v.t. to light fire, lamp
loeqeta v.t.i. to raise prices when bartering
loeqegaqegaga v.t.i. to annoint body excessively
loegesi v.t.i. to do wrong, make mistake
loegogona v.t.i. to bring together, combine, unite
loegumwala v.t. to complete task, use everything up
loelaelawa v.t.i. to delay, put off
loelata n. & v.t.i. adultery
38
loemaa v.t. to fill
loemaaqapuqapu v.t. to fill to the top
loema atasiwasiwa v.t. to fill to overflowing
loemwawasa v.t. to kill
loepalu v.t.i. to make straight, to correct rumour
loepopo v.t. to heap up, place goods, food in heap
loeposeyana n. & v.t.i. to add to; an addition
loesae v.t.i. to place food in pot for cooking,
loesae n. walls of garden fence
loesalutuwa v.t. to arrive unexpectedly, startle one
loesana v.t. to suspend, hang up
loesiesimoqe v.t. to be of uneven sizes
loetai v.t. to make person have shock by shouting or throwing
something at them
loetana v.t.i. to be above
loeyadayada v.i. wipe dry
loeyalala v.t.i. to fail to complete because of something unexpected
(journey, house)
loeyoi n. cry for death, cry of pain, children’s cry
logala v.t. to move to another site or village
logamwagamwana v.t. to be in centre
logedo v.t. to arrive in village (used by people of the village about
others)
logegesa v.t.i. to be lacking
logeyogeyoi adj. ugly (men)
logeyoina v.t.i. to be unsuitable
logomwagomwa adj. hollow
loguguwa v.t.i. to be inseparable from some particular possession
loguguya v.t.i. to exhort, preach
logumo n. toothache
logwagwada v.t.i. to be restrained and not hit or growl at offender
logwegwe v.t.i. to pack for journey
loqiqila v.t. to wipe dry
39
loqili v.t. to weed garden
loqitu v.t.i. to stir up trouble
loibwaibwa v.t. to cast stone at person
loidaida v.i. to be crushed
loina n. & v.t. law, rule, regulation; to rule
loisu v.i. to picnic
lokawagololo v.t. to partly fill
lokwalawa adv. slantwise, on an angle
lolagata v.t. to begin work, job
lolasa v.t. to drive enemy from position, to repay bride price
lolawa-na n. shoulder blade
lolimana v.t. to repeat, to do again
lolokawa n. series of boils
lololi n. wind instrument, type of flute, pipe
lololo n. diarrhoea
loluluta n. & v.t.i. sieve; to sieve
lomaqamaqaiyau v.t. to shine
lomagawau n. stiffening of neck and throat
lomagisubu n. general pains in buttocks, neck and thigh
lomaisa v.i. to be irritated (eye)
lomanini v.t.i. to hurry, to be quick
lomasamasasala n. & v.i. crack, gap; to make same
lomatabwabwala v.i. to shade eyes with hands
lomatagaila v.t.i. to wink at person
lomataqeda v.t. to watch path for someone coming
lomataqiqita v.t. to watch someone going till out of sight
lomataqipi v.t. to raise eyebrows to say yes
lomu n. & v.t. anchor; to anchor
lomugi v.t. to complain, grumble
lomwadadaqwala v.i. to be itchy
lomwata n. & v.i. rheumatism; to suffer from rheumatism
lonado v.t. to hit person, animal on base of skull
lonekoneko v.t. to shake coconut, bottle to see if holds fluid
40
lonepanepa v.i. to shake head in dissent
lonigeya v.i. to say no
loniu v.i. to be unsteady, to be loose, to waver in thought
lopaqelu n. & v.t.i. substitute; to make a replacement
lopapa v.t. to bind into bundles
lopegoi v.i. to limp
lopilidadana v.i. to walk about
lopisi v.i. to blink
lopiya v.t. to weed garden by hand
lopopola v.t. to cut branches of dead trees into pieces
lopupu v.t. to pluck feathers from bird
losaqu v.i. to stop, cease
losaduduna v.t. to be heavyeyed with sleep
losaela v.i. to laugh (crowd when sitting down)
losaiya v.t. to fight, squabble
losalesalele v.i. to be loose because to big
losalowa v.i. to finish task or materials (also loegumwala)
losekaseka v.i. to splash (of water)
losepala v.t. to push something accidentally
loseuseula v.t. to splash water
loseye v.t.i. to lose
losiqa v.t.i. to split into strips
losipwa n. & v.t. A knot; to tie a knot
losisi v.i. to hiss
losiye n. dry weather
losuwala n. & v.t. to cook for visitors
losuya v.i. to jump
losuyakaukau v.i. to hop
lotaqi v.t.i. to take something down from where it is hanging
lotala n. shells used as weights on fishnets
lotamo v.i. to say yes
lotanowa v.i. to make final clearing in garden before marking out
divisions
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lotoo n. & v.t.i. taste, feeling; to taste, to feel
lotupi v.i. to be on edge, boundary
loqubuna v.t.i. to be below, underneath
loquyo v.t.i. to wave at something
louwe n. & v.i. to yodel
lowa adv. day before yesterday, recently
lowaqelu v.t. to be similar, like something else
lowaenei adv. long time ago
lowaga n. & v.t.i. debt; to get on credit
lowala n. & v.i. to be sick for long time
lowanowano v.t. to awaken (someone)
lowasiwasi v.t. to twist end of rope round tree, post
lowataya v.t. to strike (see unuwa)
lowe yodel
loweniwenini n. & v.t.i. fan; to fan
loyamota v.t.i. to lick (also yamota)
loyaula n. & v.t.i. to discard, throw away as useless
loyawe v.t.i. to cohabit (before marriage)
luboqe v.t. to peep
lulu-na n. bone
lulu daisi-namo n. skeleton
lulutou-na n. spine
lumaqula v.i. to enter secretly
lumaluma-na n. chest
lume n. watchhouse in garden
lumwa-na n. gums
lusa n. gun, to shoot
lusesela v.t. to bend and pass under object
luwaluwa adv. together
m
ma with eg. matamana, with his father
maqa sign of comparison, second best state
maqamaqayau n. reflection, spirit, mirror, photograph
maqana with it
maqanuwae adv. quietly
maa v.t. to be full
maaqapuqapu v.i. to be filled completely
maamaana adj. full
maatasitasiwa v.i. to be full to overflowing
mabubugewana adj. naked
madawa n. large canoe built at Tubetube, Murua
madawala n. & v.t.i. dream; to dream
madidaba n. birthname
madi-na n. umbilical cord, navel
madiya n. step relative
maqebweuna adv. first, once
maqedi with them
maqetamo adv. soon, in the near future, bye and bye
maedana n. & v.i. light; to be light
maga-na n. throat
magana v.t.i. to shout with anger
magesala v.i. to become clear after rain
magi n. betel nut
magimagi n. worthless palm that looks like betel nut
magisubu n. wedgetailed eagle
magomwagomwana adj. hollow
maqiyana with him
mai v.i. to come
maiboqa- adj. the whole, all, entire
maina n. smell
ma ina with it
maisa adv. when?
