Glossary of Useful Words from Practical Marshallese

Clouds in the sky.

The following is a glossary of about 1500 Marshallese words, in order of usefulness.  These are all of the words introduced in the lessons of Practical Marshallese.  It is designed so that you can sit down every day and learn a few new words.  Since it is not in alphabetical order, it is not designed so that you can look up words either from Marshallese or from English.  For this purpose, you should use the Marshallese-English Dictionary by Abo, Bender, Capelle, and DeBrum.  However, for expanding your vocabulary, this glossary is more useful than the dictionary because it lists only useful words that are in current use, and omits rare words and words that are no longer used.

Some words are not fully listed in this glossary because they are covered in the book and/or require a lot of explanation.  These are the words that are not listed:

Numbers see Lesson 3
Days of the week see Lesson 4
Months see Lesson 4
Pronouns (‘I,’ ‘you,’ ‘he,’ ‘she,’ etc.) see Lessons 5, 12, 13
‘The,’ ‘this,’ ‘that,’ ‘these,’ ‘those’see Lessons 21, 58-59, 84
‘My,’ ‘your,’ ‘his,’ ‘her,’ etcsee Lessons 22, 66-79
Family members see Lessons 66-79

Some words are different in the Eastern (Ratak) dialect than the Western (Rālik) dialect.  When this is the case, ‘E:’ indicates a Eastern form and ‘W:’ indicates a Western form.

To understand the difference between ‘transitive’ and ‘intransitive’ verbs, see Lesson 88 and Lesson 89.

To learn how to correctly say words that start with two of the same consonant in a row, see Lesson 82.

aet yes
jaab no
jab (usually pronounced jeb) not, don’t, doesn’t  
ewōr or elōñ there is, there are
ejjeḷọk there is none, there are none, there is no, there are no, none, nothing, nobody
aolep all, every, everything, everybody
juon (usually pronounced juōn) one, a, an
etal go
itok (E: wātok) come, arrive
ṃōñā eat, food
idaak drink, take (a pill or some other kind of medicine)
ba say
koṃṃool thank you
ilo in, at
im and
in of
iọkwe hello, goodbye, love  
eṃṃan (E: sometimes ṃōṃan) good
nana bad, inedible
ennọ (E: sometimes nenọ) tasty, tastes good, delicious, edible
ṃōj finished, done Ex. Eṃōj mona  = We’re finished eating
jeḷā know, know how to, find out Ex. Ijeḷā = I know Ex. Ijab lukkuun jeḷā = I don’t really know/I’m not sure
jaje or ñak not know, not know how to
ripālle American person/people
riṃajeḷ Marshallese person/people
jān from, since, than, off
ñan to, for, in order to
jikuuḷ (from English) school, go to school (either as a student or a teacher), attend class
ṃōn jikuuḷ school building           
kōṃṃan do, make, fix
kōṇaan want, like, do often
lo see, find
maroñ can, may, might, possible
breadfruit, breadfruit tree
ni coconut, coconut tree
meḷeḷe understand, disentangled, meaning, information Ex. Meḷeḷe in ‘ḷaddik’, ‘boy’ = ‘Ḷaddik’ means ‘boy’ Ex. Ta meḷeḷe in ‘laddik’? = What does ‘ḷaddik’ mean?
men thing
Amedka America, the United States
ṃajeḷ The Marshall Islands, the Marshallese language
rūkaki teacher, minister, priest
rijikuuḷ student
ioon on, on top of
aebōj drinking water
iar lagoon, at the lagoon, lagoon beach, at the lagoon beach
lik ocean side of an island, at the ocean side of an island, beach on the ocean side, at the beach on the ocean side
bwebwenato talk, have a conversation, chat
bōk take, get, receive, minus (in arithmetic)
ak or akō but, what about, or (when asking questions)
ñe ej jab or (when expressing the idea of one or the other)
āne island, islet, land
brother (from English) brother
sister (from English) sister
ṃaṃa (from English) mom, mother
baba (from English) dad, father
jerbal work (in both the sense of ‘do work’ and ‘function’), job Ex. Ij jerbal = I am working Ex. Ej jab jerbal = It doesn’t work  
jokwe to live (as in, to live in a certain place) Ex. Ij jokwe ilo Ujae  = I live on Ujae
mour to live (as in, to be alive), life, alive, cured Ex. Emour  = It is alive
kiiō now
jibboñ morning Ex. Ejibboñ kiiō  = It is morning now
in jibboñ in the morning
raelep noon, afternoon Ex. Eraelep kiiō = It is the afternoon now
in raelep in the afternoon
jota evening, yesterday evening Ex. Ejota kiiō = It is the evening now
in jota in the evening
boñ night, last night Ex. Eboñ kiiō = It is night now
in boñ at night
ṃōñā in jibboñ breakfast, eat breakfast
ṃōñā in raelep lunch, eat lunch
ṃōñā in jota dinner, eat dinner
kōrā woman
eṃṃaan (E: ṃōṃaan) man
ek fish
kiki sleep, asleep, to live (in a certain place)
raan day
kilep (when modifiying a noun, kileplep for singulars and killep for plurals) big, fat Ex. Rekilep  = They are big Ex. Juon ni kileplep  = A big coconut Ex. Ruo ni killep = Two big coconuts
dik (when modifiying a noun, jidikdik for singulars and jiddik for plurals) small, young Ex. Edik = It is small Ex. Juon ek jidikdik  = A small fish Ex. Ruo ek jiddik  = Two small fish
leddik girl
ḷaddik boy
ajri child, kid, toddler
lukkuun very, really, absolutely, totally Ex. Elukkuun eṃṃan  = It is really good Ex. Elukkuun ejjeḷọk  = There absolutely none
ñe if, when (as if ‘when I leave,’ not for asking questions like ‘when are you leaving?’)
tutu wet, get wet, take a shower, take a bath
tutu iar go swimming or take a bath in the lagoon
tutu lik go swimming or take a bath on the ocean side of an island
jidik a little, a little bit
kain (from English) kind (in the sense of ‘type,’ not ‘nice’), kind of Ex. Juon kain ek = A kind of fish Ex. Aolep kain = All kinds/All kinds of things
āinwōt like (as in ‘it is like an apple’) Ex. Pako rej āinwōt ek = Sharks are like fish
aolep iien always Ex. Aolep iien kwōj jikuuḷ = You always come to school
bōb pandanus, pandanus tree
aikuj need
aikuj in need to, have to, should
ewi where is it/him/her?, where is ___? Ex. Ewi ek eo = Where is the fish?
eọñōd to fish, to go fishing
armej person, people
baḷuun (from English ‘baloon’) airplane
wiik (from English) week
allōñ month, moon
iiō (from English ‘year’) year
kajin language, language of, dialect, dialect of
kajin pālle or pālle or Iñlij English language
kajin ṃajeḷ or ṃajeḷ Marshallese language
katak or ekkatak learn, study
katakin teach
kwōle hungry
maro thirsty
nañinmej sick, sickness, illness, disease
ṃōṇōṇō happy, glad Ex. Iṃōṇōṇō in eọñōd = I am glad to fish
būroṃōj sad
illu (E: lilu) angry
mejki sleepy
mijak scared, scared of, fear Ex. Imijak baḷuun = I am scared of airplanes
ṃōk tired
ṃōk in tired of, tired from
lale look, look at, watch
letok give to me/us Ex.Letok juon ni = Give me a coconut
lewōj give to you
leḷọk give to him/her/it/them
ṃōttan jidik soon, in a little bit
ñāāt when?
ta what?, do what?
wōn who?
ia where?
etke why?
jete how many?
ewi joñan how much?, how big?
raij rice
pād to be located somewhere Ex. Ij pād ilo Majuro = I am in Majuro
jipañ to help
aelōñ atoll, single island (not part of an atoll), country  
ban will not, will never, cannot, unable, impossible Ex. Eban = It’s impossible Ex. Iban etal = I won’t go/I can’t go
awa hour, time, time of the day, o’clock
awa in ___ time for ___ Ex. Awa in ṃōñā = Time to eat
bōktok bring
aiboojoj beautiful (of things only, not people)
iukkure (E: kukure) to play, game
eṃ house, building
iien time, time of, time for, chance, chance for Ex. Iien jikuuḷ = Time for school
alwōj look at, watch
rainin today
ilju tomorrow, the future
inne yesterday
ippān with, with it/him/her (in the sense of ‘accompanied by’, not in the sense of ‘using’) Ex. Ej ṃōñā ippān Ali = She is eating with Ali Ex. Ij ṃōñā ippān = She is eating with him
kōn with (in the sense of ‘using, by means of’), using, about, concerning because of, due to, caused by Ex. Bwebwenato kōn Amedka = Talking about America Ex. Jeje kōn pinjeḷ = Writing with a pencil
kake (E: eake) with it (in the sense of ‘using it, by means of it’), about it, concerning it because of it, due to it, caused by it Ex. Bwebwenato kake = Talking about it Ex. Jeje kake = Writing with it
lọjet ocean (in a general sense, including both the lagoon and the open ocean)
jouj nice, friendly
jouj im ___ please ___ Ex. Jouj im ṃōñā = Please eat
kōnke because
kajjitōk ask, question Ex. Kajjitōk ippān Alfred = Ask Alfred
kilaj (from English ‘class’) class, grade (as in ‘first grade,’ ‘second grade,’ not as in ‘A/B/C/D/F’)
kilaj juon/kilaj ruo/kilaj jilu/etc. first grade/second grade/third grade/etc.
