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.

In Marshallese many nouns can also be used as verbs.  Here are some of the most common of these, many of which come from English:

Word	Meaning as a noun	Meaning as a verb
jikuuḷ	school	go to school, attend class (as either as a student or teacher)
pọde	party	attend a party, have a party
keemem	birthday party, traditional party on child’s first birthday	attend a keemem
kọpe	coffee	drink coffee
amiṃōno	handicrafts	make handicrafts
kajin ṃajeḷ	Marshallese (language)	talk in Marshallese
kajin pālle	English	talk in English
baseball or iakiu	baseball	play baseball
volleyball	volleyball	play volleyball
basket	basketball	play basketball
jipiij	speech	give a speech
kūta	guitar	to play the guitar
taktō	doctor	to go and see a doctor

– Sometimes a noun will change when it is used as a verb, usually by doubling part of the word:

Noun form	Meaning	Verb form	Meaning
jōōt	shirt	jōōtōt	wear a shirt
juuj	shoe	juujuj	wear shoes
māj	mask, glasses	mājmāj	wear a mask, wear glasses
waj	watch (for telling time)	wajwaj	wear a watch
at	hat	atat	wear a hat
wūt	flower, flower headdress	wūtwūt	wear a flower headdress
riiñ	ring	riiñiñ	wear a ring
kañūr	belt	kañūrñūr	wear a belt
mọọr	bait	mọọrọr	use bait
peen	pen	peenen	use a pen
pet	pillow	petpet	use a pillow
jiit	sheet	jiitit	use a sheet
joob	soap	joobob	use soap
kọọj	blanket	kọọjoj	use a blanket
wa	boat, vehicle	wawa	use a boat, use a vehicle
kab	cup	kabkab	use a cup
ọọj	horse	ọọjoj	ride a horse

– If you put a noun after the verb forms, you can say things like ‘use ___ as a pillow’:

petpet ni         =	use a pillow/coconut	= Use a coconut as a pillow
kọọjoj jaki       =	use a blanket/mat	= Use a mat as a blanket
ṃọọrọr kweet =	use bait/octopus	= Use octopus as bait

– You can also say ‘ekkōṇak’ before any article of clothing to mean ‘wear’ or ‘put on.’

Vocabulary

baṃ (from English)	pump, to pump
kijoñ	often do something, usually do something Ex. Kwaar kijoñ ṃōñā ta ilo Amedka? = What did you usually eat in America?
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)
kọpe (from English)	coffee, to drink coffee
jiit (from English)	sheet
kadkad	to throw