maisa n. cost, price
maiwa n. & v.t.i. vomit; to vomit
malakwa n. string, rope
43
mali adj. another, different
malimalina adj. sour, bitter
malolo n. ocean current
maluwa adv. twice
mama v.i. to come (future)
mamaqina adj. uncooked (food), green (timber), raw (flesh)
mamatana adj. sharp, pointed
mamaula n. & adj. lefthand
mamayadila adj. slippery, slimy
mana n. wind
mane where
manini adv. quickly
manini-na n. face
manumanuwa n. insects, small creatures
manu-na prep. for
manuwa n. birds
mapu n. pus
mapulu-na n. brain
masala adv. all night
masamasasala n. spaces, gaps
mase adj. almost
masi v.t. to aim for, steer for
masolana adj. hollow
masula n. vegetable food
mataqapwaqapwala-na n. eyelids
matabodaboda v.i. to be mean (person)
matabodaboda v.i. to keep an eye on wife or children through
jealousy
matagaila v.i. to give sign, to signal by eye
matagidala n. & v.t.i. marital jealousy
matagwegwe adj. greedy for possessions
mataqiqita v.t.i. to watch someone, something going away
mataqitaqita "while alive"
44
matakadala adj. clear (water, sea)
matakebo n. blindness
matakebokebona adj. blind
matalopisi v.i. to blink
matamasula adj. greedy for food
mata-na n. eye, point of stick, edge of knife
matasabu v.t.i. to make someone regret his action
mataselu n. tear
matasulu v.t.i. to scold
mataumauma n. dullness of sight
matausina adj. fearsome
matausisui-na n. eyelashes, rays of light
matauta n. & v.t.i. fear; to fear
matawaga-na n. fingernail
mataweweu marital jealousy
matayauyau v.i. to flirt
matoi adv. three times
matuwa v.i. to be fully developed (people), ripe (fruit)
maqula adv. secretly
mau v.i. to be sodden (cooked foods)
mayale n. light, torch, lamp
mayawasina adj. living, with breath
mayuyuna sour
me n. people of a place
me sign of comparative, me sinabwana is older of two children
meqe v.t.i. to bring
meqei v.t. to bring
medala v.i. to dry, wither
megagala v.i. to be barren (humans)
megwama-na n. younger of 2 brothers, sisters
mekela n. bird, gull
mekwa v.i. to soften, to go soft
meme v.i. to chew food before giving to child, pups
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memebala n. & v.t.i. tradition, folklore; to pass on such
menasinasi v.i. to be unripe (fruit)
menu v.t. to make fishnet of fine string
menuna adj. soft, mild
meqolotona n. & adj. male, masculine
meso v.i. to be cooked (food), to be seasoned (timber)
mesoqalapwasipwasi v.i. to be thoroughly seasoned
mesowau v.i. to be partially dried, seasoned
meta v.t. to plait
mewainena adj. female
meyalidolido adj. dumb
meyameyana adj. sucking (baby)
meya-na n. tongue
mitawa n. forest
mitawaqai n. uninhabited forest
miya v.i. to be in some place, stay
miyaqagaqagala v.i. to sit on haunches
miyaamana v.i. to remain indefinitely
miyaataya v.i. to remain permanently, continue
miyabaula v.i. to sit still, stay in one place
miyadaita v.i. to be idle
miyaegagala v.i. to occupy place and stop others entering
miyaemwaqule v.i. to be in place unnoticed
miyaliya v.i. to linger in different places on the way
miyamasali v.i. to be at same task or place all night
miyami v.i. to be in some place, stay
miyasalusalu v.i. to picnic
miyasanaguigui v.i. to sit with back turned on thing, person
miyaseye v.i. to sit properly after sitting on haunches
miyatowa v.i. to sit, to sit down, to perch
miyayamwana v.i. to be in place to wait for someone
momoegogona v.t.i. to bind things together
momokuwakuwana adj. circular, round
momoluwa v.t.i. to bind 2 things together
momonana adj. fat (animal)
momotoi v.t.i. to bind 3 things together
momowata v.t.i. to bind 4 things together
mona n. pudding made of sago
muqawa n. bee, honey
mudala v.t.i. to waste
muqe v.t.i. to blow conch shell, fire, smoke tobacco
muqeqaeqabi v.t. to blow fire from one stick to another
muqenunu v.t. to blow dust from object
muqeseye v.t. to blow fire into flames
mugumugu n. crumbs
mui n. & v.t.i. odour, smell; to smell
muli v.t.i. to follow
mulinaya adv. at back of, behind
muliya v.t.i. to follow
muliyega adv. afterwards
muluwa n. flood, large water gourd
musimusi v.i. to hiccough
mutu v.t.i. to strike number of people
muqu v.t. to hum a tune
muqwana odour, smell
muya n. steam, haze from fire, weather; chronic sickness
mwaqa n. bait
mwaqadega what! how
mwadale n. house timbers
mwagayau n. & v.t. leaves to cover food in pot
mwagaegepu n. grasshoppers
mwagemwagena adj. ignorant
mwagula n. mourning skirt
mwaiqe n. porridge of yam, pumpkin, bananas
mwaiyagwa n. high tide
mwalatai n. & v.t.i. sea food; to get such food
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mwalatoi n. knowledge
mwalatoni v.t.i. to know, understand
mwali n. armshells
mwamwadaqwala n. & v.i. itch; to itch
mwanaikwa n. spiders
mwanamwana n. creepers, vines
mwanamwanaikwa n. spider's web
mwanemwane v.i. to wag (dog's tail)
mwane-na n. spouse, mate of article
mwaneyau n. newly planted or harvested garden, young just out of
sucking stage
mwaniqiniqi n. earthquake, tremor
mwaqo where?
mwaqonai where?