ḷōmṇak think (in both the sense of ‘think about something’ and ‘be of the opinion’) Ex. Ij ḷōmṇak = I am thinking Ex. Ij ḷōmṇak inaaj etal = I think I will go
ḷōmṇak in plan to Ex. Ij ḷōmṇak in eọñōd rainin = I am planning to go fishing today
metak to hurt (as in ‘my leg hurts,’ not as in ‘don’t hurt me’) Ex. Emetak = It hurts
ṃanit custom, culture, manner
ṃantin custom of, culture of, manner of
ṃantin ṃajeḷ Marshallese culture/custom
ṃantin pālle American culture/custom
ṃane hit, spank, kill
___ ṃōk please ____ Ex. Itok ṃōk = Please come
naan word
oktak (jān) different (from), unusual
roñ hear, understand what somebody says Ex. Ij jab roñ = I can’t hear/I don’t understand what you’re saying
roñjake listen, listen to
wia buy
wia kake sell
kōjerbal use, employ
aebōj laḷ well (in the ground for drinking water)
aebōj jimeeṇ cistern (for catching and storing rain water for drinking)
baantuun water catchment (for catching and storing rain water for drinking)
āt name
etan name of, its/his/her name, ‘um…’ (when you’re pausing to think of something while speaking) Ex. Ijaje etan = I don’t know his/her/its name Ex. Etan ‘coconut’ ilo Ṃajeḷ? = How do you say ‘coconut’ in Marshallese?
bōlen maybe, possibly, probably
baamḷe (from English) family
bok (from English) book
al sing, song Ex. Al juon al = Sing a song
bwil hot, get burned
ṃōḷo cold (of things only) Ex. Eṃōḷo rainin = It’s cold today
piọ cold (of humans only) Ex. Ipiọ = I’m cold
jañin or jāñin not yet Ex. Ej jañin itok = She hasn’t come yet Ex. Ejañin bwil = It’s not hot yet
ṃōn house of
ṃōn jar church
ṃōn tutu shower house
ṃōn kuk cookhouse, kitchen
ṃōn ṃōñā restaurant
ṃōn wia store
jeje write
riit read
keroro be noisy, chatter, talk noisily Ex. Jab keroro! = Be quiet!
likūt put
emaat none left, all gone, used up Ex. Emaat ni = There are no coconuts left  
mat full (of food after eating) Ex. Kwomat ke? = Are you full?
oṇān or wōṇān price, price of, salary, salary of Ex. Jete wōṇān? = How much does it cost? Ex. Jete wōṇān rūkaki? = How much do teachers get paid?
peba paper, card
wa boat, canoe, any vehicle
wōt only, just, still Ex. Juon wōt = Only one Ex. Rej ṃōñā wōt = They are still eating
ekwe okay then, well then, well, then
bar again, also, else
bar juon one more, once more, another
swim
ibwij high tide Ex. Eibwij = It is high tide
pāāt low tide, shallow Ex. Epāāt = It is low tide
alen or katten time (as if ‘one time, two times,’ not as in ‘what time is it?’), times (in arithmetic) Ex. Iaar etal ñan Ebeye jilu alen = I went to Ebeye three times
juon alen or juon katten once
ruo alen or ruo katten twice
bar juon alen or bar juon katten again
lōñ alen many times, often
bwijin many, school (of fish), flock (of birds) Ex. Bwijin kajjitōk  = Many questions Ex. Juon bwijin in ek = A school of fish Ex. Juon bwijin in bao = A flock of birds
jaṃbo take a walk, stroll around, wander around aimlessly, go on a trip, trip, travel, voyage, journey
jet some, a few
bar jet some more, some other
jet ien sometimes
ṃool true, sure, tell the truth Ex. Kwōj ṃool ke? = Are you sure?/Really? Ex. Ña ij ṃool = I’m sure/I’m telling the truth Ex. Kwōj ṃool = You’re telling the truth/You’re right (Note: to say ‘I’m not sure’ say ‘Ijab lukkuun jeḷā,’ NOT ‘Ijab ṃool’)
riab false, lie Ex. Eriab = It is false Ex. Ej riab = He is lying Ex. Ña ij riab = I’m lying/Just kidding
nōṃba (from English) number
piik (from English) pig
tiṃa ship (noun)
tọọl (from English) towel
taḷa (from English) dollar
wōt rain, to rain Ex. Ewōt = It is raining
rọọl to leave (in the sense of ‘go away’, not in the sense of ‘leave something somewhere’) Ex. Raar rọọl inne = They left yesterday
ālikin or ṃōjin after
ṃokta before, first
ṃokta jān ____ before ____
Anij God
bao bird, chicken
bao in mejatoto bird (specifically)
bao in laḷ chicken (specifically)
bwebwe crazy, stupid
iññā or iiūñ yes (alternate forms of ‘aet’)
jijet sit, sit down
ki key
ḷak lock, to lock, locked
joḷọk throw away, take off (an article of clothing), quit, get rid of, break up with, get divorced from, spend, waste Ex. Joḷọk ek eo = Throw away the fish Ex. Joḷọk iien = Waste time Ex. Joḷọk keroro! = Quit talking/Be quiet!  
kappok or pukot look for, search for
jāān (from English) cent, money
mej die, dead
meḷọkḷọk forget Ex. Imeḷọkḷọk = I forget
pād wōt stay
taktō doctor, see a doctor Ex. Iaar taktō inne = I went to the doctor yesterday
ṃōn taktō hospital, medical dispensary
peḷḷọk open, unlocked
kapeḷḷọk to open
ti tea
ruṃwij late, slow
juon men something
aolep men everything
juon armij somebody
aolep armij everybody
juon jikin somewhere
aolep jikin everywhere
jar to go to church, to attend a church service, to pray
kọọt steal
amiṃōno handicrafts, make handicrafts
alikkar clear, obvious Ex. Ejañin alikkar = It isn’t clear yet/It hasn’t been decided yet/We’re not sure yet
irooj chief, king
lerooj chieftess, queen
jikin place, place of/for Ex. Jikin tutu = Place for taking a shower
jorrāān or problem problem, have a problem, hurt, get hurt, not working, out of order Ex. Ejorrāān = It’s broken Ex. Ejjeḷọk jorrāān = No problem Ex. Kwonaaj jorrāān = You’ll get hurt
kāāl new, fresh
ṃor old (of things only)
rūtto old (of people only), adult
kidu dog
kuuj cat
ṃōkaj or eṃṃōkaj (E: ṃōkaj or ṃōṃkaj) fast, on time, early Ex. Ṃōkaj ñan iien jikuuḷ = On time to school
nuknuk clothes
ruuṃ (from English) room, space
peen (from English) pen
pen hard (in both the physical sense and the sense of ‘difficult’)
pidodo easy, soft
pilawā flour, bread
pinjeḷ pencil
teeñki flashlight
tata -est ending, to the utmost, extremely Ex. Kileptata = Biggest Ex. Eṃṃantata = Best, extremely good
ḷọk -er ending Ex. Kilepḷọk = Bigger Ex. Eṃṃanḷọk = Better
wūnto (from English) window
wailōj (from English ‘wireless’) talk on a short-wave radio, use a short-wave radio
dekā rock, stone, pebble, boulder, gravel
babu lie down
bait or ire to fight
ebooḷ there are many Ex. Ebooḷ armej = There are many people
eiiet there are few, not very many Ex. Eiiet armej = There are not very many people
bōkḷọk take something to somewhere Ex. Bōkḷọk ki eo ñan Tenita = Take the key to Tenita
etetal walk
iiep basket
jutak stand up
kajutak to raise
minit minute
ṃōkade to be really good at something Ex. Eṃōkade eọñōd = He is really good at fishing
tallōñ climb
pako shark  
ettoon (E: sometimes tōtoon) dirty, messy
erreo (E: sometimes rōreo) clean
karreo to clean, clean up
ettōr (E: tōtōr) to run
pija (from English) picture, drawing, photograph, drawing, to draw, to take a picture, to get one’s picture taken
pileij (from English) plate
niñniñ baby
waini brown coconut (older than a green coconut), copra
wōtḷọk (E: buñḷọk) fall, fall down
likatu beautiful woman, beautiful (of women only)
ḷakatu good-looking man, good-looking (of men only)
ije or ijiiō here (near me, but not near you)
ijin here (near both of us, in between us, or around us)
ijōṇe there (near you, but not near me)
ijo there (near neither you nor me)
ijjuweo there (far away)
ie there (in the sense of, ‘the place we are talking about’) ex. A: Iaar etal ñan Mejit. = I went to Mejit       B: Kwaar ta ie?           = What did you do there?
