A

'ā

to eat

• 'ātē

to eat (something)

• 'āag lelei

delicious (lit. 'good eating')

'äea/‘äe

you (singular)

'ạfi/'ȧf

to bite

'afo/'af

basket, bag

'af'afa/'af'af

ill, weak, illness

• 'af'af lelei

pregnant (lit. 'good illness')

• 'af'ȧk vȧh

to die

'ahại

boat

• 'ahại fere

airplane (lit. 'flying boat')

'ại

wood, tree, stick

• 'ại kō

spear (lit. 'stabbing stick')

• 'ại'ại

stiff, taut

• 'ại peluag

'ạitu/'ạit

spirit, god

• 'ạit'ạki/'ạit'ȧk

to worship

'ala/'al

tooth

• tạk ne 'ala

dentist (lit. 'doctor of teeth')

'alete/'alet

snake

'amaho/'amah

breakfast

'amiarua

we two

'ạmisa/'ạmis

we (but not you)

'ata/'at

soul, spirit

• 'at ha'a

holy spirit

'atakoa

all

'atmại

wise, polite; right (not left)

• hanhap 'atmại

right side

'atmotu/'atmot

island

'ausa/'aus

you all

'a'ana/'a'an

taro

‘e

from, at

• 'e av ta

long ago

• 'e 'ī

today

• 'e kā

tomorrow

• ‘e ‘on ‘i‘i

today, nowadays

• 'e 'on rerege
  
  

• ‘e reko

because

'ea

to say

• 'eag

'efe/'ef

abdomen, stomach

• 'ef'ia

pregnant

'ele/'el

near

• a'el

• a'elemea

• ‘eleaf
  
  

• ‘el se‘ma
  
  

'epa/'eap

woven mat

'epe/'ep

narrow

'ese/'es

to own

• 'es tē

rich (lit. to own things)

• 'es mạhin

slim

• 'es ag

• 'es kokon a'ti'

• 'es potot

'esea

only, alone

• 'eseam

'ī

today

• 'e 'ī

today

'ia

machete

'ikou

taro leaves and meat steamed in banana leaves

'imo/'iom

to drink

• pa 'iom

thirsty (lit. want to drink)

‘inea

to know, think

• 'inea'ia ne

'inoso/'inos

to marry, marriage, married couple

'io

to glance at

'is

we, us (including you)

• 'is la

'itarua

we/us two

'i'i

now, lately

• 'e 'on 'i'i

today

'ofa/'oaf

to like, to love; love, desire

• fak'oaf'oaf

• 'oaf'ofa/'oaf'oaf

happy

• tē fak'oaf'oaf

entertainment

'ofi/'öf

to cut

• 'ohō'ạki/ohō'ȧk
  
  

'oia

to grate (coconut)

'omoe

dinner

'omusa/'omus

belonging to all of you

'orisa/'oris

their

'otomisa/'otomis

our

'ua'ua'ạki/'ua'ua'ȧk

to greet, to thank

'uhi/'üh

yam

'uli/'ül

skin

'umefe/'umef

mixing bowl, eating table, plate

'usu/'us

fight

• tau'uta/tau'uat

• 'ut se mua

to move forwards, progress

afa/af

to mark

äfe/äf      

liver

äfe/äf

one thousand

ạfi/ȧf

to thrive

ạfu/ạf

row (line)

aga/ag

character, quality

• ag raksa'

sinful (lit. bad character)

• ag tē
  
  

• ag'ạki/ag'ȧk

agại

to compete

• hạiagạiget

sporting match, competition

• a'häe'ȧk

to remember

aire/aier

true

• aier'ạki/aier'ȧk
  
  

ala/al

to die, death

• al'ȧk

to kill

ạlạlumu/ạlạlum

blessed, lucky

• ạlạlum'ạkiga

blessing(s)

• fäeag ạlạlum'ạkia

apei

fine white mat

asa/as

name

asa/as

sun

asa/as

yesterday

• 'e asa

yesterday

• ạs’ȧk

• hạiasoagam

ạsu/ạs

smoke

ava/av

time, season, occasion

• av sun ta

summer

• av mạtit ta

winter

• av roa he

long time

• 'e av ta

formerly, long ago

• avat ne

• se av het

a'-

prefix meaning ‘to make something x’

• a'feke/a'fek     

to annoy (literally, to make angry)

