13 Word Lists
by David Sapio (May 2001)
| Tobian | English | Tobian phrase | English phrase | Comments |
| nimariei | morning | Emoh nimariei | Good morning | |
| nitouhat | afternoon | Emoh nitouhat | Good afternoon | |
| nifahafi | evening | Emoh nifahafi | Good evening | |
| nibong | night | Emoh nibong | It's a nice night | Sebas disagrees. |
| emoh | good | teimoh | no good | Sebas disagrees. |
| mohor | good | Sebas: mohor is a homonym. One meaning is "murky"; the other is "that which enhances or reveals the beauty of something." As paint reveals the beauty of a car. | ||
| sewa | very | Sebas: Sewa is not a separate word; it is an emphasizer. | ||
| feita | do; doing | Ho feita? | How/what are you doing? (informal) | Sebas disagrees. |
| hotsah | Emoh hotsah | I'm good/fine | Sebas disagrees. Also see Word of the Week Archive. |
|
| unga | yes | |||
| nauer | no | |||
| ira | enough | Sebas disagrees. | ||
| teimoh | no good | Sebas disagrees. | ||
| haparah ma hatoahi | thank you | literally, praise (maybe gratitude) and respect | ||
| meta | what | |||
| itou | who | |||
| iya | where | Sebas: should be maiya. | ||
| eweye meta | how | |||
| inget | when | |||
| ngabe | why | |||
| ifiri | at | Sebas disagrees. | ||
| werimihir | after | |||
| etoh | nothing | |||
| ewoh | there is | |||
| sabara | also | Sebas disagrees. | ||
| nga | and | |||
| etai tomar | not bad | |||
| tai | not | |||
| ma | and | |||
| fafauh | Ho fafauh? | How are you? | ||
| samir | stay | Ho samir | You stay (I'm going) | |
| sabuoh | go | Ho sabuoh | You go (I'm staying) | |
| Irou buts | I'm going crazy | |||
| Ho butsa mena | Hey you, that's crazy | |||
| itei | my name | itei, itom, itar… | ||
| rif | nightcrawling | |||
| bwana tsah | because | |||
| esa | then (he, it) | |||
| iefa, iyefa | which | |||
| ngae | or | |||
| ngayawewo | or | |||
| nga | and | Sebas disagrees. | ||
| ma | and | |||
| rama | language | |||
| rihiti | discard; leave it behind | |||
| tsoh | just; only | |||
| emohrira | good enough | |||
| yamir | tissue | |||
| Tobian | English | Tobian phrase | English phrase | Comments |
| biroh | go | |||
| birong | go in | Birongo irani im | Go in the house | |
| bitoh | come | |||
| buh | fight | |||
| buhou | go out, leave | |||
| etawasi | hurt (transitive) | |||
| ewoh | there is, there are | |||
| fainiyau | argue | |||
| fatur | paddle | |||
| fauh | make; do | |||
| fetar | walk | |||
| fita | fishing | |||
| fiteh | work | |||
| habura | light a fire | |||
| hahatahe | climb | |||
| hahatiho | come down | |||
| hahowau | crawl out, come out | |||
| hamatah | hurt (intransitive) | |||
| haroh | let's go | |||
| hataitsits | run | |||
| hatsuh | join | |||
| hatsungeri | join together | |||
| hi | marry | |||
| hokom | play | |||
| hori | use | |||
| hotshots | eat (meat) | |||
| hura | know | |||
| iafafi | swim | |||
| itewou | put out, take out; to come out of a place | Itiwou ma irani im |
Come out from inside the house | |
| kau | learn | |||
| mangau | eat (not meat) | |||
| manguts | tired | |||
| masari | like, want | |||
| masuh | sleep | |||
| meimei | read; literally, look at | |||
| mengimengi | think | Meta ho mengi? Meta yam mengimengi? |
What are you thinking? What are your thoughts? |
|
| mot | sit | Motautu | Sit down | |
| motautu | sit down | |||
| mut | vomit | |||
| niefiefi | wish | |||
| peitaroh | discard, leave behind | |||
| pihaf | steal | |||
| pou | strong/hard | |||
| rihiti | discard, leave behind | |||
| rur | drink | |||
