Northwest Solomonic

Simbo dictionary (Version 2.0)

by Bill Palmer

 

1993 [reformatted with new introductory details and made available online 2004]

 

Sources

 

The original Simbo material varies widely in both quality and quantity. The original materials used to compile this dictionary were:

 

Dureau, Christine (n.d.) [Unpublished field notes and wordlist of an Australian anthropologist resident on Simbo in the early 1990s.]

 

Early, Robert (1982) Language use and intelligibility in the central islands of Western Province. Honiara: Solomon Islands Translation Advisory Group. [Contains a short Simbo wordlist.]

 

Grace, George (1955) Linguistic questionnaire. August 1955. Madegugusu, Simbo. Respondent Misake Nuti. [Unpublished data sheets.]

 

Guppy. (1887) The Solomon Islands and their natives. London: Sonnenschein & Co. [Contains a short list of Simbo terms.]

 

Hocart, Arthur M. (1922) 'Cult of the dead in Eddystone of the Solomon Islands.' Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute. 52:71-112, 259-305. [Anthropological paper containing numerous words and some short texts collected in 1908.]

 

Hocart, Arthur M. (1925) 'Medicine and Witchcraft in Eddystone of the Solomons.' Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute. 55:229-270. [Anthropological paper containing numerous words and some short texts collected in 1908.]

 

Hocart, Arthur M. (1931) 'Warfare in Eddystone of the Solomon Island.' Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute. 61:301-324. [Anthropological paper containing numerous words and some short texts collected in 1908.]

 

Hocart, Arthur M. (1937) 'Fishing in Eddystone Island.' Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute. 67:33-41. [Anthropological paper containing numerous words and some short texts collected in 1908.]

 

Rivers, W.H.R. (1914) The history of Melanesian society. Vol. 1. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp252-253, p396. [Contains a short list of Simbo terms.]

 

Ray, Sidney H. (1926) A comparative study of the Melanesian island languages. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. [Briefly describes a few key features of the grammar of Simbo.]

 

Tryon, Darrell, T & Brian D. Hackman (1983) Solomon Islands languages: an internal classification. Canberra: Pacific Linguistics[Contains a word list of about 380 lexical items in Simbo.]

 

The Hocart articles listed can be viewed via JSTOR by academics whose institutions participate in JSTOR. Search for Hocart in JRAI on the JSTOR site.

 

Orthography

 

The local orthography is used in the headwords. Each letter has the same pronunciation (broadly speaking) as its English counterparts, and has its expected IPA value, except that b and d represent prenasalised plosives. In addition:

 

q represents the prenasalised  voiced velar plosive /ŋg/

 

g represents the voiced velar fricative /γ/

 

j represents the prenasalised voiced palatal affricate /dž/

 

ñ represents the palatal nasal

 

n represents the velar nasal /ŋ/

 

The palatal affricate iin free allophonic variantion with the voiced palatal fricative /ž/, often written locally as z. That letter is not used here except in common alternative spellings.

 

How this dictionary works

 

Each entry in this dictionary has three parts, each in a separate column.

 

The first column contains the headword - the actual Simbo word itself, and the second column contains the English translation of the Simbo word. Where the sources conflict on exact form or meaning, the form or meaning recorded by Dureau is taken to be correct. Derived forms of a word are given in the entry for the underived form, indented to indicate their derived status.

 

The third column contains additional information about the entry. This is structured in the following way: first is the word class (given in some entries only); second is the references for the form in isolation; then references for the form not in isolation, including the whole phrase with the headword represented by its first letter followed by a full stop; finally other related entries are cited. Where there is a discrepancy between the entries form or meaning and that given by one of the sources, that is represented in brackets. If it is the form which is at odds the form is given but it should be assumed the meaning is as given. Where it is the meaning in dispute the alternative meaning is given but the form may be assumed to be as given. Where both are in dispute both are given.

 

Abbreviations used in the third column are:    

ADJ adjective CD Hocart (1922) plus page ref. R Ray (1926) with page ref.
ADV adverb D Dureau RE Early (1981)
HORT hortative F Hocart (1937) plus page ref. TH Tryon & Hackman (1983)
IMP imperative G Guppy W Hocart (1931) plus page ref.
N noun H Hocart WHR Rivers (1914) Vol I p396
V verb MW Hocart (1925) plus page ref.    

                                                                                                                                                                         

The dictionary

Click on a letter to go straight to that section of the dictionary.

A   B   D   E   G   H   I   J   K   L   M   N   Ñ   N   O   P   Q   R   S   T   U   V

A

-alu

eight

[D; (k-alu TH); R563; G; cf vesu H]

-aru

   k-aru

 -rua

   vina-rua

 

two, they two

 

second

 

[D; TH; R564; k. tamatasi 'two pairs of brothers and sisters' CD99; (karuG)]

 

[D]

aba

   ab-aba

   in-aba

 

catch fish

fish caught by ab-aba; the catch

 

V [D; (‘minor fishing methods’ F33); cf valusa, suva, tutusu D; cf in-abaH]

N [F33]

ababu

harvest

[D (D is uncertain about this one)]

abutu

run

V [D; cf uku]

ade

an edible leaf

[D; CD93, CD302, MW242]

aqe

lay eggs

V [D]

aqe mate

female spirit connected with fishing

[D; CD261, MW233, MW247, MW255; 'dead shield'?; cf naqe; cf neka-neka a. m.]

agana

pandanus

N [D; TH]

ago

you (sg)

[D; TH; RE; R563; cf -qu, -iqo, niqo, mu]

ai

where is (something or someone)?

[D; cf pa vei]

aja

sexual insult (a man embarrasses a woman by making an explicit sexual remark)

[D]

alava

   alavia

marry

marry

[cf vari-alava]

V [D; cf tari]

ani

do

V [D; a. ke ‘do not’ D]

aoro

 

 

   aoro-mu

   aoro-qu

year, age

 

 

your age

my age

N [D; TH; a. garaba ‘new year’ D (also 'new crop' CD299); a. lame‘next year’; a.-mu ‘your age; a.-qu ‘my age’; (also ‘crops; grove of canarium trees’ CD296; tamasa n-a. 'crop god' CD271)]

[D]

[D]

ara

I, me

[D; TH; RE; cf qe, qua, iu, niu D]

ari

those (quantity)

[D; (arini TH); cf ria; must be followed by some kind of quantification;a. kavia ‘all of them’, a. karu ‘those two’ ‘the two of them’; cf qari, qari ke ]

aria

let’s go!

HORT [D]

aroso

creeper (generic term); rope

N [D; RE;CD107; a. busa-busa MW251; a. muqu-muqu 'bush creeper' MW236-237; a. ugugu MW254]

asa

grate

V [D; cf asa N?]

asa

Motu pudding, stirred and mixed (notkija)

N [D; a. oromari ‘cassava pudding’, a. vudi ‘banana pudding’ D; cf rahi, ñamu]

asa-vea

if, suppose; how?, why?; how are you?, what’s going on?

[D; cf bi-vea, vea]

ase

chin

[D; MW247]

atu

move out of the way (polite term)

IMP [D; a. qala ‘excuse me’ D; cf votu]

ave

a spirit which causes dysentery

[D; cf jule a., qora a.  CD267; MW233, MW249]

avu

   avu-a

   av-avu

laugh

amuse, make (someone) laugh

make fun of

V [D; TH]

[D]

[D]

añi

count; numerals; number

V, N [D; TH; cf ka-; vina- D]

añi

dip container in water

[D]

B

ba

but, however

[D]

ba

witchcraft; witch; bewitch; to-matewhich dances and bangs and throws things in the bush after the death of a person

[D; MW229-230, MW247-251, MW257)]

ba-barata

adulterer

[D; (bara-barata CD283)]

ba-barugusu

tired; weary

[D; TH; cf puta, mati D]

babata

rocky shore, sharp rock shelf

[D; CD76]

babi

that is (clarifies or strengthens a point)

[D]

baere

   ba-baere

friend, lover; socialise, converse pleasantly

to have a lover

N, V [D; cf qoqo; (baire ‘keep (someone) company’ CD275)]

[D]

bagea

shark

[D; TH; CD293; MW261; (cf love-b.)]

bagere

root (generic)

N [D; RE; (ba-bagea ‘a plant’ CD92)]

bagu

   ba-bagu

stick for husking coconut

husk coconut

N [D]

V [D]

baive

cave

[D; (baivi TH); cf keru D; cf bae H]

bakala

   va-bakal-ia

clear, easily understood, obvious

make clear, clarify, explain

[D]

[D]

bakete

bucket

[D]

bakia

custom money (large orange stainedpoata shell ring from hinge of clam)

[D; *CD74, CD78, W301, W306, W320-321, CD283, MW242, MW251; (bakiha CD279)]

bako

pull

[D; TH; vari b. ‘tug of war’ D; cf vari H]

bakua

fungal skin disease, ringworm

[D]

bala

because

[D; TH]

balau

   ba-balau

understand, know technical skill

knowledgeable, able

[D; qe ke b. ‘I don’t understand’, b. qua ‘I understand’ D; cf nongai]

[tinoni. b.-b. ‘a person who really knows things, a very clever or intelligent person’ D]

banara

 

 

 

 

 

   b-in-anara

   va-banar-ia

   bana

chief, noble, one of chiefly blood; chiefly

 

 

 

 

 

chieftainship

'making a chief' ceremony for noble children

"king"

N, ADJ [D; TH; b. bubutu ‘chief concerned with the people’, b. peso‘chief concerned with the land’ D; *CD77-78, CD89, CD91, CD104, CD290; b. maqota 'women of chiefly rank' (not chiefs' wives), koburu b.'a chief by birth', 'a boy of rank' CD 78, CD98; koburu ta-nisa b. 'a chief's followers' CD78; ure mate b. 'sacred areca bunch of the chiefly dead' CD85; mate b. 'chiefly dead' CD111]

[D]

[CD78]

ADJ [ida b. 'king coconut' CD94]

bara

fort, fortified place of refuge

[D; *W302-303, CD293]

barata

   ba-barata

 

   barat-ia

 

adultery, sex involving one party who is married, occasionally both single

commit adultery with or against

[D; cf kejo]

barava

ornament, intricately carved clam shell custom wealth ornament about one foot square only owned by chiefs

[D; CD280, CD290; (barawa W306)]

baragoso

old (of person); old man

ADJ, N [D; TH; papa b. ‘grandfather’ D]

bariki

shell ring, ancient, used as payment to spirits (roughly made type of riko?)

[D; *CD74, CD78, CD267, CD273, CD282, CD290, CD296]

baruku

bird (generic)

[D; RE; cf manugu D]

basa

of surmising, presuming or guessing; indicates probability or possibility but not certainty; maybe, perhaps

[D; cf uba]

bata

   bat-ia

   bat-igo

   bat-iu

   bata-jona

   bata-kare

see, notice [sight??]

see it

see you

see me

pretty, attractive, beautiful

ugly, unattractive

[D; cf doma ‘look, see’ D]

[D]

[D]

[D]

[doma b.-j. D]

[maqota b.-k. D; b.-k. vivitigi ‘extremely ugly’ D]

batu

head (of person or animal), tip (of plant or fruit)

[D; TH; RE; R564; CD286, MW233; vitigi b. 'headache' CD268; b. pata'headache' MW235; b. lio voja-boe 'tips of the top of v.' MW240; b. yamu 'the head of the pudding' CD87; b. putu 'Barringtonia tips' CD263; (‘pair’ CD297, MW252)]

bebe

butterfly

[D; TH; R564; b. to-mate 'spirit butterfly' CD95]

bebesu

person appointed primary mourner following death (not to cut hair or beard until after cementing of grave)

[D; (‘mourning’ CD84, CD98)]

bei

again, back; change; successor

[D; CD78; taveti b. ‘do it again’, veniu b. ‘give it back to me’, b. poko‘change clothes’ D]

beku

carved pre-Christian idol; doll, stuffed toy

[D; CD267]

belama

frigate bird, eagle

[D; F36, CD264, CD293; tuna m. 'son of the frigate bird' W320]

bele

runny nose; snot

[D; CD268; cf pejana, isu D]

belo

bell

[D; b. lotu ‘church bell’ D]

beru

lips

[D]

beta

breadfruit; breadfruit tree

[D; TH; CD286]

beti

bamboo

[D; TH]

beto

   be-beto

   beto-beto

   va-beto

   va-beto-ia

   vina-beto

finish, that’s all

finish

the end, no more

finish

finish it

last one, final

[D; cf mudi]

V [D]

N [D]

V [D]

V [D]

[D]

beto

and, further, what’s more

[D; (betoi TH)]

bi

if

[D; TH]

   bi vea

   ka-pore-na bi vea

if, suppose

it’s not important, don’t worry about it

[D; cf vea, asa vea]

[D; cf ka-]

bilu

lime powder

[D]

bini

   bini-dole

bean

snake bean

 

[D]

bobogo

a tree used for making bark cloth

[D; cfragana]

boe

yellow

[D; TH; RE; W310; cf putaputaboe , voja-boe ? H]

boere

flesh of ripe coconut

[D]

boka

   boka-qu

can, may, able to

you may, you can; alright; do as you wish

[D; qe ke b. ‘I can’t’, ‘I’m unable’ D; cf jonana, evanana]

[D]

bokolo

shell arm ring of clam, as poata but finer and thiner

[D; *CD74, W302; cf takobokolo?]

bolo

cf mala bolo

 

bolo

   taka-bolo

ball

football, soccer

[D]

[D]

boni

night

[D; TH; RE; CD289; b. jonana ‘good night’, kite b. ‘coming night’,pana b. ‘last night’ D; (‘alternative name for vavolo’: taviti b. 'hold a night (festival)' CD96)]

bono

boil

N [D; TH; cf tuba D; (‘any throbbing pain’, ‘swell’ MW235)]

borogo

pig

[D; TH; MW247; cf kata-kata pa b. H]

borumu

broom

[D]

bosi

bad body odour (which makes it impossible to catch fish and causes bad luck in war)

ADJ [D; W317; MW240]

boso

slain person

[(‘child sacrificed prior to head hunting raid’ D); W312; va-ta-mule b.'bringing back the slain enemy' W312; sulu b. 'burning the slain', parugu b. 'cooking the slain' W314, b. gu-gusu ‘person killed by another Eddystonian’ (lit. ‘slain in the district’) CD263; b. lau ‘ghost of a b. gugusu’ cf ano b. l. CD263, MW246-247]

bote

navel

[D; (bota) TH; (boto R564)]

bu

green, blue

[D; (buma ‘green’ TH); RE; ida b. 'green coconut' CD94]

bu-buru

grass (generic term)

[D; buru- buru H??]

bu-butu

the people, one’s people, tribe; used for the description of genealogical conglomerates of all levels

[D; cf vea na tututi]

bua

   bua-na

male genitalia

his genitals

[D]

[D]

buala

bow for warfare

[D; H??]

buburu

grass

[D]

bugiri

fishing with a spear

[D; bugi-bugiri F37]

bugo

humid

[D]

buka

book

[D]

buku

   bu-buku

drink

drink

V [D; TH; RE]

N [D]

bulau

shell arm ring of a conical shell marked with brown spots in rows (cone shell?) (sometimes used as poata)

[D; *CD74, CD111, W309, CD269, CD280, CD286, MW244]

bule

 

   b-in-ule

   va-bule

peace, calm weather, sea or spirits; calm, peaceful; be calm!, stop!

the peace

calm, quieten, soothe

N, ADJ, IMP; D; CD75, CD290, CD294, MW262; b.-kana ‘make peace’ D]

[D]

V [D; CD271, CD289-290, CD294; tamasa v.-b. 'weather god' CD294;paqosia v.-b. 'wind stilling talisman' CD293; cf vanoso D]

bulo

   bulo-ko

unripe coconut

unripe

[D; CD286; cf bulo-kana H]

ADJ [D; cf madara, matua]

bulo

heart

[D; TH; RE]

bulu

round, circular (?)