• a'ne'ne'

to strengthen

• a'soko/a'sok

to reach, to carry out

• a'sun

to heat up

a'fại

to hear

a'häe

to think

• a'häe'ȧk

to remember

a'mou

used to

a'riri'

slow

a'soko/a'sok

to carry out

a'sū

to be born, to give birth; birth

• a'sū hoi'ȧk

to be born again

a'u'ua      

to die (polite form), retire, rest

A F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V

F

fā

man, male

• fā 'es itu'u

village chief

fäega/fäeag

language; to speak

• fäeag het

word

• fäeag'ȧk

• fäefäeag

fạiȧkse'ia (or fại'ȧksia)

thank you

faka/fak

to be similar

fakmuri/fakmür

• fak ma

• fak'oaf'ofa       

fakpeje/fakpej

ceremonial speech; to give a ceremonial speech

faksoro/faksor

to beseech, apologize; free of charge

faliga/faliag

ear

• ‘ifạliga/'ifaliag

famori/famör

people

• famör         helava

foreigner

fanfana/fanfan

sand

• fa'fa'a
  
  

fạ'i/fȧ

• 
  fȧ'fere/fȧ'fer
  
  

• fạ'purou
  
  

fara/far

to request

faraoa

flour

• faraoa funut

bread (lit. baked flour)

• faraoa he

fau

year

fạ'i/fȧ'

to write, to tatoo

• fȧ' puk

to write a letter

fạ'u/fạ'

back, worse

• 'e fạ' ne

behind

fea

afraid, nervous; fear

fekau

priest, pastor

feke/fek

angry

• se fek      

I’m sorry (lit. don’t be angry)

fekei

Rotuman pudding, steamed in banana leaves

fepi/fep

late

fere/fer

to fly, to jump

• a'ferehit

filo'u/filo'

head

fisi/fis

white

foa

coconut grater

foho/foh

law

folu/fol

three

forạu

to travel

• forạut

passenger, traveler, guest

foro/for

body, shell

fo'a/foa'

to land, step on

fo'ou

new

fo'u/fo'

sugar cane

fū

to stand

fumafua

back (of body)

funu/fun

to cook, boil

• fun masun

to steam

• fun pan

to fry

fupu/fup

to grow; profit

• fupuag ta

roof

furi/für

to turn around, change

futi/füt

to pull

• fu'ạki

G

gagaja/gag

chief, lord

• gagaj 'es itu'u

district chief

• gagaj puer

garue

to work; work

• garue mana

miracle (lit. supernatural work)

gou

I, me

H

hafa/haf

half

hạfu/hạf

stone, rock

• höt'ȧk hạfu

to lay a tombstone

• hạf kirkiri

gravel

haga/hag

to feed

• hag'ia

hagota/hagoat

to fish

• hagoat vao       

net fishing

hạgu/hạg

to awaken

haharạgi/haharȧg

youth, young

haharạgi/haharȧg

fat (person)

• hạipōaga/hạipōag

to meet

hạina/hạian

women, wife

häke/häk

four

• tak halea/halea'ȧk

hanhapa/hanhap

side

• hanhap 'atmại ta

right side

• hanhap seam ta

left side

hạni/hȧn

woman, wife

• hȧn sau

• le' hȧn sau

hanisi/hanis

to love

• hanisiof

love to you (used in letters)

• a’hanisim

to have pity

hanua

land, country

• hanua noho      

city

• hanua utu

province

• hanue ta

ha'a/ha'

taboo, holy, sacred

to plant (something)

• hao tē

to plant

hapa/hap

side

hạsu/hạs

horse; gall bladder

hata/hat

to read, to count

hạ'u/hạ'

clothing, cloth

• hạ'ȧk

to wear

• hạ' lā

pants

• hạ' fạli

sarong

• suiof hạ'u

hạ'u/hạ'

to arrive

• hạ'um

to arrive (here)

• 'on terȧn ta hạ'umea

hefu/hef

star

• a'hegu

helava/helav

beautiful (person)

• a'helav

hele'u/hele'     

to reach, become

• hele'uena

heua

few

hifu/hif

seven

hili/hil

to choose, elect

• hil tē

election

hisi/his

how many?, how much? several

• terȧn his

hofu/hof

to emerge

hoi

turtle

• hoi ne mamas ta
  
  

hoi

full

• hoi 'e

• hoi 'e fea

hoi’ạki/hoi'ȧk

again, following

hosa/hoas

flower

hoti/höt

to board, get on

• ~motokā, 'ahại, pas

to board a car, boat, bus

• höthöt'ạki

ho'a/hoa'

to take, carry, bring

• motokā 'af'afa ho'ag

ambulance, (lit. Car carry sick)

