Tobian Language: Tobian Words 1968 and 2009

Quackenbush Word List

Tobian words as collected by E.M. Quackenbush and published in his dissertation in 1968 and as collected in 2009, 2010, 2012, and 2013 by Peter W. Black and Barbara W. Black working with Isauro Andrew who provided spelling, pronunciation, and occasional emendations through Word 222, with Nemecio Andrew from Word 223 through Word 300, and with Sisma Andrew from Word 301 to the end.

English

E.M. Quackenbush

Isauro Andrew

Audio

Isauro Andrew’s Notes

   1. body 

bwoos   -ur

poos

03082

 

   2. hand (from wrist down)

gumwėc  -yr

pau

03083

 

   3. left (side)

goroceegir

horouchehir

03084

 

   4. right (side)

goromaaga

horoumaha

03085

 

   5. arm, wing

paawy pawyr

pau paururer

03086

 

   6. elbow

gapiripinnipėwy

 

03087

 

   7. finger    

gaat gaatyr // gatt –yr

haat

03088

 

   8. (finger, toe) nail

kky  -r

ku

03089

Isauro spelled this as ku; however, he spoke kuripa (spelling by BWB*).

   9. leg

guubw  -er

huub

03090

 

 10. foot

capacaparibubw  -er

chapachaparihuub

03091

 

 11. ankle-bone

capacaparibubw  -er

bihinihuub

03092

 

 12. knee

pogomoj –ir

pohomoi

03093

 

 13. thigh

capirigubw

chapirihuub

03094

 

 14. buttocks

gaap –ir

haap

03095

 

 15. bark (of a tree)

giin  gin

hin   chirihet

03096

 

 16. skin

ryyg –yr

hin

03097

Hin yahamat: layer of tissue.  Ruuh: outer layer of anything.

 17. blood

cca  caar

chaa

03098

 

 18. body hair

motogO  -ori

mouhouh

03099

Sounds like: yenchim. Isauro may have thought mouhouh was not correct word.

 19. to remove hair, feathers

wyrefi

usus

03100

Usus is not used for people.

 20. hair (of the head)

jancimw

enchimei

03101

 

 21. pubic hair

goog  -or

 

 

 

 22. feather

wyyr

urerimar

03102

 

 23. beard

reebwE  -er

eeb

03103

 

 24. sideburns 

jarys –er

yarsars

03104

 

 25. wattles

 

hinfariyet

03105

BWB’s spelling; Isauro did not spell it.

 26. comb (chicken)

 

 

 

There is no word for it so we say “The thing on top of the rooster, i.e., men[thing]; pertaining to that thing.  This would be true in many cases where no specific word exists. 

 27. top-knot

gapejA –ar

haper

03106

 

 28. vein

waag –ar

waah

03107

 

 29. head

ciimw –er

chiim

03108

 

 30. neck

wyyg –er

uuh

03109

See 100—full: uuh. Also means wind/lobster/sail.

 31. nose

bwawutU  -uri

bout

03110

 

 32. mouth

jaw –ar

yaaw

03111

Pronounced yow.  In compound words, many lose the longness of the vowel and the spelling will change from, e.g., the double a to a single a.

 33. tooth

ngii –r

ngii

03112

 

 34. tongue

reew –er

nunusuruhan

03113

Reew, the old word, is a bad word for tongue; an impolite word.  The correct word is nunusuruhan. The nu sound is like nur.

 35. lip

tirijaaw tirijawar

tiriyaw

03114

 

 36. throat

wagang –ar

wahang

03115

 

 37. forehead

móóng  mėngor

mong

03116

 

 38. ear

taring –er

tering

03117

 

 39. eye

maat matar

maat

03118

 

 40. eyebrow

faat –yr

faat

03119

 

 41. eyelashes

pagyng (ari mat)

pohungerimet

03120

 

 42. face

wóó -r

woo

03121

 

 43. cheek

taap –ar

tap

03122

 

 44. chin

jeet –er

eet

03123

 

 45. back

tagygY –er

tahuhu

03124

 

 46. shoulder

jafag –ar

yafah

03125

 

 47. chest

wuubwA –er

 

 

 

 48. rib

cirijėėw –yr

mataringoruhngar

03126

 

 49. belly, abdomen

siij  -er

siie

03127

PWB note:  question re 56.

 50. pubic area

ppyyng

pung

03128

 

 51. navel

wubwut –er

ubut

03129

Also means coconut palm.

 52. bald

bwyyr

bur

03130

Isauro added a new word here:  chimiebur (03131). Cf. Quackenbush Word List No. 350.

 53. brain

gabwubwu –ur

habubu

03132

 

 54. bone

cii –r

chir

03133

 

 55. viscera

taar taan

taar

03134

 

 56. stomach

cygyrymangaw 

chuhur mangau

03135

PWB note:  question re 49.

 57. gall bladder

jaat –ir

yaati

03136

 

 58. liver

jees –er

ess

03137

 

 59. lungs

fagaw –ar

fehewa

03138

 

 60. heart

warugur waruguni

uwaruhur

03139

 

 61. to breathe

ngas

ngas

03140

 

 62. breast (female)

tyyt tyytyr

tut or tuut

03141

Isauro worries about how to spell the tu sound:  tut or tuut.  Also see 133—color: tooh.