| sibe | let's go | |||
| soh | shout, say | |||
| su | stand | |||
| suung | hungry | |||
| tamasari | not like | |||
| tapa | say | |||
| tauteh | come up | |||
| tawas | to hurt (transitive) | |||
| titiro | talk | |||
| touh point | light a fire | |||
| tsihi | dip | |||
| tsingen | sing | |||
| tutu | shower | |||
| tutu ritet | swim | |||
| ut | rain | |||
| wehitafari | return, go back | |||
| wehitafaritoh | come back to | |||
| hesiye | judge | |||
| hatsop | tend garden | |||
| hafasafas ih | grow fish | |||
| horiparuheri | sell | |||
| hori | use for | |||
| paruheri | buy | |||
| farauh | advise (also law or regulation) | |||
| hahurangari | advise | |||
| Tobian | English | Tobian phrase | English phrase | Comments |
| ngang | I | I | verb prefix | |
| her | you | ho | verb prefix | |
| ii | him; her; it | e | verb prefix | |
| ngangmen | we | he | verb prefix | |
| urutemi | you (pl) | hou | verb prefix | |
| ih | they | ha | verb prefix | |
| mar; mwar | man | |||
| faifir | woman | |||
| tarapar | old, big | |||
| rehiri | old | |||
| riweits | young, small | |||
| batsi | small | |||
| bisi | my friend, brother, sister | (speaker same sex as person indicated) | ||
| bisim | your friend, brother, sister | (listener same sex as person indicated) | ||
| meyangai | my brother, sister | (speaker opposite sex as person indicated) | ||
| meyangam | your brother, sister | (listener opposite sex as person indicated) | ||
| rai | my child, children | rai, ram, rar, rauts, raumem, rauami, rauuh | ||
| hi | spouse | |||
| tamatam | father | tamei | My father | |
| bisi tame | uncle, brother of father | |||
| neira | mother | neirai | My mother | |
| iouteri faifir | mother | (old Tobian, respectful) | ||
| iouteri mar | father | (old Tobian, respectful) | ||
| yahamat | people, relatives | yahamatai, yahamatam, yahamatar, yahamatats, yahamatamem, yahamatami, yahamateh | ||
| siresire | mother | |||
| tsaruwai | friend, girlfriend, boyfriend, playmate | |||
| tsar | newborn baby (same as water) | |||
| it | name | itei, itom, itar | ||
| mahuhamar | both | (people and animals) | ||
| riweits | skull, students | |||
| mani | man of… | |||
| tsori | person of… | |||
| tsori hesiye | person of judgement | |||
| tsori seres | farmer | |||
| heihahor | advisor | |||
| heikau | teacher | |||
| sensei | teacher | |||
| mani retet | fisherman; man of the ocean | |||
| tamori | chief | |||
| tamori ri faruh | island chief; village chief | |||
| tamori risukul | principal | |||
| tamori ri wafaruh | captain of ship | |||
| tsori ri stowah | storekeeper | |||
| Tobian | English | Tobian phrase | English phrase | Comments |
| faruh | land; island | |||
| maham | moon | |||
| hotso | cloud | |||
| rangi | sky | |||
| yaro | sun | |||
| fis | star | |||
| pie | sand | |||
| tsar | water | |||
| tati | ocean | |||
| hotsa | reef; rocks | |||
| ut | rain | |||
| bets | hot | |||
| yaing | wind | |||
| storm | ||||
| waves | ||||
| Tobian | English | Tobian phrase | English phrase | Comments |
| emira | it is there | |||
| itona | there | |||
| itonae | over there, farther from the speaker | |||
| itere | here | |||
| mere | this | |||
| mena | that | |||
| menae | that, farther from the speaker | |||
| ier | this | yahamat ier- | this person | |
| irae | that | |||
| hahapa | close to | ehahapa ihahapa |
he is close to I am close to |
|
| wor | on top | Itetah iwor | put it on top | |
| ifar | underneath | Itetihiu ifar | put it underneath | |
