definite and indefinite article: the, a, an. It is prefixed to all common nouns, except those of a personal nature expressing relationships, parts of the body and person equipment, and also to adjectives; the possessive pronouns do not take it

preposition: to, in, of, at

preposition: to, in, of, at

it, sometimes used as a relative pronoun

interjection: make haste!

how many?, how much?, how often?, how many at a time?, how many times?

swim, float, drift; float through the air, as a bird with motionless wings; adrift, drifting; to run

rivulet or small stream caused by the rain

outrigger of a canoe; that side of a canoe, port, larboard

used when either there is no verb to express the idea or the spreaker is unable to recall the correct verb, so-and-so; thine, anything

to eat

fish sp. of the order Scombridae, a bonito

a native

a native paddle

or, because, whether; if; perhaps

down

(NG) tread, go

tread, go

perhaps (placed at the beginning of a sentence)

stomach, belly, abdomen, entrails

crooked, aslant, as a tree; to sag

repay, replace, compensate, refund; punish, revenge, settle

bait

a tree: Thespesia populnea

bara-bara/ bore a hole, punch

white heron:Ardea sacra "hew, carve

white heron

perhaps (always placed at the end of the sentence)

ten, used of birds and their eggs, and sometimes pigs

snore, grunt

press, squeeze, crush, wring as clothes; pinch or press with the fingers

species of shell-fish

to stone; throw or fling a stone; chase away with stones

fat, grease, lard

fat, grease, lard

one who looks vacantly on or in a fixed, steady manner; hence a foolish person; foolish, stupid, ignorant; to know nothing

be hidden by leaves

pigeon sp.

close up, complete; to darn, as a hole in cloth; to patch

turtle; this word, although found in all areas, is rarely used in New Ireland and Duke of York; it may be a loanword from Nakanai

to cover, obscure, esp. of the clouds

foolish, mute

pig, wild pig

to bubble, foam, boil, effervesce; foam, of the sea

species of vine, Wedelia biflora, with yellow flowers, common in thickets near the beach

betel nut: Areca catechu; more commonly #bua or #bue

heart

the bush, a vague word for any place; be full of weeds

island

fish sp. (unident.)

hum, sing

plant sp. with very thin heart-shaped leaves, the root of which is used in native perfumery as an ointment or embrocation to be rubbed on the bodies of dancers: Columbrina asiatica

keep secret, keep quiet; vanish, as a ghost or a spirit

boil, ulcer, abscess; hence any lump, corner, point, knob, etc.

to swell out, esp. in a rude sense of the breasts

heel; knee (rare)

elbow

hump

fish sp.

turn, roll, turn something upside down

gum or dried sap of a tree; anything used for gum, putty, glue, paste, etc.; to stick with glue, fill up a hole with gum or putty

wax, honey

a littoral vine, macerated and thrown into water in rock holes it stupefies fish; a bomb

a small dove: Aldirhinus insolitus

the operation of stupefying fish with this macerated vine

a littoral, spreading tree, Calophyllum inophyllum. Timber red and very useful. The curved branches are used for canoe-ribs and for ships

day, either a natural or civil day of twleve hours or an astronomical day of twenty-four hours; market, market-day; go to market, buy at market; date

garbage, rubbish

clump of bamboos

Lesser Frigate Bird: Fregata ariel

to slip or slide away; slippery

canarium almond

canarium almond

3sg.

genitive particle and preposition; of; a part of (before human nouns)

there

prefix used before names of females

residue, excess, remainder, over and above

to blow (trans.)

five

infix, inserted after the first letter of a verb to form a noun

M (rare)

lie down, sleep

voice; to shout

interjection: yes! let's!

a curl of the head, lock of hair

peel, peel off, pare

(to) blow, of the wind

leaf of the croton

to split, splice, esp. of small things

bathe

bathe

fish sp.

hair of the human body or of animals; fur, feathers, plumage, bristle

to pluck, as the feather of a fowl, etc.