 63. milk

cantyyt

chentut

03142

 

 64. boil (n.)

guubw –ur

hubechihichih

03143

 

 65. scar

bwatybwaat –yr

batbaat

03144

 

 66. leprosy

leprosii

abedes

03145

Leprosy:  there was no local word.  Abedes is borrowed from Palauan where it was likely borrowed from Japan.

 67. to smell it

tėėngy

tangutang

03146

 

 68. to hear

gongO

hongohong

03147

 

 69. to see it
corrected: to see

mwej / gakóne

maeyahi

03232

Maeyahi does not mean “to see it” but rather “to see.”

 70. to laugh

mámári

memer

03233

With several verbs Isauro originally added an initial “e” but then removed it because that “e” adds a pronoun.   The “to” is built into the word. For example, he changed  ememer to memer.

 71. to cry

táátáng  -ir

tetengi

03234

 

 72. tear

canimat

chenimat

03152

 

 73. spittle

gutuf

hutuf

03153

 

 74. to vomit

mmwut

muut

03235

Muut—this is a very long u.

 75: to belch

gygėg

huhoah

03155

Isauro says the "oa" sound is distinct from the "hu" or "ha" sounds.

 76. to hiccup

muteg

muteh

03156

 

 77. blow on it

wuugu

uhuu

03157

Uhuu sounds like "oo hoo"

 78. to cough

fagafag

fahafah

03236

 

 79. to drink

ryyr

ruur

03237

 

 80. to eat

mangaw

mangau

03238

 

 81. to bite it

gysy

husuu

03239

Husuu—long u. Sounds like "eh hoo soo."

 82. to suck

gamit

hamitii

03240

Hamitii—long i.

 83. to swallow it

gapyngy

hapungu

03241

This word, hapungu (the u is light), does not mean “to swallow it,” but rather a small swallow, i.e., clearing throat.  A bigger swallow is wohowoh.

 84. perspiration

mórór

moror

03164

 

 85. anus

pygyg –er

buhuh

03165

 

 86. excrement

paag –ar

peyah

03166

 

 87. penis

gaaj –ir

hai

03167

 

 88. testicles

sėėr sėėn

soor

03168

 

 89. urine

garėwyrėwy

harorou

03169

 

 90. vagina

bwiij –er

tuuh

03170

Bwiij means any hole.  The correct word for vagina is tuuh.

 91. to break wind

singO

ngur peyah

03171

SingO is a Sonsorol word according to Isauro.  The Tobian word is ngur peyah.

 92. fat (adj)

bwataj

butei

03172

 

 93. thin (not fat)

rangiita

auchi

03173

Rengita means emaciated.  The Tobian word for thin (not fat) is auchi

 94. thick (object)

masėėsėr

masoasoar

03174

 

 95. thick (liquid)

jeppitO

pito

03175

Very light o. If connected to another word, the ending "o" would be more stressed, e.g., pito:bollard (that to which one ties a ship).

 96. thin (object)

marifirif

merifirif

03176

 

 97. hungry

suung

suung

03177

Suung has a long u, as in soon. It means a small hunger like what you feel from morning to noon.

Isauro provided two additional words for hungry:  maaho (03178) and hachuh (03179). Maaho has a very light o and the meaning is related but more like the hunger you feel when you are given very small servings. Hachuh is a stronger hunger than suung and is the weakness and hunger you feel from fasting or missing meals.

 98. thirsty

magawygawy

mahauhau

03180

The first a is very quick and short. The last two syllables sound alike; the stress is on the second syllable.

 99. full (stomach)

mat

mat

03181

Full as a stomach.

100. full (box)

wug

uuh

03182

Full as a box.

See 30—neck: uuh. Also means wind/lobster/sail.

101: empty

pėwyr

epou

03183

 

102: blind

ceecabw

chachab

03184

 

103. deaf

pyyng

pungutering

03185

Isauro says the word requires the addition of tering: ear.

104. sleepy

gatar

hafar

 

 

105. taste (n.)

nnar

nar

03186

The n is strong but quick; Isauro wouldn't use two n's because that would be too long a sound.

106. bitter

magat

mahat

03187

 

107. sour

mwaan

moen

03188

 

108. sweet

gaag/ nnaw

hah

03189

 

109. wet

nnėw

nou

03190

Enou sounds like no but nou sounds like nouh—a bit of a gutteral at the end.

110. dry

ppár

per

03191

Cf. No. 142—light (as opposed to heavy): per.

111. small

paacig

pachihi

03192

Almost silent final syllable.

112. big

rap

raap

03193

Very long a.

113. short

mwoc

moch

03194

Sound as in mochi.

114. long

jaraj

erei

03195

This sounds as if it starts with a y but if spelled with y, the y sound would be too strong.

115. narrow

cawycig

chauchihi

03196

Final syllable almost silent.

116. wide

cawyrap

chaurap

03197

 

117. straight

wuuwer

uuwer

03198

Sounds like oohware.

118. crooked

toforofor

toforofor

03199

Toforofor means very crooked; twisted like an s; many curves. Kau (sounds like gutteral cur) means not straight.