āinwōt juon the same, never mind, it doesn’t matter
baru crab
eo here you go (said when giving something to someone)
dān water, any liquid
dānnin ni coconut juice
wiiken (from English) weekend
kāḷọk to fly, to jump, to jump out of a boat into the water
baankek pancake
jinoe start, start it
jinoin beginning, beginning of
kakkije rest, relax, take a break, recess, go to recess
keemem traditional party held on an infant’s first birthday, to attend or put on such a party, birthday party
menninmour animal
kōto wind
ekkōtoto (E: sometimes kōkōtoto) windy
kweilọk meeting, to have a meeting, to attend a meeting
libbukwe shell (as in, the shells you find on the beach, not the shell of an egg)
ruuḷ rule
ṃakoko (in) unwilling (to), refuse (to), really not want (to)
nabōj outside
nabōjin or ālkin outside of
ettōñ (E: tōtōñ) laugh, smile
rup break, broken
tebōḷ (from English) table, desk
tōñal sweet
turọñ spearfish, go spearfishing
waḷọk happen, occur, appear, rise (of the sun or the moon)
tulọk to dive, to dive down, to set (of the sun)
jipeeḷ (from English) spell, spelling
uno medicine, paint
bwe so-so Ex. Eṃṃan mour?  Ebwe = How’s it going?  So-so.
my/mine
aṃ your/yours/ (for one person only)
an his, her/hers, its
ad our/ours (including the person being spoken to)
am our/ours (not including the person being spoken to)
ami your/yours (for more than one person)
aer their/theirs
naip (from English) knife
___ in laḷ next ____ Ex. wiik in laḷ = next month
___ eo ḷọk or ___ eo last ____ (in the sense of ‘previous,’ not last in a list) Ex. wiik eo ḷọk = last week
kiil or kiili to close, to memorize
kilōk closed, memorized Ex. Ekilōk = It is closed
bwe because, so that Ex. Bwe kwōṃōṇōṇō = Because you are happy Ex. Bwe kwōn ṃōṇōṇō = So that you will be happy
aḷ sun
ettoḷọk (E: sometimes tōtoḷọk) far away
pinana (from English) banana
kain rot or kain rōt (E: kain rot) what kind?
__ rot or __ rōt (E: __ tor) what kind of ___? Ex. Ek rōt = What kind of fish?
tonaaj (from English) donut
jañ cry, make a noise, be played on the radio
kōrkōr small outrigger canoe, paddled or with a sail
tipñōl larger outrigger canoe, with a sail
luuj (from English) lose
wiin (from English) win
māj eye, face, mask, snorkeling mask, glasses
tūrak (from English) truck, car
uwaak answer (noun or verb), reply
wōd coral, coral reef, coral head
iakiu or baseball (from English) baseball
volleyball volleyball
basket basketball
outer island (from English) or aelōñ ko ilikin outer islands    
aolepān all of it, all of ___, the whole ___ Ex. Aolepān = All of it/The whole thing Ex. Aolepān wiik = All week
aolepāer all of them
bōd wrong, error, mistake, make a mistake, fault Ex. Ebōd = It is wrong Ex. Kwaar bōd = You are wrong/You made a mistake Ex. Aṃ bōd = It’s your fault
joḷọk bōd I’m sorry, to apologize
jiṃwe correct, right, straight
kajiṃwe to correct, to straighten
doon each other
ippān doon together, with each other
jako gone, missing, lost, disappeared
kōjām door, gate
jiṃaat (from English) or mālōtlōt smart
jukwa sugar, use sugar
kab and also
kajoor strong, powerful
kweet octopus
laḷ ground
ilaḷ on the ground
le informal word used at the end of a sentence when talking to a woman or girl Ex. Kwōj etal ñan ia le? = Where are you going, girl?
ḷe informal word used at the end of a sentence when talking to a man or boy Ex. Kwōj etal ñan ia ḷe? = Where are you going, man?
liṃa informal word used at the end of a sentence when talking to more than one woman or girl Ex. Iọkwe liṃa = Hi girls
ḷōṃa informal word used at the end of a sentence when talking to more than one man or boy Ex. Iọkwe ḷōṃa = Hi guys
ewi toon? how long? (in the sense of ‘how much time?’)
ṇaṃ (E: jokwajok) mosquito
peet (from English) bed
tiṃōṇ demon
iturun next to, close to
wūt flower, flower headdress
wōjke tree
bwiro preserved breadfruit (a common food)
keememej remember Ex. Ij keememej = I remember
eet? what’s the matter?, what’s the matter with it?
jibwe to take, to grab
būbū grandma
jiṃṃa grandpa
jook shy, embarrassed, ashamed
kōḷḷā to pay, to get paid
kōmat to cook
mat cooked (not raw)
kūbwe feces
kwōpej (from English) garbage
ḷotak to be born
retio (from English) radio
tāākji (from English) taxi
teej (from English) test, exam, take a test
pāātḷọk tide going out (getting lower)
ibwijtok tide coming in (getting higher)
kaṇaṃṇaṃ mosquito coil
kabbōl to turn on (a light, lamp, etc.)
kun to turn off (a light, lamp, etc.
jabdewōt any, anything, anybody
marok dark
kinaak to tell on, to report someone to an authority figure
bọọj (from English) boss, leader
bar head, head hair
bōran head of, head hair of, tip of
ebwe there is enough
et do what?
inepata worry, worried, upset Ex. Jab inepata = Don’t worry
jea (from English) chair
jitto western half of an island
jittak eastern half of an island
joob (from English) soap
joob in tutu soap for bathing
joob in kwaḷkoḷ soap for washing
kijeek fire
cousin (from English) cousin
kōppojak (ñan) to get ready (for), to prepare (for), (also a euphemism for going to the bathroom)
ṃōn kōppojak or bathroom (from English) outhouse, bathroom
hand, arm
pedped reef, foundation
ippa with me, in my opinion Ex. Eṃṃan ippa = It’s good in my opinion/I like it
ippaṃ with you (talking to only one person), in your opinion
ippān with him/her/it, in his/her/it opinion
ippād with us (including the person being talked to), in our opinion
ippām with us (not including the person being talked to), in our opinion
ippāmi with you (talking to more than one person), in your opinion
ippāer with them, in their opinion
tōmak believe Ex. Ij jab tōmak eok = I don’t believe you Ex. Ij tōmak bwe kwōnaaj bar itok = I think you will come back
wōn turtle
bōjrak stop
erri where are they?, where are ___?
deḷọñ to enter, to go inside
diwōj to exit, to go outside
kọkkure to mess up (something), waste, break (a rule), violate
jimattan half, half of
kōn menin so (as in ‘I was sick, so I didn’t go to school’), therefore
joḷọk iien or kọkkure iien waste time
karjin (from English) kerosene
ke or (synonym to ‘ak,’ for asking questions like ‘man or woman?’), marker used to indicate a yes/no question
kein thing of, thing for Ex. Kein tutu = Things for taking a shower (bucket, dippet, etc.)
kein jerbal tool
kein iukkure (E: kein kukure) toy
kein jikuuḷ school supplies
kein kajuon/kein karuo/kein kajilu/etc. first/second/third/etc.