mwaowa v.i. to yawn
mwasala n. story, tale
mwasosowai n. & v.t.i. to flirt
mwata n. snake
mwatamwata n. intestinal worms
mwatui n. space, firnament
mwaquta n. & v.i. descend; to descend, come down, decrease
mwau n. & v.i. weight; to be become heavy
mwaulu n. & v.i. be rotten; to be putrid
mwaumwau n. edge of villge, rear of village, house
mwauu n. nosebone, poor type of yam
mwawasa n. & v.i. death; to die, to faint
mwegalu v.t. & n. to cover food in pot with leaves; leaves as such
mwela v.t.i. to climb
mwelimweli n. & v.i. firesparks; to spark (of flints)
mwelolo v.i. to long for someone, something
mwelolo adj. praiseworthy
mweluluwa n. & v.t.i. create; to make
n
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na! exclm. surprise, disgust
naba v.t. to carry on head
nabwasuwa n. & v.t.i. magic spell; to utter magic spell
nadigega like, similar, same as
nadinadi n. rock, stone
nagalulu v.i. to growl (dogs)
nai conj. perhaps, maybe, or
nalina n. branch of tree
namala n. & v.i. lightning; to shine
name adj. only
nanaa n. direction
nanala v.i. to scream with fright
nanoma n. rollers for canoes and logs
nanosa v.t. to stroke (people, dogs)
nao v.i. to travel parallel with shore
nasi n. & v.i. sneeze; to sneeze
natala n. large uninhabited space between 2 villages
nate that, that's it
natu-na n. offspring
nau v.t.i. to peel vegetables
nawalae n. moon, month
nawalae qana qigoda n. land snails
naya n. sail
nayanaya n. white ants
nedila n. dust, grains of dirt
nedu n. long grass (kunai)
neko v.t. to shake
neku v.t. to stir dirt, mud into water
nelu n. nasal secretion
nemwa n. mosquito
neneta v.i. to be tired, weak
nenewala n. house fly
nesinesi adv. back to back
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newa n. & v.t. nest
newanewa adj. & v.i. slippery
neya n. & v.t.i. paddle canoe
neyasa v.t. to open anything folded, book
niqa adv. earlier today, some time past
niqaenei adv. earlier than niqa
niqatu excl. finished
niba-na n. father's sister's children, mother's brother's children
nidi adj. those
nigeya no, not
nimaqatununuma n. & v.t.i. to fold arms
nimaqeduqedu-na n. back of hand
nimagui-na n. back of hand
nimakuku-na n. wrist
nimatapoi-na n. thumb
nimamatawaga-na n. fingernail
nima-na n. hand, arm, five
nimapasapasana n. bangle
nimasusu v.t. to point with finger or hand
nimataqataqala-na n. pulse at wrist
nimatutu-na n. elbow
nimayapayapa-na n. palm of hand
nina adv. that
ninima v.i. to glow feebly
nipuna n. armband, creeper used to make them
niso n. & v.t.i. odour, smell; to smell (also mai-, mui)
niqu n. deep water, deep sea
niu n. & v.i. coconut; to sway
niuniuwana n. night time, about midnight
noqa v.i. to be fast on rock, coral
nogonogo n. asthma
nono n. & v.t.i. sound; to hear
nonoqiqisi v.t.i. to listen carefully
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nonoqiqita n. careful hearing
nonokwaikwaina adj. smooth
nonoleta n. echo
nonosepala v.t.i. to hear and nod to person to go
nosa v.t. to spin string
nubunubu n. moss, lichen
nugana v.t.i. to lead, to be ahead
nugwa n. & v.t. parcel; to wrap up
numa v.t.i. to drink
numagusugusu v.t.i. to gargle
nunuma v.t. to roll mats, fold things, wrap up
nupila v.t. to crumple up
nupula n. swel at sea
nuta v.i. to be moist, to wet
nuu-na n. man's sister, mother's sister's daughter etc.
nuwa n. mind, thought, will, wish
nuwa n. coral reef
nuwa qalena n. conscience
nuwaboboqana n. content of mind
nuwabusobuso-na n. lungs
nuwadalele v.i. to be bitter or sour minded
nuwaqebuni v.i. to repent, change mind
nuwaqewa v. to take one's attention, attract thought
nuwaedaedadama v.i. to ponder, meditate
nuwaesaesamana v.i. to come to one's senses
nuwaeseyana v.t.i. to offer one's goods, to make gifts gratuitously, or
for no reason.
nuwagibu n. dissatisfaction
nuwaqiqisi v.t. remember
nuwa qiboboqana nua takes suffixes gu, yo, na, da, ma, mi or di as it
may be I, you, he, we, you or they. So nuagu qi boboqana is my
mind is contented, or I have no hard feelings
nuwa qidalele I am, you, he is etc. very bitter minded
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nuwaila n. & v.i. to think back
nuwa qilogibugibu I (etc. etc.) am dissatisfied
nuwa qimwau (etc. etc.) am sorrowful, heavy minded, downhearted
nuwa qipota I (etc. etc.) am dull and don't understand
nuwa qisabwalena I (etc. etc.) understand
nuwa qitoqumali I (etc etc.) am cross or angry
nuwaiyai n. & v.t. hope; to hope
nuwaloba v.t. to think and finally remember
nuwamagi-na n. heart
nuwamwataiya v.t. to forget
nuwamwaquta n. & v.i. humility; to be humble
nuwamwau n. & v.i. to be downhearted
nuwana adj. soft
nuwanuwa n. mind
nuwanuwa(na) v. (his) want, wish, desire
nuwaqoleqole n. & v.t. pity, mercy, grace
nuwaowana n. & v.i. amazement, bewilderment
nuwapota n. & v.i. stupidity; to be stupid
nuwapupula v.t. to forget
nuwasabwalena v.t.i. to be understanding
nuwasiwalowa n. peace of mind
nuwatau v.t. forgive insult (not person)
nuwatomatoma v.i. to be bitter minded
nuwatoqumali v.i. to be cross, angry, evilminded
nuwatuqe v.i. & n. to be conceited; proud
nuwaupa v.t. to do a thing well
nuwebola adj. virgin, chaste
qo
(for words beginning with o only, see next section)
Many people now spell qoa and qoe words as qwa and qwe.
eg.: qoama qoelaa
qwama qwelaa
Both spellings are included in this book.