119. fast

reg

rrah

03200

Sounds like ruh.

120. slow

tarag

terah

03202

Terah (Isauro used to spell taruh) means not fast. Chawachaw (sounds like chow a chow) means slow as in late to come or not fast.

121. old

pwes

bes

03222

 

122. new 

tajifėwy

teifou

03223

 

123. good 

mmóg

emoh

03224

 

124. bad 

tamwaawy

tamau

03225

 

125. ancient 

mosuwe

mosuwe

03226

 

126. strong 

pow

poou

03228

Poou—long o sound.

127. weak

mangyc

manguch

03229

 

128. hard

gomosow

homosowo

03230

Homosowo means hard as in solid.  The o is very light.

129. soft

mycagycag

machahuchoh

03231

 

130. difficult

gamwaar

hamaari

03243

The ending i is almost silent.

131. easy

tágamwaar

teihamaari

03244

Very light i at end.

132. boredom

ngyyc

nguuch

03245

 

133. color

toog –or

tooh

03246

See 162.

134. blue, green

gawagaw

hawahawo

03247

Very light o.  There is a word for blue but not for green.

135. black

gocogoc

hotohoch

03248

This word means the absence of light and is used, e.g., when the sky is dark.  Meiseiso means the color black (03249).

136. red

gangagang

hangahang

03250

 

137. white

bwecebwec

bechebech

03251

 

138. (coral) lime

bweec

beech

03252

Beech is the old word.

139. yellow

cánjóngocig

cheniyongochihi

03253

Very light final i.

140, smooth (wood)

mmis

miis

03254

 

141. rough

mwotogaga

matahaha

03255

 

142. light

pár

per

03256

Cf. No. 110—dry: per.

143. heavy

caw

chou

03257

 

144. hot

bwec

bechi

03258

Very light i.

145.  cold

fėėw

faau

03260

Faau means feeling cold.  Hahifou means cold.

146. to die

mes

mes

03261

 

147. to kill it

fajini/ riij

riie
feiin

03262
03263

Feiin: similar to riie but more like murder and not commonly used except for people.

148. to live (reside)

mire

mir

03264

 

149. to give birth

metág

meteh

03266

Meteh means delivery and is specific to women.  Hafasa means to give birth (03265).

150. to be born

fas

ebefas

03267

 

151. alive

fas

fas

03269

Fas (very sudden and very short a) means in you life continues; there is still life.   
Echuherifas means still alive (03268)

152. to exist

wor

mir

03270

See 160.

153. to walk

fatar

feter

03271

 

154. to run

gacáji

hachaichich

03272

 

155. to swim

jaf

yafaaf

03273

 

156. to fly

jar

yeyer

03274

 

157. to play

gokomw

hokoom

03275

 

158. to sing

mėwygarl

mauhari

03276

You make a song because you’re happy.  There is no word for sing. Very light i.

159. dance (n.)

bwagyg –yr

baahuhu

03280

Baahuhu (almost silent u) is a modern word.  The old word for dance is poong (03279).

160. to lie down

woro (-tug)

wor

03281

See 152.

161. to sit

maat

mot

03282

 

162. to stand

syy

suu

03283

 

163. to sleep

masyg

masuh

03284

 

164. to wake up

ganná-róg

chimata

03285

 

165. awaken (tr.)

fangyry

heneroho

03286

Very silent o.

166. to dream

ttar

tar

03287

Sudden a.

167. to know (facts)

gyra

hura

03288

 

168. to think

mengimeng

mengimeng

03289

 

169. to remember

mengiij

roromeng

03290

 

170. to forget

marygeeg

maruhehi

03291

Sudden a; almost silent i.

171. to count (tr.)

wetegi

wetehi

03292

 

172. to count (int.)

wetewet

wetewet

03293

 

173. to read

rawyrėw

rauroupepa

03294

There is no word for read; rawyrew is a newer word made up to be clear about, for example, reading paper—rawyrew papa.

174. to write

faryfėrY

farufar

03295

 

175. to fear

matag –yr

marahu

03296

Almost silent a.

176.  pain

matag –ir

hametehi

03297

Almost silent i.

177. craziness

bwuuc –er

buuch

03298

 

178. anger

soong

soong

03299

 

179. to quarrel

 

haangingi

03300

 

180. to argue

Quackenbush left blank. 

hafainiyaua

03301

Almost silent final a.
PWB suggested habwobwu(?)—literally barking.

181. to fight

bwuug –or; bwaang –er

fein

03302

 

182. war

mawur –ur

mauru

03303

Almost silent u.

183. itchy

bwajigeg

beiheih

03304

The bei is sudden.

184. to scratch

gejigeg

ngeng

03305

 

185. sick

matág

hameteh

03306

 

186. to swell

bwo

nganga

03307

Nganga is specific to a person. Bwo is more commonly used for earth (a hill).

187. to dig

kker

ker

03308

Very sudden e.

188. a hole

ramaram

ngaat

03309

Ramaram is a hole in the table but not all the way through; ngaat is a hole with a bottom.

189. local name for the language

ramari gatogobwej

Ramari Hatohobei

03311

If you are not in Tobi, ramariforuh (sudden a) (03310) means the island language.  It also means my language and that is understood to be Ramari Hatohobei because I am from Tobi.