Uromys rufescens, the mosaic-tailed giant rat, usually about two feet in length

ashes, dust, cinders; grey, dusty (a with breve)

to catch, as one’s self or clothes on a thorn or hook; to prick; barb, thorn

to catch, as thorns in clothes, etc.

mange

ant sp.

scratch, catch, as a thorn in the clothes

to catch, take, as a bird in a trap

to scratch

to scratch

to scratch

to scratch

stinging nettle species: Dendrocnide sessiflora, Laportea interrupta

tongue

to bite

liver

to gnaw to bits, bite into pieces, pull off the husk of a nut with the teeth

putty nut: Parinari laurinum

rat, mouse: Mus browni

bamboo

bamboo

to sound or resound, as the feet of a running person

a kingfisher: Halcyon chloris or Halcyon sancta

kingfisher: Halcyon chloris or H. sancta

to turn something over, esp. leaves

to know by given signs

to tickle

spade, any implement used for digging

pick or pull out by means of the fingernails, to pinch or nip

tie together, as bamboos or stones for a fish trap; secretly encircle a person in order to catch him

straight

straight

lame, paralyzed; lameness, generally attributed to some poison which is put on tabu ground; a lame man

all kinds of house spider

mango sp.: Mangifera minor (?)

to make an exclamation of surprise; to admire, be amazed or surprised at something, marvel

piece of shell or glass used for cutting, or as a lance; hence, a lance; obsidian

a small pigeon or pheasant-dove: Macropygia carteretia and Macropygia nigirostris

a generic word for crabs, Cancer spp.

jealous, envious

dolphin

sp. of bird

to snort, snarl, snore, growl, grunt, rumble; thunder

pigeon sp.

tame, domesticated, of animals; be accustomed, be acclimatized

dish, bowl, any open utensil; shell of a coconut

piece of hard, flat coral

to conceive in the womb; pregnant

general name for coconuts, including the tree, fruit, etc.; ripe coconut

deep, of the sea; deep sea, ocean

to sharpen; point; sharp-pointed

the open sea; horizon; the bush people apply this word to any place out of sight; distant, remote, inaccessible, invisible

nit of a louse

curved, crooked, bent

to struggle, twist oneself about, fidget

five

right hand

to pour, pour out, spill, as water

to pass; to twist, as a rope

to hear, obey, listen, heed

to bark, of a dog; to grunt, of a pig

to bend; to close, as a clasp-knife; to roll up, as a mat (rare)

and, but; with

ripe, overripe

hither, to here; Come here!; to cease, stop, abate, of rain

to be ill or sick

species of small tree, Brousonnetia papyrifera, the bark of which is used for making cloth; native cloth made from this bark; cloth, waist-cloth, loin-cloth, clothing, clothes (in general); to wear cloth or clothes, be dressed

morning, the period between dawn and the forenoon, 6AM to 9AM

shady

soft, pliable, moist

shade; cool, shady, fresh; to shade, stand in the shade

very sweet yam variety: Dioscorea rubicosa, coconut with a sweet husk which is chewed by sick persons, rather like barley-sugar

a fish: Anableps tetrophthalmus

to chew

ulcer, sore, wound

sharp, of pointed or edged tools; to sharpen, point

cooked; ripe; mature

to heal, of a wound

docile, tame, domesticated

die; dead; extinguished, go out (of light or fire); numb; intensive particle and adverb: very, greatly, extremely

eye; face; opening, socket, hole through anything

doorway

to have many holes

sun (‘eye of the day’)

operculum of the seashell known as #kul, Turbo marmoratus

mesh of a fishnet

spring of water, waterhole, tap of a tank

nipple

change, exchange, buy

the relationship between a woman’s brothers and sisters and her children; nephew or niece; mother’s brother

to be satisfied, have had enough food; enough

wet, drenched, saturated

to dazzle, esp. of the sun on the water

death

make a sucking noise with the mouth to indicate a longing for food

make a sucking noise with the mouth to indicate a longing for food

stay in a house and keep guard; remain and take care of the home, a boat, etc.

