Nyoongar Langauge Dictionary: A Alidja - there/that Aliwa - beware/lookout Arwoon - jocular expression/LOL Arn - over B Ba - maybe Baakan - bite/pain/sore Baal - he/she/it baalang- his/ hers Baalabang - theirs Baalabany - them Baalup - they Baam/Buma - hit / strike babanginy - lightning Babitj - bat Barndak - openly/publicly/exposed barn - crawl / walk baakadju- fight / contest Balak - naked bandi - bream Balayi - Watch out! balbit- foolish Baalal - herself/himself baba- weak Balar - hide / secret Balarijow - hide something balluk - accidentally / unintentionally Balyan - wet / damp Banya - sweat/perspire Barrang - get/bring/take barrang kaditj - remember barang-doordokan - rescue/save bandang - whole / every bardang - jump Bardip - Story/history Balyat- mischievous cheeky creature Bardo - leave / to go / depart Bangal - left behind Bandjar - patient Bandji - horny bangalanga - exchange/barter Bardook - nearby/close Bamba - stingray bambala - cataract Barna - animals barn barn - moth baardi- widgetty grub Barra - erroneously / wrongly / incorrectly Barrabart - go astray Barrakaditj - misunderstand Benang - tomorrow Belli - superior / excellent Bibi - breast Bibilyer - bustard turkey Bidi - path/way/track/ vein Bilya - river / creek Bibool / yoorl - paperbark biya beda mokiny - octopus Bibi moolya - nipple bibdjool- gecko Bilka - ankle Bidit - ant Binar - meteor/comet Bindari - lightning/thunderstorm Bindi-Bindi - butterfly Birki Birki - confused Bidibaba - weak/lethargy/tired Bindjareb - Pinjarra bikadoo- wallaroo Birn - dig/scratch Biryt - daylight Bilang - roll over Bilara - dry leaves Bedik Bedik - quiet/gentle Biyoo - awake Bellak - sufficient bokadja - far away Bonitj- knee Bokal - back (body) Boodjari - pregnant Boodja - land / country Boola - many / plenty / lots Boolya - magic Boolyaka - evacuate/flee Boorndong - money Boor - rough / hard Boora - inside / within Boorda - soon Boordawon - later / sometime later Boordawal - early morning Bookor - Brave Booldjit - western spinebill boodalang- pelican Boorna - tree/wood/stick boorndoon - straight wall spear Booyi - smoke / sea turtle Born - cut Boya - rock /money Boodjark - maggot Borl - sound of hitting Boyar - seducer /whore Booliyak- cow/cattle Boyang - stranger Burdiya - boss / elder / leader Bwoka - cloak Bwokabak - Mount Barker (place of the cloak) bworan - old man Boyn- fat Biyooro - yellow throated minor D Daakat - throat Daalbitj- dry Daany- hole / wound Daat - cunning / sly / quiet Daatja - meat Daawil - Frequently / often Dabakan- slowly / gently Dabart- fall Dakan - break/smash Dakanyang - broken Dandjal - shallow Dalyar - raw Darlmoorluk / Djoonyat / doornart - green parrot Dandjoo - together dandang- climb Dappa - knife Darbal - estuary djardak - white Dardoon - uneven Darap- dive/enter Darrajan- superfluously/unnecessary darlmkorluk / doonart - 28 green parrot Darnavan(ijow) - frighten/terror (to alarm) Demben - Grandmother Djaa - mouth Djaalang- tongue Djaaboot - lip Djaalang-iny - follow / lick Djaat- told off Djarat - fair Djaarlgarro Bilya - Canning River Djanak - evil spirit / devil djarnyak- must djakal-ngakal - pink galah Djalkat - Bilby Djallam - bitter Djel / Yaka - only Djenna - feet djen- foot djert- bird Djenakabi - feather foot Djenna naangkan - big toe Djenara - tree roots Djendal - grey/silver djilabit- mudlark djilyar- honey drink Djer-djer/ djeringka - blue wren Djidi-djidi - willy wag tail Djidily - grass hopper / cricket Djil-djit - fish djeli djildjit- jelly fish djilyara- bees Djidong- lizard djaril - scorpion Djiral - centipede Djilap - pointed / sharp Djilgi - freshwater prawn Djinang - look / see / watch Djinda - star Djidaar - morning Djingkitj - mosquito Djarin - accuse Djiroong - fat/handsome/gorgeous Djil-djobool-iny / Kowanyang-iny- swimming djilba - noongar season Djoo - shame djoordang - green grass Djoodiny - Joey Djooditj - native cat / quoll Djoodik - house cat Djookan - sister Djoor - left Djoorangitj - left side Djoowi - tawny frogmouth owl djoona- barbed fighting spear Djoombar - hair Djowo/djowiny- fur Djoolwedelong - silvereye Djerrupiny - happy / fancying someone Djerda / djert - bird Djeral - North Djilok/Djarbarn - Grey Currawong Djoolbang - Inland Thornbill Djoorlak/Djoolberang - pied butcher bird Djilyiyan - white bellied sea eagle Doniny- Kill Dookoorn - cook dookan- approach Dombart - Grandfather Djaalap / Djaalar - flames Doomboon- cave Doordak - alive djedari- Brown dookatj- digits Dorl-dorl - knock/hit dordok - pig dowak - short heavy throwing stick Dwangk - ear Dwongkaboort - deaf/ignorant Dwongkaboortabiny - forgetting Dwert - dog Doorkoorl - straight Didin - to shut / close Dordangal - circular/angular/round Djapi - vagina Dyuna - short heavy club Dyuwo - explanation if dissent ‘fuck this’ G gwelgannow - shift/avoid/dodge Geegalup - Bridgetown J jidyt- innocent I & e ennow- to move ijow - put/place indjar - dry/dried echenna - happen indat - associate K Ka - or Kaan - bright/visible Kaanya - shame / ashamed / respect Kaaw - laugh Kaawkaw- kookaburra Kabar - wide Kaarang - angry Kaat - head katta kich - Wave Rock Kaat moorditj - smart kaat wara - dumb kaaratj - care Kabarli- old woman Kaditj - know/think/learn/teach/understand Kaditjballar- conceal kadjinak- grey fantail Karni/Bundo - true Bundodjil/karnidjil - definitely/certainly/sure bundoboort/karniboort - untrue/incorrect karniyool - promise kongal- south Kamak - bluebell flowers Kogang- ambush kotj - native axe Kadjo - glue like resin Katta - hill Katta Moorda - mountains (darling scarp) Kaditj - learn/think/know/teach/understand kaditj murdin - fix attention on Kallar- deadly/mortal kaarkainy / Yelka - hawk kanyinak - kingfisher kawar- parrot / lorikeet Kallardtan - fatally wound Kalganup - Kalgan River Kakar - slip Kalkada- Mullet Kalyakool - forever / always / continuously Kambarn - gathering/meet/accompany Kambart - niece kandang- vomit Kanangur- shining/adorned/glittering Kara- spider karak / karakin- red tailed black cockatoo Karadjul - troublesome, naughty Karam - yesterday Kaarda - racehorse goanna Karda - half / part Kardaborn- cut in half karra - behaviour kardakor - amongst / between karder werta- across karil - crab kaarla- fire / camp kaarla bidyl - embers / coal Karo- again Kaarla nariny- burn kaalang- hot/warm kaarla djidip - spark Karli - boomerang Kaya - yes / hello Karo - again Karoyool - return kedalak - night kedala - day kendjil - all kin - zero keny - one kenyak - enough / sufficient kenyang- once ketket- quickly / fast keting - Muscles (seafood) kirlar - soldier ant kiepa- water kiep-koordak - thirsty kiepakollo- running water kiepawarri - stagnant water / pool gidgee (kitj) - spear (single barb) gidgaliny- spear throwing Karimbi- afternoon / evening Kodara - musk duck Korbool- stomach Korboolkoort- full/satisfied Korboolwirnt- empty stomach/ hungry Kongk - uncle Kongkan - father in law Koobong - friend Kormo - Bald head (male lore place) Koodjal - 2 Koodjal koodjal- 4 koobidja- smallest child koodji - thin Koolang- child kooli - buff banded rail Koolyi- dishonest/deceit/fake Koordany - shy Koolyimitj - liar / cheat Koompa- big / heavy Koomal- possum Koombaril- crowd kooranyak- stand clear koorlboorli- beyond koodjookat - ahead Koompoo- bladder / urine Koonak - freshwater crayfish Kooly/koong- sleep in eye Koonyak- soft / tender / smooth Koonyan/bakanang - taste Koonyart - baby Koora - in the past / prior / long ago Koorang - mix/shake/rub/grind Koorda- friend / partner Koort- heart Koortamar- sweetheart Koorantj - embarrassed / awkward kookendjeri - sheep Kori - earlier today Koortudjul - displeased/unhappy Koortukwopa - pleased/happy Koortukenyal - unanimous agreeing / of one heart Koorl - go / travel Koordak - desire koordoormitj - soul kooramba- everywhere Koondarm/walle - dream Koondart - cloud Kowin - smile Kwadjat- before/first/prior kukenarup- Ravensthorpe Kwan - bum/anus kwantj - semen kwardany- body / corpse Kwibilak - hide kwila- shark kwilena / kailar / dwerdawarranang - dolphin Kwel - name / sheoak kwelak - hip / pelvis kwenda - bandicoot kwerat - daughter kwoora- brush tail wallaby Kwopa- good Kwobidak - pretty / cute Kwobadjil / kwobarlitj- best / excellent Kwongkan- sand dunes Kwordijiny/gwaart- throwing kwoliny- wrist Kalyan - salt Korada(n)- short(en) Kwirak- sinew kwooya - frog kworlak- bull shark kwokarillup - Frankland River (place of kwokka) M Maar- breeze/wind/air Maat - leg Mara - hand / 5 mara keny- 6 mara koodjal - 7 maramara djenna - 15 mara naangkan - thumb marawar- west Maradang - feel/grope/touch Mardang- love/infatuated mardangkoo- lover / sweetheart Marak - forearm/branch Marron - black freshwater crayfish marralak - unlucky Maya - voice maaykowa - echo Maap- Skin Maam- male/man Maambart- father Maarli- swan maayabort- voiceless / homeless maya - house/home mayat - red marri sap maamyok - aunty (dad side) malya - brain Malkar - thunder Maliji- shadow maladji - grow mari - red gum Marloo - red kangaroo Manyinar / manyil - Sea lion / seal Manatj - police / white cockatoo Mandjar - trade / exchange mandjarli - damper Manga - nest Mangat - aunty (mum side) mangatj- banksia mangart- jam tree mangka- tea Mandi- vigorous Mandiboort- lazy Mandjang- silly fool mereny- food menditj - sick/unwell metjil- aim/accurate/exact met - attentively mau- 3 Merda- penis Miaritj - oyster harbour midjal- rain Mika- moon mikang - moonlight mila - future mimang - whale mirnitj / moolyamari - face moolyarak. - snot moombaka - horizon mooridi - oyster miran - poise spear to throw Mingko - chest Mining - if Minya - smell Minga - insect Mirow- cry out minyudo - stale / mouldy Mirn- Jealous Miro - throwing board Miyal - eyes Miyal kambar- eyelash miyalboort - blind miyalyin - cry Milkar- fresh / new Moorn- black Malyn - accustomed to/in habit of Mirda- red Mogang - stranger / foreigner Mokiny- similar to/as/like Monda- pubic hair Moolya - nose Moolyaritj - sneeze Moonak- sunlight moodjar- christmas tree Moonda- bush moondoong - ghost Moiny- intercourse/sex moorat - full/deep/pleased moordang- dark/night moordanginy - hunting by moonlight moordalang - run/chase/follow moordiyap - hurry up Moorditj - strong/solid/hard moort - family / relation myragyn- day before yesterday Moordak. - steep / high / deep Moordikalap- drown moorli - evil moyran- grannies Moolyit - palatable Moolyabiny. - sulking Murrijo - to move Murduin - strong/powerful/fixed Munjardo- flipped over/ overturned Muluwar - thorny devil Morytch- absent Myalkeniny - Giddy N Nakal - friendly/harmless/kind/nice naatj - how naatjak - what nannop - stop nalaboort - lazy nar - burn narang- burner ngaak - want / ask ngaakany- stolen ngaakalyang- theif/robber naangk- sun/mother ngan - me/i (passive) ngaitj- me/i (active) ngaidjool - i will nganyang- my / mine ngaakinybarrang - steal ngaarmoot - wood duck ngaarnar - caterpillar ngaawily - blue groper ngoy- elbow Ngambany - pigeon ngawoo - mallee fowl ngoornarna - grey duck ngarkal- seagull nolyang - dusky moorhen noonan - yours noonook - you (passive) noonookoort - everyone nyoodool - you will ngalla - us/we ngalang - ours ngalya- armpitz ngarn/ngannow - eat ngarna - caterpillar ngarbat - greedy ngarda(kan) - down / below (underneath) ngardi - more / continue ngari - Salmon ngolanga - after ngolang- behind ngoobar- sand dune / shore ngooni - brother ngooldja / deni - brother in law ngoonyong- honey ngoop- blood ngoora- small water well ngoordiny- lie down / laying down Ngoorlak - carnabys white tail black cockatoo nookert - sleepy / sleep ngorlak- teeth nordoo/noort- fly noort- smelly / stink Noorook- eggs marwit- baby Noorn- snake Noytj- dead Nodjam - green Nyamari- tobacco Nolomara- kangaroo paw nooloo- narrow nadjil - why nginda - when Ngiyan- who ngiyana- whose nidja - here / this nidja baalap - these nih - listen / hear / pay attention nindyan - kiss nyidiny- cold nyin- live / sit / dwell nyidap- edge nyidiyang/nedigar - ancestors nyinaboort - absent Nyilar / wooyan - blue Nyingarn - echidna nyiyarl - shoulder nyondi- missing / lacking nyorn- sorry/poor thing nyoolbeng - belt nyoolbengkar - mouse (belt haver) Nirran - bark / growl nytbi- nothing Ngalganning- ibis ngambarn- scar tattoos nganga- beard/tree roots ngwidam - honest / serious ngworrinyang - handsome/gorgeous ngundow- lie down Ngarlangkoo - forbidden nirnt- tail niran - to plant/put in the ground nopiny - son nytbi - nothing nyimarak - mountain duck nyumap - tiny / diminutive nyiwaloong - white faced owl ngilat - orange nyi nyi - zebra finch P Paarndi - black bream Q quarra - blue roo T Tjilyin - Sea eagle W wauma - other/another/different waumaboort - nobody waangka- story waangk - talk warangka - sing waangkiboort - speechless / silent waab waangki - tell jokes waab - play waar - female grey kangaroo wadjalla - white person warba- otherwise windo - useless windoo- frown windang - exhausted / worn out wiyul - slight / thin wumbubin - vain / strutting/ proud wungeniny - healing wadjemup - rotness island walbul - stretch / reach walbyn- cure enchantment walyalup - fremantle waugal / wakal- rainbow serpent walken - rainbow Walbungarra - trapdoor spider wakar- breathe walak- divide / split / seperate walar- careless / suddenly waalitj - eagle waloo- open country walyart- tall wana - digging stick wanoytj - thus wanna - women’s digging stick wara - bad warracoolyup - King River warda- fame / news / renowned walakijow - alter / change wardung- crow watto - be gone / go away warn - do / make / search warru - female roo wardyl- whistle wart - neck/throat warryn - word waubow- tease waubatin - overflowing weyan - afraid/fear weyan-weyan - coward weyanboort- brave werdiny- valley weitj - emu widang- to shake/mix Wida Wida - striated pardalote wer - and/also Wimbin - pink eared duck weedang- east wilyan- to miss windja - where windjibandi- gun winyan- sorry looking / have pity winyanap- sorry wiring- direct wiroo - brown owl wirnitj- bad magic/taboo wirndang- exhausted / worn out wirt- empty / exhausted warden- ocean/sea wangen- healthy werbal - poor condition wetdang- collect winnarak- right now / this instance / immediately wulkar- guilty / implicated woonda - shield wundun- stare / wonder wornt- white gum woorliny- very / much woolookoort - behind woordatji - little hairy men woolitj- calf muscle woordang-iny - wear/put on woori- long woordawoort - dragonfly worl- sky Y yaak- stand yaakan - fresh water turtle yaat - chin yabo- temples yaatj- femur yalara/midariny- dance yalkaran - to open yang - to give yandjet - bullrush djoodarak - song yerderap - duck yalle- mushroom yelin - garfish yeye- now yinnang- fresh / new / young / a widow yimang - forehead yinar- tree stump yira - up/high/above yirakan- top yirabiny- arise / going up yira barang- raise yiral- upon yirangitj- erect yirila - fin yimoong- forehead yok- woman yorgka - women yongka- kangaroo yoodan- bind/tie/knot yoodook- last one yookily - shell yoolin- councillor yoondoordoo - osprey yoorn- blue tongue yoorndi - king skink (collie) yangama - give me yoont/yundo - yellow yoowadjil - never yoowal/ yual- come yoowalang- closer yuart/yoowart - no/not yowart- boomer