NOONGAR WORDS LIST – NOONGAR DICTIONARY
This glossary gives the basic meaning of the Noongar words that appear in the songs on this site. The spelling and meaning given for each word are taken from the LOTE spelling, as given in the Noongar Dictionary by Rose Whitehurst. However, the reality of each word is much richer, pointing to connections between words and meanings and to the history of the word itself. For that reason we have included a range of Noongar spellings and English translations for each word, as it has appeared in written documentation since the 1830s. Click on each word to see the historical variation for each word.
A
NOONGAR | ENGLISH | AUDIO | DETAILS |
---|---|---|---|
ali, alidja | that | READ MORE | |
aliwa | beware! | READ MORE | |
ana | yeah (exclamation or question) | READ MORE | |
arwoon | ha! | READ MORE |
B
D
NOONGAR | ENGLISH | AUDIO | DETAILS |
---|---|---|---|
daa | mouth, language | READ MORE | |
daa-bt | mute | READ MORE | |
daaliny | tongue | READ MORE | |
daap | knife | READ MORE | |
daatj | meat | READ MORE | |
daatj-bt | fleshless | READ MORE | |
dabakarn | slow, careful | READ MORE | |
dabat | fall | READ MORE | |
dakarn | break | READ MORE | |
dambart | alone, single, three (modern usage) | READ MORE | |
dandang | climb | READ MORE | |
daradjan | needless | READ MORE | |
darap | dive | READ MORE | |
dardar | white pipeclay | READ MORE | |
darlang | chase, follow, hunt | READ MORE | |
dat | quiet | READ MORE | |
demakoombar | great ancestors | READ MORE | |
demangkar | ancestors, grandparents | READ MORE | |
dit | together | READ MORE | |
dongerak | wattle bird | READ MORE | |
doodjar | culprit, murderer | READ MORE | |
dookern | cook, make, construct | READ MORE | |
dookern | make, cook | READ MORE | |
dooly | dew, mist, fog | READ MORE | |
doonart | twenty-eight parrot | READ MORE | |
doonook | perhaps, maybe | READ MORE | |
dordok | alive | READ MORE |
DJ
NOONGAR | ENGLISH | AUDIO | DETAILS |
---|---|---|---|
djaadak | white, white clay, limestone | READ MORE | |
djaanak | spirit, ghost | READ MORE | |
djaat | sun | READ MORE | |
djandoo | raptor, kite | READ MORE | |
djarabin | accuse | READ MORE | |
djen | foot | READ MORE | |
djerang | handsome, fat, grease | READ MORE | |
djert | bird | READ MORE | |
djert, djerda | little bird, bird (generic) | READ MORE | |
dji | moment, brief time | READ MORE | |
djidily | cricket | READ MORE | |
djilba | spring, green grass | READ MORE | |
djinang | see, look | READ MORE | |
djinangalanginy | at the time of looking together | READ MORE | |
djinda | star | READ MORE | |
djip-djip | itch | READ MORE | |
djiti-djiti | willy wagtail | READ MORE | |
djoombar | hair | READ MORE | |
djoorap | happy | READ MORE | |
djoowak | the next generation | READ MORE |
DW
NOONGAR | ENGLISH | AUDIO | DETAILS |
---|---|---|---|
dwongk | ear | READ MORE | |
dwongk-kaaditj | hear, listen | READ MORE | |
dwongka-bt | deaf | READ MORE |
K
M
N
NOONGAR | ENGLISH | AUDIO | DETAILS |
---|---|---|---|
naak | beg | READ MORE | |
naap | paint, adorn | READ MORE | |
naariny | burning | READ MORE | |
naatj | what? | READ MORE | |
nakal | small, gentle | READ MORE | |
nanap | stop | READ MORE | |
nidja, nidjak | this, that, here | READ MORE | |
noitj | dead | READ MORE | |
nookert | sleep | READ MORE | |
noombit | blossom | READ MORE | |
noort | stench | READ MORE | |
nop | boy, son | READ MORE | |
norn | snake | READ MORE | |
nyoongar | person, human | READ MORE |
NG
NOONGAR | ENGLISH | AUDIO | DETAILS |
---|---|---|---|
ngaama | water hole | READ MORE | |
ngaangk | mother, sun | READ MORE | |
ngaarn | eat | READ MORE | |
ngabang | cover, put on | READ MORE | |
ngaitj | I | READ MORE | |
ngalak | we, we two | READ MORE | |
ngalang | our | READ MORE | |
ngalar | we, all of us (including listener) | READ MORE | |
nganang | my | READ MORE | |
ngany | me | READ MORE | |
ngarda | down, below | READ MORE | |
ngari | salmon | READ MORE | |
ngarril | ribs | READ MORE | |
ngiyan | who? | READ MORE | |
ngoobalyong | bloody | READ MORE | |
ngoon | brother | READ MORE | |
ngoonyong | sweet, honey | READ MORE | |
ngoop | blood | READ MORE | |
ngoornda-djinang | dream | READ MORE | |
ngoornt | lie down | READ MORE | |
ngoorr | snore (onomatopoeia) | READ MORE | |
ngorlak | teeth | READ MORE | |
ngwidam | serious | READ MORE | |
ngwirin | beautiful | READ MORE | |
ni! | hark! | READ MORE | |
ninat | worm | READ MORE |
NY
NOONGAR | ENGLISH | AUDIO | DETAILS |
---|---|---|---|
nyidiny | cold | READ MORE | |
nyin | sit, be | READ MORE | |
nyit | little | READ MORE | |
nyoonalang | yours-is | READ MORE | |
nyoonang | your | READ MORE | |
nyoonar, nyoondook | you | READ MORE | |
nyoondiak | brain | READ MORE | |
nyoongar | person, human | READ MORE | |
nyorn | alas! | READ MORE |
W
Y
NOONGAR | ENGLISH | AUDIO | DETAILS |
---|---|---|---|
yaak | stand | READ MORE | |
yaang | give | READ MORE | |
yaarn | how? how now? what's up? | READ MORE | |
yaawin | moon | READ MORE | |
yakain | turtle | READ MORE | |
yalak | wait | READ MORE | |
yalakitj | wait-still | READ MORE | |
yerderap | duck, pacific black duck | READ MORE | |
yeyi | now, today | READ MORE | |
yira | up | READ MORE | |
yok, york, yorka | woman | READ MORE | |
yokang | feminine | READ MORE | |
yokangkar | yokangkar | READ MORE | |
yoodan | tie | READ MORE | |
yoomp | poison, death curse | READ MORE | |
yoornt | yellow | READ MORE | |
yoowarl | toward, here | READ MORE | |
yoowarl-bili | toward-hop | READ MORE | |
yoowart | no, not, nothing | READ MORE | |
yoran | alright, innocent | READ MORE | |
yorl | paperbark tree | READ MORE | |
yowir | drunk | READ MORE |