| isehe | beside | Itou faifir ra emot isehe her | who is that woman sitting beside you? | |
| horoumah | to the right of | takes possessive ending | horoumahai-my right | |
| horoutsehir | to the left of | takes possessive ending Faifir ra emere ifiri houroumahats? |
horoutsehirei-my left Who is that woman on our right? |
|
| irani | inside | |||
| iya | where | |||
| Tobian | English | Tobian phrase | English phrase | Comments |
| im | house | |||
| im hapar | small house; outhouse | |||
| reniere | place | |||
| benjo | benjo; toilet | |||
| im tutu | shower house | |||
| matar imei | my home | |||
| floor | popos | |||
| renieri mot | (place to sit) chair | |||
| tebar | table | |||
| roof | ||||
| wall | ||||
| door | ||||
| im yos | thatch house | |||
| tatahar im | summer house, covered outside house | |||
| pirin | china | |||
| teyte re heb razor | (shave for beard) | |||
| tihi ri yau | tooth brush, brush for teeth | |||
| perait | plate | |||
| supun | spoon | |||
| tahahu | bowl | |||
| kop | cup | |||
| fok | fork | |||
| uwasei | knife | |||
| patu | pot | |||
| patu ri habets | kettle (pot for boiling) | |||
| stof | stove | |||
| paket | bucket | |||
| sop | soap | |||
| kona | powder soap | |||
| klorox | clorox | |||
| papari was | washing board | |||
| bros | brush | |||
| tawasi | hand brush | |||
| peisen | basin | |||
| hitiri tsar | water scoop | |||
| hapare | wipe; dry | |||
| tsani hafatafata | water for rinsing | |||
| pet | bed | |||
| tsob | mat | |||
| urung | pillow | |||
| parahet | blanket | |||
| haut | sleeping cover; sheet | |||
| Tobian | English | Tobian phrase | English phrase | Comments |
| yoroh | behavior | |||
| tip | feeling, emotion | |||
| moho fauhur | good behavior | |||
| moho ri yoroh | kind (good behavior) | |||
| tomar youoh | unkind (bad behavior) | |||
| harih | careful | |||
| tipeuwer | honest | |||
| tahama tip | intelligent | |||
| rapa ri tip | patient | rapa (big) tip (feeling) | ||
| mots tipar | short temper | mots cruel) ti ar (its feeling) | ||
| pou ri fiteh | strong worker | pou (strong) ri (for) fiteh (work) | ||
| keh | happy | ikeh | I'm happy | |
| teikeh | not happy | iteikeh | I'm not happy | |
| tomau tipar | sad | etomau tipei | I'm sad | |
| tomau | bad | |||
| buts | crazy; stupid | |||
| bets | hot | |||
| kasomari | funny; amusing | |||
| mamatah | afraid | |||
| pihaf | steal | |||
| pipihaf | like to steal | |||
| motsoh | cruel | |||
| tsowahaw | lazy | |||
| bohor | show off; proud (pejorative) | also the cheese of the uncircumcised | ||
| kotsou | lie | |||
| Tobian | English | Tobian phrase | English phrase | Comments |
| tsim | head | |||
| taring | ear | |||
| wo | face | emoh wo | good face | |
| rien tsim | hair on head | |||
| mong | forehead | mongoi, mongom, mongor | ||
| hapi tsim | back of head | |||
| mat | eyes | |||
| fat | eyebrows | |||
| pohung ri mat | eyelids (hat for eyes) | |||
| baut | nose | |||
| tap | cheek | |||
| yau; yaw | mouth (yawai, yawam, yawar) | |||
| mata ri yau | lips | |||
| ngi | teeth | |||
| wahang | throat | |||
| yat | chin | |||
| uh | neck | |||
| yafahai | shoulder | |||
| mata ri ngarungor | chest | |||
| ubut | belly button | |||
| hapi butt | back of | |||
| tahuh | back | |||
| sii | stomach | |||
| pau (pou) | arm | |||
| tsapi ri pau | upper arm | |||
| hapi ri pin pau | elbow (butt of arm) | |||
| humuts | wrist (seldom used) | |||
| irani pau | hand; palm (inside arm) | |||
| hatu ri pau | fingers | |||
| hub | leg | hubei, hubom, hubar | ||