qoabu [qwabu] n. large flat tract of land between two hills or
mountains
qoabududu [qwabududu] n. large flat tract of land between two
hills or mountains
qoabulusu [qwabulusu] v.t. to stand or sit around a person working
qoae [qwae] n. grove of coconuts, breadfruit, areca palm
qoqai n. grove of palms, breadfruit trees
qoaise [qwaise] n. scent
qoalaqoala-na [qwalaqwalana] n. eyebrows
qoalama [walama] v.t. to husk a coconut
qoama [qwama] n. clothing, garment
qoapelu [qwapelu] v.t. to become withered (leaves etc. and also legs
or arms)
qoataqoata [qwataqwata] n. & v.i. annoyance; to feel annoyed
qoatobwa [qwatobwa] n. original home of clan
qoayabu [qwayabu] v.t.i. to accompany another
qoayama [qwayama] v.t. to rub gently (an itch), speak gently to gain
favour
qoba v.t.i. to treat sickness by magic
qoba v.t. to flap in wind (sail)
qobe v.i. to toddle
qobebequbequ v.i. to toddle and fall
qobulu v.t. to be jealous of spouse
qobwaiyai v.t. to take piece of cooked food from pot
qobwala v.t. to use magic on garden to get good crops
qobwau v.t. to shelter from storm (sailors)
qoelaa [qwelaa] n. weather
qoelalai [qwelalai] v.t. to grow poorly
qoesi [qwesi] n. marriage payment
qoi v.t. to turn over food baking in ashes
qola n. house stump
qolagata v.i. to line up for race, show above ground (new plants)
qoloto n. male person
qomwana adv. little while
qona scoop net
qoqosi v.t.i. to apportion something to each person
qopuqopu adv. with bent head or body
qotaona n. floorlashings
qote v.t. to dress one’s self
qoto-na n. neck
qowaga n. visitor
qowoi v.t. to clear land for a new garden
qoya n. hill, mountain
qoyaqa adv. upwards, shorewards
o
o yes
oboboma n. & v.t.i. gift, present, love
oqetaqeta v.i. to be busy, work unceasingly
oiyoi excl. cry of grief, exclamation
ola n. sea, seawater
olaola n. seafoods
ole v.t. prepare fire, add wood to fire
oluolu n. woman’s skirt, dark brown in colour
omayamaya n. & v.t.i. shame, shyness, to be shy
ona n. & v.t.i. word, speech, to speak
onaqabiyaula v.t.i. to offer to work but not do so
onaqaubala v.t.i. to make excuses, to change conversation rapidly
onaqawayalayala v.t. to speak enticingly
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onaesaesae v.t.i. to talk continually
onagigiwaiyo v.t.i. to talk continually on some topic
onaila v.t.i. to refer back to some past event
onalaga v.t.i. to speak boastfully of self
onalimana v.t. to reply to a person
onameqomeqo v.t.i. to speak language introducing foreign words
onameyameya v.t.i. to speak like a little child
onamwaqumwaquta v.t.i. to speak belittlingly
onanuwaqoleqole v.t. to speak kindly to person in trouble
onasaquilaila to report a conversation and to enlarge upon it
onasemalimali v.t.i. to suggest indirectly, parable
onasepala v.t. to cause one to go away because of insults, to rudely
rebuff
onatauyada v.t.i. to speak without having seen or known the incident
onaupaupa n. & v.t.i. promise; to promise
oo-na n. body
oonuwa adv. quietly (with rested body)
oopaqala v.t.i. to be fearless, to speak, to act boldly
opa-na n. chest
osetala adj. careless of goods, disrespectful
owana v.i. to be bewildered, amazed
p
pa very quick - nimana pa - his hand is very quick
paqala adj. firm, hard
paqala v.i. to be firm, hard, inflexible; also means to be thick as of
soup
pagege adv. slanting, listing
pagu v.i. to be husky, relaxed (throat)
paqi v.t.i. to chase, drive away
paqi part of verb meaning close to, fast to
pai n. green foods
pai n. afterbirth
pailapaila n. croton
paima n. & v.t.i. bandage; to bandage
paisewa v.t. & n. to work, business
paku n. oyster pearl
palala v.i. to crackle (burning wood)
palaqoila v.i. to turn somersault, capsize canoe when outrigger turns
over hull
pali n. payment, reward
palupalu v.i. to be straight
panaita v.t.i. to be used to, become accustomed to
paqo n. prop
papa v.t. to tremble, to flutter (ship's sail, bird's wing)
pape n. eave of house, bird's wing
pasima v.i. to declaim in battle or at village, or feast or work
patala n. & v.i. fleet of canoes
pate v.t. to rap, beat a tattoo
pate n. a hollowed log used for a drum
patu v.i. to harden, to set
pawa v.i. to be satisfied from hunger
pawa v.i. to crack, of ground after dry weather
pega n. stem of coconut, sago, banana leaf
pegala v.i. to snap, to knock off
pegayaa v.i. to become weak
peqi n. drill, augur
pela v.t. to haul down sail, drop (wind), launch canoe, let down by rope
pelaila v.i. to refer back to some past event
pepekwa n. butterflies, large moths
pesapesa n. maize like grass, carving on ends of canoe
pesiqeda n. bastard child
pesu n. & v.t.i. drop of rain, water; to drop
pequ v.t. destroy village, garden
peu n. sling
peyaula n. hat
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piqa v.t. to miss stitch in sewing
pili v.i. to run
piliboda v.t. to run and intercept
pilili n. sweetsmelling shrub used for adornment
pililisi v.t. to tow, drag
pilisine v.i. to run away from, to desert
pipi v.i. be blunt (knife)
pisala v.i. to crack (bottle)
pita n. & v.t.i. wall; to wall a house
piqwasa v.i. to be worn down (pencil), to go out of sight (canoe)
piyapiya v.t. to crush
pogi v.t. to make one heap, gather in heap, gather people
poma n. & v.t.i. paint; to paint
popola v.t.i. to cut branches in small pieces, clear new garden
pota v.i. to be clogged (pipe), husky (throat)
pou n. & v.i. egg, centre of stack, sago trunk
puqepuqedi few
puli v.t.i. to roll (stone)
pulipulina adj. round
pulu v.t. to swell
putaputa adj. very strong, bitter taste
puqu v.i. to sob, to cry bitterly
pwaila v.i. to talk without ceasing, crack (stone with heat), blister
(hand with working)
pwalikeke n. millipede
pwalowa n. steering paddle
pwalu n. crowd (people), school (fish)
pwana n. cloud
pwapwala n. scum on cooking pot, cream on milk
pwapwalewa n. caterpillars
pwapwatana adj. sticky, glutinous
pwasa v.i. to be wet, damp
pwasi v.i. to crack, to explode
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pwatula n. grass
pwedeu n. last born of family
pweula v.i. to rise in sight (island as approached), to float
S
saqala n. valley, ravine, gully
saba n. & v.t. facemark; to mark facemark
saba adv. completely
sababama v.i. to spread (pain in body), spreading rainstorm
sabelulu n. & v.i. flame, to blaze
sabi in order to
sabilabila v.i. to become soft and pulpy
sabu v.t. to tear, rip
sae v.i. to shine (sun, moon, stars), to come ashore to lay eggs (turtles)
saqe n. pigtrap
saewata v.i. to reappear (sun, moon, stars from behind cloud)
sagali n. large feast
sagasaga n. fork of trees, strait at sea
sagilubu n. dry banana leaf
sagu v.i. to fall (fruit, leaves, something from hand)
sagugu v.i. to hang the head
sagumo n. hardwood tree
sagusagu n. screw pandanus
saqi! adv. indeed
saiqe v.t. to pluck leaves from frond
saila v.t. to sew, to increase in population
saili v.t. to close door with rope, lock
saqila v.t.i. to divorce, break engagement
saiya n. fight, squabble, war
sakowasi v.t. to go round
sakwala n. light sticks
sala v.t.i. to dig hole with spade or hand