ADJ [D; cf mamodovilia]

burana

hungry

[D; (burana TH; CD289)]

D

-di

3PLOBJ agreement suffix

[D]

-di, -dia

their (I’m not sure about -dia)

[D; batu-di 'heads of leaf tips on branch' MW233; mata-di to-mate 'the eye of the spirits' MW251]

dai

 

  dai ona

no, not

 

reluctant, unwilling, refuses

[D; TH; RE; d. qua ‘I don’t want it/to’ ‘I refuse’, d. mua ‘you don’t want it/to’ ‘you refuse’ D; cf kisou D]

[D]

dalo

rinse clean, wash (dishes)

V [D; cf lnoqqa, ogono]

dapu

   dapu-nia

all (not usually of people); completely

everything

[D; mate d. 'quite dead' CD80; cf ria, doru D]

[D]

dede

erection

[D; tomiki d. 'make stand an erection' MW253; kejo d. gogoto 'charm causing permenant erection' MW256]

deri

watermelon

[D; d. raro ‘pumpkin’ (lit. ‘cooking watermelon’) D]

diana

cold (of body)

[D; TH; cf lomoso]

digere

dizzy; dizziness

[D]

diki

   di-diki

   diki-diki

 

pana (a root vegetable)

sweet yams

 

[D]

[CD288]

dinadai

ghost of parent

[D; CD263]

dodore

naked

[D]

dole

snake

[D; MW260; d. tia ‘snake in the stomach’ (lit. ‘belly snake’) MW258-259]

doma

 

   doma-ia

   doma-nia

   doma-jona

   doma-kare

   doma-tari

   doma-tuti

   va-doma

   do-doma

look see; recognise; perceive, understand

 

see it

see it

(cf bata-jona)

(cf bata-kare)

stare (negative implications)

imitate, follow the example of

show

watch, scan

[D; d. popu ‘menstruation’, d. mamadara ‘menstruation’ D; cf batia, jiama, dotu D; cf batia D; cf dotu H]

[D; RE]

[D]

[D]

[D]

[D]

[D; cf jiama]

[D]

[D]

doma

charm making one invisible to enemies during offensive raids

[D; W306]

doru

all, every (of people and things)

[D; (doruna RE); cf dapu, ria, qari]

dosi

suicide (by overdose only?)

[D]

dotu

look!

IMP [D; (‘see’ TH); cf doma]

dui

ant (?dangerous) (any ant?)

[D; CD282, CD284, CD303]

dururu

sink

[D]

duta

trapped, cornered; no options

[D]

E

e

yes

[D; TH; cf eo]

edoko

   edok-ia

closed, shut

close it

ADJ [D; cf tuku]

V [D]

edoso

show off, exhibitionist

N, V [D; cf vahesia mulenia]

ego

alright, ok; introductory remark or indicator of new theme

[D; cf eo]

egoro

infertile person of either sex

[D]

ekana

   ekan-ia

   ekan-iu

   ekan-igo

carry on hip

carry him, carry her, carry it

carry me

carry you

[D; cf utugu, pogoso, varikuvi]

[D]

[D]

[D]

eke

carry in the arms

V [D; (H has ake; *CD90; a.-sage 'funerary rite when skull is taken up to skull house' CD90-92; a.-ve ‘charm preventing stealing’ MW231)]

ekia

of course!

[D]

elaka

basket

[D; cf mane, ira]

elava

bark cloth

[D; CD86, CD266; cf ragana D]

elo

   el-elo

leaf

leaf, leaves

[TH; e. ivi MW256; e. buko W315; elo rara MW258; elo kale MW243]

[D; RE; e.-e. matena ‘betel leaves’ CD298; e.-e. veqo/veqa ‘leaves of ?’W309-310]

elokapa

light, lacking authority or potency, insubstantial

[D; cf muñala]

eneve

thin to the point of emaciation

[D; TH]

eo

assertion of assent; also used to wind up conversation

[D; cf eego]

eoro

crocodile

[D; TH; W308, MW262; cf lovlovu eoro ?]

epepetana

fan woven from agana

[D]

eri

 

   er-eri

grave

 

graveyard

N [D; (era ‘funerary platform, chamber or enclosure’ *CD82, CD86; ‘witch who has killed a chief’ MW230)]

N [D]

evana

   in-evana

event, happening

feast

[D]

[D; cf ivata]

evanana

good, implication of gratitude; indication of assent or agreement

[D; e. jola ‘very good’, ‘thank you very much’, ‘goodbye’ D; cf jonana, boka]

evevana

skull house restoration (ceremony & festival)

[D; *CD107, CD111, CD269]

G

gadora

possum

[D]

gagaja

morning

[D; (gagaja TH); g. jonana ‘good morning’, pana g. ‘previous morning (this morning past, yesterday morning)’, kite g. ‘coming morning’ D]

gagavere

centipede

[D; TH]

gai

we, us (exc)

[D; RE; R564; g. ka-vitu ‘we seven’ D]

gala-gala

soul; shadow, reflection, (photograph?)

[D does not have this but says H uses so widely perhaps was appropriate term at that time; cf malaunu D; *CD80-81, CD84, CD92-93, MW239;tekua g. 'catch the soul', vakarovia g. 'transfer the soul' CD83]

gani

   gani-a

   ga-gani

   va-gani-gani

eat (non-respect term)

eat it

eat (non-respect term)

cause to eat

[D; to-mate g. yabo 'corpse eating spirit' CD82, CD264; cf teteku]

[D]

[D; TH; RE]

[W315]

gara

qara

[D]

garaba

new, young; early; first

[D; (q.-na TH); RE; Suday g. ‘first Sunday of the month’, aoro-na g.‘coming year’, ‘new year (as opposed to aoro-na lame ‘next year’)’, ‘early months of the year’ D; aoro g. CD299, CD302; (cf vahibi)]

garata

bite

[D; TH; RE; g. idiki ‘mosquito bite’ D; tita-va-g. 'caulking to make bite' F37]

gari

they 3PLSUBJAUX(?)

[D]

garo

   garo-garo

scratch

itch, scratch

[D]

N, V; [R564]

gasaru

submerged reef

[D; TH]

gau

tree; stick

[D (“check sp., various meanings”); RE; R563]

gau

you (pl)

[D; R564; g. ka-ru ‘the two of you’ D; (cf gamu)]

geli

dig

V [D; TH; (geli-geli 'uproot' R563)]

gigalia

say, mention, mention by name

V [D; cf gua, qoqono, olana]

ginoja

food, especially staples such as panakae, oromari, rice, green bananas

[D; cf pesu]

gira

divide into three

[D]

golomo

   golom-ia

   vari-golomo

hiding

hide; disguise

funeral, burial, hiding

[CD298]

[D; cf ovo D]

[D; CD82; cf vari- D]

gona

 

   gona-gona

throw

 

cast offering; casting

V [D; CD271; g. venia 'throwing for' (a kind of sacrifice) F37; (‘drive fish into big nets’ FCIV, F34)]

N [CD82, CD100; D says makes sense]

gore

   va-gore

   va-gore-a

   va-gore-gore-a

   va-va-gore

descend, go down, climb down; get down!

lower, bring down, take down

the taking down (of something)

'cause to come down in numbers'

fishing method (lit. 'letting down (a line)')

V, IMP; D; TH]

V [D; W314]

[MW232]

V [in CD88 it is v-v for qaqiri]

[v.-v.-g. tali 'letting down a line' (fishing by trolling) F36]

gori

grate

V [D]

goto

   go-goto

 

   vava-goto

 

hundred

 

keeping the hundred (a ceremony)

 

[D; ka-me g.-g. ‘one hundred’ D; me-ka g.-g. 'one hundred' TH; vesu g.-g. ‘eight hundred’ CD75]

[CD96]

goto

   go-goto

 

   vata-goto-so

veritable, acceptable, good

[D]

[D; jiri g.-g. 'true dracaena' CD280; kejo dede go-goto ‘charm causing permanent erection’ MW256]

['crane proper' F35]

gotokaena

different, unique

[D]

gua

said, reckoned

[D]

gubutu

buttocks, euphemism for anus (respect term)

[D; cf liji]

gugu

digit, digits (finger(s), toe(s))

[D; R563; g. lima ‘fingers’, g. nene ‘toes’ D]

gulebe

impotence

[D; MW253]

guliti

skin, bark, peel, scales, any natural covering

[D; TH; RE; R563-564; cf pepenu D; (uliti R564)]

gumi

beard, beard hair

[D; TH; R563]

gusu

 

   gu-gusu

district, place (geo-demographic unit)

 

district, place (geo-demographic unit)

[made-g. custom name of Simbo (lit. ‘four districts’) D, R562; ka-sia g.‘world’ D, RE]

[D; boso g.g. CD263; cf ia, kota]

H

habahuala

impoverished

ADJ [D; tinoni h.’poor person’ D; opp. of isisono]

hahanana

custom, social practice, lifestyle, behaviour

[D; h. pana peso ‘earthly ways’, h. kame rane ‘tradition’ D]

hakua

banana

[D does not have but says poss. stage of growth or variety; CD278, CD279; h. ruqaha ‘small white variety of banana’ CD279; cf utuvudi; cf akakua?]

havoro

flower

[D; TH]

heli

hell in Christian theology

[D]

heni

   hen-ia

   vari-heni

mix, combine

mix, combine

mixed, combined; mixture

V [D]

V [D]

ADJ, N [D; cf vari-]

hiva

   h-in-iva

like, want, need, require

liking, want, requirement

V [D; cf mati]

N [D]

hoboro

do; be; express something without good reason and to excess

[D]

hoboro

ordinary, of no significance, purposeless

[D; tinoni h. 'common folk' CD80]

hoi

soup, sauce, gravy, the liquid part of a cooked meal, usually from cooking in coconut

[D; cf pejana]

hore

canoe

[D; TH]

huma

punch, strike with closed fist

[D]

I

-ia

3SGOBJ agreement suffix

[D]

-igo

2OBJ agreement suffix

[D; cf ago, nigo, qu]

-iu

1OBJ agreement suffix

[D; cf ara, niu, qe, qua]

   i sei

“designating a person whose name follows”

who?

[D; sa qua i Mary ‘Mary said’ D]

[D; TH; RE]

ia

place; home

N [D; cf nia, kota]

iama

priest dealing with skulls and shrines in pre-Christian times; perform tasks of

N, V [D; CD91, *CD105, CD265-266, CD269, CD278, CD298, CD303;potana i. 'consecration charms' CD106; cf vasi i. H]

ibi

sweet (of food)

[D; cf lomoso]

iburu

betel nut

[D; TH; F35]

ida

drinkable green coconut

[D; CD75; i. banara 'king coconut', i. bu 'green coconut' CD94, CD109]

idiki

mosquito

[D; TH]

igana

fish

N [D; TH; RE; R563; F33; (iga R563)]

igo

bush spider

N [D; TH; cf kolobai]

ikare

broken, not working, no good

[D; cf poraka, puqala]

iko

   ik-iko

steal

theft; thievish

V [D; TH; CD280]

N, ADJ [D; CD291; tinoni i.-i. ‘habitual thief’ D]

iku

fire

N [D; (niku TH); RE; (eku G); ivu i. ‘blow fire’ D; i. pa-paragu 'common cooking fire', 'roasting fire' CD96, CD104, CD112, CD300; i. va-vamiro'sacrificial fire' CD104, CD300]

ilili

douse fire with water; sting caused by salt water in wound; nuisance, pest

[D; the ‘nuisance’ is derived from the ‘sting’ D]

imimusu

midge

[D; TH]

inaru

shrine to bonito

[D; F35, CD284]

inatunu

ritual (generic)

[D; W308; W313-317; (‘shrine type’ H)]

inevana

cf evana

 

inolana

answer

V, N [D; in-olana cf olana?]

inonoro

news

[D; i. jona-na ‘good news’, i. kikerena ‘bad news’ D]

inuma

garden

[D; TH; cf poki]

ira

 

 

 

   in-ira

   ir-ira

compensation payment for violation of respect rules, especially that received by a female’s luluna for any sexual misdemeanour she commits

fine

organise ira

[D]

 

 

 

N [D; MW263]

[D]

ira

string bag used by women for carrying on head

[D; MW263]

iru

crab (generic) excluding coconut crab and maybe hermit crab

N [D; MW244, CD276(?)]

isa

general term of approval at achievement

[D; (‘that’s it!’, ‘that’s right” D)]

isa

he, she, it; that one

[D; cf sa; (asa TH)]

isisono

wealthy or rich person

[D; opp. of habahuala]

iso

bonito

[D; CD269, CD284]

isonono

   isono-na

name

its name

[D; TH; RE]

[D]

isu

   isu-mata

nose

face (lit. nose-eyes)

[D; TH; RE; R563]

[D]

ite

   ite-ke

 

   ite-ke-di

   it-ite

   kam-ite

small

(“pl” D)

 

(“pl” D)

small ones

a little, slightly

[D; CD75, CD275-276]

[D; TH; RE; i.-k. popu ‘last days of the moon’ (lit. 'small moon') MW252; cf popu, tale H]

[D]

[D]

[D]

itugu

recently, just now

[D]

iva

strong, tight, resistant, stiff (of moveable objects or parts)

[D; cf neqi]

ivata

spread-out object

[D; cf inevana]

ivere

sea, salt water

[D; TH; CD290, CD295; cf lamana]

iviva

important, significant (of a person)

ADJ [D; CD80; minate i. 'group of older men' CD80]

ivoro

wind

[D; TH]

ivu

   ivu-a

blow

blow a war bassoon (lit. ‘blowing it’)

[D; TH; MW246]

[W318]

ivulu

deserted

[D; CD275; cf ivu ‘blow’?]