190. to say

tapa

tapa

03312

 

191. to speak

raam

raam

03314

Raam means speech or language.  Titira (almost silent a) (03313) means to speak. 

192. to moan

ngyyngy

ngunguu

03316

 

193. to scream

gacogong

hachohong

03317

Hachohong means a noise.  Kids make noise.  Soah (03315) means to scream.

194. to call

fasafas

fasafas

03318

Sudden short a.

195. to call him fasangy fasangu  

 

196. to ask gaasi hasie 03411 Very light ie.
197. voice raam raam 03410  
198. truth gatėės hatos 03409 Isauro: this is not toh, not tes, but te--. PWB questions the Quackenbush word here.
199. a lie gȯkȯcow kochowo 03415 Isauro: very light o. PWB questions the Quackenbush word here.
200. lose something pyngy (-rȯg) puhurohot 03408 This also means to die, to lose life. Now the word used is mes.
201. to find weegi wehi 03405

Vis a vis light, weeh.

202. to search gup kup 03404  
203. to buy paryger paruher 03403  
204. to sell gamwaaw hamau 03402  
205. to steal pigaf pihaf 03401  
206. to do fawyg fauhu 03400 What are you doing?
Metaa ho fafaua?
207. to work fiteg fiteh 03396 He's just sitting around. Imotothah. Emotothah.
208. to show gannag hanah 03393 Hanaha means to exhibit.
209. to want tiperi tiperi 03390

Tip. Emoh tipei means I'm happy. PWB: also mwasari, here listed for Sonsorol.

210. to choose tiwer tiwer 03384  
211. knife (butcher) wuwasej uwasei 03383  
212. machete mwatete matete 03382  
213. pocket-knife cifennajif cifenknife 03381 Cifena means fold; can be used with paper.
214. adze (small) tȧrȧ topoi 03387

Topoi, the small adze, is carried on a shoulder.  Tere is a big adze, usually used for canoes, or for general work.

215. adze handle pwyngyr tȧrȧ bung tere

03379
03388

Bung means handle and also means flower. An adze handle is bung tere.
216. sword   uwaseitap 03378  
217. spear (fighting) gasig hesihi 03377 When fighting with a spear, it is forbidden to use the point. It is forbidden to use any pointed object on a person and would result in banishment. You can use only the handle.
218: spear (fishing) gasig hesihi 03377  
219. bow rėėrijang hasihihabohboh 03389  
220. arrow   roryang 03376  
221. to cut sepisep sepisep 03374  
222. to split tiretir tiretir 03375  
         

English

E.M. Quackenbush

Nemecio Andrew

Audio

Nemecio Andrew’s Notes

223. to slice jėwjėwy jeuyeuy 03453  
224. to saw geege hehe 03454 Or to cut something.
225. sharp kkȧng ekang 03455  
226. to sharpen it kkȧnngiij// tajimi kangi
taimi

03456
03457

Nemecio commented that a choice is available between kangi and taimi.
227. dull guw kuu 03458 Deep gutteral k.
228. box bwaag bah 03459  
229. to jump rut//nunut rut
nunut

03460
03461

Nunut also means to jump. Context determines whether to use rut or nunut.

230. to climb gaga- hahat 03462 Silent t.
231. to fall mogo-tiw mohotou 03464 Mohotou and mohotuh have almost the same meaning.
232. to topple mogo-tug mohotuh 03465 Mohotou and mohotuh have almost the same meaning.
233. to drop (tr.) pungy-tug pungutuh 03466  
234. to throw pejita-rog peitaroh 03467

 

235. to beat wȯwuwewu uouuou 03468  
236. to break ficingi fitsingi 03469 Note: the ts could be ch here.
237. to hit (int.) wȯwuwowu wowuwowu 03471 Another word for to hit (intr.) is uouou.
237. to hit (tr.) wȯwutu wowutu 03472 Another word for to hit (tr.) is uoutu.
238. to shoot pwese besi 03474 This word is the same as to point at.
239. to stab towutow touh 03475

 

240. person jagamat iahamat 03477  
241. man, male mwaar mwanni maar 03478 Also mar.
242. woman fȧjifir faifir 03480  
243. child gariwejic hariueits 03481

 

244. baby gaaga haha 03482  
245. boy gariwejic mwaar hariueich mar 03483  
246. girl gariwejic fȧjifir hariueich faifir 03484  
247. relative magejag maheeh 03485  
248. spouse giigi giir hihi 03486 The ending depends on which personal pronoun is added.
249. sweetheart gamwag –er hamah 03487

PWB questions the Quackenbush word. Nemecio says that this is more of a general word.