again, afresh, more, yet; come back, return, of persons or things

first, firstly, formerly; go first, lead

first, firstly, formerly; go first, lead

first, firstly, formerly; go first, lead

back, backbone, spine; behind

fell trees, cut lumber, esp. to cut out a canoe

3sg. possessor (with nouns of a personal nature, as body parts)

definite and indefinite article: the, a, an

marker of part-whole relationships, as in #mata na u ‘nipple’ 〈eye of breast〉

outside

child; the young of any animal; the suffix #-una (#natu-na ‘his/her child’) is applied only to persons,#ina (#nati-na ‘its calf, etc.’) to the lower animals

the young of animals

young of any animal

child (human)

keep pouring forth, rushing, running, gushing, flowing quickly

to pour forth, rush, run, gush, flow quickly; rapid flow, rapid motion; torrent, jet

banyan

gasp, breathe with difficulty

breathe heavily, draw a long and deep breath; heave the chest in breathing

gesticulate, especially as a result of anger, to stamp the foot

to cry, scream, squeal, as a pig (applied to a person who laughs)

strike with a stick in the #ŋauŋau ceremony

to squeal, as a pig

to shout

toothless

1sg possessive suffix, used with all nouns of a personal nature, i.e. parts of the body, relatives, etc.

husk a coconut with the teeth

breathe; difficulty in breathing

to have difficulty in breathing

to snore

whine, murmur, cry

to keep gnawing or nibbling

to gnaw, nibble, esp. at the fingernails

whine, murmur, cry

to gasp or groan, resulting from pain or fatigue

to poke or probe, poke a fire, prod

enter or go through, as a door in a house or a gap in the reef

to lend, help

to call, shout

straight

complete, full

straight

to do, make, work, effect

species of fish

to make a bundle

house, building

skin, covering, bark, crust, rind

skin, covering, bark, crust, rind

flash

split down the center, as a bamboo

fish sp.

open the mouth, esp. of a basket or container

to open one’s mouth, open; yawn; gape

to open one’s mouth, be open, yawn, gape

crayfish sp.

to peel off bark - also applied to peeling off lime, paint, etc.

to peel off bark - also applied to peeling off lime, paint, etc.

to peel off bark; also applied to peeling off lime, paint, etc.

boat, ship; foreign, European, brought from overseas in a ship

knee

excrete

excrete, defecate, evacuate the bowels

place, earth, ground, land, soil, dirt; down, down on the ground

place, earth, ground, land, soil, dirt

species of oyster and its shell

knock or tap with the fingers, as a door

knock or tap with the fingers, as a door

curly-haired, curl

fold together, fold or roll up, as cloth; crease

to fold together, fold or roll up, as cloth; crease

kind of sea shell: Conus geographus

beat with a switch or any small thing

to express the milk of coconuts through the fiber; to squeeze, to milk; to wring the water out of clothes

to plait, as a basket or mat

on one side; the edge or hem, esp. of a garment or cloth

on one side; the edge or hem, esp. of a garment or cloth

to force, press, squeeze, wring

to break into pieces (as a cup)

to extinguish, quench, as a fire

delete, erase, efface, eradicate, rub out

to blow, of the wind; to blow from the mouth in such a way as to scatter its contents, as a wizard blows lime into the air, and as a doctor blows saliva onto a wound

vulva, female sexual organs

to dry, scorch, burn

down; down on the ground

to stick, adhere firmly

to roar, of the sea on the reef or the surf; to boom

to cover, as a hen her chicks

breakers, waves breaking on the rocks; to break heavily, of the sea

house

preposition of location: in, at, on, from, by

tobacco

hold something so that someone else will not take it, take something from the hands of another

grandparent; grandchild; reciprocal term used between a woman and her parents-in-law

horn-beetle, the grub of which eats into the heart of coconut and betel-nut palms

sibling of the opposite sex

his/her excrement

feces, excrement

your excrement

my excrement

pure, true, holy, honest, straight, righteous, decent, proper, seemly, reasonable, level

almond-bearing tree: Terminalia litoralis

spilt

back, backwards, with the head facing backwards; upside-down

the clear piece of ground around a house, a yard, hence the outside of the house, or of anything

father, father and child, or the relationship between them or between them and the father's brothers

here, just here

a shrub with edible figs: Ficus tinctoria

to cry, weep, wail; make a noise, as of water shaken in a bottle, also of water about to boil; to sing, of birds and musical instruments; sound

to mourn, bewail

skim

to fan

to fan; a fan, bellows, etc.