J

jelepade

war hall, communal house, paele kept for banara, more ornate and perhaps more ceremonial

[D; W303-304, W310, W318; cf paele]

jiama

kill with malevolant stare; one who kills with looks; the evil eye; a kind of to-mate

V, N; (jimiri D); MW231, MW247, MW249; cf doma-tari D; cf paso-paso jiama H]

jimiri

red

[TH; (jimiri D, RE)]

jiraka [ziraka]

torn; tear

[D]

jiru [ziru]

a man whom no woman is prepared to marry

[D; cf nanaboko]

jitiri [zitiri]

slippery; slip

[D]

jojonana [zozonana

lid, cap

[D]

jola [zola] 

   jola-niu

   jola-nigo

very, extremely; surpass, exceed; excessive

do better than me, exceed me in some way

do better than you, exceed you in some way

[D; tori j. tu ‘already past’, ‘already over’ D; cf vivitigi, vatale

[D]

[D]

jona [zona]

   -jona

   jona-na

   j-in-onana

good, indicates positive assessment

good, indicates positive assessment

good, correct, right, fine; assertion of assent

good result

[D; tinoni j. ‘good person’ D]

[D; doma-jona. ‘good person’ D]

[D; TH; RE; j. jola ‘very good’, ‘ok’ D; cf boka, evanana D]

[D]

jova [zowa]

shake (something)

[D; cf saputu, neneqere]

juju

   juju-batu

push

true siblings (lit. push-heads)

[TH; (juju D)]

[D; cf pore-tasina, puakadara, tasina, kakarovo, luluna]

juke [zuke]

lantern, torch, electric light, any artificial  light source

[D]

K

-kare

with negative connotations

[D; (ekarenah G); uma-k. 'stink', bata-k. 'ugly' D; mule k. ‘bad return’ MW260; cf kikerena H]

k-

   k-aru

   k-ue

   k-alu

ka-

   ka-pore

   ka-pore-na

   ka-pore-na bi vea

   ka-ue

   ka-made

   ka-lima

   ka-vonomo

   ka-vitu

   ka-alu

   ka-sia

   ka-sia

   ka-via

quantity marker

two

three

eight

quantity marker

nothing, zero

no more of it

it’s not important, don’t worry about it

three of (specified object)

four of (specified object)

five of (specified object)

six of (specified object)

seven of (specified object)

eight of (specified object)

nine of (specified object)

every

how many?

[R563; cf añi, vina-]

[D; cf -aru; (ka-rua CD77?)]

[D; TH; cf -ue]

[D; cf -alu]

[D; R563; cf añi, vina-]

[D; cf ue!]

[D]

[D; cf bi vea, tainatu, vabosi]

[D]

[D; cf made]

[D; cf lima]

[D]

[D; CD290]

[D; TH; R563; cf -alu]

[D]

[D; k.-s. gusu ‘world’ (lit. ‘every district’) D, RE]

[D]

ka-me

   ka-me-rane

 

   ka-me bei

   ka-bei

   ka-’bei

   ka-me-kali

   ka-me-mule

   ka-me-sina

   ka-me-sina-pode

one

the past, esp. customary past, long ago, once upon a time; eventually (lit. ‘one day’)

again

kame bei

kame bei

other side

again

identical, the same, no difference

ka-me-sina

[D; RE; ka-bei kame totoso mule ‘next time’ D; cfka-]

[D; cf kite]

 

[D; cf ka-me-mule]

[D; ka-bei kame totoso mule ‘next time’ D]

[D]

[D; cf kali]

[kekenu k.-m.-m. ‘again, another’ D; cf ka-me bei]

[D; cf vea, vari-pode]

[D]

ka-via

how many?; all

[D; TH; gau k.-v. 'all of you' D; cf ka--via]

kai-kai

food, feast

N [CD80, CD88, W316, CD264, CD301; Etym. Pijin loan]

kakabare

dancing ground

[D; CD84, W304, W318]

kakabi

incest between 3rd cousins or closer, or other close relatives

[D; incest between relatives not this close is sa-ke tojamok. can be nullified by a ceremony called korotoluqava]

kakarovo

half siblings or cousins (not full siblings)

[D; also tasina k. D; cf pore-tasina, tasina, pujakadara, juju-batu]

kakasa

long

ADJ [D; TH; cf qele kakasa H]

kaki

some, several, a few

[D; more than one and less than soku D]

kalao

chief's wife

[D; CD78]

kali

   kali-mairi

   kali-matua

   ka-me-kali

side; team; ?half

left side

right side

other side

[D]

[W308]

[W308]

[D]

kalimamasa

shack

[D]

kamisa

thing, something

[D; doru k. ‘everything’ D; cf sava, manugu]

kamu

come to (somewhere), arrive

[D; cf mai, lame]

kana

 

   van-kana

enemy

 

enmity

N [D; kane rane 'long time foe' D; ('raid, war, fight, feud, state of war' W303, W305, CD295)]

[D]

kaoni

account, bill

[D]

kapi

lightening

[D; TH]

kapore

see ka-

 

karu kali

crossed shoulder belt; bandolier (lit. two sides)

[D; MW246]

karuje

rat

[D; (kureju TH)]

kati

not

[D; cf qe-ke, qu-ke, sa-ke, qari-ke]

kauru

   kauru-sape

under, a going under (?), below

underneath the floor

[(k.-na TH); k. lava-lava 'the great passing under' CD110]

[D]

kave

   kave-a

crawl

pull

[D; (gave ‘a crab’ MW244)]

[TH]

kavu

hearth

[D; R563; vona k. 'ritual cooking house' (lit. 'house of ashes') CD98]

kavuru

dust

[D; TH]

keala

white

[D; TH; RE]

kedaka

raw, undercooked

[D; bako k. '?' MW240]

kede

vagina, vulva

[D; TH; CD271]

kejo

person with whom one is forbidden contact or communication by virtue of real or reputed past sexual involvement; token or shrine supernaturally empowered erected to prevent theft

[D; (kejo 'protective charm causing sickness in a transgressor' H; CD266, CD271, CD293, MW231-262; k. kikerina 'bad kenjo' MW240; k. disease name 'a charm causing that disease'; k. dede go-goto 'k. causing permenant erection of penis of clitoris' MW256); cf babarata, tabu]

kejo paleka

tabu charm which causes effect ofpaleka if violated

[D says quite possible; MW263]

kele

leaves of the vino

[CD298; cf titi-kela, vino ]

kenu

   kenu-na

   kenu-qu

   kenu-mu

   ke-kenu

firstborn; front

his/her/their firstborn

my firstborn

your firstborn

first (in placement), ahead of, in front of

ADJ [D; pa-na k. 'in front' D; tamasa k. 'principle god' CD271; cfvakenu]

[D]

[D]

[D]

[D; cf qala, ka-me]

keo

white haired, grey haired

[D]

kera

   kera-kera

sing; song

V, N [D; TH; k. lotu 'hymn' D]

[CD85]

keru

cave, large cleft in rock

[D; CD88, CD100; cf baivi]

kesa

   ke-kesa-na

climb; copulate

ladder, steps, stairway

[D; cf sage, paja; cf vari-k.]

[D]

keto

corn

[D]

kiqona

soon

[D]

kii

exclamation of surprise or exaggeration

[D]

kija

pound or mash with morter and pestle

[D; cf kokale; (gija ‘daub’ CD275, k. includes pounding lime for face paint so maybe D)]

kiju

back of head, occiput

[(qiju D)]

kikerena

bad, rotten (of food, behaviour or morality)

[D; TH; tinoni k. 'bad or evil person' (strong term), inonoro k. 'bad news' D; to-mate k. 'evil spirit' D, CD261; kejo k. 'bad k.' MW240; ; cf ñabo, sea ; cf kare H]

kikida

a fungal skin infection

[D]

kikida

star

[D; TH; RE; (keeda G)]

kiko

seed

[D; TH; RE]

kiko

young boy (used affectionately, or when name is unknown or is same as the female user's kejo

[D; cf tite]

kilana

freckle

[D]

kiliviqe

thin

[D]

kimo

crack by striking with a stone

[D; k. nari 'crack nut' D; 'small hammer' CD298]

kinoko

village

[D]

kisou

lazy, reluctant, unwilling, uninterested, dislike, couldn't be bothered

[D; TH; cf dai ona, pavu ]

kita

wasting sickness; spirit causing it

[D; CD81, CD267, MW239; (‘a people’ H)]

kite

prospective aspect marker; intend; at some future time; sooner or later

[D; k. vevelu ‘when it is evening’ D; cf kame-rane]

kito

bang head

[D]

kiu

   ki-kiu

cry

V [D; TH]

N [D]

ko

so

[D; FCIV, CD282]

koba

hermit crab

[D]

koboso

passage

[D]

koburu

child; sister’s son (arch. alt. term)

[D; TH; k. rereko 'girl', k. marane 'boy' D; k. ta-via 'children of a chief',k. banara 'a chief by birth' 'a boy of rank' CD78, CD98; k. ta-nisa banara'a chief's people' CD78; (qamburu WHR); cf melalu]

koda

penis (non-respect term), uncircumcised penis

[D]

kodiko

word

[D; k. tinoni ‘gossip’ D; cf osi]

koqu

bay, lagoon, harbour, inlet

[D; TH; pa na k. ‘in the bay’ CD76]

koha

 

   ko-koha

lie, mislead; accidental or intended deception

lying

[D; CD292, MW260 (‘opposite of mana and sosoto’, 'false' H)]

 

ADJ [tinoni k.-k. 'liar' D]

koi

sit in a canoe; take passage

[D]

koi mata

leader of a group (as opp to banara)

[D; (koi matana ‘taboo to women’ F36)]

kokale

bowl for pounding oromari

[D; 'large troughlike mortar' CD299, CD301; cf kija]

koko’e

coconut shell

[D]

koko-mate

wake, period of mourning

[D; (‘lykewake ‘ CD85-86, CD96)]

kokoba

empty, flat (of batteries)

[D; TH]

kokobu

log

[D; 'driftwood' CD293-294]

kokorako

chicken

[D; TH; k. marane 'rooster', k. rereko 'hen' D]

kokove

skull

[D]

kokovi

female who pursues men or a man

N [D]

kolobai

house spider

N [D; cf igo]

kolopiri

now, currently

[D]

kolopou

ravine

[D; W302]

komolo

smile

[D]

koni

be careful, don’t (for your own good)!

[D; k. sulu ‘be careful not to get burned’ D]

kono

jealous

[D]

kopu

   kopu-niu

   kopu-nigo

   kopu-ven-ia

   kopu-ven-iu

   kopu-ven-igo

   kopu-veni-ria

   kopu-vatali

look after, mind, care for

care for me

look after you

mind on behalf of

mind on behalf of me

mind on behalf of you

mind on behalf of them

take good care of (lit. ‘mind-thoroughly’)

[D]

[D]

[D]

[D]

[D]

[D]

[D]

[k. watali D; cf watale]

korapa

   korapa-na

   korapa-boni

   korapa-rane

be present, remain, continuing (person)

centre of, middle of

midnight

midday

[D; cf pepuna]

[D; TH; FCIV; pa-na k.-n. 'in the middle, within, inside' D]

[D]

[D; cf sakasa]

kori

deep (of a hole); a hole in the ground

ADJ, N [D; cf po]

korosi

crucifix, cross of Christian theology

[D]

koroto

 

   koroto-luqava

severed (as rope or string)

 

ceremony following kakabi during which the man loses rights in a lineage he shares with a woman

[TH; MW238; k. lagu, k. mago a venereal disease (lit. 'broken guts') MW238; (cf lagu, mimi ta-mago )]

[D]

kota

area, place

[D; ia doru k. ‘everywhere’ D; pa na k. ‘on the level’ CD76; cf gugusu]

kubana

tongs of bamboo for lifting hot stones ofmotu

[D]

kuda

   va-va-kuda

abuse verbally

abuse

V [D; CD75]

V [MW264]

kuduru

black

[D; TH; RE; tinoni k. ‘black person/people’ D; batu k. ‘a plant’ (lit. 'black tips') MW248-250]

kuipi

widow's enclosure

[D; CD84, CD89]

kukili

call out, shout

[D; cf olana]

kuku

   kuku-poro

 

   kuku-polo

shelter; cover with cloth; blanket

hide or shelter under umbrella; sit back to back; a pre-Christian deity

pre-Christian Roviana skull wrapper

V, N [D]

[D; cf tuqasa]

 

[CD290]

kuni

frog (generic)

[D; MW253, MW258]

kurana

   ku-kurana

pack, place in bag or box etc, put in

bag

V [D; k. pana peso ‘bury’ D cf vari-golomo]

[D]

kuti

   ku-kuti

   kuti-kuti

 

write

marks, scribbles on some v. old tabu rocks

 

V [D]

N, V [D; CD100; k.-k. to-mate 'ghost's marks' CD100]

kuvi

   vari-kuvi

sling for carrying child

carry a child in a kuvi

[D]

[D]

kuvili

conch shell; sound of conch; blowing the conch

[D; k. paro 'blowing the conch shorewardW312-313]

L

lalagakoqa

following tari pipiro the man remains at the woman’s house for one night and the following night they spend at his house

[D]

lamana

ocean, deep sea

[D; cf ivere]

lame

   va-lame

come

send (here)

V, IMP; D; TH; l. lani ‘come here’ D; cf mai]

[D]

lana

there

[D; cf nana, nia]

lani

here

[D; TH]

lano

fly

V [D; TH]

lape

megapode bird (bush turkey)

[D; CD273; cf jari ta-na lape H]

lava

   lava-ta

 

   lava-ta-na

   lava-lava

 

big

 

the big one

great

 

[D; TH; RE; CD271, CD276, CD293; l. jola ‘extremely big’, ‘bigger than’, l. kamite ‘pretty big’ D]

N [D]

[kauru l.-l. 'the great going under' CD110]

lago

   va-lago

go; go on; go or do to excess

send (somewhere); send away

V [D; TH; R563; cf riu D; kiu l. ‘cry bitterly’ D]

[D]

lagu

guts

[D; TH; MW238; cf koroto l.]

lebu

mango; mango tree

[D; CD106, CD289; cf kapu l. H]

lei

   le-lei

cloud

clouds

[D; TH; RE]

[CD276]

leleve

curse

[D; cf maulu]

lenana

   lenana-na

branch of tree

[D]

[TH]

lete

plant

V [D]

levana

   levan-ia

open

open it

ADJ, V [D]

V [D]

lida

knife

[D; l. ite beto koburu ‘tubal ligation’ (lit. ‘small knife to stop children’) D; cf likoto, suni]

liqomo

charm for finding enemy (of lave type??)