250. father taamA –ar iautehi mar 03488 Nemecio said that taam and sir are very old words, old language and no longer used.
251. mother sir iautehi feifir 03489 Nemecio said that taam and sir are very old words, old language and no longer used. Note that here, Nemecio spelled feifir, not faifir.
252. sibling (same sex) bwisibwis bwisir bisibis 03490  
253. sibling (opposite sex) mwȧjang  mwȧjangar maiagang 03491  
254. wash was     Nemecio says there is no Tobian word for this.
255. to clean, to tidy up gaffagej hafehei 03492

 

256: to wipe jamwir iamir 03493  
257. to rub briskly jȧtijet iatieh 03494  
258. to rub gently jȧtijet iatieh 03494  
259. to bathe tyyty tutu 03495 To bathe yourself. Nemecio uses hahutu to bathe another person.
260. to bring gasi (-tog) hasito 03497 Hasito means you tell me to bring it. Hasi means I tell you to take it.
261. to hold it gamwacy hamatsi 03499

 

262. morning nimarijer nimarier 03500  
263. evening nifagaaf nifahaf 03501  
264. night bwoong –ir nibong 03502  
265. day gaarI  garir nihar 03503  
266. today gannej niahara 03504  
267. tomorrow warasy uarasu 03505  
268. day after tomorrow mijisaganwarasy maisehen uarasu 03506  
269. yesterday rarow rarou 03507  
270. day before yesterday gannewe/ mȧjisaganrarow haneue maisehen rarou 03508  
271. daytime
nigaar nihar 03509 See No. 265.
272. age/  year jaatO/ masirap / masirab 03511 Nemecio does not know the old word for age: jaato. Masirab means year or age depending on the context.
273.  to come bwuu-thog bito 03512

 

274. to go rȯg biroh 03513  
275. to return wėgi uehitafar 03514  
276. to turn around (tr.) sygyn suhun 03515  
277. to turn around (int) wėgiteg suhunuroh 03516  
278. to turn (change direction) sygyn suhun 03515

 

279. turn it over sygyn suhun 03515  
280. pull it jȧfis jafisi 03517  
281. pull hand over hand jȧfijef iafief 03518  
282. to pluck wusuw usu 03519  
283. push it tiingi tingi 03520  
284. rope, canoe rope taar tȧnwa tari 03521

large rope

285. to tie gėėgė horohor 03522  
286. a knot bwugobwug buhobuh 03523  
287. wrap it tygytygyg tuhutuh 03524  
288. to burn (intr.) gyy fisifis 03525  
289. burn (tr.) gyy hahuh 03526  
290. ashes farang farang 03527

 

291. fire jaafl iaf 03528  
292. smoke bwugog buhoh 03529  
293. water caar tsar 03530  
294. the sea taat tattir tati 03531  
295. ocean mataw matau 03532

 

296. salt soor sor 03533 Note: there was no salt on Tobi Island in ifiri mosuwe.
297. wind janngl iangi 03534  
298. to blow (wind) pagas pahas 03535  
299. correct bwyng ebung 03536  
300. incorrect   etabung 03537  
         

English

E.M. Quackenbush

Sisma Andrew

Audio

Sisma Andrew’s Notes

301. near gagep hahep 03538  
302.far taawA tao 02120 Speaker: Isauro Andrew
303. to flow sag sahewo 03540  
304. to float mamaar mamar 03541 Long second a.
305. to sink tuubw tuburo 03542  
306. to drown mabw emabu    
307. to squeeze fijengi fiefi 01953 Speaker: Isauro Andrew
308. to wring it wȯngyty wonguwong 01955 Speaker: Isauro Andrew
309. to pound food syys sus 03544  
310. food-pounder faar faru 03546  
311. to string faat hoho   This is questionable according to Sisma. Faat means eyebrow. See No. 40.
312. twist it fingifing fingiti 03547  
313. to braid figeg fiheh 01957 Speaker: Isauro Andrew
314. to plait fasyfės fasufos 03548  
315. to weave tėttėg tetei 03549

To weave net or cloth.

316. to help, to help him tapatap tapangi 03115 Speaker: Isauro Andrew
317. to put, to put down jitar itetiho 03550  
318. to open it suugi suhi 03551  
319. to close piresi piresi 03552  
320. mat coobw tapaho 01076 Woven mat. Speaker: Justin Andrew
321. loin-cloth mȧcij tah 03553

 

322. sarong (Carolinian lava lava) jepp machi 03554  
323. hat: pėgyng puhung 03555  
324. sennit gorogor horohor 03556 Coconut fiber twine.
325. sew, sew it tejiteji  teejis tetei 03557  
326. clothing wyyf ufe 03558  
327. head garland mweeg, mwaag mahe 03559  
328: rotten bwa etamau bour 03561 Bour: smell or odor of any kind.
329. smelly bwėwy etaimo bour 03562

 

330. fragrant je mmȯg bwėwyr boutihitih 03563  
331. beautiful (scenery) tajifėw emoh 03564  
332. beautiful (woman) tajifėw emoh 03564  
333. variegated mwagereger    

 

334. plant (general term) fatog fato 03565  
335. to plant it fatogi fotohi 03566  
336. mud bwitbwit bor 03567  
337. soil mecȯg/ bwėėr mochou 03568  
338. garden maat    

A Japanese or Palauan word is used in place of this word for garden.

