This post is based on Practical Marshallese by Peter Rudiak-Gould, a freely distributed, full-length textbook for learning the native language of the Marshall Islands. It has been used since 2004 as the official language manual for all volunteers in the WorldTeach Marshall Islands program, and it has formed the basis of language classes for Americans at Kwajalein Atoll. The 102 short lessons describe the grammar of the language in practical and familiar terms, and a glossary presents 1500 useful words.
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,’ etc | see 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 |
| mā | 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 |
| aō | 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. |
| aō | 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 |
| pā | 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
- Glossary of Useful Words from Practical Marshallese
- Lesson 1: The letters and sounds of Marshallese
- Lesson 2: Beginning Marshallese Phrases
- Lesson 3: Numbers, time, age, and price
- Lesson 4: Marshallese Words from English
- Lesson 5: Marshallese Subject Pronouns
- Lesson 6: Verbs that work like adjectives
- Lesson 7: The present tense
- Lesson 8: The Past Tense
- Lesson 9: The future tense
- Lesson 10: Near future tense
- Lesson 11: Location
- Lesson 12: Object pronouns
- Lesson 13: The emphatic pronouns
- Lesson 14: Negatives
- Lesson 15: Wrapping up pronouns and tenses
- Lesson 16: Yes/No questions
- Lesson 17: Do you know?, Yes I know, No I don’t know
- Lesson 18: Can you?, Yes I can, No I can’t
- Lesson 19: Wh-questions
- Lesson 20: More about wh-questions
- Lesson 21: Definite and Indefinite Articles, and Plurals
- Lesson 22: Possessives
- Lesson 23: House of, time of, place of
- Lesson 24: With
- Lesson 25: I like, I don’t like
- Lesson 26: There is, there are, there are many
- Lesson 27: I have, you have, I don’t have, you don’t have
- Lesson 28: I have a pencil with me
- Lesson 29: I have one, I have two, I have many
- Lesson 30: Do you have?
- Lesson 31: Not yet and never
- Lesson 32: Perfect Past
- Lesson 33: Negative Perfect Past
- Lesson 34: Perfect Past Questions
- Lesson 35: Adverbs
- Lesson 36: Comparatives in Marshallese
- Lesson 37: After, before
- Lesson 38: More about questions
- Lesson 39: Which fish, what kind of fish, you and who else?
- Lesson 40: Conditionals in Marshallese
- Lesson 41: Directionals
- Practical Marshallese