laḷ in the world, the Earth
ḷain (from English) line, clothesline, line up, form a line
ṃōttan ___ in (a certain amount of time), ___ remaining Ex. Ṃōttan ruo = Two left/two more
ṃwilaḷ deep, profound
pejpej shallow
peeḷ (from English) bell
ri- person of, person who, person who is (put before nouns, verbs, and adjectives)
to long time Ex. Eto am jako = You’ve been gone for a long time
uklele (from English) ukulele, to play the ukulele
kautiej respect, to treat respectfully
baro (from English) borrow
innām ḷak ṃōj and then
kadek poisonous (of fish), poisoned (from eating fish), intoxicated, drunk, get drunk
ek in kadek poisonous fish
dānnin kadek alcohol
men in le- (with -tok, -wōj, and ‘ḷọk’) gift, present Ex. Juon men in lewōj = A gift for you
kimej palm frond
bọọk box
enret (E: ālmen) how? Ex. Enret aṃ kōṃṃane? = How do you do it?
ewi wāween or ta wāween how? Ex. Ewi wāween aṃ kōṃṃane? = How do you do it?
bwilōñ or ilbōk surprised, amazed
kabwilōñ or kailbōk to surprise, to amaze
kekōb dipper
ḷāibrāre (from English) library
ṃaiḷ (from English) mile
pātōre battery
waj wristwatch
wōnṃaanḷọk to go forward, to go on, to continue
ebajeet? why? (always used by itself, never as part of a sentence)
epaak close
aṃwin to wash one’s hands
bakōj (from English) bucket
ṃoktata first (in a series of things)
āliktata last (in a series of things)
dike hate    
jaki mat
kōjak joke, funny, strange Ex. Ekōjak = It’s funny Ex. Ij kōṃṃan kōjak = I’m making a joke/I’m just kidding
jilkinḷọk send
juuj (from English) shoe
juujuj to wear shoes
keinabbu papaya
kiaj (from English) gas
jeḷā ṃanit polite
jaje ṃanit or ñak ṃanit rude
kiiō kiiō wōt right now
kūta (from English) guitar, to play the guitar
lañ sky, weather
mejatoto sky, air, climate
ḷaaṃ lamp
eḷap there is a lot, there is a lot of, a lot of
edik there is not very much
ne leg, foot (both the part of the body and the unit of measure)
pakij (from English) package
to rope, string
wōtōr (from English) to order something over the radio
buñniin tonight
jọtiniin this evening
raelepniin this afternoon
jibboñniin or ke ejibboñ this morning
Baibōḷ (from English) Bible
būrinjibōḷ (from English) principal
aḷaḷ wood, stick of wood
iuṃwin under, for (a certain amount of time)
jemjem to sharpen
kōjparok to protect, to take care of, to treat gently, to conserve Ex. Kōjparok aṃ mour = Take care of yourself
pojak ready
keinikkan plant (noun)
ḷa- informal word attached to the beginning of a male name, to refer to a man or boy in an informal, familiar, or affectionate way Ex. ḶaAli = Ali (referred to in an informal way)
li- informal word attached to the beginning of a female name, to refer to a woman or girl in an informal, familiar, or affectionate way Ex. LiTonika = Tonika (referred to in an informal way)
ṃarṃar necklace
eṃṃōlolo (E: sometimes ṃōṃōlolo) cool (in the sense of ‘pleasantly cold’)
uwe to get on (a boat, car, etc.), to ride
to to get off (a boat, car, etc.), to come down, to climb down
tōpar or tōprak to reach (a place), to get to (a place), to arrive at (a place) Ex. Raar tōpar Majuro inne = They got to Majuro yesterday
kadik particularly, too (as in ‘too big, ‘too small,’ etc.)
turun māj face
aetok long, tall (of people)
kadu (E: kanu) short, brief
buḷōn mar or buḷōn wojke or buḷōn jungle jungle, forest
eita? what’s happening?, what’s wrong? (always said by itself, not as part of a sentence)
aujpitōḷ (from English) hospital
bwilọk snapped, broken (of long thin objects, like pencils)
aorōk important, precious, valuable
kwalọk to show
iwōj (E: wāwōj) go to where you are, come with you, go over to your house Ex. Ña ij iwōj = I’m coming with you
kab cup
kabkab use a cup
kōnnaan or kōnono to talk
kajjioñ to try (to) (in both the sense of ‘attempt to’ and ‘test something out’) Ex. Iaar kajjioñ bwiro = I tried some preserved breadfruit Ex. Iaar kajjioñ tallōñ ni eo = I tried to climb the coconut tree
kien government, government of, rule, rule of Ex. Kien Ṃajeḷ = Government of the Marshall Islands
kwaḷkoḷ wash
laṃōj shout
lọje stomach, belly
kaṃool to make sure
lọñi mouth
ṃwil behavior
pāāk bag
tariṇae to fight a war, to fight in a war
rūttariṇae soldier
leen wōjke fruit
pejtōbōḷ (from English) vegetable
uṃṃa kiss
unin reason, reason of, cause, cause of
ta unin why?    
kijoñ often do something, usually do something Ex. Kwaar kijoñ ṃōñā ta ilo Amedka? = What did you usually eat in America?
kanōk to pull
āinwōt ___ it seems that ___ Ex. Āinwōt inañinmej = It seems that I’m sick/I feel sick Ex. Āinwōt ejjeḷọk ek = It seems that there are no fish/There seem to be no fish
alikkar ____ it must be the case that ___, obviously ___ Ex. Alikkar enaaj wōt = Obviously it’s going to rain Ex. Alikkar eḷap aṃ jāān = You obviously have a lot of money/You must have a lot of money
kaal (from English) call on the radio or telephone
baṃ (from English) pump, to pump
ikkij (E: kūkij) bite
barāinwōt also
di bone
kōbaatat to smoke
deñōt spank
iu coconut seedling (when a coconut has hit the ground and started to sprout leaves), the meat of a coconut seedling (a common food)
kāiuiu look for and gather coconut seedlings
kọpe (from English) coffee, to drink coffee
jen let’s Ex. Jen iukkure = Let’s play
jemoot let’s go
jiit (from English) sheet
kadkad to throw
ke (for some words) or bwe (for other words) that (as if ‘I know that I can’) Ex. Ijeḷā ke eṃṃan = I know that it’s good Ex. Kwaar ba bwe enana = You said it was bad
kajjien identity of (used to make sentences like ‘I know John,’ ‘you know Mary’) Ex. Ijeḷā kajjien Rosemary = I know Rosemary
kilin skin of
raan on top of
nājin child of, offspring of, so, of daughter of
liḷḷap old woman
ḷaḷḷap old man
ennaan (E: nōnaan) or nuuj (from English) news
nuujpeba (from English) newspaper
ṇo wave Ex. Eḷap ṇo rainin = The waves are big today
pata (from English ‘battle’) war
pata eo kein karuo World War II
pijek to defecate
raut to urinate, urine
talboon (from English) telephone, to call on the telephone
tūrep (from English) trip, voyage, excursion
wōdwōd to eat (for pandanus only)
kea (from English) care Ex. Ij jab kea = I don’t care
kein eṃ wall, side of a house
kōkairir hurry up
bọọti nose
buruṃ broom, to sweep
eddo (E: sometimes dedo) heavy, responsibility Ex. Aṃ eddo = It’s your responsibility
jeṃaan a while ago (anywhere from a few months to many years)
etto a long time ago (many years ago), in olden times
iioon to meet (a person), to come across, to encounter, to find (without looking for the thing)
ekkañ (E: sometimes kōkañ) sharp
ekkōb (E: sometimes kōkōb) dull
jāntōj (from English) sentence
kọuwōtata dangerous
loḷọk to visit
ḷoñ ant
ḷọñ fly (the insect)
mejānwōd (E: jenọ) medium-sized clam with very brightly-colored inside, lives on coral
piit (from English ‘beat’) dance (Western style), common type of dancing to Western music for holiday celebrations
tipi (from English) TV, television, TB, tuberculosis
pārōn (from English) parent (used only in the context of PTA meetings, school, etc.)