339. branch, tree branch ra, raari ciriget harichirihet 03570 Ra means toward or the one already . . . .
340. thorn cii  -r      
341. tree ciriget chirihet 01778 Speaker: Isauro Andrew
342. trunk * gagar heher 03571  
343. stick tebweriga teberiha 01780 Speaker: Isauro Andrew
344. seed bwigir bihir 03572  
345. flower bwyyng  -yr bung 03379

Speaker: Isauro Andrew

346. leaf wyyn wynni un
*unchirihet

03574
01784

Speaker: Sisma Andrew
Speaker: Isauro Andrew
347. root wagag –ar wahahu 03583  
348. fruit wuwa uuar 03584  
349. grass fatir fetiri 01808 Speaker: Isauro Andrew
350. dirty ppwėrY bur 03585

Cf. Quackenbush Word List No. 52.

351. dust ppwėrY ebur 03586  
352. rubbish, garbage pees pesipesi 01734 Speaker: Isauro Andrew
353. pebble fasymwag fas 03582 Cf. Quackenbush Word List No. 151.
354. rock faas  fasyri fas 03582  
355. sand piij  pijer pie 03588  
356. mountain suug  -ur suuh 03581 Hill.
357. road jaarE yare 03589  
358. river waaw wau 01718 Speaker: Isauro Andrew. Sisma says there is no Tobian word for river.
359. lagoon   roau 01722 Speaker: Isauro Andrew. Sisma says there is no Tobian word for lagoon.
360. harbor pasec// goof pases 03590  
361. valley romȯrȯng    

Sisma says there is no Tobian word for valley.

362. channel pasec ranipases 03591  
363. deep ttO etorong 03593  
364. shallow pet epet 03592  
365. high tide sėgyrap ebuh 03594 Sisma Andrew: ocean high tide: ebuh tati. Cf. nibuhu.
366. low tide cingicing echingichi 03596 Sisma Andrew: ocean low tide: echingchitati. Cf. ichingiching.
367. wave raaw yahu 03598

Cf. roraparap, nunda.

368. outside ryyg nihatam 03599  
369. island tagaw faruh 03600  
370. land faryg faruh 03600  
371. reef gooc –or hoch 03602  
372. coral rangit rengit 03603  
373. earth (not heaven) farygyrjagamat bwo  

 

374. north jijefangI iyafang 00839 Speaker: Sebastian Marino. Note this audio clip includes north, south, east, and west.
375. south jijėwyg iyouh 00839 Speaker: Sebastian Marino. Note this audio clip includes north, south, east, and west.
376. east jiryg iruh 00839 Speaker: Sebastian Marino. Note this audio clip includes north, south, east, and west.
377. west jirotowA irotowo 01372 Speaker: Isauro Andrew. Cf. matoho.
378. moon magam maham 01698 Speaker: Isauro Andrew.
379. sky jewygaar yauheri 01694

Speaker: Isauro Andrew.

380. sun jaar yaro 01790 Speaker: Isauro Andrew.
381. star fiis fis 01700 Speaker: Isauro Andrew.
382. cloud gocow hochou 01794 Speaker: Isauro Andrew.
383. lightning fisijer fisiyeri 01324 Speaker: Isauro Andrew.
384. thunder paag paah 01323

Speaker: Isauro Andrew.

385. rain wyyt yauchuch 01322 Light rain. Speaker: Isauro Andrew.
386. dew worogaw     Sisma says there is no Tobian word for dew.
387. pillow wyryng -er urung    
388. house jiimw –er iim 03605  
389. roof, thatch jaasO  -or yasu 03606 Silent u.
390. doorway gatam hatatam 03607  
391. house pillar syyg  -er suuh 03608

Cf. No. 356.

392. ridge-pole wuung uung 03609  
393. plank paap –er pesiteberiha 03618  
394. men’s house faar imehemar 03619 Silent h.
395. menstrual house jimweripėr imehefaifir 03620  
396. name jiit it 01692 Speaker: Isauro Andrew.
397. chief tamwoor  -ur tamor 03621  
398. taboo taabw etabu 03622 Silent u.
399. church jikereesija keresia 00860

Speaker: Paulina Theodore.

400. soul: ngėėr ngoru 03623 Silent u.
401. ghost, god jarus yarus 03624 This means ghost, not god.
402. shadow nyyg/  jawung yaungar 03625  
403. image, doll rijos     Sisma says this is not a Tobi word.
404. a tatoo mȧȧk mek 03626

 

405. a grave riibw ribe 03627 Long i and silent e.
406. animal maar mar 01756 Speaker: Isauro Andrew.
407. bird ‘animal’/marjejer maryeyer 01766

Speaker: Isauro Andrew. See the Quackenbush Word List No. 406.

408. egg cagaj chehei 01776 Speaker: Isauro Andrew.
409. tail paac pach 01663 Speaker: Isauro Andrew.
410. nest gafat hafat 03628  
411. to hatch (int.) gattawa barangahi 03630 Broken egg. Silent hi.
412. hatch (tr.) coco coco 03632 Chicken.
413. food (classifier) gar-    

 

414. to cook gaaw/ gamėėt cook   Sisma says this word is only used, e.g., cook rice, cook coco.
415. to boil gabwec habech charubech 03629  
416. cooking house mwurumw imericook 03635  
417. plate, bowl tapijE tapie 03636 Plate.
418. meal fitigU sibemangau 03637  
419. fat kiriis kiris 01812 Speaker: Isauro Andrew.
420. to smoke (fish) fang eihefang 03638

 