[D; W312]

liji

anus, arse (non-respect term)

[D; cf gubutu]

likoto

bush knife (machete?)

[D; cf lida]

lima

   ka-lima

   ququ-lima

   vina-lima

   lima-navulu

hand, arm; five

five of

fingers

fifth

the fiftieth day

[D; TH, RE, R563; (leema G)]

[D; CD264]

[D]

[D]

[CD96]

lipa

bail (a canoe)

[D; W314]

lipu

pay for goods received in credit

V [D; MW268]

livo

   li-livo-rua

tooth, teeth

scorpion (lit. tooth-neck)

[D; TH; RE; R564]

[TH]

loa

 

   loa-ia

   loa-pa-nia

 

   vari-loa

   loa-pale-dia

put down, leave (something somewhere), get rid of (something)

leave it

discard (person or thing), get rid of, leave behind, leave spouse

divorce

drop them all, put them all down, leave them

[D; cf muma]

 

[D]

[D]

 

[D]

[D]

lodo

louse, headlouse

[D; TH; RE]

lodu

   lodu-gugusu

counting the days of the dead

place for doing same (???D)

[D]

[MW235]

loqa

wash (not face or certain other body parts)

[D; l. lima ‘wash hands’ D; cf dalo, ogono]

loqui

long trousers

[D]

loji

cotton thread

[D]

loka

   lo-loka

   loka-loka

 

lumbar spine

broken spine

 

[D; cf mudi]

[mate l.-l. 'die of a broken spine' CD80]

lokana

when (of PAST)

[D; cf totoso]

lomoso

 

 

   va-lomoso

   va-lomos-ia

cool, cold (of weather, liquids, touch, objects, water); pleasant tasting, sweet (of food); sweet talk, persuade by charm

cool; cooling

cool (something); sweeten (something)

ADJ [D; TH, RE; piro l. CD285]

 

 

V, N; W306, MW231, MW251]

V [MW250; D]

lose

room

N [D]

lotu

pray, prayer, church service, religion

[D; etym. Fijian, brought by missionaries]

lovo-rua

hang (a person); a hung person

V, N, ADJ [D; *CD86; to-mate l. 'ghost of a hung person' D, CD263]

lovu

mat of woven agana

[D; l. koburu ‘uterus’, ‘placenta’ (lit. ‘mat of children’) D]

lua

vomit

[D; TH]

lukana

loud funeral wail as ritual expression of grief

[D; CD85, CD111, CD286]

lulu

 

   lulu-na

   lulu-qu

   lulu-mu

sibling of opposite sex; first cousin of opposite sex

sibling/first cousin of opposite sex

my lulu

your lulu

[D; WHR; W303]

 

[D; cf tasina, kakarovo, jujubatu, pujakadara, poretasina]

[D; WHR]

[D]

M

ma

 

   ma-na

1SUBJIRREALISAUX

 

1SUBJIRREALISAUX-DEFIRR

[D; (‘I am, we are, referring to current or contemporary state or action’ D); m. gua ‘you say’ (IMP.) D; cf mana, mu, munu]

[D; (‘I or we will or shall, referring to future state or action’ ara kite m. lago ‘I will go’ D; cf ma, mu, munu]

madara

ripe (of any food which changes colour when ripe)

[D; cf matua]

made

   ka-made

   vina-made

   made-gusu

   made-gu-gusu

   va-made

four

four of (specified object)

fourth, number four

the four districts, Simbo’s traditional name

the four districts, Simbo’s traditional name

fourth day after death involving quiet remembrance and a funerary feast (lit. make-four)

[D; TH; (mantee G)]

[D; cf ka-]

[D]

N [R562; CD75; cf navoro, sibo]

[D]

[D; CD86; cf vavatula]

maqota

 

 

 

maqota-qu

respected married woman; wife

 

 

 

my wife

[D; WHR; m. jona ‘good looking woman’ D; cf rereko; bata-jona, doma-jona; (banara m. 'women of chiefly rank' CD78); (H says ‘non-virgin woman’ as opp. vineke ‘virgin’, but D not find this, vineke is prob. Rov. as H was working on Rov. at the time)]

[WHR]

mai

 

   mai-ko

come, come towards, come here; give it to me

give it to me to examine

V, IMP; D; TH; RE; R564; cf lame, kamu]

 

[D]

mai

ours

[D]

mairi

   kali-mairi

left

left side

[D; TH; (va-mairi ‘left handed’ MW234 - D says wrong)]

[D; W308]

maja

strike with downward motion using hand or implement; headhunting axe

N, V; W?; (‘club’ H); patu m. paqala 'the stone smitten asunder' (a legend) CD99]

makara

parrot (generic)

[D; CD285]

maketi

market

[D; cf vagietym. Eng. loan]

mala bolo

someone visiting sacred cave for first time

[D; CD100]

malaunu

soul, spirit (dead); shadow

[D; TH]

malaunu toa-na

soul before it reaches Sondo, spirit (alive)

[D; TH]

malunu

willing

[D]

mama

father (pre-Christian term of address)

[D]

mama

mother (term of address)

[D; m. qoele ‘grandmother’ (bilaterally reckoned) D; etym. Eng.; cftinana, tamatina]

mamadara

   mamadara-na

blood; descent

of his/her/their blood

[D; TH; RE; doma m. ‘menstruation’ D; (‘tumour’ MW238)]

[D]

mamadovilia

circle

[D; cf bulu]

mamalaini

voice

[D]

mamata

heavy

[D; TH]

mamavo

slow, gentle; slowly, gently

ADJ, ADV [D; TH]

mamavua

yawn

[D]

mana

efficacy, spiritual truth, power, supernatural effect; efficacious,propitious

N, ADJ [D; FCIV, CD78, F40, W309, *MW260; H says 'virtue', 'grant...']

manavasa

adapt or adjust to, get used to, familiarize, come to feel comfortable with; tame

V [D]

mane

basket or bag for carrying (woven or not)

[D; (mani CD288); va-tome mani 'put in the basket' CD95; toga ni mani; cf ira, elaka]

manoga

   manoga me-ka

   manoga-rua

   manoga-ue

ten

eleven

twelve

thirteen

[D; (manoga puta TH); (manosa G)]

[D]

[D]

[D]

manugu

creature (hypernym) including animals, humans, birds marine mammals and perhaps fish); animal; thing, thingammybob

[D; cf kamisa, sava; (‘bird’ TH; R563-564)]

mana

mouth

[D; TH; RE; R564]

manini

hot, warm

[D; TH; RE]

marama

wife of a UC minister (title and form of address)

[D; etym. Fijian, term brought by missionaries]

marane

 

marane-qu

male, man; husband

 

my husband

[D; TH; RE; m. iviva ‘adult man’, koburu m. ‘boy; unmarried man including widower and divorcee’ D; (marene WHR)]

[WHR]

masa

flesh, meat, muscle

[D; TH; RE; m. tabu-na 'sacred flesh' F36]

mata

   mata-kare

   oni-mata

   mata-na

eye, eyes

blind (lit. ‘bad-eyes’)

tears

his/her eyes

[D; TH; RE; R564; m.-di to-mate 'the eye of the spirits' MW251]

[D]

[D; cf oni-]

[cf koi matana]

matatu

   matatu-ni

frightened, afraid; fear

fear (transitive?)

[D; TH; R563-564; (matautu R564); cf taikolo]

[R563]

mate

 

 

 

   va-mate

   va-mate-a

   vari-va-mate

   mate-na

   m-in.ate

   mate-ana

 

 

   koko-mate

die, faint; dead; sickness; switched off

 

 

 

kill (accidentally or justifiably)

kill

murder (not execute or kill in battle)

death of someone/thing

death

four spirits who have protected Simbo since pre-Christian times and who remain a strong force for good; a kind of shooting star

wake held with body present

N, V, ADJ [TH, RE, CD261, CD290; CD295; m. dapu 'quite dead' CD80; m. hebala ‘died at sea’ CD75; ure m. banara 'sacred areca bunch of the chiefly dead' CD85; bulu m. banara 'a funerary ring for a dead chief' CD91; m. banara 'chiefly dead' CD111; cf aqe mate]

[D; (va-mate-a TH); (mate 'kill' RE); tinoni v.-v.-m. ‘habitual murderer’ D]

[D]

[D]

[cf el-elo mate-na H]

[D]

[D; CD268; MW245-246; cf to-mate ]

 

 

['lykewake' CD85]

mati

like, want

[D; cf hiva]

mati

low tide; shallow

N, ADJ [D]

matua

   matua-na

fully grown (of foodstuffs)

old

[D; cf madara]

[D; tinoni m.-n. ‘old person’ D]

matua

   kali-matua

right

right side

[D; TH]

[D; W308]

maulu

   va-maulu

curse, abuse, oaths

curse

N [D; W302, MW262-264; W306; (‘break a taboo’ H)]

V [D]

me

   ka-me

   me-ka

 

   me-ka-qu

   me-ka-mu

   me-ka-na

 

one

single, lone

 

me only

you only

alone, individual; individually

 

[TH; (kamee G); sage k. rani 'he went out one day' CD281]

ADJ [m. gogoto 'one hundred' TH; m. hiako 'one thousand' TH; belama m. 'a single frigate bird' CD293; patu m. ‘the single stone’ CD75]

[D]

[D]

ADJ, ADV [D]

mea

tongue

[D; TH; RE; R564]

melalu

new born baby

[D; cf koburu]

meresena

medicine

[D; etym. Eng.?; cf kuinini, piro]

mi

in order to (in serial verb constructions)

[D; FCIV]

mike

guitar

[D]

mimi

urinate; urine

V, N [D; (‘drip’ TH); R564; CD268, MW237]

mimo

itch; scratch

V, N [D; TH]

minari

rest

[D]

minate

group of people

[D; m. iviva 'group of older men' CD80; qaqiri qeto m. 'go on expedition' W308; votu m. 'the people come forth' W308, W318]

miro

burnt, singed part of cooked food

[D]

miu

a large edible biege fish with upturned nose, very succulent and delicious, size of bonito

[D; F33, F37]

miu

yoursPL

[D]

mo

   m-in-o

sick

illness, disease

ADJ [D; TH; CD268, MW260; vona m. ‘hospital, clinic’ D]

[D]

modoko

turtle

[D; TH]

moe

damp, sodden, wet

[D; cf tubulu]

moka

mug, cup, drinking vessels generally

[D; etym. Eng.?]

moko

quiet!

IMP [D; cf noso; (‘broken jawed’ (in Rov.) MW247)]

mola

large traditional canoe for fishing or deep sea travel

[D; TH; *W308, CD283]

mola qeto

war canoe

[D; *W308]

mole

face paint of lime and red ochre

[W316-317]

molu

 

   mo-molu

pregnant

 

pregnant

[D; m. soana ‘unmarried pregnant woman’ cf mo-soana ‘child of...’ D; (‘a plant which fruits’ piru m. MW236-237; raqoso m. CD107)]

[D; Ria na Momolu]

monana

brain

[D; TH]

motu

traditional stone oven; cook in...

N, V [D; TH; cf obirai]

moño

squeeze, massage (to heal)

[D; MW233]

mu

 

   mu-nu

 

   mu-ke

2SUBJIRRAUX

 

2SUBJIRRAUX-DEFIRR

 

2SUBJIRRAUX-NEG

[D; (‘you are, referring to current or contemporary state or action’ D); cfma, mana, munu]

[D; (‘you will or shall, referring to future state or action’ ago kite m. lago‘you will go’ D; cf ma]

[D]

mua

yours

[D]

mudi

   mu-mudi

   mudi-na

behind, back, after, last; upper spine

afterwards, trail, later

last born

ADJ, N [D; TH; R563; cf loloka]

[D]

[D; cf vinabeto]

muqu

   mu-muqu

   muqu-muqu

bush

bush, forest

bush

[(muqe TH)]

ADJ, N [D; tinoni m.-m. ‘hick’ D]

ADJ [to-mate m.-m. 'spirit of the bush' CD265; cf aroso H]

mujiri

   mi-mujiri

overnight

previous night’s leftovers eaten for breakfast

[D]

[D]

mule

 

   va-ta-mule

return; again, repeated, another

 

bring back

V, ADJ [D; m. hebala ‘returned from overseas’ CD75; m. kare ‘bad return’ MW260]

[v.-t.-m. boso 'bringing back the slain enemy' W312]

muma

   muma-nia

   muma-pa-nia

   roqu-muma

lost, forgotten; forget

lose (something)

leave (something) behind inadvertently

forget, forgotten, unable to recall

[D; cf loa, rura]

V [D]

V [D]

[D; cf roqu]

mumuno

worm

[D]

muñala

weak, soft

ADJ [D; TH; cf elokapa]

N

-niu

I, me

[D; toka-niu ‘help me’ D; cf iu, ara, qe, qua]

na

 

   n-

the (also ‘a’ D)

[D; FCIV, CD75, F35; (sometimes looks like 'of' tinoni na KitaMW239); (HLV appears not definate)]

[FCIV, CD76, CD87, CD271, CD295, CD301, MW245; occurs with vowel initial Ns]

naboko

   na-naboko

widow, widower

widower who can’t find a new wife

[D; CD84, F35; cf jirukalu n. 'widow's hair' CD84; cf abokoyabo? H]

[D]

nabulu

slave purchased or captured during headhunting raid and kept as servant or priest and often adopted or married in

[D; cf p-in-ausia]

naqo

seek; find

[D; cf tiro]

nagani

lust, desire

[D]

nagasa

sand

[D; RE; cf onone H]

nai

volcano

[D]

najulu

sharp

[D; TH]

nana

 

 

   nana-ke

there

 

 

there it is!