| pohomou ri hub | knee | |||
| baut ri hub | shin (nose of your leg?) | |||
| sii ri hub | calf (belly of your leg?) | |||
| hapi ri pin hub | heel | |||
| hatu ri hub | toes | |||
| ruhh (ruhu) | body | |||
| posu | body | |||
| hini ruhh | skin | |||
| tsa | blood | |||
| tut | breast | |||
| tsani ri bout | runny nose | |||
| heb | beard | |||
| harourou | urinate | |||
| pah | defecate (rude) | |||
| Tobian | English | Tobian phrase | English phrase | Comments |
| fitihor | meat | |||
| mangau | eat (fruit, vegetables, rice, taro, etc. | |||
| hotshots | eat (meat) | |||
| enau | taste | |||
| suung | hungry | |||
| tari | meat, fish | tariei, tariom, tariar | ||
| kuk | cook | I kuk ri mangau. I fiteh mangau. |
I cook food. I work at food. |
|
| furai | fry | |||
| fauh | make, do | Meta ho fauh | What are you making | |
| fiteh | work at | |||
| ietang | cooking stones; supports for pot | |||
| habura | light a fire, | |||
| touh | point, light a fire, poke | Touh mea fira | Light the fire | |
| tamuts | firewood | |||
| matses | matches | |||
| wasei | knife | |||
| iteit | scoop; spoon | |||
| tahahu | bowl | |||
| patu | pot | |||
| wasu | wash | renieri wasu | Place to wash | |
| tsau | soup | tsau ri ih | Fish soup | |
| ih | fish | |||
| haiyang | chicken | |||
| koko | chicken | |||
| worr | turtle | |||
| wits | banana | |||
| wot | taro | |||
| buroh | giant taro | |||
| sos | soy sauce | |||
| pereu | pepper | |||
| tsar | water | |||
| iangah ri frai | fry oil | |||
| raes | rice | |||
| rumei | my drink | rumei, rumom, rumar | ||
| mangau | non-meat food | |||
| harai | poss. Mangau-- | harai haram harar | ||
| usuke | breadfruit | |||
| maai | smaller breadfruit | |||
| siouka | tapioka | |||
| tot | a little | |||
| mou | full | emou ruh | it's full | |
| hamarie | breakfast | |||
| hatouhat | lunch | |||
| hafahafi | dinner | |||
| para tot | a little more | |||
| harapa tot | make it bigger; have more | |||
| hapara tot | make it smaller; have less | |||
| parahi | full | |||
| faraou | bread (things made from wheat) | |||
| tsahai | eggs | |||
| tsani uwanu | coconut water | |||
| coconut tree | ||||
| hatsi tuba | sap | |||
| hatsimen | alcohol from tuba | |||
| rits | coconut syrup | |||
| iyat | bud of coconut tree | |||
| houwar | husk of coconut bud | |||
| yemiyem | where new coconuts form | |||
| tso | brown coconut | |||
| mahabuneng | stem that coconuts hang from | |||
| uwano | coconut | |||
| ruh tot | young coconut | |||
| ruh masoh | harder than a young coconut | |||
| suhub | small coconuts (new yorks) | |||
| tahah | coconut shell | |||
| peiyon | coconut husk | |||
| peiyonunu | green husk | |||
| peiyonutso | brown husk | |||
| roh | hard stem of coconut frond | |||
| uubpangu | leaves of frond green and brown | |||
| parei | whole frond | |||
| iyasu | thatch roofing | |||
| tsapinu | trunk of tree | |||
| urr | screenlike stuff where new fronds grow out | |||
| hamari | hardest part of wood | |||
| Tobian | English | Tobian phrase | English phrase | Comments |
| hie | clam (t. gigas) | |||
| tafataf | clam (t. maxima) | |||
| padang | clam (h.hippopus) | |||
| ih | fish | |||
| koko | chicken | |||
| haiyang | chicken | |||
| peg | pig | |||
| piris | dog | |||
| bus | cat | |||
| mar | bird | |||
| hatsetsih | rat | |||
| raum | mosquito | |||
| worr | turtle | |||
| pahou | shark | |||
| habang | brown booby | Dominic Emilio and Francis Victor on August 2000 trip | ||