kōbaḷuun to go to the airport and wait for an airplane to come
abṇōṇō uncomfortable, bothered
kaabṇōṇō to bother, to make uncomfortable
baajkōḷ (from English) bicycle, to ride a bicycle
iiaḷo (from English)     yellow
kūre (from English) gray
kūriin (from English) or maroro green
bilu (from English) blue
būrawūn (from English) brown
būrōrō red
mouj white
kilmeej black
oran (from English) orange (the color or the fruit)
baijin (from English) poison, poisoned, poisonous
jālele meat for eating, meat course of a meal
jibuun (from English) spoon
kōjañjañ to play (a musical instrument)
jikin kallib garden, farm
kōkkāāl to change (in the sense of ‘switch,’ ‘replace’)
kōkkāāl nuknuk to change clothes
kommeḷeḷe to explain, to disentangle
kaḷan (from English) gallon
kāānjeḷ (from English) cancel, cancelled
limo fun (adjective)
ṃade spear
ṃwijṃwij to cut, cut (as in, a small wound on the body)
ṃwijbar to get a haircut, to cut someone’s hair
rọọltok to return (to here)
rọọlḷọk to return (to somewhere other than here)
toḷ mountain, hill
wōpij (from English) office
būḷañkōj (from English) or kọọj blanket
ajej to divide, to pass out (something to a group of people), divided by (in arithmetic)
at (from English) hat
atat to wear a hat
ilo ien eo at that time, while
ejabwe there is not enough ____
jekaro coconut sap (drunk as a beverage or used in cooking)
jeṃlọk to end, ended, done, over
jeṃḷokin end (noun)
jeraaṃṃan good luck, lucky, fortunate, rich
jerata bad luck, unlucky, unfortunate, poor
kōjota eat dinner
juub (from English) soup
kakūtōtō to harass, tease, heckle
kakilkil sunburned
kate (E: sometimes kakkōt) to try hard, exert oneself, put effort into something, effort
kapwor giant clam
kuuṃ (from English) comb
kalibbukwe look for shells
lukwi real one Ex. Luwki eo = The real one
lukkuun or ṃool in real Ex. Juon lukkuun in armej = A real person
ḷait (from English) electric light
ḷoon (from English ‘launch’) or buṃ-buṃ motorboat
tok to me/us, towards where I am, towards where we are (put directly after a verb)
wōj or waj to you, towards where you are (put directly after a verb)
ḷọk to him/her/it/them, towards where he/she/it/they are, away from me and you (put directly after a verb)
makmake favorite
ṃōrō (from English ‘murder’) kill, murder, murderer
piliṃ (from English) film (that you put in a camera, not that you watch)
ruj wake up
karuj to wake (somebody) up
utiej high
riutiej ‘high person,’ honored person, VIP
ettā (E: sometimes tōtā) low
wūjooj grass
boriñ (from English) bored, boring
booḷ (from English) full
abwinmake afraid of demons, afraid of being alone at night
būreejtōn (from English) president
ainikien sound, sound of, voice, voice of
bōkwōj bring to you, take to you
diaka cart, wheelbarrow
kọkweet look for octopuses
mminene (W: imminene, E: miminene) accustomed to
jamminene not accustomed to, not used to
jerak to leave (in a boat), to leave (of boats only), to sail away, to hoist sail
jerakrōk to go sailing
kuḷuḷ cockroach
lōñ up, up there Ex.: Epād lōñ = It’s up there
laḷ down, down there Ex: Epād laḷ = It’s down there
mājet (from English) matches
jōmar (from English) summer, to spend a summer (somewhere)
kattōr or tūraip (from English) drive
pepe (in) decide (to), decision Ex: Iar pepe in rọọl = I decided to leave Ex: Aṃ pepe or Aṃ wōt pepe = It’s up to you/It’s your decision
raj whale, dolphin
tōprak results, success, successful Ex: Eḷap tōprak = It was very successful/It really worked Ex: Ejjeḷọk tōprak = There was no success/It didn’t work Ex: Ejañin wōr tōprak = There haven’t been any results yet/It hasn’t worked yet/ Ex: Etōprak = It’s successful/It works
jidikin a little bit of (it), a piece of (it)
ukot or ukōt to change (in the sense of ‘alter’) Ex. Iaar ukōt aō lōmṇak = I changed my mind
wāween way, manner, way of, manner of Ex: Ilo bwijin wāween ko = In many ways
papōḷōr (from English) popular
eḷaptata especially, most of all, in particular
aet current (in a body of water) Ex: Eḷap aet = There’s a strong current Ex: Edik aet = There’s not much of a current Ex: Ejjeḷọk aet = There’s no current
bōt naughty, to be naughty, disobey, misbehave Ex: Ebōt = He is naughty Ex: Ej bōt = He is being naughty/He is disobeying
kāālōt choose, elect
eddeb (E:dedeb) to husk coconuts
bwiin smell, smell of, it smells like ___ Ex: Bwiin bwiro = It smells like bwiro  
jaaṃ why? (always put after the pronoun) Ex: Kwōjaaṃ kōṃṃan iiep? = Why are you making baskets?
uraak to move (oneself to a place)
jodi (from English) zorries, flip-flops
ka to cause to be (before adjectives), to cause to (before verbs) to look for (before nouns) Ex: Kanañinmej = To make sick Ex: Kabaru = To look for crabs
kabbokbok to clap, applause
kain ṇe like that (what you’re doing), do that (what you’re doing)
kajjirere to make fun of, to laugh at, to ridicule
ḷaita (from English) lighter
ṃakūtkūt or eṃṃakūt (E: ṃakūtkūt or ṃōṃakūt) to move, to move around
kōṃṃakūt to move (something)
obrak full, no room left for people or things
ok net
pāāk (from English) back up
rarō to clean up an area
taiṇaṃ mosquito netting
uṃ oven, underground oven
uṃuṃ to bake
kamminene to practice, to get used to
kōmmālmel to practice, to test
ko run away, flee
aij (from English) ice
dipen strong (of people only)
ilowaan inside of
jikka (from English ‘cigar’) cigarette, cigar
jiṃa and a little bit more (put after numbers) Ex: Roñoul jiṃa = Twenty some/A little over twenty
joiu soy sauce
im men and an unnamed other person (often the spouse of the first person mentioned) Ex: Lisson im men = Lisson and his wife Ex: Elina im men = Elina and her husband
moot or mootḷọk gone, gone away
emootḷọk (for singulars), remootḷọk (for plurals) ago Ex: Juon iiō emootḷọk = One year ago Ex: Ruo iiō remootḷọk = Two weeks ago
ṃare (from English) to marry, married
pet pillow
rinana outcast, criminal, delinquent, rascal
taibuun (from English) typhoon, big storm
etteiñ (E: tōteiñ) to fill up, put liquid in a container
utaṃwe busy, unable to do something due to a prior obligation, in mourning after a death
wōteḷ (from English) hotel, very big building  
ḷọk ñan to (in lists of things) Ex: Kilaj juon ḷọk ñan ralitōk  = Grades one to eight
wanlōñḷọk go up
waḷọkḷọk go down
bajjek just (after verbs, indicating unimportance) Ex: Ij jaṃbo bajjek = I’m just taking a walk
edik wōṇān cheap
eḷap wōṇān expensive
ejjeḷọk wōṇān free (no charge)
bōlōk leaf
ekkōṇak (E: kōkōṇak) to wear, to put on (an article of clothing), to love
entak to climb a coconut tree and retrieve green coconuts
jedọujij (from English ‘trousers’) pants
jōōt (from English) shirt
jōōtōt to wear a shirt
jiiñlij t-shirt
likko skirt
likko lowaan underskirt, slip
jerkak to get up (in the morning after waking up)
eṃṃoj (E: ṃōṃōj) to vomit
kumi group, team, gang
kuwata (from English) quarter (the kind of coin)
tilekek or kūttiliek (E: kattilōklōk) to hide, to hide (something)
make alone, by oneself, self (after pronouns) Ex: Eaar make jaṃbo = He took a walk by himself Ex: Kwe make = You alone/Yourself
meram bright, light (adjective)
ñi tooth
ọọj (from English) horse
reja (from English) razor, to shave
ettōṇak (E: tōtōṇak) to dream, dream (noun), daydream
tūkōt (from English) ticket
kadede beforehand, already
je or jeek(i) transitive form of ‘jeje’ (‘write’)
ipeḷaakin around, surrounding
bukwōn           state, province, part of a country
eddek or eddekḷọk (E: dedek or dedekḷọk) to grow, to sprout, to germinate
rūttoḷọk to grow (of humans only), to grow up, to get older
koba together, plus (in arithmetic)
kobaik or kakobaik to put together, to join (something to something else)
aidik or ainiñ thin (of things or people)
būrae (from English) (transitive form: būraeik(i)) to fry
kabbwilōñlōñ amazing, surprising
anmiiñ left (the direction)
anmooṇ right (the direction)
kọọnpiip (from English) corned beef, euphemism for peeping on someone
jiroñ young woman (usually unmarried)
likao young man (usually unmarried)
bwe leftovers, what’s left, the rest
jọọl (from English) salt, salty
kalbuuj (from English ‘calaboose’) jail, prison, be in jail, go to jail, put in jail
ikōtaan between
kile recognize, realize
wōr lobster
kūriij (from English) grease, fat (noun)
pinneep coconut oil
ālikin raelep afternoon (as opposed to ‘raelep,’ which can mean both ‘afternoon’ and ‘noon’)
ekōn used to (do something in the past)
tibat teapot
kōmpōlein (from English) complain
uwaroñ annoyed (by noise only)
wāto land tract (usually a strip of the island extending from the lagoon side to the ocean side, always with a name)
weiḷ (from English) oil
pair (from English) fired, expelled
ae (transitive form ain(i)) to gather, to collect
bok sand
bokbok sandy, covered with sand
bat slow
aṃa (from English) hammer
eo fishing line
āj to weave
kōdọ cloud
ekkōdọdo (E: sometimes kōkōdọdo) cloudy, overcast
jebta (from English) chapter (in a book or of a church)
jiṇo snow
kijdik mouse, rat
maañ pandanus leaves (used for making mats and handicrafts)
ṃan transitive form of ‘ṃanṃan’ (‘to hit, spank, kill’)
parijet shore, beach
rijerbal worker, employee, one of the three types of owners of land in Marshallese society (highest is irooj/lerooj, second highest is aḷap, lowest is rijerbal)
ukood raw, to eat something raw
wōtōmjej all, every
kwaḷ transitive form of kwaḷkoḷ (‘to wash’)
kij(i) transitive form of ikkij/kūkij (‘to bite’)
kinej wound, scar
kinejnej wounded
dāp or ṃaj eel
bọbo (transitive form bọur(i)) to catch
bato (from English) bottle
bwil chewing gum
bọọk (from English) fork
___ eo juon (for singulars) ___ ko jet (for plural non-humans)  ___ ro jet (for plural humans) the other ___ Ex: Ni eo juon = The other coconut Ex: Ni ko jet = The other coconut Ex: Ajri ro jet = The other children  
ejjeḷọkun wōt except for
jānij trade, exchange, switch
kōjatdikdik hope
jilkinḷọk send
kōpooj(i) (intransitive form kōpopo) to prepare (something), to get something ready
kijerjer anxious
makijkij often
ṃōt what house?