[D; FCV, MW249; cf ia, nia, lana; from H appears to co-occur with 2nd or 1st person possessive, identifying owned NP. Immediately precedes clause initial NP.]

[D]

nasa

   na-nasa

   ni-na-nasa

what?

ask; (answer derived from divination??D)

question

[D; TH]

[V,N [D; (‘divine, divination’ CD89, CD300)]

[N?; D; cf tepa D]

navoro

district of Madegusu including Lenana,Masuru

[D; G278; cf sibo, made gusus]

neqe

strong

[D; (neqi TH); cf iva]

neka

slippery cabbage (a green leafy vegetable rich in iron)

[D; CD87, CD90, CD93, CD96, W316, CD302, MW239; n.-n. aqe mate‘a plant’ MW233, MW247, MW251]

nene

leg, foot, legs, feet

[D; TH; RE; gugu n. ‘toes’ D; n. koku 'koku legs' F34]]

neneqere

fit, epilepsy; shake, tremble (of people)

[D; (neqe-neqere ‘?’ CD273); cf saputu, jowa]

nia

there, that place, where

[D; TH; cf nana, lana, ia]

nigo

you

[D; cf igo, qu, ago]

noboko

fat

N [D; RE]

nonoro

   nonor-ia

hear

hear

V [TH; ninoro RE]

[D; nonori R564]

nonoga

   nonogai

 

   nonoga-ia

know

know, perceive, understand (not know a fact)

know

[TH]

[D; qe ke n. ‘I don’t/didn’t know’ D; cf balau D]

 

[D; RE]

noso

   va-noso

   va-noso-ia

quiet, still, calm; be quiet!

be quiet, be still, be calm

calm, soothe; quieten her, quieten him

ADJ, IMP; D; cf moko, bule]

[Vit; D]

[Vtr; D]

nunu

earthquake

[D]

nusa

island

[D; TH; R564]

Ñ

ñabo

 

   ñabo-kobu

rotten (of food?), decaying

 

genital boil

[D; TH; cf kikerena D; (yabo ‘corpse’ CD82; to-mate gani y. 'corpse-eating spirit' CD82, CD264)]

[D]

ñalu

   ña-ñalu

play in an organised sense, as in games

N, V [D; TH; this is an abbreviation of ñ.-ñ. according to D]

N, V [D; cf tobikibolo]

ñamu

ritual pounded pudding for exchanging attari binola

[D; pito n. tabuna 'speaking the sacred pudding' (a prayer) CD87; patu n.'huge slab of pudding' CD301; cf rahi; (yamu CD265, CD271, CD300-301; batu y. 'the head of the pudding' (a special piece), y. vakenu 'first pudding' CD96, CD108)]

ñeluka

mud

[D]

ñete

canarium almonds rotten in the shell (a delicacy)

[D; CD302]

ñoro

current, flow

[D; TH]

ñoñopo

suck

[D; TH]

ñuere

final stage of evevana ceremony

[D; CD111]

N

na

short of breath, dyspnoeic, asthma, asthma attack

[D; cf navele?]

nanulia

spoil (someone’s) chances, ruin (someone), ruin (someone’s) work or effort

[D;; cf sogara, rutia]

nari

canarium nut; its tree; large nut but probably generic

[D; R564; CD75, CD273, CD282, CD285-286, CD296, MW263; tiro n.‘harvest canarium nuts’ D; n. kake 'cracked canarium' (variety); n. davala 'black canarium' (variety) CD?, CD106, MW256; nari CD285; cfvino, bulokana, paqa, kuku H]

navele

cough, a cough with fever and headcold

N, V [D; CD268, MW233, MW256; cf na?]

nodo

cut

V [D]

nuju-nuju

canoe figurehead

[D; F38-39, W308, CD92]

O

obirai

large specially constructed motu for special occasions

[D]

odolo

spit

[D; TH]

odu

see udu

 

oqoro

not yet

[D]

ogono

wash, bathe, shower, swim; bathing

V, N [D; TH; RE; CD90]

oka

sky, heaven

[D; MW245; cf ulu]

okiti

wristband of woven grass

[D; CD86, W317; n-okiti W316]

okoro

rain

[D; RE; CD268]

okoto

complete

[D]

olana

   olan-ia

   olana-iu

   olana-nigo

call out to by name

call out his or her name

call out my name, call me

call out your name, call you

[D; cf gigalia, kukili]

[D]

[D; (sp? D)]

[D; (sp? D)]

olana

attract attention using the voice, shout

N, V [D; (elana W306-307; includes the war cry yahi)]

ole

beach, sandy shore; euphamism for toiletting place

[D; see also another term for sandy shore ??? D]

ona

belonging to

[D; cf te]

oni-

   oni-mata

 

tears

 

[D; (odimata? D)]

opere

spear

[D; (hopere TH); (opuree G)]

opo

capsize; bend over and touch ground (of person)

[D; cf joropia H?]

oromari

cassava, tapioca

[D]

ororo

wall

N [D; pala-pala o. 'wall poles of a house' CD104]

osi

slander or complain about one who should be respected

[D; cf kodiko tinoni]

ovala

shell ring, small, roughly made, ceremonial

N [D; *CD74, FCIV, CD83, CD91, F35, W306, W308-309, MW247]

ovo

hide; concealed

V, ADJ [D; W304; cf golomia D]

ovuku

lake

[D]

P

pa

 

   pa na via

   pa navugo

   pa nina

   pa vei

   pa ñoro

at, in, on, (general locative); past (of time)

 

when?

tomorrow

today

where?

yesterday

[D; FCIV, TH, F35, CD 75-76, CD281, CD290, CD295, MW245; p. na sau ‘a long way’, p. na boni ‘last night’, p. na gina ‘today’ D; qi H]

[TH]

[TH]

[TH]

[D; TH; cf ai D]

[D; (pa nora TH)]

pada

appropriate, fits

[D]

paele

hall for storing headhunting canoes and for related meetings and feasts in pre-Christian times, possibly suitable for sleeping guests and followers

[D; *CD74, CD80, CD85, W303-304, R564; cf jelepade; (also paile H)]

paqala

   ta-paqala

break open, crack

split

V [D; patu maja p. 'the stone smitten asunder' (a legend) CD99]

[D; TH]

paja

ascend on land, go inland (specifically to garden? D)

[D (as panja ); CD275; cf sage]

paji

dirty

[D; TH; na p.-na ‘the filth’ D]

pajuku

buy ownership of land through ceremonial presentation of pigs, bakiaand ivata.

[D]

paka

thunder; gun; fire a gun

N, V [D; TH; kati p. ‘don’t shoot’, ‘don’t resort to guns’ D; cf poqa D]

paleka

prick, nick, stab, especially with a thorn

[D; cf kejo p.]

pamana

 

   p-in-amana

ashamed, embarrassed, shy; shame, embarrassment; respect

shame, embarrassment

[D]

 

[D]

pana

a root vegetable (panakae?)

[D]

pana

scissors; cut with scissors

N, V [D]

panakae

sweet potatoe

[D]

papa

father

[D; p. barogoso ‘grandfather’ D; etym. Eng.]

papaka

short

[D; TH; cf pakatia?]

papene

timber, floor boards, plank

[D; R563]

paragu

 

   pa-paragu

cooking by lying in coals

 

roast

[D; p. boso 'cooking the slain' W314; (vudi para ‘cooking bananas' CD285-287)]

ADJ [*CD104; iku p. 'common cooking fire' (lit. 'roasting fire') CD96, CD104, CD300]

pari-pari

a tree fern, its edible tips

[D; CD106, CD263-264, CD286-287, MW236, MW238, MW247, MW257]

parisa

day before yesterday

[D; vugo p. ‘day after tomorrow’ D]

paro

   paro-paro

shoreward, come ashore; (also a spirit??)

stranded

[D; CD270, MW244; kuvili p. 'blowing the conch shoreward' W312-313]

ADJ [CD278]

parugu

cook in the flames of a fire

[D]

pasa

   pasa-pasa

   pasa-pasa

 

   pa-pasa

ginger; sour; any bitter substance

ginger

ginger as traditional medicine

 

turmeric, ginger

N, ADJ [D; sa p. ‘it is sour’ D]

[CD266, CD294, MW233, MW236, MW241, MW246-261; cf papasa?]

[*CD86, CD90; p.-p. jiama ‘a herb of variety of pasa-pasa CD232, MW256]

[TH; (turmeric is no longer used D)]

pasu

an edible sea snail (any edible shellfish D?)

[D; F33]

pata

twins

[D; cf piti, vivi]

patu

stone, rock, slab of stone

N, ADJ [D; TH; RE; R564; CD75, CD272, CD284, CD290, MW241; p. roroqumule ‘pre-Christian place where the shade of the dead paused on its journey to sodo to remember and mourn those left behind’ (lit. ‘stone for thinking back’) D; p. n-yamu 'huge slab of pudding' CD301; p. tae'stinging stone' MW242; kau p. 'stone crane' F35; p. me-ka ‘single stone’, p. sogara ‘scolding stone’, p. gele ‘long stone’ CD75; to-mate p.'stone ghosts' CD92; p. maja paqala 'the stone smitten asunder' (a legend) CD99]

paunu

shade from the sun; shelter in general

[D]

pausu

   paus-ia

 

   p-in-ausu

 

adopt (him/her/it?)

 

adoptee, human or animal; slave, captive

 

V [D; (‘minister to him’ CD81); there is an additional word specifically relating to humans D]

[D; *W305, CD89; (also ‘foreigner’ H); cf nabulu D]

pavu

lethargic, disinterested, ennui

[D; cf kisou]

peqi

sugarcane

[D]

peguru-na

outside of something

[D; FCIV]

peja

   va-peja

   peja-na

wet (season)

moisten, make wet, annoint (with blood?)

juice, fluid other than fresh or salt water

N [*W303]

V [W303, W314; it is the 'christening' ceremony for new canoes, paele, etc]

N [D; W303; p.-n. manini ‘hot drinks, usually tea’ D; fluids are all peja-na, pie or ivere D]

pejulu-na

penis

[D; TH]

peka

dance

N, V [D; TH; W318]

penu

   pe-penu

 

   penu-penu

 

peel or husk of fruit or vegetable; leavings of a person such as skin, nails etc

parcel of leavings used in pre-Christian witchcraft

 

[D; p. iburu ‘betelnut husk’ D; cf ghuliti D]

 

[MW229-230, MW249-250]

pepu

   pepu-na

lie down, present (V)

gift (of objects or animals); it is there

V [D; TH; RE]

N [D; cf korapa D]

pera

lucky

[D; cf vari-pera?]

peso

   pe-peso

earth, soil, dirt, ground, land

earth

[D; CD271]

[TH]

pesu

cooked food eaten with staples to give flavour, eg. fish, leaf vegetables etc

[D; cf ginoja]

piala

smoke tobacco, take betel nut with lime and leaves

[D]

piara

splattered, spread around, scattered, falling apart, derelict

[D]

pidili

   va-pidil-ia

dry, thirsty

dry it, dry him, dry her

ADJ [D; TH; RE]

V [D; cf puqai D]

pido

clitoris

[D]

pie

fresh water

N [D; RE; R563; CD75; cf ivere, peja-na D; (also pei R563)]

pikoto

roof of a verandah

[D]

pina

sago palm (aka ivory-nut palm); thatch made from it

[D; TH; *CD103; tabu-na p. 'type of skull house' (lit 'sacred thing-ivory nut thatch'), piko p. 'part of a house' CD103; p. tabu-na 'sacred ivory nut palm' CD107]

pini

 

   pini-kae

   pini-sa-vea

this

 

this one

it’s like this (reporting speech), (someone) said this ...

[D; TH; RE; FCIV; vea p. ‘like this, this way’ D; immediately preceeds clause initial NP or immediately follows clause final NP]

[D]

[D; lit. ‘this-it-like’; cf -gua D]

pira

grow poorly; small for age

[D; mamadara p. ‘weak blood’ D]

piri

wild, free

ADJ [D; (piru TH; H); jiri p. 'wild dracaena' MW247-248; aqa p. 'wild areca' CD100; aqava p. '(wild?) areca' W307; p. molu 'a wild fruiting plant' MW236-237; cf tuturu votu D]

piro

a bush, the fronds of which are used to wrap food for motu

[D; F33, W307, W316-317, CD87, CD290, CD297, MW239-245, MW260, MW262; also as piri in H; cf piro lomoso]

piro

medicine made from roots

N [D; p. lomoso ‘a plant used to cure impotence’ (lit. ‘cooling piro’) MW253; cf meresina D]

pitana

lobster

[D; TH]

piti

   pi-piti

stitch; tie coconuts by the husk

sew; flag

[D; p. poko ‘sew calico’ D; cf uki]

[D]

piti

twins of the same sex

[D; cf pata, viti]

pito

 

   pi-pito

   pi-pito-na

   pito-ven-iu

   pito-ven-ia

 

   pito-ven-igo

   pito-a

say, inform, tell; saying, prayer, invocation

 

make known, give account

story, account, history, biography

tell me, inform me; take a message for me

tell him/her/it, inform him/her/it; take a message for him/her/it

tell you, inform you; take a message for you

say

N, V [D; CD271, MW234-235; MW245; MW248; p. n-yamu tabu-na'speaking the sacred pudding' (a prayer) CD87]

[D]

[D; cf veveana, tinoa]

[D]

[D]

 

[D]

 V [CD298]

pitua

criticise

[D]

piu

   piu-ia

tie, bandage; know, bandage

tie

V, N [D]

[TH]

poana

?

[see soana D]

poata

shell ring money, sacred, usually plain orbakia, sometimes bokolo or bulaupoatais hypernym?; now also modern money

[D; *CD74, CD111, CD273, CD277, CD290, W302, W306-307; cfseleni]

podekia

   po-podekia

try, sample

practise

[D]

[D]

podelai

start, begin; commencement

V, N [D; (podalai TH)]

podo

   po-podo

   rane-podo

born, gave birth to

gave birth to

birthday, especially first birthday

[D]

[D]

[D]

poqa

shoot with stones

V [D; cf paka]

poqu

   po-poqu

   poqu-poqu

 

leprosy; pre-Christian leprous spirits

leprosy

 

[D; CD266-267]

[CD266]

poi

   poi-’ike

over there

there it is!