sala n. tooth, teeth, fishhook, boar's tusk, hand of bananas, bird's beak
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salakikokiko n. grinding of teeth
salele v.i. & n.to be loose because too big or small; long mourning
skirt
sali v.i. to rot, to melt, to fall, to be crushed (of fruits)
saligogo v.t. to abate (fever)
salikoko v.i. to slip, become loose and fall (bandage)
salime n. float of canoe
salolo v.i. to become overripe and rotten
salowa adv. completely
salu n. island
salutuwa v.i. to grow up rapidly (children)
samana v.i. to be sexually stirred (male)
samwaku v.i. to droop (skirt)
sana v.t. to turn
sana meaning "exceedingly"
sanabwago v.i. to bend head downwards
sanaguigui adv. with back turned
sanaiqe v.i. to become loose in bundle
sanana v.t. to be suspended
sanau ten
sanawagula v.t.i. to turn away face because of anger
sanunu v.i. to be exhausted
sapaila v.i. to spring back
sapi v.t. to thrash, beat person; cut large fish, pig; cut log roughly
sapiqili v.i. to cut grass
sapiqwesala v.i. to be unafraid and go on
sapulolo v.i. to be covered with sores
sasa v.t.i. to become savage, to rip
sasala v.t. to assault, to insult
sasasiqa v.t. to cut thing lengthwise
sasaqupwa v.t. to cut thing crosswise
saqu v.t.i. to put thing down
sau v.t. to rape
saqubalabala v.t.i. to place something crosswise
saquboda v.t.i. to place something in the way
saqububu v.t.i. to place tidily, prepare
saqududula v.t.i. to place something lengthwise
saquegagala v.i. to finish bearing (trees)
saquepopo v.t.i. to place on top of each other
saquesae v.t.i. to be thrifty, to look after one's things
saqugagi n. price paid for sorcery
saqugelasa v.t.i. to exchange
saqulaga n. & v.t.i. step, pace, to take a pace
saqunaoqe v.t.i. to shift thing from one place to another
saula v.i. to be sexually stirred
saune n. payment for hire of something
saqupesa v.i. to lie down in water before swimming
saqusiqi v.t.i. to take cooking pot off fire, take food from ashes
saqutubwe v.t.i. to place things end to end
saququma v.i. to close lips
saquwadamu put in hiding
saquyamwayamwana v.t.i. to put aside for later use
sawa v.t.i. to count, read, remove skin (from dog, tree)
sawaeyai n. & v.t.i. betroth; to become engaged
sawala v.i. to disperse (crowd), to dissolve (in liquid), to evaporate
sawamutu v.t.i. to demand something from friend and take it
sawesawe-na-ya adj. enough, sufficient
sawesawenaya verb meaning must, ought
sawesawenaya interjection, meaning enough! stop!
sayosayo n. good, soft, gardening ground
seqalo v.t. to fell tree
sebulu n. pandanus palm with aerial root
sedai adj. exceedingly eg. gidalasedaina is exceedingly small
sedudula v.i. to be long over work, journey
segwa v.i. to become greyhaired
sekoli v.t. to scrape bark off tree, plane wood
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sela v.i. to be husky, relaxed (throat)
selabenaya near, about to
selaselabe adv. on the side
seli v.t. to lose grasp of (qaeseli - lose hold of by foot)
sena n. place, district
senasenamina adj. in torn fragments, pieces
senina n. & v.i. flower, bloom; to bloom
sepala verb. particle away
sepasepala verb. part. to shake water from hair
sepu verb. particle of children bathing in dish or sea
sepwala n. mud
sesela v.t. to split
sesemana v.t. to be tired of one person, place, food
seseya n. & v.i. swelling; to swell
seseyana adv. deliberately omitting
sesoi n. harvest
setabwana v.t. to cut tree high up
setupe v.i. to stumble, collide
seula n. the spouting of water geysers and hot springs
seula v.t.i. to splash, sprinkle water
seupa v.t. to cut through something with one cut
sewaiya n. & v.t. place in a heap (timber)
sewasewa n. swamp, lake
sewe v.t. to use in vain
seya n. & v.t. floor; to floor a building
siqa v.t. to split
siba v.t. to shape wood to match another piece
sida n. & v.t.i pray, request; to be beseech
siqeqela v.t.i. to clear throat, to attract attention by so doing
sigana v.t.i. to creep up (war, stealing, sorcery)
siqi v.t.i. to split, to tear lengthwise
siqisiqi adv. backwards
sikale n. & v.t. cork, stopper; to cork
sikwa n. & v.t. noose, snare; to snare
sila n. tree leaves which are used as sand paper
sila v.i. to heal (wound)
silawa v.i. to have grey skin because of lack of bathing, or skin disease
silele v.i. to walk, move slowly (as canoe)
sileu-na n. bowels
silibwabwa v.i. to gurgle, bubble of spring
silili v.i. to groan faintly with pain or sickness
silolo v.i. to exude
simana v.t.i. to give report, tell
simana n. report, evidence
simana qaiqaila v.t.i. to assure
sinaa n. large drum
sinaaepatuna adj. resisting temptation, resisting vomiting at revolting
sight
sinaaequpwaqupwasae adj. revolting in appearance
sinabwa n. & v.i. size, measurement; to grow big
sinala n. sun
sinala n. & v.t. scorn; to despise
sina-na n. mother
sinapu v.t.i. to understand, to know
sinasinagei n. motherless child
sinasinagenina adj. motherless
sinasinapu n. knowledge
sinate n. comb
sinauli n. mat of plaited coconut leaf
sinawali n. & v.t.i. large adze
sine adv. away from eg. pilisine - run away from
sine n. a woman, in the sense of a female inhabitant of e.g. Sine Dobu,
is a woman of Dobu
sinebwaina n. good looks (feminine)
sinegeyogeyoina adj. ugly (feminine)
sinematamatapaqi adj. of one who stays at home
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sinesinebwainina adj. goodlooking (feminine)
sinetai n. woman unacquainted with witchcraft
sineyaqala n. sows, female pigs
sinole n. jagged edges of snapped stick, spear
siqoqo v.i. to sleep restlessly
sipa n. pandanus palm leaves
sipoma n. & v.i. skin disease, ringworm, tinea
sipu n. cat
sipupu v.t. to betray by word of mouth
sipwa v.t.i. & n. to tie string; string knotted to tell days
sisi v.t. to scrape baked food
sisiqa v.i. to refrain from bathing, to be dirty as a result
sisiqwaiqwai adv. from place to place
sisigau v.i. to depart secretly
sisiluwaluwa adj. two together
sisiqowa v.t. to strike, kill
sisipunepune v.t. to scrape baked food till white
sisisaiya n. sword
sisisi n. small lobster
sita n. sleeping mat
siu v.t. to bury
siusiu n. pig trap, covered and with upright spear in it
siwa v.t. to pour (water, food, articles out of basket)
siwa n. heap, pile
siwaesuya v.t. to unload from canoe
siwalagata v.t. to pour additional water in cooking pot
siwalolo v.t. to pour water, on plant, thing
siwalowa n. & v.i. calm at sea, calm of mind; to become calm
siwauyosi v.t. to pour and completely cover
siwayaulei v.t. to pour away
siyadadada n. people who have no coconuts
siyaiyowa n. & v.t. broom; to sweep
siyakutu n. thorny, hair covered yam
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siyaluma n. needle
siyasiyana n. under part of anything, bottom of canoe, buttocks
siyata v.t. warm oneqs self at fire
siyau n. anger
siye n. dry weather, drought
siyona n. needle for netting
so vbl. part. meaning “to tie”
soqaqa v.i. to take root and grow
sobu v.i. to jump from height, jump from canoe into sea