421. earth oven wuumw fangi 03639  
422. coconut milk jėngėg hangahucho 03640  
423. coconut grater (stand type) perig perrih 03643  
424. coconut husking stick jawyfer yaufer 03642  
425. coconut syrup riicO richo 01192  
426. toddy (fermented) gaci/ gacimwȧnn hachiimen 03645  
427. toddy (sweet) gaci hachii 03644

 

428. ship wafaryg wafaru 03646  
429. canoe wa  waar uatur 03647  
430. outrigger boom gijȯ      
431. outrigger float taam  -ar tamariwa 03659

 

432. paddle fatyr fatur 03650  
433. mast gawys  -yr haus 03653  
434.bailer riim –er hamatariwa 03651  
435. conch-shell trumpet tawi  tawijer habubutawi 03652  
436. sail wyyg uh 01754 Speaker: Isauro Andrew.
437. fish jiig  -er ih 01335 Speaker: Isauro Andrew.
438. to fish saji-róg/  fita fita 01337

Speaker: Isauro Andrew.

439. dorsal fin jiingI hasu    
440. fish hook gaawy hau 03654  
441. fish line jaaw yaw 03655  
442. fish pole bwaaw bau 03656  
443. fish bait ppa parih 03657

 

444. fish trap bwejowu      
445. allophylus timorensis ngėėwy      
446. arrowroot: mwėgymwėg      
447. bamboo paabwu     Sisma says there is no Tobian word for bamboo.
448. banana wiic wich    
449. Barringtonia guur      
450. betel nut bwug buuh 03210 Speaker: Isauro Andrew. Cf. to fight. Sisma says there is no betelnut on Tobi.
451. breadfruit maaj mai 03660  
452. Calophyllum inophyllum        

453. cordia subcordata

       
454. clerodendrum inerme        
455. hernandia sonora        
456. hibiscus tilliaceus girifėwy hirifou 03661

Sisma says this is found on Tobi but is not really hibiscus.

457. lemon gurugur huruhur 03662 Sisma says there is no lemon on Tobi.
458. mango mangka mangka 03664 Sisma says there is no mango on Tobi.
459. mangrove gabwuurys     Sisma says there is no mangrove on Tobi.
460. moss ruumw     Sisma says there is no moss on Tobi.
461. pandanus faac pohuu 00833 Speaker: Sebastian Marino.
462. papaya bwabwaaj babai 03665  
463. pisonia grandis mwoog    

 

454. plumeria moow plumeria   Sisma says there is no plumeria on Tobi.
465. polypodium phymatodes cici      
466. premna corymbosa jaag      
467. scaevola gamȧg      
468. spider lily gijobwU      
469. sugar cane sukoo kejin      
470. cythosperma bwurȯg    

 

471. ipomea tumuco      
472. turmeric plant cawyrijȯng choriyong 03666  
473. turmeric powder gaang heng 03667

 

474. breadfruit sap bwyyr bur mai 03668  
475. coconut tree ryyg ruh 03669  
476. coconut “cloth” wyyr ur 03770  
477. coconut shell tagȯg tahahu 03771  
478. coconut sponge faag      
479. coconut leaf (unopened spear) wubwut ubut 03773  
480. copra coow kabure 03774  
481. barracuda bwawyg bauh 00921

Speaker: Marcus Hangaripaii

482. bonito gangaap hangap 03775  
483. crevalle ragyng rahung 03776  
484. flying fish mangag mangah    
485. porcupine fish tawys tausu 03777  
486. puffer fish wuus huus    
487. ray fish fajija fai 00906 Speaker: Marcus Hangaripaii
488. red snapper moos moos 03778  
489. shark pogow paho 00899 Speaker: Marcus Hangaripaii
490. yellowfin tuna taguw tahuu 03779  
491. moray eel rabwut rabut 01770

Speaker: Isauro Andrew.

492. lobster wyyg uh 01754 Speaker: Isauro Andrew.
493. octopus garagiitA harahita 03781  
494. porpoise jygecig      
495. Portuguese man of war rimwotong rimotong 03782  
496. turtle wėėr war 03783  
497. whale gaasO hasu 03784  
498. ant wuwec uwech 01385  
499. cow, beef karabwawi     Sisma says there is no Tobian word for this; English is used.
500. butterfly gaabwyg habebi 01383  
501. centipede ripagaarI fichor 03785

 

502. chicken kooko  hayang 01329 Speaker: Isauro Andrew. Peter Black adds: liiywm?
503. dog piris piris 01760 Speaker: Isauro Andrew.
504. fly raang rong 03786  
505. fruitbat warig warihi 03787 Silent i.
506. louse gyys hoas   Lice.
507. mosquito raamw ramu 03788 Silent u.
508. rat geec hachechih 01762 Speaker: Isauro Andrew.
509. pig pejig pehi 03789  
510. spider ritobwugaaga yore 01386

 

511. maggot jiirO pahanong 03790  
512. Sunday gansȧn hansen 00802 Speaker: Justin Andrew.
513. Monday mwatagerifiteg metahen fiteh 00803 Speaker: Justin Andrew.
514. Tuesday gagygegȧnfiter hahuhahen fiteh 00804 Speaker: Justin Andrew.
515. Wednesday gasėrygėnfiteg hasuruhen fiteh 00805 Speaker: Justin Andrew.
516. Thursday gafagȧnfiteg hafahen fiteh 00806 Speaker: Justin Andrew.
517. Friday garimegȧnfiteg harimahen fiteh 00807 Speaker: Justin Andrew.
518. Saturday gȧnsabwor hansabor 00808

Speaker: Justin Andrew.