• ho'aga

clan

ho'i/hö'

to return

• ho'imea

hue

fruit

huga/huag

inside; emotion

• 'e huag fürmaria

huga/huag

to smell

hula/hual

to wrestle

hula/hual

moon; month

hula/hual

seed

• huar'ạkia

I

ia

he, she, him, her

ikou

taro leaves and meat steamed in banana leaves

ipu/ip

cup

iria

they, them two

irisa/iris

they, them (more than two)

isu/is

nose, tip

• isfū

knee

i'a/ia'     

fish

J

jaojao

thin (person)

jarava/jarav

green, blue

• jarav fak mạ'usu

green (lit. like grass)

• jarav fak lȧg

blue (lit. like sky)

jạujạu

to hunt

jeamjema/jeamjeam

light (weight)

• a'jeamjeam

joni/jön

to run

• joniof

jou

bottle

ka

and, but

(at beginning of a sentence, this indicates it is a question)

kā

tomorrow

• 'e kā

tomorrow

kafa/kaf

to slap

• kafkafa/kafkaf

to clap

kahā

to laugh

• kahā'ȧk

kạinaga/kạinag

relatives, parts of the body

• kakau sȧs/kakau 'e sạsi

käkä'e/käkä'

finger, toe

kalofi/kalöf

egg

• kạlkạlu/kạlkạl

round; circle

• kạl’ȧk

around

• kạlkạl'ạki

• 'aklo'ȧk kạl'ȧk

kal … ra

will not

kạmia/kȧm

dog

kao

to break, broken

• tē kao fohot

crime (lit. thing break a law)

kat … ra

did not, does not, is not

• ka ne

kato'aga/kato'ag

feast, festival, ceremony

• kaumane'aga/kaumane'ag

group of friends; team (lit. group of players)

• kaunohoga /kaunohoag

family; household

kava/kav

ceremonial drink made from the root of the pepper plant

keia

poor

kele/kel

to see

• keleag

• keleag lelei

• keleag raksa'

kele/kel

black

kem'ạki/kem'ȧk

to close the eyes

kepoi ka

if

kikia

only

kirkiri/kirkir

armpit

kohea

kitchen

kokono/konon

sad, worried, grief

• kokon'ȧk

worried about (something)

koro/kor

village

koroa

goods; possessions

koua

underground oven, feast

kumara/kumar

sweet potato

kumkumu/kumkum

chin, beard

kunei

goat

L

la

will, to (do something)

lā

leg, foot

• la' lā

to go on foot

• lā-hap-rua

läe

sail

laga/lag

fly (the insect)

lạgi/lȧg

sky; weather; wind; climate

lala/lal

deep

laloga/laloag

inside, far out to sea

• 'e laloag

in

lämäne/lämän

lemon

lamlama/lamlam

tall

la'o/la'

to go

le

lei

whale’s tooth, necklace, lei

• lel huag

lelei

good, beautiful

• a'lelei

well, to cure

• hạia'leleiga

peace (lit. doing good to each other)

leu

to come (usually with the directional :leum)  

• leuag

leva/leav

hair

• leavleva

le'e/le'

child, person

• lele'a

• lelea' rak tē

• le' mea'mea' het

child, baby (lit. a small person)

lima/liam

five

lio

voice

• lio ti'

loud voice

loho/loh

full, satisfied

• a'lohoa

lolo/lol

oil, coconut cream

• lol'ạki

lopo/lop

below

• lo'ạki       

luka/luak

short

M

ma

and, with; to have

mā

faith

mäeva/mäeav

attitude

mafa/maf

eye, face

mạfu/mạf

quite mature, hard

mafua

old; leader, spokesperson

• mamfua

old (of many things)

• magkō hūut

maha/mah

heavy

mahmahana/mahmahan

warm

maho/mah

to become cold

maka/mak

song, dance, music, to chant

• kaumakaga

choir (lit. singing group)

• le' makat

singer

• mak'ạki

mạlu/mạl

picture, photograph

mạlumu/malum

to smile; funny, amused

• mạlum'ȧk

• a'mạlum

• käekäemạlumu/käekäemạlum
  
  

• käemạlum'ȧk 'on mafa

mamafa/mamaf

to wake up, get up

mamasa/mamas

dry; drying ceremony (for visitors), seashore, dry land

mạmi/mȧm

sweet

mamosa/mamoas

ripe

mam'asa/mam'as

cruel; a giant

mane'a/manea'

to play, game

mạnmạnu/mạnmạn

animal

• mao'ạki

maraga/marag

sermon

• marag'ȧk

to preach

marä'e/marä'

playing field

marō

win, victory

• mạsmạsi/mȧsmȧs

salty

mata/mat

wet

• a’mat

mạtiti/mạtit

cold, cool

• taumạtit

fever, feverish

mạuri/mȧür     

life

• tē mȧür

• a'mȧür

ma’oi

many

• a'ma'ma'oi

ma'kiga/ma'kiag

grandchild, grandparent

ma'ma'a/ma'ma'

clean, bright

mea'me'a/mea'mea'

small, young; a little

merene/meren

melon

mijarạni/mijarȧn

morning

mi'a/mia'

red

moa

chicken, rooster

monē

money

mori/mör

orange

mose/mös

to sleep

• rē mose

to dream (lit. make sleep)