soepaqi v.t.i. to bind person or animal to post or piece of timber
sogala v.t.i. to be extravagant with goods, food, be sexually immoral
sogala n. any person as above, a harlot
sogigi adv. together in one group
soqi v.t.i. to be late, slow
soqiyoge v.t.i. to fail in some task, to be unable to do something
soita v.t.i. to refuse
sokuku suck fruit audibly
solana n. inside, interior
solele v.t. to plant trees, other things
solu v.i. to bear (bananas)
solu v.t. to stir pudding (mona)
solupa n. brackish water
soluwa tie 2 pigs to one pole
somwala v.t.i. to adorn one’s self
soninisa v.t.i. to suck fruit audibly
soqo v.t.i. to demolish, fence house
soo-na n. something indespensible to one’s work, welfare
sopa-na n. lips, bank of river, edge of cup, dish, canoe
sopila v.i. to jump from place to place (some fish, maggots, lice)
sopu v.i. to set (sun)
soso n. & v.i. urine, bladder; to urinate
sowa v.i. to be full (house of people, box of goods)
sowala v.i. to stand on end (hair): gamwasowala, gwausowala
sowasowaga n. small passage between islands, crack between rocks
subodaboda v.t. to prevent someone from departing
sugelu n. pumpkin
sugetu n. carrying pad for woman’s head
sugusugu n. fine rain, light showersuguwa v.i. to sink, to set (sun)
sui v.t.i. to shave
sula v.t. to sew sago leaves into lengths for thatching (also badi atowa,
edawa atowa)
sula v.i. to string beads, fish, sew sago leaves on sticks
sula n. string of fish, bunch of bananas
suli n. taro sucker
sulu n. green drinking coconut
suluqai v.t.i. to take something away on end of stick
sulubana v.t.i. to poke in eye with finger
suluqewa v.t.i. to take something away on end of stick
sulugaila v.t.i. to poke someone in ribs, touch him with stick
sulunao v.t.i. to push something away on end of stick
sulupaqiqi v.i. to refuse to arise when wakened
sulusama v.t. to remove dirt from crack, to clean fingernails
sulutoo v.t. to touch with stick to see what it is, test hole to see how
deep or if empty
suluyai v.i. to hold something down firmly with stick or instrument
suma v.i. to be pregnant
sumwagidi v.t.i. to carry on hip or under arm
sumwana n. rubbish: type of edible plant
sumwawasa v.i. to die out (clan)
suna n. spear in pigtrap
supuna v.i. to be startled by touch
susaila v.i. to increase in population
susu-na n. (her)breast
susukwa n. banana sucker
susumata-na n. nipple of breast
suqwatobwa n. original inhabitants of land
suwana n. general name for cuttings, seeds, tops
suwanewane v.i. to live together (different people, tribes)
suya v.i. to disembark (people), to land (cargo), to dance (women)
suyatao v.t. step over something
t
ta conj. and
taqaene excl. “and what did you expect”, “serves you right”
taqala v.i. to beat (pulse), to throb (sore)
taba v.i. to be weak
tababa n. & v.t.i. recompense for death of person
tabaqubaqu v.i. to be unable to stand (because too weak)
tabe v.i. to hang suspended from string
tabu n. prohibition on thing to prevent stealing
tabu v.t.i. to place such a prohibition
tabubu v.i. to be tired(body not person)
tabuna one who doesn’t do something
tabunanosa v.t. to flatten anything crinkled
tabuqona n. moon, menstruation
tabutabu n. menstruation
tabuwala n. cultivated food
tabwa n. & v.i. cotyledon of coconut; to grow (plants, trees)
tabwaqaqalaqa v.i. to show first buds (trees, flowers, plants): stand
up because of fear (hair)
tabwaqanuwa n. coconuts which sprouted in house
tabwailiili v.i. to grow long and curl, to writhe in pain
tabwaluluta n. yams, coconuts sprouted in the house and useless
tabwana n. upper portion of anything
tabwaqulaboqa v.i. 2 coconuts growing from one seed
tabwaqusana n. coconuts sprouted in the open
tabwawenoweno v.i. to grow irregularly (tree, hair)
tae n. faeces
taetaeya adj. flying
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taetaeyasa v.i. to dry (yadayada, yapasa)
taeya v.i. to fly
tagala v.i. to be in full leaf
tagatagala n. violent headache
tagwala v.t.i. to permit, allow, offer
tagwala n. time of food shortage
taqigamwausana v.i. to go through (people, grass)
taqiqi v.i. to shrink
tai n. man
tai v.i. & v.t.i. to faint, dig hole in the ground
taka v.i. to click tongue
take v.i. to flutter in breeze like flag
tala v.t.i. to fell a tree, cut a canoe, cut flesh
tala v.t. move a canoe by paddle, not sail, in a direction
tala vbl. prefix indicating instrument
talaqalaqa v.i. to stand on end (hair because of fear, cold)
talabwale v.t.i. to hack something and pierce it
taladabadaba n. large or small fighting spear
taladaka n. 2 edged club with serrated edges
taladeba v.t. to hit on head
taladiwiwila n. & v.i. loud shout; to shout loudly
talaekabobo v.t. to cover things
talaelata v.i. to arrive by canoe, paddling
talaemate v.t. to hit and kill, stun someone
talaeowana v.t. to disguise (one's self, another)
talaesoesowala v.i. to stand up on end, of hair, on account of fear
talagolu v.t.i. to cut anything at the joint
talalusalusa v.t. to hit person lying or sitting down
talamaga n. necklaces
talasabusabu v.t.i. to tear up, rend, rip
talaseyaseyana v.t.i. to beat water outside net to keep fish in
talasiqa v.t.i. to split something
talasiwa v.t.i. to unload passengers, goods from canoe
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talatala n. garland
talausa v.t. to load cargo on canoe
talautu v.t. to knock down fruit from trees with stick; to dust, sweep
place
talauwala n. enemy
talaweyala v.t.i. to split something
talayauyaula v.t.i. to cut down trees so none remain
taloqubu n. ridgepole
talusinaa n. & v.t.i. payment for building canoe, house; to make such
a payment
tama-na n. father
tame n. shipworm, toredo worm
tameyala n. turtle
tamo yes
tana n. shoulder bag, dilly bag
taqona n. & v.t.i. compensation for injury, stolen goods
taona v.t. to cross over something
taowa v.i. to be scalded, burnt by hot water, hot stones
tapa n. top plate in building
tapuma v.t.i. to do things badly
tapwalolo n. Christian religion
tasi-na n. same sex sibling
tatagiligili v.i. to flutter in breeze, shiver with fever
tatataa n. & v.t.i. shake, tremble; to shake
tauliulita v.i. to lessen (pain)
tau-na him, her, it (tau - plus suffixes)
tautau adv. ignorant of what others have said, done
tauya v.i. to go
tauya v.t. to go taking some article or object
tebweu-na he alone
tegala v.i. to burn continuously
tekoteko v.i. to ripple (water), to wash about (bilge water), to rumble
(stomach)
telatela v.i. to become very tight (rope)
tele by word of mouth
teleepalu v.t. to correct mistake, false rumour
teleseyana v.t.i. to confirm statement
telesipupu v.t. to betray person
tenagalugalu n. earwax
tenakwawakwawa n. lobe of ear
tena-na n. ear
tenatui n. deafness
tete n. & v.t.i. ridge; to walk along ridge
tetebala n. & v.i. bridge; to cross bridge
tetela n. legend, myth, story
teteyana n. sandbank left by tide
tewa n. creeper, derris root
teyapayapasa v.i. tide going out
to what?; to prefix added to a verb to show the one who does some
action, toguinuwa
toqaladoe n. leader in raid of war
toqase what?