Yoolart - legless lizard yoytj- testicles yalkor- swamp yalya- grave yalga - yet yambong- string affirmation / fuckn oath yanbi- awkward yangka- thanks yampel- flat yambong - actually yolka - snapper PLACE NAMES Manypeaks - Yoolberrup Collie Riger - Boorigup Bilya Walpole - Nornalup (place of the snake) Joondalup - Doondalup Swan River - Derbal Yirrigan Julimar - Doorla Maart Swan Valley - Mandoon Canning River - Djalgarro Bilya Lake Monger - Galup - (place of fire) Stirling Ranges - Koikyennuruff Bluff Knoll - Bula Miyal (many eyes) Herdsman Lake - Ngurgenboro Kalamunda - home in the bush Garden Island - Meeandip (where wagyl rest) Margaret River - Wooditchup Wanneroo - (place of the digging stick) Pemberton - Wandergup Victoria Park - Mindeera Augusta - Talinup Applecross - Margamangup Esperance - Kepa Koorl (going water) Dalkeith - Nanulgarup Wagin - weitjinup (place of the emu) Australind - Elaap Dunsborough - Kwidjinup Kings Park - Martagarup Bunbury - Goombarrup Midland - Mandjanup (place of trade) Busselton - Undalup Ellenbrook - Karlagarap Albany - Kinjarling Armadale - Gnangangarra Denmark - Kwoorabup (place of the black wallaby) Kelmscott - Goolamrup Bremer Bay - Baalungup Cannington - Karakaliny (place of red tail black cockatoo) Mandurah - Mandjargoordap (place of trade) Belmont - Goorgyn Lancelin - Wangaree Forrestfield - Barragup Guilderton - Kabbadah Bibra Lake - Walliabup Yanchep - Yandjip South Perth - Gareenup Fremantle - Walyalup Nedlands - Bootanup Rottnest Island - Wadjemup Cottesloe - Moodoorup Harvey - Korijekup Bridgetown - Geegalup Mount Barker - Bwokabak (place of the cloak) Pinjarra - Bindjareb Ravensthorpe - Kukenarup Wave Rock - Katta Kich Frankland River - Kwokoorilup (place of the quokka) Balcatta - ‘his hill’ Gwellup - Gwelgannow (to shift or move) Goorbiliyup - Blackwood river (digestive system) Donnybrook - Minninup Beverley - Wergijan Brookton - Kalkarni Avon River - Goguljar Bilya wandering - wandooin Goomaling - place of possum gidgegannup - place of gidgee Quinninup - place of zamia (kweneny) Cranbrook - Dwangup (meeting place for Menang, Goreng, and Kaneang) Tammin - place of Tammar Wallaby Rockingham - Moordibirdup Morley - Weeip Butler - Nowergup Wilgarup - Eglington Alkimos - Kyleenup Jindalee - place of stars Cowaramup - place of cowara (purple crowned lorikeet) suffixes: Plurals - a/ka: djen = djenna or koorlang = koorlangka on/near- ak/k/ngat: boorn-ak or bilya-k for/by - ak/k In - al: kiepal with/by means of - al/l: kitj-al or baalabany-al possession - ang: noonang moyran or ngalang mereny past tense - ang: ngan djinangang place of - up/na: boyup or waroona movement towards - koorl: kiepa-koorl movement away/out/from - ool: kiep-ool to become - abiny: moorditj-abiny like/as - mokiny existing/is - boorong negative/wothout - bru/boort have / with - kadak able to / used for - mit inhabitant / belong to - koop very/exclaim - djil doer of action - il plural suffix for verbs - alanginy/alangang dual suffix for verbs - art/ard pronouns: object - the recipient of the action/verb. eg: you did that to me possessive - the owner of the action/verb. eg: that’s mine negation: if bart: used generally with verbs yuada: used generally with adjectives bruu: used roughly as less or without syntax: nyoongar language is written & spoken with a different sentence structure to english, it’s more similar to latin. in english sentence structure goes as follows subject - object - verb unlike in in english where it’s subject - verb - object the verb (doing word) ends the sentence eg: ngalla yongka ngardang-iny direct translation = we kangaroos hunting. ie: we’re hunting kangaroos or koolbardie boorn-al nyin-iny = the magpie the tree-in sitting. ie: the magpie is sitting in the tree green grass grey etc