large fish hawk or osprey: Pandion haliaetus

obey, agree, consent

season, time, period

conch shell, Strombus epidromus, and other varieties

abdomen, belly; the human body from the lower ribs to the thighs; the outside skin of the abdomen

M

mirror, looking-glass; originally applied to a pool on the surface of which a scum was created with the leaves of the #kadaka-dolo, used as a mirror; spectacles, glasses; window, any clear glass; to use a mirror

sp. of tree, Parinarium laurinum; the fruit of this tree, used for caulking and stopping for canoes; to stop and putty a canoe with this

sound of a bullet striking a tree, etc.

cut a chip, cut out a spear point

to pour water on, dampen, soak, saturate, make wet through

to show, point at or out, distinguish

species of land crab

to grow, of men or animals but not plants

to grow, of men or animals, but not plants; stout, corpulent, fat, esp. of people, occasionally of fruit

grandparent/grandchild; the relationship between them

to probe

to burn, cook, roast, broil; burn down the grass on a new plantation

real, true, native; really, intensely, richly, very; loyal, honest; proper

sugar, sugarcane

to pierce, as a spear or arrow; to perforate, bore through

to be, exist, stand, stop

brother of a man

short piece of bamboo, used by women to beat time to a dance

species of vine

thou, you, thee, 2sg. nominative and accusative

interjection expressing mild surprise

to root about, as a pig; to open an oven and prod the food

a small spike put in a path for an enemy to tread upon

to bore through, bore into

head, hair, top, apex, crown

shoulder; clavicle

plantation, field

yam

coconut-fibre; gristle; ligament; sinew; tendon; tough, of flesh

octopus, cuttlefish

bone; midrib of a leaf; rib of a boat; skeleton

make a loud noise or a rough sound; to roar; murmur, rumble

kind of large fish

fish sp.

louse (#utu in compounds)

kind of fish

three

moaning sound of the wind or surf

a beach tree: Pongamia Pinnata

a vine: Merremia peltata

Kleinhovia hospita

Pandanius dubius

peep, cheep (Bley 1912)

hunger, famine; immaturity, of trees; hungry, in a state of famine

blow, blow on (as the wind), play a bamboo flute, blow on a trumpet shell

only

fruit or seed of any plant or tree

crop; to yield

outcome, result, success, return, profit, product, produce

fruit of the breadfruit tree

mist, fog, steam; pillar of smoke, cloud; foggy, misty

a bird: Aplonis spp.

species of roots which yields a poison used to kill fish; kill fish with this poison; dynamite, sometimes used to catch fish; powder

a species of root which yields a poison used to kill fish; to kill fish with this poison

beginning, cause, origin, source, basis, root, foundations; used either of material things like trees or houses, or of ideas; to begin, commence, cause

ridge, ridgepole of a house

an oval fish-trap made like a basket, of cane and bamboo strips

to rise (of smoke or steam)

go, move; come

to awaken, awake, rouse, arouse, excite

reciprocal prefix used with verbs, e.g. #kul 'to pay', #wara-kul 'to pay each other'; this word often becomes #wari- before #r, e.g. #wari-rap

frequentative prefix

woman

to plait, weave (as a mat)

paddle, oar, anything of similar shape, such as the petal of a flower; to paddle, row

swell, swell out; be fat (of a person), distend

to weed, pull up (as grass, weeds, etc.)

species of fish with small spines and said to be edible

species of large tree which grows on the beach: Barringtonia speciosa