ṃupi (from English) movie, watch a movie
pālele marriage, married
rọñ hole
tūraṃ drum
wiaik(i) transitive form of ‘wia’ (‘buy’)
kad transitive form of ‘kadkad’ (‘throw’)
ebbōl (E: bōbōl) to shine
rabōlbōl shiny
bōtōktōk blood, bleed, menstruation
ekkokowa (E: lejọñjọñ) juggle, juggling
buḷajtiik (from English) plastic
iju star, planet
jarom electricity
jekdoon ignore, no matter ___, it doesn’t matter
jekdoon ta no matter what
jekdoon ñe or āinwōt juon ñe even if, no matter if
jekdoon ñe __, ak __        or āinwōt juon ñe __, ak __ even if ___, ___. even though ____, ____. Ex: Jekdoon ñe epen, ak inaaj high school = Even if it’s hards, I will go to high school Ex: Āinwōt juon ñe ewōt, ak inaaj eọñōd = Even if it rains, I will fish
ḷḷao (W: eḷḷao E: ḷōḷao) seasick, nauseous
kūrjin (from English) Christian, member of a church in good standing
kwōdeak beard, moustache
būrọro pregnant
ṃṃool (W: eṃṃool E: ṃōṃool) thanked, to be thanked Ex: Koṃṃool = You are thanked/Thank you Ex: Kwōlukkuun eṃṃool = You are really thanked/Thank you very much Ex. Kwōbar eṃṃool = Thank you too
kañ (E: kan) transitive form of ‘ṃōñā’ (‘eat’)
pelaḷ sink down
pelōñ float up to the surface
peḷọk drift at sea, lose direction while traveling at sea, miss destination while at sea
eppepe (E: pepepe) to float
tūrabōḷ (from English) trouble
lojen (from English) lotion (such as mosquito repellant or sunscreen)
pijaik(i) transitive form of ‘pija’ (‘draw, take a picture’)
karreoik(i) transitive form of ‘karreo’ (‘to clean’)
didi bony
akkọun (from English) charge to an account
iiṃ fast
bajinjea (from English) passenger
ile string for stringing fish while fishing
injin (from English) engine
kwalọk mool tell the truth
tūṃ to break, broken (of long, thin objects like string, grass, etc.)
jāje machete, sword
jeḷāḷọkjeṇ education, knowledge, conscious
jajeḷọkjeṇ ignorance, ignorant, unconscious
kanne to fill up (often said of plates being filled with someone’s portion of food)
lep egg
kwalọk kōn tell about
kaluuj to make lose, to beat (somebody) at a game
mālim permission, allowed, legal
piiḷ tūrep (from English) field trip, field trip ships that deliver supplies to outer islands
roba (from English) rubber, rubber tube at the end of a fishing spear
teek what relation? Ex: Kwōj teek Jenita = How are you related to Jenita?
wōdwōd covered with coral, teeming with coral
wōtbai (from English ‘autobike’) motorcycle
wūlio good-looking (of men only)
aen (from English) iron, metal
deel fan (noun)
deelel (transitive form deel) to fan (verb)
bu (transitive form buuk(i)) gun, to shoot    
kor (intransitive form W: eokkor E: kokor) to tie
eḷaññe if
añkō (from English) anchor, to anchor
empiḷoob (from English) or kilin leta envelope        
inne eo ḷọk juon the day before yesterday
jekḷaj the day after tomorrow
kōmmour to give birth
kaṃṃoolol to thank
iuut (from English) or jọdikdik youth, young person
kūrijṃōj (from English) Christmas       
ājmour health
jipiij (from English) speech, to deliver a speech
kwalọk naan to deliver a speech
ello or ellolo (E: lelo or lelolo) intransitive form of ‘lo’ (‘to see, to find’)
ṃaan front
iṃaan in the front, in front of
ṃaantata at the very front, first
itulikin behind
pāāñkōḷ bracelet
pilo blind, not see well     
toṇ tune, melody
kattoon to make dirty
lōb tomb, grave
joda unable to catch many fish, not very good at fishing
wōda able to catch many fish, good at fishing
wanlikḷọk, to go to the ocean side of an island
wanarḷọk to go to the lagoon side of an island
wanāneḷọk to go towards land, away from the sea
wanmetoḷọk to go towards sea, away from the land
jem transitive form of ‘jemjem’ (“to sharpen’)
kobban contents, contents of Ex: Ejjeḷọk kobban = It’s empty
al in jar hymn, song sung at church
bar rocky area of a beach, reef, or lagoon (above water at least part of the time)
bwidej dirt, land
anōk to copy, imitate
bōkā tide     
kūr(i) (transitive form: W: ikkūr, E: kūkūr) to call, to call someone to come, to summon         
bbōj (W: ebbōj, E:bōbōj) swollen
bọun (from English) pound (unit of weight)
door (intransitive form W: eddoor E: dedoor) to put (something) down, to leave (something somewhere)
ilomej part of a Marshallese funeral
āmej another part of a Marshallese funeral
eoreak third part of a Marshallese funeral
jjir (W: ejjir, E: jijir) slippery
kaaj (from English) cards (for playing card games)
kajjidede to guess
kallib (transitive form: kalbwin(i)) to plant, to bury
ke dolphin, porpoise
ḷoor to follow
lōke to believe in, to trust
tōṃato (from English) tomato
piknik (from English) picnic, to have a picnic
tanij (from English) dance
to channel from the ocean to inside of the lagoon, where large ships can pass through
katoto (transitive form: katotoik(i)) to hang, to hang up
tulōñin top, top of
itulōñin at the top, at the top of
tulaḷin bottom, bottom of
itulaḷin at the bottom, at the bottom of
kapin bottom, bottom of, western end of an island
waan joñak example, for example
bōtōn (from English) button, pill
ute rain on Ex: Enaaj ute jaki eo = The mat is going to get rained on
kijōr take an offer
kōḷḷāiki(i) transitive form of ‘kōḷḷā’ (‘to pay’)
baroik(i) transitive form of ‘baro’ (‘to borrow’)
baab think, be of the opinion, suppose
bujek to tie up one’s hair
bwebwenatoon etto legend
bōro throat, gills, seat of the emotions (like ‘heart’ in English)
būrookraaṃ (from English) program, to put on a program
dila nail (for building things)
make iaan alone, by oneself
bōnbōn (transitive form: bwin(i)) to count, arithmetic
dāpdep (transitive form: dāpij(i)) to hold, keep, retain, control
ine seed
ito–itak go back and forth, wander around
ninnin to suck, to nurse, breast, nipple
jekōn (from English) second (unit of time)
kōjjeḷā announce, announcement
jitoob (from English) stove
kalliṃur (transitive form: kalliṃur(i)) to promise
kawōr to hunt for lobsters
kaṃōj to finish
lọmọọr (transitive form: lọmọọr or lọmọọren) to save, to rescue
ḷak when (like ‘ke,’ but put after the pronoun) Ex. Reḷak lale, raar ilbōk = When they looked, they were surprised.