• pa mös'ia

sleepy

• mosega/moseag

bed

• mös lelei

mou

firm; tight

• moumou

hard (object)

mua

front

• 'e mua ne

in front of

• mumua

first

• 'e 'on mumua

mutu/mut

to cut off

N

nā

to give

• nātē fakhanisi

to give a gift

• näe'ạki/näe'ȧk

ne

which, that; or

ne'ne'i/ne'ne'

healthy, strong; strength

• a'ne'ne'ạki/a'ne'neȧk

to heal, to get better

niu

coconut palm; a coconut

noa'ia

thank you; good morning

nofo'a/nofoa'

chair

noho/noh

to live, to dwell

• noh sio

• nohoga/nohoag

nojo/noj

correct; straight

• a’nojoaf

when

nuju/nuj

mouth

nu'sura/nu'suar

door

• nu'suar mutu

window (lit. cut door)

O

ofese/ofes

office

ofi/öf

empty, used up; to finish, to stop

ofrau

wide

ono/on

six

osi/ös

to prepare

ou

to cry

o'i/ö'

parent

• o'i'i

parents

• ö'honi

mother

• ö'fā

father

P

pa

to want

• a'pā'ạki /a'pā'ȧk

päe

to sit

• päega/päeag

seat

• päe’ȧk sio

pạni/pȧn

paint, to paint; color

para/par

to decay

pạri/pȧr

banana

parpara/parpar

soft (object)

pasa/pas

to play cards

pau

very

pạ'u/pạ'

sea eel

pelu/pel

war

• 'ại peluag

pene/pen

odor

• pen raksa'

bad odor

pepa/peap

paper

pera/pear

soil; property, ground, land

• pearpera

dirty

perpere/perper

yellow

pija/piaj

rat

pō

to reach; able

• pō ‘e

because

• pō 'e tese

why?

pogi/pög

night

• 'e pogi

at night

poro/por

ball

• posof

pota/poat

tin can

• poatkau
  

canned/tinned corned beef

• kat puapua ra

puaka/puak

pig

puku/puk

book, letter

• puk ha'a

bible

• puk ta

• puk he ta

pula/pual

to open

• pual'ạki

to open the eyes

pulmakau

cow, bull

• le' ne pulmakau

calf

• pulmakau fā

pulolo/pulol

lamp

• tē pup

pure/puer

to judge, rule; judge

• rē puer

to judge

R

• räeag

rạhi/rȧh

fire

rạhu/rạh

ashes

• rạhrạh

gray

rako/rak

to study, learn; education, school

• rak'ạki/rak'ȧk

to teach, show

• le' ne rakot

teacher

raksa'a/raksa'

bad

• keleag raksa'

ugly

• raksa'at

disaster

rạmu/rạm

mosquito

rạni/rȧn

earth, world, day, daylight

• rȧn te‘

rạpi/rȧp

to swim

rau

leaf

• rau susuru
  
  

• a'raumạhin

rē

to make, do

• rēag

rather

• rēag 'af'af

weak

• rē taunȧ'

to hold a meeting

• rē mak

to have a hymn

• rē titi'ȧk

• rē la fak se

• rē marō

• rē ta tēet

• rē vạhia

rēko

for the benefit of, because of

• 'e rēko

because

• rere/rer

• 'e rer ne

• fäeag reut

rī

house; building

• fūag rī

foundation

• rī hapa

shelter

• rī rotu

church

riri/rir

to beat (drum)

riri’i/riri'

small (plural)

• a'riri'i

roa

long

rogrogo/rogrog

story, legend, news

rotu/rot

religion

röt'ạki/röt'ȧk

to endure; to forgive

rū

pain

• rū ala/'efe/ filo'u

tooth/stomach/head ache

rua

two

• ruaghulu/ruaghul

twenty

• ruaghul ma tā

twenty one

• rue'ạki/rue'ȧk

rumu/rum

room

• rum kakauag ta

bathroom

• rum 'atēag ta

dining room        

• rum fäegag ta

living room

• rum moseag ta

bedroom