519. a circle taguun tahun 01836 Speaker: Isauro Andrew.
520. one seew sewo 01200 Speaker: Isauro Andrew.
521. two guwow huwou 01201 Speaker: Isauro Andrew.
522. three sėruw soruo 01202 Speaker: Isauro Andrew.
523. four faaw fauwo 01203 Speaker: Isauro Andrew.
524. five rimow rimuo 01204 Speaker: Isauro Andrew.
525. six worow worouo 01205

Speaker: Isauro Andrew.

526. seven fisuw fisuo 01206 Speaker: Isauro Andrew.
527. eight waruw waruo 01207 Speaker: Isauro Andrew.
528. nine tiwow tiwouo 01208 Speaker: Isauro Andrew.
529. ten sejig seih 01209 Speaker: Isauro Andrew.
530. twenty gygejig huheih 01212 Speaker: Isauro Andrew.
531. thirty seriig seriho 01214

Speaker: Isauro Andrew.

532. forty fasjig faih 01215 Speaker: Isauro Andrew.
533. fifty rimejig rimeih 01216 Speaker: Isauro Andrew.
534. sixty worojig woreih 01217 Speaker: Isauro Andrew.
535. seventy fisiig fisih 01218 Speaker: Isauro Andrew.
536. eighty wariig warih 01219 Speaker: Isauro Andrew.
537. ninety tiwejig teweih 01220 Tiweih. Speaker: Isauro Andrew.
538. hundred bwuguj subuhuh 01221 Speaker: Isauro Andrew.
539. thousand   sahangas 03792  
540. one-animate samar samaru
samar
01268

Speaker: Isauro Andrew.

541. two-animate gygamar huhamaru
huhamar
01269
01872
Speaker: Isauro Andrew.
542. three-animate sėrymėr sorumaru
sorumor
01270
01875
Speaker: Isauro Andrew.
543. four-animate faamar famaru 01271 Speaker: Isauro Andrew.
544. five-animate riimar rimaru 01272 Speaker: Isauro Andrew.
545. six-animate woromar woromaru
woromar
01273
01880
Speaker: Isauro Andrew.
546. seven-animate fisimėr fisimaru
fisimar
01274
01882

Speaker: Isauro Andrew.

547. eight-animate warimėr warimaru
warimar
01275
01884
Speaker: Isauro Andrew.
548. nine-animate tiwėmar tiwomaru
tiwomar
01276
01886
Speaker: Isauro Andrew.
549. ten-animate ‘ten’ seihetiho yahamat 01294 Speaker: Isauro Andrew.
550. on iwor 03793  
551. among jiwėry-    

 

552. at jiryg- homir 03794  
553. in it ran itonei 03795  
554. all wuruto urutar 02140 Speaker: Isauro Andrew.
555. because bwanacag banachah 02130 Speaker: Isauro Andrew.
556. if wuun ngaesa 02132 Speaker: Isauro Andrew.
557. no nawer nawer 03796  
558. yes wyynga unga 03797
00859

Speaker: Sebastian Marino
559. now jigara mehera 03798

 

560. some tėėtA pahur 03799  
561. many pippij epipie 03800  
562. who jitėw itou 00858 Speaker: Sebastian Marino
563. what meta mata 03801 Cf. meta.
564. where jija iya 00857 Speaker: Sebastian Marino
565. adzed-object (classifier) faraaj- farafar 03803  
566. drink (classifier) rym- ruru 03804 Silent u.
567. animate-object (classifier) *  rawyr      
568. when jingȧȧt inget 02095 Speaker: Isauro Andrew.
569. and (connecting items in a series mė in all languages; vowel highly variable ma 03805

Cf. ma:to be ashamed.

570. and (connecting clauses) ngė in all languages; vowel highly variable titinap 03806

 

 

571. not (prefix) T- (see Table 7) in all languages; vowel varies with phonological context tamasun mai 03808  
Independent Pronouns
Singular 1 ngaang ngang 03809 Speaker: Sisma Andrew
Singular 2 geer her 03810 Speaker: Sisma Andrew
Singular 3 giij hich 03811 Speaker: Sisma Andrew
Plural 1 (inc.) giic iheh 03812 Speaker: Sisma Andrew
Plural 1 (exc.) ngaamem ngamami 03813 Speaker: Sisma Andrew
Plural 2 ngaami ngami 03814 Speaker: Sisma Andrew
Plural 3 jiig      
Subject Pronouns
Singular 1 jij ibehanegan 03815 Speaker: Sisma Andrew
Singular 2 go ho 03816 Speaker: Sisma Andrew
Singular 3 je ebito 03817 Speaker: Sisma Andrew
Plural 1 (inc.) si sibero 03818 Speaker: Sisma Andrew
Plural 1 (exc.) gowu      
Plural 2 gawy      
Plural 3 ge      
         

 


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Updated: September 9, 2020