lukwarkwar to chase
___ ḷọk hurry up and ____    
niñ (when modifying a noun, jiniñniñ for singulars and jinniñ for plurals) small, young (synonym to ‘dik’)
nitijeḷā legislative body of the Marshall Islands
peij (from English) page
pia (from English) beer
pokpok to cough
toḷọk westwards
taḷọk (E: takḷọk) eastwards
wōnṃae to go and meet
wūjooj in lọjet seaweed
unook to treat (a sickness, wound) with medicine
kōṃakūt(i) transitive form of kōṃṃakūt (‘to move(something)’)
iaraj taro
ainbat (from English) iron pot, pot
baiḷat (from English) pilot
bwil (transitive form: bwill(i)) to push, to launch a boat from the beach
eñjake to feel, feelings, emotions
iaan of (for phrases like ‘one of the cups,’ ‘two of the men’)
iaer of them
ioḷap middle, at the middle
ioḷapin middle of, at the middle of
kōwainini look for and gather waini (brown coconuts), harvest copra, make copra
jabōḷ shovel
jebo tied scored in a game
jebwābwe lost
jọọb (from English) job, to have a job
juur(i) (intransitive form: W: ijjuur, E: jijuur) to step on
kanniōk meat, flesh
kōpooḷ to go around something
raanke to grate coconut meat out of a waini (brown coconut) for use in cooking
karkar (kōrat) to take coconut meat out of a waini (brown coconut) in chunks for making copra
kilaj (from English ‘glass’) mirror, look at oneself in the mirror
kōtḷọk let, allow, let go, let go of, release
kwōle nut
mād ripe, to ripen
mājmāj to wear a mask, snorkeling mask, or glasses
ṃōrā dry
ṃōttan part of, friend of
ṃōttan nuknuk cloth
i or ṇa i in, on, at
kattoto time-consuming, take a long time
reba (from English) river  
roro (transitive form: ruj or rooj) chant, to chant (to make good luck for fishing, etc.)
rujān chant of Ex: Rujān eọñōd = Fishing chant
errọọlọl (E: rōrọọlọl) to turn around in circles
ettōñ dikdik (E: tōtōñ dikdik) to smile
tu ia? where exactly?
wajwaj to wear a watch
kilōb (from English) baseball glove
wōjḷā sail (noun)
kakon (intransitive form: kakonkon) to put away
jukwaik(i) transitive form of ‘jukwa’ (‘to put sugar in’)
kōjañ transitive form of ‘kōjañjañ’ (‘to play a musical instrument’)
uṃwin(i) transitive form of ‘uṃuṃ’ (‘to bake’)
aenōṃṃan peace, peaceful, tranquil
būraj (from English) brush, to brush
anijnij magic
anijnij(i) to make magic, to cast a spell
buñbuñ famous
ibwijleplep very high tide, spring tide, flood
pāāt mōṇakṇak very low tide, neap tide
barulep coconut crab (a very large, edible land crab)
depakpak wide
koṃbani (from English) company, corporation
indeeo or ñan indeeo forever
iur fast
jọkkutkut not often, seldom, rarely
jukjukun pād community
okkadkad fishing by throwing a small net in the water from the shore
kajin etto old Marshallese language (the way it was spoken a long time ago)
kakeememej to remind
kanooj very, really
kiin jeṃaanḷọk recently
kilaj (from English) glass
menokadu sweat, to sweat
ḷae smooth, of the lagoon or ocean
ṃajeḷ (from English) muscle
kaṃṃōkṃōk tiring, strenuous
nañin almost
nañin aolep almost all, most
pinej to block
penjak blocked, out of sight
kalibubu to cover
pok confused
kapok to confuse
riwut toy outrigger canoes, made for racing
tipjek to trip
kawōnwōn to hunt for turtles
eju there are many (of insects only)
uwi fatty and delicious (of fish only)
kajiṃweik(i) transitive form of ‘kajiṃwe’ (‘to correct, to straighten’)
kakūtōtōik(i) transitive form of ‘kakūtōtō’ (‘to tease, harass, heckle’)
ṃōrōik(i) transitive form of ‘ṃōrō’ (‘to murder, kill’)
ekkāāleḷ (E: kōkāālel) intransitive form of ‘kāālōt’ (‘to choose’)
kajjirereik(i) transitive form of ‘kajjirere’ (‘to make fun of, laugh at, ridicule’)
ukood (E: amej) raw, to eat raw
ānbwin body
kkar (W: ekkar, E: kōkar) to fit, fitting, appropriate, relevant
ekkar ñan according to
jekkar not fit, unfitting, inappropriate, ridiculous
būḷāwūt (from English) plywood, wood for making houses
iiāekwōj race, to race
koko (from English ‘cocoa’) chocolate, hot chocolate
baat smoke
baatat smoky
ekkāke (E: kōkāke) to jump up and down
baaṃ (from English) bomb
ilarak to fish by putting a line out from a boat while moving (trawling)
ittūt (E: tūttūt) breast
ittin breast of
jaajmi (from English) sashimi, raw fish
jāibo soup made from flour and water
joba (from English) sofa, couch
jok to land (of planes, birds, etc.)
kabbūroṃōjṃōj sad, saddening
kaṃo jealous, envious
kanejnej to swear at (someone), to curse (someone)
kubaak outrigger
eokkutkut often
kwarkor (transitive form: kor) to tie
metoḷọk towards the ocean or lagoon, farther into the ocean or lagoon
ṃae until, against
nono (transitive form: no) to pound
ṇaṃṇaṃ teeming with mosquitoes  
okjak (transitive form: ukwōj) fall over, turn over, capsize
piteto (from English) potato
pokake to obey
uṃṃaik(i) transitive form of ‘uṃṃa’ (‘to kiss’)
kōmmeḷeḷeik(i) transitive form of ‘kōmmeḷeḷe’ (‘to explain, to disentangle’)
ṃwijit(i) transitive form of ‘ṃwijṃwij’ (‘to cut’)
teiñ(i) transitive form of ‘etteiñ, tōteiñ’ (‘to fill up with a liquid’)
kōṇak transitive form of ‘ekkōṇak, kōkōṇak’ (‘to wear, to put on (an article of clothing), to love’)
ūlūl axe, hatchet
kabwebwe (transitive form: kabwebweik(i)) to fool
idid (transitive form: id) to sting
diwōjḷọk or kadduojḷọk to graduate, graduation
iọkiọkwe to greet, to say hello, to say goodbye
kooṇtōreak (from English) contract
jidiṃkij sudden, suddenly, in a hurry
kōjjeṃḷọk to bring to an end, to spend time with people before leaving for a long time
jikin uwe stairs, ladder, climb stairs or a ladder
kōl way
kilen or kiltōn way of
kakijen to look for and gather food
kallimjek (transitive form: kalimjek) to gaze, to gaze at, to stare, to stare at
kauḷaḷo (E: kadeọeo) spider
ānen to bail out water from a boat
loñḷọk   upwards
laḷḷọk downwards
lel to get hit Ex. Elel bōra = My head got hit
illik (E: lilik) (transitive form: likūt(i)) to put, to consider (something as something)
kallu (transitive form kalluuk(i)) to anger
ḷwe pool, pond, lake, tide pool
naṃ pond, lake, small secondary lagoon attached to the main lagoon of an atoll.