[D]

[D]

poka

mute, deaf mute

N [D; cf tutuli]

poki

garden

[D; voja p. 'garden voja' MW240; vua p. ano lit. ‘fruit garden tumeric' MW243]

poko

clothing, fabric

[D; (‘calico’ TH); p. nene ‘any clothing for the legs’ D; cf loqui D]

ponu

swim

[D; (poñu TH)]

popoto

cut hair

[D]

popu

moon, month, calendar

N [D; TH; RE; MW252; G; doma p. ‘menstruation’ D]

pora

that

[D; RE]

poraka

   ta-poraka

   pora-poraka

break, split

broken, split

breaking

V [D; TH]

ADJ [D; cf ikareD]

ADJ [patu p.-p. 'breaking stone' (used to break things on) CD284]

potana

charm; equipment used in treatment

[D; CD285, MW234; p. iama 'consecration charms' CD106]

pote

full of food, satiated

[D; p. vivitigi ‘indigestion from overeating’ D]

pou

hole

[D; vona p. ‘structure over hole ddigging for toruru lape]

pogoso

carry

[D; cf ekana, utugu, vakaro]

poguru

hunchback

[D]

pu

3PLCUSTAUX

[D; banara pu tatava 'the chief that flies' CD280]

pua

massage with leaves

[D; (‘fomentation’ MW233)]

pua

thoroughly

[ADV [D]

pubu

small peices of ñamu pudding

[D; cf qurapa]

puqai

dry with a cloth

V [D; (‘wipe’ TH); cf pidili]

pugele

   va-pugele-a

full

fill

ADJ [D; TH; cf pote D]

V [pote v.-p.-a ‘fill it up’ D]

pujakadara

woman’s male first cousin (bilaterally)

[D; cf pore-tasina, kakarovo, tasina, juju-batu]

pupuda

bone

[D; RE; cf rai D]

pupulu

 

   pupulu-na

hair of body excluding pubic and underarm hair

hair

[D]

 

[TH]

purana

surprised; disappointed; suspicious

[D; cf siboro]

puta

 

   puta-na

sleep

 

of sleeping

[D; TH; RE; G; p. qita (gita?) ‘dream’, mati p. ‘sleepy’ D; cfbabarugusu D]

[D]

puta

?

[manoge p. 'ten'; rabate p. ‘twenty’ D; TH]

Q

-qu

   jona-na-qu

1POSS

?my goodness?

 

[(‘variations on “you good”’ D)]

qaqe

afterbirth

[D; CD297]

qaqeri

   va-qaqeri

ready, prepared

make ready, prepare

ADJ [D; (qaqiri *CD88); qaqiri qeto minate 'go on an expedition' W308]

V [D]

qai

we EXC

[D]

qala

first, beforehand

[D; cf gara, kekenu]

qalasi

glass; drinking glass

[D; cf moka]

qao

polio; person disabled in the legs

N [D]

qari

all; they

[D; q. ke ‘they don’t’ D; cf ari, ria, doru, dapu; cf qe ke, qu-ke, sa-ke, kati]

qasere

octopus

[D; MW258]

qavoso

sun

[D; TH; RE; (qawaso G)]

qe

   qe-ke

1SUBJREALAUX

1SUBJREALAUX-NEG

[D; cf ara, qua; cf qari ke, qu-ke, sa-ke, kati]

[D; q.-k. riu ‘I don’t go’, q.k. boka ‘I can’t’ D]

qele

stele at a shrine

[D; *CD92, F35, W304, MW241; q. kakasa 'long stele' (representingbelama) CD293]

qelu

paddle with long handle

[D]

qeto

war canoe

[D; *W308, CD75]

qetu

   qe-qetu

   qetu-qetu

   qetu-nia

happy, pleased with (something)

make fun; ?tease; ?joke

delighted, ecstatic

interested

[D]

[D]

[D]

[D]

qi

3SGREALAUX archaic form

[q. soana pa n-ullu 'journey in the air' (lit. ‘he travelled in the sky’) CD281]

qita

we, us (inclusive)

[D; q. k-aru ‘you and I’, ‘we two’ D]

qoele

old woman

[D; CD278, CD283; mama q. ‘grandmother’ D]

qoqono

talk, converse; language

[D; TH; cf baere, gigalia D]

qola

peel

V [D; q. oromari ‘peel cassava’ D]

qopu

toeless or fingerless from leprosy

[D; CD266]

qu

   qu-ke

2SUBJREALISAUX

2SUBJREALISAUX-NEG

[D; ago q. ‘you are, you do’ D; cf mu, munu, ago, nigo, igo]

[D; q. boka ‘you can’t’, q. taveti ‘you don’t work’, ‘you aren’t working’ D; cf qari-ke, qe-ke, sa-ke, kati]

qua

   -qua

I, mine

[D; ara dai q. ‘I don’t want’, ‘I don’t like’, q. toruru ‘my egg’ D; cf ara, qe]

[ta-n'my' MW249; tama-n. 'my father' W306]

qurapa

pieces of ñamu pudding packed together for motu

[D; cf pubu]

R

-rua

   vina-rua

-aru

   k-aru

two

second

two

two, they two

 

[D]

 

[D; TH; R564; k. tamatasi 'two pairs of brothers and sisters' CD99; (karu G)]

raba

weed

V [D]

rabate

   rabate puta

   rabate kame

   rabate ue

   rabate alu

   rabate kalu

twenty

twenty exactly

twenty one

twenty three

twenty eight

twenty eight

[D]

[D]

[D]

[D]

[D]

[D]

rae

forehead

[D; R564; *CD91-92; also rai H; cf popo r. H]

raqa

   ra-raqa

   raqa-raqa

 

chest

chest

 

[D]

[piruku r.-r. ‘chest like a vein of the coconut leaf’ MW239]

ragana

 

   ragana-bu

a tree from which bark cloth is made; the bark cloth

modern term for blue bark cloth

[D; W302, CD264, CD281]

 

[D]

rahi

pudding of pounded nut (banana and breadfruit H)

[D; CD301; cf ñamu D; cf ragese? H]

rai

something stuck in the throat

[D]

raisi

rice

[D; Etym. Eng.]

rako

iguana, monitor linjard

[D; MW258-259]

ramata

sticky; stuck to

[D]

rane

   rane-boni

 

   rane-podo

day

severe storm at sea, stormy and dangerous sea (lit. 'day-night')

birthday

[D; TH; CD281, CD289; (also rani H)]

[D; CD289-290, CD293; (also rani-boni H)]

 

[D]

raneto

son in law, daughter in law

[D; cf roroto]

ranego

trust

[D]

rarabuana

numb, paralysed

[D]

raro

saucepan; cook in a saucepan or by boiling

N, V [D]

rerejo

gravel, coral gravel

[D]

rereko

woman, female

[D; TH; RE; koburu r. ‘girl’, r. iviva ‘adult woman, important woman’ D]

resana

drizzle, misty rain

[D]

reza

razor

[D]

ria

they, them, everyone

[D; r. tinoni ‘all the people’ D; cf ari]

rijo

move over, shift

V [D]

riki-riki

a shell, tiny, of no significance

[D; MW254, MW256; cf bariki ?]

riko

shell ring,sacred, made by gods, (includes bariki?)

[D; *CD74, CD266, CD267, CD296]

ririjo

   va-ririjo

joke, tease

joke about, give cheek, make fun, engage in good humoured banter

[D]

[D]

riu

depart, leave; get out, go away

V, IMP; D; TH]

roa

 

 

roa-qu

parent-in-law; child-in-law; wife’s sister; sister’s husband; husband’s older brother; younger brother’s wife

my roa

[D; WHR; cf iva]

 

 

[WHR]

rodomo

dark, darkness

[D; totoso r. ‘pre-Christian times’ D]

roqu

   ro-roqu

   roqu-mule

   roqu-muma

thought

think

remember, reminisce (lit. thought-return)

forget, forgotten, unable to recall (lit. thought-lose)

N [D]

V [D; TH]

[D]

[D]

roroto

relatives by marriage

[D; cf raneto]

rorove

worldly, having experienced life; suspect

ADJ, V [D]

rovea

hope

[D]

rua

neck

N, ADJ(?); D; TH; RE; lovo-r. 'hung person' CD86, CD263; li-livo-r.'scorpion' (lit. 'tooth-neck') TH]

rupa

take (?)

[D; cf tekua]

rupe

cut nut

[D; CD282, CD288; cf kinu TH; (r. raro ‘a plant which fruits’ MW239, MW249; cf rara? H)]

rura

lost (person); forget

[D; cf muma, roqu-muma]

ruriti

greedy

[D]

ruru

drop down a crack or space

[D]

rurusu

bleach hair with lime

V [D]

rutia

stop (someone or something), prevent; refuse

[D; cf sogara, nanulia]

S

 

sa

 

 

   sa-ke

he, she, him, her, it; 3SUBJREALAUX

 

 

3SUBJREALAUX-NEG

[D; cf isasa manani ko sa vua 'he is propitious and they fruit' (?) CD282; sa mate 'he has fainted' CD83; sa lomoso na tamasa 'the god was cold' CD285; (sa gua 'say' RE)]

[D; cf qe-ke, qu-ke, qari-ke, kati]

sa

   sa-sa

   na-sa

what?

what is that? (in curiosity or wonder)

what

[D; RE]

[D]

[D]

sabukai

divination with a shell ring

V, N [D; CD278, CD288, MW262]

sage

 

   va-sage

   sage-rane

   ake-sage

ascend, rise, go up (including prices); expensive

raise, pull up

every day (day after day?)

pre-Christian funerary rite when skull is taken up to skull house

[D; TH; R564; CD90-92; cf kesa, paja D; s. kami rani 'he went out one day' CD281]

[D]

[D; cf doru-rane D]

[CD90]

sagoto

good, preferable

[D; cf jonana]

sai

   s-in-ai

angry

anger

ADJ [D]

N [D]

sakasa

midday, early afternoon

[D; s. jonana ‘good day’ (at appropriate times), pana s. ‘the previous midday’, kite s. ‘the next midday’ D; cf korapa-rane]

salana

cure

N [D; CD297, MW232, MW234, MW251, MW256]

sape

floor

[D]

saputu

tremble

[D; cf neneqere]

sasa

see sa

 

sau

 

   sau-nai

distant (in time or geography), far, a long way

long time

[D; TH; R564; CD232, CD235; cf iru sao H]

 

[D]

sava

thing

[D; cf kamisa, manugu]

savo

confining house after childbirth

[D; CD81, CD297]

sea

   s-in-ea

   va-sea

bad, morally wrong, no good; (mistake?)

mistake

make bad

[D; RE; TH]

N [D]

[D; (‘copulate’ TH)]

seda

frangipani

[D]

seleni

money, cash

[D; cf poata]

semu

sneeze

[D]

sesepo

dig with the hands; dig for bush turkey eggs

[D]

seta

mouth

[D; cf mana]

setani

satan in Christian theology

[D; etym. Eng.; cf to-mate]

sia

   ka-sia

   vina-sia

nine

nine of (something); every one of

ninth, number nine

[D; TH,;R563; (sean G)]

[D; k.-s. gusu ‘world’ D, RE;k.-s. yako 'nine thousand' CD265]

[D]

siboro

shocked, startled, stunned, very surprised

ADJ [D; MW257; cf purana]

sie

dog

[D; TH; RE]

siqara

   si-siqara

quickly, hurredly

very fast; hurry up!

[D]

[D]

siqe

waist

[D]

sika

taro

[D; TH; CD286]

sikulu

   va-sikulu

learn, teach

teach

[D]

V [D]

simbo

foreign name for madegusu

[D; R562; G278; nusa s. ‘islet off SE coast of main island, one of the four districts’ D]

simenti

cement; the cementing of a grave

[D; etym. Eng.]

sino

breathe, blow nose; breath, air(?)

[D; TH]

siopo

serve, spoon out food

[D]

siote

shirt

[D]

sipuni

spoon

[D]

soana

 

 

 

 

   so-soana

walk; path, road, track, route, way

 

 

 

 

by walking; walkabout; wander

N, V, IMP; D; RE; cf poana D; molu s. ‘pregnant while unmarried’ (lit. ‘pregnant on the road’), podo s. also rarely mo-s. child born of unmarried woman ’ (lit. ‘born on the road’), s. hoboro ‘adulterous woman’, walkabout for no good purpose (good natured or malicious depending on context)’ (lit. ‘walk-nothing’) D; qi s. pa n-ullu 'a journey in the air' H]

[D; (‘walk’ TH)]

sodo

pre-Christian home of spirits of the dead

[D; oka, ulu]

sogara

prevent (someone from doing something), impede

V, ADJ [D; CD278; cf rutia, nanuqlia D; patu s. ‘scolding stone’ CD75]

sogoto

   sogot-igo

lie together sexually, sleep together

lie with you

[D]

[D; mai ko ma s.-i. ‘come, I will lie with you’ D]

soku

plenty, many

[D; TH; RE; s. jola ‘excessive amounts’, vast amounts’, ‘more than is needed’ D]

solo

salt

[D]

somana

participate, attend

[D]

sopu

   so-sopu

soap

wash clothes

[D]

[D; cf dalo, loqa]

sore

sorry

[D; cf taikolo]

soto

   so-soto

 

   soto-na

   soto-mu

   soto-qu

of truth

true; truly, honestly

 

it is true

you tell the truth

I tell the truth

[D]

[D; tasina s.-s. siblings sharing both parents’ (lit. ‘true sibling’) D; (‘truth’ (mortal, as opposed to mana) CD284, MW260)]

[D]

[D]

[D]

sulu

burn

V [D; TH; RE; R564, s. boso 'burning the slain' W314-315]

suni

injection, depo provera

[D; cf meresena]

sura

mature coconut

[D; CD286; pora s. ‘cut coconut’, tagolo s. ‘cooked coconut (inc. copra)’, moño s. ‘squeenjed coconut’ D; cf ida, bulo D]

surana

   va-surana

take as a passenger

put on board

V [D]

V [*W310]

susu

breast, breast milk

[D; TH; RE; R564]

suti

   su-suti

comb

comb

N [D]

V [D]

suvere

   s-in-uvere

stay, remain

visit, stay

V [D]

N [D]

suvu

   suvu igana

dive under water

dive for fish

[D]

[D]

T

ta

   ta-qu

   ta-mi-qai

   ta-mi-qita

   ta-mu

   ta-mu-gau

   ta-na

   ta-di-ria

   ta-dia

   ta-nisa

   ta-via

belonging to, of

mine

ours (exclusive)

ours (inclusive)

yours (sg)

yours (pl)

his, hers, its

theirs, belonging to all of them

?