toaesiwalowa n. go between in peace negotiations
toanugana n. leader
tobwatobwa v.i. to be crinkled
toesaesa n. wealthy man
toetubuwa n. midwife
togula v.i. to cough
togutogula n. cold, cough
toila adv. roughly, loudly, violently
tokwatokwa n. woodfairies, rock fairies
tole n. pignet
tolema n. helper, assistant
tolobwana n. trunk of tree, central part of story, song
toma v.i. to be insipid (taste), badtempered (mind)
tomatuwa n. firstborn of family
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tomi n. a dweller , eg. tomiya qasa is a dweller in the village.
tomiyaqasa n. villager
tomota n. human, people
tomwa n. part of anything
tomwa v.t.i. hunt pigs, fish with nets in early morning
tonaqa-na n. throat, gullet
tonaqayala n. thirst
tone v.t.i. swallow
toni n. owner of
toniqasa n. owner of village
tonibutu n. master of ceremonies at feast
tonisagali n. “owner of feast” as above for tonibutu
tonitonibwaqa n. fairies
tonugana n. leader on track, first paddler in canoe
toqoba n. magic worker
too v.t.i. to try, attempt
toolo v.i. to stand up, to rise from sleep; start, resume journey
tooloboda v.t.i. to resist, stand against
toolosogigi stand together in group
toosi n. owner of animal or inanimate object
topetope n. shelf in house
toqumali v.i. to become bad
toqumali- adj. bad
toququmala person from far away
tou n. sugar cane
towa v.i. to perch on tree, rest on water (birds), rise (wind)
toyana v.t. to praise very much
toyasa v.i. to be firm, stiff, rigid
tu vbl. prefix. “to do with the body”
tubibi v.t. to shake bag, basket, to make contents rattle
tubu-na n. (his) grandchild, grandparent
tubugeyogeyoi adj. ugliness
tubulagalaga n. man, fully grown to middle age
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tubutubuloba n. anything existing from olden times (rocks)
tubuwa n & v.i. physical condition of person, animal; to be born
tubuwau n. youth, young man
tubuwau digayagaya n. adolescent youth, 13-16 years
tubwe n. & v.i. join; to join
tudimwa v.t.i. to scorch (sun of plants, fire)
tuqe v.t.i. to go up, ascend
tuqesasa v.i. to become clear (of eye, sun, moon coming from behind
cloud)
tuegigitana v.t. to refuse to have person or thing
tuegoegowa v.i. to appear near to tears, sadfaced
tuelielimwana v.i. to flush with anger, blush
tuepaqi v.t. to join one thing to another with nail, seal
tuepatu v.t.i. to be determined, set mind on something
tuga interj. quite so!
tugadala v.i. lean on, rely on something
tugama interj. quite so!
tui v.i. to be deaf (ear, not person)
tui v.t.i. spear fish by torchlight
tuidada n. church officer
tuidaida v.t.i. to crush with body
tuilala n. church officer
tuina v.t. to set fire to grass, house
tukuna v.i. to bite, nibble (fish at bait)
tukwaiya v.t. to hide something behind back
tula v.t.i. to run up on reef, shore (boats)
tulasa v.i. to bend knee
tuluwa v.i. to bow head
tunabwale v.t. to break through something by hammering with stone
tunana adj. short (of person)
tunatoo v.t.i. to ask for something
tuqoi n. & v.i. abortion; to abort
tuosooso v.t.i. to rub something in hands and crush it, rub hands to
remove dirt
tupa n. & v.i. gable of house; to sail
tupitupina n. edge of anything, bank of river
tupu v.t. to praise
tupu n. & v.i. bow and arrows
tupwa n. hillock
tupwa v.i. to be left over
tupwasi n. & v.i. miscarriage; to have a miscarriage
tusepala v.t. to push person, jostle
tuseyana permit, allow
tusine v.t. to slacken rope
tusine v.t. to allow servant free time for himself
tuta n. time
tuta gete adv. now, at this time, at present
tutu v.t. to hit something with stone or hammer, pelt
tutudaita v.t. to accuse falsely
tuwa excl. Stop! Enough!