maḷoñ to drown
mera light (in weight)
ṃōjṇọ weak
ṃweiuk belongings, goods
peejnej (from English) business
taṃtaṃ blinded by the glare of the sun
potak full of holes (of materials only)
urōk to fish from a boat, bottom fishing
joñan wōt juon the same size
wātoḷọk or itoḷọk to go westwards
wātaḷọk or itaḷọk (E: wātakḷọk or itakḷọk) to go eastwards
wāniñaḷọk (E: wāniñeañḷọk) to go southwards
wārōñaḷọk (E: wānrōkeañḷọk) to go northwards
dānnin laḷ well water
aōṇōṇ paddle, to paddle
bōk eddo (E: bōk dedo) to take charge of, to take responsibility for
bōk jikin to replace, to take the place of
kaddeḷọñ to insert, to put in
kadduoj to remove, to take out
bōtab but, however
kāitoktok-limo interesting
jaaj (from English) to charge to an account
jimeeṇ (from English) cement
kajjiṃaatat to pretend to be smart, to act like you’re smart
kappāllele to pretend to be American, to act like an American
kōṃṃan __ ñan __ to make __ into __
kakilkil (transitive form: kakil(i)) to peel, to strip the scales off of a fish
kau (from English) cow, beef
kijoon to cross, to skip
ḷat coconut shell
mar bush, foliage, undergrowth
marmar covered with undergrowth, overgrown
meḷa to clear up after raining         
menono to breathe, heart
ṃad busy, occupied, distracted
kōṃad to keep (someone) busy, to occupy, to distract
okaetok long fishing net, fish using a long fishing net
ppakoko (W: eppakoko, E: pōpakoko) teeming with sharks
riiñ (from English) ring
tōṃa light bulb
ūl fin on the back of a fish
ūlin fin of Ex: Ewōr ūlin pako = Sharks have fins on their backs
wiik (from English) wick
kōjọ to light (a fire)
bubu (transitive form: buuj(i)) to tie
diak to tack (switch the sail over to the other side of the canoe)
diede or dede earring
akwāāl to argue
jabōn kōnnaan saying, proverb
jāāk (from English) check, to get checked
jiṃor together
joobob to use soap
kaammijak scary, frightening
kaṃōḷo party, to have a party, to attend a party
kattu to dip (something in something)
naan in kauwe advice, warning
kepaak (transitive form: kepaak(i)) to approach
kūḷu (transitive form: kūḷuik(i)) (from English) glue, to glue   
arin lagoon of
māāṇāṇ warm, warmth, heat
oṃ hermit crab
orañḷọk to swallow
waḷap large sailing canoe for open-ocean voyages
tōñal to have diabetes
nañinmej in tōñal diabetes          
rūtōñal person with diabetes
waat? what boat?
kankan intransitive form of ‘kanōk’ (‘to pull’)
kajitūkin(i) transitive form of ‘kajjitōk’ (‘to ask’)
atbọkwōj to hug
deọ beautiful (of women only)
baañke (from English) pumpkin
būrotijen (from English) Protestant
katlik (from English) Catholic
debdeb (transitive form dibōj(i)) or wākar to spear, to pierce
jaike scarce in fish
jejjo few
kōjato take shelter from the rain of sun
jukkwe kind of small clam that lives in the sand
kein kakeememej reminder, memento
kuku to ride piggy-back
lọmeto ocean (less common word than lọjet)         
lōt or lōta what woman? what girl?
ḷōt or ḷōta what man? what boy?
mọọr bait (noun)
mọọrọr to use bait, to use as bait
ṃañke (from English) monkey, naked
rūṃwijbar barber
nājnej keep as a pet
piliet (from English) billiards
tieta (from English) theater, play, to put on a play
deñdeñ intransitive form of ‘denōt’ (‘to hit, to spank’)
ebbōk (E: bōbōk) intransitive form of ‘bōk’ (‘to get, to take’)
baar (from English) bar (in the sense of ‘saloon’)
baak (from English) to park (a car)
bukun iju constellation
edjoñ to taste, to try (a food to see what it tastes like)
Etao or Ḷetao legendary trickster in Marshallese folklore
iaḷap period of the year with large tidal variations (high tides are very high, low tides are very low)
idik period of the year with small tidal variations (high tides are not very high, low tides are not very low)
aḷap honorable term for an old man, one of the three kinds of landowners in Marshallese society
Ijitō (from English) Easter
korak (transitive form: kor) to tie
lāj cruel, mean
ḷaim lime
kōmaañ look for and gather pandanus leaves
me or im that, which (in sentences like ‘the house that I live in’)
mọ forbidden, taboo Ex: Emọ kōbaatat = Smoking is forbidden/No smoking
ṃabuñ breakfast, to eat breakfast
kōṃanṃanḷọk to improve
naajdik to feed
ob chest
oḷip (from English) wolf
wōrwōr fence, coop, pen for animals
petpet to use a pillow, to use as a pillow
taeo pimple
ukok intransitive form of ‘ukot, ukōt’ (‘to change, to alter’)
addi finger, toe, clamshell
addin ne finger
addin pā toe
ekkā wōt usually
bōtta bat (for baseball)
anemkwōj free, freedom
buñtobuñtak rock back and forth, sway back and forth
bōbrae to prevent, to stop (someone from doing something)
iia (E: sometimes jemaluut) rainbow
dede ready
ikkwetōr (from English) equator
jāmin will not, will never
kiju (E: kaju) mast
kein kamool proof
mālu sweet-smelling
po- (with -tok, -wōj, -ḷọk) to arrive (in a boat), to lower sail
tiikri (from English) degree
tōrerein alongside, alongside of
ejjino (E: jijino) intransitive form of ‘jino’ (‘to start’)
rakij(i) transitive form of ‘rarō’ (‘to clean up an area’)
abōḷ (from English) apple
būrij (from English) bridge
koṃa (from English) comma
pidieet (from English) period (punctuation mark)
iaḷ kadu shortcut
eḷbōn (from English) elephant
ekkapit (E: kōkapit) (transitive form: kapit(i)) to put oil on, to lubricate, to anoint
kooḷ hair, feather
ja in the meantime
kọọjoj (transitive form: kọjek) to use a blanket, to use as a blanket
jiij (from English) cheese
kajjookok shameful, embarrassing
jujen and so (put after a subject pronoun) Ex: Ijujen delọñ = So I went in.
piin (from English) bean
wawa to use a boat, to use as a boat
ikkiil (E: kūkiil) intransitive form of ‘kiil(i)’ (‘to close, to memorize’)
aepokpok complicated
baj ña/baj kwe/etc. now me/now you/etc. (indicating that another person had been doing the thing, and now someone else is going to do it)
bōk- (bōkaō, bōkaaṃ, etc.) fill (noun), just enough for
dānnin kōmjaaḷaḷ tears (when crying)
ātdik nickname
aj thatching materials for traditional Marshallese houses
ilọk go (less common than ‘etal’)
ejjaromrom (E: jōjaromrom) lightning
joñan size, size of
lik lay (an egg)
mab (from English) map
ṇaet- (ṇaeta, ṇaetaṃ, etc.) to name
piano (from English) piano  
wūdiddid to shiver
ebbeer (E: bōbweer) to give up, get discouraged
ak frigate bird
ekōjk- (ekōjka, ekōjkaṃ, etc.) what is the condition of?
bōjjāān (from English) percent
debwāāl cross (noun)
jarroñroñ deaf, hard of hearing
karuwanene (transitive form: karuwaneneik(i)) to invite, to welcome
ruwanene invited
mijiḷ (from English) missile
ōne (from English) honey
wain (from English) wine
alej to aim at
būrọk (from English) frog
batur crave meat, really want to eat meat after not having had it for a long time
ekajet trial, to go on trial
ṃōn ekajet courthouse
aikiu common dish made from iu (coconut sproutling)
ātāt (transitive form: ātoñ) to smell
baal kind of coral found where the waves break on the ocean side reef
bōran baal place where the waves break on the ocean side reef
mañko (from English) mango
nōbar to praise
ṇae against
pi (from English) bee
akki- (akkū, akkūṃ, etc.) fingernail, toenail
akkiin pe- (akkiin peiū, akkiin peiṃ, etc.) fingernail
akkiin ne -(akkiin neō, akkiin neeṃ, etc.) toenail
āindein so (in the sense of ‘in that way, thusly’) Ex: Āindein aer ba = So they say/That’s what they say
ametōma Marshallese candy made from grated coconut meat and coconut sap
bwebwe tuna    
Jaina (from English) China
Jepaan (from English) Japan 
Iñlen (from English) England
Jipeen (from English) Spain
Būranij (from English) France
Jāmne (from English) Germany
aḷeḷe fishing by tying palm fronds together in a long line to catch fish, name of a museum in Majuro
anidep box made of pandanus leaves, old Marshallese game using the same
dak (from English) duck (the animal)
annañ- (annañū, annañūṃ, etc.) shadow, reflection, image
aj (ajū, ajūṃ, etc.) liver

Practical Marshallese


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