?

of a chief

[CD268, CD280; cf te]

[D; MW249; cf qua, -qu

[D; t.-m.-g. doru ‘belonging to all of us’ D]

[D; t.-m.-q. doru ‘belonging to all of us’ D]

[D; FCIV; (‘for thee’ H); cf -mu]

[D; t.-m.-g. doru ‘belonging to all of you’ D]

[D; kapu ta-na belama 'the frigate bird's scale' F36, cf jari ta-na lape H]

[D; cf ria]

[vona ta-dia tamasa 'the spirit's house' CD270]

[koburu t.-n. banara 'a chief's followers' CD78]

[koburu t.-v. 'children of a chief' CD78]

ta’ikolo (tai’ikolo,

                     tikolo)

sorry for, sympathetic, regretful, sad, anxious, worried

[D; (written taikolo D); cf tolia]

tabe

give a woman in marriage without her consent

V [D]

tabu

 

   tabu-na

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   tabu-nana

forbidden; pre-Christian sacred

 

any forbidden place; euphemism for genitals; pre-Christian sacred place or thing

 

 

 

 

 

forbidden

[D; F35, W306, W308, W317, CD90, CD96, CD105-106, CD109, CD265, CD288, CD292, CD299, MW230-231, MW252]

ADJ, N [D; *CD103, CD284, CD290, CD293; iburu t.-n. 'sacred betel',uala t.-n. 'sacred areca' F35; masa t.-n. 'sacred flesh' F36; ara t.-n. 'sacredaltar' CD84; n-yamu t.-n. 'the sacred pudding' CD87; t.-n. pina 'type of skull house' (lit 'sacred thing-ivory nut thatch) CD103; poka t.-n. 'precincts of a skull house', pina t.-n. 'sacred ivory nut palm' CD107; vona t.-n. 'holyhouse' CD107, CD111; sasara t.-n. 'ceremony of blowing conch shells at completion of skull house' CD111; varavu t.-n. 'a ceremony' CD112]

[CD271]

taqalo

clean; light

[D; totoso t. ‘the period since the advent of Christianity’ cf totoso D]

tagolo

coconut meat, copra

[D; cf sura]

tagoro

etched stone posts

[D; (‘shrine of a plantation’ CD284)]

tainatu

don’t worry about it, it’s not important

[D; cf kaporenabivea]

tajue

miscarriage

[D]

taka

   taka-bolo

kick

soccer (lit. kick-ball)

[D]

[D]

takamana

door

[D]

takobu

   takobu-ni

   takobokolo

broken

half

a disease which breaks the legs

[CD268]

[D]

[(takobukolo ?)CD265]

takore

arise, get out of bed

[D]

tale popu

return of the moon

[D; t. not known to D as free form, only with popu; MW252]

tali

fishing line

[D; va-va-gore t. 'make a line go down' (fishing by trolling) F36]

talina

ear, ears

[D; TH; RE; R563-564]

talobi

something in ones eye

[D]

tama

 

 

   tama-na

   tama-qu

   tama-mu

   tama-na-tama-na

father; father’s brother; father’s sister’s husband; mother’s brother; mother’s sister’s husband; grandfather

father

my father

your father

grandparent

[D; TH; WHR; R563-564; t.-qu 'my father' ]

 

 

[D; cf papa D]

[D; WHR; also used by slave of master W306]

[D]

[TH]

tama-lulu-na

opposite sex siblings, people who are luluto eachother

[WHR; cf tama-tasi]

tama-tasi

 

tama-tasi roroto

sibling set, people who are tasi to each other

siblings-in-law

[D; WHR; CD97; ka-ru t. 'two pairs of brothers and sisters' CD99; cf tama-lulu-na]

[WHR]

tama-tina

family of mother and children

[D; WHR; cf tatamana]

tamana

   taman-ia

touch (things), handle

touch them

V [D; cf uli, tune D]

tamaniana

married couple

[WHR]

tamasa

god; pre-Christian god or powerful supernatural entity

[D; W305, W308, CD107, CD111, CD266, CD271, CD282; to-mate t.'god-ghost' CD277, CD282; t. n-aoro 'crop god' CD271; t. vu-vua 'crop god' CD271, CD282; t. pa n-ivere 'marine god' CD295; t. va-bule 'gods who still the weather' CD271, CD294; t. kenu 'principle god' CD271]

tapata

   va-tapata

   t-in-apata

hard, difficult

make difficult, create difficulties

problem, difficulty, hardship

[D]

[D]

[D; cf tolia]

tari

custom marriage involving gift exchange

[D; t. pipiro ‘engagement’, ‘period before marriage’, t. binola ‘the exchange of puddings and motu pig and payment of brideprice after the wedding ceremony and feast’ D]

tasina

 

 

 

   tasina rereko

   tasina marane

   tasina-qu

   tasina-qu rereko

   tasina-mu

   tasina so-soto

 

   tasina kakarovo

   tasina nomana

   pore-tasina

(man’s) younger brother; (woman’s) younger sister; any sibling inc. tuga andlulu; father’s sister’s child; mother’s brother’s child; any first cousin

sister (lit. sibling female)

brother (lit. sibling male)

my sibling

my sister

your sibling

siblings sharing both parents (lit. true sibling)

half siblings, cousins

elder brother

close and important siblings (including classificatory)

[D; (tasi WHR); cf luluna, pujakadara, jujubatu D]

 

 

 

[D]

[D]

[D; (tasi-qu WHR)]

[D]

[D]

[D]

 

[D]

[TH]

[D]

tata

near, close to; nearly, almost

[D; TH]

ta-tama-na

family of father and children

[D; WHR; cf tamatina]

tataru

love

[D; TH]

tatava

fly

V [D; TH; RE; CD280; vaka t. ‘aeroplane’ (lit. ‘flying ship’) D]

taveti

   t-in-aveti

   ta-taveti

   tavet-ia

   taveti-ven-iu

   taveti-ven-igo

work, make, do, hold (an event)

work

work

do it

do it for me, make it and give it to me

do it for you, make it and give it to you

V [D; CD268, CD285; t. boni 'hold a night (festival)' CD96]

N [D]

V [D; (ta-tavete TH); t.-t. vari-gara ‘work together’, ‘community work’ D]

[D]

[D]

[D]

taviti-

   taviti-na

   tavitimi-mu

   taviti-qu

 

kin, wantoks (bilaterally reckoned)

your wantoks

my wantoks

 

[D]

[D]

[D]

tavunu

placing of gravel on a grave after ten days

[D; cf bebesu, era]

te

belonging to (sg)

[D; cf ta]

tea

   te-tea-na

faeces, dung; defecate

place for defecation

N, V [D; TH; R563; CD297; MW264]

[W315]

teku

 

   teku-a

   te-teku

   teku-teku

get, fetch, take

 

get it, get them

eat (respect term)

short rapid paddle strokes; fast pounding

V [D; *CD90; cf utugu, pogoso, wakaro D; t. to-mate 'take the deceased' CD90]

V [D; t. gala-gala 'catch the soul' CD83]

[D; cf gani]

[F35, W312; CD301]

tepa

ask for, request

[D; TH; cf nanasa D]

tetepe

sail

N [D]

teti

step on

[D; cf turu]

tia

   tia-na

   tia-qu

   tia-mu

stomach, belly

his stomach, her stomach, its stomach

my stomach

your stomach

[D; TH; RE; R564; MW237, MW247, MW258-259; cf poje t.opo-t. H]

[D]

[D]

[D]

tina

 

 

 

   tina-na

   tina-qu

mother; parent’s sister; parent’s brother’s wife; grandmother; (man’s) older brother’s wife; perhaps (man’s) younger brother’s wife

mother

my mother

[D; TH; WHR; R564]

 

 

 

[D]

[WHR]

tina

thousand

[D]

tinabara

fare; salary

[D]

tini

 

   tini-na

   tini-mu

   tini-qu

body (human only?)

 

body

your body

my body

[TH, CD269; cf tinonit. vaka ‘white person’ (lit. ‘ship body’) cf tinoni vaka CD299]

[D]

[D]

[D]

tinoni

person, people, human being

[TH, RE, W320; cf t-in-oat. matuana ‘old person’, t. vaka ‘white person’, ‘white people’ (lit. ‘ship people’) cf tini vaka D; t. Sibo ‘a man of S.’ CD75; t. hoboro 'common folk' CD80; vudi t. 'man-banana' CD108; t. pa n-ullu 'man of the air' W320]

tinusa

panel of a sago palm wall

[D]

tiro

   ti-tiro

   tiro-ven-igo

read

reading

read to you

[D]

[D]

[D]

tiro

search for in the undergrowth

[D; naqo t. ñari ‘look for canarium nuts’ D]

tite

young girl (used affectionately or when her name is unknown or is the same as a man’s kejo)

[D]

titi

   titi-kele

   titi-tali

hang up, suspend

pre-Christian festival (the new year?)

pre-Christian offering of bonito at bonito shrine (lit. hang up fishing line)

V [D]

[CD298-299; presumably involved hanging up kele (vino leaves)]

[CD96]

titisia

teacher

[D]

titivi

skirt, sarong

[D]

to-mate

ghost, spirit (including spirits never human), devil; corpse; "a dead man, or any part of him, his corpse, his skull or other relic, his soul" H

[D; F38, *F40, *CD80, CD83, CD107, CD259; W306, MW241, MW245, MW260, MW263; cf setani, ba D; t. kikerina 'evil spirit of woman dead in childbirth' Most feared of all Simbo spirits D, CD261; t. ukana ‘evil spirit of man dead from falling from tree’ D; ven-di t. 'for the spirits' CD87; t. pa na vaqara 'a spirit in the net' F35; t. gani yabo 'corpse eating spirit' CD82, CD264; t. kuri 'witchfinding spirit' MW229, 'healing spirit' MW249-250; t. lovo-rua 'ghost of a woman who has hung herself' CD263; t. ba 'ghost of a witch' MW229; t. muqu-muqu 'spirit of the bush' CD265; t. pa na savo'ghost of a woman who died in childbirth' CD261; t. rekoreko 'female spirit' CD265; t. tamasa 'god-ghost' CD277, CD282; t. tinoni 'ghost of a person' CD261, MW253; t. uka 'ghost of the fallen' CD261; mata-di t. 'the eye of the spirits' MW251; teku t. 'take the deceased', va-tome t. 'putting in the dead' CD90; t. patu 'stone ghosts' CD92; bebe t. 'spirit butterfly' CD95; t. soloso 'spirits of the mountains', kuti-kuti t. 'ghost's marks', toqo-toqo t.'ghosts' seat' CD100; etymology: originally toa mate ‘the dead with continued existence’, ‘living dead’?]

toa

   t-in-oa

alive

life, biography

ADJ [D; TH; malaunu t.-na 'living spirit' TH]

ADJ, N [D; cf veveana, pipito]

toba

enclosure, fence, pen, cage

[D]

tobiki

peck like a hen

[D]

tobikibolo

play, spontaneous and unstructured activity

[D; cf ñañalu]

toqere

mountain, hill

[D; TH; RE]

toqo

   toqo-toqo

sit, seat

seat

V, N, ADJ [D; TH; RE; F35, F37; t. polo 'sit with knees drawn up' (?) CD89]]

N [t.-t. to-mate 'ghosts' seat' CD100]

toiri-

   toiri-na

   toiri-di

 

old, derelict (sg., of things)

old, derelict (pl., of things or people)

 

[D; TH (toiri-ni D pers com)]

[D]

tojamo

   va-tojamo 

   vari-va-tojamo

straight; right, correct; proper, appropriate

straighten; correct; rectify inappropriateness

meeting to overcome disagreement or misunderstanding, collective decision to accept action or to set something right

ADJ [D; TH; sa-ke t. ‘improper’ (lit. ‘it isn’t right’) D]

V [D] 

[D]

toka

ceremony or noise used to drive something away

[D; CD297; t. ave 'ceremony to expel the ave spirit' CD268]

toka

starting to go

[D; t. bei ‘going again’ D]

tokai

   toka-na

   toka-niu

   toka-nigo

   vari-tokai

 

help, assist

help me

help you

help

 

[D]

[D]

[D]

[D]

tolia

problem, concern, worry

N [D; cf tapata, tai’kolo]

tolinia

respect for ones in laws

[D; cf roroto, pamana]

tome

   va-tome

enter

put in

[D]

[v.-t. to-mate 'putting in the dead' CD90; v.-t. mani 'put in the basket' CD95]

tonia

   ton-iu

   ton-igo

lead, take with one, show the way

lead me

lead you

[D]

[D]

[D]

tori tu

already

[D; also t. X t. D]

toriki

tease, goad, torment

[D]

toru-batu

pillow (lit. ?-head)

[D]

torupae

hat

[D]

toruru

egg

[D; TH; RE; R563; t. lape ‘megapode egg’ D]

totoso

time; when in the future?

[D; TH; cf lokana D]

tovogo

wave, ?surf

N [D]

tu

?

[D; mana t. 'be propitious' FCIV; tea t. 'go defaecate' MW264; mana t. 'be propitious, be efficacious']

tu

 

 

 

   tu-na

   tu-qu

   tu-mu

son or daughter; sibling’s child; grandchild; husband’s younger brother; perhaps husband’s older brother (recp oftama tina)

child of (classificatory)

my child (classificatory)

your child (classificatory)

[D; WHR; (‘father’s sister’s child’, ‘mother’s brother’s child’, ‘husband’s brother’ (alternative term) WHR)]

 

 

[D; t. belama 'son of the frigate bird' W320]

[D; WHR]

[D]

tubu

sore, ulcer

N [D; MW251; cf bono D]

tubulu

wet, damp

ADJ [D; TH; cf moe D]

tudu

festival: war feast, or in honour of man slayer

[D; W302, W304, W313, *W316-17, CD293; connected with inatunu; diff. to a vavolo]

tuqasa

umbrella

[D; cf kukuporo]

tuqe

hold, grasp; handle

V [D; TH; MW230; cf uli, tamana D]

tuga

(man’s) older brother; (woman’s) older sister; cousin (now arch. cf tasi)

[D; WHR]

tugele

ritual prostitute

[D; (‘young girl rented from her father’ W317-318); cf majaka]

tugu

?