| marua | red footed booby | Dominic Emilio and Francis Victor on August 2000 trip | ||
| hataf | great frigate | Dominic Emilio and Francis Victor on August 2000 trip | ||
| hahau | lesser frigate | Dominic Emilio and Francis Victor on August 2000 trip | ||
| hiarung | grey-tailed tattler | Dominic Emilio and Francis Victor on August 2000 trip | ||
| riengah | whimbrel | Dominic Emilio and Francis Victor on August 2000 trip | ||
| menerihots | greatcrested tern | Dominic Emilio and Francis Victor on August 2000 trip | ||
| seinesau | sooty tern | Dominic Emilio and Francis Victor on August 2000 trip | ||
| keingah | black noddy | Dominic Emilio and Francis Victor on August 2000 trip | ||
| hiyehie | white tern | Dominic Emilio and Francis Victor on August 2000 trip | ||
| kokoriang | barn swallow | Dominic Emilio and Francis Victor on August 2000 trip | ||
| fita | fishing | Ibe buhou fita | I'm going fishing | |
| yao | fishing line | |||
| tari | rope | |||
| Tobian | English | Tobian phrase | English phrase | Comments |
| wa | vessel to carry people | woi, wam, war, wats (inclusive), wamem (exclusive), wami, wah | ||
| wa ri faruh | ship like an island | |||
| wa ri faruh | car; vessel for land | |||
| sito siya | car (Japanese) | |||
| wa souh | canoe no outrigger | |||
| wa tapi | canoe no outrigger | |||
| haramah | canoe for one person | |||
| wa yari (ieri) | airplane | |||
| wa rat | bicycle | |||
| pinas | small boat | |||
| harhuh | fast | |||
| slow | ||||
| Nouns |
pohung (hat) |
wa (vessel) |
yai (my) |
bisibisi (brother) |
tamatam |
neira (mother) |
| My . . . |
pohungei | wai |
yai |
bisi |
tamai |
meirai |
| Your . . . |
pohungem | wam |
yam |
bisim |
tamam |
neiram |
| His, Her, or Its
. . . |
pohunger | war |
yar |
bisir |
tamar |
meirar |
| Our . . . [inclusive] |
pohungets | wats |
yats |
bisits |
tamats |
neirats |
| Our . . . [exclusive] |
pohungamem | wamem |
yamem |
bisimem |
tamamem |
neiramem |
| Your . . . |
pohungami | wami |
yami |
bisimi |
tamami |
neirami |
| Their . . . |
pohungeh | wah |
yah |
bisih |
tameh |
neirah |
| Tobian numbers | English numbers |
seo |
one |
huou |
two |
soru |
three |
faou |
four |
rimou |
five |
worou |
six |
fisue |
seven |
warue |
eight |
tiwou |
nine |
sehetiw |
ten |
seih
ma seo |
eleven |
seih
ma huou |
twelve |
suweref |
twelve |
huheih |
twenty |
serih |
thirty |
faih |
forty |
rimeih |
fifty |
woraih |
sixty |
fisih |
seventy |
waraih |
eighty |
tiweih |
ninety |
sobuuhuh |
hundred |
| Tobian about numbers & time | English |
| setab | half |
| fitou | how many |
fitou
kurok |
what
time |
| meta taem | what time |
| fitemar | how many people, animals |
| meihara | now, at this moment |
| raroo | yesterday |
| warasu | tomorrow |
| emori | already |
| nimarei | morning |
| nitouhat | afternoon |
| nifahafi | evening |
| nibong | night (this night) |
| maham | moon, month |
| masirap | year |
| Masirapei ra | my age (years) |
| Tobian counting moons | |
|
mata mowar maham |
first |
|
hahuouweri maham |
second |
|
hasoruweri maham |
third |
|
hafaouweri maham |
fourth |
|
harimouweri
maham |
fifth |
|
haworouweri
maham |
sixth |
|
hafisuweri maham |
seventh |
|
hawarueweri
maham |
eighth |
|
hatiwouweri
maham |
ninth |
|
hasehetihori
maham |
tenth |
|
seih ma sewari
maham |
eleventh |
|
seih ma hahuouweri
maham |
twelfth |
| Tobian counting animals, fish, people | |
semaru |
one |
huhamaru |
two |
sorumaru |
three |
famaru |
four |
rimaru |
five |
womaru |
six |
fisimaru |
seven |
warimaru |
eight |
tiwomaru |
nine |
seihmaru |
ten |