tuwa n. derris creeper
tuyayala v.t.i. to shine brightly (sun, moon)
tuyeya v.t.i. to joke
qu
(for words beginning with u only, see next section)
qubuna n. underside of anything
qubunagologololo n. very bottom of anything
qubusu-na n. nose, cape, point
qubwana(kubwana) n. morning star
qulaboka(kulaboka) n. crayfish, lobster
qulapisi(kulapisi) v.i. to throb (of pain), to tap on wall
qule n. cooking pot
quma things ways belonging to the society
qumataa n. widower
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qumi n. beard, whiskers
qumu n. mat for rain covering
qumula n. & v.t. earth oven of hot stones
qune n. wealth circle of kula trade
qunu adv. for first time
qunuboi v.i. to arise before dawn
qunubuna adj. thick (leaves, hair)
qunu-na n. source, beginning of stream
qupwa v.t.i. to cut
qupwa kwalawa v.t.i. to cut on a slant
qusa v.t. to rain on a person
qusana n. rain
quta v.t.i. to chew
qutu n. lice, flea
qutui v.t. to wash
quwe n. cane for lashings
quyapolu v.t. to cook food, fish and vegetables together
quyaquya n. hair on head
u
ubala n. war at sea
ubi v.i. to be dull, overcast
udi n. banana
ula v.t.i. to throw
ulapalaqoila v.i. to turn somersault
ulayauyaula v.t. to throw anything away
ulele n. rainbow
ulita v.i. & v.t. to arrive (by canoe); haul down sail, come (dawn)
uma v.i. to have bad eyesight
umauma n. mist, haze
unu(wa)v. strike, hit
unuwa n. a blow, a hit
unuunu-na n. hair on body, not head; hair of animals
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upa v.t.i. set a time for some event
upaila v.t.i. to postphone event
usa v.t.i. to load cargo on canoe, embark people
usu n. & v.i. landslide; to slide (land)
uqwa be roasted on embers
uwa v.i. to bear fuit
uwagagala v. to cease bearing fruit
uwageyogeyo v.i. to bear bad fruit
uwaloebwaina v.i. to bear abundantly, to be very fruitful
uwama n. forest land, uncultivated
uwasoqasoqa v.i. to bear few fruit but of good quality
uwauwa v.i. to become mad, dumb, deaf, foolish
uwaya n. crocodile (not common) waligowa, golagola
uwe v.t.i. to open door
uweuwe n. mud building wasp
uya n. & v.i. pain, ache; to ache
uyala n. sickness, epidemic
uyawana n. & v.t.i. joy, gladness; to rejoice
uyosi adv. completely covering
qw
(for words beginning with w only, see next section)
These words are traditionally spelt qoa and qoe
qwabu(-dudu)[qoabu(-dudu)] n. flat land between 2 hills,
mountains
qwabulusu[qoabulusu] v.t. to stand or sit around while another
works
qwae[qoae] v.t. to strip village of goods, tree of fruit, having had
permission to do so
qwaise[qoaise] n. scent
qwalaqwala[qoalaqoala] n. eyebrows
qwalama[qoalama] v.t. to husk a coconut
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qwama[qoama] n. clothing, garment
qwapelu[qoapelu] v.t. to become withered
qwataqwata[qoataqoata] n. & v.i. annoyance; to feel annoyed
qwatobwa[qoatobwa] n. original home of clan
qwayabu[qoayabu] v.t.i. to accompany another
qwayama[qoayama] v.t. to rub gently (an itch), speak gently to gain
favour
qwelaa[qoelaa] n. weather
qwelalai[qoelalai] v.t. to grow poorly
qwesi[qoesi] n. marriage payment
W
wa suffix to motion verbs, meaning away from speaker
waqa v.t.i. to tear, rip
waa-na n. (his) mother's brothers
wabolebole adj. uninhabited, deserted
wadaqe v.t.i. to walk along shore, coast
wadamu in hiding
wadawadaqe n. coast, shore
wadu n. & v.t.i. parcel; to wrap parcel
waga n. canoe, hull of canoe, shell, seedpod
waga taetaeya n. aeroplane
wagawaga n. visitor
wagula v.t.i. to frown
waqibila n. & v.i. darkness; to become very dark
wai v.i. to come in direction away from speaker
waige n. vine, canoe lashings
waikena n. moon
waine n. woman
waisana n. steps, stairs
waiwai n. strength
wakaka v.i. to be slim
wakewakeke v.i. to become white
waki v.t.i. to injure sore, knock off scab
wakiwaki n. small gecko
waku n. palm used for flooring and walls
wali n. & v.t.i. song; to sing
waligowa n. crocodile
waliyesa n. namesake
walo v.t.i. to scratch one's self
walo-na n. artery, tendon
walowalo n. vein
wamula n. bushland gardened for first time
wanala n. & v.t. scaffolding
wapusowala v.t.i. to be rough
wasegigi v.t. to tempt to do wrong
wasi v.t. to roll string on holder
wasiwasi n. whirlwind
wasiwasi ola n. waterspout
wate adv. also, too, again
wateluwa you two
waudala n. bush, forest
wawa n. & v.t.i. squeeze scraped coconut on food
wawala adj. & v.i. hard, firm
wawasae adj. very
wediliya n. cyclone
wegada n. green foods
weqiweqiyaya n. sign, mark
weita n. band used for feet in climbing coconuts
weku n. & v.t.i. chant, yodel; to yodel
welaqa v.t. divide out, apportion evenly
welaa n. & v.t. fishing spell
welabana n. & v.t.i. female witch; to bewitch
welawelaqa n. any portion of human, animal body
wemala n. public conviction of person
wemalasoi v.t. to publicly convict person and cause shame
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weniwenini n. fan
wepalala n. thunder
wepasi n. clubs
wetui n. cane for sewing sago leaves
weweloe n. unmarried person, one without spouse
wewelupwa n. spring (water)
weyala v.t. to divide into 2 parts
wowoli n. strong wind
y
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yaboaine n. 2 stars supposed to be supernatural beings
yadayada v.i. to be dry
yage n. thing
yagila n. wind
yaguma n. & v.i. lime, limepot; to chew lime and betelnut
yaqila v.t. to peel vegetables (also giyaqila)
yaqila v.t. to sharpen knife
yaqila v.t. to lick
yaisi n. waterfall
yaisigei inter. who? (plural)
yaita inter. who? (singular)
yaiyai n. & v.i. heat (fire, day); to become hot
yakwala n. old garden, last year's garden, year
yala n. & v.t.i. desire; to desire
yalakwaiya n. & v.t.i. secret desire, lust; to lust
yalowa n. cloud
yaluyaluwa n. spirit
yamota n. lime spatula
yamwa v.t.i. to wait for someone
yanume v.t.i. to mend fishing nets
yapa n. fat (of animals)
yapasa v.i. to be dry, thirsty
yasi n. & v.t.i. canoe baler; to bale a canoe
yasiqai n. wooden canoe baler
yasitoto v.t. to stretch out (hand, foot, back)
yatoqai n. & v.t.i. covetousness; to covet
yau n. & v.t.i. number; to increase in number
Yaubada n. God
yaugwa excl. who knows!
yaula n. & adv. cool evening breeze; away
yau-na many
yausa v.t.i. to visit person, garden
yauyei v.t. to cast net (fish, pig)
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yawana n. leaf, page, book
yawasi-na n. (his) life, breath
yayaqawana n. & v.t.i. a lie; to lie (kabo)
yobai n. edible animals, bush creatures
yobai v.i. to hunt for edible animals
yoeyoe n. temporary sleeping quarters on beach, in garden
yoge adv. in vain, vainly
yogomaqala v.t.i. to tie manqs hand behind his back
yoguli n. conch shell
yokaka v.i. go wild with joy, fear, sorrow
yokeli n. food for sick people
yomwayomwalina adj. variegated, mixed
yona n. cane
yona v.t.i. to bind materials
yoqo v.t.i. to gaze, to look intently
yotula v.t.i. to pay debt
you v.i. to bend
yowayowana n. bark rope
yoyo n. uninhabited land
yoyowa v.t.i. to save from drowning, rescue from sea
yoyoyo n. very deep mud
yubu v.t.i. to lie, deceive
yuyu-na n. tail