[cf tu]

tuimai

niece, nephew

[D]

tuku

   tuku-a

closed off as tabu, set aside, excluded

close, block; blocked

[D; cf edoko]

V, ADJ [D]

tula

smoke

[D; TH; RE]

tupe

coconut crab

[D; CD291]

tupit

busy, occupied

[D]

tupo

pudenda

[D]

turu

 

   va-turu

   va-turu-a

   turu-votu

stand, stand up

 

 

the setting up (of something)

be free (lit. stand apart)

V [D; TH; RE; t. taveti ‘bridesmaid’ (lit. ‘standing work’) D; cf teti D; (‘centre posts of a house’ CD103)]

[vudi v.-t. 'a kind of plantain' CD95]

[v.-t.-a kejo 'the setting up of a kenjo' MW232]

[D]

tuti

 

   tuti-a

   tu-tuti

 

   tuti-na

follow; after; sequel; of genetic or hereditary characteristics

genealogy, line of descent

to follow

 

kin, line of descent

[D; TH; MW237; uqi t. 'follow after' CD86; t. varieti 'venereal disease' (lit. 'sequal of coitus') MW237]

[D]

[D; vea na t.-t. 'tribe' (lit. 'like the genealogy', podelai na t.-t. 'ancestor' (lit. 'beginning the genealogy') D; cf bubutu D]

[TH]

tutuli

deaf, hard of hearing

[D; cf poka]

tutunu

joint at mid limb

[D; TH; RE; t. lima 'elbow', t. nene 'knee' D]

tutupa

armlet (generic)

[D; CD83]

tuturu

mad, foolish, ignorant, stupid, simple; mad human spirit

ADJ, N [D; CD80, CD264, CD276, CD300, MW236-237, MW253, MW263; cf luna]

tutusa

fishing with a rod

[D; F37]

U

-ue

   k-ue

   ka-ue

 

three

three of (specified object)

 

[D; TH; (kuay G)]

[D]

uba

I wonder, I’m not sure, I don’t know

[D; always a response D; cf basa]

ubo

really?, oh yeah?, true?

[D]

ude

   ude-a

   ude-ude

 

wrap

parcel

 

V [D]

[CD275; cf hadehade ? H]

udo

leaf falling

[D]

udu

high tide

[D; (odu D)]

uka

   va-uka

   uka-na

fall

drop

fall

[D; TH; koni u. 'don't fall' (warning) D]

[D]

[to-mate u.-n. 'evil spirit of man dead from fall from tree' D]

uki

sew, stitch (usually of leaves)

V [D; cf pipiti]

uku

   uku-ai

flee, run away

hunt

[D; cf abutu D]

[TH]

uli

   ul-uli

touch

touch

V [D; cf tamania, tuqe]

N [D]

ulu

 

   ulu-na

   ul-ulu

high, above; top, air, sky; heaven

 

the top

high; high place; pre-Christian altar

[D; pa-na u. 'on top' D; pa n-u. above’ CD76; qi soana pa n-ulla‘journey in the air' CD281; tinoni pa n-u. 'man of the air' W320; cf okaD]

[D]

ADJ, N [D]

ulua

take off (especially clothes)

[D]

uma

kiss

N, V [D]

umana

   umana-kare

   umana-jona

smell, taste

bad smell; smell bad, stink

good smell; smell good

[D; TH]

[D]

[D]

uru

diarrhoea (non-respect term)

[D; cf vitigi tia]

utugu

carry a container of fluid (such as a bucket)

[D; cf ekana, pogosia]

uve

OK?, Don’t you agree?, How about that? (soothingly)

[D]

uvi

yam

[D; TH; R564]

V

-via

   ka-via

INTERROGATIVE

how many (numeral-interrog.)

[cf pa navia, avirivea, pa vei (?)]

[D; TH]

va’iya

share, distribute

[D; cf var-vagana]

va-

   va-uka

v-

   v-uka

CAUSATIVE

drop (CAUS-fall)

CAUSATIVE

drop (CAUS-fall)

[D; R564; v.-v.-gore tali 'letting down a line' (fishing by trolling) F36; cf peja]

[D]

[D]

va-va-qita

ritual speech used in headhunting and bonito fishing when everyone is assembled

[D; W314]

vabosi

messy; bad body odour

[D; cf bosi]

vaqara

fishing net (large)

[D; FCIV, F35]

vagi

 

   vagi-a

   va-vagi

buy or get a lot of something

 

buy it

sell

[D; v. rane-boni ‘make a storm’ CD293, v. va-bule ‘charm for raising the NW wind’ CD289]

[D]

[D]

vagunu [waqunu]

   vagun-i

   vagun-u

awake, awaken

awaken (transitive)

awaken (intransitive)

V, ADJ [D]

[R563]

[R563-564]

vahesia

praise

[D; v. mulenia ‘too much pride’, ‘self praise’, ‘conceit’ D; cf edoso]

vaja [waja]

a kind of leaf eaten with betel nut

[D]

vaka

   vaka-ro

   vaka-rovo

   vaka-rov-ia

   vaka-tapa

   vaka-tapa

 

take to, bring with

transfer

transfer

attract another person

bring near

 

[D; cf vakatapepogosia, tekua D]

V [v. kuri 'transfer the kuri' MW251]

V [v. gala-gala 'transfer the soul' CD83]

[D]

N [CD111]

vaka

ship

[D; v. tetepe ‘sailing ship’, v. tatava ‘aeroplane’ (lit. ‘flying ship’),tinoni v. ‘white person’ D; tini v. ‘white person’ H]

vaka-kare

express contempt inappropriately

[D]

valusa

fishing for bonito (involves using a tow line)

[D; F33]

vamiro

   va-vamiro

burnt offering

altar for burnt offerings

N [CD299]

[D; iku v-v. 'fire for burning offerings' CD104, CD300; cf ul-ulu D]

vananama [w...]

ready

[D; w. mia ‘ready for’ D; cf qaqeri]

vara

   va-vara

 

   va-vara-vara

   vara-mana

 

prayer, invocation, injunction to spirits

 

the language of prayers and invocations

a ceremony inducing ancestral blessing

 

[D; (vara-vara F35, W306-307, W310, *CD88, CD89, CD110, CD271, CD282, CD304, MW234, MW236, MW243, MW256, MW261; 'not a mere pito')]

[MW262]

[CD111]

varane

brave, courageous

[D; varani ‘men of valour’ MW239]

vari-

 

   vari-alava

   vari-loa

   vari-kesa

   vari-eti

   vari-va-tojamo

 

   vari-bei

   vari-vagana

   vari-gara

   vari-heni

   vari-pode

   vari-vose

   vari-sai

   vari-huma

 

   vari-maja

   vari-pera

   v-in-ari-pera

   vari-va-mate

   vari-golomo

   vari-qita

indicates V requires 2 participants, often indicates mutuality

marry

divorced, divorce, marital separation

sexual intercourse (lit. ‘climb-eachother’)

sexual intercourse (impolite term)

a meeting or group decision to right a wrong

exchange, exchange gifts, swap; revenge

share

together

mixed, combined; mixture

alike, similar, the same; unchanged (?)

competition; compete (lit. ‘paddle-together’)

argue, be angry at each other; argument

exchange punches

exchange downward blows (lit. ‘club each other’)

fight

war

murder, as opposed to execute or kill in battle

funeral, burial, hiding

stick together as a group

[D]

 

V [D; cf alava]

[D; cf loa D]

[D; cf kesa, vari-eti]

[D; CD271, MW237; cf vari-kesa]

[D; cf tojamo]

 

[D; W315; cf bei]

[D; cf va’ia]

N, V [D; TH; cf varisai]

[D; cf heni]

[D; cf kamesina, vea]

V, N [D; cf vose]

V, N [D; cf sai D; cf vari-pera]

V [D; cf huma]

 

V [D; cf maja]

V [D; cf pera? D]

N [D]

[D; tinoni v.-v.-m. ‘habitual murderer’ D]

[D; CD82; cf golomo; cf kurania pana peso D]

[D]

vasosoto

   v-in-asosoto

believe

belief

[D; actually va-so-soto ?]

[D]

vatale [vatali]

thoroughly, with excellence, fully, properly

[D; nonono v. ‘speak pursuasively, well, or properly’, teteku v. ‘eat well’, balau v. ‘really know’ D; cf tojomo, viva]

vavaqasa

very early morning before dawn

[D]

vavatula

motu food prepared and eaten on va-madeand again on the tenth day

[D; cf va-made]

vavuru

play around, muck up, romp, generally disruptive and inappropriate play

[D; muke v. ‘stop fooling around’ D]

ve [uve, we]

all gone!, clean out!, finished!, nothing left!

[D; cf beto, okoto]

vea

   asa-vea

 

   bi-vea

   ka-pore-na-bi-vea

if, suppose

if, suppose; how?, why?; how are you?, what’s going on?

if, suppose

it’s not important, don’t worry about it

[D]

[D]

 

[D]

[D; cf ka-]

vea

 

   ve-vea-na

resemble; like, similar

 

account, explanation, reason

[D; tu v. ‘also’, ‘likewise’, ara tu v. ‘me too’, v. pini ‘like this’ D; cfkamesina, pode, vari-pode]

[D; cf pi-pito-na, t-in-oa]

veala

sacrifice of a human

N [D; W315]

veke

flying fox (generic for bat?)

[D; MW254]

veko

bald (not to be said of a chief or big man)

[D; TH; batu v. ‘bald head’ D; cf roroto, luluna D]

venu

   ven-i-ria

   ven-iqo

   ven-iu

   ven-ia

 

   ven-di

   kopu-venu

   taveti-ven-iu

 

 

   taveti-ven-iqo

give

give to them all

give to you

give to me

give to him, give to her, give to it; on behalf of

on behalf of them

take care of (something for someone)

do it for me, make it for me, do it for me and give it to me, make it for me and give it to me

do it for you, make it for you, do it for you and give it to you, make it for you and give it to you

[D]

[D]

[D]

[D]

[D; TH; RE; gona v.-i. 'throwing for' (a kind of sacrfice) F37]

 

[vedi to-mate 'for the spirits' (as an offering) CD87]

[D; cf kopu D]

[D; cf taveti]

 

 

[D; cf taveti]

vera

wait; be patient

V, IMP; D; TH]

vesolo

referee

[D]

vetugu

   vetugu-vetugu

thorn fishhook used for trolling

[D; TH]

[CD280; v-v. ta-na mao 'a thorn used as a fishhook'; cf mumu qaili]

vevelu

late afternoon, evening

[D; v. jonana ‘good evening’, pa-na v. ‘last evening’, ‘past evening’,kite v. ‘coming evening’ D]

viana

firewood

[D]

vidulu

   vidul-ia

turn, screw, spin

screw, key

V [D]

N [D]

vidulu

whirl about

V [D; (vinu-vidulai CD83)]

vina-

   vina-beto

   vina-rua

   vina-made

   vina-lima

   vina-vonomo

   vina-vitu

   vina-sia

numerical order

final, last

second

fourth

fifth

sixth

seventh

ninth

[D; cf ka-añi D]

ADJ [D]

[D]

[D]

[D]

[D]

[D]

[D]

vina-puta

charm to send people to sleep (lit. '?-sleep')

[D; W312]

vinanunuti

promise

[D]

vinaria

raid

N [D; W304]

vinagi

price

[D]

vino

small canarium almond; small canarium tree

[D; CD106, CD274, CD282, CD286, CD296; cf nari, bulokana, paqa, kuku]

visu

finger nails; toe nails

[D]

vitigi

 

   vi-vitigi

pain, ache, sore

 

excessively bad, dreadfully; pain of childbirth

N, ADJ [D; MW247; v. ba 'witchcraft pains' MW247; v. batu'headache' CD268; v. tia 'belly ache' MW247; cf ke-o! D]

[D; vitigi vi-vitigi ‘any extreme pain’ D]

vitu

   ka-vitu

   vina-vitu

seven

seven of (something)

seventh

[D; TH; R564; (weetu G)]

[D; CD290]

[D]

viva

with gusto, to the full extent

[D; nonono v. ‘speak up’ D; cf vatale]

vivi

twin of the opposite sex

[D; cf piti, pata]

vona

house

[D; TH; R564; CD270; v. puta-na ‘house for sleeping in’, v. lotu‘church’, v. mo ‘hospital or clinic’ D; v. kavu 'cook house' (lit. 'house of ashes') D, CD98; v. tabu-na ‘pre-Christian sacred house' CD107, CD111; (also uana R564)]

vonomo

   ka-vonomo

   vina-vonomo

six

six of (specified object)

sixth

[D; TH; (vonoma R563); (wouama G); cf ka-, vina-]

[D]

[D]

vorunu

hunting by torchlight (as for tupe or veke)

[D; (‘a light manifesting a spirit’ CD270)]

vose

   vari-vose

paddle

competition; compete (lit. ‘paddle-together’)

V, N [D; TH]

V, N [D; cf vari]

votu

go out, bring out, come forth, emerge, remove; get out of the way!

N, V [D; R564; v. maja 'clubs appear', 'bring out the clubs' W308-309;v minate 'the people come forth' W318; v tamasa 'coming forth of the gods' CD277, CD285; cf atu, (qala) D]

vovoso

charm

N [D; W304, *W309-310; ure v. 'areca nuts charm' CD81; lipa v.'bailing v.' W314]

vua

   vu-vua

fruit, blossom, flower bud, seed; fruiting

fruit, crops

N, ADJ [TH; CD108, CD282, MW233, MW253; MW259; R563-564]

N [D; RE; CD271, CD282; cf tamasa v.-v. H]

vudi

banana or plantain; banana or plantain tree

[D; TH; R564; CD285-286; v. madara ‘ripe banana’, ‘ripe bananas’, v. keduka ‘green bananas for cooking’ D; v. lalauru ‘a large variety of v.’ (“Choiseul bananas”) CD288-289; v. tinoni ‘a variety of v.’ (lit. 'man-v.') CD108; v. va-turu ‘a variety of v.’ (lit. ‘standing-v.') CD95; cfvuna? H]

vugo

tomorrow

[D; v. parisa ‘day after tomorrow’ D]

vuna

base, point of origin

[D; v. gugusu 'original and senior tribe on Simbo' D; ('base of banana stem'CD286)]

vurunu

   vurunu-na

hair

feather

[D; (vuru R564); (‘flame’ TH)]

[TH]

Top

TOP
close